Avery  Architectural  and  Fine  Arts  Library 
Gift  of  Seymour  B.  Durst  Old  York  Library 


gmertcan  &rcJ)ttieg: 


CONSISTING  OF 


A  COLLECTION  OF  AUTHENTICK  RECORDS,  STATE  PAPERS,  DEBATES,  AND  LETTERS  AND 

OTHER  NOTICES  OF  PUBLIC K  AFFAIRS, 


THE  WHOLE  FORMING 


A  DOCUMENTARY  HISTORY 


OF 


THE  ORIGIN  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  COLONIES: 


OF  THE 


CAUSES  AND  ACCOMPLISHMENT  OF  THE  AMERICAN  REVOLUTION ; 


AND  OF 


THE  CONSTITUTION  OF  GOVERNMENT  FOR  THE  UNITED  STATES, 


TO 


THE  FINAL  RATIFICATION  THEREOF. 


IN  SIX  SERIES. 


FIRST  SERIES. 

From  the  Discovery  and  Settlement  of  the  North  American 
Colonies,  to  the  Revolution  in  England,  in  1688. 

SECOND  SERIES. 

From  the  Revolution  in  England,  in  1688,  to  the  Cession  of 
Canada  to  Great  Britain,  by  the  Treaty  at  Paris,  in  1763. 

THIRD  SERIES. 

From  the  Cession  of  Canada,  in  1763,  to  the  King's  Mes- 
sage to  Parliament,  of  March  7th,  1774,  on  the  Proceed- 
ings in  North  America. 


FOURTH  SERIES. 

From  the  King's  Message  of  March  7th,  1774,  to  the  Decla- 
ration of  Independence,  by  the  United  States,  in  1776. 

FIFTH  SERIES. 

From  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  in  1776,  to  the  De- 
finitive Treaty  of  Peace  with  Great  Britain,  in  1783. 

SIXTH  SERIES. 

From  the  Treaty  of  Peace,  in  1783,  to  the  final  ratification 
of  the  Constitution  of  Government  for  the  United  States, 
proposed  by  the  Convention,  held  at  Philadelphia,  in  1787. 


BY  PETER  FORCE. 


rREPARED  AND  PUBLISHED  UNDER  AUTHORITY  OF  AN  ACT  OF  CONGRESS. 


%  i 


AMERICAN  ARCHIVES : 

jfourrt)  §s>ttits. 

CONTAINING 

A  DOCUMENTARY  HISTORY 

OF 

THE  ENGLISH  COLONIES  IN  NORTH  AMERICA, 

FROM 

THE  KING'S  MESSAGE  TO  PARLIAMENT,  OF  MARCH  7,  1774, 

TO 

THE  DECLARATION  OF  INDEPENDENCE 

BT 

THE  UNITED  STATES. 

BY  PETER  FORCE. 
VOLUME  II. 

PUBLISHED  DY  M.  ST.  CLAIR  CLARKE  AND  PETER  FORCE. 
UNDER  AUTHORITY  OF  AN   ACT  OF  CONGRESS,  PASSED  ON  THE  SECOND  OF  MARCH,  1833. 


WASHINGTON,  OCTOBER,  183  9 


2  O  ^> 


CONTENTS 


OF  THE  SECOND  VOLUME  OF  THE  FOURTH  SERIES. 


1775. 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  ETC. 


March  Letter  from  the  General  Committee  of  Charles- 

1,  town,  S.  C,  to  the  New- York  Committee, 
expressing  their  disapprobation  of  the  course 
pursued  by  the  Assembly  of  New- York,  and 
their  determination  to  adhere  to  the  Resolutions 
of  the  Continental  Congress  at  all  hazards,  - 
Instructions  from  the  Freeholders  of  Cumber- 
land County,  Virginia,  to  John  Mayo  and  Win. 
Fleming,  their  Delegates  in  the  Assembly,  - 

1,  Address  of  New- York  Committee  to  the  Free- 
holders and  Freemen  of  the  City  and  County 
of  New- York,  recommending  the  choice  of 
Delegates  to  the  Continental  Congress, 
Address  to  the  Soldiers  ordered  to  embark  from 

Ireland  for  America,  - 
Address  to  the  Commons  of  Great  Britain  in 
Parliament  assembled,  on  the  policy  of  the 
Ministry  in  regard  to  America,  advising  the 
repeal  of  the  Acts  which  have  produced  the 
present  disturbances,  -       -       -       -  - 

1 ,  Meeting  of  the  Governour  and  Council  of  North- 
Carolina.  The  proposed  meeting  of  a  Provin- 
cial Congress  at  Newbern  in  April  declared 
to  be  highly  derogatory  to  the  dignity  of  the 
Legislature  appointed  to  meet  at  the  same  time, 

1,  Proclamation  of  Governour  Martin.  The  pro- 
posed Provincial  Congress  is  contrary  to  law, 
and  a  violation  of  the  Constitution.  All  good 
subjects  are  exhorted  to  discourage  such  meet- 
ings, cabals,  and  illegal  proceedings, 
Feb.  22,  Camillus  to  the  Printers  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Gazette,  in  reply  to  a  Boston  writer,  who 
charges  the  Americans  with  having  an  entire 
independence  on  the  Mother  Country  in  view, 
March  Camillus  to  the  Printers  of  the  Pennsylvania  Ga- 

1,  zette,  in  defence  of  the  course  pursued  by  the 
Americans  in  their  opposition  to  the  measures 
of  the  British  Government,  ... 

1,  Resolutions  of  the  Committee  of  Inspection  for 

Newport,  Rhode-Island.  A  Free  Press, 
while  it  supports  truth,  liberty  and  justice, 
to  be  supported  —  when  it  is  prostituted  to 
vile  purposes  is  to  be  discountenanced  and 
discouraged.  All  persons  advised  to  discon- 
tinue Rivington's  Gazetteer,  ... 

2,  Letter  from  a  Gentleman  in  London  to  his  Friend 

in  Boston.  Lord  North  has  no  further  conci- 
liatory measures  to  propose.  When  the  Colo- 
nies come  to  an  unconditional  submission,  the 
repeal  of  the  Bills  of  last  year  will  be  consid- 
ered, - 

2,  Committee  of  Essex  County,  Virginia,  acquit 
Captain  Joseph  Richardson  of  an  intentional 
violation  of  the  Association.  They  offer  a 
Premium  to  encourage  Arts  and  Manufac- 
tures in  the  Colony,  -       -       -       -  - 

2,  Remarks  on  the  late  manoeuvres  in  America,  by 
a  real  Friend  to  his  King  and  Country.  Vir- 
ginia and  Maryland  condemned  for  joining 
with  so  much  warmth  the  New-England  Re- 
publicans, 

2,  Address  to  the  Inhabitants  of  New- York,  on  the 
application  of  publick  moneys  to  secret  service 
in  America  by  the  British  Government, 

2,  Tea  burnt  at  Providence,  Rhode- Island,  - 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii. 


10 


12 


13 


13 


14 


15 
15 


March  Letter  from  Samuel  Adams  to  a  Gentleman  in 

2,      Virginia,  acknowledging  receipt  of  Donations 

for  the  Poor  of  Boston,      -       -       -  -16 

2,  General  Gage  and  the  Provincial  Congress  of 
Massachusetts;  collision  probable.  Withhold- 
ing Supplies  from  the  Troops  by  the  People 
justified,  ----       -       -  -16 

2,  Address  to  the  Inhabitants  of  Massachusetts-Bay, 
No.  5,  from  the  County  of  Hampshire.  On  the 
rights  of  the  Colonies,        -       -       -       -  18 

2,  Letter  from  London  to  a  Gentleman  in  New- 
York.  Reports  there,  that  New- York  was 
disaffected  to  the  common  cause,  discredited,  -  24 

2,  Letter  from  London  to  a  Gentleman  in  Philadel- 

phia. The  Government  will  persist  in  their 
measures  against  the  Colonies.  New- York 
is  to  be  a  place  of  Arms,  and  Provisions  are  to 
be  provided  there  for  the  support  of  the  Army 
in  New-England,  25 

3,  Letter  from  the  Earl  of  Dartmouth  to  the  Gov- 

ernour of  Georgia.  Laments  that  the  People 
of  Georgia,  hitherto  so  loyal,  have  manifested 
a  disposition  to  join  the  other  Colonies.  The 
Lords  of  the  Admiralty  have  before  them  a 
Bill  for  the  Collection  of  His  Majesty's  Quit- 
Rents,   26 

3,  Letter  from  the  Earl  of  Dartmouth  to  the  Gov- 
ernours  of  the  several  Colonies.  The  great 
majorities  in  both  Houses  upon  every  question 
for  maintaining  the  supremacy  of  Parliament 
in  the  Colonies,  shows  there  will  not  be  the 
least  relaxation  from  those  measures,  -  -  26 
3,  Letter  from  the  Earl  of  Dartmouth  to  Deputy- 
Governour  Penn.  Has  received  his  Despatch 
of  January  30,  and  laid  it  before  the  King,  -  26 
Feb.  22,  Letter  from  the  Earl  of  Dartmouth  to  the  Gov- 
ernours  of  the  Colonies,  enclosing  the  joint 
Address  of  both  Houses  of  Parliament,  of  the 
7th  February,  to  the  King,  with  his  Answer. 
Also  the  Bill  for  restraining  the  Fisheries,  and 
the  Resolution  offered  in  the  House  of  Com- 
mons on  the  20th  of  February,  26 
March  Letter  from  the  Earl  of  Dartmouth  to  the  Gov- 
3,  ernours  of  the  Colonies.  The  King  wishes  to 
see  a  reconciliation  of  the  differences  with  the 
Colonies,  without  prejudice  to  the  just  autho- 
rity of  Parliament,  which  he  will  never  suffer 
to  be  violated.  The  Colonies  bound  to  con- 
tribute their  just  proportions  of  the  publick 
burdens  of  the  Nation  in  return  for  the  pro- 
tection and  support  they  have  received.  The 
King  entirely  approves  of  the  Resolution  of 
the  House  of  Commons  of  27th  February,  and 
expects  a  compliance  therewith  on  the  part  of 
the  Colonies.  He  will  resist  with  firmness 
every  attempt  to  violate  rights  of  Parliament,  27 
Copy  of  the  Resolution  adopted  by  the  House  of 
Commons,  on  the  27th  of  February,  referred 
to  in  the  foregoing  Letter,  28 
3,  Letter  from  the  Earl  of  Dartmouth  to  the  Gov- 
ernour of  New- York.  His  separate  Despatch 
of  this  date  may  be  ostensibly  of  use,  in  case 
the  Assembly  should  consider  the  Resolution 
of  27th  February.  It  is  not  the  King's  inten- 
tion that  it  shall  be  officially  communicated  to 
the  Assembly,  but  he  depends  upon  the  ability 
and  address  of  Lieutenant-Governour  Colden 


XIX 

1775. 


March 
4, 


CONTENTS. 


6, 

6, 
6, 

6, 

6, 
6, 

6, 


to  induce  a  compliance  on  the  part  of  the  As- 
sembly,   --  29 

Letter  from  the  Earl  of  Dartmouth  to  Lieutenant- 
Go  vernour  Golden.  His  Despatch  of  the  1st 
of  February  has  been  received.  The  senti- 
ments of  duty  to  the  King  and  wishes  of  a 
reconciliation,  so  fully  expressed  in  the  Ad- 
dresses of  the  Council  and  Assembly,  have 
been  very  graciously  received  by  His  Majesty,  29 

Letter  from  London  to  a  Gentleman  in  New- 
York.  The  conduct  of  New- York  has  filled 
every  heart  with  joy.  The  Resolution  of 
Lord  North,  of  February  27,  which  is  found- 
ed on  the  truest  principle  of  policy  and  be- 
nevolence, will  be  outrageously  censured  and 
traduced  by  the  Opposition.  By  this  measure 
Parliament  gives  a  proof  that  while  it  sends 
forth  the  sword  of  justice  to  punish  the  factious, 
it  extends  also  friendly  proposals  to  invite  the 
good  citizens  to  peace  and  reconciliation, 

Meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Chowan  County, 
North-Carolina.  Premiums  offered  for  the 
encouragement  of  Manufactures, 

Letter  from  John  Sullivan  to  Mr.  Fowle,  enclos- 
ing the  Articles  of  Association  of  the  Military 
Company  of  Durham,  New-Hampshire, 

Remarks  on  Mr.  Sullivan's  Letter.  The  extra- 
ordinary spirit  to  acquire  the  use  of  Arms  at 
this  time  of  civil  discords,  marks  strongly  a 
disposition  to  employ  our  Arms  against  the 
Government,  -       -  - 

Mr.  Sullivan's  Reply,  - 

Address  of  the  Committee  of  Norfolk  to  the  Free- 
men of  Virginia,  on  the  conduct  of  John  Brown, 
in  importing  Slaves  in  violation  of  the  Conti- 
nental Association,  ----- 

Committee  of  Observation  for  Baltimore  prohibit 
the  landing  of  Salt  imported  in  violation  of  the 
Continental  Association,     -       -       -  - 

Committee  of  Cumberland  County,  New-Jer- 
sey, break  off  all  dealings  with  Silas  New- 
comb,  a  Member  of  the  Committee,  who  has 
drank  East-India  Tea  in  his  family  ever  since 
the  1st  day  of  March,  instant,  in  violation  of 
the  Continental  Association,  ... 

Recantation  of  Silas  Newcomb,  which  is  accept- 
ed by  the  Committee,  -       -  - 

Committee  of  Observation  and  Inspection  for 
Freehold,  New-Jersey,  declare  James  Riv- 
ington,  of  New- York,  Printer,  a  malignant 
enemy  to  the  liberties  of  this  Country,  for  his 
attempts  to  disunite  the  Colonies, 

Letter  from  Major  Benjamin  Floyd,  of  Brook- 
haven,  Suffolk  County,  New- York,  to  Mr. 
Rivington,  in  reply  to  some  Resolutions  adopt- 
ed by  a  Committee  at  Smithtown,  on  the  23d 
of  February,  ------ 

Meeting  of  the  People  of  Danvers.  Officers 
chosen  for  an  Alarm  List  Company, 

Reflections  on  the  present  state  of  affairs  in  Ame- 
rica. The  Americans  will  be  compelled  to 
follow  the  example  of  the  United  Provinces, 
and  publish  a  Manifesto  to  the  world,  showing 
the  necessity  of  dissolving  their  connection 
with  Great  Britain,  - 

Oration  delivered  at  the  request  of  the  Inhabi- 
tants of  Boston,  to  commemorate  the  bloody 
tragedy  of  the  5th  of  March,  1770,  by  Doctor 
Joseph  Warren,  ..... 

Address  to  the  Inhabitants  of  New- York  against 
the  recommendation  of  the  Committee  to  elect 
Delegates,  - 

Address  to  the  Inhabitants  of  the  City  of  New- 
York.  The  method  proposed  by  the  Commit- 
tee for  the  nomination  of  Delegates  extremely 
exceptionable,  ------ 

Address  to  the  respectable  Inhabitants  of  the  City 
of  New- York  against  the  election  of  Dele- 
gates to  the  Continental  Congress.  The  Pro- 
ceedings of  the  late  Congress  were  violent  and 
treasonable.  One  of  their  Members  (Sulli- 
van) guilty  of  open  treason  in  the  broad  face 
of  day.  Deputies  to  a  Provincial  Congress 
ought  not  to  be  chosen.  In  the  other  Colonies 
Provincial  Congresses  are  closing  the  Courts 
of  Justice,  wresting  the  Troops  out  of  the 
King's  hands,  and  enlisting  Minute-Men  to 
annihilate  his  just  and  legal  authority,  -  44 


29 
30 
31 


32 

32 


33 
34 

34 
34 

35 

36 
37 

37 


44 


44 


1775. 
March 
7, 
7, 


Address  to  the  Publick,  in  answer  to  the  fore- 
going,   

Affidavit  of  John  Graham,  Clerk  to  Robert  and 
John  Murray,  owners  of  the  Ship  Beulah. 
The  Ship  left  the  watering  place  at  Staten 
Island  yesterday,  and  passed  the  Light-house 
at  eight  o'clock  this  morning.  Does  not  be- 
lieve any  boat  was  employed  to  land  any  Goods 
from  the  vessel,  - 
8,  Account  of  the  Meetings  on  the  evenings  of 
Thursday,  Friday  and  Saturday  last,  and  on 
Monday  morning,  the  6th  instant,  when  it  was 
determined,  by  large  majorities,  to  send  Depu- 
ties to  a  Provincial  Congress  authorized  to 
choose  Delegates  to  the  next  Continental  Con- 
gress, - 

8,  Another  account  of  the  Proceedings  and  of  the 
Meeting  on  Monday.  The  friends  of  consti- 
tutional liberty  disapprove  of  the  measures. 
They  proposed  the  postponement  of  all  action 
until  after  the  adjournment  of  the  Assembly 
and  the  arrival  of  the  Packet  from  England. 
The  Committee,  in  recommending  the  choice 
of  Delegates,  exceeded  their  powers,  and  at 
the  Meeting  held  on  Monday,  at  their  request, 
it  was  impossible  to  determine  on  which  side 
the  majority  was,  -  -  -  -  - 
8,  Meeting  of  the  New- York  Committee.  Philip 
Livingston  and  John  Jay  appointed  to  inquire 
of  Mr.  Rivington  on  what  authority  he  made 
a  false  and  groundless  statement  in  his  Paper, 

Mr.  Livingston  and  Mr.  Jay,  March  13,  report  to 
the  Committee  that  Mr.  Rivington  says  he 
made  the  statement  on  common  rumour,  but 
will  be  more  careful  for  the  future, 

Mr.  Rivington's  Explanation,  March  16,  (Note,) 
7,  Address  to  the  People  of  England.   A  defence  of 
the  Americans  against  the  charge  of  High 
Treason,  ...... 

7,  Meeting  of  the  Constitutional  Society  in  London. 
Contributions  for  the  suffering  Inhabitants  of 
Boston,  ------- 

7,  Extract  of  a  Letter  from  London.  The  Crisis, 
No.  3,  (a  periodical  Paper,)  burnt  by  the 
common  hangman  yesterday  at  Westminster, 
and  to-day  at  the  Royal  Exchange,  by  order 
of  the  House  of  Commons,  - 

The  Crisis,  No.  1.  To  the  People  of  England 
and  America,  ------ 

The  Crisis,  No.  2.  To  a  Bloody  Court,  a  Bloody 
Ministry,  and  a  Bloody  Parliament, 

The  Crisis,  No.  3.    To  the  King, 

The  Crisis,  No.  4.  To  the  Conspirators  against  the 
Liberties  of  Mankind  at  St.  James's,  in  St.  Ste- 
phen's Chapel,  the  House  of  Lords,  or  amongst 
the  Bench  of  Bishops,  and  to  the  Officers,  Sol- 
diers and  Seamen,  who  may  be  employed  to 
butcher  their  Relations,  Friends  and  Fellow- 
Subjects  in  America,  - 

The  Crisis,  No.  5.    To  the  People, 

The  Crisis,  No.  6.  To  the  Right  Honourable 
Lord  North,  First  Lord  of  the  Treasury, 
Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer,  and  Ranger  of 
Bushy  Park,  &c,  - 

The  Crisis,  No.  8.  To  the  Lords  Suffolk,  Pom- 
fret,  Radnor,  Apsley  and  Sandwich, 

The  Crisis,  No.  9.    To  the  King,  ... 
7,  Letter  from  Charlestown,  S.  O,  to  a  Gentleman 
in  London.    This  Province  cannot  long  sub- 
sist without  a  Free  Trade.    Before  the  Non- 
Exportation  Scheme  took  effect  there  was  a 
lively  Commerce  here;  now  the  temper  of  the 
People  is  soured,  and  their  fortunes  consuming 
fast,  for  want  of  Trade.    It  is  the  wish  of  the 
wise  and  the  sober  that  a  speedy  reconciliation 
may  be  effected,  ..... 

7,  Meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Princess  Anne 
County,  Virginia.  Examination  of  the  charges 
of  John  Saunders,  Benjamin  Dingly  Gray  and 
Mitchell  Phillips,  for  violations  of  the  Provin- 
cial and  Continental  Associations.    They  are 
all  declared  to  be  inimical  to  the  liberties  of 
this  Country,  and  that  no  person  ought  to  have 
any  commercial  intercourse  or  dealing  with 
them,  ....... 

7,  Outrage  committed  by  Captain  Graves,  of  the 
King's  armed  Schooner  Diana,  upon  George 
Taylor,  in  the  Delaware,  .... 


XX 


46 


48 


48 


49 


50 


50 
50 


51 


54 


55 

56 

59 
62 


63 
66 


69 

71 
73 


76 


76 


78 


XXI 

1773. 


CONTENTS. 


xx  i  r 


Contradiction  of  this  statement  by  Lieutenant 

Dashwood  Bacon,  of  the  Diana, 
Affidavits  by  Nathan  Wood,  William  Carter, 
Mary  Johnston  and  Daniel  Nicholson,  proving 
the  outrage,  ...... 

March  Letter  to  the  Printers  of  the  Pennsylvania  Ga- 
8,      zette,  with  an  explanation  of  several  expres- 
sions in  the  Testimony  of  the  Quakers  not  pro- 
perly comprehended  by  persons  unacquainted 
with  Friends'  writings,  .... 

8,  Defence  of  the  Colonies,  by  a  Lover  of  English 
Liberty,  - 

8,  Letter  to  the  Author  of  a  Pamphlet  entitled  A 
Candid  Examination  of  the  Mutual  Claims  of 
Great  Britain  and  her  Colonies,  &c," 

8,  Cumberland  County,  Massachusetts,  Convention. 

Recommend  strict  obedience  to  the  Resolu- 
tions of  the  Provincial  Congress, 

Condemn  the  conduct  of  Captain  Coulson,  for 
importing  Sails,  &c,  for  a  new  Ship,  in  viola- 
tion of  the  Continental  Association, 

The  several  Towns  in  the  County  required  to 
provide  themselves  a  Stock  of  Ammunition, 

The  Inhabitants  are  requested  to  adhere  strictly 
to  the  Resolutions  of  the  Continental  and  Pro- 
vincial Congresses,    -       -       -       -  - 

9,  Letter  from  George  Mason  to  George  Wash- 

ington,   -       -       -       -       -  - 

9,  Deposition  of  Thomas  Ditson,  Jun.,  of  Billerica, 
who  was  tarred  and  feathered  in  Boston,  by 
order  of  Col.  Nesbit,  of  His  Majesty's  Forty- 
seventh  Regiment,  - 

9,  Address  to  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Massachusetts- 
Bay,  No.  5,  from  the  County  of  Hampshire, 

9,  Letter  from  "  Phileirene,"  defending  the  British 
Government  against  the  charges  in  the  Peti- 
tion of  the  Continental  Congress  to  the  King, 

9,  Letter  from  "A  Converted  Whig,"  against  Com- 
mittees and  Congresses,  - 

9,  Letter  from  Boston  to  Mr.  Rivington.  Conduct 
of  the  British  Officers  in  the  Old  South  Meet- 
ing-House,  on  the  6th  instant,  ... 


9, 


CONNECTICUT  ASSEMBLY. 

Mar.%  Connecticut  Assembly  meets,  -  -  -  - 
Committee  appointed  to  inquire  into  the  charges 
of  disaffection  to  the  Colony,  made  against 
Captains  Blackslee,  Quintard  and  Dibble, 
Committee  to  inquire  into  the  conduct  of  the 
Town  of  Ridgefield,  charged  with  publishing 
Resolutions  injurious  to  the  Rights  of  the 

Colony,  -   

Resolution  recommending  the  several  Towns  in 
the  Colony  to  contribute  liberally  to  the  re- 
lief of  Boston,  - 
Vote  of  Thanks  to  the  Assembly  of  Jamaica,  for 
their  seasonable  Mediation  in  favour  of  the 
Colonies  on  the  Continent,  -       -       -  - 

Letter  from  the  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Assem- 
bly of  Connecticut  to  the  Speaker  of  the  House 
of  Assembly  of  Jamaica,  enclosing  the  Vote 
of  Thanks,  ...... 

Letter  from  Governour  Trumbull  to  the  Earl  of 
Dartmouth,  laying  before  him  the  condition 
and  suffering  of  the  Colony,  and  of  Massa- 
chusetts, and  asking  his  serious  attention  to 
the  distresses  of  the  People  in  all  the  Colonies, 
Letter  from  Connecticut  to  Mr.  Rivington.  Ac- 
count of  the  Proceedings  of  the  Assembly. 
The  Republicans  urged  the  necessity  of  an 
Army  to  be  immediately  raised,  but  were  over- 
ruled. A  great  majority  passed  a  vote  to  peti- 
tion His  Majesty  for  a  redress  of  grievances,  - 
Letter  from  a  Gentleman  in  Connecticut  to  Mr. 
Holt,  in  reply  to  the  foregoing  Letter  to  Mr. 
Rivington,  ...... 


13, 


29, 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  ETC. 

March  Letter  from  London  to  a  Gentleman  in  Virginia. 
10,  The  measures  of  the  Government  are  calcu- 
lated to  render  the  Colonies  independent.  The 
London  Merchants  not  zealous  in  the  cause  of 
America ;  those  of  Glasgow  sent  up  a  spirited 
Petition,  but  at  the  same  time  let  it  be  known 
that  they  did  not  mean  any  opposition  by  it, 
but  only  to  get  credit  in  America.  Bribes, 


78 
78 

80 
81 

85 

91 

92 
92 

92 
92 

93 
94 

100 
103 

106 

107 
107 

107 
107 
108 

108 
108 

110 
111 


1775. 


Pensions  and  Places  are  attempted  to  divide 
the  Colonies ;  Lord  Dunmore  has  written  for 
five  thousand  Troops  to  be  sent  to  Virginia,  - 

Remarks  on  this  Letter  by  Mercator,  (Note,)  - 
March  Address  of  two  hundred  and  twenty-seven  In- 
habitants of  Anson  County,  North-Carolina, 
to  Governour  Martin,  - 

Address  of  one  hundred  and  ninty-five  Inhabi- 
tants of  Rowan  and  Surry  Counties,  North- 
Carolina,  to  Governour  Martin,  ... 

Address  of  one  hundred  and  sixteen  Inhabitants 
of  Guilford  County,  North -Carolina,  to  Gover- 
nour Martin,  ------ 

10,  Declaration  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Brookhaven, 

Suffolk  County,  New- York.  They  had  been 
deceived  by  Major  Benjamin  Floyd,  when 
they  signed  the  Petition  to  the  Assembly ;  de- 
clare their  disapprobation  of  the  Petition, 

1 1,  Letter  from  London  to  a  Gentleman  in  Philadel- 

phia.   The  plan  of  the  Ministry  is  to  divide 
and  govern,  by  the  advantages  now  held  out 
to  New- York,  North-Carolina  and  Georgia. 
The  passage  of  the  late  Acts  may  be  attributed 
to  the  defection  of  the  New-York  Assembly. 
Let  the  Americans  be  united,  and  they  will 
succeed;  if  they  divide,  they  will  be  irretriev- 
ably ruined,  ------ 

1 1,  Letter  from  London,  received  in  Philadelphia. 
The  Colonies  should  give  no  credit  to  pacifick 
Proposals  of  the  Ministry,  unless  accompanied 
by  a  total  disavowal  of  all  their  unconstitu- 
tional claims.  The  late  Resolves  of  New- 
York  have  been  very  grateful  to  the  Ministry, 
and  have  afforded  them  great  triumph  and 
exultation.  The  cause  of  the  Americans  is 
not  a  favourite  cause  in  England,  the  majority 
are  against  them ;  there  is  a  large  minority 
in  their  favour.  Publick  subscriptions  have 
been  commenced  for  the  Sufferers  in  Boston, 
and  some  handsome  sums  have  been  sub- 
scribed, - 

1 1,  Orange  County,  Virginia,  Committee,  acquit 

Francis  Moore,  Jun.,  of  an  intentional  viola- 
tion of  the  Continental  Association, 

12,  Letter  from  Boston  to  a  Gentleman  in  New- 

York.  Disturbance  occasioned  by  the  British 
Officers  on  the  delivery  of  Dr.  Warren's  Ora- 
tion. Ditson,  by  order  of  the  British  Officers, 
tarred  and  feathered,  placed  on  a  truck  and 
exhibited  through  the  City,  and  to  add  to  the 
insult  they  played  Yankee  Doodle  after  him, 

13,  Letter  from  London  to  a  Gentleman  in  Virginia. 

Lord  Dunmore,  in  a  Letter  to  the  Earl  of 
Dartmouth,  has  recommended  that  some  Men- 
of-War  should  be  stationed  in  the  Chesapeake, 
to  prevent  Virginia  from  carrying  on  any 
Trade  with  England;  and  advises  the  adop- 
tion of  measures  to  distress  the  People,  as  the 
most  certain  way  to  bring  about  submission,  - 

13,  Letter  from  London  to  a  Gentleman  in  Maryland. 
Lord  North's  motion  was  only  calculated  to 
divide  the  Colonies  from  each  other — the 
Ministry  are  already  pleased  with  their  suc- 
cess in  this  way,  by  the  Proceedings  at  New- 
York.  It  will  now  be  tried  what  materials 
the  Americans  are  made  of;  if  they  have  not 
virtue  to  withstand  the  present  policy  of  the 
Ministry  they  will  become  a  laughing  stock 
to  the  world.  Their  salvation  depends  upon 
their  firmness  and  union,  .... 

13,  Letter  from  London  to  a  Gentleman  in  Philadel- 
phia. The  City  of  London  and  the  great 
trading  and  manufacturing  Towns  are  averse 
to  the  present  measures.  The  Ministry  see 
the  dangers  of  their  undertaking,  but  are  en- 
couraged to  the  attempt  by  a  firm  persuasion 
of  success  in  corrupting  New- York,  and  in- 
timidating New-England.  Did  they  believe 
the  Americans  would  be  united  and  firm  they 
would  not  venture  upon  coercive  measures. 
By  whatever  means  the  Assembly  of  New- 
York  can  be  kept  from  deserting,  even  by  out- 
bidding the  Ministry,  it  will  be  worth  the  pur- 
chase, ------- 

13,  Meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Observation  for 

Baltimore,  -  

Proceedings  in  relation  to  the  Cargoes  of  several 
Vessels,  -       -  - 


114 

115 


115 


116 


117 


117 


118 


118 


120 


120 


121 


121 


122 


123 


123 


XXH,  CONTENTS. 


1775. 

Will  strictly  enforce  the  Continental  Association,  124 
Earnestly  recommend  the  People  to  discontinue 

the  use  of  East  India  Teas,  -  -  -  1 24 
Approve  the  conduct  of  the  Magistrates  who 

have  been  dismissed  by  the  Government,  -  124 
March  Letter  from  a  Gentleman  in  Harford  County, 

13,  Maryland,  to  a  friend  in  Philadelphia.  A  total 
revolution  in  the  Magistracy  of  the  Province 
expected.  Nine  of  the  oldest  and  best  Magis- 
trates have  been  dismissed,  and  eleven  others 
appointed,  some  of  whom  are  well  known 
for  their  opposition  to  every  measure  adopted 
for  the  preservation  of  American  Freedom. 
No  reason  was  alleged  for  this  violent  insult, 
which  was  brought  about  by  a  contemptible 
junto  in  Baltimore  Town,  who  are  inimical  to 

the  rights  of  America,       -       -       -       -  124 

DELAWARE  ASSEMBLY. 

Mar.  13,  Delaware  Assembly  meets,  -  126 

14,  Mr.  McKean  reported  to  the  House  the  Pro- 

ceedings of  the  late  Continental  Congress,     -  126 

15,  Conduct  of  the  Delegates  from  Delaware  ap- 

proved, and  receive  the  thanks  of  the  Assem- 

bly,  126 

Proceedings  of  the  Continental  Congress  ap- 
proved, and  their  Journal  ordered  to  be  de- 
posited amongst  the  files  of  the  House,  -       -  126 
1G,  Compensation  to  the  Delegates  to  the  Congress,  127 
Delegates  are  unanimously  reappointed,  -       -  127 
17,  Committee  to  prepare  Instructions  for  the  Dele- 
gates to  the  Continental  Congress,        -       -  127 

20,  Letter  from  the  Colony  Agents  in  London,       -  127 

21,  Petitions  from  New-Castle  County,  and  from 

Kent  County,  praying  the  House  to  pass  a 

Bill  for  establishing  the  Militia,  -       -       -  127 

23,  Message  from  Governour  Penn  to  the  Assembly, 

recommending  the  establishment  of  Boundary 
lines,      -       -       -      -       :       -       -  128 

24,  Bill  reported  to  prohibit  the  Importation  of  Slaves, 

read,  amended,  and  ordered  to  be  engrossed,  -  128 
Instructions  for  the  Delegates  to  the  Congress 
reported,  -  -128 

25,  Engrossed  Bill  to  prohibit  Importation  of  Slaves, 

passed  and  sent  to  the  Governour,  -  -  128 
27,  The  Governour  returned  the  Bill,  "  to  which  he 

cannot  give  his  assent,"  -  -  -  -  129 
29,  Instructions  for  the  Delegates  to  Congress  agreed 

to,  129 

Assembly  adjourned  till  the  fifth  day  of  June, 

next,  129 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  ETC. 

Mar.  13,  Pennsylvania  Council — 

The  Governour  submits  a  Letter  from  the  Earl  of 
Dartmouth,  dated  January  7,  1775,  expressing 
his  concern  that  the  Non-Importation  Resolu- 
tion of  Congress  had  been  so  generally  adopt- 
ed, and  informing  him  that  the  King  approved 
the  Boundary  line  between  Pennsylvania  and 

Maryland,  129 

The  Council  consider  the  latter  part  of  the  above 
Letter,  and  advise  the  Governour  to  issue  a 
Proclamation,  recalling  his  Proclamation  of 
the  2d  of  November  last,  -  -  -  -  130 
16,  Letter  from  Governour  Penn  to  Governour 
Eden,  informing  him  of  his  intention  to  recall 
his  Proclamation  of  November  2,  1774,  and 
to  enforce  that  of  the  15th  of  September,       -  130 

13,  Town  Meeting  in  Boston,  direct  the  Committee 

of  Correspondence  to  draw  up  a  Statement  of 
the  conduct  of  the  Troops  under  command  of 
General  Gage,  and  of  the  Navy  under  Admi- 
ral Graves,       -       -       -       -       -  130 

14,  Meeting  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Hackcnsack,  in 

New-Jersey.  Resolve  to  continue  loyal  Sub- 
jects to  King  George.  To  disavow  all  riotous 
mobs.  That  Petitions  to  the  Throne  are  the 
proper  means  to  remove  present  grievances. 
That  they  will  not  be  concerned  in  any  un- 
constitutional measures;  and  that  they  will 
support  His  Majesty's  Civil  Officers,  -  -  131 
14,  Meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Observation  for 
Freehold,  Monmouth  County,  New-Jersey. 
The  Inhabitants  of  Shrewsbury  having  omit- 
ted to  choose  a  Committee,  this  Committee  will 


XXIV 

1775. 

hereafter  treat  them  as  enemies  to  their  King 
and  Country,  and  deserters  from  the  common 
cause  of  Freedom,     -       -       -       -  1 3 1 

March  Meeting  of  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of 

14,  New-Windsor,  in  Ulster  County,  New- York. 
Declare  their  attachment  to  the  King,  to 
whom  they  would  be  deficient  in  duty  if  they 
submit  to  the  power  assumed  by  the  Parlia- 
ment. Approve  and  will  abide  by  the  Asso- 
ciation of  the  Continental  Congress.  Con- 
demn sundry  Publications  by  James  Riving- 
ton,  a  Ministerial  hireling,  and  an  enemy  to  his 
Country,  -       -       -       -       -       -  -131 

15,  Letters  from  Philadelphia  to  Mr.  Rivington  in 

New- York,  condemning  and  ridiculing  the 
Congress,  Committees,  and  leaders  among  the 

Whigs,  133-134 

15,  Letter  from  Mr.  Povvnal,  Secretary  to  the  Board 
of  Trade  and  Plantations,  to  Lieutenant  Go- 
vernour Colden,  enclosing  extracts  from  the 
Minutes  and  Proceedings  upon  several  Peti- 
tions and  Memorials,  relative  to  certain  Lands 
in  the  Province  of  New- York,  heretofore 
claimed  by  Mr.  Van  Rensselaer,  -       -  134-137 

15,  The  Sub-Committees  Report  to  the  Committee 

for  the  City  and  County  of  New- York,  the 
election  this  day  of  eleven  Delegates  to  a 
Provincial  Congress,  to  be  held  on  the  20th 
day  of  April,    -       -       -       -       -  -137 

16,  Letter  from  General  Committee  of  the  City  of 

New- York  to  all  the  Counties  in  the  Colony, 
requesting  them,  without  delay,  to  elect  Depu- 
ties to  a  Provincial  Congress,  for  the  purpose 
of  appointing  Delegates  to  the  Continental 
Congress  to  meet  at  Philadelphia,  on  the  1 0th 
of  May  next,  138 

16,  Account  of  the  election  in  New-York  yesterday, 
and  of  the  efforts  of  the  Ministerial  Party  to 
prevent  it,         -       -       -       -       -       -  138 

16,  Remarks  of  "A  Citizen"  on  the  election.  The 
People  were  deceived  by  a  scheme  intended  to 
supplant  some  of  the  old  Delegates,  and  get 
Mr.  McDougall  into  the  Congress,      -       -  139 

16,  Company  formed  in  Philadelphia  for  establishing 
an  American  Manufactory  of  Woollens,  Lin- 
ens and  Cottons,        -       -       -       -  140 

16,  Speech  delivered  in  Carpenter's  Hall  before  the 
Subscribers  to  the  Fund  for  establishing  Ame- 
rican Manufactures  in  Philadelphia,    -  140 

16,  Proceedings  of  the  General  Committee  of  the 
City  of  New-York  in  relation  to  the  landing 
of  Goods,  by  Messrs.  Robert  and  John  Mur- 
ray, from  the  Ship  Beulah,         -       -  144-148 

10,  Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Elizabethtown, 

New-Jersey,  to  the  New- York  Committee, 
informing  them  of  their  reasons  for  suspecting 
Goods  had  been  landed  from  the  Beulah,      -  144 

11,  Another  Letter  from  the  Elizabethtown  Commit- 

tee. They  have  continued  their  examination 
into  the  affair,  but  have  not  yet  obtained  full 
information.  Samuel  Lee,  a  Boatman,  and 
Ichabod  B.  Barnct,  (son-in-law  to  Robt.  Mur- 
ray,) appear  to  have  been  the  persons  con- 
cerned in  the  affair,    .....  144 

13,  Letter  from  Robert  and  John  Murray  to  the 

New- York  Committee,  acknowledging  that 
they  had  landed  Goods  from  the  Beulah,  in 
violation  of  the  Continental  Association.  Con- 
demn the  act  as  unjustifiable,  and  offer  to  re- 
ship  all  the  Goods  within  seven  days,  -  145 

15,  Inventory  of  Goods  taken  out  of  the  Beulah  at 

Sandy- Hook,  145 

15,  Deposition  of  John  Murray  to  his  statement  of 

the  taking  the  Goods  from  the  Beulah,         -  145 
Affirmation  of  Robert  Murray,       -       -       -  146 

15,  Letter  from  Robert  and  John  Murray  to  the 
New- York  Committee.  They  have  delivered 
the  Goods  taken  from  the  Beulah  to  the  Eliza- 
bethtown  Committee.  They  are  willing  to 
reship  the  Goods,  as  required  by  the  Associa- 
tion, and  to  make  any  other  satisfaction  the 
Committee  may  require.  As  a  further  ac- 
knowledgment of  their  errour,  they  offer  the 
sum  of  two  hundred  Pounds  towards  rebuild- 
ing the  Hospital,  147 

14,  Letter  from  the  Elizabethtown  Committee  to  the 

New-York  Committee,  enclosing  the  Affidavit 

of  Samuel  Lee,         -       -       -       -       -  147 


XXV 

1775. 
March 
16, 


16, 


CONTENTS. 


XXVI 


6, 


16, 


17, 


17, 
17, 

18, 
19, 

20, 

20, 


20 


Address  to  the  Inhnbitants  of  New- York.  Obe- 
dience and  submission  to  Government  urged 
and  enforced  on  the  authority  of  the  Bible,  -  148 
Reply  to  the  foregoing.     Absolute  passive  obe- 
dience and  non-resistance  is  contrary  to  the 

Word  of  God,   149 

Declaration  of  the  Grand  Jury  and  Magistrates 
at  a  Court  of  Quarter  Sessions,  at  Johnstown, 
Tryon  County,  New- York.     Condemn  the 
destruction  of  the  Tea  at  Boston  as  an  out- 
rageous and  unlawful  act.    Renew  their  pro- 
fessions of  attachment  and  pledges  of  true  al- 
legiance to  their  lawful  Sovereign,  and  will,  in 
any  extremity,  exert  themselves  in  support  of 
Government,     -       -       -       -       -  -151 

Letter  from  the  Rev.  Dr.  Wheelock  to  Govern- 
our  Trumbull.     Has  sent  Mr.  James  Dean 
among  the  Indian  Tribes  in  Canada  to  pre- 
serve peace  on  the  frontier  Settlements.  Mr. 
Dean  has  great  influence  with  the  Six  Na- 
tions, and  could,  if  authorized,  get  them  to  join 
the  Colonies  against  any  invasion  that  may  be 
attempted,         -  152 
Remonstrance  presented  by  the  Selectmen  of  Bil- 
lerica  to  General  Gage,  demanding  satisfaction 
for  the  outrage  committed  on  Thomas  Ditson, 
by  the  authority  of  Colonel  Nesbit.     If  the 
Inhabitants  of  the  Country  Towns  are  treat- 
ed with  this  brutish  ferocity  they  will  hereafter 
use  a  different  style  from  that  of  petition  and 
complaint,        ------  153 

Address  to  the  Gentlemen  of  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress of  Virginia,  by  Charles  Lee.    The  Ad- 
dresses of  the  New- York  Assembly  are  more 
alarming  than  the  threats  of  the  Minister. — 
Any  defection  amongst  ourselves  is  a  matter  of 
the  most  serious  concern.    It  behooves  every 
Provincial  Congress  to  consider  of  some  effec- 
tual means  to  prevent  the  mischievous  conse- 
quences intended  by  these  abandoned  men,    -  153 
u  Lucius"  on  the  treatment  the  Colonies  have 
received  from  Great  Britain.    Their  patience 
and  forbearance  under  all  their  wrongs.  Their 
conduct  defended  and  their  resistance  justified,  156 
Letter  to  Governour  Wentworth.    Formerly  no 
man  in  his  station  could  be  more  honoured  and 
revered.    By  his  late  conduct  in  carrying  out 
the  plans  of  the  Ministry  he  has  lost  the  affec- 
tions of  the  People,  and  will  never  possess  them 
in  future,         -  159 
Letter  from  Essex,  New-Jersey,  to  D.  C.  Dan- 
ger to  be  apprehended  to  the  Country  from  the 
influence  of  a  party  too  near  the  Throne,      -  160 
Letter  from  Dr.  Franklin  to  Arthur  Lee,  trans- 
ferring to  him  all  the  Papers  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts Agency,       -       -       -       -  162 

Proclamation  of  the  States-General  of  the  United 
Provinces,  prohibiting  the  exportation  of  Am- 
munition or  Arms,  in  vessels  belonging  to  the 
Dominions  of  Great  Britain,  for  six  months,  -  277 
Proceedings  in  Charlestown,  South-Carolina,  on 
the  arrival  of  the  Snow  Proteus  from  London, 
with  Merchandise,  &c.    The  Committee  au- 
thorize the  landing  of  two  Horses  from  the 
vessel.   The  People,  dissatisfied  with  this  de- 
cision, petition  for  a  reconsideration  of  it  in  a 
full  Committee.     The  permission  to  land  the 
Horses  reconsidered  and  rescinded  by  the  Com- 
mittee, and  a  Resolution  adopted,  directing  the 
Horses,  Merchandise  and  Furniture  to  be  re- 
turned to  England,     -       -       -       -       -  162 

A  full  account  of  these  Proceedings,  by  Mr. 

Drayton,  (Note,)  163 

Instructions  drawn  upfor  the  Delegates  to  the  Con- 
vention, from  a  certain  County  in  Virginia,   -  163 


VIRGINIA  CONVENTION. 


Mar. 20,  Virginia  Convention  meets  at  Richmond, 
List  of  the  Delegates,  -  -  -  - 
Peyton  Randolph  elected  President,  and  John 

Tazewell  Clerk,  

President  laid  before  the  Convention  the  Proceed- 
ings of  the  Continental  Congress,  and  a  Letter 
from  Benjamin  Franklin,  William  Bollan  and 
Arthur  Lee,  - 
The  Proceedings  of  the  Congress  to  be  considered 
to-morrow,  ...... 


165-172 
-  165 


166 


166 


166 


1775. 
March 
21, 


22, 
23, 


24, 


25, 


27, 


Letter  from  the  Inhabitants  of  Augusta  County, 
west  of  the  Alleghany  Mountains,  requesting 
John  Nevill  and  John  Harvie  may  be  admitted 
as  their  Delegates,  -       -  - 

Mr.  Nevill  and  Mr.  Harvie  admitted, 
Proceedings  of  the  Continental  Congress  consi- 
dered, ------ 

Further  considered,  and  after  the  matures!  con- 
sideration cordially  approved,  ... 
Petition  and  Memorial  of  the  Assembly  of  Jamaica 

to  the  King,  laid  before  the  Convention, 
The  President  directed  to  transmit  the  thanks  of 
the  Convention  to  the  Assembly  of  Jamaica, 
for  their  patriotick  conduct,  ... 
Committee  to  prepare  a  plan  for  embodying,  arm- 
ing and  disciplining  such  number  of  men  as 
may  be  necessary  for  the  defence  of  the  Colony, 
Plan  for  embodying  the  Militia  reported, 
The  Committee  of  Correspondence  directed  to 
procure  authentick  information  from  the  Com- 
mittee of  New- York,  whether  their  House 
of  Representatives,  by  any  vote,  have  deserted 
the  union  of  the  American  Colonies, 
Committees  of  the  several  Counties  and  Corpora- 
tions directed  to  exert  themselves  in  procuring 
contributions  for  the  suffering  Inhabitants  of 
Boston,  ------ 

On  account  of  the  unsettled  state  of  the  Country, 
Lawyers,  Suiters  and  Witnesses  are  requested 
not  to  attend  the  next  General  Court,  - 
Plan  for  embodying,  arming  and  disciplining  the 

Militia,  adopted,  - 
Vote  of  Thanks  to  Lord  Dunmore  for  his  noble, 
wise  and  spirited  conduct  on  the  late  expedition 
against  the  Indians,    -       -       -       -  - 

Delegates  to  the  Continental  Congress  elected  by 

ballot,  

Committee  to  prepare  a  plan  for  the  encourage- 
ment of  Manufactures  in  the  Colony, 
Plan  for  the  encouragement  of  Arts  and  Manu- 
factures reported,  and  unanimously  agreed  to, 
For  the  more  effectually  carrying  this  plan  into 
execution,  it  is  earnestly  recommended  to  form 
Societies  in  different  parts  of  the  Colony,  and 
to  offer  premiums,  - 
Committee  to  inquire  whether  the  King  may  of 
right  advance  the  terms  of  granting  Lands  in 
this  Colony,  ------ 

Thomas  Jefferson  appointed  a  Deputy  to  the 
General  Congress  in  the  room  of  Peyton  Ran- 
dolph, if  Mr.  Randolph  cannot  attend,  - 
The  People  recommended  to  choose  Delegates  to 
represent  them  in  Convention  for  one  year,  - 
Convention  dissolved,     -  - 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  ETC. 

March  Field  Officers  chosen  for  New-Castle  County, 
20,      Delaware,  ------ 

20,  Committee  for  Chester  County,  Pennsylvania, 
direct  each  Member  to  use  diligence  in  collect- 
ing money  for  Boston,  - 

20,  Letter  from  Boston  to  Newport,  R.  I.   The  inso- 

lence of  the  British  Soldiers  at  Boston,  encou- 
raged and  headed  by  their  Officers, makes  it  un- 
safe for  people  to  walk  the  streets  at  noon-day, 
Letter  from  a  Gentleman  in  the  service  of  a  Coun- 
sellor of  State  at  Paris,  to  his  friend  in  Rhode- 
Island, 

21,  Proclamation  by  Lord  Dunmore,  for  the  sale  of 

the  King's  vacant  Lands  in  Virginia,  and  pro- 
hibiting Richard  Henderson  from  taking  pos- 
session of  any  Lands  under  a  pretended  pur- 
chase from  the  Indians,  -       -  - 

21,  Address  of  the  Committee  of  Norfolk,  Virginia, 
to  the  Publick,  declaring  Captain  Simpson  a 
violator  of  the  Association,  and  an  enemy  of 
American  Liberty,  ..... 

21,  Committee  for  Talbot  County,  Maryland,  direct 
two  bales  of  Goods  imported  in  the  Ship  Balti- 
timore,  in  violation  of  the  Continental  Associa- 
tion to  be  sent  back  to  Glasgow, 

21,  Albany,  New- York,  Committee  appoint  Deputies 
to  the  Provincial  Congress,  - 

21,  Liberty- Pole  cut  down  at  Poughkeepsie,  in  New- 
York,  by  the  Sheriff  of  Dutchess  County,  at- 
tended by  a  Judge  of  the  Inferiour  Court,  and 
two  of  His  Majesty's  Justices  of  the  Peace,    -  176 


167 
167 

167 

107 

167 

167 


168 
168 


163 

168 

168 
169 

170 
170 
170 
170 

171 

172 

172 

172 
172 

172 
172 

173 
173 

174 

174 

175 
176 


XXVII 

1775 
Marc 
21, 


CONTENTS. 


XXVII 


A  Letter  from  Samuel  Adams  to  Richard  Henry 
Lee.  Virginia  from  the  beginning  of  the  contest 
has  distinguished  herself  in  the  cause  of  Ame- 
rican Liberty:  the  People  of  Massachusetts, 
with  some  few  exceptions,  are  firm  and  united. 
The  conduct  of  the  British  Soldiers  and  Offi- 
cers highly  offensive  to  the  citizens;  the  Offi- 
cers endeavoured  to  create  a  disturbance  on  the 
6th,  when  Dr.  Warren  delivered  his  Oration,  176 

21,  Letter  from  Colonel  E.  Doolittle  to  John  Han- 

cock, suggesting  the  establishing  of  a  Civil 
Constitution  for  the  Province,  to  remedy  the 
evils  every  where  felt  for  want  of  a  regular 
Government,     -       -       -       -       -  177 

22,  Letter  from  Arthur  Lee,  enclosing  one  received 

from  the  Lord  Mayor  of  London,  giving  in- 
formation of  attempts  to  procure  counterfeits 
of  the  Bills  of  Credit  of  the  Colonies,    -       -  178 

22,  Letter  from  Dr.  Franklin  to  his  son,  giving  a 
history  of  his  private  negotiations  in  London, 
for  a  settlement  of  the  difficulties  between  the 
Colonies  and  Great  Britain,        -       -  178-210 

22,  Letter  from  Dr.  Wheelock  to  Governour  Trum- 
bull. There  are  reports  of  an  invasion  from 
Canada,  and  the  Indians,  if  not  secured  in  our 
interests,  will  likely  join  on  the  other  side.  Se- 
veral of  their  children,  from  some  of  the  most 
respectable  tribes,  are  now  at  the  Seminary, 
(Dartmouth,)  and  may  be  considered  hosta- 
ges; Mr. Dean,  now  among  them,  will  proba- 
bly bring  more ;  this  connection  is  our  surest 
bulwark  against  an  invasion,       ...  210 

22,  Letter  from  Boston  to  a  Gentleman  in  New- York. 

Outrages  of  the  British  Officers  and  Soldiers 

in  Boston,  211 

23,  Letter  from  New- York  to  John  Dickinson;  re- 

viewing and  condemning  his  political  conduct,  211 

23,  Letter  to  the  Committee  of  Inspection  for  the  City 
and  County  of  New- York.  Their  censure  of 
Mr.  Rivington  is  arbitrary  and  tyrannical,  and 
breathes  a  spirit  of  intimidation  towards  him,  213 

23,  Account  of  the  Riots  in  Cumberland  County, 

New- York,  214 

23,  Benjamin  Hough  to  the  Inhabitants  of  the  City 

of  New- York,  215 

Statement  of  Benjamin  Hough,  under  oath,  of  the 
indignities  and  violence  he  received  from  the 
Rioters  in  Cumberland  County,   -       -       -  215 

23,  A  relation  of  the  proceedings  of  the  People  of  the 
County  of  Cumberland,  and  Province  of  New- 
York,      -       -       -       -  -       -  218 

23,  Letter  from  Colonel  Gilbert  to  Captain  Wallace  of 
His  Majesty's  Ship  Rose.  Many  threats  have 
been  made  against  those  who  have  taken  Arms 
in  the  King's  name,  and  there  is  fear  the  Rebels 
will  attack  them,  222 

23,  Guilford,  Connecticut,  Committee,  acquit  Cap- 
tain Griffin  of  an  intentional  violation  of  the 
Association  in  taking  fourteen  Sheep  to  Mar- 
tinico,      -  222 

23,  Address  to  the  Inhabitants  of  Massachusetts  Bay, 

No  6,  from  the  County  of  Hampshire.  The 
question  examined,  Whether  we  are  in  truth  a 
part  of  the  British  Empire,  in  such  a  sense  as 
to  be  subject  to  her  supreme  authority  in  all 
cases  whatsoever?      -       -       -       -       -  222 

24,  Committee  of  Nansemond  County,  Virginia,  pub- 

lish the  Rev.  John  Agnevv,  Rector  of  Suffolk 
Parish,  for  his  opposition  to  the  Association 
and  the  Provincial  Congress,      ...  226 

24,  Worcester  (Massachusetts)  Committee  require 
punctual  attendance  of  Members  of  the  Com- 
mittee,  228 

24,  Letter  from  Colonel  Thomas  Wheeler  to  the 
Printers  of  the  Massachusetts  Gazette,  explain- 
ing the  reasons  for  resigning  his  commission, 
acknowledging  his  former  errours,  and  avowing 
his  firm  attachment  to  the  cause  of  Liberty,   -  228 

24,  Letter  from  a  Freeholder  of  the  County  of  Wor- 
cester. The  violence  and  misrepresentations 
of  the  Tory  writers  cannot  injure  the  cause  of 
Liberty,  229 

24,  Letter  from  Montreal.     The  Canadians  were 

highly  offended  by  the  Address  of  the  Congress 

to  the  People  of  England,  -       -       -  231 

25,  "Nestor"  to  the  People  of  England.  Boston 

is  become  a  Garrison.    The  inhabitants  are 
ruined,  but  Hutchinson  is  pensioned,    -       -    232  | 


1775 
Marc 

25, 


25, 


25, 


25, 


28, 


28, 

28, 
29, 
29, 

29, 


30, 

30, 
30, 
31, 
31, 


April 
1, 


k  liCtter  from  Governour  Eden  to  Governour  Penn, 
refusing  to  join  in  issuing  a  Proclamation,  re- 
calling that  of  November  2,  1774,  respecting 
the  Boundary  between  Pennsylvania  and  Mary- 
land,  303 

Letter  from  Essex,  New-Jersey,  to  D.  C.  The 
late  news  from  England  has  strengthened  the 
union  of  the  Colonies.     Not  more  than  three 
Towns  in  the  four  New-England  Provinces 
opposed  to  the  measures  of  the  Congress;  in 
New-Jersey  and  the  Southern  Provinces  the 
opposition  is  as  small.     Some  few  places  in 
New-York  are  delinquent,  but  they  appear  to 
be  returning  to  their  duty,  ...  232 

Confession  of  Thomas  Lilly,  of  Marblehead,  that 

he  has  been  guilty  of  purchasing  Tea,  -  234 

Deposition  of  Simon  Tufts,  March  31st,  that  in 
purchasing  Tea  he  had  no  intention  of  viola- 
ting the  Association,  ....  234 

Orange  County,  Virginia,  Committee,  meet,  and 
demand  of  the  Rev.  John  Wingate  the  surren- 
der of  a  number  of  Pamphlets  containing  re- 
flections on  the  Continental  Congress.  The 
Committee  obtain  them  after  some  difficulty 
and  delay,  and  order  them  to  be  burnt,  -  234 

Proclamation  by  Lord  Dunmore,  requiring  all 
Magistrates  and  Officers  to  use  their  endeavours 
to  prevent  the  appointment  of  Deputies  to  the 
Continental  Congress,  and  exhorting  all  persons 
within  the  Colony  to  desist  from  such  an  unjus- 
tifiable proceeding,     .....  236 

Remarks  on  Lord  Dartmouth's  Circular  to  the 
Governours  of  the  Colonies,  requiring  them  to 
do  their  utmost  to  prevent  the  choice  of  Depu- 
ties to  the  Continental  Congress,  -       -  236 
Letter  from  an  Englishman  in  New- York  to 
the  Committee  of  Correspondence  for  Philadel- 
phia. Charges  them  with  falsehood,  hypocrisy 
and  rebellion ;  condemns  their  whole  proceed- 
ings, and  asserts  that  the  number  of  loyal  sub- 
jects is  increasing  with  a  rapid  progress,       -  238 
Meeting  of  the  Committee  for  Worcester,  Massa- 
chusetts,         ......  242 

Letter  from  a  Gentleman  in  London  to  his  friend 

in  North-Carolina,    -----  242 

New- York  Committee  recommend  to  the  Inhabi- 
tants to  stop  the  exportation  of  Nails,  and  to 
withhold  all  Supplies,  which  are  essential  to 
hostilities,  from  the  Troops  at  Boston,  -  242 

Letter  from  J.-  Brown  to  the  Committee  of  Cor- 
respondence at  Boston.  The  Canadians  appear 
to  be  quite  friendly  towards  the  Colonies,  but 
there  is  no  prospect  of  Canada  sending  Dele- 
gates to  the  Continental  Congress.  The  Fort 
at  Ticonderoga  must  be  seized  should  hostili- 
ties be  committed  by  the  King's  Troops;  the 
People  on  the  New-Hampshire  Grants  have 
engaged  to  do  this  business,  and  they  are  the 
most  proper  persons  for  the  job,  -  -  -  243 
Committee  for  Lancaster  County,  Pennsylvania, 
approve  the  conduct  of  George  Ross  for  oppos- 
ing, in  the  Assembly,  the  recommendation  of 
the  Governour  to  send  a  separate  Petition  to 

His  Majesty,  245 

Chiefs  of  the  Six  Nations  in  consultation  with 

Colonel  Guy  Johnson,        ....  245 

Letter  to  the  Inhabitants  of  Massachusetts-Bay, 

No.  7,  from  the  County  of  Hampshire,         -  245 
Freeholders  of  Jamaica,  on  Long-Island,  refuse 

to  send  Deputies  to  the  Provincial  Congress,  251 
Letter  to  the  Subscribers  to  an  Association  agreed 
to  in  January  last,  in  Portsmouth,  New-Hamp- 
shire,      -       -       -       -       -       -  -251 

Letter  from  London  to  a  Gentleman  in  Philadel- 
phia. The  behaviour  of  the  New-Yorkers  has 
raised  the  drooping  spirits  of  the  Ministry, 
who  now  declare  their  intention  of  starving  the 
four  New-England  Colonies,      ...  252 
Letter  from  New-Haven  to  Mr.  Rivington.  The 
Committee  of  Inspection  have  proceeded  to 
very  unwarrantable  lengths,  and  threaten  those 
who  drink  Tea.    If  they  carry  matters  to  ex- 
tremity, now  is  the  time  to  repel  force  by  force,  252 
Council  of  North-Carolina  advise  the  Governour 
to  issue  a  Proclamation  to  forbid  the  holding 
a  Provincial  Congress,       ....  253 

Proclamation  by  Governour  Martin,  to  forbid  the 
sitting  of  the  Provincial  Congress,  at  New- 


XXIX 

n;o. 


CONTENTS. 


xxx 


April 
3, 
3, 


3, 


bern  this  day,  and  exhorting  all  His  Majes- 
ty's subjects,  on  their  allegiance,  to  withdraw 
themselves  from  the  same,  - 

Meeting  of  the  Committee  for  Gloucester  Coun- 
ty, Virginia,  - 

Committee  for  Philadelphia  cautioning  their  Fel- 
low-Citizens of  an  attempt  to  be  made  to  violate 
the  Association,  by  importing  East- India  goods 
through  the  Dutch  Islands,  ... 

Committee  for  Freehold,  Monmouth  County, 
New-Jersey,  declare  Thomas  Leonard  a  foe  to 
the  rights  of  British  America,  for  violations  of 
the  Continental  Association, 

Letter  from  New- York  to  a  Gentleman  in  Bos- 
ton. It  is  suspected  that  the  Troops  really 
mean  to  take  the  field;  some  imagine  they  will 
march  out  five  or  ten  miles  at  a  time,  in  order 
to  compel  the  people  of  Massachusetts  to  begin 
hostilities  first,  ..... 

Letter  from  Dr.  Joseph  Warren  to  Arthur  Lee. 
America  must,  and  will  be  free.  The  contest 
may  be  severe.  The  end  will  be  glorious. 
A  detachment  of  the  Army  marched  four  miles 
out  of  Boston  three  days  ago ;  great  numbers  of 
the  People,  complete  ly  armed,  collected  in  the 
neighbouring  Towns.  The  Congress  imme- 
diately took  proper  measures  for  restraining 
any  unnecessary  effusion  of  blood, 


254 


254 


254 


-  254 


255 


NORTH-CAROLINA.  ASSEMBLY. 

Apr.  4,  North-Carolina  Assembly  meets,  ... 
List  of  Members  elected  to  the  Assembly, 
List  of  Members  attending,  .... 
John  Harvey  chosen  Speaker,  and  approved  by 
the  Governour,  ..... 
Speech  of  the  Governour  to  the  Council  and 
House  of  Assembly,  .... 

5,  The  Govcrnour's  Speech  to  be  considered  to-mor- 

row,        ....  . 

6,  Governour's  Speech  considered  in  Committee  of 

the  Whole,  

Report  of  the  Committee  of  the  Whole  House, 

7,  Answer  to  the  Governour's  Speech, 
Proceedings  of  Continental  Congress  approved, 
Delegates  to  the  Congress  chosen  by  the  Conven- 
tion, approved  by  the  Assembly, 

Thanks  of  the  House  to  the  Delegates  to  the  late 
Continental  Congress,  - 

8,  Assembly  dissolved  by  the  Governour, 

7,  Council  of  North-Carolina,  on  reading  the  vote 

of  the  House  of  Assembly,  approving  of  the 
Proceedings  of  the  Continental  Congress,  ad- 
vise the  Governour  to  dissolve  the  Assembly, 

8,  Proclamation  of  Governour  Martin,  dissolving 

the  Assembly,  ------ 


NORTH-CAROLINA  PROVINCIAL  CONVENTION. 

Apr.  3,  Convention  of  North-Carolina  meets, 
List  of  the  Delegates  elected,  - 
List  of  the  Delegates  present,  ... 
John  Harvey  chosen  Moderator, 

4,  Other  Delegates  attend,  .... 

5,  Resolution  approving  of  the  Continental  Associa- 

tion, and  binding  the  Members  of  this  Conven- 
tion to  adhere  to  it,  - 

All  the  Members  subscribe  this  Resolution,  ex- 
cept Mr.  Thomas  Macknight,  who  refused,  - 

Thanks  of  the  Convention  to  the  Delegates  to 
the  late  Continental  Congress,  ... 

Answer  of  the  Delegates  to  the  Moderator, 

Thanks  to  the  Delegates,  by  Colonel  John  Har- 
vey, in  compliance  with  instructions  from  Per- 
quimans County,  ..... 

Answer  of  the  Dele  gates,  .... 

Delegates  to  the  Congress  to  be  held  in  May  next, 
appointed,  and  invested  with  such  powers  as 
may  make  acts  done  by  them  obligatory  in 
honour  upon  every  inhabitant  of  the  Province, 

6,  Thomas  Macknight,  a  Delegate  for  Currituck 

County,  called  upon  to  sign  the  Continental 
Association,  refuses,  and  withdraws  from  the 
Convention,  ...... 

Resolution  declaring  Mr.  Macknight  a  proper 
object  of  contempt  to  the  Continent,  and  recom- 
mend all  persons  to  break  off  all  inteicourse 
and  dealing  with  him,  .... 


255 


255 
255 
256 

257 

257 

261 

261 
261 

263 
265 

265 

265 
266 


266 


266 


266 
266 
267 
267 
267 


268 

268 

268 
268 


269 
269 


269 


269 


270 


1775. 

April  The  Moderator,  or  Mr.  Johnston,  empowered  to 
7,      direct  Delegates  to  be  chosen  to  a  Convention 

to  meet  in  Hillsborough,    ....  270 

Proceedings  of  the  late  Continental  Congress  ap- 
proved of  by  the  Convention,      ...  270 

Arts,  Manufactures,  Agriculture,  and  every  kind 
of  economy,  to  be  encouraged  in  the  Colony,  270 

The  Governour's  Proclamation  to  prohibit  this 
meeting,  and  his  Proclamation  commanding 
this  meeting  to  disperse,  are  illegal,  and  ought 
to  be  disregarded,       .....  270 

Vindication  of  Thomas  Macknight,  by  Samuel 
Jarvis  and  others,      -  -       -       -  271 

12,  Council  of  North-Carolina,    -       -       -       -  273. 

Governour  submits  the  proceedings  of  the  Con- 
vention, signed  by  John  Harvey,  Moderator, 
containing  Resolves  derogatory  to  the  honour 
and  dignity  of  His  Majesty's  Government,    -  273 

Mr.  Harvey's  name  struck  out  of  His  Majesty's 
Commission  of  the  Peace  for  Perquimans 
County,  273 

CORRESPONDENCE,   PROCEEDINGS,  ETC. 

April  Town  Meeting  at  Hempstead,  Queen's  County, 
4,  in  New-York  ;  resolve  to  bear  true  allegiance 
to  George  the  Third,  and  to  adhere  to  the  Bri- 
tish Constitution;  approve  of  the  proceedings 
and  aeldresses  of  the  General  Assembly,  and 
refuse  to  choose  Deputies  to  a  Provincial  Con- 
gress,  273 

Address  to  the  publick,  by  a  Freeholder  of  Hemp- 
stead.    The  Resolutions  of  the  meeting  at 
Hempstead,  on  the  4th  instant,  do  not  truly 
represent  the  Town.    Many  of  the  principal 
freeholders  disapprove  of  the  proceedings  of 
the  Assembly,  support  the  Continental  Associa- 
tion, and  are  in  favour  of  a  Provincial  Con- 
gress,     .......  274 

4,  Delegates  appointed  to  the  Provincial  Congress, 
by  a  Town  Meeting  in  Goshen,  Orange  Coun- 
ty, New- York,  275 

4,  Delegates  appointed  to  the  Provincial  Congress, 

by  a  Town  Meeting  in  Cornwall  Precinct, 
Orange  County,  New- York,       ...  276 

5,  Baltimore  Committee  declare  they  will  carry  into 

execution  the  Association  and  measures  of  the 
Congress,  but  that  they  have  not,  and  will  not, 
use  or  authorize  personal  violence,       -       -  276 

5,  Letter  from  the  Secretary  of  the  Board  of  Trade 
to  the  Governours  of  the  Colonies,  enclosing 
the  Act  to  restrain  the  Trade  of  the  New- 
England  Colonics,  and  prohibiting  them  from 
fishing  on  the  Banks  of  Newfoundland,       -  276 

5,  Letter  from  Mr.  Pownall,  enclosing  a  Proclama- 
tion of  the  States-General,  ....  276 

5,  Order  of  the  King  in  Council,  prohibiting  the 
exportation  out  of  Great  Britain,  or  carrying 
coastwise,  any  Arms  or  Ammunition,  for  six 
months  after  the  19th  of  April,  without  per- 
mission from  the  King  or  his  Privy  Council,  277 

5,   Letter  from  Thomas  Life,  Agent  for  Connecticut, 

in  London,  to  Governour  Trumbull,     -       -  278 

5,  Meeting  of  the  Livery  of  London,  at  Guildhall. 

Address  of  the  Mayor.  Remonstrance  and 
Petition  to  the  Throne  respecting  the  measures 
adopted  with  regard  to  America,  proposed,  de- 
bated, adopted,  and  ordered  to  be  presented  to 

the  Throne,  278 

G,  Letter  from  the  Georgia  Delegates  to  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  Continental  Congress,  explaining 
the  reasons  why  they  think  it  inexpedient  for 
them  to  attend,  ------  279 

6,  Calvert  County,  Maryland,  Committee,  resolve 

that  Alexander  Ogg  has  violated  the  Associa- 
tion, and  ought  to  be  deemed  an  enemy  to 
America,  -       -       -       -       -       -  -281 

Mr.  Ogg's  publick  acknowledgment  of  his  of- 
fence, April  13,        -       -       -       -       -  281 

6,  Committee  for  Sussex  County,  Virginia,  approve 
of  the  proceedings  of  the  Convention  at  Rich- 
mond, and  pledge  themselves  to  adhere  to 
their  Resolutions,       -       -       -       -       -  281 

C,  Inhabitants  of  the  Borough  of  Westchester,  in 
New- York,  refuse  to  choose  Deputies  to  a 
Provincial  Congress,  and  disown  all  Con- 
gresses, Conventions,  and  Committees,        -  282 

6,   General  Meeting  of  the  Inhabitants  of  West- 


XXXI 

1775. 


April 
6, 


CONTENTS. 


XXXII 


6, 


chcstcr,  called  to  determine  whether  they  will 
choose  Deputies  to  the  Provincial  Congress; 
or  whether  they  will  abide  by  the  loyal  mea- 
sures of  the  General  Assembly,  - 

Meeting  of  the  Inhabitants  of  New- York;  ad- 
vice of  the  Committee  against  exporting  Nails, 
and  supplying  the  Troops  at  Boston,  read  and 
approved.  William  and  Henry  Ustick  having 
purchased  intrenching  tools  for  the  Army  at 
Boston,  are  declared  to  be  inveterate  foes  to 
American  freedom,  and  the  people  are  desired 
to  break  off  all  connections  and  dealing  with 
them  for  the  future,  - 

Letter  from  Alexander  McDougall  to  Josiah 
Ciuincy,  Jun.  The  Statement  of  Grievances 
and  not  the  Petition  to  the  King,  the  Memorial 
to  the  Lords,  or  the  Remonstrance  to  the  Com- 
mons, contains  the  true  opinions  of  the  late 
House  of  Assembly  of  New- York.  The  only 
instance  of  a  violation  of  the  Association  at 
New- York,  is  that  of  the  goods  taken  from 
the  Beulah,  - 

Letter  from  Boston,  for  Mr.  Rivington's  Gazet- 
teer, ------- 

Phileirene  to  the  People  of  Massachusetts,  de- 
fending the  measures  of  the  Parliament  against 
the  complaints  of  the  Continental  Congress,  - 

Address  to  the  Inhabitants  of  Massachusetts-Bay, 
No.  8,  from  the  County  of  Hampshire.  On  the 
right  of  the  Parliament  to  an  unlimited  con- 
trol over  the  Colonies,       -       -       -  - 

Letter  from  Alexander  Elmsley,  Agent  for  North- 
Carolina,  in  London,  to  Samuel  Johnston.  Sup- 
pressed the  Petition  to  the  King  from  North- 
Carolina,  because  it  contained  strange  inaccu- 
racies, and  reflections  on  the  Parliament  and 
Ministry,  and  was  not  respectful  to  the  King: 
it  was  probably  owing  to  this  suppression  that 
North-Carolina  was  excepted  from  the  Re- 
straining Bill,  ------ 

Chesterfield  County,  Virginia,  Committee,  will 
encourage  the  manufacture  of  Linen,  Cotton 
and  Woollen  Cloth,  and  subscribe  funds  for  the 
support  of  such  manufactures;  direct  John 
Brown  of  Norfolk,  and  Captain  Sampson  of 
the  Ship  Elizabeth  of  Bristol,  to  be  published 
as  persons  deserving  the  censure  and  contempt 
of  the  People  of  the  Colony,  - 

Committee  of  Kingston,  in  Ulster  County,  New- 
York,  convict  Jacobus  Louw,  on  his  own  ad- 
missions, of  selling  Tea;  and  publish  him  as  an 
enemy  to  the  rights  and  liberties  of  America, 

Application  of  the  Portsmouth,  New-Hampshire 
Volunteers  to  Colonel  Theodore  Atkinson,  for 
permission  to  beat  a  drum,  -       -       -  - 

Southampton,  Virginia,  Committee,  direct  sub- 
scriptions to  aid  Mr.  Tait  in  making  Salt,  and 
make  provision  for  supplying  the  Militia  of  the 
County  with  Ammunition,  -       -       -  - 

Address  to  the  People  of  Virginia,  on  the  "  In- 
structions drawn  up  for  the  Delegates  to  the 
Convention  at  Richmond,  from  a  certain  Coun- 
ty in  Virginia,"  

Address  of  the  Freeholders  of  Fincastle  County, 
Virginia,  to  Lord  Dunmore, 

Proclamation  of  Governour  Penn,  by  the  advice 
of  the  Council  of  Pennsylvania,  revoking  his 
Proclamation  of  the  2d  of  November  last,  in 
relation  to  the  Boundaries  between  Pennsylva- 
nia and  Maryland,  

Letter  from  Gov.  Penn  to  Gov.  Eden.  By  ad- 
vice of  Council,  informing  him  of  his  determi- 
nation to  issue  a  separate  Proclamation, 

Letter  from  Dutchess  County,  New- York;  the 
inhabitants  of  Charlotte  Precinct  have  refused, 
by  a  large  majority,  to  choose  Deputies  to  the 
Prov  incial  Congress,  ----- 

Protest  of  the  Freeholders  of  seven  Precincts  in 
Dutchess  County,  New- York,  against  the  ap- 
pointment of  Robert  R.  Livingston,  Egbert 
Benson,  and  Morris  Graham,  as  Deputies  to 
the  Provincial  Congress,  a  majority  of  the 
Freeholders  being  opposed  to  any  such  Con- 
gress, ------- 

"  A  Freeholder  of  Dutchess  County,"  denying  the 
truth  of  the  statements  in  the  foregoing  Pro- 
test, which  was  never  publickly  read,  or  ap- 
proved of  by  one  of  the  Precincts  named  in  it, 


282 


-  233 


283 
284 

286 
289 


296 


298 

298 
299 

299 

300 
301 

302 
303 

304 


304 


304 


1775. 
April 
8, 


10, 


10, 


10, 


10, 


April 
11, 

11, 

10, 


11, 


11, 

12, 

12, 


Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Montreal,  in  Cana- 
da, to  the  Committee  of  Safety  in  Massachusetts. 
The  People  more  divided  by  their  interests  than 
by  their  religion,  language,  and  manners;  the 
apprehensions  of  evil  from  the  unlimited  power 
ol  Government,  strikes  all  opposition  dead. 
The  bulk  of  the  People,  both  English  and  Ca- 
nadians, wish  well  to  the  cause  of  the  Colonics, 
but  dare  not  stir  a  finger.  They  wish  to  know 
if  English  Delegates  would  be  admitted  to  the 
Congress,  without  entering  into  the  General 
Association,  ------ 

Letter  from  London  to  a  Gentleman  in  New- 
York.  Great  preparations  making  in  England 
to  reduce  the  Colonies  to  submission.  The 
Colonies  must  get  ready  to  fight,  for  nothing 
can  save  them  but  their  own  strength;  the  cry 
of  blood  is  gone  out  against  them, 

Committee  for  Prince  George's  County,  Mary- 
land, publish  Thomas  Bailey  as  an  enemy  to 
the  Country  for  landing  imported  Salt,  in  vio- 
lation of  the  Continental  Association ;  and  John 
Baynes,  for  killing  a  Lamb,  contrary  to  a  Re- 
solve of  the  Provincial  Convention, 

Committee  for  Anne  Arundel  County,  Maryland, 
declare  a  Paper  printed  in  the  London  Pub- 
lick  Ledger  of  the  4th  of  January,  entitled 
"  Facts  relative  to  the  Riot  at  Annapolis,  in 
Maryland,"  a  false,  scandalous  and  malicious 
narrative;  and  the  Author  of  it  an  inveterate 
enemy  to  the  liberties  of  the  Province  in  par- 
ticular, and  of  British  America  in  general,  - 

"Facts  relative  to  the  Riot  at  Annapolis,  in  Ma- 
ryland," the  Paper  referred  to  by  the  Commit- 
tee for  Anne  Arundel  County,  - 

Address  of  the  Committee  of  Inspection  for  Fal- 
mouth, Massachusetts,  to  the  Publick.  A 
statement  of  the  conduct  of  Captain  Thomas 
Coulson,  with  the  reasons  of  the  Committee 
for  publishing  him  as  a  violator  of  the  Conti- 
nental Association,  - 

Committee  of  Inspection  for  Falmouth,  appoint 
a  Sub-Committee  to  prevent  the  landing  of 
prohibited  Merchandise  belonging  to  Captain 
Thomas  Coulson,  March  2,        -       -  - 

The  Committee  determine  that  using  the  Sails, 
Rigging  and  Stores,  imported  by  Coulson,  will 
be  a  violation  of  the  Continental  Association, 
and  order  them  to  be  sent  back  to  Bristol  in 
the  Ship  that  brought  them  here,  March  3,  - 

Information  received  in  London  of  the  sailing  of 
a  Vessel  from  Stettin,  loaded  with  Fire-Arms 
and  Ammunition  for  the  Americans, 

Inhabitants  of  Richmond  County,  in  New- York, 
refuse  to  send  Deputies  to  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress,   

Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  of  Westchester  Coun- 
ty, New- York.  Deputies  to  the  Provincial 
Congress  appointed,  and  thanks  voted  to  the 
minority  in  the  late  General  Assembly  for  their 
firm  attachment  to  the  union  of  the  Colonies 
and  rights  and  liberties  of  America, 

Meeting  of  the  Committees  appointed  by  the  In- 
habitants on  the  east  side  of  the  range  of  Green 
Mountains.  The  inhabitants  being  in  danger 
of  having  their  property  and  their  lives  taken 
from  them  by  the  Government  of  New- York, 
wholly  renounce,  and  will  resist  the  authority 
of  that  Government,  till  they  can  be  made 
secure  in  their  lives  and  property,  or  till  they 
can  lay  their  grievances  before  the  King  in 
Council,  with  a  Petition  that  they  may  be 
taken  out  of  so  oppressive  a  jurisdiction,  or 
annexed  to  some  other  Government, 

Speech  of  the  Chief  Sachem  of  the  Stockbridge 
Indians,  in  answer  to  a  Message  sent  them  by 
the  Provincial  Congress  of  Massachusetts,  - 

"  Regulus"  to  the  King,  on  his  Answer  to  the 
Address  of  the  City  of  London,  - 

Letter  from  General  Gage  to  Governour  Martin 
of  North-Carolina.  The  leaders  in  Massa- 
chusetts, by  their  arts  and  artifices,  still  keep 
up  a  seditious  and  licentious  spirit.  The  new- 
fangled Legislatures  termed  a  Provincial  Con- 
gress, have  taken  the  Government  into  their 
own  hands,  but  they  are  much  puzzled  how  to 
act.  Fear  in  some,  and  a  want  of  inclination 
in  others,  will  be  a  great  bar  to  their  coming 


305 


306 


503 


309 
309 

311 

312 

313 
313 
314 

314 


315 

315 
316 


XXXIII 

1775. 


CONTENTS. 


XXXIV 


13, 
13, 

13. 


to  extremities,  though  their  leaders  use  every 
exertion  to  bring  them  into  the  field,  -  -  317 
April  Letter  from  the  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of 
12,  Falmouth,  Massachusetts,  to  Samuel  Freeman. 
Captain  Mowat,  in  the  Canso,  sloop-of-war,  in 
the  harbour,  to  protect  Coulson's  Ship,  and 
taking  out  the  Goods  which  were  prohibited 
to  be  landed  by  the  Committee.  The  Commit- 
tee will  do  all  they  can  to  prevent  any  other 
person  from  breaking  the  Association,  -       -  318 

12,  Letter  from  a  Gentleman  in  England  to  his  Cor- 

respondent in  Virginia.  The  sword  is  drawn 
here  and  the  scabbard  thrown  away.  The 
threats  thrown  out  here  against  the  Americans 
are  only  fit  for  Savages.  The  declaration  of 
Colonel  Grant,  in  the  House  of  Commons, 
that  he  had  always  treated  the  Americans  as 
beasts  of  burden,  and  that  they  deserved  no 
better  usage,  was  received  with  the  greatest  ap- 
probation. American  fraud,  American  rapine, 
American  cowardice,  and  American  insolence, 
are  the  perpetual  topicks  of  Ministerial  decla- 
mation. Orders  are  sent  to  seize  particular 
persons  in  the  Colonies;  and  certain  American 
advocates  here  will  be  seized  when  the  tem- 
per of  the  times  will  make  it  safe  to  do  so,  -  318 
Opinions  in  England  on  the  Proceedings  of  the 

Continental  Congress,        -       -       -       -  319 
Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Yorktown,  Penn- 
sylvania, to  John  Hancock  and  Thomas  Cush- 
ing,  with  Donations  from  York  County  for  the 
suffering  Poor  of  Boston,   -  320 
Amount  of  Donations  from  York  County,  (Note,)  320 
Protest  of  the  Inhabitants  and  Freeholders  of 
Westchester  County,  New- York,  against  the 
Proceedings  of  the  Meeting  held  at  the  White 
Plains,  on  the  1 1th  instant,  for  the  appointment 
of  Deputies  to  the  Provincial  Congress,       -  321 
Subscribers  to  the   Protest  from  Westchester 

County,  -  321 

Answer  of  Lewis  Morris  to  the  Protest,  with  a 
list  of  one  hundred  and  seventy  of  the  Subscri- 
bers to  it,  who  are  not  entitled  to  vote,  besides 
a  number  of  the  Tenants  of  Colonel  Philipse. 
Very  few  independent  Freeholders  objected  to 
the  appointment  of  Deputies,       ...  323 

13,  Phileirene  to  the  Printers  of  the  Massachusetts 
Gazette.  Objections  to  the  claims  and  com- 
plaints of  the  Continental  Congress,  who,  in 
most  of  their  Proceedings,  have  exceeded  the 
powers  delegated  to  them,  and  in  still  more, 
have  counteracted  the  design  of  their  appoint- 
ment,  324 

13,  Letter  to  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Massachusetts- 
Bay,  No.  9,  from  the  County  of  Hampshire,  329 

14,  Candidus  to  the  People  of  New- Hampshire,     -  334 

1 4,  Recommendation  of  the  Provincial  Congress  of 
Massachusetts  to  the  People,  to  assist  the  In- 
habitants in  removing  from  Boston,      -       -  336 

15,  Letter  from  the  Earl  of  Dartmouth  to  General 
Gage.  All  Fortifications  should  be  garrisoned 
by  the  King's  Troops,  or  dismantled  and  de- 
stroyed. Arms  and  Military  Stores  of  every 
kind  should  be  seized,  and  persons  that  have 
committed  acts  of  treason  and  rebellion  should 
be  arrested  and  imprisoned.  A  Proclamation 
may  be  issued,  offering  a  reward  for  appre- 
hending the  President,  Secretary,  or  any  Mem- 
ber of  the  Provincial  Congress,  who  are  most 
active  in  that  seditious  meeting,    -  336 

15,  Baltimore,  Maryland,  Committee,  request  all  per- 
sons to  abstain  from  attending  the  approaching 
Fair  at  Baltimore  Town,  ....  337 
17,  Letter  from  James  Habersham  to  Clark  and  Mil- 
ligan,  London.  The  fiery  Patriots  of  Charles- 
town  have  stopped  all  dealings  with  Georgia. 
Some  of  the  inflammatory  Resolutions  and 
Measures  of  the  Northern  Colonies  portend 
an  open  rebellion  against  the  Parent  State,  -  337 
17,  Meeting  of  the  Committee  for  King  George 
County,  Virginia.  Austin  Brockenbrough 
summoned  to  appear  before  the  Committee 
to  answer  charges  against  him  of  opposing 
the  measures  of  the  Continental  Congress. — 
Refuses  to  attend,  and  is  published  as  an  enemy 
to  American  Liberty,  ....  337 
17,  Committee  of  Philadelphia  inform  the  Publick 
that  it  is  now  under  the  consideration  of  the 

Foubth  Series. — Vol.  ii. 


April 
17, 


17, 


338 


338 


17, 


17, 


339 


339 


18, 


19, 


19, 


19, 


19, 


19, 


19, 


540 


340 


19, 


Committee  to  suspend  all  trade  and  intercourse 
with  such  Colonies  as  have  not  acceded  to  the 
Association  of  the  Continental  Congress, 

Statement  and  Deposition  of  Isaac  Sears  and 
Paschal  N.  Smith,  denying  the  charge  against 
them  of  having  furnished  Supplies  to  the  Army 
in  Boston,  - 

Letter  from  Arthur  Lee  to  Jas.  Kinsey,  Speaker 
of  the  House  of  Assembly  of  New-Jersey. — 
The  Earl  of  Dartmouth  refused  to  receive  the 
Petition  of  the  Assembly  of  New- Jersey  from 
Mr.  Lee,  because  he  was  not  the  Agent  of  the 
Colony.  The  Petition  will,  therefore,  remain 
to  wait  the  further  pleasure  of  the  House. — 
The  policy  of  the  Ministry  is  to  divide  the  Co- 
lonies, and  draw  them  off  from  their  great 
shield  and  defence,  an  union  in  General  Con- 
gress,   

Letter  from  Governour  Trumbull  to  the  Rev. 
Dr.  WTheelock.  The  ability  and  influence  of 
Mr.  Dean  to  attach  the  Six  Nations  to  the  in- 
terest of  the  Colonies  is  considered  an  instance 
of  Divine  favour,  - 

Parties  of  Minute -Men  met  at  Freetown,  on  the 
10th  instant,  to  seize  Colonel  Gilbert,  but  he 
fled  on  board  the  Man-of-War  at  Newport. — 
A  number  of  Tories,  who  had  signed  Enlist- 
ments to  serve  the  King,  were  taken  prisoners. 
They  made  acknowledgments  of  their  past 
bad  conduct,  promised  to  behave  better  for  the 
future,  and  were  dismissed,  ... 

Address  to  the  Inhabitants  of  New-England. — 
The  time  is  come  when  we  are  called  upon  to 
consider  whether  we  will  defend  our  rights 
and  properties,  or  surrender  them  to  Lord 
North.  Will  it  not  be  wise,  as  soon  as  the 
Sword  of  Great  Britain  is  drawn  against  us, 
to  sacrifice  every  New-England  Tory;  to  in- 
vite the  British  Troops  to  join  us;  to  cut  off 
all  such  as  intend  to  act  as  our  enemies,  and 
to  send  Ambassadors  to  Europe  with  a  decla- 
ration of  our  Ports  being  opened  to  them  for  a 
free  Trade?  

Brecknock  to  the  People  of  England.  The  in- 
vasion of  the  rights  of  the  Americans  is  an  in- 
vasion of  the  rights  of  the  People  of  Great 
Britain.  The  Inhabitants  of  both  Countries 
have  the  same  rights  to  their  liberty  and  pro- 
perty. The  tyranny  that  violates  one  will 
violate  the  other,  ..... 

New- York  Committee.  Proceeds  of  sales  of 
Merchandise  made  under  their  direction, 
agreeable  to  the  Tenth  Article  of  the  Conti- 
nental Association,  to  be  applied  towards  re- 
lieving the  poor  Inhabitants  of  Boston  who 
are  sufferers  by  the  Port-Bill,  ... 

Letters  from  New- York  to  a  Gentleman  in  Phi- 
ladelphia. Information  received  from  Eng- 
land that  a  Fleet,  with  a  number  of  Transports 
with  Troops,  are  preparing  to  be  sent  to  Ame- 
rica to  enforce  the  Acts  of  Parliament, 

Letter  from  the  New- York  Committee  to  the 
Provincial  Congress  of  Massachusetts,  com- 
municating Letters  and  Intelligence,  received 
this  day  from  England,  of  the  intentions  of  the 
Ministry,  and  of  their  preparations  for  subdu- 
ing and  enslaving  the  Colonies,  -       -  344-347 

Address  to  the  respectable  Publick  of  New- 
York.  The  Committee  condemned  for  pub- 
lishing William  and  Henry  Ustick  as  enemies 
to  American  Freedom ;  and  the  charge  against 
them,  of  having  violated  the  Association,  is 
pronounced  false  and  malicious,  -       -  - 

Letter  to  Mr.  Rivington.  Riots  in  New- York. 
Proceedings  of  the  Committee  of  Inspection 
against  the  Usticks,  Mr.  Thurman,  and  Mr. 
Harding,  charged  with  furnishing  Supplies  for 
the  Troops  in  Boston.  These  Proceedings 
complained  of  a  breach  of  the  Law.  Capt. 
Sears  apprehended,  and  a  Mittimus  issued  to 
send  him  to  Jail.  On  his  way  there  rescued 
and  set  at  liberty.    Further  Riots, 

Letter  from  the  Rev.  Samuel  Auchmuty  to  Capt. 
Montressor,  at  Boston.  Information  just  re- 
ceived from  England  of  an  Armament  speedily 
to  embark  for  Boston,  to  convince  the  refrac- 
tory there  that  England  will  not  be  trifled 
with.  At  a  rascally  Whig  mob  in  New- York, 


341 


342 


44 


347 


348 


XXXV 

1775. 

Sears,  the  King,  was  arrested  and  ordered  to 
prison;  was  rescued  at  the  Jail  door,     -       -  349 
April  A  notice  of  this  Letter,  and  of  Mr.  Auchmuty, 

the  writer  of  it,  (Note,)      -       -       -  .    -  350 


CONTENTS. 


XXXVI 


NEW-YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONVENTION. 

-4/)r.20,  Provincial  Convention  of  New- York,     -  351- 

List  of  Deputies,  

Credentials  of  the  Deputies  for  New- York,  Al- 
bany and  Ulster  Counties,  - 
Credentials  of  the  Deputies  for  Orange  County, 
Credentials  of  the  Deputies  for  Westchester 
County,  ------- 

Credentials  from  Suffolk  and  King's  Counties,  - 
21,  Credentials  from  Queen's  County,  - 

Poll  Lists  for  Jamaica,  in  Queen's  County,  pre- 
sented by  Mr.  Robinson,     -       -       -  - 

Credentials  from  Dutchess  County,  - 
Delegates  to  the  next  Continental  Congress  ap- 
pointed,   -       -       -       -       -  - 

Instruction  to  the  Delegates  to  the  Continental 
Congress,  ------ 

Convention  dissolved,    -       -       -       -  - 


22, 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  ETC. 

April  Letter  from  the  Newburyport  Committee  to  the 
19,      Portsmouth,  New-Hampshire,  Committee.  Re- 
port of  an  action  between  the  Troops  at  Bos- 
ton and  the  People.     Men  are  setting  off  im- 
mediately for  Boston,         -       -       -  - 

19,  Letter  from  Boston  to  a  Gentleman  in  New- 

York  The  Troops  left  Boston  last  night ; 
at  Lexington  they  fired  on  the  People ;  march- 
ed to  Concord ;  engagement  there ;  re-enforce- 
ments sent  from  Boston.  The  Troops  re- 
treated from  Concord  to  Charlestown,  - 

20,  Letter  from  Boston  to  a  Gentleman  near  Phila- 

delphia.    The  Troops  left  Boston  in  the  night 
of  the  18th,  and  in  boats  were  conveyed  over 
to  Phipps's  farm.   The  men  appointed  to  alarm 
the  Country  on  such  occasions,  got  over  by 
stealth  nearly  as  soon  as  the  Troops.  At 
Lexington  the  People  fired  upon,  and  five  Men 
killed;  engagement  at  Concord;  the  Troops 
retreat,  and  with  re-enforcements  sent  out  un- 
der Earl  Percy,  are  driven  by  the  Militia  back 
to  Boston,  ------ 

20,  Letter  from  Boston  to  a  Gentleman  in  New- 
York.  The  British  Officers  returned  from  the 
attack  on  the  People,  say  they  never  were  in  a 
hotter  engagement.  Our  People  came  to  no 
regular  battle,  but  annoyed  them  the  whole 
way  back,  ------ 

20,  Letter  from  Boston  to  a  Merchant  in  New- York. 

It  is  surprising  how  soon  the  Country  People 
mustered,  and  in  vast  numbers.  The  Troops 
were  obliged  to  retreat  near  twelve  miles,  and 
all  the  way  a  constant  firing  was  kept  up  on 
both  sides,  ------ 

21,  Letter  from  Newport,  Rhode-Island,  to  the  New- 

York  Committee.  Our  brethren  of  Massachu- 
setts Bay  arc  attacked  by  a  body  of  the  regu- 
lar Troops,  and  many  friends  slain, 
23,  Letter  from  Weathers  fie  Id,  in  Connecticut,  to  a 
Gentleman  in  New-York.  We  are  all  in 
motion  here ;  one  hundred  Men,  with  twenty 
days'  provison  and  sixty-four  rounds,  left  yes- 
terday; the  neighbouring  Towns  all  arming 
and  moving;  by  night  we  shall  have  several 
thousands  from  this  Colony  on  their  march. 
The  eyes  of  America  arc  on  New- York;  the 
Ministry  have  been  promised  that  your  Pro- 
vince would  desert  us.  You  must  now  de- 
clare one  way  or  the  other,  that  we  may  know 
whether  we  are  to  go  to  Boston  or  to  New- 
York ;  if  you  desert,  our  Men  will  as  cheer- 
fully attack  New-York  as  Boston, 

23,  Express  from  T.  Palmer,  Watertovvn,  received 

in  New- York,  ------ 

24,  Letter  from  New-Yorktoa  Gentleman  in  Phila- 

delphia. Information  received  yesterday,  (Sun- 
day,) of  the  attack  of  the  King's  Troops  on 
the  People  of  Massachusetts;  seat  immediately 
by  express  to  Philadelphia.  The  People'  un- 
loads! two  Vessels  filled  with  Flour  for  the 
Troops  at  Boston,  and  seized  the  City  Arms, 


•358 
351 

351 
353 

354 

355 
356 

839 
356 

357 

358 
358 


359 


359 


360 


360 


361 


361 


362 
363 


3G4 


1775. 
Ajird 
24, 


24, 
20, 


20, 


20, 


20, 

20, 
21, 


21. 


21, 


21, 


22, 


22. 


22, 


23, 


22, 


Letter  from  New- York  to  a  Gentleman  in  Phila- 
delphia. A  reconciliation  between  us  and 
Great  Britain  is  now  at  a  greater  distance 
than  we  of  late  had  rational  grounds  to  hope. 
Yesterday,  after  the  news  from  Boston  was 
received,  the  Committee  met,  and  will  take 
measures  to  maintain  the  character  of  a  sister 
Colony  that  feels  for  another  in  distress, 

Letter  from  James  Lockwood,  Wallingford,  Con- 
necticut, forwarded  by  express  to  Charlestown, 
'  in  South-Carolina,  - 

"Johannes  in  Eremo"  to  the  People.  Great 
Britain  has  drawn  the  Sword  offensively,  New- 
England  defensively.  Our  blood  has  been 
shed  by  the  Troops  under  General  Gage,  and 
the  cry  will  soon  reach  Heaven  against  him. 
Great  Britain  will  no  longer  be  honoured  as 
our  Mother,      -       -       -       -       -  -  - 

Letter  from  Richard  Devens  to  the  Members  of 
the  Provincial  Congress  of  Massachusetts,  re- 
questing them  to  assemble  immediately  at 
Concord,  ------- 

Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Safety  of  Massa- 
chusetts to  the  Governour  of  Connecticut.  The 
British  Troops  fired  on  our  Men  at  Lexington, 
without  any  provocation,  and  killed  eight  of 
them  at  the  first  onset.  As  the  Troops  have 
now  commenced  hostilities,  we  think  it  our 
duty  to  exert  our  utmost  strength  to  save  our 
Country  from  absolute  slavery;  and  we  pray 
you  to  afford  us  all  the  assistance  in  your 
power,  ------- 

Letter  from  Dr.  Warren  to  General  Gage,  re- 
questing arrangements  may  be  made  for  re- 
moving the  Tories  into  Boston,  and  the  Whigs 
out  of  Boston,  ------ 

Letter  from  Adam  Babcock  to  Governour  Trum- 
bull, requesting  permission  to  ship  twelve 
Oxen  to  the  West-Indies,    -       -       -  - 

Gunpowder  removed  from  the  Magazine  at 
Williamsburgh,  by  order  of  Lord  Dunmore,  - 

Address  of  the  Corporation  of  Williamsburgh  to 
Lord  Dunmore,  requesting  him  immediately 
to  return  the  Powder,  - 

Answer  of  Lord  Dunmore.  He  refuses  to  re- 
turn the  Powder  now,  but  pledges  his  honour, 
that  in  case  of  an  insurrection,  it  shall  be  re- 
turned in  half  an  hour,       -       -       -  - 

Cumberland  County,  Virginia,  Committee,  consi- 
der and  approve  the  Proceedings  of  the  late 
Convention  at  Richmond,    -       -       -  - 

Letter  from  the  Connecticut  Committee  of  Safety 
to  John  Hancock.  Every  preparation  is  mak- 
ing to  support  your  Province.  The  ardour  of 
our  People  is  such  that  they  cannot  be  kept 
back.  Despatches  should  be  immediately  sent 
to  England,  with  an  accurate  account  of  the  late 
transactions,  to  forestall  such  exaggerated  ac- 
counts as  may  go  from  the  Army  and  Navy,  - 

Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Newburyport  to 
the  Committee  of  Safety,  requesting  to  know 
if  the  Forces  coming  from  New- Hampshire 
shall  be  sent  on,  - 

Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Safety  of  Massa- 
chusetts to  the  Provincial  Congress  of  New- 
Hampshire,  -       -       -  - 

Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Newburyport  to 
the  Committee  of  Hampton.  Information  has 
been  received  from  the  Committee  of  Safety  at 
Cambridge,  that  a  sufficient  number  of  Men 
have  arrived;  they  do  not  wish  any  more  from 
the  Northward  for  the  present,  and  advise  them 
to  remain  and  guard  the  sea-coasts, 

Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Safety  to  the  In- 
habitants of  Boston.  An  arrangement  has 
been  made  with  General  Gage  for  the  re- 
moval from  Boston  of  the  men,  women  and 
children,  and  their  effects,    -        -        -  - 

Letter  from  a  Committee  of  the  Town  of  Boston 
to  Dr.  Joseph  Warren,  enclosing  the  Agree- 
ment between  General  Gage  and  the  Town  of 
Boston,  ------- 

Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabi- 
tants of  the  Town  of  Boston,  called  in  conse- 
quence of  an  interview  between  General  Gage 
and  the  Selrctmen  of  the  Town.  Committee 
appointed  to  wait  upon  General  Gage  with 
propositions  for  the  removal  of  the  Inhabitants, 


364 


365 


369 


369 


370 

370 

371 
371 

371 

372 
372 


372 

373 
373 


-  374 


374 


374 


375 


CONTENTS. 


XXXVII 

1775. 

April  Committee  report  that  General  Gage  agrees  to 
23,      let  the  Inhabitants  leave  the  Town  with  their 
effects,  if  they  first  lodge  their  Arms  in  Faneuil 
Hall, or  some  other  convenient  place,  under  the 
care  of  the  Selectmen,        -  375 

The  conditions  are  accepted,  and  the  Committee 
are  directed  to  request  of  General  Gage  that 
the  Inhabitants  may  be  removed  by  land  or 
water,  as  may  be  most  convenient,       -       -  376 

General  Gage  agrees  to  the  request  of  the  Com- 
mittee, and  promises  to  request  the  Admiral  to 
lend  his  boats  to  facilitate  the  removal  by 
water ;  and  desires  a  Letter  may  be  written  to 
Dr.  Warren  to  get  permission  for  such  persons 
in  the  country  as  desire  to  come  into  Boston, 
to  do  so,    -------  376 

The  agreement  accepted  by  the  Meeting,  and  the 
Committee  desire  the  Inhabitants  to  deliver  up 
their  Arms,      ......  377 

27,  Further  Report  of  the  Committee  to  the  Town 
Meeting  of  the  final  arrangements.  The 
People  have  surrendered  their  Arms,  and  are 
to  commence  removing  to-morrow  morning,  377 

The  Meeting  agrees  to  the  arrangement;  the 
Town  relying  on  the  honour  and  faith  of 
General  Gage  that  he  will  perform  his  part  of 
the  contract,  as  they  have  faithfully  performed 
their  part  of  it,  -       -       -       -       -       -  377 

23,   Letter  from  the  Provincial  Congress  of  Massa- 
chusetts to  the  Provincial  Congress  of  New- 
Hampshire.  The  Provincial  Congress  having 
unanimously  resolved  that  it  is  our  duty  im- 
mediately to  establish  an  Army  for  the  main- 
tenance of  our  Rights,  and  that  thirty  thou- 
sand Men  should  be  raised  in  New-England, 
the  concurrence  of  New-Hampshire  is  earn- 
estly requested,         .....  377 

23,  Letter  from  Jedediah  Foster  to  the  Massachusetts 
Congress.  Has  seen  Governour  Trumbull, 
whoThad  previously  received  the  tragical  nar- 
rative from  Colonel  Palmer;  he  will  convene 
the  Assembly  immediately,  ...  378 
23,  Letter  from  Major  McClary  to  the  New-Hamp- 
shire Congress.  Two  thousand  Men  from 
New-Hampshire  now  at  Cambridge,  in  great 
want  of  proper  Regulations  and  Field-Officers. 
Five  or  six  hundred  Men  inconsiderately 
marched  home,  upon  the  improper  statements 
of  one  Captain  Espy  that  they  were  not  want- 
ed; this  has  caused  much  uneasiness  among 
the  remaining  Troops,        ....  378 


MARYLAND  CONVENTION. 

A^r.24,  Maryland  Convention,  -       -       -       -       -  379 

Matthew  Tilghman  in  the  Chair,  and  Gabriel 

Duvall  appointed  Clerk,     -  379 
George  the  Third  is  the  rightful  Sovereign  of 
Great  Britain  and  Dominions,  and  this  Pro- 
vince will  bear  faith  and  true  allegiance  to  him,  379 
Committee  appointed  to  write  to  the  Committee 
of  Correspondence  for  Philadelphia,  request- 
ing the  fullest  information  in  regard  to  the 
condition  of  New- York,     ....  379 

Letter  to  the  Committee  of  Philadelphia,  -       -  379 
Exportation  from  this   Province  to  Quebeck, 
Nova-Scotia,  Georgia  and  Newfoundland  sus- 
pended,   -------  380 

Inhabitants  of  the  Province  earnestly  requested 
to  form  and  exercise  the  Militia  throughout 

the  Province,  380 

Delegates  to  the  Continental  Congress  appointed,  380 
Day  of  Fasting,  Humiliation  and  Prayer  appoint- 
ed, -       -       -       -  _     -              -       -  381 
May  1 ,  Letter  from  the  Philadelphia  Committee.  Some  of 
their  Members  have  gone  to  New- York  to  learn 
the  situation  of  affairs  there,  and  what  the  In- 
habitants expect  from  the  Southern  Colonies,  381 
April  Letter  from  Newport  to  the  Philadelphia  Com- 
25,      mittee,  382 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  ETC. 

April  Committee  of  Observation  for  Newark,  New- 
24,      Jersey.   At  this  alarming  crisis  will  risk  their 
lives  and  fortunes  in  support  of  American 
Liberty ;  and  will  give  all  the  support  in  their 
power  to  the  Province  of  Massachusetts-  Bay. 


1775. 


April 
24, 


24, 


24, 


24, 


24, 


24, 


24, 


25, 


25, 


25, 


25, 


25, 


25, 


25, 


25, 


25, 


XXXVIII 

Captains  of  the  Militia  are  requested  to  muster 
and  exercise  their  men  once  every  week,      -  382 
Letter  from  the  Committee  of  New- York  to  Go- 
vernour Trumbull ;  recommending  to  him  to 
intercept  the  Despatches  for  General  Gage, 
which  arrived  in  the  Packet  this  day.  The 
melancholy  accounts  from  Boston  have  united 
the  Inhabitants  of  New- York,  who  have  stop- 
ped all  supplies  from  the  Army,  and  seized  the 
City  Arms,  383 
Agreement  subscribed  by  Captain  Arnold  and  his 
Company  of  fifty  persons,  when  they  set  out 
from  Connecticut,  as  volunteers  to  assist  the 
Provincials  at  Cambridge,  -       -       -       -  383 

Letter  from  General  Ward  to  the  Massachusetts 
Congress,  requesting  he  may  be  furnished  with 
Enlisting  Orders  immediately,    -       -       -  384 
Letter  from  John  Hancock  to  the  Massachusetts 
Committee  of  Safety.  Requests  to  be  furnished 
with  particular  information  as  to  the  Army  and 
the  Provincial  Congress,    -       -       -       -  384 

Letter  from  Oliver  Prescott  to  the  Committee  of 
Safety,  suggesting  the  appointment  of  a  Town 
Guard  in  every  Town  in  the  Province,        -  385 
Letter  from  the   Massachusetts  Committee  of 
Safety  to  the  New-Hampshire  Congress.  Or- 
ders have  been  given  for  enlisting  such  of  the 
men  from  New- Hampshire  as  are  at  present 
in  the  service  of  the  Colony,       ...  385 
Letter  from  H.  Jackson  to  Col.  Jeremiah  Lee. 
Recommends  the  establishment  of  Partisan 
Corps;  they  performed  better  service  in  the 
late  war  than  any  other  Troops,  -       -       -  386 
Letter  from  London  to  a  Gentleman  in  Massa- 
chusetts, -------  386 

Letter  from  London  to  a  Gentleman  of  New- 
Jersey.  Fears  are  entertained  on  account  of 
Philadelphia  and  New- York.  It  is  the  union 
of  America  which  gives  it  strength ;  the  de- 
fection of  such  important  Provinces  would  give 
great  encouragement  to  our  adversaries,  -  387 
Letter  from  the  Officers  of  the  Independent  Com- 
pany of  Spottsylvania  to  Col.  George  Wash- 
ington, proposing,  with  his  approbation,  to  unite 
with  others,  and  march  to  Williamsburgh,  for 
protection  of  the  Colony  Stores,  part  having 
been  taken  away  by  order  of  Lord  Dunmore,  387 
Letter  from  one  of  the  Virginia  Delegates,  on  his 
way  to  the  Congress,  to  his  friend  in  Williams- 
burgh. Intelligence  has  been  received  that 
New- York  is  to  be  fortified  and  garrisoned,  to 
cut  off  the  communication  between  the  North- 
ern and  the  Southern  Colonies,  -  -  -  387 
Gloucester,  Virginia,  Committee.  Premiums 
offered  for  the  manufacture  of  Gun-Powder, 
and  Wool  and  Cotton  Cards.  Lord  Dunmore, 
by  the  removal  of  the  Powder  from  the  Ma- 
gazine, and  other  acts,  has  forfeited  all  title  to 
the  confidence  of  the  People  of  Virginia,  -  388 
Bedford  County,  Virginia,  Committee,  approve 
the  Resolutions  of  the  Convention  at  Rich- 
mond.    Committee  dissolved,   and  another 

elected,  May  23,   388 

Paper  addressed  to  Mr.  De  Lanceyand  others,  of 
New- York.  The  hostile  preparations  against 
the  Colonies  were  occasioned  by  assurance 
from  them  of  the  defection  and  submission  of 

New- York,  389 

Letter  from  Metcalf  Bowler  to  the  Massachu- 
setts Congress.    Encloses  several  Papers  to 
show  what  the  Assembly  has  done.  Rhode- 
Island  is  firm  and  determined,     ...  389 
Letter  from  Metcalf  Bowler  to  the  Speaker  of  the 
House  of  Commons  of  Connecticut.    A  Com- 
mittee has  been  appointed  to  consult  with  the 
Assembly  of  Connecticut,  upon  measures  for 
the  common  defence  of  the  four  New-England 
Colonies.     Rhode- Island  has  passed  an  Act 
for  raising  fifteen  hundred  Men  for  the  general 
cause,  389 
Act  of  Rhode-Island  for  raising  an  Army  of  Ob- 
servation, -------  390 

Resolution  of  Rhode-Island  Assembly,  authoriz- 
ing the  enlistment  of  fifteen  hundred  Men,  -  390 
Protest  of  four  Members  of  the  Upper  House  of 
Assembly  of  Rhode-Island,  against  the  pas- 
sage of  the  Act  for  raising  fifteen  hundred 
Men,  390 


XXXIX 

1775. 

April  Letter  from  John  Hancock  to  the  Massachusetts 

25,      Committee  of  Safety,  390 

25,  Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Boston  to  the  Com- 
mittee of  Safety;  requesting  Wagons  may 
be  furnished  to  remove  the  Inhabitants  from 
Boston,  and  that  those  who  wish  to  come  into 
the  Town  may  be  permitted  to  do  so  without 
hinderance,      -       -       -       -       -       -  391 

25,  Account  of  the  march  of  the  British  Troops. 
Their  attack  on  and  killing  a  number  of  the 
Inhabitants  of  Massachusetts;  their  burning 
and  destroying  of  private  property,  and  of  their 
retreat  to  Boston,  on  the  19th  of  April,  -  391 
List  of  the  Provincials  who  were  Killed  and 
Wounded  by  the  British  Troops  on  the  19th  of 

April,  392 

25,  Depositions  taken  by  order  of  the  Provincial 
Congress  of  Massachusetts,  in  proof  of  the  at- 
tack of  the  Troops  under  General  Gage,  on  the 
People  of  the  Province,  on  the  19th  instant,  -  489 
25,  Letter  from  John  Sullivan  to  the  President  of  the 
Massachusetts  Congress.  There  seems  some 
opposition  in  the  New-Hampshire  Congress 
to  the  assistance  Massachusetts  has  expected,  -  393 
25.  Instructions  of  the  Town  of  Williamstown,  Mas- 
sachusetts, to  their  Delegates  to  the  Provincial 
Congress.  They  are  ready  to  assist  with  their 
lives  and  fortunes  in  the  common  cause  of 
American  Liberty,     -----  393 

25,  Letter  from  Colonel  John  Wentworth  to  the  New- 

Hampshire  Congress,        ...       -  394 

26,  Letter  from  a  Merchant  in  London  to  his  friend 

in  Virginia.  Hopes  the  Non-Exportation  Re- 
solutions will  be  expunged ;  if  they  are  adhered 
to,  Maryland  and  Virginia  will  lose  the  To- 
bacco trade,      ------  394 

26,  Letter  from  Captain  Grayson  to  Colonel  George 
Washington.  His  Company  is  ready  to  march 
for  Williamsburgh  ;  they  may  be  depended  on 
for  any  service  that  respects  the  liberties  of 
America,  -------  395 

24,  Letter  from  the  Officers  of  the  Independent  Com- 
pany of  Spoltsylvania  to  Captain  Grayson. 
The  People  have  received  no  satisfaction  for 
the  Powder  taken  by  Lord  Dunmore ;  a  sub- 
mission to  this  outrage  will  subject  Virginia  to 
a  suspicion  of  defection,      -  395 

26,  Henrico  County,  Virginia,  Committee.  The  re- 
moval of  the  Powder  by  Lord  Dunmore  is  an 
insult  to  every  freeman;  every  endeavour  will 
be  used  to  procure  an  immediate  restitution 
of  it,  396 

26,  Address  to  the  Publick,  in  defence  of  Mr.  Gallo- 
way and  the  "  Plan  of  Union  between  Great 
Britain  and  the  Colonies,"  proposed  by  him  in 
the  late  Continental  Congress,     -       -       -  396 

26,  Association,  for  defending  with  Arms,  their  pro- 
perty, liberty,  and  lives,  adopted  at  a  meeting 
of  near  eight  thousand  of  the  Inhabitants  of 
Philadelphia,  399 

26,  Letter  from  Reading,  Pennsylvania.  Two  Com- 
panies of  Foot  have  been  raised  in  the  Town; 
in  three  weeks  there  will  be  one  in  every  Town 
in  the  County,  ready  to  assert,  at  the  risk  of 
their  lives,  the  liberty  of  America,       -       -  400 

26,  Address  of  the  New- York  Committee,  recom- 
mending that  a  new  Committee  be  elected  by 
the  Freeholders  and  Freemen  of  the  City  and 
County;  and  that  Delegates  to  a  Provincial 
Congress,  to  meet  on  the  22d  of  May  next,  be 
chosen,    -------  400 

26,  Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Inspection  for  New- 
port, Rhode-Island,  to  General  Ward,  -       -  400 

26,  Letter  from  the  Congress  of  New-Hampshire  to 
the  Congress  of  Massachusetts.  It  is  not 
thought  expedie  nt  now  to  establish  an  Army  of 
Observation;  a  Provincial  Congress  will  meet 
on  the  17th  of  May  next,  who  will  no  doubt 
co-operate  with  their  brethren  in  New-Eng- 
land,  401 

26,  Letter  from  John  Hancock  to  the  Committee  of 
Safety,  recommending  several  persons  for  Offi- 
cers in  the  Army,   401 

26,  Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Safety  of  Massa- 
chusetts to  the  Assembly  of  Rhode- Island ; 
urging  their  immediate  assistance,  by  forward- 
ing as  large  a  number  of  Troops  as  they  can, 
well  stocked  with  Provisions  and  Ammunition,  402 


XL 

1775.  1775. 
April  Address  of  the  Provincial  Congress  of  Massa- 

26,      chusetts  to  the  Inhabitants  of  Great  Britain,  -  487 

26,  Letter  from  the  Provincial  Congress  of  Massa- 
chusetts to  Dr.  Franklin,  in  London,  enclosing 
the  Address  to  the  Inhabitants  of  Great  Bri- 
tain, and  the  Depositions  taken  on  the  25th ; 
requesting  him  to  have  them  printed  and  cir- 
culated throughout  England,       ...  488 

26,  Letter  from  the  Falmouth,  Massachusetts,  Com- 
mittee, to  the  Committee  of  Safety,  asking  their 
assistance  in  procuring  Powder,  -  402 

26,   Letter  from  Colonel  John  Fenton  to  the  People 

of  the  County  of  Grafton,  in  New-Hampshire,  698 

26,  Intercepted  Letter  from  Woodfield,  in  Canada,  to 
Colonel  Philip  Skene.  The  sooner  the  laws 
are  put  in  force  against  the  Americans,  the 
better;  procrastination  encourages  the  sedi- 
tious, and  weakens  Government.  The  Gov- 
ernor's new  Commission  has  been  received,  402 
New  Commission  to  the  Governour  of  Gluebeck,  403 


CONNECTICUT  ASSEMBLY. 

Apr.26,Assembly  of  Connecticut  meets,     ...  409 

Governour  and  Council,        ....  409 

List  of  Representatives,  -----  409 

Embargo  laid  to  prohibit  the  exportation  of  Pro- 
visions by  water,       -       -       -       -       -  410 

Committee  to  confer  with  General  Gage,  -       -  410 

News  Carriers  to  convey  intelligence  at  the  pub- 
lick  expense,  authorized,    -       -       -       -  410 

Committee  to  procure  Provisions  for  the  Inhabi- 
tants of  the  Colony  who  have  gone  to  the  as- 
sistance of  Massachusetts,  -       -       -       -    4 1 1 

Act  for  Assembling,  Equipping,  &c,  a  number 
of  the  Inhabitants  of  this  Colony,  for  the  spe- 
cial defence  and  safety  thereof,     -       -       -  411 

Forms  of  Commissions  for  the  Officers  of  the 
Troops  raised  for  the  special  defence  and  safety 
of  the  Colony,  ------  413 

Officers  for  the  six  Regiments  raised  for  the  de- 
fence and  safety  of  the  Colony,    -       -       -  414 

Commissaries  to  supply  Provisions  for  the  Troops,  418 

Committee  for  settling  and  paying  accounts  of 
expenses  incurred  by  raising  Troops,    -       -  418 

Bills  of  Credit  for  fifty  thousand  Pounds  autho- 
rized, and  a  tax  laid  to  sink  the  whole  amount,  419 

Committees  to  provide  and  take  charge  of  Pow- 
der and  Military  Stores  for  the  use  of  the  Co- 
lony,  419 

Committee  to  consider  the  best  means  of  defend- 
ing the  Sea-Coasts,     -       -       -       -       -  419 

Committee  to  provide  Carriages  and  other  neces- 
sary apparatus  for  the  Cannon  at  New- London,  420 

Enlistments  for  six  Regiments  under  General 

Spencer,  authorized,  -----  420 

Four  Regiments  to  be  got  in  readiness  forthwith 

to  march  to  Boston,    -----  420 

An  Act  to  exempt,  for  a  limited  time,  the  persons 
of  Debtors  from  being  imprisoned  for  debt,    -  420 

Committee  to  inquire  how  far  the  Officers  of  the 
Militia  Company  of  Northbury,  in  the  Town 
of  Waterbury,  are  inimical  to  the  American 
cause,      -------  422 

Permission  given  to  Joseph  Monson,  of  New-Ha- 
ven, to  transport  twenty-six  head  of  Cattle  to 
the  West-Indies,  422 

Permission  given  to  Joseph  White,  of  Weathers- 
field,  to  ship  twenty  Cattle,        ...  422 

Permission  given  to  Hezekiah  Smith  to  ship 
fourteen  Cattle,  422 

Assembly  adjourned  by  Proclamation,  without 
day,  422 

CORRESPONDENCE,   PROCEEDINGS,  ETC. 

April  Philadelphia  Committee  stop  all  Exportations 
27,       from  Philadelphia  to  Gluebeck,  Nova-Scotia, 
Georgia,  and  Newfoundland,  until  the  Con- 
tinental Congress  shall  give  further  orders 
therein,    -------  421 

27,  Letter  from  Stephen  Hopkins  to  the  President  of 
the  Massachusetts  Congress,  informing  them 
of  the  seizure  and  detention  of  Mr.  John 
Brown,  of  Providence,  and  requesting  them  to 
make  the  King's  Officers  answerable  for  the 
treatment  of  Mr.  Brown.  Reprisals  recom- 
mended  by  the  Continental  Congress,  and 


CONTENTS. 


1775. 


April 
27, 


CONTENTS. 


XL1I 


27, 


27, 


27, 


27, 


27. 


27, 
28, 

28, 

28, 

28, 


28, 


28, 


28, 


28. 


28, 


28, 


sanctioned  by  the  Colonies,  are  highly  neces- 
sary to  be  put  in  practice,  - 
Letter  from  Colonel  Isaac  Lee  to  Governour 
Trumbull.  His  Regiment  is  prepared  with 
arms  and  ammunition,  and  ready  to  march 
at  the  shortest  notice,  - 
Letter  from  Jedediah  Huntington  to  Jonathan 
Trumbull,  Jun.  Great  numbers  of  Troops,  or 
rather  armed  men,  are  at  Roxbury,  in  much 
confusion.  It  is  expected  that  the  Inhabitants 
of  Boston  will  be  permitted  to  come  out  this 
day,  but  many  are  suspicious  that  the  General 
intends  to  deceive  them,  till  he  gets  possession 
of  their  Arms,  ------ 

Letter  from  the  Massachusetts  Committee  of 
Safety  to  the  Selectmen  of  Boston.  As  soon 
as  it  is  known  what  time  the  Inhabitants  are 
permitted  to  leave  Boston,  those  who  wish  to 
take  refuge  there  shall  go  in, 

Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Safety  to  the  Se- 
lectmen of  Boston.  It  is  reported  that  Gene- 
ral Gage  says  the  Provincials  fired  first  upon 
his  detachment.  This  report  creates  the  great- 
est astonishment,  as  there  is  the  clearest  evi- 
dence it  is  untrue,  - 

Letter  from  the  Boston  Committee  to  the  Com- 
mittee of  Safety,  enclosing  the  Agreement  con- 
cluded this  day  between  General  Gage  and  the 
Committee,  ------ 

Letter  from  Doctor  Warren  to  Arthur  Lee.  The 
measures  of  the  Administration  have  brought 
matters  to  a  crisis.  Lord  Chatham  and  our 
friends  must  make  up  the  breach  immediately, 
or  never.  The  next  news  from  England  must 
be  conciliatory,  or  the  connection  between  us 
ends,  however  fatal  the  consequences  may  be, 

Letter  from  Gtuebeck.  The  Governour's  new 
Commission  read  there  the  24th  instant, 

People  assembling  at  Fredericksburgh,  Virginia, 
to  march  to  Williamsburgh  to  demand  a  resti- 
tution of  the  Powder  taken  by  Lord  Dunmore, 

Proclamation  by  Governour  Franklin,  calling  a 
meeting  of  the  Assembly  of  New-Jersey,  on 
the  15th  of  May  next,        -       -       -  - 

Meeting  of  Inhabitants  at  Perth  Amboy,  in  New- 
Jersey.  Deputies  to  the  Provincial  Congress, 
to  meet  on  the  5th  of  May,  appointed, 

Address  of  the  New-York  Committee  to  the 
Freeholders  and  Freemen  of  the  City  and 
County  of  New- York,  recommending  the 
election  of  a  new  Committee,  to  consist  of  one 
hundred  Members,  on  Monday  next,  the  first 
of  May,  and  at  the  same  time  to  choose  Dele- 
gates to  a  Provincial  Congress,    -       -  - 

Letter  from  the  Committee  of  New- York  to  the 
Committees  of  the  several  Counties  in  the  Co- 
lony, urging  the  immediate  election  of  Depu- 
ties to  a  Provincial  Congress,  to  meet  on  the 
22d  of  May,  

"  An  American"  to  the  Inhabitants  of  New- 
York.  Outrages  of  the  British  Troops  on  the 
19th  of  April.  Both  the  King  and  Ministry 
are  determined,  at  all  hazards,  to  destroy  Ame- 
rican liberty.  There  is  nothing  now  left  for 
us  but  to  appeal  to  God,  and  use  what  strength 
we  have  in  defence  of  our  liberty, 

Letter  from  Thomas  Brown  to  Colonel  George 
Pitkin.  General  Gage  has  opened  the  gates, 
and  given  permission  to  the  Inhabitants  of 
Boston  to  leave  the  Town,  - 

Letter  from  the  Massachusetts  Congress  to  the 
Congress  of  New- Hampshire.  A  powerful 
army  on  our  side  must  be  raised  at  once.  The 
other  Colonies,  as  well  as  this,  are  fully  con- 
vinced, that  by  immediate  and  vigorous  exer- 
tions they  may  establish  their  liberty  and  save 
their  Country,  -       -       -       -  - 

Letter  from  Cambridge  to  a  Gentleman  in  New- 
port, Rhode-Island.  Our  countrymen  swarm 
to  our  defence  from  all  quarters.  We  are 
busily  organizing  our  Troops,  and  shall  soon 
have  an  army  of  thirty  thousand  in  the  field. 
We  have  some  hopes  the  Inhabitants  of  Bos- 
ton will  be  permitted  to  leave  the  Town  this 
day.  They  delivered  up  their  Arms  yester- 
day,        -       -       -       -  - 

Letter  from  Stephen  Hopkins  to  the  Massachu- 
setts Congress,  - 


421 


423 


423 


424 


424 


424 


425 
425 

426 

426 

426 


427 


428 


-  428 


429 


-  429 


430 
430 


1775. 

April 
28, 


Letter  from  James  Angell  to  the  Massachusetts 
Congress.  Will,  on  any  alarm,  furnish  six 
hundred  men  from  the  three  Battalions  under 
his  command  in  Providence,  Rhode-Island,  -  431 
28,  Letter  from  Providence,  Rhode-Island,  to  the 
Massachusetts  Congress.  The  Assembly  pass- 
ed an  act  for  raising  Men,  but  as  they  omitted 
to  authorize  enlistments,  no  Men  can  be  raised 
under  it,  -       -       -       -       -       -       -  431 

28,  Letter  from  the  Massachusetts  Congress  to  Ste- 

phen Hopkins.  Samuel  Murray  and  two  Of- 
ficers of  General  Gage's  Army  will  be  sent  to 
Providence,  to  be  made  use  of  for  obtaining  the 
liberty  of  Mr.  Brown,       ...       -  432 

29,  Letter  from  the  Massachusetts  Congress  to  Ste- 

phen Hopkins,  informing  that  the  arrangement 
made  with  General  Gage  for  the  release  of  the 
Inhabitants  of  Boston  prevents  sending  the  hos- 
tages mentioned  in  their  letter  of  yesterday,  -  432 

28,  Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Safety  to  the  seve- 
ral Towns  in  Massachusetts,  conjuring  them 
by  all  that  is  sacred  to  give  all  assistance  in 
forming  the  Army,    -----  433 

28,  Letter  from  the  Newburyport  Committee  to  the 
Committee  of  Safety,  recommending  Christian 
Febiger,  a  Dane,  for  an  appointment  in  the 
Army,     -------  433 

28,  Letter  from  the  Selectmen  of  Sanbornton  to  the 
New-Hampshire  Congress.  They  are  with- 
out Ammunition,  and  cannot  obtain  any,       -  433 

28,  Letter  from  Governour  Trumbull  to  General 

Gage.  The  People  of  Connecticut  dread 
nothing  so  much  as  a  civil  war,  but  will  de- 
fend their  rights  to  the  last  extremity,    -       -  433 

29,  Letter  from  General  Gage  to  Governour  Trum- 

bull, transmitting  him  a  circumstantial  account 
of  the  unhappy  affair  that  happened  on  the 

19th  instant.  434 

A  circumstantial  account  of  an  Attack  that  hap- 
pened on  the  19th  of  April,  1775,  on  His  Ma- 
jesty's Troops,  by  a  number  of  the  People  of 
the  Province  of  the  Massachusetts- Bay,  trans- 
mitted by  General  Gage  to  Governour  Trum- 
bull,  435 

Account  of  an  Attack  upon  a  body  of  the  King's 
Troops,  bv  a  number  of  People  of  the  Pro- 
vince of  Massachusetts-Bay,  on  the  19th  of 
April,  1775,  transmitted  by  General  Gage  to 
Lord  Dunmore,  -----  436 
Account  of  an  Attack  on  the  Inhabitants  of  Mas- 
sachusetts, by  the  British  Troops,  acting  under 
the  orders  of  General  Gage,  on  the  19th  of 

April,  1775,   437 

Extracts  from  several  intercepted  Letters,  written 
by  Soldiers  in  the  Army  at  Boston,  of  the  En- 
gagement on  the  19th  of  April,     -       -  439-441 

29,  A  serious  admonition  to  the  Inhabitants  of  Wil- 
liamsburgh, Virginia,  on  the  excitement  caused 
by  the  removal  of  the  Powder  by  Lord  Dun- 
more. The  Powder  could  only  belong  to  the 
King,  and  none  but  him,  or  his  representatives, 
could  of  right  use  it,   -      -       -       -       -  441 

29,  Letter  from  the  Officers  of  the  Albemarle  Volun- 
teers to  Colonel  George  Washington.  They 
are  ready  to  march  to  Williamsburgh,  and 
compel  the  immediate  delivery  of  the  Powder 
taken  by  Lord  Dunmore,    ....  440 

29,  Determination  of  a  Council  of  one  hundred  and 
two  Members,  at  Fredericksburgh,  assembled 
in  consequence  of  the  seizure  of  the  Powder 
at  Williamsburgh  by  Lord  Dunmore,  -  443 

29,  Letter  from  John  Dickinson  to  Arthur  Lee.  The 
impious  war  of  tyranny  against  innocence  has 
commenced  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Boston. 
The  Continent  is  preparing  for  a  vigorous  re- 
sistance. We  are  a  united,  a  resolved  People. 
Our  Smiths  and  Powder-Mills  are  at  work 
night  and  day.  Supplies  are  continually  ar- 
riving,    -------  444 

29,  Association  of  the  City  and  County  of  N.  York,  471 

29,  Letter  from  Oliver  De  Lancey,  denying  the  au- 
thenticity of  a  Publication  in  an  English  Paper 
over  the  initials  of  his  name,       ...  445 

29,  Recantation  of  Jonathan  Fowler  and  George 

Cornwall,  of  Westchester,  New- York,         -  446 

29,  Letter  from  the  Boston  Committee  to  the  Provin- 
cial Congress,  -       -       -       -  446 

29,  Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Safety  to  the  Com- 


Mill 

1773. 


CONTENTS. 


XLIV 


April 
29, 


29, 
30, 
30, 

30, 


30, 
30, 
30, 

30, 
30, 

May  1 


mittees  of  the  several  Towns  in  Massachu- 
setts, urging  them  to  send  forward  Men  for  the 
Army,  ------- 

Letter  from  Samuel  Thompson  to  the  Massachu- 
setts Committee  of  Safety.  At  the  Eastward, 
all  are  for  the  Country  but  three;  one  of  these 
has  deserted,  the  other  two  are  in  irons, 

Recantation  of  Stephen  Holland,  of  Londonderry, 
New-Hampshire,  - 

Letter  from  Alexander  Spottswood  to  Colonel 
George  Washington,  - 

Address  of  Jacobus  Louw  to  the  Publick,  contra- 
dicting the  charge  of  the  Ulster  County  Com- 
mittee, that  he  is  unfriendly  to  Liberty, 

Letter  from  John  Sullivan,  at  New-York,  to  the 
Committee  of  Correspondence  for  Portsmouth, 
New- Hampshire.  New-York  is  nearly  una- 
nimous; yesterday  six  or  seven  thousand  de- 
clared for  Liberty  at  all  hazards.  They  have 
stopped  the  Custom-House,  and  seized  the  City 
Arms.  All  denominations  are  under  Arms, 
and  in  high  spirits.  Rivington  has  made  a 
Recantation.  Cooper  has  decamped.  The 
People  with  difficulty  were  prevented  from 
taking  the  lives  of  some  of  the  Traitors, 

Letter  from  Theophilus  Morgan  to  Governour 
Trumbull,  requesting  permission  for  his  Ves- 
sel to  sail  for  the  West- Indies,  - 

Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Safety  to  the  Bos- 
ton Committee,  transmitting  a  Vote  of  the  Pro- 
vincial Congress,  .... 

Letter  from  Portsmouth,  New-Hampshire,  to  the 
Massachusetts  Congress.  The  Messenger  with 
the  Despatches  for  Gen.  Gage  passed  through 
Northampton  yesterday,  - 

Letter  from  Benedict  Arnold  to  the  Massachu- 
setts Committee  of  Safety,  giving  the  number 
of  Cannon,  &c,  at  Ticonderoga, 

Letter  from  the  Massachusetts  Committee  of  Safe- 
ty to  the  New- York  Committee,  informing 
them  that  it  has  been  proposed  to  take  Ticon- 
deroga, but  will  not  infringe  on  the  rights  of 
New- York,  - 
,  Letter  from  the  Norfolk,  Virginia,  Committee,  to 
the  Committee  for  Prince  George's  County,  in- 
forming them  of  a  violation  of  the  Association 
by  Captain  Charles  Alexander,  - 

Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  of  King  William 
County,  Virginia.  Deputies  to  the  Convention 
chosen.  One  hundred  and  seventy-five  Pounds 
contributed  for  the  relief  of  the  sufferers  in  Mas- 
sachusetts, ...... 


446 

447 
447 
447 

448 


1775. 


May  1, 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  ETC. 


448 
449 
449 

450 
450 

450 
527 

450 


PENNSYLVANIA.  ASSEMBLY. 

May  1,  Pennsylvania  Assembly,         •       -       -  451-458 
Letter  from  the  Agents  in  England  to  Charles 
Thompson,  laid  before  the  House,        -       -  451 

2,  Message  from  the  Governour  to  the  Assembly,  -  452 
Letter  from  the  Speaker  of  the  Assembly  of  New- 
York,  with  sundry  Papers,         ...  453 

3,  Committee  to  prepare  an  Answer  to  the  Govern- 

our's  Message,  .....  454 

4,  Answer  of  the  House  to  the  Governour's  Mes- 

sage,  454 

Petition  from  a  number  of  the  Inhabitants  of 
Philadelphia,  praying  the  House  to  raise  and 
apply  fifty  thousand  Pounds  towards  putting 
the  Province  in  a  state  of  defence,        -       -  455 

5,  Petition  presented  yesterday  considered,    -       -  455 

6,  Benjamin  Franklin,  who  arrived  yesterday  from 

London,  appointed  one  of  the  Delegates  to  the 
Continental  Congress,         ....  455 

Thomas  Willing  and  James  Wilson  added  to  the 
Delegation,       ......  456 

9,   Petition  from  Philadelphia  further  considered,   -  456 

Petition  from  the  Committee  of  Philadelphia  pre- 
sented,     .......  456 

Instructions  to  the  Delegates  to  the  Continental 
Congress,  456 

11,  Committee  appointed,  with  authority  to  pay  the 

engagements  entered  into  by  the  Philadelphia 
Committee  for  the  publick  security,       -        -  456 

12,  Committee  to  provide  such  Stores  as  may  be  ne- 

cessary for  the  service  of  the  Province,         -  456 
Joseph   Galloway  excused  from  serving  as  a 

Deputy  to  the  Continental  Congress,  -  457 

13,  Adjourned  to  Monday,  June  19th,    -       -       -  458 


Meeting  of  Freeholders  and  Inhabitants  of  Mor- 
ris County,  New-Jersey.  Delegates  appointed 
to  a  County  Congress,  vested  with  the  power 
of  Legislation,  and  to  raise  Men,  Money  and 
Arms,  for  the  common  defence,  - 

Delegates  to  the  County  Congress  meet.  Wil- 
liam Winds  chosen  Chairman,  and  Archibald 
Dallas,  Clerk,  

Voted  unanimously  that  Forces  be  raised, 

Five  Companies  of  Volunteers,  of  sixty  men  each, 
to  be  raised  in  the  County,  ... 

William  Winds  appointed  Colonel,  and  William 
De  Hart,  Major,  - 

In  case  of  any  invasion  or  alarm,  in  this  or  the 
neighbouring  Provinces,  the  Regiment  to  be 
called  into  service,  ..... 

Powder  and  Lead  ordered  to  be  purchased, 

Inhabitants  of  the  County  advised  to  provide 
themselves  with  Arms  and  Ammunition  for 
defence,  in  case  of  invasion,  - 

Resolves  of  this  Congress  to  be  subject  to  the 
control  of  the  Provincial  and  Continental  Con- 
gresses, - 

Adjourned  to  meet  on  the  ninth  of  this  month,  - 

Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Woodbridge,  in 
New-Jersey,  to  the  Committees  in  Massachu- 
setts. A  Provincial  Congress  will  soon  meet, 
and  in  the  mean  time  the  People  of  New- Jer- 
sey are  preparing  for  the  contest,  determined 
to  stand  or  fall  with  the  liberties  of  America,  - 

New  General  Committee  for  the  City  and  County 
of  New-York  elected,  ... 

Deputies  elected  by  the  City  of  New- York  to 
the  Provincial  Congress,    .       -       -  - 

Meeting  of  the  Lieutenant-Governour  and  Coun- 
cil of  New- York.  Reasons  assigned  by  the 
Council  for  their  advice  to  the  Lieutenant-Go- 
vernour to  prorogue  the  Assembly, 

Proclamation  by  Lieutenant  Governour  Colden 
to  prorogue  the  Assembly  to  the  7th  of  June 
next,  ....... 

Meeting  of  Freeholders  in  Richmond  County, 
New- York.  Delegates  to  the  Provincial 
Congress  appointed,  - 

Letter  from  Timothy  Pickering  to  the  Massachu- 
setts Committee  of  Safety.  A  Regiment  may 
be  enlisted  in  Salem,  if  Field-Officers  are  ap- 
pointed, ------- 

Letter  from  the  Boston  Committee  to  Dr.  Warren, 

Letter  from  Lemuel  Williams  to  the  Massachu- 
setts Congress,  desiring  to  know  if  the  Mer- 
chants of  Dartmouth  may  send  their  Vessels 
with  Provisions  to  sea,       -       -       -  - 

Petition  of  Jonathan  Brewer  to  Massachusetts 
Congress,  for  permission  to  raise  five  hundred 
Volunteers  to  march  on  Quebeck,  by  way  of 
the  Rivers  Kennebeck  and  Chaudiere,  ■ 

Letter  from  Holland  to  the  Rev.  William  Gor- 
don. Efforts  of  the  British  Government  in 
Holland  and  France  to  prevent  supplies  of 
Arms  and  Ammunition  to  the  Americans, 

Letter  from  an  American  Gentleman  in  Paris  to 
his  friend  in  Philadelphia.  The  French  are 
strongly  in  favour  of  the  Americans,  - 

Gloucester  County,  Virginia,  Committee,  prohibit 
the  Exportation  of  Tobacco  to  England, 

Meeting  of  the  Governour  and  Council  of  Vir- 
ginia. Address  of  the  Governour  to  the  Coun- 
cil, justifying  his  seizure  of  the  Powder,  and 
asking  their  advice  on  the  propriety  of  issuing 
a  Proclamation  calling  on  the  People  to  show 
their  allegiance  to  the  King  at  this  time,  when 
schemes  are  meditated  in  the  Colony  for  sub- 
verting the  present,  and  erecting  a  new  form 
of  Government,  -       -  - 

Proclamation  by  Lord  Dunmore,  by  advice  of 
the  Council,  requiring  all  Officers,  civil  and 
military,  to  suppress  the  spirit  of  Faction  which 
prevails  among  the  People,  -       -       -  - 

Meeting  of  the  Committee  for  Kent  County, 
Delaware.  Letter  from  Robert  Holliday,  ac- 
knowledging he  wrote  the  Paper  purporting 
to  be  an  extract  of  a  Letter  from  Kent  County, 
voted  not  satisfactory,  .... 

Further  concessions  made  by  Robert  Holliday, 

May  9,  voted  satisfactory,  -  466 


457 


457 
457 

457 

458 


458 
458 


458 


458 
459 


459 


-  459 


459 


460 


461 


831 


461 
461 


462 


-  462 


463 


464 


464 


464 


465 


466 


XLV 

1775. 
May  2, 


CONTENTS. 


XLVI 


2, 


Letter  from  Philadelphia  to  a  Gentleman  in  Lon- 
don. Preparations  in  the  Colonies  for  re- 
sistance, -------  467 

New-Jersey  Committee  of  Correspondence,  re- 
commend an  immediate  Meeting  of  the  Pro- 
vincial Congress,       ....       -  467 

Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Richmond  County 
to  the  Committee  of  New- York,  informing 
them  of  their  election,  and  of  the  adoption  of 
the  measures  recommended  by  the  New- York 
Committee,       -       -       -       -       -  -831 

Meeting  of  the  New- York  General  Committee,  468 

Address  from  Samuel  Broome,  on  the  part  of  one 
hundred  citizens  who  formed  themselves  into  a 
Military  Association,  offering  their  services  in 
carrying  into  effect  the  General  Association,  -  468 

Every  person  in  the  City  and  County  required 
to  sign  the  Association,  except  the  Lieutenant- 
Governour.       -  468 

Rules  for  the  government  of  the  Committee,     -  468 

Committee  to  purchase  Arms,  Ammunition,  and 
Provisions,       ------  469 

Every  Inhabitant  to  perfect  himself  in  Military 
Discipline,  and  provide  Arms  and  Ammuni- 
tion,        -  470 

Committee  to  remove  all  the  Cannon  from  the 

Town  that  are  private  property,  -       -       -  470 

Committee  to  ascertain  from  the  Inhabitants  what 
Military  Stores  and  Arms  they  have  for  their 
own  use,  and  for  sale,         -       -       -       -  470 

Committees  for  carrying  about  the  Association  to 
obtain  the  signatures  of  the  Inhabitants,        -  470 

Committee  to  prepare  an  Address  to  the  Lieuten- 
ant-Governour,         -       -  -       -  471 

Committee  of  Correspondence  and  Intelligence 
appointed,        -       -       -       -       -       -  471 

General  Association  signed  by  the  Inhabitants  of 
the  City  of  New- York,  and  sent  to  all  the 
Counties  in  the  Province  to  be  signed,  -       -  471 

Letter  from  Governour  Wanton  to  the  General 
Assembly  of  Rhode-Island.  Prevented  by 
indisposition  from  attending  the  Assembly. 
Sends  them  the  Letter  from  Lord  Dartmouth, 
of  March  3,  with  Lord  North's  Resolution, 
and  recommends  their  compliance  with  the 
terms  of  it, 

Letter  from  the  Providence,  Rhode-Island,  Com- 
mittee to  the  Massachusetts  Committee  of  Safe- 
ty. The  Assembly  will  meet  to-morrow,  when 
the  situation  of  Massachusetts,  and  of  Ameri- 
ca in  general,  will  be  seriously  attended  to,  - 

Letter  from  a  Gentleman  in  Connecticut  to  his 
friend  in  New- York.  General  Gage  cannot 
penetrate  into  the  Country  thus  far,  with  fifty 
thousand  men.  The  Assembly  have  sent  two 
Gentlemen  to  General  Gage,  to  tell  him  if  his 
hostile  proceedings  are  continued  the  whole 
Country  will  be  armed  against  him,     -       -  472 

Letter  from  Nathaniel  Freeman  to  Dr.  Church. 
He  is  ready  to  execute  any  orders  from  the 
Committee  of  Safety,  in  the  cause  of  God  and 
his  Country,     -----       .  473 

Letter  from  General  Thomas  to  the  Massachu- 
setts Committee  of  Safety.  Has  taken  posses- 
sion of  a  number  of  Papers  of  Governour 
Hutchinson,  found  at  Milton.  Many  more  are 
supposed  to  be  there ;  requests  the  directions  of 
the  Committee,  ------  473 

Letter  from  the  Provincial  Congress  of  Massa- 
chusetts to  their  Delegates  at  Connecticut.  The 
appointment  of  two  Gentlemen  by  Connecticut, 
to  treat  with  General  Gage  on  the  subject  of 
American  Grievances,  and  to  propose  a  cessa- 
tion of  hostilities,  has  caused  great  alarm. 
Any  proposals  made  separately,  by  a  single 
Colony,  may  produce  most  tremendous  effects 
with  regard  to  America,  will  weaken  the  union 
of  the  Colonies,  and  endanger  the  common 
cause.  They  are  directed  to  lay  this  matter 
fully  before  the  Assembly  of  Connecticut,     -  780 

Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Safety  of  Massa- 
chusetts to  the  Governour  of  Connecticut. 
They  object  to  the  proposition  made  by  the 
Assembly  of  Connecticut  to  General  Gage,  for 
a  cessation  of  hostilities :  they  can  agree  to  no 
compact  with  General  Gage,  who  has  deceived 
them;  he,  with  his  Troops,  must  be  driven  out 
of  the  Country,  which,  with  the  blessing  of 


471 


472 


1775. 

God,  they  will  accomplish,  or  perish  in  the 
attempt,    -------  473 

May  2,  Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Safety  to  Mr.  Vose, 
at  Milton,  in  relation  to  a  paper  maker,  who  is 
a  prisoner,       ------  474 

2,  Letter  from  Richard  Derby,  Jun.,  to  General 

Ward.     Information  received  of  a  Fleet  and 
Transports  with  Troops  for  Boston,     -       -  474 

3,  Letter  from  Richard  Glover  of  London,  to  Mat- 

thew Tilghman  of  Maryland,  vindicating  Mr. 
Molleson,  a  merchant  in  London,  from  the 
charge  of  being  unfriendly  to  the  Colonies,    -  474 

3,  Letter  from  the  Earl  of  Dartmouth  to  Governour 
Wright,  of  Georgia,  approving  his  conduct  in 
preventing  the  present  disorders  in  America 
from  spreading  through  the  Province,  -       -  475 

3,  Letter  from  the  Earl  of  Dartmouth  to  the  Gov- 
ernour of  North-Carolina.  Advises  him  to 
embody  the  men  in  Guilford,  Dobbs,  Rowan, 
and  Surry  Counties,  in  support  of  the  Govern- 
ment. The  loyalty  these  Counties  have  ex- 
pressed in  their  Addresses  to  the  Governour 
has  been  most  graciously  received  by  His 
Majesty,  who  will  not  fail  to  afford  them  marks 
of  his  Royal  favour,  -----  476 

3,  Committee  of  Amelia  County,  Virginia,  direct 
the  Militia  of  the  County  to  be  embodied,  and 
make  provision  for  procuring  Powder  and  Lead 
for  their  use,     ------  476 

3,  Committee  of  New-Kent  County,  Virginia. — 
Condemn  the  conduct  of  Lord  Dunmore.  in 
seizing  the  Powder,  and  thank  the  Committee 
of  Hanover  for  their  attempt  to  recover  it. — 
Company  of  Volunteers  to  be  formed,  and 
ready  to  act  on  any  emergency,         -       -  477 

3,  Committee  of  Cumberland  County,  Virginia. — 
Thanks  to  Captain  Scott  and  his  Independent 
Company  for  their  prompt  offers  of  service  to 
defend  the  Colony  against  wicked  invaders,   -  478 

3,  Letter  from  the  Earl  of  Dartmouth  to  the  Gov- 
ernour of  Pennsylvania.  It  o-jves  His  Ma- 
jesty great  concern  to  find  that  there  is  no 
appearance  of  the  People  of  Pennsylvania  re- 
turning to  a  just  sense  of  their  duty,     -       -  478 

3,  Meeting  of  the  Association  in  Philadelphia.  The 
Provincial  Arms  and  Powder  are  all  secured. 
Three  Magazines  are  forming,  and  in  three 
weeks  there  will  be  four  thousand  men  well 
equipped  for  the  defence  of  Philadelphia,  or 
for  the  assistance  of  their  neighbours,  -  478 

3,  Meeting  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Aquackanonck,  in 
New-Jersey.  Association  entered  into  and 
subscribed.  General  Committee  chosen,  and 
Delegates  to  the  Provincial  Convention  ap- 
pointed,   -       -       -       -       -       -  -478 

3,  Address  of  Isaac  Wilkins,  of  Westchester,  New- 
York,  to  his  Countrymen,  on  leaving  America,  479 

3,  Meeting  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Orangetown.  in 
New- York.  Appoint  Deputies  to  the  Provin- 
cial Congress,         -       •       -       -       -  831 

3,  Meeting  of  the  New- York  Committee,    -       -  479 
Letter  from  John  Crnger  and  Jacob  Walton,  as- 
signing their  reasons  for  not  signing  the  Asso- 
ciation,    -------  479 

Committee  to  ascertain  the  causes  for  the  dis- 
charge of  the  Eastern  Post-Rider,       -       -  480 

Thanks  to  the  Officers  and  Men  of  the  Connec- 
ticut Troops  who  have  inarched  to  this  City, 
for  its  defence,   ------  480 

Committee  appointed  to  confer  with  four  Gentle- 
men from  Philadelphia,      ....  481 

Letter  received  from  the  Inhabitants  of  Ulster 
County,  requesting  advice  and  aid  in  procur- 
ing Arms  and  Ammunition.       -       -       -  481 

Committee  report  that  Mr.  Foxcroft,  the  Post- 
Master,  informed  them  he  had  discharged  the 
Post-Riders,  because  the  four  last  Mails  were 
stopped,  broken  open,  and  the  Letters  taken 
out  and  publickly  read,      -       -       -       -  481 

4,  Committee  appointed  to  examine  the  Ground  at 

and  near  King's  Bridge,  to  ascertain  its  fit- 
ness for  Fortifications,  -  -  -  -  48 1 
The  discharged  Post-Riders  to  be  employed  to 
depart  on  the  usual  days,  and  go  the  usual 
Stages.  Mr.  Ebenezer  Hazard  has  under- 
taken to  receive  and  forward  the  Letters,  -  482 
3.  Letter  from  General  Gage  to  Governour  Trum- 
bull, in  reply  to  his  Letter  of  April  28.  Jusli- 


xlvii 

1775. 


CONTENTS. 


XLVIII 


hes  lu3  conduct,  and  denies  it  is  his  intention 
to  ravage  and  desolate  the  Country.  The 
charges  of  outrages  against  his  Troops  for 
their  conduct  on  the  19th  of  April,  are  con- 
trary to  their  known  humanity;  they  acted 
with  great  tenderness  both  to  the  young  and 
the  old;  he  has  found  no  instance  of  their 
cruelty  or  barbarity,  - 
Remarks  on  this  Letter,  addressed  to  the  Printer 
of  the  Massachusetts  Spy,  • 
Mai/3,  Certificate  in  favour  of  Ebenezer  Bradish,  Jun., 
of  Cambridge,  ------ 

3,   Orders  of  the  Massachusetts  Committee  of  Safe- 
ty to  Benedict  Arnold,  commander  of  a  body 
of  Troops  on  an  Expedition  to  subdue  and 
take  possession  of  the  Fort  of  Ticonderoga,  - 
3   Petition  of  the  Selectmen  of  Braintree,  Wey- 
mouth, and  Hingham,  in  Massachusetts,  to  the 
Committee  of  Safety,  representing  their  de- 
fenceless condition, and  asking  for  assistance, 
3,  Petition  of  James  Cargill,  commander  of  the  Li- 
berty-men in  New-Castle,  praying  a  supply  of 
Ammunition  from  the  Massachusetts  Con- 
gress, ------- 

3.  Letter  from  the  Provincial  Congress  of  Massa- 
chusetts to  the  honourableAmerican  Congress, 
to  be  convened  at  Philadelphia,  on  the  tenth 
of  May,  instant,  enclosing  copies  of  Deposi- 
tions, an  Address  to  the  Inhabitants  of  Great 
Britain,  and  a  Letter  to  Dr.  Franklin,  Colony 
Agent  in  London,  ...  -  486- 
Letter  from  Alexander  Scammell  to  John  Sulli- 


482 
483 
484 

485 

485 

486 


3, 


4, 


4, 


4, 


4, 


Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Brunswick  to  the 
Massachusetts  Committee  of  Safety.  The 
Town,  deficient  in  Arms  and  Ammunition, 
have  sent  to  Salem,  but  cannot  buy  them; 
apply  for  assistance,   -       -       -       -  - 

Committee  for  Norfolk  County,  Virginia,  ap- 
prove the  Proceedings  of  the  Convention  at 
Richmond.  Lord  Dunmore's  Letter  to  the 
Earl  of  Dartmouth,  dated  December  24,  1774, 
grossly  misrepresents  the  People  of  this  Colo- 
ny, and  especially  the  Magistrates.  Strictures 
on  the  Letter,  refuting  its  atrocious  and  defama- 
tory charges,  ------ 

Letter  from  Captain  Montague,  of  His  Majesty's 
Ship  Fowey,  to  Thomas  Nelson,  President  of 
His  Majesty's  Council  in  Virginia,  threaten- 
ing to  fire  upon  the  Town  of  York,  if  a  de- 
tachment he  had  sent  to  protect  Lord  Dunmore 
at  Williamsburgh  should  be  fired  upon, 

Proceedings  of  the  Committee  of  York  on  this 
Letter,  ------- 

Meeting  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Upper  Freehold, 
Monmouth  County,  New-Jersey.  Will  risk 
every  consequence  rather  than  submit  to  the 
claims  set  up  by  the  British  Parliament.  Four 
Companies  formed  for  the  common  defence, 
and  Money  subscribed  to  procure  Powder,  - 

Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  Inhabitants  of 
Newark,  in  New-Jersey.  Association  agreed 
to.  Deputies  to  the  Provincial  Congress  ap- 
pointed. Powers  of  the  General  Committee 
continued.  Committee  of  Correspondence  ap- 
pointed, - 

Letter  from  a  Gentleman  in  New- York  to  his 
Correspondent  in  London.  All  the  Provinces 
refuse  submission  to  the  late  Acts  of  Parlia- 
ment, and  will  oppose  at  the  risk  of  their  lives 
and  fortunes  all  who  come  to  enforce  them,  - 

Mr.  Goddard  on  a  journey  to  the  Eastward,  to 
put  the  Posts  on  a  proper  footing,  to  be  laid 
before  Congress,  ----- 

Letter  from  Governour  Trumbull  to  Doctor  War- 
ren. The  Assembly  will  pursue  with  firm- 
ness, deliberation  and  unanimity,  the  measures 
which  appear  best  for  our  common  defence  and 
safety.  It  is  hoped  no  ill  consequences  will 
attend  their  Embassy  to  General  Gage, 

Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Safety  of  Massa- 
chusetts to  Governour  Trumbull,  requesting  he 
will  immediately  send  three  or  four  thousand 
Men,  to  enable  them  to  secure  a  pass  of  the 
greatest  importance  to  the  common  interest, 
which  General  Gage  will  possess  himself  of 
as  soon  as  his  re-enforcements  arrive,  if  not 
prevented  now,  - 


■501 
501 

502 


1775. 
May  4, 

4, 


502 


504 
504 


504 

505 

506 
506 

506 


>06 


5, 


Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Safety  of  Massa- 
chusetts to  the  New- York  Committee, 

Letter  from  a  Gentleman  at  Pittsfield  to  an  Offi- 
cer at  Cambridge.  Colonel  Easlon  left  here 
on  the  2d  instant,  on  an  expedition  against  Ti- 
conderoga and  Crown  Point,  expecting  to  be 
re-enforced  by  Colonel  Ethan  Allen,  with  his 
Green  Mountain  Boys.  The  plan  was  con- 
certed on  the  28th  of  April,  at  Hartford,  by  the 
Governour  and  Council,  John  Hancock  and 
Samuel  Adams  being  present.  The  Tories 
have  been  very  troublesome  at  Pittsfield;  some 
have  been  arrested  and  sent  to  Northampton 
Jail,  

Application  of  the  Selectmen  of  Topsham  to  the 
Massachusetts  Congress,  for  Powder,  - 

Letter  from  Colonel  Thomas  Gilbert  to  his  sons. 
Arrived  safe  in  Boston,  where  he  expects  to 
stay  till  the  Rebels  are  subdued;  urges  them 
not  to  join  those  wicked  sinners,  the  Rebels, 
but  to  die  by  the  sword  rather  than  be  hanged 
as  Rebels,  ------ 

Letter  from  London  to  a  Gentlemen  in  New- 
York.  Major  Skene  has  told  the  Ministry 
that  he  can  bribe  all  the  Members  of  the  Con- 
tinental Congress,  and  has  been  sent  to  Phila- 
delphia for  that  purpose,      -       -       -  - 

New- York  Committee.  Letter  to  the  several 
Colonies  adopted  and  forwarded.  Letter  re- 
ceived from  Richmond  County,  where  they 
have  chosen  Members  to  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress. Answer  to  the  Address  of  Captain 
Broome.  Letter  received  from  Annapolis, 
dated  May  1.  Letter  to  the  Lord  Mayor  of 
London  approved  of.  Letter  from  Albany, 
dated  May  3,  received ;  Committee  directed  to 
confer  with  Messrs.  Hancock  and  Adams,  on 
the  subject  of  this  Letter,  - 

Letter  from  the  New- York  Committee  to  the 
several  Colonies,       -       -       -       -  - 

Letter  from  the  New- York  Committee  to  the 
Mayor  and  Corporation  of  London, 

Letter  from  the  Members  of  the  New- York  As- 
sembly to  General  Gage,  urging  him  imme- 
diately to  cease  further  hostilities,  until  His 
Majesty  can  be  apprised  of  the  situation  of  the 
American  Colonies,  .... 

Meeting  of  the  Committees  of  Suffolk  County, 
New- York.  Deputies  for  the  County  to  the 
Provincial  Congress  appointed,    -       -  - 

Letter  from  the  Committees  of  Suffolk  County 
to  the  Committee  for  Brookhaven,  informing 
them  of  their  appointment  of  Deputies,  and 
requesting  their  concurrence,       -       -  - 

Letter  from  the  Selectmen  of  Worcester  to  the 
Massachusetts  Congress,     -       -       -  - 

Letter  from  the  Massachusetts  Congress  to  the 
Assembly  of  Connecticut.  The  absurdity  of 
the  assertion  of  General  Gage,  that  the  People 
of  Massachusetts  first  commenced  hostilities, 
will  appear  when  the  great  inequality  of  the 
Lexington  Company  and  Detachment  of  Re- 
gular Troops  which  attacked  them,  is  consi- 
dered. No  dependance  can  be  placed  in  the 
assertions  or  professions  of  General  Gage; 
he  has  been  preparing  for  war,  while  he  was 
amusing  us  with  pretensions  of  kindness  and 
benevolence.  It  is  the  opinion  of  the  Congress 
that  a  powerful  Army  is  the  best  and  only 
measure  left  to  bring  the  present  disputes  to  a 
happy  issue,  ------ 

Letter  from  the  Provincial  Congress  of  Massa- 
chusetts to  General  Ward.  The  liberation  of 
the  Inhabitants  of  Boston  being  obstructed, 
he  is  requested  strictly  to  execute  the  orders 
of  the  Congress  respecting  Permits  into  the 
country,  - 

Petition  from  the  Settlements  on  the  Sheepscot 
River  and  Deer's  River  (without  the  limits  of 
any  Town)  to  the  Massachusetts  Congress,  for 
a  supply  of  Powder  and  Ball,  to  enable  them 
to  assist  in  vindicating  American  Liberty, 

Letter  from  Enoch  Freeman  to  the  Massachu- 
setts Congress.  The  Penobscot  Indians  being 
exasperated  with  Capt.  Goldthwaite,  it  would 
be  prudent  for  the  Congress  to  send  down  there 
and  secure  the  Indians  in  our  interest.  The 
Selectmen  of  Falmouth  have  sent  persons  to 


507 


507 


508 


508 


508 


-  509 


510 


510 


513 


531 


832 


513 


786 


787 


514 


XL1X 

1775. 


CONTENTS. 


May 

5, 
5, 

6, 
6, 
6, 

6. 

6, 

6, 
6, 
G, 

6, 


go  over  to  Quebeck  to  see  if  the  Canadians 
are  in  motion  to  come  on  our  back  settlements, 
5,  Petition  of  Timothy  Langdon  to  the  Massachu- 
setts Congress,  complaining  of  Colonel  Thomp- 
son, of  Brunswick,  who  has  seized  Edward 
Parry,  for  having  prepared  Masts  for  the  King; 
the  matter  having  been  previously  examined 
and  disposed  of  by  the  Committees  of  Lincoln, 

Letter  from  James  Gowen,  of  Kittery,  to  Gene- 
ral Ward,  asking  permission  for  Johnson  Moul- 
ton  to  raise  a  Regiment,  - 

Letter  from  General  Thomas  to  the  Massachu- 
setts Committee,  requesting  them  to  send  per- 
sons to  examine  the  Trunks  of  Governour 
Hutchinson,  ...... 

Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Safety  to  General 
Thomas.  The  effects  of  all  persons  are  to  go 
into  Boston  without  search  or  detention;  there- 
fore the  Trunks  of  Governour  Hutchinson  are 
not  to  be  detained  or  injured,  ... 

Proclamation  by  Lord  Dunmore,  charging  all  per- 
sons, on  their  allegiance,  not  to  aid,  abet,  or 
give  countenance  to  a  certain  Patrick  Henry, 
of  Hanover  County,  or  any  of  his  deluded  fol- 
lowers, ------- 

Letter  from  Carlisle,  in  Pennsylvania,  to  a  Gen- 
tleman in  Philadelphia.  About  three  thousand 
men  have  associated,  and  about  fifteen  hundred 
are  prepared.  The  Committee  have  directed 
that  five  hundred  men  be  taken  into  pay  imme- 
diately, ....... 

Printed  Letter  to  the  Regular  Soldiers  of  Great 
Britain,  distributed  among  the  Soldiers  in  the 
Barracks  in  New- York,  - 

Delegates  from  Massachusetts  to  the  Continental 
Congress  received  in  New- York  on  the  8th: 
with  the  Delegates  from  New- York,  received 
in  New- Jersey,  ..... 

Letter  from  the  Rev.  William  Gordon,  with  a 
copy  of  a  Paper  found  among  those  of  the  late 
Josiah  Quincy,  - 

Letter  from  Montreal.  Occurrences  there  on  the 
1st  of  May,  when  the  new  Quebeck  Act  took 
effect  in  Canada,  - 

Letter  from  William  Whipple  to  the  Massachu- 
setts Congress,  on  the  arrest  of  Mr.  Parry  by 
Colonel  Thompson,    -       -       -       -  - 

Letter  from  Metcalf  Bowler  to  the  Massachusetts 
Committee  of  Safety.  The  Assembly  of  Rhode- 
Island  are  using  every  method  in  their  power  to 
have  their  men  in  readiness  to  take  the  field  as 
early  as  possible,  ..... 


NEW-HAMPSHIRE  ASSEMBLY. 

May  4,  New-Hampshire  Assembly,   -       -       -  - 
List  of  the  Members,  - 
5,   Directed  to  choose  a  Speaker,  - 

John  Wentworth  chosen  Speaker,    -       -  - 
G,  Letter  from  the  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives of  New- York  laid  before  the  House, 
Speech  of  Governour  Wentworth  to  both  Houses, 
Assembly  adjourned  to  the  12th  of  June  next,  - 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  ETC. 

May  7,  Letter  from  Thomas  Jefferson  to  Dr.  William 
Small,  

7,  Letter  from  the  Massachusetts  Committee  of  Safe- 
ty to  the  Committee  of  Albany,  New- York,  - 

7,  Letter  from  the  Massachusetts  Committee  of  Safe- 
ty to  Col.  James  Scammons.  It  is  understood 
that  it  would  be  agreeable  to  the  people  of 
York  that  Johnson  Moulton  should  have  the 
command  of  the  Regiment  to  be  raised  there, 
and  therefore  request  Colonel  Scammons  to 
give  way  for  him,  ..... 

7,  Order  of  Admiral  Graves  to  Lieutenant  Graves, 

to  seize  a  Vessel  at  Marblehead,  and  bring  her 
into  Boston,  ...... 

8,  Resolution  of  the  Common  Council  of  Williams- 

burgh,  Virginia,  on  the  breaking  into  the  Ma- 
gazine and  taking  thence  the  Fire-Arms, 
S,  Meeting  of  the  Sussex  County,  Virginia,  Com- 
mittee. Declare  the  Letter  of  Lord  Dunmore 
to  the  Earl  of  Dartmouth,  dated  December  24, 
1774,  to  be  fraught  with  calumny,  falsehoods 
and  illiberal  reflections  against  the  People  of 
Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii. 


514 

515 
515 

515 
515 
516 

516 
516 

517 
518 
518 
520 

520 


519 
519 
520 
520 

521 
522 
524 


523 
523 


524 


525 


52c 


1775. 


May8, 


10. 


11, 


12, 


14, 


Virginia.  Direct  Troops  to  be  raised,  Offi- 
cers appointed,  and  Ammunition  furnished. — 
Committee  of  Intelligence  and  Correspondence 
appointed,        ......  526 

Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  of  Mecklenburgh 
County,  Virginia.  Appoint  a  Committee  to 
secure  a  due  observance  of  the  Continental  As- 
sociation, and  every  member  of  the  Committee 
required  to  exert  his  endeavours  to  enlist  Vo- 
lunteers, as  required  by  the  late  Provincial 
Convention,      ......  526 

Meeting  of  Prince  George,  Virginia,  Commit- 
tee. Every  person  importing  any  Goods  into 
this  County  must,  before  they  are  landed,  pro- 
duce a  Certificate  from  the  Committee  whence 
they  were  reshipped,  that  they  were  imported 
into  this  Colony  before  the  1st  day  of  Febru- 
ary last.    Committee  of  Intelligence  appointed,  527 

Proceedings  in  relation  to  Capt.  Charles  Alexan- 
der,  527 

Louisa  County,  Virginia,  Committee.  Thanks 
to  Captain  Patrick  Henry  and  the  Hanover 
Volunteers,  for  procuring  satisfaction  for  the 
Gunpowder  taken  by  Lord  Dunmore,  -       -  529 

Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  of  Westchester  Coun- 
ty, New- York.  Deputies  to  the  Provincial 
Congress  appointed.  The  Committee  then 
signed  the  Association,  and  appointed  Sub- 
Committees  to  superintend  the  signing  of  it 
throughout  the  County,      ....  529 

New- York  Committee.    Members  present,      -  529 

All  persons  importing  Arms  or  Ammunition 
required  to  deliver  them  to  the  Committee  in 
ten  days,  and  all  persons  prohibited  from  dis- 
posing of  any  in  any  other  manner,      -       -  530 

Committee  directed  to  report  a  Resolution  for  the 
regulation  of  such  vessels  as  shall  depart  with 
Provisions,       ......  530 

Committee  appointed  to  have  the  Muskets  fitted 
with  steel  Rammers,  -       -       -       -  531 

Thanks  to  Mr.  Sharpe  for  delivering  a  number 
of  Arms  gratis,  -       -       -       -       -  531 

Committee  to  prepare  a  Letter  to  the  Delegates 
in  Congress,  requesting  the  advice  of  the  Con- 
tinental Congress  with  respect  to  the  conduct 
to  be  observed  towards  any  Troops  that  may 
arrive  here,       -       -       -       -       -  -531 

Address  to  the  Lieutenant-Governour  read  and 
approved  of,      -       -       -       -       -  -531 

Committee  appointed  to  convey  the  earliest  intel- 
ligence to  the  Counties  in  this  Province,       -  532 

Physicians  requested  to  abstain  from  inoculating 
for  the  Small-Pox,  532 

Committee  appointed  to  present  the  Address  of 
the  Committee  to  the  Lieutenant-Governour. 
No  Inhabitant  to  be  treated  as  an  enemy  to  the 
Country  but  by  order  of  the  Continental  or 
Provincial  Congress,  or  this  Committee,        -  532 

Committee  of  Correspondence  directed  to  write 
to  the  neighbouring  Committees  to  prevent  the 
Man-of-War  in  the  Harbour  from  being  sup- 
plied with  Provisions  for  the  Troops  at  Bos- 
ton, from  New-Jersey  or  Staten-Island,         -  533 

Address  of  the  Committee  to  Lieutenant-Govern- 
our Colden,  533 

His  Honour's  Answer,  -----  534 

Petition  from  the  Inhabitants  of  Ridgebury,  in 
the  Township  of  Ridgefield,  to  Gov.  Trumbull,  536 

Committee  of  Maiden  and  Chelsea  order  their 
suspicions,  of  Doctor  Samuel  Danforth's  at- 
tachment to  the  Country,  to  be  communicated 
to  General  Ward,  536 

A  Constitutional  Post-Office  is  now  rising  on 
the  ruins  of  the  Parliamentary  one,      -       -  536 

List  of  the  Post-Offices  established,  -       -       -  537 

Mr.  Holt's  Post-Office  in  New- York,  (Note,)   -  538 

Letter  from  the  Provincial  Congress  of  Massa- 
chusetts to  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town  of 
Hopkinton.  A  violation  of  the  natural  right 
of  an  individual  to  remove  his  person  and 
effects  wherever  he  pleases,  would  ill  become 
those  who  are  contending  for  the  inalienable 
right  of  every  man  to  his  own  property,  and  to 
dispose  of  it  as  he  pleases.  It  is  hoped  that  Mr. 
Barret's  example  will  not  become  infectious,   -  791 

Letter  from  the  Provincial  Congress  of  Massa- 
chusetts to  the  Committee  from  Portsmouth, 
New-Hampshire,      .....  792 


LI 

1775. 
May  8, 


9, 
9, 


9, 


9, 


9, 
10, 


Letter  from  the  Provincial  Congress  of  Massa- 
chusetts to  General  Ward,  directing  him  to 
apprehend  certain  named  persons,  and  bring 
them  before  the  Committee  of  Safety  for 
examination,  ------ 

Letter  from  Samuel  Mather  to  the  Massachusetts 
Congress;  enclosing  General  Gage's  circum- 
stantial account  of  the  engagement  on  the 
19th  of  April,  

Letter  from  the  Selectmen  of  Worcester  to  the 
Massachusetts  Congress.  Samuel  Paine  and 
William  Campbell  sent  to  Watcrtown,  as  per- 
sons disaffected  to  the  Country,  - 

Deposition  of  Gardner  Chandler,  - 

Spottsylvania  County,  Virginia,  Committee,  ap- 
prove of  the  Proceedings  of  Captain  Patrick 
Henry,  concerning  the  Powder  taken  from  the 
Magazine  by  Lord  Dunmore,      -       -  - 

Orange  County,  Virginia,  Committee,  declare  the 
removal  of  the  Powder  by  Lord  Dunmore 
was  fraudulent;  that  the  reprisal  made  by  the 
Hanover  Volunteers  merits  the  approbation  of 
the  publick;  and  present  an  Address  of  thanks 
to  Captain  Patrick  Henry,  -       -  - 

Meeting  of  the  Hanover  County,  Virginia,  Com- 
mittee. Report  of  the  Proceedings  of  the 
Hanover  Volunteers  in  making  reprisals  for 
the  Powder  seized  by  Lord  Dunmore,  - 

Patrick  Henry's  receipt  for  three  hundred  and 
thirty  Pounds,  as  a  compensation  for  the  Pow- 
der taken  from  the  Magazine  in  Williams- 
burgh,  by  order  of  Lord  Dunmore, 

Letter  from  Patrick  Henry  to  Robert  Carter 
Nicholas,  informing  him  that  the  affair  of  the 
Powder  is  settled,  and  offering  a  guard  for  the 
Treasury,  - 

Letter  from  a  Gentleman  in  Bucks  County, 
Pennsylvania,  to  his  friend  in  Philadelphia. 
Several  Towns  of  the  County  have  begun  to 
form  Military  Associations,  - 

Meeting  of  the  Committee  for  Bucks  County, 
Pennsylvania.  Proceedings  of  the  Conven- 
tion in  January,  approved.  Inhabitants  of  the 
Towns  in  the  County  recommended  to  asso- 
ciate to  improve  in  the  Military  Art.  Dele- 
gates to  a  Provincial  Convention  appointed,  - 

Bedford  County,  Pennsylvania,  Committee.  Mili- 
tary Associations  to  be  formed  throughout  the 
County  immediately;  Powder  and  Lead  to  be 
furnished.  If  any  person  shall  refuse  to  enrol 
himself  in  some  Company,  he  shall  not  be 
permitted  to  have  any  dealing,  by  buying  or 
selling,  or  borrowing  or  lending,  with  any  In- 
habitant of  the  County,  .... 

Letter  from  Ulster  County,  New- York,  to  a 
Gentleman  in  the  City  of  New- York.  A 
great  revolution  has  taken  place  in  this  Coun- 
ty. At  a  meeting  yesterday  those  who  have 
hitherto  opposed  the  Committees  agreed  to  unite 
in  support  of  their  measures,  - 

Letter  from  Joel  Clark  to  Governour  Trumbull. 
Recapitulates  his  former  services,  and  now 
makes  a  tender  of  them,  .... 

Letter  from  Thomas  Howell  to  Governour 
Trumbull.  Thanks  him  for  the  appointment 
he  has  received,  but  believing  it  will  conduce 
to  the  peace  of  the  Town,  (New- Haven,)  re- 
signs, and  recommends  Jonathan  Fitch, 

Sheffield,  Massachusetts,  Committee,  on  an  in- 
vestigation of  the  charges  against  Job  West- 
over,  resolve  that  he  is  an  enTjmy  of  American 
Liberty,  and  that  it  is  the  duty  of  all  friends  of 
freedom  to  break  off  all  dealings  with  him,  - 

Letter  from  a  Gentleman  in  Pittsfield,  Massa- 
chusetts, to  an  Officer  of  the  Connecticut 
Forces,  at  Cambridge.  The  Stockbridge  In- 
dians are  willing  to  join  the  Colonies,  and  will 
be  of  great  service  if  Gage  marches  out  of 
Boston.  There  are  but  twelve  Soldiers  at 
Crown  Point,  and  about  two  hundred  at  Ticon- 
deroga; they  are  much  alarmed  with  our  ex- 
pedition, - 

Petition  from  Cohasset  to  the  Committee  of  Safe- 
ty, praying  permission  to  raise  a  Company 
for  their  defence,  - 

Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Lynn  to  the  Com- 
mittee of  Safety,  with  Josiah  Martin,  chari.M  il 
with  having  acted  as  an  enemy  to  the  Province, 


CONTENTS.  lii 

1775. 

May  10,Letter  from  I>ondon  to  a  Gentleman  in  Philadel- 
phia.  It  is  believed  here  that  notwithstanding 
your  seeming  firmness  and  hostile  prepara- 
tion, you  will  submit  to  any  thing  rather  than 
contend  with  us,        ....       -  517 
10,   Thanks  of  the  Williamsburgh,  Virginia,  Volun- 
teers to  the  Volunteers  who  offered  their  as- 
sistance on  the  late  alarm,  .       -       -       -  517 
10,   Letter  from  New- York  to  a  Gentleman  in  Phila- 
delphia,  -  -       -       -       -  547 
10,   Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  of  Goshen  Precinct, 
in  Orange  County,  New- York,  appoint  Dele- 
gates to  the  Provincial  Congress,        -       -  832 
10,   Address  to  the  Publick,  by  the  Ulster  County, 
New- York,  Committee,  correcting  the  mis- 
representations of  Mr.  Jacobus  Louw,  -       -  548 
10,   Letter  from  the  Committee  of  War  for  the  expe- 
dition against  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point, 
to  the  Massachusetts  Congress.  Ticonderoga 
was  taken  this  morning,  and  the  Committee 
have  given  the  command  to  Colonel  Ethan 
Allen.     Arnold  claims  the  command,  but  did 
not  enlist  a  man  for  the  expedition,       -       -  556 
10,    Town  Meeting  at  Providence,  Rhode-Island. 
Committee  to  examine  into  the  state  of  the 
Arms  of  the  Town,   -----  549 
10,   Letter  from  the  Provincial  Congress  of  Massa- 
chusetts to   General    Gage,  remonstrating 
against  his  violation  of  the  Agreement  with  the 
Selectmen  of  Boston.    The  People  have  com- 
plied with  it,  and  surrendered  their  Arms;  and 
though  a  number  of  days  have  elapsed,  very 
few  have  been  permitted  to  leave  the  Town,  -  793 
10,    Letter  from  General  Thomas  to  the  Committee 

of  Safety,  549 

10,   Letter  from  the  Committee  and  Selectmen  of 
Bristol  to  the  Massachusetts  Congress.  The 
Town  of  Bristol  has  three  Companies,  of 
sixty  Men  each,  most  of  whom  have  Guns,  but 
they  are  out  of  Ammunition,  and  cannot  pro- 
cure a  supply,  ------  549 

10,    Letter  from  Timothy  Pickering,  Jun.,  to  the 

Committee  of  Safety,  -----  550 

10,  Letter  from  Enoch  Freeman  to  Samuel  Freeman. 
The  threats  of  Colonel  Thompson  to  take  the 
Canceaux,  in  the  Harbour  of  Falmouth,  has 
thrown  the  Town  in  confusion  ;  they  can  make 
no  defence  against  a  Man-of-War,        -       -  550 

1 1,  New- Kent  County,  Virginia,  Committee,  declare 
the  charges  against  the  Inhabitants  of  Virginia, 
in  Lord  Dunmorc's  Proclamation  of  the  3d 
instant,  is  an  unjust  reflection  upon  them,  and 
has  no  foundation  in  truth,  -       -       -       -  551 

1 1,  Somerset  County,  New-Jersey, Committee,  choose 
Delegates  to  the  Provincial  Congress,  and  in- 
struct them  to  agree  in  arming  and  supporting 

the  Militia,  551 

11,   Meeting  of  Committees  of  the  several  Towns 
and  Precincts  in  Ulster  County,  New-York. 
Names   of  the   Committees  of  the  several 
Towns.     Deputies  to  the  Provincial  Congress 
chosen,     -       ...       -       -       -       -  833 

1 1,    Letter  from  Ethan  Allen  to  the  Albany  Commit- 
tee, informing  them  that  he  has  taken  the 
Fortress  of  Ticonderoga;  and  apprehensive 
that  Governour  Carleton  will  make  an  effort 
to  retake  it,  asks  for  re-enforcements,    -       -  GOG 
11,   Recantation  of  P.  Bailey,  James  McMasterand 
Thomas  Achincloss,  of  Portsmouth,  in  New- 
Hampshire,      ------  552 

1 1,    Letter  from  the  Massachusetts  Committee  of  Safe- 
ty to  General  Thomas,       -  552 
11,    Letter  from  Falmouth,  Massachusetts,  to  a  Gen- 
tleman at  Watertown.     Account  of  the  Pro- 
ceedings at  Falmouth,  in  consequence  of  the 
capture  of  Captain  Mowatt,  of  the  Canceaux, 
by  Colonel  Thompson,      ...       -  552 
1 1,    Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Deer- Island  to  the 
Massachusetts  Congress.  The  Inhabitants  are 
out  of  Powder,  Ball  and  Provisions,  and  re- 
quest assistance,        -----  555 

11,  Letter  from  the  Massachusetts  Congress  to  the 
New- York  Committee.  Two  Men-of-War, 
with  Troops  on  board,  sailed  yesterday  for 
New- York ;  it  is  supposed  they  have  orders 
to  seize  the  Ammunition  and  Military  Stores 

in  the  Fort  there,  556 

11,    Letter  from  Ethan  Allen  to  the  Massachusetts 


794 


538 


538 
539 


539 


-  539 


540 


540 


541 


541 


542 


543 


543 


544 


544 


545 


546 
547 
546 


LI  1 1 

1775. 


CONTENTS. 


Congress.  Ticonderoga  taken  yesterday  morn- 
ing by  one  hundred  Green  Mountain  Boys, 
and  fifty  Soldiers  from  Massachusetts;  the  lat- 
ter were  under  the  command  of  Col.  Easton,  -  556 
May\ I, Letter  from  Benedict  Arnold  to  the  Massachu- 
setts Committee  of  Safety.  Account  of  the 
capture  of  Ticonderoga,  and  the  state  of  affairs 
there.  Allen,  who  has  assumed  the  command, 
is  a  proper  man  to  head  his  own  wild  People, 
but  entirely  unacquainted  with  military  ser- 
vice ;  and  every  thing  is  in  confusion,  -  -  557 
11,  Letter  from  Edward  Mott,  Chairman  of  the 
Committee  of  War,  to  the  Massachusetts  Con- 
gress. Account  of  planning  the  Expedition 
against  Ticonderoga,  and  of  the  rapture  of  that 
Fortress.  The  Committee  have  given  the 
command  to  Colonel  Allen,  to  the  exclusion  of 
Arnold,  who  claimed  it  after  the  surrender  of 
the  Fort,  557 


CONNECTICUT  ASSEMBLY. 

MayW,  Connecticut  Assembly  meets,         ...  559 

Members  of  the  Council,       ....  559 

Members  of  the  House  of  Representatives,      -  559 

Acts  extending  the  Boundaries  of  the  Town  of 
Westmoreland,  and  making  it  one  Regiment,-  561 

Bills  of  Credit  for  fifty  thousand  Pounds  au- 
thorized, -------  561 

Embargo  laid  in  April  continued  to  the  first  of 
August,    -------  562 

Quartermaster's  and  other  Stores  ordered  for  the 
Troops,    -------  562 

Act  for  encouraging  the  manufacturing  of  Fire- 
Arms  and  Military  Stores  within  the  Colony, 
for  the  safety  and  defence  thereof,         -       -  563 

Act  for  regulating  and  ordering  the  Troops  that 
are  or  may  be  raised  for  the  defence  of  this 
Colony,    -------  564 

Articles,  Rules  and  Regulations  for  the  govern- 
ment of  the  Troops  in  the  service  of  the 
Colony,    -------  565 

Payment  authorized  for  the  Ammunition  fur- 
nished the  Inhabitants  of  the  Colony,  who 
marched  either  Eastward  or  Westward  in  the 
late  alarm,        ------  570 

Committee  to  take  care  of,  and  provide  for  the 
Officers  and  Soldiers  taken  prisoners  at  Crown 
Point,  570 

Forms  of  Commissions  for  Field  and  Staflf-Offi- 
cers  adopted,     -       -       -       -       -  -571 

Committee  to  provide  such  store  of  Lead  as  may 
be  necessary  for  the  use  of  the  Colony,        -  573 

Committee  to  employ  News  Carriers  at  the  pub- 
lick  expense,     ------  573 

Committee  of  War  appointed,         ...  373 

Five  hundred  pounds  of  Powder  to  be  sent  to 
Crown  Point  and  Ticonderoga,  to  Colonel 
Easton,    -------  574 

Officers  appointed,        -----  574 

Officers  of  the  Company  of  Northbury,  in  Wa- 
terbury,  cashiered,  for  being  totally  disaffected 
to  the  general  cause  of  American  Liberty,    -  575 

Committee  on  a  Petition  from  New-London, 
recommending  the  encouragement  of  certain 
Manufactures,   ------  575 

Report  of  Committee  on  what  Intelligence,  Pa- 
pers and  Documents  are  necessary  to  be  com- 
municated to  the  Continental  Congress,  -       -  576 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  ETC. 

May  12, Letter  from  London  to  a  Gentleman  in  Philadel- 
phia.   Mr.  Burke  is  to  present  the  Remon- 
strance of  the  New- York  Assembly  on  Mon- 
day next;  the  Ministry  are  determined  it  shall 
not  be  received,  -       -       -  - 

12,   Richmond  County,  Virginia,  Committee.  Re- 
solutions of  the  Committee,  vindicating  their 
Constituents  from  the  atrocious  aspersions  in 
Lord  Dunmore's  Proclamation  of  the  third 
instant,  ------- 

12,   Proclamation  by  Lord  Dunmore,  appointing  the 
first  Thursday  in  next  month  for  the  meeting 
of  the  General  Assembly,  -       -       -  - 

Joseph  Galloway's  Address  to  the  Publick.  De- 
nying the  charge  that  he  had  wrote  Letters  to 
the  Ministry  inimical  to  America, 


12, 


577 


578 


578 


-  579 


LIV 

.Committee  of  Correspondence  for  Bergen  Coun- 
ty, in  New- Jersey,  appointed,      ...  579 
Delegates  to  the  Provincial  Congress  of  New- 
York  chosen  by  the  Committees  in  Charlotte 

County,  833 

Freeholders  and  Inhabitants  of  Haverstraw  Pre- 
cinct, in  Orange  County,  New- York,  choose 
Delegates  to  the  Provincial  Congress,  -  -  834 
Letter  from  the  Albany  Committee  to  the  New- 
York  Committee,  enclosing  a  copy  of  a  Let- 
ter from  Ethan  Allen,  dated  Ticonderoga,  May 
1 1,  giving  an  account  of  the  capture  of  that 

Fortress,  605 

Letter  from  S.  Osgood  to  the  Massachusetts  Com- 
mittee of  Safety.  Notwithstanding  the  agree- 
ment with  General  Gage,  the  People  of  Bos- 
ton, though  they  complied  with  it  on  their  part, 
are  not  permitted  to  leave  Boston,  -  -  579 
Petition  from  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Eastern  parts 
of  Massachusetts  to  the  Provincial  Congress, 
praying  for  assistance  in  Powder,  Balls  and 
Flints,  that  they  may  have  wherewithal  to 
defend  themselves,  -----  580 
Letter  from  the  Selectmen  of  Amesbury  to  the 

Massachusetts  Committee  of  Safety,  -  -  580 
Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Supplies  to  the 

Massachusetts  Congress,  -  -  -  -  581 
Letter  from  General  Thomas  to  the  Committee  of 

Safety,  581 

Letter  from  James  Cavet  to  Arthur  St.  Clair. 
The  situation  of  the  well-affected  Inhabitants 
of  Pittsburgh  is  almost  intolerable;  if  not  as- 
sisted they  will  be  ruined,  -  -  -  -  581 
Letter  from  the  Committee  for  Mamicoting  to  the 
New- York  Congress.  The  Inhabitants  have 
all  signed  the  Association,  and  are  determined 
to  stand  by  it ;  they  have  chosen  Militia  Offi- 
cers, and  request  the  appointments  may  be 
confirmed  by  the  Congress,  ...  834 
Letter  from  Dr.  Wheelock  to  Governour  Trum- 
bull,  582 

Letter  from  Thomas  Fraser,  in  London,  to  George 

Erving,  of  Boston,    -----  583 
Letter  from  Timothy  Ladd  to  the  New-Hamp- 
shire Congress,  offering  his  services  for  the 
defence  of  the  liberties  of  America,      -       -  584 
Letter  from  Benedict  Arnold  to  the  Massachusetts 
Committee  of  Safety.  Crown  Point,  with  eleven 
Prisoners,  and  a  number  of  Cannon,  taken. 
Major  Skene  made  prisoner.     Mr.  Allen's 
party  is  decreasing,  and  the  dispute  subsiding,  584 
Letter  from  Jedediah  Preble  to  the  Massachusetts 
Congress.     Proceedings  of  Colonel  Thomp- 
son, at  Falmouth ;  his  capture  and  detention  of 
Captain  Mowatt,  who  is  released  on  his  promise 
to  return  on  shore  the  next  morning :  he  does 
not  return,  and  his  securities  are  arrested,     -  585 
Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Correspondence 
for  Falmouth,  in  Massachusetts,  to  the  Com- 
mittee of  Safety.     Dangerous  consequences 
anticipated  from  the  conduct  of  Col.  Thomp- 
son,  586 

Resolution  of  the  Provincial  Congress  disap- 
proving of  the  conduct  of  Col.  Thompson,    -  587 
Address  of  the  Council  to  the  People  of  Virgi- 
nia.  A  redress  of  Grievances  is  more  likely 
to  be  obtained  by  gentle  methods  than  by  in- 
temperate behaviour.  An  Assembly  will  soon 
meet,  when  the  People  may  represent  their 
Grievances  in  the  manner  prescribed  by  the 
Constitution,     ------  587 

Chester  County,  Pennsylvania,  Committee.  The 
British  Parliament  having  in  an  Address  to 
His  Majesty  declared  the  People  of  Massa- 
chusetts-Bay to  be  in  a  state  of  open  Rebellion, 
encouraged  by  several  other  Colonies,  it  is  the 
duty  of  the  Freemen  of  this  County  to  asso- 
ciate and  provide  themselves  with  Arms  and 
Ammunition,  to  defend  their  lives  and  liber- 
ties,  588 


NEW-JERSEY  ASSEMBLY. 

May  15, Assembly  of  New-Jersey  meets,    -       -       -  589 
List  of  Representatives,        ...       -  589 
Letters  from  the  Agents  in  England,  and  the 
Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives  of 
New- York,  laid  before  the  House,       -       -  589 


1775 
May  [2 

12, 


12, 
12, 

12, 

12, 

12, 
12, 
12, 
13, 

13, 

13, 
13, 
13, 

14, 
14, 

15, 


15, 


15, 


LV 

1775. 
May  I 


CONTENTS. 


17, 


19: 
20 


6,Governour's  Speech  to  the  Council  and  House 
of  Assembly,  ------ 

Address  to  the  King  from  the  Lords  and  Com- 
mons of  Great  Britain,  of  the  7th  of  Febru- 
ary, 1775,  and  a  copy  of  Lord  North's  Reso- 
lution laid  before  the  House,       .       -  - 
Letter  from  Governour  Franklin  to  the  Earl  of 
Dartmouth,  dated  February  1, 1775,  laid  before 
the  House,  ------ 

Governour's  Speech  and  Papers  referred  to  a 
Committee  of  the  Whole  House,  and  consi- 
dered, ------- 

Address  to  the  Governour  in  answer  to  his  Speech 
ordered,  and  Committee  appointed  to  prepare 

Message  to  the  Governour,  requesting  him  to  in- 
form the  House,  whether  the  Letter  to  the 
Earl  of  Dartmouth,  presented  to  the  House  on 
the  16th,  is  authentick  or  not,  - 

Address  in  answer  to  the  Governour's  Speech, 
considered  in  Committee  of  the  Whole,  re- 
ported, amended,  and  agreed  to,  - 

The  Speaker  with  the  House  wait  upon  the 
Governour  in  the  Council  Chamber  with  the 
Address,  ------- 

The  Speaker  declares  his  dissent  to  the  Address, 

Address  of  the  House  to  the  Governour,  - 

Governour's  Answer,  -       -       -  - 

The  House  cannot  comply  with  and  adopt  the 
Resolution  of  the  House  of  Commons  of  Feb- 
ruary 27th,  but  recommend  to  their  Delegates 
to  lay  it  before  the  Continental  Congress, 

Message  from  the  Governour  to  the  Assembly  in 
reply  to  their  Address  on  the  subject  of  his 
Letter  to  the  Earl  of  Dartmouth,  dated  Febru- 
ary f,  1775,  

Committee  appointed  to  considerthe  Message,and 
make  report  to  the  next  sitting  of  the  Assembly, 

Assembly  prorogued  to  the  20th  of  June  next,  - 


590 

595 
595 
596 
596 

597 
598 


599 
599 
599 
601 


602 


602 

604 
604 


1775 
May\5 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  ETC. 

3fa#15,New-York  Committee,        ...       -  603 
Address  from  the  Captains  of  six  Companies,  of- 
fering their  services  to  co-operate  in  carrying 
into  effect  the  Continental  Association,  -       -  604 
Copies  of  the  General  Association  of  New- York, 
left  in  the  several  Wards  of  the  City  for  signa- 
ture; all  persons  recommended  to  sign  it  as 
speedily  as  possible,   -----  605 

15,   Letter  from  New- York  Committee  to  the  Conti- 
nental Congress,  enclosing  copies  of  Letters, 
with  authentick  intelligence  of  the  capture  of 
Ticonderoga,    ------  605 

15,   Newburgh,  New- York,  Committee.    A  num- 
ber of  persons  having  neglected  or  refused  to 
sign  the  Association,  they  are  requested  to  do 
so ;  such  as  do  not  sign  it  on  or  before  the  29th 
instant,  to  be  considered  enemies  to  the  Coun- 
try, and  no  person  shall  have  any  dealings 
with  them,        ------  606 

15,   Inhabitants  of  Cornwall  Precinct,  in  Orange 
County,  New- York,  choose  Deputies  to  the 
Provincial  Congress,  -----  834 

15,  Providence,  Rhode-Island, Town  Meeting.  Com- 
mittees authorized  to  purchase  Arms  for  all 
able-bodied  Men  not  able  to  purchase  them- 
selves; and  the  Town  stock  of  Powder  and 
Lead  to  be  made  up  into  Cartridges,  -  -  007 
10,  Letter  from  Newport,  Rhode- Island.  Two 
Sloops  at  Bedford  taken  by  Capt.  Lindsay,  of 
the  Falcon,  sloop-of-vvar,  retaken  by  the  Peo- 
ple of  Bedford ;  one  of  the  enemy  was  killed, 
two  were  wounded,  and  thirteen  made  prisoners,  608 
15,   Sloop  at  Dartmouth  seized  by  Captain  Linsday,  of 

the  Falcon,  retaken  with  the  prize  crew,       -  608 
15,   Recantation  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  Dana,  of  Gro- 

ton,  Massachusetts,  608 

15,   Letter  from  General  Gage  to  the  Earl  of  Dart- 
mouth,  009 

15,  Petition  from  several  Towns  in  Suffolk  County, 
Massachusetts,  to  the  Committee  of  Safety,  re- 
questing the  appointment  of  Colonel  Lemuel 
Robinson,  of  Dorchester,  ....  609 
15,  Petition  of  John  Boice  and  Hugh  McLean  to  the 
Massachusetts  Congress,  requesting  that  certain 
enlisted  Soldiers,  who  are  Paper  Makers,  may 
be  discharged,  609 


16, 


16, 
16, 


, Letter  from  a  Committee  at  Berwick,  to  the  Com- 
mittee of  Safety,  objecting  to  the  appointment 
of  one  Alexander  Scammell,  who  lives  in  New- 
Hampshire,  - 
15,   Letter  from  Jedediah  Preble  to  the  Committee  of 
Safety,  objecting  to  the  raising  of  two  Regi- 
ments in  the  County  of  Cumberland,  - 
15,   Letter  from  the  Massachusetts  Congress  to  the 

Eastern  Indians,  - 
15,   Portsmouth,  New-Hampshire,  Town  Meeting. 
The  Committee  of  the  Town  empowered  to 
inquire  touching  any  obnoxious  persons  who 
may  flee  to  this  Town,  and  none  but  the  Com- 
mittee shall  have  any  concern  with  such  Re- 
fugees, ------- 

15,  Letter  from  the  Committee  and  Selectmen  of 
Marlow,  New-Hampshire,  to  the  Provincial 
Committee.  They  are  not  able  to  support  a 
Delegate  to  the  Provincial  Congress,  but  with 
their  lives  and  interests  will  assist  in  defence 
of  the  Colonies,        -       -       -  - 

1 5,  Letter  from  the  Town  of  Alstead,  in  New-Hamp- 

shire, to  the  Delegates  of  the  Province,  now 
sitting  at  Exeter.  Cannot  support  a  Delegate 
to  the  Congress,  but  will  abide  by  all  its  deci- 
sions, ------- 

16,  Meeting  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Augusta  County, 

Virginia,  on  the  West  side  of  Laurel  Hill,  at 
Pittsburgh  ;  appoint  a  Committee  for  the  Dis- 
trict. The  Committee  resolve  to  support  all 
the  American  measures ;  make  provision  for 
embodying  the  Militia,  procuring  Arms  and 
Ammunition,  and  for  cultivating  a  friendship 
with  the  Indians,  - 
Instructions  to  John  Harvie  and  George  Roote, 
Delegates  from  the  People  West  of  Laurel 
Hill,  to  the  Virginia  Convention, 
Letter  from  Dr.  Franklin  to  Dr.  Priestley, 
Meeting  of  the  Inhabitants  of  the  County  of 
Westmoreland,  in  Pennsylvania.  It  is  the  in- 
dispensable duty  of  every  American,  by  every 
means  which  God  has  put  in  his  power,  to  resist 
and  oppose  the  system  of  tyranny  and  oppres- 
sion attempted  to  be  exercised  by  the  Parlia- 
ment and  Ministry  of  Great  Britain,  - 
16,  Association  of  the  inhabitants  of  Westmoreland 
County,  in  Pennsylvania,  -  -  -  - 
16,  Meeting  of  the  Council  of  Pennsylvania.  Eight 
Indians,  who  arrived  in  Philadelphia  on  the 
14th,  brought  before  the  Council, 
Speech  of  one  of  the  Indians  to  the  Governour, 
18,  The  Indians  sent  for,  and  the  Governour  began 
delivering  a  Speech  in  reply  to  them,  but 
having  a  bad  translator,  it  was  postponed  to  the 

20th  instant,  

20,   Speech  of  the  Governour  in  reply  to  that  of  the 
Indians,  ------- 

The  Indians  receive  three  hundred  Dollars,  and 
signed  a  receipt  for  it  on  the  back  of  the  Deed 
executed  at  Fort  Stanwix,  in  1768, 
16,   New- York  Committee.    The  Ward  Companies 
of  Militia  recommended  to  enrol  their  Men  in 
the  different  Beats,  to  be  in  readiness  to  take 
their  tour  of  duty  as  a  Military  Night  Watch, 
16,    Letter  from  the  Delegates  from  New- York  in 
the  Continental  Congress,  to  the  New- York 
Committee,  enclosing  a  Resolution  of  the  Con- 
gress of  the  15th,  recommending  to  the  Inha- 
bitants, in  the  event  of  the  arrival  of  any 
Troops,  to  act  on  the  defensive,  so  long  as  may 
be  consistent  with  their  safety  and  security,  - 
16,   Dutchess  County,  New-York,  Committee,  cer- 
tify the  election  of  Deputies  to  the  Provincial 
Congress,  ------ 

16,  Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Correspondence 
for  Connecticut  to  the  Massachusetts  Congress. 
The  expedition  against  Ticonderoga  was  set  on 
foot  by  some  private  persons  in  Connecticut, 
and  carried  into  effect  without  the  aid  of  those 
afterwards  sent  from  Massachusetts;  but  as  it 
was  done  for  the  common  cause,  they  will  not 
contend  for  the  precedency,  - 
16,  Letter  from  Joseph  Warren  to  Arthur  Lee, 
16,  Letter  from  the  Provincial  Congress  of  Massa- 
chusetts to  the  Continental  Congress,  repre- 
senting the  dangerous  situation  of  affairs  there 
without  a  regular  Government,  and  askinsj 
their  advice  about  taking  up  and  exercising 


LVI 

610 

610 
610 

611 

612 
612 


613 


614 
615 


615 
615 


616 
616 


617 
617 

617 
618 


018 


834 


618 
619 


LVII 

1775. 


CONTENTS. 


LVI1I 


622 


6G8 


the  powers  of  Government :  they  also  request 
the  Congress  to  take  the  general  direction  of 

the  Army,  620 

May\6,  Letter  from  Henry  Young  Brown  to  the  Massa- 
chusetts Congress.  Communicates  his  suspi- 
cions that  the  Indians  are  about  to  take  sides 
with  Canada.  There  are  but  ten  Guns,  twenty 
pounds  of  Powder,  and  half  a  hundred  of 
Lead,  in  the  Town  of  Brownfield.  Applies  to 
the  Congress  for  assistance,  ... 
17,  Middlesex  County,  Virginia,  Committee.  Tho- 
mas Haddin,  having  reviled  the  Continental 
Association,  and  refused  to  sign  it,  is  held  forth 
to  the  publick  as  an  enemy  to  American  Li- 
berty,   

17,    Cumberland  County,  Virginia,  Committee,  ap- 
prove of  the  Resolution  of  Maryland  to  stop 
Exportations  to  Quebeck,  &c,  and  in  conse- 
quence of  the  alarming  situation  of  American 
affairs,  especially  in  the  Province  of  New- 
York,  recommend  a  Colony  Convention  be 
immediately  called,    .....  622 

17,   Address  of  Cumberland  County  to  the  Inhabi- 
tants of  the  lower  parts  of  Virginia,  offering 
protection  and  support  to  their  Wives  and 
Children,  in  case  of  an  invasion  of  the  Colo- 
ny by  sea,  -------  622 

17,    Cecil  County,  Maryland,  Committee.  Charles 
Gordon  having  maliciously  aspersed  the  Con- 
tinental Congress  and  the  Provincial  Conven- 
tion, is  declared  an  enemy  to  the  Country,  and 
as  such  none  are  to  have  dealings  or  commu- 
nications with  him,    ....       -  622 

17,   John  Brown  arrived  at  Philadelphia  from  Ticon- 
deroga,  an  Express  to  the  General  Congress, 
with  an  account  of  the  capture  of  Ticonderoga 
and  Crown  Point,  and  of  an  attempt  madt  by 
the  British  to  find  a  passage  for  an  Army  from 
Canada  to  Boston,      .....  623 

17,  Colonel  Easton  at  the  Provincial  Congress  in 
Watertown,  with  an  account  of  the  Capture  of 
Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point,    ...  624 
17,   Philadelphia  Committee  direct  the  republication 
of  the  Resolve  prohibiting  the  killing  of  any 
Sheep  under  four  years  old,         ...  625 
17,   Votes  in  First,  Second,  Third,  and  Fourth  Com- 
panies of  Brookhaven,  with  the  Poll  Lists,  for 
the  choice  of  a  Deputy  to  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress of  New- York,  -----  835 

17,  Account  of  the  commencement  of  Hostilities  be- 
tween Great  Britain  and  America,  in  the  Pro- 
vince of  Massachusetts-Bay,  by  the  Reverend 
Mr.  William  Gordon,  of  Roxbury,  in  a  Letter 
to  a  Gentleman  in  England,  ...  625 
1 7,  Letter  from  the  Congress  of  Massachusetts  to  the 
Assembly  of  Connecticut,  suggesting  the  pro- 
priety of  having  the  Cannon  at  Ticonderoga 
and  Crown  Point  removed  immediately  to  the 
Camp  at  Cambridge,  and  the  appointing  of 
Colonel  Arnold  to  take  charge  of  them  down, 
with  all  possible  haste,  to  prevent  disputes  be- 
tween him  and  other  officers,  ...  g08 
17,  Committees  of  Correspondence  for  the  several 
Towns  and  Districts  of  Worcester  County,  in 
Massachusetts,  requested  to  meet  at  the  Court- 
House  on  Wednesday  next,  May  24th,  -  -  700 
17,  Letters  of  Governour  Hutchinson,  lately  disco- 
vered, show  what  a  slave  he  has  been  to  the 
Ministry.  Copy  of  one  from  him  to  General 
Gage,  enclosing  one  from  Bernard,  in  1771,  -  632 
17,  Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Northborough  to 
General  Ward,  charging  Ebenezer  Cutler,  late 
of  Groton,  as  an  enemy  to  his  country,  -       -  632 

17,  Letter  from  the  Portsmouth,  New- Hampshire, 

Committee,  to  the  Provincial  Congress.  Re- 
quest to  know  if  a  Vessel  may  load  with  Masts,  632 

18,  Declaration  by  the  Grand  Jury  of  Newcastle, 

Delaware,  633 

18,  Letter  from  Arthur  St.  Clair  to  Joseph  Shippen, 
Jun.,  enclosing  Letter  of  James  Cavet,  dated 
May  18th.  Yesterday  a  County  Meeting,  in 
Westmoreland,  passed  Resolutions  to  arm  and 
discipline  the  Militia,  and  formed  an  Associa- 
tion, -  -  -  -  -  633 
18,  General  Committee  of  Association  for  Newark, 
in  New-Jersey,  stop  all  Exportations  to  Glue- 
beck,  Nova-Scotia,  Georgia,  and  Newfound- 
land,  634 


1775. 
MayU 


18, 
18, 


18, 
18, 

18, 
18, 


18, 


18, 


18, 


19, 

19, 
19, 

19, 
19, 


19, 

19, 
19, 

19, 
19, 


,  Instructions  to  the  Deputies  elected  to  represent 
the  Town  of  Newark,  in  Essex  County,  in  the 
Provincial  Congress  of  New- Jersey, 

New- York  Committee.  Committee  appointed  to 
institute  a  Military  Night  Watch, 

Letter  from  the  New- York  Committee  to  the 
Governour  of  Connecticut;  thank  him  for  the 
kindness  of  Connecticut  in  sending  Troops  to 
their  assistance,  but  request  he  may  direct  their 
encampment  on  the  Western  frontiers  of  Con- 
necticut, ------- 

Directions  for  a  Military  Night  Watch  in  the 
City  of  New- York,  

Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Palatine  District, 
Tryon  County,  New- York,  to  the  Albany 
Committee,  ...... 

Letter  from  Colonel  Guy  Johnson  to  the  Com- 
mittee of  Schenectady,  New- York, 

Authentick  Account  of  the  taking  of  the  Fortres- 
ses at  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point, by  a  par- 
ty of  Connecticut  Forces,  - 

Letter  from  Ethan  Allen  to  James  Morrison  and 
the  Merchants  that  are  friendly  to  the  cause  of 
Liberty  in  Montreal,  soliciting  their  immediate 
assistance,  in  Provisions,  Ammunition,  and 
Spirituous  Liquors,  not  as  a  donation,  for  he  is 
ready  to  pay  for  them,  .... 

Letter  from  the  Camp  at  Cambridge.  Informa- 
tion from  Halifax,  that  the  People  destroyed  a 
quantity  of  Hay,  purchased  and  ready  to  be 
shipped  for  the  Dragoons  at  Boston, 

Letter  from  Colonel  John  Stark  to  the  Provincial 
Congress  of  New-Hampshire,  - 

Address  of  the  New- Hampshire  Congress  to 
Governour  Wentworth.  The  British  Troops 
being  sent  to  America  to  enforce  Acts  of  Par- 
liament by  fire,  sword,  and  famine,  request  to 
know  from  him  the  truth  of  a  statement  that 
he  has  made  application  for  two  Regiments,  to 
be  stationed  at  Portsmouth,  ... 

Caroline  County,  Virginia,  Committee.  Reso- 
lutions on  Lord  Dunmore's  Letter  to  the  Earl 
of  Dartmouth,  dated  December  24,  1774;  his 
Proclamation  of  the  3d  of  May  last ;  and  on 
Captain  Montague's  Letter  to  Thomas  Nelson, 
threatening  to  burn  the  Town  of  York, 

Address  to  the  Inhabitants  of  Virginia,  on  the 
conduct  of  Lord  Dunmore,  and  in  defence  of 
Patrick  Henry,  ..... 

Address  to  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Manor  of  Cort- 
landt,  in  New- York,  on  the  efforts  of  the  To- 
ries to  obtain  the  ascendancy  in  the  Manor,  and 
their  attempt  to  commit  the  People  to  ''  The 
Loyalist's  Test"  last  winter,  ... 

Letter  from  the  Massachusetts  Committee  of  Safe- 
ty to  the  Committee  of  Supplies, 

Letter  from  Benedict  Arnold  to  the  Massachu- 
setts Committee  of  Safety.  Surprised  and  took 
St.  John's,  with  the  King's  Sloop  of  seventy 
tons,  on  the  18th  instant.  Allen  is  about  to 
keep  possession  of  St.  John's,  with  eighty  or  a 
hundred  men;  this  is  a  wild,  impracticable 
scheme,  if  it  could  be  carried  into  execution.  A 
thousand  or  fifteen  hundred  men  will  be  neces- 
sary to  repair  and  keep  Ticonderoga  this  sum- 
mer, - 

List  of  Cannon  taken  at  Crown  Point, 
List  of  Cannon  taken  at  Ticonderoga, 
Return  of  Ordnance  Stores  found  at  Ticonderoga, 
Letter  from  General  Ward  to  the  Massachusetts 
Congress,  urging  the  immediate  settlement  of 
the  Regiments,  "  if  we  would  save  our  Coun- 
try,"  -        -        -  -•- 

Letter  from  James  Russell  to  Joseph  Warren, 
President  of  the  Provincial  Congress,  -  » 
Letter  from  Abijah  Brown  to  the  Massachusetts 
Committee  of  Safety.    He  has  removed  the 
Cannon  from  Waltham  to  Watertown,  and  is 
ready  to  march  to  Cambridge,  ... 
Petition  of  Benjamin  Thompson,  of  Concord,  in 
New-Hampshire,  to  the  Commi  tee  of  Safety. 
Requests  a  thorough  examination   into  the 
charges  against  him,  of  being  inimical  to  the 
liberties  of  this  Country,  .... 
New-Hampshire  Committee  of  Safety.  Orders 
to  Winborn  Adams,  and  nine  others,  each  to 
enlist  one  Company  of  sixty-two  able-bodied 
Men  :  form  of  enlistment,    -       -       -  - 


634 

636 


636 


636 


637 


638 


633 


639 


639 


G39 


640 


640 


641 


644 


645 


645 
646 
646 
646 


647 


647 


647 


647 


648 


L1X 

1775. 


CONTENTS. 


NEW-HAMPSHIRE  PROVINCIAL  CONVENTION. 

Mai/17,  Provincial  Convention  of  New- Hampshire,     -  C47 

List  of  Members,  049 

Matthew  Thornton  chosen  President,  and  Ebene- 

zer  Thompson  Secretary,    -       -       -  050 
Committee  to  draw  up  Rules  to  be  observed  in 
the  Convention,  ------  G50 

Committee  to  report  on  establishing  a  Post-Office,  650 

18,  Rules  for  the  government  of  the  Convention,      -  050 
Post-Office  at  Portsmouth  established,      -       -  G51 
Colonel  John  Hale  authorized  to  proceed  to  Al- 
bany, or  any  other  place  he  thinks  proper,  to 
procure  Fire-Arms  and  Gunpowder  for  the 

use  of  the  Province,  651 

Committee  to  prepare  and  bring  in  a  plan  of 

ways  and  means  for  furnishing  Troops,  -  051 
Committee  to  prepare  an  Address  to  be  sent  to  the 

several  Towns  in  the  Province,  respecting 

disputes  about  Tories,        -       -       -       -  651 

19,  Petition  from  Major  Andrew  McClary,  praying 

redress  of  sundry  grievances,  read,       -       -  651 

Letter  from  Colonel  John  Stark,  requesting  a 
supply  of  Fire- Arms,  read,         -       -       -  651 

Recommendations  to  the  Inhabitants  to  support 
good  and  wholesome  Laws  ;  to  encourage  all 
Religious  worship ;  to  encourage  the  Woollen 
and  Linen  Manufactory,  and  the  making  of 
Saltpetre,  651 

Committees  of  the  several  Towns  requested  to 
have  a  watchful  eye  over  all  persons  who 
have  used  opprobrious  expressions  respecting 
the  several  Congresses,       ...       -  652 

Committee  from  the  Massachusetts  Congress,  in- 
troduced into  the  Convention,       ...  652 

Selectmen  of  several  Towns  requested  to  furnish 
the  Arms  wanted  by  Colonel  Stark,      -       -  652 

20,  Resolutions  authorizing  the  raising  and  equip- 

ment of  two  thousand  Men  to  serve  until  the 
last  day  of  December,  unless  the  Committee  of 
Safety  may  judge  it  necessary  to  discharge 
them  sooner,      ------  652 

Thanks  to  the  persons  who  took  a  quantity  of 
Gunpowder  from  the  Castle  called  William 
and  Mary,  in  this  Province,         ...  653 
Committee  of  Safety  appointed,       -       -       -  653 
Committee  of  Supplies  appointed,    -       -       -  653 
Committee  to  sell  Gunpowder  to  the  frontier 

Towns,    -------  653 

22,  Muster-Masters  appointed,      ...       -  653 
Colonel  Fenton  required  to  appear  before  the 

Convention,  concerning  his  Letter  to  the  People 

of  the  County  of  Grafton,  -       -       -       -  654 

23,  Colonel  Nathaniel  Folsom  appointed  to  take  the 

general  command  of  the  Troops  raised,  or  to 
be  raised,  in  this  Government,     ...  654 
Post-Office  established  at  Exeter,     ...  654 
Nicholas  Oilman  appointed  Treasurer  and  Re- 
ceiver-General of  the  Colony,     ...  654 
All  Officers  and  Soldiers  in  the  service  to  be 
taxed  as  other  persons  are,  -       -       -       -  654 

24,  The  several  Towns  are  recommended  to  encour- 

age Manufactures  in  general,  and  that  of  Fire- 
Arms  in  particular,    -----  654 
26,    Instructions  to  the  Committee  of  Safety,    -       -  655 

A  Company  of  not  exceeding  sixty  Men,  to  be 
enlisted  in  the  Northwesterly  parts  of  the 
Colony,  to  act  as  occasion  may  require,         -  655 

Powers  conferred  on  the  Committee  of  Supplies,  655 
31,   Thanks  to  the  persons  who  removed  sundry 
Cannon  from  the  sea-coast  to  Portsmouth,  and 
to  Doctor  Hall  Jackson  for  assisting  in  the 
matter,  and  bringing  the  intelligence,    -       -  656 
June  1,  Committee  of  Supplies  authorized  to  import 

Military  Stores  from  anyplace  whatever,      -  656 

Committee  of  Portsmouth  requested  to  take  mea- 
sures to  prevent  the  passage  of  the  British 
Ships-of-War  up  to  the  Town,    ...  656 

2,  An  Address  to  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Colony, 

agreed  to,  -       -       -       -       -       -       -  657 

3,  Addresses  to  the  Congress  of  New- York,  to  the 

Congress  of  Massachusetts,  to  the  Colony  of 
Connecticut,  to  the  Continental  Congress,  and 
to  John  Sullivan  and  John  Langdon,  Dele- 
gates, adopted  by  the  Convention,  -  -  657 
5,  Oath  to  be  taken  by  all  the  Officers  and  Soldiers 
of  the  New-Hampshire  Army,  now  raising 
for  the  defence  and  security  of  the  Rights  and 
Liberties  of  the  American  Colonies,     -       -  658 


1775. 

Ju/ie  7,  Obligation  of  secrecy  as  to  the  Proceedings  of 
the  Convention,  ------ 

8,  Col.  Hale  returned  without  Powder  or  Small- 

Arms,  but  gives  great  encouragement  they 
can  soon  be  had  from  the  Southern  Colonies,  - 

9,  Receiver-General  authorized  to  give  his  notes 

of  hand  for  ten  thousand  and  fifty  Pounds, 
10,   Bills  of  Credit  of  Massachusetts,  to  have  a  free 

currency  in  New-Hampshire,  - 
Lenity  and  forbearance   in  Creditors  towards 

Debtors  recommended,  .... 
Convention  adjourned  to  the  27th  instant,  - 


KX 

658 

658 

659 

6G0 

660 
660 


659 
660 
661 
836 


837 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  ETC. 

M«#20,Committee  of  Anne  Arundel  County,  Maryland. 

The  application  of  Mr.  Weems,  for  permission 
to  purchase  an  Anchor  and  Cable  of  Captain 
Carcaud,  of  the  Ship  Industry,  rejected.  No 
person  can  purchase  or  receive  them  consis- 
tent with  the  Continental  Association, 

20,  Field-Officers  chosen  for  Newcastle  County, 
Delaware,  ------ 

20,  Letter  from  the  New- Jersey  Assembly  to  their 
Delegates  in  the  Continental  Congress,  - 

20,  Petition  of  James  Rivington  to  the  Continental 
Congress,  ------- 

20,  Town  Meeting  in  Brooklyn,  King's  County, 
New- York.  Their  reasons  for  uniting  with 
the  other  Counties  of  the  Colony  in  support  of 
their  rights ;  choose  Deputies  to  the  Provin- 
cial Congress,  and  pledge  themselves  to  abide 
by  the  directions  of  the  Congress, 

20,  Letter  from  Col.  Guy  Johnson  to  the  Magistrates 
and  others  of  Palatine,  Canajoharie,  and  the 
upper  Districts  m  Tryon  County,  New- York; 
has  had  repeated  accounts  that  a  body  of  Nevv- 
Englanders  were  to  come  to  seize  him.  If 
the  Indians  find  their  Superintendent  disturbed 
they  will  take  dreadful  revenge,  -  -  -  661 
Letter  from  Colonel  Guy  Johnson  to  the  Magis- 
trates and  Committee  of  Schenectady,  and 
Mayor  of  Albany,     -       -       -       -       -  661 

20,  Act  of  the  Rhode- Island  Assembly,  prohibiting 
the  Oath  of  Office  being  administered  to  Go- 
vernour  Wanton,       -----  662 

20,  Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Safety  of  Massa- 
chusetts to  General  Preble,  at  Falmouth,      -  663 

20,  Letter  to  the  Massachusetts  Congress,  from  the 
Committee  appointed  to  confer  with  the  Con- 
gress of  New- Hampshire,  -       -       -       -  664 

20,  Resolutions  of  the  New-Hampshire  Congress  for 

raising  and  equipping  two  thousand  Men,     -  664 

20,  Letter  from  the  Rev.  William  Gordon  to  Joseph 

Warren.  If  the  Committee  will  send  him 
Hutchinson's  loose  Letters,  he  will  examine 
them,  and  mark  whatever  appears  to  be  im- 
portant to  the  Publick,  -  -  -  -  664 
Letter  to  the  Oncidas  from  the  Mohawks;  writ- 
ten at  Guy  Johnson's,  ...  -  664 
21,  Resolutions  of  the  Committee  of  Tryon  Coun- 
ty, New- York,  on  the  Letter  of  Colonel  Guy 
Johnson,  of  May  20,  and  on  the  Letter  from 
the  Mohawks  to  the  Oneidas,      ...  665 

21,  Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Palatine  District, 

Tryon  County,  to  the  Albany  Committee. — 
The  communication  with  Albany  is  entirely 
stopped  by  Colonel  Johnson,  who  has  five  hun- 
dred men  to  guard  his  house,  which  he  has 
fortified.  There  is  not  fifty  pounds  of  Pow- 
der in  the  District ;  they  have  an  open  enemy 
before  them,  and  treacherous  friends  at  their 
backs,      -------  665 

21,  Letter  from  Boston  to  a  Gentleman  in  Philadel- 
phia. General  Gage  has  broken  his  engage- 
ment with  the  People  of  Boston,  after  they  had 
delivered  up  their  Arms,     -       -       -       -  666 

21,  Letter  from  General  Ward  to  the  Massachusetts 

Congress,         ------  666 

21,  Letter  from  James  Sullivan  to  the  Massachusetts 

Congress,         ------  667 

21,  Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Safety  to  the  Pro- 

vincial Congress  of  Massachusetts,      -       -  667 

22,  Letter  from  the  Norfolk,  Virginia,  Committee, 

to  the  Committee  for  Prince  George  County, 
with   an   examination  of  Captain  Charles 

Alexander,  528 

22,  Prince  William  County,  Virginia,  Committee. 


LXI 

1775 


CONTENTS. 


LXII 


Condemn  the  conduct  of  Lord  Dunmore  in 
regard  to  the  Powder.  Justify  Patrick  Henry 
in  demanding-  satisfaction  for  it;  as,  in  their 
opinion,  the  violent  proceedings  of  the  Troops 
in  Massachusetts  would  have  justified  reprisals 
of  a  much  greater  magnitude,  - 
3fay22,  Buckingham  County,  Virginia,  Committee.  Offer 
to  receive  the  Wives,  Children  and  Slaves  of 
such  of  the  Inhabitants  of  the  lower  Counties 
as  may  be  driven  from  their  habitations ;  and 
will  give  them  Lands  to  cultivate,  and  let  their 
Cattle  feed  with  their  own,  - 

22,  Meeting  of  Inhabitants  of  Charles  County,  in 
Maryland.  Appoint  Deputies  to  the  General 
Convention  of  the  Province, 

22,  Letter  from  a  Gentleman  in  Philadelphia  to  his 
Friend  in  Williamsburgh,  Virginia.  There 
has  been  a  complete  revolution  in  New-York. 
The  Province  is  arming;  the  Governour  dare 
not  call  his  Assembly  to  receive  Lord  North's 
Plan:  the  Tory  leaders  have  been  obliged 

to  fly,  

22,  Letter  to  the  New-Hampshire  Committee  of 
Safety,  from  their  Delegates  in  the  Continen- 
tal Congress.  The  Congress  have  ordered 
the  Forts  of  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point 
to  be  demolished,  and  the  warlike  Stores  to  be 
removed  to  the  south  end  of  Lake  George. — 
All  the  Colonies  in  Congress  are  firmly  united, 
and  preparing  for  the  worst,  ... 

22,  New- York  Committee  Motion  by  Mr.  Mc- 
Dougall  for  a  Committee  to  confer  with  the 
Deputies  of  the  County  of  Albany,  now  in 
New- York,  whether  Albany  can  furnish  Men 
to  garrison  Ticonderoga ;  rejected  on  motion 
of  Mr.  De  Lancey,  ..... 

22,  Letter  from  the  New- York  Committee  to  Gov- 
ernour Trumbull,  enclosing  a  copy  of  the  Re- 
solution of  Congress  for  removing  the  Military 
Stores  from  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point  to 
the  south  end  of  Lake  George, 

22,  Deputies  for  Queen's  County  to  the  New- York 
Provincial  Congress  chosen  by  the  Freeholders, 

22,  Delegates  to  the  Provincial  Congress  chosen  in 
King's  County,  New- York,  ... 

22,  Letter  from  the  Corporation  of  Albany  to  Colonel 

Guy  Johnson.  If  he  studies  the  welfare  of 
his  Country  he  need  not  be  apprehensive  of 
any  injury  to  his  person  or  property.  There 
has  been  no  intention  of  taking  him  captive, 
or  offering  him  any  indignity;  these  reports 
are  only  propagated  to  rouse  the  Indians  to 
take  up  arms  against  the  Americans, 

23,  Letter  from  the  Albany  Committee  to  Colonel 

Guy  Johnson,  ------ 

22,  Letter  from  Benedict  Arnold,  Commander  at  Ti- 
conderoga, to  the  Albany  Committee.  On 
the  13th  captured  the  Garrison  at  St.  John's, 
and  took  a  King's  Sloop  of  seventy  tons;  on 
his  return  he  met  one  Colonel  Allen,  with  a 
party  for  St.  John's,  who  were  attacked  and 
defeated  by  the  Regulars.  Requests  Seamen 
and  Powder  may  be  sent  him,  ... 

22,  Narrative  of  the  Excursions  and  Ravages  of  the 
King's  Troops,  under  the  command  of  Gen- 
eral Gage,  on  the  19th  of  April,  1775,  together 
with  the  Depositions  taken  by  order  of  Con- 
gress to  support  the  truth  of  it,  - 
Ravages  of  the  King's  Troops,  ... 
Damages  sustained  in  Lexington,  - 
Damages  sustained  in  Concord,  - 

22,  Letter  from  Samuel  Buliard  to  the  Massachusetts 
Congress,  ...... 

22,  Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Supplies  to  the 
Provincial  Congress  of  Massachusetts,  com- 
plaining of  ungenerous  treatment  from  Gen. 
Ward,  ------- 

22,  Letter  from  the  Massachusetts  Committee  of  Safe- 
ty to  the  Provincial  Congress,  with  the  Letter 
from  Captain  Benedict  Arnold,  of  May  11, 
requesting  the  Congress  to  take  such  mea- 
sures as  they  deem  necessary,  ... 

22,  Letter  from  the  Massachusetts  Congress  to  Bene- 
dict Arnold.  As  the  affairs  of  the  Expedition 
began  in  Connecticut,  that  Colony  has  been 
written  to,  to  take  the  whole  under  their  direc- 
tion until  the  advice  of  the  Continental  Con- 
gress can  be  had,  ..... 


667 

667 
668 


668 


670 

671 

671 

838 
838 


671 

672 


839 


673 
675 
675 
675 

675 


676 


676 


676 


1775. 

Mai/2 


3,  Letter  from  the  Earl  of  Dartmouth  to  Govern- 
our Tryon.  The  King  received  the  Petition 
of  the  New- York  Assembly  with  the  most 
gracious  expressions  of  regard.  The  Memo- 
rial to  the  Lords,  and  Representation  to  the 
Commons  contained  claims  which  made  it  im- 
possible for  Parliament,  consistent  with  its  dig- 
nity, to  receive  them,  ....  677 
The  Crisis,  No.  8.  On  American  affairs,  -  677 
23,  Letter  from  William  Hooper,  at  Philadelphia,  to 
Samuel  Johnston,  in  North-Carolina.  The 
strict  secrecy  which  Congress  enjoins  upon  its 
Members  prevents  his  communicating  any  in- 
formation of  their  Proceedings.  The  most  per- 
fect harmony  subsists  among  its  Members. — 
The  character  of  New- York  is  no  longer  sus- 
picious; they  take  an  active  share  in  the  oppo- 
sition. Government  has  sent  them  the  Asia, 
Man-of-War,  to  give  spirit  to  the  Tories. — 
North-Carolina  will  probably  be  called  on  for 
Money,  and  a  Provincial  Convention  should 
be  immediately  called,  - 
23,  Address  of  Williamsburgh  Volunteers  to  Peyton 
Randolph,  - 
Mr.  Randolph's  Answer,  -  -  - 
23,  Westmoreland  County,  Virginia,  Committee. — 
Resolutions  on  Lord  Dunmore's  Speech  in 
Council,  on  the  2d  of  May,  and  his  Proclama- 
tion of  the  3d  of  May,  .... 
23,  Talbot  County,  Maryland,  Committee  of  Obser- 
vation. Proceedings  in  relation  to  the  Ship 
Johnston,  belonging  to  Mr.  Gildart,  of  Liver- 
pool, loaded  with  Salt  and  Dry  Goods,  and 
bound  to  the  Chesapeake  Bay,  - 
23,  Letter  from  Robert  Hanna.  James  Cavet  and 
Thomas  Scott,  at  Pittsburgh,  to  Governour 
Penn,  complaining  of  their  treatment  from  the 
authorities  of  Virginia,  - 
23,  Letter  from  ..Eneas  Mackay  and  others,  at  Pitts- 
burgh, to  Governour  Penn.  They  are  treated 
by  the  Officers  under  Virginia  like  degraded 
beings,  not  entitled  to  the  common  rights  of 
mankind :  the  very  name  of  a  Pennsylvanian 
is  sufficient  to  render  a  man  odious  there, 
23,  Letter  from  a  Committee  of  the  Assembly  of 
Connecticut  to  the  Speaker.  The  New- York 
Committee  will  supply  Provisions  to  the  Con- 
necticut Forces  at  Ticonderoga.  St.  Luke  La 
Come  has  sent  Belts  to  all  the  Northern  Tribes 
of  Indians,  to  engage  them  to  take  up  Arms 
against  the  New-England  Colonies.  It  is 
supposed  the  Plebeians  of  the  Canadas  will 
not  willingly  engage  against  the  Colonists,  but 
the  Nobles  are  their  bitter  enemies,  -  -  685 
23,  Letter  from  the  Albany  Committee  to  the  Com- 
mittee of  Palatine  District,  in  Tryon  County,  841 
Speech  of  the  Mohawks  to  the  Magistrates  and 
Committee  of  Schenectady,  and  the  Mayor 
and  Committee  of  Albany,  delivered  bv  Little 
Abraham,  May  20,  -  -  -  -  841 
Answer  to  Little  Abraham's  Speech,  by  the  Ma- 
gistrates and  Committee  of  Albany  and  Sche- 
nectady, May  20,   842 

Reply  of  the  Mohawks  to  the  Answer  of  the 
Magistrates,  &c,  of  Albany  and  Schenectady,  842 
23,  Letter  from  Benedict  Arnold  to  the  General  As- 
sembly of  Connecticut.  Defeat  of  Colonel 
Allen  at  St.  John's;  there  are  four  hundred 
Regulars  there,  making  preparation  to  cross 
the  Lake,  with  the  design  of  retaking  Crown 
Point  and  Ticonderoga,  ....  840 
23,  Letter  from  Benedict  Arnold,  Commander-in- 
Chief  at  Crown  Point,  to  Captain  Noah  Lee, 
at  Ticonderoga.  Preparations  of  the  Regulars 
and  Indians  for  retaking  Ticonderoga  and 
Crown  Point ;  requests  every  man  within  fifty 
miles  of  Skenesborough  may  be  sent  to  Ticon- 
deroga with  Powder  and  Provisions,  -  -  841 
23,  Letter  from  Ticonderoga  to  a  Gentleman  in 
Hartford,  Connecticut,  giving  a  Journal  of 
Military  operations  from  the  1 1th  to  the  19th 
of  May,  685 


NEW-JERSEY  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS. 

May2Z,  New- Jersey  Provincial  Congress  meets,         -  685 
List  of  Deputies  who  attended,       -  685 
24,    H^ndrick  Fisher  elected  President,  Jonathan  D. 


-  680 

680 
680 


681 


682 


683 


684 


I.XIII 

1775. 


Sergeant,  Secretary,  and  William  Paterson  and 
Frederick  FrHinghuysen  his  Assistants, 
May2\,  Ministers  of  the  Gospel  in  Trenton  requested  to 
give  their  daily  attendance  during  the  session, 
to  open  the  House  with  Prayer,  - 
Allegiance  to  the  King  of  Great  Britain,  in  the 
rightful  exercise  of  his  authority,  acknow- 
ledged, ------- 

Appointment  of  Delegates  to  the  Continental 

Congress,  by  the  Assembly,  confirmed,  - 
Associators  of  Shrewsbury,  in  Monmouth  Coun- 
ty, advised  to  choose  Committee  of  Observation, 

25,  Letter  to  the  Continental  Congress.    They  do 

not  think  it  advisable  to  enter  into  measures  of 
consequence,  until  some  general  plan  is  agreed 
on  by  the  Continental  Congress ;  and  are  will- 
ing to  adopt  and  carry  out  any  plan  which 
they  may  devise  and  recommend,  - 

26,  Adopt  the  Non-Exportation  Resolution  of  the 

Continental  Congress,  - 
Letter  to  the  Provincial  Congress  of  New- York. 
Inform  the  New- York  Congress  of  their  ap- 
plication to  the  Continental  Congress  for  an 
uniform  plan  of  operations,  and  that  a  general 
system  of  correspondence  between  the  Colo- 
nies should  be  adopted,  - 

29,  Pierpont  Edwards,  one  of  a  Committee  from 

Connecticut,  attended  with  certain  propositions 
and  instructions,  which  were  received,  read,  and 
referred  for  further  consideration, 

30,  The  Committee  sent  to  the  Continental  Congress, 

with  the  Letter  of  the  25th  instant,  returned 
with  a  written  Answer,  - 
Letter  received  from  New- York  Congress,  pro- 
fessing their  readiness  to  establish  a  free  cor- 
respondence, - 

31,  Petition  from  Robert  Murray  and  John  Murray, 

professing  their  sincere  contrition  for  violating 
the  Continental  Association;  they  are  restored 
to  all  the  privileges  they  heretofore  enjoyed  in 
the  Province,  ------ 

Association  adopted,  and  ordered  to  be  sent  to  the 
several  Counties,  -       -  - 

June  1,  Letter  to  Pierpont  Edwards,  in  answer  to  his  ap- 
plication on  the  part  of  Connecticut, 
3,    Regulations  for  the  government  of  the  Militia  of 
the  Colony,  ------ 

Ordinance  for  raising  a  sum  of  Money  for  the 
use  of  the  Province,  -       -       -       -  - 


CONTENTS. 

1775. 
May2Z 


LXIV 


CORRE3PONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  ETC. 

Mai/23,  Letter  from  Benedict  Arnold  to  the  Massachu- 
setts Committee  of  Safety.  Has  neither  Pro- 
visions nor  Ammunition.  Four  hundred  Re- 
gulars are  at  St.  John's,  and  it  is  expected  they 
will  make  an  effort  to  retake  Crown  Point  and 
Ticonderoga,  ------ 

23,  Letter  from  Committee  of  Safety  to  the  Massa- 
chusetts Congress,      -       -       -       -  - 

23,  Petition  from  John  Merril  to  the  Massachusetts 
Congress,  for  Powder  for  the  Town  of  Top- 
sham,  which  is  in  great  danger  of  an  attack 
from  the  Indians,  ----- 

23,  Letter  from  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town  of  Wal- 
tham  to  Massachusetts  Committee  of  Safety,  - 

23,  Committee  of  Inspection  for  the  Town  of  Tewks- 
bury  declare  Mr.  Timothy  Brown  ought  not 
to  be  treated  as  an  enemy,  but  as  a  friend  to  li- 
berty, ------ 

23,  Letter  from  the  New-Hampshire  Congress  to 
their  Delegates  in  the  Continental  Congress, 

23,  Letter  from  the  Provincial  Congress  of  New- 
Hampshire  to  the  Continental  Congress.  In- 
form the  Congress  of  what  has  been  done  in 
the  Colony,  and  ask  advice  as  to  their  further 
proceeding.  They  ardently  wish  a  connection 
may  yet  be  preserved  between  Great  Britain 
and  the  Colonics,  but  many  conclude  that  the 
voice  of  God  and  Nature,  since  the  late  hos- 
tile conduct  of  Great  Britain,  is,  that  we  are 
bound  to  look  to  our  whole  political  affairs,  - 

23,  Letter  from  the  New-Hampshire  Congress  to  the 
Massachusetts  Congress.  The  People  of  New- 
Hampshire  arc  heartily  engaged  in  the  com- 
mon cause,  and  at  all  hazards  determined  to 
stand  by  and  support  it,  relying  on  Divine 
Providence  for  success,  - 


687 

687 

687 
688 
688 


688 
689 


689 

689 
689 
689 

689 
690 
690 
691 
692 


693 
694 

695 
695 

695 
695 


696 


697 


24, 
24, 


24, 
24, 

24, 

24, 

24, 

25, 
25, 

25, 


25, 
25, 


25, 


25, 


25, 


25, 
25, 


25, 


,Letter  from  Colonel  John  Fenton  to  the  New- 
Hampshire  Congress,        -       -       -  - 

Letter  from  the  Committee  from  Connecticut  to 
the  New- York  Congress,  - 

Petition  of  Captain  Delaplace  to  the  Assembly  of 
Connecticut.  The  Fortress  of  Ticonderoga, 
of  which  he  had  the  command,  was  taken  on 
the  10th  instant,  by  one  Ethan  Allen,  and  the 
Garrison  made  prisoners  and  sent  to  Hartford. 
Requests  to  know  by  what  authority  Allen  took 
them,  and  why  they  are  detained, 

Address  of  the  Provincial  Congress  to  the  Inha- 
bitants of  Massachusetts-Bay,  ... 

Letter  from  Enoch  Freeman  to  Samuel  Freeman, 
at  Watertown.  He  cannot  attend  the  Com- 
mittee of  Safety,  but  will  render  any  service 
in  his  power  in  the  more  exposed  eastern  parts 
of  the  Province,  - 

Enemies  to  the  Rights  and  Liberties  of  the 
Country,  who  have  aided  the  plans  of  a  ty- 
rannical ruler  and  an  abandoned  Ministry, 
disarmed  at  Worcester,  Massachusetts,  and 
ordered  not  to  leave  the  Town  or  meet  to- 
gether, ------- 

No  evidence  has  appeared  before  the  Committee 
of  Woburn,  in  Massachusetts,  to  prove  Major 
Benjamin  Thompson,  of  Concord,  New- Hamp- 
shire, an  enemy  to  the  liberties  of  the  Coun- 
try,   

John  Ackerman  and  others,  of  New-Hampshire, 
charged  as  inimical  to  the  liberties  of  Ame- 
rica, acquitted  and  discharged,  - 

Richmond  County,  Virginia,  Committee.  Re- 
solutions, disapproving  of  the  Address  of  the 
Council  of  Virginia  to  the  People, 

Lancaster  County,  Virginia,  Committee.  Reso- 
lutions justifying  themselves  and  their  consti- 
tuents from  the  imputations  of  the  Governour 
in  his  Speech  to  the  Council,  on  the  2d  of  May, 
and  their  advice  and  the  Proclamation  of  the 
3d  of  May,  

Meeting  of  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Borough  of 
Norfolk,  in  Virginia.  Resolve  to  have  no 
dealings  with  any  person  who  shall  give  any 
assistance  to  the  enemies  of  the  Confederated 
Colonies,  ------ 

Address  to  the  People  of  Virginia,  -       -  - 

Meeting  of  the  Officers  of  twenty  Militia  Com- 
panies, at  Dover,  in  Delaware.  Approve  and 
sign  an  Association,  and  appoint  Field-Officers 
for  the  Upper  and  Lower  Regiments  of  the 
County,  ------- 

Letter  from  Arthur  St.  Clair  to  Governour  Penn. 
State  of  affairs  at  Pittsburgh ;  the  proceedings 
of  Connolly,  under  Lord  Dunmore,  has  thrown 
every  thing  in  confusion.  An  Association  has 
been  formed  in  the  County  for  the  defence  of 
American  Liberty.  Connolly  has  sent  Mes- 
sengers to  the  Indians,  and  it  is  understood  he 
is  preparing  to  decamp,  - 

Letter  from  the  Provincial  Congress  of  New- 
York  to  the  Governour  of  Connecticut.  Or- 
ders have  been  given  to  remove  the  Cannon 
and  Stores  taken  at  Ticonderoga,  to  the  south 
end  of  Lake  George.  New- York  will  make 
no  objections  to  the  sending  of  Troops  from 
Connecticut  for  the  protection  of  Ticonderoga, 

Resolution  of  the  Continental  Congress  directing 
the  removal  of  the  Stores  from  Ticonderoga, 

Letter  from  the  Provincial  Congress  of  New- 
York  to  the  Agents  appointed  by  them  to 
superintend  the  removal  of  the  Cannon  and 
Stores  from  Ticonderoga,  - 

Instructions  to  the  Agents,  enclosed  in  the  fore- 
going Letter,  ------ 

Lettet  from  Colonel  Spencer  to  the  Assembly  of 
Connecticut,  ------ 

Letter  from  Governour  Trumbull  to  the  Massa- 
chusetts Congress.  As  the  enterprise  against 
Ticonderoga  was  a  private  undertaking,  with- 
out any  publick  authority,  it  has  been  thought 
proper  to  take  the  advice  of  the  Continental 
Congress  upon  the  manner  of  treating  it  in 
future,  ------ 

Letter  from  General  Thomas  to  the  Provincial 
Congress.  Thanks  them  for  his  appointment 
as  Lieutenant- General  of  the  Massachusetts 
Army,  


698 
843 


698 
699 

700 

700 

701 
701 
701 

702 


703 
703 


704 


705 


705 
706 

1251 
1251 

706 


706 


707 


707 
708 
708 

709 

710 

710 


LXV 

1775. 

3fay25,Letter  from  Joseph  Warren  to  the  Massachusetts 
Congress,  - 

25,  Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Maiden,  Massa- 
chusetts, to  the  Committee  of  Safety, 

25,  Petition  from  the  Inhabitants  of  Machias  to  the 
Massachusetts  Congress,  - 

25,  Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  for 
Cumberland  County  to  the  Massachusetts  Con- 
gress, -       -  - 

25,  Letter  from  Thomas  Barnard  to  the  Salem  Com- 
mittee of  Safety.  His  declaration  of  attach- 
ment to  the  cause  of  America,  - 

25,  Committee  of  Safety  for  Salem,  Massachusetts. 

The  declaration  of  the  Rev.  Thomas  Barnard, 
satisfactory;  and  he  should  be  hereafter  looked 
upon  as  a  friend  to  his  Country,  - 

26,  General   Committee  for   Charlestovvn,  South- 

Carolina,  prohibit  the  exportation  of  Corn  from 
the  Province;  and  require  eight  thousand 
bushels  of  Salt,  imported  in  the  Brigantine 
Hannah,  from  Liverpool,  to  be  forthwith  sent 
back,  the  Salt  having  been  shipped  at  Liver- 
pool as  Merchandise,  with  intent  to  put  the 
American  Association  at  defiance,        -       -  710 

26,  Loudoun  County,  Virginia,  Committee.  Disap- 
prove of  Lord  Dunmore's  seizing  the  Powder, 
and  approve  of  the  measures  of  Patrick  Henry 
and  the  Hanover  Volunteers,      -       -       -  710 

26,  Letter  from  the  President  of  the  Continental 
Congress  to  the  New- York  Congress,  enclos- 
ing the  Resolutions  of  Congress  of  May  25, 
recommending  the  establishment  of  Posts  at  or 
near  King's  Bridge,  and  in  the  Highlands, 
and  other  measures  of  defence,    -       -       -  844 

26,  Letter  from  the  Provincial  Congress  of  New- 
Jersey  to  the  Provincial  Congress  of  New- 
York.  An  uniform  plan  of  conduct  should 
be  adopted  by  the  Colonies;  and  they  have 
applied  for  the  advice  and  direction  of  the  Con- 
tinental Congress  on  that  subject ;  they  abo 
recommend  the  establishment  of  a  correspon- 
dence between  the  Colonies,  - 

26,  Letter  from  the  New- York  Congress  to  the  Mas- 
sachusetts Committee  of  Safety,   -  - 

26,  Petition  of  Samuel  Tudor  to  the  New- York 
Congress,  in  behalf  of  the  Independent  Artil- 
lery Company,  for  Ammunition,  &c.,  - 

26,  Letter  from  the  New- York  Congress  to  their 
Delegates  in  the  Continental  Congress.  The 
subject  of  issuing  a  Paper  Currency  is  now 
under  consideration,  and  they  wish  to  consider 
it  further  before  the  Continental  Congress 
comes  to  a  final  determination  on  the  subject,  - 

26,  Letter  from  the  Albany  Committee  to  the  New- 
York  Congress,  enclosing  a  number  of  papers 
relating  to  the  present  state  of  affairs  in  the 
Northern  parts  of  the  Province,  ... 
Extracts  of  intercepted  Letters,  enclosed  in  a  Let- 
ter from  the  Albany  Committee  to  the  Provin- 
cial Congress  of  New- York,  dated  May  26,  - 

26,  Letter  from  Ethan  Allen  to  the  Assembly  of  Con- 
necticut, ------- 

24,  Letter  from  Ethan  Allen,  Colonel  of  the  Green 
Mountain  Boys,  to  the  several  Tribes  of  In- 
dians in  Canada,  inviting  them  to  join  him,  - 

26,  Letter  from  Benedict  Arnold  to  the  Massachusetts 
Committee  of  Safety,  ----- 

26,  Letter  from  the  Massachusetts  Congress  to  the 
Congress  of  New- York.  They  have  directed 
Mr.  Arnold  to  send  from  Ticonderoga  such  of 
the  Cannon  as  can  be  spared,  for  the  use  of  the 
Army  in  Massachusetts.  General  Gage  has 
broken  his  faith  with  the  Inhabitants  of  Bos- 
ton; after  they  had  delivered  up  their  Arms  he 
refused  to  let  them  go.  New- York  may  profit 
by  their  example,  - 

26,  Letter  from  Joseph  Haw-ley  to  the  Massachusetts 
Committee  of  Safety;  requesting  copies  of 
Col.  Benedict  Arnold  s  Commission,  Instruc- 
tions, &c.,  -       -       -  - 

26,  Letter  from  Benjamin  Greenleaf  to  the  Massa- 
chusetts Congress;  requesting  to  be  excused 
from  serving  on  the  Committee  of  Safety, 

26,   Letter  from  the  Massachusetts  Committee  of 
Safety  to  the  Provincial  Congress,  complaining 
of  Colonel  Jonathan  Brewer,  of  Waltham,  - 
26,   Letter  from  the  Massachusetts  Congress  to  the 
New- Hampshire  Congress;  urging  them  to 
Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii. 


CONTENTS. 


LXV  I 


845 
711 

845 


845 

712 

846 
713 

714 
714 


715 

716 
716 
716 


1775. 


send  forward  with  all  speed  the  Troops  they 
have  been  raising  to  serve  against  the  common 
enemy,    -       -       -       -       -       -       -  717 

May26, Letter  from  Captain  Samuel  Bullard  to  the  Mas- 
sachusetts Committee  of  Safety,  -       -       -  717 

27,  Frederick  County,  Virginia,  Committee.  No 
measures  with  Administration,  which  may 
affect  the  Liberties  of  America,  ought  to  be 
agreed  to  by  this  Colony  without  the  concur- 
rence of  the  other  Colonies,        -       -       -  718 

27,  Prince  George's  County,  Maryland,  Committee. 
Thomas  Bailly  has  committed  a  wilful  viola- 
tion of  the  Continental  Association,  in  selling 
imported  Salt;  and  John  Baynes  has  violated 
the  Continental  and  Provincial  Association  by 
killing  a  Lamb,        -       -       -       -       -  718 

27,   Letter  from  Abraham  Lott  to  the  New- York 
Congress,  requesting  their  direction  whether 
he  shall  comply  with  an  order  to  supply  His 
-  Majesty's  Ship  Asia  with  Provisions,   -       -  846 

27,  Letter  from  Governour  Trumbull  to  the  New- 
York  Congress,  on  the  threatened  attack  from 
the  Province  of  Quebeck  on  Ticonderoga  and 
Crown  Point,    ------  846 

27,  Letter  from  the  Assembly  of  Connecticut  to  the 
Massachusetts  Congress.  They  think  the 
stand  should  be  made  at  Ticonderoga,  and  not 
at  Fort  George,  as  advised  by  the  Continental 
Congress,  which  advice  they  have  desired  their 
Delegates  to  request  may  be  reconsidered,     -  719 

27,   Account  of  the  battle  at  Chelsea,  Hog- Island,  &c, 

in  Massachusetts,      -----  720 
Representation  of  the  Selectmen  of  Waltham 
to  the  Massachusetts  Committee  of  Safety; 
charging  Major  Abijah  Brown  with  being  un- 
friendly to  the  Country,      ...       -  720 

27,   Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Safety  to  the  Mas- 
sachusetts Congress,  referring  to  them  the 
complaint  against  Major  Abijah  Brown,       -    72 1 
Major  Brown  acquitted  of  the  charges  against 
him  by  the  Provincial  Congress,  -       -       -  721 

27,  Letter  from  the  Massachusetts  Congress  to  the 

Continental  Congress.  The  order  to  remove 
the  Cannon  from  Ticonderoga  to  this  Colony 
was  given  without  the  slightest  intention  of 
offence  to  New- York.  It  is  of  the  utmost 
importance  that  Ticonderoga,  or  some  Post 
near  it,  should  be  maintained,  to  interrupt  the 
water  communication  between  Canada  and  the 

Colonies,  721 

Letter  from  the  Massachusetts  Congress  to  the 
Assembly  of  Connecticut.     Before  any  thing 
further  is  done  in  relation  to  Ticonderoga  the 
advice  of  the  Continental  Congress  should  be 
had,  and  also  the  special  advice  of  New- York, 
in  whose  jurisdiction  it  is,  - 
Letter  from  the  Massachusetts  Congress  to  Col. 

Benedict  Arnold,  at  Ticonderoga, 
Instructions  to  Colonel  Henshaw,  appointed  by 
the  Massachusetts  Congress  to  proceed  to  the 
Governour  of  Connecticut,  to  ascertain  if  pro- 
vision is  made  for  securing  and  maintaining 
Ticonderoga,  ------ 

Letter  from  Colonel  Henshaw  to  Joseph  Warren, 
Minutes  of  Colonel  Joseph  Henshaw's  journey 

to  Connecticut, 
Letter  from  the  Selectmen  of  Partridgefield  to  the 

Massachusetts  Congress,  - 
Condition  of  New-Hampshire,  as  delivered  by 
their  Delegates  to  the  Continental  Congress,  - 
Recantation  of  Ebenezer  Loverin,  of  Kensing- 
ton, New-Hampshire,  -  795 
Letter  from  Gouverneur  Morris  to  Richard 
Henry  Lee.  A  favourable  sentence  in  Riving- 
ton's  case,  which  has  been  referred  to  the  Con- 
tinental Congress,  will  be  highly  agreeable  to 
most  men  in  New- York,     -  726 

28,  Letter  from  Richard  Henry  Lee  to  Gouverneur 

Morris.  Happily  for  the  cause  of  humanity, 
the  Colonies  are  now  united,  and  may  bid  de- 
fiance to  Tyranny  and  its  infamous  abetters. 
Mr.  Rivington's  case,  and  all  others  of  a  like 
kind,  are  referred  to  the  Colony  Conventions 
where  the  offence  was  committed, 

28,  Letter  from  the  Massachusetts  Committee  of  Safe- 

ty to  Colonel  Benedict  Arnold,    -       -  - 

29,  Charles  County,  Maryland,  Committee.  John 

Baillie  and  Patrick  Graham  of  Port  Tobacco, 


27, 


27, 
27, 


28, 
28, 

27, 

27, 

27, 


722 


723 


723 
723 

724 

724 

725 


726 


726 


LXVII 

1775. 


CONTENTS. 


LXVI1I 


for  their  infamous  conduct  in  importing  Dry- 
Goods  in  violation  of  the  Continental  Associa- 
tion, to  be  held  up  as  enemies  of  American 
Liberty,  and  all  persons  to  leave  off  dealing 

with  them,  727 

jV«y29,New-  York  Committee.  All  persons  having  any 
Osnaburghs,  Ravens'  Duck,  Russia  Sheeting, 
&c,  are  requested  not  to  dispose  of  them  until 
the  Provincial  Congress  shall  determine  on  the 
expediency  of  detaining  them  for  their  own 

use,  728 

29,  Letter  from  the  New- York  Congress  to  the 
Provincial  Congress  of  New-Jersey.  Nothing 
at  this  critical  juncture  can  tend  more  to  ensure 
success  than  an  uniform  plan  of  conduct  for 
the  several  Colonies ;  to  this  end  we  ought  to 
look  to  the  Continental  Congress,  -  -  1260 
29,  Letter  from  the  New-York  Congress  to  their 
Delegates  at  Philadelphia.  There  is  no  Pow- 
der to  be  purchased  in  the  City,  and  scarce 
any  in  the  whole  Colony;  and  a  very  con- 
siderable number  of  the  Inhabitants  are  with- 
out Arms,  1260 

29,  Letter  from  the  New-York  Congress  to  the  Com- 
mittees in  the  several  Counties,  requesting  that 
the  Resolution  for  subscribing  the  Associa- 
tion may  be  carried  into  effect  without  delay, 
and  that  the  names  of  those  who  refuse  to  sign 
may  be  returned  to  the  Congress,  -  -  -  1261 
29,  Letter  from  the  New- York  Congress  to  Gover- 
nour  Trumbull.  New-York  not  being  able 
to  take  command  of  the  Posts  of  Crown  Point 
and  Ticonderoga,  wishes  Connecticut  to  do  so,  728 
29,  Memorandum  by  Colonel  Arnold  of  the  Men 
and  Military  Stores  required  for  the  ensuing 

Summer,  847 

29,   Letter  from  Governour  Trumbull  to  the  New- 
York  Congress.     Colonel  Hinman  with  one 
thousand  Men  ordered  to  Ticonderoga,  for  the 
protection  of  that  Post  and  Crown  Point,      -  847 
29,   Letter  from  J.  Trumbull,  Jun.,  to  his  Brother, 

at  Cambridge,  728 

29,  Committee  of  New-Milford,  in  the  County  of 
Litchfield,  Connecticut,  publish  Zachariah 
Ferris,  Joseph  Ferris,  Jun.,  James  Osborne, 
Daniel  Taylor,  Nathaniel  Taylor  and  Heze- 
kiah  Stevens,  Jun.,  all  of  New-Milford,  as 
persons  to  be  universally  neglected  and  treated 
as  incorrigible  enemies  to  the  rights  of  British 

America,  730 

29,    Letter  from  the  Selectmen  of  New-Haven  to 

Governour  Trumbull,        ...       -  730 
29,   Letter  from  Governour  Trumbull  to  the  Massa- 
chusetts Congress,  informing  them  of  the  mea- 
sures taken  for  the  security  of  Crown  Point 
and  Ticonderoga,      .....  730 

29,  Letter  from  Governour  Trumbull  to  the  Albany 
Committee.    Connecticut  has  made  provision, 
with  the  consent  of  New-York,  for  the  protec- 
tion of  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point,  -       -  731 
'i9,    Letter  from  William  Gilleland  to  the  Continen- 
tal Congress,  on  the  protection  of  the  North- 
ern frontiers  of  New- York,        -       -       -  731 
29,   Military  Companies  forming  in  various  parts  of 

New-Jersey,     -  732 
29,   Letter  from  Ethan  Allen  to  the  Continental  Con- 
gress, showing  the  injurious  effects  of  aban- 
doning Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point,         -  732 
29,    Letter  from  Benedict  Arnold  to  the  Continental 
Congress.     Informs  them  of  his  participation 
in  the  capture  of  Ticonderoga,  and  of  his 
subsequent  proceedings  there.  Remonstrates 
against  the  abandonment  of  Ticonderoga;  five 
hundred  families  to  the  north  of  it  will  be  left 
to  the  mercy  of  the  King's  Troops  and  the  In- 
dians,      .......  734 

29,  Letter  from  Benedict  Arnold  to  the  Massachu- 
setts Committee  of  Safety.  Surprised  and 
alarmed  on  learning  the  order  of  the  Continen- 
tal Congress  to  remove  the  Stores  from  Ticon- 
deroga to  Fort  George.  Colonel  Allen  has 
entirely  given  up  the  command,  ...  735 
29,  Letter  from  the  Massachusetts  Congress  to  Go- 
vernour Trumbull,  showing  the  importance 
of  retaining  possession  of  Ticonderoga,  -  735 
29,  Letter  from  the  Massachusetts  Congress  to  the 
New-Hampshire  Congress.  The  measure 
taken  by  the  Continental  Congress,  of  aban- 


1775. 


doning  Ticonderoga,  will  be  highly  injurious 

to  the  Colonies  east  of  Hudson's  River, 
3fay29,Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Sandwich  to  the 
Massachusetts  Congress,  giving  a  statement  of 
facts  relating  to  the  capture  of  several  Vessels 
by  Capt.  Lindsey,  of  the  Falcon,  sloop-of-war, 

29,  Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Salem -to  the  Mas- 
sachusetts Committee  of  Safety.  They  are 
satisfied  of  the  propriety  of  Mr.  Stephen  Hig- 
ginson's  conduct,  in  the  answers  he  gave  when 
on  examination  before  the  House  of  Commons, 

29,  Letter  from  Colonel  John  Stark  to  the  New- 
Hampshire  Congress,  .... 

29,   Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Portsmouth,  New- 
Hampshire,  to  the  Committee  of  Newburyport. 
Two  Provision  Vessels  seized  in  the  Harbour 
by  Captain  Barclay,  of  the  King's  Ship  Scar- 
borough, -  ...... 

Particular  account  of  the  capture  of  the  Provi- 
sion Vessels.  Orders  given  by  General  Gage 
and  Admiral  Graves,  to  take  every  Vessel 
with  Provisions  met  with  on  any  station,  and 
send  them  to  Boston,  for  supplies  for  the  Army 
and  Navy,  ...... 

Address  to  General  Gage,  .... 


MASSACHUSETTS  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY. 

Apr.  5,  Committee  of  Safety,  meets  at  Concord, 

Committee  of  Supplies  to  furnish  an  exact  ac- 
count of  all  Provisions  and  Stores, 
14,   Cannon  in  Concord  to  be  disposed  of  immediate- 
ly within  the  Town,  ..... 
Powder  at  Leicester  to  be  removed  to  Concord,  - 
Colonel  Gardner  chosen  one  of  the  Committee 
of  Safety,  by  the  Provincial  Congress,  in  place 
of  Deacon  Fisher,  resigned,  ... 

17,  Application  to  be  made  to  certain  persons  to  take 

command  of  Artillery  Companies, 
Colonel  Barret  requested  to  raise  an  Artillery 

Company,  -       -       -  - 

Pay  of  Artillery  Companies  established,  - 
Four  Cannon  sent  to  Groton  to  Colonel  Prescott, 
Two  brass  Mortars  sent  to  Acton,  ... 
Committee  of  Safety  and  Committee  of  Supplies 

adjourn  to  Menotomy,  .... 

18,  Four  brass  Cannon  to  be  under  the  care  of  the 

Boston  Company  and  Captain  Robinson, 
Letter  to  Captain  Timothy  Bigelow, 
All  the  Ammunition  of  the  Province  to  be  de- 
posited in  nine  different  Towns,  - 
Provisions  to  be  removed  from  Concord  to  Sud- 
.  bury, 

Six  Companies  of  Matrosses,  -  -  -  - 
Disposition  to  made  of  the  Cannon,  Powder,  and 

Military  Stores  of  all  kinds,  ... 
Letter  to  Colonel  Barret,  countermanding  the 

order  to  remove  the  Powder  from  Leicester  to 

Concord,  - 

21,  Form  of  Enlistment  adopted,  .... 
Eight  thousand  effective  Men  to  be  enlisted,  to 

serve  for  seven  months,  - 

Colonel  Gridley  and  his  son,  and  David  Mason, 
required  to  attend  the  Committee  immediately, 

Field-Pieces  to  be  prepared  for  action  imme- 
diately, - 

Captain  Dexter  to  conceal  the  Cannon  in  his 
charge,  ------- 

General  Officers  required  to  make  a  Return  of 
such  Officers  and  Soldiers  as  are  engaged' to 
serve  in  the  Massachusetts  Army,  and  to  give 
in  a  List  of  such  as  they  deem  qualified  for 
Field-Officers,  

22,  Military  Stores  to  be  removed  from  the  Seaport 

Towns,  ------- 

Intrenching  Tools  to  be  inspected  and  repaired, 

24,  Field-Officers  of  Minute-Men  at  Cambridge  re- 

quired to  attend  the  Committee  immediately, 
Inhabitants  of  Chelsea  and  Maiden  forbidden  to 
fire  upon  the  Seamen  under  Admiral  Graves, 

25,  The  Cannon  at  Marlborough  to  be  brought  to 

Waltham  and  mounted,  .... 

Col.  Freeman,  of  Sandwich,  to  secure  the  Whale 
Boats  at  Cape  Cod,    -       -       -       -  - 

Beating  Orders  for  enlistment  of  persons  belong- 
ing to  New- Hampshire,  - 

Provincial  Congress  requested  to  reduce  the  Com- 
panies to  fifty-nine.  Men  each, 


737 


738 


F39 


739 


740 


740 
741 


741 

741 

741 
741 

741 

742 

742 
743 
743 
743 

743 

743 
743 

743 

743 
743 

743 

743 
744 

744 

745 
745 
745 


745 

745 
745 

745 

745 

745 

745 

745 

745 


LX1X 

1775. 

A/>r.25,Escort  to  the  Members  of  Continental  Congress,  746 

26,  General  Preble  at  Falmouth,  requested  to  attend 

at  Cambridge,   ------  746 

Fifteen  of  the  Prisoners  at  Concord  removed  to 

Worcester  Jail,         ....       -  746 

Provincial  Congress  requested  to  make  an  Es- 
tablishment for  Armourers,        ...  746 
Enlistments  in  the  Army  encouraged,      -       -  746 
Order  of  the  24th  instant,  forbidding  the  Inhabi- 
tants of  Chelsea  and  Maiden  to  fire  on  the 
Seamen  under  command  of  Admiral  Graves, 
rescinded,        ------  746 

Inhabitants  of  Chelsea  and  Maiden  authorized 
to  defend  themselves,  as  their  judgment  may 
direct,      -       -  .    -       -       -       -       -  746 

Warrant  for  supplying  an  Express,  -  -  746 
Certificate  to  Dr.  Bond,         -  746 

27,  Instructions  to  Captain  Derby,  intrusted  with 

intelligence  to  the  Agent  in  England,  -  -  747 
Letters  sent  to  Rhode-Island  and  Connecticut,  -  747 
Colonel  Glover  to  prevent  intelligence  being  sent 

to  the  Lively,  Ship-of-War,  at  Marblehead,  -  747 

28,  Post-Riders,  between  the  Army  and  Worcester, 

recommended,  ------  747 

General  Gage's  Precepts  for  calling  an  Assem- 
bly not  to  be  noticed,  -----  747 

None  living  in  New- York,  or  any  other  Go- 
vernment, to  be  enlisted  for  the  service  of  this 
Province,  ------  747 

Cannon  at  Medford  to  be  brought  to  Cambridge,  747 
Inhabitants  of  Boston  yesterday  surrendered  their 
Fire-Arms,  as  they  had  agreed  to  do,  with 
General  Gage,         -----  747 

Committee  to  take  the  state  of  Boston  into  consi- 
deration, -------  747 

29,  Committee  to  take  into  consideration  the  removal 

of  the  Inhabitants  from  Boston,  -  -  -  747 
Neighbouring  Towns  required  to  send  one-half 

of  their  Militia  to  Cambridge  and  Roxbury,  -  747 
Expresses  to  press  as  many  Horses  as  they  have 

occasion  for,     ------  748 

General  Ward  to  apply  to  the  Commissary  for 

such  Stores  as  he  may  have  occasion  for,  -  748 
Dr.  Foster  authorized  to  remove  the  sick  and 

wounded  to  the  Hospital,  -  -  -  -  748 
Captain  Benedict  Arnold,  with  a  Company,  ar- 
rived from  Connecticut,  -  -  -  -  748 
General  Thomas  ordered  to  seize  Governour 

Hutchinson's  Papers,         ...       -  748 

30,  Captain  Benedict  Arnold  reports  the  quantity  of 

Cannon  at  Ticonderoga,  and  that  the  Fortress 

is  in  a  ruinous  condition,     -       -       -       -  748 

Province  Arms  at  Worcester  or  Concord  to  be 
brought  to  Cambridge,      ...       -  749 

Committee  to  form  a  plan  for  the  liberation  of 
the  Inhabitants  of  Boston,  -       -       -       -  749 

Orders  to  Colonel  Gerrish,     -       -       -       -  749 

John  Pierce  Palmer  appointed  Quartermaster- 
General  of  the  Army,       ...       -  749 

Inhabitants  of  the  Colony  desirous  of  removing 
into  Boston,  permitted  to  do  so,    -       -       -  749 
May  1,  Paper  Currencies  of  Connecticut  and  Rhode-Is- 
land to  pass  in  Massachusetts,      -  749 

Rev.  Mr.  Gordon  to  have  free  access  to  the  Pri- 
soners,    -------  750 

2,   Committee  on  the  proposal  of  Colonel  Arnold, 

for  an  attempt  on  Ticonderoga,    -  750 

Recantations  from  Marblehead  received,  -       -  750 

Money,  &c,  to  be  delivered  to  Captain  Arnold, 
for  the  use  of  the  Colony,  upon  a  certain  ser- 
vice, approved  of  by  the  Council  of  War,     -  750 

Colonel  Arnold  appointed  to  a  secret  service,  au- 
thorized to  appoint  certain  Officers,      -       -  750 

Ten  Horses  to  be  procured  for  Colonel  Arnold, 
to  be  employed  on  a  special  service,     -       -  750 

3,  Orders  to  Colonel  Arnold,  relative  to  an  attempt 

upon  Ticonderoga,    -       -       -       -       -  751 

4,  The  publick  good  of  the  Colony  requires  that  Go- 

vernment in  full  form  ought  to  be  taken  up 
immediately,     ------  751 

Letter  to  the  Governour  of  Connecticut,  request- 
ing him  to  forward  three  or  four  thousand 
Troops,    -       -       -       -       -       -  -751 

Committee  to  confer  with  the  Council  of  War,  on 

the  arrival  of  re-enfoTcements  at  Boston.       -  752 
7,   To  prevent  the  appointment  of  Surgeons  who  may 
not  be  agreeable  to  the  Officers  and  Soldiers, 
Colonels  are  to  nominate  them,    -  752 


LXX 

1775. 

May!,  Committee  for  Chelsea  to  prevent  Provisions  from 

being  carried  into  Boston,   -       -       -       -  753 

9,  Recommend  a  new  Commission  for  the  Committee 

of  Safety,  753 

Council  of  War  recommend  a  re-enforcement  of 
two  thousand  Men  to  he  brought  into  Camp 
the  ensuing  night,     -----  753 
A  Court  of  Inquiry  proposed  for  the  trial  of  ac- 
cused persons,   ------  753 

10,  Many  Batteaus,  Whale  Boats,  and  others,  will 

very  soon  be  wanted  on  Charles  River,  and 
Carpenters  are  ordered  to  be  engaged  to  make 
them,       -------  753 

Letter  to  the  Colonels  of  the  Army,  informing  a 
blow  is  meditated  against  the  enemy,  and  or- 
dering them  to  repair  forthwith  to  Cambridge,  754 

Letter  to  the  Provincial  Congress,  enclosing  the 
foregoing  orders,       -       -       -       -       -  754 

William  Goodwin  empowered  to  take  posses- 
sion of  a  number  of  Boats  in  Charlestown, 
and  to  press  Teams  to  take  the  Boats  to  Cam- 
'  bridge,     -       -       -       -       -  -  754 

Mr.  Watson  empowered  to  remove  to  Cambridge 
the  Boats  now  in  Menotomy  River,     -       -  754 

General  Gage  intends  soon  to  come  out  of  Bos- 
ton, (Note,)  754 

1 1 ,  Provincial  Congress  requested  to  establish  a  Court 

of  Inquiry  for  the  trial  of  suspected  persons,  -  754 

12,  Works  recommended  to  be  erected  to  prevent  the 

enemy  from  passing  into  the  country  from 
Boston,    -------  755 

The  determination  of  this  matter  rests  with  the 
Council  of  War,       -----  755 

Seizure  of  Tories,  and  detaining  them  until  Gen. 
Gage  complies  with  his  engagement  made  with 
the  Inhabitants  of  Boston,  recommended,      -  755 

Committee  adjourns  to  Congress,  upon  matters  of 
great  importance,       -----  755 

1 4,  Andrew  Craigie  empowered  to  impress  beds,  bed- 

ding, and  other  necessaries  for  the  sick,        -  756 
Josiah  Martin  having  promised,  with  his  life  and 
fortune,  to  stand  for  the  defence  of  his  Country, 
is  to  be  received  into  the  favour  of  his  country- 
men,   -       -  750 

Live  Stock  to  be  taken  from  Hog- Island,  Nod- 
dle-Island and  Snake-Island,       ...  757 
Persons  escaping  from  Boston,  to  be  received  and 
protected,  -------  757 

15,  Account  of  Ordnance  and  Military  Stores,        -  757 
Lady  Frankland  permitted  to  pass  into  Boston, 

with  certain  goods  and  articles  for  her  voyage,  757 
Note  from  Lady  Frankland  to  Dr.  Warren. — 

(Note,)  757 

Note  from  Lady  Frankland  to  the  Committee  of 

Safety,  (Note,)  757 

Letters  from  New- York,  relative  to  the  establish- 
ing a  Post-Office,  referred  to  the  Provincial 
Congress,  757 

16,  Fifty-four  Whale  Boats  to  be  provided  for  the 

use  of  the  Colony,  -----  759 
Establishment  for  the  Companies  of  Matrosses,  -  759 
Ten  Swivels  to  be  provided  for  the  use  of  the 

Army,  760 

17,  Committee  to  repair  to  the  Provincial  Congress, 

and  request  that  the  duty  of  the  Committee  of 
Safety  be  precisely  stated,    -  760 

General  Gage  not  having  kept  his  agreement 
with  the  Inhabitants  of  Boston,  it  is  recom- 
mended to  the  Provincial  Congress  to  rescind 
their  Resolution  of  the  30th  of  April,  founded 
on  that  agreement,      -----  7(50 

Students  of  Harvard  College,  who  had  been 
furnished  with  Arms,  are  requested  to  return 
them,  761 

Female  friends  to  America  requested  to  send  such 
quantities  of  Rags  as  they  can  spare  for  the 
Surgeons  of  the  Massachusetts  Forces,        -  761 

19,  Capt.  John  Lane  furnished  with  enlisting  papers 

for  raising  a  Company  of  Indians  at  the  East- 
ward,     -------  761 

Letter  to  the  several  Colonels,  requesting  imme- 
diate Returns,    -       -       -       -       -       -  761 

A  Horse  and  Sulkey  furnished  Dr.  Church,  for 
his  journey  to  Philadelphia,        -  761 

20,  No  Slave  to  be  admitted  into  the  Army,   -       -  762 

22,  Post-Riders  discharged,         ...       -  702 

23,  Congress  requested  to  take  measures  to  secure  the 

Stock  on  the  Islands  and  Sea-Coasts,    -       -  762 


CONTENTS. 


LXXI 

1775. 

jVrty23,Thirty  thousand  Men  considered  necessary  for  the 
defence  of  the  lives,  liberty  and  property  of 
the  Americans ;  and  not  more  than  twenty -four 
thousand  having  been  raised  by  the  several 
Colonies,  the  matter  is  laid  before  the  Con- 
gress, 762 
24,    Immediate  removal  of  the  Sheep  and  Hay  from 

Noddle  Island  recommended,      ...  763 

29,  Committee  of  Cohasset  requested  to  restore  to  Mr. 

Temple  his  Property,  and  they  and  all  others 
to  treat  him  as  a  friend  to  this  Country  and  to 
the  rights  of  all  America,  -  704 
Rev.  Mr.  Gordon  of  Roxbury  authorized  to  re- 
ceive from  Capt.  McLane  a  volume  of  copies 
of  Governour  Hutchinson's  Letters,     -       -  764 

30,  Elisha  Littenwell  directed  to  remove  from  Chel- 

sea to  Cambridge  the  Cannon  and  Stores  of  a 
Schooner  burned  by  our  People,         -       -  764 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS. 

Apr. 22, Letter  from  Mr.  duincy  to  Mr.  Adams,  read  in 

the  Congress,  and  sent  to  Dr.  Warren,         -  763 
Committee  to  take  Depositions  of  the  transactions 
of  the  Troops  under  General  Gage,  in  their 
route  to  and  from  Concord,  on  Wednesday  last, 
to  be  sent  to  England,        ....  765 

23,  An  Army  of  thirty  thousand  Men  necessary  for 

the  defence  of  the  Colony,  ....  765 
Thirteen  thousand  six  hundred  Men  to  be  imme- 
diately raised  in  this  Province,    ...  765 
Committee  to  bring  in  a  plan  for  the  establish- 
ment of  the  Army,    ....       -  765 
Committees  to  New- Hampshire,  Connecticut  and 
Rhode-Island,  to  request  their  concurrence  in 
raising  the  Army,     -  765 
Doctor  Warren  elected  President,    ...  766 
Establishment  of  the  Army,   -  766 
Committees  of  the  several  Towns  requested  to 
furnish  enlisted  Men  with  Blankets,     -       -  766 

24,  Committee  of  Safety  or- Committee  of  Supplies 

empowered  to  impress  Horses  or  Teams,  -  766 
Committee  to  attend  the  Committee  of  Safety,  to 

name  suitable  persons  for  Officers  in  the  Army 

now  raising,     ......  766 

Letters  from  Hartford  read  and  forwarded  to  the 

Committee  of  Safety  at  Cambridge,     -       -  767 

25,  Motion  to  ascertain  the  number  of  delinquent 

Towns  and  Districts  rejected,  ...  767 
Proceedings  with  the  Indian  Nations  to  be  kept 
secret.  Other  matters  before  the  Congress  to 
be  left  to  the  discretion  of  each  Member,  -  767 
Companies  in  each  Regiment  to  be  reduced  from 
one  hundred  Men  to  fifty-nine  Men  each,  and 
each  Regiment  to  ten  Companies,        -       -  767 

26,  Committee  to  draught  a  Letter  to  the  Agent  in 

Great  Britain,  768 

William  Burbeck  appointed  an  Engineer  of  the 
Forces  now  raising  in  this  Colony  for  the  de- 
fence of  the  rights  and  liberties  of  the  Ameri- 
can Continent,  ------  768 

Richard  Gridley  appointed  Chief  Engineer,  -  768 
Committee  to  consider  the  state  of  the  Eastern 

parts  of  the  Province,  ...  -  769 
Committee  of  Supplies  directed  to  procure  Pow- 
der and  Ball  for  the  Colony,  and  to  furnish 
what  can  be  spared  to  the  Eastern  Towns,  -  769 
Marblehead,  Salem  and  Newburyport  required 
to  sell  four  half-barrels  of  Powder  each,  to 
the  Towns  of  York,  Welles,  Biddeford  and 
Boothbay,  769 

27,  Committee  to  inquire  what  provision  is  made  for 

a  Post  to  ride  from  the  Army  to  Worcester ; 
and  also  to  procure  a  Writ  issued  by  General 
Gage  for  calling  an  Assembly  in  May  next,  -  770 

Motion  by  Mr.  Gerry  that  the  Committees  of  the 
Seaport  Towns  in  the  County  of  Essex  be  ad- 
vised to  have  all  the  effects  of  the  Inhabitants 
removed  as  soon  as  possible,        -  770 

Committee  to  get  an  exact  account  of  the  Men 
killed  and  wounded  and  murdered  in  the  late 
scene,  on  the  19th  instant,    ....  770 

Committee  to  make  true  copies  of  the  Deposi- 
tions, and  have  them  signed  and  authenticated,  771 

28,  Committee  to  confer  with  the  Gentlemen  from 

New- Hampshire,  and  to  lay  before  them  the 
Letters  just  received  from  New- York,  dated 
April  19,  771 


LXXI  I 

1775. 

Apr.28,  Letter  to  the  Convention  of  New- Hampshire,   •  771 

Committee  to  consult  with  the  Committee  from 
New-Hampshire  respecting  the  New-Hamp- 
shire Forces,  now  at  Cambridge,         n       -  771 

Committee  to  consider  a  Letter  from  Stephen 

Hopkins,  dated  Providence,  April  27,        -  772 

Committee  to  consider  the  expediency  of  estab- 
lishing Post-Riders  between  the  Massachusetts 
Forces  and  the  Town  of  Worcester,    -       -  772 

Committee  to  consider  the  propriety  of  advising 
the  Towns  not  to  notice  the  Precepts  issued 
by  General  Gage  for  calling  a  General  As- 
sembly,   -------  772 

Committee  to  prepare  the  form  of  a  Commission 
for  the  Officers  of  the  Army  now  forming  in 
this  Province,    ------  772 

Committee  to  prepare  Rules  for  the  government 
of  the  House,   ------  772 

Committee  to  ascertain  what  has  taken  place  for 
the  release  of  our  friends  in  Boston,     -       -  772 

Committee  to  bring  in  a  Resolve  empowering  the 
Committee  of  Supplies  to  procure  Provisions 
and  Military  Stores  for  the  Army  now  form- 
ing in  this  Colony,  -       -         ...  772 

29,  Papers  presented,  containing  the  Proceedings  of 

the  Town  of  Boston  with  General  Gage,     -  772 

Committee  of  Safety  requested  to  report  on  the 
Papers,  -       -  772 

Rules  for  the  government  of  the  Congress 
adopted,    -------  773 

Committee  of  Supplies  empowered  to  purchase 
every  kind  of  Military  Stores,  Provisions  and 
all  other  Supplies,  for  the  use  of  the  Forces  of 
this  Colony,      ------  773 

Pay  of  Field-Officers  reduced,        -       -       -  774 

County  Committees  to  report,  on  the  fourth  Wed- 
nesday in  May,  the  conduct  of  the  Towns 
and  Districts  with  respect  to  their  having  exe- 
cuted the  Continental  and  Provincial  measures 
for  the  preservation  of  this  Country  from 
slavery,  -       -       -  774 

Committee  to  consider  on  some  method  for  sup- 
plying the  Treasury,         ....  774 

Committee  to  confer  with  Jos.  Brown,  of  Rhode- 
Island,     .......  775 

Letter  from  New- York,  dated  April  24,  recom- 
mending the  intercepting  of  the  Despatches  to 
General  Gage,  .....  775 

30,  State  and  situation  of  the  Cannon  and  Military 

Stores,  775 

Express  sent  to  the  Committee  of  Safety,  to  pro- 
cure their  result  with  respect  to  moving  out 
the  Inhabitants  of  Boston,  -       -       -  775 

Letter  to  the  Committee  of  Safety,  sent  by  the 
Express,  ......  775 

Committee  to  inquire  into  the  conduct  of  the 
several  Towns  relative  to  Prisoners  of  War,  776 

Resolve  from  the  Committee  of  Safety,  respecting 
the  liberation  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Boston,  ac- 
cepted, and  ordered  to  be  sent  to  the  Selectmen 
of  Boston,  to  be  communicated  to  Gen.  Gage,  776 
May  1,  Committee  to  examine  the  Papers  of  the  Con- 
gress, and  report  what  may  be  published,      -  776 

Letter  from  Major  Hawley,  respecting  the  Bearer 
of  Despatches  for  General  Gage;  referred  to 
Committee  of  Safety,         ....  776 

Motion  that  William  Read  be  admitted  to  state 
the  sufferings  he  met  with  on  the  19th  April, 
rejected.    Committee  to  confer  with  him,      -  777 

Form  of  Commission  for  Colony  Officers,        -  777 

Pass  for  the  use  of  Members  of  Congress,        -  777 

Resolutions  for  the  removal  of  the  Poor  from 
Boston,    .......  777 

Report  of  Committee  on  application  of  William 
Read,      .......  779 

2,  Joseph  Warren  chosen  President,    ...  779 

Committee  on  securing  the  Records  of  the  Coun- 
ties,  779 

Letter  to  the  Delegates  from  this  Colony  in  Con- 
necticut, -       -       -       ...       .  780 

Committee  to  forward  to  the  Continental  Con- 
gress copies  of  the  Depositions,  and  Address  to 
the  Inhabitants  of  Great  Britain,  and  Letter  to 
Mr,  Franklin,  lately  sent  to  Great  Britain,     -  781 

Effects  of  persons  removing  into  Boston  may  be 
sent  there,        -       -       -       -      »  -781 

Committee  on  liberating  the  persons  taken  Pri- 
soners on  the  19th  of  April,        -       -  782 


CONTENTS. 


I.XXIII 

1775. 
May  3, 


CONTENTS. 


LXXIV 


Committee  of  Supplies  directed  to  furnish  Colonel 
Benedict  Arnold  ten  Horses,  and  Powder, 

Lead  and  Flints,  782 

Committee  to  revise  the  Commission  of  the  Com- 
mittee of  Supplies,     .....  782 
Receiver-General  directed  to  borrow  One  Hun- 
dred Thousand  Pounds,      ....  782 
Horses  and  Carriages  of  Members  of  this  Con- 
gress excepted  from  impressment,         -       -  783 
Committee  to  procure  a  Copperplate  for  printing 

the  Colony  Notes,      ....       -  783 
Rev.  Mr.  Gordon  chosen  Chaplain  to  the  Con- 
gress during  their  session  in  Watertown,       -  783 
Report  of  Committee  on  liberating  Prisoners 

taken  by  Gen.  Gage,  the  19th  of  April,  (Note,)  784 
Resolve  on  the  same  subject,  -       -       -       -  784 

4,  Pay  to  the  Soldiers  advanced,  ...  784 
Committee  to  hold  a  Conference  with  the  Dele- 
gates from  Connecticut  to  General  Gage,      -  785 

Their  Report,  785 

Committee  to  prepare  a  Letter  to  the  Assembly 
of  Connecticut,  on  their  application  to  General 
Gage,  785 

5,  Resolution  of  April  1,  recommending  the  Writs 

of  General  Gage,  for  electing  Members  of  an 
Assembly,  should  be  obeyed,  reconsidered  and 
rescinded,  and  declare  that  no  obedience  ought 
in  future  to  be  paid  to  his  Writs,  Proclamations, 
or  any  other  of  his  doings,  ...  786 

Letter  to  the  Assembly  of  Connecticut,    -       -  786 

Letter  to  General  Ward,  on  the  obstruction  to  the 
liberation  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Boston,         -  787 

New  Provincial  Congress  to  be  elected,  to  meet 
on  the  3 1st  of  May,  788 

Resolution  from  the  Committee  of  Safety,  that 
Government  in  full  form  ought  to  be  taken  up, 
to  be  considered  on  the  9th  instant,       -       -  788 

6,  Committee  of  Safety  authorized  to  procure  Pow- 

der from  any  Colony  on  the  Continent,         -  789 

Committee  to  consider  the  Letter  received  yester- 
day from  the  Speaker  of  the  Assembly  of  Con- 
necticut,  789 

Committee  of  Supplies  authorized  to  import  Mili- 
tary Stores  from  such  place  and  in  such  quan- 
tities as  they  may  judge  proper,    ...  789 

Committee  to  ascertain  what  number  of  Province 
Arms  there  are  in  the  Province,  ...  790 

Establishment  for  the  Train,  ....  790 

7,  Committee  of  Supplies  authorized  to  procure 

Fire-Arms  and  Bayonets  from  any  Colony  on 

the  Continent,  790 

8,  Oath  to  be  administered  to  the  Officers  and  Pri- 

vate Soldiers  of  the  Army  now  raising  in  this 
Colony,    -       -       -       -       -       -  -791 

Letter  to  the  Selectmen  of  Hopkinton,  -  -  791 
Letter  from  Committee  of  Portsmouth,  of  the  6th 

instant,  792 

Letter  from  General  Ward,    ....  792 
Answer  to  the  Letter  from  Portsmouth,    -       -  792 
Committees  of  Correspondence  of  the  several 
Towns  to  inquire  into  the  principles  and  con- 
duct of  suspected  persons,  and  to  cause  all  to 
be  disarmed  who  are  found  unfriendly  to  the 
rights  and  liberties  of  America,    -       -       -  793 
Letter  to  General  Ward,       ....  794 
Consideration  of  the  expediency  of  assuming  Go- 
vernment postponed  to  Friday,  the  12th  inst.,  -  794 

9,  Committee  to  prepare  a  spirited  application  to 

General  Gage,  respecting  his  treatment  of  the 
Inhabitants  of  Boston,         ....  795 

Committee  to  consider  the  expediency  of  establish- 
ing Post-Offices  and  Post-Riders,        -       -  795 

Resolutions  on  the  false  account  of  the  late  Excur- 
sion of  the  King's  Troops,  ....  795 

Resolution  for  supplying  those  Soldiers  with 
Fire-Arms  who  are  not  equipped  therewith,  -  796 

Twenty  Armourers  to  be  appointed  by  the  Com- 
mittee of  Safety,  to  repair  the  Arms  of  the  Sol- 
diers of  the  Massachusetts  Army,  -  -  796 
10,  Letter  to  General  Gage,  on  his  violation  of  the 
Agreement  for  the  removal  of  the  Inhabitants 
of  Boston,         ......  798 

Report  on  the  Complaint  made  against  Samuel 
Pain  and  William  Campbell,  by  the  Selectmen 
of  Worcester,    -  799 

Committee  to  consider  the  Applications  from  the 
Eastern  parts  of  the  Province,  for  Arms  and 
Ammunition,    -       -  -       -       -  799 


1775. 
May  I 


12, 


1  0 


15, 


16, 


17, 


18, 


1, Resolutions  providing  for  a  present  supply  of 
Powder  to  the  most  exposed  of  the  Eastern 
Towns,  799 

Committee  to  write  a  Letter  to  New- York,  ad- 
vising them  of  the  sailing  of  two  Men-of-War 
from  Boston,  800 

Committee  to  consider  the  expediency  of  raising 
a  Company  or  two  of  Indians,     ...  800 

All  persons  required  to  give  Rev.  Mr.  Gordon 
free  access  to  the  Prisoners,        ...  800 

Committee  to  write  to  the  Continental  Congress, 
for  obtaining  their  recommendation  for  this 
Colony  to  take  up  and  exercise  Civil  Govern- 
ment,  801 

General  Ward  directed  to  order  four  respectable 
Officers  to  escort  the  President  to  Colonel 
duincy,  at  Braintree,  to-morrow  morning,    -  801 

Committee  to  estimate  the  damages  done  at  Con- 
cord, Lexington,  and  Cambridge,  b)'the  King's 
Troops,  on  the  19th  of  April,      -       -       -  801 

Establishment  for  the  Companies  of  Matrosses,  -  801 

Committee  to  take  a  third  set  of  Depositions  rela- 
tive to  the  Battle  of  Lexington,    ...  802 

Post-Roads  established,  802 

Post-Masters  appointed,  -----  803 

Rates  of  Postage,  803 

Committee  to  attend  the  Provincial  Congress  of 
New-Hampshire,      .....  803 

Committee  to  prepare  the  Application  to  the  Con- 
tinental Congress  directed  to  desire  the  Con- 
gress to  take  charge  of  directing  and  regulating 
the  American  Forces,        ....  804 

Committee  to  examine  the  Letters  of  Governour 
Hutchinson,  lately  discovered,  and  report  such 
Letters  and  Extracts  as  they  think  it  will  be 
proper  to  publish,      .....  804 

Persons  prohibited  from  removing  their  Goods 
and  Effects  out  of  the  Colony,  without  per- 
mission of  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  of 
the  Town  they  belong  to,    -       -       -       -  804 

Committee  of  Falmouth  authorized  to  send  an 
Embassy  to  Canada,  to  ascertain  the  designs 
and  manoeuvres  of  the  Inhabitants  of  that  Co- 
lony,  804 

Report  of  Committee  to  authorize  the  establish- 
ment of  a  Court  of  Inquiry,  to  hear  and  decide 
on  complaints  against  any  person  for  treason 
against  the  Constitution  of  their  Country,  sub- 
mitted, debated,  and  rejected,       ...  805 

Committee  to  consider  the  verbal  information  of 
the  capture  of  three  Vessels,  by  a  King's  Cut- 
ter, at  Dartmouth,      .....  806 

Dr.  Church  appointed  to  go  to  the  Continental 
Congress,  with  the  application  from  this  Con- 
gress,      .......  806 

Instructions  to  the  Delegates  to  the  New-Hamp- 
shire Congress,         .....  806 

Officers  of  the  Artillery  allowed  to  enlist  Men 
from  the  other  Regiments,  ....  807 

Committee  to  consider  what  should  be  done  rela- 
tive to  the  Prisoners  in  Boston,  and  the  Inhabi- 
tants who  are  there  kept  in  duresse,      -       -  807 

Letter  from  Edward  Mott,  dated  May  11,  giving 
an  account  of  the  capture  of  Ticonderoga,  and 
a  Letter  from  Ethan  Allen,  received  and  read,  807 

Colonel  Easton,  from  Ticonderoga,  introduced  to 
the  House,  and  each  Member  authorized  to  ask 
him  any  questions,     .....  807 

Form  of  Oath  to  be  taken  by  the  General  Offi- 
cers,  808 

Letter  to  Assembly  of  Connecticut,  proposing  to 
have  the  Cannon  and  Stores  taken  at  Ticon- 
deroga forwarded  to  the  Army  at  Cambridge,  808 

Colonel  Allen  to  remain  in  possession  of  Ticon- 
deroga and  itsdependencies,that  Fortress  having 
surrendered  to  him  and  others,     ...  808 

Connecticut  requested  to  garrison  and  maintain 
Ticonderoga,  until  the  advice  of  the  Continen- 
tal Congress  can  be  had,     ....  809 

Committee  to  revise  the  Commission  of  the  Com. 
mittee  of  Safety,  809 

Officers  of  the  Army  of  this  Colony  disqualified 
from  being  Members  of  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress,     .......  809 

Committee  of  Safety  elected,  -       -       -       -  810 

Report  of  Committee  on  the  application  of  Lady 
Frank  land,  810 

Mr.  Craft  sent  for;  the  allegations  against  him 


LXXV 

1775. 

stated;  he  makes  his  defence,  and  is  politely 
admonished,     ------  810 

Miyl8,Lady  Frankland  permitted  to  pass  into  Boston,  811 

19,  Colonel  Bond,  with  a  guard,  ordered  to  escort 

Lady  Frankland  to  Boston,        -       -       -  811 
Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  of 
Connecticut  read,  respecting  the  taking  of  Ti- 
conderoga,        -       -       -       -       -       -  811 

Answer  to  this  Letter  reported  by  Mr.  Gerry,  and 
accepted,  -       -       -       -       -       -       -  811 

Commission  for  the  Committee  of  Safety,         -  812 
Commission  to  General  Ward,  as  General  and 
Commander-in-Chief  of  all  the  Forces  raised 
by  the  Congress  of  the  Colony  of  Massachu- 
setts, for  the  defence  of  this  and  the  other  Ame- 
rican Colonies,  -       -       -       -       -       -  813 

Committee  to  get  the  Depositions  and  Narrative 
of  the  late  Excursion  of  the  King's  Troops  to 
Concord  printed,        -       -       -       -       -  813 

20,  Report  of  the  Committee  appointed  to  consider 

the  case  of  the  Prisoners  in  Boston,  and  the 
Inhabitants  there  kept  in  duresse,        -       -  814 

Committee  to  consider  what  measures  are  proper 
to  be  taken  for  organizing  the  Massachusetts 
Army  in  the  most  effectual  and  ready  manner,  815 

Receiver-General  authorized  to  issue  Notes  to  the 
amount  of  Twenty-Six  Thousand  Pounds,  for 
advance  pay  to  the  Massachusetts  Army,      -  815 

Report  of  the  Committee  on  the  practicability  of 
providing  Chaplains  for  Massachusetts  Army,  815 

The  President  desired  to  deliver  to  General  Ward 
his  Commission  as  General  and  Commander- 
in-Chief  of  the  Massachusetts  Forces,  -       -  816 

22,  Report  of  Committee  on  Petition  of  a  number 

of  the  Inhabitants  of  Dear- Island,  in  Lincoln 
County,  816 

Report  of  Committee  appointed  to  consider  what 
should  be  done  with  the  Estates  of  persons  un- 
friendly to  the  Country,      -       -       -       -  817 

Letter  from  General  Ward,  requesting  a  supply 
of  Ordnance,  Arms  and  Ammunition,  -  817 

Letter  to  Colonel  Arnold,  signed  and  ordered  to 
be  forwarded,    -       -       -       -       -       -  817 

23,  Report  of  Committee  on  the  Depredations  of  the 

British  Troops  on  the  Islands  and  Sea- Coasts; 
read,  and  referred  to  the  next  Provincial  Con- 
gress,      -       -       -       -       -       -  818 

Report  of  Committee  appointed  to  consider  what 
further  measures  are  necessary  to  be  taken 
for  the  organization  of  the  Army,       -       -  818 

24,  Ebenezer  Cutler  permitted  to  go  into  Boston, 

without  his  effects,     -       -       -       -       -  819 
Committee  to  effect  the  removal  of  the  Poor  of 
the  Town  of  Boston,  -  819 

25,  Quantity  of  Powder  that  may  be  spared  for  the 

publick  service  from  the  stocks  of  the  several 

Towns,  820 

Report  of  the  Committee  on  the  subject  of  ab- 
sconding Soldiers,      -       -       -       -       -  821 

26,  Letter  to  the  New- York  Provincial  Congress,  -  821 
Able-bodied  Men,  without  Anns,  to  be  received 

and  mustered  in  the  Army,         ...  822 
Report  of  Committee  on  the  complaint  of  the 
Committee  of  Safety  against  Mr.  Jonathan 

Brewer,  -       -  822 

18,  Officers  in  Colonel  Read's  Regiment,  -  -  823 
23,  Officers  in  General  Ward's  Regiment,  -  -  823 
23,   Officers  in  Colonel  Learned's  Regiment,  -  823 

23,  Officers  in  Colonel  Walker's  Regiment,  -  -  823 
23,    Officers  in  Colonel  Scammons's  Regiment,       -  824 

25,  Officers  in  Colonel  Prescott's  Regiment,  -       -  824 

26,  Officers  in  Colonel  Cotton's  Regiment,     -       -  824 

26,  Officers  in  Colonel  Fryc's  Regiment,      -       -  825 

27,  Officers  in  Colonel  Patterson's  Regiment,  -  825 
27,  Officers  in  General  Thomas's  Regiment,  -  -  825 
27,  Officers  in  Colonel  Bridge's  Regiment,  -  -  826 
27,  Officers  in  Colonel  Mansfield's  Regiment,  -  826 
27,  Officers  in  Colonel  Danielson's  Regiment,  -  826 
31,   Officers  in  Colonel  Fellows's  Regiment,  -       -  826 

June  2,  Officeis  in  Colonel  Gardner's  Regiment,  -       -  827 
3,   Officers  in  Colonel  YVhiteomb's  Regiment,       -  827 
12,   Officers  in  Colonel  Doolittle's  Regiment,  -       -  828 
16,    Officers  in  Colonel  Woodbridge's  Regiment,    -  828 

16,  Officers  in  Colonel  Glover  s,  Regiment,    -       -  828 

17,  Officers  in  Col.  Jonathan  Brewer's  Regiment,  -  829 
17,  Officers  in  Colonel  David  Brewer's  Regiment,  -  829 
22,  Officers  in  Colonel  Gerrish's  Regiment,  -  -  830 
26,   Officers  in  Colonel  Moses  Little's  Regiment,    -  830 


LXXVI 

1775. 

CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  ETC. 

MayZQ,  Note  from  the  Secretary  of  State's  Office,  pub- 
lished in  the  London  Gazette,  discrediting  the 
report  of  a  Skirmish  between  some  of  the  Peo- 
ple in  Massachusetts-Bay  and  a  Detachment  of 
His  Majesty's  Troops,  ...  -  848 
Remarks  on  this  Official  paragraph,  (Note,)     -  848 

30,  Letter  from  Arthur  Lee,  contradicting  the  state- 
ment in  the  London  Gazette,  and  informing 
those  who  wish  to  see  the  original  affidavits 
which  confirm  the  account,  that  they  are  depo- 
sited with  the  Lord  Mayor  of  London,  for  in- 
spection, -------  819 

30,  Letter  from  Colonel  James  Easton  to  the  Provin- 
cial Congress,  Committee  of  Safety,  and  Coun- 
cil of  War,  in  Cambridge  and  Watertown. 
The  necessity  of  protecting  Ticonderoga;  Con- 
necticut will  furnish  Men  for  its  defence,  but 
expects  Massachusetts  to  organize  and  pay 
them.  Offers  to  take  the  command  of  a  Regi- 
ment, and  recommends  other  persons  for  ap- 
pointments,      -----  849 

30,  Letter  to  the  New- York  Congress,  from  their 
Delegates  in  the  Continental  Congress.  The 
proceedings  of  the  Provincial  Congress  ap- 
proved by  the  Continental  Congress;  they  are 
requested  to  come  to  a  speedy  determination 
on  the  Paper  Currency.  Further  suggestions 
for  their  consideration,        -  850 

30,  Letter  from  the  New-York  Congress  to  their 
Delegates  in  the  Continental  CongTess,  enclos- 
ing a  Report  on  Paper  Currency  :  it  is  sent  to 
show  their  opinion  of  what  ought  to  be  done, 
and  not  to  be  laid  before  the  Continental  Con- 
gress,      ------  1264 

30,  Letter  from  Governour  Trumbull  to  the  Albany 
Committee.  One  thousand  Men  ordered  to 
proceed  to  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point ;  ex- 
pects the  Provincial  Congress  of  New- York 
will  forward  Provisions,     -       -       -  850 

30,  Letter  from  Jonathan  Parsons,  Jim.,  at  St  John's, 
Newfoundland,  to  the  New- York  Committee 
of  Safety.  Hatred  of  the  People  there  towards 
the  Americans,  for  their  opposition  to  the  Bri- 
tish Government ;  yet,  if  they  are  short  of 
Provisions,  they  will  probably  petition  the 
Continental  Congress  for  a  supply  of  Bread 
and  Flour,       -       -       -       -       -       -  851 

30,  Declaration  of  John  Nutting  and  others,  of  their 
reasons  for  signing  the  Address  to  Governour 
Hutchinson,  declared  satisfactory  by  the  Com- 
mittee of  Salem,         -----  852 

30,  Letter  from  Joshua  Upham  to  the  Committee  of 
Correspondence  for  the  Town  of  Brownfield: 
explanation  of  his  conduct;  voted  satisfactory 
by  the  Committee,     -----  852 

30,  Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Safety  of  Massachu- 

setts to  the  Town  of  Sudbury.  Have  examin- 
ed and  dismissed  Ezra  Taylor,     ...  853 

30    Letter  from  the  Selectmen  of  Hopkinton  to  the 

Massachusetts  Congress,     -       -       -       -  853 

29,  Letter  from  General  Ward  to  the  Committee  for 
Salem.  Expects  an  attack  this  night  from 
the  British  Forces  in  Boston,       -  854 

31,  Letter  from  London  to  a  Gentleman  in  Philadel- 

phia. Account  of  the  defeat  of  the  British 
Troops  on  the  19th  of  April  has  been  receiv- 
ed. The  intelligence  has  panick-struck  the 
Administration  and  their  Tory  dependants, 
who  have  daily  denounced  the  Americans  as 
cowards,  -------  854 

31,  Committee  for  Mecklenburgh  County,  North- 
Carolina.  Resolutions  declaring  all  Laws  and 
Commissions  derived  from  the  authority  of  the 
King  or  Parliament  null  and  void,  and  the 
Civil  Constitutions  of  the  Colonies  wholly  sus- 
pended, and  that  no  Legislative  or  Executive 
power  exists  in  the  Colonies,  other  than  the 
Provincial  Congresses,  under  the  direction  of 
the  Continental  Congress,    -       -       -       -  855 

20,  The  Declaration  of  Independence  by  the  Citizens 
of  Mecklenburgh  County,  North-Carolina,  on 
the  twentieth  day  of  May,  1775,  with  the  ac- 
companying Documents,  published  by  the  Go- 
vernour, under  the  authority  and  direction  of 
the  General  Assembly  of  North-Carolina, 
(Note,)  855 


CONTENTS. 


LXXV1I 

1775 
MayU 


CONTENTS. 


LXXVI1I 


.Association  recommended  by  the  Committee  of 
Chester  County,  Pennsylvania,  to  the  People 

of  the  County,  859 

31,  Letter  addressed  to  Lord  Sandwich,  on  his  charge 

of  Cowardice  against  the  Americans,    -       -  861 
31,  Letter  from  Col.  George  Washington  to  George 
William  Fairfax,  in  England,  with  an  acount 
of  the  Engagement  between  the  Ministerial 
Troops  and  the  People  of  Massachusetts-Bay,  865 
31,  Letter  from  Col.  Henshaw  to  Benedict  Arnold. 
Connecticut  has  ordered  Colonel  Hinman  to 
take  command  at  Ticonderoga,  with  one  thou- 
sand Men,  and  to  repair  and  defend  that  Post,  724 
31,  Worcester,  Massachusetts,  Convention,  appoint  a 
Committee  to  draw  up  a  Remonstrance  to  the 
Provincial  Congress,  against  persons  having 
seats  there  who  do  not  vote  away  their  own 
money  for  publick  purposes,  in  common  with 
others;  and  also  to  consider  the  right  of  per- 
sons inimical  to  the  Country  to  vote  in  Town- 
Meetings,         -  865 
3 1 ,  Representation  of  Robert  Temple  to  the  Massa- 
chusetts Committee  of  Safety,      ...  866 
31,  Letter  from  Stephen  Nye,  at  Sandwich,  to  Na- 
thaniel Freeman.    Relation  of  Captain  Lind- 
sey's  proceedings  at  the  Islands,  -       -  866 

31,  Letter  from  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town  of  Scar- 
borough to  the  Massachusetts  Congress.  Their 
reasons  for  not  choosing  a  Representative,     -  867 
31,  Letter  from  the  Selectmen  of  Edgartown  to  the 
Massachusetts  Congress.     They  are  firmly 
attached  to  the  cause  of  their  Country,  yet 
the  peculiar  circumstances  in  which  they  are 
placed  renders  it  inexpedient  for  them  to  elect 
a  Member  to  the  Congress,        ...  867 
31,  Petition  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Berwick  to  the 
Massachusetts  Congress.    The  Towns  along 
the  sea-coast  are  exposed  to  the  ravages  of  the 
enemy,  and  for  want  of  Arms  and  Ammuni- 
tion, the  People  cannot  defend  their  Wives  and 
Children  against  the  King's  Troops:  they, 
therefore,  pray  for  assistance,     ...  868 
31,  Letter  from  the  Selectmen  of  Bedford  to  the  Mas- 
sachusetts Congress.    The  Town  has  declined 
to  send  a  Member  to  the  Congress,  but  will 
freely  comply  with  all  their  wise  and  salutary 
measures,         ------  868 

31,  Letter  from  the  New- Hampshire  Congress  to 
General  Ward,  requesting  Colonel  Stark  may 
be  sent  to  them,         -----  868 

31,  Letter  from  the  New- Hampshire  Congress  to 
Colonel  Stark,  requesting  him  to  repair  to 
Exeter  without  loss  of  time,  -  -  -  868 
31,  Letter  from  the  Portsmouth,  New-Hampshire, 
Committee,  to  the  Provincial  Congress,  sug- 
gesting measures  of  defence  against  an  expect- 
ed attempt  to  burn  the  Town  by  a  British  Ship- 

of-War,  868 

31,  Letter  from  Meshech  Weare  to  the  New- Hamp- 
shire Congress.  Recommending  measures  of 
defence  on  the  Sea-Coast,  -  -  -  -  869 
31,  Captain  Winborn  Adams  to  the  New- Hampshire 
Congress.  Waits  for  the  direction  of  the  Con- 
gress before  he  complies  with  a  request  from 
Portsmouth,  to  go  there  and  assist  in  destroy- 
ing the  Men-of-War  in  the  Harbour,  -  869 
31,  Letter  to  the  New-Hampshire  Congress,  from 
Charles  Johnston,  Clerk  to  the  Committee 
of  the  Northern  Regiment,  in  the  County  of 
Grafton.  Preparations  in  Canada  for  invading 
the  Provinces.  Four  or  five  hundred  Indians 
collected,  and  Governour  Carleton  enlisting 
Men  in  Canada.  The  Inhabitants  are  in  want 
of  Ammunition,  Arms,  and  assistance,  -  -  869 
June  1,  Letter  from  London  to  a  Gentleman  in  Water- 
town.  The  Ministry  are  in  great  consterna- 
tion since  the  intelligence  by  Captain  Derby. 
They  wait  for  General  Gage's  Despatches,  to 
determine  what  they  will  do,  ...  870 
1,  Letter  from  London  to  a  Gentleman  in  New- 
York.  State  of  publick  opinion  in  England 
on  the  arrival  of  the  news  of  the  defeat  and 
retreat  of  the  Detachments  under  Lord  Percy 
and  Colonel  Smith,  -----  870 
1,  Letter  from  W.  Jones,  at  Savannah,  to  the  Com- 
mittee of  Donations,  Boston.  The  unhappy 
divisions  in  Georgia  have  hitherto  prevented 
their  contributing  to  the  support  of  the  Poor 


1775. 


of  Boston,  b*ut  they  now  send  sixty-three  bar- 
rels of  Rice,  and  one  hundred  and  twenty-two 
Pounds  sterling,  in  Specie,  and  expect  soon  to 
send  another  token  of  their  regard, 
June  1,  Letter  from  the  Independent  Company  of  Albe- 
marle, Virginia,  to  the  Williamsburgh  Volun- 
teers.    The  landing  any  armed  force  in  the 
Colony  will  justify  opposition,    -       -  - 
1,  Letter  from  Easton,  Pennsylvania,  to  Richard 
Henry  Lee.    Suggesting  offers  to  be  made  by 
the  Continental  Congress  to  the  King,  for  a 
reconciliation,  ------ 

1,  Letter  from  the  New- York  Congress  to  their 
Delegates  in  the  Continental  Congress,  trans- 
mitting important  intelligence  just  received 
from  Albany,  Watertown,  and  Hartford.  — 
They  have  no  Money  nor  Powder,  and  can- 
not have  Money  until  they  receive  the  direc- 
tions of  the  Congress,  who  ought  to  assign  the 
several  quotas  of  Men  and  Money  to  each  of 
the  Colonies,  ------ 

1,  Memorial  of  John  Sparding,  living  at  Ticonde- 
roga Landing,  to  the  New-York  Congress,  - 
1,  Letter  from  the  New-York  Congress  to  the  Sub- 
Committee  of  the  City  and  County  of  Albany. 
New- York  being  unable  to  garrison  Ticonde- 
roga, Crown  Point,  or  Fort  George,  applied 
to  the  Eastern  Colonies  for  assistance:  and 
Connecticut  has  sent  one  thousand  Men  there, 
under  Colonel  Hinman.  There  is  no  Powder 
in  New-York,  - 
1,  Letter  from  the  Camp,  near  Boston,  to  a  Gentle- 
man in  New- York.  Account  of  the  attack 
on  the  Provincials  by  the  King's  Troops  at 
Noddle- Island  and  Hog- Island,  -  -  - 
Declaration  of  Alexander  Walker,  one  of  the 
signers  of  the  Address  to  Governour  Hutchin- 


1, 

2, 


An  Address  to  the  Americans.  They  are  called 
upon  by  the  providence  of  God  to  fight  for 
their  Liberties,  ------ 

Address  of  the  Pastors  of  the  Congregational 
Churches  of  Massachusetts  to  the  Provincial 
Congress,         -  - 

Resolution  of  the  Convention  of  Congregational 
Ministers,  offering  their  services  to  officiate  as 
Chaplains  to  the  Army,      -       -       -  - 

Letter  from  the  Selectmen  of  Lunenburgh  to  the 
Massachusetts  Congress,  requesting  to  be  ex- 
cused from  furnishing  two  half  barrels  of  Pow- 
der from  their  Town  stock  for  the  Army,  as  it 
will  leave  them  but  thirty  pounds  for  their 
own  defence,  ------ 

Petition  of  William  Tallman  and  others,  to  the 
Massachusetts  Congress,  requesting  the  Ves- 
sels they  have  fitted  out  at  great  expense  for 
Whaling  Voyages,  may  be  permitted  to  pro- 
ceed to  sea, 

Letter  from  the  Massachusetts  Congress  to  Col. 
Benedict  Arnold,  highly  approving  the  ac- 
quisitions he  has  made  at  Ticonderoga,  Crown 
Point,  on  the  Lake,  &c. ;  they  regret  his  re- 
peated requests  to  send  some  one  to  succeed 
him  in  the  command,  and  request  him  to  con- 
tinue until  New- York  or  Connecticut  shall 
take  the  charge  of  maintaining  the  Posts, 

Letter  from  the  Massachusetts  Congress  to  the 
New-  Hampshire  Congress,  requesting  them  to 
unite  in  the  defence  and  security  of  Ticon- 
deroga and  Crown  Point,  - 

Letter  from  the  Massachusetts  Congress  to  the 
Assembly  of  Connecticut.  Maintaining  a  Post 
at  Ticonderoga  or  Crown  Point  is  of  the  ut- 
most importance.  New- York  does  not  intend 
to  dismantle  these  Posts  entirely,  but  only  to 
supply  from  them  such  Fortifications  as  may 
be  erected  at  the  south  end  of  Lake  George,  - 

Letter  from  Governour  Trumbull  to  the  Massa- 
chusetts Congress.  The  Provincial  Congress 
of  New- York  are  desirous  to  maintain  the  im- 
portant Posts  of  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point, 
and  Albany  will  afford  their  utmost  assistance 
for  securing  these  Posts  for  the  common  de- 
fence, ------- 

Petition  of  Joseph  Kelly,  of  Nottingham- West, 
to  the  New-Hampshire  Congress, 

Letter  from  the  President  of  the  Continental  Con- 
gress to  the  New-York  Congress,  enclosing 


871 


872 


872 


378 
873 


1269 

874 
875 
875 
875 
876 

876 
876 


1382 


-  876 


877 


877 
878 


LXXIX 

1775. 


CONTENTS. 


a  Resolution  of  May  31,  and*  requesting  their 
immediate  compliance  with  it,  so  far  as  respects 
the  furnishing  Batteaus,  Provisions,  Stores,  &c, 
at  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point, 
June  2,  An  Old  Man's  Company  formed  in  Reading, 
Pennsylvania.  It  consists  of  eighty  Germans, 
of  the  age  of  forty  and  upwards.     The  per- 
son who  led  them  at  their  first  assembling 
under  arms  is  ninety-seven  years  of  age, 
2,   List  of  the  Committees  for  the  several  Districts 
in  Tryon  County,  New- York,  - 
Letter  from  the  Committee  for  Tryon  County  to 
Colonel  Guy  Johnson.     The  People  have 
quietly  assembled,  signed  the  General  Asso- 
ciation, and  appointed  a  Committee.   It  is  their 
determination  to  do  what  they  can  to  save  their 
Country,  and  will,  if  called  upon,  be  the  fore- 
most to  take  the  field.     They  request  him  to 
dissuade  the  Indians  from  interfering  in  the 
dispute  between  the  Mother  Country  and  the 
Colonies,  ------- 

2,  Letter  to  John  Holt,  approving  of  his  publishing 
and  putting  his  name  on  the  Address  against 
unlawful  Standing  Armies,  - 
No  Standing  Army  in  the  British  Colonies:  or  an 
Address  to  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Colony  of 
New- York,  against  unlawful  Standing  Armies, 
2,  Letter  of  Robert  and  John  Murray  to  the  New- 
York  Congress,  

2,  Memorial  of  Robert  and  John  Murray  to  the 
New- York  Congress,  - 
Memorial  of  Robert  and  John  Murray,  Mer- 
chants of  the  City  of  New- York,  to  the  Con- 
tinental Congress,     -       -       -       -  - 

Papers  accompanying  the  Memorial, 
2,    Letter  from  John  Lamb  to  the  New- York  Con- 
gress, offering  his  services  in  the  Artillery 
Department,  ..... 

2,   Letter  from  Ethan  Allen,  at  Crown  Point,  to  the 
New-York  Congress.     Importance  of  the 
Posts  on  Lake  Champlain,  which  have  been 
taken,  and  the  necessity  of  retaining  them. 
With  fifteen  hundred  Men  he  can  take  Mon- 
treal, and  it  would  be  no  difficult  matter  to  take 
duebeck ;  this  object  should  be  accomplished, 
though  it  required  ten  thousand  Men  to  do  it. 
If  it  is  thought  premature  to  push  an  Army 
into  Canada,  he  proposes  to  make  a  stand  at 
Isle-au-Noix,  ------ 

2,   Address  of  the  New- York  Provincial  Congress 
to  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Province  of  duebeck, 
2,    Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Albany  to  the  Pro- 
vincial Congress  of  New- York,  requesting 
them  to  furnish  Provisions,  except  Flour,  for 
the  thousand  Men  sent  by  Governour  Trum- 
bull to  Ticonderoga.   They  desire  full  instruc- 
tions as  to  what  is  expected  of  them,  and  also 
what  disposition  to  make  of  the  Prisoners  taken 
at  St.  John's,     -       -  • 
Letter  from  General  Greerre  to  Jacob  Greene,  - 
Petition  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Georgetown,  on 
Kennebeck  River,  to  the  Massachusetts  Con- 
gress, for  one  or  two  barrels  or  half-barrels  of 
Powder,  as  they  have  but  thirty  pounds,  and 
are  in  daily  expectation  of  being  plundered  by 
the  British  armed  vessels,    -  - 
Letter  from  Colonel  Gridley  to  the  Massachusetts 
Committee  of  Safety,  .... 

2,  Letter  from  Nathaniel  Shaw,  at  New- London,  to 
the  New-Hampshire  Congress.  Has  ordered 
a  large  quantity  of  Powder,  but,  from  its  not  ar- 
riving, fears  the  Cruisers  in  the  British  Chan- 
nel, or  the  negotiations  between  Great  Britain 
and  the  States  of  Holland,  have  prevented  it, 
2,  Letter  from  the  New-Hampshire  Congress  to 
their  Delegates  in  the  Continental  Congress. 
Circumstances  appear  daily  more  and  more 
alarming:  the  Men-of- War  stop  all  Provision 
Vessels  coining  to  Portsmouth:  ArmsandGun- 
povvder  must  be  procured,  if  possible,  in  the 
Southern  Governments;  it  is  indispensable  that 
some  plan  be  adopted  by  the  Continental  Con- 
gress for  a  Paper  Currency,  or  some  other  to 
meet  the  present  urgent  necessity,  -  '  - 
2,  Letter  from  the  New-Hampshire  Congress  to  the 
Continental  Congress,  remonstrating  against 
the  abandonment  of  Ticonderoga  and  Crown 
Point,  and  removing  the  Cannon  to  the  south 
end  of  Lake  George,  .... 


2, 
2, 


2, 


1271 

878 
878 


879 

880 

881 
887 
887 


888 
890 


-  891 


891 

893 


1276 
894 


894 
894 


894 


895 


8Di 


1775. 
June  2, 


LXXX 

Letter  from  the  New-Hampshire  Congress  to 
the  New- York  Congress.  The  Fortress  of 
Ticonderoga  is  important  to  the  welfare  of  all 
the  Northern  Colonies,  and  particularly  so  to 
New-Hampshire,  where  the  thoughts  of  its 
demolition  casts  a  damp  on  the  spirits  of  the 
People  ;  they  trust  the  order  for  its  abandon- 
ment will  be  reconsidered  by  the  Continental 
Congress,  but  are  determined  to  abide  by  the 
determination  of  that  body,         ...  895 

2,  Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Portsmouth,  New- 

Hampshire,  to  the  Provincial  Congress.  Re- 
quest the  Congress  will  regulate  all  future 
movements  of  any  bodies  of  armed  men  from 
one  Town  to  another,         ....  896 

3,  Provincial  Congress  of  South-Carolina  earnestly 

recommend  to  their  Constituents  the  promotion 

of  union  and  harmony,       ...       -  896 

3,  Association  unanimously  agreed  to  in  the  Provin-  ; 

cial  Congress  of  South-Carolina,         -       -  897 

3,  Norfolk,  Virginia,  Committee.  Order  the  imme- 
diate return  of  the  Ship  Molly,  Captain  Mitoh- 
eson,  lately  arrived  from  Great  Britain,  laden 
with  a  large  quantity  of  Goods,  in  violation  of 
the  Association,         -       -       -       -       -  897 

3,  Letter  from  the  New- York  Delegates  in  the  Con- 
tinental Congress  to  the  Provincial  Congress. 
They  are  much  pleased  with  the  New- York 
plan  for  raising  Money,  but  doubt  of  its  being 
adopted  by  the  Continental  Congress.  As  Gen- 
eral Officers  will,  in  all  probability,  be  appoint- 
ed soon,  they  wish  to  know  who  would  be  most 
acceptable  to  them,  to  take  command  of  the 
Continental  Army  in  the  Province,  which  is 
to  be  maintained  at  the  general  charge,        -  898 

3,  Letter  from  the  New- York  Congress  to  the  In- 
habitants of  Tryon  County,  urging  them,  for 
their  own  reputations'  sake,  the  love  of  their 
Country,  their  regard  for  the  welfare  of  the 
whole  Continent,  and  of  millions  yet  unborn, 
not  to  separate  from  their  brethren  upon  this 
momentous  occasion,  but  to  unite  with  the  rest 
of  the  Colony,  and  send  Deputies  to  the  Pro- 
vincial Congress.  Perhaps  this  will  be  the 
last  application,  as  the  time  has  almost  come 
when  we  should  be  able  to  know  our  ene- 
mies,  1274 

3,  Letter  from  the  Congress  of  New- York  to  Colo- 
nel Guy  Johnson.  They  will  discountenance 
every  attempt  against  his  person  and  property, 
and  expect  he  will  not  counteract  any  measures 
recommended  by  the  Continental  or  Provin- 
cial Congress,  or  by  the  Committees  formed, 
or  to  be  formed.  The  dispute  has  become  so 
serious  that  they  cannot  silently  suffer  their 
plan  to  be  frustrated  by  their  own  Countrymen,  1275 

3,  New- York  Committee.  Mr.  George  Folliot  de- 
clines taking  his  seat  in  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress, and  Isaac  Sears  is  nominated  in  his 
place,  898 

3,  Proclamation  by  Lieutenant-Governour  Colden, 
fqrther  proroguing  the  Meeting  of  the  Assem- 
bly to  the  5th  of  July  next,        ...  899 

2,  Letter  from  James  Rivington  to  the  New- York 

Congress,  899 

Letter  from  the  New- York  Committee  to  the 
Continental  Congress, referring  to  their  decision 
in  the  case  of  James  Rivington,  -  899 

3,  Post-Master  and  Post-Rider  appointed  by  the 

Committee  of  Providence,  Rhode- Island,  to  be 
under  their  direction  until  the  Assembly  of  the 
Colony,  or  the  Continental  Congress,  shall 
make  other  regulations  and  appointments,      -  900 

3,  Letter  from  the  Massachusetts  Congress  to  Henry 
Gardner,  requiring  him  to  proceed  immediate- 
ly to  sign  Bills  for  the  payment  of  the  Troops, 
to  prevent  their  returning  home,  ...  900 

3,    Letter  from  the  Committee  of  the  Town  of  Arun- 
del, in  Massachusetts,  to  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress.    They  have  seized  a  Vessel  from  Bos- 
ton, with  a  number  of  the  King's  Arms  on 
board,  and  send  the  persons  and  papers  seized, 
to  be  disposed  of  by  the  Congress,       -       -  900 
Deposition  of  Samuel  Smith,  -       -       -       -    90 1 
Orders  from   William    Sheriff,  dated  Boston, 
May  30,  to  Josiah  Jones,  to  proceed  to  Wind- 
sor, in  Nova-Scotia,  -       -       -       -       -  901 
Letter  from  William  Sheriff,  dated  Boston,  May 
30,  to  Day  &  Scott,  at  Windsor,  Nova-Scotia,  901 


LXXXI 

1775. 


CONTENTS. 


Letter  from  William  Sheriff,  dated  Boston,  May 
29,  to  Thomas  Williams,  Storekeeper  of  Ord- 
nance at  Annapolis  Royal,  .... 
J  a  itc  3,  Letter  from  Loammi  Baldwin  to  the  Massachu- 
setts Congress,  - 

3,  Letter  from  the  New-Hampshire  Congress  to  the 

Massachusetts  Congress.  Having  undoubted 
intelligence  of  the  attempts  of  the  British  Min- 
istry to  engage  the  Canadians  and  Indians  in 
their  interest,  they  have  raised  and  sent  three 
Companies  for  the  protection  of  the  frontier 
settlements,  ...... 

4,  Letter  from  a  Gentleman  in  London  to  his  friend 

in  Philadelphia.  The  duplicity  of  New- York 
will  ever  render  them  suspected.  The  many 
assurances  given  to  the  Ministry  by  their  lead- 
ers, justify  a  suspicion,  which  the  conduct  of 
some  of  their  Merchants  confirms,  that  they 
would  adopt  any  means  to  break  through  the 
Association,  ...... 

4,  Meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Observation  for 
Anne  Arundel  County,  Maryland, 

4.  Letter  from  Colonel  Philip  Schuyler  to  the  New- 
York  Congress.  He  has  been  appointed  by 
the  Continental  Congress  to  settle  the  Accounts 
of  the  People  employed  in  the  reduction  of 
Ticonderoga,  -       -       -  - 

4,  Letter  from  Ethan  Allen,  at  present  the  principal 
commander  of  the  Army  at  Ticonderoga,  to 
our  worthy  and  respectable  countrymen  and 
friends,  the  French  People  of  Canada,  - 

4,  Letter  from  Elbridge  Gerry  to  the  Massachu- 
setts Delegates  in  the  Continental  Congress. 
Government  is  so  essential  that  it  cannot  be  too 
soon  adopted.  Every  day's  delay  will  make 
the  task  more  arduous.  A  regular  General  is 
wanted  to  assist  in  disciplining  the  Army;  the 
pride  of  the  People  would  prevent  their  being 
led  by  any  General  not  American,  yet  Gene- 
ral Lee  could  be  of  great  service.  The  New- 
England  Generals  would  acquiesce  in  the  ap- 
pointment of  Colonel  Washington  as  Gene- 
ralissimo, ...... 

4,  Letter  from  General  Ward  and  the  Chairmen  of 
the  Committees  of  Safety  and  Supplies,  to  the 
Continental  Congress.  The  Army  at  Cam- 
bridge is  so  entirely  destitute  of  Powder  that 
they  are  in  danger  of  failing  a  prey  to  their 
enemies  for  want  of  the  means  of  defence; 
they  earnestly  beseech  that  whatever  can  be 
spared  in  the  other  Colonies  may  be  sent  for 
their  relief,  ...... 

4,  Letter  from  Mrs.  Bovvdoin  to  the  Massachusetts 

Congress,  enclosing  Depositions  relating  to  the 
plundering  and  abuse  of  the  Inhabitants  of  the 
Elizabeth  Islands,  by  Captain  Lindsey,  of  the 
Falcon  Sloop-of-War,  .... 

Deposition  of  Elisha  Nye,  .... 

Deposition  of  John  Tucker,  Jeremiah  Robinson, 
Elisha  Robinson  and  Ebenezer  Meigs,  - 

Statement  of  Daniel  Eyry,  .... 

5,  Political   Observations   on   the    Rebellion  in 

America.    Their  wealth  is  the  source  of  their 
Rebellion,  and  the  Ministry  have  wisely  begun 
to  reduce  them  to  reason  by  lessening  it.  If 
they  persist  in  their  Rebellion,  all  the  calami- 
ties that  arise  from  it  will,  in  the  sight  of  God 
and  man,  lie  at  their  door,  - 
5,   Association  entered  into  at  Savannah,  in  Georgia 
5,    Philadelphia  Committee,  prohibit  the  landing  or 
selling  of  Goods  without  a  certificate  from  the 
Committee  whence  they  are  sent,  that  they  were 
imported  within  the  rules  of  the  Congress, 
5,    Letter  to  General  Burgoyne,  from  a  Pennsyl- 
vanian, 

5,  Letter  from  William  Duer  to  the  New- York 
Congress,  representing  the  Disturbances  and 
Riots  in  the  New- Hampshire  Grants,  - 

5,  Letter  from  Colonel  Guy  Johnson  to  the  Com- 
mittee for  Tryon  County,  New- York,  - 

5,  Letter  from  Hartford  to  a  Gentleman  in  New- 
York.  Robert  Temple,  a  high-flying  Tory, 
taken  at  Plymouth,  and  sent  to  Cambridge, 
with  his  papers,  - 

5,  Letter  from  James  Curgenven  to  Governour 
Trumbull,  informing  him  of  his  appointment 
of  Collector  of  the  Customs  for  the  Port  of 
New-Haven,  enclosing  him  a  copy  of  the 
Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii. 


902 
902 


902 


903 
903 

904 
904 


906 


906 


906 
907 

908 
909 


909 
1551 


909 
910 

910 
911 

912 


1775. 

June  5, 
5, 
5, 

6, 
6, 


6, 


6, 


6, 


LXXXI  I 

Oath  of  Office  he  had  taken  before  the  Board 
of  Customs,  and  requesting  to  be  informed  if 
he  will  administer  to  him  the  usual  Oath  taken 
by  Officers  of  the  Crown,  ...  912 

Petition  of  Soldiers  in  Captain  Drury's  Company 
to  the  Massachusetts  Congress,    -       -       -  914 

Petition  of  the  Captains  in  Colonel  Scamrnons's 
Regiment  to  the  Massachusetts  Congress,     -  914 

Town  Meeting  in  Conway,  New-Hampshire. — 
Committee  appointed,  and  empowered  to  in- 
quire into  the  conduct  of  obnoxious  persons, 
and  refugees  from  other  Towns,  -       -       -  914 

Address  to  the  Minister.    His  (Lord  North's) 

policy  has  driven  the  Americans  to  resistance,  915 

Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Intelligence  for 
Charlestown, South-Carolina,  to  the  New- York 
Congress.  The  apprehension  of  a  defection  in 
New- York  gave  inexpressible  anxiety  to  all 
America,  and  at  the  same  time  encouraged  the 
Ministry  to  proceed  in  all  their  measures;  they 
are  happy  to  find  this  apprehension  was  unjustly 
formed,  1323 

Committee  appointed  to  receive  the  signatures  of 
the  Inhabitants  of  Charlestown  to  the  Asso- 
ciation adopted  by  the  Provincial  Congress  of 
South-Carolina,  on  the  3d  instant,         -       -  915 

Committee  of  Chester  County,  Pennsylvania. 
Proceedings  on  the  charge  against  William 
Moore,  that  he  is  inimical  to  the  Liberties  of 
America,         -       -       -       -  -'-916 

Letter  from  the  New- York  Congress  to  Govern- 
our Trumbull.  The  supply  of  Powder  in  the 
Colony  is  so  insufficient  that  they  cannot  con- 
tribute in  the  least  towards  supplying  Ticonde- 
roga and  Crown  Point  with  it,    -       -       -  916 

Letter  from  Pierpont  Edwards  to  the  New- York 
Congress.  Request  the  fullest  information  of 
the  measures  they  have  adopted,  that  he  may 
communicate  them  to  the  Assembly  of  Con- 
necticut,  -       -       -       -       -       -  -917 

Letter  from  Jacobus  Louw  to  the  Ulster  County, 
New- York,  Committee,  making  concessions 
for  his  opposition  to  the  Resolves  of  the  Con- 
tinental Congress,     -       -       -       -       -  917 

Meeting  of  the  Committee  for  the  Town  of  King- 
ston, in  Ulster  County,  New- York.  Mr.  Louw 
having  made  reasonable  satisfaction,  is  recom- 
mended as  a  friend  to  the  rights  and  liberties  of 
British  America,       -       -       -       -       -    9 1 7 

Letter  from  Captain  Henry  B.  Livingston  to  the 
New- York  Congress,        -       -       -       -  918 

Meeting  of  Delegates  from  the  several  Towns  in 
the  County  of  Cumberland,  New- York.  They 
will  resist  and  oppose  the  acts  of  Parliament 
for  raising  a  Revenue  in  America,  and  adopt 
the  Association  entered  into  at  New- York. 
They  have  many  brave  Soldiers,  but  nothing 
to  fight  with,  and  request  a  supply  from  the 
Congress,  918 

Letter  from  James  Easton,  at  Crown  Point,  to  the 
Massachusetts  Congress,    -       -       -       -  919 

Concession  of  Silvanus  Whitney  to  the  Commit- 
tee of  Observation  for  Stamford,  Connecticut,  920 

Narrative  of  the  destruction  of  the  Tea,  delivered 
up  by  Silvanus  Whitney,    -  920 

Exchange  of  Prisoners  at  Charlestown,   -       -  92U 

Declaration  by  John  Prentice,  of  his  reasons  for 
signing  the  Address  to  Governour  Hutchinson,  921 

Subscription  of  One  Hundred  Pounds,  by  the 
Constitutional  Society,  London,  for  the  relief  of 
the  Widows  and  Orphans  of  those  who  were 
inhumanly  murdered  by  the  King's  Troops  at 
Lexington  and  Concord,  in  April  last,  -       -  921 

The  Association  of  the  Provincial  Congress  of 
South-Carolina,  signed  universally  by  the  In- 
habitants of  Charlestown ;  two  persons  only 
treated  it  with  contempt,      ....  922 

Petition  of  Michael  Hubart  to  the  Committee  of 
Correspondence  at  Charlestown,  complaining 
of  his  treatment  by  Laughlin  Martin  and  John 
~Dea\y,     -       -  922 

Account  of  the  punishment  of  Martin  and  Dea- 
ly,(Note,)  923 

Letter  from  North-Carolina  to  a  Gentleman  in 

-  New- York.  The  Governour  has  sent  his 
family  to  New- York,  and  has  taken  up  his 
residence  in  Fort  Johnston,  at  the  mouth  of 
Cape-Fear  River,      - -J  1 '-  '     ...  9^4 


LXXXI11 


CONTENTS. 


LXXXIV 


1775. 
June  7, 


7,  L< 


Meeting  of  the  Go  vernour  and  Committee  of  War 
for  Connecticut.  Fifty  barrels  of  Powder  or- 
dered to  be  sent  to  the  American  Army  before 

Boston,  1037 

Meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Worcester  County, 
Maryland.  Acknowledge  their  allegiance  to  the 
King,  an  affection  for  his  person,  and  zeal  for 
the  support  of  his  crown  and  dignity;  will  do 
all  in  their  power  to  oppose  the  detested  Min- 
isterial plan  for  enslaving  their  Country,  and 
will  cheerfully  contribute  to  assist  their  suffer- 
ing brethren  in  Boston,      ....  924 

Dixon  Quinton  and  Thomas  Lambden  declared 
enemies  of  their  Country,  by  the  Worcester, 
Maryland,  Committee,       ....  925 

Delaware  Assembly  declare  they  will  be  charge- 
able with  their  share  of  the  expense  incurred 
in  the  defence  of  the  lives  and  liberties  of  the 
People  of  the  Twelve  United  Colonies,  and  of 
the  Parish  of  St.  John's,  in  Georgia,    -       -  925 
Letter  from  General  Charles  Lee  to  General 

Burgoyne,        -  925 
Philadelphia  Committee  examine  the  complaint 
against  Captain  Robert  Torrans,  for  having 
imported  and  sold  some  Irish  Linens  about  the 
first  of  May  last,  and  resolve  that  he  has  wil- 
fully and  knowingly  violated  the  Continental 
Association,      ......  928 

Letter  from  the  New- York  Congress  to  their 
Delegates  in  the  Continental  Congress,  enclos- 
ing the  Report  of  a  Committee  appointed  on 
erecting  Fortifications  at  King's  Bridge.  The 
ground  is  so  irregular  on  the  Northern  part 
of  Manhattan  Island  that  no  Fortifications  can 
be  constructed  there  so  as  to  be  tenable  for  any 
length  of  time.     No  part  of  the  Island  is 
adapted  for  a  Magazine  or  place  of  Arms,  with 
an  enemy  superiour  in  the  field,  and  with  the 
command  of  both  Rivers,  -  1278 
Letter  from  the  New- York  Congress  to  the  Com- 
mittee of  Albany.    Highly  approve  of  their 
zeal  and  activity  in  raising  Troops,  but  request 
them  to  proceed  no  further  without  orders;  the 
two  Companies  raised  may  be  sent  to  Ticon- 
deroga.     The  Prisoners  taken  at  St.  John's 
should  remain  at  liberty,  and  be  supported  out 
of  the  Colony  Provisions,  -       -       -       -  1280 

Letter  from  the  New- York  Congress  to  their 
Delegates  in  the  Continental  Congress ;  calling 
their  attention  to  the  necessity  of  immediately 
providing  Money,  without  which  it  will  be  im- 
possible to  comply  with  their  further  requests. 
Their  attention  is  particularly  called  to  the 
situation  of  New-York,  with  respect  to  the 
Indians  on  their  Northern  Frontiers,  whom 
policy  will  teach  the  British  Ministry  to  set 
upon  them,  that  they  maybe  driven  for  protec- 
tion to  embrace  their  terms  of  slavery;  this 
evil  may  be  remedied  by  the  appointment  of  a 
Continental  Superintendent  of  Indian  affairs, 
instead  of  leaving  the  management  of  Indian 
affairs  in  the  hands  of  Crown  Officers.  The 
appointment  of  a  General  is  left  to  the  wisdom 
of  the  Continental  Congress,       -       -       -  1281 
Letter  from  the  New- York  Congress  to  their 
Delegates  in  the  Continental  Congress,  re- 
commending Colonel    Philip  Schuyler  and 
Captain  Richard  Montgomery  to  the  offices 
of  Major  and  Brigadier-General,         -       -  1282 
tter  from  the  New- York  Congress  to  the  Mas- 
sachusetts Committee  of  Safety.     They  are 
fully  aware  of  the  dangerous  consequences 
that  await  them,  either  from  supineness,  or  a 
confidence  in  the  honour  of  the  avowed  instru- 
ments of  Ministerial  vengeance,  ...  928 
Petition  of  Donald  McLeod,  late  from  'Scotland, 
to  the  New- York  Committee,  asking  for  a 
Commission,     ------  929 

Letter  from  Benjamin  Lindsay  to  the  New- York 
Committee,  asking  permission  to  take  on  board 
a  parcel  of  Flour  for  the  Poor  of  Boston,  -  929 
Application  of  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town  of 
Lancaster  to  the  Massachusetts  Congress,  to 
know  what  shall  be  done  with  the  Estates  of 
those  who  have  gone  to  General  Gage,  -  930 
Letter  from  Committee  of  Belfast.  &o«,  to  the  Mas- 
sachusetts Congress,  representing  the  defence- 
less condition  of  the  Towns  they  represent,  -  930 


June  7,  Petition  of  Davis  and  Coverly  to  the  Massachu- 
setts Congress,  -       -       -       -       -       -  931 

8,  Hanover,  Virginia,  Volunteers,  declare  they  will 
risk  their  lives  to  aid  and  assist  in  protecting 
the  Liberties  of  their  Country,  and  approve  of 
the  reprisals  on  the  King's  property  for  the 
Powder  taken  by  Lord  Dunmore,  -  931 

8,  Three  Battalions  of  the  City  and  Liberties  of 
Philadelphia,  the  Artillery  Company,  a  Troop 
of  Light-Horse,  several  Companies  of  Light- 
Infantry,  Rangers,  and  Riflemen,  in  all  above 
two  thousand  Men,  reviewed  by  the  Members 
of  the  Continental  Congress,       -       -       -  931 

8,  Letter  from  Abraham  Clark,  of  Elizabethtown, 
New-Jersey,  to  the  New- York  Congress. 
Forward  six  quarter  casks  and  two  half  bar- 
rels of  Gunpowder,  to  be  sent  on  to  the  Camp 
near  Boston,     -       -       -       -       -  -931 

8,  Letter  from  the  New- York  Congress  to  the  Con- 
tinental Congress,  enclosing  a  Letter  from 
General  Ward,  Joseph  Warren,  and  Moses 
Gill,  dated  Camp,  June  4,  1775,  -       -       -  931 

4,  Letter  to  the  Provincial  Congress  of  New- York, 
from  General  Ward,  Dr.  Warren  President 
of  the  Committee  of  Safety,  and  Moses  Gill 
Chairman  of  the  Committee  of  Supplies,  of 
Massachusetts,  informing  them  of  their  dis- 
tressed condition  for  want  of  Powder,  and 
urging  them  in  the  strongest  terms  to  assist 
them  with  a  supply,  932 

8,  Petition  of  Donald  McLeod,  late  from  Scotland : 
can  raise  a  Company  of  Scottish  Highland- 
ers, to  enter  the  service  of  the  Colonies,  and 
requests  an  answer  to  his  application  for  a 
Commission,     ......  932 

8,  New- York  Committee.  Isaac  Sears  elected  a 
Deputy  to  the  Provincial  Congress,  in  place  of 
George  Folliot.  Committee  appointed  to  ex- 
amine the  cargo  of  any  Vessel  which  arrives, 
suspected  of  having  on  board  Goods  not  ad- 
missible, -------  933 

8,  Meeting  of  Freeholders  of  Brookhaven,  in  Suf- 
folk County,  New- York,  choose  a  Committee 
of  Observation,         -----  033 

8,  Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Cumberland  Coun- 
ty, New- York,  to  the  Provincial  Congress. 
Will  support  all  the  American  measures  in 
opposition  to  the  arbitrary,  tyrannick,  and  san- 
guinary measures  of  the  British  Parliament,  934 

8,  Petition  of  the  Senior  Class  of  Rhode- Island 

College  to  the  President,    -       -       -       -  935 

9,  Answer  of  the  President  to  the  Petition  of  the 

Senior  Class,    ------  93(5 

8,   Letter  from  Governour  Trumbull  to  the  Massa- 
chusetts Congress,     -----  936 

8,  Letter  from  the  Massachusetts  Congress  to  Cap- 
tain Solomon  Uhhaunnauwaunmut,  Chief  Sa- 
chem of  the  Moheakonnuck  Tribe  of  Indians, 

at  Stockbridge,  937 

8,    Letter  from  the  Portsmouth,  New-Hampshire, 

Committee,  to  the  Provincial  Congress,        -  937 

8,  Committee  appointed  by  the  New-Hampshire 

Congress  to  demand  of  George  Jaffrey,  Trea- 
surer of  the  Colony,  the  Money  in  his  hands,  937 

9,  The  Provincial  Congress  of  South-Carolina  have 

determined  to  raise  two  Regiments  of  Foot 
and  one  of  Horse  immediately,  and  to  put  the 
Militia  on  a  respectable  footing,  ...  93S 
9  Volunteer  Company  of  Lancaster  County,  Vir- 
ginia. Thank  Captain  Patrick  Henry  for  his 
spirited  conduct  in  the  late  expedition,  and  will 
defend  him  and  the  Delegates,  and  all  other 
friends  to  America,  whom  the  abandoned  tools 
of  Administration  may  dare  to  attack,  -  -  938 
9,    Letter  from  the  New- York  Congress  to  the 

Commander-in-Chief,  at  Ticonderoga,  -       -  1288 
9,   Letter  from  the  New-  York  Congress  to  the  Com- 
missioners at  Albany,  appointed  to  superintend 
the  removal  of  the  Stores  from  Ticonderoga,  -  U8S 
9,    Letter  from  William  Williams,  Benjamin  Waite, 
and  Joab  Hoisington,  to  the  New- York  Con- 
gress, requesting  to  be  appointed  Field-Offi- 
cers,        -  938 
9,    Letter  from  Ethan  Allen  to  the  Massachusetts 
Congress.    Two  or  three  thousand  Men,  con- 
ducted by  intrepid  commanders,  would  at  this 
juncture  make  a  conquest  of  Canada.  Such 
a  plan  would  make  a  diversion  in  favour  of  the 


I.XXXV 

1775. 


CONTENTS. 


LXXXVI 


939 


940 


1310 


Massachusetts-Bay,  who  have  been  too  much 
burdened  with  a  calamity  that  should  be  more 
general,  ------- 

June  9,  Proclamation  by  General  Guy  Carleton,  Go- 
vemour  of  the  Province  of  Quebeck.  Rebels 
from  the  neighbouring  Colonies,  having  made 
incursions  into  the  Province,  making  prisoners 
of  a  number  of  His  Majesty's  Troops,  and  are 
at  present  invading  the  Province  in  a  traitor- 
ous manner,  it  is  necessary  to  suspend  the 
ordinary  course  of  civil  law,  and  martial  law 
will  henceforth  be  executed  throughout  the 
Province,  ------ 

9,   Letter  from  the  Reverend  Samuel  Kirkland,  Mis- 
sionary among  the  Oneida  Indians,  to  the  Com- 
mittee of  Albany.  Colonel  Johnson  has  orders 
from  Government  to  remove  the  dissenting 
Missionaries  from  the  Six  Nations,  till  the 
difficulties  between  Great  Britain  and  the  Co- 
lonies are  settled :  he  has  forbid  Mr.  Kirkland 
to  speak  one  word  to  the  Indians,  and  threat- 
ened him  with  imprisonment  if  he  transgresses, 
because  he  translated  the  proceedings  of  the 
Continental  Congress  for  the  Indians,  at  their 
request,  ------- 

9,  Letter  from  Governour  Trumbull  to  the  Conti- 
nental Congress.  Has  made  provision  for 
the  defence  of  Ticonderog* ;  Col.  Hinman  is 
appointed  to  the  command  of  the  Troops  there, 
consisting  of  one  thousand  Men  from  Connec- 
ticut, well  armed,  and  furnished  with  one  pound 
of  Powder  and  three  pounds  of  Ball  to  each 
man,       -------  940 

9,  Letter  from  Abiathar  Angell  to  the  Massachu- 

setts Congress,  -       -       -       -       -  -941 

Petition  and  Remonstrance  of  Abiathar  Angell, 
of  Lanesborough,  in  the  County  of  Berkshire, 
to  the  Massachusetts  Congress,    -       -       -  941 
9,   Letter  from  John  Lane,  at  Fort  Pownall,  to  the 

Massachusetts  Congress,     -       -       -       -  942 

Journal  of  John  Lane,  from  Watertown  to  Pe- 
nobscot, to  treat  with  the  Eastern  Indians,      -  942 
9,   Letter  from  Elisha  Hewes,  dated  at  Penobscot 

River,  to  the  Massachusetts  Congress,  -       -  943 

9,  Letter  from  Joseph  Hawley  to  Joseph  Warren. 

Urges  reasons  why  the  Posts  on  Lake  Cham- 
plain  should  not  be  abandoned,  but  should  be 
maintained  at  all  events,      ....  944 

10,  Account  of  what  passed  on  the  19th  of  April  last, 

between  a  Detachment  of  the  King's  Troops, 
in  the  Province  of  Massachusetts- Bay,  and 
several  parties  of  the  Rebel  Provincials,  pub- 
lished officially  in  the  London  Gazette,         -  945 

Return  by  General  Gage  of  the  Commissioned 
and  Non-Commissioned  Officers,  Rank  and 
File,  Killed,  Wounded,  Prisoners  and  Missing, 
on  the  19th  of  April,  1775,         -       -       -  946 
1 2,  Remarks  on  the  Gazette  account  of  the  Action 

of  the  19th  of  April,         -       -       -       -  947 

Strictures  on  the  Gazette  account  of  the  Action 
between  the  Provincials  and  the  Regulars,  near 
Boston,  948 

Address  to  the  People  of  England,  on  the  Ga- 
zette account  of  the  Attack  of  His  Majesty's 
Troops  on  the  Provincials  in  Massachusetts,  -  952 

10,  Letter  from  Falmouth,  in  England,  to  a  Gentle- 

man in  Philadelphia.  The  hostilities  com- 
menced in  America,  between  the  King's 
Troops  and  the  Provincials,  will  be  attend- 
ed with  fatal  consequences  to  both  parties,      -  953 

10,  Officers  of  the  First  and  Second  Regiments  of 
Infantry,  and  of  the  Regiment  of  Horse 
Rangers,  appointed  by  Provincial  Congress 
of  South-Carolina,     -----  953 

1 0,  Letter  from  John  Hancock,  President,  to  the  New- 
York  Congress,  enclosing  a  Resolution  re- 
questing them  to  purchase  and  forward  to  the 
Army  at  Boston,  with  the  utmost  expedition 
and  secrecy,  five  thousand  barrels  of  Flour,  -  954 

10,  Letter  to  the  New-York  Congress,  from  their 
Delegates  in  the  Continental  Congress.  The 
emission  of  Paper  Money  will  be  discussed 
on  the  12th.  Indian  affairs,  which  are  of  the 
highest  importance  to  New- York,  will  be  duly 
considered  by  the  Congress.  The  Indians  will 
not  be  disposed  to  engage  in  our  unhappy  quar- 
rel, unless  deceived  by  misrepresentations :  and 
this,  with  care  on  our  part,  can  be  prevented,  -  954 


1775. 

Jane  10,  Letter  from  President  Hancock  to  the  Massachu- 
setts Congress,  enclosing  a  Resolution  of  the 
Congress  advising  the  assumption  of  Civil 
Government  by  Massachusetts,  Gen.  Gage 
having  levied  War  against  His  Majesty's 
peaceable  Subjects  of  that  Colony,      -       -  955 

10,  Letter  from  Thomas  Cushing  to  Elbridge  Gerry,  955 

10,   Letter  from  Robert  Treat  Paine  to  Elbridge 

Gerry,  956 

10,  Letter  from  President  Hancock  to  the  New- 
Hampshire  Congress,  enclosing  Resolutions 
of  the  Congress  of  this  day,      -       -       -  956 

10,  Letter  from  the  New- York  Congress  to  their 
Delegates  in  the  Continental  Congress.  A 
Vessel,  suspected  of  having  on  board  Provi- 
sions for  the  British  Army  at  Boston,  has  been 
detained  to  get  the  opinion  of  the  Continental 
Congress  whether  she  should  be  permitted  to 
proceed,   -------  956 

10,  Letter  from  the  New- York  Congress  to  Govern- 
our Trumbull.  Have  procured  six  hundred 
and  fifty  pounds  of  Powder  from  New- Jersey 
for  Massachusetts,  which  will  be  forwarded 
immediately,      -       -       -       -       -  -957 

10,  Letter  from  Robert  Boyd  to  the  New- York  Con- 
gress, informing  them  he  can  make  Muskets, 
and  requesting  an  advance  of  one  hundred 
Pounds,  to  provide  the  necessary  Machinery,  957 

10,  Letter  from  the  Officers  at  Crown  Point  and  Ti- 
conderoga  to  the  Continental  Congress.  Re- 
commend Ethan  Allen,  Seth  Warner  and  Re- 
member Baker  for  appointments,  -       -  958 

10,  Letter  from  Elisha  Hewes,  at  Fort  Pownall,  to 

the  Massachusetts  Congress,       ...  958 

10,  Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Conway,  New- 

Hampshire,  to  Matthew  Thornton.  All  the 
young  men  are  enlisted  in  the  Army.  The 
old  men  are  not  able  to  carry  on  farming : 
they  are  in  want  of  Arms  and  Ammunition, 
and,  expecting  an  attack  from  the  Indians, 
apply  to  the  Provincial  Congress  for  assist- 
ance,      -------  958 

11,  Tryon  County,  New- York,  Committee,  appoint 

Delegates  to  the  Provincial  Congress,  -       -  959 

11,  Letter  from  the  Massachusetts  Congress  to  the 

Continental  Congress.  The  embarrassments 
in  executing  every  undertaking  are  so  many 
that  they  cannot  be  enumerated.  This  is 
chiefly  to  be  attributed  to  the  want  of  a  Civil 
Government :  on  which  the  immediate  advice 
of  the  Congress  is  requested,       ...  959 

12,  Letter  from  London  to  a  Gentleman  in  Virginia. 

Since  the  confirmation  of  the  news  brought 
by  Captain  Derby,  the  Americans  bear  the 
greatest  applause  here  of  any  people  in  the 
world,  960 

12,  Address  to  the  People  of  England,  on  the  Dis- 
turbances in  America,        -       -       -       -  961 

12,  Provincial  Congress  of  South-Carolina.  Resolve 
that  any  person  who  refuses  obedience  to  the 
authority  of  the  Congress  shall  be  advertised 
as  an  enemy  to  the  Liberties  of  America,  and 
an  object  of  the  resentment  of  the  Publick,    -  962 

12,  Some  Thoughts  on  the  Constitution  of  the  Bri- 
tish Empire  and  the  Controversy  between 
Great  Britain  and  the  American  Colonies,  -  962 

12,  Letter  from  the  New- York  Congress  to  the  Mer- 
chants of  Canada,      -----  1294 

12,  New- York  Committee.  Direct  the  removal  of 
some  Soldiers'  Wives  and  their  Children,  in- 
fected with  the  Small-Pox,  out  of  the  City,    -  966 

12,  Letter  from  the  Committees  of  the  Precincts  of 
New-Marlborough,  New- Windsor  and  New- 
burgh,  in  Ulster  County,  New- York,  to  the 
Provincial  Congress,  ....  966 

12,  Letter  from  Alexander  McDougall  to  the  Massa- 
chusetts Congress.  Some  Powder  has  been 
obtained,  which  will  be  forwarded  this  night, 
accompanied  by  a  Guard,  They  are  directed 
to  travel  always  in  the  night,  and  to  put  up 
in  the  day;  to  avoid  any  parade  on  the  road 
which  might  lead  to  a  conclusion  that  the 
Powder  is  much  wanted  by  the  Army,         -  966 

12,  Letter  from  Alexander  McDougall  to  Joseph 

Warren,  -------  967 

12,  Letter  from  Alexander  McDougall  to  the  Com- 
mittee for  Greenwich,  Connecticut,  requesting 
them  to  forward  the  Powder,       .       -       -  967 


LXXXVII 


CONTENTS. 


LXXXVIII 


1775. 

June  12,  Official  notice  of  advices  received  by  the  Earl  of 

Dartmouth,  from  Gen.  Gage,  to  this  date,      -  968 

12,  Letter  from  General  Gage  to  the  Earl  of  Dart- 
mouth. A  plan  for  a  Rebellion  has  been  long 
conceived,  and  the  People's  minds  ripened  for 
it,  968 

12,  Proclamation  by  General  Gage,  declaring  the 
Province  of  Massachusetts-Bay  in  a  state  of 
actual  Rebellion,  offering  pardon  to  all  who  lay 
down  their  Arms,  excepting  only  from  the 
benefit  of  pardon  Samuel  Adams  and  John 
Hancock ;  suspending  the  Civil  Law,  and  es- 
tablishing Martial  Law  throughout  the  Pro- 
vince,     -  968 

12,  Letter  from  the  Massachusetts  Congress  to  the 
Continental  Congress.  Taking  and  keeping 
possession  of  Ticonderoga  was  necessary  for 
the  preservation  of  the  Liberties  of  America ; 
but  in  so  doing  there  was  no  intention  to  dis- 
turb the  People  of  Canada  ;  and  they  request 
that  means  may  be  taken  to  remove-  the  false 
impressions  made  upon  the  minds  of  the  Cana- 
dians on  this  subject,  ....  970 

1 2,  Memorial  of  Henry  Howell  Williams  to  the  Mas- 
sachusetts Congress,  setting  forth  the  losses  he 
has  sustained  from  a  number  of  armed  Troops, 
commonly  called  Provincials,  on  Noddle- Island 
and  Hog- Island,  in  Boston-Bay,  and  praying 
relief,  971 

12,  Declaration  of  John  Worthington  to  Committee 
for  Springfield,  Massachusetts,  of  his  determi- 
nation to  support  the  measures  of  the  Conti- 
nental Congress,  and  of  his  willingness  to  de- 
fend the  Rights  and  Liberties  of  America,     -  971 

12,  Committee  for  Springfield,  in  Massachusetts. — 
Recommend  John  Worthington  to  the  favour- 
able opinion  of  the  Publick,  and  to  the  treat- 
ment and  respect  due  to  a  friend  to  the  Country,  972 

12,  Acknowledgment  of  Timothy  Brown,  of  Tewks- 

bury,  suspected  as  an  enemy  to  his  Country,  972 

12,  Committees  for  Chelmsford,  Billerica  and  Tewks- 
bury.  Satisfied  with  Timothy  Brown's  Ac- 
knowledgment, .....  972 

12,  Petition  of  the  Town  of  Kittery  to  the  Massa- 
chusetts Congress.  Their  supplies  of  Provi- 
sions are  cut  off  and  their  Town  is  threatened 
to  be  beat  down  by  the  Captains  of  the  Scar- 
borough and  the  Canceaux  Men-of-War ; 
being  reduced  to  the  alternative,  either  to  fight 
or  perish  by  famine,  they  choose  the  first,  and 
request  supplies  of  Powder  and  Ball,   -       -  972 

12,    Letter  from  Elisha  Phelps  to  the  Massachusetts 

Committee  of  Safety,  973 

12,  Letter  from  Newfoundland  to  a  Gentleman  in 

New- York.  The  People  are  suffering  for 
bread:  they  curse  New- York,  which  was  the 
only  place  they  depended  on  for  assistance  in 
subjugating  the  Americans;  and  propose  the 
most  inhuman  procedures  if  any  of  the  Con- 
tinental Congress  should  fall  into  their  hands,  973 

13,  Letter  from  Governour  Martin  of  North-Caro- 

lina, to  Henry  White  of  New- York  ;  requests 
him  to  send  a  Royal  Standard,  and  Furniture 
for  a  Colonel's  Tent,  974 

13,  Letter  from  one  of  the  Virginia  Delegates  in  the 
Continental  Congress  to  a  friend  in  Williams- 
burgh.  Colonel  Skene  has  just  arrived  from 
London,  charged  with  a  power  from  the  Ad- 
ministration to  influence  the  Members  of  Con- 
gress, by  arguments  drawn  on  the  Treasury. 
He  has  been  made  a  Prisoner,  and  is  on  his 
parole,  to  remain  within  eight  miles  of  Phila- 
delphia,  974 

8,  Letter  from  D.  Cross,  of  Glasgow,  in  Scotland, 
to  Jatnes  Dunlop,  Merchant,  Port-Royal,  Vir- 
ginia,      .......  975 

13,  Letter  from  D.  Cross  to  James  Dmilop  and  Pa- 
trick Kennan,  Merchants,  on  Rappahannock, 
Virginia,  975 

13,  Letter  from  Baltimore  to  a  Gentleman  in  Vir- 
ginia. Lord  Dunmore  left  Williamsburgh, 
and  went  on  board  a  Man-of-War,  on  Friday, 
the  8th  instant,  and  refused  to  return  on  an  in- 
vitation from  the  Assembly,        ...  975 

13,  Letter  from  the  New- York  Congress  to  their 
Delegates  in  the"  Continental  Congress,  en- 
closing a  Report  of  a  Committee  appointed  to 
examine  the  Highlands,      ....  975 


1775. 
June  1 3, 


13, 
13, 
13, 


13, 


13, 
13, 
H, 

14, 


14, 
14, 

14, 


14, 


14, 


14, 
14, 

14, 


Letter  from  Benedict  Arnold,  Crown  Point,  to 
the  Continental  Congress.  Has  learned  from 
a  Messenger  he  sent  among  the  Indians,  that 
they  are  determined  not  to  assist  the  King's 
Troops.  Governour  Carleton  has  not  suc- 
ceeded in  raising  more  than  twenty  Canadians; 
if  the  Congress  think  proper  to  take  posses- 
sion of  Montreal  and  duebeck,  it  can  be  done 
with  two  thousand  Men;  it  would  be  more 
advantageous  to  take  and  keep  possession  of 
duebeck  than  to  rebuild  Ticonderoga,  -       -  976 

Letter  from  Benedict  Arnold  to  Governour 
Trumbull,  977 

Letter  from  John  Palmer,  Quartermaster  Gene- 
ral, to  the  Massachusetts  Committee  of  Safety,  978 

Letter  from  the  Massachusetts  Congress  to  the 
New- York  Congress;  informing  them  that 
they  have  requested  the  Continental  Congress 
to  quiet  the  apprehensions  of  the  Canadians, 
that  hostile  preparations  are  making  against 
them  in  some  of  the  Colonies ;  and  to  coun- 
teract the  evil  effects  of  the  malevolent  misrep- 
resentations of  Colonel  Guy  Johnson  to  the 
Six  Nations,  1319 

Instructions  of  the  Massachusetts  Congress  to 
Walter  Spooner,  Jedediah  Foster,  and  James 
Sullivan,  a  Committee  appointed  to  proceed  to 
Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point,  by  the  road 
through  the  new  settlements  called  the  New- 
Hampshire  Grants;  giving  them  full  power  to 
do  every  thing  in  behalf  of  Massachusetts,  for 
the  effectual  securing  and  maintaining  those 
Posts,  which  they  shall  judge  necessary,       -  1408 

Petition  of  Lemuel  Prescott,  of  Boston,  to  the 
Massachusetts  Congress,  -  978 

Letter  from  the  New-Hampshire  Committee  of 
Safety  to  the  Massachusetts  Congress,  -       -  979 

Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Safety  for  New- 
Hampshire  to  the  Committee  of  Conway. 
They  have  sent  twenty-five  pounds  of  Pow- 
der; can  spare  no  more,  and  can  supply  no 
Arms,  979 

Letter  from  one  of  the  Virginia  Delegates  in 
Congress  to  his  friend  in  Williamsburgh. 
Colonel  Washington  has  been  pressed  to  take 
supreme  command  of  the  American  Troops 
at  Roxbury,  and  will  probably  accept  the  ap- 
pointment. Ten  thousand  Men  will  be  kept 
up  in  Massachusetts,  and  five  thousand  in 
New- York,  at  the  expense  of  the  Continent,  -  979 

Address  to  the  Inhabitants  of  New- Jersey,       -  980 

Letter  from  William  Duer  to  the  New- York 
Congress,         -       -'    -       -       -  -981 

Letter  from  William  Goddard  to  the  New- York 
Congress,  enclosing  papers  which  are  explana- 
tory of  a  design  formed  by  the  friends  of  Free- 
dom for  annihilating  the  old  Parliamentary 
and  Ministerial  Post-Office  in  this  Country,  -  981 

Papers  from  Massachusetts,  Rhode-Island  and 
Connecticut,  approving  of  the  plan  for  estab- 
lishing a  Post-Office,  982 

Letter  from  the  New- York  Congress  to  the  Con- 
tinental Congress,  enclosing  a  copy  of  the 
Resolution  directing  the  purchase  of  Flour  for 
the  Army,  983 

Letter  from  the  New- York  Congress  to  their 
Delegates  in  the  Continental  Congress,  com- 
municating information  just  received  of  the 
sailing  of  Troops  from  Ireland  for  Boston  and 
New- York,  981 

Information  given  by  Captain  Thompson  to  the 
New- York  Congress  of  the  embarkation  of 
Troops  for  America,  ....       -  984 

Letter  from  the  New-York  Congress  to  General 
Wooster,  requesting  him  to  take  charge  of 
Angus  McDonald,  1299 

Letter  from  M.  S.  Mumford  to  Jonathan  Trum- 
bull, Jim.  A  ship  from  London,  with  Major 
Skene  and  a  quantity  of  Arms,  arrived  at  Phi- 
ladelphia, have  been  secured  by  the  Congress,  985 

L'tter  from  Governour  Cooke  to  Captain  Wal- 
lace, of  His  Majesty's  Ship  Rose,  at  Newport. 
Remonstrating  against  his  interrupting  the 
People  of  Rhode-Island  in  their  lawful  Trade, 
and  seizing  their  persons  and  property;  de- 
mands his  reasons  for  doing  so.  and  also  de- 
mands the  immediate  return  of  the  Vessels  he 
has  taken,         .....  985 


CONTENTS. 


LXXXIX 

177  5. 

June\4,  Letter  from  Capt.  Wallace  to  Governour  Cooke. 

Supposes  he  writes  in  behalf  of  some  body  of 
People,  and  desires  to  know  whether  or  not 
Governour  Cooke,  or  the  People  for  whom  he 
writes,  are  not  in  open  Rebellion  against  their 
lawful  Sovereign,  -  986 

1 4,  Letter  from  the  Newport,  Rhode- Island,  Commit- 
tee, to  the  Committee  for  East- Hampton,  New- 
York,   986 

14,  Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Falmouth  to  the 
Massachusetts  Congress.  No  provision  hav- 
ing been  made  for  the  support  of  the  Men  en- 
listed to  guard  the  Sea-Coasts,  they  cannot  con- 
tinue to  do  duty.  Four  Indian  Chiefs  have 
arrived  at  Falmouth,  with  Captain  Lane,  from 
the  Penobscot  Tribe,  986 

14,    Letter  from  Josiah  Jones  and  Jonathan  Hicks  to 

the  Massachusetts  Congress,       ...  988 

14,  Letter  from  the  Machias  Committee  to  the  Mas- 

sachusetts Congress.  Account  of  the  capture 
at  that  place  of  two  Sloops  and  a  British 
Tender,  988 

15,  Appeal  to  the  Publick,  by  Charles  Gordon,  of 

Cecil  County,  Maryland,  against  a  publication 
by  the  Committee  for  Charlestown  Hundred,  -  990 
Reply  of  the  Committee,  ....  990 
Proceedings  of  the  Committee  of  Cecil  County, 
at  Elk-Ferry,  on  the  24th  of  May,  1 775,  in  re- 
lation to  Cha lies  Gordon,  who  is  declared  an 
enemy  to  his  Country,        -       -       -       -  991 

15,   "Memento"  to  Lord  North,    -       -       -       -  992 

15,  Address  of  Montford  Browne,  Governour  of  the 
Bahama  Islands,  inviting  settlements  in  Louisi- 
ana and  Mississippi,  -----  992 
Governour  Browne's  reasons,  as  presented  to  the 
King,  for  an  immediate  Civil' Government  in 
the  British  Dominions  adjoining  to  the  River 
Mississippi,  in  North  America,    -  993 

15,  Letter  from  President  Hancock  to  the  Massachu- 
setts Congress,  ------  1000 

15,  Letter  from  the  New- York  Congress  to  General 
Wooster,  enclosing  a  Resolution  requesting 
him  to  march  with  his  Troops  from  Connecti- 
cut, to  the  distance  of  five  miles  from  the  City, 
to  be  subject  to  the  orders  of  the  Continental 
Congress,  1000 

15,  Letter  from  Adonijah  Strong  to  the  Albany  Com- 
mittee,  1000 

15,  Letter  from  General  Wooster,  at  Greenwich, 
Connecticut,  to  the  New- York  Congress.  He 
has  received  and  will  secure  Angus  McDon- 
ald. Regrets  they  have  to  send  their  Prisoners 
so  far,  and  would  be  much  better  pleased  to  re- 
ceive them  nearer  the  City,  especially  as  four 
Regiments  from  Ireland  are  expected  so  soon,  1001 

15,  Letter  from  General  Wooster  to  Governour 
Trumbull,  requests  he  may  be  ordered  to  New- 
York,   1001 

14,  Letter  from  Isaac  Sears  to  General  Wooster,  in- 

forming him  of  a  motion  made  in  the  Provin- 
cial Congress  to  ask  him  to  march  there  with 
his  Troops,  1002 

15,  Answer  to  a  Speech  sent  by  the  Stockbridge 

Indians  to  the  Caughnawagas,  or  Canadian 
Tribes  of  Indians,  near  Montreal,        -       -  1002 

15,  Letter  from  General  Ward  to  the  Worcester, 
Massachusetts,  Committee,  enclosing  an  Order 
for  the  removal  of  Samuel  Murray  from  the 
Jail  in  Worcester  to  his  father  in  Rutland,     -  1003 

15,  Letter  from  the  Massachusetts  Congress  to  the 

New- Hampshire  Congress,         ...  1003 

15,   Letter  from  William  Stoddard,  Boston,  to  Capt. 

James  Littlefield,  Watertown,      ...  1003 

15,  "Sydney"  to  the  Soldiers  and  Seamen  serving  in 

the  British  Fleet  and  Army  in  America,       -  1004 

15,   Letter  from  the  Rev.  Samuel  Langdon  to  the 

Massachusetts  Congress,  -       -       -  1004 

15,  Letter  to  Dr.  Joseph  Warren,  President  of  the 
Massachusetts  Congress.  Recommending  the 
employment  by  the  Colony  of  some  Armed 
Vessels,  to  protect  their  Towns  and  Coasting 
Trade  from  British  Vessels-of- War,      -       -  1005 

15,  Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  of 
Falmouth  to  the  Massachusetts  Congress  — 
Mr.  Lane  is  on  his  way  to  Watertown,  with 
four  Indian  Chiefs  of  the  Penobscot  Tribe,    -  1005 

15,   Letter  from  Colonel  Reid  to  the  New- Hampshire 

Committee  of  Safety,  ....  1005 


1775. 

June  £ 


14, 
16, 


16, 
16, 

16, 


16, 


XC 

1000 
1006 
1007 


16, 
16, 
16, 


17, 
17, 

17, 


17, 


17, 
17, 
17, 
17, 

17, 

17, 

17, 

17, 


18, 


,  Letter  from  Colonel  Reid  to  the  New-Hampshire 
Committee  of  Safety,  recommending  Andrew 
Colburn  for  an  appointment,  ... 

Services  done  by  Andrew  Colburn  in  the  last 
War,  

Colonel  James  Reid's  Regimental  Orders  for  the 
New-Hampshire  Troops  under  his  command, 

Letter  from  Joseph  Habersham  to  Philotheos 
ChifTelle.  Efforts  of  Mr.  Stuart  and  Mr.  Cam- 
eron to  engage  the  Southern  Indians  on  the 
side  of  the  British  Government,  -       -  1007 

Letter  from  a  Pennsylvanian  to  Gen.  Burgoyne,  1008 

Account  of  the  Province  Stores  at  Albany,  New- 
York,   1009 

Letter  from  General  Wooster  to  Governour 
Trumbull,  requesting  his  instructions  about 
complying  with  the  request  from  New- York 
to  march  his  Troops  there,  and  place  them 
under  the  direction  of  the  Continental  Con- 
gress,     -       -       -       -       -       -  -1010 

Letter  from  an  Officer  in  the  Navy  at  Boston  to 
his  friend  in  England.  Sixteen  of  the  Trans- 
ports ordered  from  England  to  New- York  are, 
by  the  General,  ordered  to  Boston.  Expects 
to  hear  of  bloody  work  soon,  as  the  Troops 
are  determined  to  lay  the  Country  waste  as 
they  go,  with  Fire  and  Sword,     -       -       -  1010 

Proclamation  by  the  Provincial  Congress  of  Mas- 
sachusetts,       -       -       -       -       -       -  1011 

Petition  of  the  Selectmen  of  Edgartown  to  the 
Massachusetts  Congress,     -       -       -       -  1013 

Letter  from  Colonel  Israel  Oilman  to  the  New- 
Hampshire  Congress.  The  Regulars  are  ex- 
pected soon  to  make  a  push  for  Bunker's  Hill 
or  Dorchester  Neck,  -       -       -       -  1013 

Address  to  the  People  of  England,  -       -       -  1013 

Provincial  Congress  of  South-Carolina  direct  the 

election  of  a  new  Congress,         -       -       -  1016 

To  the  Committee  of  the  City  of  Philadelphia. 
Calling  their  attention  to  the  injury  that  may 
be  done,  if  the  Officer  lately  arrived  from  the 
Army  in  Boston,  and  says  he  has  sold  out, 
should  prove  to  be  a  Spy  for  General  Gage,  -  1016 

Letter  from  James  Duane  to  the  New- York  Con- 
gress. The  Continental  Congress  has  ordered 
an  emission  of  Two  Millions  of  Dollars,  in 
Paper  Currency.  Have  agreed  to  raise,  at  the 
Continental  expense,  a  body  of  fifteen  thousand 
Men,  and  have  appointed  Col.  George  Wash- 
ington Captain-General  of  all  the  Forces  raised 
and  to  be  raised  in  the  common  cause,  -       -  1016 

Letter  from  the  New- York  Congress  to  their  Del- 
egates in  the  Continental  Congress,      -       -  1017 

Letter  from  the  New- York  Congress  to  General 
Wooster,  1304 

Meeting  of  the  Governour  and  Committee  of 
War  for  Connecticut,         ....  1037 

Letter  from  General  Wooster  to  the  New- York 
Congress.  Has  sent  their  Letter  of  the  15th 
to  the  Governour,  and  holds  himself  in  readi- 
ness to  march  as  soon  as  he  receives  the  Gov- 
ernour's  orders,         .....  1306 

Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Supplies  to  the 
Committee  of  Safety  of  Massachusetts.  Ex- 
clusive of  thirty-six  half  barrels  of  Powder 
received  from  Connecticut,  there  are  only  in 
the  Magazine  twenty-seven  half  barrels,      -  1017 

Letter  from  the  Committee  for  Machias  to  the 
Massachusetts  Congress.  Both  of  Captain 
Jones's  Sloops,  taken  with  the  Margaretta, 
one  of  the  King's  Tenders,  were  in  the  King's 
service,    -       -       -       -       -       -  -1017 

Account  of  an  Engagement  at  Charlestown,  in 
Massachusetts,  between  about  three  thousand 
of  the  King's  Regular  Forces  and  about  half 
that  number  of  Provincials,  on  Saturday,  the 
17th  of  June,  1775,   1018 

Letter  from  Governour  Wentworth,  at  Castle 
William  and  Mary,  in  Portsmouth  Harbour, 
to  Theodore  Atkinson.  Captain  Barclay  has 
seized  a  Vessel  from  Newbury,  Massachusetts, 
for  breach  of  Acts  of  Trade,  and  directs  that 
she  may  be  forthwith  libelled  in  the  Court  of 
Admiralty,       ......  1019 

Letter  from  President  Hancock  to  Elbridge  Ger- 
ry. Colonel  Washington  is  appointed  Com- 
mander-in-Chief of  the  Continental  Army,  and 
he  will  depart  in  a  few  days  for  Cambridge. 


CONTENTS. 


1  T7.1 


J  u  ue  18 


18, 


17, 


18, 


18, 

18, 
18, 

18, 

19, 

19, 
19, 

19, 
19, 
19, 


19, 
19, 


19, 

19, 

19, 
19, 

19, 


1019 
1306 


1020 


1020 


Ton  Companies  of  Riflemen,  from  Pennsylva- 
nia, Maryland,  and  Virginia,  are  ordered  im- 
mediately to  proceed  to  your  Army,     -       -  1019 

,  Letter  from  John  Adams  to  Elbridge  Gerry. 
General  Washington  has  been  chosen  Com- 
mander-in-Chief, General  Ward  First  Major- 
General,  and  General  Lee  Second,  and  Major 
Gates  Adjutant-General.  The  virtuous  attach- 
ment of  our  countrymen  to  their  own  officers 
presented  an  objection  to  the  appointment  of 
Lee  and  Gates,  which  was  overcome  by  the 
earnest  desire  of  General  Washington  to  have 
their  assistance,  - 

General  Wooster  to  the  New- York  Congress,  - 

Letter  from  General  Wooster  to  Governour 
Trumbull,  enclosing  a  Letter,  dated  yesterday, 
from  New- York,  -       -       -  - 

Letter  from  the  New- York  Congress  to  General 
Wooster,  informing  him  of  the  change  in  the 
destination  of  the  Troops;  a  Ship-of-War  is 
ofT  Sandy  Hook,  to  direct  the  Transports  to 
proceed  to  Boston,  ..... 

Letter  from  an  Officer  of  the  British  Army  at 
Boston  to  a  Gentleman  in  London.  Account 
of  the  Battle  of  Bunker's  Hill;  the  Provincials 
were  defeated,  but  the  victory  has  cost  us  very 
dear,  and  we  do  not  enjoy  one  solid  benefit 
from  it;  we  have  learned  one  melancholy 
truth,  which  is,  that  the  Americans,  if  equally 
well  commanded,  are  as  good  Soldiers  as  ours,  1021 

Letter  from  General  Thomas  to  the  Massachu- 
setts Congress,  recommending  the  appointment 
of  an  Adjutant  and  Quartermaster-General,  -  1021 

Letter  from  the  Massachusetts  Committee  of  Sup- 
plies to  the  Committee  of  Safety,  ...  1022 

Circular  Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Supplies 
to  the  several  Towns  in  Massachusetts,  urging 
them  to  forward  Provisions  for  the  Army,     -  1022 

Letter  from  Colonel  Bartlett  to  General  Folsom, 
with  intelligence  of  the  Battle  yesterday,  and 
the  burning  of  Charlestown,        ...  1022 

Meeting  of  the  Committee  for  the  County  of 
Prince  Edward,  Virginia.  Resolutions  on  the 
seizure  of  the  Powder  by  Lord  Dunmore,  and 
approving  the  conduct  of  Captain  Patrick  Hen- 
ry in  making  reprisals  for  it,       -       -       -  1023 

Meeting  of  the  Frederick  County,  Virginia,  Com- 
mittee. Resolutions  on  the  seizure  of  the  Pow- 
der by  Lord  Dunmore,  and  the  Address  from 
the  Council  to  the  People  of  Virginia,  -       -  1023 

Queen  Anne  County,  Maryland,  Committee. 
Prohibit  the  dealing  with  any  Merchant  in  the 
County  who  does  not  produce  satisfactory  evi- 
dence that  his  Goods  were  imported  agreeable 
to  the  Association,  1024 

Letter  from  Brook  Watson  to  the  New- York 
Congress,        ......  1025 

Meeting  of  the  Go  vernour  and  Committee  of  War 
for  Connecticut,         .....  1038 

Letter  from  Governour  Trumbull  to  the  New- 
York  Congress.  Has  ordered  seventeen  hun- 
dred Men,  under  the  command  of  Major-Gene- 
ral  Wooster,  to  march  immediately  within  five 
miles  of  the  City  of  New- York,  subject  to  the 
orders  of  the  Continental  Congress  and  Pro- 
vincial Congress  of  New- York,  -  1025 

Letter  from  Governour  Trumbull  to  the  Massa- 
chusetts Congress,  1026 

Letter  from  Governour  Trumbull  to  Benedict 
Arnold.  The  invasion  of  Canada  should  be 
moved  by  the  Continental  Congress;  the  Army 
at  Boston,  and  the  prospect  of  one  arriving  at 
New- York,  forbid  our  thinking  of  an  Expe- 
dition to  Canada,  1026 

Speech  of  the  Chiefs  and  Warriors  of  the  Oneida 
Tribe  of  Indians  to  the  four  New-England 
Provinces,  directed  to  Governour  Trumbull,  -  1116 

Town  Meeting  at  Providence,  Rhode-Island. 
Authorize  Cartridges  to  be  delivered  out  to  the 
Inhabitants,  1027 

Providence,  Rhode-Island,  Packet,  seized  by  the 
British,  and  retaken,  near  Conanicut,    -       -  1027 

Proclamation  by  General  Gage,  requiring  all  the 
Inhabitants  of  Boston  to  deliver  up  their  Fire- 
Arms,  and  declaring  all  who  omit  to  do  so 
enemies  to  His  Majesty's  Government,  -       -  1027 

Letter  from  General  Ward  to  the  Massachusetts 
Congress,  -  1028 


1775. 

J««el9,  Letter  from  Joseph  Ward  to  the  Massachusetts 
Congress,  requesting  the  Troops  to  be  furnish- 
ed with  Blankets,  and  Spears  or  Lances,       -  1028 

19,  Letter  from  the  Massachusetts  Committee  of  Safe- 
ty to  the  Provincial  Congress,  requesting  that 
measures  may  be  taken  to  obtain  the  names 
and  places  of  abode  of  all  who  were  Killed  or 
Wounded  in  the  Battle  of  Lexington,  and  at 
any  time  since,  and  of  such  as  may  be  Killed 
or  Wounded  at  any  future  time,  in  the  contest 
between  Great  Britain  and  the  Colonies,  -  1028 
Resolution  of  the  Provincial  Congress,  for  carry- 
ing into  efTect  the  foregoing  request,     -       -  1028 

19,  Letter  from  Colonel  John  Stark  to  the  New- 
Hampshire  Congress.  Account  of  the  engage- 
ment on  the  17th  instant,     ....  1029 

19,  Letter  from  James  McGregore  to  the  Committee 

of  Safety  of  New-Hampshire,      ...  1029 

20,  Arrival  of  Governour  Lord  William  Campbell 

at  Charlestown,  South-Carolina,  -       -       -  1030 

20,  Association  adopted  and  signed  by  the  Committees 
of  the  District  of  Wilmington,  in  North-Caro- 
lina,  1030 

20,  Meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Accomack  Coun- 
ty, Virginia ;  requiring  Masters  of  all  Vessels 
bringing  Goods  for  sale  to  bring  certificates 
that  the  Goods  were  imported  agreeable  to  the 
Continental  Association,      -       -       -       -  1031 

20,  Letter  from  General  Washington  to  the  Indepen- 
dent Companies  of  Fairfax  County,  Virginia; 
informing  them  of  his  appointment  to  the  com- 
mand of  the  Continental  Army,  -       -       -  1031 

20,  Letter  from  General  Washington  to  John  Au- 
gustine Washington.  Has  been  chosen  to  the 
command  of  the  Continental  Army,  by  the 
partiality  of  Congress,  joined  to  a  political 
motive,  and  will  set  out  to-morrow  for  Boston,  1031 

20,  Meeting  of  the  Committee  for  the  new  County 
proposed  to  be  formed  in  Delaware,  at  Broad 
Creek :  bind  themselves  and  constituents,  by 
every  thing  sacred,  collectively  and  separately, 
to  enforce  and  carry  into  execution  whatever 
measures  have  or  may  be  recommended,  for 
the  preservation  of  the  Liberties  of  America,  -  10S2 

20,  Letter  from  Philadelphia  to  a  Gentleman  in  Lon- 
don. Two  propositions  which  Congress  intend 
to  make  to  the  British  Government,      -       -  1033 

20,  Letter  from  Philadelphia  to  a  Gentleman  in  Lon- 
don. Colonel  George  Washington  is,  at  the 
particular  request  of  the  People  of  New-Eng- 
land, and  with  the  unanimous  consent  of  Con- 
gress, appointed  Commander-in-Chief  of  the 
Continental  Forces,    .....  1 033 

20,  Letter  from  President  Hancock  to  the  New- 
Hampshire  Congress,  enclosing  a  Resolve 
passed  yesterday  for  re-enforcing  the  Army 
before  Boston,   -  1034 

20,  Letter  from  the  New-Hampshire  Delegates  at 
Philadelphia  to  the  Provincial  Congress.  The 
greatest  unanimity  prevails  in  the  Congress, 
one  and  all  being  determined  to  defend  our 
rights  to  the  last,  1035 

20,  Letter  from  the  New- York  Congress  to  Govern- 
our Trumbull,  enclosing  a  Resolution  of  the 
Continental  Congress  of  the  16th  instant.  A 
small  supply  of  Gunpowder  has  been  lately 
received,  and  half  a  ton  of  it  will  be  forward- 
ed to  General  Wooster  for  the  Provincial  Army 
at  Boston,  1306 

20,  Letter  from  the  Provincial  Congress  of  New- 
York  to  General  Wooster,  in  reply  to  his 
Letters  of  the  17th  and  18th  instant,    -       -  1307 

20,  Letter  from  Governour  Trumbull  to  the  Conti- 
nental Congress.  Has  sent  fifty  barrels  of 
Powder  with  the  greatest  secrecy  and  despatch 
to  the  American  Army  before  Boston,  and  will 
send  ten  barrels  more,  which  is  all  that  can  be 
supplied,  as  none  can  be  obtained  in  the  Colo- 
ny, -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -  1035 

20,  Letter  from  a  Gentleman  in  Providence,  Rhode- 
Island,  to  his  friend  in  New- York.  Account 
of  the  Battle  of  Bunker's  Hill  on  the  17th 
instant,  1036 

20,   Meeting  of  the  Governour  and  Committee  of 

War  for  Connecticut,         -       -       -       -  1039 

20,  Letter  from  the  Massachusetts  Congress  to  the 
Continental  Congress.  Account  of  the  Battle 
of  Bunker's  Hill,  1039 


CONTENTS. 


xcni 

1775. 

June 20,  Letter  from  the  Massachusetts  Congress  to  Gen- 
eral Ward,  1041 

20,  Petition  of  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town  of  Town- 
shend,  in  Massachusetts,  to  the  Provincial 
Congress.  Are  out  of  Powder,  and  ask  for  an 
order  on  the  Town  of  Ashby  for  one  of  the  two 
barrels  they  have,  -  -  -  -  -  1041 
20,   Letter  from  Richard  Derby,  Jun.,  to  Capt.  James 

Kirkwood,  1041 

20,  Report  of  Edward  Bucknam  and  Seth  Wales,  to 

Colonels  Bailey  and  Hurd,  of  the  information 
gained  from  the  Indians  on  the  Canada  Fron- 
tiers, by  two  Scouts,  sent  for  that  purpose,     -  1041 

21,  Letter  from  the  Secret  Committee  of  South-Caro- 

lina to  Colonel  Moultrie.  Furnish  him  with 
Powder  for  the  two  Regiments  of  Infantry. 
Recommend  to  him  the  greatest  caution  and 
prudence,  and  to  permit  no  Soldier  to  stand 
sentry  over  the  Powder,  but  such  as  are  known 
friends  to  the  Liberties  of  America,  -  1042 

21,   Deputation  of  the  Provincial  Congress  of  South- 
Carolina,  to  present  an  Address  to  the  Govern- 
our,  Lord  William  Campbell.     -  1043 
Address  and  Declaration  of  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress to  the  Governour,      ....  1043 
Answer  of  the  Governour,     ....  1044 

21,  Provincial  Congress  of  South-Carolina,  to  testify 
their  resentment  of  the  base  and  cruel  conduct 
of  the  Inhabitants  of  Poole,  a  Seaport  in  the 
English  Channel,  refuse  to  hold  any  commu- 
nication with  that  People,  or  carry  on  any 
transactions  with  them,  or  employ  any  shipping 
belonging  to  that  Port,  or  to  any  Inhabitant  of 
the  place,  1044 

21,  Committee  of  Observation  for  Frederick  County, 
Maryland.  Committees  of  Correspondence 
for  each  District  in  the  County  appointed. 
Two  Companies  of  Riflemen  raised,  in  com- 
pliance with  a  Resolution  of  the  Continental 
Congress:  Officers  of  the  Companies  appoint- 
ed, and  their  pay  established,       ...  1044 

21,  Letter  from  the  Provincial  Congress  to  the  Com- 
mittee for  the  City  and  County  of  New- York, 
requesting  them  immediately  to  purchase  all 
the  Saltpetre  in  the  City  and  County,  and  to 
inform  the  Congress  what  quantity  of  Brim- 
stone and  Sulphur  may  be  purchased  in  the 
City,  1310 

21,  New- York  Committee.  Letter  received,  dated 
May  30,  from  Jonathan  Parsons,  Jun.,  New- 
foundland, informing  of  the  arrival  there  of 
the  Ship  Sally,  Captain  Taverner,  from  this 
Port,  1046 

21,    Inquiry  by  a  Committee  into  facts  of  Captain 

Tavemers  Voyage,  -----  1046 

21,  Deposition  of  Theophilact  Bache,  that  Captain 
Taverner  was  ordered  to  proceed  directly  to 
Falmouth,  or  some  other  Port  in  Great  Bri- 
tain, and  that  he  had  no  agency  in  causing  the 
Ship  Sally  to  stop  at  Newfoundland,    -       -  1046 

21,  Petition  of  Joseph  Johnson,  a  licensed  Preacher 
of  the  Gospel  amongst  seven  different  Tribes 
of  New-England  Indians,  and  the  Oneidas,  to 
the  Provincial  Congress  of  New- York,       -  1047 

21,  Letter  from  a  Gentleman  in  New- York  to  his 
friend  in  Edinburgh,  Scotland.  It  is  a  gross  ca- 
lumny to  say  we  are  aiming  at  Independency. 
Our  political  principles  are  the  same  that  raised 
the  House  of  Hanover  to  the  Throne ;  and  were 
your  Ministers  to  adopt  these  principles  we 
would  lay  down  our  arms,  -       -       -  1 047 

21,  Letter  from  the  Albany,  New- York,  Committee, 
to  the  Continental  Congress.  Certain  inform- 
ation received  of  the  hostile  intentions  of  Go- 
vernour Carleton.  who  was  daily  giving  pre- 
sents to  Caughnuwaga  Indians,  they  having 
agreed  to  take  up  the  hatchet.  The  Troops 
at  Ticonderoga  are  much  in  want  of  Powder. 
The  F rontier  Inhabitants  are  not  half  supplied 
with  Arms  or  Powder,  and  they  request  some 
may  be  forwarded  with  all  the  despatch  pos- 
sible,  1048 

21.  Later  from  Captain  Chapman,  an  officer  in 
General  Gage's  Army  at  Boston,  to  a  friend 
in  Ireland.  The  Army  of  the  Rebels  consists 
of  at  least  fifteen  thousand,  and  is  daily  increas- 
ing; the  Pulpits  and  the  Publick  Meetings 
breathe  nothing  but  sedition  :  the  People  are  in 


XC1V 


1775. 


-  1049 


1041' 


21, 


21, 
22, 


22, 

0-2 


20, 
22, 


22 


22, 


1055 


1056 


1056 


-  1058 


1058 


-  1059 


1059 


-  1060 


the  most  slavish  subjection  to  the  Priests  and 
Demagogues;  the  Resolves  of  the  Congress 
are  mostly  inflammatory ;  they  have  tried  and 
passed  sentence  on  several  who  have  dared  to 
contravene  their  inquisitorial  decrees ;  their  aim 
is  Independency,  - 
June 21,  Petition  to  the  Provincial  Congress  of  Massa- 
chusetts from  seven  Stockbridge  Indians,  sol- 
diers enlisted  in  the  Provincial  Army, 
Petition  of  Thomas  Twining  to  the  Massachusetts 
Congress,  in  behalf  of  himself  and  the  Asso- 
ciation of  Eastham,  against  Amos  Knowles, 
a  Member  of  the  Congress,  who  is  charged 
with  being  an  opposer  of  the  common  cause 
of  the  Country;  with  sundry  accompanying 

papers,     -   1050-1055 

Report  of  a  Committee  on  the  complaint  against 

Captain  Knowles,  not  accepted,  - 
Letter  from  the  Reverend  Samuel  Webster  to  the 

New-Hampshire  Committee  of  Safety, 
Provincial  Congress  of  South-Carolina,  direct 
Absentees  to  return  to  the  Colony;  and  forbid 
persons  holding  Estates  to  withdraw  from  its 
service,  ------- 

Address  to  the  People  of  Henrico  County,  Va..  1056 
Letter  from  Samuel  Adams  to  Elbridge  Gerry,  -  1058 
Letter  from  General  Charles  Lee  to  Lord  Bar- 
rington.  renouncing  his  Pay  as  an  Officer  in 
the  British  Army,  ... 
Letter  from  General  Gates  to  General  Washing- 
ton, accepting  his  appointment,     -       -  - 
Petition  of  \Villiam  Elphinston  to  the  New- York 
Congress,         -       -       -  - 

Letter  from  Elisha  Phelps  to  the  New- York 
Congress.  Has  been  appointed  bv  Connecti- 
cut Commissary  for  the  Northern  Army:  has 
arrived  at  Albany,  and  has  been  furnished 
with  no  Supplies  for  the  Troops, 
Letter  from  Weathers  fie  Id,  in  Connecticut,  to  a 
Gentleman  in  Philadelphia.  Account  of  the 
Battle  on  the  17th  instant.  The  People  are 
rejoiced  to  hear  of  the  coming  of  General 
Washington,  and  will  receive  him  with  open 
arms,  - 

Letter  to  a  Member  of  the  Continental  Congress, 
from  a  Gentleman  in  Stockbridge,  Massachu- 
setts. Our  Messengers  to  the  Six  Nations 
were  taken  by  the  Regulars,  carried  to  Mon- 
treal, tried  by  a  Couit-Martial,  and  condemned 
to  be  hanged,  and  were,  only  released  upon  the 
threatenings  of  the  Indian  Sachems  to  treat 
them  as  enemies  if  they  did  not  let  the  prison- 
ers go,  -  - 
Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  at 
Plymouth  to  the  Committee  for  Providence,  - 
Letter  from  General  Ward  to  the  Massachusetts 
Congress.  Thinks  it  is  not  proper  to  order  a 
Regiment  from  Roxbury  to  Cambridge,  as  re- 
quested by  the  Congress,  but  if  they  order  it 
he  will  do  so,  - 
Letter  from  Benjamin  Greenleaf  to  the  Massa- 
chusetts Congress.  The  Committee  of  New- 
buryport  are  unwilling  to  give  up  the  little 
Powder  they  have,  as  requested  by  the  Con- 
gress, unless  the  publick  cause  renders  it  abso- 
lutely necessary,  in  which  case  they  will  give 
up  the  last  ounce,  the  destruction  of  their 
Town  being  a  trivial  matter  compared  with 
a  final  defeat  of  the  Army, 
Letter  from  Stephen  Hooper  to  the  Massachusetts 

Congress,  - 
Account  of  the  Engagement  on  the  17th.  Charles- 
town  set  on  fire  by  the  British,  contained  about 
three  hundred  Dwell  ing-Houses,  many  of  them 
large  and  elegant,  besides  one  hundred  and  fifty 
or  two  hundred  other  Buildings,  which  are 
almost  all  laid  in  ashes, 
Letter  from  General  Folsom  to  the  New-Hamp- 
shire Committee  of  Safety,  ... 
Letter  from  the   Committee  for  Charles  City 
County,  Virginia,  to  the  Committee  and  Free- 
holders of  Buckingham  County,  in  reply  to 
their  offer  of  an  asylum  for  their  Wives  and 
Children,  if  the  lower  Counties  are  attacked  bv 
the  enemy,  .... 
Letter  from  the  Albany  Committee  to  the  Massa- 
chusetts Congress;  they  have  received  a  vague 
and  uncertain  account  of  the  late  Action  at 


22, 
22, 


22, 


1060 


1061 


1061 


22, 


-  1062 


-  1062 


-  1063 


23, 


23. 


106c 


-  10C4 


xcv 


CONTENTS. 


xcvr 


23, 


2o, 


Charlcstown ;  request  to  be  furnished  with  a 
circumstantial  detail  of  the  Engagement,  and 
its  consequences,        ....       -  1064 

Jane 23,  Letter  to  Mr.  Holt.    The  County  of  Cumber- 
land, in  New- York,  having  been  represented 
as  inimical  to  the  late  Continental  Congress 
and  the  Provincial  Congresses,  he  is  requested 
to  publish  the  Proceedings  of  the  General 
Committee  of  that  County,  in  October  last,    -  1064 
Proceedings  of  the  Committees  from  a  number 
of  Townships  in  the  County  of  Cumberland, 
held  at  the  County  Hall,  at  Westminster,  on 
the  19th  and  20th  days  of  October,  1774,     -  1065 
23,    Letter  from  Colonel  Arnold  to  the  Continental 
Congress.    The  opinion  of  the  Committee 
sent  by  Massachusetts,  to  inquire  into  the  im- 
portance of  holding  Ticonderoga  and  Crown 
Point,  is,  that  if  the  Enemy  had  possession  of 
these  Fortresses   it  would  place  the  New- 
England  Colonies  and  New- York  in  the  ut- 
most danger,      ------  1066 

Letter  from  Governour  Trumbull  to  the  Conti- 
nental Congress,        ....       -  1067 

Letter  from  an  Officer  on  board  one  of  the  King's 
Ships,  at  Boston,  to  a  friend  in  London.  The 
Engagement  on  the  17th  lasted  four  hours,  and 
ended  infinitely  to  our  disadvantage.  The 
Americans,  when  we  landed,  so  far  from  retreat- 
ing, as  we  expected,  marched  towards  us  with 
the  greatest  coolness  and   regularity.  The 
Provincials  fought  like  men  who  had  no  care 
for  their  persons,  and  disputed  every  inch  of 
ground,    -------  1067 

Petition  to  the  Massachusetts  Congress,  from  the 
Selectmen,  Officers  of  the  Militia,  and  Com- 
mittee of  Correspondence  of  Manchester.  The 
Town  being  greatly  exposed  to  their  merciless 
enemies,  they  request  permission  to  raise  a 
Company  of  Men  on  the  Provincial  establish- 
ment, to  be  kept  there  for  their  security  and 

defence,  1068 

Letter  from  General  Folsom  to  the  New-Hamp- 
shire Committee  of  Safety.  Colonel  Stark 
refuses  to  be  under  any  subordination  to  any 
person  appointed  by  the  Congress  of  New- 
Hampshire  to  the  general  command  of  the 
New- Hampshire  Troops,  -  -  -  -  1069 
Address  of  Colonel  Bailey  to  the  Northern  In- 
dians,  1070 

Meeting  of  the  Livery  of  London,  in  Common 
Hall.     An  humble   Address,  Remonstrance 
and  Petition  to  the  King  on  this  important 
crisis  in  American  affairs,  ordered  to  be  pre- 
sented to  His  Majesty,  sitting  on  his  Throne,  1070 
July  4,  Report  of  the  Sheriffs  who  waited  on  the  King  to 
know  when  he  would  permit  the  Lord  Mayor, 
Aldermen  and  Common  Council  to  wait  on 
him  with  their  Petition.   The  King  refuses  to 
receive  it  on  the  Throne;  and  the  Lord  Mayor 
refuses  to  present  it  to  him  in  any  other  place. 
The  Petition  ordered  to  be  published,  - 
June  24, Humble  Address,  Remonstrance  and  Petition  of 
the   Lord  Mayor,  Aldermen  and  Livery  of 
London  to  the  King,  -       -       -       -  - 

Letter  to  General  Gage,  - 
Letter  from  President  Hancock  to  the  New- 
York  Congress.    The  Continental  Congress 
are  of  opinion  that  the  employing  of  Green 
Mountain  Boys  would  be  advantageous  to  the 
common  cause;  they  are  requested  to  embody 
them  with  the  Troops  raised  for  the  defence  of 
the  Northern  Frontier,       ...       -  1076 
Meeting  of  the  General  Committee  of  Observa- 
tion lor  the  County  of  Burlington,  New- Jer- 
sey.  Association  and  other  Proceedings  of  the 
Provincial  Congress  at  Trenton  approved  of,  -  1077 
Letter  from  General  Schuyler,  New-Brunswick, 
New-Jersey,  to  the  New-York  Congress. — 
General  Washington  will  be  at  Newark  to- 
morrow morning,  at  nine  o'clock,  where  he 
wishes  to  meet  a  Deputation  of  the  Provincial 
Congress,         ------  1078 

Letter  from  John  Hart,  Jun.,  (Stamford,  Connec- 
ticut, to  Dr.  Carrington,  enclosing  an  inter- 
cepted Letter,  dated  New- York,  June  19th,  -  1078 
Letter  from  a  Merchant  in  Boston  to  his  Brother 
in  Scotland,  giving  him  an  account  of  the 
Battle  with  the  Rebels  on  the  17th  instant. 


AO, 


2o, 


24, 


24, 
24, 


1071 


1073 
1074 


24, 


24, 


24, 


24, 


1775. 

The  chief  breastwork  of  the  Provincials  was 
the  strongest  post  that  was  ever  occupied  by 
any  set  of  men ;  the  spirit  and  bravery  the 
British  Troops  exhibited  on  the  occasion  is 
not  to  be  surpassed  in  history.  To  the  great 
satisfaction  of  all  good  men,  Dr.  Warren  was 

slain,  1079 

June  24,  Order  by  the  Massachusetts  Congress  for  ob- 
serving Thursday,  13th  of  July,  as  a  day  of 
Publick  Fasting  and  Prayer  throughout  the 

Colony,  1080 

24,  Letter  from  General  Ward  to  the  Massachusetts 
Congress.  Lieutenant  Francis  Cox,  of  Salem, 
has  deserted  the  service,  and  told  his  men  they 
might  go  home,  for  no  one  had  a  right  to  stop 
them;  many  of  the  men  are  gone,  and  it  is 
probable  others  will  go,     -      .  •       -       -  1080 

24,  Letter  from  General  Folsom  to  the  New-Hamp- 

shire Committee  of  Safety,  for  Cannon  for  the 
Camp  at  Winter  Hill.  General  Ward,  who 
has  been  applied  to,  cannot  supply  them,       -  1031 

25,  Proposed  vindication  and  offer  to  Parliament, 

drawn  up  in  a  Committee  of  Congress,  (by 

Dr.  Franklin,)  1081 

25,  Letter  from  General  Washington  to  the  Ameri- 
can Congress.  One  thousand  pounds  of  Pow- 
der were  sent  from  New- York  to  the  camp  at 
Cambridge,  leaving  at  this  time  but  four  bar- 
rels in  the  City  of  New- York,    -  .      -       -  1084 

25,  General  Washington's  Orders  and  Instructions 
to  General  Schuyler,  appointed  to  the  com- 
mand of  the  Northern  Department,      -       -  1084 

25,  Letter  from  General  Washington  to  the  Presi- 
dent and  Members  of  the  Continental  Con- 
gress,  1085 

25,  Contradiction  of  the  Statement  made  by  Colonel 
Easton  to  the  Massachusetts  Congress,  on  the 
1 7th  of  May  last,  of  the  reduction  of  Ticon- 
deroga, denying  to  Colonel  Easton  any  partici- 
pation in  its  capture,   -----  1085 

25,  Letter  from  Thaddeus  Burr  to  General  Wooster, 
enclosing  a  Letter  to  him  from  Isaac  Lothrop, 
one  of  the  Provincial  Congress  at  Watertown, 
dated  June  22,  giving  an  account  of  the  action 
on  the  1 7th  instant,  1089 

25,  Andrew  Gilman  appointed  a  Lieutenant  by  the 
Massachusetts  Congress,  and  instructed  to  visit 
and  cultivate  a  peaceable  disposition  with  the 
Indians,  1090 

25,   Letter  from  John  Lane  to  the  Massachusetts 

Congress,  1090 

25,  Letter  from  the  Massachusetts  Congress  to  Go- 
vernour Trumbull,  for  re-enforcements  for  the 
Army,  1090 

25,  Letter  from  the  Massachusetts  Committee  of 
Safety  to  the  Selectmen  of  Bradford.  A  Com- 
pany of  fifty  Minute-Men  enlisted  in  the  Town 
of  Bradford,  under  Captain  Gage,  to  serve  for 
one  year  from  February,  1775,  have  all,  except 
two,  scandalously  deserted  the  cause  of  their 
Country,  and  stained  their  own  honour  by 
leaving  the  Camp  and  returning  home,         -  1091 

25,  Letter  from  General  Folsom  to  the  New-Hamp- 
shire Committee  of  Safety,         ...  1092 

25,  Letter  from  an  Officer  in  the  Army  at  Boston  to 
his  friend  in  England,  giving  an  account  of  the 
Battle  of  Bunker's  Hill,     ...       -  1093 

25,   Letter  from  General  Burgoyne  to  Lord  Stanley. 

Account  of  the  Battle  of  Bunker's  Hill,       -  1094 
Letter  to  General  Burgoyne:  Strictures  on  his 
Letter  to  Lord  Stanley,      ....  1095 

25,  Letter  from  General  Gage  to  the  Earl  of  Dart- 
mouth. The  trials  we  have  had  show  the 
Rebels  are  not  the  despicable  rabble  too  many 
have  supposed  them  to  be ;  when  they  find  cover 
they  make  a  good  stand.  The  conquest  of  this 
Country  is  not  easy,  and  can  be  effected  only 
by  time  and  perseverance  and  strong  armies 
attacking  it  in  various  quarters  and  dividing 
their  forces,  1097 

25,  Letter  from  General  Gage  to  the  Earl  of  Dart- 
mouth, with  his  account  of  the  Battle  of  Bun- 
ker's Hill,  1097 

Return  of  the  Officers,  Non-Commissioned  Offi- 
cers and  Privates  Killed  and  Wounded  of  His 
Majesty's  Troops,  at  the  attack  of  the  Redoubts 
and  Intrenchments,  on  the  Heights  of  Charles- 
town,  June  17,  1775,         ....  1098 


XCVII 

1775. 


CONTENTS. 


xcvin 


Observations  on  the  Government  account  of  the 

lale  Action  near  Charlestown,  ...  1099 
Further  Observations,  -----  1101 
June  26,  Message  from  the  Governour  of  Grenada  to  the 
House  of  Assembly,  requiring  that  the  Ad- 
dress and  Minutes  of  the  House,  in  favour  of 
the  rebellious  subjects  in  America,  be  rescind- 
ed,  1102 

Message  from  the  House  to  the  Governour,  in- 
forming him  an  Address  to  the  King  had  pass- 
ed the  House  in  consequence  of  an  unanimous 
Resolution  for  that  purpose;  it  had  been  deli- 
vered to  the  late  Speaker,  and  is  no  longer  in 
the  possession  of  the  House,  -  -  -  1 1 02 
Resolutions  of  the  House  refusing  to  comply 
with  the  peremptory  demands  of  the  Govern- 
our to  rescind  the  Minutes,  ...  1102 
Proclamation  of  the  Governour  dissolving  the 
Assembly,  -  1103 

26,  Meeting  of  sundry  Gentlemen  at  Savannah,  in 
Georgia.  Declare  the  Acts  of  Parliament,  for 
raising  a  Revenue  in  America,  are  grievances, 
and  they  will  do  all  they  legally  may  to  obtain 
a  redress  of  those  grievances,      -       -       -  1103 

26,  Meeting  of  the  Committee  for  Talbot  County, 
Maryland.  Information  of  the  arrival  in  the 
Chesapeake  Bay  of  the  Ship  Johnston,  Cap- 
tain Jones,  from  Liverpool,  with  Salt  and  Dry 

Goods,  1104 

Report  of  the  Sub- Committee  who  examined  the 
Ship  Johnston,  with  a  schedule  of  the  Goods 
on  board,  shipped  by  James  Gildart  and  John 
Gawith,  of  Liverpool,  who  are  declared  to 
have  violated  the  Association,     -       -       -  1 104 

26,  Committee  for  the  City  and  Liberties  of  Phila- 
delphia. Resolve  that  Henry  Cour  and  Nich- 
olas Ashton,  of  Liverpool,  have  knowingly 
violated  the  Association  of  the  American  Con- 
gress, by  shipping  Salt  to  America  in  the  Ship 
Albion,  and  that  the  Ship  and  Cargo  return  to 
Liverpool  forthwith,  -       -       -       -       -  1105 

26,  Letter  from  John  Lamb  to  the  New- York  Con- 
gress,     -       -       -       -       -       -       -11 06 

26,  Letter  from  John  French  to  the  New-York 
Congress.  Cannot  take  his  seat  in  Congress, 
as  it  appears  he  was  not  elected  by  a  majority,  1 106# 

26,  Letter  from  Robert  R.  Livingston  to  the  New- 
York  Congress.  His  Powder  Mill  is  in 
operation,  and  will  immediately  begin  making 
the  Powder,  1106 

26,   Letter  from  Governour  Trumbull  to  President 

Hancock,  1106 

26,  Letter  from  General  Gage  to  Lord  Dunmore,  in- 
forming him  of  his  victory  over  the  Rebels,  on 
the  17th,  1107 

26,   Letter  from  General  Ward  to  the  Massachusetts 

Congress,        ------  1107 

26,  Letter  from  the  Committee  for  Northfield,  Mas- 
sachusetts, to  the  Provincial  Congress,  -       -  1108 

26,  Petition  of  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  for 
the  Town  of  Plymouth,  Massachusetts,  to  the 
Provincial  Congress,         ....  1108 

26,  Letter  from  the  New- Hampshire  Committee  of 

Safety  to  General  Folsom,  -       -       -       -  1109 

27,  Letter  from  Governour  Wright  to  General  Gage. 

The  unhappy  affair  of  the  19th  of  April,  and 
some  late  occurrences  in  South-Carolina,  have 
forced  the  People  of  Georgia  into  the  same 
predicament  with  others.  He  has  neither  Men 
nor  Money.  The  King's  Officers,  and  friends 
to  Government  are  left  naked,  and  exposed  to 
the  resentment  of  an  enraged  People,  -  -  1109 
Letter  sent  in  place  of  the  foregoing,  (which  was 
intercepted  and  suppressed.)  by  the  Secret 
Committee  of  Charlestown.  South-Carolina, 
(Note,)    -       -  -       -       -       -  1110 

27,  Letter  from  Gov.  Wright  to  Admiral  Graves, 
urging  him  to  send  a  Sloop-of-War  to  Savan- 
nah immediately;  a  Vessel  with  a  quantity  of 
Gunpowder  is  expected,  and  Boats  and  Men 
from  South-Carolina  are  waiting  to  take  her, 
and  he  has  no  means  to  prevent  it,  -  -  1 1 1 1 
Letter  substituted  for  the  foregoing  by  the  Secret 
Committee  of  South-Carolina,  (Note,)  -       -  1111 

27,  Letter  from  Charlestown,  South-Carolina,  to  a 
Gentleman  in  Philadelphia,  enclosing  Extracts 
of  Letters  from  the  Superintendent  and  Agent 
of  Indian  Affairs  in  Georgia,      -       -       -  1 1 1 1 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii. 


1775. 

June  27,  Meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Accomack  Coun- 
ty, Virginia.  John  Sherlock  declared  an  ene- 
my to  American  Liberty.  Recantation  of  Mr. 
Sherlock,  1112 

27,  Committee  for  Bedford  County,  Virginia :  offer 
assistance  and  protection  to  such  of  the  Inha- 
bitants of  the  lower  parts  of  the  Colony  as  may 
be  obliged  to  quit  their  habitations,       -       -  1 1 13 

27,  Letter  from  President  Hancock  to  the  New-  York 
Congress,  enclosing  a  List  of  the  General  Offi- 
cers appointed  to  command  the  Continental 
Forces,    -       -       -       -       -       -  -1114 

27,  Letter  from  the  New- York  Congress  to  Govern- 
our Trumbull.  A  Guard  has  been  sent  to 
escort  four  Wagons  loaded  with  Gunpowder, 
from  New-Jersey,  for  the  Camp  at  Cambridge,  1114 

27,  Meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Brookhaven,  Suf- 
folk County,  New- York.  Adopt  the  Reso- 
lutions and  determinations  of  the  Continental 
Congress,  and  the  injunctions  of  the  Provin- 
cial Congress,  and  will  abide  by,  adhere  to, 
and  support  them.  Apologize  for  their  past 
conduct,  in  having  so  late  come  into  the  Con- 
gressional measures,  -----  934 

27,  Letter  from  Thomas  Hicks  to  the  New- York 
Congress,  with  his  reasons  for  not  taking  his 
seat  in  Congress,  and  account  of  the  election 
in  Queen's  County,  where  they  decline  for  the 
present  to  send  Delegates,  -       -       -       -  1 1 1 4 

27,  Petition  and  Remonstrance  of  Hermann  Zedt- 
witz  to  the  New- York  Provincial  Congress, 
for  permission  to  raise  a  Regiment  of  Rifle- 
men, and  appoint  him  to  the  command  of  it,  -  1115 

27,   Letter  from  Elisha  Phelps,  at  Ticonderoga,  to 

the  Massachusetts  Congress,       -       -       -  1116 

27,  Letter  from  Governour  Trumbull  to  the  Massa- 
chusetts Congress.  Is  informed  by  Colonel 
Hinman,  at  Ticonderoga,  that  the  British  are 
fortifying  St.  John's,  and  that  the  Caughnawaga 
Indians  have  had  a  war-dance,  being  brought 
to  it  by  General  Carleton,  -       -       -  -1116 

27,   Meeting  of  the  Committees  of  Inspection  for  the 

Towns  of  Tiverton  and  Little  Compton,  R.  I.  -  1117 

27,  Letter  from  Governour  Cooke  to  the  Massachu- 
setts Congress.  Rhode-Island  is  about  to  fit 
out  two  Armed  Vessels  for  the  protection  of 
their  trade;  a  few  Vessels,  properly  armed  and 
manned,  would  be  a  great  means  of  protecting 
the  coast,  and  might  enable  us  to  make  repri- 
sals,  1118 

27,   Extracts  of  Letters  received  in  Philadelphia,  from 

Gentlemen  in  the  Army  at  Cambridge,         -  1118 

27,  Letter  from  General  Ward  to  the  Massachusetts 
Congress,  recommending  Col.  William  Hen- 
shaw  for  Adjutant- General,        -       -       -  1119 

27,  Letter  from  General  Thomas  to  the  Massachu- 
setts Congress,  with  a  request  from  the  Select- 
men of  Boston  that  Provisions  may  be  sent  into 
Boston  for  the  American  Prisoners  taken  on 
the  17th,  at  Charlestown,    -       -       -       -  1119 

27,  Letter  from  Colonel  David  Brewer  to  the  Massa- 
chusetts Congress,      -       -       -       -       -  1 1 19 

27,  Petition  of  the  Officers  of  Colonels  Prescott,  Frye 
and  Bridge's  Regiments,  to  the  Massachusetts 
Congress,  praying  an  allowance  for  their  losses 
in  the  Battle  on  the  17th  instant,  -       -       -  1119 

27,  Letter  from  the  Massachusetts  Congress  to  the 
Continental  Congress.  The  Continental  Army 
before  Boston  are  restrained  from  returning 
the  fire  of  the  British,  which  is  kept  up  daily, 
lest  by  so  doing  they  exhaust  their  little  stock 
of  powder,  and  place  them  at  the  mercy  of 
their  enemies.  Nothing  can  so  much  merit  the 
immediate  attention  of  the  Congress  as  the 
means  of  supplying  this  Army  in  the  speediest 
manner  with  Gunpowder,  -       -       -       -  1 120 

27,  Letter  from  General  Folsom  to  the  New- Hamp- 
shire Committee  of  Safety,  -       -       -       -  1121 

27,  Letter  from  the  Portsmouth,  New- Hampshire, 
Committee,  to  the  Massachusetts  Committee 
of  Safety,  enclosing  an  intercepted  Letter  from 
Boston,  1122 

27,  Letter  from  the  Committees  of  Hanover  and 
Lebanon  to  the  New-Hampshire  Congress. — 
Mr.  Dean  has  just  arrived  with  important 
intelligence  from  Canada,  and  will  set  out  for 
Philadelphia  to-morrow,  to  lay  it  before  the 
Continental  Congress,        ....  1540 


XCIX 

1775. 

June 28,  Meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Observation  for 
Anne  Arundel  County  and  City  of  Annapolis. 
Forbid  the  landing  of  Goods  imported  in  the 
Ship  Adventure,  from  Loudon,    ...  1122 

28,  Letter  from  General  Schuyler  to  the  Continental 
Congress.  Two  Regiments  of  Connecticut 
Troops  have  arrived  within  two  miles  of  New- 
York.  Repoits  prevail  there  that  the  Indians 
have  accepted  the  hatchet  oflered  them  by 
General  Carleton,  and  that  considerable  bodies 
of  them  have  been  seen  going  to  Montreal. 
Eight  Transports  with  Troops  are  now  at 
Sandy-Hook,    -       -      '-       -       -       -  1123 

28,  Letter  from  the  New- York  Congress  to  their 
Delegates  in  the  Continental  Congress.  Deeply 
impressed  with  the  necessity  of  an  accommo- 
dation with  our  Parent  State,  and  conscious 
that  the  best  service  we  can  render  to  the  pre- 
sent and  all  future  generations  must  consist  in 
promoting  it,  we  have  laboured  to  point  out 
such  moderate  terms  as  may  tend  to  reconcile 
the  unhappy  differences ;  and  take  the  liberty 
of  enclosing  the  result  of  our  deliberations,  -  1329 

28,   Letter  from  Peter  T.  Curtenius  to  the  New- York 

Congress,        -       -       -       -       -       -  1124 

28,  Letter  from  the  Charlotte  County,  New- York, 
Committee,  to  the  Erovincial  Congress.  Dis- 
turbances in  the  County  ;  the  People  are  dis- 
satisfied with  the  order  of  Congress  to  remove 
the  Cannon  from  Ticonderoga,    -  1124 

28,  Address  of  the  Inhabitants  of  the  German  Flats, 
to  the  Oneida  and  Tuscarora  Indians  as- 
sembled there,  -       -       -       -       -       -  1 125 

28,  Address  of  the  English  Merchants,  of  Ouebeck, 
to  General  Carleton;  offer  their  services  to 
protect  the  place,  and  request  the  Militia  to  be 
embodied,         -  1125 

28,  Letter  from  General  Greene  to  Jacob  Greene. 
The  late  Battle.  The  present  situation  of  both 
Armies.  The  Rhode-Island  Troops  are  raw, 
irregular  and  undisciplined;  yet,  bad  as  they 
are,  they  are  under  much  better  government 
than  any  Troops  around  Boston,  -       -       -  1 126 

28,  Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Inspection  for  the 
Town  of  Biddcford  to  the  Massachusetts  Con- 
gress,      -       -       -       -       -       -  -1127 

28,  Letter  from  the  Massachusetts  Committee  of 
Safety  to  the  Provincial  Congress,  protesting 
against  an  Order  sent  to  them  by  Gen.  Ward,  1127 

28,  Letter  from  the  Massachusetts  Congress  to  the 
Albany  Committee,  with  a  particular  account 
of  the  late  Engagement  with  the  enemies  of 
America,  ......  1 444 

28,  Petition  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Machias  to  the 
Massachusetts  Congress,  praying  for  a  supply 
of  Provisions,  the  situation  of  the  times  having 
prevented  their  procuring  it,        ...  1128 

28,  Letter  from  the  New- Hampshire  Committee  of 

Safety  to  General  Folsom,         -       -       -  1128 

28,  Letter  from  the  Rev.  Dr.  Wheelock  to  the  New- 

Hampshire  Congress,  with  information  of  the 
disposition  of  the  Northern  Indians  towards 
the  Colonies,     -       -       -       -       -  -1541 

29,  Letter  from  the  Hague.    Orders  have  been  given 

by  the  States-General  to  their  Admiral  in  the 
West- Indies  to  seize  and  destroy  all  Ammuni- 
tion, Stores  and  Provisions,  found  in  any  Ships 
bound  from  any  Dutch  Settlements  to  any 
Poit  in  the  English-American  Colonics,     -  1128 

29,  Letter  from  Charlestown  to  a  Gentleman  in  Phi- 
laddphia.  Charlestown  has  more  the  appear- 
ance of  a  Garrison-Town  than  a  Mart  for 
Trade.  One  Company  keeps  guard  all  day, 
and  two  every  night.  The  Tories  in  Georgia 
are  now  no  more:  the  Province  is  almost  uni- 
versally on  the  right  side,  and  are  about  to 
choose  Delegates  to  the  Congress,        -       -  1 129 

29,  Free  Thoughts  on  the  present  Times  and  Mea- 
sures; addressed  to  the  People  of  Virginia,   -  1129 

29,  Philadelphia  Committee  direct  that  no  Sheep  be 
killed  under  four  years  of  age,  in  compliance 
with  the  Resolves  of  the  Provincial  Convention,  1 132 

29,  Letter  from  the  New-  York  Congress  to  the  Con- 
tinental Congress,      -       -       .       .       -  1 1 32 

29,  Letter  from  General  Schuyler  to  the  Continental 
Congress.  Some  Oneida  Indians,  lately  arrived 
at  Albany,  have  expressed  a  wish  that  the  In- 
dians should  be  called  together  there,    -       -  1133 


CONTENTS. 


1775. 

June 28,  Letter  from  General  Schuyler,  at  New- York,  to 

Colonel  Hinman,  commanding  at  Ticonderoga,  1 133 

29,  Letter  from  General  Schuyler  to  the  New-York 
Congress.  Proposes  the  Troops  from  Connect- 
icut shall  encamp  this  morning,  and  requests 
Tents  and  other  necessaries  may  he  furnished 
immediately,     ------  1134 

29,  Letter  from  the  New- York  Congress  to  Elisha 
Phelps,  Commissary  to  the  Connecticut  Troops 
on  Lake  Champlain.  Have  made  provision 
for  passing  to  him  all  the  Provisions  and  Stores 
heretofore  sent  for  the  Troops  at  the  Posts  on 
the  Lake,  1332 

29,  Letter  from  the  New- York  Congress  to  the 
Agents  at  Albany,  directing  them  to  deliver  to 
Mr.  Phelps,  the  Commissary  appointed  by  Go- 
vernour  Trumbull,  all  the  Provisions  and  Stons 
in  their  hands,  .....  1332 

29,  Letter  from  Colonel  Jacob  Bay  ley  to  the  New- 
York  Congress.  He  has  been  chosen  a  Mem- 
ber of  the  Provincial  Congress,  but  cannot 
attend,  as  they  are  apprehensive  of  an  invasion 
from  Canada,  -       -       -       -       -  1134 

29,  Association  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Newtown,  in 
Fairfield  County,  Connecticut,  adopted  on  the 
13th  of  February,  and  signed  by  the  Inhabi- 
tants on  the  12th  of  April,  1775,  -       -  1 135 

29,  Letter  from  Fort  George,  near  Ticonderoga,  to  a 

Gentleman  in  Hartford.  It  is  generally  be- 
lieved that  Carleton  is  making  preparations  to 
come  against  us.  Guy  Johnson  is  doing  all 
he  can  to  raise  the  Indians  against  us,  -  1135 

30,  Preparations  for  defence  at  Williamsburgh,  Vir- 

ginia,      -       -       -       -       -       -       -  1 1 35 

30,  Address  of  the  Committee  of  Cumberland  Coun- 
ty, Virginia,  to  the  Inhabitants  of  the  County,  1 136 

30,  Letter  from  one  of  the  Virginia  Delegates,  at 

Philadelphia,  to  a  friend  in  Williamsburgh,   -  1137 

30,  Letter  to  the  New- York  Congress,  from  their 
Delegates  in  the  Continental  Congress,  urging 
them,  by  all  means,  to  complete  their  levies 
of  Men  without  delay;  the  honour  as  well  as 
the  interest  of  the  Congress  is  much  concerned 
in  the  success  of  this  measure;  Connecticut 
boasts  of  having  raised  their  Men  in  ten  days,  1137 

30,  Letter  from  General  Schuyler,  at  New- York,  to 
the  Continental  Congress.  In  obedience  to  the 
Resolutions  of  Congress,  he  will  repair  with- 
out delay  to  Ticonderoga,  and  execute  their 
wishes  with  the  utmost  expedition  and  secrecy,  1 138 

30,  Letter  from  General  Schuyler  to  the  New- York 
Congress.  Has  just  received  Despatches  con- 
taining matters  of  the  utmost  importance,  and 
wishes  to  meet  a  small  Committee  of  their 
body,  to  whom  he  will  communicate  such  part 
of  his  orders  as  become  the  subject  of  their 
consideration,    -       -       -       -       -       -  1139 

30,  Letter  from  General  Schuyler  to  Governour 
Trumbull.  To  enable  him  to  carry  into  exe- 
cution the  orders  of  the  Continental  Congress, 
supplies  of  Money  and  Ammunition  are  in- 
dispensably necessary;  he  requests  Connecti- 
cut will  send  him  fifteen  or  twenty  thousand 
Pounds  of  their  Money,  and  all  the  Ammuni- 
tion they  can  spare,  for  it  cannot  be  had  in 
New- York,  even  in  the  smallest  quantity,     -  1139 

30,  Letter  from  Capt.  John  Lamb  to  the  New- York 

Congress,         -       -       -       -       -       -  1 1 40 

30,  Letter  from  Samuel  Mott,  at  Fort  George,  to  Go- 
vernour Trumbull.  Has  been  informed  of  the 
extraordinary  ill  conduct  of  Col.  Arnold,  the 
particulars  of  which  have  been  sent  by  Col. 
Hinman.  Requests  that  Captain  Niles,  of 
Norwich,  a  bold  and  able  sea  commander, 
may  be  commissioned  to  take  command  of  one 
of  the  Vessels  on  the  Lake.  Guy  Johnson  is 
doing  all  in  his  power  to  stimulate  the  Indians 
against  us,        -       -       -       -       -       -  1140 

30,  Letter  from  General  Ward  to  the  Continental 
Congress.  Has  received  and  accepts  his  ap- 
pointment as  a  Major-General  in  the  Ameri- 
can Army.  Hopes  the  appointments  in  Mas- 
sachusetts, made  by  the  Congress,  of  General 
Officers,  may  not  have  a  tendency  to  create 
uneasiness;  which  ought,  at  this  time,  to  be 
carefully  avoided,       -       -       -       -       -  1140 

30,  Letter  from  General  Ward  to  John  Pigeon,  Com- 
missary-General,      -       «       -       -       -  1141 


CI 

1775. 

June  30,  Letter  from  General  Thomas  to  the  Massachu- 
setts Committee  of  Safety,   -       -       -  -1141 

30,  Letter  from  General  Heath  to  the  Massachusetts 
Committee  of  Safety.  Many  of  his  Regiment 
are  without  Arms;  requests  they  may  be  sup- 
plied,  1141 

30,  Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Safety  for  Massa- 
chusetts to  the  Provincial  Congress.  Desire 
to  have  a  full  knowledge  of  the  emissions  of 
Bills  lately  made,  before  they  consider  the  fur- 
ther emission  required  by  a  Resolve  of  the 
Provincial  Congress,  -       -       -  -1141 

30,  Letter  from  the  Massachusetts  Committee  of  Sup- 
plies to  the  New- Hampshire  Committee  of 
Safety,  requesting  them  to  forward  some  Can- 
non they  have,  -       -       -       -  -1142 

30,  Colonel  John  Fenton  declared  an  enemy  to  the 
Liberties  of  America  by  the  Congress  of  New- 
Hampshire,  and  sent  under  guard  to  Head- 
Quarters,   698 

Eulogium  sacred  to  the  memory  of  the  late  Maj. 
Gen.  Warren,  who  fell,  June  17, 1775,  fighting 
against  the  Ministerial  Army  at  Boston,       -  1142 


RHODE- ISLAND  ASSEMBLY. 

May  3,  Rhode- Island  Assembly  meet  at  Providence,     -  1 143 
List  of  the  Members,    -       -       -       -       -  1143 
Records  of  the  Colony  removed  to  Providence,  -  1 1 45 
Committee  to  prepare  a  Bill  for  regulating  the 
Army  to  be  raised  for  the  defence  of  the  Co- 
lony,  1145 

Act  for  embodying,  supplying  and  paying  the 
Army  of  Observation  ordered  to  be  raised  for 
the  defence  of  the  ColoDy,  ...  1145 

Committee  of  Safety  authorized  to  receive  and 
distribute  Arms,        -       -       -       -       -  1147 

Committee  of  Safety  appointed,       -       -       -  1 1 47 
Officers  of  the  Army  of  Observation,      -       -  1147 
Resolutions  disqualifying  Governour  Wanton, 
and  authorizing  the  Lieutenant-Governour  to 
act  as  Governour,      -       -       -       -  -1149 

Committee  of  Safety  directed  to  make  out  the 
account  of  the  expenses  of  Raising  and  Equip- 
ping the  Army  of  Observation,  and  transmit 
it  to  the  Continental  Congress,     -       -       -  1150 
Proceedings  of  the  Assembly,  relative  to  the  Dis- 
putes between  Great  Britain  and  the  Colonies, 
directed  to  be  sent  to  the  Assembly  of  Connect- 
icut and  Committee  of  New- York,      -       -  1 150 
Pay  to  the  Officers  and  Men  of  the  Army  of  Ob- 
servation,        ......  1150 

Embaro-o  laid  on  all  Provisions  going  out  of  the 

Colony,  1151 

Adjourn  to  second  Monday  in  June,        -       -  1151 
June  12,Meet  according  to  adjournment,     ...  1151 

List  of  the  Members,  1151 

Disqualification  of  Governour  Wanton  continued,  1 152 
Deputy-Governour  requested  to  write  to  Captain 
Wallace,  Commander  of  His  Majesty's  Ship 
Rose,  now  in  the  Harbour  of  Newport,  and 
demand  of  him  the  reason  of  his  conduct  to- 
wards the  Inhabitants  of  the  Colony,    -       -  1152 
Allowances  to  Soldiers  in  Camp,     -       -       -  1152 
Rules  for  regulating  the  Army  of  Observation, 

raised  by  this  Colony,        -       -       -       -  1152 
Committee  of  Safety  directed  to  fit  out,  with  Arms 
arid  Men,  two  Vessels,  to  protect  the  Trade  of 

the  Colony,  1158 

Officers  appointed  to  command  the  Vessels,  -  1 158 
Memorial  of  William  Potter,  of  South-Kingston, 
expressing  his  regret  at  having  signed  the  Pro- 
test, in  April  last,  against  the  Act  for  raising 
an  Army  of  Observation,  ....  1158 
The  Memorial  is  considered  satisfactory,  and  Mr. 
Potter  is  reinstated  in  the  favour  of  the  As- 
sembly,   -  -1159 

Military  Officers  appointed,    ....  1159 

Post-Offices  established,  Postmasters  and  Post- 
Riders  appointed,  and  Rates  of  Postage  fixed,  1160 
Ten  Thousand  Pounds  in  lawful  money,  Bills  of 
Credit,  authorized,     .....  H61 

Officers  chosen  by  the  Light-Infantry  Compa- 
nies of  Providence  and  Gloucester  approved,  1161 
Officers  chosen  by  the  Company  of  Scituate  Hun- 
ters, approved,  ------  1161 

An  Act  to  prevent  Desertion  from  the  Army  of 
Observation,  1161 


CONTENTS. 


1775. 

Officers  chosen  by  the  Company  of  North-Pro- 
vidence Rangers,  approved,  ... 

The  Deputy-Governour  requested  to  transmit  to 
the  Rhode- Island  Delegates  in  the  Continental 
Congress  a  copy  of  the  Proceedings  of  this 
Assembly,  ------ 

Adjourned  to  the  third  Monday  in  August  next, 
Ju ne 28, Meet  again;  convened  by  the  Lieut.  Governour, 

List  of  the  Members  of  the  Assembly, 

Officers  chosen  to  command  the  Pawtuxet  Ran- 
gers, approved,  -       -       -       -  - 

Six  additional  Companies  authorized  to  be  raised 
and  equipped  ;  two  Companies  to  be  added  to 
each  of  the  Regiments  now  in  the  service  of 
this  Colony,  and  encamped  near  Boston, 

Ten  Thousand  Pounds  in  lawful  money,  Bills, 
to  be  emitted  for  the  pay  and  support  of  the 
additional  Companies,         -       -       -  - 

An  Act  to  repeal  an  Act  entitled  "An  Act  for 
Regulating  Appeals  to  His  Majesty  in  Coun- 
cil, in  Great  Britain,"         -  - 

Disqualification  of  Governour  Wanton  con- 
tinued, ------- 

Army  of  Observation  placed  under  the  command 
and  direction  of  the  Commander-in-Chief  of 
the  combined  American  Army,  stationed  in  the 
Province  of  Massachusetts,  ... 

Deputy-Governour  requested  to  write  a  Reply 
to  the  Speech  of  the  Oneida  Indians  to  the 
four  New-England  Colonies,  - 

Committee  appointed  to  take  an  account  of  the 
Powder,  Arms  and  Ammunition,  as  well  pri- 
vate as  publick,  in  the  Colony,  ... 

Committees  of  the  several  Towns  requested  to 
collect  Saltpetre,  and  forward  it  to  the  Provin- 
cial Congress  in  New- York,       -       -  - 

Officers  chosen  to  command  the  Providence  Gre- 
nadier Company,  approved,         -       -  - 

Officers  appointed  to  command  the  six  additional 
Companies  to  the  Army  of  Observation, 

Act  for  enlisting  one-fourth  part  of  the  Militia  of 
the  Colony  as  Minute-Men,  - 

Adjourned  to  the  third  Monday  in  August, 


21, 


22, 
23, 


24, 


PENNSYLVANIA  ASSEMBLY. 

June  19,  Pennsylvania  Assembly  meet,  - 

20,   Message  to  the  Governour,  that  they  are  ready 
to  proceed  to  any  business  he  may  have  to  lay 
before  them,  ------ 

Answer  of  the  Governour ;  he  has  no  business  to 

lay  before  the  House,  - 
Committee  to  prepare  a  bill  for  striking  twenty- 
two  thousand  Pounds  in  Bills  of  Credit, 
Bill  for  striking  Bills  of  Credit  reported  and 
read,  ------- 

Memorial  from  the  Committee  for  the  City  and 
Liberties  of  Philadelphia,  requesting  them  to 
appoint  a  Committee  of  Safety  and  Defence,  - 
Resolution  of  the  Continental  Congress  of  June 
22,  requesting  Pennsylvania  to  raise  two  or 
more  Companies  of  Riflemen,  presented  to  the 
House,  ------- 

Petition  from  a  number  of  the  Officers  of  the  As- 
sociation in  the  City  and  Liberties  of  Philadel- 
phia, concurring  with  the  Petition  and  Memo- 
rial from  the  Committee  of  the  said  City  and 
Liberties,  presented  yesterday,  - 
Consideration  of  the  Petition  from  the  Committee 
for  Philadelphia  resumed,   -       -       -  - 

Committee  appointed  to  consider  of,  and  report  to 
the  House,  such  measures  as  may  be  expedient 
for  putting  the  City  and  Province  into  a  state 
of  defence,  - 
Message  from  the  Governour,  refusing  his  con- 
sent to  the  Bill  entitled  ''  An  Act  for  the  sup- 
port of  Government  of  this  Province,  and  pay- 
ment of  the  Publick  Debt,"  - 
Committee  to  prepare  an  Answer  to  the  Message, 
Resolves  reported  by  the  Committee  on  the  De- 
fence of  the  City  and  Province,  considered  and 
agreed  to  by  the  House,      -       -       -  - 

Committee  of  Safety  appointed,  - 
People  conscientiously  scrupulous  of  bearing 
Arms  recommended  to  assist  the  indigent  As- 
sociators,  ------- 

Adjourned  to  Monday,  the  18th  of  September 
next,        -       -       -  - 


27, 


28, 


30, 


CII 


1162 


1162 
1162 
1162 
1163 

1163 


1163 

1163 

1163 
1164 

1164 

1164 

1164 

1164 

1164 

1165 

1165 
1168 

1167 

1167 
1167 
1168 
1168 

1168 
1170 

1170 
1170 

-  1170 


1171 
1171 


1172 
1173 


1174 
1174 


cm 

1775. 

NEW-HAMPSHIRE  HO  178 B  OF  REPRESENTATIVES. 

June  12, House  of  Representatives  of  New-Hampshire 

meet,  1175 

13,  Refuse  to  receive  the  Members  elected  on  the 
King's  Writ,  for  the  Towns  of  Plymouth,  Or- 
ford,  and  Lime,  ------  1175 

Answer  of  the  House  to  the  Governour's  Speech,  1 175 
Message  from  the  Governour,  adjourning  the 
House  to  Tuesday,  the  1 1th  of  August  next,  -  1 176 


NEW- HAMPSHIRE  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS. 

June27,  The  Congress  meets  according  to  adjournment,  1179 
Cannon  to  be  sent  to  the  Army  at  Medfbrd,       -  1 179 

28,  Provincial  and  County  Records  at  Portsmouth 

removed  to  Exeter,    -       -       -       -       -  1179 

29,  Rules  and  Articles  of  War  for  Massachusetts, from 

No.  1  to  No.  53,  inclusive,  adopted  for  the 
New-Hampshire  Forces,    -       -       -  1180 

30,  Justices  of  the  several  Courts  recommended  to 

adjourn  their  respective  Courts  to  the  first  day 
of  the  next  Term,  till  further  advice  of  this 
Congress,         -       -       -       -       -  -1180 

Colonel  John  Fenton  ordered  to  be  confined  in 
the  Jail  at  Exeter,  and  supported  like  a  Gen- 
tleman, at  the  expense  of  the  Colony,    -       -  1181 
July  1,  Colonel  Fenton  ordered  to  be  sent  to  the  Head- 
quarters of  the  New-Hampshire  Forces,      -  1181 

Committee  to  prepare  a  Bill  for  an  emission  of  a 
further  sum  of  Paper  Notes,        ...  1181 

Committee  to  bring  in  a  Plan  to  regulate  the  Mi- 
litia of  the  Colony,     -----  1181 

Committee  to  confer  with  the  other  New-Eng- 
land Colonies,  on  the  situation  of  Ticonderoga, 
Crown  Point,  and  Canada,  and  procure  the 
views  of  those  Colonies  relative  to  any  Plan  of 
Operations  in  those  parts,    -       -       -  -1181 

3,  Publick  Money  in  the  hands  of  George  JafTrey, 

Treasurer,  delivered  to  a  Committee  of  the 
Congress,         -       -       -       -       -       -  1181 

Letter  received  from  Dr.  Wheelock,  giving  an 
account  of  the  state  of  matters  in  Canada,  sent 
by  a  Committee  to  the  Massachusetts  Congress,  1 182 

4,  Committee  to  prepare  a  Vote  for  establishing  and 

encouraging  sundry  Manufactures  in  the  Co- 
lony,   -       -  1182 

5,  Receiver-General  authorized  to  give  his  Notes 

of  Hand,  on  the  faith  of  the  Colony,  for  ten 
thousand  Pounds,       -       -       -       -       -  11 82 

Selectmen  or  Committee  of  each  Town  to  take 
an  exact  list  of  all  the  Fire- Arms  fit  for  use  in 
their  respective  Towns  and  Parishes  in  the 

Colony,  1184 

7,   Report  of  the  Committee  appointed  to  remove  the 

Publick  Records,      -       .       ,       -       -  1 184 

Committee  of  Safety  directed  to  write  a  Letter  to 
the  Continental  Congress,  setting  forth  the  situ- 
ation of  the  Colony,  the  state  of  the  Forces,  &c,  1 1 86 

Adjourned  to  August  22,       -       .       .       -  1186 


HOUSE  OF  BURGESSES  OF  VIRGINIA. 

June  1,  House  of  Burgesses  of  Virginia  meet  at  Wil- 

liamsburgh,      -  1185 
Peyton  Randolph  chosen  Speaker,  -       -       -  1186 
Speech  of  the  Governour  to  the  Council  and 
House  of  Burgesses,  -  1187 

2,  Message  from  the  Governour,  communicating  the 

Joint  Address  of  the  Lords  and  Commons,  on 
the  7th  of  February,  and  His  Majesty's  An- 
swer; and  also  the  Resolution  of  the  House  of 
Commons  of  the  27th  of  the  same  month,      -  1188 

Address  to  the  Governour  ordered,  and  a  Com- 
mittee appointed  to  prepare  it,      ...  1188 

Journal  of  the  Proceedings  of  the  Congress  held 
at  Philadelphia,  on  the  5th  day  of  September, 

1774,  laid  before  the  House,        -       -  -1188 
Proceedings  of  the  Convention  of  Delegates  for 

the  Counties  and  Corporations  in  the  Colony 
of  Virginia,  held  at  Richmond  Town,  in  the 
County  of  Henrico,  on  the  20th  day  of  March, 

1775,  laid  before  the  House,       -       ,       -  1188 

3,  Address  to  the  Governour,  requesting  him  to 

communicate  to  the  House  the  number  of 
Militia  lately  drawn  out  into  actual  service  in 
defence  of  the  Colony;  and  what  Militia  has 
been  ordered  out  since  the  late  Indian  Expedi- 
tion, and  for  what  purposes,  -       ...  1189 


CIV 

1775. 

June  5,  Answer  of  the  Governour  to  the  Address  relative 

to  the  Militia,  -  1189 

Address  to  the  Governour  in  answer  to  his 
Speech,  -  1190 

Committee  to  inspect  the  Publick  Magazine  in 
this  City,  and  inquire  into  the  Stores  belonging 
to  the  same,      -       -       -       -       -       -  1191 

Petition  of  the  Presbytery  of  Hanover,  in  behalf 
of  themselves  and  all  the  Presbyterians  of 
Virginia,  and  of  all  Protestant  Dissenters  else- 
where, praying  for  equal  liberties  and  advan- 
tages with  their  fellow-subjects,    -       -       -  1191 

Journal  of  the  Proceedings  of  the  Congress  con- 
sidered, and  unanimously  approved,      -       -  1192 

Proceedings  of  the  Convention  considered,  and 
unanimously  approved,       ...       -  1193 

Address  of  the  Council  to  the  Governour,       -  1 193 

Governour's  Answer,    -----  1193 

6,  Message  from  the  Governour  relative  to  the 

Publick  Magazine;  and  a  paper  referred  to  in 

the  Message,  1 193 

The  Gentlemen  who  were  appointed  to  inspect 
the  Magazine  directed  to  prepare  an  Answer 
to  the  Message,  1 194 

Answer  to  the  Governour's  Message,      -       -  1194 

Message  from  the  Governour  relative  to  the  Gun- 
powder which  has  been  removed  from  the 
Publick  Magazine  by  His  Excellency's  order,  1 195 

Message  from  the  Council,  with  a  copy  of  their 
Proceedings  upon  a  report  relative  to  the  Ma- 
rines and  Sailors  belonging  to  His  Majesty's 
Ship  the  Fowey,  1195 

Captain  James  Innis,  of  the  Williamsburgh  Vo- 
lunteers, requested  to  guard  the  Magazine,    -  1 196 

7,  The  Governour's  Message,  relative  to  the  remo- 

val of  the  Gunpowder  from  the  Magazine, 

considered,       -       -       -       -       -       -11 96 

Committee  appointed  to  prepare  and  present  an 

Address  to  the  Governour,  -  -  -  -  1 196 
Governour's  Speech  considered  in  Committee  of 

the  Whole  House,  1196 

Message  from  the  Governour  in  answer  to  their 

Address  of  this  day,  -  -  -  -  -  1 197 
Petition  of  Wm.  Fleming  presented  to  the  House,  1 197 

8,  Petition  of  Abraham  Field  presented,       -       -  1 197 
Message  from  the  Council,  with  a  written  Mes- 
sage from  the  Governour,  informing  that,  con- 
sidering himself  in  danger  of  personal  violence, 

he  had  removed  to  a  place  of  safety;  and  had 
fixed  his  residence  for  the  present  on  board  His 
Majesty's  Ship  the  Fowey,  lying  at  York,  and 
that  for  the  transaction  of  all  publick  business, 
access  to  him  will  be  easy  and  safe,      -       -  1 198 

Message  read,  considered,  and  Committee  ap- 
pointed to  prepare  an  Address  in  answer,      -  1 198 

Address  to  the  Governour,  in  answer  to  his  Mes- 
sage,  1199 

Sent  to  the  Council  for  their  concurrence,  -       -  1 199 

Concurred  in  by  the  Council  and  amended  to 
make  it  a  Joint  Address,     -       -       -       -  1 199 

Committee  appointed  to.  present  it,   -       -       -  1 199 

9,  Governour's  Speech  considered  in  Committee  of 

the  Whole,  1199 

Mr.  Cary  reported  from  the  Committee,  that  the 
Address  of  yesterday  had  been  presented  to  the 
Governour  on  board  the  Fowey,  and  that  he 
was  pleased  to  say  he  would  take  time  to  con- 
sider it,  and  would  return  an  answer  in  writing 
after  he  had  maturely  deliberated  upon  its  con- 
tents,      -       -  1200 

10,   Governour's  Speech  considered  in  Committee  of 

the  Whole,  1200 

Resolution  reported  to  the  House,  setting  forth 
the  reasons  why  they  cannot  close  with  the 
Resolution  of  the  House  of  Commons  of  the 
27th  of  February,  (Lord  North's,)      -  -1200 

Resolution  agreed  to,  and  a  Committee  appointed 
to  prepare  an  Address  to  the  Governour  upon  it,  1202 

Answer  of  the  Governour  to  the  Joint  Address, 
presented  to  him  yesterday,  -        -       -       -  1202 

Committee  appointed  to  inquire  into  the  causes  of 
the  late  Disturbances  and  Commotions,  -  1204 
12,  Petition  of  the  Community  of  Christians  called 
Menonites,  praying  they  may  have  the  same 
liberty  of  affirming  to  the  truth  of  any  matter 
as  indulged  to  the  People  called  Quakers,     -  1204 

Address  to  the  Governour  reported  to  the  House 
by  the  Committee,     «■•'•*«,  1204 


CONTENTS. 


cv 

1775. 

Junel2,  Address  agreed  to,  and  a  Committee  appointed  to 

present  it,  -       -       -       -       -       -       -  1206 

13,  Report  of  the  Committee  appointed  to  inspect  the 

Magazine,        ......  1206 

Message  to  the  Council,  on  securing  the  Arms 

left  in  the  Palace  by  the  Governour,  -  -  1208 
Petition  of  sundry  persons  of  the  Community  of 

Christians  called  Baptists,  and  other  Protestant 

Dissenters,       ......  1208 

14,  Petition  of  several  persons  in  that  part  of  the 

County  of  Augusta  which  lies  West  of  the 
Alleghany  Mountains,  presented  by  Mr.  Bland, 
one  of  the  Delegates  to  the  Continental  Con- 
gress, where  it  was  first  presented,       -       -  1208 

Commissioners  appointed  to  ratify  the  Treaty  of 
Peace  between  this  Colony  and  the  Indians,  -  1209 

Report  of  the  Committee  appointed  to  inquire 
into  the  late  Disturbances  and  Commotions,  -  1209 

15,  Committee  appointed  to  a  Conference  with  the 

Council,  on  the  Message  of  the  House  relative 

to  the  security  of  the  publick  Arms,    -       -  1216 

Several  Conferences  on  the  subject  of  securing 
the  Arms,  1216 

Committee  appointed  to  join  with  a  Committee  of 
the  Council  in  preparing  an  Address  to  the 
Governour,  that  he  will  consent  to  a  removal 
of  the  publick  Arms  to  a  more  secure  place,  -  1217 

House  in  Committee  of  the  Whole  on  the  Go- 
vernour's  Answer  to  the  Joint  Address  of  the 
two  Houses;  the  Report  of  the  Committee  ap- 
pointed to  inspect  the  Publick  Magazine;  the 
Report  of  the  Committee  on  the  late  Disturb- 
ances and  Commotions:  and  an  extract  of  a 
Letter  from  Lord  Dunmore  to  Earl  of  Dart- 
mouth, dated  Williamsburgh,  Dec'r  24,  1774,  1217 

Resolution  reported  by  the  Committee  of  the 

Whole,  directing  an  Address  to  the  Governour,  1217 

Resolution  agreed  to,  and  Committee  appointed  to 
prepare  the  Address,  -----  1218 

Message  to  the  Council,  informing  them  that  the 
Locks  of  upwards  of  three  hundred  Guns,  late- 
ly  in  complete  order  in  the  Publick  Magazine, 
have  been  taken  off;  and  requesting  them  to 
join  in  an  Address  to  the  Governour,  desiring 
him  to  direct  the  Locks  to  be  returned  to  the 
Magazine,  1218 

16,  Mr.  Cary  reported  to  the  House,  that  their  Ad- 

dress of  Monday  last,  (the  12th  instant,)  had 
been  presented  to  the  Governour,  and  had  re- 
ceived his  Answer,    -       -       -       -  -1218 

Answer  of  the  Governour  to  the  Address  of 
Monday,  1218 

Address  ordered  to  be  presented  to  the  Governour, 
informing  him  the  Publick  Magazine  is  now 
in  a  fit  condition  for  the  reception  of  Arms  and 
Ammunition,  and  requesting  him  to  return  the 
Powder  lately  removed  from  thence  by  his 
order,  1218 

Committee  to  prepare  the  Address,  -       -  -1219 

17,  Committee  appointed,  on  the  7th  of  June,  to  draw 

up  an  Address  to  be  presented  to  the  Govern- 
our, reported,    ......  1219 

Address  reported  by  the  Committee  agreed  to, 
and  Committee  appointed  to  present  it,  -       -  1219 

Council  agree  to  address  the  Governour  concern- 
ing the  Locks  taken  off  some  of  the  Guns  in 
the  Magazine,  and  Committee  appointed  to 
prepare  it,   1220 

Mr.  Mercer  reported,  from  the  Committee  ap- 
pointed yesterday  to  draw  up  an  Address  to  the 
Governour,  informing  him  the  Publick  Maga- 
zine is  now  in  a  fit  condition  for  the  reception 
of  Arms  and  Ammunition,  ....  1220 

Address  reported  by  Mr.  Mercer  agreed  to,  and 
a  Committee  appointed  to  present  it,     -       -  1221 

Joint  Address  to  the  Governour,  requesting  him 
to  order  the  Publick  Arms  in  the  Palace  may 
be  removed,  during  his  absence,  to  the  Publick 
Magazine,        -       -       -       -       -       -  1221 

19,  Mr.  Bland  presented  to  the  House  copies  of  seve- 
ral Resolutions  of  the  Continental  Congress, 
passed  on  the  1 7th  of  May,  on  the  29th  of  May, 
and  on  2d  of  June,  1221 

Resolutions  of  the  Congress  approved  of  by  the 
House,  and  the  several  Committees  in  the  Co- 
lony for  carrying  into  execution  the  Continen- 
tal Association  are  requested  to  be  vigilant  in 
seeing  them  strictly  complied  with,      -       -  1221 


CVI 

1775. 

June  19,  Address  to  the  Governour,  reported  by  the  Com- 
mittee appointed  on  Thursday  last,  the  15th 

instant,  1221 

Agreed  to,  and  Committee  appointed  to  present  it,  1231 

20,  Message  from  the  Council,  with  a  Paper  which 

they  have  received  from  the  Governour,  as  his 
Answer  to  the  last  Joint  Address  of  the  Coun- 
cil and  House,  ......  1232 

Governour,  in  the  Paper  communicated,  refuses 
to  give  directions  for  the  removal  of  the  Arms 
from  the  Palace,  and  directs  that  they  remain 
there,  and  on  no  account  be  touched  without 
his  express  permission,       ....  1232 

Mr.  Cary  reported  that  the  Joint  Address  of  Sa- 
turday last,  (June  17,)  and  the  two  Addresses 
of  this  House  of  the  same  day,  and  the  Address 
of  yesterday,  had  been  severally  presented  to 
the  Governour,  who  directed  him  to  acquaint 
the  House  he  had  sent  his  Answer  to  the  first 
to  the  Council,  and  delivered  him  two  Papers 
in  answer  to  the  second  and  third  Addresses,  -  1232 

21,  Papers  sent  by  the  Governour,  in  answer  to  the 

Joint  Address  and  to  the  Addresses  of  this 
House,  taken  into  consideration,   -  1233 

Conference  desired  with  the  Council,  on  the  state 
of  the  Colony,  and  on  the  subject-matter  of  the 
Governoui's  Message  in  answer  to  the  Joint 
Address  of  the  Council  and  House,       -       -  1233 

Conference  agreed  to  by  the  Council,       -       -  1233 

Committee  appointed  to  manage  the  Conference 
on  the  part  of  the  House,    -       -       -       -  1233 

Instructions  to  Committee  appointed  to  manage 

the  Conference,  1233 

Address  to  the  Governour  agreed  upon  in  Con- 
ference,   -  1234 

Agreed  to  by  the  House,  and  Committee  appoint- 
ed to  present  it,         .....  1235 

22,  Answer  of  the  Governour  to  the  Joint  Address  of 

yesterday,  1236 

Message  from  the  Governour  to  the  House,  by 
the  Attorney-General,  on  the  Bills  and  Re- 
solves passed  by  the  House,        ...  1237 

Address  of  the  House  in  answer  to  the  Message,  1237 
24,  Answer  of  the  Governour  to  the  Address,        -  1239 

Considered  by  the  House  in  Committee  of  the 
Whole,  1239 

Resolutions,  reported  by  the  Committee  of  the 
Whole,  and  agreed  to  by  the  House,    -       -  1239 

Commissioners  appointed  to  meet  the  Chiefs  of 
the  Ohio  Indians,  to  confirm  and  ratify  a  Treaty 
of  Peace  with  them,  1240 

Commissioners  appointed  to  settle  the  Accounts 
of  the  Militia  for  their  services  and  losses  in  the 
late  Indian  war,         .....  1240 

Adjourned  to  the  12th  of  October  next,     -       -  1241 


NEW-YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS. 

May 22,  The  Congress  assembled  at  the  Exchange,  in 

New- York,   1241-1348 

23,  List  of  the  Deputies  from  the  several  Counties,  1241 
Rules  of  the  Congress  adopted,  ...  1243 
Moved  by  Mr.  Low,  and  consideration  postponed, 

that  implicit  obedience  ought  to  be  paid  to  all 
General  Regulations  recommended  by  the  Con- 
tinental  Congress ;  but  that  this  Congress  is 
competent  to  determine  on  all  matters  relative 
to  the  internal  police  of  the  Colony,      -       -  1244 

Resolution  of  the  Continental  Congress  of  May 
18th,  relative  to  Ticonderoga,  presented,       -  1245 

Committee  appointed  to  report  the  best  method  of 
carrying  it  into  execution,  ...  1245 

All  the  Ministers  in  the  City,  who  can  pray  in 
English,  requested  to  make  arrangements  for 
opening  the  Congress  with  Prayer,      -       -  1245 

24,  Report  of  the  Committee  on  the  Resolution  of  the 

Continental  Congress  relative  to  Ticonderoga,  1246 

Committee  appointed  to  superintend  the  removal 
of  the  Cannon  and  Stores  from  Ticonderoga 
to  Fort  George,         -       -       -  -  1247 

Letter  from  a  Committee  of  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives of  Connecticut,  appointed  to  confer 
with  this  Colony,      -  ...  1247 

Gentlemen  from  Connecticut  introduced,  their 
Credentials  read,  and  a  Committee  appointed 
to  confer  with  them,  ...       -       -  1247 

Committee  to  consider  the  expense  and  means 
of  raising  Money,  to  defray  the  expense  of 


CONTENTS. 


CVII 

1773. 


CONTENTS. 


1248 


1248 


1248 


1250 


removing  the  Cannon  and  Stores  from  Ticon- 
deroga,  ------- 

May  24,  Letter  to  the  Governour  of  Connecticut,  inform- 
ing him  of  what  they  have  done  relative  to 
Ticonderoga,  ------ 

Committee  to  prepare  a  Letter  and  Instructions 
to  the  Agents  lor  removing  the  Cannon  and 
Stores  from  Ticonderoga,    -       -       -  - 

25,  Committee  appointed  to  confer  with  the  Gentle- 

men from  Connecticut,  on  their  written  re- 
quest, ------- 

Arrangement  of  the  Clergy  of  New- York,  to 
open  the  Congress  with  Prayer  every  morn- 
ing,  1250 

Report  of  the  Committee  after  their  Conference,  1250 
Motion  rejected,  that  the  Letter  to  the  Go- 
vernour of  Connecticut  be  withheld,  and  the 
subject-matter  thereof  reconsidered, 
Letter  to  the  Agents  for  removing  the  Cannon 

and  Stores  from  Ticonderoga,  - 
Instructions  to  the  Agents,  -  -  -  - 
The  Congress  recommend  to  all  persons  not  to 
commit  any  hostilities  against  the  People  of 
Canada,  and  declare  every  such  step  infamous, 
and  highly  inimical  to  all  the  American  Colo 
nies,  - 

Motion  made,  and  consideration  postponed,  that 
this  Congress  do  fully  approve  of  the  Proceed- 
ings of  the  late  Continental  Congress, 

26,  Committee  of  Correspondence  appointed,  and  in- 

structed to  inform  the  People  of  Canada  that 
nothing  hostile  is  intended  against  them, 

Letter  to  the  Committee  of  Safety  for  Massachu- 
setts, and  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  for 
New-Hampshire,  - 

Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  expediency 
of  emitting  a  Continental  Paper  Currency,  - 

Letter  to  the  Delegates  representing  this  Colony 
in  the  Continental  Congress,  - 

Propositions  and  requests  of  Capt.  Asa  Douglass, 

Members  of  the  Congress  desired  to  sign  the  As- 
sociation, - 

27,  Letter  from   Abraham   Lott,   for  information 

whether  he  is  authorized  to  supply  the  Ship 
Asia  with  Provisions:  permission  given, 

Committee  on  Continental  Paper  Currency  re- 
port; to  be  considered  on  Tuesday  next, 
29,  Letter  from  the  Provincial  Congress  of  New-Jer- 
sey, dated  May  26,    -       -  - 

Letter  from  President  Hancock,  dated  May  26, 
with  Resolves  of  the  Continental  Congress  of 
May  25,  respecting  the  measures  they  conceive 
necessary  for  the  defence  and  safety  of  the  City 
and  Province  of  New-York,  - 

Letter  to  the  Provincial  Congress  of  New-Jersey,  1260 

Letter  to  the  Delegates  in  the  Continental  Con- 


1775. 

June  1. 


1250 

1251 
1251 


-  1253 


1253 


1254 


1254 

1254 

1255 
1255 

1256 


1257 


-  1257 


-  1258 


1259 


gress, 


-  1260 


Recommendation  to  the  several  Counties  to  ap- 
point Committees  to  obtain  the  signatures  of 
all  the  Inhabitants  to  the  Association,  and  to 
report  the  Names  of  those  who  refuse  to  sign,  1261 
Letter  to  the  Counties,  enclosing  the  foregoing 
Recommendation,  1261 

30,  Report  of  the  Committee  on  the  Continental 

Paper  Currency,       -----  1262 

Agreed  to  unanimously  by  the  House,  and  a  copy 
directed  to  be  transmitted  to  the  Delegates  of  the 
Colony  in  the  Continental  Congress,     -       -  1264 

Letter  to  the  Delegates  in  Continental  Congress, 

enclosing  the  Report  on  Paper  Currency,      -  1264 

Committee  to  examine  the  Ground  at  or  near 
King's  Bridge,  to  ascertain  if  it  will  admit  of 
making  a  Fortification  there  that  will  be  ten- 
able,  1265 

Committee  to  go  to  the  Highlands,  and  report  the 
most  proper  place  for  erecting  one  or  more 
Fortifications,  1265 

Motion  by  Mr.  Kissam,  that  a  Committee  be  ap- 
pointed to  prepare  and  state  the  terms  on  which 
a  reconciliation  may  be  tendered  to  Great 
Britain,  1265 

31,  Inhabitants  of  the  Colony  recommended  to  fur- 

nish themselves  with  Arms  and  Ammunition,  1267 
Committee  to  Report  an  arrangement  of  the 
Troops  to  be  embodied  for  the  defence  of  this 

Colony,  1267 

Jv nc  1,  Letter  to  the  Delegates  of  the  Colony  in  the 

Continental  Congress,       ....  1268 


3, 


CVIII 

Letter  to  Sub-Committee  of  the  City  of  Albany,  1269 
Mr.  Kissam,  with  leave  of  the  Congress,  withdrew 

his  motion  of  the  30th  of  May,     -       -       -  1269 
Committee  of  Correspondence  reported  a  Letter 
to  the  People  of  Canada,  which  was  read  and 
approved,  -       -       -  1270 

Fifteen  hundred  copies  of  the  Letter  in  French, 
and  five  hundred  in  English,  ordered  to  be 
printed  and  distributed  among  the  People  of 
Canada.  1270 

Motion  by  Mr.  Kissam,  that  a  Committee  be  ap- 
pointed to  prepare  a  Plan  of  Accommodation 
between  Great  Britain  and  the  Colonies,       -  1271 

Debated  and  adopted:  affirmative  seven  Coun- 
ties, negative  four  Counties,        -       -       -  1271 

Committee  to  prepare  the  Plan  of  Accommoda- 
tion,  1271 

Letter  from  President  Hancock,  dated  May  31, 
enclosing  a  Resolution  of  the  same  day,  re- 
questing the  Governour  of  Connecticut  to  send 
a  strong  re-en forcernent  to  Crown  Point  and 
Ticonderoga,    -       -       -       -       -       -  1271 

Peter  T.  Curtcnius  appointed  Commissary  to 
supply  the  Northern  Posts ;  and  the  Members 
of  the  Congress  become  responsible  to  him  for 
the  disbursements  he  may  make,  -       -  1272 

Letter  from  James  Rivington,  Printer,  received 
and  read,  and  the  consideration  of  it  deferred,  1274 

Recommendation  to  the  Inhabitants  of  the  City 
not  to  obstruct  the  embarkation  of  the  British 
Troops,  1274 

Letter  to  Inhabitants  of  Tryon  County,    -       -  1274 

Letter  to  Colonel  Guy  Johnson,      ...  1275 

Letter  from  the  Committee  at  Albany,  dated  June 
2,  1775,   1276 

Letter  to  the  Governour  and  Company  of  Con- 
necticut,  1277 

Letter  to  the  New- York  Delegates  at  the  Conti- 
nental Congress,  on  the  subject  of  erecting  a 
Fortification  at  King's  Bridge,    -       -       -  1278 

Report  of  the  Committee  who  viewed  the  Grounds 
at  King's  Bridge,  and  places  adjacent,  -  1279 

Colonel  Philip  Schuyler  recommended  to  the 
Continental  Congress  as  a  Major-General,  and 
Richard  Montgomery  as  a  Brigadier-General,  1280 

Letter  to  the  Committee  of  Albany,  -       -  1280 

Letter  to  the  Delegates  of  this  Colony  in  the 
Continental  Congress,  calling  their  attention  to 
the  necessity  of  immediately  providing  Mo- 
ney ;  recommend  the  appointment  of  a  Conti- 
nental Superintendent  of"  Indian  Affairs;  and 
leave  to  the  wisdom  of  the  Continental  Con- 
gress the  appointment  of  a  General,      -       -  1281 

Letter  to  the  Delegates  in  Continental  Congress, 
recommending  Colonel  Schuyler  for  Major- 
General,  and  Captain  Montgomery  for  Briga- 
dier-General,   ------  1282 

Any  attempt  to  raise  tumults,  under  pretext  of  a 
doubtful  interpretation  of  the  Resolves  or  Re- 
commendation of  the  Congress,  is  declared  to 
be  a  high  infraction  of  the  General  Association, 
and  tending  directly  to  the  dissolution  of  this 
Congress,  1282 

Letter  to  the  Committee  of  Safety  for  Massachu- 
setts,       -       -       ...       -       -       -  1283 

James  Rivington  having  signed  the  General  As- 
sociation, and  asked  pardon  of  the  publick,  who 
have  been  offended  by  his  ill-judged  publica- 
tions, is  permitted  to  return  to  his  house  and 
family,     -  1284 

Letter  to  Artemas  Ward,  General  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts Army,  Joseph  Warren,  Chairman  of 
the  Committee  of  Safety,  and  Moses  Gill, 
Chairman  of  the  Committee  of  Supplies,        -  1285 

The  late  seizure  of  the  Militaiy  Stores  belonging 
to  the  Crown,  at  Turtle  Bay,  is  a  direct  viola- 
tion of  the  Continental  Order  of  the  15th  of 
May;  is  inimical  to  the  true  interest  of  the  Colo- 
nies, and  tends  to  involve  this  City  in  the  utmost 
confusion  and  distress,         -  1285 

Committee  appointed  to  repair  to  Turtle  Bay, 
and  inform  the  pe  rsons  assembled  there  of  the 
opinion  of  this  Congress,  and  to  order  them  to 
desist  from  the  further  execution  of  their  inten- 
tions,      -       -       -       -       -   .    -       -  1285 

Motion  by  Mr.  Scott,  to  dismantle  the  Fort  and 
secure  the  Cannon,  rejected:  affirmative  five 
Counties;  negative  five  Counties,        -       -  1286 


CIX 

1775. 

June 9,  Secret  Committee  appointed  to  examine  what 
quantity  of  Saltpetre  is  in  the  hands  of  the 
Apothecaries  in  this  City,    -  1287 

Committee  to  estimate  and  report  the  quantity  of 
every  article  necessary  for  eqiupping  three 
thousand  Men,  .....  1287 

Letter  to  the  Commander-in-Chief  at  Ticondero- 
ga,  informing  him  that  the  damaged  Powder 
there  may  be  sent  to  the  Mill  erected  near  the 
east  side  of  Hudson's  River,  in  Rhynbeck  Pre- 
cinct, in  Dutchess  County,  ...  1288 

Letter  to  the  Commissioners  at  Albany,  appointed 
to  superintend  the  removal  of  the  Cannon  and 
Stores  from  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point,    -  1288 

Bounty  of  five  Pounds  given  for  e\-ery  hundred 
weight  of  Gunpowder  manufactured  within  the 
Colony,  and  a  Bounty  of  twenty  Pounds  for 
every  hundred  good  Muskets  so  manufac- 
tured,  1288 

Motion  by  Mr.  Tredwell,  to  take  the  advice  of  the 
Continental  Congress  relative  to  dismantling 
the  Fort,  declared  to  be  the  same  in  substance 
with  a  motion  made,  voted  on,  and  carried  in  the 
negative,  yesterday:  affirmative  six  Counties, 
negative  four  Counties,  ....  12S8 
10,  Powder  received  from  Elizubethtown,  in  New- 
Jersey,  committed  to  Mr.  McDougall,  to  be 
forwarded  to  the  Massachusetts  Army,  -       -  1290 

The  Mayor  of  the  City  informed  the  Congress 
that  application  had  been  made  to  him  respect- 
ing some  Arms  taken  out  of  the  Baggage 
Carts  of  the  Troops  lately  embarking  from 
this  City,  -  1290 

Motion  by  Mr.  Morris,  that  the  Arms  and  Mili- 
tary Accoutrements  taken  from  His  Majesty's 
Troops  on  Tuesday  last  be  restored,  and  that 
every  Inhabitant  of  the  Colony  who  is  possess- 
ed of  any,  immediately  deliver  them  to  the 
Mayor  of  New- York :  carried  in  the  Affirma- 
tive: for  the  affirmative,  eight  Counties;  for 
the  negative,  two  Counties,         ...  1290 

Case  of  Robert  and  John  Murray  considered,  and 
they  are  fully  restored  to  their  commercial 
privileges,  and  declared  to  be  entitled  to  the 
forgiveness  of  the  Publick,         -       -       -  1291 

Copy  of  the  Report  of  the  Committee  appointed 
to  ascertain  the  most  proper  place  for  erecting 
a  Fortification  in  the  Highlands,  ordered  to  be 
sent  to  the  Delegates  in  the  Continental  Con- 
gress,      -------  1291 

12,  Letter  from  the  Delegates  of  the  Colony,  dated 

Philadelphia,  June  10,  1292 
Letter  from  the  Continental  Congress,  dated  June 
10,  with  a  Resolution  of  the  9th,  requesting 
New- York  to  forward  to  the  Camp  before  Bos- 
ton five  thousand  barrels  of  Flour,  for  the  use 
of  the  Continental  Army,  -  -  -  -  1293 
Committee  appointed  to  purchase  and  forward  the 

Flour  without  delay,  -----  1293 
Letter  to  the  Merchants  of  Canada.  They  agree 
to  the  proposition  for  the  establishment  of  a 
regular  Post  between  Montreal  and  New- 
York  ;  and  disavow  in  the  strongest  terms  the 
intention  attributed  to  them,  that  the  Confede- 
rated Colonies  on  this  Continent  aim  at  Inde- 
pendence, -------  1294 

13,  Letter  to  the  New- York  Delegates,  respecting 

the  establishment  of  a  Post  in  the  Highlands,  1295 
Report  of  the  Committee  on  the  most  proper 

place  for  a  Post  in  the  Highlands,  -  -  1295 
Committee  to  agree  with  any  person  in  the  City 
for  importing,  without  delay,  any  quantity  of 
Gunpowder,  not  exceeding  thirty  tons,  allow- 
ing the  importer  one  hundred  per  cent,  on  the 
first  cost,  ------  1296 

14,  Mr.  McDougall  appointed  by  the  Congress  to 

seize  one  Angus  McDonald,  who  is  charged 
with  giving  a  Bounty  and  enlisting  Men,  to  be 
employed  against  the  Liberties  of  this  Country,  1297 

Information  given  by  Capt.  Thompson  of  Troops 
coming  to  America,   -----  1297 

Letter  to  the  Governour  of  Connecticut,  with  the 
above  information,     -----  1297 

William  Duer  complains  of  sundry  insinuations 
against  his  conduct,  with  relation  to  the  North- 
em  Frontier  of  this  Colony,  and  prays  a  Com- 
mittee may  be  appointed  to  inquire  into  his 
conduct,  1298 


CX 

1775. 

June  14,  Committee  appointed  to  hear  and  examine  into 

the  case  of  Mr.  Duer,        -  1298 

Angus  McDonald  brought  before  the  Congress; 
and  being  examined,  he  confessed  that  he  had 
taken  the  names  of  upwards  of  forty  men,  and 
also  confessed  sundry  other  matters,      -       -  1298 

Deposition  of  Angus  McDonald,  voluntarily 
given,  setting  forth  the  circumstances  under 
which  he  engaged  in  this  business,  on  the  sug- 
gestion of  Major  Small,  in  Boston,       -       -  1298 

Committee  appointed  to  arrest  Captain  Alexander 
McDonald,  now  or  late  of  Richmond  County,  1299 

Angus  McDonald  sent  a  Prisoner  to  General 
Wooster's  Camp,      -----  1299 

Letter  to  General  Wooster,  requesting  him  to 
take  charge  of,  and  secure  Angus  McDonald,  1299 

Motion  by  Mr.  Foster,  that  General  Wooster  be 
requested  to  march,  with  the  Troops  under 
his  command,  to  the  distance  of  five  miles  of 
this  City,  1300 

15,  Report  on  the  case  of  William  Duer.  Insinua- 

tions against  him  entirely  groundless,  -  -  1300 
Letter  to  General  Wooster,  requesting  him  to 

march  his  Troops  to  this  Colony,  -  -  1300 
Petition  from  Ebenezer  Hazard,  requesting  to 

be  appointed  Postmaster,  -  -  -  -  1301 
Letter  from  Wm.  Goddard,  on  the  same  subject,  1301 

16,  Letter  to  Robert  Boyd,  of  New- Windsor,  on  the 

subject  of  making  Gun-Barrels,   -  1302 

17,  Letter  to  General  Wooster,  informing  him  they 

have  received  information  that  the  Transports, 
with  Troops  for  New- York,  have  been  order- 
ed for  Boston,  1304 

Committee  appointed  to  prepare  a  Plan  of  Ac- 
commodation between  Great  Britain  and  the 
Colonies,  directed  to  bring  in  their  Report  on 
Wednesday  next,  1304 

20,  Letter  from  James  Dunne,  dated  Philadelphia, 

June  17,  with  a  Resolution  of  Congress  of  the 
16th,  requesting  the  march  of  Troops  from 
Connecticut  to  New- York,         -       -       -  1305 

Two  Letters  from  Gen.  Wooster,  dated  Green- 
wich, June  17  and  June  18,         ...  1306 

Letter  to  Governour  Trumbull,       ...  1306 

Letter  to  General  Wooster,     -       -       -       -  1307 

Letter  from  the  President  of  the  Continental  Con- 
gress, dated  Philadelphia,  June  12,  with  Re- 
solves of  Congress  of  the  10th  instant,  -  1307 

Abraham  Lott  authorized  to  supply  Captain 
Vandeput.  and  His  Majesty's  Ship  Asia,  with 
necessaries  from  time  to  time,      ...  1307 

li  commendatory  Passport  to  Brook  Watson  and 
his  suite,  1307 

Motion  by  Mr.  Verplanck,  for  advancing  Money 
to  Messrs.  Van  Vleeck  and  Kipp,  and  allow- 
ing a  bounty  on  Saltpetre  manufactured  in  the 
Colony,  rejected:  affirmative,  four  Counties; 
negative,  eight  Counties,     ...       -  1308 

21,  Letter  from  the  Rev.  Samuel  Kirkland,  Mission- 

ary among  the  Oneida  Indians,  dated  Cherry 
Valley,  June  9.  to  the  Committee  of  Albany,  -  1309 

Committee  appointed  to  consider  of  such  mea- 
sures as  may  be  proper,  with  respect  to  the 
Oneidas  and  other  Indian  Nations,       -       -  1310 

Committee  appointed  to  consider  on  the  best  me- 
thods to  carry  into  effect  the  Resolve  of  the 
Continental  Congress,  with  relation  to  Salt- 
petre and  Sulphur,     -----  1310 

Mr.  McDougall  reports  the  whole  quantity  of 
Saltpetre  now  in  Town  amounts  to  two  hun- 
dred and  eighty-five  pounds,        -       -       -  13 10 

Letter  to  the  Committee  of  the  City  of  New- 
York,    -  1310 

Committee  for  preparing  a  draught  of  the  senti- 
ments of  this  Congress  on  the  terms  of  a  Re- 
conciliation with  Great  Britain,  indulged  till 
to-morrow  morning,  -----  1311 

22,  Passport  for  Mr.  Joseph  Johnson  and  his  Indian 

companions,      ------  1311 

Deputies  elected  to  represent  Queen's  County 
requested  to  take  their  seats  on  Tuesday 
next,  or  assign  their  reasons  for  neglecting  to 

attend,  1312 

Committee  appointed  to  report  the  subject-mat- 
ter of  a  proper  Plan  of  Accommodation  with 
Great  Britain,  reported,      ...       -  1312 
Report  to  be  considered  on  Saturday  morning 
next,  1312 


CONTENTS. 


CXI 

1775. 

J um  22,  Association  returned  from  Easthampton,  in  Suf- 
folk County,  signed  by  every  Male  Inhabitant 
capable  of  bearing  Anns,  -  -  -  -  1312 
Motion  by  Mr.  McDougall,  that  the  Troops  to 
be  raised  in  this  Colony,  be  clothed  in  Uni- 
form,      -  1312 

23,  Inhabitants  of  this  Colony  directed  not  to  kill  any 

Lamb  until  the  first  day  of  November  next,    -  1313 

Motion  by  Mr.  Morris,  that  no  Sheep  be  killed 
until  the  first  day  of  November  next,   -       -  1313 

Motion  by  Mr.  McDougall,  to  recognise  the  ap- 
pointment of  the  Delegates  to  the  Continen- 
tal Congress,  unanimously  approved  of,        -  1313 

Colonel  Lasher  directed  to  have  his  Battalion 
ready  to  receive  General  Washington,  when 
he  shall  arrive,         .....  1314 

Committee  appointed  to  make  an  arrangement 
of  the  Troops  to  be  raised  in  the  Colony,  re- 
ported,   -       -  1314 

24,  Consideration  of  the  Report  of  the  Committee  on 

the  subject-matter  of  a  Plan  of  Accommodation 
with  Great  Britain  resumed,  read  through  by 
paragraphs,  and  amended,   ....  1315 

Motion  by  Mr.  Melanctcn  Smith,  for  an  addition 
to  the  Report  for  securing  the  liberty  of  con- 
science, read,  amended,  and  adopted,     -  -1317 

Motion  by  Mr.  McDougall,  that  the  Plan  of  Ac- 
commodation be  not  transmitted  to  the  Con- 
gress until  called  for  by  them,  or  by  our  Dele- 
gates there,       -       -       -       -       -  -1318 

25,  Committee  appointed  to  meet  General  Washing- 

ton at  Newark,  and  accompany  him  to  this 
City,       -       -  1318 

Information  being  received  that  Governour  Tryon 
is  at  the  Hook,  Colonel  Lasher  directed  to 
send  one  Company  to  Paulus  Hook,  to  meet 
the  Generals ;  to  keep  one  Company  at  the 
Ferry  for  the  same  purpose;  and  that  he  have 
the  residue  of  his  Battalion  ready  to  receive 
either  the  General  or  GovernourTryon,  which- 
ever shall  arrive  first,  and  to  wait  on  both  as 
well  as  circumstances  will  allow,         -       -  1318 

Letter  from  the  Provincial  Congress  of  Massa- 
chusetts, dated  Watertown,  June  13,     -       -  1319 

Letter  from  the  Committee  at  Albany,  dated  June 
21,  expressing  their  apprehension  that  Go- 
vernour Carleton  has  induced  the  Indians  to 
take  up  arms,    -       -       -       -       -  -1319 

26,  Address  of  the  Congress  to  General  Washing- 

ton,        -       -       -       -       -       -       -  1321 

Answer  of  General  Washington  to  the  Address,  1322 
Report  of  the  Committee  of  Arrangement  further 

considered,        ......  1322 

27,  Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Intelligence  for 

Charlestown,  South-Carolina,  dated  June  6,  -  1323 

Letter  from  General  Gage  to  Governour  Martin, 
dated  Boston,  April  12,  enclosed  in  the  pre- 
ceding Letter,   -  1324 

Warrant  to  such  Gentlemen  as  are  intended  to 
be  Officers  of  the  Troops  raised  in  this  Colony,  1324 

Instructions  to  the  Officers  to  be  employed  in 
raising  Troops,         .....  1325 

Report  of  the  Committee  on  the  subject-matter 
of  a  Plan  of  Accommodation  with  Great  Bri- 
tain resumed,  further  amended,  and  agreed  to,  1326 

Plan  of  Accommodation  between  Great  Britain 
and  America,    ......  1326 

28,  Members  from  Queen's  County  to  take  their  seats, 

notwithstanding  a  number  of  the  Inhabitants 
of  the  County  have  refused  to  be  represented 
in  the  Congress,  1 328 

Letter  to  the  Delegates  of  this  Colony  at  the 
Continental  Congress,  to  accompany  the  Plan 
of  Accommodation  with  Great  Britain,         -  1329 

Letter  to  John  Alsop,  at  Philadelphia,  requesting 
him  to  procure  two  thousand  eight  hundred 
and  fifty-two  Blankets;  they  are  not  to  be 
purchased  in  New- York,    ....  1330 

29,  Application  by  the  Mayor  for  permission  to  Fran- 

cis Stephens,  the  King's  Store-Keeper,  to  re- 
move the  Stores  from  Turtle  Bay,       -       .  1331 

General  Schuyler  is  authorized  to  send  a  Guard 
to  protect  the  Stores,  provided  they  are  placed 
in  his  possession,  1331 

Killing  Lambs  prohibited  until  the  first  of  August 
next,        -  1331 

Letter  to  the  Continental  Congress,  enclosing  the 
Letter  of  the  6th  of  June,  from  the  Committee 


CXII 

1775. 

of  Intelligence  in  Charlestown,  South-Caro- 
lina,  1331 

June  29,  Letter  to  Elisha  Phelps,  Commissary  of  Provi- 
sions, at  Ticonderoga,        ....  1332 

Letter  to  John  N.  Bleecker,  one  of  the  agents  at 
Albany,  -       -       -       -       -  1332 

Mr.  Lott  authorized  to  supply  Provisions  to  his 
Majesty's  Ship  Kingfisher,         -       -       -  1333 
30,   Field-Officers  of  the  First,  or  New- York  Regi- 
ment, appointed,       .....  1334 

Committee  to  meet  and  confer  with  Gen.  Schuyler,  1334 

Field-Officers  of  the  Second  and  Third  Regi- 
ments appointed,       .....  1334 

Report  of  the  Committee  appointed  to  confer  with 
General  Schuyler,  1334 

Field-Officers  of  the  Fourth  Regiment  appoint- 
ed,  1335 

Committee  to  form  and  determine  the  rank  of  the 
Captains  and  inferiour  Officers  of  the  several 

Regiments,  1335 

July  1,  Committee  to  meet  and  confer  with  Ethan  Allen 

and  Seth  Warner,  1336 

3,  Letter  to  the  Committee  of  the  City  of  Albany, 

with  fifty  quarter-casks  of  Gunpowder  for  the 
Forts  at  Crown  Point  and  Ticonderoga,       -  1336 

4,  Letter  from  General  Schuyler,  dated  New- York, 

July  3,  1337 

Uniform  Coats  ordered  to  be  made  for  all  the 
Non-Commissioned  Officers  and  Men  to  be 
raised  in  the  Colony,  -----  1338 

Report  of  a  Committee  appointed  to  confer  with 
General  Schuyler  on  the  subject  of  his  Letter, 
received  this  day,  1338 

Motion  by  Mr.  Sears,  that  Ethan  Allen  be  per- 
mitted to  have  an  audience,  agreed  to:  affirma- 
tive nine  Counties,  negative  three  Counties,  -  1338 

Ethan  Allen  and  Seth  Warner  were  admitted 
and  heard,  1339 

Five  hundred  Men,  of  those  called  Green- Moun- 
tain Boys,  ordered  to  be  forthwith  raised,       -  1339 

Letter  from  General  Schuyler,  dated  this  day,   -  1339 

5,  Congress  being  informed  that  the  Corporation  of 

the  City  of  New- York  intends  to  address  the 
Governour,  declare  it  to  be  improper  for  the 
Corporation,  or  any  other  body  corporate,  or 
individuals  in  the  Colony,  to  address  his  Ex- 
cellency at  this  critical  juncture,  -       -       -  1341 

Officers  of  the  Artillery  Company  of  the  Marine 
Society  appointed,      .....  1341 

British  Vessels  not  permitted  to  load  any  Provi- 
sions,  1341 

6,  Committee  appointed  to  convene  all  the  Black- 

smiths in  Town,  to  ascertain  if  they  can  make 
Gun-Barrels,  Bayonets,  and  Iron  Ramrods,  -  1342 

Mr.  Van  Zandt  authorized  to  contract  for  two 
thousand  Gun-Locks,        ....  1340 

Committee  appointed  to  write  to  Great  Britain 
for  four  complete  sets  of  Locksmiths,  to  make 
Gun  Locks,  1342 

Bounty  to  Soldiers  who  enlist  in  the  Continental 
Army,  13  42 

Motion  by  Mr.  Morris,  to  reconsider  the  Resolve 
of  yesterday,  to  prevent  any  Address  being  de- 
livered to  his  Excellency  Governour  Tryon,  1342 

Debated  and  rejected:  affirmative  four  Counties, 
negative  eight  Counties,     ....  1343 

Letter  from  Charles  Thomson,  dated  Philadel- 
phia, July  4,  enclosing  an  intercepted  Letter 
from  Governour  Martin  to  Henry  White,  dated 
Cape-Fear,  June  13,  1775,         -  •    -       -  1344 

7,  Committee  appointed  to  wait  on  Mr.  White,      -  1 344  ' 
Letter  from  General  Wooster,  dated  Camp  near 

New- York,  July  7,  .....  1345 
Report  of  the  Committee  appointed  to  wait  on 

Mr.  White,   1343 

Committee  appointed  to  form  a  proper  method  for 

an  arrangement  of  the  Militia  of  the  Colony,  1345 
Committee  appointed  to  receive  information  of  the 

state  of  Cumberland  County,       ...  1345 

8,  Letter  from  Henry  White,  dated  this  day,  in  re- 

lation to  the  intercepted  Letter  to  him  from 

Governour  Martin,  -  -  -  -  -  1346 
Letter  to  Charles  Thomson,  enclosing  to  him  a 

copy  of  the  Letter  of  Mr.  White,  -  -  1345 
Committee  of  Safety  appointed  to  sit  during  the 

recess  of  the  Congress,  ....  1347 
Instructions  to  the  Committee  of  Safety,  -  -  1348 
Adjourned  to  Tuesday,  July  25th,   -  1348 


CONTENTS. 


CXI1I 

1775. 


CONTENTS. 


cxiv 


MASSACHUSETTS  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY. 


May  31,  Meet  by  adjournment  at  Watertown,      -       -  1347 
June  I,  Returns  required  of  the  Men  now  in  Camp,      -  1347 
2,   The  New-England  Army,  proposed  to  be  raised 
for  the  defence  and  security  of  the  lives,  liberties 
and  properties  of  the  Americans,  amounts  to 
but  twenty-four  thousand  five  hundred  Men, 
whereas  thirty  thousand  were  supposed  neces- 
sary ;  the  Provincial  Congress  is  requested  to 
state  whether  they  will  make  any  addition  to 
their  establishment,    -----  1348 
9,   Letter  to  the  Provincial  Congress  on  the  applica- 
tion of  Colonel  Paul  Dudley  Sergeant,  late  of 
New-Hampshire,      -----  1349 
10,  Return  sent  to  the  Provincial  Congress,  of  the 
Gentlemen  who  have  been  commissioned,  or 
that  have  received  any  encouragement  for 
Commissions,    -       -       -       -       -  -1350 

13,  An  attack  on  our  Army  near  Boston,  by  General 

Gage,  being  daily  expected  to  be  made,  the 
General  is  directed  to  ascertain  the  condition 
of  every  Regiment,    -----  1352 

Debates  and  determinations  of  the  Committee 
required  to  be  kept  a  profound  secret,    -       -  1 352 

Attention  of  Congress  called  to  the  destruction  of 
the  property  of  Refugees,   -  1352 

Sufferings  of  the  Troops  for  want  of  Barracks 
or  Tents,  -  1352 

14,  Braintree,  Hingham  and  Weymouth  authorized 

to  raise  Men  for  the  defence  of  the  Sea-Coast 

of  the  Town,  1352 

15,  Allowance  for  Provisions  for  Soldiers  in  the 

Massachusetts  Army,        -       -       -       -  1353 

Re-enforcements  to  General  Gage's  Army;  his 
very  extraordinary  Proclamation,  declaring 
the  Inhabitants  of  Massachusetts-Bay  Rebels, 
and  other  movements  of  Mr.  Gage,  are  evi- 
dences of  his  intention  soon  to  make  another 
attempt  to  penetrate  into  the  country,    -       -  1353 

The  Army  should  be  augmented  immediately; 
all  the  Soldiers  supplied  with  Arms ;  and  all 
the  Militia  of  the  Colony  held  in  readiness  to 
march  on  the  shortest  notice,       ...  1354 

Bunker's  Hill  to  be  maintained  by  a  sufficient 
force  being  posted  there,  and  a  hill  on  Dor- 
chester Neck  to  be  secured,        -       -       -  1354 

Committee  to  consult  with  the  Council  of  War 
and  General  Officers  on  matters  of  importance, 
and  to  inform  them  of  the  Resolve  of  this 
Committee  respecting  Bunker's  Hill  and  Dor- 
chester Neck,  1354 

16,  Committee  to  inquire  whether  Houses  or  Tents 

can  be  obtained  for  Troops  that  want  cover,  -  1354 
Field-Officers  for  Colonel  Gridley's  Regiment,    1 354 

17,  Orders  to  the  Towns  in  the  vicinity  of  Boston  to 

send  their  Town  stocks  of  Powder  to  Water- 
town,       -------  1354 

Four  Horses  required  for  the  Committee,  as  the 
firing  on  the  Colony  Troops  requires  quick 
intelligence  from  the  scene  of  action,     -       -  1354 

Provision  made  to  prevent  the  spreading  of  the 
Small-Pox  in  the  Army,     ...       -  1355 

18,  Militia  of  the  neighbouring  Towns  ordered  to 

march  forthwith  to  Cambridge,    -  1355 

Order  for  their  -march  countermanded ;  but  are 
required  to  be  in  readiness  to  give  assistance 
when  called  upon,  1355 

Town  of  Waltham  required  to  send  their  Town 
stock  of  Powder  to  Watertown,  -       -  '    -  1355 
"   19,   Hospitals  provided  for  the  Colony  Army,  -       -  1355 

Officers  for  a  Company  of  Artificers  in  the 
Regiment  of  Artillery,       -  1355 

Congress  requested  to  order  the  Selectmen  of  the 
several  Towns  in  the  Colony  to  collect  and 
transmit  the  names  of  the  persons  killed  or 
wounded  on  the  nineteenth  day  of  April,  and 
at  any  time  since,  or  that  may  hereafter  be 
killed  or  wounded  in  the  unnatural  contest 
between  Great  Britain  and  the  American  Co- 
lonies,  1356 

20,  Such  of  the  Militia  only  are  to  march  as  are 

called  for  by  express  orders  of  the  Committee, 

on  any  alarm  that  may  take  place,       -       -  1356 

21,  Appointment  of  Aids-de-Camp  to  the  Generals 

recommended,   ------  1357 

22,  Town  of  Med  ford  required  to  furnish  Spades 

and  Shovels  for  the  works  begun  on  Winter 

Hill,  1357 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii. 


1775. 

June23,  Colonels  required  to  make  immediate  returns  of 

the  Officers  of  their  several  Regiments,       -  1357 

Appointment  of  two  Supervisors  of  the  Camp 
recommended,   ------  1357 

Committee  to  examine  the  works  carrying  on,  on 
Prospect  Hill,  1357 

24,  Cannon  in   Cambridge  and  Watertown,  not 

mounted,  and  all  Military  Stores  not  wanted, 

to  be  removed  forthwith  to  Newton,     -       -  1358 

25,  Letter  to  the  Provincial  Congress,  recommending 

the  appointment  of  Supervisors  of  the  Camps, 

at  Cambridge  and  Roxbury,       ...  1359 

26,  Hospital  at  Cambridge  placed  under  the  direction 

of  Dr.  John  Warren,         -       ••       -       -  1359 

27,  Officers  in  Captain  Craft's  Company,  in  Colonel 

Gridley's  Regiment,  1360 

28,  Resolve  of  the  Provincial  Congress,  of  the  26th 

instant,  directing  the  Committee  of  Safety  to 
deliver  Arms  to  such  Officers  as  shall  produce 
orders  therefor  from  General  Ward,     -       -  1360 

Orders  from  General  Ward  to  the  Committee  to 
deliver  Arms  to  Commanding  Officers  of  Regi- 
ments,     -------  1360 

The  Arms  delivered  by  the  Committee ;  but  they 
protest  against  the  General's  order,  lest  it 
should  be  adduced  in  future  as  a  precedent  for 
setting  the  Military  power  above  the  Civil,    -  1360 

29,  Captain  Samuel  Russel  Trevet  discharged  from 

his  arrest,  which  was  made  by  a  mistake  of 
one  of  the  General  Officers,        -       -       -  1361 
Congress  requested  to  take  speedy  and  effectual 
measures  to  prevent  the  spreading  of  the  Small- 
Pox  in  the  American  Army,       ...  1362 

30,  Colonel  Palmer  directed  to  attend  the  Committee, 

and  give  them  information  relative  to  former 
emissions  of  Bills  of  Credit,  before  they  can 
order  a  new  emission,  ....  1362 
July  3,  Edmund  Gluincy  empowered  to  receive  and 
convey  to  the  Committee  certain  Household 
Goods  and  other  effects  of  Thomas  Hutchin- 
son, and  other  enemies  to  the  rights  and  liber- 
ties of  America,        -       -       -       -       -  1364 

6,  An  emission  of  Bills  of  Credit,  amounting  to  one 

hundred  thousand  Pounds,  recommended,     -  1365 
Congress  requested  to  have  drawn  up  and  trans- 
mitted to  England,  a  fair,  honest  and  impar- 
tial account  of  the  Battle  on  the  17th  of  June, 
to  counteract  the  misrepresentations  of  General 

Gage,  1366 

Congress  requested  to  recommend  to  the  Grand 
American  Congress  to  seize  and  hold  every 
Crown  Officer  within  the  United  Colonies,  un- 
til our  friends,  who  have  been  seized  by  Gene- 
ral Gage,  be  set  at  liberty  and  fully  recom- 
pensed for  their  loss  and  imprisonment,  -       -  1366 

7,  General  Washington  requested  to  issue  an  order 

to  suppress  retailers  of  Spirituous  Liquors  with- 
in and  near  the  Camps,  -  -  -  -  1 367 
The  Inhabitants  of  the  Colony,  as  they  regard 
the  peace  and  welfare  of  the  Country,  are 
requested  to  behave  peaceably  and  quietly  to- 
wards Captain  Jacob  Rogers,  late  of  Charles- 
town,  now  of  Reading,       -  1367 

8,  Appointment  of  four  Master  Armourers  recom- 

mended,   -  1368 
Instructions  to  Officers  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay 
Forces,  who  are  to  go  on  the  recruiting  ser- 
vice, sent  to  the  Council  of  War  for  approval,  1368 

11,  Monsieur  Viart,  a  prisoner,  sent  to  Worcester,  at 

the  request  of  General  Washington,     -       -  1369 
Committee  appointed  to  draw  up  a  true  account 

of  the  late  Battle  of  Charlestown,        -       -  1369 
Committee  of  Marblehead  informed  that  five 
Ships  sailed  this  day  from  Boston,  their  des- 
tination unknown,  1369 

Fifteen  Prisoners  taken  on  Long-Island,  near 
Boston,  and  sent  by  General  Washington  to 
this  Committee,  who  by  their  Commission  have 
no  power  to  dispose  of  them,  are  sent  to  the 
Provincial  Congress,  -----  1370 

12,  Benjamin  Guillam  appointed  Master  Armourer, 

to  superintend  the  repair  of  such  part  of  the 
Arms  of  the  American  Colony  Army  as  be- 
longs to  this  Colony,  1370 

13,  Ten  Prisoners  taken  some  time  past,  at  Machias, 

and  sent  this  day  to  the  Committee  by  Gene- 
ral Washington,  sent  to  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress, s  1370 


cxv 

1775. 

July  1 4,  Directions  to  the  Selectmen  and  Committees  in 
the  several  Towns,  to  search  for  and  recover 
the  Goods  and  Household  Furniture  plun- 
dered and  carried  off  in  the  confusion  occa- 
sioned by  the  Battles  of  Lexington  and  Charles- 
town,       -       -       -       -       -       -  -1371 

1 5,   Order  for  procuring  such  Medicines  as  are  im- 
mediately and  absolutely  necessary  for  the 
Army,     -       -       -       -       -       -  -1371 

Thomas  Organ  appointed  to  take  charge  of  the 
Colony  Horses,         .....  1372 

17,  A  Special  Committee  recommended  to  make  pro- 
vision for  the  reception,  sustenance  and  sup- 
port of  the  Poor  of  Boston  and  Charlestown,  -  1372 

25,  Account  of  the  late  Battle  of  Charlestown,  pre- 
pared in  obedience  to  a  Resolution  of  the 
Provincial  Congress,  presented,  accepted,  and 
ordered  to  be  transmitted  to  England,  -  -  1373 
Letter  to  Arthur  Lee,  at  London,  enclosing  the 
preceding  account,     .....  1376 

MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS. 

May  31,  The  Provincial   Congress,  meets  at  Water- 
town,  1375 

Joseph  Warren  chosen  President,  and  Samuel 
Freeman  Secretary,   ....       -  1375 

List  of  the  Members  chosen  by  the  several 
Towns,  1375 

Thanks  to  Dr.  Langdon  for  his  excellent  Sermon 
delivered  to  the  Congress  this  day,        -       -  1379 

Resolve  of  the  last  Congress  for  supplying  the 
Army  with  Chaplains,  laid  before  the  Clergy, 
now  in  Convention  at  Watertown,        -       -  1380 

Papers  relative  to  the  Fortresses  at  Ticonderoga, 

&c,  ordered  to  be  laid  before  the  Congress,  -  1380 

Mr.  Phelps,  the  bearer  of  some  of  the  Papers, 
attended  Congress,  and  gave  them  further  in- 
formation,       ......  1380 

Committee  to  take  the  Papers  into  immediate 
consideration,    -       -       -       -       -       -  1 380 

Committee  to  consider  a  Letter  from  the  Com- 
mittee of  Correspondence  for  New-Hampshire 
to  the  Committee  of  Newburyport,       -       -  1380 
June  1,  Report  of  the  Committee  on  General  Thomas's 

Letter,     -       -       -  -       -       -  1380 

Members  appointed  Monitors  in  the  Congress,   -  1381 

Report  of  a  Committee  on  providing  for  the  Poor 
of  the  Town  of  Boston,      -       -       -       -  1381 

Committee  to  consider  the  proposal  of  the  Clergy, 
now  in  Convention  at  Watertown,       -       -  1381 

Committee  to  consider  the  Letter  from  the  Select- 
men of  Hopkinton,    -       -       -       -  -1381 

Report  of  the  Committee  on  the  Letter  from 
New- Hampshire,  recommending  copies  of  it  to 
be  sent  to  the  Seaport  Towns,      -       -       -  1381 

Committee  to  consider  a  Letter  from  the  Commit- 
tee of  Safety  of  Salem,       ....  1381 

Report  of  the  Committee  approving  the  conduct 
of  Mr.  Stephen  Higginson,  ....  1382 

Report  of  the  Committee  on  the  Papers  relating 
to  Ticonderoga,  1382 

Letter  to  Colonel  Benedict  Arnold,  approving 
his  acquisitions  of  Ticonderoga  and  Crown 
Point,  and  request  him  to  continue  in  command 
over  the  Forces  raised  by  this  Colony,  -       -  1382 

Letter  to  the  House  of  Assembly  of  Connect- 
icut ;  maintaining  a  post  at  Ticonderoga  is  of 
the  utmost  importance,  but  in  our  distressing 
situation  have  postponed  sending  further  as- 
sistance to  Captain  Arnold,  -       -       -       .1 383 

Letter  to  the  Provincial  Congress  of  New- 
Hampshire,  enclosing  a  Letter  from  Colonel 
Arnold,  commander  of  the  Troops  at  Ticon- 
deroga and  Crown  Point,  and  requesting  their 
aid  in  securing  the  Fortresses,  ...  1383 
2,   Committee  to  bring  in  a  Resolve  making  further 

provision  for  the  Poor  of  the  Town  of  Boston,  1384 

Committee  to  consider  a  Memorial  from  the 
County  of  Worcester,         -       -       -       -  1384 

Provision  made  for  supplying  the  Army  with 
Chaplains,  1384 

Committee  to  take  into  consideration  the  situation 
and  circumstances  of  the  Seaport  Towns  and 
Islands  in  this  Colony,  which  are  exposed  to 
the  incursions  and  ravages  of  the  enemy,       -  1384 

R>-v.  William  Gordon  chosen  Chaplain  to  the 
Congress,        -      *       ■>      -       -  -1385 


CXVI 

1775. 

Members  added  to  the  Committee  appointed  at 
the  last  Congress,  to  draw  up  an  easy  and  con- 
cise method  of  making  Saltpetre,  ---  1385 
June 3,  Report  of  the  Committee  appointed  to  consider 

the  exposed  condition  of  the  Sea-Coast,  -       -  1 386 

Persons  living  in  places  exposed  to  be  ravaged  or 
plundered  are  advised  to  remove  their  Hay  and 
Stock  out  of  the  reach  of  our  implacable  ene- 
mies,  1386 

Committee  to  consider  a  Resolve  of  the  Commit- 
tee of  Safety,  for  a  re-enforcement  of  the  Mas- 
sachusetts Army,       .....  1387 

Committee  on  a  Letter  from  Col.  James  Easton,  1387 

Congress  will  make  no  objection  to  fitting  out 
Vessels  for  whaling  voyages  or  for  the  West- 
Indies,   1387 

Letter  to  the  Receiver-General,  requesting  him 
to  attend  and  sign  Notes,     ....  1387 

4,  Colonel  Henshaw  admitted  to  give  an  account  of 

his  proceedings  at  Connecticut,  where  he  was 
sent  on  the  affair  of  Ticonderoga.         -       -  1 388 
Colonel  Easton's  Letter  referred  to  the  Committee 
who  are  to  confer  with  the  Committee  of  Safe- 
ty to-morrow  morning,       ....  1388 

5,  Petition  from  Truro,  for  Powder,  read  and  dis- 

missed,  1388 

Letter  from  Governour  Trumbull,  just  received, 
referred  to  the  Committee  of  Safety,      -       -  1389 

Committee  to  confer  with  the  Officers  of  the  Ame- 
rican Army,  on  preserving  the  health  of  the 
Troops,  -  1389 

All  Letters  wrote  to  or  by  the  avowed  enemies  of 
this  Country,  which  have  or  may  come  into 
the  hands  of  any  person  in  this  Colony,  to  be 
laid  before  the  Congress,     -       -       -       -  1 389 

Committee  to  consider  the  proposal  of  Captain 
Foster,  for  removing  the  Poor  and  their  Goods 
from  Boston,  -  1389 

Committee  to  bring  in  another  Resolve  relating  to 
the  Poor  of  Boston,  1390 

Committee  to  bring  in  a  Resolve  for  giving  a  cur- 
rency to  the  Bills  of  Credit  of  all  the  Govern- 
ments on  the  Continent,      ....  1390 

Committee  to  consider  the  state  of  the  Artillery 
in  general,        ......  1390 

Mr.  Sullivan  directed  to  bring  in  a  Resolve  for 
preventing  the  circulation  of  Bills  of  Credit 
under  a  specified  value,      ....  1390 

Report  of  the  Committee  on  giving  currency  to 
the  Notes  of  other  Governments,  -  1390 

Ordered  to  lie  on  the  table  till  Mr.  Sullivan 
brought  in  the  Resolve  just  ordered,     -       -  1390 

Committee  on  making  an  allowance  of  Provisions 
to  the  Soldiers  of  the  American  Army,  -       -  1390 

6,  Committee  on  providing  regular  Supplies  for  the 

Army,  1391 

Proceedings  in  the  case  of  Colonel  Jonathan 
Brewer,  on  the  complaint  of  the  Committee  of 
Safety,  1391 

Report  of  the  Committee  on  giving  currency  to 
the  Bills  of  Credit  of  the  other  Governments,  -  1391 

Congress  refuse  a  Commission  to  Mr.  Jonathan 
Brewer,  as  Colonel  of  a  Regiment  in  the  Mas- 
sachusetts Army,   1392 

Benjamin  Edwards  brought  before  the  Congress 
for  uttering  disrespectful  expressions  on  their 
decision  in  Colonel  Brewer's  case,        -       -  1392 

Report  of  the  Committee  appointed  to  bring  in  an 
additional  Resolve,  to  make  provision  for  the 
Poor  of  Boston,  1392 

7,  Committee  to  wait  on  General  Ward,  for  a  Re- 

turn of  the  number  of  Men  in  the  Massachu- 
setts Army,  1393 

Committee  on  a  Petition  of  the  Inhabitants  of 
Machias,  -       -       -       «       -       -       -  1393 

Committee  to  consider  the  Letters  from  the  Stock- 
bridge  Indians,  1393 

Petition  from  Colonel  Brewer,  and  from  several 
Captains  under  him,  -  1393 

Benjamin  Edwards  called  in,  and  admonished  by 
the  President,    -       -       •       -       -  -1394 

Committee  on  a  Memorial  from  the  Selectmen  of 
Salem,     -  1394 

Report  of  the  Committee  on  giving  currency  to 
the  Bills  of  Credit  of  other  Governments,  read 
and  recommitted,       .....  1394 

Committee  to  confer  with  the  Delegates  from 

New- Hampshire,      ,       ,       ,       .       .  1394 


CONTENTS. 


CXVII 

1775. 


COISTENTS. 


CXVIII 


To-morrow  afternoon  assigned  for  choosing  two 
Major-Generals  of  the  Massachusetts  Army,  -  1394 

Committee  to  collect  the  Letters  of  the  late  Go- 
vernour  Hutchinson,  -----  1394 

Report  of  the  Committee  on  the  four  Prisoners 
from  Dartmouth,  ...  1394 

Report  of  the  Committee  on  the  Petition  of  the 
Inhabitants  of  Machias,  read  and  accepted,    -  1395 

Report  of  the  Committee  appointed  to  confer  with 
the  Gentlemen  from  New- Hampshire,  -       -  1395 

Letters  directed  to  be  written  to  the  Colonies  of 
Connecticut,  Rhode-Island,  and  New-Hamp- 
shire, desiring  them  severally  to  appoint  Com- 
mittees, to  meet  one  appointed  by  this  Con- 
gress, at  Worcester,  on  the  28th  instant,  to 
determine  the  number  of  Men  to  be  raised  on 
the  present  emergency,  by  each  of  the  New- 
England  Colonies,     ....       -  1395 

Report  of  the  Committee  appointed  to  confer  with 
the  Committee  of  Safety,  on  a  re-enforcement 
of  the  Army,  -  1395 

Committee  to  consider  the  expediency  of  establish- 
ing a  number  of  small  Armed  Vessels,  for  the 
protection  of  our  trade  and  the  annoyance  of 
our  enemies,  1396 

Committee  to  consider  at  large  on  some  measure 
for  commissioning  the  Officers  of  the  Army,  -  1396 
June  8,  Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Arundel,  with  an 
account  of  their  taking  a  Sloop  from  Boston, 
for  Annapolis,  1396 

Report  of  the  Committee  appointed  to  confer  with 
the  Committee  of  Safety,  that  it  is  inexpedient 
for  this  Colony  to  augment  the  Forces  already 
raised  by  it,  for  the  defence  of  the  American  Co- 
lonies ;  considered  in  Committee  of  the  Whole, 
and  agreed  to  by  the  Congress,    ...  1396 

Report  of  the  Committee  on  commissioning  Offi- 
cers of  the  Army ;  read  and  agreed  to,  -       -  1396 

Committee  on  a  Petition  from  the  County  of 
Cumberland,  1397 

Letter  to  the  Stockbridge  Indians,    ...  1397 

Selectmen  of  Stockbridge  appointed  a  Committee 
to  send  Messengers  and  Belts  to  the  Indians,  -  1397 
9,   Committee  to  consider  what  is  proper  to  be  done 

with  the  Prisoners  from  Arundel,        -       -  1398 

Resolutions  of  the  Continental  Congress,  of  the 
17th  and  29th  of  May,  relative  to  exports  to 
the  British  Possessions,  to  be  duly  enforced,  -  1398 

Provisions  may  be  sent  to  Nantucket,  for  the  use 
of  the  Inhabitants  only,       ....  1398 

1 0,  Report  of  the  Committee  on  the  Prisoners  brought 

from  Arundel,  1399 

Josiah  Jones  and  Jonathan  Hicks  to  be  confined 
in  the  Jail  of  Middlesex,     ...       .  1400 

Committee  to  consider  if  Artificers  may  be  neces- 
sary for  the  Army  in  the  pay  of  this  Colony,  1400 

Committee  on  the  appointment  of  Armourers  for 
the  Massachusetts  Army,    -       -       -       -  1 400 

Allowance  of  Provisions  for  the  Soldiers  of  the 
Massachusetts  Army,        -       -  -  1401 

Monday  next  (12th  instant)  assigned  for  choosing 
three  Delegates,  to  meet  those  that  may  be  sent 
by  the  other  New-England  Colonies,   -       -  1401 

Choice  of  two  Major-Generals  deferred  to  Mon- 
day next,  1401 

Committee  to  consider  the  expediency  of  establish- 
ing a  number  of  Armed  Vessels,  ...  1 401 

11,  Address  to  the  Continental  Congress;  ordered  to 

be  signed  by  Major  Hawley,  as  Vice-Presi- 
dent, and  sent  by  express  to  Philadelphia.      -  1401 

12,  Committee  to  consider  some  measure  to  prevent 

the  violation  of  the  Sabbath,       ...  1402 
Committee  to  consider  the  Petition  of  the  Com- 
mittee at  Charlestown,       ....  1402 
Committee  to  prepare  Instructions  to  the  Dele- 
gates to  go  to  Ticonderoga,         -       -       -  1 403 
Committee  to  consider  of  some  method  to  supply 

the  Surgeons  of  the  Army  with  Medicines,  -  1403 
Letter  to  the  Continental  Congress,  -  -  1403 
Exportation  of  Provisions  prohibited,  -  -  1404 
Report  of  Committee  on  supplying  Surgeons 

with  Medicines,  -  ...  1404 
Orders  for  the  arrest  of  one  Thompson,  who  is 
about  to  sail  from  Salem  to  New-Providence, 
for  Provisions  for  the  Army  in  Boston,  -  1404 
Committee  chosen  to  meet  the  Committees  of  the 
New-England  Colonies  at  Worcester,  on  the 
28th  instant,  1405 


1775. 


Committee  chosen  to  go  to  Ticonderoga,  to  ex- 
amine into  the  state  of  that  Fortress,    •       -  1 405 

Motion  made  to  reconsider  the  Resolve  for  choos- 
ing a  Committee  to  meet  Committees  of  the 
New- England  Governments,  at  Worcester,  -  1405 
June  13,  Letter  from  Governour  Trumbull,  enclosing  a 
Letter  from  Colonel  Arnold,  and  three  Resolves 
of  the  Continental  Congress;  read  and  referred 
to  the  Committee  appointed  to  prepare  Instruc- 
tions to  the  Committee  to  repair  to  Ticonde- 
roga,      .......  1405 

Twenty-three  Regiments  to  be  commissioned, 
exclusive  of  the  Regiment  of  Matrosses,      -  1406 

Committee  to  consider  the  Petition  of  Abner 
Graves  and  others,     .....  1406 

Resolves  relating  to  the  Convention  of  Commit- 
tees at  Worcester,  reconsidered,   -       -       -  1406 

Colonel  John  Whitcomb  chosen  First  Major- 
General,  -  1406 

Report  of  the  Committee  on  the  expediency  of 
establishing  a  number  of  Armed  Vessels  consi- 
dered, and,  after  a  very  long  debate,  the  further 
consideration  of  it  referred  to  Friday  next,    -  1407 

Instructions  to  the  Gentlemen  chosen  by  this  Con- 
gress to  repair  to  Ticonderoga,    ...  1407 

Committee  to  consider  the  subject-matter  of  a 
late  extraordinary  Proclamation  of  General 
Gage,  1408 

14,  Abner  Graves  and  others  have  leave  to  withdraw 

their  Petition,  1409 

Committee  to  consider  the  Report  of  Col.  Thomp- 
son, and  the  Petition  of  Mr.  Parry,     -       -  1409 

First  Thursday  of  July  next  appointed  a  day 
of  Fasting  and  Prayer  throughout  the  Co- 
lony,  1409 

Committee  to  consider  of  the  means  for  furnish- 
ing those  who  are  destitute  of  Arms  in  the 
Massachusetts  Army,        -       -       -       -  1409 

Committee  to  Ticonderoga  directed  to  revise  the 
papers  relating  to  that  Fortress,  and  to  take 
with  them  such  as  are  not  wanted  by  this  Con- 
gress,     .......  1409 

Committee  to  consider  the  propriety  of  supplying 
the  Generals  of  the  Massachusetts  Army  with 
necessary  Household  Furniture,  -       -       -  1409 

Dr.  Joseph  Warren  chosen  Second  Major-Gen- 
eral,        -       -       -       -       -       -       -  1409 

Resolve  for  a  Day  of  Fasting  recommitted,  that 
the  following  things  might  be  mentioned: 
blessing  on  the  Continental  Congress,  unity  of 
the  Colonies,  health,  fruitful  seasons,  &c,     -  1410 

Committee  of  Supplies  directed  forthwith  to  re- 
commend suitable  persons  for  Officers  in  the 
Train  of  Artillery,  1410 

15,  Orders  for  securing  the  Library  and  Apparatus 

of  Harvard  College,  1410 

Letter  to  the  Continental  Congress,  to  New- York, 
and  to  the  several  Governments  in  New-Eng- 
land,  1410 

Houses  to  be  taken  for  the  Soldiers  near  the  Camp 
at  Cambridge,  if  Tents  cannot  be  had,  -       -  141 1 

Inhabitants  of  several  Towns  requested  to  furnish 
Fire- Arms  for  the  use  of  the  Army,     -       -  141 1 

Committee  to  consider  the  application  of  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Langdon,  1413 

Report  of  the  Committee  appointed  to  consider 
the  claims  and  pretensions  of  several  Colonels 
in  the  Army,  1413 

16,  Soldiers  to  be  supplied  with  Rum  on  extraordi- 

nary occasions,  -       -       -       -       -  -1414 

Committee  to  consider  an  augmentation  of  the 

Army,  a  supply  of  Arms  to  the  Soldiers,  &c,  1414 
Consideration  of  the  Report  on  fitting  out  Armed 

Vessels  further  postponed,  -  -  -  -  1414 
Letter  to  General  Whitcomb,  requesting  a  more 

explicit  answer  respecting  his  acceptance  of 

his  appointment  as  Major-General,  -  -  1414 
Report  of  the  Committee  on  the  violation  of  the 

Sabbath,  ------  1415 

Vessels  laden  with  Cod  Fish  permitted  to  sail  for 

the  West-Indies,  -  -  -  -  -1416 
Report  of  the  Committee  appointed  to  consider 

the  late  extraordinary  Proclamation  signed 

Thomas  Gage,  -  -       -       -       -  1416 

Proclamation  by  the  Provincial  Congress,  to  be 

printed  and  published  throughout  the  Colony,  1416 
Report  of  the  Committee  on  the  application  of 

Dr.  Langdon,    -  1419 


♦ 


CXIX 

1775. 

Ju nc  17,  Report  of  Committee  on  procuring  Fire-Arms 

and  Powder  from  Philadelphia  and  elsewhere,  1419 

Militia  throughout  the  Colony  requested  to  hold 
themselves  in  readiness  to  march  at  a  minute's 
warning:  and  the  Inhabitants  on  the  Sea- 
Coast  are  requested  to  carry  their  Arms  with 
them  on  the  Sabbath  and  other  days  when  they 
meet  for  publick  worship,  -       -       -       -  1419 

Report  of  the  Committee  on  the  Resolves  of  the 
Committee  of  Safety  relative  to  an  augmenta- 
tion of  the  Army,  supply  of  Arms,  &c,       -  1420 

Letter  from  the  President  of  the  Continental  Con- 
gress, and  a  Resolve  containing  several  recom- 
mendations to  this  and  the  other  Colonies ; 
brought  by  express,   -----  1422 

Committee  appointed  to  call  together  the  Mem- 
bers of  this  Congress,  in  any  extraordinary 
emergency,  at  any  other  time  or  to  any  other 
place  than  that  to  which  it  may  stand  adjourned,  1422 

Committees  to  purchase  Fire-Arms  in  the  several 

Counties,  1422 

1 8,  Records  and  Papers  of  the  Provincial  Congress 
to  be  secured  and  taken  care  of,  at  the  discre- 
tion of  the  Secretary,         ...       -  1422 

Committee  to  prepare  a  Letter  to  the  Continental 
Congress,  on  the  late  attack  of  the  King's 
Troops  at  Bunker's  Hill,    -       -       -  -1423 

Committee  of  Supplies  directed  to  write  to  Rhode- 
Island  and  New-Hampshire  for  Powder,       -  1423 

Committee  to  see  that  the  Army  at  the  Intrench- 
mcnts  be  well  supplied  with  victuals  and  drink,  1423 

Report  of  the  Committee  on  establishing  Officers 
to  take  care  of  the  Ordnance  Stores,     -       -  1423 

President  of  this  Congress  to  be  chosen  this 
afternoon,  in  place  of  the  Honourable  Joseph 
Warren,  supposed  to  be  killed  in  the  late 
battle  at  Bunker's  Hill,      ....  1424 

Report  on  the  Resolve  of  the  Continental  Con- 
gress for  establishing  Civil  Government  in 
this  Colony;  read,  debated,  and  deferred  till 
Dr.  Church,  who  was  at  Philadelphia  when 
the  Resolve  passed,  shall  be  present,     -       -  1424 

James  Warren  chosen  President  of  the  Congress,  1424 

To-morrow  morning  assigned  for  considering  the 
Report  on  fitting  out  Armed  Vessels,    -       -  1424 

The  Secretary  directed  to  subscribe  the  name  of 
the  late  President  to  all  Commissions  bearing 
date  on  the  19th  of  May,  -       -       -       -  1424 

Committee  of  Supplies  directed  to  furnish  desti- 
tute Soldiers  with  Clothes  and  Blankets,       -  1425 

Fifteen  hundred  good  Spears  to  be  immediately 
furnished  to  the  Army  at  Cambridge,   -       -  1425 

20,  Report  of  the  Committee  on  the  Petition  of  Col. 

Phinney,  recommending  the  establishment  of 
a  Regiment  to  guard  the  Sea-Coast  in  the 
County  of  Cumberland,     ....  1425 

Laid  on  the  table  till  the  matter  respecting 
Armed  Vessels  is  considered,       -       -       -  1 425 

Committee  to  purchase  Spears  for  the  Army,    -  1425 

Report  of  the  Committee  on  the  Resolve  of  the 
Continental  Congress  respecting  Government,  1425 

Letter  to  the  several  Towns  in  the  Colony,  re- 
questing them  to  elect  Representatives  to  an 
Assembly  to  meet  the  19th  day  of  July  next,  -  1426 

Report  on  the  expediency  of  establishing  Armed 
Vessels  further  considered,  debated,  and  ordered 
to  subside  for  the  present,    -       -       -       -  1 426 

Another  Hospital  for  the  sick  and  wounded  of 
the  Army  established,         ....  1427 

Committee  to  confer  with  four  Indians  this  day 
arrived  from  Penobscot,  under  the  conduct  of 
John  Lane,  1427 

Committee  to  inquire  into  the  grounds  of  a  report 
which  has  prevailed  in  the  Army  that  there 
has  been  treachery  in  some  of  the  Officers,  -  1 128 

Colonel  Heath  chosen  a  Major-General,  -       -  1428 

Letter  to  the  Continental  Congress,         -       -  1429 

Letter  to  General  Ward,  requesting  to  send  one 
or  more  Regiments  from  Roxbury  to  Cam- 
bridge,  1430 

21,  Commission  to  Major-General  Heath,     -       -  1430 
Committee  to  consider  the  expediency  of  remov- 
ing Colonel  Glover's  Regiment  from  Marble- 
head  to  Cambridge,   1431 

Resolution  relative  to  the  Estates  of  Refugees, 

(See  Note,)       .       -       .       -       .       -  1131 
Addn-ss  from  an  Indian  Chief  of  the  Penobscot 


exx 

1775. 

Committee  to  inquire  into  the  pTcsent  want  of 
discipline  in  the  Massachusetts  Army,  -       -  1432 

Joseph  Fry  chosen  Third  Major-General,       -  1433 

Report  of  the  Committee  to  consider  the  request 
of  the  Penobscot  Indians,  now  at  Watertown,  1433 

Commissions  for  the  Officers  of  the  Train  of 
Artillery  directed  to  be  prepared  and  deliver- 
ed,  1433 

June 22,  Proclamation  for  a  Fast  recommitted  for  amend- 
ment,  1434 

Committee  to  consider  the  propriety  of  commis- 
sioning the  Officers  of  Colonel  Gerrish's  Re- 
giment,   -------  1435 

Report  of  the  Committee  on  the  means  by  which 
the  Army  before  Boston  may  be  most  expedi- 
tiously strengthened,  -----  1435 

Corn  and  Ammunition  to  be  furnished  the  Inha- 
bitants on  Penobscot  River,  &c,  -       -       -  1436 

23,  Rank  of  the  Officers  in  Colonel  Gridley's  Regi- 

ment, 1430 

Report  of  the  Committee  appointed  to  consider 
the  state  of  Colonel  Phinney's  Regiment,     -  1437 

Committee  to  take  into  consideration  the  Regi- 
ment that  was  moved  from  Marblehead  to 
Cambridge,  1437 

Committee  to  consider  of  proper  expedients  to 
augment  the  Army,  and  to  write  to  the  other 
New-England  Governments  on  the  subject,  -  1438 

Report  of  the  Committee  appointed  to  inquire 
into  the  misconduct  in  the  late  Engagement,  -  1438 

Committee  of  Safety  directed  to  make  out  a  new 
list  for  Officers  of  the  Train  of  Artillery,  and 
that  no  person  unworthy  of  that  office  be 
appointed,        ------  1438 

Payment  ordered  to  Mr.  John  Lane  for  his 
expenses  in  bringing  up  four  Chiefs  of  the 
Penobscot  Tribe  of  Indians,       ...  1438 

Town  of  Maiden  authorized  to  defend  themselves 
in  case  of  an  attack  from  the  enemy,    -       -  1439 

Former  vote  respecting  the  removal  of  the  Li- 
brary and  Apparatus  reconsidered,  and  another 
adopted,  1439 

Letter  to  General  Ward,  directing  him  to  order 
eight  Companies,  now  posted  in  Plymouth,  to 
join  the  Army  before  Boston,      ...  1440 

Robert  Haskell  permitted  to  go  from  Beverly  to 

Nova-Scotia  in  a  Fishing  Vessel,        -       -  1440 

24,  Committee  to  consider  some  method  of  regulating 

Trade  with  the  Indians,      -       -       -       -  1440 

Committee  to  consider  what  further  is  necessary 
to  be  done  respecting  Bills  of  Credit  of  the 
Colony,  1440 

Establishment  for  Surgeons  of  Hospitals,        -  1440 

Committee  to  get  the  Resolve  for  a  Fast  printed,  1441 

Captain  John  Lane  admitted  to  the  floor  of  the 
House,  to  answer  such  questions  as  the  Con- 
gress shall  propose  to  him,         -       -       -  1441 

Report  of  the  Committee  appointed  to  prepare  a 
Letter  to  the  Governour  of  Rhode- Island,     -  1442 

Committee  to  consider  a  Letter  from  General 
Ward,  informing  of  the  desertion  of  Lieutenant 
Cox,  of  Salem,  -  1442 

Report  of  the  Committee  appointed  to  consider 
the  expediency  of  stationing  part  of  Colonel 
Phinney's  Regiment  in  Cumberland  and  Lin- 
coln,  1442 

Proclamation  for  a  Fast  suspended,  -       -  1442 

Report  of  the  Committee  on  the  desertion  of 
Lieutenant  Cox,  1442 

Committee  to  consider  what  steps  should  be  taken 
for  receiving  General  Washington  with  proper 
respect,    -  1443 

Report  of  the  Committee  to  consider  of  an  ade- 
quate allowance  for  Captain  John  Lane,        -  1443 

Colonel  Porter  directed  to  have  a  Scythe  fixed 
on  a  Spear,  in  such  manner  as  he  thinks  fit, 
and  bring  it  before  the  Congress  when  fixed,  1443 

Committee  appointed  to  procure  Spears  empow- 
ered to  order  Blacksmiths  to  work  on  the 
Sabbath,  M13 

Report  of  the  Committee  appointed  to  regulate 
Trade  with  the  Indians,      ...       -  1443 

Rev.  Mr.  Gordon  chosen  to  preach  an  Election 
Sermon,  on  the  19th  of  July  next,       -       -  1444 

25,  Committee  to  procure  Shovels  and  Spades  for  the 

Army  immediately,   -  1444 
Honorary  commission  to  Mr.  Oilman,  Interpre- 
ter to  the  Penobscot  Indians,       ,       -       ,  1444 


CONTENTS. 


("XXI 

1775. 

Mr.  Gilman  instructed  to  cultivate  a  friendly  dis- 
position in  the  Indians,  and  to  forward  such 
intelligence  respecting  the  Indians  and  Cana- 
dians as  he  can  procure,     ....  1444 

Detachment  sent  for  the  protection  of  the  Eliza- 
beth Islands,  1445 

Letter  to  the  Governour  of  Connecticut,   -       -  1445 

Committee  on  the  reception  of  General  Wash- 
ington report;  the  Report  laid  on  the  table,    -  1446 

Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Machias,  respect- 
ing the  capture  of  a  King's  Cutter,  -  -  1446 
Jiaie26, Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  conduct  of 
Colonel  Thompson,  at  Kcnnebeck,  directed  to 
consider  also  his  conduct  at  Falmouth  to  Capt. 
Mowatt  and  Captain  Coulson,      ...  1446 

The  Secretary  directed  to  sign  the  Commis- 
sions of  the  Officers  of  the  Train,  except  John 
Wiley's,  Samuel  Gridley's  and  John  Calen- 
der's,  1447 

Committee  appointed  to  inquire  into  a  report  that 
there  has  been  treachery  in  some  of  the  Offi- 
cers, directed  to  proceed  in  their  inquiries,     -  1447 

Report  of  the  Committee  on  the  reception  of 
General  Washington  again  considered,  amend- 
ed, and  accepted,        .....  1447 

Report  of  the  Committee  on  the  Letter  from  Ma- 
chias, 1448 

Committee  to  consider  a  Letter  from  Gen.  Ward,  1448 

Committee  to  meet  Generals  Washington  and 
Lee,  at  Springfield,  1448 

Two  Companies  raised  in  New- York  and  Con- 
necticut permitted  to  join  Colonel  Patterson's 
Regiment,        -       -       -       -       -  -1448 

General  Whitcomb  attended,  was  sworn,  and  re- 
ceived his  Commission  as  Major-General  of 
the  Massachusetts  Army,    -       -       -       -  1448 

Petition  from  the  Committee  for  the  Town  of 
Plymouth,  (Note,)  1449 

Committee  on  the  Petition  from  Plymouth,       -  1449 

Directions  for  delivering  out  the  Arms  procured 
by  a  Committee  of  this  Congress,        -       -  1449 

Committee  to  consider  measures  for  the  defence 
and  protection  of  the  Sea-Coast,  -       -  1450 

Report  of  the  Committee  on  the  conduct  of  Col. 

Thompson  at  Falmouth,     ....  1450 

27,  Committee  on  a  Letter  from  Albany,  -  1450 
Report  of  Committee  on  General  Ward's  Letter 

accepted,  and  afterwards  recommitted,  toge- 
ther with  the  Resolve  relating  to  absconding 
Soldiers,  1450 

Letter  from  Isaac  Stone,  relative  to  Francis 
Moore,  1450 

Committee  to  consider  General  Thomas's  Letter, 
relative  to  furnishing  the  American  Prisoners 
in  Boston  with  Provisions,         -       -       -  1451 

Committee  on  the  Letters  brought  by  Mr.  Pal- 
frey from  England,    -       -       -       -  -1451 

Four  Members  added  to  the  Committee  of  Sup- 
plies,  1451 

Colonel  William  Henshaw  and  Samuel  Brewer 
chosen  Adjutant- Generals  of  the  Massachu- 
setts Army,  1451 

Committee  to  prepare  an  Address  to  the  several 
Towns  in  the  Colony,  to  furnish  the  Army 
with  Powder,  1452 

Petition  from  the  Committee  of  Goldsborough, 
&c,  (Note,)  1452 

Report  of  Committee  on  the  Petition,      -       -  1452 

Pay  of  Officers  and  Soldiers  to  commence  at  the 
time  of  their  enlistment,      ....  1452 

Resolve  of  yesterday,  relating  to  the  distribu- 
tion of  Fire-Arms,  reconsidered,  amended,  and 
adopted,  1453 

Report  of  the  Committee  on  furnishing  the  Pri- 
soners in  Boston  with  Provisions,         -       -  1454 

Report  on  protecting  the  Sea- Coast  again  read 
and  considered,  and,  after  debate,  further  post- 
poned,     .......  1454 

28,  Five  or  three  may  be  a  quorum  of  the  Commit- 

tee of  Supplies,  .....  1454 
Letter  to  the  Committee  of  Albany,  -  -  1454 
Report  of  Committee  on  absconding  Soldiers  read 

and  recommitted,  .....  1455 
Report  of  Committee  on  giving  a  currency  to 

the  Notes  or  Bills  of  Credit  of  the  Colony, 

read  and  recommitted,  ....  1455 
Report  of  Committee  on  defence  of  the  Sea-Coast 

again  considered,  amended  and  accepted,       -  1456 


CXXII 

1775. 

Report  of  Committee  on  saving  Provisions  in 
the  Army,  1456 

Committees  to  station  the  Troops  in  the  Counties 
of  Essex  and  York,  -  1456 

Committee  to  give  out  Listing  Orders,     -       -  1456 

Measures  adopted  for  the  defence  and  protection 
of  the  Sea-Coast,  1456 

Report  of  Committee  relative  to  absconding  Sol- 
diers considered  and  accepted,      ...  1457 

Form  of  Warrant  for  the  Surgeons,        -       -  1458 

Committee  on  preventing  the  unnecessary  ex- 
penditure of  Gunpowder,  .       -       -       -  1458 

Report  of  the  Committee  on  making  the  Notes 
and  Bills  of  Credit  of  this  and  the  other  Co- 
lonies a  tender,  again  considered,  amended, 
and  adopted,     ......  1458 

Time  of  the  commencement  of  pay  to  Officers, 
Soldiers  and  Minute-Men,  fixed,          -       -  1460 
June 29,  Committee  to  prepare  an  Address  to  Generals 
Washington  and  Lee,  on  their  arrival  at  Cam- 
bridge,  H0O 

Selectmen  of  the  several  Towns  to  supply  the 
Soldiers  stationed  on  the  Sea-Coast  with  Pro- 
visions,   -------  1400 

Letters  brought  by  Ensign  Campbell,  late  from 
England,  now  a  prisoner  at  Concord,  address- 
ed to  gentlemen  in  the  Colonies,  to  be  sent  to 
the  Officers  of  the  Troops  of  the  respective 
Colonies,  -       -       -       -       -  -1401 

Committee  to  search  Ensign  Campbell,    -       -  1401 

Address  to  the  Counties  of  Hampshire  and  Wor- 
cester, requesting  to  supply  Powder  for  the 
Army,     -       -       -       -       -       -  -1401 

Doctor  William  Whiting  directed  to  go  to  New- 
York,  and  procure  from  Doctor  Graham  in- 
structions for  making  Saltpetre,  ---  1102 
30,  Major  Hawley  to  bring  in  a  Resolve  directing 
the  Committee  of  Safety  to  inquire  into  the 
expediency  of  a  further  emission  of  Bills  of 
Credit.    Report  presented  and  accepted,        -  1463 

Committee  to  inquire  into  the  expediency  of  con- 
tinuing the  Lights  in  the  Light-houses  at  Cape 
Ann,  Boston  and  Plymouth,        ...  1403 

Jabez  Matthews  admitted  to  give  an  account  of 
his  embassy  to  Quebeck,     ....  1464 

Form  of  Commissions,  Beating  Orders  and  En- 
listments, for  Troops  employed  for  the  defence 
of  the  Sea-Coast,       .....  1404 

Instructions  to  the  Committees  appointed  to  pro- 
cure Powder  from  the  Counties  of  Hampshire 
and  Worcester,  .....  1466 

List  of  Towns  required  to  furnish  the  Powder,-  1407 
July  1,  Provision  made  for  the  Poor  of  Charlestown,    -  1408 

Deputy-Commissaries  for  the  Massachusetts 
Army,  14G8 

General  Ward  directed  to  order  two  Companies 
to  Plymouth,  1469 

Regulations  for  trial  of  offences  by  any  of  the 
Troops  for  the  defence  of  the  Sea-Coast,       -  1469 

A  number  of  Letters  from  London  received  and 
referred  to  a  Committee,      ....  1470 

Letter  to  the  Governour  and  Company  of  Con- 
necticut,   -       -       -       -       -       -  -1470 

Receiver-General  directed  to  pay  out  of  the  Trea- 
sury the  Bills  of  Credit  of  other  Colonies,     -  1471 

Accommodations  for  the  Sick  and  Wounded  of 
the  Colony  Army  provided,        ...  1472 

Address  to  General  Washington,     ...  1472 

His  Excellency's  Answer,      ....  1473 

Address  to  General  Lee,        ....  1473 

His  Honour's  Answer,  ....  1474 

Report  of  the  Committee  on  securing  the  Whale- 
Boats  belonging  to  the  Colony,    ...  1474 

2,  Report  of  the  Committee  on  removing  and  secur- 

ing the  Lamps  of  the  Light-houses,      -       -  1474 
Petition  of  Joseph  Barrell,  late  of  Boston,        -  1475 
Letter  from  Alexander  Shepard,  Jun,,  to  the  Com- 
mittee of  Safety,        .....  1476 
Report  of  the  Committee  for  devising  means  for 
the  support  of  the  Poor  of  Boston  and  Charles- 
town,   1476 

3,  Committee  of  Safety  directed  to  report,  as  soon  as 

possible,  on  the  expediency  of  a  new  emission 

of  Bills  of  Credit,  1476 

Committee  to  confer  with  the  Members  from  the 

New- Hampshire  Congress,  ...  1477 
Petition  of  the  Selectmen  of  Abington  for  aid  in 

supporting  the  Poor  of  Boston,    -       -       -  1477 


CONTENTS. 


CXXIII 

1775. 

July  4,  Letter  from  Colonel  Gridley,  complaining  of  their 
appointment  of  persons  not  recommended  by 
him  for  Officers  in  the  Artillery,         -       •  1477 

No  more  Commissions,  for  the  present,  to  be  de- 
livered to  Officers  in  the  Colony  Army,        -  1478 

Committee  to  take  into  consideration  the  conduct 
of  the  People  of  Nantucket,       -       -       -  1479 

Letter  from  the  Congress  of  New-Hampshire, 
dated  July  3,  enclosing  two  Letters  from  Dr. 
Whcelock  and  a  Committee  in  Hanover,      -  1479 

Letter  to  Goveinour  Trumbull,      ...  1480 

5,  Committee  to  wait  upon  General  Washington,  to 

know  if  he  has  any  matter  to  lay  belbre  the 
Congress,         ......  1481 

List  of  Surgeons  and  Mates,  ...  1481 

Form  of  Warrant  for  a  Medical  Commissary,   -  1481 

Late  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Boston  au- 
thorized to  choose  Representatives  to  the  As- 
sembly,  1481 

Report  of  the  Committee  on  the  request  of  Gen. 
Washington  to  make  a  Drawbridge  of  the 
Bridge  at  Cambridge,         ....  1482 

Report  of  the  Committee  to  consider  of  the  Do- 
nations for  the  Poor  of  Boston  recommitted,  -  1483 

Petition  from  Colonel  Jonathan  Brewer,  -       -  1483 

Report  of  the  Committee  on  the  Petition  of 
eighteen  Stockbridge  Indians,     ...  1483 

Mr.  Shepard  requested  to  retain  in  his  hands  all 
the  Plans  he  hath  of  the  Province  of  Maine,  -  1484 

Report  on  the  Donations  for  the  Poor  of  Boston 
again  made  and  recommitted,       ...  1484 

Committee  appointed,  with  authority  to  convene 
the  General  Assembly  earlier  than  the  19th 
instant,  1484 

Letter  from  James  Winthrop,  resigning  his  ap- 
pointment as  Postmaster  at  Cambridge,         -  1485 

Letter  to  General  Washington,  enclosing  a  Re- 
solution relative  to  the  Sick  and  Wounded,    -  1485 

Report  of  the  Committee  for  supplying  Coats  for 
the  Army,  1485 

Proportion  of  the  thirteen  thousand  Coats  to  be 
supplied  by  the  respective  Towns,       -       -  1486 

6,  Committee  of  Supplies  empowered  to  impress 

the  Saw-Mill  at  Watertovvn,  or  any  other  Mill 
they  may  have  occasion  for,        ...  1488 

Letter  from  Colonel  John  Fcnton,  a  prisoner 
from  New-Hampshire,  requesting  he  may  be 
removed  to  Cambridge  and  tried,         -       -  1489 

Vote  of  Thanks  to  the  Committee  who  have  re- 
turned this  day  from  their  embassy  to  Ticon- 
deroga,  1490 

7,  Committee  to  consider  a  Resolve  of  the  Commit- 

tee of  Safety,  recommending  the  seizing  of 
Crown  Officers,  1490 

Committee  of  Safety  appointed  a  Committee  to 
draw  up  and  transmit  to  Great  Britain  a  fair 
and  impartial  account  of  the  Battle  at  Charles- 
town,   1491 

Report  of  the  Committee  on  the  Resolve  of  the 
Committee  of  Safety,  relative  to  a  new  emis- 
sion of  Bills  of  Credit,       -       -       -  -1491 

Report  of  the  Committee  on  the  application  of 
Daniel  Murray  to  General  Washington  for 
permission  to  go  into  Boston,       ...  1492 

Letter  from  General  Ward,  requesting  Clothing 
for  the  Army,  1493 

Letter  to  Colonel  Easton,  at  Ticonderoga,        -  1494 

Report  of  the  Committee  to  consider  some  me- 
thod to  prevent  supplying  our  enemies  with 
Provisions,       ......  1494 

Report  of  the  Committee  on  Clothing  for  the 
Army,  1495 

Report  of  the  Committee  appointed  to  consider 
the  conduct  of  the  People  of  Nantucket,       -  1495 

Permission  given  to  the  Committee  of  Machias 
to  fit  out  an  Armed  Vessel  for  their  defence,  -  1495 

8,  Report  of  the  Committee  on  the  Petition  of  Colo- 

nel Jonathan  Brewer,        ....  14% 
Letters  from  or  to  any  person  in  the  Continental 

Army  in  Massachusetts,  free  of  postage,       -  1497 
Letter  to  the  Congress  of  New- Hampshire,      -  1498 
Report  of  the  Committee  on  a  Letter  from  Gene- 
ral Greene,  1499 

Resolution  explanatory  of  the  Resolve  of  the  21st 
of  June,  relative  to  the  Estates  of  Refugees,   -  1499 

9,  The  Continental  Congress  to  be  requested  to  or- 

der the  seizure  of  every  Crown  Officer  in  the 
Colonies,  1590 


CXXIV 

1775. 

Letter  from  John  Scollay,  relative  to  the  Poor  of 
the  Town  of  Boston,  1500 

Letter  from  four  Indian  Chiefs,  at  Falmouth,  to 
Ephraim  Oilman,  (Note,)  ...       -  1501 

Jcdediah  Preble  and  Enoch  Freeman  empowered 
to  supply  the  Penobscot  Indians  with  Goods,  -  1501 

Report  of  the  Committee  on  the  Letter  of  John 
Scollay,   1501 

Report  of  the  Committee  on  the  Towns  to  be  ap- 
plied to  for  Shirts  and  Breeches  for  the  Army,  1501 

Additional  Resolve,  relative  to  the  Poor  of  Bos- 
ton, adopted,      -  1502 

Letter  to  the  Continental  Congress,  requesting 
the  seizure  of  Crown  Officers,     ...  1503 

John  Lane,  Agent  for  the  Penobscot  Tribe  of  In- 
dians, authorized  to  supply  them  with  Powder,  1503 

Letter  from  General  Lee,  requesting  their  appro- 
bation of  his  interview  with  Gen.  Burgoyne,  1504 

Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  Letter,  and 
Elbridge  Gerry  appointed  to  accompany  Gene- 
ral Lee  at  the  interview,     ....  1504 

Committee  on  a  Letter  from  General  Washing- 
ton, on  the  deficiency  in  the  strength  of  the 
Army,  1504 

Letter  to  General  Lee,  agreeing  to  his  proposed 
interview  with  General  Burgoyne,       -       -  1504 
July  1 1,  Report  of  the  Committee  relative  to  Donations  for 

the  Poor  of  Boston,  considered  and  accepted,  -  1505 

Report  of  the  Committee  appointed  to  consider 
the  circumstances  of  the  Town  of  Hull,        -  1506 

Committee  to  confer  with  General  Washington, 
on  a  temporary  re-enforcement  of  the  Army,  -  1506 

Committee  to  devise  some  means  of  raising  speed- 
ily a  temporary  re-enforcement,  ...  1507 

Memorial  of  William  Hunt,   ....  1507 

12,  Letter  to  Governour  Trumbull,      -       -       -  1508 
Able-bodied  Men  requested  to  return  to  their  re- 
spective Seaport  Towns,  to  protect  them  from 

the  ravages  of  the  enemy,   -  1508 

Letter  from  Captain  Noble,  dated  Pittsfield,  July 
3,  with  a  roll  of  his  Company,  at  Ticonderoga,  1508 

Letter  from  General  Washington  referred  to  the 
Committee  on  the  temporary  re-enforcement,  1509 

Report  of  the  Committee  on  the  situation  of  the 
publick  stock  of  Powder,   ...       -  1509 

Committee  to  enlarge  the  Commission  of  the 
Committee  of  Safety,         ....  1509 

Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Safety,  requesting 
Congress  to  appoint  a  Special  Committee  to 
make  provision  for  the  Poor  of  Boston  and 
Charlestown,    ......  1500 

Report  of  the  Committee  for  a  temporary  re-en- 
forcement, considered,  and,  after  much  debate, 
recommitted,     -  1509 

Letter  to  Captain  James  Noble,      -       -       -  1510 

Committee  on  a  temporary  re-enforcement  again 
reported:  Report  amended  and  accepted,       -  1510 

Resolves  for  a  temporary  re-enforcement,        -  1510 

Letter  to  the  Military  Officers,  &c,  of  the  several 
Towns,  requesting  them  to  raise  and  forward 
to  the  Camp  immediately,  their  proportions  of 
Men,  for  the  temporary  re-enforcement,        -  151 1 

13,  Letter  from  General  Washington's  Secretary, 

dated  nine  o'clock,  P.  M.,  July  12,       -       -  1512 

Resolve  passed  yesterday,  for  a  re-enforcement, 
reconsidered,     -       -       -       -       -       -  1512 

Killing  of  Sheep  or  Lambs  prohibited,  excepting 
in  cases  of  absolute  necessity,  till  the  further 
order  of  this  Congress,      -       -       -       -  1514 

Soldiers  enlisting  in  more  than  one  Company 
required  to  return  to  the  first  Company  they 
enlisted  in,        -       -      .-       -       -  -1515 

Report  of  the  Committee  on  disposing  of  ten 
Prisoners  taken  on  Long-Island,  in  the  Har- 
bour of  Boston,        -       -       -       -       -  1515 

Commission  of  the  Committee  of  Safety,  -       -  1515 

Ten  Prisoners,  taken  at  Machias,  sent  to  the  Jail 
in  Worcester,    -       -       -       -       -       -  1516 

Committee  of  Supplies  authorized  to  grant  relief, 
out  of  the  publick  stores,  to  the  Lrhabitants  of 
the  eastern  parts  of  the  Colony,  -       -       -  1518 
19,  Congress  dissolved,       .....  15 1 8 

CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  ETC. 

July  1,  Letter  from  Lord  Dartmouth  to  General  Gage. 

The  rebellious  conduct  of  the  Provincials,  on 
the  19th  of  April,  will  evince  to  the  world  the 


CONTENTS. 


cxxv 

1775. 


CONTENTS. 


CXXV  I 


justice  of  the  measures  the  King  has  adopted, 
and  in  which  His  Majesty  will  firmly  perse- 
vere, -  -  -  -  - 
July  1  Letter  from  a  Gentleman  in  London  to  his  friend 
in  Virginia.  The  real  friends  of  America 
wish  they  had  acted  with  more  temper  and  less 
violence;  the  King  has  recommended  concilia- 
tory measures,  but  whether  they  will  be  suffi- 
cient to  allay  the  ferment  on  your  side  of  the 
water  time  only  will  show,  -  -  -  - 
I,  Letter  from  London  to  a  Gentleman  in  Philadel- 
phia. The  spirit  displayed  by  all  the  Colonies 
give  great  satisfaction  to  all  the  friends  of 
America.    Substance  of  a  conversation  with 

Lord  North,  

I ,  Letter  from  the  South-Carolina  Delegates  in  the 
Continental  Congress,  to  the  Secret  Committee 

in  Charlestown,  

Address  delivered  to  the  Inhabitants  of  a  Coun- 
ty in  Virginia,  assembled  for  the  purpose  of 
choosing  Deputies  to  represent  them  in  Colony 
Convention,  ------ 

1,  Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Yorktown,  Penn- 
sylvania, to  the  Pennsylvania  Delegates  in 
Congress.  Have  raised  a  Company  of  Rifle- 
men, and  recommend  Officers  for  them, 
1,  Letter  from  General  Schuyler  to  General  Wash- 
ington. The  Connecticut  Troops,  under  Gene- 
ral Wooster,  are  encamped  within  two  miles 
of  New- York.  No  preparation  has  yet  been 
made  to  occupy  a  post  in  the  Highlands.  He 
will  leave  New- York  for  Ticonderoga  on 

Monday  next,  

1,  Letter  from  Edward  Fleming  to  the  New- York 
Congress.  Declines  accepting  the  appoint- 
ment of  Lieutenant-Colonel,  in  Colonel  James 

Clinton's  Regiment,  

1,   Letter  from  S.  Sp.  Skinner,  New- York,  to  a 
Nobleman  in  England.    On  the  policy  of  the 
British  Government  towards  the  Colonies,  and 
the  disposition  and  the  ability  of  the  Colonies 
to  resist,  ------- 

1,   Letter  from  the  Congress  of  Massachusetts  to  the 
Assembly  of  Connecticut,  requesting  the  em- 
bargo in  Connecticut  may  be  taken  off,  so  far 
as  to  permit  the  Inhabitants  of  the  eastern  parts 
of  Massachusetts  to  purchase  Provisions,  they 
being  reduced  to  the  alternative  of  starving 
or  supplying  the  Ministerial  Troops,  either  of 
which  they  deprecate,        -       -       -  - 

1,   Recantation  of  James  Ball,  of  Warwick,  Massa- 
chusetts, ------- 

1,   New-Hampshire  Committee  of  Safety,    -  1765- 
1,   Letter  from  General  Folsom  to  the  New-Hamp- 
shire Committee  of  Safety,  -       -       -  - 

1,   Letter  from  the  New- Hampshire  Committee  of 
Safety  to  General  Folsom,  -       -       -  - 

1,   Letter  from  the  New-Hampshire  Committee  of 
Safety  to  Colonel  Reid.    Refuse  to  recall  the 
Commission  to  Mr.  McGregore,  as  Adjutant 
of  his  Regiment,  and  insist  upon  it  that  their 
appointments  take  place,     -       -       -  - 

Letter  from  General  Schuyler  to  the  President 
of  Congress.     Has  had  a  conference  with  the 
New- York  Congress  on  employing  the  Green 
Mountain  Boys ;  and  expects  they  will  employ 
five  hundred  of  them;  from  the  accounts  of 
Colonel  Guy  Johnson's  conduct  it  is  appre- 
hended that  the  Inhabitants  of  the  western 
part  of  New- York  and  New-Jersey,  and  the 
northern  parts  of  Pennsylvania  will  be  exposed 
to  insults  from  the  Savages,        -       -  - 
Letter  from  General  Gates  to  General  Washing- 
ton, -------- 

Meeting  of  Committee  of  Inspection  for  Balti- 
more Town;  Henry  Lloyd,  of  Boston,  declared 
a  wilful  violator  of  the  Continental  Associa- 


2, 


■3, 


3, 


3, 


1517 


1517 

1518 
1519 

1520 

1524 


1525 


1526 


1526 


1470 

1528 
1768 

1524 

1529 


1530 


tion,  ------- 

Dorchester  County,  Maryland,  Committee,  pro- 
hibit the  selling  of  any  Merchandise  brought  to 
the  County,  without  a  proper  Certificate  that 
it  was  imported  agreeable  to  the  Continen- 
tal Association,  

Letter  from  John  Alsop,  Philadelphia,  to  the 
New- York  Congress,  - 

Letter  from  John  Langdon,  Philadelphia,  to  the 
New-Hampshire  Congress.  General  Sullivan 
has  left  for  home ;  the  Riflemen  will  march 


1439 
1531 

1531 

1532 
1532 


1775. 


this  week  for  Cambridge;  the  Powder  Mills 
are  going  on  fast;  an  effort  will  be  made  to 
import  large  quantities  of  Powder ;  Cannon 
should  not  be  used,  if  it  can  be  avoided,  until 
there  is  a  better  supply  of  Powder,  -  -  1533 
July  3,  Committee  of  Philadelphia  have  undertaken  to 

erect  a  Saltpetre  Manufactory,     ...  1533 

3,  Letter  from  the  New- York  Congress  to  the  Com- 
mittee of  Albany,  with  fifty  quarter  casks  of 
Gunpowder,  sent  by  the  Continental  Congress 
for  the  use  of  the  Forts  at  Ticonderoga  and 
Crown  Point,    ------  1336 

3,  Proclamation  of  Governour  Tryon,  to  postpone 
the  meeting  of  the  Assembly  to  the  ninth  of 
August,    -------  1533 

3,  Address  of  the  Mayor,  Aldermen,  and  Common- 
alty of  New- York,  to  Governour  Tryon,      -  1534 
Governour  Tryon's  Answer  to  the  Address,      -  1534 

3,  Letter  from  General  Schuyler  to  the  Continental 
Congress.  The  People  called  Green  Mountain 
Boys  are  the  inhabitants  of  the  northeastern 
parts  of  Albany  County,  Charlotte  County,  and 
the  New-Hampshire  Grants;  occupying  the 
country  from  near  Albany  to  forty  or  fifty  miles 
north  of  Crown  Point;  but  it  has  been  so  lately 
settled  that  not  more  than  five  hundred  Men 
c;in  be  raised  there.  The  Troops  at  his  com- 
mand are  inadequate  to  the  enterprise  he  is 
ordered  to  undertake,  and  which  he  is  not  at 
liberty  to  desist  from  without  orders  to  the  con- 
trary,      -------  1535 

3,  Letter  from  General  Schuyler  to  the  Continental 
Congress.  The  information  he  has  just  received 
of  the  nefarious  designs  of  Colonel  Johnson,  and 
the  temper  of  the  Indians,  is  so  important  that 
he  has  sent  Mr.  Kirkland,  who  brought  him 
the  information,  to  the  Congress,         -       -  1536 

3,  Letter  from  General  Schuyler  to  the  New- York 
Congress :  enclosing  a  list  of  Military  Stores, 
Provisions,  &c,  which  he  requests  may  be  sent 
to  Albany,  for  which  place  he  leaves  New- 
York  to-morrow,      -----  1536 

3,  Letter  from  the  New- York  Committee  of  Secrecy 
to  the  Massachusetts  Congress,  informing  them 
of  the  sailing  of  a  Vessel  from  Scotland,  bound 
to  Salem,  1537 

3,  Letter  from  Peter  T.  Curtenius  to  the  New- York 

Congress,         ------  1537 

3,  S.  Patrick  to  the  New- York  Congress;  has  a 
Furnace  now  in  blast,  and  will  deliver  Iron  Ball 
of  any  dimensions,  any  where  on  the  North 
River,  for  fifteen  pounds  per  ton,  -       -  1538 

3,  Letter  from  Colonel  Hinman,  at  Ticonderoga,  to 
the  New- York  Congress.  The  Fortresses  at 
Fort  George  and  Ticonderoga  cannot  be  main- 
tained against  Artillery.  He  is  almost  destitute 
of  Powder,  and  it  is  not  improbable  that  a  suffi- 
cient force  may  be  sent  from  Canada  to  take 
these  Posts  if  supplies  are  not  sent  him,        -  1538 

3,  Address  of  the  principal  Inhabitants  on  Lake 
Champlain  to  Benedict  Arnold,  Commander- 
in-Chief  of  an  Expedition  to  Lake  Champlain. 
for  taking  the  Fortresses  on  said  Lake,  -  1088 
Answer  of  Colonel  Arnold  to  the  very  respect- 
able Inhabitants  on  Lake  Champlain,    -       -  1088 

3,  Letter  to  the  Continental  Congress,  from  Walter 
Spooner,  one  of  the  Committee  from  the  Massa- 
chusetts Congress  to  Ticonderoga.  It  is  of  the 
utmost  importance  to  New- York  and  the  New- 
England  Colonies  that  the  Posts  there  should 
not  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  and  that 
we  should  have  the  command  of  Lake  Cham- 
plain,  1539 

3,  Letter  from  Walter  Spooner  to  the  New- York 
Congress.  All  possible  care  should  be  taken  to 
keep  the  command  of  Lake  Champlain,  which 
may  most  easily  be  effected  by  Armed  Vessels. 
A  most  dangerous  mutiny  was  set  on  foot  by 
persons  employed  by  Colonel  Arnold,  an  officer 
of  Massachusetts,  which  was  suppressed  by  the 
influence  of  Judge  Duer,  of  Charlotte  County, 
New-York,  and  the  principal  officers  of  the 
Connecticut  Forces,   -----  1539 

3,  Letter  from  Walter  Spooner  to  Governour  Trum- 
bull. When  the  Committee  arrived  at  Crown 
Point,  they  informed  Colonel  Arnold  that  he 
must  give  up  the  command  to  Colonel  Hin- 
man;  this  he  refused,  declared  he  would  not 


C.WVII 


CONTENTS. 


CXXVIII 


1775. 

be  second  to  any  man,  disbanded  his  forces, 
and  resigned  his  commission,  ...  1540 
July  3,  Letter  from  the  New-Hampshire  Congress  to  the 
Massachusetts  Congress,  with  information  from 
Canada:  if  any  plan  of  operation  towards,  or  in 
( 'anada,  is  suitable,  the  y  wish  to  act  in  concert 
with  the  other  Colonics  in  the  neighbourhood,  1479 
3,  Letter  from  Governour  Wentworth  to  Theodore 
Atkinson.  Has  occasion  for  the  Books  of  Char- 
ters in  the  Secretary's  Office,  and  desires  they 
may  be  sent  him,  .....  1541 
3,  Letter  from  the  New-Hampshire  Congress  to  the 
Massachusetts  Congress,  enclosing  copies  of 
Letters  froi"  Dr.  Wheelock,  dated  Dartmouth 
College,  June  28,  and  from  the  Committee  in 
Hanover,  dated  June  27,     ....  1541 


GEORGIA  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS. 

July  4,  The  Congress  meets  at  Savannah,  ...  1543 
List  of  the  Members  elected,  ...  1543 

Archibald  Bullock  chosen  President,  and  George 

Walton  Secretary,  1543 

Congress  attend  the  Meeting-House  of  the  Rev. 

Dr.  Zubly,  where  he  preached  a  Sermon  on 

the  alarming  state  of  American  affairs,  -  1543 
Thanks  of  the  Congress  to  Dr.  Zubly  for  his 

excellent  Sermon,      .....  1543 

5,  Message  to  the  Governour  by  a  Committee,  that 

he  will  appoint  a  day  of  Fasting  and  Prayer, 

to  be  observed  throughout  the  Province,       -  1543 

Proceedings  of  a  Meeting  at  Savannah,  on  the 

13th  of  June,  laid  before  the  Congress,         -  1544 

Motion,  that  this  Congress  put  the  Province  upon 
the  same  footing  with  the  other  Colonies,  to 
be  considered  to-morrow,    ....  1545 

6,  Order  of  the  Day  read,  and  considered,    -       -  1545 
Resolved  unanimously,  that  this  Province  will 

adopt  and  carry  into  execution  all  and  singular 
the  measures  and  recommendations  of  the  late 
Continental  Congress,        ....  1545 
Other  Resolutions  regulating  the  conduct  of  the 
Colony,   1545 

7,  Governour  Wright's  Answer  to  the  Message  of 

the  Congress;  he  will  appoint  a  day  of  Fast- 
ing and  Prayer,        .....  1547 

Committee  to  convey  the  Thanks  of  the  Congress 
to  the  Governour,      .....  1547 

Delegates  to  the  Continental  Congress  chosen,  -  1547 

Dr.  Zubly  declines  accepting  the  appointment  of 
Delegate,  without  the  approbation  of  his  Con- 
gregation,        ......  1547 

Secret  Committee  appointed,   ...       -  1547 

Dr.  Zubly  appointed  to  prepare  and  bring  in  a 
Petition  to  the  King,  -----  1547 

Committee  appointed  to  prepare  a  Letter  to  the 
President  of  the  Continental  Congress,  inform- 
ing him  of  the  Proceedings  of  this  Congress,  1547 

Committee  appointed  to  prepare  an  Address  to 
the  Governour,  ------  1547 

8,  Ten  Thousand  Pounds  Sterling  appropriated  for 

the  service  of  the  Province,  in  the  present 
alarming  and  distracted  state  of  affairs,  -       -  1548 
Petition  to  the  King  presented  and  approved  of,  -  1548 
Committee  of  Intelligence  appointed,       -       -  1548 
Letter  to  the  President  of  the  Continental  Con- 
gress presented  and  approved  of,  -       -       -  1548 

10,  Resolutions  adopted  unanimously,  declaring  their 

rights,  their  allegiance  to  the  King,  their  union 
with  the  Colonies,  and  their  determination  to 
enforce  the  Resolutions  of  the  Continental  and 
Provincial  Congresses,       -  -       -  1548 

1 1,  Committee  report  the  assent  of  Dr.  Zubly's 

Congregation  to  his  appointment,  and  that  they 
are  willing  to  spare  him  for  a  time,  for  the 
good  of  the  common  cause,  -  -  -  - 
Address  to  the  Governour  reported,  agreed  to, 
and  a  Committee  appointed  to  present  it, 

1 2,  Ways  and  Means  to  raise  and  sink  Ten  Thousand 

Pounds  Sterling,  considered  in  Committee  of 

the  Whole,  

Congress  while  sitting,  and  the  Council  of  Safe- 
ty in  its  recess,  empowered  to  issue  Certificates 
to  the  amount  of  Ten  Thousand  Pounds  Steri- 

inrr  ------- 

Persons  who  may  refuse  to  receive  such  Certifi- 
cates in  payment  to  be  considered  enemies  of 
the  Province,  and  treated  accordincrlv,  - 


1550 
1550 

1551 

1551 
1551 


1775. 
Julij\Z 


14, 


15, 


17, 


25, 
14, 
14, 

14, 

4, 

July-  4 


,  Association  entered  into  at  Savannah,  on  the  5th 
of  June  last,  approved  of,  and  adopted  by  the 
Congress,        -       -       -       -       -       -  1551 

Committee  to  present  the  Association  to  all  the 

Inhabitants  of  Savannah,  to  be  signed,  -       -  1552 
Committee  appointed  to  consider  and  report  upon 
the  qualifications  of  voters  for  Delegates  to  the 
Provincial  Congress,  and  an  equal  representa- 
tion,  1552 

Directions  to  Magistrates  relative  to  issuing  sum- 
monses and  warrants,  for  the  recovery  of  debts,  1552 

Report  of  the  Committee  on  the  qualification  of 
voters  and  equal  representation,  presented  and 
adopted,  1552 

Form  of  Credentials  for  Delegates  to  the  Provin- 
cial Congress  recommended  to  the  Inhabitants 
of  the  several  Parishes  and  Districts,    -       -  1552 

Committee  on  the  better  governing  the  Militia 
of  the  Province  appointed,  ....  1553 

Committee  appointed  to  communicate  to  the  In- 
habitants of  the  Province  an  account  of  the 
disputes  between  Great  Britain  and  the  Colo- 
nies, and  the  Proceedings  of  this  Congress,  -  1553 

Delegates  to  a  new  Congress  to  be  elected  be- 
tween the  20th  of  August  and  1st  of  Septem- 
ber, next,  -  1553 

Delegates  for  Savannah  to  be  chosen  on  the  1 5th 
of  September,    -  1553 

Delegates  for  Savannah,  and  such  other  Dele- 
gates as  may  be  there  appointed,  a  General 
Committee  for  the  Province,        ...  1553 

Rev.  Haddon  Smith  declared  to  be  unfriendly 
to  America,  for  refusing  to  join  on  a  day  of 
Fasting  and  Prayer  recommended  by  the  Con- 
gress,      .......  1554 

Delegates  appointed  to  go  to  Philadelphia,  di- 
rected to  apply  to  the  Continental  Congress  to 
incorporate  this  Province  with  the  other  United 
Provinces  of  America,       ....  1554 

Adjourned  to  the  19th  day  of  August,  unless 
sooner  convened  by  the  General  Committee,  -  1554 

Address  to  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Province  of 
Georgia,  by  the  Committee  appointed  on  the 
15th  instant,      ......  1554 

Letter  from  Archibald  Bullock  to  George  John- 
stone, London,  enclosing  a  Letter  from  the 
Committee  of  Intelligence,  -  1555 

Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Intelligence,  for 
Georgia,  to  George  Johnstone,  London,  en- 
closing a  Petition  to  the  King,    ...  1555 

Petition  to  the  King,  from  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress of  Georgia,      .....  1556 

The  Law  of  Liberty:  a  Sermon  preached  before 
the  Provincial  Congress  of  Georgia,  at  Savan- 
nah, on  the  4th  of  July,  1775,     -       -       -  1557 


4, 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  ETC. 

Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Intelligence  at 
Charlestown,  South -Carolina,  to  the  Continen- 
tal Congress,  enclosing  copies  of  intercepted 
Letters  from  Lord  Dartmouth  to  Governour 
Wright  of  Georgia,  Governour  Martin  of 
North-Carolina,  and  to  the  Lieutenant- Go- 
vernour of  South-Carolina,  dated  March  3, 
1775,       -       -       -       -       -       -       -  1567 

Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Intelligence  at 
Charlestown  to  the  Committee  at  Nevvbern, 
North-Carolina,        .....  15(57 

Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Intelligence  at 
Charlestown  to  the  Committee  at  Savannah, 
Georgia,  -------  1568 

Account  of  the  seizure  of  the  Mail  in  Charles- 
town, on  the  2d  of  July,  by  the  Secret  Com- 
mittee, with  despatches  from  the  Earl  of  Dart- 
mouth to  the  Southern  Governours,  (Note,)  -  1509 

Somerset  County,  Maryland,  Committee,  declare 
James  Dooe  inimical  to  the  Liberties  of 
America,  -------  1569 

List  of  Officers  of  the  Green  Mountain  Boys,  -  1570 

Letter  from  John  N.  Bleecker,  with  an  account 
of  Provisions  delivered  over  by  him  to  Elisha 
Phelps,  at  Albany,     -----  1570 

Mr.  Phelps's  Warrant  as  Commissary,  from  the 
Governour  ol  Connecticut,  -  1570 

Letter  from  William  Schuyler  to  John  Marlett; 
only  one  person  in  Warrensburgh.  New- 
York,  has  signed  the  Association,        -       -  1571 


CXXIX 

1775. 

July  4,  Letter  from  Brook  Watson,  near  Montreal,  to 
the  New- York  Congress.  The  Troops  at 
Fort  George,  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point 
talk  and  act  as  if  it  was  determined  they  should 
soon  march  to  Gtuebeck.  This  cannot  be  the 
intention  of  the  General  Congress;  if  they 
suffer  the  People  to  proceed  to  extremes  no- 
thing but  the  sword  can  determine  the  contest,  1571 

4,  Letter  from  Governour  Cooke  to  the  Continen- 
tal Congress.  The  Army  of  Rhode- Island, 
near  Boston,  consists  of  thirteen  hundred  and 
ninety  effective  Men;  we  are  also  equipping 
two  Armed  Vessels,  to  carry  one  hundred  Men, 
exclusive  of  Officers;  the  Colony  will  exert 
itself  in  unremitting  efforts  for  the  common  de- 
fence and  safety,        -----  1572 

4,  Letter  from  the  Massachusetts  Congress  to  Go- 
vernour Trumbull,    -----  1480 

4,  Letter  from  James  Warren  and  Joseph  Hawley  to 
Gen.  Washington,  relative  to  the  appointments 
of  Generals  Pomeroy,  Heath  and  Thomas,  -  1573 

4,  Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Correspondence 

of  Bradford  to  the  Massachusetts  Committee  of 
Safety,  respecting  Captain  Gage's  Company 
deserting  the  cause  of  their  Country,    -       -  1648 

5,  Letter  from  one  of  the  Virginia  Delegates,  at 

Philadelphia,  to  a  friend  in  Williamsburgh. 
The  New-Englanders  are  fitting  out  Priva- 
teers. They  are  now  intent  on  burning  Boston, 
in  order  to  oust  the  Regulars,  and  none  are 
more  eager  for  it  than  those  who  have  left 
their  whole  property  in  it.  Nobody  now 
doubts  that  we  are  able  to  cope  with  England, 
if  we  exert  ourselves,        ...       -  1573 

5,  New- York  Committee  of  Secrecy  and  Inspection 
report  their  examination  of  the  Snow  Christy, 
from  Greenock,  1574 

5,  New- York  Committee.  Regulations  for  the 
examination  of  Vessels  from  Great  Britain  or 
Ireland,  to  prevent  the  introduction  of  Goods 
prohibited  by  the  Continental  Association,  -  1574 
Account  of  Receipts  and  Expenditures  on  account 
of  the  New- York  Committee,     ...  1575 

7,   New- York  Committee.    Order  for  the  arrest  of 

William  McLeod,  a  British  Officer,     -       -  1576 

5,  Letter  from  Burnet  Miller  to  the  New- York 
Congress.  Requesting  some  Troops  may  be 
stationed  at  Montauk,  for  their  protection  and 
that  of  their  stock,  which  is  very  large,  and 
much  exposed  to  the  ravages  of  our  unnatural 
enemy,     -------  1577 

5,  Letter  from  Joseph  Johnson,  a  Mohegan  Indian, 
at  Hartford,  complaining  of  the  injury  done 
him  by  some  white  men  and  Indians  in  Con- 
necticut, who  charge  him  with  having  turned 
a  high  Tory,  1577 

CONNECTICUT  ASSEMBLY. 

July  1,  Connecticut  Assembly  meet  at  Hartford,  -       -  1579 

List  of  the  Members,  1579 

Act  in  addition  to  the  Act  for  the  special  defence 

and  safety  of  the  Colony,    -       -       -       -  1580 

Two  additional  Regiments,  of  seven  hundred 
Men  each,  to  be  enlisted,  equipped,  &c.  -       -  1581 

Officers  of  the  Seventh  and  Eighth  Regiments,  -  1581 

Act  for  supplying  the  Troops  ordered  to  be 
raised  for  the  special  defence  and  safety  of  this 
Colony,  with  necessary  Fire- Arms,     -       -  1 582 

Two  Vessels  to  be  immediately  fitted  out,  and 
armed  with  a  proper  number  of  Cannon, 
Small- Arms  and  necessary  warlike  stores,  for 
the  defence  of  the  Sea-Coast  of  the  Colony,  -  1583 

Governour  directed  to  make  a  friendly  answer  to 
the  Speech  of  the  Oneida  Indians,        -       -  1584 

Jabez  Hamlin  appointed  to  collect  Saltpetre  and 
Sulphur,  to  be  sent  to  the  Powder  Mills  in 
Dutchess  County,  New- York,     ...  1584 

Governour  authorized  to  permit  the  exportation 
of  live  Cattle,  in  certain  cases,     ...  1584 

Emission  of  Bills  of  Credit,  to  the  amount  of 
Fifty  Thousand  Pounds,  authorized,     -       -  1584 

Captain  Deiapiace  and  others  to  be  removed  from 
Hartford,  1585 

Representation  of  Connecticut  Officers  to  the  As- 
sembly, against  the  Continental  arrangement 
of  General  Officers,  which  degrades  General 
Spencer  from  the  rank  he  held,    -       -       -  1585 

Governour  requested  to  write  to  the  Connecticut 
Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii. 


cxxx 

1775. 

Delegates  in  the  Continental  Congress,  remon- 
strating against  the  promotion  of  Putnam  over 
Wooster  and  Spencer,        ...       -  1585 

Report  of  Benjamin  Henshaw  to  the  Committee 
appointed  to  procure  Lead  for  the  use  of  the 
Colony,  and  of  his  proceedings  in  quest  of  a 
suitable  Smelter  or  Refiner  of  Lead  Ore,      -  1586 

Report  of  the  Committee  appointed  to  procure 
Lead  for  the  use  of  the  Colony,  -       -       -  1587 

Committee  appointed  to  examine  the  Lead  Mines 
in  Woodbury,  -       -       -       -       -       -  1588 

Committee  appointed  to  work  the  Lead  Mine  in 
Middletown,     -  _     -      -       -       -       -  1588 

Report  of  the  Committee  on  Indian  Affairs;  they 
acquit  Joseph  Johnson  of  the  charge  made 
against  him  of  being  unfriendly  to  America,  -  1588 

CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  ETC. 

July  5,  Letter  from  Joseph  Hawley  to  General  Wash- 
ington. There  are  many  brave  Officers  in 
the  Massachusetts  Army,  but  there  are  some 
whose  characters  are  very  equivocal  with  re- 
spect to  courage;  he  suggests  that  a  declara- 
tion in  general  orders,  that  any  Officer  who 
shall  act  the  poltron  in  the  day  of  battle  shall 
meet  his  deserts,  whatever  his  rank,  connexions 
or  interest  may  be,  1589 

5,  Committee  of  Duke's  County,  Massachusetts, 

report  on  the  conduct  of  the  Towns  of  the 
County,  1589 

6,  Address  by  the  Meeting  for  Sufferings,  held  by 

the  Quakers  in  Philadelphia,  for  Pennsylvania 

and  New-Jersey,       -----  1590 

6,  Letter  to  the  New- York  Congress,  from  their 
Delegates  in  Philadelphia.  They  have  no- 
thing more  at  heart  than  to  be  instrumental 
in  compromising  the  unnatural  quarrel  be- 
tween the  Colonies  and  Great  Britain,  and  re- 
ceive with  gratitude  the  plan  of  accommoda- 
tion with  the  Parent  State,  sent  them  by  the 
Provincial  Congress,  -       -       -       -       -  1591 

6,   Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Elizabethtown, 

New- Jersey,  to  the  New- York  Committee,  -  1591 

6,  Captains  appointed  by  the  New- York  Provincial 
Congress  for  the  enlistment  of  Volunteers,  for 
the  defence  of  the  Liberties  of  America,  in  the 
first  Battalion  raised  in  the  City  of  New- York,  1592 

6,  Letter  from  Edward  Mott,  at  Albany,  to  Govern- 
our Trumbull.  Colonel  Arnold,  when  he  was 
directed  to  deliver  over  the  command  of  Ticon- 
deroga and  Crown  Point  to  Colonel  Hinman, 
refused  to  do'so,  and  disbanded  his  Men,  except 
those  he  took  with  him  on  board  the  Vessels 
on  the  Lake,  which  he  seized,  and  threatened 
to  take  them  to  St.  John's,  and  deliver  them  up 
to  the  Regulars.  He  also  seized,  confined  and 
abused  the  gentlemen  who  went  to  remon- 
strate with  him  on  his  conduct,    ...  1592 

6,  Letter  from  Ethan  Allen  to  Governour  Trum- 
bull. Is  now  on  his  way  from  New- York,  to 
raise  seven  Companies  of  Green  Mountain 
Boys,  under  the  authority  of  the  Continental 
and  New- York  Congresses,       ...  1593 

6,  Letter  from  Captain  Angus  McDonald  to  Colonel 
McDougall,  complaining  of  his  confinement  in 
Fairfield  Jail,  1593 

6,  Letter  from  Governour  Trumbull  to  General 
Schuyler.  Can  supply  him  with  no  more 
than  fifteen  thousand  Pounds  of  Money,  and 
forty  half  barrels  of  Powder,  -  -  -  1594 
Narrative  and  Remarks  by  a  Gentleman  who 
left  Montreal,  in  Canada,  the  1 4th  of  June  last ; 
enclosed  by  Gov.  Trumbull  to  Gen.  Schuyler,  1594 

6,  Report  to  the  Massachusetts  Congress,  by  their 
Committee  appointed  to  examine  the  Fortresses 
of  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point,  and  their 
condition  for  defence,  -  -  -  -  1596 
Copy  of  the  Warrant  to  Brown  and  Edwards  to 
supply  the  Massachusetts  Troops  at  Ticonde- 
roga,  1598 

Order  of  the  Committee  to  Colonel  Arnold,  dated 

Crown  Point,  June  23,  1775,      ...  1598 
Letter  from  Colonel  Arnold  to  the  Committee, 
resigning  his  Commission,  dated  Crown  Point, 

June  24,  1775,   1598 

Letter  from  Jonas  Fay,  in  behalf  of  Capt.  Her- 
rick,  to  the  Committee,  dated  Ticonderoga, 
June  28,  1775,   1599 


CONTENTS. 


CONTENTS. 


1603 
1604 

1604 


1604 


-  1605 


CXXXI 

1775. 

Ordnance  Stores  at  Crown  Point  and  Ticonde- 
roga,  June  23,  1775,  ....  1600 

July  6,  Letter  from  Theodore  Atkinson  to  the  New- 
Hampshire  Congress.  Refuses  to  deliver  up 
the  Publick  Records,  or  connive  at  a  delivery; 
but  has  no  thoughts  of  attempting  to  retain 
them  in  his  custody  by  force,  ...  1600 
Letter  prepared  by  Mr.  Atkinson  on  the  same 
subject,  but  not  sent  to  the  Congress,  (Note,)  -  1600 

7,  Letter  from  Mr.  Atkinson  to  Governour  Went- 
worth,  informing  him  of  the  demand  made  upon 
him  by  the  Provincial  Congress  for  the  Pub- 
lick  Records;  of  his  refusal  to  deliver  them; 
and  of  their  seizure  and  removal  by  a  Com- 
mittee of  the  Congress,  -  -  -  -  1601 
Resolution  of  the  Provincial  Congress,  demand- 
ing the  Records  of  the  Secretary,         -       -  1601 

7,  Proceedings  at  a  Court  of  Common  Council, 
London,  on  the  Letter  from  the  Committee  of 
New-York  to  the  Lord  Mayor.  Refuse  to 
answer  the  Letter  from  the  Committee,  and 
order  an  Address  to  the  King,  ...  1602 
Address  of  the  Corporation  of  London  to  the 
King,  requesting  him  to  cause  hostilities  to 
cease  between  Great  Britain  and  America,    -  1602 

7,  Letter  from  Doctor  Franklin  to  Doctor  Priestley. 
Another  Petition  to  the  Crown  has  been  car- 
ried with  difficulty.  Britain  has  begun  to  burn 
our  Seaport  Towns;  if  she  wishes  to  have  us 
subjects,  she  is  now  giving  us  such  specimens 
of  her  government  that  we  shall  ever  detest 
and  avoid  it,  as  a  complication  of  robbery,  mur- 
der, famine,  fire  and  pestilence,  - 

7,  Letter  from  John  Dickinson  to  Arthur  Lee, 

7,  Letter  from  General  Wooster  to  the  New- York 
Congress,  - 

7,  Letter  from  the  Committee  for  Westchester  Coun- 
ty, New- York,  to  the  Provincial  Congress. — 
Many,  if  not  a  majority  of  the  Militia  Officers 
of  the  County  endeavour  to  counteract  the 
measures  of  the  Congress,  ... 

7  Letter  from  the  Committee  for  Kingston,  New- 
York,  to  the  Provincial  Congress, 

7,  Letter  from  Elisha  Phelps  to  the  New- York 
Congress.  Flour  is  so  scarce  at  Albany  that 
the  Troops  at  Ticondeioga  will  suffer  if  sup- 
plies are  not  obtained  immediately,       -       -  1605 

7,  Letter  from  Colonel  Hinman,  at  Ticondeioga,  to 
Gen.  Schuyler.  The  Regulars  are  fortifying 
St.  John's,  and  building  some  water-craft  there, 
but  with  what  intent  we  cannot  determine,      -  1605 

7,  Letter  from  Governour  Trumbull  to  the  New- 
York  Provincial  Congress,         -       -       -  1781 

7,  Letter  from  Governour  Trumbull  to  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  Continental  Congress,         -       -  1606 

7,  Orders  from  the  Committee  of  Safety  of  New- 

Hampshire  to  Captain  Bi-del,  directing  him  to 
proceed  to  Northumberland  or  Lancaster,  and, 
in  conjunction  with  the  inhabitants,  erect  works 
of  deft  nee  against  small-arms;  and  to  estab- 
lish Garrisons  at  such  places  on  the  frontiers 
as  may  be  deemed  necessary;  send  out  Scouts; 
conciliate  the  Indians,  and  to  arrest  suspected 
persons,    -  1767 

8,  Letter  from  London  to  a  Gentleman  in  Philadel- 

phia. Should  it  cost  all  the  blood  and  trea- 
sure of  Old  England,  the  Ministry  would  pro- 
secute their  efforts  to  subdue  the  Colonies.  If 
you  submit,  sixty  of  you  are  to  be  hanged  in 
Philadelphia,  aud  the  same  number  in  New- 
York.  Five  hundnd  Pounds  is  offered  for 
Captain  Scars's  head  in  particular,  -  -  1607 
John  Holt,  of  New- York,  among  the  number  of 
the  proscribed  who  are  ordered  to  be  sent  to 
England,  (Note,)  1607 

8,  Letter  from  the  Independent  Company  of  Alexan- 
dria, in  Virginia,  to  General  Washington,      -  1603 

3,  Letter  from  the  Messrs.  Bradfords,  of  Philadel- 
phia, to  the  Printer  of  a  publick  Paper  in  Lon- 
don. The  Ministerial  account  may  gloss  over 
the  affair  of  Bunker's  Hill,  but  a  lew  more 
such  victories  would  leave  General  Gage  but 
a  few  men ;  and  we  should  joyfully  put  up  with 
the  disgrace  of  a  retreat  every  day  for  a  month, 
upon  the  same  terms,         ....  1G08 

8,  Letter  from  the  Noith-Carolina  Delegates,  at 
Philadelphia,  to  the  New-York  Congress,  re- 
questing them  to  secure  a  Vessel  supposed  to 
be  sent  lor  Gunpowder  for  Governour  Martin,  1600 


CXXXI  I 


1775. 
July  8, 


7, 


9, 


9, 


10, 


10, 


10, 


11, 

12, 
12, 

12, 
12, 

10, 


10, 


Letter  from  the  New- York  Congress  to  Charles 
Thomson,  - 

Letter  from  Henry  White  to  the  New- York  Con- 
gress, denying  a  connection  with  Governour 
Martin,  ....... 

Ezekiel  Beach  published  as  an  enemy  to  the 
Country,  by  the  Committee  for  Mendham,  in 
Morris  County,  New- Jersey,      .       .  - 

Letter  from  the  Massachusetts  Congress  to  the 
New-Hampshire  Congress.  Approve  of  Mr. 
Dean's  being  sent  to  the  Continental  Congress; 
and  think  it  a  matter  of  great  importance  to 
America  in  general  to  satisfy  our  friends  in 
America  that  we  are  truly  friendly  to  them,  - 

Letter  from  General  Burgoyne  to  General  Lee,  - 

Petition  of  the  Selectmen  and  Committee  of  Safe- 
ty for  Harpswell  to  the  Massachusetts  Con- 
gress, - 

Letter  from  the  New-Hampshire  Committee  of 
Safety  to  Dr.  Langdon,  - 

Letter  from  the  New-Hampshire  Committee  of 
Safety  to  their  Delegates  in  the  Continental 
Congress,  giving  them  general  information  of 
the  state  of  affairs  in  New- Hampshire,  and 
requesting  that  provision  may  be  made  for 
furnishing  them  with  Gunpowder,  as  they 
are  almost  destitute  of  it,  - 

Letter  from  the  Provincial  Congress  of  New- 
Hampshire  to  the  Continental  Congress.  The 
Colony  is  at  present  wholly  governed  by  this 
Congress  and  the  Committees  of  the  Towns: 
some  other  regulations  are  desired,  but  none 
will  be  attempted  without  the  direction  of  the 
Continental  Congress,  .... 

Letter  from  London  to  a  Gentleman  in  New- 
York.  The  scheme  of  the  Ministry  is  now 
to  deceive  and  divide  the  New-Yorkers,  since 
they  find  mere  force  like  to  answer  no  valua- 
ble end,  - 

Address  of  the  Committee  of  Safety,  Correspond- 
ence and  Protection,  of  the  City  and  County 
of  Albany,  to  General  Schuyler, 

Answer  of  General  Schuyler,  ... 

Letter  from  the  Massachusetts  Congress  to  the 
Continental  Congress  .  suggesting  to  them  the 
expediency  of  seizing  every  Crown  Officer 
in  the  United  Colonies,  and  keeping  them 
until  the  People  of  Boston  are  released,  and 
have  received  full  compensation  for  the  insults 
and  perfidious  treatment  they  have  received 
from  General  Gage,  - 

Letter  from  the  Camp  at  Cambridge  to  a  Gentle- 
man in  Philadelphia.  Account  of  the  burn- 
ing of  the  British  Guard-House  on  Roxburv 
Neck,  

Letter  from  a  Gentleman  in  London  to  his  friend 
in  New- York.  The  eyes  of  Government  are 
fixed  on  the  Congress  and  their  Resolutions, 
and  perhaps  on  their  proposals;  for  it  is  said 
that  Administration  cannot  yield,  it  being  con- 
trary to  the  dignity  of  the  Crown, 

Letter  from  London  to  a  Gentleman  in  Mary- 
land. The  People  here  did  not  imagine  the 
Americans  would  fight,  but  thought  a  handful 
of  Regulars  would  frighten  the  Americans 
into  compliance.  The  Ministry  wish  they 
were  well  rid  of  the  business,  - 

Speech  of  Governour  Lord  William  Camp- 
bell to  the  Council  and  Assembly  of  South- 
Carolina,  ...... 

Address  of  the  Upper  House  of  Assembly  of 
South-Carolina  to  the  Governour, 

His  Excellency's  Answer,  .... 

Address  of  the  Commons  House  of  Assembly  of 
South-Carolina  to  the  Governour, 

Answer  of  the  Governour,  - 

Message  from  the  Commons  House  to  the  Go- 
vernour, ------ 

Meeting  of  the  Committee  for  Fincastle  County, 
Virginia.  The  conduct  of  Lord  Dumnore  in 
se  izing  the  Powder  reflects  dishonour  on  him- 
self; the  conduct  of  Patrick  Henry  on  the 
occasion  merits  the  highest  approbation ;  the 
Council  in  advising  the  Proclamation  of  May 
3d,  show  they  are  become  the  abject  tools  of  a 
detested  Administration,  ... 

Letter  from  Philadi  Iphia  to  a  Gentleman  in  Eng- 
land. Throughout  the  country  the  Inhabi- 
tants are  training,  making  Fire- Locks,  casting 


1609 
1609 
1610 


1498 
1610 


1612 
1612 


1612 


1613 


1614 


1615 
161.3 


1616 


1616 


1617 


1017 


1617 

1618 
1619 

1619 

1620 

-  1620 


-  1620 


CXXXIII 

1775. 


CONTENTS. 


cxxxiv 


July  10 
10, 
10, 

10, 
10, 


10, 
10, 


10, 
10, 

10, 

10, 

10, 
10, 

11, 


10, 

11. 

11, 

11, 


11, 


1 1. 


11, 

1 1, 
1 1, 


Shells  and  Shot,  and  making  Saltpetre  for  the 
Gunpowder  Mills.  A  spirit  of  enthusiasm 
for  war  has  gone  forth  that  has  driven  away 
the  fear  of  death,  1621 

Petition  of  Samuel  Falkenhan  and  David  Wool- 
haupter  to  the  New- York  Congress,     •       -  1621 

Letter  from  General  Schuyler  to  Governour 
Trumbull,  -  1621 

Association  of  Merchants  of  New- York,  to  give 
circulation  to  Bills  of  Credit  of  Connecticut,  -  1622 

New- York  Committee  recommend  the  circula- 
tion of  Bills  of  Credit  of  Connecticut,  -       -  1622 

Letter  from  Montreal  to  a  Gentleman  in  England. 
The  Martial  Law  is  in  force;  the  Canadians 
are  enrolled  as  Militia,  and  Officers  appointed 
them  by  the  Governour,     ...       -  1623 

Letter  from  General  Washington  to  the  Massa- 
chusetts Congress;  has  learned  with  great 
concern  the  inadequate  strength  of  the  Army ; 
the  number  of  Men  from  Massachusetts  does 
not  amount  to  nine  thousand;  in  the  whole 
Army  not  more  than  fourteen  thousand  five 
hundred  fit  for  duty,  1623 

Letter  from  General  Washington  to  General 
Schuyler,  -  1623 

Letter  from  General  Washington  to  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  Continental  Congress,        -       -  1624 

Return  of  the  number  of  Killed,  Wounded  and 
Missing,  in  the  engagement  on  Bunker's  Hill,  1628 

Proceedings  of  a  Council  of  War,  held  at  Head- 
Quarters,  Cambridge,  July  9,  1775,     -       -  1628 

Returns  of  the  Army  of  the  United  Colonies, 
commanded  by  George  Washington,  General 
and  Commander-in-Chief,  -  1629 

Instructions  for  the  Officers  of  the  Massachusetts- 
Bay  Forces,  who  are  immediately  to  go  upon 
the  recruiting  service,  given  at  Head-Quar- 
ters, July  10,  1775,   1630 

General  Orders,  from  July  3  to  July  10,  -       -  1630 

Letter  from  General  Washington  to  Richard 
Henry  Lee,  -  1635 

Letter  from  General  Thomas  to  General  Wash- 
ington; sends  him  prisoner  a  Master  of  a 
Vessel  from  Boston,  who  has  long  been  a  sus- 
pected person,   ------  1637 

Notice  of  the  Town-Clerk  of  Boston  to  the  late 
Inhabitants  of  that  Town,  to  meet  at  Concord 
on  the  18th  of  July,  to  choose  Representatives 
to  the  General  Assembly,   -  1637 

Letter  from  the  Camp  at  Cambridge  to  a  Gen- 
tleman in  Philadelphia.  Present  situation  of 
the  two  Annies,        -  1637 

Letter  from  General  Lee  to  the  Massachusetts 
Congress,  1638 

Letter  from  the  Massachusetts  Congress  to  Gen- 
eral Lee,  1638 

Letter  from  General  Lee  to  General  Burgoyne, 
declining  the  interview  with  him,        -       -  1638 

Remarks  on  General  Burgoyne's  Letter  to  Gen- 
eral Lee,  dated  July  8,  1775,      ...  1639 

Letter  to  General  Burgoyne,  on  the  subject  of  his 
late  correspondence  with  General  Lee,        -  1641 

Declaration  of  Adam  McCulloch,  -  1642 

Address  to  the  People  of  England,  ...  1643 

Letter  from  John  Grennell  to  the  New- York 
Congress,  1644 

Letter  from  the  New- York  Committee  of  Safety 
to  their  Delegates  in  the  Continental  Congress. 
The  supply  of  Powder  has  not  yet  been  received 
from  the  Committee  of  Elizabethtown,  and  the 
want  of  it  prevents  supplying  the  very  pressing 
demands  from  the  Camp  before  Boston.  There 
is  great  difficulty  in  carrying  into  execution 
the  Resolutions  of  Congress,  from  the  want  of 
Money,  1780 

Letter  from  General  Wooster  to  the  New- York 
Committee  of  Safety,  requesting  their  advice 
about  disposing  of  a  Prisoner,  who  must  be 
sent  somewhere,  to  be  out  of  the  way  of  an 
enraged  People,  1645 

Letter  from  the  New- York  Committee  of  Safety 
to  William  Duer,  one  of  the  Judges  of  Char- 
lotte County,  approving  his  conduct  in  keeping 
open  and  protecting  the  Courts,    -       -       -  1779 

Meeting  of  the  New- York  Committee,     -       -  1645 

Letter  from  General  Schuyler  to  the  President 
of  the  Continental  Congress,       ...  1645 

Letter  from  Colonel  Arnold  to  the  Continental 
Congress,  1646 


1775. 

July  1 1,  Letter  from  General  Schuyler  to  the  New-York 
Congress:  requests  them  to  send  him  imme- 
diately a  person  fit  to  command  the  Sloop  on 
Lake  Champlain,      -----  1647 
11,   Letter  from  Elisha  Phelps,  at  Albany,  to  the 

New- York  Congress,        ....  1647 

1 1,  Letter  from  Edmund  Bridge,  of  Pownalborough, 

to  the  Massachusetts  Congress.  The  Inhabi- 
tants are  in  danger  of  perishing  by  famine. 
General  Gage  offers  to  supply  them  with  pro- 
visions if  they  will  send  him  fuel ;  this  they 
have  refused  to  do.  If  they  have  bread,  they 
are  ready  to  sacrifice  their  lives  in  the  common 
cause,  ------- 

12,  Meeting  of  the  Officers  of  the  Military  Associa- 

tion for  the  City  and  Liberties  of  Philadelphia, 
12,  Letter  from  the  New- York  Committee  of  Safety 
to  Colonel  Hinman.  General  Schuyler  has 
proceeded  to  the  Northward,  and  will  make 
every  arrangement  in  stationing  the  Troops 
that  will  be  for  the  general  defence  of  the 
United  Colonies,  -  -  -  -  - 
12,  Letter  from  the  New- York  Committee  of  Safety 
to  their  Delegates  in  the  Continental  Congress. 
They  have  formed  into  four  Battalions  the 
three  thousand  Men,  exclusive  of  the  Green 
Mountain  Boys,  which  they  were  required  to 
raise  by  the  Continental  Congress,  and  would 
be  glad  to  be  informed  what  their  pay  is  to  be. 
There  is  no  Powder  for  these  Troops  when 
raised,  -  1784 
12,   Letter  from  General  Schuyler  to  the  New- York 

Congress,        -  1649 

12,  Letter  from  Ethan  Allen,  at  Bennington,  to  Go- 
vernour Trumbull.  If  we  do  not  march  an 
army  into  Canada,  the  Indians  and  Canadians, 
who,  in  general,  are  disposed  to  be  neuter,  or 
assistants  to  the  United  Colonies,  will  be  com- 
pelled to  join  against  us,  - 
Letter  from  Governour  Cooke  to  General  Wash- 


12, 


1'2 


12, 
12, 


12, 
12, 


13, 


13, 


13, 


1648 
1648 


1783 


13, 
13, 


1649 

ington,     -  -  1649 

Proclamation  by  Governour  Cooke,  requiring 
every  man  in  Rhode-Island,  able  to  bear  arms, 
immediately  to  equip  himself  with  Arms  and 
Ammunition,    ------  1650 

Letter  from  Cambridge  to  a  Gentleman  in  Phila- 
delphia.   Several  skirmishes  with  the  enemy,  1650 

Letter  from  General  Gates  to  General  Lee, 
urging  him  to  complete  his  works  without 
delay,  1651 

Letter  from  the  Massachusetts  Committee  of 
Supplies  to  the  New- Hampshire  Congress,    -  1651 

Selectmen  of  Francestown,  New- Hampshire, 
declare  the  Committee  for  that  Town  were 
legally  chosen,  and  that  their  acts  are  valid,  -  1651 

Committee  for  the  County  of  Hillsborough,  New- 
Hampshire,  declare  John  Quigly  an  enemy 
to  the  Country,  1652 

John  Quigly 's  Declaration  of  attachment  to  the 
Liberties  of  America,        -  1652 

Committee  of  Francestown  are  satisfied  with  John 
Quigly's  Declaration,  and  request  he  may  be 
treated  as  a  friend  to  his  Country,        -       -  1652 

Meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Observation  for 
Baltimore  Town.  Intercepted  Letter  from 
James  Christie,  Merchant  of  Baltimore,  laid 
before  the  Committee:  Proceedings  upon  it. 
Mr.  Christie  declared  an  enemy  to  this  Coun- 
try,  1652 

Copy  of  the  Letter  written  by  Mr.  Christie  to 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Gabriel  Christie,  of  His 
Majesty's  Sixtieth  Regiment,  at  Antigua,  dated 
Baltimore,  February  22,  1775,    -       -       -  1652 

Letter  from  the  New- York  Committee  of  Safety 
to  General  Schuyler,  enclosing  their  Letter  of 
the  12th,  to  Colonel  Hinman,      ...  1785 

Let.er  from  the  New- York  Committee  of  Safety 
to  General  Wooster,  requesting  information 
as  to  a  complaint  that  a  Barge  belonging  to 
His  Majesty's  Ship  Asia  had  been  drawn  on 
shore  and  detained,  and  that  last  night  His 
Majesty's  store  house,  near  Hudson's  River, 
had  been  broken  open,  and  divers  effects  car- 
ried away  by  violence,  and  that  some  of  the 
Troops  under  his  command  had  been  con- 
cerned in  both  these  acts,     ...       -  1785 

Calm  Address  to  the  People  of  New- York,      -  1655 

Letter  from  Elisha  Phelps,  at  Albany,  to  the 
New- York  Congress,        ....  1657 


CONTENTS. 


cxxxv 

1775. 

Jvhj  13,  Letter  from  Egbert  Benson  to  Peter  Van  Brugh 

Livingston,       ......  1657 

13,  Albany,  New- York,  Committee,  authorize  any 
four  of  their  Delegates  to  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress to  act  for  the  County,        ...  1658 

13,  Committee  of  Safety  for  Connecticut.  The  diffi- 
culty with  General  Spencer  arranged ;  he 
complained  of  and  resented  the  promotion  of 
General  Putnam  over  him,  but  was  persuaded 
to  return  to  the  Army  for  the  present,  -       -  1658 

13,  Letter  from  Governour  Trumbull  to  General 

Washington  :  congratulating  him  on  his  ap- 
pointment as  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  Ame- 
rican Army,  '-  -  -  -  1658 
1  !,  Recantation  of  James  Leonard  and  others,  of 
Ulster  County,  New- York,  who  had  hereto- 
fore refused  to  sign  the  Association,      -       -  1659 

14,  Letter  from  General  Washington  to  the  Presi- 

dent of  Congress,       .....  1659 
True  account  of  the  Officers  of  the  Ministerial 
Troops  Killed  and  Wounded  at  the  Battle  of 
Charlestown,  June  17,  1775,       -       -       -  1660 
General  Orders  from  July  11  to  July  14,  -       -  1661 
13,    Court  Martial  held  for  the  trial  of  Colonel  Scam- 
mons,  of  the  Massachusetts  Forces,  accused  of 
backwardness  in  the  execution  of  his  duty  in 
the  late  action  upon  Bunker's  Hill,      -       -  1662 

1 5,  Letter  from  General  Wooster  to  the  New- York 

Committee  of  Safety:  proposes  to  remove  his 
encampment,  which  is  now  too  near  to  the 
City,  to  Harlem,  1665 

13,  Letter  from  the  New- York  Committee  of  Safety 

to  their  Delegates  in  the  Continental  Congress. 
Our  enlisted  men  grow  uneasy  for  want  of 
money,  which  prevents  the  enlistment  of  others: 
we  have  no  arms,  we  have  no  powder,  we  have 
no  blankets:  for  God's  sake  send  us  money, 
send  us  arms,  send  us  ammunition.  Be  pru- 
dent, be  expeditious,    -       -       -       -       -  1 788 

15,  Letter  from  the  New- York  Committee  of  Safety 
to  General  Schuyler.  We  have  ordered  Tents 
to  Albany  for  one  Regiment;  our  Troops  can 
be  of  no  service  to  you  ;  they  have  no  arms, 
clothes,  blankets,  or  ammunition;  the  Officers 
no  commissions;  our  Treasury  no  money;  and 
ourselves  in  debt,       .....  1730 

15,     Letter  from  General  Schuyler,  at  Saratoga,  to 

the  President  of  Congress,  -       -       -       -  1665 

14,  Letter  from  the  Albany  Committee  to  General 

Schuyler,  with  alarming  accounts  from  Tryon 
County,  -  1666 
13,  Letter  from  the  Tryon  County  Committee  to  the 
Committees  of  Schenectady  and  Albany.  Co- 
lonel Guy  Johnson  is  ready  with  eight  or  nine 
hundred  Indians  under  Joseph  Brandt  and 
Walter  Butler  to  attack  Tryon  County;  and 
all  the  enemies  of  the  Country  it  is  feared 
will  rise  in  arms  on  approach  of  the  Indians,  1666 
Return  of  the  Army  of  the  Associated  Colonies, 
in  the  Colony  of  New- York,  under  the  com- 
mand of  General  Schuyler,  -       ...  1667 

15,  Letter  from  Gen.  Schuyler  to  Gen.  Washington,  1668 
1 5,   Letter  from  the  Tryon  County,  New-York,  Com- 
mittee, to  the  Provincial  Congress,       -       -  1668 

15,  Letter  from  the  Committee  for  Newbury,  Glou- 

cester County,  New- York,  to  the  Provincial 
Congress,  -------  1663 

16,  Letter  from  General  Schuyler  to  General  Wash- 

ington: enclosing  a  Letter  from  Albany  and 
two  other  papers,  which  have,  in  some  mea- 
sure, removed  his  apprehensions  for  the  safety 
of  the  P<  ople  of  Tryon  County,    ...  1669 

15,  Letter  from  the  Albany  Committee  to  General 

Schuyler,  1669 

8,  Letter  from  Colonel  Guy  Johnson  to  the  New- 
York  Congress :  opened  and  read  by  the  Alba- 
ny Committee,  and  a  copy  sent  to  General 

Schuyler,  1669 

13,    Examination  of  Garret  Roseboom,  of  the  City  of 

Albany,  before  the  Sub-Committee,      -       -  1670 

16,  Letter  from  General  Schuyler  to  the  New- York 

Congress.  Intelligence  from  all  quarters  evinces 
the  necessity  of  strengthening  the  Garrisons  of 
Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point :  the  fatal  con- 
sequences that  would  follow  their  loss  are  too 
evident  to  need  illustration,  ....  1671 

17,  Meeting  of  Merchants  of  Dublin  :  thanks  to  Lord 

Effingham,  for  having  refused  to  serve  against 

the  Americans,  1672 


CXXXM 


1775. 
Jw/yl7, 


Committee  for  Charles  County,  Maryland.  Cer- 
tificates for  goods  imported  into  this  County 
must  be  signed  by  five  of  the  Committee  of  the 
place  whence  they  are  sent,  -       ...  1673 
17,   Letter  to  the  New- York  Congress,  from  the 

President  of  the  Continental  Congress,  -       -  1673 
17,   Letter  to  the  New- York  Congress,  from  their 
Delegates  at  Philadelphia,  recommending  Mor- 
gan Lewis  for  the  appointment  of  Brigade  Ma- 
jor to  the  Army  under  the  command  of  Gene- 
ral Schuyler,    ...  -  1674 
17,   Letter  from   the  Elizabeth  town,  New-Jersey, 
Committee,  to  the  Committee  for  New- York, 
informing  them  they  have  forwarded  four  hogs- 
heads, containing  fifty- two  quarter  casks  of 
Powder  from  Philadelphia,  -  1674 
17,  Elizabethtown,  New-Jersey,  Committee,  restore 
the  Inhabitants  of  Richmond  County,  New- 
York,  to  their  commercial  privileges,  they 
having,  in  general,  signed  the  Association,    -  1674 
17,   Letterfromthe  Committeeof  Safety  for  New- York 
to  the  Colonels  of  the  several  Regiments .  re- 
questing them  to  make  a  return  of  the  number 
of  Men  ready  and  fit  for  service,  in  each  Com- 
pany, with  all  possible  despatch,  -  1674 
17,   Letter  from  John  Lamb  to  the  New- York  Com- 
mittee of  Safety,  requesting  permission  to  enlist 
his  own  Men  for  the  Artillery,    ...  1675 
17,   Letter  from  the  Albany  Committee  to  the  New- 
York  Congress;  enclosing  four  intercepted  Let- 
ters, and  one  from  Colonel  Guy  Johnson,  da- 
ted July  8th,  of  which  they  had  sent  a  copy  to 
General  Schuyler,     -----  1675 

17,   Letter  from  Governour  Trumbull  to  General 

Washington,     ......  1676 

17,   Letter  from  Governour  Trumbull  to  General 

Schuyler,  -       -  ....  1676 

17,  Conduct  of  Captains  Ayscough  and  Wallace, 
commanders  of  British  Vessels  of  War,  towards 
the  Inhabitants  of  Newport,  Rhode- Island:  of 
their  firing  on  the  Town,  seizure  of  vessels,  and 
threats  to  set  fire  to  the  Town,     ...  1677 

17,  Committee  for  Lancaster,  Worcester  County, 

Massachusetts,  publish  Nahum  Houghton  as 
an  enemy  to  his  Country,  -  -  -  -  1678 
14,  Message  from  Governour  Wentworth  to  the 
New-Hampshire  Assembly,  requesting  them 
to  rescind  the  vote  excluding  three  Members 
from  the  House  returned  by  the  King's  writ,  -  1678 

Answer  to  the  Governour's  Message,  refusing  to 
rescind  the  vote,        .....  1679 

Message  from  the  Governour  to  the  House;  their 
refusing  to  rescind  the  vote  for  excluding  the 
three  Members  for  Plymouth,  Lyme,  and  Or- 
ford,  shows  they  did  not  meet  with  a  disposi- 
tion to  proceed  to  business;  he  therefore  adjourns 
them  to  the  28th  of  September  next,      -       -  1679 

18,  Letter  from  John  Stuart,  Superintendent  of  In- 

dian A  flairs,  to  the  Committee  of  Intelligence 
at  Charlestown,  South-Carolina,  -       -       -  1681 
18,   Proceedings  of  the  Committee  at  Dagsberry,  Dela- 
ware.on  thecharges  against  Thomas  Robinson, 
of  counteracting  the  measures  of  the  Continen- 
tal Congress,     ------  1682 

Letter  from  the  New- York  Committee  of  Safety 
to  their  Delegates  in  the  Continental  Congress. 
A  Committee  was  appointed  by  the  Provincial 
Congress  previous  to  their  adjournment,  on  the 
subject  of  a  Congress  with  the  Five  Nations: 
the  proceedings  relating  to  it  are  enclosed,     -  1793 
Letter  to  the  New- York  Committee  of  Safety, 
from  their  Delegates  in  the  Congress.  They 
are  sensible  of  the  distress  to  which  New- York 
must  be  reduced  for  want  of  Money,  Arms,  and 
Powder:  the  first  will  soon  be  supplied;  no  as- 
surances can  be  given  of  a  supply  of  Arms  and 
Ammunition,    -  1684 
18,   Letter  from  Dr.  John  Mallett,  (on  board  the 
Ship  Asia,)  to  William  Allman,  New- York ; 
instructing  him  how  he  may  convey  a  quantity 
of  Medicines  from  the  City  of  New- York,  on 
board  the  Asia,  ------  1684 

18,   Letter  from  General  Schuyler,  at  Ticonderoga, 

to  Governour  Trumbull,  ...  -  1685 
18,  Letter  from  General  Schuyler  to  General  Wash- 
ington. Carleton  has  about  four  hundred  Men 
at  St.  John's,  which  he  has  well  secured :  at  Ti  • 
conderoga  nothing  has  been  done  for  offence 
or  defence,  1685 


18, 


18, 


CXXXVII 

1775. 

July  1 8,  Letter  from  General  Washington  to  Governour 
Trumbull,  in  reply  to  his  Letter  of  the  13th 
instant,     -       -       -       -  ■  - 

18,  Letter  from  General  Washington  to  Governour 
Trumbull:  regrets  that  the  arrangement  of  the 
General  Officers  has  produced  dissatisfaction ; 
the  subject  is  now  before  the  Continental  Con- 


CONTENTS. 


1686 


18, 


gress, 


-  1686 


18, 


19, 


19, 


19, 


19, 


19, 


19, 


19, 
20, 


20, 


20, 
20, 


20, 


20, 


•20, 


20, 


21, 


Letter  from  Governour  Trumbull  to  President 
Hancock.  He  omitted  to  state,  in  his  Letter  of 
the  7th  instant,  that  the  Assembly  had  ordered 
two  Vessels  to  be  fitted  out,  armed,  and  fur- 
nished with  men  and  warlike  stores,  for  the 
defence  of  the  Sea-Coasts  of  the  Colony.  (Fac 
simile.)  opposite  -----  1686 
Declaration  by  the  Continental  Congress  of  the 
causes  and  necessity  of  their  taking  up  arms, 
read  before  the  Army,  on  Prospect  Hill,  near 

Boston,  -       -  1687 

Instructions  of  General  Gage  to  Captain  Duncan 
Campbell  and  Lieutenant  Symes ;  to  proceed 
to  New- York,  and  receive  such  Men  as  may 
be  inclined  to  serve  His  Majesty,  -  -  1687 
Letter  from  a  Gentleman  in  Fredericktown,  Ma- 
ryland, to  his  friend  in  Baltimore.  Reception 
there  of  Captain  Morgan's  company  of  Rifle- 
men, from  Virginia,  on  their  way  to  Boston,  -  1687 
Meeting  of  the  Committee  for  Piscataway  and 
Bladensburgh,  Maryland.  Declare  Luke  Jef- 
ferson and  the  several  persons  concerned  in 
importing,  vending,  purchasing,  and  receiving 
certain  goods  from  the  Ships  Diana  and  Ec- 
lus,  lying  in  the  Eastern  Branch  of  the  Poto- 
mack  River,  guilty  of  violating  the  Association 
of  the  Continental  Congress,  -  -  -  1688 
Letter  from  John  Hancock  to  General  Washing- 
ton, introducing  to  him  Mr.  Ogden  and  Mr. 

Burr  of  the  Jerseys,  1689 

Letter  from  John  Hancock  to  the  New- York 
Committee  of  Safety;  requesting  them  to  send 
what  Powder  they  can  spare  to  the  Camp 

before  Boston,  1689 

Address  of  the  Committee  of  Safety  of  Hills- 
borough, New- Hampshire,  to  Gen.  Sullivan,  -  1689 
General  Sullivan's  Answer,    -       -       -       -  1689 
Letter  from  General  Sullivan  to  the  New- Hamp- 
shire Committee  of  Safety.     The  Army  at 
Medford  is  in  great  want  of  Bayonets,  Guns 
and  Blankets,  and  Beds  for  the  sick ;  the  New- 
Hampshire  Forces  are  without  a  Chaplain,    -  1690 
Letter  from  Colonel  Reid  to  the  New-Hamp- 
shire Committee  of  Safety,  -       -       -       -  1690 
Committee  for  Wilmington,  North-Carolina,  re- 
solve that  John  Collet  should  remain  in  posses- 
sion of  Fort  Johnson.  Collet  escapes,  and  the 
Fort  is  destroyed  and  the  buildings  burnt,      -  1691 
Letter  from  the  several  Volunteer  Companies  at 
Williamsburgh,  Virginia,  to  the  Committee  of 
the  Borough  of  Norfolk,  requesting  to  be  in- 
formed of  the  truth  of  a  report  that  there  are 
Volunteers  recruiting  in  Norfolk  in  opposition 
to  the  Continental  plan,      -       -       -       -  1691 
Answer  of  the  Committee  to  the  Volunteers: 

the  report  is  without  foundation,  -  -  -  1692 
Letter  from  Captain  Montague  of  the  Fowey,  to 

Captain  Squire  of  the  Otter,  in  Hampton  Roads,  1692 
Pastoral  Letter  from  the  Synod  of  New- York 
and  Philadelphia,  to  the  Congregations  under 
their  care,  delivered  from  the  Pulpit  on  the 
20th  of  July,  1775,  being  the  day  appointed  by 
the  Continental  Congress  for  a  General  Fast,  -  1692 
Letter  from  Ethan  Allen,  at  Ticonderoga,  to  the 

New-York  Congress,  -  1695 
Letter  from  Watertown,  Massachusetts,  to  a  Gen- 
tleman in  Philadelphia.  Situation  and  opera- 
tions of  the  Army,  -  1696 
Notice  by  order  of  Admiral  Graves  to  all  Sea- 
faring People,  that  the  Light  Houses  on 
Thatcher's  Island  and  at  the  entrance  of  Bos- 
ton have  been  burnt  and  destroyed  by  the 

Rebels,  1696 

Letter  from  Salem,  in  Massachusetts,  to  a  Gen- 
tleman in  London:  within  these  few  days  we 
have  had  offers  of  assistance  from  some  Mari- 
time Powers  secretly  conveyed  to  us ;  their 
offers  are  at  present  rejected,  ...  1696 
Newbern,  North-Carolina,  Committee,  suspend 
the  Rev.  James  Reed,  Minister  of  the  Parish, 
from  his  ministerial  functions,  for  refusing  to 


1775. 

July2\ 

21, 
21, 

21, 
21, 


21, 
21, 


21, 

21, 
21, 

21, 

21, 
21, 
21, 


22, 
22, 


22, 
22, 

22, 

23, 
23, 


CXXXIII 

officiate  yesterday,  being  the  day  appointed  by 
the  Continental  Congress  for  a  General  Fast,  1697 
,  Letter  from  Benjamin  Harrison  to  Gen.  Wash- 
ington. Proceedings  of  Congress  and  opinions 
of  the  Members  on  various  subjects,     -       -  1697 
Meeting  of  the  Committee  for  Bucks  County, 
Pennsylvania,    ------  1699 

Committee  for  Huntington,  Long-Island,  New- 
York,  acquit  John  Brush  and  others  of  the 
charges  against  them,  of  having  violated  the 
Continental  or  Provincial  Association,  -       -  1699 
Letter  from  Col.  James  Clinton  to  the  New- York 

Committee  of  Safety,  1700 

Letter  from  Elisha  Phelps  to  the  Continental 
Congress.    No  money  has  been  placed  in  his 
hands  for  procuring  supplies  for  the  Posts  on 
the  Lakes;  all  his  purchases  having  been 
made  on  credit,  he  requests  money  to  enable 
him  to  discharge  the  debts,         ...  1700 
Return  of  Provisions,  &c,  forwarded  to  the 
Northern  Army  by  Elisha  Phelps,  Commis- 
sary, from  the  3d  to  the  20th  day  of  July,     -  1701 
Letter  from  John  N.  Bleecker  to  the  New- York 
Congress,         -       -       -       -       -       -  1701 

Letter  from  General  Schuyler,  at  Ticonderoga, 
to  the  Continental  Congress.  Ammunition  is 
very  scarce;  no  Powder  has  yet  come  to  hand, 
and  as  yet  very  little  Provision  ;  two  hundred 
Troops  less  than  at  the  last  return ;  these  bad- 
ly, very  badly  armed,  and  but  one  Armourer 
to  repair  the  Guns.  Nothing  has  been  done 
for  raising  the  five  hundred  Green  Mountain 

Boys,  1702 

Letter  from  General  Schuyler  to  the  New- York 
Congress :  urges  them  to  send  him  supplies 

and  Troops,  1704 

Letter  from  General  Schuyler  to  Governour 

Trumbull,  1704 

Letter  from  General  Heath  to  General  Washing- 
ton.  Account  of  burning  the  Light-House  in 
the  Harbour  of  Boston,      ...       -  1737 
Letter  from  General  Washington  to  the  Conti- 
nental Congress,        -----  1705 
General  Orders  from  July  15  to  July  20,          -  1707 
Letter  from  General  Washington  to  John  Han- 
cock,  1710 

Letter  from  General  Washington  to  Governour 

Trumbull,  1710 

Letter  from  Governour  Wentworth  to  Theodore 
Atkinson,  enclosing  a  permit  from  Captain 
Barclay  of  the  Scarborough,  for  Boats  to  fish, 
if  the  Town  of  Portsmouth  will  supply  him 
with  fresh  Provisions  as  usual,     -       -       -  1710 
Letter  from  John  Hancock  to  the  New-Hamp- 
shire Congress,         -       -       -       -  -1711 

Letter  from  the  New- York  Committee  of  Safety 
to  their  Delegates  in  the  Continental  Congress. 
New-Jersey  has  a  very  considerable  number 
of  good  Muskets  and  Bayonets,  and  they  sug- 
gest the  propriety  of  an  order  from  the  Conti- 
nental Congress  that  these  may  be  valued  and 
delivered  to  New- York,     -  1797 
Letter  from  General  Wooster  to  the  Continental 
Congress.  Will  hasten  the  march  of  his  Troops 
to  Albany  as  rapidly  as  possible,  -       -       -  1711 
Letter  from  General  Schviyler  to  the  New- York 
Congress :  has  four  important  Posts  to  main- 
tain, with  a  small  body  of  Troops,  very  ill- 
armed,  and  with  little  Ammunition,      -       -  1711 
Committee  of  Inspection  for  the  Town  of  New- 
Ipswich,  in  New-Hampshire,  publish  David 
Hills  as  a  violator  of  the  Association,   -       -  1711 
Appeal  of  David  Hills  to  the  Publick,     -       -  1712 
Statement  of  Joseph  Bates,  Chairman  of  the 
Committee,       -       -       -       -       -  -1712 

Letter  from  Doctor  Benjamin  Church  to  a  Bri- 
tish Officer  in  Boston,  giving  him  a  statement 
of  the  strength  of  the  American  Army,  and 
of  their  means  of  defence,  -       -       -       -  1713 

William  Henry  Drayton  and  the  Rev.  William 
Tennent  appointed  by  the  Council  of  Safety 
for  South- Carolina  to  go  to  the  back  country, 
to  explain  to  the  People  the  causes  of  the  pre- 
sent disputes  between  Great  Britain  and  the 

Colonies,  1715 

Commission  to  William  Henry   Drayton  and 

Rev.  William  Tennent,      -       -       -       -  1715 
Letter  to  Mr.  Drayton  and  Mr.  Tennent,  with 
their  Commission,      -       -       -       -       -  1715 


1775. 

Account  of  the  Tory  Leaders  in  the  upper  parts 
of  South-Carolina,  (Note.)  ...  1715 
July  23,  Letter  from  the  Schenectady,  New- York,  Com- 
mittee, to  General  Schuyler,  informing  him  of 
the  flight  of  Alexander  White,  Sheriff  of  Tryon 
County,  1730 

'24,  Meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Observation  for 
Prince  George's  County,  Maryland,  at  Piscat- 
away,      .......  1716 

24,    Letter  from  John  Adams  to  Mrs.  Adams,  -       -  1717 

24,  Letter  from  John  Adams  to  James  Warren,  -  1717 
Letter  from  General  Gage  to  the  Earl  of  Dart- 
mouth, dated  August  26.  The  designs  of  the 
leaders  of  the  Rebellion  prove  that  a  plan  was 
laid  in  Massachusetts  for  a  total  independence, 
while  they  amused  the  People  with  professions 
of  attachment  to  the  Parent  State,  -  -  1718 
Remarks  on  the  intercepted  Letters  of  John 
Adams,  1718 

24,  Letter  from  the  New- York  Committee  of  Safety 
to  the  Continental  Congress :  are  sorry  to  say 
that  the  supposition  of  a  quantity  of  Powder 
being  received  there  is  without  foundation,    -  1719 

24,   Letter  from  Colonel  Van  Schaick  to  the  New- 
York  Committee  of  Safety,        -       -       -  1719 
Return  of  the  Second  Provincial  Regiment  in  the 
Colony  of  New- York,  under  the  command  of 
Colonel  Van  Schaick,        -       -       -  -1719 

24,  Meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Safety  for  Connect- 
icut. Committee  appointed  to  make  arrange- 
ments for  equipping  and  fitting  out  two  Armed 
Vessels,   1720 

24,  Letter  from  Governour  Trumbull  to  General 
Schuyler.  Is  it  not  high  time  to  proceed  into, 
and  even  hasten  forward  to  secure  the  govern- 
ment of  Quebeck,  and  thereby  the  whole  In- 
dian strength  and  interest  in  our  favour?       -  1721 

24,    Note  from  General  Lee  to  General  Sullivan,    -  1721 

24,  Letter  from  the  Camp  at  Cambridge  to  a  Gentle- 
man in  Philadelphia.  Information  from  Bos- 
ton, brought  out  by  deserters,       ...  1722 

24,  Letter  from  General  Gage  to  the  Earl  of  Dart- 

mouth. The  Congress,  in  their  declaration 
for  taking  up  arms,  pay  little  regard  to  facts, 
for  it  is  as  replete  with  deceit  and  falsehood  as 
most  of  their  publications,  -  -  -  -  1723 
25  Address  of  the  Delegates  of  Virginia  and  Penn- 
sylvania, in  the  Continental  Congress,  to  the 
Inhabitants  of  the  two  Colonies,  on  the  West 
side  of  Laurel  Hill,  urging  them  to  lay  aside 
their  disputes  among  themselves,  and  unite  in 
supporting  the  common  rights  of  the  Country,  1723 

25,  Letter  from  the  President  of  the  Council  of  Safe- 

ty for  South-Carolina  to  Clement  Lempriere, 
commander  of  the  Sloop  Commerce,  ordering 
him  to  proceed  to  the  Island  of  New-Provi- 
dence and  procure  all  the  Gunpowder  he  may- 
find  there,        -       -       -       -       -       -  1724 

24,  Commission  from  the  South-Carolina  Council  of 

Safety  to  Clement  Lempriere,  appointing  him 
Captain  of  the  Sloop  Commerce,  belonging  to 

New- York,  1724 

Captain  Hatton's  Report  to  the  Council  of  Safe- 
ty, of  the  occurrences  which  took  place  on 
board  the  Sloop  Commerce,  in  taking  the 
Powder  from  Captain  Lofthouse,  off  Augustine 
Bar,        -  -  1724 

25,  Letter  from   the  Elizabethtown,  New-Jersey, 

Committee,  to  the  New- York  Congress,       -  1726 

25  Letter  from  Christopher  P.  Yates  to  the  New- 
York  Congress,  1726 

25    Letter  from  Sir  John  Johnson  to  Alexander 

White,  1726 

25,  Letter  from  Governour  Trumbull  to  the  New- 
York  Congress,  requesting  them  to  furnish 
Tents  for  the  Connecticut  Troops  at  Ticondc- 
roga,       7  -  1726 

25,  Letter  from  General  Thomas  to  General  Wash- 
ington, informing  him  of  the  sailing  of  thirteen 
Ships  from  Boston,  apparently  bound  to  the 
South,  1727 

25,  Letter  to  a  Gentleman  in  London,  from  an  Officer 
in  the  Army  at  Boston.  At  present  we  arc 
worse  off  than  the  Rebels:  they  know  our 
situation  as  well  as  we  do  ourselves,  from  the 
villians  that  are  left  in  Town;  last  week  one 
was  caught  swimming  over  to  the  Rebels,  with 
one  of  their  General's  passes  in  his  pocket:  he 
will  be  hanged  in  a  day  or  two,    -       -       -  1727 


CXL 

1775. 

July  26,  Letter  from  a  Gentleman  in  London  to  his  friend 
in  New- York.  The  King  does  not  mean  to 
enslave  the  Colonies;  his  bosom  heaves  with 
compassion  for  the  People  there,  under  an 
unhappy  delusion:  England  asks  nothing  but 
what  is  for  the  benefit  of  the  Colonists  them- 
selves, and  the  Parliament  could  not,  if  they 
would,  divest  themselves  of  the  power  they 
exercise  over  the  Colonies,         ...  1727 

26,  Letter  from  Marinus  Willett  to  the  New- York 

Congress,  1729 

26,  Letter  from  the  Albany  Committee  to  General 
Schuyler.  The  apprehensions  of  the  Inhabi- 
tants of  Tryon  County,  respecting  the  Indians, 
are  entirely  removed,  and  the  disputes  between 
the  Inhabitants  of  the  upper  part  of  the  Coun- 
ty with  Sir  John  Johnson  and  the  Sheriff  of 
that  County,  amicably  accommodated,  -       -  1746 

26,  Letter  from  General  Schuyler  to  the  Continental 

Congress,         ......  1729 

26,   Letter  from  General  Schuyler  to  the  New- York 

Congress,  -       -       -       -  1731 

26,  Letter  from  Colonel  Reed,  Secretary  to  General 

Washington,  to  General  Wooster,       -       -  1731 

27,  Letter  from  James  Christie,  Jim.,  of  Baltimore, 

to  the  Public k,  relative  to  his  Letter  to  Col. 
Christie,  of  Antigua,  written  in  February  last,  1732 

27,  Meeting  of  the  Officers  of  the  Military  Associa- 
tion for  the  City  and  Liberties  of  Philadelphia,  1733 

27,  Letter  from  the  Committee  for  New-Brunswick, 
New- Jersey,  to  the  New- York  Committee  of 
Safety,     -  1733 

27,  Letter  from  the  New- York  Congress  to  the  Con- 
tinental Congress,      .....  1734 

27,   Letter  from  General  Schuyler  to  the  Continental 

Congress,        ......  1734 

An  account  of  the  voyage  of  Captain  Remember 
Baker,  begun  on  the  13th  day  of  July,  and 
ended  July  25,  1775,  on  Lake  Champlain,    -  1735 

27,  Letter  from  General  Schuyler  to  the  New- York 
Congress.  Such  intelligence  has  just  been 
received  as  makes  it  indispensably  necessary 
that  the  stores  requested  on  the  3d  instaut, 
should  be  sent  without  one  moment's  delay,  -  1735 

27,  Letter  from  General  Washington  to  John  Au- 
gustine Washington,  -----  1735 

27,  Letter  from  General  Washington  to  General 
Schuyler,  respecting  three  Companies  of  New- 
Hampshire  Troops,   -----  173G 

27,  Letter  from  Gen.  Washington  to  the  Continental 
Congress.  Three  Men  of  War  and  nine  Trans- 
ports gone  from  Boston,  as  reported,  to  plunder 
Block  Island,  Fisher's  Island  and  Long  Island, 
and  bring  off  what  Cattle  they  may  find,  -  1736 
General  Orders,  from  July  22  to  July  27,        -  1737 

27,  Letter  from  Colonel  Hurd  to  the  New-Hamp- 

shire Congress,         -----  1740 

28,  Letter  from  London  to  a  Gentleman  in  Philadel- 

phia. People  here  are  anxious  to  hear  the 
Resolves  of  the  Congress;  and  those  who  a 
week  ago  thought  General  Gage  had  Troops 
enough  to  march  through  America,  now  alter 
their  tone,  on  finding  the  dispute  for  a  mile  of 
ground  cost  him  one  thousand  and  fifty-four 
men  wounded  and  slain,      ...       -  1741 

28,  Letter  to  the  Printer  of  the  London  Morning 

Chronicle:  on  the  American  question,  -       -  1742 

28,  Meeting  of  the  Committee  and  Officers  of  the 
Militia  Company  of  York  County,  Pennsylva- 
nia. Field-Officers  for  the  Battalion  of  Min- 
ute-Men chosen.  Regulations  for  the  Minute- 
Men  and  Militia  of  the  County,   -       -       -  1741 

28,  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  of  Somerset  County, 
in  the  Province  of  New-Jersey.  Committee  of 
Correspondence  elected.  Committee  of  Inspec- 
tion for  the  several  Towns  recommended;  who 
are  to  take  cognizance  of  every  person,  of  what- 
soever rank  or  condition,  who  shall,  either  by 
word  or  deed,  endeavour  to  destroy  our  unani- 
mity in  opposing  the  arbitrary  and  cruel  mea- 
sures of  the  British  Ministry,       ...  1745 

28,   Letter  from  General  Schuyler  to  the  Continental 

Congress,  1745 

25  Speech  of  two  Oneida  Indians,  at  a  Conference 
with  the  Albany  Committee,  on  the  25th  of 
July,  1746 

28,  Certificate  from  Captain  Delaplacc,  that  he  never 
saw  Colonel  Easton  at  the  time  Ticonderoga 
was  surprised,   ------  1087 


CONTENTS. 


CXLI 

1775. 


CONTENTS. 

1775. 


CXLI  I 


1747 


-  1747 


July  28,  Letter  from  Governour  Trumbull  to  General 
Schuyler,  ...... 

28,  Letter  from  General  Washington  to  General 
Schuyler,  ..... 

28,  Letter  from  Colonel  Joseph  Reed  to  Colonel 
Baldwin,  at  Chelsea,  enclosing  a  Letter  from 
Dr.  Church,  with  instructions  to  have  it  con- 
veyed into  Boston,  with  the  utmost  secrecy  and 
despatch;  and  requests  him  after  having  made 
himself  master  of  the  contents  of  this  Letter  to 
destroy  it,         -  1748 

28,  Letter  from  Colonel  Loammi  Baldwin  to  General 

Washington,  -       -       -       -       -  1748 

28,  Letter  from  the  Massachusetts  Council  to  Gene- 
ral Gates.  The  Jails  of  Worcester,  Springfield 
and  Northampton  are  the  most  suitable  places 
for  securing  the  Prisoners,  and  advise  them  to 

be  sent  there,  1749 

Orders  from  General  Gates  to  Captain  Baker,  for 
the  removal  of  Prisoners  to  Worcester,  to  be 
conveyed  thence  to  Springfield,  -  1749 
Receipt  of  William  Young,  Chairman  of  the 
Committee  of  Correspondence  at  Worcester, 
for  two  Sergeants,  two  Corporals,  eighteen  Pri- 
vates, and  twelve  Tories,  prisoners,  seat  from 

Head-Quarters,  1749 

Receipt  of  the  Chairman  of  the  Springfield  Com- 
mittee for  the  same  Prisoners,      -       -       -  1749 

28,  Letter  from  Captain  Bedel,  at  Haverhill,  to  the 

New-Hampshire  Committee  of  Safety.  Objects 
to  serving  out  of  the  Colony  in  the  rank  of 
Captain ;  if  sent  to  Canada,  he  expects  to  have 
a  Regiment,     -       -       -       -       -.      -  1749 

29,  Letter  from  Robert  Washington,  addressed  to  the 

Convention  of  Virginia,  on  the  defects  of  mili- 
tary discipline  in  the  American  service.  His 
station  in  the  Army  in  Europe,  the  last  war, 
made  him  thoroughly  acquainted  with  all  parts 
of  the  Prussian  infantry  and  artillery  exercise, 
and  he  freely  offers  his  service  to  the  publick, 
to  disseminate  his  information,     ...  1750 

29,  Meeting  of  the  Governour  and  Council  of  Penn- 
sylvania. Petition  of  Dominique  Du  Casse, 
Master  of  the  Schooner  Mary,  belonging  to 
Martinico,  laid  before  the  Council,       -       -  1751 

29,   Letter  from  John  Adams,  at  Philadelphia,  to 

Josiah  Gluincy,  -       -       -       -       -  1751 

29,  Letter  from  the  New- York  Delegates,  in  the 
Continental  Congress,  to  the  Committee  of 
Safety.  All  the  Powder  that  is  or  may  be  im- 
ported into  the  Colony  should  be  taken,  and 
none  be  permitted  to  go  out  of  the  Province, 
but  by  the  express  direction  of  the  Congress  or 
Committee  of  Safety,  ....  1752 

29,  Letter  from  the  Albany  Committee  to  the  New- 
York  Congress,        .....  1753 

29,  Letter  from  Walter  Livingston,  at  Albany,  to  the 
New- York  Congress.  The  Fortress  at  Ticon- 
deroga  is  in  a  ruinous  condition.  I  dread  the 
consequence  if  General  Schuyler  should  be 
attacked  by  any  considerable  army ;  he  cannot 
defend  himself,  and  if  defeated  cannot  retreat,  -  1753 

29,  Letter  from  General  Washington  to  the  Speaker 
of  the  House  of  Representatives  of  Massachu- 
setts, suggesting  some  arrangement  relating  to 
the  coming  out  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Boston,  -  1754 

29,  Letter  from  Colonel  Baldwin  to  General  Wash- 
ington. Has  had  much  upon  his  hands  and 
mind  since  he  received  Mr.  Reed's  Letter  last 
night,  1754 

31,  Letter  from  Governour  Cooke  to  General  Wash- 
ington. Has  had  no  account  yet  from  any  part 
of  the  coast  of  the  Fleet  that  lately  sailed  from 
Boston,    .......  1754 

29,  Letter  from  General  Sullivan  to  the  New-Hamp- 
shire Committee  of  Safety,  ...  1755 

31,  Letters  from  London,  dated  July  31,  1775,  which 
were  received  and  laid  before  the  Continental 
Congress.  The  plan  of  the  Administration  is 
to  take  possession  of  New- York  and  Albany ; 
to  place  strong  garrisons  in  those  cities ;  de- 
clare all  Rebels  who  do  not  join  the  King;  to 
command  the  North  and  East  Rivers,  and  cut 
off  all  communication  between  the  Eastern  and 
Southern  Colonieg,    -       ,       .       ,  . 

31,  Letter  from  Lord  Shelburne  to  Arthur  Lee,  in 
London,  ...... 

31,  Letter  from  a  Gentleman  in  Edenton,  North- 
C'aiolina,and  one  of  the  Delegates  of  Congress, 


1755 
1756 


to  a  principal  house  in  Edinburgh,  Scotland. 
We  are  in  a  terrible  situation ;  every  Ameri- 
can, to  a  man,  is  determined  to  die  or  be  free. 
We  do  not  want  to  be  independent  :  we  want 
no  other  revolution  than  a  change  of  Ministry 
and  measures,    ------  1757 

July  31,  Meeting  of  the  Officers  of  the  Militia,  in  Bucks 
County,  Pennsylvania.  The  County  divided 
into  three  Battalions,  and  Field- Officers  ap- 
pointed,   -------  1757 

31,  Proclamation  by  Governour  Tryon.  Meeting  of 
the  General  Assembly  further  prorogued  from 
the  9th  of  August  to  the  6th  day  of  September 
next,  175S 

31,  Letter  from  Francis  Stephens,  in  New- York,  to 
General  Gage.  Account  of  the  depredations 
committed  on  His  Majesty's  stores  at  Turtle 
Bay,  in  New- York,  on  the  12th  and  13th 
instants,    -------  1758 

31,  Letter  from  General  Schuyler  to  the  Continental 
Congiess.  Has  one  vessel,  sixty  feet  long,  on 
the  stocks,  expected  to  be  finished  in  a  week; 
another  of  the  same  size  is  to  be  put  up  to-day, 
so  that  there  will  soon  be  vessels  enough  to 
move  on,  -       -       -       -       -  -1/60 

31,  Letter  from  General  Schuyler  to  the  New- York 
Congress.  A  controversy  has  arisen  between 
Allen  and  Warner,  and  the  former  has  been 
left  out  by  the  Green  Mountain  Boys,  -       -  1760 

28,  Letter  from  Nathan  Clark  to  General  Schuyler, 
enclosing  him  the  Proceedings  of  the  Commit- 
tees on  the  New- Hampshire  Grants,  -  -  1761 
Meeting  of  the  Committees  of  the  several  Towns 
on  the  New-Hampshire  Grants,  west  of  the 
Green  Mountains,  at  Dorset,  on  the  27th  of 
July.  Field  and  Company  Officers  for  a 
Battalion  of  Green  Mountain  Boys  chosen,   -  1761 

31,  Letter  from  General  Schuyler  to  Nathan  Clark. 
The  choice  of  Company  Officers  being  left 
entirely  to  the  People,  those  selected  at  Dorset, 
on  the  27th,  are  approved  of;  the  choice  of 
Field  Officers  will  be  referred  to  the  Conti- 
nental Congress,        -       -       -       -       -  1761 

31,  Letter  from  General  Schuyler  to  Governour 
Trumbull.  No  time  ought  to  be  lost  in  at- 
tempting to  gain  possession  of  the  Province  of 
Quebeck:  we  have  hitherto  had  every  pros- 
pect of  success,  but  our  situation  has  not  per- 
mitted us  to  move,     .....  1762 

31,  Letter  from  General  Schuyler  to  General  Wash- 
ington,  1762 

31,  Letter  from  Governour  Trumbull  to  General 

Washington,  1763 

31,  Proceedings  of  a  Town  Meeting  held  at  Provi- 
dence, in  Rhode-Island,      ....  1763 

31,  Letter  from  General  Washington  to  the  Speaker 
of  the  House  of  Representatives  of  Massa- 
chusetts-Bay, 1764 

31,  Letter  from  the  Camp  at  Cambridge  to  a  Gentle- 
man in  Philadelphia.  Skirmishes  with  the 
British,  1764 

31,  Account  of  the  burning  of  the  Light-House,  on 

Light-House  Island,  by  Major  Tupper,        -  1765 

31,  Speech  of  the  Chiefs  of  the  Oneidas,  respecting 
the  late  murder  committed  in  the  Plantation  of 
the  Butternuts,  to  the  Committee  of  Cherry 
Valley :  to  be  communicated  to  the  Inhabitants 
of  the  Butternuts,      .....  17G6 


PENNSYLVANIA  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY. 

July  3,  Pennsylvania  Committee  of  Safety,         -       -  1769 

Resolutions  of  the  Assembly  appointing  the  Com- 
mittee of  Safety,        .....  17.39 

Benjamin  Franklin  chosen  President,  and  Wil- 
liam Govett  appointed  Clerk,      -       -       -  1771 

Committee  to  provide  patterns  of  Muskets,  Bayo- 
nets, Cartridge  Boxes  and  Knapsacks,  to  be  sent 
to  the  Counties,         -       -       -       -  -1771 

Committee  to  procure  any  quantity  of  Powder 
and  Saltpetre  in  their  power,  with  the  utmost 
expedition,       -       -       -       -       -  -1771 

4,   Committee  to  go  to  Red  Bank,  and  view  the 

River  and  Islands,     -       -       -       -       -  1771 

Committee  for  providing  Powder  and  Saltpetre 
are  required  to  procure  two  thousand  good 
Fire- Arms,       -       »       -       -       -  -1771 
6,   Doctor  Franklin  requested  to  procure  a  model  of 

a  Pike,    -  1771 


CXLIII 

1775. 

July  6,  Committee  who  went  to  Red  Bank  report  that 
it  is  impracticable  to  lay  a  Boom  across  that 
part  of  the  River,      -       -       -       -       -  1771 

Committee  for  the  construction  of  Boats  and  Ma- 
chines for  the  defence  of  the  River,      -       -  1771 

Committee  for  inspecting  Ordnance  and  Military 
Stores,  and  to  supply  such  deficiencies  as  may 
be  necessary,  and  provide  a  model  of  a  Pike 

or  Spear,  1772 

8,   Model  of  a  Pike  Staff  produced,  and  one  ordered 

to  be  made,  1772 

John  Wharton  directed  to  build  a  Boat  or  Calevat, 
of  forty-seven  or  fifty  feet  keel,    ...  1772 

Owen  Biddle  to  have  a  Pike  made  agreeable  to 

the  pattern  produced  by  Dr.  Franklin,  -       -  1772 

1 0,  Emanuel  Eyres  directed  to  build  a  Boat  agreeable 

to  the  model  produced  by  him  this  day,        -  1772 

11,  Committee  for  building  Boats  and  constructing 

Machines  for  defence  of  the  River  authorized 

to  purchase  a  number  of  Pine  Logs,    -       -  1772 

13,  Thanks  of  the  Committee  to  Ebenezer  Robinson, 

for  his  Plan  of  stopping  the  Channel  of  the 
River  Delaware,  1773 

14,  Committee  of  Safety  to  examine  the  ground  on 

which  it  is  proposed  to  raise  a  Battery,        -  1773 

15,  Twelve  Boats,  and  such  Machines  as  may  be 

thought  necessary,  to  be  built  by  the  Commit- 
tee for  the  defence  of  the  River,  -  1773 

Committee  to  ascertain  if  New-Jersey  will  assist 
in  the  defence  of  the  River,        ...  1773 
17,   Henry  Daugherty  and  John  Rice  appointed  to 
command  two  of  the  Boats  building  for  the 
defence  of  the  River,         ....  1773 

Committee  report  that  New-Jersey  will  give 
every  assistance  in  their  power  for  the  defence 

of  the  River,  1773 

24,   Robert  Smith  presented  the  model  of  a  Machine 

for  obstructing  the  navigation  of  the  Delaware,  1775 
28,   Captain  John  McPherson  offers  his  services  for 

the  defence  of  this  Country,        ...  1776 

Resolutions  of  the  Continental  Congress  of  the 
18th  of  July,  ordered  to  be  entered  on  the 
Minutes  of  the  Committee,         ...  1776 

Committees  of  the  several  Counties  in  the  Pro- 
vince requested  to  make  a  Return  of  all  the 
Officers  of  the  Military  Association,  -  -  1776 
31,  William  Bigland  submitted  to  the  Committee  a 
draught  of  a  Rowing  Wheel,  which  he  pro- 
posed to  have  fixed  to  the  Provincial  Row- 
Boats,      -  1778 

Form  of  Commission  for  the  Officers  of  the  Mili- 
tary Association,  1778 


NEW-YORK  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY. 

JulyX  1, Committee  of  Safety  meets  at  the  City  Hall,     -  1777 

Letter  from  General  Wooster  for  advice  about 
a  Prisoner,  1778 

He  is  required  to  send  Peter  Herring,  the  pri- 
soner, to  the  Committee  of  Safety,       -       -  1778 

Letter  to  William  Duer,  one  of  the  Judges  of 
Charlotte  County,  1779 

Letter  from  Abraham  Lott,  informing  them  of  a 
demand  upon  him  by  Captain  Collins,  for  Pro- 
visions for  the  Nautilus,     ....  1779 

Mr.  Lott  authorized  to  comply  with  the  order,  -  1780 

Letter  from  William  Hooper  and  Joseph  Hewes, 
North  Carolina  Delegates,  at  Philadelphia, 
dated  June  8,  1780 

Answer  of  the  Committee,     ....  1730 

Letter  to  the  New- York  Delegates  in  the  Con- 
tinental Congress,  in  reply  to  one  from  them, 
dated  July  6,  1780 

Letter  from  Governour  Trumbull,  dated  Hart- 
ford, July  7,  1781 

Account  of  the  Men  who  went  from  Manchester 
to  Ticonderoga,  dated  June  10,    ...  1781 

Letter  from  Burnet  Miller,  Chairman  of  the  Com- 
mittee of  Southampton,  dated  July  5,    -       -  1781 

Peter  Herring,  convicted  of  assisting  one  Lundin 
to  get  on  board  the  Asia,  man-of-war,  ordered 
to  be  confined  in  Connecticut  until  discharged 
by  the  Continental  Congress,  ...  1782 
12,  Mr.  Brasher  directed  to  wait  on  the  Mayor,  and 
request  him  to  deliver  the  City  Arms  to  the 
Committee  of  Safety,         ....  17S2 

Letter  to  Colonel  Hinman,  at  Ticonderoga,      -  1783 

Letter  to  the  New- York  Delegates  in  the  Con- 
tinental Congress,      .....  1784  I 


CXLIV 

1775. 

July  13,  Letter  to  General  Schuyler,  ....  1785 

Complaint  from  Captain  Vandeput,  that  one  of 
the  Boats  belonging  to  the  Asia  has  been  taken, 
and  the  crew  made  prisoners;  and  that  His 
Majesty's  Store,  near  the  Hudson,  was  broken 
open  last  night,  and  divers  effects  carried  off  -  1785 

Letter  to  General  Wooster,  requesting  information 
on  the  matter  complained  of  by  Captain  Van- 
deput,  1785 

Doctor  Samuel  Bard  permitted  to  attend  the  sick 
Mariners  of  His  Majesty's  Ships,        -       -  1786 

The  Recorder,  and  Aldermen  Brewerton  and 
Matthews,  inform  the  Committee  that  the  Boat 
of  the  Asia  has  been  burnt,         ...  1786 

Order  to  the  Magistrates  to  inquire  into  the  late 
outrages  on  His  Majesty's  property,  and  punish 
all  persons  concerned  in  them,  as  the  law  di- 
rects,  1786 

14,  Letter  to  John  Sloss  Hobart,  informing  him  that 

certain  persons  in  or  near  Huntington,  on 
Long-Island,  are  engaged  in  shipping  Provi- 
sions to  General  Gage,       ....  1787 
Committee  to  purchase  old  Copper,  Brass  and 
other  materials  for  casting  a  Brass  Fieldpiece,  1787 

15,  Letter  to  the  New- York  Delegates  in  the  Conti- 

nental Congress,        .....  1789 
Letter  to  General  Schuyler,    ....  1789 
Letter  to  General  Wooster,  informing  him  pro- 
vision has  been  made  for  removing  his  Camp 

to  Harlem,  1789 

James  Smith  appointed  to  command  on  Lake 

Champlain,  1790 

Letter  to  General  Schuyler,    ....  1790 
Herman  Zedtwitz  appointed  Major  of  the  First 
Regiment  of  Troops  now  raising  in  this  Colony,  1790 

17,  Articles  of  Agreement  with  Thomas  Blockley, 

who  engages  to  send  out  from  Britain  ten  good 
Gunsmiths  and  Locksmiths,  to  the  Colony  of 
New- York,  to  dwell  and  reside,  there  to  carry 
on  their  respective  trades  and  occupations,     -  1791 

Letter  to  the  Committee  of  Fairfield,  in  Connecti- 
cut, requesting  them  to  grant  some  indulgence 
to  Angus  McDonald,  1791 

Letter  to  the  Colonels  of  the  Regiments  now 
raising  in  this  Colony,       ....  1792 

18,  Mayor  of  the  City,  and  the  Magistrates,  having 

engaged  a  Carpenter  to  build  a  Boat  for  the 
Asia,  to  replace  that  lately  burnt,  their  con- 
duct is  approved,       .....  1790 

Letter  from  Wolvert  Ecker,  Chairman  of  the 
Committees  of  Newburgh  and  New^ Windsor 
Precincts,  with  three  persons  charged  with 
being  enemies  to  their  Country,   -       -       -  1792 

Order  to  Colonel  McDougall  to  receive  John 
Morrell,  Adam  Patrick  and  Isaiah  Purdy.and 
keep  them  in  custody,        ....  1793 

Letter  to  the  Committee  of  Albany:  Powder  for- 
warded  for  General  Schuyler,     ...  1793 

Letter  to  the  New- York  Delegates  in  the  Con- 
tinental Congress,      .....  1793 

19,  Letter  to  Jacob  Bayley,  at  Newbury,  in  Glouces- 

ter County,  1794 

Letter  to  John  Nicholson,  New- Windsor,  direct- 
ing him  to  receive  orders  from  Colonel  James 
Clinton,  1795 

21,  Letter  to  General  Schuyler,  enclosing  a  Resolu- 

tion of  the  Continental  Congress  of  July  17,  -  1796 
Colonel  McDougall  ordered  to  take  possession 
of  the  Town  Barracks  for  the  Troops  under 
his  command,    ......  1797 

Letter  to  the  Committee  of  New-Brunswick, 
New- Jersey.  Boats  are  frequently  loaded  there 
with  Flour  for  the  British,  ....  1797 

22,  Letter  to  the  New- York  Delegates  in  the  Con- 

tinental Congress :  propose  application  for  the 
New-Jersey  Muskets,        -       -       -       -  1798 
Letter  to  Rev.  John  Peter  Tetard,  with  his  ap- 
pointment as  Interpreter  to  General  Schuyler, 
and  Chaplain  to  the  New- York  Troops,       -  1798 

24,  Letter  to  the  President  of  the  Continental  Con- 

gress,     .......  1799 

25,  Adjourned  to  meet  in  Congress,  to-morrow  morn- 

ing, at  nine  o'clock,    -----  1799 

NEW-YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS. 

26,  Provincial  Congress  meets,    -       -       -       -  1800 
Committee  of  Safety  delivered  in  a  Report  of 

their  Proceedings,     -       -      -       -       -  1801 


CONTENTS. 


CXLV 


CONTENTS. 


CXLVI 


Le  tter  to  the  New- York  Delegates  in  the  Conti- 
nental Congress,  recommending  Ebenezer 
Hazard  for  Postmaster  of  the  City  of  New- 
York,   1802 

July 27,  William  Duer,  appointed  Deputy  Adjutant-Gen- 
eral,  1803 

Letter  to  the  President  of  the  Continental  Con- 
gress, informing  him  of  their  appointment  of 
Deputy  Adjutant-General,  -       -       -       -  1803 

Letter  to  the  New- York  Delegates  in  the  Conti- 
nental Congress,        -----  1804 

Military  Committee  appointed,  for  fourteen  days, 
with  full  power,  during  that  time,  to  order  and 
dispose  of  all  things  whatsoever,  relating  to  or 
concerning  the  Troops  raised,  or  to  be  raised, 

in  this  Colony,  1804 

28,   Letter  to  the  New- York  Delegates  in  the  Conti- 
nental Congress,  on  the  subject  of  Tea,        -  1805 

Letter  to  the  New- York  Delegates  in  the  Conti- 
nental Congress,  on  the  subject  of  Flaxseed,    -  1806 

Letter  to  Governour  Trumbull,  on  furnishing 

Tents  for  Colonel  Hinman's  Regiment,         -  1806 

Letter  to  VVolvert  Ecker  and  Samuel  Brewster,* 
Chairmen  of  the  Committees  of  New- Windsor 
and  Newburgh,  informing  them  that  Morrell, 
Patrick  and  Purdy  are  released  from  confine- 
ment,  1806 

Peter  T.  Curtenius  directed  to  forward  one  thou- 
sand Tents  to  Colonel  Hinman,  for  the  Con- 
necticut Troops  at  Ticonderoga,  -       -       -  1807 
31,   Letter  to  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  for 

Easthampton  and  Southold,         ...  1809 
Aug.  1,  The  Congress  informed  by  the  Recorder  that  the 
Boat  which  had  been  building  for  the  Asia, 
by  order  of  the  Committee  of  Safety,  was  sawed 
to  pieces,  and  entirely  destroyed,  -       -       -  1810 

2,  Letter  from  the  New-Brunswick,  New-Jersey, 

Committee,       -       -       -       -       -       -  1811 

Motion  by  Mr.  Low,  that  the  persons  who  de- 
stroyed the  Barge  belonging  to  His  Majesty's 
Ship  Asia  are  base  violators  of  the  Association 
subscribed  by  the  Congress,        -       -       -  1 8 1 2 

Mr.  Low's  motion  to  be  considered  on  Friday 
next,  1812 

Queries  presented  to  the  Congress  by  the  Com- 
pany Officers  of  the  First  Regiment,    -       -  1812 

Answers  to  the  Queries,        -       -       -       -  1812 

3,  Chairman  of  the  New- York  Committee  requested 

to  summon  the  Committee  immediately,  to  con- 
sider the  papers  relating  to  George  Coffin's 
Vessel  and  Cargo,     -       -       -       -       -  1813 

Letter  from  Peter  T.  Curtenius,      ...  1814 

Letter  to  the  Committee  of  Elizabethtown,  New- 
Jersey,   1814 

Letter  to  General  Washington,  for  blank  Com- 
missions for  the  Officers,     -       -       -       -  1814 

Patrick  Sinclair,  having  accepted  the  office  of 
Lieutenant-Governour  of  Michilimackinack,  is 
ordered  by  the  Congress  not  to  proceed  thither, 
and  is  sent  on  his  Parole  to  Suffolk  County,  -  1815 

4,  Permission  given  to  Mr.  Harper,  of  Harpersfield, 

near  Cherry  Valley,  to  purchase  one  hun- 
dred weight  of  Gunpowder,  at  the  Mill  of  Ro- 
bert R.  Livingston,  on  his  paying  Money  for 
the  same,  .......  1315 

Patrick  Sinclair,  refusing  to  sign  the  Parole,  is 
placed  under  Guard,  -       -       -       -       -  1815 

Motion  by  Mr.  Sears,  that  Capt.  Patrick  Sinclair 
be  sent  to  Hartford,  in  Connecticut,  rejected,  -  1816 

Letter  from  Philip  Livingston  and  George  Clin- 
ton, at  Philadelphia,  informing  them  that  Mo- 
ney will  be  forwarded  immediately,      -       -  1816 

Members  who  are  absent  by  order  of  this,  or  the 
Continental  Congress,  to  be  counted  as  present, 
whenever  a  vote  is  taken,  the  Members  pre- 
sent voting  for  the  County,  -       -       .       -  1816 

Mr.  John  De  Lancey  reprimanded  by  the  Presi- 
dent for  language  used  to  Mr.  Scott,  a  Member, 
while  the  Congress  was  sitting,    -      .-'      -  1817 

Mr.  De  Lancey  and  Mr."  Scott  directed  to  let  the 
dispute  drop,  and  proceed  no  further  in  it,      -  1817 

5,  Committee  appointed  to  consider  of  the  Ways  and 

Means  best  adapted  to  discharge  the  Debts  al- 
ready contracted,  or  which  may  hereafter  be 
contracted  for  the  exigencies  of  the  Colony, 
in  its  present  critical  and  alarming  situation,  -  1817 
John  Foster  permitted  to  ship  a  cargo  of  Live 
Stock  to  the  West- Indies,  that  he  may  be  there- 
by enabkd  to  procure  Military  Stores,  -  -  1818 
Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii.  ■ 


Pay  and  Clothing  allowed  to  the  Troops  en- 
listed by  this  Colony,  1818 

Letter  from  the  President  of  the  Continental  Con- 
gress, dated  August  1,  1775,       ...  1818 

Proceedings  on  the  Resolutions  moved  by  Mr. 
Low,  on  the  2d  instant,  with  respect  to  the  in- 
sult offered  to  this  Congress,  by  destroying  the 
Boat  belonging  to  the  Asia,        -       -       -  18 IS 

Mr.  Melancton  Smith's  motion  to  reject  the  Reso- 
lutions, rejected,        -       -       -       -  -1818 

Resolutions  adopted,  and  with  their  preambulary 
recitals  or  introductions,  as  amended  and  agreed 
to,  ordered  to  be  entered  on  the  Journals  as 
part  of  the  proceedings  of  Congress ;  and  be 
published  in  the  Newspapers,      ...  1819 

Committee  of  the  City  of  New- York  requested 
to  take  the  proper  measures  for  discovering  the 
persons  who  sawed  and  destroyed  the  Boat 
lately  ordered  to  be  built  for  the  use  of  His 
Majesty's  Ship  Asia,  1820 

Secretary  directed  to  procure  a  certified  copy  of 
the  rates  of  the  pay  of  the  Troops  in  the  Con- 
tinental Army,  from  a  Colonel  downwards,   -  1820 

CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS. 

MaijlO,  The  Congress  convened  in  the  State-House,  at 

Philadelphia,  1819 

List  of  the  Delegates  from  the  several  Colonies,  1819 
Peyton  Randolph  chosen  President,  and  Charles 

Thomson  Secretary,  -       -       -       -       -  1819 
Rev.  Mr.  Duche  requested  to  open  Congress 
with  prayers  to-morrow  morning,       -        -  1820 

11,  Congress  opened  with  prayers  by  the  Rev.  Mr. 

Duche,  1820 

Credentials  of  the  Delegates  read  and  approved,  1820 

Doors  to  be  kept  shut  during  the  time  of  business, 
and  Members  under  the  strongest  obligations 
of  honour  to  keep  the  proceedings  secret,     -  1824 

Letter  from  the  Agents,  William  Bollan,  Benj. 
Franklin  and  Arthur  Lee,  dated  London,  Feb- 
ruary 5,  1775,  laid  before  Congress  and  read,  1824 

Papers  accompanying  the  Letter  of  the  Agents, 
submitted  to  Congress  this  day,  (Note,)         -  1825 

Letters  and  Papers  from  the  Massachusetts  Con- 
gress, submitted  by  Mr.  Hancock,       -       -  1826 

Letter  from  the  Provincial  Congress  of  Massa- 
chusetts to  the  American  Continental  Congress, 
dated  May  3,  1826 

Resolves  of  the  Massachusetts  Congress,  passed 
May  3,  for  borrowing  One  Hundred  Thousand 
Pounds,  enclosed  in  the  preceding  Letter,     -  1828 

Depositions  and  Address  ordered  to  be  published,  1829 

State  of  America  to  be  considered  on  Monday 
next  in  Committee  of  the  Whole,        -       -  1829 

Letter  from  Massachusetts  referred  to  that  Com- 
mittee,    -------  1829 

12,  Met  and  adjourned,  1829 

13,  Lyman  Hall  admitted  as  a  Delegate  from  the 

Parish  of  St.  John's,  Georgia,  -  -  -  1829 
Mr.  Hall's  Credentials — Address  of  the  Inhabi- 
tants of  St.  John's  Parish  to  Congress  ;  their 
Letter  of  February  2,  to  the  Committee  of 
Correspondence  in  Charlestown,  South-Caro- 
lina;— answer  of  the  Committee,  dated  Feb- 
ruary 9 ;  and  choice  of  the  Delegate,  March 

21,  1775,   1829 

Petition  from  Frederick  County  Virginia,       -  1831 

15,  Order  of  the  Day  read,  and,  after  some  debate, 

postponed,        -       -       -       -       -  -1831 

Application  from  New- York  for  advice,  how  to 
conduct  themselves  with  regard  to  the  Troops 
expected  there,  -       -       -       -       -  -1831 

Delegate  from  St.  John's,  in  Georgia,  to  have  the 
same  privileges  as  the  other  Delegates,  except 
voting  when  a  question  is  taken  by  Colonies,  1831 
Credentials  of  Delegates  from  Rhode- Island,     -  1832 
Advice  to  the  Inhabitants  of  New- York  to  act 
on  the  defensive,  if  the  Troops,  expected  from 
England,  arrive,       -----  1832 

Committee  appointed  to  consider  what  Posts 

should  be  occupied  in  New- York,       -       -  1832 
State  of  America  to  be  further  considered  to- 
morrow, -------  1532 

16,  Memorial  from  Robert  and  John  Murray,       -  1832 
Congress  in  Committee  of  the  Whole,  on  the 

state  of  America,      -----  1832 

17,  Exportationsto  Quebeck,  Nova-Scotia,  St.  John's, 

Newfoundland,  Georgia,  (except  the  Parish  of 


CXL.VII 

1775. 

St.  John's,)  and  to  East  and  West  Florida,  pro- 
hibited,  1833 

May  18,  Rules  of  last  Congress  adopted,     ...  1833 

Intelligence  received  of  the  surprising  and  taking 
of  Ticonderoga,        .....  1833 

Mr.  Brown  called  in  to  give  an  account  of  the 
disposition  of  the  Canadians,  the  taking  of  Ti- 
conderoga, and  the  importance  of  that  Post,  -  1833 

Congress  approve  the  taking  of  Ticonderoga, 
and  direct  the  removal  of  the  Cannon  and 
Stores  to  the  south  end  of  Lake  George,  to  be 
there  taken  care  of,  and  returned  when  the 
restoration  of  harmony  between  Great  Britain 
and  the  Colonies  shall  render  it  prudent  to  do  so,  1833 

19,  List  of  the  Delegates  to  the  Congress  in  Phila- 

delphia this  day,  (Note,)     ....  1834 
Report  from  the  Committee  on  establishing  Posts 
in  New- York,  read  and  referred  to  the  Com- 
mittee of  the  Whole  on  the  state  of  America,  1834 
State  of  America  further  considered  in  Commit- 
tee of  the  Whole,      .....  1834 

20,  State  of  America  further  considered  in  Commit- 

tee of  the  Whole,  1834 

22,  State  of  America  further  considered  in  Commit- 

tee of  the  Whole,  1834 

23,  State  of  America  further  considered  in  Commit- 

tee of  the  Whole,  1834 

24,  John  Hancock  chosen  President,  Mr.  Randolph 

being  necessarily  absent,     ....  1835 
State  of  America  further  considered  in  Commit- 
tee of  the  Whole,  1835 

25,  State  of  America  further  considered  in  Commit- 

tee of  the  Whole,  1835 

Committee  of  the  Whole  report  in  part,  recom- 
mending the  establishment  of  Posts  at  King's- 
Bridge,  and  in  theHighlands  on  Hudson  River; 
the  embodying  of  the  Militia,  and  the  enlist- 
ment and  regulation  of  Troops  by  the  Provin- 
cial Congress,   ------  1835 

Motion  for  an  addition  to  the  Resolutions  respect- 
ing New- York,  after  some  debate,  postponed 
till  to-morrow,  ------  1836 

26,  Resolution  of  the  Assembly  of  New- Jersey  of 

May  20,  with  a  copy  of  the  Resolution  of  the 
House  of  Commons  of  February  27,  laid  before 
Congress  by  a  Delegate  from  New-Jersey, 
and  referred  to  the  Committee  of  the  Whole 
on  the  state  of  America,     ....  1836 

Consideration  resumed  of  the  motion  made  yester- 
day, for  an  addition  to  the  Resolutions  respect- 
ing New- York,  1836 

Provincial  Congress  of  New- York  advised  to 
persevere  vigorously  for  their  defence,  as  it  is 
uncertain  whether  the  endeavours  of  Congress 
to  accommodate  the  differences  with  Great  Bri- 
tain by  conciliatory  measures  will  be  successful,  1836 

Committee  appointed  to  prepare  a  Letter  to  the 
People  of  Canada,     -----  1836 

State  of  America  further  considered  in  Commit- 
tee of  the  Whole,  1836 

Committee  of  the  Whole  report  further,  several 
Resolutions,  which  were  read  and  adopted,    -  1836 

The  Colonies  to  be  immediately  put  in  a  state  of 
defence,  to  secure  them  against  all  attempts  to 
enforce  the  Acts  for  taxing  the  Colonies  by 
force  of  arms,  -  1837 

I  'etition  to  be  presented  to  the  King,        -       -  1837 

Measures  for  opening  a  negotiation,  to  accommo- 
date the  differences  between  Great  Britain  and 
the  Colonies,  to  be  made  part  of  the  Petition 
to  the  King,  1837 

State  of  America  further  considered  in  Commit- 
tee of  the  Whole,      .  1837 
29,   Letter  from  the  Convention  of  New- Jersey,  read 

and  referred  to  the  Committee  of  the  Whole,  1837 

A  Gentleman  introduced  to  the  Congress,  to  give 
a  just  and  full  account  of  the  state  of  affairs  in 
Canada,    -  1837 

Report  of  the  Committee  to  prepare  a  Letter  to 
Canada,  after  some  debate,  recommitted,       •  1837 

Committee  appointed  to  consider  on  ways  and 
means  to  supply  the  Colonies  with  Ammuni- 
tion and  Military  Stores,    »  1837 

Memorial  of  Robert  Murray  and  John  Murray 
considered,       -       -       -       -       -  1838 

Committees  in  the  Colonics  authorized  to  restore 
to  publiek  favour  persons  convicted  of  violating 
the  Continental  Association,  on  their  being  satis- 
fied they  will  not  offend  in  future,        -       -  1838 


CXLVI1I 

1775. 

M«j/29, Letter  to  the  Inhabitants  of  Canada,  again  re- 
ported; and  agreed  to,       ....  1838 

Provisions  not  to  be  sent  to  the  Island  of  Nan- 
tucket, except  from  Massachusetts,       -       -  1839 

Committee  to  consider  the  best  means  to  establish 
a  Post  for  conveying  Letters  and  intelligence 
through  the  Continent,       ....  1839 

30,  Paper  drawn  up  by  Grey  Cooper,  brought  by  a 

Gentleman  just  from  London,  who  received  it 
from  Lord  North,  presented  by  Mr.  Willing, 
and  read,  -  1840 
State  of  America  further  considered  in  Commit- 
tee of  the  Whole,  1 840 

31,  State  of  America  further  considered  in  Commit- 

tee of  the  Whole,  1840 

Letter  from  Colonel  Arnold,  dated  Crown  Point, 
May  23,  calling  for  a  re-enforcement  and  sup- 
plies,  1840 

Governour  Trumbull  requested  to  send  a  re-en- 
forcement; and  the  Provincial  Congress  of 
New- York  requested  to  furnish  Provisions 
and  other  necessary  Stores,  -       -       -       -  1841 

Governour  Trumbull  requested  to  appoint  a  per- 
son to  take  command  at  Crown  Point  and 
Ticonderoga,  -  1841 
June  1,  Report  of  the  Committee  on  supplying  Ammuni- 
tion and  Military  Stores,  read  and  referred  to 
the  Committee  of  the  Whole,      -       -       -  1841 

Congress,  having  nothing  in  view  but  the  defence 
of  the  Colonies,  direct  that  no  expedition  be 
undertaken  against  Canada,         -       -       -  1841 

Petition  from  the  Inhabitants  of  Augusta  County, 
Virginia,  west  of  the  Alleghany  Mountains, 
read  and  referred  to  the  Delegates  for  Virginia 
and  Pennsylvania,     -       -       -       -       -  1841 

State  of  America  further  considered  in  Commit- 
tee of  the  Whole,  1841 

2,  Letter  from  the  Provincial  Congress  of  Massa- 

chusetts, dated  Watertown,  May  16,  read,  laid 
on  the  table,  and  Dr.  Church,  who  brought  the 
Letter,  introduced  and  heard,  ...  1842 
Resolutions  prohibiting  supplies  of  Money  or 
Provisions  to  Officers  of  the  British  Armv  or 
Navy,  -  1843 

3,  Letter  from  New- York,  with  sundry  Letters  and 

Papers  cnclnsal,  from  Albany,  received  and 
read,  1843 

Committee  to  consider  the  Letter  from  Massachu- 
setts, dated  May  1 6,   1843 

Committee  to  borrow  Six  Thousand  Pounds  for 
the  use  of  America,  and  to  apply  it  to  the  pur- 
chase of  Gunpowder  for  the  Continental  Army,  1 843 

Committees  to  report  a  Petition  to  the  King  ;  an 
Address  to  the  Inhabitants  of  Great  Britain ; 
an  Address  to  the  People  of  Ireland  ;  a  Letter 
to  the  Inhabitants  of  Jamaica;  and  an  estimate 
of  the  Money  necessary  to  be  raised,    -       -  1843 

5,  Several  Colonies  not  being  represented,  adjourned 

till  to-morrow,  -       -       -       -  1843 

6,  The  several  Committees  not  being  ready  to  report, 

adjourned  till  to-morrow,    ....  1844 

7,  Report  of  the  Committee  of  an  estimate  of  the 

Money  necessary,  read  and  referred  to  the 
Committee  of  the  Whole,    ....  1844 

Committee  to  prepare  a  Resolve  appointing  the 
20th  day  of  July  next,  for  a  day  of  Fasting 
and  Prayer,      ......  1844 

Report  of  the  Committee  on  the  Letter  from 
Massachusetts,  read  and  laid  on  the  table,      ~  1844 

State  of  America  further  considered  in  Commit- 
tee of  the  Whole,      -       -       -       -       -  1844 

8,  Committee  to  examine  the  papers  of  Major  Skene, 

who  arrived  last  evening  from  London,  -       -  1844 
State  of  America  further  considered"  in  Commit- 
tee of  the  Whole,  1844 

9,  Report  on  the  Letter  from  Massachusetts,  con- 

sidered and  agreed  to,        ....  1844 
People  of  Massachusetts  advised  to  elect  Repre- 
sentatives, and  exercise  the  powers  of  Govern- 
ment,      -       -  1845 

10,   Letters  from  Massachusetts- Bay,  Ticonderoga, 

Crown  Point,  &c,  received  and  read,  •  -  1845 
New-Hampshire,  Rhode-Island,  Connecticut  and 
interior  Towns  of  Massachusetts,  requested  to 
furnish  the  American  Army  before  Boston 
with  all  the  Powder  they  can  spare,  -  -  1845 
AH  the  Colonies  requested  to  collect  Saltpetre 
and  Sulphur,  to  be  made  into  Gunpowder,  for 
the  use  of  the  Continent,     ,       ,       ,       .  1845 


CONTENTS. 


CXLIX 

1775. 


COiNTENTS. 

1775. 


Committee  to  devise  the  ways  and  means  to  in- 
troduce the  manufacture  of  Saltpetre  in  these 
Colonies,  -  -      -      - .  ►  **wunflH» 

Governour  Skene  released  on  parole, 
June  12,  Report  of  the  Committee  on  a  day  of  Fa&ting 
and  Prayer  read  and  agreed  to,  - 

Ways  and  means  of  raising  Money,  considered 
in  Committee  of  the  Whole,  - 

1 3,  Ways  and  means  of  raising  Money,  and  the  state 

of  America,  further  considered  in  Committee  of 
the  Whole,  

1 4,  State  of  America  further  considered  in  Commit- 

tee of  the  Whole,  and  further  report,  in  part, 
made,  - 

Ten  Companies  of  Riflemen  to  be  raised  for  the 

Army  near  Boston,  - 
Committee  to  prepare  Rules  and  Regulations  for 

the  government  of  the  Army,  - 

15,  Ways  and  means  of  raising  Money,  and  the  state 

of  America,  further  considered  in  Committee  of 
the  Whole,  and  further  report,  in  part,  made,  - 
George  Washington  unanimously  elected  Gene- 
ral of  all  the  Continental  Forces,  raised,  or  to 
be  raised,  for  the  defence  of  American  Liberty, 

16,  The  President,  from  the  Chair,  informed  George 

Washington  of  his  appointment,  and  reqneeti  d 
his  acceptance  of  it,  - 

Colonel  Washington's  Answer,  ... 

Committee  to  prepare  a  Commission  and  Instruc- 
tions for  the  General,  - 

Committee  to  consider  the  Papers  from  New- 
York,  relative  to  Indian  Affairs,  - 

State  of  America  further  considered  in  Commit- 
tee of  the  Whole,-  and  further  report,  in  part, 
made,  - 

General  and  Staff-Officers  to  be  appointed,  and 
their  pay  fixed,  -       -       -  - 

17,  Commission  for  the  General  reported  by  the 

Committee,  and  agreed  to,  - 

Declaration  of  the  Congress  to  maintain,  assist, 
and  adhere  to  the  General  with  their  lives  and 
fortunes,  in  maintaining  the  liberties  of  America, 

Artemas  Ward  and  Charles  Lee  chosen  Major- 
Generals,  and  Horatio  Gates  Adjutant-Gene- 
ral, -------- 

19,  Letters  from  the  Conventions  of  Massachusetts 
and  New- York,  received  and  read, 

Committee  to  inform  General  Lee  of  his  appoint- 
ment, and  request  his  answer  whether  he  will 
accept  the  command,  -       -       -  - 

General  Lee,  before  he  accepts,  desires  an  inter- 
view with  a  Committee  respecting  his  private 
fortune,  ------- 

Committee  appointed,  and,  after  an  interview,  re- 
port an  estimate  of  the  estate  he  risked  by  this 
service,  ------- 

Congress  resolve  to  indemnify  General  Lee  for 
any  loss  of  property  he  may  sustain  by  enter- 
ing into  their  service,  -       -       -       -  - 

Connecticut,  Rhode-Island  and  New-Hampshire 
requested  to  re-enforce  the  Army  before  Bos- 
ton, - 

Philip  Schuyler  and  Israel  Putnam  chosen  Ma- 
jor-Generals,  ------ 

Petition  to  the  King  reported  by  the  Committee, 
Instructions  to  the  General,  - 
Thomas  Jefferson  appeared  as  Delegate  from 

Virginia,  in  place  of  Peyton  Randolph, 
Committee  to  consider  sundry  queries  from  the 
General,  ------- 

Eight  Brigadier-Generals  chosen,  - 
Two  Millions  of  Spanish  Milled  Dollars  to  be 
emitted  by  Congress  in  Bills  of  Credit,  for  the 
defence  of  America,  and  the  Twelve  Confede- 
rated Colonies  pledged  for'their  redemption,  - 
Pennsylvania  to  raise  two  more  Companies  of 
Riflemen,   making  eight  Companies,  to  be 
formed  into  a  Battalion,      -       -       -  - 

23,   Letter  from  the  Officer  at  Crown  Point,  dated 
June  10,  received  and  read,  '  - 
Colonel  Allen  and  Captain  Seth  Warner  called 

in  to  communicate  important  intelligence, 
Provision  for  the  payment  of  the  Officers  and 

Men  employed  in  taking  Ticonderoga,  - 
New- York  Convention  requested  to  raise  a  body 

of  Green  Mountain  Boys,  ■. 
Committee  to  draw  up  a  Declaration,  to  be  pub- 
lished by  General  Washington,  upon  his  arri- 
val at  the  Camp  before  Boston,  * 


20, 
21, 


22, 


1846 
1846 

1S46 

1847 

1847 

1847 
1847 
1847 

1848 

1848 


1848 
1848 

1849 

1849 

1849 
1849 
1850 

1850 

1850 
1850 

-  1850 
1851 
1851 
1851 

1851 

1851 
1851 
1851 

-  1852 

1852 
1853 

1853 

1853 
1853 
1853 
1853 
1853 


1853 


CL 

1854 
1854 
1854 

-  1854 


State  of  America  further  considered  in  Commit- 
tee of  the  Whole,  and  further  report,  in  part, 
made,  ....... 

Number  and  denomination  of  Bills  of  Credit  to 
be  emitted,  ...... 

June24,  Committee  on  putting  the  Militia  in  a  proper  state 
for  the  defence  of  America,  ... 

Declaration  to  be  published  by  General  Wash- 
ington, reported,  read,  debated,  and  referred  for 
further  consideration,  -       -       -  - 

26,  Resolutions  adopted,  recommending  to  the  People 

of  North-Carolina  to  associate  for  the  defence 
of  American  Liberty,  and  to  embody  as  Militia, 
under  proper  Officers;  and  the  Assembly  or 
Convention  of  that  Colony  authorized  to  raise 
one  thousand  Men,  to  form  part  of  the  Ameri- 
can Army,  and  be  paid  by  this  Congress,      -  1854 
Declaration  further  considered,  debated,  and  re- 
committed,       ......  1855 

Committee  for  Indian  Affairs  reported,     -       -  1855 
Committee  for  the  City  of  Philadelphia  requested 
to  furnish  a  supply  of  Powder  for  Ticonderoga 
and  Crown  Point,      -----  1855 

27,  Governour  Skene  sent  under  guard  to  Connecti- 

cut, to  be  confined  there  on  parole,        -       -  1855 
Letter  from  Massachusetts  Convention,  dated  June 

20,  with  several  other  Letters,  received  and  read,  1 355 
Instructions  to  General  Schuyler,  who  is  autho- 
rized to  take  possession  of  St.  John's,  Montreal, 
or  any  other  part  of  Canada,  if  practicable,  and 
not  disagreeable  to  the  Canadians,  -  -  1855 
Address  to  the  Inhabitants  of  Great  Britain,  re- 
ported,     -  1856 

28,  Consideration  of  the  Articles  of  War  resumed, 

and  debated,  1856 

29,  Letters  and  Speeches  from  the  Chiefs  of  the  Stock- 

bridge  Indians,  to  the  Congress,  and  a  Mes- 
sage from  them  to  the  Canada  Indians,  re- 
ceived.  and  read,        -       -       -       -       -  1856 
Consideration  of  the  Articles  of  War  resumed, 

debated,  and  deferred  till  to-morrow,     -       -  1856 

30,  Articles  of  War  further  considered  and  agreed  to,  1856 
Committee  to  examine  the  Rules  and  Articles  of 

War,  and  get  them  printed,  -       ...  1863 
Committee  for  Indian  Affairs  directed  to  prepare 

proper  Talks  for  the  Indians,  ...  1863 
July  1,  If  any  Agent  of  the  Ministry  shall  induce  any  of 
the  Indian  Tribes  to  commit  hostilities  against 
the  Colonies,  then  the  Colonies  ought  to  avail 
themselves  of  an  alliance  with  such  of  the  In- 
dians  as  will  unite  with  them  to  oppose  British 

Troops,  1863 

General  Schuyler  directed  not  to  remove  Gene- 
ral  Woostcr  from  New-York,  but  to  raise  as 
many  Green  Mountain  Boys  as  will  be  neces- 
sary to  execute  his  Instructions  of  the  27th  of 
June,  1863 

3,  State  of  America  further  considered  in  Commit- 

tee  of  the  Whole,  and  further  report,  in  part, 
made,  1863 

4,  Two  Acts  of  the  present  Parliament  for  restrain- 

ing  the  Trade  and  Commerce  of  the  Colonies, 
are  unconstitutional,  oppressive,  and  cruel,  and 
the  Continental  Association  should  apply  to 

them,  1864 

Petition  to  the  King  further  considered,  debated, 

and  postponed  till  to-morrow,      ...  1864 

5,  Letters  from  General  Schuyler  of  the  2d  and  3d 

of  July,  received  and  read,         ...  ]864 
Order  of  the  27th  of  June,  respecting  the  sending 
of  Governour  Skene  to  Connecticut,  to  be  car- 
ried into  immediate  execution,      ...  1864 
Petition  to  the  King  further  considered,  debated, 
and  agreed  to,    -  1865 

6,  Address  to  the  Inhabitants  of  Great  Britain  further 

considered  and  recommitted,  -  -  -  1 865 
Declaration  by  the  Representatives  of  the  United 
Colonies,  of  North-America,  now  met  in  Con- 
gress,  at  Philadelphia,  setting  forth  the  causes 
and  necessity  of  their  taking  up  arms,  -  -  1865 
Fragment  of  a  Speech  made  in  the  General  Con- 
gress of  America,  by  one  of  the  Delegates. 

(Note,)  -  1865 

Committee  directed  to  prepare  a  Letter  to  the 
Lord  Mayor,  Aldermen,  and  Livery  of  Lon- 
don,  1869 

7,  Address  to  the  People  of  Great  Britain,  again 

reported,  and,  after  debate,  the  further  consi- 
deration deferred  till  to-morrow,  -       -       -  1869 


CLT 

1775. 

July  8,  Petition  to  the  King,  signed  by  the  several  Mem- 
bers,  1870 

Letter  to  the  Lord  Mayor,  &c,  of  London,  re- 
ported and  read,        -----  1872 

Committee  to  prepare  a  Letter  to  Richard  Penn, 
and  the  Colony  Agents,  in  England,    -       -  1872 

Address  to  the  Inhabitants  of  Great  Britain, 
further  considered,  debated,  and  agreed  to,     -  1872 

Letter  to  the  Lord  Mayor,  Aldermen,  and  Livery 
of  London,       ------  1877 

Letter  to  Mr.  Penn  and  the  Colony  Agents,      -  1878 

10,  A  Gentleman  well  acquainted  with  the  situation 

and  disposition  of  the  Indians,  introduced  and 
heard  by  the  Congress,      ...       -  1878 
Talks  to  the  Indians  reported  and  read,    -       -  1878 
Report  of  the  Committee  on  putting  the  Militia 
in  a  proper  state  of  defence,  was  made,  read, 
debated,  and  deferred  till  to-morrow,     -       -  1878 

1 1,  Report  on  Indian  Affairs  taken  up,  read,  debated, 

and  deferred  till  to-morrow,        ...  1878 
An  Address  of  the  Deputies  from  the  different 
Parishes  of  the  Island  of  Bermuda,  presented 
and  read,  1878 

12,  Gentleman  in  Town,  from  the  Province  of  due- 

beck,  called  in  to  give  intelligence  of  the  dis- 
position of  the  Canadians,  -       -       -       -  1878 

Report  of  the  Committee  on  Indian  Affairs,  con- 
sidered, debated,  and  agreed  to,    -       -       -  1878 

Committee  to  devise  ways  and  means  to  protect 
the  Trade  of  these  Colonies,       -       -       -  1880 

Speech  to  the  Six  Nations  of  Indians,  read, 
debated,  and  agreed  to,       -       -       -  -1880 

Commissioners  for  Indian  Affairs  in  the  Middle 
and  Northern  Departments  chosen,      -       -  1883 

14,  Report  of  the  Committee  on  the  Militia  further 

considered  and  debated,       ...       -  1883 

15,  Report  on  the  Militia  resumed,  and  agreed  to,  -  1883 
Vessels  importing  Gunpowder,  Saltpetre,  Sul- 
phur, Brass  Fieldpieces,  or  good  Muskets 
fitted  with  Bayonets,  permitted  to  load  with  the 
produce  of  the  Colonies,      ...       -  1883 

Extracts  from  intercepted  Letters  from  Lord 
Dartmouth  to  Governour  Martin  and  Govern- 
our  Wright,  received  and  read,     -       -       -  1884 

Talk  to  the  Stockbridge  Indians  considered, 
debated,  and  agreed  to,        ...       -  1884 

17,  General  Wooster  directed  to  send  one  thousand 

of  the  Connecticut  Forces  under  his  command 

to  Albany,  1884 

President  directed  to  write  an  Answer  to  the  Ad- 
dress from  Bermuda,         ...       -  1884 

18,  Commissioners  of  the  Northern  Department  di- 

rected to  employ  Mr.  Kirkland  among  the  Six 
Nations  of  Indians,     -----  1886 
Report  of  the  Committee  on  putting  the  Militia 
in  a  proper  state  of  defence,  considered  and 
agreed  to,         ------  1885 

19,  Letter  from  the  General,  with  sundry  Papers,  re- 

ceived,    -------  1886 

Company  of  Matrosses  to  be  raised  in  Philadel- 
phia, and  sent  to  the  Army  before  Boston,     -  1886 

Committee  to  report  on  the  method  of  establish- 
ing a  Hospital,          -  1886 

New-Hampshire,  Massachusetts-Bay,  Rhode- 
Island  and  Connecticut  requested  to  complete 
and  forward  their  Regiments  without  delay,  -  1886 

Paragraph  in  the  General's  Letter,  respecting  an 
easier  communication  between  him  and  the 
Congress,  referred  for  consideration  on  Satur- 
day next,  1886 

Committee  to  bring  in  an  estimate  of  the  expenses 
incurred  by  the  Votes  and  Resolves  of  Con- 
gress,  1886 

Choice  of  the  Commissioners  for  Indian  Affairs,  in 
the  Southern  Department,  left  to  the  Council  of 
Safety  for  South-Carolina,  -       -       -       -  1887 

20,  Letter  from  the  Convention  of  Georgia,  setting 

forth  that  that  Colony  had  acceded  to  the  Gene- 
ral Association,  and  appointed  Delegates  to 

attend  the  Congress,  1887 

General  Schuyler  empowered  to  dispose  of  and 
employ  all  the  Troops  in  the  New- York 
Department  as  he  may  think  best,        -       -  1887 

21,  Address  to  the  Inhabitants  of  Jamaica,  reported 

and  laid  on  the  table,         ....  1887 


CLII 

1775. 

Address  to  the  Inhabitants  of  Ireland,  reported 
and  laid  on  the  table,         ....  1887 

Articles  of  Confederation  and  Perpetual  Union, 
submitted  by  Dr.  Franklin,        ...  1867 

State  of  America  further  considered  in  Commit-  - 
tee  of  the  Whole,  1889 

Committee  on  protecting  the  Trade  of  the  Colo- 
nies, reported,   ------  1889 

General  Washington  authorized  to  keep  such  a 
body  of  Forces  in  Massachusetts  as  he  shall 
think  necessary,  provided  they  do  not  exceed 
twenty-two  thousand,  ...  -  1889 
July  22,  Report  of  the  Committee  on  protecting  the  Trade 
of  the  Colonies,  considered,  and  postponed  to 
some  future  day,        -----  1889 

State  of  America  further  considered  in  Commit- 
tee of  the  Whole,  1889 

Committee  to  consider  and  report  upon  the  Reso- 
lution of  the  House  of  Commons  of  February 
20,  commonly  called  Lord  North's  Motion,  -  1889 

24,  State  of  America  further  considered  in  Commit- 

tee of  the  Whole,  1890 

Report  from  the  Committee  for  establishing  a 

Hospital,  presented,    -----  1890 

25,  Report  of  the  Committee  for  establishing  Posts, 

brought  in,  1890 

Answer  to  the  Resolution  of  the  House  of  Com- 
mons, presented,  read,  and  ordered  to  lie  on  the 
table  for  consideration,  ....  1890 
Delegates  for  Pennsylvania  directed  to  send  under 
safe  convoy  to  General  Washington,  six  tons 
of  the  Continental  Gunpowder,  just  arrived  in 

Philadelphia,  1890 

Address  to  the  Assembly  of  Jamaica,       -       -  1890 
Five  thousand  Troops  to  be  stationed  in  the  New- 
York  Department,  1892 

One  Million  of  Dollars,  additional,  in  Bills  of 

Credit,  to  be  emitted,          -       -       -       -  1 892 
Committee  to  sign  the  Bills,          ...  1899 
Committee  to  revise  the  Journal,  and  prepare  it  for 
the  press,  1892 

26,  Report  of  the  Committee  on  establishing  a  Post- 

Office,  ageeed  to,  1892 

Benjamin  Franklin  chosen  Postmaster  General,  1893 

27,  Report  of  the  Committee  on  establishing  a  Hospi- 

tal, considered  and  agreed  to,      -       -       -  1893 
Fifty  Thousand  Dollars  appropriated  for  the  im- 
portation of  Gunpowder  for  the  Continental 
Armies,  1893 

28,  Address  to  the  People  of  Ireland,  considered  and 

agreed  to,  1894 

29,  Pay  of  the  Army  established,         ...  1897 
Michael  Hillegas  and  George  Clymer  appoint- 
ed Joint  Treasurers  of  the  United  Colonies,    -  1898 

Each  Colony  required  to  provide  means  to  sink 
its  proportion  of  the  Bills  of  Credit  emitted  by 
this  Congress,   ------  1898 

Proportion  or  quota  of  each  Colony,        -       -  1898 
31,  Answer  of  the  Congress  to  the  Resolutions  of  the 

House  of  Commons  of  the  20th  February  last,  1899 

Commitee  to  make  inquiry  in  the  recess  of  Con- 
gress, in  all  the  Colonics,  for  virgin  Lead  and 
Lead  Ore,  and  the  best  methods  of  collecting, 
smelting  and  refining  it,    -  1902 

State  of  the  Trade  of  the  Colonies,  after  the  10th 
of  September  next,  considered  and  postponed  to 
a  future  day,     ------  1902 

Two  Petitions  respecting  disputes  between  the 
People  of  Connecticut  and  Pennsylvania,  pre- 
sented, read,  and  laid  on  the  table  for  the 
perusal  of  the  Members,     -  1902 

Two  Petitions,  from  sundry  Merchants  in  New- 
York  and  Philadelphia,  respecting  the  sale 
of  Teas,  imported  before  the  Association,  pre- 
sented and  laid  on  the  table,  ...  1902 
Aug.  1,  Moneys  appropriated  for  various  purposes  con- 
nected with  the  defence  and  protection  of  the 
Colonies,  1902 

Petitions  respecting  the  disputes  between  the 
People  of  Connecticut  and  Pennsylvania,  re- 
ferred to  the  next  meeting  of  the  Congress,    -  1904 

Explanation  of  the  Resolve  of  the  last  Congress, 
prohibiting  exportation  to  Great  Britain,  Ire- 
land and  the  West-Indies  -       -       -       -  1904 

Adjourned  to  Tues  lay  the  fifth  of  September  next,  1904 


CONTENTS. 


DOCUMENTARY  HISTORY,  &c. 


CORRESPONDENCE,  MISCELLANEOUS  PAPERS,  PROCEEDINGS  OF  COMMITTEES,  &c. 


LETTER    FROM   THE    GENERAL  COMMITTEE,   AT  CHARLES- 
TOWN,  S.  C,  TO  THE  NEW-YORK  COMMITTEE. 

Charlestown,  South-Carolina,  March  1,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  It  was  with  equal  surprise  and  concern 
that  we  read  in  the  publick  prints  what  passed  in  your 
House  of  Assembly  on  the  26th  of  January,  with  respect 
to  the  proceedings  of  the  General  Congress.  It  is  im- 
possible for  us,  at  this  distance,  to  conjecture  the  reasons 
which  induced  the  Assembly  to  refuse  their  formal  assent 
to  the  Solemn  Agreement  of  all  these  Colonies.  We  are 
obliged  to  suspend  our  judgment  until  we  hear  from  you ; 
and  will  not  even  permit  ourselves  to  conclude  that  it  is 
owing  either  to  a  neglect  of  the  united  voice  of  America, 
or  to  want  of  spirit  in  the  cause  of  freedom. — In  the  midst 
of  the  pain  that  we  feel  at  this  singular  instance  of  Pro- 
vincial policy,  we  console  ourselves  with  the  apprehension 
that  it  was  intended,  not  as  a  declaration  of  their  real  in- 
clinations, but  only  as  a  prudential  measure :  that  they 
having  been  chosen  antecedent  to  the  present  dispute,  and 
therefore  not  with  a  particular  view  to  it,  might  suppose 
the  necessity  of  their  interfering,  superseded  by  a  posterior 
choice.  We  console  ourselves  with  the  thought  that  the 
legal  Representatives  of  your  respectable  Colony,  by  refu- 
sing to  act,  did  not  mean  to  hold  up  to  the  world  the  opin- 
ion of  their  Constituents,  but  have  only  left  it  to  another  re- 
presentation, not  so  much  according  to  the  letter  of  the  law, 
but  equally  respectable,  and  as  much  to  be  depended  on. 

AVe  only  beg  leave  to  make  this  remark  upon  their 
policy  :  that  they  have  therein  singled  themselves  out  from 
the  rest  of  the  Colonies  ;  who,  as  far  as  they  have  had  the 
opportunity,  have  come  unanimously  into  the  measures  of 
the  General  Congress.  And  we  cannot  but  think  it  would 
have  been  much  more  happy  for  the  whole,  had  there  been 
no  exception.  Indeed,  although  the  House  of  Assembly 
in  this  Colony  hath  nobly  and  unanimously  adopted  the 
Proceedings  of  the  General  Congress,  yet  they  have  not 
had  it  in  idea  to  take  the  matter  wholly  into  their  own 
hands,  independent  of  the  Provincial  Congress  ;  but  even 
now,  while  that  Assembly  is  sitting,  the  General  Commit- 
tee of  the  Colony  also  sits  and  does  business,  independent 
of  the  House.  A  measure  this,  necessary  in  the  Royal 
Governments,  where  the  liableness  of  the  Assembly  to  sud- 
den prorogations  and  dissolutions,  renders  their  proceeding 
in  business  wholly  dependant  on  the  creatures  of  the  Crown. 
Much,  therefore,  as  we  are  surprised  at  the  conduct  of 
your  Assembly,  we  are  not  so  ignorant  as  to  imagine  it  is 
the  de6nite  voice  of  the  Colony ;  and,  indeed,  we  do  not 
allow  ourselves  to  entertain  a  suspicion  that  your  Resolu- 
tions would  not  be  the  same  with  those  of  the  rest  of  the 
Colonies,  if  you  only  had  a  full  and  free  representation  of 
the  whole  Colony  elected  on  the  present  occasion  :  such  a 
representation  we  hope  to  hear  of  in  due  time. 

We  are  not  insensible  of  the  consequence  of  your  Colo- 
ny in  the  great  chain  of  American  Union. — Nor  do  we 
imagine  the  Ministry  insensible  of  it ;  we  are  well  aware 
of  jour  unhappy  situation,  and  of  the  many  artful  mea- 
sures that  have  been,  and  now  are,  taking,  if  possible,  to 
throw  you  into  confusion.  We  are  well  aware  of  the  poi- 
Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii.  1 


son  that  is  daily  distilling  from  some  of  your  pensioned 
presses,  and  the  hireling  writers  that  have  crept  in  among 
you.  We  are  not  ignorant  of  that  crowd  of  placemen,  of 
contractors,  of  officers,  and  needy  dependants  upon  the 
Crown,  who  are  constantly  employed  to  frustrate  your 
measures.  We  know  the  dangerous  tendency  of  being 
made  the  head-quarters  of  America  for  many  years.  All 
these  things,  though  they  necessarily  tend  to  clog  the 
wheels  of  publick  spirit,  yet  do  not  cause  us  to  doubt  of 
your  publick  virtue,  as  a  Colony  :  nay,  we  assure  our- 
selves, that  your  love  to  Constitutional  Liberty,  to  justice, 
and  your  posterity,  however  depressed  for  a  little  while, 
will  at  last  surmount  all  obstacles,  and  do  honour  to  JNtir- 
YorTc. 

The  present  struggle  seems  to  us  most  glorious  and 
critical.  We  seem  to  ourselves  to  stand  upon  the  very 
division  line,  between  all  the  blessings  of  freedom,  and  the 
most  abject  vassalage.  The  very  idea  of  an  earthly  power 
which  shall  bind  the  present  and  future  millions  of  America 
in  all  cases  whatsoever — in  the  direction  of  which  we  are 
to  have  no  more  voice  than  our  oxen,  and  over  which  we 
can  have  no  constitutional  control,  fills  us  with  horrour  ; — 
to  hold  not  only  our  liberty  and  property  at  will,  but  our 
lives  also,  as  well  as  the  lives  of  all  our  posterity  ! — to  be 
absolutely  dependant  for  the  air  in  which  we  breathe,  and 
the  water  which  we  drink,  upon  a  set  of  men  at  the  dis- 
tance of  three  thousand  miles  from  us — who,  even  when 
they  abuse  that  power,  are  out  of  the  reach  of  our  ven- 
geance, is  a  proposal  which  this  Colony  hears  with  indig- 
nation, and  can  only  submit  to  when  there  is  no  possible 
remedy.  By  the  late  detestable  Acts  of  the  British  Par- 
liament respecting  America,  all  mankind  will  judge  whether 
that  body  may  be  safely  entrusted  with  such  a  power.  We 
have  now  appealed  to  the  remaining  justice  of  the  Nation  ; 
we  have  endeavoured  to  arouse  them  to  a  sense  of  their 
own  dangers ;  we  have  appealed  to  their  mercantile  inte- 
rests for  our  defence.  Our  hopes  of  success  are  not  yet 
damped  by  any  thing  but  the  possibility  of  disunion  among 
ourselves.  We  have  the  pleasure  to  inform  you  that  in 
this  Colony  the  Association  takes  place,  as  effectually  as 
law  itself.  Sundry  Vessels  from  England  have  already 
been  obliged  to  return  with  their  Merchandise,  or  have  it 
thrown  overboard  as  common  ballast. 

We  may  assure  you  of  our  fixed  determination  to  adhere 
to  the  Resolutions  at  all  hazards,  and  that  Ministerial  op- 
position is  here  obliged  to  be  silent.  We  wish  for  the  day 
when  it  shall  be  silenced  among  you  likewise.  And  what- 
ever noise  is  made  by  the  friends  of  arbitrary  rule  about 
the  design  of  those  proceedings  in  your  House  of  Assem- 
bly, we  cannot  and  will  not  believe  that  you  intend  to 
desert  the  cause. 

Three  things,  however,  oblige  us  to  write  to  you. 

First.  The  general  alarm  which  the  proceedings  above- 
mentioned  have  given,  that  we  may  obtain  from  you  certain 
intelligence  of  the  disposition  of  your  Colony,  whether 
those  proceedings  are  to  be  understood  as  the  general  sense 
of  the  good  people  of  New-  York,  or  only  of  a  bare  ma- 
jority of  the  House. 


3  CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  4 


Secondly.  That  we  may  learn  from  you,  whether  the 
Association  of  the  General  Congress  has  actually  been 
adopted  by  you,  and  is  now  put  into  execution.  On  these 
two  points  we  beg  you  will  give  us  the  earliest  intelligence 
possible,  that  we  may  be  able  (as  we  have  not  the  least 
doubt  that  we  shall  be)  thereby  to  quiet  the  anxiety  of  the 
people  of  this  Province,  and  prevent  the  tools  of  Ministry 
from  exulting  at  any  appearance  of  disunion.  And  lastly, 
that  we  may  suggest  to  you  an  expedient,  which,  with  great 
success,  has  been  tried  in  this  Province,  viz  :  that  of  a 
Provincial  Congress,  in  which  every  corner  of  the  Colony 
is  fully  and  largely  represented.  As  yet  we  have  not  had 
the  pleasure  of  hearing  that  you  have  adopted  this  or  any 
similar  measure.  And  although  we  would  not  be  under- 
stood as  presuming  to  dictate  to  our  brethren,  yet  we  would 
take  the  liberty  to  inform  them  that  this  measure  has  given 
the  greatest  satisfaction  here,  and  so  firmly  united  the  Town 
and  Country,  that  we  are  thereby  become  one  compact 
regularly  organized  body.  The  enemies  of  American  free- 
dom are  aware  of  the  cementing  tendency  of  such  a  step, 
and  wherever  they  have  influence,  endeavour  to  prevent 
it,  well  knowing  that  while  the  different  Districts  of  a  Colo- 
ny are  kept  apart,  they  do  not  all  receive  the  same  infor- 
mation, and  are  exposed  to  the  baneful  effects  of  jealousy 
and  division,  especially  when  any  considerable  part  sup- 
poses itself  neglected  by  not  being  called  in  to  give  its 
voice.  And  we  find,  that  the  larger  this  representation  is, 
the  less  the  danger  of  corruption  and  influence ;  the  more 
is  sly  deceit  deterred  from  venturing  its  efforts ;  and  the 
more  weight  goes  with  every  determination.  The  Con- 
gress of  this  Colony  consists  of  one  hundred  and  eighty- 
four  Members,  and  is  by  far  the  fullest  representation  of  it 
that  ever  has  been  together  before. 

We,  therefore,  as  brethren  united  in  the  same  cause,  do 
only  beg  leave  to  recommend  the  above  measure,  already 
found  by  experience,  of  such  utility  in  sundry  of  the  Royal 
Governments,  but  especially  in  this.  The  necessity  of 
electing  Delegates  to  the  Congress  in  May,  we  are  assured, 
will  show  the  expediency  of  such  a  Provincial  meeting. 

We  feel  ourselves  bound  to  you  by  the  closest  ties  of 
interest  and  affection .-^We  consider  this  season  as  big  with 
American  glory,  or  with  American  infamy. 

We  therefore  most  ardently  wish  you  the  direction  and 
aid  of  that  Almighty  Being  who  presides  over  all.  We 
confidently  expect  to  meet  you  in  General  Congress  at 
Philadelphia,  with  hearts  full  of  zeal  m  our  Country's 
cause,  and  full  of  mutual  confidence  in  the  integrity  of 
each  other.  We  are,  gentlemen,  your  friends  and  fellow- 
countrymen. 

By  order  of  the  General  Committee, 

Charles  Pinckney,  Chairman. 


INSTRUCTIONS  FROM  THE  FREEHOLDERS  OF  CUMBERLAND 
COUNTY,  VIRGINIA. 

To  John  Mayo  and  William  Fleming,  Gentlemen,  their 
Delegates,  March,  1775. 
We,  the  Freeholders  of  Cumberland  County,  having 
elected  you  to  represent  us  in  a  Provincial  Convention,  to 
be  held  in  the  Town  of  Richmond,  on  Monday,  the  20th 
of  this  instant,  and  being  convinced  that  the  safety  and 
happiness  of  British  America  depend  on  the  unanimity, 
firmness,  and  jpint  efforts  of  all  the  Colonies,  we  expect 
you  will,  on.  your  parts,  let  your  measures  be  as  much  for 
the  common  safety  as  the  peculiar  interests  of  this  Colony 
will  permit,  and  that  you,  in  particular^  comply  with  the 
recommendation  of  the  Continental  Congress,  in  appoint- 
ing Delegates  to  meet  in  the  City  of  Philadelphia,  in  May 
next. 

The  means  of  Constitutional  legislation  in  this  Colony 
being  now  interrupted,,  and  entirely  procarious,  and  being 
convinced  that  some  rule  is  necessary  for  speedily  putting 
the  Colony  in  a  state  of  defence,,  we,  in  an  especial  man- 
ner, recommend  this  matter  to  your  consideration  in  Con- 
vention ;  and  you  may  depend  that  any  general  tax,  by 
that  body  imposed,  for  such  purposes,  will  be  cheerfully 
submitted  to,  and  paid  by  the  inhabitants  of  this  County. 

We  desire  that  you  will  consider  the  Bostonians  as 
suffering  in  the  common  cause,  and  cheerfully  join  in  their 
support  to  the  utmost  of  your  power. 

That  you  will  direct  the  Deputies  to,  Congress,  on  the 


part  of  this  Colony,  to  use  their  best  endeavours  to  estab- 
lish a  trade  between  the  Colonies ;  and  to  procure  a  quan- 
tity of  Hun-powder,  and  a  number  of  Cotton  and  Wool 
Cards  from  the  Northward,  or  elsewhere. 

We  desire  further,  that  you  will  not  depart  from  the 
Association  formed  by  the  Continental  Congress  in  Septem- 
ber last,  but  will  strictly  adhere  to  it  in  every  particular. 


Committee  Chamber,  New-York,  1st  March,  1775. 

To  the  Freeholders  and  Freemen  of  the  City  and  County 
of  New-York. 
As  the  last  Congress,  held  in  Philadelphia,  recommended 
that  another  Congress  should  be  convened  at  the  same  place, 
on  the  10th  day  of  May  next,  and  the  election  of  Dele- 
gates ought  not  to  be  longer  delayed,  and  most  of  the  other 
Colonies  having  already  appointed  them,  and  as  the  Com- 
mittee has  no  power,  without  the  approbation  of  their  con- 
stituents, to  take  any  measures  for  that  purpose  :  they 
therefore  request,  that  the  Freeholders  and  Freemen  of 
the  City  and  County  of  New-York,  will  be  pleased  to  as- 
semble at  the  Exchange,  on  Monday,  the  6th  instant,  at 
twelve  o'clock,  to  signify  their  sense  of  the  best  method  of 
choosing  such  Delegates,  and  whether  they  will  appoint  a 
certain  number  of  persons,  to  meet  such  Deputies  as  the 
Counties  may  elect  for  that  purpose,  and  join  with  them  in 
appointing  out  of  their  body,  Delegates  for  the  next  Con- 
gress.      By  order  of  the  Committee, 

Isaac  Low,  Chairman. 


ADDRESS  TO  THE  SOLDIERS  ORDERED  TO  AMERICA. 

London,  March,  1775. 

The  following  Address  has  been  sent  to  Ireland  for  pub- 
lication, and  should  be  published  in  all  the  American 
Papers  : — 

Gentlemen  :  You  are  about  to  embark  for  America  to 
compel  your  fellow-subjects  there  to  submit  to  Popery  and 
Slavery. 

It  is  the  glory  of  the  British  Soldier,  that  he  is  the  de- 
fender, not  the  destroyer  of  the  civil  and  religious  rights  of 
the  people.  The  English  Soldiery  are  immortalized  in 
history  for  their  attachment  to  the  religion  and  liberties  of 
their  Country. 

When  King  James  the  Second  endeavoured  to  introduce  the 
Roman  Catholick  Religion  and  arbitrary  power  into  Great 
Britain,  he  had  an  Army  encamped  on  Hounslow-Heath,  to 
terrify  the  people.  Seven  Bishops  were  seized  upon  and  sent 
to  the  Tower.  But  they  appealed  to  the  laws  of  their  Coun- 
try, and  were  set  at  liberty.  When  this  news  reached  the 
camp,  the  shouts  of  joy  were  so  great,  that  they  re-echoed 
in  the  Royal  Palace.  This,  however,  did  not  quite  con- 
vince the  King  of  the  aversion  of  the  Soldiers  to  be  the  in- 
struments of  oppression  against  their  fellow-subjects.  He 
therefore  made  another  trial.  He  ordered  the  Guards  to  be 
drawn  up,  and  the  word  was  given  that  those  who  did  not 
choose  to  support  the  King's  measures  should  ground  their 
arms.  When  behold,  to  his  utter  confusion,  and  their 
eternal  honour — the  whole  body  grounded  their  arms. 

You,  gentlemen,  will  soon  have  an  opportunity  of  show- 
ing equal  virtue.  You  will  be  called  upon  to  imbrue  your 
hands  in  the  blood  of  your  fellow-subjects  in  America,  be- 
cause they  will  not  submit  to  be  slaves,  and  are  alarmed 
at  the  establishment  of  Popery  and  arbitrary  power  in  one- 
half  of  their  Country. 

Whether  you  will  draw  those  swords  which  have  de- 
fended them  against  their  enemies,  to  butcher  them  into 
a  resignation  of  their  rights,  which  they  hold  as  the  sons  of 
Englishmen,  is  in  your  breasts.  That  you  will  not  stain 
the  laurels  you  have  gained  from  France,  by  dipping  them 
in  civil  blood,  is  every  good  man's  hope. 

Art  will  no  doubt  be  used  to  persuade  you,  that  it  is 
your  duty  to  obey  orders  ;  and  that  you  are  sent  upon  the 
just  and  righteous  errand  of  crushing  rebellion.  But  your 
own  hearts  will  tell  you,  that  the  people  may  be  so  ill- 
treated  as  to  make  resistance  necessary.  You  know,  that 
violence  and  injury  offered  from  one  man  to  another,  has 
always  some  pretence  of  right  and  reason  to  justify  it.  So 
it  is  between  the  people  and  their  rulers. 

Therefore,  whatever  hard  names  and  accusations  may 
be  bestowed  upon  your  fellow-subjects  in  America,  be  as- 


5 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775. 


6 


sured  that  they  have  not  deserved  them;  but  are  driven  by 
the  most  cruel  treatment  into  despair.  In  this  despair  they 
are  compelled  to  defend  their  liberties,  after  having  tried 
in  vain  every  peaceable  means  of  obtaining  redress  of  their 
manifold  grievances.  Before  God  and  man  they  are 
right. 

Your  honour  then,  gentlemen,  as  soldiers,  and  your 
humanity  as  men,  forbid  you  to  be  the  instruments  of 
forcing  chains  upon  your  injured  and  oppressed  fellow- 
subjects.  Remember  that  your  first  obedience  is  due  to 
Clod,  and  that  whoever  bids  you  shed  innocent  blood,  bids 
you  act  contrary  to  His  commandments.    Yours,  &.c. 

An  Old  Soldier. 


To  the  Honourable  the  Commons  of  Great  Britain,  in 
Parliament  assembled. 

London,  March,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  At  this  important  era,  when  the  British 
Empire  is  in  danger  of  being  involved  in  a  civil  war ;  when 
Trade  and  Commerce  are  at  a  stand  ;  when  all  the  horrours 
of  misery,  poverty,  and  wretchedness,  are  hanging  over 
our  heads ;  when  want  and  famine  threaten  to  succeed  our 
former  plenty,  must  not  every  Englishman  shudder  at  the 
approaching  danger? 

When  from  the  height  of  power,  opulence,  and  gran- 
deur, we  are  on  the  point  of  being  precipitated  into  the 
lowest  abyss  of  slavery  and  insignificance  ;  when  from  being 
the  first  and  most  respectable  people  in  the  world,  we  shall 
be  sunk  below  the  consequence  of  a  Nation,  what  must  not 
be  the  feelings  of  every  man,  whose  generous  soul  is  nobly 
excited  by  a  love  of  his  Country?  What  will  not  be  his 
indignation  ?  What  bounds  will  there  be  to  his  resent- 
ment ?  Which  of  ye  will  then  stand  forth  and  confess 
you  have  been  the  author  of  these  measures  ?  The  gene- 
ral calamity,  I  fear,  is  not  far  distant ;  and  horrid  as  it  mu$t 
be  to  this  Country  in  general,  still  it  will  bring  with  it  this 
comfort,  that  wicked  Ministers  and  corrupt  Members  of 
Parliament  must  then  render  an  account  of  their  actions. 
The  publick  justice  of  this  Nation  has  been  long  eluded, 
and  calls  now  aloud  for  redress. 

Beware,  ye  Ministers  ;  ye  know  not  on  how  small  a  point 
ye  stand  ;  ye  are  now  on  the  brink  of  an  impenetrable 
gulf;  still  ye  have  time  to  retract;  but  if  tempted  by 
the  placid  Mowings  of  its  waters,  ye  think  securely  to  swim 
along  the  summit,  ye  are  deceived.  When  once  immerged, 
the  briny  waves  will  use  their  wonted  might,  and  foaming 
billows  send  you  down  to  the  regions  below.  The  people 
of  England  are  not  yet  fully  apprised  of  their  danger:  but 
be  assured  when  they  once  come  to  be  thoroughly  sensible 
of  the  calamities  your  wrong-headed  measures  have  brought 
on  them,  it  will  not  be  easy  to  stand  the  torrent  of  their 
resentment.  Your  venal  hirelings  in  the  Senate  will  desert 
you,  or,  if  sensible  of  their  being  equally  involved  in  your 
guilt,  from  a  sense  of  common  danger  they  should  stand 
by  you,  do  not  think  their  weak  arguments  will  have  any 
avail.  The  people  without  doors  will  resolve  upon  those 
measures  which  those  within  should  have  done ;  and  ye 
can  expect  nothing  but  that  just  punishment  which  your 
folly,  presumption,  and  wickedness,  shall  have  merited. 

It  is  foreign  to  my  present  purpose  to  enter  into  a  dis- 
cussion of  those  rights  you,  as  the  supreme  power  of  this 
Nation,  claim  of  sovereignty  over  the  Americans ;  let  it 
suffice  to  say,  it  is  not  probable  that  men,  who  are  descend- 
ed from  the  same  common  ancestors  with  ourselves  ;  who 
have  been  bred  up  from  their  childhood  in  the  principles  of 
liberty,  and  have  lived  from  their  first  settlements  there  in 
the  actual  possession  of  this  invaluable  blessing ;  it  is  not 
to  be  imagined,  I  say,  that  such  men  will  quietly  submit, 
and  suffer  themselves  to  be  despoiled  of  that  freedom  their 
ancestors  have  transmitted  to  them  pure  and  inviolate ;  nor 
is  it  to  be  conceived  that  men,  who  are  not  destitute  of 
spirit,  and  who  have  arms  in  their  hands,  will  quietly  lay 
them  down  and  bend  their  neck  to  the  galling  yoke  of 
tyranny ;  or  is  it  likely  that  those  who  have  a  superiour  force, 
able  to  crush  their  opponents,  will  be  terrified  by  empty 
threats  or  menaces,  when  those  threats  are  unsupported  by 
authority,  and  unaided  by  justice  ?  Your  decrees  will  fall 
into  the  same  ignominy  and  contempt  as  the  denunciations 
of  the  Court  of  Rome.  You  might  as  well  think  to  intimi- 
date these  people  by  the  Pope's  Bulls,  as  by  Acts  of  Parlia- 


ment. For  what,  indeed,  signify  threats  or  menaces,  with- 
out the  two  essentials  necessary  to  support  them — justice 
and  power ; — the  one  to  persuade,  the  other  to  enforce  ? 
In  the  present  contest  with  America,  I  think  1  may  safely 
say  you  are  destitute  of  both. 

Is  it  reasonable  or  equitable  that  such  of  ye  as  represent 
Northumberland,  Cumberland,  or  any  other  County  in 
England,  or  more  especially  such  of  ye  as  are  placed  in 
the  House  of  Commons  by  the  servile  and  corrupt  votes  of 
dependant  Boroughs  in  the  different  parts  of  the  Kingdom, 
should  govern  a  large  and  extensive  Country  at  three  thou- 
sand miles  distant  ?  What  knowledge  have  ye  of  Ameri- 
ca 1  What  know  ye  of  its  concerns  ?  Have  ye  been  in- 
structed by  the  people  of  that  land  ?  Are  ye  acquainted 
with  their  manners  and  their  customs ;  the  state  of  their 
finances  ;  the  riches  and  numbers  of  their  people,  and  what 
imposts  they  are  able  to  bear,  and  what  would  entirely 
crush  them  ?  To  all  these  questions  I  believe  I  may  safely 
answer  in  the  negative:  But  in  reply  you  say,  you  think 
it  is  reasonable  that  they,  as  members  of  the  British  Em- 
pire, should  bear  a  part  of  the  burden  and  expense,  not 
considering  that  by  the  advantages  which  accrue  to  Great 
Britain  from  the  Commerce  of  these  countries,  and  by  the 
restrictions  we  have  laid  on  their  Trade  with  all  other  Na- 
tions, we  already  receive  more  and  greater  benefits  from 
them  than  their  proportion  of  taxes  would  amount  to. 
Wisely  then  have  ye  done  to  stop  this  certain  source  of 
riches,  from  the  vain  and  improbable  hope  of  taking  from 
them  by  force  what  they  already  paid  with  good  will. 

I  need  not  remind  you  of  the  story  of  the  old  woman, 
whose  hen  brought  her  a  golden  egg  every  morning,  and 
would  have  continued  so  to  do  had  not  the  covetous  old 
hag  thought,  by  killing  the  hen,  she  should  at  once  obtain 
the  whole  mass  of  riches,  which  now  she  could  only  re- 
ceive by  detail,  and  accordingly  put  in  force  this  cruel  reso- 
lution.   The  fable  tells  you  what  was  the  consequence. 

Now,  how  nearly  you  stand  in  the  same  predicament 
with  this  old  woman,  I  leave  to  yourselves  to  determine  : 
But  if  I  grant  that  the  Americans  should  pay  a  proportional 
tax,  besides  maintaining  their  own  internal  Government, 
what  right  have  ye  to  be  the  assessors  ?  To  sit  in  the 
British  Parliament,  a  landed  qualification  is  necessary. 
But  where  must  that  qualification  be  situated  ?  Why, 
within  the  Island  of  Great  Britain.  It  is  a  maxim  of  our 
law,  that  no  man  shall  be  taxed  but  by  his  own  consent, 
given  either  in  person  or  by  his  Representative.  I  should 
be  glad  to  know  what  assent  ye  can  give  for  the  Ameri- 
cans. Few  or  none  of  ye  possess  any  property  in  Ameri- 
ca, or  if  ye  do,  it  is  not  in  virtue  of  such  property  ye  sit  in 
the  British  Senate  ;  therefore,  whatever  burden  you  lay  on 
their  shoulders  will  be  so  much  clear  gains  to  yourselves. 
You  will  not  feel  the  weight  of  the  taxes,  which,  with  so 
much  ease  and  confidence,  you  order  to  be  levied  on  the 
Americans.  Some  of  you.  indeed,  may  know  the  value 
of  the  sums  raised,  by  the  shares  you  received  of  the  spoils. 
The  Minister  cannot  be  so  ungrateful  as  to  neglect  adding 
to  your  salaries,  when  by  your  means  he  shall  have  brought 
about  his  end,  and  increased  his  own.  But  how  weak 
these  measures  are,  and  how  ineffectual,  a  very  short  time 
will  demonstrate.  Indeed,  except  yourselves,  who  will 
not  be  convinced  ?  Every  one  is  sensible  of  the  dangerous 
situation  to  which  we  are  now  reduced. 

Now,  gentlemen,  let  me  advise  you,  as  you  regard  your 
own  prosperity — let  me  conjure  you  as  you  value  your 
safety,  to  consider  well  the  situation  of  this  unfortunate 
Country ;  look  on  the  dangers  that  threaten  it  on  every 
hand ;  consider  not  only  the  inexpediency  of  those  measures, 
but  the  total  inability  of  this  Country  to  go  through  with 
them.  Do  you  imagine  the  French  and  Spaniards  will 
be  tame  and  idle  spectators,  when  they  see  us  once  deeply 
involved  in  a  war  with  our  Colonies  ?  Throw  off  then 
your  supine  indolence  ;  awake  from  your  lethargick  state  : 
and  if  ye  will  not  be  excited  by  the  desire  of  doing  good, 
awake  at  least  to  the  sense  of  your  own  danger.  Think 
when  the  general  calamity  comes,  who  will  be  the  objects 
of  publick  odium.  Will  not  the  advisers  of  these  destruc- 
tive measures  be  the  first  sacrifices  to  the  publick  clamour  ? 
When  the  Merchants,  Traders,  and  Manufacturers  are  starv- 
ing ;  when  the  whole  mass  of  the  people  are  in  misery  and 
distress,  what  security  can  you  expect  to  find  ?  Where 
will  you  hope  to  conceal  yourselves  ?    Will  you  be  safe 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775. 


even  within  these  sacred  walls?  Or  rather,  may  you  not 
fear  being  pursued,  not  only  there,  but  even  into  your  most 
secret  lurking  holes  ?  Strafford  and  Laud  were  con- 
demned, and  justly  executed  for  being  the  advisers  of 
arbitrary  measures.  The  King,  had  he  been  able,  would 
have  protected  them ;  they  only  echoed  back  to  him  his 
own  sentiments,  strengthened  by  their  flattery  and  obse- 
quiousness. But  weak  is  the  power  of  rulers  when  opposed 
to  the  wants  and  distresses,  the  rage  and  resentment  of  the 
multitude. 

When  the  artificers  and  handicraftsmen  come  by  thou- 
sands to  your  House,  demanding  bread,  it  will  be  too  late 
to  argue  ; — the  mischief  will  be  done.  You  then  will  have 
only  to  conceal  your  obnoxious  heads,  and  save  yourselves 
if  you  can,  from  popular  resentment  and  publick  justice. 
There  may  be  a  time,  and  I  believe  that  time  will  soon 
come,  when  the  nod  and  smiles  of  the  Minister  will  be 
shunned  with  as  much  care  as  they  are  now  sought  for  with 
eagerness 

Once  more  I  admonish  you  to  awake  before  it  is  too  late. 
Stop  the  further  progress  of  the  evil  ye  cannot  now  totally 
cure ;  and  though  ye  will  not  be  roused  by  a  love  of  your 
Country,  nor  a  sense  of  the  impending  ruin  which  threatens 
us,  yet  consider  your  own  danger,  as  most  assuredly  such 
of  ye  as  have  been  the  advisers  of  these  measures  will  be 
the  first  sacrifices.  Repeal  then  these  accursed  Acts ; 
acknowledge  yourselves  to  have  been  in  the  wrong,  and 
thus  atone,  as  much  as  now  lies  in  your  power,  for  the  mis- 
chiefs you  have  already  occasioned.  Monitor. 


COUNCIL   OF  NORTH-CAROLINA. 

At  a  Council  held  at  Newbern,  in  North- Carolina , 
the  1st  of  March,  1775, 

Present:  His  Excellency  the  Governour,  the  Hon.  Jas. 
Hasell,  Hon.  John  Rutherford,  Hon.  Samuel  Strudwicke, 
Martin  Howard,  and  Samuel  Cornell,  Esquires. 

His  Excellency  informed  the  Board  that  he  had  observed 
an  Advertisement  published  in  the  Newspapers,  and  circu- 
lated through  this  Colony  by  Handbills,  dated  Perquimans 
County,  11th  February,  1775,  requesting  the  Counties 
and  Towns  thereof,  to  elect  Delegates  to  represent  them 
in  Convention,  at  the  Town  of  Newbern,  on  Monday, 
the  third  of  April  next,  and  signed  John  Harvey,  Mode- 
rator. And  considering  such  proceedings  to  be  highly 
derogatory  to  the  dignity  of  the  Legislature  appointed  to 
meet  at  the  same  time,  and  in  every  light  illegal  and  incon- 
sistent with  good  order  and  Government,  recommended  the 
matter  to  the  consideration  of  the  Board,  and  desired  their 
advice  of  the  measures  to  be  taken  to  contravene  the  design 
of  said  Advertisement. 

The  Board  conceiving  the  highest  detestation  of  such 
proceedings,  were  unanimous  in  advising  His  Excellency  to 
issue  a  Proclamation  to  inhibit  and  forbid  such  illegal  meet- 
ing ;  in  the  following  words  : 

By  His  Excellency  Josiah  Martin,  Esquire,  Captain 

General,  Governour,  and  CommanderAn-chief  in  and 

over  the  said  Province  : 

A  Proclamation. 

Whereas,  an  Advertisement  is  printed  in  the  publick 
Newspapers,  and  also  industriously  circulated  about  this 
Colony  in  handbills,  dated  from  Pcrquimons  County,  the 
1 1th  day  of  February,  1775,  requesting  the  Counties  and 
Towns  thereof  to  elect  Delegates  to  represent  them  in 
Convention,  at  the  Town  of  Neivbern,  on  Monday,  the  3d 
day  of  April  next,  and  signed  John  Harvey,  Moderator. 
And  whereas,  the  name  and  authority  of  such  an  officer, 
and  such  meeting,  is  unknown  to  the  Laws  and  Constitution 
of  this  Country  ;  and  such  an  invitation  to  the  people  may 
tend  to  ensnare  the  unwary  and  ignorant  among  His  Ma- 
jesty's loyal  and  faithful  subjects  in  this  Province,  to  par- 
take in  the  guilt  of  such  unlawful  proceedings: 

And  whereas,  the  Assembly  of  this  Province,  duly 
elected,  is  the  only  true  and  lawful  representation  of  the 
people,  and  is  competent  to  every  legal  act  that  Representa- 
tives of  the  people  can  do  ;  and  as  an  attempt  to  excite  the 
people  to  choose  another  body  of  Representatives  to  meet 
at  the  time  and  place  appointed  for  the  meeting  of  the  As- 
sembly, is  to  betray  them  into  a  violation  of  the  Constitu- 
tion, in  a  point  wherein  they  are  most  materially  concerned 


to  support  it :  a  contempt  of  that  branch  of  the  Legislature 
which  represents  the  people,  and  highly  derogatory  to  its 
power,  rights,  and  privileges  ;  I  have  thought  proper,  by  and 
with  the  advice  and  consent  of  His  Majesty's  Council  of 
this  Province,  to  issue  this  Proclamation  :  and  I  do  hereby 
earnestly  exhort  the  many  good  people  of  this  Province, 
who  have  to  their  honour,  hitherto  prudently  withstood  the 
insidious  attempts  of  evil-minded  and  designing  men,  that 
they  do,  on  this  occasion,  steadfastly  persevere  in  such 
loyal  and  dutiful  conduct,  and  continue  to  resist  and  treat 
with  just  indignation  all  measures  so  subversive  of  order 
and  Government,  and  so  inconsistent  with  the  allegiance 
they  owe  to  His  Majesty  ;  and  that  they  do  not  subject 
themselves  to  the  restraints  of  tyrannical  and  arbitrary 
Committees,  which  have  already,  in  many  instances,  pro- 
ceeded to  the  extravagance  of  forcing  His  Majesty's  subjects, 
contrary  to  their  consciences,  to  submit  to  their  unreason- 
able, seditious,  and  chimerical  Resolves,  doing  thereby  the 
most  cruel  and  unparalleled  violence  to  their  liberties, 
under  the  pretence  of  releasing  them  from  imaginary  griev- 
ances ;  and  I  do  further  exhort  all  His  Majesty's  subjects  in 
this  Province,  as  they  value  their  dearest  rights  under  the 
present  happy  Constitution,  and  as  they  would  testify  their 
duty  and  allegiance  to  the  best  of  Kings,  that  they  forbear 
to  meet  to  choose  persons  to  represent  them  in  Convention, 
pursuant  to  the  advertisement  herein  before  recited  ;  and  I 
also  do  most  earnestly  recommend  to  them  to  renounce, 
disclaim,  and  discourage  all  such  meetings,  cabals,  and  ille- 
gal proceedings,  which  artful  and  designing  men  shall 
attempt  to  engage  them  in,  and  which  can  only  tend  to 
introduce  disorder  and  anarchy,  to  the  destruction  of  the 
real  interests  and  happiness  of  the  people,  and  to  involve 
this  Province  in  confusion,  disgrace  and  ruin. 

Given  under  my  hand  and  the  great  seal  of  the  said  Prov- 
ince, at  Newbern,  the  first  day  of  March,  Anno  Domini, 
1775,  and  in  the  15th  year  of  His  Majesty's  reign. 
God  save  the  King. 

Josiah  Martin. 

By  His  Excellency's  command, 

Samuel  Strudwicke,  Secretary. 


TO  THE  PRINTERS  OF  THE  PENNSYLVANIA  GAZETTE. 

Philadelphia,  February  22,  177."). 

Gentlemen  :  I  rejoice  to  find  that,  in  a  Province  distin- 
guished for  its  progress  in  science  and  literature  as  Penn- 
sylvania, the  few  sons  of  despotism  are  reduced  to  the  pen- 
sioned pen  of  some  ministerial  hireling  at  Boston.  Believe 
me,  gentlemen,  your  Paper  did  not  gain  an  extensive  cir- 
culation from  the  gleanings  of  others ;  its  value  has  been 
owing  to  the  originality,  as  well  as  the  elegance  of  its  es- 
says. Every  Newspaper,  from  New-Hampshire  to  Georgia, 
(two  at  Boston,  and  one  at  New-York,  excepted,)  would 
furnish  refutations  of  the  re-publication  in  your  last  Paper, 
signed  Phileirene.  But  I  will  not  ask  you  to  serve  up  to 
your  readers,  at  second-hand,  what  will  be  more  accept- 
able as  an  original,  though  of  a  coarser  and  humbler  compo- 
sition. I  therefore  beg  leave  to  present  to  my  fellow-sub- 
jects and  citizens 

The  other  side  of  the  Question. 

It  is  a  just  remark  of  the  celebrated  Chesterfield  to  his 
son,  that  grant  him  but  two  or  three  positions,  and  he  would 
undertake,  by  fair  inference,  to  prove  that  robbing  on  the 
highway  is  an  honest,  and  ought  to  be  a  reputable  calling. 
Happy  would  it  be  if  the  sacred  rights  of  mankind  were  as 
safe  in  this  respect,  as  the  persons  of  individuals.  But  the 
superiour  temptations  to  justify  the  invasion  of  the  former, 
are  too  alluring  not  to  afford  melancholy  proofs,  in  every 
age  and  Country,  of  a  prostitution  of  the  most  shining  ta- 
lents, to  gild  the  pill  of  arbitrary  power  and  lawless  domi- 
nation. When  we  see  a  Bacon,  a  Milton,  a  Strafford,  and 
Bolingbrokc,  sacrificing  at  their  shrine,  can  we  be  surprised 
if  men  of  such  principles,  but  far  inferiour  abilities,  should 
appear  among  us,  with  the  Treasury  of  England  in  full 
view,  and  hearts  panting  to  lord  it  over  their  fellow-men  ? 
Divine  Providence  has  endowed  the  inhabitants  of  Ame- 
rica with  rational  powers  not  inferiour  to  those  of  any  other 
Country  ;  it  is  but  justice  to  say,  they  have  generally  im- 
proved them  better  than  any  other.  By  their  good  sense 
and  judgment  shall  this  author  be  tried,  whose  facts,  mo- 
destv,  style,  accuracy,  and  precision,  have  been  thought 


9 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775. 


10 


worthy  of  a  re-publication,  which  occupies  half  your  last 
Paper,  to  the  exclusion  of  all  Foreign  news,  for  which  it 
has  been  distinguished.  This  fair  structure  is  built  on  two 
principles. 

1st.  That  the  Americans  have  entire  independence  on 
the  Mother  Country  in  view,  as  the  great  object  of  their 
present  contest. 

2d.  That  all  opposition  to  what  is  called  Government,  is 
rebellion. 

Both  these  propositions  are  false  and  groundless ;  the 
writer  was  not  able  to  prove,  and  therefore  takes  them  for 
granted ;  but  I  may,  with  honest  boldness,  challenge  him, 
or  his  adopting  friend,  to  show,  from  the  publick  transac- 
tions of  any  Congress  or  Assembly  throughout  this  great 
Continent,  that  such  a  claim  was  ever  in  their  contempla- 
tion. Are  the  repeated  and  fervent  acknowledgments  of 
our  allegiance  to  our  common  Sovereign  ;  our  submission 
to  all  his  appointments  of  office,  from  the  Governour  to  the 
lowest  deputy's  deputy;  to  his  negative  upon  all  our  laws  ; 
to  his  decisions  in  Council,  as  the  dernier  resort  in  the  ad- 
ministration of  justice,  and  the  payment  of  quit-rents  ;  I  ask 
if  these  are  the  badges  of  independence  ?  But  they  do  not 
end  here.  With  what  exemplary  patience  and  obedience 
have  we  submitted  to  the  restraints  of  Trade,  and  even  an 
abridgment  of  the  common  bounties  of  Heaven.  The 
water  is  not  permitted  to  flow,  or  the  earth  to  produce,  for 
the  same  beneficial  purposes  to  the  American  as  for  the 
Briton.  In  a  Country  where  the  price  of  manual  labour 
calls  for  the  utmost  exertion  of  art  and  ingenuity,  we  are 
restrained  from  slitting  or  rolling  iron,  so  as  to  answer  some 
of  the  most  important  purposes  in  life.  These  are  restric- 
tions to  which  we  not  only  have  submitted,  but  to  which 
the  great  Council  of  America  has  professed  its  willingness 
to  submit.  With  what  shameless  affrontery  can  any  writer, 
therefore,  charge  the  people  of  America  with  seeking  inde- 
pendence, when  every  transaction  of  Government,  of  trade, 
of  justice,  and  manufactures,  originates,  proceeds,  or  termi- 
nates under  the  control  of  Great  Britain.  But  the  thirst 
of  power  is  so  raging  and  insatiable,  that  it  esteems  nothing 
possessed,  while  any  thing  remains  to  be  possessed  ;  impa- 
tient of  all  restraints,  its  desires  perpetually  outrun  its  en- 
joyments, and  it  can  be  satisfied  with  nothing  less  than  an 
entire  and  full  surrender  of  the  liberty  and  happiness  of 
mankind.  What  use  it  has  made  of  its  acquisitions,  let  the 
deserted  villages,  ruined  towns,  and  uncultivated  fields  of 
arbitrary  Countries  declare.  If  to  live  by  one  man's  will, 
would  be  all  men's  misery,  can  we  suppose  that  we  shall 
derive  any  relief  from  the  number  of  our  tyrants,  or  that 
our  burden  would  be  lighter,  because  many  hands  were 
concerned  in  the  imposition. 

Our  author's  next  position  is,  that  opposition  of  every 
kind  to  the  powers  set  over  us,  however  exercised,  is 
rebellion.  Those  ornaments  of  human  nature,  Locke, 
Sydney,  Hoadley,  and  many  other  illustrious  names,  have 
so  refuted  these  absurd  doctrines  of  passive  obedience  and 
non-resistance ;  and  they  are  so  repugnant  to  the  common 
sense  and  happiness  of  mankind,  that  it  would  be  an  affront 
to  the  understandings  of  my  countrymen  to  suppose  they 
could  now  admit  of  a  serious  argument.  If  the  good  of 
the  people  is  the  end  of  all  Government,  if  limitations  of 
power  have,  by  the  experience  of  all  ages,  been  found 
necessary  for  the  safety  of  the  governed,  if  a  participation 
in  legislation  has  been  found  to  be  the  best  and  only  limi- 
tation, with  what  pity  and  concern  must  we  view  that  infa- 
tuation which  can  obtrude  doctrines  in  America  long  since 
reprobated  in  Britain,  as  subversive  of  every  principle  of 
political  safety  and  happiness.  With  men  of  such  charac- 
ters, the  noble  struggles  of  our  ancestors  against  the  prero- 
gatives of  the  Crown  were  so  many  odious  exertions  of 
wickedness  and  folly. — Magna  Charta,  Trial  by  Juries,  and 
exemption  from  arbitrary  and  perpetual  imprisonment,  are 
fruits  of  the  most  detestable  impiety  and  treason ;  nay  ! 
the  Resolution  itself,  as  founded  and  formed  by  a  resist- 
ance to  that  Government,  but  the  basis  and  foundation  of 
the  present,  was  a  successful  rebellion.  These  are  the 
stale  artifices  of  our  Court  sycophants  of  every  age.  It 
would  be  an  outrage  upon  the  understandings,  as  well  as 
rights  of  mankind,  to  call  tyranny  and  slavery  by  their 
proper  names,  when  they  were  seeking  to  establish  them. 
Under  the  specious  title  of  laws  and  Government,  they 
hope  to  lull  the  vigilant,  deter  the  timid,  and  damp  the  en- 


terprising, till  the  shackles  are  riveted  on,  and  the  deluded 
wretches  find,  too  late,  that  the  will  of  their  masters  is  the 
only  law,  and  oppression  the  only  Government.  To  draw 
the  line,  I  confess,  is  no  easy  task;  but  wherever  legal 
Government  ends,  there  tyranny  most  certainly  begins. 
To  show  that  this  terminated  as  to  the  Colonies,  in  the 
year  1763,  a  period  in  which  the  independency  of  Ameri- 
ca was  never  thought  of,  and  to  which  our  highest  hopes 
and  ambition  is  to  return ;  to  enumerate  the  proofs,  the 
odious,  but  indisputable  proofs  of  this,  and  to  show  that 
our  present  opposition  has  every  prospect  of  success,  I 
must  refer  to  another  letter,  lest  I  should  exclude  some 
more  able  writer,  or  incur  my  own  censure.  In  the  mean 
time,  my  dear  countrymen  and  fellow-citizens,  read  the 
histories  of  those  Countries  which  were  once  free  ;  converse 
with  those,  (for  we  have  many  among  us)  who  have  fled 
hither  from  arbitrary  States;  acquaint  yourselves  with  their 
ruinous  taxes,  their  venal  courts  of  justice,  their  merciless 
depredations  upon  the  chastity,  property,  liberty,  and  hap- 
piness of  their  vassals;  then  reason,  and  judge,  and  if  you 
are  not  lost  to  every  sentiment  of  publick  virtue,  the  hon- 
our of  your  country,  and  regard  for  yourselves  and  your 
posterity,  your  hearts  will  rise  in  grateful  emotions  to  the 
Giver  of  all  good  gifts,  that  He  has  cast  your  lot  in  a  land 
of  freedom  ;  and  I  trust  you  will  mingle  with  them  a 
humble  but  firm  resolution,  by  His  assistance,  to  transmit 
the  blessings  you  have  received,  undiminished,  to  the  latest 
posterity.  "  He  that  would  give  up  essential  liberty  for 
temporary  safety,  deserves  neither  liberty  nor  safety." — 
This  was  the  favourite  motto  of  many  in  this  Citv  but  a 
very  few  years  since.  A  principle  of  action  and  duty, 
founded  upon  truth  and  reason,  will  ever  continue  the 
same,  however  the  persons  or  occasions  may  change.  Come 
forward  then,  ye  staunch  advocates  for  Provincial  Liberty, 
support  your  principles — this  was  once  your  Law  and  your 
Prophets — be  consistent — convince  the  world  that  you  do 
not  act  upon  the  local  views  of  a  party,  but  upon  the  manly 
and  generous  principle  of  publick  good,  which  upon  all  oc- 
casions leads  you  to  sacrifice  temporary  ease  to  essential 
liberty.  Camillus. 


TO  THE  PRINTERS  OF  THE  PENNSYLVANIA  GAZETTE. 

Philadelphia,  March  1,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  I  wish  to  address  the  understandings  of 
my  fellow-citizens,  not  to  inflame  their  passions.  As  in- 
quirers after  truth,  my  highest  ambition  is  to  assist  them — ■ 
to  furnish  the  clew  ;  their  own  good  sense  will  enable  them 
to  pursue  it.  1  think  an  attention  peculiarly  due  to  such 
publications  as  come  recommended  by  the  graces  of  stvle 
and  language ;  the  most  deadly  poison  may  be  conveyed 
in  the  most  beautiful  cup  ;  it  may  be  more  inviting,  but  it 
is  not  the  less  fatal.  The  piece  signed  Phileirene  is  not 
destitute  of  those  graces,  but  he  has  raised  a  fabrick  on  a 
foundation  which  only  existed  in  his  own  imagination. 
There  must  surely  be  singular  merit  in  that  claim  which 
must  be  misrepresented  to  be  opposed  with  success.  When 
I  hear  America  charged  with  aspiring  after  independence, 
1  ask,  Were  we  independent  on  Great  Britain  in  1762? 
That  is  the  era  to  which  we  all  look  back  with  regret, 
and  to  which  we  are  anxiously  seeking  to  return. 

When  I  hear  the  Americans  termed  rebels,  I  ask,  Was 
the  Revolution  a  rebellion  ?  That  was  an  opposition  to 
Government,  because  Government  was  attempted  to  be 
exercised  in  a  manner  inconsistent  with  the  safety,  liberty 
and  happiness  of  the  governed.  One  man  attempted  to 
legislate  without  their  participation;  in  our  case,  this  at- 
tempt is  made  by  about  eight  hundred ;  can  this  circum- 
stance change  the  nature  of  the  action  ? 

When  I  hear  any  one  declaiming  against  the  American 
system,  I  ask,  Are  you  willing  to  be  taxed  by  the  British 
Parliament  ?  A  fair  answer  to  these  questions  I  have  gen- 
erally found  more  decisive  and  convincing,  than  the  best 
connected  chain  of  reasoning.  If  any  man  can  answer 
them  in  the  affirmative,  I  may  pity,  but  cannot  blame  him 
for  withdrawing  from  the  contest.  If  I  was  asked  to  state 
the  claims  of  America,  I  should  say  she  has  none,  but  that 
Great  Britain  should  desist  from  innovations,  useless  and 
disappointing  to  herself,  but  fatal  to  America.  We  are 
defendants  in  this  great  suit ;  we  ask  but  to  continue  in 
that  state,  in  which  our  own  reason  and  judgment  convinces 


11 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  kc,  MARCH,  1715. 


12 


us  our  safety  consists,  and  which  the  experience  of  one 
hundred  years  has  confirmed,  as  the  most  beneficial  for 
both  countries. 

For  this  Ions;  course  of  years,  America,  with  a  most  un- 
suspecting confidence,  resigned  herself  to  the  wisdom  and 
virtue  of  the  Parent  State,  whose  wisest  Ministers  and  ablest 
men  were  content  with  the  benefits  of  Commerce,  and 
sought  no  power  but  such  as  tended  to  its  increase  and 
security.  After  a  long  and  expensive  war,  in  which  the 
Americans  were  repeatedly  acknowledged  the  most  loyal 
subjects  and  affectionate  Colonists,  a  system  was  formed, 
which  proceeded  step  by  step  in  dreadful  progression,  till 
it  has  swallowed  up  every  privilege  and  right  which  ought 
to  distinguish  an  English  Colonist  from  those  of  arbitrary 
States.  Of  what  importance  is  it  to  us,  that  our  fellow- 
subjects,  three  thousand  miles  off,  should  be  distinguished 
from  the  other  Nations  of  the  earth,  as  free  and  happy, 
while  we  have  no  share  in  the  distinction.  Let  us  com- 
pare the  rights  of  a  British  subject  with  those  of  an  Ame- 
rican, we  shall  see  a  very  striking  disparity. 

In  England.  In  America. 

1.  A  trial  by  a  jury  of  his  coun-      1.  A  trial  by  jury  only  in  some 
try,  in  all  cases  of  life  and  pro.  cases;  subjected  in  others,  to  a 
perty.  single  Judge,  or  a  Board  of  Com- 
missioners. 

2.  A  trial  were  the  offence  was  2.  A  trial,  if  a  Governour  pleases, 
committed.  three  thousand  miles  from  the  place 

were  the  offence  was  committed. 

3.  The  Civil  authority  supreme  3.  The  Military  superiour  to 
over  the  Military,  and  no  Standing  the  Civil  authority,  and  America 
Army  in  time  of  peace  kept  up,  obliged  to  contribute  to  the  support 
but  by  the  consent  of  the  people.     of  a  Standing  Army,  kept  up  with- 

out  and  against  its  consent. 

4.  The  Judges  independent  of  4.  The  Judges  made  independent 
the  Crown  and  people.  of  the  people,  but  dependant  on  the 

Crown  for  the  support  and  tenure 
of  their  commissions. 

5.  No  tax  or  imposition  laid,  but      5.  Taxes  and  impositions  laid  by 
by  those  who  must  partake  of  the  those,  who  not  only  do  not  partake 
burthen.  of  the  burthens,  but  who  ease  them- 
selves by  it. 

6.  A  free  trade  to  all  the  world,      6.  A  trade  only  to  such  places  as 
except  the  East-Indies.  Great  Britain  shall  permit. 

7.  A  free  use  and  practise  of  all  7.  The  use  only  of  such  engines 
engines  and  other  devices,  for  sav-  as  Great  Britain  has  not  prohibit- 
ing labour  and  promoting  manufac-  ed. 

tures. 

8.  A  right  to  petition  the  King,      8.  Promoting  and  encouraging 
and  all  prosecutions  and  commit-  petitions  to  the  King  declared  the 
ments  therefore  illegal.  highest  presumption,  and  the  Le- 
gislative Assemblies  of  America  dis- 
solved therefor  in  1768. 

9.  Freedom  of  debate  and  pro.  9.  Assemblies  dissolved,  and  their 
ceedings  in  their  legislative  deli-  legislative  power  suspended,  for  the 
Derations.  free  exercise  of  their  reason  and 

judgment,  in  their  legislative  capa- 
city. 

10.  For  redress  of  grievances,      10.  To  prevent  the  redress  of 
amending,  strengthening,  and  pre-  grievances,  or  representations  tend- 
serving  the  laws,  Parliaments  to  be  ing  thereto,  Assemblies  postponed 
held  frequently.  for  a  great  length  of  time,  and  pre- 
vented meeting  in  the  most  critical 
times. 

In  a  former  paper  I  observed,  that  the  legal  Government 
of  America  terminated  in  the  year  1763.  A  series  of  acts 
since  that  time  will  evince  the  truth  of  my  assertion. 

Then,  for  the  first  time,  the  taxation  of  America  was 
attempted,  and  has  been  continued  with  unremitted  assi- 
duity to  the  present  moment — then  the  powers  of  Admi- 
ralty and  Vice-Admiralty  Courts  were  extended  beyond 
their  former  limits — then  our  property,  for  the  first  time, 
was  taken  from  us  without  our  consent — trial  by  juries  in 
many  cases  of  property  abolished,  and  an  innocent  suitor 
laid  under  every  possible  disadvantage  in  asserting  his 
rights.    Soon  after,  the  absolute  Statute  of  Henry  VIII, 
was  revived,  by  Resolves  of  both  Houses  of  Parliament,  by 
which  Americans  may  be  carried  to  England,  and  tried  for 
offences  alleged  to  be  committed  in  America.     In  the 
twelfth  year  of  His  Majesty's  reign,  the  charge  of  burning 
any  of  the  King's  Ships  or  Stores  in  America  was  expressly 
made  triable  in  England,  to  the  total  exclusion  of  a  jury 
of  the  vicinage.    The  Acts  respecting  Massachusetts- Bay 
are  too  recent  to  need  particular  enumeration ;  their  charter 
privileges,  their  justice,  trade,  and  Government  are  wholly 
subverted,  without  observing  the  common  forms  of  justice. 
What  has  been  their  case,  may  be  that  of  every  other 
Province  ;  and  let  me  observe,  that  innocence  is  a  poor 
protection,  when  no  opportunity  is  given  to  manifest  it. 

What  opinion  now,  my  fellow-citizens,  ought  you  to  form 
of  an  author,  who  calls  an  opposition  to  these  measures  a 


"  Utopian  scheme,  quickened  into  publick  life  by  an  itch  of 
"  superiority  and  thirst  of  applause  ; — an  infatuation,  over- 
"  leaping  all  the  sober  bounds  of  law  and  Government ; 
"  conducted  by  men  who  delight  in  the  destruction  of 
"  peace  and  good  order  ;  whose  safety  consists  in  their  pre- 
"  cipitating  their  Country  into  anarchy  and  confusion." 
Shameless  falsehoods !  calculated  to  impose  on  the  weak 
and  unwary ;  to  foment  those  divisions,  and  bring  on  that 
ruin,  upon  which  some  men  mean  to  build  their  own  great- 
ness. No,  my  dear  fellow-citizens,  look  around  you  ;  are 
the  men  you  deputed  to  the  late  Congress,  those  who  have 
been  active  in  Committees  of  publick  transactions  ;  are 
they  men  of  doubtful  characters  and  desperate  fortunes  ? 
Are  anarchy  and  confusion  required  for  their  safety  or  es- 
tablishment in  life  ?  Is  a  bold  step  for  the  reformation  of 
Government  necessary  to  retrieve  their  characters  ?  Have 
they  been  distinguished  for  a  spirit  of  enterprise,  wicked- 
ness, and  folly,  on  other  occasions  ? 

The  man  whose  signature  is  A  Friend  to  the  Constitution, 
and  whose  sentiments  are  in  such  unison  with  our  author, 
shall  determine  these  questions  ;  for  he  must  have  supposed 
them  applicable  to  this  Province,  or  their  publication  here 
was  idle.  To  arraign  the  justice  of  a  cause  ;  to  entangle  the 
honest  mind  in  doubts  and  difficulties  ;  to  cut  off  all  hopes 
and  prospects  of  success;  to  paint  in  terrible  colours  events 
which  have  happened  in  dissimilar  cases,  and  conceal  the 
happy  issue  of  similar  struggles,  are  arts  which  will  be 
practised,  and  against  which  we  ought  to  be  particularly 
guarded.  I  have  attempted  to  vindicate  the  former,  and 
in  some  future  paper  shall  endeavour  to  show,  that  if  una- 
nimity accompanies  our  opposition,  we  have  the  utmost 
reason  to  hope  that  success  will  crown  the  work,  and 
though  we  shall  continue  a  dependant,  we  shall  be  a  free 
and  happy  people.  Camillus. 


NEWPORT   (RHODE-ISLAND)  COMMITTEE. 

At  a  Meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Inspection,  for  the 
Town  of  Newport,  held  in  the  Council  Chamber,  on  Wed- 
nesday, March  1,  1775, 

Mr.  John  Tanner  in  the  Chair. 

Resolved,  That  the  freedom  of  the  Press  is  of  the  ut- 
most importance  to  civil  society  ;  and  that  its  importance 
consists,  "  besides  the  advancement  of  truth,  science,  mo- 
rality, and  arts  in  general,  in  its  diffusion  of  liberal  senti- 
ments on  the  administration  of  Government,  its  ready  com- 
munication of  thoughts  between  subjects,  and  its  conse- 
quential promotion  of  union  among  them,  where,  by  op- 
pressive Officers,  are  shamed  or  intimidated  into  more  hon- 
ourable and  just  modes  of  conducting  affairs  ;"  and  there- 
fore it  is  the  duty  of  every  friend  of  Civil  Government  to 
protect,  and  preserve  from  violation,  that  invaluable  right, 
that  noble  pillar,  and  great  support  of  Public  Liberty  ;  and 
to  countenance  and  encourage  the  Press,  so  long  as  it  shall 
be  employed  in  promoting  those  beneficial  purposes.  But 
when,  instead  thereof,  a  Press  is  incessantly  employed  and 
prostituted  to  the  vilest  uses;  in  publishing  the  most  infa- 
mous falsehoods  ;  in  partial  or  false  representations  of  facts  ; 
in  fomenting  jealousies,  and  exciting  discord  and  disunion 
among  the  people  ;  in  supporting  and  applauding  the  worst 
of  men,  and  worst  of  measures  ;  and  in  vilifying  and  calum- 
niating the  best  of  characters,  and  the  best  of  causes ;  it 
then  behooves  every  citizen,  every  friend  to  truth,  science, 
arts,  liberality  of  sentiment,  to  that  union  between  subjects, 
upon  which  depends  their  security  against  oppression,  to 
discountenance  and  discourage  every  such  licentious,  illibe- 
ral, prostituted  Press. 

And  whereas,  a  certain  James  Rivington,  a  Printer  and 
Stationer  in  the  City  of  New-York,  impelled  by  the  love 
of  sordid  pelf,  and  a  haughty  domineering  spirit,  hath,  for 
a  long  time,  in  the  dirty  Gazetteer,  and  in  pamphlets,  if 
possible  still  more  dirty,  uniformly  persists  in  publishing 
every  falsehood  which  his  own  wicked  imagination,  or  the 
imaginations  of  others  of  the  same  stamp,  as  ingenious  per- 
haps in  mischief  as  himself,  could  suggest  and  fabricate,  that 
had  a  tendency  to  spread  jealousies,  fear,  discord,  and  dis- 
union through  this  country;  and  by  partial  and  false  repre- 
sentations of  facts,  hath  endeavoured  to  pervert  truth,  and 
to  deceive  and  mislead  the  incautious  into  wrong  concep- 
tions of  facts  reported,  and  wrong  sentiments  respecting  the 
measures  now  carrying  on  for  the  recovery  and  establish- 


18 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775. 


14 


ment  of  our  rights,  and  the  supporters  of  those  measures ; 
and  particularly  hath  disgorged  from  his  infamous  Press, 
the  most  virulent,  foul  abuse,  on  the  Members  of  the  late 
Continental  Congress — characters  which,  lor  wisdom,  in- 
tegrity, fortitude,  and  publick  virtue,  deserve,  and  have 
received,  the  applause  of  every  inhabitant  of  this  wide  ex- 
tended Continent,  excepting  a  very  few  venal  tools  of  a 
corrupt  Administration. 

And  all  this  profusion  of  scurrility,  abuse,  and  falsehood, 
this  insidious,  profligate  Printer  hath  cast  out,  in  order,  if 
it  were  possible,  to  subvert  the  Association  which  all  the 
American  Colonies  have  approved,  and  for  carrying  of 
which  into  execution  the  General  Assembly  of  this  Colony 
have  recommended  Committees  to  be  chosen : — Where- 
fore, we  think  it  our  bounden  duty  to  hold  up  that  infa- 
mous paracide,  James  Rivington,  to  the  Continent  in  this 
odious  light. 

Resolved,  therefore,  That  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  Com- 
mittee, that  no  further  dealings  or  correspondence  ought  to 
be  had  with  the  said  James  Rivington ;  and  we  recom- 
mend it  to  every  person  who  takes  his  Paper,  called  Riv- 
ington^ Gazetteer,  immediately  to  drop  the  same ;  and 
also  take  the  liberty  to  recommend  a  similar  conduct  to- 
wards him  to  the  other  Towns  in  the  Colony. 

Resolved,  That  this  Resolution  be  printed  in  the  next 
Newport  Mercury.        By  order  of  the  Committee, 

Henry  Ward,  Clerk. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  A  GENTLEMAN   IN  LONDON 
TO  HIS  FRIEND  IN  BOSTON,  DATED  MARCH  2,  1775. 

The  Ministry,  it  is  now  generally  thought,  are  inflexible. 
Lord  North  was  asked  again  and  again  this  week,  in  the 
House  of  Commons,  whether  he  had  any  thing  more  of  a 
'enient  or  conciliatory  nature  to  propose.  He  said  there 
was  nothing  farther  of  that  kind  intended  ;  and  acknow- 
ledged that  the  remainder  of  the  scheme  was  entirely  co- 
ercive. When  he  was  asked,  whether  the  three  Bills  of 
the  last  year  were  to  be  repealed,  he  replied,  that  when 
the  Colonies  had  come  to  an  unconditioned  submission, 
Parliament  would  consider  what  was  fit  to  be  done. 

The  Ministry  are  now  in  pretty  good  spirits,  on  account 
of  what  they  conceive  to  be  a  division  among  yourselves 
in  favour  of  Government,  both  in  New-  York  and  New- 
England.  We  think  that,  like  drowning  men,  they  are 
catching  at  every  straw.  Such,  however,  we  hope  their 
present  expectations  will  prove. 

A  friend  of  mine  saw  a  Letter  just  received  from  Lord 
Percy,  in  which  he  expresses  his  apprehensions  of  an  at- 
tack being  made  upon  the  Troops  at  Boston,  before  any 
reinforcement  can  arrive,  as  the  people  in  the  Province 
are  provided  with  a  competent  train  of  Artillery ;  so  that 
all  their  servants  have  not  the  same  assurance  of  success 
with  themselves.  But,  indeed,  it  is  impossible  that  the 
Ministry  should  really  think  themselves  so  secure  as  they 
pretend  to  be ;  and  it  is  even  thought  by  many  that  Lord 
North,  when  he  moved  for  the  late  Resolution,  really 
meant  to  have  advanced  some  steps  towards  a  solid  recon- 
ciliation, had  it  not  been  for  what  is  called  the  Bedford 
party  in  the  Cabinet.  Instead  of  this,  the  terms  that  are 
now  proposed  amount  to  nothing  but  an  insult  upon  your 
common  sense  and  spirit,  and,  I  doubt  not,  will  be  resented 
accordingly. 


voyage  to  that  Island,  that  the  same  had  not  been  sold,  he 
brought  it  back  again  to  this  Colony,  where  he  arrived 
since  the  first  of  February  last,  and  sold  one  piece  of  it  to 
one  Thomas  Wood,  and  that  he  has  the  residue  by  him. 
And  having  also  acknowledged  that  he  had  imported  at 
the  same  time  three  pieces  of  Irish  Linen  for  the  use  of 
his  family,  and  the  same  having  been  confirmed  by  the 
oath  of  William  Moore,  mate  of  the  said  Brigantine,  the 
Committee  having  taken  the  matter  under  consideration, 
and  having  found  that  the  said  Richardson  was  unaccmaint- 
ed  with  the  Continental  Association,  and  that  he  had  no 
intention  of  violating  the  same,  or  any  part  thereof,  but  that 
he  was  willing  to  accede  thereto,  and  actually  did  sign  the 
same,  upon  the  first  opportunity  of  doing  so,  are  of  opinion 
that  the  said  Richardson  deserves  no  censure  for  his  con- 
duct ;  but  that  the  said  Osnaburghs  and  Irish  Linen,  be- 
ing prohibited  by  the  Association,  be  re-exported  to  the 
said  Island  of  Antigua,  which  the  said  Richardson  de- 
clared himself  willing  to  do.  And  it  is  ordered  that  Archi- 
bald Ritchie  and  John  Brockenbrough  do  procure  from 
the  said  Thomas  Wood  the  piece  of  Osnaburghs  by  him 
purchased,  and  see  that  the  said  Richardson  carry  the 
same,  as  well  as  the  other  before-mentioned  Linen,  with 
him  to  Antigua,  upon  his  next  voyage. 

The  Committee  having  determined  to  encourage  Arts 
and  Manufactures  within  this  Colony,  as  far  as  it  is  in  their 
power,  do  agree  and  oblige  themselves  to  pay  Fifty  Pounds, 
current  money,  to  any  person  or  persons  who  shall  first 
produce  to  the  Committee  five  hundred  pair  of  Stockings, 
men's  and  women's,  manufactured  in  this  County;  a  third 
of  which  to  be  reasonably  worth  One  Shilling  Sterling  a 
pair;  a  third  to  be  reasonably  worth  Two  Shillings  Sterling 
a  pair ;  and  the  other  third  to  be  reasonably  worth  Three 
Shillings  Sterling  a  pair;  of  all  which,  he  or  they  must 
give  this  County  the  refusal,  and  that  the  County  will 
give  for  the  same  seventy-five  per  cent,  on  the  above  prices. 
And  that -the  Committee  will  give  the  best  encouragement 
to  worsted  combers.        By  order  of  the  Committee, 

J.  Power,  Clerk. 


ESSEX  COUNTY  (VIRGINIA)  COMMITTEE. 

At  a  Committee  held  for  the  County  of  Essex,  in  the 
Town  of  Tappahannock,  in  Virginia,  on  Thursday,  the  2d 
of  March,  1775,  by  special  summons  from  the  Chairman. 

The  Committee  having  been  informed  that  Captain  Jo- 
seph Richardson,  master  of  the  Brigantine  Muir,  since  the 
first  day  of  February  last,  had  imported  from  the  Island  of 
Antigua,  in  the  said  Brigantine  Muir,  four  pieces  of  Bri- 
tish Osnaburghs,  and  three  pieces  of  Irish  Linen,  some  of 
which  he  had  sold  since  his  arrival ;  and  the  said  Richard- 
son having  appeared  before  the  Committee,  agreeably  to  a 
previous  summons  for  that  purpose,  on  examination,  con- 
fessed that  upwards  of  two  years  ago  he  had  imported  into 
this  Colony  a  quantity  of  British  Osnaburghs  from  Lon- 
don, which  he  found  himself  unable  to  dispose  of  here,  and 
therefore  that  he  had  carried  some  of  it  to  Antigua,  and 
left  it  there  to  be  sold ;  and  having  found,  upon  his  last 


Remarks  on  the  late  manoeuvres  in  America,  by  a  real 
friend  to  his  King  and  Country,  and  an  American. 

New-York,  March  2,  1775. 
Nothing  has  surprised  people  more  than  the  Virginians 
and  Marylandcrs  joining  with  so  much  warmth  with  the 
New-England  Republicans  in  their  opposition  to  the 
ancient  Constitution,  which  has  been  the  glory  of  an 
Englishman  in  every  part  of  the  world  ;  as  there  are  cer- 
tainly no  Nations  under  the  Heavens  more  opposite  to  each 
other,  than  the  inhabitants  of  these  Colonies:  it  would  be 
very  difficult  to  account  for  it  on  the  principles  of  religion 
or  sound  policy,  had  not  the  Virginians  plainly  discovered 
their  indifference  to  both — so  highly  revered  by  their  illus- 
trious ancestors — by  an  act  as  tyrannical  as  it  is  unjust,  cal- 
culated to  serve  private  views,  to  distress  thousands,  and 
to  sap  all  the  foundations  of  honesty  and  morality,  by  de- 
stroying that  confidence  which  is  the  support  of  our  trade, 
without  which  every  industrious  man  is  deprived  of  his  just 
demands.  Can  any  thing  more  plainly  discover  the  mo- 
tives of  their  opposition  than  their  having  shut  up  all  the 
Courts  of  Justice,  by  which  they  fraudulently  deprive  the 
honest  merchant  of  his  due,  who  generouslv  administered 
to  their  wants  and  supplied  their  luxury  ;  and  return,  with 
the  blackest  ingratitude,  evil  for  good.  Yet  this  is  a  noto- 
rious truth.  Sallust,  in  enumerating  the  reasons  that  in- 
duced so  many  of  the  first  families  in  Rome  to  join  in  Cata- 
line's  conspiracy  to  overturn  the  ancient  Constitution  of 
their  Country,  very  naturally  accounts  for  this  conduct  when 
he  ascribes  it  to  their  desperate  circumstances ;  involved 
in  debt,  slaves  to  luxury,  and  ruined  by  dissipation  of  every 
kind,  they  had  no  resource,  no  prospect  for  redemption, 
but  what  depended  on  the  success  of  an  impious  civil  war ; 
through  the  horrours  and  calamities  of  which  they  were 
willing  to  wade,  that  they  might  avail  themselves  of  their 
Country's  distress,  and  find  means  to  gratify  their  pride  and 
unbounded  lust ;  for  this  end  every  means  was  attempted, 
every  virtue  ridiculed,  every  friend  to  Government,  and 
every  lover  of  his  country,  branded  with  the  most  igno- 
minious names,  and  held  up  as  traitors,  whom  it  would  be 
glorious  in  their  opinions  to  extirpate. 


15 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775. 


16 


ADDRESS  TO  THE  INHABITANTS  OF  NEW-YORK 

New- York,  March  2,  1775. 

The  most  authentick  accounts  have  been  received  from 
Great  Britain,  that  a  large  sum  of  money  has  been  issued 
from  the  Treasury  to  the  Minister  of  State,  for  secret  ser- 
vices in  America.  The  [niblick  is  extremely  interested  in 
the  consequences  of  this  dark  manoeuvre,  and  therefore 
every  indication  of  corruption  should  be  attended  to,  every 
order  in  favour  of  passive  obedience  noticed,  and  the 
authors  of  every  measure  tending  to  break  the  union  and 
harmony  of  the  Colonies,  held  up  to  publick  view,  and 
exposed  to  general  indignation  and  contempt. 

The  application  of  publick  moneys  for  secret  services, 
has  ever  been  considered  as  dangerous  to  the  rights  of  a 
free  people,  especially  in  times  of  profound  peace,  when 
there  is  no  necessity  that  spies  should  be  maintained,  or 
royal  whores  and  favourites  bribed.  Such  an  attack  upon 
us  is,  of  all  others,  the  most  alarming.  It  is  like  destroy- 
ing us  by  poison — it  places  us  in  dangers  from  false  breth- 
ren, and  converts  those  we  esteemed  our  friends  into  in- 
sidious enemies — it  teaches  them  to  speak  peace,  when 
they  mean  destruction  ;  and,  under  the  specious  pretence 
of  supporting  Government,  to  declare  war  against  the  Con- 
stitution. 

History  affords  instances  of  men  in  every  age,  who  have 
preferred  the  enjoyment  of  wealth,  to  the  possession  of  a 
good  conscience,  and  who  have  committed  the  most  infa- 
mous actions  to  obtain  the  appellation  of  honourable,  for 
themselves  or  families. 

Prudence  tells  us,  that  what  has  happened  in  other 
Countries,  and  in  other  ages,  may  happen  in  our  own.  It 
certainly  is  wise,  therefore,  to  be  watchful  of  those  whom 
we  have  made  the  guardians  of  our  happiness,  and  take 
care  that  they  do  not  turn  the  opportunities  we  have  given 
them  of  doing  us  good,  into  occasions  of  bringing  us  to  ruin 
and  disgrace. 

The  world  has  long  had  reason  to  think  that  the  depend- 
ants on  the  favour  of  a  court,  are  not  fit  objects  for  the  con- 
fidence of  the  people.  It  is  difficult  to  serve  two  masters. 
Men  in  such  circumstances  frequently  cleave  to  their  inte- 
rest, and  reject  the  duty  they  owe  their  constituents. 

It  appears  to  me  very  extraordinary,  that  the  people  of 
this  Colony  in  general,  should  consider  a  Congress  as  a 
necessary  expedient  in  these  perilous  times,  that  the  letters 
of  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  appointed  by  the 
Assembly,  should  speak  the  same  language,  and  that  some 
of  the  members  of  that  body  should  preside  at  the  choice 
of  the  Delegates,  and  yet,  that  sundry  individuals  (who 
have  heretofore  been  lights  to  the  blind )  should  now  take 
so  much  pains  to  decry  the  measure  and  prevent  its  influ- 
ence. The  inconsistency  is  obvious,  and,  I  fear,  nothing- 
hut  a  goldeJi  key  can  open  the  mystery. 


Providence,  R.  I.,  March  4,  1775. 

On  Thursday  last,  the  2d  instant,  about  twelve  o'clock 
at  noon,  the  Town  Crier  gave  the  following  notice  through 
the  Town  : — "  At  five  o'clock,  this  afternoon,  a  quantity  of 
"  India  Tea  will  be  burnt  in  the  market-place.  All  true 
"  friends  of  their  Country,  lovers  of  Freedom,  and  haters  of 
"  shackles  and  hand-cufTs,  are  hereby  invited  to  testify 
"  their  good  disposition,  by  bringing  in  and  casting  into  the 
"  fire,  a  needless  herb,  which  for  a  long  time  hath  been 
"  highly  detrimental  to  our  liberty,  interest,  and  health." 

About  five  o'clock,  in  the  afternoon,  a  great  number  of 
inhabitants  assembled  at  the  place,  when  there  was  brought 
in  about  three  hundred  pounds  weight  of  Tea,  by  the  firm 
contenders  for  the  true  interest  of  America.  A  large  fire 
was  kindled,  and  the  Tea  cast  into  it.  A  tar  barrel,  Lord 
North's  speech,  Rivington's  and  Mills's  and  Hicks' s  news- 
papers, and  divers  other  ingredients,  were  also  added. 
There  appeared  great  cheerfulness  in  committing  to  de- 
struction so  pernicious  an  article  ;  many  worthy  women, 
from  a  conviction  of  the  evil  tendency  of  continuing  the 
habit  of  Tea  drinking,  made  free-will  offerings  of  their  re- 
spective stocks  of  the  hurtful  trash.  On  this  occasion  the 
bells  were  tolled,  but  it  is  referred  to  the  learned  whether 
tolling  or  ringing  would  have  been  most  proper.  Whilst 
the  Tea  was  burning,  a  spirited  Son  of  Liberty  went  along 
the  streets  with  his  brush  and  lampblack,  and  obliterated 
or  unpainted  the  word  Tea  on  the  shop  signs. 


SAMUEL  ADAMS  TO  A  GENTLEMAN  IN  VIRGINIA. 

Boston,  March  2,  1775. 

Sir  :  Your  letter  of  the  24lh  of  December  last,  to  Mr. 
Cashing  and  others,  by  Captain  Tompkins,  of  the  Schooner 
Dunmore,  in  which  were  brought  several  valuable  donations 
from  our  friends  in  Virginia,  to  the  sufferers  in  this  Town 
by  the  Port-Bill,  was  communicated  to  the  Committee 
appointed  to  receive  such  donations,  and  by  their  direction 
I  am  to  acquaint  you  that  they  cheerfully  consented  at 
your  request,  that  the  Schooner  should  be  discharged  at 
Salem,  thinking  themselves  under  obligation  to  promote 
her  despatch,  more  especially  as  there  was  unexpected 
delay  in  her  loading ;  and  you  have  very  generously 
declined  receiving  demurrage.  We  have  repeatedly  had 
abundant  evidence  of  the  firmness  of  our  brethren  of  Vir- 
ginia, in  the  American  cause ;  have  reason  to  confide  in 
them  that  they  will  struggle  hard  for  the  prize  now  contend- 
ing for. 

I  am  desired,  by  the  Committee,  to  acquaint  you  that 
a  Ship  has  lately  sailed  from  this  place,  bound  to  James 
River,  in  Virginia;  the  Master's  name  Crowel  Hatch. 
When  he  was  building  his  Ship,  a  proposal  was  made  to 
him  by  some  of  the  Committee,  to  employ  the  tradesmen 
of  this  Town,  for  which  he  should  receive  a  recompense 
by  a  discount  or  five  per  cent,  on  their  several  bills;  but 
he  declined  to  accept  of  the  proposal.  This  you  are  sen- 
sible, would  have  been  the  means  of  his  employing  our  suf- 
ferers at  their  usual  rates,  and  at  the  same  time,  as  cheap 
to  him  as  if  he  had  got  his  Vessel  built  by  more  ordinary 
workmen,  from  the  country.  There  is  also  another  cir- 
cumstance which  I  must  relate  to  you.  Captain  Hatch 
proposed  that  the  Committee  should  employ  our  Smiths  in 
making  Anchors  for  his  Vessel,  at  a  price  by  which  they 
could  get  nothing  but  their  labour  for  their  pains,  because 
he  could  purchase  cast  Anchors,  imported  here  for  the  same 
price,  which  was  refused.  At  this  he  was  very  angry,  and 
(perhaps  in  gust  of  passion)  declared,  in  the  hearing  of 
several  persons  of  credit,  that  he  was  used  ill;  threatening 
that  "he  would  stop  all  the  donations  he  could,  and  that 
no  more  should  come  from  the  place  where  he  was  going 
to,"  meaning  Virginia.  These  facts  iheCommittce  thought 
necessary  to  communicate  to  you,  and  to  beg  the  favour  of 
you  to  use  your  influence,  that  Captain  Hatch  may  not 
have  it  in  his  power  (if  he  should  be  disposed)  to  traduce 
the  Committee,  and  injure  the  sufferers  in  this  Town,  for 
whose  relief  our  friends  in  Virginia  have  so  generously 
contributed. 

I  am,  in  the  name  of  the  Committee,  sir,  your  obliged 
friend,  and  humble  servant,  Samuel  Adams. 


Boston,  Massachusetts,  March  2,  1775. 

His  Excellency  General  Gage,  in  his  answer  to  the 
Address  of  the  Provincial  Congress,  in  October  last,  was 
pleased  to  represent,  as  an  instance  of  his  lenity  and  for- 
bearance, "  that,  notwithstanding  the  enmity  shown  the 
King's  Troops,  by  withholding  from  them  almost  every 
necessary  for  their  preservation,  they  have  not  yet  disco- 
vered the  resentment  which  might  justly  be  expected  to 
arise  from  such  hostile  treatment." 

A  second  Provincial  Congress  has  lately  resolved, 
"  That  no  person  or  persons  ought  to  sell  or  dispose  of 
any  Straw  which  he  or  they  may  have  on  hand,  except  to 
the  inhabitants  of  this  Province,  for  their  own  private  use, 
or  the  use  of  said  Province." 

Such  a  militation  of  sentiments  between  the  Comman- 
der-in-chief and  the  Representatives  of  the  people,  must 
surely  arise,  from  the  different  conceptions  they  have  re- 
spectively formed  of  the  end  and  design  of  the  Troops  being 
sent  here  :  the  General,  that  they  were  ordered  here  to 
strengthen  the  hands  of  Government,  to  preserve  order, 
restore  peace,  and  prevent  confusion  ;  that  they  are,  there- 
fore, to  be  considered  as  friends,  and  ought  to  be  treated 
accordingly  :  the  Congress,  that  they  are  sent  to  dragoon 
the  good  people  of  this  Colony,  and  successively  those  of 
every  other  Colony  upon  the  Continent,  into  a  slavish  sub- 
mission to  British  Legislation ;  which,  if  it  could  be  effected, 
must  end  in  their  ruin  and  destruction  ;  that  they  are,  there- 
fore, to  be  considered  as  inveterate  enemies  ;  and  that  the 
pursuit  of  every  measure,  whereby  to  defeat  their  purposes, 
is  strictly  justifiable. 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775. 


18 


Straw  is  doubtless  as  necessary  to  make  a  Soldier's  Tent 
comfortable,  as  a  Mattress  is  to  make  an  Officer's  Tent  so  ; 
and  both  would  be  alike  withheld  if  they  were  equally  in 
our  power.  From  the  Soldier,  because  he  waits  only  for 
the  word  of  command  to  cut  our  throats,  and  spread  deso- 
lation as  far  and  wide  as  his  balls  and  bayonet,  and  the 
strength  of  his  arm  will  enable  him  to  extend  it.  From 
the  Officer,  because  being  better  bred,  his  mind  audit  to  be 
impressed  with  a  due  sense  of  the  natural  and  civil  rights 
of  mankind  ;  yet,  nevertheless,  can  so  steel  his  heart  to  the 
dictates  of  bis  conscience  and  the  feelings  of  humanity,  as 
wantonly  to  imbrue  his  hands  in  the  blood  of  his  innocent 
fellow-subjects,  in  obedience  to  the  mandate  of  a  petty 
Ministerial  tyrant ! — For  I  shall  never  be  persuaded  to 
believe,  that  the  best  of  Kings,  my  most  Gracious  Sover- 
eign, who,  so  early  in  life,  is  able  to  count  a  Royal  dozen, 
can  be  so  lost  to  the  tender  feeling  of  a  parent,  as  coming 
to  the  knowledge  of  die  truth,  the  whole  truth,  and  nothing 
but  the  truth,  that  he  would  not,  with  the  highest  indigna- 
tion, spurn  from  his  presence  into  everlasting  banishment, 
the  wretch  who  would  dare  to  suggest,  under  any  pretence 
whatever,  the  horrid  thoughts  of  shedding  the  blood  of  his 
innocent  American  subjects;  who,  notwithstanding  all  they 
have  suffered  from  delegated  power,  are  still  earnestly  de- 
sirous to  be  esteemed  his  children  ;  and  could  the  malevo- 
lent tongue  of  slander  and  defamation  be  silenced,  would 
soon  become  the  objects  of  his  Royal  patronage :  for  they 
never  have  forfeited  it,  unless  a  forfeiture  can  be  incurred 
by  refusing  to  become  subject  to  their  fellow-subjects  in 
power ;  or  to  any  other  laws  but  those  to  which  they  or 
their  Representatives  have  given  their  consent ;  and  their 
firm  attachment  to  that  Constitution  of  Government  under 
which  they,  or  their  forefathers,  have  lived  peaceably  and 
happily  for  more  than  a  century  past.  I  repeat  it,  there- 
fore, if  blood  is  to  be  shed,  it  will  be  at  the  mandate  of  a 
petty  Ministerial  tyrant ! 

The  officer  who  stoops  to  execute  the  hangman's  office, 
rather  than  lose  his  commission,  must  and  will  be  viewed 
in  a  most  infamous  light ;  whilst  the  soldier  is  beheld  with 
an  eye  of  pity  and  compassion,  because  the  consequence 
of  his  disobedience  is  death  ivithout  mercy.  Neither  straw, 
therefore,  ncr  any  other  convenience  that  can  render  a 
soldier's  life  comfortable,  is  withheld  from  him  upon  any 
other  principle  than  that  of  self-preservation. 

Jf  the  General  requires  proof  of  the  certainty  of  what  is 
here  advanced,  let  him  give  a  regular  discharge  to  all  the 
soldiers  under  his  command,  and  at  the  hazard  of  my  head, 
I  will  give  him  incontestable  security,  that  not  one  of  them 
who  is  bred  to  labour,  and  is  willing  to  work  for  an  honest 
livelihood,  but  his  industry  shall  immediately  be  so  con- 
ducted, as  to  gain  him  from  eighteen  pence  to  three  shil- 
lings sterling,  for  every  faithful  day's  work  he  shall  perform. 
For  those  of  them  that  are  honest,  industrious  manufac- 
turers, convenient  room  and  rough  materials  shall  be  pro- 
vided for  them  to  manufacture ;  and  for  those  who  are  bred 
to  husbandry,  and  the  cultivation  of  lands,  they  shall  be- 
come freeholders — sufficient  land  shall  be  allotted  to  them — 
they  shall  be  assisted  to  build  their  houses,  and  supplied 
with  necessaries  to  begin  their  new  Plantations.  For  all 
these,  and  more  than  these  benefits,  they  shall  have  secu- 
rity, not  from  one  Province  only,  but  the  whole  Continent. 

Although,  therefore,  their  profession  is  war  and  blood- 
shed, must  they  not  shudder  at  the  horrid  thought  of  butch- 
ering the  lives,  and  destroying  the  substance  of  those  who 
never  willingly  injured  them;  but,  on  the  contrary,  would 
rejoice  to  see  their  circumstances  as  comfortable  and  happy 
as  the  friendly  offices  of  their  fellow-subjects,  and  their 
own  industry  and  economy  can  make  them.  For  we  have 
land  enough,  and,  therefore,  room  enough  for  a  million  of 
them.* 

Let  not  then  the  community  be  charged  with  "shewing 
enmity  to  the  King's  Troops."  Let  not  their  "  treatment" 
of  them  be  stigmatized  as  "  hostile."  It  arises  from  the 
"  power  of  necessity,  a  solicitor  that  will  not  be  denied  ; 
and,  therefore,  ought  not  to  be  resented. 

It  is  difficult  to  conceive  how  the  General,  when  he 

•  Cannot  the  wisdom  of  the  Continent  devise  motives  sufficient  to 
conciliate  the  friendship  of  the  Officers  to  the  dictates  of  humanity,  and 
convince  them  that  they  ought,  for  their  own  sakes,  to  become  the 
defenders,  and  not  the  destroyers  of  Civil  and  Religious  Liberty;  since 
the  welfare  and  prosperity  of  every  well  regulated  society  con  rest 
securely  upon  no  other  foundation. 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii.  i 


talked  of  resenting  the  hostile  treatment  of  the  King's 
Troops  since  their  arrival  here,  could  avoid  reflecting  that 
the  complaints  might,  and  ought  to  be  retorted  an  hundred 
fold. 

Have  not  the  inhabitants  of  this  Continent,  for  years 
past,  been  every  day  defrauded  (under  colour  of  laws  call- 
ed British  Statutes)  of  money,  which  has  been  shamefully 
lavished  upon  some  of  the  most  worthless  characters  ? 
And  does  it  not  amount  almost  to  a  demonstration,  that 
the  baneful  measure  was  adopted,  not  to  lessen  the  national 
debt,  as  has  been  pretended,  but  with  a  premeditated  de- 
sign to  plunder  one  part  of  the  community,  to  bribe  the 
other,  and,  by  spreading  general  corruption,  to  establish 
universal  slavery  ? 

Have  not  the  streets  of  our  Capital  been  stained  with 
the  blood  of  its  innocent  inhabitants  unnecessarily,  and 
therefore  wantonly  shed  by  merciless  military  murderers  ? 
Are  not  out  liberties  abridged  and  our  Constitution  subvert- 
ed to  gratify  the  avarice  and  ambition  of  a  few  infamously 
distinguished  parricides,  who  are  willing,  and  by  their  con- 
duct seem  desirous  to  see  their  native  country  ruined,  pro- 
vided they  may  be  permitted  to  riot  in  the  spoils  of  it  ? 

Does  the  English  language  afford  words  expressive  of 
one  half  the  hostile  treatment — the  cruel  and  unparalleled 
injuries,  this  Colony  has  suffered  within  these  few  years 
past,  from  the  Parent  State  ? 

Is  not  our  capital  invaded  by  sea  and  land  ? — Are  not 
the  lives  and  property  of  its  inhabitants  at  the  mercy  of 
Military  and  Naval  Commanders  ? — Are  not  thousands  of 
innocent  persons  deprived  of  the  means  of  subsistence,  by 
the  annihilation  of  our  Commerce  ?  Must  not  many  of 
them  have  inevitably  perished  with  hunger,  cold,  and  fa- 
mine, had  not  their  charitable  brethren,  throughout  the 
Continent,  come  in  aid  of  them  ? 

Have  we  not  been  repeatedly  threatened  with  an  army 
of  Canadian  and  Indian  Savages  to  come,  as  soon  as  the 
season  will  permit,  and  invade  our  frontier  settlements,  to 
massacre  the  innocent  inhabitants,  and  carry  their  children 
into  captivity.  Upon  the  arrival  of  every  Vessel  from 
Europe,  are  we  not  alarmed  with  the  news  of  more  Ships- 
of-war,  and  Transports  with  more  Troops  that  are  to  be 
here  in  the  Spring  ;  when  an  open  rupture  is  generally 
expected  ? 

Has  not  an  unmitred,  unprincipled,  would-be  Bishop  of 
Neic-Yorlc,  in  a  pamphlet,  under  the  specious  title  of"  A 
Friendly  Address,"  but  with  all  the  rancour  and  malice  of 
an  infernal  fiend,  threatened  to  let  loose  the  dogs  of  war, 
like  so  many  hell-hounds,  to  devour  us  ?  But  let  him 
beware  lest  the  late  of  Actceon  should  be  verified  in  his 
own  person. 

Britons  and  Americans :  Suffer  me,  for  a  moment,  to 
arrest  your  attention  ;  are  not  the  facts  above  recited,  not 
only  true,  but  attended  with  innumerable  circumstances  of 
aggravation?  Is  not  the  provocation  arising  from  them  in 
a  ratio  of  a  million  to  one,  compared  with  the  provocation 
arising  from  the  pretended  hostile  treatment  of  the  King's 
Troops. 


TO  THE  INHABITANTS  OF  THE  MASSACHUSETTS  BAY. 
NO.  V". 

Boston,  March  2,  1775. 

My  Friends  and  Countrymen  : 

The  question  which  we  have  been  considering  is,  whe- 
ther we  are  not  so  far  independent  of  the  British  Empire, 
as  to  have  the  exclusive  right  of  legislation  inherently  and 
irrefragably  in  ourselves,  except  in  the  instance  of  regula- 
ting Trade.  It  would  give  me  pain  to  dwell  so  long  upon 
a  subject  so  generally  understood  in  its  nature,  importance, 
and  consequences,  were  it  not  to  show  to  what  cob-web 
reasonings  the  present  scheme  of  Colony  administration 
has  driven  its  votaries;  what  latitudinarians  they  have  be- 
come, in  order  to  execute  that  which,  in  better  times,  the 
proudest  Minister  that  Bntain  ever  saw  would  have  been 
too  undaring  to  have  projected. 

The  right  is  so  clear  as  to  almost  elude  the  force  of 
argumentation — so  obvious,  as  in  spite  of  opposing  efforts, 
to  command  conviction,  and  to  rank  high  towards  the  scale 
of  intuitions — so  stale,  as  to  be  determined  from  the  first 
commencement  of  that  relation  of  things  out  of  which  it 
grew — so  indisputable,  as  to  be  presumed,  and  practised 


19 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  he,  MARCH, 


20 


upon  for  about  a  century  and  a  half,  excepting  in  a  very 
few  instances  of  singular  obliquity,  by  Kings,  Lords,  and 
Commons,  bv  Governours,  Counsellors,  and  Representa- 
tives— Parliaments,  and  Assemblies — Britons  and  Ameri- 
cans.— So  confirmed  as  to  have  in  its  favour  a  whole  torrent 
of  histories,  records,  motives,  principles,  and  proceedings, 
and,  wha  is  more,  common  sense  and  fixed  habits,  so  im- 
portantly sacred,  that  no  bold  venal  Parliament— no  daring 
mercenary  intriguing  Minister,  excepting  as  above,  have 
ever  ventured  directly  to  encounter  it.  Ambition,  avarice, 
venality,  corruption,  faction,  and  tyranny  have  all  covered 
it. — Policy,  law,  ingenuity,  and  equity  have  found  it  un- 
wieldy, and  joined  in  ample  subscriptions  to  its  truth  and 
justice. — How  clear,  how  plain,  must  a  right  be,  attended 
with  such  circumstances  ? — How  cogent,  how  convincing 
the  reasons  which  produced  them  ? — It  has  passed  through, 
almost  unsuspected  and  unobscured,  the  storms  of  tyranny 
and  the  fogs  of  faction,  from  Jamis  the  First  to  a  recent 
date — to  the  fertile  exertions  of  some  modern  geniuses, 
who,  by  an  archangel  acuteness,  have  attempted  to  reverse 
the  tables  of  eternal  truth,  to  confound  the  established 
course  of  nature,  and,  by  the  awful  splendour  of  an  omni- 
potent Court,  to  extinguish  the  candle  of  human  intelli- 
gence. Oh  unheard  of  lust  of  power  !  Quid  non  mortalia 
pectora  cogis  auri  sacra  fames  1 

We  have  considered  the  principles,  and  weighed  the 
motives  that  possessed  the  breasts  of  our  British  ancestors, 
and  induced  to  their  emigration  hence.  We  have  followed 
them  down  through  their  material  walks,  until  their  recep- 
tion of  Letters  Patent,  forming  them  into  a  particular  cor- 
porate body.  We  have  examined  the  evidence  on  the 
face  of  those  Letters,  in  favour  of  a  Parliamentary  inde- 
pendence. It  remains  that  we  inquire  whether  the  same 
sentiment  prevailed  under  the  enjoyment  of  those  Letters 
Patent,  or  Charters,  that  preceded,  and  was  concomitant 
with  their  reception. 

King  Charles  the  First  was  the  ever  memorable  Prince 
from  whom  we  received  our  first  Charter.  Soon  after  the 
restoration  of  his  very  pitiful  son,  Charles  the  Second,  the 
history  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay  informs  us — That  the 
conduct  of  our  Government  respecting  its  rights,  in  an  in- 
stance then  under  consideration,  as  well  as  in  the  then  some 
former  instances,  might  be  well  accounted  for,  upon  the 
sentiments  of  some  persons  of  influence  then  amongst 
them.  The  sentiments  which  this  historian  says  our  As- 
semblies then  adopted,  and  were  governed  by  in  a  number 
of  instauces,  were  the  following,  viz  :  That  birth  is  no 
necessary  cause  of  subjection ; — that  the  subjects  of  any 
Prince  or  State  had  a  natural  right  to  remove  to  any  other 
quarter  of  the  world,  and  that  upon  their  removal,  their 
subjection  determined  and  ceased  ; — that  the  Country  to 
which  they  themselves  had  removed,  was  claimed  and  pos- 
sessed by  independent  Princes,  whose  right  to  the  sover- 
eignty and  lordship  thereof  had  been  acknowledged  by 
the  Kings  of  England ;  that  they  therefore  had  actually 
purchased,  for  valuable  consideration,  not  only  the  soil, 
but  the  dominion,  the  lordship  and  sovereignty,  of  those 
Princes ;  and  that  they  had  also  received  a  Charter  of 
incorporation  from  the  King,  containing  a  mutual  compact, 
from  whence  arose  a  new  kind  of  subjection,  to  which 
they  were  held,  and  from  which  they  would  never  depart; 
that  this  was  what  was  called  a  voluntary  civil  subjection, 
arising  merely  from  compact;  and  from  thence  it  followed 
that  whatsoever  could  be  brought  into  question  relative  to 
their  subjection,  must  be  determined  by  their  Charter. 
And  that  they  were  to  be  governed  by  Laws  made  by  them- 
selves, and  by  Officers  elected  by  themselves,  &tc.  These 
were  the  practical  political  principles  of  our  Government 
in  an  instance  of  publick  conduct,  about  five  and  thirty 
years  after  the  granting  of  our  first  Charter,  when  the  Pa- 
tentees themselves  were  mostly  upon  the  stage,  and  must 
be  supposed  to  understand  its  tenour  and  meaning.  There 
were  instances  of  an  earlier  date,  says  the  same  historian, 
where  these  principles  were  practised  upon  by  Govern- 
ment. A  very  ample  testimony  of  the  sense  of  our  an- 
cestors :  and  which  shows  that  the  present  system  of  popu- 
lar politicks  is  not  the  creature  of  a  modern  patriot  brain, 
that  it  was  embraced  from  the  beginning,  and  is  as  old  as 
the  Constitution — that  it  grew  up  with  it,  and  has  been  its 
constant  companion. 

In  the  same  arbitrary  reign,  several  Acts  of  Trade  and 


Navigation  respecting  the  Colonies  passed  the  British 
Parliament,  and  the  above  historian  informs  us,  that  our 
Assembly  had  a  difficulty  in  conforming  to  them,  the  rea- 
son for  which,  assigned  in  a  Letter  to  their  Agents  then  in 
England,  was,  that  "  they  apprehend  them  to  be  an  invasion 
of  the  rights,  liberties,  and  properties  of  the  subjects  of  his 
Majesty  in  the  Colony,  they  not  being  represented  in  Par- 
liament, and  according  to  the  usual  sayings  of  the  learned 
in  the  Law,  the  Laws  of  England  were  bounded  within 
the  four  Seas,  and  did  not  reach  America."  And  in  fact, 
as  they  were  not  then  in  a  capacity  to  dispute  the  point, 
and  vindicate  their  injured  rights  by  opposing  their  opera- 
tion, they  made  provision  by  a  Law  of  their  own,  that  they 
should  be  observed,  and  operate  by  force  derived  from 
their  own  acts,  which  would  have  been  absurd  had  they 
admitted  the  supreme  authority  of  Parliament. 

Edward  Randolph,  who  was  a  busy  instrument  in  the 
hands  of  Government,  and  deeply  interested  in  Colony 
affairs,  in  1676,  represents  to  the  Lords  of  His  Majesty's 
Most  Honourable  Privy  Council,  appointed  a  Committee 
for  Trade  and  Plantations — "  That  no  Law  is  in  force  or 
esteem  here,  but  such  as  are  made  by  the  General  Court, 
and  therefore  it  is  accounted  a  breach  of  their  privileges, 
and  a  betraying  of  the  liberties  of  their  Commonwealth, 
to  urge  the  observations  of  the  Laws  of  England." 

And  further,  that  "  there  was  no  notice  taken  of  the  Act 
of  Navigation,  Plantation,  or  any  other  Laws  made  in  Eng- 
land for  the  regulation  of  Trade ;"  that — "  the  Govern- 
ment would  make  the  world  believe  they  are  a  free  State, 
and  do  act  in  all  matters  accordingly  ;  that  the  Magistrates 
ever  reserve  to  themselves  a  power  to  alter  any  Law  not 
agreeing  with  the  absolute  authority  of  their  Government, 
acknowledging  no  superiour;"  and  that  "  the  Governour 
had  declared  to  him,  that  the  Laws  of  Parliament  obligeth 
them  in  nothing  but  what  consists  with  the  interests  of  the 
Colony,  and  that  the  Legislative  power  and  authority  is 
and  abides  with  the  Colony  solely."  This  same  Randolph, 
in  a  Letter  to  the  Bishop  of  London,  wherein  he  urges 
for  a  quo  warranto  against  their  Charter,  says,  that  "  inde- 
pendence in  Government  is  claimed  and  daily  practised." 
Vide  The  •publication  of  Payers  by  the  late  Governour 
Hutchinson.  We  have  adduced  a  continued  series  of  facts 
from  an  indisputable  authority  in  this  case,  which  proves 
beyond  a  doubt  the  sense  that  one  of  the  parties  had  of 
our  first  Charter,  almost  from  its  first  commencement  to  its 
final  dissolution.  Instances  might  be  multiplied,  but  they 
are  unnecessary  to  those  who  have  not  their  minds  steeled 
against  the  impressions  of  truth. — There  are  some,  like 
the  adder,  whose  deaf  ear  the  thunder  from  Sinai  would 
not  penetrate — these  must  abide  the  consequences  of  their 
obstinacy,  and  grope  in  the  dark  at  noon-day,  until  their 
feet  stumble  on  the  black  mountains,  clanking  with  chains 
and  with  fetters. 

The  Agents  who  were  unsuccessfully  employed  by  this 
Province  to  solicit  at  the  Court  of  King  William  the  re- 
storation of  our  first  Charter,  and  who,  it  must  be  presumed, 
well  understood  the  second,  being  present  and  consulted 
upon  framing  of  it  upon  its  tenor  and  operation,  gave  as  a 
reason  for  their  acceptance  : — "  Our  General  Courts  having, 
with  the  King's  approbation,  as  much  power  in  New-Eng- 
land as  the  King  and  Parliament  have  in  England ;  they 
have  all  English  privileges,  and  can  be  touched  by  no  law, 
and  by  no  tax,  but  of  their  own  making." — Vide  History 
of  Netv-England. 

Upon  the  arrival  of  our  present  Charter,  in  1692,  as 
appears  by  the  History  of  this  Government,  "  The  first 
Act  of  our  Assembly  was  a  sort  of  Magna  Charta,  assert- 
ing and  setting  forth  as  a  general  privilege,  '  That  no  aid, 
tax,  tallage,  assessment,  custom,  loan,  benevolence,  or 
imposition  whatever,  shall  be  laid,  imposed,  or  levied  on 
any  of  their  Majesties'  subjects,  or  their  estates,  on  any 
pretence  whatever,  but  by  the  Act  and  consent  of  the  Go- 
vernor, Council,  and  Representatives  of  the  people  assem- 
bled in  General  Court.'  "  The  above  are  a  few,  out  of 
the  many  instances  that  might  be  adduced,  where  the  sense 
of  our  ancestors,  in  a  continued  and  uniform  succession  of 
events,  is  clear,  full,  and  to  the  point.  Could  these,  and 
similar  instances,  have  escaped  the  extensive  reading  of 
the  fair,  of  the  impartial,  and  modest  Massachusettensis  1 
Especially  as  they  are  related  by  his  favourite  author,  "  his 
setting  Sun  ?"    Could  he  have  read  them,  and  yet,  con- 


21 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775. 


22 


sistent  with  that  tremendous  regard  to  truth  and  rigid  im- 
partiality which  he  every  where  superabundantly  professes, 
with  serious  solemnity  declare,  that  "  the  denial  ol"  our  being 
subject  to  the  authority  of  the  British  Parliament  is  new. 
And  that  it  is  beyond  a  doubt,  that  it  was  the  sense,  both  of 
the  Parent  State  and  our  ancestors,  that  they  were  to  remain 
subject  to  Parliament  ?" — And,  "that  if  a  person  had,  some 
fifteen  years  ago,  undertaken  to  prove  that  the  Colonies 
were  annexed  to  the  Realm,  were  a  part  of  the  British 
Empire  or  Dominion,  and,  as  such,  subject  to  the  authority 
of  the  British  Parliament,  he  would  have  acted  as  ridicu- 
lous a  part  as  to  have  undertaken  to  prove  a  self-evident 
proposition. — And  had  any  person  denied  it,  he  would  have 
been  called  a  fool,  or  madman."    Pause,  my  friends. 

You  may  learn  from  this  instance,  the  great  facility  of 
bare  assertions  without  proof,  as  well  as  the  persuasive  air 
and  graceful  talent  at  making  them — if  misrepresentations 
can  be  graceful. 

If  the  apprehension  of  the  King,  who  was  the  other 
party  to  our  Charter,  and  the  sense  of  the  Nation,  at  the 
time  it  was  granted,  coincided  with  the  sentiments  of  our 
predecessors,  it  must  exclude  all  doubt  respecting  our  sub- 
jection ;  every  quibbling  mouth  must  be  stopped  from  the 
irresistible  conviction  of  the  heart — and  every  honest  man 
become  an  advocate  for  our  exemption  from  the  supreme 
authority  of  the  British  Parliament.  To  this,  my  coun- 
trvmen,  permit  me  to  ask  your  close  and  candid  attention. 

The  Colonies  in  general  are  in  the  same  predicament. 
The  independence  of  one  will  prove  the  independence  of 
all.*  It  may  not  be  altogether  impertinent  to  take  a  gene- 
ral survey  of  the  doctrines  and  principles  that  formed  the 
temper  of  the  times  in  the  reign  of  Charles  the  First.  The 
ideas  of  British  Government  were  founded  upon  the  feu- 
dal system  of  policy,  introduced  by  our  Saxon  auxiliaries, 
who,  after  subduing  the  Kingdom,  divided  the  land  among 
individuals  in  proportion  to  their  rank  and  degree  ;  and 
every  man  who  by  this  division  became  a  Freeholder,  was 
then  a  Member  of  their  Witten  Gemote,  or  Parliament. 
This  feudal  polity  was  universally  received,  improved,  and 
established  in  England,  by  the  arbitrary  will  of  the  Norman 
Conqueror  and  his  powerful  Barons.  In  consequence  of 
which  it  became  a  fundamental  maxim  and  necessary  prin- 
ciple in  the  English  Constitution,  "  that  the  King  was  the 
universal  Lord  and  original  proprietor  of  all  the  lands  in 
bis  Kingdom ;  and  that  no  man  doth,  or  can  possess  any 
part  of  it.  but  what  was  mediately  or  immediately  derived 
a;  a  gift  from  him,  to  be  held  upon  feudal  services."  This 
scheme  of  policy,  as  it  respected  the  King's  prerogatives,  con- 
tinued down  until  the  Statutes  of  the  12th  Charles  II.,  Cap. 
24,  by  which  all  its  branches  were  lopped  off  at  one  blow, 
and  in  the  reign  of  William  the  Third,  of  glorious  memo- 
lv.  by  the  Revolution  principles,  was  torn  up  root  and 
trunk,  and  the  whole  tables  of  power  and  property  re- 
versed. The  policy  and  principles  of  their  Witten  Gemote, 
or  Parliament,  which  contained  the  life  and  soul  of  the 
English  Constitution,  survived  unimpaired  this  general 
wreck  of  preposterous  prerogatives.  The  Nation  viewed 
the  power  of  Parliament  as  only  extending  to  those  assem- 
bled therein  personally  or  by  Representatives,  and  assent- 
ing to  Laws  so  made.  They  must  have  considered,  to  be 
consistent  with  themselves,  an  extension  of  the  authority 
of  this  Assembly  to  those  who  have  no  voice,  connection, 
or  influence  therein,  as  unnatural,  unjust,  and  repugnant  to 
the  first  principles  and  policy  of  their  Constitution.  Charles 
the  First,  taught  by  the  examples  of  his  predecessors,  and 
confirmed  in  his  errour  by  his  Court  sycophants,  attempted 
to  govern  the  Nation  by  the  terrors  of  Royalty,  and  the 
absurd  doctrine  of  a  Divine,  indefeasible  right.  In  the 
reign  of  his  father,  James  the  First,  the  Judges  of  England 
determined  that  the  King  had  a  right  to  levy  taxes,  called 
tonnage  and  poundage,  without  the  consent  of  Parliament. 
Charles,  like  an  absolute  monarch,  governed  the  Nation 
eleven  years  without  his  Commons.  For  a  long  time  he 
had  exacted  tonnage,  poundage,  ship-money  impositions, 
with  other  arbitrary  taxes,  and  exercised  the  right  of  selling 
monopolies,  requiring  benevolences,  loans,  &c,  against  the 

*  By  independence  is  not  meant  any  thing  inconsistent  with  the  strict- 
est allegiance  or  subjection  to  our  gracious  Sovereign,  who  glories  in 
being  born  a  Briton — the  brightest  gem  in  whose  crown  is  to  rule  in  the 
hearts,  and  reign  over  Freemen  ;  or  inconsistent  with  that  authority  of 
Parliament  necessary  for  the  regulation  of  Trade,  the  rectitude  and 
fitness  of  which  we  cheerfully  acknowledge. 


repeated  remonstrances  of  the  Nation.  The  claiming  of 
these  rights,  and  contending  for  these  prerogatives,  was 
what  finally  cost  him  his  Crown,  and  that  head  which  was 
unworthy  to  wear  it.  Ship-money  was  the  tax  unauthor- 
ized by  Parliament,  in  which  the  famous  Hampden  stood 
forth  as  a  champion  for  the  people.  The  cause  was  argued 
in  the  Court  of  Exchequer,  before  all  the  Judges  of  Eng- 
land. Hampden  was  cast — the  Nation  roused — and  the 
struggle  for  Liberty  soon  began. 

Can  any  one  suppose,  without  doing  violence  to  common 
sense,  that  a  King,  contending  for  such  a  plenitude  of 
power,  in  which  he  was  supported  by  the  examples  of  his 
predecessors,  and  the  solemn  adjudication  of  his  Judges ; 
possessing  such  principles,  of  which  he  was  so  tenacious  as 
to  seal  them  with  his  own  blood  and  the  blood  of  his 
favourites,  meant  to  imply,  in  a  Charter  given  to  our  ances- 
tors, where  he  grants  and  yields  to  them  and  their  suc- 
cessors, that  they  and  every  one  of  them  shall  be  free  and 
quit  from  all  taxes,  subsidies,  and  customs  in  New-England , 
for  the  space  of  seven  years,  and  from  all  taxes  and  im- 
positions for  the  space  of  twenty-one  years,  upon  all  Goods 
and  Merchandise,  at  any  time  or  times  hereafter,  either 
upon  importation  thither,  or  exportation  from  thence,  &ic. — 
I  say  meant  to  imply  that  after  the  expiration  of  those  terms, 
they  should  be  liable  to  impositions  and  taxes  from  Parlia- 
ment, and  not  from  himself,  (as  he  considered  in  some 
cases  his  subjects  in  England,)  independent  of  Parliament, 
or  rather,  that  during  these  terms  he  would  not  himself  re- 
quire us  to  grant  him  any  subsidies,  aids,  &ic.  Can  any 
person  imagine  this  ?  Was  Massachusettensis  serious  when 
be  said  it  ?  Thus  we  have  an  argument,  a  priori,  the 
granting  of  our  first  Charter,  of  the  sense  of  the  grantor, 
as  we  had  with  respect  to  our  ancestors. 

I  am  not  yet  done  with  this  clause,  which,  we  are  told 
with  an  air  of  merriment,  is  rather  an  unfavourable  circum- 
stance for  those  who  call  the  three-penny  duty  on  Tea 
unconstitutional.  If  the  King  has  considered  this  Colony 
as  a  part  of  the  British  Empire,  and  subject  to  the  author- 
ity of  Parliament,  would  he,  could  he  by  his  own  authority, 
have  exempted  it  from  taxes  for  seven  or  twenty  years  ? 
If  he  could  grant  to  one  part  of  the  British  Empire  to  be 
free  and  quit  from  taxes,  for  the  same  reason  he  might  to 
any  and  every  part,  and  so  lay  the  whole  expense  of  Go- 
vernment upon  a  few  individuals.  If  he  could  do  this  for 
seven  or  twenty  years,  for  the  same  reason  he  might  for 
seventy  or  seventy  times  seventy.  This  proves  to  demon- 
stration, either  that  Charles  the  First  apprehended,  how- 
ever the  fact  might  be,  that  this  Colony  was  not  a  part  of 
the  British  Empire,  or  if  it  was,  that  it  was  not  within  the 
jurisdiction  of  Parliament.  He  undoubtedly  viewed  us  as 
holding  our  lands  of  him  as  Lord  paramount,  according  to 
the  fictitious  doctrine  of  the  feudal  system,  and  the  Parlia- 
ment strangers  to  the  transaction. 

If  it  should  be  said,  although  this  clause  does  not  im- 
ply the  right  in  Parliament,  yet  it  proves  a  right  in  the 
King  to  tax  us,  and  we  had  as  good  be  under  the  arbitrary 
power  of  the  former,  as  subject  to  the  will  or  caprice  of  the 
latter ;  we  answer,  that  the  present  question  is  not  what  is 
best,  but  what  is  in  reality  the  fact — not  concerning  the 
power  of  the  King,  but  the  right  of  Parliament.  How- 
ever, it  is  infinitely  better  to  have  but  one  tyrant  than  a 
million.  We  should  have  no  objection  to  the  King's  tax- 
ing us  by  our  own  Assemblies.  But  these  matters  we  will 
consider  when  we  come  to  them ;  at  present  they  are 
nothing  to  the  purpose. 

"  In  1621,  when  the  Commons  proposed  a  bill  to  James 
the  First,  for  the  free  liberty  of  fishing  and  fishing  voyages, 
to  be  made  and  performed  on  the  sea-coasts  and  places  of 
Newfoundland,  Virginia,  and  New-England,  and  other 
Countries,  and  parts  of  America,"  the  Secretary  of  State 
was  sent  by  His  Majesty  with  the  following  declaration  to 
the  House  of  Commons,  viz:  "America  is  not  annexed 
to  the  Realm,  nor  within  the  jurisdiction  of  Parliament  ; 
you  have,  therefore,  no  right  to  interfere  :"  and  for  this  rea- 
son the  bill  was  crushed.  In  like  manner,  when  a  bill  re- 
specting America  was  offered  by  the  two  Houses  of  Par- 
liament to  King  Charles  the  First,  (the  very  Prince  who 
granted  our  Charter,)  for  his  Royal  assent,  he  refused  it, 
giving  as  a  reason,  "  that  the  Colonies  were  without  the 
Realm  and  jurisdiction  of  Parliament."  This  needs  no 
comment. 


23 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775. 


21 


This  same  King,  in  a  Commission  to  the  Right  Reve- 
rend Father  in  God,  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  with  a 
number  of  others,  forming  them  inlo  a  Committee  for  Re- 
gulating of  Plantations,  after  premising  that  divers  of  his 
subjects,  with  their  exceeding  industry  and  charge,  had  de- 
duced great  numbers  of  English  subjects  inlo  several  Colo- 
nies, in  several  places  of  the  world,  either  altogether  desert 
and  unpeopled,  or  enjoyed  by  savage  and  barbarous  Na- 
tions, gives  of  his  mere  grace  to  the  said  Commissioned, 
the  following  powers  of  protection  and  Government,  over- 
all English  Colonies  already  planted,  or  that  may  in  future 
be  planted,  viz  :  Power  to  make  Laws,  Ordinances,  and  Con- 
stitutions, concerning  the  publick  state  of  the  said  Colo- 
nies or  individuals. — Power  for  ordering  and  directing  them 
in  their  demeanour  towards  foreign  Princes  and  their  sub- 
jects, towards  ourselves  and  our  subjects,  within  any  foreign 
parts,  beyond  seas,  during  their  voyages  upon  the  seas,  or 
to  and  from  the  same. — Power  to  inflict  punishment  on 
all  offenders,  violators  of  Constitutions  and  Ordinances,  by 
imprisonment,  restraint,  or  by  loss  of  life  or  member. — To 
remove  all  Governours  and  Presidents  from  their  places, 
and  to  appoint  others  in  their  stead  ;  to  punish  them  by  a 
deprivation  of  their  Provinces,  or  pecuniary  mulcts. — Power 
to  ordain  and  constitute  Judges,  Magistrates,  Tribunals, 
Courts  of  justice,  forms  of  judicature,  and  manner  of  pro- 
cess, in  all  cases,  civil  or  criminal. — Power  to  alter,  revoke, 
and  repeal,  all  the  laws  and  ordinances,  although  they  may 
have  had  our  Royal  assent ;  to  make  new  ones,  and  to  new 
and  growing  evils  and  perils,  to  apply  new  remedies,  in  such 
manner  and  so  often  as  unto  you  shall  appear  necessary  and 
expedient. — And  power  to  hear  and  determine  all  complaints 
against  the  whole  bodies  of  the  Colonies  themselves,  or 
any  Governour,  and  to  demand  delinquent  Governours  to 
England,  or  into  any  other  part,  according  to  your  discre- 
tion, and  also  to  revoke  Charters,  if  not  duly  obtained,  or 
if  hurtful  to  our  Crown  and  Royal  prerogatives  ;  and  to  do 
all  other  things  which  shall  be  necessary  for  the  wholesome 
government  and  protection  of  the  said  Colonies,  and  our 
people  therein  abiding,"  &ic.  he.  he. 

This  was  the  very  Prince  who  granted  our  Charter.  If 
the  British  Parliament  had  been  a  Court,  in  the  apprehen- 
sion of  this  King,  which  had  cognizance  of  those  matters, 
would  he  have  erected  another,  with  all  the  powers  that 
Parliament  possess  over  any  part  of  the  British  Empire 
for  these  regulations  ?  Or,  if  in  apprehension  of  the  British 
Parliament  themselves,  would  they  have  acquiesced  in,  and 
submitted  to  the  exercise  of  such  powers  ?  Could  the 
most  absolute  King  that  ever  swayed  the  British  Sceptre, 
have  exercised  such  powers  over  any  part  of  the  Empire 
that  was  within  the  jurisdiction  of  Parliament  ?  Has  the 
Grand  Monarch  more  authority  ?  Does  not  this  prove 
beyond  a  contradiction,  that  Charles  the  First  viewed  the 
Colonies  as  independent  of  the  Empire,  and  exempt  from 
the  authority  of  Parliament,  even  in  the  matter  of  regula- 
ting Trade  ?  Lay  your  hand  upon  your  breast,  and  let  con- 
science answer. 

In  the  reign  of  Charles  the  Second,  several  Acts  passed 
abridging  Trade  with  foreign  Countries,  and  imposing  duties 
upon  several  branches  of  Commerce  between  the  Colonies, 
for  the  express  purpose  of  regulating  Trade,  as  the  preamble 
of  the  Acts  themselves  demonstrate,  and  not  to  raise  a  Re- 
venue to  the  Crown  by  the  authority  of  Parliament.  Vir- 
ginia considered  even  these  as  grievances,  and  sent  Agents 
to  England  to  remonstrate  against  taxes  and  impositions 
being  laid  upon  the  Colony  by  the  authority  of  Parliament. 

This  produced  a  declaration  from  the  King,  under  the 
Privy  Seal,  asserting  that  "  Taxes  ought  not  to  be  laid  upon 
the  inhabitants  and  proprietors  of  the  Colony  but  by  the 
common  consent  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Colony." 
Accordingly,  this  Monarch,  when  a  permanent  Revenue  for 
the  support  of  Civil  Government  in  Virginia  was  deemed 
necessary,  did  not  attempt  it  by  Parliamentary  authority, 
but  applied  to  their  General  Assembly  ;  and  an  Act  passed 
under  the  Great  Seal,  in  which  it  was  enacted,  "  by  the 
King's  most  Excellent  Majesty,"  by  and  with  the  consent 
of  the  Colony  of  Virginia,  he.  This  Act  granted  a  duty 
on  Tobacco,  for  the  support  of  Civil  Government,  which 
is  still  paid  by  virtue  of  it.  Had  this  Colony  been  a  part 
of  the  British  Empire,  in  the  apprehension  of  the  King, 
he  could  not  have  bveome  a  part  of  their  Legislative 
authority,  in  making  a  law  to  tax  the  people  there.  This 


would  involve  the  political  solecism,  with  a  witness,  of  im- 
perium  in  imperio ;  the  King,  Lords,  and  Commons  form- 
ing the  only  Legislative  power  over  the  British  Empire. 
The  Parliament  passing  this  affair  over  sub  silcntio,  shows 
sufficiently  their  apprehension  of  the  matter.  In  these 
instances,  the  sense  of  Charles  the  First,  of  his  immediate 
predecessor,  and  successor;  three  successive  Kings,  privy 
in  the  order  of  events  to  our  emigration,  incorporation,  and 
legislation  under  that  incorporation,  is  as  clear,  and  as  full 
as  words  or  actions  could  make  them. 

It  is  obvious  to  observe  here,  that  a  compact,  or  an  agree- 
ment between  parties,  is  only  the  mutual  assent  or  consent 
of  their  minds,  touching  something  which  is  the  subject 
matter  of  their  contract.  The  writing  upon  parchment  or 
paper,  is  only  the  evidence  of  this  assent.  The  agreement 
is,  in  the  language  of  the  learned,  aggregatio  mentium  in 
realiqua  facta  vel  facienda. 

Make,  my  friends,  a  recolleclivc  pause.  Permit  me  to 
ask  you  the  following  simple  questions  :  Does  not  the  King 
of  England  hold  his  Crown  by  compact?  Is  not  the  rela- 
tion that  is  subsisting  between  him  and  his  subjects  in 
Great  Britain,  founded  upon  compact?  Is  not  the  rela- 
tion that  is  subsisting  between  us  and  Great  Britain,  found- 
ed upon  compact?  Was  not  our  Charter  the  evidence 
of  this  compact  ?  Was  it  not  the  sense  of  King  Charles 
the  First,  and  of  our  ancestors,  the  parties  to  this  Charter, 
that  this  Colony  was  not  a  part  of  the  Empire,  and  should 
not  be  subject  to  the  authority  of  Parliament  ?  Is  not  this 
sense  of  the  parties,  the  very  essence  and  vitals  of  the 
compact  ?  Were  we  not,  then,  upon  the  reception  of  our 
Charter,  independent  of  the  Supreme  power  of  the  Parent 
State  ?  And  are  we  not  so  now,  of  course,  unless  some 
subsequent  transaction  has  united  us?  If  you  cannot  an- 
swer all  these  questions  clearly  in  the  affirmative,  1  have 
only  this  favour  to  ask,  which  you  cannot  reasonably  deny 
me,  that  you  carefully  review  our  past  reasonings  upon 
those  subjects,  with  minds  open  to  conviction;  reconsider 
adduced  facts  fairly  in  their  nature,  tendency,  and  circum- 
stances ;  and  deliberately  revolving  the  whole  process  in 
your  own  breast,  judging  for  yourselves,  yield  your  assent 
wherever  the  evidence  preponderates. 

You  will  excuse  me,  my  fellow-countrymen,  for  having 
carried  you  into  this  dry  detail  of  historical  matters — mat- 
ters that  are  well  known — that  have  been  often  repeated. 
My  design  was  to  stir  up  your  pure  minds,  by  way  of 
remembrance,  when  you  are  told,  with  an  air  of  seriousness 
bordering  upon  devotion,  that  the  Colonies  have  always 
been  considered  by  the  British  Nation,  and  by  the  Colonists 
themselves,  until  within  these  few  years,  as  within  the  juris- 
diction of  Parliament  ;  a  representation  as  remote  from 
truth,  as  was  ever  propagated  by  the  tongue  of  man,  or  the 
pen  of  prostitution  ;  at  a  time  when  Royal  Charters,  Na- 
tional Faith,  and  the  eternal  principle  of  justice,  on  which 
they  are  founded,  are  puffed  away  by  a  British  Senate,  as 
motes  and  straws  floating  in  the  air ;  and  the  civil  and  na- 
tural rights  of  as  loyal  a  people  as  ever  breathed  God's  air, 
or  trod  his  earth,  all  prostrate  at  the  feet  of  a  Minister  of 
State,  are  by  his  ****»»*******,  wantonly  trampled 
under  foot. 

It  is  unnecessary  to  say  any  thing  to  rouse  the  Americans. 
That  man  must  be  dead — past  reanimating,  who  is  not 
wide  awake.  He  would  discharge  a  kinder  office,  was  there 
not  danger  of  our  dozing  too  long,  who  would  administer 
political  opiates,  to  render  us,  if  possible,  insensible  of  the 
cruel,  barbarous,  distressing,  horrid  oppressions  we  suffer, 
and  unfeeling  to  the  studied  indignities  that  are  offered  us ; 
that  would  enable  us  to  suppress  the  emotions  and  ebulli- 
tions of  an  English  heart ;  and  by  our  spirit  and  firmness, 
moderation  and  forbearance,  form  a  paradox  which  none 
but  Americans  can  solve  ;  keeping  our  swords  in  their  scab- 
bards, unless  urgent  necessity,  or  self-preservation  should 
call  them  forth,  and  sheath  them  elsewhere. 

From  the  County  ok  Hampshire. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  TO  A  (5ENTLEMAN   IN  NEW-YORK, 
DATED  LONDON,  MARCH  2,  1775. 

The  friends  of  America,  on  the  arrival  of  the  Packet, 
were  much  alarmed  at  a  report,  that  New-York  was  dis- 
affected to  the  common  cause,  and  determined  to  break  the 
Resolves  of  the  Congress,  especially  that  of  non-importa- 


25 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  kc,  MARCH,  1775. 


26 


tion  ;  however,  we  had  the  pleasure,  from  the  best  accounts, 
to  find  it  otherwise,  and  that  we  had  little  reason  to  fear 
the  late  Resolutions  of  your  Assembly  would  produce  any 
change  in  your  proceedings.  I  have  now  to  inform  you 
that,  notwithstanding  all  we  could  do,  the  Fishery  Bill  was 
yesterday  read  the  third  time,  and  passed  the  House  of 
Commons,  whereby  a  stop  is  to  be  put  to  all  the  Fisheries 
on  the  first  of  July,  except  the  Whale  Fishery,  which  is 
to  be  continued  to  the  first  of  November .  Every  impartial 
man  must,  in  his  heart,  condemn  a  Bill  so  replete  with  in- 
humanity and  cruelty  ;  and  it  will  be  an  everlasting  stain 
on  the  annals  of  our  pious  Sovereign,  who,  from  the  best 
accounts,  is  the  grand  promoter  of  these  proceedings.  We 
hope  the  firmness  of  your  countrymen  will  evince  to  all 
the  world  your  just  sense  of  measures  so  unjust ;  and  will, 
in  due  season,  retort  them  with  vengeance,  on  the  guilty 
heads  of  the  enemies  of  the  British  Empire. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM   LONDON   TO   A  GENTLEMAN 
IN  PHILADELPHIA,  DATED  MARCH  3,  1775. 

Lest  you  should  not  have  a  true  idea  of  Lord  North's 
design  in  his  motion,  I  send  you  the  enclosed  paper,* 
which  gives  a  pretty  just  account  of  what  he  said  on  the 
occasion,  and  shows  plainly  it  was  planned  to  divide  the 
Colonies,  as  well  as  the  friends  of  Liberty  here  ;  in  both  of 
which  I  hope  he  will  be  deceived.  The  Bill  against  the 
four  New-England  Governments,  of  which  you  have  had 
a  copy,  will  finally  pass  the  House  of  Commons  this  day, 
and  is  to  take  place  the  first  day  of  July  next.  You  may 
rely  upon  it,  that  in  a  few  days  another  Bill  will  be  brought 
into  the  House  of  Commons,  to  prohibit  the  other  Colonies 
from  any  commercial  intercourse  with  each  other,  and  to 
confine  their  Trade  in  every  individual  article  to  Great 
Britain,  Ireland,  and  the  British  West  Indies  only.  My 
best  information  tells  me,  that  General  Gage  is  still  to  con- 
tinue in  Massachusetts-Bay ;  some  of  the  Troops  going 
from  hence  and  Ireland  are  for  Boston,  the  others  for  New- 
York,  where  they  have,  it  is  said,  been  requested  to  be 
sent,  by  Delancy  and  his  band  of  traitors — Cooper,  White, 
Coldcn,  and  Watts — to  aid  them  in  securing  New-York 
for  the  Ministry.  This,  it  seems,  they  have  undertaken 
to  do,  with  Military  assistance. 

New-York  is  to  be  a  place  of  Arms,  and  Provisions  are 
to  be  provided  there  for  support  of  the  Army  in  Neu-- 
Eiigland ;  at  the  same  time  they  hope,  by  having  posses- 
sion of  N etc- York,  to  prevent  any  assistance  from  Virgi- 
nia, Maryland,  Pennsylvania,  and  the  other  Southern 
Colonies,  going  to  Neio-England,  of  which  they  are  very 
apprehensive.  I  hope  there  is  virtue  enough  in  the  peo- 
ple of  New-York  to  defeat  this  scheme,  and  that  they  will 
banish  from  their  society  the  heads,  at  least,  of  the  traitors, 
before  the  Troops  get  there  to  back  them,  which  cannot 
be  sooner  than  the  last  of  May. 

I  do  not  see  occasion  to  advise  what  is  best  to  be  done 
in  the  present  situation  of  things,  because  if  you  mean  to 
continue  Freemen,  resistance,  even  to  the  last  extremity, 
must  be  made,  and,  if  with  united  efforts,  it  will,  in  my 
opinion,  assuredly  be  successful.  If  you  are  willing  to  be 
Slaves,  you  are  only  to  submit  at  once,  and  wear  your  chains 
quietly. 

I  do  not  entertain  the  least  doubt  of  your  persevering  in 
so  noble  a  contest,  and  with  proper  application  the  Colony 
of  New-York  will,  I  think,  join  you  heartily. 


EARL  OF  DARTMOUTH  TO  THE  GOVERNOUR  OF  GEORGIA. 

Whitehall,  March  3,  1775. 

Sir:  I  have  received  your  letters  of  the  19th  and  20th 
of  December,  the  latter  numbered  thirty-five,  and  have  laid 
them  before  the  King.  But  having  nothing  in  command 
from  His  Majesty  thereupon,  I  have  only  to  lament,  that 
His  Majesty's  subjects  in  Georgia,  who  have  hitherto,  in 
general,  shown  so  great  respect  for  the  Mother  Country, 
and  loyalty  to  the  King,  should  have,  at  length,  manifested 
a  disposition  to  adopt  the  sentiments,  and  follow  the  ill  ex- 
ample, of  their  neighbours.  But  I  trust  that  the  measures 
I  have  taken  for  your  support,  and  the  zeal  and  alacrity  of 
the  King's  Officers,  and  of  those  gentlemen  who  you  say 
stand  forth  in  the  maintenance  of  the  publick  peace,  will 
•  See  Vol.  I,  Folio  IG00,  Note. 


have  the  effect  to  prevent  the  Sons  of  Liberty,  as  they  are 
called,  from  committing  themselves  in  any  act  of  violence. 

I  (ind,  by  a  letter  from  Mr.  Cooper  to  IVlr.  Pownall,  that 
the  Lords  of  the  Treasury  have  had  under  their  considera- 
tion, the  proposition  which  you  transmitted  some  years  ago, 
in  the  shape  of  a  Bill  for  better  collecting  His  Majesty's  Quit 
Rents.  They  seem,  however,  to  be  of  opinion,  that  the 
provisions  of  an  Act  of  the  Province  of  North-Carolina  for 
the  same  purpose,  which  they  have  had  before  them,  are 
better  calculated  to  answer  the  object  in  view  than  the  Bill 
you  recommended  ;  and  principally,  because  it  enacts,  that 
no  Patent,  Deed,  or  Conveyance  of  Land  shall  be  held  va- 
lid, unless  enrolled  in  the  manner  the  Act  directs;  whereas, 
in  your  Bill,  the  enrollment  is  enforced  merely  by  penalty. 
I  therefore  think  fit  to  send  you  a  copy  of  the  North- 
Carolina  Act ;  that,  by  comparing  the  two  together,  you 
may  be  enabled  to  frame  and  pass  such  a  law,  as  shall  cor- 
respond with  the  sentiments  of  that  Board. 

I  am,  sir,  your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

Dartmouth. 

Sir  James  Wright,  Baronet,  Georgia. 


FROM  THE  EARL  OF  DARTMOUTH  TO  THE  GOVERNOURS  OF 
THE  SEVERAL  COLONIES. 
[  Private.  ]  Whitehall,  March  3,  177.). 

Sir  :  It  is  fit  that  I  should  acquaint  you  that  the  Reso- 
lutions of  the  House  of  Commons,  which  accompanies  my 
separate  despatch,  passed  in  the  Committee  by  a  majority 
of  tw  o  hundred  and  seventy-four  to  eighly-eight ;  and  was 
received  and  agreed  to  by  the  House  without  a  division. 
And,  indeed,  the  great  majorities  which  have  appeared  in 
both  Houses,  upon  every  question  that  has  been  proposed 
for  maintaining  the  supremacy  of  Parliament,  is  such  an 
evidence  of  the  general  sense  of  the  Nation  upon  that  sub- 
ject, as  must  show  how  little  ground  (here  has  been  for 
those  assurances  which  have  been  artfully  held  out  to  the 
Americans  of  support  here,  in  the  dangerous  conduct  they 
have  adopted  ;  and  convince  them  that  there  neither  can,  nor 
will  be  any  the  least  relaxation  from  those  measures  which 
that  conduct  has  made  indispensably  necessary  for  redu- 
cing the  Colonies  to  the  constitutional  authority  of  Parlia- 
ment.      I  am,  sir,  your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

Dartmouth. 

His  Honour  the  Lieutenant  Governour  of 
South- Carolina. 


FROM  THE  EARL  OF  DARTMOUTH   TO   THE  GOVERNOUR  OF 
PENNSYLVANIA. 

Whitehall,  March  3,  1775. 
Sir:  By  the  mail  of  the  last  New-York  Packet,  I  re- 
ceived your  despatch  of  the  30th  January,  and  have  laid 
it  before  the  King;  but  as  my  Circular  Letter  to  you  of 
this  date,  enclosing  the  Resolution  of  the  House  of  Com- 
mons on  the  20th  of  February,  contains  such  instructions 
as  have  been  thought  fit  to  be  given  to  His  Majesty's  Go- 
vernours  in  the  Colonies,  in  the  present  situation  of  affairs, 
I  have  not  any  particular  commands  from  the  King  to  sig- 
nify to  you  thereupon. 

1  am,  sir,  your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

Dartmouth. 

Deputy  Governour  Penn. 


FROM  THE  EARL  OF  DARTMOUTH  TO  THE   GOVERNOURS  OF 
THE  COLONIES. 

Whitehall,  February  22,  1775. 

Sir  :  Enclosed  I  send  you,  by  the  King's  command,  a 
Joint  Address  of  both  Houses  of  Parliament  to  His  Majes- 
ty, upon  a  consideration  of  the  Papers  which  had  been 
communicated  to  them  relative  to  the  state  of  the  Ameri- 
can Colonies,  together  with  His  Majesty's  most  gracious 
answer  to  the  said  Address. 

1  likewise  send  you  a  printed  copy  of  a  Bill  brought  into 
the  House  of  Commons,  for  Restraining  the  Trade  and 
Fisheries  of  the  four  New-England  Governments  for  a 
limited  time  ;  together  with  a  copy  of  a  Resolution  declara- 
tory of  the  sense  of  Parliament  upon  the  subject  of  Taxa- 
tion, which  Resolution  was  moved  in  the  Committee  on 


27 


CORRESPONDENCE.  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1"5. 


28 


Monday  last,  and  carried  by  a  majority  of  two  hundred  and 
seventy-four  to  eighty -eight. 

As  these  two  measures  are  as  yet  in  the  first  stages  only 
of  consideration,  and  as  the  Bill  may  possibly  admit,  in  its 
further  progress,  of  some  alteration,  I  shall  only  say  upon 
them,  that  I  flatter  myself  that  the  firm  determination  of 
Parliament  to  preserve  the  Colonies  in  a  due  dependance 
upon  this  Kingdom,  tempered  with  the  justice  and  mode- 
ration expressed  in  the  last  Resolution  of  the  Committee, 
will  have  th*e  effect  to  produce  such  a  conduct  on  the  part 
of  the  Colonies  as  shall  lead  to  a  restoration  of  the  publick 
tranquillity. 

1  am,  sir,  your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

Dartmouth. 

Deputy  Governour  of  Pennsylvania. 

FROM  THE  EARL  OF  DARTMOUTH  TO  THE  GOVERNOURS  OF 
THE  COLONIES. 
[  Separate.  ]  Whitehall,  March  3,  1775. 

Sir:  You  will  have  seen,  in  the  King's  Answer  to  the 
Joint  Address  of  both  Houses  of  Parliament,  on  the  7th  of 
February,  (which  Address  and  Answer  have  been  already 
transmitted  to  you,)  how  much  attention  His  Majesty  was 
graciously  pleased  to  give  to  the  assurance  held  out  in  that 
Address,  of  the  readiness  of  Parliament  to  afford  every  just 
and  reasonable  indulgence  to  the  Colonies,  whenever  they 
should  make  a  proper  application,  on  the  ground  of  any 
real  grievance  they  might  have  to  complain  of;  and  there- 
fore I  have  the  less  occasion  now  to  enlarge  upon  the  satis- 
faction it  hath  given  His  Majesty  to  see  that  Address  fol- 
lowed by  the  enclosed  Resolution  of  the  House  of  Com- 
mons, which,  whatever  may  be  the  effect  of  it,  (I  trust  a 
happy  one,)  will  forever  remain  an  evidence  of  their  jus- 
tice and  moderation,  and  manifest  the  temper  which  has 
accompanied  their  deliberations  upon  that  question,  which 
has  been  the  source  of  so  much  disquiet  to  His  Majesty's 
subjects  in  America,  and  the  pretence  of  acts  of  such  crimi- 
nal disorder  and  disobedience. 

His  Majesty  ardently  wishes  to  see  a  reconciliation  of 
the  unhappy  difference  which  has  produced  those  disor- 
ders, through  every  means  by  which  it  may  be  obtained, 
without  prejudice  to  the  just  authority  of  Parliament,  which 
His  Majesty  will  never  suffer  to  be  violated ;  approves  the 
Resolution  of  his  faithful  Commons,  and  commands  me  to 
transmit  it  to  you,  not  doubting  that  this  happy  disposition 
to  comply  with  every  just  and  reasonable  wish  of  the  King's 
subjects  in  America,  will  meet  with  such  a  return  of  duty 
and  affection  on  their  part,  as  will  lead  to  a  happy  issue  of 
the  present  disputes,  and  to  a  re-establishment  of  the  pub- 
lick  tranquillity,  on  those  grounds  of  equity,  justice,  and 
moderation,  which  the  Resolution  holds  forth. 

The  King  has  the  greater  satisfaction  in  this  Resolution, 
and  the  greater  confidence  in  the  good  effects  of  it,  from 
having  seen  that,  amidst  all  the  intemperance  into  which  a 
people,  jealous  of  their  liberties,  have  been  unfortunately 
misled,  they  have  nevertheless  avowed  the  justice,  the 
equity,  and  the  propriety  of  subjects  of  the  same  State  con- 
tributing, according  to  their  abilities  and  situation,  to  the 
Publick  Burdens ;  and  I  think  I  am  warranted  in  saying 
that  this  Resolution  holds  no  proposition  beyond  that. 

I  am  unwilling  to  suppose  that  any'of  the  King's  sub- 
jects in  the  Colonies  can  have  so  far  forgot  the  benefits 
they  have  received  from  the  Parent  State,  as  not  to  ac- 
knowledge that  it  is  to  her  support,  held  forth  at  the  ex- 
pense of  her  blood  and  treasure,  that  they  principally  owe 
that  security  which  hath  raised  them  to  their  present  state 
of  opulence  and  importance.  In  this  situation,  therefore, 
justice  requires  that  they  should,  in  return,  contribute,  ac- 
cording to  their  abilities,  to  the  common  defence  ;  and  their 
own  welfare  and  interest  demand  that  their  Civil  Establish- 
ment should  be  supported  with  a  becoming  dignity. 

It  has  been  the  care,  and,  I  am  persuaded,  it  is  the  firm 
determination  of  Parliament  to  see  that  both  these  ends 
are  answered  ;  and  their  wisdom  and  moderation  have  sug- 
gested the  propriety  of  leaving  to  each  Colony  to  judge  of 
the  ways  and  means  of  making  due  provision  for  these  pur- 
poses, reserving  to  themselves  a  discretionary  power  of  ap- 
proving or  disapproving  what  shall  be  offered. 

The  Resolution  neither  points  out  what  the  Civil  Estab- 
lishment should  be,  nor  demands  any  specific  sum  in  aid 


of  the  Publick  Burdens.  In  both  these  respects  it  leaves 
full  scope  for  that  justice  and  liberality  which  may  be  ex- 
pected from  Colonies  that,  under  all  their  prejudices,  have 
never  been  wanting  in  expressions  of  an  affectionate  attach- 
ment to  the  Mother  Country,  and  a  zealous  regard  for  the 
welfare  of  the  British  Empire;  and  therefore  the  King 
trusts  that  the  provision  they  will  engage  to  make  for  the 
support  of  Civil  Government,  will  be  adequate  to  the  rank 
and  station  of  every  necessary  Officer,  and  that  the  sum  to 
be  given  in  contribution  to  the  common  defence,  will  be 
offered  on  such  terms,  and  proposed  in  such  a  way,  as  to 
increase  or  diminish,  according  to  the  Publick  Burdens  of 
this  Kingdom  are  from  time  to  time  augmented  or  reduced, 
in  so  far  as  those  Burdens  consist  of  Taxes  and  Duties, 
which  are  not  a  security  for  the  National  Debt.  By  such 
a  mode  of  contribution,  the  Colonies  will  have  full  security 
that  they  can  never  be  required  to  tax  themselves,  without 
Parliament's  taxing  the  subjects  of  this  Kingdom  in  a  far 
greater  proportion  ;  and  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  any 
proposition  of  this  nature,  made  by  any  of  the  Colonies, 
and  accompanied  with  such  a  state  of  their  facilities  and 
abilities,  as  may  evince  the  equity  of  the  proposal,  will  be 
received  with  every  possible  indulgence,  provided  it  be,  at 
the  same  time,  unaccompanied  with  any  declaration,  and 
unmixed  with  any  claims  which  will  make  it  impossible 
for  the  King,  consistent  with  his  own  dignity,  or  for  Parlia- 
ment, consistent  with  their  constitutional  rights,  to  receive  it. 
But  1  will  not  suppose  that  any  of  the  Colonies  will,  after 
this  example  of  the  temper  and  moderation  of  Parliament, 
adopt  such  a  conduct;  on  the  contrary,  I  will  cherish  a 
pleasing  hope  that  the  publick  peace  will  be  restored,  and 
that  the  Colonies,  forgetting  all  other  trivial  and  groundless 
complaint  which  ill  humour  hath  produced,  will  enter  into 
the  consideration  of  the  Resolution  of  the  House  of  Com- 
mons with  that  calmness  and  deliberation  which  the  impor- 
tance of  it  demands,  and  with  that  good  will  and  inclination 
to  a  reconciliation  which  are  due  to  the  candour  and  justice 
with  which  Parliament  has  taken  up  this  business,  and  at 
once  declare  to  the  Colonies  what  will  be  ultimately  ex- 
pected from  them. 

I  have  already  said  that  the  King  entirely  approves  the 
Resolution  of  the  House  of  Commons,  and  His  Majesty 
commands  me  to  say,  that  a  compliance  therewith  by  the 
General  Assembly  of  New-York,  [which  has  already 
shewn  so  good  a  disposition  towards  a  reconciliation  with 
the  Mother  Country,*]  will  be  most  graciously  considered 
by  His  Majesty,  not  only  as  a  testimony  of  their  reverence 
for  Parliament,  but  also  as  a  mark  of  their  duty  and  attach- 
ment to  their  Sovereign,  who  has  no  object  nearer  to  his 
heart  than  the  peace  and  prosperity  of  his  subjects  in  every 
part  of  his  Dominions.  At  the  same  time  His  Majesty 
considers  himself  bound  by  every  tie  to  exert  those  means 
the  Constitution  has  placed  in  his  hands,  for  preserving 
that  Constitution  entire,  and  to  resist  with  firmness  every 
attempt  to  violate  the  rights  of  Parliament,  to  distress  and 
obstruct  the  lawful  Commerce  of  his  subjects  ;  and  to  en- 
courage in  the  Colonies  ideas  of  independence,  inconsistent 
with  their  connection  with  this  Kingdom. 

1  am,  sir,  your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

Dartmouth. 

Governour  of  Netv-York. 

Copy  of  a  Resolution  of  the  House  of  Commons,  21th 
February,  1775.  enclosed  by  the  Karl  of  Dartmouth, 
in  his  Circular  Letter  to  the  Governours  of  the  Colo- 
nies, dated  March  '.3,  1775. 

Resolved,  That  when  the  Governour,  Council  and  As- 
sembly, or  General  Court  of  any  of  His  Majesty's  Provin- 
ces or  Colonies  in  America,  shall  propose  to  make  provi- 
sion according  to  the  condition,  circumstances  and  situation 
of  such  Province  or  Colony,  for  contributing  their  propor- 
tion to  the  common  defence,  (such  proportion  to  be  raised 
under  the  authority  of  the  General  Court  or  General  As- 
sembly of  such  Province  or  Colony,  and  disposable  by 
Parliament,)  and  shall  engage  to  make  provision  also  for 
the  support  of  the  Civil  Government,  and  the  Administra- 
tion of  Justice  in  such  Province  or  Colony,  it  will  be 
proper,  if  such  proposal  shall  be  approved  by  His  Majesty 
and  the  two  Houses  of  Parliament,  and  for  so  long  as  such 

*  Those  words  were  omitted  in  the  Letters  to  the  other  Colonies. 


29 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775. 


•30 


provision  shall  be  made  accordingly,  to  forbear  in  respect  of 
such  Province  or  Colony,  to  levy  any  Duty,  Tax  or  Assess- 
ment, or  to  impose  any  further  Duty,  Tax  or  Assessment, 
except  only  such  Duties  as  it  may  be  expedient  to  continue 
to  levy,  or  to  impose  for  the  regulation  of  Commerce  ;  the 
net  produce  of  the  Duties  last  mentioned  to  be  carried 
to  the  account  of  such  Province  or  Colony  respectively 


EARL  OF  DARTMOUTH  TO  THE   GOVERNOUR  OF  NEW-YORK. 
[Private  ]  Whitehall,  March  3,  1775. 

Sir:  My  separate  despatch  of  this  day's  date,  enclosing 
a  Resolution  of  the  House  of  Commons,  may  be  ostensibly 
of  use  in  case  the  General  Assembly  should  think  fit  to 
take  up  the  consideration  of  that  Resolution  ;  but  it  is  fit  I 
should  observe  to  you  that  it  is  not  His  Majesty's  intention, 
for  verv  obvious  reasons,  that  you  should  officially  commu- 
nicate it  to  them;  at  the  same  time  as  I  think  it  cannot  fail 
to  be  an  object  of  discussion  in  the  Assembly,  I  must  add 
that  the  King  considers  that  the  good  effect  of  it  will,  in  a 
great  measure,  depend  upon  your  ability  and  address  in  a 
proper  explanation  of  it  to  those  whose  situation  and  con- 
nections may  enable  them  to  give  facility  to  the  measures 
it  points  to.  And  His  Majesty  has  no  doubt  that  you  will 
exert  every  endeavour  to  induce  such  a  compliance  on  the 
part  of  the  Assembly,  as  may  correspond  with  His  Majes- 
ty's ideas  of  their  justice,  and  his  earnest  wishes  to  see  a 
happy  restoration  of  the  publick  tranquillity. 

I  am,  sir,  your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

Dartmouth. 

Lientenant  Governour  of  New-  York. 


FROM  THE  EARL  OF  DARTMOUTH  TO   THE   GOVERNOUR  OF 
NEW-YORK. 

Whitehall,  March  4,  1775. 
Sir:  The  American  Packets  having  been  detained  a 
few  days  beyond  the  usual  time  of  their  sailing,  gives  me 
an  opportunity  of  acquainting  you,  that  your  despatch  of 
the  first  of  February  has  been  received,  and  of  assuring 
you  that  the  sentiments  of  duty  to  the  King,  and  wishes 
of  a  reconciliation  with  the  Mother  Country,  so  fully  ex- 
pressed in  the  Addresses  of  the  Council  and  Assembly,  in 
answer  to  your  very  prudent  and  proper  Speech  to  them, 
have  been  very  graciously  received  by  His  Majesty,  and 
have  given  general  satisfaction  to  all  ranks  of  people  in 
this  Kingdom. 

1  am,  sir,  your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

Dartmouth. 

Lieutenant  Governour  Colden. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM   LONDON,  TO   A  GENTLEMAN 
IN  NEW-YORK,  DATED  MARCH  4,  1775. 

The  news  which  the  Packet  brought  us  of  the  conduct 
of  the  people  of  New-  York,  has  filled  every  heart  with 
joy,  and  employed  every  tongue  in  your  praise.  Even 
faction  itself  admires  in  sullen  silence.  Pursue  the  same 
line  of  mild  and  prudent  counsel  and  conduct,  and  you 
will  secure  the  liberties  of  your  Country,  and  obtain  im- 
mortal gratitude  from  the  posterity  of  even  your  rivals. 

I  am  glad  you  anticipated  Lord  North's  proposition,  as 
your  honour  will  be  so  much  the  higher.  Whatever  the 
enemies  of  both  Countries  may  say,  the  Resolution  which 
was  moved  for  by  Lord  North,  is  founded  on  the  truest 
policy  and  benevolence.  While  it  reserves  and  maintains 
the  just  and  necessary  sovereignty  of  Parliament,  it  invites 
the  Colonists  to  an  amicable  settlement  of  the  dispute. 
It  draws  a  strong  line  between  the  seditious  and  honest 
(the  misguided)  citizen,  and,  while  it  leaves  the  former  to 
be  checked  by  the  sword  of  justice,  leads  the  latter  to  obe- 
dience, by  granting  him  all  the  indulgence  he  could  ask  with 
safety  to  his  own  happiness.  It  blends  that  firmness  and 
benevolence  which  are  always  united  in  the  counsels  of  a 
prudent  Legislature. 

Such  is  the  proposed  Resolution  ;  which  Opposition  will, 
without  doubt,  outrageously  censure  and  traduce,  because 
it  will  destroy  their  sanguine  hopes  of  success,  by  tending 
to  allay  popular  discontents,  and  renew  the  friendship  of 
Great  Britain  and  her  Colonies.  They  foresee,  with  all 
the  bitterness  of  envy,  the  triumph  of  their  rivals,  and 


sicken  at  the  prospect  of  that  publick  tranquillity,  over  the 
imaginary  destruction  of  which  they  smiled  with  malignant 
joy. — In  the  rage  of  disappointment,  they  forgot  the  ne- 
cessary appearance  of  consistency,  and  charge  the  same 
Administration  with  timidity  and  an  ignorant  retreat,  which 
they,  but  yesterday,  censured  with  obstinate  perseverance 
and  inflexible  severity.  The  former  accusation  is  as  ground- 
less as  the  latter.  Administration  pursues  the  equitable 
and  honourable  line  between  both  extremes,  equally  remote 
from  undistinguishing  impetuosity  and  wavering  irresolu- 
tion. The  proposition  in  question  discovers  not  the  faint- 
est colour  of  a  resignation  of  Parliamentary  authority,  or 
sacrifice  of  its  dignity. 

The  proposals  of  the  Colonies,  which  it  invites,  are  to 
be  made  by  their  Assemblies.  The  contested  question 
about  the  right  of  taxation  is  to  cease,  with  respect  to  such 
Province  or  Colony  as  shall  propose  to  make  provision  by 
its  Assembly,  according  to  its  situation  and  circumstances, 
for  contributing  its  proportion  to  the  common  defence,  and 
for  the  support  of  the  Civil  Government,  and  the  Admin- 
istration of  Justice  within  itself. 

By  this  salutary  measure,  therefore,  the  necessity  and 
just  authority  of  Parliament  will  be  preserved,  and  the 
Americans  gratified  in  their  wish  of  being  taxed  by  their 
own  Representatives.  The  Legislature  will  still  possess 
the  unalienable  power  of  commanding  and  employing  the 
strength  of  the  State  in  the  common  defence  ;  and  the 
Colonies  enjoy  the  privilege  of  levying  taxes  in  such  modes 
as  are  most  expedient  and  agreeable  to  themselves.  While 
they  cheerfully  contribute  their  proportion  for  the  support 
ol  their  own  Civil  Establishment,  and  the  general  preserva- 
tion and  defence  of  the  Empire,  no  taxes  will  be  attempted 
to  be  levied  on  them  but  what  are  imposed  by  their  own 
Representatives.  When  they  refuse  to  fulfil  their  engage- 
ments, and  will  not  assist  in  bearing  the  common  burdens, 
Parliament  will  then  only  interfere,  and  exert  that  power 
which  must  necessarily  reside  in  the  Supreme  Legislature, 
of  obliging  all  the  subjects  of  the  State  to  co-operate  for 
its  preservation  and-  defence. 

By  this  measure,  therefore,  Parliament  will  give  a  new 
and  honourable  proof,  that  its  decisions  are  guided  by  be- 
nevolence and  fortitude :  that  when  it  sends  forth  the 
sword  of  justice  to  restrain  and  punish  the  factious,  it 
extends  also  the  most  reasonable  and  friendly  proposals  to 
invite  the  good,  though  deluded  citizen,  to  peace  and  re- 
conciliation. 


CHOWAN  COUNTY  (NORTH-C AROLINa)  COMMITTEE. 

March  4,  1775. 

The  Committee  met  at  the  House  of  Capt.  James  Sum- 
ner, and  the  gentlemen  appointed  at  a  former  meeting  of 
Directors,  to  promote  subscriptions  for  the  encouragement 
of  Manufactures,  informed  the  Committee  that  the  sum  of 
Eighty  Pounds  Sterling  was  subscribed  by  the  inhabitants 
of  this  County  for  that  laudable  purpose.  The  Committee, 
taking  into  consideration  the  manner  in  which  said  sum 
may  be  applied,  so  as  to  redound  to  the  utility  of  this 
Province  in  general,  and  to  this  County  in  particular,  re- 
solved, that  the  sum  of  Forty  Pounds  Sterling  be  paid 
by  the  Chairman  of  the  Committee  to  any  person  who 
shall,  in  eighteen  months  from  the  date  hereof,  first  make  in 
this  Province,  or  cause  to  be  therein  made,  under  his  direc- 
tion, five  hundred  pair  of  Wool  Cards,  such  as  usually 
cost  One  Shilling  and  Three  Pence  Sterling,  in  Great 
Britain;  and  five  hundred  pair  of  good  Cotton  Cards,  such 
as  usually  cost  Two  Shillings  and  Six  Pence  Sterling  in 
Great  Britain,  which  the  Committee  hereby  oblige  them- 
selves to  purchase  and  pay,  ready  money,  for,  at  the  rate 
of  Two  Shillings  Sterling  for  the  Wool  Cards,  and  Three 
Shillings  Sterling  a  pair  for  the  Cotton  Cards ;  and  it  is 
expected  that  the  person  entitled  to  such  premiums  shall 
furnish  them  at  that  price.  The  quality  and  price  that 
such  Cards  usually  cost  in  Great  Britain  to  be  submitted 
to  the  Committee. 

The  Committee  also  offer  a  premium  of  Forty  Pounds 
Sterling,  to  be  paid  by  the  Chairman  of  the  Committee,  to 
the  person  who  shall  first  make  for  sale,  in  this  Province,  two 
thousand  pounds  of  good  Steel,  fit  for  edged  tools.  The 
Committee  are  apprehensive  the  premiums  here  offered 
are  too  inconsiderable  to  induce  any  person  to  attempt  the 


81 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775. 


32 


above  branches  of  business  ;  but  they  flatter  tliemselves  that 
the  oilier  Counties  in  this  Province,  stimulated  by  the  same 
laudable  motives  to  promote  industry,  one  of  the  primary 
sources  of  virtue  and  wealth,  may  join  them,  in  order  that 
the  above  branches  of  Manufacture  may  be  effectually 
carried  into  execution  ;  in  which  case,  it  is  hoped  the  Com- 
mittees of  such  Counties  as  are  desirous  to  contribute,  will 
correspond  with  this  Committee  upon  the  subject,  that 
(he  whole  Premium  offered  may  appear  at  once  in  the 
papers  abroad,  in  which  it  is  proposed  to  have  it  published. 

The  Committee  likewise  offer  a  Premium  of  Ten  Pounds, 
Proclamation  Money,  to  be  paid  by  their  Chairman,  to  any 
person  who  shall,  within  twelve  months  from  this  date, 
first  produce  one  hundred  yards  of  well  fulled  Woollen 
Cloth  to  the  Committee,  spun  and  wove  in  this  County,  and 
fulled  in  any  County  within  the  District  of  the  Superiour 
Court  of  Edenton;  and  a  Premium  of  Ten  Pounds,  like  mo- 
ney, to  be  paid  by  the  Chairman,  to  the  person  who  shall, 
within  twelve  months  from  this  date,  first  produce  to  the 
Committee  one  hundred  yards  of  well  bleached  Linen,  such 
as  usually  costs  Two  Shillings  Sterling  in  Great  Britain; 
and  the  sum  of  Five  Pounds,  like  money,  to  any  person  who 
shall  produce  one  hundred  yards  of  Linen,  next  in  quality, 
not  of  less  value  than  what  usually  costs  One  Shilling  and 
Eight  Pence  Sterling,  in  Great  Britain ;  and  both  kinds 
of  Linen  to  be  manufactured  in  this  County ;  and  the 
quality  of  them  to  be  submitted  to  the  judgment  of  the 
Committee.        Signed  by  order  of  the  Committee, 

Samuel  Jones,  Clerk. 


Durham,  New-Hampshire,  March,  4,  1775. 
Mr.  Fowle  :  Whereas,  some  evil-minded  and  malicious 
persons  have  asserted  that  a  number  of  people  in  the  Town 
of  Durham  are  about  forming  themselves  into  a  Company, 
in  order  to  throw  off  all  obedience  to  the  Militia  Officers, 
and  set  at  defiance  the  Laws  of  Government  :  I  desire 
you  to  publish  the  Articles  of  Inlistment  in  your  next 
paper,  that  the  publick  may  judge  how  little  foundation 
there  is  for  so  scandalous  a  report.  The  Articles  are  as 
follows : 

"  We,  the  Subscribers,  do  hereby  agree  to  form  out- 
selves  into  a  Company,  and  meet  at  Durham  Falls,  on 
every  Monday  afternoon,  for  six  months  next  coming,  to 
acquaint  ourselves  with  the  Military  Art,  and  instruct  each 
other  in  the  various  manoeuvres  and  evolutions  which  are 
necessary  for  Infantry  in  time  of  battle.  We  also  agree 
to  appear  each  time  well  furnished  with  Arms  and  Ammu- 
nition :  And  at  our  first  meeting,  to  nominate  and  appoint 
the  several  Officers,  who  are  to  preside  over  us  for  the  first 
month,  and  then  proceed  to  appoint  others  for  the  next 
month,  always  avoiding  to  re-elect  any  that  have  served, 
until  all  the  others  have  gone  through  their  tour  of  duty, 
as  Officers:  And  at  any  muster  or  field-day,  we  shall 
hold  ourselves  obliged  to  incorporate  with  the  respective 
Companies  to  which  wre  belong,  and  yield  all  due  obedi- 
ence to  the  proper  Officers  of  the  Militia,  appointed  by 
the  Captain  General ;  and  endeavour  to  instruct  those  who 
are  undisciplined  in  the  best  manner  we  are  able." 

Signed  by  eighty-two  reputable  inhabitants. 

This  is  an  exact  copy  of  the  Articles,  which  any  person 
that  yet  remains  in  doubt  may  be  satisfied  of  by  applying 
to  me  and  viewing  the  original,  a  sight  of  which  may,  at 
any  time,  be  had ;  and  was  there  nothing  more  illegal  and 
injurious  in  a  late  paper,  signed  by  several  persons  in  this 
Province,  I  believe  the  signers  would  not  take  so  much 
pains  in  keeping  it  from  the  publick  view.  Rut  whatever 
may  be  the  purport  of  that,  I  rejoice  in  laying  the  contents 
of  this  before  the  people,  that  they  may  judge  whether  it 
has  the  least  appearance  of  an  illegal  combination,  or  whe- 
ther, on  the  contrary,  it  does  not  appear  to  be  a  well  con- 
certed plan  to  promote  and  encourage  the  Military  Art. 
1  flatter  myself  that  even  malice  itself  could  not  adjudge 
this  to  be  an  unjustifiable  measure,  or  suggest  that  any 
part  of  it  looks  like  treason  or  rebellion  ;  and  I  can  account 
for  the  scandalous  report  concerning  it,  in  no  other  way, 
but  by  supposing  that  these  defamers  expected  (according 
to  the  custom  of  this  day)  to  be  rewarded  for  their  slander 
by  some  posts  of  honour  or  profit. 

Sir,  I  am  your  very  humble  servant, 

John  Sullivan. 


on  mr.  sullivan's  letter,  of  march  4,  1775. 
M  it.  Fowle  :  In  a  publication  in  your  last  paper,  under 
the  signature  of  Mr.  Sullivan,  we  have  been  favoured  with 
a  copy  of  an  Engagement  entered  into  by  a  number  of 
people  to  meet  at  Durham  Falls,  once  a  week,  for  the 
space  of  six  months  to  come,  in  order  to  acquire  Military 
skill,  under  Officers  to  be  appointed  by  themselves, 
monthly. 

As  this  is  a  matter  of  publick  concern,  I  shall  beg  per- 
mission, Mr.  Printer,  through  the  channel  of  your  paper, 
to  lay  some  animadversions  before  the  publick  upon  it, 
which,  I  think,  it  would  be  unpardonable  to  neglect. 

In  the  first  place,  the  appointment  of  all  Military  Officers, 
whether  for  a  day,  a  week,  or  a  month,  is  the  sole  right  of 
the  King,  or  of  those  deriving  authority  from  him,  and  (to 
treat  the  matter  in  the  most  moderate  terms)  it  is  a  very 
improper  step  for  any  body  of  men  to  assume  that  power 
to  themselves,  upon  any  occasion  or  pretence  whatsoever. 

The  Laws  of  the  Province  require  the  Militia  to  be 
drawn  forth,  to  learn  the  Military  exercise,  four  times  a 
year,  and  no  more.  Mr.  Sullivan  may,  probably,  tell  us 
that  this  new-modeled  Company  does  not  come  under  this 
limitation  ;  yet  I  presume  he  will  not  deny  hut  that  the 
meeting  of  any  part  of  the  Militia — and  these  people  declare 
themselves  to  belong  to  it — any  otherwise  than  the  law- 
directs,  is,  at  least,  an  evasion,  if  not  a  direct  violation  of 
the  law,  both  which  ought  to  be  equally  avoided. 

The  Town  of  Durham,  by  having  eighty-two  of  its 
inhabitants  employed  one  day  in  a  week,  (for  we  cannot 
suppose  they  will  mind  any  other  business  on  those  days,) 
for  six  months,  in  Military  exercises,  instead  of  their  hus- 
bandry, will  sustain  a  damage  of  Three  Hundred  and 
Twenty-Seven  Pounds,  lawful  money,  computing  the  loss 
of  their  labour  only  at  half  a  dollar  a  day,  for  each  person. 
Supposing,  now,  that  all  the  men  in  the  Province,  fit  to 
bear  arms,  which  may  be  reasonably  calculated  at  fourteen 
thousand,  should  catch  this  Military  ardour,  as  most  infec- 
tions are  catching;  and  according  to  the  tendency  of  this 
plan,  follow  the  example  of  Durham,  it  would,  after  Dur- 
ham fashion,  occasion  a  damage  of  Fifty-Four  Thousand 
Pounds,  lawful  money,  to  the  Province.  A  pretty  tax, 
truly,  for  a  new  Country!  Whatever  reason  Mr.  Sullivan 
may  have  to  rejoice  in  thus  leading  on  the  people  to  their 
own  damage,  I  am  sure  the  Province  would  have  abundant 
reason  not  to  rejoice  in  his  rejoicing,  but  to  regret  their  own 
folly  ;  and  it  is  well  known  that  many  arc,  at  this  day,  in 
the  like  predicament  on  account  of  some  past  transactions 
amongst  us.  I  hope,  therefore,  the  people  will  judge  for 
themselves,  and  avoid  incurring  a  damage  to  the  Province, 
which,  no  doubt,  the  Legislature  had  in  contemplation  to 
prevent,  by  limiting  the  times  of  training  the  Militia  to 
four  days  in  a  year. 

Moreover,  this  extraordinary  spirit  to  acquire  the  use  of 
Arms,  at  a  juncture  when  the  noise  of  civil  discord  begins 
to  roar  in  our  neighbourhood,  marks  strongly  a  disposition 
to  employ  our  Arms  against  the  power  and  authority  we 
ought  to  support  and  defend;  every  appearance  of  which 
should  be  avoided  with  the  utmost  caution  and  circum- 
spection. 

As  I  wish  not,  Mr.  Printer,  to  trespass  too  much  on 
your  indulgence,  I  shall,  for  the  present,  only  take  notice 
that,  though  Sullivan  plainly  discovers  the  Durham  plan 
to  be  a  child  of  his  own  ;  yet  I  still  hope  he  will,  upon  re- 
flection, have  candour  enough  to  acknowledge  the  deform- 
ities of  his  baby,  and  take  it  in  good  part  in  me,  to  advise 
him  to  abandon  the  system  he  hath  for  some  time  past 
been  engaged  in  ;  a  system  manifestly  tending  to  bring 
calamity  and  distress  upon  the  good  people  of  this  once 
happy  Province.  Monitor. 


MR.  SULLIVAN'S  REPLY  TO  "  MONITOR." 

Ma.  Printer:  In  your  paper  of  the  17th  instant,  I 
observed  a  piece,  signed  by  a  person  who  calls  himself 
Monitor,  full  of  ill-natured  reflections  upon  an  Agreement 
entered  into  by  a  number  of  persons  in  Durham,  to  assem- 
ble once  a  week,  for  the  space  of  six  months,  to  instruct 
each  other  in  the  Military  Art.  The  feeble  attempts  of 
this  scurrilous  writer  to  display  his  wit  in  the  former  and 
latter  part  of  his  nonsensical  piece,  can  deserve  nothing  but 
contempt  and  ridicule. 


88 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775. 


34 


His  assertion,  that  a  number  of  persons  assembling  for 
the  purpose  of  instructing  each  other  in  the  art  of  War, 
and  appointing  persons  to  give  the  words  of  command,  in- 
terferes with  the  Royal  prerogative  in  the  appointment  of 
Officers,  and  amounts  to  an  evasion,  if  not  a  violation,  of 
the  Province  Laws,  fully  demonstrates  his  ignorance,  both 
of  the  Law  and  Constitution. 

The  curious  calculation  he  makes  of  the  loss  New-Hamp- 
shire must  sustain  if  the  same  military  ardour  (which  he 
ignorantly  calls  an  infection)  should  prevail  throughout 
the  Province,  merits  the  ridicule  of  all  mankind. 

I  am  surprised  that  this  curious  calculator  (while  his 
hand  was  in)  did  not  inform  us  of  the  amazing  loss  this 
Government  sustains  by  devoting  a  seventh  part  of  the 
time  to  religious  exercises;  and  endeavour  to  convince  us 
that,  as  our  clothing  costs  a  large  sum,  it  would  be  best  to 
go  naked. 

After  which,  I  should  be  glad  to  know  from  him,  if  we 
were  to  lay  down  our  arms,  and  make  the  infamous  sub- 
mission he  contends  for,  how  much  money  we  should  be 
able  to  earn  in  a  day,  and  how  much  of  our  earnings  we 
should  be  able  to  keep  in  our  pockets. 

I  hope  the  publick  will  excuse  my  not  giving  a  more 
serious  and  particular  answer  to  the  production  of  a  dis- 
tempered brain,  as  that  might  make  him  wise  in  his  own 
conceit,  and  induce  this  nonsensical  scribbler  to  think  him- 
self a  person  of  some  consequence. 

1  shall  conclude  with  reminding  him,  "  that  a  shoe- 
maker never  ought  to  go  beyond  his  last." 

Yours,  John  Sullivan. 


TO  THE  FREEMEN  OF  VIRGINIA. 

Committee  Chamber,  Norfolk,  March  6,  1775. 

Trusting  to  your  sure  resentment  against  the  enemies  of 
your  Country,  we,  the  Committee,  elected  by  ballot  for  the 
Borough  of  Norfolk,  hold  up  for  your  just  indignation  Mr. 
John  Brown,  Merchant,  of  this  place.  We  are  fully  sen- 
sible of  the  great  caution  with  which  publick  censure  should 
be  inflicted  ;  and,  at  all  times,  are  heartily  disposed  to  ac- 
complish the  great  design  of  the  Association  by  the  gentle 
methods  of  reason  and  persuasion.  But  an  unhappy 
proneness  to  unmanly  equivocation,  which  has  so  much 
distinguished  Mr.  Brown,  and  for  which  he  has,  in  more 
than  one  instance,  been  censured  by  the  voice  of  the  peo- 
ple, added  to  the  present  manifest  discovery  of  his  secret 
and  most  direct  attempt  to  defeat  the  measures  of  the 
Congress,  in  the  case  now  before  us,  and  of  some  very 
unjustifiable  steps  taken  to  conceal  his  disingenuous  con- 
duct, hath  precluded  us  from  the  milder  methods  we  would 
wish  to  adopt,  and  compelled  us  to  give  the  publick  the 
following  narration  :  On  Thursday,  the  2d  of  March,  this 
Committee  were  informed  of  the  arrival  of  the  Brig  Fan- 
ny, Captain  Watson,  with  a  number  of  Slaves  for  Mr. 
Brown;  and,  upon  inquiry,  it  appeared  that  they  were 
shipped  from  Jamaica  as  his  property,  and  on  his  account ; 
that  he  had  taken  great  pains  to  conceal  their  arrival  from 
the  knowledge  of  the  Committee ;  and  that  the  shipper  of 
the  Slaves,  Mr.  Brown's  correspondents,  and  the  Captain 
of  the  Vessel,  were  all  fully  apprized  of  the  Continental 
prohibition  against  that  article.  These  circumstances  in- 
duced a  suspicion  that  Mr.  Brown  had  given  orders  for  the 
Slaves  himself,  which  he  positively  denied,  asserting  that 
he  had  expressly  forbidden  his  correspondents  to  send  any, 
as  being  contrary  to  the  Association,  for  the  truth  of  which 
he  appealed  to  his  own  letter-book.  The  Secretary  being 
desired,  at  the  request  of  Mr.  Brown,  to  attend  him  to 
inspect  the  orders  said  to  have  been  given,  reported  that  he 
had  had  some  slight  and  hasty  glances  at  letters  written 
between  the  middle  of  December  and  beginning  of  January, 
and  was  sorry  to  say  he  had  seen  one  directed  to  Mr.  Hen- 
derson, and  another  to  Mr.  Livingston,  both  of  the  date  of 
December,  and  a  third  to  Messrs.  Campbells,  of  the  first  of 
January,  all  containing  positive  and  particular  orders  for 
remittances  to  be  made  him  in  Slaves ;  at  the  same  time 
hinting  the  necessity  of  secrecy,  as  it  is  an  article,  he 
writes,  he  could  not  avowedly  deal  in.  The  Secretary 
also  reported,  that  he  had  seen  a  postscript,  written  a  few 
days  after  the  determination  of  this  Committee,  directing 
the  return  of  a  Slave  imported  from  Antigua,  in  which 
postscript  Mr.  Brown  writes  his  correspondent  to  send 
Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii. 


him  no  more  than  two  Negro  lads,  as  it  would  be  danger- 
ous to  sell  them  here.  But  his  orders  to  his  other  corres- 
pondents appear  to  have  been  so  positive  that  they  were 
complied  with,  notwithstanding  his  friend  writes  him  that 
good  Slaves  would  sell  to  more  advantage  in  Jamaica  than 
in  Virginia.  From  the  whole  of  this  transaction,  there- 
fore, we,  the  Committee  for  Norfolk  Borough,  do  give  it 
as  our  unanimous  opinion,  that  the  said  John  Brown  has 
wilfully  and  perversely  violated  the  Continental  Associa- 
tion, to  which  he  had,  with  his  own  hand,  subscribed  obe- 
dience; and  that  agreeable  to  the  Eleventh  Article  we  are 
bound  "  forthwith  to  publish  the  truth  of  the  case,  to  the 
end  that  all  such  foes  to  the  rights  of  British  America 
may  be  publickly  known,  and  universally  contemned,  as 
the  enemies  of  American  Liberty,  and  that  every  person 
may  henceforth  break  off  all  dealings  with  him." 

Matthew  Phripp,  Chairman. 

James  Taylor,  Thomas  Newton,  Jr.,  Kiel  Jamieson, 

John  Hulchings,  Thomas  Ritson,         Robert  Taylor, 

John  Lawrence,  John  Boush,  Thomas  Claiborne, 

Joseph  Hutchings,  James  Holt,  Samuel  Inglis. 

Extract  from  the  Minutes. 

William  Davies,  Secretary. 


BALTIMORE  (MARYLAND)  COMMITTEE. 

At  a  Meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Observation  at  Bal- 
timore, March  6,  1775,  present  Forty-two  Members- — 

Captain  William  Moat,  of  the  Brig  Sally,  from  Bristol, 
appeared  before  the  Committee,  and  reported  his  cargo  on 
oath,  consisting  of  one  hundred  tons  of  British  Salt, 
and  twenty-four  indented  Servants.  The  Captain  further 
reports  that  he  took  in  his  Salt  before  the  12th  day  of 
December,  and  on  or  about  that  day  he  fell  down  the  River 
with  his  Vessel,  to  a  place  called  Rowland  Ferry,  there  to 
take  in  his  Servants  ;  that  he  continued  there  until  the  23d, 
and  sailed  from  King-Road  the  24th  of  December. 

On  motion  made  by  Doctor  John  Stevensoii,  to  whom 
Captain  Moat's  Vessel  and  Cargo  were  addressed,  that  he 
might  have  liberty  to  land  the  said  cargo  of  Salt,  alleging 
it  ought  only  to  be  considered  as  ballast,  and  was  not 
intended  to  be  prohibited  by  the  Association  of  the  Conti- 
nental Congress, 

The  Committee  took  into  consideration  the  state  of  the 
said  Brig  Sally,  Captain  William  Moat : 

Resolved,  unanimously,  That  the  Salt  imported  in  said 
Brig  be  not  landed. 


CUMBERLAND  COUNTY  (nEW-JERSEy)  COMMITTEE. 

Cumberland  County,  New-Jersey,  March  6,  1775. 

The  Committee  of  the  County  of  Cumberland,  in  New- 
Jersey,  met  at  Bridgetown  ;  and  after  reading  the  Associa- 
tion of  the  American  Congress,  it  appeared,  by  the  volun- 
tary declaration  of  Silas  Newcomb,  Esquire,  a  Member  of 
the  Committee,  that  he  had  contravened  the  same,  and,  in 
open  violation  of  the  Third  Article  of  the  aforesaid  Asso- 
ciation, had  drank  East-India  Tea  in  his  family  ever  since 
the  first  day  of  March  instant,  and  that  he  is  determined 
to  persist  in  the  same  practice.  After  much  time  spent  in 
vain  to  convince  Mr.  Newcomb  of  his  errour,  it  was  agreed, 
that  it  is  the  duty  of  this  Committee,  agreeable  to  the 
Eleventh  Article  of  the  above-mentioned  compact,  to  break 
off  all  dealings  with  him,  and  in  this  manner  publish  the 
truth  of  the  case,  that  he  may  be  distinguished  from  the 
friends  of  American  liberty. 

By  order  of  the  Committee, 

Thomas  Ewing,  Clerk. 

Cumberland  County,  New-Jersey. 

Whereas,  Silas  Newcomb,  Esquire,  was,  in  March  last, 
advertised  by  the  Committee  of  said  County,  for  a  breach 
of  the  Association  of  the  Continental  Congress,  and  having 
since  manifested  a  desire  of  making  a  publick  acknowledg- 
ment for  his  former  misconduct,  the  Committee  accepted 
of  the  following  recantation,  viz: — 

"  I,  the  subscriber,  do  hereby  publickly  acknowledge 
my  former  errour,  and  voluntarily  confess  myself  to  blame 
for  obstinately  refusing  to  submit  to  a  majority  of  the  Com- 
mittee ;  and  I  do  hereby  ask  pardon  of  the  Members  of  the 

3 


.35 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775. 


36 


Committee  for  the  abuses  offered  them,  and  promise,  for 
the  future,  to  regulate  my  conduct  agreeable  to  the  afore- 
said Association,  and  a  majority  of  said  Committee.  Wit- 
ness my  hand,  the  11th  day  of  May,  1775. 

"Silas  Newcomb." 
Published  by  order  of  the  Committee, 

Thomas  Ewing,  Cleric. 


FREEHOLD  (MONMOUTH  COUNTY,  NEW-JERSEY)  COM- 
MITTEE. 

Freehold,  March  6,  1775. 

Although  the  Committee  of  Observation  and  Inspection 
for  the  Township  of  Freehold,  in  the  County  of  Mon- 
mouth, New-Jersey,  was  constituted  early  in  December  last, 
and  the  members  have  statedly  and  assiduously  attended 
to  the  business  assigned  them  ever  since,  yet  they  have 
hitherto  deferred  the  publication  of  their  institution,  in 
hopes  of  the  general  concurrence  of  the  other  Townships 
in  the  choice  of  a  new  County  Committee,  when  one  pub- 
lication might  have  served  for  the  whole;  but  finding  some 
of  them  have  hitherto  declined  to  comply  with  the  recom- 
mendation of  the  General  Congress  in  that  respect,  and 
not  knowing  whether  they  intend  it  at  all,  they  judge  it 
highly  expedient  to  transmit  the  following  account  to  the 
Press,  lest  their  brethren  in  distant  parts  of  the  Colony 
should  think  the  County  of  Monmouth  altogether  inactive 
at  the  present  important  crisis. 

"In  pursuance  of  the  recommendation  of  the  Grand  Con- 
tinental Congress,  and  for  the  preservation  and  support  of 
American  freedom,  a  respectable  body  of  the  Freeholders, 
inhabitants  of  the  Township  of  Freehold,  met  at  Monmouth 
Court-House,  on  Saturday,  December  10th,  1774,  and 
unanimously  elected  the  following  gentlemen  to  serve  as 
a  Committee  of  Observation  and  Inspection  for  the  said 
Town,  viz  :  John  Anderson,  Esquire,  Captain  John  Co- 
venhoven,  Messrs.  Peter  Forman,  Hendrick  Smock,  Asher 
Holmes,  David  Forman,  and  John  Forman,  Doctor  Na- 
thaniel Scudder,  and  Doctor  Thomas  Henderson,  who 
were  instructed  by  their  constituents  to  endeavour,  to  the 
utmost  of  their  knowledge  and  power,  to  carry  into  execu- 
tion the  several  important  and  salutary  measures  pointed 
out  to  them  by  the  American  Congress  ;  and,  without  fa- 
vour or  affection,  to  make  all  such  diligent  inquiry  as  shall 
be  found  conducive  to  the  accomplishment  of  the  great 
and  necessary  purposes  held  up  by  them  to  the  attention 
of  America." 

At  an  early  meeting  of  said  Committee,  a  pamphlet,  en- 
titled Free  Thoughts  on  the  Retolves  of  the  Congress, 
by  A.  W.  Farmer,  was  handed  in  to  them,  and  their  opin- 
ion of  it  asked  by  a  number  of  their  constituents  then  pre- 
sent. Said  pamphlet  was  then  read,  and,  upon  mature 
deliberation,  unanimously  declared  to  be  a  performance  of 
the  most  pernicious  and  malignant  tendency  ;  replete  with 
the  most  specious  sophistry,  but  void  of  any  solid  or  ra- 
tional argument ;  calculated  to  deceive  and  mislead  the  un- 
wary, the  ignorant,  and  the  credulous ;  and  designed,  no 
doubt,  by  the  detestable  author,  to  damp  that  noble  spirit 
of  union,  which  he  sees  prevailing  all  over  the  Continent, 
and,  if  possible,  to  sap  the  foundations  of  American  free- 
dom. The  pamphlet  was  afterwards  handed  back  to  the 
people,  who  immediately  bestowed  upon  it  a  suit  of  tar 
and  turkey-buzzard's  feathers;  one  of  the  persons  concern- 
ed in  the  operation,  justly  observing  that  although  the 
feathers  were  plucked  from  the  most  stinking  fowl  in  the 
creation,  he  thought  they  fell  far  short  of  being  a  proper 
emblem  of  the  author's  odiousness  to  every  advocate  for 
true  freedom.  The  same  person  wished,  however,  he  had 
the  pleasure  of  fitting  him  with  a  suit  of  the  same  materi- 
als. The  pamphlet  was  then,  in  its  gorgeous  attire,  nailed 
up  firmly  to  the  pillory-post,  there  to  remain  as  a  monu- 
ment of  the  indignation  of  a  free  and  loyal  people  against 
the  author  and  vender  of  a  publication  so  evidently  tending 
both  to  subvert  the  liberties  of  America,  and  the  Constitu- 
tion of  the  British  Empire. 

At  a  subsequent  meeting  of  said  Committee,  it  was  re- 
solved, unanimously,  that,  on  account  of  sundry  publica- 
tions in  the  pamphlet  way,  by  James  Riving  ton,  Printer, 
of  New-  York,  and  also  a  variety  of  weekly  productions  in 
his  paper,  blended,  in  general,  with  the  most  glaring  false- 
hoods, disgorged  with  the  most  daring  effrontery,  and  all 


evidently  calculated  to  disunite  the  Colonies,  and  sow  the 
seeds  of  discord  and  contention  through  the  whole  Conti- 
nent, they  do  esteem  him  a  base  and  malignant  enemy  to 
the  liberties  of  this  Country,  and  think  he  ought  justlv  to 
be  treated  as  such  by  all  considerate  and  good  men.  And 
they  do,  for  themselves,  now  publickly  declare,  (and  re- 
commend the  same  conduct  to  their  constituents,)  that  they 
will  have  no  connection  with  him,  the  said  Rivington, 
while  he  continues  to  retail  such  dirty, scandalous,  and  trai- 
torous performances  ;  but  hold  him  in  the  utmost  contempt, 
as  a  noxious  exotick  plant,  incapable  either  of  cultivation 
or  improvement  in  this  soil  of  freedom,  and  only  fit  to  be 
transported. 

This  Committee  did  early  make  application  to  every 
other  Township  in  the  County,  recommending  the  elec- 
tion of  Committees ;  and  they  soon  had  information  that 
those  of  Upper  Freehold,  ■  Middletown,  and  Dover,  had 
chosen  theirs,  and  were  resolved  to  enforce  the  measures 
of  the  Congress. 

N.  B.  A  very  considerable  number  of  the  inhabitants 
of  Freehold  have  formed  themselves  into  Companies,  and 
chosen  Military  Instructors,  under  whose  tuition  they  are 
making  rapid  improvement. 

Signed  by  order  of  the  Committee, 

John  Anderson,  Chairman. 


MAJOR  BENJAMIN  FLOYD,  ETC.,   TO  COMMITTEE  AT  SMITH- 
TOWN. 

Brookhaven,  Suffolk  County,  New-York,  March  6,  1775. 

Mr.  Rivington  :  A  Committee  of  Observation  for  seve- 
ral Districts  met  on  the  23d  of  February  last,  in  Smith- 
town,  Suffolk  County,  Long-Island;  they  should  have 
told  the  publick  that  the  few  from  Brookhaven  were  not 
of  the  Committee.  Whether  any  Committee  in  the  Coun- 
ty has  been  chosen,  in  the  manner  they  speak  of,  we  know 
not.  Brookhaven  never  was  represented ;  so  it  has  not, 
it  cannot,  approve  of  the  Congress.  We  mean  to  consider 
only  what  concerns  us — the  fifth  and  sixth  of  the  Commit- 
tee Resolves. 

Why  does  this  Committee  so  highly  disapprove  of  the 
Major  and  others  ?  Is  it  because  he  fulfils  his  oath  to,  and 
exerts  his  power  in  defence  of,  Government?  Does  his 
example  shame  and  upbraid  them  ?  They  assuredly  would 
commend  and  justify  his  conduct,  were  they  not  enchanted 
by  seditious,  independent,  republican  principles  !  It  is  your 
opinion,  that  most  of  the  subscribers  in  Messrs.  Gaine  and 
Rivington's  writing,  were  induced,  &.c.  It  is  our  opin- 
ion, that  your  opinion  is  a  mere  fiction.  Have  you  heard 
both  sides  ?  Was  there  neither  partiality  or  prejudice  in  the 
way  ?  You  may  have  an  opinion  that  such  as  oppose  you 
are  traitors  ;  this  may  lead  you  to  proclaim  them  ;  this  may- 
excite  you  to  imbrue  your  guilty  hands  in  the  blood  of  the 
saints !  By  what  law  did  you  form  the  opinion  :  what  evi- 
dence have  you  to  support  it?  For  our  part,  we  contemn 
the  Court,  and  its  arbitrary  mandates,  that  carries  its  sta- 
tutes and  laws  in  its  bosom.  Tell  us  the  law  we  have 
transgressed,  "  the  unfair  means  we  used,"  and  who  has 
used  any.  We,  who  carried  the  Petition,  used  none  ;  the 
people  needed  none,  being  generally  glad  of  an  opportu- 
nity to  sign  it.  You  must  know  the  Constitution  dis- 
avows ill  arts ;  it  condemns  tyranny  and  slavery,  and  yours 
among  others.  You  say,  you  are  informed  a  Court  of 
Inquisition  would  have  said  as  much.  Who  are  your  in- 
formers ?  "A  great  number  are  dissatisfied  ;"  we  call 
upon  you  now  to  name  them,  for  "we  are  highly  dissatis- 
fied" with  your  unfair  manner  of  statiug  things.  We  know 
not  any  "that  are  dissatisfied  with  what  they  have  done." 
But  we  know  some  who  are  sorry  that  they  missed  the 
opportunity  of  "signing  it."  But  we  will  bury  this  pious 
Resolve,  with  the  solemnity  of  your  next,  saying  it  is  re- 
plete with  the  most  impudent  falsehoods  and  grossest  mis- 
representations. 

A  very  ingenious  writer,  who  is  an  honour  to  the  Prov- 
ince, somewhere  says,  "  that  Four  Pence  upon  the  Hun- 
dred for  the  fibs,  falsehoods,  and  misrepresentations  of 
America's  Sons,  would  pay  a  considerable  part  of  the 
Nation's  Debt."    We  are  of  his  opinion. 

"  The  Major  and  abetters  of  the  ingenious  A.  W. 
Farmer"  call  upon  you  to  prove  "  them  traitors."  If  they 
are  in  no  sense  traitors,  it  is  base  and  abominable  "  to  es- 


37 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775. 


38 


teem  and  treat  them  as  traitors  to  their  Country."  If 
what  is  generally  said  be  true,  that  the  Congress  made  no 
laws,  then  it  can  be  no  transgression  to  trample  upon  and 
contemn  the  Association.  For  where  there  is  no  law,  there 
can  be  no  transgression.  Now  if  you  fail  in  proof  of  so 
high  and  presumptuous  an  imputation,  the  impartial  pub- 
lick  must  esteem  you  a  most  abusive  and  unlawful  body. 
No  sacred  pretext  or  design  can  justify  the  commission  of 
the  least  evil. 

Tell  us  what  moved  you  to  proclaim  our  patriotick 
Printers  traitors?  Do  you  really  mean  to  immure  the 
Colonies  in  Popish  darkness,  by  suppressing  the  vehicles 
of  light,  truth,  and  liberty  ?  Are  none  to  speak,  write,  or 
print,  but  by  your  permission  ?  Does  a  conscience  of  guilt 
and  tyranny  hurry  the  Committees  to  starve  and  murder 
our  virtuous  Printers?  One  would  conclude,  from  Mr. 
Holt's  papers,  that  they  had  lost  virtue,  honour,  humanity, 
and  common  sense.  A  free  Press  has  been  the  honour 
and  glory  of  Englishmen ;  by  it  our  most  excellent  Con- 
stitution has  been  raised  to  greater  perfection  than  any  in 
the  world.  But  we  are  become  the  degenerate  plants  of 
a  new  and  strange  vine  ;  and  now  it  seems  ignorance  must 
be  the  mother  of  both  devotion  and  politicks. 

The  Major  and  friends  to  Government  desire  the  Com- 
mittee, who  had  no  right  to  represent  Brookhaven,  to  take 
back  the  odious,  despicable  epithet  of  traitors,  as  it  is  pe- 
culiarly adapted  to  the  enemies  of  the  Country,  and  the 
deluded  abetters  of  the  rebellious  saints  at  Boston.  For 
we,  in  our  turn,  "  think  that  they  (if  any)  ought  to  be  es- 
teemed and  treated  as  traitors  to  their  Country,  and  ene- 
mies to  the  liberties  of  America." 

Signed  by  Major  Benjamin  Floyd,  and  a  great  number 
of  others. 


MEETING  AT  DANVERS,  (ESSEX  COUNTY,)  MASSACHUSETTS. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  people  of  the  Alarm  List  of  the 
Third  Company  in  Danvers,  held  at  said  Danvers  6th 
March,  1775,  for  the  purpose  of  electing  Officers  for  said 
Alarm  List  Company,  Rev.  Benjamin  Balch,  Chairman  : 

Said  people  unanimously  made  choice  of  Deacon  Ed- 
mund Putnam  for  Captain  ;  Rev.  Benjamin  Balch  for  a 
Lieutenant ;  and  Mr.  Tarrant  Putnam  for  an  Ensign. 
The  said  Gentlemen  being  all  present,  declared  their  ac- 
ceptance. Attest, 

Arch.  Dale,  Clerk  of  said  Meeting. 


Boston,  March  G,  1775. 

At  this  inauspicious  day,  when  Tyranny  lifts  her  shame- 
less front,  and  is  followed  by  a  train  of  unfeeling  Apostates, 
I  cannot  let  my  pen  sleep.  The  enemies  to  Freedom, 
convinced  that  the  Americans  are  not  to  be  cheated,  now 
openly  declare  that  the  Colonies  must  and  will  be  subject- 
ed by  force.  This  brings  up  the  last  and  great  question, 
whether  the  United  Colonies  can  defend  their  rights  ?  If 
they  cannot,  of  all  men  they  will  be  the  most  miserable. 
But  I  believe  they  can,  and  will  defend  them  ;  and  if  the 
sword  should  be  drawn  against  them,  they  may  strike  such 
a  blow  as  will  shake  Britain  to  the  centre.  It  is  painful 
to  the  Americans  to  contemplate  measures  which  may  be 
ruinous  to  their  brethren  in  Britain,  but  a  tyrannical  Min- 
istry, encouraged  by  the  Tories  in  both  Countries,  are  now 
pushing  their  destructive  plans  with  such  rapidity  and  vio- 
lence, that  we  must  look  forward  to  the  last  grand  step  for 
defence  ;  and  if  they  will  not  hearken  to  the  wise  and  just 
proposals  of  the  American  Congress,  but  still  continue  to 
go  on  from  bad  to  worse,  the  Americans  will  be  compelled, 
by  the  great  Law  of  Nature,  to  strike  a  decisive  blow,  and 
follow  the  example  of  the  once  oppressed  United  Pro- 
vinces— publish  a  manifesto  to  the  world,  showing  the  ne- 
cessity of  dissolving  their  connection  with  a  Nation  whose 
Ministers  were  aiming  at  their  ruin  ;  offer  a  Free  Trade  to 
all  Nations,  and  an  asylum  in  the  free  regions  of  America  to 
all  the  oppressed  through  the  world.  This  is  the  der- 
nier resort  ;  and  this,  O  Americans !  you  can  do ;  and 
this  you  must  do,  unless  tyranny  ceases  to  invade  your  liber- 
ties. This  great  subject  I  have  viewed  on  all  sides ;  and 
it  might  be  demonstrated  by  a  million  of  reasons,  that  the 
Americans  may  thus  secure  to  themselves  and  to  posteritv 
the  blessings  of  Freedom.  Time  and  Judgment. 


An  Oration  delivered  Monday,  March  6,  1775,  at  the 
request  of  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Boston,  to 
commemorate  the  bloody  tragedy  of  the  5th  of  March, 
1770.    By  Doctor  Joseph  Warren. 

My  ever  honoured  Fellow- Citizens  : 

It  is  not  without  the  most  humiliating  conviction  of  my 
want  of  ability  that  I  now  appear  before  you  ;  but  the  sense  I 
have  of  the  obligation  I  am  under  to  obey  the  calls  of  my 
Country  at  all  times,  together  with  an  animating  recollection 
of  your  indulgence  exhibited  upon  so  many  occasions,  has 
induced  me  once  more,  undeserving  as  I  am,  to  throw  my- 
self upon  that  candour  which  looks  with  kindness  on  the 
feeblest  efforts  of  an  honest  mind. 

You  will  not  now  expect  the  elegance,  the  learning,  the 
fire,  the  enrapturing  strains  of  eloquence,  which  charmed 
you  when  a  Lovel,  a  Church,  or  a  Hancock  spake ;  but 
you  will  permit  me  to  say,  that  with  a  sincerity  equal  to 
theirs,  I  mourn  over  my  bleeding  Country  ;  with  them  I 
weep  at  her  distress,  and  with  them  deeply  resent  the  many 
injuries  she  has  received  from  the  hands  of  cruel  and  un- 
reasonable men. 

That  personal  freedom  is  the  natural  right  of  every 
man,  and  that  property,  or  an  exclusive  right  to  dispose  ol 
what  he  has  honestly  acquired  by  his  own  labour,  necessa- 
rily arises  therefrom,  are  truths  which  common  sense  has 
placed  beyond  the  reach  of  contradiction  ;  and  no  man,  or 
body  of  men,  can,  without  being  guilty  of  flagrant  injus- 
tice, claim  a  right  to  dispose  of  the  persons  or  acquisitions 
of  any  other  man,  or  body  of  men,  unless  it  can  be  proved 
that  such  a  right  has  arisen  from  some  compact  between 
the  parties,  in  which  it  has  been  explicitly  and  freely 
granted. 

If  I  may  be  indulged  in  taking  a  retrospective  view  of 
the  first  settlement  of  our  Country,  it  will  be  easy  to  de- 
termine with  what  degree  of  justice  the  late  Parliament  of 
Great  Britain  have  assumed  the  power  of  giving  away 
that  property  which  the  Americans  have  earned  by  their 
labour. 

Our  fathers  having  nobly  resolved  never  to  wear  the 
yoke  of  Despotism,  and  seeing  the  European  world,  through 
indolence  and  cowardice,  falling  a  prey  to  tyranny,  bravely 
threw  themselves  upon  the  bosom  of  theOcean,  determined 
to  find  a  place  in  which  they  might  enjoy  their  freedom,  or 
perish  in  the  glorious  attempt.  Approving  Heaven  beheld 
the  favourite  ark  dancing  upon  the  waves,  and  graciously 
preserved  it,  until  the  chosen  families  were  brought  in 
safety  to  these  Western  regions.  They  found  the  land 
swarming  with  Savages,  who  threatened  death  with  every 
kind  of  torture  ;  but  Savages,  and  death  with  torture,  were 
far  less  terrible  than  slavery.  Nothing  was  so  much  the 
object  of  their  abhorrence  as  a  tyrant's  power ;  they  knew 
that  it  was  more  safe  to  dwell  with  man,  in  his  most  un- 
polished state,  than  in  a  Country  where  arbitrary  power 
prevails.  Even  Anarchy  itself,  that  bugbear  held  up  by 
the  tools  of  power,  (though  truly  to  be  deprecated,)  is  in- 
finitely less  dangerous  to  mankind  than  arbitrary  Govern- 
ment. Anarchy  can  be  but  of  short  duration  ;  for  when 
men  are  at  liberty  to  pursue  that  course  which  is  most  con- 
ducive to  their  own  happiness,  they  will  soon  come  into  it : 
and,  from  the  rudest  state  of  nature,  order  and  good  go- 
vernment must  soon  arise.  But  tyranny,  when  once 
established,  entails  its  curse  on  a  Nation  to  the  latest  pe- 
riod of  time,  unless  some  daring  genius,  inspired  by  Hea- 
ven, shall,  unappalled  by  danger,  bravely  form  and  execute 
the  arduous  design  of  restoring  liberty  and  life  to  his  en- 
slaved, murdered  Country. 

The  tools  of  power,  in  every  age,  have  racked  their  in- 
ventions to  justify  the  few  in  sporting  with  the  happiness 
of  the  many,  and,  having  found  their  sophistry  too  weak  to 
hold  mankind  in  bondage,  have  impiously  dared  to  force 
Religion,  the  daughter  of  the  King  of  Heaven,  to  become 
a  prostitute  in  the  service  of  Hell.  They  taught  that 
Princes,  honoured  with  the  name  of  Christians,  might  bid 
defiance  to  the  Founder  of  their  faith  ;  might  pillage  Pagan 
Countries,  and  deluge  them  with  blood,  only  because  they 
boasted  themselves  to  be  the  disciples  of  that  Teacher  who 
strictly  charged  his  followers  to  "  do  to  others  as  they  would 
that  others  should  do  unto  them." 

This  Country  having  been  discovered  by  an  English  sub- 
ject in  the  year  1620,  was  (according  to  the  system  which  the 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775. 


40 


blind  superstition  of  those  times  supported)  deemed  the 
property  of  the  Crown  of  England.  Our  ancestors,  when 
they  resolved  to  quit  their  native  soil,  obtained  from  King 
James  a  grant  of  certain  lands  in  North- America.  This 
they  probably  did  to  silence  the  cavils  of  their  enemies,  for 
it  cannot  be  doubted  but  they  despised  the  pretended  right 
which  he  claimed  thereto.  Certain  it  is,  that  he  might, 
with  equal  propriety  and  justice,  have  made  them  a  giant 
of  the  planet  Jupiter;  and  their  subsequent  conduct  plainly 
shows  that  they  were  too  well  acquainted  with  humanity 
and  the  principles  of  natural  equity,  to  suppose  that  the 
grant  gave  them  any  right  to  take  possession ;  they  there- 
fore entered  into  a  treaty  with  the  natives,  and  bought  from 
them  the  lands.  Nor  have  I  yet  obtained  any  information 
that  our  ancestors  ever  pleaded,  or  that  the  natives  ever 
regarded  the  grant  from  the  English  Crown  ;  the  business 
was  transacted  by  t he  parties  in  the  same  independent 
manner  that  it  would  have  been  had  neither  of  them  ever 
known  or  heard  of  the  Island  of  Great  Britain. 

Having  become  the  honest  proprietors  of  the  soil,  they 
immediately  applied  themselves  to  the  cultivation  of  it,  and 
they  soon  beheld  the  virgin  earth  teeming  with  richest 
fruits;  a  grateful  recompense  for  their  unwearied  toil.  The 
fields  began  to  wave  with  ripening  harvests,  and  the  late 
barren  wilderness  was  seen  to  blossom  like  the  rose.  The 
savage  natives  saw  with  wonder  the  delightful  change,  and 
quickly  formed  a  scheme  to  obtain  that,  by  fraud  or  force, 
which  nature  meant  as  the  reward  of  industry  alone.  But 
the  illustrious  emigrants  soon  convinced  the  rude  invaders 
that  they  were  not  less  ready  to  take  the  field  for  battle 
than  for  labour ;  and  the  insidious  foe  was  driven  from  their 
borders  as  often  as  he  ventured  to  disturb  them.  The 
Crown  of  Engla>id  looked  with  indifference  on  the  con- 
test ;  our  ancestors  were  left  alone  to  combat  with  the  na- 
tives. Nor  is  there  any  reason  to  believe  that  it  ever  was 
intended  by  the  one  party,  or  expected  by  the  other,  that 
the  grantor  should  defend  and  maintain  the  grantees  in  the 
peaceable  possession  of  the  lands  named  in  the  patents. 
And  it  appears  plainly,  from  the  history  of  those  times, 
that  neither  the  Prince,  nor  the  people  of  England,  thought 
themselves  much  interested  in  the  matter;  they  had  not 
then  any  idea  of  a  thousandth  part  of  those  advantages 
which  they  since  have,  and  we  are  most  heartily  willing 
they  should  still  continue  to  reap  from  us. 

But  when,  at  an  infinite  expense  of  toil  and  blood,  this 
wide  extended  Continent  had  been  cultivated  and  defend- 
ed; when  the  hardy  adventurers  justly  expected  that  they 
and  their  descendants  should  peaceably  have  enjoyed  the 
harvest  of  those  fields  which  they  had  sown,  and  the  fruit 
of  those  vineyards  which  they  had  planted,  this  Country 
was  then  thought  worthy  the  attention  of  the  British  Min- 
istry ;  and  the  only  justifiable,  and  only  successful  means 
of  rendering  the  Colonies  serviceable  to  Britain,  were 
adopted.  By  an  intercourse  of  friendly  offices,  the  two 
Countries  became  so  united  in  affection  that  they  thought 
not  of  any  distinct  or  separate  interests  ;  they  found  both 
Countries  flourishing  and  happy.  Britain  saw  her  Com- 
merce extended,  and  her  wealth  increased;  her  lands  raised 
to  an  immense  value  ;  her  fleets  riding  triumphant  on  the 
Ocean  ;  the  terrour  of  her  arms  spreading  to  every  quarter 
of  the  globe.  The  Colonist  found  himself  free,  and 
thought  himself  secure ;  he  dwelt  "under  his  own  vine, 
and  under  his  own  fig-tree,  and  had  none  to  make  him 
afraid."  He  knew,  indeed,  that  by  purchasing  the  manu- 
factures of  Great  Britain,  he  contributed  to  its  greatness  ; 
he  knew  that  all  the  wealth  that  his  labour  produced  cen- 
tred in  Great  Britain;  but  that,  far  from  exciting  his  envy, 
filled  him  with  the  highest  pleasure ;  that  thought  sup- 
ported him  in  all  his  toils.  When  the  business  of  the 
day  was  past,  he  solaced  himself  with  the  contemplation, 
or  perhaps  entertained  his  listening  family  with  the  recital 
of  some  great,  some  glorious  transaction,  which  shines  con- 
spicuous in  the  history  of  Britain;  or  perhaps  his  elevated 
fancy  led  him  to  foretel,  with  a  kind  of  enthusiastick  con- 
fidence, the  glory,  power,  and  duration  of  an  Empire, 
which  should  extend  from  one  end  of  the  earth  to  the 
other  ;  he  saw,  or  thought  he  saw,  the  British  Nation  risen 
to  a  pitch  of  grandeur  which  cast  a  veil  over  the  Roman 
t;lory  ;  and,  ravished  with  the  preview,  boasted  a  race  of 
British  Kings,  whose  names  should  echo  through  those 
Realms  where  Cyrus,  Alexander,  and  the  Ctesars,  were 


unknown  ;  Princes  for  whom  millions  of  grateful  subject?, 
redeemed  from  Slavery  and  Pagan  ignorance,  should,  with 
thankful  tongues,  offer  up  their  piayers  and  praises  to  that 
transcendantly  Great  and  Beneficent  Being  "  by  whom 
Kings  reign,  and  Princes  decree  justice." 

These  pleasing  connections  might  have  continued,  these 
delightsome  prospects  might  have  been  every  day  extended, 
and  even  the  reveries  of  the  most  warm  imagination  might 
have  been  realized  ;  but,  unhappily  for  us,  unhappily  for 
Britain,  the  madness  of  an  avaricious  Minister  of  Stale 
has  drawn  a  sable  curtain  over  the  charming  scene,  and  in 
its  stead  has  brought  upon  the  stage  discord,  envy,  hatred, 
and  revenge,  with  civil  war  close  in  the  rear ! 

Some  demon,  in  an  evil  hour,  suggested  to  a  short- 
sighted financier  the  hateful  project  of  transferring  the 
whole  property  of  the  King's  subjects  in  America  to  his 
subjects  in  Britain.  The  claim  of  the  British  Parliament 
to  tax  the  Colonies  can  never  be  supported  but  by  such  a 
transfer;  for  the  right  of  the  House  of  Commons  of  Great 
Britain  to  originate  any  tax,  or  to  grant  money,  is  alto- 
gether derived  from  their  being  elected  by  the  people  of 
Great  Britain  to  act  for  them;  and  the  people  of  Great 
Britain  cannot  confer  on  their  Representatives  a  right  to 
give  or  grant  any  tiling  which  they  themselves  have  not  a 
right  to  give  or  grant  personally.  Therefore  it  follows, 
that  if  the  Members  chosen  by  the  people  of  Great  Bri- 
tain to  represent  them  in  Parliament  have,  by  virtue  of 
their  being  so  chosen,  any  right  to  give  or  grant  American 
property,  or  to  lay  any  tax  upon  the  lands  or  persons  of 
the  Colonists,  it  is  because  the  lands  and  people  in  the 
Colonies  are,  bona  fide,  owned  by,  and  justly  belong  to  the 
people  of  Great  Britain.  But  (as  has  been  before 
observed)  every  man  has  a  natural  right  to  personal  freedom, 
consequently  a  right  to  enjoy  what  is  acquired  by  his  own 
labour ;  and  as  it  is  evident  that  the  property  in  this  Coun- 
try has  been  acquired  by  our  own  labour,  it  is  the  duty  of 
the  people  of  Great  Britain  to  produce  some  compact  in 
which  we  have  explicitly  given  up  to  them  a  right  to  dis- 
pose of  our  persons  or  property.  Until  this  is  done,  every 
attempt  of  theirs,  or  of  those  whom  they  have  deputed  to 
act  for  them,  to  give  or  grant  any  part  of  our  property,  is 
directly  repugnant  to  every  principle  of  reason  and  natural 
justice.  But  1  may  boldly  say  that  such  a  compact  never 
existed,  no,  not  even  in  imagination.  Nevertheless,  the 
Representatives  of  a  Nation,  long  famed  for  justice,  and 
the  exercise  of  every  noble  virtue,  have  been  prevailed  on 
to  adopt  the  fatal  scheme ;  and  although  the  dreadful  con- 
sequences of  this  wicked  policy  have  already  shaken  the 
Empire  to  its  centre,  yet  still  it  is  persisted  in,  regardless 
of  the  voice  of  reason,  deaf  to  the  prayers  and  supplica- 
tions, and  unaffected  with  the  flowing  tears  of  suffering 
millions,  the  British  Ministry  still  hug  the  darling  idol, 
and  every  rolling  year  affords  fresh  instances  of  the  absurd 
devotion  with  which  they  worship  it.  Alas !  how  has  the 
folly — the  distraction  of  the  British  Councils,  blasted  our 
swelling  hopes,  and  spread  a  gloom  over  this  Western  hem- 
isphere !  The  hearts  of  Britons  and  Americans,  which 
lately  felt  the  generous  glow  of  mutual  confidence  and  love, 
now  burn  with  jealousy  and  rage.  Though  but  of  yesterday, 
1  recollect  (deeply  affected  at  the  ill-boding  change)  the 
happy  hours  that  passed  whilst  Britain  and  America  re- 
joiced in  the  prosperity  and  greatness  of  each  other. 
Heaven  grant  those  halcyon  days  may  soon  return  !  But 
now  the  Briton  too  often  looks  on  the  American  with  an 
envious  eye,  taught  to  consider  his  just  plea  for  the  enjoy- 
ment of  his  earning  as  the  effect  of  pride  and  stubborn 
opposition  to  the  Parent  Country  ;  whilst  the  American 
beholds  the  Briton  as  the  ruflian,  ready  first  to  take  away 
his  property,  and  next,  what  is  dearer  to  every  virtuous 
man,  the  liberty  of  his  Country. 

When  the  measures  of  Administration  had  disgusted  the 
Colonies  to  the  highest  degree,  and  the  people  of  Great 
Britain  had,  by  artifice  and  falsehood,  been  irritated  against 
America,  an  Army  was  sent  over  to  enforce  submission  to 
certain  Acts  of  the  British  Parliament,  which  reason 
scorned  to  countenance,  and  which  placemen  and  pension- 
ers were  found  unable  to  support. 

Martial  Law,  and  the  government  of  a  well  regulated 
City,  are  so  entirely  different,  that  it  has  always  been  con- 
sidered as  improper  to  quarter  Troops  in  populous  Cities, 
as  frequent  disputes  must  necessarily  arise  between  the 


41 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775. 


42 


citizen  and  the  soldier,  even  if  no  previous  animosities  sub- 
sist ;  and  it  is  farther  certain,  from  a  consideration  of  the 
nature  of  mankind,  as  well  as  from  constant  experience, 
that  Standing  Armies  always  endanger  the  liberty  of  the 
subject.  But  when  the  people,  on  the  one  part,  consi- 
dered the  Army  as  sent  to  enslave  them  ;  and  the  Army, 
on  the  other,  were  taught  to  look  on  the  people  as  in  a 
state  of  rebellion,  it  was  but  just  to  fear  the  most  disagree- 
able consequences.  Our  fears,  we  have  seen,  were  but  too 
well  grounded. 

The  many  injuries  offered  to  the  Town  I  pass  over  in 
silence.  I  cannot  now  mark  out  the  path  which  led  to 
that  unequalled  scene  of  honour,  the  sad  remembrance  of 
which  takes  the  full  possession  of  my  soul.  The  sangui- 
nary theatre  again  opens  itself  to  view  ;  the  baleful  images 
of  terrour  crowd  around  me  ;  and  discontented  ghosts,  with 
hollow  groans,  appear  to  solemnize  the  anniversary  of  the 
fifth  of  March. 

Approach  we  then  the  melancholy  walk  of  death ! 
Hither  let  me  call  the  gay  companion  ;  here  let  him  drop  a 
farewell  tear  upon  that  body  which  so  late  he  saw  vigorous 
and  warm  with  social  mirth  !  Hither  let  me  lead  the  ten- 
der mother,  to  weep  over  her  beloved  son  !  Come,  widowed 
mourner,  here  satiate  thy  grief.  Behold  thy  murdered 
husband  gasping  on  the  ground !  And,  to  complete  the 
pompous  shew  of  wretchedness,  bring  in  each  hand  thy 
infant  children  to  bewail  their  father's  fate.  Take  heed, 
ye  orphan  babes,  lest,  whilst  your  streaming  eyes  are  fixed 
upon  the  ghastly  corpse,  your  feet  slide  on  the  stones  be- 
spattered with  your  father's  brams.*  Enough  !  This  tragedy 
need  not  be  heightened  by  an  infant  weltering  in  the  blood 
of  him  that  gave  it  birth.  Nature,  reluctant,  shrinks  al- 
ready from  the  view,  and  the  chilled  blood  rolls  slowly 
backward  to  its  fountain.  We  wildly  stare  about,  and  with 
amazement  ask,  Who  spread  this  ruin  round  us  ?  What 
wretch  has  dared  to  deface  the  image  of  his  God?  Has 
haughty  France,  or  cruel  Spain,  sent  forth  her  myrmidons  ? 
Has  the  grim  Savage  rushed  again  from  the  far  distant  wil- 
derness? Or  does  some  fiend,  fierce  from  the  depth  of 
Hell,  with  all  the  rancorous  malice  which  the  apostate 
damned  can  feel,  twang  her  destructive  bow,  and  hurl  her 
deadly  arrows  at  our  breast?  No,  none  of  these.  But  how 
astonishing  '  It  is  the  hand  of  Britain  that  inflicts  the 
wound  ;  the  Arms  of  George,  our  rightful  King,  have  been 
employed  to  shed  that  blood  which  freely  would  have 
flown  at  his  command,  when  justice,  or  the  honour  of  his 
Crown,  had  called  his  subjects  to  the  field. 

But  pity,  grief,  astonishment,  with  all  the  softer  move- 
ments of  the  soul,  must  now  give  way  to  stronger  passions. 
Say,  fellow-citizens,  what  dreadful  thought  now  swells 
your  heaving  bosoms  ?  You  fly  to  arms ;  sharp  indignation 
flashes  from  each  eye ;  revenge  gnashes  her  iron  teeth  ; 
death  grins  a  hideous  smile,  secure  to  drench  his  greedy  jaws 
in  human  gore ;  whilst  hovering  furies  darken  all  the  air. 

But  stop,  my  bold  adventurous  countrymen ;  stain  not 
your  weapons  with  the  blood  of  Britons;  attend  to  rea- 
son's voice  ;  humanity  puts  in  her  claim,  and  sues  to  be 
again  admitted  to  her  wonted  seat — the  bosom  of  the  brave. 
Revenge  is  far  beneath  the  noble  mind.  Many,  perhaps, 
compelled  to  rank  among  the  vile  assassins,  do,  from  their 
inmost  souls,  detest  the  barbarous  action.  The  winged 
death,  shot  from  your  arms,  may  chance  to  pierce  some 
breast  that  bleeds  already  for  your  injured  Country. 

The  storm  subsides  ;  a  solemn  pause  ensues  ;  you  spare 
upon  condition  they  depart.  They  go  ;  they  quit  your 
City  ;  they  no  more  shall  give  offence.  Thus  closes  the 
important  drama. 

And  could  it  have  been  conceived  that  we  again  should 
have  seen  a  British  Army  in  our  land,  sent  to  enforce 
obedience  to  Acts  of  Parliament  destructive  of  our  liber- 
ty ?  But  the  Royal  ear,  far  distant  from  the  Western  world, 
has  been  assaulted  by  the  tongue  of  slander ;  and  vil- 
lains, traitorous  alike  to  King  and  Country,  have  prevailed 
upon  a  gracious  Prince  to  clothe  his  countenance  with 
wrath,  and  to  erect  the  hostile  banner  against  a  people  ever 
affectionate  and  loyal  to  him  and  his  illustrious  predeces- 
sors of  the  House  of  Hanover.  Our  Streets  are  again 
filled  with  armed  men,  our  Harbour  is  crowded  with  Ships- 
of-war ;  but  these  cannot  intimidate  us ;  our  liberty  must 
*  After  Mr.  Gray  had  been  shot  through  the  body,  and  had  fallen 
acid  on  Ihj  ground,  a  biyoiiet  wis  pushed  through  his  skull ;  part  of 
the  bone  bsing  brokan,  his  brains  fell  out  upon  tha  pavement. 


be  preserved  ;  it  is  far  dearer  than  life  ;  we  hold  it  even 
dear  as  our  allegiance  ;  we  must  defend  it  against  the 
attacks  of  friends  as  well  as  enemies  ;  we  cannot  suffer 
even  Britons  to  ravish  it  from  us. 

No  longer  could  we  reflect  with  generous  pride  on  the 
heroick  actions  of  our  American  forefathers ;  no  longer 
boast  our  origin  from  that  far-famed  island,  whose  warlike 
sons  have  so  often  drawn  their  well-tried  swords  to  save 
her  from  the  ravages  of  tyranny,  could  we  but  for  a  mo- 
ment entertain  the  thought  of  giving  up  our  liberty.  The 
man  who  meanly  will  submit  to  wear  a  shackle,  contemns 
the  noblest  gift  of  Heaven,  and  impiously  affronts  the  God 
that  made  him  free. 

It  was  a  maxim  of  the  Roman  people,  which  eminently 
conduced  to  the  greatness  of  that  State,  never  to  despair  ot 
the  Commonwealth.  The  maxim  may  prove  as  salutary 
to  us  now  as  it  did  to  them.  Short-sighted  mortals  see 
not  the  numerous  links  of  small  and  great  events,  which 
form  the  chain  on  which  the  fate  of  Kings  and  Nations  is 
suspended.  Ease  and  prosperity  (though  pleasing  for  a 
day)  have  often  sunk  a  people  into  effeminacy  and  sloth. 
Hardships  and  dangers  (though  we  forever  strive  to  shun 
them)  have  frequently  called  forth  such  virtues  as  have 
commanded  the  applause  and  reverence  of  an  admiring 
world. 

Our  Country  loudly  calls  you  to  be  circumspect,  vigi- 
lant, active,  and  brave.  Perhaps,  (all-gracious  Heaven 
avert  it)  perhaps  the  power  of  Britain,  a  Nation  great  in 
war,  by  some  malignant  influence  may  be  employed  to 
enslave  you  ;  but  let  not  even  this  discourage  you.  Her 
Arms,  it  is  true,  have  filled  the  world  with  terrour ;  her 
Troops  have  reaped  the  laurels  of  the  field;  her  Fleets 
have  rode  triumphant  on  the  sea  ;  and  when  or  where  did 
you,  my  countrymen,  depart  inglorious  from  the  field  of 
fight  r*  You,  too,  can  show  the  trophies  of  your  forefa- 
thers' victories  and  your  own  ;  can  name  the  fortresses  and 
battles  you  have  won,  and  many  of  you  count  the  honour- 
able scars  of  wounds  received,  whilst  fighting  for  your  King 
and  Country. 

Where  justice  is  the  standard,  Heaven  is  the  warriour's 
shield  ;  but  conscious  guilt  unnerves  the  arm  that  lifts  the 
sword  against  the  innocent.  Britain,  united  with  these 
Colonies  by  commerce  and  affection,  by  interest  and  blood, 
may  mock  the  threats  of  France  and  Spain ;  may  be  the 
seat  of  universal  Empire.  But  should  America,  either  by 
force,  or  those  more  dangerous  engines — luxury  and  corrup- 
tion, ever  be  brought  into  a  state  of  vassalage,  Britain 
must  lose  her  freedom  also.  No  longer  shall  she  sit  the 
Empress  of  the  sea  ;  her  ships  no  more  shall  waft  her 
thunders  over  the  wide  ocean ;  the  wreath  shall  wither  on 
her  temples ;  her  weakened  arm  shall  be  unable  to  defend 
her  coasts ;  and  she  at  last  must  bow  her  venerable  head  to 
some  proud  foreigner's  despotick  rule. 

But  if  from  past  events  we  may  venture  to  form  a  judg- 
ment of  the  future,  we  justly  may  expect  that  the  devices 
of  our  enemies  will  but  increase  the  triumphs  of  our 
Country.  I  must  indulge  a  hope  that  Britain's  liberty,  as 
well  as  ours,  will  eventually  be  preserved  by  the  virtue  of 
America. 

The  attempt  of  the  British  Parliament  to  raise  a  Rev- 
enue from  America,  and  our  denial  of  their  right  to  do 
it,  have  excited  an  almost  universal  inquiry  into  the  rights 
of  mankind  in  general,  and  of  British  subjects  in  particu- 
lar;  the  necessary  result  of  which  must  be  such  a  liberality 
of  sentiment,  and  such  a  jealousy  of  those  in  power,  as 
will,  better  than  an  adamantine  wall,  secure  us  against  the 
future  approaches  of  despotism. 

*  The  patience  with  which  this  people  have  borne  the  repeated  inju. 
ries  which  have  been  heaped  upon  them,  and  their  unwillingness  to 
take  any  sanguinary  measures,  has  very  injudiciously  been  ascribed  to 
cowardice,  by  persons  both  here  and  in  Great  Britain.  I  most  heartily 
wish  that  an  opinion  so  erroneous  in  itself,  and  so  fatal  in  its  conse- 
quences, might  be  utterly  removed  before  it  be  too  late ;  and  I  think 
nothing  farther  necessary  to  convince  every  intelligent,  man  that  the 
conduct  of  this  people  is  owing  to  the  tender  regard  which  they  have 
for  their  fellow-men,  and  an  utter  abhorrence  to  the  shedding  of  human 
blood,  than  a  little  attention  to  their  general  temper  and  disposition 
discovered  when  they  cannot  be  supposed  to  be  under  any  apprehen- 
sion of  danger  to  themselves.  I  will  only  mention  the  universal 
detestation  which  they  shew  to  every  act  of  cruelty,  by  whom,  and  upoT 
whomsoever  committed ;  the  mild  spirit  of  their  Laws ;  the  very  few 
crimes  to  which  capital  penalties  are  annexed,  and  the  vary  great  back, 
wardness  which  both  Courts  and  Juries  discover,  in  condemning  per- 
sons charged  with  capital  crimes.  But  if  any  should  think  this  obser- 
vation not  to  the  purpose,  I  readily  appeal  to  those  gentleman  of  the 
Army  who  have  been  in  the  camp,  or  in  the  field,  with  the  American). 


43 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1773. 


44 


The  malice  of  the  Boston  Port  Bill  has  been  defeated, 
in  a  very  considerable  degree,  by  giving  you  an  opportuni- 
ty of  deserving,  and  our  brethren  in  this  and  our  sister 
Colonies  an  opportunity  of  bestowing,  those  benefactions 
which  have  delighted  your  friends,  and  astonished  jour 
enemies,  not  only  in  America,  but  in  Europe  also ;  and 
what  is  more  valuable  still,  the  sympathetick  feelings  for  a 
brother  in  distress,  and  the  grateful  emotions  excited  in  the 
breast  of  him  who  finds  relief,  must  forever  endear  each  to 
the  other,  and  form  those  indissoluble  bonds  of  friendship 
and  affection,  on  which  the  preservation  of  our  right  so 
evidently  depends. 

The  mutilation  of  our  Charter  has  made  ever  Colony 
jealous  for  its  own  :  for  this,  if  once  submitted  to  by  us, 
would  set  on  float  the  property  and  Government  of  every 
British  settlement  upon  the  Continent.  Jf  Charters  are 
not  deemed  sacred,  how  miserably  precarious  is  every  thing 
founded  upon  them  ? 

Even  the  sending  Troops  to  put  these  Acts  in  execution, 
is  not  without  advantages  to  us.  The  exactness  and  beauty 
of  their  discipline  inspire  our  youth  with  ardour  in  the 
pursuit  of  military  knowledge.  Charles  the  Invincible 
taught  Peter  the  Great  the  Art  of  War.  The  battle  of 
Pidtowa  convinced  Charles  of  the  proficiency  Peter  had 
made. 

Our  Country  is  in  danger,  but  not  to  be  despaired  of. 
Our  enemies  are  numerous  and  powerful,  but  we  have 
many  friends  determined  to  be  free,  and  Heaven  and  earth 
will  aid  the  resolution.  On  you  depend  the  fortunes  of 
America.  You  are  to  decide  the  important  question,  on 
which  rest  the  happiness  and  liberty  of  millions  yet  unborn. 
Act  worthy  of  yourselves — the  faultering  tongue  of  hoary 
uae  calls  on  you  to  support  your  Country.  The  lisping 
infant  raises  its  suppliant  hands,  imploring  defence  against 
the  monster  slavery.  Your  fathers  look  from  their  celes- 
tial seats  with  smiling  approbation  on  their  sons,  who 
boldly  stand  forth  in  the  cause  of  virtue ;  but  sternly  frown 
upon  the  inhuman  miscreant  who,  to  secure  the  loaves 
and  fishes  to  himself,  would  breed  a  serpent  to  destroy  his 
children. 

But  pardon  me,  my  fellow-citizens ;  I  know  you  want 
not  zeal  or  fortitude.  You  will  maintain  your  rights,  or 
perish  in  the  generous  struggle.  However  difficult  the 
combat,  you  never  will  decline  it  when  freedom  is  the 
prize;  An  independence  on  Great  Britain  is  not  our  aim. 
No,  our  wish  is  that  Britain  and  the  Colonies  may,  like 
the  oak  and  ivy,  grow  and  increase  in  strength  together. 
But  whilst  the  infatuated  plan  of  making  one  part  of  the 
Empire  slaves  to  the  other  is  persisted  in,  the  interest  and 
safety  of  Britain,  as  well  as  the  Colonies,  require  that  the 
wise  measures  recommended  by  the  Honourable  the  Con- 
tinental Congress  be  steadily  pursued  ;  whereby  the  unna- 
tural contest,  between  a  parent  honoured,  and  a  child  be- 
loved, may  probably  be  brought  to  such  an  issue,  as  that 
the  peace  and  happiness  of  both  may  be  established  upon 
a  lasting  basis.  But  if  these  pacifick  measures  are  ineffect- 
ual ;  and  it  appears  that  the  only  way  to  safety  is  through 
fields  of  blood,  I  know  you  will  not  turn  your  faces  from 
vour  foes,  but  will  undauntedly  press  forward  until  tyranny 
is  trodden  under  foot ;  and  you  have  fixed  your  adored 
Goddess,  Liberty,  fast  by  a  Brunswick's  side,  on  the  Ameri- 
can Throne. 

You,  then,  who  nobly  have  espoused  your  Country's 
cause — who  generously  have  sacrificed  wealth  and  ease — 
who  have  despised  the  pomp  and  show  of  tinselled  great- 
ness — refused  the  summons  to  the  festive  board — been 
deaf  to  the  alluring  calls  of  luxury  and  mirth — who  have 
forsaken  the  downy  pillow  to  keep  your  vigils  by  the  mid- 
night lamp  for  the  salvation  of  your  invaded  Country,  that 
vou  might  break  the  fowler's  snare  and  disappoint  the  vul- 
ture of  his  prey,  you  then  will  reap  that  harvest  of  renown 
which  you  so  justly  have  deserved.  Your  Country  shall 
pay  her  grateful  tribute  of  applause.  Even  the  children 
of  your  most  inveterate  enemies  (ashamed  to  tell  from 
whom  they  sprang,  while  they  in  secret  curse  their  stupid, 
cruel  parents)  shall  join  the  general  voice  of  gratitude  to 
those  who  broke  the  fetters  which  their  fathers  forged. 

Having  redeemed  your  Country,  and  secured  the  bless- 
ing to  future  generations,  who,  fired  by  your  example, 
shall  emulate  your  virtues,  and  learn  from  you  the  Heaven- 
ly art  of  making  millions  happy,  with  heart-felt  joy — with 


transports  all  your  own,  you  cry,  the  glorious  work  is 
done!  then  drop  the  mantle  to  some  young  Elisha,  and 
take  your  seats  with  kindred  spirits  in  your  native  skies. 


TO  THE  INHABITANTS  OF  NEW-YORK. 

JJew-York,  Monday,  March  C,  1775. 

My  Fellow-Citizens  :  As  you  are  called  on  this  day 
to  give  your  voices  on  a  measure  of  importance,  permit  one 
who  has  your  welfare  most  anxiously  at  heart,  to  state  the 
matter  as  it  is.  On  the  2d  instant,  the  Committee  pub- 
lished an  Advertisement  to  call  you  together,  upon  the 
business  therein  expressed.  They  do  not  pretend  that 
this  is  in  consequence  of  any  powers  you  have  vested  with 
them  ;  it  is,  therefore,  a  proposal  coining  from  them  as  so 
many  individuals.  On  Friday,  the  third  instant,  a  num- 
ber of  Citizens,  equally  reputable  in  their  characters  with 
the  members  of  the  Committee,  and  far  superiour  in  num- 
bers, upon  mature  deliberation,  conceived  that  this  measure 
ought  to  be  postponed.  Every  person  who  wants  the 
sanction  of  your  approbation  should  maintain  his  proposals 
with  reasons,  and  the  advocates  for  postponing  the  question 
have  assigned  a  number  in  support  of  it.  These  you  have 
seen  in  a  handbill,  and  you  are  the  judges  of  the  weight 
they  deserve.  What  arguments  there  are  to  hasten  and 
precipitate  this  question,  is  not  known,  nor  is  it  proper  in 
the  hurry  and  confusion  of  a  crowd,  to  discuss  questions 
which  require  time  and  attention  for  a  sober,  judicious 
determination.  It  seems  proper,  therefore,  to  postpone 
this  question,  from  which  no  disadvantage  can  possibly  arise. 

A  Freeman. 


TO  THE  INHABITANTS  OF  THE  CITY  OF  NEW-YORK. 

New.York,  Monday,  March  6,  1775. 

It  has  been  the  practice  of  some  people  in  this  City ,  upon 
all  occasions,  in  order  to  defeat  the  well  meant  endeavours 
of  its  real  friends,  to  misrepresent  their  intentions.  With 
this  view,  it  has  been  artfully  propagated,  that  the  Citizens 
who  assembled  at  Montagiiie's  on  Friday,  had  resolved  to 
oppose  the  appointment  of  Delegates.  Disposed  as  I  am, 
as  an  individual,  for  the  measure  of  Delegates,  I  was 
alarmed  at  this  insinuation ;  and  having  attentively  consi- 
dered the  proceedings  of  the  Meeting  on  Friday,  find  that 
the  report  is  entirely  false,  and  calculated  to  mislead  you. 
The  only  measure  proposed  by  the  friends  of  Constitutional 
Liberty  is,  that  the  nomination  of  Delegates  may  be  post- 
poned ;  the  time  appointed  by  the  Committee  being  so 
short  as  not  to  admit  of  deliberating  on  the  most  proper 
mode  of  electing  them,  and  of  framing  proper  instructions 
for  their  government.  The  method  proposed  by  the  Com- 
mittee being  extremely  exceptionable,  and  such  as  will 
put  this  City,  which  pays  one  third  of  the  taxes  of  the 
Colony,  upon  a  footing  with  the  smallest  County  in  it. 

A  Burgher. 


TO  THE  RESPECTABLE  INHABITANTS  OF  THE  CITY  OF  NEW- 
YORK. 

New-York,  Monday,  March  6,  1775. 

Friends  and  Fellow-Citizens:  By  the  general 
tenour  of  your  conduct,  since  the  commencement  of  our 
unhappy  disputes  with  Great  Britain,  you  have  uniformly 
and  fully  evinced  yourselves  to  be  possessed  of  an  inviola- 
ble attachment  to  the  cause  of  Constitutional  Liberty,  as 
well  as  of  unshaken  Loyalty  to  our  most  Gracious  Sover- 
eign, and  a  just  abhorrence  of  such  irregular  proceedings 
as  indicated  a  spirit  of  disaffection,  or  independency  in  any 
of  the  Colonists.  These  virtues,  always  valuable  in  a  high 
degree,  are  peculiarly  so  in  times  like  the  present,  when 
a  dangerous  infatuation  has  seized  so  many;  when  discord 
and  tyranny,  in  the  guise  of  liberty,  stalk  forth  among  us ; 
and,  under  specious  pretences,  would  entail  misery,  ruin, 
and  the  most  abject  slavery  upon  us.  These  virtues, 
which  you  have  nobly  exerted  on  several  occasions,  will 
soon  be  called  to  another  trial. 

A  summons  has  been  issued  last  Thursday,  by  the  Chair- 
man, and  by  order  of  the  Committee,  commanding  your 
attendance  at  the  Exchange  on  Monday,  the  6th  instant, 
for  the  purpose  of  choosing  Delegates  to  go  to  the  next 
Continental  Congress.    Considering  our  late  transactions 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1175. 


45 

here  relative  to  this  matter,  I  am  sure  you  must  be  greatly 
surprised  at  such  a  step  as  this.  Especially  when  you  are 
not  called  to  deliberate  on  the  expediency  or  propriety  of 
appointing  Delegates  for  the  above  purpose;  but  actually 
to  choose  them !  and  this,  in  consequence  of  an  edict  from 
the  late  Congress,  whose  views  and  proceedings  you  most 
cordially  disapprove!  Willing  or  unwilling,  you  are  re- 
quired to  comply  with  this  mandate. 

Our  only  legal,  Constitutional  Representatives,  the 
Members  of  our  Assembly,  to  whom  we  have  voluntarily 
committed  the  guardianship  of  our  liberties,  and  the  direc- 
tion of  our  publick  affairs,  and  who  are  vested  with  full 
authority  for  these  important  ends,  have  absolutely  refused 
to  appoint  any  Delegates  for  the  ensuing  Congress.  Would 
not  such  an  attempt  in  you,  therefore,  be  an  open  violation 
of  their  just  authority,  and  a  glaring  insult  on  them? 

Whatever  reasons  might  have  existed  for  sending  Dele- 
gates to  the  former  Congress,  there  are  none  such  now  ; 
but  many  cogent  reasons  to  the  contrary.  Our  Assembly 
have  taken  the  subject  of  our  grievances  into  consideration, 
and  are  vigorously  pursuing  the  most  effectual  methods  for 
obtaining  their  redress.  The  proceedings  of  the  late  Con- 
gress were  violent  and  treasonable.  Instead  of  healing  the 
unnatural  bread)  between  us  and  the  Parent  State,  which 
was  the  ardent  wish  of  every  honest,  good  man,  they  shut 
up  every  avenue  to  an  accommodation.  An  adherence  to 
their  proceedings  must  have  infallibly  involved  us  in  all  the 
horrours  of  a  Civil  War,  and  ended  in  our  ruin.  Fully 
sensible  of  this,  and  of  the  unjust  tyrannical  power  usurped 
by  that  Congress  over  North  America,  our  Assembly — to 
their  immortal  honour  be  it  spoken — had  virtue  and  forti- 
tude enough  to  reject  those  proceedings.  Like  faithful 
guardians  of  the  great  trust  committed  to  them,  they  have 
taken  the  proper  Constitutional  steps  to  snatch  us  from 
impending  ruin  ;  restore  harmony  between  this  Country 
and  Great  Britain,  and  to  secure  our  liberties  on  the  firm 
basis  of  Constitutional  principles. 

Now  reflect,  my  fellow-citizens,  will  not  your  sending 
Delegates  to  the  next  Congress  directly  tend  to  frustrate 
these  laudable  endeavours,  of  whose  success  we  have  a 
moral  certainty  ?  Will  it  not  place  this  Province  in  the 
most  absurd,  inconsistent  point  of  light,  as  bursting  the 
bands  of  all  Government,  both  with  respect  to  Great 
Britain  and  our  own  Legislature  ?  May  I  not  aver,  with 
truth,  that  you  hold  the  violent  proceedings  of  the  late 
Congress  in  abhorrence?  What  can  you  expect  from  the 
next  Congress  but  such  measures  as  were  adopted  by  the 
last,  when  you  know  the  same  Delegates  are  generally 
appointed  by  the  other  Colonies?  Few  alterations  have 
been  made ;  and  where  any  have  taken  place,  they  were 
for  the  worse — persons  more  violent,  if  possible,  being 
chosen.  In  what  other  view  can  we  appear  to  Great 
Britain,  than  as  heartily  concurring  with  those  who  have 
attempted  to  throw  off  all  allegiance — all  subordination 
whatever  ?  Nay !  as  acting  in  concert  with  those  who 
have  been  guilty  of  open  treason  in  the  broad  face  of  day? 
for  that  is  the  case  of  one  of  the  New-Hampshire  Dele- 
gates. I  forget  his  name — it  is  the  fellow  who  headed  a 
riotous  mob,  stormed  one  of  His  Majesty's  Forts,  and  forci- 
bly carried  off  the  Cannon,  Arms,  and  Ammunition  lodged 
there  for  the  express  purpose  of  using  them  against  his 
Sovereign.  A  gentleman  is  known  by  the  company  he 
keeps ;  and  so  is  an  honest  man,  or  a  loyal  subject. 

But  this  proposed  meeting  on  Monday  is  replete  with 
further  mischief ;  for  you  are  to  assemble,  not  only  for  choos- 
ing Delegates,  but  also  "  to  signify  your  sense,  whether 
you  will  appoint  a  certain  number  of  persons  to  meet  such 
Deputies  as  the  Counties  may  elect  for  that  purpose,  and 
join  with  them  in  appointing,  out  of  their  body,  Delegates 
for  the  next  Congress."  Here  you  may  perceive  the  first 
outlines  of  a  Provincial  Congress — the  first  artful  advance 
towards  bringing  on  us  one  of  the  heaviest  curses.  If  the 
abetters  of  Republicanism  can  gain  this  advantage  over  the 
friends  of  our  Constitution,  the  consequences  must  be  ter- 
rible. Our  Constitutional  Assembly  will  become  a  mere 
cypher,  and  all  order  subverted. 

I  beseech  you,  fellow-citizens,  to  think  for  yourselves. 
Turn  your  eyes  to  those  Colonies  where  Provincial  Con- 
gresses are  chosen  ;  see  the  effects  produced  by  them,  and 
judge  from  those  facts.  In  South- Carolina  the  Provincial 
Congress  has  shut  up  all  the  Courts  of  Justice.    No  man 


dare  attempt  to  recover  a  just  debt,  unless  graciously  per- 
mitted by  the  Committee  of  the  County.  By  very  late 
accounts  from  Virginia,  I  am  informed  that  matters  there 
are  in  much  the  same  predicament.  In  Maryland,  the 
Provincial  Congress  has  wrested  the  Militia  out  of  the 
King's  hands,  and  has  levied  immense  sums  of  money — 
extorted  large  contributions  from  the  inhabitants  for  the 
purpose  of  raising  Troops  to  fight  against  His  Majesty. 
The  Provincial  Congress  of  Pennsylvania  met  lately  to 
carry  the  same  design  into  execution,  and  were  near  effect- 
ing their  purpose;  and  there  the  liberty  of  the  Press  is 
utterley  destroyed.  As  for  Massachusetts,  you  know  the 
Provincial  Congress  have  appointed  a  Treasurer,  levied 
money,  enlisted  Minute  Men,  and  are  taking  every  step 
totally  to  annihilate  the  King's  just  and  legal  authority  in 
that  Province. 

These  are  notorious,  indubitable  facts.  They  cannot 
be  denied.  Say,  then,  fellow-citizens,  do  you  choose  to 
bring  yourselves  into  a  similar  situation  ?  If  so,  then  do 
not  fail  to  appoint  a  certain  number  of  persons,  on  Mon- 
day, the  6th  instant,  to  meet  such  Deputies  as  the  County 
may  elect  for  that  purpose,  and  to  join  with  them.  By 
this  means  a  Provincial  Congress  will  be  immediately 
formed  ;  and  as  the  warmest  and  most  forward  persons  are 
generally  chosen  on  those  occasions,  I  may  venture  to  pro- 
nounce our  Provincial  Congress  will  not  fall  short  of  others 
in  usurping  an  unjust  authority,  in  being  tenacious  of  it, 
and  plunging  this  Province  into  the  greatest  confusion  and 
irregularities.  But  if  you  detest,  as  I  know  you  do,  the 
thoughts  of  such  proceedings,  then  unite  as  one  man  in  op- 
posing them.  Let  neither  indolence,  or  any  other  con- 
sideration, prevent  you  from  exerting  your  usual  fortitude 
and  spirit  to  stop  the  mischief  which  is  swiftly  approach- 
ing. Do  not  sully  your  former  reputation,  by  suffering  this 
maddest  freak  of  rampant  Republicanism  to  take  place — 
the  appointment  of  a  Provincial  Congress.  Crush  this 
accursed  cockatrice  whilst  it  is  in  embryo ;  if  you  permit 
it  to  grow  up  to  maturity,  it  will  sting  you  to  death. 

I  am  very  sensible  that  no  gentleman  or  man  of  charac- 
ter among  us  would,  as  matters  are  now  circumstanced, 
accept  of  the  appointment  of  Delegate  to  the  Continental 
Congress,  or  of  Deputy  to  a  Provincial  Congress.  But 
you  very  well  know  that  there  are  several  here,  who  are 
under  no  restraints  of  delicacy,  or  regard  to  decorum  and 
order  on  this  head.  These  having  no  consequence,  but 
such  as  they  derive  from  our  confusions,  would  willingly 
perpetuate  those  confusions,  as  it  would  raise  their  impor- 
tance, and  flatter  their  vanity.  Against  these  you  should 
be  peculiarly  on  your  guard.  They  will  not  fail  to  im- 
prove any  supineness  you  may  show  on  this  occasion. 
Men  of  property  should  be  alert  and  watchful,  in  the  high- 
est degree,  on  this  emergency  ;  for  these  having  little  or 
no  property  of  their  own,  will  be  the  more  apt  to  make 
free  with  that  of  others ;  and  we  have  no  check  or  control 
on  them,  if  they  are  once  exalted  into  a  Provincial  Con- 
gress. To  levy  money  will  be  one  part  of  their  office, 
and,  besides,  their  intemperate  measures  will  probably  lead 
to  confiscations,  by  which  they  can  lose  nothing. 

That  wisdom,  loyalty,  firm  attachment  to  your  excel- 
lent Constitution,  and  zealous  assiduity  may  guide  you  at 
this  most  important  crisis,  is  the  unfeigned  wish  of 

A  Citizen  of  New- York. 


TO  THE  PUBLICK. 

New-York,  Tuesday,  March  7,  1775. 

11 A  Citizen  of  New-YorJc,"  has  attempted,  in  Mr. 
Gaine's  last  Paper,  to  sow  the  seeds  of  discord  among 
us,  and  interrupt  our  union  and  harmony.  Those  who  read 
his  performance  attentively,  will  easily  see  his  design  ;  but 
cursory  and  less  intelligent  readers  may  be  deceived  by 
him.  To  prevent  this,  I  will  make  a  few  remarks  upon 
his  curious  publication. 

As  soon  as  he  has  finished  his  introduction,  (which  con- 
sists of  nothing  more  than  common-place  phrases  and  trite 
expressions,)  he  begins  to  abuse  our  virtuous  and  patriotick 
Committee;  and  in  the  most  villanous  manner  represents 
them  as  having  done  what  they  never  did,  and,  I  dare  say, 
never  thought  of.  He  says,  "  a  summons  has  been  issued 
last  Thursday,  by  the  Chairman,  and  by  order  of  the  Com- 
mittee, commanding  your  attendance  at  the  Exchange  on 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  kc,  MARCH,  1775. 


48 


Monday,  the  6tli  instant,  for  the  purpose  of  choosing  Dele- 
gates to  go  to  the  next  Continental  Congress."  Is  this 
true?  It  is  not ; — it  is  a  wilful  misrepresentation.  Ex- 
amine the  Committee's  advertisement :  "  they  request  that 
the  Freeholders,  &rc,  will  be  pleased  to  assemble,  to  sig- 
nify their  sense  of  the  best  method  of  choosing  Delegates, 
and  whether  they  will  appoint  a  certain  number  of  persons, 
to  meet  such  Deputies  as  the  Counties  may  elect  for  that 
purpose,  and  join  with  them  in  appointing  Delegates  out 
of  their  body  for  the  next  Congress."  Can  any  thing  be 
more  modest?  Can  words  express  a  greater  deference  to 
the  opinion  of  the  publick  ?  Or  could  the  Counties  be 
treated  in  a  more  respectful  manner?  There  is  no  such 
thing  as  "  commanding  your  attendance,"  nor  was  it  the 
design  of  the  meeting  "  actually  to  choose"  Delegates,  as 
plainly  appears  from  the  Committee's  advertisement.  It 
is  true,  you  were  "  not  called  to  deliberate  on  the  expe- 
diency and  propriety  of  appointing  Delegates ;"  but  the 
reason  for  this  was,  not  an  overbearing  disposition  in  the 
Committee,  but  because  the  "  expediency  and  propriety" 
of  the  measure  was  allowed  on  all  hands ;  even  those  who 
met  at  Montagnic's,  where  Mr.  John  Thurmon  was  Chair- 
man, did  not  deny  either  of  them,  but  implicitly  agreed 
to  both,  and  only  proposed  trying  to  get  "the  meeting 
of  Monday  next  postponed  until  the  20th  of  April." 
So  you  see  the  artful  falsehood  used  by  this  same  Mr. 
Citizen. 

The  arguments  drawn  from  the  conduct  of  our  Assembly 
are  futile  and  ridiculous.  What  have  they  done  about  the 
matter?  They  have  determined  "  not  to  take  into  con- 
sideration the  proceedings  of  the  Continental  Congress, 
held  in  the  City  of  Philadelphia,  in  the  months  of  Septem- 
ber and  October  last ;"  and  that  the  sense  of  the  House 
should  "not  be  taken  on  the  necessity  of  appointing  Dele- 
gates for  this  Colony,  to  meet  the  Delegates  for  the  other 
Colonies  on  this  Continent  in  General  Congress,  on  the 
10th  day  of  May  next."  If  1  understand  English,  this  is 
nothing  more  than  if  the  Honourable  House  had  said,  these 
are  matters  with  which  we  do  not  choose  to  have  any  con- 
nexion, and  therefore  shall  neither  censure  nor  applaud, 
but  leave  it  entirely  to  our  constituents,  to  act  as  they  think 
proper ;  if  they  choose  to  approve  the  proceedings  of  the 
Congress,  and  adhere  to  their  determinations,  let  them  do 
it ;  if  not,  let  them  disapprove  of  them,  and  signify  their 
approbation  or  disapprobation  in  their  own  way.  This 
seems  to  me  the  most  natural  construction  of  the  conduet 
of  the  Honourable  House  ;  and  that  of  some  of  the  Mem- 
bers yesterday  appears  to  justify  this  construction,  for  a 
number  of  them  attended  the  meeting  at  the  Exchange ; 
and  to  suppose  they  would  encourage,  by  their  presence, 
a  meeting  which  was  (as  the  Citizen  is  pleased  to  call  it) 
"  an  open  violation  of  their  just  authority,  and  a  glaring 
insult  on  them,"  contains  such  a  reflection  on  the  good 
sense  of  those  gentlemen,  and  the  propriety  of  their  con- 
duct, as  I  do  not  choose  to  make,  and  think  ought  not  to 
he  made  by  any  person  whatever.  It  appears,  then,  very 
plain,  that  the  Citizen  must  have  entirely  mistaken  the 
matter,  or  wilfully  misrepresented  it,  that  he  might  be  fur- 
nished with  weighty  arguments  against  the  meeting.  From 
his  perversion  of  the  Committee's  advertisement,  I  strong- 
ly suspect  the  latter  was  the  case,  but  it  is  not  right  to  use 
our  firm  attachment  to  our  Constitutional  Legislature  as  an 
instrument  to  deceive  us.  Fie!  Mr.  Citizen;  that  is  a 
low-lived  trick. 

The  remainder  of  the  Citizen's  Address  is  such  an  inco- 
herent confusion  of  Provincial  Congress,  Republicanism, 
Constitutional  Assemblies.  Militia,  Legal  Authority,  Cocka- 
trices, Embryos,  &,c,  that  I  am  apt  to  think  the  man  was 
non  compos  mentis  when  he  wrote  it,  and  I  shall  not  at- 
tempt to  answer  it,  lest  the  publick  should  think  that  I  am 
mad  too. 

You  see,  my  friends,  what  arts  are  used  to  support  a 
faction;  be  on  your  guard  ;  you  acted  yesterday  in  a  man- 
ner worthy  of  yourselves ;  continue  to  act  on  all  future 
occasions  with  the  same  order,  decency,  unanimity,  and 
firmness;  you  will  thereby  confound  the  friends  of  des- 
potism, convince  them  your  attachment  to  "the  best  of 
Kings"  and  Constitutional  Government  is  inviolable,  and 
will  preserve  your  own  liberty,  and  that  of  your  posterity, 
till  time  shall  be  no  more. 

Anothek  Citizen. 


City  of  New.York,  March  7,  1775. 

Personally  came  and  appeared  before  me,  David  Mat- 
thews, Esquire,  one  of  His  Majesty's  Justices  of  the  Peace, 
for  the  City  and  County  of  New-York,  John  Graham. 
Clerk  to  Robert  and  John  Murray,  of  this  City,  Mer- 
chants, and  being  duly  sworn  on  the  Holy  Evangelists  of 
Almighty  God,  did  depose  and  say,  that  he  left  this  City 
on  Monday  morning  last,  in  company  with  the  said  John 
Murray,  and  proceeded  with  him  on  board  the  Ship  Beu- 
lah, then  lying  at  the  watering  place ;  that  shortly  after 
they  arrived  on  board  said  Ship  they  weighed  anchor,  and 
proceeded  to  Sandy  Hook,  where  the  said  Ship  continued 
until  about  seven  of  the  clock  this  morning,  at  which  time 
they  weighed  anchor  and  stood  out  to  Sea;  that  the  said 
deponent  and  the  said  John  Murray  left  the  said  Ship,  and 
came  up  opposite  to  Slaten  Island,  where  the  said  John 
Murray  landed,  about  two  of  the  clock  this  afternoon, 
and  was  going  (as  the  deponent  understood  from  the  said 
John  Murray )  to  Elizabethtown,  to  settle  some  business 
with  Lord  Stirling;  that  the  deponent  saw  the  said  Ship 
pass  the  Light-House  about  eight  of  the  clock  this  morn- 
ing ;  that  neither  the  said  John  Murray  or  the  deponent 
was  on  board  the  said  Ship  after  the  anchor  was  weighed  ; 
that  the  deponent  did  not  hear  any  conversation  between 
the  said  John  Murray  and  any  other  person,  relative  to  the 
taking  any  goods  out  of  the  said  Ship,  nor  does  he  be- 
lieve that  any  boat  was  employed  for  that  purpose ;  that 
the  deponent's  business  on  board  was  to  copy  invoices  and 
letters.    And  further  this  deponent  saith  not. 

John  Graham. 

Sworn,  this  7th  day  of  March,  before  me, 

D.  Matthews. 


New.York,  Wednesday,  March  8,  1775. 

On  Friday  evening  last,  a  number  of  persons  who  dis- 
approved of  the  proposal  made  by  the  Committee  for  this 
City  and  County,  in  their  advertisement,  published  Thurs- 
day, met  at  the  house  of  the  widow  De  La  Montagnie, 
and  after  choosing  Mr.  John  Thurman  Chairman,  proposed 
attempting  to  get  the  business  intended  for  last  Monday, 
(viz  :  the  choice  of  persons  to  meet  the  Deputies  from 
the  Counties,  for  the  purpose  of  choosing  Delegates  for 
the  next  Congress)  postponed  until  the  20th  of  April, 
and  published  a  handbill,  desiring  those  who  were  of  their 
sentiments  to  meet  them  there  on  Monday,  the  6th  in- 
stant, at  ten  o'clock,  and  proceed  from  thence  to  the 
Exchange. 

A  number  of  the  friends  of  Constitutional  Liberty,  hear- 
ing of  this  manoeuvre,  and  apprehending  a  scheme  was  on 
foot  to  defeat  the  design  of  sending  Delegates  to  the  Con- 
gress, met  on  the  next  evening,  and  determined  to  support 
the  Committee,  of  whose  virtue  and  patriotism  we  have 
had  ample  experience.  At  the  close  of  the  meeting,  a 
gentleman  having  informed  the  company  that  the  owners 
of  the  Ship  Beulah  (some  time  since  arrived  from  Lon- 
don )  had  not  performed  their  promise  of  sending  her 
back,  and  that,  therefore,  the  Committee's  Boat  had  left 
her;  about  three  hundred  citizens  unanimously  deter- 
mined to  wait  upon  the  owners  to  know  why  the  Beulah 
had  not  sailed,  and  required  the  Captain's  repairing  imme- 
diately on  board  his  Ship,  then  lying  at  the  watering  place, 
in  order  to  her  departure  with  the  first  fair  wind.  This 
service  was  effectually  performed  ;  and  next  day  the  Vessel 
fell  down  to  the  Hook,  from  whence  she  put  to  Sea  on 
Tuesday. 

Early  on  Monday  morning  preparations  were  made  for 
the  meeting  at  the  Exchange.  A  Union  Flag,  with  a  red 
field,  was  hoisted  on  the  Liberty-pole,  where,  at  nine 
o'clock,  the  friends  of  Freedom  assembled,  and  having  got 
in  proper  readiness,  about  eleven  o'clock  the  body  began 
their  march  to  the  Exchange.  They  were  attended  by 
musick ;  and  two  standard  bearers  carried  a  large  Union 
Flag,  with  a  blue  field,  on  which  were  the  following  inscrip- 
tions :  On  one  side,  George  III. — Rex  and  the  Liberties 
of  America. — No  Popery.  On  the  other :  The  Union 
of  the  Colonies,  and  the  Measures  of  Congress.  Some 
time  after  they  had  arrived  at  the  Exchange,  came  also 
the  other  company,  who  had  met  at  the  widow  De  La 
Montagnic's,  among  whom  were  some  Officers  of  the  Army 
and  Navy,  several  of  His  Majesty's  Council,  and  those 


49 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  fee,  MARCH,  1775. 


50 


Members  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  who  had  re- 
fused taking  into  consideration  the  proceedings  of  the  Con- 
gress, together  with  Officers  of  the  Customs,  and  other  de- 
pendants on  the  Court,  &tc.  Soon  after  the  parties  met, 
some  confusion  arose,  but  subsided  without  any  bad  conse- 
quences. The  Chairman  of  the  Committee  then  pro- 
ceeded to  explain  the  design  of  the  meeting  ;  after  which 
he  proposed  the  following  questions,  viz  : 

First  Question.  Whether  a  certain  number  of  persons 
shall  be  appointed  and  authorized  to  meet  such  Deputies 
as  the  Counties  may  elect,  and  join  with  them  for  the  sole 
purpose  of  appointing  out  of  their  body,  on  the  20th  of 
April  next,  Delegates  for  the  next  Congress  ? 

Second  Question.  Whether  this  meeting  will  authorize 
the  Committee  to  nominate  eleven  Deputies  for  their  ap- 
probation ? 

Both  of  which  were  carried  in  the  affirmative.  The 
meeting,  and  the  majority  which  determined  the  questions, 
are  supposed  to  have  been  the  most  numerous  and  respect- 
able ever  known  in  this  City  on  the  decision  of  any  pub- 
lick  proposal.  The  business  of  the  day  being  finished,  the 
friends  of  Freedom  paraded  through  one  of  the  principal 
streets  of  the  City,  to  the  Liberty-pole,  and  there  dis- 
persed, in  the  most  quiet  and  orderly  manner. 


New. York,  March  8,  1775. 

The  notification  of  the  Committee,  dated  March  1,  in- 
duced several  worthy  citizens,  friends  of  Liberty-  and  the 
Constitution,  to  assemble  at  the  widow  De  La  Montagnie's, 
on  Friday  evening,  the  3d  instant.  The  measure  sug- 
gested by  the  Committee  appeared  to  them  to  be  liable  to 
exception,  as  the  probable  tendency  of  it  seemed  to  be  the 
introduction  of  a  Provincial  Congress.  They  thought, 
too,  that  in  a  measure  of  so  much  importance  to  the  com- 
munity, no  precipitate  steps  should  be  taken  ;  that  our  fel- 
low-citizens had  a  right  to  a  little  longer  time  than  the 
Committee  had  thought  proper  to  allow  them  ;  and  they 
objected  to  the  mode  of  taking  the  sense  of  the  City  by 
collecting  the  people  together.  They  were  apprized  of 
the  confusion,  the  heats  and  animosity,  of  which  such  a 
proceeding  is  generally  productive  ;  that  on  such  occasions 
those  citizens,  who  alone  ought  to  be  consulted,  and  who 
alone  have  a  right  to  give  their  voices,  namely,  the  Free- 
holders and  Freemen,  were  liable  to  insults  and  indignities  ; 
and  that,  as  it  was  impossible  to  discriminate  between  them 
and  such  as  were  collected  on  purpose  to  roakeashow  of  num- 
bers, they  foresaw  that  the  mode  proposed  was  entirely  in- 
adequate to  the  purpose  of  taking  the  sense  of  the  City,  in 
which  they  were  confirmed  by  the  experience  of  last  year; 
when,  after  the  Town  had  been  kept  in  confusion,  tumult, 
and  disorder,  for  a  long  time,  about  the  election  of  Dele- 
gates, the  passing  Resolves,  meeting  in  the  Fields,  &c,  the 
late  reputable  Committee  of  Correspondence  had  recourse 
to  a  poll,  which  was  found  the  only  essential  measure  of 
ascertaining  what  the  sense  of  their  fellow-citizens  was. 
With  the  benefit  of  this  experience,  and  under  the  influ- 
ence of  sentiments  founded  in  prudence  and  moderation, 
as  well  as  deference  and  respect  for  their  fellow-citizens, 
the  friends  of  Constitutional  Liberty  could  not  but  disap- 
prove of  the  measure  adopted  by  the  Committee.  They 
proposed  that  the  election  of  Delegates  should  be  post- 
poned for  a  time,  when  they  intended,  if,  from  the  deter- 
minations of  our  Assembly  now  sitting,  and  the  advices 
which  might  arrive  by  the  expected  Packet,  some  measure 
could  not  be  adopted  with  the  consent  of  all  parties,  and 
without  division,  that  in  such  case  the  sense  of  the  free- 
spirited  and  independent  Electors  of  this  City  should  be 
taken  by  a  poll,  by  which  those  who  had  a  right  to  give 
their  voices  might  be  distinguished  from  such  as  had  not, 
and  when  the  respectable  citizens,  in  the  exercise  of  Con- 
stitutional rights  and  franchises,  lie  blended  with  the  rab- 
ble, which  may  always  be  collected  by  the  pageantry  of  a 
flag,  and  the  sound  of  a  drum  and  fife.  Unfortunately, 
however,  the  hopes  which  might  be  entertained  from  a 
calm,  deliberate  consideration  of  this  measure,  and  thereby 
of  healing  our  divisions,  and  of  deriving  weight  to  our  de- 
terminations from  the  unanimity  with  which  they  might  be 
carried,  were  defeated  ;  for  the  day  was  fixed,  and  at  hand. 
Accordingly  on  Monday,  at  the  Exchange,  a  vast  concourse 
of  people  were  assembled  ;  the  Chairman  of  the  Com- 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii.  4 


mittee  put  two  questions,  upon  each  of  which  there  was  a 
very  great  division.  Those  who  were  opposed  to  the 
question,  demanded  a  poll,  for  these  reasons :  that  the 
business  of  the  day  was  to  take  the  sense  of  the  Free- 
holders and  Freemen  ;  that  none  but  such  had  a  right  to 
give  their  voices,  and  that  it  was  impossible  to  discriminate 
them  from  those  who  had  not  such  right.  It  is  said  that 
the  Committee,  in  the  evening,  took  up  the  consideration 
of  the  proceedings  of  the  day  :  that  many  of  them  report- 
ed, that  the  majority  of  the  people  were  in  favour  of  the 
question  ;  that  they  were,  therefore,  authorized  to  proceed 
to  the  election  of  Deputies  to  meet  Deputies  from  the 
Counties  in  Provincial  Convention.  On  the  contrary,  it 
is  the  opinion  of  a  veiy  great  majority  of  our  fellow-citi- 
zens, that  no  new  powers  would  have  been  vested  in  the 
Committee  by  the  transactions  of  that  day ;  that  they  were 
appointed  in  matters  relative  to  the  Association  only;  that 
thej'  had  themselves  disclaimed  all  other  powers  ;  that  they 
had  called  the  Freeholders  and  Freemen  together  in  order 
to  take  their  sentiments  ;  that  it  was  impossible,  from  the 
nature  of  the  thing,  to  determine  on  which  side  the  ma- 
jority was. 

The  weight  of  the  objections,  therefore,  to  the  measure 
of  collecting  the  people  together,  appears  from  the  event ; 
and  after  the  most  disagreeable  consequences  which  have 
followed,  it  will  still  be  necessary  to  take  that,  as  the  last 
resource,  which  in  prudence  should  have  been  the  first 
measure,  namely- ,  taking  every  Elector's  vote  by  a  regular 
poll.  Impartial. 


Committee  Chamber,  New. York,  March  8,  1775. 

Ordered,  That  Philip  Livingston  and  John  Jay,  Es- 
quires, be  a  Committee  to  wait  on  Mr.  James  Rivington, 
and  request  of  him  to  acquaint  this  Committee  by  whose 
information,  or  by  what  authority,  he  published  the  follow- 
ing paragraph  in  his  Gazetteer  of  2d  March,  1775  : 

"  Last  Monday  the  Committee  of  Observation  met.  It 
was  proposed  that  they  should  nominate  Delegates  to  the 
Continental  Congress,  for  the  approbation  of  this  City  and 
County;  but  being  opposed,  the  final  determination  of  the 
Committee  was  deferred  until  their  next  meeting :" 

The  said  paragraph  being  entirely  and  wholly  false  and 
groundless ;  and  also  to  inform  Mr.  Rivington,  that  in 
printing  the  notice  of  the  Committee  of  the  27th  Febru- 
ary, 1775,  respecting  the  non-consumption  of  India  Tea 
being  then  soon  to  take  place,  it  was  inserted,  non-impor- 
tation, instead  of  non-consumption ;  and  desire  him  to  cor- 
rect the  mistake  in  his  next  Paper.  And  that  the  said 
Committee  do  make  their  report  at  their  next  Meeting. 

Committee  Chamber,  New- York,  March  13,  1775. 

Mr.  Chairman  :  In  pursuance  of  an  order  of  this  Com- 
mittee, of  the  8th  instant,  we  waited  upon  Mr.  Rivington, 
and  requested  him  to  acquaint  this  Committee,  by  whose 
information,  or  by  what  authority  he  published  the  para- 
graph mentioned  in  the  said  order,  in  his  Gazetteer  of  the 
2d  instant.  Mr.  Rivington  told  us  he  published  it  from 
common  report,  but  w-ould  be  more  careful  for  the  future, 
and  was  willing  to  contradict  it.*  The  errour  Mr.  Rivington 
committed  in  printing  the  notice  of  this  Committee  of  the 
27th  February,  1775,  respecting  the  non-consumption  of 
India  Tea  being  then  soon  to  take  place,  he  has  corrected. 

Phil.  Livingston, 
John  Jay. 

Resolved,  That  common  report  is  not  sufficient  authoritv 
for  any  Printer  in  this  City  to  publish  any  matters  as  facts 
relative  to  this  Committee,  and  tending  to  expose  them  to 
the  resentment  of  their  Constituents,  and  the  odium  of  the 
Colonies ;  for  that  the  transactions  of  this  Committee  are 
not  kept  secret,  and  any-  person  may,  with  ease,  know  the 

*  The  Committee  have  not  been  precise  in  their  manner  of  pub. 
lishing  my  reply ;  to  the  above  particulars,  I  added,  "  that  what  was 
related  in  my  Paper  was  credited ;  yet  if  they  would  furnish  me  with 
accounts  of  their  Proceedings,  I  might  be  able  to  print  them  without 
eiTour." 

I  cannot  think  my  conduct  on  this  occasion  merits  so  formal  and 
publick  a  reprehension ;  a  reprehension  highly  favouring  of  Legisla- 
tive authority,  seemingly  calculated  to  aggrandize  the  power  of  the 
accusers,  and  to  disparage  the  political  reputation  of  a  persecuted, 
and,  to  the  everlasting  disgrace  of  many  County  Committees,  a  pro. 
scribed  Printer.  James  Rivington. 

New-York,  March  16,  1775. 


51 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  he,  MARCH,  1775. 


52 


truth  of  such  reports,  by  applying  to  any  of  the  Members 
of  the  Committee,  who  are  numerous,  and  to  be  found  in 
almost  every  part  of  the  City. 

Ordered,  That  the  foregoing  Order,  Report,  and  Resolve, 
be  forthwith  printed  in  all  the  Papers. 

Ry  order  of  the  Committee, 

Isaac  Low,  Chairman. 


TO  THE  PEOPLE  OF  ENGLAND. 

London,  March  7,  1775. 
Some  three,  four,  and  five  centuries  ago,  it  was  usual  at 
the  close  of  our  Parliament  to  distinguish  them,  according 
to  their  deserts,  by  some  particular  epithet,  whether  good, 
bad,  or  indifferent.  In  consequence  of  this  laudable  usage, 
I  find  one  of  our  Parliaments  stands  stigmatized  with  the 
opprobrious  epithet  of  "  ignorant ;"  a  second  with  that  of 
"  insane  ;"  and  a  third  with  that  of  the  "  merciless  Par- 
liament/' 

Any  one  of  these  severe,  yet  just  epithets,  our  readers 
most  probably  will  think  a  sufficient  mark  of  detestation  to 
damn  the  actors  and  acts  of  such  a  Parliament  to  all  pos- 
terity. Rut  what  must  posterity  think  of  that  Parliament, 
who,  at  this  present  hour,  have  actually  two  Rills  before 
them,  the  first  of  which  is  to  attaint,  and  consequently  to 
hang,  draw,  and  quarter,  one  half  of  our  American  bre- 
thren ;  while  the  second  is  to  prohibit  their  Fisheries,  and 
consequently  to  starve  the  other  half  to  death.  Should 
these  two  Rills  be  enacted  into  two  Laws,  will  not  posterity 
deservedly  brand  that  Parliament  with  all  the  three  co- 
united  epithets  abovementioned  ;  and  whenever  they  make 
mention  of  it  with  horrour,  as  they  must  always  do,  will 
they  not  have  reason  to  call  it  "  the  ignorant-insane-mer- 
ciless Parliament  of  1775?"  Rut  in  charity  to  the  two 
Houses,  let  us  hope  the  King,  whose  most  amiable  prero- 
gative is  certainly  that  of  "  mercy,"  will  pay  some  little 
attention  to  his  coronation-oath.  Let  us  hope,  as  his  coro- 
nation-oath absolutely  enjoins  that  "  mercy"  shall  pervade 
and  govern  all  the  acts  of  his  own  judgment,  he  will  not 
deliberately  and  indelibly  blot  his  name  with  so  foul  a 
stain,  by  lending  it  to  either  of  these  two  merciless,  unna- 
tural, inhuman  Rills. 

After  this  seasonable,  and  I  hope  successful  admonition 
to  the  Royal  ear,  I  proceed  to  show  my  countrymen, 
that  as  the  Americans  have  not  taken  any  step  but  what  is 
fully  guarantied  by  the  Runnymede  Treaty,  so,  no  act  of 
any  preceding,  or  of  the  present,  or  of  any  future  Parlia- 
ment can  either  declare  or  enact  them  to  be  guilty  of  any 
one  breach  of  the  Constitution,  and  consequently  they  are 
not  guilty  of  high  treason. 

That  the  Americans  have  convened  a  Continental  Con- 
gress without  any  writs  of  Summons  from  the  King  ;  that 
they  have  actually  called  out  and  arrayed  their  Militia 
without  any  orders  from  Government  here  at  home  ;  and 
that  they  are  determined  to  resist  with  an  armed  force 
certain  unconstitutional  Acts  of  the  last  Parliament,  I  rea- 
dily agree  with  the  Royalists.  Rut,  that  these  same  Ame- 
ricans are  guilty  of  high  treason  against  the  King  or  King- 
dom, by  reason  of  any  one,  or  all  of  these  self-defensive 
proceedings,  I  absolutely  deny.  For  I  neither  know  of, 
nor  ever  will  acknowledge,  any  deed  of  the  subject  to  be 
high  treason  but  what  is  stipulated,  ratified,  and  confirmed 
to  be  such  by  some  one  of  our  four  Constitutions  or  defi- 
nitive Treaties. 

Let  us  see,  then,  by  what  constitutional  characteristicks 
we  may  infallibly  know  what  this  crime  of  high  treason  is. 

From  the  Norman  Treaty  we  may  learn  by  the  several 
Articles,  "  De  Proditione,  that  it  is  high  treason  against 
the  King  where  any  liege  subject  shall  insidiate  the  King's 
death,  either  by  himself,  or  by  hired  assassins,  or  by  his 
own  servants."  Thus  stood  high  treason  against  the  King 
till  the  Runny mede  Treaty  took  effect,  when  this  species 
of  it  was  enlarged  so  as  to  include  not  only  the  King's 
person,  but  also  that  of  his  Queen,  and  of  all  their  chil- 
dren. "  Sa  va  persona  regis,  et  regina,  et  eorum  libe- 
roru?n.', 

There  is  another  species  of  high  treason  mentioned  in 
the  Norman  Treaty,  and  that  is,  where  any  liege  subjects 
of  the  King,  or  any  liege  men  of  some  Raron,  shall,  either 
on  a  Naval  or  Land  Expedition,  desert  from  the  Command- 
er-in-chief or  his  associate,  through  fear  of  the  war  or 


death,  "  timiditatc  belli  vel  mortit."  And  this  is  pro- 
perly called  high  treason,  not  against  the  King  singly,  but 
against  the  King  and  Kingdom.  I  do  not  find  any  other 
high  treasons  affecting  the  subject  in  any  one  of  our  four 
Constitutions. 

Agreeable  then  to  the  Constitutional  Law  of  this  Realm, 
I  define  high  treason  against  the  King  to  be  "  an  insidious 
attempt  or  design  of  a  liege  subject  (either  with  his  own 
hand  or  that  of  his  servants)  to  take  away  the  life  of  the 
King,  the  Queen,  or  any  of  their  children  ;  but  it  must  be 
done  insidiously,  and  not  otherwise." 

I  also  define  high  treason  against  the  King  and  Kingdom 
to  be  "  a  desertion  of  our  Sea  or  Land  Forces,  either  in  a 
sea  or  land  expedition,  or  in  the  day  of  battle;"  but  not  at 
any  other  times. 

Compare  the  present  resistance  of  the  Americans  with 
either  of  these  two  definitions,  and  I  shall  challenge  any 
man  to  point  out  any  one  stage  of  their  conduct  that 
amounts  to  high  treason,  or,  indeed,  to  any  crime  or  offence 
whatsoever  against  the  British  Constitution.  When,  for 
instance,  were  they  ever  charged,  or  suspected  of  any  sin- 
ister attempt,  or  insidious  design  against  the  lives  of  any  of 
the  Royal  family  ?  Or,  when  were  they  ever  known  to 
have  deserted  in  the  day  of  battle  ?  Can  the  Crown  Law- 
yers produce  any  Constitution,  or  even  any  one  Act  of  Par- 
liament that  impeaches  the  credit  or  bottomness  of  my 
definition?  If  not,  will  they  submit  their  own  definition 
to  the  same  unerring  criterion  and  fair  test?  Their  best 
definition,  and  that  in  which  they  all  concurred,  was,  "  that 
to  resist  any  Law  with  an  armed  force,  is  high  treason." 
This  is  an  imperfect,  lame  definition,  at  best,  for  it  only 
defines  what  high  treason  is,  but  is  entirely  silent  as  to 
what  is  not  high  treason.  Resides,  how  can  this  definition  of 
theirs  stand  with  the  Runnymede  Treaty,  which  impera- 
tively enjoins,  not  barely  licences,  but  absolutely,  I  say, 
enjoins,  the  subjects,  when  they  find  any  Laws  made  in 
violation,  derogation,  or  abrogation  of  any  one  Article  of 
the  Runnymedc  Treaty,  to  take  up  arms  toties  quotics, 
and  resist  the  execution  of  such  unconstitutional  Laws,  if 
the  King  for  the  time  being  shall  not  previously,  upon  Pe- 
tition, have  repealed  the  same?  This  is  the  very  case  at 
present  with  the  Americans.  Acts  of  Parliament  have 
been  made  in  oppression  of  them,  and  in  express  violation 
of  the  Runnymede  Treaty.  They  have  petitioned  against 
these  Acts.  The  King  first,  and  afterwards  the  two  Houses 
of  Parliament,  have  turned  a  deaf  ear  to  their  Petitions. 
Obtaining  no  redress  from  King  or  Parliament,  they  have 
recourse  to  Arms.  "  Yes — but  (say  the  Crown  Lawyers) 
that  very  resistance,  according  to  our  definition,  is  high 
treason."  What !  shall  that  be  high  treason  in  any  sub- 
jects of  the  British  Empire,  for  the  doing  of  which  they 
not  only  are  imperatively  enjoined  by,  but  have  the  guar- 
antee and  sanction  of  the  Runnymede  Treaty  ?  Or,  is 
there  any  Act  of  Parliament  now  in  being,  that  makes  the 
American  resistance  to  be  high  treason  ?  If  not,  shall  an 
ex-post-facto  Law,  and  that  too  made  in  glaring  violation  of 
Magna  Charta,  overrule,  nay,  abrogate,  Magna  Charta 
itself?  Look  over  your  whole  range  of  high-treason  Laws, 
(those  excepted  which  I  have  mentioned  as  constitutionally 
such,)  and  what  are  they,  in  fact,  but  so  many  Parliamentary 
assurances  of  the  people,  that  they  will  not  call  these  trea- 
son-enabling Kings  to  publick  account  for  certain  alarm- 
ing deeds,  which,  though  perhaps  they  may  be  strictly 
legal  of  themselves,  yet,  by  an  overstrained  interpretation, 
might  be  adjudged  to  be  of  a  doubtful,  if  not  of  a  criminal 
nature  ?  I  scarcely  recollect  one  high-treason  Law  to 
have  been  enacted,  except  it  was  during  a  reign  in  which 
the  National  Religion  was  abolished,  or  the  New  Religion 
not  thoroughly  established,  or  the  hereditary  succession  to 
the  Crown  interrupted,  or  where  the  King  upon  the  Throne 
either  was  a  notorious  usurper,  or  a  parricide,  or  had  mur- 
dered his  uncle,  his  brother,  his  wives,  or  his  nephews. 
Let  me  add,  too,  that  these  temporary  high-treason  Acts 
of  Parliament  have  always  been  deemed  so  highly  odible, 
or  suspicious,  that  they  have  generally  been  repealed  by 
the  next  immediately  succeeding  King,  unless  indeed  he 
stood  (which  hath  sometimes  been  the  case)  in  the  same 
predicament  with  his  Royal  predecessor.  Let  us  hear, 
then,  no  more  of  a  definition,  which  absurdly  tells  us, 
"  That  to  resist  a  Law,  however  unconstitutional  it  may 
be,  is  nevertheless  high  treason."     If  this  definition  be 


53 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  he,  MARCH,  1775. 


54 


admissible,  I  am  afraid  it  will  go  so  far  as  to  make  our 
very  Statute  Books  guilty  of  high  treason ;  for  if  your 
readers  will  turn  to  the  general  index  of  our  Statute  Books, 
under  the  article  "  King,"  they  will  there  find  the  title  of 
one  of  our  Acts  of  Parliament  running  in  the  very  words 
following:  "  Resistance  of  evil  Administration,  by  War, 
justified."  The  Statute  to  which  this  title  refers  is  penned 
in  the  old  French  law-language,  and  the  translator  of  it 
has  mistranslated  the  word  "  War,"  for  an  armed  force,  or 
a  strong  hand.  I  made  this  observation,  because,  by  our 
Constitution,  there  is  an  essential  distinction  between  an 
armed  force  and  a  War.  The  latter  is  applicable  only 
where  the  subjects  of  two  different  Kings,  or  two  sover- 
eign States,  are  fighting  against  one  another :  by  the  former, 
we  understand,  here  in  England,  that  the  subjects  of  one 
and  the  same  King  are  fighting  against  each  other.  The 
word  "Guerre,"  or  War,  is  twice  used  in  this  Statute,  and 
in  both  places  it  speaks  of  War  with  foreign  Kings ;  but 
whenever,  in  this  Statute,  there  is  any  mention  of  the  resist- 
ance which  the  Duke  of  Gloucester  made  to  the  King's 
Troops,  it  is  not  called  a  "  Guerre"  or  War,  but  a  com- 
batement,  or  combat.  The  same  nicety  of  expression 
is  sedulously  observed  in  the  Runnymede  Treaty  ;  for 
whenever  King  John  uses  the  word  "  Guerre,"  or  "  Guer- 
rilla," it  is  clearly  expressive  of  a  war  with  the  King  of 
England,  and  some  other  King  or  Nation:  for  instance, 
"  cum  scimus  quomodo  mercatores  terra;  nostra;  tractantur, 
qui  inveniuntur  in  terra  contra  nos  in  guerrina,  si  nostri 
salva  sint  ibi,  alii  salvi  shit  in  terra  nostra."  On  the 
contrary,  when  this  same  King  John  mentions  the  resist- 
ance which  the  Barons  made  against  his  authority,  he 
does  not  call  it  by  the  odious  name  of  "  a  War,"  but  only 
by  that  of  "  discord."  As  for  example,  "  a  tempore  dis- 
cordia  plene  omnibus  remisimus  et  condonavimus."  This 
distinction,  I  say,  is  essentially  necessary  ;  for  every  War, 
properly  so  called,  between  one  King  and  another,  hath 
always  for  its  object  (however  that  object  may  be  modified 
or  disguised)  either  the  preservation  or  extension  of  their 
respective  Dominions ;  but  that  resistance  which  in  the 
Runnymede  Treaty  is  called  "  discord,"  and  in  the  Sta- 
tute above  alluded  to  is  called  "  combat,"  hath  no  other 
object  in  view  but  the  mere  preservation  of  the  people's 
rights  and  liberties ;  besides,  in  the  former,  if  the  King  be 
taken  prisoner,  his  life  is  forfeited  ;  in  the  latter,  his  life  is 
sacred  ;  and  this  accounts  for  the  justification  of  resistance, 
for  if  the  object  itself  be  just,  then  the  resistance  of  course 
is  justifiable. 

I  have  been  careful  to  simplify  this  distinction,  because 
it  will  explain  a  clause  in  the  Twenty-fifth  of  our  Third 
Edward,  which  hath  been  either  grossly  misunderstood,  or 
wickedly  perverted,  by  the  King's  Judges.  The  clause  I 
allude  to  is  that  by  which  "  to  levy  War  against  our  Lord 
the  King,  within  his  Realm,"  is  declared  to  be  high  treason. 
And  doubtless  it  is ;  not  because  it  is  one  of  the  special 
prerogatives  of  the  Crown  to  make  or  denounce  War,  but 
because  the  King,  if  taken  prisoner  by  a  subject  in  a  War 
levied  by  a  subject,  would  certainly  meet  with  no  quarter ; 
and  where  the  "  salva  persona  regis"  is  not  observed, 
there  it  would  be  high  treason,  and  constitutionally  so, 
which  is  an  irrefragable,  indestructible,  proof  of  the  genu- 
ineness and  bottomness  of  my  definition  of  high  treason. 
But  treasonable  levying  of  AVar  by  no  means  concludes 
that  species  of  resistance  against  the  kingly  authority,  in 
which  the  Americans  are  at  this  moment  actually  embark- 
ed ;  for  that  resistance  amounts  to  nothing  more  than  "  a 
discord,"  very  properly  so  called ;  for  the  King  himself 
may,  whenever  he  pleases,  restore  it  to  harmony,  by  relax- 
ing the  over-strained,  jarring,  chord  of  Government.  If, 
on  the  contrary,  he  attempts  to  strain  it  one  note  higher, 
the  chord  itself,  in  this  over  tension,  may  burst  asunder. 
But  even  then  the  consequences  would  not  be  fatal  to  him  ; 
for  should  they  chance  to  take  him  prisoner,  he  would  not 
only  be  entitled  to  his  "  salva  persona,"  but  it  would  be 
unconstitutional  in  them  to  put  him  to  death. 

That  levying  of  War,  properly  so  called,  does  not  ex- 
tend to  constitutional  resistance,  also  plainly  appears  from 
a  Proclamation  in  Parliament,  issued  by  this  Edward  the 
Third,  in  whose  reign  this  same  Statute  of  high  treason 
was  ordained.  For  this  blessed  King,  (as  Sir  Edward 
Coke,  in  his  exposition  of  this  Statute,  gravely  calls  him,) 
having  dethroned  and  imprisoned  his  own  father,  openly 


proclaims  in  Parliament,  "  that  no  person,  great  or  small, 
who  pursued  and  took  his  father  in  custody,  and  who  still 
remains  in  custody,  shall  be  any  ways  hindered,  molested, 
or  grieved,  for  or  by  reason  of  such  pursuit  and  imprisonment 
of  his  said  father."  A  similar  Proclamation  was  also  made, 
word  for  word,  in  Parliament,  by  our  Fourth  Henry,  who, 
while  he  was  only  a  subject,  had  pursued  and  taken  into 
safe  custody,  Richard  the  Second  ;  so  that  these  Procla- 
mations being  conformant  to  the  true  spirit  of  the  Runny- 
mede Treaty,  were  matters  of  course;  and  the  Proclama- 
tions above  mentioned  only  revived  and  enforced  that 
clause  of  the  treaty,  but  enacted  no  new  *Law,  which  no 
Proclamation  can  do. 

Thus,  sir,  I  have  clearly  proved  that  the  present  resist- 
ance of  the  Americans  is  imperatively  enjoined  by  our 
great  Charter  of  Liberties  ;  that  it  is  supported  and  cor- 
roborated by  Statutes  and  Proclamations,  all  penned  in  the 
true  spirit  of  our  great  Charter  ;  and  that  it  does  by  no 
means  come  within  the  description  of  levying  War  against 
the  King,  nor  in  any  manner  within  the  purview  of  the 
Twenty-fifth  of  Edward  the  Third  ;  and  that  consequently 
the  resistance  of  the  Americans  cannot  justly  or  constitu- 
tionally be  enacted  by  the  present  or  any  future  Parlia- 
ment to  be  high  treason.  Brecknock. 


CONSTITUTIONAL  SOCIETY. 

London,  Tuesday,  March  7,  1775. 

The  Treasurer  to  the  Constitutional  Society  reported 
that  he  had  received  the  following  Letters,  with  the  en- 
closed sums. 

To  the  Constitutional  Society  : 

Gentlemen:  The  Collector  of  the  Land  Tax  received 
from  me  this  week  Seven  Pounds  Thirteen  Shillings;  and 
I  know  it  will  be  employed  as  usual,  to  pay  prostituted 
Parliament  pensioners  for  voting  away  the  liberty  of  Eng- 
lishmen as  well  as  Americans.  I  send  you  Fifteen  Pounds, 
and  for  every  Pound  that  is  taken  from  me  for  the  bad  pur- 
poses of  the  present  plans  of  Administration,  I  will  hereaf- 
ter regularly  send  you  Two,  to  be  applied  in  defence  of 
American  Liberty,  and  I  hope  others  will  do  the  same.  1 
have  no  objections  to  pay  Taxes  in  support  of  an  honest 
Government ;  but  will  voluntarily  pay  double  against  an 
infamous  cabal,  who  are  openly  destroying  the  free  Con- 
stitution of  this  Country. 

I  am,  gentlemen,  your  most  obedient  servant, 

T.  R. 

To  Richard  Oliver,  Esq. : 

Sir:  I  saw  in  the  Newspapers  that  the  Constitutional 
Society  had  given  a  Hundred  Pounds  to  the  distressed  in- 
habitants of  Roston.  If  the  trifle  I  send  herewith  is  thought 
worthy  of  acceptance  by  the  Society,  I  beg  they  would 
apply  it  to  the  same  purpose :  if  not,  I  desire  it  may  be 
returned  to  the  person  who  will  bring  the  corner  that  is 
torn  off  from  this  letter.  Most  of  the  gentlemen  in  my 
neighbourhood  are  desirous  to  assist  them  ;  and  if  I  know 
it  will  be  acceptable,  I  will  take  care  to  forward  their  sub- 
scriptions to  you.  Any  message  given  to  the  person  who 
will  bring  the  torn  corner  of  this  letter  will  be  faithfully 
delivered  to,  sir,  your  humble  servant, 

(With  Twenty  Pounds.)  J.  J. 

To  Richard  Oliver,  Esq. : 

Sir  :  Enclosed  I  send  you  a  Bank  note,  of  Ten  Pounds, 
which  I  desire  you  to  pay  into  the  Constitutional  Society. 
I  mean  it  towards  the  relief  and  assistance  of  the  distressed 
inhabitants  of  Roston,  in  America,  and  beg  that  it  may 
make  part  of  the  next  vote  of  supply  from  that  Society,  in 
favour  of  the  Americans.  Their  cause  is  the  cause  of 
England. 

*  Tins  Parliamentary  Declaration  divides  treason  into  two  distinct 
branches,  namely,  high  and  petit  treason.  But  it  is  to  be  observed, 
the  Lords  and  Commons  most  carefully  and  skilfully  avoided  to  give 
their  accord  to  that  branch  of  it  which  respects  high  treasou,  and  only 
gave  their  simple  accord  to  that  branch  of  it  which  specifies  the 
offences  of  petit  treason  ;  so  that  this  Statute  is  of  force  only  so  far  as 
it  declares  what  offences  are  petit  treason,  and  abates,  (as  the  Lawyers 
phrase  it,)  as  to  that  part  of  it  which  declaratively  specifies  what  par- 
ticular crimes  are  high  treason,  and  consequently  leaves  that  heinous 
crime  upon  its  proper  constitutional  basis.  And  to  what  particular 
crimes  high  treason  is  restricted  by  the  Constitution,  I  have  sufficient- 
ly explained  and  ascertained  in  my  two  definitions  of  it  belore  men- 
tioned. 


55 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775. 


56 


What  have  we  at  home  hut  to  resist  a  victorious  Army, 
which  will  have  been  tried  and  modeled  there,  and  de- 
voted to  the  Crown,  returning  to  England  from  the  con- 
quest of  America  !  All  is  at  stake  !  The  single  question 
is,  whether  the  King  of  (treat  Britain  shall,  in  future,  be 
as  absolutely  despotick  in  every  part  of  the  Empire,  as  a 
late  Act  of  Parliament  appointed  him  to  be  forever  in 
Canada  1  If  despotism  had  not  been  the  favourite  form 
of  Government  with  the  proposers  of  that  Bill,  they  would 
not  have  established  that  form,  when  they  had  it  at  their 
option  which  to  appoint.  After  the  conquest  over  freedom 
in  America,  your  Army  will  give  them  the  same  option  in 
England ;  and  we  already  know  their  inclinations. 

i  therefore  set  my  foot  here,  and  have  as  many  Thou- 
sands as  I  now  send  Pounds,  which  I  shall  be  willing  to 
dedicate  to  the  same  purpose,  if  the  situation  of  the  Ame- 
ricans shall  continue  to  require,  and  their  conduct  to  de- 
serve, support. 

I  am,  sir,  with  the  greatest  esteem  for  you  and  the  gen- 
tlemen of  the  Society,  your  humble  servant,     H.  B.  J. 

To  the  Constitutional  Society  : 

When  the  common  rights  of  Englishmen  are  invaded 
in  any  part  of  the  British  Dominions,  my  mite  shall  never 
be  wanting  to  assist  those  who  struggle  like  men  for  the 
rights  of  men.  This  Twenty  Pounds  and  my  prayers,  is 
all  I  have  to  give.  May  God  prosper  the  honest  efforts  of 
the  Americans,  and  make  them  at  length  the  happy  instru- 
ments of  bringing  to  justice  those  traitors  who  have  long 
trampled  upon  us  here  with  impunity.  And  may  God 
bless  you,  gentlemen,  for  the  honest  example  you  have  set 
us.  William  Finch. 

The  Treasurer  likewise  reported  that  he  had  received  a 
Ten  Pound  Bank  note  and  Four  Guineas,  enclosed  in  a 
cover,  directed  to  him  with  these  words,  "  To  the  Bos- 
tonians." 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  LONDON,  DATED  MARCH  I, 
1775. 

Yesterday,  No.  Ill  of  a  periodical  Paper,  called  "  The 
Crisis,"  and  a  pamphlet  with  the  same  title,  containing 
Thoughts  on  American  Affairs,  were  burnt  by  the  com- 
mon hangman,  at  Westminster  Hall  gate,  pursuant  to  an 
unanimous  order  of  the  House  of  Lords  and  Commons. 
As  soon  as  the  condemned  papers  were  burnt,  a  man 
threw  into  the  fire  the  "  Address  of  both  Houses  of  Par- 
liament to  His  Majesty,  declaring  the  Bostonians  in  actual 
Rebellion ;"  likewise  the  Address  of  the  Bishops  and 
Clergy  assembled  in  Convocation.  The  Sheriffs  were  much 
hissed  for  attending,  and  the  populace  diverted  themselves 
with  throwing  the  fire  at  each  other. 

And  this  day,  at  twelve  o'clock,  the  Sheriffs  attended 
at  the  Royal  Exchange  for  the  above  purpose;  but  as  soon 
as  the  fire  was  lighted,  it  was  put  out,  and  dead  dogs  and 
cats  thrown  at  the  Officers ;  a  fire  was  then  made  in  Corn- 
hill,  and  the  executioner  did  his  duty.  Sheriff  Hart  was 
wounded  in  the  wrist,  and  Sheriff  Plomcr  in  the  breast,  by 
a  brick-bat;  Mr.  Gates,  the  City  Marshal,  was  dismount- 
ed, and  with  much  difficulty  saved  his  life. 

No  less  than  three  publications,  under  the  name  of  The 
Crisis,  have  come  under  Parliamentary  inquiry  ;  the  first 
in  the  year  1714,  written  by  Sir  Richard  Steele,  a  Mem- 
ber of  Parliament,  for  which  he  was  expelled  the  House  ; 
and  the  two  which  were  burnt  at  the  Royal  Exchange  yes- 
terday. 


HOUSE  OF  LORDS. 

Monday,  February  27,  1775. 
Complaint  was  made  to  the  House  of  a  printed  Paper, 
intituled,  "The  Crisis,  No.  HI,  Saturday,  February  4, 
1775,  printed  and  published  for  the  Authors,  by  T.  W. 
Shaw,  Fleet  Street,  opposite  Anderton's  Coffee-House." 
The  said  Paper  was  read  by  the  Clerk. 
The  Earl  of  Radnor  moved  to  "Resolve,  that  the  Pa- 
per called  'The  Crisis,  No.  Ill,'  is  a  false,  daring,  infa- 
mous, seditious,  and  treasonable  libel  on  His  Majesty,  de- 
signed to  alienate  the  affections  of  His  Majesty's  subjects 
from  his  Royal  Person  and  Government,  and  to  disturb 
the  Peace  of  the  Kingdom." 


Then  an  amendment  was  proposed  to  be  made  to  the 
said  motion,  by  leaving  out  the  word  "  treasonable." 

Which  being  objected  to,  after  debate,  the  question  was 
put,  "  Whether  the  word  '  treasonable'  shall  stand  part  of 
the  motion  ?" 

And  it  was  resolved  in  the  affirmative. 

Then  it  was  moved,  "To  agree  to  the  said  Resolution, 
as  at  first  proposed." 

Which  being  objected  to,  the  question  was  put  there- 
upon : 

And  it  was  resolved  in  the  affirmative. 
Ordered,  That  His  Majesty's  Attorney  General  do  pro- 
secute the  Printer  and  Authors  of  the  said  Paper. 

HOUSE  OF  COMMONS. 

Monday,  February  27,  1 7 7 . 

A  complaint  being  made  to  the  House  of  a  printed  Pa- 
per, intituled,  "  The  Crisis,  No.  Ill,  dated  Saturday,  Feb- 
ruary 4,  1775,  printed  and  published  for  the  Authors,  by 
T.  W.  Shaw,  in  Fleet  Street," 

The  said  Paper  was  delivered  in  at  the  Clerk's  table, 
and  read. 

Resolved,  nemine  contradicente,  That  the  said  Paper  is 
a  false,  scandalous,  and  seditious  libel,  highly  and  unjustly 
reflecting  on  His  Majesty's  sacred  person,  and  tending  to 
alienate  the  affections,  and  inflame  the  minds,  of  His  Ma- 
jesty's subjects  against  his  person  and  Government. 

Resolved,  nemine  contradicente,  That  one  of  the  said 
printed  Papers  be  burnt  by  the  hands  of  the  common  hang- 
man in  New-Palace  Yard,  Westminster,  on  Monday,  the 
6th  day  of  March  next,  at  one  of  the  clock  in  the  after- 
noon ;  and  that  another  of  the  said  printed  Papers  be  burnt 
by  the  hands  of  the  common  hangman,  before  the  Royal 
Exchange  in  London,  on  Tuesday,  the  7th  day  of  March 
next,  at  the  same  hour ;  and  that  the  Sheriffs  of  London 
and  Middlesex  do  attend  at  the  said  times  and  places  re- 
spectively, and  cause  the  same  to  be  burnt  there  accord- 
ingly. 


THE  CRISIS.  NO.  f. 

To  the  People  of  England  and  America: 

Friends  and  Fellow-subjects  :  It  is  with  the  great- 
est propriety  I  address  this  paper  to  you.  It  is  in  your 
defence,  at  this  great,  this  important  crisis,  I  take  the  pen 
in  hand.  A  crisis  big  with  the  fate  of  the  most  glorious 
Empire  known  in  the  records  of  time;  and  by  your  firm- 
ness and  resolution  only,  it  can  be  saved  from  destruction. 
By  your  firmness  and  resolution,  you  may  preserve  to  your- 
selves, your  immediate  offspring,  and  latest  posterity,  all 
the  glorious  blessings  of  freedom  given  by  Heaven  to  un- 
deserving mortals;  by  your  supineness  and  pusillanimity, 
you  will  entail  on  yourselves,  your  children,  and  millions 
yet  unborn,  misery  and  slavery. 

It  is  in  your  defence  I  now  stand  forth  to  oppose  the 
most  sanguinary  and  despotick  Court  that  ever  disgraced 
a  free  Country.  It  is  in  your  defence  I  now  unsheath  the 
sword  of  Justice,  to  oppose  the  most  profligate  and  aban- 
doned Administration  that  ever  showed  the  weakness,  or 
abused  the  confidence,  of  a  Prince.  It  is  in  your  defence 
1  now  stand  forth,  with  a  firmness  and  resolution  becom- 
ing an  Englishman  determined  to  be  free,  to  oppose  every 
arbitrary  and  every  unconstitutional  Act,  of  a  venal  and 
corrupt  majority,  smuggled  into  the  present  new-fangled 
Court  Parliament,  through  the  villany  of  Lord  North,  and 
purchased  with  the  publick  money,  to  betray  their  trust, 
enslave  the  people,  subvert  the  Protestant  religion,  and 
destroy  the  glory,  the  honour,  interest,  and  commerce, 
both  foreign  and  domestick,  of  England  and  America; 
and  all  this  villanous  sacrifice  of  a  great  Empire,  a  brave 
people,  and  the  glorious  truths  of  Heaven,  to  ambitious 
views,  and  to  gratify  the  mean  vindictive  spirit  of  one,  as- 
sisted by  a  numerous  train  of  deputy  tyrants,  whose  sole 
aim  has  been  to  trample  under  foot  the  sacred  rights  of 
mankind,  and  the  English  Constitution. 

It  is  in  your  defence,  and  in  defence  of  the  liberties  of 
my  Country,  that  I  now  stand  forth,  with  a  fixed  resolu- 
tion, to  oppose,  and  show  to  the  world,  unavved  by  fear, 
the  dangerous  tendency  of  every  act  of  lawless  power, 
w  bather  it  shall  proceed  from  the  King,  the  Lords,  or  the 
Commons. 


r 


57 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  Sec,  MARCH,  1773. 


58 


I  will  endeavour,  in  conjunction  with  my  fellow-labourer 
in  this  great  work,  to  rescue  the  liberty  of  the  Press  (that 
bulwark  of  freedom)  from  the  ruin  with  which  it  is  now 
threatened,  by  special  juries  of  Middlesex,  and  the  arbitra- 
ry decisions  of  a  Scotch  Chief  Justice,  the  glorious  advo- 
cates for  despotick  sway.  The  heavy  fines  and  cruel  im- 
prisonment of  the  two  Wood  falls,  without  even  the  ap- 
pearance of  guilt,  and  contrary  to  the  intention  of  the  Jury, 
will  be  faithfully  recorded  by  the  pen  of  truth,  and  fill 
many  pages  in  the  black  catalogue  of  Murray's  crimes. 
It  shall  be  my  endeavour,  in  this  degenerate  age,  to  revive 
the  dying  embers  of  freedom,  and  rouse  my  countrymen  in 
England  from  that  lethargick  state  of  supineness  and  inat- 
tention, in  which  they  seem  to  sleep  at  this  time  of  national 
danger,  when  a  mighty  Kingdom,  and  all  the  dearest  rights 
of  men  are  hastening  to  their  ruin ;  that  they  may  yet 
stand  high  on  the  roll  of  fame,  equal  with  their  brave  and 
virtuous  brethren  in  America,  who  are  now  struggling  in 
the  glorious  cause  of  liberty,  against  the  cruel  oppressions 
and  the  destructive  designs  of  exalted  villains,  whose  ac- 
tions will  be  transmitted  to  posterity  in  characters  of  blood, 
and  their  names  forever  branded  with  eternal  marks  of 
infamy;  while  America  will  remain  the  glory  and  admira- 
tion of  the  world,  and  be  held  in  the  highest  veneration  to 
the  end  of  lime.  Let  not  the  long  envied  glory  of  Bri- 
tain, O  my  countrymen !  be  eclipsed  by  the  virtuous  ac- 
tions of  the  Americans  in  the  new  world.  Our  danger  is 
the  same  ;  their  cause  is  our  cause  ;  with  the  constitutional 
rights  of  America,  must  fall  the  liberties  of  England.  Let 
u%  then,  show  ourselves  equal  to  them  in  virtue,  courage, 
firmness,  and  resolution  ;  and  as  they  have  done,  prove  to 
the  world  we  are  alike  enemies  to  tyranny,  and  that  we 
never  will  be  slaves  to  one,  nor  to  a  majority  of  five  hun- 
dred and  fifty-eight  tyrants.  We  will  strain  every  nerve, 
and  brave  every  danger,  to  stimulate  our  countrymen  on 
this  side  the  Atlantick,  to  a  noble  exertion  of  their  rights 
as  freemen  ;  to  show  them  the  danger,  as  well  as  the  infa- 
my, of  remaining  quiet  spectators  of  their  own  destruction  ; 
and  to  remove  that  dark  cloud  of  slavery,  which  now  ob- 
scures the  glorious  light  of  freedom  ;  and  but  for  the  vir- 
tue of  our  forefathers,  would,  ages  ago,  have  overwhelmed 
this  Kingdom,  like  the  States  around  us,  in  a  long,  a  last- 
ing night  of  misery  and  ruin. 

Upon  this  plan,  and  with  these  principles,  we  set  out, 
and  intend  to  proceed,  that  the  present  (if  not  too  far  de- 
generated) and  future  generations  may  enjoy,  undiminished, 
all  the  blessings  of  liberty.  To  accomplish  this  end  we  will 
risk  every  thing  that  is  dear  to  man,  and  brave  both  Royal 
and  Ministerial  vengeance,  to  preserve  from  ruin,  if  possi- 
ble, the  natural  rights  of  mankind,  the  sacred  Constitution 
of  the  British  Empire,  and  the  freedom  of  our  Country. 

Agreeable  to  our  motto,  we  shall  ever  think  "  liberty 
with  danger,  is  preferable  to  servitude  with  security."  We 
should  glory  in  the  smiles  of  our  Sovereign,  but  will  never 
purchase  them  at  the  expense  of  our  liberty  ;  nor  will  we 
ever  give  up,  but  with  our  lives,  the  right  to  expose,  and 
publickly  display,  in  all  its  hideous  forms,  the  cruel  despo- 
tism of  tyrants.  We  can  conceive  no  reason  why  the  laws 
and  religion  of  England  should  be  sported  with,  and  tram- 
pled under  foot,  by  a  Prince  of  the  House  of  Brunswick, 
rather  than  by  one  of  the  House  of  Stuart.  Surely,  upon 
every  principle  of  justice,  reason,  and  common  sense,  what- 
ever is  tyranny  and  murder  in  one  man,  is  equally  so  in 
another;  and  if  it  is  just  to  oppose  and  resist  one,  it  is  as 
just  to  oppose  and  resist  the  other.  It  is  not  a  name,  nor 
an  office,  however  important,  that  can  or  ought  to  bring 
respect  and  reverence  to  the  possessor,  while  he  acts  be- 
low, and  is  unworthy  of  them.  Folly  and  villany  ought 
to  have  no  asylum  ;  nor  can  titles  sanctify  crimes,  though, 
in  our  days,  they  protect  criminals.  A  royal,  right  hon- 
ourable, or  a  right  reverend  robber,  is  the  most  dangerous 
robber,  and  consequently  the  most  to  be  detested. 

Our  modern  advocates  for  villany  and  slavery,  have 
found  out  a  new  way  of  arguing  and  convincing  the  judg- 
ments of  men  ;  they  make  nice  distinctions  without  a  differ- 
ence, and  tell  the  world  what  was  tyranny  in  the  time  of 
Charles  the  First,  is  not  tyranny  in  the  reign  of  George 
the  Third  ;  and  to  this  they  add  a  long  catalogue  of  virtues, 
which  he  never  possessed.  They  say  he  is  pious;  that  his 
chief  aim  is  to  render  his  subjects  a  happy,  great,  and  free 
people.    These,  and  many  other  falsehoods  equally  wick- 


ed and  absurd,  they  endeavour  to  instil  into  the  minds  of 
the  too  easily  deluded  English.  These,  and  such  like  arti- 
fices, have  ever  been  made  use  of  in  the  reign  of  arbitrary 
Kings,  to  deceive  the  people,  and  make  them,  with  more 
ease,  and  to  chains  well  polished,  submit  their  necks,  and 
even  reverence  and  adore  the  hand  that  rivets  them.  Thus 
do  tyrants'  succeed,  and  the  galling  yoke  of  slavery,  so 
much  complained  of  by  almost  every  Nation  in  the  world, 
becomes  a  crime  of  the  first  magnitude  in  the  people, 
through  their  own  credulity  and  vile  submission.  Truth,  m 
spite  of  all  the  false  colouring  of  venal  writers,  speaks  a 
different  language,  and  declares,  in  opposition  to  the  pen 
of  falsehood,  that  bloodshed  and  slaughter,  violence  and 
oppression,  Popery  and  lawless  power,  characterize  the 
present  reign  ;  and  we  will  defy  even  the  pensioned  John- 
son, after  the  closest  examination  of  the  two  reigns,  to  lei  1 
which  is  the  best.  Charles  broke  his  coronation  oath,  butch- 
ered his  subjects,  made  ten  thousand  solemn  promises  be 
never  intended  to  perform,  and  often  committed  perjury  : 
(but  these  are  no  crimes  in  a  King,  for  all  Kings  have  a 
divine  right  to  be  devils.)  He  tried  to  overturn  the  Con- 
stitution by  force,  but  found  his  mistake  when  it  was  too 
late,  and  that  even  royal  villany  does  not  always  succeed, 
and  when  the  just  vengeance  of  Heaven  overtook  him,  he 
saw  (though  he  would  not  believe  it  before,  and  imagined 
he  had  a  divine  right  to  shed  human  blood)  that  the  same 
power  which  raised  him  up  could  pull  him  down.  The 
present  Sovereign,  not  willing  to  make  a  figure  in  history 
without  a  head,  and  being  more  mild  and  gentle,  just  and 
good,  has  improved  upon  the  plan,  and  is  now  tearing  up 
the  Constitution  by  the  roots,  under  the  form  of  law.  This 
method  of  proceeding  is  certainly  much  safer,  and  more 
judicious,  as  well  as  just ;  for  what  right  can  an  English- 
man have  to  complain,  when  he  is  legally  made  a  slave  by 
Act  of  Parliament.  How  wicked  !  how  rebellious  !  must 
the  Americans  be,  and  what  levelling  principles  must  they 
possess,  to  resist  the  div  ine  right  of  the  Lords  and  Com- 
mons, under  the  sanction  of  a  divine  Act  of  Parliament, 
sent  from  Heaven  to  plunder,  butcher,  starve,  or  enslave 
them,  just  as  it  shall  come  into  their  divine  heads,  or  the 
heads  of  their  divine  instruments ;  and  when  once  they 
have  carried  this  divine  law  into  execution,  according  to 
their  righteous  intention,  we  shall  soon  see,  on  this  side  the 
Atlantick,  that  they  have  the  same  divine  right  to  use  us  in 
the  same  merciful  and* divine  manner.  This  is  but  the  first 
divine  step  of  a  diabolical  plan  for  shedding  human  blood, 
reducing  an  industrious,  brave,  flourishing,  and  free  people, 
from  a  state  of  affluence  to  that  of  misery,  beggary,  and 
slavery  ;  and  nothing  but  a  resolution  in  the  people  here, 
will  be  able  to  prevent  the  next  divine  step  of  the  same 
plan,  from  laying  in  ruins  all  the  rights  of  the  British,  with 
those  of  the  American,  world. 

The  altar  of  despotism  is  erected  in  America,  and  we 
shall  be  the  next  victims  to  lawless  power:  all  the  hor- 
rours  of  slavery  now  stare  us  in  the  face ;  our  religion 
subverted  ;  freedom,  law,  and  right,  artfully  undermined  : 
the  Roman  Catholick  religion  not  tolerated  but  establish- 
ed ;  a  majority  of  the  House  of  Commons  and  the  House 
of  Lords  mere  creatures  of  the  King;  in  short,  every 
engine  of  oppression  and  arbitrary  power  is  at  work,  to 
accomplish  our  ruin. 

O,  my  countrymen,  that  we  could  but  inspire  you  with 
noble  sentiments  of  liberty,  rouse  you  to  a  just  sense  of 
your  immediate  danger,  and  make  you  feel,  sensibly  feel, 
all  the  blessings  derived  from  freedom,  the  natural  right  of 
every  man,  but  more  particularly  of  Englishmen ;  it  is  our 
birthright,  our  inheritance ;  it  was  handed  down  to  us  by 
our  ancestors,  and  sealed  often  with  their  blood.  Let  us, 
then,  in  justice  to  them,  to  ourselves,  and  to  posterity,  make 
a  noble  constitutional  stand,  in  conjunction  with  our  noble 
and  spirited,  but  suffering,  fellow-subjects  in  America, 
against  the  present  plan,  long  fixed  by  the  minions  of  pow- 
er to  destroy  it,  and  overturn  the  Constitution,  a  Constitu- 
tion ten  thousand  times  superiour  to  any  system  ever  de- 
vised by  the  Greeks  or  Romans. 

At  such  a  time  as  this,  when  the  merciless,  the  relent- 
less hand  of  tyranny  is  tearing  out  the  vitals  of  freedom, 
sapping  the  foundations  of  publick  security,  making  a 
mockery  of  publick  justice,  and  destroying  all  the  envied 
rights  of  Britain,  and  the  truths  of  Heaven  ; — 1  say,  at 
such  a  time,  to  be  inattentive  or  inactive,  is  infamy;  and 


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60 


lie  who  can  tamely  see  his  Country  upon  the  brink  of  ruin, 
without  putting  out  his  arm,  and  lending  a  helping  hand 
to  rescue  her  from  destruction,  must  be  an  abandoned 
wretch,  a  disgrace  to  the  name  of  Englishman,  and  to  his 
Country. 


THE  CHISIS.  NO.  II. 

A  bloody  Court,  a  bloody  Ministry,  and  a  bloody  Parlia- 
ment. 

The  sudden  and  unexpected  dissolution  of  the  last  ruin- 
ous Parliament,  gave  a  just  and  general  alarm  to  the  whole 
Nation  ;  and  we  may  search  in  vain  the  voluminous  pages 
of  Grecian,  Roman,  or  English  history,  to  find  such 
another  plan  of  premeditated  villany,  for  destroying,  at  one 
grand  stroke  of  Royal  and  Ministerial  policy,  all  the  rights 
of  a  free  people.  Lord  North,  engendered  in  the  womb 
of  Hell  ;  raised  by  the  fostering  hand  of  infernal  spirits  ; 
and  possessing  principles  which  have  eclipsed  all  the  glories 
of  his  satanick  parents,  had  the  effrontery  to  declare,  in 
the  face  of  the  House  of  Commons,  and  the  world,  but  a 
few  day  before  the  recess  of  the  late  Parliament,  that  they 
should  meet  again  early  in  October  for  the  despatch  of 
business.  When  he  uttered  the  falsehood,  it  was  suspected 
by  many,  and  he  well  knew  it  had  been  determined  that 
they  should  be  dissolved,  although  the  precise  time  was 
not  fixed.  On  the  1 6th  day  of  September,  1774,  a  notice 
was  published  in  the  Gazette  for  the  last  Parliament  to 
meet  on  the  15lh  of  November;  eleven  days  had  not 
elapsed  before  a  Proclamation  appeared  for  its  dissolution, 
and  calling  a  new  Parliament.  Who  can  guard  against  de- 
ception, arlifice,  and  villany,  when  stamped  with  Royal 
authority?  The  very  thought  of  an  honest  House  of 
Commons  struck  terrour  into  the  guilty  soul  of  Lord  North, 
the  diabolical  minion  of  Royal  favour,  and  instrument  of 
Royal  vengeance ;  nay,  even  the  King,  virtuous  as  he  is, 
had  his  fears;  and  in  order  to  secure  their  own  creatures 
and  dependants,  or,  in  other  words,  to  have  the  old  Parlia- 
ment revived,  and  smuggle  a  majority  of  venal,  abandoned 
miscreants,  who  would  deny  their  God,  or  sell  their  souls  for 
money,  into  the  present  House  of  Commons,  Lord  North 
sent  letters  to  all  his  friends,  that  they  might  be  prepared  ; 
and  it  was  known  in  the  most  distant  parts  of  England, 
and  even  the  time  of  election  fixed  in  several  Boroughs  in 
Cornivall,  some  days  before  the  Parliament  was  dissolved. 
This  is  a  truth  which  Lord  North,  with  all  his  consum- 
mate impudence,  cannot  deny. 

The  Ministerial  hacks  were  again  set  to  work,  to  fabri- 
cate lies,  and  publish  them  in  the  Newspapers,  to  elude 
and  deceive  the  electors,  that  little  or  no  opposition  might 
be  made  to  the  tools  of  Government.  One  report  said 
the  dissolution  of  Parliament  was  owing  to  some  disagree- 
able advices  received  from  America;  and  that  our  virtuous 
King,  with  his  still  more  virtuous  Ministers,  intended  to  adopt 
some  conciliating  measures  with  respect  to  the  Colonies ; 
and  that  it  would  betray  a  weakness  in  the  King  to  let  the 
.same  Parliament  meet  again  to  repeal  those  Acts  which 
they  but  a  few  months  before  passed.  Another  report, 
equally  true,  asserted  it  was  on  account  of  intelligence  re- 
ceived from  the  North,  of  a  very  alarming  nature.  And  a 
third,  that  it  was  occasioned  by  a  difference  between  the 
French  and  English  Ministry,  which  rendered  such  a  step 
necessary,  as  there  was  great  reason  to  believe  we  should 
soon  be  involved  in  War,  and  that  it  would  be  exceedingly 
improper  to  have  the  Nation  put  in  a  ferment  by  a  gene- 
ral election  at  so  critical  a  time  as  that,  and  when  the  assist- 
ance of  Parliament  would  be  particularly  wanted.  A  fourth 
report  was,  that  Lord  Chatham  and  his  friends  would  be 
immediately  taken  into  favour,  and  that  there  was  to  be  an 
entire  change  in  the  Ministry.  By  these  low  artifices  and 
Ministerial  lies,  the  people  of  England  were  lulled  into  a 
state  of  supincness,  and  even  made  to  lend  a  helping  hand 
to  complete  their  own  ruin. 

The  subsequent  part  of  this  paper  will  unravel  the  dia- 
bolical scheme.  Lord  North  saw  a  powerful  opposition 
forming  in  every  part  of  England;  he  was  fearful  of  asso- 
ciations— he  dreaded  a  Solemn  League  and  Covenant,  which 
he  was  certain  the  people  would  have  entered  into  for  the 
preservation  of  their  rights  and  liberties,  before  next  May, 
the  time  when  the  Parliament  would  have  been  dissolved 
of  course;  he  trembled  for  the  event,  conscious  of  his  own 


villany,  and  that  his  head  had  been  long  forfeited  to  the 
justice  of  his  Country;  he  determined  to  take  the  electors 
by  surprise,  to  put  them  off  their  guard,  and  rob  them  of 
time,  that  no  opposition  might  be  made  to  his  creatures  ; 
and  the  people  being  prevented  from  fixing  upon  men  of 
honest,  independent  principles,  to  whom  they  might  with 
safety,  delegate  the  important,  the  sacred  trust  of  represen- 
tation. 

Lord  North  communicated  his  fears  to  the  King  ;  painted 
the  daring  rebellious  spirit  of  the  Americans ;  and  told  him 
that  the  people  here  were  as  disloyal  and  disaffected,  and 
that  hints  had  been  thrown  out  in  the  publick  prints,  of 
plans  forming  in  different  parts  of  England  for  keeping 
out  of  the  new  Parliament  most  of  his  friends,  and  unless 
prevented  by  some  well-concerted  scheme,  there  was  but 
too  much  reason  to  believe,  from  the  spirit  of  the  people, 
that  they  would  succeed  ;  an  event,  says  this  traitor,  much 
feared,  and  greatly  dreaded  by  every  well-wisher  to  your 
person  and  Government,  should  it  ever  take  place ;  and 
there  is  a  Country  party,  or  a  majority  of  mock  Patriots  in 
the  House  ef  Commons,  who  are  enemies  to  all  order  and 
Government — you  must  be  reduced  to  the  most  degrading 
situation  ;  indeed,  your  present  friends  will  then  be  unable 
to  gave  you  any  assistance  ;  and  instead  of  the  power 
being  in  your  hands,  it  will  then  be  in  the  hands  of  the 
people  ;  and  you  will  be  under  the  disgraceful  necessity  of 
giving  your  assent  to  the  repeal  of  every  Act  which  has 
been  lately  passed  for  the  purpose  of  raising  a  revenue, 
and  enforcing  a  due  obedience  to  your  authority.  In  short, 
you  will  be  a  King  without  power,  and  subject  to  the  con- 
trol of  a  few  demagogues  for  liberty — the  dregs  of  man- 
kind— and  a  common  rabble  who  will  always  support  them  ; 
nay,  it  may  even  endanger  the  security  of  your  Throne  ; 
for  what  will  not  a  hot-headed  Parliament  do,  with  whom 
the  voice  of  the  people  can  have  any  weight.  The  plan 
for  reducing  the  Americans,  and  making  them  dependant 
on  your  will,  must  be  crushed  ;  they  will  triumph  in  the 
victory  obtained  over  the  just  power  of  Parliament,  and 
your  prerogative  ;  your  faithful  servants  will  be  compelled 
to  leave  you,  and  you  will  be  without  a  real  friend  to  ad- 
vise with.  If  your  Majesty  can  get  a  majority  of  your 
friends  rechosen  in  the  new  Parliament,  you  will  be  able 
to  raise  what  money  you  please,  with  their  assistance ;  you 
will  then  be  able  to  keep  your  present  Ministers,  and  pre- 
serve them  from  the  resentment  (which  has  been  incurred 
by  serving  you)  of  an  enraged  rabble,  who  are  made  to 
believe,  through  the  licentiousness  of  the  press,  that  they 
labour  under  a  load  of  accumulated  grievances.  You  will 
then  be  able  to  trample  under  foot  faction,  sedition,  and 
rebellion  throughout  your  Dominions,  and  to  carry  every 
thing  before  you,  agreeable  to  your  Royal  pleasure.  With 
the  power  of  Parliament,  and  your  Majesty's  firmness  and 
perseverance,  you  may  bring  England  and  America  into 
a  proper  state  of  subjection  to  your  will.  To  accomplish 
this,  it  will  be  necessary  to  prorogue  the  Parliament  to 
some  future  day,  then  to  meet,  and  immediately  after  call 
a  Council  and  dissolve  them  ;  in  the  mean  time,  your 
friends  may  be  made  acquainted  with  the  determination, 
and  be  prepared  for  the  election,  before  any  opposition  can 
possibly  be  made,  or  the  people  know  any  thing  of  the 
matter. 

The  King,  firmly  resolved  on  the  people's  ruin,  caressed 
his  villanous  minion,  admired  the  plan  formed  for  our  de- 
struction, and,  drunk  with  the  prerogative,  he  sucked  in 
the  baneful  advice,  and  pursued  it. 

Thus  the  present  Parliament  was  smuggled;  and  thus,  in 
a  most  shameful,  unprecedented,  artful,  and  sudden  man- 
ner, was  the  last  House  of  Commons  dissolved  by  the  King, 
to  answer  his  own  and  his  Minister's  wicked,  tyrannical, 
and  bloody  designs  against  the  people  and  Constitution  of 
this  Kingdom.  Such  an  instance  of  an  infamous  exertion 
of  the  Royal  prerogative,  and  under  the  like  circumstances, 
is  not  to  be  found  in  the  history  of  England  •  such  an  in- 
jury and  insult  was  never  before  offered  to  a  free  people, 
and  never  ought  to  be  forgiven.  It  was  a  piece  of  Hano- 
verian treachery,  baseness,  and  ingratitude,  which  has  far 
exceeded  all  the  artful  villany  and  low  cunning  of  the  dis- 
carded Stuarts.  His  Majesty,  (Heaven  protect  so  much 
goodness,)  out  of  a  tenderness  to  the  Constitution,  could 
not  make  so  bad  a  use  of  his  prerogative,  five  years  back, 
as  to  dissolve  the  same  Parliament,  when  their  iniquitous 


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62 


proceedings,  and  their  violations  of  justice  had  roused  the 
indignation  of  the  people,  and  he  was  requested  to  do  it 
by  upwards  of  eighty  thousand  freeholders,  (signed,)  and 
the  general  voice  of  the  whole  Nation.  But  in  1774  he 
got  the  better  of  that  tenderness ;  and  to  answer  his  own 
purposes,  courd  exert  the  Royal  prerogative,  which  he  had 
absolutely  refused  to  his  subjects  in  the  haughty  terms  of 
a  despot,  with  no  other  view  but  to  overturn  the  Consti- 
tution of  the  British  Empire,  in  England  and  America, 
and  destroy  or  enslave  the  people. 

His  Majesty,  his  minions,  and  instruments  of  slaughter, 
are  now  safe  in  robbing  the  people  of  their  property,  by 
shameful  and  iniquitous  taxes,  in  time  of  peace ;  safe  in 
their  subversion  of  the  Protestant  Religion  ;  safe  and  suc- 
cessful in  their  cruel  plan  for  starving  the  honest  and  in- 
dustrious inhabitants,  and  destroying  the  trade  of  the 
Town  of  Boston,  in  America,  and  the  Commerce  of  Eng- 
land;  safe  so  far  in  their  attempt  to  destroy  the  lives, 
rights,  liberties,  and  privileges  of  millions ;  I  say  they  are 
safe  in  all  these  violations  of,  and  depredations  on  our 
National  security,  and  natural  rights — because  we  are 
tame. 


THE  CRISIS.  NO.  III. 

To  the  King : 

Sir:  To  follow  you  regularly  through  every  step  of  a 
fourteen  years'  shameful  and  inglorious  reign,  would  be 
a  task  as  painful  as  disagreeable,  and  far  exceed  the  bounds 
of  this  paper:  But  we  are  called  upon  by  the  necessity  of 
the  times,  the  measures  you  are  pursuing,  by  every  prin- 
ciple of  justice  and  self-preservation,  and  by  the  duty  we 
owe  to  God  and  our  Country,  to  declare  our  sentiments 
(with  a  freedom  becoming  Englishmen)  on  some  of  those 
dreadful  transactions  and  oppressions  which  the  Kingdom 
has  laboured  under  since  the  glory  and  lustre  of  E?igland's 
Crown  was  doomed  to  fade  upon  your  brow;  and  to  point 
out  to  you,  Sir,  your  own  critical  and  dangerous  situation. 

Sir,  it  is  not  your  rotten  troop,  in  the  present  House  of 
Commons;  it  is  not  your  venal,  beggarly,  pensioned 
Lords;  it  is  not  your  polluted,  canting,  prostituted  Bench 
of  Bishops ;  it  is  not  your  whole  set  of  abandoned  Minis- 
ters ;  nor  all  your  army  of  Scotch  cut-throats,  that  can 
protect  you  from  the  People's  rage,  when  driven  by  your 
oppressions,  and,  until  now,  unheard  of  cruelties,  to  a  state 
of  desperation. 

The  day,  we  fear,  is  not  far  distant,  when  you  will  have 
reason,  too  much  reason,  to  wish  you  had  acted  like  a  father, 
and  not  like  a  tyrant ;  when  you  will  be  bound  to  curse 
those  traitors,  those  exalted  villains,  who  now,  in  the  face 
of  day,  without  a  blush,  you  can  be  base  enough  to  call 
your  friends.  Be  assured,  Sir,  your  danger  is  great,  amidst 
all  the  fancied  security ;  and  it  will  be  impossible  for  them 
to  preserve  you  from  the  just  resentment  of  an  enraged, 
long  abused,  and  much  injured  Nation.  Should  that  day 
ever  come,  (but  Heaven  avert  the  stroke,)  where  can  you 
bide  yourself  from  the  tenfold  vengeance  of  a  brave  and 
mighty  people,  with  law.  justice,  Heaven,  and  all  their 
sacred  truths  on  their  side  ? 

Then,  like  the  wounds  that  bleed  afresh,  will  be  brought 
to  their  minds  your  barbarous  and  unprovoked  massacre 
in  St.  George's  Fields ;  when  men  and  women  were  indis- 
criminately and  inhumanly  slaughtered,  to  gratify  what 
would  have  disgraced  even  your  footman — a  pitiful  re- 
venge !  Then,  Sir,  they  will  remember  with  honour  and 
indignation,  the  letter  of  thanks,  sent  from  the  Secretary 
at  War,  by  your  order,  to  the  Officer  on  duty,  the  10th  of 
May,  1768,  (the  day  of  carnage,)  and  likewise  your  pen- 
sioning and  screening  the  murderers  from  the  punishment 
of  the  law.  Then,  Sir,  they  will  remember,  the  horrid 
plan  laid  at  Brentford,  for  destroying  the  right  of  election  ; 
or  in  the  most  savage  manner  to  take  away  the  lives  of  the 
Freeholders  of  Middlesex,  which  was  (to  make  use  of  a 
word  from  your  merciful  Royal  dictionary,)  effectually  car- 
ried into  execution,  and  several  people  killed  ;  to  this  plan, 
Sir,  formed  by  Proctor  and  your  minions,  you  must  have 
been  privy,  as  the  event  afterwards  sufficiently  proved. 
Then,  Sir,  they  will  remember  the  mean,  low,  and  crimi- 
nal subterfuge  you  had  recourse  to,  to  dispense  with  the 
laws,  and  set  aside  the  just  verdict  of  an  honest  jury,  to 


pardon  those  hired  ruffians,  Balf  and  Mc  Quirk,  convicted 
upon  the  clearest  evidence,  of  premeditated  murder.  Then, 
Sir,  they  will  remember  the  insults  they  received,  and  the 
ignoble  answers  you  gave  to  the  remonstrances  and  peti- 
tions, delivered  by  them  to  the  Throne,  praying  the  disso- 
lution of  Parliament.  Nor  will  they  forget,  Sir,  the  infer- 
nal plan  for  smuggling  the  present  House  of  Commons, 
and  destroying  all  the  rights  of  this  free  Country.  In  a 
word,  Sir,  these  and  every  other  despotick  and  bloody 
transaction  of  your  reign  will  rise  fresh  in  their  minds,  if 
they  should  be  driven  by  your  encouragement  of  Popery, 
your  persecutions,  your  oppressions,  your  violations  of  all 
justice,  your  treachery,  and  your  weakness,  into  a  fatal 
and  unnatural  Civil  War  in  America;  I  say,  they  will  rise 
fresh  in  their  minds,  and  stimulate  them  to  deeds  of  glory  ; 
nay,  they  may  pursue  with  implacable  revenge  the  author 
of  all  their  miseries. 

The  people,  Sir,  with  a  candour  and  indulgence  peculiar 
to  Englishmen,  passed  over  the  injuries  and  insults  in  the 
first  part  of  your  reign,  or  kindly  laid  the  blame  at  the 
door  of  your  Ministers;  but  it  is  now  evident  to  the  whole 
world,  that  there  was  a  plan  formed  by  Lord  Bute  and 
yourself,  either  before,  or  immediately  after  you  came  to 
the  Crown,  for  subverting  the  British  Constitution  in 
Church  and  State ;  which,  to  our  grief,  with  indefatigable 
pains  and  too  much  success,  Lord  Bute's  tools,  and  your 
infernal  minions,  have  carried  into  execution  ;  therefore  it 
no  longer  remains  to  determine  who  is  now  the  greatest 
criminal  in  England. 

Consider,  Sir,  if.  through  the  late  and  present  iniquitous 
measures,  and  an  obstinate  resolution  in  your  Majesty  to 
pursue  them,  the  sword  is  forced  to  be  drawn  in  America, 
it  cannot  remain  long  unsheathed  in  England.  We  hope 
there  is  some  virtue  here ;  and  we  entertain  a  better  opin- 
ion of  our  countrymen  than  to  believe  they  are  so  far 
degenerated  as  to  tamely  see  a  mercenary  army  of  sol- 
diers, who  are  at  all  times  a  terrour  to  the  peaceable  inha- 
bitants of  every  free  State,  butcher  their  brethren  and 
fellow-subjects  in  America,  because  they  are  determined 
to  defend  their  own  rights  and  the  British  Constitution.  I 
say  they  never  will  tamely  see  that,  without  putting  out  a 
helping  hand,  and  sharing  with  them  the  glory  of  a  deci- 
sive victory  over  tyranny,  and  all  the  agents  of  the  infernal 
monarch  of  the  dark  regions  of  hell,  who  would  enslave 
the  world. 

Should  you,  Sir,  still  pursue  the  tyrannical  measures, 
only  to  gratify  a  mean  vindictive  spirit,  and  be  the  author 
of  such  dreadful  mischiefs,  O,  we  shudder  at  the  thought, 
the  peeple  will  then  perhaps  treat  you  with  as  little  cere- 
mony, as  little  respect,  and  as  little  mercy,  as  you  and 
your  minions  have  them  ;  for,  Sir,  whenever  the  State 
is  convulsed  by  civil  commotions,  and  the  Constitution 
totters  to  its  centre,  the  Throne  of  England  must  shake 
with  it :  a  Crown  will  then  be  no  security,  and  at  one  stroke 
all  the  gaudy  trappings  of  royalty  may  be  laid  in  the  dust; 
at  such  a  time  of  dreadful  confusion  and  slaughter,  when 
the  son's  weapon  drinks  the  father's  blood,  and  we  see  the 
ruffian's  blade  reeking  from  a  brother's  heart ;  when  rage 
is  burning  in  the  breasts  of  Englishmen,  provoked  by 
wrongs  not  to  be  borne  by  men,  all  distinctions  must 
cease,  the  common  safety  and  the  rights  of  mankind  will 
be  the  only  objects  in  view,  while  the  King  and  the  pea- 
sant must  share  one  and  the  same  fate,  and  perhaps  fall 
undistinguished  together. 

Let  these  things,  Sir,  be  well  weighed  ;  tremble  for  the 
event;  drive  those  traitors  from  your  breast,  who  now  sur- 
round you  ;  let  the  just  and  honest  have  your  confidence  ; 
and  once  more  make  your  people  happy,  great  and  free : 
be  not  the  instrument  of  their  destruction  ;  consider  the 
solemn  and  sacred  oath  you  made  at  your  coronation  to 
protect  your  subjects  in  all  their  rights  and  liberties,  and 
the  Protestant  Religion  as  by  Law  established :  consider, 
Sir,  what  a  perversion  of  all  right  and  justice  that  must  be 
(besides  the  heinous  crime  of  perjury,)  when,  instead  of 
being  their  protector,  you  become  their  destroyer. 

Your  plan,  Sir,  for  bringing  the  Colonies  by  force  ot 
arms  into  a  state  of  subjection  to  your  will,  is  cruel,  bloody, 
and  (I  hope)  impracticable ;  it  is  repugnant  to  every  prin- 
ciple of  humanity,  justice,  and  sound  policy,  and  the  natural 
rights  of  mankind  ;  it  is  the  foulest  disgrace  to  you,  and 


63 


CORRESPONDENCE.  PROCEEDINGS,  he,  MARCH,  1775. 


64 


will  reflect  eternal  infamy  on  your  reign  and  memory  as 
the  Sovereign  and  father  of  a  free  people.  It  is  such  a 
plan  of  encroaching  violence  and  lawless  power,  as  the 
Americans  never  can,  never  ought,  nor  ever  will,  submit 
to ;  it  is  such  a  scheme  for  enslaving,  or  destroying  the 
human  race,  as  every  man  ought  to  execrate  and  condemn, 
and  to  oppose  even  till  he  perish. 

Men,  Sir,  at  three  thousand  miles  distance,  must  think  it 
extremely  hard  to  work,  toil,  and  run  hazards,  only  to 
support  the  infamous  luxury  of  high  pampered  Lords,  a 
rotten  Court,  and  your  tribe  of  venal  Senators,  minions, 
pimps,  and  parasites — the  pests  of  society  ;  and  to  be  taxed 
and  mulcted  by  them  at  their  pleasure.  All  nature,  Sir, 
revolts  even  at  the  idea  of  such  a  state  of  human  misery. 

Force,  Sir,  can  never  be  used  effectually  to  answer  the 
end,  without  destroying  the  Colonies  themselves.  Liberty 
and  encouragement  are  necessary  to  keep  them  together ; 
and  violence  will  hinder  both.  Any  body  of  Troops,  con- 
siderable enough  to  awe  them,  keep  them  in  subjection, 
and  under  the  direction  of  a  needy  Scotch  Govemour, 
sent  only  to  be  an  instrument  of  slaughter,  and  to  make 
his  fortune,  would  soon  put  an  end  to  planting,  and  leave 
the  country  to  you,  Sir,  and  your  merciless  plunderers 
only  ;  and  if  it  did  not,  they  would  starve  the  inhabitants 
and  eat  up  all  the  profit  of  the  Colonies.  On  the  contrary, 
a  few  prudent  laws,  Sir,  (but  you  seem  to  be  a  stranger  to 
prudence  as  well  as  to  justice  and  humanity,)  and  a  little 
prudent  conduct,  (that,  too,  has  long  been  despaired  of  by 
the  Kingdom,)  would  soon  give  us  far  the  greatest  share 
of  the  riches  of  all  America ;  perhaps  drive  other  Nations 
out  of  it,  or  into  our  Colonies  for  shelter. 

If  violent  methods  be  not  used  (at  this  time)  to  prevent 
it,  your  Northern  Colonies,  Sir,  must  constantly  increase  in 
people,  wealth,  and  power;  their  inhabitants  are  con- 
siderably more  than  doubled  since  the  Revolution ;  and  in 
less  than  a  century  must  become  powerful  States  ;  and 
the  more  powerful,  the  more  people  will  flock  thither. 
There  are  so  many  exigencies  in  all  States,  so  many  foreign 
wars  and  domestic  disturbances,  that  these  Colonies  can 
seldom  want  opportunities,  if  they  watch  for  them,  to  do 
what  you,  Sir,  might  be  extremely  sorry  for — throw  off 
their  dependance  on  the  Mother  Country  ;  therefore,  Sir, 
it  should  be  your  first  and  greatest  care,  that  it  shall  never 
be  their  interest  to  act  against  that  of  their  native  Coun- 
try ;  an  evil  that  can  no  otherwise  be  averted,  than  by 
keeping  them  fully  employed  in  such  trades  as  will  increase 
their  own,  as  well  as  our  wealth  ;  for,  Sir,  there  is  too  much 
reason  to  fear,  if  you  don't  find  employment  for  them,  they 
may  find  some  for  you.  Withdraw,  then,  Sir,  from  Ame- 
rica, your  armed  ruffians,  and  make  a  full  restoration  of 
the  people's  rights;  let  them  tax  themselves,  and  enjoy 
their  property  unviolated  by  the  hand  of  tyranny.  Thus, 
Sir,  the  subsequent  part  of  your  reign  may  yet  be  happy 
and  glorious.  May  the  compact  between  you  and  the 
people  be  no  more  invaded  ;  may  you  be  speedily  recon- 
ciled to  the  just  demands  of  the  Colonies  ;  may  Lord  Bute, 
Lord  Mansfield,  Lord  North,  and  all  your  Majesty's  in- 
famous minions,  who  would  precipitate  you  and  the  King- 
dom into  ruin,  answer  with  their  heads  (and  soon)  for  their 
horrid  crimes;  and  may  the  succession  in  your  Majesty's 
Royal  House,  and  the  Religion,  Laws,  Rights  and  Liber- 
ties, of  the  subject,  go  hand  in  hand  down  to  all  posterity, 
until  this  globe  shall  be  reduced  to  its  original  chaos,  and 
time  be  swallowed  up  in  eternity. 


THE  CRISIS.  NO.  IV. 

To  the  Conspirators  against  the  Liberties  of  mankind,  at 
St.  James's,  in  St.  Stephen's  Chapel,  the  House  of 
Lords,  or  amongst  the  Bench  of  Bishops. 

The  steady  and  uniform  perseverance  in  a  regular  plan 
of  depotism,  since  the  commencement  of  this  reign,  makes 
it  evident  to  the  meanest  capacity,  that  a  design  was  formed 
(and  it  has  with  too  much  success  been  carried  into  execu- 
tion) for  subverting  the  Religion,  Laws,  and  Constitution 
of  this  Kingdom,  and  to  establish  upon  the  ruins  of  pub- 
lick  liberty,  an  arbitrary  system  of  Government:  in  a 
word,  the  destruction  of  this  Kingdom  will  soon  be  effected 
b}  a  Prince  of  the  House  of  Brunswick. 


The  bloody  Resolution  has  passed  the  House  of  Com- 
mons and  the  House  of  Lords,  to  address  our  present 
humane,  gentle  Sovereign,  to  give  directions  for  enforcing 
the  cruel  and  unjust  edicts  of  the  last  Parliament  against 
the  Americans.  His  Majesty,  possessing  principles  which 
nothing  can  equal  but  the  goodness  of  his  heart,  will  no 
doubt  give  immediate  orders  for  carrying  effectually  into 
execution  the  massacre  in  America ;  especially  as  he  is  to 
be  supported  in  polluting  the  earth  with  blood  with  the 
lives  and  fortunes  of  his  faithful  butchers — the  Lords  and 
Commons.  Would  to  God  they  only  were  to  fall  a  sacri- 
fice in  this  unnatural  Civil  War. 

The  day  of  trial  is  at  hand  ;  it  is  time  to  prove  the  vir- 
tue, and  rouse  the  spirit  of  the  people  of  England;  the 
prospect  is  too  dreadful,  it  is  too  melancholy  to  admit  of 
farther  delay. 

The  Lord  Mayor  of  London  ought  immediately  to  call 
a  Common-Hall  for  the  purpose  of  taking  the  sense  of  his 
fellow-citizens  at  this  alarming  crisis,  upon  presenting  a 
remonstrance  to  the  Throne,  couched  in  terms  that  might 
do  honour  to  the  City,  as  the  first  and  most  powerful  in 
the  world,  and  to  them  as  men  determined  to  be  free  ;  in 
terms  that  might  strike  conviction  into  his  Majesty's  breast, 
and  terrour  into  the  souls  of  his  minions.  This  is  not  a 
time  for  compliments,  nor  should  tyrants,  or  the  instruments 
of  tyranny  ever  be  complimented. 

The  Merchants  of  London,  it  is  to  be  hoped,  and  the 
whole  commercial  interest  of  England,  will  exert  them- 
selves upon  this  great  occasion,  by  sending  to  the  Throne 
spirited  and  pointed  remonstrances,  worthy  of  English- 
men ;  by  noble  and  generous  subscriptions ;  and  in  every 
other  manner,  give  all  the  relief,  and  all  the  assistance  in 
their  power,  to  their  oppressed  and  injured  fellow-subjects 
in  America. 

Let  them  heartily  join  the  Americans,  and  see  whether 
tyranny  and  lawless  power,  or  reason,  justice,  Heaven, 
truth,  and  liberty,  will  prevail. 

Let  them,  together  with  the  gentlemen  of  landed  pro- 
perty, who  must  greatly  suffer  by  this  unnatural  Civil  War, 
make  a  glorious  stand  against  the  enemies  of  publick  free- 
dom, and  the  constitutional  rights  of  the  Colonies  ;  for, 
with  the  ruin  of  America,  must  be  involved  that  of  Eng- 
land. 

Let  them,  in  plain  terms,  declare  their  own  strength, 
and  the  power  of  the  people  ;  a  power  that  has  hitherto 
withstood  the  united  efforts  of  fraud  and  tyranny  ;  a  power 
which  raises  them  to  a  Throne ;  and  when  unworthy  of 
their  delegated  trust,  can  pull  them  down. 

Let  them  declare  to  the  world  they  will  never  be  so  base 
and  cowardly  as  quietly  to  see  any  part  of  their  fellow- 
subjects  butchered  or  enslaved,  either  in  England  or  Ame- 
rica, to  answer  the  purpose  of  exalted  villany  ;  and  by 
that  means  become  the  detested  instruments  of  their  own 
destruction. 

Let  them  declare  to  the  world  they  are  not  yet  ripe  for 
slavery  ;  that  their  forefathers  made  a  noble  resistance,  and 
obtained  a  decisive  victory  over  tyranny  and  lawless  power, 
when  the  Stuarts  reigned  ;  that  they  are  determined  to  do 
themselves  justice,  and  not  to  suffer  any  farther  attacks 
upon  their  freedom,  from  the  present  Sovereign,  who  is 
exceedingly  desirous,  as  well  as  ambitious,  to  destroy  the 
liberties  of  mankind,  but  that  they  do  insist  upon  a  restora- 
tion of  their  own  violated  rights,  and  the  rights  of  British 
America.  Let  them  enter  into  an  Association  for  the  pre- 
servation of  their  lives,  rights,  liberties,  and  privileges,  and 
resolve  at  once  to  bring  the  whole  legion  of  publick  traitors, 
who  have  wickedly  entered  into  a  conspiracy  to  destroy  the 
dear-bought  rights  of  this  free  Nation,  to  condign  punish- 
ment, for  their  past  and  present  diabolical  proceedings, 
which  have  already  stained  the  land  with  blood,  and  threat- 
en destruction  to  the  human  race. 

A  few  spirited  resolutions  from  the  City  of  London,  and 
the  whole  body  of  Merchants  of  England,  would  strike 
terrour  into  the  souls  of  those  miscreants — the  authors  of 
these  dreadful  publick  mischiefs. 

The  grand  principle  of  self-preservation,  which  is  the 
first  and  fundamental  law  of  nature,  calls  aloud  for  such  ex- 
ertions of  publick  spirit ;  the  security  of  the  Nation  de- 
pends upon  it;  justice,  and  the  preservation  of  our  own, 
and  the  lives  of  our  fellow-subjects  in  America,  demand  it ; 


65 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775. 


66 


the  very  being  of  the  Constitution  makes  it  necessary  ;  and 
whatever  is  necessary  to  the  publick  safety  must  be  just. 

The  present  conspirators  against  the  happiness  of  man- 
kind ought  to  know  that  no  subterfuges,  no  knavish  sub- 
tilties,  no  evasions,  no  combinations,  nor  pretended  com- 
missions, shall  be  able  to  screen  or  protect  them  from  pub- 
lick  justice.  They  ought  to  know  that  the  People  can 
follow  them  through  all  their  labyrinths  and  doubling  mean- 
ders ;  a  power  confined  by  no  limitations  but  of  publick 
justice  and  the  publick  good  ;  a  power  that  does  not  always 
follow  precedents,  but  makes  them  ;  a  power  which  has 
this  for  its  principle,  that  extraordinary  and  unprecedented 
villanies  ought  to  have  extraordinary  and  unprecedented 
punishments. 

To  the  Officers,  Soldiers,  and  Seamen,  who  may  be  em- 
ployed to  butcher  their  Relations,  Friends,  and  Fellow- 
Subjects  in  America. 

You  can  neither  be  ignorant  of,  nor  unacquainted  with, 
the  arbitrary  steps  that  the  present  King,  supported  by  an 
abandoned  Ministry,  a  venal  set  of  prostituted  Lords  and 
Commons,  is  now  pursuing  to  overturn  the  sacred  Consti- 
tution of  the  British  Empire,  which  he  had  sworn  to  pre- 
serve. 

You  are  not,  or  will  not  long  be  ignorant,  that  the  King, 
the  Lords  and  Commons,  have  (to  satiate  their  revenge 
against  a  few  individuals)  declared  the  whole  people  of 
America  to  be  in  a  state  of  rebellion,  only  because  they 
have  avowed  their  resolution  to  support  their  Charters, 
Rights,  and  Liberties  against  the  secret  machinations  of 
designing  men  ;  who  would  destroy  them,  and  you  are  fixed 
upon  as  the  instruments  of  their  destruction.  However,  I 
entertain  too  good  an  opinion  of  you,  to  believe  there  is 
one  true  Englishman  who  will  undertake  the  bloody  work. 
Men  without  fortunes,  principles,  or  connexions,  may  in- 
deed handle  their  arms  in  any  desperate  cause,  to  oblige  a 
tyrant  or  monster  in  human  shape ;  but  men  of  family  or 
fortune,  or  of  honest  principles,  I  hope  could  never  be  pre- 
vailed upon  to  sheath  their  swords  in  the  bowels  of  their 
countrymen.  Englishmen  surely  cannot  be  found  to  ex- 
ecute so  diabolical  a  deed,  to  imbrue  their  hands  in  inno- 
cent blood,  and  fight  against  their  friends  and  Country  ; 
actions  which  must  brand  them  with  perpetual  marks  of 
reproach  and  infamy. 

0  my  countrymen,  let  neither  private  interest  nor  friend- 
ship, neither  relations  nor  connexions,  prevail  with  or  in- 
duce you  to  obey  (as  you  must  answer  at  the  last  day  be- 
fore the  awful  Judge  of  the  world  for  the  blood  that  will 
be  wantonly  and  cruelly  spilt)  the  murderous  orders  of  an 
inhuman  tyrant ;  who,  to  gratify  his  lust  of  power,  would 
lay  waste  the  world.  No,  rather  enter  into  a  solemn  league, 
and  join  with  the  rest  of  your  countrymen,  to  oppose  the 
present  measures  of  Government,  planned  for  our  ruin. 

When  your  Country  calls,  then  stand  forth  and  defend 
the  cause  of  liberty,  despise  the  degeneracy  of  the  age,  the 
venality  of  the  times,  and  hand  freedom  down  to  posterity, 
that  your  children  may  smile  and  bless,  not  curse  your  war- 
like resolution.  To  die  gloriously  fighting  for  the  Laws 
and  Liberties  of  your  Country,  is  honourable,  and  would 
deserve  a  crown  of  martyrdom  ;  to  die  fighting  against  it  is 
infamy,  and  you  would  forever  deserve  the  heaviest  curses 
and  execrations. 

1  hope  neither  you  nor  the  Irish  have  forgot  the  shame- 
ful insults  you  have  received  from  the  King  ever  since  the 
conclusion  of  the  last  war ;  you  have  been  despised,  neg- 
lected, and  treated  with  contempt,  while  a  parcel  of  beg- 
garly Scotchmen  only  have  been  put  into  places  of  profit 
and  trust,  in  the  East  and  West-Indies,  in  England  and 
America,  and  the  preference  has,  of  honour  and  promo- 
tions, been  constantly  given  to  those  people  ;  nay  !  even  to 
rebels,  and  some  who  have  served  in  the  French  service. 
Be  assured  if  you  can  be  prevailed  upon  to  butcher  or  en- 
slave your  fellow-subjects,  and  to  set  up  an  arbitrary  power 
on  the  ruins  of  publick  liberty,  that  your  substance  would 
soon  be  reduced  to  the  miserable  pittance  of  Foreign 
Troops;  and  you,  with  the  surviving  subjects  of  England 
and  America,  be  reduced  to  the  miserable  condition  of  be- 
ing ruled  by  an  army  of  Scotch  Janizaries,  assisted  by  Ro- 
man Catholicks. 

Let  every  English  and  Irish  Officer,  Soldier,  and  Sea- 
Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii. 


man,  seriously  weigh  these  things,  and  then,  if  they  are 
valiant,  courageous,  magnanimous,  and  free,  like  their  fore- 
fathers ;  if  they  are  true  to  their  King  and  their  Country ; 
if  they  value  their  religion,  laws,  lives,  liberties,  families,  and 
posterity,  no  consideration  can  prevail  with  them  to  engage 
against  the  Americans  in  an  inhuman,  bloody  civil  war. 

Let  every  man,  then,  who  is  really  and  truly  a  Protest- 
ant, who  wishes  well  to  his  Country  and  the  rights  of  man- 
kind, lay  aside  his  prejudices  and  consider  the  cause  of 
America,  and  her  success  in  this  struggle  for  freedom,  as 
a  thing  of  the  last  consequence  to  England,  upon  which 
our  salvation  depends;  for  the  present  plan  of  Royal  des- 
potism is  a  plan  of  general  ruin.  I  say,  let  us  all  speedily 
unite,  and  endeavour  to  defend  them  from  their  open,  and 
ourselves  from  our  own  secret  and  domestick  enemies ; 
and  if  any  are  lukewarm  in  this  great  publick  cause,  and  at 
this  time  of  imminent  danger,  let  them  be  made  an  exam- 
ple of  treachery  and  cowardice,  that  the  present  generation 
may  detest  and  abhor  them,  and  posterity  exclaim  against 
and  curse  them,  as  unnatural  monsters,  who  would  destroy 
the  human  race. 


THE    CRISIS.  NO.  V. 

To  the  People  : 

At  a  juncture  like  the  present,  when  the  National  repu- 
tation of  Britain,  as  well  as  her  absolute  safety,  stands  tot- 
tering on  the  brink  of  destruction  ;  when  Liberty  and  Free- 
dom, the  great  pillars  of  the  Constitution,  are,  by  force  and 
fraud,  undermined,  and  tumbling  into  ruins ;  when  the 
bloody  sword  of  tyranny  is  drawn  against  America,  and 
soon  to  be  plunged  into  the  bowels  of  her  innocent  inhab- 
itants;  when  the  present  Sovereign,  aided  by  a  despicable 
junto,  the  rebel,  outcast,  and  refuse  of  Scotland,  and  a  Par- 
liament not  returned  by  the  free  suffrages  of  the  People, 
are  rioting  with  impunity  in  the  spoils  of  an  insulted  pow- 
erful Kingdom  ;  when  they,  by  cruel  oppression,  have  spread 
terrour  and  civil  war  in  every  part  of  the  British  Empire  ; 
when  they  have  destroyed  or  suspended  her  trade,  and  sap- 
ped the  credit  of  publick  security;  when  the  most  iniqui- 
tous and  unjust  Laws  are  daily  passed  to  curb  the  spirit, 
and  bind  in  chains  the  hands  of  a  brave  and  free  People  ; 
when  St.  James's  is  made  the  slaughter-house  of  America  ; 
when  the  Sovereign  has  become  a  National  Executioner, 
and  for  a  sceptre  carries  a  bloody  knife ;  when,  by  a  most 
scandalous  and  shameful  profusion  of  the  publick  money, 
we  are  hourly  robbed  and  plundered  to  answer  all  the  pur- 
poses of  kingcraft  and  villany  ;  when  new  Taxes  are  daily 
imposed  upon  the  People  in  time  of  peace,  to  the  almost 
entire  ruin  of  the  State ;  when  the  minions  of  despotism 
are  increasing  the  Land  Forces,  for  the  open  and  avowed 
purpose  of  wading  knee-deep  in  blood  through  the  Liber- 
ties of  Britain;  when  the  Protestant  Religion  is  openly 
subverted,  and  the  British  subjects  in  Canada  deprived  of 
those  great  securities  of  their  personal  liberty  and  property — 
the  Habeas  Corpus  Act,  and  Trial  by  Juries  ;  when  a  sus- 
pending and  dispensing  power  is  assumed  by  the  Crown  ; 
when  opposition  to  the  most  cruel  and  wanton  acts  of  law- 
less power  is  deemed  Rebellion  ;  when  the  Senators,  de- 
signed as  the  protectors  of  the  People,  are  become  their 
destroyers  ;  when  the  appointed  guardians  of  publick  free- 
dom are  become  base  apostates  and  conspirators  against  the 
Liberties  of  mankind  ;  when  neither  oaths  nor  conscience 
can  bind  the  Sovereign  or  his  Ministers;  when  both  pub- 
lick and  private  justice  is  denied  to  a  subject,  nay,  to  the 
whole  body  of  the  People  at  large  ;  when  our  lives  are 
exposed  to  false  accusations,  and  our  persons  to  arbitrary 
imprisonment  and  heavy  fines ;  when  the  Judges  before 
whom  we  are  to  stand  upon  life  and  death,  and  before  whom 
all  cases  concerning  liberty  and  property  must  be  brought, 
are  too  much  devoted  to  the  will  and  pleasure  of  the  Crown, 
and  enemies  to  the  natural  rights  of  mankind  ;  when  Ju- 
ries, who  are  to  decide  our  fate,  are  packed,  bribed,  or 
modeled  to  the  pernicious  designs  of  a  wicked  and  detest- 
able Ministry  ;  when  every  post,  Civil,  Naval,  and  Milita- 
ry, is  filled  by  Northern  flatterers  and  their  adherents,  by 
men  of  no  principles,  by  parasites,  pimps,  catmites,  and 
the  advocates  for  arbitrary  power  ;  when  the  People  can 
see  nothing  but  misery  and  slavery  before  their  eyes  ;  when 
this  vast  and  mighty  Empire,  the  admiration  and  envy  of 


67 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775. 


68 


the  world,  is,  through  corruption  and  villany,  fallen  into 
ruins  : 

At  such  a  juncture  as  this,  and  under  these  dreadful  and 
alarming  circumstances  of  experienced  and  impending  dan- 
ger, it  becomes  the  duty  of  every  Englishman  to  stand 
forth  to  defend  his  life,  his  liberty,  and  his  property,  from 
lawless  violence,  and  to  save  his  Country  from  perdition. 

So  highly  did  our  brave  and  worthy  ancestors  value  and 
esteem  their  rights,  liberties,  and  privileges,  that  they  spared 
neither  blood  nor  treasure  in  their  defence,  when  invaded, 
as  they  too  often  were,  by  some  of  our  Kings,  who,  in  the 
pursuit  of  lawless  power,  pulled  down  all  the  fences  of  lib- 
erty, and  broke  in,  like  the  present  Sovereign,  upon  the 
Constitution,  so  far  that  the  lives,  liberties,  and  properties 
of  the  subjects  of  this  Realm  were  hourly  in  danger,  and 
many  fell  sacrifices  to  Royal  or  Ministerial  vengeance. 

Then  it  was,  that  our  generous  forefathers  nobly  asso- 
ciated themselves  in  defence  of  their  inherent  and  legal 
rights,  and  made  an  offering  of  the  best  and  choicest  blood 
in  the  Kingdom  to  the  shrine  of  Liberty,  that  we,  their 
posterity,  might  be  free  and  happy.  To  them  and  the  glo- 
rious struggles  they  made  with  power,  we  owe  all  the  bless- 
ings we  enjoy,  and  the  English  Constitution — our  greatest 
boast  and  their  greatest  glory. 

It  was  in  such  times  as  these,  when  our  brave  progeni- 
tors behaved  like  Britons;  with  a  true  patriot-zeal,  with 
which  almost  every  breast  was  fired,  they  spurned  the 
yoke,  and  broke  the  chains  that  were  prepared  for  them, 
letting  their  King  and  his  minions  know  they  would  not 
suffer  him  nor  them  to  destroy  their  birthrights,  and  dis- 
pense with  the  known  laws  of  the  land,  by  which  they 
were  resolved  to  be  governed,  and  not  by  his  will,  or  any 
other  lawless  power  upon  earth. 

Let  us  at  this  time,  in  this  hour  of  imminent  danger,  fol- 
low so  bright  and  glorious  an  example,  by  a  well-timed, 
noble  resistance  to  the  present  Royal  and  Ministerial  plan 
for  subverting  the  Laws  and  Religion,  and  overturning  the 
Constitution  of  the  British  Empire  in  England  and  Ame- 
rica ;  a  resistance  that  will  secure  freedom  to  posterity,  and 
immortal  honour  to  ourselves.  The  field  of  glory  is  open 
before  us  ;  let  us  rouse  from  a  state  of  apathy,  and  exert 
ourselves  in  a  manner  becoming  of  Englishmen,  worthy  of 
men  who  love  liberty,  and  deserve  to  be  free.  Let  us  show 
to  the  world  we  are  not  to  be  enslaved  by  one  nor  by  five 
thousand  tyrants ;  for  the  sons  of  cruelty,  corruption,  and 
despotism,  will  pursue  their  bloody  designs  with  great  vig- 
our, and  with  all  the  unrelenting  malice  of  barbarians, 
against  our  fellow-subjects  in  America,  in  proportion  as  we 
are  tame  and  acquiescing  ;  and  if  once  they  can  succeed, 
through  our  baseness  and  cowardice,  the  sword  will  be  im- 
mediately turned  against  us — the  sacred  Constitution  of  our 
Empire  dissolved,  and  we  shall  fall  despised,  unlamented, 
and  detested,  into  the  same  horrible  gulf  of  arbitrary 
power. 

Let  us  take  advantage  of  the  present  opportunity,  while 
our  resentments  boil  high  ;  while  every  English  breast  is 
fired  with  indignation  against  those  who  are  the  authors  of 
all  our  past  and  present  calamities,  which  now  convulse  the 
State  to  its  centre.  Let  us  by  all  proper,  just,  and  legal 
means,  exemplarily  punish  the  parricides,  and  avowed  ene- 
mies of  mankind.  Let  neither  private  acquaintance  nor 
personal  alliance  stand  between  us  and  our  duty  to  our 
Country.  Let  all  who  have  an  interest  in  the  publick 
safety  join  in  common  measures  to  defend  the  publick  safe- 
ty. Let  us  pursue  to  disgrace,  destruction,  and  even  death, 
all  those  who  have  brought  this  ruin  upon  us,  let  them  be 
ever  so  great,  or  ever  so  many.  Let  us  stamp  and  deep 
engrave,  in  characters  legible  to  all  Europe  at  present,  and 
to  all  posterity  hereafter,  what  vengeance  is  due  to  crimes 
which  have  no  less  objects  in  view  than  the  ruin  of  Nations 
and  the  destruction  of  millions.  Let  us  frustrate  their 
present  desperate  and  wicked  attempt  to  destroy  America, 
by  joining  with  our  injured  fellow-subjects,  and  bravely 
striking  one  honest  and  bold  stroke  to  destroy  them.  Nay, 
although  the  designs  of  the  conspirators  should  be  laid  deep 
as  the  centre  ;  although  they  should  raise  hell  itself,  and 
should  fetch  legions  of  votaries  from  thence  to  avow  their 
proceedings;  yet,  let  us  not  leave  the  pursuit  till  we  have 
their  heads  and  their  estates. 

Hear  part  of  the  Address  of  your  injured  and  oppressed 
fellow-subjects  in  America,  to  you,  upon  this  melancholy 


occasion — upon  the  dreadful  prospect  of  impending  ruin. 
Let  every  Englishman  lay  his  hand  upon  his  heart,  and  de- 
clare whether  he  does  not  think  they  have  been  most 
cruelly  treated  ;  and  whether  he  can,  in  justice,  conscience, 
and  humanity,  draw  the  sword  against  them;  or  whether 
he  would  not  rather  join  with  them,  and  endeavour  to  ob- 
tain a  decisive  victory  over  tyranny,  or  fall  gloriously  with 
the  liberties  of  his  Country.    These  are  their  words: 

"  When  a  Nation,  led  to  greatness  by  the  hand  of  Lib- 
erty, and  possessed  of  all  the  glory  that  heroism,  munifi- 
cence, and  humanity  can  bestow,  descends  to  the  ungrate- 
ful task  of  forging  chains  for  her  friends  and  children  ;  and 
instead  of  giving  support  to  freedom,  turns  advocate  for 
slavery  and  oppression,  there  is  reason  to  suspect  she  has 
either  ceased  to  be  virtuous,  or  been  extremely  negligent  in 
the  appointment  of  her  rulers. 

"  In  almost  every  age,  in  repeated  conflicts,  in  long  and 
bloody  wars,  as  well  civil  as  foreign,  against  the  many 
powerful  Nations,  against  the  open  assaults  of  enemies,  and 
more  dangerous  treachery  of  friends,  have  the  inhabitants 
of  your  Island — your  great  and  glorious  ancestors — main- 
tained their  independence,  and  transmitted  the  rights  of 
men  and  the  blessings  of  liberty  to  you  their  posterity. 

"  Be  not  surprised,  therefore,  that  we,  who  are  descend- 
ants from  the  same  common  ancestors  ;  that  we,  whose 
forefathers  participated  in  all  the  rights,  the  liberties,  and 
the  Constitution  you  so  justly  boast,  and  who  have  care- 
fully conveyed  the  same  fair  inheritance  to  us,  guarantied 
by  the  plighted  faith  of  Government,  and  the  most  solemn 
compacts  with  British  Sovereigns,  should  refuse  to  surren- 
der them  to  men  who  found  their  claims  on  no  principles 
of  reason,  and  who  prosecute  them  with  a  design  that,  by 
having  our  lives  and  property  in  their  power,  they  may, 
with  the  greater  facility,  enslave  you. 

"The  cause  of  America  is  now  the  object  of  universal 
attention  ;  it  has  at  length  become  very  serious.  This  un- 
happy Country  has  not  only  been  oppressed,  but  abused 
and  misrepresented  ;  and  the  duty  we  owe  ourselves  and 
posterity,  to  your  interest,  and  the  general  welfare  of  the 
British  Empire,  leads  us  to  address  you  on  this  very  im- 
portant subject. 

"  We  call  upon  you  yourselves  to  witness  our  loyalty 
and  attachment  to  the  common  interest  of  the  whole  Em- 
pire. Did  we  not,  in  the  last  war,  add  all  the  strength  of 
this  vast  Continent  to  the  force  which  repelled  our  common 
enemy  ?  Did  we  not  leave  our  native  shores,  and  meet  dis- 
ease and  death,  to  promote  the  success  of  the  British  Arms 
in  foreign  climates  ?  Did  you  not  thank  us  for  our  zeal,  and 
even  reimburse  us  large  sums  of  money,  which  you  con- 
fessed we  had  advanced  beyond  our  proportion,  and  far  be- 
yond our  abilities?  You  did. 

"To  what  causes,  then,  are  we  to  attribute  the  sudden 
change  of  treatment,  and  that  system  of  slavery  which  was 
prepared  for  us  at  the  restoration  of  peace  ? 

"  Let  justice  and  humanity  cease  to  be  the  boast  of  your 
Nation !  Consult  your  history,  examine  your  records  of 
former  transactions  ;  nay,  turn  to  the  annals  of  the  many 
arbitrary  States  and  Kingdoms  that  surround  you,  and  show 
us  a  single  instance  of  men  being  condemned  to  suffer  for 
imputed  crimes,  unheard,  unquestioned,  and  without  even 
the  specious  formality  of  a  trial  ;  and  that,  too,  by  law  s 
made  expressly  for  the  purpose,  and  which  had  no  exist- 
ence at  the  time  of  the  fact  committed.  If  it  be  difficult 
to  reconcile  these  proceedings  to  the  genius  and  temper  of 
your  Laws  and  Constitution,  the  task  will  become  more 
arduous  when  we  call  upon  Ministerial  enemies  to  justify, 
not  only  condemning  men  untried,  and  by  hearsay,  but  in- 
volving the  innocent  in  one  common  punishment  with  the 
guilty  ;  and  for  the  act  of  thirty  or  forty,  to  bring  poverty, 
distress,  and  calamity  on  thirty  thousand  souls,  and  those 
not  your  enemies,  but  your  friends,  brethren,  and  fellow- 
subjects. 

"  Admit  that  the  Ministry,  by  the  power  of  Britain  and 
the  aid  of  our  Roman  Catholick  neighbours,  should  be  able 
to  carry  the  point  of  Taxation,  and  reduce  us  to  a  state  of 
perfect  humiliation  and  slavery,  such  an  enterprise  would 
doubtless  make  some  addition  to  your  National  debt,  which 
already  presses  down  your  liberties,  and  fills  you  with  pen- 
sioners and  placemen.  We  presume,  also,  that  your  Com- 
merce will  somewhat  be  diminished.  However,  suppose 
you  should  prove  victorious,  in  what  condition  will  you  then 


69 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775. 


70 


be?  What  advantage  or  what  laurels  will  you  reap  from 
such  a  conquest  ? 

"  May  not  a  Ministry,  with  the  same  Armies,  enslave 
you  ?  It  may  be  said,  you  will  cease  to  pay  them  ;  but  re- 
member the  Taxes  from  America  ;  the  wealth,  and  we  may 
add  the  men,  particularly  the  Roman  Catholicks  of  this 
vast  Continent,  will  then  be  in  the  power  of  your  enemies. 
Nor  will  you  have  any  reason  to  expect  that,  after  making 
slaves  of  us,  many  among  us  should  refuse  to  assist  in  re- 
ducing you  to  the  same  abject  state." 


THE  CRISIS.  NO.  VI. 

To  the  Right  Honourable  Lord  North,  first  Lord  of  the 
Treasury,  Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer,  and  Ranger 
of  Bushy  Park,  fyc. 

My  Lord  :  We  know  not  which  is  most  to  be  detested, 
your  Lordship's  pusillanimity,  or  your  villany.  Such  a 
miscreant  never  before  disgraced  the  administration  of  any 
Country,  nor  the  confidence  of  any  King.  One  day  you 
are  all  fire  and  sword  ;  Boston  is  to  be  laid  in  ashes,  and 
the  rivers  of  America  are  to  run  with  the  blood  of  her  in- 
habitants ;  Ships  are  prepared,  Troops  embarked,  and  Offi- 
cers appointed  for  the  threatened  carnage.  You  no  sooner 
find  the  brave  Americans  are  determined  to  resist  your 
instruments  of  slaughter,  and  to  oppose  the  cruel  designs  of 
a  despotick  tyrant,  or  rob  them  of  their  rights,  than  all  the 
bravadoing  and  all  the  blustering  of  your  Lordship  is  imme- 
diately softened  into  a  calm,  and  you  relax ;  fear  seizes 
your  dastardly  soul,  and  you  sink  beneath  the  weight  of 
accumulated  guilt. 

Oue  day  we  hear  of  nothing  but  accusations,  proscrip- 
tions, impeachments,  and  bills  of  attainder  against  the  Pa- 
triots of  America,  and  they  are  speedily  to  be  apprehended, 
and  to  receive  a  punishment  due  to  their  crimes — due  to 
rebels.  Three  days  do  not  elapse,  before  this  just  and 
noble  resolution  of  your  Lordship  to  bring  those  traitors  to 
a  trial  is  dropped,  and  lenient,  or  no  steps  are  to  be  taken 
against  them.  Another  day  all  the  Colonies  are  in  a  state 
of  rebellion,  and  the  last  advices  received  from  America, 
you  tell  the  House  of  Commons,  were  of  a  very  alarming 
nature,  and  such  a  daring  spirit  of  resistance  had  manifested 
itself  throughout  the  Continent,  that  it  was  now  high  time 
Parliament  should  adopt  measures  for  enforcing  obedience 
to  the  late  Acts.  A  plan  is  no  sooner  proposed  by  you,  but 
carried  by  a  rotten  majority,  for  reducing  them  to  a  state 
of  subjection  to  jour,  and  your  Royal  master's  will,  and 
bloodshed  and  slaughter  stare  them  in  the  face.  They 
laugh  at  your  impotent  malice,  and,  with  a  spirited  firm- 
ness becoming  of  freemen,  dare  you  to  the  stroke  ;  when, 
behold,  your  threats,  and  the  resolution  of  your  venal 
troop,  (I  will  not  call  it  a  British  Senate,)  become  like  the 
threats  and  resolutions  of  a  society  of  coal  porters,  who 
declare  vengeance  against  another  body  of  men  who  will 
not  comply  with  their  unlawful  impositions,  but  fear  the  next 
day,  without  even  the  shadow  of  justice  on  their  side,  to 
carry  their  desperate  designs  into  execution.  The  motion 
you  made,  my  Lord,  in  the  House  of  Commons,  on  Monday 
last,*  for  a  suspension  of  the  several  American  Acts  till  it 
is  known  which  of  the  Provinces  will  raise  a  Revenue,  and 
contribute  to  the  luxuries  of  the  Parent  State,  subject  to 
the  control  of  the  British  Parliament,  is  a  subterfuge  too 
low,  and  too  thinly  disguised,  to  deceive  the  Americans,  or 
to  impose  upon  the  understanding  of  the  meanest  capacity. 
It  is  evident  to  the  world  this  is  only  a  villanous  plan  to 
divide  them,  who,  while  united  together,  may  bid  defiance 
to  all  your  Lordship's  cunning,  fraud,  force,  and  villany. 
The  Americans,  my  Lord,  are  too  sensible,  and  too  brave, 
to  be  drawn  into  any  trap,  either  of  your,  or  your  Royal 
master's  making.  You  may  weave  the  web  as  artfully  as 
you  please  for  their  destruction,  and  they  will  be  sure  to 
break  it.  Their  cause  is  just ;  it  is  the  cause  of  Heaven, 
and  built  upon  the  solid  foundation  of  truth  and  liberty. 
They  will  carefully  watch  over  the  sacred  gifts  of  God,  and 
never  surrender  them  to  you.  nor  any  power  upon  earth, 
but  with  their  lives.  You  have  found,  my  Lord,  that  your 
hostile  invasion,  and  all  your  force  and  violence,  would  not 
terrify  them  into  a  compliance  with  your  measures,  nor 
answer  the  infamous  design  of  making  the  King  absolute 
*  February  20,  1775. 


in  America;  and  now  you  are  determined  to  try  whether, 
by  fraud  and  artifice,  you  can  effect  your  purpose. 

You  have,  my  Lord,  by  the  most  cruel  oppressions, 
drove  the  Americans  to  a  state  of  desperation.  You  have 
destroyed  their  Charters,  invaded  their  Rights,  and  imposed 
Taxes  contrary  to  every  principle  of  justice  and  to  every 
idea  of  representation  ;  and  by  blockading  the  Port  of  Bos- 
ton, reduced  near  thirty  thousand  people,  in  easy  circum- 
stances, to  a  state  of  dependance  upon  the  charity  and 
benevolence  of  their  fellow-subjects;  and  now,  rare  conde- 
scension, suspension  of  the  several  American  Acts,  or,  in 
other  words,  Ministerial  oppression  and  villany,  is  to  be 
granted  them,  provided  they  will  raise  a  Revenue  in  Ame- 
rica, still  subject  to  the  control  of  the  King  and  Parliament 
in  England.  This  suspension  scheme,  my  Lord,  will  not 
do.  The  Americans  will  have  a  repeal  of  all  the  Acts  they 
complain  of,  and  a  full  restoration  of  all  their  Charters, 
Rights,  Liberties,  and  Privileges,  before  they  grant  you  a 
single  farthing,  and  then  not  subject  to  the  control  of  a 
banditti  of  rotten  Members  in  St.  Stephen's  Chapel,  of 
your  appointing.  For  where  would  be  the  difference  be- 
tween their  taxing  themselves,  subject  to  the  control  and 
at  the  disposal  of  the  King  and  Parliament  here,  or  of  the 
House  of  Commons  in  England  taxing  them  in  the  first 
instance?  There  would  be  none,  my  Lord,  and  they  would 
still  be  in  the  same  situation  they  are  now — still  subject  to 
the  will  of  the  King,  and  the  corrupt  influence  of  the 
Crown.  This  scheme,  my  Lord,  appears  to  me  as  ridicu- 
lous and  absurd  as  the  negative  still  vested  in  the  Court  of 
Aldermen,  of  the  City  of  London,  which  gives  a  power  to 
a  majority  of  twenty-six  to  set  aside  the  choice  of  seven 
thousand  livery-men,  in  the  election  of  their  Mayor.  Be 
assured,  my  Lord,  this  new  plan  must  fall  to  the  ground, 
with  all  your  former  ones  in  this  business.  The  day  of 
trial  is  at  hand  ;  the  Americans  will  be  firm.  They  will 
have  a  confirmation  of  all  their  rights ;  they  will  have  a 
redress  of  all  their  grievances ;  they  will  levy  their  own 
Taxes,  not  subject  to  any  controlling  power ;  and  they  will 
fix  the  Constitutional  Liberties  of  America  upon  a  founda- 
tion not  to  be  again  shaken  by  you,  nor  any  pusillanimous, 
weak,  wicked,  or  cruel  tyrant. 

It  is  unnatural. — But  for  a  moment,  my  Lord,  suppose 
the  Americans  should  come  into  your  proposals,  or  agree 
with  the  terms  of  your  motion,  how,  my  Lord,  can  you 
make  reparation  for  the  injuries  England  and  America 
have  sustained ;  or  will  it,  in  any  degree,  lessen  your  vil- 
lany, or  atone  for  your  crimes?  What  compensation  can 
you  make  for  the  loss  of  our  Trade,  to  the  amount  of  near 
three  millions  ?  What  compensation  can  you  make  for  rob- 
bing the  Nation  of  near  one  million  and  a  half  of  money,  to 
carry  on  your  execrable  designs  against  your  fellow-subjects 
in  America  1  You  can  make  none.  Your  head,  indeed, 
would  be  a  pleasing  spectacle  upon  Temple  Bar ;  but  the 
loss  of  that,  and  your  estates,  would  never  atone  for  a  ten 
thousandth  part  of  your  crimes  and  villany.  Still  it  is  to 
be  hoped  the  minority  of  the  House  of  Commons,  and  the 
people,  will  never  leave  you  till  they  have  both — till  you 
are  made  a  publick  example,  and  brought  to  condign  pun- 
ishment. 

Every  measure,  my  Lord,  of  your  administration  at 
home  has  been  cruel,  arbitrary,  and  unconstitutional ;  and 
every  measure,  with  respect  to  Foreign  Affairs,  has  been 
weak,  cowardly,  absurd,  and  ridiculous ;  unbecoming  an 
English  Minister,  and  only  calculated  to  destroy  the  hon- 
our and  interest  of  this  Kingdom. 

The  glory  and  dignity  of  the  British  Nation  was  never 
so  infamously  sacrificed,  both  by  you  and  the  King,  as  in 
the  year  1770,  by  a  scandalous  secret  Convention  with 
Spain,  concerning  Falkland  Islands. 

With  respect  to  Domestick  Affairs,  you  have  endea- 
voured to  erect  the  Sovereign  into  a  despotick  tyrant ;  you 
have  made  him  destroy  the  Rights  and  Liberties  of  the 
people  in  every  part  of  the  British  Empire.  You  have 
made  it  apparently  his  interest  to  promote  divisions  at 
home ;  you  have  obliged  him  to  quit  the  glorious  title  of 
Father  of  his  People,  and  debase  himself  into  the  head  of  a 
party,  whom  he  has  invested  with  an  absolute  dominion 
over  him  ;  and  whilst  he  monarchs  it  in  his  own  closet, 
becomes  contemptible  in  the  eyes  of  his  subjects,  and  the 
whole  world.    Weak,  timid,  and  irresolute,  he  deeply  en- 


71 


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72 


gages  in  all  your  Lordship's  infamous  measures,  and  the 
rest  of  his  Ministers ;  and  it  is  for  this  reason  we  see  every 
act  of  Ministerial  villany  and  murder  sanctified  hy  Royal 
authority. 


THE  CUISIS.  NO.  VIII. 

To  the  Lords  Suffolk,  Pomfret,  Radnor,  Apsley, 
and  Sandwich  : 

My  Lords  :  You  have  a  peculiar  claim  to  an  Address 
from  the  Authors  of  the  Crisis,  and  it  shall  be  our  business 
in  this  Paper  to  preserve,  if  possible,  the  perishable  infa- 
my of  your  names. 

The  motion  made  by  Lord  Radnor,  on  Monday,  the 
27th  of  February,  concerning  No.  Ill,  of  the  Crisis,  was 
unjust  and  villanous.  The  Paper  contains  nothing  but 
the  most  sacred  truths,  and  therefore  could  not  be  a  false 
or  scandalous  libel.  The  amendment  of  the  epithet,  trea- 
sonable, proposed  and  supported  by  the  Lords  Pomfret, 
Suffolk,  Apsley,  and  Sandwich,  was  infamous,  and  of  a 
piece  with  every  other  proceeding  of  the  present  reign  and 
present  Ministry.  It  showed,"  in  a  particular  manner,  the 
bloody-minded  dispositions  of  prostituted  Court  Lords,  the 
instruments  of  murder  and  publick  ruin.  The  immaculate 
Lord  Sandwich  insisted  that  the  word  treasonable  should 
stand  part  of  the  motion,  as  a  proper  foundation  for  bring- 
ing the  Authors  to  exemplary  and  condign  punishment. 
Suppose,  my  Lords,  this  infamous  amendment  to  the  Rad- 
nor motion  had  been  carried,  and  it  had  stood  a  false, 
scandalous,  and  treasonable  libel,  could  the  mere  ipse  dixit 
of  a  few  venal  Lords  make  that  treason  which,  in  the  lite- 
ral or  constructive  sense  of  the  word,  wa3  not  so. 

The  Author  of  No.  Ill,  is  perfectly  well  acquainted  with 
the  Statute  of  Treasons,  passed  in  the  reign  of  Edward  the 
Third,  and  likewise  with  the  various  expositions  and  inter- 
pretations of  it.  He  well  knew  the  Paper  was  written 
upon  the  true  principles  of  the  Revolution,  and  that  it 
could  be  justified  by  the  laws  of  the  land.  He  well  knew 
(though  there  is  hardly  any  villany  but  what  Court  syco- 
phants may  do  with  ease)  that  it  was  not  in  the  power  of 
Lord  Mansfield,  with  all  his  chicanery,  with  all  his  arti- 
fice, with  all  his  abuse  of  the  law,  with  all  his  perversion 
of  just  ice,  with  all  the  aid  of  false  construction  and  forced 
inuendoes,  to  bring  it  within  the  meaning  of  that  Statute. 
He  well  knew  the  disposition  of  the  Sovereign  and  his 
minions,  and  that  nothing  would  or  can  satiate  Royal, 
Scotch,  or  Ministerial  revenge,  but  the  blood  of  those  who 
oppose  the  present  most  horridly  cruel,  and  most  infamous- 
ly wicked,  measures  of  Government.  And,  my  Lords,  he 
well  knew  the  shocking  prostitution  of  hereditary  peerage, 
and  the  barefaced  treachery  and  villany  of  a  purchased 
majority  in  the  House  of  Commons. 

Has  there  not,  my  Lords,  been  innocent  blood  enough 
shed  in  this  reign,  that  your  Lordships  should  still  thirst 
for  more.  Why  should  your  Lordships  be  so  desirous  of 
stopping  every  channel  of  publick  information  ?  The  infamy 
of  your  actions  are  sufficiently  known,  and  will  be  handed 
down  to  the  latest  ages  of  time,  while  your  names  will  stink 
in  the  nostrils  of  posterity. 

The  Statute  of  Treasons,  my  Lords,  passed  in  the 
twenty-fifth  year  of  the  reign  of  Edward  the  Third,  was 
an  act  of  vast  importance  to  the  publick  weal,  for  till  then 
there  was  hardly  a  word  spoke,  or  a  paper  written,  but 
what  was  deemed  treason  ;  and  the  Parliament  which  pass- 
ed it  were  called  Bcnedictum  Parliamentum — the  Blessed 
Parliament. 

The  substance  of  this  Statute  is  branched  out  by  my 
Lord  Coke  into  six  heads,  which  we  shall  here  give,  with 
some  observations  of  our  own,  to  show  your  Lordships  and 
the  world,  that  No.  Ill,  of  the  Crisis,  is  not  within  the 
meaning  of  either  of  these  heads,  and  that  by  your  amend- 
ed motion  you  designed  to  lay  the  ground-work  of  a  prose- 
cution the  most  cruel  and  infamous  ever  carried  on  in  this 
Country,  worse  than  those  which,  without  proof  or  the 
colour  of  guilt,  took  away  the  lives  of  the  great  Lord  Russel 
and  Algernon  Sidney. 

The  first  head  is  concerning  death,  by  compassing  or 
imagining  the  death  of  the  King,  Queen,  or  Prince,  and 
declaring  the  same  by  some  overt  deed  ;  by  killing  or  mur- 
dering the  Chancellor,  Treasurer,  Justice  of  either  Bench, 


Justice  in  Eyre,  Justices  of  Assize,  Justices  of  Oyer  and 
Terminer,  in  their  places  during  their  offices. 

The  second  is,  to  violate,  that  is,  to  know  carnally,  the 
Queen,  the  King's  eldest  daughter  unmarried,  the  Prince's 
wife. 

The  third  is,  levying  war  against  the  King. 

The  fourth  is,  adhering  to  the  King's  enemies,  within  the 
Realm  or  without,  and  declaring  the  same  by  some  overt  act. 

The  fifth  is,  counterfeiting  the  great,  the  privy-seal,  or 
the  King's  coin. 

The  sixth  and  last,  by  bringing  into  this  Realm  counter- 
feit money,  to  the  likeness  of  the  King's  coin. 

First.  To  compass  and  imagine,  is  to  contrive,  de^Lrn, 
or  intend  the  death  of  the  King ;  but  this  must  be  declared 
by  some  overt  act ;  declaring  by  an  open  act  a  design  to  de- 
pose or  imprison  the  King,  is  an  overt  act  ;  to  manifest  the 
compassing  his  death.  1  believe,  my  Lords,  the  Author  of 
Number  III  of  the  Crisis,  is  not  under  the  predicament  of 
this  exposition. 

Second.  By  the  word  King,  is  intended,  1.  A  King  be- 
fore his  coronation,  as  soon  as  ever  the  Crown  descends 
upon  him  ;  for  the  coronation  is  but  a  ceremony.  2.  A 
King  de  facto,  and  not  dt  jure,  is  a  King  within  this  Act ; 
and  treason  against  him  is  punishable,  though  the  right 
heir  get  the  Crown. 

Third,  Note.  It  is  very  strange,  but  in  the  printed 
Statute  Book,  it  is  there  said ,  probably  attainted,  which  is 
a  gross  errour ;  for  the  words  of  the  Record  are,  et  de  ceux 
provablements  soit  attaint;  and  shall  be  thereof  probably 
attaint ;  and  it  is  amazing  to  me,  that  so  gross  a  mistake 
should  be  suffered,  since  my  Lord  Coke  has  so  expressly 
observed  the  difference  in  these  words  following.  3.  Inst, 
fol.  12.  In  this  branch,  saith  he,  four  things  are  to 
be  observed:  1.  This  word  (provablemcnt)  j)roval>ly,  that 
is,  upon  direct  and  manifest  proof,  not  upon  conjectural 
presumptions  or  inferences,  or  strains  of  wit,  but  upon  good 
and  sufficient  proof;  and  herein,  the  adverb  (provable- 
merit  )  provably  hath  great  force,  and  signifieth  a  direct  and 
plain  proof;  and,  therefore,  the  offender  must  provably  be 
attainted,  which  words  are  as  forcible,  as  upon  direct  and 
manifest  proof.  Note.  The  word  is  not  probably,  for  then 
commune  argumentum  might  have  served,  but  the  word  is 
provably  be  attainted.  2.  The  word  attaint  necessarily 
implieth,  that  he  be  proceeded  with,  and  attainted,  accord- 
ing to  the  due  course  of  law,  and  proceedings  of  law, 
and  not  by  absolute  power,  or  by  other  means,  as  in  former 
times  had  been  used ;  and,  therefore,  if  a  man  doth  adhere 
to  the  enemies  of  the  King,  or  be  slain  in  open  war  against 
the  King,  or  otherwise  die  before  the  attainder  of  treason, 
he  forfeiteth  nothing,  because  (as  the  Act  saith)  he  is  not 
attainted  ;  wherein  this  Act  hath  altered  that,  which,  be- 
fore this  Act,  in  case  of  treason,  was  taken  for  law.  And 
the  Statute  of  34  Ed.  III.,  saves  nothing  to  the  King,  but 
that  which  was  in  esse,  and  pertaining  to  the  King  at  the 
making  of  that  Act.  And  this  appeareth  by  a  judgment 
in  Parliament,  in  ann.  29  H.  VI.,  that  Jack  Cade,  being 
slain  in  open  rebellion,  could  no  ways  be  punished,  or  for- 
feit any  thing,  and,  therefore,  was  attainted  by  that  Act  of 
high  treason.  3.  Of  open  deed,  per  operlum  factum; 
these  words  strengthen  the  former  exposition  of  provable- 
men  t ;  an  overt  act  must  be  alleged  in  every  indictment 
upon  this  Act,  and  proved  ;  compassing,  by  bare  words,  is 
not  an  overt  act,  as  appears  by  many  temporary  Statutes 
against  it.  But  there  must  be  some  open  act,  which  must 
be  manifestly  proved.  As  if  divers  do  conspire  the  death 
of  the  King,  and  the  manner  how,  and  thereupon  provide 
weapons — powder,  poison,  harness,  send  letters  and  the  like, 
for  the  execution  of  the  conspiracy.  If  a  subject  conspire 
with  a  foreign  Prince  to  invade  the  Realm  by  open  hos- 
tility, and  prepare  for  the  same  by  some  overt  act,  this  is  a 
sufficient  overt  act  for  the  death  of  the  King.  4thly.  A 
conspiracy  is  had  to  levy  war ;  this  is  no  treason  by  this 
act,  until  it  be  levied  ;  therefore  it  is  no  overt  act,  or  mani- 
fest proof  of  the  compassing  the  death  of  the  King  within 
this  act,  for  the  words  are,  decco,  he,  thereof,  that  is,  of 
the  compassing  of  the  death.  The  wisdom  of  the  makers 
of  this  Law  would  not  make  bare  words  to  be  treason, 
seeing  such  variance  commonly  among  the  witnesses,  about 
the  same,  as  few  of  them  agree  together. 

In  the  preamble  of  the  Statute  of  1  Mar.  (concerning 


73 


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74 


the  repeal  of  certain  treasons  declared  after  this  Statute  of 
25  Edw.  III.  and  before  that  time,  and  bringing  all  things 
to  the  measures  of  this  Statute)  it  was  agreed  by  the  whole 
Parliament,  that  Laws  justly  made  for  the  preservation  of 
the  Commonwealth,  without  extreme  punishment,  are  more 
often  obeyed  and  kept,  than  Laws  and  Statutes  made  with 
great  and  extreme  punishments ;  and  in  special  such  Laws 
and  Statutes  so  made,  whereby  not  only  the  ignorant  and 
rude  unlearned  people,  but  also  learned  and  expert  people, 
minding  honesty,  are  oftentimes  trapped  and  snared,  yea, 
many  times  for  words  only,  without  other  fact  or  deed 
done  or  perpetrated.  Therefore  this  Act  of  the  25th 
Ed.  111.  doth  provide  that  there  must  be  an  overt  act. 
5thly.  As  to  treason,  by  levying  war  against  the  King, 
we  must  note,  that  though  conspiring  or  compassing  to  levy 
war,  without  a  war  de  facto,  be  no  treason,  yet  it  may 
conspire  a  war,  and  only  some  few  actually  levy  it,  all  are 
guilty  of  the  treason.  Raising  a  force  to  burn  or  throw 
down  a  particular  enclosure,  is  only  a  riot;  but  if  it  had 
been  to  have  gone  from  Town  to  Town,  to  throw  down 
all  enclosures,  or  to  change  Religion,  or  the  like,  it  were 
levying  of  war,  because  the  intended  mischief  is  publick. 
Holding  a  Fort  or  Castle  against  the  King's  force,  is  levy- 
ing war.  6th.  Counterfeiting  the  great  or  privy-seal,  is 
treason,  but  it  must  be  an  actual  counterfeiting  thereof; 
compassing  to  do  it  is  no  treason  ;  affixing  the  great  seal 
by  tiie  Chancellor,  without  warrant,  is  no  treason  ;  fixing 
a  new  great  seal  to  another  patent  is  misprision,  but  no 
treason,  being  not  counterfeiting  within  this  Act.  But 
aiders  and  consenters  are  within  this  Act.  7th.  Treason 
concerning  coin,  is  counterfeiting  the  King's  coin ;  and  this 
was  treason  at  common  law,  and  judgment  only  as  of 
petty  treason  ;  but  clipping,  &ic,  being  made  treason  by 
other  Statutes,  the  judgment  is,  to  be  drawn,  hanged,  and 
quartered.  Money,  here,  extends  only  to  the  proper  money 
of  this  Realm.  8th.  As  this  Statute  leaves  all  other 
doubtful  matters  to  be  declared  treason  in  Parliament, 
but  not  to  be  punished  as  such  till  so  declared,  so  in  suc- 
ceeding Kings'  reigns  abundance  of  other  matters  were 
declared  treason,  which  being  found  very  grievous  and 
dangerous,  by  this  Statute,  1  Mar.,  it  is  enacted  that  thence- 
forth no  act,  deed,  or  offence,  being  by  Act  of  Parliament 
or  Statute  made  treason,  petty  treason,  or  misprision  of 
treason,  by  words,  writing,  cyphering,  deeds,  or  otherwise 
however,  shall  be  taken,  had,  deemed  or  adjudged  to  be 
high  treason,  petty  treason,  or  misprision  of  treason, 
but  only  such  as  be  declared  and  expressed  to  be  trea- 
son, petty  treason,  or  misprision  of  treason,  by  this  Sta- 
tute of  25  Edw.  III. 

Here  we  rest  the  matter,  my  Lords,  convinced  that  the 
author  of  Number  III,  is  not  within  the  meaning  of  this 
Statute,  nor  any  exposition  of  it,  and  that  the  design  of 
your  Lordships  in  adding  the  epithet  treasonable,  was 
wicked,  base,  and  infamous,  and  will  be  sure  to  secure  to 
you  the  contempt  and  detestation  of  every  honest  man. 


THE  CRISIS.  NO.  IX. 

To  the  King  : 

Sir  :  You  ascended  the  Throne  of  these  Realms  with 
advantages  which,  if  properly  improved,  would  have  ren- 
dered your  reign  not  only  glorious  and  happy,  but  have 
made  you  the  most  powerful  monarch  upon  earth  ;  you 
might  have  kept  the  world  in  awe.  Yet,  O  shame  to  tell, 
though  the  times  demand  it,  you  soon  sacrificed  your  own 
peace,  the  tranquillity,  honour,  and  interest  of  this  great 
and  mighty  Kingdom,  to  the  ambitious  views  and  pernicious 
designs  of  your  infernal  minion,  Lord  Bute,  and  his  profli- 
gate, abandoned  adherents.  Your  accession  to  the  Throne 
filled  with  joy  the  breast  of  every  Englishman ;  but,  alas  ! 
it  was  of  short  duration;  you  soon  convinced  them  of  their 
mistake,  and  the  compliments  paid  to  your  understanding, 
the  calm  hour  of  reason  soon  convinced  us  were  ill- 
founded. 

No  sooner  seated  upon  the  Throne  of  this  vast  Empire, 
than  you,  like  all  other  Kings,  as  well  as  tyrants,  made  the 
people  many  and  fair  promises.  You  told  your  Parliament 
that  the  suppression  of  vice  and  immorality,  the  encourage- 
ment of  Trade  and  Commerce,  and  the  preservation  of 
peace  and  harmony  amongst  your  people,  should  be  the 
rule  of  your  conduct,  and  your  principal  study.    How  far 


you  have  kept  your  word,  the  sacred  pen  of  truth  shall 
now  declare. 

Scarce  seated  in  regal  dignity,  before  you  drove  from 
your  presence  and  councils,  by  the  advice  of  your  Scotch 
favourite,  Lord  Bute,  every  man  of  honour  and  integrity, 
who  was  valued  for  his  love  to  his  Country,  and  affection 
to  your  family  ;  you  implicitly  followed  the  advice  of  your 
Northern  minion,  and  in  their  room  took  those  only  who 
were  the  most  conspicuous  for  their  vices,  and  the  most 
abandoned  in  principle.  These  are  facts  which  Sandwich, 
Bute,  Grafton,  North,  &c,  will  confirm. 

These  men  you  still  continue  to  countenance  ;  every 
scene  of  iniquity  they  have  been  concerned  in,  and  every 
act  of  violence,  oppression,  and  murder  they  have  com- 
mitted, has  been  by  you  tacitly  approved,  nay,  applauded  ! 
Adultery,  debauchery,  and  divorces,  are  more  frequent  now 
than  in  the  corrupt  and  profligate  days  of  Charles  the 
Second ;  these,  Sir,  prove  incontestably  your  religious  princi- 
ples, and  show  how  far  you  have  suppressed  vice  and  im- 
morality. 

It  will  now  be  necessary  to  inquire  how  far  you  have 
encouraged  Trade  and  Commerce.  Was  it  by  illegally  im- 
posing a  stamp-duty  on  the  Americans,  and  taxing  those 
commodities  which  we  supplied  them  with  from  this  Coun- 
try, which  has  stopped,  for  near  six  years,  a  great  traffick 
between  this  Kingdom  and  the  Colonies  ?  Was  it  by 
suffering,  with  the  most  shameful  impunity,  the  Portuguese 
to  infringe  upon  the  privileges  of  the  English  Merchants 
at  Lisbon,  by  which  many  were  not  only  injured,  but  almost 
totally  ruined  ?  Was  it  by  blocking  up  the  Port  and  de- 
stroying the  trade  of  the  Town  of  Boston,  thereby  redu- 
cing to  a  state  of  miserable  dependance 'more  than  thirty 
thousand  people,  and  giving  a  vital  stab  to  the  whole  Com- 
merce of  America  1 

We  will  now  examine,  Sir,  how  far  you  have  preserved 
peace  and  harmony  among  your  people.  Was  it  by  provi- 
ding for  all  the  beggarly  relations,  and  miserable  depend- 
ants of  your  Scotch  minion,  in  preference  to  your  English 
subjects,  especially  those  who  were  the  chief  instruments 
of  placing  your  family  upon  the  Throne  ?  Was  it  by  order- 
ing the  late  Lord  Halifax  to  issue  an  illegal  warrant  for 
apprehending  Mr.  Wilkes  1  Was  it  by  rewarding  that  de- 
linquent after  he  had  been  found  guilty  of  a  breach  of  the 
English  Laws?  Was  it  by  screening  your  Minister  behind 
the  Throne,  who  violated  the  rights  of  the  Freeholders  of 
England!  Was  it  by  rejecting  the  Petitions  of  your  injur- 
ed subjects,  and  laughing  at  the  remonstrance  presented  to 
you  from  the  first  City  in  the  world,  the  great  capital  of 
the  British  Empire  ?  Was  it  by  not  granting  the  suppli- 
cations of  your  people,  and  meanly  referring  those  Peti- 
tions and  Remonstrances  to  the  consideration  of  those  very 
men,  whose  conduct  they  arraigned,  and  who  were  only 
the  slavish  tools  of  your  abandoned  Ministers  ?  Was  it  by 
sending  Troops  to  Boston,  depriving  people  of  their  Con- 
stitutional rights  ;  and,  contrary  to  all  the  Laws  of  this  free 
Country,  enforcing  the  tyrannical  and  oppressive  Acts  of 
your  abandoned  Parliament  with  the  sword,  and  laying 
America  under  a  Military  Government  ?  Was  it  by  re- 
warding the  profligate,  the  corrupt,  and  the  plunderers  of 
their  Country,  with  titles  and  honours  ?  Was  it  by  a  tame 
dastardly  submission  to  the  insults  of  the  Spaniards,  and 
a  sacrifice  of  the  honour  of  the  British  Nation  ?  These, 
Sir,  are  the  means  you  have  made  use  of  for  preserving 
peace  and  harmony  among  your  people.  But,  Sir,  the 
greatest  piece  of  ministerial  villany,  and  diabolical  cruelty 
is  still  behind — it  is  now  going  through  the  House  of  Lords, 
and  you,  Sir,  will  soon  be  called  upon  to  sign  it  :  it  is  a  Bill 
for  restraining  the  American  Fishery,  and  starving  to  death, 
or  driving  to  a  state  of  desperation,  more  than  three  hundred 
thousand  people.  Consider,  Sir,  the  fatal  tendency  of  this 
Bill;  determine  no  longer  to  be  the  dupe  of  an  abandoned 
set  of  men ;  act  from  yourself,  and  refuse  to  sign  an  Act  of 
Parliament  which  must  involve  one  part  of  the  Empire  in 
a  civil  war,  and  reduce  thousands  of  your  subjects  to 
poverty  and  want.  Let  no  consideration  prevail  with  you 
to  execute  a  deed,  at  the  idea  of  which  humanity  revolts. 
Consider,  Sir,  how  much  this  will  raise  the  indignation  of 
your  people  here,  when  they  find  you  are  destitute  of  the 
common  feelings  of  humanity,  and  that  you  can  be  so 
easily  prevailed  upon  to  sacrifice  your  subjects  to  the  cruel 
designs  of  jTour  Ministers  and  favourites.     Give  some 


75 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  he,  MARCH,  1715. 


76 


proof  of  a  determined  resolution  no  longer  to  pursue  mea- 
sures which  must  end  in  the  destruction  of  your  Kingdom, 
and  perhaps  in  the  ruin  of  your  family. 

Consider,  Sir,  how  despicable  you  appear  in  the  eyes  of 
the  world  ;  who,  instead  of  governing,  suffer  yourself  to  be 
governed  ;  who,  instead  of  being  a  leader,  are  led  ;  who, 
instead  of  being  a  King,  are  nothing  but  a  mere  cypher  of 
State,  while  your  favourite  and  Ministers  wear  all  the  ap- 
pendages to  sovereignty. 

It  has  long  surprised  the  Kingdom  to  think  how  you 
could  bear  such  wretches  to  prey  upon  you  ;  to  think  how 
you  could  suffer  them  to  aggrandize  themselves  and  crea- 
tures ;  to  possess  the  greatest  wealth,  and  to  hold  the  first 
offices  in  the  Kingdom  ;  and  all  this  by  imposing  upon  you, 
by  making  you  break  your  coronation-oath,  by  making 
you  violate  every  promise  you  made  with  your  people,  and 
by  filling  your  ears  with  lies,  instead  of  truth.  How  is  it 
possible  you  can  bear  such  usage,  which  no  sensible  man 
in  a  private  capacity  can  bear?  and  to  be  the  dupe  of  the 
vilest  of  the  creation,  is  so  much  beneath  the  dignity  of  a 
man  who  pretends  to  govern,  that  it  is  astonishing  such 
fiends  should  prevail  as  they  do.  Indeed  they  never  could, 
unless  you,  Sir,  like  them,  was  inclined  to  establish  an  arbi- 
trary system  of  Government,  and  to  set  up  your  own  will 
in  opposition  to  the  laws  of  the  land. 

Let  me  advise  you,  Sir,  as  you  regard  your  own  pros- 
perity and  the  welfare  of  your  Kingdom  ;  let  me  conjure 
you,  as  you  value  your  own  safety,  to  consider  well  the 
fatal  and  ruinous  measures  your  Ministers  are  pursuing,  and 
you  sanctifying  with  the  Royal  authority  ;  consider  the 
miserable,  the  unfortunate  situation  of  this  Country;  think 
on  the  dangers  which  threaten  on  every  side ;  consider  we 
are  now  upon  the  eve  of  a  Civil  W ar  with  our  Colonies  ; 
from  the  present  face  of  things,  it  is  inevitable ;  Trade  and 
Commerce  is  at  a  stand,  and  all  the  horrours  of  wretched- 
ness and  want  stare  them  in  the  face.  Consider,  Sir,  the 
feelings  of  men,  reduced  in  the  short  space  of  a  few  days, 
through  wanton  acts  of  power,  from  a  state  of  ease  and 
plenty  to  that  of  misery  and  famine.  I  ask,  is  it  possible 
for  them  to  set  bounds  to  their  resentment?  Consider, 
Sir,  the  French  and  Spaniards  will  not  long  remain  idle 
spectators,  when  once  they  see  us  deeply  engaged  in  a 
war  with  the  Colonies.  Throw  off  then  your  supine  in- 
dolence;  awake  from  your  lethargick  state;  and  if  you  will 
not  be  excited  by  the  desire  of  doing  good,  awake  at  least 
to  a  sense  of  your  own  danger ;  think  when  the  general 
calamity  comes  on,  who  will  be  the  objects  of  publick 
hatred.  Will  not  the  advisers  of  these  destructive  mea- 
sures be  the  first  sacrifices  to  the  popular  resentment  ? 
When  the  Merchants,  Traders,  and  Manufacturers  are 
starving,  when  the  whole  body  of  the  people  are  in  misery 
and  distress,  what  security,  Sir,  can  you  expect  to  find  ? 
Where  will  your  Ministers  conceal  themselves?  They 
will  not  be  safe  even  within  the  walls  of  your  Palace! 

Let  these  things,  Sir,  be  well  weighed,  and  no  longer 
persuade  yourself  the  people  were  made  for  you,  and  not 
you  for  them  ;  no  longer  believe  that  you  do  not  govern 
for  them  but  for  yourself;  that  the  people  live  only  to  in- 
crease your  glory,  or  to  furnish  matter  for  pleasure.  For 
once,  Sir,  consider  what  you  may  do  for  them,  and  not 
what  you  may  draw  from  them. 

The  people,  Sir,  think  it  to  be  a  crime  of  the  first  mag- 
nitude to  convert  that  power  to  their  hurt  which  was  in- 
tended for  their  good  ;  and  to  obey  a  King  while  he  acts 
in  this  manner,  and  tramples  under  foot  all  laws,  divine 
and  human,  argues  not  only  a  want  of  sense  in  the  highest 
degree,  but  a  want  of  love  for  our  Country,  and  a  disregard 
for  ourselves  and  posterity. 

Your  subjects,  Sir,  are  under  no  obligations  to  you,  nor 
do  they  owe  you  any  allegiance  any  longer  than  you  con- 
tinue to  protect  them,  and  make  their  good  the  chief  end 
of  your  Government.  When  a  Prince  assumes  to  himself 
an  extravagant  or  an  unlawful  power,  then  all  respect 
ceases,  and  he  ceases  to  be  a  King;  whilst  he  protects  and 
preserves  his  people  in  their  just  rights,  and  governs  them 
by  the  laws  of  the  land,  all  good  men  will  love  and  esteem 
him,  and  risk  their  lives  and  fortunes  in  his  service ;  but 
when  he  begins  to  invade  their  liberties,  to  set  up  an  arbi- 
trary power,  to  impose  unlawful  taxes,  raise  forces,  and 
make  war  upon  his  people,  and  suffer  foreign  States  to 
insult  and  injure  them,  then  all  virtuous  and  good  men  will 


detest  and  abhor  him,  and  endeavour  to  remove  him  from 
a  throne  he  unworthily  fills. 

In  such  cases  resistance  is  a  virtue  ;  and  to  say  that  some 
should  passively  suffer,  lest,  by  resisting,  they  should  cause 
the  ruin  of  many,  is  not  a  just  reason  ;  because,  in  all  pro- 
bability, they  will  be  the  cause  that  millions  unborn  shall 
live  happy  and  free ;  and  what  can  be  a  more  noble,  glori- 
ous, and  pious  motive  for  suffering,  than  to  transmit  liberty 
to  posterity  ?  For  this  our  fathers  bravely  fought — and 
many  of  them  gloriously  fell — to  preserve  themselves  and 
their  descendants  free,  and  to  destroy  the  tyranny  and  des- 
potism of  the  Siuarts,  and,  Sir,  (let  me  beg  you  will  re- 
member with  gratitude,)  to  place  your  family  upon  the 
throne  of  the  British  Empire. 

The  author  of  this  paper  is  far  from  advising  violent 
measures  upon  every  errour  or  misconduct  of  a  Prince ; 
but  resistance  becomes  a  duty  when  they  attempt  the  ruin 
of  the  State,  the  subversion  of  liberty,  or  overturning  the 
Constitution  of  the  Kingdom.  It  is  notorious  to  the  world, 
Sir,  that  your  Ministers  are  guilty  of  all  these  black  and 
deadly  crimes,  and  yet  you  screen  and  protect  them.  The 
conclusions  to  be  drawn  from  thence  are  obvious,  and  you, 
like  Charles,  may  live  to  see  your  favourites  fall. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  CHARLESTOWN,  IN  SOUTH- 
CAROLINA,  TO  A  GENTLEMAN  IN  LONDON,  DATED 
MARCH  7,  1775. 

I  do  assure  you  I  am  not  now  near  so  strenuous  for 
America  as  when  1  left  London.  1  am  far,  however,  from 
being  able  to  judge  of  the  state  of  the  Continent,  in  gene- 
ral; but  sure  I  am  this  Province  cannot  long  subsist  with- 
out a  free  Trade,  and  a  mutual  dependance  on  the  Mother 
Country.  Many  articles  which  Great  Britain  furnishes 
are  now  become  very  scarce ;  Rice  and  Indigo,  the  grand 
staple  of  our  Commerce,  are  a  drug. 

Before  the  Non-Exportation  scheme  took  effect,  you 
would  have  been  surprised  to  see  the  number  of  Ships  in 
our  harbour,  and  the  Trade  carried  on  in  the  Town ;  in 
short,  on  my  arrival  I  observed  as  much  hurry  and  bustle 
as  in  the  streets  of  London ;  and  1  could  not  but  admire 
the  liveliness  of  the  people.  But  the  contrast  is  now  visible  ; 
their  tempers  are  soured  ;  their  fortunes,  for  want  of  Trade, 
consuming  fast.  A  train  of  consequences  must  inevitably 
ensue  which,  in  my  opinion,  they  will  not  be  able  to  re- 
trieve in  the  space  of  a  dozen  years.  It  is  the  wish,  there- 
fore, of  the  wise  and  sober,  that  a  speedy  reconciliation 
with  the  Mother  Country  may  be  effected ;  but  as  this  Prov- 
ince has  bore  so  high  a  part  in  their  opposition  to  Gov- 
ernment, they  are  unwilling  to  give  out  till  the  terms 
offered  become  general. 

PRINCESS  ANNE  COUNTY  (VIRGINIA)  COMMITTEE. 

Committee  Chamber,  Kempe's  Landing,  March  7,  1775. 

The  conduct  of  Mr.  John  Saunders  being  taken  into 
consideration,  relative  to  the  Provincial  and  Continental 
Associations,  at  this  important  crisis,  when  the  liberties  of 
America  are  in  danger  of  being  subverted,  it  was  thought 
expedient  that  he  be  held  up  to  publick  censure,  and  the 
rather  because  he  hath  had  the  advantage  of  a  liberal  edu- 
cation, and  for  some  time  past  hath  studied  the  law. 

The  facts  upon  which  our  censure  is  grounded  are  as 
follows  :  The  said  John  Saunders  was  present  at  the  meet- 
ing of  a  respectable  body  of  Freeholders  of  the  County, 
at  the  Court-House,  in  July,  1774,  for  the  purpose  of 
choosing  Deputies  to  attend  the  Convention  in  f'Villiams- 
burg,  the  first  day  of  August  last,  and  of  entering  into 
resolutions  expressive  of  the  sentiments  of  the  County,  in 
support  of  their  just  rights  and  privileges  ;  which  not  one 
refused  signing  but  said  Saunders,  who  obstinately  refused, 
though  particularly  solicited  by  some  of  the  principal  gen- 
tlemen then  present. 

When  the  Provincial  Association,  entered  into  in  August, 
1114,  was  read,  and  offered  to  the  people  that  they  might 
express  their  approbation  by  signing  it,  at  a  meeting  of 
the  Freeholders,  on  Tuesday,  the  16th  day  of  the  said 
month,  and  afterwards  at  almost  every  publick  meeting 
within  this  County,  at  many  of  which  the  said  Saunders 
appeared,  yet  he  constantly  persisted  in  his  refusal  to 
accede  thereto. 

When  the  Continental  Association  was  also  offered  him 


77 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  inc.,  MARCH,  1775. 


78 


to  sign,  he  likewise  refused,  alleging  that  the  way  of  pro- 
ceeding was  illegal  ;  of  which  the  Committee  for  the 
County  being  informed,  they,  at  a  meeting  held  the  5th 
day  of  January,  1775.  considering  that  the  said  Saunders 
was  a  young  man,  and  might  be  better  advised,  appointed 
a  Sub-Committee  to  wait  on  the  said  Saunders,  who, 
agreeable  thereto,  waited  on  him  at  his  own  house,  expos- 
tulated with  him  on  his  conduct,  and  desired  him  to  retract 
these  words,  viz :  "  that  the  way  of  proceeding  was  ille- 
gal," which  he  spoke  to  Mr.  Lemuel  Thorowgood,  who 
was  appointed  by  the  Committee  to  offer  the  said  Asso- 
ciation ;  upon  which  he  replied,  "  that  he  did  not  intend 
such  a  return  should  have  been  made  by  Mr.  Thorowgood  f 
and  being  asked  whether  those  words  were  inadvertently 
uttered,  he  answered,  "  they  were  not."  Mr.  Saunders 
likewise  acquainted  them  that  he  told  Mr.  Thorowgood , 
"  it  was  his  opinion  he  had  no  right  to  call  upon  him." 
They  then  desired  him  to  give  his  reasons  for  not  signing 
the  Association  :  to  which  he  answered,  "  if  they  had  come 
as  private  gentlemen,  he  would  have  given  them  his  rea- 
sons, but  as  they  came  in  the  capacity  they  did,  he  chose 
not  to  do  so."  A  few  days  after  being  greatly  pressed  by 
Mr.  Hunter,  one  of  his  most  intimate  acquaintances,  he 
signed  it ;  but,  behold  !  at  the  end  of  his  name  he  added 
the  negative  no,  with  a  capital  N  !  The  Committee  being- 
informed  of  this  additional  mark  of  contempt,  they  then 
appointed  a  Sub-Committee,  to  summon  the  said  Sounders 
to  appear  this  day  before  them,  who  failed  so  to  do. 

On  the  same  day,  the  Committee  having  maturely  deli- 
berated on  the  behaviour  of  one  Benjamin  Dingly  Gray, 
concluded  that  his  conduct  ought  to  be  inserted  in  the 
Gazette,  and  exposed  to  publick  animadversion,  of  which 
the  following  is  an  exact  detail : 

On  the  5th  day  of  January  last,  in  Committee,  it  was 
resohed  that  a  list  of  the  Non-Associators  in  this  County, 
of  whom  the  said  Benjamin  Dingly  Gray  was  one,  be 
entered  in  the  Minute-Book,  and  a  true  copy  thereof  deli- 
vered to  each  Merchant  residing  in  this  County,  and  other 
copies  fixed  up  at  several  publick  places,  and  likewise  in 
Norfolk  County  and  Borough ;  and  further,  it  was  recom- 
mended to  all  persons  not  to  have  any  dealings,  or  com- 
mercial intercourse  with  the  said  Non-Associators.  The 
said  Gray  being  apprized  of  this,  and  hearing  that  a  list  of 
the  Non-Associators  in  this  County  was  fixed  up  at  the 
Market-House  in  Norfolk  Borough,  and  that  he  was  in- 
cluded in  the  said  list,  uttered  the  following  disrespectful, 
scurrilous,  and  abusive  words,  to  wit:  "  That  he  looked 
upon  this  Committe  as  a  pack  of  damn'd  rascals,  for  adver- 
tising him  in  the  manner  they  had  done,  and  that  they 
ought  to  have  advertised  him  in  the  publick  papers,  alleg- 
ing in  that  case  he  would  have  had  an  opportunity  of  vin- 
dicating himself."  The  Committee  being  informed  of  the 
invectives  thrown  out,  did,  on  Thursday,  the  2d  day  of 
March,  appoint  three  of  their  body  to  summon  him  to  ap- 
pear before  them  this  day,  who,  when  summoned,  declared 
it  was  uncertain  whether  he  could  attend  or  not,  being  at 
that  time  indisposed,  but  added,  that  his  sentiments  were 
still  the  same  with  regard  to  this  Committee. 

Also,  on  the  same  day,  the  Committee  being  acquainted 
that  Captain  Mitchell  Phillips  had  refused  to  appear  before 
them,  agreeable  to  an  order  made  last  meeting,  that  he 
might  give  his  reasons  for  his  late  very  extraordinary  beha- 
viour touching  the  Association,  it  was  thought  proper  that 
such  his  behaviour  should  be  made  publick.  The  said 
Mitchell  Phillips  being  always  averse  to  the  measures 
adopted  by  the  Americans  to  preserve  their  just  rights  and 
privileges  inviolate,  and  being  Captain  of  a  Company  of 
Militia,  over  whom  he  has  great  influence,  has  exerted 
every  effort  to  deter  the  men  under  his  command  from 
acceding  to  the  Association,  and  represented  all  the  Ame- 
rican proceedings  in  the  light  of  absolute  rebellion,  which, 
it  is  feared,  may  have  a  bad  tendency. 

And  thereupon  the  Committee  came  to  the  following 
Resolve,  to  wit :  That  the  aforesaid  John  Saunders,  Benja- 
min Dingly  Gray,  and  Mitchell  Phillips,  be  looked  upon 
as  inimical  to  the  liberties  of  this  Country,  and  the  means 
entered  into  by  the  American  Continental  Congress  for 
the  restoration  of  them,  and  that  no  person  ought  to  have 
any  commercial  intercourse  or  dealing  with  them. 
By  order  of  the  Committee, 

Thomas  Abbott,  Clerk. 


ACCOUNT  OF  AN  OUTRAGE  COMMITTED  BY  CAPT.  GRAVES. 

Philadelphia,  March  15,  1775. 
On  the  7th  instant,  as  George  Taylor,  of  Wilmington, 
in  his  own  Shallop,  was  on  his  passage  from  thence  to  this 
City,  he  was  boarded  by  a  party  of  ruffians  from  the  King's 
armed  Schooner  the  Diana,  commanded  by  Captain 
Graves,  (nephew  to  Admiral  Graves,  now  at  Boston,)  who 
brought  Taylor  to,  and  on  boarding  him,  demanded  what 
he  had  on  board  ;  to  which  he  answered,  only  Rum  and 
Limes  ;  but  civilly  told  them  they  might  go  down  and  look. 
They  then  demanded  his  papers,  which  were  pronounced 
authentick  ;  but  this  not  satisfying  them,  they  entered  the 
cabin,  wherein  was  several  Hundred  Pounds  cash,  which 
Taylor,  no  doubt  justly  thinking  proper  to  have  his  eye 
toward,  went  after  them  to  the  cabin  door,  without  going 
down  ;  whereupon  he  was  immediately  menaced  and  insult- 
ed, as  suspecting  the  honour  of  the  King's  men ;  and  al- 
though he  made  no  other  than  a  moderate  civil  reply,  as 
several  passengers  on  board  can  testify,  he  was  immediate- 
ly furiously  attacked  and  knocked  down,  where  he  was 
beaten  in  a  most  inhuman  manner  till  the  deck  was  be- 
smeared with  blood,  and  at  the  same  time  shamefully  in- 
sulted with  the  infernal  language  common  to  such  crews, 
(and  which,  but  for  offending  the  civilized  ear,  might  be 
repeated.)  They  then  threatened  to  throw  him  overboard 
and  drown  him,  took  the  command  of  his  boat,  and  after 
gratifying  their  malice  by  towing  her  about  in  the  river, 
took  her  along-side  the  Schooner,  where  the  illustrious 
Captain  detained  her  a  considerable  time,  insulting  and 
abusing  the  Skipper,  and  justifying  and  applauding  the 
conduct  of  his  heroick  men,  who  bad  thus  brought  him  a 
common  Shallop,  with  two  or  three  men  on  board,  without 
the  least  appearance  of  clandestine  conduct.  After  the 
gallant  Captain,  with  his  crew,  had  somewhat  glutted  their 
rancour,  they  dismissed  the  Shallop ;  but  Taylor  was  so 
wounded  and  abused,  that  he  was  not  able  to  conduct  her ; 
yet,  by  the  assistance  of  those  on  board,  she  was  got  up  to 
this  City,  and  he  afterwards  conveyed  home  to  Wilming- 
ton, where  he  lay  dangerously  ill. 


TO  THE  PRINTERS  OF  THE  PENNSYLVANIA  GAZETTE. 

Gentlemen:  Seeing  in  your  Paper  of  Wednesday, 
March  15th,  a  most  scandalous,  false,  and  base  represen- 
tation of  the  conduct  of  a  gentleman  and  boat's  crew  be- 
longing to  the  King's  armed  Schooner  Diana,  I  must,  as  a 
lover  of  truth,  and  being  privy  to  the  whole  matter  respect- 
ing George  Taylor,  of  Wilmington,  beg  leave  to  assure  the 
publick,  that  he  was  not  struck,  or  in  any  manner  molest- 
ed, (though  he  used  many  provoking  speeches,)  till  he 
took  hold  of  the  gentleman  on  duty  by  the  collar,  who 
then  struck  Taylor  one  blow,  the  matter  there  ending,  as 
Taylor  did  not  return  it ;  neither  was  he  taken  along-side 
the  Schooner,  having  produced  the  proper  papers. 

Dashwood  Bacon. 

We,  whose  names  are  here  under  mentioned,  from  our 
personal  knowledge  of  Mr.  Bacon,  as  a  gentleman  and 
man  of  honour,  are  convinced  he  would  not  sign  to  any 
thing  that  was  not  strictly  true.  And  we  do  further  aver, 
on  our  honour,  that  the  Shallop  was  not  brought  along- 
side, or  detained  longer  than  is  usual  in  examining  vessels. 

John  Dowson,  Master. 

John  Birthwhistle,  Surgeon. 


to  the  publick. 
You  have,  no  doubt,  generally  seen  an  attempt  made,  in 
a  late  number  of  the  Pennsylvania  Packet,  by  Dashwood 
Bacon  and  others,  (probably  confederates,)  in  order  to  excul- 
pate the  perpetrators  of  the  atrocious  fact  committed  upon 
the  body  of  George  Taylor,  in  his  own  vessel,  in  the  Kinff's- 
Road,  by  some  of  the  Diana's  crew,  under  the  command 
of  Captain  Graves.  That  they  should  attempt  to  clear 
themselves  in  the  manner  they  have,  is  not  much  to  be 
admired,  since  it  commonly  happens  that  the  most  daring 
murderers  plead  "not  guilty;"  but  when  those  who  are 
called  men,  are  grown  so  callous  as  to  be  insensible  of  the 
compunctions  of  conscience,  and  hardened  as  to  deny  the 
voice  of  truth,  even  in  the  face  of  the  sun,  it  then  becomes 
necessary  more  methodically  to  arraign  them,  and  investi- 
gate their  conduct  before  the  tribunal  of  the  people,  that 


79 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775. 


80 


so,  if  possible,  they  may  be  subjected  to  the  punishment 
and  contempt  which  they  justly  deserve  ;  for  which  pur- 
pose the  following  Depositions,  relative  to  the  aforesaid 
abuse,  are  here  presented  to  the  world,  viz : 

IVihnington  Borough,  ss. 

Personally  appeared  before  me,  John  McKinley,  Esq., 
Chief  Burgess  of  said  Borough,  Nathan  Wood,  who, 
being  solemnly  affirmed,  doth  declare  and  say,  that  he 
was  lately  a  passenger  on  board  George  Taylor's  Shal- 
lop, at  the  time  when,  on  her  passage  from  this  Borough 
to  Philadelphia,  she  was  brought  to  by  a  party  belonging 
to  the  King's  armed  Schooner  Diana,  Captain  Graces 
commander ;  that  on  coming  on  board  the  Shallop,  an 
Officer  asked  what  was  on  board,  and  being  answered  by 
Taj/lor,  only  Rum  and  Limes,  and  the  Officer  demanding 
proper  papers,  Taylor  immediately  produced  them.  The 
hatch  was  then  opened,  and  the  hogsheads  counted  and 
compared,  which  agreeing  with  the  papers,  the  Officer 
a*ked  further,  whether  Taylor  had  not  something  more  on 
board,  or  in  the  cabin,  and  in  a  very  scoffing  manner  in- 
quired whether  he  had  not  some  Teas  ;  Taylor  replied,  he 
was  welcome  to  go  into  the  cabin  and  see  himself,  assur- 
ing him  at  the  same  time  that  nothing  was  on  board  besides 
the  Rum  and  Limes.  Then  the  Officer  and  two  Sailors 
went  into  the  cabin  and  stayed  some  time,  on  which  Taylor 
went  to  the  cabin  door  and  looked  in  ;  the  Officer  asked 
what  he  wanted  ;  Taylor  replied,  I  did  not  know  there 
was  any  body  in  the  cabin  but  you.  The  Officer  then  got 
into  a  violent  rage,  cursing  and  swearing  in  the  most  dread- 
ful manner,  and  coming  upon  deck  used  many  horrid  im- 
precations and  threats  against  Taylor,  that  he  would  kick 
him  overboard,  &lc,  for  suspecting  the  King's  men,  and 
still  vaunting  that  he  was  a  King's  Officer,  at  the  same  lime 
striking  and  wounding  Taylor,  so  that  the  deck  was  prodi- 
giously besmeared  with  his  blood.  And  this  affirmant  far- 
ther saith,  that  Taylor  gave  not  the  least  provocation,  but, 
on  the  contrary,  both  in  his  words  and  behaviour,  showed 
the  greatest  respect  and  submission,  and  never  resisted  or 
attempted  to  touch  the  Officer.  The  Shallop  coming 
abreast  the  Schooner,  the  Officer  told  Captain  Graves, 
who  was  walking  on  the  quarter-deck  of  the  Schooner, 
that  "this  fellow  has  Limes  and  Rum  on  board;"  where- 
upon the  Captain  immediately  got  into  the  boat  with 
several  sailors,  came  on  board  the  Shallop,  and,  without 
any  examination,  highly  approved  of  the  conduct  of  the 
Officer  in  beating  Taylor,  (who,  at  that  time,  was  leaning 
bleeding  violently  in  the  cockpit,)  and  said  that  if  he  had 
been  on  board  he  would  have  given  him  twice  as  much, 
and  threatened  to  kick  his  teeth  down  his  throat,  and  to 
take  him  on  board  the  Schooner,  and  there  to  tie  him  up 
and  whip  him.  The  Captain  then  ordered  four  men  into 
the  boat  to  tow  the  Shallop  along-side  the  Schooner,  which 
had  then  drifted  a  small  distance  astern,  but  finding  they 
could  not  tow  her  against  the  wind  and  tide,  the  anchor 
was  ordered  out :  and  the  Captain  asking  for  the  papers, 
they  were  handed  to  him,  and  he  having  examined  and 
found  them  authentick,  ordered  Taylor  to  go  about  his 
business,  after  having  been  detained  nearly  an  hour  and  a 
half.    And  further  this  affirmant  saith  not. 

Nathan  Wood. 
Affirmed  this  1st  day  of  April,  1775,  before 

John  McKinley. 

Likewise,  William  Carter,  Mary  Johnston,  and  Daniel 
Nicholson,  being  solemnly  sworn  on  the  Holy  Evangelists 
of  Almighty  God,  do  severally  depose  and  say,  that  they, 
respectively,  were  on  board  George  Taylor's  Shallop  at 
the  time  afore-mentioned,  and  were  particularly  attentive 
to  the  transactions  afore-related,  and  that  what  Nathan 
Wood,  the  above  affirmant,  hath  declared  in  his  examina- 
tion, is  just  and  true,  and  particularly  that  George  Taylor 
gave  not  the  least  provocation,  but  on  the  contrary  behaved 
in  the  most  respectful  and  submissive  manner. 

William  Carter, 
Mary  Johnston, 
Daniel  Nicholson. 
Sworn  this  1st  day  of  April,  1775,  before 

John  McKinley. 

Now  if  conduct  of  this  kind  is  permitted  with  impunity, 
let  us  no  longer  exclaim  against  the  piratical  States  ofBarba- 


ry  for  committing  outrages  upon  the  subjects  of  George  the 
Third,  since  we  see  British  barbarians,  subjects  of  George 
the  Third,  under  his  commission,  sanction,  and  authori- 
ty, commit  such  audacious  outrages  upon  the  persons  and 
property  of  his  subjects.  From  what  hath  been  heretofore 
offered  against  the  present  cause  of  complaint,  some  may 
perhaps  have  been  ready  to  treat  it  as  a  fiction  ;  but  since 
the  matter  is  here  so  amply  confirmed,  may  we  not  with 
confidence  look  to  the  King,  and  call  aloud  upon  him,  or 
those  who  represent  him  in  cases  of  this  nature,  strictly  to 
examine  into  this  conduct  of  his  servants,  so  that  justice, 
which  is  the  boasted  glory  of  the  English  Nation,  may 
take  place,  and  that  they  may  thereby,  in  some  measure, 
redeem  the  honour  and  dignity  of  the  Crown  from  the  ob- 
loquy and  contempt  to  which  such  conduct  has  too  justly 
subjected  it. 

TO  THE  PRINTERS  OF  THE  PENNSYLVANIA  GAZETTE. 

Philadelphia,  March  8,  1775. 
Respected  Friends:  Observing  that,  in  your  Paper  of 
the  week  before  last,  you  published  a  piece  styled  "  The 
Testimony  of  the  Representatives  of  the  people  called 
Quakers,"  signed  James  Pemberton,  but  as  there  was  a 
piece  published  in  Bradford's  Journal,  signed  B.  L., 
which,  as  it  is  esteemed  necessary  towards  elucidating 
several  expressions  not  properly  comprehended  by  those 
who  are  unacquainted  with  Friends'  writings,  I  therefore 
hope,  as  you  have  favoured  the  publick  with  one,  you'll 
do  them  the  justice  to  publish  the  other. 

Amicus  Veritatis. 

To  the  Printers  of  the  Pennsylvania  Journal  : 

It  is  a  duty  incumbent  on  societies  or  individuals,  to  vin- 
dicate or  explain  any  publick  transaction  which  excites 
general  disgust  or  uneasiness,  be  the  ground  ever  so  slight. 
I  have  therefore  preferred  your  Paper,  as  being  more  gene- 
rally read  by  those  calling  themselves  the  Sons  of  Liberty, 
in  order  to  remove  those  suspicions  and  misapprehensions 
which  a  late  publication,  as  from  the  Society  of  Friends,  I 
find  has  produced.  Those  who  suppose  this  Testimony  to 
be  pointed  against  the  measures  thought  necessary  for  the 
publick  interest,  have  not  attended  to  its  language,  or  the 
conduct  of  that  Society,  since  our  unhappy  dispute  with  the 
Mother  Country  commenced.  A  due  regard  to  these  will 
shew,  that  it  is  intended  to  preserve  the  general  cause  from 
being  sullied  by  the  violence  or  caprice  of  rash  and  turbu- 
lent minds.  The  Society  hath  ever  been  distinguished  for 
its  loyalty  to  the  King,  and  obedience  to  his  Government. 
This  is  therefore  recommended  in  the  strongest  terms,  but 
by  no  means  implies  a  loyalty  to  Parliament,  or  a  Govern- 
ment of  fellow-subjects  over  fellow-subjects,  the  improprie- 
ty and  injustice  of  which  must  be  obvious  to  the  meanest 
capacity.  A  due  submission  to  the  King  and  his  Govern- 
ment most  evidently  means  such  a  Government  as  an  Eng- 
lish King  rightfully  has  over  English  subjects ;  a  Govern- 
ment bounded  and  limited  by  law,  and  founded  upon  the 
two  great  principles  of  the  English  Constitution,  which  en- 
title the  governed  to  dispose  of  their  own  property,  and  to 
partake  in  legislation.  This  is  the  Government  for  which 
America  is  contending,  in  which  our  duty  to  our  King  and 
our  own  rights  are  so  happily  blended. 

A  due  caution  is  also  given  against  riots,  routs,  illegal 
combinations,  and  assemblies,  which,  by  a  strange  and 
forced  inference  of  some  weak  or  prejudiced  minds,  has 
been  supposed  to  allude  to  the  Congress,  Committees,  &tc, 
bodies  to  which  such  terms  are  by  no  means  applicable, 
and  which  are  certainly  not  meant  in  the  publication  in 
question,  for  the  following  plain  reasons: — 

First.  The  peaceable  meeting  of  persons,  and  discussion 
of  publick  affairs,  let  it  be  called  by  what  name  it  will,  is 
so  far  from  being  condemned  by  any  law,  that  it  is  the  best 
security  of  our  happy  Constitution  that  it  is  lawful. 

Secondly.  It  cannot  be  supposed  that  any  English  sub- 
ject, possessing  the  smallest  portion  of  virtue  and  knowledge 
in  the  English  Constitution,  would,  by  such  an  imputation, 
condemn  the  three  noblest  assemblies  who  dignify  the 
page  of  that  history  :  The  Barons  who  obtained  Magna 
Charta  from  King  John;  the  Assembly  which  restored 
Charles  the  Second  and  Monarchy  ;  and  the  Convention  at 
the  Revolution,  which  placed  King  William  on  the  Throne, 


81 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775. 


82 


and  opened  the  way  for  the  accession  of  the  present  Royal 
family.  These  were  all  Congresses,  formed  on  the  same 
principles  and  the  same  necessities  as  the  late  American 
Congress. 

Thirdly.  The  supposition  would  condemn  the  very 
meeting  whose  publication  we  are  considering.  It  is  called 
a  meeting  of  Representatives  from  New-Jersey  and  Penn- 
sylvania. By  what  authority  did  these  Representatives 
meet  ?  The  discussion  of  political  questions  is  no  part  of 
the  discipline  or  system  of  a  Religious  Society,  nor  com- 
prised within  the  jurisdiction  of  any  meeting  among  Friends, 
which  only  affect  religious  concerns,  or  the  economical  af- 
fairs of  the  Society.  An  extraordinary  occasion  produced 
an  extraordinary  meeting,  but  not  an  illegal  one ;  because 
there  is  no  law  which  prohibits  the  King's  subjects  from 
meeting  to  discuss  any  political  questions.  In  this  case  it 
was  a  laudable  one,  as  its  intention  must  have  been  to  make 
a  timely  provision  against  those  irregularities  and  tumults 
which  publick  commotions  often  create. 

Fourthly.  That  the  present  Congresses  and  Committees 
were  not  meant,  appears  from  the  conduct  of  the  worthy 
Friend  whose  name  is  to  the  publication,  who  has  been 
present  in  such  Assemblies,  and  took  an  active  part  in  the 
choice  of  the  Committee  last  summer ;  measures  which 
could  not  have  had  his  concurrence,  if  included  under  any 
of  the  descriptions  of  a  riot,  rout,  illegal  combination,  or 
assembly.  I  might  add,  that  several  respectable  members 
of  this  Society  have  not  only  served  on  former  Commit- 
tees of  this  kind,  and  acquiesced  in  the  present  measures, 
but  have  returned  their  thanks  to  the  Committee  of  this 
City,  for  an  alteration  made  in  disposing  or  storing  their 
Goods  imported  under  the  Association  of  the  late  Con- 
gress— procedures  wholly  inconsistent  with  the  idea  of  its 
being  an  illegal  assembly. 

Upon  the  whole,  it  is  presumed  enough  has  been  offered 
to  show  that  this  Testimony  could  not  be  intended  to  cast 
any  disrespect  upon  the  cause  of  publick  liberty,  much  less 
to  create  division  or  discord.  Taken  in  its  true  and  proper 
light,  it  is  calculated  to  point  out  those  rocks  of  licentious- 
ness and  outrage,  which  often  lay  concealed  under  the 
smooth  surface  of  the  fairest  pretensions,  and  have  proved 
fatal  to  the  best  of  causes.  It  is,  indeed,  to  be  wished 
it  could  have  derived  more  respect  and  authority  from  the 
numbers  and  weight  of  the  representation.  But  the  inten- 
tion certainly  has  merit,  however  it  may  be  thought  to  fall 
short  in  the  execution.  B.  L. 


Philadelphia,  March  8,  1775. 

When  those  who  think  themselves  entitled  to  write  for 
the  publick  proceed  with  openness,  ingenuity,  and  candour, 
if  they  do  not  merit  the  publick  attention  and  approbation, 
they  certainly  deserve  their  indulgence.  But  when  any  man 
undertakes  to  give  the  publick  advice,  and  to  call  upon  them 
in  the  warmest  and  most  passionate  terms,  to  follow  his  direc- 
tions, every  degree  of  deceit,  hypocrisy,  or  unfair  proceed- 
ing, is  so  far  from  meriting  approbation,  that  the  man  who 
attempts  it  deserves  to  be  treated  with  the  utmost  indigna- 
tion, and  to  meet  with  the  fate  of  the  worst  of  villains. 

The  person  who  takes  an  active  part  in  any  controversy 
carried  on  in  the  publick  Papers,  and  desires  to  enter  the 
lists  as  a  champion  on  either  side,  should  be  possessed  of 
that  degree  of  candour  and  honesty  which  obliges  a  man 
to  enter  into  the  real  merits  of  the  cause,  and  to  give  a  full, 
fair,  and  impartial  state  of  the  controversy,  in  order  to  en- 
title him  to  a  place  in  any  Paper  of  reputation.  When  he 
has  done  this,  he  ought  to  have  full  liberty  to  use  every 
argument  with  which  reason  and  truth  could  supply  him  ; 
but  the  instant  he  attempted  to  impose  on  the  publick  by 
unfair  representations,  lies,  or  assertions  without  argument, 
he  should  be  packed  off"  to  the  common  receptacle  of  all 
such  materials. 

In  our  present  contest  with  Great  Britain,  the  question 
is,  Whether  the  Parliament  of  Great  Britain  has  a  right 
to  make  Statutes  which  shall  bind  us  in  all  cases  whatever? 
Now,  if  any  one,  without  ever  bringing  this  question  in 
view,  or  attempting  to  discuss  it,  will  undertake,  by  hard 
names,  to  frighten  us  into  a  submission,  I  think  he  wants 
that  candour  and  ingenuity  which  alone  can  entitle  him  to 
a  place  in  a  Paper  of  character,  and  his  manner  of  pro- 
ceeding gives  the  Printer  thereof  a  just  right  to  refuse  his 
lucubrations. 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii. 


I  believe  I  may  appeal  even  to  our  adversaries,  whether 
the  writers  in  favour  of  our  cause  have  not  always  begun 
by  stating  the  case,  as  far  as  they  intended  to  touch  upon  it, 
in  the  fairest  and  fullest  manner,  and  then  discussed  it  by 
arguments  drawn  from  the  nature  of  God  and  man,  and  the 
well-known  and  fundamental  principles  of  the  British  Con- 
stitution. Had  their  opponents  acted  with  equal  ingenuity, 
it  would  have  saved  much  trouble,  wholly  prevented  all 
that  heat  and  acrimony  which  has  appeared  at  one  time  or 
another,  and  saved  the  pains  of  replying  to  many  produc- 
tions against  which  nothing  but  the  fear  of  their  affecting 
weak  minds  could  ever  induce  any  friend  to  his  Country 
to  take  up  the  pen.  Of  this  kind  is  the  piece  signed 
Phileirene,  which  contains  nothing  but  bold  assertions, 
couched  in  strong  language,  and  most  of  them  notorious  false- 
hoods. Since  this  writer,  at  the  request  of  A  Friend  to  the 
Constitution,  has  been  indulged  with  a  republication  in 
a  reputable  and  extensively  circulating  Paper,  I  would 
beg  leave  to  select  a  few  of  his  assertions,  and  request  the 
Friend,  to  the  Constitution  to  support  them  by  the  facts  he 
refers  to. 

1.  "That  a  submission  to  the  laws  and  authority  of 
Great  Britain,  in  the  cases  we  complain  of,  would  alone 
make  us  a  free,  wealthy,  and  happy  people."  In  order  to 
make  this  assertion  good,  it  will  be  necessary  to  prove  that 
submission  to  laws  neither  made  by  ourselves,  nor  by  our 
Representatives,  and  to  be  taxed  by  men  who  have  no  in- 
terest in  our  affairs,  constitute  true  British  freedom ;  that 
taking  our  Money  from  us  without  our  consent  will  in- 
crease our  wealth ;  that  to  be  deprived  of  Trial  by  Jury 
will  enlarge  and  confirm  personal  security ;  that  our  hap- 
piness consists  in  submitting  to  become  the  slaves  of  the 
worst  sort  of  tyrants,  viz:  of  such,  that  every  alleviation 
of  their  own  misery  must  be  obtained  by  a  proportional 
increase  of  ours  ;  and  that  to  be  removed  for  trial  to  Great 
Britain  is  preferable  to  being  tried  by  a  Jury  of  the  vicin- 
ity. And  as  all  our  Assemblies,  from  the  one  end  of  the 
Continent  to  the  other,  have  petitioned  against  these  Laws 
as  infringements  of  their  rights  and  privileges,  it  may  not 
be  amiss  to  point  out  to  them  the  errour  of  their  proceed- 
ings, and  to  prove  that  they  are  not  intended  by  the  Con- 
stitution for  Legislators.  For,  if  the  British  Parliament 
has  a  right  to  bind  us  in  all  cases  whatever,  it  is  impossible 
for  them  to  have  the  same  right — the  one  right  necessarily 
destroying  the  other. 

2.  "That  we  are  arrived  to  such  a  pitch  of  infatuation, 
as  to  be  unwilling  to  confine  ourselves  within  the  bounds, 
or  to  submit  to  the  Laws  prescribed  by  the  Government 
to  which  we  are  subjects ;  that  our  conduct  has  justly 
merited  punishment  and  contempt,  and  must  inevitably 
sink  us  in  infamy  and  obscurity ;  that  our  wickedness  and 
folly  is  such,  that  we  set  about  a  reformation  of  a  Govern- 
ment already  the  envy  of  every  other  Nation,  and  are  de- 
termined to  accomplish  our  views,  or  perish  in  the  attempt ; 
and  that  not  the  united  misery  of  all  our  fellowmen,  nor  the 
destruction  of  the  peace  and  good  order  of  the  world,  will 
ever  deter  us  from  our  desperate  undertaking ;  but  that  rather 
than  fail  in  our  enterprise,  we  will  exult  to  introduce  anar- 
chy and  confusion  into  the  State,  and  glory  to  riot  upon  the 
miseries  of  mankind  in  private  life."  That  masterly  pen 
which  drew  a  finished  character  of  the  most  consummate 
villain  that  ever  breathed  on  the  earth,  fell  greatly  short  of 
this  picture,  and,  had  he  lived  to  this  day,  must  have  ob- 
tained some  master  strokes  from  Phileirene.  But  Cataline 
himself  never  equalled  this.  How  Phileirene  could  at- 
tempt to  fix  such  a  character  upon  a  people  whose  most 
violent  struggle  to  preserve  themselves  from  a  ten  years' 
perseverance  in  oppressive  measures  has  been  a  Non-Im- 
portation Agreement,  is  yet  more  extraordinary  than  the 
celerity  and  cheerfulness  with  which  he  asserts  such  infa- 
mous lies.  I  beg  pardon  for  the  expression  ;  I  forgot  that 
the  truth  of  it  can  be  proved  by  facts. 

3.  "  That  we  aim  at  an  independency,  replete  with  the 
most  distressing  calamities,  destructive  mischiefs,  and  aggra- 
vated miseries ;  and  that  the  darling  object  of  our  wishes 
is  an  Independent  Republic."  In  supporting  this,  it  will 
be  necessary  to  prove  that  the  Congress,  which  spoke  the 
sentiments  of  all  those  whose  conduct  Phileirene  con- 
demns, and  whose  measures  every  Colony  in  America  has 
adopted,  mistook  its  own  intentions,  when  it  absolutely  de- 
nied the  charge  in  the  strongest  terms,  and  defied  its  most 


83 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775. 


81 


inveterate  enemies  to  make  good  the  charge.  It  will  also 
be  proper  to  make  out  to  the  satisfaction  of  impartial  peo- 
ple, that  our  contending  for  British  Liberty  will  be  the 
sure  means  of  being  deprived  of  it,  if  we  should  prove 
successful. 

4.  "That our  expectations  of  accomplishing  our  under- 
taking, are  mad,  and  must  at  once  appear  groundless,  when 
we  consider  that  the  Throne  was  never  more  secure  in  the 
hearts  of  a  free  and  happy  people  ;  the  Nation  never  more 
powerful  in  its  resources,  nor  more  respected  abroad;  nor 
Administration  more  firmly  established  in  the  esteem  and 
approbation  of  a  great  majority  of  the  people,  than  at  this 
day." 

That  these  assertions  may  not  meet  with  unexpected 
difficulties  in  the  proof,  it  will  not  be  amiss  to  lay  before 
you  the  present  situation  of  Great  Brituin,  that,  having 
this  in  view,  the  demonstration  may  be  suited  accordingly. 
Her  credit  depending  on  her  Trade,  and  a  principal  part  of 
that  cut  off  by  our  Non-Importation  Agreement.  Ireland, 
though  in  slavery,  poverty,  distress,  and  unarmed,  hitherto 
scarcely  restrained  within  bounds  by  the  dread  of  a  military 
force,  but  now  reduced  to  that  last  stage  of  oppression  which 
makes  a  wise  man  mad.  Scotland,  filled  with  resentment 
for  the  injuries  offered  her  by  the  English.  The  English 
full  of  hatred  and  indignation  against  the  Scotch,  for  the 
undue  preference  showed  to  them  by  the  Court.  The  Cap- 
ital of  the  Kingdom  exerting  its  utmost  influence  against  the 
present  Administration ;  and  in  all  probability  she  will  find  her 
measures  supported  by  the  united  efforts  of  all  the  Trading- 
Cities  and  Manufacturing  Towns  in  the  Kingdom.  A  gene- 
ral discontent  through  that  Nation,  on  account  of  the  Act  of 
Parliament  which  establishes  the  Roman  Ca I holiclc  Religion 
in  Canada.  France  professing  the  most  pacifick  disposition, 
but  continually  augmenting  her  Sea  and  Land  Forces.  Spain 
arming  as  fast  as  possible,  and  insulting  her  in  almost  every 
quarter  of  the  globe — she  bearing  these  insults  with  the 
tamest  submission,  and  unable,  in  the  space  of  twelve 
years,  to  prevail  upon  her  to  pay  the  Manilla  Ransom. 
Portugal,  though  under  her  protection,  insulting  her  Mer- 
chants and  restricting  her  Trade.  It  is  too  degrading  to 
mention  the  Dcy  of  Algiers.  Her  Army  and  Navy  not 
fifty  thousand  strong,  yet  the  annual  expense  of  the  Na- 
tion near  Ten  Millions  Sterling.  This  sum  raised  with  dif- 
ficulty when  she  enjoyed  all  our  Customs  and  Duties. 
These  being  stopped,  there  will  be  a  failure  of  One  Mil- 
lion at  least,  which  must  be  raised  by  additional  Taxes  laid 
on  those  who  are  scarcely  able  to  bear  their  present  load. 
A  debt  of  Forty  Millions  due  to  the  Hollanders,  who  are 
a  very  jealous  people,  and  who  know  that  the  security  of 
their  money  depends  entirely  on  the  Trade  of  the  Nation, 
which  must  suffer  a  most  dreadful  shock  from  our  Non- 
Importation  Agreement.  Should  they  become  fearful,  and 
begin  to  draw  their  money  out  of  the  publick  funds,  all 
the  circulating  cash  in  the  Kingdom  would  not  more  than 
pay  the  half  of  it.  The  Emperour  of  Germany  at  the  head 
of  two  hundred  thousand,  and  the  King  of  Prussia  at  the 
head  of  three  hundred  thousand  well  disciplined  Troops, 
overawing  all  her  Continental  allies,  and  in  a  capacity  to 
take  possession  of  her  German  Dominions  whenever  they 
please.  Russia  aiming  at  Commerce,  and  becoming  a  ri- 
val maritime  Power.  America  determined  to  resist  every 
further  attempt  which  she  shall  make  to  enslave  her,  by 
force,  and  accessible  only  by  her  capital  Cities,  and  those 
protected  by  a  debt  of  about  Six  Millions  Sterling,  every 
Shilling  of  which  must  be  totally  lost,  if  our  Cities  are  in- 
jured ;  besides,  if  matters  should  become  more  critical, 
these  will  be  principally  inhabited  by  the  tools  of  the  Min- 
istry, for  all  such  will  be  obliged  to  fly  to  them  for  safety, 
as  is  evident  from  the  present  state  of  Boston;  which  will 
be  a  very  considerable  additional  security  to  our  Cities. 
Able  and  judicious  Statesmen  in  England,  though  uncon- 
nected with  America,  giving  their  opinion  in  favour  of  our 
conduct,  and  openly  declaring  the  inability  of  the  Nation 
to  subjugate  the  Colonies  by  force.  These  are  some  of  the 
facts,  against  which  others  of  superiour  force,  certainty,  and 
weight,  must  be  produced,  or  it  will  be  in  vain  to  attempt 
to  prove  that  the  Nation  was  never  more  powerful  in  re- 
sources. 

I  am  under  the  necessity  of  passing  by,  for  the  present, 
a  multitude  of  assertions  equally  in  need  of  facts  to  sup- 
port them ;  but  as  there  is  one  or  two  of  a  curious  and  ex- 


traordinary nature,  and  which  I  long  to  see  demonstrated, 
I  must  crave  the  indulgence  of  the  publick  a  few  moments 
longer. 

It  is  asserted  "  that  the  people  in  America  can  have  no 
idea  of  the  various  manoeuvres,  evolutions,  marchings, 
countermarchings,  advancing,  retreating,  breaking,  rallying, 
&c,  which  are  practised  in  the  Army,  and,  therefore,  they 
will  be  astonished,  confounded,  and  put  to  flight  by  attacks 
from  every  quarter."  Now,  a  demonstration  of  this  asser- 
tion must  be  a  great  curiosity,  and  will  please  many.  But 
as  one  circumstance  seems  to  make  against  it,  I  would  be 
glad  not  to  have  it  forgotten,  viz:  that  though  we  may  have 
little  idea  of  their  rallying,  yet  we  must  be  allowed  to  have 
some  confused  notions  of  their  breaking  and  running,  espe- 
cially such  of  us  as  can  remember  that  when  they  were 
broke,  within  about  forty  miles  of  Fort  Pitt,  by  a  handful 
of  Canadians  and  bush-fighting  Indians,  they  never  stop- 
ped flying  until  they  arrived  at  Philadelphia.  Impar- 
tiality, however,  obliges  me  to  mention  one  circumstance, 
which  is  rather  in  favour  of  some  part  of  the  assertion,  viz: 
that  the  Americans  have  not  a  true  idea  of  breaking  and 
running,  though  it  at  the  same  time  shows  that  they  know 
how  to  rally  ;  what  I  allude  to  is  the  behaviour  of  about 
three  hundred  Virginians,  who,  on  that  occasion,  volun- 
tarily formed,  and  covered  the  retreat  of  the  flying  Regu- 
lars. Ticonderoga  has  also  furnished  some  of  us  with 
similar  ideas.  It  is  also  asserted,  "  that  at  one  time  we 
will  seem  to  have  only  a  handful  of  Troops  to  encounter, 
and  the  next  minute  they  will  appear  almost  innumerable, 
merely  from  their  dexterous  movements,  and  the  different 
situations  in  which  they  will  be  placed ;  and  that,  should 
we  be  able  to  perfect  ourselves  in  this  part  of  the  discipline, 
(which  we  never  can,  as  we  are  incapable  of  forming  the 
least  idea  of  it,)  our  skill  will  rebound  with  tenfold  destruc- 
tion upon  our  own  heads,  for  by  far  the  greatest  part,  when 
matters  shall  be  brought  to  such  extremities,  will  declare 
on  the  loyal  side,  and  extricate  themselves  from  the  guilt 
of  rebellion  by  the  most  vigorous  efforts  to  suppress  it." 

I  think  it  will  be  quite  as  hard  to  prove  these  assertions 
as  to  square  the  circle.  It  will  require  both  fluxions,  and 
an  infinite  series  to  do  it.  To  make  an  handful  of  men 
appear  almost  innumerable  to  a  people  who  know  that 
every  addition  to  that  handful  must  first  cross  the  great 
Atlantick,  exceeds  the  power  of  magick.  And  1  should 
not  like  to  see  it  proved,  lest  it  might  lessen  the  merits  of 
a  General,  "  who,  although  respected  and  amiable  for  his 
social  virtues,  for  his  prudence,  humanity,  long-suffering, 
and  clemency,  of  which  we  all  cannot  but  be  sensible, 
is  nevertheless  universally  allowed  to  be  a  brave  soldier, 
cool,  intrepid,  watchful,  and  resolute,  and  perfectly  ac- 
quainted with  the  military  art."  Now  if  this  be  his  charac- 
ter, how  can  he  be  excused  for  not  putting  these  manoeuvres 
in  practice,  instead  of  sending  for  more  Troops  ?  Can  it 
be  imagined  that  the  freemen  of  the  Province  of  Massa- 
chusetts-Bay are  so  determined  as  to  refuse  submission,  if 
they  saw  an  innumerable  host  of  such  well  disciplined 
Troops  ready  to  fall  upon  them?  They  must  be  heroes 
indeed,  or  at  least  resolved  to  lose  life  and  liberty  together 
if  they  are. 

I  will  take  no  advantage  of  his  glaring  contradictions 
in  one  paragraph,  representing  us  as  the  most  resolute 
and  desperate  of  men,  who  have  no  regard  for  our  lives, 
and  that  we  are  willing  to  sacrifice  all  that  is  dear  to  us  to 
obtain  our  beloved  point ;  and  in  the  next  assures  us  that 
we  will  by  and  by  be  so  terrified  at  the  name  of  Rebellion, 
that  we  will  murder  one  another  to  prove  our  loyalty.  I 
will  not  require  the  facts  which  can  prove  these  inconsist- 
encies. I  am  not  inclined  to  raise  a  suspicion  of  the  abili- 
ties or  courage  of  the  British  Troops.  There  are  many 
circumstances  which  present  themselves  at  this  day,  to 
show  they  have  a  tincture  of  the  true  British  spirit  still 
remaining,  though  the  laws  and  regulations  to  which  they 
are  subject  are  of  the  most  slavish,  arbitrary,  and  despotick 
kind.  It  is  hard  to  divest  a  real  Englishman  of  his  love 
of  liberty,  or  admiration  of  those  who  are  willing  to  risk 
their  all  in  defence  of  it.  There  may  be  some  mongrels 
among  them,  as  well  as  among  ourselves;  yet  the  reluc- 
tance of  the  Officers  to  the  service,  and  the  desertion  of 
the  Soldiers,  prove  that  they  are  not  divested  of  feeling, 
and  far  from  becoming  Ministerial  butchers.  If  things 
should  come  to  extremities  it  is  not  to  be  doubted  but 


85 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775 


86 


they  will  discover  further  signs  of  a  true  English  spirit. 
However,  should  they  prove  as  loyal  as  Phileirene  wishes 
them  to  be,  twenty  riflemen  will,  I  doubt  not,  prove  a 
match  for  any  ten  of  them  ;  and  if  we  reason  from  former 
experience,  Braddock  and  Howe  have  left  us  a  proportion 
still  more  favourable.  As  to  the  common  Soldiers,  they 
have  no  great  inducement  to  make  them  fight.  If  they 
will  fight  for  pay,  I  think  we  could  increase  their  wages. 
At  any  rate,  a  groat  a  day  to  feed  upon,  half  an  hour's 
exercise  in  the  week,  and  ten  years'  loitering  in  crowded 
barracks,  can  give  them  but  an  indifferent  title  to  the 
character  of  true  British  veterans. 

That  our  skill  in  the  military  art,  could  we  but  attain  it, 
would  rebound  with  ten-fold  destruction  on  our  own  heads, 
is  rather  hard.  For  shall  we  take  that  immense  pains 
which  it  will  cost  an  American  to  acquire  it,  and  which 
alone  can  put  us  on  an  equal  footing  with  these  veterans, 
and  then  turn  it  against  ourselves?  This  would  be  an  in- 
fatuation which  Phileirene  and  all  his  fellow-blusterers  have 
not  been  able  to  accomplish,  and,  I  fear,  never  will,  not- 
withstanding the  facts  which  can  demonstrate  its  truth. 

I  once  thought  of  touching  on  the  doctrine  of  Rebellion  and 
our  duty  to  God ;  but  as  the  facts  necessary  to  demonstrate 
his  assertions  on  this  head  might  border  on  impiety,  and  the 
attempt  itself  would  be  blasphemous,  I  would  not  have  it 
entered  on  ;  for  if  one  man  sin  against  another,  the  Judge 
may  plead  for  him  ;  but  if  a  man  sin  against  God,  who 
shall  entreat  for  him  ?  Yet  the  matter  may  be  settled  in 
few  words.  God  is  certainly  on  the  side  of  justice  and  the 
oppressed,  and  the  Devil  on  the  side  of  injustice  and  op- 
pression. They  may  be  considered  as  the  leaders  in  this 
cause,  and  every  man  as  actuated  by  the  spirit  of  his  leader. 
I  will  leave  it  to  Phileirene  and  the  world  to  determine 
which  spirit  he  and  his  party  are  inspired  with. 

To  the  Friend  to  the  Constitution  : 

Sir:  As  you  maybe  acquainted  with  facts  which  have 
escaped  the  notice  of  all  beside  yourself;  as  you  may  be 
able  to  defend  your  cause  by  arguments,  which,  though 
hitherto  concealed,  will  strike  conviction  into  the  hearts  of 
the  most  stupid,  insensible,  and  obstinate  bigots ;  and  as 
vour  proofs  may  be  derived  from  sources  hitherto  unex- 
plored by  any  other ;  1  call  upon  you  to  exercise  those 
political  talents  and  abilities  which,  doubtless,  you  are 
possessed  of,  in  demonstrating  the  truth  of  the  foregoing 
assertions  of  Mr.  Phileirene.    Should  the  task  prove  hard 
or  laborious,  you  must  comfort  yourself  with  this  reflec- 
tion, that  it  is  the  only  means  whereby  you  can  prove 
vourself  possessed  of  that  candour  and  honesty,  which  is 
so  rare  amongst  your  party.    If,  in  the  course  of  your  de- 
monstration, this  one  point  should  fall  in  our  favour,  viz  : 
that  the  present  is  a  struggle  of  might  against  right,  and 
that  right  is  on  our  side,  we  have  little  to  fear,  even  should 
every  other  assertion  of  Phileirene  prove  true.    For  when 
was  arbitrary  power  successful  in  Great  Britain  1    Not  in 
the  days  of  Charles  the  First,  nor  yet  at  the  Revolution. 
William  the  Bastard  is  the  principal  instance  of  the  kind 
1  now  recollect.    If  we  be  permitted,  then,  to  draw  any 
conclusions  from  former  experience,  while  we  have  a  legiti- 
mate King  on  the  Throne  we  have  little  to  fear.  Had 
arbitrary  power  succeeded  in  the  days  of  Charles  the  First, 
or  James  the  Second,  we  should  at  present  be  in  the  same 
state  or  a  worse  than  the  people  of  Prance.    Now  would 
you,  Sir,  or  Phileirene,  or  any  of  your  party,  rather  find 
yourselves  in  this  state  and  condition,  than  that  your  fore- 
fathers had  pursued  the  measures  they  then  adopted  ? 
According  as  you  answer  this  question,  we  shall  be  con- 
demned or  justified,  even  should  we  be  forced  to  draw  the 
aword.  A  Lover  of  English  Liberty. 


To  the  Author  of  a  Pamphlet,  entitled  "  A  Candid  Exam- 
ination of  the  Mutual  Claims  of  Great  Britain  and 
her  Colonies,  fyc." 

Philadelphia,  March  8,  1775. 
Sir  :  When  your  pamphlet  was  first  put  into  my  hands, 
I  accidentally  opened  it  at  the  last  page  but  one,  and  was 
pleased  to  see  the  following  words :  "  Thus  I  have,  my 
dear  countrymen,  with  the  utmost  candour  and  freedom, 
and  the  most  benevolent  regard  for  your  true  interest  and 
happiness,  laid  before  you  the  Constitutional  extent  of  Par- 


liamentary jurisdiction,  and  deduced  your  rights  from  the 
most  solid  foundation,  and  explained  your  duties."  Pleased 
with  this  declaration,  I  eagerly  began  a  careful  perusal  of 
the  pamphlet ;  but  what  was  my  surprise  to  find  that  in- 
stead of  deducing  the  rights  of  America  from  a  "  most 
solid  foundation,"  you  have  laboured  to  show  that  America 
has  no  rights  at  all ;  and  that  we  are  the  most  abject  slaves 
on  earth.  This  set  me  upon  an  examination  of  the  prin- 
ciples on  which  you  have  grounded  your  arguments ;  and 
from  this  examination  it  evidently  appeared  that  you  have 
ignorantly  misunderstood  or  wilfully  misapplied  them. 

The  first  principle  which  you  lay  down,  and  which,  in- 
deed, is  the  groundwork  of  your  whole  performance,  is 
this  :  "  There  must  be  in  every  State  a  supreme  Legisla- 
tive power  of  the  Colonies,  and  that  the  Colonists  are, 
therefore,  subject  to  its  laws." 

It  may  be  proper  before  we  proceed,  to  observe,  that 
though  there  is  no  difficulty  in  laying  down  general  princi- 
ples on  the  nature  of  Government,  yet  it  requires  judg- 
ment and  understanding  to  make  a  proper  application  of 
them.  11  it  shall  appear  that  your  several  quotations  are 
totally  inapplicable  to  the  situation  of  the  Colonies,  with 
respect  to  their  connection  with  Great  Britain,  your  argu- 
ments must  fall,  of  course,  to  the  ground.  And  I  appre- 
hend I  shall  not  only  be  able  to  make  this  appear,  but 
clearly  to  show,  as  I  said  before,  that  you  either  did  not 
understand  the  authors  quoted,  or  that  you  have  wilfully 
misapplied  them. 

Whoever  has  read,  and  is  conversant  with  the  authors  on 
Government,  will  agree  that  whenever  the  above  principle 
is  laid  down,  it  amounts  in  substance  to  this,  and  this  only, 
viz  :  Wherever  men  have,  from  a  state  of  nature,  entered 
into  a  state  of  society,  there  must  be  somewhere  a  power 
lodged  to  make  laws  obligatory  on  all  the  members  of  that 
society.  This  power  of  making  laws,  however  modified, 
is  called  the  Legislative  power  ;  and  any  one  will  readily 
assent  to  the  necessity  there  is,  that  this  Legislative  power 
should  be  supreme  over  the  members ;  for  if,  after  the  Le- 
gislative power  has  ordained  any  thing  to  be  done,  the 
members  should  afterwards  be  left  to  their  own  choice  to 
adopt  or  reject  it,  it  follows  clearly  there  must  be  an  end  of 
Government.  Now  let  us  consider  whether  this  principle 
is  not  fully  satisfied  in  the  several  Governments  of  Ameri- 
ca, without  having  recourse  for  an  application  of  it  to  the 
Parliament  of  Great  Bntain.  I  will  undertake  to  show 
that  the  principle  is  applicable  to  our  several  Governments, 
and  to  them  only ;  and  this  I  shall  do  from  your  own  quo- 
tations. 

Mr.  Locke  tells  us  that  "  The  first  fundamental  positive 
law  of  all  Commonwealths  is  the  establishing  the  Legis- 
lative power ;  this  Legislative  is  not  only  the  supreme 
power  of  the  Commonwealth,  but  is  sacred  and  unalterable 
in  the  hands  where  the  community  have  placed  it."  It  can- 
not be  denied.  It  is  as  well  established  as  the  Legislature 
of  Great  Britain;  its  powers  within  the  bounds  of  the 
Province  are  as  supreme  and  unlimited  as  the  power  of  the 
Legislature  of  Great  Britain.  Here,  then,  the  principle 
applies  ; — as  there  is  a  Legislative  power  in  the  Province 
of  Pennsylvania,  that  power  is,  from  the  nature  of  all  Go- 
vernments, supreme,  and  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  Province 
must  be  obedient  to  its  laws.  But  to  proceed :  "  There 
can  be  but  one  supreme  power,  which  is  the  Legislative  ; 
to  which  all  the  rest  are,  and  must  be  subordinate."  This 
principle  is  certainly  right ;  but  let  us  see  how  judiciously 
it  is  applied.  Certainly  in  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania 
there  neither  is  nor  can  be  more  than  one  supreme  power, 
viz  :  the  Legislature  of  the  Province.  To  them  the  seve- 
ral Corporations,  and  other  inferiour  jurisdictions  must  sub- 
mit. But  observe  how  completely  wretched  you  aim  to 
make  the  Americans.  You  quote  Locke  to  prove  that 
there  can  be  but  one  supreme  power,  which  is  the  Legis- 
lature ;  if  so,  and  if  the  Parliament,  as  you  say,  is  the  Le- 
gislature of  the  Colonies,  it  follows  that  we  have  hitherto 
been  deceived,  and  that  there  is  no  such  thing  as  a  Colony 
Legislature  in  existence.  But,  Sir,  this  supreme  power, 
the  community  of  Pennsylvania  have  undeniably  vested  in 
the  Assembly  and  Governour,  subject  to  our  Sovereign's 
negative  ;  and,  of  course,  the  Legislature  of  Great  Britain 
is  not  the  Legislature  of  Pennsylvania ;  for  it  would  be 
"  irregular  and  monstrous"  to  suppose  us  subject  to  two 
Legislatures.  But  this  will  not  satisfy  you.    You  will  have 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775. 


88 


it,  that  we  shall  be  subject,  not  according  to  Mr.  Locke, 
to  "one"  but  to  two  supreme  Legislative  powers.  Your 
quotation  from  Achcrley  is  more  pointed:  "The  supreme 
power  in  every  Government  and  Nation  is  the  Legislative 
power  of  making  and  altering  those  laws  of  it  by  which 
every  man  is  to  be  bound,  and  to  which  he  is  to  yield  obe- 
dience." Is  not  every  man  in  Pennsylvania  bound  by, 
and  is  he  not  to  yield  obedience  to  such  laws  as  the  Legis- 
lature of  the  Province  shall  enact?  Every  man  will  an- 
swer affirmatively ;  if  so,  is  not  this  Legislative  power  of 
Pennsylvania,  according  to  the  express  words  of  the  above 
quotations,  the  supreme  power  in  this  Government  ?  Can 
we  then  be  subject  to  two  supreme  Legislative  powers  ? 
But  let  us  see  whether  you  will  not  yourself  prove  sufficient 
for  my  argument.  Page  43  you  say,  "  Each  Colony  in 
the  present  Constitution,  is  capable,  by  its  own  internal 
Legislature,  to  regulate  its  own  police  within  its  particular 
circle  of  territory  ;  but  here  it  is  confined :  thus  far,  and 
no  further  can  its  authority  extend."  This,  I  hope,  is  suf- 
ficient to  show  that  each  Legislature  is  supreme  within  its 
own  circle  ;  and  that  this  is  all  that  is  required  to  satisfy 
the  principle  on  which  you  have  benevolently  endeavoured 
to  build  your  system  of  tyranny. 

You  proceed  next  to  a  perplexed,  inaccurate,  and  de- 
fective delineation  of  the  English  Constitution,  and  of  the 
different  capacities  of  the  King,  in  order  to  point  out  the 
absurdity  (as  you  call  it)  of  the  Colonies  in  acknowledging 
allegiance  to  the  King,  and  denying  obedience  to  the  laws 
of  Parliament.  In  this  also,  1  apprehend,  you  are  equally 
wrong.  Let  us  attend  to  your  argument.  "  To  the  King, 
in  his  representative  capacity,  and  as  supreme  executor 
of  the  laws,  made  by  a  joint  power  of  him  and  others,  the 
oaths  of  allegiance  are  taken  ;  and  by  him,  that  obedi- 
ence in  the  subjects  to  the  laws,  which  entitle  them  to  pro- 
tection in  their  persons  and  properties,  is  received.  Is  it 
then  to  him,  as  representative  of  the  State,  and  executor 
of  its  laws,  that  the  Americans  profess  their  allegiance  ? 
This  cannot  be  ;  because  it  would  be  owing  an  obedience  to 
the  laws  of  the  State  which  he  represents.  It  would  be 
easy  to  prove  that  your  idea  of  allegiance  is  totally  defec- 
tive; but  as  I  intend  only  to  expose  the  fallacy  of  your 
arguments,  without  advancing  any  pla?i  of  my  own,  it  will 
perhaps  be  more  satisfactory  to  refute  you  from  your  own 
words. 

We  Americans  can,  then,  it  seems,  owe  no  allegiance  to 
the  King  without  involving  in  it  a  submission  to  the  laws 
of  the  supreme  Legislature  of  Great  Britain,  of  which  he 
is  representative.  Strange,  indeed,  that  even  our  allegiance 
shall  be  drawn  in  as  an  argument  in  favour  of  Parliamen- 
tary power !  But,  Sir,  let  me,  as  a  Pennsylvanian,  address 
you  and  examine  your  argument.  "The  allegiance  I  owe 
to  the  King  is  due  to  him  in  his  representative  capacity, 
as  supreme  executor  of  the  laws  made  by  a  joint  power  of 
him  and  others."  Agreed,  Sir,  for  argument's  sake ;  but 
is  not  the  King  vested  with  the  Executive  power  of  this 
Government  ?  Is  he  not  the  representative  of  our  whole 
State,  to  see  that  our  laws  are  duly  carried  into  execution  ? 
And  is  not  (on  your  principles)  an  oath  of  allegiance  by  a 
Pennsylvanian  to  the  King,  made  to  him  as  supreme  exe- 
cutor of  the  laws  of  Pennsylvania?  And  if,  Sir,  an  oath 
of  allegiance,  taken  by  a  subject  in  England  to  the  King, 
is  to  him  as  representative  of  the  supreme  Legislature  of 
Great  Britain,  I  ask,  where  is  the  absurdity  of  supposing 
an  oath  of  allegiance  taken  by  a  Pennsylvanian,  to  be 
taken  by  him  to  the  King,  as  the  representative  of  the 
Legislative  power  of  Pennsylvania,  which  is  the  supreme 
power  of  the  Government  in  which  he  lives  ?  There  can 
be  none.  But  further,  Sir ;  does  not  every  American  ac- 
knowledge that  he  is  bound  by  the  common  law  of  Eng- 
land, and  such  statutes  as  were  made  before  the  settlement 
of  the  Colonies,  and  which  are  applicable  to  our  situation  ? 
Is  not  the  King  supreme  executor  of  these  laws  ?  And 
where  is  the  impropriety  of  supposing  the  oath  of  allegiance 
to  relate  to  him  as  supreme  executor  of  these  laws,  which 
we  acknowledge  do  bind  us,  and  at  the  same  time  reject- 
ing the  absurd  and  dangerous  idea  of  its  including  an  obli- 
gation to  be  bound  by  every  law  that  the  British  Parlia- 
ment has,  or  may  make  ? 

I  have  sufficiently  destroyed,  I  trust,  the  two  main  pillars 
of  your  system.  But  not  content  with  endeavouring  to 
prove  the  Americans  subject  to  the  uncontrolled  power  of 


the  British  Parliament,  you  are  for  reducing  the  Legisla- 
tures of  the  several  Colonies  to  the  degrading  situation  of 
mere  corporations.  "  The  original  intent  of  the  preroga- 
tive, under  which  the  inhabitants  of  particular  districts  of 
territory  have  been  incorporated  into  bodies  politick,  was 
to  enable  the  representative  of  the  State  to  form  inferiour 
communities,  with  municipal  rights  and  privileges  ;  this  pre- 
rogative is  very  ancient;  William  the  Conqueror  granted 
to  London  two  Charters,"  &c. 

If  we  examine  into  the  nature  of  corporations  erected 
by  the  prerogative,  we  shall  find  you  are  still  unhappy  in 
the  application  of  your  principles.  That  the  King,  by  his 
prerogative,  may  erect  the  inhabitants  of  particular  districts 
into  inferiour  communities,  with  "municipal  rights  and  pri- 
vileges," is  readily  granted.  But  it  requires  more  than 
this  to  show  that  the  Colonies  are  mere  Corporations. 
After  granting  all  you  call  for,  your  conclusions  do  not  fol- 
low ;  for  though,  as  you  say,  the  King  may  incorporate 
inferiour  communities  with  municipal  rights,  yet  it  does  not 
follow  that  the  King  can  grant  to  mere  corporations  full 
Legislative  power.  Let  any  one  consider  what  is  the  ob- 
ject of  corporations,  and  the  purpose  for  which  they  are 
granted,  and  the  comparison  must  vanish.  But,  Sir,  is  not 
the  King  visiter  of  all  corporations ?  And  has  not  the 
Court  of  King's  Bench  a  power  to  inquire  into,  and  cor- 
rect all  the  irregularities  that  have  arisen  in  any  of  them  ? 
And  is  this,  Sir,  one  of  the  "  solid  foundations"  from  which 
you  have  deduced  the  rights  of  Americans?  Certainly 
you  will  have  the  thanks  of  the  British  Ministry  for  going 
further  than  even  they  have  dared.  They  contend  only 
that  we  are  subject  to  the  power  of  Parliament:  You,  Sir, 
go  further,  and  meritoriously  endeavour  to  prove  that  we 
not  only  are  subject  to  Parliament,  but  to  the  Court  of 
King's  Bench,  where  that  friend  to  liberty,  Lord  Mansjield, 
now  presides. 

Let  us  next  examine  your  favourite  position,  that  the 
rights  of  the  Commons  to  a  share  in  legislation  is  derived 
from,  and  represent  the  lands  within  the  Realm.  Having, 
as  you  think,  fully  shown  this,  you  proceed  (no  doubt, 
with  "  ineffable  pleasure")  to  show  that,  by  necessary  con- 
sequence, the  Americans  have  lost,  not  the  right,  but  the 
exercise  of  the  right  of  being  represented  in  the  British 
Parliament,  though  they  still  continue  subject  to  all  its 
laws.  What  does  this  amount  to  ?  Why,  you  have  a  right, 
but  it  is  impossible  you  can  derive  any  advantage  from  it. 
You  have  a  right,  but  it  is  impossible  you  can  exercise  it. 
Want  of  right  and  want  of  remedy,  is  said,  in  law,  to  be  the 
same.  What  an  insult  to  an  oppressed  people,  to  tell 
them  they  have  a  right,  but  that  it  is  impossible  they  can 
either  exercise  it,  or  derive  any  advantage  from  it.  But 
let  us  next  examine  your  position,  and  see  if  it  is  well 
founded.  I  apprehend  it  is  not,  and  that  your  idea  of 
representation  is  partial  and  inadequate.  That  the  landed 
interest  is  represented  in  part,  is  granted,  and  you  might 
have  saved  yourself  the  trouble  of  several  tedious  pages  to 
prove  what  every  man  would  immediately  assent  to.  But 
is  the  landed  the  only  interest  that  is  represented  ?  Or, 
does  representation  arise  from  land  only  ?  I  answer  both 
in  the  negative  ;  and  thus  I  prove  it :  The  Commons  is  the 
Democratick  part  of  the  English  Constitution.  In  small 
Democracies,  the  people  should,  and  in  many  (in  Greece) 
they  did  exercise  the  Legislative  power  in  their  aggregate 
capacity.  In  so  large  a  State  as  England,  such  a  tumul- 
tuous meeting  would  be  attended  with  danger  and  inconve- 
niences ;  and,  therefore,  it  is  provided  by  the  English  Con- 
stitution, that  the  people  shall  exercise  this  power  by  their 
Representatives,  which  it  would  be  inconvenient  should 
be  done  in  their  collective  capacity.  This,  Sir,  is  the 
principle  of  representation,  and  by  which  every  man  of 
property  in  England  has  a  voice  in  Parliament.  It  is 
upon  this  principle  that  the  landed  interest  is  represented 
by  their  Knights  of  the  Shire.  This,  Sir,  is  not  the  origin, 
but  the  consequence  of  representation.  Are  not  the  Citi- 
zens and  Burgesses  chosen  by  the  Mercantile  or  Trading 
interest  of  the  Nation  ?  Has  not  every  man  who  is  free  of 
a  Borough  a  vote,  and  consequently,  is  he  not  represent- 
ed in  Parliament,  although  he  has  not  a  foot  of  land  ? 
In  short,  the  whole  of  representation,  according  to  the 
English  Constitution,  is  this  :  in  all  free  Governments  a 
branch  of  the  Legislative  power  should  reside  in  the 
people.    In  so  large  a  Government  as  England,  this  is  not 


89 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775. 


90 


practicable  to  be  exercised  in  their  collective  capacities ; 
from  hence  arose  the  necessity  of  representation,  upon  the 
genuine  principles  of  which,  every  member  of  the  commu- 
nity should  have  a  voice.  In  forming  this  representation, 
care  was  taken  of  the  landed  interest,  and  Knights  of  the 
Shire  were  elected  by  proprietors  of  land  to  represent  it. 
But  this  alone  would  have  been  a  partial,  inadequate  repre- 
sentation ;  care  was  also  taken  to  have  the  trading  interest 
represented,  that  so  not  the  landed  interest  only,  but  the 
whole  body  of  the  people  should  be  represented  by  the 
House  of  Commons:  in  choosing  whom,  says  a  learned 
Judge,  there  is  scarce  a  free  agent  in  England  who  has 
not  a  vote.  This  subject  might  be  continued  further  if 
necessary,  but  enough  has  been  said  to  show  your  idea  of 
representation  to  be  erroneous. 

According  to  you,  Sir,  we  are  bound  by  all  laws  made 
by  the  British  Parliament.  We  have  a  right  to  be  repre- 
sented there,  but  it  is  impossible  we  can  enjoy  that  right. 
So  that  the  "  persons,  lives,  and  estates  of  the  subjects  in 
America  are  at  the  disposal  of  an  absolute  power,  without 
the  least  security  for  the  enjoyment  of  their  rights."  This 
is  a  dreadful  situation  !  And  the  very  reading  it  is  suffi- 
cient to  freeze  the  blood  of  any  man  that  has  a  spark  of 
liberty  in  him.  How  it  has  roused  your  passions  !  How 
animated  is  your  observations  on  it !  You  say,  "  most 
certain  it  is,  that  this  is  a  situation  which  people  accus- 
tomed to  liberty  cannot  sit  easy  under."  Sit  easy  under 
slavery  !  It  is  a  situation  that  all  your  sophistry,  threats, 
or  the  arms  of  Britain  will  never  make  an  American  sit 
under  at  all. 

But  now  the  curtain  is  drawn  up — the  plan  of  union 
gentlemen,  which  is  to  restore  us  to  the  enjoyment  of  our 
lost  rights!  Having  shown, as  you  think,  that  we  have  no 
rights  at  all,  you  very  patriotically  propose  a  plan,  by  which, 
if  the  British  Administration  pleases,  we  may  be  restored 
to  some.  But  the  very  position  tells  us  we  are  slaves. 
If  our  restoration  to  rights  depends  upon  the  pleasure  and 
will  of  the  British  Legislature,  they  are  our  masters ;  we 
must  submit  to  their  pleasure.  But  send  the  author  of  the 
plan  over  as  a  delegate  to  solicit  your  cause,  "  the  ex- 
peuse  will  be  trifling  ;"  it  is  a  task  he  would,  no  doubt, 
perform  "  with  ineffable  pleasure." 

You  say,  Sir,  you  have  often  conversed  with  the  author 
of  the  plan,  and  well  understand  his  principles.  Pray,  Sir, 
ask  him  whether  he  did  not,  in  a  Committee  of  Congress, 
deny,  from  the  same  learned  quotations  about  landed  pro- 
perty, the  power  of  Parliament  to  bind  the  Colonies  in 
any  case.  His  conclusions  from  the  same  premises  were, 
I  am  told,  very  different  from  what  you  have  drawn  in  this 
pamphlet.  He  insisted  that  the  right  of  English  liberty 
is  a  right  to  participate  in  legislation  ;  that  as  the  lands  in 
America  are  not  represented,  Americans  could  not  be  re- 
presented, and  not  being  represented,  they,  of  course,  could 
not  be  bound  ;  from  hence  he  drew  an  inference  of  the  ne- 
cessity of  some  plan  of  union.  Did  he  not,  Sir,  on  this 
principle,  deny  the  power  of  Parliament  even  to  regulate 
Trade  ?  And  did  he  not  even  vote  against  it  in  Con- 
gress ? 

Much  has  been  said  against  the  Congress  for  rejecting 
this  plan.  The  matter,  I  am  told,  stands  thus:  When  it 
was  first  introduced  in  Congress,  most  of  the  members 
heard  it  with  horrour,  as  an  idle,  dangerous,  whimsical, 
Ministerial  plan.  Some  of  the  "  Pennsylvania  Oracles," 
Friends,  with  whom  infinite  pains  had  been  taken  before 
hand,  moved  to  have  it  committed.  This  was  rejected  ; 
then  a  motion  was  made  that  the  plan  might  lie  on  the 
table,  to  be  taken  up  at  any  future  day.  This  was  carried 
in  the  affirmative.  When  the  minutes  came  to  be  revised, 
towards  the  end  of  the  sitting,  the  plan  was  omitted.  Here 
the  patriot  raged,  and  insisted  on  his  right  to  have  it  on 
the  minutes.  The  question  was  put,  and  a  great  majority 
thought  the  inserting  it  in  the  Journal  would  be  disgracing 
their  records,  and  accordingly  rejected  it.  Certainly  in 
such  a  society,  every  question  must,  of  course,  be  deter- 
mined by  a  majority.  If,  then,  a  majority  were  of  opinion 
that  the  inserting  it  on  their  Journal  would  be  disgraceful 
and  injurious,  they  unquestionably  had  a  right  to  reject  it. 
If  his  plan  was  defensible,  why  did  he  not  enter  into  the 
argument  with  a  gentleman  from  Virginia,  who  challenged 
him  to  it,  and  who  said  he  could  prove  it  to  be  big  with 
destruction  to  the  Colonies  ?    'Tis  true  he  did,  when  thus 


called  upon,  say  that  he  would  defend  it,  if  the  Congress 
would  appoint  a  day  for  that  purpose.  But  this,  Sir,  was 
when  all  was  hurry,  and  the  forms  of  business  only  delayed 
their  breaking  up.  Besides,  it  was  a  little  remarkable, 
that  this  "  Oracle"  was  not  ready  to  undertake  the  defence 
of  a  plan,  when  he  had  been  for  months  haranguing  and 
caballing  about  it. 

You  have  mentioned  some  of  the  objections  that  were 
hinted  against  the  plan,  for  it  is  false  to  say  that  the  merits 
of  it  were  ever  regularly  debated  in  Congress.  One  of 
those  objections  is,  that  the  members  of  the  Grand  Coun- 
cil would  be  corrupted,  and  betray  the  interest  of  the 
Colonies.  To  this  you  answer,  "  that  if  American  virtue 
was  not  firm  enough  to  maintain  liberty,  it  could  be  sup- 
ported by  no  wisdom  or  policy  whatever.  But  supposing 
the  people  to  be  in  so  corrupt  a  state,  yet  as  the  election 
was  to  be  triennial,  they  might  change  them  every  three 
years,  &,c. ;  and  besides,  to  avoid  all  risks  of  the  Country, 
they  might,  by  altering  one  word,  as  the  plan,  make  the 
election  duannual  or  annual,  which  must  certainly  remove 
the  objection."  No,  Sir!  it  will  not  do  yet,  not  even  with 
the  alteration.  For  let  us  once  suppose  this  darling  plan 
executed,  an  American  Parliament  met.  Suppose  when 
thus  met,  a  motion  is  made,  showing  the  inconvenience  and 
difficulties  of  frequent  elections,  and  proposing  the  making 
a  law  extending  their  political  existence  for  seven  years  ; 
precedents  may  be  pleaded  for  it.  But,  Sir,  supposing  this 
Parliament  to  be  but  annual,  may  they  not  in  one  year, 
one  month,  one  day,  nay,  in  one  hour,  pass  a  vote,  which 
may  forever  annihilate  the  liberties  of  all  America  1  But 
will  you  not  trust  the  virtue  of  Americans?  Sir,  I  entertain  a 
high  reverence  for  the  virtue  of  my  countrymen.  But  the 
trust  is  too  sacred.  Permit  me  to  tell  you,  that  neither 
"  wisdom  or  policy"  would  dictate  the  leaving  the  liberties 
of  a  Country  to  the  virtues  of  any  men,  however  great  or 
conspicuous.  We  know  too  well  the  fallibility  of  human 
nature,  and  both  "  wisdom  and  policy"  teach  us  to  sup- 
port our  liberties  with  other  props  and  pillars.  I  did  not 
intend  to  have  touched  on  the  merits  of  the  plan,  but  when 
1  saw  one  of  the  objections  to  it  so  mutilated,  I  thought 
proper  to  state  the  objections  more  fully  and  forcibly.  The 
whole  of  the  plan  is  confused,  impracticable,  and  danger- 
ous, as  probably  soon  will  be  shown. 

I  have  reserved  till  now,  purposely,  my  remarks  on  the 
gross  abuse  and  calumny  thrown  out  in  your  pamphlet 
against  the  Congress.  How  unfair,  how  ungenerous,  to 
take  detached  parts  of  their  proceedings,  and  from  thence 
draw  inferences  as  to  their  principles  !  How  dare  you,  Sir, 
in  the  face  of  America,  assert  that  they  have  proposed  no 
plan  of  accommodation  ?  That  every  page  conveys  senti- 
ments of  independence  ?  Have  they  not  expressly  said, 
(and  is  it  not  the  groundwork  of  their  whole  proceedings,) 
place  America  in  the  situation  she  was  in  before  1763,  and 
all  our  complaints  will  subside?  Is  this  not  proposing  a 
plan  of  accommodation  ?  Yes,  Sir,  and  the  only  reasonable 
constitutional  plan  that  can  be  devised.  Tear  away  that 
system  of  Revenue  Laws,  and  their  attendants,  and  peace 
will  be  restored.  And  is  this,  Sir,  talking  of  independence  ? 
Consider  the  Statutes  prior  to  1763,  to  which  America  con- 
cedes obedience  ;  consider  the  acknowledged  prerogatives 
of  the  King  of  Great  Britain,  in  all  the  Colonies ;  the  ap- 
peal to  the  King  and  Council  from  judicial  determinations  ; 
his  negative  to  laws;  and  let  any  impartial  man  say,  whe- 
ther this  is  a  system  of  independence.  The  labours  and 
virtue  of  the  Congress  in  the  cause  of  liberty,  will,  to  latest 
ages,  be  revered  and  esteemed,  while  you  and  your  attempts 
will  only  be  remembered  to  show  posterity  that  even  in 
these  days  of  liberty,  America  had  some  degenerate  sons — 
a  Jefferies  and  a  Eilmer. 

But,  good  Sir,  before  we  part,  let  me  ask  you  how  you 
came  to  publish  your  friend  to  the  world  as  a  man  of  no 
principle  or  virtue.  I  see  he  has  signed  the  Association. 
I  am  told  he  signed  the  Petition  to  the  King.  I  find  in 
the  Association  he  says,  (for  it  is  certainly  the  act  of  all 
who  signed  it,)  "  the  present  unhappy  situation  of  our 
affairs  is  occasioned  by  a  ruinous  system  of  Colony  ad- 
ministration, adopted  by  the  British  Ministry  about  the 
year  1763,  evidently  calculated  for  enslaving  those  Colo- 
nies." And,  Sir,  I  find  further,  that  he  did,  for  himself 
and  those  he  represented,  firmly  agree  and  associate,  un- 
der the  sacred  ties  of  virtue,  honour,  and  love  of  his  Coun- 


87 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1175. 


88 


it,  that  we  shall  he  subject,  not  according  to  Mr.  Locke, 
to  "one"  but  to  two  supreme  Legislative  powers.  Your 
quotation  from  Acherley  is  more  pointed  :  "  The  supreme 
power  in  every  Government  and  Nation  is  the  Legislative 
power  of  making  and  altering  those  laws  of  it  by  which 
every  man  is  to  he  bound,  and  to  which  he  is  to  yield  obe- 
dience." Is  not  every  man  in  Pennsylvania  bound  by, 
and  is  he  not  to  yield  obedience  to  such  laws  as  the  Legis- 
lature of  the  Province  shall  enact?  Every  man  will  an- 
swer allirmatively ;  if  so,  is  not  this  Legislative  power  of 
Pennsylvania,  according  to  the  express  words  of  the  above 
quotations,  the  supreme  power  in  this  Government?  Can 
we  then  be  subject  to  two  supreme  Legislative  powers? 
But  let  us  see  whether  you  will  not  yourself  prove  sufficient 
for  my  argument.  Page  43  you  say,  "  Each  Colony  in 
the  present  Constitution,  is  capable,  by  its  own  internal 
Legislature,  to  regulate  its  own  police  within  its  particular 
circle  of  territory  ;  but  here  it  is  confined :  thus  far,  and 
no  further  can  its  authority  extend."  This,  I  hope,  is  suf- 
ficient to  show  that  each  Legislature  is  supreme  within  its 
own  circle  ;  and  that  this  is  all  that  is  required  to  satisfy 
the  principle  on  which  you  have  benevolently  endeavoured 
to  build  your  system  of  tyranny. 

You  proceed  next  to  a  perplexed,  inaccurate,  and  de- 
fective delineation  of  the  English  Constitution,  and  of  the 
different  capacities  of  the  King,  in  order  to  point  out  the 
absurdity  (as  you  call  it)  of  the  Colonies  in  acknowledging 
allegiance  to  the  King,  and  denying  obedience  to  the  laws 
of  Parliament.  In  this  also,  1  apprehend,  you  are  equally 
wrong.  Let  us  attend  to  your  argument.  "  To  the  King, 
in  his  representative  capacity,  and  as  supreme  executor 
of  the  laws,  made  by  a  joint  power  of  him  and  others,  the 
oaths  of  allegiance  are  taken  ;  and  by  him,  that  obedi- 
ence in  the  subjects  to  the  laws,  which  entitle  them  to  pro- 
tection in  their  persons  and  properties,  is  received.  Is  it 
then  to  him,  as  representative  of  the  State,  and  executor 
of  its  laws,  that  the  Americans  profess  their  allegiance  ? 
This  cannot  be  ;  because  it  would  be  owing  an  obedience  to 
the  laws  of  the  State  which  he  represents.  It  would  be 
easy  to  prove  that  your  idea  of  allegiance  is  totally  defec- 
tive; but  as  I  intend  only  to  expose  the  fallacy  of  your 
arguments,  without  advancing  any  flan  of  my  own,  it  will 
perhaps  be  more  satisfactory  to  refute  you  from  your  own 
words. 

We  Americans  can,  then,  it  seems,  owe  no  allegiance  to 
the  King  without  involving  in  it  a  submission  to  the  laws 
of  the  supreme  Legislature  of  Great  Britain,  of  which  he 
is  representative.  Strange,  indeed,  that  even  our  allegiance 
shall  be  drawn  in  as  an  argument  in  favour  of  Parliamen- 
tary power  !  But,  Sir,  let  me,  as  a  Pennsylvanian,  address 
you  and  examine  your  argument.  "The  allegiance  I  owe 
to  the  King  is  due  to  him  in  his  representative  capacity, 
as  supreme  executor  of  the  laws  made  by  a  joint  power  of 
him  and  others."  Agreed,  Sir,  for  argument's  sake ;  but 
is  not  the  King  vested  with  the  Executive  power  of  this 
Government?  Is  he  not  the  representative  of  our  whole 
State,  to  see  that  our  laws  are  duly  carried  into  execution  ? 
And  is  not  (on  your  principles)  an  oath  of  allegiance  by  a 
Pennsylvanian  to  the  King,  made  to  him  as  supreme  exe- 
cutor of  the  laws  of  Pennsylvania  ?  And  if,  Sir,  an  oath 
of  allegiance,  taken  by  a  subject  in  England  to  the  King, 
is  to  him  as  representative  of  the  supreme  Legislature  of 
Great  Britain,  I  ask,  where  is  the  absurdity  of  supposing, 
an  oath  of  allegiance  taken  by  a  Pennsylvanian,  to  be 
taken  by  him  to  the  King,  as  the  representative  of  the 
Legislative  power  of  Pennsylvania,  which  is  the  supreme 
power  of  the  Government  in  which  he  lives  ?  There  can 
be  none.  But  further,  Sir ;  does  not  every  American  ac- 
knowledge that  he  is  bound  by  the  common  law  of  Eng- 
land, and  such  statutes  as  were  made  before  the  settlement 
of  the  Colonies,  and  which  are  applicable  to  our  situation? 
Is  not  the  King  supreme  executor  of  these  laws  ?  And 
where  is  the  impropriety  of  supposing  the  oath  of  allegiance 
to  relate  to  him  as  supreme  executor  of  these  laws,  which 
we  acknowledge  do  bind  us,  and  at  the  same  time  reject- 
ing the  absurd  and  dangerous  idea  of  its  including  an  obli- 
gation to  be  bound  by  every  law  that  the  British  Parlia- 
ment has,  or  may  make  ? 

I  have  sufficiently  destroyed,  I  trust,  the  two  main  pillars 
of  your  system.  But  not  content  with  endeavouring  to 
prove  the  Americans  subject  to  the  uncontrolled  power  of 


the  British  Parliament,  you  are  for  reducing  the  Legisla- 
tures of  the  several  Colonies  to  the  degrading  situation  of 
mere  corporations.  "  The  original  intent  of  the  preroga- 
tive, under  which  the  inhabitants  of  particular  districts  of 
territory  have  been  incorporated  into  bodies  politick,  was 
to  enable  the  representative  of  the  State  to  form  inferiour 
communities,  with  municipal  rights  and  privileges  ;  this  pre- 
rogative is  very  ancient;  William  the  Conqueror  granted 
to  London  two  Charters,"  &ic. 

If  we  examine  into  the  nature  of  corporations  erected 
by  the  prerogative,  we  shall  find  you  are  still  unhappy  in 
the  application  of  your  principles.  That  the  King,  by  his 
prerogative,  may  erect  the  inhabitants  of  particular  districts 
into  inferiour  communities,  with  "  municipal  rights  and  pri- 
vileges," is  readily  granted.  But  it  requires  more  than 
this  to  show  that  the  Colonies  are  mere  Corporations. 
After  granting  all  you  call  for,  your  conclusions  do  not  fol- 
low ;  for  though,  as  you  say,  the  King  may  incorporate 
inferiour  communities  with  municipal  rights,  yet  it  does  not 
follow  that  the  King  can  grant  to  mere  corporations  full 
Legislative  power.  Let  any  one  consider  what  is  the  ob- 
ject of  corporations,  and  the  purpose  for  which  they  are 
granted,  and  the  comparison  must  vanish.  But,  Sir,  is  not 
the  King  visiter  of  all  corporations ?  And  has  not  the 
Court  of  King's  Bench  a  power  to  inquire  into,  and  cor- 
rect all  the  irregularities  that  have  arisen  in  any  of  them  ? 
And  is  this,  Sir,  one  of  the  "  solid  foundations"  from  which 
you  have  deduced  the  rights  of  Americans!  Certainly 
you  will  have  the  thanks  of  the  British  Ministry  for  going 
further  than  even  they  have  dared.  They  contend  only 
that  we  are  subject  to  the  power  of  Parliament:  You,  Sir, 
go  further,  and  meritoriously  endeavour  to  prove  that  we 
not  only  are  subject  to  Parliament,  but  to  the  Court  of 
King's  Bench,  where  that  friend  to  liberty,  Lord  Mansfield, 
now  presides. 

Let  us  next  examine  your  favourite  position,  that  the 
rights  of  the  Commons  to  a  share  in  legislation  is  derived 
from,  and  represent  the  lands  within  the  Realm.  Having, 
as  you  think,  fully  shown  this,  you  proceed  (no  doubt, 
with  "  ineffable  pleasure")  to  show  that,  by  necessary  con- 
sequence, the  Americans  have  lost,  not  the  right,  but  the 
exercise  of  the  right  of  being  represented  in  the  British 
Parliament,  though  they  still  continue  subject  to  all  its 
laws.  What  does  this  amount  to  ?  Why,  you  have  a  right, 
but  it  is  impossible  you  can  derive  any  advantage  from  it. 
You  have  a  right,  but  it  is  impossible  you  can  exercise  it. 
Want  of  right  and  want  of  remedy,  is  said,  in  law,  to  be  the 
same.  What  an  insult  to  an  oppressed  people,  to  tell 
them  they  have  a  right,  but  that  it  is  impossible  they  can 
either  exercise  it,  or  derive  any  advantage  from  it.  But 
let  us  next  examine  your  position,  and  see  if  it  is  well 
founded.  I  apprehend  it  is  not,  and  that  your  idea  of 
representation  is  partial  and  inadequate.  That  the  landed 
interest  is  represented  in  part,  is  granted,  and  you  might 
have  saved  yourself  the  trouble  of  several  tedious  pages  to 
prove  what  every  man  would  immediately  assent  to.  But 
is  the  landed  the  only  interest  that  is  represented  ?  Or, 
does  representation  arise  from  land  only  ?  I  answer  both 
in  the  negative  ;  and  thus  I  prove  it :  The  Commons  is  the 
Democratick  part  of  the  English  Constitution.  In  small 
Democracies,  the  people  should,  and  in  many  (in  Greece) 
they  did  exercise  the  Legislative  power  in  their  aggregate 
capacity.  In  so  large  a  State  as  England,  such  a  tumul- 
tuous meeting  would  be  attended  with  danger  and  inconve- 
niences ;  and,  therefore,  it  is  provided  by  the  English  Con- 
stitution, that  the  people  shall  exercise  this  power  by  their 
Representatives,  which  it  would  be  inconvenient  should 
be  done  in  their  collective  capacity.  This,  Sir,  is  the 
principle  of  representation,  and  by  which  every  man  of 
property  in  England  has  a  voice  in  Parliament.  It  is 
upon  this  principle  that  the  landed  interest  is  represented 
by  their  Knights  of  the  Shire.  This,  Sir,  is  not  the  origin, 
but  the  consequence  of  representation.  Are  not  the  Citi- 
zens and  Burgesses  chosen  by  the  Mercantile  or  Trading 
interest  of  the  Nation  ?  Has  not  every  man  who  is  free  of 
a  Borough  a  vote,  and  consequently,  is  he  not  represent- 
ed in  Parliament,  although  he  has  not  a  foot  of  land  ? 
In  short,  the  whole  of  representation,  according  to  the 
English  Constitution,  is  this  :  in  all  free  Governments  a 
branch  of  the  Legislative  power  should  reside  in  the 
people.    In  so  large  a  Government  as  England,  this  is  not 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775.  90 


on 

oy 

practicable  to  be  exercised  in  their  collective  capacities ; 
from  hence  arose  the  necessity  of  representation,  upon  the 
genuine  principles  of  which,  every  member  of  the  commu- 
nity should  have  a  voice.  In  forming  this  representation, 
care  was  taken  of  the  landed  interest,  and  Knights  of  the 
Shire  were  elected  by  proprietors  of  land  to  represent  it. 
But  this  alone  would  have  been  a  partial,  inadequate  repre- 
sentation ;  care  was  also  taken  to  have  the  trading  interest 
represented,  that  so  not  the  landed  interest  only,  but  the 
whole  body  of  the  people  should  be  represented  by  the 
House  of  Commons:  in  choosing  whom,  says  a  learned 
Judge,  there  is  scarce  a  free  agent  in  England  who  has 
not  a  vote.  This  subject  might  be  continued  further  if 
necessary,  but  enough  has  been  said  to  show  your  idea  of 
representation  to  be  erroneous. 

According  to  you,  Sir,  we  are  bound  by  all  laws  made 
bj  the  British  Parliament.  We  have  a  right  to  be  repre- 
sented there,  but  it  is  impossible  we  can  enjoy  that  right. 
So  that  the  "  persons,  lives,  and  estates  of  the  subjects  in 
America  are  at  the  disposal  of  an  absolute  power,  without 
the  least  security  for  the  enjoyment  of  their  rights."  This 
is  a  dreadful  situation  !  And  the  very  reading  it  is  suffi- 
cient to  freeze  the  blood  of  any  man  that  has  a  spark  of 
liberty  in  him.  How  it  has  roused  your  passions  !  How 
animated  is  your  observations  on  it !  You  say,  "  most 
certain  it  is,  that  this  is  a  situation  which  people  accus- 
tomed to  liberty  cannot  sit  easy  under."  Sit  easy  under 
slavery !  It  is  a  situation  that  all  your  sophistry,  threats, 
or  the  arms  of  Britain  will  never  make  an  American  sit 
under  at  all. 

But  now  the  curtain  is  drawn  up — the  plan  of  union 
gentlemen,  which  is  to  restore  us  to  the  enjoyment  of  our 
lost  rights!  Having  shown, as  you  think,  that  we  have  no 
risrhts  at  all,  you  very  patriotically  propose  a  plan,  by  which, 
if  the  British  Administration  pleases,  we  may  be  restored 
to  some.  But  the  very  position  tells  us  we  are  slaves. 
If  our  restoration  to  rights  depends  upon  the  pleasure  and 
will  of  the  British  Legislature,  they  are  our  masters  ;  we 
must  submit  to  their  pleasure.  But  send  the  author  of  the 
plan  over  as  a  delegate  to  solicit  your  cause,  "  the  ex- 
pense will  be  trifling  ;"  it  is  a  task  he  would,  no  doubt, 
perform  "  with  ineffable  pleasure." 

You  say,  Sir,  you  have  often  conversed  with  the  author 
of  the  plan,  and  well  understand  his  principles.  Pray,  Sir, 
ask  him  whether  he  did  not,  in  a  Committee  of  Congress, 
deny,  from  the  same  learned  quotations  about  landed  pro- 
perty, the  power  of  Parliament  to  bind  the  Colonies  in 
any  case.  His  conclusions  from  the  same  premises  were, 
I  am  told,  very  different  from  what  you  have  drawn  in  this 
pamphlet.  He  insisted  that  the  right  of  English  liberty 
is  a  right  to  participate  in  legislation  ;  that  as  the  lands  in 
America  are  not  represented,  Americans  could  not  be  re- 
presented, and  not  being  represented,  they,  of  course,  could 
not  be  bound  ;  from  hence  he  drew  an  inference  of  the  ne- 
cessity of  some  plan  of  union.  Did  he  not,  Sir,  on  this 
principle,  deny  the  power  of  Parliament  even  to  regulate 
Trade  ?  And  did  he  not  even  vote  against  it  in  Con- 
gress ? 

Much  has  been  said  against  the  Congress  for  rejecting 
this  plan.  The  matter,  I  am  told,  stands  thus:  When  it 
was  first  introduced  in  Congress,  most  of  the  members 
heard  it  with  horrour,  as  an  idle,  dangerous,  whimsical, 
Ministerial  plan.  Some  of  the  "  Pennsylvania  Oracles," 
Friends,  with  whom  infinite  pains  had  been  taken  before 
hand,  moved  to  have  it  committed.  This  was  rejected  ; 
then  a  motion  was  made  that  the  plan  might  lie  on  the 
table,  to  be  taken  up  at  any  future  day.  This  was  carried 
in  the  affirmative.  When  the  minutes  came  to  be  revised, 
towards  the  end  of  the  sitting,  the  plan  was  omitted.  Here 
the  patriot  raged,  and  insisted  on  his  right  to  have  it  on 
the  minutes.  The  question  was  put,  and  a  great  majority 
thought  the  inserting  it  in  the  Journal  would  be  disgracing 
their  records,  and  accordingly  rejected  it.  Certainly  in 
such  a  society,  every  question  must,  of  course,  be  deter- 
mined by  a  majority.  If,  then,  a  majority  were  of  opinion 
that  the  inserting  it  on  their  Journal  would  be  disgraceful 
and  injurious,  they  unquestionably  had  a  right  to  reject  it. 
If  his  plan  was  defensible,  why  did  he  not  enter  into  the 
argument  with  a  gentleman  from  Virginia,  who  challenged 
him  to  it,  and  who  said  he  could  prove  it  to  be  big  with 
destruction  to  the  Colonies  ?    'Tis  true  he  did,  when  thus 


called  upon,  say  that  he  would  defend  it,  if  the  Congress 
would  appoint  a  day  for  that  purpose.  But  this,  Sir,  was 
when  all  was  hurry,  and  the  forms  of  business  only  delayed 
their  breaking  up.  Besides,  it  was  a  little  remarkable, 
that  this  "  Oracle"  was  not  ready  to  undertake  the  defence 
of  a  plan,  when  he  had  been  for  months  haranguing  and 
caballing  about  it. 

You  have  mentioned  some  of  the  objections  that  were 
hinted  against  the  plan,  for  it  is  false  to  say  that  the  merits 
of  it  were  ever  regularly  debated  in  Congress.  One  of 
those  objections  is,  that  the  members  of  the  Grand  Coun- 
cil would  be  corrupted,  and  betray  the  interest  of  the 
Colonies.  To  this  you  answer,  "  that  if  American  virtue 
was  not  firm  enough  to  maintain  liberty,  it  could  be  sup- 
ported by  no  wisdom  or  policy  whatever.  But  supposing 
the  people  to  be  in  so  corrupt  a  state,  yet  as  the  election 
was  to  be  triennial,  they  might  change  them  every  three 
years,  &ic. ;  and  besides,  to  avoid  all  risks  of  the  Country, 
they  might,  by  altering  one  word,  as  the  plan,  make  the 
election  duannual  or  annual,  which  must  certainly  remove 
the  objection."  No,  Sir!  it  will  not  do  yet,  not  even  with 
the  alteration.  For  let  us  once  suppose  this  darling  plan 
executed,  an  American  Parliament  met.  Suppose  when 
thus  met,  a  motion  is  made,  showing  the  inconvenience  and 
difficulties  of  frequent  elections,  and  proposing  the  making 
a  law  extending  their  political  existence  for  seven  years ; 
precedents  may  be  pleaded  for  it.  But,  Sir,  supposing  this 
Parliament  to  be  but  annual,  may  they  not  in  one  year, 
one  month,  one  day,  nay,  in  one  hour,  pass  a  vote,  which 
may  forever  annihilate  the  liberties  of  all  America  1  But 
will  you  not  trust  the  virtue  of  Americans!  Sir,  I  entertain  a 
high  reverence  for  the  virtue  of  my  countrymen.  But  the 
trust  is  too  sacred.  Permit  me  to  tell  you,  that  neither 
"  wisdom  or  policy"  would  dictate  the  leaving  the  liberties 
of  a  Country  to  the  virtues  of  any  men,  however  great  or 
conspicuous.  We  know  too  well  the  fallibility  of  human 
nature,  and  both  "wisdom  and  policy"  teach  us  to  sup- 
port our  liberlies  with  other  props  and  pillars.  I  did  not 
intend  to  have  touched  on  the  merits  of  the  plan,  but  when 
1  saw  one  of  the  objections  to  it  so  mutilated,  I  thought 
proper  to  state  the  objections  more  fully  and  forcibly.  The 
whole  of  the  plan  is  confused,  impracticable,  and  danger- 
ous, as  probably  soon  will  be  shown. 

I  have  reserved  till  now,  purposely,  my  remarks  on  the 
gross  abuse  and  calumny  thrown  out  in  your  pamphlet 
against  the  Congress.  How  unfair,  how  ungenerous,  to 
take  detached  parts  of  their  proceedings,  and  from  thence 
draw  inferences  as  to  their  principles  !  How  dare  you,  Sir, 
in  the  face  of  America,  assert  that  they  have  proposed  no 
plan  of  accommodation  ?  That  every  page  conveys  senti- 
ments of  independence  ?  Have  they  not  expressly  said, 
(and  is  it  not  the  groundwork  of  their  whole  proceedings,) 
place  America  in  the  situation  she  was  in  before  1763,  and 
all  our  complaints  will  subside  ?  Is  this  not  proposing  a 
plan  of  accommodation  ?  Yes,  Sir,  and  the  only  reasonable 
constitutional  plan  that  can  be  devised.  Tear  away  that 
system  of  Revenue  Laws,  and  their  attendants,  and  peace 
will  be  restored.  And  is  this,  Sir,  talking  of  independence  ? 
Consider  the  Statutes  prior  to  1763,  to  which  America  con- 
cedes obedience;  consider  the  acknowledged  prerogatives 
of  the  King  of  Great  Britain,  in  all  the  Colonies;  the  ap- 
peal to  the  King  and  Council  from  judicial  determinations  ; 
his  negative  to  laws;  and  let  any  impartial  man  say,  whe- 
ther this  is  a  system  of  independence.  The  labours  and 
virtue  of  the  Congress  in  the  cause  of  liberty,  will,  to  latest 
ages,  be  revered  and  esteemed,  while  you  and  your  attempts 
will  only  be  remembered  to  show  posterity  that  even  in 
these  days  of  liberty,  America  had  some  degenerate  sons — 
a  Jefferies  and  a  Eilmer. 

But,  good  Sir,  before  we  part,  let  me  ask  you  how  you 
came  to  publish  your  friend  to  the  world  as  a  man  of  no 
principle  or  virtue.  I  see  he  has  signed  the  Association. 
I  am  told  he  signed  the  Petition  to  the  King.  I  find  in 
the  Association  he  says,  (for  it  is  certainly  the  act  of  all 
who  signed  it,)  "  the  present  unhappy  situation  of  our 
affairs  is  occasioned  by  a  ruinous  system  of  Colony  ad- 
ministration, adopted  by  the  British  Ministry  about  the 
year  1763,  evidently  calculated  for  enslaving  those  Colo- 
nies." And,  Sir,  I  find  further,  that  he  did,  for  himself 
and  those  he  represented,  firmly  agree  and  associate,  un- 
der the  sacred  ties  of  virtue,  honour,  and  love  of  his  Coun- 


91 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775. 


92 


try,  to  carry  the  Association  into  execution.  Let  us  now 
hear  your  account  of  your  friend's  conduct.  Deluded  by 
hopes  that  his  plan  would  be  considered,  he  was  led  weak- 
ly to  sign  the  Association.  And  your  inference  is  plain, 
that  he  is  released  from  the  obligation,  because  he  was 
disappointed  in  his  expectation.  What,  Sir,  would  your 
friend  bind  not  only  himself  but  his  constituents  to  the  per- 
formance of  an  agreement  which  must,  in  his  opinion,  lead 
to  their  destruction  ?  Does  his  notions  of  the  "  sacred  ties 
of  honour,  virtue,  and  love  of  his  Country,"  sit  so  easy  on 
him,  that  he  can  enter  into  them  to  carry  a  favourite  politi- 
cal point,  and  shake  them  off  at  pleasure,  when  his  views 
are  disappointed  ?  One  of  the  Pennsylvania  Delegates, 
who  dissented  on  the  Association,  and  could  not  agree  to 
carry  into  execution,  staid  away  and  declined  signing  it. 
I  have  now  done  with  you.  My  view  in  writing  these 
hasty  remarks  was  not  merely  to  defend  the  Congress,  but 
to  remove  any  bad  impressions  from  your  ill-grounded, 
base,  and  illiberal  attack  on  them.  To  the  impartial  pub- 
lick  I  submit  how  far  I  have  succeeded. 


CUMBERLAND  COUNTY  (MASSACHUSETTS)  CONVENTION. 

At  a  Convention  of  Delegates  from  the  several  Towns 
in  the  County  of  Cumberland,  held  at  the  Court-House  in 
Falmouth,  Wednesday,  March  8,  1775, 

Enoch  Freeman,  Chairman. 

Adjourned  to  the  Assembly  Room,  twelve  o'clock. 

Met  at  the  Assembly  Room,  according  to  adjournment. 

The  following  new  Members  were  admitted,  viz : 

From  North  Yarmouth — The  Hon.  Jeremiah  Pow- 
ell, Esquire,  and  Jonas  Mason,  Esquire. 

From  New  Glocester — Mr.  Abel  Davis  and  Mr. 
Moses  Merril. 

Resolved,  That  this  Convention  do  earnestly  recom- 
mend to  the  several  Towns  in  this  County  strictly  to  ob- 
serve the  Resolutions  of  the  Provincial  Congress  with 
respect  to  paying  their  Province  Taxes  to  Henry  Gard- 
ner, Esquire,  of  Stow ;  and  considering  the  alarming  situa- 
tion which  this  Province  is  now  unhappily  brought  into,  it 
is  further  recommended  that  they  comply  with  this  Resolve 
as  soon  as  possible. 

Then  adjourned  to  Thursday  morning,  nine  o'clock. 

Thursday,  March  9,  1775. 

Met,  according  to  adjournment. 

Whereas,  for  the  information  of  the  inhabitants  of  the 
remote  Towns  of  this  Count}',  several  of  the  Members 
thereof  are  desirous  of  knowing  the  circumstances  that 
attend  the  importation  of  certain  Goods  which  have  arrived 
in  the  harbour  of  Falmouth,  from  Bristol,  since  the  first  of 
February  last, 

Voted,  That  Mr.  Parsons,  Clerk  of  the  Committee  of 
Inspection  for  said  Falmouth,  be  desired  to  attend  on  this 
Convention,  with  the  proceedings  of  said  Committee  re- 
specting said  Goods. 

Mr.  Parsons  accordingly  attended  with  said  proceed- 
ings, which  being  read, 

Voted,  That  Captain  Thomas  Coulson,  the  Importer 
of  said  Goods,  be  desired  to  attend  on  this  Convention. 

Voted,  That  a  Committee  of  three  persons  wait  on 
Captain  Coulson,  to  desire  his  attendance. 

Voted,  That  Mr.  lsley,  Col.  Mitchel,  and  Col.  Thomp- 
son, be  of  this  Committee. 

Captain  Coulson  accordingly  attended,  and  being  asked 
for  a  manifest  of  the  cargo  brought  for  him  by  a  vessel  which 
lately  arrived  from  Bristol,  he  presented  to  this  Conven- 
tion a  manifest  of  two  hogsheads  of  Lines  and  sundry  Rig- 
ging, Sails,  and  Stores  for  a  new  Ship  lately  built  by  him 
in  this  place,  which  he  said  was  the  original  and  only  ac- 
count he  had  received  of  said  cargo.  Being  then  interro- 
gated Whether  he  intended  to  send  the  same  back  to  Bris- 
tol, agreeable  to  the  opinion  of  the  Committee  of  Inspec- 
tion for  the  Town  of  Falmouth,  he  answered,  that  he  would 
send  back  the  vessel  with  the  two  hogsheads  of  Lines, 
(when  the  vessel  was  repaired,)  but  that  he  could  not  send 
back  the  Rigging,  Sails,  and  Stores,  as  he  wanted  them  for 
his  new  Ship,  which,  he  said,  he  could  not  send  home 
without,  but  that  he  was  willing  to  let  the  vessel  lay  in  the 
habour  with  the  said  Ringing,  Sails,  and  Stores  on  board, 
until  the  sitting  of  the  Provincial  Congress. 


Said  Coulson  was  then  asked  whether  he  would  send 
back  the  said  Vessel  and  Stores  to  Biistol,  if  it  should  be 
the  opinion  of  the  said  Congress  that  he  ought  so  to  do. 
He  answered  that  he  would,  if  they  would  put  him  in  a 
way  to  get  his  said  new  Ship  home  ;  but  that  otherwise  he 
could  not  do  it. 

Captain  Coulson  was  likewise  asked  whether  the  articles 
contained  in  the  said  manifest  were  all  the  vessel  brought. 
He  answered  that  there  was  nothing  else  on  board  said  ves- 
sel ;  that  nothing  had  been  taken  out  of  her  but  a  bed  be- 
longing to  one  of  the  sailors,  and  that  nothing  should  be 
taken  out  till  he  had  the  opinion  of  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress. 

Then  adjourned  to  the  Library  Chamber,  three  o'clock, 
P.  M. 

Three  o'clock,  P.  M. 

Met,  according  to  adjournment. 

After  a  full  consideration  of  the  foregoing  matter  respect- 
ing Captain  Coulson,  it  appears  to  this  Convention  that 
the  importation  of  the  aforegoing  Rigging,  Sails,  and  Stores, 
is  a  violation  of  the  Continental  Association.  And  whereas 
the  said  Committee  of  Inspection  have  given  it  as  their 
opinion,  that  the  same  ought  forthwith  to  be  sent  back, 
without  breaking  any  of  the  packages  thereof ;  therefore, 

Voted,  (by  a  majority  of  twenty-three  to  three,)  That 
this  Convention  do  highly  approve  of  the  proceedings  of 
said  Committee,  and  we  do  earnestly  request  that  said 
Committee  would  pursue  every  measure  recommended  by 
the  Association  of  the  Continental  Congress  for  putting 
into  execution  the  several  articles  thereof. 

Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended,  and  it  is  hereby 
strongly  recommended  to  the  several  Towns  in  this  Coun- 
ty, that  they  immediately  take  effectual  care  to  provide 
themselves  a  stock  of  Ammunition,  double  at  least  to  that 
required  by  the  Province  Law,  and  such  a  quantity  of 
Provisions  as  may  by  them  respectively  be  thought  neces- 
sary for  the  exigencies  of  the  present  season.  And  as  it  is 
of  the  utmost  importance  that  husbandry  should  at  this  day 
be  more  particularly  encouraged,  it  is  earnestly  recom- 
mended that  the  inhabitants  of  this  County  would  exert 
themselves,  as  far  as  possible,  to  promote  the  raising  such 
necessaries  of  life  as  may  be  suitable  to  the  qualities  of  their 
respective  lands. 

Voted,  That  the  several  Members  of  this  Convention 
be  and  hereby  are  desired  to  recommend  to  the  inhabitants 
of  their  several  Towns,  strictly  to  adhere  to  the  Resolves 
of  the  Continental  and  Provincial  Congresses.  And  that 
they  use  their  best  endeavours  to  discourage  riots,  mobs, 
and  all  tumultuous  proceedings,  and  that  they  would  en- 
deavour, as  much  as  in  them  lies,  to  promote  peace,  order, 
and  decorum,  as  essentially  necessary  for  the  safety  of  the 
people  at  this  critical  day. 

Voted,  That  such  of  the  proceedings  of  this  Conven- 
tion be  published  as  the  Falmouth  Delegates  shall  think  fit. 

Voted,  That  this  Convention  be  dissolved. 

Samuel  Freeman,  Clerk. 


GEORGE   MASON   TO   GEORGE  WASHINGTON. 

Gunston-Hall,  (Virginia,)  March  9,  1775. 

Dear  Sir:  I  have  at  last  finished  the  Potomack  River 
Bill,  which  I  now  send  you,  together  with  some  very  long 
remarks  thereon,  and  a  letter  to  Mr.  Johnston,  into  which 
you  will  be  pleased  to  put  a  wafer,  when  you  forward  the 
other  papers  to  him.  I  also  return  the  Acts  of  Assembly, 
and  Mr.  Johnston's  notes  which  you  sent  me.  This  affair 
has  taken  me  five  times  as  long  as  I  expected  ;  and  I  do 
assure  you  I  never  engaged  in  any  thing  which  puzzled 
me  more — there  were  such  a  number  of  contingencies  to 
provide  for,  and  drawing  up  laws,  a  thing  so  much  out  of 
my  way.  1  shall  be  well  pleased  if  the  pains  I  have  bestow- 
ed upon  the  subject  prove  of  any  service  to  so  great  an  un- 
dertaking. But  by  what  I  can  understand,  there  will  be  so 
strong  an  opposition  from  Baltimore  and  the  head  of  the 
Bay,  as  will  go  near  to  prevent  its  passage  through  the 
Maryland  Assembly  in  any  shape  it  can  be  offered. 

I  suppose  you  have  heard  of  the  late  purchase  made  by 
some  North-Carolina  gentlemen  from  the  Cherokee  In- 
dians, of  all  the  country  between  the  Great  Kanawha  and 
the  Tennessee  Rivers.  I  think,  considering  this  Colony 
has  just  expended  about  One  Hundred  Thousand  Pounds 


93 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775. 


94 


upon  die  defence  of  that  country,  that  this  is  a  pretty  bold 
stroke  of  the  gentlemen.  It  is  suspected  some  of  our  Vir- 
ginia gentlemen  are  privately  concerned  in  it. 

I  have  always  expected  that  the  new-fangled  doctrine 
lately  broached,  of  the  Crown  having  no  title  beyond  the 
Alleghany  Mountains  until  after  the  purchase  at  Fort 
Stanwix,  would  produce  a  thousand  other  absurdities  and 
squabbles.  However,  if  I  am  not  mistaken,  the  Crown,  at 
that  Treaty,  purchased  of  the  Six  Nations  all  the  Lands 
as  low  as  the  Tennessee  River.  So  now,  I  suppose,  we 
must  have  a  formal  trial,  whether  the  Six  Nations  or  the 
Cherokees  had  the  legal  right ;  but  whether  this  is  to  be 
done  by  Ejectment,  Writ  of  Inquiry,  Writ  of  Partition,  or 
what  other  process,  let  those  who  invented  this  curious  dis- 
tinction determine.  The  inattention  of  our  Assembly  to  so 
grand  an  object  as  the  right  of  this  Colony  to  the  Western 
Lands,  is  inexcusable,  and  the  confusion  it  will  introduce 
endless. 

We  make  but  a  poor  hand  of  collecting ;  very  few  pay, 
though  every  body  promises,  except  Mr.  Hartshorn,  of 
Alt  •  andria,  who  flatly  refused  ;  his  conscience,  I  suppose, 
would  not  suffer  him  to  be  concerned  in  paying  for  the  in- 
struments of  death.     Your  affectionate  humble  servant, 

G.  Mason. 

George  Washington,  Esquire. 


Boston,  (Monday,)  Marcli  13,  1755. 

Last  Thursday  morning,  the  9th  instant,  a  countryman 
was  tarred  and  feathered,  and  carried  through  some  of 
the  streets  of  this  Town  by  a  party  of  Soldiers,  attended 
by  some  Officers. 

The  following  is  the  man's  own  Deposition  relative  to 
that  affair,  sworn  to  before  a  Magistrate,  upon  which  we 
shall  make  no  remarks,  but  leave  the  publick  to  judge  of 
the  conduct  of  some  of  those  who  are  said  to  have  been 
sent  among  us  to  preserve  peace  and  good  order,  and  to 
prevent  mobs,  tumults,  and  other  unlawful  assemblies. 

Deposition  of  Thomas  Ditson. 
I,  Thomas  Ditson,  Jun.,  of  Billerica,  husbandman,  tes- 
tify and  declare,  that  while  walking  in  Fore-street,  on  the 
8th  of  March,  in  the  forenoon,  I  inquired  of  some  towns- 
men, who  had  any  guns  to  sell  ?  One,  whom  I  did  not 
know,  replied  he  had  a  very  fine  gun  to  sell.  The  man 
appeared  to  be  a  Soldier,  and  I  went  with  him  to  a  house 
where  one  was,  whom  the  Soldier  called  Sergeant,  and  see- 
ing some  old  clothes  about  the  house,  I  asked  whether  they 
sold  such  things.  The  Sergeant  replied  that  they  did  fre- 
quently. I  then  asked  his  price  for  an  old  red  coat,  ript  to 
pieces.  He  asked  Three  Shillings  and  Six  Pence  Sterling  ; 
but  I  refused  to  give  it.  Then  one  McClenchy,  the  Soldier 
I  met  with  at  first  in  the  street,  said  he  had  some  old  clothes 
to  sell,  and  sent  his  wife  out  after  them  to  a  man  he  called 
Sergeant,  and  she  soon  brought  an  old  jacket  and  an  old 
coat.  I  then  asked  him  if  he  had  any  right  to  sell  them, 
and  the  Sergeant  said  that  they  frequently  sold  them,  and 
he  would  give  me  a  writing  if  I  desired  it;  but  said  there 
was  no  occasion.  I  then  bought  the  said  coat  and  jacket, 
and  gave  Two  Pistareens,  and  then  put  the  clothes  in  a 
bag,  which  I  left  behind.  After  which  I  went  to  McClen- 
chy's  to  see  his  gun,  which  he  said  was  a  very  fine  piece. 
I  asked  him  if  he  had  any  right  to  sell  it.  He  replied  he 
had,  and  that  the  gun  was  his  to  dispose  of  at  any  time.  I 
then  asked  whether  the  sentry  would  not  take  it  from  me 
at  the  Ferry,  as  I  had  heard  that  some  persons  had  had 
their  guns  taken  from  them,  but  never  thought  there  was 
any  law  against  trading  with  a  soldier.  He  then  told  me 
he  had  stood  sentry,  and  that  they  frequently  let  them 
pass.  He  then  asked  me  what  I  would  give  for  the  gun. 
I  told  him  I  would  give  Four  Dollars,  if  there  was  no  risk 
in  carrying  it  over  the  Ferry.  He  said  there  was  not,  and 
that  I  might  rely  on  his  word.  I  then  agreed  to  give  Four 
Dollars  for  his  gun,  but  did  not  take  it  nor  pay  the  money. 
Coming  away ,  he  followed  me  down  stairs,  and  said  there  was 
a  Sergeant  that  had  an  old  rusty  piece  he  would  sell  cheap. 
I  asked  him  his  price.  He  said  he  would  sell  it  for  One 
Dollar  and  a  Half,  if  I  would  pay  the  money  down  ;  and 
he  urged  me  to  take  it.  I  then  agreed  to  give  him  said 
sum.  His  wife,  as  he  called  her,  then  came  down,  and 
said,  McClenchy,  what  are  you  going  to  do  to  bring  that 
man  into  a  scrape.    I  then  told  them  that  if  there  was  any 


difficulty  to  give  me  my  money  again ;  but  he  refused,  and 
replied  his  wife  made  an  oration  about  nothing,  and  that 
he  had  a  right  to  sell  his  gun  to  any  body.  I  was  afraid 
from  her  speaking,  that  there  was  something  not  right  in 
it,  and  left  the  gun ;  and  coming  away,  he  followed  me, 
and  urged  the  guns  upon  me.  I  told  him  I  had  rather  not 
take  them,  for  fear  of  what  his  wife  said.  He  then  de- 
clared there  was  no  danger,  for  he  had  spoken  to  the  Offi- 
cer or  sentry,  who  said  he  had  a  right  to  dispose  of  them, 
and  urged  me  to  pay  the  Four  Dollars  I  had  offered  for  the 
gun  ;  which  I  then  refused,,  and  desired  I  might  have  the 
One  and  Half  Dollar  back  which  I  had  paid  him  for  the 
gun.  He  refused,  saying  there  was  no  danger,  and  damned 
me  for  a  fool.  I  then  paid  him  the  Four  Dollars  for  the 
good  gun,  but  did  not  receive  any  one  of  them.  After  I 
had  paid  the  money,  he  then  said,  take  care  of  yourself;  and 
the  first  thing  I  saw  was  some  men  coming  up.  1  then 
stept  off  to  go  after  my  great  coat,  but  they  followed  and 
seized  me,  and  carried  me  to  the  Guard-house  upon  Fos- 
ter's  Wharf.  This  was  about  six  or  seven  o'clock  in  the 
evening.  When  I  came  into  the  Guard-house  they  read 
me  a  law  which  I  never  before  saw  nor  heard  of.  I  was 
detained  there  till  about  seven  in  the  morning,  when  I  ex- 
pected I  should  have  been  obliged  to  pay  the  Five  Pounds 
mentioned  in  the  law  read  to  me,  and  hired  a  Regular  to 
carry  a  letter  to  some  friends  over  the  Ferry,  which  was  to 
desire  them  to  come  to  me  as  quick  as  possible,  with  money 
to  pay  my  fine.  Soon  after  the  Sergeant  came  in  and  or- 
dered me  to  strip.  I  then  asked  him  what  he  was  going 
to  do  with  me.  He  said,  damn  you  I  am  going  to  serve 
you  as  you  have  served  our  men ;  then  came  in  a  Soldier 
with  a  bucket  of  tar  and  a  pillow  of  feathers.  I  was  then 
made  to  strip,  which  I  did  to  my  breeches ;  they  then  tar- 
red and  feathered  me ;  and  while  they  were  doing  it,  an 
Officer  who  stood  at  the  door  said,  tar  and  feather  his 
breeches,  which  they  accordingly  did,  and  I  was  then  tarred 
and  feathered  from  head  to  foot,  and  had  a  paper  read  to 
me,  which  was  then  tied  round  my  neck,  but  afterwards 
turned  behind  me,  with  the  following  words  wrote  upon  it, 
to  the  best  of  my  remembrance :  "  American  Liberty,  or 
Democracy  exemplified  in  a  villian  who  attempted  to  entice 
one  of  the  Soldiersof  His  Majesty's  Forty-Seventh  Regiment 
to  desert,  and  take  up  Arms  with  Rebels  against  his  King 
and  Country."  I  was  then  ordered  to  walk  out  and  get  into 
a  chair  fastened  upon  trucks,  which  I  did,  when  a  number  of 
the  King's  Soldiers,  as  I  imagined  about  forty  or  fifty,  arm- 
ed with  guns  and  fixed  bayonets,  surrounded  the  trucks, 
and  they  marched,  with  a  number  of  Officers  before  them, 
one  of  whom  I  was  told  was  the  Colonel  of  the  Forty-Sev- 
enth Regiment,  who  I  have  since  heard  was  named  Nesbit, 
together  with  a  number  of  drums  and  fifes,  from  the  Wharf 
up  King-street,  and  down  Fore-street,  and  then  through 
the  main  street  passing  the  Governour's  house,  until  they 
came -to  Liberty-tree  ;  they  then  turned  up  Frog-lane,  and 
made  a  halt,  and  a  Sergeant,  as  I  took  him  to  be,  said, 
get  down.  I  then  asked  him  which  way  I  should  go.  and 
he  said,  where  you  please.  Near  the  Governour's  house, 
the  inhabitants  pressed  in  upon  the  Soldiers  ;  the  latter  ap- 
peared to  me  to  be  angry,  and  I  was  then  afraid  they  would 
have  fired,  they  being  ordered  to  load  their  muskets,  which 
they  did.  Thomas  Ditson,  Jun. 

Suffolk,  Boston,  ss.,  March  9.  1775 : 

The  above-named  Thomas  Ditson,  Jun.,  personally  ap- 
pearing, maketh  solemn  oath  to  the  truth  of  the  foregoing 
Deposition  by  him  subscribed.  Before 

Edm.  Quincey,  Justice  of  the  Peace. 


TO  THE   INHABITANTS   OF   THE  MASSACHUSETTS-BAY. 
NO.  V. 

Boston,  March  9,  1775. 
My  Friends  and  Fellow-Citizens  :  In  our  last  we 
showed  that  the  torrent  of  evidence,  the  run  of  history, 
a  series  of  facts,  the  scheme  of  British  policy,  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  English  Constitution,  and  the  prevailing  sen- 
timents of  our  predecessors,  and  the  English  Nation,  all 
united  in  support  of  our  claim.  Perhaps  there  is  no  one 
fact  in  all  historick  existence  of  a  similar  nature,  and  the 
same  antiquity,  supported  by  such  a  variety  of  arguments 
and  uniformity  of  evidence.  Was  it  a  truth,  that  by  our 
Charter  we  were  to  be  considered  as  a  distinct  State  uniting 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775. 


under  one  common  Sovereign  with  our  Mother  Country, 
we  could  not  have  reasonably  expected  fuller  proof,  at  this 
day,  near  a  hundred  and  forty  years  since.  Many  truths 
more  recent  have  nothing  but  habit  and  usage  to  stand  upon. 
Evidence,  like  all  other  things,  wastes  by  the  current  of 
time.  It  is  diminished  in  passing  from  one  generation  to 
another,  in  the  same  proportion  as  it  is  removed  from  those 
transactions  to  which  it  is  applicable.  That  which  is  cer- 
tainty in  one  age  (such  is  the  constitution  of  human  affairs 
in  the  present  imperfect  state)  may  become  probability  the 
next,  and  by  a  third,  dwindle  into  a  bare  possibility.  It  is 
a  maxim,  that  where  a  proposition  is  attended  with  as  much 
evidence  as  the  nature  of  the  thing  will  admit,  and  could 
reasonably  be  expected,  upon  supposition  of  its  truth,  there 
the  mind  ought  to  yield  its  assent,  and  embrace  the  posi- 
tion. 

As  on  the  one  hand  it  must  be  confessed  there  are  in- 
stances where  the  Nation  hath  chosen  to  consider  us  as  sub- 
ject to  her  supreme  authority,  and  our  predecessors,  from 
an  unsuspecting  confidence  and  veneration  for  their  Mother 
Country,  (that  authority  not  being  the  object  immediately 
in  view,  or  the  question  under  consideration)  have  inadver- 
tently done,  or  omitted  to  do,  that  which  may  be  construed 
into  a  seeming  concession.  And  what  rights  or  privileges 
are  enjoyed  by  any  people  under  Heaven,  which  have  not 
been  at  one  time  or  another  invaded?  So,  on  the  other 
hand,  there  are  instances  where  the  Nation  has  disclaimed 
this  authority  ;  and  our  ancestors,  whenever  it  has  been 
made  a  question  directly,  have  declared  themselves  with 
spirit,  in  the  strongest  terms  against  it.  Supposing,  then, 
for  the  present,  that  nothing  absolutely  conclusive  could  be 
inferred  from  the  sense  of  the  Nation,  or  the  sentiments  of 
our  predecessors,  after  the  reception  of  the  Charter,  it 
would  not  materially  affect  the  argument.  For  had  there 
been  a  perfect  harmony  of  sentiment,  and  uniformity 
of  practice,  all  conspiring  to  proclaim  our  union  and  con- 
sequent subjection,  it  would,  indeed,  have  been  circumstan- 
tial evidence  of  a  previous  connexion ;  but  would  not,  of 
itself,  have  united  us  or  confirmed  our  dependance,  if  we 
were  not  united  before.  Such  evidence,  however  cogent, 
can  never  invalidate  that  of  a  higher  nature;  nor  is  it  ad- 
missible, where  we  have  direct  positive  proof.  In  the  pre- 
sent case  we  have  the  deed  of  compact,  the  Charter-rights  in 
our  own  hands,  under  the  solemnities  of  seals,  and  the  estab- 
lished formalities  of  law  ;  we  can,  therefore,  judge  for  our- 
selves, and  ought  to  do  it  from  the  perceptions  of  our  own 
minds,  and  not  upon  the  authority  of  others. 

Admitting,  for  argument's  sake,  that  it  was  the  opinion 
of  both  parties  that  this  Colony  was  united  to  the  British 
Empire  in  such  a  sense  as  to  be  subject  to  her  supreme 
Legislative  authority,  and  that  the  subsequent  line  of  con- 
duct observed  by  both  corresponded  with  such  an  appre- 
hension, it  only  proves  them  guilty  of  an  egregious  mistake, 
arising  from  inattention  to  consequences,  or  a  confusion  of 
ideas. 

It  is  admitted  by  all ;  it  is  an  indisputable  truth,  that  our 
predecessors  came  to  America  with  the  express  and  noto- 
rious design  of  enjoying,  and  in  the  first  instance  actually 
declared  for  a  free  Government.  It  is  equally  true  that 
the  British  Nation  never  pretended,  nor  does  she  even  now 
pretend,  to  any  authority  over  us,  which  she  apprehends 
inconsistent  with  such  a  Government.  This  was  what  was 
declared  for  at  the  first,  and  agreed  to  by  all  parties  as  a 
leading  and  controlling  principle  throughout  the  whole 
transaction.  This  was  the  cardinal  hinge  on  which  all  their 
movements  were  to  turn — the  broad  and  permanent  basis 
on  which  their  civil  superstructure  was  to  rise.  Every 
transaction,  therefore,  mutual  or  partial,  abhorrent  to  this 
principle,  however  clear  and  formal,  must  be  void  ab  initio, 
as  founded  in  errour — going  upon  a  mistaken  supposition 
of  its  compatibility  with  our  general  position.  Supposing, 
then,  that  our  Charter  proved,  and  it  was  clearly  the  sense 
of  the  parties  to  it,  that  we  were  to  be  bound  by  British 
laws  in  all  cases  whatever ;  if  it  can  be  shown  that  such 
an  agreement  was  repugnant  to  their  first  and  common 
principle,  its  obligation  ceases,  as  founded  on  mistake,  and 
void  from  the  beginning.  This  general  agreement  that  our 
Government  should  be  free,  dispenses  with,  and  voids  the 
obligation  of  the  particular  one,  that  it  should  be  subject 
to  the  authority  of  Parliament,  if  they  are  incompatible  with 
each  other. 


To  a  fair  and  impartial  consideration  of  the  consistency 
and  possible  co-operation  of  these  two  principles,  let  us 
now  afford  our  close  attention.  At  first  blush  I  confess 
they  strike  me  as  heterogeneous.  Let  us  examine  them. 
The  very  terms,  Free  Governments,  plainly  suppose  that 
there  are  such  sort  of  creatures  in  being  as  Governments 
that  are  not  free,  to  which  they  are  opposed.  These  are 
ordinarily  called,  in  common  parlance,  as  well  as  in  techni- 
cal language  of  the  law,  absolute,  arbitrary,  tyrannick,  des- 
potick,  Sic,  and  the  subjects  of  them  are,  with  equal  pro- 
priety, said  to  be  in  a  state  of  bondage,  servitude,  vassal- 
age, and  slavery. 

Tyranny,  despotism,  and  the  like,  are  general  abstract 
terms,  expressive  of  a  certain  relation  subsisting  between 
different  communities,  or  different  parts  of  the  same  com- 
munity, similar  to  that  subsisting  between  a  master  and  his 
servant,  from  which  the  term  slavery,  as  applicable  to 
States,  probably  took  its  rise.  An  individual  who  has  the 
absolute  right  to  direct  the  conduct,  dispose  of  the  property, 
and  command  the  services  of  another,  is,  with  propriety, 
called  a  master.  The  person  who  is  under  an  obligation 
to  obey  his  commands  and  submit  to  his  authority,  is,  in 
appellation  and  reality,  his  servant.  It  is  this  right  of  com- 
manding, and  obligation  to  obey,  that  constitutes  the  servi- 
tude, and  not  the  actual  exercise  of  it.  He  is  a  good  mas- 
ter that  does  not  use  his  right,  but  still  he  is  a  master,  and 
may  become  a  hard — a  cruel  one,  at  pleasure. 

A  community  so  organized  as  to  have  one  supreme  pow- 
er, may  be  resembled  to  a  single  person,  which  speaks  and 
commands  by  the  voice  of  law.  If  this  community  has 
an  absolute  right  to  direct  the  conduct,  dispose  of  the 
property,  and  command  the  service  of  another  State ;  or, 
in  other  words,  to  make  laws  binding  upon  it  in  all  cases 
whatsoever,  it  stands  precisely  in  the  same  relation  to  this 
State  that  a  master  stands  in  to  his  servant;  and,  of  conse- 
quence, it  is  in  a  condition  of  complete  servility,  and  the 
individuals  composing  it  in  abject  slavery.  The  same  holds 
with  respect  to  different  parts  of  the  same  State.  It  is 
of  no  importance  as  it  regards  the  relation,  that  the  right 
or  authority  is  not  exercised,  or  is  used  with  lenity.  This, 
indeed,  may  determine  the  character  of  the  master  State, 
in  point  of  goodness,  but  the  servile  relation  still  remains. 
Soon  may  it  exert  itself  to  its  utmost  latitude,  with  un- 
bounded rigour  and  accumulated  vengeance.  Recent  facts 
evince  the  truth  of  this  observation.  Look  to  your  Capi- 
tal, the  head  and  heart  of  this  Province.  Give  way  tore- 
flection  for  a  moment.  There  you  may  learn  possible  pro- 
jections from  real  executions,  and  argue  coming  calamities 
from  the  power  of  afflicting.  The  question  for  us  to  de- 
termine, my  countrymen,  then  is,  whether  we  will  be  slaves 
or  freemen  ;  for  I  defy  the  veriest  Tory  of  them  all,  the 
accutest  jacobite  that  ever  lived,  to  difference  our  case  from 
the  above  stated  ones. 

If  our  positions  are  then  true,  and  our  reasonings  upon 
them  unsophisticated,  the  conclusion  is  irresistible,  not  only 
that  we  are  exempted  from  the  supreme  authority  of  the 
British  Parliament,  but  also  that  she  is  inconsistent  with  her- 
self in  claiming  our  subjection ;  as  she  does  not  pretend, 
in  profession  at  least,  even  now,  when  nothing  but  her  own 
power  and  will  bounds  her  pretensions,  to  any  authority  in- 
consistent with  civil  liberty,  or  the  rights  of  Englishmen ; 
and  yet  assumes  a  power  subversive  of  their  real  essence, 
and  very  shadows.  Such  is  the  conduct  of  those  who  sit 
at  the  helm,  and  by  the  reins  of  modern  policy  have  prac- 
tised the  Nation  into  present  measures.  We  hope  if  com- 
mon sense,  political  discernment,  and  public  virtue,  have 
forsaken  the  mansions  of  high  life,  they  are  still  resident 
in  the  Island,  and  will  soon  unite  superiour  to  opposition. 

Perhaps  it  will  be  said,  as  has  been  often  said  with  little 
truth  and  less  knowledge,  if  we  were  perfectly  independent 
in  the  first  formation  of  our  Government,  we  have  rendered 
ourselves  since  dependant  by  our  General  Assemblies  re- 
cognising the  authority  of  Parliament,  and  submitting  to 
her  Acts,  in  various  instances;  and  by  our  receiving  pro- 
tection from  our  Parent  State.  To  which  we  answer,  that 
it  was  not  in  the  power  of  all  the  Assemblies,  from  their 
first  commencement  to  the  present  day,  to  have  effected 
this  union  and  consequent  dependance. 

The  authority  of  General  Courts  do  not  extend  to  the 
alteration  of  the  fundamentals  of  Governments,  much  less 
to  their  subversion.    This  can  be  done  only  by  the  express 


97 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775. 


98 


voice  of  the  whole  people  at  large.  The  Govemour, 
Council,  and  House  of  Representatives,  which  compose 
the  Assembly,  are  creatures  of,  and  derive  all  their  power 
from  a  Constitution  agreed  upon  and  previously  established, 
which  has  for  its  prirnum  mobile,  groundwork  and  leading 
principle,  Liberty,  civil  and  religious.  All  transactions, 
therefore,  growing  out  of  such  a  Constitution,  and  founded 
upon  it,  as  are  the  acts  and  doings  of  an  Assembly,  must 
breathe  the  spirit  of  freedom,  and  be  governed  by  it,  as 
by  a  pole-star  in  the  political  hemisphere.  The  election 
of  Deputies,  from  time  to  time,  is  only  a  designation  of 
persons,  who  are  immediately  vested  with  their  authority 
by  the  foundation-principles  of  Government.  Their  power 
is  only  in  a  line  of  conduct  chalked  out  by  the  Constitu- 
tion. In  their  deviations  they  act  in  their  private  capacity, 
and  not  as  the  substitutes  of  the  people.  Acting  within 
their  delegated  sphere,  their  constituents  are,  in  specula- 
tion, virtually  present,  acting  themselves  by  the  votes  and 
suffrages  of  their  Representatives.  This  is  what  gives 
universal  obligation  to  their  proceedings.  But  it  would 
be  absurd  to  suppose  a  privity  between  principals  and  sub- 
stitutes, respecting  a  matter  for  which  the  former  were  not 
represented.  Hence  the  irresistible  conclusion,  that  our 
Constitution  has  not  been  destroyed  or  altered  by  Provin- 
cial Assemblies. 

This  is  not  only  a  truth  in  politicks,  but  also  a  certainty 
in  metaphysicks.  It  is  the  first  principles  of  Government 
that  give  political  existence  to  substitutes,  and  support 
them  in  every  instance  of  their  publick  conduct  ;  of  conse- 
quence these  principles  must  be  pre-existent  in  point  of 
time  to  every  constitutional  transaction  of  theirs.  Repre- 
sentatives, then,  to  effect  the  ruin  or  subversion  of  the 
Constitution,  must  remain  such  by  virtue  of  it,  during  the 
process,  and  until  they  complete  its  destruction  ;  and  so  it 
must  survive  its  own  dissolution,  acting  after  it  ceases  to 
be.  And  further,  if  they  can  act  as  Representatives  the 
very  instant  it  is  destroyed,  which  they  must,  in  order  to 
complete  its  ruin,  they  can  for  the  succeeding,  and  so  on. 
The  consequence  of  which  would  be  obviously  this,  that 
there  could  be  substitutes  of  the  people  to  act  according  to 
a  Constitution,  when  there  was  no  such  thing  existing  in 
nature.  An  absurdity  of  the  first  magnitude.  The  same 
argument  holds  with  respect  to  an  alteration.  This  rea- 
soning may  be  unentertaining,  and  at  first  view  will  perhaps 
seem  a  little  obscure  to  a  mind  not  cast  in  a  metaphysical 
mould.  I  aim  at  perspicuity,  at  the  expense  of  elegance, 
in  every  instance  of  ratiocination  ;  if  in  this  I  have  failed 
of  success,  it  is  imputable  to  a  misfortune  in  the  choice  of 
words,  not  to  a  confusion  of  perceptions.  Sure  I  am,  that 
I  clearly  perceive  the  connection,  or  disagreement  of  ideas, 
and  that  you  must  subscribe  to  my  conclusions,  being  mas- 
ters of  the  train  of  reasoning  as  it  passed  in  my  own  mind. 
Our  opposers  must  either  deny  our  premises,  or  admit  our 
inference  ;  that  is,  they  must  deny  that  Representatives  are 
constitutional  officers,  and,  as  such,  bound  by  it;  or  ad- 
mit that  we  are  still  independent  of  the  Parent  State,  not- 
withstanding their  supposed  recognition  of  the  authority  of 
Parliament.  I  have  laboured  this  the  more,  as  it  is  a 
general  truth  so  very  material  in  politicks.  It  was  directly 
in  the  face  of  this  principle  that  the  British  Senate  be- 
came septennial,  which  probably  is  the  cause,  sine  qua  non, 
of  our  present  difficulties.  However,  the  application  of 
this  principle,  as  now  established,  is  obvious,  and  its  use 
important  in  the  present  case,  as  it  evinces,  to  a  demon- 
stration, that  had  our  Assemblies  (which  is  directly  the 
reverse  of  the  truth,  as  we  have  already  proved)  not  only 
acquiesced  in,  and  submitted  to  Statutes  enacted  by  the 
British  Legislature,  but  had  also,  in  express  terms  and  in  a 
manner  the  most  cogent,  passed  Acts  declaring  this  Pro- 
vince annexed  to  the  Empire  of  Great  Britain,  and,  as 
such,  subject  to  her  laws,  this  would  by  no  means  have 
united  us  without  the  consent  of  the  people,  nor  have 
given  our  Parent  State  any  new  rights  over  us.  Such 
Acts  must  have  been  void  in  their  own  nature. 

A  fortiori  the  adopting  of  the  Statute  and  Common 
Law  of  England  in  our  Courts  of  Justice,  argues  no  such 
connection,  or  subjection,  though  it  has  been  urged  with  a 
zeal  not  according  to  knowledge  by  some,  and  an  address 
nearly  allied  to  chicanery  by  others.  It  is  the  misfortune, 
generally,  of  arguments  adduced  in  support  of  errour,  like 
Prior's  darts,  to  return  with  effect  upon  those  who  advance 
Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii. 


them.  If  the  practising  upon  the  Common  and  Statute 
Law  of  England  in  our  judicial  proceedings,  implied  our 
subjection  to  her  authority,  (and  if  it  does  not  prove 
this  it  proves  nothing  to  the  purpose,)  for  the  same  reason 
Great  Britain's  practising  upon  the  laws  of  the  Nor- 
mans, Saxons,  &c,  would  prove  her  subject  to  those  North- 
ern Powers;  and  the  adopting  the  Civil  Law  of  Rome, 
without  an  Act  of  their  own  Legislature,  would  infer  the 
Briton's  subjection  to  her  infallible  authority  ;  which  would 
carry  the  Nation  right  back  again  into  the  bosom  of  that 
mother  of  harlots,  from  whose  arms  Henry  the  Eighth 
wrested  our  parent,  that  he  might  enjoy  the  foster  indul- 
gence of  a  kinder  companion.  From  this  instance,  learn 
what  motives  may  reach  a  Royal  breast.  As  a  single 
amour  induced  one  King  to  change  the  National  Religion 
from  the  Roman  Catholick  to  the  Protestant,  so  a  passion 
not  more  justifiable,  though  perhaps  less  personal,  may  in- 
fluence some  future  Monarch  to  barter  away  the  Protestant 
for  the  religion  of  the  Canadians.  Ages  may  first  roll 
away.  Empires  roll  and  roll,  and  will  forever  roll.  It  is 
said  they  steer  a  Western  course.  Unborn  Americans  may 
bid  them  welcome.  Present  actors  speed  their  progress  ; 
and  future  patriots  enjoy  their  blessings.  But  to  return  to 
the  subject. 

The  genuine  history  of  the  matter  is  simply  this  :  The 
Common  Law  of  a  Country  is  of  reciprocal  and  personal 
obligation  upon  each  of  its  inhabitants,  independent  of  the 
law-giver.  In  England  it  is  considered  as  the  birthright 
of  Englishmen.  When  individuals  remove  to  Countries 
uninhabited,  or  to  Territories  already  peopled,  if  they  do 
not  incorporate  with  the  original  inhabitants,  so  as  to  be 
subject  to  their  laws,  they  are  considered  as  carrying  with 
them,  and  being  bound  by  those  laws  which  were  obliga- 
tory upon  them  in  the  abandoned  State,  so  far  as  is  appli- 
cable, upon  change  of  circumstances,  with  other  necessary 
restrictions.  And  this,  not  because  they  are  the  Statutes 
of  the  deserted  State,  but  as  they  are  convenient  rules  of 
conduct,  which  had  induced  a  mutual,  personal  obligation, 
whose  force  was  to  be  commensurate  with  the  possibility 
and  fitness  of  their  operation.  In  this  view  our  ancestors 
considered  themselves  bringing  from  the  land  of  their  na- 
tivity the  Common  Law,  together  with  such  Statutes  as 
were  in  being  at  the  time  of  their  emigration,  disclaiming 
the  validity  of  all  subsequent  Acts.  Our  Courts  of  Justice 
have  always  been  thoroughly  penetrated  with  a  sense  of 
the  propriety  of  this  distinction.  If,  in  some  instances,  un- 
mindful of  their  judicial  department,  in  favorem,  to  say 
the  least  of  it,  they  have  trespassed  in  untrodden  paths, 
and,  by  a  dangerous  metamorphose,  become  Legislators, 
it  would  be  as  irrational  to  argue  our  subjection  from  this 
extra-judicial  courtly  conduct,  as  from  the  aberration  of  the 
fixed  stars.  But  I  quit  the  delicate  subject.  A  sentiment 
of  the  ingenious  Blackstone  is  much  to  our  purpose. 
"  For,"  says  that  learned  Judge,  "  the  Common  Law  of 
England,  as  such,  has  no  allowance  or  authority  in  our 
American  Plantations,  they  being  not  part  of  the  Mother 
Country." 

The  affair  of  receiving  protection  from  Great  Britain,  is 
an  argument  urged,  I  presume,  for  the  want  of  a  better.  On 
this  score,  it  has  with  truth  been  said,  we  owe  her  nothing. 
Our  Trade,  which  she  monopolizes,  as  to  its  profit,  is  more 
than  an  equivalent.  From  this  she  realizes  annual  millions ; 
by  this  we  cheerfully  pay  her,  like  children  possessing  pro- 
perty, a  large  annuity,  as  has  been  clearly  shown  in  the  in- 
genious observations  of  the  inimitable  Novanglus,  to  which 
I  beg  leave  to  refer  you.  But  if  our  arrears  were  great, 
would  it  give  her  a  right  to  make  us  her  slaves  ?  In  our 
infant  state,  and  during  the  long  and  bloody  conflicts  with 
the  savage  natives,  she  neither  gave,  or  offered  us  aid.  Of 
later  years,  we  have  neither  wanted,  or  received  protec- 
tion, except  from  the  bare  existence  of  her  Navy,  in  com- 
mon with  Portugal,  and  other  places,  in  the  articles  of 
Trade  and  Commerce,  and  this  for  her  own  emolument. 
The  American  Trade  carries  its  own  reward  with  it,  espe- 
cially to  the  Parent  State,  which  names,  with  the  strict- 
est attention  to  her  own  interest,  the  ports  and  channels 
of  its  circulation.  We  are,  and  from  the  beginning  have 
been,  of  sufficient  ability  to  defend  ourselves  against  all  our 
own  proper  enemies.  And  what  is  more,  we  actually  have 
done  it.  Mr.  Hutchinson,  in  his  History,  speaking  of  the 
famous  Phillipick  war,  says  :  "This  is  certain,  as  this  Colo- 

7 


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100 


ny  was  at  first  settled,  so  it  was  now  preserved  from  ruin, 
without  any  charge  to  the  Mother  Country."  We  have 
ever  contributed  our  full  proportion  ("or  the  annoyance  of 
the  common  adversary,  in  the  last  war,  America  was  one 
of  the  principal  seats  of  action.  It  was  a  National,  a  Bri- 
tish, a  general  war,  originating  from  National  motives,  and 
directed  against  Britain's  inveterate  enemy.  We  were 
not  involved  in  it  as  Americans,  as  Colonists,  but  as  sub- 
jects of  the  King  of  England.  When  war  is  made  upon 
a  common  Sovereign,  it  must  have  a  local  existence.  It 
is  accidental  that  one  particular  place,  rather  than  another, 
is  made  the  scene  of  it.  Therefore  it  most  certainly  ought 
to  be  supported  by  the  joint  assistance  of  the  whole.  As 
subjects  of  au  English  King,  we  have  always  been  lavish 
of  men  and  money  for  military  operations.  In  the  last 
war  we  much  exceeded  our  proportion ;  at  the  close  of 
which  a  reimbursement  was  made  us  by  Parliament.  For 
the  truth  of  this,  we  may  appeal  to  the  recorded  acknow- 
ledgment of  the  House  of  Commons.  This  undisputed 
fact  proves,  also,  to  the  satisfaction  of  every  reasonable 
man,  that  we  had  not  been  deficient  on  former  occasions ; 
otherwise  she  would  not  have  reimbursed  to  us  what  had 
been  long  due  to  herself.  Since  this  period,  it  must  be 
confessed,  her  exertions  have  been  very  extraordinary  for 
the  administration  of  justice  and  the  support  of  Civil  Go- 
vernment in  America,  and  in  this  Province  in  particular. 
Within  a  year,  Ships  have  been  manned,  and  Annies  trans- 
ported at  a  great  expense,  destined  to  our  Ports  and  Towns, 
to  distress,  impoverish,  abuse,  and  enslave  the  best  of  sub- 
jects. Whether  we  are  bound  to  bear  a  part  of  this  ex- 
pense ;  to  pay  the  whole  ;  or  ten  thousand  times  as  much, 
if  the  Parliament  should  call  for  it,  is  the  question  we  are 
considering. 

But  we  stand  upon  a  foundation  still  more  stable,  deeper 
rooted,  and  more  highly  exalted,  whose  chief  corner-stone 
was  laid  in  Heaven.  Nature  has  disjoined  us  by  one  of 
her  insuperable  barriers — an  Ocean,  a  thousand  leagues 
wide.  And  her  Omnipotent  Sovereign  has  rendered  the 
union,  and  consequent  subjection  contended  for,  morally 
impossible,  by  making  us  moral  agents,  subject  to  the  im- 
mutable and  eternal  laws  of  our  being.  We  can  challenge 
a  freedom  ;  challenge  rights  inconsistent  with  the  claims  of 
Parliament  under  the  broad  seal  of  Heaven — from  the 
King  of  Kings,  and  Lord  of  all  the  earth  ;  rights  that 
were  born  with  us ;  created  in  us  by  the  decrees  of  Provi- 
dence; that  cannot  be  surrendered  even  by  ourselves;  that 
cannot  be  taken  from  us  but  by  the  same  Almighty  arm 
that  bestowed  them.  So  that  had  it  been  the  sense  of  our 
ancestors,  the  sense  of  the  King,  and  the  sense  of  the  Na- 
tion previous  to  our  emigration,  that  we  were  to  continue 
subject  to  the  Parent  State  ;  had  we  declared  for  this  sub- 
jection in  the  first  instance ;  had  we  received  a  Charter  in 
confirmation  of  this  declaration ;  had  our  Assemblies  and 
Courts  of  Justice  strengthened  and  corroborated  this  rela- 
tion by  unnumbered  acts  and  proceedings  ;  had  the  body  of 
the  people,  with  full  satisfaction  and  indescriptive  avidity, 
sanctified  the  same  by  their  express  fiat ;  and  lastly,  had  we 
been  defended  by  the  parental  arm  from  our  first  settlement 
to  the  present  day,  and  still  needed  the  same  protection  ;  I 
say,  had  this  been  the  slate  of  facts,  the  reverse  of  all  which 
we  have  proved  to  be  true,  it  would  not,  it  could  not  oblige 
us  to  submit  to  the  supreme  authority  of  Parliament  to  the 
degree  she  contends  for.  For  this  would  be  to  relinquish 
our  duty  which  we  owe  to  that  Being  whose  will  alone 
gives  universal  obligation. 

Such  is  the  nature  of  man,  such  the  constitution  of 
things,  that  his  duty  is  discoverable  by  reason,  aided  by 
revelation  ;  and  is  discharged  by  conforming  to  the  laws  of 
eternal  justice,  and  the  practice  of  every  social  virtue.  On 
this  depends  man's  truest  happiness  and  best  good.  This 
happiness  is  said  to  be  the  foundation  of  natural  law,  or 
ethicks,  it  being  inseparably  interwoven  with  our  frame, 
and  forming  all  the  principles  and  springs  of  action.  This 
natural  law  is  coeval  with  mankind,  implanted  by  the 
Deity,  and  of  the  highest  obligation.  It  is  binding  all 
over  the  globe,  in  all  countries,  at  all  times;  the  same  at 
Rome,  at  Athens,  in  Britain,  and  America.  No  Senate, 
no  Parliament,  no  Assembly,  can  dispense  with  it,  retrench 
or  alter  it.  Whoever  violates  it,  says  Cicero,  renounces 
his  own  nature,  divests  himself  of  humanity,  and  will  bo 
rigorously  chastised  for  bis  disobedience  in  the  coming 


world.  No  law,  no  transaction  repugnant  to  this  law, 
is  of  any  validity.  It  is  the  origin  of  all  power,  and  the 
support  of  all  authority. 

We  being  then,  in  common  with  all  mankind,  under  an 
indispensable  obligation  to  pursue  our  own  happiness  in  a 
course  of  religious  and  social  duties ;  it  will  hence  follow, 
that  we  cannot  surrender  those  rights  which  are  necessary 
for  our  happiness,  or  give  up  that  liberty  which  is  necessary 
for  the  performance  of  our  duty :  also,  that  we  cannot 
divest  ourselves  of  our  natural  freedom,  so  far  as  to  submit 
to  the  absolute  will  either  of  an  individual  or  a  State,  who 
might  treat  us  according  to  their  arbitrary  whim  and  fancy. 
This  is  what  Great  Britain  requires  of  us.  This  is  the 
situation  into  which  she  has  for  years  been  plotting  to  force 
us.*  A  voluntary  submission  to  her  claim  in  its  full  lati- 
tude will  be  submitting  to  a  necessity  of  doing  whatever 
she  commands,  of  course  to  the  necessity  of  doing  wrong 
at  her  sovereign  nod  ;  for  I  presume  she  does  not  as  yet 
pretend  to  infallibility.  In  short,  it  would  be  in  effect 
abandoning  our  lives,  which  we  are  not  masters  of;  renoun- 
cing our  duty,  which  we  are  not  permitted  to  do;  selling 
our  Country,  our  wives,  and  our  children,  which  are  not 
ours  so  to  dispose  of;  betraying  our  religion,  which  would 
be  treason  against  Christ;  and  exchanging  happiness  for 
misery,  which  would  be,  as  much  as  in  us  lay,  reversing 
God's  benevolent  plan  of  moral  Government  in  the  world. 

To  illustrate  this  by  a  similar  instance.  Suppose  in 
some  future  day  Great  Britain,  intoxicated  by  a  lust  for 
innovations,  dazzled  with  the  overflowings  of  power,  un- 
checked by  her  own  sentiments,  or  our  cries  and  groans, 
which  would  never  reach  her,  should  pass  a  law  tolerating 
the  Papistical  religion  in  all  the  English  Colonies;  sup- 
pose she  should  advance  one  step  further,  and  establish  it 
with  disqualifications  and  penalties,  (the  transition  being 
easy  from  one  to  the  other.)  To  submit  to  such  a  law 
would  be  betraying  our  religion,  to  oppose  treason  and 
rebellion,  the  consequence  of  which  would  be  loss  of  life, 
confiscation  of  goods,  corruption  of  blood,  and  a  reducing 
to  beggary  wives  and  children.  I  do  not  mention  this  as 
what  would  probably  lake  place :  it  is  enough  that  it  is 
possible.  The  established  religion  of  the  Nation  has  been 
repeatedly  changed.  What  has  been  may  again  be.  The 
claim  of  Parliament  is  to  legislate  for  us  in  all  cases  what- 
ever. If  she  establishes  this  claim,  we  are  slaves;  I  speak 
it  with  anguish — we  are  miserable  ! 

To  put  ourselves  then  into  the  absolute  power  of  another, 
be  it  State  or  individual,  is  violating  a  first  law  of  nature, 
whose  seat  has  been  said  "  to  be  the  bosom  of  God ;  her 
voice  the  harmony  of  the  world.  All  things  in  Heaven 
and  earth  do  her  homage ;  the  very  least  as  feeling  her 
care,  and  the  greatest  as  not  exempted  from  her  power." 

The  next  inquiry  is,  whether  successful  opposition  be 
possible  ;  if  possible,  whether  prudent  and  safe.  If  mea- 
suring upon  the  scale  of  probability,  we  are  led  to  conclude 
in  favour  of  both,  our  duty  is  plain. 

From  the  County  of  Hampshire. 


FOR  THE  MASSACHUSETTS  GAZETTE. 

Boston,  March  9,  1775. 
My  worthy  Friends  and  Felloic-  Count rymen : 

The  more  I  reflect  upon  the  Petition,  so  called,  of  the 
American  Continental  Congress  to  the  King,  the  more  1 
am  surprised,  astonished,  and  amazed  at  the  unaccountable 
folly  it  discovers.  One  would  think  that  an  assembly, 
allowed  on  all  hands  to  be  unknown  in  the  Constitution, 
would,  in  an  undertaking  of  this  kind,  have  endeavoured 
to  obviate  any  objections  to  their  authority  by  the  modera- 
tion, truth,  justice,  and  equity  of  their  complaints;  would 
have  recommended  themselves  by  that  decent  demeanour 
and  dutiful  behaviour  which  would  have  insured  an  atten- 
tion to  their  requests  from  the  Throne,  and  interested  the 
Nation  in  their  favour ;  but  alas  for  us,  we  find  them,  con- 
trary to  their  own  declaration,  actuated  by  "a  restless 
levity  of  temper,  unjust  impulses  of  ambition,  and  artful 
suggestions  of  seditious  persons,"  instead  of  that  quiet 
submission  to  lawful  authority,  that  decent  moderation, 
and  those  loyal  principles  which  ought  to  have  been  the 
characteristic's  of  their  councils. 

*  By  Great  Britain,  I  would  bo  understood  to  moan  those  Ministers 
who  have  been  vibrating  tho  political  pendulum. 


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102 


But  I  shall  waive  any  further  general  observations,  until 
I  have  particularly  examined  the  remaining  grievances 
complained  of,  of  which  the  next  in  order,  is,  "  The  Judges 
of  Courts  of  common  law  have  been  made  entirely  depend- 
ant on  one  part  of  the  Legislature  for  their  salaries,  as  well 
as  for  the  duration  of  their  commissions." 

By  this,  so  far  as  it  respects  this  Province,  can  be  in- 
tended only  the  Judges  of  the  Superiour  Court,  as  it  is 
confined  to  such  as  receive  salaries ;  and  the  Judges  of  the 
Inferiour  Courts  have  only  court  fees,  upon  the  several 
causes  which  come  before  them.  And  here  let  us  exam- 
ine what  was  formerly  our  situation  in  this  respect,  and 
thence  determine  the  expediency,  propriety,  and  necessity 
of  the  alteration.  The  Judges  of  the  Superiour  Court 
were  before  dependant  upon  the  annual  grants  of  the 
House  of  Representatives  for  their  salaries,  which  have 
ever  been  so  small,  that  they  would  scarce  defray  the 
necessary  expense  of  attending  the  Courts,  and  never  suffi- 
cient to  maintain  a  family  ;  so  that  unless  the  Judges  had 
a  private  estate  to  subsist  their  families  upon,  they  must 
have  been  constantly  kept  in  the  most  pressing  circum- 
stances, if  not  greatly  involved  in  debt.  Of  this  repeated 
remonstrances  were  made  and  petitions  presented  for  relief, 
but  without  success  ;  and  what  was  a  still  greater  hardship, 
they  were  in  continual  danger,  that  by  any  unpopular  adju- 
dications, even  these  scanty  pittances  would  be  curtailed. 
Under  these  circumstances,  could  the  dignity  of  the  King's 
Judges  be  properly  supported  and  preserved?  Could  they 
act  with  that  firmness,  spirit,  freedom,  and  resolution  re- 
quisite to  maintain  so  important  a  character?  Could  they 
be  considered  as  not  "  dependant  on  one  part  of  the  Legis- 
lature for  their  salaries  ?" 

To  these  questions  let  every  impartial  observer  return 
an  answer,  and  determine  for  himself,  whether  they  were 
rendered  more  dependant  on  one  part  of  the  Legislature, 
when  they  were  made  entirely  independent  of  every  part. 
Add  to  this,  that  they  and  some  other  Civil  Officers  who 
where  formerly  paid  by  the  Province,  are  now  paid  out  of 
that  fund  which  you  are  taught  to  believe  is  squandered 
away  upon  a  set  of  worthless  placemen  and  pensioners; 
and  thereby  an  internal  tax  upon  your  estates  for  these  pur- 
poses prevented.  As  to  the  "  duration  of  their  commis- 
sions," they  are  now  removable  only  by  an  order  from 
His  Majesty,  under  his  sign  manual :  and  it  is  paying  but 
an  ill  compliment  to  His  Most  Excellent  Majesty,  whom 
they  profess  to  believe  the  gracious  father  of  his  people, 
and  ever  attentive  to  the  reasonable  complaints  of  his  sub- 
jects, to  suppose  that  he  will  make  an  improper  or  wanton 
use  of  this  power.  However,  there  is  no  doubt  to  be  en- 
tertained, that  even  in  this  instance,  as  soon  as  we  return 
to  our  former  state  of  obedience,  such  an  alteration  will  be 
made  upon  a  dutiful  application  to  the  King  and  Parlia- 
ment, as  will  remove  every  ground  of  complaint  on  this 
account. 

The  next  article  is,  "  Counsellors  holding  their  com- 
missions during  pleasure,  exercise  Legislative  authority." 
This  is  very  extraordinary ;  we  all  profess  to  think  the 
British  Constitution  the  best  that  now  is  or  ever  has  been 
established  in  the  world;  we  are  all  striving  after  the  rights, 
liberties,  and  privileges  of  Englishmen ;  we  all  wish  to  be 
under  a  Government  as  nearly  similar  as  the  difference  of 
our  circumstances  will  admit;  and  yet  this  alteration,  which 
certainly  reduces  us  to  a  much  nearer  resemblance  of  that 
great  original,  which  we  so  much  and  so  justly  admire,  is 
complained  of  as  a  grievance.  Before  the  late  Act  of  Par- 
liament for  regulating  the  government  of  the  Massachu- 
setts-Bay— for  I  consider  this  grievance  as  confined  to  this 
Province,  for  reasons  I  shall  hereafter  explain — the  Coun- 
cil was  annually  chosen  by  the  House  of  Representatives, 
and  consequently,  by  adopting  any  unpopular  measures, 
were  in  danger  of  losing  their  election  the  ensuing  year. 
This  we  have  seen  verified  in  many  instances  of  the  most 
worthy  and  sensible  men  in  the  Province  being  left  out  of 
the  Council  merely  on  this  account.  On  the  other  hand, 
if  any  members,  who  were  zealous  in  support  of  the  popu- 
lar schemes  were  elected  into  the  Council,  they  were  lia- 
ble to  be  turned  or  kept  out  by  the  negative  which  the 
Governour  had  upon  the  election.  By  the  late  Act  they 
are  appointed  by  His  Majesty,  with  the  consent  of  his 
Privy  Council,  and  rendered  independent  of  any  branch  of 


the  Legislature  here,  and,  therefore,  may  be  presumed  to 
be  impartial  and  unbiased  in  their  councils.  In  which  of 
those  modes  of  appointment  the  Council  best  resembles 
the  House  of  Lords  in  England,  who  hold  their  seats  by 
hereditary  right,  independent  of  the  King  or  the  Commons, 
let  every  one  judge  for  himself,  and  thence  conclude  what 
a  grievance  we  labour  under  in  this  respect. 

They  go  on  to  complain  that  "  humble  and  reasonable 
Petitions  from  the  Representatives  of  the  people  have 
been  fruitless."  Had  they  been  more  explicit  in  their 
declaration  of  the  instances  of  this  kind  referred  to,  we 
might  better  judge  of  the  justice  of  their  complaint.  The 
Congress  knew  that  in  consequence  of  the  Petitions  from 
the  Colonies,  the  Stamp  Act  was  repealed ;  they  knew 
that  certain  Duties,  imposed  upon  several  articles  by  ano- 
ther Act  of  Parliament,  were  taken  oft*  in  consequence  of 
a  similar  application,  from  all  the  articles  except  Tea,  and 
that  this  was  kept  on  only  to  save  the  legal  and  constitu- 
tional right  and  supreme  jurisdiction  of  the  British  Parlia- 
ment ;  they  know  that  whenever  this  right  is  acknowledged, 
and  their  honour  thereby  saved,  that  even  this  Duty  will 
be  taken  off,  and  no  further  occasion  of  complaint  given. 
They  must  have  seen,  that,  had  it  not  been  for  the  high- 
handed, unwarrantable  measures  adopted  by  those  who 
call  themselves  Whigs ;  had  they  instead  thereof  proposed 
any  plan  of  accommodation,  any  means  of  settling  the 
dispute  amicably  and  honourably;  all  things  would  have 
been  adjusted  upon  an  equitable,  a  constitutional  and 
permanent  foundation.  There  can  be  no  reasonable  doubt 
that  this  has  been  the  disposition  of  Administration  for 
some  years  past;  but  that  our  daring  outrageous  beha- 
viour, instead  of  the  "  humble  and  reasonable  Petitions 
from  the  Representatives  of  the  people"  that  we  are 
told  of,  has  compelled  them  to  use  coercive  measures,  to 
bring  us  to  a  due  sense  of  that  dependance  upon  the  Bri- 
tish Nation  which  our  forefathers,  and  we,  until  very 
lately,  have  uniformly  acknowledged.  Can  it  be  supposed 
that  a  powerful,  a  brave-spirited,  and  generous  Nation 
can,  on  the  one  hand,  admit  such  extravagant  claims  as  the 
Colonies  now  set  up,  or,  on  the  other,  entertain  a  design 
of  oppressing  and  enslaving  them  ?  Both  these  things  are 
equally  incompatible  with  her  own  interest,  and  therefore 
equally  improbable.  Yet  you  are  made  to  believe  them 
by  your  leaders,  who  find  it  their  interest  to  fish  in  troubled 
waters ;  who  know  that  as  soon  as  the  ball  of  contention  is 
once  taken  away,  they  must  sink  into  their  native  obscuri- 
ty, and  therefore  seek  their  own  advancement  in  your  ruin. 
Could  I  suppose  that  views  so  dishonourable  and  base 
influenced  the  British  Councils,  as  an  attempt  to  injure  and 
enslave  you,  no  one  would  more  readily  join  heart  and 
hand  in  a  forcible  opposition  to  their  measures,  if  all 
peaceable  and  reasonable  means  failed  of  success.  But  I 
am  firmly  persuaded,  and  upon  the  best  grounds,  that  your 
fears  are  without  foundation ;  that  your  danger  exists  only 
in  your  own  imaginations ;  and  I  pray  God  that  your  eyes 
may  be  opened,  that  you  may  see  things  in  their  true  and 
natural  colours,  and  escape  the  impending  evils  before  they 
burst  upon  you. 

The  next  complaint  is,  that  "  the  agents  of  the  people 
have  been  discountenanced,  and  Governours  have  been  in- 
structed to  prevent  the  payment  of  their  salaries."  Let  us 
examine  the  grounds  of  this  complaint.  Formerly,  while 
we  were  convinced  that  our  own  interest  was  inseparably 
connected  with  that  of  Great  Britain ;  while  we  were  wil- 
ling to  submit  to  the  rightful  exercise  of  her  authority  over 
us,  and  in  this  submission  found  that  we  were  happy, 
peaceful,  and  free,  an  agent  was  chosen  by  the  three 
branches  of  the  Legislature,  who  took  care  of  the  concerns 
of  the  Province  at  the  Court  of  Great  Britain.  To  this 
no  objection  was  ever  made,  but  a  salary  was  granted  and 
regularly  paid,  and  the  interest  of  the  Province  carefully 
attended  to  by  the  agent.  Of  late  years  the  demagogues 
on  this  side  the  Atlantick,  finding  they  should  not  be  able 
to  accomplish  their  sinister  purposes  unless  they  had  an 
agent  of  their  own  appointment,  who  would  join  in  for- 
warding and  promoting  their  own  rash  measures,  deter- 
mined to  effect  this  point ;  accordingly  the  House  of  Re- 
presentatives, when  they  found  the  Governour  would  not 
approve  the  choice  of  an  agent  they  had  made,  to  answer 
these  ends,  instead  of  electing  a  suitable  person,  in  whom 


103 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  he,  MARCH,  1775. 


104 


all  parties  might  agree,  proceeded  in  their  separate  capaci- 
ty to  choose  one,  who  should  serve  the  House  alone,  and 
the  Council  appointed  one  for  themselves.  These  agents 
were  never  admitted  as  such,  at  any  board  or  office  in 
England,  not  being  properly  appointed,  and  were  there- 
fore useless  to  all  good  intents  and  purposes  whatever.  This 
measure  was  also  justly  deemed  offensive  by  His  Majesty, 
as  introducing  unnecessary  innovations,  and  he  accordingly, 
to  save  a  useless  expense  of  money  to  the  Province,  in- 
structed his  Governour  to  refuse  his  consent  to  the  pay- 
ment of  the  salaries  granted  to  the  agents  thus  appointed, 
which  he,  without  doubt,  had  not  only  a  legal  and  consti- 
tutional right  to  do,  but  therein  consulted  the  true  interest 
of  the  Province,  and  which  ought  by  no  means  to  be  con- 
sidered as  a  grievance,  as  every  valuable,  just,  and  lawful 
purpose  may  be  answered  by  the  former  as  well  as  the 
latter  mode  of  election.  With  how  much  reason,  then, 
a  complaint  is  made  on  this  account,  it  is  for  you,  my 
fellow-countrymen,  to  determine,  before  you  adopt  any 
forcible  measures  for  redress.  Admitting,  indeed,  that 
these  things  are  really  illegal  and  oppressive,  every  me- 
thod ought  to  be  tried  for  relief  before  you  proceed  to  such 
desperate  extremities  ;  and  if  you  fail  of  success,  you  ought 
even  then  to  consider  whether  the  miseries  and  calamities 
necessarily  attendant  upon  and  consequent  to  a  forcible 
opposition  to  the  Parent  State,  do  not  far  exceed  any  ad- 
vantages which  you  can  expect  to  gain  from  the  fullest 
satisfaction  of  your  wishes  in  this  unnatural  contest.  But 
when  you  consider  that  your  complaints  are  for  the  most 
part  groundless,  that  you  are  seduced,  deceived,  and  mis- 
led by  your  worst  enemies,  under  the  mask  of  patriots,  you 
cannot,  I  think,  hesitate  immediately  to  think  and  judge 
for  yourselves,  to  exercise  that  virtue,  prudence,  and  wis- 
dom, which  you  naturally  possess;  and  now,  while  it  is  in 
your  power,  secure  your  happiness  and  freedom  undimin- 
ished, lest  you  be  finally  compelled  to  make  the  greatest 
sacrifices  to  maintain  even  a  partial  enjoyment  of  them. 

Phileirene. 


TO  THE  PRINTERS  OF  THE  MASSACHUSETTS  GAZETTE. 

Boston,  March  9,  1775. 
Please  to  insert  the  following  Recantation  and  Confes- 
sion : — 

To  err  is  incident  to  every  human  being,  but  candidly  to 
confess  errours  when  conscious  of  them,  I  am  apprehenvsie 
is  the  property  of  but  few.  No  man  is  blame-worthy 
for  natural  imperfection,  but  obstinacy  and  perverseness,  as 
they  are  enemies  to  truth  and  right,  so  they  are  character- 
istick  of  a  wrong  head  and  a  bad  heart.  1  am  now  about 
to  produce  to  the  world  one  instance  of  a  candid  acknow- 
ledgment of  having  possessed  erroneous  principles  in  poli- 
ticks, and  consequently  must  have  been  guilty  of  a  wrong 
conduct  in  society.  In  the  beginning  of  our  political  con- 
fusion here  in  America,  I  was  what  you  may  truly  call  a 
Whig,  in  the  modern  acceptation  of  the  word.  Not  that  1 
ever  justified  or  countenanced  mobs  and  riots  ;  I  was  ever 
an  advocate  of  harmony,  peace,  and  good  order  in  society. 
But  being  so  often  told,  and  conceiving  it  to  be  the  basis 
of  the  English  Constitution,  that  no  person,  properly  quali- 
fied, should  have  his  money  taken  from  him  but  by  his  own 
consent,  or  that  of  his  Representative,  I  conceived  it  to  be 
unconstitutional  even  for  the  Parliament  of  Great  Bri- 
tain to  make  any  Act  which  should  necessarily  and  un- 
avoidably affect  the  properties  of  the  Colonists.  I  con- 
ceived, moreover,  that  though  we  were  subjects  of  the  King 
of  England,  yet  we  had  a  Constitution  of  our  own,  no 
ways  controllable  by  the  Lords  and  Commons  of  Great 
Britain  ;  and  that  the  Parliament  had  no  more  right  to 
legislate  for  us,  than  our  Legislature  here  had  to  legislate 
for  them.  (Such  was,  I  now  freely  confess,  my  ignorance 
then  of  the  English  Government  and  Constitution,  and  the 
relation  between  the  Colonics  and  the  Parent  State,  which 
I  now  plainly  perceive,  taken  altogether,  compose  one  en- 
tire Empire,  and  the  Parliament  its  supreme  legislative 
head.) 

Upon  these  principles,  when  the  Stamp  Act  first  came 
over,  which,  if  carried  into  execution,  would  necessarily 
affect  our  properties,  I  loudly  exclaimed  against  it,  and 
considered  it  as  a  most  violent  infraction  of  the  English 


Constitution,  and  a  direct  taxing  of  the  Colonies.  That 
Act,  so  inexpedient  and  unreasonable  in  its  nature  and 
operation,  was  never  carried  into  execution,  but  speedily 
repealed,  though  succeeded  by  another,  which  we  appre- 
hended almost  as  bad,  viz:  An  Act  for  imposing  duty  on 
Glass,  Painters'  Colours,  Paper,  Tea,  &tc,  articles  which, 
though  not  absolutely  necessary  for  life,  yet  so  very  useful, 
that  we  could  not  well  do  without  them  ;  and  besides,  the 
duty  was  solely  for  the  purpose  of  raising  a  Revenue  in 
America,  and  was  introductory  to  every  other  species  of 
taxation.  The  design  was  very  evident  in  the  Stamp  Act, 
therefore  the  general  cry  was,  among  us  Whigs,  (or  patri- 
ots, as  we  called  ourselves,)  let  us  by  all  means  oppose  it 
with  violence ;  if  we  do  not,  we  shall  become  the  most 
abject  slaves  to  the  Parliament  of  Great  Britain.  Our 
opposition  was  the  means  of  the  Stamp  Act  being  repeal- 
ed, and  will  produce  the  same  effect  as  to  this,  if  we  show 
the  same  temper  and  resolution.  The  truth  was,  the  duty 
was  soon  taken  off  from  all  the  articles  except  Tea, 
(though  I  now  believe  more  owing  to  the  influence  of  our 
friends  at  home,  than  our  clamour  here.)  We  then,  how- 
ever, exulted  in  our  patriotism,  and  considered  ourselves 
as  the  instruments  of  saving  our  Country  from  impending 
ruin.  We  were  so  elated  with  success,  that  we  doubted 
not  any  Act  of  Parliament  relative  to  the  Colonies  would 
be  repealed,  if  we  opposed  it  with  firmness  and  resolution. 
Our  pride  was  so  elevated,  that  we  could  not  have  patience 
with  those  who  would  not  heartily  join  us  in  our  plan.  We 
considered  them  as  cowardly  wretches,  or  mean,  selfish 
governmental  expectants.  Our  candour  and  charity  did 
not  extend  so  far  as  to  suppose  it  possible  for  them  to 
speak  their  real  sentiments  when  they  differed  from  us. 
My  conscience  now,  upon  recollection,  abundantly  tells 
me  how  deficient  I  was  at  that  time,  in  those  amiable 
qualities. 

We  were  not,  however,  entirely  acquiescent,  though  we 
had  struck  such  a  noble  stroke,  and  got  the  duty  taken  off 
of  every  article  but  one,  it  was  with  great  reluctance  we 
could  suffer  it  to  remain  on  Tea ;  but  as  the  Merchants  in 
this  Province  (who,  though  their  profession  is  Commerce, 
are  generally  the  springs  which  keep  in  motion  the  wheels 
of  Government)  appeared  to  be  tolerably  easy,  (some  im- 
porting Tea  directly  from  England,  paying  the  duty, 
others  illicitly  running  it  from  the  Dutch,  taking  their 
chance  of  seizure,)  the  spirit  of  uneasiness  seemed  in  some 
measure  to  subside,  and  both  Whigs  and  Tories  purchased 
and  drank  Tea  freely  in  this  Province,  without  particular 
inquiry  whether  it  paid  the  duty  or  not,  from  the  year 
1767,  to  the  time  the  East  India  Company  were  permitted 
by  Parliament  to  send  their  Tea  immediately  to  America. 
This,  like  a  spark  falling  upon  gunpowder,  immediately 
set  us  into  a  flame  again.  We  considered  the  Parliament 
as  granting  a  monopoly  to  one  trading  Company,  to  the 
detriment  of  all  America.  We  then  thought  it  our  duty 
once  more  to  rouse  ourselves  in  defence  of  our  injured 
Country.  Though  I  was  very  warm  in  the  cause,  yet  I 
never  advised  to  the  destruction  of  the  Tea,  but,  in  an  evil 
hour,  it  was  all  destroyed.  The  particular  circumstances 
are  too  well  known  to  need  repeating ;  but  it  is  a  thousand 
pities  they  could  not  be  buried  in  eternal  oblivion.  The 
action  struck  me  so  horridly,  as  being  repugnant  to  even- 
principle  of  justice,  and  a  downright  piece  of  piracy,  that 
1  could  not  help  exclaiming  against  it,  as  being  pregnant 
with  the  most  ruinous  consequences  to  us.  I  then  began 
to  be  afraid  of  the  chastisement  of  an  incensed  and  power- 
ful Nation.  1  thought  it  was  high  time  to  stop  in  our  ca- 
reer, and  seriously  consider  what  we  were  about,  lest  we 
should  plunge  ourselves  into  ruin  before  we  were  aware  of 
it.  But  my  brother  Whigs,  having  more  courage  and  reso- 
lution than  I  had,  perceiving  me  to  begin  to  waver,  exert- 
ed themselves  to  keep  up  my  spirits,  and  continually  ex- 
horted me  to  stand  firm  and  unshaken.  Nothing  is  want- 
ing, said  they,  but  resolution  and  unity  ;  desperate  diseases 
require  desperate  remedies;  we  have,  as  it  were,  passed 
the  Bubicon ;  the  other  Colonies  will  stand  by  us ;  our 
Committees  of  Correspondence  have  wisely  taken  care  to 
secure  their  principal  men  ;  if  we  do  not  appear  unani- 
mous, we  are  lost;  we  must  not  look  back,  but  forward; 
we  are  afraid  of  nothing  but  the  miscreant  Tories,  who  en- 
deavour to  prevent  our  union ;  we  must  keep  them  down 


105 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775. 


106 


by  continued  threats,  and  now  and  then  a  little  chastise- 
ment; the  Printers  we  have  got  under  our  thumbs;  they 
dare  not  print  any  thing  but  what  is  on  the  side  of  liberty  ; 
if  any  one  of  them  does,  we  are  determined  he  shall  lose 
our  custom  ;  and  never  fear,  if  we  only  stand  firm  in  our 
opposition,  we  gain  our  point. 

Still  further  to  secure  me  and  keep  me  steadfast,  (for 
they  were  sensible  I  had  some  influence,)  they  chose  me 
one  in  a  Committee  of  Correspondence,  &tc,  and  then,  I 
acknowledge,  I  was  for  a  considerable  time  wound  up  to  a 
higher  pitch  of  enthusiasm  than  ever.    We  met  often  ;  in- 
deed we  made  it  almost  our  whole  business ;  but  our  con- 
versation was  altogether  upon  politicks,  and  always  upon 
the  side  of  liberty,  rights,  and  privileges.     Every  argu- 
ment was  defensive  of  liberty,  and  instead  of  an  opponent, 
each  was  an  applauder  of  the  other,  and  a  reviler  of  all 
Tories;  and  each,  perhaps  to  inspirit  the  other,  expressed 
more  than  was  his  just  and  real  sentiments.     The  same 
thing  took  place  with  respect  to  other  Committees,  with 
whom  we  always  kept  up  a  continued  intercourse  by  let- 
ters.   How  often  have  we  expressed  ourselves,  with  a 
studied  zeal  and  determined  resolution,  purposely  to  pre- 
vent any  flagging  of  spirit  in  other  Committees,  and  how 
often  have  we  received  as  spirited  answers  in  reply  !  Thus 
we  went  on  animating  and  supporting  each  other,  till  the 
Suffolk  Resolves  appeared ;  then,  I  acknowledge,  I  was 
almost  as  much  struck  as  when  the  Tea  was  destroyed,  but 
throughout  our  circle  shouts  of  applause  echoed  round  the 
room.    I  could  not  help  at  that  time  seriously  observing, 
that  I  was  fearful  we  went  too  fast ;  the  Continental  Con- 
gress, which  was  then  sitting,  might  not  justify  such  very 
spirited  Resolves,  and  then  our  cause  would  be  injured, 
as  we  must  certainly  acquiesce  in  their  determinations. 
Therefore  I  apprehended  it  would  be  most  prudent  lor  us  to 
take  our  hints  from  them,  rather  than  lead.    The  reply 
was,  that  our  Delegates  were  men  of  sense,  and  some  of 
thern  good  speakers ;  one  of  them  particularly  could  carry 
almost  any  point  he  was  determined  upon,  therefore  they 
must  have  great  influence  in  the  Congress;  and  as  there 
was  a  continued  correspondence  kept  up  between  the 
Committee  of  Boston  and  the  Delegates,  there  was  no 
doubt  but  they  were  apprized  of  them  previously  to  their 
publication,  and  depended  upon  their  being  adopted  by  the 
Continental  Congress.    Accordingly  they  were  adopted 
and  approved  of,  though  they  do  not  appear  in  the  pamph- 
let containing  their  doings.     But  still,  notwithstanding 
the  authority  of  the  Continental  Congress,  and  the  high 
spirits  and  assurance  of  our  and  other  Committees,  I 
could  not  help,  upon  serious  reflection,  when  alone,  having 
many  compunctions  of  heart,  as  it  evidently  appeared  to 
me  that  all  could  not  be  right.    The  course  seemed  to  me 
to  lead  directly  to  rebellion,  which  my  soul  abhorred,  and 
was  never  in  my  intention. 

From  that  time  I  was  determined  seriously  and  impar- 
tially to  examine  for  myself,  and  attend  to  all  that  was  said 
on  both  sides.  Our  custom  ever  had  been,  not  to  attend, 
and  scarcely  to  read  any  thing  that  was  not  wrote  on  the 
right  side  of  the  question,  as  we  called  it.  The  first  thing 
I  read  with  attention  was  a  letter  from  a  Virginian  to  the 
Continental  Congress,  while  they  were  sitting  at  Philadel- 
phia. That  letter  I  found  contained  many  serious  and 
just  observations,  sufficient  to  awaken  in  any  unprejudiced 
mind  alarming  apprehensions  of  the  consequences  of  our 
hasty  conduct.  Afterwards  I  met  with  the  "  Friendly  Ad- 
dress," and  many  other  pamphlets  wrote  on  the  side  of 
Government,  together  with  some  excellent  pieces  publish- 
ed in  Mills  and  Hicks's,  and  Draper's  Papers.  These, 
taken  altogether,  seem  to  me  fairly  to  lay  open  and  ex- 
pose the  whole  scene  of  our  political  errours  and  iniquities. 
And  what  confirms  me  still  more  in  the  justness  of  their 
observations,  and  the  conclusiveness  of  their  reasonings  is, 
that  they  seem  unanswerable  by  the  whole  Whig  party. 
The  weak  and  futile  replies  that  have  been  made  to  some 
of  them  do  not  deserve  the  name  of  answers.  What  I  have 
seen  contains  little  more  than  scurrility  and  illiberal  abuse  ; 
instead  of  sober  reason  and  candid  reply,  they  spend  their 
shafts  in  invective  and  indecent  railing.  Indeed,  from  the 
beginning,  notwithstanding  my  prejudices  io  favour  of  their 
cause,  I  have  been  often  disgusted  at  their  manner  of  treat- 
ing men  and  measures.    It  appeared  to  me  it  was  by  no 


means  calculated  to  persuade  or  convince  serious  and  ra- 
tional men.  I  am  now  fully  convinced,  however  high  I 
once  was,  that  the  cause  of  the  Whigs  is  not  a  just  one, 
otherwise  they  surely  must  have  defended  it  with  a  better 
appearance  of  reason  and  plausibility.  Another  reason 
which  tended  not  a  little  to  cure  me  of  my  whiggish  prin- 
ciples, was  the  crabbed  fruits  they  produced.  In  contend- 
ing for  liberty,  they  seem  inclinable  to  engross  it  all  them- 
selves; the  prevailing  temper  and  disposition  among  them 
seems  by  no  means  to  be  pacifick ;  they  are  arbitrary  and 
even  tyrannical  in  the  whole  tenour  of  their  conduct ;  they 
allow  not  to  others  who  differ  from  them  the  same  liberty 
of  thinking  and  acting  that  they  claim  themselves,  but 
shamefully  abuse  them,  and  treat  them  with  spite,  malice, 
and  revenge.  The  instances  of  that  kind  are  too  numerous 
and  notorious  to  require  a  particular  detail. 

How  shockingly  extravagant  are  the  late  Resolves  of 
the  County  of  Worcester  1  What  a  shameful  attempt  to 
discourage  the  liberty  of  the  Press,  that  glorious  palladium 
of  English  liberty.  Let  an  honest  Whig  seriously  consider 
whether  such  a  conduct  can  flow  from  good  principles,  any 
more  than  a  bad  tree  can  bring  forth  good  fruit.  I  now 
seriously  advise  all  my  former  brethren  of  the  Whig  party 
to  follow  me  in  my  recantation,  rather  than  to  throw  out 
squibs  at  me  in  Edes  and  Gill's,  or  Thomas's  Papers.  All 
that  I  can  now  do,  (and  that  I  shall  do,)  in  the  way  of 
atonement  for  my  former  whiggish  conduct,  is  to  endea- 
vour to  proselyte  as  many  as  I  can  ;  and  I  find  myself  hap- 
py in  being  as  successful  at  least  in  leading  people  from 
errour,  as  1  was  once  in  persuading  them  into  it. 

A  Converted  Whig. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  TO  MR.  RIVINGTON,  IN  NEW-YORK, 
DATED  BOSTON,  MARCH  9,  1775. 

Last  Monday  the  annual  Oration  was  pronounced  in  the 
old  South  Meeting ;  there  was  a  very  numerous  audience. 
Some  gentlemen  of  the  Army  placed  themselves  on  the 
top  of  the  pulpit  stairs.    In  the  pulpit  were  Warren,  the 
orator  of  the  day,  Hancock,  Adams,  Church,  &.c.  &.c. 
I  had  been  informed  that  the  Military  were  determined  not 
to  suffer  the  least  expression  that  had  a  tendency  to  reflect 
on  the  King  or  Royal  family  to  pass  with  impunity;  of 
course,  my  attention  was  directed  to  their  conduct  on  the 
critical  occasion.    The  Republican  was,  I  fancy,  appre- 
hensive of  this,  for  through  the  whole  oration  there  was 
an  affectation  of  loyalty  and  veneration  for  the  King  and 
the  Brunswick  line  ;  it  was,  however,  replete  with  invec- 
tive, inflammatory  expressions,  denials  of  Parliamentary 
claim,  abuse  of  Ministry,  &tc,  &c.    The  officers  frequent- 
ly interrupted  Warren  by  laughing  loudly  at  the  most 
ludicrous  parts,  and  coughing  and  hemming  at  the  most 
seditious,  to  the  great  discontent  of  the  devoted  citizens. 
The  oration,  however,  was  finished  ;  and  it  was  aftewards 
moved  by  Adams  that  an  orator  should  be  named  for  the 
ensuing  fifth  of  March,  to  commemorate  "  the  bloody  and 
horrid  massacre,  perpetrated  by  a  party  of  soldiers  under 
the  command  of  Captain  T.  Preston."    At  this  the  officers 
could  no  longer  contain  themselves,  but  exclaimed,  Jie, 
shame  !  and,  Jie,  shame!  was  echoed  by  all  the  Navy  and 
Military  in  the  place ;  this  caused  a  violent  confusion,  and 
in  an  instant  the  windows  were  thrown  open,  and  the 
affrighted  Yankees  jumped  out  by  fifties,  so  that  in  a  few 
minutes  we  should  have  had  an  empty  house  ;  in  the  mean- 
time, a  very  genteel,  sensible  officer,  dressed  in  gold-lace 
regimentals,  with  blue  lapels,  moved  with  indignation  at 
the  insult  offered  the  Army,  since  Captain  Preston  had 
been  fairly  tried  and  most  honourably  acquitted  by  a  Bos- 
ton Jury,  advanced  to  Hancock  and  Adams,  and  spoke  his 
sentiments  to  them  in  plain  English ;  the  latter  told  the 
officer  he  knew  him,  and  would  settle  the  matter  with  the 
General ;  the  man  of  honour  replied,  "  you  and  I  must  set- 
tle it  first."   At  this  the  demagogue  turned  pale  and  waived 
the  discourse.    It  is  said  this  gallant  gentleman's  life  is 
threatened,  but  I  fancy  there  is  little  danger.    The  Town 
was  perfectly  quiet  all  night ;  no  exhibition  or  ringing  of 
bells;  they  knew  better. 

You  will  soon  have  in  New-York  the  Asia,  a  fine  Sixty- 
four,  commanded  by  an  excellent  seaman,  son  of  your  old 
friend  Sir  George  Vandeput. 


107 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  lie,  MARCH,  1775. 


108 


CONNECTICUT  ASSEMBLY. 

At  a  General  Assembly  of  the  Govemour  and  Company 
of  the  English  Colony  of  Connecticut,  in  New-England, 
in  America,  holtlen  at  New-Haven,  by  adjournment  and 
special  order  of  the  Govemour  of  said  Colony,  on  Thurs- 
day, the  second  day  of  March,  Annoque  Domini,  1775  : 

It  being  represented  to  this  Assembly  that  Abraham 
Blackslce,  of  New-Haven,  Captain  of  a  Military  Company 
in  the  Second  Regiment  in  this  Colony,  is  disaffected  to 
this  Government,  and  the  privileges  thereof,  as  established 
by  Charter,  and  has  frequently  spoken  contemptuously  of 
the  measure  taken  by  this  Assembly  for  maintaining  the 
same,  and  threatened  to  act  in  his  office  in  opposition  to 
the  lawful  authority  of  the  Colony  contrary  to  the  duty  of 
his  office : 

Resolved,  By  this  Assembly,  that  James  A.  Hilhouse 
and  Samuel  Bishop,  Esquires,  be,  and  they  are  hereby 
appointed  a  Committee  to  inquire  into  said  matters,  and 
make  report  of  what  they  find,  with  their  opinion  thereon, 
to  this  Assembly  at  the  next  session. 

It  having  been  represented  to  this  Assembly  that  Isaac 
Quintard,  of  Stamford,  in  the  County  of  Fairfield,  Cap- 
tain of  the  Second  Military  Company  in  the  Town  of 
Stamford,  in  the  Ninth  Regiment  in  this  Colony,  and  Filer 
Dibble,  of  said  Stamford,  Captain  of  the  First  Military 
Company  in  the  Town  of  Stamford,  in  said  Regiment,  at 
said  Stamford,  in  January  last,  in  contempt  of  the  author- 
ity in  this  Colony,  did  attempt  and  endeavour  to  prevent 
the  introduction  of  certain  barrels  of  Gunpowder  into  this 
Colony  for  the  Government  use,  agreeable  to  the  order 
and  directions  of  legal  authority,  which  conduct  is  incon- 
sistent with  the  duty  of  their  said  office  and  of  dangerous 
tendency: 

Whereupon  it  is  Resolved,  By  this  Assembly,  that  Gold 
Sillick  Silliman,  and  Jonathan  Sturgess,  Esquires,  be,  and 
they  are  hereby  appointed  Commissioners,  and  are  fully 
authorized  and  empowered  to  notify  said  Quintard  and 
Dibble  to  appear  before  them,  at  such  time  and  place  as 
shall  be  by  them  appointed,  and  to  examine  the  witnesses 
relative  to  said  conduct,  and  examine  into  the  truth  of  said 
representation,  and  to  report  what  they  shall  find  to  the 
General  Assembly,  at  their  session  in  May  next. 

It  being  represented  to  this  House,  that  the  Towns  of 
Ridgfield  and  Newtown  have  come  into  and  published 
certain  Resolutions  injurious  to  the  rights  of  this  Colony, 
in  direct  opposition  to  the  repeated  Resolves  of  this  House, 
and  of  dangerous  tendency: 

Resolved,  That  Col.  Joseph  Piatt  Cook  and  Col.  John 
Read,  be  a  Committee  to  inquire  into  the  truth  of  said 
representation,  and  how  far  any  person  or  persons  holding 
commissions  under  this  Government  have  been  any  way 
active  or  concerned  in  promoting  the  measures  taken  by 
said  Towns,  and  make  report  of  what  they  shall  find  to  the 
General  Assembly,  to  be  held  at  Hartford,  in  May  next. 

Wednesday,  March  8,  1775. 

In  the  House  of  Representatives  of  the  Colony  of  Con- 
necticut, assembled  at  New-Haven  : — 

Whereas,  our  brethren  of  the  Town  of  Boston  have 
long  suffered,  and  are  yet  suffering  under  the  hand  of 
oppression,  grievous  and  unparalleled  hardships  and  distress- 
es, in  consequence  of  their  resolution  to  support  the  great 
principles  of  Constitutional  Liberty  ;  and  having  endured, 
and  yet  enduring  those  sufferings  in  the  common  cause  of 
America,  with  most  exemplary  fortitude  and  magnanimity  ; 
the  principles  of  humanity  and  justice  to  ourselves  and 
them,  require  that  they  should  not  be  left  to  sink  under 
the  weight  of  burdens  which,  without  assistance,  may  be- 
come absolutely  insupportable. 

And  although  many  donations  have  been  made  them  by 
this  and  the  other  Colonies;  yet,  upon  authentick  intelli- 
gence, it  appears  they  are  inadequate  to  the  real  distresses 
in  which  thousands  of  their  innocent  and  virtuous  inhabi- 
tants are  involved  by  means  as  aforesaid. 

This  House,  taking  the  matters  aforesaid  into  their  serious 
consideration,  do  Resolve,  That  it  be,  and  it  is  hereby 
earnestly  recommended  to  the  several  Towns  in  this  Colo- 
ny, to  continue  cheerfully  and  liberally  to  contribute  to  the 
relief  of  their  suffering  brethren  in  said  Town,  according 
to  the  several  abilities  which  Divine  Providence  has  given 


them ;  esteeming  it  an  incumbent  duty,  and  an  acceptable 
service  in  the  sight  of  God  and  their  Country. 

By  order  of  the  House, 

William  Williams,  Speaker. 

IN  THE  HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES, 

New-Haven,  March,  1775. 

Colony  of  Connecticut,  ss. 

Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  this  House  be  given  to 
the  worthy  and  patriotick  House  of  Assembly  for  the 
Island  of  Jamaica,  for  their  kind  and  seasonable  mediation 
in  favour  of  the  Colonies  on  this  Continent,  by  their  late 
humble  Petition  and  Remonstrance  to  His  Majesty.  And 
that  the  Speaker  of  this  House  be,  and  he  is  hereby 
directed  to  write  to  the  said  Honourable  Assembly,  and 
enclose  a  copy  of  this  Resolution  ;  also  of  the  Resolution 
of  this  House,  at  their  session  in  May,  1773,  appointing  a 
Committee  of  Correspondence,  and  invite  them  to  come 
into  that,  or  a  similar  method  of  mutually  communicating 
such  intelligence,  as  may  be  of  publick  importance,  and 
more  immediately  affecting  the  inhabitants  of  the  British 
Colonies  and  Islands  in  America. 

Test:  Richard  Law,  Clerk. 

Colony  of  Connecticut,  Lebanon,  March  14,  1775. 

Sir:  In  pursuance  of  the  direction  of  the  Honourable 
House  of  Representatives  for  this  Colony,  I  have  the  plea- 
sure of  transmitting  the  enclosed  Resolutions,  and  at  the 
same  time  to  return  you  their  unfeigned  thanks  for  your 
late  kind  and  seasonable,  yet  spirited  and  pertinent  media- 
tion, in  their  behalf,  by  your  Remonstrance  and  Petition  to 
His  Most  Gracious  Majesty. 

The  clear  knowledge  you  have  of  the  inherent  and  una- 
lienated rights  of  the  Colonists,  and  the  readiness  you 
have  shewn  to  assert  them,  with  a  temper  and  firmness 
worthy  of  such  a  cause,  of  Englishmen  and  Americans,  at 
once  reflects  the  highest  honour  on  your  worthy  and  patrio- 
tick Assembly,  and  merits  the  most  grateful  acknowledg- 
ments of  this  whole  Continent. 

The  unnatural  contest  between  the  Parliament  of  Great 
Britain  and  these  Colonies  is  at  length,  by  the  unwearied 
efforts  of  our  enemies  for  a  course  of  years,  brought  (to  all 
human  appearance)  near  to  a  most  alarming  crisis;  in 
which,  threatened  as  we  are  by  the  dreadful  alternative  of 
surrendering  all  for  which  our  fathers  suffered  and  bled,  all 
that  is  deserving  of  men,  Englishmen  and  Americans,  in 
life  ;  or  suffer  all  the  horrours  of  a  military  contention  with 
the  Parent  State ;  the  striking  union  of  these  Colonies, 
a  consciousness  of  the  justice  of  our  cause,  and  the  recti- 
tude of  our  views,  with  the  approbation  of  our  fellow-men, 
seem,  under  Heaven,  our  greatest  consolation  and  support. 

The  representations  of  so  respectable  a  body  as  the  As- 
sembly of  your  large  and  important  Island  will,  we  flatter 
ourselves,  meet  with  the  most  favourable  attention  of  His 
Majesty  and  his  Ministers,  and  have  a  happy  tendency 
towards  procuring  for  us  and  you,  (and  indeed  the  whole 
Nation,  ultimately  interested  in  this  great  common  cause,) 
the  redress  of  those  grievances  under  which  we  labour, 
and  the  establishment  of  the  liberties  and  privileges  of  the 
whole  Empire,  on  the  most  sure  and  permanent  basis. 

We  shall  ever  be  happy  in  keeping  up  an  intercourse 
with  your  Island,  and  shall,  from  time  to  time,  with  plea- 
sure embrace  every  opportunity  to  give  you  the  earliest 
intelligence,  of  whatever  we  shall  judge  of  publick  concern, 
or  more  immediately  affecting  the  Colonies  in  general,  or 
your  Island  in  particular;  and  shall  gratefully  receive  the 
like  favours  from  you. 

I  am,  by  order,  and  in  behalf  of  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives for  this  Colony,  Sir,  your  most  obedient  and  very 
humble  servant,  Wm.  Williams,  Speaker. 

Hon.  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Assembly,  Jamaica. 

LETTER  FROM  THE  HONOURABLE  J.  TRUMBULL,  GOVER- 
NOUR  OF  CONNECTICUT,  TO  THE  EARL  OF  DARTMOUTH, 
ONE  OF  HIS  MAJESTY'S  PRINCIPAL  SECRETARIES  OF 
STATE. 

New-Haven,  March,  1775. 

My  Lord:  I  duly  received  your  Lordship's  Letter  of 
the  10th  of  December  last,  enclosing  His  Most  Gracious 
Majesty's  Speech  to  his  Parliament,  and  the  Addresses  in 


109 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1175. 


answer  thereto,  which  I  have  taken  the  earliest  opportunity 
to  lay  before  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Colony  ;  and 
am  now  to  return  you  their  thanks  for  this  communica- 
tion. 

It  is,  my  Lord,  wkh  the  deepest  concern  and  anxiety, 
that  we  contemplate  the  unhappy  dissensions  which  have 
taken  place  between  the  Colonies  and  Great  Britain,  which 
must  be  attended  with  the  most  fatal  consequences  to  both, 
unless  speedily  terminated.  We  consider  the  interests  of 
the  two  Countries  as  inseparable,  and  are  shocked  at  the 
idea  of  any  disunion  between  them.  We  wish  for  nothing 
so  much  as  a  speedy  and  happy  settlement  upon  constitu- 
tional grounds,  and  cannot  apprehend  why  it  might  not  be 
effected,  if  proper  steps  were  taken.  It  is  certainly  an  ob- 
ject of  that  importance  as  to  merit  the  attention  of  every 
wise  and  good  man,  and  the  accomplishment  of  it  would 
add  lustre  to  the  first  character  upon  earth. 

The  origin  and  progress  of  these  unhappy  disputes,  we 
need  not  point  out  to  you  ;  they  are  perfectly  known  to 
your  Lordship.  From  apprehensions  on  one  side,  and  jea- 
lousies, fears,  and  distresses  on  the  other,  fomented  and  in- 
creased by  the  representations  of  artful  and  designing  men, 
unfriendly  to  the  liberties  of  America,  they  have  risen  to 
that  alarming  height  at  which  we  now  see  them,  threaten- 
ing the  most  essential  prejudice,  if  not  entire  ruin,  to  the 
whole  Empire.  On  the  one  hand,  we  do  assure  your 
Lordship  that  we  do  not  wish  to  weaken  or  impair  the  au- 
thority of  the  British  Parliament  in  any  matters  essential 
to  the  welfare  and  happiness  of  the  whole  Empire.  On 
the  other,  it  will  be  admitted  that  it  is  our  duty,  and  that 
we  should  be  even  highly  culpable,  if  we  should  not  claim 
and  maintain  the  constitutional  rights  and  liberties  derived 
to  us  as  men  and  Englishmen ;  as  the  descendants  of  Bri- 
tors,  and  members  of  an  Empire  whose  fundamental  prin- 
ciple is  the  liberty  and  security  of  the  subject.  British 
supremacy  and  American  liberty  are  not  incompatible  with 
each  other.  They  have  been  seen  to  exist  and  flourish  to- 
gether for  more  than  a  centuryr.  What  now  renders  them 
inconsistent?  Or,  if  any  thing  be  further  necessary  to  as- 
certain the  one  or  limit  the  other,  why  may  it  not  be  ami- 
cably adjusted,  every  occasion  and  ground  of  future  con- 
troversy be  removed,  and  all  that  has  unfortunately  passed, 
be  buried  in  perpetual  oblivion  ? 

The  good  people  of  this  Colony,  my  Lord,  are  unfeign- 
edly  loyal,  and  firmly  attached  to  His  Majesty's  person, 
family,  and  Government.  They  are  willing  and  ready, 
freely  as  they  have  formerly  most  cheerfully  done  upon 
every  requisition  made  to  them,  to  contribute  to  the  ut- 
most of  their  abilities  to  the  support  of  His  Majesty's  Gov- 
ernment, and  to  devote  their  lives  and  fortunes  to  his  ser- 
vice ;  and,  in  the  last  war,  did  actually  expend  in  His  Ma- 
jesty's service  more  than  Four  Hundred  Thousand  Pounds 
Sterling  beyond  what  they  received  any  compensation  for. 
But  the  unlimited  powers  lately  claimed  by  the  British 
Parliament  drove  them  to  the  borders  of  despair.  These 
powers,  carried  into  execution,  will  deprive  them  of  all 
property,  and  are  incompatible  with  every  idea  of  civil  lib- 
erty. They  must  hold  all  that  they  possess  at  the  will  of 
others,  and  will  have  no  property  which  they  can,  volunta- 
rily and  as  freemen,  lay  at  the  foot  of  the  Throne  as  a  mark 
of  their  affection  and  devotion  to  His  Majesty's  service. 

Why,  my  Lord,  should  our  fellow-subjects  in  Great 
Britain  alone  enjoy  the  high  honour  and  satisfaction  of 
presenting  their  free  gifts  to  their  Sovereign  ?  Or,  if  this 
be  a  distinction  in  which  they  will  permit  none  to  partici- 
pate with  them  ;  yet,  in  point  of  honour,  it  should  be 
founded  on  the  gift  of  their  own  property,  and  not  of  that 
of  their  fellow-subjects  in  the  more  distant  parts  of  the 
Empire. 

It  is  with  particular  concern  and  anxiety  that  we  see  the 
unhappy  situation  of  our  fellow-subjects  in  the  Town  of 
Boston,  in  the  Province  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay ,  where 
we  behold  many  thousands  of  His  Majesty's  virtuous  and 
loyal  subjects  reduced  to  the  utmost  distress  by  the  opera- 
tion of  the  Port  Act,  and  the  whole  Province  thrown  into 
a  state  of  anarchy  and  confusion,  by  the  Act  for  changing 
the  Constitution  of  the  Province,  and  depriving  them  of 
some  of  their  Charter-rights.  We  are  at  a  loss  to  conceive 
how  the  destruction  of  the  East-India  Company's  Tea 
could  be  a  just  or  reasonable  ground  for  punishing  so  se- 
verely thousands  of  innocent  people  who  had  no  hand  in 


that  transaction,  and  that  even  without  giving  them  anv 
opportunity  to  be  heard  in  their  own  defence. 

[And  we  submit  whether  the  conditions  of  their  being 
restored  to  their  former  privileges,  are  not  becoming  im- 
practicable under  their  present  circumstances,  since  the 
Town  is  not,  by  law,  authorized  to  tax  the  inhabitants  for 
such  a  purpose  ;  and  the  Province  is  not  permitted  the  pri- 
vilege of  the  Assembly ;  nor,  they  conceive,  could  they 
constitutionally  hold  one,  until  their  Charter-rights  are  re- 
stored. Indeed,  how  can  they  constitutionally  give  His 
Majesty  any  security  for  their  future  good  behaviour,  but 
by  their  Representatives  in  General  Assembly.  Were  the 
Acts  for  shuiting  up  their  Port  and  altering  the  Govern- 
ment of  the  Province,  repealed  ;  the  armed  force  with- 
drawn from  Boston,  and  the  people  put  upon  a  footing  to 
act  freely  and  constitutionally,  we  cannot  doubt  but  that  as 
they  have,  upon  all  former  occasions,  shown  themselves  to 
be  a  generous,  brave,  and  loyal  people,  they  would  comply 
with  any  reasonable  requisition  that  should  be  made  by  his 
Majesty.] 

Give  us  leave  to  recommend  to  your  Lordship's  most 
serious  and  candid  attention  the  unhappy  case  of  that  dis- 
tressed people,  and  in  effect  of  all  the  Colonies,  whose 
fate  seems  to  be  involved  in  theirs,  and  who  are  therefore 
most  anxiously  distressed  for  them.  Permit  us  to  hope, 
that,  by  your  Lordship's  kind  and  benevolent  interposition, 
some  wise  and  happy  plan  will  be  devised  which  may  re- 
lieve us  from  our  present  anxieties,  and  restore  that  harmo- 
ny between  Great  Britain  and  the  Colonies,  which  we 
all  most  ardently  wish  for,  and  which  alone  can  render  us 
truly  happy. 

I  am,  my  Lord,  in  behalf  of  the  Governour  and  Com- 
pany of  Connecticut ,  my  Lord,  your  Lordship's  most  obe- 
dient and  most  humble  servant, 

General  Assembly,  New-Haven,  March,  1775. 
In  the  Upper  House  the  foregoing  draught  for  a  Letter 
to  the  Right  Honourable  the  Earl  of  Dartmouth,  one  of 
His  Majesty's  Principal  Secretaries  of  State,  being  read, 
is  approved,  and  his  Honour  the  Governour  is  desired 
to  sign  a  transcript  thereof,  and  transmit  the  same  to  his 
Lordship  as  soon  as  opportunity  will  permit. 

Test :  Geokge  Wyllys,  Secretary. 

In  the  Lower  House,  Mr.  Strong,  Mr.  Deane,  Colo- 
nel Talcott,  Mr.  Hosiner,  Mr.  Wales,  and  Mr.  Sturgess, 
are  appointed  a  Committee  to  confer  with  such  gentle- 
men as  the  Honourable  Upper  House  shall  appoint  to  con- 
fer on  the  subject-matter  of  the  foregoing  Letter. 

Test:  Richard  Law,  Clerk. 

In  the  Upper  House,  William  Samuel  Johnson  and 
Oliver  Wolcolt,  Esquires,  are  appointed  to  confer  with 
the  Committee  of  the  Lower  House  on  the  subject-matter 
of  the  foregoing  Letters. 

Test :  George  Wyllys,  Secretary." 

[At  the  Conference  of  the  Committees  of  the  two  Houses,  it  was 
agreed  to  amend  the  draught  by  striking  out  the  paragraph  between 
brackets,  in  which  form  it  was  adopted  by  the  Lower  House. J 

General  Assembly,  New-Haven,  March,  1775. 
In  the  Lower  House,  the  foregoing  draught  for  a  Letter 
to  the  Earl  of  Dartmouth,  one  of  His  Majesty's  Principal 
Secretaries  of  State,  is  read  and  approved,  and  his  Hon- 
our the  Governour  is  desired  to  sign  a  transcript  thereof, 
and  transmit  the  same  to  his  Lordship  as  soon  as  opportu- 
nity will  permit.    Test :  Richard  Law,  Clerk. 

Concurred  in  in  the  Upper  House. 

Test:  George  Wyllys,  Secretary. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  CONNECTICUT  TO  MR.  R1V- 
INGTON,  NEW-YORK,  DATED  MARCH  13,  1775. 

Our  Assembly  met  on  the  2d  of  March.  The  two  first 
days  were  chiefly  employed  in  examination  of  the  conduct 
of  Captain  Glover  and  the  Representatives  of  Bidgfield, 
which  Town  had  very  freely  declared  against  adopting  the 
Congress's  measures.  A  Committee  was  appointed  to  su- 
perintend this  business,  and  make  a  report  at  the  next  May 
session.  The  debates  of  a  week's  duration  upon  the  mat- 
ters cost  the  Colony  One  Hundred  and  Seventy-Five 
Pounds.    In  the  next  place,  many  long  and  learned  ar- 


Ill 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775. 


112 


guments  were  produced  by  the  old  leaven,  the  Repub- 
licans, urging  the  necessity  of  an  Army  to  be  immediately 
raised.  The  matter  was  recommended  to  a  Committee, 
consisting  of  the  most  inflammatory  and  the  truest  malig- 
nant men,  who  openly  declare  for  independence.  After 
two  days  they  produced  a  Report,  as  follows : 

"  That  a  Major  General  and  two  Brigadier  Generals  be 
appointed  ;  that  ten  thousand  bushels  of  Wheat,  two  thou- 
sand barrels  of  Pork,  three  thousand  stands  of  Arms  with 
Bayonets,  be  provided  ;  and  the  Assembly  emit  Bills  to 
the  amount  of  Thirty  Thousand  Pounds,  lawful  money." 

This  was  craftily  concerted  ;  for  had  the  Bill  succeeded, 
of  course  a  subsequent  one  must  have  passed  to  raise  a 
number  of  Troops  to  eat  the  provisions.  But  Heaven  be 
praised,  by  this  time  the  eyes  of  the  most  respectable  Mem- 
bers were  opened  ;  they  saw  that  all  the  old  firebrands 
were  the  promoters  of  these  destructive  measures ;  and  to 
the  eternal  honour  of  many  Members  who  spoke  and  acted 
on  behalf  of  the  Constitution,  a  majority  of  the  House 
was  roused,  and  they  then  proceeded  to  vote  by  paragraph 
upon  the  Bill.  They  allowed  the  creation  of  General  Of- 
ficers, but  all  the  rest  were  thrown  out  of  the  House ;  and, 
instead  of  the  destructive  measure  concerted  by  the  Crom- 
wellites,  a  vote  was  passed  by  a  great  majority  to  petition 
his  Majesty  for  a  redress  of  such  American  grievances  as 
should  be  enumerated  by  a  Committee  then  appointed  by 
the  House  to  compose  and  report  it  for  their  approbation. 

This  Assembly  was  a  special  one,  called  for  the  express 
purpose  of  raising,  Sic,  six  thousand  men.  And  notwith- 
standing the  Secretary  and  Squire  WyUys,  who  went  to  Cam- 
bridge to  consult  the  Provincial  Congress,  assured  the  House 
that  the  Congress  then  met  at  Cambridge,  on  mature  deli- 
beration, wanted  not  assistance  from  this  Colony,  they  being 
sufficiently  able  to  fight  all  the  Troops  General  Gage  had 

then  at  Boston,  our  warm  sons  of  insisted  on  raising 

an  Army  in  this  Province,  and,  at  any  rate,  drive  the 
King's  General  out  of  this  religious  land. 

A  Letter,  carrying  with  it,  in  effect,  a  Petition,  was  sent 
clown  to  the  Lower  House  from  the  Upper  House,  address- 
ed to  Lord  Dartmouth.  The  Wasp  immediately  seized, 
and  clumsily  attacked  those  parts  of  it  which  were  calcu- 
lated to  conciliate  and  restore  harmony  between  Great 
Britain  and  America;  but  he  was  overruled,  and  returned 
home  grievously  disappointed. 


LETTER   FROM   A   GENTLEMAN   IN   CONNECTICUT  TO  MR. 
HOLT,   NEW-YORK,   DATED   MARCH   29,  1775. 

Mr.  James  Jiivington  has  often  been  animadverted  on 
in  a  publick  manner,  and  sundry  Resolves  have  been  pass- 
ed in  the  different  Colonies,  respecting  his  conduct  as  a 
Printer;  not  only  as  being  partial,  but  as  publishing  false- 
hoods tending  to  disunite  them  in  their  great  struggle  to 
support  constitutional  liberty,  destroy  their  mutual  confi- 
dence, and  render  abortive  that  system  of  conduct  recom- 
mended by  the  Congress  as  the  most  certain  and  advisable 
expedient  for  obtaining  a  redress  of  our  grievances.  Mr. 
Rivington,  or  his  partisans,  have  represented  this  as  an 
attempt  to  destroy  the  liberty  of  the  press.  But  shall  a 
press  disgorge  calumny  and  falsehood  with  impunity  ?  Shall 
the  most  innocent  actions  of  a  community  be  traversed, 
and  the  most  reputable  characters,  even  Legislative  bodies, 
be  traduced  with  passive  tameness?  This  would  be  a  tacit 
acknowledgment  of  the  charge.  Is  it  not  notorious,  that 
he,  while  America  is  anxiously  struggling  to  preserve  her 
constitutional  liberties,  like  an  invidious  spy,  watches  every 
motion  towards  the  grand  point,  and  strives  to  frustrate 
every  design,  by  disseminating  distrust  and  falsehood  among 
the  people,  in  order  to  intimidate  or  divide  them,  thereby 
rendering  his  press  an  engine  of  tyranny,  as  well  as  a  sink 
of  the  most  impure  productions.  An  instance  of  this  we 
have,  in  his  "  uninfluenced"  paper  of  last  week,  termed 
"  Extract  of  a  Letter  from  Connecticut." 

It  is  evident,  from  the  whole  strain  of  this  epistle,  that 
the  writer  attempts  to  set  the  General  Assembly  of  this 
Colony  in  a  disadvantageous  point  of  light,  villify  and  dis- 
grace some  of  its  most  worthy  members,  and  create  a  dis- 
trust of  them  among  the  Colonies,  as  though  they  had 
changed  measures,  which  is  wide  of  the  truth,  as  I  shall 
show  anon.    He  says — 

"  Our  Assembly  met  on  the  second  of  March,  and  the 


two  first  days  were  spent  in  examining  the  conduct  of  Cap- 
tain Glover  and  the  Ridgfield  Representatives,  which  had 
declared  against  the  measures  of  the  Congress."  Here  he 
stumbles  at  the  very  threshold  ;  I  am  very  certain  nothing 
of  that  matter  was  debated  the  first  day.  His  account  of 
the  Committee  is  very  confused  ;  if  it  is  intelligible,  he 
means  the  Committee  were  appointed  to  superintend  the 
examination  of  the  Representatives ;  but  while  the  House 
spent  two  days  in  examining  them,  how  could  any  Com- 
mittee superintend  ?  Did  they  appoint  a  Committee  to 
superintend  themselves  ?  He  says  a  Committee  were 
appointed  to  superintend  the  business,  and  make  report  in 
May.  The  meaning  (if  any)  is  obscure,  at  best.  If  he 
intends  such  a  Committee  were  appointed  to  superintend 
the  examination  of  the  first  two  days,  or  while  the  exami- 
nation lasted,  it  is  not  true. 

He  next  observes  :  "  The  debates  of  a  week's  dura- 
tion upon  the  matter  cost  the  Colony  One  Hundred  and 
Seventy-five  Pounds."  Here,  again,  he  needs  a  comment. 
If  he  is  intelligible,  he  must  mean  a  week  was  spent  in 
debating  such  matters  as  he  had  before  mentioned,  i.  e. 
examining  the  Representatives  ;  but  this  is  not  true.  At 
first  he  speaks  of  but  two  days  himself,  and  I  before  ob- 
served on  the  first  day  none  of  his  matters  were  agitated  ; 
now  he  seems  to  assign  a  whole  week  to  that  business,  for 
he  can't  be  supposed  so  silly  as  to  accuse  the  Assembly  of 
sitting  a  week  on  matters  at  large.  His  design  was  doubt- 
less to  insinuate  that  the  House  spent  a  week  about  a 
trifling  examination,  which  cost  the  Colony  One  Hundred 
and  Seventy-Five  Pounds.  This  might  raise  a  clamour, 
and  this,  I  charitably  believe,  was  his  design. 

The  next  clause  is  remarkable ;  he  says,  "  In  the  next, 
many  long  and  learned  arguments  were  produced  by  the 
old  leaven,  the  Republicans,  urging  the  necessity  of  an 
Army  to  be  immediately  raised  ;  the  matter  was  recom- 
mended to  a  Committee,  consisting  of  the  most  inflamma- 
tory, who  openly  declare  for  independence."  Such  a 
high  charge  against  the  Committee  ought  to  be  supported 
by  the  strongest  evidence ;  but  the  whole  weight  rests  on 
the  mere  ipse  dixit  of  an  anonymous  author.  Should  this 
dirty  performance  gain  any  credit,  what  idea  must  the  com- 
munity entertain  of  the  Committee,  and  Assembly  that 
appointed  them  ?  He  says,  "  They  were  Republicans, 
who  openly  declare  for  independence,  i.  e.  such  as  disavow 
Monarchy,  and  admit  no  King  to  preside  in  the  State." 
Is  this  true  ?  I  ask  this  vile  calumniator  whether  he  ever 
heard  any  such  doctrine  advanced  in  that  Assembly,  or  by 
the  Members  of  it  ?  If  so,  let  him  support  the  charge,  and 
give  us  his  name  ;  otherwise  he  will  be  accounted  a  ma- 
licious defamer.  Is  a  Printer  to  be  tolerated  who  charges 
the  Representatives  of  a  Colony  with  treasonable  princi- 
ples from  an  anonymous  scribbler?  He  ought  to  publish 
the  name  of  his  correspondent,  or  take  the  blame  of  this 
scurrilous  accusation  to  himself.  But  I  must  inform  him 
that  the  Committee  consisted  of  gentlemen  of  the  first 
character,  for  ability  as  well  as  loyalty,  and  firm  attach- 
ment to  the  British  Constitution. 

The  Report  of  the  Committee,  and  vote  for  a  Petition  to 
His  Majesty,  which  next  occur,  1  shall  remark  on  hereafter. 
He  then  proceeds :  "  This  Assembly  was  a  special  one, 
called  for  the  express  purpose  of  raising  six  thousand 
men."  How  he  obtained  this  intelligence  I  cannot  con- 
jecture. Did  the  Governour  mention  it  in  his  speech,  or 
was  it  ever  declared  in  the  Upper  or  Lower  House  of  As- 
sembly ?  1  am  confident  he  never  heard  it  from  the  first 
or  the  last,  and  cannot  suppose  him  a  Member  of  the 
second  ;  whence,  then,  did  he  derive  his  intelligence  of  the 
express  purpose?  I  presume  it  was  a  creature  of  his  own 
morbid  imagination.  He  next  acquaints  us,  "  Two  gen- 
tlemen went  to  Cambridge  to  consult  the  Provincial 
Congress."  This,  I  conceive,  was  mentioned  with  a 
malevolent  design  towards  them,  in  order  to  asperse  their 
characters.  That  they  were  there  is  conceded  ;  but  whether 
with  a  design  to  consult  the  Congress  or  not,  is,  I  believe, 
mere  conjecture.  If  that  was  really  their  errand,  where  is 
the  crime?  Is  not  America  engaged  in  supporting  the 
Town  of  Boston  1  Is  it  then  a. crime  to  consult  them  in 
affairs  of  common  concern  ? 

He  proceeds :  "  Our  warm  sons  of    insisted  on 

raising  an  Army  in  this  Province,  and,  at  any  rate,  drive 
the  King's  General  out  of  this  religious  land."    This  is 


113 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775. 


mere  rant.  No  such  thing  was  proposed  in  the  Assembly 
(I  am  very  certain)  through  the  whole  session. 

He  subjoins :  "A  Letter,  carrying  with  it  in  effect  a  Pe- 
tition, was  sent  down  to  the  Lower  House  from  the  Upper 
House,  addressed  to  Lord  Dartmouth."  A  Letter  was  sent 
from  the  Upper  Board  to  the  Lower  House,  for  their  con- 
currence and  approbation ;  it  was  an  answer  to  one  re- 
ceived from  Lord  Dartmouth,  and  addressed  to  that 
Nobleman ;  in  this  they  declare  the  loyalty  of  themselves 
and  the  other  Colonies  to  his  present  Majesty,  and  their 
concern  at  the  claims  of  the  British  Parliament,  which 
have  occasioned  so  much  anxiety  among  the  Colonists ; 
they  decently  asserted  our  Constitutional  rights,  and  con- 
doled the  unhappy  sufferers  of  Boston  as  a  virtuous  and 
loyal  people ;  in  fine,  they  requested  his  Lordship's  kind 
interposition  with  His  Majesty  for  our  relief. 

He  concludes :  "  The  Wasp  immediately  seized  and 
clumsily  attacked  those  parts  of  it  which  were  calculated 
to  restore  harmony  between  Great  Britain  and  America ; 
but  he  was  overruled,  and  returned  home  grievously  dis- 
appointed." Whoever  was  designed  by  the  Wasp,  the 
epithet,  clumsy,  is  not  so  applicable  to  that  insect  as  to  his 
own  dull  performance.  But  here  again  he  errs  from  the 
truth.  When  the  Letter  was  read  in  the  Lower  House, 
sundry  clauses  were  objected  to.  Though  (in  my  opinion) 
the  fair  import  of  the  Letter  was  unexceptionable,  yet,  as 
not  only  one,  but  several  Members  were  of  opinion  that 
some  expressions  were  too  vague,  and  might  be  wrested  to 
a  noxious  sense,  they  were  cautious  of  making  any  seem- 
ing concessions  of  their  indubitable  rights.  After  some 
debate,  a  Committee  was  appointed  from  both  Houses  to 
make  some  amendments,  which  they  did,  by  substituting 
more  cautious  and  determinate  expressions,  and  vary- 
ing rather  the  diction  than  sense  ;  when  it  passed  the 
House  (as  I  thought)  without  a  dissent.  So  that  instead 
of  being  overruled,  as  he  falsely  suggests,  there  was  an 
amendment  to  the  general  acceptance  ;  and  no  one  (I  be- 
lieve) returned  home  grievously  disappointed,  except  the 
author  or  his  voucher. 

As  to  what  he  says  in  this  polite  way,  "that  the  Wasp 
clumsily  attacked  those  parts  of  the  Letter  that  were  cal- 
culated to  restore  harmony  between  Great  Britain  and 
America  :"  no  parts  were  attacked  except  such  as  I  just 
noticed.  Doubtless  he  was  offended  that  any  corrections 
were  made,  and  intended  they  should  be  understood  in  the 
noxious  sense  to  which  the  House  feared  they  might  be 
wrested,  else  why  is  he  angry  with  others  for  attacking 
those  parts  which,  it  was  apprehended,  might  be  taken  in 
such  a  sense  ?  By  such  as  might  restore  harmony,  it  is 
evident  he  designed  such  parts  as  might  gratify  the  Minis- 
try, at  the  expense  of  our  liberties. 

I  promised  to  consider  the  Report  of  the  Committee, 
and  the  vote  for  a  Petition  to  His  Majesty.  The  House 
considered  at  large  the  alarming  situation  of  America ;  they 
professed  their  allegiance  to  his  present  Majesty,  and  firm 
resolution  to  support  our  Constitutional  liberties.  They 
desire  to  live  peaceable  and  loyal  subjects  to  His  Britannick 
Majesty.  But  should  violence  essay  to  enslave  them,  they 
believe  they  are  warranted  by  the  example  of  Great  Bri- 
tain and  the  Constitution  itself,  to  defend  themselves,  and 
repel  any  lawless  invasion.  Though  they  were  well  united 
in  the  grand  principle  of  Constitutional  liberty,  yet  it  is  no 
wonder,  in  this  sad  dilemma,  if  their  councils  were  serious. 
After  considerable  debates  on  affairs  the  most  interesting 
that  ever  were  agitated  in  a  Senate,  the  Committee  with- 
drew, and  framed  a  Bill,  (as  their  author  informs,)  that  the 
minds  of  the  Assembly  might  be  known.  Every  Article 
of  this  Bill  was  calmly  debated ;  and  approving  that  for 
appointing  General  Officers,  (such  as  have  been  in  some 
of  the  neighbouring  Provinces  for  a  long  time,)  the  rest 
of  the  Bill  was  prudently  dismissed.  In  these  debates,  a 
concern  for  the  publick  weal  so  far  predominated  over  pri- 
vate resentment,  that  the  whole  was  conducted  with  the 
greatest  friendship  and  harmony,  so  that  when  a  great  part 
of  the  Bill  was  rejected,  yet  it  seemed  to  be  with  a  gene- 
ral approbation  of  the  Committee  themselves,  as  every 
one  seemed  inclined  to  pursue  the  most  prudent  advice, 
whether  suggested  by  himself  or  another. 

I  now  proceed  to  consider  the  Petition  to  His  Majesty : 
here  our  author  fails  of  telling  the  whole  truth.  Mr.  Riv- 
ington,  the  week  before  he  published  the  extract  now  un- 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii.  \ 


der  consideration,  mentions  this  Petition  as  cause  of  great 
joy.*  One  would  think  from  this,  that  the  Colony  had 
been  in  open  rebellion,  and  was  now  returning  to  their 
duty;  else  why  this  transport?  Did  he  never  hear  that 
this  Colony  petitioned  their  Sovereign  before  ?  1  can  tell 
him  they  have  repeatedly.  Did  not  the  Congress  peti- 
tion ?  He  knows  they  did.  Whence,  then,  this  exulta- 
tion ?  Doubtless  he  had  an  eye  to  those  parts  of  the 
Letter  which  were  calculated  to  restore  harmony  between 
Great  Britain  and  America,  which  his  correspondent  in- 
formed him  were  clumsily  attacked  by  the  Wasp;  but  he 
returned  home  grievously  disappointed.  That  this  is  mere 
fiction,  I  have  shown  before.  But  being  deceived  by  his 
correspondent,  he  felt  a  glow  of  uncommon  joy,  which  he 
could  not  conceal  until  he  might  publish  the  Letter.  He 
thought,  perhaps,  Connecticut  had  made  a  compliment  of 
her  liberties  to  the  Ministry  ;  and  this  he  was  impatient  to 
publish. 

This  Colony,  ever  attached  to  the  present  reigning 
family,  did  vote  to  prefer  a  Petition  to  His  Majesty ;  but 
on  a  little  reflection,  it  was  thought  inexpedient  at  this 
juncture,  as  the  Congress  had  petitioned  in  behalf  of 
America  in  general,  and  they  had  not  then  heard  what 
reception  their  Petition  met  with ;  and  by  some  it  was 
thought,  in  every  such  step  we  ought  to  advise  with  the 
other  Colonies.  In  short,  I  have  the  satisfaction  to  see, 
that  the  very  same  reasons  that  the  worthy  Representatives 
of  Pennsylvania  offered  their  Governour  as  an  excuse  for 
not  petitioning  at  present,  prevailed  on  this  Assembly  to 
defer  it  to  a  future  session. 

A  Member  of  the  Lower  House  of  Assembly. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  LONDON   TO  A  GENTLEMAN 
IN  VIRGINIA,  DATED  MARCH  10,  1775. 

Our  political  madness  is  still  in  its  zenith,  and  we  are 
consequently  taking  the  most  effectual  measures  that  the 
wit  or  folly  of  man  can  devise  to  render  America  totally 
independent  of  this  Country.  You  must,  by  this  time, 
have  heard  of  the  Bill  prohibiting  the  four  New-England 
Governments  from  Fishing,  &lc.  Another  Bill  is  also  in 
its  motion,  to  confine  New-Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  Mary- 
land, Virginia,  and  South- Carolina,  to  trade  no  where 
but  with  Great  Britain,  Ireland,  and  the  British  West- 
Indies.  By  the  long  silence  of  the  London  Merchants, 
they  were  considered  as  men  not  very  serious  in  the  busi- 
ness of  America,  (which  was  really  the  case,  a  very  few 
excepted,)  and  have  been  treated  with  the  utmost  con- 
tempt ;  and  the  Cabinet,  owing  to  this  dilatory  conduct, 
have  had  time  to  get  every  one  of  their  plans  confirmed  by 
Parliament.  Those  of  Glasgow  sent  up  a  very  spirited 
Petition,  but  at  the  same  time  let  Lord  North  know,  by 
their  Member,  Lord  jF.  Campbell,  that  they  did  not  mean 
any  opposition  by  it,  but  only  to  get  credit  in  America. 
The  Ministers  seem  now  convinced  if  America  continues 
united,  and  perseveres  in  her  Non-Importation  and  Non- 
Exportation  scheme,  it  will,  without  one  blow,  distress  the 
Nation  so  much  that  they  must  yield  to  the  most  humili- 
ating terms  America  can  demand.  Therefore,  bribes,  pen- 
sions, places,  contracts,  and  all  other  arts,  are  attempted  to 
divide  the  Colonies,  particularly  New-  York ;  and  by  the 
most  irritating  measures  they  are  provoking  to  blows,  in 
hopes  to  rouse  the  resentment  of  the  Nation  against  Ame- 
rica, which  is  at  present  strong  against  themselves,  and  less 
than  twelve  months  brings  on  their  long-deserved  fate. 
The  way  to  defeat  such  diabolical  schemes  is  to  bear  every 
thing  that  human  nature  can  bear,  and  only,  as  common 
prudence  directs,  be  prepared  to  resent  any  force  or  injury 
that  may  be  offered.  I  wish  this  universally  known.  Your 
Governour,  besides  the  parts  of  his  letters  published,  and 
other  parts  transcribed  to  you,  has  written  for  five  thousand 
Troops,  or  else  he  cannot  stir  in  Virginia ;  but  they  can- 

*  We  hear  from  Connecticut,  that  last  Friday,  the  Assembly  of  that 
Colony,  after  sitting  ten  days,  adjourned  to  meet  at  Hartford,  on  the 
13th  of  April.  The  Printer  has  received  many  particulars  of  their  pro- 
ceedings, but  they  must  be  deferred,  as  they  came  too  late  for  this 
week's  paper ;  we  have  only  room  to  inform  the  publick,  that  a  Letter 
was  sent  from  the  Upper  Board  for  the  approbation  of  the  Lower 
House,  addressed  to  Lord  Dartmouth.  It  contains  every  mark  of  loy. 
alty  to  the  King,  and  carries  with  it,  in  effect,  a  Petition.  The  House 
of  Assembly,  by  a  great  majority,  voted  a  petition  to  His  Majesty, 
and  a  Committee  was  appointed  to  draw  it  up.  The  event  has  afforded 
unspeakable  satisfaction  to  the  friends  of  our  happy  Constitution. 


1  15 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775. 


116 


not  even  spare  the  ten  thousand  which  Gage  wrote  for. 
The  Address  to  the  Soldiers  had  very  great  eifect  in  Eng- 
land and  Ireland.* 

ADDRESS  OF  THE  INHABITANTS  OF  ANSON  COUNTY,  NORTH- 
CAROLINA,  TO  THE  GOVERNOUR. 

To  His  Excellency  Josiah  Martin,  Esq.,  fyc.  : 

Most  Excellent  Governour  :  Permit  us,  in  behalf 
of  ourselves,  and  many  others  of  His  Majesty's  most  duti- 
ful and  loyal  subjects  within  the  County  of  Anson,  to  take 
the  earliest  opportunity  of  addressing  your  Excellency,  and 
expressing  our  abomination  of  the  many  outrageous  at- 
tempts now  forming  on  this  side  the  Atlantick,  against  the 
peace  and  tranquillity  of  His  Majesty's  Dominions  in  North 
America,  and  to  witness  to  your  Excellency,  by  this  our 
Protest,  a  disapprobation  and  abhorrence  of  the  many  law- 
less combinations  and  unwarrantable  practices  actually  car- 
rying on  by  a  gross  tribe  of  infatuated  anti-monarchists  in 
the  several  Colonies  in  these  Dominions  ;  the  baneful  con- 
sequence of  whose  audacious  contrivance  can,  in  fine,  only 
tend  to  extirpate  the  fundamental  principles  of  all  Govern- 
ment, and  illegally  to  shake  off  their  obedience  to,  and  de- 
pendance  upon,  the  imperial  Crown  and  Parliament  of 
Great  Britain;  the  infection  of  whose  pernicious  example 
being  already  extended  to  this  particular  County,  of  which 
we  now  bear  the  fullest  testimony. 

It  is  with  the  deepest  concern  (though  with  infinite  in- 
dignation) that  we  see  in  all  publick  places  and  papers  dis- 
agreeable votes,  speeches,  and  resolutions,  said  to  be  enter- 
ed into  by  our  sister  Colonies,  in  the  highest  contempt  and 
derogation  of  the  superintending  power  of  the  legislative 
authority  of  Great  Britain.  And  we  further,  with  sor- 
row, behold  their  wanton  endeavours  to  vilify  and  arraign 
the  honour  and  integrity  of  His  Majesty's  most  honourable 
Ministry  and  Council,  tending  to  sow  the  seeds  of  discord 
and  sedition,  in  open  violation  of  their  duty  and  allegiance. 

We  are  truly  invigorated  with  the  warmest  zeal  and  at- 
tachment in  favour  of  the  British  Parliament,  Constitution, 
and  Laws,  which  our  forefathers  gloriously  struggled  to  es- 
tablish, and  which  are  now  become  the  noblest  birthright 
and  inheritance  of  all  Britannia's  sons.  We  should  be 
criminally  wanting  in  respect  and  gratitude  to  the  manes  of 
those  ancestors,  and  ill  deserve  the  protection  of  that  su- 
periour  Parliamentary  power,  could  we  tamely  suffer  its 
authority  to  be  so  basely  controverted  and  derided,  without 
offering  our  protest  to  your  Excellency  against  such  igno- 
minious disobedience  and  reproach  ;  for  we  consider  that, 
under  Divine  Providence,  it  is  solely  upon  the  wisdom  and 
virtue  of  that  superiour  legislative  might  that  the  safety  of 
our  lives  and  fortunes,  and  the  honour  and  welfare  of  this 
Country,  do  most  principally  depend. 

Give  us  leave,  therefore,  Sir,  to  express  our  utter  detes- 
tation and  abhorrence  of  the  late  unjustifiable  violation  of 
publick  commercial  credit  in  the  Massachusetts  Govern- 
ment. We  protest  against  it  with  the  utmost  disdain,  as 
the  wicked  experiment  of  a  most  profligate  and  abandoned 
Republican  faction,  whereby  the  general  repose  and  tran- 
quillity of  His  Majesty's  good  subjects  on  this  Continent  are 
very  much  endangered  and  impaired.    We  think  it  indis- 

*  Williamgburgh,  Va.,  June  17,  1775. — It  was  with  great  surprise, 
and,  I  must  confess,  witli  a  good  deal  of  concern,  that  I  observed  in,  Mr. 
Purdie's  Gazette,  of  the  9th  instant,  an  extract  of  a  letter  from  London, 
dated  the  10th  of  March  last,  which  mentions,  "  that  the  Merchants 
of  Glasgovy,  upon  the  present  unhappy  differences  subsisting  betwixt 
Great.  Britain  and  her  American  Colonies,  sent  up  a  very  spirited  Peti. 
tion  to  Parliament,  but  at  the  same  timo  let  Lord  North  know,  by  their 
Member,  Lord  Frederick  Campbell,  that  they  did  not  mean  any  oppo- 
sition by  it,  but  only  to  get  credit  in  America."  The  writer  of  this  let- 
ter must  have  either  been  greatly  misinformed,  or  actuated  by  interest 
or  resentmont ;  for  from  the  most  certain  intelligence,  I  can  assure  the 
good  people  of  this  Colony  that  the  latter  part  of  tho  paragraph  men. 
tioned  is  equally  false  as  it  is  injurious  to  tho  Merchants  of  the  City 
of  Glasgow,  and  the  gentlemen  with  whom  they  are  connected  in  this 
Colony.  No  part  of  the  British  Nation  havo  exerted  themselves  with 
groate.r  warmth,  and.  I  may  truly  add,  with  greater  sincerity,  than  tho 
Merchants  of  Glasgow,  for  a  restoration  of  that  happy  union  bo  ardently 
wished  for  by  every  truo  friend  to  America  or  Great  Britain;  and  I  am 
fully  convinced  that  every  Merchant  in  this  Colony  viows  with  tho 
greatest  abhorrence  the  very  idea  of  such  villanous,  disingenuous,  and 
unmanly  conduct,  as  the  writer  of  the  above  letter  charges  them  with. 

The  groatest  unanimity,  gontlemon,  is  essontially  necessary  at  this 
period,  in  this  as  well  as  every  other  Colony  in  America.  Surely,  then, 
our  publick  Printers  should  be  extremely  careful  to  promote,  by  their 
publications,  an  object  of  such  importance,  and  avoid,  with  tho  greatest 
Cttution  and  resolution,  overy  thing  that  may  havo  a  oontrary  effect. 

Mercator. 


pensably  necessary,  and  our  duty  at  this  alarming  crisis,  to 
offer  this  memorial  and  protest  to  your  Excellency,  against 
all  such  enthusiastick  transgressions,  (more  especially  the 
late  ones  committed  by  the  common  cause  Deputies  within 
this  Province,)  to  the  intent  that  it  may  be  delivered  down 
to  posterity,  that  our  hands  were  washed  pure  and  clear  of 
any  cruel  consequence,  lest  the  woful  calamities  of  a  dis- 
tracted Country  should  give  birth  to  sedition  and  insurrec- 
tion, from  the  licentiousness  of  a  concert  prone  to  rebellion. 

And  we  cannot  omit  expressing  further  to  your  Excel- 
lency, that  we  consider  all  such  associations  at  this  period 
of  a  very  dangerous  fatality  against  your  Excellency's  good 
Government  of  this  Province,  being  calculated  to  distress 
the  internal  welfare  of  this  Country,  to  mislead  the  unwary 
ignorant  from  the  paths  of  their  duty,  and  to  entail  de- 
struction upon  us,  and  wretchedness  upon  our  posterity. 

We  do,  most  excellent  Governour,  with  all  obedience 
and  humility,  profess  and  acknowledge,  in  our  consciences, 
that  a  law  of  the  high  Court  of  Parliament  of  Great  Bri- 
tain is  an  exercise  of  the  highest  authority  that  His  Majes- 
ty's subjects  can  acknowledge  upon  earth,  and  that  we  do 
believe  k  hath  legal  power  to  bind  every  subject  in  that 
land,  and  the  dominions  thereunto  belonging.  And  we 
do,  moreover,  with  all  duty  and  gratitude,  acknowledge 
and  reverence  in  the  utmost  latitude  an  Act  of  Parliament 
made  in  the  sixth  year  of  the  reign  of  his  present  most 
sacred  Majesty,  entitled  "  An  Act  for  the  better  securing  the 
dependance  of  His  Majesty's  Dominions  in  America  on  the 
Crown  and  Parliament  of  Great  Britain." 

And  we  do  further  beg  leave  to  express  our  detestation 
of  the  many  scandalous  and  ignorant  deliberations  on  the 
power  of  that  Parliament  in  the  control  of  His  Majesty's 
Provincial  Charters.  For  could  the  doctrine  of  such  un- 
ruly propositions  possibly  exist,  or  should  their  insolent  at- 
tempt unhappily  prevail,  it  must  at  once  extinguish  those 
Laws  and  that  Constitution  which  are  the  glory  of  the  Bri- 
tish Empire,  and  the  envy  of  all  Nations  around  it. 

We  are  truly  sensible  that  those  invaluable  blessings 
which  we  have  hitherto  enjoyed  under  His  Majesty's  aus- 
picious Government,  can  only  be  secured  to  us  by  the  sta- 
bility of  his  Throne,  supported  and  defended  by  the  Bri- 
tish Parliament,  the  only  grand  bulwark  and  guardian  of 
our  civil  and  religious  liberties. 

Duty  and  affection  oblige  us  further  to  express  our  grate- 
ful acknowledgments  for  the  inestimable  blessings  flowine; 
from  such  a  Constitution.  And  we  do  assure  your  Excel- 
lency that  we  are  determined,  by  the  assistance  of  Al- 
mighty God,  in  our  respective  stations,  steadfastly  to  con- 
tinue His  Majesty's  loyal  subjects,  and  to  contribute  all  in 
our  power  for  the  preservation  of  the  publick  peace;  so 
that,  by  our  unanimous  example,  we  hope  to  discourage 
the  desperate  endeavours  of  a  deluded  multitude,  and  to 
see  a  misled  people  turn  again  from  their  atrocious  offences 
to  a  proper  exercise  of  their  obedience  and  duty. 

And  we  do  furthermore  assure  your  Excellency,  that  we 
shall  endeavour  to  cultivate  such  sentiments  in  all  those 
under  our  care,  and  to  warm  their  breasts  with  a  true  zeal 
for  His  Majesty,  and  affection  for  his  illustrious  family. 
And  may  the  Almighty  God  be  pleased  to  direct  his 
Councils,  his  Parliament,  and  all  those  in  authority  under 
him,  that  their  endeavours  may  be  for  the  advancement  of 
piety,  and  the  safety,  honour,  and  welfare  of  our  Sovereign 
and  his  Kingdoms,  that  the  malice  of  his  enemies  may  be 
assuaged,  and  their  evil  designs  confounded  and  defeated  ; 
so  that  all  the  world  may  be  convinced  that  his  sacred 
person,  his  Royal  family,  his  Parliament,  and  our  Country, 
are  the  special  objects  of  Divine  dispensation  and  Provi- 
dence. 

Signed  by  two  hundred,  and  twenty-seven  of  the  Inhabi- 
tants of  the  County  of  Anson. 


ADDRESS   OF  THE   INHABITANTS    OF    ROWA.N    AJND  SURRY 
COUNTIES,  NORTH- CAROLINA,  TO  THE  GOVERNOUR. 

To  His  Excellency  Josiah  Martin,  fyc.:. 

Permit  us,  on  the  behalf  of  ourselves  and  many  others  of 
His  Majesty's  most  dutiful  subjects  within  the  Counties  of 
Rowan  and  Surry,  to  protest  against  any  person  or  per- 
sons, who  may  violate  any  of  His  Majesty's  laws,  or  the 
peace  of  this  Government.  We  are  truly  invigorated  with 
the  warmest  zeal  and  attachment  to  the  British  Constitu- 


117 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775. 


118 


tion  and  Laws,  upon  which  our  lives  and  fortunes,  and  the 
welfare  of  the  Province  now  depend;  and  utterly  protest 
against  meetings  of  people  against  the  peace  thereof,  or 
any  thing  which  may  give  birth  to  sedition  and  insurrection. 
We  cannot  but  express  to  your  Excellency  that  we  consi- 
der all  such  associations,  at  this  crisis,  of  a  very  dangerous 
fatality  against  your  Excellency's  good  Government  of  this 
Province,  and  to  distress  the  internal  welfare  of  this  Coun- 
try, and  to  mislead  the  unwary  from  the  paths  of  their  duty. 
And  we  do  assure  your  Excellency  that  we  are  determin- 
ed, by  the  assistance  of  God,  in  our  respective  stations,  to 
continue  His  Majesty's  loyal  subjects,  and  to  contribute  all 
in  our  power  for  the  preservation  of  the  publick  peace,  and 
that  we  shall  endeavour  to  cultivate  such  sentiments  in  all 
those  under  our  care,  and  warm  their  breast  with  a  true 
zeal  for  His  Majesty,  and  affection  for  his  illustrious  family. 

May  the  Almighty  God  direct  his  Council,  his  Parlia- 
ment, and  all  those  under  him,  that  their  endeavours  may 
be  for  the  advancement  of  piety,  and  the  safety,  honour, 
and  welfare  of  our  Sovereign  and  his  Kingdoms,  that  the 
malice  of  his  enemies  may  be  assuaged,  their  evil  designs 
confounded  and  defeated,  so  that  the  whole  world  may  see 
his  sacred  person,  our  laws,  and  Country,  are  the  special 
objects  of  Divine  dispensation  and  Providence. 

Signed  by  one  hundred  and  ninety-Jive  of  the  Inhabi- 
tants of  the  Counties  of  Rowan  and  Surky. 


ADDRESS  OF  THE   INHABITANTS   OF  GUILFORD  COUNTY, 
NORTH-CAROLINA,  TO  THE  GOVERNOUR. 

To  His  Excellency  Josiah  Martin,  fyc. : 

We,  His  Majesty's  most  loyal  subjects  of  the  County  of 
Guilford,  and  Province  of  North-  Carolina,  beg  leave  to 
lay  before  your  Excellency,  that  we  hold  in  open  detesta- 
tion all  illegal  and  unwarrantable  proceedings  against  His 
Majesty's  crown  and  dignity.  That  whereas  there  is  a 
general  dispute  between  His  Majesty  and  the  Colonies  of 
America,  past  our  knowledge  to  determine  what  the  event 
may  be,  we  therefore  hold  a  firm  attachment  to  His  Majes- 
ty King  George  the  Third,  his  crown  and  dignity  ;  and  we 
being  a  poor  and  unhappy  people,  lying  under  the  reflec- 
tion of. the  late  and  unhappy  insurrection,  we  therefore 
have  taken  this  opportunity  to  show  forth  our  loyalty  to 
His  Majesty  and  his  lawful  commands;  and  for  further 
confirmation  hereto  subscribe  our  names,  as  maintaining  our 
rights  under  a  legal  authority. 

Signed  by  one  hundred  and  sirteen  of  the  Inhabitants 
of  the  County  of  Guilford. 


DECLARATION   OF    INHABITANTS   OF    BROOK-HAVEN,  SUF- 
FOLK COUNTY,  NEW-YORK. 

Brook-Haven,  March  10,  1775. 
Whereas,  Major  Benjamin  Floyd  was  mentioned  in  Mr. 
Hugh  Game's  Paper  of  the  6th  of  February,  as  having 
got  a  number  of  subscribers  to  a  certain  Petition,  said  to  be 
signed  to  the  General  Assembly  of  this  Province  :*  Where- 
fore we  desire  to  inform  the  publick,  that  whereas,  he,  the 
said  Benjamin  Floyd  and  Joseph  Denton  did  carry  about 
this  Town  a  paper,  calling  of  it  a  Petition  to  the  General 
Assembly  of  this  Province,  and  did  earnestly  urge  and 
persuade  all  that  they  could  to  sign  the  same,  calling  of 
it  a  good  thing,  and  telling  people  that  it  was  to  support 
the  laws  of  the  Province,  which  was  likely  soon  to  fail ; 
and  that  it  was  an  instrument  well  drawn,  and  the  best 
calculated  for  that  purpose  :  And  as  we,  the  subscribers, 
did,  by  their  persuasions,  without  having  a  proper  know- 
ledge of  the  design  of  said  instrument,  sign  our  names 
to  the  same ;  but  as  we  since  have  learned  that  the  said 
instrument,  called  a  Petition,  was  designed  and  is  calcu- 
lated, as  we  think,  to  make  divisions  and  disagreement 
between  the  Legislative  authority,  viz :  the  Governour, 
the  Council,  and  General  Assembly,  and  the  common- 
ally  of  the  good  people  of  this  Provice,  with  respect  to 

*  We  hear  from  Brook-Haven,  Suffolk  County,  that  Major  Benjamin 
Floyd  found,  on  a  strict  inquiry,  one  hundred  good  men  in  the  first 
Company  of  that  Township,  to  support  the  King  and  his  Government ; 
but  no  officer  would  join  him  above  the  rank  of  Sergeant.  All  the 
above  persons  signed  a  Petition  to  the  General  Assembly,  expressing 
that,  they  will  entirely  abide  by  the  old  Constitution,  viz  :  The  Gover- 
nour, Council,  and  General  Assembly  of  this  Province,  without  any 
regard  to  the  proceedings  and  determinations  of  the  Continental  Con- 
gress. 


the  observing  of  the  Counsels  and  Resolves  of  our  worthy 
Delegates,  recommended  in  Continental  Congress  for  the 
good  people  of  this  Province  to  observe,  as  being  the  most 
likely  method  to  obtain  a  redress  of  our  publick  grievances  ; 
and  we  do  hereby  publickly  declare  our  dislike  and  disap- 
probation of  said  pretended  Petition,  and  of  all  such  instru- 
ments as  may  have  a  like  tendency  to  make  divisions 
and  parties  among  the  good  people  of  this  Province.  In 
witness  whereof,  we  have  hereunto  signed  our  names. 

N.  B. — The  reader  will  please  to  note  that  the  above 
is  a  true  copy  of  what  is  now  carrying  about  in  the  Town- 
ship of  Brook-Haven,  and  to  which  a  considerable  number 
have  signed,  (of  those  that  subscribed  the  pretended  Pe- 
tition above  alluded  to,)  whose  example,  it  is  not  doubted, 
will  be  followed  by  many  more. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  LONDON,  TO   A  GENTLEMAN 
IN  PHILADELPHIA,  DATED  MARCH  11,  1775. 

You  have  herewith  enclosed  some  of  the  late  English 
papers,  and  a  peculiar  fiery  piece  called  the  Crisis,  wrote 
professedly  in  favour  of  Liberty  and  America,  and  which, 
from  its  freedom,  has  suffered  martyrdom  at  ffestminster 
and  the  Exchange,  by  order  of  a  prostituted  Parliament. 

The  plan  of  this  accursed  Ministry  is,  to  divide  and 
govern,  in  hopes  of  completing  their  principle  of  slavery, 
by  the  base  advantages  and  preferences  now  held  out  to 
New-  York,  North-  Carolina,  and  Georgia.  Surely  Ameri- 
cans must  see  through  the  flimsy  texture,  and  nobly  spurn 
at  the  offer !  I  cannot  suffer  myself  to  believe  that  these 
Provinces  will  desert  the  cause  of  liberty,  by  accepting  the 
ignoble  Commerce  offered  to  them  by  this  abhorred  Par- 
liament. But  should  it  be  the  unhappy  case,  which  God 
forbid,  why  then,  let  all  the  rest  of  America  unite  in  a 
firm  determination  never  to  trade  or  have  any  connection 
with  them  again.  With  what  contempt  ought  the  base 
majority  of  the  New-York  Assembly  to  be  held  !  Have 
they  not  been  honoured  with  that  disapprobation,  to  wit : 
Tarring  and  Feathering  1  It  ought  to  be  administered  as 
a  determent  to  others.  For  if  that  defection  had  not  hap- 
pened, we  had  the  utmost  reason  to  expect  other  measures 
would  have  been  adopted  than  these  villanous  Acts  passed 
and  passing.  But  for  the  satisfaction  of  my  countrymen, 
let  me  assure  them,  that  if  they  will  but  steadily  abide  by 
the  Resolutions  of  the  Congress,  this  hateful  Ministry  must 
retire  ;  and  then,  under  the  auspices  of  the  wide-expanded 
soul  of  Chatham,  his  noble  conciliatory  plan  of  a  union 
must  be  adopted,  and  that,  in  spite  of  open  enemies,  or 
the  more  concealed  and  dangerous  ones  lurking  under  the 
specious  title  of  moderation,  we  shall  be  free  for  ever. 

It  gives  every  friend  to  American  liberty  the  greatest 
satisfaction  to  find  Doctor  Franklin  will  return  by  the 
April  Packet ;  for  his  long  acquaintance  with  the  machina- 
tions of  this  infamous  Administration  will  enable  him  to 
spirit  up  the  lukewarm,  and  confirm  the  Patriot,  as  well  in 
the  Congress  as  throughout  America. 

Once  more,  let  the  Americans  be  united,  and  they  shall 
obtain  the  glorious  prize;  but  if  they  divide,  they  are  irre- 
trievably ruined. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  RECEIVED  IN  PHILADELPHIA, 
DATED  LONDON,  MARCH  11,  1775. 

My  zeal  for  the  liberties  of  America  will  not  let  me 
rest ;  I  think  those  valuable  blessings  are  more  in  danger 
than  ever,  and  I  therefore  warn  my  friends  of  it,  and  your- 
self in  particular. 

I  arn  well  assured  that  the  Americans  are  not  to  be  inti- 
midated by  force,  and  that  they  are  prepared  to  oppose 
force  to  force,  if  violent  measures  should  be  openly  and 
steadily  pursued ;  but  I  am  fearful  that  they  may  be  lulled 
asleep  by  the  insidious  arts  of  Administration.  The  des- 
picable junto  that  govern  all  our  publick  proceedings  have 
at  length  discovered  their  errour,  and  that  the  hostile  mea- 
sures they  have  begun  with,  have  united  the  Colonies  in 
one  common  bond,  which  they  were  taught  to  believe 
would  produce  a  contrary  effect ;  and  they  are  now  shifting 
their  battery — conciliatory  steps  are  continually  talked  off, 
and  an  abatement  of  their  demands  is  echoed  by  every 
tool  in  office. 

Beware  of  this  snake  in  the  grass,  and  give  no  credit  to 


* 


119 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &ic,  MARCH,  L775. 


120 


any  pacifick  proposals,  till  you  have  a  certain  and  total 
disavowal  of  all  their  unconstitutional  claims. 

You  will  have  heard,  before  this  reaches  you,  of  that 
infamous  and  cruel  bill,  which  we  call  the  Fishery  Bill ; 
which,  I  take  upon  me  to  say,  was,  in  its  original  dress,  as 
black  a  bill  as  ever  was  brought  into  a  British  Parliament. 
It  is  true  they  have  softened  it  from  reading  to  reading,  by 
various  salvos  and  exceptions,  but  all  tending  to  divide. 
The  Quakers  of  Nantucket  have  been  excepted,  on  Pe- 
tition from  the  Society  here ;  and  there  are  to  be  other 
exceptions  in  favour  of  those  who  are  willing  to  subscribe 
to  certain  secret  compacts,  which  are  yet  kept  in  the  breast 
of  the  Ministry,  but  which,  I  take  it,  are  somewhat  of  the 
same  nature  of  those  made  formerly  between  the  Devil 
and  his  adherents,  by  which,  for  some  trifling  gratification 
(and  in  which  they  were  commonly  deceived)  they  sold 
themselves  to  everlasting  slavery. 

Our  Parliament  have  also  another  bill  before  them,  call- 
ed a  Conciliatory  Bill ;  the  purport  of  which  amounts  to 
this :  that  if  any  of  the  Colonies  on  the  arrival  and  publi- 
cation of  said  Bill  shall  agree  to  tax  themselves  to  such 
an  amount  as  the  Parliament  shall  approve,  (which  money 
is  also  to  be  under  the  direction  of  Parliament)  that  such 
Colonies  shall  be  taken  into  favour,  and  the  Penal  Acts 
suspended ;  but  which  are  still  to  remain  as  a  rod  hanging- 
over  them,  to  be  used  as  occasion  shall  require. 

And  a  third  bill  is  also  in  agitation,  which  is  to  include 
all  the  disobedient  Colonies  in  the  same  predicament  as  the 
Massachusetts,  viz  :  to  prohibit  their  exports  to  any  other 
parts  than  Great  Britain,  Ireland,  and  the  West-Indies. 

I  should  inform  you  that  Neiv-  York  is  not  in  this  list.  The 
late  Resolves  of  their  Assembly  have  been  very  grateful 
incense  to  the  nostrils  of  our  Ministry  ;  and  though,  in  my 
opinion,  a  matter  of  little  consequence,  yet  they  have 
afforded  great  triumph  and  exultation,  and  have  given  an 
opening  to  favour  that  Colony  at  the  expense  of  the  rest. 

But  I  trust  that  the  majority,  even  of  that  City,  are 
with  us,  and  that  they  will  maintain  the  Non-Importation 
Agreement,  in  its  utmost  rigour.  And  now  I  am  on  this 
topick,  let  me  advise  you  of  one  loophole,  where  the 
enemy  may  attempt  to  come  in.  The  King's  Ships  that 
are  now  preparing,  both  the  Men-of-War  and  the  Trans- 
ports, will  be  in  some  degree  freighted  with  European 
Goods — great  quantities  are  getting  ready  ;  this  you  may 
depend  on.  I  speak  on  the  best  authority,  though  per- 
haps not  on  my  own  certain  knowledge ;  for  I  would  have 
it  understood  that  I  would  not  execute  an  order  for  the  best 
friend  I  have  for  those  purposes. 

Our  Merchants  and  Traders  in  this  City  have  had 
several  publick  meetings,  and  have  made  such  application 
to  the  governing  powers  as  they  thought  would  produce 
the  most  salutary  effects ;  or  rather,  (if  I  may  express 
myself  without  reserve,)  such  application  as  they  could  all 
concur  in ;  for  it  must  be  confessed,  and  indeed  it  cannot 
be  concealed,  that  a  very  considerable  part,  though  not  the 
majority  of  the  Merchants  and  Traders,  are  averse  to  the 
Americans. 

In  short,  your  cause  is  not  a  favourite  cause  in  this 
Kingdom,  as  I  believe  I  have  already  wrote  you.  Having 
submitted,  in  some  degree,  to  slavery  ourselves,  we  do  not 
so  fully  feel  the  distress  it  may  occasion  in  others ;  and 
partly  through  interest,  partly  through  prejudice,  and 
partly  through  ignorance,  I  fear  the  majority  are  against 
you.  But  I  wish  you  not  to  be  disheartened,  since,  to  say 
the  worst,  you  have  a  most  respectable  minority  ;  a  mi- 
nority that  will  never  give  up  your  cause,  if  you  do  not 
desert  it  yourselves ;  nay,  some  of  us,  as  I  know,  will 
maintain  your  rights,  though  you  should  be  so  base  to 
barter  them  for  a  mess  of  pottage. 

I  can  assure  you  that,  exclusive  of  those  publick  and 
Constitutional  Societies  already  established,  some  others 
are  forming,  for  the  avowed  purpose  of  supporting  British 
and  American  liberty ;  and  I  make  no  doubt  that  some 
good  will  happen  from  these  associations ;  the  English  are 
slow  in  resentment,  as  in  deliberation :  but  they  are  deter- 
mined in  the  prosecution  of  either  when  they  once  en- 
gage. 

We  have  already  commenced  a  publick  subscription  for 
the  relief  of  the  sufferers  in  Boston ;  some  handsome 
sums  have  already  been  subscribed  ;  but,  as  yet,  it  wants 
the  usual  enthusiasm  that  accompanies  things  of  this  sort ; 


however,  I  don't  despair  that  it  will  ultimately  succeed, 
and  it  will  be  a  glorious  declaration  of  our  principles,  by 
the  most  undoubted  touchstone. 


ORANGE  COUNTY  (VIRGINIA)  COMMITTEE. 

March  11,  1775. 

An  accusation  being  lodged  with  the  Committee  of 
Orange  County  against  Francis  Moore,  Jun.,  of  his  hav- 
ing violated  the  Eighth  Article  of  the  Continental  Asso- 
ciation, by  gaming  :  the  said  Moore  was  cited,  and  appeared 
before  the  Committee  convened  February  23,  1775.  The 
testimony  of  a  witness,  as  well  as  the  confession  of  the 
accused,  convinced  the  Committee  that  the  charge  was 
well  founded ;  but  Mr.  Moore  gave  such  evidence  of  his 
penitence,  and  intention  to  observe  the  Association  strictly 
for  the  future,  and  alleging,  moreover,  that  he  was  not 
thoroughly  aware  of  the  extent  of  the  prohibition  con- 
tained in  that  article,  that  the  Committee  think  it  proper 
to  readmit  him  into  the  number  of  friends  to  the  publick 
cause,  till  a  second  transgression. 

It  need  scarcely  be  added,  that  this  mitigation  of  the 
punishment  prescribed  in  the  Eleventh  Article,  proceeds 
from  a  desire  to  distinguish  penitent  and  submissive,  from 
refractory  and  obstinate  offenders. 

Francis  Taylor,  Clerk. 

EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  BOSTON  TO  A  GENTLEMAN  IN 
NEW-YORK,  DATED  MARCH  12,  1775. 

Last  Monday  Doctor  Warren  delivered  an  Oration 
against  the  effects  of  Standing  Armies  in  free  Govern- 
ments, &c.  There  was  a  prodigious  concourse  of  people 
present,  and  amongst  them,  in  the  most  conspicuous  part 
of  the  house,  about  forty  Officers.  The  oration  was  spi- 
rited, yet  free  from  particular  reflections  on  mercenary 
Troops. 

The  red-coated  gentry  behaved  with  tolerable  decency 
till  after  the  Doctor  had  finished ;  when,  taking  exception 
at  the  words  of  the  vote  that  was  put  for  the  appointment 
of  an  orator  for  the  next  year,  one  of  them  cried  out  fie ! 
fie ! — This  exclamation  was  seconded  by  two  or  three 
others;  and  the  people  thinking  that  it  was  the  cry  of 
fire,  great  confusion  was  occasioned ;  many  of  the  women 
jumped  out  of  the  windows,  and  much  mischief  would 
have  ensued,  had  not  the  gentlemen  in  the  desk  very 
strenuously  exerted  themselves  to  restore  quiet,  which, 
after  some  time,  they  effected. 

The  pronouncing  this  oration  must  be  construed  as  a 
publick  affront  to  Mr.  Gage  in  both  his  stations — as  Gen- 
eral of  the  Army  and  Governour  of  the  Province.  In  the 
first,  as  it  was  a  reflection,  in  general,  on  Standing  Armies 
in  time  of  peace ;  and  in  the  other,  as  it  was  in  a  Town 
Meeting,  held  directly  contrary  to  an  Act  of  Parliament; 
to  enforce  which,  His  Excellency  came  to  Boston.  Nor 
is  it  a  small  proof  of  the  spirit  of  the  inhabitants,  who,  in 
defiance  of  a  Fleet  and  Army,  with  the  muzzles  of  their 
guns  at  their  doors,  dared  to  tell  them  that  they  were  an 
illegal  body  of  men,  and  the  tools  of  tyrants. 

We  had  a  most  extraordinary  exhibition  here  last  Thurs- 
day. As  the  populace  of  Boston  had  thought  fit  to 
repeal  the  tarring  and  feathering  act,  the  King's  Troops 
have  thought  fit  to  revive  the  said  statute  ;  and  in  conse- 
quence of  such  a  determination,  gave  us  a  specimen  of  a 
Royal  mob.  The  Soldiers  have  been  encouraged  by  their 
Officers  to  take  every  method  of  tricking  the  unwary. 
An  honest  countryman,  on  Wednesday,  was  inquiring  for  a 
firelock ;  a  Soldier  heard  him,  and  told  him,  he  had  one 
which  he  would  sell.  Away  goes  the  ignoramus,  and 
after  paying  the  Soldier  very  honestly  for  the  gun  (which 
was  only  an  old  one,  without  a  lock)  was  walking  off, 
when  half  a  dozen  seized  him,  and  hurried  the  poor  fellow 
away  under  guard,  for  breach  of  the  Act  against  trading 
with  the  Soldiers ;  and  after  keeping  him  in  duress  all 
night,  the  next  morning,  instead  of  carrying  him  before  a 
Magistrate,  who,  on  complaint,  would  have  fined  him,  (as 
has  been  the  case  in  several  instances,)  the  Officers  con- 
demned the  man,  without  a  hearing,  to  be  tarred  and  fea- 
thered ;  which  was  accordingly  executed.  After  stripping 
him  naked  and  covering  him  with  tar  and  feathers,  they 
mounted  him  upon  a  one-horse  truck,  and  surrounding  the 


121 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775. 


122 


truck  with  a  guard  of  twenty  Soldiers  with  fixed  bayonets, 
accompanied  with  all  the  drums  and  fifes  of  the  Regiment, 
(Forty-Seventh)  and  a  number  of  Officers,  Negroes,  Sailors, 
&c,  exhibited  him  as  a  spectacle  through  the  principal 
streets  of  the  Town.  They  fixed  a  label  on  the  man's 
back,  on  which  was  wrote,  "  American  Liberty,  or  a  spe- 
cimen of  Democracy ;"  and,  to  add  to  the  insult,  they 
played  Yankee  doodle. 

O  Britain !  How  art  thou  fallen !  Is  it  not  enough 
that  British  Troops,  who  were  once  the  terrour  of  France 
and  Spain,  should  be  made  the  instruments  of  butchering 
thy  children ;  but  must  they  descend  also  to  exploits  too 
infamously  dirty  for  any  but  the  meanest  of  the  mobility  to 
practise?  What  a  wretched  figure  will  the  Boston  expe- 
dition hereafter  make  in  the  historick  page  ! 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER   FROM   LONDON   TO  A  GENTLEMAN 
IN  VIRGINIA,  DATED  MARCH  13,  1775. 

I  did  myself  the  pleasure  of  writing  you  the  first  of  this 
month,  and  then  sent  you  a  copy  of  such  part  of  the  Earl 
of  Dunmore's  Letter  to  Lord  Dartmouth  as  had  been  laid 
before  both  Houses  of  Parliament ;  since  which  time  1  have 
had  an  opportunity  of  knowing  the  secret  part  of  his  Lord- 
ship's Letter  which  was  not  laid  before  Parliament ;  and  as 
it  particularly  marks  his  character  as  Governour  of  Virgi- 
nia, in  reference  to  the  good  people  of  that  brave  Colony, 
and  will,  I  trust,  be  so  instructive  to  the  Members  of  their 
House  of  Burgesses  as  never  hereafter  to  confide  in  him, 
but  to  consider  and  treat  him  as  their  confirmed  enemy, 
I  beg  that  you  will  use  the  best  and  speediest  means  to 
communicate  it  to  them,  as  I  pledge  myself  to  you  for  the 
truth  of  the  information. 

After  Lord  Dunmore  had  given  his  uncandid  represen- 
tation of  Virginia,  as  transmitted  to  you  on  the  first  of  this 
month,  he  proceeded  warmly  to  recommend  to  Lord  Dart- 
mouth that  some  Men-of-War  should  be  stationed  in  Chesa- 
peake Bay,  to  prevent  the  Virginians  from  carrying  on 
any  external  trade  except  with  this  Country ;  and  that  all 
communication  might  be  cut  off  between  them  and  the 
Northern  Colonies,  he  advised  that  some  Sloops  or  Ten- 
ders should  be  placed  in  Chester  and  Sassafras  Rivers; 
and  as  he  observed  that  the  Council  as  well  as  the  House 
of  Burgesses,  and  almost  every  person  of  fortune  and  con- 
sideration in  the  Colony,  except  the  Attorney  General, 
were  as  deeply  engaged  as  the  inferiour  planters  in  factious 
associations  and  plans  of  resistance,  great  outrages  and  dis- 
orders would  soon  take  place  among  them,  from  a  want  of 
a  regular  distribution  of  law ;  and  therefore  he  strongly 
urged  the  King's  Ministers,  as  a  sure  method  to  increase 
these  disorders,  and  which,  in  the  end,  he  asserted,  could 
not  fail  to  produce  Petitions  from  the  rich  praying  the 
protection  of  this  Legislature,  that  His  Majesty  would, 
without  delay,  order  himself  and  all  the  other  Executive 
Officers  of  Virginia,  to  withdraw  from  thence. 

This,  I  faithfully  assure  you,  is  the  secret  counsel  of  Lord 
Dunmore.  Can  you,  therefore,  my  dear  sir,  wonder  that 
Administration  persevere  in  their  ruinous  and  despotick 
system  of  American  politicks?  Be  you  firm,  however,  in 
your  wise  Resolutions  of  Non-Importation,  Non-Exporta- 
tion, and  Non-Consumption,  and  to  these  add  an  immedi- 
ate accomplishment  in  the  art  of  war,  and  in  the  end  you 
will  establish  the  rights  of  America  upon  an  immovable 
basis.  But  you  must  first  make  the  luxurious  proud  peo- 
ple of  this  Kingdom  feel  the  want  of  your  Commerce  and 
affection,  before  they  will  do  you  any  degree  of  justice. 


EXTRACT  OF  A   LETTER  FROM  LONDON  TO   A  GENTLEMAN 
IN  MARYLAND,  DATED  MARCH  13,  1775. 

I  wrote  you  by  Captain  Falconer,  since  which  some 
very  material  changes  have  happened  in  the  state  of  po- 
litical affairs.  The  Minister,  finding  a  general  discontent 
take  place  on  account  of  the  measures  pursuing  with  regard 
to  America,  and  in  order  to  save  the  Stocks,  which  began 
to  give  way,  gave  out  that  he  intended  to  extend  the  olive 
branch  to  the  people  on  your  side  the  water.  The  very 
sound  exhilarated  the  minds  of  the  people  here  ;  the  Funds 
immediately  recovered,  and  the  people  began  to  conclude 
that  every  thing  would  soon  be  settled  in  an  amicable 
way.    And  what  was  this  olive  branch?    Nothing  but  the 


motion,  which  will  have  reached  you  before  this  comes  to 
hand.  A  motion  which,  at  first,  nobody  could  compre- 
hend ;  a  motion  couched  in  such  cabalistical  terms,  on  pur- 
pose to  confound  the  understandings  of  mankind,  but  which, 
when  understood,  was  found  to  contain  nothing  of  the  least 
healing  tendency,  only  calculated  to  separate  and  divide 
the  Colonies  from  each  other.  Divide  tt  impera  is  an  old 
adage,  and  now  they  are  in  hopes  of  practising  it  with  suc- 
cess amongst  you.  The  Ministry,  indeed,  begin  to  plume 
themselves  already  on  their  success  in  this  way.  The 
proceedings  at  New-York,  and  the  last  advices  from  Gene- 
ral Gage,  flatter  them  exceedingly  that  the  seeds  of  dis- 
sension are  growing  very  fast  even  in  the  New-England 
Provinces.  How  far  this  is  true,  a  little  time  will  disco- 
ver; in  the  meantime  military  operations  are  carrying  on 
with  the  same  zeal  as  before.  The  Troops  are  to  be  sent, 
and  a  Bill  is  ordered  into  Parliament  for  restraining  not 
only  the  New-England  Fishery,  but  another  to  stop  the 
Trade  of  all  the  Colonies  except  New-York,  North-Caro- 
lina, and  Georgia,  which  they  hope  will  declare  on  the 
side  of  Government,  in  consideration  of  which  particular 
indulgences  will  be  granted  them.  Whatever  these  in- 
dulgences may  be,  I  have  no  doubt  they  will  only  be  of  a 
temporary  nature  till  Government  has  got  a  firm  footing. 

I  have  told  you  before  that  your  salvation  is  in  your  own 
hands,  if  you  will  be  but  firm  and  unanimous.  You  have 
but  to  adhere  closely  to  your  Non-Importation  and  Non- 
Exportation  Agreement.  If  there  was  danger  before  of 
your  disunion,  I  cannot  help  hoping  that  this  last  restrain- 
ing Bill  will  come  in  aid,  in  order  to  link  you  closer  to 
each  other.  It  comes  now  to  be  tried  what  materials  you 
are  made  of.  If  you  have  not  virtue  enough  to  withstand 
this  attack,  you  will  become  a  scorn  and  a  laughing  stock 
to  all  the  world,  a  reproach  to  human  nature ;  and  depend 
upon  it  the  burdens  that  will  be  laid  upon  you  will  be  in 
proportion  to  the  temper  you  have  shown  to  resist  them. 
I  shall  not  attempt  to  point  out  any  particular  modes  of 
proceeding;  these,  I  trust,  will  be  concerted  with  wisdom, 
firmness,  and  resolution.  Be  assured  the  good  of  the  com- 
munity at  large  is  not  the  object  certain  persons  in  power 
have  in  view;  they  mean  to  make  you  beasts  of  burden, 
or,  as  the  Congress  have  very  properly  expressed  it, 
"hewers  of  wood  and  drawers  of  water;"  but  1  hope  you 
are  all  of  their  mind  in  this  respect.  You  perhaps  ima- 
gine that  Government  is  nothing  more  than  a  power  dele- 
gated in  a  few  for  the  good  of  the  whole.  If  you  think 
that  this  is  the  opinion  of  the  people  in  power,  you  are 
very  much  mistaken  ;  they  think  that  the  community  at 
large  are  to  labour,  toil,  and  sweat,  in  order  to  maintain  a 
few  great  people  wallowing  in  luxury,  idleness,  extrava- 
gance, and  all  manner  of  debauchery.  If  the  present  mea- 
sures succeed,  depend  upon  it  you  will  have  tax-gatherers 
in  various  shapes  swarming  in  upon  you  in  abundance. 
If  you  patiently  submit,  there  will  be  none  to  pity  you. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM   LONDON   TO   A  GENTLEMAN 
IN  PHILADELPHIA,  DATED  MARCH  13,  1775. 

The  people  in  general  are  much  alarmed  at  the  mea- 
sures now  pursuing ;  and  1  have  no  doubt  that  when  they 
come  to  feel  the  effects  of  your  Non-Import  and  Non-Ex- 
port Resolutions,  their  resentment  will  break  forth  with 
great  violence.  The  City  of  London  and  all  the  great 
trading  and  manufacturing  Cities  and  Towns,  are  exceed- 
ingly averse  to  the  present  proceedings,  and  apprehensive 
of  the  worst  consequences. 

The  Ministry  are  sensible  of  and  declare  the  dangers 
and  difficulties  of  their  undertaking.  But  they  are  encour- 
aged to  the  attempt  by  a  firm  persuasion  of  success  in  cor- 
rupting New-York  and  intimidating  New-England.  Did 
they  believe  the  Americans  would  be  united  and  firm,  I  am 
sure  they  would  not  venture  upon  coercive  measures. 
Even  as  it  is,  should  the  seduction  of  the  one  and  the  in- 
timidation of  the  other  not  produce  a  general  relaxation  of 
your  Resolutions,  they  will  be  disposed  to  accommodate 
rather  than  risk  a  serious  and  determined  opposition.  For 
you  must  remember  that  the  resolute  face  they  put  on  is 
merely  on  supposition  that  if  pushed  you  will  submit. 
But  should  the  whole  Continent  appear  firm  and  deter- 
mined, should  their  seducing  and  intimidating  schemes 
prove  abortive,  depend  upon  it  that  they  must  submit  to 


123 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775. 


124 


what  you  ask.  Their  plans  are  calculated  for  immediate 
operation,  and  one  year's  perseverance  on  your  part  will 
totally  and  entirely  defeat  them.  I  have  the  most  abso- 
lute trust  that  the  virtue  of  our  countrymen  will  support  a 
resolute  resistance,  and  I  therefore  look  forward  to  your 
success  with  entire  confidence.  The  Ministerial  language 
is,  the  unconditional  submission  of  the  Colonies.  But  if 
you  are  firm,  faithful,  and  united,  the  unconditional  sub- 
mission will  be  theirs. 

By  whatever  means  you  can  keep  the  Assembly  of 
New-  York  from  deserting,  even  by  out-bidding  the  Min- 
istry, it  will  be  worth  the  purchase;  for  nothing  will  more 
effectually  damp  their  hopes  than  the  declaration  of  the 
Assembly  of  that  Province  in  favour  of  the  Congress. 
They  have  therefore  despatched  emissaries  to  exert  every 
effort  of  corruption  there  by  bribery  and  places  for  indi- 
viduals, endowments  for  the  College,  and  the  establishment 
of  Royal  Docks,  Arsenals,  &ic,  in  the  City. 

A  reinforcement  of  two  thousand  men  at  the  utmost  is 
to  be  sent  to  General  Gage,  and  four  Regiments  to  New- 
York.   They  will  probably  arrive  the  latter  end  of  May. 

The  Bill  for  prohibiting  the  Commerce  and  Fishery  of 
the  NewrEngland  Provinces  has  passed  the  Commons, 
and  leave  is  given  to  bring  in  a  Bill  to  extend  the  prohibi- 
tion to  all  the  Colonies.  New- York,  North- Carolina,  and 
Georgia  excepted.  They  are  determined  you  shall  live 
within  yourselves,  which,  if  you  can  effect,  your  triumph 
is  secure. 


BALTIMORE  (MARYLAND)  COMMITTEE. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Observation  at  Balti- 
more, the  13th  of  March,  1775.  Present,  forty-eight 
Members. 

Captain  Henry  Tickle,  of  the  Brig  Henry  and  Joseph, 
from  Liverpool,  addressed  to  Mr.  George  Woolsey,  ap- 
peared and  reported  on  oath  his  cargo,  consisting  of  five 
thousand  one  hundred  and  thirty-three  bushels  of  British 
Salt,  six  half-crates  of  Earthen-ware,  and  one  hogshead  of 
Rum  for  ship-stores  ;  and  further  made  oath  "  that  he  had 
not  broken  bulk  or  landed  any  part  of  his  cargo  since  his 
arrival  in  this  Province." 

Captain  George  Woolsey,  the  Consignee  of  the  afore- 
said Vessel,  made  oath  that  he  hath  not,  nor  hath  any  per- 
son by  his  order,  or  with  his  privity  or  consent,  unladen  or 
taken  out  any  part  of  the  cargo  imported  in  said  Vessel 
since  her  arrival. 

Ordered,  That  notice  be  given  to  Dr.  John  Stevenson, 
that  the  Committee  requests  his  attendance  with  Captain 
William  Moat,  of  the  Brig  Sally,  at  two  o'clock,  P.  M. 

The  Committee  proceeded  to  consider  the  state  of  the 
Brig  Henry  and  Joseph,  and  of  the  cargo  imported  in  the 
same. 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  the  said  cargo  be  not 
landed. 

Upon  application  made  by  Captain  Woolsey  to  the  Com- 
mittee, for  leave  to  reship  the  cargo  of  the  Brig  Henry  and 
Joseph ;  and  on  Captain  Woolsey  his  engaging  that  the 
said  cargo  shall  not  be  landed  in  any  part  of  North  America, 
between  Nova-Scotia  and  Georgia;  and  on  his  further 
engagement,  that  the  master  of  the  Vessel  in  which  the 
said  cargo  is  to  be  reshipped,  shall  engage  on  oath,  that  he 
will  not  (unless  compelled  to  do  so  by  stress  of  weather) 
land  the  same  within  the  parts  before  limited  ;  and  that  he 
will  produce  a  certificate  from  the  place  where  the  said 
cargo  shall  be  landed,  of  the  landing  of  the  same  : 

Resolved,  That  leave  be  given  agreeable  to  the  above. 

Doctor  John  Stevenson,  with  Captain  William  Moat, 
attending  agreeable  to  notice; 

The  Chairman  acquainted  them  that  information  was 
made  to  the  Committee,  that  the  cargo  of  Salt  imported  in 
the  Prig  Sally,  or  part  thereof,  had  been  unladen,  contrary 
to  the  Resolution  of  the  Committee  made  the  sixth  instant. 

Doctor  Stevenson  declared  that,  apprehending  the  Reso- 
lution entered  into  by  the  Committee  on  the  sixth  instant 
did  not  prohibit  him  from  shipping  the  Salt  to  any  other 
part  of  this  Province,  or  Virginia,  he  had,  in  consequence 
of  such  opinion,  shipped  a  quantity  on  board  four  Bay 
crafts,  to  be  disposed  of  for  his  account ;  that  no  part  of  the 
said  Salt  had  been  landed  in  Baltimore  County  ;  that  he 


will  deliver  into  the  Committee  the  names  of  the  skippers 
of  the  several  crafts,  and  will  return  an  account  of  the  pro- 
ceeds of  the  Salt,  and  the  same  will  freely  give  for  the  re- 
lief of  the  poor  of  Boston ;  and  that  the  remainder  of  the 
Salt  now  on  board  the  said  Brig  shall  not  be  landed  in  any 
part  of  America,  between  Nova-Scotia  and  Georgia :  And 
Captain  William  Moat,  having  declared  on  oath,  that  the 
remainder  of  the  Salt  now  on  board  the  Brig  shall  not  be 
landed  within  the  limits  aforesaid  : 

Resolved  by  the  Committee,  that  the  said  apology  be 
accepted. 

Information  being  made  to  the  Committee,  that  many 
misrepresentations  of  the  proceedings  of  the  Continental 
Congress  had  been  made,  with  a  view  to  lessen  the  influ- 
ence which  the  Association  drawn,  entered  into,  and  recom- 
mended by  them,  justly  merited,  and  had  almost  universally 
obtained  ;  and  it  appearing  to  the  Committee  that  such 
misrepresentations  are  made  by  artful,  designing,  and 
wicked  men,  to  divide  the  people,  and  defeat  the  mea- 
sures now  wisely  pursued  for  the  preservation  of  American 
liberty  : 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  it  is  the  duty  of  this  Com- 
mittee, and  of  every  member  thereof,  and  that  we  will  col- 
lectively and  severally  persevere  to  carry  strictly  into  exe- 
cution the  Association  of  the  Continental  Congress,  and 
enforce  an  observance  of  the  same  ;  and  that  any  attempt 
to  defeat  such  purpose  will,  with  its  author,  be  exposed  to 
the  publick. 

The  Congress,  by  the  Third  Article  of  Association,  hav- 
ing recommended  the  disuse  of  all  East-India  Teas ;  the 
Committee  request  that  their  Constituents,  in  their  several 
families,  will  strictly  adhere  to  this  resolution  ;  and,  however 
difficult  the  disuse  of  any  article  which  custom  has  rendered 
familiar,  and  to  many  almost  necessary,  may  be,  yet  they 
are  induced  to  hope  the  ladies  will  cheerfully  acquiesce  in 
this  self-denial,  and  thereby  evince  to  the  world  a  love  to 
their  friends,  posterity,  and  Country. 

A  very  extraordinary  arrangement  having  been  lately 
made  in  the  Magistracy  of  this  County,  the  Committee 
reflecting  on  the  conclusions  which  may  probably  be  drawn 
from  it  in  distant  places  to  the  disadvantage  of  the  gentle- 
men superseded,  cheerfully  embrace  the  opportunity  afford- 
ed by  the  present  meeting,  to  testify  in  favour  of  their  con- 
duct while  they  were  in  office.  From  personal  acquaint- 
ance, we  know  them  to  have  been  irreproachable  in  pri- 
vate, faithful  and  impartial  in  publick  life;  and  deservedly 
entitled  to  the  thanks  of  the  whole  County,  for  the  con- 
scientious discharge  of  the  trust  reposed  in  them. 

Resolved,  therefore,  unanimously,  That  this  Committee 
ought,  and  we  hereby  do,  in  our  own  names,  and  in  tl  e 
names  of  our  constituents,  sincerely  thank  those  worthy 
gentlemen,  whose  abrupt  dismission,  with  all  the  circum- 
stances attending  it,  does  them  the  greatest  honour.  They 
return  to  a  private  station  with  the  general  approbation  of 
the  County,  and  the  pleasing  satisfaction  of  having  honour- 
ably acquitted  themselves  of  their  obligations  during  their 
continuance  in  office.  Their  dismission  is  a  real  loss  ;  it  is 
the  more  to  be  regretted  as,  from  the  manner  of  it,  we  can 
hardly  expect  that  any  of  equal  worth  and  character  will 
hereafter  be  prevailed  on  to  undertake  the  troublesome,  un- 
profitable employment,  now  rendered  distasteful  to  men  of 
independent  spirit  and  firmness ;  and  evidently  exposing 
them  to  unmerited  insult. 

Charles  Ridgely,  Chairman. 

A  true  copy  from  the  minutes. 

Robert  Alexander,  Sec'ry  pro  tent. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  A  GENTLEMAN  IN  HARFORD 
COUNTY,  IN  MARYLAND,  TO  HIS  FRIEND  IN  PHILADEL- 
PHIA, DATED  MARCH  13,  1775. 

I  was  last  week  at  Baltimore,  where  I  was  witness  to  a 
manoeuvre  in  Government  which  has  greatly  astonished 
and  alarmed  the  people.  It  is  nothing  less  than  almost  a 
total  revolution  in  the  Magistracy,  which,  we  hear,  is  to  be 
executed  throughout  the  Province.  The  reason  of  this 
unprecedented  stretch  of  power  is  now  easily  understood, 
the  Magistrates  of  this  Province  being,  in  general,  firmly 
attached  to  the  liberties  of  their  Country,  and  resolved 
strictly  to  adhere  to  the  determination  of  the  Congress. 


125 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  fcc,  MARCH,  1775. 


126 


Those  of  Baltimore  County  were  men  of  firm  and  inde- 
pendent spirits,  having  nothing  to  hope,  and  nothing  to  fear 
from  Government,  and  were  highly  acceptable  to  the  peo- 
ple for  their  faithful  and  unwearied  attendance  on  publick 
business.  During  the  sitting  of  Court,  which  was  last 
week,  a  rumour  was  spread  abroad  that  a  new  commission 
was  expected,  and  some  of  the  old  Magistrates  were  said  to 
be  dismissed,  and  a  set  of  men  introduced  in  their  places, 
the  very  mentioning  of  whose  names  was  looked  upon  as 
a  burlesque  on  Magistracy.  The  commission,  however, 
was  produced  in  Court,  and  read,  when  it  was  found  that 
nine  of  the  oldest  and  best  Magistrates  were  left  out,  and 
eleven  others  named,  some  of  whom  had  never  been  heard 
of  by  the  people,  and  others  but  too  well  known  for  their 
uniform  opposition  to  every  measure  that  has  been  adopted 
for  the  preservation  of  American  freedom.  The  astonish- 
ment, contempt,  and  indignation,  which  were  visible  in  the 
countenance  of  all  present,  gave  disagreeable  apprehen- 
sions lest  some  violence  should  succeed ;  but  temperate 
resentment  was  adopted,  and  will  be  pursued. 

No  reason  was  alleged  for  such  a  violent  insult  on  the 
Bench,  nor  could  at  first  be  conjectured.  The  Magistrates 
who  were  thus  disgracefully  dismissed  had  been  earnestly 
solicited  to  engage  in  the  business,  and  often  refused,  but 
at  length,  out  of  respect  to  the  Governour,  and  desirous 
that  the  publick  peace  and  good  Government  might  be 
maintained,  they  were  prevailed  on  to  act,  and  accordingly 
executed  their  trust  with  great  fidelity,  much  to  ihe  satis- 
faction of  the  people,  and  with  evident  detriment  to  their 
own  private  affairs.  The  affront  that  was  designed  has 
totally  failed  of  its  intended  effect  j  for  it  was  soon  known 
that  the  honour  of  their  dismission  was  procured  by  the  vilest 
means  of  a  contemptible  junto  in  Baltimore  Town,  who 
are  incurably  inimical  to  the  rights  of  Americans,  and  the 
veriest  tools  of  Government.  Their  number  and  charac- 
ters are  exceedingly  trifling;  but  they  have  found  means,  by 
the  lowest  sycophantism,  to  attach  themselves  to  men  who 
have  the  ear  of  our  too  easy  Governour,  and  by  the  basest 
calumnies  and  suggestions,  have  brought  about  this  change 
so  irritating  to  the  people.  The  better  to  conceal  their 
insidious  design,  some  of  the  good  old  Magistrates  were 
permitted  to  keep  their  stations  a  little  longer,  till  the  tyros 
should  be  fixed  securely  in  their  seats ;  then  it  was  not 
doubted  but  they  were  to  follow  their  brethren.  But  these 
gentlemen,  seeing  through  the  flimsy  veil,  with  a  proper 
and  becoming  spirit  rejected  the  bait,  and  nobly  threw  up 
their  commissions,  refusing  to  countenance  such  unworthy 
treatment  of  their  brethren,  or  associate  with  men  whose 
political  principles  they  detested. 

Two  of  the  youngest  Justices  in  the  old  commission 
were  made  of  the  quorum  in  the  new ;  and  whether  they 
were  childishly  tickled  with  this  trifling  distinction,  or  had 
been  tampered  with,  is  not  certainly  known  ;  but,  to  the 
mortification  and  grief  of  their  friends,  they  were  prevailed 
on  to  qualify,  by  which  they  have  shaken  their  credit 
greatly  with  their  countrymen.  They  were,  indeed,  men 
of  merit,  and  esteemed  by  the  people,  and  inadvertently 
engaged  in  this  dirty  business,  not  discovering  the  real 
design  of  the  manoeuvre,  or  adverting  to  the  general  char- 
acters of  the  men  who  were  placed  by  their  sides.  It  is 
thought  they  will  yet  resign,  and  thus  regain  the  confidence 
of  their  countrymen  ;  for  the  refusing  or  accepting  of  a  seat 
on  this  courtly  Bench  is  now,  very  justly,  made  a  criterion, 
by  which  to  know  a  man's  political  principles.  He  that 
refuses,  acts  consistently,  and  exhibits  an  unequivocal 
proof  of  his  unshaken  attachment  to  his  Country ;  he  that 
accepts  cannot  hope  that  any  declarations  of  his  own  will 
wipe  off  a  well-founded  suspicion  that  he  is  at  least  a 
negative  character. 

I  may,  perhaps,  by  another  opportunity,  give  you  a 
specifick  description  of  the  individuals  who  compose  this 
right  worshipful  group.  Indeed,  they  are  in  general  below 
contempt,  having  no  respect  or  authority  among  the  people, 
and  I  hear,  are  daily  insulted  in  the  streets,  and  lampooned 
from  all  quarters.  Can  it  be  expected  that  men  who  are 
the  contempt  and  detestation  of  the  people,  will  ever  be 
able  to  keep  peace  and  good  order  in  the  community? 
These  are  the  blessed  effects  of  that  arbitrary  spirit  of 
Government  which,  issuing  from  a  polluted  source,  have 
descended  with  increased  contaminations  to  the  remotest 
departments  of  office. 


DELAWARE  ASSEMBLY. 

Monday,  March  13,  1775. 
The  House  met  at  New-Castle,  pursuant  to  their  adjourn- 
ment, [on  the  26th  of  October  last,]  and  adjourned  till  to- 
morrow morning,  ten  o'clock. 

Tuesday,  March  14,  1775. 
Messrs.  George  Read,  Thomas  McKean,  and  John 
Clark,  Members  of  this  House,  who  were  absent  at  the 
beginning  of  this  session,  now  appeared  in  the  House,  took 
and  subscribed  the  usual  qualifications,  and  took  their  seats 
accordingly. 

Mr.  McKean  informed  the  House,  that  the  late  Repre- 
sentatives of  the  Freemen  of  this  Government  met  in 
Convention  at  New-Castle,  on  the  first  and  second  days  of 
August  last,  and  among  other  things  nominated  and  ap- 
pointed the  Honourable  Ccesar  Rodney,  Esq.,  George 
Read,  Esquire,  and  himself,  or  any  two  of  them,  Deputies 
or  Delegates  on  the  part  and  behalf  of  this  Government, 
in  a  General  Continental  Congress,  then  proposed  to  be 
held  at  the  City  of  Philadelphia,  on  the  first  Monday  in 
September  following,  or  at  any  other  time  or  place  that  might 
be  generally  agreed  on,  then  and  there  to  consult  and 
advise  with  the  Deputies  from  the  other  Colonies,  and  to 
determine  upon  all  such  prudent  and  lawful  measures  as 
might  be  judged  most  expedient  for  the  Colonies  imme- 
diately and  unitedly  to  adopt,  in  order  to  obtain  relief  for 
an  oppressed  people,  and  the  redress  of  our  general  griev- 
ances ;  the  proceedings  of  which  Convention  he  delivered 
in  at  the  table,  and  the  same  were,  by  order,  read. 

He  then  proceeded  to  inform  the  House,  that  they,  the 
said  Ccesar  Rodney,  George  Read,  and  himself,  repaired 
to  the  City  of  Philadelphia,  according  to  appointment, 
and  that  the  Congress  had  agreed  to  the  several  particulars 
contained  in  a  printed  pamphlet,  intituled,  "The  Journa] 
of  the  Proceedings  of  the  Congress  held  at  Philadelphia, 
September  5th,  1774,"  and  certified  to  be  a  genuine  and 
exact  copy  of  the  original  by  Charles  Thomson,  their  Sec- 
retary, which  he  delivered  in  at  the  table  for  the  perusal 
and  consideration  of  the  House. 

Ordered,  That  the  same  be  read. 

And  the  same  was  done  accordingly. 

Resolved,  That  the  same  be  detained  under  considera- 
tion till  to-morrow  morning. 

Then  the  House  adjourned  till  to-morrow  morning  at 
ten  o'clock. 

Wednesday,  March  15,  A.  M. 

The  House  resumed  the  consideration  of  the  Proceedings 
of  the  late  Convention,  and  of  the  Continental  Congress ; 
and  after  due  deliberation, 

Resolved,  nemine  contradicente,  That  this  House  do 
approve  of  the  conduct  of  the  late  Representatives  of  this 
Government  in  their  said  Convention,  and  of  their  appoint- 
ment of  the  said  Ccesar  Rodney,  Thomas  McKean,  and 
George  Read,  as  Deputies  on  the  part  and  behalf  of  this 
Government. 

Resolved,  nemine  contradicente,  That  this  House  do 
approve  of  the  Proceedings  of  the  late  Congress  held  at 
the  City  of  Philadelphia,  and  of  the  conduct  of  the  gen- 
tlemen appointed  Deputies  to  attend  the  same  on  the  part 
of  this  Government. 

On  motion, 

Resolved,  nemine  contradicente,  That  the  thanks  of  this 
House  be  given  to  all  the  Members  of  the  said  Congress, 
and  in  particular  to  the  gentlemen  who  represented  this 
Government  at  the  same,  for  their  faithful  and  judicious 
discharge  of  the  trust  in  them  reposed. 

Ordered,  That  the  Minutes  and  Journal  of  the  said 
Convention  and  Congress  be  deposited  amongst  the  files 
and  Minutes  of  this  House. 

On  motion, 

Resolved,  nemine  contradicente,  That  this  House  will 
make  an  allowance  to  the  gentlemen  who  represented  this 
Government  at  the  Congress,  for  their  expense  in  attend- 
ing the  service  aforesaid. 

On  motion, 

Ordered,  That  Messrs.  McKinly,  Robinson,  and  Ridge- 
ly,  be  a  Committee  for  that  purpose,  and  make  report  of 
their  proceedings  this  afternoon. 


127 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775. 


128 


On  motion  of  Mr.  Ridgely, 

That  a  Committee  be  appointed  to  prepare  and  bring  in 
a  Bill  to  prohibit  the  importation  of  Slaves  into  this  Gov- 
ernment, 

Ordertd,  That  Messrs.  Ridgely,  Read,  and  Cloives  be 
a  Committee  for  that  purpose. 

Thursday,  March  16,  1775. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  of  an  allowance 
to  be  made  to  the  gentlemen  who  attended  the  late  Con- 
gress at  Philadelphia,  on  behalf  of  this  Government,  for 
their  expenses  during  the  sitting  thereof,  now  report  to  the 
House  that  they  have  considered  the  same,  and  are  of  opin- 
ion that  the  sum  of  Sixty  Pounds  be  allowed  to  each  of 
the  said  gentlemen,  for  their  expenses  on  that  service. 

Resolved,  nemine  contradicente,  That  the  House  do 
approve  of  the  same,  and  that  Orders  be  drawn  by  the 
Speaker  on  the  Trustees  of  the  several  Loan-Offices  of 
this  Government  for  the  same,  according  to  the  directions 
of  the  Proportion  Act. 

On  motion, 

Resolved,  nemine  contradicente,  That  the  Honourable 
Casar  Rodney,  Speaker,  Thomas  McKean,  and  George 
Read,  Esquires,  be  and  they  are  hereby  appointed  and 
authorized  to  represent  this  Government  at  the  American 
Congress,  proposed  to  be  held  at  the  City  of  Philadelphia, 
on  the  tenth  day  of  May  next,  or  at  any  other  time  and 
place,  with  full  power  to  them  or  any  two  of  them,  together 
with  the  Delegates  from  the  other  American  Colonies,  to 
concert  and  agree  upon  such  further  measures  as  shall  ap- 
pear to  them  best  calculated  for  the  accommodation  of  the 
unhappy  differences  between  Great  Britain  and  the  Colo- 
nies, on  a  Constitutional  foundation,  which  the  House  most 
ardently  wish  for,  and  that  they  report  their  proceedings  to 
this  House  at  their  next  meeting. 

Friday,  March  17,  1775. 

On  motion, 

Ordered,  That  Messrs.  Evans,  Ridgely,  McKinly,  Hall, 
and  Rench,  be  a  Committee  to  prepare  Instructions  for  the 
gentlemen  appointed  to  represent  this  Government  at  an 
American  Congress  to  be  held  at  Philadelphia,  in  May  next. 

Monday,  March  20,  1775. 
Mr.  Speaker  laid  before  the  House  a  Letter  which  he 
had  received  from  three  of  the  Colony  Agents  in  London, 
which  was,  by  order,  read,  and  ordered  to  be  transcribed 
upon  the  Minutes  of  the  House  ;  and  follows  in  these  words, 
viz : 

London,  December  24,  1774. 
Sir  :  This  is  just  to  inform  you,  that  having  received  the 
Petition  of  the  General  Congress  to  the  King,  we  immedi- 
ately communicated  the  same  to  Lord  Dartmouth,  Secre- 
tary of  State  for  the  American  Department,  as  the  regular 
official  method,  and  that  by  which  only  we  could  have  ex- 
pectation of  obtaining  an  answer.  His  Lordship  this  day 
informed  us,  that  he  had  laid  the  same  before  the  King ; 
that  His  Majesty  had  been  pleased  to  receive  it  very 
graciously,  and  to  say  it  was  of  so  great  importance  that  he 
should,  as  soon  as  they  met,  lay  it  before  his  two  Houses 
of  Parliament.  We  can  now  only  add,  that  we  are  in  great 
respect,  Sir,  your  most  obedient  and  most  humble  servants, 

W.  BOLLAN, 

B.  Franklin, 
Arthur  Lee. 

To  the  Honourable  the  Speaker  of  the  Assembly  of  the 
three  Lower  Counties  on  Delaware. 

Tuesday,  March  21,  1775. 
A  Petition  from  several  Inhabitants  of  New-Castle  Coun- 
ty, and  two  Petitions  from  a  number  of  the  Inhabitants  of 
Kent  County,  praying  the  House  to  pass  a  Bill  for  estab- 
lishing a  Militia,  were  presented  to  the  Chair,  and  by  order 
read  the  first  time. 

To  the  Honourable  the  Representatives  of  the  Counties  of 
New-Castle,  Kent,  and  Sussex,  in  General  Assem- 
bly met,  14th  March,  1775. 

The  Petition  of  the  Inhabitants,  freemen  of  Kent  County, 
most  humbly  sheweth  : 


That  we  conceive  a  well-regulated  Militia,  composed  of 
the  gentlemen  Freeholders  and  other  free  men,  to  be  not 
only  a  Constitutional  right,  but  the  most  natural  strength 
and  most  stable  security  of  a  free  Government,  from  the 
exercise  of  which  a  wise  people  will  not  excuse  themselves 
even  in  time  of  peace. 

That,  happily  secure  in  the  affectionate  protection  of  our 
Mother  Country,  we  have  for  some  time  past  been  care- 
lessly negligent  of  Military  art  and  discipline,  and  are,  there- 
fore, the  more  exposed  to  the  insult  and  ravages  of  our 
natural  enemies  at  this  unhappy  time,  when  we  have  lost 
our  interest  in  the  esteem  and  affection  of  our  Parent 
State. 

We,  therefore,  pray  your  Honours  to  take  our  case  into 
your  most  serious  consideration,  and  by  passing  an  Act  of 
Assembly  establishing  a  Militia  throughout  this  Govern- 
ment, grant  us  relief  in  the  premises,  and  your  Petitioners, 
as  in  duty  bound,  will  ever  pray. 

Thursday,  March  23,  1775. 

The  Doorkeeper  informed  the  House  that  Mr.  Secre- 
tary waited  at  the  door. 

Ordered,  That  he  be  admitted ;  and  he  was  admitted 
accordingly,  and  presented  to  the  Chair  a  written  Message 
from  his  Honour  the  Governour,  with  copies  of  two  Procla- 
mations, referred  to  in  the  same. 

On  motion, 

Ordered,  That  the  same  be  read ;  which  was  done  ac- 
cordingly. 

Ordered,  That  his  Honour  the  Governour's  Message  be 
transcribed  on  the  Minutes ;  and  follows  in  these  words, 
to  wit : 

A  Message  from  the  Governour  to  the  Assembly. 

Gentlemen  :  At  your  last  sessions  in  October,  I  inform- 
ed you  that  the  jurisdiction  of  this  Government  had  been 
extended  to  the  boundary  lines  now  run  and  marked  by 
Commissioners  appointed  by  the  proprietors  of  Pennsylva- 
nia and  Maryland,  and  recommended  it  to  you  to  estab- 
lish such  divisional  lines  in  the  Counties  as  the  settlement 
of  the  new  boundary  might  require ;  but  soon  after  your 
last  adjournment,  I  was  obliged,  by  His  Majesty's  com- 
mands, signified  to  me  in  a  letter  from  the  Secretary  of 
State,  by  my  Proclamation,  dated  the  2d  of  November,  to 
supersede  that  which  I  had  issued  on  the  15th  of  Septem- 
ber, for  the  above  purpose  of  extending  the  jurisdiction  un- 
til His  Majesty's  pleasure  should  be  further  known  therein. 

1  have  now,  gentlemen,  the  satisfaction  to  acquaint  you, 
that  I  have  lately  been  advised  by  the  Right  Honourable 
the  Earl  of  Dartmouth,  that  His  Majesty,  on  further  con- 
sideration of  the  matter,  is  graciously  pleased  to  approve  of 
the  arrangement  made  by  my  Proclamation  of  the  15th  of 
September,  and  to  permit  me  to  recall  that  of  the  2d  of 
November,  so  that  you  are  now  at  full  liberty  to  resume 
the  business  I  recommended  to  you  at  your  last  session. 

John  Penn. 

New-Castle,  23d  March,  1775. 

Friday,  March  24,  1775. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  prepare  and  bring  in  a  Bill 
to  prohibit  the  importation  of  Slaves  into  this  Government, 
now  laid  one  on  the  table,  which  they  submitted  to  the 
correction  of  the  House. 

On  motion,  by  order,  the  same  was  read  the  first  time. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  prepare  Instructions  for 
the  gentlemen  appointed  by  the  House  to  represent  this 
Government  at  the  American  Congress,  proposed  to  be 
held  at  Philadelphia  in  May  next,  now  report,  that  they 
have  essayed  a  draught  of  the  same,  which  they  laid  on 
the  table  for  the  inspection  and  correction  of  the  House. 

On  motion,  by  order, 

The  same  was  read  the  first  time. 

On  motion,  by  special  order, 

The  Bill  to  prohibit  the  importation  of  Slaves  into  this 
Government,  was  read  the  second  time,  paragraph  by  para- 
graph, and,  after  sundry  amendments,  passed  the  House, 
and  was  ordered  to  be  engrossed. 

Saturday,  March  25,  1775. 

The  engrossed  Bill  to  prohibit  the  importation  of  Slaves 
into  this  Government,  was  read  and  compared. 


129 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775. 


130 


On  motion, 

Ordered,  That  Messrs.  Ridgely,  Clowes,  and  Clark, 
be  a  Committee  to  wait  upon  his  Honour  the  Governour, 
with  the  Bill  to  prohibit  the  importation  of  Slaves  into 
this  Goverment,  for  his  perusal  and  concurrence. 

Monday,  March  27,  1775. 

The  Doorkeeper  informed  the  House  that  Mr.  Secre- 
tary waited  at  the  door. 

Ordered,  That  he  be  admitted ;  and  he  was  admitted 
accordingly,  and  informed  the  House  that  his  Honour  the 
Governour,  by  him,  returned  the  Bill  to  prohibit  the  im- 
portation of  Slaves  into  this  Government,  to  which  his 
Honour  cannot  give  his  assent. 

Wednesday,  March  29,  1775. 

On  motion, 

The  draught  of  Instructions  for  the  gentlemen  appointed 
by  the  House  to  represent  this  Government  at  an  Ameri- 
can Congress,  proposed  to  be  held  at  Philadelphia  in  May 
next,  was,  by  order,  read  the  second  time,  paragraph  by 
paragraph,  agreed  to,  and  ordered  to  be  transcribed  on  the 
minutes,  and  follows  in  these  words,  to  wit : 

Instructions  to  the  Deputies  appointed  by  this  Govern- 
ment to  meet  in  General  Congress  on  the  tenth  day  of 
May  next. 

1.  That  in  every  act  to  be  done  in  Congress,  you  stu- 
diously avoid,  as  you  have  heretofore  done,  every  thing 
disrespectful  or  offensive  to  our  most  gracious  Sovereign, 
or  in  any  measure  invasive  of  his  just  rights  and  prerogative. 

2.  That  you  do  adhere  to  those  claims  and  resolutions 
made  and  agreed  upon  at  the  last  meeting  of  the  Congress  ; 
yet,  for  the  restoration  of  that  harmony  with  the  Parent 
State  which  is  so  essential  to  the  security  and  happiness  of 
the  whole  British  Empire,  and  which  is  so  ardently  wish- 
ed for  by  this  House,  you  may,  on  your  parts,  yield  such 
contested  claims  of  right  as  do  not  apparently  belong  to 
the  Colonists,  or  are  not  essentially  necessary  to  their  well 
being. 

3.  If  His  Majesty  should  be  pleased  graciously  to  ap- 
point any  person  or  persons  to  treat  with  the  Colonies  on 
the  present  unhappy  disputes  subsisting  between  them  and 
the  Parent  State,  you,  or  any  of  you  the  Congress  shall 
nominate,  may  treat  with  such  person  or  persons  on  behalf 
of  the  inhabitants  of  this  Government. 

4.  If  the  Congress,  when  formed,  shall  not,  in  every 
question  to  be  voted  by  Provinces,  allow  this  Government 
an  equal  vote  with  any  other  Province  or  Government  on 
this  Continent,  you  are  decently  but  firmly  to  urge  the 
right  of  this  Government  to  an  equal  voice  in  Congress 
with  the  other  Colonies. 

The  House  adjourned  till  the  fifth  day  of  June  next. 


PENNSYLVANIA  COUNCIL. 

At  a  Council  held  at  Philadelphia,  on  Monday,  13th 
March,  1775: 

Present,  the  Hon.  John  Penn,  Esquire,  Governour, 
Benjamin  Chew  and  Edward  Shippen,  Junior,  Esquires. 

The  Governour  laid  before  the  Board  a  Letter  that  he 
received  last  night  by  the  Packet  from  the  Right  Honour- 
able the  Earl  of  Dartmouth,  one  of  His  Majesty's  principal 
Secretaries  of  State,  dated  the  7th  of  January,  1775, 
which  was  read,  and  follows  in  these  words,  viz : 

Whitehall,  January  7,  1775. 

Sir  :  I  am  very  much  obliged  to  you  for  the  early  com- 
munication of  the  proceedings  of  the  General  Congress. 

These  proceedings  are  of  a  very  extraordinary  nature, 
and  it  is  with  concern  1  see,  by  your  letter  of  the  6th  of 
December,  that  the  Resolution  for  Non-Importation  has 
been  so  generally  adopted  in  the  Colony  under  your  gov- 
ernment. Such  measures  and  proceedings  are  but  ill  cal- 
culated to  restore  peace  and  union  between  Great  Britain 
and  the  Colonies.  But  though  they  may  in  the  moment 
provoke  the  vengeance  of  Government,  I  will  hope  that  we 
may  yet,  in  the  consideration  of  the  business,  be  led  to 
some  proposition  that  may  ultimately  bring  about  a  happy 
accommodation  upon  some  general  constitutional  plan. 
Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii. 


Your  letter  of  the  3d  of  November,  No.  5,  states  the 
case  respecting  the  boundary  line  between  Pennsylvania 
and  Maryland,  in  a  very  different  light  from  that  in  which 
it  was  represented  to  me.  And  the  King,  confiding  in  your 
assertion  that  the  extension  of  the  jurisdiction  of  Pennsyl- 
vania up  to  the  line  settled  and  marked  by  the  Commis- 
sioners, had  been  so  far  from  having  the  effect  to  disturb 
the  peace  of  his  subjects,  and  occasioning  violence  and 
bloodshed,  that  it  had  a  quite  contrary  tendency,  and  given 
universal  satisfaction,  is  graciously  pleased  to  approve  the 
arrangement  made  by  your  Proclamation  of  the  15th  of 
September,  and  permit  you  to  recall  that  issued  on  the  2d 
of  November. 

I  am,  Sir,  your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

Dartmouth. 

Deputy  Governour  Penn. 

The  Board,  taking  the  latter  part  of  the  above  Letter  into 
consideration,  were  of  opinion  that  it  would  be  advisable 
for  the  Governour  to  issue  a  Proclamation  agreeable  to  His 
Majesty's  permission,  signified  in  the  said  Letter,  to  recall 
the  Governour's  Proclamation  of  the  2d  of  November  last. 
It  is  accordingly  ordered  that  a  draught  of  a  Proclamation  be 
prepared,  to  be  laid  before  the  Board  at  their  next  meeting. 

Memorandum,  March  16,  1775. 

The  Governour  this  day  wrote  to  Governour  Eden  the 
following  Letter,  on  the  subject  of  the  Proclamation  to  be 
issued  respecting  the  boundary  between  Pennsylvania  and 
Maryland  : 

Philadelphia,  March  16,  1775. 
Sir:  I  make  no  doubt  you  have  been  informed,  since 
your  return  from  England,  that  in  the  month  of  September 
last  I  issued  a  Proclamation  for  extending  the  jurisdiction 
of  Pennsylvania  and  the  Counties  of  New-Castle,  Kent, 
and  Sussex,  up  to  the  boundary  lines  run  and  marked  by 
the  Commissioners  appointed  to  that  service,  and  that  I 
afterwards  revoked  that  Proclamation  by  a  subsequent  one 
of  the  2d  of  November,  in  consequence  of  His  Majesty's 
orders,  signified  to  me  by  the  Secretary  of  State,  "that  I 
should  desist  from  issuing  any  orders  for  extending  the 
jurisdiction  of  Pennsylvania  beyond  those  places  where  it 
had  been  usually  exercised,  until  His  Majesty's  further 
pleasure  should  be  made  known  therein."  1  am  now  to 
inform  you  that  I  have  received  a  letter  from  the  Earl  of 
Dartmouth  by  the  last  Packet,  advising  me  that  His  Ma- 
jesty, "on  further  consideration,  is  graciously  pleased  to 
approve  the  arrangement  made  by  my  Proclamation  of  the 
15th  of  September,  and  to  permit  me  to  recall  that  of  the 
2d  of  November ;"  and  I  propose  immediately  to  issue  a 
new  Proclamation,  to  make  known  His  Majesty's  pleasure 
in  this  matter,  and  to  enforce  that  of  the  15th  of  Septem- 
ber. 

I  am,  with  great  respect,  your  Excellency's  most  obedi- 
ent and  most  humble  servant,  John  Penn. 

To  His  Excellency  Robert  Eden,  Esquire,  Governour 
and  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  Province  of  Maryland, 
Annapolis. 


BOSTON  TOWN-MEETING. 

At  a  Meeting  of  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Boston, 
on  Monday,  March  13th,  1775,  upon  a  motion  made  and 
seconded, 

Voted,  That  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  be  di- 
rected to  draw  up  an  exact  state  of  the  behaviour  of  the 
Troops  under  the  command  of  General  Gage,  and  of  the 
Navy  under  the  command  of  Admiral  Graves,  going  as  far 
back  as  they  shall  judge  proper ;  and  also  carefully  to  ob- 
serve their  conduct  in  future,  taking  their  information  upon 
oath  before  two  Justices  of  the  Peace,  quorum  unus,  al- 
ways giving  legal  notice  to  the  persons  accused  of  disor- 
derly proceedings,  and  report  to  the  Town. 

Attest:  William  Cooper,  Town  Clerk. 


MEETING  OF  THE  INHABITANTS  OF   HACKENSACK,  NEW- 
JERSEY. 

At  a  Meeting  of  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Precinct  of 
Hackensack,  in  the  County  of  Bergen  and  Province  ol 
New-Jersey,  held  pursuant  to  an  Act  of  Assembly  of  the 


131 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1715. 


132 


said  Province,  on  Tuesday,  the  14th  of  March,  in  the  year 
of  our  Lord  1775, 

Thomas  Moor,  Esq.,  Chairman. 
This  Mooting  being  heartily  grieved  at  the  unhappy 
disputes  now  subsisting  between  Great  Britain  and  her 
American  Colonies,  and  earnestly  wishing  that  the  present 
misunderstandings  may  be  removed,  and  such  a  reconcilia- 
tion take  place  as  may  be  consistent  with  the  dignity  of 
Great  Britain  and  the  true  interest  of  the  Colonies ;  and 
being  unanimously  of  opinion  that  it  is  the  duty  of  every 
loyal  subject  to  adopt  and  encourage  the  most  lenient  mea- 
sures, which  may  tend  to  heal  and  not  inflame  the  present 
differences : 

We,  therefore,  in  order  to  contribute  what  is  in  our  pow- 
er to  this  salutary  purpose,  and  to  show  our  loyalty  to  our 
King,  and  love  to  our  Country,  do  Besolve, 

1.  That  we  are  and  will  continue  to  be  loyal  subjects  to 
His  Majesty  King  George,  and  that  we  will  venture  our 
lives  and  fortunes  to  support  the  dignity  of  his  Crown. 

2.  That  we  disavow  all  riotous  mobs  whatsoever. 

3.  That  by  humbly  petitioning  the  Throne,  is  the  only 
salutary  means  we  can  think  of  to  remove  our  present 
grievances. 

4.  That  we  have  not,  nor  (for  the  future,)  will  not,  be 
concerned  in  any  case  whatever  with  any  unconstitutional 
measures, 

5.  That  we  will  support  His  Majesty's  Civil  Officers  in 
all  their  lawful  proceedings. 

Signed  by  thirty-seven  Inhabitants. 


COMMITTEE  OF  FREEHOLD,  (MONMOUTH  COUNTY,)  NEW- 
JERSEY. 

March  14,  1775,  P.  M. 
The  Committee  of  Observation  for  the  Township  of 
Freehold,  in  the  County  of  Monmouth,  New- Jersey,  have 
made  repeated  applications  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  Town- 
ship of  Shreivsbury,  earnestly  requesting  and  exhorting  them 
to  comply  with  the  instructions  of  the  late  American  Con- 
gress, in  constituting  for  themselves  a  Committee  of  Observa- 
tion, that  they  might  conspire  with  their  brethren  in  the  other 
Towns  belonging  to  the  County,  in  executing  the  Resolves 
of  said  Congress  ;  but,  although  they  have  entertained 
hopes,  notwithstanding  their  former  opposition,  that  they 
would  do  it  at  their  stated  annual  town-meeting,  they  are, 
at  this  late  hour,  informed,  that  the  said  annual  meeting  of 
Shrewsbury  is  broke  up  without  a  Committee  being  chosen, 
or  any  one  step  taken  whereby  the  least  disposition  is  discov- 
ered of  their  being  inclined  to  adopt  the  Resolutions  of  said 
Congress.  They  think  it,  therefore,  their  duty,  however 
painful  the  declaration,  to  bear  publick  testimony  against 
them. 

And  we  do  now  unanimously  enter  into  the  following 
Resolve,  viz  :  That  from  and  after  this  day,  during  our 
continuance  as  a  Committee,  (unless  they  shall  turn  from 
the  evil  of  their  ways,  and  testify  their  repentance  by 
adopting  the  measures  of  the  Congress,)  we  will  esteem 
and  treat  them,  the  said  inhabitants  of  Shrewsbury,  as 
enemies  to  their  King  and  Country,  and  deserters  from 
the  common  cause  of  true  freedom  ;  and  we  will  hereafter 
break  off  all  dealings  and  connection  with  them  while  they 
continue  their  opposition.  We  do  furthermore  recommend 
the  same  conduct  towards  them  to  our  constituents,  and  all 
others  ;  earnestly  hoping  it  may  be  a  means  of  reclaiming 
those  deluded  people  to  their  duty  and  interest,  whom  we 
shall  always  be  pleased  to  receive  and  treat  as  returning 
prodigals.       Signed  by  order  of  the  Committee, 

Nathaniel  Scudoer,  Cleric. 

MEETING  OF  FREEHOLDERS,  &£C,  IN  NEW-WINDSOR, 
(ULSTER  COUNTY,)  NEW-YORK. 

March  14,  1775. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  inhabitants 
of  the  Precinct  of  New -Windsor,  in  the  County  of  Ulster, 
and  Province  of  New -York,  legally  convened  by  mutual 
consent,  in  order  to  elect  a  Committee  of  Observation,  and 
deliberate  on  other  matters  relative  to  our  political  welfare, 
this  14th  day  of  March,  1775.^Then  proceeded,  and 
chose  Mr.  George  Denniston,  Chairman,  and  the  following 
persons  for  the  above  named  Committee,  viz:  Mr.  George 


Denniston,  Mr.  Robert  Cross,  Mr.  Joseph  Belknap,  Mr. 
Francis  Mandiville,  Mr.  Nuac  Shutts,  and  Mr.  Hezekiah 
White  ;  afterwards  did  solemnly  agree  to,  and  with  each 
other,  in  observing  the  following  Resolutions  ourselves,  and, 
as  far  as  our  influence  may  extend,  recommend  them  to 
the  observation  of  others,  viz : 

Resolved  1st,  nem.  con.,  That  we  acknowledge  no  other 
Sovereign  or  Potentate  on  earth  to  be  our  lawful  and  liege 
Sovereign,  save  His  Majesty  King  George  the  Third,  of 
legal  descent  from  that  illustrious  House  of  Brunswick, 
which  was,  by  the  kind  providence  of  God,  established  to 
sway  the  British  sceptre  on  just  and  equitable  principles, 
but  more  emphatically  described  and  known  by  the  name 
of  Revolution  principles. 

Resolved  2diy,  nem.  con.,  That  we  will  yield  to  none  in 
point  of  affection  and  loyalty  to  our  most  gracious  Sover- 
eign, but  will  each  one  for  himself,  when  thereunto  legally 
called,  (even  though  to  the  most  distant  and  remote  parts 
of  His  Majesty's  Empire,)  venture  our  lives  and  properties 
in  defence  of  our  Sovereign's  person,  family,  and  Govern- 
ment, when  exercised  on  the  above-named  principles. 

It  is  with  the  greatest  regret,  and  deepest  concern  of 
heart,  we  conceive  a  plan  adopted  and  invariably  pursued 
for  a  number  of  years  past,  by  the  British  Parliament,  for 
enslaving  us,  by  levying  taxes  on  us  without  our  consent, 
and  declaring  they  (the  Parliament)  are  fully  vested  with 
power  to  make  laws  obligatory  on  us,  in  all  cases  whatso- 
ever : 

Resolved,  therefore,  3dly,nem.  con.,  That  such  declara- 
tions and  unbounded  power  assumed,  are  subversive  of  our 
natural  and  legal  rights  as  British  subjects ;  and  that  we 
would  be  far  deficient  in  point  of  duty  to  our  King  and  the 
British  Constitution,  were  we  to  yield  a  tame  submission 
to  them. 

But  as  the  wisdom  and  prudence  of  the  whole  Conti- 
nent hath  been  called  forth  in  appointing  and  holding  a 
Continental  Congress,  in  order  to  state  our  grievances,  and 
point  out  the  means  by  which  we  may  be  relieved  from 
them  : 

Resolved  Athly,  nem.  con.,  That  we  do  sincerely  and 
willingly  accord  to  the  Association  entered  into  by  that 
body,  with  a  full  determination  to  abide  by  and  observe  the 
same,  and  do  unfeignedly  thank  our  worthy  Delegates  of 
the  Province  of  Ncpj  -York,  in  conjunction  with  the  rest 
of  that  honourable  body,  for  the  care  they  have  taken  for 
the  security  of  our  liberties,  and  the  patriotick  principles 
they  have  exhibited  to  the  world,  which  will  remain  more 
sure  and  permanent  in  the  annals  of  American  history 
than  monuments  either  of  brass  or  marble  erected  to  their 
honour  and  perpetuity  of  their  memory. 

And  whereas  it  is  agreed  in  the  Seventh  Article  of  the 
Association,  to  improve  the  breed,  and  increase  the  num- 
ber of  Sheep  : 

Resolved  bthly,  nem.  con.,  That  we  will  use  our  best 
endeavours  in  promoting  so  laudable  and  beneficial  an 
undertaking,  and  do  promise  that  we  will  not  kill  any 
Sheep  under  four  years  old,  or  procure  them  to  be  killed 
by  others  ;  neither  will  we  sell  the  best  of  our  Sheep  to 
butchers,  or  others  employed  by  them  to  purchase,  where- 
by the  breed  of  our  Sheep  is  much  injured. 

And  further,  we  consider  the  Freedom  of  the  Press  as 
the  great  palladium  of  English  liberty  ;  therefore  we  will 
do  all  in  our  power  to  encourage  and  support  the  same. 
But  there  is  a  certain  news-printer  in  New -York,  named 
James  Rivington,  who  appears  to  us  divested  of  every 
principle  of  honour,  truth,  or  modesty;  his  papers  being 
filled  with  pieces  replete  with  falsehoods  and  mere  chi- 
canery, only  designed,  as  we  believe,  to  divide  and  lead 
astray  the  friends  of  our  happy  Constitution  : 

Resolved,  therefore,  6thly,  nem.  con.,  That  we  will 
have  no  connection  or  intercourse  with  said  Rivington, 
nor  will  we  purchase  any  of  his  publications  until  we  receive 
sufficient  evidence  of  his  sincere  repentance ;  for  we  do  be- 
lieve he  is  a  Ministerial  hireling,  an  enemy  to  his  Country, 
and  a  traitor  to  the  British  Constitution. 

And  as  a  certain  pamphlet,  signed  A.  W.,  A  Farmer, 
hath  been  for  some  time  circulating  among  us,  which  is 
artfully  designed  to  impose  on  the  illiterate  and  unthinking 
part  of  mankind,  having  a  show  of  plausibility,  but  the 
foundation-principles  on  which  it  proceeds  are  notoriously 
false : 


133 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775. 


134 


Resolved,  therefore,  Ithly,  nem.  con.,  That  the  said 
pamphlet  be  now  publickly  burnt  in  contempt  and  ab- 
horrence of  the  author,  publisher,  and  vender  of  it,  at  the 
same  time  holding  them  in  our  estimation  as  enemies  to 
their  Country,  with  whom  no  friend  to  it  should  have  any 
connection,  intercourse,  or  commerce ;  well  knowing  that 
every  shilling  of  property  we  put  into  their  hands,  we  are 
in  a  certain  proportion  enabling  them  to  purchase  chains  to 
bind  us  in  slavery.    [And  said  pamphlet  was  burnt  accord- 

And  further,  as  we  do  much  esteem  the  wisdom  and 
prudence  of  the  late  Continental  Congress  held  at  Phila- 
delphia, in  September  and  October  last,  as  well  for  their 
recommending  another  Congress  to  be  held  in  May  next, 
as  for  the  other  important  services  they  have  done  us : 

Resolved,  Qlhly,  nem.  con.,  That  we  are  ready  and 
willing  to  co-operate  with  our  brethren  of  the  different 
Towns  and  Precincts  in  this  County,  in  choosing  a  Dele- 
gate or  Delegates  to  represent  us  in  the  next  General  Con- 
gress, believing  that  the  resolutions  and  determinations  of 
any  man,  or  body  of  men  on  earth,  cannot  legally  divest 
us  of  this  inherent  right  and  privilege  we  enjoy  as  British 
subjects. 

Ordered,  That  these  Resolves  be  printed  by  John  Holt. 

George  Denniston,  Chairman. 


LETTERS  FROM  PHILADELPHIA,   TO  MR.   RIVINGTON,  NEW- 
JTORK. 

Philadelphia,  March  15,  1775. 

What  in  the  name  of  common  sense  can  make  the 
Whigs  exult  ?  Can  you  find  out  wherein  Lord  North  lias 
flinched  ?  Do  you  see  any  prospect  of  His  Majesty's 
relaxing,  applauding  the  Congress,  or  being  dumbfounded 
at  their  proceedings  ?  I  am  sure  I  cannot.  It  is  true  a 
number  of  Merchants  in  the  Trading  Cities  have  petitioned, 
and  they  will  probably  be  followed  by  the  Manufacturing 
Towns ;  but  do  they  ask  a  repeal  of  all  the  Acts  which 
the  Congress  have  recited  as  grievances?  No:  they  wish 
a  restoration  of  peace  between  the  State  and  its  members 
to  take  place ;  but  is  it  likely  a  lasting  harmony  can  issue 
from  a  compliance  with  all  the  demands  of  America — by 
gratifying  her  petulant  humours?  If  she  be  now  indulged, 
she  will  rise  in  her  demands,  till  there  will  be  no  end  of 
them.  But  if  every  Act  relating  to  the  Colonies  should 
be  repealed ;  if  the  Parliament  should  relinquish  all  claim 
of  power  whatever  over  the  Colonies,  I  declare  I  should 
be  surprised  to  see  the  warm  patriots  rejoice,  although  they 
might  perhaps  force  a  superficial  smile.  They  know,  and 
the  Tories  know  full  well,  that  all  their  consequence  is 
derived  from  the  calamities  of  this  convulsed  Country, 
who,  like  salamanders,  glory  in  a  Jicry  element.  'Tis  true, 
there  are  great  numbers  of  honest,  well-meaning  people, 
who  have  been  so  far  deluded  as  perhaps  to  approve  of 
every  act  of  violence  which  has  been  committed ;  these 
probably  would  most  sincerely  rejoice  in  an  amicable 
adjustment  of  the  dispute ;  and  they  would  be  told  by 
their  leaders  it  was  owing  to  them  that  the  salvation  of 
their  Country  was  brought  about,  although  a  more  prudent 
conduct  on  our  part  would  have  effected  it  more  certainly, 
and  with  a  thousandth  part  of  the  noise  and  confusion, 
without  creating  party  strife  amongst  one  another,  and 
without  alienating  the  affections  of  the  Colonists  from  the 
best  of  Sovereigns  that  ever  held  the  British  sceptre. 

Ambition,  and  a  thirst  of  power,  are  dangerous  to  com- 
bat with.  Our  patriots  have  in  general  chosen  for  their 
leaders  the  most  violent  and  zealous  ;  and  I  cannot  persuade 
myself  but  that  they  would  sacrifice  their  Country  to  their 
ambitious  views.  They  are  elated  beyond  measure  at  the 
thoughts  of  filling  such  exalted  stations,  having  usurped 
not  only  the  Legislative,  but  the  Executive  branches  of 
Government,  and  both  of  them  unlimited  and  unbounded. 
They  will  not,  I  am  confident,  part  with  these  precious 
offices  without  great  reluctance  and  pain  ;  and  they  will 
regret  any  circumstance  that  shall  deprive  them  of  them. 
1  do  not  indiscriminately  aim  at  all  Committee-men,  or  all 
persons  who  side  with  them  ;  I  only  direct  my  discourse  to 
such  as  are  active  in  widening  the  breach,  and  have  had 
the  art  or  address  to  make  the  vulgar  believe  liberty  is  the 
grand  object  of  their  pursuit.  These  are  dangerous  men, 
of  whom  we  ought  to  beware,  who  have  designs,  and  are 


carrying  on  intrigues  unknown,  unsuspected  but  by  too  few. 
For  my  part  I  shall  be  happy  beyond  expression  at  any 
step  which  may  check  the  career  of  these  unskilful  pilots, 
and  place  men  of  more  ability  and  more  integrity  at  the 
helm.  Let  me  most  heartily  felicitate  you  on  the  King's 
having  received  the  Petition.  It  will  have  two  good  effects. 
It  will  convince  the  world  that  he  is  disposed  to  hear  the 
complaints  of  his  subjects,  and  give  them  the  weight  they 
may  deserve.  It  will,  besides,  deprive  our  Republicans  of 
the  pleasure  they  would  take  in  inveighing  against  him, 
which  they  would  certainly  have  done  most  bitterly,  had 
he  rejected  their  Petition  without  a  hearing. 

Philadelphia,  March  15,  1775. 

You  cannot  conceive  with  what  pleasure  our  Patriots 
circulated  a  false  report  that  the  mob  had  pulled  down 
Mr.  Rivington's  house;  had  cut  off  the  ears  of  a  number 
of  Tories ;  and  that  Mr.  Rivington,  in  making  his  escape, 
had  broke  his  back.  This  they  told  with  every  mark  of 
joy,  approaching  almost  to  rapture.  But  how  inconceiv- 
ably were  they  dejected,  when  they  found  the  whole  was  a 
Putnamitish  lie.  Their  lank,  lean  visages  betrayed  the 
most  mortifying  affliction,  which  they  have  not  yet  got  the 
better  of,  although  this  was  almost  as  improbable  as  the 
lie  which  the  same  party  set  on  foot  respecting  the  bom- 
bardment of  Boston;  yet  as  blood-thirsty  Demagogues 
were  rejoiced  at  the  report,  they  really  believe  it  true.  To 
what  a  shift  are  the  sons  of  licentiousness  driven,  when 
nothing  but  lies  will  serve  to  keep  alive  the  dying  faction. 
In  Boston,  the  Republican  Printers  assert,  that  the  Testi- 
mony which  the  loyal  Friends  gave  forth  the  beginning  of 
this  year  was  wrote  ten  years  ago,  and  accuse  the  few 
Printers  of  altering  the  date  from  1765  to  1775.  This  is 
so  bare-faced  a  Putnamite,  that  it  will  not  gain  ground 
even  in  the  faction.  This  same  party  have  had  general- 
ship enough  so  far  to  invert  the  order  of  nature  and  reason 
as  to  make  a  Whig  a  Tory,  and  a  Tory  a  Whig ;  which 
denominations  are  now  generally  adopted.  They  have 
done  the  same  by  slavery  and  liberty ;  and  truths  by  them 
are  called  lies,  and  the  most  gross  and  palpable  falsehoods 
secure  a  credit  equal  to  proofs  of  holy  writ. 

Philadelphia,  March  16,  1775. 
Our  Fanus,  Tornado,  and  the  lean  Cassius,  are  the  tri- 
umviri who  now  support  the  sons  of  violence.  To  these 
the  Patriots  look  up  as  naturally  as  the  mariner  to  the 
vane,  or  the  philosopher  to  the  thermometer ;  and  they 
have  lately  seen  a  gleam  of  joy  darting  from  their  counte- 
nances. At  this  the  whole  race  of  Whigs  appeared  to 
rejoice ;  for  they  were  before  indeed  in  a  state  of  despera- 
tion. Like  a  drowning  man,  they  catch  at  a  straw,  but, 
alas!  it  will  not  support  them.  It  is,  however,  a  gross  im- 
position on  the  publick  for  them  to  attempt  to  make  the 
world  believe  that  it  would  please  them  to  have  the  matter 
finally  settled  ;  and  you  may  depend,  if  their  numbers 
(now  fast  decreasing)  should  not  fail,  they  will  make  some 
excuse,  if  possible,  to  keep  up  the  ball ;  for  when  that 
drops,  their  whole  importance  will  evaporate  in  fumo. 


J.   POWN ALL,  SECRETARY  TO  THE  BOARD   FOR  TRADE  AND 
PLANTATIONS,  TO  LIEUTENANT  GOVERNOUR  COLDEN. 

Whitehall,  March  15,  1775. 
Sir  :  1  am  desired  by  the  Lords  Commissioners  for 
Trade  and  Plantations,  to  send  to  you  for  your  informa- 
tion, the  inclosed  Extracts  of  the  Minutes  of  their  Lord- 
ships' Proceedings  upon  several  Petitions  and  Memorials 
referred  and  presented  to  them,  relative  to  the  pretensions 
of  sundry  persons  to  the  District,  commonly  called  King's 
District,  and  other  lands  adjacent  thereto,  in  the  Province 
of  New-York,  heretofore  claimed  by  Mr.  Van  Rensselaer. 
I  am,  Sir,  your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

J.  POWNALL. 

Lieutenant  Governour  Colden. 

At  a  Meeting  of  His  Majesty's  Commissioners  for  Trade 
and  Plantations,  Thursday,  February  23,  1775.  Present: 
Mr.  Jenyns,  Mr.  Kcene,  Mr.  Gascoyne,  Mr.  Grcville. 

The  Earl  of  Dartmouth,  one  of  His  Majesty's  principal 
Secretaries  of  State  attends. 


* 


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CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775. 


136 


Their  Lordships  took  into  consideration  the  state  of  His 
Majesty's  Province  of  New-York,  in  respect  to  the  disputes 
which  have  arisen  in  that  Province,  and  the  disorders  that 
have  prevailed  therein,  to  the  disturbance  of  the  publick 
peace,  by  means  of  the  claims  and  pretensions  that  have 
been  set  up  on  different  grounds  and  titles  to  Lands  in  that 
Province ;  and  the  following  Papers  relative  to  a  tract  of 
Land  laying  between  Hudson's  River  and  the  boundary 
line  between  New-York  and  Massachusetts-Bay,  hereto- 
fore claimed  under  an  ancient  Grant  by  Mr.  Van  Rensselaer 
and  others,  were  read  and  considered,  viz : 

Order  of  the  Lords  of  the  Committee  of  Council  for 
Plantation  Affairs,,  dated  26th  August,  1773,  referring  to 
this  Board,  for  their  consideration  and  report,  the  Petition 
of  Major  General  Simon  Frascr,  on  behalf  of  himself  and 
sixteen  other  Officers,  praying  that  they  may  be  included 
in  any  grant  or  order,  hereafter  to  be  made  in  favour  of  the 
Captains  Campbell  and  Ourry,  and  their  associates,  of 
Lands  in  the  Province  of  Nciv-  York,  so  as  to  entitle  the 
Petitioners  to  a  share  thereof,  agreeable  to  the  proportions 
specified  in  the  Royal  Proclamation  of  the  7th  of  Octo- 
ber, 1763: 

Order  of  the  Lords  of  the  Committee  of  Council  for 
Plantation  Affairs,  dated  August  26,  1773,  referring  to  this 
Board,  for  their  consideration  and  report,  the  Petition  of 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Steivart,  and  seven  others,  in  behalf  of 
themselves,  and  several  other  Officers,  who  served  in  Ame- 
rica during  the  late  war,  setting,  forth  their  services,  and 
the  expenses  they  have  incurred  in  prosecuting  His  Majes- 
ty's right  to  certain  Lands  claimed  by  JohnVan  Rensselaer, 
Esq.,  in  New-York,  and  praying  for  a  grant  of  a  tract 
containing  two  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  acres  of  the  said 
Land : 

Petition  of  the  proprietors  of  the  Westenhook  Patent 
to  Governour  Tryon,  praying  that  patent  may  be  granted 
to  each  proprietor  for  such  share  of  the  Lands  contained 
in  several  lots  therein  specified,  as  to  each  of  them  shall, 
upon  the  said  division,  be  allotted,  (except  out  of  the  lots 
No.  9,  12,  and  — ,  the  land  formerly  granted  to  Stephen 
Bayard  and  his  associates,)  and  that  the  said  grants  be  sub- 
ject to  those  conditions  to  which  they  are  now  subject  by 
their  present  patent: 

Petition  of  James  Savage  in  behalf  of  himself  and 
several  hundred  others,  to  the  Board,  dated  September  20, 
1774,  praying  the  confirmation  of  their  title  to  certain 
Lands,  therein  described,  in  the  Province  of  Netv-York, 
which  are  possessed  and  have  been  cultivated  by  them. 

Letter  from  Mr.  Savage  to  the  Secretary  to  this  Board, 
dated  February  17th,  1775,  relative  to  his  Petition,  and 
inclosing — 

A  Letter  to  him  from  P.  V.  Schaack,  dated  New-York, 
December  24th,  1774,  on  the  same  subject : 
Mr.  Savage's  case : 

Memorial  of  Samuel  Bayard,  in  behalf  of  himself  and 
liis  associate,  praying  to  be  put  in  quiet  possession  of  their 
property  in  a  tract  of  Land  called  Westenhook  Patent,  by 
the  dismission  of  Mr.  Savage's  Petition,  and  the  prohibi- 
tion of  all  acts  of  violence  by  his  adherents :. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Mr.  Samuel  Bayard,  Junior,  to 
William  Knox,  Esquire,  dated  June  11th,  1774,  on  the 
same  subject. 

It  appearing,  that  Mr.  Bayard's  Memorial  was  not  sub- 
scribed by  any  person,  and  the  Secretary  having  informed 
the  Board  that  it  had  been  delivered  to  him  this  morning 
by  Captain  Williams,  on  behalf  of  the  proprietors  of  the 
Westenhook  Patent,  who  claim  a  part  of  the  Lands  in 
question  :  Captain  Williams  was  called  in  ;  and  being  ask 
ed  if  he  had  authority  from  the  proprietors  of  the  Westen- 
hook Patent  to  act  for  them  in  their  business,  he  said  he 
had,  and  accordingly  subscribed  his  name  to  the  Memorial 
above-mentioned,  as  their  agent.  And  the  Board  being  in- 
formed that  Mr.  Savage  attended  without,  in  behalf  of  the 
present  occupants  and  possessors  of  the  Lands  in  question, 
with  Mr.  Ingersoll,  his  solicitor  and  advocate,  and  also 
Colonel  McLean,  and  others,  on  behalf  of  the  Officers, 
whose  Petitions  are  mentioned  above,  they  were  called  in, 
and  each  respectively  heard  in  support  of  their  claims  and 
pretensions. 

Colonel  McLean  having  stated  that  the  Governour  and 
Council  of  New-  York  had,  in  direct  disobedience  to  an 
order  in  Council,  (made  in  behalf  of  the  reduced  officers,) 


confirmed  to  Mr.  Van  Rensselaer,  by  patent,  Lands  which 
they  claimed  ;  and  had  not  taken  any  notice  of  a  caveat 
entered  by  them  against  such  confirmation  :  Mr.  Tryon, 
who  was  present,  desired  that  a  letter  to  the  Earl  of  Dart- 
mouth, containing  his  reasons  for  such  confirmation  might 
be  read ;  and  Lord  Dartmouth  having  directed  the  said 
letter  to  be  produced,  it  was  accordingly  read. 

At  a  Meeting  of  His  Majesty's  Commissioners  for  Trade 
and  Plantations,  Friday,  February  24th,  1775.  Present: 
Mr.  Jenyns,  Mr.  Keenc,  Mr.  Gascoyne,  Mr.  Greville. 

The  Earl  of  Dartmouth,  one  of  His  Majesty's  principal 
Secretaries  of  State  attends,  and  also  Mr.  Tryon,  Govern- 
our of  New-York. 

Their  Lordships  made  a  further  progress  in  the  conside- 
ration of  the  business  of  New-  York,  mentioned  in  the  pre- 
ceding Minutes;  and  the  parties  were  further  heard  in  what 
they  had  to  offer  in  support  of  their  respective  claims  and 
pretensions. 

At  a  Meeting  of  His  Majesty's  Commissioners  for  Trade 
and  Plantations,  Monday,  February  29th,  1775.  Present : 
Mr.  Jenyns,  Mr.  Jolliffe,  Mr.  Gascoyne,  Mr.  Keene. 

The  Earl  of  Dartmouth  took  into  further  consideration 
the  business  of  New-York,  mentioned  in  the  two  prece- 
ding days'  Minutes,  and  the  parties  interested  in  the  Lands 
in  question  attending  again  ;  Mr.  Dagge,  solicitor  for  the 
reduced  Officers,  submitted  to  the  Board  the  following  pro- 
posal for  adjusting  the  matter  in  controversy,  so  far  as  it 
regarded  the  claims  of  said  Officers,  and  those  of  the  pre- 
sent possessors  and  occupants,  viz  : 

"  That  the  Petitioners  be  allowed  to  locate  their  Lands, 
claimed  under  the  Proclamation,  upon  that  tract  within  the 
Province  of  New-  York  which  lies  between  the  North  and 
South  Manors  of  Rensselaer,  bounded  on  the  West  by  the 
Kinderhook  Patent,  and  on  the  East  by  the  jurisdiction 
line  between  the  Provinces  of  New-  York  and  Massachu- 
setts, as  far  as  such  locations  can  be  made  without  preju- 
dice to  the  present  occupancies,  (now  under  actual  im- 
provement,) allowing  to  each  occupant  at  the  rate  of  fifty 
acres  of  woodland  for  every  two  hundred  acres  of  Land 
under  actual  improvement,  and  so  in  proportion  for  a 
greater  or  lesser  number  of  acres  ;  such  parcels  of  wood- 
land to  be  as  contiguous  as  possible  to  each  occupancy,  to 
which  the  same  shall  be  respectively  allotted.  And  if  any 
quantity  of  woodland  shall  have  been  already  inclosed  by 
any  of  the  occupants,  such  woodland,  if  less  than  the  pro- 
portion above-mentioned,  shall  be  reckoned  as  part  of  the 
woodland  so  directed  to  be  allotted  to  each  occupancy  as 
aforesaid  ;  and  if  it  exceeds  the  number  of  fifty  acres,  in 
that  case  no  woodland  shall  be  allotted  ;  and  that,  in  so  far 
as  the  vacant  Lands  shall  fall  short  of  the  quantity  claimed 
by  the  Petitioners,  they  be  allowed  to  locate  double  the 
quantity  of  such  residue  in  some  other  part  of  the  Prov- 
ince of  New-  York,  or  elsewhere  in  North  America,  not 
already  granted." 

Mr.  Savage  having  desired,  by  his  solicitor,  some  time 
to  consider  the  said  proposal,  the  parties  withdrew ;  and, 
after  a  short  time,  they  desired  to  be  called  in,  when  Mr. 
Savage  signified  his  consent  to  and  approbation  of  the  said 
proposal,  in  which  the  Board  acquiesced,  not  thinking  that 
any  thing  had  been  stated  or  proved  on  the  part  of  the 
IVestenhook  proprietors,  that  made  them,  in  this  case,  ob- 
jects of  the  attention  of  Government ;  and,  therefore,  that 
they  should  be  left  to  prosecute  their  claims,  if  they  had 
any,  in  such  other  manner  as  they  should  be  advised. 

At  a  Meeting  of  His  Majesty's  Commissioners  for  Trade 
and  Plantations,  Thursday,  March  2d,  1775.  Present : 
Mr.  Jenyns,  Mr.  Keene,  Mr.  Greville. 

The  Earl  of  Dartmouth,  one  of  His  Majesty's  principal 
Secretaries  of  State  attends  ;  also  Mr.  Tryon,  Governour  of 
New-  York. 

Their  Lordships  took  into  further  consideration  the  state 
of  the  Province  of  New-York,  more  particularly  in  regard 
to  the  Lands  between  the  Rivers  Hudson  and  Connecticut, 
upon  which  both  the  Province  of  New-York  and  that  of 
Ncw-]lampshirc  heretofore  claimed  a  right  of  jurisdiction  ; 
and  upon  parts  of  which  settlements  have  been  made  by 
grants  of  the  Governours  of  both  Provinces,  in  some  in- 


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CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775. 


138 


stances,  of  the  same  Land,  by  means  whereof  the  publick 
peace  hath  been  disturbed,  and  the  course  of  publick  justice 
obstructed. 

Upon  the  subject  of  those  claims,  it  was  proposed  by 
Governour  Tryon,  and  agreed  to  by  the  Board,  that  such 
of  the  grants  made  by  the  Governour  of  Netv-Hampshire 
to  the  West  of  Connecticut  River  as  have  not  yet  been 
confirmed,  and  do  not  interfere  with  any  grants  made  by 
tiie  Government  of  New-York,  or  that  of  Canada  before 
the  conquest,  should  now  be  confirmed  to  the  present  oc- 
cupants and  possessors,  subject  to  the  payment  of  the  quit- 
rent  reserved  upon  all  Lands  granted  in  Neto-York. 

That  with  regard  to  those  grants  made  by  the  Govern- 
our of  New-Hampshire,  of  Lands  in  those  districts,  which 
do  either  interfere  with  grants  made  by  the  Governour  of 
New- York,  or  the  Governour  of  Canada  before  the  con- 
quest, it  would  be  advisable  to  recommend  the  having 
some  question  stated,  that  should  comprehend  the  whole 
of  the  case,  so  as  to  include  every  claim,  and  an  action 
brought  thereupon  in  the  Supreme  Court  of  Neic-York, 
upon  such  grounds  that,  either  by  means  of  special  verdict, 
or  upon  some  plea  of  errour,  an  appeal  might  lie  from  the 
judgment  of  the  said  Court  to  the  Governour  and  Council, 
and  from  them  to  His  Majesty  in  his  Privy  Council ;  or 
otherwise,  that  the  matter  should  be  left  to  be  settled  by 
arbitration,  in  any  mode  that  should  be  satisfactory  to  the 
different  parties. 

At  a  Meeting  of  His  Majesty's  Commissioners  for  Trade 
and  Plantations,  Thursday,  March  9th,  1775.  Present: 
Mr.  Jenyns,  Lord  Robert  Spencer,  Mr.  Gascoyne,  Mr.  Jol- 
lijfe,  Mr.  Keene. 

The  Earl  of  Dartmouth,  one  of  His  Majesty's  principal 
Secretaries  of  State,  attends. 

The  Governour  of  New-  York  attending  without,  with 
Mr.  Burke,  agent  for  that  Province,  and  also  Colonel  Read, 
lately  arrived  from  thence  ;  they  were  called  in,  and  their 
Lordships  resumed  the  consideration  of  the  state  of  the 
disputes  touching  the  propriety  of  Lands  in  New-  York  be- 
tween Hudson  River  and  Connecticut  River  ;  and  Colonel 
Read,  who  is  largely  interested  in  those  lands,  having 
stated  that  he  had  material  evidence  and  information  to  lay 
before  their  Lordships  touching  this  matter,  it  was  agreed 
to  reconsider  the  propositions  stated  in  the  Minutes  of  the 
2d  instant,  when  Governour  Tryon,  who  was  going  to  Bath 
on  account  of  his  health,  should  return  from  thence. 

Their  Lordships  being  of  opinion  that  it  would  be  pro- 
per, in  order  to  prevent  any  further  survey  or  location  of 
Lands  in  King's  District,  and  on  the  other  Lands  surrender- 
ed by  Mr.  Van  Rensselaer,  that  a  copy  of  the  Minutes  of 
their  Lordships'  proceedings  on  this  subject  should  be  sent 
to  Lieutenant  Governour  Colden,  the  Secretary  was  or- 
dered to  transmit  a  copy  of  those  Minutes,  and  also  to  give 
another  copy  thereof  to  Mr.  Savage. 

A  true  copy  :  J.  Pownall. 


Committee  Chamber,  New-York,  15th  March,  1775. 

The  Sub-Committees  appointed  by  this  Committee  to 
join  with  the  Vestrymen  of  each  Ward  in  this  City,  in  su- 
perintending the  polls  held  this  day,  in  the  said  Wards,  for 
taking  the  votes  of  the  Freemen  and  Freeholders  on  the 
question,  "  Whether  they  would  choose  Deputies  for  this 
City  and  County,  to  meet  such  Deputies  as  the  Counties 
may  elect,  and  join  with  them  for  the  sole  purpose  of  ap- 
pointing out  of  their  body  Delegates  for  the  next  Congress?" 
And  if  yea,  who  such  Deputies  should  be; 

Reported,  That  they  had  accordingly  attended  the  said 
polls,  and  delivered  to  the  Committee  the  several  poll-lists 
by  them  taken,  under  their  hands,  and  the  hands  of  the 
Vestrymen  of  such  Wards,  from  which  it  appears  that 
eight  hundred  and  twenty-six  Freeholders  and  Freemen 
voted  for  Deputies,  and  elected  the  eleven  persons  nomi- 
nated by  this  Committee  ;  and  that  one  hundred  and  sixty- 
three  voted  against  the  measure  of  appointing  Deputies. 
The  said  Sub-Committees  also  informed  this  Committee 
that  almost  all  those  who  voted  against  the  appointment  of 
Deputies,  declared  they  were  nevertheless  for  Delegates. 

Ordered,  That  the  said  reports  and  poll-lists  be  lodged 
with  the  Secretary,  and  that  Circular  Letters  be  written  to 
all  the  Counties  in  the  Colony,  informing  them  of  the  ap- 


pointment of  Deputies  for  this  City  and  County,  and  re- 
questing them,  with  all  convenient  speed,  to  elect  Deputies 
to  meet  in  Provincial  Convention  at  the  City  of  New-  York, 
on  the  20th  day  of  April  next,  for  the  sole  purpose  of 
appointing  Delegates  to  represent  this  Colony  at  the  next 
Congress  to  be  held  at  Fhiladelphia,  the  10th  day  of  M^ay 
next. 

Ordered,  That  the  above  extracts  from  the  proceedings 
of  the  Committee  be  published. 

By  order  of  the  Committee  : 

John  Alsop,  Deputy  Chairman. 


LETTER  FROM  THE  GENERAL  COMMITTEE  OF  THE  CITY  OF 
NEW-YORK,  TO  ALL  THE  COUNTIES  IN  THE  COLONY. 

New-York,  16th  March,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  The  late  Congress  having  deemed  it 
expedient  that,  in  the  present  critical  state  of  American 
affairs,  another  should  be  held  at  Philadelphia  the  10th  of 
May  next ;  and  the  neighbouring  Colonies  having  already 
appointed  Delegates  for  that  purpose,  we  beg  leave  to  call 
your  attention  to  that  subject,  and  to  remark,  that  the  hon- 
our, as  well  as  the  interest  of  the  Province  requires  that 
we  also  should  be  fully  and  properly  represented. 

Influenced  by  these  considerations,  this  City  and  County 
conceive  it  highly  necessary  that  a  Provincial  Convention 
should,  without  delay,  be  formed  of  Deputies  from  all  the 
Counties,  for  the  sole  purpose  of  appointing  out  of  their 
body  Delegates  for  the  next  Congress  ;  and,  therefore,  have 
already  chosen  their  Deputies.  They  prefer  this  mode  to 
any  other,  as  it  tends  to  unite  the  Counties,  and  to  preserve 
that  harmony  between  them  so  essential  to  the  interest  of 
our  common  cause. 

Be  pleased  to  communicate  this  letter  to  the  inhabitants 
of  your  County  ;  and  should  they  concur  with  us  in  senti- 
ment, we  beg  they  will  consider  whether  it  would  not  be 
best  to  choose  their  Deputies  so  soon  as  that  they  may  be 
down  here  by  the  20th  of  April  next ;  which  day  we 
take  the  liberty  of  proposing  to  you  as  proper  for  the  meet- 
ing of  the  Convention. 

We  forbear  urging  any  arguments  to  induce  your  con- 
currence, being  well  persuaded  you  are  fully  sensible  that 
the  happiness  of  this  Colony,  and  the  preservation  of  our 
rights  and  liberties  depend  on  our  acceding  to  the  general 
union,  and  observing  such  a  line  of  conduct  as  may  be  firm, 
as  well  as  temperate. 

By  order  of  the  Committee  : 

Isaac  Low,  Chairman. 


ELECTION  OF  DEPUTIES  TO   THE   CONVENTION  IN  NEW- 
YORK. 

New-York,  March  16,  1775. 

On  Monday,  the  6th  instant,  the  Freeholders  and  In- 
habitants of  this  City  and  County,  by  a  very  great  majori- 
ty, assented  to  the  following  mode  of  proceeding,  viz: — 
That  the  General  Committee  should  nominate  eleven  per- 
sons to  be,  on  Wednesday,  the  15th,  proposed  to  the  choice 
of  the  Freemen  and  Freeholders,  as  Deputies,  to  meet  on 
the  20th  of  April  such  Deputies  as  the  other  Counties 
might  elect,  and  join  with  them,  for  the  sole  purpose  of 
appointing  out  of  their  body  Delegates  for  the  next  Gene- 
ral Congress,  agreeable  to  the  recommendation  of  the  last. 
Accordingly  the  Committee  nominated  the  following  per- 
sons, viz :  Philip  Livingston,  John  Jay,  James  Duane, 
John  Alsop,  Isaac  Low,  Francis  Lewis,  Abraham  Wal- 
ton, Abraham  Brasher,  Alexander  McDougall,  Leonard 
Lispenard,  and  Isaac  Roosevelt. 

From  the  time  of  the  nomination  every  artifice  was  used, 
(by  the  same  party  who  have  constantly  exerted  their 
utmost  abilities  to  obstruct  and  disconcert  every  measure  of 
opposition  to  the  tyrannical  acts  of  the  British  Ministry,) 
in  order  to  prevent  the  election  of  the  Deputies  nominated 
by  the  Committee,  and  to  frustrate  the  design  of  a  Provin- 
cial Congress,  and  of  sending  Delegates  (at  least  with  full 
powers  from  the  whole  Province)  to  the  next  General 
Congress.  Before  the  day  of  election  a  great  number  of 
pieces  were  published  on  both  sides,  full  of  artifice  and 
specious  pretences  on  the  Ministerial  part,  and  of  sound 
weighty  argument  on  the  other.     Between  the  two,  the 


139 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &tc,  MARCH,  1775. 


140 


argument  and  the  views  of  each  party  were  pretty  well 
understood  at  the  day  of  decision,  when  the  votes  of  the  Free- 
men and  Freeholders  were  fairly  taken,  as  follows,  viz: 


For  the  Deputies.  Against  the  Deputies. 


Out  Ward, 

66 

Out  Ward, 

North  Ward, 

99 

North  Ward, 

36 

East  Ward, 

\-25 

East  Ward, 

22 

South  Ward, 

42 

South  Ward, 
West  Ward, 

23 

West  Ward, 

213 

23 

Dock  Ward, 

52 

Dock  Ward, 

32 

Montgomery  Ward, 

228 

Montgomery  Ward,  27 

825  163 
Besides  great  numbers  of  the  majority,  who,  finding 
their  votes  not  wanted,  did  not  vote. 

It  is  hoped  the  transactions  of  this  day  will  in  some  mea- 
sure restore  the  generality  of  the  people  to  the  good  opin- 
ion and  esteem  of  the  neighbouring  Colonies. 

Last  night  our  General  Committee  appointed  a  Sub- 
Committee  to  draw  up,  and  report  at  the  next  stated  meet- 
ing, a  state  of  the  facts  relative  to  the  landing  of  Goods 
out  of  the  Bcidah. 


New- York,  March  1G,  1775. 

Yesterday  polls  were  opened  in  the  different  Wards,  for 
the  election  of  eleven  Delegates  for  this  City,  to  meet 
Deputies  who  may  be  chosen  by  the  Counties  to  form  a 
Convention,  out  of  whom  to  elect  Delegates  for  the  next 
Congress  at  Philadelphia.  Of  those  who  voted  for  this 
measure,  it  may  with  truth  be  affirmed,  there  was  a  great 
proportion  who  did  it  because  there  was  no  alternative. 
The  disposition  of  our  fellow-citizens  is  in  favour  of  Dele- 
gates to  meet  the  sister  Colonies  in  Congress,  as  it  is  sup- 
posed that  their  principles  respecting  the  unhappy  situa- 
tion we  are  in,  with  relation  to  Great  Britain,  are  so  well 
known,  that  no  violent  or  unjustifiable  measures  will  be 
assented  to  on  their  part.  Sensible  that  the  people  were 
determined  to  send  Delegates,  it  was  the  art  of  those  who 
framed  the  question,  upon  which  the  poll  was  taken,  to 
state  it  in  sucli  a  manner  that  the  electors  might  be  led  to 
think  that  they  would  be  deprived  of  Delegates  unless 
they  pursued  the  mode  pointed  out  to  them,  for  when 
numbers  of  voters  demanded  that  their  votes  might  be  taken 
for  the  five  Delegates,  it  was  absolutely  refused.  Had  a 
poll  been  opened  upon  fair  principles,  stating  the  alterna- 
tive, concerning  which  the  division  of  sentiments  arose, 
there  is  no  doubt  but  the  old  five  Delegates  would  have 
been  elected  almost  unanimously.  When  the  warmth  of 
opposition  has  a  little  subsided,  and  those  generous,  candid, 
and  liberal  sentiments  are  suffered  to  prevail  which  have 
characterized  the  good  people  of  this  City,  they  will  see  who 
have  endeavoured  to  mislead  them ;  they  will  be  shocked  to 
think  that  they  have  espoused  a  measure  which  is  founded 
upon  depriving  a  very  great  number  of  their  fellow-citizens 
of  the  liberty  of  declaring  their  sentiments ;  and  they  will 
suspect  that  cause  which  would  require  such  a  conduct,  and 
those  leaders  who  could  adopt  it ;  they  will  be  alarmed 
when  they  consider  that  they  have  been  instrumental  in 
turning  out  those  very  Delegates,  of  whose  conduct  certain 
folks  pretend  to  be  such  admirers. 

They  will  see  that  all  this  is  a  scheme  to  supplant  some 
of  them,  and  to  introduce  into  the  Congress  a  man  who  has 
fomented  all  our  intestine  divisions  for  a  number  of  years 
past,  and  who,  in  the  course  of  the  last  year,  so  much  dis- 
turbed the  peace  of  this  City  by  his  presumptuous  attempts. 
TJiey  will  perceive  that  if  it  was  only  intended  to  have 
a  Provincial  Delegation,  five  Deputies  would  have  an- 
swered as  well  as  eleven  on  behalf  of  this  City,  for  they 
will  altogether  make  but  one  vote,  as  they  will  doubtless 
vote  by  Counties,  not  individually.  Consider,  then,  what 
dependance  can  be  placed  in  those  who  insidiously  pre- 
tended that  the  number  eleven  was  fixed  upon,  on  purpose 
that  the  six  might  have  an  opportunity  of  putting  in  the 
old  five  !  Consider  that  these  schemes  have  been  the  means 
of  depriving  us  of  a  Delegate,  whose  conduct  at  the  last 
Congress  was  equally  spirited  and  independent  with  any 
other  of  that  body,  and  in  all  probability  one  more  of  the 
old  Delegates  will  follow  the  same  example  ;  and  then 
reflect  what  you  have  gained  by  this  measure. 

A  Citizen. 


Philadelphia,  March  16,  1773. 

According  to  publick  notice,  the  subscribers  towards  a 
fund  for  establishing  an  American  Manufactory  of  Wool- 
lens, Linens,  and  Cottons,  met  in  Carpenters'  Hall,  on  the 
16th  of  March,  1775,  to  consider  of  a  plan  for  carrying  the 
same  into  execution.  Daniel  Roberdeau  being  chosen 
President,  opened  the  business  of  the  day  with  a  sensible 
and  elegant  speech,  pointing  out  the  advantages  of  estab- 
lishing the  aforesaid  Manufactories  in  this  Country.  The 
Company  afterwards  proceeded  to  the  election  of  Officers, 
when  the  following  gentlemen  were  chosen: — Treasurer, 
Joseph  Stiles;  Secretary,  James  Cannon;  Managers, 
Christopher  Marshall,  Richard  Humphreys,  Jacob  Wincy, 
Isaac  Gray,  Samuel  Wetherill,  Junior,  Christopher  Lud- 
wick,  Frederick  Kuhl,  Robert  S.  Jones,  Richard  Wells, 
Thomas  Tilbury,  James  Popham,  Isaac  Howell. 

The  business  of  the  day  being  finished,  the  Company 
unanimously  voted  their  thanks  to  the  President,  and  re- 
quested that  he  would  favour  them  with  a  copy  of  his 
Speech  for  publication,  which  he  politely  consented  to. 

A  Speech  delivered  in  Carpenters'  Hall,  March  \6th, 
before  the  Subscribers  towards  a  fund  for  establishing 
Manufactories  of  Woollen,  Cotton,  and  Linen,  in  the 
City  of  Philadelphia. 

Gentlemen  :  When  I  reflect  upon  the  extent  of  the 
subject  before  me,  and  consider  the  small  share  of  know- 
ledge 1  possess  of  it,  I  confess  I  rise  with  timidity  to  speak 
in  this  assembly ;  and  it  is  only  because  the  requests  of 
fellow-citizens  in  every  laudable  undertaking  should  always 
operate  with  the  force  of  commands,  that  1  have  prevailed 
upon  myself  to  execute  the  task  you  have  assigned  me. 

My  business,  upon  this  occasion,  is  to  lay  before  you  a 
few  thoughts  upon  the  necessity,  possibility,  and  advari- 
tages  of  establishing  Woollen,  Cotton,  and  Linen  Manu- 
factories among  us. 

The  necessity  of  establishing  these  Manufactories  is  ob- 
vious from  the  Association  of  the  Congress,  which  puts  a 
stop  to  the  importation  of  British  goods,  of  which  woollens, 
cottons,  and  linens  always  made  a  considerable  part.  So 
large  has  been  the  demand  for  these  articles,  and  so  very 
necessary  are  they  in  this  Country,  that  it  is  impossible  for 
us  to  clothe  ourselves  without  substituting  some  others  in 
their  room.  I  am  far  from  thinking  that  the  Non-Import- 
ation Agreement  will  be  so  transitory  a  thing  as  some  have 
supposed.  The  appearance  of  a  change  of  measures  in 
England  respecting  the  Colonies,  does  not  flow  from  a 
conviction  of  their  injustice.  The  same  arbitrary  Ministers 
continue  in  office,  and  the  same  arbitrary  favourites  con- 
tinue to  abuse  the  confidence  of  our  Sovereign.  Sudden 
conversion  should  be  trusted  with  caution,  especially  when 
they  have  been  brought  about  by  interest  or  fear.  I  shall 
think  the  liberties  of  America  established  at  an  easy  price 
by  a  two  or  three  years'  Non-Importation  Agreement.  By 
union  and  perseverance  in  this  mode  of  opposition  to  Great 
Britain,  we  shall  afford  a  new  phenomenon  in  the  history 
of  mankind,  and  furnish  posterity  with  an  example  to  teach 
them  that  peace,  with  all  the  rights  of  humanity  and  jus- 
tice, may  be  maintained  by  the  exertion  of  economical  as 
well  as  military  virtues.  We  shall,  moreover,  demonstrate 
the  falsehood  of  those  systems  of  Government  which  ex- 
clude patriotism  from  the  list  of  virtues,  and  show  that  we 
act  most  surely  for  ourselves,  when  we  act  most  disinter- 
estedly for  the  publick. 

The  possibility  of  establishing  Woollen,  Cotton,  and 
Linen  Manufactories  among  us,  is  plain,  from  the  success 
which  hath  attended  several  attempts  that  have  been  made 
for  that  purpose.  A  great  part  of  the  inhabitants  of  seve 
ral  of  the  Counties  in  this  Province  clothe  themselves 
entirely  with  woollens  and  linens  manufactured  in  their 
own  families.  Our  wool  is  equal  in  quality  to  the  wool  of 
several  European  Countries;  and  if  the  same  pains  were 
bestowed  in  the  culture  of  our  Sheep,  which  are  used  in 
England  and  Spain,  I  have  no  doubt  but  in  a  few  years  our 
wool  would  equal  the  wool  of  Segovia  itself.  Nor  will  there 
be  a  deficiency  in  the  quantity  of  wool  w  hich  will  lie  neces- 
sary for  us,  if  we  continue  to  adhere  to  the  Association  of  the 
Congress  as  strictly  as  we  have  done.  If  the  City  of  Phila- 
delphia consumes  20.000  Sheep  less  this  year  than  it  did  last, 
how  many  20,000  Sheep  may  we  suppose  will  be  saved 


141 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &ic,  MARCH,  1775. 


142 


throughout  the  whole  Province  ?  According  to  the  ordi- 
nary increase  in  the  breed  of  Sheep,  and  allowing  for  the 
additional  quantity  of  wool,  which  a  little  care  of  them  will 
produce,  1  think  1  could  make  it  appear  that  in  five  years 
there  will  be  wool  enougli  raised  in  the  Province  to  clothe 
die  whole  of  its  inhabitants.  Cotton  may  be  imported 
upon  such  terms  from  the  West-Indies  and  Southern  Colo- 
nies, as  to  enable  us  to  manufacture  thicksets,  calicoes, 
&lc,  at  a  much  cheaper  rate  than  they  can  be  imported 
from  Britain.  Considering  how  much  these  stuffs  are 
worn  by  those  classes  of  people  who  constitute  the  ma- 
jority of  the  inhabitants  of  our  Country,  the  encourage- 
ment of  the  Cotton  Manufactory  appears  to  be  an  object 
of  the  utmost  consequence.  I  cannot  help  suggesting  in 
this  place,  although  it  may  appear  foreign  to  our  subject, 
that  the  Trade  to  the  fVcst-Indits  and  Southern  Colonies 
for  cotton  would  create  such  a  commercial  union  with  the 
Middle  and  Northern  Colonies,  as  would  tend  greatly  to 
strengthen  that  political  union  which  now  subsists  between 
them.  I  need  say  nothing  of  the  facility  of  cultivating 
(lax,  nor  of  the  excellent  quality  of  the  linens  which  have 
been  already  manufactured  among  us.  1  shall  only  add, 
that  this  manufactory  may  be  carried  on  without  lessening 
the  value  of  that  trade  which  arises  from  the  exportation 
of  our  flaxseed  to  Ireland. 

I  cannot  help  laying  a  good  deal  of  stress  upon  the  pub- 
lick  spirit  of  my  countrymen,  which  removes  the  success 
of  these  Manufactories  beyond  a  bare  possibility,  and  seems 
to  render  it  in  some  measure  certain.  The  Resolves  of 
the  Congress  have  been  executed  with  a  fidelity  hardly 
known  to  laws  in  any  Country,  and  that  too  without  the 
assistance  of  fire  and  sword,  or  even  of  the  Civil  Magis- 
trate, and  in  some  places  in  direct  opposition  to  them 
all.  It  gives  me  the  utmost  pleasure  to  mention  here, 
that  our  Province  is  among  the  foremost  of  the  Colonies 
in  the  peaceable  mode  of  opposition  recommended  by  the 
Congress.  When  I  reflect  upon  the  temper  we  have  dis- 
covered in  the  present  controversy,  and  compare  it  with 
the  habitual  spirit  of  industry  and  economy  for  which  we 
are  celebrated  among  strangers,  I  know  not  how  to  esti- 
mate our  virtue  high  enough.  I  am  sure  no  objects  will 
appear  too  difficult,  nor  no  undertakings  too  expensive  for 
us  in  the  present  struggle.  The  sum  of  money  which  has 
been  already  subscribed  for  the  purpose  of  these  Manufac- 
tories, is  a  proof  that  I  am  not  too  sanguine  in  my  expect- 
ations from  this  Province. 

I  now  come  to  point  out  the  advantages  we  shall  de- 
rive from  establishing  the  Woollen,  Cotton,  and  Linen 
Manufactories  among  us.  The  first  advantage  1  shall 
mention  is,  we  shall  save  a  large  sum  of  money  annually 
in  our  Province.  The  Province  of  Pennsylvania  is  sup- 
posed to  contain  400,000  inhabitants.  Let  us  suppose 
that  only  50,000  of  these  are  clothed  with  the  woollens, 
cottons,  and  linens  of  Great  Britain,  and  that  the  price  of 
clothing  of  each  of  these  persons,  upon  an  average,  amounts 
to  Five  Pounds  sterling  a  year.  If  this  computation  be  just, 
then  the  sum  annually  saved  in  our  Province  by  the  manu- 
factory of  our  clothes,  will  amount  to  £250,000  sterling. 

Secondly :  Manufactories,  next  to  Agriculture,  are  the 
basis  of  the  riches  of  every  Country.  Cardinal  Ximenes 
is  remembered  at  this  clay  in  Spain,  more  for  the  improve- 
ment he  made  in  the  breed  of  Sheep,  by  importing  a  num- 
ber of  rams  from  Barbary,  than  for  any  other  services  he 
rendered  his  Country.  King  Edward  the  Fourth  and 
Queen  Elizabeth,  of  England,  are  mentioned  with  grati- 
tude by  historians  for  passing  Acts  of  Parliament  to  import 
a  number  of  Sheep  from  Spain;  and  to  this  mixture  of 
Spanish  with  English  Sheep,  the  wool  of  the  latter  owes 
its  peculiar  excellence  and  reputation  all  over  the  world. 
Louis  the  Fourteenth,  King  of  France,  knew  the  impor- 
tance of  a  Woollen  Manufactory  in  his  Kingdom,  and  in 
order  to  encourage  it  allowed  several  exclusive  privileges 
to  the  Company  of  Woollen  Traders  in  Paris.  The  effects 
of  this  Royal  patronage  of  this  Manufactory  have  been 
too  sensibly  felt  by  the  English,  who  have,  within  these 
thirty  or  forty  years,  had  the  mortification  of  seeing  the 
trade  up  the  Levant,  for  woollen  cloths,  in  some  measure 
monopolized  by  the  French.  It  is  remarkable  that  the 
riches  and  naval  power  of  France  have  increased  in  pro- 
portion to  this  very  lucrative  trade. 


Thirdly:  By  establishing  these  Manufactories  among  us, 
we  shall  employ  a  number  of  poor  people  in  our  City,  and 
that  too  in  a  way  most  agreeable  to  themselves,  and  least 
expensive  to  the  Company  ;  for,  according  to  our  plan,  the 
principal  part  of  the  business  will  be  carried  on  in  their 
own  houses.  Travellers  through  Spain  inform  us,  that  in 
the  Town  of  Segovia,  which  contains  60,000  inhabitants, 
there  is  not  a  single  beggar  to  be  seen.  This  is  attributed 
entirely  to  the  Woollen  Manufactory  which  is  carried  on  in 
the  most  extensive  manner  in  that  place,  affording  constant 
employment  to  the  whole  of  their  poor  people. 

Fourthly:  By  establishing  the  Woollen,  Cotton,  and  Linen 
Manufactories  in  this  Country,  we  shall  invite  manufac- 
turers from  every  part  of  Etirope,  particularly  from  Britain 
and  Ireland,  to  come  and  settle  among  us.  To  men  who 
want  money  to  purchase  lands,  and  who,  from  habits  of 
manufacturing,  are  undisciplined  to  agriculture,  the  prospect 
of  meeting  with  employment  as  soon  as  they  arrive  in  this 
Country,  in  a  way  they  have  been  accustomed  to,  would 
lessen  the  difficulties  of  emigration,  and  encourage  thou- 
sands to  come  and  settle  in  America.  If  they  increased 
our  riches  by  increasing  the  value  of  our  property,  and  if 
they  added  to  our  strength  by  adding  to  our  numbers  only, 
they  would  be  a  great  acquisition  to  us.  But  there  are 
higher  motives  which  should  lead  us  to  invite  strangers  to 
settle  in  this  Country.  Poverty,  with  its  other  evils,  has 
joined  with  it,  in  every  part  of  Europe,  all  the  miseries  of 
slavery.  America  is  now  the  only  asylum  for  liberty  in 
the  whole  world.  The  present  contest  with  Great  Britain 
was,  perhaps,  intended  by  the  Supreme  Being,  among  other 
wise  and  benevolent  purposes,  to  show  the  world  this 
asylum,  which,  from  its  remote  and  unconnected  situation 
with  the  rest  of  the  globe,  might  have  remained  a  secret 
for  ages.  By  establishing  manufactories,  we  stretch  forth 
a  hand  from  the  ark  to  invite  the  timid  manufacturers  to 
come  in.  It  might  afford  us  pleasure  to  trace  the  new 
sources  of  happiness  which  would  immediately  open  to  our 
fellow-creatures  from  their  settlement  in  this  Country. 
Manufactories  have  been  accused  of  being  unfriendly  to 
population.  I  believe  the  charge  should  fall  upon  slavery. 
By  bringing  manufacturers  into  this  land  of  liberty  and 
plenty,  we  recover  them  from  the  torpid  state  in  which 
they  existed  in  their  own  Country,  and  place  them  in  cir- 
cumstances which  enable  them  to  become  husbands  and 
fathers,  and  thus  we  add  to  the  general  tide  of  human  hap- 
piness. 

Fifthly  :  The  establishment  of  Manufactories  in  this 
Country,  by  lessening  our  imports  from  Great  Britain, 
will  deprive  European  luxuries  and  vices  of  those  vehicles 
in  which  they  have  been  transported  to  America.  The 
wisdom  of  the  Congress  cannot  be  too  much  admired,  in 
putting  a  check  to  them  both.  They  have  in  effect  said 
to  them,  "  Thus  far  shall  ye  go,  and  no  farther." 

Sixthly :  By  establishing  Manufactories  among  us,  we 
erect  an  additional  barrier  against  the  encroachments  of 
tyranny.  A  people  who  are  entirely  dependant  on  for- 
eigners for  food  or  clothes,  must  always  be  subject  to  them. 
I  need  not  detain  you  in  setting  forth  the  misery  of  holding 
property,  liberty  and  life  upon  the  precarious  will  of  our 
fellow-subjects  in  Britain.  I  beg  leave  to  add  a  thought 
in  this  place  which  has  been  but  little  attended  to  by  the 
writers  upon  this  subject,  and  that  is,  that  poverty,  confine- 
ment, and  death  are  trifling  evils  when  compared  with  that 
total  depravity  of  heart  which  is  connected  with  slavery. 
By  becoming  slaves  we  shall  lose  every  principle  of  vir- 
tue. We  shall  transfer  unlimited  obedience  from  our 
Maker  to  a  corrupted  majority  in  the  British  House  of 
Commons,  and  shall  esteem  their  crimes  the  certificates  of 
their  commission  to  govern  us.  We  shall  cease  to  look 
with  honour  upon  the  prostitution  of  our  wives  and  daugh- 
ters, by  those  civil  and  military  harpies  who  now  hover 
around  the  liberties  of  our  Country.  We  shall  cheerfully 
lay  them  both  at  their  feet.  We  shall  hug  our  chains. 
We  shall  cease  to  be  men.    We  shall  be  slaves. 

I  shall  now  consider  the  objections  which  have  been 
made  to  the  establishment  of  Manufactories  in  this  Country. 

The  first,  and  most  common  objection  to  Manufactories 
in  this  Country  is,  that  they  will  draw  off  our  attention 
from  Agriculture.  This  objection  derives  great  weight 
from  being  made  originally  by  the  Duke  of  Sully,  against 


143 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  Sic,  MARCH,  1775. 


144 


the  establishment  of  Manufactories  in  France.  But  the 
history  of  that  Country  shows  us,  that  it  is  more  founded  in 
speculation  than  fact.  France  has  become  opulent  and 
powerful  in  proportion  as  Manufactories  have  flourished  in 
her ;  and  if  Agriculture  has  not  kept  pace  with  her  Manu- 
factories, it  is  owing  entirely  to  that  ill-judged  policy  which 
forbade  the  exportation  of  groin.  I  believe  it  will  be 
found,  upon  inquiry,  that  a  greater  number  of  hands  have 
been  taken  from  the  plough,  and  employed  in  importing, 
retailing,  and  transporting  British  woollens,  cottons,  and 
linens,  than  would  be  sufficient  to  manufacture  as  much  of 
them  as  would  clothe  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  Province. 
There  is  an  endless  variety  in  the  geniuses  of  men ; 
and  it  would  be  to  preclude  the  exertion  of  the  faculties 
of  the  mind  to  confine  them  entirely  to  the  simple  arts 
of  agriculture.  Besides,  if  these  Manufactories  were  con- 
ducted as  they  ought  to  be,  two-thirds  of  the  labour  of 
them  will  be  carried  on  by  those  members  of  society  who 
cannot  be  employed  in  agriculture,  namely,  by  women  and 
children. 

A  second  objection  is,  that  we  cannot  manufacture 
cloths  so  cheap  here,  as  they  can  be  imported  from 
Britain.  It  has  been  the  misfortune  of  most  of  the  Manu- 
factories which  have  been  set  up  in  this  Country,  to  afford 
labour  to  journeymen  only  for  six  or  nine  months  in  the 
year,  by  which  means  their  wages  have  necessarily  been 
so  high  as  to  support  them  in  the  intervals  of  their  labour. 
It  will  be  found,  upon  inquiry,  that  those  Manufactories 
which  occupy  journeymen  the  whole  year,  are  carried  on 
at  as  cheap  a  rate  as  they  are  in  Britain.  The  expense 
of  manufacturing  cloth  will  be  lessened  from  the  great  share 
women  and  children  will  have  in  them  ;  and  1  have  the 
pleasure  of  informing  you  that  the  machine  lately  brought 
into  this  City  for  lessening  the  expense  of  time  and  hands 
in  spinning,  is  likely  to  meet  with  encouragement  from  the 
Legislature  of  our  Province.  In  a  word,  the  experiments 
which  have  been  already  made  among  us,  convince  us  that 
woollens  and  linens  of  all  kinds  may  be  made  and  bought 
as  cheap  as  those  imported  from  Britain;  and  1  believe 
every  one  who  has  tried  the  former,  will  acknowledge  that 
they  wear  twice  as  well  as  the  latter. 

A  third  objection  to  Manufactories  is,  that  they  destroy 
health,  and  are  hurtful  to  population.  The  same  may  be 
said  of  Navigation,  and  many  other  arts  which  are  essen- 
tial to  the  happiness  and  glory  of  a  State.  I  believe  that 
many  of  the  diseases  to  which  the  manufacturers  in  Britain 
are  subject,  are  brought  on,  not  so  much  by  the  nature  of 
their  employment,  but  by  their  unwholesome  diet,  damp 
houses,  and  other  bad  accommodations,  each  of  which 
may  be  prevented  in  America. 

A  fourth  objection  to  establishing  Manufactories  in  this 
Country,  is  a  political  one.  The  liberties  of  America  have 
been  twice,  and  we  hope  will  be  a  third  time  preserved  by 
a  non-importation  of  British  manufactures.  By  manufac- 
turing our  own  clothes  we  deprive  ourselves  of  the  only 
weapon  by  which  we  can  hereafter  effectually  oppose  Great 
Britain.  Before  we  answer  this  objection,  it  becomes  us 
to  acknowledge  the  obligations  we  owe  to  our  Merchants 
for  consenting,  so  cheerfully,  to  a  suspension  of  trade  with 
Britain.  From  the  benefits  we  have  derived  from  their 
virtue,  it  would  be  unjust  to  insinuate  that  there  ever  will 
be  the  least  danger  of  trusting  the  defence  of  our  liberties 
to  them  ;  but  I  would  wish  to  guard  against  placing  one 
body  of  men  only  upon  that  forlorn  hope  to  which  a  non- 
importation agreement  must  always  expose  them.  For 
this  purpose  I  would  fill  their  stores  with  the  manufactures 
of  American  looms,  and  thus  establish  their  trade  upon  a 
foundation  that  cannot  be  shaken.  Here,  then,  we  derive 
an  answer  to  the  last  objection  that  was  mentioned  ;  for  in 
proportion  as  manufactures  flourish  in  America,  they  must 
decline  in  Britain,  and  it  is  well  known  that  nothing  but 
her  Manufactories  have  rendered  her  formidable  in  all  our 
contests  with  her.  These  are  the  foundations  of  all  her 
riches  and  power.  These  have  made  her  Merchants 
Nobles,  and  her  Nobles  Princes.  These  carried  her  so 
triumphantly  through  the  late  expensive  war;  and  these  are 
the  support  of  a  power  more  dangerous  to  the  liberties  of 
America  than  her  Fleets  and  Armies — I  mean  the  power 
of  corruption.    I  am  not  one  of  those  vindictive  patriots 


who  exult  in  the  prospect  of  the  decay  of  the  Manufacto- 
ries of  Britain.  I  can  forgive  her  late  attempts  to  enslave 
us,  in  the  memory  of  our  once  mutual  freedom  and  hap- 
piness. And  should  her  Liberty,  her  Arts,  her  Fleets 
and  Armies,  and  her  Empire,  ever  be  interred  in  Bri- 
tain, I  hope  they  will  all  arise  in  British  garments  only  in 
America. 


JOURNAL  OF  THE  PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  GENERAL  COM- 
MITTEE OF  THE  CITY  OF  NEW-YORK. 

Committee  Chamber,  March  16,  1775. 
The  Committee  met,  by  adjournment,  this  evening  at  the 
Exchange :  Present, 

Isaac  Low,  Chairman,  Joseph  Totten,  Comfort  Sands, 

John  Jay,  Thomas  Ivers,  John  Berrian, 

Isaac  Sears,  Hercules  Mulligan,       Nicholas  Roosevelt, 

Alexander  McDougall,  John  Anthony,  Edward  Fleming, 

John  Broome,  Theophilus  Anthony,    Frederick  Jay, 

Abraham  P.  Lott,        William  Goforth,  George  Janeway, 

Abraham  Duryee,        Francis  Basset,  Lindley  Murray, 

Francis  Lewis,  Jeremiah  Piatt,  Lancaster  Burling. 

John  Lasher, 

Mr.  Lewis,  from  the  Sub-Committee  appointed  to  state 
the  case  of  Messrs.  Robert  Murray  and  John  Murray 
respecting  their  having  landed  Goods  from  on  board  the 
Ship  Beulah,  reports  a  Letter  from  the  Committee  of 
Elizabethtown  to  this  Committee,  which  Letter  is  in  the 
words  following,  viz: 

Elizabethtown,  Friday,  12  o'clock  P.  M.,  March  19,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  In  consequence  of  the  information  received 
from  Captain  Sears  relative  to  the  suspicion  that  some  part 
of  the  Cargo  of  the  Ship  Beulah  had  been  unladed  before 
she  quitted  this  coast,  the  Committee  of  Observation  of 
this  Town  met  this  evening,  and  made  inquiry  respecting 
the  affair;  and  thereupon  have  to  inform  you,  that  it  ap- 
pears to  them  that  a  Boat  belonging  to  this  Town  did,  last 
Monday  morning,  sail  from  New-York  to  San  dy- Hook ; 
that  on  Tuesday  evening  she  returned  here.  Two  of  the 
witnesses  examined  were  the  boatmen,  and  the  person 
who  we  suspect  engaged  the  Boat,  who  refused  to  be 
sworn ;  but  from  their  behaviour,  and  what  they  said  on 
examination,  and  other  circumstances,  we  believe  that  it 
was  the  Boat  seen  to  be  hovering  about  the  Beulah,  and 
took  Mr.  John  Murray  out  of  the  Ship,  and  that  Goods 
from  said  Ship  were  landed  by  the  said  Boat  at  Staten- 
Jsland.  We  are  not  able  at  present  to  furnish  you  with 
any  further  particulars.  The  Committee  will  make  further 
inquiry  into  this  matter,  and  if  any  thing  further  appears, 
will  give  you  immediate  information  ;  in  the  mean  time  we 
thought  proper  to  give  the  above  early  intelligence,  to 
furnish  you  with  a  clue  in  all  probability  of  making  mere 
important  discoveries  on  Staten-Island ,  where  we  think 
the  Goods  were  undoubtedly  landed,  at  the  East  Ends,  or 
in  the  Kills.    Signed  by  order  of  the  Committee : 

Jonathan  Hampton,  Chairman. 

To  the  Committee  of  Observation  of  New-  York. 

The  said  Sub-Committee  further  report  another  Letter 
to  this  Committee,  from  the  Committee  of  Elizabethtoivn, 
which  is  in  the  words  following,  viz: 

Elizabethtown,  March  11,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  The  Committee  of  Observation  of  this 
Town  have  this  day  used  their  endeavours  to  make  a  fur- 
ther discovery  relating  to  the  unlading  part  of  the  Cargo 
of  the  Ship  Beulah,  but  are  not  able  to  give  you  the  infor- 
mation they  desire.  Samuel  Lee,  a  boatman  of  this  Town, 
employed  and  accompanied  by  Ichalod  B.  Barnct,  Esq., 
(son-in-law  to  Robert  Murray?)  appear,  from  very  strong 
circumstances,  to  have  been  the  persons  concerned  in  that 
affair,  who  went  from  New-  York  on  Monday  last  to  the  Ship. 

We  have  had  Lee  before  us.  He  appears  greatly  per- 
plexed, but  cannot  be  persuaded  to  give  any  clear  infor- 
mation of  the  matter,  he  being  under  an  apprehension  that 
he,  by  that  means,  may  be  the  ruin  of  some  particular  per- 
sons in  New-York.  The  said  Barnct  was  also  before  us, 
but  refused  to  answer  the  questions  proposed  to  him  ;  he 
only  offered  to  swear  (if  it  would  be  any  satisfaction  to  us) 
that  no  Goods  from  the  Beulah  were  landed  at  this  Town. 


145 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  fcc,  MARCH,  1773 


146 


which,  however,  we  did  not  accept.  And  there  is  reason 
to  believe  that  Lee  would  have  given  information,  had  it 
not  been  for  said  Barnet,  who,  it  appears,  has  prevented 
him  from  making  the  desired  discovery. 

We  have  only  to  add,  that  the  Boat  employed  on  this 
occasion  is  the  property  of  Isaac  Woodruff,  Esq.,  who,  it 
clearly  appears,  was  perfectly  innocent,  and  knew  nothing 
of  the  affair. 

Signed  by  order  of  the  Committee  : 

Jonathan  Hampton,  Chairman. 

To  the  Committee  of  Observation  of  New-York. 

The  Sub-Committee  also  report,  that  on  the  same  even- 
ing, and  before  this  Committee  had  received  any  further 
evidence  respecting  this  matter,  Messrs.  Murrays  volun- 
tarily produced  to  this  Committee,  at  their  meeting  on  the 
13th  March,  instant,  a  Letter  in  the  words  following: 

To  the  General  Committee  for  the  City  and  County  of 
New-York.  : 

Gentlemen  :  Having  been  disappointed  in  our  design 
of  reshipping  the  Cargo  of  the  Ship  Beulah  (lately  arrived 
from  London)  in  another  bottom,  by  which  we  were  great 
sufferers,  and  though  we  then  conceived  that  such  our 
design,  if  executed,  would  have  been  a  compliance  with 
the  Resolution  of  the  Congress;  we  acknowledge  that, 
to  alleviate  in  some  measure  the  great  loss  we  sustained, 
we  have  been  induced  to  land  a  small  part  of  her  Cargo ; 
and  notwithstanding  we  are  persuaded  that  it  would  be 
exceedingly  difficult,  if  not  impossible,  to  obtain  full  and 
sufficient  evidence  of  the  fact,  and  that  the  Goods  are 
secured  in  a  place  of  safety  where  they  cannot  be  disco- 
vered, yet.  upon  mature  reflection,  and  with  a  view  to 
satisfy  the  publick  and  this  Committee,  as  well  as  to  pre- 
vent the  trouble  of  any  further  inquiries  upon  this  subject, 
we  are  led  to  make  this  declaration,  and  to  acknowledge 
that  we  are  sorry  for  the  imprudent  step  we  have  taken, 
and  that  we  do  condemn  the  same  as  an  unjustifiable  mea- 
sure ;  and  as  a  further  proof  of  our  willingness  to  conform 
to  the  Resolution  of  the  Congress,  as  far  as  is  now  in  our 
power,  we  do  hereby  engage  to  reship  all  the  said  Goods, 
according  to  the  tenour  of  the  Association,  and  to  give  the 
Committee  full  and  satisfactory  proof  thereof,  within  seven 
days  from  this  time. 

Dated  13th  March,  1775.  Robert  Murray, 

John  Murray. 

And  that  they  did  then  offer  to  make  a  full  and  ample 
confession  of  every  fact  relative  to  the  unloading  Goods  from 
the  Beulah,  and  to  deliver  to  the  Committee  at  their  then 
next  meeting,  a  full  state  of  the  case,  under  their  oath  and 
affirmation. 

The  said  Sub-Committee  further  report,  that  Messrs.  J. 
and  R.  Murray  did  accordingly  deliver  a  statement  of  that 
transaction,  which  is  in  the  words  following,  viz : 

Inventory  of  Goods  taken  out  of  the  Ship  Beulah,  at 
Sandy- Hook. 
Eighty-four  bolts  of  Russia  Duck. 
Twenty  pieces  of  Raven  Duck. 
Two  hundred  and  forty  packs  of  Pins. 
Five  bales  of  Pepper,  two  of  which  are  in  hhds. 
Sixty-five  bolts  Oznaburghs. 
Ten  pieces  Blue  Strouds. 
Fourteen  pieces  Irish  Linen. 
Six  pieces  White  Hessen. 
Eleven  pieces  Irish  Sheeting. 
One  paper  bundle  directed  to  Henry  Van  Vleck. 
One  bundle  Straw,  supposed  a  Case-maker's  Cushear. 
One  small  box  of  Books,  Papers,  &.c. 
Wrapper  for  the  Strouds. 
With  wrappers  for  said  Goods. 

City  of  New-York,  ss. 

John  Murray,  of  the  City  of  New-York,  Merchant, 
being  duly  sworn,  saith,  that  the  above  is  a  full,  just,  and 
true  inventory  of  all  the  Goods  which  were  lately  taken 
out  of  the  Ship  Beulah  at  Sandy-Hook,  by  the  deponent, 
and  were  by  him  landed  at  Elizabethtown  in  Xeiv-Jersey. 
That  the  deponent  did,  yesterday,  voluntarily  make  an 
acknowledgment  to  the  Committee  of  Elizabethtown  afore- 
said, that  he  had  so  taken  and  landed  the  said  Goods, 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii.  10 


and  did  this  day  deliver  the  whole  of  said  Goods  to  the 
said  Committee,  who  took  the  same  into  their  custody  and 
possession ;  where  he  believes  the  same  now  are.  That 
the  Boat  in  which  the  said  Goods  were  taken  out  of  the 
said  Ship  belonged  to  Isaac  Woodruff,  which  the  depo- 
nent hired  for  the  purpose,  of  Samuel  Lee,  who  was  mas- 
ter of  the  said  Boat.  That  Mr.  Woodruff  did  not  know 
(as  this  deponent  believes)  for  what  purpose  the  said  Boat 
was  hired,  nor  did  the  deponent  inform  the  said  Mr.  Let 
on  what  business  be  wanted  the  said  Boat ;  nor  did  he 
appear  to  know  at  the  time  the  Boat  was  hired,  that  he 
was  employed  on  any  business  contrary  to  the  Association. 
That  the  agreement  with  the  said  Lee  was  only  to  go  with 
the  Boat  where  he  was  directed,  and  to  do  what  he  was 
bid.  That  Mr.  Ichabod  Barntt,  of  Elizabethtown,  and 
Samuel  Reade,  of  this  City,  went  with  the  said  Samuel 
Lee  in  the  said  Boat  down  to  the  said  Ship,  at  the  time 
aforesaid.  That  Mr.  Barnet  was  acquainted  with  the 
design  of  the  Boat's  going  down  to  the  said  Ship  ;  but  the 
deponent  does  not  know  that  Mr.  Reade  was  previously 
acquainted  with  such  design,  though  at  the  Vessel  he  assisted 
in  taking  the  said  Goods  out  by  the  direction  of  this  depo- 
nent, in  whose  store  he  is  an  assistant.  That  John  Gra- 
ham, clerk  to  this  deponent  and  his  partner,  was  on  board 
the  Ship  with  the  deponent,  at  the  time  when  the  Goods 
were  taken  out,  but  did  not  see  the  Goods  taken  out,  being 
(as  the  deponent  believes)  asleep  at  that  time  in  the 
cabin;  and  that  his  business  on  board  was  to  copy  invoices 
and  letters ;  neither  does  this  deponent  know  or  believe 
that  the  said  Graham  ever  heard  any  conversation  between 
the  deponent  and  any  other  person  respecting  the  taking 
out  the  said  Goods.  That  when  the  Goods  were  on  board 
the  Boat,  the  deponent,  and  all  the  other  persons  above- 
mentioned,  proceeded  with  her  for  Elizabethtown,  but 
stopped  at  Staten-Island,  where  they  all  went  on  shore  ; 
and  Graham  and  Reade  took  passage  from  thence  in  the 
Staten-Island  Ferry-Boat  for  Neiv-  York ;  and  the  depo- 
nent, with  Lee  and  Mr.  Barnet,  proceeded  from  Staten- 
Island  to  Elizabethtown  in  the  said  Boat,  where  all  the 
said  Goods  were  landed  by  them,  and  put  into  Mr.  Ichabod 
Barnet' s  store ;  that  the  said  Ichabod  Barnet  had  no  in- 
terest in  the  said  Goods,  but  what  he  did  in  the  said  busi- 
ness was  merely  at  the  request  of  this  deponent  and  his 
said  partner,  and  the  deponent  believes  with  an  intention 
entirely  to  oblige  them.  That  while  the  Ship  lay  at  the 
watering-place,  the  Captain  and  this  deponent  took  into 
Kipp's  small  sailing-boat  sundry  small  articles,  the  princi- 
pal of  which  the  deponent  believes  were  presents,  but 
does  not  know  the  particulars.  That  the  deponent  at  the 
same  time  took  into  the  said  little  Boat,  two  small  Cheeses, 
about  two  hundred  Lemons  and  Oranges,  and  a  dozen  and 
nine  bottles  of  Beer,  and  about  two  bushels  of  Potatoes  for 
the  use  of  the  deponent  and  his  brother,  all  which  were 
brought  up  in  the  said  Boat  by  this  deponent  and  Captain 
Bussell ;  and  the  Cheeses,  and  the  other  aftermentioned 
articles,  except  the  Beer,  were  presents  from  the  Captain. 
That  in  the  whole  of  this  transaction,  so  far  as  respects  the 
delivery  of  the  Goods  from  on  board  the  Ship  at  the  Hook, 
Captain  Bussell  acted  by  the  order  and  direction  of  this 
deponent  and  his  partner,  having  no  interest  in  the  Goods 
so  delivered.  And  this  deponent  further  saith,  that  he 
neither  knows  nor  believes  that  any  Goods  were  taken  out 
of  the  said  Ship  after  her  arrival  here,  nor  since  her  sailing 
from  Sandy-Hook,  except  the  Baggage  belonging  to  some 
passengers,  and  except  the  Goods  herein  before  enumera- 
ted and  mentioned ;  nor  that  any  other  persons  than  those 
above-mentioned,  had  any  agency  or  concern  in  taking  out 
or  landing  the  said  Goods,  except  the  Ship's  crew,  and 
except  also  one  Marsh,  who,  at  Elizabethtown,  accident- 
ally passing  by,  was  employed  to  assist  in  landing  the 
same  ;  but  the  deponent  believes  he  did  not  know  where 
the  Goods  came  from.    And  further  saith  not. 

John  Murray. 

Sworn  the  loth  day  of  March,  1775,  before  me, 

Andrew  Gautier. 

City  of  New-York,  ss. 

Robert  Murray,  of  the  said  City,  being  duly  affirmed 
according  to  law,  doth  declare  and  affirm,  that  so  far  forth 
as  he  is  acquainted  with  the  facts  contained  in  the  forego- 
ing Deposition,  the  same  are  true  ;  and  that  he  neither 


147 


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148 


knows  nor  believes  that  any  more  or  other  Goods,  or 
things  were  taken  out  of  the  said  Ship  Beulah,  since  her 
arrival  here,  than  what  are  specified  in  the  foregoing  De- 
position ;  and  that  he  believes  no  other  person  to  have 
been  concerned  in  the  said  business,  except  those  men- 
tioned in  this  Deposition.  Robert  Murray. 

Affirmed  the  15th  March,  1775,  before  me, 

Andrew  Gautier. 

The  said  Sub-Committee  further  report,  that  the  said 
Messrs.  Robert  and  John  Murray  did  write  a  Letter  to 
this  Committee,  accompanying  the  said  state  of  the  case ; 
which  Letter  is  in  the  words  following : 

To  the  General  Committee  for  the  City  and  County  of 
New-York  : 

Gentlemen  :  The  annexed  Depositions  contain  as  full 
and  candid  an  account  of  the  transaction  relative  to  the 
landing  the  Goods  from  the  Ship  Beulah,  as  we  are  able 
to  give ;  in  the  doing  of  which  we  have  studied  to  give 
the  Committee,  and  our  fellow-citizens,  the  utmost  satis- 
faction we  are  capable  of. 

John  Murray  being  obliged  to  go  to  Elizabethtown  to 
take  an  inventory  of  the  Goods,  found  the  Committee 
then  sitting,  and  conceived  it  to  be  his  duty,  as  the  Goods 
were  within  their  jurisdiction,  to  give  them  notice  thereof, 
and  to  make  a  full  acknowledgment  to  them:  upon  doing 
which,  they  took,  with  his  consent,  possession  of  the  Goods 
as  mentioned  in  the  affidavit. 

We  still  declare  our  readiness  to  reship  the  said  Goods 
as  nearly  as  is  now  in  our  power,  agreeable  to  the  tenour 
of  the  Association,  or  to  do  otherwise  with  them,  as  die 
Committee  of  Elizabethtown  shall  think  proper  to  inti- 
mate or  direct ;  and  that  we  are  also  ready  to  give  this 
Committee  any  further  satisfaction  respecting  the  said 
Goods,  that  they  may  recommend.  Being  desirous  further 
to  testify  the  sense  we  have  of  the  imprudent  measure  we 
have  taken,  as  well  as  our  concern  for  the  trouble  and 
uneasiness  it  has  given  our  fellow-citizens,  we  would  wish 
to  make  such  further  satisfaction  to  the  publick  as  might 
be  most  agreeable  to  them  ;  and  therefore  do  hereby  cheer- 
fully engage  to  give  the  sum  of  Two  Hundred  Pounds 
towards  repairing  the  hospital  in  this  City,  lately  destroyed 
by  fire. 

We  are,  gentlemen,  very  respectfully,  your  assured 
friends,  Robert  Murray, 

John  Murray. 

New-York,  March  15,  1775. 

The  said  Sub-Committee  further  report  another  Letter 
from  the  Committee  of  Elizabethtown,  enclosing  an  Affi- 
davit of  Samuel  Lee;  which  Letter  and  Affidavit  are  in 
the  words  following,  viz : 

Elizibethtown,  March  14,  1775. 

Sir:  Enclosed  I  send  you  the  Affidavit  of  Samuel  Lee, 
boatman,  relative  to  the  unlading  part  of  the  Cargo  of  the 
Ship  Beulah,  which  needs  no  comment. 

I  am,  however,  particularly  desired  by  our  Committee, 
earnestly  to  request  of  your  Committee  to  protect  Mr. 
Lee,  as  far  as  lies  in  their  power,  from  any  insult  on 
account  of  this  affair.  He  is  a  person  well  known  here 
to  be  of  good  character,  and  who,  by  his  honesty  and  in- 
dustry, has  justly  acquired  the  esteem  of  all  the  inhabitants 
of  this  Town  ;  and  it  is  the  opinion  of  our  Committee  he 
was  unwarily  led  to  act  the  part  he  did,  as  will,  in  part, 
appear  by  his  Affidavit.  I  will  only  add,  that  we  should 
be  glad  that  whenever  the  Affidavit  shall  be  read,  this 
Letter  may  be  read  also. 

By  order  of  the  Committee : 

Jonathan  Hampton,  Chairman. 

New-Jersey,  Borough  of  Elizabeth,  ss. 

Samuel  Lte,  of  Elizabethtown,  boatman,  being  duly 
sworn  on  the  Holy  Evangelists  of  Almighty  God,  deposeth 
and  saith,  That  on  Sunday  the  5th  instant,  he  (at  the 
request  of  Ichabod  B.  Barnet,  Esquire)  sailed  from  Eliza- 
bethtown aforesaid,  to  New-York,  in  the  Boat  or  Sloop  he 
usually  goes  in,  the  said  Barnet  going  as  a  hand  with  him  ; 
that  he  arrived  there  the  same  evening;  that  while  they 
were  on  their  passage,  said  Barnet  informed  this  depo- 
nent that  he  must  make  haste  to  unlade  his  Boat  as  soon  as 
he  should  arrive  at  New-  York,  for  that  a  Vessal  was  arrived 


at  the  Hook  from  the  West-Indies,  and  that  he  wanted 
this  deponent  to  go  with  him  witli  his  Boat,  and  take 
some  Goods  out  of  her ;  that  said  Boat  was  unloaded  at 
New-York  on  Monday  morning,  and  immediately  thereaf- 
ter this  deponent,  and  the  said  Barnet,  sailed  with  the  said 
Boat  for  Sandy-Hook ;  that  at  the  dusk  of  the  evening  of 
the  same  day  they  came  along-side  of  a  Ship,  which  this 
deponent  believes  was  the  Beulah,  and  about  eight  o'clock 
he  was  told  he  might  go  to  bed,  which  he  accordingly  did, 
and  went  to  sleep.  About  twelve,  was  awakened,  and 
desired  to  put  off  from  said  Ship,  and  make  sail,  which 
accordingly  was  done ;  that  he  saw  the  said  Barnet,  with 
Mr.  John  Murray,  and  one  Graham,  his  clerk,  were  then 
on  board  his  Boat ;  that  on  Tuesday  morning  they  touched 
on  Stat  en-Island,  where  Mr.  Graham  landed,  but  no  Goods 
were  landed  there;  that  on  Wednesday  morning,  about  one 
o'clock,  they  came  along-side  the  store  of  said  Barnet,  at 
Elizabcthtotvn,  where  the  said  John  Murray,  Ichabod  B. 
Barnet,  and  this  deponent,  landed  and  stored  in  the  said 
Barnet' s  store,  as  near  as  he  can  remember,  the  following 
Goods,  to  wit :  a  small  bale,  a  box  about  three  feet  long, 
one  box  about  a  foot  square,  the  contents  of  which  are 
unknown  to  this  deponent ;  also  a  quantity  of  Sail  Duck,  a 
number  of  bolts  of  Oznaburghs,  about  half  a  dozen  pieces  of 
Linen,  and  some  pieces  of  Linen  Cloth,  which  this  depo- 
nent supposed  to  be  Drilling;  which  Goods,  in  the  whole, 
this  deponent  thinks  were  in  quantity  about  one  ton  and  a 
half,  or  not  exceeding  two  tons.  And  this  deponent  saith, 
that  said  Goods  must  have  been  taken  out  of  said  Ship,  and 
put  on  board  said  Boat,  while  he  was  below  as  aforesaid,  as 
there  were  no  Goods  on  board  his  Boat  when  he  left  New- 
York  to  go  to  said  Ship ;  and  further  the  deponent  saith,  that 
he  did  not  sleep  so  sound  but  that  he  heard  the  noise  of  peo- 
ple working  upon  the  deck,  and  that  when  he  was  called 
up  as  aforesaid,  and  had  come  upon  deck,  he  perceived 
the  hatches  of  his  Boat  open,  and  the  said  Goods  then 
lying  in  the  hatchway.  And  further  the  deponent  saith 
not.  Samuel  Lee. 

Sworn  at  Elizabethtown,  this  13th  day  of  March,  1775, 
before  me,  John  Blanchard,  Alderman. 

Which  Report  being  read, 

Resolved,  That  this  Committee  do  approve  thereof:  and 
Ordered,  That  the  same  be  published  agreeable  to  the 
directions  of  the  Eleventh  Article  of  the  Association. 
By  order  of  the  Committee : 

Isaac  Low,  Chairman. 


TO  THE  INHABITANTS  OF  NEW-YORK. 

Now- York,  March  16,  1775. 

Beloved  Countrymen  :  Let  us  read,  hear,  and  endea- 
vour rightly  to  understand  the  subsequent  passages  and  in- 
junctions of  the  most  Holy  Bible,  that  divinely  perfect,  infal- 
lible, and  eternal  rule  of  all  our  voluntary  acts  and  moral 
behaviour.  Read,  heard  rightly,  fully  understood,  and  with 
exact  punctuality  obeyed,  they  may,  for  aught  any  mortal 
knows  to  the  reverse,  by  a  divine  benediction  operate  pow- 
erfully, and  contribute  much  to  the  restoration  of  that  union 
and  harmony  between  Great  Britain  and  her  American 
Colonies,  so  essentially  requisite  to  promote  the  prosperity, 
welfare,  and  felicity  of  the  whole  English  Empire  ;  and, 
therefore,  so  very  ardently  wished  and  longed  for  hy  all  good 
Protestant,  loyal  subjects  of  our  very  gracious  Sovereign, 
and  most  august  Monarch,  King  George  the  Third. 

The  texts  referred  to,  and  recommended  to  a  candid 
perusal,  and  attentive,  exact  deliberation,  are  these: 

Exodus  xxii.  28 :  Thou  shalt  not  revile  the  gods,  nor 
curse  the  ruler  of  thy  people.  See  also  Math.  xxii.  from 
the  17th  to  the  21st,  inclusive.  The  words  run  thus,  ver- 
batim :  Tell  us,  therefore,  what  thinkest  thou  ?  Is  it  law- 
ful to  give  tribute  unto  Casar,  or  not  ?  But  Jesus  per- 
ceived their  weakness,  and  said,  why  tempt  ye  me,  ye 
hypocrites  ?  Show  me  the  tribute  money.  And  they 
brought  unto  him  a  penny  ;  and  he  saith  unto  them,  whose 
is  this  image  and  superscription?  They  say  unto  him, 
Cesar's.  Then  saith  he  unto  them,  render  therefore  unto 
Cresar  the  things  which  are  Ciesar's,  and  unto  God  the 
things  that  are  God's.  Also,  Rom. xiii.  1 — 8  :  Let  every  soul 
he  subject  unto  the  higher  powers.  For  there  is  no  power 
but  of  God ;  the  powers  that  be  are  ordained  of  God. 


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CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775. 


150 


Whosoever,  therefore,  resisteth  the  power,  resisteth  the 
ordinance  of  God.  And  (note  well)  they  that  resist 
shall  receive  unto  themselves  damnation :  For  rulers  are 
not  a  terrour  to  good  works,  but  to  the  evil.  Wilt  thou 
not  be  afraid  of  the  power?  Do  that  which  is  good, 
and  thou  slialt  have  praise  of  the  same :  for  he  is  the 
Minister  of  God  to  thee  for  good.  But  if  thou  do  that 
which  is  evil,  be  afraid,  for  he  beareth  not  the  sword  in 
vain  :  for  he  is  the  Minister  of  God,  a  revenger,  to  execute 
wrath  upon  him  that  doeth  evil.  Wherefore,  ye  must  needs 
be  subject,  not  only  for  wrath,  but  also  for  conscience 
sake.  For  this  cause  pay  ye  tribute  also ;  for  they  are 
God's  Ministers,  attending  continually  upon  this  very  thing. 
Render  therefore  to  all  their  dues  ;  tribute  to  whom  tribute 
is  due  ;  custom  to  whom  custom  ;  fear  to  whom  fear ;  hon- 
our to  whom  honour.  Owe  no  man  any  thing  ;  but  to  love 
one  another.  For  he  that  loveth  another  hath  fulfilled  the 
law.  2  Peter  ii.  13,  14  :  Submit  yourselves  to  every  ordi- 
nance of  men  for  the  Lord's  sake ;  whether  it  be  to  the 
King  as  supreme,  or  unto  Governours,  as  unto  them  that 
are  sent  by  him  for  the  punishment  of  evil  doers,  and  for 
the  praise  of  them  that  do  well.  Prov.  xx.  2:  The  fear 
of  the  King  is  as  the  roaring  of  the  lion  ;  whoso  provoketh 
him  to  anger,  sinneth  against  his  soul.    Be  just,  be  free. 


New-York,  March  20,  1775. 

Mr.  Holt:  In  Rivington's  Gazetteer  of  last  week,  I 
saw  a  collection  of  Scripture  texts  adduced  to  countenance 
the  doctrines  of  passive  obedience  and  non-resistance.  This 
attempt  reminded  me  of  Satan's  quoting  Scripture  to  en- 
courage presumption  ;  and  indeed  absolute  passive  obedi- 
ence and  non-resistance  in  all  cases,  is  as  contrary  to  the 
word  of  God,  as  presumption.  That  your  readers  may  be 
convinced  of  this,  I  here  furnish  you  with  the  following 
texts  of  Scripture,  which  I  desire  you  would  publish  the 
first  opportunity. 

Exodus  i.  15 — 20:  The  Egyptian  midwives  disobeyed 
the  cruel  order  of  their  King,  to  kill  the  male  infants  of  the 
Israelites,  and  for  this  generous  and  humane  refusal,  they 
were  signally  blessed  of  the  Lord.  The  Israelites,  with 
reason,  disobeyed  the  inhuman  mandate  of  their  Monarch. 
1  Sam.  xiv.  15.  And  his  footman  justly  disobeyed  him. 
Also,  (1  Sam.  xxii.  17,)  Mordecai,  Shadrach,  Mtschach, 
and  Abcdncgo.  The  Prophet  Daniel,  and  the  Apostles 
disobeyed  the  unlawful  commands  of  Kings  and  Magis- 
trates. Compare  Esther  iii.  1 — 9;  Daniel  iii.  15 — 18; 
Daniel  vi.  7—10;  Acts  iv.  18—20;  Acts  v.  27—29. 
From  these  quotations,  it  appears  that  when  resistance  to 
the  orders  of  Magistrates  is  forbidden  in  Scripture,  it  is 
meant  of  resistance  to  just  and  legal  orders.  To  be  con- 
vinced that  oppression,  tyranny,  and  unrighteous  acts  of 
Government,  are  odious  to  the  Supreme  Being,  consider 
the  following  texts :  2  Sam.  xxiii.  3  :  He  that  ruleth  over 
man  must  be  just,  ruling  in  the  fear  of  God.  Jer.  xxx. 
20 :  I  will  punish  all  that  oppress  my  people.  Isaiah  x.  1 : 
Wo  unto  them  that  decree  unrighteous  decrees,  and  that 
write  grievousness,  which  they  have  prescribed  to  turn  aside 
the  needy  from  judgment,  and  to  take  away  the  right  from 
the  poor  of  my  people.  Ezck.  xiv.  9 :  Thus  saith  the 
Lord  God,  remove  violence  and  spoil,  and  execute  judg- 
ment and  justice  ;  take  away  your  exactions  from  my  peo- 
ple, saith  the  Lord.  Ecclesiastes  vii.  7 :  Surely  oppres- 
sion maketh  a  wise  man  mad.  Psalm  lxxii.  4:  He  shall 
break  in  pieces  the  oppressor.  Exodus  iii.  7,8,9:  And 
the  Lord  said,  1  have  surely  seen  the  affliction  of  my  peo- 
ple, which  are  in  Egypt,  and  have  heard  their  cry,  by 
reason  of  their  task-masters,  for  I  know  their  sorrows  and 
am  come  down  to  deliver  them  out  of  the  hand  of  the 
Egyptians,  and  to  bring  them  up  out  of  that  land,  unto  a 
good  land,  and  a  large,  unto  a  land  flowing  with  milk  and 
honey.  Now,  therefore,  behold,  the  cry  of  the  children  of 
Israel  is  come  up  unto  me,  and  I  have  also  seen  the  op- 
pression wherewith  the  Egyptians  oppress  them  ;  and  ac- 
cordingly he  brought  them  out  of  the  house  of  bondage 
with  an  high  hand  and  an  outstretched  arm,  and  drowned 
their  oppressors,  Pharoah  and  his  Egyptains,  in  the  Red- 
Sea.  Reltoboam  took  the  council  of  the  young  men,  and 
rejected  the  old  men's  advice  ;  and  answered  the  people 
roughly,  and  said  he  would  add  to  their  burdens,  and  not 
ease  them  ;  whereupon  many  of  the  tribes  revolted,  and 


the  King  thereupon  going  to  fight  against  them  to  reduce 
them  to  submission,  is  fobidden  of  God.  Compare  2  Chron. 
x.  and  14,  with  1  Kings  xii.,  and  2  Chron.  xi.  Thus 
saith  the  Lord,  ye  shall  not  go  up  nor  fight  against  your 
brethren.  A  good  hint  for  the  Army  !  Peruse  the  iii.  iv. 
v.  vi.  and  vii.  chapters  of  the  book  of  Esther.  Chapter 

iii.  8 :  And  Haman  said  unto  King  Ahasuerus,  there  is  a 
certain  people  scattered  abroad,  and  dispersed  among  the 
people  in  all  the  Provinces  of  thy  Kingdom,  and  their  laws 
are  diverse  from  all  people;  neither  keep  they  the  King's 
law  ;  therefore,  it  is  not  for  the  King's  profit  to  suffer  them. 
If  it  please  the  King,  let  it  be  written,  that  they  may  be 
destroyed,  and  I  will  pay  ten  thousand  talents  of  silver  to 
the  hands  of  those  that  have  the  charge  of  the  business  to 
bring  it  into  the  King's  treasuries ;  and  the  King  took  the 
ring  from  his  hand,  and  gave  it  unto  Haman,  the  Jew's 
enemy  :  and  the  King  said  unto  Haman,  the  silver  is  given 
to  thee,  the  people  also,  to  do  with  them  as  it  seemeth 
good  to  thee.  Haman,  however,  failed  in  his  bloody  de- 
signs against  the  Jews ;  they  were  delivered  from  the  med- 
itated destruction,  and  he  was  hanged  on  a  gallows  of  his 
own  raising.  A  dreadful  warning  this  to  all  vindictive 
and  sanguinary  Ministers !  When  the  Jews  were  devoted 
to  destruction  by  the  edict  of  King  Ahasuerus,  all  avenues 
to  the  throne  were  shut  up,  and  free  access  to  the  Monarch 
prohibited,  on  pain  of  death.  Queen  Esther,  urged  by 
absolute  necessity,  ventured  to  petition  the  King  in  these 
dangerous  circumstances,  and  succeeded.  An  apology  this, 
for  our  glorious  Congress,  if  it  needs  one.  O  that  it  may 
be  an  example  of  the  success  of  their  Petition.  Bribery 
is  expressly  forbidden  in  the  word  of  God.  Exodus  xxiii. 
8:  Thou  shalt  not  take  a  gift,  for  a  gift  blindeth  the  eyes 
of  the  wise,  and  perverteth  the  words  of  the  righteous. 
Prov.  xxix.  4 :  He  that  receiveth  gifts  overthroweth  the 
land.  See  persons  threatened  for  this  sin,  1  Sam.  viii.  3; 
Isaiah  i.  23,  v.  22;  Jer.  xxii.  17;  Ezek.  xxii.  27;  Hos. 

iv.  18;  Amos  v.  12;  and  Mich.  iii.  11. 

The  whole  tenour  of  the  Gospel  is  diametrically  opposite 
to  every  species  of  tyranny  and  oppression  ;  the  love  of 
mankind  is  its  grand  peculiarity.  Our  Saviour  informs  us 
that  the  love  of  our  neighbour  is  the  great  commandment 
of  the  Law ;  and  he  exhorts  his  disciples  to  do  to  others 
whatsoever  they  would  that  others  should  do  unto  them  ; 
this,  he  says,  is  the  law  and  the  prophets.  The  celebrated 
Doctor  Newton,  now  Bishop  of  Bristol,  in  his  Dissertations 
on  the  Prophecies,  having  shewn  how  minutely  and  remark- 
ably the  predictions  concerning  the  destruction  of  tyrants 
were  accomplished,  adds  this  remark:  (vol.  I.  p.  312:) 
"  But  not  only  in  this  particular,  but  in  the  general,  the  Scrip- 
tures, though  often  perverted  to  the  purpose  of  tyranny,  are 
yet  in  their  own  nature  calculated  to  promote  the  civil,  as 
well  as  the  religious  liberties  of  mankind.  True  religion,  and 
virtue,  and  liberty,  are  more  nearly  related,  and  more  inti- 
mately connected  with  each  other  than  people  commonly 
consider.  It  is  very  true,  as  St.  Paul  saith,  (2  Cor.  iii.  17,) 
that  where  the  spirit  of  the  Lord  is,  there  is  liberty  :  or,  as 
our  Saviour  expresseth  it,  (Jo/m  viii.  31, 32,)  If  ye  continue 
in  my  word,  then  are  ye  my  disciples  indeed,  and  ye  shall 
know  the  truth,  and  the  truth  shall  make  you  free."  What 
a  pity  is  it,  that  this  learned  and  ingenious  Bishop  and  all 
the  rest  of  his  Right  Reverend  brethren  have  not  acted  in 
the  legislative  capacity  according  to  those  liberal,  generous, 
and  noble  sentiments ! 

I  shall  conclude  with  an  extract  from  the  polite,  Catho- 
lick,  and  elegant  Doctor  Balguy's  dedication  of  his  Sermons 
to  his  Grace  Doctor  Thomas  Herring,  Archbishop  of  Can- 
terbury, at  the  time  of  the  last  rebellion  in  Scotland  in  favour 
of  the  Pretender.  "  What  follows,  my  Lord,  not  only  seems 
to  claim  a  place,  but  cannot  be  omitted  without  a  crime — I 
mean  that  exemplary  love  of  your  Country,  which  burns  so 
nobly  in  your  own  breast,  and  has  kindled  or  spread  that  gen- 
erous passion  all  around  you.  You  teach  us  by  all  fit  means 
and  methods,  not  only  to  be  good  Clergymen,  but  good 
Englishmen;  not  only  to  be  wise  and  virtuous,  but  brave  and 
free.  You  set  before  us,  in  the  strongest  light,  the  charms 
of  liberty,  and  execrable  evils  of  tyranny  and  bondage  ; 
inflaming  our  minds  with  an  ardent  love  for  the  one,  and 
an  unconquerable  aversion  to  the  other.  From  your  Grace 
we  learn  how  to  oppose  the  arts  and  intrigues  of  modern 
Rome  with  the  spirit  of  ancient  Romans;  and  cheerfully  to 
sacrifice  our  lives  and  fortunes  to  the  preservation  of  our 


* 


151 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  tic,  MARCH,  1775. 


152 


liberties,  and  the  defence  of  our  Country."  Oh  that  the 
generous  ardour  which  flames  and  shines  in  these  lines 
animated  the  breasts  of  all  the  Bishops  and  Clergymen  in 
England  and  America,  and  every  Protestant  heait  in  the 
world !  Philalethes. 


DECLARATION  OF  THE  GRAND-JURY  AND  MAGISTRATES, 
ETC.,  AT  THE  COURT  OF  QUARTER-SESSIONS,  AT  JOHNS- 
TOWN, TRYON  COUNTY,  NEW-YORK,  MARCH  16,  1775. 

Whereas,  the  Supervisors  of  the  several  Districts  in  the 
County  of  Tryon,  with  the  entire  approbation  of  some  of 
the  most  respectable  persons  in  that  County  for  character 
and  property,  did,  so  early  as  June  last,  by  letters  to  the 
gentlemen  of  the  New-York  Committee,  decline  entering 
into  the  unhappy  dispute  between  Great  Britain  and  its 
Colonies  ;  and  therein  assigned  their  reasons  for  so  doing, 
as  according  to  their  humble  conceptions  it  did  not  appear 
to  tend  to  the  violation  of  their  civil  or  religious  rights,  but 
merely  regarded  a  single  article  of  Commerce,  which  no 
person  was  compelled  to  purchase,  and  which  persons  of 
real  virtue  and  resolution  might  easily  have  avoided  or  dis- 
pensed with  ;  instead  of  which  the  inhabitants  of  one  capi- 
tal had  committed  an  outrageous  and  unjustifiable  act  on 
the  private  property  of  the  India  Company,  and  therefore 
appeared  to  be  alone  affected  by  or  really  interested  in  the 
measures  then  taken  by  the  King  and  Parliament,  in  support 
of  what  was  and  is  deemed  by  many  persons  of  good  abili- 
ties and  integrity,  its  just  right  and  prerogative,  then  neces- 
sarily asserted  for  the  preservation  of  order  and  due  obedi- 
ence to  Government. 

And  whereas,  these  Supervisors,  at  a  subsequent  publick 
meeting,  called  in  their  own  vindication,  had  the  satisfaction 
to  find  that  their  conduct  met  with  the  entire  approbation 
of  a  large  majority  ;  and  their  former  proceedings  were 
signed  as  such,  by  those  who  had  not  before  been  consulted 
upon  it.  And  they  have,  moreover,  since  had  the  addi- 
tional pleasure  to  observe,  that  notwithstanding  all  the  arti-  join  European  forces  against  these  Colonies,  and  how 
fices  used  by  violent  and  designing  men  to  practise  on  the  much  of  the  strength  of  the  Country  below  us  must  neces- 
easy  credulity  of  the  good  people  of  this  Country,  their  sarily  be  diverted  from  the  sea-coast  to  defend  and  secure 
conduct  now  stands  justified,  as  well  from  the  wise  and  tern-  us,  if  such  an  event  should  take  place.  For  this,  among, 
perate  Resolves  of  the  true  Representatives  of  this  Colony,  other  reasons,  I  have  this  spring  sent  Mr.  James  Dean, 
as  from  the  opinion  of  all  good  subjects  and  real  lovers  of  (who,  among  other  excellent  qualifications,  is  a  great  mas- 
order  and  subordination.  Therefore,  at  a  time  when  so  ter  of  the  language  of  the  Indians  at  Caghnaivaga,)  as  a 
many  Districts,  kc,  are  manifesting  in  a  publick  manner  Missionary,  to  itinerate  for  a  short  time  among  the  tribes 
their  loyal  attachment  to  Government,  in  opposition  to  the  in  Canada,  to  keep  the  fire  burning,  and  brighten  the  chain 
specious  illusion  and  independency  with  which  they  had  (as  they  speak)  of  that  friendship  lately  commenced  be- 
been  amused,  the  Grand-Jury  of  a  County  which  had  been  tween  those  tribes  and  this  Seminary,  which  at  present 
foremost  in  avowing  its  sentiments,  could  not  pass  over  the  seems  to  be  high  in  the  esteem  of  many  of  them,  as  their 
present  opportunity  that  offers,  of  bearing  testimony  to  the  conduct  has  fully  testified,  by  receiving  our  Missionaries, 
prudent  conduct  and  invariable  resolutions  of  their  County,  and  treating  them  with  respect;  sending  their  children 
as  a  respectable  part  of  which  they  declare  in  few  and  plain  from  time  to  time  with  cheerfulness  to  school,  he.  I  have 
words,  but  in  the  language  of  truth,  that  they  abhorred,  and  ten  of  their  sons  now  with  me,  eight  of  whom  are  descend- 
still  do  abhor,  all  measures  tending,  through  partial  repre-  ants  from  English  captives,  and  one  a  son  of  the  chief 
sentation,  to  alienate  the  affections  of  the  subjects  from  the  Sachem  at  St.  Francis,  and  another  is  brother  to  the  youth 
Crown;  or  by  wresting  the  intent  and  meaning  of  a  par-  who  was  lately  elected  and  crowned  Sachem  at  Caghna- 
ticular  Act,  to  draw  in  the  inhabitants  of  a  wide  and  exten-  waga,  which  young  Sachem  1  expect  also  will  come  hither 
sive  Territory  to  a  dangerous  and  rebellious  opposition  to  to  receive  an  education,  as  his  father,  who  was  here  with 
the  Parent  State,  when  exerting  itself  to  preserve  that  obe-  him,  promised  to  send  him  to  me  as  soon  as  certain  rites, 
dience,  without  which  no  State  can  exist ;  in  which  opin-  customary  among  them  to  ratify  and  publish  his  election 
ion  they  are  strengthened  by  the  certain  knowledge  that  to  and  in  vesture  in  said  office,  should  be  performed.  A 
a  large  body  of  them  have  of  the  superiour  advantage  of  number  who  have  been  at  school  here,  have  returned  on 
the  British  Constitution,  not  only  over  those  under  which  one  occasion  and  another,  and  made  favourable  reports  of 
so  many  of  them  were  born,  hut  with  which  they  have  been  the  treatment  they  met  with  among  the  English,  and  an 
in  any  wise  acquainted;  and  that  this  excellent  Constitu-  honourable  representation  of  the  kind  design  of  this  school, 
tion  does  appear  to  be  in  more  danger  from  the  intemperate  I  expect  a  number  more  from  those  tribes  soon,  and  likely 
warmth  and  dangerous  politicks  of  ignorant  men,  or  crafty  may  have  more  than  1  can  at  present  find  means  to  support. 
Republicans,  than  from  any  measures  which  it  appears  to  This  connexion,  Sir,  1  esteem,  under  God,  our  strongest 
be  either  the  aim  or  interest  of  Government  to  enforce.         bulwark,  if  such  invasion  from  the  northward  should  be 

They  do,  therefore,  resolve  to  bear  faith  and  true  alle-  made, 
giance  to  their  lawful  Sovereign  King  George  the  Third,  I  would  also  further  inform  you  that  Mr.  Dean  was 
"and  that  in  the  true  and  plain  sense  of  the  words,"  as  brought  up  and  naturalized  among  the  Six  Nations;  is  a 
they  are  or  ought  to  be  commonly  understood,  without  the  great  master  of  their  language,  and  much  esteemed  as  an 
prevarication  which  has  often  accompanied  the  same  ex-  orator  among  them  ;  and  his  influence  among  tbem  1  ap- 
pressions  from  his  warmest  opponents.  And  as  these  have  prebend  to  be  greater  than  any  other  man's,  unless  it  be 
been  the  sentiments  of  the  most  respectable  people  of  this  their  present  Superintendent,  and  is  esteemed  by  the  best 
County  from  the  beginning.  His  Majesty's  faithful  Grand-  judges  to  be  a  man  of  genius,  learning,  piety,  and  great 
Jurors  will,  in  any  extremity,  exert  themselves  in  the  sup-  prudence.  He  was  of  opinion,  (though  he  thought  nothing 
port  of  Government,  as  men  who,  whilst  they  have  a  true  of  any  mention  being  made  of  it,)  that  if  there  should  be 
sense  of  generous  liberty,  are  equally  sensible  of  the  just  occasion,  and  he  should  be  properly  authorized  for  it,  he 
claim  he  has  to  their  warmest  loyalty  for  the  enjoyment  of   could  influence  all  those  Six  .\ations  to  join  these  Colo- 


these  blessings,  which  his  gentle  reign  has  afforded,  and 
who  are  heartily  disposed  to  give  him  the  strongest  marks 


of  it. 


Guy  Johnson, 
Jolin  Butler, 
John  Johnson, 
Daniel  Claus, 
Jelles  Fonda, 
Peter  Tenbroock 
Joseph  Chew, 
Frederick  Young, 
Adam  Laucks, 
Rudolph  Shomaker, 
John  Collim, 

Alexander  White,  Sheriff. 
Bryan  Lefferty,  Clerk. 
I).  Davis,  )  .,, 

Walter  Butler,  \  Att0^- 


Signed  by  the  Grand-Jury  : 

|  Judges 


|  Assistant  Judges. 
1 


■  Justices. 


Robert  Wells,  Foreman. 
Robert  Picken, 
Abraham  Garrason. 
Henry  Hare, 
Nicholas  Felling, 
John  Smith, 
Andrew  Wemple, 
John  Bauman, 
Samuel  Gardener, 
John  Fonda, 
John  Davis, 
John  Wolgimot, 
Jacob  Felling, 
Isaac  Collier, 
James  Scott, 
Michael  Stoller, 
David  Quackenbush, 
John  Flint. 

And  a  number  of  the  principal  Freeholders  and  Inhabi- 
tants. 


REV.  ELEAZER  WHEELOCK  TO  GOVERNOUR  TRUMBULL. 

Dartmouth  College,  March  16,  1775. 

Much  Honoured  Sir:  1  think  that  a  concern  for  my 
own  and  my  Country's  safety,  may  be  esteemed  sufficient 
excuse  for  my  acting  so  much  out  of  character  as  I  may 
seem  to  do,  in  intermeddling  in  our  present  publick  and 
distressing  affairs;  and  relying  upon  your  candour  and 
friendship  to  accept  this  for  excuse,  and  to  suppress  what- 
ever you  may  think  may  disserve  me  or  that  cause  which 
has  long  been,  and  still  is,  my  object,  I  shall  freely  hint 
something  which  I  don't  know  but  may  be  useful,  and  con- 
sequently would  be  criminal  to  withhold. 

You  are  not  insensible,  Sir,  how  calamitous  and  distress- 
ing the  case  of  these  new  and  defenceless  settlements  will 
likely  be,  if  such  a  Northern  Army  of  Savages,  &c,  as  we 
have  been  threatened  with  should  be  prevailed  upon  to 


158 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775. 


154 


nies  against  any  invasion  that  should  be  made  or  attempted 
against  them,  and  I  don't  think  he  did  at  all  overrate  his 
ability  or  influence  for  that  purpose.  Mr.  Dean  designed 
to  return  as  soon  as  the  Lake  should  be  clear  of  ice,  and  the 
streams  and  roads  should  favour  it,  which  will  likely  be  in 
May. 

If  what  I  have  hinted  shall  suggest  the  least  advantage 
to  the  cause,  I  am  well  repaid  for  writing;  and  if  none  at 
all,  yet  you  have  a  testimonial  of  the  good  wishes  and  de- 
sires of  him  who  is,  with  much  esteem  and  respect,  your 
Honour's  most  obedient  and  most  humble  servant, 

Eleazer  Wheelock. 

Governour  Trumbull. 


remonstrance  presented  by  the  selectmen  of  B1L- 

LERICA   TO    HIS    EXCELLENCY    GENERAL   GAGE,  MARCH 

16,  1775. 

May  it  jilease  your  Excellency : 

We.  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town  of  Billcrica,  beg  leave 
to  remonstrate  to  your  Excellency  that,  on  the  8th  of  this 
instant,  ( March,)  one  Thomas  Ditson,  an  inhabitant  of 
said  Town  of  Billcrica,  was  tarred  and  feathered,  and  very 
much  abused,  by  a  party  of  His  Majesty's  Forty-Seventh 
Regiment,  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Nesbit.  As  guardians  for  said  Town,  and  from  a  regard 
to  the  liberties  and  properties  of  its  inhabitants,  we  cannot 
but  resent  this  procedure.  Your  Excellency  must  be  sen- 
sible that  this  act  is  a  high  infraction  on  that  personal 
security  which  every  Englishman  is  entitled  to,  and  with- 
out which  his  boasted  Constitution  is  but  a  name. 

It  is  sufficiently  unhappy  for  us,  that  we  find  Troops 
quartered  among  us  for  the  purpose  of  enforcing  obedience 
to  Acts  of  Parliament  of  Great  Britain,  in  the  highest 
sense  iniquitous,  cruel,  and  unjust.  It  is  still  more  unhap- 
py, if  these  Troops,  instead  of  preserving  the  character 
which  British  Troops  once  had,  should  pour  in  additional 
insult,  and  be  guilty  of  the  most  brutal  outrages.  We  hope 
your  Excellency  will  take  some  steps  for  accommodating 
this  affair :  for  we  assure  you  we  cannot,  consistent  with 
our  duty,  pass  this  matter  over.  We  have  been  told  by 
your  Excellency,  that  you  never  meant  to  disturb  the  in- 
tercourse between  the  Town  and  the  Country ;  confiding 
in  this,  we  have  passed  and  repassed  in  our  usual  manner. 
We  therefore  hope  your  Excellency  will  make  it  evident, 
by  your  conduct,  that  you  are  determined  the  intercourse 
shall  be  preserved,  and  we  be  not  buoyed  up  with  promises 
which,  in  the  end,  we  unhappily  find  not  to  be  depended 
upon.  Lieutenant  Colonel  Nesbit  is  an  Officer  under  your 
Excellency's  command ;  of  you,  therefore,  we  demand 
satisfaction  for  the  insult  committed  by  him ;  we  think  it  is 
in  your  power.  We  beg  your  Excellency  that  the  breach, 
now  too  wide  between  Great  Britain  and  this  Province, 
may  not,  by  such  brutality  of  the  Troops,  still  be  increased. 
We  assure  you.  Sir,  it  always  has  been,  and  still  is,  our 
sentiment  and  prayer,  that  harmony  may  be  restored,  and 
that  we  may  not  be  drove  to  the  last  distress  of  Nations. 

Rut  may  it  please  your  Excellency,  we  must  tell  you 
we  are  determined,  if  the  innocent  inhabitants  of  our 
Country  Towns  (for  we  must  think  this  man  innocent  in 
this  affair)  must  be  interrupted  by  Soldiers  in  their  lawful 
intercourse  with  the  Town  of  Boston,  and  treated  with  the 
mo^t  brutish  ferocity,  we  shall  hereafter  use  a  different 
style  from  that  of  petition  and  complaint. 

If  the  grand  bulwarks  of  our  Constitution  are  thus  vio- 
lently torn  away,  and  the  powers  on  earth  prove  unfriendly 
to  the  cause  of  virtue,  liberty,  and  humanity,  we  are  still 
happy.  We  can  appeal  to  Him  who judgeth  righteouslv, 
and  to  Him  we  cheerfully  leave  the  event. 


TO  THE  GENTLEMEN  OF  THE  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS 
OF  VIRGINIA. 
Williamsburgh,  Virginia,  March  17,  1775. 
The  addresses  presented  to  their  Lieutenant-Governour 
by  the  Council  and  eleven  polluted  Members  of  the  Assem- 
bly of  New -York,  are,  to  every  sensible  thinking  Ameri- 
can, of  infinitely  a  more  alarming  nature  than  the  threats 
of  the  Minister,  the  brutum  fulmen  of  the  King's  speech, 
(if  that  can  properly  be  termed  the  King's  speech  which 
the  Minister  has  publickly  avowed  to  be  his  own  compo- 


sition,*) or  the  echoing  back  this  speech  by  a  hireling  ma- 
jority of  the  Peers  to  their  paymaster ;  for  as  long  as  a 
spirit  of  union  subsists  through  this  Continent,  and  as  long 
as  the  people  at  home  have  reason  to  think  that  this  spirit 
does  subsist,  these  threats  of  the  Minister  (although  vibra- 
ted from  the  sounding-board  of  the  Throne)  and  the  echo- 
ing it  back  by  a  hired  chorus  of  Peers,  must  cast  more 
ridicule  upon  those  by  whom  they  are  uttered,  than  give 
terrour  to  those  at  whom  they  are  levelled.  But  the  sus- 
picion or  report  of  any  defection  amongst  ourselves,  is  a 
matter  of  most  serious  concern  ;  it  behooves  you,  therefore, 
gentlemen  ;  it  behooves  every  Provincial  Congress  of  the 
Continent,  to  consider  immediately  of  some  effectual  means 
to  prevent  the  mischievous  consequences  intended  by  these 
abandoned  and  senseless  men.  Have  we  then  formed  a 
General  Association  of  our  Provinces  ?  Have  we  pledged 
ourselves  to  each  other,  to  our  posterity,  to  mankind  ? 
Have  we  made  so  great  (temporary  at  least)  sacrifices  in 
Commerce  ?  Have  we  solemnly  engaged  to  make  still 
greater  sacrifices  in  the  glorious  cause  of  Liberty?  Have 
we  confounded  our  enemies  by  a  strain  of  virtue  scarcely 
credible  in  these  modern  ages,  and  with  a  spirit  of  harmony 
that  has  surpassed  the  most  sanguine  expectation  ?  Have 
we  acted  this  noble  part  ?  And  shall  the  Council  and 
eleven  contemptible  Assemblymen  of  New -York  attempt 
to  render  all  we  have  done  abortive?  Contemptible  in  all 
respects — in  numbers,  in  understanding,  in  knowledge,  and 
in  principles !  For  what  other  tendency  can  their  addresses 
to  their  Lieutenant-Governour  possibly  have  but  to  coun- 
teract the  Resolves  of  the  Congress,  and  render  every  thing 
ye  have  done  abortive?  These  compositions  of  pusilla- 
nimity, abject  servility,  and  disgusting  folly,  amount  simply 
to  this  :  That  the  utmost  exertions  of  this  United  Conti- 
nent (consisting  of  half  a  million  of  fighting  men)  can 
have  no  effect;  that  all  the  resistance  (civil  or  military  J 
which  they  can  make,  must  be  in  vain  ;  but  that  redress 
alone  must  be  sought,  and  can  be  expected  from  the  mag- 
nanimity of  the  British  Nation,  and  the  known  goodness 
and  virtue  of  the  King.  Gracious  Heaven  !  grant  us  pa- 
tience for  to  be  told  that  we  are  to  expect  any  thing  from 
the  magnanimity  of  a  people  who,  for  twelve  years  suc- 
cessively, have  suffered  themselves  to  be  insulted,  disgraced, 
trampled  upon,  plundered,  and  butchered  with  impunity  ! 
Or  to  be  told  that  we  are  to  look  up  to  the  goodness  and 
virtue  of  a  King  who,  for  the  same  number  of  years,  has 
been  influenced  to  make  incessant  war  upon  the  property, 
rights,  privileges,  laws,  honour,  and  integrity  of  his  people, 
in  every  part  of  the  Empire,  is  enough  to  drive  moderation 
itself  into  violence. 

But,  continue  these  admirable  Senators,  what  opens  still 
a  surer  prospect  of  redress  is,  that  His  Excellency  Gover- 
nour Tryon  is  now  near  the  Throne.  So  it  seems  that 
what  the  petitions,  supplications,  and  remonstrances  of  the 
whole  Colonies ;  of  the  City  of  London ;  of  the  great  com- 
mercial Towns  of  the  leading  Counties  of  England ;  what 
the  voice  of  policy,  reason,  justice,  and  humanity,  could 
not  effect,  Colonel  Tryon's  being  in  England  will  accom- 
plish. I  know  not  whether  this  Colonel  Tryon  is  a  man 
of  so  extraordinary  talents,  eloquence,  and  influence,  as  to 
work  these  mighty  miracles.  I  never  understood  that  he 
was ;  but  I  am  sure,  if  he  has  common  sense,  and  any 
manly  feelings,  he  cannot  help  being  somewhat  disgusted 
at  this  ill-timed,  impertinent  flattery,  and  that  he  must 
conceive  the  greatest  contempt  for  the  parasites  who,  re- 
gardless of  the  most  important  concerns  to  their  Country 
and  humanity,  and  at  the  very  crisis  which  is  to  determine 
whether  themselves  and  their  posterity  are  to  be  freemen 
or  slaves,  could  step  out  of  their  way  to  offer  up  incense 
to  an  unimportant  individual.  It  may  be  said,  this  is  all 
declamation ;  it  may  be  so,  but  it  is  a  declamation  which 
an  honest  zeal  in  the  publick  cause  has  forced  me  into.  It 
is  now  time,  gentlemen,  to  devise  some  means  of  putting 
a  stop  to  this  cancer  before  it  spreads  to  any  dangerous 
degree.  You,  gentlemen  of  Virginia,  and  your  neighbours 
of  Maryland  have,  perhaps,  these  means  in  your  hands. 

*  The  affected  friends  to  Government  often  complain  that  His  Ma- 
jesty is  not  treated  with  the  respect  due  to  his  character  and  station ; 
but  it  appears  to  me,  that  a  Minister's  declaring  in  an  open  Senate  that 
the  speech  from  the  Throne  is  not  the  King's,  but  is  his  own,  is  going 
beyond  disrespect.  It  is  a  most  outrageous  insult;  it  is  representing 
His  Majesty  as  a  mere  puppet,  that  squeaks  just  as  he,  the  prompter, 
breathes. 


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CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775. 


156 


1  would  propose,  then,  that  after  a  spirited  manifesto,  ex- 
pressing your  abhorrence  of  the  Council*  and  prostitute 
eleven  of  New-York,  you  should  proceed  to  punish  the 
individuals  of  this  wicked  junto  who  are  in  your  power. 
Some  of  them  have  great  contracts  for  wheat  and  corn  in 
these  Provinces,  from  Norfolk,  Alexandria,  Chester,  Balti- 
more, and  other  ports.  They  export  prodigious  quantities, 
and  enrich  themselves  considerably  by  this  commerce.  1 
would  propose,  that  all  commerce  with  these  assassins 
should  be  laid  immediately  under  an  interdict;  that  not  a 
single  Ship  belonging  to  a  counsellor  of  New- York,  (unless 
he  purges  himself  by  oath  from  having  consented  to  the 
address,)  or  of  one  of  the  prostitute  eleven,  should  be  fur- 
nished with  a  freight  within  the  Capes  Henry  or  Charles ; 
and  I  have  that  opinion  of  the  virtue  of  these  Provinces 
to  think  your  injunctions  would  be  efficacious.  But  here 
1  must  beg  leave  to  pause  for  an  instant,  and  ask  pardon  of 
the  publick  for  my  apparent  presumption.  An  individual 
who  offers  his  thoughts  to  so  respectable  a  body  as  a  Con- 
gress, delegated  by  the  voice  of  a  whole  people,  has  cer- 
tainly the  air  of  presumption ;  it  is  in  some  measure  attribu- 
ting to  himself  superiour  lights  and  abilities.  But,  on  the 
other  hand,  it  is  allowed  that  an  individual  has  frequently 
been  fortunate  enough  to  chalk  out  lines  in  which  the  most 
sagacious  and  respectable  bodies  have  not  disdained  to 
walk. 

If  his  proposals  or  hints  be  weak  and  absurd,  they  will 
naturally  be  laughed  at ;  but  if  his  intentions  be  honest, 
the  consciousness  of  having  acted  from  motives  of  recti- 
tude, and  the  love  of  his  Country,  will  sufficiently  com- 
pensate for  any  ridicule  which  his  scheme  can  incur.  I 
would  therefore  wish,  that  what  I  offer  should  rather  be 
understood  as  hints  than  advice.  If  these  hints  are  attended 
to,  I  shall  reap  no  personal  glory  ;  if  they  are  despised,  I 
shall  be  no  personal  sufferer,  as  my  name  will  probably 
never  be  known  ;  for  I  have  too  great  confidence  in  the 
integrity  of  the  printer  to  apprehend  he  will  insinuate,  even 
the  most  remotely,  his  conjectures  of  the  author.  But  to 
proceed  with  my  proposals,  or  hints,  in  which  latter  light 
1  am  most  desirous  they  should  be  considered  :  I  could 
wish  to  the  above-mentioned  manifesto  was  subjoined  the 
warmest  letter  of  thanks  to  the  virtuous  ten  of  the  Assem- 
bly of  New -York,  for  their  endeavours  to  stem  the  profli- 
gacy and  wickedness  of  the  majority,  and  for  the  noble 
part  they  have  acted  as  true  Americans  and  excellent  citi- 
zens ;  that  another  address,  not  less  warm,  should  be  pre- 
sented to  the  gentlemen  and  people  of  New -York  at 
large,  expressing  your  opinion  of  their  honesty  and  publick 
spirit,  and  lamenting  their  peculiar  circumstances,  which, 
to  those  who  are  strangers  to  these  circumstances,  may  in- 
culcate a  belief  that  they  alone  are  exceptions  to  the  charac- 
ter of  patriotism  which  the  Americans  are  now  indisputa- 
bly entitled  to.  But  above  all,  I  could  wish  that  it  were 
recommended  to  every  Province  of  the  Continent,  more 
particularly  to  their  immediate  neighbours  of  Pennsylvania, 
the  Jerseys,  and  Connecticut,  not  to  suffer  one  of  this  de- 
praved undecimvirate  to  set  his  foot  on  their  territories,  until 
lie  invokes  the  forgiveness  of  his  Country,  and  solemnly 
engages  that  his  future  life  shall  be  employed  in  making 
compensation  for  his  present  conduct,  of  so  obviously  a 
mischievous  tendency. 

P.  S.  The  epithets  prostitute,  profligate,  Sic,  which  I 
have  so  freely  made  use  of,  may  probably  appear  illiberal ; 
but  when  we  consider  the  mischievous  consequences  which 
the  conduct  of  these  Council  and  Assemblymen  of  Neiv- 
York  are  fraught  with,  it  must  be  allowed  that  no  language 
can  furnish  opprobrious  terms  adequate  to  their  delin- 
quency. 1  am  far  indeed  from  apprehending  that  their 
weight  and  influence  are  sufficient  to  shake  the  virtue  of 
the  Continent,  or  occasion  any  defection.  I  do  not  be- 
lieve that  an  individual  (much  less  a  set  of  men)  will  be 
found  who  will  be  stupid  and  wicked  enough  to  tread  in 
their  steps,  the  infamous  ***  of  Philadelphia,  and  a  small 
perverse  drivelling  knot  of  Quakers,  who  form  his  Senate 
and  Court,  excepted.  This  worthy  lately  fixed  his  resi- 
dence at  New- York,  with  the  professed  intention  of  work- 

*  I  cannot  perauade  myself  that  the  Council  wore  unanimous  in  this 
infamous  address!  ;  there  are  individuals  amongst  them  of  known  ]>ro. 
bity,  somie,  and  patriotism.  Hut  theso  gontlemen,  so  f  ir  from  objecting 
to  the  obligation  of  purging  themselves  by  oath  of  having  had  any 
share  of  the  guilt,  will  rejoice  in  the  opportunity  of  acquitting  them, 
selves. 


ing  with  some  congenial  spirits  in  that  City  towards  the 
ruin  of  the  whole  fabrick  which  the  Congress  bad  been 
raising.  Indeed,  it  is  most  probable  that  he  was  the  prin- 
cipal compiler,  if  not  the  dictator,  of  these  wretched  ad- 
dresses. The  style  and  sentiments  are  certainly  his  ;  the 
same  mist,  fog,  and  darkness,  which  overcast  all  his  pro- 
ductions, envelop  these  addresses ;  and  the  same  narrow, 
crooked  politicks,  low  cunning,  malignancy,  and  treachery, 
discoverable  through  the  mist,  fog,  and  obscurity  of  all  his 
works  and  actions,  betray  themselves  in  these  addresses. 
It  may  now  be  asked,  as  I  have  represented  the  character, 
weight,  and  credit  of  these  eleven  Assemblymen,  of  the 
majority  of  the  Council  of  New-York,  and  their  Philadel- 
phia  coadjutor,  or  more  properly  dictator,  in  so  despica- 
ble a  light,  wherefore  I  should  sound  the  alarm?  What 
mischiefs  can  possibly  result  from  the  utmost  such  men  can 
do  ?  I  answer,  that  although  they  can  neither  occasion 
any  defection,  nor  present  the  least  prospect  of  success  to 
the  enemies  of  America  and  liberty,  they  can  do  very  con- 
siderable mischief.  They  can  procrastinate  the  issue  ; 
they  can  (and  most  probably  will)  prolong  the  inconveni- 
ences which  we  must,  more  or  less,  feel  during  the  contest. 
There  is  nothing  more  certain  than  that  the  Ministry  have 
proceeded  to  the  enormous  lengths  they  have  done  upon 
the  presumption  that  the  attacks  upon  Boston  would  not 
have  been  taken  up  by  the  other  Provinces,  as  the  cause 
of  the  whole.*  There  is,  therefore,  nothing  more  certain 
than  that  the  appearance  of  our  firmness  and  unanimity 
must  soon  have  overthrown  them,  or  forced  them  into  a 
total  change  of  measures  ;  but  the  least  appearance  that 
this  firmness  and  unanimity  no  longer  subsists,  will  en- 
courage them  to  persist,  and  enable  them  to  keep  their 
ground  some  time  longer.  These  addresses  of  New-York 
will  give  this  appearance ;  so  that  whatever  the  gentlemen, 
the  merchants,  the  tradesmen,  the  mechanicks,  and  the 
people  of  America  at  large  suffer  from  the  prolongation  of 
the  contest ;  whatever  shall  be  added  to  the  distresses  and 
burden  of  the  people  at  home ;  whatever  shall  farther  im- 
pair the  commerce,  strength,  credit,  and  reputation  of  the 
Mother  Country,  and  bring  her  still  nearer  to  total  bank- 
ruptcy and  ruin  ;  whatever  shall  farther  alienate  the  affec- 
tions of  the  child  from  the  parent,  may  justly  be  imputed 
to  this  abject  Council  and  eleven  prostitute  Assemblymen 
of  Ncw-York.-f 


Boston,  March  17,  1775. 

The  Massachusetts  Gazette  of  February  23d,  has  given 
the  publick  a  long  and  laboured  account  of  the  terrible 
mischiefs  done  by  mobs  in  this  Province,  and  the  names 
of  the  persons  who  are  said  to  have  suffered  by  them. J  I 
own  1  was  not  displeased  at  the  particular  mention  of  their 
names,  nor  would  I  have  had  one  left  out  of  this  shining 
list :  for  the  world  ought  to  know,  and  posterity  to  remem- 
ber the  men  who  have  taken  so  open  and  decisive  a  part 
against  their  Country,  at  a  time  when  it  was  nobly  exert- 
ing itself  in  one  of  the  most  important  and  severe  contests 
that  ever  fell  to  the  share  of  any  community.  That  they 
have  suffered,  and  will  continue  to  suffer  as  long  as  any 
remains  of  honour  and  conscience,  and  feelings  for  the  es- 
timation and  love  of  1  heir  fellow-subjects  reside  with  them, 
1  firmly  believe.  This  is  all  the  revenge  their  much  injur- 
ed Country  has  hitherto  taken  of  them. 

That  they  live,  some  of  them  in  affluence  and  splen- 
dour, upon  the  revenue  extorted  from  their  much  injured 
Country,  live  to  combine  their  heads  and  hearts  for  ensla- 
ving America,  is  a  striking  proof  of  the  moderation  and 

*  That  this  is  the  principle  they  acted  upon,  is  now  put  out  of  dis. 
pute  by  the  conduct  of  Lord  Norlh  in  the  House  of  Commons,  and 
some  speeches  directed  to  him. 

t  Willianuburgh,  March  24,  177.r>. — Tho  author  of  the  piece  addressed 
t'i  the  Provinci  il  Congress  of  Virginia,  having  written  in  the  heat  of  re. 
sentment,  on  the  first  nows  of  the  conduct  of  the  Council  and  Assembly 
of  New-York,  and  having  been  since  assured,  from  tho  best  authority, 
that  the  majority  of  the  former  are  men  of  so  good  personal  charac- 
ters as  to  bo  incapable  of  doing  injury  intentionally  to  their  Country  ; 
he  bogs  leave  publickly  to  retract  the  harsh  terms  ho  has  applied  to 
these  gentlemen,  and  to  impute  the  unhuppy  step  they  have  taken  to 
crrour  and  seduction,  not  to  any  sinister  designs.  One  gentleman  in 
particular,  who  has  largo  dealings  in  this  Country,  he  has  heard  so 
great  a  character  of,  in  the  article  of  integrity  and  benevolence,  as  to 
lender  it  impossible  that  he  should  do  any  thing  inimical  to  the  com. 
munity,  unless  deceivod  into  it  by  other  men.  The  gentleman  I  allude 
to  is  Mr.  Wallace. 

t  See  Volume  I,  Folio  12C0. 


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CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775. 


158 


lenity  of  that  people  in  whose  power  it  was,  had  it  been 
equally  their  inclination,  to  have  taken  another  kind  of 
revenge. 

The  Act  for  shutting  up  the  Port  of  Boston,  which  the 
Tories  themselves  did  not  scruple  at  first  to  call  unjust  and 
cruel,  and  which  the  whole  world  regards  with  abhorrence 
and  indignation,  was  received  by  the  inhabitants  of  that 
Town  in  a  manner  that  does  them  everlasting  honour. 
Neither  transported  by  resentment,  nor  sunk  with  fear,  nor 
warped  by  a  regard  to  their  private  interest,  they  have 
now  for  near  nine  months  endured  all  the  relentless  rigour 
of  that  Act,  and  a  total  deprivation  of  the  commerce  upon 
which  they  subsisted,  rather  than  set  an  example  to  Ame- 
rica of  a  tame  and  base  resignation  of  our  invaluable  rights. 
They  calmly  referred  their  cause  to  the  whole  Continent, 
knowing  it  to  be  a  common  one ;  they  have  accordingly 
been  applauded  and  supported  by  all  the  Colonies,  and 
are  now  waiting  with  a  patience  and  fortitude  that  will 
never  be  forgotten,  the  final  issue  of  this  reference. 

With  respect  to  the  other  Acts  of  Parliament  that  soon 
followed,  (for  vacating  our  Charier,  in  the  important  article 
of  appointing  His  Majesty's  Council,  a  branch  of  our  Le- 
gislature, and  for  altering  the  mode  of  administering  justice,) 
it  was  impossible  for  the  people  of  this  Province  to  exhibit 
the  same  patience.  They  waited  indeed  till  the  moment 
these  Acts  were  to  take  effect,  when  they  found  themselves 
reduced  to  this  cruel  alternative,  either  tamely  to  submit  to 
a  deprivation  of  privileges  which  they  held  dearer  than 
life,  or  run  the  risk  of  an  immediate  opposition.  Had  they 
bowed  their  necks  to  the  yoke  at  that  important  moment, 
it  would  have  been  riveted  upon  them  forever;  no  resist- 
ance could  afterwards  have  been  made  with  any  prospect 
of  success.  The  force  of  humble  petitions  and  complaints 
had  been  already  tried  for  a  succession  of  years,  and  the 
men  who  had  distinguished  themselves  in  defence  of  our 
inalienable  rights  would  have  felt  all  the  resentment  of 
Government,  in  its  new  and  tyrannical  form  ;  and  juries, 
pricked  off  by  a  Sheriff  appointed  and  removable  at  the 
pleasure  of  the  Chair,  instead  of  acquitting,  might  only 
have  given  a  sanction  to  the  sufferings  of  the  virtuous  and 
loyal,  though  accused  subject. 

In  this  extremity,  which  they  had  been  endeavouring 
by  every  means  in  their  power  to  avoid,  they  determined 
upon  a  virtuous  and  brave  opposition;  an  opposition,  all 
circumstances  considered,  planned  and  conducted  with 
great  prudence,  and  a  lenity  not  to  be  exampled.  The 
freeholders  of  the  several  Counties,  headed  by  men  of  the 
first  estimation  and  character  among  them,  peaceably  as- 
sembled, and  without  doing  injury  to  a  single  person,  or 
any  man's  property,  calmly,  though  resolutely  prohibited 
the  courts  of  justice  from  sitting  and  acting  upon  a  plan 
that  must  have  ruined  the  liberties  of  their  Country,  and 
destroyed  every  security  for  their  property  and  lives.  In 
the  same  manner  the  people  demanded  of  the  Mandamus 
Councilmen  a  resignation  of  an  office  totally  inconsistent 
with  their  Charter  rights.  Those  who  resigned  were  re- 
stored to  the  good  opinion  of  their  fellow-citizens,  and 
have  had  nothing  to  fear.  Others  deluded  their  honest  open- 
hearted  neighbours,  who  were  ready  to  accept  the  slender- 
est pledges  of  an  intention  not  to  destroy  their  civil  rights. 
When  these  men  had  gained  the  protection  of  the  Army, 
they  insulted  the  credulity  of  their  countrymen,  and  have 
been  incessant  in  their  endeavours  to  bring  military  ven- 
geance upon  a  people  to  whose  tenderness  and  forbearance 
they  owe  their  own  safety. 

After  the  well  known  Powder  expedition,  the  general 
alarm  consequent  upon  it,  and  the  resolution  of  General 
Gage  to  reside,  with  all  his  Troops,  in  Boston,  great  pains 
were  taken  to  induce  all  the  friends  of  Government,  that  is, 
all  the  enemies  to  the  claims  of  America,  to  remove  to  the 
same  place,  and  claim  the  protection  of  the  Army.  Of 
such  a  measure  the  Commissioners  of  the  Customs  had 
before  set  an  example,  with  no  small  success.  According- 
ly, some  who  might  have  remained  at  home  in  safety,  and 
at  ease  too,  had  it  not  been  for  a  consciousness  that  their 
own  views  and  inclinations  were  directly  opposite  to  what 
the  whole  community  deemed  its  most  important  interests, 
removed  with  their  families  to  Boston.  It  is  easy  to  see 
with  what  views  this  measure  was  taken,  and  what  conse- 
quences were  expected  and  wished  to  follow  from  it. 
History  does  net  afford  an  instance  of  a  people  so  long 


irritated  by  cruel  and  oppressive  innovations  in  their  Gov- 
ernment, harassed  by  Fleets  and  Armies,  and  an  unheard 
of  Port  Bill,  and  obliged  by  the  last  necessity  to  oppose 
the  mere  forms  of  law  to  preserve  the  spirit  and  blessings 
of  the  British  Constitution,  who  have  conducted  their  op- 
position with  more  caution  and  moderation,  and  with  less 
damage  to  those  who  have  all  along  obstructed  them  in 
every  probable  method  they  could  devise  for  their  safety. 
This  will  appear  more  remarkable,  when  we  consider,  that 
in  such  contests  injuries  from  brethren,  men  born  and  bred 
in  the  community,  and  under  every  obligation  to  protect 
its  rights,  are  more  severely  resented  than  from  strangers, 
and  that  many  of  these  unnatural  children  of  the  31assa- 
chusttts  were  known  to  be  its  most  implacable  enemies, 
most  ready  to  expose  it  by  their  speeches  and  writings  to 
the  scorn  and  hatred  of  the  world,  and  most  eager  to  whet 
the  sword  that  might  deluge  it  in  blood. 

In  all  this  exertion  for  publick  safety  not  a  life  nor  a  limb 
has  been  taken  away ;  not  a  field  has  been  laid  waste,  nor 
a  dwelling  destroyed.  Some  indiscretions  and  violences 
may  have  been  committed  by  boys  and  the  lowest  of  the 
people,  which  cannot,  in  such  circumstances  as  this  com- 
munity has  unhappily  been  reduced  to,  be  prevented  or 
properly  punished.  But  are  these  to  be  compared  with  the 
horrid  scene  exhibited  a  few  years  ago,  in  King-street,  on 
the  fifth  of  March ;  with  the  bloody  and  dangerous  affrays 
with  the  soldiery  since  that  time,  notwithstanding  the 
utmost  caution  and  exertion  of  the  Commander-in  Chief 
to  prevent  them?  Are  they  to  be  compared  with  the  loss 
of  property  sustained  by  the  Port  Bill,  and  the  distress  and 
anxious  apprehensions  brought  upon  a  large  community  of 
merchants,  mechanicks,  and  yeomanry,  by  large  Fleets  and 
Armies,  in  hostile  array  ?  Or  with  the  painful  solicitude 
with  which  all  our  bosoms  have  been  agitated  for  those 
rights,  without  which  life  itself  would  be  a  burden?  And 
yet  all  these  evils  have  been  brought  upon  their  Country, 
chiefly  by  the  very  men  and  their  connexions  who  would 
represent  themselves  in  the  world  as  suffering  from  it  in 
the  most  inhuman  manner.  For  it  is  plain,  even  to  de- 
monstration, that  had  these  men,  and  their  head,  now  resi- 
ding in  England,  concurred  with  their  Country  in  a  love 
to  its  ancient  Constitution,  and  its  sacred  rights;  and  had 
they  honestly  and  steadily  resolved  to  accept  no  commis- 
sions, nor  to  act  from  any  under  an  innovated  Government ; 
had  they  done  this  at  the  beginning  of  our  troubles,  Ad- 
ministration must  of  necessity  have  given  up  the  design  of 
taxing  America,  and  vacating  our  Charter  ;  and  all  the  dis- 
tressing measures  we  have  since  endured  for  the  purposes, 
would  have  been  peaceably  avoided.  Instead  of  this,  the 
Tories  of  this  Province,  under  the  auspices  of  Bernard  and 
Hutchinson,  have  been  the  most  zealous  promoters,  if  not 
the  original  contrivers  of  this  most  injurious  design,  and  the 
methods  taken  to  effect  it. 

It  is  astonishing  to  observe  how  alienated  these  men  are 
from  the  interest  of  the  community  in  which  they  were  born 
and  educated,  and  still  live  ;  how  inflexibly  opposed  to  its 
prevailing  sentiments  and  principles;  and  with  what  scorn 
and  detestation  they  regard  the  united  exertions  of  all  Ame- 
rica to  defend  itself  from  the  attempts  of  a  corrupt  Admin- 
istration to  enslave  it.  In  their  account,  the  love  of  liberty 
is  sedition  ;  a  claim  of  the  rights  of  Englishmen,  which  are 
no  more  than  the  rights  of  human  nature,  is  treason  ;  and  a 
deliberate  united  determination  to  defend  them,  is  rebellion. 
If  the  people,  the  fountain  of  all  civil  honour  and  authori- 
ty, and  of  whom  the  first  rulers  are  indeed  servants ;  if  the 
people,  I  say,  assemble  and  consult  for  the  preservation  of 
their  rights,  these  men  immediately  cry  out  in  a  rage,  a  mob! 
and  seem  to  wish,  like  Nero,  that  the  whole  Province  had 
but  one  neck,  that  they  might  divide  it  at  a  stroke.  They 
will  plead  in  excuse  for  the  Quebeck  Bill,  which  establishes 
the  Roman  Catholick  Religion  and  a  French  Government 
in  a  British  Colony,  that  it  is  tenderly  accommodated 
to  the  prejudices  of  the  majority  in  that  Colony  ;  but  for 
the  prejudices  and  misapprehensions  of  their  brethren  in 
the  Protestant  Colonies,  allowing  them  to  be  in  an  errour, 
they  have  no  indulgence.  It  is  humane  and  just  that  the 
Canadians  should  claim  and  enjoy  the  tyranny  of  French 
laws  ;  but  for  the  British  inhabitants  of  the  other  Colonies 
to  urge  their  claim  for  British  privileges,  deserves  confisca- 
tion of  estate  and  a  halter. 

Let  these  men,  if  they  please,  go  on  to  call  the  orderly 


159 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775. 


160 


assembling  of  the  freeholders  of  this  Province  in  defence 
of  their  unalienable  rights,  a  mob.  It  is  such  a  kind  of 
mob  as  has  more  than  once  preserved  the  British  Consti- 
tution from  absolute  ruin ;  such  a  mob  as  rose  in  England, 
in  the  reign  of  James  the  Second,  consisting  of  the  body  of 
the  people,  and  the  first  characters  in  every  literary  and 
honourable  department ;  a  mob  which  the  two  Universities, 
the  Clergy,  and  even  the  Army  itself  did  not  hesitate  to  join, 
and  of  which  the  great  Churchill,  afterwards  John  Duke  of 
Marlborough,  was  a  principal  ringleader.  The  difference 
is,  they  opposed  an  arbitrary  Monarch,  while  we  are  only 
defending  ourselves  against  the  unconstitutional,  despotick 
power  of  our  fellow-subjects — the  Lords  and  Commons  of 
Great  Britain.  They  took  the  field.  We  have  not  yet 
been  reduced,  and  I  hope  never  shall,  to  that  cruel  neces- 
sity. May  American  mobs  be  crowned  with  the  same 
success,  and  all  posterity  will  revere  them  as  the  glorious 
conservators  of  the  rights  of  mankind.  Lucius. 


TO  GOVERNOUR  WENT  WORTH. 

Portsmouth,  New-Hampshire,  March  17,  1775. 

Much  deluded  Sir:  As  I  have  no  desire  to  detract 
from  the  merit  of  your  former  actions,  I  readily  allow,  that 
for  many  years  your  prudent  conduct  gained  you  the  affec- 
tions of  almost  all  the  people  in  this  and  the  neighbouring 
Colonies.  No  man  in  your  station  could  be  more  hon- 
oured and  revered  ;  no  person  could  exert  himself  more  in 
favour  of  the  Province,  or  exceed  you  in  promoting  the 
true  interest  of  it.  You  did  not  prostitute  commissions, 
but  endeavoured  to  add  dignity  to  your  Courts  and  honour 
to  your  Militia.  You  caused  harmony  to  subsist  between 
the  several  officers  and  soldiers  throughout  the  Province  ; 
and  doubtless  felt  that  satisfaction  yourself,  which  ever 
results  from  the  consciousness  of  having  done  well.  You 
well  know  what  effects  this  produced  ;  and  with  pleasure 
saw  the  zeal  with  which  the  people  espoused  and  defended 
your  cause  against  the  rage  and  malice  of  some  who  have 
since  become  your  bosom  friends.  But,  Sir,  let  me  ask  you, 
w  hether  your  late  conduct  has  not  been  totally  different  ? 
Have  you  not,  without  provocation,  risen  up  against  your 
native  Country,  and  done  all  in  your  power  to  enslave  it? 
Have  you  not  used  your  utmost  endeavours  to  enforce 
those  unconstitutional  Acts,  against  which  America  has 
made  so  violent  an  opposition  ?  Have  you  not  arbitrarily 
deprived  the  people  from  any  share  in  their  own  Govern- 
ment for  near  twelve  months,  and  reduced  your  people  to 
the  sad  necessity  of  being  governed  by  the  Crown,  or  its 
immediate  servants ;  or  of  being  reduced  to  a  state  of 
anarchy?  Have  you  not  devised  various  methods  to  divide 
and  weaken  the  people,  that  their  opposition  to  Parliamen- 
tary measures  might  be  less  powerful?  Have  you  not 
issued  your  writs  for  the  election  of  Representatives  to 
Towns  where  the  number  of  inhabitants  were  inconsider- 
able, when  compared  with  others,  which  you  chose  to  pass 
by  without  the  least  notice  ?  Have  you  not  executed 
your  vengeance  on  all  those  who  have  stood  forth  to  defend 
the  liberties  of  their  Country,  upon  the  members  of  the 
late  Congress ;  upon  Civil  Magistrates  and  Military  Offi- 
cers ?  You  have.  How  then  can  you  expect  to  rule  in 
the  hearts  of  this  people  ?  Can  you  conceive  that  they 
take  no  notice  of  these  things?  Be  not  deceived.  A  few 
fawning  sycophants  may  endeavour  to  flatter  you ;  but 
believe  me,  Sir,  the  affections  of  the  people  will  never  be 
possessed  by  you  in  future.  They  well  know  that  you 
were  the  only  person  who  endeavoured  to  procure  work- 
men to  build  barracks  for  the  enemies  of  America ;  they 
are  fully  sensible,  that  the  officers  who  have  been  foremost 
in  disciplining  their  men,  and  fitting  them  for  action  ;  and 
the  men  who  have  been  engaged  for  the  preservation  of 
the  sacred  rights  of  the  people,  who  have  warned  the  peo- 
ple of  their  danger  and  exhorted  each  to  shun  it,  have 
been  made  the  objects  of  your  resentment,  these  men  you 
have  dismissed  from  every  civil  and  military  employment. 
But  what  is  the  consequence  ?  You  already  see  that  num- 
bers of  officers  have  resigned,  nobly  refusing  to  hold  com- 
missions when  nothing  can  secure  them  but  consenting  to 
the  ruin  of  their  Country  ;  and  you  will  soon  find  that  the 
same  spirit  will  discover  itself  to  every  part  of  the  Govern- 
ment ;  and,  of  course,  the  militia  will  be  in  the  same  state 
as  that  of  the  Massachusetts,  Maryland,  &ic. 


I  suppose  that  in  excuse  for  this  conduct,  you  will  say 
that  you  were  expressly  ordered  to  do  this,  and  could  by 
no  means  avoid  it,  and  secure  your  own  standing ;  which 
perhaps  may  be  the  case.  But  then  I  must  beg  leave  to 
observe,  that  if  those  orders  were  from  General  Gage,  and 
you  can  by  no  means  secure  your  standing  but  by  obey- 
ing them,  you  can  claim  but  little  merit  for  any  acts  you 
may  do  in  future ;  as  General  Gage,  with  his  nod,  can 
direct  the  publick  affairs  of  this  and  every  other  Colony 
upon  the  Continent.  If  it  proceeded  from  the  mandates 
of  a  Minister,  then  it  is  immaterial  whether  we  are  governed 
by  Lord  North  or  any  other  person,  as  every  thing  is  to 
be  regulated  by  his  arbitrary  will  and  pleasure. 

I  however  incline  to  think  that  this  is  our  deplorable 
situation,  that  the  person  who  presides  over  us  has  little 
more  to  do  than  echo  the  voice  of  a  despotick  Minister, 
and  see  that  his  mandates  are  obeyed  ;  I  must  therefore 
pity  the  person  appointed  to  preside,  and  the  unhappy 
people  who  are  called  to  obey.  No  situation  can  be  more 
unhappy ;  no  slavery  can  be  more  complete.  I  think 
myself  acquainted  with  the  natural  goodness  of  your  heart, 
and  will  venture  to  affirm,  that  you  would  not  (if  left  to  your- 
self) make  such  a  wanton  use  of  the  prerogative,  or  deprive 
the  people  for  such  a  length  of  time  from  having  a  share 
in  their  own  Government.  You  well  know  that  by  the 
same  kind  of  conduct,  the  people  may  be  deprived  of  the 
inestimable  right  of  representation,  whenever  and  for  what- 
ever length  of  time  an  arbitrary  Minister  may  think  proper. 
I  shall  conclude,  by  assuring  you  that  I  am  far  from  being 
your  enemy  ;  and  that  I  sincerely  grieve  for  you,  and  a 
number  of  others,  who  I  am  persuaded  must,  if  they  retain 
their  commissions,  owe  their  future  greatness  to  their  Coun- 
try's ruin.  The  Spectator. 


to  d  •  *  *  c****»,  ES^. 

New-Jersoy,  March  18,  1775. 

Dear  Sir  :  You  expect  my  sentiments  on  our  publick 
affairs,  and,  indeed,  I  can  with  freedom  unburden  my  full 
heart  to  one  whom  I  esteem  a  true  friend  to  George  the 
Third,  our  rightful  Sovereign,  to  the  Protestant  succession 
in  his  family,  and  to  the  real  interest  and  greatest  good  of 
the  whole  British  Empire.  And  were  such  as  truly  the 
character  of  every  British  subject  as  it  is  yours,  and  every 
mind  properly  informed,  all  our  unhappy  differences  would 
soon  be  amicably  settled,  and  every  disagreeable  commo- 
tion and  unfriendly  passion  subside.  But  a  strong  party 
too  near  the  Throne,  of  a  quite  opposite  character,  are 
opposing  the  general  good  of  the  Nation,  to  the  great 
danger  of  the  King,  the  Protestant  succession  and  interest, 
and  even  the  very  existence  of  the  Empire  as  such. 

You  need  not  be  told,  Sir,  the  many  well  known  facts 
on  which  this  great  danger  is  founded.  Have  not  that 
party  invaded  the  rights  of  mankind  in  every  part  of  the 
Empire  ?  Hath  not  that  invasion  stirred  up  a  spirit  of 
jealousy,  disaffection,  and  opposition  to  those  hateful  mea- 
sures, more  or  less,  in  almost  every  City,  County,  and 
Colony  in  the  British  Dominions  ?  For  instance,  the 
noble  spirit  and  manly  opposition  shewn  by  the  citizens  of 
London,  and  the  electors  of  Middlesex,  when  their  right 
of  election  was  trodden  under  foot  by  that  party,  in  the 
case  of  Wilkes  and  Luttrell.  And  the  many  Petitions 
and  Remonstrances  from  every  quarter,  are  so  many  instan- 
ces of  the  like  kind.  Hence  it  appears  that  America  is 
not  singular  in  her  opposition.  He  must  be  ignorant  of 
the  present  state  of  our  Nation,  who  is  not  sensible  that 
there  are  still  millions  in  Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  who 
are  possessed  of  the  same  virtuous  principles  with  us;  and 
who  have  shown,  or  soon  must  show  themselves  on  the 
side  of  Liberty,  Protestantism,  and  the  Constitution.  Their 
eyes  are  opening.  They  see  more  and  more,  this  great 
truth,  that  the  ruin  of  the  whole  Empire  is  involved  in 
that  of  America.  In  short,  such  is  the  slate  of  our  pub- 
lick affairs,  that  should  the  friends  of  despotism  carry  their 
point  a  little  higher,  and  begin  with  the  sword  to  enforce 
submission  to  tyranny,  the  whole  Empire  would  fall  into 
the  most  dreadful  convulsions,  and  shake  to  the  very  cen- 
tre. Then,  when  these  convulsions  shall  have  subsided, 
through  the  loss  of  much  blood ;  then  (may  Heaven  pre- 
vent it)  the  Atlantick  Ocean,  the  Irish  Sea,  and  the  River 
Tweed,  will  probably  be  what  the  English  Channel  is 


161 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775. 


162 


now — a  divider  of  Kingdoms,  or  the  whole  to  be  swallowed 
up  by  Bourbon. 

Nor  can  Stuart  himself,  whom  America  abhors,  expect 
more  than  a  part  of  the  Empire.  For  France  and  Spain, 
now  grown  stronger,  will,  no  doubt,  at  such  a  time,  do  all 
that  in  them  lies  to  divide  and  weaken  the  British  Em- 
pire ;  when  the  Romish  religion  in  Ireland,  the  love  of 
Stuart  in  Scotland,  and  the  lust  of  gold  in  England,  will 
forward  their  design  :  for  what  but  the  love  of  money 
could  have  calculated  the  present  ministerial  plan  so  exactly 
to  suit  the  meridian  of  Paris  1 

Some  may  imagine  that  America  may  be  subjugated 
without  any  such  ill  consequences  to  the  European  part  of 
the  British  Dominions,  and  that  the  Americans,  were  the 
case  once  to  be  put,  sword  in  hand,  would  make  but  a 
feeble  resistance ;  because,  they  say,  many  in  hopes  of 
present  profit  or  future  favours,  and  many  through  fear  of 
punishment,  will  join  the  ministerial  party,  and  thereby  so 
divide  as  to  destroy,  in  a  great  measure,  every  mode  of 
opposition ;  and  that  those  who  still  continue  their  opposi- 
tion will  be  so  disheartened  and  unsupported  as  to  fall  an 
easy  prey  to  their  enemies.  On  which  let  it  be  remarked, 
that  those  who  hold  and  endeavour  to  propagate  such  sla- 
vish anti-American  doctrines,  betray  in  themselves  either 
ignorance,  cowardice,  or  treachery ;  which  are  directly 
opposite  to  the  true  character  of  America  in  general. 
The  Americans  are  a  sensible,  learned,  brave,  loyal,  free, 
Protestant  people.  And  though  there  are  some  who  are 
otherwise,  yet  they  are  a  diminutive  number,  so  com- 
paratively few,  that  they  never  have,  and  it  is  to  be  hoped 
they  never  will  take  the  lead  in  our  publick  affairs.  Those 
who  think  England  may  be  safe  while  in  an  open  rupture 
with  America,  do  not  duly  consider  their  danger  from  their 
internal  and  external  enemies — the  French,  Spaniards, 
CatholicJcs,  Jacobites,  and  Tories ;  of  which  it  is  hard  to 
say  who  are  the  greatest  enemies  of  the  British  Constitu- 
tion, and  the  Protestant  interest.  Be  that  as  it  may,  it 
has  been  openly  declared  in  Parliament,  that  were  the 
banners  of  rebellion  once  spread  in  America,  England 
would  be  a  ruined  people.  And  many  of  the  most  sensi- 
ble Britons  have  giveja  it  as  their  opinion,  that  Great  Bri- 
tain and  her  Colonies  must  stand  or  fall  together.  They 
are  therefore  often  calling  upon  us  to  stand  firm  and  united 
in  our  virtuous  opposition;  adding,  that  thereby  we  shall 
save  ourselves  and  them.  This  is  doubtless  true ;  and  it 
is  allowed  by  friends  and  foes,  that  our  danger  principally, 
if  not  wholly  lies  in  our  being  divided  among  ourselves. 
What  punishment,  therefore,  is  adequate  to  their  guilt, 
who  use  every  vile  artifice  to  deceive  and  divide  us,  and 
thereby  ruin  the  whole  Empire  ?  And  yet,  these  same  trai- 
torous vermin  would  cloak  all  their  foul  conduct  under  the 
specious  pretence  of  loyalty,  and  curse  the  honest  Whigs 
for  traitors ;  whose  loyalty,  in  fact,  is  the  very  thing  that 
vexes  them.  Would  it  then  be  any  wonder,  if  under 
such  provocations,  the  friends  of  the  Constitution  should, 
in  some  instances,  through  their  zeal  for  the  publick  good, 
go  beyond  the  line  of  duty. 

The  Americans  are,  of  all  His  Majesty's  subjects,  the 
greatest  admirers  of  the  British  Constitution ;  because 
they  esteem  it  the  grand  charter  of  their  liberties,  civil  and 
religious,  which  they  love  as  they  do  their  lives ;  and  their 
loyalty  to  the  present  reigning  family  is  as  pre-eminent  as 
their  lov  e  of  liberty,  and  always  has  been ;  because  they 
esteem  that  family  as  the  proper  guardians  of  the  Constitu- 
tion on  which  alone  their  throne  is  built,  and  under  the  pro- 
tection of  which  we  hold  our  liberties.  In  this  view  of  things, 
no  wonder  if  we  should  esteem  those  traitors  to  the  King 
who  are  using  their  utmost  efforts  to  undermine  his  throne 
by  destroying  its  basis — the  Contitution.  Hence  loyalty 
itself  justifies  us  in  opposing  such  men  and  such  measures. 

This  view  justifies  all  the  military  preparations  now 
making  in  America.  The  stronger  we  are  in  these,  the 
safer  is  the  Empire.  We  mean  to  act  only  on  the  defen- 
sive. We  ought  by  no  means  to  strike  the  first  blow,  nor 
to  provoke  those  who  would.  This  is  certainly  a  great 
point  to  carry  against  those  who  call  us  Rebels,  and  would 
make  us  so  if  they  could.  I  know  you  will  strictly  adhere 
to  the  wise  directions  of  our  loyal  Congress,  according  to 
which,  while  you  encourage  the  doubtful  and  instruct  the 
ignorant,  you  will  punish  the  guilty,  and  thereby  greatly 
oblige  your  humble  friend,  Essex. 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii.  1 


DR.  FRANKLIN  TO  ARTHUR  LEE. 

Craven-Street,  London,  March  19,  1775. 

Dear  Sir:  I  leave  directions  with  Mrs.  Stephenson  to 
deliver  you  all  the  Massachusetts  papers,  when  you  please 
to  call  for  them.  I  am  sorry  that  the  hurry  of  preparing 
for  my  voyage,  and  the  many  hinderances  1  have  met  with, 
prevented  my  meeting  with  you  and  Mr.  Bollan  and  con- 
versing a  little  more  on  our  affairs  before  my  departure.  I 
wish  to  both  of  you  health  and  happiness,  and  shall  be  glad 
to  hear  from  you  by  every  opportunity. 

I  shall  let  you  know  how  I  find  things  in  America.  I 
may  possibly  return  again  in  the  autumn,  but  you  will,  if 
you  think  fit,  continue  henceforth  the  Agent  for  Massachu- 
setts, an  office  which  I  cannot  again  undertake.  I  wish 
you  all  happiness,  and  am  ever  yours,  affectionately, 

B.  Franklin. 


Charlestown,  South-Carolina,  March  20,  1775. 

Last  Tuesday,  March  14th,  Mr.  Robert  Smyth,  Mer- 
chant, Master  Smyth,  his  son,  and  Master  Ward,  son  of 
John  Ward,  Esquire,  returned  here  from  London,  in  the 
Snow  Proteus.  Captain  Papley,  having  touched  at  Fal- 
mouth and  St.  Christopher's  by  the  way. 

The  said  vessel  having  on  board,  (besides  seven  cases 
of  merchandise,  said  to  be  Globes  and  Mathematical  In- 
struments, consigned  to  Mr.  Robert  Wells,  one  hogshead, 
one  puncheon,  seven  casks,  thirteen  cases,  five  crates,  and 
one  bottle,  said  to  contain  Drugs  and  Medicines,  consigned 
to  Mr.  Edward  Gunter,)  two  puncheons,  one  box,  one 
tierce,  forty  bundles,  nine  cases,  and  seven  hampers,  said 
to  contain  Household  Furniture,  and  two  Horses,  belonging 
to  Mr.  Smyth,  all  which  he  declared  were  brought  out  by 
him  on  the  supposition  that  it  was  not  meant  by  the  Con- 
tinental Association  to  prohibit  the  importation  of  such 
articles,  and  had  been  in  use  in  his  family  in  England. 
The  Committee  of  Observation  requested  the  sense  of  the 
General  Committee  respecting  said  Horses  and  Furniture. 
This  matter  accordingly  came  under  the  consideration  of 
the  General  Committee  on  Wednesday  evening,  thirty- 
three  members  present ;  when,  after  a  long  debate  whe- 
ther the  landing  the  said  Horses  and  Furniture  might  not 
be  construed  a  violation  of  the  Association,  there  appeared 
to  be  an  equal  number  for  and  against  that  opinion.  And 
the  question  being  put,  whether  Mr.  Smyth's  Horses,  un- 
der the  circumstances  they  had  been  represented,  might  be 
landed,  it  was  carried  in  the  affirmative  by  the  Chairman's 
casting  vote.  It  was  at  the  same  time  resolved,  without  a 
division  upon  the  question,  that  such  part  of  Mr.  Smyth's 
Furniture  as,  upon  inspection  by  the  Committee  of  Obser- 
vation, should  appear  to  them  to  have  been  in  use  in  his 
family,  (but  no  other,)  might  also  be  landed. 

The  next  morning  a  great  number  of  the  inhabitants  ap- 
peared extremely  uneasy,  lest,  from  the  admission  of  the 
Horses,  it  should  be  suggested  that  there  was  an  inclination 
in  this  Colony  to  depart  from  the  Association  ;  they  feared 
that  the  conduct  of  the  people,  which  had  always  been 
consistent,  and  who  continued  remarkably  strict  in  their 
adherence  to  the  Resolves  and  recommendations  of  the 
Congress,  might,  in  this  instance,  be  misrepresented  abroad. 
Their  zeal  for  the  reputation  of  their  Country  threw  them 
into  great  agitation ;  none  meant  the  least  reflection  on  the 
conduct  of  their  Committee,  but  all  wished  that  the  Horses 
might  not  be  landed ;  yet  they  were  then  at  a  loss  what 
measure  might  be  most  proper  to  pursue.  On  Friday  morn- 
ing, however,  a  Petition  was  agreed  on,  and,  after  having 
two  hundred  and  fifty-six  names  subscribed  thereto,  pre- 
sented to  the  Chairman  of  the  General  Committee,  in  the 
following  words  : 

"  We,  a  number  of  the  inhabitants  of  Charlestown,  con- 
ceive that  our  liberties  at  this  time  depend  on  our  unanimi- 
ty and  confidence  in  our  Committee,  who,  we  doubt  not,  in 
all  things  will  act  according  to  the  best  of  their  judgment 
for  the  publick  good.  But  your  Petitioners  are  informed 
that,  by  a  vote  carried  by  a  very  small  majority,  divers 
Horses  and  Furniture  are  permitted  to  be  landed,  which 
many  persons,  who  have  the  liberty  of  America  much  at 
heart,  think  an  infringement  of  the  Association  entered  into 
by  the  General  Congress.  In  order,  therefore,  to  quiet 
the  minds  of  the  people,  we  pray  that  there  may  be  a  re- 
consideration of  the  said  matter  in  a  full  Committee." 


163 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  fee,  MARCH,  1775. 


161 


In  consequence  of  this  Petition,  the  said  Committee  was 
summoned  to  meet  that  evening;  but  no  more  than  foity- 
two  members  then  attending,  it  was  thought  advisable  to 
adjourn  till  Monday  morning,  nine  o'clock,  in  order  that, 
if  it  should  be  thought  necessary  to  reconsider  the  mailer, 
it  might  be  done  at  a  very  full  meeting.  Accordingly  this 
morning  a  very  full  Committee  met,  not  less  than  seventy 
members  being  present,  when  the  above  Petition  was  taken 
into  consideration  ;  the  Resolves  of  Wednesday,  respecting 
the  Horses,  rescinded,  by  a  majority  of  one  vote ;  and  a 
Resolution  entered  into,  that  they  should  be  sent  back, 
with  the  Merchandise  and  Furniture  (if  any)  that  should 
appear  not  to  have  been  in  use.  A  general  satisfaction 
was  expressed  upon  this  occasion,  and  the  quiet  of  the 
community  seems  to  be  perfectly  restored.* 


Instructions  drawn  up  for  the  Delegates  to  the  Convention 
at  Richmond,  the  20th  of  March,  from  a  certain 
County  in  Virginia. 

Gentlemen  :  Although  we  are  fully  assured  that  the 
worthy  gentlemen  who  lately  represented  us  in  General 
Congress  were  actuated  by  motives  not  to  be  reprehended, 
and  in  their  proceedings  against  the  designs  of  Parliament, 
have  recommended  to  us  a  mode  of  opposition,  in  their 

*  In  South-Carolina  the  Association  was  punctually  complied  with  ; 
no  goods  from  England  being  allowed  to  be  landed,  nor  were  any  other 
importations,  contrary  to  the  provisions  of  that  instrument,  permitted. 
About  this  time  the  Ship  Charming  Sally  had  arrived  from  Bristol,  in 
England,  with  three  thousand  eight  hundred  and  forty-four  bushels  of 
Salt,  thirty-five  chaldrons  of  Coal,  and  forty  thousand  five  hundred 
Tiles;  all  of  which  were  (25th  February,  1775,)  thrown  into  Hog- 
Island  Creek,  by  the  proprietors  or  their  agents,  rather  than  they  would 
b)  at  the  chargo  and  trouble  of  sending  them  back  to  England,  in  pur- 
suance of  the  tenth  article  of  the  Association.  So,  also,  a  cargo  of  near 
tlireo  hundred  Slaves  was  sent  out  of  the  Colony  by  the  consignee,  as 
being  interdicted  by  the  socond  article  of  the  Association.  In  short,  the 
publick  regulations  were  duly  and  patriotically  observed.  A  case,  how- 
ever, arose,  which  called  forth  the  spirit  of  the  people,  and  evinced 
their  determination  to  support  and  enforce  the  Association,  in  all  its 
various  provisions. 

A  respectable  family  had  been  residing  in  England  for  some  time, 
and  were  returning  home  ;  in  which  removal  it  was  expected  the  house- 
hold furniture  and  horses,  which  had  been  in  use,  would  also  be  brought 
over.  Some  attempts  had  therefore  been  made  to  declare  the  importa- 
tion of  household  furniture  and  horses,  that  had  been  in  use,  and  might 
be  imported  from  England,  not  to  be  within  the  meaning  of  the  tenth 
article  of  the  Association,  as  relating  to  goods  or  merchandise,  but 
they  had  been  unsuccessful.  At  length  the  horses  and  furniture  ar- 
riving from  thence,  application  was  made  on  the  15tli  day  of  March 
for  their  being  landed  ;  and  after  a  long  contest  in  a  thin  General  Com. 
inittee  of  only  thirty-three  members,  the  motion  was  carried  by  the 
voice  of  the  Chairman.  This  permission  occasioned  a  ferment  among 
the  citizens,  and  they  almost  generally  exclaimed  "  The  Association 
i"a«  broken"  and  that  the  horses  at  least  should  not  be  landed.  Some 
hundreds  of  the  inhabitants  assembled,  and  many  active  and  influential 
members  of  the  Committee  endeavoured  to  satisfy  them  respecting  the 
vote  of  permission  which  had  passed,  but  in  vain.  On  the  contrary, 
they  continued  in  their  opposition,  and  supported  it  with  a  representa- 
tion signed  by  a  considerable  number  of  persons,  and  which  was  pre- 
sented to  the  Chairman  of  the  General  Committee,  desiring  the  Com- 
mittee would  re-consider  their  late  vote.  In  pursuance  of  this  request 
the  Committee  was  convened  on  the  17th  day  of  March,  1775,  and  the 
room  of  meeting  was  crowded  with  people.  Edward  Iiutledge,  who 
had  been  one  of  the  most  active  in  the  affair,  now  commenced  censur- 
ing the  people,  in  thus  questioning  the  vote  which  had  been  given,  but 
he  was  received  with  a  clamour.  The  General  Committee  now  began 
to  think  their  authority  insulted.  Some  members  accordingly  depart- 
ed in  anger,  others  became  vociferous  in  rage,  and  for  a  few  minutes 
oil  was  in  confusion.  At  length  tranquillity  prevailed  ;  the  considera- 
tion of  the  subject  was  postponed  until  a  more  full  Committee  could  be 
procured  ;  and  the  third  day  after  was  appointed  for  a  final  decision. 
To  procure  the  presence  of  all  the  members  of  the  Committee  within 
reach,  was  now  an  object  of  importance,  and  great  exertions  for  that 
purpose  were  made  by  both  parties. 

When  the  appointed  time  arrived  the  General  Committee  convened, 
and  great  was  the  press  of  pioplo  who  attended  ;  for  the  Town  was  in 
universal  commotion,  and  application  had  oven  been  privately  made  to 
tlio  incorporated  armed  companies  to  cover  the  landing  of  the  horses. 
Some  individuals  of  the  companies  agreed  to  do  so,  but  the  majority  of 
t'lom  refused  ;  and  tho  people  declared  if  the  horses  were  landed,  Ihey 
would  put  them  to  death.  Under  these  unpleasant  aspects  the  debates 
began,  when  Mr.  Gadsden  moved  to  reverse  tho  former  determination, 
relative  to  landing  the  horses.  He  urged  the  vote  had  been  carried  in 
a  thin  Committee ;  that  it  was  contrary  to  the  Association  ;  that  it 
would  alarm  the  Northern  Colonios  in  a  most  lively  mannor;  and  that 
our  piople  were  highly  dissatisfied  with  it.  And  he  contended  this 
last  of  its  df  was  a  cogent  reason  to  reverse  such  a  determination.  Tho 
R  v.  Mr.  Tennent  next  addressed  tho  Committee  to  the  same  purpose; 
as  did  Mr.  Hugely,  who,  in  addition,  urged  that,  as  the  horses  paid  a 
duty,  they  ought  not  to  bo  landed.  Theso  gentlemen,  in  speaking, 
spoke  immediately  after  each  other.  On  tho  other  side  Edward  Rut. 
ledge,  Rawlins  Lowndes,  Thomas  Bee,  and  Thomas  Lynch,  contended 
that  the  vote  of  the  General  Committee  ought  not  to  be  reversed,  but 
on  the  contrary  ought  to  bo  maintained,  otherwise  the  Committeo 
would  fall  into  contempt.  That  the  opinions  of  the  General  Commit- 
tee, now  sitting,  ought  not  to  bo  influenced  by  the  petition,  as  the 
spirit  and  not  the  letter  of  the  Association  ought  to  be  attended  to. 


opinions,  the  most  efficacious  and  salutary  :  Nevertheless, 
as  we  are  entitled  to  determine  upon  the  propriety  of  any 
measures  whereby  we  are  bound,  and  upon  the  success  of 
which  our  political  and  civil  interests  depend ;  we  must,  after 
expressing  all  deference  and  respect  for  our  honest  coun- 
trymen, who  have  by  their  councils  and  advice  stood  forth 
in  our  cause,  beg  leave  to  dissent  from  them  in  such  points 
as  we  think  exceptionable.  We  desire,  gentlemen,  invio- 
lably to  adhere  to  the  civil  obligation  binding  us  to  our  Sov- 
ereign, and  by  no  means  to  assent  to  any  measures  that 
may  ultimately  affect  the  faith  we  owe  to  our  King,  or  the 
duty  we  owe  to  his  people.  We  desire  you  neither  to 
censure  or  patronise  the  proceedings  of  those  people  who 
destroyed  the  property  of  the  East-India  Company,  in  the 
Port  of  Boston;  this  we  deem  a  breach  of  civil  order,  and 
an  invasion  of  private  right.  But  as  we  know  not  what 
circumstances  might  induce,  or  cause  impel  the  perpe- 
tration of  that  act,  it  is  too  delicate  a  ease,  too  foreign  for 
us  to  meddle  with.  The  grand  principles  for  which  we 
contend  are,  the  rights  of  legislation  and  taxation  ;  of  legis- 
lation respecting  our  internal  police,  and  of  taxation  inde- 
pendent of  every  power  on  earth.  These  inestimable 
privileges  we  will  maintain  at  the  risk  of  our  lives  and  for- 
tunes ;  but  we  will  justify  no  proceedings  inconsistent  with 
our  duty  to  our  King,  repugnant  to  the  rights  of  individuals. 

That  temporizing  did  not  become  honest  men  and  statesmen,  who 
ought  to  declare  their  opinions  according  to  their  consciences.  That 
if  we  adhered  to  the  letter  of  the  Association,  no  arms  or  ammunition 
could  be  received  from  England ;  and  when  the  letter  of  the  law  bore 
hard  against  an  individual,  Lord  Chief  Justice  Hale  allowed  him  to 
escape  by  any  subterfuge ;  and  that  it  was  never  the  idea  of  Congress 
to  exclude  such  articles. 

William  Henry  Drayton  was  the  only  person  who  rose  in  reply.  He 
contended  that  because  an  errour  had  been  committed,  it  was  no  reason 
it  should  be  continued ;  that  the  people  thought  an  errour  had  been 
committed,  and  it  was  our  duty  to  satisfy  our  constituents,  as  we  were 
only  servants  of  the  publick.  That  such  conduct  was  evinced  by  every 
day's  practice  in  Parliament,  therefore  it  could  not  be  disgraceful  to 
reverse  the  vote  of  the  Committee,  as  on  such  occasions  Parliament 
had  often  done  so.  That  our  present  application  to  the  King  was  for 
such  a  purpose  ;  and  if  we  defended  ourselves  on  the  principle  of  falling 
into  contempt,  might  it  not  bo  as  reasonable  for  the  King  to  retort  the 
same  argument  upon  us  ?  That  it  was  always  safer  to  follow  the  letter 
than  to  explore  the  spirit  of  a  law.  That  in  the  case  of  the  St.  John's 
people  of  Georgia,  we  preferred  the  letter  t«  the  spirit  of  the  Associa- 
tion, as  was  evident  by  our  refusal  and  advice ;  then  why  not  adhere 
to  the  letter  of  that  instrument  now  ?  That  temporizing  ever  was 
practised  in  publick  affairs  by  the  most  honest  men,  witness  Cato,  of 
Utica,  in  Catsar's  election  to  the  Consulship;  and  by  the  best  states- 
men, witness  Cicero's  letter  to  Atticus,  relating  to  a  good  pilot's  shift- 
ing his  helm,  if  he  could  not  reach  his  port  by  a  direct  course  ;  witness 
the  conduct  of  the  Long  Parliament,  and  all  history  in  general.  That 
to  discharge  a  statesman's  conscience  was  to  aim  at  the  publick  good, 
and  not  be  pertinacious  of  his  own  opinion.  That  even  if  there  had 
been  an  article  in  the  Association,  that  we  should  not  receive  arms  and 
ammunition  from  England,  tho  publick  necessity  would  cause  it  to  bo 
a  dead  letter,  as  self-preservation  was  the  first  obligation,  and  fas  est, 
ab  hostc  doccri.  He  farther  contended  that  Lord  Hale's  principle  was 
just,  when  applied  to  an  individual,  in  the  event  of  whose  case  the  pub- 
lick could  not  be  interested ;  but  it  never  could  be  applicable  to  such  a 
case  as  the  present,  where  the  conveniency  of  the  individual  and  the  na- 
tional interests  of  the  publick  were  in  direct  opposition  ;  and  that  he  could 
not  hold  t  he  understanding  of  the  late  General  Congress  in  so  trivial  a 
light,  as  to  entertain  a  thought  of  looking  for  the  sense  in  direct  oppo- 
sition to  the  words  of  one  of  the  principal  articles  of  the  Association. 

He  farther  said  the  present  case  stood  divided  into  two  points — the 
spirit  of  the  regulations,  and  the  union  of  the  people;  and  that  the 
latter  was  infinitely  of  the  greater  consequence.  That  the  letter  of 
the  Association  was  clearly  in  support  of  the  motion,  and  in  the  pre- 
sent situation  of  affairs  the  spirit  of  that  instrument  was  equally  iu 
fivour  of  it.  That  union  was  the  rock  upon  which  the  American  po- 
litical edifice  was  founded  ;  and  whatever  hazards  its  existence,  is  to 
militate  against  the  ground.work  of  the  Association.  Hence  it  was 
evident,  landing  the  horses  hazarded  our  union,  for  the  people  were  in 
commotion. against  it.  Upon  all  publick  and  general  questions,  the 
people  ever  are  in  tho  right;  so  said  Lord  Mansfield,  in  tho  House  of 
Commons;  and  the  peoplo  now  think  the  late  vote  was  wrong.  Can 
it  be  prudent  to  oppose  our  constituents  ?  In  civil  commotions  the 
common  people  ever  struck  those  blows  which  were  of  any  effect.  If 
you  retract,  there  can  be  no  just  cause  of  fearing  contempt ;  as  it  is 
not  reasonable  those  should  contemn  you  who  have  ever  honoured  you, 
and  whoso  opinions  would  be  in  favour  of  your  retraction.  Tho  Roman 
Seuato  were  a  wise  body  ;  they  ofton  yielded  to  the  people;  but  nobo. 
dy  supposed  th  ;ir  concessions  brought  them  into  contempt,  and  they 
continued  illustrious  during  tho  existence  of  the  Commonwealth.  Lot 
us  imitate,  on  this  occasion,  so  groat,  so  successful  an  example,  and 
endeavour,  by  tho  same  means,  to  call  forth  the  affections  of  our  fellow- 
citizens,  and  to  bind  them  to  us  by  the  same  ties. 

John  Rutledge  now  rose  and  endeavoured  to  t  ike  off  the  force  of  the 
arguments  which  had  been  urgod,  but  failing  in  his  endeavours,  he 
only  added  to  the  many  instances  he  had  previously  given  of  his  ability 
as  a  good  speaker.  Tho  debate  was  then  closed ;  and  the  question 
being  put,  was  carried  in  the  affirmative.  It  is  worthy  of  remark,  that 
this  is  the  first  instance  of  a  point  of  importance  and  controversy  being 
carried  against  those,  by  whose  opinions  the  people  had  been  long  gov- 
erned. And  suoh  was  the  powerful  effet  of  habit,  tint  this  important 
question  was  carried  only  by  a  majority  of  one  voice — thirty.fiva 
against  thirty-four. — Drayton, 


165 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775. 


166 


or  the  laws  of  society.  We  are  greatly  alarmed  at  the 
resolution  to  suspend  our  commercial  intercourse  with 
Great  Britain.  To  stop  her  imports  must  be  fatal  to  her ; 
but  to  retain  from  her  our  exports,  by  which  alone  we  can 
be  enabled  to  discharge  the  heavy  debt  we  owe  her,  by 
which  the  balance  of  trade  might  in  a  few  years  prepon- 
derate in  our  favour,  by  which  alone  we  can  be  kept  in 
peace,  or  armed  for  war,  is  a  measure  not  to  be  justified 
by  the  laws  of  morality  or  the  rights  of  policy.  We,  there- 
fore, especially  require  of  you  to  procure  this  resolution  of 
the  Congress  to  be  rescinded.  It  is  a  duty  you  owe  us, 
to  obtain  a  proper  representation  of  the  Tobacco  planters 
in  this  Colony,  for  we  must  deem  a  license  to  any  of  the 
inhabitants  in  America  to  export  Wheat,  Rice,  or  any  other 
commodity  a  partial  exemption  in  their  favour,  and  a  sacri- 
fice of  our  interest  to  a  general  cause,  which  should  only 
be  affected  in  an  equal  degree  with  all  other  object  of  com- 
mercial intercourse.  You  need  not  interfere  with  the 
Quebeck  Bill ;  a  law  respecting  that  conquered  Country  is 
without  our  policy,  and  beyond  our  ideas.  We  hear  daily 
of  personal  insults,  and  invasions  upon  private  property, 
from  those  little  Democracies  erected  in  every  precinct 
through  this  extensive  Continent.  Reduce  these  men,  we 
pray  you,  to  the  rank  of  citizens,  and  let  them  lord  it  over 
their  fellows  no  longer  ! 

Pursue,  gentlemen,  with  prudence  and  fortitude  the  cause 
of  your  Country,  and  you  may  always  depend  upon  the 
protection  of  your  constituents. 


VIRGINIA  CONVENTION. 

At  a  Convention  of  Delegates  for  the  Counties  and  Cor- 
porations in  the  Colony  of  Virginia,  at  the  Town  of  Rich- 
mond, in  the  County  of  Henrico,  on  Monday,  the  20lh  of 
March,  1775.    Present : 

City  of  Williamsburgh. — The  Honourable  PeytonRan- 
dolph,  Esquire. 

Accomack  County. — Isaac  Smith,  Esquire. 

Albemarle. — Thomas  Jefferson  and  John  Walker,  Es- 
quires. 

Amelia. — John  Tabb  and  John  Winn,  Esquires. 
Amherst. —  William  Cabell,  Junior,  and  Joseph  Cabell, 
Esquires. 

Augusta. — Thomas  Lewis,  Samuel  McDowell,  and  John 

Harvie,  Esquires. 
Bedford. — John  Talbot  and  Charles  Lynch,  Esquires. 
Botetourt. — Andrew  Lewis  and  John  Bowyer,  Esquires. 
Brunswick. — Frederick  Maclin  and  Henry  Tazewell, 

Esquires. 

Buckingham. — John  Nicholas  and  Anthony  Winston,  Es- 
quires. 

Berkeley. — Robert  Rutherford  and  Adam  Stephen,  Es- 
quires. 

Caroline. — Edmund  Pendleton  and  James  Taylor,  Esq'rs. 
Charles  City. — Benjamin  Harrison  and  William  Acrill, 
Esquires. 

Charlotte. — Paid  Carrington  and  Isaac  Read,  Esquires. 
Chesterfield. — Archibald  Cary  and  Benjamin  Watkins, 
Esquires. 

Culpepper. — Henry  Pendleton  and  Henry  Field,  Junior, 
Esquires. 

Cumberland. —  William  Fleming  and  John  Mayo,  Es- 
quires. 

Dinwiddie. — John  Bannister  and  William  Watkins,  Es- 
quires. 

Dunmore. — Jonathan  Clarke,  Esquire,  and  Perer  Muhlen- 
burg,  Clerk. 

Elizabeth  City. — Henry  King  and  Wolrich  Westwood, 
Esquires. 

Essex. — James  Edmondson  and  Meriwether  Smith,  Es- 
quires. 

Fairfax. — George  Washington  and  Charles  Broadwater, 
Esquires. 

Fauquier. —  Thomas  Marshall  and  James  Scott,  Esquires. 

Frederick. — Isaac  Zone,  Esquire,  and  Charles  Minn 
Thruston,  Clerk. 

Fincastle. —  William  Christian,  Esquire. 

Gloucester. — Thomas  Whiting  and  Lewis  Burwell,  Es- 
quires. 

Goochland. — John  Woodson  and  Thomas  Mann  Ran- 
dolph, Esquires. 


Halifax. — Nathaniel  Terry  and  Micajah  Watkins,  Es- 
quires. 

Hampshire. — James  Mercer,  Esquire. 
Hanover. — Patrick  Henry,  Junior,  and  John  Syme,  Es- 
quires. 

Henrico. — Richard  Adams  and  Samuel  Du-Val,  Es- 
quires. 

James  City. — Robert  C.  Nicholas  and  William  Norvill. 
Esquires. 

Isle  of  Wight. — John  S.  Wills  and  Josiah  Parker,  Es- 
quires. 

King  George. — Joseph  Jones  and  William  Fitzhugh,  Es- 
quires. 

King  and  Queen. — George  Brooke  and  George  Lync, 
Esquires. 

King  William. — Carter  Braxton,  and  William  Aylett, 
Esquires. 

Lancaster. — James  Selden  and  Charles  Carter,  Esquires. 
Loudoun. — Francis  Peyton  and  Josiah  Clapham,  Es- 
quires. 

Louisa. — Thomas  Johnson  and  Thomas  Walker,  Esquires. 
Lunenburgh. — Richard  Claiborne  and  David  Garland, 
Esquires. 

Middlesex. — Edmund  Berkeley,  Esquire. 
Mecklenburgh. — Robert  Burton  and  Bennett  Goode, 
Esquires. 

Nansemond. — Lemuel  Riddick  and  Willis  Riddick,  Es- 
quires. 

New-Kent. — Burwell  Bassett  and  Bartholomew  Dan- 

dridge,  Esquires. 
Norfolk  County. — Thomas  Newton,  Junior,  and  James 

Holt,  Esquires. 
Northampton. — John  Burton,  Esquire. 
Northumberland. — Rodham  Kenncr  and  Thomas  Jones, 

Esquires. 

Orange. —  Thomas  Barbour  and  James  Taylor,  Esquires. 
Pittsylvania. — Peter  Perkins  and  Benjamin  Lankford, 
Esquires. 

Prince  Edward. — Robert  Lawson  and  John  Nash,  Es- 
quires. 

Prince  George. — Richard  Bland  and  Peter  Poythress, 
Esquires. 

Princess  Anne. —  William  Robinson  and  Christopher 

Wright,  Esquires. 
Prince  William. — Henry  Lee  and  Thomas  Blackburn , 

Esquires. 

Richmond. — Robert  Wormeley  Carter  and  Francis  Light- 
foot  Lee,  Esquires. 

Southampton. — Edwin  Gray  and  Henry  Taylor,  Esquires. 

Spottsylvania. — George  Stubblefield  and  Mann  Page, 
Junior,  Esquires. 

Stafford. — John  Alexander  and  Charles  Carter,  Es- 
quires. 

Surry. — Allen  Cocke  and  Nicholas  Faulcon,  Junior,  Es- 
quires. 

Sussex. — David  Mason  and  Henry  Gee,  Esquires. 
Warwick. —  William  Langhorne,  Esquire. 
Westmoreland. — Richard  Henry  Lee  and  Richard  Lee, 
Esquires. 

York. — Dudley  Digges  and  Thomas  Nelson,  Junior,  Es- 
quires. 

Jamestown. —  Champion  Travis,  Esquire. 
Norfolk  Borough. — Joseph  Hutchings,  Esquire. 

The  Honourable  Peyton  Randolph,  Esquire,  was  unani- 
mously elected  President  of  this  Convention,  and  Mr.  John 
Tazewell,  Clerk  thereof. 

The  President  then  recommended  it  to  the  Convention 
to  proceed  in  the  deliberation  and  discussion  of  the  several 
important  matters  which  should  come  before  them,  with 
that  prudence,  decency,  and  order  which  had  distinguished 
their  conduct  on  all  former  occasions  ;  and  laid  before  the 
Convention  the  proceedings  of  the  Continental  Congress, 
together  with  a  letter  from  Benjamin  Franklin,  William 
Bollan,  and  Arthur  Lee,  Esquires,  advising  that  the  Pe- 
tition to  His  Majesty  had  been  presented  and  graciously 
received. 

Ordered,  That  the  consideration  of  the  Proceedings  of 
the  Continental  Congress  be  postponed  till  to-morrow. 

Resolved,  That  the  Reverend  Mr.  Selden  be  desired  to 
read  prayers  to  the  Convention,  every  morning,  at  nine 
o'clock. 


* 


167 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775. 


168 


Resolved,  That  this  Convention  will  observe,  in  their 
debates,  the  same  rules  and  orders  as  are  established  in  the 
House  of  Burgesses  in  this  Colony. 

Adjourned  till  to-morrow  10  o'clock. 

Tuesday,  March  91,  1775. 

A  Letter  from  the  Inhabitants  of  that  part  of  Augusta 
County  which  lies  to  the  westward  of  the  Alleghany  Moun- 
tain, desiring  that  John  Nevill  and  John  Harvie,  Esquires, 
may  be  admitted  into  this  Convention  as  their  Delegates, 
being  read  ;  upon  a  motion, 

Resolved,  That  the  said  John  Nevill  and  John  Harvie 
be  admitted  as  Delegates  for  the  County  of  Augusta. 

The  Convention  then  took  into  their  consideration  the 
Proceedings  of  the  Continental  Congress,  agreeably  to  the 
order  of  yesterday  ;  but  not  having  time  to  go  through  the 
same,  postponed  the  further  consideration  thereof  till  to- 
morrow. 

Adjourned  till  to-morrow  10  o'clock. 

Wednesday,  March  22,  1775. 

The  Convention  then,  pursuant  to  the  order  of  yester- 
day, resumed  the  consideration  of  the  Proceedings  of  the 
Continental  Congress  ;  and,  after  the  maturest  deliberation, 
came  to  the  following  Resolutions  : 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  this  Convention  doth  entire- 
ly and  cordially  approve  the  Proceedings  and  Resolutions  of 
the  American  Continental  Congress,  and  that  they  consider 
this  whole  Continent  as  under  the  highest  obligations  to  that 
very  respectable  body,  for  the  wisdom  of  their  counsels, 
and  their  unremitted  endeavours  to  maintain  and  preserve 
inviolate  the  just  rights  and  liberties  of  His  Majesty's  duti- 
ful and  loyal  subjects  in  America. 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  the  warmest  thanks  of  this 
Convention,  and  all  the  inhabitants  of  this  Colony,  whom 
they  represent,  are  particularly  due,  and  that  this  just 
tribute  of  applause  be  presented  to  the  Honourable  Peyton 
Randolph,  Esquire,  Richard  Henry  Lee,  George  Wash- 
ington, Patrick  Henry,  Junior,  Richard  Rland,  Benja- 
min Harrison,  and  Edmund  Pendleton,  Esquires,  the 
worthy  Delegates  deputed  by  a  former  Convention  to  re- 
present this  Colony  in  General  Congress,  for  their  cheerful 
undertaking,  and  faithful  discharge  of  the  very  important 
trust  reposed  in  them. 

Adjourned  till  to-morrow  10  o'clock. 

Thursday,  March  23,  1775. 
A  copy  of  the  Petition  and  Memorial  of  the  Assembly 
of  Jamaica  to  the  King's  most  Excellent  Majesty,  was  laid 
before  the  Convention,  and  being  read,  and  maturely  con- 
sidered : 

Resolved,  That  the  unfeigned  thanks,  and  most  grateful 
acknowledgments  of  this  Convention  be  presented  to  that 
very  respectable  Assembly,  for  the  exceeding  generous  and 
affectionate  part  they  have  so  nobly  taken  in  the  unhappy 
contest  between  Great  Britain  and  her  Colonies,  and  for 
their  truly  patriotick  endeavours  to  fix  the  just  claims  of 
the  Colonists  upon  the  most  permanent  constitutional  prin- 
ciples. 

That  the  Assembly  be  assured,  that  it  is  the  most  ardent 
wish  of  this  Colony  (and  we  are  persuaded  of  the  whole 
Continent  of  North  America}  to  see  a  speedy  return  of 
those  halcyon  days  when  we  lived  a  free  and  happy  people. 

Resolved,  That  the  President  be  desired  to  transmit 
these  Resolutions  to  the  Speaker  of  the  Jamaica  Assembly, 
by  the  earliest  opportunity. 

Resolved,  That  a  well  regulated  Militia,  composed  of 
Gentlemen  and  Yeomen,  is  the  natural  strength,  and  only 
security  of  a  free  Government ;  that  such  a  Militia  in  this 
Colony  would  for  ever  render  it  unnecessary  for  the  Mother 
Country  to  keep  among  us,  for  the  purpose  of  our  defence, 
any  Standing  Army  of  mercenary  forces,  always  subver- 
sive of  the  quiet,  and  dangerous  to  the  liberties  of  the  peo- 
ple, and  would  obviate  the  pretext  of  taxing  us  for  their 
support. 

That  the  establishment  of  such  a  Militia  is  at  this  time 
peculiarly  necessary,  by  the  state  of  our  laws  for  the  protec- 
tion and  defence  of  the  Country,  some  of  which  have  al- 
ready expired,  and  others  will  shortly  do  so;  and  that  the 
known  remissness  of  Government,  in  calling  us  together  in 


a  legislative  capacity,  renders  it  too  insecure,  in  this  time 
of  danger  and  distress,  to  rely,  that  opportunity  will  be 
given  of  renewing  them  in  General  Assembly,  or  making 
any  provision  to  secure  our  inestimable  rights  and  liberties 
from  those  farther  violations  with  which  they  are  threat- 
ened. 

Resolved  therefore,  That  this  Colony  be  immediately 
put  into  a  posture  of  defence  ;  and  that  Patrick  Henry, 
Richard  Henry  Lee,  Robert  Carter  Nicholas,  Benjamin 
Harrison,  Lemuel  Riddick,  George  Washington,  Adam 
Stephen,  Andrew  Lewis,  William  Christian,  Edmund 
Pendleton,  Thomas  Jefferson,  and  Isaac  Zone,  Esquires, 
be  a  Committee  to  prepare  a  plan  for  the  embodying,  arm- 
ing, and  disciplining  such  a  number  of  men  as  may  be  suf- 
ficient for  that  purpose. 

Adjourned  till  to-morrow  10  o'clock. 

Friday,  March  24,  1775. 

The  Committee  appointed  for  that  purpose  reported  a 
plan  for  embodying,  arming,  and  disciplining  the  Militia  of 
this  Colony  ;  the  consideration  whereof  is  postponed  till  to- 
morrow. 

Certain  paragraphs  in  the  publick  Papers,  said  to  be 
votes  of  the  House  of  Representatives  of  New-  York,  being 
read, 

The  Convention,  taking  into  their  consideration  that  the 
said  Province  of  New-  York  did,  by  their  Delegates  in  Gen- 
eral Congress,  solemnly  accede  to  the  compact  of  Associa- 
tion there  formed  for  the  preservation  of  American  rights, 
that  a  defection  from  such  their  compact  would  be  a  perfidy 
too  atrocious  to  be  charged  on  a  sister  Colony  but  on  the 
most  authentick  information,  and  also  doubting  whether,  from 
some  radical  defect  in  the  Constitution  of  that  Government, 
the  sense  of  their  House  of  Representatives,  on  questions 
of  this  nature,  should  be  considered  as  the  sense  of  the 
people  in  general,  came  to  the  following  Resolutions: 

Resolved,  That  it  be  an  instruction  to  the  Committee  of 
Correspondence  for  this  Colony,  that  they  procure  authen- 
tick information  from  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  in 
the  Province  of  New-York,  or  otherwise,  whether  their 
House  of  Representatives,  by  any  vote  or  votes  whatsoever, 
have  deserted  the  union  with  the  other  American  Colonies, 
formed  in  General  Congress,  for  the  preservation  of  their 
just  rights  ;  whether  the  other  Colonies  are  to  consider  such 
vote  or  votes  as  declaring  truly  the  sense  of  the  people  of 
their  Province  in  general,  and  as  forming  a  rule  for  their 
future  conduct ;  and,  if  they  are  not  to  be  so  considered, 
that  then  they  inform  us,  by  their  names  and  other  suffi- 
cient descriptions,  of  the  individuals  who  may  have  concur- 
red in  such  vote  or  votes ;  and  that  the  said  Committee  lay 
such  their  information  before  the  next  Convention,  or  As- 
sembly. 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  the  Committees  of  the  sev- 
eral Counties  and  Corporations  in  this  Colony  do  exert 
themselves  in  procuring  and  continuing  Contributions,  for 
supplying  the  necessities  and  alleviating  the  distresses  of 
our  brave  and  worthy  fellow-subjects  of  Boston,  now  suf- 
fering in  the  common  cause  of  American  freedom,  in  such 
manner,  and  so  long  as  their  occasions  may  require. 

Resolved  unanimously,  In  compliance  with  the  recom- 
mendation of  the  late  Continental  Congress,  that  Delegates 
ought  to  be  appointed  to  represent  this  Colony  at  the  ap- 
proaching Congress,  to  be  held  in  the  City  of  Philadelphia, 
the  10th  day  of  May  next. 

Resolved,  That  the  delegation  from  this  Colony  do  con- 
sist of  seven  Members,  and  that  they  be  chosen  by  ballot. 

Adjourned  till  to-morrow,  10  o'clock. 

Saturday,  March  25,  1775. 
Resolved,  As  the  opinion  of  this  Convention,  that,  on 
account  of  the  unhappy  disputes  between  Great  Britain 
and  the  Colonies,  and  the  unsettled  state  of  this  Country, 
the  lawyers,  suitors,  and  witnesses  ought  not  to  attend  the 
prosecution  or  defence  of  civil  suits  at  the  next  General 
Court;  and  it  is  recommended  to  the  several  Courts  of  Jus- 
tice not  to  proceed  to  the  hearing  or  determination  of  suits 
on  their  dockets,  except  attachments ;  nor  to  give  judg- 
ments but  in  the  case  of  Sheriffs  or  other  collectors  for  Mo- 
ney or  Tobacco  received  by  them ;  in  other  cases,  where 
such  judgment  shall  be  voluntarily  confessed,  or  upon  such 


169 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775. 


170 


amicable  proceedings  as  may  become  necessary  for  the  set- 
tlement, division,  or  distribution  of  estates.  And,  during 
this  suspension  of  the  administration  of  justice,  it  is  ear- 
nestly recommended  to  the  people  to  observe  a  peaceable 
and  orderly  behaviour;  to  all  creditors  to  be  as  indulgent 
to  their  debtors  as  may  be,  and  to  all  debtors  to  pay  as  far 
as  they  are  able ;  and  where  differences  may  arise  which 
cannot  be  adjusted  between  the  parties,  that  they  refer  the 
decision  thereof  to  judicious  neighbours,  and  abide  by  their 
determination. 

The  Convention  then  took  into  their  consideration,  ac- 
cording to  the  order  of  yesterday,  the  plan  for  embodying, 
arming,  and  disciplining  the  Militia  ;  which,  being  read, 
and  amended,  was  unanimously  agreed  to,  as  follows  : 

The  Committee  propose  that  it  be  strongly  recommend- 
ed to  the  Colony,  diligently  to  put  in  execution  the  Militia 
Law  passed  in  the  year  1738,  entitled  "  An  Act  for  the 
better  regulating  of  the  Militia,"  which  has  become  in  force 
by  the  expiration  of  all  subsequent  Militia  Laws. 

The  Committee  are  further  of  opinion  that,  as  from  the 
expiration  of  the  above-mentioned  latter  laws,  and  various 
other  causes,  the  legal  and  necessary  disciplining  the  Mili- 
tia has  been  much  neglected,  and  a  proper  provision  of 
Arms  and  Ammunition  has  not  been  made,  to  the  evident 
danger  of  the  community  in  case  of  invasion  or  insurrec- 
tion, it  be  recommended  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  several 
Counties  of  this  Colony  that  they  form  one  or  more  volun- 
teer Companies  of  Infantry  and  Troops  of  Horse,  in  each 
County,  and  to  be  in  constant  training  and  readiness  to  act 
on  any  emergency. 

That  it  be  recommended,  particularly  to  the  Counties  of 
Brunsivick,  Dinwiddie,  Chesterfield,  Henrico,  Hanover, 
Spottsylvania,  King  George,  and  Stafford,  and  to  all 
Counties  below  these,  that  out  of  such,  their  volunteers, 
they  form  each  of  them  one  or  more  Troops  of  Horse  ;  and 
to  all  the  Counties  above  these,  it  is  recommended  that 
they  pay  a  more  particular  attention  to  the  forming  a  good 
Infantry. 

That  each  Company  of  Infantry  consist  of  sixty-eight 
rank  and  file,  to  be  commanded  by  one  Captain,  two  Lieu- 
tenants, one  Ensign,  four  Sergeants,  and  four  Corporals  ; 
and  that  they  have  a  Drummer,  and  be  furnished  with  a 
Drum  and  Colours  ;  that  every  man  be  provided  with  a  good 
Rifle,  if  to  be  had,  or  otherwise  with  a  common  Firelock, 
Bayonet,  and  Cartouch-box.  and  also  with  a  Tomahawk, 
one  pound  of  Gunpowder,  and  four  pounds  of  Ball,  at  least, 
fitted  to  the  bore  of  his  Gun  ;  that  lie  be  clothed  in  a  Hunt- 
ing Shirt,  by  way  of  uniform ;  and  that  all  endeavour,  as 
soon  as  possible,  to  become  acquainted  with  the  military 
exercise  for  Infantry,  appointed  to  be  used  by  His  Majesty 
in  the  year  1764. 

That  each  Troop  of  Horse  consist  of  thirty,  exclusive  of 
Officers ;  that  every  Horseman  be  provided  with  a  good 
Horse,  Bridle,  Saddle,  with  Pistols  and  Holsters,  a  Carbine, 
or  other  short  Firelock,  with  a  Bucket,  a  Cutting  Sword, 
or  Tomahawk,  one  pound  of  Gunpowder,  and  four  pounds 
of  Ball,  at  the  least,  and  use  the  utmost  diligence  in  train- 
ing and  accustoming  his  Horse  to  stand  the  discharge  of 
fire-arms,  and  in  making  himself  acquainted  with  the  mili- 
tary exercise  for  Cavalry. 

That,  in  order  to  make  a  further  and  more  ample  provi- 
sion of  Ammunition,  it  be  recommended  to  the  Committees 
of  the  several  Counties,  that  they  collect  from  their  Con- 
stituents, in  such  manner  as  shall  be  most  agreeable  to 
them,  so  much  money  as  will  be  sufficient  to  purchase  half 
a  pound  of  Gunpowder,  one  pound  of  Lead,  necessary 
Flints  and  Cartridge  Paper,  for  every  tithable  person  in 
their  County ;  that  they  immediately  take  effectual  mea- 
sures for  the  procuring  such  Gunpowder,  Lead,  Flints,  and 
Cartridge  Paper,  and  dispose  thereof,  when  procured,  in 
such  place  or  places  of  safety  as  they  may  think  best:  and 
it  is  earnestly  recommended  to  each  individual  to  pay  such 
proportion  of  the  money  necessary  for  these  purposes  as  by 
the  respective  Committees  shall  be  judged  requisite. 

That  as  it  may  happen  that  some  Counties,  from  their 
situation,  may  not  be  apprized  of  the  most  certain  and 
speedy  method  of  procuring  the  articles  before-mentioned, 
one  General  Committee  should  be  appointed,  whose  busi- 
ness it  should  be  to  procure,  for  such  Counties  as  may 
make  application  to  them,  such  articles,  and  so  much  there- 
of as  the  moneys  wherewith  they  shall  furnish  the  said 


Committee  will  purchase,  after  deducting  the  charges  of 
transportation,  and  other  necessary  expenses. 

Resolved,  That  Robert  Carter  Nicholas,  Thomas  Nel- 
son, and  Thomas  Whiting,  Esquires,  or  any  two  of  them, 
be  a  Committee  for  the  purpose  afore-mentioned. 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  the  most  cordial  thanks  of 
the  people  of  this  Colony  are  a  tribute  justly  due  to  our 
worthy  Governour,  Lord  Dunmore,  for  his  truly  noble, 
wise,  and  spirited  conduct  on  the  late  expedition  against 
o^):  Indian  enemy;  a  conduct  which  at  once  evinces  his 
Excellency's  attention  to  the  true  interests  of  this  Colony, 
and  a  zeal  in  the  Executive  Department  which  no  dangers 
can  divert  or  difficulties  hinder  from  achieving  the  most 
important  services  to  the  people  who  have  the  happiness 
to  live  under  his  administration. 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  the  thanks  of  this  Conven- 
tion be  presented  to  the  gentlemen  Officers  and  Soldiers 
who  lately  so  nobly  defended  this  Colony  from  the  savage 
enemy  on  our  frontiers,  and  by  their  bravery,  not  only  pro- 
cured success  to  our  arms,  but  must  have  convinced  the 
enemy  it  will  be  their  true  interest  to  preserve  the  peace 
on  the  terms  stipulated  by  his  Excellency  Lord  Dunmore ; 
that  we  sincerely  condole  with  the  relations  and  acquaint- 
ance of  those  brave  men  who  so  nobly  fell  in  battle  on  that 
mournful  event,  and  assure  all  who  have  rendered  such 
important  services  to  this  Colony  that,  so  soon  as  oppoitu- 
nity  permits,  we  will  most  cheerfully  do  every  thing  on  our 
part  to  make  them  ample  satisfaction. 

Resolved,  That  Robert  Carter  Nicholas,  Richard  Bland, 
James  Mercer,  Edmund  Pendleton,  Archibald  Cary, 
Charles  Carter  of  Stafford,  Benjamin  Harrison,  Richard 
Henry  Lee,  Josias  Claphum,  George  Washington,  Pat- 
rick Henry,  James  Holt,  and  Thomas  Newton,  Esquires, 
be  a  Committee  to  prepare  a  plan  for  the  encouragement 
of  Arts  and  Manufactures  in  this  Colony. 

The  Convention  then  proceeded  to  the  election  of  Dele- 
gates by  ballot,  to  represent  this  Colony  in  General  Con- 
gress, to  be  held  at  the  City  of  Philadelphia,  on  the  10th 
day  of  May  next ;  when  the  Honourable  Peyton  Ran- 
dolph, Esquire,  George  Washington,  Patrick  Henry, 
Richard  Henry  Lee,  Edmund  Pendleton,  Benjamin  Har- 
rison, and  Richard  Bland,  Esquires,  were  chosen  for  that 
purpose. 

Resolved,  That  Robert  Carter  Nicholas,  Esquire,  be 
desired  to  lay  before  the  Convention,  on  Monday  next,  an 
account  of  the  Money  received  from  the  several  Counties 
and  Corporations  in  this  Colony,  for  the  use  of  the  Dele- 
gates sent  to  represent  this  Colony  in  General  Congress. 

Adjourned  till  Monday,  10  o'clock. 

Monday,  March  27,  1775. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  prepare  a  plan  for  the  en- 
couragement of  Arts  and  Manufactures,  reported  the  fol- 
lowing Resolutions  ;  which,  being  severally  read,  were 
unanimously  agreed  to. 

Whereas,  it  hath  been  judged  necessary  for  the  preser- 
vation of  the  just  rights  and  liberties  of  America,  firmly  to 
associate  against  Importations ;  and  as  the  freedom,  hap- 
piness, and  prosperity  of  a  State  greatly  depend  on  provi- 
ding within  itself  a  supply  of  articles  necessary  for  subsist- 
ence, clothing,  and  defence ;  and  whereas,  it  is  judged 
essential,  at  this  critical  juncture,  to  form  a  proper  plan  for 
employing  the  different  inhabitants  of  this  Colony,  provi- 
ding for  the  poor,  and  restraining  vagrants  and  other  disor- 
derly persons,  who  are  nuisances  to  every  society;  a  regard 
for  our  Country,  as  well  as  common  prudence,  call  upon 
us  to  encourage  Agriculture,  Manufactures,  economy,  and 
the  utmost  industry :  Therefore,  this  Convention  doth 
Resolve  as  follows: 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  it  be  earnestly  recommend- 
ed to  the  different  Magistrates,  Vestries  and  Church- 
wardens throughout  this  Colony,  that  they  pay  a  proper 
attention,  and  strict  regard  to  the  several  Acts  of  Assembly 
made  for  the  restraint  of  vagrants  and  the  better  employing 
and  maintaining  the  poor. 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  from  and  after  the  first  day 
of  May  next,  no  person  or  persons  whatever  ought  to  use, 
in  his  or  their  families,  unless  in  case  of  necessity,  and  on 
no  account  sell  to  butchers,  or  kill  for  market,  any  Sheep 
under  four  years  old ;  and  where  there  is  a  necessity  for 
using  any  mutton  in  his,  her,  or  their  families,  it  is  recom- 


171 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775. 


172 


mended  to  kill  such  only  as  are  least  profitable  to  be 
kept. 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  the  setting  up  and  promo- 
ting Woollen,  Cotton,  and  Linen  Manufactures  ought  to  be 
encouraged  in  as  many  different  brandies  as  possible,  espe- 
cially Coating,  Flannel,  Blankets,  Rugs,  or  Coverlids, 
Hosiery,  and  coarse  Cloths,  both  broad  and  narrow. 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  all  persons  having  proper 
lands  for  the  purpose,  ought  to  cultivate  and  raise  a  quanti- 
ty of  Flax,  Hemp,  and  Cotton,  sufficient  not  only  for  the 
use  of  his  or  her  own  family,  but  also  to  spare  to  others  on 
moderate  terms. 

Resolved  unanimously,  As  Salt  is  a  daily  and  indispens- 
able necessary  of  life,  and  the  making  of  it  amongst  our- 
selves must  be  deemed  a  valuable  acquisition,  it  is  therefore 
recommended  that  the  utmost  endeavours  be  used  to  estab- 
lish Salt  Works,  and  that  proper  encouragement  be  given 
to  Mr.  James  Tait,  who  hath  made  proposals,  and  offered 
a  scheme  to  the  publick,  for  so  desirable  a  purpose. 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  Saltpetre  and  Sulphur, 
being  articles  of  great  and  necessary  use,  the  making, 
collecting,  and  refining  them  to  the  utmost  extent,  be 
recommended,  the  Convention  being  of  opinion  that  it 
may  be  done  to  great  advantage. 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  the  making  of  Gunpowder 
be  recommended. 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  the  manufacturing  of  iron 
into  Nails  and  Wire,  and  other  necessary  articles,  be  recom- 
mended. 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  the  making  of  Steel  ought 
to  be  largely  encouraged,  as  there  will  be  a  great  demand 
for  this  article. 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  the  making  of  different 
kinds  of  Paper  ought  to  be  encouraged  ;  and  as  the  success 
of  this  branch  depends  on  a  supply  of  old  Linen  and 
Woollen  Rags,  the  inhabitants  of  this  Colony  are  desired, 
in  their  respective  families,  to  preserve  these  articles. 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  whereas  Wool  Combs, 
Cotton  and  Wool  Cards,  Hemp  and  Flax  Heckles,  have 
been  for  some  time  made  to  advantage  in  some  of  the 
neighbouring  Colonics,  and  are  necessary  for  carrying  on 
Linen  and  Woollen  Manufactures,  the  establishing  such 
Manufactures  be  recommended. 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  the  erecting  Fulling  Mills 
and  mills  for  breaking,  swingling,  and  softening  Hemp  and 
Flax,  and  also  that  the  making  Grindstones  be  recom- 
mended. 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  the  brewing  Malt  Liquors 
in  this  Colony  would  tend  to  render  the  consumption  of 
foreign  Liquors  less  necessary.  It  is  therefore  recommended 
that  proper  attention  be  given  to  the  cultivation  of  Hops 
and  Barley. 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  it  be  recommended  to  all 
the  inhabitants  of  this  Colony,  that  they  use,  as  the  Con- 
vention engageth  to  do,  our  own  Manufactures,  and  those 
of  other  Colonies,  in  preference  to  all  others. 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  for  the  more  speedily  and 
effectually  carrying  these  Resolutions  into  execution,  it  be 
earnestly  recommended  that  Societies  be  formed  in  different 
parts  of  this  Colony  ;  and  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  Conven- 
tion, that  proper  Premiums  ought  to  be  offered  in  the 
several  Counties  and  Corporations,  to  such  persons  as  shall 
excel  in  the  several  branches  of  Manufactures,  and  it  is 
recommended  to  the  several  Committees  of  the  different 
Counties  and  Corporations,  to  promote  and  encourage  the 
same  to  the  utmost  of  their  power. 

The  Members  of  the  Convention  then,  in  order  to  en- 
courage Mr.  James  Tait,  who  is  about  to  erect  Salt  Works, 
undertook,  for  their  respective  Counties,  to  pay  the  sum  of 
Ten  Pounds  to  Robert  Carter  Nicholas,  Esquire,  for  the 
use  of  the  said  James  Tait,  on  or  before  the  10th  day  of 
May  next. 

His  Excellency  the  Governour  having,  by  Proclamation 
bearing  date  the  21fit  dayof  March,  in  the  present  year, 
declared  that  His  Majesty  hath  given  orders,  that  all  vacant 
Lands  within  this  Colony  shall  he  put  up  in  lots  at  publick 
sale,  and  that  the  highest  bidder  for  such  lots  shall  be  the 
purchaser  thereof,  and  shall  hold  the  same  subject  to  a 
reservation  of  one-half  penny  sterling  per  acre,  by  way  of 
annual  quilrcnt,  and  of  all  Mines  ol"  gold,  silver,  and  pre- 


cious stones,  which  terms  are  an  innovation  on  the  estab- 
lished usage  of  granting  Lands  within  this  Colony  : 

Resolved,  That  a  Committee  be  appointed  to  inquire 
whether  His  Majesty  may,  of  right,  advance  the  terms  of 
granting  Lands  in  this  Colony,  and  make  report  thereof  to 
the  next  General  Assembly  or  Convention  ;  and  that,  in 
the  mean  time,  it  be  recommended  to  all  persons  whatever 
to  forbear  purchasing  or  accepting  grants  of  Lands  on  the 
conditions  before-mentioned ;  and  that  Patrick  Henry, 
Richard  Bland,  Thomas  Jefferson,  Robert  Carter  Nicho- 
las, and  Edmund  Pendleton,  Esquires,  be  appointed  of  the 
said  Committee. 

Resolved,  That  the  Delegates  from  the  several  Coun- 
ties in  this  Colony,  as  also  from  the  City  of  Williamsburgh , 
and  Borough  of  Norfolk,  do,  without  delay,  apply  to  their 
respective  Counties  and  Corporations  for  Fifteen  Pounds, 
current  money,  and  transmit  the  same,  so  soon  as  collect- 
ed, to  Robert  Carter  Nicholas,  Esquire,  for  the  use  of  the 
Deputies  sent  from  this  Colony  to  the  General  Congress. 

On  a  motion  made, 

Resolved,  That  Thomas  Jefferson,  Esquire,  be  appoint- 
ed a  Deputy  to  represent  this  Colony  in  General  Congress, 
in  the  room  of  the  Honourable  Peyton  Randolph,  Esquire, 
in  case  of  the  non-attendance  of  the  said  Peyton  Randolph, 
Esquire. 

Resolved,  That  the  said  Deputies,  or  any  four  of  them, 
be  a  sufficient  number  to  represent  this  Colony  in  General 
Congress. 

Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  this  Convention  be  pre- 
sented to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Selden,  for  performing  Divine  Ser- 
vice, and  for  his  seasonable  and  excellent  Sermon  yester- 
day. 

Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  this  Convention  are  justly 
due  to  the  Town  of  Richmond  and  the  neighbourhood,  for 
their  polite  reception  and  entertainment  of  the  Delegates. 

Mr.  Alexander  Purdie  having  offered  to  print  the  pro- 
ceedings of  this  Convention,  for  the  use  of  the  Members 
thereof,  it  is  ordered,  that  the  Clerk  deliver  him  a  copy  of 
the  said  proceedings  for  that  purpose. 

Resolved,  That  this  Convention  doth  consider  the  dele- 
gation of  its  members  as  now  at  an  end  ;  and  that  it  be 
recommended  to  the  People  of  this  Colony  to  choose  Dele- 
gates to  represent  them  in  Convention  for  one  year,  as  soon 
as  they  conveniently  can. 

Peyton  Randolph,  President. 

John  Tazewell,  Clerk  of  the  Convention. 


FIELD  OFFICERS,  FOR  NEW-C ASTLE  COUNTY,  DELAWARE. 

On  Monday,  the  20th  of  March,  agreeable  to  appoint- 
ment, the  Captains  and  Subaltern  Officers  of  Neiv-Castlc 
County  (Delaware)  met  at  Christiana  Bridge  to  choose 
commanders,  when  the  following  gentlemen  were  chosen, 
viz :  For  the  Upper  Division,  James  McKinley,  Esquire, 
Colonel ;  James  Latimer,  Esq.,  Lieutenant  Colonel ;  Tho- 
mas Duff,  Esq.,  Major.  For  the  Lower  Division  :  Tho- 
mas Cooch,  Esq.,  Colonel :  Samuel  Patterson,  Lieutenant 
Colonel;  Cunning  Bedford,  Major. 


CHESTER-COUNTY  (PENNSYLVANIA)  COMMITTEE. 

March  20,  1775. 

Pursuant  to  adjournment,  and  publick  notice  given,  the 
Committee  of  Chester  County  met  at  the  house  of  Richard 
Cheyney,  in  East-Cain. 

On  motion,  Ordered,  That  Mr.  Hockley,  Mr.  Johnston, 
Mr.  Gronoiv,  Mr.  Lloyd,  Mr.  Frazer,  Mr.  Moore,  and  Mr. 
Taylor,  be,  and  they  are  hereby  appointed  a  Committee  to 
essay  a  draught  of  a  Petition  to  present  to  the  General  As- 
sembly of  this  Province,  with  regard  to  the  manumission 
of  Slaves  ;  especially  relating  to  the  freedom  of  infants 
hereafter  born  of  black  women  within  this  Colony  ;  and  do 
make  report  of  the  same  to  this  Committee  at  their  next 
meeting. 

On  motion,  Ordered,  That  each  member  in  this  Com- 
mittee will  use  his  utmost  diligence  in  collecting  the  several 
sums  of  money  subscribed  for  the  use  of  Boston,  and  pay 
the  same  into  the  hands  of  Anthony  Wayne,  Esq.,  Trea- 
surer, at  the  next  meeting  of  this  Committee. 


173 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775. 


174 


The  Committee  then  adjourned  to  meet  at  the  house  of 
Mr.  David  Coupland,  in  the  Borough  of  Chester,  on  Wed- 
nesday, the  31st  of  May  next. 

By  order  of  the  Committee  : 

Francis  Johnston,  Secretary. 


LETTER  FROM  BOSTON  TO  NEWPORT,  RHODE-ISLAND, 
DATED  MARCH  20,  1775. 

We  are  constantly  agitated  by  hearing  complaints  from 
different  persons,  of  the  more  than  savage  barbarity  of  the 
Soldiers,  encouraged,  and  often  joined  and  headed  by  the 
Officers.  They  are  now  become  so  insolent,  that  it  is 
hardly  safe  to  walk  the  streets  at  noon-day,  and  there  seems 
to  be  no  check  or  control ;  but  they  are  rather  countenanced 
and  encouraged  by  their  superiours  in  their  lawless  out- 
rage. They  appear  to  me  to  be  a  banditti  of  licensed 
free-booters,  just  let  loose  upon  us,  for  the  innocent  and 
laudable  purposes  of  robberies,  rapes,  and  murders ;  nor 
can  1  at  present  see  any  prospect  of  avoiding  these  calam- 
ities, but  by  a  general  evacuation  of  the  Town.  The  late 
news  seems  to  increase  their  insolence,  which  was  barely 
tolerable  before.  The  reason  is  obvious :  the  common 
soldiers  and  their  wives  have  frequently  and  loudly  com- 
plained of  the  fallacy  and  injustice  of  the  officers,  who 
promised  them  fine  houses,  rich  plunder,  and  a  thousand 
other  gratifications,  which  they  hoped  to  be  in  possession 
of  long  before  this,  the  expectation  of  which  has,  in  my 
opinion,  prevented  the  desertion  of  hundreds ;  but  they 
grow  more  and  more  impatient,  so  that  I  fear  violence  will 
sooner  or  later  take  place,  let  what  will  be  the  determina- 
tions in  England,  unless  some  method  can  be  adopted  to 
prevent  or  restrain  them,  tantamount  to  leaving  the  Town, 
as  the  people  in  general  do  not  seem  inclined  to  go  out. 

On  Thursday  last  a  friend  of  mine  was  beat  stone  blind 
by  some  soldiers  on  the  Neck,  in  presence  of  their  com- 
manding officer,  who  seemed  to  be  highly  gratified,  and  on 
Saturday  1  saw  three  men  (two  white  and  one  black)  who 
had  just  before  been  most  barbarously  cut  and  mangled  by 
a  gang  of  those  military  highwaymen,  who  have  for  a  long 
time  infested  our  out-passage  to  and  from  the  Town.  Their 
method  is  for  a  large  party,  some  with  swords  or  cutlasses, 
others  with  guns  and  bayonets  fixed,  to  surround  an  un- 
armed man,  and  order  him  to  deliver,  after  which  they 
mangle  the  poor  wretch  till  their  malice  is  sufficiently 
glutted,  then  suffer  him,  if  able,  to  crawl  away. 


LETTER  FROM  A  GENTLEMAN"  IN  THE  SERVICE  OF  AN  OFFI- 
CER OF  STATE  AT  PARIS,  TO  HIS  FRIEND  IN  NEWPORT, 
RHODE-ISLAND. 

My  dear  Chevalier:  You  are  nearly  of  my  opinion 
respecting  the  affairs  between  Great  Britain  and  her  Col- 
onies. Believe  me,  some  years  have  elapsed  since  the 
scheme  was  projected  for  the  alteration  of  Government. 
As  soon  as  the  project  was  resolved  upon  the  Cabinet  of 
Great  Britain  used  all  possible  means  to  procure  peace 
with  her  neighbouring  Nations.    The  fall  of  the  Duke  de 

Ch  '  was  a  mark  of  the  highest  complaisance  to  her. 

It  is  well  known  that  this  Minister  (though  in  disgrace) 
directed  all,  or  at  least  the  greater  part  of  the  business  of 
our  Cabinet.  Britain  was  well  enough  assured  that  they 
could  keep  the  House  of  Bourbon  still ;  but  Spain  had 
given  such  instructions  to  her  Ambassador  as  would  have 
caused  a  rupture,  had  they  been  observed.  But  Prince 
Masserano  was  recalled. 

The  death  of  Louis  the  Fifteenth,  set  the  spirits  of  our 
people  in  agitation,  the  old  Parliament  made  remonstrances, 
and  our  clergy  murmurs,  on  account  of  the  new  regula- 
tions against  them.  It  was  then  Lord  North  caused  a 
report  to  circulate  at  L'jndon,  of  his  being  ill,  that  he 
might  come  to  Paris  incog,  in  order  to  ascertain  himself 
of  the  disposition  of  our  Court.  He  remained  there  but 
two  days,  which  time  he  spent  in  conference  with  the  Min- 
istry, who,  like  another  Danas,  were  tempered  by  the 
British  gold  scattered  by  Jupiter  North.  His  policy  was 
seducing,  and  retained  us  in  the  same  state  of  inaction  we 
now  continue,  that  he  might  be  at  liberty  to  set  your  part 
of  the  woild  in  confusion. 

Assure  yourself  that  Great  Britain  is  not  much  more 
quiet  than  you  are.    It  is  almost  the  general  opinion  here 


that  a  revolt  will  lake  place  in  England,  if  the  trade  be 
interrupted  between  that  Kingdom  and  the  Colonies. 

The  Royal  family  of  England  is  too  numerous  for  the 
taxes  of  the  Nation  to  maintain  them  alone.  Besides  the 
great  debt  under  which  they  now  labour,  they  expend 
much  for  the  support  of  Hanover ;  this  accounts  why  King 
George  thinks  himself  obliged  to  deal  with  America  as 
Frederick  does  with  his  neighbours. 

Orders  are  given  to  Isle  of  Rhe  for  the  transport  of  four 
thousand  men,  in  two  Frigates  and  three  Ships-of-the-Line, 
to  our  Colonies:  I  cannot  tell  you  their  destination. 

We  are  busy  to  complete  all  the  Regiments  that  are 
deficient.  The  King  has  caused  a  general  state  of  his 
Marine  Force  to  be  laid  before  him  ;  and,  to  conclude,  1 
assure  you  that  a  rupture  between  Spain  and  England  is 
at  no  great  distance. 


By  His  Excellency  the  Right  Honourable  John  Earl  of 
Dunmore,  His  Majesty's  Lieutenunt  and  Governour- 
Gcneral  of  the  Colony  and  Dominion  of  Virginia,  and 
Vice-Admiral  of  the  same: 

A  Proclamation. 

Virginia  to  icit  : 

Whereas  His  Majesty  did,  at  the  request  of  the  As- 
sembly of  this  Colony  permit  the  Western  Boundary 
thereof  to  be  extended  as  the  same  has  been  run  and 
ascertained  by  Colonel  Donelson,  and  other  surveyors 
deputed  for  the  purpose;  and  whereas,  His  Majesty  hath 
for  the  greater  convenience  of,  and  the  preventing  of  liti- 
gation and  disputes  among  such  persons  as  shall  be  inclined 
to  settle  upon  any  of  his  vacant  Lands,  ordered  that  all  that 
tract  of  Land  included  within  the  aforesaid  boundary,  and 
all  other  vacant  Lands  within  this  Colony  be  surveyed  in 
districts,  and  laid  out  in  lots  of  from  one  hundred  to  one 
thousand  acres,  and  as  fast  as  the  said  surveys  shall  be 
completed  by  the  surveyors  duly  authorized,  and  the  sur- 
veys thereof  returned,  that  the  Lands  so  surveyed  and 
allotted  be  put  up  to  publick  sale,  at  such  time  and  place 
as  shall  be  appointed  by  publick  notice  ;  and  that  the  high- 
est bidder  for  such  lots  and  parcels  of  Land  at  such  sales, 
be  the  purchaser  thereof,  and  be  entitled  to  a  grant  in  fee 
simple  of  the  Land  so  purchased  as  aforesaid,  by  letters 
patent  under  the  great  seal  of  the  Colony,  subject  to  no 
conditions  or  reservations  whatever,  other  than  the  pay- 
ment of  the  annual  quitrent  of  one  half-penny  sterling 
per  acre;  and  also  of  all  mines  of  gold,  silver,  and  pre- 
cious stones.    And  whereas  advice  has  been  received,  that 
one  Richard  Henderson,  and  other  disorderly  persons,  his 
associates,  under  pretence  of  a  purchase  made  from  the 
Indians,  contrary  to  the  aforesaid  orders  and  regulations  of 
His  Majesty,  do  set  up  a  claim  to  the  Lands  of  the  Crown 
within  the  limits  of  this  Colony;  I  have  thought  fit,  there- 
fore, to  issue  this  my  Proclamation,  strictly  charging  all 
Justices  of  the  Peace,  Sheriff's,  and  other  officers,  civil 
and  military,  to  use  their  utmost  endeavours  to  prevent  the 
unwarrantable  and  illegal  designs  of  the  said  Henderson, 
and  his  abetters  ;  and  if  the  said  Henderson,  or  others  con- 
cerned with  him,  shall  take  possession  of,  or  occupy  any 
Lands  within  the  limits  of  His  Majesty's  Government  of 
Virginia,  merely  under  any  purchase,  or  pretended  pur- 
chase made  from  Indians,  without  any  other  title  ;  that  he 
or  they  be  required  in  His  Majesty's  name  forthwith  to 
depart,  and  relinquish  the  possession  so  unjustly  obtained  ; 
and  in  case  of  refusal,  and  of  violent  detaining  such  pos- 
session, that  he  or  they  be  immediately  fined  and  impri- 
soned in  the  manner  the  laws  in  such  cases  direct. 

Given  under  my  hand,  and  the  seal  of  the  Colony,  this 
21st  day  of  March,  in  the  fifteenth  year  of  His  Majesty's 
reifn.  Dunmore. 
God  save  the  King. 


Committee  Chamber,  Norfolk,  Va.,  March  21,  1775. 
TO  THE  PUBLICK. 

We,  the  Committee  for  Norfolk  Borough,  find  ourselves 
under  the  disagreeable  necessity  of  publishing  to  the  world 
the  conduct  of  Captain  Sampson,  Master  of  the  Snow 
Elizabeth,  from  Bristol.  It  is  not  in  one  instance  alone 
that  he  has  discovered  his  opposition  to  the  measures 
adopted  for  the  security  of  our  rights  and  liberties,  nor  can 


175 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c.,  MARCH,  1775. 


176 


he,  on  any  account,  justify  his  repeated  prevarications.  It 
is  not  our  business  to  take  notice  of  his  passionate  and  dis- 
respectful behaviour  towards  this  Committee,  nor  his  in- 
discreet conduct  without  doors.  We  shall  confine  ourselves 
to  the  relation  of  the  following  facts:  On  the  Kith  day  of 
February  he  informed  the  Committee  of  his  arrival  with  a 
quantity  of  Salt,  that  his  Snow  wanted  repairs,  and  as  he 
should  find  it  necessary  to  heave  her  down  here,  he  de- 
manded the  consent  of  this  Committee  to  store  the  Salt 
till  the  Snow  could  be  refitted.  The  Committee,  after 
careful  inquiries,  (some  of  his  answers  to  which  we  find  to 
be  false,)  did,  at  length,  consent,  upon  condition  the  Salt 
should  be  taken  on  board  again  as  soon  as  possible,  which 
Captain  Samj)son  promised  to  do.  Thus  matters  rested 
till  the  8th  of  March,  when  this  Committee  were  surprised 
with  information,  that  he  had  given  bond  at  the  Custom- 
House,  and  was  taking  in  Lumber  without  the  Salt.  He 
was  sent  for,  and  after  discovering  a  great  degree  of  heat, 
did,  at  length,  give  his  repeated  promise  to  take  the  Salt 
on  board  as  soon  as  possible,  and  that  he  would  begin  the 
next  day.  More  than  a  week,  however,  has  elapsed,  and 
he  has  as  yet  complied  with  no  part  of  his  promise,  nor 
taken  any  of  the  Salt  on  board  again,  but  has  actually  ap- 
plied for  protection  to  the  Ship-of-War  now  in  this  harbour, 
under  whose  stern  the  Snow  lies,  where  it  appears  he  in- 
tends to  load  with  Grain.  We,  the  Committee,  do  there- 
fore declare  Captain  Sampson  a  violator  of  the  Association, 
and  an  enemy  to  American  liberty  ;  and  we  trust  the  Mer- 
chants, Planters,  and  Skippers  of  Vessels  in  this  Colony, 
will  make  him  feel  their  righteous  indignation,  by  breaking 
off  all  kinds  of  dealings  with  him,  and  that  they  will,  in  no 
wise,  be  aiding  or  assisting  in  procuring  a  cargo  for  a  man, 
who,  from  the  whole  tenour  of  his  late  conduct,  has  openly 
set  the  good  people  of  this  Country  at  defiance,  and  con- 
tributed his  utmost  endeavours  to  destroy  their  most  essen- 
tial interests. 

Matthew  Phripp,     John  Boush, 
James  Taylor,  Robert  Taylor, 

John  Hutchings,      T.  Claiborne, 
John  Lawrence,        Samuel  Inglis. 
Thomas  Ritson, 
Extract  from  the  minutes : 

William  Davies,  Secretary. 

N.  B.  The  other  Members  of  the  Committee  were  out 
of  Town  at  the  time  of  signing. 


TALBOT  COUNTY (MARYLAND)  COMMITTEE. 

March  21,  1775. 

A  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Observation  for  Talbot 
County  being  requested  by  Mr.  Charles  Crookshanks,  on 
Tuesday,  the  21st  of  March.  1775,  the  following  gentle- 
men did  accordingly  meet  at  Mr.  Brascup's  Tavern,  viz: 

James  Lloyd  Chambcrlaine,  Esq.,  Chairman,  James 
Hindman,  Dr.  Moses  Allen,  John  Stevens,  John  Cochran, 
Nathaniel  Cooper,  John  Gibson,  Jacob  Hindman,  Francis 
Baker,  William  Hindman,  Boberl  Lloyd  Nicols,  Samuel 
Thomas,  Thomas  Bay,  Thomas  Martin,  Jun.,  Samuel 
Sharp,  Dr.  John  Troup. 

Mr.  Crookshanks  thereupon  made  the  following  Report : 
That  the  Ship  Baltimore,  James  Longmuir,  consigned  to 
himself  by  Messrs.  Spiers,  French  h  Co.,  had  arrived  the 
evening  before,  with  two  bales  of  Goods  on  board,  which, 
as  would  appear  by  letters  he  was  ready  to  produce  from 
the  said  gentlemen,  had  been  shipped  at  Glasgow,  Novem- 
ber 10th,  1774,  and  were  part  of  a  cargo  intended  to  have 
been  sent  by  a  former  Ship ;  that  the  said  Longmuir  came 
by  the  way  of  Botterdam,  and  had  been  there  detained  by 
the  ice,  which  had  protracted  his  voyage.  The  Commit- 
tee, upon  examination,  being  satisfied  of  the  truth  of  the 
above  report,  were  of  opinion  that  no  imputation  ought  to 
be  thrown  upon  the  said  Company,  of  an  intention  to  con- 
travene the  Non-Importation  Agreement  entered  into  by 
the  Colonies,  as  it  was  not  possible  for  them  to  receive  an 
account  of  the  proceedings  of  the  Continental  Congress, 
at  the  time  of  shipping  the  said  Goods  ;  and  as  Mr.  Crook- 
shanks  voluntarily  proposed,  and  solemnly  plighted  his 
honour,  that  the  said  bales  should  not  be  landed,  but  sent 
back  in  the  same  bottom,  the  Committee  were  much 
pleased  with  his  readiness  to  comply  with  the  Resolution 
of  the  Continental  Congress,  accepted  the  proposal,  and 


resolved  unanimously  that  the  said  Goods  be  sent  back  to 
Glasgow  in  the  same  Ship  without  landing. 

Charles  Troupe,  Clerk  pro  tern. 

ALBANY  (NEW-YORK)  COMMITTEE. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  for 
the  City  and  County  of  Albany,  held  the  21st  day  of 
March,  1775: 

Besolved  unanimously,  That  Abraham  Yates,  Jun., 
Esq.,  Walter  Livingston,  Esq.,  Colonel  Schuyler,  Colonel 
Ten  Broeck,  and  Colonel  Feter  B.  Livingston,  are  ap- 
pointed to  represent  the  City  and  County  of  Albany  at  the 
intended  Provincial  Congress  to  be  held  at  the  City  of 
New-  York,  the  20th  day  of  April  next,  for  the  purpose  of 
appointing  Delegates  to  represent  this  Colony  at  the  next 
Continental  Congress,  to  be  held  at  Philadelphia  the  10th 
day  of  May  next.    By  order  of  the  Committee  : 

John  N.  Bleecker,  Clerk. 


RENSSELAERWYCK  MANOR  (nEW-YORk)  COMMITTEE. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Inspection  for  the 
Manor  of  Rensselaer wyck,  held  the  21st  of  March,  1775, 
it  was  unanimously  resolved,  that  the  thanks  of  this  Com- 
mittee be  given  to  Colonel  Abraham  Ten  Broeck,  Colonel 
Philip  Schuyler,  and  Colonel  Peter  Livingston,  for  their 
faithful  services  in  the  cause  of  liberty,  in  the  last  session 
of  the  General  Assembly  of  this  Colony. 
By  order  of  the  Committee  : 

Abraham  J.  Lansing,  Chairman. 


Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess  County,  N.  Y.,  March  23,  1775. 
On  the  21st  of  March,  a  few  friends  to  liberty  met  at 
the  house  of  Mr.  John  Bailey,  about  two  or  three  miles 
from  Poughkeepsie,  and  erected  a  pole  on  his  land,  with  a 
flag  on  it,  bearing  on  one  side  the  King,  and  on  the  other 
the  Congress  and  Liberty;  but  the  Sheriff  of  Dutchess 
County  the  next  day,  attended  by  a  Judge  of  the  Inferiour 
Court,  two  of  His  Majesty's  Justices  of  the  Peace,  and  a 
Constable,  with  some  others,  friends  to  constitutional  liberty 
and  good  order,  cut  the  same  down,  as  a  publick  nuisance. 


FAIRFIELD  (CONNECTICUT)  COMMITTEE. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Inspection  for  the 
Town  of  Fairfield,  in  Connecticut,  held  in  Fairfield,  on 
the  21st  day  of  this  instant  March  : 

Daniel  Wheeler,  Obadiah  Piatt,  and  Ebenezer  Hall,  all 
of  said  Fairfield,  being  duly  notified  to  appear  before  said 
Committee,  and  answer  to  the  complaints  made  against 
them,  did  not  appear. 

Whereupon  the  Committee  proceeded  to  examine  the 
evidences,  and  upon  a  full  and  impartial  hearing  of  them, 
they  were  unanimously  of  opinion  that  the  said  Wfieeler, 
Piatt,  and  Hall,  were  guilty  of  a  breach  of  the  Associa- 
tion of  the  Continental  Congress ;  and  that,  pursuant  to 
the  directions  of  the  County  Congress,  all  connections, 
commerce,  and  dealings,  ought  to  be  withdrawn  from  them 
by  every  friend  to  his  Country. 

And  ordered,  That  the  Clerk  of  this  Committee  make 
this  judgment  publick,  that  they  may  be  dealt  with  ac- 
cordingly. 

Thaddeus  Burr,  Clerk  to  the  Committee. 


SAMUEL  ADAMS  TO  R.  H.  LEE. 

Boston,  March  21,  1775. 
Sir  :  I  am  much  obliged  to  you  for  your  favour  of 
4th  of  February  last,  by  Captain  Layton.  From  the  be- 
ginning of  this  great  contest  with  the  Mother  Country,  I 
have  seen  Virginia  distinguishing  herself  in  the  support  of 
American  liberty;  and  in  the  liberal  donations  received 
from  all  parts  of  that  Colony  for  the  sufferers  in  this  Town, 
we  have  had  abundant  testimonies  of  their  unanimity  and 
zeal  for  that  all-important  cause.  I  have  the  pleasure  to 
assure  you,  that  the  people  of  this  Colony,  (saving  a  few 
detestable  men,  most  of  whom  are  in  this  Town,)  are  also 
firm  and  united.  General  Gage  is  still  here,  with  eleven 
Regiments,  besides  several  detachments;  yet,  it  is  generally 
supposed,  that  there  are  not  more  than  two  thousand  five 
hundred  effective  men  in  all.  They  have  been  very  sickly 
through  the  winter  past ;  many  have  died,  and  many  others 


177 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775. 


178 


have  deserted.  I  have  seen  a  joint  list,  and  I  believe  it  to 
be  a  true  one,  of  the  Royal  Irish,  and  the  detachments 
from  the  Fifty-Sixth,  in  which  the  whole  number  was  one 
hundred  and  sixty-seven,  and  only  one  hundred  and  two 
of  them  effective.  But  though  the  number  of  the  Troops 
is  diminished,  the  insolence  of  the  Officers  (at  least  some 
of  them)  is  increased.  In  private  rencontres,  I  have  not 
heard  of  a  single  instance  of  their  coming  off  other  than 
second  best.  I  will  give  you  several  instances  of  their 
behaviour  in  publick.  On  the  6th  instant  there  was  an 
adjournment  of  one  of  our  Town-meetings,  when  an  ora- 
tion was  delivered  in  commemoration  of  the  massacre  on 
the  5th  of  March,  1770.  I  had  long  expected  that  they 
would  take  that  occasion  to  beat  up  a  breeze,  and,  there- 
fore, (seeing  many  of  the  Officers  present  before  the  orator 
came  in,)  as  moderator  of  the  meeting,  I  took  care  to  have 
them  treated  with  civility,  inviting  them  into  convenient 
seats,  &ic,  that  they  might  have  no  pretence  to  behave  ill ; 
for  it  is  a  good  maxim,  in  politicks  as  well  as  in  war,  to 
put  and  keep  the  enemy  in  the  wrong.  They  behaved 
tolerably  well  until  the  oration  was  finished,  when,  upon  a 
motion  made  to  appoint  another  orator,  as  usual,  they  began 
to  hiss,  which  irritated  the  assembly  to  the  greatest  degree, 
and  confusion  ensued ;  they,  however,  did  not  gain  their 
end,  which  was  apparently  to  break  up  the  meeting,  for 
order  was  soon  restored,  and  we  proceeded  regularly  and 
finished  the  business.  I  am  persuaded,  that  were  it  not 
for  the  danger  of  precipitating  a  crisis,  not  a  man  of  them 
would  have  been  spared.  It  was  provoking  enough  to  the 
whole  corps,  that  while  there  were  so  many  Troops  stationed 
here,  with  the  design  of  suppressing  Town-meetings,  there 
should  yet  be  one  for  the  purpose  of  delivering  an  oration 
to  commemorate  a  massacre  perpetrated  by  Soldiers,  and 
to  show  the  danger  of  Standing  Armies ;  they,  therefore, 
it  seems,  a  few  days  after,  vented  their  passion  on  a  poor 
simple  countryman,  the  state  of  whose  case  is  drawn  up  by 
himself,  and  sworn  to  before  a  Magistrate,  as  you  will  see 
by  the  enclosed  ;  thus  you  see,  that  the  practice  of  tarring 
and  feathering,  which  has  so  often  been  exclaimed  against 
by  the  Tories,  and  even  in  the  British  House  of  Commons, 
as  inhuman  and  barbarous,  has,  at  length,  been  revived  by 
some  of  the  polite  Officers  of  the  British  Army,  stationed 
in  this  place  professedly  to  prevent  riots.  Some  gentle- 
men of  the  Town  waited  on  the  General  on  this  occasion  ; 
he  appeared  to  be  angry  at  it,  and  declared  that  he  knew 
nothing  about  any  such  design  ;  he  said  that  he  had,  indeed, 
heard  an  irregular  beat  of  the  drum,  (for  they  passed  by  his 
house,)  but  thought  they  were  drumming  a  bad  woman 
through  the  streets !  This,  to  be  sure,  would  not  have 
been  a  riot.  The  Selectmen  of  Billerica,  an  inland  Town, 
about  thirty  miles  distant,  to  which  the  abused  man  be- 
longed, have  made  a  remonstrance  to  the  General,  a  copy 
of  which  is  enclosed.  The  General  promised  them  that 
he  would  inquire  into  the  matter,  but  we  hear  nothing  more 
about  it.  Some  say  that  he  has  lost  the  command  over 
his  Officers,  and  is  afraid  of  displeasing  them ;  how  this 
may  be  I  cannot  say.  Samuel  Adams. 


COLONEL  E.  DOOLITTLE  TO  JOHN  HANCOCK. 

Petersham,  March  21,  1775. 
Sir  :  Please  to  communicate  the  following  to  your  body. 
Having  received  a  requisition  from  the  honourable  Con- 
gress, directing  of  me  to  make  a  return  of  my  Regiment, 
their  numbers  and  equipments  for  war,  I  have  accordingly 
applied  myself  to  the  business,  but  have  not  as  yet  obtained 
a  return  of  but  two  or  three  companies,  and  if  I  can  obtain 
a  full  account  before  the  Congress  rises,  shall  forward  it 
immediately.  But  we  are  in  a  most  lamentable  situation, 
for  want  of  a  sanction  of  Government  on  our  establishments, 
our  Tory  enemies  using  all  their  secret  machinations  to  di- 
vide us  and  break  us  to  pieces.  Add  to  this  the  difficulties 
that  arise  by  ambitious  men,  who  are  endeavouring  to 
break  our  companies  to  pieces,  in  order  to  get  promotion  ; 
for  as  there  is  no  establishment  but  what  arises  in  the 
breasts  of  individuals,  we  are  continually  breaking  to  pieces, 
and  a  number  of  companies  in  my  Regiment  are  now  in 
such  circumstances ;  and  I  fear  if  we  are  not  soon  called  to 
action,  we  shall  be  like  a  rope  of  sand,  and  have  no  more 
strength.  If  it  may  be  received  with  candour,  I  should  be 
exceedingly  glad  if  our  Continental  Committee  might  be 
Fourth  Series. — Vol.  iu  1 


instructed  to  lay  the  difficulties  we  labour  under  for  want 
of  a  Civil  Constitution  before  that  body,  and  that  they  en- 
deavour to  obtain  their  voice  in  justification  of  this  Province 
in  establishing  one.  God  give  you  all  grace  and  wisdom 
to  direct  you  in  the  important  affairs  of  American  liberty. 
I  remain  your  and  the  publick's  well  wisher  and  humble 
servant,  Ephraim  Doolittle. 

To  the  Honourable  John  Hancock,  President  of  the 
Honourable  Provincial  Congress  of  Massachusetts. 

Frankfort,  March,  1775. 
To  the  Right  Honourable  John  Wilkes,  Lord  Mayor  of 
the  City  of  London,  at  the  Mansion  House: 

Mir  Lord  :  I  am  not  informed  of  any  person  who  has 
business  with  some  merchants  in  Maryland  or  Penrisylva- 
nia.  I  read  the  London  Chronicle,  but  I  do  not  find  out 
any  direction ;  therefore  1  think  it  very  excusable  for  a 
stranger  to  take  the  liberty  to  address  these  lines  to  you, 
as  the  Chief  Magistrate  of  all  the  British  Dominions,  espe- 
cially as  it  gives  me  at  the  same  time  the  opportunity  to 
pay  you  my  respects,  and  to  tell  you  that  I  admired  and 
defended  in  our  Germany,  (where  slavery  prevails,)  always 
your  spirit  and  intrepidity  towards  bad  Ministers,  being  a 
great  lover  and  well  wisher  of  true  English  liberty.  I  live 
in  a  great  City  of  Germany.  Some  weeks  ago  a  printer 
came  to  me,  and  showed  me  two  Bank-notes,*  (not  know- 
ing the  language  nor  the  contents,)  which  two  foreigners 
brought  to  him,  to  reprint  them  exactly ;  I  found  the  one 
to  be  a  Bank-note  of  Annapolis,  in  Maryland,  and  the 
other  of  Pennsylvania,  of  Fifty  and  of  Five  Shillings,  both 
of  1774.  I  was  surprised,  and  told  the  printer  he  should 
not  at  all  meddle  with  the  rascals  who  brought  him  these 
papers.  Afterwards  I  heard  that  they  have  been  at  two 
engravers,  to  get  two  others  counterfeited,  and  they  refused 
likewise.  But  I  don't  doubt  they  will  find  out  in  another 
Town  some  ignorant  or  hungry  engraver  or  printer.  I  beg 
your  Lordship  to  communicate  these  contents  of  my  letter 
to  the  publick,  in  the  London  Chronicle,  to  prevent  any 
mischief  and  imposition  on  the  honest  Americans,  vexed 
not  only  by  taxes,  but  also  by  bad  Bank-notes.  It  will 
give  me  great  pleasure  to  read  in  this  paper  my  notice  to 
frustrate  the  designs  of  these  impostors. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  with  the  greatest  respect,  my 
Lord,  your  most  humble  and  obedient  servant, 

Britannophilus. 

The  above  is  a  true  copy  of  an  original  letter,  delivered 
to  me  by  the  Right  Honourable  the  Lord  Mayor  of  Lon- 
don. Arthur  Lee. 

London,  March  22,  1775. 


PRIVATE  NEGOTIATIONS  OF  DR.  FRANKLIN  IN  LONDON, 
RELATED  IN  A  LETTER  TO  HIS  SON,  DATED  AT  SEA, 
MARCH  22,  1775. 

On  board  the  Pennsylvania  Packet,  Captain  Osborne,  ) 
bound  to  Philadelphia,  March  22,  1775.  \ 

Dear  Son  :  Having  now  a  little  leisure  for  writing,  I 
will  endeavour,  as  I  promised  you,  to  recollect  what  par- 
ticulars I  can  of  the  negotiations  1  have  lately  been  con- 
cerned in,  with  regard  to  the  misunderstandings  between 
Great  Britain  and  America. 

During  the  recess  of  the  last  Parliament,  which  had 
passed  the  severe  Acts  against  the  Province  of  Massachu- 
setts Bay,  the  minority  having  been  sensible  of  their  weak- 
ness as  an  effect  of  their  want  of  union  among  themselves, 
began  to  think  seriously  of  a  coalition.  For  they  saw  in 
the  violence  of  these  American  measures,  if  persisted  in,  a 
hazard  of  dismembering,  weakening,  and  perhaps  ruining 
the  British  Empire.  This  inclined  some  of  them  to  pro- 
pose such  an  union  with  each  other,  as  might  be  more 
respectable  in  the  ensuing  session,  have  more  weight  in 
opposition,  and  be  a  body  out  of  which  a  new  Ministry 
might  easily  be  formed,  should  the  ill  success  of  the  late 
measures,  and  the  firmness  of  the  Colonies  in  resisting 
them,  make  a  change  appear  necessary  to  the  King. 

I  took  some  pains  to  promote  this  disposition,  in  conver- 
sation with  several  of  the  principal  among  the  minority  of 
both  Houses,  whom  I  besought  and  conjured  most  earnest- 
ly not  to  suffer,  by  their  little  misunderstandings,  so  glori- 
*  Meaning  our  bills  of  credit. 

2 


179 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  fcc,  MARCH,  1775. 


ISO 


ous  a  fabrick  as  the  present  British  Empire  to  be  demol- 
ished by  these  blunderers;  and  for  their  encouragement 
assured  them,  as  far  as  my  opinions  could  give  any  assur- 
ance, of  the  firmness  and  unanimity  of  America,  the  con- 
tinuance of  which  was  what  they  had  frequent  doubts  of, 
and  appeared  extremely  apprehensive  and  anxious  con- 
cerning it. 

From  the  time  of  the  affront  given  me  at  the  Council 
Hoard  in  January,  1774,  1  had  never  attended  the  levee  of 
any  Minister.  I  made  no  justification  of  myself  from  the 
charges  brought  against  me  ;  I  made  no  return  of  the  injury 
by  abusing  my  adversaries,  but  held  a  cool  sullen  silence, 
reserving  myself  to  some  future  opportunity;  for  which 
conduct  I  had  several  reasons,  not  necessary  here  to  spe- 
cify. Now  and  then  I  heard  it  said,  that  the  reasonable 
part  of  the  Administration  was  ashamed  of  the  treatment 
they  had  given  me.  I  suspected  that  some  who  told  me 
this,  did  it  to  draw  from  me  my  sentiments  concerning  it, 
and  perhaps  my  purposes ;  but  I  said  little  or  nothing  upon 
the  subject.  In  the  mean  time,  their  measures  with  regard 
to  New-England  failing  of  the  success  that  had  been  con- 
fidently expected,  and  finding  themselves  more  and  more 
embarrassed,  they  began  (as  it  seems)  to  think  of  making 
use  of  me,  if  they  could,  to  assist  in  disengaging  them. 
But  it  was  too  humiliating  to  think  of  applying  to  me 
openly  and  directly,  and  therefore  it  was  contrived  to  ob- 
tain what  they  could  of  my  sentiments  through  others. 

The  accounts  from  America,  during  the  recess,  all  mani- 
fested that  the  measures  of  Administration  had  neither 
divided  nor  intimidated  the  people  there ;  that,  on  the 
contrary,  they  were  more  and  more  united  and  determined, 
and  that  a  Non-Importation  Agreement  was  likely  to  take 
place.  The  Ministry  thence  apprehending  that  this,  by 
distressing  the  trading  and  manufacturing  Towns,  might  in- 
fluence votes  against  the  Court  in  the  elections  for  a  new 
Parliament,  (which  were  in  course  to  come  on  the  succeed- 
ing year,)  suddenly  and  unexpectedly  dissolved  the  old 
one,  and  ordered  the  choice  of  a  new  one  within  the  short- 
est time  admitted  by  law,  before  the  inconveniences  of  that 
agreement  could  begin  to  be  felt,  or  produce  any  such 
effect. 

When  I  came  to  England  in  1757,  you  may  remember 
I  made  several  attempts  to  be  introduced  to  Lord  Chat- 
ham, (at  that  time  first  Minister,)  on  account  of  my  Penn- 
sylvania business,  but  without  success.  He  was  then  too 
great  a  man,  or  too  much  occupied  in  affairs  of  greater 
moment.  I  was  therefore  obliged  to  content  myself  with 
a  kind  of  non-apparent  and  unacknowledged  communica- 
tion through  Mr.  Potter  and  Mr.  Wood,  his  Secretaries, 
who  seemed  to  cultivate  an  acquaintance  with  me  by  their 
civilities,  and  drew  from  me  what  information  1  could  give 
relative  to  the  American  war,  with  my  sentiments  occasion- 
ally on  measures  that  were  proposed  or  advised  by  others, 
which  gave  me  the  opportunity  of  recommending  and  en- 
forcing the  utility  of  conquering  Canada.  I  afterwards 
considered  Mr.  Pitt  as  an  inaccessible ;  I  admired  him  at  a 
distance,  and  made  no  more  attempts  for  a  nearer  acquaint- 
ance. I  had  only  once  or  twice  the  satisfaction  of  hearing, 
through  Lord  Shelburne,  and  I  think  Lord  Stanhope,  that 
he  did  me  the  honour  of  mentioning  me  sometimes  as  a 
person  of  respectable  character. 

But  towards  the  end  of  August  last,  returning  from 
Brighthelmstonc,  I  called  to  visit  my  friend,  Mr.  Sargent, 
at  his  seat,  Hoisted,  in  Kent,  agreeably  to  a  former  engage- 
ment. He  let  me  know  that  he  had  promised  to  conduct 
me  to  Lord  Stanhope's,  at  Chcvening,  who  expected  I 
would  call  on  him  when  I  came  into  that  neighbourhood. 
We  accordingly  waited  on  Lord  Stanhope  that  evening, 
who  told  me  that  Lord  Chatham  desired  to  see  me,  and 
that  Mr.  Sargent's  house,  where  I  was  to  lodge,  being  in 
the  way,  he  would  call  for  me  there  the  next  morning,  and 
carry  me  to  Hayes.  This  was  done  accordingly.  That 
truly  great  man  received  me  with  abundance  of  civility, 
inquired  particularly  into  the  situation  of  affairs  in  Ame- 
rica, spoke  feelingly  of  the  severity  of  the  late  laws  against 
the  Massachusetts,  gave  me  some  account  of  his  speech  in 
opposing  them,  and  expressed  great  regard  and  esteem  for 
the  people  of  that  Country,  who  he  hoped  would  continue 
firm  and  united  in  defending,  by  all  peaceable  and  legal 
means,  their  constitutional  rights.  I  assured  him  that  1 
made  no  doubt  they  would  do  so;  which  he  said  he  was 


pleased  to  hear  from  me,  as  he  was  sensible  I  must  be  well 
acquainted  with  them.  I  then  took  occasion  to  remark  to 
him,  that  in  former  cases  great  Empires  had  crumbled  first 
at  their  extremities,  from  this  cause  ;  that  Countries  remote 
from  the  seat  and  eye  of  Government,  which  therefore 
could  not  well  understand  their  affairs,  for  want  of  full  and 
true  information,  had  never  been  well  governed,  but  had 
been  oppressed  by  bad  Govemours,  on  presumption  that 
complaint  was  difficult  to  be  made  and  supported  against 
them  at  such  a  distance  ;  hence  such  Governours  had  been 
encouraged  to  go  on,  till  their  oppressions  became  intoler- 
able. But  that  this  Empire  had  happily  found,  and  long 
been  in  the  practice  of  a  method,  whereby  every  Province 
was  well  governed,  being  trusted  in  a  great  measure  with 
the  government  of  itself;  that  hence  had  risen  such  satis- 
faction in  the  subjects,  and  such  encouragement  to  new 
settlements,  that  had  it  not  been  for  the  late  wrong  poli- 
ticks, (which  would  have  Parliament  to  be  omnipotent, 
though  it  ought  not  to  be,  unless  it  could  at  the  same  time 
be  omniscient,)  we  might  have  gone  on  extending  our 
western  Empire,  adding  Province  to  Province,  as  far  as  the 
South  Sea.  That  I  lamented  the  ruin  which  seemed  im- 
pending over  so  fine  a  plan,  so  well  adapted  to  make  all  the 
subjects  of  the  greatest  Empire  happy ;  and  I  hoped  that 
if  his  Lordship,  with  the  other  great  and  wise  men  of  the 
British  Nation,  would  unite  and  exert  themselves,  it  might 
yet  be  rescued  out  of  the  mangling  hands  of  the  present  set 
of  blundering  Ministers ;  and  that  the  union  and  harmony 
between  Britain  and  her  Colonies,  so  necessary  to  the 
welfare  of  both,  might  be  restored.  He  replied,  with  great 
politeness,  that  my  idea  of  extending  our  Empire  in  that 
manner  was  a  sound  one,  worthy  of  a  great,  benevolent, 
and  comprehensive  mind  ;  he  wished  with  me  for  a  good 
understanding  among  the  different  parts  of  the  Opposition 
here,  as  a  means  of  restoring  the  ancient  harmony  of  the 
two  Countries,  which  he  most  earnestly  desired  ;  but  he 
spoke  of  the  coalition  of  our  domestick  parties  as  attended 
with  difficulty,  and  rather  to  be  desired  than  expected. 
He  mentioned  an  opinion  prevailing  here,  that  America 
aimed  at  setting  up  for  itself  as  an  independent  State,  or  at 
least  to  get  rid  of  the  Navigation  Acts.  I  assured  him  that, 
having  more  than  once  travelled  almost  from  one  end  of 
the  Continent  to  the  other,  and  kept  a  great  variety  of 
company,  eating,  drinking,  and  conversing  with  them  free- 
ly, I  never  had  heard  in  any  conversation  from  any  person, 
drunk  or  sober,  the  least  expression  of  a  wish  for  a  separa- 
tion, or  a  hint  that  such  a  thing  would  be  advantageous  to 
America ;  and  as  to  the  Navigation  Act,  the  main  material 
part  of  it,  that  of  carrying  on  trade  in  British  or  Plantation 
bottoms,  excluding  foreign  Ships  from  our  Ports,  and  navi- 
gating with  three  quarters  British  seaman,  was  as  accept- 
able to  us  as  it  could  be  to  Britain.  That  we  were  even 
not  against  regulations  of  the  general  Commerce  by  Parlia- 
ment, provided  such  regulations  were  bona  fide  for  the 
benefit  of  the  whole  Empire,  not  for  the  small  advantage  of 
one  part  to  the  great  injury  of  another,  such  as  the  obliging 
our  Ships  to  call  in  England  with  our  wine  and  fruit  from 
Portugal  or  Spain ;  the  restraints  on  our  Manufactures,  in 
the  woollen  and  hat-making  branches,  the  prohibiting  of 
slitting-mills,  steel-works,  he.  He  allowed  that  some 
amendment  might  be  made  in  those  Acts;  but  said  those 
relating  to  the  slitting-mills,  trip-hammers,  and  steel-works, 
were  agreed  to  by  our  agents  in  a  compromise  on  the  oppo- 
sition made  here  to  abating  the  duty. 

In  fine,  he  expressed  much  satisfaction  in  my  having 
called  upon  him,  and  particularly  in  the  assurances  I  had 
given  him  that  America  did  not  aim  at  independence, 
adding  that  he  should  be  glad  to  see  me  again  as  often  as 
might  be.  I  said  I  should  not  fail  to  avail  myself  of  the 
permission  he  was  pleased  to  give  me,  of  waiting  upon  his 
Lordship  occasionally,  being  very  sensible  of  the  honour, 
and  of  the  great  advantages  and  improvement  I  should  reap 
from  his  instructive  conversation,  which  indeed  was  not  a 
mere  compliment. 

The  new  Parliament  was  to  meet  the  29th  of  November, 
1774.  About  the  beginning  of  that  month,  being  at  the 
Royal  Society,  Mr.  Raper,  one  of  our  members,  told  me 
there  was  a  certain  lady  who  had  a  desire  of  playing  with 
me  at  chess,  fancying  she  could  beat  me,  and  had  request- 
ed him  to  bring  me  to  her;  it  was,  he  said,  a  lady  with 
whose  acquaintance  he  was  sure  I  should  be  pleased,  a 


181 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775. 


182 


sister  of  Lord  Howe's,  and  he  hoped  I  would  not  refuse 
the  challenge.  I  said  I  had  been  long  out  of  practice,  but 
would  wait  upon  the  lady  when  he  and  she  should  think  fit. 
He  told  me  where  her  house  was,  and  would  have  me  call 
soon,  and  without  further  introduction,  which  1  undertook 
to  do ;  but  thinking  it  a  little  awkward,  I  postponed  it; 
and  on  the  30th,  meeting  him  again  at  the  feast  of  the 
Society  election,  being  the  day  after  the  Parliament  met, 
he  put  me  in  mind  of  my  promise,  and  that  I  had  not  kept 
it,  and  would  have  me  name  a  day,  when,  he  said,  he 
would  call  for  me  and  conduct  me.  I  named  the  Friday 
following.  He  called  accordingly  ;  I  went  with  him,  play- 
ed a  few  games  with  the  lady,  whom  I  found  of  very  sensi- 
ble conversation  and  pleasing  behaviour,  which  induced  me 
to  agree  most  readily  to  an  appointment  for  another  meet- 
ing a  few  days  afterwards,  though  I  had  not  the  least  appre- 
hension that  any  political  business  could  have  any  connex- 
ion with  this  new  acquaintance. 

On  the  Thursday  preceding  this  chess  party  Mr.  David 
Barclay  called  on  me,  to  have  some  discourse  concerning 
the  meeting  of  merchants  to  petition  Parliament.  When 
that  was  over,  he  spoke  of  the  dangerous  situation  of  Ame- 
rican affairs,  the  hazard  that  a  civil  war  might  be  brought 
on  by  the  present  measures,  and  the  great  merit  that  per- 
son would  have  who  could  contrive  some  means  of  pre- 
venting so  terrible  a  calamity,  and  bring  about  a  reconcilia- 
tion. He  was  then  pleased  to  add,  that  he  was  persuaded, 
from  my  knowledge  of  both  Countries,  my  character  and 
influence  in  one  of  them,  and  my  abilities  in  business,  no 
man  had  it  so  much  in  his  power  as  myself.  I  naturally 
answered,  that  I  should  be  very  happy  if  I  could  in  any 
degree  be  instrumental  in  so  good  a  work,  but  that  I  saw 
no  prospect  of  it ;  for  though  I  was  sure  the  Americans 
were  always  willing  and  ready  to  agree,  upon  any  equita- 
ble terms,  yet  I  thought  an  accommodation  impracticable, 
unless  both  sides  wished  it ;  and  by  what  1  could  judge 
from  the  proceedings  of  the  Ministry,  I  did  not  believe 
they  had  the  least  disposition  towards  it ;  that  they  rather 
wished  to  provoke  the  North  American  people  into  an 
open  rebellion,  which  might  justify  a  military  execution, 
and  thereby  gratify  a  grounded  malice  which  T  conceived  to 
exist  here  against  the  Whigs  and  dissenters  of  that  Coun- 
try. Mr.  Barclay  apprehended  I  judged  too  hardly  of  the 
Ministers;  he  was  persuaded  they  were  not  all  of  that  tem- 
per, and  he  fancied  they  would  be  very  glad  to  get  out  of 
their  present  embarrassment  on  any  terms,  only  saving  the 
honour  and  dignity  of  Government.  He  wished,  therefore, 
that  1  would  think  of  the  matter,  and  he  would  call  again, 
and  converse  with  me  further  upon  it.  I  said  I  would  do 
so,  as  he  requested  it,  but  I  had  no  opinion  of  its  answering 
any  purpose.  We  parted  upon  this.  But  two  days  after 
I  received  a  letter  from  him,  enclosed  in  a  note  from  Dr. 
Fothergill,  both  which  follow. 

Youngebury,  near  Ware,  3d  12  mo.  1774. 

Esteemed  Friend:  After  we  parted  on  Thursday  last, 
I  accidentally  met  our  mutual  friend  Doctor  Fothergill,  in 
my  way  home,  and  intimated  to  him  the  subject  of  our 
discourse  ;  in  consequence  of  which,  I  received  from  him  an 
invitation  to  a  further  conference  on  this  momentous  affair, 
and  I  intend  to  be  in  Town  to-morrow  accordingly,  to  meet 
at  his  house  between  four  and  five  o'clock ;  and  we  unite 
in  the  request  of  thy  company.  We  are  neither  of  us 
insensible,  that  the  affair  is  of  that  magnitude  as  should 
almost  deter  private  persons  from  meddling  with  it ;  at  the 
same  time  we  are  respectively  such  well-wishers  to  the 
cause,  that  nothing  in  our  power  ought  to  be  left  undone, 
though  the  utmost  of  our  efforts  may  be  unavailable.  I 
am  thy  respectful  friend,  David  Barclay. 

Doctor  Franklin,  Craven  Street. 

Doctor  Fothergill  presents  his  respects  to  Doctor 
Franlclin,  and  hopes  for  the  favour  of  his  company  in 
Harper  Street  to-morrow  evening,  to  meet  their  mutual 
friend  David  Barclay,  to  confer  on  American  affairs.  As 
near  five  o'clock  as  may  be  convenient. 

Harper  Street,  3d  inst. 

The  time  thus  appointed  was  the  evening  of  the  day  on 
which  1  was  to  have  my  second  chess  party  with  the  agree- 
able Mrs.  Howe,  whom  I  met  accordingly.  After  playing 
as  long  as  we  liked,  we  fell  into  a  little  chat,  partly  on  a 


mathematical  problem,*  and  partly  about  the  new  Parlia- 
ment then  just  met,  when  she  said,  "  And  what  is  to  be 
done  with  this  dispute  between  Great  Britain  and  the 
Colonies?  I  hope  we  are  not  to  have  a  Civil  War." 
They  should  kiss  and  be  friends,  said  I ;  what  can  they  do 
better  ?  Quarrelling  can  be  of  service  to  neither,  but  is 
ruin  to  both.  "  I  have  often  said,"  replied  she,  "  that  I 
wished  Government  would  employ  you  to  settle  the  dis- 
pute for  them  ;  I  am  sure  nobody  could  do  it  so  well.  Do 
not  you  think  that  the  thing  is  practicable  ?"  Undoubtedly, 
madam,  if  the  parties  are  disposed  to  reconciliation  ;  for 
the  two  Countries  have  really  no  clashing  interests  to  differ 
about.  It  is  rather  a  matter  of  punctilio,  which  two  or 
three  reasonable  people  might  settle  in  half  an  hour.  I 
thank  you  for  the  good  opinion  you  are  pleased  to  express 
of  me ;  but  the  Ministers  will  never  think  of  employing 
me  in  that  good  work  ;  they  choose  rather  to  abuse  me. 
"  Aye,"  said  she,  "  they  have  behaved  shamefully  to  you. 
And  indeed  some  of  them  are  now  ashamed  of  it  them- 
selves." I  looked  upon  this  as  accidental  conversation, 
thought  no  more  of  it,  and  went  in  the  evening  to  the 
appointed  meeting  at  Doctor  Fothergill' s ,  where  I  found 
Mr.  Barclay  with  him. 

The  Doctor  expatiated  feelingly  on  the  mischiefs  likely 
to  ensue  from  the  present  difference,  the  necessity  of  ac- 
commodating it,  and  the  great  merit  of  being  instrumental 
in  so  good  a  work;  concluding  with  some  compliments  to 
me;  that  nobody  understood  the  subject  so  thoroughly, 
and  had  a  better  head  for  business  of  the  kind  ;  that  it 
seemed  therefore  a  duty  incumbent  on  me,  to  do  every  thing 
I  could  to  accomplish  a  reconciliation  ;  and  that  as  he  had 
with  pleasure  heard  from  David  Barclay,  that  I  had  pro- 
mised to  think  of  it,  he  hoped  I  had  put  pen  to  paper,  and 
formed  some  plan  for  consideration,  and  brought  it  with  me. 
I  answered,  that  I  had  formed  no  plan  ;  as  the  more  I 
thought  of  the  proceedings  against  the  Colonies,  the  more 
satisfied  I  was  that  there  did  not  exist  the  least  disposition 
in  the  Ministry  to  an  accommodation  ;  that  therefore  all 
plans  must  be  useless.  He  said,  I  might  be  mistaken  ;  that 
whatever  was  the  violence  of  some,  he  had  reason,  good 
reason,  to  believe  others  were  differently  disposed ;  and 
that  if  I  would  draw  a  plan  which  we  three  upon  consider- 
ing should  judge  reasonable,  it  might  be  made  use  of,  and 
answer  some  good  purpose,  since  he  believed  that  either 
himself  or  David  Barclay  could  get  it  communicated  to 
some  of  the  most  moderate  among  the  Ministers,  who 
would  consider  it  with  attention  ;  and  what  appeared  rea- 
sonable to  us,  two  of  us  being  Englishmen,  might  appear 
so  to  them.  As  they  both  urged  this  with  great  earnest- 
ness, and  when  I  mentioned  the  impropriety  of  my  doint; 
any  thing  of  the  kind  at  the  time  we  were  in  daily  expect- 
ation of  hearing  from  the  Congress,  who  undoubtedly 
would  be  explicit  on  the  means  of  restoring  a  good  under- 
standing, they  seemed  impatient,  alleging  that  it  was  uncer- 
tain when  we  should  receive  the  result  of  the  Congress, 
and  what  it  would  be ;  that  the  least  delay  might  be  dan- 
gerous; that  additional  punishments  for  New-England 
were  in  contemplation,  and  accidents  might  widen  the 
breach,  and  make  it  irreparable;  therefore,  something  pre- 
ventive could  not  be  too  soon  thought  of  and  applied.  I 
was,  therefore,  finally  prevailed  with  to  promise  doing  what 
they  desired,  and  to  meet  them  again  on  Tuesday  evening 
at  the  same  place,  and  bring  with  me  something  for  their 
consideration. 

Accordingly,  at  the  time,  I  met  with  them,  and  produced 
the  following  paper : 

Hints  for  Conversation  upon  the  subject  of  terms  that 
might  probably  produce  a  durable  Union  between  Bri- 
tain and  the  Colonies. 

1.  The  Tea  destroyed  to  be  paid  for. 

2.  The  Tea-duty  Act  to  be  repealed,  and  all  the  duties 
that  have  been  received  upon  it  to  be  repaid  into  the  trea- 
suries of  the  several  Provinces  from  which  they  have  been 
collected. 

3.  The  Acts  of  Navigation  to  be  all  re-enacted  in  the 
Colonies. 

4.  A  Naval  Officer  appointed  by  the  Crown  to  reside  in 
each  Colony,  to  see  that  those  Acts  are  observed. 

*  This  lady  (which  is  a  little  unusual  in  ladies)  has  a  good  deal  of 
mathematical  knowledge.  [Note  of  Dr.  Franklin.] 


* 


183 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1715. 


184 


5.  All  the  Acts  restraining  Manufactures  in  the  Colo- 
nies, to  be  repealed. 

6.  All  Duties  arising  on  the  Acts  for  regulating  Trade 
with  the  Colonies,  to  be  for  the  publick  use  of  the  respect- 
ive Colonies,  and  paid  into  their  Treasuries.  The  Collec- 
tors and  Custom-House  Officers  to  be  appointed  by  each 
Governour,  and  not  sent  from  England. 

7.  In  consideration  of  the  Americans  maintaining  their 
own  Peace  Establishment,  and  the  monopoly  Britain  is  to 
have  of  their  Commerce,  no  requisition  to  be  made  from 
them  in  time  of  peace. 

8.  No  Troops  to  enter  and  quarter  in  any  Colony,  but 
with  the  consent  of  its  Legislature. 

9.  In  time  of  war,  on  requisition  made  by  the  King, 
with  the  consent  of  Parliament,  every  Colony  shall  raise 
money  by  the  following  rules  or  proportions,  viz :  If  Bri- 
tain, on  account  of  the  war,  raises  Three  Shillings  in  the 
Pound  to  its  Land  Tax,  then  the  Colonies  to  add  to  their 
last  general  Provincial  Peace  Tax  a  sum  equal  to  one- 
fourth  thereof;  and  if  Britain  on  the  same  account  pays 
Four  Shillings  in  the  Pound,  then  the  Colonies  to  add  to 
their  said  last  Peace  Tax  a  sum  equal  to  half  thereof; 
which  additional  tax  is  to  be  granted  to  His  Majesty,  and 
to  be  employed  in  raising  and  paying  men  for  land  or  sea 
service,  furnishing  provisions,  transports,  or  for  such  other 
purposes  as  the  King  shall  require  and  direct :  and  though 
no  Colony  may  contribute  less,  each  may  add  as  much  by 
voluntary  grant  as  they  shall  think  proper. 

10.  Castle  William  to  be  restored  to  the  Province  of  the 
Massachusetts-Bay,  and  no  fortress  built  by  the  Crown  in 
any  Province,  but  with  the  consent  of  its  Legislature. 

1 1 .  The  late  Massachusetts  and  Quebeck  Acts  to  be  re- 
pealed, and  a  free  Government  granted  to  Canada. 

12.  All  Judges  to  be  appointed  during  good  behaviour, 
with  equally  permanent  salaries,  to  be  paid  out  of  the 
Province  revenues  by  appointment  of  the  Assemblies:  or, 
if  the  Judges  are  to  be  appointed  during  the  pleasure  of 
the  Crown,  let  the  salaries  be  during  the  pleasure  of  the 
Assemblies,  as  heretofore. 

13.  Governours  to  be  supported  by  the  Assemblies  of 
each  Province. 

14.  If  Britain  will  give  up  its  monopoly  of  the  Ameri- 
can Commerce,  then  the  aid  above-mentioned  to  be  given 
by  America  in  time  of  peace,  as  well  as  in  time  of  war. 

15.  The  extension  of  the  Act  of  Henry  VIII.,  con- 
cerning treasons,  to  the  Colonies,  to  be  formally  disowned 
by  Parliament. 

16.  The  American  Admiralty  Courts  reduced  to  the 
same  powers  they  have  in  England,  and  the  Acts  estab- 
lishing them  to  be  re-enacted  in  America. 

17.  All  powers  of  internal  legislation  in  the  Colonies  to 
be  disclaimed  by  Parliament. 

In  reading  this  paper  a  second  time,  I  gave  my  reasons 
at  length  for  each  article. 

On  the  first  I  observed,  that  when  the  injury  was  done, 
Britain  had  a  right  to  reparation,  and  would  certainly  have 
had  it  on  demand,  as  was  the  case  when  injury  was  done 
by  mobs  in  the  time  of  the  Stamp  Act :  or  she  might  have 
a  right  to  return  an  equal  injury,  if  she  rather  chose  to  do 
that ;  but  she  could  not  have  a  right  both  to  reparation  and 
to  return  an  equal  injury,  much  less  had  she  a  right  to 
return  the  injury  ten  or  twenty  fold,  as  she  had  done  by 
blocking  up  the  Port  of  Boston :  all  which  extra  injury 
ought,  in  my  judgment,  to  be  repaired  by  Britain :  that 
therefore  if  paying  for  the  Tea  was  agreed  to  by  me,  as  an 
article  fit  to  be  proposed,  it  was  merely  from  a  desire  of 
peace,  and  in  compliance  with  their  opinion  expressed  at 
our  first  meeting,  that  this  was  a  sine  qua  non,  that  the 
dignity  of  Britain  required  it,  and  that  if  this  were  agreed 
to,  every  thing  else  would  be  easy :  this  reasoning  was 
allowed  to  he  just ;  but  still  the  article  was  thought  neces- 
sary to  stand  as  it  did. 

On  the  second,  That  the  Act  should  be  repealed,  as 
having  never  answered  any  good  purpose,  as  having  been 
the  cause  of  the  present  mischief,  and  never  likely  to  be 
executed.  That  the  Act  being  considered  as  unconstitutional 
by  the  Americans,  and  what  the  Parliament  had  no  right 
lo  make,  they  must  consider  all  the  money  extorted  by  it 
as  so  much  wrongfully  taken,  and  of  which  therefore 
restitution  ought  to  be  made ;  and  the  rather  as  it  would 


furnish  a  fund,  out  of  which  the  payment  for  the  Tea 
destroyed  might  best  be  defrayed.  The  gentlemen  were 
of  opinion,  that  the  first  part  of  this  article,  viz :  the 
repeal,  might  be  obtained,  but  not  the  refunding  part,  and 
therefore  advised  striking  that  out :  but  as  I  thought  it  just 
and  right,  I  insisted  on  its  standing. 

On  the  third  and  fourth  articles  I  observed,  we  were 
frequently  charged  with  views  of  abolishing  the  Navigation 
Act.  That,  in  truth,  those  parts  of  it  which  were  of  most 
importance  to  Britain,  as  tending  to  increase  its  Naval 
strength,  viz  :  those  restraining  the  Trade,  to  be  carried  on 
only  in  Ships  belonging  to  British  subjects,  navigated  by 
at  least  three  quarters  British  or  Colony  seamen,  &cc, 
were  as  acceptable  to  us  as  they  could  be  to  Britain,  since 
we  wished  to  employ  our  own  Ships  in  preference  to  for- 
eigners, and  had  no  desire  to  see  foreign  Ships  enter  our 
ports.  That  indeed  the  obliging  us  to  land  some  of  our 
commodities  in  England  before  we  could  carry  them  to 
foreign  markets,  and  forbidding  our  importation  of  some 
Goods  directly  from  foreign  Countries,  we  thought  a  hard- 
ship, and  a  greater  loss  to  us  than  gain  to  Britain,  and 
therefore  proper  to  be  repealed  :  but  as  Britain  had  deemed 
it  an  equivalent  for  her  protection,  we  had  never  applied 
or  proposed  to  apply  for  such  repeal ;  and  if  they  must  be 
continued,  I  thought  it  best  (since  the  power  of  Parlia- 
ment to  make  them  was  now  disputed)  that  they  should 
be  re-enacted  in  all  the  Colonies,  which  would  demonstrate 
their  consent  to  them  :  and  then  if,  as  in  the  sixth  article, 
all  the  duties  arising  on  them  were  to  be  collected  by  offi- 
cers appointed  and  salaried  in  the  respective  Governments, 
and  the  produce  paid  into  their  treasuries,  I  was  sure  the 
Acts  would  be  better  and  more  faithfully  executed,  and  at 
much  less  expense,  and  one  great  source  of  misunder- 
standing removed  between  the  two  Countries,  viz :  the 
calumnies  of  low  officers  appointed  from  home,  who  were 
for  ever  abusing  the  people  of  the  Country  to  Government, 
to  magnify  their  own  zeal,  and  recommend  themselves 
to  promotion.  That  the  extension  of  the  admiralty  juris- 
diction, so  much  complained  of,  would  then  no  longer  be 
necessary  ;  and  that  besides  its  being  the  interest  of  the 
Colonies  to  execute  those  Acts,  which  is  the  best  security, 
Government  might  be  satisfied  of  its  being  done,  from 
accounts  to  be  sent  home  by  the  Naval  Officers  of  the 
fourth  article.  The  gentlemen  were  satisfied  with  these 
reasons,  and  approved  the  third  and  fourth  articles  ;  so 
they  were  to  stand. 

The  fifth  they  apprehended  would  meet  with  difficulty. 
They  said,  that  restraining  manufactures  in  the  Colonies 
was  a  favourite  idea  here ;  and  therefore  they  wished  that 
article  to  be  omitted,  as  the  proposing  it  would  alarm  and 
hinder  perhaps  the  considering  and  granting  others  of  more 
importance :  but  as  I  insisted  on  the  equity  of  allowing  all 
subjects  in  every  Country  to  make  the  most  of  their  natural 
advantages,  they  desired  I  would  at  least  alter  the  last  word 
from  repealed  to  reconsidered,  which  I  complied  with. 

In  maintaining  the  seventh  article  (which  was  at  first 
objected  to,  on  the  principle  that  all  under  the  care  of 
Government  should  pay  towards  the  support  of  it,)  my 
reasons  were,  that  if  every  distinct  part  of  the  King's  Do- 
minions supported  its  own  Government  in  time  of  peace, 
it  was  all  that  could  justly  be  required  of  it ;  that  all  the 
old  or  confederated  Colonies  had  done  so  from  their  begin- 
ning ;  that  their  taxes  for  that  purpose  were  very  consider- 
able ;  that  new  Countries  had  many  publick  expenses 
which  old  ones  were  free  from,  the  works  being  done  to 
their  hands  by  their  ancestors,  such  as  making  roads  and 
bridges,  erecting  churches,  court-houses,  forts,  quays,  and 
other  publick  buildings,  founding  schools  and  places  of 
education,  hospitals  and  alms-houses,  &c,  Sic. ;  that  the 
voluntary  and  the  legal  subscriptions  and  taxes  for  such 
purposes,  taken  together,  amounted  to  more  than  was  paid 
by  equal  estates  in  Britain.  That  it  would  be  best  for 
Britain,  on  two  accounts,  not  to  take  money  from  us  as 
contribution  to  its  publick  expense,  in  time  of  peace;  first, 
for  that  just  so  much  less  would  be  got  from  us  in  Com- 
merce, since  all  we  could  spare  was  already  gained  from 
us  by  Britain  in  that  way  ;  and  secondly,  that  coming  into 
the  hands  of  British  Ministers,  accustomed  to  prodigality 
of  publick  money,  it  would  be  squandered  and  dissipated, 
answering  no  good  general  purpose.  That  if  we  were  to 
be  taxed  towards  the  support  of  Government  in  Britain, 


185 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775. 


186 


as  Scotland  has  been  since  the  union,  we  ought  then  to  be 
allowed  the  same  privileges  in  trade  as  she  has  been  allowed. 
That  if  we  are  called  upon  to  give  to  the  sinking  fund  or 
the  national  debt,  Ireland  ought  to  be  likewise  called  upon  ; 
and  both  they  and  we,  if  we  gave,  ought  to  have  some 
means  established  of  inquiring  into  the  application,  and 
securing  a  compliance  with  the  terms  on  which  we  should 
grant.  That  British  Ministers  would  perhaps  not  like  our 
meddling  with  such  matters ;  and  that  hence  might  arise 
new  causes  of  misunderstanding.  That  upon  the  whole, 
therefore,  I  thought  it  best  on  all  sides,  that  no  aids  shall 
be  a~ked  or  expected  from  the  Colonies  in  time  of  peace ; 
that  it  would  then  be  their  interest  to  grant  bountifully, 
and  exert  themselves  vigorously  in  time  of  war,  the  sooner 
to  put  an  end  to  it.  That  specie  was  not  to  be  had  to  send 
to  England  in  supplies,  but  the  Colonies  could  carry  on 
war  with  their  own  paper  money :  which  would  pay 
Troops,  and  for  Provisions,  Transports,  Carriages,  Cloth- 
ing, Arms,  Sic.  So  this  seventh  article  was  at  length 
agreed  to  without  further  objection. 

The  eighth  the  gentlemen  were  confident  would  never 
be  granted.  For  the  whole  world  would  be  of  opinion  that 
the  King,  who  is  to  defend  all  parts  of  his  Dominions, 
should  have  of  course  a  right  to  place  his  Troops  where 
they  might  best  answer  that  purpose.  I  supported  the 
article  upon  principles  equally  important  in  my  opinion  to 
Britain  as  to  the  Colonies :  for  that  if  the  King  could 
bring  into  one  part  of  his  Dominions,  Troops  raised  in  any 
other  part  of  them,  without  the  consent  of  the  Legislatures 
of  the  part  to  which  they  were  brought,  he  might  bring 
Armies  raised  in  America  into  England  without  consent 
of  Parliament,  which  probably  would  not  like  it,  as  a  few 
years  since  they  had  not  liked  the  introduction  of  the  Hes- 
sians and  Hanoverians,  though  justified  by  the  supposition 
of  its  being  a  time  of  danger.  That  if  there  should  be  at 
any  time  real  occasion  for  British  Troops  in  America,  there 
was  no  doubt  of  obtaining  the  consent  of  the  Assemblies 
there ;  and  I  was  so  far  from  being  willing  to  drop  this  arti- 
cle, that  I  thought  I  ought  to  add  another,  requiring  all  the 
present  Troops  to  be  withdrawn,  before  America  could  be 
expected  to  treat  or  agree  upon  any  terms  of  accommoda- 
tion ;  as  what  they  should  now  do  of  that  kind  might  be 
deemed  the  effect  of  compulsion,  the  appearance  of  which 
ought  as  much  as  possible  to  be  avoided,  since  those  rea- 
sonable things  might  be  agreed  to,  where  the  parties  seemed 
at  least  to  act  freely,  which  would  be  strongly  refused  under 
threats,  or  the  semblance  of  force.  That  the  withdrawing 
the  Troops  was  therefore  necessary  to  make  any  treaty 
durably  binding  on  the  part  of  the  Americans,  since  proof 
of  having  acted  under  force,  would  invalidate  any  agree- 
ment :  and  it  could  be  no  wonder  that  we  should  insist  on 
the  Crown's  having  no  right  to  bring  a  Standing  Army 
among  us  in  time  of  peace ;  when  we  saw  now  before  our 
eyes  a  striking  instance  of  the  ill  use  to  be  made  of  it,  viz  : 
to  distress  the  King's  subjects  in  different  parts  of  his  Do- 
minions, one  part  after  the  other,  into  a  submission  to  arbi- 
trary power,  which  was  the  avowed  design  of  the  Army 
and  Fleet  now  placed  at  Boston.  Finding  me  obstinate, 
the  gentlemen  consented  to  let  this  stand,  but  did  not  seem 
quite  to  approve  of  it:  they  wished,  they  said,  to  have 
this  paper  or  plan,  that  they  might  show  as  containing  the 
sentiments  of  considerate  impartial  persons,  and  such  as 
they  might  as  Englishmen  support,  which  they  though 
could  not  well  be  the  case  with  this  article. 

The  ninth  article  was  so  drawn,  in  compliance  with  an 
idea  of  Dr.  FothergilVs,  started  at  our  first  meeting,  viz  : 
that  Government  here  would  probably  not  be  satisfied  with 
the  promise  of  voluntary  grants  in  time  of  war  from  the 
Assemblies,  of  which  the  quantity  must  be  uncertain ;  that 
therefore  it  would  be  best  to  proportion  them  in  some  way 
to  the  Shillings  in  the  Pound  raised  in  England ;  but  how 
such  proportion  could  be  ascertained  he  was  at  a  loss  to 
contrive  ;  1  was  desired  to  consider  it.  It  had  been  said, 
too,  that  Parliament  was  become  jealous  of  the  right 
claimed  and  heretofore  used  by  the  Crown,  of  raising 
money  in  the  Colonies  without  Parliamentary  consent ;  and 
therefore,  since  we  would  not  pay  Parliamentary  taxes, 
future  requisitions  must  be  made  with  consent  of  Parlia- 
ment, and  not  otherwise.  I  wondered  that  the  Crown 
should  be  willing  to  give  up  that  separate  right,  but  had  no 
objection  to  its  limiting  itself,  if  it  thought  proper  :  so  I 


drew  the  article  accordingly,  and  contrived  to  proportion 
the  aid  by  the  tax  of  the  last  year  of  peace.  And  since 
it  was  thought  that  the  method  I  should  have  liked  best 
would  never  be  agreed  to,  viz :  a  Continental  Congress  to 
be  called  by  the  Crown,  for  answering  requisitions  and 
proportioning  aids ;  I  chose  to  leave  room  for  voluntary 
additions  by  the  separate  Assemblies,  that  the  Crown  might 
have  some  motive  for  calling  them  together,  and  cultivating 
their  good  will,  and  they  have  some  satisfaction  in  showing 
their  loyalty  and  their  zeal  in  the  common  cause,  and  an 
opportunity  of  manifesting  their  disapprobation  of  a  war,  if 
they  did  not  think  it  a  just  one.  This  article,  therefore, 
met  with  no  objection  from  them;  and  I  had  another  rea- 
son for  liking  it,  viz :  that  the  view  of  the  proportion  to  be 
given  in  time  of  war,  might  make  us  the  more  frugal  in 
time  of  peace. 

For  the  tenth  article.  I  urged  the  injustice  of  seizing 
that  Fortress,  (which  had  been  built  at  an  immense  charge 
by  the  Province,  for  the  defence  of  their  Port  against  Na- 
tional enemies,)  and  turning  it  into  a  citadel  for  awing  the 
Town,  restraining  their  Trade,  blocking  up  their  Port,  and 
depriving  them  of  their  privileges :  that  a  great  deal  had 
been  said  of  their  injustice  in  destroying  the  Tea  ;  but  here 
was  a  much  greater  injustice  uncompensated,  that  Castle 
having  cost  the  Province  Three  Hundred  Thousand 
Pounds  :  and  that  such  a  use  made  of  a  Fortress  they 
had  built,  would  not  only  effectually  discourage  every 
Colony  from  ever  building  another,  and  thereby  leave 
them  more  exposed  to  foreign  enemies,  but  was  a  good 
reason  for  their  insisting  that  the  Crown  should  never  erect 
any  hereafter  in  their  limits  without  the  consent  of  the  Le- 
gislature :  the  gentlemen  had  not  much  to  say  against  this 
article  ;  but  thought  it  would  hardly  be  admitted. 

The  eleventh  article  it  was  thought  would  be  strongly 
objected  to ;  that  it  would  be  urged  the  old  Colonists  could 
have  nothing  to  do  with  the  affairs  of  Canada,  whatever 
we  had  with  those  of  the  Massachusetts ;  that  it  would  be 
considered  as  an  officious  meddling  merely  to  disturb  Go- 
vernment ;  and  that  some  even  of  the  Massachusetts  Acts 
were  thought  by  Administration  to  be  improvements  of 
that  Government,  viz :  those  altering  the  appointment  of 
Counsellors,  the  choice  of  Jurymen,  and  the  forbidding  of 
Town-meetings.  I  replied,  that  we  having  assisted  in  the 
conquest  of  Canada,  at  a  great  expense  of  blood  and  trea- 
sure, had  some  right  to  be  considered  in  the  settlement  of 
it :  that  the  establishing  an  arbitrary  Government  on  the 
back  of  our  settlements  might  be  dangerous  to  us  all ;  and 
that  loving  liberty  ourselves,  we  wished  it  to  be  extended 
among  mankind,  and  to  have  no  foundation  for  future 
slavery  laid  in  America.  That  as  to  amending  the  Massa- 
chusetts Government,  though  it  might  be  shown  that  every 
one  of  these  pretended  amendments  were  real  mischief?, 
yet  that  Charters  being  compacts  between  two  parties,  the 
King  and  the  People,  no  alteration  could  be  made  in  then), 
even  for  the  better,  but  by  the  consent  of  both  parties. 
That  the  Parliament's  claim  and  exercise  of  a  power  to 
alter  our  Charters,  which  had  always  been  deemed  inviola- 
ble but  for  forfeiture,  and  to  alter  laws  made  in  pursuance 
of  these  Charters  which  had  received  the  Royal  approba- 
tion, and  thenceforth  deemed  fixed  and  unchangeable  but 
by  the  powers  that  made  them,  had  rendered  all  our  Con- 
stitutions uncertain,  and  set  us  quite  afloat  :  that  as  bv 
claiming  a  right  to  tax  us  ad  libitum,  they  deprived  us  of 
all  property,  so  by  this  claim  of  altering  our  Laws  and 
Charters  at  will,  they  deprived  us  of  all  privilege  and  right 
whatever,  but  what  we  should  hold  at  their  pleasure  :  that 
this  was  a  situation  we  could  not  be  in,  and  must  risk 
life  and  every  thing  rather  than  submit  to  it.  So  this 
article  remained. 

The  twelfth  article  I  explained,  by  acquainting  the  gen- 
tlemen with  the  former  situation  of  the  Judges  in  most 
Colonies,  viz  :  that  they  were  appointed  by  the  Crown, 
and  paid  by  the  Assemblies:  that  the  appointment  being 
during  the  pleasure  of  the  Crown,  the  salary  had  been 
during  the  pleasure  of  the  Assembly  :  that  when  it  has 
been  urged  against  the  Assemblies,  that  their  making 
Judges  dependant  on  them  for  their  salaries,  was  aiming 
at  an  undue  influence  over  the  Courts  of  Justice,  the  As- 
semblies usually  replied,  that  making  them  dependant  on 
the  Crown  for  continuance  in  their  places,  was  also  retain- 
ing an  undue  influence  over  those  Courts ;  and  that  one 


187 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775. 


188 


undue  influence  was  a  proper  balance  for  the  other ;  but 
that  whenever  the  Crown  would  consent  to  Acts  making 
the  Judges  during  good  behaviour,  the  Assemblies  would 
at  the  same  time  grant  their  salaries  to  be  permanent 
during  their  continuance  in  ollice.  This  the  Crown  has, 
however,  constantly  refused  :  and  this  equitable  oiler  is  now 
again  here  proposed  ;  the  Colonies  not  being  able  to  con- 
ceive why  their  Judges  should  not  be  rendered  as  inde- 
pendent as  those  in  England:  that,  on  the  contrary,  the 
Crown  now  claimed  to  make  the  Judges  in  the  Colonies 
dependant  on  its  favour  for  both  place  and  salary,  both  to 
be  continued  at  its  pleasure  :  this  the  Colonies  must  oppose 
as  inequitable,  as  putting  both  the  weights  into  one  of  the 
scales  of  justice  :  if,  therefore,  the  Crown  does  not  choose 
to  commission  the  Judges  during  good  behaviour,  with 
equally  permanent  salaries,  the  alternative  proposed,  that 
the  salaries  continue  to  be  paid  during  the  pleasure  of  the 
Assemblies  as  heretofore.  The  gentlemen  allowed  this 
article  to  be  reasonable. 

The  thirteenth  was  objected  to,  as  nothing  was  generally 
thought  more  reasonable  here,  than  that  the  King  should 
j>ay  his  own  Governour,  in  order  to  render  him  independ- 
ent of  the  people,  who  otherwise  might  aim  at  influencing 
him  against  his  duty,  by  occasionally  withholding  his  salary. 
To  this  1  answered,  that  Governours  sent  to  the  Colonies 
were  often  men  of  no  estate  or  principle,  who  came  merely 
to  make  fortunes,  and  had  no  natural  regard  for  the  Coun- 
try they  were  to  govern :  that  to  make  them  quite  inde- 
pendent of  the  people,  was  to  make  them  careless  of  their 
conduct,  whether  it  was  beneficial  or  mischievous  to  the 
publick,  and  giving  a  loose  to  their  rapacious  and  oppres- 
sive dispositions:  that  the  influence  supposed  could  never 
extend  to  operate  any  thing  prejudicial  to  the  King's  ser- 
vice, or  the  interest  of  Britain:  since  the  Governour  was 
bound  by  a  set  of  particular  instructions,  which  he  had 
given  surety  to  observe ;  and  all  the  laws  he  assented  to 
were  subject  to  be  repealed  by  the  Crown  if  found  im- 
proper :  that  the  payment  of  the  salaries  by  the  people 
was  more  satisfactory  to  them,  as  it  was  productive  of  a 
good  understanding,  and  mutual  good  offices  between  Go- 
vernour and  governed,  and  therefore  the  innovation  lately 
made  in  that  respect  at  Boston  and  New-York  had  in  my 
opinion  better  be  laid  aside.  So  this  article  was  suffered 
to  remain. 

But  the  fourteenth  was  thought  totally  inadmissible. 
The  monopoly  of  the  American  Commerce  could  never 
be  given  up,  and  the  proposing  it  would  only  give  offence 
without  answering  any  good  purpose.  I  was  therefore  pre- 
vailed on  to  strike  it  wholly  out. 

The  fifteenth  was  readily  agreed  to. 

The  sixteenth  it  was  thought  would  be  of  little  conse- 
quence, if  the  duties  were  given  to  the  Colony  Treasuries. 

The  seventeenth  it  was  thought  could  hardly  be  obtain- 
ed, but  might  be  tried. 

Thus  having  gone  through  the  whole,  I  was  desired  to 
make  a  fair  copy  for  Dr.  Fothergill,  who  now  informed  us, 
that  having  an  opportunity  of  seeing  daily  Lord  Dartmouth, 
of  whose  good  disposition  he  had  a  high  opinion,  he  would 
communicate  the  paper  to  him,  as  the  sentiments  of  con- 
siderate persons  who  wished  the  welfare  of  both  Coun- 
tries. Suppose,  said  Mr.  Barclay,  I  were  to  show  this 
paper  to  Lord  Hyde ;  would  there  be  any  thing  amiss  in 
so  doing?  He  is  a  very  knowing  man,  and  though  not  in 
the  Ministry,  properly  speaking,  he  is  a  good  deal  attended 
to  by  them.  1  have  some  acquaintance  with  him  ;  we  con- 
verse freely  sometimes,  and  perhaps  if  he  and  1  were  to 
talk  these  articles  over,  I  should  communicate  to  him  our 
conversation  upon  them  some  good  might  arise  out  of  it. 
Dr.  Fothergill  had  no  objection  ;  and  1  said  I  could  have 
none.  I  knew  Lord  Hyde  a  little,  and  had  an  esteem  for 
him.  I  had  drawn  the  paper  at  their  request,  and  it  was 
now  theirs  to  do  with  it  what  they  pleased.  Mr.  Bar- 
clay then  proposed,  that  1  should  send  the  fair  copy  to 
him,  which,  after  making  one  for  Dr.  Fothergill  and  one 
for  himself,  he  would  return  to  me.  Another  question  then 
arose,  whether  I  had  any  objection  to  their  mentioning  that 
1  had  been  consulted  ?  I  said,  none  that  related  to  myself; 
but  it  was  my  opinion,  if  they  wished  any  attention  paid  to 
the  propositions,  it  would  be  better  not  to  mention  me;  the 
Ministry  having,  as  1  conceived,  a  prejudice  against  me 
and  every  thing  that  came  from  me.    They  said  on  that 


consideration  it  might  be  best  not  to  mention  me,  and  so  it 
was  concluded.  For  my  own  part,  I  kept  this  whole  pro- 
ceeding a  profound  secret ;  but  1  soon  after  discovered 
that  it  had  taken  air  by  some  means  or  other. 

Being  much  interrupted  the  day  following,  I  did  not 
copy  and  send  the  paper.  The  next  morning  I  received 
a  note  from  Mr.  Barclay,  pressing  to  have  it  before  twelve 
o'clock.  I  accordingly  sent  it  to  him.  Three  days  after  I 
received  the  following  note  from  him  : 

D.  Barclay  presents  his  respects,  and  acquaints  Dr. 
Franklin,  that  being  informed  a  pamphlet,  entitled  "  A 
Friendly  Address,"  has  been  dispersed  to  the  disadvantage 
of  America,  (in  particular  by  the  Dean  of  Norwich,)  he 
desires  Dr.  Franklin  will  peruse  the  enclosed,  just  come 
to  hand  from  America ;  and  if  he  approves  of  it,  republish 
it,  as  D.  Barclay  wishes  something  might  be  properly 
spread  at  Norivich.  D.  Barclay  saw  to-day  a  person  with 
whom  he  had  been  yesterday,  (before  he  called  on  Dr. 
Franklin,)  and  had  the  satisfaction  of  walking  part  of  the 
way  with  him  to  another  noble  person's  house,  to  meet  on 
the  business,  and  he  told  him,  that  he  could  say,  that  he 
saw  some  light. 

Cheapside,  11th  instant. 

The  person  so  met  and  accompanied  by  Mr.  Barclay,  I 
understood  to  be  Lord  Hyde,  going  either  to  Lord  Dart- 
mouth's or  Lord  North's,  I  knew  not  which. 

In  the  following  week  arrived  the  proceedings  of  the 
Congress,  which  had  been  long  and  anxiously  expected, 
both  by  the  friends  and  adversaries  of  America. 

The  Petition  of  Congress  to  the  King  was  enclosed  to 
me,  and  accompanied  by  the  following  letter  from  their 
President,  addressed  to  the  American  Agents  in  London, 
as  follows  :* 

The  first  impression  made  by  the  proceedings  of  the 
American  Congress  on  people  in  general,  was  greatly  in 
our  favour.  Administration  seemed  to  be  staggered,  were 
impatient  to  know  whether  the  Petition  mentioned  in  the 
proceedings  was  come  to  my  hands,  and  took  roundabout 
methods  of  obtaining  that  information,  by  getting  a  minis- 
terial merchant,  a  known  intimate  of  the  Solicitor-Gene- 
ral, to  write  me  a  letter,  importing  that  he  heard  I  had 
received  such  a  petition,  that  I  was  to  be  attended  in  pre- 
senting it  by  the  merchants,  and  begging  to  know  the  time, 
that  he  might  attend  "on  so  important  an  occasion,  and 
give  his  testimony  to  so  good  a  work."  Before  these  pro- 
ceedings arrived,  it  had  been  given  out,  that  no  Petition 
from  the  Congress  could  be  received,  as  they  were  an  ille- 
gal body;  but  the  Secretary  of  State,  after  a  day's  perusal, 
(during  which  a  Council  was  held.)  told  us  it  was  a  decent 
and  proper  Petition,  and  cheerfully  undertook  to  present  it 
to  His  Majesty,  who,  he  afterwards  assured  us,  was  pleased 
to  receive  it  very  graciously,  and  to  promise  to  lay  it,  as 
soon  as  they  met,  before  his  two  Houses  of  Parliament ; 
and  we  had  reason  to  believe  that  at  that  time  the  Petition 
was  intended  to  be  made  the  foundation  of  some  change 
of  measures ;  but  that  purpose,  if  such  there  was,  did  not 
long  continue. 

About  this  time  I  received  a  letter  from  Mr.  Barclay. 
then  at  Norwich,  dated  December  18th,  expressing  his 
opinion,  that  it  might  be  best  to  postpone  taking  any 
further  steps  in  the  affair  of  procuring  a  meeting  and  pe- 
tition of  the  Merchants,  (on  which  we  had  had  several 
consultations,)  till  after  the  holidays,  thereby  to  give  the 
proceedings  of  Congress  more  time  to  work  upon  men's 
minds,  adding,  "  1  likewise  consider  that  our  superiours 
will  have  some  little  time  for  reflection,  and  perhaps  may 
contemplate  on  the  propriety  of  the  Hints  in  their  posses- 
sion. By  a  few  lines  I  have  received  from  Lord  Hyde,  he 
intimates  his  hearty  wish  that  they  may  be  productive  of 
what  may  be  practicable  and  advantageous  for  the  Mother 
Country  and  the  Colonies."  On  the  22d,  Mr.  Barclay 
was  come  to  Town,  when  I  dined  with  him,  and  learned 
that  Lord  Hyde  thought  the  propositions  too  hard. 

On  the  24th  I  received  the  following  note  from  a  con- 
siderable merchant  in  the  City,  viz  : 

Mr.  William  Neate  presents  his  most  respectful  com- 
pliments to  Dr.  Franklin,  and  as  a  report  prevailed  yester- 
day evening,  that  all  the  disputes  between  Great  Britain 
and  the  American  Colonies  were,  through  his  application 
•  See  Vol.  I.  Fol.  929,  and  Fol.  934. 


189 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1773. 


190 


and  influence  with  Lord  North,  amicably  settled,  conform- 
able to  the  wish  and  desire  of  the  late  Congress,  W.  N. 
desires  the  favour  of  Dr.  Franklin  to  inform  him  by  a  line, 
per  the  bearer,  whether  there  is  any  credit  to  be  given  to 
the  report  ? 

St.  Mary  Hill,  21th  December.  1774. 

My  answer  was  to  this  effect,  that  I  should  be  very 
happy  to  be  able  to  inform  him  that  the  report  he  had  heard 
had  some  truth  in  it;  but  I  could  only  assure  him  that  I 
knew  nothing  of  the  matter.  Such  reports,  however, 
were  confidently  circulated,  and  had  some  effect  in  recover- 
ing the  Stocks,  which  had  fallen  three  or  four  per  cent. 

On  Christmas  day,  visiting  Mrs.  Howe,  she  told  me  as 
soon  as  I  went  in,  that  her  brother,  Lord  Howe,  wished  to 
be  acquainted  with  me  ;  that  he  was  a  very  good  man,  and 
she  was  sure  we  should  like  each  other.  I  said,  I  had 
always  heard  a  good  character  of  Lord  Howe,  and  should 
be  proud  of  the  honour  of  being  known  to  him.  He  is 
just  by,  said  she  ;  will  you  give  me  leave  to  send  for  him  ? 
iiy  all  means,  madam,  if  you  think  proper.  She  rang  for 
a  servant,  wrote  a  note,  and  Lord  Howe  came  in  a  few 
minutes. 

After  some  extremely  polite  compliments  as  to  the  gen- 
eral motives  for  his  desiring  an  acquaintance  with  me,  he 
said  he  had  a  particular  one  at  this  time,  which  was  the 
alarming  situation  of  our  affairs  with  America,  which  no  one, 
he  was  persuaded,  understood  better  than  myself;  that  it 
was  the  opinion  of  some  friends  of  his,  that  no  man  could 
do  more  towards  reconciling  our  differences  than  I  could, 
if  1  would  undertake  it ;  that  he  was  sensible  1  had  been 
very  ill  treated  by  the  Ministry,  but  he  hoped  that  would 
not  be  considered  by  me  in  the  present  case;  that  he  him- 
self, though  not  in  opposition,  had  much  disapproved  of 
their  conduct  towards  me ;  that  some  of  them,  he  was 
sure,  were  ashamed  of  it,  and  sorry  it  had  happened  : 
which  he  supposed  must  be  sufficient  to  abate  resentment 
in  a  great  and  generous  mind ;  that  if  he  were  himself  in 
Administration,  he  should  be  ready  to  make  me  ample 
satisfaction,  which  he  was  persuaded  would  one  day  or 
other  be  done  ;  that  he  was  unconnected  with  the  Ministry, 
except  by  some  personal  friendships,  wished  well  however 
to  Government,  was  anxious  for  the  general  welfare  of  the 
whole  Empire,  and  had  a  particular  regard  for  New-Eng- 
land, which  had  shown  a  very  endearing  respect  to  his 
family  ;  that  he  was  merely  an  independent  Member  of 
Parliament,  desirous  of  doing  what  good  he  could,  agree- 
ably to  his  duty  in  that  station  ;  that  he  therefore  had  wished 
for  an  opportunity  of  obtaining  my  sentiments  on  the  means 
of  reconciling  our  differences,  which  he  saw  must  be  at- 
tended with  the  most  mischievous  consequences,  if  not 
speedily  accommodated ;  that  he  hoped  his  zeal  for  the 
publick  welfare  would,  with  me,  excuse  the  impertinence 
of  a  mere  stranger,  who  could  have  otherwise  no  reason  to 
expect,  or  right  to  request  me  to  open  my  mind  to  him 
upon  these  topicks ;  but  he  did  conceive,  that  if  I  would 
indulge  him  with  my  ideas  of  the  means  proper  to  bring 
about  a  reconciliation,  it  might  be  of  some  use  ;  that  per- 
haps I  might  not  be  willing  myself  to  have  any  direct 
communication  with  this  Ministry  on  this  occasion  ;  that  I 
might  likewise  not  care  to  have  it  known  that  1  had  any 
indirect  communication  with  them,  till  1  could  be  well 
assured  of  their  good  dispositions  ;  that  being  himself  upon 
no  ill  terms  with  them,  he  thought  it  not  impossible  that 
he  might,  by  conveying  my  sentiments  to  them,  and  theirs 
to  me,  be  a  means  of  bringing  on  a  good  understanding, 
without  committing  either  them  or  me,  if  his  negotiation 
should  not  succeed ;  and  that  I  might  rely  on  his  keeping 
perfectly  secret  every  thing  I  should  wish  to  remain  so. 

Mrs.  Howe  here  offering  to  withdraw,  whether  of  herself 
or  from  any  sign  from  him,  I  know  not,  I  begged  she  might 
stay,  as  I  should  have  no  secret  in  a  business  of  this  nature 
that  I  could  not  freely  confide  to  her  prudence,  which  was 
truth ;  for  I  had  never  conceived  a  higher  opinion  of  the 
discretion  and  excellent  understanding  of  any  woman  on  so 
short  an  acquaintance.  I  added,  that  though  1  had  never 
before  the  honour  of  being  in  his  Lordship's  company,  his 
manner  was  such  as  had  already  engaged  my  confidence, 
and  would  make  me  perfectly  easy  and  free  in  communi- 
cating myself  to  him.  I  begged  him,  in  the  first  place,  to 
give  me  credit  for  a  sincere  desire  of  healing  the  breach 


between  the  two  Countries;  that  I  would  cheerfully  and 
heartily  do  every  thing  in  my  small  power  to  accomplish 
it;  but  that  J  apprehended  from  the  King's  speech,  and 
from  the  measures  talked  of,  as  well  as  those  already 
determined  on,  no  intention  or  disposition  of  the  kind  ex- 
isted in  the  present  Ministry,  and  therefore  no  accommo- 
dation could  be  expected  till  we  saw  a  change.  That  as  to 
what  his  Lordship  mentioned  of  the  personal  injuries  done 
me,  those  done  my  Country  were  so  much  greater,  that  I 
did  not  think  the  other,  at  this  time,  worth  mentioning ; 
that  besides  it  was  a  fixed  rule  with  me,  not  to  mix  my  pri- 
vate affairs  with  those  of  the  publick  ;  that  I  could  join  with 
my  personal  enemy  in  serving  the  publick,  or,  when  it  was 
for  its  interest,  with  the  publick  in  serving  that  enemy  ; 
these  being  my  sentiments,  his  Lordship  might  be  assured 
that  no  private  considerations  of  the  kind  should  prevent 
my  being  as  useful  in  the  present  case  as  my  small  ability 
would  permit.  He  appeared  satisfied  and  pleased  with 
these  declarations,  and  gave  it  me  as  his  sincere  opinion, 
that  some  of  the  Ministry  were  extremely  well  disposed  to 
any  reasonable  accommodations,  preserving  only  the  digni- 
ty of  Government ;  and  he  wished  me  to  draw  up  in  wri- 
ting some  propositions  containing  the  terms  on  which  I 
conceived  a  good  understanding  might  be  obtained  and 
established,  and  the  mode  of  proceeding  to  accomplish  it: 
which  propositions,  as  soon  as  prepared,  we  might  meet  to 
consider,  either  at  his  house  or  at  mine,  or  where  I  pleased  ; 
but  as  his  being  seen  at  my  house,  or  me  at  his,  might  he 
thought  occasion  some  speculation,  it  was  concluded  to  be 
best  to  meet  at  his  sister's,  who  readily  offered  her  house 
for  that  purpose,  and  where  there  was  a  good  pretence  with 
her  family  and  friends  for  my  being  often  seen,  as  it  was 
known  that  we  played  together  at  chess.  I  undeitook, 
accordingly,  to  draw  up  something  of  the  kind  ;  and  so  for 
that  time  we  parted,  agreeing  to  meet  at  the  same  place 
again  on  the  Wednesday  following. 

I  dined  about  this  time,  by  invitation,  with  Governour 
Pownall.  There  was  no  company  but  the  family,  and 
after  dinner  we  had  a  tete-a-tete.  He  had  been  in  the  op- 
position, but  was  now  about  making  his  peace,  in  order  to 
come  into  Parliament  on  Ministerial  interest,  which  I  did 
not  then  know.  He  told  me  what  I  had  before  been  told 
by  several  of  Lord  North's  friends,  that  the  American 
measures  were  not  the  measures  of  that  Minister,  nor  ap- 
proved by  him  ;  that,  on  the  contrary,  he  was  well  disposed 
to  promote  a  reconciliation  upon  any-  terms  honourable  to 
Government ;  that  I  had  been  looked  upon  as  the  great 
foinenter  of  the  opposition  in  America,  and  as  a  great  ad- 
versary to  any  accommodation  ;  that  he,  Governour  Pow- 
nall, had  given  a  different  account  of  me,  and  had  told  his 
Lordship  that  I  was  certainly  much  misunderstood.  From 
the  Governour's  further  discourse  1  collected  that  he  wish- 
ed to  be  employed  as  an  Envoy  or  Commissioner  to  Ame- 
rica, to  settle  the  differences,  and  to  have  me  with  him ; 
but  as  I  apprehended  there  was  little  likelihood  that  either 
of  us  would  be  so  employed  by  Government,  I  did  not  give 
much  attention  to  that  part  of  his  discourse. 

I  should  have  mentioned  in  its  place,  (but  one  cannot 
recollect  every  thing  in  order,)  that,  declining  at  first  to 
draw  up  the  propositions  desired  by  Lord  Hoice,  I  alleged 
its  being  unnecessary,  since  the  Congress,  in  their  Petition 
to  the  King,  just  then  received  and  presented  through  Lord 
Dartmouth,  had  stated  their  grievances,  and  pointed  out 
very  explicitly  what  would  restore  the  ancient  harmony; 
and  I  read  a  part  of  the  Petition,  to  show  their  good  dispo- 
sitions, which,  being  very  pathetically  expressed,  seemed 
to  affect  both  the  brother  and  sister.  But  still  I  was  de- 
sired to  give  my  ideas  of  the  steps  to  be  taken,  in  case  some 
of  the  propositions  in  the  Petition  should  not  be  thought 
admissible ;  and  this,  as  I  said  before,  I  undertook  to  do. 

I  had  promised  Lord  Chatham  to  communicate  to  him 
the  first  important  news  1  should  receive  from  America.  I 
therefore  sent  him  the  proceedings  of  the  Congress  as  soon 
as  I  received  them ;  but  a  whole  week  passed  after  I  re- 
ceived the  Petitiou  before  I  could,  as  1  wished  to  do,  wait 
upon  him  with  it,  in  order  to  obtain  his  sentiments  on  the 
whole ;  for  my  time  was  taken  up  in  meetings  with  the 
other  Agents  to  consult  about  presenting  the  Petition,  in 
waiting  three  different  days  with  them  on  Lord  Dartmouth, 
in  consulting  upon  and  writing  letters  to  the  Speakers  of 
Assemblies,  and  other  business,  which  did  not  allow  me  a 


191 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  fcc,  MARCH,  1775. 


192 


day  to  go  to  Hayes.  At  last,  on  Monday,  the  26th,  1  got 
out,  and  was  there  about  one  o'clock  ;  he  received  me  with 
an  affectionate  kind  of  respect,  that  from  so  great  a  man 
was  extremely  engaging ;  but  the  opinion  he  expiessed  of 
the  Congress  was  still  more  so.  They  had  acted,  he  said, 
with  so  much  temper,  moderation.,  and  wisdom,  that  he 
thought  it  the  most  honourable  assembly  of  statesmen  since 
those  of  the  ancient  Greeks  and  Romans,  in  the  most  virtu- 
ous times.  That  there  was  not,  in  their  whole  proceedings, 
above  one  or  two  things  he  could  have  wished  otherwise ; 
perhaps  but  one,  and  that  was  their  assertion  that  the  keep- 
ing up  a  Standing  Army  in  the  Colonies  in  time  of  peace, 
without  consent  of  their  Legislatures,  was  against  law  ;  he 
doubted  that  was  not  well  founded,  and  that  the  law  al- 
luded to  did  not  extend  to  the  Colonies.  The  rest  he 
admired  and  honoured ;  he  thought  the  Petition  decent, 
manly,  and  properly  expressed.  He  inquired  much  and 
particularly  concerning  the  state  of  America,  the  proba- 
bility of  their  perseverance,  the  difficulties  they  must  meet 
with  in  adhering,  for  any  long  time,  to  their  resolutions  ;  the 
resources  they  might  have  to  supply  the  deficiency  of 
Commerce ;  to  all  which  I  gave  him  answers,  with  which 
he  seemed  well  satisfied.  He  expressed  a  great  regard 
and  warm  affection  for  that  Country,  with  hearty  wishes 
for  their  prosperity,  and  that  Government  here  might  soon 
come  to  see  its  mistakes,  and  rectify  them  ;  and  intimated 
that  possibly  he  might,  if  his  health  permitted,  prepare 
something  for  its  consideration,  when  the  Parliament  should 
meet  after  the  holidays,  on  wbich  he  should  wish  to  have 
previously  my  sentiments.  I  mentioned  to  him  the  very 
hazardous  state  I  conceived  we  were  in,  by  the  continu- 
ance of  the  Army  in  Boston;  that  whatever  disposition 
there  might  be  in  the  inhabitants  to  give  no  just  cause  of 
offence  to  the  Troops,  or  in  the  general  to  preserve  order 
among  them,  an  unpremeditated,  unforeseen  quarrel  might 
happen,  between  perhaps  a  drunken  porter  and  a  soldier, 
that  might  bring  on  a  riot,  tumult,  and  bloodshed,  and  its 
consequences  produce  a  breach  impossible  to  be  healed  ; 
that  the  Army  could  not  possibly  answer  any  good  purpose 
there,  and  might  be  infinitely  mischievous;  that  no  accom- 
modation could  be  properly  proposed  and  entered  into  by 
the  Americans,  while  the  bayonet  was  at  their  breasts  ;  that 
to  have  any  agreement  binding,  all  force  should  be  with- 
drawn. His  Lordship  seemed  to  think  these  sentiments 
had  something  in  them  that  was  reasonable. 

From  Hayes  I  went  to  Halsted,  Mr.  Sargent's  place, 
to  dine,  intending  thence  a  visit  to  Lord  Stanhope,  at 
Chevening ;  but  hearing  there  that  his  Lordship  and  the 
family  were  in  Town,  I  staid  at  Halsted  all  night,  and  the 
next  morning  went  to  Chiselhurst,  to  call  upon  Lord  Cam- 
den, it  being  in  my  way  to  Town.  1  met  his  Lordship  and 
family  in  two  carriages  just  without  his  gate,  going  on  a 
visit  of  congratulation  to  Lord  Chatham  and  his  lady,  on 
the  late  marriage  of  their  daughter  to  Lord  Mahon,  son  of 
Lord  Stanhope.  They  were  to  be  back  to  dinner;  so  I 
agreed  to  go  in,  stay  dinner,  and  spend  the  evening  there, 
and  not  return  to  Town  till  next  morning.  We  had  that 
afternoon  and  evening  a  great  deal  of  conversation  on 
American  affairs,  concerning  which  he  was  very  inquisi- 
tive, and  I  gave  him  the  best  information  in  my  power.  I 
was  charmed  with  his  generous  and  noble  sentiments,  and 
had  the  great  pleasure  of  hearing  his  full  approbation  of  the 
proceedings  of  the  Congress,  the  Petition,  &c,  &ic,  of 
which,  at  his  request,  I  afterwards  sent  him  a  copy.  He 
seemed  anxious  that  the  Americans  should  continue  to  act 
with  the  same  temper,  coolness,  and  wisdom,  with  which 
they  had  hitherto  proceeded  in  most  of  their  publick  assem- 
blies, in  which  case  he  did  not  doubt  they  would  succeed 
in  establishing  their  rights,  and  obtain  a  solid  and  durable 
agreement  with  the  Mother  Country  ;  of  the  necessity  and 
great  importance  of  which  agreement,  he  seemed  to  have 
the  strongest  impressions. 

I  returned  to  Town  the  next  morning,  in  time  to  meet  at 
the  hour  appointed  by  Lord  Howe.  I  apologized  for  my 
not  being  ready  with  the  paper  1  had  promised,  by  my 
having  been  kept  longer  than  I  intended  in  the  Country. 
We  had,  however,  a  good  deal  of  conversation  on  the  sub- 
ject, and  his  Lordship  told  me  he  could  now  assure  me  of 
a  certainty,  that  there  was  a  sincere  disposition  in  Lord 
North  and  Lord  Dartmouth  to  accommodate  the  differ- 
ences with  America,  and  to  listen  favourably  to  any  propo- 


sitions that  might  have  a  probable  tendency  to  answer  that 
salutary  purpose.  He  then  asked  me  what  I  thought  of 
sending  some  person  or  persons  over,  commissioned  to  in- 
quire into  the  grievances  of  America  upon  the  spot ;  con- 
verse with  the  leading  people,  and  endeavour  with  them  to 
agree  upon  some  means  of  composing  our  differences.  I 
said  that  a  person  of  rank  and  dignity,  who  had  a  charac- 
ter of  candour,  integrity,  and  wisdom,  might  possibly,  if 
employed  in  that  service,  be  of  great  use.  He  seemed  to 
be  of  the  same  opinion,  and  that  whoever  was  employed 
should  go  with  a  hearty  desire  of  promoting  a  sincere  re- 
conciliation, on  the  foundation  of  mutual  interests  and  mu- 
tual good-will ;  that  he  should  endeavour  not  only  to  remove 
their  prejudices  against  Government,  but  equally  the  pre- 
judices of  Government  against  them,  and  bring  on  a  perfect 
good  understanding,  &.c.  Mrs.  Howe  said,  I  wish,  brother, 
you  were  to  be  sent  thither  on  such  a  service ;  I  should 
like  that  much  better  than  General  Howe's  going  to  com- 
mand the  Army  there.  1  think,  madam,  said  I,  they  ought 
to  provide  for  General  Howe  some  more  honourable  em- 
ployment. Lord  Howe  here  took  out  of  his  pocket  a 
paper,  and  offering  it  to  me  said,  smiling,  if  it  is  not  an  un- 
fair question,  may  I  ask  whether  you  know  any  thing  of 
this  paper?  Upon  looking  at  it,  I  saw  it  was  a  copy,  in 
David  Barclay's  hand,  of  the  Hints  before  recited,  and  said 
that  I  had  seen  it ;  adding,  a  little  after,  that  since  I  per- 
ceived his  Lordship  was  acquainted  with  a  transaction,  my 
concern  in  which  1  had  understood  was  to  have  been  kept 
a  secret,  1  should  make  no  difficulty  in  owning  to  him  that 
1  had  been  consulted  on  the  subject,  and  had  drawn  up 
that  paper.  He  said  he  was  rather  sorry  to  find  that  the 
sentiments  expressed  in  it  were  mine,  as  it  gave  him  less 
hopes  of  promoting,  by  my  assistance,  the  wished-for  re- 
conciliation, since  he  had  reason  to  think  there  was  no 
likelihood  of  the  admission  of  these  propositions.  He 
hoped,  however,  that  I  would  reconsider  the  subject,  and 
form  some  plan  that  would  be  acceptable  here.  He  expa- 
tiated on  the  infinite  service  it  would  be  to  the  Nation,  and 
the  great  merit  in  being  instrumental  in  so  good  a  work  ; 
that  he  should  not  think  of  influencing  me  by  any  selfish 
motive,  but  certainly  I  might  with  reason  expect  any  re- 
ward in  the  power  of  Government  to  bestow.  This  to  me 
was  what  the  French  vulgarly  call  spitting  in  the  soup. 
However,  1  promised  to  draw  some  sketch  of  a  plan  at  his 
request,  though  I  much  doubted,  I  said,  whether  it  would 
be  thought  preferable  to  that  he  had  in  his  hand.  But  he 
was  willing  to  hope  that  it  would,  and  as  he  considered  ray 
situation,  that  I  had  friends  here  and  constituents  in  Ame- 
rica to  keep  well  with,  that  I  might  possibly  propose 
something  improper  to  be  seen  in  my  handwriting:  there- 
fore, it  would  be  better  to  send  it  to  Mrs.  Hoive,  who 
would  copy  it,  send  the  copy  to  him  to  be  communicated 
to  the  Ministry,  and  return  me  the  original.  This  I  agreed 
to,  though  I  did  not  apprehend  the  inconvenience  he  men- 
tioned. In  general  I  liked  much  his  manner,  and  found 
myself  disposed  to  place  great  confidence  in  him  on  occa- 
sion, but  in  this  particular  the  secrecy  he  proposed  seemed 
not  of  much  importance. 

In  a  day  or  two  I  sent  the  following  paper,  enclosed  in 
a  cover,  directed  to  the  honourable  Mrs.  Howe : 

"  It  is  supposed  to  be  the  wish  on  both  sides,  not  merely 
to  put  a  stop  to  the  mischief  at  present  threatening  the 
general  welfare,  but  to  cement  a  cordial  union,  and  remove 
not  only  every  real  grievance,  but  every  cause  of  jealousy 
and  suspicion. 

"  With  this  view  the  first  thing  necessary  is,  to  know 
what  is,  by  the  different  parties  in  the  dispute,  thought  es- 
sentially necessary  for  the  obtaining  such  an  union. 

"  The  American  Congress,  in  their  Petition  to  the  King, 
have  been  explicit,  declaring  that,  by  a  repeal  of  the  op- 
pressive Acts  therein  complained  of,  '  the  harmony  between 
Great  Britain  and  her  Colonies,  so  necessary  to  the  hap- 
piness of  both,  and  so  ardently  desired  of  them,  will,  with 
the  usual  intercourse,  be  immediately  restored.' 

"  If  it  has  been  thought  reasonable  here  to  expect  that, 
previous  to  an  alteration  of  measures,  the  Colonies  should 
make  some  declaration  respecting  their  future  conduct, 
they  have  also  done  that,  by  adding,  '  that  when  the  causes 
of  their  apprehensions  are  removed,  their  future  conduct 
will  prove  them  not  unworthy  of  the  regard  they  have  been 
accustomed  in  their  happier  days  to  enjoy.' 


193 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775. 


194 


"  For  their  sincerity  in  these  declarations,  they  solemnly 
call  to  witness  the  Searcher  of  all  hearts. 

"  If  Britain  can  have  any  reliance  on  these  declarations, 
(and  perhaps  none  to  be  extorted  by  force  can  be  more 
relied  on  than  these  which  are  thus  freely  made,)  she  may, 
without  hazard  to  herself,  try  the  expedient  proposed, 
since,  if  it  fails,  she  has  it  in  her  power  at  any  time  to  re- 
sume her  present  measures. 

"It  is,  then,  proposed, 

"  That  Britain  should  show  some  confidence  in  these 
declarations,  by  repealing  all  the  laws  or  parts  of  laws  that 
are  requested  to  be  repealed  in  the  Petition  of  the  Con- 
gress to  the  King. 

"And  that  at  the  same  time  orders  should  be  given  to 
withdraw  the  Fleet  from  Boston,  and  remove  all  the  Troops 
to  Quebeck  or  the  Floridas,  that  the  Colonies  may  be  left 
at  liberty  in  their  future  stipulations. 

"  That  this  may,  for  the  honour  of  Britain,  appear  not 
the  effect  of  any  apprehension  from  the  measures  entered 
into  and  recommended  to  the  people  by  the  Congress,  but 
from  good  will,  and  a  change  of  disposition  towards  the 
Colonies,  with  a  sincere  desire  of  reconciliation  ;  let  some 
of  their  other  grievances,  which,  in  their  Petition,  they 
have  left  to  the  magnanimity  and  justice  of  the  King  and 
Parliament,  be  at  the  same  time  removed,  such  as  those 
relating  to  the  payment  of  Governours'  and  Judges'  sala- 
ries, and  the  instructions  for  dissolving  Assemblies,  &tc,  with 
the  declarations  concerning  the  Statute  of  Henry  VJII. 

"  And  to  give  the  Colonies  an  immediate  opportunity  of 
demonstrating  the  reality  of  their  professions,  let  their  pro- 
posed ensuing  Congress  be  authorized  by  Government,  (as 
was  that  held  at  Albany  in  1754,)  and  a  person  of  weight 
and  dignity  of  character  be  appointed  to  preside  at  it  on 
behalf  of  the  Crown. 

"  And  then  let  requisition  be  made  to  the  Congress,  of 
such  points  as  Government  wishes  to  obtain,  for  its  future 
security,  for  aids,  for  the  advantage  of  general  Commerce, 
for  reparation  to  the  India  Company,  &ic,  &c. 

"  A  generous  confidence  thus  placed  in  the  Colonies, 
will  give  ground  to  the  friends  of  Government  there,  in 
their  endeavours  to  procure  from  America  every  reasonable 
concession  or  engagement,  and  every  substantial  aid  that 
can  fairly  be  desired." 

On  the  Saturday  evening  I  saw  Mrs.  Howe,  who  in- 
formed me  she  had  transcribed  and  sent  the  paper  to  Lord 
Howe  in  the  country,  and  she  returned  me  the  original. 
On  the  following  Tuesday,  January  3d,  I  received  a  note 
from  her,  (enclosing  a  letter  she  had  received  from  Lord 
Howe  the  last  night,)  which  follows: 

"  Mrs.  Howe's  compliments  to  Dr.  Franklin;  she  en- 
closes him  a  letter  she  received  last  night,  and  returns  him 
many  thanks  for  his  very  obliging  present,*  which  has 
already  given  her  great  entertainment.  If  the  Doctor  has 
any  spare  time  for  chess,  she  will  be  exceedingly  glad  to 
see  him  any  morning  this  week,  and  as  often  as  will  be 
agreeable  to  him,  and  rejoices  in  having  so  good  an  ex- 
cuse for  asking  the  favour  of  his  company. 

"  Tuesday." 

[Letter  enclosed  in  the  foregoing.] 

Porter's  Lodge,  January  2d,  1775. 

I  have  received  your  packet;  and  it  is  with  much  con- 
cern that  I  collect,  from  sentiments  of  such  authority  as 
those  of  our  worthy  friend,  that  the  desired  accommodation 
threatens  to  be  attended  with  much  greater  difficulty  than 
I  had  flattered  myself,  in  the  progress  of  our  intercourse, 
there  would  be  reason  to  apprehend. 

1  shall  forward  the  propositions  as  intended.  Not  desir- 
ous of  trespassing  further  on  our  friend's  indulgence ;  but 
returning  sentiments  of  regard,  w  hich  his  candid  and  obliging 
attention  to  my  troublesome  inquiries,  will  render  ever  per- 
manent in  the  memory  of  your  affectionate,  &tc. 

I  ought  to  make  excuses  likewise  to  you.  Howe. 

Hon.  Mrs.  Howe,  Grafton  Street. 

His  Lordship  had,  in  his  last  conversation  with  me,  ac- 
knowledged a  communication  between  him  and  the  Minis- 
try, to  whom  he  wished  to  make  my  sentiments  known. 
In  this  letter  from  the  country  he  owns  the  receipt  of  them, 
and  mentions  his  intentions  of  forwarding  them,  that  is,  as 
*  His  philosophical  writings. 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  h. 


I  understood  it,  to  the  Ministers ;  but  expresses  his  appre- 
hensions that  such  propositions  were  not  likely  to  produce 
any  good  effect.  Some  time  after,  perhaps  a  week,  I 
received  a  note  from  Mrs.  Howe,  desiring  to  see  me.  1 
waited  upon  her  immediately,  when  she  showed  me  a 
letter  from  her  brother,  of  which,  having  no  copy,  I  can 
only  give  from  the  best  of  my  recollection  the  purport  of 
it,  which  I  think  was  this :  that  he  desired  to  know  from 
their  friend,  meaning  me,  through  her  means,  whether  it 
might  not  be  expected  that,  if  that  friend  would  engage  for 
the  payment  of  the  Tea  as  a  preliminary,  relying  on  a 
promised  redress  of  their  grievances  on  future  petitions 
from  their  Assembly,  they  would  approve  of  his  making 
such  engagement ;  and  whether  the  proposition  in  the 
former  paper,  (the  Hints,)  relating  to  aids,  was  still  in 
contemplation  of  the  author.  As  Mrs.  Howe  proposed 
sending  to  her  brother  that  evening,  I  wrote  immediately 
the  following  answer,  which  she  transcribed  and  forwarded  : 

"  The  proposition  in  the  former  paper  relating  to  aids, 
is  still  in  contemplation  of  the  author,  and,  as  he  thinks,  is 
included  in  the  last  article  of  the  present  paper. 

"  The  people  of  America,  conceiving  that  Parliament 
has  no  right  to  tax  them,  and  that,  therefore,  all  that  has 
been  extorted  from  them  by  the  operation  of  the  Duty 
Acts,  with  the  assistance  of  an  armed  force,  preceding  the 
destruction  of  the  Tea,  is  so  much  injury,  which  ought,  in 
order  of  time,  to  be  first  repaired,  before  a  demand  on  the 
Tea  account  can  be  justly  made  of  them  ;  are  not,  he  thinks, 
likely  to  approve  of  the  measure  proposed,  and  pay  in  the 
first  place  the  value  demanded,  especially  as  twenty  times 
as  much  injury  has  since  been  done  them  by  blocking 
up  their  Port ;  and  their  Castle  also  seized  before  by  the 
Crown,  has  not  been  restored,  nor  any  satisfaction  offered 
them  for  the  same." 

At  the  meeting  of  Parliament,  after  the  holidays,  which 
was  on  the  19th  of  January,  (1775,)  Lord  Howe  returned 
to  town,  when  we  had  another  meeting,  at  which  he  lament- 
ed that  my  propositions  were  not  such  as  probably  could 
be  accepted  ;  intimated  that  it  was  thought  I  had  powers 
or  instructions  from  the  Congress  to  make  concessions  on 
occasion  that  would  be  more  satisfactory.  I  disclaimed 
the  having  any  of  any  kind  but  what  related  to  the  pre- 
senting of  their  Petition.  We  talked  over  all  the  particu- 
lars in  my  paper,  which  I  supported  with  reasons ;  and 
finally  said,  that  if  what  I  had  proposed  would  not  do,  I 
should  be  glad  to  hear  what  would  do;  I  wished  to  see 
some  propositions  from  the  Ministers  themselves.  His 
Lordship  was  not,  he  said,  as  yet  fully  acquainted  with 
their  sentiments,  but  should  learn  more  in  a  few  days.  It 
was,  however,  some  weeks  before  I  heard  any  thing  further 
from  him. 

In  the  meanwhile,  Mr.  Barclay  and  I  were  frequently 
together  on  the  affair  of  preparing  the  Merchants'  Petition, 
which  took  up  so  much  of  his  time  that  he  could  not  con- 
veniently see  Lord  Hyde;  so  he  had  no  information  to 
give  me  concerning  the  Hints,  and  I  wondered  I  heard 
nothing  of  them  from  Dr.  Fothergill.  At  length,  however, 
but  I  cannot  recollect  about  what  time,  the  Doctor  called 
on  me,  and  told  me  he  had  communicated  them,  and  with 
them  had  verbally  given  my  arguments  in  support  of  them, 
to  Lord  Dartmouth,  who,  after  consideration,  had  told  him 
some  of  them  appeared  reasonable,  but  others  were  inad- 
missible or  impracticable :  that  having  occasion  to  see  fre- 
quently the  Speaker,*  he  had  also  communicated  them  to 
him,  as  he  found  him  very  anxious  for  a  reconciliation  : 
that  the  Speaker  had  said  it  would  be  very  humiliating  to 
Britain  to  be  obliged  to  submit  to  such  terms :  but  the 
Doctor  told  him  she  had  been  unjust ;  and  ought  to  bear 
the  consequences,  and  alter  her  conduct ;  that  the  pill  might 
be  bitter,  but  it  would  be  salutary,  and  must  be  swallowed  : 
that  these  were  the  sentiments  of  impartial  men,  after  tho- 
rough consideration  and  full  information  of  all  circumstances, 
and  that  sooner  or  later  these  or  similar  measures  must  be 
followed,  or  the  Empire  would  be  divided  and  ruined  :  the 
Doctor,  on  the  whole,  hoped  some  good  would  be  effected 
by  our  endeavours. 

On  the  19th  of  January,  I  received  a  card  from  Lord 
Stanhope,  acquainting  me,  that  Lord  Chatham  having  a 
motion  to  make  on  the  morrow  in  the  House  of  Lords,  con- 
*Sir  Fletcher  Norton. 

13 


195 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  Sec,  .MARCH,  1775. 


196 


coining  America,  greatly  desired  that  I  might  be  in  the 
House,  into  which  Lord  S.  would  endeavour  to  procure 
me  admittance.  At  this  time  it  was  a  rule  of  the  House 
that  no  person  could  introduce  more  than  one  friend.  The 
next  morning,  his  Lordship  let  me  know  by  another  card, 
that  if  1  attended  at  two  o'clock  in  the  lobby,  Lord  Chat- 
ham would  be  there  about  that  time,  and  would  himself 
introduce  me.  I  attended  and  met  him  there  accordingly. 
On  my  mentioning  to  him  what  Lord  Stanhope  had  writ- 
ten to  me,  he  said,  "  Certainly  ;  and  I  shall  do  it  with  the 
more  pleasure,  as  1  am  sure  your  being  present  at  this  day's 
debate  will  be  of  more  service  to  America  than  mine ;" 
and  so  taking  me  by  the  arm,  was  leading  me  along  the 
passage  to  the  door  that  enters  near  the  throne,  when  one 
of  the  Doorkeepers  followed  and  acquainted  him  that,  by 
the  order,  none  were  to  be  carried  in  at  that  door  but  the 
eldest  sons  or  brothers  of  Peers;  on  which  he  limped  back 
with  me  to  the  door  near  the  bar,  where  were  standing  a 
number  of  gentlemen  waiting  for  the  Peers  who  were  to 
introduce  them,  and  some  Peers  waiting  for  friends  they 
expected  to  introduce ;  among  whom,  he  delivered  me  to 
the  Doorkeepers,  saying  aloud,  this  is  Doctor  Franklin, 
whom  1  would  have  admitted  into  the  House  ;  when  they 
readily  opened  the  door  for  me  accordingly.  As  it  had 
not  been  publickly  known  that  there  was  any  communica- 
tion between  his  Lordship  and  me,  this  I  found  occasioned 
some  speculation.  His  appearance  in  the  House,  I  observ- 
ed, caused  a  kind  of  bustle  among  the  officers,  who  were 
hurried  in  sending  messengers  for  Members,  I  suppose 
those  in  connection  with  the  Ministry,  something  of  im- 
portance being  expected  when  that  great  man  appears;  it 
being  but  seldom  that  his  infirmities  permit  his  attendance. 
I  had  great  satisfaction  in  hearing  his  motion  and  the  debate 
upon  it,  which  1  shall  not  attempt  to  give  here  an  account 
of,  as  you  may  find  a  better  in  the  papers  of  the  time.  It 
was  his  motion  for  withdrawing  the  Troops  from  Boston, 
as  the  first  step  towards  an  accommodation.  The  day  fol- 
lowing, I  received  a  note  from  Lord  Stanhope,  expressing 
that,  "  at  the  desire  of  Lord  Chatham,  was  sent  me  enclosed, 
the  motion  he  made  in  the  House  of  Lords,  that  I  might  be 
possessed  of  it  in  the  most  authentick  manner,  by  the  com- 
munication of  the  individual  paper  which  was  read  to  the 
House  by  the  mover  himself."  I  sent  copies  of  this  mo- 
tion to  America,  and  was  the  more  pleased  with  it,  as  I 
conceived  it  had  partly  taken  its  rise  from  a  hint  1  had 
given  his  Lordship  in  a  former  conversation.  It  follows  in 
these  words : 

Lord  Chatham  s  Motion,  January  20,  1775. 
"  That  an  humble  Address  be  presented  to  His  Majesty, 
most  humbly  to  advise  and  beseech  His  Majesty,  that,  in 
order  to  open  the  way  towards  a  happy  settlement  of  the 
dangerous  troubles  in  America,  by  beginning  to  allay  fer- 
ments and  soften  animosities  there ;  and  above  all,  for  pre- 
venting in  the  mean  time  any  sudden  and  fatal  catastrophe 
at  Boston,  now  suffering  under  daily  irritation  of  an  Army 
before  their  eyes,  posted  in  their  Town  ;  it  may  graciously 
please  His  Majesty,  that  immediate  orders  may  be  despatch- 
ed to  General  Gage,  for  removing  His  Majesty's  Forces 
from  the  Town  of  Boston,  as  soon  as  the  rigour  of  the  sea- 
son and  other  circumstances,  indispensable  to  the  safety  and 
accommodation  of  the  said  Troops,  may  render  the  same 
practicable." 

I  was  quite  charmed  with  Lord  Chatham's  speech  in 
support  of  his  motion.  He  impressed  me  with  the  highest 
idea  of  him  as  a  great  and  most  able  statesman.  Lord 
Camden,  another  wonderfully  good  speaker  and  close  rea- 
soner,  joined  him  in  the  same  argument,  as  did  several 
other  Lords,  who  spoke  excellently  well ;  but  all  availed 
no  more  than  the  whistling  of  the  winds.  This  motion  was 
rejected.  Sixteen  Scotch  Peers,  and  twenty-four  Bishops, 
with  all  the  Lords  in  possession  or  expectation  of  places, 
when  they  vote  together  unanimously,  as  they  generally 
do  for  Ministerial  measures,  make  a  dead  majority,  that 
renders  all  debating  ridiculous  in  itself,  since  it  can  answer 
no  end.  Full  of  the  high  esteem  I  had  imbibed  for  Lord 
Chatham,  I  wrote  back  to  Lord  Stanhope  the  following 
note,  viz  : 

Dr.  Frxnklin  presents  his  best  respects  to  Lord  Stan- 
hope, with  many  thanks  to  his  Lordship  and  Lord  Chat- 


ham^ for  the  communication  of  so  authentick  a  copy  of  the 
motion.  Dr.  F.  is  filled  with  admiration  of  that  truly  great 
man.  He  has  seen  in  the  course  of  his  life,  sometimes 
eloquence  without  wisdom,  and  often  wisdom  without  elo- 
quence ;  in  the  present  instance  he  sees  both  united,  and 
both,  as  he  thinks,  in  the  highest  degree  possible. 

Craven  Street,  Jim.  23,  17T.r). 

As  in  the  course  of  the  debate,  some  Lords  in  the  Ad- 
ministration had  observed,  that  it  was  common  and  easy  to 
censure  their  measures,  but  those  who  did  so  proposed 
nothing  better  ;  Lord  Chatham  mentioned  that  he  should 
not  be  one  of  those  idle  censurers,  that  he  had  thought 
long  and  closely  upon  the  subject,  and  proposed  soon  to 
lay  before  their  Lordships  the  result  of  his  meditation,  in  a 
plan  for  healing  our  differences,  and  restoring  peace  to  the 
Empire,  to  which  his  present  motion  was  preparatory:  I 
much  desired  to  know  what  his  plan  was,  and  intended 
waiting  on  him  to  see  if  he  would  communicate  it  to  me ; 
but  he  went  the  next  morning  to  Hayes,  and  1  was  so  much 
taken  up  with  daily  business  and  company,  that  I  could 
not  easily  get  out  to  him.  A  few  days  after,  however, 
Lord  Mahon  called  on  me,  and  told  me  Lord  Chatham, 
was  very. desirous  of  seeing  me ;  when  I  promised  to  be 
with  him  the  Friday  following,  several  engagements  pre- 
vented my  going  sooner.  On  Friday,  the  27th,  I  took  a 
post-chaise  about  9  o'clock,  and  got  to  Hayes  about  eleven, 
but  my  attention  being  engaged  in  reading  a  new  pamph- 
let, the  postboy  drove  me  a  mile  or  two  beyond  the  gate. 
His  Lordship  being  out  on  an  airing  in  his  chariot,  had 
met  me  before  I  reached  Hayes,  unobserved  by  me,  turn- 
ed and  followed  me,  and  not  finding  me  there  concluded, 
as  he  had  seen  me  reading,  that  I  had  passed  by  mistake, 
and  sent  a  servant  after  me.  He  expressed  great  pleasure 
at  my  coming,  and  acquainted  me,  in  a  long  conversation, 
with  the  outlines  of  his  plan,  parts  of  which  he  read  to  me. 
He  said  he  had  communicated  it  only  to  Lord  Camden, 
whose  advice  he  much  relied  on,  particularly  in  the  law 
part ;  and  that  he  would,  as  soon  as  he  could  gel  it  tran- 
scribed, put  it  into  my  hands  for  my  opinion  and  advice, 
but  should  show  it  to  no  other  person  before  he  presented 
it  to  the  House  ;  and  he  requested  me  to  make  no  mention 
of  it,  otherwise  parts  might  be  misunderstood  and  blown 
up  beforehand,  and  others  perhaps  adopted  and  produced 
by  Ministers  as  their  own.  I  promised  the  closest  secrecy, 
and  kept  my  word  ;  not  even  mentioning  to  any  one  that 
I  had  seen  him.  I  dined  with  hiin,  his  family  only  present, 
and  returned  to  Town  in  the  evening. 

On  the  Sunday  following,  being  the  29th,  his  Lordship 
came  to  Town,  and  called  upon  me  in  Craven  Street.  He 
brought  with  him  his  plan  transcribed,  in  the  form  of  an 
Act  of  Parliament,  which  he  put  into  my  hands,  request- 
ing me  to  consider  it  carefully,  and  communicate  to  him 
such  remarks  upon  it  as  should  occur  to  me.  His  reason 
for  desiring  to  give  me  that  trouble  was,  as  he  was  pleased 
to  say,  that  he  knew  no  man  so  thoroughly  acquainted  with 
the  subject,  or  so  capable  of  giving  advice  upon  it ;  that  he 
thought  the  errours  of  Ministers  in  American  Affairs  had 
been  often  owing  to  their  not  obtaining  the  best  informa- 
tion :  that,  therefore,  though  he  had  considered  the  business 
thoroughly  in  all  its  parts,  he  was  not  so  confident  of  his 
own  judgment,  but  that  he  came  to  set  it  right  by  mine,  as 
men  set  their  watches  by  a  regulator.  He  had  not  deter- 
mined when  he  should  produce  it  in  the  House  of  Lords ; 
but  in  the  course  of  our  conversation,  considering  the  pre- 
carious situation  of  his  health,  and  that  if  presenting  it  was 
delayed,  some  intelligence  might  arrive  which  would  make 
it  seem  less  seasonable,  or  in  all  parts  not  so  proper  ;  or  the 
Ministry  might  engage  in  different  measures,  and  then  say, 
if  you  had  produced  your  plan  sooner,  we  might  have 
attended  to  it ;  he  concluded  to  offer  it  the  Wednesday  fol- 
lowing, and,  therefore,  wished  to  see  me  upon  it  the  pre- 
ceding Tuesday,  when  he  would  again  call  upon  me,  unless 
I  could  conveniently  come  to  Hayes.  I  chose  the  latter, 
in  respect  to  his  Lordship,  and  because  there  was  less  like- 
lihood of  interruptions  :  and  I  promised  to  be  with  him  earlv, 
that  we  might  have  more  time.  He  staid  with  me  near 
two  hours,  his  equipage  awaiting  at  the  door  ;  and  being 
there  while  people  were  coming  from  church,  it  was  much 
taken  notice  of  and  talked  of,  as  at  that  time  was  every 
little  circumstance  that  men  thought  might  possibly  any 


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CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  kc,  MARCH,  1" 5. 


198 


way  affect  American  affairs.  Such  a  visit  from  so  great  a 
man,  on  so  important  a  business,  flattered  not  a  little  my 
vanity  ;  and  the  honour  of  it  gave  me  the  more  pleasure, 
as  it  happened  on  the  very  day  twelve  months  that  the 
Ministry  had  taken  so  much  pains  to  disgrace  me  before 
the  Privy  Council. 

I  applied  myself  immediately  to  the  reading  and  consid- 
ering the  plan,  of  which,  when  it  was  afterwards  published, 
I  sent  you  a  copy,  and  therefore  need  not  insert  it  here. 
I  put  down  upon  paper,  as  I  went  along,  some  short  me- 
morandums for  my  future  discourse  with  him  upon  it,  which 
follow,  that  you  may,  if  you  please,  compare  them  with 
the  plan  ;  and  if  you  do  so,  you  will  see  their  drift  and 
purpose,  which  otherwise  would  make  me  much  writing  to 
explain. 

Tuesday,  January  31,  1775. 

Notes  lor  discourse  with  Lord  Chatham  on  his  plan: 

Voluntary  grants  and  forced  taxes,  not  to  be  expected 
of  the  same  people  at  the  same  time. 

Permanent  revenue  will  be  objected  to ;  would  not  a  tem- 
porary agreement  be  best,  suppose  for  one  hundred  years  ? 

Does  the  whole  of  the  rights  claimed  in  the  Petition  of 
Rights  relate  to  England  only  ? 

The  American  Naturalization  Act  gives  all  the  rights  of 
natural  born  subjects  to  foreigners  residing  there  seven 
years.  Can  it  be  supposed  that  the  natives  there  have 
them  not  ? 

If  the  King  should  raise  Armies  in  America,  would  Bri- 
tain like  their  being  brought  hither:  as  the  King  might 
bring  them  when  he  pleased. 

An  Act  of  Parliament  requires  the  Colonies  to  furnish 
sundry  articles  of  provision  and  accommodation  to  Troops 
quartered  among  them  ;  this  may  be  made  very  burdensome 
to  Colonies  that  are  out  of  favour. 

If  a  permanent  revenue,  why  not  the  same  privileges  in 
trade  with  Scotland! 

Should  not  the  lands  conquered  by  Britain  and  the  Co- 
lonies in  conjunction,  be  given  them  (reserving  a  quitrent) 
whence  they  might  form  funds  to  enable  them  to  pay. 

Instructions  about  Agents  to  be  withdrawn. 

Grants  to  be  for  three  years,  at  the  end  of  which  a  new 
Congress — and  so  from  three  to  three  years. 

Congress  to  have  the  general  defence  of  the  frontiers, 
making  and  regulating  new  settlements. 

Protection  mutual. 

We  go  into  all  your  wars. 

Our  settlements  cost  you  nothing. 

Take  the  plan  of  union. 

"  Defence,  extension,  and  prosperity  of — The  late  Ca- 
nada Act  prevents  their  extension,  and  may  check  their 
prosperity. 

Laws  should  be  secure  as  well  as  Charters. 

Perhaps  if  the  legislative  power  of  Parliament  is  owned 
in  the  Colonies,  they  may  make  a  law  to  forbid  the  meet- 
ing of  any  Congress,  &.c. 

1  was  at  Hayes  early  on  Tuesday,  agreeably  to  my  pro- 
mise, when  we  entered  into  consideration  of  the  plan  ;  but 
though  I  staid  near  four  hours,  his  Lordship,  in  the  manner 
of.  I  think,  all  eloquent  persons,  was  so  full  and  diffuse  in 
supporting  every  particular  I  questioned,  that  there  was  not 
time  to  go  through  half  my  memorandums  ;  he  is  not  easily 
interrupted,  and  I  had  such  pleasure  in  hearing  him,  that  I 
found  little  inclination  to  interrupt  him  ;  therefore,  consider- 
ing that  neither  of  us  had  much  expectation  that  the  plan 
would  be  adopted  entirely  as  it  stood  ;  that  in  the  course  of 
its  consideration,  if  it  should  be  received,  proper  alterations 
might  be  introduced  ;  that  before  it  would  be  settled,  Ame- 
rica should  have  opportunity  to  make  her  objections  and 
propositions  of  amendment ;  that  to  have  it  received  at  all 
here,  it  must  seem  to  comply  a  little  with  some  of  the  pre- 
vailing prejudices  of  the  Legislature  ;  that  if  it  was  not  so 
perfect  as  might  be  wished,  it  would  at  least  serve  as  a  basis 
for  treaty,  and  in  the  mean  time  prevent  mischiefs,  and  that 
a?  his  Lordship  had  determined  to  offer  it  the  next  day, 
there  was  not  time  to  make  changes  and  another  fair  copy. 
1  therefore  ceased  my  querying;  and  though  afterwards 
many  people  were  pleased  to  do  me  the  honour  of  sup- 
posing I  had  a  considerable  share  in  composing  it,  I  assure 
you,  that  the  addition  of  a  single  word  only  was  made  at 
my  instance,  viz :  "  Constitutions"  after  "  Charters  jM  for 


my  filling  up  at  his  request  a  blank  with  the  titles  of  Acts 
proper  to  be  repealed,  which  I  took  from  the  proceedings 
of  the  Congress,  was  no  more  than  might  have  been  done 
by  any  copying  clerk. 

On  Wednesday,  Lord  Stanhope,  at  Lord  Chatham's  re- 
quest, called  upon  me,  and  carried  me  down  to  the  House 
of  Lords,  which  was  soon  very  full.  Lord  Chatham,  in  a 
most  excellent  speech,  introduced,  explained,  and  supported 
his  plan.  When  he  sat  down,  Lord  Dartmouth  rose,  and 
very  properly  said,  it  contained  matter  of  such  weight  and 
magnitude  as  to  require  much  consideration,  and  he  there- 
fore hoped  the  noble  Earl  did  not  expect  their  Lordships 
to  decide  upon  it  by  an  immediate  vote,  but  would  be  wil- 
ling it  should  lie  upon  the  table  for  consideration.  Lord 
Chatham  answered  readily,  that  he  expected  nothing  more. 
But  Lord  Sandwich  rose,  and  in  a  petulant  vehement 
speech,  opposed  its  being  received  at  all,  and  gave  his  opi- 
nion, that  it  ought  to  be  immediately  rejected  with  the  con- 
tempt it  deserved  ;  that  he  could  never  believe  it  to  be  the 
production  of  any  British  Peer ;  that  it  appeared  to  him 
rather  the  work  of  some  American:  and,  turning  his  face 
towards  me,  who  was  leaning  on  the  bar,  said,  he  fancied 
he  had  in  his  eye  the  person  who  drew  it  up,  one  of  the 
bitterest  and  most  mischievous  enemies  this  Country  had 
ever  known.  This  drew  the  eyes  of  many  Lords  upon  me  : 
but  as  I  had  no  inducement  to  take  it  to  myself,  I  kept  my 
countenance  as  immoveable  as  if  my  features  had  been 
made  of  wood.  Then  several  other  Lords  of  the  Admi- 
nistration gave  their  sentiments  also  for  rejecting  it,  of  which 
opinion  also  was  strongly  the  wise  Lord  Hillsborough ;  but 
the  Dukes  of  Richmond  and  Manchester,  Lord  Shelbwne, 
Lord  Camden,  Lord  Temple,  Lord  Lyttleton  and  others, 
were  for  receiving  it,  some  through  approbation,  and  others 
for  the  character  and  dignity  of  the  House.  One  Lord 
mentioning  with  applause  the  candid  proposal  of  one  of  the 
ministers,  Lord  Dartmouth,  his  Lordship  rose  again,  and 
said,  that  having  since  heard  the  opinions  of  so  many  Lords 
against  receiving  it  to  lie  upon  the  table  for  consideration, 
he  had  altered  his  mind,  could  not  accept  the  praise  offered 
him,  for  a  candour  of  which  he  was  now  ashamed,  and 
should  therefore  give  his  voice  for  rejecting  the  plan  imme- 
diately. I  am  the  more  particular  in  this,  as  it  is  a  trait 
of  that  Nobleman's  character,  who,  from  his  office,  is  sup- 
posed to  have  so  great  a  share  in  American  affairs,  but  who 
has  in  reality  no  will  or  judgment  of  his  own,  being,  with 
dispositions  for  the  best  measures,  easily  prevailed  with  to 
join  in  the  worst.  Lord  Chatham,  in  his  reply  to  Lord 
Sandicich,  took  notice  of  his  illiberal  insinuation,  that  the 
plan  was  not  the  person's  who  proposed  it :  declared  that 
it  was  entirely  his  own,  a  declaration  bethought  himself  the 
more  obliged  to  make,  as  many  of  their  Lordships  appeared 
to  have  so  mean  an  opinion  of  it ;  for  if  it  was  so  weak  or 
so  bad  a  thing,  it  was  proper  in  him  to  take  care  that  no 
other  person  should  unjustly  share  in  the  censure  it  de- 
served. That  it  had  been  heretofore  reckoned  his  vice  not 
to  be  apt  to  take  advice  ;  but  he  made  no  scruple  to  de- 
clare, that  if  he  were  the  first  Minister  of  this  Country,  and 
had  the  care  of  settling  this  momentous  business,  he  should 
not  be  ashamed  of  publickly  calling  to  his  assistance  a  per- 
son so  perfectly  acquainted  with  the  whole  of  American 
affairs  as  the  gentleman  alluded  to,  and  so  injuriously  re- 
flected on ;  one,  he  was  pleased  to  say,  whom  all  Europe 
held  in  high  estimation,  for  his  knowledge  and  wisdom,  and 
ranked  with  our  Boyles  and  Newto?is,  who  was  an  honour, 
not  to  the  English  Nation  only,  but  to  human  nature !  1 
found  it  harder  to  stand  this  extravagant  compliment,  than 
the  preceding  equally  extravagant  abuse,  but  kept  as  well 
as  I  could  an  unconcerned  countenance,  as  not  conceiving 
it  to  relate  to  me. 

To  hear  so  many  of  these  hereditary  Legislators  de- 
claiming so  vehemently  against,  not  the  adopting  merely, 
but  even  the  consideration  of  a  proposal  so  important  in  its 
nature,  offered  by  a  person  of  so  weighty  a  character,  one 
of  the  first  Statesmen  of  the  age,  who  had  taken  up  this 
Country  when  in  the  lowest  despondency,  and  conducted 
it  to  victory  and  glory,  through  a  war  with  two  of  the 
mightiest  Kingdoms  in  Europe  :  to  hear  them  censuring  his 
plan,  not  only  for  their  own  misunderstandings  of  what  was 
in  it,  but  for  their  imaginations  of  what  was  not  in  it,  which 
they  would  not  give  themselves  an  opportunity  of  rectify- 
ing by  a  second  reading  :  to  perceive  the  total  ignorance  of 


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200 


the  subject  in  some,  the  prejudice  and  passion  of  others, 
and  the  wilful  perversion  of  plain  truth  in  several  of  the 
Ministers ;  and,  upon  the  whole,  to  see  it  so  ignominiously 
rejected  by  so  great  a  majority,  and  so  hastily  too,  in  breach 
of  all  decency,  and  prudent  regard  to  the  character  and 
dignity  of  their  body,  as  a  third  part  of  the  National  Le- 
gislature, gave  me  an  exceeding  mean  opinion  ol  their  abi- 
lities, and  made  their  claim  of  sovereignty  over  three 
millions  of  virtuous  sensible  people  in  America  seem  the 
greatest  of  absurdities,  since  they  appeared  to  have  scarce 
discretion  enough  to  govern  a  herd  of  swine.  Hereditary 
Legislators!  thought  I.  There  would  be  more  propriety, 
because  less  hazard  of  mischief,  in  having  (as  in  some  Uni- 
versity of  Germany)  hereditary  professors  ofmatficmaticks ! 
lint  this  was  a  hasty  reflection,  lor  the  elected  House  of 
Commons  is  no  better,  nor  ever  will  be  while  the  electors 
receive  money  for  their  votes,  and  pay  money  wherewith 
.Ministers  may  bribe  their  Representatives  when  chosen. 

After  this  proceeding  1  expected  to  hear  no  more  of  any 
negotiation  for  settling  our  difference  amicably  ;  yet  in  a 
day  or  two,  I  had  a  note  from  Mr.  Barclay,  requesting  a 
meeting  at  Dr.  FothergilVs,  the  4th  of  February  in  the 
evening.  I  attended  accordingly,  and  was  surprised  by 
being  told  that  a  very  good  disposition  appeared  in  Adminis- 
tration ;  that  the  Hints  had  been  considered,  and  several 
of  them  thought  reasonable,  and  that  others  might  be  ad- 
mitted with  small  amendments.  The  good  Doctor,  with  his 
usual  philanthropy,  expatiated  on  the  miseries  of  war  ;  that 
even  a  bad  peace  was  preferable  to  the  most  successful 
war ;  that  America  was  growing  in  strength,  and  whatever 
she  might  be  obliged  to  submit  to  at  present,  she  would  in 
a  few  years  be  in  a  condition  to  make  her  own  terms.  Mr. 
Barclay  hinted  how  much  it  was  in  my  power  to  promote 
an  agreement ;  how  much  it  would  be  to  my  honour  to  ef- 
fect it,  and  that  I  might  expect,  not  only  restoration  of  my 
old  place,  but  almost  any  other  I  could  wish  for,  he.  I 
need  not  tell  you,  who  know  me  so  well,  how  improper  and 
disgusting  this  language  was  to  me.  The  Doctor's  was 
more  suitable.  Him  I  answered,  that  we  did  not  wish  for 
war,  and  desired  nothing  but  what  was  reasonable  and 
necessary  for  our  security  and  well-being.  To  Mr.  Barclay 
I  replied,  that  the  Ministry,  1  was  sure,  would  rather  give 
me  a  place  in  a  cart  to  Tyburn,  than  any  other  place  what- 
ever. And  to  both,  that  1  sincerely  wished  to  be  service- 
able ;  that  I  needed  no  other  inducement  than  to  be  shown 
how  I  might  be  so  ;  but  saw  they  imagined  more  to  be  in 
my  power  than  really  was.  I  was  then  told  again  that 
conferences  had  been  held  upon  the  Hints ;  and  the  paper 
being  produced  was  read,  that  I  might  hear  the  observa- 
tions that  had  been  made  upon  them  separately,  which 
were  as  follows: 

1.  The  first  Article  was  approved. 

2.  The  second  agreed  to,  so  far  as  related  to  the  repeal 
of  the  Tea  Act.  But  repayment  of  the  Duties  that  had 
been  collected,  was  refused. 

3.  The  third  not  approved,  as  it  implied  a  deficiency  of 
power  in  the  Parliament  that  made  those  Acts. 

4.  The  fourth  approved. 

5.  The  fifth  agreed  to,  but  with  a  reserve,  that  no  change 
prejudicial  to  Britain  was  to  be  expected. 

6.  The  sixth  agreed  to,  so  far  as  related  to  the  appro- 
priation of  the  Duties  :  but  the  appointment  of  the  Officers 
and  their  salaries  to  remain  as  at  present. 

1.  The  seventh,  relating  to  aids  in  time  of  peace,  agreed 

to. 

S.  The  eighth,  relating  to  the  Troops,  was  inadmissible. 

9.  The  ninth  could  be  agreed  to,  with  this  difference, 
that  no  proportion  should  be  observed  with  regard  to  pre- 
ceding Taxes,  but  each  Colony  should  give  at  pleasure. 

10.  The  tenth  agreed  to,  as  to  the  restitution  of  Castle 
William ;  but  the  restriction  on  the  Crown  in  building 
fortresses  refused. 

J  1 .  The  eleventh  refused  absolutely,  except  as  to  the 
Boston  Port  Bill,  which  would  be  repealed ;  and  the 
QuebccJc  Act  might  be  so  far  amended,  as  to  reduce  that 
Province  to  its  ancient  limits.  The  other  Massachusetts 
Acts,  being  real  amendments  of  their  Constitution,  must 
for  that  reason  be  continued,  as  well  as  to  be  a  standing 
example  of  the  power  of  Parliament. 

12.  The  twelfth  agreed  to,  that  the  Judges  should  be 
appointed  during  good  behaviour,  on  the  Assemblies  pro- 


viding permanent  salaries,  such  as  the  Crown  should  ap- 
prove of. 

IS.  The  thirteenth  agreed  to,  provided  the  Assemblies 
make  provision  as  in  the  preceding  article. 

15.  The  fifteenth  agreed  to. 

16.  The  sixteenth  agreed  to,  supposing  the  Duties  paid 
to  the  Colony  Treasuries. 

17.  The  seventeenth  inadmissible. 

We  had  not  at  this  time  a  great  deal  of  conversation 
upon  these  points,  for  I  shortened  it  by  observing,  that 
while  the  Parliament  claimed  and  exercised  a  power  of 
altering  our  Constitutions  at  pleasure,  there  could  be  no 
agreement ;  for  we  were  rendered  unsafe  in  every  privilege 
we  had  a  right  to,  and  were  secure  in  nothing.  And  it 
being  hinted  how  necessary  an  agreement  was  for  America, 
since  it  was  so  easy  for  Britain  to  burn  all  our  sea-port 
Towns,  I  grew  warm,  said  that  the  chief  part  of  my  little 
property  consisted  of  houses  in  those  Towns;  that  they 
might  make  bonfires  of  them  whenever  they  pleased  :  that 
the  fear  of  losing  thcin  would  never  alter  my  resolution  to 
resist  to  the  last  that  claim  of  Parliament,  and  that  it  be- 
hooved this  Country  to  take  care  what  mischief  it  did  us, 
for  that  sooner  or  later  it  would  certainly  be  obliged  to 
make  good  all  damages  with  interest !  The  Doctor  smiled, 
as  I  thought,  with  some  approbation  of  my  discourse,  pas- 
sionate as  it  was,  and  said  he  would  certainly  repeat  it 
to-morrow  to  Lord  Dartmouth. 

In  the  discourse  concerning  the  'Hints,  Mr.  Barclay 
happened  to  mention,  that  going  to  Lord  Hyde's,  he  found 
Lord  Howe  with  him,  and  that  Lord  Hyde  had  said  to 
him,  "  you  may  speak  any  thing  before  Lord  Howe,  that 
you  have  to  say  to  me,  for  he  is  a  friend  in  whom  I  con- 
fide ;"  upon  which  he  accordingly  had  spoken  with  the 
same  freedom  as  usual.  By  this  I  collected  how  Lord 
Howe  came  by  the  paper  of  Hints  which  he  had  shown 
me:  and  it  being  mentioned  as  a  measure  thought  of,  to 
send  over  a  Commissioner  with  powers  to  inquire  into 
grievances  and  give  redress  on  certain  conditions,  but  that 
it  was  difficult  to  find  a  proper  person ;  I  said,  why  not 
Lord  Hyde?  he  is  a  man  of  prudence  and  temper;  a 
person  of  dignity,  and  I  should  think  very  suitable  for  such 
an  employment :  or,  if  he  would  not  go,  there  is  the  other 
person  you  just  mentioned,  Lord  Howe,  who  would,  in 
my  opinion,  do  excellently  well.  This  passed  as  mere  con- 
versation, and  we  parted. 

Lord  Chatham's  rejected  plan  being  printed  for  the  pub- 
lick  judgment,  I  received  six  copies  from  Lord  Mahon, 
his  son-in-law,  which  I  sent  to  different  persons  in  America. 

A  week  and  more  passed,  in  which  I  heard  nothing 
further  of  the  negotiation,  and  my  time  was  much  taken 
up  among  the  Members  of  Parliament,  when  Mr.  Barclay 
sent  me  a  note  to  say,  that  he  was  indisposed,  but  desirous 
of  seeing  me,  and  should  be  glad  if  1  would  call  on  him. 
I  waited  upon  him  the  next  morning,  when  he  told  me  that 
he  had  seen  Lord  Hyde,  and  had  some  further  discourse 
with  him  on  the  Articles;  that  he  thought  himself  now 
fully  possessed  of  what  would  do  in  this  business ;  that  he 
therefore  wished  another  meeting  with  me  and  Doctor 
Fothergill,  when  he  would  endeavour  to  bring  prepared  a 
draught  conformable  chiefly  to  what  had  been  proposed  and 
conceded  on  both  sides,  with  some  propositions  of  his  own. 
1  readily  agreed  to  the  meeting,  which  was  to  be  on  Thurs- 
day evening,  February  16th. 

We  met  accordingly,  when  Mr.  Barclay  produced  the 
following  paper,  viz: 

A  Plan,  which  it  is  believed  would  produce  a  permanent 
union  between  Great  Bkitain  and  her  Colonies. 

1.  The  Tea  destroyed  to  be  paid  for;  and,  in  order  that 
no  time  may  be  lost  to  begin  the  desirable  work  of  conci- 
liation, it  is  proposed  that  the  Agent  or  Agents,  in  a  peti- 
tion to  the  King,  should  engage  that  the  Tea  destroyed 
shall  be  paid  for,  and  in  consequence  of  that  engagement, 
a  Commissioner  to  have  authority,  by  a  clause  in  an  Act  of 
Parliament,  to  open  the  port  (by  a  suspension  of  the  Boston 
Port  Act)  when  that  engagement  shall  be  complied  with. 

2d.  The  Tea-Duty  Act  to  be  repealed,  as  well  for  the 
advantage  of  Great  Britain  as  the  Colonies. 

3d.  Castle  William  to  be  restored  to  the  Province  of 
the  Massachusetts-Bay,  as  formerly,  before  it  was  delivered 
up  by  Govemour  Hutchinson. 


201 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775. 


202 


4th.  As  it  is  believed  that  the  commencement  of  conci- 
liatory measures  will  in  a  considerable  degree  quiet  the 
minds  of  the  subjects  in  America,  it  is  proposed  that  the 
inhabitants  of  the  Province  of  the  Massachusetts- Bay  should 
petition  the  King,  and  state  their  objections  to  the  said 
Act.*  And  it  is  to  be  understood  that  the  said  Act  shall 
be  repealed.  Interim,  the  Commissioner  to  have  power 
to  suspend  the  Act,  in  order  to  enable  the  inhabitants  to 
petition. 

5th.  The  several  Provinces  who  may  think  themselves 
aggrieved  by  the  Quebeck  Bill,  to  petition  in  their  legisla- 
tive capacities  ;  and  it  is  to  be  understood  that  so  far  of  the 
Act  as  extends  the  limits  of  Quebeck  beyond  its  ancient 
bounds,  is  to  be  repealed. 

6th.  The  Act  of  Henry  VIII.  to  be  formally  disclaimed 
by  Parliament. 

7th.  In  time  of  peace  the  Americans  to  raise  within  their 
respective  Provinces,  by  Acts  of  their  own  Legislatures,  a 
certain  sum  or  sums,  such  as  may  be  thought  necessary  lor 
a  Peace  Establishment,  to  pay  Governours,  Judges,  &c. 

Vide — Laws  of  Jamaica. 

8th.  In  time  of  war,  on  requisition  made  by  the  King, 
with  consent  of  Parliament,  every  Colony  shall  raise  such 
sums  of  money,  as  their  Legislatures  may  think  suitable  to 
their  abilities  and  the  publick  exigency,  to  be  laid  out  in 
raising  and  paying  men,  for  land  or  sea  service,  furnishing 
provisions,  transports,  or  such  other  purposes  as  the  King 
shall  require  and  direct. 

9th.  The  Acts  of  Navigation  to  be  re-examined,  in  order 
to  see  whether  some  alterations  might  not  be  made  there- 
in, as  much  for  the  advantage  of  Great  Britain,  as  the  ease 
of  the  Colonies. 

10th.  A  Naval  Officer  to  be  appointed  by  the  Crown  to 
reside  in  each  Colony,  to  see  those  Acts  observed. 

N.  B.  In  some  Colonies  they  are  not  appointed  by  the 
Crown. 

1 1th.  All  Duties  arising  on  the  Acts  for  regulating 
Trade  with  the  Colonies,  to  be  for  the  publick  use  of  the 
respective  Colonies,  and  paid  into  their  Treasuries,  and  an 
Officer  of  the  Crown  to  see  it  done. 

12th.  The  Admiralty  Courts  to  be  reduced  to  the  same 
powers  as  they  have  in  England. 

13th.  All  Judges  in  the  King's  Colony  Governments  to 
be  appointed  during  good  behaviour,  and  to  be  paid  by  the 
Province,  agreeable  to  article  seventh. 

N.  B.  If  the  King  chooses  to  add  to  their  salaries,  the 
same  to  be  sent  from  England. 

14th.  The  Governours  to  be  supported  in  the  same  man- 
ner. 

Our  conversation  turned  chiefly  upon  the  first  article. 
It  was  said  that  the  Ministry  only  wanted  some  opening  to 
be  given  them,  some  ground  on  which  to  found  the  com- 
mencement of  conciliating  measures,  that  a  petition,  con- 
taining such  an  engagement,  as  mentioned  in  this  article, 
would  answer  that  purpose  ;  that  preparations  were  making 
to  send  over  more  Troops  and  Ships,  that  such  a  petition 
might  prevent  their  going,  especially  if  a  Commissioner 
were  proposed  :  I  was  therefore  urged  to  engage  the  Colo- 
ny Agents  to  join  with  me  in  such  a  petition.  My  answer 
was,  that  no  Agent  had  any  thing  to  do  with  the  Tea  busi- 
ness but  those  for  Massachusetts-Bay,  who  were,  Mr.  Bol- 
lan  for  the  Council,  myself  for  the  Assembly,  and  Mr.Z<ee, 
appointed  to  succeed  me  when  I  should  leave  England ; 
that  the  latter,  therefore,  could  hardly  yet  be  considered  as 
an  Agent;  and  that  the  former  was  a  cautious  exact  man, 
and  not  easily  persuaded  to  take  steps  of  such  importance 
without  instructions  or  authority  ;  that  therefore  if  such  a 
step  were  to  be  taken,  it  would  lie  chiefly  on  me  to  take  it; 
that  indeed,  if  there  were,  as  they  supposed,  a  clear  proba- 
bility of  good  to  be  done  by  it,  I  should  make  no  scruple 
of  hazarding  myself  in  it ;  but  I  thought  the  empowering 
a  Commissioner  to  suspend  the  Boston  Port  Act,  was  a 
method  too  dilatory,  and  a  mere  suspension  would  not  be 
satisfactory  ;  that  if  such  an  engagement  were  entered  into, 
all  the  Massachusetts  Acts  should  be  immediately  repealed. 

They  laid  hold  of  the  readiness  I  had  expressed  to  peti- 
tion on  a  probability  of  doing  good,  applauded  it,  and  urged 
me  to  draw  up  a  petition  immediately.  I  said  it  was  a 
matter  of  importance,  and,  with  their  leave,  1  would  take 
home  the  paper,  consider  the  propositions  as  they  now 
*  Supposed  to  mean  the  Boston  Port  Act.    B.  F. 


stood,  and  give  them  my  opinion  to-morrow  evening.  This 
was  agreed  to,  and  for  that  time  we  parted. 

Weighing  now  the  present  dangerous  situation  of  affairs 
in  America,  and  the  daily  hazard  of  widening  the  breach 
there  irreparable,  I  embraced  the  idea  proposed  in  the 
paper,  of  sending  over  a  Commissioner,  as  it  might  be  a 
means  of  suspending  military  operations,  and  bring  on  a 
treaty,  whereby  mischief  would  be  prevented,  and  an 
agreement  by  degrees  be  formed  and  established  ;  I  also 
concluded  to  do  what  had  been  desired  of  me  as  to  the 
engagement,  and  essayed  a  draught  of  a  memorial  to  Lord 
Dartmouth,  for  that  purpose,  simply  ;  to  be  signed  only  by 
myself.  As  to  the  sending  of  a  Commissioner,  a  measure 
which  I  was  desired  likewise  to  propose,  and  express  my 
sentiments  of  its  utility,  I  apprehended  my  colleagues  in 
the  agency  might  be  justly  displeased  if  1  took  a  step  of 
such  importance  without  consulting  them,  and  therefore  I 
sketched  a  joint  petition  to  that  purpose  for  them  to  sign 
with  me  if  they  pleased ;  but  apprehending  that  would 
meet  with  difficulty,  1  drew  up  a  letter  to  Lord  Dartmouth, 
containing  the  same  proposition,  with  the  reasons  for  it,  to 
be  sent  from  me  only.  I  made  also  upon  paper  some  re- 
marks on  the  propositions ;  with  some  hints  on  a  separate 
paper  of  further  remarks  to  he  made  in  conversation,  when 
we  should  meet  in  the  evening  of  the  17th.  Copies  of 
these  papers  (except  the  first,  which  I  do  not  find  with  me 
on  shipboard)  are  here  placed  as  follows,  viz: 

To  the  King's  Most  Excellent  Majesty. 

The  Petition  and  Memorial  of  W.  Bollan,  B.  Franklin, 
and  Arthur  Lee, 

Most  humbly  sheweth : 

That  your  Petitioners,  being  Agents  for  several  Colonies, 
and  deeply  affected  with  the  apprehension  of  impending 
calamities  that  now  threaten  your  Majesty's  subjects  in 
America,  beg  leave  to  approach  your  throne,  and  to  sug- 
gest with  all  humility,  their  opinion,  formed  on  much  atten- 
tive consideration,  that  if  it  should  please  your  Majesty  to 
permit  and  authorize  a  meeting  of  Delegates  from  the  dif- 
ferent Provinces,  and  appoint  some  person  or  persons  of 
dignity  and  wisdom  from  this  Country,  to  preside  in  that 
meeting,  or  to  confer  with  the  said  Delegates,  acquaint 
themselves  fully  with  the  true  grievances  of  the  Colonies, 
and  settle  the  means  of  composing  all  dissensions,  such 
means  to  be  afterwards  ratified  by  your  Majesty,  if  found 
just  and  suitable ;  your  Petitioners  are  persuaded,  from 
their  thorough  knowledge  of  that  Country  and  People,  that 
such  a  measure  might  be  attended  with  the  most  salutary 
effects,  prevent  much  mischief,  and  restore  the  harmony 
which  so  long  subsisted,  and  is  so  necessary  to  the  prospe- 
rity and  happiness  of  all  your  Majesty's  subjects  in  every 
part  of  your  extensive  Dominions  ;  which  that  Heaven 
may  preserve  entire  to  your  Majesty  and  your  descendants, 
is  the  sincere  prayer  of  your  Majesty's  most  dutiful  sub- 
jects and  servants. 

To  the  Right  Honourable  Lord  Dartmouth,  fyc. : 

My  Lord  :  Being  deeply  apprehensive  of  the  impend- 
ing calamities  that  threaten  the  Nation  and  its  Colonies, 
through  the  present  unhappy  dissensions,  I  have  attentively 
considered  hy  what  possible  means  those  calamities  may 
be  prevented.  The  great  importance  of  a  business  which 
concerns  us  all,  will,  I  hope,  in  some  degree  excuse  me  to 
your  Lordship,  if  I  presume  unasked  to  offer  my  humble 
opinion,  that  should  His  Majesty  think  fit  to  authorize 
Delegates  from  the  several  Provinces  to  meet,  at  such  con- 
venient time  and  place  as  in  his  wisdom  shall  seem  meet, 
then  and  there  to  confer  with  a  Commissioner  or  Commis- 
sioners to  be  appointed  and  empowered  by  His  Majesty, 
on  the  means  of  establishing  a  firm  and  lasting  union  be- 
tween Britain  and  the  American  Provinces,  such  a  mea- 
sure might  be  effectual  for  that  purpose.  I  cannot,  there- 
fore, but  wish  it  may  be  adopted,  as  no  one  can  more 
ardently  and  sincerely  desire  the  general  prosperity  of  the 
British  Dominions,  than,  my  Lord,  your  Lordship's  most 
obedient,  &.c,  B.  Franklin. 

Remarks  on  the  Propositions. 
Article  1.  In  consequence  of  that  engagement  all  the 
Boston  and  M^assachusetts  Acts  to  be  suspended,  and  in 
compliance  with  that  engagement  to  he  totally  repealed. 


203 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  fcc,  MARCH,  1775. 


201 


By  this  amendment  Article  4th  will  become  unneces- 
sary. 

Articles  4  and  5.  The  numerous  Petitions  heretofore 
sent  home  by  the  Colony  Assemblies,  and  either  refused 
to  be  received,  or  received  and  neglected,  or  answered 
harshly,  and  the  petitioners  rebuked  for  making  them,  have, 
1  conceive,  totally  discouraged  that  method  of  application, 
and  if  even  their  friends  were  now  to  propose  to  them  the 
recurring  again  to  petitioning,  such  friends  would  bethought 
to  trifle  with  them.  Besides,  all  they  desire  is  now  before 
Government,  in  the  Petition  of  the  Congress,  and  the  whole 
or  parts  may  be  granted  or  refused  at  pleasure.  The  sense 
of  the  Colonies  cannot  be  better  obtained  by  petition  from 
different  Colonies,  than  it  is  by  that  general  petition. 

Article  7,  Read,  such  as  they  may  think  necessary. 

Article  11,  As  it  stands,  of  little  importance.  The  first 
proposition  was,  that  they  should  be  repealed  as  unjust.  But 
they  may  remain,  for  they  will  probably  not  be  executed. 

Even  with  the  amendment  proposed  above  to  Article  1, 
1  cannot  think  it  stands  as  it  should  do.  If  the  object  be 
merely  the  preventing  present  bloodshed,  and  the  other 
mischiefs  to  fall  on  that  Country  in  war,  it  may  possibly 
answer  that  end  ;  but  if  a  thorough  hearty  reconciliation  is 
wished  for,  all  cause  of  heart-burning  should  be  removed, 
and  strict  justice  be  done  on  both  sides.  Thus  the  Tea 
should  not  only  be  paid  for  on  the  side  of  Boston,  but  the 
damage  done  to  Boston  by  the  Port  Act  should  be  repaired, 
because  it  was  done  contrary  to  the  custom  of  all  Nations, 
savage  as  well  as  civilized,  of  first  demanding  satisfaction. 

Article  14,  The  Judges  should  receive  nothing  from  the 
King. 

As  to  the  other  two  Acts,  the  Massachusetts  must  suffer 
all  the  hazards  and  mischiefs  of  war,  rather  than  admit  the 
alteration  of  theirCharters and  Laws  by  Parliament.  "They 
who  can  give  up  essential  liberty  to  obtain  a  little  tempo- 
rary safety,  deserve  neither  liberty  nor  safety." 

B.  Franklin. 

Hints. 

1  doubt  the  regulating  Duties  will  not  be  accepted, 
without  enacting  them,  and  having  the  power  of  appoint- 
ing the  Collectors  in  the  Colonies. 

If  we  mean  a  hearty  reconciliation,  we  must  deal  candid- 
ly, and  use  no  tricks. 

The  Assemblies  are  many  of  them  in  a  state  of  dissolu- 
tion. It  will  require  time  to  make  new  elections;  then  to 
meet  and  choose  Delegates,  supposing  all  could  meet.  But 
the  Assembly  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay  cannot  act  under 
the  new  Constitution,  nor  meet  the  new  Council  for  that 
purpose,  without  acknowledging  the  power  of  Parliament 
to  alter  their  Charter,  which  they  never  will  do.  The  lan- 
guage of  the  proposal  is,  Try  on  your  fetters  first,  and  then 
if  you  don't  like  them,  petition  and  we  will  consider. 

Establishing  salaries  for  Judges  may  be  a  general  law. 
For  Governours  not  so,  the  Constitution  of  Colonies  differ- 
ing. It  is  possible  Troops  may  be  sent  to  particular  Pro- 
vinces, to  burden  them  when  they  are  out  of  favour. 

Canada. — We  cannot  endure  despotism  over  any  of  our 
fellow-subjects.    We  must  all  be  free,  or  none. 

That  afternoon  I  received  the  following  note  from  Mrs. 
Hoive,  enclosing  another  from  Lord  Howe,  viz: 

Mrs.  Howe's  compliments  to  Dr.  Franklin ;  she  has 
just  received  the  enclosed  note  from  Lord  Howe,  and  hopes 
it  will  be  convenient  to  him  to  come  to  her  either  to-mor- 
row or  Sunday,  at  any  hour  most  convenient  to  him  which 
she  begs  he  will  be  so  good  to  name. 

( Iraflon-Street,  Friday,  February  17,  1775. 

[Enclosed  in  the  foregoing.! 
To  the  Honourable  Mrs.  Howe  : 

I  wish  you  to  procure  me  an  oppo;tiinity  to  see  Dr. 
Frank/in,  at  your  house,  to-morrow,  or  on  Sunday  morn- 
ing, for  an  essential  purpose. 

(iraflon-Sticet,  Friday,  -1  o'clock. 

Received  Friday,  5  o'clock,  February  17,  1775. 

I  had  not  heard  from  his  Lordship  for  some  time,  and 
readily  answered,  that  1  would  do  myself  the  honour  of 
wailing  upon  him  at  her  house  to-morrow  at  11  o'clock. 

Mr.  Barclay,  Dr.  Fothm^Ul,  and  myself,  met  according 
to  appointment  at  the  Doctor's  house.    1  delivered  to  them 


the  Remarks  I  had  made  on  the  paper,  and  we  talked  them 
over.  I  read,  also,  the  sketches  1  had  made  of  the  Peti- 
tions and  Memorials ;  but  they  being  of  opinion,  that  the 
repeal  of  none  of  the  Massachusetts  Acts  could  be  obtain- 
ed by  my  engaging  to  pay  for  the  Tea,  the  Boston  Port 
Act  excepted,  and  I  insisting  on  a  repeal  of  all,  otherwise 
declining  to  make  the  offer,  that  measure  was  deferred  for 
the  present,  and  I  pocketed  my  draughts.  They  conclu- 
ded, however,  to  report  my  sentiments,  and  see  if  any  fur- 
ther concession  could  be  obtained.  They  observed,  that 
I  had  signed  my  remarks,  on  which  I  said,  that  understand- 
ing by  other  means  as  well  as  from  them,  that  the  Minis- 
ters had  been  acquainted  with  my  being  consulted  in  this 
business,  1  saw  no  occasion  for  further  mystery  ;  and  since 
in  conveying  and  receiving  through  second  hands  their  sen- 
timents and  mine,  occasioned  delay,  and  might  be  attended 
with  misapprehension,  something  being  lost  or  changed  by 
mistake  in  the  conveyance,  I  did  not  see  why  we  should 
not  meet,  and  discuss  the  points  together  at  once  ;  that  if 
this  was  thought  proper,  I  should  be  willing  and  ready  to 
attend  them  to  the  ministerial  persons  they  conferred  with. 
They  seemed  to  approve  the  proposal,  and  said  they  would 
mention  it. 

The  next  morning  I  met  Lord  Howe  according  to  ap- 
pointment. He  seemed  very  cheerful,  having,  as  I  imagine, 
heard  from  Lord  Hyde  what  that  Lord  might  have  heard 
from  Mr.  Barclay  the  evening  of  the  16th,  viz:  that  1  had 
consented  to  petition  and  engage  payment  for  the  Tea  ; 
whence  it  was  hoped,  the  ministerial  terms  of  accommo- 
dation might  take  place.  He  let  me  know  that  he  was 
thought  of  to  be  sent  Commissioner  for  settling  the  differ- 
ences in  America,  adding,  with  an  excess  of  politeness,  that 
sensible  of  his  own  unacquaintedness  with  the  business,  and 
of  my  knowledge  and  abilities,  he  could  not  think  of  under- 
taking it  without  me ;  but  with  me,  he  should  do  it  most 
readily  ;  for  he  should  found  his  expectation  of  success  on 
my  assistance ;  he  therefore  had  desired  this  meeting  to 
know  my  mind  upon  a  proposition  of  my  going  with  him 
in  some  shape  or  other,  as  a  friend,  an  assistant,  a  secreta- 
ry;  that  he  was  very  sensible,  if  he  should  be  so  happy  as 
to  effect  any  thing  valuable,  it  must  be  wholly  owing  to  the 
advice  and  assistance  I  should  afford  him  ;  that  he  should 
therefore  make  no  scruple  of  giving  me  upon  all  occasions 
the  full  honour  of  it ;  that  he  had  declared  to  the  Ministers 
his  opinion  of  my  good  dispositions  towards  peace,  and  what 
he  now  wished  was  to  be  authorized  by  me  to  sav,  that  I  con- 
sented to  accompany  him,  and  would  co-operate  with  him 
in  the  great  work  of  reconciliation  ;  that  the  influence  I  had 
over  the  minds  of  people  in  America,  was  known  to  be  very 
extensive  ;  and  that  I  could,  if  any  man  could,  prevail  with 
them  to  comply  with  reasonable  propositions.  I  replied, 
that  1  was  obliged  to  his  Lordship  for  the  favourable  opin- 
ion he  had  of  me,  and  for  the  honour  he  did  me  in  propo- 
sing to  make  use  of  my  assistance ;  that  I  wished  to  know 
what  propositions  were  intended  for  America ;  that  if  they 
were  reasonable  ones  in  themselves,  possibly  I  might  be 
able  to  make  them  appear  such  to  my  countrymen ;  but  if 
they  were  otherwise,  I  doubted  whether  that  could  be  done 
by  any  man,  and  certainly  I  should  not  undertake  it.  His 
Lordship  then  said,  that  he  should  not  expect  my  assistance 
without  a  proper  consideration.  That  the  business  was  of 
great  importance,  and  if  he  undertook  it,  he  should  insist 
on  being  enabled  to  make  generous  and  ample  appoint- 
ments for  those  he  took  with  him,  particularly  for  me;  as 
well  as  a  firm  promise  of  subsequent  rewards ;  and,  said 
he,  that  the  Ministry  may  have  an  opportunity  of  showing 
their  good  disposition  towards  yourself,  will  you  give  me 
leave,  Mr.  Franklin,  to  procure  for  you  previously  some 
maik  of  it;  suppose  the  payment  here  of  the  arrears  of 
your  salary  as  agent  for  New-England,  which  I  understand 
they  have  stopped  for  some  time  past?  My  Lord,  said  I. 
I  shall  deem  it  a  great  honour  to  be  in  any  shape  joined 
with  your  Lordship  in  so  good  a  work ;  but  if  yoii  hope 
service  from  any  influence  1  may  be  supposed  to  have, 
drop  all  thoughts  of  procuring  me  any  previous  favours 
from  Ministers  ;  my  accepting  them  would  destroy  the  Very 
influence  you  propose  to  make  use  of;  they  would  be 
considered  as  so  many  bribes  to  betray  the  interest  of  mv 
Country :  but  only  let  me  see  the  propositions,  and  if  1 
approve  of  them,  I  shall  not  hesitate  a  moment,  but  will 
hold  myself  ready  to  accompany  your  Lordship  at  an  hour's 


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CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775. 


206 


warning.  He  then  said,  he  wished  1  would  discourse  with 
Lord  Hyde  upon  the  business,  and  asked  if  I  had  any 
objection  to  meet  his  Lordship  ?  I  answered  none,  not  the 
least ;  that  I  had  a  great  respect  for  Lord  Hyde,  and  would 
wait  upon  him  whenever  he  should  please  to  permit  it. 
He  said  he  would  speak  to  Lord  Hyde,  and  send  me 
word. 

On  the  Monday  following  I  received  a  letter  from  Lord 
IIvu-c.  To  understand  it  better,  it  is  necessary  to  reflect, 
that  in  the  mean  time  there  was  opportunity  for  Mr.  Bar- 
clay to  communicate  to  that  Nobleman  the  remarks  I  had 
made  on  the  plan,  the  sight  of  which  had  probably  changed 
the  purpose  of  making  any  use  of  me  on  the  occasion. 
The  letter  follows : 

Grafton-Street,  Feliruary  20,  1775. 

Not  having  had  a  convenient  opportunity  to  talk  with 
Lord  Hyde  until  this  morning,  on  the  subject  I  mentioned 
when  I  had,  my  worthy  friend,  the  pleasure  to  see  you  last, 
I  now  give  you  the  earliest  information  of  his  Lordship's 
sentiments  upon  my  proposition. 

He  declares  he  has  no  personal  objection,  and  that  he  is 
always  desirous  of  the  conversation  of  men  of  knowledge, 
consequently,  in  that  respect,  would  have  a  pleasure  in 
yours.  But  he  apprehends,  that  on  the  present  American 
contest,  your  principles  and  his,  or  rather  those  of  Parlia- 
ment, are  as  yet  so  wide  from  each  other,  that  a  meeting 
merely  to  discuss  them,  might  give  you  unnecessary  trouble. 
Should  you  think  otherwise,  or  should  any  propitious  cir- 
cumstances approximate  such  distant  sentiments,  he  would 
he  happy  to  be  used  as  a  channel  to  convey  what  might 
tend  to  harmony,  from  a  person  of  credit  to  those  in  power  : 
and  I  will  venture  to  advance,  from  my  knowledge  of  his 
Lordship's  opinion  of  men  and  things,  that  nothing  of  that 
nature  would  suffer  in  the  passage.  I  am,  with  a  sincere 
regard,  your  most  obedient  servant,  Howe. 

To  Dr.  Franklin. 

As  I  had  no  desire  of  obtruding  myself  upon  Lord  Hyde, 
though  a  little  piqued  at  his  declining  to  see  me,  I  thought 
it  best  to  show  a  decent  indifference,  which  I  endeavoured 
in  the  following  answer  : 

Craven-Street,  February  20,  1775. 
Having  nothing  to  offer  on  the  American  business,  in 
addition  to  what  Lord  Hyde  is  already  acquainted  with 
from  the  papers  that  have  passed,  it  seems  most  respectful 
not  to  give  his  Lordship  the  trouble  of  a  visit;  since  a 
mere  discussion  of  the  sentiments  contained  in  those  pa- 
pers is  not,  in  his  opinion,  likely  to  produce  any  good 
effect.  I  am  thankful,  however,  to  his  Lordship,  for  the 
permission  of  waiting  on  him,  which  I  shall  use  if  any 
thing  occurs  that  may  give  a  chance  of  utility  in  such  an 
interview. 

With  sincere  esteem  and  respect,  1  have  the  honour  to 
be,  my  Lord,  your  Lordship's  most  obedient  humble  ser- 
vant, B.  Franklix. 

Lord  Howe. 

On  the  morning  of  the  same  day,  February  20,  it  was 
currently  and  industriously  reported  all  over  the  Town, 
that  Lord  JSorth  would  that-day  make  a  pacifick  motion  in 
the  House  of  Commons,  for  healing  all  differences  between 
Britain  and  America.  The  House  was  accordingly  verv 
full,  and  the  members  full  of  expectation.  The  Bedford 
party,  inimical  to  America,  and  who  had  urged  severe 
measures,  were  alarmed,  and  began  to  exclaim  against  the 
Minister  for  his  timidity,  and  the  fluctuation  of  his  politicks ; 
they  even  began  to  count  voices,  to  see  if  they  could  not, 
by  negativing  his  motion,  at  once  unhorse  him,  and  throw 
him  out  of  Administration.  His  friends  were  therefore 
alarmed  for  him,  and  there  was  much  caballing  and  whis- 
pering. At  length  a  motion,  as  one  had  been  promised,  was 
made,  but  whether  that  originally  intended,  is  with  me  very 
doubtful :  I  suspect,  from  its  imperfect  composition,  from  its 
inadequateness  to  answer  the  purpose  previously  professed, 
and  from  some  other  circumstances,  that  when  first  drawn 
it  contained  more  of  Mr.  Barclay's  plan,  but  was  curtailed 
by  advice,  just  before  it  was  delivered.  My  old  proposi- 
tion of  giving  up  the  regulating  duties  to  the  Colonies,  was 
in  part  to  be  found  in  it,  and  many  who  knew  nothing  of 
that  transaction,  said  it  was  the  best  part  of  the  motion  :  it 
was  as  follows : 


Lord  North's  Motion,  February  20,  1775. 

"  That  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  Committee,  that  when 
the  Governour,  Council,  and  Assembly,  or  General  Court 
of  His  Majesty's  Provinces  or  Colonies,  shall  propose  to 
make  provision  according  to  their  respective  conditions, 
circumstances,  and  situations,  for  contributing  their  propor- 
tion to  the  common  defence  ;  such  proportion  to  be  raised 
under  the  authority  of  the  General  Court,  or  General  As- 
sembly of  such  Province  or  Colony,  and  disposable  by 
Parliament ;  and  shall  engage  to  make  provision  also  for 
the  support  of  the  Civil  Government,  and  the  administra- 
tion of  justice  in  such  Province  or  Colony,  it  will  be  proper 
if  such  proposal  shall  be  approved  by  His  Majesty  in  Par- 
liament, and  for  so  long  as  such  provision  shall  be  made 
accordingly,  to  forbear  in  respect  of  such  Province  or  Col- 
ony, to  levy  any  duties,  tax,  or  assessment,  or  to  impose 
any  further  duty,  tax,  or  assessment,  except  only  such 
duties  as  it  may  be  expedient  to  impose  for  the  regulation 
of  Commerce ;  the  net  produce  of  the  duties  last  men- 
tioned, to  be  carried  to  the  account  of  such  Province, 
Colony,  or  Plantation  exclusively." 

After  a  good  deal  of  wild  debate,  in  which  this  motion 
was  supported  upon  various  and  inconsistent  principles  by 
the  ministerial  people,  and  even  met  with  an  opposition 
from  some  of  them,  which  showed  a  want  of  concert,  pro- 
bably from  the  suddenness  of  the  alterations  above  supposed, 
they  all  agreed  at  length,  as  usual,  in  voting  it  bv  a  lar^e 
majority.  Hearing  nothing  all  the  following  week  from 
Messrs.  Barclay  and  Fothergill.  (except  that  Lord  Hyde, 
when  acquainted  with  my  willingness  to  engage  for  pay- 
ment of  the  Tea,  had  said  it  gave  him  new  life,)  nor  any 
thing  from  Lord  Howe,  I  mentioned  his  silence  occasionally 
to  his  sister,  adding,  that  I  supposed  it  owing  to  his  finding 
what  he  had  proposed  to  me  was  not  likely  to  take  place  ; 
and  I  wished  her  to  desire  him,  if  that  was  the  case,  to  let 
me  know  it  by  a  line,  that  I  might  be  at  liberty  to  take  other 
measures.  She  did  so  as  soon  as  he  returned  from  the 
country,  where  he  had  been  for  a  day  or  two ;  and  I 
received  from  her  the  following  note,  viz: 

Mrs.  Howe's  compliments  to  Doctor  Franklin  :  Lord 
Hoice  not  quite  understanding  the  message  received  from 
her,  will  be  glad  to  have  the  pleasure  of  seeing  him,  either 
between  twelve  and  one  this  morning,  (the  only  hour  he 
is  at  liberty  this  day,)  at  her  house,  or  at  any  hour  to-mor- 
row most  convenient  to  him. 
Gsafton-Street,  Tuesday. 

I  met  his  Lordship  at  the  hour  appointed.  He  said  that 
he  had  not  seen  me  lately,  as  he  expected  daily  to  have 
something  more  material  to  say  to  me  than  had  yet  occurred  ; 
and  hoped  that  1  would  have  called  on  Lord  Hyde,  as  I 
had  intimated  I  should  do  when  I  apprehended  it  might  be 
useful,  which  he  was  sorry  to  find  I  had  not  done.  That 
there  was  something  in  my  verbal  message  by  Mrs.  Howe, 
which  perhaps  she  had  apprehended  imperfectly  ;  it  was 
the  hint  of  my  purpose  to  take  other  measures.  I  an- 
swered, that  having  since  I  had  last  seen  his  Lordship 
heard  of  the  death  of  my  wife  at  Philadelphia,  in  whose 
hands  1  had  left  the  care  of  my  affairs  there,  it  was  become 
necessary  for  me  to  return  thither  as  soon  as  conveniently 
might  be;  that  what  his  Lordship  had  proposed,  of  my 
accompanying  him  to  America,  might,  if  likely  to  take 
place,  postpone  my  voyage  to  suit  his  conveniency  ;  other- 
wise, I  should  proceed  by  the  first  ship.  That  I  did 
suppose,  by  not  hearing  from  him,  and  by  Lord  North's 
motion,  all  thoughts  of  that  kind  were  laid  aside,  which  was 
what  1  only  desired  to  know  from  him.  He  said  my  last 
paper  of  remarks  by  Mr.  Barclay,  wherein  I  had  made 
the  indemnification  of  Boston  for  the  injury  of  stopping  its 
Port,  a  condition  of  my  engaging  to  pay  for  the  Tea,  (a 
condition  impossible  to  be  complied  with,)  had  discouraged 
further  proceeding  on  that  idea.  Having  a  copy  of  that 
paper  in  my  pocket,  I  showed  his  Lordship  that  1  had  pro- 
posed no  such  condition  of  my  engagement,  nor  any  other 
than  the  repeal  of  all  the  Massachusetts  Acts :  that  what 
followed  relating  to  the  indemnification  was  only  expressing 
my  private  opinion  that  it  would  be  just,  but  by  no  means 
insisting  upon  it.  He  said  the  arrangements  were  not  yet 
determined  on  ;  that  as  I  now  explained  myself,  it  appeared 
I  had  been  much  misapprehended  ;  and  he  wished  of  all 


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CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  fee,  MARCH.  1775. 


208 


things  I  would  see  Lord  Hyde,  and  asked  if  I  would  choose 
to  meet  him  there,  at  Mrs.  Howe's,  or  that  he  should  call 
upon  me:  I  said  that  1  would  hy  no  means  give  Lord 
Hyde  that  trouble.  That  since  he  (Lord  Howe)  seemed 
to  think  it  might  he  oi"  use,  and  wished  it  done  soon,  I 
would  wait  upon  Lord  Hyde :  1  knew  him  to  he  an  early 
riser,  and  would  he  with  him  at  eight  o'clock  the  next  morn- 
ing ;  which  Lord  Howe  undertook  to  acquaint  him  with: 
but  I  added,  that  from  what  circumstances  I  could  collect 
of  the  disposition  of  Ministry,  I  apprehended  my  visit 
would  answer  no  material  purpose.  He  was  of  a  different 
opinion,  to  which  I  submitted. 

The  next  morning,  March  1st,  I  accordingly  was  early 
with  Lord  Hyde,  who  received  me  with  his  usual  polite- 
ness. We  talked  over  a  great  part  of  the  dispute  between 
the  Countries.  1  found  him  ready  with  all  the  newspaper 
and  pamphlet  topicks,  of  the  expense  of  settling  our  Co- 
lonies, the  protection  afforded  them,  the  heavy  debt  under 
which  Britain  laboured,  the  equity  of  our  contributing  to 
its  alleviation  ;  that  many  people  in  England  were  no  more 
represented  than  we  were,  yet  all  were  taxed  and  governed 
by  Parliament,  &ic,  &ic.  I  answered  all,  but  with  little 
effect ;  for  though  his  Lordship  seemed  civilly  to  hear  what 
I  said,  I  had  reason  to  believe  he  attended  very  little  to  the 
purport  of  it,  his  mind  being  employed  the  while  in  think- 
ing on  what  he  himself  purposed  to  say  next.  He  had 
hoped,  he  said,  that  Lord  North's  motion  would  have  been 
satisfactory  ;  and  asked  what  could  be  objected  to  it.  1 
replied,  the  terms  of  it  were,  that  we  should  grant  money 
till  Parliament  had  agreed  we  had  given  enough,  without 
having  the  least  share  in  judging  of  the  propriety  of  the  mea- 
sure for  which  it  was  to  be  granted,  or  of  our  own  abilities 
to  grant ;  that  these  grants  were  also  to  be  made  under  a 
threat  of  exercising  a  claimed  right  of  taxing  us  at  plea- 
sure, and  compelling  such  taxes  by  an  armed  force,  if  we 
did  not  give  till  it  should  be  thought  we  had  given  enough  ; 
that  the  proposition  was  similar  to  no  mode  of  obtaining 
aids  that  ever  existed,  except  that  of  a  highwayman,  who 
presents  his  pistol  at  a  coach  window,  demanding  no  spe- 
cifick  sum,  but  if  you  will  give  all  your  money,  or  what  he 
is  pleased  to  think  sufficient,  he  will  civilly  omit  putting 
his  own  hand  into  your  pockets  :  if  not,  there  is  his  pistol : 
that  the  mode  of  raising  contributions  in  an  enemy's  coun- 
try was  fairer  than  this,  since  there  an  explicit  sum  was 
demanded,  and  the  people  who  were  raising  it  knew  what 
they  were  about,  and  when  they  should  have  done:  and 
that,  in  short,  no  free  people  could  ever  think  of  beginning 
to  grant  upon  such  terms :  that,  besides,  a  new  dispute 
had  now  been  raised,  by  the  Parliament's  pretending  to  a 
power  of  altering  our  Charters  and  established  Laws,  which 
was  of  still  more  importance  to  us  than  their  claim  of  tax- 
ation, as  it  set  us  all  adrift,  and  left  us  without  a  privilege 
we  could  depend  upon,  but  at  their  pleasure;  this  was  a 
situation  we  could  not  possibly  be  in,  and  as  Lord  North's 
proposition  had  no  relation  to  this  matter,  if  the  other  had 
been  such  as  we  could  have  agreed  to,  we  should  still  be 
far  from  a  reconciliation.  His  Lordship  thought  I  misun- 
derstood the  proposition ;  on  which  I  took  it  out  and  read 
it :  he  then  waived  that  point,  and  said  he  should  be  glad 
to  know  from  me  what  would  produce  a  reconciliation.  I 
said  that  his  Lordship,  I  imagined,  had  seen  several  propo- 
sals of  mine  for  that  purpose.  He  said  he  had  ;  but  some 
of  my  articles  were  such  as  would  never  be  agreed  to:  that 
it  was  apprehended  I  had  several  instructions  and  powers 
to  offer  more  acceptable  terms,  but  was  extremely  reserved, 
and  perhaps  from  a  desire  he  did  not  blame,  of  doing  better 
for  my  constituents  ;  but  my  expectations  might  deceive  me, 
and  he  did  think,  1  might  be  assured,  I  should  never  obtain 
better  terms  than  what  were  now  offered  by  Lord  North ; 
that  Administration  had  a  sincere  desire  ol"  restoring  har- 
mony with  America,  and  it  was  thought  if  I  would  co-op- 
erate with  them  the  business  would  be  easy  :  that  he  hoped 
1  was  above  retaining  resentment  against  them,  for  what 
nobody  now  approved,  and  for  which  satisfaction  might  be 
made  me  :  that  1  was,  as  he  understood,  in  high  esteem 
among  the  Americans;  that  if  I  would  bring  about  a 
reconciliation  on  terms  suitable  to  the  dignity  of  Govern- 
ment, I  might  be  as  highly  and  generally  esteemed  here, 
and  be  honoured  and  rewarded  perhaps  beyond  my  expect- 
ation. 

I  replied,  that  I  thought  1  had  given  a  convincing  proof 


of  my  sincere  desire  of  promoting  peace,  when,  on  being 
informed  that  all  wanted  for  the  honour  of  Government  was 
to  obtain  payment  for  the  Tea,  1  offered,  without  any  in- 
struction to  warrant  my  so  doing,  or  assurance  that  1  should 
be  reimbursed,  or  my  conduct  approved,  to  engage  for  that 
payment,  if  the  Massachusetts  Acts  were  to  be  repealed  ; 
an  engagement,  in  which  I  must  have  risked  my  whole 
fortune,  which  1  thought  few  besides  me  would  have  done. 
That,  in  truth,  private  resentments  had  no  weight  with  me 
in  publick  business;  that  1  was  not  the  reserved  man  im- 
agined, having  really  no  secret  instructions  to  act  upon. 
That  I  was  certainly  willing  to  do  every  thing  that  could 
reasonably  be  expected  of  me.  But  if  any  supposed  I 
could  prevail  with  my  countrymen  to  take  black  for  white, 
and  wrong  for  right,  it  was  not  knowing  either  them  or  me  ; 
they  were  not  capable  of  being  so  imposed  on,  nor  was  I 
capable  of  attempting  it.  He  then  asked  my  opinion  of 
sending  over  a  Commissioner,  for  the  purpose  mentioned 
in  a  preceding  part  of  this  account,  and  my  answer  was  to 
the  same  effect.  By  the  way,  I  apprehend  that  to  give 
me  an  opportunity  of  discoursing  with  Lord  Hyde  on  that 
point,  was  a  principal  motive  with  Lord  Howe  for  urging 
me  to  make  this  visit.  His  Lordship  did  not  express  his 
own  sentiments  upon  it.    And  thus  ended  this  conversation. 

Three  or  four  days  after,  1  received  the  following  note 
from  Mrs.  Howe : 

"Mrs.  Howe's  compliments  to  Dr.  Franklin;  Lord 
Howe  begs  to  have  the  pleasure  of  meeting  him  once  more 
before  he  goes,  at  her  house  ;  he  is  at  present  out  of  Town, 
but  returns  on  Monday,  and  any  day  or  hour  after  that, 
that  the  Doctor  will  name,  he  will  be  very  glad  to  attend 
him. 

"  Grufton-Street,  Saturday,  March  4  &.  5." 

I  answered  that  I  would  do  myself  the  honour  of  wait- 
ing on  Lord  Howe  at  her  house  the  Tuesday  following,  at 
eleven  o'clock.  We  met  accordingly.  He  began,  by  say- 
ing, that  I  had  been  a  better  prophet  than  himself,  in  fore- 
seeing that  my  interview  with  Lord  Hyde  would  be  of  no 
great  use  ;  and  then  said  that  he  hoped  I  would  excuse  the 
trouble  he  had  given  me,  as  his  intentions  had  been  good 
both  towards  me  and  the  publick.  He  was  sorry  that  at 
present  there  was  no  appearance  of  things  going  into  the 
train  he  had  wished,  but  that  possibly  they  might  yet  take 
a  more  favourable  turn  ;  and  as  he  understood  I  was  going 
soon  to  America,  if  he  should  chance  to  be  sent  thither  on 
[hat  important  business,  he  hoped  he  might  still  expect  my 
assistance.  I  assured  him  of  my  readiness  at  all  times  of 
co-operating  with  him  in  so  good  a  work  ;  and  so  taking  my 
leave,  and  receiving  his  good  wishes,  ended  the  negotiation 
with  Lord  Howe.  And  I  heard  no  more  of  that  with 
Messrs.  Fothcrgill  and  Barclay.  I  could  only  gather  from 
some  hints  in  their  conversation,  that  neither  of  them  were 
well  pleased  with  the  conduct  of  the  Ministers  respecting 
these  transactions ;  and  a  few  days  before  I  left  London,  I 
met  them,  by  their  desire,  at  the  Doctor's  house,  when 
they  desired  me  to  assure  their  friends  from  them,  that  it 
was  now  their  fixed  opinion,  that  nothing  could  secure  the 
privileges  of  America,  but  a  firm,  sober  adherence  to  the 
terms  of  the  Association  made  at  the  Congress,  and  that 
the  salvation  of  English  liberty  depended  now  on  the  per- 
severance and  virtue  of  America. 

During  the  whole,  my  time  was  otherwise  much  taken 
up.  by  friends  calling  continually  to  inquire  news  from 
America ;  members  of  both  Houses  of  Parliament,  to  in- 
form me  what  passed  in  the  Houses,  and  discourse  with  me 
on  the  debates,  and  on  motions  made  or  to  be  made ;  mer- 
chants of  London,  and  of  the  manufacturing  and  port 
towns,  on  their  petitions  ;  the  Quakers  upon  theirs,  &ic, 
&tc. ;  so  that  1  had  no  time  to  take  notes  of  almost  any 
thing.  This  account  is  therefore  chiefly  from. recollection, 
in  which  doubtless  much  must  have  been  omitted,  from 
deficiency  of  memory  ;  but  what  there  is  1  believe  to  be 
pretty  exact,  except  that  discoursing  with  so  many  differ- 
ent persons  about  the  same  time,  on  the  same  subject,  I 
may  possibly  have  put  down  some  things  as  said  by  or  to 
one  person,  which  passed  in  conversation  with  another.  A 
little  before  1  left  London,  being  at  the  House  of  Lords, 
when  a  debate  in  which  Lord  Camden  was  to  speak,  and 
who  indeed  spoke  admirably  on  American  affairs,  I  was 
much  disgusted,  from  the  ministerial  side,  by  many  base 


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210 


reflections  on  American  courage,  religion,  understanding, 
&c,  in  which  we  were  treated  with  the  utmost  contempt, 
as  the  lowest  of  mankind,  and  almost  of  a  different  species 
from  the  English  of  Britain;  but  particularly  the  Ameri- 
can honesty  was  abused  by  some  of  the  Lords,  who  assert- 
ed that  we  were  all  knaves,  and  wanted  only,  by  this  dis- 
pute, to  avoid  paying  our  debts.  That  if  we  had  any  sense 
of  equity  or  justice,  we  should  offer  payment  of  the  Tea, 
&tc.  I  went  home  somewhat  irritated  and  heated ;  and 
partly  to  retort  upon  this  Nation,  on  the  article  of  equity, 
drew  up  a  memorial  to  present  to  Lord  Dartmouth  before 
my  departure ;  but  consulting  my  friend,  Mr.  Thomas 
Walpole,  upon  it,  who  is  a  member  of  the  House  of  Com- 
mons, he  looked  at  it  and  at  me  several  times  alternately, 
as  if  he  apprehended  me  a  little  out  of  my  senses.  As  I 
was  in  the  hurry  of  packing  up,  I  requested  him  to  take 
the  trouble  of  showing  it  to  his  neighbour,  Lord  Camden, 
and  ask  his  advice  upon  it,  which  he  kindly  undertook  to 
do  ;  and  returned  it  me  with  a  note,  which  here  follows  the 
proposed  memorial : 

To  the  Right  Honourable  the  Earl  of  Dartmouth,  one 

of  His  Majesty's  principal  Secretaries  of  Slate. 
A  Memorial  of  Benjamin  Franklin,  Agent  of  the  Prov- 
ince of  Massachusetts-Bay. 

Whereas  an  injury  done,  can  only  give  the  party  injured 
a  right  to  full  reparation,  or,  in  case  that  be  refused,  a  right 
to  return  an  equal  injury ;  and  whereas  the  blockade  of 
Boston,  now  continued  nine  months,  hath,  every  week  of 
its  continuance,  done  damage  to  that  Town  equal  to  what 
was  suffered  there  by  the  India  Company,  it  follows  that 
such  exceeding  damage  is  an  injury  done  by  this  Govern- 
ment, for  which  reparation  ought  to  be  made.  And  where- 
as reparation  of  injuries  ought  always  (agreeably  to  the 
custom  of  all  Nations,  savage  as  well  as  civilized)  to  be 
first  required  before  satisfaction  is  taken  by  a  return  of 
damage  to  the  aggressors,  which  was  not  done  by  Great 
Britain  in  the  instance  above-mentioned,  I,  the  under- 
written, do  therefore,  as  their  agent,  in  the  behalf  of  my 
Country  and  the  Town  of  Boston,  protest  against  the  con- 
tinuance of  the  said  blockade ;  and  I  do  hereby  solemnly 
demand  satisfaction  for  the  accumulated  injury  done  them, 
beyond  the  value  of  the  India  Company's  Tea  destroyed. 
And  whereas  the  conquest  of  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence, 
the  coasts  of  Labrador  and  Nova-Scotia,  and  the  Fisheries 
possessed  by  the  French  there  and  on  the  Banks  of  New- 
foundland, so  far  as  they  were  more  extended  than  at  pre- 
sent, was  made  by  the  joint  forces  of  Britain  and  the 
Colonies,  (the  latter  having  nearly  an  equal  number  of  men 
in  that  service  with  the  former,)  it  follows  that  the  Colonies 
have  an  equitable  and  just  right  to  participate  in  the  advan- 
tage of  those  Fisheries:  I  do  therefore,  in  the  behalf  of  the 
Colony  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay,  protest  against  the  Act 
now  under  consideration  in  Parliament  for  depriving  that 
Province,  with  others,  of  that  Fishery,  (on  pretence  of 
their  refusing  to  purchase  British  commodities,)  as  an  Act 
highly  unjust  and  injurious.  And  I  give  notice,  that  satis- 
faction will  probably  one  day  be  demanded  for  all  the  inju- 
ry that  may  be  done  and  suffered  in  the  execution  of  such 
Act ;  and  that  the  injustice  of  the  proceeding  is  likely  to 
give  such  umbrage  to  all  the  Colonies,  that  in  no  future 
war,  wherei:]  other  conquests  may  be  meditated,  either  a 
man  or  a  shilling  will  be  obtained  from  any  of  them  to  aid 
such  conquests,  till  full  satisfaction  be  made  as  aforesaid. 

B.  Franklin. 

Given  in  London,  this  16th  day  of  March,  1775. 

To  Dr.  Franklin  : 

Dear  Sir:  I  return  you  the  memorial,  which  it  is 
thought  might  be  attended  with  dangerous  consequences  to 
your  person,  and  contribute  to  exasperate  the  Nation. 

I  heartily  wish  you  a  prosperous  voyage,  a  long  health, 
and  am,  with  the  sincerest  regard,  your  most  faithful  and 
obedient  servant,  Thomas  Walpole. 

Lincoln's  Inn  Fields,  16th  March,  1775. 

Mr.  Walpole  called  at  my  house  the  next  day,  and  hear- 
ing I  was  gone  to  the  House  of  Lords,  came  there  to  me, 
and  repeated  more  fully  what  was  in  his  note  ;  adding,  that 
it  was  thought  my  having  no  instructions  directing  me  to 
deliver  such  a  protest,  would  make  it  appear  still  more 
unjustifiable,  and  be  deemed  a  national  affront.    1  had  no 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii.  1 


desire  to  make  matters  worse,  and,  being  grown  cooler,  took 
the  advice  so  kindly  given  rne. 

The  evening  before  I  left  London  I  received  a  note  from 
Dr.  Fothergill,  with  some  letters  to  his  friends  in  Phila- 
delphia. In  that  note  he  desires  me  to  get  those  friends, 
"  and  two  or  three  more  together,  and  inform  them,  that 
whatever  specious  pretences  are  offered,  they  are  all  hol- 
low ;  and  that  to  get  a  larger  field  on  which  to  fatten  a  herd 
of  worthless  parasites,  is  all  that  is  regarded.  Perhaps  it 
may  be  proper  to  acquaint  them  with  David  Barclay's  and 
our  united  endeavours,  and  the  effects.  They  will  stun  at 
least,  if  not  convince,  the  most  worthy  that  nothing  very 
favourable  is  intended,  if  more  unfavourable  articles  cannot 
be  obtained."  The  Doctor,  in  the  course  of  his  daily  visits 
among  the  great,  in  the  practice  of  his  profession,  had  full 
opportunity  of  being  acquainted  with  their  sentiments,  the 
conversation  every  where  turning  upon  the  subject  of 
America. 


DR.  WHEELOCK  TO  GOVERNOUR  TRUMBULL. 

Dartmouth  College,  March  22,  1775. 

Much  Honoured  Sir:  I  wrote  you  a  few  days  ago 
by  a  stranger  belonging  to  Simsbury,  but  fearing  it  may 
have  miscarried,  and  not  knowing  but  the  contents  may  be 
of  importance  to  the  Colonies,  as  they  appear  to  be  to  us 
in  these  frontiers,  I  don't  seem  to  be  excusable  unless  I 
have  assurance  that  you  are  availed  of  the  matter,  and 
therefore  trouble  you  with  this  line  by  my  bookkeeper,  Mr. 
Storrs. 

Your  honour  well  understands  what  a  feeble,  defenceless 
state  this  Seminary  and  all  these  frontier  Towns  are  in  ; 
how  near  to  the  Canadians,  and  what  an  easy  prey  we 
may  be  to  such  a  Northern  army  of  Savages,  &lc,  as  we 
are  threatened  with. 

We  hear  of  j/rc-oarations  making  for  an  invasion,  and 
that  some  of  the  Waniours  among  the  Indians  were  in  high 
spirits  to  engage  on  the  one  side  or  the  other  in  the  present 
controversy  ;  and  if  they  shall  not  be  secured  in  our  inte- 
rests they  will  likely  join  on  the  other  side. 

1  have  hitherto  been  secure  and  easy,  as  I  have  some  of 
their  children,  from  the  most  respectable  tribes  in  Canada. 
whom  I  consider  as  hostages,  and  trust  they  will  send  for 
them  before  they  will  proceed  to  hostilities  towards  us. 

I  have  also  (notwithstanding  my  means  of  supporting 
the  expense  from  abroad  are  wholly  stopped)  thought  the 
importance  of  the  case  to  be  so  great,  that  1  have  sent  Mr. 
James  Dean,  a  young  gentleman  of  the  most  excellent  and 
thorough  accomplishments  for  the  purpose,  to  itinerate  as 
Missionary  among  those  tribes  this  spring,  for  a  few  months, 
to  strengthen  that  friendship  and  cultivate  that  acquaint- 
ance which  has  lately  commenced  between  those  tribes 
and  this  school :  and  to  bring  more  of  those  boys  hither 
with  him  if  he  can — among  whom  1  expect  the  young 
Sachem,  who  was  lately  elected  and  crowned  at  Caghna- 
waga,  (and  who  is  a  descendant  from  captivated  parents,) 
as  his  father,  who  was  here  twelve  months  ago  to  visit  his 
little  son,  who  is  with  me,  promised  to  send  him  as  soon  as 
certain  rites,  customary  to  ratify  and  publish  such  election 
and  investiture,  should  be  performed.  I  look  upon  this 
connection  and  friendship  lately  commenced  between  us 
and  them  to  be  at  present  our  surest  bulwark  against  an 
invasion,  if  it  should  be  attempted. 

Mr.  Dean  is  thorough  master  of  the  languages  of  the 
Six  Nations,  and  can  also  speak  the  Huron  language.  He 
is  a  young  gentleman  of  learning,  virtue,  and  great  pru- 
dence ;  was  early  naturalized  among  the  Indians  ;  well 
understands  their  customs ;  is  much  esteemed  by  them  as 
an  orator,  and  has  great  interest  in  their  affections,  and  is, 
in  my  opinion,  the  fittest  man  I  know  on  earth  to  be  em- 
ployed, if  there  should  be  occasion  for  one  among  the 
Western  and  Northern  Tribes.  He  was  of  opinion  (though 
he  had  no  thought  of  its  being  mentioned)  that  it  would 
likely  be  in  his  power,  if  he  should  be  properly  encouraged 
and  authorized  thereto,  to  attach  all  the  Six  Nations  firmly 
to  the  interest  of  these  Colonies  ;  and  I  don't  think  he 
misjudged  his  ability  or  influence  for  that  purpose.  What 
I  have  wrote  you  will  naturally  understand  to  have  been 
only  from  a  principle  of  self-preservation,  and  it  will  be  in- 
jurious to  me  and  the  cause  which  is  my  object  if  it  should 
be  represented  as  militating  against  the  Crown. 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  he,  MARCH,  1775. 


212 


With  confidence  in  your  prudence  and  friendship,  and 
with  much  respect  and  esteem,  your  honour's  most  obedi- 
ent and  very  humble  servant, 

Eleazar  Wheelock. 
I  expect  Mr.  Dean  here  in  May. 


letter  to  a  gentleman  in  new-york,  dated  boston, 
march  22,  1775. 

We  are  still  without  any  of  your  favours,  we  suppose 
for  the  same  reason  as  was  mentioned  in  our  last.  Since 
the  Army  have  found  that  the  season  is  past  for  nature's 
forming  a  bridge  from  hence,  they  become  abusive  and 
insulting.  They  are  now  finishing  their  fortifications  on 
the  Neck,  by  picketing  on  each  side.  We  propose  to  give 
you  an  account  of  the  manoeuvres  of  our  adversaries  as 
they  may  occur. 

The  16th  instant,  (being  recommended  by  the  Provin- 
cial Congress  to  be  observed  as  a  day  of  fasting  and 
prayer ;)  on  the  morning  of  this  day  the  society  at  the  west 
end  of  Boston  were  greatly  disturbed  by  a  party  of  Officers 
and  Soldiers  of  the  Fourth,  or  King's  own  Regiment. 
When  the  people  were  assembling,  they  brought  two 
marquee  tents,  and  pitched  them  within  about  ten  yards 
of  the  meeting-house ;  then  sent  for  three  drums  and  three 
fifes,  and  kept  them  beating  and  playing  till  service  was 
over  ;  Colonel  MaJdison  was  present  part  of  the  time. 

17th.  In  the  evening  Colonel  Hancock's  elegant  seat, 
situate  near  the  Common,  was  attacked  by  a  number  of 
Officers,  who,  with  their  swords,  cut  and  hacked  the  fence 
before  his  house  in  a  most  scandalous  manner,  and  behaved 
very  abusively,  by  breaking  people's  windows,  and  insult- 
ing almost  every  person  they  met. 

18th.  The  Neck  Guard  seized  13,425  musket  car- 
tridges with  ball,  (we  suppose  through  the  information  of 
some  dirty  scoundrel,  of  which  we  now  have  many  among 
us,)  and  about  three  hundred  pounds  of  ball,  which  they 
were  carrying  into  the  country  ;  this  was  private  property. 
The  owner  applied  to  the  General  first,  but  he  absolutely 
refused  to  deliver  it.  They  abused  the  teamster  very 
much,  and  run  a  bayonet  into  his  neck.  The  same  even- 
ing a  number  of  Officers,  heated  with  liquor,  (as  is  said,) 
with  drawn  swords,  ran  through  the  streets,  like  what,  they 
really  were,  madmen,  cutting  every  one  they  met ;  the 
stage  coach  just  arrived  from  Providence  passing  by,  they 
attacked  it,  broke  the  glass,  and  abused  the  passengers  ; 
the  driver,  being  a  smart  fellow,  jumped  off  his  seat, 
caught  one  of  them,  (Captain  Gore,  of  the  Fifth,)  and 
some  blows  passed ;  when  the  Officer  retired,  not  much  to 
his  credit. 

19th.  Colonel  Hancock  was  again  much  insulted  by  a 
number  of  inferiour  Officers  and  Privates,  who  entered  his 
enclosures,  and  refused  to  retire  after  his  requesting  them 
so  ti  do,  telling  him  that  his  house,  stables,  he,  would 
soon  be  theirs,  and  then  they  would  do  as  they  pleased. 
However,  on  his  application  to  the  General,  he  immedi- 
ately sent  one  of  his  Aids-de-Camp  to  the  Officer  of  the 
Guard,  at  the  bottom  of  the  Common,  to  seize  any  Officer 
or  Private  who  should  molest  Colonel  Hancock  or  any  in- 
habitant in  their  lawful  calling.    Yours,  &,c. 


TO  JOHN  DICKINSON,  ESQUIRE, 

One  of  the  reputed  Authors  of  the  Pennsylvania  Farm- 
er's Letters,  published  on  occasion  of  the  American 
Revenue  Acts,  in  Mr.  Grenville's  Administration. 

New-York,  March  23,  1775. 
Sir:  I  live  at  least  two  hundred  and  twenty  miles  from 
Philadelphia,  and  am  frequently  a  fortnight  without  re- 
ceiving a  Newspaper.  That  happens  to  be  the  case  at 
present,  as  I  have  only  just  now  read  the  Resolves  of  your 
Convention.*  This  letter,  Sir,  shall  be  publick,  only  be- 
cause the  people  of  Pennsylvania  are  taught  to  believe  the 
author  of  the  Farmer's  Letters  is  infallible.  Nasce  le 
ipsum,  is  the  advice  of  a  wise  man,  and  as  difficult  to  be 
attained  by  some,  as  to  be  translated  by  others.  I  am  a 
plain,  honest  man,  Sir,  who  never  received  a  favour  from 
the  hand  of  power.  My  composition  is  simple,  and  easily 
defined.  I  have  been  at  a  great  deal  of  pains  to  learn  the 
true  character  of  Mr.  Dickinson;  have  asked  it  repeatedly 
•  January  23  to  28,  1775. 


from  Whig  and  Tory  ;  and  as  I  know  myself  to  be  void  of 
prejudice  on  account  of  difference  in  opinion,  will  take  the 
liberty  to  mention  what  I  have  been  able  to  discover.  You 
are  a  gentleman  of  good  natural  understanding,  great  read- 
ing, and  engaging  address.  You  early  found  yourself  pos- 
sessed of  knowledge,  and  the  means  by  which  you  first  ob- 
tained popularity  were  in  many  instances  laudable.  But 
the  praises  of  the  multitude  are  dangerous,  even  to  a  virtu- 
ous man;  they  gain  his  confidence  by  their  applause,  and 
feed  the  innocent  vanity  of  the  human  mind,  until  he  at  last 
surrenders  up  his  judgment,  joins  in  the  popular  errour, 
and  finds,  when  too  late,  he  was  wedded  to  his  wo.  If  I 
am  rightly  informed,  Sir,  (and  my  authority  is  not  bad,)  you 
are  worth  at  least  Forty  Thousand  Pounds  Sterling ;  en- 
tertain elegantly,  as  often  as  your  constitution  will  admit 
of;  and  are  blest  with  as  sweet  a  tongue  as  ever  delivered 
the  language  of  profusion  ;  a  lawyer,  too.  I  wish  I  had 
forgot  that  circumstance  ;  ignorance  of  the  laws  might  plead 
in  mitigation  of  the  breach  of  them  ;  but  how  are  we  to 
account  for  the  late  conduct  of  the  highly  lettered,  the  ac- 
complished Mr.  Dickinson!  In  your  Farmer's  Letters, 
you  breathe  the  gentle  accents  of  order  and  decorum  ;  you 
positively  pronounce  that  the  King  is  the  ruling  power,  in 
whom  is  justly  vested  the  regulations  of  Trade,  he.  You 
wrote  then,  Sir,  as  if  you  thought  your  Country  injured  ;  I 
am  sorry  to  say  you  now  act  as  if  you  repented  of  proprie- 
ty. I  have  not  those  Letters  by  me  at  present,  but  I  read 
them  as  they  came  out,  with  great  attention.  1  was  told 
the  author  was  a  young  man,  who  loved,  like  other  men 
of  abilities,  to  be  known  and  admired  ;  and  notwithstand- 
ing I  perceived  many  sentiments  calculated  to  feed  the 
popular  appetite,  yet  almost  every  line  told  the  admiring 
reader  they  were  the  production  of  a  gentleman.  Now, 
Sir,  let  me  request  of  you  to  turn  over  once  more  those 
leaves  of  genius;  compare  your  words  at  that  time  with 
your  present  actions;  though  much  you  are  altered,  you 
cannot  read  those  papers  without  recollecting  what  you 
were ;  and  I  think  that  modesty  which  marks  your  charac- 
ter, must  make  you  blush  for  what  you  are.  I  perfectly 
remember  your  asserting  the  dependance  of  the  Colonies 
on  Great  Britain  in  the  most  positive  terms,  and  you  have 
now  set  your  seal  to  a  resolution  of  taking  up  arms  against 
your  Sovereign,  unless  King,  Lords,  and  Commons  re- 
linquish their  claim  to  the  very  privileges  which,  seven 
years  ago,  you  spent  whole  pages  in  defending  their  right 
to.  It  is  true  that  mad  resolve  contains  a  proviso ;  but  per- 
mit me  to  assure  you,  it  would  have  done  your  understand- 
ing more  honour  to  have  omitted  it.  What !  deliver  a 
petition  to  the  greatest  monarch  on  earth  with  one  hand, 
and  hold  a  sword  in  the  other,  with  a  paper  on  the  point  of 
it,  containing  the  following  words:  "  If  you  do  not  give  up 
your  legal  authority  over  the  Colonies,  we  will  break  off 
all  connexion  with  you,  and,  by  withholding  certain  arti- 
cles, we  will  drive  Great  Britain,  Ireland,  and  the  West- 
Indies  into  such  convulsions,  as  will  shake  your  Throne, 
and  enable  us  to  command  our  own  terms."  I  appeal  to 
your  heart,  is  not  this  a  fair  representation  ?  The  best  and 
most  sensible  men  are  often  easy  and  unsuspecting,  and 
(pardon  the  expression)  too  often  the  dupes  of  aspiring  vil- 
lany.  It  is  difficult  to  write  on  this  subject,  without  trans- 
gressing the  bounds  of  delicacy.  Your  private  character, 
Sir,  is  amiable,  and  incapable  of  deliberate  errour;  so  that 
the  censure  which  your  political  one  justly  merits,  ought  to 
be  tenderly  and  politely  administered.  This  I  have  endea- 
voured to  observe,  notwithstanding  truth  frequently  loses 
its  weight  when  destitute  of  severity.  Is  it  possible,  Sir, 
that  a  man  of  your  penetration  should  expect  or  wish  that 
G rcat  Britain  should  be  bullied  into  abject  submission  ? 
My  hand  trembles  at  the  next  sentence.  If  you  love  or 
honour  her,  your  prayers  now  are,  that  every  resolve  of 
the  Congress  (except  to  keep  sheep  to  a  proper  age)  may 
be  treated  with  the  utmost  contempt ;  if  you  do  not  love 
her,  I  am  sorry  for  it.  You  have  too  much  sense  to  join 
in  the  idle  opinion  which  some  have  adopted,  that  to  obtain 
enough,  you  must  demand  too  much.  You  are  a  man  of 
spirit,  1  dare  say,  and  I  beg  leave  to  ask,  if  you  had  been 
so  unfortunate  as  to  offend  a  gentleman,  and  offered  to  make 
an  apology,  would  you  submit  to  acknowledge  yourself  a 
fool  or  a  cowatd  ?  Inexpediency  and  right  are  two  differ- 
ent things ;  but  if  Parliament  thought  proper  to  relax,  it 
would  be  very  immaterial  to  the  Colonies  through  which 


213 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  fcc,  MARCH,  1775. 


214 


channel  they  enjoyed  the  blessings  of  peace.  But,  alas  ! 
Peace,  with  all  her  loveliness,  has  few  admirers.  Sedition, 
that  battered  hag,  steps  forth  with  all  the  frippery  of  delu- 
sive tinsel — the  admiring  crowd  pursue  with  eager  eyes — 
to  all  she  promises  the  wished  event.  "  Fear  not,  my  faith- 
ful sons,  my  bold  Republicans,  the  time  draws  nigh  when 
honours  shall  be  dealt  out  with  a  liberal  hand  ;  my  spiritual 
agents  in  New- England  shall  roll  in  chariots  ;  my  favourite 
Adams  shall  be  head  of  their  mightinesses ;  the  name  of 
King  shall  not  be  known  among  us;  our  Troops  shall  be 
commanded  by  the  famous  wanderer,  Lee;  and  you,  Mr. 
Dickinson,  shall  be  Prime  Council  to  the  States  General." 
Whether  you  believe  this  or  not,  I  will  be  answerable  it  is 
the  creed  of  your  morning  star  in  Market- Street,  and  of 
your  new  puritanick  relation,  Charles  Thomson,  who 
grins  horribly  on  all  a  ghastly  smile. 

Now,  Sir,  permit  a  man  who  has  been  an  eye  witness  to 
the  unhappy  consequences  of  one  rebellion,  to  warn  you  of 
impending  misery.  You  are  too  well  acquainted  with  the 
human  heart  not  to  know  that  an  English  Senator  is  as 
capable  of  resenting  an  injury,  as  any  member  of  the  Grand 
Continental  Congress.  Consider,  Sir,  when  the  people  of 
England  speak,  it  comes  from  the  mouths  of  cannon,  back- 
ed by  men  whose  approved  courage  and  ardour  have  ren- 
dered them  the  terrour  of  tho^e  enemies,  a  few  of  whom 
(were  it  not  for  the  protection  of  Old  England  last  war) 
would  have  laid  your  estates,  as  well  as  those  of  your  neigh- 
bours, under  heavy  contributions. 

I  am  at  a  loss  what  name  to  give  your  boasted  intentions 
of  wounding  the  commercial  interest  of  Great  Britain. 
If  you  really  mean  what  you  say,  it  is  the  grossest  infatua- 
tion. The  Island  of  Tcneriffe  might,  with  as  great  a 
prospect  of  success,  threaten  to  ruin  Willing  and  Morris, 
by  not  trading  with  them,  when  every  other  corner  of  the 
habitable  globe  pants  for  their  correspondence. 

Let  an  old  man  entreat  you,  Sir,  to  consider  the  people 
who  look  to  you ;  the  lower  order  of  men  in  Pennsylvania 
are  as  bigoted  to  you,  as  the  deluded  papists  to  their  Priests 
in  Ireland. 

Our  gracious  Sovereign,  ever  watchful  over  the  lives  and 
happiness  of  his  subjects,  has  made  choice  of  a  man,  whose 
persevering  humanity  and  unshaken  steadiness  in  the  dis- 
charge of  his  present  complicated  and  important  command, 
reflect  the  highest  honour  on  the  judgment  of  his  master, 
and  will  stand  unparalleled  in  the  records  of  merit.  And 
would  you.  Sir,  wish  to  counteract  the  godlike  work  of  pre- 
venting bloodshed  in  the  Colonies,  and  a  disgraceful  sub- 
mission on  the  part  of  the  Mother  Country  ?  Figure  to 
yourself  the  sword  unsheathed  ;  a  soldiery  (who  knows  no 
stop)  let  loose  at  men,  women,  and  children,  with  the  word 
rebellion  ringing  in  their  ears ;  and  to  complete  the  dread- 
ful picture,  the  Lords  of  the  Ocean  thundering  the  resent- 
ment of  the  British  Nation  through  your  houses  and  the 
cradles  of  your  guiltless  offspring.  This,  Sir,  is  not  chi- 
merical ;  I  believe  the  probability  of  it  as  much  as  I  do 
proofs  of  Holy  Writ.  From  your  private  character,  I  sup- 
pose there  is  no  man  who  would  more  readily  dry  up  the 
tears  of  the  widow,  and  pour  balm  into  the  wounds  of  the 
infant ;  but  remember,  Sir,  if  you  are  a  principal  in  pro- 
moting them,  your  good  offices  will  be  considered  as  a 
death-bed  repentance.  Senex. 


TO  THE   COMMITTEE   OF   INSPECTION   FOR  THE   CITY  AND 
COUNTY  OF  NEW-YORK. 

New. York,  March  23,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  While  the  late  Committee  of  fifty-one 
acted  as  a  Committee  of  Correspondence  for  the  City,  the 
generality  of  its  inhabitants,  particularly  the  most  sensible 
and  judicious  part  of  them,  were  happy  in  reposing  the 
trust  with  so  respectable  a  body,  composed  as  it  was  of  the 
principal  citizens ;  but  when  the  present  Committee  was 
formed  out  of  the  ruins,  as  I  may  say,  of  the  old  Commit- 
tee, was  there  a  cool,  considerate  man  among  us  who  did 
not  forebode  evil  ? 

It  has  been  remarked,  that  we  have  but  one  Press  in 
this  Colony  which  has  been  at  all  times  strictly  impartial. 
Now  an  impartial  Press  is  observed,  for  reasons  best  known 
to  themselves,  to  be  extremely  obnoxious  to  a  certain  par- 
ty ;  they  have  not  failed  to  persecute  their  supporters  in  all 
parts  of  America.    And  that  we  have  had  our  share  of  the 


same  persecuting  spirit,  may  be  seen  in  the  Republican 
Resolves  at  and  near  Elizabcthtown — Resolves  that  are 
subversive  of  the  very  idea  of  freedom.  You,  gentlemen, 
who  compose  our  City  Committee,  to  show  that  you  are  as 
highly  seasoned  with  the  old  leaven,  seem  only  to  have 
waited  for  an  opportunity  of  playing  the  same  game ;  and 
before  the  occasion  could  well  be  said  to  have  arrived,* 
you  greedily  descend,  like  a  hawk  upon  his  prey,  and  seize 
the  poor  Printer  in  your  talons ;  meanly  condescending  to 
be  the  echo  of  little,  piddling,  Country  Committees.  But 
let  me  caution  you  to  beware  how  you  tread  upon  this  hal- 
lowed ground,  lest,  instead  of  the  Printer's,  you  work  your 
own  downfall. 

The  liberty  of  the  Press  is  a  sacred  privilege  ;  it  is  the 
only  means  in  the  hands  of  the  people,  that  can  be  safely 
used  to  check  the  growth  of  arbitrary  power.  Should  those 
who  have  fixed  themselves  as  sentinels  upon  the  watch- 
tower  of  liberty,  to  give  notice  of  all  invaders,  be  the  first 
to  curtail  this  darling  immunity,  will  it  not  give  the  people 
cause  to  suspect  that  they  themselves  are  about  to  establish 
a  power  more  arbitrary  and  tyrannical  than  any  thing  we 
have  hitherto  complained  of?  Will  not  a  severe  reprehen- 
sion for  what  can  be  scarcely  called  a  crime  in  a  Printer, 
coming  from  a  quarter  that  could  have  been  the  least  sus- 
pected, raise  alarming  apprehensions  in  the  minds  of  their 
fellow-citizens  ?  The  tenour  of  your  publication  speaks  for 
itself,  and  needs  no  comment ;  it  does  not  appear  as  barely 
intended  to  rectify  the  errours  of  the  Press,  but  it  breathes 
a  spirit  of  intimidation  towards  the  Printer.  Were  I  to  put 
the  same  sentiment  into  plainer  language,  I  should  translate 
it  thus  :  "  Beware,  Mr.  Printer,  we,  the  Grand  Committee 
of  New  -  York,  are  not  to  be  trifled  with  !  Ours  is  a  sacred 
body  !  and  must  not  be  made  the  sport  of  Printers  or  their 
devils.  Abuse  the  Parliament  as  much  as  you  list,  glut 
your  spleen  upon  the  House  of  Assembly,  but  come  not 
within  the  verge  of  our  jurisdiction,  at  your  utmost  peril." 

In  your  eagerness  to  censure  the  Printer,  you  forgot  to 
inform  us  what  you  had  done  ;  we  are  only  told  what  you 
have  not  done,  but  are  left  in  the  dark  as  to  the  foundation 
for  the  report  in  question,  though  it  is  still  believed  that 
something  passed  in  your  Committee  respecting  the  nomi- 
nation or  election  of  Delegates,  but  what  this  was  is  artfully 
concealed  from  us. 

If  you  are  afraid  of  your  conduct  being  misrepresented, 
why  are  not  your  proceedings  published  ?  Your  office  is 
of  so  extraordinary  a  nature,  that  your  conduct  will  be  can- 
vassed by  thousands  who  never  converse  with  any  of  your 
members.  It  is  the  peculiar  excellency  of  the  British 
Constitution,  that  the  proceedings  of  all  publick  bodies 
should  be  freely  discussed  ;  and  amidst  so  many  inquirers, 
it  is  scarcely  possible  to  avoid  some  misrepresentations ;  to 
guard  against  which,  nothing  is  more  necessary  than  to  lay 
the  particulars  before  the  publick,  and  if  any  censure  is  due 
at  all,  it  is  to  a  neglect  of  this  precaution. 

Anti-Tyrannicus. 


New-York,  Thursday,  March  23,  1775. 
On  Monday  afternoon,  expresses  arrived  in  Town  from 
the  County  of  Cumberland,  in  this  Province,  who  bring 
accounts  from  thence  of  a  very  extraordinary  and  alarming 
nature,  on  the  Monday  afternoon  preceding,  March  13th, 
the  day  for  holding  the  Inferiour  Courts,  several  rioters  and 
disorderly  persons,  to  the  number  of  between  eighty  and 
ninety,  assembled  at  the  Court-House,  of  which  they  took 
possession,  with  an  avowed  intent  of  preventing  the  Court 
from  being  held  the  next  day  ;  many  of  them  had  arms,  and 
those  who  were  unprovided  for  were  collecting  both  arms 
and  ammunition  with  all  possible  despatch.  Many  of  the 
Magistrates  having  come  to  Town,  it  was  thought  advisa- 
ble that  the  Sheriff"  should  make  the  usual  proclamation 
against  riotous  assemblies,  and  demand  possession  of  the 

*  The  reader  is  requested  to  compare  the  Resolves  of  the  Committee 
with  those  of  Parliament,  on  the  subject  of  common  report,  and  then 
he  will  sec  clearly  the  dangerous  tendency  of  all  assumed  powers. 

Resolved,  That  common  report  is  not  a  sufficient  authority  for  any 
Printer  in  this  City  to  publish  any  matters  as  facts  relative  to  this 
Committee,  &.c. 

1  Car.  1,  1G25. — Resolved,  That  common  famo  is  a  good  ground  of 
proceedings  for  this  House,  either  by  inquiry,  or  presenting  the  com. 
plaint  (if  the  House  find  cause)  to  the  King  and  Lords. 

Vide  Lex  Parliamentaria,  where  it  is  recited  by  the  authority  of 
Rushworth,  one  of  the  Republican  party,  and  Secretary  to  Lord 
Fairfax. 


# 


215 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  Lc,  MARCH,  1775. 


216 


Court-House  and  Jail,  which  being  refused  several  limes, 
about 'nine  o'clock  at  night  a  party  assembled  in  order  to 
disperse  the  rioters  ;  these  proceeded  with  the  Sheriff  anil 
some  Magistrates  to  the  Court-House  where  proclamation 
was  again  made  by  the  Sheriff  for  the  rioters  to  disperse, 
and  sundry  attempts  were  made  to  get  in,  without  using 
fire-arms,  but  this  proving  ineffectual,  three  guns  were  fired 
over  the  door  in  hopes  the  rioters  would  be  intimidated 
and  retire ;  but  so  determined  were  they  in  their  undertak- 
ing, that  the  fire  was  immediately  returned  from  the  Court- 
House,  by  which  one  of  the  Magistrates  was  slightly  wound- 
ed, and  another  person  shot  through  his  clothes.  The 
Magistrates  seeing  the  imminent  danger  they  were  in,  so 
well  exerted  themselves,  that  they  forced  the  front  door, 
and  after  a  very  smart  engagement,  wherein  one  of  the 
rioteis  was  killed,  and  many  persons  on  both  sides  wounded, 
the  Court-House  was  cleared,  and  proper  measures  taken 
to  preserve  the  peace  for  that  night.  The  next  morning 
all  was  tumult  and  disorder;  the  Judges,  however,  opened 
the  Court  at  the  usual  hour,  and  adjourned  till  three 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon ;  but  by  this  time,  the  body  of 
rioters  beginning  to  assemble  in  large  paities  from  New- 
llampshuc,  and  places  adjacent,  and  particularly  from  Ben- 
nington, in  the  neighbouring  County  of  Albany,  with  a 
hostile  appearance,  and  the  Couit  foreseeing  no  probability 
of  being  able  to  proceed  to  business,  adjourned  till  next 
June  term.  The  body  of  rioters,  which  soon  amounted  to 
upwards  of  five  hundred,  surrounded  the  Court-House, 
took  the  Judges,  the  Justices,  the  Sheriff,  the  Clerk,  and 
as  many  more  of  their  friends  as  they  could  find,  into  close 
custody,  and  sent  parties  out,  who  were  daily  returning 
with  more  prisoners ;  the  roads  and  passages  were  guarded 
with  armed  men,  who  indiscriminately  laid  hold  of  all  pas- 
sengers against  whom  any  of  the  party  intimated  the  least 
suspicion  ;  and  the  mob,  stimulated  by  their  leaders  to  the 
utmost  fury  and  revenge,  breathed  nothing  but  blood  and 
slaughter  against  the  unfortunate  persons  in  their  power. 
The  only  thing  which  suspended  their  fate  was  a  difference 
of  opinion  as  to  the  manner  of  destroying  them.  And  from 
the  violence  and  inhumanity  of  the  disposition  apparent  in 
the  rioters,  it  is  greatly  to  be  feared  that  some  of  the 
worthy  men  in  confinement  will  fall  a  sacrifice  to  the 
brutal  fury  of  a  band  of  ruffians,  before  timely  aid  can  be 
brought  to  their  assistance. 


TO  THE  WORTHY  INHABITANTS  OF  THE  CITY  OF  NEW-YORK. 

Now-York,  March  23,  1775. 
Permit  a  stranger  expelled  from  his  habitation,  and  in- 
humanly abused  by  an  insolent  and  persecuting  rabble,  who 
have  long  dealt  destruction  around  them  with  impunity, 
to  submit  his  unmerited  sufferings  to  your  compassionate 
attention.  Seized,  like  the  vilest  malefactor,  without  the 
shadow  of  offence ;  condemned  by  a  mock  tribunal  ; 
severely  and  ignominiously  beaten  ;  stripped  of  his  whole 
substance;  compelled  to  abandon  his  wife  and  children  in 
a  distant  County  to  the  care  of  Providence;  and  plunged 
into  want  and  distress,  he  has  no  place  of  refuge  but  in 
this  hospitable  City.  It  is  his  only  consolation,  amidst  the 
most  painful  reflections,  to  flatter  himself,  that  when  this 
unhappy  case  is  made  publick,  he  will  not  only  receive 
from  Government  the  protection  due  to  an  innocent  and 
much  injured  subject,  but  will  partake  of  that  benevolence 
from  individuals  for  which  the  citizens  of  New-York  are 
justly  celebrated.  He  wishes  to  make  no  comment  on  the 
circumstances  related  in  the  following  deposition ;  they 
admit  of  no  aggravation.  Benjamin  Houoh. 

City  of  New-York,  ss. 

Benjamin  Hough,  one  of  His  Majesty's  Justices  of  the 
Peace  for  the  County  of  Charlotte,  being  duly  sworn  on 
the  Holy  Evangelists  of  Almighty  God,  deposeth  and 
saith  :  That  on  or  about  the  26th  day  of  January  last  past, 
about  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning,  this  deponent  being  at 
some  distance  from  his  dwelling-house,  but  in  view  thereof, 
observed  three  persons  stop  at  his  door,  and  enter  his  said 
house,  this  deponent's  whole  family  (except  a  child  of 
about  six  years  of  age)  bp'ing  absent  ;  that  immediately 
thereafter  this  deponent  was  attacked  by  about  thirty  per- 
sona, a  number  of  whom  were  armed  with  firelocks,  swords, 
and  hatchets ;  that  upon  their  approach  this  deponent  at- 


tempted to  get  into  his  house  to  secure  his  arms  and  stand 
upon  his  defence  ;  but  that  this  deponent  observing  that 
llinthorp  lloyt,  of  Bennington,  one  of  the  three  persons 
this  deponent  had  observed  going  into  his  house,  stood  at 
the  threshold  of  this  deponent's  door,  with  this  deponent's 
sword  and  pistol  in  his  hands,  he,  this  deponent,  found  it 
would  be  to  no  purpose  either  to  attempt  to  escape  or  to 
make  resistance  ;  that  thereupon  I'cleg  Sunderland,  of 
the  said  County  of  Charlotte,  came  up  to  this  deponent 
with  a  hatchet  in  his  hand,  and  slapping  this  deponent  on 
the  shoulder,  told  him  he  was  his  prisoner;  that  he,  the 
said  Beleg  Sunderland,  and  the  other  persons  who  were 
with  him,  forced  this  deponent  into  a  sleigh,  and  carried 
him  about  fifty  miles  to  the  southward  of  this  deponent's 
place  of  residence,  to  a  place  by  them  called  Sunderland, 
where  they  kept  this  deponent  until  the  30th  day  of  the 
said  month  of  January  in  close  confinement,  part  of  the 
time  bound,  and  always  under  a  strong  guard,  with  drawn 
swords.  That  Sylvanus  Brown,  James  Meed,  Samuel 
Campbell,  one  Dwinels,  one  Powers,  Stephen  Meed,  one 
Booley,  and  one  Lymen,  were  among  the  persons  who  so 
seized  and  detained  this  deponent ;  and  with  respect  to  the 
rest  of  them,  they  were  either  strangers  to  this  deponent, 
or  he  cannot  recollect  their  names  at  present ;  that  while 
they  had  this  deponent  so  in  custody  at  Sunderland,  some 
of  the  said  rioters  informed  this  deponent  that  he  could 
not  have  his  trial  till  the  Monday  following,  because  they 
intended  to  send  for  Ethan  Allen  and  Seth  Warner,  who 
were  then  at  Bennington,  and  who  are  two  of  the  princi- 
pal ringleaders  of  the  Bennington  mob.  That  on  the  said 
30th  day  of  January,  the  said  rioters  appointed  a  Court 
for  the  trial  of  this  deponent,  which  consisted  of  the  fol- 
lowing persons,  to  wit :  The  said  Ethan  Allen,  Seth  War- 
ner, Robert  Cochran,  Pelcg  Sunderland,  James  Meed, 
Gideon  Warren,  and  Jesse  Sawyer,  and  they  being  seated, 
ordered  this  deponent  to  be  brought  before  them  ;  that  he 
was  accordingly  brought  before  them  as  a  prisoner,  guarded 
by  persons  with  drawn  swords;  that  thereupon  the  said 
Ethan  Alhn  laid  the  three  following  accusations  to  the 
charge  of  this  deponent,  to  wit : 

1st.  That  this  deponent  had  complained  to  the  Gov- 
ernment of  New-York  of  their  (the  said  rioters)  mobbing 
and  injuring  Benjamin  Spencer,  Esq.,  and  other  persons. 

2d.  That  the  deponent  had  dissuaded  and  discouraged  the 
people  from  joining  the  mob  in  their  proceedings  ;  and, 

3d.  That  the  deponent  had  taken  a  commission  of  the 
peace  under  the  Government  of  New-  York,  and  exercised 
his  office  as  a  Magistrate  for  the  County  of  Charlotte ;  al- 
leging that  this  deponent  well  knew  that  they  (the  mob) 
did  not  allow  of  any  Magistrate  there. 

And  that  after  the  said  accusations  were  so  made,  the 
said  Ethan  Allen  told  the  deponent  that  he  was  at  liberty 
to  plead  for  himself,  if  he  had  any  thing  to  say;  that  this 
deponent  then  demanded  of  him,  the  said  Ethan  Allen, 
and  the  rest  of  his  pretended  Judges,  whether  he,  this 
deponent,  had  ever  done  injustice  to  any  man  in  the  exe- 
cution of  his  office  as  a  Magistrate  ?  To  which  they  an- 
swered, that  they  could  not  charge  him  with  any  injustice 
in  the  execution  of  his  office,  nor  had  they  any  complaint 
of  that  kind  to  make  against  him  ;  llarner,  in  particular, 
declaring  that  he  would  as  willingly  have  him  for  a  Magis- 
trate as  any  man  whatever;  but  that  they  would  not,  under 
their  present  circumstances,  suffer  any  Magistrate  at  all. 
That  the  deponent  then  asked  the  said  pretended  Judges, 
whether  they  could  accuse  this  deponent  of  busying  him- 
self or  intermeddling  with  respect  to  titles  of  lands  ?  To 
which  the  said  Ethan  Allen  answered  in  the  negative;  and 
that  they  had  not  heard,  nor  did  they  pretend  to  charee 
him  with  any  thing  of  that  kind  ;  that  the  deponent  then 
added,  that  with  respect  to  their  three  charges  against  him, 
he  admitted  them  to  be  true  :  that  he  had  made  such  com- 
plaint to  the  Government  of  New-  York  of  the  proceedings 
of  the  said  rioters  against  the  said  Benjamin  Spencer  and 
others  :  that  he  had  used  his  endeavours  to  dissuade  people 
from  joining  the  said  rioters  in  their  proceedings  ;  and  that 
he  has  accepted  a  commission  from  the  said  Government 
for,  and  exercised  the  office  of,  a  Magistrate  for  the  said 
County  of  Charlotte;  and  that  all  this  he  had  a  good  right 
to  do,  and  looked  upon  as  his  duty.  That  after  some 
further  argumentation,  the  said  pretended  Judges  withdiew 
to  another  house  to  consider  of  their  judgment,  and  in 


217 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1"5. 


218 


about  two  or  three  hours  returned  to  the  door  of  the  house 
where  the  deponent  remained,  and  ordered  him  to  be 
brought  out  near  a  tree,  where  the  said  pretended  Judges 
had  placed  themselves,  encircled  by  a  number  of  armed 
men,  into  the  midst  of  which  circle  this  deponent  was  con- 
ducted as  a  prisoner,  by  four  men  with  drawn  swords  ;  and 
that  thereupon  the  said  Ethan  Allen,  who  all  along  acted 
as  the  chief  or  principal  Judge,  pronounced  the  following 
sentence  against  this  deponent,  which  he  read  from  a  paper 
which  he  held  in  his  hand,  to  wit:  That  they  had  erected 
a  combination  of  judicious  men  for  his  trial,  and  had  ac- 
cused him  in  the  manner  before  mentioned,  [repeating  the 
accusations,]  that  the  deponent  had  pleaded  sclf-justijica- 
tion,  which  they,  the  said  pretended  Judges,  had  ibund 
insufficient  to  excuse  him  from  punishment ;  and  that  there- 
fore their  judgment  was,  that  the  deponent  should  he  tied 
up  to  a  tree,  and  receive  two  hundred  lashes  on  the  naked 
back,  and  then,  as  soon  as  he  should  be  able,  should  depart 
the  New-Hampshire  Giants,  and  not  return  again  upon 
pain  of  receiving  five  hundred  lashes ;  that  upon  some  per- 
sons observing  that  he,  this  deponent,  ought  not  to  be 
suffered  to  return  while  matters  remained  in  their  present 
condition,  the  said  Alien  added,  no — not  till  His  Majesty's 
pleasure  shall  be  known  in  the  premises.  That  thereupon 
this  deponent  immediately  had  his  clothes  taken  olF,  and 
he  was  stripped  to  the  skin,  and  four  persons  being,  by  the 
said  pretended  Court,  appointed  to  carry  the  said  sentence 
into  execution,  this  deponent  accordingly  received  the  two 
hundred  lashes  upon  his  naked  back,  with  whips  of  cords, 
which  lashes  were  inflicted  by  each  of  the  said  execu- 
tioners, giving  the  deponent  alternately  a  number  of  lashes, 
though  at  the  close  he  thinks  he  received  from  each  of 
tliem  ten  ;  that  the  said  Robert  Cochran,  who  declared 
himself  to  be  Adjutant  of  the  rioters,  stood,  during  the 
whole  scene,  near  this  deponent,  and  frequently  urged  the 
s  ud  executioners  to  lay  on  the  blows  well  and  strike  harder, 
and  particularly  repeated  such  directions  with  respect  to 
the  last  ten  inflicted  by  each  of  the  said  executioners  ;  that 
it  was  often  mentioned  by  some  of  the  rioters,  that  if  any 
oi  this  deponent's  friends  should  intercede,  or  in  any  man- 
ner favour  him,  they  should  share  the  same  fate.  That 
the  aforesaid  Winthorp  Hoyt,  of  Bennington,  who  pro- 
fessed himself  to  be  Drum-Major,  Abel  Benedict,  of  Ar- 
lington,  and  one  John  Sawyer,  and  a  person  whose  name 
this  deponent  could  not  learn,  were  the  four  persons  who 
so  whipped  this  deponent  ;  that  this  deponent  was  very 
much  wounded,  and  bled  considerably  by  the  said  abuse ; 
and  the  deponent  being  very  faint,  was  put  into  the  care 
of  Dr.  Washburn,  who  conducted  him  into  a  house  ;  that 
the  deponent  declared  to  the  said  rioters,  that  it  was  a  great 
hardship  that  he  was  not  suffered  to  go  home  to  take  care 
of  his  interest  and  child,  who  was  left  without  father  or 
mother,  the  deponent's  wife  being  absent  on  a  distant  visit 
to  her  parents.  That  the  rioters  notwithstanding  insisted 
that  the  sentence  should  be  put  in  execution,  and  the  de- 
ponent leave  the  country  accordingly.  And  the  deponent 
further  saith,  that  after  he  had  been  so  abused,  the  said 
Ethan  Allen  delivered  him  a  paper  in  writing,  signed  by 
him  and  Seth  Warner,  in  the  words  and  figures  following, 
to  wit  : 

SunJorlanJ,  30th  of  January,  1773. 
"  This  may  certify  the  inhabitants  of  the  New-Hamp- 
shire Grants,  that  Benjamin  Hough  hath  this  day  re- 
ceived a  full  punishment  for  his  crimes  committed  here- 
tofore against  this  Country,  and  our  inhabitants  are  ordered 
to  give  him,  the  said  Hough,  a  free  and  unmolested  pass- 
port toward  the  City  of  New-York,  or  to  the  westward  of 
our  Grants,  he  behaving  as  becometh.  Given  under  our 
hands  the  day  and  dale  aforesaid.        Ethan  Allen, 

Seth  Warner." 

And  he,  this  deponent,  having  received  his  strength,  the 
next  day  proceeded  on  foot  on  his  journey  toward  the  City 
of  New-  York  ;  that  while  this  deponent  was  in  custody  of 
the  said  rioters,  he  heard  the  said  Ethan  Allen  say,  that 
he  expected  that  they  should  be  obliged  to  drive  off  all  the 
damned  Durhamites,  [meaning  the  inhabitants  of  the  Town 
of  Durham,  in  the  County  of  Charlotte,]  that  this  depo- 
nent frequently  heard  the  said  rioters  declare  that  they 
would  have  little  Walker  [meaning  Daniel  Walker,]  and 
Thomas  Bratci,  (the  Constable  who  served  under  this  de- 


ponent) if  they  could  be  found  above  ground  ;  and  that 
they  further  threatened  that  they  would,  for  the  future,  be 
more  severe  with  the  damned  Yorkers,  (meaning  persons 
who  would  not  join  with  them  in  their  riotous  proceedings,] 
and  would  whip  them  within  an  inch  of  their  lives ;  that 
for  the  future,  they  would  not  be  at  the  trouble  and  ex- 
pense of  giving  them  a  trial,  but  that  the  persons  w  ho  met 
with  them  should  punish  them  immediately  ;  that  this  de- 
ponent, while  lie  was  so  confined,  heard  the  said  rioters 
further  declare,  that  they  were  sorry  they  had  not  inflicted 
upon  Doctor  Adams  [who  lived  in  Arlington,  and  against 
whom  they  had  taken  offence]  five  hundred  lashes,  instead 
of  hoisting  him  up  and  exposing  him  upon  landlord  Pay's 
sign-post,  where  was  fixed  a  dead  catamount  ;  and  that  this 
deponent  also  heard  the  said  Ethan  Allen  declare  in  the 
said  mob,  that  he  expected  shortly  to  have  a  fight  with  the 
damned  Yorkers,  for  that  they  would  hear  how  the  mob 
had  abused  their  Magistrates ;  but  that  he  believed  them 
to  be  damned  cowards,  or  that  they  would  have  come  out 
against  them  long  before ;  that  this  deponent,  on  his  way 
to  New-  York,  called  at  the  bouse  of  Bliss  Willottghby  and 
Ebenezer  Cole,  Esquires,  two  of  His  Majesty's  Justices  of 
the  Peace  for  the  County  of  Albany,  residing  near  Ben- 
nington ;  that  he  found  them  armed,  in  great  distress  and 
danger,  and  having  people  in  their  houses  ready  to  take 
arms  for  their  defence  in  case  they  should  be  attacked  by 
the  rioters,  which,  as  they  assured  this  deponent,  they 
hourly  expected  ;  that  this  deponent,  on  his  way  to  New- 
York,  also  called  at  Pownall  Town,  part  of  which  lies  w  ith- 
in the  Manor  of  Rensselaerwyck,  (as  this  deponent  has  been 
informed  by  the  inhabitants  ol  the  said  Town,)  that  lie 
found  the  said  inhabitants  in  great  commotion  and  uneasi- 
ness on  account  of  the  said  rioters  ;  that  he  understood  from 
some  of  the  said  inhabitants,  that  they  had  agreed  to  take 
leases  for  their  possessions  under  the  proprietors  of  the 
said  Manor,  but  that  they  dared  not  for  fear  of  the  said 
rioters,  who  had  threatened  them  severely  ;  and  one  of  the 
said  inhabitants  in  particular,  told  this  deponent  that  he 
had  taken  a  lease  for  his  farm  of  the  said  proprietor,  but 
should,  on  that  account,  be  obliged  to  give  it  up  ;  that 
when  this  deponent  left  the  said  Pownall  Town,  he  met 
George  Gardiner,  Esquire,  of  Pownall  Town  aforesaid, 
also  one  of  His  Majesty's  Justices  of  the  Peace  for  the  said 
County  of  Albany,  who  told  the  deponent  that  the  state 
of  the  said  Town  was  very  dangerous  and  difficult ;  that  he 
expected  every  day  to  be  prevented  by  the  rioters  from 
exercising  his  office  ;  that  he  was  apprehensive  that  miles-; 
Government  should  give  them  some  protection,  many  of 
the  inhabitants  of  the  said  Town  would  join  the  said  rioters, 
and  earnestly  entreated  this  deponent  to  exert  his  utmost 
endeavours  to  procure  such  protection  ;  that  this  deponent, 
on  his  way  to  New-York,  conversed  with  James  Clark, 
[who  was  in  his  employ,]  and  who  informed  this  deponent 
(and  which  this  deponent  verily  believes  to  be  true)  that 
since  this  deponent  was  so  seized  by  the  said  mob,  John 
Lord,  Joseph,  Rand  el,  and  Clark,  three  of  this  deponent's 
neighbours,  had  been  very  much  abused  and  insulted  by 
the  said  mob,  and  that  the  said  John  Law  was  turned  out 
of  his  possession  and  obliged  to  fly  the  Country.  And  the 
deponent  further  says,  that  the  said  mob  robbed  him  of  his 
arms,  to  wit:  a  hanger  and  pistol,  which  he  has  not  been 
able  since  to  procure ;  and  the  deponent  further  saith  that 
he  hath  frequently  been  informed,  and  believes  it  to  be 
true,  that  the  said  rioters  have  a  design  to  put  an  end  to 
law  and  justice  in  the  County  of  Cumberland,  and  that 
they  went  so  far  as  to  appoint  a  day  upon  which  to  make 
the  attempt,  but  it  did  not  then  take  place  ;  and  further  this 
deponent  saith  not.  B.  Hough. 

Sworn  before  me,  the  7th  day  of  March,  1775. 

Dan.  Horsmanden. 


A  RELATION  OF  THE  PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  PEOPLE  OF 
THE  COUNTY  OF  CUMBERLAND,  AND  PROVINCE  OF  NEW- 
YORK. 

Cumberland  County,  March  23,  1775. 
In  June,  1774,  there  were  some  Letters  came  to  the 
Supervisors  of  said  County  from  the  Committee  of  Corres- 
pondence at  New-York,  signed  by  their  Chairman,  Mr. 
Low;  which  Letters  said  Supervisors,  through  ignorance 
or  intention,  kept  until  September,  when  they  had  an- 


219 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  Lc,  MARCH,  1775. 


220 


oilier  meeting ;  and  it  is  supposed  that  they  intended  al- 
ways to  have  kept  them  ;  and  the  good  people  would  have 
remained  in  ignorance  about  them  until  this  time  had  it  not 
been  by  accident  that  it  was  whispered  abroad,  so  that 
Doctor  Reuben  Jones,  of  Rockingham,  and  Captain  Aza- 
riah  Wright,  of  Westminster,  heard  of  it,  and  took  proper 
care  to  notify  those  Towns. 

A  meeting  was  called  in  the  two  Towns  aforesaid,  and  a 
Committee  was  chosen  by  each  Town  to  wait  on  the  Su- 
pervisors at  their  meeting  in  September,  to  see  if  there 
were  any  papers  that  should  be  laid  before  the  several 
Towns  in  the  County,  and  they  found  that  there  were  pa- 
pers come  from  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  that 
should  have  been  laid  before  the  Towns  in  June.  The 
Supervisors  made  many  excuses  for  their  conduct;  some 
plead  ignorance,  and  some  one  thing  and  some  another : 
but  the  most  of  them  did  seem  to  think  that  they  could 
send  a  return  to  the  Committee  at  Neiv-York,  without  ever 
laying  them  before  their  constituents,  which  principle,  at 
this  day,  so  much  prevails,  that  it  is  the  undoing  of  the 
people.  Men  at  this  day  are  so  tainted  with  the  princi- 
ples of  tyranny,  that  they  would  fain  believe  that  as  they 
are  chosen  by  the  people  to  any  kind  of  office,  lor  any  par- 
ticular thing,  that  they  have  the  sole  power  of  that  people 
by  whom  they  are  chosen,  and  can  act  in  the  name  of  that 
people  in  any  matter  or  thing,  though  it  is  not  in  any  con- 
nection with  what  they  were  chosen  for.  But  the  Com- 
mittees would  not  consent  to  have  a  return  made,  until 
every  Town  in  the  County  had  Mr.  Low's  letters  laid  be- 
fore them,  which  was  done,  and  a  County  Congress  was 
called,  return  was  made,  a  Committee  was  chosen  to  see 
that  it  was  put  in  print,  but,  through  interest  or  otherwise, 
it  never  was  published  in  any  of  the  papers. 

Immediately  after  the  people  of  the  County  aforesaid 
received  the  Resolves  of  the  Continental  Congress,  they 
called  a  County  Congress,  and  did  adopt  all  the  Resolves 
of  the  Continental  Congress  as  their  Resolves,  promising 
religiously  to  adhere  to  that  Agreement  or  Association. 
There  was  a  Committee  of  Inspection  moved  for,  to  be  chosen 
by  the  County  according  to  the  second  Resolve  of  the  Asso- 
ciation aforesaid  ;  but  being  much  spoken  against  by  a  Jus- 
tice and  an  Attorney,  and  looked  upon  by  them  as  a  child- 
ish, impertinent  thing,  the  Delegates  dared  not  choose  one. 
At  this  time  there  were  Tory  parties  forming,  although 
they  were  under  disguise,  and  had  laid  a  plan  to  bring  the 
lower  sort,  of  the  people  into  a  state  of  bondage  and  sla- 
very. They  saw  that  there  was  no  cash  stirring,  and  they 
took  that  opportunity  to  collect  debts,  knowing  that  men 
had  no  other  way  to  pay  them  than  by  having  their  estates 
taken  by  execution  and  sold  at  vendue.  There  were  but 
very  few  men  among  us  that  were  able  to  buy,  and  those 
men  were  so  disposed  that  they  would  take  all  the  world 
into  their  own  hands  without  paying  any  thing  for  it,  if  they 
could  by  law,  which  would  soon  bring  the  whole  Country 
into  slavery.  Most  or  all  of  our  men  in  authority,  and  all 
that  wanted  Court  favours,  seemed  much  enraged,  and 
stirred  up  many  vexatious  lawsuits,  and  imprisoned  many 
contrary  to  the  laws  of  this  Province  and  the  statutes  of 
the  Crown.  One  man  they  put  into  close  prison  for  high 
treason,  and  all  that  they  proved  against  him  was,  that  he 
said  if  the  King  had  signed  the  Quebeck  Bill,  it  was  his 
opinion  that  he  had  broke  his  coronation  oath.  But  the 
good  people  went  and  opened  the  prison  door  and  let  him 
go,  and  did  no  violence  to  any  man's  per  son  or  property. 

Our  men  in  office  would  say  that  they  did  like  the  Reso- 
lutions of  the  Continental  Congress,  and  they  ought  to  be 
strictly  adhered  to  until  our  General  Assembly  voted  against 
them.  Then  they  said  that  this  would  do  for  the  Bay- 
Province,  but  it  was  childish  for  us  to  pay  any  regard  to 
them.  Some  of  our  Court  would  boldly  say  that  the  King 
had  a  just  right  to  make  the  Revenue  Acts,  for  he  had  a 
supreme  power,  and  he  that  said  otherwise  was  guilty  of 
high  treason,  and  they  did  hope  that  they  would  he  exe- 
cuted accordingly.  The  people  were  of  opinion  that  such 
men  were  not  suitable  to  rule  over  them,  and  as  the  Gene- 
ral Assembly  of  this  Province  would  not  accede  to  the 
Associatiorr  of  the  Continental  Congress,  the  good  people 
were  of  opinion  that  if  they  did  accede  to  any  power  from 
or  under  them,  they  should  be  guilty  of  the  breach  of  the 
14th  Article  of  that  Association,  and  may  justly  be  dealt 
with  accordingly  by  all  /Lmcrica.    When  the  good  people 


considered  that  the  General  Assembly  were  for  bringing 
them  into  a  state  of  slavery,  (which  did  appear  plain  by 
their  not  acceding  to  the  best  method  to  procure  (heir 
liberties,  and  the  Executive  power  so  strongly  acquiescing 
in  all  that  they  did,  whether  it  was  right  or  wrong,)  the 
good  people  of  said  County  thought  it  time  to  look  to 
themselves;  and  they  thought  that  it  was  dangerous  to 
trust  their  lives  and  fortunes  in  the  hands  of  such  enemies 
to  American  liberty,  but  more  particularly  unreasonable 
that  there  should  be  any  Court  held,  since  thereby  we 
must  accede  to  what  our  General  Assembly  had  done,  in 
not  acceding  to  what  the  whole  Continent  had  recom- 
mended, and  that  all  America  would  break  off  all  dealings 
and  commerce  with  us,  and  bring  us  into  a  state  of  slavery 
at  once.  Therefore,  in  duty  to  God,  ourselves,  and  pos- 
terity, we  thought  ourselves  under  the  strongest  obligations 
to  resist  and  to  oppose  all  authority  that  would  not  accede 
to  the  Resolves  of  the  Continental  Congress.  But  know- 
ing that  many  of  our  Court  were  men  that  neither  feared 
or  regarded  men,  we  thought  that  it  was  most  prudent  to  go 
and  persuade  the  Judges  to  stay  at  home.  Accordingly 
there  were  about  forty  good  true  men  went  from  Rocking- 
ham to  Chester,  to  dissuade  Colonel  Chandler,  the  Chief 
Judge,  from  attending  Court.  He  said  he  believed  it  would 
be  for  the  good  of  the  County  not  to  have  any  Court  as 
things  were,  but  there  was  one  case  of  murder  that  they 
must  see  to,  and  if  it  was  not  agreeable  to  the  people  they 
would  not  have  any  other  case.  One  of  the  Committee 
told  him  that  the  Sheriff  would  raise  a  number  with  arms, 
and  that  there  would  be  bloodshed.  The  Colonel  said 
that  he  would  give  his  word  and  honour  that  there  should 
not  be  any  arms  brought  against  us,  and  he  would  go  down 
to  Court  on  Monday  the  13th  of  March  instant,  which 
was  the  day  that  the  Court  was  to  be  opened.  We  told 
him  that  we  would  wait  on  him  if  it  was  his  will.  He  said 
that  our  company  would  be  very  agreeable;  likewise  he 
returned  us  his  hearty  thanks  for  our  civility,  and  so  we 
parted  with  him. 

We  heard  from  the  Southern  part  of  the  State  that 
Judge  Sabin  was  very  earnest  to  have  the  Law  go  on,  as 
well  as  many  petty  officers.  There  were  but  two  Judges 
in  the  County  at  that  time,  Colonel  Wells  being  gone  to 
New-York.  There  was  a  great  deal  of  talk  in  what 
manner  to  stop  the  Court,  and  at  length  it  was  agreed  on 
to  let  the  Court  come  together,  and  lay  the  reasons  we  had 
against  their  proceeding  before  them,  thinking  thev  were 
men  of  such  sense  that  they  would  hear  them.  But  on 
Friday  we  heard  that  the  Court  was  going  to  take  the  pos- 
session of  the  house  on  the  13th  instant,  and  to  keep  a 
strong  guard  at  the  doors  of  said  house,  that  we  could  not 
come  in.  We  being  justly  alarmed  by  the  deceit  of  our 
Court,  though  it  was  not  strange,  therefore  we  thought 
proper  to  get  to  Court  before  the  armed  guards  were 
placed,  for  we  were  determined  that  our  grievances  should 
be  laid  before  the  Court  before  it  was  opened.  On  Monday 
the  13th  of  March  instant,  there  were  about  one  hundred 
of  us  entered  the  Court-House  about  four  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon.  But  we  had  but  just  entered  before  we  were 
alarmed  by  a  large  number  of  men,  armed  with  guns, 
swords  and  pistols.  But  we  in  the  house  had  not  any 
weapons  of  war  among  us,  and  were  determined  that  they 
should  not  come  in  with  their  weapons  of  war  except  by 
the  force  of  them. 

Esquire  Patterson  came  up  at  the  head  of  his  armed 
company,  within  about  five  yards  of  the  door,  and  com- 
manded us  to  disperse  ;  to  which  he  got  no  answer.  He 
then  caused  the  King's  Proclamation  to  be  read,  and  told 
us  that  if  we  did  not  disperse  in  fifteen  minutes,  by  G — d 
he  would  blow  a  lane  through  us.  We  told  him  that  we 
would  not  disperse.  We  told  them  that  they  might  come 
in  if  they  would  unarm  themselves,  but  not  without.  One 
of  our  men  went  out  at  the  door  and  asked  them  if  they 
were  come  for  war  ;  told  them  that  we  were  come  for  peace, 
and  that  we  should  be  glad  to  hold  a  parley  with  them. 
At  that,  Mr.  Gale,  the  Clerk  of  the  Court,  drew  a  pistol, 

held  it  up,  and  said,  d  n  the  parley  with  such  d  d 

rascals  as  you  are ;  I  will  hold  no  parley  with  such  d  d 

rascals  but  by  this — holding  up  his  pistol.  They  gave  us 
very  harsh  language ;  told  us  we  should  be  in  hell  before 
morning,  but  after  a  while  they  drew  a  little  off  from  the 
house  and  seemed  to  be  in  consultation.    Three  of  us 


221 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775. 


222 


went  out  to  treat  with  them  ;  but  the  most,  or  all  that  we 
could  get  from  them  was,  that  they  would  not  talk  with 

such  d  d  rascals  as  we  were,  and  we  soon  returned  to 

the  house  and  they  soon  went  off. 

Colonel  Chandler  came  in  and  we  laid  the  case  before 
him,  and  told  him  that  we  had  his  word  that  there  should 
not  be  any  arms  brought  against  us.  He  said  that  the  arms 
were  brought  without  his  consent,  but  he  would  go  and  take 
them  away  from  them,  and  we  should  enjoy  the  house  un- 
disturbed until  morning,  and  that  the  Court  should  come  in 
the  morning  without  arms,  and  should  hear  what  we  had 
to  lay  before  them,  and  then  he  went  away.  We  then 
went  out  of  the  house  and  chose  a  Committee,  which  drew 
up  Articles  to  stand  for,  and  read  them  to  the  company, 
and  they  were  voted  von.  con.  dis.,  and  some  of  our  men 
went  to  the  neighbours,  and  as  many  as  the  Court  and  their 
party  saw  they  bound. 

About  midnight,  or  a  little  before,  the  sentry  at  the  door 
espied  some  men  with  guns,  and  he  gave  the  word  to  man 
the  doors  and  the  walk  was  crowded.  Immediately  the 
Sheriff  and  his  company  marched  up  fast,  within  about 
ten  rods  of  the  door,  and  then  the  word  was  given,  take 
care,  and  then,  fire  !    Three  fired  immediately.    The  word 

fire  was  repeated  ;  G — d  d  n  you,  fire  ;  send  them  to 

hell,  was  most  or  all  the  words  that  were  to  be  heard  for 
some  time ;  on  which  there  were  several  men  wounded  ; 
one  was  shot  with  four  bullets,  one  of  which  went  through 
his  brain,  of  which  wound  lie  died  next  day.  Then  they 
rushed  in  with  their  guns,  swords,  and  clubs,  and  did  most 
cruelly  mammock  several  more,  and  took  some  that  were 
not  wounded,  and  those  that  were,  and  crowded  them  all 
into  close  prison  together,  and  told  them  that  they  should 
all  be  in  hell  before  the  next  night,  and  that  they  did  wish 
that  there  were  forty  more  in  the  same  case  with  that  dying 
man.  When  they  put  him  into  prison  they  took  and 
dragged  him  as  one  would  a  dog,  and  would  mock  him  as 
he  lay  gasping,  and  make  sport  for  themselves  at  his  dying 
motions.  The  people  that  escaped  took  prudent  care  to 
notify  the  people  in  the  County,  and  also  in  the  Govern- 
ment of  New-Hampshire  and  the  Bay,  which  being  justly 
alarmed  at  such  an  unheard-of  and  aggravated  piece  of 
murder,  did  kindly  interpose  in  our  favour. 

On  Tuesday,  the  14th  instant,  about  twelve  o'clock, 
nearly  two  hundred  men,  well  armed,  came  from  New- 
Hampshire Government,  and  before  night  there  were  several 
of  the  people  of  Cumberland  County  returned  and  took  up 
all  they  knew  of,  that  were  in  the  horrid  massacre,  and  con- 
fined them  under  a  strong  guard ;  and  afterwards  they  con- 
fined as  many  as  they  could  get  evidence  against,  except 
several  that  did  escape  for  their  lives.  On  the  15lh  instant, 
the  body  formed  chose  a  Moderator  and  Clerk,  and  chose 
a  Committee  to  see  that  the  Coroner's  Jury  of  inquest 
were  just,  impartial  men ;  which  Jury,  on  their  oath,  did 
bring  in,  that  W.  Patterson,  &tc,  Stc,  did,  on  the  13th  of 
March  instant,  by  force  and  arms,  make  an  assault  on  the 
body  of  William  French,  then  and  there  lying  dead,  and 
shot  him  through  the  head  with  a  bullet,  of  which  wound 
he  died,  and  not  otherwise.  Then  the  criminals  were  con- 
fined in  close  prison,  and,  on  the  evening  of  the  same  day, 
and  early  the  next  morning,  a  large  number  came  from  the 
Southern  part  of  the  County  of  Cumberland  and  the  Bay 
Province.  It  is  computed  that  in  the  whole  there  were 
five  hundred  good  martial  soldiers,  well  equipped  for  war, 
that  had  gathered.  On  the  16th  instant  the  body  assem- 
bled, but  being  so  numerous  that  they  could  not  do  busi- 
ness, there  was  a  vote  passed  to  choose  a  large  Committee 
to  represent  the  whole,  and  that  this  Committee  should 
consist  of  men  who  did  not  belong  to  the  County  of  Cum- 
berland, as  well  as  of  those  that  did  belong  thereto:  which 
was  done.  After  the  most  critical  and  impartial  examina- 
tion of  evidence,  voted,  that  the  heads  of  them  should  be 
confined  in  Northampton  Jail,  till  they  could  have  a  fair 
trial,  and  those  that  did  not  appear  so  guilty,  should  be 
under  bonds,  holden  to  answer  at  the  next  Court  of  Oyer 
and  Terminer,  in  the  County  aforesaid  ;  which  was  agreed 
to.  On  the  17th  instant,  bonds  were  taken  for  those  that 
were  to  be  bound,  and  the  rest  set  out  under  a  strong  guard 
for  Northampton. 

We,  the  Committee  aforesaid,  embrace  this  opportunity 
to  return  our  most  grateful  acknowledgments  and  sincere 
thanks  to  our  truly  wise  and  patriotick  friends  in  the  Govern- 


ment of  New-Hampshire  and  the  Massachusetts-Bay,  for 
their  kind  and  benevolent  interposition  in  our  favour,  at  such 
a  time  of  distress  and  confusion  aforesaid  ;  strongly  assuring 
them  that  we  shall  be  always  ready  for  their  aid  and  assist- 
ance, if  by  the  dispensation  of  Divine  Providence  we  are 
called  thereto. 

Signed  by  order  of  the  Committee: 

Reuben  Jones,  Clerk. 


TO  THE  HONOURABLE  JAMES  WALLACE,  ESQ.,  COMMANDER 
OF  HIS  MAJESTY'S  SHIP  ROSE,  NEWPORT. 

Freetown,  March  23,  1775. 
Honourable  Sir:  Since  my  writing  the  lines  on  the 
21st,  by  Mr.  Phillips,  many  insults  and  threats  are,  and 
have  been  made  against  those  soldiers  which  have  taken 
our  arms  and  train,  and  exercise  in  the  King's  name  ;  and 
on  Monday  next  the  Captains  muster  at  the  south  part  of 
the  Tow  n,  when  we  have  great  reason  to  fear  thousands  of 
the  rebels  will  attack  them,  and  take  our  lives,  or  the 
King's  arms,  or  perhaps  both.  I,  Sir,  ask  the  favour  of 
one  of  His  Majesty's  Tenders,  or  some  other  vessel  of 
force  might  be  at  or  near  Bowers',  in  order  if  any  of  our 
people  should  be  obliged  to  retreat,  they  may  be  taken  on 
board.  Nothing  but  the  last  extremity  will  oblige  them 
to  quit  the  ground.    1  am  your  obedient,  humble  servant, 

Thomas  Gilbert. 


guilford  (Connecticut)  committee. 

Whereas  there  is  inserted  in  the  Connecticut  Journal,  of 
February  22d,  1775,  an  extract  of  a  letter  from  Martinico, 
dated  December  21st,  1774,  mentioning  Captain  Griffin  s 
arrival  there,  in  a  vessel  of  Mr.  Morgan's,  belonging  to 
Killing sworth,  with  fourteen  Sheep  ;  by  which  it  is  repre- 
sented said  Griffin  has  violated  the  American  Association: 
notwithstanding  he  has  endeavoured  to  satisfy  the  publick, 
by  stating  the  several  matters  of  fact  in  said  Journal  of 
March  the  8th,  1775,  (to  which  no  answer  has  appeared,) 
yet  he  is  concerned  to  clear  his  character  in  said  affair : 
and  therefore  has  this  day  called  on  the  Committee  of  In- 
spection for  this  place,  from  whence  he  last  sailed,  to  con- 
sider the  matter,  as  to  the  time  and  circumstances  attending 
his  carrying  said  Sheep,  and  on  hearing  the  whole,  we  are 
of  opinion,  that  said  Griffin  has  not  violated  said  Asso- 
ciation ;  and  therefore  do  acquit  and  recommend  him  to  the 
favourable  acceptance  of  the  publick. 

Dated  in  Guilford,  this  23d  day  of  March,  1775. 

David  Landon,  Cleric. 


TO  THE  INHABITANTS  OF  THE  MASS ACHUSETTS-B AY . 
NO.  VI. 

Boston,  March  23,  1775. 

My  Friends  and  Countrymen  : 

It  is  common  for  the  solicitous,  and  honest  inquirer  after 
truth,  to  suspend  his  judgment  until  he  becomes  acquainted 
with  the  arguments  on  both  sides  of  the  question.  But  to 
demonstrative  certainty  there  can  be  but  one  side  only. 
And  this,  I  think,  we  have  already  seen,  to  be  plain,  smooth, 
and  as  conspicuous  as  the  beaming  of  the  sun  at  noon-day. 
In  matters  of  probability  there  are  often  counter  argu- 
ments, mutually  destroying  each  other,  w  here  the  less  being 
deducted  from  the  greater,  the  assent  of  the  mind  is  strong 
in  proportion  to  the  excess  of  evidence.  If  there  are,  in 
the  nature  of  things,  any  real  objections  to  our  claim  of 
Parliamentary  independence,  as  defined  in  a  past  number, 
we  may  reasonably  expect  to  find  them  in  the  publications 
of  the  toryistical  champion,  Massachusettensis.  Like  a  ve- 
teran in  the  service,  he  has  erected  a  fortress,  and  played 
briskly  from  his  batteries,  upon  this  subject,  in  three  suc- 
cessive papers.  From  the  great  roar,  and  little  execution, 
there  is  reason  to  expect  his  design  was  to  raise  a  smoke, 
which  might  conceal  a  forlorn  party  from  the  enemy's  eye, 
and  so  secure  a  difficult  retreat.  Persuaded  I  am,  if  we 
can  once  reach  his  strong  holds,  by  removing  the  rubbish 
and  lumber  which  is  artfully  strewed  to  embarrass  access, 
with  a  small  force  we  can  soon  force  his  intrenchments. 

To  avoid  prolixity,  I  shall  not  dwell  upon  such  matters 
as  fall  within  the  reasoning  and  principles  which  we  have 
already  established,  leaving  you  to  your  own  recollection, 
and  natural  penetration  upon  a  bare  reference. 


223 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  Sic,  MARCH,  177", 


224 


It  may  be  of  use  to  premise,  that  the  question  we  have 
been  examining,  and  which  is  still  under  consideration,  is, 
whether  we  are  in  troth  a  part  of  the  British  Empire,  in 
such  a  sense,  as  to  be  subject  to  her  supreme  authority  in 
all  cases  whatever?  Whether  this  subjection  is  fit  and 
necessary  on  principles  of  rectitude  and  policy,  is  a  dis- 
tinct matter.  Admitting  this  to  be  true,  it  is  a  good  rea- 
son why  we  should  immediately  unite,  but  no  evidence  that 
we  are  already  united.  Nor  is  the  question,  whether  a 
submission  to  ministerial  measures  be  dangerous  and  ruin- 
ous, or  forcible  opposition  to  the  regulating  laws  eligible 
and  effectual.  These  matters  are  worthy  your  serious 
consideration.  Our  first  attention  ought  to  be  to  the  justice 
of  our  cause;  then,  if  prudence  leads  us  to  contend,  we 
may  reasonably  expect,  He  who  is  higher  than  the  highest, 
will  look  down  with  gracious  approbation  upon  our  righteous 
struggle,  and  by  breaking  the  jaws  of  proud  oppressors, 
take  the  prey  even  from  between  their  teeth.  It  is  neces- 
sary that  the  above  distinctions  be  kept  constantly  in  view, 
as  they  will  secure  us  from  a  confusion  of  ideas  on  the  one 
hand,  and  enable  us  to  distinguish  between  reasoning  and 
fallacy  on  the  other,  in  publications  where  they  are  artfully 
confounded. 

After  a  long  parade  upon  miscellaneous  subjects  our 
designing  reasoner  fairly  opens  to  the  point.  Says  he,  "  the 
Colonies  are  a  part  of  the  British  Empire."  In  support  of 
which,  he  produces  the  opinion  of  the  best  writers  upon  the 
Law  of  Nations  :  that  when  a  Nation  takes  possession  of  a 
distant  country  and  settles  there,  that  country,  though  sepa- 
rated from  the  principal  establishment,  or  mother  country, 
naturally  becomes  a  part  of  the  state,  equal  with  its  ancient 
possessions."  The  truth  of  this  principle  may  be  allowed 
with  safety  to  our  argument.  For  the  conclusion,  that  a 
country,  though  separated  from  the  principal  establishment, 
becomes  a  part  of  the  mother  state,  is  general,  depending 
upon  an  antecedent  reason  resulting  from  a  particular  state 
of  facts  in  a  number  of  similar  instances,  and  therefore 
cannot  be  applied  to  cases  not  only  dissimilar  in  general, 
but  also  in  those  particular  circumstances  upon  which  alone 
its  whole  force  depends.  The  antecedent  stale  of  facts, 
which  is  assigned  as  a  reason,  by  the  civilians  themselves, 
in  support  of  their  conclusion,  is  "  a  Nation's  taking  posses- 
sion of  a  country,  and  settling  there."  It  is  an  invariable 
rule  in  logick,  which  our  sophister  is  well  acquainted  with, 
that  if  the  antecedent  position  of  the  argument  is  untrue  or 
contradicted,  the  conclusion  of  course  depending  thereon 
falls-  to  the  ground.  We  have  already  shown  that  this 
Country  was  taken  possession  of  by  individuals,  and  by 
them  settled  at  their  own  risk  and  private  expense,  and 
not  by  the  Nation  as  a  Nation.  So  that  this  principle  car- 
ries meat  in  its  mouth,  as  is  sometimes  said  ;  and  in  the 
application  of  our  logical  genius,  to  use  his  own  language, 
is  fclo  de  se,  destroys  itself;  for  being  without  the  reason, 
we  cannot  be  within  his  conclusion. 

The  above-cited  opinion  not  only  fails  of  proving  our 
connection  in  any  degree  whatever;  but  no  argument  can 
be  adduced  pertinent  to  our  present  subject  from  any  pre- 
cedents in  ancient  history,  as  the  settlement  of  the  Ame- 
rican Colonies  was  undertaken  from  views,  and  accom- 
panied with  circumstances,  singular,  and  perfectly  dissimi- 
lar to  those  which  influenced  colonization  in  the  more 
early  ages  of  the  world.  We  have  not  yet  done  with  the 
above-cited  opinion.  Something  worse  is  still  behind.  It 
not  only  fails  of  serving  the  purpose  of  him  who  adduced 
it,  but  so  far  as  it  applies  to  the  subject,  it  descends  with 
its  whole  force  directly  against  him.  For  the  implication 
is  violent,  by  a  fair  construction,  that  the  opinion  of  t lie 
best  writers  on  the  Law  of  Nations  is  in  favour  of  our  being 
separate  from  the  Mother  Country,  if  this  Colony  was  not 
taken  possession  of  and  settled  by  the  English  Nation  as 
such.  This  is  apparent,  not  only  from  the  force  of  words, 
and  thread  of  reasoning  as  explained  above  ;  but  also  from 
their  express  positions,  that  individuals  have  a  right  to 
abandon  the  jurisdiction  of  a  State,  and  settle  in  some 
vacant  part  of  the  world,  and  thereby  recover  their  natural 
freedom.  The  argument  holds  still  stronger  where  the 
country  moved  to  was  in  the  prior  occupacy  of  a  foreign 
Nation,  and  honestly  purchased  of  the  occupants  by  the 
persons  emigrating,  as  in  the  present  instance.  Therefore 
the  authority  of  those  writers,  if  they  are  consistent  with 
themselves,  is  clearly  in  support  of  the  doctrine  of  inde- 


pendence. For  I  appeal  to  every  man's  private  know- 
ledge of  the  rise  and  progress  of  this  Country.  You  have 
heard,  my  dear  countrymen,  you  well  know,  your  fathers 
have  told  you,  nor  will  it  be  hid  from  your  children,  or  the 
generations  to  come,  the  wonderful  transactions  of  our  vir- 
tuous predecessors,  who,  under  the  blessing  of  Providence, 
after  they  had  been  from  one  nation  to  another,  from  one 
kingdom  to  another  people,  came  and  took  possession  of 
this  land,  wandering  in  it  hungry  and  thirsty,  naked  and 
cold,  finding  no  city  to  receive  them,  no  house  to  repose 
in,  no  aid  from  their  forsaken  parent,  a  few  in  number  sur- 
viving the  accumulated  hardships,  they  and  their  posterity 
settled  and  defended  it,  in  their  own  right,  at  their  own 
risk  and  expense  against  the  horrid  attacks  of  nations, 
savage,  heathen,  delighting  in  havock  and  in  blood.  Nay, 
I  will  venture  to  appeal  to  Massachuseltensis  himself,  to  his 
oracle  of  infallibility,  the  author  of  the  history  of  this 
Province ;  these  are  his  words,  speaking  of  the  war  w  ith 
Philip,  in  which  many  valuable  lives  were  lost.  Says 
he,  "  Fighting  made  soldiers.  As  soon  as  the  inhabitants 
had  a  little  experience  of  the  Indian  way  of  fighting, 
they  became  a  match  for  them.  An  addition  to  their  num- 
bers they  did  not  want.  Be  that  as  it  may,  this  is  certain, 
that  as  the  Colony  was  at  first  settled,  so  it  was  now  pre- 
served from  ruin  without  any  charge  to  the  Mother  Coun- 
try." What  are  your  feelings  ?  Does  not  strong  convic- 
tion arrest  your  minds  ?  Does  not  reason  and  passion  join 
their  voice  ?  Look  to  the  graves  of  our  slaughtered  ances- 
tors ;  they  will  open  their  mouths,  and  teach  us  freedom's 
price  in  serious  lessons  wrote  with  blood. 

Thus  our  silver-tongued  disputant,  (I  had  almost  said 
doubled-tongued,)  imagining  that  he  had,  or  that  a  particu- 
lar class  of  courtfidians  would  believe  he  had,  proved, 
that  the  Colonies  were  a  part  of  the  British  Empire,  by 
an  argument  that  concludes  directly  in  his  teeth,  so  far  as 
it  applies;  he  justly  observes  that  two  supreme  indepen- 
dent authorities  cannot  exist  in  the  same  state,  as  it  would 
be  imperium  in  imperio,  the  height  of  political  absurdities  ; 
and  thence  infers,  as  well  he  might,  our  entire  subjection  to 
the  uncontrollable  power  of  the  parent  State.  We  may, 
in  our  turn,  retort  this  argument  with  additional  force,  and, 
in  his  own  way,  prove  we  are  not  a  part  of  the  British 
Empire,  by  the  following  plain  demonstrated  position,  viz: 
The  Colonies  are  not  subject  to  the  supreme  authority  of 
Great  Britain.  The  greatest  statesmen  and  sages  in  the 
law  of  the  past  and  present  age,  tell  us  that  representation 
is  commensurate  with  legislation — that  they  are  inseparably 
joined  by  God  himself  in  an  eternal  league.  Two  supreme 
independent  authorities  cannot  exist  in  the  same  State. 
The  Colonies  are  not  represented  in  the  supreme  legisla- 
tive court  of  the  Parent  Country.  If  then  we  are  not 
subject  to  the  superlative  power  of  the  British  State,  we 
are  not  part  of  the  British  Realm  or  Empire.  What,  my 
friends,  becomes  of  this  famous  argument  urged  by  Massa- 
chuseltensis,  which  is  introduced  with  so  much  pomposity, 
with  such  artful  encomiums  on  the  British  Constitution,  as 
would,  he  seems  to  hope,  reconcile  one  to  slavery  for  the 
sake  of  being  governed  by  King,  Lords,  and  Commons ; 
which  is  managed  with  such  a  career  of  words,  and  backed 
with  such  argumentative  similes,  taken  from  the  economy 
of  the  human  body,  as  would,  he  may  think,  induce  the 
Colonists  cheerfully  to  become  the  slaves  of  British  sub- 
jects, if  not  the  servants  of  British  slaves. 

To  remove  all  scruples  respecting  the  matter,  our  writer 
in  his  next  paragraph,  without  attempting  to  prove  it, 
boldly  asserts :  It  is  beyond  a  doubt  that  it  was  both  the 
sense  of  the  Parent  Country  and  our  ancestors,  that  they 
were  to  remain  subject  to  Parliament.  It  is  evident,  says 
he,  from  the  Charter  itself,  and  this  authority  has  been 
exercised  by  Parliament  from  time  to  time,  almost  ever 
since  the  first  settlement  of  (he  Country,  and  has  been 
expressly  acknowledged  by  our  Provincial  Legislatures. 
I  presome  he  never  has,  nor  ever  will  he,  or  his  posterity 
find  a  single  instance  where  the  authority  of  Parliament 
to  bind  us  in  all  cases  whatsoever  has  been  acknowledged 
by  our  Provincial  Assemblies.  They  have,  and  do  now, 
admit  the  right  of  regulating  trade,  from  the  necessity  of 
the  case,  and  the  fitness  and  rectitude  of  the  measure. 
And  if  his  ipse  dixit  is  to  be  the  rule  of  political  faith,  he 
might  as  well  have  told  us,  that  it  was  the  sense  of  our 
ancestors,  and  the  Parent  State,  that  we  should  be  subject 


225 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775. 


226 


to  the  Grand  Seignior  of  Turkey,  where  the  people,  as  well 
as  the  country,  are  the  property  of  the  Emperour,  every 
man's  fortune  and  life  being  solely  at  his  disposal,  without 
the  least  check  or  restraint.  "  But  it  is  evident  from  the 
Charter  itself,"  says  he.  Where  is  the  evidence  ?  Is  it 
not  as  evident  from  the  Alcoran  or  Church  Liturgy  ? 
These  matters  we  have  already  considered  in  other  papers, 
to  which  I  refer  you. 

He  then  admits  there  is  one  specious  argument  in  our 
favour ;  but,  says  he,  it  leads  to  such  absurdities  as  de- 
monstrate its  fallacy.  It  is  this :  "  The  Americans  are 
entitled  to  all  the  privileges  of  an  Englishman ;  it  is  the 
privilege  of  an  Englishman  to  be  exempt  from  all  laws  that 
he  does  not  consent  to,  in  person,  or  by  representative  ;  the 
Americans  are  not  represented  in  Parliament,  and  therefore 
are  not  subject  to  its  authority."  I  suspect,  my  country- 
men, we  have  not  been  conversant  enough  in  the  school  of 
absurdities  to  be  able  to  detect  the  fallacy  of  this  obstinate, 
this  unwieldy  argument.  However,  nil  desperandum  Mas- 
sachusettense  duce.  "  If  (says  our  arch  reasoner)  the  Colo- 
nies are  not  subject  to  the  authority  of  Parliament,  Great 
Britain  and  the  Colonies  must  be  distinct  States,  as  com- 
pletely so  as  England  and  Scotland  were  before  the  union, 
or  as  Great  Britain  and  Hanover  are  now."  Where,  in 
the  name  of  common  sense,  is  the  absurdity  of  Great  Bri- 
tain and  the  Colonies  being  distinct  States,  united  under 
one  common  Sovereign,  seeing  Scotland  was  so  once,  and 
Hanover  is  so  now  ?  The  very  instances  that  he  adduces 
to  illustrate  his  absurdities  with,  prove  to  demonstration 
that  there  is  no  absurdity  in  the  supposition.  An  absurdity 
consists  in  a  supposition  or  declaration  inconsistent  with  the 
truth  of  fact,  or  the  possible  relation  of  things.  But,  says 
he,  "in  this  case  the  Colonies  will  owe  no  allegiance  to 
the  imperial  Crown,  and  perhaps  not  to  the  person  of  the 
King."  Our  subtile  manager  has  not  told  us,  and  I  dare 
say  never  will,  where  the  inconsistency  is  in  not  owing  alle- 
giance to  the  King,  or  point  out  the  absurdities  deducible 
from  thence.  Finding  he  could  not  get  along  with  his 
reductio  ad  absurdum,  he,  like  a  person  thoroughly  ac- 
quainted with  the  futility  of  his  argument,  prudently  chose 
to  waive  the  subject.  There  is  not  only  no  absurdities 
deducible  from  the  supposition  of  our  owing  no  allegiance 
to  the  imperial  Crown,  but  it  is  not  true  that  this  conse- 
quence follows  from  his  premises,  there  being  no  connexion 
between  our  being  independent  of  Parliament,  and  the 
inference  drawn  from  thence.  Let  us  examine  it.  A  King 
of  England,  as  such,  is  a  political  entity.  He  has  two 
distinct  capacities,  or  bodies ;  the  one  natural,  in  common 
with  other  men,  and  subject  to  like  passions ;  the  other  a 
body  politick,  consisting  of  those  constitutional  powers, 
prerogatives,  and  capacities  which  he  derives  from  his 
subjects  as  their  Sovereign.  This  latter  body  never  dies. 
Upon  the  dissolution  of  the  natural,  which  is  called  the 
demise  of  the  King,  the  body  political  is  transferred  or 
conveyed  over  from  the  deceased  to  another  natural  body  ; 
the  name  of  King  being  a  term  of  continuance.  He  forms 
one  of  the  three  distinct  powers,  or  bodies,  which  are  en- 
tirely independent  of  each  other,  composing  the  supreme 
power  or  legislative  authority  of  the  Empire.  The  Lords 
spiritual  and  temporal  is  another,  and  aristocratical  branch, 
distinct  and  independent.  The  House  of  Commons  is  a 
third  democratical  power,  freely  chosen  by  the  people 
from  among  themselves.  These  three  constitute  that 
aggregate  body  called  the  British  Parliament,  whose 
sovereignty  is  constitutionally  over  all  its  constituents.  By 
what  principle  in  logick,  then,  by  what  hair-breadth  argu- 
ment, can  be  inferred  a  subjection  to  the  two  last  of  those 
powers,  or  to  all  three  in  concert,  from  an  allegiance  to  the 
first?  Where  is  the  middle  term  that  enforces  the  conclu- 
sion ?  Where  the  intermediate  idea  that  shows  the  con- 
nexion? If  there  are  none,  (and  I  defy  him  to  show  any,) 
where,  upon  his  own  principles,  is  the  mighty  absurdity  of 
Great  Britain  and  the  Colonies  being  distinct  States, 
having  one  common  Sovereign  ?  To  strengthen  the  sup- 
position, I  would  ask,  whether  the  Peers  of  the  Realm, 
who  sit  in  the  House  of  Lords,  are  Peers  of  America? 
This  noble  independent  order  are  the  Representatives  of 
all  the  Commons  in  the  Kingdom ;  and,  like  the  House  of 
ommons,  can  give  their  assent  to  no  law  which  does  not 
bind  themselves  equally  with  all  the  other  members  of  the 
community.    This  is  one  of  the  principal  securities  to  the 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii.  1 


people  against  oppression.  But  where  is  the  American's 
security  ?  On  their  supposition,  avarice  and  ambition  un- 
checked, is  the  guardian  of  his  property  ;  arbitrary  will, 
and  perhaps  sportive  caprice,  the  tenure  by  which  he 
draws  his  breath. 

The  next  inference  that  our  indefatigable  writer  makes 
against  us  is,  that  by  possibility  we  may  owe  no  allegiance 
to  the  person  of  the  King,  that  is,  to  the  King  of  England. 
in  no  capacity  whatever.  Where  he  gets  this  conclusion, 
or  how  he  draws  it,  I  dare  not  hazard  a  conjecture,  unless 
it  be  that  he  conjured  it  up  with  that  huge  group  of  verbose 
absurdities  through  which  we  have  just  now  forced  our 
way.  Admitting  it  to  be  deducible  from  a  state  of  facts, 
there  is  no  inconsistency  in  the  whole  affair.  And  I  will 
venture  to  say,  that  he  who  possesses  such  a  facility  at 
drawing  of  consequences,  fas  vel  nefas,  well  knows  that 
premises  established  are  not  to  be  invalidated  by  deductions 
therefrom.  It  is  therefore  unnecessary  at  this  time  to  in- 
quire, whether  allegiance  be  in  fact  due  to  the  person  of 
the  King,  or  to  the  British  Crown.  This  is  the  less  neces- 
sary, as  Massachusettensis  himself  seemed  to  think  there 
was  no  difficulty  in  getting  over  his  own  objection,  after  he 
had  made  it.  It  was  the  opinion  of  Lord  Coke  and  others, 
the  first  in  fame,  that  allegiance  is  due  to  the  former. 
Either  supposition  is  perfectly  consistent  with  the  Ameri- 
can plan  of  independence.  The  latter  we  have  above 
shown  to  be  so.  Allegiance  to  the  person  of  the  King  is 
admitted  to  be  so.  Charles  the  First,  who  titled  himself 
at  the  head  of  our  former  Charter,  King  of  England,  Scot- 
land, France,  and  Ireland,  Defender  of  the  Faith,  &c, 
stipulated  for  himself  and  his  Royal  successors,  by  which 
the  inhabitants  of  this  Colony  became  his  liege  subjects, 
and  he  their  acknowledged  Sovereign.  Now,  although  per- 
sonal allegiance  may  be  due,  yet  it  is  evident,  both  from 
the  words  of  the  Charter,  its  design  and  subject-matter, 
which  is  the  best  key  for  construction,  that  British  royalty 
was  a  necessary  qualification,  and  an  English  Crown  an 
essential  appendage  of  the  person  who  is  constitutionally 
the  Sovereign  of  this  Province.  The  person  upon  the 
Throne  of  England,  by  virtue  of  the  British  Constitution, 
is  our  rightful  Sovereign,  by  virtue  of  our  Provincial  Char- 
ters, not  because  he  is  King  of  England,  but  because  our 
Constitution  vests  the  sovereignty  of  this  Province  in  the 
person  who  is  designated  by  a  British  Crown  and  an  Eng- 
lish Sceptre. 

It  is  obvious  to  observe  here,  that  when  our  Charter 
was  granted,  and  after,  until  the  reign  of  Queen  Anne, 
England  and  Scotland  were  two  perfectly  distinct  and 
totally  independent  States,  the  supreme  power  of  each 
being  lodged  in  a  Parliament  of  its  own.  Charles  the  First 
being  a  Prince  common  to  both  States,  formed  one  branch 
of  the  supreme  legislative  authority  in  both  Kingdoms.  If, 
therefore,  our  becoming  subject  to  this  Prince  brought  us 
within  the  jurisdiction  of  the  English  Parliament,  upon  the 
principles  of  the  Tories,  for  the  same  reason  it  subjected 
us  to  the  sovereign  power  of  the  Scottish  legislators,  and  of 
consequence  exposed  us  to  the  service  of  two  masters,  to 
the  distraction  and  misery  of  double  legislation  and  com- 
plicated taxation — as  great  a  political  curse  as  can  be  in 
reserve  in  the  store  of  Heaven  for  any  people  under  its  broad 
canopy.  I  have  something  further  to  say  on  this  curious 
paper.  From  the  County  of  Hampshire. 


NANSEMOND  COUNTY  (VIRGINIA)  COMMITTEE. 

March  24,  1775. 

However  disagreeable  and  unhappy  it  is  to  hold  up  for 
publick  censure  the  conduct  of  any  man,  yet  when  we  con- 
sider the  present  unfortunate  disputes  between  the  Mother 
Country  and  her  Colonies  would  probably,  in  the  result,  be 
the  ruin  of  both,  if  some  timely,  judicious,  and  wise  me- 
thods were  not  contrived  to  effect  a  reconciliation,  and 
adjust  the  lamentable  differences  ;  we  cannot  but  think  that 
all  those  who  endeavour  to  frustrate,  and  labour  to  counter- 
act such  laudable  ends,  are  enemies  to  America,  no  friends 
to  the  excellent  Constitution  of  England,  and  strictly  merit 
the  censure  and  disesteem  of  all  lovers  of  their  Country, 
freedom,  and  just  rights.  We,  therefore,  the  Committee 
for  the  County  of  Nansemond  aforesaid,  in  obedience  to  the 
eleventh  Article  of  the  Association,  as  well  as  for  the  above- 
mentioned  reasons,  think  it  our  duty  to  publish  the  beha- 
5 


227 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  kc,  MARCH,  1775. 


228 


viour  (respecting  the  Association,  kc.)  of  the  Reverend 
John  Agnew,  Rector  of  Suffolk  Parish,  in  this  County,  as 
it  appeared  from  the  testimony  of  William  Cowper  and 
Solomon  Shepherd,  Esquires,  Messrs.  James  Murdaugh, 
Willis  Hardgraves,  Thomas  Minton,  Jonathan  Smith, 
and  Major  Thomas  Godwin,  taken  before  us  this  6th  day 
of  March,  at  Suffolk. 

Mr.  Agnew  being  first  summoned  to  attend,  but  refused, 
Mr.  Shepherd  declared,  that  upon  his  remonstrating  to  the 
said  Agnew  how  disagreeable  it  was  to  his  audience  in 
general,  and  to  himself  in  particular,  to  hear  the  Associa- 
tion, and  those  who  had  come  into  it,  abused  from  the 
pulpit  in  the  sermons  he  there  preached,  desired  that  he 
would  in  future  desist  therefrom.  His  answer  was,  "  If 
you  do  not  like  such  sermons,  you  can  only  leave  your 
seat ;"  and  to  the  same  gentleman  said,  that  the  Delegates 
of  the  Provincial  Congress  had  rebelled  in  all  their  Re- 
solves. In  presence  of  Major  Thomas  Godwin  and  Cap- 
tain William  Cowper,  he  asserted,  as  his  opinion,  that  it 
was  no  hardship  to  be  carried  beyond  sea  for  trial  of  crimes 
committed  here.  Mr.  Hardgraves  has  frequently  heard 
him  (when  speaking  of  the  Congress)  declare  that  all  such 
combinations  and  associations  were  detestable.  Mr.  Min- 
ton says,  that  after  condemning  the  present  Association,  he 
produced  one  of  his  own,  and  in  his  presence  offered  it  for 
signing.  In  a  conversation  his  Reverence  had  with  Mr. 
Smith,  he  affirmed  our  gentlemen  (meaning,  as  Smith  took 
it,  the  gentlemen  of  the  General  Congress)  knew  not  what 
they  were  about ;  that  to  resist  the  King  and  Parliament 
was  rebellion,  and  that  the  proceedings  of  the  General 
Congress  were  resisting  the  King  and  Parliament ;  that  the 
designs  of  the  great  men  were  to  ruin  the  poor  people ; 
and  that,  after  a  while,  they  would  forsake  them,  and  lay 
the  whole  blame  on  their  shoulders,  and  by  this  means 
make  them  slaves.  Upon  Smith's  doubting  how  all  this 
extraordinary  villany  could  be  brought  about,  "  Why  (says 
the  parson)  they  have  already  begun  ;  for  the  Committee 
of  Suffolk  has  invaded  private  property  ;  they  have  taken 
goods  from  a  man  of  Carolina,  and  sold  them  against  his 
will."  He  likewise  informed  Mr.  Smith  there  was  an 
Association  of  the  other  party  up  the  Country,  and  the 
people  signing  it  very  fast ;  that  they  had  discovered  their 
errour  in  signing  the  present  one,  and  that  he  would  see 
this  fact  published  in  the  Norfolk  paper  shortly. 

We  have  now  related  the  substance  of  what  the  above 
named  gentlemen  declared  upon  their  oaths,  and  here  we 
could  wish  to  end  this  narrative  ;  but  we  have  too  much 
regard  for  our  own  characters  to  suffer  them  to  be  injured 
by  so  barefaced  a  slander  as  appears  in  Smith's  testimony, 
respecting  the  Carolina  gentleman  and  his  goods.  The 
truth  of  that  transaction  is  precisely  this :  Mr.  Samuel 
Donaldson,  merchant,  and  one  of  the  Committee  of  this 
County,  informed  some  of  the  members  that  his  friend, 
Mr.  John  Thompson,  merchant  of  North- Carolina,  had 
imported  some  goods  into  this  Colony,  which  come  under 
the  tenth  Article  of  the  Association,  and  desired  that  a 
Committee  might  be  held  to  determine  what  should  be 
done  with  them  ;  and  Mr.  Donaldson  (that  Mr.  Thomp- 
son might  suffer  as  little  inconvenience  as  possible  from  the 
detention  of  the  goods)  advertised  them  to  be  sold  on  the 
same  day  that  the  Committee  was  to  sit.  At  the  time  ap- 
pointed we  met,  when  Mr.  Thompson  was  present,  and,  on 
examining  him  and  some  letters  he  produced,  we  found  that 
by  the  importation  of  these  goods  he  had  not  violated  any 
of  the  articles  of  the  Association.  And  although  we  were 
not  entirely  pleased  with  Mr.  Donaldson's  advertising  the 
sale  of  the  goods  before  he  had  orders  from  us  so  to  do, 
yet  we  ordered  them  to  be  sold  under  the  care  and  direc- 
tion of  three  gentlemen  of  the  Committee.  Mr.  Thompson 
bought  the  goods,  expressed  himself  highly  satisfied,  and 
insisted  on  our  partaking  of  a  cheerful  bowl  with  him. 

Upon  the  whole  the  publick  will  plainly  discover  the 
principles  this  reverend  gentleman  entertains,  and  in  what 
light  he  views  the  general  Resolutions  adopted  and  entered 
into  for  our  relief  from  the  oppressive  hand  of  power.  Had 
this  zealous  advocate  for  despotick  rule  been  as  assiduous 
in  the  discharge  of  the  several  duties  of  his  function  as  he 
has  been  industrious  in  propagating  false  and  erroneous 
principles,  not  only  in  private  discourse,  but  in  blending 
detestable  tenets  in  his  angry  orations  from  the  pulpit,  in 
order  to  gain  a  party  in  opposition  to  the  common  cause, 


and  thereby  lending  his  little  aid  to  seduce  the  very  people 
that  gave  him  bread  to  a  state  of  wretchedness,  this  Com- 
mittee had  not  been  at  the  trouble  to  examine  the  eleventh 
Article  of  the  Association,  and  opening  his  conduct  to  the 
censure  of  the  world. 

John  Grkgorie,  Clerk  of  the  Committee. 


VOTE  PASSED   BY  THE   COMMITTEE   OF  CORRESPONDENCE 
OF  WORCESTER  COUNTY,  (MASS.,)  MARCH  24,  1775. 

As  a  number  of  Towns  in  this  County  have  not  been 
publickly  represented  in  this  Convention,  it  is  therefore 
recommended  that  the  attendance  of  one  or  more  members 
of  the  several  Towns  therein  be  given  at  their  future  meet- 
ings ;  and  that  they  do  not  depart  without  leave  when 
assembled,  until  an  adjournment  or  dissolution  thereof. 

The  Convention  of  the  Committees  of  Correspondence 
of  this  County  stands  adjourned  to  the  second  Tuesday  of 
June  instant,  at  ten  o'clock,  A.  M.,  at  the  Court-House, 
Worcester.    By  order  of  the  County  Committee  : 

William  Young,  Chairman. 


TO  THE  PRINTERS  OF  THE  MASSACHUSETTS  GAZETTE. 

Worcester,  March  24,  1775. 

Having  seen  a  publication*  in  the  Massachusetts  Gazette 
of  the  9th  instant,  relative  to  my  conduct  in  resigning  my 
command  as  Colonel  of  a  Regiment,  kc,  I  think  it  not 
improper  to  give  the  publick  the  following  true  state  of  the 
matter,  viz :  I  was  some  time  ago  chosen  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  of  a  Regiment,  whereof  Mr.  Thomas  Dennie,  of 
Leicester,  was  chosen  Colonel.  It  was  not  without  some 
persuasion  that  I  accepted  of  the  office,  being  very  diffi- 
dent of  my  abilities  to  discharge  the  duties  of  it  with  that 
propriety  and  martial  dignity  that  the  importance  of  the 
occasion  required.  But  putting  great  dependance  upon  the 
abilities  of  the  Colonel,  I  was  prevailed  upon  to  accept  of 
the  office  ;  but  very  unfortunately  for  me,  (as  well  as  for 
the  publick,)  that  very  worthy  gentleman  was  soon  after 
suddenly  taken  away  by  death.  I  was  then  chosen  Colonel 
of  the  Regiment,  and  was  at  that  time  determined  abso- 
lutely to  have  refused,  but  was  over-persuaded  to  accept  of 
the  office.  From  that  time  I  was  much  burdened  with 
the  thoughts  of  our  publick  affairs,  and  the  part  I  had  to 
act  in  them.  At  this  time  some  persons,  whom  I  now 
think  enemies  to  American  liberty,  and  not  friends  to  me, 
discovered  my  uneasiness,  and  set  themselves  to  work  to 
increase  it,  by  painting  the  horrours  of  civil  war  and  rebel- 
lion in  the  most  frightful  colours,  which  they  pretended 
I  was  plunging  myself  into  ;  and  unless  I  immediately 
renounced  the  cause  I  was  engaged  in,  I  was  ruined  and 
undone  ;  and  I  being  (as  I  now  think)  thoroughly  infatu- 
ated by  their  delusions  and  insidious  conduct,  was  led  to 
say,  that  I  thought  the  people  were  wrong  in  the  opposi- 
tion they  were  making  against  the  Acts  of  Parliament,  &.c. 
And  at  the  same  time  declared  1  would  have  nothing  fur- 
ther to  do  in  the  matter  as  Colonel  of  the  Regiment,  &.c. 
I  have  accordingly  resigned  my  command,  and  made  such 
satisfaction  to  Officers  of  the  Regiment  for  my  behaviour 
as  they  kindly  accepted  of.  At  which  time  they  proceeded 
to  the  choice  of  a  much  better  man  than  myself  to  take 
my  place ;  and  the  Regiment  now  is  well-officered,  as  far 
as  I  know,  which  gives  me  greater  pleasure  than  I  ever 
felt  by  being  at  the  head  of  it.  But  before  I  conclude,  I 
would  just  remark,  that  the  publication  of  the  9th  instant, 
first  mentioned,  in  some  respects,  is  not  consistent  with 
truth.  First,  the  representation  of  my  having  been  con- 
cerned in  mobs  and  riots,  or  violent  measures,  is  invidious, 
and  a  false  calumny,  for  which  I  appeal  to  all  that  know 
my  general  conduct,  both  Whigs  and  Tories.  And  second- 
ly, to  represent  me  as  converted,  when  in  truth  and  reality 

*  A  correspondent  informs  us,  "  That  Mr.  Thomas  Wheeler,  Colonel 
of  a  new-fangled  Regiment  in  the  County  of  Worcester,  is  so  sensible 
of  his  errour  in  being  any  ways  concerned  in  tlio  violent  measures  now 
pursuing  by  our  Sons  of  Liberty,  that  he  has  declared  he  will  never  be 
concerned  any  further,  and  has  resigned  his  command.  Two  of  his 
neighbours,  namely,  Captain  Palmer  Uoulding,  and  Lieutenant  Come, 
litis  Spawell,  both  of  said  Town,  on  the  evening  of  the  2d  instant,  re- 
turning homo  from  a  visit  they  had  made  said  Wheeler,  were  suddenly 
attacked  and  knocked  down  by  two  men,  and  most  grievously  beat 
and  wounded,  and  for  no  other  reason  but  their  being  truo  friends  to 
Government,  and  supposed  by  the  Sons  of  Liberty  to  bo  instrumental 
in  converting  their  neighbour  Wheeler." 


229 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775. 

i 


230 


i  was  perverted,  was  a  misrepresentation  I  would  have 
mended  by  your  inserting  an  erratum,  to  read  in  the  said 
publication  perverting,  instead  of  converting,  which  will 
make  the  passage  much  more  agreeable  to  truth  ;  this,  with 
an  amendment  of  the  spelling  of  one  of  the  names,*  make 
the  latter  part  of  the  said  publication  tolerable  enough. 
However  wrong  I  have  been  in  any  part  of  my  conduct  or 
words,  it  is  now  my  real  opinion,  that  the  people's  cause 
is  good,  and  that  the  measures  that  they  are  taking  and 
carrying  into  execution,  are  the  best  and  most  likely  means 
for  obtaining  the  redress  of  our  grievances.  And  if  a  re- 
dress cannot  be  had  without  our  making  the  last  appeal,  I 
stand  ready  and  heartily  willing  to  be  one  of  the  appellants, 
to  prosecute  the  appeal  to  final  judgment,  while  I  have 
estate  or  life  left.  The  beforegoing  1  am  induced  to  pub- 
lish, that  the  cause  of  liberty  may  not  suffer  by  my  means ; 
and  I  have  done  it  of  my  own  free  will  and  accord,  and  do 
assure  the  publick  I  have  not  been  constrained  to  do  it  by 
force,  or  the  threats  of  any  man,  or  body  of  men,  but  have 
been  extremely  well  and  kindly  treated  by  all  men  that  I 
have  had  any  concern  with  since  resigning  my  office ;  and 
now  enjoy  the  esteem  and  friendship  of  my  neighbours,  and 
the  true  Whigs,  which  I  esteem  as  one  of  the  greatest 
blessings  in  this  life,  and  to  deserve  the  same  shall  ever  be 
the  endeavour  of  T.  Wheeler. 


TO  THE  PRINTER  OF  THE  MASSACHUSETTS  GAZETTE. 

Worcester  County,  Massachusetts,  March  24,  1775. 

I  was  always  sorry  that  our  County  Convention  under- 
took to  say  any  thing  against  the  reading  of  the  productions 
which  appear  on  the  contrary  side  of  the  question,  for  many 
reasons  that  I  could  offer,  if  there  were  any  need  of  it. 
But  one  special  reason  why  I  think  it  was  a  pity  they  did 
it,  is,  it  so  much  intimated  to  the  people  as  though  they 
thought  there  was  something  of  force  in  what  was  said  by  our 
opposers ;  when,  for  my  part,  there  appears  to  me  so  little 
force  in  what  they  say,  that  I  heartily  wish  every  one  who 
gives  any  attention  to  publick  affairs  to  make  any  judgment 
upon  them,  would  read  all  they  can  upon  that  side,  that  it 
might  more  fully  confirm  them  in  their  opposition  to  the  pre- 
sent measures  of  Administration  ;  when  they  see  that  all  the 
advocates  for  it  can  produce  in  favour  of  it  is  pregnant  with  re- 
proaching of  us,  as  being  both  fools  and  knaves,  and  at  the 
same  time  asserting  things  to  be  matters  of  fact  which  we 
know  to  the  contrary.  When  they,  in  their  abundant  affection 
and  professed  kindness,  tell  us,  that  all  we  complain  of  is 
owing  to  our  ignorance,  distempered  brains,  heated  imagina- 
tions,infatuated  blindness  and  delusion,  &,c.,it  does  not  work 
in  us  any  gratitude  to  them,  for  complimenting  of  us  as 
such  distracted  fools. 

When  they  tell  us,  that  the  grievances  enumerated  by 
the  Continental  Congress  are  barefaced  falsehoods,  and 
that  we  neither  see  nor  feel  any  grievances ;  at  the  same 
time  our  senses  tell  us,  that  what  the  Congress  have  said 
are  manifest  truths,  the  Tories,  thus  giving  our  senses 
the  lie,  do  not  induce  us  to  give  credit  to  those  writers 
who  forbid  us  believing  our  own  senses.  AVhen  those 
writers  assert  facts  which  we  know  to  the  contrary,  it  gives 
us  good  reason  to  believe  every  thing  they  say  is  false. 
This,  in  the  enumeration  of  grievances  of  the  friends  of 
Government,  (as  they  fondly  call  themselves,)  in  your 
paper  of  the  23d  of  February  last,  what  is  said  about  so 
many  appearing  in  arms  at  Worcester ;  what  was  said  about 
Colonel  Putnam  and  Colonel  Chandler  being  obliged  to 
flee  to  Boston,  we  absolutely  know  was  not  as  there  repre- 
sented. So  also  many  things  said  by  Phileirenc,  in  your 
paper  of  the  2d  of  March  instant,  we  don't  at  all  believe. 
But  especially  his  saying,  "  that  all  parties  join  in  esteem- 
ing General  Gage  as  the  most  amiable  of  men,  and  the 
best  of  Governours,"  we  absolutely  know  to  be  very  far 
from  the  truth,  both  by  the  publick  prints  and  by  private 
observation.  Whatever  General  Gage  may  in  fact  be,  I 
don't  pretend  to  say ;  but  that  he  is  not  so  esteemed  by  all 
parties,  as  Phileirene  pretends,  is  a  most  manifest  fact. 
And  I  cannot  comprehend  how  he  should  have  a  face  to 
say  it,  unless  upon  the  same  principle  before-mentioned  of 
forbidding  our  believing  our  own  senses !  If  the  publick 
will  not  take  it  as  an  affront  upon  their  understandings,  to 

*  One  of  the  names  in  the  publication  above  referred  to,  should  have 
been  Stowell,  instead  of  Spawell,  a  noted  weaver  in  Worcester. 


illustrate  that  which  is  so  plain,  I  will  offer  a  few  words, 
showing  the  perverseness  of  Phileirene 's  remarks  on  the 
Petition  of  the  Congress.  I  will  only  observe  on  what  he 
says  about  the  Mandamus  Counsellors  in  your  paper  of 
the  9th  instant.  There  he  pretends  to,  make  out  that  it  is 
best  they  should  be  so  appointed,  because,  he  says,  if  the 
Council  chosen  by  the  Representatives  should  adopt  any 
unpopular  measures,  they  were  in  danger  the  next  year  of 
losing  their  places ;  as  if  this  were  a  reason  to  convince 
the  people  that  it  is  best  they  should  have  no  hand  in 
choosing  them.  The  same  reason  (if  I  may  be  allowed 
to  scandalize  the  word  so  much  as  to  call  it  reason)  will 
show,  that  our  Representatives  ought  to  be  appointed  by 
Mandamus ;  or,  more  properly,  that  we  should  have  no 
Representatives  at  all  to  assist  in  legislating  for  us.  And 
this  is  evidently  what  they  are  after;  none  can  avoid  the 
imputation,  so  long  as  they  urge  that  the  British  Parlia- 
ment have  a  right  to  legislate  for  us  in  all  cases  whatsoever, 
or  indeed  in  any  case  whatsoever,  and  plead  for  the  justice 
and  right  of  the  Parliament  in  their  making  laws  to  set 
aside  and  make  void  our  laws.  So  that  nothing  can  be 
more  manifest,  than  that  this  Phileirene  is  for  having  us 
have  no  voice  whatsoever  in  choosing  a  legislative  body  for 
ourselves.  And  it  is  beyond  all  comprehension  to  under- 
stand why  he  is  not  ashamed  to  treat  us  as  such  asses, 
telling  us  that  we  are  not  fit  to  have  any  voice  in  electing 
any  of  our  Officers  or  Legislators  ;  and  in  earnest  propose 
to  us,  to  give  it  all  up,  because  we  are  not  fit  to  have  any 
thing  to  do  with  choosing  them ;  unless  he  is  so  mad  upon 
his  own  vanity  as  to  persuade  himself,  that  we  will  hearken 
to  him,  rather  than  our  own  feelings  and  senses. 

But  yet  it  is  inconceivable  why  he  should  drive  so  hard 
to  make  us  believe  that  we  are  such  fools,  that  it  is  best 
for  us  to  give  up  all  pretensions  to  any  part  in  governing 
ourselves,  so  much  as  choosing  our  own  guardians  ;  for  the 
very  moment  we  should  do  this,  it  would  be  such  an  evi- 
dence that  we  were  grossly  non  compos  mentis,  that  the 
very  act  of  this  giving  up  would  not  be  binding ;  and  I  hope 
that  all  such  as  do  give  up  to  these  principles  of  Phileirene, 
will  every  where  be  so  far  considered  non  compos  as  not 
to  be  admitted  to  any  office  or  betrustment  whatsoever; 
and  why  it  is  not  the  duty  of  the  Selectmen,  in  their  re- 
spective Towns,  according  to  the  Laws  of  this  Province, 
to  render  all  such  non  compos,  so  as  to  prevent  their  doing 
any  mischief,  and  people  from  trading  with  them,  I  presume 
no  good  reason  can  be  given.  Those  that  are  so  insane 
as  to  run  about,  and  are  proper  only  for  Bedlam,  let  them 
run  there  themselves,  as  many  have  already.  But  suppose 
we  are  such  dunces  that  we  must  have  guardians  without 
our  choosing  of  them,  I  defy  this  Phileirene  or  any  one 
else  to  shew  who  made  the  people  of  Great  Britain  our 
guardians,  or  how  they  ex-ojjicio  are  such,  any  more  than 
the  people  of  France,  or  even  of  Africa,  or  any  other  place. 
As  for  this  Phileirene,  I  am  well  satisfied  who  he  is  by  his 
language ;  and  if  I  rightly  guess,  he  has  left  off  hunting 
silver  by  his  kazle-rods  of  late  years,  and  found  a  more 
successful  way  of  obtaining  of  it,  and  is  now  roused  against 
the  Congress  and  Liberty,  by  the  same  spirit  that  the  old 
silversmith,  Demetrius,  was  against  the  Apostles  and  Chris- 
tianity— Acts  xix.  The  craft  by  which  this  modern  De- 
metrius gets  his  wealth  is  called  in  question,  and  in  danger 
of  being  set  at  nought.  Old  Dcmetrius's  complaint  was, 
that  not  only  at  Ephesus,  but  almost  throughout  all  Asia, 
people  were  persuaded  to  believe  that  they  were  no  gods 
that  were  made  with  hands.  And  so  now  not  only  at 
Boston,  but  almost  throughout  all  America,  it  is  urged,  that 
of  right  there  are  no  laws,  where  there  are  no  representa- 
tion of  the  people  for  whom  they  are  pretended  to  be 
made.  And  it  seems  this  modern  Demetrius  has  got  those 
of  his  own  occupation  together,  and  is  endeavouring  to  set 
the  City  in  an  uproar;  but  I  hope  he  will  avail  no  farther 
than  to  have  those  of  his  own  craft  cry,  great  is  Diana  of 
the  Ephcsians,  or  rather,  according  to  the  modern  crafts- 
men, great  is  the  Parliament  of  Great  Britain;  but  I 
hope  those  disturbers  of  the  peace  will  in  due  time  be 
called  in  question  for  their  uproar. 

As  for  the  Converted  Whig,  in  your  paper  of  the  9th 
instant,  we  none  of  us  believe  that  it  is  any  other  than  a 
fiction  of  some  Tory ;  he  don't  speak  as  one  that  ever  un- 
derstood Whiggism,  and  I  defy  any  one  to  show  any  such 
person  who  was  ever  reputed  as  a  true  Whig,  that  indited 


* 


231 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775. 


232 


that  piece.  If  he  has  made  a  change  so  much  for  the 
better,  as  there  pretended,  and  to  give  his  experiences  to 
the  world,  why  don't  he,  as  the  repenting  Tories  so  many 
have  done,  give  his  name  with  his  repentance  or  recanta- 
tion. However,  if  it  be  really  as  there  pretended,  I  don't 
expect  he  will  ever  return,  but  it  will  be  with  him  as  the 
wise  man  says  it  is  with  those  that  go  after  the  strange 
woman,  Prov.  ii.  19:  "None  that  go  unto  her  return 
again,  neither  take  they  hold  of  the  paths  of  life." 

I  had  many  things  more  that  I  thought  to  have  wrote, 
but  I  will  defer  them  for  the  present,  and  subscribe  as 
before, 

A  Freeholder  in  the  County  of  Worcester. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  CANADA,  DATED  MONTREAL, 
MARCH   24,  1775. 

The.  Address  from  the  Continental  Congress  attracted 
the  notice  of  some  of  the  principal  Canadians ;  it  was  soon 
translated  into  very  tolerable  French.  The  decent  manner 
in  which  the  religious  matters  were  touched ;  the  enco- 
miums on  the  French  Nation,  flattered  a  people  fond  of 
compliments.  They  begged  the  translator,  as  he  had  suc- 
ceeded so  well,  to  try  his  hand  on  that  Address  to  the  Peo- 
ple of  Great  Britain.  He  had  equal  success  in  this,  and 
read  his  performance  to  a  numerous  audience.  But  when 
he  came  to  that  part  which  treats  of  the  new  modelling  of 
the  Province  ;  draws  a  picture  of  the  Catholick  Religion, 
and  the  Canadian  manners,  they  could  not  contain  their 
resentment,  nor  express  it  but  in  broken  curses.  "  Oh !  the 
perfidious,  double-faced  Congress ;  let  us  bless  and  obey 
our  benevolent  Prince,  whose  humanity  is  consistent,  and 
extends  to  all  Religions  ;  let  us  abhor  all  who  would  reduce 
us  from  our  loyalty,  by  acts  that  would  dishonour  a  Jesuit, 
and  whose  Addresses,  like  their  Resolves,  are  destructive 
of  their  own  objects." 


TO   THE   PEOPLE   OF  ENGLAND. 

London,  March  24,  1775. 

The  man  who  set  fire  to  a  stately  temple  was  a  singular 
instance  of  those  villains  who  wish  to  be  distinguished  only 
by  their  crimes,  though  he  was  by  no  means  a  rare  instance 
of  those  whom  posterity  can  distinguish  by  no  other  traces. 

By  what  means  the  late  Governour  of  Boston  may  here- 
after be  remembered,  we  shall  not  venture  to  predict ;  but 
we  may  safely  affirm,  that  if  his  publick  vices  and  publick 
virtues  should  be  weighed  in  a  balance,  the  latter  would 
kick  the  beam  !  From  early  symptoms  of  ambition  and 
dissimulation,  it  was  predicted  of  him  that,  like  Paris,  he 
was  born  to  be  the  pest  of  his  Country.  He  subsisted  by 
merchandise,  but  did  not  thrive  by  it,  for  the  business  was 
not  suited  to  his  temper.  By  the  appearance  of  extraor- 
dinary zeal  for  the  religion  and  liberties  of  his  Country,  he 
wrought  himself  into  publick  favour.  Thus  he  was  chosen 
a  Member  of  the  Assembly,  of  the  Council,  an  Assistant 
Judge,  and  Chief  Justice.  After  some  time  he  was  ap- 
pointed Lieutenant-Governour.  He  now  coveted  the  Chair. 
With  this  object  in  view,  he  made  himself  necessary  to 
Governour  Bernard ;  he  was  his  counsellor  and  inseparable 
friend.  He  knew  very  well  what  the  people  would  bear 
and  what  they  would  not ;  he  cajoled  and  instigated  poor 
Bernard,  till  a  flame  was  kindled  about  his  ears.  The 
Seat  of  Government  became  too  warm  for  him  ;  he  was 
obliged  to  flee.  Governour  Hutchinson  succeeded  to  the 
Chair,  but  Bernard  had  kept  it  too  long ;  it  was  now  too 
hot  even  for  a  man  who  seems  to  have  been  made  for  the 
flames.  I  should  have  observed,  that  the  character  of  a 
Merchant,  especially  that  of  a  Tea  Dealer,  not  comporting 
with  that  of  a  Governour,  he  had  resigned  trade  into  the 
hands  of  his  sons.  In  this  manner  he  and  his  family  were 
situated  when  the  ill-fated  Tea  arrived  at  Boston.  The 
people  had  lately  obtained  full  proof  of  what  they  had  for 
some  time  suspected,  that  he  was  their  greatest  enemy,  and 
they  had  petitioned  to  have  him  removed.  What  was  now 
to  be  done  ?  Unhappily  his  duty  as  Governour  and  the 
friend  of  his  Country  was  opposed  to  his  ambition  and  the 
interest  of  his  family.  He  had  made  interest  to  have  the 
Tea  consigned  to  his  sons  ;  by  suffering  it  therefore  to  come 
back  to  England,  as  other  Governours  did,  he  would  have 
saved  the  Tea,  and  might  have  prevented  all  the  calamities 
that  have  since  happened  to  that  Country,  and  are  soon  like 


to  fall  on  the  whole  Nation.  But  then  his  son  would  have 
lost  a  valuable  commission,  and  what  is  worse,  he  would 
have  missed  a  fine  opportunity  of  proving,  what  he  had 
lately  asserted  in  one  of  his  letters,  that  the  people  could 
not  be  governed  but  by  an  infringement  of  their  liberties. 
By  refusing  to  suffer  the  Tea  to  be  sent  back,  as  the  people 
requested,  one  of  these  events  was  certain — either  that  it 
would  be  landed,  and  his  sons  reap  the  commission,  or  that 
it  would  be  destroyed,  and  himself  promoted.  The  latter 
has  taken  place.  The  City  in  which  Governour  Hutchin- 
son was  born  is  become  a  garrison  ;  the  inhabitants  are 
ruined  ;  but  he  himself  is  pensioned.  Is  there  a  human 
breast  that  would  not  feel  for  the  wretched  inhabitants  of 
Boston  1  Poor  labourers  and  tradesmen,  with  their  wives 
and  children,  suffering  under  the  general  calamity,  and 
perishing  by  thousands,  or  else  protracting  a  miserable  life 
by  licking  the  cold  hand  of  charity.  But  one  should 
imagine  Governour  Hutchinson  thought  that  misery  was 
dealt  out  with  too  sparing  a  hand.  Does  he  wish  to  see 
the  whole  Country  involved  in  the  fate  of  Boston  1  Would 
he  do  more?  Would  he  filch  the  beggar's  scrip,  and  give 
him  the  coup  de  grace  1 

I  am  not  so  little  acquainted  with  the  present  Administra- 
tion, as  to  imagine  that  any  thing  is  either  too  cruel,  or  too 
iniquitous  for  them  to  attempt ;  but  the  present  Fish  Bill, 
or  rather  the  Starving  Bill,  is  one  that  they  certainly  would 
never  have  attempted,  unless  Governour  Hutchinson  had 
recommended  it  as  a  measure  that  would  produce  certain 
obedience.  His  former  predictions  have  not  been  verified ; 
the  change  of  Government,  and  an  Army  into  the  bargain, 
have  not  mended  matters,  but  made  them  worse.  What 
shall  be  the  next  expedient?  His  friendly  advice  was 
still  ready :  "  Send  over  a  few  more  Regiments,  and  let 
them  exert  themselves  properly.  Take  off  a  few  of  the 
inhabitants  by  the  sword,  and  a  few  by  famine ;  the  rest 
will  sign  a  charte  blanched 

I  am  aware  that  the  creature  I  have  been  describing  is 
so  different  from  the  common  form  of  humanity,  that  it 
may  be  questioned  whether  I  have  fairly  copied  the  origi- 
nal :  but  I  write  history,  not  fables.  I  have  given  only  the 
outlines ;  was  it  necessary,  I  could  finish  the  piece,  with 
many  other  striking  lines  and  shades ;  I  could  tell  how 
early  and  how  often  he  has  visited  Mr.  Jenkinson,  and 
every  one  of  the  junto,  within  the  last  three  months  ;  but  I 
despise  such  indirect  proof.  Not  three  weeks  ago  I  heard 
him  say,  in  a  large  company,  "  that  the  Neiv-England 
people  do  not  yet  believe  that  Government  is  in  earnest ; 
that  they  have  only  been  blustering ;  and  that  General 
Gage's  inactivity  has  flattered  their  pride ;  but,  as  soon  as 
the  other  Troops  shall  arrive,  when  His  Majesty's  stand- 
ard shall  be  erected,  and  the  Province  declared  to  be  in 
rebellion,  and  a  few  of  the  leaders  taken  up,  he  would 
stake  his  life  that  the  people  would  surrender,  and  submit 
to  any  kind  of  discipline." 

When  we  know  what  part  this  man  has  acted,  as  if  to 
hasten  the  present  catastrophe ;  when  we  consider  what 
advice  he  continues  to  give,  and  hear  him  talking  in  such 
strains,  as  if  to  promote  sanguinary  measures  against  the 
Country  that  gave  him  birth ;  we  are  tempted  to  hope  that 
some  one  of  his  ancestors  was  an  Indian,  and  that  Indians 
are  a  different  race  of  men.  Nestor. 


to  d  *  *  *  c**»»*,  es^. 

New-Jersey,  March  25,  1775. 
Dear  Sir  :  Since  the  writing  of  my  former  letter,  we 
have  been  agreeably  entertained  with  intelligence  from 
London,  favourable  to  the  good  cause,  in  which  not  only 
these  Colonies,  but  Great  Britain  and  all  her  other  depen- 
dencies are  so  deeply  interested.  I  congratulate  you,  and 
the  rest  of  the  friends  to  the  Constitution  on  the  receipt  of 
these,  and  every  other  appearance  in  our  favour.  Permit 
me  to  enumerate  a  few  of  these  ;  for  a  proper  and  general 
attention  to  them  would  do  much  toward  strengthening  our 
union,  and  defeating  the  base  designs  of  those  who  oppose 
the  general  good.  And  the  first  thing  to  be  remarked  is, 
the  greatness  of  the  union  subsisting  among  ourselves,  on 
which,  under  Providence,  depends  our  greatest  hope  of 
success.  This  union  appeared  remarkably  in  the  senti- 
ments of  all  the  Colonies  respecting  the  propriety  and 
necessity  of  appointing  Delegates  to  meet  in  General  Con- 


233 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &ic,  MARCH,  1775. 


234 


gress;  and  since,  in  their  appointing  so  many  men,  who, 
when  met,  were  so  exactly  suited  to  one  another  in  senti- 
ments, as  they  in  fact  were.  For  when  Representatives 
are  properly  chosen,  without  bribery  or  any  other  undue 
influence,  they  naturally  carry  with  them  the  sentiments 
of  their  electors,  from  whom  they  also  receive  the  outlines 
of  their  conduct  in  general  directions.  When  these  Dele- 
gates met,  they  began  their  solemn  and  important  business 
by  bowing  themselves  before  the  great  Sovereign  of  the 
Universe,  to  whom  they  could,  with  a  pure  conscience, 
appeal  as  to  the  justice  of  their  cause,  and  on  whom 
they,  in  the  use  of  proper  means,  depended  for  all  that  assist- 
ance which  was  necessary  to  ensure  success ;  and  for  this 
they  humbly  implored  the  Divine  clemency  and  goodness. 
At  the  same  time,  or  as  near  it  as  the  Provinces  could 
judge,  there  were  many  hundreds  of  congregations  of  their 
constituents  beseeching  Almighty  Goodness  for  the  same 
divine  aid.  They  believed  their  cause  was  His,  and  could 
therefore  go  boldly  to  the  Throne  of  Grace. 

Here,  Sir,  is  union.  A  Continent  on  their  knees,  im- 
ploring the  alliance  of  God !  This  is  an  appearance  favour- 
able to  us.  And  m  this  view  the  enemies  of  America 
might  do  well  to  remember  the  advice  of  Gamaliel.  Let 
us  revolve  in  our  minds  the  proceedings  of  this  Congress, 
and  see  what  appearances  here  are  favourable  to  us.  Cau- 
tion, justice,  loyalty,  knowledge,  moderation,  wisdom,  bene- 
volence, deliberation,  humanity,  resolution,  fortitude,  self- 
denial,  self-defence,  piety  ;  and  to  crown  the  whole,  a 
remarkable  union  in  all  these.  Ancient  Rome,  in  her 
highest  pitch  of  power  and  glory,  never  produced  an  as- 
sembly of  worthies  better  qualified  to  govern  an  Empire 
than  these.  The  desire  of  this  Congress  appears  evidently 
to  be,  that  all  the  disturbances,  divisions,  confusions,  ill-will, 
and  oppression  in  the  whole  of  His  Majesty's  Dominions 
should  cease;  and  that  peace,  union,  and  harmony,  with 
constitutional  liberty,  and  a  just  dependance  of  one  part  on 
the  other,  should  exist  throughout  the  whole  of  this  great 
Empire,  which  they  desire  should  be  governed  in  all  its 
parts  by  his  present  Majesty  George  the  Third,  and  a  Pro- 
testant succession  in  his  family,  together  with  such  legis- 
lative powers,  as  are,  by  the  British  Constitution  and 
Provincial  Charters,  established. 

No  wise  and  good  man,  I  conceive,  when  once  truly 
and  sufficiently  acquainted  with  their  designs,  as  stated 
above,  can  wish  that  they  should  be  defeated.  If  we  pur- 
sue this  union  in  the  resolutions  of  the  Congress,  to  their 
being  put  into  execution  in  the  several  united  Provinces, 
we  shall  find  that  it  prevails  against  all  opposition,  and  that 
the  opposers  of  congressional  measures  are  comparatively 
but  very  few.  I  do  not  at  present  recollect  more  than 
three  Towns  in  the  opposition  in  all  the  four  Provinces  of 
New- England,  and  those  none  of  the  most  considerable. 
The  names,  in  tenderness  to  the  virtuous  part  of  their  in- 
habitants, are  here  omitted.  However,  considering  the 
measures  taken  with  them  by  their  wiser  neighbours,  it  is 
very  probable  they  will  soon  be  brought  to  a  sense  of  their 
errour,  and  will  return  to  their  duty. 

In  this  and  the  Southern  Provinces,  I  believe  the  Oppo- 
sition is  full  as  small.  Some  few  places  in  the  Province 
of  New -York  are  delinquent;  but  they  appear  to  be 
returning  to  their  duty.  The  City  and  County  of  New- 
York  have  been  esteemed  by  far  the  most  so :  but  by  a 
late  fair  trial,  it  appears  that  there  are  more  than  five  to  one 
in  favour  of  the  Congress.  And  this  probably  will  break 
the  heart  of  all  the  Opposition  in  America.  The  news 
from  Great  Britain  and  the  West-India  Islands,  so  favour- 
able to  us,  will  contribute  much  to  the  same  valuable  pur- 
pose. Some  indeed  have  lately  attempted  to  land  goods 
in  America  contrary  to  the  Association  of  the  Congress ; 
but  such  is  the  vigilance  of  those  excellent  inspectors,  the 
Committees  of  New  -  York  and  Elizabethtown,  and  such 
the  awful  guilt  of  the  delinquents,  that  they  could  not  be 
hid.  They  have  confessed  their  fault,  and  laid  a  heavy 
fine  upon  themselves  for  their  base  conduct.  Another 
person  concerned  in  the  same  dark  affair  is  also  detected, 
and  will,  it  is  thought,  be  sufficiently  punished.  In  fine, 
if  we  continue  to  pursue  the  whole  measures  of  the  Con- 
gress, the  merchants  and  manufacturers  in  England,  and 
the  West-India  islanders  will  do  all  in  their  power  to  pro- 
cure a  redress  of  all  our  grievances.  And  we  have  great, 
great  reason  to  hope  that,  by  the  favourable  interposition 


of  Divine  Providence,  their  united  endeavours  will  soon 
produce  the  desired  effect. 

I  remain,  dear  Sir,  yours  and  the  Constitution's  friend, 

Essex. 


Marblchead,  March  25,  1775. 
Whereas,  I  the  subscriber,  in  open  violation  of  the  Con- 
tinental Association,  did,  on  the  25th  current,  purchase  of 
Simon  Tufts,  of  Boston,  a  small  quantity  of  Tea,  and 
thereby  justly  brought  on  myself  the  resentment  of  the 
publick  :  I  do  now  in  this  publick  manner  ask  their  pardon, 
and  do  solemnly  promise  I  will  not  in  future  be  guilty  of  a 
like  offence.  The  Tea  I  have  voluntarily  committed  to 
the  flames  in  presence  of  a  respectable  number  of  my 
townsmen.  Thomas  Lilly. 

The  Committee  of  Inspection  of  this  Town,  from  the 
penitent  behaviour  of  the  above  Thomas  Lilly,  and  the 
above  confession,  which  he  himself  publishes,  determine 
that  he  may  be  justly  entitled  to  the  esteem  and  employ 
of  all  persons  as  heretofore. 

By  order  of  the  Committee  of  Inspection : 

John  Sparhawk,  Clerk. 

Committee  Chamber,  Boston,  March  31,  1775. 
Information  having  been  given  to  the  Committee  of  In- 
spection of  this  Town,  that  Mr.  Simon  Tufts,  of  this 
Town,  merchant,  had  broke  the  Continental  Association, 
by  selling  Tea  to  Thomas  Lilly,  of  Marblehead,  on  the 
25th  of  March  current,  the  Committee  made  inquiry  into 
the  truth  of  said  report,  and  after  a  strict  examination  of 
said  Tufts  of  three  credible  persons,  could  obtain  no  other 
account  but  the  following,  which  we  have  caused  to  be 
published  under  oath,  for  the  satisfaction  of  the  publick, 
agreeable  to  the  design  of  our  appointment. 

"  Whereas  an  advertisement  appeared  in  the  Essex  Ga- 
zette of  the  28th  instant,  signed  Thomas  Lilly,  informing 
that  he  purchased  a  small  quantity  of  Tea  of  me,  the  sub- 
scriber :  For  the  justification  of  my  character,  and  satisfac- 
tion of  the  publick,  I  think  proper  to  give  the  following 
state  of  the  affair,  and  do  solemnly  declare  that  the  said 
Lilly  had  the  same,  without  my  knowledge  or  privity,  of 
the  person  who  attended  at  my  store,  and  which  he  has 
since  confessed  was  no  more  than  a  pound  and  a  quarter. 
I  have  purchased  no  Tea  since  the  first  of  March.  What 
I  bought  was  so  immediately  connected  with  an  article 
absolutely  necessary  for  the  Country  to  be  possessed  of, 
and  which  they  are  in  actual  possession  of,  thought  it  justi- 
fiable to  purchase  it  with  the  incumbrance,  and  let  my 
friends,  whose  advice  I  had  taken,  partake  with  me  therein, 
esteeming  the  friendship  of  my  countrymen  of  more  conse- 
quence than  any  benefit  that  could  accrue  to  me  thereby. 
1  had  no  intention,  from  the  beginning,  of  militating  with 
the  Association  of  the  Continental  Congress,  and  I  declare 
I  will  not  buy  or  sell  any  more  of  said  article  till  a  general 
permission  therefore  takes  place.  If,  by  the  above  impru- 
dent step  with  Lilly,  any  offence  is  given  to  my  country- 
men, I  am  sorry  therefor,  and  hope  for  a  restoration  to  their 
favour  and  confidence.  Simon  Tufts. 

"  Boston,  30th  March,  1775." 

Suffolk,  ss. — Boston,  April  1,  1775. 

Then  the  above  named  Mr.  Simon  Tufts  made  oath  to 
the  truth  of  the  above-written  declaration  subscribed  by 
him.    Before  me, 

Belcher  Noyes,  Justice  of  the  Peace. 


ORANGE  COUNTY  (VIRGINIA)  COMMITTEE. 

March  27, 1775. 

The  Committee  of  Orange  County  being  informed  that 
the  Reverend  Mr.  John  Wi7igate  had  in  his  possession 
several  pamphlets  containing  very  obnoxious  reflections  on 
the  Continental  Congress  and  their  proceedings,  and  cal- 
culated to  impose  on  the  unwary ;  and  being  desirous  to 
manifest  their  contempt  and  resentment  of  such  writings 
and  their  authors,  assembled  on  Saturday,  the  25th  of 
March,  1775,  at  the  Court-House  of  the  said  County. 
The  Committee  were  the  rather  induced  to  meet  for  this 
purpose,  as  it  had  also  been  reported  that  there  were  a 
considerable  number  of  these  performances  in  the  Country, 


23 5 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775. 


236 


introduced  amongst  us  in  all  probability  to  promote  tbe 
infamous  ends  for  which  they  were  written  :  that  they  were 
to  be  sold  indiscriminately  at  Purdie's  office  in  Williams- 
burgh,  and  that  unfavourable  impressions  had  been  made 
on  some  people's  minds  by  the  confident  assertions  of 
falsehoods  and  insidious  misrepresentations  of  facts  con- 
tained in  them.  The  intentions  of  the  Committee  were 
made  known  to  Mr.  IVingatc,  and  a  delivery  of  the  pamph- 
lets requested  in  the  most  respectful  manner,  without  the 
least  suspicion  that  Mr.  Wingate  had  procured  them  with 
a  design  to  make  an  ill  use  of  them,  or  that  he  would  hesi- 
tate a  moment  as  to  a  compliance ;  but,  to  their  great  sur- 
prise, he  absolutely  refused,  urging  that  they  belonged  to 
Mr.  Henry  Mitchell,  of  Fredericksburgh,  and  he  could  do 
nothing  without  his  express  permission.  The  Committee 
then  proceeded  to  expostulate  with  him  on  the  subject,  and 
to  insist  upon  him  that,  as  he  regarded  his  association- 
engagements,  the  favour  of  the  Committee,  or  the  good  of 
the  publick,  he  would  not  deny  so  reasonable  a  request. 
They  told  him  they  would  engage  to  make  ample  satisfac- 
tion to  Mr.  Mitchell  for  any  damage  he  might  sustain,  and 
that  there  could  not  be  the  least  reason  to  fear  that  Mr. 
Mitchell  would  be  displeased,  who  was  well  known  to  be 
an  associator,  and  acknowledged  by  himself  to  be  a  hearty 
friend  to  the  cause  which  these  pamphlets  were  intended 
to  disparage  and  counteract ;  and  that  if  Mr.  Mitchell  was 
not  this  hearty  friend  we  hoped  him  to  be,  it  must  be  an 
additional  argument  for  tbe  Committee  to  press  their  request, 
and  for  him  to  comply  with  it.  Mr.  Wingate  still  persist- 
ed in  his  refusal  to  deliver  them  up,  but  added  that  he 
would  let  the  Committee  have  a  sight  of  them,  if  they 
would  promise  to  return  them  unhurt.  This  could  by  no 
means  be  agreed  to,  as  they  were  justly  apprehensive  that 
it  would  be  their  duty  to  dispose  of  the  pamphlets  in  a 
manner  inconsistent  with  such  a  promise.  At  length  the 
Committee,  finding  there  was  no  prospect  of  working  on 
Mr.  Wingate  by  arguments  or  entreaties,  peremptorily 
demanded  the  pamphlets,  with  a  determination  not  to  be 
defeated  in  their  intentions.  In  consequence  of  which  they 
were  produced  to  the  Committee,  who  deferred  the  full 
examination  and  final  disposal  of  them  till  the  Monday 
following. 

On  Monday,  the  27th  instant,  they  again  met  at  the 
same  place,  according  to  adjournment,  and  after  a  sufficient 
inquiry  into  the  contents  of  five  pamphlets  under  the  fol- 
lowing titles,  viz:  1st,  "  The  Congress  Canvassed,  SfC." 
by  A.  W.  Farmer;  2d,  "A  View  of  the  Controversy  be- 
tween Great  Britain  and  her  Colonies,"  by  the  same ; 
3d,  "  Free  Thoughts  on  the  Proceedings  of  the  Continen- 
tal Congress,  fyc."  by  A  Farmer;  4th,  "  Short  Advice 
to  the  Counties  of  New -York,"  by  A  Country  Gentle- 
man; 5th,  "An  Alarm  to  the  Legislature  of  the  Province 
of  New  -  York,  fyc.;"  most  of  them  printed  by  Riving- 
ton,  of  New  -York  : 

Resolved,  That  as  a  collection  of  the  most  audacious 
insults  on  that  august  body  (the  grand  Continental  Con- 
gress) and  their  proceedings,  and  also  on  the  several  Colo- 
nies from  which  they  were  deputed,  particularly  New- 
England  and  Virginia,  of  the  most  slavish  doctrines  of 
Provincial  Government,  the  most  impudent  falsehoods  and 
malicious  artifices  to  excite  divisions  among  the  friends  of 
America,  they  deserved  to  be  publickly  burnt,  as  a  testi- 
mony of  the  Committee's  detestation  and  abhorrence  of  the 
writers  and  their  principles. 

Which  sentence  was  speedily  executed  in  the  presence 
of  the  Independent  Company  and  other  respectable  inhabi- 
tants of  the  said  County,  all  of  whom  joined  in  expressing 
a  noble  indignation  against  such  execrable  publications, 
and  their  ardent  wishes  for  an  opportunity  of  inflicting  on 
the  authors,  publishers,  and  their  abetters,  the  punishment 
due  to  their  insufferable  arrogance  and  atrocious  crimes. 

Published  by  order  of  the  Committee  : 

Francis  Taylor,  Clerk. 

Plymouth  (Massachusetts)  committee  to  the  com- 
mittee OF  SAFETY. 

Plymouth,  March  27,  1775. 
The  Selectmen  and  Committee  of  Correspondence  of 
the  Town  of  Plymouth  beg  leave  to  represent  the  peculiar 
circumstances  of  this  Town,  and  to  desire  such  aid  and 


protection  as  you  in  your  wisdom  shall  think  proper  to 
direct. 

We  have  an  open  harbour,  on  which  lay  the  Towns  of 
Plymouth,  Kingston,  and  Duxbury,  extending  twelve  or 
fifteen  miles,  in  almost  every  part  of  which  it  is  extremely 
easy  for  Troops  to  land,  commit  ravages,  and  retreat,  unless 
a  sufficient  force  is  continually  on  duty  to  watch  and  report 
them.  Ever  since  the  late  alarm,  the  inhabitants  of  this 
Town  (apprehensive  of  danger)  have  been  on  almost  con- 
stant duty,  without  being  able  to  attend  to  their  private 
affairs,  the  consequence  of  which  must  produce  great  dis- 
tress, if  not  ruin,  unless  they  can  be  relieved.  Another 
very  peculiar  circumstance  attending  us  is,  that  in  case  we 
should  be  attacked,  no  immediate  aid  can  come  to  our 
assistance  from  the  back  country,  we  being  surrounded  by 
a  wilderness,  extending  several  miles,  without  any  inhabi- 
tants at  all,  and  several  more  miles  with  very  few  and  scat- 
tering ones. 

We  therefore  pray  your  consideration  of  these  matters, 
and  that  you  would  order  the  Minute  Regiment  under 
the  command  of  Colonel  Cotton,  be  posted  here,  and  that 
proper  provision  be  made  for  them. 

We  are,  gentlemen,  with  great  respect,  your  very  hum- 
ble servants.  By  order  of  the  Committee  and  Selectmen 
of  the  Town  of  Plymouth. 

John  Torrey,  Chairman. 

To  the  Honourable  Committee  of  Safety  for  the  Prov- 
ince of  the  Massachusetts-Bay. 


By  His  Excellency  the  Right  Honourable  John  Earl  of 
Dunmore,  His  Majesty's  Lieutenant  and  Governour 
General  of  the  Colony  and  Dominion  of  Virginia,  and 
Vice- Admiral  of  the  same. 

A  Proclamation. 

Virginia,  to  wit : 

Whereas  certain  persons,  styling  themselves  Delegates 
of  several  of  His  Majesty's  Colonies  in  America,  having 
presumed,  without  His  Majesty's  authority  or  consent,  to 
assemble  together  at  Philadelphia  in  the  months  of  Sep- 
tember and  October  last,  have  thought  fit,  among  other 
unwarrantable  proceedings,  to  resolve  that  it  will  be  neces- 
sary that  another  Congress  should  be  held  at  the  same 
place  on  the  10th  of  May  next,  unless  redress  of  certain 
pretended  grievances  be  obtained  before  that  time,  and  to 
recommend  that  all  the  Colonies  in  North  America  should 
choose  Deputies  to  attend  such  Congress,  I  am  commanded 
by  the  King,  and  I  do  accordingly  issue  this  my  Proclama- 
tion, to  require  all  Magistrates  and  other  Officers  to  use 
their  utmost  endeavours  to  prevent  any  such  appointments 
of  Deputies,  and  to  exhort  all  persons  whatever  within  this 
Government  to  desist  from  such  an  unjustifiable  proceeding, 
so  highly  displeasing  to  His  Majesty. 

Given  under  my  hand  and  the  seal  of  the  Colony,  this 
28th  day  of  March,  in  the  fifteenth  year  of  His  Majesty's 
reign.  Dunmore. 
God  save  the  King. 

remarks  on  lord  Dartmouth's  circular  letter 
dated  JANUARY  4,  1775. 

London,  March,  1775. 

The  publication  of  Lord  Dartmouth's  Circular  Letter 
to  the  several  Governours  on  the  Continent  of  America, 
excites  an  alarm  amongst  the  friends  of  liberty  ;  for  in  that 
letter  the  battery  is  unmasked,  the  design  openly  avowed. 
Permit  me,  Sir,  to  consider  the  words,  the  meaning,  the 
design,  and  the  consequence  of  Lord  Dartmouth's  lelter. 

His  Lordship  begins  thus:  "Certain  persons  styling 
themselves  Delegates  of  His  Majesty's  Colonies,  having 
presumed." — Observe,  gentle  reader,  the  official  term  for- 
merly used  in  general  warrants:  "certain,"  is  a  word  of 
great  uncertainty  when  not  applied  to  individuals,  and,  as 
it  is  not  descriptive  of  individuals,  Lord  Dartmouth  will 
find  that  these  "certain  persons,  styling  themselves  Dele- 
gates," are  not  to  be  intimidated  by  his  uncertain  non- 
sense. 

But  what  mighty  crime  have  these  uncertain  persons 
presumed  to  commit?  Why,  they  have  not  asked  His 
Majesty's  permission  to  assemble  at  Philadelphia  in  order 


237 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775. 


238 


to  consult  about  their  own  affairs !  This  is  the  crime  of 
omission  laid  to  their  charge ;  that  of  commission  con- 
sists in  their  having  thought  fit,  amongst  other  unwarrant- 
able things,  (no  other  unwarrantable  acts  are  mentioned,) 
to  resolve  "to  meet  again  on  the  10th  of  May."  What 
power  is  there  lodged  in  any  branch  of  our  Legislature 
which  can  control  and  hinder  a  body  of  men  from  assem- 
bling in  order  to  consider  of  the  most  effectual  methods  for 
alleviating  their  own  distresses  ?  If  neither  of  the  branches 
of  the  Legislature  are  vested  with  such  a  power,  the  Con- 
gress in  September  was  not  assembled  unlawfully  ;  and  if  it 
was  not  unlawfully  assembled,  by  what  authority,  besides 
that  of  impudence,  shall  any  of  the  King's  Ministers  pre- 
vent a  meeting  not  forbidden,  by  the  laws  of  the  land  ? 
Lord  Dartmouth  may  be  an  excellent  divine,  but  he  is  a 
miserable  politician ;  Mr.  finitjield  may  have  qualified 
him  for  a  field  preacher,  but  as  for  his  politicks  they  are 
of  the  Butean  cast,  and  therefore  detestable. 

The  Secretary  goes  on,  and  says:  "Unless  redress  for 
certain  pretended  grievances  be  obtained,  the  Delegates 
are  to  meet  on  the  10th  of  May."  This  w-ould  be  the 
style  of  every  Secretary  to  every  arbitrary  tyrant  in  Europe. 
Pretended  grievances  !  What,  are  we  fallen  so  low  as  to 
be  told  we  cannot  feel,  or  if  we  can.  that  we  are  not  com- 
petent judges  of  the  oppression  ?  This  is  what  all  tyrants 
aim  at;  this  hath  been  accomplished  in  the  several  Mon- 
archies of  the  world  ;  and  this  doctrine  is  intended  to  be 
inculcated  in  England  and  America.  The  meaning  of  the 
words  in  Lord  Dartmouth's  letter  is,  that  though  the 
Americans  feel,  yet  shall  they  not  dare  to  complain,  or  en- 
deavour by  legal  measures  to  obtain  alleviation  or  redress; 
this  is  adding  cruelties  and  insult  to  injuries  intolerable. 
When  a  man  is  by  oppression  wilfully  tormented,  to  in- 
crease his  pain  because  his  sensations  are  exquisite  and  his 
complaints  loud,  would  characterize  a  being  worse  even 
than  what  our  imaginations  can  form  in  idea ;  yet  this 
character  the  pious,  the  preaching,  the  saint-like  Lord 
Dartmouth  assumes  throughout  his  whole  letter !  Is  it 
necessary  in  becoming  a  Minister  to  cease  to  feel  as  a  man  ? 
And  must  every  tender  sensation  be  obliterated  because  a 
man  holds  an  office,  the  exercise  of  the  functions  of  which 
are  supposed  to  be  directed  to  publick  utility? 

Let  us  next  observe  the  style  of  Lord  Dartmouth's  let- 
ter: "1  am  commanded  by  the  King  to  signify  to  you  his 
pleasure,  that  you  do  your  utmost  to  prevent  any  such  ap- 
pointment of  Deputies  within  the  Colony  under  your  Go- 
vernment." 

We  have  had  too  much  reason  to  perceive,  that  publick 
utility  has  given  little  pleasure,  and  therefore  all  meetings 
to  promote  that  must  occasion  great  displeasure.  The 
Governours,  however,  though  willing  to  execute  the  orders, 
will  find  themselves  incapable  to  effect  what  is  commanded 
so  imperatively  by  this  Minister  of  Christian  meekness. 
In  a  meeting  held  for  the  preservation  of  civil  liberty, 
nothing  can  be  unwarrantable,  unless  the  defeat  of  despotism, 
in  which  all  good  men,  who  understand  the  dispute,  and 
are  well-wishers  to  their  species,  must  wish  the  Americans 
success.  Those  who  can  dream  of  an  English  Parliament 
having  a  right  to  take  the  money  out  of  the  pockets  of  the 
Americans,  are  but  ill-instructed  in  the  principles  of  our 
Constitution,  which  forbid  that  any  man  should  be  taxed 
by  an  assembly  wherein  he  is  not  represented.  A  min- 
isterial champion  has  inculcated  the  reverse  of  the  doctrine  ; 
but  when  it  is  known  that  he  is  retained  for  the  purpose, 
little  regard  will  be  paid  to  any  argument  such  a  writer 
advances.  Sir  William  Meredith  and  his  wand,  Doctor 
Johnson  and  his  pension,  are  alike  beneath  the  notice  of 
independent  men. 

We  are  next  to  consider  the  design  of  Lord  Dartmouth's 
letter,  which  is  to  destroy  the  Constitution  in  America, 
and  to  institute  a  mode  of  arbitrary  Government  like  that 
in  Canada,  of  a  Governour  and  Council.  When  that  is 
accomplished,  the  people  will  be  under  the  immediate  sub- 
jection of  the  Crown,  and  thus  the  vast  extension  of  kingly 
power  must  obliterate  every  remaining  vestige  or  trace  of 
liberty.  An  establishment  of  this  kind  once  effected,  will 
produce  more  evils  than  can  be  at  present  foreseen,  though 
the  consequences  of  those  evils  may  be  deduced  from  com- 
parison and  analogy.  Such  of  the  Americans  as  are  at 
present  strenuous  asserters  of  liberty,  may,  from  a  corruption 
of  manners,  or  out  of  resentment  of  our  ill  treatment  in 


suffering  them  to  be  enslaved,  join  the  conspirators  against 
the  Constitution,  and  thus  destroy  what  has  been  the  envy 
and  the  admiration  of  the  European  world. 

The  Secretary  for  America  we  have  been  taught  to  look 
on  as  a  zealous,  pious,  and  devout  disciple  of  Christ;  yet 
we  see  this  man  of  holiness,  not  having  the  fear  of  God 
before  his  eyes,  joining  with  his  coadjutors  in  an  attempt 
to  enslave  our  fellow-subjects  in  America  !  Who  that  re- 
garded the  welfare  of  human  kind  would  aid  in  an  attempt 
to  set  up  the  power  of  any  part  of  the  Legislature  over 
the  Constitution  f  But  to  talk  of  good  Government,  civil 
justice,  or  liberty,  whilst  Tories  are  at  the  helm,  would  be 
like  talking  of  righteousness  in  the  dominions  of  Satan. 

Ignotus. 


New-York,  March  28,  1775. 
Mr.  Rivington  :  As  your  paper  has  hitherto  supported 
the  character  of  an  impartial  one,  I  send  the  enclosed  for 
publication  ;  if  you  cannot  insert  it,  return  it  by  the  bearer. 
But  while  a  Junius  can  attack  a  Prime  Minister,  and  a 
Tribunus  the  King,  I  hope  it  will  not  be  deemed  treason 
for  an  Englishman  or  an  American  to  attack  the  petty 
tyrants  to  whom  this  is  with  deference  and  respect  most 
humbly  dedicated  by  the  author. 

TO  THE  COMMITTEE  OF  CORRESPONDENCE  OF  PHILA- 
DELPHIA. 

Gentlemen  :  You  appear  in  a  publick  character,  and 
if  the  reins  of  Government  are  not  devolved  on  you  by 
common  consent,  you  have  at  least  usurped  the  legisla- 
tive authority.  I  shall  not,  then,  deem  it  any  violation  of 
the  liberty  of  the  Press,  in  this  publick  manner  personally 
to  address  you,  and  to  animadvert  on  the  contents  of  your 
letter  (dated  February  16)  to  the  Committee  of  this  City, 
lately  published — an  epistle  which  I  could  not  peruse 
without  a  mixture  of  indignation  and  astonishment. 

The  body  from  whence  you  derive  your  authority  em- 
boldens and  warrants  me  freely  to  canvass  all  matters  on 
the  administration  of  Government;  and  if  the  liberty  of 
the  Press  be  not  denied  me,  as  an  Englishman  I  will  claim 
the  privilege,  and  undaunted  by  your  frowns,  your  threats, 
or  your  inquisition,  will  boldly  pass  such  strictures  on  your 
conduct  as  I  conceive  it  merits.  Your  names,  gentlemen, 
are  well  known  ;  they  are,  I  believe,  respectable,  and  would 
give  weight  to  your  assertions,  were  they  not  contradicted 
by  the  most  notorious  and  the  most  obstinate  facts.  Par- 
don me  if  in  this  address  I  should  take  the  liberty  to  relate 
a  few  truths,  truths  which  I  well  know  will  sound  ungrate- 
ful in  your  ears. 

Your  ridiculous  argument  of  holding  up  an  union,  can- 
not justify  your  allegations,  for  such  an  union  does  not 
exist.  It  would  have  afforded  me  signal  pleasure  to  observe 
men  of  characters,  dignified  as  yours  are,  enrolled  as  Com- 
mittee men,  and  delegated  by  the  rest,  for  the  special  pur- 
pose of  communicating  intelligence  to  your  neighbours, 
disposed  to  exhibit  a  state  of  things  founded  on  the  strictest 
truth.  But  your  letter  to  our  Committee  is  replete  with 
misrepresentation  and  deception,  calculated  rather  to  hood- 
wink the  people  of  this  Province,  than  to  give  them  a  just 
state  of  publick  affairs ;  you  present  us  with  a  prison  to 
peep  through,  to  give  a  glare  to  every  object  we  behold. 

You  tell  us  you  have  seen  frequent  publications  from  this 
City,  containing  false  representations,  and  holding  up  ideas 
of  dissensions  among  you,  which  you  have  the  assurance 
to  say  do  not  exist. 

How  can  you,  in  the  face  of  the  world,  make  this  bold 
assertion  ?  You  must  know  that  it  is  totally  destitute  of 
foundation  ;  and  I  will  venture  to  tell  you  that  you  must  all 
have  had  better  information  ! 

No  dissensions  among  you  !  Have  not  the  loyal  Friends 
in  your  and  the  adjacent  Province  published  their  dissent 
[January  24, 1775]  from  the  mad  independent  Resolves  of 
your  Republican  Congress,  and  all  your  illegal  and  unwar- 
rantable combinations  ? 

Is  not  this  Society  very  numerous  throughout  your  Prov- 
ince, and  at  least  as  respectable  as  any  other? 

Some  of  your  Committee  have  idly  pretended  that  this 
was  the  act  of  a  very  few,  and  disapproved  of  by  the  So- 
ciety in  general.  This  is  a  shameful  reflection  on  the  cha- 
racter of  the  gentleman  who  subscribed  their  protest  on 
behalf  of  the  whole  Society. 


239 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775. 


240 


This  gentleman  has  too  much  honour  to  be  guilty  of  so 
ungenerous  an  act,  and  fortunately  for  him  his  reputation 
is  too  well  established  to  be  impaired  by  your  feeble  darts. 
]  challenge  you  to  find  a  man  of  more  integrity  throughout 
all  your  democracy.  Are  you  not  then  ashamed  to  declare 
these  dissensions  are  only  encouraged  by  a  few  interested 
persons,  who  take  a  malignant  pleasure  in  exciting  discords? 

Let  me  address  myself  to  one  of  you  who  is  a  member 
of  that  honourable  community,  which  he  has  most  daringly 
and  impudently  insulted  by  subscribing  his  name  to  that 
calumniating  letter.  Let  me  call  upon  him  to  erase  his 
name  from  amongst  you  as  a  small  atonement  for  the  un- 
pardonable insinuations  he  has  thrown  out  against  his 
brethren.  He  has  publickly  attacked  them,  and  publickly 
charged  them  with  taking  a  malignant  pleasure  in  exciting 
discords  and  dissensions,  and  has  dared  to  assert  that  this 
state  is  founded  on  the  strictest  truth ;  what  a  strange  per- 
version ! 

You,  gentlemen,  have  the  confidence  to  declare,  that  your 
Committee  have  not  found  the  least  difficulty  in  carrying 
into  execution  any  one  Resolution  of  the  Continental  Con- 
gress. If  this  be  true,  I  have,  I  confess,  been  strangely  de- 
ceived. Let  us  inquire  into  this  matter.  Do  not  the 
Congress  bind  themselves  by  the  sacred  ties  of  virtue, 
honour,  and  love  of  liberty,  that  no  advantage  shall  be  taken 
of  the  non-importation,  but  that  goods  shall  be  sold  as  they 
have  been  for  the  last  twelve  months  ?  Have  not  the 
dry-goods  Merchants,  without  the  least  opposition,  generally 
broke  through  this  agreement,  and  is  not  your  Committee 
apprized  of  it  ?  Have  they  not  made  inquiry  into  the 
prices  of  various  articles,  and  did  they  not  find  the  Mer- 
chants had  advanced  the  prices  on  some  goods  twenty-five, 
on  others  fifty,  seventy-five,  nay !  one  hundred  per  cent., 
and  did  not  the  Committee  acquiesce  in  this  ?  These  facts 
are  too  stubborn  for  you  to  controvert ;  the  reasons  were 
obvious ;  the  Resolve  was  too  tyrannical  to  be  borne ;  it 
better  suited  the  slaves  of  Russia  than  the  freemen  of 
America.  As  a  Committee  you  knew  this,  and  you  knew 
you  dare  not  attempt  to  enforce  it ;  and  as  some  on  your 
Committee  were  in  the  dry-goods  trade,  it  was  your  interest, 
and  you  thought  it  too  your  duty,  to  pass  it  over.  How 
then  can  you  declare,  and  palm  your  declaration  on  the 
publick  as  the  strictest  truth,  that  the  Committee  have  met 
with  no  difficulty  in  carrying  into  execution  anyone  Reso- 
lution of  the  Congress  ?  Do  not  the  Congress  bind  them- 
selves by  the  same  sacred  ties  to  encourage  frugality  and 
economy,  and  to  discourage  every  species  of  dissipation  and 
extravagance  ? 

Are  not  the  Assemblies  continued  in  your  City  as  usual, 
under  your  own  immediate  notice,  and  is  not  your  inter dum 
Secretary  officious  therein  ?  Did  your  Committee  find  no 
difficulty  in  carrying  into  execution  what  you  had  foolishly 
resolved  was  the  sense  of  the  Congress  respecting  Sheep  ? 
Yes.  You  disgraced  yourselves  by  your  scandalous  con- 
duct ;  you  invaded  private  property,  and  some  of  your 
body  committed  daring  robberies  in  the  face  of  the  day,  and 
in  the  sight  of  the  whole  world.  You  forced  people  to  carry 
their  own  goods  on  their  backs  to  the  Jail  of  your  City ; 
you  intimidated  a  helpless  old  woman  for  no  other  offence 
than  innocently  offering  her  goods  for  sale,  and  would  have 
obliged  her  to  take  the  same  measures  you  had  forced  others 
to  before,  without  law,  without  justice,  reason,  or  mercy, 
had  not  a  Magistrate,  whose  presence  and  commands  struck 
terrour  into  your  dastardly  souls,  rescued  her  and  her  pro- 
perty from  your  domineering  threats.  Here,  too,  I  might 
touch  on  the  article  of  Tea,  and  tell  of  the  clemency  and 
mercy  of  some  of  your  monsters  relative  to  importations 
of  this  baneful  weed,  but  it  is  an  affair  of  too  nice  delicacy, 
we  will  not  take  up  its  ashes. 

Yet  you  have  declared  your  Committee  have  met  with 
no  difficulty  in  carrying  into  execution  any  one  Resolution 
of  the  Continental  Congress.  I  tell  you  this  assertion  is  an 
imposition  on  the  people  of  this  Province.  Perhaps  you 
call  this  novel  species  of  procedure  rather  a  pleasure  than 
a  difficulty.  1  believe  it ;  so  fond  are  you  of  power,  and 
so  impatient  of  bearing  rule,  that  at  some  rate  or  other  you 
are  determined  on  the  possession  of  it ;  and  while  you  rest 
secure  in  the  idea  of  enforcing  your  mandates  by  a  lawless 
mob,  you  no  doubt  glory  in  the  acquisition  of  your  usurpa- 
tion. 

Some  of  you,  though  active  in  the  most  atrocious  vio- 


lences, by  artifice,  would  persuade  the  world  that  these 
proceedings  have  not  been  done  by  the  Committee  as  a 
body  ;  but  if  individuals  of  you  will  repeatedly  commit 
such  extraordinary  depredations  on  the  property  of  your 
countrymen,  in  defiance  of  all  laws,  why  do  ye  not  dis- 
charge them  ?  Why  do  ye  not  publish  your  disapprobation 
of  their  proceedings?  Why  not  demand  an  acknowledg- 
ment of  their  errours  ?  Instead  of  this,  you  tacitly  applaud 
them;  appoint  them  to  new  offices;  and  while  you  thus 
tamely  acquiesce,  you  are  parties  in  the  guilt,  and  deserve 
the  severest  reprehension. 

You  tell  us  the  number  of  dissentients  with  you  are 
very  small.  You  are  strangely  deluded.  If  you  had  made 
the  necessary  inquiry,  you  would  have  found  their  numbers 
were  great,  and  by  far  the  most  respectable  of  the  commu- 
nity. They  do  not  consist  of  the  noisy,  blustering  and 
bellowing  patriots,  but  the  cool,  deliberate,  and  thinking 
men,  renowned  for  probity,  integrity,  and  honour,  unlike 
your  Adams,  Hancock,  and  your  Lee. 

The  inhabitants  of  your  Province  have  too  much  good 
sense  to  consider  the  least  infraction  of  the  proceedings  of 
the  Continental  Congress  as  productive  of  their  political 
ruin.  The  more  sensible  part  are  shocked  at  many  of  their 
Resolves.  They  consider  a  compliance  with  them  as  likely 
to  overwhelm  all  America  with  destruction  ;  they  look 
upon  them  as  setting  up  a  total  independence  of  the  parent 
state,  and  consider  the  leaders  of  the  present  measures  as 
leaders  of  a  rebellion  and  faction,  which  portend  the  most 
miserable  calamities. 

The  disputes  between  the  State  and  its  Members,  at  the 
meeting  of  the  Congress,  were  easily  adjusted.  They  had 
not  arrived  to  such  an  alarming  length  as  to  throw  us  into 
a  state  of  despair.  Many  able  and  prudent  writers  among 
us,  as  well  as  you,  recommend  the  adoption  of  moderation 
and  temper.  Your  Farmer,  your  versatile  Farmer,  was  one 
of  this  number.  He  did  not  know  on  which  side  the  balance 
would  preponderate ;  he  played  the  Vicar's  part ;  he  was 
Jack  on  both  sides;  he  waited  the  event  of  the  farce;  vio- 
lence rose  victorious ;  he  embraced  her  cause,  and  in  deri- 
sion of  the  reputation  he  had  acquired  by  his  former  Letters, 
he  parted  with  it  to  gain  fresh  laurels.  But  the  doctrines 
he  had  advanced  formerly,  very  much  cramped  his  soaring 
genius.  He  could  not  form  his  new  edifice  with  grandeur, 
without  demolishing  his  old  fabrick,  and  in  his  attempt  to 
form  a  fresh  wreath,  his  old  one  decayed,  and  his  new  was 
blasted.  The  fast  friends  to  our  constitutional  liberties 
pointed  out,  and  laboured  hard  for  a  firm  and  dutiful  Peti- 
tion, and  a  spirited,  but  decent  Remonstrance,  as  the  most 
probable  means  of  establishing  peace  and  harmony.  They 
warmly  recommended  the  drawing  a  rational  line  of  Parlia- 
mentary jurisdiction  and  American  allegiance,  on  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  British  Constitution.  How  a  conduct  like 
this  would  in  all  human  probability  have  terminated,  I  leave 
to  your  own  candour,  though  you  seem  to  be  divested  of 
the  smallest  share.  We  find,  from  every  account,  his  most 
gracious  Majesty  (warmly  attached  to  the  interest  of  all  his 
subjects,  however  remote)  is  ready  to  hear  our  prayers. 
Every  friend  to  America  in  England  urged  us  to  modera- 
tion ;  and  had  their  advice  been  regarded,  the  unnatural 
dispute  ere  this  day,  might  have  been  brought  to  the  most 
happy  issue.  The  advocates  for  these  wise  and  moderate 
measures  daily  meet  with  the  grossest  insults  and  abuse 
from  every  paltry  Republican  pen,  to  whose  inconsistent 
jargon  your  jmrtial  Presses  were  ever  free  and  easy  of 
admission ;  and  while  the  independent  Incendiary,  now 
known  throughout  America  by  the  name  of  the  "lean  and 
grinning  Cassius,"  found  the  most  inviting  access  for  his 
lucubrations,  wisdom,  prudence,  and  reason  were  excluded 
an  audience.  Your  papers  were  kept  under  an  undue  in- 
fluence, and  filled  with  fabricated  letters  and  paragraphs, 
culled  from  every  fiery  publication,  to  alarm  and  inflame. 
These  are  truths  which  can  be  solidly  supported,  and  if  you 
will  revert  to  the  papers  of  that  period  you  will  not  deny. 
One  of  your  Printers,  of  your  true  Republican  cast,  pub- 
lished the  most  vile  and  treasonable  performance  that  was 
ever  exhibited  to  the  world,  and  this  same  Printer  rejected 
a  moderate  and  pertinent  reply.  Another  of  your  weak 
and  blustering  Printers  stands  impeached  for  a  forgery,  and 
there  is  great  reason  to  believe  he  continues  in  the  same 
practice.  This  same  Printer,  as  a  reward  for  his  exhibition 
of  scandal,  was  by  your  society  of  pedagogues,  made  a 


241 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775. 


242 


Committee-man,  the  more  effectually  to  secure  his  press, 
the  engine  of  rebellion  and  abuse ;  and  there  is  nothing  so 
dirty,  nothing  so  base,  but  he  will  give  it  a  conveyance. 
This  was  a  grand  stroke  of  policy,  worthy  of  the  Jesuitical 
Cassius.  Your  Committee  have  since  made  a  most  flagrant 
attack  upon  the  liberty  of  the  press,  to  the  eternal  disgrace 
of  your  cause  and  your  City,  and  but  for  their  noble  stand, 
and  the  virtuous  intrepidity  of  one  of  your  citizens,  nothing 
in  future  could  have  appeared  amongst  you  without  a 
license  from  traitors  and  insurgents.  But,  fortunately  for 
America,  and  to  the  lasting  honour  of  a  single  man,  you 
are  stopped  in  your  career,  and  stand  as  objects  for  the 
world  to  gaze  and  laugh  at. 

But  though  things  have  been  carried  to  this  elevated 
pitch,  the  sons  of  sedition  have,  with  unabated  ardour  and 
unceasing  zeal,  circulated  the  most  palpable  falsehoods  to 
mislead  the  unwary  and  unsuspicious  ;  witness  that  bastard 
Act  of  Parliament,  framed  pro  tempore  by  one  of  your 
Secretaries,  so  full  of  falsehoods  that  one  would  scarce 
have  believed  a  fool  could  have  been  found  that  would 
credit  it ;  yet  sorry  I  am  to  say,  it  was  greedily  swallowed 
by  the  ignorant,  for  the  factious,  who  are  scattered,  like  the 
Jews,  over  every  part  of  the  earth,  did  not  hesitate  to 
declare  it  was  authentick ;  and  on  a  late  excursion  into  the 
interiour  parts  of  your  Province,  I  found  a  difficulty  to 
persuade  many  deluded  Germans  that  it  was  totally  false; 
they  told  me  of  a  gentleman  in  an  exalted  station  (whose 
name  for  the  present  I  shall  conceal,  though  one  of  your 
Committee)  who  had  repeatedly  assured  them,  that  if  they 
did  not  unite  with  the  Congress,  that  very  act  would  take 
place  the  ensuing  summer.  But  notwithstanding  these  artful 
devices;  notwithstanding  the  almost  infinite  pains  taken  by 
your  party  to  stop  the  circulation  of  moderate  publications, 
(appointing  two  patriotick  shoemakers  to  wait  on  Mr. 
Airey  to  deter  him  from  selling  pamphlets  of  a  free  com- 
plexion ;)  notwithstanding  the  pains  taken  by  one  of  your 
Committee  to  prevent  the  circulation  of  Ftivington's  Ga- 
zetteer ;  I  can  with  great  truth  declare,  that  the  eyes  of 
the  Pennsylvania^  are  opening  very  fast ;  they  begin  to 
see  the  independent  designs  of  their  demagogues ;  they 
see  a  Republick  growing  fast  into  form,  and  they  begin  to 
abhor  your  destructive  manoeuvres.  I  can  speak  with 
great  confidence,  because  I  do  not  speak  from  the  partial 
information  of  a  few  individuals,  nor  from  the  improbable 
accounts  of  interested  Committees.  My  accounts  are  the 
result  of  various  and  mature  information,  confirmed  by 
what  I  myself  have  seen  in  your  City  and  Province.  I 
have,  with  the  most  pleasing  satisfaction,  beheld  an  aston- 
ishing alteration  in  the  opinions  and  in  the  conduct  of  the 
good  people  with  you. 

I  know  that  the  number  of  loyal  subjects  are  increasing 
with  a  rapid  progress ;  the  Friends  have  nobly  took  the 
lead ;  they  will,  I  hope,  be  followed  by  almost  every  class 
of  people.  Yet  your  gentlemen  assert  that  a  cheerful  ac- 
quiescence has  been  manifested  by  all  orders  and  ranks  of 
people.  It  would  have  been  more  manly  to  have  joined 
Edes  and  Gill  of  Boston,  in  declaring  their  protest  was 
published  ten  years  ago;  and  as  you  have  the  presses 
under  your  own  influence,  it  would  be  easy  to  forbid  them 
to  publish  a  contradiction ;  there  would  be  no  difficulty  in 
this,  though  there  will  in  making  people  believe  a  dissen- 
tion  does  not  exist  with  you. 

Let  the  same  patriot  who  threatened  to  pull  down  the 
doors  of  one  of  your  Churches  if  the  wardens  would  not 
suffer  the  bells  to  be  rung  on  Colonel  Putnam's  alarm ;  let 
this  gentleman  tell  the  printer,  if  he  dare  to  contradict 
what  you  put  in,  his  house  shall  be  demolished  ;  this  would 
be  showing  the  weight  of  an  argument  he  deduced  in  his 
laboured  harangue  at  a  certain  patriotick  meeting,  that  it 
was  "  absolutely  necessary  a  very  large  Committee  should 
be  appointed  ;  for  who  knows  but  we  may  have  property 
to  destroy."  He  omitted  pointing  out  another  advantage 
of  having  a  large  Committee,  viz:  extending  the  number 
of  our  worthy  fellow-citizen  John  Holt's  subscriptions ; 
for,  I  hear,  with  expanded  hearts  you  have  exerted  your 
influence  in  his  favour,  (in  consequence  of  his  decline  here,) 
and  have  procured  him  not  less  than  fifty  subscribers ;  so 
that  we  shall  now  have  him  like  a  new  phcenix,  arising  on 
this  fresh  pile,  with  new  life,  strength,  and  vigour. 

Suffer  me  now,  gentlemen,  to  take  my  leave  of  you  for 
the  present.    It  was  with  reluctance  I  took  up  the  pen  ; 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii.  16 


and  1  shall  lay  it  down  with  pleasure,  after  hoping  that  you 
will  not  take  what  I  have  said  amiss.  1  only  want  these 
facts  to  wound  in  the  sore  places.  I  had  the  good  of  this 
Province  too  much  at  heart  to  let  them  be  deluded  by  your 
publication.  If  1  have  inserted  one  thing  which  will  not 
bear  the  strictest  scrutiny,  I  will  cheerfully  recant  it,  and 
ask  pardon  for  my  offence ;  but  I  have,  to  the  best  of  my 
knowledge,  without  aggravation,  laid  down  the  above  for 
your  perusal,  and  intend,  when  leisure  permits,  to  inform 
you  of  as  true  a  state  of  affairs  in  this  Province  as  the 
above  is  of  yours.  An  Englishman. 


WORCESTER  COUNTY  (MASSACHUSETTS)  COMMITTEE. 

March  28,  1775. 
The  Convention  met  according  to  adjournment. 
Voted,  That  the  Reverend  Mr.  Chaplain  be  requested 
to  open  this  Convention  with  prayer. 

Voted,  That  the  Convention  do  now  proceed  to  the 
Meeting-House,  to  attend  the  Sermon  by  the  Rev.  Elisha 
Fish,  and  the  other  exercises. 

The  Convention  being  again  met  in  the  afternoon : 
Voted,  That  the  thanks  of  the  Convention  be  presented 
to  the  Reverend  Mr.  Fish,  for  the  Discourse  preached 
before  them,  and  that  the  Standing  Committee  wait  upon 
him  and  request  a  copy  thereof  for  the  Press. 

Voted,  That  the  Standing  Committee  print  as  many 
copies  of  said  Discourse  as  they  judge  fit  for  circulation. 


EXTRACT   OF   A  LETTER  FROM  A  GENTLEMAN  IN  LONDON, 
TO   HIS   FRIEND    IN   NORTH-CAROLINA,    DATED  MARCH 

29,  1775. 

The  gloomy  aspect  of  your  Country,  and  America  in 
general,  mentioned  in  your  last,  is  truly  alarming.  1  feel 
for  Mr.  *  *  *  *  ,  and  wish  he  would  make  this  his  retreat. 
Let  me  advise  you  to  leave  your  uncertain  situation,  and 
bring  your  family  over.  If  you  object  to  this,  pray  sell 
your  slave-estate  at  any  rate.  This  early  hint  will  give 
you  an  opportunity  of  doing  this  to  advantage.  Last  week 
a  friend  wished  me  joy  on  having  the  good  fortune  to  sell 
my  slaves  and  American  estate ;  for,  says  he,  "  I  was  lately 
whispered  by  the  Minister,  that  all  slaves  on  the  Continent 
would  be  seized  as  forfeited  by  the  Provinces,  and  sold  in 
the  French  and  Spanish  Islands,  the  profits  arising  to  re- 
imburse the  great  expense  of  Ships,  Troops,  &c,  sent  to 
America."  This  will  tend  to  the  great  disappointment  of 
our  West-India  Planters,  who  will  expect  to  stock  the 
sugar-works  from  the  Continent.  Your  lands  must  be 
cultivated  by  the  poor,  as  in  these  Kingdoms. 


NEW-YORK.  COMMITTEE. 


At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee,  for  the  City  of  New- 
York,  in  the  Committee  Chamber,  on  the  29th  of  March, 
1775,  present — 


Isaac  Low,  Chairman,  Francis  Lewis, 
John  Jay,  John  Lasher, 

Isaac  Sears,  Joseph  Totten, 

David  Johnston,  Thomas  Ivers, 

Alexander  McDougall,  John  Anthony, 


Abraham  Walton, , 
Peter  T.  Curtenius, 
Abraham  Brasher, 
Abraham  P.  Lott, 
Abraham  Duryee, 


Francis  Basset, 
Victor  Bicker, 
William  Goforth, 
Isaac  Roosevelt, 


Jeremiah  Piatt, 
Comfort  Sands, 
William  W.  Gilbert, 
Nicholas  Roosevelt, 
Edward  Fleming, 
Frederick  Jay, 
George  Janeway, 
Lindley  Murray, 
Lancaster  Burling : 


The  following  advertisement,  which  was  drawn  in  con- 
sequence of  an  application  to  this  Committee  at  their  last 
meeting,  was  read,  viz  : 

To  the  respectable  Inhabitants  of  the  City  and  County  of 
New-York  : 

Friends  and  Fellow-Citizens  :  In  times  so  critical 
as  the  present,  it  becomes  the  duty  of  every  citizen  to  pay 
particular  attention  to  the  welfare  of  the  community,  and  to 
counteract  every  measure  that  may  tend  to  injure  its  in- 
terest. 

Influenced  by  these  considerations,  we  view  with  concern 
the  uneasiness  occasioned  in  this  City,  by  the  late  unusual 
exportation  of  Nails ;  and  perceive  with  anxiety  the  dis- 
tress to  which  a  monopoly  of  this  or  any  other  article  may 
expose  many  among  us. 


213 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  he,  MARCH,  1775. 


211 


For  what  purpose,  or  with  what  design,  such  a  quantity 
lias,  in  so  short  a  time,  been  purchased  and  exported,  we 
neither  know  nor  can  we  conceive.  The  clamour  raised 
among  the  Mechanicks,  by  the  scarcity  of  Nails  during  the 
continuance  of  the  last  Non-Importation  Agreement,  is 
recent  in  our  memories;  and  though  the  manufactories 
which  have  since  been  established  will  supply  more  than 
sufficient  for  our  own  consumption,  we  apprehend  it  would 
be  imprudent  thus  rashly  to  part  with  what  we  have  in 
store,  especially  as  this  sudden  exportation  has  given  just 
grounds  for  suspicion  and  alarm. 

It  is  not  within  the  limits  of  our  appointment  to  provide 
against  the  evil  tendency  of  this  circumstance,  by  any  regu- 
lation ;  but  considering  ourselves  as  fellow-citizens  with  you, 
and  deeply  interested  in  every  thing  that  respects  the  pub- 
lick  weal,  and  the  support  of  the  great  cause  in  which  our 
all  is  at  stake,  we  take  the  liberty  of  declaring  our  senti- 
ments upon  the  occasion  ;  and  recommend  to  you  to  avoid 
drawing  the  people  of  this  City  into  any  difficulties  or  dis- 
contents, by  exporting  or  encouraging  the  monopoly  of 
such  great  quantities  of  Nails  as  may  leave  a  provision  for 
our  own  consumption  precarious,  especially  as  it  is  not  cer- 
tain whether  these  Nails,  so  hastily  bought  up  and  exported, 
are  designed  to  be  used,  or  to  be  stored. 

Permit  us  also  to  submit  to  your  consideration  the  pro- 
priety of  supplying  the  Troops  at  Boston  with  implements 
of  war,  and  articles  essential  to  hostilities.  We  cannot 
forbear  observing,  that  the  duty  we  owe  to  our  interest  and 
reputation  should  lead  us  to  withhold  such  supplies  from 
the  Troops,  at  least  till  we  have  assurances  that  nothing 
hostile  is  intended  against  us. 

And  debates  arising  on  the  propriety  of  publishing  the 
same  as  a  Committee  :  and  the  question  being  put  thereon, 
it  was  carried  in  the  affirmative,  in  the  manner  following, 
viz : 

For  the  Question.  Against  the  Question. 

Mr.  J.  Jay,  Mr.  A.  P.  Lolt,  Mr.  Duryee, 

Mr.  F.  Jay,  Mr.  Gilbert,  Mr.  Johnston, 

Mr.  Piatt,  Mr.  Ivers,  Mr.  Goforth, 

Mr.  J.  Anthony,       Mr.  ftasher,  Mr.  Totten, 

Mr.  N.  Roosevelt,     Mr.  McDougall,  Mr.  A.  Walton, 

Mr.  Basset,  Mr.  Fleming,  Mr.  Curtenius, 

Mr.  Brasher,  Mr.  Lewis,  Mr.  Bicker. 

Mr.  I.  Roosevelt,       Mr.  Janeway, 
Mr.  Sands,  Mr.  Sears. 

The  Chairman  entered  his  dissent  against  the  above  act. 
By  order  of  the  Committee  : 

Isaac  Low,  Chairman. 


LETTER  FROM  J.  BROWN  TO  THE   COMMITTEE  OF  CORRES- 
PONDENCE IN  BOSTON. 

Montreal,  March  29,  1775. 
Gentlemen:  Immediately  after  the  reception  of  your 
letters  and  pamphlets,  I  went  to  Albany  to  find  the  state  of 
the  Lakes,  and  established  a  correspondence  with  Dr. 
Joseph  Young.  I  found  the  Lakes  impassable  at  that  time. 
About  a  fortnight  after  I  set  out  for  Canada,  and  arrived 
at  St.  John's  in  fourteen  days,  having  undergone  almost 
inconceivable  hardships,  the  Lake  Champlain  being  very 
high,  the  small  streams  and  rivers,  and  great  part  of  the 
Country  for  twenty  miles  each  side  the  Lake,  especially 
towards  Canada,  under  water.  The  Lake  Champlain  was 
partly  open  and  partly  covered  with  dangerous  ice,  which 
breaking  loose  for  miles  in  length,  our  crafts  drove  us 
against  an  island,  and  froze  us  in  for  two  days,  after  which 
we  were  glad  to  loot  it  on  land. 

I  delivered  your  letters  to  Messrs.  Thomas  Walker  and 
Blake,  and  was  very  kindly  received  by  the  Committee  of 
Correspondence  at  Montreal,  from  whom  1  received  the 
following  state  of  affairs  in  the  Province  of  Quebcck. 
Governour  Carleton  is  no  great  politician,  a  man  of  sour, 
morose  temper,  a  strong  friend  to  Administration  and  the 
late  Acts  of  the  British  Parliament  which  respect  Ame- 
rica, particularly  the  Quebeck  Bill ;  has  restrained  the 
liberty  of  the  Press,  that  nothing  can  be  printed  without 
examination  and  license.  Application  has  been  made  to 
him  for  printing  the  Address  from  the  Continental  Con- 
gress, and  a  refusal  obtained.  All  the  Troops  in  this 
Province  are  ordered  to  hold  themselves  in  readiness  for 
lioston,  on  the  shortest  notice.  Four  or  five  hundred  snow- 
shoes  are  prepared,  for  what  use  they  know  not.  Mr. 
Walker  has  wrote  you  about  three  weeks  since,  and  has 


been  very  explicit.  He  informs  you  that  two  regular  Offi- 
cers (liieutenants)  have  gone  off  in  disguise,  supposed  to 
be  gone  to  Boston,  and  to  make  what  discovery  they  can 
through  the  Country. 

I  have  the  pleasure  and  satisfaction  to  inform  you  that, 
through  the  industry  and  exertions  of  our  friends  in  Cana- 
da, our  enemies  are  not  at  present  able  to  raise  ten  men 
for  Administration.  The  weapons  that  have  been  used 
by  our  friends  to  thwart  the  constant  endeavours  of  the 
friends  of  Government  (so  called)  have  been  chiefly  in 
terrorem.  The  French  people  are  (as  a  body)  extremely 
ignorant  and  bigoted,  the  Curates  or  Priests  having 
almost  the  entire  government  of  their  temporal  as  well 
as  spiritual  affiirs.  In  La  Prairie,  a  small  village  about 
nine  miles  from  Montreal,  I  gave  my  landlord  a  letter 
of  address,  and  there  being  four  Cures  in  the  village 
praying  over  the  dead  body  of  an  old  Friar,  the  pamph- 
let was  soon  handed  them,  who  sent  a  messenger  to  pur- 
chase several  of  them.  I  made  them  a  present  ol  each 
of  them  one,  and  was  desired  to  wait  on  them  in  the  Nun- 
nery with  the  holy  sisters.  They  appeared  to  have  no 
disposition  unfriendly  toward  the  Colonies,  but  chose  rather 
to  stand  neuter. 

Two  men  from  the  New- Hampshire  Grants  accompa- 
nied me  over  the  Lakes.  The  one  was  an  old  Indian 
hunter,  acquainted  with  the  iSif.  Frangois  Indians  and  their 
language;  the  other  was  a  captive  many  years  among  the 
Caghnawaga  Indians,  which  is  the  principal  of  all  the 
Canadian  Six  Nations  and  Western  tribes  of  Indians,  whom 
1  sent  to  inquire  and  search  out  any  intrigues  carrying  on 
among  them.  These  men  have  this  minute  returned,  and 
report  that  they  were  very  kindly  received  by  the  Caghna- 
ivaga  Indians,  with  whom  they  tarried  several  days.  The 
Indians  say  they  have  been  repeatedly  applied  to,  and  re- 
quested to  join  with  the  King's  Troops  to  fight  Boston, 
but  have  peremptorily  refused,  and  still  intend  to  refuse. 
They  are  a  very  simple,  politick  people,  and  say  that  if 
they  are  obliged,  for  their  own  safety,  to  take  up  arms  on 
either  side,  that  they  shall  take  part  on  the  side  of  their 
brethren,  the  English  in  New-England ;  all  the  chiefs  of 
the  Caghnawaga  tribe  being  of  English  extraction,  capti- 
vated in  their  infancy.  They  have  wrote  a  friendly  letter 
to  Colonel  Israel  Putnam,  of  Pomfret,  in  Connecticut,  in 
consequence  of  a  letter  which  Colonel  Putnam  sent  them, 
in  which  letter  they  give  their  brother  Putnam  assurance 
of  their  peaceable  disposition.  Several  French  gentlemen 
of  Montreal  have  paid  the  Governour  a  visit,  and  offered 
him  their  services,  as  Officers,  to  raise  a  Canadian  Army, 
and  join  the  King's  Troops.  The  Governour  told  them 
he  could  get  Officers  in  plenty,  but  the  difficulty  consisted 
in  raising  Soldiers. 

There  is  no  prospect  of  Canada  sending  Delegates  to 
the  Continental  Congress.  The  difficulty  consists  in  this  : 
should  the  English  join  in  the  Non-Importation  Agree- 
ment, the  French  would  immediately  monopolize  the  In- 
dian trade.  The  French  in  Canada  are  a  set  of  people 
who  know  no  other  way  of  procuring  wealth  and  honour 
but  by  becoming  Court  sycophants ;  and  as  the  introduc- 
tion of  the  French  laws  will  make  room  for  the  French 
gentry,  they  are  very  thick  about  the  Governour.  You 
may  depend  that,  should  any  movement  be  made  among 
the  French  to  join  against  the  Colonies,  your  friends  here 
will  give  the  shortest  notice  possible,  and  the  Indians,  on 
their  part,  have  engaged  to  do  the  same;  so  that  you 
have  no  occasion  to  expect  to  be  surprised  without  notice, 
should  the  worst  event  take  place. 

I  have  established  a  channel  of  correspondence  through 
the  New-Hampshire  Grants,  which  may  be  depended  on. 
Mr.  Walker's  letter  comes  by  the  hand  of  Mr.  Jejiers, 
once  of  Boston,  now  on  his  way  thither,  which,  together 
with  this,  is  a  full  account  of  affairs  here.  I  shall  tarry 
here  some  time,  but  shall  not  go  to  tyuebeck,  as  there  are 
a  number  of  their  Committee  here. 

One  thing  I  must  mention,  to  be  kept  as  a  profound  se- 
cret. The  Fort  at  l\co?ideroga  must  be  seized  as  soon  as 
possible,  should  hostilities  be  committed  by  the  King's 
Troops.  The  people  on  New-Hampshire  Grants  have 
engaged  to  do  this  business,  and  in  my  opinion  they  are 
the  most  proper  persons  for  this  job.  This  will  effectually 
curb  this  Province,  and  all  the  Troops  that  may  be  sent 
here. 


245 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  Sec,  MARCH,  1775. 


246 


As  the  messenger  to  carry  this  letter  lias  been  waiting 
some  time  with  impatience,  I  must  conclude,  by  subscrib- 
ing myself,  gentlemen,  your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

J.  Brown. 

To  Mr.  Samuel  Adams, 
Dr.  J.  Warren, 


>  Com'toe  of  Correspondence  in  Boston. 


I  am  this  minute  informed  that  Mr.  Carlcton  lias  order- 
ed that  no  Wheat  go  out  of  the  River  until  further  order; 
the  design  is  obvious. 


LANCASTER  COUNTY  (PENNSYLVANIA)  COMMITTEE. 

At  a  Meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Observation  for  Lan- 
caster County,  at  Lancaster,  on  the  30th  of  March,  1775 : 

The  Committee  took  into  consideration,  amongst  other 
things,  the  conduct  of  George  Ross,  Esquire,  one  of  the 
Representatives  of  this  County,  in  the  late  interesting  de- 
bate in  the  House  of  Assembly  of  this  Province,  respecting 
an  answer  to  his  Honour  the  Governour's  Message,  re- 
commending a  separate  Petition  from  the  Assembly  to  His 
Majesty  for  redress  of  grievances,  and  do  unanimously  ap- 
prove of  the  active  part  taken  by  the  said  Mr.  Ross  in 
opposition  to  the  measures  proposed,  as  the  same  would 
tend  to  introduce  a  disunion  amongst  the  different  Colonies, 
and  defeat  the  salutary  regulations  of  the  Continental 
Congress.    And  it  being  put  to  vote,  it  is 

Resolved,  nemine  contradicente,  That  the  thanks  of  this 
Committee  be  rendered  to  Mr.  Ross  and  the  other  worthy 
Members  of  the  honourable  House,  who  have  evinced  their 
steady  attention  and  virtuous  adherence  to  the  true  welfare 
of  their  Country,  by  pursuing  the  only  probable  means  of 
redress  ;  in  supporting  and  preserving  entire  the  union  of  the 
Colonies,  so  absolutely  necessary  for  the  common  safety  of 
America.  Eberhart  Michael,  Clerk  pro  tern. 


New. York,  March  30,  1775. 
The  chiefs  of  the  Six  Nations,  who,  during  the  course 
of  the  winter,  held  several  Congresses  with  Colonel  Guy 
Johnson,  the  Superintendent,  are,  we  hear,  at  present  with 
him  in  consultation  respecting  the  conduct  of  the  several 
tribes  to  the  Southward,  and  the  steps  to  be  further  taken 
for  preventing  future  quarrels  in  that  quarter ;  to  which  end 
it  is  said  they  propose  to  use  every  means  in  their  poner 
for  collecting  their  scattered  people  from  amongst  the 
several  Nations,  and  fixing  them  in  a  place  where  they 
will  be  more  immediately  under  the  direction  of  their  proper 
confederacy.  And  we  are  likewise  informed  that  Colonel 
Johnson,  who  was  greatly  indisposed  through  cold  he  caught 
attending  on  one  of  the  conferences,  is  now  much  better. 


TO  THE  INHABITANTS  OF  THE  MASSACHUSETTS-BAY. 
NO.  VII. 

Boston,  March  30,  1775. 

My  Friends  and  Countrymen  : 

Without  any  introduction,  preface,  or  apology,  1  shall 
reassume  the  paper  which  was  the  subject  of  our  examina- 
tion in  my  last,  beginning  where  we  then  ended.  This  last 
column  of  our  writer  is  curious  enough.  I  can  hardly 
determine  whether  profound  silence,  smiling  neglect,  or  a 
serious  refutation  would  be  its  best  answer. 

When  lie  tells  us,  with  the  air  of  an  argument,  "  if  alle- 
giance be  due  to  the  person  of  the  King,  (he  might  have 
added,  or  to  the  British  Crown,)  he  then  appears  in  a  new 
capacity,  as  King  of  America,  or  rather,  in  several  new 
capacities,  as  King  of  Massachusetts,  of  Rhode-Island,  of 
Connecticut,  &z.c,  &c."  He  might  have  still  added,  and 
if  these  Colonies  are  three  thousand  miles  from  the  King's 
palace,  from  Keiv,  or  his  place  of  residence,  wherever  it  be, 
lie  must  govern  them  by  Deputies  or  Viceroys.  And  what 
does  all  this  amount  to?  Where  is  the  difficulty  ?  What 
is  his  inference  ?   Is  it  to  the  point  ? 

But  if  our  connection  with  Great  Britain,  by  the  Par- 
liament, be  dissolved,  the  Colonies  will  have  none  among 
themselves,  their  having  one  and  the  same  person  for  their 
Sovereign  being  no  union  at  all ;  as  he  must  govern  each 
State  by  it  own  Parliament,  which  would  pursue  its  own 
particular  interest,  notwithstanding  any  possible  efforts  of 
the  King  for  the  general  good.  Admitting  all  this,  and  as 
much  more  of  the  kind  as  our  wanderer  pleases,  to  be 
true,  it  is  no  evidence  of  our  connection  with  the  Parent 


State.  They  may  be  good  reasons  why  we  should,  by 
some  means  or  other,  especially  at  the  present  day,  con- 
solidate into  a  closer  union  among  the  Colonies,  that  a  com- 
mon interest  might  govern  the  whole.  We  might  therefore 
pass  it  by  as  nothing  to  the  purpose.  But  let  us  attend  a 
moment  to  the  state  of  facts.  The  only  way  to  govern  States, 
and  direct  their  movements,  is  by  the  edict  of  a  Monarch, 
or  the  laws  of  a  Legislative  Assembly.  Such  is  the  Con- 
stitution of  Government  in  most  of  the  British  Colonies, 
that  no  law  can  be  passed  but  by  the  consent  of  the  King's 
representative,  who,  as  he  is  appointed  by  His  Majesty, 
and  holds  his  office  during  his  pleasure,  observes  such  a 
line  of  conduct  as  is  pointed  out  by  his  Royal  master,  or 
the  mandate  of  his  Minister.  In  all  the  Colonies,  unless 
Connecticut  is  an  exception,  their  laws  are  sent  home  and 
laid  before  His  Majesty  for  his  approbation,  who  has  it  in 
his  power,  within  a  limited  time,  entirely  to  disannul  them. 
Considering  this,  and  that  the  appointment  of  all  execu- 
tive officers  is  either  mediately  or  immediately  in  the 
Crown,  excepting  in  one  or  two  of  the  Colonies ;  it  is 
scarcely  supposable  that  any  one  could  pursue  its  own 
interest  to  the  detriment  of  another ;  or  that  a  course  of 
conduct  could  be  adopted  inconsistent  with  the  best  wel- 
fare of  the  Parent  State,  so  long  as  the  powers  of  the 
Crown,  and  the  checks  of  prerogatives  are  directed  by 
constitutional  motives. 

The  next  argument  of  our  substantial  reasoner  is,  I 
believe,  entirely  new,  and  would  have  been  so  a  thousand 
years  hence,  had  not  he,  in  the  labours  of  invention, 
stumbled  upon  it;  it  is  all  his  own;  no  one  will  envy 
him  the  honour  of  this  mighty  discovery  :  "  If  the  King  of 
Great  Britain  has  really  these  new  capacities,  they  ought 
to  be  added  to  his  titles  ;  and  another  difficulty  will  arise — 
the  prerogatives  of  these  new  Crowns  have  never  been 
defined  or  limited.  Is  the  monarchical  part  of  the  several 
Provincial  Constitutions  to  be  nearer,  or  more  remote 
from  absolute  monarchy,  in  an  inverted  ratio  to  each  one's 
approaching  to  or  receding  from  a  Republick  ?"  The  Royal 
title  is,  King  of  Great  Britain,  France,  and  Ireland, 
Defender  of  the  Faith,  Sic."  Where,  then,  will  this  titular 
argument  carry  us?  What  mighty  revolutions,  junctions, 
and  disjunctions  will  it  accomplish?  If  it  proves  any  thing 
in  the  application  of  its  inventor,  it  proves  that  all  the 
Kings  of  England,  from  Henry  the  Sixth  to  the  reigning 
Prince,  were  Kings  of  France.  That  Ireland  and  Great 
Britain  are  distinct  States,  in  a  different  sense  from  what 
the  Colonies  are;  and  that  Henry  the  Eighth  and  King 
George  the  Third  {God  bless  him)  were  both  Defenders 
of  the  Faith,  though  the  one  a  Papist,  and  the  other  a 
Protestant.  The  prerogatives  of  the  Crown  are  defined 
and  limited  with  convenient  certainty  by  our  several  Char- 
ters, the  ends  of  Government  being  confined  within  the 
circle  of  doing  good.  Prerogatives  are  not,  nor  ever  will 
be  defined  with  mathematical  nicety,  "  or  inverted  ratios  f 
humanity  itself  forbids  it.  The  dividing  line  between  day 
and  night,  light  and  darkness,  has  never  been  drawn,  nor 
can  it  be.  You  may  therefore  as  well  argue  from  the 
want  of  such  a  line,  the  non-existence  of  light  and  dark- 
ness, as  from  indefinite  prerogatives,  the  coalition  of  States. 

But,  says  our  pleasant  amuser,  if  we  are  not  subject  to 
the  supreme  authority  of  the  Mother  Country,  "  where 
shall  we  find  the  British  Constitution,  that,  we  all  agree, 
we  are  entitled  to?  We  shall  seek  for  it  in  vain  in  our 
Provincial  Assemblies.  Charter  Governments  have  no 
more  power  than  what  is  expressly  granted  by  their  several 
Charters.  The  first  Charter  granted  to  this  Province  did 
not  empower  the  Assembly  to  tax  the  people  at  all.  Our 
Council  Boards  are  destitute  of  the  authority  of  the  House 
of  Lords,  and  its  members  of  the  splendid  appendages  of 
peerage.  Thus  the  supposition  of  our  being  independent 
States,  or  exempt  from  the  authority  of  Parliament,  destroys 
the  very  idea  of  our  having  a  British  Constitution."  And 
further,  "  the  argument  drawn  from  the  first  principle  of  our 
being  entitled  to  English  liberties,  destroys  the  principle 
itself;  it  deprives  us  of  the  Bill  of  Rights,  and  all  the 
benefits  resulting  from  the  Revolution,  of  "  English  Laws 
and  the  British  Constitution."  Our  patriots,  says  he, 
have  been  so  intent  upon  building  up  American  rights, 
that  they  have  overlooked  the  rights  of  Great  Britain  and 
our  own  interest,  and  instead  of  proving  that  we  are  entitled 
to  the  same  privileges  that  a  subject  in  Great  Britain 


# 


247 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775. 


248 


enjoys,  they  have  been  arguing  away  our  most  essential 
rights.  Upon  reading  this  paragraph  I  could  not  but  won- 
der who  it  was  "  that  suffered  his  pen  to  run  so  freely." 
Can  it  be  an  honest  native  of  this  Province,  with  such  a 
stand  in  the  community  as  to  be  able  to  see  distinctly  all 
its  political  manoeuvres  ? 

If  our  position  be  true,  which  I  think  we  have  abundantly 
confirmed,  that  previous  to  the  Colonies  receiving  their 
several  Charters  they  were  in  a  natural  state  compared 
with  Great  Britain ;  it  undeniably  follows,  that  they  pos- 
sess every  power  or  right  that  is  not  expressly  given  into 
the  hands  of  the  King  by  those  Charters,  they  being  the 
original  source  of  power,  it  passing  from  them  to  the  King, 
and  vice  versa. 

Our  first  Charter  enabled  this  Colony  expressly  "  from 
time  to  time  to  make,  ordain,  and  establish  all  manner  of 
wholesome  and  reasonable  orders,  laws,  statutes,  ordi- 
nances, directions,  and  instructions  necessary  for  the  well 
ordering  and  governing  the  same."  This  most  certainly 
included  in  it  the  right  of  making  laws  for  taxation,  as 
well  as  those  for  any  other  purpose. 

In  order  to  determine  whether  the  argument  drawn  from 
the  principle  of  our  being  entitled  to  English  liberties, 
destroys  itself,  deprives  us  of  the  Bill  of  Rights,  and  all 
the  benefits  resulting  from  the  Revolution,  the  English 
laws,  and  the  British  Constitution,  it  may  be  necessary  to 
call  to  mind  their  chief  excellencies,  and  their  essential 
and  principal  characteristicks. 

The  freedom  of  the  English  Constitution,  says  the  great 
Montesquieu,  which  has  directly  for  its  end  political  liberty, 
consists  in  a  certain  distribution  of  the  legislative,  execu- 
tive, and  judiciary  powers  of  the  State,  or  the  fundamental 
laws.  The  freedom  of  the  subject  consists  in  his  stand- 
ing in  such  a  relation  to  this  Constitution,  and  the  laws 
originating  from  it,  as  to  be  secure  in  his  person  and  pro- 
perty. In  general,  then,  for  the  Americans  to  have  British 
Constitutions  they  must  have  free  ones:  and  they  must 
stand  in  the  same  relation  to  them,  as  to  their  valuable  and 
essential  purposes,  that  the  Britons  form  with  theirs. 

The  King,  who  is  the  third  branch  in  the  Legislative 
Assembly,  and  the  first  magistrate  in  the  Kingdom,  is 
dependant  on  the  people  for  his  supplies.  The  Royal 
authority  is  a  kind  of  invisible  entity,  a  spring  that  ought 
to  move  easily,  without  noise  and  attrition,  giving  motion 
to  the  political  machine,  and  having  the  publick  good  for 
its  standing  regulator.  It  can  do  no  wrong.  And  if  it 
should  happen  to  get  impaired,  or  deviate  from  foreign 
attractions,  the  effectual  and  constitutional  remedy  is  tight 
purse-strings.  To  have  then  a  British  Constitution,  is  to 
have  the  third  branch  of  our  Legislative  Assembly,  and 
first  officer  in  the  Province,  dependant  on  the  people  for 
his  salary.  The  officers  of  the  Crown  in  England  must 
see  to  the  legality  of  their  conduct ;  if  they  violate  the 
laws,  even  by  Royal  direction,  they  cannot  take  shelter 
behind  the  Throne,  or  plead  in  justification  an  illegal  com- 
mand. A  Provincial  Governour  ought  then  to  make  the 
law  of  the  land,  and  the  fundamental  principles  of  society, 
the  rule  of  conduct,  and  not  the  mandate  from  a  Minister 
of  Slate.  The  House  of  Lords  have  a  negative  voice  on 
all  Acts  of  the  Commons  ;  so  have  our  Council  Board  on  all 
Bills  of  our  Representatives.  In  fact  they  have,  in  substance, 
constitutionally,  all  the  authority  of  the  House  of  Peers. 

A  British  Constitution  knows  of  no  laws  binding  upon 
its  subjects  but  what  were  made,  or  consented  to  by  them- 
selves, or  their  substitutes,  and  what  the  legislators  them- 
selves are  subject  to,  in  common  with  every  individual  in 
the  community  :  this  is  a  grand  security,  a  constitutional 
bulwark  of  liberty.  "  Liberty  of  man,  in  society,  (says 
the  immortal  Locke,')  is  to  be  under  no  other  legislative 
power  but  that  established  by  consent  in  the  common- 
wealth ;  nor  under  the  dominion  of  any  will,  or  restraint  of 
any  law,  but  what  this  legislative  shall  enact  according  to 
the  trust  reposed  in  it."  "  Freedom  of  men  in  Govern- 
ment, (says  the  same  author,)  is  to  have  a  standing  rule  to 
live  by,  common  to  all  and  every  one  in  that  society,  and 
made  by  the  legislative  power  erected  in  it ;  and  not  to  be 
subject  to  the  arbitrary  will  of  another.  This  fieedom 
from  absolute  arbitrary  power  is  so  necessary  to,  and  closely 
joined  with  a  man's  preservation,  that  he  cannot  part  with 
it  but  by  what  forfeits  his  preservation  and  life  together." 

Indulge  me  in  adding  a  few  more  lines,  from  this  con- 


summate reasoner ;  lines  which  ought  to  be  wrote  in  letters 
of  gold,  and  sunk  to  the  centre  of  every  man's  heart. 
"  The  supreme  power  cannot  take  from  any  man  part  of 
his  property  without  his  own  consent ;  for  the  preservation 
of  property  being  the  end  of  Government,  and  that  for 
which  men  enter  into  society,  it  necessarily  supposes  and 
requires  that  the  people  should  have  property,  without 
which  they  must  be  supposed  to  lose  that  by  entering  into 
society,  which  was  the  end  for  which  they  entered  into  it : 
too  gross  an  absurdity  for  any  man  to  own.  Men  therefore 
in  society,  having  property,  they  must  have  such  a  right  to 
the  goods  which  by  the  laws  of  the  community  are  theirs, 
that  no  body  hath  a  right  to  take  their  substance,  or  any 
part  of  it  from  them  without  their  consent.  Without  this 
they  have  no  property  at  all ;  for  I  have  no  property  in  that 
which  another  can  by  right  take  from  me  when  he  pleases, 
against  my  consent.  Hence  it  is  a  mistake  to  think  that 
supreme  or  legislative  power  of  a  community  can  do  what 
it  will,  or  dispose  of  the  estates  of  the  subject  arbitrarily,  or 
take  any  part  of  them  at  pleasure.  For  Government  is 
constituted  with  this  condition,  and  for  this  end,  that  men 
might  have  and  secure  their  properties." 

A  British  Constitution,  then,  which  Massachusettensis 
says  is  agreed  on  all  hands  we  are  entitled  to,  knows  of 
no  authority  to  make  laws  for  more  than  three  millions  of 
subjects,  but  such  as  is  erected  among  themselves,  in 
which  they  are  represented,  to  which  the  law  makers 
themselves  are  subjected,  and  which  is  consistent  with  the 
enjoyment  of  private  property.  Compare,  on  the  one 
hand,  the  assumed  principles  of  Parliament  and  ministerial 
measures,  with  the  above  criterions,  and  on  the  other  the 
natural  and  constitutional  authority  of  our  Assemblies,  and 
draw  your  conclusions. 

The  fundamental  laws  of  England,  which  are  laws  of 
mercy,  and  the  precepts  of  reason,  of  improved  artificial 
reason,  are  severally  declarations  of  the  rights  of  English- 
men. They  are  emanations  from  the  Constitution,  are 
blended  with  it,  are  a  part  of  it.  They  principally  and 
with  vigilant  jealousy  regard  and  secure  life,  liberty,  and 
property.  Next  to  a  man's  life,  (if  not  before  it,)  the 
nearest  and  dearest  enjoyment  is  freedom  ;  a  deprivation 
of  this  being  a  sort  of  civil  death,  or  living  misery.  An- 
glia.  jura  in  omni  casu  libertati  dant  favorem.  Magna 
Charta,  or  the  great  Charter  of  the  liberties  of  the  King- 
dom, which  was  made  in  the  ninth  year  of  Henry  the 
Third,  was  declaratory  of  the  fundamental  laws  and  ancient 
liberties  of  the  subject.  By  the  twenty-ninth  chapter  of 
this  revered  piece  of  antiquity,  no  man  can  be  taken,  or  im- 
prisoned, dispossessed  of  his  freehold,  of  his  lands,  of  his 
liberties,  (not  even  by  Parliament,)  but  by  the  verdict  of 
his  equals,  or  by  the  law  of  the  land,*  or  condemned  with- 
out lawful  trial  by  a  jury.  A  Statute  of  the  25  Edw.  I. 
was  a  confirmation  of  this  great  Charter,  by  the  sixth 
chapter  of  which  no  aid  or  tax  can  be  taken  on  any  occa- 
sion whatever,  but  by  the  common  consent  of  the  Realm, 
and  for  the  common  benefit  thereof.  By  another  founda- 
tion-statute in  the  34  Edw.  I.  no  tallage  or  aid  can  be 
taken  or  levied,  but  by  grant  and  common  consent  of  Par- 
liament ;  tallage,  according  to  Lord  Coke,  being  a  general 
word  including  all  taxes,  subsidies,  fee,  whatever;  and 
Parliament,  meaning  an  assembly,  composed  of  the  Rep- 
resentatives of  the  people.  Within  this  Act  are  all  new 
offices  erected  with  new  fees,  or  old  offices  with  additional 
fees;  for  this  is  a  tax  upon  the  subject.  By  the  famous 
Habeas  Corpus  Act,  which  is  founded  in  common  right,  and 
on  common  law,  which  is  the  birth-right  of  every  English- 
man, no  person  can  be  sent  prisoner  out  of  England  or 
fValcs  into  Scotland,  Ireland,  Jersey,  Guernsey,  or  to  any 
other  place  beyond  seas.  The  Bill  of  Rights,  which  passed 
the  British  Parliament  upon  the  accession  of  William  the 
Third  to  the  throne,  after  reciting  the  declaration  of  the 
Lords  and  Commons,  and  the  endeavours  of  James  the 
Second  to  subvert  and  extirpate  the  Protestant  religion,  and 
the  laws  and  liberties  of  the  Kingdom,  declares,  among  a 
number  of  other  articles  for  vindicating  and  asserting  the 
ancient  rights  and  liberties  of  the  people  : 

"  4thly  :  That  levying  money  without  consent  and  grant 
of  Parliament  is  illegal. 

*  How  much  property  is  taken  from  the  subject  and  given  to  the 
Crown  by  tlio  operation  of  the  unparalleled  Port  Bill,  and  thai  without 
any  trial,  pretensions  of  forfeiture,  law,  or  justice. 


249 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MARCH,  1775. 


250 


"  othly  :  That  it  is  the  right  of  the  subject  to  petition  the 
King. 

"  6thly  :  That  the  raising  or  keeping  a  Standing  Army 
within  the  Kingdom  in  time  of  peace,  unless  it  be  with 
consent  of  Parliament,  is  against  law. 

"  7thly :  That  the  subjects  which  are  Protestants,  may 
have  arms  for  their  defence,  suitable  to  their  conditions, 
and  as  allowed  by  law. 

"  13th  :  That  for  the  redress  of  all  grievances,  and  for 
the  amending,  strengthening,  and  preserving  the  laws,  Par- 
liament ought  to  be  held  frequently." 

These  articles,  with  others,  are  declared,  claimed,  and 
asserted  to  be  the  true,  ancient,  and  indubitable  rights  and 
liberties  of  the  people  of  the  Kingdom ;  and  so  ought  to 
be  esteemed,  adjudged,  allowed,  and  taken.  Accordingly 
it  was  enacted  by  the  King,  Lords,  and  Commons,  that 
this  Bill  should  stand,  remain,  and  be  the  law  of  the  Realm 
forever.  None  of  those  Acts  gave  any  new  rights  to  the 
subject ;  they  are  only  declarative  of  what  were  their  bji- 
resigned,  inherent,  ancient  rights  as  Englishmen,  as  Britons. 
If,  then,  we  are  entitled  to  British  liberties,  we  are  enti- 
tled to  all  those  rights,  privileges,  and  securities  which  we 
have  been  surveying.  These  are  the  essential  qualities, 
the  first  principles,  and  capital  characteristicks  of  the  Bri- 
tish Government,  the  props  and  checks  which  have  ena- 
bled it  to  stand  so  many  ages  the  rude  shocks  of  foreign 
invasions,  domestick  feuds,  civil  commotions,  and  of  time 
itself;  and  would  secure  it  from  falling,  but  with  the  pillars 
of  nature,  were  it  not  for  the  sappings  of  bribery  and  cor- 
ruption at  its  roots,  and  the  gnawiugs  of  ambition  and 
avarice  on  its  branches. 

Therefore  to  enjoy  the  benefits  resulting  from  the  Revo- 
lution, the  Bill  of  Rights,  the  English  Laws,  and  the  Bri- 
tish Constitution,  we  can  be  taxed  by  no  Assembly  but  our 
Provincial  ones,  in  which  we  are  represented  ;  cannot  be 
sent  home  for  trial,  according  to  a  late  law;  can  be  dis- 
possessed of  our  property  only  by  the  judgment  of  our 
Peers ;  can  have  Soldiers  quartered  upon  us  only  by  the 
consent  of  our  General  Courts,  &c,  k.c,  &c.  This  is  the 
essence  of  the  British  Constitution.  The  appellations, 
Kings,  Peers  of  the  Realm,  Knights  of  the  Shire,  &.c,  as 
well  as  Governours,  Counsellors,  and  Representatives, 
are  but  secondary  qualities,  or  mere  formalities.  The  same 
Constitution  in  substance  may  appear  under  a  thousand 
different  forms,  and  the  same  valuable  purposes  be  an- 
swered by  them  all.  It  is  for  the  above  substantial  rights 
that  our  patriots  (whom  America  we  trust  will  hail,  as 
Rome  did  Cicero,  the  fathers  and  saviours  of  their  country) 
have  been  arguing.  It  is  in  defence  of  these  social  bless- 
ings that  they  have  sacrificed  their  ease,  their  health,  and 
their  wealth,  and  now  stand,  when  the  bolts  are  just  ready 
to  burst  upon  our  heads. 

We  are  next  told :  "  If  there  be  any  grievance,  it  does 
not  consist  in  being  subject  to  the  authority  of  Parlia- 
ment, but  in  our  not  having  an  actual  representation  in 
it ;  and  this  is  withheld  by  the  first  principles  of  Govern- 
ment, and  the  immutable  laws  of  nature.''  That  is,  to 
speak  plain  English,  if  one  community  is  oppressed  by 
another,  the  grievance  does  not  consist  in  the  oppressive 
act,  but  in  the  want  of  a  right  to  act  in  the  manner  which 
is  oppressive  ;  and  if  this  right  is  withheld  by  the  im- 
mutable laws  of  nature,  or  by  God  himself,  who  is  the 
Author  of  immutabilities  in  nature,  these  laws  must  be 
trampled  upon  and  faulted,  and  the  immaculate  oppressor 
go  free.  Thus  you  see  that  grievances  must  be  imputed 
to  the  God  of  Nature,  and  the  rectitude  of  Heaven  ques- 
tioned, rather  than  the  propriety  and  equity  of  ministerial 
measures  disputed.  The  truth  is,  the  grievance  consists  in 
being  subject  to  the  authority  of  a  Parliament  in  which  we 
are  not  and  cannot  be  represented. 

We  are  next  presented  with  a  passage  from  Governour 
Hutchinson's  letters,  which  were  sent  to  solicit  the  ven- 
geance of  a  Kingdom  upon  this  unhappy  Colony,  and  to 
drag  down  the  resentments  of  an  incensed  Court  upon  in- 
dividuals. I  shall  not  at  present  dispute  upon  the  merits 
or  demerits  of  the  characters  and  measures  which  were  the 
subject  matter  of  these  letters.  "  There  must  be  an 
abridgment  of  what  is  called  English  liberties,"  is  the  fa- 
mous sentence  which  we  are  told  has  rung  through  the 
Continent.  We  have  already  seen  what  Locke,  Montes- 
quieu, Magna  Charta,  uticorruped  Parliaments,  the  fun- 


damental laws,  the  Bill  of  Rights,  the  English  Constitu- 
tion, the  Britons  and  the  Americans  call  English  liberties. 
These,  these  are  the  liberties  that  must  be  abridged.  I 
have  no  fondness  for  aspersions  and  calumnies  of  any  kind. 
This  gentleman  possesses,  and  has  exercised,  undoubtedly, 
in  various  departments,  some  amiable  private  virtues  and 
useful  accomplishments.  But  such  have  been  his  noto- 
rious principles  and  exertions  in  many  instances  of  pub- 
lick  conduct,  that  it  must  give  pain  to  a  good  mind  to  be 
acquainted  with  his  political  character.  I  forbear;  for  I 
would  not  bring  a  railing  accusation  against  the  Devil  him- 
self, were  I,  like  Michael,  brought  to  contend  with  him. 

After  saying  it  is  for  the  interest  of  the  Colonists  to 
continue  part  of  the  British  Empire,  and  their  duty  to  re- 
main subject  to  the  authority  of  Parliament,  both  of  which 
are  favourite  objects  of  their  wishes,  upon  the  good  old 
plan,  which  the  experience  of  a  century  has  proved  to  be 
mutually  beneficial ;  our  declaimer,  in  the  full  career  of 
rhetorical  flourish,  suffers,  I  believe,  the  real  principles  of 
his  practice  to  escape  him,  perhaps  unguardedly,  which 
gives  a  key  to  his  refined  system  of  politicks :  "  After 
many  more  centuries,"  says  he,  "  have  rolled  away,  long 
after  they  who  are  now  building  upon  the  stage  of  life 
shall  have  been  received  to  the  bosom  of  mother  earth, 
the  Colonies  may  have  the  balance  of  wealth,  numbers, 
and  power  in  their  favour,  and  some  future  George  may 
cross  the  Atlantick  and  rule  Great  Britain  by  an  Ameri- 
can Parliament."  A  most  sublime  scheme  of  Parliament ! 
Unexceptionable  principles  of  policy  !  The  wealthy  are  to 
oppress  and  grind  the  faces  of  the  comparatively  indigent ; 
the  many  to  enslave  the  few ;  the  powerful  to  tyrannize 
over  the  impotent;  the  great  to  devour  the  small;  the 
strong  the  weak  ;  and  Great  Britain,  in  her  turn,  to  become 
the  slaves  of  America,  the  longest  sword  being  the  great 
charter  of  liberties,  and  the  invaluable  standard  of  right 
and  wrong.  Is  justice,  is  equity,  are  the  rights  of  man- 
kind such  transportable  wares,  such  floating  machines  ? 
Are  there  no  fixed,  eternal,  and  immutable  principles  of 
political  truth  and  social  justice,  notwithstanding  the  acute 
efforts  of  some  moderns  to  explain  them  away,  which  can- 
not be  violated,  but  by  the  imputation  of  guilt?  guilt  of 
the  blackest  dye,  which  will  sooner  or  later  fall  with  crush- 
ing weight  on  the  culprit's  head.  Can  the  splendour  of 
wealth  always  dazzle  the  eye  of  reason,  or  the  intoxicating 
fumes  of  undelegated  power  steel  the  heart  against  the 
stings  and  lashes  of  natural  conscience?  Can  superiority 
of  numbers  alter  the  laws  of  nature,  and  annihilate  the 
never-failing  principles  of  strict  justice  ?  Can  the  longest 
sword  sooth  the  clamours  and  twingings  of  a  wounded 
spirit,  or  be  plead  in  justification  at  the  bar  of  an  offended 
Godl  We  are  told  by  the  poets,  that  the  guilty  are  driven 
about  and  haunted  by  the  burning  torches  of  the  furies. 
Presumptuous  guilt  is  the  fury,  says  Cicero,  that  torments; 
an  evil  conscience  the  phrensy  that  rages  ;  and  stinging  re- 
flection the  terrour  that  distracts.  These,  these  are  the 
incessant  bosom  fiends  that  haunt  the  guilty,  that  harrow- 
up  their  souls,  and  will  day  and  night  avenge  the  injuries 
and  oppressions  of  innocent  sufferers. 

Let  me  ask  our  courtly-tongue  pad  if  he  really  thinks 
Great  Britain,  for  centuries  yet  to  come,  w  ill  be  such  pro- 
ficients in  his  sublime  philosophy  as  to  set  supinely  at  ease 
and  see  herself  stripped  of  her  most  valuable  rights  ;  rights, 
in  defence  of  which  she  has  been  often  arrayed  in  armour 
and  in  blood.  Would  she  petition  an  American  Parliament 
for  redress  of  grievances  ?  Would  she  acknowledge  the 
right  of  deprivation  so  long  as  there  was  one  man  existing 
on  the  Island?  Would  not  every  drop  of  English  blood 
boil  into  a  fury  ?  Would  not  every  spark  of  British  spirit 
kindle  into  a  flame?  Would  it  not  burst  forth  like  a  con- 
flagration, and  sweep  with  the  besom  of  destruction  the 
laws  enacted  in  an  American  Parliament,  and  their  execu- 
tors, off  the  stage  of  entities? 

My  abused,  wretchedly  abused  countrymen,  whilst  we 
are  complaining  of  injuries  and  oppressions  from  others,  let 
us  see  to  it  that  we  keep  good  consciences  void  of  offence 
ourselves.  Let  us  injure  no  man's  person  or  property  ; 
cautiously  guard  against  all  outrages,  riots,  mobs,  or  irregular 
and  unnecessary  risings,  which  the  adversaries  to  the  com- 
mon cause  may  artfully  attempt  to  lead  or  provoke  us  into. 
The  cause  we  are  engaged  in  is  of  too  much  dignity  to  be 
sullied  by  rashness,  too  important,  too  seriously  important. 


251 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  k,  APRIL,  1175. 


252 


to  be  weakened  by  tumult  and  partial  strife.  Liberty  re- 
ceives strength  and  vigour  from  prudence  and  consideration. 
Justice,  equity,  and  regularity,  are  her  closest  friends:  she 
courts  virtue  as  her  bosom  companion,  and  shuns  vice  as 
her  dangerous  enemy.  Let  us  equally  avoid  the  feverish 
fit-;  of  political  heat  and  cold.  Banish  from  our  breasts  all 
personal  prejudices,  private  piques,  narrow  opinions,  illiberal 
distinctions,  and  little  unbecoming  jealousies.  Let  us  dis- 
play a  hjagnariimity  proportionate  to  the  importance  and 
dangers  of  the  struggle,  cultivating  harmony  of  sentiments 
and  unanimity  of  counsels.  Act  discreetly,  firmly,  and 
unitedly.  So  long  as  men  have  hearts  to  feel,  and  blood 
and  spirits  to  act,  some  irregularities  and  indiscretions  will 
unavoidably  take  place  under  galling  oppressions.  These 
must  be  expected  until  vice  is  deep  trodden  to  its  centre, 
and  frailties  and  human  imperfections  banished  from  the 
earth.  1  trust  those  among  us  will  be  few  and  exceeding 
small,  sucli  as,  being  viewed  by  an  eye  of  candour,  may  be 
easily  covered  with  the  mantle  of  charity. 

All  America  has  recognised  our  cause,  has  become 
surety  for  our  safety,  and  pointed  out  the  process  for  re- 
dress. All  the  Colonies  unitedly  oppose.  Opposition  so 
respectable,  so  ample,  never  was  known.  Their  unanimity 
and  firmness  was  never  exceeded.  Let  us  then  adopt,  and 
religiously  observe  the  recommendations  of  the  grand  Ame- 
rican Congress,  as  the  best  rules  of  political  conduct ;  hold 
their  Association  sacred  ;  treat  the  enemies  of  our  Country 
in  the  manner  they  prescribe;  avoid,  studiously  avoid, 
every  thing  that  may  occasion  a  rupture  and  hasten  on  the 
last  appeal ;  being  completely  equipped,  and  thoroughly  pre- 
pared for  every  event,  let  us  conduct  peaceably  and  inoffen- 
sively. If  we  are  attacked,  and  hostilities  commenced 
against  us,  self-preservation,  the  first  law  of  nature,  must 
and  ought  to  assume  the  reins,  take  the  command,  direct 
our  conduct  and  govern  the  man.  It  does  not  oblige  us  to 
stand  still  until  we  are  hewn  dead  at  our  enemies'  feet. 

From  the  County  of  Hampshire. 


New-York,  Friday,  March  31,  1775. 
This  being  the  day  appointed  for  taking  the  sense  of  the 
freeholders  of  the  Town  of  Jamaica,  on  Long-Island, 
whether  they  would  nominate  a  Deputy  to  meet  Deputies 
from  the  other  Counties,  in  the  City  of  Neiv-York,  the 
20th  of  April,  for  the  purpose  of  electing  Delegates  to 
attend  the  Continental  Congress  at  Philadelphia,  the  10th 
of  May  next ;  a  poll  was  opened,  when  the  votes  taken 
stood  as  follows : 

Against  a  Deputy  94 
For  a  Deputy    "...       -  82 


PORTSMOUTH  (nEW-HAMPSHIRe)  ASSOCIATION. 

We,  the  subscribers,  considering  the  disorderly  state  of 
the  times,  and  being  deeply  impressed  with  a  sense  of  the 
inestimable  value  of  constitutional  liberty,  think  ourselves 
under  an  absolute  necessity  of  associating  together  for  the 
support  of  the  wholesome  laws  of  the  land,  and  also  for 
the  preservation  and  protection  of  our  persons  and  proper- 
ties, which  we  find,  at  least  as  to  many,  have  been  threat- 
ened of  late,  and  we  do  therefore  solemnly  engage  to  and 
with  each  other : — ■ 

1st.  That  we  will  maintain  the  laws  of  the  land  to  the 
utmost  of  our  power. 

2d.  That  we  will  also  defend  and  protect  each  other 
from  mobs,  riots,  or  any  other  unlawful  attack  whatsoever, 
and  upon  the  first  notice  of  any  attempt  upon  either  of  the 
subscribers,  each  and  every  one  of  us  will  immediately  re- 
pair to  the  person  attacked,  and  him  defend  to  the  last  ex- 
tremity. 

J  muary  17,  1775. 

TO   THE    SUBSCRIBERS   OF   THE   ABOVE  ASSOCIATION. 

Portsmouth,  March  31,  1775. 

Gentlemen:  Take  this  Association  under  your  mature 
consideration,  as  1  hope  some  of  you  to  be  gentlemen  of 
penetration  and  knowledge  ;  and  after  a  serious  examination 
of  the  above  Association,  you  will  find,  instead  of  support- 
ing and  maintaining  the  laws  of  the  land,  you  are  acting 
in  direct  violation  thereof.  As  you  say  you  will  support 
and  maintain  the  laws  of  the  land,  and  as  you  have  not 


made  any  distinction  between  the  Province  Law  and  the 
late  unconstitutional  Acts,  established  by  the  King  and 
Parliament,  we  must  suppose  you  mean  to  support  and 
maintain  both.  Permit  me,  gentlemen,  to  tell  you,  that 
your  zeal  overbalances  your  knowledge.  Pray  examine 
the  Province  law  throughout,  and  all  other  law  authorities 
that  ever  were  held  in  repute  by  the  English  Nation,  and 
you  will  not  find  one  instance  wherein  they  justify  a  num- 
ber of  men  in  combining  together  in  any  league  whatsoever 
to  support  the  law,  but  quite  the  reverse;  for  the  law  is 
supported  in  another  manner;  it  is  maintained  by  Magis- 
trates and  Officers,  that  are  legally  appointed  as  the  laws 
direct,  and  not  by  a  number  of  men  combining  together. 
You  say  you  "  will  also  defend  and  protect  each  other  from 
mobs,  riots,  or  any  unlawful  attack  whatsoever ;  and  that  on 
the  first  notice  of  any  attempt  upon  either  of  the  subscri- 
bers, each  and  every  one  of  you  will  immediately  repair  to 
the  person  attacked,  and  him  defend  to  the  last  extremity." 

Is  this  law,  gentlemen  ?  In  what  book  and  page  will 
you  find  it  ?  or  what  legislative  body  ever  established  such 
measures  to  support  laws  ?  Was  it  ever  known  in  the 
King's  Dominions  for  a  number  of  men  to  assemble  to- 
gether in  order  to  suppress  any  mob  without  authority  ;  for 
so  doing  they  are  themselves  a  mob  in  the  eyes  of  the  law, 
to  all  intents  and  purposes;  though  1  am  convinced,  if  you 
had  been  prudent  enough  to  have  examined  into  the  law 
of  the  Province,  by  which  our  lives  and  properties  are  pro- 
tected, before  you  undertook  to  support  it  by  mobs,  as  you 
have  solemnly  agreed  to  do,  you  would  have  been  ashamed 
ever  to  have  subscribed  your  names  to  such  an  unlawful 
combination. 

Gentlemen,  I  beg  leave  to  ask  you  what  it  is  you  are 
afraid  of?  Is  it  because  you  have  honest  hearts  and  act 
upon  well-grounded  principles?  Is  it  because  you  stand 
strong  for  the  Colonies  and  her  liberties  ?  Or  is  it  because 
you  strike  against  American  freedom,  and  because  you  are 
trying  to  enforce  the  late  unconstitutional  Acts,  and  to 
plunge  America  into  a  state  of  slavery  ?  Surely  it  must 
be  guilt  and  remorse  of  conscience,  and  from  thence  springs 
fear;  ah  !  fear,  indeed,  and  reason  enough  for  fear,  for  any 
person  to  sell  his  Country  and  the  liberties  thereof,  for  the 
sake  of  false  honour  and  the  poor  pittance  of  sordid  gain  ; 
he  will  live  in  fear  and  die  in  fear,  and  will  run  the  greatest 
risk  of  being  tormented  hereafter.  Spectator. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  LONDON   TO  A  GENTLEMAN 
IN  PHILADELPHIA,  DATED  APRIL  ],  1775. 

The  behaviourof  the  New-  Yorkers  has  raised  the  drooping 
spirits  of  the  Ministry,  and  has  been  the  cause  of  their  pursu- 
ing their  tyrannous  measures  towards  America  with  tenfold 
vigour.  A  Bill  is  brought  into  the  House  by  Lord  North,  to 
stop  the  trade  of  Neiv- Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  Maryland,  Vir- 
ginia, and  South- Carolina;  it  is  determined,  if  you  will  not 
trade  with  Great  Britain,  that  you  shall  not  trade  any 
where  else.  The  friends  of  the  Ministry  declare  publickly, 
every  where,  their  intention  of  starving  the  four  New-Eng- 
land Colonies.  Ought  not  the  Merchants  of  Pennsylvania, 
&c,  &ic,  as  they  have  but  little  time  before  the  Act  takes 
place  that  will  prevent  their  sending  them  any  provisions, 
to  fill  their  Towns  with  bread,  flour,  and  every  thing  else 
they  may  stand  in  need  of?  If  it  is  true  what  the  Minis- 
try give  out,  that  they  have  divided  you,  I  yet  hope,  when 
America  comes  to  see  the  insidious  part  Administration 
is  taking  to  subdue  her,  that  you  will  all  unite  as  one  man, 
and  sutler  every  hardship  rather  than  become  the  dupes  of 
the  present  set  of  men  who  govern  this  Country.  If  you 
persevere  in  your  Non-Importation  and  Non-Ex portation 
Agreement,  in  less  than  twelve  months  you  will  become 
complete  conquerors;  if  you  break,  then  you  become  slaves, 
not  to  one  tyrant,  but  to  five  hundred. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  NEW-HAVEN,  TO  MR.  RIVING- 
TON,  NEW-YORK,  DATED  APRIL  1,  1775. 

Our  Committee  of  Inspection  have  proceeded  to  very 
unwarrantable  lengths  ;  they  ordered  summonses  to  be  ser- 
ved on  several  persons  who  had  not  been  altogether  com- 
plaisant enough  to  the  mandates  of  the  Congress.  One  of 
the  Committee-men  demanded  of  a  loyal  Constitutionalist : 
"  What,  do  you  drink  Tea  ?    Take  care  what  you  do,  Mr. 


253 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  APRIL,  1775. 


254 


C,  for  you  are  to  know  the  Committee  command  the  mob, 
and  can  in  an  instant  let  them  loose  upon  any  man  who 
opposes  their  decrees,  and  complete  his  destruction."  But 
upon  his  damning  the  King,  the  spirit  of  the  gallant  Roy- 
alist grew  impatient,  and  lie  opened  a  battery  of  execra- 
tions upon  Committees  and  Congresses  of  all  denominations. 
This,  of  course,  occasioned  his  being  ordered  before  the 
whole  Sanhedrim,  where  he  is  to  be  interrogated  after  the 
manner  of  the  Spanish  and  Portugal  inquisitions.  To  this 
complexion  is  American  liberty,  through  the  influence  of  the 
King-killing  Republicans,  already  arrived.  But  the  culprit 
is  true  game,  and  will  prove  as  tough  a  sapling  as  ever  these 
big  wigs  have  tried  their  strength  upon,  if  these  choose 
to  carry  matters  to  extremity,  now  is  the  time  to  repel  force 
by  force,  in  defence  of  the  constitutional  liberty  of  the 
Colony  ;  and  be  the  strength  of  the  disaffected  what  it  may, 
the  lives  and  fortunes  of  many  in  this  Country  will  be 
freely  hazarded  in  defence  of  King  George  the  Third,  and 
t lie  laws  of  his  Realm. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FHOM  BOSTON,  TO  A  GENTLEMAN  IN 
PHILADELPHIA,  DATED  SATURDAY,  APRIL  1,  1775. 

On  Thursday  last  at  daylight,  the  Troops  beat  to  arms  ; 
five  Regiments  marched  out  with  Earl  Percy  at  their  head  ; 
it  was  supposed  they  were  going  to  Concord,  where  our 
Provincial  Congress  is  now  sitting.  A  quantity  of  provi- 
sions and  warlike  stores,  I  understand,  is  lodged  there. 
Several  expresses  were  immediately  sent  away  to  give  no- 
tice of  their  marching.  Important  consequences  were 
apprehended  ;  but  happily  they  only  went  a  few  miles  out 
of  Boston  and  returned  again.  The  Town  and  Country 
were  alarmed  ;  many  of  the  neighbouring  country  Towns 
immediately  mustered,  and  got  equipped  for  a  march.  It 
has  given  such  uneasiness,  that  Committees  from  twelve  of 
the  near  Towns  have  met  upon  it,  and  intend  sending 
a  Petition  to  the  Provincial  Congress  representing  this  af- 
fair to  them,  desiring  they  would  take  up  the  matter,  and 
remonstrate  to  the  General  upon  it.  The  Troops  went  out 
of  the  common  road  ;  marched  over  the  people's  land — some 
where  their  grain  was  sown — and  gardens ;  broke  down  their 
fences,  walls,  &lc,  and  doing  other  injuries.  It  is  thought 
such  proceedings  will  bring  on  bad  consequences,  unless 
prevented.  The  late  conduct  of  the  Regulars,  in  tarring 
and  feathering  a  countryman,  headed  by  one  of  their  Co- 
lonels and  other  Officers,  and  the  spirited  remonstrance  it 
occasioned  from  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town  of  Billerica 
to  General  Gage,  has  made  much  talk. 

The  military  spirit  and  resolution  prevailing  in  this  Prov- 
ince, in  support  of  their  liberties  and  Constitution,  is  aston- 
ishing. I  hope  we  shall  soon  have  some  good  news  from 
home,  to  prevent  any  breaking  out,  which  I  begin  to  fear, 
especially  if  the  troops  continue  their  marchings  out.  I 
have  heard  that  forty  or  fifty  of  the  troops  were  so  fatigued 
by  their  march  on  Thursday,  that  they  could  not  keep  up 
with  their  fellow  soldiers  on  their  return.  It  is  said  they 
are  intending  to  go  out  again  soon.  The  Provincial  grand 
magazine  of  provisions  and  warlike  stores  is  kept  at  Wor- 
cester, about  forty-four  miles  from  Boston. 


COUNCIL  OF  NORTH-CAROLINA. 

At  a  Council  held  at  Newbern,  the  2d  of  April,  1775, 
Present:  His  Excellency  the  Governour,  the  Hon.  Jas. 
Hasell,  Hon.  John  Rutherford,  Hon.  Lewis  H.  De  Ros- 
sett,  Hon.  Alexander  McCulloh,  Samuel  Strudwicke, 
Martin  Howard,  and  Samuel  Cornell,  Esquires. 

His  Excellency  acquainted  the  Board  that  he  had  receiv- 
ed His  Majesty's  commands  to  use  his  utmost  endeavours 
to  prevent  the  appointment  of  Deputies  from  this  Colony, 
to  attend  another  Congress  intended  to  be  held  at  Phila- 
delphia, in  the  month  of  May  next.  And  as  a  Convention 
is  appointed  by  advertisement  to  meet  to-morrow  in  New- 
bern, for  the  choice  of  such  Delegates,  His  Excellency 
desired  the  advise  of  the  Council  what  measures  were  pro- 
per to  be  taken  to  prevent  the  meeting  of  such  unlawful 
assembly.  The  Board  were  unanimously  of  opinion  that 
His  Excellency  had  no  other  means  than  to  issue  a  Procla- 
mation to  forbid  the  holding  of  the  proposed  Convention, 
and  to  declare  that  such  proceedings  would  be  highly  of- 


fensive to  His  Majesty;  upon  which  His  Excellency  issued 
the  following 

Proclamation. 

Whereas,  I  have  received  information  that,  in  conse- 
quence of  an  advertisement  signed  John  Harvey,  Modera- 
tor, some  time  since  published  and  dispersed  through  (his 
Province,  sundry  persons  have  been  elected  by  a  small 
number  of  Freeholders  in  the  several  Counties,  to  meet  in 
Convention  in  the  Town  of  Newbern,  on  this  day  for  the 
choice  of  Deputies  to  represent  this  Colony  in  a  Congress 
intended  to  be  held  at  the  City  of  Philadelphia,  in  the 
month  of  May  next:  And  whereas,  the  meeting  of  such 
Convention,  and  the  declared  purpose  thereof  will  be  high- 
ly offensive  to  the  King,  and  dishonourable  to  the  General 
Assembly  of  this  Province,  which  is  appointed  to  sit  at  this 
time  for  the  despatch  of  publick  business :  I  have,  there- 
fore, thought  fit,  with  the  advice  of  His  Majesty's  Council, 
to  issue  this  Proclamation,  hereby  in  the  King's  name  to 
forbid  the  holding  of  the  said  Convention.  And  I  do  ex- 
hort all  His  Majesty's  subjects,  on  their  allegiance  and  on 
pain  of  incurring  His  Majesty's  high  displeasure,  to  with- 
draw themselves  from  the  same,  and  to  desist  from  all  such 
illegal,  unwarrantable,  and  dangerous  proceedings. 

Given,  &c,  the  3d  of  April,  1775.        Jo.  Martin. 
God  save  the  King. 


GLOUCESTER  COUNTY  (VIRGINIA)  COMMITTEE. 

At  a  Meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Gloucester  County, 
at  the  Court-House  of  the  said  County,  on  Monday,  the 
3d  of  April,  1775, 

Warner  Lewis,  Esq.,  Chairman. 

The  Resolves  of  the  Convention  held  at  the  Town  of 
Richmond  the  20th  of  March,  1775,  were  read  and  unani- 
mously approved  of. 

Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  this  Committee  be  pre- 
sented to  Thomas  Whiting  and  Leivis  Burwell,  Esquires, 
our  worthy  Delegates,  for  their  faithful  discharge  of  the 
important  trust  reposed  in  them. 

It  being  late  before  a  sufficient  number  of  members  as- 
sembled to  proceed  upon  business,  the  Committee  adjourn- 
ed to  Tuesday,  the  25th  instant. 


Committee  Chamber,  Philadelphia,  April  3,  1775. 
Whereas  there  is  the  greatest  reason  to  believe  that  quan- 
tities of  East  India  Goods  have  been  purchased  in  England 
by  Holland  merchants  and  others,  with  a  view  to  transport 
them  to  the  Dutch  Islands  in  the  West-Indies,  and  from 
thence  introduce  them  into  the  Ports  of  North  America  ; 
and  as  such  a  traffick  would  not  only  be  injurious  to  the 
trade  and  interest  of  this  Country,  but  effectually  counter- 
act the  Non-Importation  Agreement  which  has  been  adopt- 
ed, among  other  measures,  for  the  common  safety,  this 
Committee  therefore  think  it  expedient  thus  publickly  to 
caution  their  fellow-citizens  against  engaging  in  so  perni- 
cious a  trade,  and  to  declare  that  the  utmost  vigilance  will 
be  used  to  detect  any  persons  who  shall  endeavour  to  im- 
port such  India  Goods  from  the  Dutch  Islands  or  elsewhere, 
and  when  detected  their  names  will  be  published  to  the 
world,  as  delinquents  and  enemies  to  the  liberties  of  Ame- 
rica.   By  order  of  the  Committee: 

John  Benezet,  Assistant  Secretary. 


FREEHOLD  (MONMOUTH  COUNTY,  N.  J.)  COMMITTEE. 

April  3,  1775. 

Thomas  Leonard,  Esquire,  having  been  duly  notified  to 
appear  this  day  before  the  Committee  of  Inspection  for  the 
Township  of  Freehold,  in  the  County  of  Monmouth,  New- 
Jersey,  and  answer  to  a  number  of  complaints  made  against 
him,  did  not  think  proper  to  attend. 

The  Committee  therefore  proceeded,  with  care  and  im- 
partiality, to  consider  the  evidence  laid  before  them,  and 
were  unanimously  of  opinion,  that  the  said  Thomas  Leo- 
nard, Esquire,  has,  in  a  number  of  instances,  been  guilty 
of  a  breach  of  the  Continental  Association,  and  that,  pur- 
suant to  the  tenour  of  said  Association,  every  friend  to 
true  freedom  ought  immediately  to  break  off  all  connexion 
and  dealings  with  him,  the  said  Leonard,  and  treat  him  as 
a  foe  to  the  rights  of  British  America. 


255 


NORTH-CAROLINA  ASSEMBLY,  APRIL,  1775. 


256 


Ordered,  That  tlieir  Clerk  transmit  a  copy  of  this  judg- 
ment to  the  Press.    Signed  accordingly  by 

Nath.  Scudder,  Clerk. 

EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  NEW-YORK  TO  A  GENTLEMAN 
IN  BOSTON,  DATED  APRIL  3,  1775. 

I  am  really  under  the  greatest  anxiety  for  the  fate  of 
you  and  your  distressed  citizens,  as  such  great  quantities  of 
military  stores  have  been  carried  from  hence  to  your  Town, 
as  well  as  boards,  hay,  straw,  bran,  harness,  &ic,  &c, 
which,  added  to  the  three  hundred  horses  that  we  are  told 
are  sent  for  to  Canada,  portends  the  worst  of  designs.  It 
is  suspected  that  the  Troops  really  mean  to  take  the  6eld, 
and  attempt  to  open  the  Courts  under  the  new  regulation, 
or  make  a  forced  march  to  Worcester.  Others  imagine 
that  they  will  march  out  five  or  ten  miles  at  a  time,  in  order 
to  compel  you  to  commence  hostilities  first;  whilst  some 
think  that  nothing  will  be  attempted  till  the  Parliament 
has  decided  on  the  grand  controversy.  However,  I  am 
not  clear  but  that  orders  to  prosecute  the  Ministry's  inten- 
tions, till  the  Parliament  decides  otherwise,  may  have  been 
sent ;  and  should  your  noble  spirits  be  subdued,  there  is  no 
doubt  but  the  Parliament  itself  would  justify  such  a  con- 
duct, though  at  the  expense  of  much  blood  and  treasure. 
For  Heaven's  sake  be  watchful,  as  all,  under  God,  depends 
on  your  conduct  at  this  time.  A  vessel  with  nails,  boards, 
&cc,  for  the  Army,  is  ashore  at  Hell-Gate. 


DR.  JOSEPH  WARREN  TO  ARTHUR  LEE. 

Boston,  April  3,  1775. 
Dear  Sir:  Your  favour  of  the  21st  of  December  came 
opportunely  to  hand,  as  it  enabled  me  to  give  the  Provin- 
cial Congress,  now  sitting  at  Concord,  a  just  view  of  the 
measures  pursued  by  the  tools  of  the  Administration  ;  and 
effectually  to  guard  them  against  that  state  of  security  into 
which  many  have  endeavoured  to  lull  them.  If  we  ever 
obtain  a  redress  of  grievances  from  Great  Britain,  it  must 
be  by  the  influence  of  those  illustrious  personages,  whose 
virtue  now  keeps  them  out  of  power.     The  King  never 


will  bring  them  into  power,  until  the  ignorance  and  phren- 
sy  of  the  present  Administration  make  the  Throne  on  which 
he  sits  shake  under  him.  If  America  is  an  humble  instru- 
ment of  the  salvation  of  Britain,  it  will  give  us  the  sincer- 
est  joy  ;  but  if  Britain  must  lose  her  liberty,  she  must  lose 
it  alone.  America  must  and  will  be  free.  The  contest 
may  be  severe — the  end  will  be  glorious.  We  would  not 
boast,  but  we  think,  united  and  prepared  as  we  are,  we 
have  no  reason  to  doubt  of  success,  if  we  should  be  com- 
pelled to  the  last  appeal ;  but  we  mean  not  to  make  that 
appeal  until  we  can  be  justified  in  doing  it  in  the  sight  of 
God  and  man.  Happy  shall  we  be  if  the  Mother  Country 
will  allow  us  the  free  enjoyment  of  our  rights,  and  indulge 
us  in  the  pleasing  employment  of  aggrandizing  her. 

The  members  for  the  Continental  Congress  are  almost 
all  chosen  by  the  several  Colonies.  Indeed,  if  any  Colony 
should  neglect  to  choose  members,  it  would  be  ruinous  to 
it;  as  all  intercourse  would  immediately  cease  between  that 
Colony  and  the  whole  Continent. 

The  First  Brigade  of  the  Army  marched  about  four 
miles  out  of  Town  three  days  ago,  under  the  command  of 
a  Brigadier  General,  (Earl  Percy,)  but  as  they  marched 
without  baggage  or  artillery,  they  did  not  occasion  so  great 
an  alarm  as  they  otherwise  would.  Nevertheless  great 
numbers,  completely  armed,  collected  in  the  neighbouring 
Towns  ;  and  it  is  the  opinion  of  many,  that  had  they  march- 
ed eight  or  ten  miles,  and  attempted  to  destroy  any  maga- 
zines, or  abuse  the  people,  not  a  man  of  them  would  have 
returned  to  Boston.  The  Congress  immediately  took 
proper  measures  for  restraining  any  unnecessary  effusion 
of  blood ;  and  also  passed  proper  resolves  respecting  the 
Army,  if  they  should  attempt  to  come  out  of  the  Town 
with  baggage  and  artillery. 

I  beg  leave  to  recommend  to  your  notice  Mr.  Dana, 
the  bearer  hereof,  (a  gentleman  of  the  law,)  a  man  of  sense 
and  probity,  a  true  friend  to  his  Country,  of  a  respectable 
family  and  fortune. 

May  Heaven  bless  you,  and  reward  your  labours  with 
success.  I  am,  sir,  with  great  respect,  your  most  obedient 
humble  servant,  Jos.  Warren. 

To  Arthur  Lee,  Esq.,  London. 


NORTH-CAROLINA  ASSEMBLY. 
North- Carolina,  ss. 

At  an  Assembly  begun  and  held  at  Newbern  the  fourth 
day  of  April,  in  the  fifteenth  year  of  the  reign  of  our 
Sovereign  Lord  George  the  Third,  by  the  grace  of  God  of 
Great  Britain,  France,  and  Ireland,  King,  Defender  of 
the  Faith,  etc.,  and  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand 
seven  hundred  and  seventy-five,  being  the  first  session  of 
this  present  Assembly  : 

The  Clerk  of  the  Crown  having  certified  that  the  fol- 
lowing persons  were  duly  elected,  and  returned  Represent- 
atives for  the  respective  Counties  and  Towns,  viz  : 
Anson  County. — (None.) 

Beaufort. — Roger  Ormond,  Thomas  Respess,  Jun. 

Bertie. — John  Johnston,  David  Stanley. 

Bladen. —  William  Salter.  James  White. 

Brunswick. — Robert  Howe,  John  Rowan. 

Bute. —  William  Person,  Green  Hill. 

Craven. — James  Coor,  Lemuel  Hatch. 

Carteret. — William  Thompson,  Solomon  Shej>hard. 

Chowan. — Samuel  Johnston,  Thomas  Oldham,  Thomas 

Benbury,  Thomas  Jones,  Thomas  Hunter. 
Currituck. — Thomas  Macknight,  Francis  Williamson, 

Solomon  Perkins,  Samuel  Jarvis,  Nathan  Poyner. 
Cumberland. — Farquard  Campbell,  Thomas  Rutherford. 
Chatham. — (None.) 

Dobbs. — Richard  Caswell,  William  McKinnie. 
Duplin. — Thomas  Gray,  Thomas  Hicks. 
Edgecombe. — (None.) 

Granville. —  Thomas  Person,  Memucan  Hunt. 
Guilford. — (None.) 

Halifax. — Nicholas  Long,  Benjamin  McCulloch. 
Hf.rtforo. —  William  Murfree,  George  Wynns. 
Johnston. — Ncedham  Bryan,  Benjamin  Williams. 
Martin. — (None.) 
Mecklenburgh. — (None.) 


New-Hanover. — John  Ashe,,  William  Hooper. 

Northampton. — Allen  Jones,  Jcptha  Athcrton. 

Orange. — Ralph  McNair,  Thomas  Hart. 

Onslow. —  William  Cray,  Henry  Rhodes. 

Pasquotank. — Jonathan  Hearring,  Isaac  Gregory,  Ed- 
ward Everigin,  Joseph  Reding,  Joseph  Jones. 

Perquimans. — John  Harvey,  Benjamin  Harvey,  Andrew 
Knox,  Thomas  Harvey,  John  Whedbee. 

Pitt. — John  Simpson,  Edward  Salter. 

Rowan. — Griffith  Rutherford,  Matthew  Lock. 

Surry. — (None.) 

Tryon. —  William  Moore,  William  Alston. 

Tyrrell. — Benj.  Spruill,  Jos.  Spruill,  Jeremiah  Fraser. 

Wake. — (None.) 

For  the  Town  of  Bath. —  William  Brown. 

Brunswick. — Parker  Quince. 
Campbelton. — Robert  Rowan. 
Edenton. — Joseph  Hewes. 
Halifax. — (None.) 
Hillsborough. — Francis  Nash. 
Newbern. — (None.) 
Salisbury. — (None.) 
Wilmington. —  Cornelius  Harnett. 

Pursuant  to  which  the  following  persons  appeared,  viz: 


John  Harvey, 
Andrew  Knox, 
Joseph  Hewes, 
Samuel  Johnston, 
Thomas  Oldham, 
Thomas  Benhury, 
Thomas  Jones, 
Thomas  Hunter, 
Isaac  Gregory, 
Joseph  Jones, 
John  Campbell, 
John  Johnston, 
David  Stanley, 
Thomas  Hicks, 
William  Salter, 
James  White, 


Farquard  Campbell, 
Thomas  Rutherford, 
Jeremiah  Fraser, 
James  Coor, 
Lemuel  Hatch, 
Thomas  Person, 
Memucan  Hunt, 
Francis  Nash, 
John  Simpson, 
Edward  Salter, 
William  Thompson, 
Solomon  Sheppard, 
Nicholas  Long, 
Benjamin  McCulloch, 
William  Cray, 
Henry  Rhodes, 


Richard  Caswell, 
Thomas  Macknight, 
Solomon  Perkins, 
Samuel  Jarvis, 
Nathan  Poyner, 
Griffith  Rutherford, 
Cornelius  Harnett, 
Robert  Howe, 
John  Ashe, 
William  Hooper, 
Ralph  Macnair, 
William  Person, 
Green  Hill, 
Allen  Jones, 
Jeptha  Atherton, 
George  Wynns. 


257 


NORTH-CAROLINA  ASSEMBLY,  APRIL,  1775. 


258 


The  Clerk  of  this  House  waited  on  his  Excellency  the 
Governour,  and  acquainted  him  that  a  sufficient  number  of 
Members  to  constitute  a  House  were  met,  and  to  desire  his 
Excellency  to  issue  a  Commission,  and  appoint  some  of  the 
members  of  Council  to  see  them  qualified. 

Being  returned,  brought  for  answer  that  his  Excellency 
would  appoint  two  of  the  Members  accordingly. 

The  Honourable  Leivis  H.  De  Rossct,  and  Alexander 
McCulloch,  Esquires,  two  of  the  members  of  Council 
came  to  the  House ;  and  the  above  forty-eight  Members 
were  qualified,  by  taking  the  oaths  by  law  appointed  for 
the  qualification  of  publick  officers,  and  repeating  and  sub- 
scribing the  test. 

Mr.  Caswell  and  Mr.  Macknight  waited  on  his  Excel- 
lency the  Governour  to  inform  him  that  the  Members  had 
qualified,  and  that  they  waited  to  receive  his  commands. 

Being  returned,  reported  to  the  House  that  his  Excel- 
lency would  send  a  Message  to  the  Members  to  wait  on 
him. 

Received  from  his  Excellency  the  Governour  a  verbal 
message  by  his  Secretary,  desiring  the  attendance  of  the 
Members  in  the  Palace  at  12  o'clock. 

The  Members  waited  on  his  Excellency  the  Governour 
in  the  Palace,  when  he  was  pleased  to  direct  that  they 
return  to  the  House  and  make  choice  of  a  Speaker. 

The  Members  being  returned  to  the  House,  Mr.  Samuel 
Johnston  proposed  and  set  up  John  Harvey,  Esquire,  who 
was  unanimously  chosen  Speaker,  and  placed  in  the  chair 
accordingly. 

On  motion,  Ordered,  Mr.  Knox  and  Mr.  McCulloch 
wait  on  his  Excellency  the  Governour,  and  acquaint  him 
the  House  had  made  choice  of  a  Speaker,  and  desire  to 
know  when  they  shall  wait  on  his  Excellency  to  present 
him. 

Being  returned,  informed  the  House  his  Excellency 
would  send  a  message  when  he  would  receive  them. 

Received  from  his  Excellency  the  Governour  a  verbal 
message  by  his  Secretary,  requiring  the  immediate  atten- 
dance of  the  House  in  the  Palace. 

The  House  waited  on  his  Excellency  the  Governour  in 
the  Palace,  and  presented  their  Speaker,  whom  his  Excel- 
lency was  pleased  to  approve  of. 

Then  Mr.  Speaker  requested  his  Excellency  to  confirm 
the  rights  and  privileges  of  the  House,  and  that  no  mistake 
or  errour  of  his  might  be  imputed  to  the  House  ;  to  which 
his  Excellency  was  pleased  to  answer,  he  would  support 
the  House  in  all  their  just  rights  and  privileges,  and  then 
made  a  Speech  to  His  Majesty's  Council  and  this  House. 

Mr.  Speaker  with  the  House  being  returned,  Mr.  Speak- 
er reported  that  his  Excellency  the  Governour  had  made 
a  Speech  to  the  Council  and  this  House,  a  copy  of  which, 
to  prevent  mistake,  he  had  obtained,  and  laid  the  same 
before  the  House. 

Then,  on  motion,  Ordered,  the  said  Speech  be  read. 

Read  the  same,  and  is  as  follows,  to  wit : 

Gentlemen  of  His  Majesty's  Honourable  Council, 

Mr.  Speaker,  and  Gentlemen  of  the  House  of  Assembly : 

1  have  now  met  you  in  General  Assembly,  in  hopes  that, 
dismissing  every  cause  of  private  dissention  from  your 
minds  you  will  calmly,  unitedly,  and  faithfully  apply 
yourselves  to  the  discharge  of  the  high  and  important 
office  of  legislation,  in  which  you  bear  so  great  a  share, 
according  to  the  Constitution  of  this  Country,  that  calls 
upon  you  for  relief  at  this  time  in  a  most  peculiar  and 
pressing  manner. 

I  look,  gentlemen,  with  the  extremest  horrour  and  con- 
cern to  the  consequences  of  the  violent  and  unjustifiable 
proceedings  in  some  of  His  Majesty's  Colonies  of  this  Con- 
tinent, where  in  many  places  the  innocent,  unwary,  and 
ignorant  part  of  the  people  have  been  cruelly  betrayed 
into  measures  highly  inconsistent  with  their  duty  and  alle- 
giance to  our  most  gracious  Sovereign  and  the  State,  that 
tend  immediately  to  involve  them  in  the  most  embarrassing 
difficulties  and  distresses,  and  which,  if  pursued,  must  ine- 
vitably precipitate  these  Colonies  from  their  present  unpa- 
ralleled state  of  prosperity  into  a  train  of  miseries  most 
dreadful  to  contemplate,  whence  ages  of  time  will  not 
redeem  them  to  their  now  envied  felicity.  You,  gentlemen, 
are  bound  by  your  duty  to  the  King,  to  the  State,  and  to 
this  People,  as  well  as  1,  by  mine,  to  obviate  the  contagion 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii. 


of  these  evil  examples  in  this  Country,  and  to  defend  it, 
if  possible,  from  the  ruin  and  distraction  to  which  they 
plainly  lead. 

I  see  with  infinite  concern  the  unhappy  influence  they 
have  already  had  among  us.  The  meetings  to  which  the 
people  have  been  excited,  the  appointment  of  Committees, 
the  violences  these  little  unrestrained  and  arbitrary  tribu- 
nals have  done  to  the  rights  of  His  Majesty's  subjects,  the 
flagrant  and  unpardonable  insults  they  have  offered  to  the 
highest  authorities  of  the  State,  by  some  of  their  acts, 
which  have  been  made  publick  ;  and  the  stop  that  has 
been  put  in  some  of  the  Counties  to  the  regular  course 
of  justice,  in  imitation  of  the  unw  arrantable  measures  taken 
in  other  Colonies,  but  too  plainly  evince  their  baneful  pro- 
gress here,  and  loudly  demand  the  most  effectual  exertion 
of  your  restraining  and  correcting  powers. 

You  are  now,  gentlemen  of  the  Assembly,  by  your  duty 
to  yourselves  and  to  your  constituents,  most  peculiarly 
called  upon  to  oppose  a  meeting  of  Delegates,  which  the 
people  have  been  invited  to  choose,  and  who  are  appointed 
to  assemble  at  this  very  time  and  place  in  the  face  of  the 
Legislature.  This  illegal  meeting,  pursuant  to  my  duty  to 
the  King  and  to  the  Constitution  of  this  Country,  and  from 
regard  to  your  dignity  and  the  just  rights  of  the  people,  1 
have  counteracted,  and  I  shall  continue  to  resist  it  by  every 
means  in  my  power.  What  can  this  mean,  gentlemen  ? 
Are  you  not  the  only  lawful  Representatives  of  the  people 
in  this  Country,  and  competent  to  every  legal  purpose  ? 
Will  you,  then,  submit  to  see  your  constituents  misled,  to 
violate  their  dearest  privileges  by  wounding  your  dignity, 
and  setting  up  Representatives  derogatory  to  your  just 
power  and  authority?  This,  gentlemen,  is  an  insult  to  you 
of  so  violent  a  nature  that  it  appears  to  me  to  demand 
your  every  possible  discouragement,  for  its  evident  tendency 
is  to  excite  a  belief  in  the  people  that  they  are  capable  of 
electing  Representatives  of  superiour  powers  to  the  Mem- 
bers of  your  House  ;  which,  if  it  can  possibly  obtain,  must 
lead  to  obvious  consequences,  to  the  destruction  of  the  es- 
sence, if  not  the  very  being  of  an  Assembly  in  this  Prov- 
ince, and  finally  to  the  utter  dissolution  and  overthrow  of 
its  established  happy  Constitution. 

This,  gentlemen,  among  others  I  have  before  mentioned, 
is  one  of  the  fatal  expedients  employed  in  some  of  the 
other  Colonies,  under  the  influence  of  factious  and  wicked 
men,  intent  upon  promoting  their  own  horrid  purposes  at 
the  hazard  of  their  Country's  ruin.  I  hope  they  have  been 
adopted  here  more  from  a  spirit  of  imitation  than  ill  prin- 
ciples, and  that  you,  clearly  discerning  the  mischiefs  with 
which  they  are  pregnant,  will  heartily  concur  with  me  in 
opposing  dawnings  of  so  dangerous  a  system. 

As  an  object  of  the  greatest  consequence  to  all  the 
Colonies,  I  would  recommend  it  to  your  first  attention  to 
employ  your  utmost  care  and  assiduity  to  remove  those 
false  impressions,  by  which  the  engines  of  sedition  have 
laboured  to  effect  (but  too  successfully)  a  most  unnatural 
division  between  the  Parent  State  and  these  Colonies, 
which,  under  her  protecting,  indulgent,  fostering  care,  have 
attained  to  a  degree  of  prosperity  beyond  all  example. 
The  basest  arts  have  been  practised  upon  the  innocent 
people,  and  they  have  been  blindly  led  to  partake  in  guilt, 
to  which  their  hearts  are  confessedly  averse  ;  and  thus,  step 
by  step,  they  will  be  seduced  from  their  duty,  and  all  the 
bonds  of  civil  society  will  be  destroyed,  unless  timely- 
remedies  are  applied.  This,  gentlemen,  is  a  melancholy 
prospect,  that  must  seriously  alarm  every  good  subject, 
every  humane,  every  honest  man  ;  and  it  will  be  your  duty, 
as  guardians  of  the  constitutional  rights  of  the  people, 
vigorously  to  oppose  proceedings  so  manifestly  subversive 
of  their  freedom  and  happiness. 

Be  it  your  care,  then, gentlemen,  to  undeceive  the  people  ; 
to  lead  them  back  from  the  dangerous  precipice  to  which 
an  ill  spirit  of  faction  is  urging  them,  to  the  paths  of  their 
duty  ;  set  before  them  the  sacred  tic  of  allegiance,  by  which, 
as  subjects,  they  are  bound  to  the  State  ;  inform  them  of 
the  reciprocal  benefits  which  their  strict  observance  thereof 
entitles  them  to;  and  warn  them  of  the  danger  to  which 
they  must  expose  their  lives  and  properties,  and  all  that 
they  hold  dear,  by  revolting  from  it. 

The  frequent  occasions  you  have  had,  in  your  several 
capacities  as  Members  of  the  Legislature  and  Magistrates, 
most  solemnly  to  swear  this  allegiance,  which  is  an  implied 


259 


NORTH-CAROLINA  ASSEMBLY,  APRIL,  1775. 


260 


duty  upon  every  subject  of  every  State,  where  it  is  not 
professed  and  declared,  must  have  brought  it  home  to  your 
own  consideration,  and  you  are  therefore  certainly  well 
qualified  to  explain  the  obligatory  nature  and  importance 
of  it  to  the  people.  They  will  naturally  look  up  to  you 
for  a  rule  of  conduct  in  these  wild  and  distempered  times ; 
and  I  have  no  doubt  that,  taught  by  your  example,  they 
will  immediately  return  to  their  duty  and  obedience  to  the 
laws,  and  gladly  free  themselves  from  that  tyranny  which 
ill-directed  zeal  and  lawless  ambition,  by  all  the  arts  of 
misrepresentation  and  delusion,  are  courting  them  to  submit 
to.  I  have  the  high  satisfaction  to  tell  you,  gentlemen, 
that  I  have  already  received  signal  proofs  of  the  steady 
loyalty  and  duty  of  a  great  number  of  the  good  people  of 
this  Province,  and  I  have  the  fullest  assurance  that  many 
more  will  follow  their  laudable  example.  These,  gentle- 
men, are  favourable  presages,  upon  which  1  congratulate 
you,  and  which  I  persuade  myself  your  prudent  conduct 
will  improve  to  the  honour  and  advantage  of  your  Country. 

The  state  of  the  Colonies  is  at  this  time  the  subject  of 
the  deliberations  of  the  grand  Council  of  the  Nation,  from 
whose  wisdom  and  justice  they  have  every  thing  to  expect 
consistent  with  the  principles  of  the  British  Constitution 
and  the  general  welfare  of  the  Empire,  while  they  continue 
in  the  duty  they  owe  to  it.  The  confessed  generous  cha- 
racter of  Britain,  and  the  magnanimity  of  our  most  gracious 
Sovereign,  who,  through  the  whole  course  of  his  reign,  has 
uniformly  made  the  happiness  of  his  people  the  object  of 
all  his  views,  and  the  rule  of  all  his  actions,  insures  it  to 
them.  On  this  great  Arbiter  of  British  rights  it  therefore 
becomes  you  to  rely  with  the  fullest  confidence,  and  to  de- 
serve, by  a  dutiful  behaviour,  its  favourable  regard.  If  a 
precedent  could  be  wanting,  as  I  cannot  suppose  it  is,  to 
induce  to  such  right  conduct,  one  of  the  most  respectable 
of  the  Colonies  affords  it  to  you ;  and  you  will  see,  without 
question,  how  highly  improper  it  will  be,  at  such  a  conjunc- 
ture, to  countenance  any  measures  of  a  contrary  nature. 
If  the  people  of  this  Colony  have  any  representations  to 
make  to  the  supreme  powers  of  the  State,  you  are  the  only 
legal  and  proper  channel  of  their  applications,  and  through 
you  they  may  be  assured  of  every  attention  to  their  dutiful 
petitions.  You,  gentlemen,  I  dare  say,  esteem  too  highly 
the  rights  of  the  people  committed  to  your  guardianship, 
and  know  too  well  the  limits  of  your  own  power,  to  consign 
them  to  any  other  hands  that  must  only  be  disqualified  to 
serve  the  people,  but  will  infallibly  divest  you  of  that  dig- 
nity and  consequence  which  belong  to  you  as  their  lawful 
Representatives. 

Let  me  hope,  gentlemen,  that,  laying  aside  all  passion 
and  prejudice,  you  will  calmly,  and  with  one  accord,  pursue 
such  a  line  of  conduct  in  these  points  of  general  concern 
to  America,  as  may  be  most  likely  to  heal  the  unhappy 
differences  now  subsisting  between  Great  Britain  and  her 
Colonies.  Consider  how  great  an  opportunity  you  now 
have  to  serve,  to  save  your  Country,  to  manifest  your  loy- 
alty to  the  best  of  Kings,  and  to  demonstrate  your  attach- 
ment to  the  British  Constitution — the  most  free,  the  most 
glorious  and  happiest  political  system  in  the  whole  world. 
If  you  consult  but  for  a  moment  your  own  interest  and 
welfare,  and  the  happiness  of  this  people,  I  cannot  be  dis- 
appointed in  my  hopes  that  you  will  avail  yourselves  of  the 
occasion.  Be  it  your  glory,  gentlemen,  to  record  to  latest 
posterity,  that  at  a  time  when  the  monster  Sedition  dared 
to  rear  his  impious  head  in  America,  the  people  of  North- 
Carolina,  inspired  with  a  just  sense  of  their  duty  to  their 
King  and  Country,  and  animated  by  the  example  of  its  Le- 
gislature, stood  among  the  foremost  of  his  Majesty's  sub- 
jects, to  resist  his  baneful  snares  and  to  repel  the  fell  invader 
of  their  happiness.  Thus,  gentlemen,  you  may  redeem 
your  sinking  Country  to  prosperity  ;  thus  you  will  acquire 
to  yourselves  immortal  honour  and  renown :  while  a  con- 
trary conduct  must  inevitably  plunge  this  once  happy  land 
in  horrours  beyond  all  imagination  ;  whence  nothing  can 
recover  it  but  the  generous  hand  of  Britain,  interposed  to 
save  you  from  your  own  destruction.  Thus,  gentlemen,  I 
have  set  before  you,  upon  principles  of  your  duty  to  the 
Constitution  and  the  welfare  of  your  Country,  the  neces- 
sity of  discouraging,  to  the  utmost  of  your  power,  the  illegal 
meetingsinto  which  the  innocent  people  have  been  betrayed, 
and  the  unlawful  establishments  and  appointments  they 
have  been  led  to  give  their  sanction  to.    I  have  also  stated 


to  you  the  more  especial  obligations  you  lie  under  to  pre- 
vent that  meeting  to  which  the  people  have  been  invited 
to  send  Deputies  here  at  this  time,  and  I  have  fully  ad- 
monished you  of  the  ruinous  consequences  of  a  different 
conduct.  In  addition  to  these  powerful  motives,  gentle- 
men, I  am  authorized  to  say,  that  the  unwarrantable  mea- 
sure of  appointing  Delegates  to  attend  a  Congress  at  Phila- 
delphia, now  in  agitation,  will  be  highly  offensive  to  the 
King,  and  this,  I  cannot  doubt,  will  be  reason  with  you  of 
the  greatest  force  to  oppose  so  dangerous  a  step. 

Your  next  attention,  gentlemen,  is  due  to  the  particular 
state  of  this  Country,  that  calls  for  your  strictest  regard. 

The  exhausted  state  of  the  publick  Treasury,  the  large 
demands  upon  it  that  remain  unsatisfied,  the  dues  of  pub- 
lick  officers  that  are  unpaid,  call  loudly  for  your  attention 
to  the  ill  condition  of  publick  credit  and  the  finances  of 
this  Country,  and  1  trust  you  will  not  fail  to  pay  that  regard 
which  is  due  to  points  of  so  great  importance.  I  heartily 
wish,  with  regard  to  matters  of  finance  and  modes  of  taxa- 
tion, as  well  as  to  the  regulation  of  the  Treasury,  to  draw 
your  attention  to  the  admirable  systems  of  New-  Yor k  and 
Maryland,  in  which  last  Colony  publick  credit  is  established 
upon  the  firmest  basis;  but  the  example  of  every  other 
Colony,  with  regard  to  the  latter  article,  I  am  sorry  to  say 
it,  is  better  than  has  been  yet  adopted  here. 

You  have  now,  gentlemen,  a  fair  opportunity  to  restore 
to  this  Province,  by  a  law  for  the  permanent  establishment 
of  Courts,  that  great  store  of  political  blessings,  arising 
from  a  due  and  regular  administration  of  justice,  of  which 
I  have  long  lamented  to  see  it  deprived.  I  have  received 
His  Majesty's  determination  upon  the  proposed  regulations 
with  regard  to  proceedings  by  attachment,  which  have  been 
the  apparent  cause  of  this  misfortune.  This  I  shall  com- 
municate to  you  in  the  course  of  your  session,  and  I  hope 
it  will  obviate  all  the  difficulties  that  have  occurred  on  this 
subject.  When  the  establishment  of  Courts  shall  come 
under  your  consideration,  you  cannot  fail  to  see  the  neces- 
sity of  making  provision  for  the  Judges,  and  the  propriety 
of  that  provision  being  adequate  and  honourable,  and  suit- 
able to  offices  of  so  high  dignity  and  importance. 

Mr.  Speaker,  and  Gentlemen  of  the  House  of  Assembly: 
I  cannot  doubt  that  you  will  see  the  same  necessity  for 
supporting  the  usual  establishment  of  Fort  Johnston,  found- 
ed upon  the  same  principles  of  public  utility  that  have 
induced  you  to  maintain  it  during  so  long  a  series  of  years. 

Gentlemen  of  His  Majesty's  Honourable  Council, 

Mr.  Speaker,  and  Gentlemen  of  the  House  of  Assembly  : 
I  am  sensible  that  the  advanced  season  of  the  year  re- 
quires your  attendance  on  your  domestick  affairs,  and  I  shall 
therefore  be  glad  to  find  that  your  unanimity  in  the  conduct 
of  the  very  important  business  you  are  now  met  upon, 
affords  me  opportunity  to  conclude  your  session  speedily 
and  happily  ;  on  my  part,  I  do  assure  you,  nothing  shall  be 
wanting  to  promote  these  good  ends.         Jo.  Martin. 

Newbern,  4th  April,  1775. 

Then,  on  motion,  Ordered,  His  Excellency  the  Gov- 
ernour's  Speech  lie  for  consideration  till  to-morrow  morning. 

On  motion,  James  Green,  Jr.,  is  appointed  Clerk  to  this 
House;  James  Glasgow,  Assistant;  Benjamin  Fordham, 
Mace  Bearer ;  Francis  Lynaugh  and  Evan  Swann,  Door- 
keepers. 

Mr.  Jonathan  Hearring,  one  of  the  Members  for  Pas- 
quotank County,  appeared. 

Then  the  Bouse  adjourned  till  to-morrow  morning  10 
o'clock. 

Wednesday,  5th  April,  1775. 

The  House  met  according  to  adjournment. 

This  House  being  informed  that  Mr.  Isaac  Edwards, 
who  was  elected  Member  for  the  Town  of  Newbern,  is 
dead  : 

On  motion,  Ordered,  The  following  Message  be  sent  to 
his  Excellency  the  Governour,  to  wit : 

To  His  Excellency  Josiah  Martin,  Esquire,  Captain- 
General,  Governour,  Sfc,  fyc. 

Sir  :  This  House  having  been  informed  that  Mr.  Isaac 
Edwards,  who  was  elected  Member  for  the  Town  of  New- 
bern, is  dead,  therefore  desire  your  Excellency  will  be 


261 


ISORTH-CAROLINA  ASSEMBLY,  APRIL,  1775. 


262 


pleased  to  direct  the  Clerk  of  the  Crown  to  issue  a  writ 
for  electing  a  Member  for  the  said  Town,  to  sit  and  vote  in 
this  present  Assembly. 

John  Harvey,  Speaker. 
Sent  by  Mr.  Hatch  and  Mr.  Coor. 

The  House  being  informed  that  the  Returning  Officer 
of  Guilford  County  had  neglected  to  make  due  return 
of  the  Writ  of  Election  for  the  said  County,  whereby  one 
of  the  Members  is  deprived  of  a  seat  in  this  House, 

On  motion,  Ordered,  That  the  said  Officer  be  sent  for 
and  brought  in  custody  to  the  Bar  of  this  House,  to  answer 
for  such  his  conduct. 

The  Order  of  the  Day  being  read,  Resolved,  The  House 
resolve  itself  into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole  House  to- 
morrow morning,  to  take  under  consideration  His  Excel- 
lency the  Governour's  Speech. 

Then  the  House  adjourned  till  to-morrow  morning  10 
o'clock. 

Thursday,  6th  April,  1775. 

The  House  met  according  to  adjournment. 

On  motion,  Ordered,  That  Mr.  Ashe,  Mr.  Rhodes,  Mr. 
Thos.  Rutherford,  Mr.  Hunt,  Mr.  Sheppard,  Mr.  McCul- 
loch,  Mr.  Caswell,  Mr.  Hcwes,  Mr.  Hill,  Mr.  Thomas 
Jones,  and  Mr.  Gregory,  be  a  Committee  of  Privileges  and 
Elections,  and  that  they  have  power  to  send  for  persons, 
papers,  and  records,  as  the  case  may  require. 

On  motion,  Ordered,  That  Mr.  Hurnett,  Mr.  Hewes, 
Mr.  Knox,  Mr.  Cray,  Mr.  Samuel  Johnston,  Mr.  Hunt, 
Mr.  Jarvis,  Mr.  Howe,  Mr.  John  Campbell,  Mr.  Mac- 
knight,  Mr.  Hooper,  Mr.  Macnair,  and  Mr.  Long,  be  a 
Committee  of  Public  Accounts;  and  that  Mr.  Ashe,  Mr. 
Oldham,  Mr.  John  Johnston,  Mr.  Allen  Jones,  Mr.  Per- 
kins, Mr.  Thomas  Jones,  Mr.  Simpson,  Mr.  Farquard 
Campbell,  Mr.  Benbury,  Mr.  Rhodes,  Mr.  Gregory,  Mr. 
Edward  Salter,  Mr.  Fraser,  Mr.  William  Person,  and 
Mr.  Jarvis,  be  a  Committee  of  Public  Claims,  in  con- 
junction with  such  of  the  Members  of  His  Majesty's  ho- 
nourable Council  as  they  shall  think  fit  to  appoint,  and  that 
the  following  Message  be  sent  to  the  Council,  to  wit: 

Gentlemen  of  His  Majesty's  Honourable  Council : 

This  House  have  appointed  Mr.  Harnett,  Mr.  Hewes, 
Mr.  Knox,  Mr.  Gray,  Mr.  Samuel  Johnston,  Mr.  Hunt, 
Mr.  Jarvis,  Mr.  John  Campbell,  Mr.  Macknight,  Mr. 
Hooper,  Mr.  Macnair,  and  Mr.  Long,  on  the  Public  Ac- 
counts; and  Mr.  Ashe,  Mr.  Oldham,  Mr.  John  Johnston, 
Mr.  Allen  Jones,  Mr.  Perkins,  Mr.  Thomas  Jones,  Mr. 
Simpson,  Mr.  Farquard  Campbell,  Mr.  Benbury,  Mr. 
Rhodes,  Mr.  Gregory,  Mr.  Edward  Salter,  Mr.  Fraser, 
Mr.  William  Person,  and  Mr.  Jarvis,  be  a  Committee  of 
this  House  to  settle  and  allow  Public  Claims,  in  conjunc- 
tion with  such  of  your  Honours  as  you  shall  think  fit  to  ap- 
point. John  Harvey,  Speaker. 
Sent  by  Mr.  McCulloch  and  Mr.  Gregory. 

On  motion,  Ordered,  That  Mr.  William  Salter,  Mr. 
William  Person,  Mr.  Howe,  Mr.  Stanley,  Mr.  Coor,  Mr. 
Sheppard,  Mr.  Poyner,  Mr.  Hunter,  Mr.  Farquard 
Campbell,  Mr.  Casivell,  Mr.  Thomas  Person,  Mr.  Wynns, 
Mr.  Long.  Mr.  Ashe,  Mr.  Atherton,  Mr.  Francis  Nash, 
Mr.  Rhodes,  Mr.  Knox,  Mr.  Joseph  Jones,  Mr.  Edward 
Salter,  Mr.  Griffith  Rutherford,  Mr.  Fraser,  Mr.  Hewes, 
and  Mr.  Harnett,  be  a  Committee  of  Propositions  and 
Grievances. 

The  Order  of  the  Day  being  read,  for  taking  into  con- 
sideration his  Excellency's  Speech, 

On  motion,  Resolved,  The  House  resolve  itself  into  a 
Committee  of  the  Whole  House. 

The  House  resolved  itself  into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole 
House  accordingly,  and  chose  Mr.  Andrew  Knox  Chair- 
man, and  after  some  time  spent  therein,  came  to  several 
Resolutions. 

Then  Mr.  Speaker  resumed  the  Chair,  and  Mr.  Chair- 
man reported  that  the  Committee  had  taken  under  con- 
sideration his  Excellency  the  Governour's  Speech,  and  came 
to  several  Resolutions  thereon,  to  wit: 

Resolved,  That  the  Committee  to  be  appointed  to  pre- 
pare an  Address,  in  answer  to  the  Governour's  Speech,  be 
instrucied  to  express  that  the  Assembly  of  North- Carolina 
have  the  highest  sense  of  the  allegiance  due  to  the  King  ; 


the  oath  so  repeatedly  taken  by  them  to  that  purpose,  made 
it  unnecessary  for  them  to  be  reminded  of  it.  That  it  has 
always  been  their  pleasure  to  express,  and  will  ever  be  so 
to  testify  by  their  actions,  that  allegiance  which,  however, 
they  profess  to  owe  to  His  Majesty  as  their  Sovereign, 
who  was  by  the  same  Constitution  which  established  that 
allegiance  and  enjoined  that  oath  (happily  for  his  subjects) 
solemnly  bound  to  protect  them  in  all  their  just  rights  and 
privileges,  by  which  a  reciprocal  duty  became  incumbent 
upon  both. 

That  it  is  the  undoubted  right  of  His  Majesty's  subjects 
to  petition  for  a  redress  of  grievances,  and  to  remonstrate 
against  them  either  in  separate  or  collective  capacity,  and 
that  in  order  to  agree  upon  such  petition  or  remonstrance, 
they  have  a  right  to  collect  themselves  together  ;  and  while 
they  conduct  themselves  in  a  peaceable  and  orderly  manner, 
theyr  deserve  not  to  be  called  an  illegal  meeting,  or  to  have 
the  imputation  of  sedition  cast  upon  them.  The  Assembly, 
therefore,  can  never  deem  the  meeting  of  the  present  Con- 
vention at  Newbern,  in  order  to  appoint  Delegates  to  peti- 
tion for  a  redress  of  grievances,  an  illegal  meeting,  nor  con- 
ceive it  derogatory  to  the  power  and  authority  of  the 
Assembly,  or  wounding  to  its  dignity ;  and  that  though 
the  Assembly  are  the  legal  Representatives,  and  perhaps 
adequate  to  every  purpose  of  the  people,  yet  the  frequent 
unexpected  prorogations,  some  of  them  proclaimed  so  late 
that  many  of  the  Members  did  not  receive  information 
thereof  till  their  arrival  in  Town,  gave  the  people  no  reason 
to  expect  that  the  Assembly  would  be  permitted  to  meet 
till  it  was  too  late  to  send  Delegates  to  the  Continental 
Congress  at  Philadeljjhia  ;  a  measure  which  America  in 
general,  and  this  Province  in  particular,  thought  absolutely 
necessary,  and  which,  as  it  is  the  full  sense  of  our  constitu- 
ents, we,  as  their  Representatives,  highly  approve. 

That  the  Assembly  are  entirely  ignorant  of,  and  do  not 
believe  that  any  base  arts  have  been  practised  upon  the 
people  of  this  Colony,  in  order  to  lead  them  from  their 
duty  ;  but  that  the  steps  they  have  taken  have  resulted  from 
a  full  conviction  that  the  Parliament  of  Great  Britain  had, 
by  a  variety  of  oppressive  and  unconstitutional  proceedings, 
made  the  measures  they  pursued  absolutely  necessary. 
That  therefore  his  Excellency's  asserting  that  such  mea- 
sures have  been  owing  to  base  arts  practised  upon  them  by 
wicked  and  designing  men,  is  not  only  an  injustice  done  to 
the  people,  but  manifestly  tends  to  weaken  the  influence 
which  the  united  petitions  of  His  Majesty's  American  sub- 
jects might  otherwise  have  upon  their  Sovereign  for  a 
redress  of  those  grievances  of  which  they  have  such  a  right 
to  complain,  and  that  therefore  the  Committee  be  directed, 
in  the  strongest  terms,  to  refute  such  assertion. 

That  the  House  would  feel  inexpressible  concern  at  the 
information  given  them  by  his  Excellency  of  his  being  au- 
thorized to  say  that  the  appointing  Delegates  to  attend  the 
Congress  now  in  agitation  would  be  highly  offensive  to  the 
King,  had  they  not  recently  received  undoubted  informa- 
tion that  His  Majesty  has  been  pleased  to  receive,  very 
graciously,  the  united  Petitions  of  his  American  subjects, 
addressed  to  him  by  the  Continental  Delegates  lately  con- 
vened at  Philadelphia ;  and  that,  therefore,  they  can  never 
suppose  that  a  similar  application  to  the  Throne  will  give 
offence  to  His  Majesty,  or  prevent  his  receiving  any  peti- 
tion for  redress  of  grievances  which  his  subjects  have  a  right 
to  prefer,  either  separately  or  unitedly. 

That  the  Committee  appointed  by  the  people  in  the 
several  Counties  and  Towns  in  this  Colony,  in  consequence 
of  the  Resolutions  of  the  Continental  Congress  held  at 
Philadelphia,  were  the  result  of  necessity,  not  choice,  as 
the  only  means  left  them  to  prevent,  as  far  as  in  them  lay, 
the  operation  of  those  oppressive  and  unconstitutional  Acts 
of  Parliament,  endeavoured  to  be  imposed  upon  America 
by  Great  Britain ;  and  that  the  Assembly  have  not  been 
informed  of  any  steps  taken  by  those  Committees  but  such 
as  they  were  compelled  to  take  from  that  necessity,  and 
for  the  salutary  purpose  aforesaid. 

That  the  Assembly  would  be  glad  to  receive  information 
of  any  marks  of  loyalty  to  the  King,  given  his  Excellencyr 
by  the  inhabitants  of  this  Colony,  had  not  the  manner  in 
which  that  information  was  conveyed  seemed  to  be  intend- 
ed to  establish  a  belief  that  a  great  number  of  the  people 
of  this  Province  were  disaffected  to  their  Sovereign.  That, 
therefore,  the  House  instruct  their  Committee  to  do  justice 


* 


263 


NORTH-CAROLINA  ASSEMBLY,  APRIL,  1775. 


264 


to  the  good  people  of  this  Colony,  whose  Representatives 
they  are,  by  bearing  testimony  to  the  world  in  their  answer 
to  the  Governoiir's  Speech,  that  His  Majesty  has  no  sub- 
jects more  loyal  than  the  inhabitants  of  North-Carolina, 
nor  more  ready,  at  the  expense  of  their  lives  and  fortunes, 
to  protect  and  support  his  person,  crown,  and  dignity. 
That  if,  however,  by  the  signal  proofs  his  Excellency  speaks 
of,  he  means  those  Addresses  lately  published  in  the  North- 
Carolina  Gazette,  said  to  be  presented  to  his  Excellency, 
his  congratulations  thereupon  can  in  no  way  be  acceptable 
to  the  Assembly,  but  from  the  consideration  that  in  so 
numerous  a  Colony  so  few  could  be  found  weak  enough  to 
be  seduced  from  their  duty,  and  prevailed  upon  by  the 
base  arts  of  wicked  and  designing  men,  to  adopt  measures 
so  contrary  to  the  sense  of  all  America,  and  so  destructive 
of  those  just  rights  and  privileges  it  was  their  duty  to  sup- 
port. 

That  the  Committee  be  instructed,  also,  to  express  the 
warmest  attachment  to  our  sister  Colonies  in  general,  the 
highest  compassion  for  the  sufferings  of  the  Town  of  Bos- 
ioti  in  particular,  and  the  fixed  and  determined  resolution 
of  this  Colony  to  unite  with  the  other  Colonies  in  every 
effort  to  maintain  those  rights  and  liberties,  which,  as  sub- 
jects of  a  British  King,  they  possess,  and  which  it  is  a  duty 
they  owe  to  posterity,  to  hand  down  to  them  unimpaired. 

Resolved,  That  the  Committee  be  instructed  to  account 
for  the  deficiency  of  the  Public  Funds. 

That  the  Committee  express  their  sense  of  the  necessity 
of  the  establishment  of  Courts  of  Justice,  and  their  willing- 
ness to  adopt  any  plan  which  they  may  judge  adapted  to 
the  circumstances  of  the  Country. 

That  the  Committee  be  instructed  to  express  that  the 
exhausted  state  of  the  Finances,  and  the  particular  circum- 
stances of  the  Country  render  it  inconvenient  and  unneces- 
sary any  longer  to  support  the  establishment  of  Fort  John- 
ston. 

On  motion,  Ordered,  The  foregoing  Resolutions  be  in- 
structions to  the  Committee  to  be  appointed  to  draw  up 
the  Address  in  answer  to  his  Excellency  the  Governour's 
Speech. 

On  motion,  Ordered,  That  Mr.  Howe,  Mr.  Hooper, 
Mr.  Johnston,  Mr.  Hemes,  and  Mr.  Maclcnight,  be  ap- 
pointed a  Committee  to  prepare  an  Address  in  answer  to 
his  Excellency  the  Governour's  Speech,  and  report  the 
same  to  the  House  for  approbation. 

Then  the  House  adjourned  till  to-morrow  morning  10 
o'clock. 

Friday,  7th  April,  177"). 

The  House  met  according  to  adjournment. 

Mr.  Howe,  from  the  Committee  appointed  to  prepare 
an  Answer  to  his  Excellency's  Speech,  informed  the  House 
they  had  prepared  the  same,  which  was  read. 

On  motion,  Ordered,  The  same  stand  as  the  Address  of 
this  House :  and  is  as  follows,  to  wit : 

To  His  Excellency  Josiah  Martin,  Esquire,  Captain- 
General,  Governour,  fyc,  fyc. 

Sir  :  We,  His  Majesty's  most  dutiful  and  loyal  subjects, 
the  Members  of  the  Assembly  of  North- Carolina,  have 
taken  into  consideration  your  Excellency's  Speech  at  the 
opening  of  this  Session. 

We  met  in  General  Assembly  with  minds  superiour  to 
private  dissension,  determined  calmly,  unitedly,  and  faith- 
fully to  discharge  the  sacred  trust  reposed  in  us  by  our 
Constituents.  Actuated  by  sentiments  like  these,  it  behooves 
us  to  declare  that  the  Assembly  of  this  Colony  have  the 
highest  sense  of  their  allegiance  to  the  King  of  Great  Bri- 
tain, to  whom  alone,  as  our  constitutional  Sovereign,  we 
acknowledge  allegiance  to  be  due,  and  to  whom  we  so 
cheerfully  and  repeatedly  have  sworn  it,  that  to  remind  us 
of  the  oath  was  unnecessary  ;  this  allegiance  all  past  Assem- 
blies have,  upon  every  occasion,  amply  expressed,  and  we, 
the  present  Representatives  of  the  people,  shall  be  always 
ready  by  our  actions  with  pleasure  to  testify ;  sensible, 
however,  that  the  same  Constitution  which  establishes  that 
allegiance  and  enjoins  the  oath  in  consequence  of  it,  hath 
bound  Majesty  under  as  solemn  obligations  to  protect  sub- 
jects inviolate  in  all  their  just  rights  and  privileges,  wisely 
intending, by  reciprocal  dependance,  to  secure  the  happiness 
of  both. 


We  contemplate  with  a  degree  of  honour  the  unhappy 
state  of  America,  involved  in  the  most  embarrassing  diffi- 
culties and  distresses,  by  a  number  of  unconstitutional  inva- 
sions of  their  just  rights  and  privileges,  by  which  the  inha- 
bitants of  the  Continent  in  general,  and  this  Province  in 
particular,  have  been  precipitated  into  measures  extraordi- 
nary, perhaps,  in  their  nature,  but  warranted  by  necessity, 
from  whence,  among  many  other  measures,  the  appoint- 
ment of  Committees  in  the  several  Towns  and  Counties 
took  its  birth,  to  prevent,  as  much  as  in  them  lay,  the  ope- 
ration of  such  unconstitutional  encroachments  ;  and  the  As- 
sembly remain  unconvinced  of  any  steps  taken  by  these 
Committees  but  such  as  they  were  compelled  to  take  for 
that  salutary  purpose. 

It  is  not  to  be  controverted,  that  His  Majesty's  subjects 
have  a  right  to  petition  for  a  redress  of  grievances,  or  to 
remonstrate  against  them;  and  as  it  is  only  a  meeting  of 
the  people,  that  their  sense  respecting  such  petition  and 
remonstrance  can  be  obtained,  that  the  right  of  assembling 
is  as  undoubted.  To  attempt,  therefore,  under  the  mask 
of  authority  to  prevent  or  forbid  a  meeting  of  the  people 
for  such  purposes,  or  to  interrupt  their  proceedings  when 
met,  would  be  a  vain  effort  unduly  to  exercise  power  in  di- 
rect opposition  to  the  Constitution. 

Far  be  it  from  us,  then,  Sir,  even  to  wish  to  prevent  the 
operations  of  the  Convention  now  held  at  Newbcrn,  or  to 
agree  with  your  Excellency  in  bestowing  upon  them  the 
injurious  epithet  of  an  illegal  meeting.  They  are,  Sir,  the 
respectable  Representatives  of  the  people,  appointed  for  a 
special  and  important  purpose,  to  which,  though  our  con- 
stituents might  have  thought  us  adequate,  yet,  as  our  meet- 
ing depended  upon  the  pleasure  of  the  Crown,  they  would 
have  been  unwise  to  have  trusted  to  so  precarious  a  contin- 
gency, especially  as  the  frequent  and  unexpected  proroga- 
tions of  the  Assembly  (one  of  them  in  particular,  as  if  all 
respect  and  attention  to  the  convenience  of  their  Repre- 
sentatives had  been  lost,  was  proclaimed  but  two  or  three 
days  before  the  time  which  had  been  appointed  for  their 
meeting)  gave  the  people  not  the  least  reason  to  expect 
that  their  Assembly  would  have  been  permitted  to  sit  till 
it  was  too  late  to  appoint  Delegates  to  attend  the  Conti- 
nental Congress  at  Philadelphia,  a  measure  which  they 
joined  the  rest  of  America  in  thinking  essential  to  its  in- 
terest. 

The  House,  Sir,  neither  know  nor  believe  that  any  base 
arts  have  been  practised  upon  the  people,  in  order  to  lead 
them  from  their  duty  ;  but  we  know  with  certainty  that  the 
steps  they  have  taken  proceeded  from  a  full  conviction  that 
the  Parliament  of  Great  Britain  had,  by  a  variety  of  op- 
pressive and  unconstitutional  proceedings,  made  those  steps 
absolutely  necessary. 

We  think  it,  therefore,  a  duty  we  owe  the  people,  to 
assert  that  their  conduct  has  not  been  owing  to  base  arts, 
practised  upon  them  by  wicked  and  designing  men  ;  and 
have  it  much  to  lament  that  your  Excellency  should  add 
your  sanction  to  such  groundless  imputations,  as  it  has  a 
manifest  tendency  to  weaken  the  influence  which  the  united 
petition  of  His  Majesty's  American  subjects  might  other- 
wise have  upon  their  Sovereign,  for  a  redress  of  those 
grievances  of  which  they  so  justly  complain. 

We  should  feel  inexpressible  concern  at  the  information 
given  us  by  your  Excellency,  of  your  being  authorized  to 
say,  that  the  appointment  of  Delegates  to  attend  the  Con- 
gress at  Philadelphia,  now  in  agitatipn,  will  be  highly 
offensive  to  the  King,  had  we  not  recently  been  informed, 
from  the  best  authority,  that  His  Majesty  has  been  pleased 
to  receive  very  graciously  the  united  Petition  of  his  Ame- 
rican subjects,  addressed  to  him  by  the  Continental  Dele- 
gates lately  convened  at  Philadelphia.  We  have  not, 
therefore,  the  least  reason  to  suppose  that  a  similar  applica- 
tion to  the  Throne  will  give  offence  to  His  Majesty,  or 
prevent  his  receiving  a  petition  for  the  redress  of  grievances, 
which  his  American  subjects  have  a  right  to  present,  either 
separately  or  unitedly. 

We  shall  always  receive  with  pleasure  the  information  of 
any  marks  of  loyalty  to  the  King,  given  to  your  Excel- 
lency by  the  inhabitants  of  this  Colony,  but  are  greatly 
concerned,  lest  the  manner  in  which  you  have  thought 
proper  to  convey  that  information  should  excite  a  belief 
that  a  great  number  of  the  people  of  this  Province  are  dis- 
affected to  their  Sovereign  ;  to  prevent  which  it  is  incumbent 


205 


NORTH-CAROLINA  CONVENTION,  APRIL,  1775. 


266 


upon  us  in  this  manner  solemnly  to  testify  to  the  world, 
that  His  Majesty  has  no  subjects  more  faithful  than  the 
inhabitants  of  North- Carolina,  or  more  ready,  at  the  ex- 
pense of  their  lives  and  fortunes,  to  protect  and  support  his 
person,  crown,  and  dignity.  If,  however,  by  the  signal 
proofs  your  Excellency  speaks  of,  you  mean  those  Address- 
es lately  published  in  the  North- Carolina  Gazette,  and 
said  to  be  presented  to  you,  the  Assembly  can  receive  no 
pleasure  from  your  congratulations  thereupon,  but  what 
results  from  the  consideration,  that  so  few  have  been  found 
in  so  populous  a  Province  w  eak  enough  to  be  seduced  from 
their  duty,  and  prevailed  upon  by  the  base  arts  of  wicked 
and  designing  men  to  adopt  principles  so  contrary  to  the 
sense  of  all  America,  and  so  destructive  of  those  just  rights 
and  privileges  it  was  their  duty  to  maintain. 

We  take  this  opportunity,  Sir,  the  first  that  has  been 
given  us,  to  express  the  warm  attachment  we  have  to  our 
sister  Colonies  in  general,  and  the  heartfelt  compassion  we 
entertain  for  the  deplorable  slate  of  the  Tow  n  of  Boston  in 
particular,  and  also  to  declare  the  fixed  and  determined  re- 
solution of  this  Colony  to  unite  with  the  other  Colonies  in 
every  effort  to  retain  those  just  rights  and  liberties  which, 
as  subjects  to  a  British  King,  we  possess,  and  which  it  is 
our  absolute  and  indispensable  duty  to  hand  down  to  pos- 
terity unimpaired. 

The  exhausted  state  of  the  publick  funds,  of  w  hich  your 
Excellency  complains,  we  contemplate  with  great  concern, 
alleviated,  however,  by  the  reflection  that  it  has  not  been 
owing  to  any  misconduct  in  the  Assembly.  We  were  w  ith- 
held from  passing  any  inferiour  Court  Law,  but  upon  such 
terms  as  our  duty  rendered  it  impossible  to  accept ;  by  which 
means  no  list  of  taxables  could  be  taken  for  the  year  one 
thousand  seven  hundred  and  seventy-three,  and  conse- 
quently no  money  collected  to  defray  the  charges  of  Gov- 
ernment for  that  year;  and  as  your  Excellency  did  not 
think  proper  to  meet  the  Assembly  at  their  usual  time  of 
meeting  in  the  fall,  no  Act  could  be  passed  to  defray  the 
contingent  charges  of  Government  for  the  year  one  thou- 
sand seven  hundred  and  seventy-four.  The  Treasury,  by 
these  means,  deprived  of  two  years'  collection  of  taxes, 
must  consequently  be  unable  to  answer  the  great  demands 
upon  it  till  an  Act  of  Assembly  can  be  passed  to  enable  it 
to  discharge  them. 

The  House,  convinced  of  the  necessity  of  Courts  of 
Justice,  would  willingly  adopt  any  plan  for  the  establish- 
ment of  them,  which,  in  their  opinion,  is  consistent  with 
the  circumstances  of  this  Colony ;  and  for  independent 
Judges,  of  capacity  and  integrity,  they  would,  with  the 
greatest  pleasure,  very  liberally  provide. 

We  are  sorry,  Sir,  the  impoverished  state  of  the  publick 
finances  will  not  permit  us  to  provide  for  the  usual  estab- 
lishment of  Fort  Johnston. 

The  advanced  season  of  the  year,  which,  of  all  other 
times,  made  it  most  inconvenient  for  us  to  attend  publick 
business,  will,  your  Excellency  may  assure  yourself,  induce 
us  to  forward  it  with  all  possible  expedition. 

John  Harvey,  Speaker. 

Resolved,  That  the  House  do  highly  approve  of  the 
Proceedings  of  the  Continental  Congress  lately  held  at 
Philadelphia,  and  that  they  are  determined,  as  members 
of  the  community  in  general,  that  they  will  strictly  adhere 
to  the  said  Resolutions,  and  will  use  what  influence  they 
have  to  induce  the  same  observance  in  every  individual  of 
this  Colony. 

This  House  having  received  information  that  William 
Hooper,  Joseph  Hewes,  and  Richard  Caswell,  Esquires, 
were  appointed,  by  the  Convention  held  at  Newbern,  as 
Delegates  to  attend  the  meeting  of  the  Continental  Con- 
gress soon  to  be  held  at  Philadelphia  : 

Resolved,  That  the  House  approve  of  the  choice  made 
by  the  said  Convention. 

Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  the  House  be  given  to 
William  Hooper,  Joseph  Hewes,  and  Richard  Caswell, 
Esquires,  for  the  faithful  and  judicious  discharge  of  the 
important  trust  reposed  in  them  as  Delegates  for  this  Colo- 
ny at  the  late  Continental  Congress. 

Mr.  William  Brown,  the  Member  for  Bath  Town,  Mr. 
Thomas  Respcss,  one  of  the  Members  for  Beaufort  Coun- 
ty, Mr.  Jonathan  Hearring,  one  of  the  Members  for  Pas- 
quotank County,  and  Mr.   William  Haywood  and  Mr. 


Elisha  Battle,  the  Members  for  Edgecombe  County,  ap- 
peared. 

The  Honourable  John  Rutherford  and  Lewis  II.  De 
Rosset,  Esquires,  two  of  the  Members  of  Council,  came 
to  the  House,  and  Mr.  Brown,  Mr.  Respess,  Mr.  Hear- 
ring, Mr.  Haywood,  and  Mr.  Battle  were  qualified,  by 
taking  the  several  oaths  by  law  appointed  for  qualification 
of  Publick  Officers,  and  repeating  and  subscribing  the 
Test. 

Then  the  House  adjourned  till  to-morrow  morning,  ten 
o'clock. 

Saturday,  April  8,  1775. 

His  Excellency  the  Governour,  by  Proclamation,  was 
pleased  to  dissolve  the  Assembly. 


At  a  Council  held  at  the  Council  Chamber,  the  7th  of 
April,  1775,  in  the  evening,  Present:  His  Excellency  the 
Governour,  the  Honourable  James  Hasell,  John  Ruther- 
ford, Lewis  H.  De  Rossett,  Alexander  McCulloch,  Sam- 
uel Strudwick,  Martin  Howard,  Samuel  Cornell,  and 
Thomas  McGuire,  Esquires  : 

His  Excellency  laid  before  the  Board  the  Journals  of 
the  House  of  Assembly,  in  which  was  contained,  amongst 
other  unwarrantable  proceedings,  the  following  Resolve: 

"  Resolved,  That  the  House  do  highly  approve  of  the 
Proceedings  of  the  Continental  Congress  lately  held  at 
Philadelphia,  and  that  they  are  determined,  as  members 
of  the  community  in  general,  that  they  will  strictly  adhere 
to  the  said  Resolutions,  and  will  use  what  influence  they 
have  to  induce  the  same  observance  in  every  individual  of 
this  Colony." 

Upon  consideration  hereof,  this  Board  gave  it  as  their 
opinion,  that  the  longer  existence  of  such  a  House  of  As- 
sembly is  incompatible  with  the  honour  of  the  Crown  and 
the  safety  of  the  people,  and  therefore  unanimously  advised 
His  Excellency  to  dissolve  them,  which  was  done  by  the 
following  Proclamation  : 

North- Carolina,  ss. 

By  His  Excellency  Josiah  Martin,  Esquire,  fyc. 
A  Proclamation. 
Whereas  several  Resolves  appear  on  the  Journals  of  the 
House  of  Assembly,  now  sitting,  tending  to  alienate  the 
affections  of  His  Majesty's  subjects,  and  subvert  the  Con- 
stitution ;  and  whereas  the  longer  existence  of  such  an  As- 
sembly is  incompatible  with  the  honour  of  the  Crown  and 
the  safely  of  the  people :  I  have  therefore  thought  fit,  by 
and  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  His  Majesty's  Council, 
to  dissolve  the  said  Assembly,  and  it  is  accordingly  dis- 
solved. 

Given  under  my  hand,  &lc,  at  Neivbem,  &c,  this  8th 
day  of  April,  1775,  &ic.  Jo.  Martin. 

God  save  the  King. 


NORTH-CAROLINA  PROVINCIAL  CONVENTION. 

Tlie  Journal  of  the  Proceedings  of  the  Provincial  Con- 
vention o/North-Cakolina,  held  at  Newbern,  on  the 
third  day  of  April,  A.  D.  1775. 

North-  Carolina,  ss. 

At  a  General  Meeting  of  the  Delegates  of  the  Inhabi- 
tants of  this  Province,  in  Convention,  at  Neivbern,  the 
third  day  of  April,  in  the  year  1775,  Present — 
Anson  County. — (None.) 

Beaufort. — Roger  Ormond,  Thomas  Respess,  Junior. 

Bladen.  —  William  Salter,  James  White. 

Bute. —  William  Person,  Green  Hill,  James  Ransom, 

Thomas  Eaton. 
Brunswick. — John  Rowan,  Robert  Howe. 
Bertie. — John  Campbell,  David  Stanley,  John  Johnston. 
Craven. — James  Corr,  Lemuel  Hatch,  Jacob  Blount, 

William  Bryan,  Richard  Cogdell,  Joseph  Leech. 
Carteret. —  William  Thompson,  Solomon  Sheppard. 
Currituck. — Thomas  Macknight,  Francis  Williamson, 

Samuel  Jarvis,  Solomon  Perkins,  Nathan  Poyner. 
Chowan. — Samuel  Johnston,  Thomas  Oldham,  Thomas 

Jones,  Tliomas  Benbury,  Thomas  Hunter. 


267 


NORTH-CAROLINA  CONVENTION,  APRIL,  1775. 


268 


Cumberland. — Thomas  Rutherford,  Farquard  Campbell. 
Chatham. — (None.) 

Dobbs. — Richard  Caswell,  William  McKinnic,  George 

Miller,  Simon  Bright,  Junior. 
Duplin. —  Thomas  Gray,  Thomas  Ilicks. 
Edgecombe. — (None.) 

Gkanville. —  Thomas  Person,  John  Penn,  Robert  Mun- 

fort,  Robert  Williams,  Memucan  Hunt. 
Guilford. — Alexander  Martin. 
Hyde. — (None.) 

Hertford. — George  Wynns,  Joseph  Worth. 

Halifax. —  Willie  Jones,  Benjamin  McCulloch,  Nicholas 

Long. 
Johnston. — (None.) 
Mecklenburgh. — (None.) 
Martin. — (None.) 

New-Hanover. —  William  Hooper,  John  Ashe. 
Northampton. — Allen  Jones,  Jeptha  Athcrton. 
Orange. —  Thomas  Hart,  Thomas  Burke,  John  Kinchcn, 

Francis  Nash. 
Onslow. — Edward  Starlcey,  Henry   Rhodes,  William 

Cray. 

Perquimans. — John  Harvey,  Benjamin  Harvey,  Andrew 

Knox,  Thomas  Harvey,  John  Whedbee,  Junior. 
Pasquotank. — Jonathan  Hearring,  Edward  Everigin, 

Isaac  Gregory,  Joseph  Jones,  Joseph  Reading. 
Pitt. — John  Simpison,  Edward  Salter,  James  Gorham, 

James  Lanier,  William  Robson. 
Rowan. — Griffith  Rutherford,  William  Sharp,  William 

Kennon. 
Surry. — (None.) 
Tryon. — (None.) 

Tyrrell. — Joseph  Spruill,  Benjamin  Spruill,  Jeremiah 
Fraser. 

Wake. — John  Hinton,  Michael  Rogers,  Signal  Jones. 
For  the  Town  of  Newbern. — Abner  Nash,  James  Davis. 

Edenton. — Joseph  Hewes. 

Wilmington. —  Cornelius  Harnett. 

Bath. —  William  Brown. 

Halifax. — John  Webb,  Jos.  Monlfort. 

Hillsborough. — (None.) 

Salisbury. — (None.) 

Brunswick. — Parker  Quince. 

Campbleton. — Robert  Rowan. 

The  respective  Counties  and  Towns  having  certified 
that  the  preceding  persons  were  duly  elected  Delegates 
to  represent  the  said  Counties  and  Towns  in  the  General 
Convention,  to  he  held  at  Newbern,  the  third  day  of  April 
instant : 

Pursuant  to  which,  the  following  persons  appeared,  to 
wit : 


Roger  Ormond, 
Thomas  Respess, 
William  Salter, 
James  White, 
William  Person, 
Green  Hill, 
Thomas  Eaton, 
John  Campbell, 
John  Johnston, 
James  Corr, 
Lemuel  Hatch, 
Jacob  Blount, 
Richard  Cogdell, 
Joseph  Leech, 
William  Thompson, 
Solomon  Sheppard, 
Thomas  Macknight, 
Samuel  Jarvis, 
Solomon  Perkins, 
Nathan  Poyner, 
Samuel  Johnston, 


Thomas  Oldham, 
Thomas  Jones, 
Thomas  Benbury, 
Thomas  Hunter, 
Joseph  Hewes, 
Thomas  Rutherford, 
Farquard  Campbell, 
Richard  Caswell, 
Thomas  Person, 
James  Lanier, 
John  Penn, 
Thomas  Hicks, 
Memucan  Hunt, 
Willie  Jones, 


Thomas  Barke, 
Francis  Nash, 
Edward  Starkey, 
Jfenry  Rhodes, 
William  Cray, 
John  Harvey, 
Andrew  Knox, 
Isaac  Gregory, 
Joseph  Jones, 
Griffith  Rutherford, 
William  Sharp, 
Jeremiah  Fraser, 
John  Hinton, 
Abner  Nash, 


Benjamin  McCulloch,  James  Davis, 
Nicholas  Long,  Cornelius  Harnett, 

William  Hooper,  William  Brown, 

John  Ashe,  John  Simpson, 

Allen  Jones,  Edward  Salter, 

Jeptha  Athcrton,  James  Gorham. 


The  Delegates  then  proceeded  to  make  choice  of  a 
Moderator,  when  Colonel  John  Harvey  was  unanimously 
chosen,  and  Mr.  Andrew  Knox  appointed  Clerk. 

Resolved,  That  the  Moderator  adjourn  the  Convention, 
dc  die  in  diem,  until  the  husiness  is  finished. 

The  Convention  is  adjourned  till  to-morrow  morning, 
nine  o'clock. 

Tuesday,  April  4,  1775. 

The  Convention  met,  according  to  adjournment. 

Mr.  John  Webb,  Delegate  for  the  Town  of  Halifax , 
Mr.  William  Bryan,  one  of  the  Delegates  for  Craven 
County,  Mr.  George  Wynns,  one  of  the  Delegates  for 


Hertford  County,  and  Mr.  Alexander  Martin,  a  Delegate 
for  Guilford  County,  appeared,  and  took  their  seats  in 
Convention. 

The  Convention  adjourned  till  to-morrow  morning,  nine 
o'clock. 

Wcdn  kI.i  v,  April  5,  1775. 

The  Convention  met,  according  to  adjournment. 

Mr.  Jonathan  Heart  ing,  one  of  the  Delegates  for  Pas- 
quotank County,  and  Mr.  David  Stanley,  one  of  the 
Delegates  for  Bertie  County,  appeared,  and  took  their 
seats  in  Convention. 

The  Association  entered  into  by  the  General  Congress 
at  Philadelphia,  on  the  20th  day  of  October,  in  the  year 
of  our  Lord  1774,  and  signed  by  the  Members  thereof, 
was  presented  to  this  Convention  by  Colonel  Richard 
Caswell,  and,  on  motion,  was  ordered  to  be  read,  and  was 
accordingly  read. 

Resolved,  That  this  Convention  do  highly  approve  of 
the  said  Association,  and  do,  for  themselves,  firmly  agree 
to  adhere  to  the  said  Association,  and  recommend  it  to  their 
constituents  that  they  likewise  adhere  firmly  to  the  same. 
In  full  approbation  and  testimony  whereof,  the  Members 
of  this  Convention  subscribe  their  names. 

John  Harvey, 

Roger  Ormond,  Thomas  Benbury,  Joseph  Jones, 

Thomas  Respess,  Jun.,  Thomas  Hunter.  Jonathan  Hearring, 

William  Salter,  Farquard  Campbell,  Griffith  Rutherford, 

James  White,  Richard  Caswell,  William  Sharp, 

William  Person,  Thomas  Person,  Jeremiah  Fraser, 

Thomas  Eaton,  Thomas  Hicks,  John  Hinton, 

John  Campbell,  John  Penn,  Abner  Nash, 

John  Johnston,  Memucan  Hunt,  James  Davis, 

James  Corr,  Willie  Jones,  Joseph  Hewes, 

Lemuel  Hatch,  Benjamin  McCulloch,  Cornelius  Harnett, 

Jacob  Blount,  Nicholas  Long,  William  Brown, 

Richard  Cogdell,  William  Hooper,  John  Simpson, 

Joseph  Leech,  John  Ashe,  Edward  Salter, 

William  Bryan,  Allen  Jones,  James  Gorham, 

William  Thompson,  Jeptha  Atherton,  James  Lanier, 

Solomon  Sheppard,  Thomas  Burke,  John  Webb, 

Samuel  Jarvis,  Francis  Nash,  George  Wynns, 

Solomon  Perkins,  Edward  Starkey,  Alexander  Martin, 

Nathan  Poyner,  Henry  Rhodes,  David  Stanley, 

Samuel  Johnston,  William  Cray,  Green  Hill, 

Thomas  Oldham,  Andrew  Knox,  Robert  Howe, 

Thomas  Jones,  Isaac  Gregory,  Thomas  Rutherford. 

In  consequence  of  the  preceding  Resolve,  all  the  Mem- 
bers of  the  Convention  subscribed  their  names  at  the  table, 
except  Mr.  Thomas  Macknight,  who  refused. 

Resolved,  That  the  conduct  of  William  Hooper,  Joseph 
Hewes,  and  Richard  Caswell,  Esquires,  in  the  meeting  of 
Delegates  lately  held  at  Philadelphia,  was,  in  every  par- 
ticular, worthy  of  the  sacred  trust  reposed  in  them;  and 
that  the  Moderator  do,  in  behalf  of  this  Colony  in  general, 
and  of  this  Convention  in  particular,  return  them  those 
thanks  which  their  faithful  discharge  of  such  an  important 
trust  so  justly  merits. 

In  consequence  whereof,  the  Moderator  returned  them 
thanks  in  the  manner  following : 

Gentlemen  :  The  sacred  trust  reposed  in  you  by  your 
Country  so  faithfully  discharged  by  you,  does  honour  to 
yourselves,  justifies  the  choice  made  of  you  by  the  last 
Convention,  and  places  you  in  a  situation  to  receive  the 
best  reward  a  patriotick  breast  can  fill,  the  applause  of 
your  Counlry  ;  who,  in  order  to  bear  testimony  of  your 
merit,  have  directed  me  to  convey  to  you  their  sincere 
thanks  for  the  services  you  have  rendered  them  in  the  im- 
portant office  to  which  they  appointed  you.  And  it  is  with 
great  pleasure  I  now,  gentlemen,  in  behalf  of  this  Colony 
in  general,  and  of  this  Convention  in  particular,  return  you 
those  thanks  which  have  been  so  unanimously  resolved  by 
the  Convention  to  be  your  due. 

To  which  the  Delegates  returned  the  following  Answer : 
We,  the  Delegates  appointed  to  represent  this  Province 
in  the  Continental  Congress  lately  held  at  Philadelphia, 
beg  leave  to  express  a  heartfelt  gratitude  for  this  publick 
testimonial  which  we  have  received  from  you  of  the  appro- 
bation of  our  constituents  of  our  conduct,  in  the  most  im- 
portant transaction  in  which  any  member  of  society  can 
have  been  engaged.  With  diffidence  we  undertook  the 
sacred  trust  of  being  joined  to  a  body  of  men  appointed  to 
be  the  guardians  of  the  constitutional  rights  and  privileges 
of  British  America.    If  we  have  executed  that  charge  to 


269 


NORTH-CAROLINA  CONVENTION,  APRIL,  1775. 


270 


give  satisfaction  to  the  inhabitants  of  this  Province,  our 
actions  meet  the  most  ample  reward  that  any  member  of  it 
can  experience.  One  motive  in  this  important  measure, 
viz:  a  sacred  regard  for  the  rights  and  privileges  of  Bri- 
tish America,  and  an  earnest  wish  to  bring  about  a  recon- 
ciliation with  our  Parent  State,  upon  terms  constitutional 
and  honourable  to  both,  have  hitherto  actuated  us.  Our 
earnest  wishes  are,  that  this  Province  may  virtuously  ad- 
here to  the  Resolves  of  the  Continental  Congress,  as  the 
means  which  will  most  probably  bring  about  the  end  which 
all  the  friends  to  America  most  earnestly  desire. 

At  the  same  time  accept,  Sir,  our  warmest  acknowledg- 
ment for  the  polite  manner  in  which  you  have  thought  fit 
to  convey  the  sentiments  of  this  truly  respectable  body. 

On  motion,  Resolved,  That  the  Instructions  of  the  in- 
habitants of  Perquimans  County  to  their  Delegates  ap- 
pointed to  meet  at  this  Convention,  entered  into  on  the 
1 1th  day  of  March  last,  be  read  ;  which  were  read  accord- 
ingly. One  of  which  said  Instructions  being,  "  That  the 
thanks  of  the  inhabitants  of  that  County  be  given  to  Wil- 
liam Hooper,  Joseph  Hewes,  and  Richard  Caswell,  Es- 
quires, for  their  faithful  and  judicious  discharge  of  the  trust 
reposed  in  them  at  the  late  Continental  Congress." 

Pursuant  to  which,  Colonel  John  Harvey,  one  of  the 
Delegates  for  the  said  County,  in  the  name  of  the  Inhabi- 
tants thereof,  gave  their  thanks  to  the  gentlemen  aforesaid. 

To  which  the  Delegates  returned  the  following  Answer : 
Permit  us,  Sir,  to  express  our  sincere  gratitude  for  this 
testimony  of  the  approbation  given,  through  you,  by  the 
inhabitants  of  the  County  of  Perquimans,  of  the  conduct 
of  us  the  Delegates  of  this  Province  in  the  Continental 
Congress  at  Philadelphia.  Actuated  with  a  zeal  for  the 
preservation  of  the  constitutional  liberties  of  America,  and 
an  earnest  desire  to  bring  about  a  reconciliation  with  the 
Mother  Country,  upon  terms  that  may  restore  us  to  the 
fullest  enjoyment  of  our  just  rights  and  privileges,  and  se- 
cure them  to  us  in  future  from  the  encroachments  of  weak 
or  wicked  men,  we  signed  our  assent  to  the  proceedings  of 
Congress  ;  and  we  could  meet  nothing  more  convincing  of 
the  propriety  of  our  conduct  in  the  measure,  than  that  it 
obtains  the  approbation  of  the  County  of  Perquimans. 

To  you,  Sir,  we  beg  leave  to  offer  our  tribute  of  thanks 
for  the  polite  manner  in  which  you  have  thought  fit  to  con- 
vey the  sense  of  that  respectable  body. 

On  motion,  Resolved,  That  William  Hooper,  Joseph 
Hewes,  and  Richard  Caswell,  Esquires,  be  and  they  are 
hereby  appointed  Delegates  to  attend  the  General  Con- 
gress to  be  held  at  Philadelphia,  on  the  10th  day  of  May 
next,  or  at  any  other  time  and  place  that  shall  be  appoint- 
ed for  that  purpose.  And  they  are  hereby  invested  with 
such  powers  as  may  make  any  acts  done  by  them,  or  any 
of  them,  or  consent  given,  in  behalf  of  this  Province, 
obligatory  in  honour  upon  every  inhabitant  thereof. 

The  Convention  adjourned  till  to-morrow  morning,  nine 
o'clock. 

Thursday,  April  6,  1775. 

The  Convention  met,  according  to  adjournment. 

Mr.  William  Robson,  one  of  the  Delegates  for  Pitt 
County,  appeared,  and  took  his  seat  in  Convention. 

On  motion,  Resolved,  That  each  and  every  County  in 
this  Province  raise,  as  speedily  as  possible,  the  sum  of 
Twenty  Pounds,  Proclamation  Money,  to  be  collected  by 
the  respective  Delegates  of  each  County,  in  manner  as 
shall  appear  to  them  most  convenient,  and  pay  the  same 
into  the  hands  of  Richard  Caswell,  Esquire ;  to  be  by  him 
equally  divided  among  the  Delegates  appointed  to  attend 
the  General  Congress  at  Philadelphia,  as  a  recompense 
for  their  trouble  and  expense  in  attending  the  said  Con- 
gress. 

Mr.  Thomas  Macknight,  a  Delegate  for  the  County  of 
Currituck,  having  been  called  upon  to  sign  (with  the  other 
Members  of  this  Convention)  the  Association  approved  of 
by  the  Continental  Congress  held  at  Philadelphia,  there- 
upon refused,  and  withdrew  himself: 

Resolved,  That  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  Convention,  that 
from  the  disingenuous  and  equivocal  behaviour  of  the  said 
Thomas  Macknight,  it  is  manifest  his  intentions  are  inimi- 
cal to  the  cause  of  American  Liberty  ;  and  we  do  hold  him 


up  as  a  proper  object  of  contempt  to  this  Continent,  and 
recommend  that  every  person  break  off  all  connection, 
and  have  no  future  commercial  intercourse  or  dealing  with 
him. 

Resolved,  That  the  above  Resolve  be  published  in  the 
Gazettes  of  this  and  the  neighbouring  Colonies. 

The  Convention  adjourned  till  to-morrow  morning  nine 
o'clock. 

Friday,  April  7th,  1775. 

The  Convention  met  according  to  adjournment. 

Resolved,  That  the  Moderator  of  this  Convention,  and 
in  case  of  his  death,  Mr.  Samuel  Johnston,  be  empowered 
on  any  future  occasion,  that  may  in  his  opinion  require  it, 
to  direct  Delegates  to  be  chosen  for  the  respective  Coun- 
ties and  Towns  in  this  Province,  to  meet  in  Convention  in 
the  Town  of  Hillsborough,  at  such  time  as  he  shall  think 
proper  to  appoint;  and  in  case  that  the  Members  of  a  ma- 
jority of  the  Counties  and  Towns  do  not  appear  at  the  day 
appointed,  that  he  be  empowered  to  adjourn  the  Conven- 
tion de  die  in  diem,  until  a  sufficient  number  shall  appear. 

Resolved,  That  the  Clerk  furnish  Mr.  James  Davis 
with  a  copy  of  the  Proceedings  of  this  Convention,  and 
that  Mr.  Davis  print  the  same. 

Resolved,  That  this  Convention  do  most  heartily  ap- 
prove of  the  conduct  and  Proceedings  of  the  late  Conti- 
nental Congress,  and  will  endeavour  to  carry  into  execution 
the  measures  by  them  recommended  ;  and  that  the  most 
earnest  wishes  and  desires  of  this  Convention  are,  to  see 
harmony  restored  between  Great  Britain  and  her  Colonies 
on  honourable  and  constitutional  principles,  which  alone 
can  give  the  same  a  lasting  foundation.  That  we  will 
exert  our  utmost  endeavours  towards  completing  this  im- 
portant purpose,  and  are  of  opinion  that  the  late  commer- 
cial regulations  are  the  most  eligible  means  for  attaining 
this  desirable  end. 

And  whereas  the  freedom,  happiness,  and  prosperity  of 
every  State  greatly  depends  on  providing  within  itself 
articles  necessary  for  subsistence,  clothing,  and  defence  of 
its  inhabitants : 

Resolved,  That  from  common  prudence  and  regard  for  this 
Colony,  we  will  encourage  Arts,  Manufactures,  Agriculture, 
and  every  kind  of  economy,  and  use  our  influence  for  the 
same  purpose  with  our  constituents  and  all  connected  with 
us ;  and  we  recommend  to  the  Committees  of  the  several 
Counties  to  propose  Premiums  to  the  inhabitants  whose 
industry  may  be  a  proper  subject  for  their  bounty,  in  such 
manner  as  to  them  shall  seem  meet. 

Resolved,  That  His  Majesty's  subjects  have  an  un- 
doubted right  at  any  time  to  meet  and  petition  the  Throne 
for  a  redress  of  grievances,  and  that  such  right  includes  a 
further  right  of  appointing  Delegates  for  such  purpose,  and 
therefore  that  the  Governour's  Proclamation  issued  to  for- 
bid this  meeting,  and  his  Proclamation  afterwards  com- 
manding this  meeting  to  disperse,  are  illegal,  and  an  in- 
fringement of  our  just  rights,  and  therefore  ought  to  be 
disregarded  as  wanton  and  arbitrary  exertions  of  power. 

Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  this  Convention  be  given 
to  the  Honourable  John  Harvey,  Esquire,  Moderator,  for 
his  judicious  and  faithful  exercise  of  that  office,  and  the 
services  he  has  thereby  rendered  to  his  Country. 

Resolved,  That  the  Honourable  John  Harvey,  Esquire, 
Moderator  of  this  Convention,  sign  the  Minutes  for  and  in 
behalf  of  the  same.    Attested  by 

John  Harvey,  Moderator. 

Andrew  Knox,  Clerk. 


VINDICATION  OF  THOMAS  MACKNIGHT  AND  OTHERS. 

At  a  Convention  of  Delegates  for  the  respective  Coun- 
ties and  Towns  within  this  Province,  held  at  Newbern  the 
6th  day  of  April,  1775  : 

Mr.  Thomas  Macknight,  a  Delegate  for  the  County  of 
Currituck,  having  been  called  upon  to  sign  (with  the  other 
Members  of  this  Convention)  the  Association  approved  of 
by  the  Continental  Congress,  thereupon  refused,  and  with- 
drew himself: 

Resolved,  That  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  Convention, 
that  from  the  disingenuous  and  equivocal  behaviour  of  the 
said  Thomas  Macknight,  it  is  manifest  his  intentions  are 
inimical  to  the  cause  of  American  Liberty ;  and  we  do 


271 


NORTH-CAROLINA  CONVENTION,  APRIL,  1775. 


272 


hold  him  up  as  a  proper  object  of  contempt  to  this  Conti- 
nent, and  recommend  that  every  person  break  off  all  con- 
nection, and  have  no  future  commercial  intercourse  or 
dealing  with  him. 

Resolved,  That  the  above  Resolve  he  published  in  the 
Gazettes  of  this  and  tbe  neighbouring  Colonies. 

A  true  copy  from  the  minutes. 

Attested  by  Andrew  Knox,  Clerk. 

We,  the  subscribers,  Samuel  Jarvis.  Solomon  Perkins, 
and  Nathan  Poyncr,  late  Representatives  for  the  County 
of  Currituck,  in  a  Convention  of  Deputies  for  tbe  Province 
of  North- Carolina,  held  at  Newbern,  on  the  3d  day  of 
April,  1775,  and  Jonathan  Heart  ing  and  Isaac  Gregory, 
Representatives  in  tbe  said  Convention  for  tbe  County  of 
Pasquotank,  having  found  ourselves  under  the  disagree- 
able necessity  of  withdrawing  from  tbe  said  meeting,  and 
being  denied  tbe  justice  of  having  our  reasons  entered  on 
the  Journals  of  their  Proceedings,  (that  is,  by  an  express 
refusal  to  tbe  Representatives  for  Currituck,  which  was  the 
only  cause  that  those  for  Pasquotank  did  not  apply,)  have 
only  this  resource  left  for  vindicating  our  conduct  to  the 
world,  and  rescuing  the  character  of  a  gentleman  we 
greatly  esteem  from  undeserved  obloquy  and  reproach. 

Tbe  facts,  upon  which  the  necessity  we  were  unhappily 
reduced  to  was  founded,  are  simply  these :  Upon  its  being 
moved  and  seconded,  in  the  course  of  the  business  of  the 
said  Convention,  that  a  vote  should  pass  expressing  a  high 
approbation  of  the  Continental  Association,  Mr.  Thomas 
Macknight,  a  Representative  for  the  County  of  Currituck 
aforesaid,  got  up  and  declared,  that  he  was  greatly  con- 
cerned he  could  not  heartily  concur  in  the  vote  proposed 
to  be  passed,  on  account  of  particular  circumstances  in  his 
situation,  which  obliged  him  to  dislike  some  part  of  the 
Association  ;  that  he  owed  a  debt  in  Britain,  which  the 
operation  of  the  Non-Exportation  Agreement  would  dis- 
able him  to  pay,  and  that  he  could  not  approve  of  a  con- 
duct in  a  collective  capacity,  which,  as  an  individual,  he 
should  blush  to  acknowledge ;  that  he  thought  it  a  duty  he 
owed  to  his  own  sincerity  to  mention  this  sentiment,  but 
did  not  mean  to  obstruct  the  good  purposes  proposed  by 
an  union  of  measures ;  that  he  would  cheerfully  comply 
with  the  Non-Consumption  and  Non-Importation  Agree- 
ments, and  should  give  a  passive  obedience  to  the  non- 
exportation  article;  that  an  individual,  as  a  member  of 
society,  ought  to  conform  his  actions  to  the  general  will  of 
it,  but  that  opinions  could  not  be  altered  without  convic- 
tion, or  insincerely  expressed  without  dishonesty. 

In  consequence,  however,  of  this  declaration,  notwith- 
standing Mr.  Macknight  expressly  said,  that  he  desired 
not  any  disapprobation  of  the  measure  to  be  expressed  by 
that  body,  and  was  only  willing  to  acquit  himself  of  his 
duty,  by  declaring  in  Convention  his  own  sentiments  of  it, 
it  was  proposed  and  carried,  that  a  declaration  to  the  pur- 
port above-mentioned  should  be  signed  by  ali  the  members. 
All  of  them  accordingly  subscribed  their  names  to  the  Re- 
solve, highly  approving,  &.c,  as  entered  on  the  Journal, 
except  Mr.  Macknight,  who  desired  he  might  have  leave 
to  reduce  his  reasons  to  writing,  that  they  might  be  entered 
on  the  Journals,  together  with  his  refusal,  which  was  agreed 
to;  but  on  his  presenting  them  the  next  day,  when  called 
upon  again  to  subscribe,  they  would  not  suffer  them  even 
to  be  read  ;  but  the  question  being  proposed,  whether  bis 
signing  that  "  he  would  conform  "  to  the  Contienntal  As- 
sociation would  be  satisfactory,  they  divided,  fourteen 
Counties  to  fourteen,  and  the  Moderator  declined  giving 
the  casting  vole. 

While  the  Convention  was  waiting  till  the  Representa- 
tive of  a  Town,  who  was  sent  for  on  purpose  to  decide 
tbe  question,  should  come  in,  Mr.  Macknight  was  informed 
that  it  would  give  general  satisfaction  if  he  would  insert  in 
tbe  declaration  the  word  "  accede ;"  which  on  bis  agreeing 
to  do,  two  members  immediately  voted  in  his  favour,  who 
had  before  given  their  votes  against  him,  and  this  now 
carried  the  question  for  him ;  but  the  minority  being 
greatly  discontented,  several  of  them  declared,  that  if  any 
subscription,  different  from  theirs,  was  accepted  from  him, 
they  would  withdraw  from  the  Convention;  upon  which 
he  declared  immediately,  (being,  as  we  conceive,  heated 
by  tbe  violence  and  arbitrariness  of  his  opponents'  con- 
duct,) that  to  cut  the  matter  short,  and  prevent  further 


dissensions  in  the  Convention  on  his  account,  he  would 
withdraw  himself  from  them,  thinking,  as  he  has  since 
assured  us,  (and  we  have  never  had  any  reason  to  doubt 
his  veracity,)  that  such  a  step  in  one  individual,  who  still 
left  bis  constituents  represented  in  Convention,  would  not 
be  so  prejudicial  to  tbe  purpose  of  the  meeting,  as  if  it 
was  taken  by  the  many  who  threatened  it.  Upon  which, 
the  vote  of  censure  and  civil  excommunication  was  pro- 
posed and  passed  by  a  majority,  declaredly  on  account  of 
bis  intentions,  which  we,  however,  believe  always  to  have 
been  friendly  to  the  cause  of  American  liberty  ;  his  actions 
evidently  showing  to  us,  who  are  his  neighbours,  the  up- 
rightness of  his  intentions.  Nor  did  we  observe  any  disin- 
genuous or  equivocal  behaviour  in  Mr.  Macknight,  to  war- 
rant the  censure  of  the  Convention  in  the  smallest  degree  ; 
but  some  of  those  who  were  with  him  before  being  now 
offended  by  his  w  ithdrawing  from  amongst  them,  joined  the 
other  party. 

The  members  for  Currituck,  on  the  last  day  of  the  Con- 
vention, offered  the  reasons  of  their  dissent  and  withdraw  - 
ing ;  but  no  kind  of  attention  being  paid  to  them  by  the 
Convention,  two  of  the  three  Pasquotank  members  being 
also  ready  to  present  theirs,  thought  it  useless,  more  espe- 
cially as  the  Moderator  was  hastening  to  sign  the  Journals  ; 
the  majority  ordering  him  to  do  so,  as  we  believe,  lest  the 
dissentients  should  appear  on  the  Journals :  and  we  know- 
that  many  were  determined  to  dissent  from  so  unjust  a  cen- 
sure. We,  however,  withdrew ;  and  declare  that  we  do 
not  consider  ourselves  or  our  constituents  bound  by  tbe 
Proceedings  of  this  Convention  ;  because,  in  other  respects 
relative  to  the  publick,  this  Convention  have  acted  con- 
trary to  the  sentiments  of  our  constituents,  expressly  de- 
clared to  us,  and  have  gone  beyond  the  powers  with  which 
we  are  invested  to  act  in  their  behalf. 

The  above  being  a  true  statement,  in  substance,  of  the 
proceedings  we  complain  of,  we  appeal  to  the  world,  whe- 
ther the  violence  of  insisting  on  a  consistency  of  opinion  in 
every  individual  instance,  of  all  the  Representatives  of  a 
Province  present,  or  an  insincere  declaration  to  be  sub- 
scribed contrary  to  a  man's  own  conviction,  at  a  time  when 
he  would  most  expressly  have  agreed  to  regulate  his  con- 
duct by  tbe  general  voice,  (the  greatest  submission  ever 
exacted,  as  the  subscribers  believe,  except  in  despotick  and 
tyrannical  Governments,)  tbe  unjustifiable  precipitation 
of  a  great  number  of  the  minority,  when  defeated  in 
their  purposes,  which  made  Mr.  Macknight,  upon  prin- 
ciples of  affection  to  the  cause  they  were  nominated 
to  support,  offer  to  withdraw  rather  than  occasion  a  total 
schism  in  their  proceedings  ;  their  refusing  to  receive 
reasons  themselves  had  called  for,  and  agreed  to  enter 
on  their  Journals,  and  others  which  members  had  ready, 
and  as  we  conceive  had  a  right  to  present,  and  were  enti- 
tled to  notice,  as  they  were  calculated  to  show  the  world 
their  motives  for  withdrawing  from  this  Convention. 

Whether  these  extraordinary,  rash,  and  unwarrantable 
proceedings,  together  with  the  other  reasons  we  have  as- 
signed, do  not  leave  us  justified  for  withdrawing  from  this 
Convention,  inasmuch  as  they  have  done  more  than  our 
constituents  warranted  us  to  engage  for,  and  a  great  num- 
ber of  the  members  would  not  confine  themselves  to  the 
ruks  laid  down  by  the  Congress,  but  required  and  insisted 
upon  other  terms  of  union  than  that  respectable  body, 
whose  directions  they  have  all  promised  to  obey,  deemed 
necessary,  or  could  themselves  individually  assent  to. 
Samuel  Jarvis,         Isaac  Gregory, 
Solomon  Perkins,     Jonathan  Hearrinu. 
Nathan  Poyner, 

N.  B.  The  Convention  having  omitted  to  publish  the 
vote  which  Mr.  Macknight  refused  to  subscribe,  for  the 
information  of  such  as  have  not  an  opportunity  of  seeing 
the  Journals,  it  is  inserted  here: 

"  Resolved,  That  this  Convention  do  highly  approve  of 
tbe  said  Association,  and  do,  for  themselves,  firmly  agree 
to  adhere  by  the  said  Association,  and  recommend  it  to 
their  constituents  that  they  likewise  adhere  firmly  to  the 
same;  in  full  approbation  and  testimony  whereof  the  mem- 
bers of  this  Convention  subscribed  their  names." 

The  Continental  Association  was  not  signed  by  tbe  mem- 
bers in  this  Convention,  as  might  be  presumed  from  the 
publication  of  their  Clerk. 


273 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  APRIL,  1775. 


274 


COUNCIL  OF  NORTH-CAROLINA. 

At  a  Council  held  at  Neivbern,  the  12th  of  April,  1775, 
Present :  His  Excellency  the  Governour,  the  Honourable 
James  Hasell,  Alexander  McCnlloch,  William  Dry,  Sam- 
uel Strudwick.  Martin  Howard,  and  Samuel  Cornell, 
Esquires  : 

The  Governour  laid  before  the  Board  the  Proceedings 
of  a  body  of  people  calling  themselves  Delegates  of  the 
Inhabitants  of  this  Province  in  Convention,  signed  John 
Harvey,  Moderator,  wherein  are  certain  Resolves  highly 
derogatory  to  the  honour  and  dignity  of  His  Majesty's 
Government,  tending  to  destroy  the  peace  and  welfare  of 
this  Province,  in  the  highest  degree  oppressive  of  the  peo- 
ple, and  utterly  subversive  of  the  established  Constitu- 
tion : 

He,  therefore,  submitted  to  the  consideration  of  this 
Board  the  propriety  of  marking  its  indignation  of  such  un- 
lawful and  dangerous  proceedings,  by  striking  Mr.  John 
Harvey  out  of  His  Majesty's  Commission  of  the  Peace  for 
the  County  of  Perquimans,  where  he  resides. 

The  Board  fully  concurring  with  His  Excellency's  sen- 
timents of  the  foregoing  proceedings,  unanimously  advised 
that  the  said  John  Harvey  should  be  struck  out  of  the 
Commission  of  the  Peace  for  Perquimans  County. 

The  Honourable  William  Dry,  Esquire,  took  again  the 
oath  appointed  to  be  taken  by  Privy  Counsellors. 


HEMPSTEAD  (nEW-YORk)  RESOLUTIONS. 

Mr.  Rivington  :  You  are  requested  to  publish  the  fol- 
lowing Resolutions,  unanimously  entered  into  at  the  most 
numerous  Town  Meeting  that  has  been  held  here  for  many 
years  past : — 

Hempstead,  April  4,  1775. 

At  this  critical  time  of  publick  danger  and  distraction, 
when  it  is  the  duty  of  every  honest  man  and  friend  to  his 
Country  to  declare  his  sentiments  openly,  and  use  every 
endeavour  to  ward  off  the  impending  calamities  which 
threaten  this  once  happy  and  peaceful  land,  we,  the  Free- 
holders and  Inhabitants  of  Hempstead,  in  Queen's  County, 
in  the  Province  of  New- York,  being  legally  assembled  on 
the  first  Tuesday  in  April,  1775,  have  voluntarily  entered 
into  the  following  Resolutions : 

1st.  That  as  we  have  already  borne  true  and  faithful 
allegiance  to  His  Majesty  King  George  the  Third,  our 
gracious  and  lawful  Sovereign,  so  we  are  firmly  resolved  to 
persist  in  the  same  line  of  duty  to  him  and  his  lawful  suc- 
cessors. 

2d.  That  we  esteem  our  civil  and  religious  liberties 
above  any  other  blessings,  and  those  only  can  be  secured 
to  us  by  our  happy  Constitution ;  we  shall  inviolably  ad- 
here to  it,  since  deviating  from  it  and  introducing  innova- 
tions, would  have  a  direct  tendency  to  subvert  it,  from 
which  the  most  ruinous  consequences  might  be  justly  ap- 
prehended. 

3d.  That  it  is  our  ardent  desire  to  have  the  present  un- 
natural contest  between  the  Parent  State  and  her  Colonies 
amicably  and  speedily  accommodated  on  principles  of  con- 
stitutional liberty,  and  that  the  union  of  the  Colonies  with 
the  Parent  State  may  subsist  till  time  shall  be  no  more. 

4th.  That  as  the  worthy  Members  of  our  General  As- 
sembly, who  are  our  only  legal  and  constitutional  Repre- 
sentatives, have  lately  taken  the  most  rational  and  effectual 
measures  to  bring  about  this  much  wished- for  accommoda- 
tion, by  petitioning  his  most  gracious  Majesty,  a  Memorial 
to  the  House  of  Lords,  and  a  Remonstrance  to  the  House 
of  Commons;  we  are  determined,  therefore,  patiently  to 
wait  for  the  issue  of  these  measures,  and  carefully  avoid 
every  thing  that  might  frustrate  those  laudable  endeavours 
of  our  Representatives. 

5th.  That  as  choosing  Deputies  to  form  a  Provincial 
Congress,  or  Convention,  must  have  this  tendency,  be 
highly  disrespectful  to  our  legal  Representatives,  and  also 
be  attended,  in  all  probability,  with  the  most  pernicious  ef- 
fects in  other  instances,  as  is  now  actually  the  case  in  some 
Provinces — such  as  shutting  up  the  Courts  of  Justice,  levy- 
ing money  on  the  subjects  to  enlist  men  for  the  purpose  of 
fighting  against  our  Sovereign,  diffusing  a  spirit  of  sedition 
among  the  people,  destroying  the  authority  of  constitu- 
tional assemblies,  and  otherwise  introducing  many  heavy 
and  oppressive  grievances — we  therefore  are  determined  not 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii. 


to  choose  any  Deputies  for  such  Provincial  Congress  or 
Convention,  nor  consent  to  it,  but  do  solemnly  bear  our 
testimony  against  it. 

6th.  That  we  are  utterly  averse  to  all  mobs,  riots,  and 
illegal  proceedings,  by  which  the  lives,  peace,  and  property 
of  our  fellow -subjects  are  endangered  ;  and  that  we  will,  to 
the  utmost  of  our  power,  support  our  legal  Magistrates  in 
suppressing  all  riots,  and  preserving  the  peace  of  our  liege 
Sovereign.  Hulet  Peters,  Town  Clerk. 

to  the  publick. 

Hempstead,  April,  1775. 

At  a  lime  when  every  possible  artifice  is  made  use  of, 
not  only  to  create  real  divisions  and  dissensions  among  us 
on  points  of  the  last  importance  to  the  general  weal,  but, 
at  the  same  time,  to  hold  up  an  idea  of  much  greater  dif- 
ference than,  in  fact,  exists,  it  is  the  duty  of  every  friend 
to  truth  and  the  welfare  of  his  Country,  to  represent  trans- 
actions of  a  publick  nature  in  a  fair  and  genuine  light. 

Influenced  by  this  consideration,  I  am  induced  to  make 
a  few  remarks  on  the  proceedings  of  the  Town  of  Hemp- 
stead, which  have  been  published  in  Mr.  Jtivington's  Ga- 
zetteer of  the  6th  instant. 

By  that  publication,  it  might  seem  that  the  Town-Meet- 
ing at  which  the  Resolves  were  passed,  had  been  assem- 
bled for  the  purpose  of  signifying  their  sense  relative  to  the 
appointment  of  Deputies  to  join  in  the  proposed  Provincial 
Congress,  and  that  the  inhabitants  of  Hempstead  were 
unanimous  in  their  disapprobation  of  the  measure  ;  but 
this  is  far  from  being  a  just  representation  of  the  matter. 

The  meeting  was  nothing  more  than  an  annual  one,  in 
order  to  choose  Town  Officers.  No  previous  notice  had 
been  given,  by  advertisement  or  otherwise,  that  any  thing 
beside  the  ordinary  business  of  the  day  was  to  be  transact- 
ed. Not  only  so,  but  the  Resolutions  entered  into  were 
introduced  late,  after  many  people  had  retired  from  the 
meeting.  A  considerable  number  of  respectable  Free- 
holders, who  are  well  affected  to  the  appointment  of  De- 
puties, would  have  attended  had  they  been  apprized  of 
what  was  designed,  and  the  apparent  unanimity  with  which 
the  publick  has  been  deceived,  could  have  had  no  colour 
of  pretence. 

I  am  one  of  those  who  think  the  union  of  the  Colonies, 
in  a  general  and  spirited  plan  of  opposition,  absolutely  ne- 
cessary to  the  preservation  of  our  rights  ;  and  I  know  there 
is  a  number  of  principal  Freeholders  in  this  Town  of  the 
same  sentiments.  Our  reasons  for  being  willing  to  concur 
in  the  choice  of  Deputies,  are  as  follow : 

1st.  Though  we  feel  ourselves  impressed  with  senti- 
ments of  unshaken  loyalty  towards  our  rightful  Sovereign, 
George  the  Third,  and  should  view  with  indignation  and 
abhorrence  every  attempt  to  diminish  his  just  and  constitu- 
tional authority  over  us ;  yet  we  can  by  no  means  con- 
ceive that  loyalty  implies  in  it  an  abject  submission  to  the 
unjust  and  arbitrary  mandates  of  the  British  Parliament, 
or  precludes  the  use  of  those  expedients  which  are  requi- 
site to  preserve  our  lives  and  properties  from  the  rapacious 
hand  of  tyranny  and  oppression. 

2d.  The  claim  of  Parliament  to  bind  us  by  statutes  in 
all  cases  whatsoever,  and  the  several  acts  passed  in  conse- 
quence of  it,  appear  to  us  an  open  and  flagrant  violation  of 
our  rights,  both  as  men  and  Englishmen,  and  ought  to  be 
opposed  by  every  necessary  means. 

3d.  It  is  our  opinion  that  no  rational  mode  of  opposition 
could,  in  our  present  circumstances,  be  concerted,  but  by 
the  united  concurrence  of  all  the  Colonies.  Without  this, 
our  measures  must  be  partial  and  divided,  and  consequently 
weak  and  ineffectual.  One  Colony  could  not  oblige  ano- 
ther to  accede  to  any  thing  itself  might  deem  prudent  and 
efficacious.  Difference  in  opinion  might  prevent  the 
adoption  of  those  measures  which  were  most  likely  to  suc- 
ceed, and  our  opposition,  instead  of  tending  to  any  desira- 
ble end,  would  only  serve  to  render  us  contemptible,  and 
the  scoff  of  our  enemies. 

4th.  Provincial  Assemblies  have  frequently  been  dis- 
solved for  asserting  their  rights ;  and  it  would  be  in  the 
power  of  the  several  Governours  to  keep  them  from  sitting 
whenever  they  found  they  were  likely  to  take  any  step 
that  would  serve  to  frustrate  the  designs  of  the  Ministry  ; 
so  that  not  much  reliance  could  be  had  upon  their  exer- 


275 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  APRIL,  1775. 


276 


tions  in  support  of  their  liberties,  which  clearly  points  out 
the  necessity  of  having  recourse  to  some  other  method. 

5th.  Petitions  have  been  tried  more  than  once  to  no 
good  purpose ;  and  as  we  have  never  been  admitted  into 
the  secrets  of  the  Cabinet,  we  can  only  judge  from  the 
declarations  and  actions  of  the  Ministry  and  Parliament, 
from  which  we  are  compelled  to  believe  that  they  would 
now,  if  unseconded,  be  equally  fruitless  and  insignificant. 
Nor  can  we  think  it  prudent  or  safe  to  wait  the  issue  of 
one  more  trial,  before  we  proceed  to  other  measures,  as  is 
recommended  by  some ;  because  we  are  sensible  that  the 
delay  would  be  attended  with  many  dangerous  conse- 
quences, and  might,  at  least,  protract  our  sufferings  to  a 
very  disagreeable  length.  We  would  not  presume  to  im- 
peach the  conduct  of  our  Assembly  ;  but  judging  from  past 
experience  and  a  long  train  of  facts,  we  are  unable  to  im- 
agine what  could  lead  them  to  expect  such  happy  effects 
from  this  source  alone,  especially  as  the  Assemblies  of  the 
other  Provinces  have  manifested  by  their  conduct  a  quite 
different  opinion. 

6th.  As  we  think  a  Continental  Congress  necessary,  for 
the  reasons  already  assigned,  so  we  think  a  Provincial  Con- 
gress the  only  equal  and  just  method  of  regulating  a  re- 
presentation of  the  whole  Province.  Nor  do  we  appre- 
hend any  mischiefs  from  the  appointment  of  such  a  body, 
because  no  other  authority  has  been  delegated  to  them 
than  barely  that  of  choosing  proper  persons  to  represent 
the  Colony  in  that  Convention,  which  is  to  be  held  at 
Philadelphia  in  May  ensuing. 

7th.  As  to  the  shutting  up  the  Courts,  which  is  said  to 
have  taken  place  in  some  of  the  Colonies,  we  consider  it 
as  a  regulation  by  them  thought  necessary,  to  prevent  any 
advantage  being  taken  of  the  present  critical  situation  of 
affairs,  and  as  being  done  with  the  general  consent  and  ap- 
probation of  the  people;  and  we  are  informed  they  have 
used  proper  methods  to  prevent  any  abuses  which  might 
arise  therefrom.  We  know  not  of  any  Provincial  Con- 
gresses which  have  levied  money  on  the  subject  to  enlist 
men  for  the  purpose  of  fighting  against  our  Sovereign. 
We  have,  indeed,  heard  of  some  which  have  recommend- 
ed it  to  their  constituents  to  raise  a  fund  for  the  support  of 
tho^e  who  might  be  employed  in  acquiring  a  knowledge  of 
military  discipline,  in  order  to  defend  themselves,  should 
they  be  reduced  to  the  dreadful  alternative  of  either  main- 
taining their  liberties,  at  the  risk  of  their  lives,  or  of  sub- 
mitting to  become  the  slaves  of  their  fellow-subjects  in 
Great  Britain. 

8th.  We  cannot  consider  the  power  delegated  in  the 
present  instance,  either  as  interfering  with  the  authority  of 
our  Assembly,  or  as  being  a  mark  of  disrespect  towards 
it;  because  we  are  confident,  that  had  they  considered  it 
in  that  light,  they  would  not  have  been  so  wanting  to  them- 
selves, or  so  inattentive  to  their  just  rights,  as  to  have  look- 
ed on  passively  while  such  measures  were  in  agitation, 
but  would  have  taken  proper  steps  to  secure  their  own  dig- 
nity and  authority  from  all  infractions  and  violations  what- 
soever ;  and  because  the  general  state  of  American  affairs 
requires  measures  that  are  beyond  the  power  of  any  one 
particular  Assembly,  should  it  think  proper,  from  peculiar 
motives,  to  observe  a  line  of  conduct  altogether  singular 
and  different  from  that  of  the  other  Assemblies,  which  are 
embarked  in  the  same  common  cause. 

A  Freeholder  of  Hempstead. 


TOWN-MEETING,   ORANGE   COUNTY.  NEW-YORK. 

At  an  annual  Town-Meeting  of  the  freeholders  and  in- 
habitants of  the  Precinct  of  Goshen,  in  the  County  afore- 
said, on  Tuesday  the  4th  of  April,  1775,  the  following 
question,  Whether  any  Deputies  should  be  sent  from  this 
Precinct  to  meet  Deputies  from  the  other  Counties  at  New- 
York,  the  20th  instant,  to  join  with  them  in  choosing  pro- 
per persons  as  Delegates  on  the  part  of  this  Province,  to  meet 
in  General  Congress  at  Philadelphia,  on  the  10th  of  May 
next,  was  put,  and  carried  unanimously  in  the  affirmative. 

A  motion  was  then  made  by  several  persons,  that  Henry 
Wisner  and  Peter  Clowse,  Esquires,  be  appointed  Deputies 
for  the  above  purpose;  and  the  question  being  accordingly 
put,  it  was  carried  in  the  affirmative,  without  one  dissenting 
voice. 

And  at  an  annual  Town-Meeting  held  the  day  aforesaid 


at  Cornwall  Precinct,  in  the  County  aforesaid,  a  motion 
was  made,  that  Mr.  Israel  Seely,  of  said  Precinct,  be  ap- 
pointed one  of  the  Deputies  for  the  aforesaid  County,  to 
meet  Deputies  from  the  other  Counties,  at  New-York,  on 
the  20th  instant,  to  join  in  choosing  some  proper  persons  to 
be  sent  as  Delegates  to  represent  this  Province  in  General 
Congress  at  Philadelphia,  the  10th  of  next  month;  and 
the  question  being  accordingly  put,  it  was  carried  by  a  great 
majority  in  the  affirmative. 

Committee  Chamber,  Baltimore,  April  5,  1775. 

Information  being  made  to  the  Committee  that  a  few 
individuals,  inhabitants  of  this  Town,  have  of  late  worn 
pistols  or  private  arms,  alleging,  in  justification  of  their  con- 
duct, "  that  a  motion  had  been  made  in  the  Committee  to 
sacrifice  some  of  the  persons  in  this  Town  who  differed 
from  them,  or  were  averse  to  the  publick  measures  now  car- 
rying on  in  this  Province,  and  that  they  wore  arms  against 
any  such  attempts  :" 

The  Committee,  to  remove  any  prejudice  that  may  be 
taken  by  the  publick  against  them,  and  to  prevent  the  ill 
effects  of  such  false  and  injurious  reports,  if  circulated 
without  contradiction,  do  solemnly  declare  that  no  such  mo- 
tion was  ever  made,  or  any  entry  relative  to  the  same  min- 
uted in  their  proceedings.  A  few  members  of  the  Com- 
mittee were  of  opinion  that  the  names  of  such  persons, 
who,  upon  application,  had  refused  to  contribute  for  the 
purchase  of  arms  and  ammunition,  should  be  published  ; 
but  even  this  measure  was  overruled  in  the  Committee,  as 
improper  at  that  time. 

Ourmeetings  have  been  held  in  publick,  nor  has  any  person 
who  thought  fit  to  attend  ever  been  excluded  ;  our  records 
are  free  and  open  for  inspection.  From  the  publick  we  re- 
ceived our  authority,  not  by  personal  solicitation,  but  a  free 
and  voluntary  choice;  to  that  tribunal  we  submit  our  actions. 

Although  we  have  uniformly  persevered,  and  are  deter- 
mined to  persevere  in  carrying  into  execution  the  Associa- 
tion and  measures  of  the  Congress,  yet,  in  no  instance 
have  we  exceeded  the  line  pointed  out  by  that  Assembly 
and  our  Provincial  Assembly  ;  and  abhorring  every  idea  of 
proscription,  the  Committee  call  upon  the  persons  who 
have  circulated  the  aforesaid  report  to  disclose  the  author. 

A  true  extract  from  the  Minutes : 

R.  Alexander,  Secretary. 


JOHN  POWNALL,  SECRETARY  TO  THE  BOARD  OF  TRADE, 
TO  THE  GOVERNOURS  OF  THE  SEVERAL  COLONIES  IN 
NORTH  AMERICA. 

Whitehall,  April  5,  1775. 
Sir:  I  have  the  honour  to  send  you  herewith,  by  Lord 
Dartmouth's  directions,  an  Act  of  Parliament,  to  which 
His  Majesty  gave  the  royal  assent  on  Friday  last,  entitled 
"  An  Act  to  restrain  the  Trade  and  Commerce  of  the 
Provinces  of  Massachusetts-Bay  and  New-Hampshire ,  and 
Colonies  of  Connecticut  and  Rhode- Island  and  ProviiUnce 
Plantation,  in  North  America,  to  Great  Britain,  Ireland, 
and  the  British  Islands  in  the  West-Indies,  and  to  prohibit 
such  Provinces  and  Colonies  from  carrying  on  any  Fishery 
on  the  Banks  of  Neivfoundland,  or  other  places  therein 
mentioned,  under  certain  conditions  and  limitations;"  and 
I  am  to  desire  that  you  will  be  pleased  to  cause  the  said  Act 
to  be  made  publick  in  such  manner  as  has  been  usual  on 
like  occasions.  I  am,  sir,  your  most  obedient  humble  ser- 
vant, John  Pownall. 


JOHN   POWNALL   TO   THE   GOVERNOURS   OF  THE  SEVERAL 
COLONIES. 

Whitehall,  April  5,  1775. 

Sir  :  As  it  may  be  of  use  that  His  Majesty's  subjects  in 
America  should  be  informed  of  the  Proclamation  issued  by 
the  order  of  the  States  General,  prohibiting  the  exporta- 
tion of  Arms  and  Ammunition  from  their  Dominions,  in 
British  Ship«,  or  in  their  own  Ships,  without  leave  of  their 
College  of  Admiralty,  I  am  directed  by  Lord  Dartmouth 
to  transmit  to  you  the  enclosed  Gazette,  containing  the 
said  Proclamation,  which  you  will  cause  to  be  printed  and 
published  in  such  manner  as  you  shall  think  fit. 

I  am,  sir,  your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

John  Pownall. 


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CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  APRIL,  1775. 


278 


Hague,  March  20,  1775. 
Their  High  Mightinesses  the  States  General  have  this 
day  issued  a  Proclamation,  of  which  the  following  is  a 
translation : 

Proclamation. 

The  States  General  of  the  United  Provinces,  to  all  who 
shall  see  or  hear  these  presents  read,  greeting: 

Be  it  known,  that  we,  for  particular  reasons  thereunto 
moving,  have  thought  fit  absolutely  to  prohibit,  and  we 
hereby  absolutely  do  prohibit  all  exportation  of  Ammuni- 
tion, Gunpowder,  Guns,  and  Shot,  by  Ships  belonging  to 
the  Dominions  of  Great  Britain,  provisionally,  for  the 
term  of  six  months,  upon  pain  not  only  of  confiscation  of 
the  Arms  and  Ammunition  which  shall  be  found  there  on 
board,  but  also  of  a  fine  of  a  Thousand  Guilders  over  and 
above,  at  the  charge  of  the  Commander,  whose  Ship  shall 
be  answerable  and  liable  to  execution  for  the  same. 

That  we  have  further  thought  fit  to  enact,  and  we  do 
hereby  enact,  that  during  the  above-said  term  of  six  months, 
no  Gunpowder,  Guns,  Shot,  or  other  Instruments  of  War, 
shall  be  embarked  on  board  any  other  Ships,  whether  for- 
eign or  belonging  to  this  Country,  to  be  transported  abroad, 
without  consent  or  permission  of  the  College  of  Admiralty, 
under  whose  jurisdiction  the  embarkation  shall  be  made, 
upon  pain  of  confiscation  of  the  Arms,  Gunpowder,  Guns, 
Shot,  or  other  Ammunition,  which  shall  have  been  em- 
barked without  permission,  and  of  the  Commander  incur- 
ring a  fine  of  a  Thousand  Guilders,  on  board  of  whose 
Ship  the  said  Arms  and  Ammunition  shall  have  been  em- 
barked, and  his  Ship  be  answerable  and  liable  to  execution 
for  the  said  fine. 

And  that  no  one  may  pretend  ignorance  hereof,  we  call 
upon  and  require  the  States,  the  Hereditary  Stadtholder, 
the  Committee  of  Council,  and  the  deputations  of  the 
States  of  the  respective  Provinces,  and  all  other  Officers 
and  Justices  of  these  Countries,  to  cause  this  our  Procla- 
mation to  be  forthwith  promulgated,  published,  and  affixed, 
in  all  places  where  such  publication  is  wont  to  be  made. 
And  we  do  further  charge  and  command  the  Counsellors 
of  the  Admiralty,  the  Advocates  General,  together  with 
all  Admirals,  Vice-Admirals,  Captains,  Officers,  and  Com- 
manders, to  pay  obedience  to  this  our  Proclamation,  pro- 
ceeding and  causing  to  be  proceeded  against  the  transgres- 
sors thereof,  without  favour,  connivance,  dissimulation,  or 
composition.    For  such  have  we  found  meet. 

Given  at  the  Hague,  under  the  seal  of  the  States,  sig- 
nature of  the  President  of  our  Assembly,  and  the  counter 
signature  of  our  Greffier,  the  20th  day  of  March,  1775. 

G. Van  Hakdenbroek. 

By  order  of  the  States  General : 

H.  Fagel. 

ORDER  IN  COUNCIL. 

At  the  Court  of  St.  James's,  the  5th  day  of  April, 
1775:  Present  the  King's  Most  Excellent  Majesty  in 
Council. 

Whereas,  the  time  limited  by  His  Majesty's  Order  in 
Council  of  the  19th  of  October  last,  for  the  prohibiting  the 
exporting  out  of  this  Kingdom,  or  carrying  coastwise,  Gun- 
powder or  any  sorts  of  Arms  or  Ammunition,  will  expire 
upon  the  19th  of  April :  And  whereas,  it  is  judged  expe- 
dient that  the  said  prohibition  should  be  continued  for  some 
time  longer,  His  Majesty  doth  therefore,  by  and  with  the 
advice  of  his  Privy  Council,  hereby  command,  that  no 
person  or  persons  whatsoever,  (except  the  Master-General, 
Lieutenant-General,  or  principal  officers  of  the  Ordnance 
for  His  Majesty's  service)  do,  at  any  time  during  six 
months,  to  commence  from  the  said  19th  instant,  presume 
to  transport  into  any  parts  out  of  this  Kingdom,  or  carry 
coastwise,  any  Gunpowder,  or  any  sort  of  Arms  or  Ammu- 
nition, or  ship  or  lade  any  Gunpowder,  or  any  sort  of  Arms 
or  Ammunition  on  board  any  Ship  or  Vessel,  in  order  to 
transport  the  same  into  any  parts  beyond  the  Seas,  or  car- 
rying the  same  coastwise,  without  leave  or  permission  first 
obtained  from  His  Majesty,  or  his  Privy  Council,  upon  pain 
of  incurring  and  suffering  the  respective  forfeitures  and 
penalties  inflicted  by  an  Act  passed  in  the  29th  year  of 
His  late  Majesty's  reign,  entitled  "  An  Act  to  empower 
His  Majesty  to  prohibit  the  exportation  of  Saltpetre,  &ic, 


THOMAS  LIFE,  AGENT  FOR  CONNECTICUT,  TO  GOVERNOUR 
TRUMBULL. 
Basinghall  Street,  London,  April  5, 1775. 
Sir  :  I  received  the  favour  of  your  last  packet,  in  which 
was  enclosed  a  general  state  of  the  transactions  relative  to 
the  Rev.  Samuel  Peters,  of  his  applications  to  you,  and 
what  passed  between  you  on  that  occasion,  and  another 
letter,  dated  the  4th  January  last,  in  which  you  mention 
the  receipt  of  my  letter  of  the  5th  day  of  October  last, 
enclosing  a  copy  of  Messrs.  Penn's  Petition.  On  the  20th 
of  last  month,  I  attended  Lord  Dartmouth  at  his  levee,  and 
stated  to  him  the  facts  from  that  general  state,  without  de- 
livering the  state  itself  to  his  Lordship,  who  informed  me 
that  he  had  seen  Mr.  Peters  but  once,  and  did  not  seem 
to  lay  any  part  of  the  blame  upon  you  ;  and  whatever  views 
Mr.  Peters  may  have,  I  hope  he  will  be  disappointed. 
There  was  a  flying  report  sometime  ago,  that  the  acts  of 
some  people  in  your  Colony,  in  going  down  to  Boston  to 
oppose  the  King's  Troops,  had  subjected  your  Charter  to 
be  forfeited,  but  have  not  heard  any  thing  lately  about  it. 
The  Colony  of  Rhode-Island,  it  is  said,  is  likewise  in  the 
same  predicament  for  seizing  the  King's  powder.  I  received 
notice  from  the  Board  of  Trade  to  attend  them  on  the  20th 
of  March  last  on  Messrs.  Penn's  Petition,  which  I  accord- 
ingly did,  and  prayed  two  months'  time  to  be  heard  on  be- 
half of  your  Colony  by  counsel.  Mr.  Baker,  who  married 
one  of  Mr.  Penn's  daughters,  appeared  on  behalf  of  the 
petitioners,  and  opposed  me  very  strongly,  and  it  was  with 
the  utmost  difficulty  I  obtained  time  till  the  first  of  May 
next,  and  I  must  be  prepared  in  all  events  by  that  lime. 
Indeed  Mr.  Balcer  at  first  objected  to  my  having  any  more 
time  than  a  fortnight,  or  a  month  at  most ;  but  on  my  repre- 
senting that  that  would  fall  out  in  or  near  Easter  week, 
their  Lordships  gave  me  a  fortnight  further  time.  Since  I 
wrote  by  the  last  packet,  Mr.  Nuthall  is  dead  and  is  suc- 
ceeded by  Mr.  Hoole,  whom  I  mentioned  in  my  former 
letters  to  be  his  partner.  On  application  to  this  gentleman 
he  attended  with  me  at  the  Board  of  Trade  in  behalf  of 
Colonel  Dyer  and  the  other  Susquehaimah  proprietors,  but 
their  Lordships  would  not  then  hear  him,  as  they  were  of 
opinion  that  it  was  not  then  the  proper  time. 

1  am,  sir,  with  the  greatest  esteem  and  regard,  your  most 
obedient  humble  servant,  Thos.  Life. 

The  Honourable  Jonathan  Trumbull,  Governour  of  the 
Colony  of  Connecticut,  at  Lebanon  in  Connecticut. 


MEETING  OF  THE  LIVERY  OF  LONDON. 

London,  April  6,  1775. 
Yesterday,  at  Guildhall,  a  few  minutes  after  one  o'clock, 
the  Lord  Mayor,  and  Aldermen  Bull,  Lewes  and  Newnham, 
with  the  two  Sheriffs,  proceeded  to  the  Hustings ;  and  the 
common  Crier  having  made  proclamation  that  the  business 
on  which  the  Livery  were  convened,  was  to  consider  of  a 
"  Remonstrance  and  Petition  to  the  Throne,  respecting  the 
measures  adopted  with  regard  to  America ;"  the  Lord  Mayor 
came  forward  and  addressed  the  Citizens  in  the  following 
speech  : 

Gentlemen  of  the  Livery  : 

It  would  ill  become  me,  on  this  important  day,  to  take 
up  much  of  your  time.  I  very  readily  complied  with  the 
request  of  several  respectable  fellow-citizens  to  call  this 
Common  Hall,  from  every  feeling  of  justice  and  humanity 
to  our  persecuted  brethren  in  America,  and  the  fatal  con- 
sequences I  foresee  of  the  violent  proceedings  now  carrying 
on,  which  must  so  deeply  affect  the  prosperity,  not  only  of 
this,  the  first  commercial  City  in  the  world,  but  likewise  the 
whole  Kingdom.  I  will  only,  gentlemen,  beg  leave  to  read 
to  you,  from  your  own  records  on  this  subject,  the  words 
of  a  Petition  from  this  Metropolis  to  both  Houses  of  Par- 
liament, long  before  the  present  unhappy  contest  between 
the  Mother  Country  and  her  American  Colonies  began ; 
so  long  ago  as  the  year  1739. 

-  "  The  citizens  of  London  are  too  deeply  interested  in 
whatever  affects  the  trade  of  this  Nation,  not  to  express 
the  utmost  anxiety  for  the  welfare  of  that  only  source  of 
our  riches.  The  Petitioners  apprehend  that  the  trade  from 
these  (His  Majesty's  Kingdoms)  to  his  American  Colonies, 
is  of  the  utmost  importance,  and  almost  the  only  profitable 
trade  this  Nation  now  enjoys  unrivalled  by  others." 


279 


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280 


If,  gentlemen,  the  trade  to  our  American  Colonies  near 
forty  years  ago  was,  according  to  the  declared  opinion  ol 
this  Metropolis,  of  such  importance,  the  amazing  entries 
for  several  late  years  made  in  the  books  of  the  Custom- 
House,  which  are  almost  daily  before  your  eyes,  will  best 
demonstrate  to  what  an  immense  magnitude  it  is  since  grown. 
Such  an  object  surely  calls  for  our  most  earnest, unwearied 
attention  and  regard.  Whatever  your  determinations  may 
be,  you  may  be  assured  of  the  hearty  concurrence  of  your 
Chief  Magistrate. 

Mr.  B.  Allen,  Esq.,  now  moved  that  such  Remonstrance 
should  be  presented,  and  all  hands  were  held  up  in  favour 
of  the  motion  except  seven  or  eight,  among  whom  was  Sir 
James  Esdailc.  Mr.  Allen  made  a  long  and  spirited  speech, 
in  which  he  was  very  severe  on  the  arbitrary  strides  taken 
by  Government,  which  rendered  it  necessary  for  every  man 
of  spirit  to  stand  up  in  his  own  defence.  He  said  that  if 
he  had  sat  in  the  House  of  Commons  he  should  have  op- 
posed all  the  late  measures,  being  convinced  they  were  but 
the  acts  of  the  Minister,  who  was  himself  controlled  by  an 
invisible  agent.  That  it  was  amazing  a  confidence  should 
be  reposed  in  a  Stuart,  by  those  who  ought  to  fear  every 
man  of  the  name.  Of  the  Scots  in  general,  Mr.  Allen 
spoke  very  handsomely,  and  wished  the  English  would 
copy  them  in  their  nationality.  He  said  that  the  Lord 
Mayor  had  been  unjustly  accused  by  a  prejudice  against 
the  Scots  as  a  people,  and  that  the  Thane  had  artfully 
made  this  circumstance  the  ground  of  national  quarrel. 
This  orator  recommended  unanimity  in  the  common  cause, 
but  lamented  that  whenever  emoluments  were  to  arise,  there 
never  were  wanting  bad  men,  even  of  rank,  who  would  do 
any  thing.  He  said  the  question  now  was,  whether  the 
Americans  were  to  be  enslaved  or  not.  If  Government 
was  in  want  of  supplies,  why  did  it  not  take  the  regular 
method  of  raising  them?  He  concluded  by  saying,  "  the 
Americans  are  sons  of  Britons,  and  have  a  right  to  be  free," 
and  that  he  hoped  the  Hall  would  be  unanimous  for  the 
proposed  Remonstrance.  Mr.  Allen's  speech  was  well 
received,  and  he  concluded  it  with  reading  the  Petition. 

It  was  afterwards  moved  that  the  Petition  be  again  read, 
which  being  agreed  to,  it  was  accordingly  read  and  ap- 
proved of,  there  not  being  more  than  three  or  four  dissent- 
ing voices,  among  whom  was  Sir  James  Esdaile. 

Mr.  Saxby  then  made  a  motion,  that  the  said  Petition 
be  fairly  transcribed  and  signed  by  the  Town  Clerk  ;  also, 
that  it  be  presented  to  His  Majesty  by  the  Right  Honour- 
able the  Lord  Mayor,  the  Aldermen  and  Livery  of  the 
City  of  London,  in  their  gowns  ;  that  the  Sheriffs  do 
wait  upon  His  Majesty,  to  know  when  he  will  be  pleased 
to  receive  it ;  and  that  the  Lord  Mayor  be  requested  to 
give  the  most  early  and  publick  intelligence  of  His  Majesty's 
answer :  all  which  were  carried  in  the  affirmative. 

Mr.  Saxby  afterwards  moved,  that  the  thanks  of  the 
Lord  Mayor,  Aldermen,  and  Livery,  be  given  to  those 
Lords  who  protested  against  the  Acts  lately  passed  respect- 
ing America  ;  to  such  Members  of  the  House  of  Commons 
who  opposed  the  said  Acts  and  all  other  anti-commercial 
measures  ;  to  Lord  Chatham,  for  offering  a  conciliatory 
plan  ;  to  those  Members  of  the  House  of  Commons  who 
voted  for  expunging  the  Resolutions  relative  to  the  Mid- 
dlesex Election  ;  and  to  Edmund  Burke,  Esq.,  for  offering 
a  conciliatory  plan.  All  these  motions  were  unanimously 
agreed  to. 


LETTER  FROM  THE  GEORGIA  DELEGATES  TO  THE  CONTI- 
NENTAL CONGRESS. 

Savannah,  Georgia,  April  6,  1775. 
Sir:  The  unworthy  part  which  the  Province  of  Georgia 
has  acted  in  the  great  and  general  contest,  leaves  room  to 
expect  little  less  than  the  censure,  or  even  indignation  of 
every  virtuous  man  in  America.  Although,  on  the  one  hand, 
we  feel  the  justice  of  such  a  consequence  with  respect  to 
the  Province  in  general ;  yet,  on  the  other,  we  claim  an  ex- 
emption from  it  in  favour  of  some  individuals  who  wished 
a  better  conduct.  Permit  us,  therefore,  in  behalf  of  our- 
selves and  many  others  our  fellow-citizens,  warmly  attached 
to  the  cause,  to  lay  before  the  respectable  body  over  which 
you  preside  a  few  facts,  which  we  trust  will  not  only  acquit 
us  of  supineness,  but  also  render  our  conduct  to  be  approved 
by  all  candid  and  dispassionate  men. 


At  the  time  the  late  Congress  did  this  Province  the 
honour  to  transmit  to  it  an  Extract  from  their  Proceedings, 
enclosed  in  a  friendly  letter  from  the  Honourable  Mr.  Mid- 
dleton,  the  sense  and  disposition  of  the  people  in  general 
seemed  to  fluctuate  between  liberty  and  conveniency.  In 
order  to  bring  on  a  determination  respecting  the  measures 
recommended,  a  few  well-affected  persons  in  Savannah, 
by  publick  advertisement  in  the  Gazette,  requested  a  meet- 
ing of  all  the  Parishes  and  Districts,  by  Delegates  or  Rep- 
resentatives in  Provincial  Congress.  On  the  day  appointed 
for  this  meeting,  with  concern  they  found  that  only  five 
out  of  twelve  Parishes  to  which  they  had  particularly  wrote, 
had  nominated  and  sent  down  Delegates  ;  and  even  some  of 
these  five  had  laid  their  Representatives  under  injunctions 
as  to  the  form  of  an  Association. 

Under  these  circumstances  those  who  met  saw  them- 
selves a  good  deal  embarrassed  ;  however,  one  expedient 
seemed  still  to  present  itself.  The  House  of  Assembly 
was  then  sitting,  and  it  was  hoped  there  would  be  no  doubt 
of  a  majority  in  favour  of  American  freedom.  The  plan, 
therefore,  was  to  go  through  with  what  business  they  could 
in  Provincial  Congress,  and  then,  with  a  short  address,  pre- 
sent the  same  to  the  House  of  Assembly,  who,  it  was  hoped, 
would,  by  vote,  in  a  few  minutes,  and  before  prerogative 
should  interfere,  make  it  the  act  of  the  whole  Province. 

Accordingly  the  Congress  framed  and  agreed  to  such  an 
Association,  and  did  such  other  business  as  appeared  prac- 
ticable with  the  people,  and  had  the  whole  just  ready  to 
be  presented,  when  the  Governour,  either  treacherously  in- 
formed, or  shrewdly  suspecting  the  step,  put  an  end  to  the 
session. 

What,  then,  could  the  Congress  do?  On  the  one  hand 
truth  forbid  them  to  call  their  proceedings  the  voice  of  the 
Province,  there  being  but  five  out  of  twelve  Parishes  con- 
cerned ;  and  on  the  other,  they  wanted  strength  sufficient  to 
enforce  them  on  the  principle  of  necessity,  to  which  all 
ought  for  a  time  to  submit.  They  found  the  inhabitants 
of  Savannah  not  likely  soon  to  give  matters  a  favourable 
turn.  The  importers  were  mostly  against  any  interruption, 
and  the  consumers  very  much  divided.  There  were  some 
of  the  latter  virtuously  for  the  measures  ;  others  strenuously 
against  them  ;  but  more  who  called  themselves  neutrals 
than  either. 

Thus  situated,  there  appeared  nothing  before  us  but  the 
alternative  of  either  immediately  commencing  a  civil  war 
among  ourselves,  or  else  of  patiently  waiting  the  measures 
to  be  recommended  by  the  General  Congress.  Among  a 
powerful  people,  provided  with  men,  money,  and  conveni- 
ences, and  by  whose  conduct  others  were  to  be  regulated, 
the  former  would  certainly  be  the  resolution  that  would 
suggest  itself  to  every  man  removed  from  the  condition  of 
a  coward  ;  but  in  a  small  community  like  that  of  Savan- 
nah, (whose  members  are  mostly  in  their  first  advance  to- 
wards wealth  and  independence,  destitute  of  even  the  neces- 
saries of  life  within  themselves,  and  from  whose  junction 
or  silence,  so  little  would  be  added  or  lost  to  the  general 
cause,)  the  latter  presented  itself  as  the  most  eligible  plan, 
and  was  adopted  by  the  people.  Party  disputes  and  ani- 
mosities have  occasionally  prevailed,  which  show  that  the 
spirit  of  freedom  is  not  extinguished,  but  only  restrained 
for  a  time  till  an  opportunity  shall  offer  for  calling  it  forth. 

The  Congress  convened  at  Savannah  did  us  the  honour 
of  choosing  us  Delegates  to  meet  your  respectable  body  at 
Philadelphia,  on  the  tenth  of  next  month.  We  were  sen- 
sible of  the  honour  and  weight  of  the  appointment,  and 
would  gladly  have  rendered  our  Country  any  services  our 
poor  abilities  would  have  admitted  of;  but, alas!  with  what 
face  could  we  have  appeared  for  a  Province  whose  inhabi- 
tants had  refused  to  sacrifice  the  most  trifling  advantages 
to  the  publick  cause,  and  in  whose  behalf  we  did  not  think 
we  could  safely  pledge  ourselves  for  the  execution  of  any 
one  measure  whatsoever. 

We  do  not  mean  to  insinuate  that  those  who  appointed 
us  would  prove  apostates,  or  desert  their  opinion  ;  but  that 
the  tide  of  opposition  was  great ;  that  all  the  strength  and 
virtue  of  these  our  friends  might  be  insufficient  for  the 
purpose.  We  very  early  saw  the  difficulties  that  would 
here  occur,  and  therefore  repeatedly  and  constantly  re- 
quested the  people  to  proceed  to  the  choice  of  other  Dele- 
gates in  our  stead;  but  this  they  refused  to  do. 

We  beg,  sir,  you  will  view  our  reasons  for  not  attending 


281 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  APRIL,  1775. 


282 


in  a  liberal  point  of  light.  Be  pleased  to  make  the  most 
favourable  representation  of  them  to  the  honourable  the 
Members  of  the  Congress.  We  believe  we  may  take  upon 
us  to  say,  notwithstanding  all  that  has  past,  there  are  still 
men  in  Georgia  who,  when  an  occasion  shall  require,  will 
be  ready  to  evince  a  steady,  religious,  and  manly  attach- 
ment to  the  liberties  of  America.  To  the  consolation  of 
these,  they  find  themselves  in  the  neighbourhood  of  a  Prov- 
ince whose  virtue  and  magnanimity  must  and  will  do  lasting 
honour  to  the  cause,  and  in  whose  fate  they  seemed  dis- 
posed freely  to  involve  their  own. 

We  have  the  honour  to  be,  sir,  your  most  obedient  and 
very  humble  servants,         Noble  Wimberly  Jones, 
Archibald  Bullock, 
John  Houstoun. 

To  the  President  of  the  Continental  Congress. 


CALVERT   COUNTY   (MARYLAND)  COMMITTEE. 

April  5,  1775. 

In  consequence  of  an  information  received,  that  Mr. 
Alexander  Ogg,  merchant  at  Huntingtown,  had  sold  and 
was  selling  his  goods  at  a  greater  advance  upon  the  prime 
cost  than  was  recommended  by  the  Provincial  Convention, 
held  at  Annapolis  in  December,  1774,  the  Committee  met 
at  Huntingtown  on  Saturday  the  25th  March,  and  con- 
tinued by  adjournment  till  this  day. 

Ordered,  That  the  Clerk  give  notice  to  said  Ogg,  and 
desire  his  attendance  immediately  before  the  Committee. 
Accordingly  he  attended,  and  produced  his  shop-notes  and 
books,  from  which  it  appeared  he  had  sold  at  a  much  higher 
advance  than  one  hundred  and  fifty  per  cent,  on  the  prime 
cost. 

On  motion,  Resolved,  That  said  Ogg  has  violated  the 
Association,  and  therefore  ought  to  be  deemed  an  enemy 
to  the  cause  of  America.        Signed  per  order, 

Pat.  Sim  Smith,  Clerk  pro  tern. 

TO  THE  PUBL1CK. 

I  hereby  publickly  acknowledge  that  I  have,  but  with 
no  sinister  intention,  violated  the  American  Association  in 
selling  several  articles  of  my  last  cargo  at  more  than  one 
hundred  and  fifty  per  cent,  advance  upon  the  prime  cost. 
My  goods  were  imported  via  Philadelphia,  and  conse- 
quently were  much  more  chargeable  than  if  imported  di- 
rectly into  this  Province.  This  extraordinary  expense  I 
thought  I  had  a  right  to  reimburse  myself ;  but  I  find  I  was 
mistaken.  I  am  sorry  I  have  offended.  I  am  willing  to 
make  satisfaction  as  far  as  is  in  my  power.  I  shall  give 
credit  in  every  article  where  I  have  charged  a  farthing 
more  than  one  hundred  and  fifty  per  cent,  upon  the  prime 
cost.  And  as  my  character  as  a  vender  of  goods  has  hitherto 
been  very  irreproachable,  and  I  have  been  as  zealous  an 
assertor  of  American  freedom  as  any  man  upon  the  Conti- 
nent, my  sphere  of  life  considered,  I  hope  the  publick  will 
forgive  this  offence,  more  especially  as  it  has  been  owing 
to  a  misapprehension  of  the  matter,  and  not  to  any  design 
of  taking  advantage  of  the  scarcity  of  goods  that  now  pre- 
vails. Alexander  Ogg. 

April  13,  1775. 


SUSSEX  COUNTY  (VIRGINIA)  COMMITTEE. 

At  a  Committee  held  for  the  County  of  Sussex,  in  Vir- 
ginia, at  the  Court-House,  on  Thursday  the  6th  of  April, 
1775,  present:  Thomas  Peete,  Esq., Chairman,  and  twenty- 
seven  other  Members  of  the  said  Committee  : 

The  Proceedings  of  the  Provincial  Congress,  lately  held 
in  the  Towrn  of  Richmond  and  County  of  Henrico,  were 
laid  before  the  Committee  by  the  late  Delegates  for  this 
County  ;  and  the  same  being  read,  and  maturely  considered, 
the  Committee  came  to  the  following  Resolution : 

Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  this  Committee,  in  behalf 
of  themselves  and  their  constituents,  the  good  people  of  this 
County,  are  justly  due,  and  are  most  unfeignedly  given  to 
the  Congress  in  general,  and  to  our  late  worthy  Delegates 
in  particular,  for  the  great  pains  and  trouble  they  have  been 
at,  and  wisdom  shewn  in  their  consultations  and  resolves, 
and  to  assure  them  that  this  Committee  will  adhere  strictly 
to  the  spirit  of  the  Resolves  of  the  said  Congress. 

Signed  by  order.  Thomas  Peete,  Chairman. 

John  Massenburg,  Clerk. 


New- York,  April  C,  1775. 

A  correspondent  acquaints  us  that,  on  Monday,  the  3d 
of  April,  the  inhabitants  of  the  Borough  of  Westchester 
met,  in  consequence  of  a  summons,  to  give  their  sentiments 
upon  a  question,  whether  or  not  they  would  choose  Depu- 
ties to  represent  them  at  a  Provincial  Convention  in  this 
City  ;  when  they  declared  themselves  already  very  ably 
and  effectually  represented  in  the  General  Assembly  of 
this  Province  by  Isaac  Wilkins,  Esquire ;  peremptorily 
disowned  all  Congressional  Conventions  and  Committees, 
most  loyally  repeating  the  old  chorus,  God  save  the  King, 
which  was  seconded  by  three  cheers. 

On  Tuesday,  the  11th  instant,  a  General  Meeting  of  the 
inhabitants  of  the  County  of  Westchester  is  to  be  held  at 
the  White  Plains,  to  determine  whether  or  not  Delegates 
shall  be  sent  by  them  to  a  Provincial  Convention  at  New- 
York. 


TO  THE  FREEHOLDERS  AND  INHABITANTS  OF  THE  COUNTY 
OF  WESTCHESTER. 

New- York,  April  6,  1775. 
You  are  earnestly  desired  to  attend  a  General  Meeting 
of  the  County,  to  be  held  at  the  White  Plains,  on  Tues- 
day next,  the  11th  instant,  to  give  your  votes  upon  the 
questions : — • 

Whether  you  are  inclined  to  choose  Deputies  to  meet  at 
the  City  of  New-  York,  in  a  Provincial  Convention  ?  Or, 

Whether  you  are  determined  to  abide  by  the  loyal  and 
judicious  measures  already  taken  by  your  own  worthy  Re- 
presentatives in  the  General  Assembly  of  this  Province,  for 
a  redress  of  American  grievances  ? 

The  consequences  that  may  arise  from  your  neglecting 
to  attend  at  the  White  Plains,  on  Tuesday  next,  to  declare 
your  sentiments  relative  to  the  appointment  of  Deputies  to 
meet  in  Provincial  Congress,  may  be  very  fatal  to  this 
County.  The  friends  of  Government  and  our  happy 
Constitution  are,  therefore,  earnestly  invited  in  person,  to 
oppose  a  measure  so  replete  with  ruin  and  misery.  Re- 
member the  extravagant  price  we  are  now  obliged  to  pay 
for  goods  purchased  of  the  merchants,  in  consequence  of 
the  Non-Importation  Agreement;  and  when  the  Non-Ex- 
portation Agreement  takes  place,  we  shall  be  in  the  situa- 
tion of  those  who  were  obliged  to  make  bricks  without 
straw. 


MEETING  OF  THE  INHABITANTS  OF  NEW-YORK. 

New- York,  Thursday,  April  6,  1775. 
A  number  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  City  and  County 
assembled  at  the  Liberty  Pole  this  day,  in  consequence  of 
a  notification  published  yesterday  for  that  purpose,  when 
they  immediately  proceeded  to  the  choice  of  a  Chairman. 
And  after  the  Chairman  had  fully  explained  the  business 
and  design  of  the  meeting,  a  motion  was  made,  that  the 
following  recommendation  and  advice  of  the  Committee 
should  be  read  : — 

To  the  respectable  Inhabitants  of  the  City  and  County  of 
New- York. 

Friends  and  Fellow-Citizens  :  In  times  so  critical 
as  the  present,  it  becomes  the  duty  of  every  citizen  to  pay 
particular  attention  to  the  welfare  of  the  community,  and 
to  counteract  every  measure  that  may  tend  to  injure  its 
interest. 

Influenced  by  these  considerations,  we  view  with  concern 
the  uneasiness  occasioned  in  this  City  by  the  late  unusual 
exportation  of  Nails;  and  perceive  with  anxiety  the  dis- 
tress to  which  a  monopoly  of  this  or  any  other  article  may 
expose  many  among  us. 

For  what  purpose,  or  with  what  design,  such  a  quantity 
has,  in  so  short  a  time,  been  purchased  and  exported,  we 
neither  know  nor  can  conceive.  The  clamour  raised 
among  the  Mechanicks,  by  the  scarcity  of  Nails  during  the 
continuance  of  the  last  Non-Importation  Agreement,  is 
recent  in  our  memories;  and  though  the  manufactories 
which  have  since  been  established  will  supply  more  than 
sufficient  for  our  own  consumption,  we  apprehend  it  would 
be  imprudent  thus  rashly  to  part  with  what  we  have  in 
store,  especially  as  this  sudden  exportation  has  given  just 
grounds  for  suspicion  and  alarm. 

It  is  not  within  the  limits  of  our  appointment  to  provide 


283 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &ic,  APRIL,  1775. 


284 


against  the  evil  tendency  of  this  circumstance,  by  any  regu- 
lation ;  but  considering  ourselves  as  fellow-citizens  with  you, 
and  deeply  interested  in  every  thing  that  respects  the  pub- 
lick  weal,  and  the  support  of  the  great  cause  in  which  our 
all  is  at  stake,  we  take  the  liberty  of  declaring  our  senti- 
ments upon  the  occasion  ;  and  recommend  to  you  to  avoid 
drawing  the  people  of  this  City  into  any  difficulties  or  dis- 
contents, by  exporting  or  encouraging  the  monopoly  of 
such  great  quantities  of  Nails  as  may  leave  a  provision  for 
our  own  consumption  precarious,  especially  as  it  is  not 
certain  whether  these  Nails,  so  hastily  bought  up  and  ex- 
ported, are  designed  to  be  used,  or  to  be  stored. 

Permit  us  also  to  submit  to  your  consideration  the  pro- 
priety of  supplying  the  Troops  at  Boston  with  implements 
of  war,  and  articles  essential  to  hostilities.  We  cannot 
forbear  observing,  that  the  duty  we  owe  to  our  interest  and 
reputation  should  lead  us  to  withhold  such  supplies  from 
the  Troops,  at  least  till  we  have  assurances  that  nothing 
hostile  is  intended  against  us.    By  order  of  the  Committee  : 

Isaac  Low,  Chairman. 

And  the  same  being  read  accordingly,  and  the  question 
put,  whether  they  approved  of  the  said  recommendation 
and  advice,  it  was  carried  in  the  affirmative  unanimously. 

Then  the  question  was  put,  whether  we  ought  to  supply 
the  Troops  at  Boston  with  implements  of  war,  and  other 
necessaries  for  carrying  on  their  operations  against  the  peo- 
ple of  Massachusetts-Bay ;  which  was  carried  in  the  nega- 
tive, unanimously. 

After  which,  the  following  motions  (in  writing)  were 
delivered  to  the  Chairman  : 

Mr.  Chairman:  Whereas  William  and  Henry  Ustick, 
of  this  City,  Traders,  have,  for  some  time  past,  been  en- 
gaged in  purchasing  Spades,  Shovels,  and  other  intrenching 
tools  for  the  use  of  the  Army  now  at  Boston ;  and  have 
likewise  employed  a  number  of  hands  in  manufacturing  Bill- 
hooks, Pickaxes,  &lc,  for  the  purpose  aforesaid  ;  whereby 
they  have  acted  derogatory  to  the  character  of  good  citi- 
zens and  friends  to  their  Country,  as  it  enables  General 
Gage  to  take  the  field,  and  carry  into  execution  any  hos- 
tile plan  which  he  may  have  conceived  against  the  Province 
of  the  Massachusetts-Bay  in  particular,  and  the  American 
Colonies  in  general,  and  may  be  the  means  of  involving 
our  Country  in  bloodshed,  and  the  dreadful  calamities  at- 
tendant on  civil  war.  In  order,  therefore,  to  testify  to  the 
world  our  abhorrence  and  detestation  of  such  vile  and  infa- 
mous conduct,  and  prevent  in  some  measure  the  infamy 
and  reproach  which  our  silence  would  bring  upon  the 
inhabitants  of  this  City  and  County  in  general : 

1  move  that  the  sense  of  this  body  be  now  taken,  whe- 
ther the  said  William  and  Henry  Ustick  have  not  acted 
in  this  matter  as  inveterate  foes  to  American  freedom,  and 
whether  we  ought  not  to  break  off  all  connexion  and  deal- 
ing with  them  for  the  future? 

And  the  questions  being  respectively  put  on  the  said 
motions,  they  were  carried  in  the  affirmative,  with  only  one 
dissenting  voice. 

It  was  likewise  moved,  that  a  Committee  should  be  ap- 
pointed to  wait  on  the  Importers  of  Nails,  and  request  them 
not  to  dispose  of  those  which  they  have  on  hand  to  any 
person  who  may  purchase  them  with  a  design  to  export 
them  out  of  the  Province  ;  and  a  Committee  of  seven  per- 
sons was  accordingly  appointed  for  that  purpose. 


ALEXANDER  m'dOUGALL  TO  JOS1AH  QUINCT,  JUN. 

New- York,  April  6,  1775. 
Dear  Sir  :  Your  favours  of  the  17th  and  19th  of  De- 
cember last,  enclosing  letters  for  the  friends  of  the  common 
cause  in  Boston  and  Philadelphia,  arrived  here  the  10th 
ultimo ;  but  they  were  not  handed  to  me  before  the  25th, 
owing  to  their  being  in  a  package  belonging  to  a  gentle- 
man who  was  absent  when  they  arrived.  Your  directions 
respecting  them  were  strictly  observed,  and  they  were  for- 
warded the  27th  by  safe  conveyances.  I  shall  take  great 
pleasure  in  transmitting  your  future  communications  to 
your  friends. 

I  wrote  you  by  the  March  Packet  under  cover  to  Mr. 
Thomas  Bromficld,  in  which  I  informed  you  of  the  pro- 
gress then  made  by  our  House  of  Assembly  on  American 
grievances.    The  assurances  I  gave  you,  that  what  re- 


mained of  the  "  Report  of  the  Committee  of  Grievances  " 
not  then  considered  by  the  "  Committee  of  the  House," 
would  rather  be  more  in  favour  of  liberty  than  the  "  Re- 
port," has  since  been  confirmed  ;  the  particulars  of  which 
you  have  in  the  enclosed  printed  proceedings  of  the  House. 
After  the  "  Statement  of  Grievances"  was  agreed  to,  and  ap- 
proved of  by  the  House,  several  of  the  members  who  were 
warm  friends  to  the  cause  of  liberty,  having  attended  the 
Assembly  two  months,  and  their  families  being  very  remote 
from  the  Capital,  and  urgent  business  demanding  theii  re- 
turn, and  considering  the  most  important  transactions  of 
the  sessions  finished,  went  home.  This  gave  an  opportu- 
nity to  the  wicked  and  designing  members  of  the  House, 
contrary  to  all  order,  to  depart  from  the  spirit  of  the  "  List 
of  Grievances,"  in  a  "  Petition  to  the  King,"  "  Memorial 
to  the  Lords,"  and  "  Remonstrance  to  the  Common?." 
But  the  "  Statement  of  Grievances "  agreed  to  by  the 
fullest  House  during  the  sessions,  must  be  considered  as  the 
basis  of  all  their  proceedings  on  the  American  controversy. 
If  any  regard  is  to  be  paid  to  the  sense  of  the  legal  Repre- 
sentatives, that  sense  is  the  "  Statement  of  Grievances  " 
agreed  to  in  a  full  House ;  and  therefore,  whatever  differ- 
ence appears  in  the  "  Petition,"  &ic,  from  that  "  Statement 
of  Grievances"  is  a  mere  nullity.  If  the  Ministry  make 
any  dependance  on  the  "  Petition,"  &c,  as  declarative  of 
the  sense  of  this  Colony,  they  will  find  themselves  most 
egregiously  mistaken.  This  City  will  publickly  disavow 
the  vile,  slavish  sentiments  contained  in  the  "  Petition," 
&c,  the  moment  they  make  their  appearance.  So  far  as 
they  are  now  known,  they  are  condemned,  and  the  patrons 
of  them  despised.  And  if  the  Provincial  Convention, 
who  are  to  meet  here  on  the  20th  instant,  to  elect  Dele- 
gates for  the  Continental  Congress,  do  not  disavow  the 
"  Petition,"  &tc,  which  I  have  reason  to  conclude  they 
will,  they  will  certainly  join  with  the  Continental  Congress 
in  doing  it. 

During  the  Ship  Beulah's  stay  in  our  Bay  she  was  con- 
tinually watched  by  a  Sub-Committee,  and  did  not  enter. 
But  while  she  lay  at  the  Hook  waiting  for  a  fair  wind,  the 
night  before  she  departed  threatened  a  storm  ;  and  as  the 
Boat,  on  board  of  which  the  Sub-Committee  attended,  was 
not  so  well  provided  with  ground-tackling  as  the  Ship,  the 
Boat  was  obliged  to  go  into  a  cove  of  safety,  at  some  dis- 
tance from  the  Ship.  The  owners,  who  had  some  goods 
on  board,  having  previously  meditated  a  plan  to  land 
them,  availed  themselves  of  this  opportunity,  and  effected 
it  in  the  night.  Of  this  they  were  suspected,  and  our  Sub- 
Committee  of  Observation,  and  the  Committee  of  Eliza- 
bethtown,  having  got  a  clue  to  a  discovery,  the  owners 
confessed  the  matter  upon  oath.  Our  citizens  were  so 
enraged  at  them  for  the  horrid  deed,  that  it  was  with  great 
difficulty  they  were  prevailed  upon  not  to  banish  them. 
The  fearful  apprehensions  of  these  persons,  and  the  terms 
on  which  they  are  suffered  to  abide  here,  are  fully  ex- 
pressed in  the  printed  papers  which  you  have  herewith. 
This  is  the  only  violation  of  the  Association  we  have  had 
since  it  took  place.  The  punishment  they  now,  and  will 
endure,  is  sufficient  to  deter  any  man,  however  base,  from 
another  breach. 

The  friends  of  the  Association,  and  the  great  cause,  are 
daily  increasing ;  so  that  you  have  no  reason  to  fear  a  de- 
fection of  this  Colony.  Time  will  not  permit  me  to  be 
more  particular.  I  shall  continue  to  enclose  you  all  the 
printed  papers  which  1  may  judge  of  importance  to  you, 
regardless  of  the  postage,  until  you  direct  me  to  the  con- 
trary. 

I  am,  dear  sir,  in  great  haste,  but  with  great  respect, 
your  humble  servant,  Alexander  McDougall. 

Josiah  Quincy,  Jun.,  London. 

P.  S.  As  my  political  character  may  tempt  the  tools 
of  Government  to  open  letters  to  me,  please  to  cover  your 
favours  to  me  to  Samuel  Broome  &.  Co.,  Merchants,  in 
New-  York. 


FOR  MR.  RIVINGTON'S  NEW-YORK  GAZETTEER. 

Boston,  April  6,  1775. 

Whereas  it  is  the  prevailing  rage  of  the  present  times 
for  people  of  all  ranks,  orders,  and  professions,  to  form 
Associations,  and  erect  themselves  into  what  they  call 
Congresses  and  Committees  of  various  denominations ; 


285 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  APRIL,  1775. 


286 


who,  under  pretext  of  redressing  grievances  and  reforming 
Church  and  State,  have  made  most  audacious  and  iniqui- 
tous resolves,  tending  to  the  subversion  of  all  order  and 
good  Government,  and  the  total  abolition  of  law  and  justice  : 

And  whereas,  in  compliance  with  the  aforesaid  resolves, 
many  peaceable  and  well  disposed  persons,  who  have  de- 
clined joining  in  such  illegal  Associations,  have  been  insulted, 
persecuted,  proscribed,  and  oppressed,  and  have  suffered 
all  the  cruelty  and  torture  that  brutal,  cowardly  rage  could 
devise ;  and  as,  in  obedience  to  the  orders  of  such  Con- 
gresses and  Committees,  much  private  property  has  been 
destroyed,  the  most  daring  piracies  and  robberies  have 
been  perpetrated  in  the  face  of  open  day,  and  death  and 
destruction  denounced  against  all  who  dare  oppose  their 
lawless  banditti : 

And  whereas  the  Pulpit  and  Press  are  become  subser- 
vient to  the  infernal  schemes  of  these  diabolical  assemblies, 
and  are  used  as  the  great  engines  to  destroy  the  peace  and 
tranquillity  of  this  devoted  Nation,  and  to  plunge  it  into 
all  the  horrours  of  rebellion  and  civil  war ;  to  accomplish 
which  they  daily  teem  with  productions  of  the  most  in- 
flammatory, seditious,  treasonable  nature ;  reflecting  on, 
and  highly  injurious  to  the  characters  and  interests  of  indi- 
viduals, and  particular  societies  of  men  ;  which  individuals 
and  particular  societies  labour  under  great  disadvantages, 
through  the  want  of  mutual  concert  and  intercourse  with 
each  other : 

And  as  the  Navy  and  Army  sent  hither  by  His  Majesty 
for  the  support  of  the  laws  and  preservation  of  the  peace, 
have  been  marked  out  as  the  peculiar  objects  of  the  ran- 
cour and  malignity  of  these  reforming  fanaticks ;  and  as 
in  their  resolves  they  have  publickly  declared  the  officers 
and  men  to  be  their  enemies,  and  with  that  charity  and 
hi'.manity  which  are  peculiar  to  the  holy  men  of  Massachu- 
setts, have  endeavoured  to  deprive  them  of  those  necessa- 
ries and  conveniences  of  life,  which,  among  savages,  are 
not  denied  to  the  brute  creation,  namely,  straw  to  lie  down 
on,  and  sheds  to  shelter  them  from  the  rigour  of  a  most  in- 
clement season ;  and  with  their  usual  zeal  for  the  propaga- 
tion of  irreligion  and  immorality,  have  spared  neither  pains 
nor  expense  to  debauch  the  soldiers  from  their  duty  and 
allegiance,  to  persuade  them  to  be  guilty  of  perjury,  trea- 
son, and  rebellion  ;  and  as  a  few,  by  artifice  and  deceit, 
have  been  prevailed  on  to  desert  the  service  of  their  King 
and  Country,  some  of  whom  have  suffered  the  punishment 
due  to  so  heinous  a  crime,  and  others  have  been  condemned 
by  their  seducers  to  slavery,  and  sentenced  to  pass  the 
remainder  of  their  miserable  days  at  hard  labour  in  the 
mines : 

As  these  illegal  Congresses  and  Committees  still  con- 
tinue to  meet,  vote,  and  resolve  ;  and  as  His  Majesty's  land 
and  sea  forces  here  assembled,  are  particularly  affected  by 
these  meetings,  it  is  therefore,  with  all  deference,  submitted 
to  the  Officers,  whether,  from  the  foregoing  considerations, 
they  should  not  immediately  form  a  Congress,  that,  by 
uniting  their  counsels  and  arms,  they  may  both  act  with 
greater  force,  and  with  more  effect ;  and  the  appearance  of 
a  confederacy  may  render  them  no  less  respectable  among 
the  people  than  formidable  to  the  rebels : 

It  is  therefore  humbly  proposed  by  the  Moderator  and 
Selectmen,  that  a  Military  Congress  be  immediately  formed, 
under  the  name  of  A  Grand  Congress  of  Control ;  that  this 
Congress  have  a  President,  who  shall  be  styled  Comptrol- 
ler General ;  a  Secretary  ;  three  Delegates  from  each  Re- 
giment ;  three  from  the  Navy,  and  one  from  the  Engi- 
neers. 

That  as  many  as  can  conveniently  meet,  do  assemble  on 
every  Monday  and  Thursday,  immediately  after  the  pub- 
lication of  the  Boston  Gazette  and  the  Spy,  to  take  cogni- 
zance of  whatever  may  relate  to  them  in  these  Papers ; 
and  also  of  the  proceedings  of  the  Provincial  Congress  now 
sitting  at  Concord. 

That  on  these  days  they  hear  all  complaints  against  Con- 
gresses, Committees,  Town  Meetings,  Selectmen,  Printers, 
Watchmen,  and  mob  of  the  Town  of  Boston. 

That  they  take  cognizance  of  any  injury,  insult,  or  in- 
dignity, that  may  be  offered  by  any  man  or  body  of  men, 
to  their  Country,  their  King,  their  profession,  their  Gen- 
eral, their  men,  or  themselves;  and  where  legal  process 
cannot  be  obtained,  that  a  summary  mode  of  redress  be 
adopted  and  put  into  execution. 


That  they  appoint  such  inferiour  Committees  as  shall  to 
them  appear  expedient. 

That  they  keep  a  faithful  register  of  the  occurrences  of 
the  times,  and  pursue  every  other  measure  which,  in  their 
united  wisdom,  they  shall  judge  effectual,  to  obviate  the 
insidious  schemes  of  a  most  artful,  indefatigable,  unprinci- 
pled, and  ungenerous  enemy. 


FOR  THE  MASSACHUSETTS  GAZETTE. 

Boston,  April  6,  1775. 
My  worthy  Friends  and  Fellow-  Countrymen : 

Experience  has  ever  been  found  to  be  the  best  guide  of 
human  conduct ;  to  profit  from  our  past  errours,  is  at  once  to 
discharge  our  duty  and  consult  our  truest  interest.  When 
we  review  our  past  behaviour,  in  any  stage  or  station  of  life, 
how  many  instances  may  we  find,  wherein  we  should  have 
acted  a  very  different  part  if  we  had  been  aware  of  the 
consequences  which  have  ensued ;  and  which,  should  we 
again  be  placed  in  the  same  situation,  we  should  very  ma- 
terially correct?  Hence  have  originated  the  wise  maxims 
and  prudent  and  salutary  observations  of  the  sages  of  an- 
tiquity, which,  if  more  carefully  attended  to,  would  make 
succeeding  generations  much  more  cautious  and  circum- 
spect in  their  conduct  than  we,  in  fact,  find  to  be  the  case. 
But  such  is  the  unhappy  frailty  of  the  human  mind,  that 
we  are  in  general  less  attentive  to  the  calls  of  reason  and 
prudence  than  the  suggestions  of  passion,  prejudice,  and 
vicious  habits.  We  are  apt  suddenly  to  gratify  our  present 
inclinations  at  the  expense  of  our  future  happiness,  and 
incur  the  same  misfortunes  which  we  have  seen  a  thousand 
others  do  by  a  similar  behaviour  before. 

If  we  look  back  upon  the  conduct  of  the  Colonies  for 
some  years  past,  we  may  find  many  critical  junctures  where 
a  prudent  silence,  or  dutiful  and  rational  remonstrance,  would 
have  been  attended  with  the  most  salutary  consequences, 
and  put  an  end  to  that  dispute  which  has  since  been  so 
unhappily  protracted.  With  what  extreme  caution,  then, 
should  we  now  proceed  in  our  opposition,  when  our  all  de- 
pends upon  adopting  a  proper  mode  of  behaviour.  We 
ought  to  be  thoroughly  convinced  that  we  have  truth,  jus- 
tice, reason,  and  equity  for  our  foundation.  How  far  these 
are  the  ground  of  the  complaints  of  the  Congress,  I  am 
endeavouring  to  discover  to  you,  and  beg  your  attention  to 
that  article  of  grievance  which  was  omitted  in  my  last,  from 
motives  of  convenience,  and  is  as  follows:  "Assemblies 
have  been  frequently  and  injuriously  dissolved,  and  Com- 
merce burdened  with  many  useless  and  oppressive  restric- 
tions." 

In  this  article  we  have  a  striking  instance  of  the  consoli- 
dated modesty,  as  well  as  wisdom  of  the  Congress.  As  to 
the  first  part,  relative  to  the  dissolution  of  Assemblies,  they 
might  have  recollected,  that  in  some  instances  His  Majesty, 
whose  undoubted  prerogative  it  is,  by  express  instructions, 
had  directed  his  Governours  to  dissolve  the  Assemblies, 
(unless  they  would  recede  from  some  rash,  imprudent,  and 
unjustifiable  measures  which  they  had  adopted,)  before  they 
had  so  modestly  told  him,  by  styling  them  injurious,  that 
he  was  not  a  judge  of  the  propriety  or  justice  of  the  steps 
which  he  himself  had  directed.  In  other  instances,  the 
Governours,  of  themselves,  have  dissolved  Assemblies, 
when  their  proceedings  have  been  such  as  required  it. 
Here  it  is  curious  to  observe  the  inimitable  consistency  and 
uniformity  of  the  conduct  of  some  members  Gf  the  Congress, 
who,  for  some  years  past,  as  members  of  the  General  Assem- 
bly, have  been  endeavouring  to  prove  that  the  Governour 
has  the  "  sole  power  to  prorogue,  adjourn,  and  dissolve  the 
General  Assembly,"  when  and  where  he  thinks  fit;  and 
now,  at  the  Congress,  complain  of  it  as  injurious  that  he 
has  exercised  this  right,  in  instances  where  he  himself 
thought  His  Majesty's  service  required  it.  Such  conduct 
can  be  accounted  for  on  no  other  principle  than  a  disposi- 
tion in  the  Congress  to  raise  fears  and  create  jealousies  in 
the  people  of  a  design  to  make  them  slaves,  when,  at  the 
same  time,  they  themselves  are  convinced  that  they  are 
the  mere  suggestions  of  their  own  wicked  arts  and  false 
insinuations.  "  And  Commerce  burdened  with  many 
useless  and  oppressive  restrictions."  This  is  still  more 
extraordinary.  In  all  the  disputes  that  have  hitherto  sub- 
sisted, the  right  of  Great  Britain  to  regulate  the  Trade  of 
the  Colonies  was  never  till  now  contested  ;  and  the  neces- 


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288 


sity  and  justice  of  this  is  apparent,  when  we  consider  the 
vast  expense  Great  Britain  is  at  in  protecting  the  trade, 
and  that  the  Colonies  might  otherwise  carry  on  a  commerce 
destructive  to  her  interest,  which  she  has  an  undoubted 
right  to  prevent,  upon  every  principle  of  justice  and  poli- 
cy :  by  her  strength,  by  her  assistance,  it  is  that  we  now 
enjoy  this  extensive  Country,  and  have  arrived  to  so  great 
a  pitch  of  opulence  and  importance.  How  reasonable  is 
it,  then,  that  we  should  be  restrained  from  attempting  any 
thing  detrimental  to  her  Trade  and  Commerce  ?  These, 
however,  have  been  regulated  with  the  strictest  regard  and 
attention  to  the  interests  of  the  Colonies. 

The  inhabitants  of  Great  Britain  are  not  suffered  to 
raise  any  tobacco,  and  are  obliged  to  pay  large  duties  upon 
what  is  imported,  merely  to  benefit  some  of  the  Colonies, 
whose  sole  subsistence  depends  upon  it.  They  are  re- 
strained from  buying  indigo,  which  they  might  get  much 
cheaper  at  other  markets,  merely  to  encourage  the  Ameri- 
can manufacture  of  that  article.  And  though  we  have 
been  restrained  from  vending  a  number  of  the  articles  of 
our  produce  to  any  but  Great  Britain,  yet  this  has  been 
amply  compensated  by  the  bounties  that  have  been  paid 
us  upon  their  importation  into  that  Kingdom.  Large 
bounties  have  been  paid  upon  our  timber,  pilch,  tar,  rosin, 
turpentine,  hemp,  indigo,  pot  and  pearl  ashes,  &,c. ;  the 
Acts  granting  some  of  which  have  a  preamble  which 
breathes  the  most  benevolent  regard  to  the  interest  and 
happiness  of  the  Colonies  ;  it  is  thus  expressed  :  "  Where- 
as, Her  Majesty's  Colonies  and  Plantations  in  America 
were  at  first  settled,  and  are  still  maintained  and  protected 
at  a  great  expense  of  the  treasure  of  this  Kingdom,  with 
a  design  to  render  them  as  useful  as  may  be  to  England, 
and  the  labour  and  industry  of  the  people  there,  profitable 
to  themselves ;  and  to  enable  them  to  make  due  and  suffi- 
cient returns  in  the  course  of  their  trade,"  he.  Certainly 
nothing  appears  useless  and  oppressive  in  these  instances; 
and  the  more  we  examine  it,  the  more  groundless  this 
complaint  appears.  It  is  couched  in  general  terms,  to  pre- 
vent the  knowledge  of  the  truth.  It  was  supposed  the 
veracity  of  the  Congress  would  be  implicitly  relied  on,  and 
that  few  would  take  the  trouble  of  inquiring  for  themselves. 
But  I  beseech  you,  my  dear  friends,  exercise  that  reason, 
those  powers  of  judging  which  God  has  given  you.  The 
Congress  has  been  guilty  of  gross  prevarication  and  false 
assertions,  which  I  am  endeavouring  to  convince  you  of; 
and  however  severe  these  charges  may  seem,  I  shall  think 
the  truth  of  my  assertions  a  sufficient  apology  for  every 
thing  I  advance. 

The  next  complaint  which  has  not  yet  been  considered, 
is  this:  "Both  Houses  of  Parliament  have  resolved  that 
the  Colonists  may  be  tried  in  England  for  offences  alleged 
to  have  been  committed  in  America,  by  virtue  of  a  Statute 
passed  in  the  thirty-fifth  year  of  Henri/  the  Eighth,  and  in 
consequence  thereof  attempts  have  been  made  to  enforce 
the  Statute."  The  statute  here  referred  to,  either  extended 
to  America,  or  it  did  not;  if  it  did  extend  here,  how  comes 
it  to  pass  that  we  have  never  complained  of  it  before? 
How  could  our  forefathers,  from  the  first  settlement  of  the 
Country,  tamely  submit  to  such  a  galling  yoke,  and  insen- 
sibly remain  in  such  a  state  of  slavery  ?  Unhappy  mortals  ! 
thus  to  continue  for  a  hundred  and  fifty  years  in  actual 
submission  to  tyranny  and  arbitrary  power,  and  never  once 
be  aware  of  their  danger;  never  perceive  that  their  liber- 
ties were  infringed  ;  never  feel  so  enormous  a  grievance. 
Surely  our  veneration  for  their  characters,  as  the  sons  of 
freedom,  must  be  greatly  lessened,  when  we  reflect  upon 
this  dastardly  instance  of  their  supine  negligence  and  un- 
manly silence.  Is  it  possible  they  could  enjoy  the  conve- 
niences, comforts,  and  luxuries  of  life,  with  which  in  later 
times  they  have  been  surrounded,  and  not  be  tormented 
with  the  goading  reflection  of  their  submission  to  this  infa- 
mous statute  of  Henri/  the  Eighth,  that  tyrant  of  tyrants, 
and  scourge  to  his  subjects?  Unfeeling  wretches!  But, 
thank  Heaven,  we,  their  wiser  offspring,  have  found  it  out, 
and  are  determined  no  longer  to  acquiesce  in  our  submis- 
sion; but  through  fear  of  misfortunes  yet  unfelt,  will  sacri- 
fice our  peace,  our  happiness,  and  every  social  blessing, 
and  involve  ourselves  in  the  most  distressing  calamities, 
rather  than  by  our  silence  countenance  the  bare  existence 
of  such  an  authority ,  though  we  never  have,  and  never  ex- 
pect to  experience  its  exertion.    Who  would  not,  for  the 


uncertainty  of  future  oppression,  relinquish  the  certain  en- 
joyment of  present  happiness  and  peace?  Who  would  not, 
for  the  pleasure  of  opposing  lawful  authority,  submit  to  the 
usurpation  of  lawless  Congresses  and  Committee-men? 
One  drop  of  American  blood,  if  it  flows  in  the  veins  of 
any  one  to  whom  these  questions  are  proposed,  must  at 
once  dictate  the  answer. 

But  to  be  serious. — If  this  Act  did  extend  to  America, 
could  the  resolutions  of  the  two  Houses  of  Parliament  add 
to  its  baneful  influence  ?  Could  that  which  has  ever  been 
a  law,  be  rendered  more  so,  by  repeated  declaration  of  but 
two  branches  of  the  Legislature  ?  Certainly  not.  But  if 
it  did  not  extend  here,  is  not  the  declaration  of  the  Lords 
and  Commons  that  it  did,  equivalent  to  making  a  new  sta- 
tute; and  can  they  alone  do  this,  without  the  assent  of  the 
third  branch  of  the  Legislature  ?  Can,  therefore,  such 
resolves  be  considered  in  any  other  light,  than  a  declara- 
tion of  the  general  sense  of  the  Nation  ?  Can  they  be 
supposed  to  add  any  authority  to  the  statute  referred  to, 
which  it  had  not  before  ?  Is  not  the  exposition  of  Acts  of 
Parliament,  the  proper  department  of  the  Executive  Courts 
of  Justice?  Can,  therefore,  any  thing  short  of  a  new  act 
of  Parliament,  which  has  the  sanction  of  the  three  branches 
of  the  Legislature,  extend  a  former  Act  beyond  the  mean- 
ing and  construction  it  may  lawfully  bear?  Will  not  the 
Judges  of  the  Courts  of  Law  expound  it,  as  it  stands  by 
itself,  abstracted  from  any  resolves  of  separate  branches  of 
the  Legislature  ?  Have  they  not  done  this  ?  Was  it  not 
first  proposed  to  the  Judges  of  England  for  their  opinion, 
which  was  afterwards  confirmed  in  terrorem  merely,  by  the 
resolves  of  the  two  Houses  of  Parliament  ?  And  if  this  is 
the  grievance,  1  admit  it  to  be  true  that  the  Judges  of  Eng- 
land have  determined  that  it  does  extend  here ;  and  it 
is  equally  true  that  they  are  the  proper  judges  of  this  mat- 
ter, and  should,  doubtless,  have  decided  it  upon  the  princi- 
ples of  Law  and  the  Constitution  ;  and  however  disagree- 
able the  decision  may  be  to  the  Congress,  it  certainly  is 
not  a  matter  of  grievance,  as  hereby  they  have  not  made 
any  new  law,  but  explained  one  of  a  date  more  ancient  than 
the  settlement  of  this  Country,  and  under  the  authority  of 
which  we  have  hitherto  lived  quiet  and  peaceable  lives, 
without  suffering  any  inconvenience  or  oppression.  And 
here  I  cannot  but  take  notice  of  the  vague,  indeterminate 
expression  made  use  of,  "  that  the  Colonists  may  be  tried 
in  England  for  offences  alleged  to  have  been  committed 
in  America.''''  As  1  have  before  observed,  this  Petition, 
so  called,  could  be  intended  only  for  the  publick  newspa- 
pers here,  and  therefore  the  design  was  chiefly  to  alarm  the 
fears  of  the  populace.  Accordingly  they  are  left  in  this 
instance  to  conjecture  whatever  their  heated  imaginations 
may  suggest,  and  to  suppose  that  the  most  trivial  of  offences 
are  here  guarded  against;  whereas,  if  they  were  informed 
that  it  was  high  treason,  the  highest  crime  known  in  the 
law,  and  indeed  the  most  flagitious  in  its  nature  and  conse- 
quences, that  can  be  committed  in  any  State,  the  impor- 
tance and  necessity  of  the  case  would  apologize  for  the 
extraordinary  remedy  provided,  and  silence  every  objec- 
tion. But  the  Congress  go  on  confidently  to  assert,  that 
"  in  consequence  thereof,  attempts  have  been  made  to  en- 
force that  statute."  What  is  intended  by  this,  I  am  utterly 
at  a  loss  to  conceive.  I  neither  know  nor  have  ever  heard 
of  any  instance  of  this  kind,  though  I  have  been  pretty  in- 
dustrious in  my  inquiries;  and  I  believe  I  may  justly  and 
truly  aver,  that  no  such  attempt  lias  ever  been  made — sure 
I  am,  that  there  has  been  none  in  this  Province  ;  and  I  will 
candidly  confess  my  errour,  and  acknowledge  my  obliga- 
tions to  any  one,  who  can  inform  me  of  an  instance  in  any 
other.  Why,  then,  we  should  be  alarmed  with  an  idea  of 
danger,  where  there  is  none ;  why  we  should  be  told  of 
attempts  which  have  never  been  made,  of  grievances  never 
felt,  and  of  designs  to  injure  us  never  conceived,  is  not 
easily  accounted  for  upon  the  principles  of  justice,  truth, 
equity,  or  a  regard  for  the  interest  and  happiness  of  the 
Colonies,  or  the  just  and  legal  authority  of  the  Parent  State. 

1  will  now  consider  the  next  complaint,  which  is,  "  A 
Statute  was  passed  in  the  twelfth  year  of  your  Majesty's 
reign,  directing  that  persons  charged  with  committing  any 
offence  therein  described,  in  any  place  out  of  the  Realm, 
may  be  indicted  and  tried  for  the  same  in  any  Shire  or 
County  within  the  Realm,  whereby  inhabitants  of  these 
Colonies  may,  in  sundry  cases,  by  that  Statute  made  capi- 


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290 


tal,  be  deprived  of  a  trial  by  their  peers  of  the  vicinage." 
After  premising  that  this  statute  is  intended  principally 
to  prevent  setting  fire  to  His  Majesty's  Dock-Yards,  Ships, 
and  Naval  Stores,  I  would  beg  leave  to  observe,  that  by 
Commerce  and  Trade  alone  Great  Britain  has  arrived  to 
such  a  pitch  of  opulence  and  splendour,  as  has  scarce  been 
equalled,  never  surpassed,  by  any  Nation  on  the  globe.  By 
the  undisputed  sovereignty  of  the  Sea,  which  she  has  ever 
maintained,  she  has  been  able  to  hold  the  first  rank,  and 
preserve  the  balance  of  power  among  all  ihe  Kingdoms, 
States,  and  Empires  in  the  world.  Should  her  naval  pow- 
er be  considerably  lessened  or  destroyed,  it  would  be  pro- 
ductive of  the  most  ruinous  consequences,  and  must  finally 
terminate  in  the  destruction  of  the  British  Nation.  The 
principal  States  in  Europe  envy,  and  are  striving  to  out- 
rival her  in  this  boasted  superiority  ;  and  should  they  ever 
be  able  to  effect  this  point,  Britain  would  soon  become  a 
tributary  State  to  some  potent  victor.  It  is  by  her  power- 
ful fleet,  that  this  renowned  Island,  comparatively  small, 
has  arisen  to  be  the  first  Kingdom  on  earth  for  wealth  and 
power  ;  inexhaustible  sources  of  opulence  and  riches  have 
been  discovered  and  improved  by  her  commercial  inter- 
course with  the  different  Nations  and  Countries  in  the 
world  ;  and  this  Trade  is  continued,  secured,  and  protect- 
ed merely  by  her  much-envied  but  hitherto  unrivalled 
Navy.  Of  how  much  importance  it  is,  then,  that  the  most 
effectual  precautions  should  be  used  to  support  this  valu- 
able, useful,  and  necessary  pillar  of  her  greatness !  To 
injure  or  impair  this,  is  to  strike  at  the  very  foundation  of 
the  Kingdom  and  vitals  of  the  State.  To  attempt  to  destroy 
this  bulwark  of  her  power,  would  indicate  an  inclination  to 
reduce  Great  Britain  to  a  state  of  poverty  and  slavery. 
Who,  then,  can  complain  that  the  laws  made  to  punish  so 
heinous  an  offence  should  be  severe,  and  attended  with 
penalties  proportionate  to  the  greatness  of  the  crime  ?  Who 
would  not  be  willing  to  submit  to  a  provision  in  this  in- 
stance, which  in  most  others  might  be  reasonably  com- 
plained of?  Sensible  of  the  necessity  and  justice  of  it,  the 
inhabitants  of  the  other  parts  of  the  Dominions,  who  are 
equally  affected  by  it  with  us,  willingly  and  cheerfully  ac- 
quiesce in  their  submission  to  this  statute ;  and  why  we 
alone  should  complain,  when  every  part  of  the  Dominion 
is  in  the  same  predicament,  is  a  little  unaccountable.  By 
this  statute  it  is  enacted,  that  whoever  shall  offend  against 
it  out  of  the  Realm,  may  be  indicted  and  tried  in  any 
County  within  the  Realm  that  His  Majesty  shall  appoint. 
Thus  our  fellow-subjects  in  Ireland,  the  West-Indies,  and 
wherever  else  dispersed,  are  equally  comprehended  in  this 
Act ;  so  that  we  have  no  reason  to  suppose,  as  is  suggested 
by  the  Congress,  that  it  was  passed  in  consequence  of  a 
plan  adopted  by  the  Ministry  to  enslave  the  Colonies.  But 
the  intention  is  best  collected  from  the  Act  itself,  which 
informs  us  that  it  was  made  because  the  safety  of  the  Dock- 
Yards,  Ships,  &lc,  is  of  great  importance  to  the  welfare 
and  security  of  the  Kingdom ;  and  he  who  can  basely  at- 
tempt to  infringe  these,  amply  deserves  to  be  tried  under 
the  disadvantages,  if  they  can  be  called  such,  prescribed 
by  this  Act.  Phileirene. 


TO  THE  INHABITANTS  OF  THE  MASSACHUSETTS-BAY. 
NO.  VIII. 

Boston,  April  6,  1775. 
My  Friends  and  Fellow- Countrymen: 

We  are  now  verging  towards  a  close  of  our  lucubrations 
upon  the  right  of  Parliament.  I  blush  upon  asking  your  fur- 
ther attention  to  this  matter,  having  already  trespassed  long 
on  your  patience.  The  importance  of  the  subject,  and  a 
show  of  argument  in  the  two  papers  succeeding  the  one  con- 
sidered in  our  last,  must  be  my  apology.  Having  examined 
this  question  to  its  foundation,  in  a  course  of  papers  that 
have  been  laid  before  the  publick  ;  having  compared  it  with 
every  principle  of  law,  of  justice,  and  of  social  connexions, 
which  would  not  disgrace  the  understanding  of  a  Hotten- 
tot;  having  traced  its  decision  in  our  favour,  up  to  a  con- 
nexion with  our  most  important  duty,  and  the  precepts  of 
Heaven ;  it  remains  only  that  we  obviate  the  residue  of 
our  writer's  half-made  arguments  upon  this  subject,  by 
showing  their  inconclusiveness  or  remoteness  from  the 
point.    Such  matters  as  fall  within  the  principles  and  rea- 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii.  1 


sonings  established  and  applied  on  former  occasions,  we  may 
pass  by,  as  having  been  fairly  and  fully  answered.  It  is 
unnecessary  in  this  stage  of  the  controversy  to  offer  any 
thing  in  affirmance  of  our  claim,  however  the  observations 
and  assertions  of  our  antagonist  may  provoke  us  to  it;  for 
this,  I  must  refer  you  to  otir  past  Numbers.  Many  other 
things  might  be  added,  so  fertile  and  clear  is  the  subject, 
the  which,  if  they  should  all  be  written,  I  suppose  the  woild 
itself  would  not  contain  the  books  that  would  be  written. 

The  Paper  of  January  16th,  begins  with  the  most  flagrant 
misrepresentation  of  facts,  from  which  we  may  form  some 
shrewd  conjectures  of  its  progress  and  end.  "  Had  a  per- 
son, some  fifteen  years  ago,  undertaken  to  prove  that  the 
Colonies  were  annexed  to  the  Realm,  were  a  part  of  the 
British  Empire  or  Dominion,  and  as  such  subject  to  the 
authority  of  the  British  Parliament,  he  would  have  acted 
as  ridiculous  a  part  as  to  have  undertaken  to  prove  a  self- 
evident  proposition.  Had  any  person  denied  it,  he  would 
have  been  called  a  fool  or  a  madman."  If  this  be  true, 
James  the  First,  Charles  the  First,  and  Charles  the  Second 
were  mad  Kings,  as  we  have  shown  from  good  authority; 
our  famed  progenitors  madmen ;  our  Charters  the  off- 
spring of  madness ;  the  English  Laws  and  the  British 
Constitution  the  essence  of  madness;  and  this  ridiculous 
madness  has  been  handed  down,  by  soine  mysterious  fatali- 
ty, from  generation  to  generation  to  the  present  day. 
excepting,  in  a  few  instances,  where  persons  basking  in  the 
sunshine  of  Court  favours,  have  had  their  brains  so  heated 
and  volatilized  by  the  piercing  rays  of  honour  and  profit, 
as  to  enable  them  to  evaporate  the  general  contagion.  Our 
sane  disputant  may  stand  high  in  this  catalogue.  By 
what  speci6cks  such  cures  are  effected  is  no  longer  matter 
of  curious  speculation.  This  brings  to  my  mind  the  story 
of  a  prodigal  froward  child,  who,  madly  attempting  to  hang 
himself  in  his  father's  presence,  was  cured  of  his  lunacy  by 
a  sum  of  money,  which  disease  would  never  return  but 
with  an  empty  purse. 

At  this  wise  period  individuals  and  bodies  of  men  deny 
it,  notwithstanding  in  doing  it  they  subvert  the  fundamen- 
tals of  Government,  deprive  us  of  British  liberties,  and 
build  up  absolute  monarchy  in  the  Colonies.  We  proved 
in  our  last  that  the  admission  of  this  authority  is,  in  every 
point  of  view,  absolutely  inconsistent  with  the  fundamentals 
of  Government,  British  rights,  English  liberties,  or  the 
security'  of  life,  liberty,  and  property,  which  we  are  entitled 
to  as  men.  And  thus  it  erects  an  absolute  Government  in 
the  Colonies  as  repugnant  to  every  idea  of  freedom  as  life 
and  death,  blessing  and  cursing,  are  opposite  to  each  other. 

"Our  Charters,"  says  our  hypothetical  reasoner,  "sup- 
pose regal  authority  in  the  grantor;  if  that  authority  be 
derived  from  the  British  Crown,  it  presupposes  this  Ter- 
ritory to  have  been  a  part  of  the  British  Dominions,  and 
as  such  subject  to  the  imperial  Sovereign."  If  he  means 
any  thing  to  the  purpose  by  these  (perhaps  designedly) 
inaccurate  expressions  and  obscure  reasoning,  it  must  be 
this,  viz :  Our  Charters  suppose  the  right  and  property  of 
the  Colonies,  or  the  American  Territory,  to  be  in  the  King, 
as  grantor  ;  and  if  this  right  and  property  be  derived  to  him 
from  the  English  Crown,  or  British,  if  he  pleases,  it  pre- 
supposes the  Colonies  to  have  been  a  part  of  the  British 
Dominions.  To  take  him  upon  his  own  argument :  Our 
Charters  suppose  nothing  in  the  grantor,  but  what  he  has 
absolutely  granted  away,  (excepting  the  reservations  to 
himself,)  which  the  Charters  suppose  he  had  good  right  to 
do.  And  his  deriving  this  right  or  property  from  the  Eng- 
lish Crown,  presupposes  nothing  to  have  belonged  to  the 
English  Dominions,  and  subject  to  the  imperial  Sovereign, 
but  what,  being  taken  away  and  vested  in  the  King,  was 
conveyed  over  to  the  grantees,  which  proves,  even  upon 
his  own  principles,  that  we  are  not  now  a  part  of  the  Bri- 
tish State,  nor  subject  to  its  supreme  authority.  This  is 
argumentum  ad  hominem. 

Let  us  examine  it  upon  its  true  principles.  The  Char- 
ters, as  we  have  elsewhere  observed,  from  their  subject 
matter  and  the  reality  of  things,  can  only  operate  as  the 
evidence  of  a  compact  between  an  English  King  and  the 
American  subjects ;  their  running  in  the  style  of  a  grant  is 
mere  matter  of  form,  and  not  of  substance.  Nor  do  they 
suppose  the  Territory  granted  to  be  the  right  and  property 
of  the  King  as  grantor,  any  more  than  where  Magna 

9 


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292 


Charta  gives  and  grants  to  the  people  of  England  their 
rights,  sua  jura,  and  their  liberties,  libcrtatis  suas,  all  which 
the  people  had  a  right  to,  and  possessed  previous  to  and 
independent  of  this  Charter,  proves  that  these  rights  and 
libei ties  were  mere  emanations  from  the  royal  grantor,  or 
new  blessings  given  to  the  subject  as  matters  of  bounty  and 
grace,  and  not,  rather,  the  royal  assurance  that  those  rights 
which  adhered  to  them  as  men,  and  their  Constitution 
confirmed  to  them  as  Englishmen,  should  not  be  invaded. 
Admitting  that  our  Charters  did  suppose  the  right  and  pro- 
perty of  the  Colonies  in  the  grantor,  suppositions  are  only 
admissible  where  facts  cannot  be  ascertained  ;  they  are  al- 
ways controlled  and  superseded  by  evidence.  Massachu- 
settcnsis  knows,  Great  Britain  knows,  common  sense 
teaches,  history  confirms,  and  we  have  already  proved,  that 
the  grantor  had  no  right,  title,  or  possession  here  in  Ame- 
rica, excepting  what  was  derived  from  a  visit  made  to  these 
shores  by  some  British  mariners,  when  they  were  the  pos- 
sessed and  rightful  property  of  twenty  other  Nations ;  or 
what  is  still  more  ridiculous,  if  possible,  from  a  Popish  pre- 
tended right  in  Christians  to  take  away  the  property,  the 
dwellings,  the  liberties,  and  the  lives  of  heathens.  So 
that  all  this  famous  train  of  reasoning,  going  upon  a  false, 
mistaken,  and  refuted  supposition  of  an  antecedent  right  in 
the  King,  dwindles  into  sound  and  shadow  ;  for  the  founda- 
tion being  removed,  the  superstructure,  however  artificial 
and  superb,  must  tumble  to  the  ground.    It  is  peculiarly 
characteristical  of  our  embarrassed  writer,  to  beg  the  ques- 
tion.   I  wish  for  once  he  would  come  to  the  point.  Has 
he  proved,  excepting  by  arguments  that  evince  directly  the 
contrary,  that  before  the  reception  of  our  Charters  the 
Colonies  were  a  part  of  the  British  Empire,  or  that  these 
Charters  united  them  to  the  British  Realm  ?    Does  not 
his  confused  Babel  fabrick,  which  he  has  been  so  long 
building,  stand  entirely  on  this  basis?    I  call  upon  him  to 
prop  it  up,  if  he  has  it  in  his  power,  or  frankly  confess  the 
imposition.    Let  him  name  the  time  when,  point  out  the 
manner  how,  or  the  means  by  which  the  Colonies  were 
united  to  the  Realm  of  England ';  or  let  him  be  for  ever 
silent  concerning  a  right  in  Parliament  to  give  law  in  all 
cases  to  more  than  three  millions  of  unrepresented  and  mis- 
represented Americans.    I  dare  say  this  is  a  task  that  he, 
nor  any  other  man  in  his  senses,  will  never  seriously  at- 
tempt.   Every  history,  every  record,  every  scrap  of  paper 
to  be  found  upon  the  subject,  evinces  the  contrary.  It  may 
not  be  amiss  to  recite  a  few  passages  from  a  historian  of 
great  fame  and  undoubted  credit.    "  When  the  Europeans 
first  visited  this  Country,  they  found  it  inhabited  by  twenty 
different  Nations,  or  Tribes,  independent  of  each  other, 
and  commanded  by  their  respective  chiefs.    Of  these  Na- 
tions the  most  powerful  was  the  Massachusetts,  situate  on 
or  near  the  harbour  of  Boston.    King  James  the  First,  by 
letters  patent,  dated  April  10,  1606,  erected  two  Compa- 
nies, granting  to  them  all  the  Northeast  Coast  of  America, 
which  was  then  called  Virginia.    One  of  the  Companies 
was  called  Plymouth  Company,  who,  for  some  time,  traded 
only  with  the  natives  of  North  Virginia,  or  now  New- 
England,  for  furs,  and  fished  upon  their  Coast."    Did  this 
grant  to  the  Company  suppose  this  Territory  to  be  in  the 
grantor,  and  presuppose  it  a  part  of  the  British  Empire  ? 
Just  as  much  as  if  a  Provincial  Governour  should  erect 
Companies,  and  grant  them  large  tracts  of  the  new  disco- 
vered world  in  the  South  Seas  belonging  to  the  Otaheits, 
would  suppose  a  right  in  the  Governour  to  the  land  of  the 
Natives,  and  presuppose  it  a  part  of  the  Province  he  gov- 
erned :  a  species  of  reasoning  that  the  veriest  tyro  which 
ever  passed  the  hands  of  a  common  pedagogue  might  have 
confuted. 

About  the  year  1619  the  Dissenters  in  England,  to  avoid 
religious  persecution,  having  purchased  the  Plymouth  Pa- 
tent of  the  Company,  (to  prevent  pretensions  for  moles- 
tation,) and  obtaining  another  from  King  James  of  all  New- 
England,  a  hundred  and  fifty  men  embarked  on  board  of 
a  Ship  which  arrived  at  Cape  Cod  in  New-England,  from 
Plymouth,  the  6th  of  September,  1620,  where  they  built  a 
Town  and  called  it  by  the  name  of  New-Plymouth,  and 
elected  John  Carver  their  first  Governour.  The  Indians, 
continues  the  same  historian,  were  at  this  time  too  much 
engaged  in  wars  among  themselves  to  give  these  strangers 
any  disturbance ;  and  Massassoit,  Prince  of  the  Mussa- 


chusett  Nation,  learning  what  a  powerful  people  the  English 
were,  made  Governour  Carver  a  visit  the  following  spring, 
and  entered  into  an  alliance  offensive  and  defensive  with 
the  English.  This  Prince  also  consented  to  acknowledge 
the  King  of  England  his  Sovereign,  and  made  cession  of 
part  of  his  Country  to  the  new  Planters.  Several  other 
Sachems  did  the  same,  following  his  example,  and  desired 
the  protection  of  the  English  against  their  enemies,  pro- 
fessing themselves  subjects  to  King  James.  Did  the  ces- 
sion of  this  land  to  the  English  unite  it  to  the  British 
Empire  ?  Did  the  Mother  State  enlarge  and  contract  her- 
self in  proportion  as  our  ancestors  increased  or  diminished 
their  possessions  in  America  1  Did  the  natives  subject 
themselves  and  their  lands  to  the  operation  of  any  law  that 
might  pass  the  British  Parliament,  by  acknowledging  them- 
selves the  subjects  of  King  James  ?  Or  would  a  Charter 
from  His  Britannick  Majesty,  granting  them  what  was 
their  own  before,  have  settled  the  matter?  What  nonsen- 
sical conclusions,  what  complicated  absurdities,  will  tory- 
istical  reasonings  run  us  into. 

In  1664  King  Charles  II.  granted  New-York,  the  Jer- 
seys, and  Pennsylvania  to  his  brother,  the  Duke  of  York ; 
the  Duke  granted  over  Pennsylvania  to  Sir  William  Penn, 
who  received  an  additional  grant  from  the  same  King  in 
1680.  Penn,  says  the  historian,  notwithstanding  the 
grants  made  him  by  the  Crown  and  the  Duke  of  York, 
did  not  esteem  himself  the  real  proprietor  of  the  lands 
until  he  had  given  the  Indians  a  valuable  consideration  for 
their  Country.  He  assembled,  therefore,  their  Sachems 
or  Princes,  and  purchased  countries  of  a  very  large  extent 
of  them  at  a  moderate  price,  which  he  paid  to  the  entire 
satisfaction  of  the  natives.  This  flourishing  Colony,  when- 
ever it  wants  to  extend  its  settlements,  it  purchases  new- 
lands  of  the  Sachems,  and  not  from  the  Crown  of 
England.  What  suppositions  and  presuppositions  would 
our  surreptitious  land  grantors  raise  from  the  above  history  r 
Does  it  prove  the  right  in  the  Crown  ?  Does  it  establish 
the  desiderata  of  the  Tories  ? 

"  If  that  authority  was  vested  in  the  person  of  the  King 
in  a  different  capacity,  then  the  British  Constitution  and 
Laws  are  out  of  the  question,  and  the  King  must  be  abso- 
lute as  to  us,  as  his  prerogatives  have  never  been  limited." 
To  which  we  answer,  that  our  Charter,  and  that  alone, 
brings  the  English  Constitution  and  Laws  into  view,  and 
makes  them  necessary  questions,  let  the  King's  authority 
and  capacity  be  as  they  may.  It  refers  us  to  those  as  to 
a  standard  (as  it  might  as  well  have  done  to  any  other  Con- 
stitution and  code  of  laws)  to  reduce  to  a  certainty  the 
rights  and  privileges  we  were  entitled  to  by  our  Charter ; 
as  also  to  point  out  and  circumscribe  the  prerogatives  of 
the  Crown.  So  that  these  prerogatives  are  as  much  limited 
and  confined  in  the  Colonies  as  they  are  in  England. 

"  Charter  Governments  must  severally  revert  to  abso- 
lute monarchy,  as  their  Charters  may  happen  to  be  for- 
feited by  the  grantees  not  fulfilling  the  conditions  of  them." 
This  goes  entirely  upon  the  supposition  that  the  King  was 
the  original  owner  and  proprietor  of  the  premises.  This 
is  begging  the  question  ;  for  we  have  shown,  over  and  over, 
that  it  is  a  baseless  hypothesis,  framed  by  court-undertakers 
to  support  their  darling  plan  ;  thus  obscuring  truth,  they 
attempt  to  clothe  the  minds  of  their  readers  with  darkness, 
and  feed  them  with  errour.  It  is  not  only  void  of  proof, 
but,  what  is  worse,  in  direct  opposition  to  irrefragable  argu- 
ments, and  the  stubborn  evidence  of  facts.  If  the  condi- 
tions on  which  the  Charter  was  made  are  broken  by  the 
one  party  or  the  other,  (the  grantees  or  the  grantor,)  the  only 
possible  conclusion  from  thence  is,  that  the  compact  is  dis- 
solved, and  both  set  at  large. 

Our  heroick  writer,  imagining  that  he  had  not  quite  fright- 
ened away  our  senses,  or  reasoned  us  out  of  our  rights  and 
liberties,  attempts  to  smile  away  both.  "  It  is  curious,  in- 
deed," says  he,  with  an  air  of  ridicule,  "  to  trace  the  denial 
and  oppugnation  to  the  supreme  authority  of  the  State. 
When  the  Stamp  Act  was  made,  the  authority  of  Parlia- 
ment to  impose  internal  taxes  was  denied,  but  their  right 
to  impose  external  ones,  or,  in  other  words,  to  lay  duties 
upon  Goods  and  Merchandise  was  admitted.  When  the 
Act  was  made  imposing  duties  on  Tea,  &tc,  a  new  dis- 
tinction was  set  up,  that  the  Parliament  had  a  right  to  lay 
duties  upon  Merchandise  for  the  purpose  of  regulating 


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294 


Trade,  but  not  for  the  purpose  of  raising  a  Revenue.  That 
is,  the  Parliament  had  good  right  and  lawful  authority  to 
lay  the  former  duty  of  a  shilling  on  the  pound,  but  had 
none  to  lay  the  present  duty  of  three  pence."  If  our 
writer  seriously  believes  this  to  be  a  fair  representation  of 
the  matter,  he  is  certainly  to  be  pitied,  instead  of  being 
reasoned  with.  The  distinction  set  up  is  important,  it  is 
substantial,  it  is  this,  that  the  British  Parliament  may  have 
good  right  and  lawful  authority  to  make  a  law  to  operate 
in  England  within  the  jurisdiction  of  Parliament,  where  the 
people  are  represented,  for  to  lay  a  duty  of  one  shilling, 
or  nineteen  shillings,  if  you  please,  on  the  pound,  for  the 
purpose  of  raising  a  revenue  ;  and  yet  have  no  authority  or 
right  to  make  a  law  to  operate  within  the  Colonies  beyond 
the  jurisdiction  of  Parliament,  where  the  people  are  not 
represented,  for  to  lay  a  duty  of  three  pence,  or  even  the 
infinitissimum  of  a  farthing,  for  the  same  purpose.  Ad- 
mitting that  some  of  the  Whigs  set  up  different  though 
consistent  distinctions  at  different  times,  or  rather,  express- 
ed the  same  distinction  by  different  words,  does  it  affect 
the  merits  of  the  controversy?  Does  it  not  rather  prove 
that  the  Stamp  Act,  which  ushered  in  the  present  ruinous 
system  of  politicks,  was  such  a  novelty  in  Colony  admin- 
istration, and  the  principle  it  dragged  after  it  such  a  mon- 
ster in  an  English  Constitution,  as  to  render  a  description 
of  it  difficult  by  terms  and  distinctions  ? 

Had  we  time  for  amusement,  and  to  trace  the  Tories  in 
the  route  they  have  taken,  we  could  give  such  a  curious 
history  of  their  distinctions,  contradictions,  explanations, 
and  declarations,  in  nurturing  of  this  despicable  brat  of 
ministerial  influence,  if  not  in  the  unnatural  part  they 
acted  as  midwives,  to  give  it  birth,  as  would  grace  the 
Memoirs  of  Don  Quixotte,  or  the  most  fantastick  Knight- 
errant  that  ever  lived.  When  the  Tea  Act,  with  others, 
passed,  no  American  was  found  hardy  enough  openly  to 
assert  a  right  in  Parliament  to  tax  the  unrepresented  in- 
habitants of  the  Colonies;  this  was  reserved  as  an  exploit 
for  our  undaunted  writer.  At  that  time  the  Tories,  or 
rather  the  friends  to  Government,  as  they  call  themselves, 
to  save  appearance,  conjured  up  from  their  own  noddles 
the  ideas  of  a  virtual  representation  ;  we  heard  much  about 
the  Americans  being  virtually  represented  in  the  British 
Parliament.  This  for  awhile  was  trumpeted  forth  by 
every  creature,  or  spawn  of  a  creature,  in  the  toryistical 
choir.  They  hugged  the  unmeaning  invention  until,  by  its 
becoming  familiar,  it  grew  contemptible  ;  at  last  with  shame 
they  gave  it  up.  However,  it  was  succeeded  by  another 
distinction  from  the  same  fountain  (a  Tory's  fertile  brain) 
equally  ridiculous.  The  duty  upon  Tea  was  no  tax.  It 
was  for  the  purpose  of  regulating  trade.  Nothing  was  a 
tax  that  could  possibly  be  eluded,  as  this  might  by  not 
consuming  the  dutied  article.  This  was  not  long  matter 
of  dispute.  The  Ministry  had  christened  their  own  bant- 
ling, they  called  it  a  tax ;  its  sponsors,  or  God-fathers  in 
America,  rather  than  quarrel  with  their  best  friends,  con- 
sented, at  length,  to  call  it  by  its  proper  name.  The  cur- 
tain is  still  kept  drawn  ;  and  the  farce  continues.  It  is  next 
admitted  to  be  a  tax,  and  that  Parliament  had  no  right  to 
impose  it.  But  yet  it  was  our  duty  to  submit  to  it  cheer- 
fully, acknowledge  the  right  of  laying  it,  and  in  that  way  get 
it  removed.  Having  worried  through  all  this  series  of  con- 
tradictions, with  much  more  equally  curious,  to  no  purpose  ; 
being  chagrined  with  disappointment,  and  provoked  at  their 
own  folly  and  stupidity,  their  last  resort  is  to  speak  out, 
and  declare  us  slaves.  This  Massachusettensis  was  most 
heroically  resolved  upon.  He  accordingly  asserts  that  Par- 
liament has  a  right  to  tax  us ;  a  right  to  make  laws  binding 
upon  us  in  all  cases  whatsoever ;  and  that  opposition  to  such 
laws  would  be  treason  and  rebellion.  Such  has  been  the 
vile  employment,  the  sordid  drudgery  of  those  engaged  in 
support  of  Court  measures,  though  no  person  has  reason 
to  grudge  them  their  places  and  pensions,  either  in  enjoy- 
ment or  expectancy,  as  compensations  for  their  service. 
Certainly  those  inferiour  animals  that  are  scattered  up  and 
down  through  the  Country,  those  jackals,  which,  like  so 
many  satellites,  have  been  revolving  round  some  military 
Officer  or  new  made  Justice,  in  expectation  of  titles,  of 
feathers,  are  much  to  be  pitied.  Poor  things  !  could  their 
leaders  once  get  seated  securely  in  the  chair  of  greatness  and 
absolute  power,  this  insignificant  tribe  of  fawners,  seekers, 
and  expectants,  would  be  forever  dismissed  from  their  ser- 


vice; and  their  greatest  misfortune,  perhaps,  would  be,  that 
they  were  once  acquainted.  To  such,  it  is  the  advice  of 
a  friend  immediately  to  throw  off  the  infatuation,  put  on 
the  man,  and  show  the  world  they  are  not  to  be  duped. 

"It  is  of  the  last  importance,"  says  Massachusettensis, 
"  to  settle  this  point,  that  is,  the  right  of  Parliament ;  it  will 
(continues  he)  serve  as  a  true  test,  certain  criterion,  and  in- 
variable standard,  to  distinguish  the  friends  from  the  ene- 
mies of  our  Country,  patriotism  from  sedition,  loyalty  from 
rebellion."  1  heartily  subscribe  to  the  justice  of  this  ob- 
servation, but  commisserate  the  unhappy  situation  of  its 
author,  if  the  friends  and  enemies  of  our  Country  should 
be  distinguished  by  this  standard  of  his  own  erecting,  w  hich, 
to  do  him  justice,  is  the  standard  of  truth.  Weighed  in 
such  an  equitable  and  discriminating  balance,  we  should 
find  all  those  fair  pages  of  calumny  which  our  author  has 
published  to  the  world  respecting  the  conduct  of  the  Whigs, 
converted  into  the  sweetest  encomiums ;  and  Massachu- 
setteJisis  would  be  but  another  name  for  treason  ;  the  friends 
to  Government,  order,  and  the  laws,  in  the  modern  prosti- 
tuted application  of  the  words,  and  the  advocates  for  in- 
justice, oppression,  tyranny,  and  rebellion,  would  become 
synonymous  terms. 

After  making  some  observations,  which  are  nothing  to 
the  purpose,  unless  the  Colonies  are  annexed  to  the  Realm, 
which  is  not  the  case,  nor  ever  will  be  ;  and  if  they  were, 
it  would  not  follow,  if  Guernsey  and  Jersey  are  enslaved, 
that  the  Americans  must  be  so  too  ;  a  clause  from  our 
first  Charter,  too  long  to  be  repeated,  respecting  incorpora- 
tion, is  recited  by  our  author,  upon  which  he  gravely  asks 
this  simple  question,  "  Whether  it  looks  like  a  distinct  or 
independent  State  ?"  We  may  fully  answer  him  by  another 
question  equally  simple,  viz :  Is  there  a  single  word  in  it 
that  looks  like  uniting  us  to  the  British  Empire,  or  sub- 
jecting us  to  the  authority  of  Parliament  ?  If  it  has  not 
this  look,  it  does  not  look  to  the  point ;  for  it  is  demonstra- 
tion, as  there  was  a  time  when  the  Colonies  were  disunited 
from  the  Realm  and  the  supreme  authority  of  the  Parent 
State,  that  they  are  so  now,  unless  there  is  evidence  of  a 
subsequent  connexion.  It  is  to  be  wished  that  those  who 
keep  eternally  harping  upon  our  being  annexed  to  the  Bri- 
tish Realm,  would  point  out  the  process  that  united  us. 
There  is  none  in  nature.  I  challenge  them  to  produce 
any. 

The  two  next  adduced  paragraphs  from  our  first  Charter, 
we  have  examined  in  our  third  and  fourth  numbers,  and 
have  shown  the  first  exactly  to  correspond  with  the  rights 
we  contend  for,  and  the  latter  to  be  absolutely  inconsistent 
with,  and  repugnant  to,  every  principle  and  idea  of  our 
being  a  part  of  the  British  Empire,  and  subject  to  its 
Sovereign  power.  It  is  therefore  unnecessary  to  take  them 
up  in  this  place. 

The  last-recited  clause  from  this  Charter  we  have  also 
considered ;  the  substance  of  which  is,  that  all  and  every 
of  the  subjects  of  the  King  of  England,  his  heirs  and  suc- 
cessors, who  should  go  to  and  inhabit  in  the  Massachusetts 
Colony,  and  all  their  children  born  in  the  said  Colony,  or 
on  the  Seas,  should  have  and  enjoy  all  the  liberties  and 
immunities  of  free  and  natural  born  subjects  within  any  of 
the  Dominions  of  the  King,  his  heirs  and  successors,  to  all 
intents  and  purposes  whatsoever,  as  if  they  were,  and  every 
of  them,  born  within  the  Realm. 

"  It  is  upon  this  clause,  or  a  similar  one  in  the  Charter 
of  William  and  Mary,  that  our  patriots  have  built  up  the 
stupendous  fabrick  o(  American  independence."  Be  it  so: 
the  foundation,  were  there  no  other,  would  sustain  the 
building;  it  is  impossible  to  undermine  it  or  explain  it 
away. 

"  I  have  already,"  says  our  writer,  "  shewn  that  the  sup- 
position of  our  being  exempted  from  the  authority  of  Par- 
liament, is  pregnant  with  the  grossest  absurdities."  No 
mortal,  excepting  himself,  has  ever  been  able  to  see  those 
absurdities.  We  have  seen  what  such  empty  pretensions 
amounted  to  in  a  past  paper,  and  to  whom  the  absurdities 
were  imputable.  "Let  us  now,"  says  he,  "consider  this 
clause  in  connexion  with  other  parts  of  the  Charter." 
Here  we  are  led  to  expect  some  important  reasoning ;  how- 
ever, a  recital  of  his  argument  is  its  best  confutation. 
"  If,"  says  he,  "  we  suppose  this  clause  to  exempt  us  from 
the  authority  of  Parliament,  we  must  throw  away  all  the 
rest  of  the  Charter,  for  every  other  part  indicates  the  con- 


* 


295 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  APRIL,  1775. 


296 


trary,  as  plain  as  words  can  do."  This  is  considering  the 
clause  in  connexion  with  other  parts.  There  is  no  end  in 
contradicting  the  mere  assertions  of  one  who  lets  his  pen 
run  so  freely.  Read  the  Charter,  and  see  if  any  part  in- 
dicates the  contrary,  unless  profound  silence  upon  the  sub- 
ject is  taken  for  such  an  indication. 

"  What  is  still  worse,  this  clause  becomes  fclo  de  se,  and 
destroys  itself;  for  if  we  are  not  annexed  to  the  Realm 
we  are  aliens,  and  no  Charter,  grant,  or  other  act  of  the 
Crown  can  naturalize  us,  or  entitle  us  to  the  liberties  and 
immunities  of  Englishmen."  This  is  begging  the  question  ; 
it  goes  upon  the  old  Jacobitish  supposition  deteriorated.  It 
supposes  that  within  the  Realm  the  subject  holds  all  his 
rights  and  liberties  of  the  King,  as  the  original  possessor; 
and  that  persons  out  of  the  Realm,  in  a  state  of  nature, 
possess  no  rights  and  liberties  as  men.  In  short,  it  sup- 
poses Great  Britain  to  be  the  grand  and  only  store-house 
of  freedom,  the  dispenser  of  civil  blessings,  and  that  no  part 
of  the  wide  world  can  be  entitled  to  any  liberties  or  immu- 
nities, but  what  she,  of  her  special  grace  and  mere  bounty, 
is  pleased  to  grant  them  ;  whereas  the  truth  is,  we  were 
entitled  to  all  the  rights  of  Englishmen,  independent  of  any 
Charters  or  Realms  under  Heaven  ;  and  surely  we  are  not 
the  less  so  for  having  them  confirmed  by  compact. 

We  shall  waive  what  might  be  offered  respecting 
aliens'  allegiance  to  the  King,  and  the  relation  that  Wales, 
Jersey,  Guernsey,  and  Ireland,  stand  in  to  the  Realm  of 
England,  as  they  do  not  affect  the  solution  of  our  present 
question. 

More  distortions,  windings,  and  twislings,  were  never 
crowded  into  so  small  a  compass  as  in  the  paragraph  we 
are  now  considering.  The  following  is  diverting  enough  : 
"  If  a  person  born  in  England  removes  to  Irela?id,  Jersey, 
or  Guernsey,  and  settles  there,  hfe  is  then  no  longer  repre- 
sented in  the  British  Parliament,  but  he  and  his  posterity 
are,  and  will  ever  be,  subject  to  its  authority.  So  that  the 
inhabitants  of  the  American  Colonies  do,  in  fact,  enjoy  all 
the  liberties  and  immunities  of  natural  born  subjects.  We 
are  entitled  to  no  greater  privileges  than  those  who  are 
born  within  the  Realm  ;  and  they  can  enjoy  no  other  than 
we  do  when  they  reside  out  of  it.  Thus  it  is  evident  that 
this  clause  amounts  to  no  more  than  the  Royal  assurance 
that  we  are  a  part  of  the  British  Empire,  and  natural  born 
subjects,  and  as  such  bound  to  obey  the  supreme  power  of 
the  State."  Such  a  concatenation  of  ideas  were  never 
jumbled  up  together  before.  The  clause  grants  to  all  per- 
sons who  were  born  within  the  Realm,  and  should  come 
and  inhabit  in  this  Province  from  time  to  time,  as  well  as 
to  all  their  children  born  on  the  seas,  or  in  this  Colony,  all 
the  liberties  and  immunities  of  free  natural  born  subjects 
within  any  of  the  King's  Dominions,  to  all  intents  and  pur- 
poses whatsoever,  as  if  they  were  born  within  the  Realm 
of  England.  The  language  of  this  clause,  then,  according 
to  our  mysterious  interpreter,  to  all  those  who  come  from 
England  here,  would  be  this,  viz:  You  who  are  born  with- 
in the  Realm  of  England,  and  shall  go  and  inhabit  in  the 
Massachusetts  Colony,  shall  have  and  enjoy  all  the  liber- 
ties and  immunities  that  those  have  and  enjoy  who  are 
born  within  the  Realm  of  England,  and  shall  go  and  in- 
habit in  America.  As  great  a  solecism  as  ever  entered  the 
head  of  man.  If  the  accidental  liberties  that  those  per- 
sons enjoy  who  are  only  born  within  the  Realm,  and  re- 
move to  foreign  parts,  are  to  measure  and  point  out  ours, 
how  shall  we  ever  know  them  ?  Is  Ireland,  Guernsey,  the 
East  and  West-Indies,  or  Turkey,  to  decide  the  question 
and  define  the  rights  of  all  America  1  for  those  born  in 
England  have  gone  to,  and  enjoy  different  liberties  in  all 
these  places;  and,  according  to  our  logician,  if  the  Ameri- 
cans enjoy  as  much  liberty  as  those  who  were  born  in  Eng- 
land enjoy  in  any  of  those  Dominions,  even  if  it  be  in  Tur- 
key, we  are  entitled  to  no  more. 

This  clause  is  so  far  from  being  the  Royal  assurance 
that  we  are  a  part  of  the  British  Empire,  and  as  such  sub- 
ject to  its  supreme  authority,  that  it  is  directly  the  contrary. 
Its  meaning  undeniably  is,  notwithstanding  the  violence  of- 
fered it  by  the  Tories,  who  are  pierced  to,  their  very  vitals 
by  its  force,  that  we  should  enjoy  all  the  privileges  and 
immunities  that  the  inhabitants  of  Great  Britain  are  enti- 
tled to.  What  some  of  these  were,  we  saw  in  our  last 
number.  It  can  have  no  other  meaning  but  this,  which 
will  support  that  stupendous  fabrick  of  American  indepen- 


dence which  we  have  possessed  and  practised  upon  for  a 
century  and  a  half,  and  which  our  patriots  are  struggling  to 
preserve  against  the  storms,  the  sackings  and  sappings  of 
the  Tories. 

Whoever  reads  the  Charter,  continues  lie,  will  meet 
with  irresistible  evidence  that  our  being  within  the  jurisdic- 
tion of  Parliament  were  the  very  tenures  by  which  they 
held  their  estates.  It  is  astonishing  that  any  man  will  give 
himself  such  liberties.  Whoever  reads  the  Charter  with 
an  expectation  of  finding  evidence  of  this,  or  any  thing  of 
the  kind,  will  most  certainly  find  himself  egregiously  dis- 
appointed. There  is  nothing  from  beginning  to  end  that 
looks  any  more  like  it  than  what  may  be  found  in  the  As- 
sembly's Catechism,  or  the  Pilgrim's  Progress. 

From  the  County  of  Hampshire. 


ALEXANDER  ELMSLY,  AGENT  OF  THE   HOUSE  OF  ASSEMBLY 
OF  NORTH-CAROLINA,  TO  SAMUEL  JOHNSTON. 

London,  April  7,  1775. 

Dear  Sir:  Yours  by  Captain  Scott  came  to  hand  in 
due  season,  as  did  the  money  for  Mr.  Barker,  which  is  at 
his  credit.  Your  bill  £100,  order  Mr.  Ferrear,  was  this 
day  paid. 

Your  politics  are  past  my  expectations,  and  out  of  my 
reach.  I  thought  incorporating  you  would  not  only  have 
remedied  the  disorder,  but  have  given  additional  vigour  to 
the  Constitution  ;  but,  excepting  our  friend  Mr.  Barker, 
nobody  either  here  or  there  is  of  the  same  opinion  ;  there- 
fore, I  shall  suppose,  for  the  present,  that  he  and  I  are  mis- 
taken, and  wait  with  resignation  the  event  of  the  measures 
adopted  on  both  sides  of  the  water. 

On  our  side  they  are  as  follows : — 

Imo.  The  House  of  Commons  have  voted  by  resolve, 
that  if  you  will  tax  yourselves  for  the  purpose  of  support- 
ing your  own  establishments,  and  also  contribute  a  certain 
sum  for  the  general  safety,  the  amount  of  which  to  be  satis- 
factory to  the  King  and  Parliament,  and  to  be  at  their  dis- 
posal, then  the  Parliament  will  desist  from  laying  any  further 
taxes  for  the  present.  This,  they  say,  is  holding  out  to  you 
the  olive  branch  ;  I  say  it  is  a  dirty,  disgracing,  degrading 
expedient,  compared  to  mine  ;  but  it  is  so  much  akin  to  a 
similar  one  proposed  in  the  House  of  Lords  by  Lord  Chat- 
ham, and  approved  of  by  Franklin  and  the  other  Americans 
here,  that  I  must  suppose  myself  again  mistaken. 

2<io-  A  bill  has  received  the  Royal  assent  for  preventing 
the  four  New-England  Colonies  from  fishing,  after  the  25th 
of  June  next ;  and  another  has  been  read  three  times  in  the 
House  of  Commons,  for  restraining  the  trade  of  all  the  as- 
sociated Colonies  to  Great  Britain  and  the  British  West- 
Indies  ;  out  of  this  restraint,  however,  Neiv-York  and 
North-  Carolina  are  excepted  ;  the  former  because  their 
Assembly  did  not  recognise  the  new  laws,  the  latter  for 
reasons  not  generally  known  ;  they  are,  however,  one  or  all 
of  the  following:  1st.  Mr.  Barker  and  myself,  instead  of 
the  Petition  you  sent  us,  (which  contained,  besides  strange 
inaccuracies,  indirect  reflections  on  the  Parliament,  or  the 
Ministry  at  least,)  drew  up  a  Memorial  in  more  decent 
terms,  which  we  left  a  rough  draught  of  with  Mr.  Pou  nall, 
the  Secretary,  for  his  inspection,  previous  to  its  being  pre- 
sented to  the  Board.  This  was  about  the  10th  of  Febru- 
ary ;  in  two  or  three  days  we  called  to  know  his  sentiments 
on  it ;  he  told  us  he  had  perused  it,  approved  of  it,  and 
pressed  us  much  and  repeatedly  to  have  it  lodged  as  soon 
as  possible,  which  was  done  the  next  day.  Two  or  three 
days  after,  Lord  North  moved  for  the  Restraining  Bill  in  the 
House  of  Commons,  and  North- Carolina  was  and  still  is 
left  out.  The  next  reason  is,  we  have  as  yet  received  no 
account  of  your  Assembly,  or  rather  the  Members  of  it, 
having  ratified  the  new  laws,  nor  have  you  been  charged 
with  any  excesses  in  the  execution  of  them.  The  last, 
and  perhaps  the  best  reason  is,  Govemour  Tryon  (who  re- 
turns to  New*  York  immediately)  is  much  your  friend,  and 
I  doubt  not  has  exerted  himself  in  your  behalf  accordingly. 
Whether  you  will  thank  us  for  this  distinction,  or  not ; 
whether  it  will  not  be  considered  as  opprobrious  instead  of 
honourable;  whether  Mr.  Barker  and  myself  will  be  cen- 
sured or  not,  as  having  been,  in  all  probability,  instrumental 
in  bringing  it  about,  1  do  not  pretend  to  say.  But  in  our 
defence,  or  rather  in  mine,  for  it  was  with  much  reluctance 
he  consented  to  suppress  the  Petition,  you  will  take  notice, 


297 


CORRESPONDENCE.  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  APRIL,  1775. 


298 


that  when  your  Memorial  was  presented,  we  had  no  idea 
that  such  restraining  bill  was  intended  ;  on  the  other  hand, 
should  this  exemption  be  received  favourably,  give  us  no 
credit  for  it ;  for,  had  it  not  been  for  a  tenderness  we  had 
for  the  reputation  of  your  Assembly,  as  having  been  long 
members  of  it,  your  Petition,  exceptionable  as  it  is,  should 
have  been  presented.  I  do  not  know  whether  you  ever 
perused  it,  but  my  objections  to  it  were,  first,  that  a  memo- 
rial from  us  was  as  good  as  it ;  and  next,  that  you  generally 
address  the  King  as  the  people  of  New-England  do  each 
other,  in  the  third  person  ;  for  instance,  you  say,  in  more 
places  than  one,  "  Your  Majesty,  in  his  great  goodness,  in 
liis  great  wisdom,"  &tc,  instead  of  "  your  goodness,"  fee. ; 
this  might  have  passed  from  a  poor  ignorant  criminal,  beg- 
ging his  life,  but  surely  better  things  would  have  been  ex- 
pected from  your  Assembly.  Besides  this  objection,  there 
was  another:  You  say  you  have  been  taught  to  expect 
redress  from  the  Throne  alone,  i.  e.  you  expect  none  from 
the  Ministry  or  the  Parliament.  How  far  you  are  well 
grounded,  I  do  not  know  ;  but  as  I  well  know  that  none  of 
these  petitions  ever  reach  the  Throne  but  through  the 
hands  of  the  Ministry,  to  whom  they  are  left  as  an  ordinary 
piece  of  business,  I  thought,  and  I  slill  think,  it  would  have 
been  preposterous  to  have  presented  a  petition,  which, 
amongst  other  things,  sets  forth  that  the  petitioner,  from 
past  experience,  did  not  doubt  of  having  his  petition  re- 
jected. This  objection,  however,  alone,  would  not  have 
had  much  weight,  at  least  not  enough  to  have  prevented 
our  presenting  the  Petition  ;  but  on  account  of  both  to- 
gether, it  was  agreed  to  suppress  it,  and  to  substitute  a  Me- 
morial in  its  room,  and  keep  the  whole  a  secret;  and  I  am 
not  sure  whether  Mr.  Barker  would  not  be  dissatisfied  if 
he  knew  that  this  matter  had  been  communicated  even  to 
you  ;  therefore  pray  say  nothing  about  it.  With  respect  to 
the  success  of  your  Memorial,  we  can  at  present  form  no 
judgment  of  it,  but  are  told  that  by  next  packet  the  matter 
will  be  settled ;  and  if  no  bad  news  arrives  from  Carolina 
in  the  mean  time,  we  hope  it  will  be  in  part  settled  to  your 
satisfaction. 

You  ask  Mr.  Barker  to  let  you  know  who  it  was  that 
first  moved,  here,  against  your  Court  laws.  Neither  he 
nor  I  know  certainly  ;  but  when  old  Mr.  McCulloh,  as  your 
agent,  first  received  an  account  of  your  Court  Bill  miscar- 
rying, on  account  of  an  instruction  to  your  Governour 
against  attachments,  he  hinted  that  Lord  Hillsborough,  then 
Secretary  of  State  for  America,  and  Lord  Hertford,  then 
and  now  Lord  Chamberlain,  and  both  Members  of  the  Privy 
Council,  and  North-of-Ireland  men,  and  friends  and  neigh- 
bours of  your  Dobbi's,  might  probably,  at  their  solicitation, 
have  been  the  means  of  sending  out  the  instruction.  You 
know  Nash  had  an  attachment  depending  against  their  es- 
tate; this  is  only  conjecture,  but  I  think  it  probable;  be- 
cause, had  the  measure  originated  amongst  the  merchants, 
we  certainly  should  have  heard  of  it  long  ago  ;  as  you  say, 
however,  it  is  not  of  much  consequence  now,  as  the  new 
laws  have  taken  place,  whether  the  old  ones  are  restored 
or  not. 

Old  Franklin  is  gone  to  Philadelphia,  some  people  say 
to  second  Lord  North's  plan  of  your  taxing  yourselves  ; 
but  I  know  nothing  of  the  matter. 

There  is  an  account  received  that  the  Transports  are 
sailed  from  Cork,  and  next  week,  the  Generals  Howe, 
Burgoyne,  and  Clinton,  follow  them  from  hence  in  a  Man- 
of-War ;  some  of  these  troops  are  destined  for  New-  York, 
and  two  companies,  with  a  sloop,  are  to  be  sent  to  Georgia. 

Should  your  Assemblies  refuse  to  adopt  Lord  North's 
plan,  and  our  Parliament  persevere,  you  will  have  another 
new  set  of  laws  soon  established.  They  say  your  seaports 
are  to  be  turned  into  garrison  Towns,  and  the  people  of  the 
Country  left  at  liberty  to  form  any  establishment  they  think 
proper.  Should  this  regulation  take  place,  1  hope  you  will 
have  no  occasion  to  turn  soldier.  Ycur  Governour,  I  sup- 
pose,  will  take  up  his  residence  amongst  the  musquetoes  at 
Breacok,  and  you  will  be  a  Congress  or  Committee-man, 
instead  of  a  military  man.  I  like  neither  character,  but 
hope  you  will  never  have  occasion  to  take  upon  you  the 
latter  especially. 

Mrs.  Elmsly  joins  me  in  compliments  and  best  wishes  to 
you  and  yours. 

I  am,  dear  sir,  j  our  affectionate  friend  and  humble  ser- 
vant, Alexander  Elmsly^ 


CHESTERFIELD  COUNTY  (VIRGINIA)  COMMITTKE. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  for  Chesterfield  County, 
held  on  the  7th  of  April,  1775,  the  proceedings  of  the 
Convention  were  read  and  unanimously  approved  of. 

Resolved,  That  we  will,  as  soon  as  possible,  promote  and 
further  the  establishment  of  Manufactories  for  the  making 
of  Linen,  Cotton,  and  Woollen  Cloth  ;  and  that  we  will  give 
encouragement  to  such  persons  as  shall  excel  in  the  prepa- 
ration of  materials  necessary  for  carrying  on  such  manufac- 
tories ;  and  also  that  subscriptions  be  opened  in  this  County 
by  the  several  members  of  this  Committee,  for  raising  a 
fund  to  support  such  Manufactories  as  may  be  determined 
on  in  consequence  of  the  foregoing  Resolution. 

Mr.  John  Brown,  of  Norfolk,  having,  by  his  behaviour, 
incurred  the  censure  of  the  people  of  this  Colony  ; 

Resolved,  That  we  will  not  hereafter  transact  any  busi- 
ness, or  have  any  connexion  with  the  said  John  Broion. 

Captain  Sampson,  of  the  Ship  Elizabeth,  from  Bristol, 
having,  by  his  conduct,  incurred  the  general  contempt  and 
resentment  of  the  good  people  of  this  Colony  ; 

Resolved,  That  we  will  not  hereafter  have  any  inter- 
course with  the  said  Sampson,  nor  contribute  to,  or,  as  far 
as  in  us  lies,  permit  the  loading  of  any  Ship  which  he  may 
now  or  hereafter  be  concerned  with  ;  and  it  is  recommended 
to  the  inhabitants  of  this  County  to  adopt  these  Resolu- 
tions. 

Ordered,  That  these,  and  the  Resolutions  relative  to  the 
Manufactories,  be  printed.         Jerman  Baker,  Clerk. 


ULSTER  COUNTY  (nEW-YORk)  COMMITTEE. 

Kingston,  Ulster  County,  April  7,  1775. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Kings- 
ton, in  Ulster  County,  a  Committee  of  Observation  was 
chosen  agreeable  to,  and  for  the  purpose  mentioned  in  the 
Eleventh  Article  of  the  Association  of  the  Continental  Con- 
gress, held  at  Philadelphia  in  September  last. 

The  persons  nominated  and  appointed  for  said  Commit- 
tee were,  Oke  Sudam,  John  Beekman,  Johannes  Perse, 
Johannes  Sleght,  Hendrick  Schoonmaker,  Christian  Fiero, 
and  Egbert  Schoonmaker,  who  at  their  meeting  the  6th 
instant,  chose  Johannes  Sleght  for  Chairman. 

Information  being  then  made  to  said  Committee,  that  the 
merchants  and  venders  of  East-India  Tea  had  entered  into 
an  association  not  to  sell  any  East-India  Tea,  and  that  if 
any  person  or  persons  should  be  guilty  of  selling  or  vend- 
ing any  of  that  commodity,  that  they  should  be  published 
in  the  publiek  newspapers  as  enemies  to  the  liberties  and 
privileges  of  American  subjects  ;  which  Articles  were  signed 
by  all  the  merchants  and  skippers  who  were  possessed  of 
any  East-India  Tea,  (Mr.  Jacobus  Low  excepted,)  who, 
notwithstanding  all  the  friendly  admonitions  and  entreaties 
to  the  contrary,  declared  he  had,  and  would  sell  Tea.  Upon 
which  information,  this  Committee  resolved  to  send  for  Mr. 
Low,  thinking  that  time  and  mature  deliberation,  together 
with  their  friendly  advice,  might  be  able  to  alter  Mr.  Low's 
determination  ;  but  all  in  vain  :  for  he  declared  he  was  de- 
termined to  sell  Tea  as  formerly  he  had  done,  and  abso- 
lutely refused  to  comply  with  the  Articles  agreed  to  by  the 
other  merchants  and  skippers  in  said  Town. 

We,  therefore,  in  faithfulness  to  the  trust  reposed  in  us, 
and  agreeable  to  the  recommendation  of  the  Congress,  do 
publish,  and  he,  the  said  Jacobus  Low,  is  hereby  published 
as  an  enemy  to  the  rights  and  liberties  of  America;  and 
we  do  hereby  declare,  that  we  will  henceforth  abstain  from 
(and  recommend  it  to  others  to  abstain  from)  all  kind  of 
connections  and  commerce  with  him,  until  such  time  as  a 
change  in  his  conduct  shall  induce  us  to  alter  our  determi- 
nation. 

Signed  by  order  of  the  Committee: 

Johannes  Sleght,  Chairman. 


PORTSMOUTH  (NEW-HAMPSHIRE)  VOLUNTEERS. 

We,  the  subscribers,  being  desirous  of  attaining  the  Mili- 
tary Art,  do  agree  on  the  following  Rules  and  Regulations, 
viz : 

1st.  That  we  will  meet  at  some  place  that  shall  be  agreed 
on  by  the  Company,  every  Monday  and  Thursday  even- 
ing, for  the  purpose  aforesaid. 

2d.  That  on  the  first  Monday  evening  of  every  month, 


299 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  he,  APRIL,  1775. 


300 


(after  the  exercise  is  over,)  we  will  choose  a  proper  person 
to  instruct  and  preside  over  the  Company  :  also  a  Clerk, 
and  any  other  Officers  that  may  be  judged  necessary. 

3d.  That  we  will  pay  obedience  and  strict  attention  to 
such  as  we  shall  appoint  from  time  to  time  to  instruct  and 
command  the  Company. 

I'ortsiuouih,  December  20,  1774. 

April 6th,  1775. — The  Company,  taking  into  considera- 
tion the  shortness  of  the  evenings,  and  their  numbers  being 
so  much  increased  that  it  is  inconvenient  to  exercise  any 
longer  within  doors  ;  therefore, 

Voted,  That  after  the  10th  day  of  April  instant,  we  will 
meet  on  the  parade,  or  some  other  convenient  place,  on 
Monday  and  Thursday  mornings,  precisely  at  sunrise. 

Voted,  That  Dr.  Hall  Jackson,  Messrs.  James  Sheafe, 
George  Hart,  George  Gains,  and  Jeremiah  Libby,  be  a 
Committee  to  wait  on  the  Honourable  Theodore  Atkinson, 
Esquire,  Colonel  of  the  Regiment  to  which  we  belong,  and 
request  the  favour  of  him  to  grant  us  liberty  to  beat  a  drum 
to  call  the  Company  together;  and  also  to  present  to  him 
a  copy  of  our  Rules  and  Regulations,  that  he  may  be  con- 
vinced that  wc  are  not  a  Company  detached  from  his  regi- 
ment and  command. 

Attest :  J.  Libby,  Clerk. 

Portsmouth,  April  7,  1775. 


SOUTHAMPTON  (VIRGINIA)  COMMITTEE. 

At  a  Committee  held  at  the  Court-House  for  the  Coun- 
ty of  Southampton,  the  eighth  day  of  April,  1775,  agree- 
able to  the  Eleventh  Article  of  the  Continental  Congress, 
Present :  Edwi?i  Gray,  Chairman,  Thomas  Williamson, 
Richard  Kcllo,  James  Ridley,  George  Gurley,  Clerk, 
Benjamin  Rujfin,  Peter  Butts,  Benjamin  Clements,  Jun., 
Joshua  Nicholson,  Thomas  Edmunds,  Benjamin  Rujfin, 
Junior,  and  Thomas  Blunt: 

The  Proceedings  of  the  late  Convention  held  at  the 
Town  of  Richmond,  on  the  20th  of  March,  were  laid  before 
the  Committee,  and  being  read  and  maturely  considered, 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  this  Committee  doth  en- 
tirely approve  the  Proceedings  of  the  said  Convention, 
and  that  they  will  use  every  opportunity  to  recommend,  in 
the  strongest  manner,  the  several  measures  then  adopted  to 
the  people  of  this  County. 

Resolved,  That  the  several  members  of  this  Committee 
in  their  respective  Districts  (as  laid  off  by  a  former  Com- 
mittee) endeavour  to  collect  by  subscription  the  sum  of 
Ten  Pounds,  for  encouraging  Mr.  Tait's  useful  scheme  for 
making  Salt ;  and  also  Fifteen  Pounds  for  the  use  of  the 
Deputies  to  represent  this  Colony  in  Continental  Congress  ; 
and  that  such  Money  as  may  be  collected  be  immediately 
paid  by  the  several  collectors  into  the  hands  of  Mr.  Edwin 
Gray  and  Mr.  Henry  Taylor,  to  be  by  them  transmitted 
to  Robert  Carter  Nicholas,  Esquire,  for  the  purposes 
aforesaid. 

Resolved,  That  Monday,  the  17th  of  this  instant,  be 
appointed  for  the  election  of  Delegates  at  the  Court-House, 
to  represent  this  County  in  Provincial  Congress ;  and  that 
a  copy  of  this  Resolution  be  transmitted  to  the  Clergymen 
of  the  different  Parishes  of  this  County,  requesting  them  to 
publish  the  same  in  their  respective  Churches ;  and  also 
that  the  Clerk  of  this  Committee  advertise  the  same  at  the 
Court-House  door  on  the  next  court  day. 

Resolved,  That  Mr.  Benjamin  Clements,  Junior,  Mr. 
Benjamin  Rujfin,  Junior,  and  Mr.  Joshua  Nicholson,  or 
any  two  of  them,  be  appointed  to  conduct  the  election  of 
the  said  Delegates. 

Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  this  Committee  be  given 
to  Mr.  Edwin  Gray  and  Mr.  Henry  Taylor,  our  worthy 
and  patriotick  Delegates ;  at  the  same  time  assuring  them 
that  they  have  conducted  themselves  entirely  to  their  satis- 
faction in  the  discharge  of  that  important  trust. 

Resolved,  That  this  Committee  be  adjourned  to  Thursday, 
the  13th  day  of  this  instant. 

Thursday,  April  13,  1775. 

Present:  Edwin  Gray,  Chairman,  Henry  Taylor,  Ri- 
chard Kello,  Thomas  Williamson,  James  Ridley,  Benja- 
min Rujfin,  Benjamin  Clements,  Junior,  Benjamin  Rujfin, 
Junior,  Thomas  Blunt,  Thomas  Edmunds,  Joshua  Nichol- 
son, and  John  Thomas  Blow. 

This  Committee  taking  under  their  consideration  the 


necessity  of  providing  the  Militia  of  this  County  with  Am- 
munition, and  finding  an  improbability  of  collecting  a  sum 
sufficient  for  that  purpose  in  so  short  a  time  as  they  deem 
necessary  from  the  people  of  this  County,  do  therefore 
Resolve,  That  each  member  will  most  cheerfully  deposit 
the  sum  of  Ten  Pounds  in  the  hands  of  Mr.  Edwin  Gray 
and  Mr.  Henry  Taylor,  or  either  of  them,  for  the  purpose 
aforesaid. 

Resolved,  That  Mr.  Edwin  Gray  and  Mr.  Henry  Tay- 
lor inform  the  absent  members  of  this  Committee  of  the 
preceding  Resolution,  requesting  them  to  contribute  the 
sum  of  Ten  Pounds  each  for  the  purpose  therein  men- 
tioned. 

Resolved,  That  Mr.  Edwin  Gray  and  Mr.  Henry  Tay- 
lor, or  either  of  them,  do,  as  soon  as  they  have  received 
the  Money  so  subscribed,  or  any  other  sums  that  may  be 
voluntarily  advanced,  make  application  to  the  Committee 
appointed  by  the  late  Convention  for  procuring  Ammuni- 
tion, &c,  for  as  much  Powder  and  Lead  as  the  money 
they  have  received  will  amount  to,  in  the  proportion  of  one 
pound  of  powder  to  four  pounds  of  lead. 

Resolved,  That  the  Powder  and  Lead,  when  procured, 
shall  be  stored  in  such  convenient  place  or  places  as  shall 
be  agreed  on  by  this  Committee,  and  be  liable  to  any  di- 
rections of  the  same. 

Silas  Kirby,  James  Ingram,  Josiah  Kirby,  and  John 
Simmons,  voluntarily  appeared  before  this  Committee,  and 
acknowledged  they  had  been  guilty  of  violating  the  Eighth 
Article  of  the  Association,  by  Gaming  at  the  said  Silas 
Kirby' s,  and  winning  a  small  sum  of  money  of  a  certain 
Benjamin  O'Donnello,  a  few  days  before;  that  it  was  an 
errour  they  were  unthinkingly  led  into,  and  are  convinced 
of  its  evil  tendency  ;  that  they  are  willing  to  refund  every 
thing  won  by  them ;  and  they  now  assure  this  Committee 
of  a  more  strict  compliance  for  the  future  with  the  several 
Articles  of  the  General  Association. 

This  Committee  therefore  Resolve,  That  the  said  Silas 
Kirby,  James  Ingram,  Josiah  Kirby,  and  John  Simmons, 
have  been  guilty  of  violating  the  Association  ;  yet,  in  con- 
sideration of  their  candid  behaviour  before  this  Committee, 
and  their  ever  conforming  to  the  Association  before  this, 
their  breach  of  it,  hope  the  publick  will  join  with  them  in 
considering  the  aforesaid  persons  as  not  inimical  to  Ameri- 
can liberty. 

Resolved,  That  the  Clerk  of  this  Committee  transmit  a 
copy  of  the  proceedings  thereof  to  Messrs.  Dixon  and 
Hunter,  requesting  them  to  publish  the  same. 

Edwin  Gray,  Chairman. 

Samuel  Kello,  Clerk  of  the  Committee. 


TO  THE  PEOPLE  OF  VIRGINIA. 

Prince  William,  April  8,  1775. 

It  is  so  true  as  to  have  become  proverbial,  that  a  drown- 
ing man  will  catch  at  a  straw.  On  this  principle  it  is  that 
a  despotick  but  almost  despairing  Ministry,  having  been 
compelled  by  the  wisdom,  virtue,  and  firmness  of  North 
America,  to  show  a  disposition  to  retract  from  their  tyran- 
nical system,  are  yet  suspended  in  their  determinations, 
and  find  their  hopes  kept  alive  by  the  corruption  of  some, 
by  the  folly  and  perverseness  of  others,  on  this  side  of  the 
Allantick.  The  most  contemptible  tales  are  magnified 
into  importance  when  the  mind  wishes  them  to  be  true, 
and  thus  the  lies  of  a  Rivington,  or  the  vanity  of  some 
heavy-headed  Virginian,  will  swell  trifles  into  proofs  of 
disunion,  and  serve  to  persuade  perseverance  in  measures 
hurtful  indeed  to  America,  but  certainly  ruinous  to  Great 
Britain.  Among  this  tribe  of  mischief-working  things  may 
be  classed  a  senseless  paper  lately  published  in  the  Norfolk 
Intelligencer,  said  to  be  "  Instructions  drawn  up  for  the 
Delegates  to  the  Convention  at  Richmond,  the  20th  of 
March,  from  a  certain  County  in  Virginia."  Was  this 
curious  production  rejected  by  the  sensible  Printers  in 
Williamsburgh,  which  occasioned  it  to  pass  through  that 
common  sewer  of  political  falsehood,  the  Norfolk  Intelli- 
gencer 1  Though  the  framer  of  these  Instructions  certainly 
wants  sense,  he  may  be  allowed  to  possess  some  cunning, 
because  he  has  so  contrived  that  willingness  of  mind,  or 
ignorance  of  fact,  may  both  conclude  a  whole  County  in 
Virginia  to  have  perfidiously  opposed  the  general  union — 
a  union  formed,  both  as  to  time  and  matter,  on  the  unani- 


301 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  APRIL,  1775. 


302 


mous  concurrence  of  this  Country  in  August  last,  and  final- 
ly confirmed  by  the  same  unanimous  approbation  on  the 
20th  of  March  succeeding.  But  let  us  consider  what  are 
the  motives  and  principles  that  probably  govern  this  drawer 
up  of  Instructions,  (for  we  do  not  learn  they  were  ever 
signed,)  thus  to  induce  a  belief  so  injurious  to  the  fame  of 
any  County.  It  could  not  be  the  little  vanity  of  showing 
how  smoothly  nonsense  may  be  written,  because  the  writer's 
name  being  concealed,  his  share  of  this  merit  must  be  small 
indeed.  It  could  not  conduce  to  procure  an  adoption  of 
his  crude  ideas  at  the  Convention,  because  the  publication 
appears  posteriour  to  the  rising  of  the  Convention.  It 
would  seem,  therefore,  that  this  fiction  was  designed  for 
the  bad  purpose  before-mentioned,  of  keeping  up  the  delu- 
sion in  Great  Britain,  and  comforting  with  hopes  an  almost 
expiring,  venal,  despotick  Administration.  It  is  not  pro- 
per to  insult  the  publick  with  a  minute  refutation  of  these 
Instructions ;  suffice  it  to  observe,  that  the  writer  confesses 
"  the  grand  principal  (we  will  suppose  him  here  to  mean 
principles)  for  which  we  contend,  are  the  rights  of  legisla- 
tion and  taxation  ;  of  legislation  respecting  our  internal 
police,  and  of  taxation  independent  of  every  power  on 
earth  ;"  which  inestimable  privileges,  he  farther  declares, 
"  we  will  maintain  at  the  risk  of  our  lives  and  fortunes." 
Bravo  !  Our  man  grows  bold  here  ;  but  presently,  alas  !  he 
sinks  again  !  For  if  his  Instructions  mean  any  thing,  they 
mean  to  condemn  the  proceedings  of  the  Congress,  be- 
cause the  Quebeck  Bill  is  beyond  his  "ideas;"  because 
suspending  Commerce  will  be  fatal  to  those  who  are  endea- 
vouring to  rob  us  of  what  himself  calls  "  inestimable  privi- 
leges;" and  for  a  few  other  reasons  equally  cogent  and 
sensible.  Such  is  the  inconsistency  and  folly  of  the  ene- 
mies of  America;  for  they  are  still  enemies,  whether 
influenced  by  vanity  or  wickedness,  or  misled  by  want  of 
understanding.  Americanus. 


address  of  freeholders  of  fincastle  county 
(virginia)  to  lord  dunmore. 

To  His  Excellency  the  Right  Honourable  John  Earl  of 
Dunmore,  His  Majesty's  Lieutenant  and  Governour- 
General  of  the  Colony  of  Virginia  : 

The  Address  of  the  Freeholders  and  a  number  of  the  In- 
habitants of  Fincastle  County. 

My  Lord  :  Notwithstanding  the  unhappy  disputes  that 
at  present  subsist  between  the  Mother  Country  and  the 
Colonies,  in  which  we  have  given  the  publick  our  senti- 
ments, yet  justice  and  gratitude,  as  well  as  a  sense  of  our 
duty,  induce  us  collectively  to  return  your  Lordship  our 
unfeigned  thanks  for  the  great  services  you  have  rendered 
the  frontiers  in  general,  and  this  County  in  particular,  in 
the  late  expedition  against  our  enemy  Indians. 

In  our  former  wars  with  the  savages,  we  long  suffered 
every  species  of  barbarity ;  many  of  our  friends  and  fel- 
low-subjects were  inhumanly  butchered  and  carried  into 
captivity,  more  to  be  dreaded  than  death  itself;  our  houses 
plundered  and  burned,  and  our  Country  laid  waste  by  an 
enemy,  against  whom,  from  our  dispersed  situation,  and 
their  manner  of  carrying  on  war,  it  was  impossible  to  make 
a  proper  defence  on  our  frontiers.  Your  Lordship  being 
convinced  of  this,  proposed  to  attack  the  enemy  in  their 
own  Country,  well  judging  that  it  would  be  the  most  effec- 
tual means  to  reduce  them  to  reason,  and  be  attended  with 
little  more  expense  to  the  community  than  a  partial  de- 
fence of  such  an  extensive  frontier.  The  proposal  was 
cheerfully  embraced,  and  the  ardour  of  the  Militia  to  en- 
gage in  that  very  necessary  service,  could  only  be  equalled 
by  that  of  your  Lordship  in  carrying  it  on.  That  the  plan 
of  an  expedition  should  be  laid  when  the  season  was  far 
advanced,  and  near  three  thousand  choice  Troops  raised  in 
a  few  Counties,  and  put  under  the  command  of  many 
brave  and  experienced  Officers ;  that  those  forces  should 
be  equipped  and  fully  supplied  with  provisions,  and  march 
several  hundred  miles  through  mountains  to  meet  the  ene- 
my ;  that  so  many  Nations  of  warlike  Indians  should  be 
reduced  to  sue  for  peace ;  that  those  Troops  should  return 
victorious  to  their  homes  by  the  last  of  November;  and  all 
this  without  any  publick  money  in  hand  to  defray  any  part 
of  the  expense,  shows  at  first  view  the  immediate  utility 
ol  the  undertaking,  and  must  be  a  convincing  proof  that 
the  Almighty,  in  a  peculiar  manner,  blessed  your  Lord- 


ship's attempts  to  establish  peace,  and  stop  the  further  effu- 
sion of  human  blood ;  but  that  your  Lordship  should 
forego  your  ease,  and  every  domestick  felicity,  and  march 
at  the  head  of  a  body  of  those  Troops  many  hundred  miles 
from  the  Seat  of  Government,  cheerfully  undergoing  all 
the  fatigues  of  the  campaign,  by  exposing  your  person, 
and  inarching  on  foot  with  the  officers  and  soldiers,  com- 
mands our  warmest  returns  of  gratitude  ;  and  the  rather, 
as  we  have  no  instance  of  such  condescension  in  your 
Lordship's  predecessors  on  any  similar  occasion. 

We  should  be  wanting  in  point  of  gratitude,  were  we  to 
omit  returning  our  thanks  on  this  occasion  to  the  Officers 
and  Soldiers  who  entered  into  the  service  with  so  much 
alacrity.  The  memory  of  such  as  fell  nobly  fighting  for 
their  Country  ought  to  be  very  dear  to  it. 

That  your  Lordship  may  enjoy  every  domestick  bless- 
ing ;  that  you  may  long  govern  the  brave  and  free  people 
of  Virginia,  and  that  the  present  disturbances  may  be 
amicably  settled,  is  the  ardent  wish  of  the  inhabitants  of 
Fincastle. 

His  Lordship's  Answer. 
I  am  very  much  obliged  to  the  freeholders  and  inhabi- 
tants of  the  County  of  Fincastle  for  their  Address,  and 
am  happy  to  find  they  think  the  service  I  undertook  upon 
the  occasion  of  the  Indian  disturbances  merits  their  pub- 
lick thanks.  I  assure  them  that  they  will  ever  find  me 
equally  ready  to  exert  my  best  endeavours  for  every  pur- 
pose which  may  tend  to  the  security  or  promote  the  happi- 
ness of  the  people  of  Virginia. 


PENNSYLVANIA  COUNCIL. 

At  a  Council  held  at  Philadelphia,  on  Saturday,  8th 
April,  1775, 

Present:  The  Honourable  John  Penn,  Esquire,  Go- 
vernour,  Benjamin  Chew,  James  Tilghman,  Edward 
Shippen,  Esquires. 

Pursuant  to  an  Order  in  Council,  on  the  13th  day  of 
March  last,  a  draught  of  a  Proclamation  for  recalling  that 
issued  on  the  2d  of  November,  and  confirming  the  Procla- 
mation of  the  15th  of  September  last,  agreeably  to  His  Ma- 
jesty's permission  signified  to  the  Governour  by  the  Earl 
of  Dartmouth,  was  laid  before  the  Board,  and  being  duly- 
considered  was  agreed  to ;  and  the  Governour,  by  the  ad- 
vice of  the  Board,  issued  the  same  this  day  in  the  follow- 
ing words,  viz : 

By  the  Honourable  John  Penn,  Esquire,  Governour  and 
Commander-in-chief  of  the  Province  of  Pennsylva- 
nia, and  Counties  of  New-Castle,  Kent,  and.  Sussex, 
on  Delaware  : 

A  Proclamation. 
Whereas,  by  my  Proclamation  bearing  date  the  fifteenth 
day  of  September  last,  I  did  enjoin  and  require  all  persons 
residing  to  the  Northward  and  Eastward  of  the  lines  and 
boundaries  theretofore  run,  and  marked  as  boundaries  and 
division  lines  between  the  Province  of  Maryland  and  the 
Province  of  Pennsylvania,  and  Counties  of  New- Castle. 
Kent,  and  Sussex,  on  Delaware,  by  Commissioners  for  that 
purpose  appointed  and  authorized,  in  pursuance  of  two 
Articles  of  Agreement  made  between  the  proprietors  of  the 
Province  of  Maryland  and  the  proprietors  of  the  Province 
of  Pennsylvania  and  the  Counties  of  New- Castle,  Kent, 
and  Sussex,  on  Delaware;  and  also  in  pursuanc  eof  two 
several  Decrees  of  the  Lord  High  Chancellor  of  England, 
for  the  specifick  performance  of  the  said  Articles,  to  yield 
obedience  to  the  respective  laws  of  the  Province  of  Penn- 
sylvania and  Counties  aforesaid  on  Delaware :  And  I  did 
further  by  my  said  Proclamation  require  all  Magistrates, 
Sheriffs,  and  other  Officers  of  justice  appointed  or  to  be 
appointed  in  the  said  Province  and  Counties,  to  put  in 
execution  the  respective  laws  thereof  against  all  offenders 
within  the  lines  and  limits  aforesaid  as  by  my  said  Procla- 
mation may  more  at  large  appear :  And  whereas  by  my 
other  Proclamation,  bearing  date  the  second  day  of  Novem- 
ber last  past,  1  did,  in  obedience  to  his  Majesty's  commands 
signified  to  me  by  a  letter  from  the  Right  Honourable  the 
Earl  of  Dartmouth,  one  of  His  Majesty's  principal  Secre- 
taries of  State,  enjoin  all  Magistrates,  Sheriffs,  and  other 


303 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  fee,  APRIL,  1775. 


304 


Officers  of  justice,  to  desist  from  exercising  the  jurisdic- 
tion of  Pennsylvania  or  the  Counties  of  New-Castle,  Kent, 
and  Sussex,  on  Delaivare,  beyond  those  places  where  it 
had  been  theretofore  usually  exercised,  until  His  Majesty's 
further  pleasure  should  be  known  in  the  premises,  any 
thing  in  my  former  Proclamation  to  the  contrary  notwith- 
standing :  And  whereas  I  am  now  informed  by  a  letter 
from  the  Right  Honourable  the  Earl  of  Dartmouth,  dated 
the  seventh  day  of  January  last,  "  that  His  Majesty,  on 
further  consideration,  hath  been  graciously  pleased  to  ap- 
prove of  the  arrangement  made  by  my  said  Proclamation 
of  the  fifteenth  of  September  last,  and  permit  me  to  recall 
that  of  the  second  of  November  last:"  I  have,  therefore, 
thought  proper,  by  the  advice  of  the  Council,  to  issue  this 
Proclamation,  to  make  known  the  premises  to  all  whom  it 
may  concern  hereby,  in  pursuance  of  His  Majesty's  plea- 
sure and  permission,  revoking  my  said  Proclamation  of  the 
second  of  November  last,  and  requiring  all  Officers  and 
others  within  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania  and  Counties 
of  New-  Castle,  Kent,  and  Sussex,  on  Delaware,  to  yield 
obedience  to,  and  in  all  things  observe,  the  orders  and  in- 
junctions in  my  said  Proclamation  of  the  fifteenth  of  Sep- 
tember  last  contained,  as  they  will  answer  the  contrary  at 
their  peril. 

Given  under  my  hand  and  the  great  seal  of  the  Province 
of  Pennsylvania  at  Philadelphia,  the  eighth  day  of  April, 
in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and 
seventy-five,  and  in  the  fifteenth  year  of  the  reign  of  our 
Sovereign  Lord  George  the  Third,  by  the  grace  of  God 
of  Great  Britain,  France,  and  Ireland  King,  Defender  of 
the  Faith,  and  so  forth.  John  Penn. 

By  his  Honour's  command  : 

Joseph  Shippen,  Jun.,  Secretary. 
God  save  the  King. 

The  Governour  at  the  same  time  communicated  to  the 
Board  a  Letter  he  had  just  received  from  Governour  Eden, 
which  follows  in  these  words,  viz : 

Annapolis,  March  25,  1775. 

Sir  :  I  have  taken  the  earliest  opportunity  to  acknow- 
ledge the  receipt  of  your  Honour's  favour  of  the  16th  in- 
stant, and  to  acquaint  you,  that  as  I  have  not  received  any 
notification  of  His  Majesty's  having  on  further  consideration 
been  pleased  to  approve  the  arrangement  made  by  your 
Proclamation  of  the  15th  September,  and  to  permit  you  to 
recall  that  of  the  2d  November  last,  I  cannot  think  myself 
justifiable  in  joining  with  your  Honour  to  issue  such  a  Pro- 
clamation ;  and  am  now,  with  the  advice  of  my  Council,  to 
request  that  you  will  suspend  the  issuing  of  the  same  until 
such  time  as  I  can  have  an  opportunity  of  hearing  from 
England,  in  hopes  of  preventing  any  disturbances  that 
may  probably  happen  between  the  inhabitants  of  the  two 
Provinces,  in  consequence  of  the  issuing  a  partial  Procla- 
mation. I  am,  with  great  respect,  your  Honour's  most 
obedient  and  most  humble  servant,        Robert  Eden. 

His  Honour  John  Penn,  Esquire. 

To  which  Letter  the  Governour,  by  the  advice  of  the 
Council,  wrote  the  following  answer  at  the  table,  viz: 

Philadelphia,  April  8,  1775. 

Sir:  I  have  the  favour  of  your  Excellency's  letter  of 
the  25th  March.  Considering  what  passed  between  us 
the  last  summer  on  the  subject,  I  rather  wished  than  ex- 
pected your  concurrence  in  a  Proclamation,  and  my  last 
letter  was  only  meant  to  give  you  notice  of  my  intention, 
because  I  would  choose  to  act  in  the  most  open  manner. 

If  any  dependance  is  to  be  had  on  my  information,  there 
is  no  probability  of  a  disturbance  between  the  people  of 
the  two  Provinces.  They  are  in  general  satisfied  that  the 
jurisdiction  of  this  Government  must  take  place,  and  there- 
fore wish  to  have  it  hastened  ;  nor  can  I  imagine  they  will 
give  an  opposition  to  a  measure  which  1  have  His  Majesty's 
permission  to  take ;  and  I  am  persuaded  such  an  opposition 
will  not  be  countenanced  by  the  Government  of  Maryland. 
I  therefore  flatter  myself  that  your  Excellency  will  not 
think  me  unreasonable  in  persisting  to  issue  a  Proclamation 
agreeable  to  the  King's  permission  and  the  advice  of  my 
Council.  I  am,  with  great  regard,  your  Excellency's  most 
obedient  and  humble  servant,  John  Penn. 

To  his  Excellency  Robert  Eden,  Esquire,  Governour  of 
Maryland. 


EXTRACT   OF   A   LETTER  FROM   DUTCHESS   COUNTY,  NEW- 
YORK,   DATED   APRIL  8,  1775. 

A  number  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Charlotte  Precinct,  in 
this  County,  met  yesterday,  having  notice  for  that  purpose, 
to  signify  their  sentiments  about  choosing  Deputies  to  meet 
other  Deputies  from  the  several  Counties,  to  appoint  Dele- 
gates for  the  ensuing  Congress.  It  was  agreed  that  the  mat- 
ter should  be  determined  by  vote ;  and  that  the  business 
might  be  conducted  with  fairness  and  justice,  Mr.  Enos 
Northrup  was  chosen  by  the  friends  of  constitutional  lib- 
erty, and  Cornelius  Humphrey,  Esquire,  by  the  advocates 
for  a  Congress,  to  preside  and  inspect  the  voting.  Two 
Clerks  were  also  appointed.  When  the  Poll  was  closed, 
the  number  of  those  who  were  against  Deputies  and  Dele- 
gates, and  on  the  side  of  the  Constitution,  was  -  -  140 
For  Deputies,      -    --    .-  -.----35 

Just  as  the  poll  was  closing,  a  number  of  Constitution- 
alists, about  one  hundred  and  ten,  made  their  appearance ; 
but  they  did  not  vote,  as  the  opposite  party  gave  up  the 
contest. 

Dutchess  County  consists  of  eleven  Districts,  and  only- 
four  of  them  have  voted  for  Deputies,  and  Richmond, 
Tryon,  Cumberland,  Charlotte,  and  Gloucester,  will  be 
unrepresented  in  our  Provincial  Convention. 


PROTEST  OF   THE   FREEHOLDERS   OF   SEVEN  PRECINCTS 
IN   DUTCHESS   COUNTY,  NEW-YORK. 

Mr.  Gaine  :  A  Dutchess  County  Freeholder  desires 
you  will  publish  the  following  Protest,  as  the  inhabitants  of 
the  seven  Precincts  first  mentioned  therein  have  been  in- 
formed that  Robert  R.  Livingston,  Jun.,  Egbert  Benson, 
and  Morris  Graham,  Esquires,  have  been  deputed  to  repre- 
sent the  County  of  Dutchess;  but  by  what  kind  of  law- 
casuistry  a  representation  of  the  County  is  made  by  three 
Deputies,  we  are  at  a  loss  to  guess,  unless  a  small  and  dis- 
appointed minority  can  be  supposed  to  represent  a  large 
and  respectable  majority.  If  any  of  the  minority  enter- 
tain the  least  doubt  that  the  Protest  does  not  express  the 
sense  of  the  Precincts  therein  mentioned,  formal  and  ample 
testimonies  of  its  authenticity  shall  be  sent  you : 

The  Inhabitants  of  the  seven  Precincts  of  BeeJcman's, 
Pawling's,  Southeast,  Fredericksburgh,  Philipse,  Char- 
lotte, and  Poughkeepsie,  in  the  County  of  Dutchess,  com- 
posing at  least  three-fourths  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  said 
County,  take  this  publick  method  of  protesting  against  the 
appointment  of  any  person  or  persons  that  may  be  deputed 
from  the  Precincts  of  America,  Northeast,  Rhynbeck,  and 
Rhumbout,  to  represent  the  said  County  as  Deputies  in  a 
Provincial  Congress,  intended,  as  they  are  informed,  to  be 
assembled  at  New-York,  on  the  20th  instant,  as  five  of  the 
Precincts  first  mentioned  are  almost  unanimously  opposed 
to  all  unconstitutional  representations  not  warranted  by  the 
laws  of  the  land,  a  very  great  majority  of  the  Precinct  of 
Charlotte,  and  a  majority  of  one  hundred  and  ten  to  sev- 
enty-seven, in  the  Precinct  of  Poughkeepsie.  The  seven 
Precincts  above  mentioned,  confide  solely  in  the  mode  of 
application  for  redress  of  grievances  adopted  by  their  loyal 
and  patriotick  Assembly,  whose  proceedings  on  this  head 
they  most  heartily  approve  of,  convinced  that  they  ought 
not,  they  will  not  adopt  any  other  mode  of  application, 
but  stand  ready,  at  all  times,  to  evince  their  loyalty  to  their 
gracious  Sovereign,  their  firm  attachment  to  the  Constitu- 
tion, and  their  steady  opposition  to  every  seditious  and  trea- 
sonable act  derogatory  to  either. 


New- York,  May  1,  1775. 
Mr.  Gaine  :  In  your  last  Paper  appeared  an  uncommon 
advertisement,  with  a  Protest  annexed,  as  was  said  from 
the  Freeholders  of  seven  Precincts,  which  were  said  to 
contain  three-fourths  of  the  inhabitants  of  Dutchess  Coun- 
ty. I  choose  to  make  no  reflections  on  the  author,  since  I 
would  not  wish  to  heighten  the  resentment  or  contempt  of 
the  County  in  which  he  lives  ;  but,  in  justice  to  the  County 
of  which  I  am  a  freeholder,  I  hereby  challenge  him  to  show 
that  that  Protest  was  ever  publickly  read,  or  approved  by 
any  one  of  the  Precincts  he  mentions,  before  it  was  pub- 
lished. I  likewise  deny,  and  call  upon  him  to  prove  that 
the  seven  Precincts,  in  whose  name,  (but  without  whose 
authority)  the  above  Protest  was  published,  contains  above 


305 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  APRIL,  1775. 


306 


half  of  the  freeholders  of  Dutchess  County,  after  deducting 
those  that  voted  for  Delegates  in  Poughkecpsie  and  Char- 
lotte Precincts,  although  lie  so  confidently  asserts  that  they 
contain  three-fourths.  But  that  the  publick  may  no  longer 
be  deceived  by  more  presentations  of  the  state  of  that 
County,  I  am  willing  to  put  it  upon  this  issue  :  the  County 
of  Dutchess  contains  eighteen  hundred  freeholders;  if  the 
author  of  the  Protest  will  publish  a  list  of  six  hundred 
freeholders  that  are  opposed  to  the  election  of  Delegates, 
or  will  sign  his  Protest,  I  undertake  to  show  double  the 
number  who  approve  of  their  appointment. 

A  Freeholder  of  Dutchess  County. 

N.  B.  No  person  will  be  considered  as  a  freeholder, 
whose  Precinct  is  not  annexed  to  his  name,  as  that  is  the 
only  way  to  guard  against  misrepresentations. 


New-York,  May  15,  1775. 
Mr.  Gaine  :  As  in  this  season  of  publick  distress,  every 
altercation  that  may  tend  to  promote  divisions  and  animosi- 
ties, ought  carefully  to  be  avoided  ;  and  as  a  coalition  of 
parties  in  the  County  of  Dutchess  will  probably  very  soon 
take  place,  and  a  proper  union  between  its  inhabitants  es- 
tablished, no  reply,  for  the  above  reasons,  will  be  sent  you 
in  answer  to  the  observations  in  one  of  your  last  Papers,  on 
the  Protest  from  that  County  ;  instead  of  which,  as  it  may 
be  somewhat  satisfactory,  you  may  assure  the  publick  that 
the  numerous  body  of  freeholders  and  inhabitants  who  have 
heretofore  been  averse  to  the  nomination  of  Committees, 
opposed  solely  from  a  virtuous  principle  of  promoting  there- 
by the  real  interests  of  their  Country.  They  conceived,  and 
had  good  reasons  to  believe,  that  as  the  mode  of  application 
for  redress  of  grievances  adopted  by  their  Assembly  was 
the  only  constitutional  one,  it  would  most  probably  be  at- 
tended with  the  desired  effect ;  and  that  no  motives  un- 
friendly to  the  liberties  of  their  Country  ever  influenced 
any  part  of  their  conduct,  when  opposed  to  Committees. 


COMMITTEE   OF   MONTREAL   TO  THE   COMMITTEE  OF 
SAFETY  OF  MASSACHUSETTS. 

Montreal,  April  8,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  We  have  received  your  letter  of  the  21st  of 
February,  by  Mr.  Brown,  and  see  clearly  the  great  injus- 
tice that  has  been  done  you.  We  deeply  feel  the  sorrow 
and  afflictions  of  our  suffering  brethren,  and  sincerely  wish 
it  was  in  our  power  to  afford  you  effectual  relief;  but  alas, 
we  are  more  the  objects  of  pity  and  compassion  than  your- 
selves, who  are  now  suffering  under  the  heavy  hand  of 
power,  deprived  as  we  are  of  the  common  rights  of  the 
miserable,  to  complain.  You  have  numbers,  strength,  and 
a  common  cause  to  support  you  in  your  opposition.  We 
are  still  more  divided  here  by  our  interests  than  by  our  re- 
ligion, language,  and  manners;  and  the  apprehensions  of 
evils  to  come  upon  us  in  a  short  time,  from  the  unlimited 
power  of  the  Governour,  strikes  all  opposition  dead.  In- 
deed few  in  this  Colony  dare  vent  their  griefs,  but  groan 
in  silence,  and  dream  of  lettres  de  cachet,  confiscations, 
and  imprisonment,  offering  up  their  fervent  prayers  to  the 
throne  of  grace  to  prosper  your  righteous  cause,  which 
alone  will  free  us  from  those  jealous  fears  and  apprehensions 
that  rob  us  of  our  peace.  In  a  word,  we  are  the  British 
inhabitants  of  this  widely  extended  Province,  united  in 
their  sentiments.  We  have  neither  numbers  nor  wealth 
sufficient  to  do  you  any  essential  service.  We  must,  there- 
fore, cast  ourselves  into  the  arms  of  our  sister  Colonies, 
relying  upon  the  wisdom,  vigour,  and  firmness  of  the  Gen- 
eral Continental  Congress  for  our  protection,  and  hoping 
they  will  entertain  no  animosity  or  resentment  against  us 
because  we  cannot  join  them  in  the  ensuing  General  Con- 
gress, which,  were  we  to  attempt,  the  Canadians  would 
join  the  Government  to  frustrate.  You  will  please  to  bear 
in  mind,  that  not  only  those  who  hold  the  helm  of  Govern- 
ment, but  also  all  those  who  make  wealth  or  ambition  the 
chief  object  of  their  pursuit,  are  professedly  your  enemies, 
and  would  be  glad  to  reduce  you  to  the  same  abject  state 
with  themselves.  Nevertheless,  the  bulk  of  the  people, 
both  English  and  Canadians,  are  of  quite  contrary  senti- 
ments, and  wish  well  to  your  cause,  but  dare  not  stir  a  finger 
to  help  you,  being  of  no  more  estimation  in  the  political 
machine  than  the  sailors  are  in  shaping  the  course,  or  work- 
Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii.  1 


ing  the  ship  in  which  they  sail.  They  may  mutter  and 
swear,  but  must  obey.  However,  should  Government 
handle  them  too  roughly,  and  arbitrarily  attempt  to  force 
them  upon  dangerous  and  disagreeable  service,  to  which 
they  have  already  shown  an  irreconcilable  aversion,  they 
may,  perhaps,  dearly  repent  it. 

The  case  is  rpiite  different  with  their  noblesse,  or  gentry. 
The  pre-eminence  given  to  their  religion,  together  with  a 
participation  of  honours  and  offices,  in  common  with  the 
English,  not  only  flatters  their  natural  pride  and  vanity, 
but  is  regarded  by  them  as  a  mark  of  distinction  and  merit, 
that  lays  open  their  way  to  fortune  ;  of  liberty  or  law,  they 
have  not  the  least  notion. 

As  to  the  savages  that  dwell' round  about  us,  doubtless 
there  are  some  to  be  found  among  them,  who,  for  the  sake 
of  plunder,  would  murder,  burn,  and  destroy  ;  but  we  con- 
ceive that  their  Chiefs  know  their  own  interests  better  than 
to  interfere  as  a  Nation  in  this  family  quarrel ;  for  let  which 
side  will  prevail,  they  are  sure,  in  that  case,  to  be  the  vic- 
tims. 

We  desire  to  know  whether  English  Delegates  would 
be  accepted  under  the  above-named  limitations,  namely  : 
without  entering  into  the  General  Association  for  the  non- 
importation of  goods  from  Great  Britain,  or  the  non-ex- 
portation of  the  produce  of  this  Colony,  and  the  India 
Countries  above  ;  and  beg  to  be  informed  in  what  manner 
we  can  be  serviceable  to  your  cause,  without  bringing  down 
ruin  upon  our  own  heads.  It  may  not  be  amiss  just  to 
hint  that  the  idea  the  Canadians  seem  to  have  of  this  Col- 
ony at  present,  is,  that  it  is  to  be  a  French  Government, 
holding  under  the  Crown  of  Great  Britain,  from  which 
they  mean  to  exclude  every  Englishman,  save  the  Gov- 
ernour and  Lieutenant  Governour. 

We  heartily  wish  our  abilities  to  serve  you  were  equal 
to  our  wills,  and  pray  Heaven  to  prosper  your  generous 
purpose  ;  and  are,  with  the  utmost  consideration  and  feeling 
for  your  distresses,  gentlemen,  your  most  obedient  and  very 
humble  servants  and  fellow-sufferers, 

Thos.  Walker,    James  Price, 
John  Wells,        Wm.  Haywood. 

P.  S.  It  is  our  earnest  request  that  this  letter  may  not 
be  published,  for  fear  of  bad  consequences  to  the  sub- 
scribers. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM   LONDON   TO  A  GENTLEMAN 
IN  NEW-YORK,  DATED 

London,  April  10,  1775. 

The  quality  at  the  court-end  despise  the  poor  and  indus- 
trious, and  are  obliged  now  to  inform  the  mob  that  their 
brethren  in  America  are  to  be  slaughtered  by  the  large 
Fleet  and  Army  now  ready  to  sail  against  them.  The  people 
are  kept  in  total  ignorance  of  publick  affairs,  and  the  wis- 
dom of  our  Senators  is  to  deceive  those  they  are  chose  to 
protect.  There  are  to  be  two  thousand  pounds  added  to 
the  King's  salary,  with  a  present,  to  pay  his  household  debts 
of  some  thousands.  When  the  budget  opens,  fine  work 
how  this  money  will  be  raised,  and  each  common  shop  pay 
ten  pounds,  or  fifteen  pounds  sterling  tax.  Every  thing  is 
taxed  but  the  publick  places  of  diversion  ;  and  they  are  so 
filled  with  people,  so  numerous,  and  cause  so  large  a  circu- 
lation of  cash,  that  they  are  the  only  blessing  the  people 
think  are  left  them  ;  for  they  make  the  rich  spend  their 
money,  and  the  sharpers  get  it.  All  this  is  the  wise  people 
who  are  to  have  the  collecting  of  your  taxes,  and  to  sup- 
port this  mode  are  the  mighty  preparations  of  war.  Oh,  God! 
who  beholds  the  inhabitants  of  the  earth,  and  hears  the  cries 
of  the  poor  ;  who  understands  judgment,  and  rules  in  right- 
eousness, look  on  America,  and  keep  the  land  from  being 
polluted  with  the  sins  of  the  Mother  Country.  Oh,  if  I 
dare  write  what  I  wish  you  all  to  do — what  you  can  do, 
and  what  Providence  seems  to  intend  you  shall  do ! 

If  you  submit,  all  will  be  forever  lost ;  a  curse  on  your 
names,  and  your  estates  confiscated  by  those  bills  of  attain- 
der that  are  ready  to  pass  against  you.  'Tis  impossible  to 
describe  the  ruin  that  is  studied  ;  the  load  of  taxes ;  the 
number  of  placemen  to  be  saddled  on  you.  The  land  is  to 
be  confiscated,  and  the  King  an  arbitrary  Monarch.  He 
is  determined  to  be  arbitrary,  and  consults  no  one  who  will 
not  encourage  his  universal  sway.  He  lives  retired  ;  only 
three  times  a  week  goes  to  the  publick  diversions,  pantheon, 


307 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  APRIL,  1775. 


308 


plays,  operas,  and  lias  given  fifteen  hundred  pounds  to  an 
Italian  singer.  The  young  Prince  is  to  go  to  housekeep- 
ing t his  spring,  and  (he  men  appointed  to  attend  his  levee 
are  of  such  a  complexion  as  forebodes  evil. 

Four  thousand  of  the  new  Army,  with  Colonel  Howe,  are 
to  hoist  the  fiai^  at  New-York,  and  stop  all  communication 
with  New-England.  If  the  Fleet  sails,  you  must  fight  or 
be  destroyed  ;  for  the  Ministry  are  determined  to  destroy 
your  trade,  to  ruin  the  growth  of  the  Colonies,  and  to  stop 
all  the  blessings  Heaven  has  given  you.  Get  ready  to  fight, 
for  nothing  can  save  you  but  the  power  of  the  Colonies 
and  their  own  strength,  and  to  America  will  England  owe 
their  liberty  or  he  ruined.  Several  gentlemen  called  on 
me,  and  desired  me  to  write  to  you  to  arm  immediately. 
Get  ready  to  receive  ten  thousand  men  and  four  hundred 
sail,  and  you  are  to  find  provisions  and  pay  them  yourselves. 
New  charters  are  ready  now  ;  for  your  money,  the  soldiers 
have  orders  to  fight ;  new  cannon,  guns,  powder,  and  ball,  for 
war  and  blood  !    The  cry  of  blood  is  gone  out  against  you. 

Your  fate  now  depends  on  the  brave  and  spirited  con- 
duct of  yourselves.  You  see  the  diabolical  plot  is  deep 
laid  against  you  ;  and  by  bribes  and  undue  influence,  has 
obtained  the  late  and  the  present  Acts  for  blocking  up  your 
Trade,  and  taking  those  unwarrantable  measures  against  the 
Colonies  and  the  sense  of  the  people. 

This  day  will  be  remembered  in  history;  for  John  Wilkes 
and  the  King  to  meet  on  such  a  solemn  occasion,  no  less 
than  the  lives  and  property  of  all  America  and  the  whole 
English  Nation.  Great  will  be  the  event  of  this  day. 
The  Lord  Mayor,  Aldermen,  Liverymen,  Recorder,  Re- 
membrancer, and  City  Officers,  all  went  in  procession.  A 
copy  of  the  King's  answer  is  to  be  sent  to  you.  This 
answer  will  rouse  up  the  blood  of  the  English,  and  all 
America  will  see  that  they  must  fight,  and  that  they  have 
no  hopes  left.  The  glory  of  old  England  is  no  more ! 
All  is  lost !  God  is  about  to  move  the  Kingdom  ;  and  soon, 
very  soon,  the  King  will  see  his  counsellors  have  deceived 
him,  and  the  people  of  England  will  not  bear  their  insults. 
The  Bank  and  the  Stocks  will  fail,  as  no  trade  is  carried  on 
with  spirit  until  the  spring;  and  now  all  begins  to  stop  ; 
all  things  are  in  an  uproar  ;  the  City  is  affronted ;  the  people 
insulted  ;  the  Island  of  Great  Britain  exposed  to  the 
French  and  the  Spaniards ;  no  remittances  from  the  mer- 
chants as  usual;  the  great  expense  to  keep  up  the  war, 
together  with  fighting  against  their  own  people,  (and  in  the 
most  unjust  cause  that  ever  disgraced  a  Kingdom.)  All 
men  of  sense  are  astonished  and  tremble.  England  has 
taken  her  last  legal  steps,  and  done  all  they  lawfully  can 
do,  and  now  depend  on  the  Americans  to  help  themselves, 
and  on  their  own  feelings  ;  that  the  Americans  will  act  like 
men  of  virtue  and  wisdom,  and  that  all  will  oppose  the 
greatest  tyrant  that  ever  yet  was  seen,  who  now  is  hardened 
Pharaoh  like. 

The  Quakers  in  England  have  petitioned  the  King 
themselves,  as  a  people,  and  now  attended  the  City  Peti- 
tion, all  in  one  voice  against  the  Ministry,  and  are  all  faith- 
ful to  the  people  in  America.  The  Quakers  are  the  most 
hearty  in  the  cause,  and  see  the  dreadful  consequences  of 
a  civil  war.  Our  forefathers  did  not  think  that  ever  a  King 
of  England,  would  break  his  oath,  and  murder  his  subjects 
in  cold  blood,  and  take  their  money,  or  rob  his  people, 
without  giving  them  any  opportunity  to  defend  themselves 
but  by  the  sword.  This  is  dreadful,  and  dreadfully  true. 
May  the  God  of  our  forefathers  direct  you  so  to  defend 
your  rights  and  property,  as  will  teach  us  to  depend  on  the 
justice  of  our  cause,  and  the  hearty  love  of  our  country,  in 
full  confidence  of  a  complete  victory.  This  is  the  hearty 
prayer  of  thousands. 

The  continual  inquiries  are,  how  will  the  Colonies  behave  ? 
Will  they  act  like  men  ?  Or  are  they  such  poltrons  as 
Lord  Sandwich  said  they  were  ?  In  his  speech  in  the 
House  of  Lords,  he  said  that  the  Americans  are  cowards; 
will  not  fight;  are  men  of  a  mean  spirit;  dastardly  pol- 
trons; all  noise  and  bully  ;  that  a  few  soldiers  would  soon 
make  them  submit.  But  God  forbid  that  my  worthy  friends 
in  America  should  add  disgrace  to  ruin,  and  make  the  cause 
of  God  and  man  of  no  effect.  The  Fleet  is  sailed  or  sail- 
ing. General  Gage  has  drawn  bills  on  the  Treasury, 
£2400,  for  secret  services,  to  pay  the  tools  of  Government 
in  all  the  different  Colonies.  Such  bad  policy  must  bring 
on  ruin.    Many  of  the  hungry  dependants  on  the  King 


have  asked  for  places  ;  and  you  will  not  only  have  taxes  to 
pay,  and  a  Standing  Army  set  over  you,  but  you  will  have 
all  those  vile  cattle  to  maintain.  You  will  have  all  your 
blessings  taken  away  if  you  submit.  But  if  you  stand  firmly 
out,  and  demand  your  rights,  and  are  determined  to  fight, 
the  Ministry  will  be  obliged  to  send  you  offers  of  peace, 
and  make  satisfaction  for  all  the  damage  you  have  already 
sustained,  and  be  glad  of  a  reconciliation,  for  England 
cannot  possibly  live  without  you.  The  silence  of  the  peo- 
ple was  occasioned  by  fear  of  the  Bank,  as  the  National 
debt  is  so  great ;  but  now,  the  Tobacco  and  Oil,  and  other 
revenues  from  America,  bring  to  England  two  millions. 
This  is  proved  from  the  Custom-House  books,  which  the 
Chamberlain  of  London  has  been  at  the  expense  and 
trouble  to  collect  and  lay  before  the  King.  Yet  his  heart 
is  hardened  like  iron,  and,  as  Pharaoh,  he  will  drive  his 
chariot  into  the  German  Sea,  not  without  a  host  of  his 
Nobles  to  attend  him. 


prince  george's  county  (Maryland)  committee. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Observation  for  Prince 
George's  County,  at  the  house  of  Richard  Carnes,  in  Pis- 
cataway,  on  Monday,  the  10th  day  of  April,  1775,  were 
present  thirteen  Members. 

By  a  letter  from  the  Committee  at  Baltimore,  of  the 
15th  ult.,  it  appears  that  a  Brig,  called  the  Sally,  William 
Moat  master,  from  Bristol,  having  four  thousand  bushels 
of  Salt  on  board,  imported  since  the  first  of  February  last, 
arrived  there  lately,  consigned  to  Doctor  John  Stephenson. 
That  part  of  the  said  Salt  was  put  on  board  three  or  four 
crafts,  supposed  to  be  intended  for  sale  in  the  different 
Rivers  in  this  Province,  and  that  one  Bailey,  in  a  Sloop, 
took  part  of  said  Salt.  And  it  appearing  to  this  Commit- 
tee, from  the  information  of  Messrs.  William  Lyles,  Jr., 
George  Fraser  Hawkins,  and  Hezekiah  Wheeler,  that 
they  had,  on  or  about  the  15th  of  March,  purchased  of  one 
Thomas  Bailey  a  parcel  of  fine  Salt,  since  suspected  to  be 
part  of  the  above,  the  aforesaid  Thomas  Bailey  appears, 
and  being  informed  of  the  above,  declares  his  concern  that 
he  should  have  been  unguardedly  led  into  a  step  that  he 
now  finds  to  have  been  wrong ;  and  that,  to  shew  the  sin- 
cerity of  such  declaration,  voluntarily  consents  and  requests 
that  the  Salt  sold  as  above  be  destroyed  ;  on  which  he  fully 
gives  up  all  claim  against  the  persons  to  whom  he  had  sold 
the  same,  and  requests  the  determination  of  the  Committee 
be  postponed,  as  he  can  furnish  evidence  from  Baltimore 
to  prove  his  innocence:  on  which  it  is  referred  to  this  day 
fortnight.  Mr.  Carries,  Mr.  Thomas  Dent,  Mr.  Richard 
Dent,  Mr.  Edward  Edelen,  and  Mr.  George  Diggs,  or 
any  two  of  them,  are  appointed  to  see  the  Salt  destroyed. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Observation,  for 
Prince  George's  County,  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Richard 
Carnes,  in  Piscataway,  on  Saturday,  the  27th  day  of  May, 
1775,  were  present  nineteen  Members. 

The  said  Thomas  Bailey  failing  to  appear,  according  to 
the  former  reference,  with  the  evidence  proposed  from  Bal- 
timore, the  Committee  proceeded  to  consider  the  charge 
against  him  ;  and  as  it  appeared  from  the  said  Bailey's  own 
declaration,  that  he  was  informed  at  Alexandria,  before  he 
landed  the  aforesaid  Salt,  that  the  ship  load  of  Salt  which 
arrived  at  Baltimore,  consigned  to  Doctor  John  Stephenson, 
was  declared  to  be  illegally  imported,  and  ordered  to  be 
destroyed, 

They  do  Resolve,  That  the  said  Thomas  Bailey  has  com- 
mitted a  wilful  violation  of  the  Continental  Association,  by 
selling  and  landing  Salt  imported  in  the  Sally,  Captain  Moat. 

The  Committee  being  informed  that  Mr.  John  Baynes, 
of  Piscataway,  had  killed  a  Lamb,  contrary  to  the  Resolve 
of  the  Provincial  Convention,  held  at  Annapolis  in  De- 
cember last,  Messrs.  Luke  Marbury  and  George  Diggs 
were  sent  to  inform  him  that  the  Committee  desired  his 
immediate  attendance.  Mr.  Baynes  appeared,  and  being 
informed  as  above,  acknowledged  that  he  had  killed  a  Lamb, 
and  conceived  that  he  had  not  thereby  violated  the  Conti- 
nental Association,  which  he  purposed  to  adhere  to,  and 
thought  it  superiour  to  the  Provincial  Convention,  which, 
he  conceived,  was  only  intended  to  carry  the  Resolves  of 
the  Continental  Congress  into  execution. 

Resolved,  That  the  said  Mr.  Baynes,  in  killing  the  said 


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CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  he,  APRIL,  1775. 


310 


Lamb,  has  violated  llie  Resolve  of  the  Provincial  Conven- 
tion; that  such  measures  may  be  of  mischievous  conse- 
quence, as  tending  to  create  a  disregard  to  publick  regula- 
tion, formed  for  preserving  the  liberties  of  America. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  of  these  proceedings  be  signed 
by  the  Chairman,  and  sent  to  be  published  in  the  Mary- 
land Gazette.    Signed  by  order  of  the  Committee  : 

Josias  Beall,  Chairman. 


ANNE  ARUNDEL  COUNTY  (MARYLAND)  COMMITTEE. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Observation  for 
Anne  Arundel  County,  held  at  Mr.  Isaac  McHard's,  the 
10th  of  April,  were  present  forty-three  Members. 

It  being  moved  that  a  Paper  printed  in  the  Publick 
Ledger  of  the  4th  of  last  January,  entitled,  "  Facts  rela- 
tive to  the  Riot  at  Annapolis  in  Maryland,"  be  read,  and 
the  motion  being  seconded,  the  Paper  aforesaid  was  read 
accordingly  by  the  Clerk : 

On  motion,  Resolved,  That  the  said  Paper  be  reprinted 
in  the  Maryland  Gazette. 

2.  Resolved  unanimously,  That  the  said  Paper  con- 
tains a  false,  scandalous,  and  malicious  narrative  of  facts 
invented  by  the  author,  or  so  disguised  and  misrepresented, 
that  when  they  border  upon  truth,  and  even  seem  to 
assume  its  semblance,  they  are  devoid  of  its  reality. 

3.  Resolved  unanimously,  That  the  Author  of  the  said 
Paper  has  designedly  injured,  against  the  conviction  of  his 
own  conscience,  the  characters  of  the  gentlemen  mentioned 
and  alluded  to  in  his  publication,  gentlemen  of  approved 
worth  ;  that  he  has  cast  unjust  and  invidious  aspersions  on 
a  great  number  of  very  respectable  inhabitants  of  this  and 
two  adjoining  Counties,  by  representing  them  as  a  lawless 
mob,  ignorant  of  their  interests,  or  too  lazy  to  be  at  the 
trouble  of  investioatinir  them. 

O  __ 

4.  Resolved  unanimously,  That  the  Author  has  mani- 
fested an  inveterate  enmity  to  the  liberties  of  this  Prov- 
ince in  particular,  and  of  British  America  in  general,  by 
insinuating  the  necessity  of  introducing  a  military  and  mer- 
cenary force  to  support  the  Civil  Government,  and  to  secure 
obedience  to  the  Laws  of  this  Colony :  that,  by  a  sugges- 
tion so  false  and  so  malicious,  he  has  inadvertently  disco- 
vered his  political  opinion,  that  these  Colonies  ought,  and 
his  secret  wish  that  they  may  be  forced  to  submit  to  the 
arbitrary  decrees  of  a  despotick  Ministry  and  a  servile 
Parliament.  Isaac  McHard,  Clerk  Committee. 

Facts  relative  to  the  Riot  at  Annapolis,  in  Maryland. 

Nothing  but  a  civil  war  at  home  can  be  so  pernicious 
and  detrimental  to  this  Nation,  as  a  contest  with  the  Colo- 
nies driven  to  too  great  a  length,  as  they  are  connected 
with  the  Mother  Country  by  every  social  tie  subsisting 
between  subjects  of  the  same  Empire  divided  by  so  great  a 
distance  ;  the  commerce  of  the  one,  and  the  defence  of  the 
other,  depending  in  a  great  measure  on  a  mutual  harmony 
and  good  understanding  with  each  other;  in  a  word,  they 
may  be  said  to  be  linked  together  by  the  strongest  inte- 
rests, those  of  protection  and  profit. 

This  being  the  case,  it  is  not  surprising  that  every  piece 
of  intelligence  on  a  subject  so  important  and  consequential 
to  the  community  at  large,  should  be  received  by  every 
individual  with  the  utmost  avidity  ;  for  it  is  next  to  impos- 
sible for  any  British  subject  to  be  so  neutral  or  disinterested 
in  a  matter  so  momentous  as  the  present  unhappy  situation 
of  our  affairs  on  the  Continent  of  America,  as  not  to  wish 
to  be  acquainted  with  the  proceedings  there,  however 
limited  and  confined  they  may  be  in  their  nature,  and  pri- 
vate in  their  consequences.  I  hope,  on  this  account,  the 
following  narration,  taken  from  the  best  and  most  authen- 
tick  authorities,  will  be  agreeable  to  the  publick,  as  from  it 
may  be  deduced  the  real  source  and  primary  causes  of  the 
riot  at  Annapolis  in  Maryland,  in  which  the  Brigantine, 
called  the  Peggy,  laden  with  Teas,  was  burnt;  but  I  ima- 
gine some  will  scarcely  believe  that  "  an  Officer  in  his 
Majesty's  Revenue"  was  the  principal  abetter  and  promo- 
ter of  the  riot,  though  this  was  actually  the  case. 

At  the  first  publick  meeting  at  Annapolis  on  American 
affairs,  after  the  passing  the  Boston  Port  Bill,  a  resolution 
was  proposed  and  zealously  supported  by  many  members 
at  the  meeting — "  That  the  gentlemen  of  the  Law  should 


decline  bringing  any  action  for  debts  clue  to  persons  in 
Great  Britain."  The  passing  so  dishonest  a  resolution, 
however  necessary  and  convenient  it  might  appear  to  some 
people  in  trade,  was  too  pregnant  with  injustice  to  meet 
with  general  approbation  ;  for  the  honest  and  thinking  tra- 
ders plainly  foresaw  that  this  measure,  calculated  only  to 
serve  the  private  purposes  and  views  of  a  few  individuals, 
would,  in  the  end,  greatly  prejudice  and  injure  the  general 
credit  of  the  Province,  and  prove  extremely  prejudicial  to 
its  commerce ;  therefore  a  strong  opposition  was  formed, 
and  a  spirited  protest  was  entered  against  the  resolution,  in 
both  of  which  Mr.  Stewart,  one  of  the  owners  of  the  Brig- 
antine, distinguished  himself,  and  bore  a  very  active  share 
therein. 

But  notwithstanding  that  the  opposition  of  the  protes- 
ters against  this  dishonest  and  illegal  resolution  seemed  to 
give  general  satisfaction,  and  met  with  almost  universal 
approbation,  as  appeared  by  that  measure  never  having 
again  been  proposed  to  be  adopted  at  any  of  the  future 
meetings;  nevertheless  Mr.  Stewart's  conduct  therein  pro- 
cured him  many  enemies  amongst  those  whose  interest  was 
injured;  and  it  afforded  matter  for  calumny  and  com- 
plaint to  many  of  the  neighbouring  Merchants,  who  did  not 
fail  to  embrace  the  first  opportunity  which  happened  by 
the  arrival  of  the  Brigantine  with  Teas  on  board,  of  gra- 
tifying their  spleen  and  malice,  and  satiating  their  diaboli- 
cal resentment  and  revenge,  by  endeavouring  the  ruin, 
perhaps  the  death  of  the  man  who  had  honestly  dared 
actively  to  oppose  these  dishonest  designs. 

By  the  Brigantine,  Messrs.  Williams,  the  gentlemen  to 
whom  the  Tea  was  consigned,  had  also  fortunately  received 
a  plentiful  supply  of  other  goods  from  London ;  this  gave 
umbrage  to  some  of  their  neighbours  who  had  been  disap- 
pointed of  the  goods  they  intended  to  lay  in  before  the 
Association  or  Non-Importation  Agreement,  which  was  then 
generally  expected,  and  which  has  actually  taken  place, 
should  operate  ;  amongst  these  there  was  one  house,  a 
branch  of  a  mercantile  one  in  London,  and  of  which  Mr. 
Davison,  Deputy  Collector  and  Deputy  Comptroller  is  a 
partner,  to  which  the  Messrs.  Williams  were  likely  to 
become  formidable  rivals  in  trade,  who  had  the  misfortune 
to  have  a  vessel,  on  board  of  which  the  goods  were  ship- 
ped, stranded  in  the  English  Channel.  Chagrined  at  their 
own  disappointment,  and  determined  that  Messrs.  Williams 
should  not  reap  the  benefit  of  this  seasonable  supply  by  the 
Peggy  Stewart,  resolved  also  to  wreak  their  vengeance 
on  Mr.  Stewart.  They  used  every  means  to  inflame  the 
populace,  not  only  to  prevent  the  landing  of  the  Tea,  but 
also  to  procure  its  destruction. 

In  this  dilemma,  Messrs.  Williams  adopted  the  only 
prudent  method  they  had  left  to  extricate  themselves  from 
the  impending  danger.  Aware  of  the  machinations  of  their 
enemies,  they  wisely  refused  to  enter  the  Teas,  or  pay  the 
duties,  imagining  that  thereby  the  people  would  be  satisfied, 
and  that  the  Teas  being  seized  for  non-payment  of  the  duties, 
the  Officers  of  the  Customs  would  in  that  case  be  obliged  to 
land  them,  even  at  the  risk  of  tarring  and  feathering. 

But  Mr.  Stewart,  as  an  owner  of  the  vessel,  anxious 
for  despatch,  in  order  that  she  might  proceed  to  another 
port,  too  precipitately,  as  appeared  by  the  issue,  settled 
the  matter  otherwise.  He  agreed  to  deposit  a  bill  of  ex- 
change at  the  Custom-House,  as  security  for  the  duty  of  the 
Teas,  which  was  the  very  point  his  enemies  wished  ;  for  by 
this  measure  he  laid  himself  open  to  the  most  virulent 
attacks  malice  could  invent  to  excite  the  populace  against 
him,  which  would  end  in  his  destruction. 

To  forward  their  malicious  and  infernal  designs,  the 
officer  of  the  revenue  before  mentioned,  although  the 
house  of  which  he  was  a  partner  had,  unmolested,  three 
months  before,  landed  Teas,  used  every  means  in  his  power, 
personally,  and  by  the  interest  of  his  partner,  who  is  under- 
taker of  the  publick  buildings,  and  by  the  means  and 
assistance  of  every  friend  and  dependant  they  had  in  the 
neighbourhood,  endeavoured  to  stir  up  the  populace  against 
Mr.  Stewart,  in  which  they  proved  but  too  successful;  for 
having  depicted  his  proceedings  as  a  crime  of  the  most 
atrocious  nature,  giving  out  "that  it  was  done  intentionally 
to  entail  slavery  and  heavy  taxes  on  the  Americans,  and  to 
strike  at  the  root  of,  and  tear  up  every  privilege  British  sub- 
jects possessed  on  the  Continent  of  America,"  the  minds  of 
the  people  were  so  inflamed,  that  they  threatened  death  to 


311 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  he,  APRIL,  1775. 


312 


Mr.  Stewart,  and  desolation  to  his  store  and  dwelling- 
bouse. 

Tlie  mob  of  Maryland,  like  the  common  people  of  all 
Countries,  are  ever  ready  to  receive  the  first  impressions  ; 
and  being  too  lazy  or  too  ignorant  to  inquire  or  examine 
into  causes  or  complaints,  they  are  ever  violent  in  their 
proceedings ;  and  when  a  notion  is  once  impressed  on 
them,  it  is  scarcely  to  be  effaced  by  reason.  Can  it  then 
be  surprising  that  the  Committee  who  met  to  inquire  into 
the  merits  of  the  affair  (inflamed  as  they  were  by  the 
incendiaries  who  set  them  on)  could  not  put  a  stop  to  their 
rage,  though  a  great  majority  of  the  Committee  were  of 
opinion  that  the  destruction  of  the  Tea,  and  a  publick 
acknowledgment  of  the  fault  from  the  parties,  was  a  suffi- 
cient atonement  for  the  trespass  ?  Is  it  surprising  that  this 
should  not  appease,  when  the  death  or  destruction  of  Mr. 
Stewart  only  could  have  satiated  their  vengeance  ? 

To  avert  so  great  a  calamity,  some  of  Mr.  Stewart's 
friends  proposed  "  that  the  Vessel  with  the  Tea  on  board, 
should  immediately  be  burnt,"  which  was  executed  almost 
as  soon  as  proposed,  and  the  happy  expedient  had  the 
desired  effect.  The  mischief  they  had  perpetrated,  and 
the  blaze  of  the  vessel  pleased  and  appeased  the  popu- 
lace, and  in  some  measure,  though  it  may  be  presumed 
not  to  the  extent  of  their  wishes,  gratified  the  malicious 
and  interested,  and  saved  Mr.  Stewart,  if  not  from  death 
and  destruction,  at  least  from  ruin,  tar,  and  feathers. 

This  disturbance  happened  in  the  absence  of  the  Gov- 
ernour,  who  was  then  on  his  passage  from  England;  but 
had  he  been  on  the  spot  it  could  not  have  been  prevented, 
for  the  civil  power  in  Annapolis,  though  the  capital  of 
Maryland  and  residence  of  the  Governour,  is  unable  to 
cope  with,  or  curb  the  fury  of  an  exasperated  people. 
There  are  no  military  in  the  Province.  Amekicanus. 


TO  THE  PUBLICK. 

Committee  of  Inspection  Chamber, 
Falmouth,  Mass.,  April  10,  1775. 

To  hold  a  man  up  as  an  object  of  general  detestation,  to 
deprive  him  of  the  benefits  that  result  from  society,  is  dis- 
agreeable, is  painful ;  but,  on  the  other  hand,  to  neglect  the 
interest  of  our  Country,  to  disappoint  the  just  expectations 
of  our  constituents,  is  dishonourable  and  base.  The  Com- 
mittee of  Inspection  for  the  Town  of  Falmouth,  therefore, 
come  forward,  to  discharge  the  duty  they  owe  the  publick, 
and  the  trust  reposed  in  them  by  their  fellow-citizens. 

On  Thursday,  the  2d  ult.,  the  Sloop  John  and  Mary, 
Henry  Hughes,  master,  arrived  here  from  Bristol,  sup- 
posed to  have  goods  on  board  for  Captain  Thomas  Coul- 
son,  of  this  place ;  and  as  the  late  Continental  Congress 
had,  by  their  Association,  prohibited  the  importation  of  any 
goods  from  Great  Britain  after  the  first  day  of  February 
last,  this  Committee,  chosen  by  the  said  Town  of  Fal- 
mouth to  observe  the  conduct  of  all  persons  in  said  Town 
touching  said  Association,  immediately  convened,  and  after 
employing  some  persons  to  see  that  nothing  was  taken  out 
of  said  Sloop  during  their  debates,  they  proceeded  to  con- 
sider the  circumstances  of  the  case  ;  and  being  informed  by 
Captain  Coulson  that  said  vessel  had  on  board  sundry  Rig- 
ging, Sails,  and  Stores,  sent  him  by  Mr.  Garnet,  Merchant 
in  Bristol,  for  a  new  Ship  lately  built  here  by  said  Coidson 
for  said  Garnet,  the  said  Committee,  after  a  full  and  seri- 
ous consideration  of  the  matter,  gave  it  as  their  opinion, 
that  his  taking  said  Rigging  and  Sails  out  of  the  vessel  in 
which  they  arrived,  and  appropriating  them  to  rig  his  new 
Ship,  in  order  to  send  her  to  England,  would  be  a  violation 
of  the  Continental  Association,  and  therefore  that  the  said 
Rigging,  Sails,  and  Stores,  ought  forthwith  to  be  sent  back 
again,  without  breaking  any  of  the  packages  thereof. 

Of  this  opinion  the  said  Coulson  had  due  notice,  but  not 
making  any  preparations  to  comply  therewith,  the  said 
Committee  again  convened  on  Tuesday  following,  viz :  the 
7th  ult.  Captain  Coulson  then  attended,  agreeable  to  the 
desire  of  this  Committee,  and  being  asked  why  he  had  not 
sent  away  the  goods,  agreeable  to  the  opinion  of  this  Com- 
mittee, founded  on  the  aforesaid  Association,  he  said,  be- 
cause it  was  not  for  his  interest;  and  further  said  that  the 
vessel  wanted  repairs,  and  therefore  was  unfit  to  go  to  sea, 
and  that  he  did  not  choose  to  procure  another,  or  to  send 
back  the  said  Rigging  and  Sails,  otherwise  than  by  rigging 


his  said  new  Ship  with  them,  and  thus  to  send  them  back 
in  the  said  new  Ship  ;  but  that  he  would  consent  to  have 
them  stored  at  the  Committee's  risk  until  the  vessel  was 
repaired,  and  that  then  he  would  re-ship  them,  and  send 
them  out  of  the  harbour.  But  being  asked  whether  he 
would  send  them  back  to  Bristol,  he  declined  giving  the 
Committee  any  assurance  that  he  would,  though  he  was 
willing  to  send  back  the  two  hogsheads  of  Lines,  which 
came  in  said  vessel. 

This  Committee  then  sent  for  a  Committee  of  Carpen- 
ters, Riggers,  and  Caulkers,  who  had  been  on  board  to  view 
her,  at  the  request  of  a  number  of  the  inhabitants  of  this 
Town,  and  they  informed  us  that  the  vessel  wanted  some 
repairs,  but  that,  in  their  opinion,  she  might  be  repaired, 
fit  to  return,  in  about  two  days,  without  taking  out  the 
goods.  Upon  which  the  Committee  passed  the  following 
Resolve,  and  sent  a  copy  of  it  to  Captain  Coulson,  viz  : 

"  That  seven  days  be  allowed  said  Coulson,  from  this 
time,  to  repair  said  vessel,  and  to  make  the  necessary  pre- 
parations for  sending  her  back;  and  if  he  does  not,  at  the 
end  of  that  term,  (wind  and  weather  permitting,)  send  said 
vessel  out  of  this  harbour  to  proceed  to  Bristol,  this  Com- 
mittee will  forthwith  cause  the  truth  of  the  case  to  be  pub- 
lished, agreeable  to  the  Continental  Association." 

At  the  expiration  of  said  term,  viz  :  on  the  evening  of  the 
14th  ult.,  the  Committee  met  again,  and  although  a  depo- 
sition, signed  by  several  persons,  some  of  whom  were 
merchants,  masters  of  vessels,  and  ship-carpenters,  was 
then  handed  in  to  this  Committee,  purporting  that  said 
vessel  was  unfit  to  go  to  sea  until  the  goods  were  taken  out, 
and  she  thoroughly  repaired,  yet  it  appeared  that  Captain 
Coulson  had  not  taken  due  care  to  get  said  Sloop  repaired, 
nor  had  endeavoured  to  procure  another,  in  which  to  re- 
ship  the  goods  to  Bristol,  and  would  give  the  Committee 
no  assurance  that  he  would  send  them  back,  in  any  other 
manner  than  he  at  first  proposed.  The  Committee  then 
adjourned  to  the  15th  ult.,  and  then  passed  the  following 
Vote,  viz : 

"  That  if  Captain  Coulson  will  re-ship  the  aforesaid 
goods  in  some  other  vessel,  and  send  them  back  immedi- 
ately, without  breaking  any  of  the  packages,  it  will  be 
satisfactory  to  this  Committee." 

To  this  Captain  Coulson  (who  was  again  desired  to  at- 
tend, to  hear  the  Committee's  determination)  would  not 
consent,  though  one  of  this  Committee  offered  him  a  ves- 
sel gratis,  to  carry  them  to  Halifax  or  Newfoundland. 

We,  the  said  Committee  of  Inspection,  do  therefore, 
agreeable  to  the  directions  of  the  said  Continental  Con- 
gress, as  expressed  in  the  said  Eleventh  Article  of  their 
Association,  hereby  publish  the  name  of  the  said  Thomas 
Coulson,  as  a  violator  of  the  Continental  Association. 
By  order  of  the  Committee  : 

Enoch  Freeman,  Chairman. 

Committee  of  Inspection  Chamber,  > 
Falmouth,  March  2,  1775.  \ 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Inspection,  at  the 
Library  Chamber,  to  determine  what  ought  to  be  done 
with  respect  to  a  vessel  that  arrived  here  this  day  from 
Bristol,  supposed  to  have  goods  and  merchandise  for  Cap- 
tain, Thomas  Coulson  on  board  : 

Voted,  That  Mr.  Benjamin  Mussey,  Captain  Joseph 
McLcllan,  and  Mr.  Benjamin  Titcomb,  be  a  Committee 
to  employ  some  persons  to  see  that  no  goods  are  landed 
from  said  vessel  during  the  debates  of  the  Committee  of 
Inspection,  and  to  desire  that  Captain  Coulson  and  the 
Master  of  said  vessel  would  attend  this  Committee. 

Captain  Coulson  and  the  Master  accordingly  attended  ; 
and  being  asked  if  said  vessel  came  from  Bristol,  and  what 
she  had  on  board,  answered  that  she  did  come  from  Bris- 
tol, and  had  on  board  Rigging,  Sails,  and  Stores  for  a  new 
Ship  lately  built  here  by  Captain  Coulson. 

Votedy  That  Captain  Joseph  McLellan,  Mr.  Jedidiah 
Cobb,  Mr.  Benjamin  Mussey,  and  Mr.  Samuel  Freeman 
be  a  Committee  to  go  on  board  said  vessel,  or  employ  some 
other  persons  to  go  on  board  her,  to  see  whether  she  has  on 
board  any  goods  other  than  the  Rigging,  Sails,  and  Stores 
for  said  new  Ship. 

The  meeting  was  then  adjourned  to  eight  o'clock  to- 
morrow morning,  to  meet  at  the  Library  Chamber,  and 


313 


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314 


that  in  the  mean  time  the  absent  members  be  desired  to 
attend.  — 

Falmouth,  March  3,  1775. 

The  Committee  of  Inspection  met,  pursuant  to  adjourn- 
ment. Present:  Enoch  Freeman,  Esquire,  Messrs.  Daniel 
llsley,  Benjamin  Titcomb,  Enoch  Ilsley,  John  fVaite,  Ste- 
phen Waite,  Benjamin  Mussey,  William  Owen,  Samuel 
Knights,  Jedidiah  Cobb,  John  Butler,  Jabez  Jones,  Smith 
Cobb,  Pelctiah  March,  Pearson  Jones,  Joseph  Aoye*, 
Samuel  Freeman,  Joseph  McLellan,  Theophilus  Parsons. 

The  question  being  put,  whether  Captain  CoulsoiCs 
taking  said  Rigging  and  Sails  out  of  the  vessel  in  which 
they  arrived,  and  his  appropriating  them  to  rig  his  new 
Ship,  in  order  to  send  her  to  England,  will  be  a  violation 
of  the  American  Association  : 

After  a  long  and  serious  debate,  it  was 

Resolved  in  the  affirmative,  by  a  majority  of  fourteen  to 
five. 

Voted,  therefore,  That  said  Rigging,  Sails,  and  Stores 
for  said  new  Ship,  ought  forthwith  to  be  sent  back  again, 
without  breaking  any  of  the  packages  thereof,  by  a  majori- 
ty of  fourteen  to  five. 

Voted,  nemine  contradicente,  That  all  other  goods  and 
merchandise  that  were  imported  in  said  vessel  ought  also 
forthwith  to  be  sent  back  again  without  breaking  any  of  the 
packages  thereof. 

Voted,  That  Messrs.  Enoch  llsley,  John  fVaite,  and 
Daniel  llsley  be  a  Committee,  immediately  to  inform  Cap- 
tain Coulson  of  the  result  of  this  Committee,  and  that  they 
are  now  sitting,  if  he  is  desirous  to  attend  them. 

Captain  Coulson  attended,  and  informed  the  Committee 
the  vessel  in  which  his  Rigging  and  Sails  arrived  was  so 
out  of  repair,  that  she  was  unfit  to  return  back  again  until 
site  was  repaired,  and  that  in  order  to  repair  her  the  freight 
must  be  taken  out. 

The  meeting  was  then  adjourned  to  three  o'clock,  P.  M., 
to  meet  at  the  same  place. 

Three  o'clock,  P.  H. 

The  Committee  met,  pursuant  to  adjournment. 

Voted,  That  the  Sub-Committees  chosen  by  the  first 
and  second  votes  of  yesterday,  be  discharged  from  any  fur- 
ther service  as  Sub-Committees. 

Voted,  That  this  Committee  will  exert  their  utmost  en- 
deavours to  prevent  all  the  inhabitants  of  this  Town  from 
engaging  in  any  riots,  tumults,  and  insurrections,  or  attacks 
on  the  private  property  of  any  person,  as  pernicious  to  the 
real  interest  thereof,  as  well  as  injurious  to  the  liberty  of 
America  in  general,  and  that  they  will,  as  far  as  lies  in  their 
power,  promote  peace  and  good  order,  as  absolutely  neces- 
sary to  the  existence  of  society. 

Ordered,  That  the  result  of  this  Committee,  together 
with  the  foregoing  vote  last  passed,  be  posted  up  in  some 
publick  place  in  the  Town,  signed  by  the  Chairman. 

Attest :  Theophilus  Parsons,  Clerk. 


London,  April  11,  1775. 
Assistance  to  the  Americans  is  rising  from  a  new  quar- 
ter. The  following  information  may  be  depended  upon  : 
a  Ship  sailed  from  Stettin  last  month,  loaded  with  Small 
Fire-Arms,  Gunpowder,  Ball,  and  Accoutrements,  thirty 
Field-pieces  of  a  light  construction,  and  eight  General  Of- 
ficers, who  have  served  long  in  Germany ;  three  of  them 
are  Messrs.  Robeveils,  Larafont,  and  Gurgenstein.  The 
arms  and  ammunition  are  actually  paid  for  by  an  Ameri- 
can agent  at  Berlin,  who  went  thither  from  Paris ;  but 
what  the  footing  is  upon  which  the  Officers  go,  is  only  con- 
jectured. They  are  Lutherans,  and  certainly  do  not  go 
upon  mere  hope  of  preferment.  This  must  be  a  scheme 
of  the  Prussian  Monarch's  for  disconcerting  the  Court  of 
London,  with  whom  he  is  upon  the  worst  terms. 


New-York,  April  14,  1775. 
By  accounts  from  Staten  Island,  we  learn  that  the  in- 
habitants of  that  place  assembled  on  the  11th  instant,  in 
order  to  take  the  sense  of  the  County  upon  the  question, 
Whether  they  would  nominate  Deputies  to  concert  with 
other  Deputies  in  New-York,  about  the  choice  of  Dele- 
gates for  the  ensuing  Congress  ?  When  it  was  almost  una- 
nimously agreed  against  sending  Deputies. 


MEETING   OF   FREEHOLDERS    OF    WESTCHESTER  COUNTY, 
NEW-YORK. 

White-Plains,  in  the  County  of  Westchester,  April  11,  1775. 

On  the  28th  of  March  last,  the  following  gentlemen 
having  received  letters  from  the  Chairman  of  the  Commit- 
tee of  the  City  and  County  of  New-York,  relative  to  the 
appointment  of  Deputies  for  this  County,  met  at  this  place 
for  the  purpose  of  devising  means  for  taking  the  sense  of  the 
County  upon  the  subject,  viz:  Theodosius  Bartow,  Esq., 
William  Sutton,  Esq.,  Captain  Joseph  Drake,  James  Wil- 
lis, Benjamin  Drake,  Moses  Drake,  Colonel  Lewis  Mor- 
ris, Thomas  Hunt,  Abraham  Leggtt,  James  Horton,  Jun., 
Esq  ,  Stephen  Ward,  and  Abraham  Guion,  Esq.,  who, 
having  taken  the  same  into  consideration,  agreed  to  send 
the  following  notification  to  the  principal  freeholders  in  the 
different  Towns  and  Districts  in  the  County,  viz: 

March  28,  1775. 

Sir:  A  number  of  gentlemen  from  different  Districts  in 
the  County  of  Westchester,  having  this  day  met  at  the 
White-Plains,  to  consider  of  the  most  proper  method  of 
taking  the  sense  of  the  freeholders  of  the  said  County  upon 
the  expediency  of  choosing  Deputies  to  meet  the  Deputies 
of  the  other  Counties,  for  the  purpose  of  electing  Delegates 
to  represent  this  Colony  in  the  General  Congress  to  be  held 
at  Philadelphia,  on  the  10th  day  of  May  next,  are  of  opinion 
that  the  best  way  of  proceeding  for  that  purpose  will  be  to 
have  a  general  meeting  of  the  freeholders  of  said  Countv. 
As  this  County  is  very  extensive,  we  take  the  liberty  of 
recommending  the  meeting  to  be  held  at  the  While-Plains, 
on  Tuesday  the  11th  day  of  April  next,  at  10  o'clock  in 
the  forenoon,  at  the  Court-House,  and  therefore  do  desire 
you  to  give  notice  of  the  same  to  all  the  freeholders  in 
your  District,  without  exception,  as  those  who  do  not  ap- 
pear and  vote  on  that  day,  will  be  presumed  to  acquiesce 
in  the  sentimenls  of  the  majority  of  those  who  vote. 

We  are,  Sic,  &ic. 

The  above  notice  having  been  generally  given  and  dis- 
tributed, a  very  numerous  body  of  freeholders  of  the  County 
assembled  at  the  Court  House  at  the  White-Plains,  on 
the  day  appointed,  and  chose  Colonel  Leicis  Morris  for 
their  Chairman.  An  inconsiderable  number  of  persons, 
(among  whom  were  many  tenants  not  entitled  to  vote)  with 
Isaac  Wlkins,  Esq.  and  Colonel  Phillips  at  their  head, 
then  appeared  ;  and  Mr.  Wilkins,  in  their  behalf,  (as  he 
said,)  declared  that  they  would  not  join  in  the  business  of 
the  day,  or  have  any  thing  to  do  with  Deputies  or  Con- 
gresses ;  but  that  they  came  there  for  the  sole  purpose  of 
protesting  against  such  illegal  and  unconstitutional  proceed- 
ings ;  after  which  they  departed. 

The  following  question  was  then  put  to  the  people  by 
the  Chairman,  viz  :  Whether  they  would  appoint  Deputies 
for  this  County,  to  meet  the  Deputies  of  the  other  Coun- 
ties at  the  City  of  New-  York,  on  the  20th  of  April  in- 
stant, for  the  purpose  of  electing  Delegates  to  represent 
this  Colony  in  the  General  Congress,  to  be  held  at  Phila- 
delphia on  the  10th  day  of  May  next  ? 

To  which  question  they  unanimously  answered  that  they 
would. 

They  then  appointed  the  following  eight  persons,  or 
a  majority  of  them,  to  be  the  Deputies  of  this  County, 
for  the  purpose  aforesaid,  viz:  Colonel  Lewis  Morris,  Ste- 
phen Ward,  Daniel  Drake,  Esq.,  Colonel  James  Holmes, 
John  Thomas,  Jun.  Esq.,  Jonathan  Piatt,  Esq.,  Robert 
Graham,  Major  Philip  Van  Cortlandt. 

The  two  following  Resolves  were  then  unanimously  en- 
tered into,  viz : 

Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  this  body  be  given  to  the 
virtuous  minority  of  the  General  Assembly  of  this  Prov- 
ince, and  particularly  to  John  Thomas  and  Pierre  Van 
Cortlandt,  Esquires,  two  of  our  Representatives,  for  their 
firm  attachment  to,  and  zeal  on  a  late  occasion,  for  the 
preservation  of  the  union  of  the  Colonies,  and  rights  and 
liberties  of  America;  and  that  this  Resolve  be  communi- 
cated by  the  Chairman  to  every  gentleman  of  whom  that 
minority  consisted. 

Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  this  County  are  due  to 
the  Delegates  who  composed  the  late  Congress,  for  the 
essential  services  they  have  rendered  to  America  in  gen- 
eral ;  and  that  this  Resolve  be  forthwith  published. 


315 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &ic,  APRIL,  1775. 


816 


After  the  business  of  the  day  was  thus  concluded,  the 
people  gave  three  huzzas  for  our  gracious  Sovereign,  and 
dispersed  quietly  without  the  least  disorder. 

Lewis  Morris,  Chairman. 


MEETING    OF  COMMITTEES   FOR  THE  NEW-HAMPSHIRE 
GRANTS. 

At  a  meeting  of  Committees  appointed  by  a  large  body 
of  Inhabitants  on  the  east  side  of  the  range  of  Green 
Mountains,  held  at  Westminster,  on  the  11th  day  of  April, 
1775: 

1.  Voted,  That  Major  Abijah  Lovcjoy  be  the  Modera- 
tor of  this  meeting. 

2.  Voted,  That  Doctor  Reuben  Jones  be  the  Clerk. 

3.  Voted,  as  our  opinion,  That  our  inhabitants  are  in 
great  danger  of  having  their  property  unjustly,  cruelly,  and 
unconstitutionally  taken  from  them  by  the  arbitrary  and 
designing  administration  of  the  Government  of  New-  York, 
sundry  instances  having  already  taken  place. 

4.  Voted,  as  our  opinion,  That  the  lives  of  those  inhab- 
itants are  in  the  utmost  hazzard  and  imminent  danger,  un- 
der the  present  administration — witness  the  malicious  and 
horrid  massacre  of  the  night  of  the  13th  ultimo. 

5.  Voted,  as  our  opinion,  That  it  is  the  duty  of  said  in- 
habitants, as  predicated  on  the  eternal  and  immutable  law 
of  self-preservation,  to  wholly  renounce  and  resist  the  ad- 
ministration of  the  Government  of  Neiv-York,  till  such 
time  as  the  lives  and  property  of  those  inhabitants  may  be 
secured  by  it ;  or  till  such  time  as  they  can  have  opportu- 
nity to  lay  their  grievances  before  his  most  gracious  Ma- 
jesty in  Council,  together  with  a  proper  remonstrance 
against  the  unjustifiable  conduct  of  that  Government,  with 
an  humble  petition  to  be  taken  out  of  so  oppressive  a  ju- 
risdiction, and  either  annexed  to  some  other  Government, 
or  erected  and  incorporated  into  a  new  one,  as  may  appear 
best  to  the  said  inhabitants,  to  the  royal  wisdom  and  cle- 
mency,  and  till  such  time  as  His  Majesty  shall  settle  this  con- 
troversy. 

6.  Voted,  That  Colonel  John  Hazcltine,  Charles 
Phelps,  Esq.,  and  Colonel  Ethan  Allen,  be  a  Committee 
to  prepare  such  remonstrance  and  petition  for  the  purpose 
aforesaid. 


Speech  delivered  by  Captain  Solomon  Uhhaunauwaun- 
mut,  the  Chief  Sachem  of  the  Moheakumnuk  Tribe  of 
Indians  residing  in  Stockbridge,  on  the  J  ]  th  day  of 
April,  1775,  af  ter  sitting  near  two  days  in  Council,  it 
being  an  Answer  to  a  Message  sent  to  them  by  the  Con- 
gress. 

To  the  Honourable  John  Hancock,  Esq.,  President  of 
the  Provincial  Congress,  now  sitting  at  Concord — To  be 
communicated. 

Brothers  :  We  have  heard  you  speak  by  your  Letter  ; 
we  thank  you  for  it ;  we  now  make  answer. 

Brothers:  You  remember  when  you  first  came  over  the 
great  waters,  I  was  great  and  you  was  little — very  small. 
I  then  took  you  in  for  a  friend,  and  kept  you  under  my 
arms,  so  that  no  one  might  injure  you  ;  since  that  time  we 
have  ever  been  true  friends ;  there  never  has  been  any 
quarrel  between  us.  But  now  our  conditions  are  changed  ; 
you  are  become  great  and  tall ;  you  reach  up  to  the  clouds  ; 
you  are  seen  all  round  the  world  ;  and  I  am  become  small, 
very  little;  I  am  not  so  high  as  your  heel.  Now  you  take 
care  of  me,  and  I  look  to  you  for  protection. 

Brothers:  I  am  sorry  to  hear  of  this  great  quarrel  be- 
tween you  and  Old  England.  It  appears  that  blood  must 
soon  be  shed  to  end  this  quarrel.  We  never  till  this  day 
understood  the  foundation  of  this  quarrel  between  you  and 
the  Country  you  came  from. 

Brothers:  Whenever  I  see  your  blood  running,  you  will 
soon  find  me  about  you  to  revenge  my  brothers'  blood. 
Although  I  am  low  and  very  small,  1  will  gripe  hold  of 
your  enemy's  heel,  that  he  cannot  run  so  fast  and  so  light, 
as  if  he  had  nothing  at  his  heels. 

Brothers  :  You  know  I  am  not  so  wise  as  you  are,  there- 
fore I  ask  your  advice  in  what  I  am  now  agoing  to  say.  I  am 
thinking  before  you  come  to  action,  to  take  a  run  to  the 
Westward,  and  feel  the  minds  of  my  Indian  brothers,  the 


Six  Nations,  and  know  how  they  stand,  whether  they  are 
on  your  side,  or  for  your  enemies.  If  1  find  they  are 
against  you,  I  will  try  to  turn  their  minds.  I  think  they 
will  listen  to  me ;  for  they  have  always  looked  this  way 
for  advice  concerning  all  important  news  that  comes  from 
the  rising  of  the  sun.  If  they  hearken  to  me  you  will  not 
be  afraid  of  any  danger  from  behind  you.  However  their 
minds  are  affected,  you  shall  soon  know  by  me.  Now  I 
think  1  can  do  you  more  service  in  this  way,  than  by  march- 
ing off  immediately  to  Boston,  and  stay  there  (it  may  be) 
a  great  while  before  blood  runs.  Now,  as  I  said  you  are 
wiser  than  I,  I  leave  this  for  your  consideration,  whether  I 
come  down  immediately,  or  wait  till  I  hear  some  blood  is 
spilled. 

Brothers:  I  would  not  have  you  think  by  this  that  we 
are  falling  back  from  our  engagements ;  we  are  ready  to 
do  any  thing  for  your  relief,  and  shall  be  guided  by  your 

counsel. 

Brothers:  One  thing  I  ask  of  you  if  you  send  forme  to 
fight,  that  you  will  let  me  fight  in  my  own  Indian  way.  I 
am  not  used  to  fight  English  fashion,  therefore  you  must 
not  expect  I  can  train  like  your  men.  Only  to  point  out 
to  me  where  your  enemies  keep,  and  that  is  all  I  shall  want 
to  know. 


TO  THE  KING. 

London,  April  12,  1775. 

Sire  :  When  the  complaints  and  petitions  of  injured 
subjects  are  treated  with  insolence  by  a  profligate  Parlia- 
ment, and  with  mockery  by  an  imperious  Minister,  it  is 
high  time  for  them  to  assume  a  different  tone.  Your  Ma- 
jesty must  be  a  great  proficient  in  Courtly  accomplishments 
to  profess  astonishment  at  what  you  could  not  but  know 
full  well,  from  the  protesting  majority  of  the  independent 
Peers,  from  a  hundred  loud  and  honest  voices  (marvellous 
as  that  may  seem)  among  your  own  faithful  Commons, 
besides  the  many  other  Petitions  from  the  commercial  and 
manufacturing  parts  of  the  Kingdom,  who  had  long  before 
avowed  their  approbation  of  American  resistance,  and  their 
utter  abhorrence  of  the  arbitrary  and  violent  measures  of 
Administration,  against  what  your  Majesty  calls  a  rebellious 
disposition  only,  which  barely  exists  in  a  part  of  your  Colo- 
nies. Had  an  actual  rebellion  not  only  existed,  but  raged 
all  over  America,  your  Ministers  could  hardly  have  spared 
more  forces  from  the  National  defence  than  are  now  em- 
barked to  correct  a  bad  disposition.  If  your  Majesty  is 
thus  severe  on  ill  humours  and  dispositions,  which  so  much 
pains  have  been  taken  to  excite  and  inflame,  what  thunder- 
bolts of  your  royal  vengeance  will  be  hurled  upon  actual 
traitors,  when  you  shall  discover  them — nearer  home  ? 

Your  Majesty's  "  entire  confidence  in  the  wisdom  of 
your  Parliament"  cannot  but  be  well  founded,  considering 
from  whom  they  have  learned  and  adopted  their  principles 
and  resolutions,  and  thus  qualified  themselves  for  the 
"  great  Council  of  the  Nation." 

Surely  your  Majesty  does  not  suppose  your  good  sub- 
jects so  dull  of  apprehension,  as  to  believe  that  your  Ame- 
rican measures  were  originally  planned  and  recommended 
to  your  Ministers  by  Parliament.  They  are  convinced 
that  the  majority  of  Parliament  are  too  modest,  and  know 
themselves  too  well,  to  give  advice  to  Government.  They 
know  that  these  measures  were  dictated  to  Parliament  by 
the  Minister,  (who  is  also  dictated  to  by  some  body  else,) 
and  for  no  other  purpose  but  to  gain  a  Parliamentary  sanc- 
tion to  indemnify  the  Crown  and  its  servants  from  the  con- 
sequences of  such  violent  and  unconstitutional  proceedings. 
Therefore,  the  compliment  paid  to  Parliament  on  this  oc- 
casion is  but  little  better  founded,  or  more  sincere,  than  that 
made  to  Great  Britain  in  the  next  sentence,  when  your 
Majesty  declares,  that  "you  will  steadily  pursue  these 
measures  for  the  support  of  her  constitutional  rights  and 
commercial  interests."  Your  Majesty,  in  your  great  wis- 
dom, or  rather  in  the  wisdom  of  your  Parliament,  is  pleased 
to  take  measures  a  little  extraordinary  on  this  great  occa- 
sion ;  which,  although  very  expressive  of  the  violence  of 
your  attachment  to  our  rights  and  interests,  it  is  feared, 
like  the  fostering  of  too  fond  a  parent,  may  overlay  them 
both.  The  mode  graciously  adopted  to  protect  our  Com- 
merce, by  starving  or  cutting  the  throats  of  our  Colonists, 


317 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  kc,  APRIL,  1775. 


318 


it  is  feared  will  neither  increase  their  population,  nor  the 
Trade  or  Revenue  of  Britain. 

Your  Majesty  cannot  be  supposed  to  dissemble  with  or 
mock  your  people  in  a  matter  which  so  nearly  concerns 
them.  We  must,  therefore,  necessarily  believe,  on  the 
faith  of  royalty,  that  these  measures  have  originated  from 
Parliament,  acting  as  the  great  Council  of  the  Nation,  and 
that  they  have  been  planned  with  no  other  view  than  to 
"  support  the  constitutional  rights,  and  protect  the  commer- 
cial interests  of  Great  Britain."  This  is  a  solemn  decla- 
ration, made  before  God  and  the  publick  ;  and  it  would  ill 
become  your  subjects  to  entertain  a  doubt  of  that  sincerity 
in  which  your  Majesty  has  been  early  trained,  and  of  which 
your  auspicious  reign  has  afforded  so  many  great  and  sin- 
gular instances. 

I  could  wish,  however,  (that  no  opening  might  be  left 
for  invidious  censure,)  the  Ministerial  authors  of  your  Ma- 
jesty's speeches  would  endeavour,  for  the  future,  not  only 
to  think  in  character  themselves,  on  the  small  scale  of 
knavish  craft,  but  that  they  would  enable  their  Royal  mas- 
ter, when  he  addresses  the  publick,  to  speak  in  character 
also. 

Conscious  of  their  own  evil  principles  and  designs,  they 
put  words  into  the  Royal  mouth  which  would  only  have 
become  their  own.  Thus  your  Majesty  is  made  to  address 
your  Capital  in  a  low  and  familiar  style,  utterly  beneath 
your  dignity  as  a  great  King,  and  your  nice  feelings  as  an 
honest  man.  My  Lord  North  might  be  ';  astonished 
(speaking  in  character,  as  a  hollow,  hypocritical,  sneering 
Minister)  that  any  of  your  subjects  could  be  capable  of 
countenancing  a  rebellious  disposition,  unfortunately  exist- 
ing in  some  of  the  Colonies,"  as  such  tyrannical  and  vin- 
dictive persons  are  not  ashamed  to  make  actual  war  upon 
a  disposition ;  but  a  King  of  Great  Britain,  conscious  of 
his  own  dignity,  and  speaking  with  the  majesty  of  truth, 
as  well  as  royalty,  in  answer  to  so  heavy  a  charge,  would 
have  expressed  his  astonishment  at  the  daring  presumption 
of  the  Petitioners  in  countenancing  rebellion,  not  at  their 
being  "capable  of  countenancing  a  rebellious  disposition 
only."  Which  is  little  better  than  if  your  Majesty  had 
said,  "  my  good  friends,  I  am  very  sorry  you  should  be  so 
unkind  as  to  encourage  a  set  of  people  whom  I  am  obliged 
to  treat  as  rebels,  although  I  cannot  call  them  such  at  pre- 
sent ;  but  in  all  probability,  by  the  blessing  of  God  on  my 
Fleets  and  Armies,  they  will  deserve  that  appellation  very 
soon." 

In  the  mean  time,  as  your  Majesty's  confidence  in  your 
Parliament  is  almost  as  great  as  the  people's  distrust  and 
detestation  of  them,  there  can  be  no  doubt  but  by  pursuing 
the  salutary  measures  they  recommend,  your  Government 
will  become  as  respectable,  though  not  so  gentle  and  con- 
descending, as  your  speeches. 

Your  Majesty  will  pardon  the  well  meant  simplicity  of 
a  true  subject,  although  a  plain  dealer.  Regulus. 


GENERAL  GAGE   TO   GOVERNOUR  MARTIN,  OF  NORTH- 
CAROLINA. 

Boston,  April  12,  1775. 

Sir  :  Your  letter  of  the  16th  of  March,  I  have  had  the 
pleasure  to  receive,  and  am  glad  to  hear  that  many  of  the 
people  in  your  Province  are  beginning  to  find  they  have 
been  misled,  and  that  they  seem  inclined  to  disengage  them- 
selves from  the  arbitrary  power  of  the  Continental  Con- 
gress, and  of  their  Committees.  I  wish  I  could  say  as 
much  for  the  people  of  this  Province,  who  are  more  cool 
than  they  were,  but  their  leaders,  by  their  arts  and  artifices, 
still  keep  up  that  seditious  and  licentious  spirit,  that  has 
led  them  on  all  occasions  to  oppose  Government,  and  even 
to  acts  of  rebellion.  The  late  accounts  from  England  have 
embarrassed  their  councils  much.  They  have  applied  to 
the  New-England  Governments,  and  doubtless  will  to 
those  at  the  Southward,  to  assist  them,  but  I  hope  the  mad- 
ness of  the  latter  is  wearing  off,  and  that  they  will  get  no 
encouragement  from  thence. 

This  Province  has  some  time  been,  and  now  is,  in  the 
new-fangled  Legislature,  termed  a  Provincial  Congress, 
who  seem  to  have  taken  the  Government  into  their  hands. 
What  they  intend  to  do  I  cannot  pretend  to  say,  but  they 
are  much  puzzled  how  to  act.  Fear  in  some,  and  a  want 
of  inclination  in  others,  will  be  a  great  bar  to  their  coming 


to  extremities,  though  their  leaders  use  every  measure  to 
bring  them  into  the  field.  I  have  the  honour  to  be,  8cc. 

Thomas  Gage. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  THE  CHAIRMAN  OF  THE 
COMMITTEE  AT  FALMOUTH  TO  SAMUEL  FREEMAN,  DATED 
APRIL  12,  1775. 

Last  night  we  had  a  letter  from  the  Committee  at  Bos- 
ton, wherein  they  say  they  should  be  extremely  uneasy  to 
find  any  omission  of  duty  "  in  behalf  of  this  Province  and 
the  other  Colonies,  as  the  eyes  of  the  whole  Continent  are 
upon  us.  The  tools  of  power  wish  for  an  opportunity  to 
charge  us  with  negligence,  and  are  watching  for  it,  to  make 
a  division  between  this  Province  and  the  other  Colonies. 
We,  therefore,  again  recommend  to  you,  as  our  firm  opin- 
ion, that  you  conform  strictly  and  religiously  to  the  Associa- 
tion of  the  Continental  Congress  in  every  respect,  without 
favour  or  affection  to  any  person  whatever.  We  are  of 
opinion,  to  suspend  the  publication  of  your  Resolves  re- 
specting Captain  Coulson,  till  we  hear  from  you  whether 
he  has  complied  with  the  request  of  the  Committee,  con- 
formable to  the  Resolution  of  the  Continental  Congress." 
Coulson  no  sooner  arrived,  but  the  next  day  had  the  Canso 
Man-of-War  up  to  Town,  and  his  old  Bristol  Sloop  along- 
side of  his  new  Ship,  taking  out  the  goods.  But  it  seems 
he  cannot  get  any  of  our  people  to  help  him  ;  and  I  do 
not  think  he  will  be  able  to  get  his  Ship  loaded  and  rigged, 
unless  he  gets  the  Man-of-War's  men  to  do  it.  And  1  hear 
that  Captain  Moivat  has  been  pressing  men  ;  some  he  re- 
leases, and  some  retains  ;  and  it  is  suggested  by  some,  that 
his  design  is  to  supply  Captain  Coulson  with  men  from  his 
own  Ship.  We  shall  do  all  we  can  to  prevent  any  other 
person  from  breaking  the  Association.  I  do  not  think  it 
will  be  amiss  for  you  to  acquaint  some  of  the  Committee 
of  Inspection  in  Boston  of  Captain  Coulson's  conduct,  witii 
which  the  People  in  general,  in  Town  and  Country,  are 
very  much  dissatisfied. 

We  rejoice  in  your  zeal  and  firmness  in  so  trying  a  time 
as  this,  and  we  pray  God  to  support  you  in  so  good  a 
cause  as  the  preservation  of  our  liberties,  civil  and  reli- 
gious. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER   FROM  A  GENTLEMAN   IN  ENGLAND 
TO  HIS  CORRESPONDENT  IN  VIRGINIA. 

The  sword  is  drawn  here,  and  the  scabbard  thrown 
away.  What  are  )ou  to  do?  Submission  and  slavery  are 
the  same.  The  question  then  can  only  be,  how  shall  we 
best  resist  the  chains  prepared  for  us? 

Let  Virginia,  Maryland,  and  South- Carolina  declare 
their  resolution  to  stand  by  the  Massachusetts ;  let  the  non- 
import  be  commenced  as  soon  as  possible.  Were  it  not 
for  the  import  of  American  Grain,  this  Country  would  this 
moment  be  in  famine  and  insurrection.  Be  vigilant  in 
keeping  the  Non-Import  and  Export  Resolutions  unviolated 
in  the  smallest  degree.  Select  the  best  of  the  Militia, 
train  and  arm  them  well,  and  familiarize  them  to  the  right  of 
resistance  and  the  necessity  of  exerting  it;  cultivate  the  fron- 
tier Militia  and  their  leaders.  Much  will  depend  on  them. 
It  is  determined  to  put  you  to  the  trial ;  and  every  thing 
that  is  dear  to  us  depends  on  your  firmness.  Remember 
that  night  is  the  time  when  the  discipline  of  the  Regulars 
is  least  availing,  and  their  artillery  useless.  One  year's 
firm  observation  of  your  Resolutions  must  reduce  the  Min- 
istry to  the  necessity  of  capitulating.  This  Country  can- 
not bear  one  year's  interruption  of  her  Commerce.  It  is 
impossible.  A  protractive  war  on  your  part  must  enfeeble 
her  Army,  which  cannot  be  recruited  but  at  a  vast  expense 
of  time  and  money.  The  interruption  of  commerce  brings, 
in  a  year's  time,  half  our  Merchants  and  Manufacturers  to 
beggary,  loads  her  landed  interest  with  additional  publick 
taxes  and  poor's  rates,  so  as  to  shake  every  part  of  the  com- 
munity to  its  foundation.  Nothing  but  a  miracle  can  sup- 
port them  under  such  an  accumulation  of  calamities.  Let 
it  be  your  study,  therefore,  to  promote  a  frugality  and  in- 
dustry in  providing  against  the  consequences  of  the  inter- 
ruption to  you,  so  as  to  prevent  popular  disorders,  and  keep 
the  people  firm.  You  have  the  game  in  your  own  hands  ; 
a  little  patience,  a  little  endurance,  and  your  victory  is  sure. 
If  you  conquer  in  this  contest,  you  will  be  the  freest,  the 


319 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  APRIL,  1775. 


820 


most  prosperous  and  respected  people  in  the  world  ;  if  you 
submit,  the  most  inexorable  yoke  that  ever  galled  the  neck 
of  any  Nation  will  be  your  lot.  The  threats  thrown  out 
here  against  you  are  fit  only  for  savages.  It  is  impossible 
to  conceive  with  w  hat  approbation  the  House  of  Commons 
heard  a  Colonel  Grant,  the  same  who  commanded  the  ex- 
pedition with  Colonel  Lewis  to  Fort  Du  Quesne,  declare, 
that  he  had  always  treated  the  Americans  as  beasts  of  bur- 
den, and  that  they  deserved  no  better  usage,  being  fit  for 
nothing  else.  American  fraud,  American  rapine,  Ameri- 
can cowardice,  and  American  insolence,  are  the  perpetual 
topicks  of  ministerial  declamation.  When  America  is  the 
question,  every  idea  of  justice  or  mercy  seems  to  be  extin- 
guished. Your  own  experience  of  seven  years'  ineffectual 
supplication  will  show  that  their  professions  of  readiness  to 
hear  and  redress  grievances  is  a  mere  mockery. 

The  very  existence  of  liberty  on  the  face  of  this  earth ; 
the  precious  possession  of  it  to  you  and  your  posterity  from 
generation  to  generation  ;  the  avoiding  the  most  cruel  bond- 
age and  thraldom  that  ever  ground  the  faces  of  a  miserable 
people,  all  depend  upon  a  year  or  two's  exertion  of  virtue, 
fortitude,  and  forbearance  in  America.  How  infinite  the 
purchase,  and  how  cheap  !  Orders  are  certainly  sent  to 
seize  particular  persons.  Reprisals  will  surely  be  made ; 
but  remember  it  is  a  state  of  war,  and  therefore  be  guard- 
ed. It  is  not  the  way  to  conquer  the  lion  to  run  into  his 
mouth. 

1  have  the  greatest  inclination  to  come  over.  And  yet 
I  think  I  can  be  more  serviceable  here ;  nor  do  I  imagine 
myself  in  less  danger.  On  the  contrary,  1  am  certain  of 
the  intention  of  destroying  certain  American  advocates 
here,  when  the  temper  of  the  times  render  it  safe.  Adieu. 


Williamsburgh,  Virginia,  April  13,  1775. 

By  the  last  prints  from  England,  we  find  that  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  General  Congress  have  had  a  strange  effect 
upon  the  minds  of  the  people  in  that  quarter.  Some 
esteem  and  applaud  them  as  a  production  of  a  most  mas- 
terly nature;  whilst  others,  swayed  by  the  influence  of  the 
ministerial  party,  and  their  votaries,  declare  them  not  even 
worthy  of  notice  ;  that  the  sentiments  contained  therein 
spring  merely  from  a  distempered  imagination,  and  that 
they  are  naught  but  the  effusions  of  wild,  intolerable  enthu- 
siasm. But  our  wonder,  on  this  account,  must  immediately 
cease  when  we  consider  that  America  is  not  yet  without 
her  enemies,  who  now  reside  within  her  territories ;  ene- 
mies who,  notwithstanding  they  are  wholly  and  entirely 
dependant  upon  her  for  subsistence,  that  would  pleasingly 
aid,  if  we  may  judge  from  their  conduct,  in  showering 
every  misery  upon  this  unhappy  Country. 

In  the  last  English  paper  that  we  have  received  are  the 
following  paragraphs  from  some  of  those  pious  and  deserv- 
ing advocates  (who  unfortunately  reside  in  Boston)  for  the 
meek  and  gentle  measures  of  Administration  ;  they  are 
termed  authentick,  and  are  addressed  to  persons  of  great 
consequence  in  England  : 

"  The  residence  of  the  General  Congress  at  Philadel- 
phia has  entirely  debauched  the  minds  of  the  people  of 
that  place,  who  were  heretofore  the  last  to  make  objection 
to  any  measure  of  Government,  but  are  now  as  violent  as 
any  other  of  the  Colonies.  I  am  informed  by  a  gentle- 
man in  whom  I  can  confide,  that  every  resolution  of  the 
Congress  will  be  strictly  adhered  to.  No  place  on  the 
Continent  has  shown  so  great  an  inclination  to  disobey  the 
dictates  of  the  General  Congress  as  Neio-York. 

"  The  Provincial  Congress  thought  it  prudent  to  decamp 
soon  after  the  arrival  of  the  Scarborough  and  Asia,  and 
are  removed  to  IVorccstcr  from  Cambridge.  The  proceed- 
ings have  been  kept  so  close  that  nothing  has  transpired 
but  what  they  have  put  in  the  papers  themselves. 

"  Associations  are  forming  in  several  Towns  in  the  coun- 
try by  the  well-thinking  and  better  sort  of  people  for  their 
defence,  who  have  been  till  now  obliged  to  do  just  as  the 
rabble  dictated,  very  contrary  to  their  own  sentiments. 

"  Our  good  General  has  his  hands  full ;  you  are  not  un- 
acquainted with  the  people  he  has  to  deal  with.  If  they 
are  suffered  to  go  on,  adieu  to  all  happiness  in  this  Coun- 
try ;  but  surely  the  lion  will  be  roused  at  last.  Notwith- 
standing their  boasted  numbers,  a  determined  frown  even 
will  make  them  tremble." 


COMMITTEE  OF  YORK-TOWN,  YORK  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA, 
TO  JOHN  HANCoCK  AND  THOMAS  CUSHING. 

York-Town,  April  13,  1775. 
Honoured  Friends  and  Countrymen  :  Sorry  are 
we  to  hear  that  the  hand  of  oppression  still  bears  hard 
on  your  City,  and  that  the  distresses  of  your  poor  are 
not  yet  alleviated.  If  your  misfortunes  and  sufferings 
could  be  divided,  the  inhabitants  of  this  County  would 
cheerfully  bear  a  part.  This,  it  seems,  cannot  be  done ; 
your  destined  Town  must  stand  the  shock  alone.  We 
want  words  to  express  the  high  sense  we  have  of  your 
conduct  and  virtue ;  few  men  in  the  world  would  have 
opposed  despotism,  and  stood  the  torrent  of  ministerial 
vengeance  with  so  much  steadiness,  intrepidity,  and  resolu- 
tion, as  the  inhabitants  of  your  Town  and  Country  have 
done.  You  have  true  notions  of  liberty.  You  have  pur- 
chased it.  You  ought  to  enjoy  it.  The  noble  stand  made 
by  the  Province  of  Massachusetts- Bay,  if  faithfully  ad- 
hered to,  has  laid  the  foundation  for  establishing  American 
liberty  on  the  most  firm  basis.  The  other  Colonies  will 
be  equally  gainers  by  a  favourable  determination  of  the 
contest,  and  will  not  desert  you  in  the  time  of  danger ; 
they  will  doubtless  grant  you  the  most  effectual  assistance. 

This  County,  upon  the  earliest  intelligence  of  your  dis- 
tress, forwarded  subscriptions  for  the  poor  of  Boston.  Grain 
was  generally  subscribed  ;  we  expected  to  have  sent  it 
last  fall,  but  could  not  collect  it  at  any  seaport  before  the 
winter  season  came  on,  so  that  the  shipping  of  it  was  post- 
poned till  the  spring.  Upon  the  meeting  of  the  Com- 
mittee of  this  County  in  February  last,  shortly  after  the 
receipt  of  the  King's  Speech  to  the  Parliament,  it  was 
thought  that  it  would  not  be  safe  to  send  Grain.  The 
Committee,  therefore,  determined  to  convert  the  Grain  into 
cash,  and  remit  the  same  in  Specie  or  Bills  of  Exchange 
to  you.  Your  poor  have  suffered  much  by  this  Resolution, 
as  the  price  of  Wheat  is  greatly  fallen.  The  subscriptions 
of  but  a  part  of  the  County  are  yet  come  in.  We  send 
you  the  sum  of  £246  8s.  10c/.,  to  be  remitted  to  you  in 
Bills  of  Exchange  or  Specie,  by  Messrs.  Jonathan  B. 
Smith  and  John  Mitchell,  Merchants  of  Philadelphia, 
which  be  pleased  to  distribute  among  our  poor  and  unhap- 
py countrymen  in  your  Town,  or  in  its  neighbourhood,  in 
such  manner  as  you  shall  think  proper.  As  there  are  a 
few  disaffected  people  in  this  Province,  we  must  trouble 
you  to  publish  the  receipt  of  the  donations  as  is  mentioned 
in  the  enclosed  paper.*  Your  friends  here  are  numerous, 
and  most  heartily  interested  themselves  in  your  favour.  As 
soon  as  the  rest  of  the  subscriptions  in  this  County  are 
paid,  we  shall  cheerfully  remit  the  same  to  you. 

We  wish  you  a  speedy  relief  from  all  your  sufferings, 
and  are,  gentlemen,  with  the  greatest  respect,  your  real 
friends  and  most  obedient  humble  servants, 

Jas.  Smith,  Pres't  Com. 
Geo.  Eichelberger,  Geo.  Fuvin, 
David  Grier,  Jos.  Donaldson, 

Michael  Dowdle,      Michael  Schmyser, 
Michael  Swope,        Balzord  Sp angler, 
Peter  Reel,  John  Hay. 

Thomas  Hartley, 
Committee  of  Correspondence  of  York  County. 
To  John  Hancock  and  Thomas  Cashing,  Esq'rs,  Committee  for  receiv- 
ing and  distributing  the  Donations  for  the  Poor  of  Boston. 

*  The  Committee  of  Boston  received  the  sum  of  .£246  8s.  10rf.,  val- 
ued at  the  rato  of  Pennsylvania  money,  being  donations  from  a  part  of 
the  County  of  York,  in  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania,  to  the  Poor  of 
Boston  and  its  neighbourhood ;  subscribed  as  follows : 

York-Town  £124  10s.  Od. 

Heidelburgh  Township  36  17  5 

Germany  Township  16    2  0 

Mantreim,  by  the  hands  of  Adam  Eichelberger   5  15  6 

by        do.     of  Michael  Karl   5    9  9 

by        do.     of  David  Newman   3  16  3 

Manchester  Township,  by  the  hands  of  Michael  Schmyser.  6  12  1 
by        do.     ot  Simon  Coppen/teffer  2  17  7 

by        do.     of  Jacob  Hark   6  18  6 

Shrewsbury  Township  12    0  0 

Dover  Township   6    9  0 

Fawn   6    0  0 

Codorus  Township   2  16  6 

Dover  Township  62$  Bushels  of  Wheat,  4  Bushel  of  Rye; 
Manchester  Township  39$  Bushels  of  Wheat ;  Paradise 
Township  20  Bushels  of  Wheat;  Codorus  Township  5 
Bushels  of  Wheat  and  $  Bushel  of  Rye;  York  Township 
4  Bushels  of  Wheat.    Part  of  which  grain  has  been  made 

into  Flour  and  sold  here   -16  13  3 

£246    8  10 


321 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  APRIL,  1775. 


322 


PROTEST   OF   INHABITANTS  AND   FREEHOLDERS   OF  WEST- 
CHESTER COUNTY,  NEW-YORK. 

County  of  Westchester,  April  13,  1775. 

Mr.  Rivington  :  Be  pleased  to  insert  the  following,  and 
you  will  oblige  a  number  of  your  friends  and  subscribers. 

On  Thursday,  the  1 1  th  instant,  a  very  respectable  num- 
ber of  freeholders  and  inhabitants  of  the  County  of  West- 
cheater,  assembled  at  the  White  Plains,  in  the  said  County, 
agreeable  to  the  notice  given,  that  their  sentiments  might 
be  known  concerning  the  choice  of  a  Committee  to  meet 
their  Committee  in  the  City  of  Neiv-York,  for  the  purpose 
of  choosing  Delegates  to  represent  this  Colony  in  the  next 
Continental  Congress. 

The  friends  of  order  and  Government  met  at  the  house 
of  Captain  Hatfield;  those  who  were  for  a  Committee, 
put  up  at  another  publick  house  in  the  Town.  About  twelve 
o'clock,  word  was  brought  to  the  gentlemen  at  Captain  Hat- 
field's, that  the  opposite  party  had  already  entered  upon 
the  business  of  the  day  ;  upon  which  they  immediately 
walked  down  to  the  Court-House,  although  not  half  of 
their  friends,  who  were  expected,  had  yet  appeared,  where 
they  found  the  other  company  collected  in  a  body.  The 
numbers  on  each  side  seemed  to  be  nearly  equal,  and  both 
together  might  amount  to  two  hundred,  or,  at  most,  two 
hundred  and  fifty.  The  friends  to  Government  then  declared, 
that  as  they  had  been  unlawfully  called  together,  and  for 
an  unlawful  purpose,  they  did  not  intend  to  contest  the 
matter  with  them  by  a  poll,  which  would  be  tacitly  ac- 
knowledging the  authority  that  had  summoned  them  thither; 
but  that  they  came  only  with  a  design  to  protest  against  all 
such  disorderly  proceedings,  and  to  shew  their  detestation 
of  all  unlawful  Committees  and  Congresses.  They  then 
declared  their  determined  resolution  to  continue  steadfast  in 
their  allegiance  to  their  gracious  and  merciful  Sovereign, 
King  George  the  Third  ,  to  submit  to  lawful  authority  ;  and 
to  abide  by  and  support  the  only  true  representatives  of 
the  people  of  this  Colony — the  General  Assembly.  Then 
giving  three  huzzas,  they  returned  to  Captain  Hatfield's, 
singing,  as  they  went,  with  a  loyal  enthusiasm,  the  grand 
and  animating  song  of  "God  save  great  George  our  King." 
"  Long  live  our  noble  King,"  &dc.,  &.c. 

At  their  return,  finding  that  many  of  their  friends  had 
arrived  during  their  absence,  and  that  many  still  kept 
coming  in,  they  proceeded  to  draw  up  and  sign  the  follow- 
ing Declaration,  which  they  seemed  to  do  with  as  much  pa- 
triotick  zeal  as  ever  warmed  the  hearts  of  true  and  faithful 
subjects,  and  afterwards  dispersed  to  their  different  habita- 
tions. 

"  We,  the  subscribers,  freeholders  and  inhabitants  of  the 
County  of  Westchester,  having  assembled  at  the  White 
Plains,  in  consequence  of  certain  advertisements,  do  now 
declare,  that  we  met  here  to  declare  our  honest  abhorrence 
of  all  unlawful  Congresses  and  Committees,  and  that  we 
are  determined,  at  the  hazard  of  our  lives  and  properties, 
to  support  the  King  and  Constitution  ;  and  that  we  acknow- 
ledge no  Representatives  but  the  General  Assembly,  to 


John  Haight,  John  Williams, 

Isaac  Brown,  Joseph  Purdy, 

Phillip  Kelly,  Ezekial  Halstcad, 

James  Hains,  John  Hunt,  Jun., 

Joseph  Hains,  Jun.,  Isaac  Purdy, 

James  Hains,  Jun.,  Elijah  Purely, 

Matthew  Hains,  Abraham  Loosce, 

Bartholomew  Hains,  Isaac  Tompkins, 

Gilbert  Hains,  William  Gray, 

John  Hains,  Nathaniel  Merit, 

Elijah  Hains,  Joseph  Paulding, 

Lieut.  Solo'n  Fowler,  Hendricus  Storm, 

Isaac  Williams,  Francis  Secord, 

John  McCollum,  John  Parker, 

Joseph  Clark,  Gilbert  Hatfield, 

Joseph  Oakly,  Gabriel  Purdy, 

Caleb  Ferris,  Alexander  Hains, 

Capt.  Bcnja'n  Griffen,  Benjamin  Ogden, 

Capt.  Joshua  Purdy,  Thomas  Mcritt, 

James  Mott,  Gilbert  Bates, 

Lieut.  VV.  Laensberry,  John  Gidney, 

Lieut.  Samuel  Purdy,  Stephen  Arnodc, 
John  Rustin, 


Nathan  Osburn, 
Philemon  Halstead, 
Daniel  Purdy, 
John  Crab, 
Izrahiah  Whetmore, 


Israel  Secord, 
John  Arnode, 
David  Purdy, 
David  Blecher, 
Jordon  Downing, 
Levi  Devoe, 


Capt.  Abso'm  Gidney,  Abraham  Acker, 


David  Haight, 
John  Brown, 
Jasper  Stivers, 
Peter  McFarthing, 
Joshua  Purdy,  Jun., 
Haccaliah  Purdy,  Jun, 
James  Tompkins, 
Michael  Chatterton, 
EInathan  Taylor, 
Gilbert  Theal, 
William  Sexon, 


Corn.  Van  Tassell, 
Elisha  Meritt, 
Jacob  Schureman, 
Joseph  Appleby, 
John  Tompkins,  Jun. 
,  Job  Hadden,  Jun., 
Patrick  Gary, 
James  Hart, 
Gilbert  Ward, 
Joseph  Hart, 
Monmouth  Hart, 


Thomas  Champeniers,  William  Dunlap, 


John  Champeniers, 
William  Griflin, 
Isaac  Gidney, 
John  Bates, 
Joseph  Haviland, 
Eleazer  Hart, 
Timothy  Whetmore, 
James  Hunt, 
Joseph  Parker, 
Joshua  Barns, 
Joseph  Purdy, 
John  Park, 
Samuel  Purdy, 
Gilbert  Purdy, 
James  Chatterton, 
John  Dewsenburgh, 
Thomas  Cromwell, 
Solomon  Horton, 
Peter  Bussing,  t 
Peter  Bussing,  Jun., 
James  KnefFen, 


Joshua  Ferris, 
Timothy  Purdy, 
James  Macquire, 
James  Regnaw, 
Daniel  Shadin, 
Samuel  Purdy, 
Sylvanus  Purdy, 
William  Dalton, 
David  Davids, 
Elijah  Purdy,  Jun., 
Elijah  Tomkins, 
Daniel  Jerow, 
Charles  Lawrence, 
Joseph  Purdy,  Jun., 
James  Sniffin,  Jun., 
Thomas  Valentine, 
Gilbert  Valentine, 
Abraham  Rich, 
Andrew  Gerow, 
Gilbert  Hunter, 
Lieut.  Peter  Bonnett, 


Nath'l  Underbill,  Jun.,  Samuel  Sneeden, 


Philip  Fowler, 
John  McFarthing, 
John  Tompkins, 
Joseph  Hart, 
Jacob  Post, 
Joseph  Gidney, 
James  Baxter, 
John  Hart, 
Cornelius  Loosoe, 
Jesse  Park, 


Peter  Fashee, 
Jesse  Lawrence, 
William  Sneeden, 
Lieut.  Daniel  Knap, 
Solomon  Dean, 
Charles  Vincent,  Sr., 
Lieut.  Thomas  Hyatt,  Bishop  Heustice 
James  Gidney,  James  Miller, 

Wra.  Woodward,  Phineas  Hunt. 


Caleb  Archer, 
Benjamin  Bugbe, 
Francis  Purdy, 
William  Odcll, 
Israel  Hunt, 
Thomas  Tompkins, 
Frederick  Underbill, 
Peter  Post, 
Benjamin  McCord, 
John  Williams, 
John  Ackerman, 
Peter  Rusting, 
Thomas  Barker, 
Jeremiah  Hunter,* 
Abraham  Storm, 
Peter  Jonning, 
Isaac  Merritt, 
Edward  Merritt, 
John  Gale, 
John  Smith, 
Roger  Purdy. 
James  Hart,  Jun., 
Jona.  Purdy,  Jun., 
Monmouth  Hart,  Jr., 
Christopher  Purdy, 
Gilbert  Purdy, 
Edw'd  Merritt,  Jun., 
Elijah  Miller, 
Henry  Disborough, 
Benjamin  Hunt, 
EInathan  Hunt, 
William  Van  Wart, 
Abraham  Storm, 
Thomas  Berry, 
Lancaster  Underbill, 
Charles  Merritt, 
Benjamin  Underhill, 
Benj.  Griffin,  Jun., 
Jeremiah  Coone, 
John  Hall, 
James  Angevine, 
Jacob  Coone, 
Jer.  Anderson,  Jr., 
Gilbert  Williams, 
Wm.  Barker,  Jun., 
Gideon  Arden, 
William  Field, 
Joseph  Purdy, 
George  Storm, 
Jacob  Vermiller, 
Samuel  Heusted, 
Barthol'w  Underhill, 
Lieut.  John  Warner, 
Nathaniel  Purdy, 
Isaac  Bennett, 
Samuel  Baker,t 
John  Cornwell, 
John  Storm, 
Andrew  Fowler, 
Joshua  Secord, 
George  French, 
John  Underhill, 
Caleb  Gidney, 
Wm.  Underhill,  Jun., 
James  Hill, 
William  Watkins, 
John  Rustin, 
Richard  Baker, 
William  Ascough, 


The  following  persons,  not  being  able  to  attend  at  the 


whose  wisdom  and  integrity  we  submit  the  guardianship  of   Plains,  requested,  by  their  friends,  that  their  names  might 


our  rights,  liberties,  and  privileges." 

Frederick  Philips,  Roger  Purdy,  Jun., 
Isaac  Wilkins,  Gilbert  Pugsley, 

Samuel  Seabury,         Abraham  Leadu, 
Luke  Babcock,  Benjamin  Brown, 

Jona.  Fowler,  Judge,    Isaac  Keed, 
Caleb  Fowler,  Judge,   Aaron  Buis, 
Jona.  P.  Horton,  Esq.,  Moses  Weymen, 
William  Sutten,  Esq.,  Israel  Underhill, 
David  Oakly,  Esq.,       John  Baizley, 
Benja'n  Fowler,  Esq.,   David  Oakly,  Jun., 
William  Davids,  Esq.,  Isaac  Smith, 
W  ni.  Anderson,  Esq.,  John  Hyatt, 
Wm.  Barker,  Esq.,       Hezekiah  Cudney, 
Capt.  Abram  Hatfield,  Abraham  Odall, 
N  Underhill,  Mayor,   Thomas  Lawrence, 
George  Cornwell,  Esq.,  John  Seyscon, 


Philip  Pell,  Esq., 
Joshua  Pell, 
James  Pell, 
Edward  Pell, 
John  Hunt, 
Gilbert  Horton, 
Adrian  Leforge, 
Joshua  Gidney, 
Jonathan  Gidney, 
Lieut.  Jona.  Purdy, 
Solomon  Gidney, 
Joseph  Bude, 
James  Whitmore, 
Moses  Williams, 


Jeremiah  Travies, 
Griffen  Curey, 
Isaac  Forsheu, 
Gabriel  Requeaw, 
Samuel  Webb, 
Benjamin  Downing, 
Gabriel  Archer, 
Elias  Secord, 
Thomas  Veal, 
James  Poirce, 
Edward  Bugbe, 
David  Haight, 
Sylvanius  Lyon, 
Daniel  Haight, 


Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii. 


Jonathan  Budd, 
John  Whetmore, 
Win.  Underhill, 
Thomas  Brown, 
Lieut.  Isaac  Gidney, 
Nehemiah  Tompkins, 
Henry  Leforge, 
Everet  Brown, 
Benjamin  Beyea, 
Barthol'w  Gidney, 
Josiah  Brown, 
Seth  Purdy, 
Peter  Huggeford, 
Jacob  Gidney, 
John  Loce, 
EInathan  Appleby, 
John  Baker, 
Jonathan  Underhill, 
James  McChain, 
Benjamin  Seacord, 
Joshua  Hunt, 
Betts  Chatterdon, 
William  Landrine, 
Enoch  Hunt, 
Peter  Come, 
Dennis  Kennedy, 
James  Hains, 
Andrew  Bainton, 
Hezekiah  Simmons, 
Nathaniel  Tompkins, 


be  added  to  the  list  of  protesters,  viz : 

John  Hunt,  Esq.,         Philip  Palmer,  Esq.,     John  Hitchcock, 
Jeremiah  Hitchcock,    William  Bond,  Joseph  Bond. 

The  foregoing  account  is  strictly  true,  as  can  be  proven 
by  the  testimony  (or,  if  necessary,  by  the  affidavits)  of  a 
number  of  persons  of  the  most  unquestionable  character  in 
this  County.  What,  then,  must  we  think  of  such  persons 
as  have  propagated  a  report,  that  the  friends  of  Government 
were,  upon  this  occasion, out-numbered  five  to  one,  and  that 
many  of  the  persons  whose  names  were  subscribed  to  the 
foregoing  Declaration,  were  not  on  that  day  present  at  the 

*  North-Castle,  MayB,  1775. — Mr.  Rivington:  In  your  paper  late- 
ly I  saw  my  name  to  a  Protest.  I  never  signed  it,  but  went  into  Cap- 
tain Hatfield's  house,  and  was  asked  whether  I  was  a  Whig  or  a  Tory  ? 
I  made  answer,  that  I  did  not  understand  the  meaning  of  those  words, 
but  was  for  liberty  and  peace.  Upon  which  some  body  put  down  my 
name.  Now,  sir,  I  desire  you  will  print  this,  to  show  the  world  that  I 
have  not  deserved  to  be  held  up  in  the  light  of  a  protester. 

Jeremiah  Hunter. 

t  That  our  names  were  not  subscribed  to  the  Protest  of  Westchester, 
either  by  ourselves,  or  our  orders,  or  permission,  directly  or  indirectly, 
is  certified  by  us,  each  for  himself.  Peter  Bussing. 

May  4,  1775.  John  Bussing. 

t  Mr.  Rivington :  I  did  sign  a  Protest  which  was  printed  in  your  paper  ; 
but  I  did  so  because  I  was  told  that  the  intent  of  signing  it  was  to  show 
that  I  was  for  the  liberties  of  the  Country.  Samuel  Baker. 


21 


323 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  he,  APRIL,  1775. 


324 


White  Plains!  Tliey  must  be  conscious  to  themselves 
that  they  have  spread  abroad  a  falsehood,  and  they  are  here- 
by called  upon,  if  they  dare,  to  set  their  names  to  those 
assertions. 

In  what  manner  those  gentlemen,  who  chose  the  Com- 
mittee at  the  Plains,  proceeded,  we  cannot  positively  say  ; 
but  this  we  can  declare  with  truth,  that  we  do  not  believe 
they  can  produce  to  the  publick  the  names  of  a  hundred 
and  fifty  persons  who  voted  for  a  Committee  that  day,  and 
we  are  verily  persuaded  that  they  did  their  utmost  to  make 
their  party  as  numerous  as  possible.  How  then  can  they 
justify  their  choice  of  a  Committee?  Or  how  can  they 
presume  to  impose  upon  the  world,  and  to  insult  the  loyal 
County  of  Westchester  in  so  barefaced  a  manner? 

It  is  well  known  here,  that  two-thirds  at  least  of  the  in- 
habitants of  this  County  are  friends  to  order  and  Govern- 
ment, and  opposed  to  Committees  and  all  unlawful  combi- 
nations; and  it  will  be  made  apparent  to  the  world  that 
they  are  so,  as  soon  as  certain  Resolves,  now  signing  freely 
by  the  people,  shall  be  ready  for  publication.  And  one  prin- 
cipal reason  why  the  friends  to  Government  did  not  assem- 
ble in  greater  numbers  than  they  did,  on  Tuesday  last,  was, 
that  many  of  them  had  already,  by  signing  those  Resolves, 
testified  their  loyalty  to  the  King,  their  attachment  to  the 
Constitution,  their  enmity  to  Committees,  and  their  acqui- 
escence in  the  prudent  measures  taken  by  the  Assembly 
in  the  late  session,  for  accommodating  the  unhappy  differ- 
ence between  the  Mother  Country  and  the  Colonies,  and 
consequently  thought  they  had  done  their  duty. 

The  Committee  that  was  chosen  may,  with  some  kind 
of  propriety,  be  said  to  represent  those  particular  persons 
who  chose  them  ;  but  how  they  can  be  denominated  the 
Representatives  of  the  County  of  Westchester,  who,  in 
general,  abhor  Committees  and  Committee-men,  and  are 
determined  to  take  no  steps  that  may  lead  them  into  rebel- 
lion, we  cannot  conceive.  Certainly  the  friends  to  Govern- 
ment, who  were  collected  at  Captain  Hatfield's,  had  a 
better  right,  from  their  number,  to  determine  that  there 
should  be  no  Committee,  than  the  opposite  party  had  to 
appoint  one  ;  and  might,  with  much  greater  propriety,  be 
said  to  shew  the  sense  of  the  County  than  the  few  who 
acted  without  authority,  and  in  direct  opposition  to  Govern- 
ment and  to  the  determinations  of  our  worthy  Assembly; 
and  we  doubt  not  but  the  impartial  publick  will  consider  the 
matter  in  this  light,  and  not  esteem  the  act  of  a  few  indi- 
viduals, unlawfully  assembled,  as  the  act  (which  it  most 
assuredly  is  not)  of  the  very  respectable,  populous,  and 
loyal  County  of  Westchester. 


TO  THE  PUBLICK. 

Morrisiana,  May  7,  1775. 

A  very  extraordinary  paper,  called  a  Protest  against  the 
proceedings  of  the  Freeholders  of  the  County  of  West- 
chester, relative  to  the  election  of  Deputies  for  the  late 
Convention,  and  said  to  have  been  subscribed  by  the  seve- 
ral persons  whose  names  are  printed  with  it,  was  published 
in  Mr.  Rivington  and  Gaine's  Gazette  a  few  weeks  ago. 

By  whom  this  performance  was  given  to  the  publick  is 
uncertain  ;  and  being  as  little  distinguished  by  decency  as 
by  truth,  there  is  reason  to  suspect  the  author's  name  will 
remain  a  secret. 

The  falsities  contained  in  this  representation  are  too  fla- 
grant to  impose  upon  any  person  in  this  Colony  ;  and 
nothing  but  the  apprehension  of  its  gaining  credit  in  other 
parts  of  the  world  would  have  induced  me  to  have  made 
it  the  subject  of  animadversion. 

I  shall  pass  over  the  many  little  embellishments  with 
which  the  author's  fancy  has  endeavoured  to  decorate  his 
narrative ;  nor  is  it  necessary  to  call  in  question  the  reality 
of  that  loyal  enthusiasm  by  which  it  is  said  those  good 
people  were  influenced  ;  and  I  really  wish  that  had  been 
the  fact,  because  when  inconsistencies  and  fooleries  result 
from  inebriety  or  enthusiasm,  they  merit  our  pity,  and 
escape  indignation  and  resentment. 

Much  pains,  I  confess,  were  on  that  day  taken  to  make 
temporary  enthusiasts,  and  with  other  more  exhilarating 
ipirit  than  the  spirit  of  loyally. 

To  give  the  appearance  of  dignity  to  these  curious  and 
very  orderly  protesters,  the  author  has  been  very  mindful 
to  annex  every  man's  addition  to  his  name,  upon  a  pre- 


sumption, perhaps,  that  it  would  derive  weight  from  the 
title  of  Mayor,  Esquire,  Captain,  Lieutenant,  Judge,  Sic. 

But  it  is  not  easy  to  conceive  why  the  publisher  should 
be  less  civil  to  the  clergy,  than  to  the  gentry  and  common- 
alty. Samuel  Seabury  and  Luke  Babcock,  certainly  ought 
not  to  have  been  sent  into  the  world  floating  on  a  news- 
paper in  that  plain  way  ;  the  one  is  the  "  Reverend  Mr. 
Samuel  Seabury,  Rector  of  the  united  parishes  of  East 
and  Westchester,  and  one  of  the  missionaries  for  propaga- 
ting the  Gospel  (and  not  politicks)  in  foreign  parts,"  &tc, 
&.c.  The  other  is  the  "  Reverend  Mr.  Luke  Babcock, 
who  preaches  and  prays  for  Mr.  Philipse  and  his  tenants, 
at  Philipseburgh." 

In  this  formidable  catalogue  of  three  hundred  and  twelve 
sober  and  loyal  protesters,  there  are  not  less  than  one  hun- 
dred and  seventy,  who,  after  the  most  diligent  inquiry,  I 
cannot  find  have  the  least  pretensions  to  a  vote  ;  and  indeed 
many  of  them  are  lads  under  age. 

Their  names  are  as  follows: — 


Samuel  Seabury, 
Luke  Babcock, 
Benj.  Fowler,  Esq., 
Joshua  Poll, 
Edward  Pell, 
John  Hunt, 
Gilbert  Horton, 
Adrian  Liforge, 
Moses  Williams, 
Philip  Kelly, 
James  Hains,  Jun., 
Matthew  Hains, 
Bartholomew  Hains, 
John  Hains, 
Elijah  Hains, 
Joseph  Clark, 
Joseph  Oakly, 
James  Mott, 
Daniel  Purdy, 
John  Crab, 
Izrahiah  Whetmore, 
Absalom  Gidncy, 
John  Brown, 
Jasper  Stivers, 
Peter  McFarthing, 
Joshua  Purdy,  Jun., 
Hacaliah  Purdy,  Jun., 
James  Tomkins, 
Gilbert  Theal, 
William  Sexen, 
Thomas  Champeniers, 
John  Champeniers, 
Eleazer  Hart, 
James  Hunt, 
Joseph  Parker, 
Joshua  Barns, 
John  Park, 
Samuel  Purdy, 
Gilbert  Purdy, 
James  Chatterton, 
Thomas  Cromwell, 
Solomon  Horton, 
Nath.  Underhill,  Jun., 
Philip  Fowler, 
John  McFarthing, 
Jacob  Post, 
James  Baxter, 
John  Hart, 
Cornelius  Losee, 
Jesse  Park, 
Roger  Purdy,  Jun., 
Gilbert  Pugsley, 
Abraham  Ledeau, 
Benjamin  Brown, 
Aaron  Buis, 
John  Baizley, 
David  Oakley,  Jun., 


Isaac  Smith, 
John  Hyatt, 
Abraham  Odell, 
Thomas  Lawrence, 
John  Seyson, 
Isaac  Forsheu, 
Gabriel  Requeaw, 
Gabriel  Archer, 
Elias  Secord, 
James  Peirce, 
Edward  Bugbe, 
Daniel  Haight, 
John  Hunt,  Jun., 
Abraham  Losee, 
Isaac  Tomkins, 
Joseph  Paulding, 
Henricus  Storm, 
Francis  Secord, 
John  Parker, 
Gilbert  Bates, 
David  Purdy, 
David  Bleeker, 
Jordon  Downing, 
Corn.  Van  Tassoll, 
Joseph  Appleby, 
Patrick  Cary, 
Gilbert  Ward, 
William  Dunlap, 
Joshua  Ferris, 
Timothy  Purdy, 
James  McQuire, 
James  Regnaw, 
Samuel  Purdy, 
Sylvanus  Purdy, 
William  Dalton, 
Elijah  Tomkins, 
Charles  Lawrence, 
Joseph  Purdy,  Jun., 
James  Sniffin,  Jun., 
Peter  Bonet, 
Peter  Fashee, 
Jesse  Lawrence, 
William  Sniden, 
Solomon  Dean, 
Thomas  Hyatt, 
William  Woodward, 
John  Whitmore, 
William  Underhill, 
Nehemiah  Tomkins, 
Henry  Leforge, 
Evert  Brown, 
Benjamin  Beyea, 
John  Loce, 
Elnathan  Appleby, 
John  B  iker, 
Jonathan  Underhill, 
James  McChain, 


Joshua  Hunt, 
Betts  Chatterdon, 
William  Landrim, 
Dennis  Kennedy, 
James  Hains, 
Andrew  Bainton, 
Nathaniel  Tomkins, 
Caleb  Archer, 
Benjamin  Bugbe, 
Francis  Purdy, 
William  Odell, 
Israel  Hunt, 
Thomas  Tomkins, 
Frederick  Underhill, 
Peter  Post, 
Benjamin  McCord, 
John  Williams, 
John  Ackeman, 
Peter  Rusting, 
Jeremiah  Hunter, 
Abraham  Storm, 
Peter  Jenning, 
John  Gale, 
John  Smith, 
James  Hart,  Jun., 
Jonathan  Purdy,  Jr., 
Monmouth  Hart,  Jr., 
Christopher  Purdy, 
Gabriel  Purdy, 
Edward  Merritt,  Jr., 
Henry  Disborough, 
William  Van  Wart, 
Abraham  Storm, 
Thomas  Berry, 
Charles  Merritt, 
Benjamin  Griffin, 
James  Angerine, 
Jere.  Anderson,  Jr., 
William  Barker,  Jr., 
Gideon  Arden,  Jr., 
Joseph  Purdy, 
George  Storm 
Jacob  Vermiller, 
Samuel  Huested, 
John  Warner, 
John  Storm, 
Joshua  Secord, 
John  Underhill, 
Wm.  Underhill,  Jr., 
James  Hill, 
William  Watkins, 
Richard  Baker, 
Bishop  Hustico, 
Jermiiah  Hitchcock, 
William  Bond, 
Samuel  Snidon. 


Of  the  others  who  are  Freeholders,  many  also  hold 
lands  at  will  of  Colonel  Philipse;  so  that  the  truth  really 
is,  that  very  few  independent  Freeholders  objected  to  the 
appointment  of  Deputies.  Lewis  Morris. 


FOR  THE  MASSACHUSETTS  GAZETTE. 

Boston,  April  13,  1775. 
My  worthy  Friends  and  Fellow-  Countrymen : 

The  charms  of  power  are  very  intoxicating  and  bewitch- 
ing. Mankind  are  naturally  inclined  to  usurp  authority 
over  their  fellow-men,  whenever  an  opportunity  presents; 
and  it  may  be  generally  observed,  that  when  their  right  to 
it  is  most  questionable,  their  exercise  of  it  is  most  wanton 
and  unreasonable.  This  may  be  easily  accounted  for,  as 
they  fear  its  duration  will  be  but  short,  and  therefore  are 
disposed  to  leave  a  testimonial  of  their  having  enjoyed  it. 
In  no  instance  do  we  see  this  truth  more  strongly  verified, 


325 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  kc,  APRIL,  1775. 


326 


than  in  the  conduct  of  the  late  American  Continental 
Congress,  who,  in  most  of  their  proceedings,  have  ex- 
ceeded the  powers  delegated  to  them,  and  in  still  more 
have  counteracted  the  design  of  their  appointment.  That 
there  are  some  grievances,  or  rather,  that  the  time  is  come 
explicitly  to  define  and  settle  the  rights  of  the  Americans, 
and  the  bounds  of  Parliamentary  authority,  will  be  denied 
by  none  who  wish  well  to  Great  Britain  and  her  Colonies. 
But  to  demand  too  much  of  a  Nation  that  is  wealthy,  pow- 
erful, and  brave,  that  we  may  obtain  enough,  discovers  a 
childish  petulance  and  frowardness,  tending  much  more  to 
irritate  and  inflame,  than  to  soften  and  appease.  She  will, 
like  a  kind  parent,  correct  our  insolence,  and  reduce  us  to 
due  subjection,  and  then  allow  us  every  indulgence  that 
we  ought  reasonably  to  desire.  As  it  is  not  her  interest, 
so  we  can  never  suppose  it  her  inclination,  to  injure  or  op- 
press us ;  but  we  may  be  equally  satisfied  that  she  will 
never  see  her  just  and  constitutional  authority  abused  and 
trampled  on. 

We  cannot  wonder,  then,  that  the  conduct  of  the  Con- 
gress is  so  displeasing  and  provoking  to  Great  Britain, 
when,  among  the  articles  of  complaint,  they  have  inserted 
matters  which  concerned  them  no  more  than  the  mandates 
of  the  Great  Mogul,  or  the  edicts  of  the  King  of  France ; 
matters  which,  if  true,  even  in  their  very  extensive  con- 
struction, arTord  no  real  ground  of  uneasiness ;  matters 
which  discover  more  a  wanton  exercise  of  their  usurped 
authority,  than  a  wish  or  inclination  to  restore  harmony  and 
peace  between  Great  Britain  and  her  Colonies.  Indeed, 
when  we  review  their  proceedings,  the  manifest  intention, 
tendency,  and  complexion  of  them  force  us  to  make  a 
construction  over  which  charity  and  candour  would  wish 
to  throw  a  veil,  if  it  was  not  too  plain  to  mistake  it,  being 
written  in  the  most  legible  characters.  They  have  pre- 
cluded every  hope  of  accommodation,  by  the  exorbitancy 
of  their  demands,  and  the  illegality  of  the  measures  they 
have  adopted.  They  have  sacrificed  their  honour,  hones- 
ty, and  reputation,  to  a  lawless,  ambitious  thirst  of  inde- 
pendence, and  have  purchased  the  worthless,  transitory 
shouts  and  eclat  of  the  restless  and  seditious  multitude,  at 
the  expense  of  that  lasting  and  satisfactory  esteem  and  ap- 
plause of  the  virtuous  and  the  good,  which  alone  ought  to 
have  been  the  object  of  their  wishes,  and  the  end  of  all 
their  pursuits.  The  propriety  of  these  observations  will 
be  apparent,  in  the  consideration  of  the  fifteenth  and  last 
general  article  of  grievance,  which,  like  the  famed  Cerberus 
of  old,  abounds  with  various  sources  of  complaint. 

"  In  the  last  session  of  Parliament  an  Act  was  passed 
for  blocking  up  the  Harbour  of  Boston ;  another  empower- 
ing the  Governour  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay  to  send  per- 
sons indicted  for  murder  in  that  Province,  to  another  Col- 
ony, or  even  to  Great  Britain,  for  trial,  whereby  such  of- 
fenders may  escape  legal  punishment ;  a  third  for  altering 
the  chartered  Constitution  of  Government  in  that  Province  ; 
and  a  fourth  for  extending  the  limits  of  Quebeck,  abolish- 
ing the  English,  and  restoring  the  French  Laws,  whereby 
great  numbers  of  British  freemen  are  subject  to  the  latter, 
and  establishing  an  absolute  Government,  and  the  Roman 
Catholick  Religion  throughout  those  vast  regions  that  bor- 
der on  the  westerly  and  northerly  boundaries  of  the  free 
Protestant  English  settlements;  and  a  fifth  for  the  better 
providing  suitable  quarters  for  Officers  and  Soldiers  in  His 
Majesty's  service  in  North  America."  The  Boston  Port 
Act,  when  it  first  arrived,  filled  all  parties  with  astonish- 
ment and  surprise;  the  peculiarity  of  the  mode  of  punish- 
ment ;  the  severity  with  which  it  was  attended  ;  the  suffer- 
ings inflicted  thereby  on  many  innocent  individuals,  at  first 
raised  a  suspicion  of  the  justice,  equity,  and  policy  of  the 
British  Nation  ;  but  on  a  nearer  view,  and  more  mature 
consideration  of  the  spirit  and  design  of  the  Act,  we  plainly 
discovered  that,  in  the  midst  of  judgment  they  had  remem- 
bered mercy.  The  authority  of  Parliament  had  been  most 
iniquitously  and  flagrantly  abused,  insulted,  and  opposed, 
by  the  destruction  of  a  large  quantity  of  Tea,  the  private 
property  of  the  East-India  Company,  by  a  number  of  the 
inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Boston  and  the  adjacent  Towns, 
in  the  most  riotous  and  daring  manner.  This  Tea  was  sent 
here  in  consequence  of  a  particular  Act  of  Parliament,  em- 
powering the  East-India  Company  to  do  it,  merely  for  the 
regulation  of  Trade  ;  as  the  Dutch  Tea  was  smuggled  in  by 
the  way  of  the  Northern  Colonies,  in  such  quantities,  and 


so  cheap,  as  totally  destroyed  the  sale  of  the  English  Tea, 
which,  by  being  sold  at  publick  auction  in  London  to  the 
merchant  there,  and  by  him  with  his  advance  upon  it,  to 
the  merchant  here;  by  the  latter  with  his  advance,  to  the 
retailer,  and  by  him  with  his  profits  upon  it,  to  the  con- 
sumer, was  raised  to  such  a  price  as  gave  the  Dutch  Com- 
pany the  sole  advantage  of  that  article  of  commerce,  as  it 
came  from  them  without  any  of  these  impositions,  or  the 
payment  of  any  duty  upon  it. 

We  all  profess  to  be  subject  to  the  Acts  for  the  regula- 
tion of  Trade ;  for  this  purpose  solely  was  this  Act  made  ; 
by  it  no  new  duty  was  imposed,  but  some  heavy  restric- 
tions taken  off,  so  that  the  destruction  of  the  Tea  could  be 
considered  as  arising  only  from  the  most  wanton  and  unrea- 
sonable desire  of  throwing  off  all  subjection  to  the  Parent 
State,  and  setting  up  for  independence.  Proportionate, 
therefore,  to  the  criminality  and  atrocious  nature  of  the  of- 
fence, might  we  reasonably  suppose  the  punishment  would 
be.  Not  only  the  private  property  of  the  East-India 
Company  had  been  destroyed,  but  the  honour  and  author- 
ity of  the  Nation  had  been  injured  and  violated.  The 
former  was  to  be  compensated,  and  the  latter  to  be  satisfied 
and  repaired.  The  inhabitants  of  Boston  and  the  other 
towns  concerned,  could  not  be  more  generally  and  imme- 
diately affected  by  any  other  way  whatever.  It  will  here 
be  said  it  is  hard  for  the  innocent  to  suffer  with  the  guilty  ; 
but  the  answer  is  obvious :  the  offenders  were  disguised 
and  unknown  ;  no  one  appeared  at  the  time  to  oppose  it ; 
all  might,  therefore,  be  considered  as  involved  in  the  guilt 
in  some  measure.  The  friends  of  Government,  by  their 
silence  and  inactivity  in  the  first  of  these  troubles,  when 
they  might  have  prevented  the  mischiefs  that  have  since 
ensued,  and  the  daring  outrage  which  was  now  the  cause  of 
their  punishment,  had  they  properly  exerted  themselves, 
have  therefore  little  reason  to  complain  of  the  disadvan- 
tages they  suffer,  or  the  loss  they  sustain  on  this  account. 
However,  admitting  they  were  quite  innocent,  and  had 
done  their  duty  on  this  occasion,  it  should  be  remembered, 
that  as  in  general  calamities  of  lightning,  earthquakes,  fam- 
ine, war,  and  pestilence,  inflicted  by  Heaven  on  mankind, 
there  is  no  respect  to  persons,  the  wicked  and  the  good  are 
equally  exposed  and  actually  affected ;  so  in  States  and 
Kingdoms  in  this  world,  when  general  punishments  of  a 
people  are  found  necessary,  it  is  very  difficult,  if  not  im- 
possible, to  discriminate  and  screen  the  innocent  from  the 
misfortunes  which  the  guilty  suffer.  But  in  this  instance, 
as  was  hinted  above,  with  such  wisdom,  with  so  much  len- 
ity was  the  Port  Act  constructed,  that  the  severity  of  its 
operation  depended  entirely  upon  the  reasonable  compliance 
or  obstinacy  of  those  who  were  to  suffer  by  it.  It  was  an 
indispensable  act  of  common  justice  to  pay  for  the  Tea 
that  had  been  destroyed,  or  it  was  equally  just  to  punish 
those  who  were  concerned  in  doing  it.  It  has  been  said, 
that  had  the  Act  been  conditional,  to  take  place  only  if 
the  terms  were  not  complied  with,  there  would  have  been 
some  reason  in  it;  no  one  would  have  complained;  but 
not  to  be  able  to  prevent  the  execution  of  it,  had  they 
been  disposed  to  submit  to  the  requisitions,  was  a  degree  of 
rigour  without  an  example.  Let  us  attend  to  the  circum- 
stances. It  was  made  to  take  place  the  first  of  June ;  four- 
teen days  after  that  were  allowed  for  any  vessels  to  fit  out 
and  sail ;  upon  payment  for  the  Tea  being  made,  and  some 
other  trifling  matters  complied  with,  and  a  certificate  pro- 
cured from  the  Governour  of  the  fulfilment  of  the  terms 
of  the  Act,  power  was  given  to  His  Majesty  in  privy 
Council  to  suspend  its  execution.  The  Act  arrived  near 
the  beginning  of  May,  if  I  recollect  right.  Now,  as  the 
Spring  ships  are  generally  all  arrived  before  the  time  that 
the  Act  was  to  take  place,  it  would  have  little  effect  for 
some  time  after  that  upon  foreign  importation.  If  the  Tea 
had  been  immediately  paid  for,  and  the  requisite  certificate 
procured,  which  might  easily  have  been  done,  and  trans- 
mitted home,  the  operation  of  the  Act  might  have  ceased 
at  once  ;  as  it  seems  to  have  been  particularly  provided  for 
this  purpose,  that  the  King  in  Council  might  suspend  it, 
that  so  no  delay  might  be  occasioned  by  calling  the  Par- 
liament together  to  repeal  it.  Orders  for  Fall  goods  might 
have  been  sent  at  the  same  time,  and  the  Fall  ships  might 
have  returned  at  their  usual  time,  into  an  open  and  free 
Port ;  so  that  by  a  prudent  conduct,  the  trade  with  Great 
Britain  might  not  have  been  interrupted  at  all ;  other 


327  CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  APRIL,  1775. 


branches  might  have  suffered  a  temporary  damage,  but  it 
would  have  been  trifling,  as  by  the  last  of  August  we 
might  have  had  the  news  of  the  Port's  being  open  again. 
So  that  by  the  folly,  injustice,  and  madness  alone  of  the 
popular  leaders,  has  this  Act  been  attended  with  the  dis- 
tresses and  inconveniences  which  are  now  so  sensibly  felt. 
Now  let  me  ask,  with  what  reason,  with  what  justice, 
could  an  Englishman,  could  an  American,  could  any  one, 
who  wished  the  prosperity  of  Britain,  complain  of  an  Act 
which  was  made  solely  to  benefit  the  English  merchant  in 
preference  to  the  Dutch!  especially  in  the  sale  of  an  ar- 
ticle of  so  much  importance,  in  such  constant  and  exten- 
sive use  and  consumption  ;  and  after  the  people  here, 
being  deluded  and  hurried  on  by  a  seditious  tribe  of  dema- 
gogues had,  in  open  violation  of  the  common  rights  of 
society,  of  every  principle  of  justice,  of  their  allegiance  to 
their  Sovereign,  of  their  constitutional  dependance  upon 
Great  Britain,  so  wantonly  and  maliciously  destroyed  so 
lar^e  and  valuable  a  quantity  of  merchandise,  let  me  ask, 
where  is  the  man  so  destitute  of  every  principle  of  honesty, 
of  every  sentiment  of  honour,  so  deaf  to  the  call  of  equity 
and  justice,  and  the  demands  of  law,  as  to  hesitate  one 
moment  to  make  the  most  ample  and  satisfactory  restitu- 
tion in  his  power  ?  To  this  question,  to  which  it  must  pain 
every  loyal  American  to  return  an  answer,  I,  with  equal 
grief  and  astonishment,  reply,  the  Town  of  Boston,  in 
Town-Meeting  assembled,  were  the  men.  These  men, 
who,  by  their  conduct,  had  drawn  down  the  resentment  of 
the  Nation  ;  by  their  subsequent  unaccountable  proceed- 
ings, have  been  the  wilful  cause  of  the  continuation  of 
those  distresses,  of  which  they  now  so  highly  complain 
and  so  sensibly  feel  the  effects ;  and  such  has  been  their 
fatal  influence,  that  they  prevailed  upon  the  House  of  Re- 
presentatives to  appoint  a  solemn  fast,  to  beseech  of  the 
Almighty  a  sanction  to  their  violence  and  robbery.  What 
unpardonable  hypocrisy  !  What  unheard-of  mockery  of 
Heaven  !  What  unparalleled  effrontery !  Can  it  be  sup- 
posed that  the  Divine  Being,  who,  by  the  principles  of 
natural  religion  implanted  in  the  human  mind,  and  by  the 
repeated  precepts  in  his  written  word,  has  so  plainly  com- 
manded us  to  abstain  from  fraud,  rapine,  and  injustice,  and 
has  denounced  the  most  heavy  woes  upon  those  who  are 
guilty  of  these  heinous  crimes,  will  ever  hearken  to  the 
supplications  of  those  who  refuse  to  make  restitution  to 
their  fellow-creatures,  whom  they  have  grossly,  wantonly, 
and  unreasonably  injured  ?  Nevertheless,  the  good  people 
of  the  Province  were  so  far  deluded  and  misled,  as  to 
adopt  so  unpardonable  a  measure.  It  was,  however,  hoped, 
that  the  Members  of  the  Continental  Congress,  free  from 
the  infatuation  which  was  so  prevalent  here,  unbiased  by 
our  prejudices,  uninfluenced  by  passions,  and  attentive  to 
the  true  interests  of  the  Province  and  Continent,  would 
have  recommended  the  payment  for  the  Tea,  as  a  neces- 
sary step  to  a  reconciliation.  But  alas!  we  find  them  in- 
fluenced by  the  same  factious  leaders,  by  their  conduct  vir- 
tually approving  of  this  daring  injustice.  Upon  no  other 
principle  can  we  account  for  their  inserting  the  Boston  Port 
Act  in  the  list  of  grievances,  when  a  compliance  with  the 
most  obvious,  indispensable  demands  of  justice,  would  at 
once  have  suspended  the  execution  of  it. 

The  next  particular  in  this  very  comprehensive  article, 
is  another  Act,  l<  empowering  the  Governour  of  the  Mas- 
sachusetts-Bay to  send  persons  indicted  for  murder  in  that 
Province  to  another  Colony,  or  even  to  Great  Britain,  for 
trial,  whereby  such  offenders  may  escape  legal  punish- 
ment." It  is  really  astonishing  to  see  the  low  artifice  and 
glaring  falsehood  made  use  of  in  this  description  of  the 
Act.  It  is  not  true  that  the  Governour  is  thus  empowered, 
as  the  Act  expressly  requires  the  advice  and  consent  of 
the  Council,  before  any  person  can  be  removed  to  any 
other  place  prescribed  by  the  Act  for  trial ;  so  that,  how- 
ever arbitrarily  the  Governour  may  be  disposed  to  act  in 
this  instance,  if  the  Council  refuse  their  consent,  he  can 
do  nothing.  What  could  induce  the  Congress  thus  to  sacri- 
fice their  characters  as  honest  men,  (as  I  presume  some  of 
them  were,)  is  totally  unaccountable.  If  the  Act  is  really 
grievous,  is  it  not  much  better  to  represent  it  in  a  true 
light,  than  by  falsehood  and  high  colouring,  to  mislead  and 
deceive  every  reader  who  does  not  examine  the  statute  for 
himself?  To  make  the  people  believe  that  the  Governour 
bus  it  in  his  power  to  tyrannize  at  pleasure  over  them, 


328 

when  in  reality  he  can  do  nothing  himself?  If  it  is  not 
grievous,  will  such  misrepresentations  make  it  so?  Can 
they  be  justified  upon  any  good  and  virtuous  principle  ? 
Ought  not  those  men,  who,  by  such  pitiful,  base  methods, 
can  attempt  to  stir  up  a  people  to  acts  of  treason  and  re- 
bellion, and  destroy  the  peace  and  happiness  of  millions, 
to  be  held  in  everlasting  infamy  and  contempt?  Reason 
dictates,  justice  demands,  that  they  should. 

Let  us  attend  to  the  other  expressions  used  in  the  de- 
scription of  this  Act :  "  Send  persons  indicted  for  murder 
in  that  Province  to  another  Colony,  or  even  to  Great  Bri- 
tain, for  trial."  Is  not  this  expression  plainly  calculated 
to  induce  a  belief  that  all  persons  indicted  for  any  murder 
may  be  thus  removed  ?  Is  it  not  general  and  indefinite, 
without  any  exception,  without  any  restriction,  to  the  par- 
ticular offences  specified  in  the  Act  ?  I  grant,  that  were 
the  Act  such  as  is  here  represented,  it  would  be  a  most 
alarming  grievance,  a  matter  requiring  every  effort  in  our 
power  to  get  it  redressed ;  and  the  more  distressing  and 
oppressive  it  would  be  if  true,  so  much  greater  is  the  guilt 
and  wickedness  of  those  men  who  would  make  us  believe 
it  to  be  so.  But  if  we  examine  the  statute  itself,  we  shall 
find  it  really  calculated  to  promote  the  more  impartial  ad- 
ministration of  justice  in  those  instances  to  which  it  relates. 
If  we  advert  to  the  design  of  its  being  made,  and  the  cause 
which  gave  rise  to  it,  we  shall  be  convinced  of  its  propriety 
and  expediency.  The  destruction  of  the  Tea  above  men- 
tioned had  been  effected  in  open  and  direct  opposition  to, 
and  violation  of,  an  Act  of  Parliament ;  no  Magistrate  had 
interposed  to  prevent  it ;  it  was  the  prevailing  opinion  of 
the  common  people,  who  formed  their  political  creed  upon 
the  principles,  practices,  and  information  of  their  seditious 
leaders,  that  Acts  of  Parliament  were  not  binding  in  Ame- 
rica. They,  therefore,  did  not  consider  themselves  as  com- 
mitting an  act  of  treason  in  destroying  it,  but  at  most  a 
trespass  at  common  law ;  nay  !  some,  in  their  phrensy, 
thought  it  a  meritorious  action,  and  that  they  were  doing 
God  service  by  their  zeal  in  such  a  cause.  If,  therefore, 
any  civil  Magistrate,  or  others  by  his  command,  had,  in  re- 
sisting these  rioters  and  traitors,  put  any  of  them  to  death, 
and  bad  been  brought  to  a  trial  for  it  here,  such  was  the 
ferment  of  the  times,  so  infectious  and  extensive  the  in- 
fatuation, that  the  chance  was  ten  thousand  to  one  that 
the  jury  to  pass  upon  their  lives  would  consist  of  men  who 
had  adopted  these  erroneous  opinions,  who  would  there- 
fore think  the  conduct  of  the  accused  unlawful  and  criminal, 
and  consequently  bring  them  in  guilty  of  murder ;  and  I 
have  no  doubt  but  this  would  have  been  the  case,  had  such 
resistance  been  made  at  that  time.  The  Parliament  might 
justly  suppose  that  this  notorious  violence  passing  "  uncon- 
trolled and  unpunished,"  was  owing  to  this  cause  ;  at  least 
this  is  the  most  favourable  and  charitable  construction  that 
they  could  put  upon  it.  But  be  that  as  it  may,  their  atten- 
tion to  future  instances  of  the  same  kind,  to  prevent  such 
daring  outrages,  to  induce  submission  to  Acts  of  Parlia- 
ment, and  to  encourage  the  civil  Magistrate  and  others  in 
the  execution  of  their  duty,  was  evidently  the  design  of 
the  Act ;  and  it  is  equally  evident,  to  use  the  words  in  the 
preamble  of  the  Act,  that  Magistrates  and  others  might 
"  be  discouraged  from  the  proper  discharge  of  their  duty, 
by  an  apprehension  that,  in  case  of  their  being  questioned 
for  any  acts  done  in  execution  of  the  Laws  and  Statutes  of 
the  Realm,  they  might  be  liable  to  be  brought  to  trial  for 
the  same  before  persons  who  do  not  acknowledge  the  validi- 
ty of  the  laws,  in  the  execution  whereof,  or  the  authority  of 
the  Magistrate,  in  support  of  whom  such  acts  had  been 
done."  Especially  when,  for  a  bare  disavowal  of  the  vio- 
lence and  opposition  to  British  laws,  and  the  illegal,  dan- 
gerous spirit  that  then  did  and  still  does  prevail,  whole 
Towns  have  been  stigmatised,  and  individuals  insulted  and 
abused.  Nay,  if  those  who  would  venture  to  resist  and 
quell  any  riots  or  mobs  fortunately  were  acquitted  by  their 
peers,  upon  a  fair,  open,  and  impartial  trial,  they  have  still 
been  pursued  with  unrelenting  vengeance,  and  their  names 
and  characters  held  up  to  publick  view  in  the  most  infa- 
mous and  odious  light:  witness  the  institution  on  the  fifth 
of  March ;  that  disgrace  to  humanity,  dishonour  to  the 
laws,  and  paragon  of  infernal  malice  !  Thus,  while  every 
discouragement  has  been  given  to  the  due  execution  of  the 
laws,  when  we  were  absolutely  reduced  to  a  state  of  lawless 
anarehy,  can  we  with  reason  complain  of  an  Act  calculated 


329 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  APRIL,  1775. 


330 


to  restore  us  to  peace,  quietness,  and  order ;  an  Act  which 
provides  an  impartial  trial  for  men  who  shall  laudably  ven- 
ture to  enforce  a  due  obedience  to  the  laws  and  constitu- 
tional authority  of  the  Parent  State. 

But  the  fatal  mischief  which  the  quick-sighted  Congress 
have  discovered  in  this  Act,  tbat  "  hereby  such  offenders 
may  escape  legal  punishment,"  at  once  excites  our  pity 
for  their  weakness,  and  resentment  for  their  dishonesty. 
Surely  their  complaisance  to  this  Province  arose  to  an  un- 
bounded height,  thus  to  compliment  us,  not  only  at  the 
expense  of  all  the  other  Colonies  upon  the  Continent,  but 
even  of  Great  Britain.  1  am  apt  to  suspect  they  under- 
took the  description  of  this  Act  immediately  after  the 
adoption  of  the  Suffolk  Resolves ;  in  these  two  instances 
their  conduct  seems  to  be  uniform  and  consistent.  And  is 
there  not,  then,  to  be  found  in  the  Kingdom  of  Great 
Britain,  nor  in  all  the  Colonies,  an  uncorrupted  Court  and 
twelve  impartial  Jurors,  who  will  act  agreeable  to  law  and 
justice,  save  in  the  renowned  Province  of  the  Massachu- 
setts-Bay? Cannot  a  fair  and  legal  trial  be  had  in  any 
other  part  of  the  Dominions?  Or,  what  I  was  not  aware 
of  before,  did  the  Congress  think  there  could  not  be  found 
elsewhere  a  Court  and  Jury  so  intoxicated  with  popular 
rage  and  delusion,  as  to  condemn  men,  as  guilty  of  murder, 
who  had  only  discharged  their  duty  in  the  due  execution 
of  the  laws?  And,  therefore,  in  their  great  humanity  com- 
plain that  they  should  have  any  chance  for  an  acquittal  ! 
I  am  at  a  loss  on  which  of  these  principles  to  account  for 
the  conduct  of  the  Congress.  But  it  is  so  ridiculous  to 
pretend  that  a  fair  trial  cannot  be  had  out  of  this  Province, 
when  every  circumstance  favours  a  contrary  supposition, 
that  it  hardly  deserves  a  serious  answer.  Thus,  my  dear 
friends  and  fellow-countrymen,  have  the  Congress  left  that 
path  which  their  duty  and  our  interest  pointed  out,  and 
followed  the  lead  of  a  few  men,  who,  had  they  been  influ- 
enced by  any  laudable  or  virtuous  considerations,  we  should 
have  been  saved  from  the  calamities  that  now  awaits  us. 

As  this  publication  is  so  lengthy,  I  must  defer  the  re- 
maining part  of  the  article  for  a  future  paper. 

Phileirene. 

to  the  inhabitants  of  the  massachusetts-bay. 

NO.  IX. 

Boston,  April  13,  1775. 
Mi/  Friends  and  Fellow- Count rymen : 

It  is  not  to  be  wondered  at  that  disappointed  men,  grown 
wanton  by  peculation,  whose  ambition  suggested  to  them 
the  hope  of  overturning  a  Constitution  which  themselves, 
their  ancestors,  and  the  community  had  enjoyed,  and  the 
British  Nation  acceded  to  for  near  a  century  and  a  half, 
should  endeavour  to  convince  their  fellow-countrymen  of 
the  rectitude  and  fitness  of  their  exertions ;  when  suspect- 
ed, if  not  convicted,  at  the  bar  of  the  impartial  publick  of  a 
series  of  treasonable  acts  and  perfidious  plots,  by  which 
their  Country  and  millions  of  their  fellow-mortals  are 
plunged  into  a  choice  of  the  greatest  calamities,  that  they 
should  call  opposition  to  their  measures  by  lying  names, 
treason,  and  rebellion  ;  that  they  should  attempt  to  fix  the 
imputation  of  their  own  crimes  upon  those  who  have,  in  some 
degree,  detected  and  baffled  their  oppressive  schemes  ;  that 
they  should  struggle  to  carry  their  points,  by  imposing 
upon  the  understandings  of  some,  and  practising  on  the 
hopes  and  fears  of  others,  is  no  way  astonishing.  Such 
men  blush  at  nothing ;  ever  restless  and  craving,  over-heated 
in  the  pursuits  of  honour  and  profit,  they  yield  themselves 
up  to  the  dominion  of  principles  as  unworthy  the  man  as 
ever  the  wretched  animals  of  unbounded  ambition  were 
under  the  influence  of,  or  the  willing  tools  of  despotick 
power  advocates  for.* 

Massachusettensis,  in  his  publication  of  January  23d, 
after  giving  us  some  historical  facts,  and  his  observations 
upon  them,  which  go  to  the  right  of  Parliament,  bursts 
forth  into  the  most  virulent  invectives  against  those  gentle- 
men who  have  been  deputed,  by  the  free  and  unsolicited 
suffrages  of  the  people,  to  watch  the  encroachments  of 

*  It  gives  me  no  pleasure  to  write ;  it  must  give  pain  to  a  good  mind 
to  read  a  character  which  wounds  his  species  (his  countrymen)  with 
disgrace  and  infamy.  I  am  sorry  to  say  there  are  some  on  both  sides 
the  Atlantick,  to  whom  it  but  too  well  applies.  Charity  hopes  all 
things,  and  may  plead  for  tenderness  and  indulgence.  But  the  first 
obligations  upon  a  writer  are  to  truth  and  justice,  offend  whom  it  may. 


power,  and  to  concert  means  to  withstand  the  efforts  of 
tyranny,  which,  like  an  inundation,  was  breaking  in  upon 
us,  sweeping  away  all  our  social  blessings.  The  application 
of  his  facts,  and  the  pertinency  of  his  observations,  goes 
wholly  upon  the  presumption  that  the  Colonies  were  parts 
of  the  British  Empire,  even  from  their  first  discovery,  or, 
for  aught  appears,  from  the  creation  of  the  world,  and  as 
such  subject  to  the  British  Parliament  in  all  cases.  There- 
fore, as  there  is  nothing  new  in  this  part  of  his  paper,  the 
answers  which  we  have  repeatedly  made  to  such  presump- 
tions, void  of  proof,  will,  upon  recollection,  apply,  and  be  a 
sufficient  confutation.  For  this  reason  I  will  not  take  up 
your  time  with  unnecessary  observations  upon  his  first  para- 
graphs on  this  subject. 

Our  writer  tells  us  the  novelty  of  our  being  exempted 
from  the  authority  of  Parliament  will  appear,  by  an  extract 
from  a  pamphlet  published  in  1764,  by  a  gentleman  who 
was  then  an  oracle  of  the  Whigs,  and  whose  profound 
knowledge  in  the  Law  and  Constitution  is  equalled  but  by 
few.  This  extract  asserts  that  all  the  Colonies  are  subject 
to,  and  dependant  on  Great  Britain,  and  that  the  Parlia- 
ment has  authority  to  make  laws  binding  upon  them  for 
their  general  good,  &ic.  This  gentleman,  who  has  been 
one  of  the  greatest  ornaments  of  his  profession  as  a  lawyer, 
has  made  all  America  his  debtors  for  his  agonizing  strug- 
gles in  opposition  to  usurpation  and  tyranny  by  British 
powers.  He  has  more  than  once  nobly  stood  forth  to  stem 
the  torrent.  His  publick  life  has  been  a  political  conflict 
with  principalities  and  powers,  with  men  whom,  from  a  lust 
of  power,  have  been  plotting  the  ruin  of  this  ill-fated  Prov- 
ince, together  with  this  great  patriot. 

The  Whigs  call  no  man  master  under  Heaven,  however 
great ;  their  appeal  is  to  the  law  and  to  the  testimony,  to  the 
Constitution  of  their  Country,  and  the  eternal  principles  of 
nature.  The  position  laid  down  by  the  gentleman  alluded 
to,  as  it  stands  unsupported  by  argument  or  reason,  what- 
ever might  induce  to  it  in  his  mind,  is  but  the  opinion  of 
one  individual  of  the  community.  Admitting  that  it  was  his 
opinion  that  the  right  of  Parliament  was  as  extensive  as  her 
present  claims,  which  was  not  the  case,  it  would  only  prove 
a  diversity  of  opinion  in  different  men,  which  is  sometimes 
the  case  in  the  same  man  at  different  times.  This  is  inci- 
dent to  humanity,  especially  before  a  thorough  examina- 
tion of  the  subject.  We  might  apply  to  it  an  observation 
of  his  own  upon  a  similar  occasion,  "that  when  great  men 
miss  it,  they  miss  it  most  egregiously."  They,  as  has  been 
remarked  on  this  very  pamphlet,  sometimes  see  men  as 
trees  walking.  However,  Massachusettensis,  ever  consist- 
ent with  himself,  fully  answers  this,  his  own  argument,  in 
his  paper  of  March  16th.  "Messieurs  Otis,  Cushing, 
Hancock,  and  Adams,"  says  he,  "  were  confidential  friends, 
and  made  common  cause.  May  we  thence  infer,  that  the 
three  latter  held  that  the  Parliament  had  a  just  and  equita- 
ble right  to  impose  taxes  on  the  Colonies,  fcc,  because  the 
first  did."  He  adds,  "  such  principles  and  inferences  are 
unlucky,"  that  is,  nothing  can  be  inferred  from  them.  If 
so,  can  we  infer  the  sentiments  of  the  publick  from  the 
opinion  of  one  gentleman  ?  How,  then,  does  the  above 
extract,  which  has  been  published  and  republished,  cited 
and  recited  by  our  writer,  prove,  upon  his  own  principles, 
that  the  denial  of  the  authority  of  Parliament  over  the 
Colonies  is  a  novelty  ? 

We  are  next  presented  with  an  extract  from  the  Farm- 
er's Letters,  who,  we  are  told,  took  the  lead  in  explaining 
away  the  right  of  Parliament  to  raise  a  revenue  in  Ame- 
rica, where,  speaking  of  the  regulation  of  Trade,  tells  us, 
"  he  who  considers  these  Provinces  as  States  distinct  from 
the  British  Empire,  has  very  slender  notions  of  justice,  or 
of  their  interest.  We  are  but  parts  of  a  whole,  and  there- 
fore there  must  exist  a  power  somewhere  to  preside  and 
preserve  the  connection  in  due  order.  This  power  is 
lodged  in  Parliament,  and  we  are  as  much  dependant  on 
Great  Britain  as  a  perfectly  free  people  can  be  on  ano- 
ther." This  elegant  writer  and  firm  asserter  of  his  Coun- 
try's rights,  who  took  the  lead,  still  holds  a  conspicuous 
place  among  the  American  worthies,  the  guardians  of  our 
liberties.  His  sentiment  respecting  the  rights  of  Parlia- 
ment is  sufficiently  evident  from  the  result  of  the  Con- 
gress, of  which  he  was  a  member,  as  well  as  from  the 
whole  tenour  of  those  Letters,  which  have  been  translated 
and  admired  by  different  Nations  in  Europe.    It  is  admit- 


■ 


331  CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  fcc,  APRIL,  1775.  332 


ted  that  the  Colonies  and  Great  Britain  are  one,  are 
parts  of  a  whole,  in  their  commercial  interest.  They  see 
the  necessity  of  a  power  somewhere,  to  preside,  and  pre- 
serve this  commercial  connection  in  due  order.  They 
consent  that  Parliament  should  exercise  this  power ;  we 
contend  only  for  the  rights  and  privileges  of  a  perfectly 
free  people,  submitting  to  Acts  for  the  regulating  of 
Trade. 

Massachuscttcnsis  having,  as  he  says,  settled  the  right 
of  Parliament,  dips  his  pen  in  gall ;  lost  to  all  sense  of 
candour  or  generosity,  to  all  the  noble  sallies  of  the  chari- 
table soul,  arms  it  with  invectives,  and  with  a  facility  pecu- 
liar to  himself,  hurls  the  envenomed  shafts  of  obliquy  and 
reproach  against  some  of  the  fairest  characters  on  the 
Continent.  He  lashes  all  around  him  indiscriminately, 
with  the  dire  scourges  of  calumny  and  slander. 

To  show  what  engines  some  of  the  tories,  even  the 
mildest  of  them,  employ  in  their  political  war;  what  inde- 
cencies a  party  spirit  betrays  them  into;  to  what  expe- 
dients, and  pitiful  shifts  they  sometimes  stoop,  I  will  trans- 
cribe the  substance  of  a  part  of  this  acrimonious    .  . 

We  are  told,  that  the  Resolves  of  our  Congresses  either 
argue  profound  ignorance,  or  hypocritical  cunning;  that 
many  unsuspecting  persons  have  been  prevailed  upon  to 
oppose  the  execution  of  Acts  of  Parliament  by  those  who 
could  have  turned  to  the  page  where  such  insurrections 
were  pronounced  rebellion  by  the  laws  of  the  land;  and 
had  not  their  hearts  been  dead  to  a  sense  of  justice,  and 
steeled  against  every  feeling  of  humanity,  they  would 
timely  have  warned  us  of  our  danger;  that  our  patriots 
have  sent  us  in  pursuit  of  a  fascinating  glare,  devoid  of  sub- 
stance ;  that  when  we  find  ourselves  bewildered,  with 
scarce  one  ray  of  hope  to  raise  our  sinking  spirits,  or  stay 
our  fainting  souls,  they  conjure  up  phantoms  more  delusive 
and  fleeting,  if  possible,  than  that  which  first  led  us  astray  ; 
they  tell  us  that  we  are  a  match  for  Great  Britain;  that 
no  pains  have  been  spared  by  our  wretched  politicians  to 
prevent  a  defection  of  the  Army  to  the  service ;  that  the 
officers  have  a  bad  opinion  of  the  cause  of  the  Whigs,  from 
the  treatment  of  their  General,  and  the  infamous  attempts 
to  seduce  the  soldiers  from  His  Majesty's  service;  that  the 
policy  of  our  patriots  has  been  as  weak  and  contemptible 
as  their  motives  are  sordid  and  malevolent;  that  failing  of 
success  in  corrupting,  they  took  pains  to  attach  them  firmer 
to  the  service,  by  preventing  the  erecting  of  barracks,  by 
which  means  many  contracted  diseases,  and  some  lost  their 
lives ;  that  our  patriots  had  deprived  them  of  a  gratifica- 
tion never  denied  to  the  brute  creation — straw  to  lay  on  ; 
that  we  have  been  amused  with  intimations  and  prospects 
which  were  only  the  suggestions  of  despair ;  that  the  Grand 
Congress  had  prevented  the  people  in  England  from 
espousing  our  cause  ;  that  they  had  bid  Great  Britain 
defiance.  He  then  concludes  his  paper  by  telling  us 
what  warlike  preparations  are  made  against  us,  and  advis- 
ing us  to  provide  for  the  safety  of  ourselves,  our  wives, 
our  children,  our  friends,  and  our  Country,  by  immediately 
protesting  against  all  the  traitorous  Resolves  and  Associa- 
tions of  our  Congresses,  that  the  innocent  may  not  be 
confounded  with  the  guilty. 

There  is  scarce  one  crime  that  human  nature  is  capable 
of,  but  what  is  here  imputed  to  our  leaders,  whose  publick 
conduct  is  applauded  by  an  admiring  world.  Not  content- 
ed with  vilifying  their  characters,  he  urges  it  upon  us  with 
an  importunate  pathos  as  a  duty,  to  commit  an  act  of  the 
basest  ingratitude,  an  instance  of  the  blackest  treachery. 
Perfidiously  to  protest  against  the  proceedings  of  those 
gentlemen  who,  by  our  appointment  and  for  our  safety, 
have  undertaken  an  arduous  task,  and,  unawed  by  a  sense 
of  danger,  confiding  in  the  virtue  and  firmness  of  their 
Country,  have  discharged  it  with  honour,  wisdom,  firm- 
ness, and  courage  themselves,  would  be  blasting  our  spe- 
cies with  disgrace,  and  consigning  our  names  to  everlasting 
infamy. 

Paintings  and  colourings  on  indifTerent  matters  may 
tickle  the  sense  and  please  the  imagination ;  even  fictitious 
representations  may  be  innocent.  In  affairs  of  serious  and 
general  concernment,  to  misrepresent  and  asperse,  is  to 
play  with  firebrands,  arrows,  and  death.  You  well  know, 
my  countrymen,  the  real  state  of  facts  upon  which  our 
writer  founds  his  ill-natured  charges.  You  are  acquainted 
with  their  concomitant  circumstances,  the  principles  and 


policy  upon  which  they  stand.  The  necessity  of  our  situa- 
tion, in  which  the  Tories  had  plunged  us,  pointed  them  out ; 
self-preservation  gave  them  being.  I  shall  not  particularly 
advert  to  his  charges  against  our  publick  characters,  except- 
ing to  those  of  treason  and  rebellion.  Power  naturally 
exists  where  God  Almighty  placed  it.  Great  oppressions, 
unless  the  people  are  sunk  into  ignorance  and  stupidity, 
will  ever  kindle  the  spirit  of  opposition.  It  is  in  vain  to 
attempt  to  reason  or  frighten  those  who  have  minds  to 
conceive,  hearts  to  feel,  and  spirit  to  act,  into  servile  sub- 
missions. They  feel  truths,  feel  injuries :  and  present  suf- 
ferings render  them  strangers  to  future  dangers.  Exigen- 
cies call  for  exertions  ;  efforts  may  prove  fortunate,  glorious, 
and  triumphant;  and  when  a  subjection,  or  vanquishment, 
can  take  nothing  away  that  a  submission  would  leave, 
reason  warrants  the  procedure.  It  is  an  observation  of  the 
celebrated  Doctor  Blackstone,  "  that  whenever  the  uncon- 
stitutional oppressions,  even  of  the  sovereign  power,  ad- 
vance with  gigantick  strides,  and  threaten  desolation  to  a 
State,  mankind  will  not  be  reasoned  out  of  the  feelings  of 
humanity,  nor  will  sacrifice  their  liberty,  by  a  scrupulous 
adherence  to  those  political  maxims  which  were  established 
to  preserve  it." 

This  will  be  the  case,  whether  there  be  Congresses  or 
Committees,  patriots  and  politicians,  or  not,  until  men's 
spirits  are  subdued.  Had  Massachusettensis  been  as  much 
indebted  to  some  of  our  patriots,  as  many  of  his  good  bre- 
thren in  the  western  parts  of  this  Province  are  for  their 
kind  interposition  to  appease  a  justly  incensed  multitude, 
he  would  have  dealt  out  his  invectives  with  a  more  sparing 
hand.*  What  would  have  been  the  situation  of  the  Tories 
in  the  Country,  had  it  not  been  for  Committees  of  Corres- 
pondence, which  they  so  much  despise,  and  other  gentle- 
men of  influence,  who  possessed  the  confidence  and  affec- 
tions of  an  abused  people  ? 

That  all  publick  and  civil  powers,  Royal  prerogatives, 
and  Kingly  authority,  may  remain  where  the  wisdom  of 
our  Constitution  have  placed  them,  is  the  wish  of  every 
true  American.  Every  pulse  beats  loyalty  to  our  gracious 
Sovereign.  He  pierces  with  indignant  looks  the  wretch 
who  dares  to  lisp  disloyalty,  who  would  not  spill  his  blood 
in  defence  of  his  King's  constitutional  Government,  his 
crown  and  dignity.  By  opposing  innovations,  Govern- 
ment is  preserved.  For  subjects  to  hold  their  liberties 
dearer  than  life,  must  be  the  joyful  boast  of  an  English 
Prince :  it  is  the  most  sparkling  gem  in  the  Crown  of 
George  the  Third,  whose  life  America  prays  may  be  long 
and  happy.  She  considers  the  Crown  and  Royal  dignity 
as  an  office  instituted  for  the  people  for  their  good,  as  a 
trust  for  millions,  and  extending  its  influences  to  genera- 
tions yet  unborn,  and  not  as  a  descendable  property,  as 
an  estate  vested  in  the  possessor  for  the  emolument  and 
grandeur  of  himself  and  heirs. 

To  assert  and  defend  those  rights  which  have  their  foun- 
dation in  the  reason  of  things,  in  the  nature  of  Government, 
the  principles  of  the  English  Constitution,  our  own  Char- 
ters, the  laws  of  our  being,  the  maxims  of  wisdom  and 
sound  policy  that  have  been  sanctified  by  long  usage,  a 
uniformity  of  principle  and  practice  for  ages  past,  cannot 
be  disloyalty  to  that  King  who  never  dies,  who  is  constitu- 
tionally present  and  active  in  all  parts  of  his  Government, 
and  neither  knows  nor  regards  the  pleasure  or  mandates  of 
the  man  who  wears  the  Crown,  when  they  are  not  dictated 
by  the  laws  of  the  land.  The  coronation  oath,  and  the 
oath  of  allegiance,  says  a  great  writer,  are  in  effect  but 
swearing  to  the  Constitution — in  one  to  govern,  and  in  the 
other  to  be  governed,  according  to  it. 

Treason  and  rebellion  consists  in  rising  in  opposition  to 
lawful  authority.  If  we  are  not  a  part  of  the  Empire  of 
Great  Britain  in  such  a  sense  as  to  be  subject  to  her  legis- 
lative authority  in  all  cases,  then  she  has  no  right  to  give 
us  law  in  all  cases,  or  to  coerce  obedience  to  them.  If  she 
has  not  this  right,  opposition  to  such  laws  as  she  has  no 
right  to  make  is  neither  treason  nor  rebellion,  nor  any  other 
misdemeanor,  but  incumbent  duty.  Every  society  has  a 
right  to  preserve  its  liberties  and  privileges  against  those 
who  have  no  authority  to  invade  them :  and  certainly  they 
are  justified  in  the  use  of  those  means  by  which  alone  they 

*  I  could  toll  some  merry  stories  of  the  Tories  making  application 
to  some  of  the  Whigs  in  the  western  part  of  this  Province,  for  their 
assistance  when  in  trouble,  were  it  proper  at  this  time. 


333 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &tc,  APRIL,  1775. 


334 


can  attain  this  valuable  end.  Sighs  and  tears,  prayers  and 
broken  hearts  are  of  no  eli'ect  against  the  frightlul  blaze  of 
warlike  apparatus.  The  points  of  swords,  mouths  of  thun- 
dering cannon,  arms,  and  other  instruments  of  death  ;  these 
must  be  answered  by  a  different  argument. 

The  good  of  the  whole  is  the  same  with  the  good  of  all 
its  parts.  If  self-defence  is  justifiable,  nay,  a  duty  in  in- 
dividuals, it  must  be  lawful  in  a  community  composed  of 
individuals.  "  The  right  of  self-defence,  in  cases  of  great 
and  urgent  necessity,  and  where  no  other  remedy  is  at 
hand,  (says  a  great  Crown  lawyer,)  is  perfectly  understood 
and  universally  assented  to :  a  right  which  the  law  of  nature 
giveth,  and  no  law  of  society  hath  taken  away." 

If  this  be  true  in  case  of  individuals,  it  will  be  equally 
so  in  cases  of  communities  under  the  like  circumstances  of 
necessity.  For  all  the  rights  and  powers  for  defence  and 
preservation  belonging  to  society,  are  nothing  more  than 
the  natural  rights  and  powers  of  individuals  transferred  to, 
and  concentering  in  the  body,  for  the  preservation  of  the 
whole.  And  from  the  law  of  self-preservation,  considered 
as  extending  to  civil  society,  resulted]  the  well  known 
maxim,  salus  populi  suprema  lex. 

1  think  the  principles  here  laid  down  must  be  admitted, 
unless  any  one  will  choose  to  say  that  individuals  in  a  com- 
munity are,  in  pertain  cases,  under  the  protection  of  the 
primitive  law  of  self-preservation ;  but  communities,  com- 
posed of  the  same  individuals,  are  in  like  cases  excluded. 
Or  that  when  the  enemy  is  at  the  gate,  every  single  soldier 
may  and  ought  to  stand  to  his  arms,  but  the  garrison  must 
surrender  at  discretion. 

Is  there  not  but  too  much  reason  to  contemplate  upon 
these  principles,  to  expect  an  attack,  to  prepare  for  the  con- 
flict ?  Has  not  our  capital  street  been  bathed  in  blood  ? 
some  of  our  countrymen  cut  and  mangled  with  pointed 
steel  ?  Others  abused  and  injured  in  triumphant  rage  ?  Is 
not  much  of  our  property  wrested  from  the  hands  of  its 
lawful  owners  ?  Are  not  many  valuable  lives  in  constant 
jeopardy?  Is  not  our  Metropolis  in  captivity,  and  our 
Harbours  filled  with  Ships-of-War  ?  Are  not  our  adversa- 
ries preparing  for  havock  and  desolation  ?  In  this  situation 
is  it  loyalty  to  lay  still  unarmed,  until  destruction  comes 
upon  us  as  a  whirlwind  ?  Is  it  treason  to  prepare  to  act 
on  the  defensive  ?  The  great  Soiners  tells  us,  that  "  he 
who  lets  any  person  whatever  destroy  him  contrary  to  law, 
when  it  is  in  his  power  to  preserve  his  life  by  defending 
himself,  does  tacitly  consent  to  his  own  death,  which  he  is 
obliged  to  defend  by  the  law  of  nature  ;  and  therefore  is 
guilty  of  his  own  blood."  Is  it  not  the  same  with  com- 
munities ? 

Massachusettensis  tells  us,  in  his  publication  of  Febru- 
ary 20th,  "  that  he  agrees  with  the  Whigs,  if  the  Colonies 
are  separate  or  distinct  States,  (that  is,  not  within  the  ju- 
risdiction of  Parliament,)  ev  ery  Act  of  Parliament  extending 
to  the  Colonies,  and  every  movement  of  the  Crown  to 
carry  them  into  execution,  would  be  really  grievances, 
however  wise  and  salutary  they  might  be  in  themselves, 
as  they  would  be  exertions  of  a  power  that  we  were  not 
constitutionally  subject  to,  and  would  deserve  the  names  of 
usurpation  and  tyranny."  He  might  have  added,  and 
every  person  who  has  been  deliberately  attempting  to 
enforce  and  carry  them  into  execution  is  guilty  of  .  .  . 
and  deserves  the  ....  together  with  the  abhor- 
rence of  all  America. 

If  the  Parliament  has  not  the  right  she  contends  for,  of 
taxation  and  legislation  over  the  Colonies,  a  few  extracts 
from  the  illustrious  Locke  and  Lord  Somers  will,  perhaps, 
come  home  to  the  point.  "  Whenever  (says  Locke)  Legis- 
lators endeavour  to  take  away  and  destroy  the  property  of 
the  people,  or  to  reduce  them  to  slavery  under  arbitrary 
power,  they  put  themselves  in  a  state  of  war  with  the  peo- 
ple, who  are  thereupon  absolved  from  any  farther  obedience, 
and  are  left  to  the  common  refuge  which  God  hath  provi- 
ded for  all  men  against  force  and  violence.  Whenever, 
therefore,  the  Legislative  shall  transgress  this  fundamental 
rule  of  society,  and  either  by  ambition,  fear,  folly,  or  cor- 
ruption, endeavour  to  grasp  to  themselves,  or  put  into  the 
hands  of  any  other,  an  absolute  power  over  the  lives, 
liberties,  and  estate  of  the  people,  they  forfeit  their  trust, 
and  the  people  have  a  right  to  reassume  their  original 
liberty.  The  same  holds  true  concerning  the  supreme 
Executor,  who  acts  against  his  trust,  when  he  goes  about 


to  set  up  his  own  arbitrary  will  as  the  law  of  the  society, 
when  he  employs  the  force,  treasure  and  offices  of  the 
society  to  corrupt  the  Representatives,  and  gain  them  to 
his  purposes.  What  is  this  but  to  cut  up  Government  by 
the  roots,  and  poison  the  very  fountain  of  publick  securi- 
ty ?"  These  are  the  words  of  that  great  man,  and  if  they 
apply  in  any  degree  to  present  times  it  is  not  my  fault. 

Seeing  all  power  must  be  derived  from  some  grant  of 
the  people,  it  is  incumbent  upon  every  body  politick  to 
prove  and  justify  the  several  degrees  of  authority  which  it 
pretends  to  claim  ;  and  what  it  cannot  derive  from  some 
concession  of  the  people,  must  remain  vested  in  them  as 
their  reserved  right.  If  it  assumes  any  authority'  which  it 
cannot  prove  the  people  surrendered,  it  is  guilty  of  an  in- 
vasion of  their  rights.  To  extend  the  rights  of  governing 
and  commanding,  and  the  duties  of  submission  and  obedi- 
ence, beyond  the  laws  of  one's  Country,  is  treason  against 
the  Constitution,  treachery  to  the  society,  and  an  injury  to 
mankind.  It  is  cutting  up  the  hedges  and  fences  of  the 
subject's  liberty,  an  attempt  to  make  one  part  of  mankind 
tyrants  and  monsters,  the  other  food  for  their  malice,  re- 
venge, and  brutal  lust — to  make  them  wretched  slaves, 
miserable  reptiles. 

Is  there  any  proof  or  evidence  of  any  surrender,  com- 
pact, or  consent  of  the  people,  that  the  Colonies  should 
be,  in  all  cases,  within  the  legislative  authority  of  Parlia- 
ment? Would  not  this  be  subversive  of  our  Constitutions, 
and  repugnant  to  every  principle  of  freedom  ?  What, 
then,  are  the  crimes  of  those  who  have  been,  and  are  still 
struggling  to  establish  this  subjection  ? 

"  They  are  not,  nor  can  be  rebels,"  says  the  famous 
Lord  Somers,  "  who  endeavour  to  preserve  and  maintain 
the  Constitution  ;  but  they  are  traitors  who  design  and 
pursue  the  subversion  of  it.  They  are  rebels  who  go 
about  to  overthrow  the  Government  of  their  Country  ; 
whereas  such  as  seek  to  defend  and  support  it,  are  the 
truly  loyal  persons,  and  do  act  according  to  the  ties  and 
obligations  of  fealty.  Nor  is  it  merely  the  first  and  high- 
est treason  in  itself,  that  a  member  of  a  political  society  is 
capable  of  committing,  to  go  about  to  subvert  the  Consti- 
tution ;  but  it  is  also  the  greatest  treason  he  can  perpetrate 
against  the  person,  crown,  and  dignity  of  the  King." 

"  Whosoever,  either  ruler  or  the  subject,  by  force  goes 
about  to  invade  the  rights  of  either  Prince  or  People,  and 
lay  the  foundation  for  overturning  the  Constitution  and 
frame  of  any  just  Government,  he  is  guilty  of  the  greatest 
crime,  I  think,  a  man  is  capable  of,  being  to  answer  for  all 
those  mischiefs  of  blood,  rapine,  and  desolation,  which  the 
breaking  to  pieces  of  Government  brings  upon  a  Country  ; 
and  he  who  does  it  is  justly  to  be  accounted  one  who  re- 
sists the  ordinance  of  God,  and  the  common  enemy  and 
pest  of  mankind." 

The  above  is  the  judgment  of  whole  Kingdoms  and 
Nations.  Let  those,  ivhoever  they  be,  that  have  been 
sporting  with  the  rights  of  mankind,  and  rioting  on  their 
spoils  ;  who,  contracted  in  the  little  point  of  self,  and 
equally  steeled  against  the  rebukes  of  conscience  and  the 
sentiments  of  humanity,  that  have  been  thundering  to  the 
world  the  terrours  of  prostituted  law,  and  proclaiming  the 
manly  and  loyal  struggles  of  an  oppressed  people  in  de- 
fence of  their  just  rights,  sedition  and  rebellion — thus, 
instigated  by  the  sweets  of  revenge,  the  hopes  of  conquest, 
the  prospect  of  rich  plunder  in  a  plenty  of  confiscations, 
the  pleasing  expectation  of  unbounded  power,  with  a  mis- 
giving heart  still  dreading  the  final  issue  of  things,  have 
been  eager  to  travel  the  crimson  fields  of  blood,  and  to 
send  the  terrours  of  fire  and  sword  into  the  innocent  places 
of  domestick  retirement;  let  such  consider  what  has  been 
the  judgment  of  past  ages,  and  will  be  the  opinion  of  fu- 
ture generations  respecting  their  conduct. 

From  the  County  of  Hampshire. 


Portsmouth,  New-Hampshire,  April  14,  1775. 

The  alarming  crisis  to  which  the  Parliamentary  contro- 
versy with  the  Colonies  is  now  brought,  demands  the  uni- 
ted wisdom  and  attention  of  every  serious,  well-disposed 
person  among  us ;  and  the  grand  question  which  obtrudes 
itself  at  first  view  is,  can  we  withstand  the  power  of  Great 
Britain,  when  determined  to  enforce  obedience  to  the 
laws  of  her  Parliament  ?    To  this  question,  many  heated 


385 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  See,  APRIL,  1775. 


33b 


imaginations  may  reply,  we  can  ;  for  Britain  is  not  able  to 
send  Troops  enough  to  conquer  us,  though  she  may  distress 
and  ruin  our  commercial  connections.    I  must  confess  that 
1  am  not  of  that  opinion ;  for  if  the  British  Nation,  collec- 
tively as  one  body,  should  espouse  the  Parliamentary  claim 
of  supremacy,  however  unjust  or  unconstitutional,  1  am 
convinced  they  could  reduce  us  to  such  extremities  as 
would  make  us  the  most  miserable  of  dependant  beings. 
But  this  cannot  be  expected  ;  we  see  the  greatest  men  in 
the  Nation  appear  in  behalf  of  America,  condemning  the 
policy  of  Administration,  applauding  the  Colonists  for  their 
noble  and  generous  exertions  in  support  of  their  just  rights 
and  privileges ;  we  see  the  Merchants  kindly  and  friendly 
petitioning  the  Parliament  in  our  behalf;  but  all  in  vain — 
our  controversy  is  confined  to  the  two  branches  of  the  Le- 
gislature only,  and  they  are  judges  in  their  own  cause ; 
and  although  His  Majesty  has  been  pleased  to  give  coun- 
tenance to  their  Resolutions,  and  seems  determined  to  sup- 
port them,  yet,  with  all  these  appearances,  we  cannot  think 
the  present  manoeuvres  justified  by  the  Nation  ;  and  a  short 
time  will  convince  us  that  greater  disturbances  will  appear 
in  England  than  in  America.  The  obstruction  to  the  Neiv- 
foundland  Fishery  from  Neiv-England,  will  be  another 
alarm  to  the  Nation,  as  they  must  see  their  rivals  in  trade, 
the  French,  will  seize  every  advantage  thereby  ;  and  the 
Southern  Governments  will  look  upon  the  stoppage  to  the 
trade  of  the  New-England  Provinces  only  as  the  execu- 
tion of  a  plan  in  part,  in  expectation  that  they  would  avail 
themselves  of  the  opportunity  of  growing  rich,  and  in- 
creasing in  trades,  while  the  other  are  sinking  beneath 
their  burdens,  and  reduced  to  such  misery  as  to  be  obliged 
to  submit ;  which  when  they  have  accomplished,  Adminis- 
tration will  not  be  content  till  they  have  subjugated  the 
whole  Continent  to  their  sovereign  control.     But  the 
question  still  remains  to  be  answered,  can  we,  or  shall  we 
withstand  an  Army  who  spread  the  British  standard,  and 
is  commanded  by  a  General  acting  by  and  under  His  Ma- 
jesty's commission  ?    To  answer  this  question  is  puzzling 
to  the  ablest  politicians  amongst  us ;  those  who  answer  in 
the  affirmative,  do  not  enough  consider  that  the  sword 
once  drawn  can  never  be  sheathed  but  in  the  bowels  of 
Britons  and  Americans — till  desolation  and  war  becomes 
one  general  scene.    For  although  ten  thousand  Troops 
may  (all  an  easy  prey  to  the  numbers  brought  against  them, 
yet  what  will  be  the  event  of  such  a  conquest  ?  Britain 
will  feel  the  lo?s  of  her  sons,  and  the  blood  of  the  slain 
will  call  aloud  for  revenge,  and  this  may  rouse  the  Nation 
to  drop  every  idea  of  friendship,  and  losing  sight  of  the 
merits  of  the  controversy,  will  naturally  support  the  tar- 
nished honour  of  the  British  arms,  and  enraged  with  dis- 
dain of  an  inglorious  defeat,  may  send  such  numbers  of 
mercenary  and  veteran  Troops,  which,  together  with  a  pow- 
erful Fleet,  will  scatter  destruction  on  our  devoted  heads. 
On  the  other  hand,  those  who  are  on  the  negative  side  of 
the  question,  and  who  say  we  ought  not  to  oppose  the  Bri- 
tish £  moos,  should  mark  out  the  line  of  conduct  necessary 
to  be  pursued  in  this  critical  and  alarming  period,  and 
should  prove  the  inexpediency  of  appearing  in  arms  till 
forced  thereto  by  the  loss  of  every  idea  or  hope  of  a  recon- 
ciliation with  Britain ;  and  that  it  plainly  appears  the  Na- 
tion has  left  us  to  be  the  victims  of  Parliamentary  resent- 
ment.   For  my  own  part,  I  must  own  the  idea  of  taxation 
without  representation  appears  to  me  incompatible  with  the 
British  Constitution,  and  is  a  political  solecism ;  and  any 
Government  founded  upon  such  principles  must  soon  fall 
into  despotism.    And  as  America  is  not  represented  in  the 
Parliament  of  Britain,  she  can't  justly  be  taxed ;  but  if  it 
is  insisted  upon,  that  supremacy  must  be  lodged  some- 
where, and  the  Parliament  being  the  highest  Court  in  the 
Nation,  that  supremacy  ought  to  rest  there;  in  that  case, 
subordinate  legislation  by  American  Assemblies  must  be 
first  annihilated  ;  for  the  subject  ought  not  to  be  governed 
by  two  codes  of  laws,  some  of  which  are  diametrically 
opposite  in  their  operation. 

These  arguments  have  been  so  often  and  so  fully  treated 
upon,  that  every  individual  knows  the  force  of  them.  I 
shall  therefore  only  add  here,  that  there  is  a  vacancy,  or 
rather  weakness,  in  the  Constitution  of  the  Parliamentary 
Government  of  America,  which  requires  the  consideration 
of  both  Countries,  and  without  a  settlement  thereof  the 
present  controversy  will  never  be  ended ;  for  unless  the 


wound  is  probed  to  the  bottom,  it  cannot  be  healed  ;  it 
may  be  skinned  over  for  a  short  time,  but  will  break  out 
again  with  more  virulence.  A  denial  of  any  legislative 
right  over  America,  is  equally  unreasonable  in  us,  as  it  is 
in  the  Parliament  to  claim  it  in  all  cases  whatsoever.  To 
suppose  that  we  are  to  be  controlled  only  by  our  own  Legis- 
latures, will  appear  at  first  view  to  be  incompatible  with  the 
regulating  laws  of  Commerce.  The  East-India,  the  As- 
siento,  and  Hudson's  Bay  Companies,  all  pay  large  sums 
to  the  Nation  for  an  exclusive  trade;  and  every  merchant 
in  Britain  is  subject  to  large  penalties  for  even  attempting 
to  trade  there,  besides  a  seizure  and  condemnation  of  both 
vessel  and  cargo.  So  that  if  the  Colonies  are  not  subject 
to  these  regulating  laws,  they  may  easily  interfere  in  all 
these  exclusive  trades,  and  evade  the  penalties.  Inasmuch 
as  we  have  not  attempted  those  trades,  we  have  considered 
ourselves  as  excluded  with  the  rest  of  the  Nation.  The 
line  of  conduct  necessary  for  us  to  pursue  at  this  time,  to 
avoid  the  dreadful  consequences  of  a  desolating  civil  war, 
requires  the  advice  and  wisdom  of  the  coolest  and  most 
considerate  men  amongst  us.  And  may  the  overruling  hand 
of  a  good  Providence  so  direct  all  consultations  for  the 
safety,  welfare,  and  advancement  of  the  British  Nation  in 
genera],  and  America  in  particular;  and  that  unanimity  in 
our  adopted  plans  may  crown  our  expectations  with  suc- 
cess, to  a  happy  re-establishment  of  that  harmony  between 
the  two  Countries,  which  is  confessedly  allowed  to  be  the 
only  means  of  supporting  their  political  existences. 

Candidus. 


In  Provincial  Congress,  Concord,  April  11,  1775. 
Whereas  numbers  of  persons,  from  their  unhappy  situa- 
tion in  the  Town  of  Boston,  are  removing  with  their 
effects  : 

It  is  recommended  to  the  good  people  of  this  Province, 
that  they  would  rent  their  Houses,  and  assist  such  persons 
with  Teams  for  their  removal,  Provisions  for  their  support, 
and  all  other  necessaries,  upon  as  easy  and  cheap  terms  as 
they  can  possibly  afford  ;  and  that  all  Goods  and  Merchan- 
dise be  sold  in  like  manner,  agreeable  to  the  spirit  of  the 
Continental  Association.  By  order  of  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress: John  Hancock,  President. 


EXTRACT   OF  A   LETTER  FROM  LORD  DARTMOUTH  TO  GEN- 
ERAL  GAGE,  DATED   LONDON,  APRIL    15,  1775. 

It  would  appear  necessary  and  expedient,  that  all  Fortifi- 
cations should  be  garrisoned  by  the  King's  Troops,  or  dis- 
mantled and  destroyed ;  that  all  cannon,  small  arms,  and 
other  military  stores  of  every  kind,  that  may  be  either  in 
any  magazine,  or  secreted  for  the  purpose  of  aiding  the 
rebellion,  should  also  be  seized  and  secreted;  and  that  the 
persons  of  such  as,  according  to  the  opinion  of  His  Majes- 
ty's Attorney  and  Solicitor  General,  have  committed  them- 
selves in  acts  of  treason  and  rebellion,  should  be  arrested 
and  imprisoned. 

I  observed  that  in  your  letter  of  January  18th,  you  said 
that  if  a  respectable  force  is  seen  in  the  field,  the  most  ob- 
noxious of  the  leaders  seized,  and  a  pardon  proclaimed  for 
all  others,  Government  will  come  off  victorious.  The 
two  first  of  these  objects  are  already  provided  for,  and  it 
only  remains  for  me  to  signify  to  you  the  King's  pleasure, 
that,  if  you  shall  continue  to  be  of  opinion,  that  an  offer  of 
pardon  will  be  advisable,  you  do,  by  virtue  of  the  power 
already  given  to  you  by  His  Majesty's  special  commission, 
under  the  great  seal  for  pardon  for  treason  and  other  of- 
fences, issue  a  Proclamation  within  your  Government,  at 
such  time  as  you  shall  judge  proper,  offering  a  reasonable 
reward  for  apprehending  the  President,  Secretary,  and  any 
other  of  the  Members  of  the  Provincial  Congress,  whom 
you  shall  find  to  have  been  the  most  forward  and  active  in 
that  seditious  meeting,  requiring  all  persons  who  may,  in 
consequence  of  their  Resolves  and  exhortations,  have  ap- 
peared in  arms  to  oppose  the  law,  to  render  themselves  to 
the  Governour  and  Council  within,  a  reasonable  time,  and 
declare,  that  upon  such  surrender,  and  upon  taking  the 
oaths  of  allegiance,  and  making  such  declaration  of  their 
obedience  as  you  shall  think  proper,  they  shall  receive 
His  Majesty's  gracious  pardon  for  all  treasons  they  have 
committed. 


337 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  APRIL,  1775. 


338 


LORD  DARTMOUTH  TO  THE  COVERNOURS  OF  COLONIES. 
[Circular.]  Whitehall,  April  15th,  1775. 

Sir:  I  am  commanded  by  the  King  to  acquaint  you 
that  it  is  His  Majesty's  pleasure  that  the  orders  of  the 
Commander-in-Chief  of  His  Majesty's  Forces  in  North 
America,  and  under  him  of  the  Major  Generals  and  Brig- 
adier Generals,  shall  be  supreme  in  all  cases  relative  to 
the  operations  of  the  said  Troops,  and  be  obeyed  accord- 
ingly.    I  am,  Sir,  your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

Dartmouth. 

baltimore  (maryland)  committee. 

Committee  Chamber,  Baltimore,  April  15,  1775. 

The  Committee  of  Observation  for  Baltimore  County, 
reflecting  on  the  many  mischiefs  and  disorders  usually  at- 
tending the  Fairs  held  at  Baltimore  Town,  and  willing  in 
all  things  strictly  to  observe  the  Regulations  of  the  Conti- 
nental Congress,  who,  in  their  eighth  Resolution,  have  ad- 
vised to  discountenance  and  discourage  every  species  of 
extravagance  and  dissipation,  especially  horse-racing,  cock- 
fighting,  inc.,  have  unanimously  resolved  to  recommend  it 
to  the  good  people  of  this  County,  and  do  hereby  earnestly 
request,  that  they  will  not  themselves,  nor  will  sutler  any 
of  their  families  to  attend,  or  in  anywise  encourage  the  ap- 
proaching Fair  at  Baltimore  Town ;  and  all  persons  are 
desired  not  to  erect  booths,  or  in  any  manner  prepare  for 
holding  the  said  Fair. 

We  are  persuaded  the  inhabitants  of  the  Town  in  par- 
ticular will  see  the  propriety  of  this  measure,  and  the  ne- 
cessity of  enforcing  it,  as  the  Fairs  have  been  a  nuisance 
long  before  complained  of  by  them,  as  serving  no  other 
purpose  than  debauching  the  morals  of  their  children  and 
servants,  affording  an  opportunity  for  perpetrating  thefts, 
encouraging  riots,  drunkenness,  gaming,  and  the  vilest  im- 
moralities. Samuel  Purviance,  Jr.,  Chairman. 


EXTRACT   OF   A  LETTER  FROM  JAMES   HABERSHAM  TO 
MESSRS.   CLARK  AND   MILLIGAN,  LONDON. 

Savannah,  Georgia,  April  17,  1775. 
The  fiery  patriots  in  Charleston  have  stopped  all  deal- 
ings with  us,  and  will  not  suffer  any  Goods  to  be  landed 
there  from  Great  Britain;  and  I  suppose  the  Northern 
Provinces  will  follow  their  example. 

The  people  on  this  Continent  are  generally  almost  in  a 
state  of  madness  and  desperation  ;  and  should  not  concilia- 
tory measures  take  place  on  your  side,  I  know  not  what 
may  be  the  consequence.  I  fear  an  open  rebellion  against 
the  Parent  State,  and  consequently  amongst  ourselves. 
Some  of  the  inflammatory  resolutions  and  measures  taken 
and  published  in  the  Northern  Colonies,  1  think  too  plainly 
portend  this.  However,  I  must  and  do,  upon  every  occa- 
sion, declare  that  I  would  not  choose  to  live  here  longer 
than  we  are  in  a  state  of  proper  subordination  to,  and  un- 
der the  protection  of,  Great  Britain;  although  I  cannot 
altogether  approve  of  the  steps  she  has  lately  taken,  and 
do  most  cordially  wish  that  a  permanent  line  of  Govern- 
ment was  drawn  and  pursued  by  the  mother  and  her  chil- 
dren ;  and  may  God  give  your  Senators  wisdom  to  do  it, 
and  heal  the  breach  ;  otherwise,  I  cannot  think  of  the 
event  but  with  horrour  and  grief.  Father  against  son,  and 
son  against  father,  and  the  nearest  relations  and  friends 
combating  with  each  other!  I  may  perhaps  say  with  truth, 
cutting  each  other's  throats.  Dreadful  to  think  of,  much 
more  to  experience.  But  I  will  have  done  with  this  dis- 
agreeable subject,  and  am,  gentlemen,  your  humble  ser- 
vant, James  Habersham. 

P.  S.  I  find  the  American  Merchants  in  London  have 
begun  to  stir  in  this  matter ;  and  I  hope  their  application 
will  meet  with  success,  as  no  good  can  ensue  to  Great 
Britain  and  her  Colonies  from  this  contest,  but  much  hurt 
to  both.    I  am  for  peace  on  constitutional  grounds. 


KING   GEORGE   COUNTY   (VIRGINIA)  COMMITTEE. 

The  Committee  being  informed  that  Mr.  Austin  Brock- 
enbrough  was  counteracting  the  measures  of  the  Conti- 
nental Congress,  ordered  him  to  be  summoned  to  answer 
the  complaint,  which  was  done  in  the  following  terms  : 

King  George,  March  8,  1775. 

Sir  :  You  are  accused  before  the  Committee  of  disre- 
Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii. 


garding  your  duty  as  an  Associator,  [Associator!]  and  at- 
tempting to  prejudice  the  people  of  your  neighbourhood, 
and  others  with  whom  you  have  communication,  against 
the  Association,  [Yes,  but  I  never  went  out  of  my  way  to 
do  it,]  and  to  draw  into  contempt  the  authority  and  conduct 
of  the  Committee.  [That  I  have,  and  always  shall.]  The 
truth  of  this  charge  the  Committee  cannot  avoid  inquiring 
into,  and  have  ordered  us  to  give  you  notice  to  attend  the 
monthly  meeting  at  the  Court-House,  on  the  next  Court 
day,  [that  I  shall  not,]  that  you  may  have  an  opportunity 
of  making  your  defence  ;  and  if  the  charge  is  groundless, 
of  evincing  your  innocence.  [Innocence  !]  We  are  your 
humble  servants, 

Thomas  Turner,  William  Robinson, 
Thomas  Jett,  John  Washington. 

On  the  day  appointed,  Mr.  Brolccnbrough  failing  to  at- 
tend, Mr.  Daniel  Briscoe,  the  person  who  delivered  him 
the  notice,  was  called,  and  being  sworn,  declared  that  he 
read  the  above  notice  to  Mr.  Brockcnbrough,  at  least  ten 
days  before  the  meeting  of  the  Committee,  and  left  him  a 
copy,  who  made  the  replies  inserted  in  the  body  of  the 
notice.  These  answers  confess  the  truth  of  the  charge, 
and  sufficiently  indicate  the  disposition  of  the  man,  whose 
obnoxious  behaviour  is  also  well  known,  and  for  some  time 
past  has  been  observed  with  concern  by  several  members 
of  the  Committee.  To  reclaim  from  error,  rather  than 
punish,  would  be  the  choice  of  the  Committee.  Oppor- 
tunity was  designedly  afforded  Mr.  Brockenbrovgh,  by  a 
short  delay  in  the  publication,  to  make  atonement,  and 
avoid  publick  censure.  The  well-meant  indulgence  has 
been  slighted.  Duty  now  requires  that  the  truth  of  the 
case  be  published,  to  the  end  that  Mr.  Brockcnbrough  may 
be  publickly  known,  and  universally  contemned  as  an  ene- 
my to  American  liberty.    By  order  of  the  Committee  : 

Andrew  Wodrow,  Clerk. 

King  George,  April  17,  1775. 


Committee  Chamber,  Philadelphia,  April  17, 1775. 

Whereas,  it  is  now  under  the  consideration  of  the  Com- 
mittee to  suspend  all  trade  and  intercourse  with  such  Colo- 
nies as  have  not  acceded  to  the  Association  of  the  Conti- 
nental Congress  ;  the  Committee  have  therefore  thought  it 
proper  to  apprize  their  fellow-citizens  of  this  matter,  that 
they  govern  themselves  accordingly,  and  avoid  entering  into 
any  engagement  with  respect  to  such  Colonies,  from  which 
they  may  be  subjected  to  great  inconveniences  hereafter. 

By  order  of  the  Committee  : 

Jonathan  B.  Smith,  Secretary, 


TO  THE  PUBLICK. 

New. York,  April  17,  1775. 

Whereas,  the  enemies  to  the  English  Constitution,  and 
the  rights  and  liberties  of  America,  have  endeavoured,  to 
the  utmost  of  their  power,  to  revile  and  defame  the  cha- 
racter of  every  man  who  has  honestly  endeavoured  to  as- 
sert and  maintain  those  rights  and  privileges,  which  these 
traitors  are  striving  to  subvert  and  take  away  ;  hoping,  by 
such  vile  practices,  to  destroy  or  lessen  the  influence  of 
those  who  obstruct  the  execution  of  their  wicked  designs. 
On  this  account,  Captain  Sears,  who  has  long  distinguished 
himself  among  the  most  zealous,  steady,  and  disinterested 
friends  and  supporters  of  the  rights  and  freedom  of  his 
C wintry,  became  exceedingly  obnoxious  to  these  enemies, 
who  sought  to  aggrandize  themselves  upon  its  ruins.  They 
have,  therefore,  been  extremely  watchful  to  catch  every 
opportunity,  when  by  misrepresentation  or  direct  falsehoods, 
they  might  bring  an  odium  on  his  character,  or  expose  him 
to  contempt  and  ridicule.  But  these  devices,  instead  of 
answering  the  end  designed,  have  hitherto  recoiled  upon 
their  authors,  and  only  served  to  exalt  the  character  they 
were  intended  to  depress. 

Among  other  false  reports  propagated  against  Captain 
Sears,  one  was,  that  since  shutting  up  the  Port  of  Boston, 
he,  and  his  son-in-law,  Mr.  Paschal  N.  Smith,  had  loaded 
a  vessel  with  Wheat.  Flour,  or  other  provisions,  for  the  sup- 
ply of  the  King's  Troops  at  Boston.  The  falsehood  of 
this  malicious  report  will  sufficiently  appear  by  the  follow- 
ing Affidavit : 


339 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  APRIL,  ITT5. 


340 


City  of  New- York,  ss. 

Personally  appeared  before  me,  Benjamin  Blagge,  one 
of  His  Majesty's  Justices  of  the  Peace,  for  the  City  and 
County  of  New-York,  Isaac  Sears  and  Paschal  N.  Smith, 
of  the  said  City,  merchants,  who,  being  severally  sworn, 
depose  and  say,  that  since  the  shutting  up  of  the  Port  of 
Boston,  neither  of  them  have  directly  or  indirectly,  nor 
any  other  person  for  or  under  them,  supplied,  or  caused  to 
be  supplied,  the  Army  at  Boston  with  any  manner  or  kind 
of  provisions  whatsoever ;  and  that  neither  of  them  have 
received,  nor  in  future  expect  to  receive,  any  kind  of  emol- 
ument or  advantage,  in  any  respect,  from  the  Flour,  Peas, 
and  other  provisions  shipped  for  the  use  of  the  Army  at 
Boston,  since  the  shutting  up  of  the  said  Port  of  Boston. 

Isaac  Sears, 
Paschal  N.  Smith. 
Sworn  this  17th  of  April,  1775,  before  me, 

B.  Blagge. 


ARTHUR  LEE  TO  JAMES   KINSEY,  SPEAKER  OF  THE  HOUSE 
OF  ASSEMBLY,  NEW-JERSEY. 

Garden  Court,  Middle  Temple,  April  17,  1775. 

Sir  :  Your  letter,  containing  the  Petition  from  the  House 
of  Representatives  to  the  King,  arrived  here  after  Doctor 
Franklin  had  sailed  for  Philadelphia,  The  Petition  was 
therefore  put  into  my  hands  to  deliver  to  Lord  Dartmouth. 
I  accordingly  gave  it  to  his  Lordship,  informing  him  of 
these  circumstances,  and  of  the  wish  of  the  House  that  it 
might  be  presented  to  His  Majesty.  But  his  Lordship  re- 
turned it  to  me  this  morning,  with  a  declaration,  that  as  I 
was  not  authorized  by  the  House,  he,  as  Secretary  of  State, 
could  not  receive  it  from  me  for  the  purpose  1  desired.  To 
deliver  it  to  the  King,  in  the  common  way,  if  I  were  autho- 
rized so  to  do,  would  be  ineffectual,  because  there  is  no 
certainty  of  his  reading  it ;  and  he  never  gives  an  answer 
but  from  the  Throne,  or  through  one  of  his  Secretaries  of 
State.  The  Petition  will  therefore  remain  here,  to  wait 
the  further  pleasure  of  the  House.  They  who  know  and 
lament  that  Petitions  for  redress  of  grievances  from  the  dif- 
ferent Assemblies  have  been  repeatedly  rejected,  cannot 
but  be  persuaded,  that  the  promise  of  their  being  now  at- 
tended to  is  only  a  Ministerial  manoeuvre  to  divide  the 
Colonies,  and  draw  off  their  attention  to,  and  confidence  in, 
that  which  is  their  great  shield  and  defence— union  in  Gen- 
eral Congress.  Your  Constitution  was  so  framed  as  to 
mortify  that  hope.  To  divide  and  to  destroy,  or  to  fix  this 
merciless  tyranny  upon  us,  is  their  only  endeavour.  But  I 
trust  in  God,  that  the  wisdom  and  virtue  of  our  country- 
men will  continue  to  render  it  ineffectual,  and  give  us,  at 
length,  a  happy  issue  out  of  all  our  troubles,  by  obtaining 
a  full  redress  of  grievances. 

I  have  the  honour  of  being,  Uc.         Arthur  Lee. 


GOVERNOUR  TRUMBULL  TO  REV.  ELEAZER  WHEELOCK. 

Lebanon,  April  17,  1775. 

Reverend  Sir:  On  the  7th  instant,  I  received  your 
letters  of  the  16th  and  22d  of  March  last,  and  return  my 
thanks  for  your  intelligence.  The  ability  and  influence  of 
Mr.  Dean,  to  attach  all  the  Six  Nations  to  the  interest  of 
these  Colonies,  is  justly  to  be  considered  as  an  instance  of 
Divine  favour  for  us,  and  proper  authority  and  encourage- 
ment to  him  will  undoubtedly  be  easily  obtained  for  that 
purpose.  When  he  returns,  it  will  be  very  acceptable  to 
me  to  hear  the  intelligence  he  brings. 

If  the  Indian  scholars  are  called  from  you  in  a  manner 
that  shews  a  design  of  hostilities,  please  to  give  the  earliest 
intelligence  of  it.  You  may  depend  on  my  care  to  do 
nothing  that  may  tend  to  injure  you  or  your  cause.  Our 
safety  consists  in  the  blessing  of  Heaven,  a  firm  adherence 
to  our  constitutional  rights,  and  an  union  in  religion  and 
virtue ;  in  the  pursuit  and  practice  of  these,  we  may  hope 
for  the  relief  of  our  distresses  and  redress  of  grievances. 
It  is  tho  prayer  of  good  men,  that  the  Spirit  of  grace,  as  to 
its  converting  influences,  may  be  poured  out  upon  the  peo- 
ple of  this  land.  The  late  awful  restraints  of  the  Spirit  are 
a  terrible  token  of  God's  righteous  judgments. 

I  am,  with  much  esteem  and  respect,  reverend  Sir,  your 
obedient  humble  servant,  Jonathan  Trumbull. 

Reverend  Eleazer  VVheelock. 


Boston,  Monday,  April  17,  1775. 
A  letter  from  Taunton,  dated  last  Friday,  mentions. 
"  that  on  Monday,  the  10th  instant,  parties  of  Minute-Men, 
&ic,  from  every  Town  in  that  County,  with  arms  and  am- 
munition, met  at  Freetown  early  that  morning,  in  order  to 
take  Colonel  Gilbert;  but  he  had  fled  on  board  the  Man- 
of-War  at  Newport.  They  then  divided  into  parties,  and 
took  twenty-nine  Tories  who  had  signed  enlistments  and 
received  arms  in  the  Colonel's  Company,  to  join  the  King's 
Troops ;  they  also  took  thirty-five  muskets,  two  case-bot- 
tles of  powder,  and  a  basket  of  bullets,  all  which  they 
brought  to  Taunton  the  same  afternoon,  where  the  prison- 
ers were  separately  examined,  eighteen  of  whom  made 
such  humble  acknowledgments  of  their  past  bad  conduct, 
and  solemn  promises  to  behave  better  for  the  future,  they 
were  dismissed  ;  but  the  other  eleven,  being  obstinate  and 
insulting,  a  party  was  ordered  to  carry  them  to  Simsbury 
Mines ;  but  they  were  sufficiently  humble  before  they  had 
got  fourteen  miles  on  their  way  thither  ;  upon  which  they 
were  brought  back  the  next  day,  and  after  signing  proper 
articles  to  behave  better  for  the  future,  were  escorted  to 
Freetown.  There  were  upwards  of  two  thousand  men  em- 
bodied there  last  Monday." 


TO  THE  INHABITANTS  OF  NEW-ENGLAND,  GREETING. 

Men,  Brethren,  and  Fathers  : 

Is  the  time  come,  the  fatal  era  commenced,  for  you  to 
be  deemed  rebels  by  the  Parliament  of  Great  Britain  1 
Rebels  !  wherein  ?  Why,  for  asserting  that  the  rights  of 
men,  the  rights  of  Englishmen  belong  to  us;  that  the  King 
of  Great  Britain  has  pledged  his  Royal  faith  to  protect  us 
in  the  enjoyment  of  all  these  rights  of  solemn  compact  as 
our  King;  for  meeting  in  Congresses,  and  resolving  that  no 
man,  nor  body  of  men  under  Heaven,  has  any  just  right  to 
dispose  of  our  properties  without  our  consent !  Then 
surely  the  time  is  come  when  we  are  loudly  called  upon  to 
consider  whether  we  will  defend  these  our  rights  and  pro- 
perties, or  surrender  them  to  Lord  North  and  the  rest  of 
the  reigning  tyrannical  British  Ministry,  and  content  our- 
selves for  the  future,  not  only  to  pay  just  such  taxes  as 
Lord  North  and  his  bribed  tools  in  Parliament  shall  please 
to  order  to  be  laid  upon  us,  but  to  be  sold — we,  our  wives 
and  children — as  other  slaves  are  ;  and  all  our  houses,  lands, 
and  fruits  of  our  industry  to  be  at  the  disposal  of  our  lordly 
masters !  But  this  you  will  not,  you  cannot  submit  to. 
Heaven  forbid  that  we  should  be  so  tame,  so  base,  so  un- 
like the  sons  of  God,  so  much  like  the  vassals  of  the  Prince 
of  Darkness  !  Awake,  therefore,  and  let  us  show  ourselves 
men,  and  not  asses  !  Let  us  all  repent  and  turn  every  one 
from  his  sins,  his  provocations  against  Heaven,  and  God 
Almighty  will  awake  to  our  help  as  in  ancient  time ;  he 
will  ride  on  the  clouds  in  his  excellency,  and  smite  our 
enemies  on  their  cheek-bone ;  divide  their  counsels,  and 
turn  their  enterprises  headlong,  for  he  is  mightier  than  the 
noise  of  many  waters;  he  brought  our  forefathers  into  this 
land,  and  made  it  to  them  an  asylum  from  oppression,  ty- 
ranny, and  persecution,  and  was  for  walls  and  bulwarks 
round  about  them ;  and  had  not  the  Lord  been  on  their 
side,  they  would  have  been  many  a  time  swallowed  up 
quick.  And  he  will  be  for  walls  and  bulwarks  unto  us,  if 
we  don't  forsake  him ;  for  it  is  our  God  who  says,  M  Fear 
not,  for  I  am  with  thee ;  be  not  dismayed,  for  I  am  thy 
God ;  I  will  help  thee,  I  will  strengthen  thee,  yea,  I  will 
uphold  thee  with  the  right  hand  of  my  righteousness,"  But 
as  to  our  being  in  a  state  of  open  rebellion,  "the  Lord 
God  of  Gods,  the  Lord  God  of  Gods,  he  knoweth,"  and 
Great  Britain  shall  know  ;  if  it  be  in  open  rebellion  against 
our  rightful  Sovereign,  against  the  constitutional  authority 
of  the  British  Parliament,  or  the  good  and  wholesome  laws 
of  our  land,  we  have  acted,  and  for  which  we  are  now  de- 
clared to  be  in  a  state  of  open  rebellion,  "  and  in  trans- 
gression against  the  Lord,  let  the  Lord  himself  require  it, 
and  save  us  not  this  day !" 

I  am  much  mistaken  if  Lord  North  has  not  acted  against 
his  own  life,  and  will  not  soon  lose  his  own  head,  if  not 
bring  destruction  on  the  Kingdom  of  Great  Britain,  and 
King  George  the  Third  and  his  family,  by  his  late  mea- 
sures in  the  British  Parliament  relative  to  our  being  de- 
clared to  be  in  a  state  of  open  rebellion!  Time  was,  (an 
opportunity  given  him,)  by  the  Petition  of  the  grand  Con- 


341 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  APRIL,  1775. 


342 


tinental  Congress,  to  have  saved  all ;  but  I  fear  the  time 
is  now  passed,  especially  if  nothing  turns  up  soon  to  pre- 
vent their  sending  over  more  forces,  for  the  purpose  of  sub- 
duing us  as  rebels.  But  subdue  us  to  a  subjection  unto 
the  supreme  legislation  and  taxation  authority  of  the  Bri- 
tish Parliament  over  the  Colonies  without  their  consent, 
they  will  not,  they  shall  not !  Will  it  not  be  the  proper 
dictate  of  wisdom,  as  the  way,  and  only  way  left  us  of  our 
preservation  and  safety,  as  soon  as  we  see  the  sword  of 
Great  Britain  drawn  against  us,  to  sacrifice  every  New- 
England  Tory  among  us ;  to  publish  a  manifesto  with 
promises  of  protection  and  rewards  to  all  of  the  British 
Troops  that  shall  join  in  the  cause  of  American  liberty, 
and  immediately  cut  off  all  such  as  intend  to  act  as  our 
enemies  ;  and  to  send  ambassadors  to  the  Courts  of  Europe, 
with  a  declaration  of  all  our  Ports  being  opened  to  them 
for  a  free  trade  ?  Johannes  in  Eremo. 

Salem,  Massachusetts,  April  18,  1775. 


London,  April  19,  1775. 
Though  the  whole  body  of  the  people  might,  with  great 
facility,  get  into  their  power  any  Standing  Army  which 
Ministers  may  employ  in  destruction  of  our  liberties,  yet, 
by  my  advice,  not  a  single  Briton  should  be  put  to  the 
sword,  except  in  the  field  of  battle,  or  by  the  divine  law  of 
retaliation.  Besides,  were  we  not  powerful  enough  within 
ourselves  to  effect  this  purpose,  we  may  be  assured  that 
our  own  Militia,  who  are  the  only  constitutional  Soldiers 
of  this  Realm,  will  not  longer  remain  idle,  or  that  they  will, 
like  hired  ruffians  or  mercenary  troops,  imbrue  their  hands 
in  the  blood,  or  sheathe  their  bayonets  in  the  bosoms  of 
their  countrymen ;  for  our  Militia  ought  to  be  enrolled, 
and  composed  only  of  the  Knights  or  landed  gentry  of  the 
Country,  and  as  such  their  respective  Lord-Lieutenants 
would  not  dare  to  send  them  upon  any  unconstitutional  ser- 
vice, because,  by  the  Norman  Treaty,  our  Militia-men  are 
enjoined  to  obey  their  Colonels,  so  far  forth  as  "  eorum 
justa  prcecepta"  shall  extend,  but  not  a  single  hair's  breadth 
farther ;  for  they  are  guilty  of  treason  against  the  Constitu- 
tion the  moment  they  pass  the  Rubicon.  And  here  lies 
the  great  distinction  between  Militia-men  and  Regulars ; 
the  former,  at  the  hazard  of  their  lives,  are  to  execute  no 
unjust,  unnatural,  unconstitutional  orders ;  the  latter,  even 
at  the  peril  of  their  lives,  must  implicitly  and  unhesitating- 
ly obey  every  order  they  receive  from  their  commanding 
officer,  was  it  even  to  lay  the  whole  City  of  London  in 
ashes  this  very  moment,  or  to  rip  open  the  bowels  of  every 
pregnant  woman  in  the  Kingdom,  their  own  mothers  not 
excepted.  Happy,  indeed,  though  our  Mutiny  Acts  autho- 
rize the  execution  of  every  species  of  Hcrodian  barbarity 
and  Neronian  cruelty,  yet,  as  several  clauses  in  those  very 
Acts  are  most  flagrant  violations  of  the  Norman  Treaty, 
and  shocking  to  human  nature,  they  are,  as  I  have  frequent- 
ly observed,  not  law ;  consequently  the  King's  Troops,  as 
they  are  faithfully  called,  (for  they  are  not  the  Troops  of 
the  King,  but  on  the  contrary  the  Troops  of  the  Kingdom, 
and  in  the  pay  of  the  Kingdom,  and  of  the  Kingdom  only,) 
would  be  highly  justified  were  they,  like  true  Englishmen, 
unanimously  to  lay  down  their  arms,  and  absolutely  refuse 
to  fight  against  their  countrymen,  constitutionally  assem- 
bled, either  in  the  plains  of  Runny mede,  or  in  the  Town 
of  Boston.  Conscious  of  the  rectitude  and  truism  of  this 
position,  our  honest,  brave  English  Soldiery,  one  and  all, 
grounded  their  firelocks  on  Hounslow-Heath,  nobly  and 
most  spiritedly  refusing  to  obey  the  butcherly  commands 
of  that  pigmy  of  a  tyrant,  James  the  Second — a  pigmy,  I 
mean,  compared  to  the  colossal  tyrants  of  the  present  day. 
Nor  does  this  immortal  precedent  stand  single  in  the  his- 
torick  page,  for  the  Troops  of  Cinna,  in  his  fourth  Consul- 
ship, when  ordered  by  the  Senate  to  embark  for  Dalmatia, 
and  give  battle  to  Sylla,  most  gloriously  refused  to  go 
aboard,  peremptorily  insisting  they  would  not  be  employed 
as  barbarian  ruffians  or  inhuman  monsters,  to  slaughter 
their  countrymen  in  cold  blood ;  and  this,  too,  even  though 
the  Senate  had  previously  declared  both  Sylla  and  his 
forces  enemies  to  Rome.  To  compel  your  Army  to  obe- 
dience merely  by  the  terrours  of  punishment  and  Mutiny 
Acts  of  Parliament ;  this  is  not  to  govern,  but  to  domineer. 
This  true  and  most  excellent  observation  doubtless  will 
have  its  proper  weight  with  our  whole  Military,  since  it  is 
the  dictum  of  as  great  a  General,  and  of  as  great  an  Em- 


pire as  ever  existed — I  mean  Cuius  Marius,  who,  though 
born  a  plebian,  and  therefore  regularly  precluded  from  the 
Consulship  of  Rome,  yet,  in  consideration  of  his  signal 
courage,  contempt  of  money,  love  of  his  Country,  and  un- 
paralleled knowledge  of  the  whole  theory  and  practice  of 
war,  was  seven  times  successively  elected  Consul,  an  hon- 
our never  conferred  upon  any  Roman,  either  before  or  after 
his  advancement  to  that  superlatively  imperial  dignity. 

I  have  thus  laid  before  you  a  true  state  of  the  weakness 
and  insignificancy  of  the  Standing  Army  at  present  in 
Great  Britain,  not,  indeed,  out  of  any  disrespect  or  dis- 
paragement to  them,  for  I  have  a  presentiment  that  the 
marching  Regiments  and  Lighthorse  will  maturely  consider 
they  do  not  receive  the  King's  pay,  but  that  of  the  King- 
dom, and  therefore,  properly  and  strictly  speaking,  are  in 
the  actual  service,  not  of  the  King,  but  of  the  Kingdom  ; 
and  that,  consequently,  whenever  the  popular  State  shall 
constitutionally  and  simultaneously  rise  up  in  arms,  as  our 
glorious  ancestors  did  against  the  Kings  John  and  James 
the  Second,  the  Regulars  have  only  this  optional  alterna- 
tive in  law,  namely,  either  to  lay  down  their  arms,  as  I 
have  mentioned  they  did  on  Hounslow-Heath,  or  take  an 
active  part  under  the  banners  of  the  people. 

This  being  the  case,  and  seeing  there  is  no  real  danger 
in  the  present  Standing  Army,  were  they  even  to  act  hos- 
tilely  against  the  people  constitutionally  assembled,  which 
cannot  reasonably  be  expected;  and  seeing  that  Lieutenant 
Colonel  James  Abercrombie,  who  is  embarked  with  a  pow- 
erful reinforcement  for  that  Army,  which  is  to  destroy  the 
liberties  of  America,  hath  actually  carried  over  with  him 
peremptory  orders  to  disarm  the  people  of  Boston,  which 
is  another  most  insolent,  impudent  violation  of  the  Bill  of 
Rights,  (for  by  that  treaty  it  is  expressly  and  sacro-sanc- 
tionally  stipulated,  that  every  Protestant  subject  shall  al- 
ways carry  arms  for  his  defence.)  What  remains,  then,  for 
us,  but  instantly  to  put  a  stop  to  this  rapid  and  all-deluging 
torrent  of  tyranny  ?  What  better  advice  can  there  be, 
than  immediately  to  convene  a  National  Congress  here  in 
England,  and  take  the  field,  as  our  ancestors  did  on  the 
plains  of  Runnymedc,  and  thus  constitutionally  and 
effectually  assist  our  American  brethren,  whom  to  desert 
in  their  present  distresses,  or  even  not  to  assist  to  the  ut- 
most of  our  abilities,  would,  in  us,  be  unpardonably  unjust, 
superlatively  iniquitous,  and  infamously  ungrateful ;  for  in 
fact  they  are  now  fighting  our  battles.  It  is  the  glorious 
cause  of  liberty  they  are  engaged  in;  the  common  cause 
and  common  birthright  of  every  Englishman.  I  say  the 
common  birthright  of  every  Englishman,  for  the  liberty  of 
an  Englishman  is  an  inheritance  issuing  out  of  his  freehold 
land ;  and  whether  my  freehold  lies  at  Boston,  in  New- 
England,  or  at  Boston,  in  Old  England,  it  makes  no 
difference,  because  by  the  same  tyranny  that  I  am  forcibly 
disseized  of  my  ancestral  grant  of  land,  which  entailed  with 
it  a  grant  of  liberty  in  one  part  of  the  British  Empire,  I 
may  be  equally  robbed  of  it  by  the  same  lawless  power  of 
the  sword  in  any  other  part  of  the  British  Dominions. 
Let  us,  then,  here  at  home,  my  countrymen,  never  suffer 
so  inestimable  a  grant  to  be  tamely  wrested  from  us ;  let 
us  join  our  brother  Americans  in  so  just  and  glorious  a 
cause,  and,  like  our  immortal  exemplary  ancestors,  make 
that  King  tremble  on  his  throne  who  shall  sacrilegiously 
dare  to  invade  the  majesty  of  the  Democratick  State  in 
the  most  essential  of  their  rights,  the  free  gift  and  grant 
of  their  money.  Brecknock. 


NEW-YORK  COMMITTEE. 

New- York,  April  17,  1775. 
The  Sub-Committee  appointed  27th  March  last,  to  State 
and  Report  an  account  of  the  Sales,  and  of  the  Profits 
which  have  arisen  from  the  Goods,  Wares,  and  Merchan- 
dise, disposed  of  under  the  direction  of  the  General  Com- 
mittee, agreeable  to  the  Tenth  Article  of  the  Association 
of  the  late  Continental  Congress,  do  make  the  following 
Report,  viz  : 

Arrived,  In  the  Ship  Isabella,  from  Dublin,  two  boxes 
Linens,  sold  9th  December  last,  for  the  first  cost  and  char- 
ges,  £0  Os.  Od. ; 

In  the  Schooner  Dolphin,  Captain  Waterman,  from  Ja- 
maica, 3d  December  last,  thirty-five  bags  Pimento,  sold  for 
first  cost  and  charges,  £0  Os.  Od. ; 

In  the  Sloop  Polly,  Captain  Thompson,  from  Falmouth, 


* 


343 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  APRIL,  1775. 


344 


3d  December  last,  sundry  Merchandise,  sold  for  first  cost 
and  charges,  -    --  -      £0  Os.  Od. ; 

In  tlie  Ship  Sally,  Captain  Bruce,  from  Greenock,  15lh 
December  last,  sundry  Merchandise,  which  were  sold  and 
yielded  a  profit  of  -  £26  17s.  Od. ; 

In  Brig  Rebecca,  Captain  Saunders,  from  Madeira, 
sundry  pipes  of  Wine,  sold  23d  December  last,  for  first 
cost  and  charges,     -    -  £0  Os.  Od.  ; 

In  the  Monimia,  from  Greenock,  sundry  Merchandise, 
sold  29th  December  last,  yielded  a  profit  of     £  1  Os.  Od. ; 

In  the  Brig  Freemason,  Captain  Sample,  from  Neivry, 
2d  January  last,  sundry  Merchandise,  sold  9th  January, 
and  yielded  a  profit  of  ------      £9  Os.  3c/.; 

In  the  Ship  Sally,  Captain  Bagley,  from  Lioerpool, 
17th  December  last,  sundry  Merchandise,  sold  22d  Decem- 
ber, and  yielded  a  profit  of     -    -    -    -  £23  14s.  4d. ; 

In  Ship  Lady  Gage,  Captain  Mesnard,  from  London, 
sundry  Merchandise,  sold  16th  and  20th  December  last, 
yielded  a  profit  of  £182  18s.  Od.; 

In  the  Brig  Fair  Lady,  from  Bristol,  19th  December, 
sundry  Merchandise,  sold  23d  December,  and  yielded  a 
profit  of   -  £29  12s.  Ad.; 

In  the  Charming  Peggy,  from  Cork,  one  hundred  and 
seventy-five  barrels  of  Beef  and  Pork,  and  thirty  firkins 
of  Butter,  sold  the  31st  day  of  December,  for  first  cost 
and  charges,  -    --    --    --    --      £0  Os.  Od. ; 

In  the  Ship  Glasgoiv,  Captain  Craig,  from  Greenock, 
four  bales  Carpeting,  and  eighty  tons  of  Coal,  sold  10th 
January  last,  for  first  cost  and  charges,    -      £0  Os.  Od. ; 

In  the  Brig  Friendship,  Captain  Bryson,  from  Jamais 
ca,  a  quantity  of  Pimento,  sold  for  the  first  cost  and  char- 
ges,  -----    -      £o  Os.  Od. ; 

A  trunk  of  Calicoes  imported  from  London,  via  Phil- 
adelphia, sold  for  first  cost  and  charges,  -      £0  Os.  Od. ; 

In  the  Brig  George,  Captain  Colder,  from  Newcastle, 
a  quantity  of  Coal  and  Cordage,  sold,  and  yielded  a  pro- 
fit of   £4  2s.  Od.; 

In  the  Ship  Jamaica,  Capt.  Jermyn,  from  London,  sundry 
Merchandises,  sold  and  yielded  a  profit  of      £l  Is.  2d. ; 

In  the  Ship  Lilly,  Captain  Cochran,  from  Greenock,  1st 
January  last,  sundry  Merchandises,  sold  6th  January,  and 
yielded  a  profit  of  £22  16s.  Id; 

In  the  Brig  Elliot,  Capt.  Pym,  from  Liverpool,  sundry 
Merchandise,  sold,  and  yielded  a  profit  of    $10  9s.  3d.; 

In  the  Ship  Rockingham,  from  Neivcastle,  a  quantity 
of  Coal,  Grindstones,  and  Bottles,  sold  24th  January  last, 
for  the  first  cost  and  charges,    -    -    -    -      £0  Os.  Od; 

In  the  Ship  Hester,  from  Jamaica,  a  quantity  of  Pi- 
mento, sold  the  12th  day  of  December,  for  cost  and  char- 
ges,   ----------    -      £0  Os.  Od. ; 

In  the  Brig  Patty,  Captain  Ashficld,  from  Madeira,  in 
December  last,  sundry  pipes  and  quarter  casks  of  Wine, 
sold  for  the  first  cost  and  charges,      -    -      £0  Os.  Od. ; 

In  the  Ship  Daniel,  Captain  Casey,  from  Liverpool, 
sundry  Merchandise,  sold  January  7th,  1775,  and  yielded 
a  profit  of  -    --    --    --    --    -    £35  6s.  2d. 

Profits,  ...    -  £347  4s.  Id. 

From  the  above  state  it  appears,  that  the  sum  of  £347 
4s.  Id.  hath  arisen  upon  the  Goods,  Wares,  and  Mer- 
chandise disposed  of  under  the  direction  of  the  General 
Committee,  agreeable  to  the  Tenth  Article  of  the  Associa- 
tion, "to  be  applied  towards  relieving  and  employing  such 
poor  inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Boston  as  are  imme- 
diately sufferers  by  the  Boston  Port  Bill. 

Abraham  Brasher, 
Jeremiah  Platt, 
Peter  T.  Curtenius. 

Committee-Chamber,  New-York,  April  19,  1775. 
Ordered,   That  the  above  state  be  published  in  the 
Newspapers  of  Mr.  Holt  and  Mr.  Gaine,  and  that  Mr. 
Curtenius  be  directed  to  remit  the  amount  in  produce  to 
Boston.        By  order  of  the  Committee: 

Fra.  Lewis,  Chairman  pro  tern. 


EXTRACT   OF    A   LETTER   FROM    NEW-YORK  TO  A  GENTLE- 
MAN IN  PHILADELPHIA,  DATED  APRIL  19,  1775 

Last  ni<fht  arrived  Captain  Dean,  who  left  London  the 
5th  and  Start  Point  the  18th  of  March,  and  tells  us  that 
eleven  Regiments  are  to  be  embarked  on  board  ninety-five 


Transports  for  Boston ;  the  vessels  had  sailed  to  the  sev- 
eral Ports  in  Great  Britain  and  Ireland ;  twelve  sail  of 
Frigates  are  ordered  to  accompany  them  ;  the  Transports 
and  Royal  Ships  have  twelve  months  provisions  and  stores 
on  board.  Be  assured  this  Colony  will  be  blessed  with 
every  possible  mark  of  Royal  favour  that  can  he  shown  it. 
The  armament  coining  out  is  to  enfore  the  intentions  of 
Government,  in  case  the  four  New-England  Provinces 
should  refuse  the  Conciliatory  Bill,  as  intimated  by  Lord 
North's  motion. 

EXTRACT  OF  ANOTHER  LETTER  OF  THE  SAME  DATE. 

This  morning  the  Snow  Sir  William  Johnson,  Captain 
Dean,  arrived  here  from  London,  but  last  from  the  Downs, 
in  thirty-one  clays :  the  intelligence  he  brings  is  not  so 
agreeable  as  could  be  wished  ;  the  papers  are  as  late  as  the 
5th  of  March.  Captain  Dean  says,  that  sixteen  Men-of- 
War  and  ninety-five  Transports  were  certainly  coming  out 
to  America ;  he  lay  among  them  at  Spithead;  that  terms 
would  be  first  offered,  that  is,  that  each  Government  should 
annually  raise  a  certain  sum  for  the  support  of  the  Fleet 
and  Army  of  Great  Britain;  that  complied  with  in  our 
own  way,  an  amicable  accommodation  would  soon  follow. 

A  nohleman  is  ordered  out  for  this  place,  in  order  to 
bring  about  a  pacification  I  hope. 


COMMITTEE  OF  NEW-YORK  TO  THE  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS 
OF  MASSACHUSETTS. 

New- York,  April  19,  1775. 
Gentlemen  :  The  following  very  interesting  accounts 
were  this  day  received  by  the  Snow  General  Johnson,  Cap- 
tain Dean,  in  thirty-one  days  from  England.  The  writer 
is  a  person  of  undoubted  veracity  and  has  the  best  means 
of  intelligence,  who  may  be  depended  on,  having  for  these 
twelve  months  always  furnished  the  most  certain  advice  of 
the  Ministers'  designs,  &ic.  In  consideration  of  which,  and 
the  present  posture  of  affairs  in  America  in  general,  but 
more  particularly  on  account  of  the  situation  of  your  Prov- 
ince, and  the  consequences  to  which  it  is  more  immedi- 
ately liable,  it  is  thought  an  indispensable  duty  to  give  you 
this  late  advice.  It  is  unfeignedly  wished  that  you  may 
improve  it  to  your  own  safety,  as  well  as  to  the  advantages 
of  the  whole  Continent.  We  have  the  honour  to  be,  with 
great  respect,  your  obedient  servants, 

Henry  Remsen,  Deputy  Chairman. 

EXTRACTS  OF  LETTERS,  &IC 

"  London,  February  24,  1775. 

"  Providence  seems  to  have  placed  me  here  in  order  to 
give  you  the  earliest  intelligence  of  the  most  interesting 
affairs  relative  to  the  Colonies. 

"To  my  great  astonishment,  I  have  now  before  me  an 
Act  for  blocking  up  the  other  Colonies,  and  another  called 
the  Black  Act,  to  prevent  the  Fisheries.  The  whole  Na- 
tion seems  to  be  deeply  affected  at  such  an  enormous 
crime ;  which  is  supposed  to  be  clone  at  the  request  of  the 
King  and  his  creatures.  God  forbid  that  you  should  be 
intimidated  at  this  iniquitous  law,  which  is  calculated  to 
ruin  what  was  a  mutual  benefit  to  you  and  us.  This  must 
convince  you  what  you  are  to  expect,  if  you  submit  to  the 
most  shocking  set  of  men  that  England  can  produce.  You 
now  see  their  humanity.  Rouse  up,  then,  with  a  just  in- 
dignation, and  exercise  your  Militia.  Watch  your  Gover- 
nour  and  Council.  The  new  Assembly  is  to  he  composed 
of  such  creatures  as  will  give  up  the  people's  rights,  and 
join  in  the  most  horrid  plot  against  them.  What  a  melan- 
choly reflection,  that  the  riches  and  trade  of  a  great  Na- 
tion should  be  abused,  and  turned  to  the  destruction  of 
themselves  and  the  Colonies!  In  short,  the  King  is  de- 
termined to  be  as  absolute  as  the  French  King;  and  with 
the  most  obstinate  head  and  had  heart,  has  set  himself 
against  the  people,  whom  he  will  not  see,  keeping  himself 
retired  from  his  subjects  in  pride  and  ignorance.  He  has 
discarded  men  of  veracity  from  all  places  of  profit,  and 
filled  their  offices  with  a  set  of  the  most  abandoned  villains 
on  earth.  These  are  they  who  advised  him  to  break  his 
oath  with  the  people,  for  which  they  are  despised  by  the 
Nation.  If  you  hold  out  a  few  months,  England  will  rise 
and  do  you  justice,  as  well  as  relieve  themselves  from  those 


345 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  APRIL,  1775. 


346 


accursed  tvrants  who  want  to  corrupt  you  and  deprive  you 
of  both  liberty  and  property.  There  are  two  bundled  and 
eighty-five  Members  of  Parliament,  who  are  all  paid  with 
the  people's  money  to  vote  whatever  Lord  North  proposes, 
and  he  has  his  lesson  from  eight  more  who  compose  a  club, 
that  meets  in  the  most  private  manner  in  the  night  at  Mrs. 
Keen's,  near  the  Palace,  where  they  have  a  box,  which 
contains  the  papers  that  pass  between  His  Majesty  and 
them.  The  King  overlooks  the  schemes,  and  corrects 
them;  as  well  as  gives  orders  how  to  proceed  for  the  fu- 
ture. Hutchinson  is  consulted,  and  to  the  shame  of  Go- 
vernours  Coldcn,  Perm,  and  Martin,  who  have  written  such 
letters  to  Lord  Dartmouth,  that  the  King  has  appointed 
them  to  meet  at  New-York,  in  order  to  join  with  your 
other  lying  spirits  in  betraying  the  Colonies:  to  complete 
which  villany  Lord  North  l  as  made  a  motion  in  Parlia- 
ment, as  if  he  intended  to  piomote  peace  with  the  Colo- 
nies ;  but  it  is  to  deceive  them,  and  the  people  of  England 
too.  It  is  intended  to  defeat  the  salutary  advice  of  the 
Congress,  which  does  credit  to  British  America.  Set  the 
Press  immediately  to  work,  and  publish  to  the  world  the 
wicked  designs  of  the  King  and  his  Counsellors,  that  you 
despise  their  slavish  schemes,  and  are  determined  to  pre- 
serve your  laws  and  religion.  Encourage  the  brave 
people  of  Massachusetts- Bay  to  act  worthy  of  their  noble 
ancestors !  I  have  the  pleasure  to  assure  you,  that  the 
noble  Lords  with  whom  I  have  conversed,  all  join  you  in 
contempt  of  the  junto  here.  You  are  desired  to  let  the 
Colonies  know  that  there  is  a  deep  plot  formed  to  divide 
them  and  deceive  the  people  into  a  compliance.  But  tell 
them  that  you  want  not  their  trade  nor  protection  at  the 
expense  of  your  liberty.  You'll  see  by  the  papers  the 
treatment  Lord  Chatham's  plan  met  with.  Those  Lords 
who  advised  the  King  to  declare  you  rebels,  and  apprehend 
Messrs.  Hancock,  Adams,  &lc,  kc,  have  gone  so  far  as 
to  say  that  Chatham  shall  fall  a  sacrifice  to  their  designs, 
&.C.  I  know  there  is  publick  virtue  among  you ;  I  know 
your  fondness  for  England  will  not  let  you  believe  the 
wicked  designs  that  are  meditating  against  you ;  but  I  do 
now,  in  the  presence  of  God,  warn  you  that  the  King  has 
no  good  intentions  toward  you,  but  what  you  oblige  trim  by 
your  own  wisdom  and  virtue  to  have.  Take  care  of  your- 
selves, and  act  as  the  wise  and  brave  have  done  in  all  ages 
when  oppressed  by  tyrants.  Resist  unto  blood  all  who  attempt 
to  betray  you.  The  Parliament  have  registered  Coldcn's 
and  Penn's  letters;  look  to  them,  and  see  for  yourselves. 
Believe  the  Court  your  worst  enemies.  Be  much  on  your 
guard.  Yesterday  Doctor  Fothergill  and  Mr.  Barclay 
were  so  pressed  in  spirit  that  they  went  to  see  Lord  JSorth, 
and  told  him  that  the  Bill  for  prohibiting  the  Fisheries  was 
so  horrid  and  inhuman  that  the  whole  Nation  would  rise 
and  oppose  it ;  and  that  if  it  did  pass  into  a  law,  it  would 
be  a  scandal  to  humanity,  and,  perhaps,  occasion  a  revolt. 
They  plead  two  hours  with  him,  but  to  no  purpose.  The 
Bill  is  to  be  read  a  third  time  on  Tuesday;  so  that  in  five 
days  this  horrid  Bill  passes  into  a  law  without  any  further 
consideration.  Oh,  America!  Oh,  England!  The 
Ministry,  in  order  to  quiet  the  mob,  ordered  an  inflamma- 
tory pamphlet  to  be  burnt  at  Guildhall,  which  drew  off 
the  people  while  the  Bill  passed  in  Parliament,  &,c.  A 
report  is  sent  into  the  City  that  the  Transports  are  stopped. 
This  is  to  quiet  the  Merchants  ;  but  the  Officers  are  gone 
down  in  private  coaches  of  other  people,  and  America  is 
to  be  divided  and  driven  into  compliance  before  England. 
is  apprized  of  it.  Lord  North  has  just  given  out  that  he  will 
resign,  and  at  the  same  time  says,  that  he  fears  nothing 
from  the  people,  unless  it  be  the  breaking  of  his  coach 
doors,  or  some  such  trifle ;  no  resistance  of  importance 
from  the  City,  only  a  clamour,  which  he  has  often  expe- 
rienced. He  expects  that  this  manoeuvre  will  quiet  the 
people  on  both  sides  of  the  water. 

"  Goods  are  shipped  in  the  Transports  with  the  Officers' 
Baggage,  marked  Rex,  and  under  the  protection  of  the 
King's  Troops,  who  are  to  land  them  and  protect  the  trade, 
&c.  North- Carolina  is  to  be  a"  store-house,  it  is  said. 
Support  the  Committee,  and  watch  the  Officers  of  the 
Customs,  he.  Your  friends  are  afraid  that  you  will  be 
surprised  into  a  compliance.  The  offers  of  peace  were 
only  to  raise  the  Stocks,  which  had  fallen ;  they  are  four 
per  cent,  higher  on  account  of  the  report.  The  Council 
sat  up  all  night,  in  order  to  find  out  ways  and  means  to 


conquer  Virginia  and  procure  Tobacco ;  great  offers 
will  be  made  to  those  who  will  raise  it,  &.c.  Men  of 
large  fortunes  are  afraid  to  oppose  Government,  lest  the 
Bank  should  fail,  which  is  said  to  be  in  danger.  The  in- 
terest on  the  year  '74  is  not  paid.  Many  of  the  people 
are  your  most  hearty  friends,  but  the  King  is  your  greatest 
enemy.  Be  not  deceived  by  his  low  cunning ;  act  wisely, 
and  the  wicked  and  cursed  plot  will  break  on  the  heads  of 
those  who  want  to  destroy  you.  The  King  is  his  own 
Secretary;  he  gets  up  at  six  o'clock  every  morning,  sends 
off  his  box  with  remarks  on  a  bit  of  paper  tied  round  each 
order;  four  of  the  ablest  lawyers  are  constantly  with  him, 
whose  business  it  is  to  advise  and  search  for  precedents,  to 
screen  his  head  and  throw  the  blame  on  the  Parliament. 
Two  millions  have  been  squandered  in  bribery  and  corrup- 
tion. The  Crown  has  nothing  to  fear  but  the  hunger  of 
the  poor.  A  steady  adherence  to  the  proceedings  of  the 
Congress  will  save  England  and  America.  Beware  of 
Governour  Penn,  who  has  had  offers  made  him  to  comply 
with  the  designs  of  the  Court.  Send  this  to  Boston  im- 
mediately. Mr.  Hancock's  lands  are  already  divided  among 
the  Officers,  &cc.  Lord  Dartmouth  is  your  bitter  enemy, 
and  determined  to  destroy  the  liberties  of  America.  Lord 
Chatham,  Lord  Camden,  the  Duke  of  Richmond,  and  all 
the  wise  wish  that  you  may  attend  to  the  advice  of  the 
Congress." 

Extract  from  a  different  person,  dated  March  '2d : — 

"  Part  of  the  Troops  now  ordered  for  embarkation  here 
and  Ireland,  are  to  rendezvous  at  Neic-  York,  to  make  it 
a  place  of  Arms,  securing  the  defection  of  that  Province 
from  the  general  alliance  in  the  cause  of  freedom  and  every 
thing  that  is  dear  to  man ;  and  to  prevent  the  communication 
between  Virginia,  Maryland,  and  the  other  Southern  Co- 
lonies, with  Nciv-England,  w  hen  General  Gage,  w  ith  such 
assistance  as  he  may  get  from  Neic-York,  is  to  subdue 
these  Colonies  by  a  Garrison-Town  and  place  of  Arms, 
with  the  assistance  of  Quebeck,  to  rule  with  a  rod  of  iron 
all  the  slaves  of  America.  Without  the  concurrence  of 
New-York  this  scheme  can  never  be  carried  into  execu- 
tion, of  which  every  gentleman  and  man  of  knowledge  in 
this  Kingdom  is  fully  convinced  ;  therefore,  on  your  virtue, 
in  a  great  measure,  it  depends  whether  America  shall  be 
free,  or  be  reduced  to  the  most  abject  and  oppressive  ser- 
vitude, worse  than  that  of  Egyptian  bondage ;  in  whioh 
you  must  inevitably  be  involved,  if  you  lend  your  aid  to  en- 
slave your  brethren  in  the  other  Colonies.  I  have  to  in- 
form you  that  the  Bill  for  preventing  the  four  Colonies  of 
J\cw-England  from  Fishing,  getting  Provisions  from  the 
other  Colonies,  or  carrying  on  any  Commerce  whatever 
to  any  part  of  the  world  except  Great  Britain,  Ireland, 
or  the  British  West-Indies,  will  finally  pass  the  House  of 
Commons  to-morrow,  and  is  to  take  place  the  first  of  next 
July.  You  may  also  depend  that  in  a  few  days  another 
Bill  will  be  brought  in  to  prohibit  any  of  the  other  Colo- 
nies from  carrying  on  any  Trade  whatever  with  each  other, 
or  to  any  other  part  of  the  world,  except  to  Great  Britain. 
Ireland,  or  the  British  West-Indies,  which  will  probably 
take  place  in  July  also ;  therefore  you  will  act  accord- 
ingly, and  let  this  be  publickly  known." 

Extract  of  another  Letter,  dated  London,  March  1  : 
"The  measures  of  the  Ministry  will,  I  hope,  do  more 
towards  uniting  the  Colonies,  than  any  efforts  of  America 
itself.  You  will  easily  perceive  their  wicked  intentions  to 
divide,  as  well  as  their  designs  after  that  hoped-for  division. 
They  have  high  hopes  of  success  from  the  last  accounts 
from  New-York.  1  trust  the  people  of  that  Province  will 
soon  displace  those  rascally  and  treacherous  Tories  in  your 
Assembly,  who  dare  thus  negatively  encourage  the  system 
of  despotism  now  adopted  for  your  Government.  The 
wisdom  of  the  Congress  and  the  firmness  of  the  people 
give  the  strongest  assurances  of  future  conduct.  Several 
names  are  made  use  of  here  as  authorities  to  warrant  the 
defection  of  America.  (I  can  give  you  such  as  I  have 
heard  ;  their  conduct  will  best  determine  whether  the  idea 

is  well  founded  :  The  De  ys,  J  ,  W  ,  Smith, 

J       G  y,  J ....  R  ,  &c.,  &c.   They  most 

assuredly  correspond  with  some  ministerial  people  here, 
and  though  great  care  is  taken  to  conceal,  yet  the  men  are 
too  evidently  marked  to  be  totally  unknown.)    Pray  print 


347 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  he,  APRIL,  1775. 


348 


this  short  hint  for  the  observation  of  the  honest  men  among 
you.  I  need  not  attempt  to  expose  the  baseness  or  folly 
of  the  present  men  in  office,  for  they  take  care  to  do  it 
themselves." 

The  foregoing  were  at  first  intended  only  to  be  commu- 
nicated to  the  inhabitants  of  Massachusetts-Bay,  he.  But 
on  more  consideration  it  was  judged  best  to  inform  those  of 
Connecticut  also,  leaving  them  to  forward  the  accounts  to 
Concord  with  the  utmost  despatch. 

Henry  Remsen,  Deputy  Chairman. 


TO  THE  RESPECTABLE  PUBLICK. 

New-York,  April  19,  1775. 

When  the  character  of  a  fellow-citizen  is  basely  traduced, 
his  injuries  become  a  common  cause,  in  defence  of  which, 
every  virtuous  member  of  society  will  be  an  advocate. 
The  insignificance  of  some  enemies,  indeed,  secures  them 
from  resentment ;  and  while  they  confine  their  calumny 
within  the  sphere  wherein  they  are  known,  contempt  is  the 
only  proper  return  for  their  malice.  But  when  they  make 
a  publick  newspaper  the  vehicle  of  their  scandal,  a  more 
formal  defence  becomes  necessary. 

In  Mr.  Holt's  paper  of  the  13th  instant,  are  published 
the  proceedings  of  a  set  of  people,  assembled  at  the  Liberty 
Pole,  on  Thursday,  the  6th  instant,  in  which  is  contained 
a  declaration,  that  "  Messrs.  William  and  Henry  Ustick  are 
inveterate  foes  to  American  freedom."  This,  it  seems, 
passed  almost  unanimously,  upon  the  motion  of  a  certain 
person,  who  is  not  named,  to  a  Chairman,  likewise  not 
named.  This  concealment  would  entitle  these  little  pa- 
triots to  some  credit  for  their  modesty,  if  they  had  not 
known  that  the  publication  of  their  names  would  have  de- 
feated their  malice ;  the  gratification  of  which,  it  seems, 
they  have  preferred,  to  the  pride  of  seeing  themselves  in 
print.  They  have,  however,  artfully  engrafted  in  their  pro- 
ceedings, an  advertisement,  subscribed  by  the  Chairman  of 
the  Committee,  from  which  the  inattentive  reader  would  be 
led  to  conclude,  that  they  were  the  proceedings  of  that 
body  ;  which,  however,  was  not  the  fact. 

The  peace  and  orderly  state  of  the  Town  having  given 
great  offence  to  this  little  set  of  heroes,  they  made  various 
efforts  to  rouse  the  citizens  into  action;  and  the  Messrs. 
Usticks  were  to  be  the  victims  of  their  little  rage.  Several 
attempts  to  collect  the  Town  together,  failed ;  though  on 
every  such  occasion,  they  resolved  that  their  meetings  had 
been  very  useful,  and  the  glorious  means  of  defeating  the 
Tories. 

It  was  reserved,  however,  for  the  meeting  at  the  Liberty 
Pole  to  strike  the  important  blow,  and  the  actors  were 
worthy  of  the  farce,  whose  names  shall  be  held  up  to  the 
publick  in  some  future  paper. 

Although  the  Usticks  are  confident  that  this  City  will  never 
suffer  the  rule  and  government  of  it  to  be  committed  into 
such  hands,  and  that  they  never  will  submit  to  the  inqui- 
sition they  would  establish  here,  yet  they  are  actuated  by  a 
very  sincere  desire  of  retaining  the  good  opinion  of  every 
friend  to  liberty.  They  are  bold  to  say,  that  the  charge 
against  them  of  their  being  foes  to  freedom,  is  false ;  and 
as  they  have  not  transgressed  any  of  the  laws  of  their 
Country,  so  neither  have  they  violated  any  part  of  the  As- 
sociation of  the  Congress.  Upon  what  principles  then  are 
they  to  be  held  up  to  the  respectable  publick,  by  these 
paltry  sons  of  mischief,  as  enemies  to  their  Country  ?  Must 
they  be  deprived  of  the  exercise  of  the  trade,  by  which 
they  earn  their  bread?  Must  they  be  precluded  from  the 
benefits  of  a  manufactory  which  they  have  carried  on 
under  so  many  difficulties  and  discouragements,  and  which 
will  be  so  extremely  useful  to  the  Country  ?  Why  was  not  a 
clamour  raised  when  a  certain  person  shipped  such  quan- 
tities of  Flour  to  the  Army  ?  For  if  they  must  be  con- 
sidered as  enemies,  surely  the  best  way  would  be  to  starve 
them  at  once,  and  thereby  prevent  them  most  effectually 
from  doing  mischief.  No,  my  fellow-citizens,  this  is  but 
the  pretended  reason.  The  true  motive  is  to  make  every 
trader,  but  the  chosen  few,  odious  to  the  people  in  the 
Country,  and  thereby  to  engross  the  whole  custom  to  them- 
selves. Upon  this  principle  it  is,  that  by  stigmatizing  a 
number  of  worthy  friends  of  liberty  with  the  name  of  To- 
ries, these  restless  people  have  so  far  deluded  many  Country 


traders,  as  to  withdraw  their  custom  from  them,  and  even 
prevented  boatmen  from  carrying  up  goods  which  have  not 
got  a  clearance  from  them. 


Ncw-York,  April  19,  1775. 
Mr.  Rivington  :  Be  pleased  to  insert  the  following  in 
your  Paper,  and  if  any  person  conceives  himself  injured 
by  any  thing  contained  in  it,  the  facts  shall  be  publickly 
proved  by  the  most  unexceptionable  evidence. 

That  the  tranquillity  of  this  City  and  Province  has  long 
given  great  umbrage  to  a  set  of  folks  among  us,  must  have 
been  evident  from  the  frequent  buzzings  of  these  little 
harmless  insects,  who  have  at  length  made  a  feeble  essay 
to  sting  as  well  as  make  a  noise.  Sensible  that  in  a  calm 
they  must  grovel  in  the  dirt,  they  have  tried  to  raise  a  storm, 
by  which  they  hope  to  be  elevated  into  notice. 

On  Wednesday,  the  5th  instant,  the  Committee  of  In- 
spection published  an  advertisement,  in  which  they  declare, 
with  respect  to  Nails,  "  That  though  the  manufactures 
which  have  been  since  (the  last  non-importation)  estab- 
lished, will  supply  more  than  sufficient  for  our  own  con- 
sumption, we  apprehend  it  would  be  imprudent  thus  rashly 
to  part  with  what  we  have  in  store  ;  especially  as  this  sud- 
den exportation  has  given  just  grounds  for  sufficient  alarm." 

No  sooner  did  this  notice  appear  in  publick,  than  a  cer- 
tain set,  in  consequence  of  it,  (the  direction  being  to  the 
respectable  inhabitants,)  assembled  first  at  Philips's  Beer- 
house, next  at  Bardin's,  then  at  the  Liberty  Pole,  and 
lastly,  at  Van  Her  Water's;  at  which  several  meetings 
(tremble,  Lord  North,  and  be  dismayed,  ye  Tories!)  Mr. 
Marinus  Willet,  and  Mr.  Johi  Lamb,  were  Chairmen. 

Having  despatched  the  poor  Usticks,  by  a  vote  that  they 
were  foes  to  their  Country,  entered  into  upon  the  motion 
of  Mr.  James  Alner,  a  new  and  important  subject  arose 
for  debate.  It  was  suggested  that  Mr.  Ralph  Thurman 
had  been  employed  in  packing  Straw,  and  Mr.  Robert 
Harding,  in  purchasing  Boards,  to  be  sent  to  Boston. 
This  was  a  heinous  crime  ;  and  a  Committee  was  ordered, 
from  the  body  assembled  on  the  —  instant,  to  wait  on  those 
two  traitors  to  their  Country.  Mr.  Harding  was  out,  so 
that  he  was  spared  for  that  night  ;  but,  unfortunately,  his 
daughter  was  at  home,  and,  terrified  at  the  formidable  ap- 
pearance, fell  into  fits.  This,  however,  was  a  trifling  con- 
sideration to  men  engaged  in  the  cause  of  liberty.  Mr. 
Thurman,  it  seems,  was  so  obstinate,  and  such  an  invete- 
rate foe  to  his  Country,  that  he  presumed  to  call  in  ques- 
tion the  power  of  this  body  to  interfere  with  his  private 
affairs.    Unpardonable  impudence! 

At  this  meeting,  which  was  duly  notified,  very  few  at- 
tended; but  although  Captain  Sears  complained  that  he 
was  deserted  while  he  was  engaged  in  the  grand  cause,  yet 
'tis  evident  that  fortune  conspired  to  make  his  glory  the 
more  conspicuous,  as  if  determined  that  none  should  de- 
prive him  of  the  honour  of  a  motion  he  made,  which  was, 
that  "  every  man  should  provide  himself  with  four-and- 
twenty  rounds." 

Another  meeting,  however,  was,  by  adjournment,  fixed 
upon  for  Saturday,  the  15th  instant,  at  the  Liberty  Pole. 
Meanwhile,  complaint  being  made  of  these  proceedings,  as 
disorderly  and  a  breach  of  law,  the  Magistrates  issued  a 
warrant  against  Captain  Sears;  he  was  apprehended  and 
carried  before  the  Mayor.  Bail  was  demanded,  but  this 
being  a  violation  of  liberty,  was  refused.  A  mittimus  was 
therefore  issued,  and  the  illustrious  prisoner  carried  towards 
the  Jail.  But  this  was  the  height  of  arbitrary  power; 
the  very  quintessence  of  toryism  ;  and  as  it  would  doubt- 
less have  given  Lord  North  great  pleasure,  it  was  not  to  be 
endured  ;  the  Captain  was  therefore  set  at  liberty  from  the 
officers  of  justice,  and  led  in  triumph  through  the  Town. 

Accompanied  by  a  number  of  his  friends,  with  colours 
flying,  the  Captain  proceeded  through  the  Fly,  Wall-street, 
and  Broadway,  to  the  Liberty  Pole.  Among  those  who 
were  near  him,  were  Mr.  hers,  Mr.  Alner,  Mr.  Richard 
Livingston,  and  Mr.  Roorback. 

At  six  o'clock,  the  Captain,  attended  with  a  large  crowd, 
mounted  a  rostrum  prepared  for  him  in  the  Fields,  from 
whence,  like  the  Devil  in  Milton,  "  By  merit  raised  to  that 
bad  eminence,"  he  opened  the  business  by  a  circumstantial 
recapitulation  of  facts,  of  which  his  own  merit,  the  good 
he  had  done,  and  the  evils  he  had  averted,  made  a  con- 
siderable part.    At  length,  the  following  question  was  put : 


349 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  he,  APRIL,  1775. 


350 


11  Whether  a  Son  of  Liberty  ought  to  give  bail  or  not?"' 
which  was  carried  in  the  negative.  This  occasioned  three 
huzzas,  in  which  Captain  Alexander  McDougall,  who  was 
near  Captain  Sears,  bore  no  small  part.  It  should  not  be 
omitted,  that  when  Captain  Scars  had  done,  Mr.  Pardon 
Burlingham  mounted  the  stage,  and  harangued  the  people, 
and  recommended  going  to  the  delinquents  for  satisfaction. 

From  the  Fields  they  repaired  to  Thur  man's  and  Hard- 
ings,  and  endeavoured  to  extort  confessions  from  them  that 
they  had  done  wrong,  and  to  prevail  on  them  to  ask  pardon. 
These  gentlemen  refused  both ;  insisting,  that  as  they  had 
been  guilty  of  no  violation  of  any  law,  agreement,  or  asso- 
ciation, they  would  sooner  die  than  ask  pardon. 

For  fear  of  being  too  prolix,  I  shall  omit  the  exploit  to 
Turtle-Bay,  the  march  to  the  Transport,  in  the  North- 
River,  in  consequence  of  which  she  was  cut  off  from  the 
wharf,  and  the  huzzaing  through  the  town,  and  cry  of  no 
boards !  at  the  Albany  Pier,  which  being  on  the  evening 
of  Captain  Lawrence's  arrival,  doubtless  proceeded  from 
their  joy  on  the  good  tidings  he  brought,  and  is  a  mark  of 
their  gratitude,  and  a  proof  that  they  are  actuated  by  no- 
thing but  the  pure  dictates  of  liberty.* 

The  above  contains  a  narrative  of  the  transactions  which 
have  disturbed  the  Town  for  a  fortnight  past,  and  which  I 
desire,  Mr.  Rivington,  you  will  not  omit  inserting  in  your 
paper;  for  while  the  most  seditious  and  inflammatory  pa- 
pers are  daily  published,  tending  to  alienate  the  minds  of 
the  people  from  our  gracious  King,  (one  of  which  is  now 
circulating  about  the  City,  and  read  with  avidity  by  those 
who  have  proscribed  your  paper,  because  some  of  your  cor- 
respondents presume  to  think  and  write  for  themselves,)  a 
customer  claims  it  as  a  right  to  hold  up  these  matters  to  the 
publick.  While  we  are  determined  to  contend  against  the 
tyranny  of  the  British  Parliament  and  Ministry,  let  us  not 
establish  the  sway  of  a  mob,  which  includes  despotism,  the 
most  cruel  and  severe  of  all  others.  Many  fellow-citizens 
have  been  deluded  by  the  cry  of  liberty,  which  has  been 
held  up  to  them  as  the  reason  for  these  violences.  They 
are  now  undeceived;  but  so  daring  a  violation  of  the  good 
order  and  police  of  the  City,  so  flagitious  an  insult  on  Ma- 
gistracy, and  contempt  of  the  laws,  ought  not  to  be  passed 
over  with  impunity  ;  for  let  us  remember,  that  the  restraints 
of  the  law  are  the  security  of  liberty. 

Anti-Licentiousness. 


REVEREND  SAMUEL  AUCHMUTY   TO   CAPTAIN  MONTRESOR, 
CHIEF-ENGINEER  IN  GEN.  GAGe's  ARMY  AT  BOSTON. 

New. York,  April  19,  1775. 

My  dear  Sir  :  Yesterday  Captain  Coupar  arrived  from 
London ;  Rivington,  I  conclude,  will  have  all  the  news  in 
his  paper,  but  for  fear  you  should  not  get  his  paper  in 
time,  I  send  you  some  extracts  from  a  letter  I  received 
from  undoubted  authority,  which  may  be  depended  upon. 
It  is  dated  London,  March  4th,  1775. 

"  I  congratulate  you  heartily  on  the  spirited  and  prudent 
conduct  of  your  Assembly.  Their  proceedings  are  uni- 
versally applauded  by  the  people  of  this  Country.  Envy 
dares  not  lisp  against  them,  and  Faction  hides  its  face  with 
shameful  disappointment.  Pursue  the  same  path,  and  your 
Provinces  will  be  honoured  with  every  mark  of  distinction 
from  this  Country.  His  Majesty  is  already  disposed  to 
grant  you  every  honourable  favour  that  can  be  proposed. 
I  am  happy  that  the  Clergy  under  your  direction  have  con- 
ducted themselves  so  prudently  and  successfully,  and  hope 
that  the  Church,  for  the  labour  of  her  sons,  will  not  be 
forgotten. 

"  The  Resolution  suggested  by  Lord  North  will,  I  flat- 
ter myself,  have  a  happy  effect  at  New- York.  It  pro- 
poses to  the  Colonies  all  they  can  reasonably  ask.  They 
desired  to  be  taxed  by  their  own  Representatives ;  it  will 
be  granted  them.  Leave  it  to  our  Assemblies  (they  said) 
and  we  will  sufficiently  tax  ourselves,  and  contribute  to  the 
common  expenses.  The  Parliament  accepts  the  promises, 
and  invites  them  by  this  Resolution  to  propose  what  they 
will  give  and  grant  for  the  necessary  contingencies  of  the 

*  The  Packet  Earl  of  Dunmore,  Captain  Lawrence,  arrived  at  New- 
York  on  Tuesday,  April  11,  1775.  By  this  Vessel  was  received  the 
London  Gazette  of  February  11,  containing  the  Address  of  the  two 
Houses  of  Parliament  to  the  King,  adopted  on  the  7th,  and  presented 
to  the  King  on  the  9th  of  February. 


State,  and  their  own  Civil  Establishment.  While  they 
fulfd  their  engagements,  Parliament  will  not  interfere  to 
tax  them  ;  when  they  refuse  to  bear  a  part  in  supporting 
the  common  burthen,  the  supreme  Legislature  will  compel 
the  delinquent  Colony  to  its  duty.  Thus  every  reasona- 
ble indulgence  is  offered  to  you,  and  every  necessary  power 
reserved  to  Parliament.  If  you  reject  this  proposition  of 
peace  and  reconciliation,  the  Nation  will  be  convinced  that 
you  are  determined  to  agree  on  no  terms  of  accommodation. 

"  The  Armament  which  will  speedily  embark  for  Boston 
will  convince  the  refractory  among  you,  thai  this  Nation  witf 
not  be  trifled  with.  It  is  uncertain  who  will  be  your  Gov- 
ernour,  the  King  being  resolved  to  appoint  one  himself; 
Governour  Martin  of  North- Carolina  is  talked  of." 

Thus  I  have  given  you  all  the  news  that  I  at  present 
know,  which  may  be  depended  upon.  Coupar  says,  that 
thirty-odd  sail  of  Transports  sailed  for  Ireland  the  same 
day  with  him,  and  that  many  more  Transports  were  taken 
up  daily.  This  is  terrible  news  for  my  poor  distressed, 
oppressed,  injured  countrymen.  I  must  own  I  was  bom 
among  the  saints  and  rebels,  but  it  was  my  misfortune. 
Where  are  your  Congresses  now  ?  What  say  Hancock, 
Adams,  and  all  their  rebellious  followers?  Are  they  still 
bold  ?    I  trow  not. 

We  have  lately  been  plagued  with  a  rascally  Whig  mob 
here,  but  they  have  effected  nothing,  only  Sears,  the  Kim:, 
was  rescued  at  the  Jail  door.  He  was  ordered  there  by 
the  Magistrates  upon  his  refusing  to  give  bail  for  being 
guilty  of  misdemeanors,  Sic.  Our  Magistrates  have  not 
the  spirit  of  a  louse  ;  however,  I  prognosticate  it  will  not 
be  long  before  he  is  handled  by  authority. 

I  am,  he.  Samuel  Auchmuty.* 

*  Salem,  Mass.,  May  18,  1775. — From  such  servile  wretches  as  the 
author  of  the  ahove  letter,  do  the  British  Administration  receive  infor- 
mations relative  to  the  state  of  America;  and  by  such  informations  do 
they  govern  their  conduct  with  respect  to  it ;  no  wonder  then  that  they 
discover  so  much  folly,  imbecility,  and  irresolution  in  all  their  mea- 
sures. 

His  zeal  for  the  Church  had,  it  seems,  influenced  the  past  conduct 
of  this  would-be  right  reverend  author  and  some  of  his  Tory  brethren 
of  the  Clergy  in  the  Province  of  New-York.  In  order  to  engage  their 
further  labours  in  this  good  cause,  his  correspondent  in  England  en- 
courages him  and  them  to  hope  for  the  recompense  of  reward ;  that 
they  should  soon  receive  an  ample  retribution  for  all  their  toil  and 
labour  in  the  service  of  the  Ministry.  These  are  the  baits  held  out 
to  the  tools  of  power,  and  these  are  sufficient  to  induce  some  among 
us  to  sacrifice  the  liberty  of  this  Country,  and  to  rejoice  with  infernal 
satisfaction  at  seeing  the  land  which  gave  them  birth  stained  with  the 
blood  of  its  slaughtered  inhabitants. 

The  correspondent  of  this  Reverend  gentleman  talks  much  of  the 
conciliating  proposal  made  by  Lord  North,  and  asserts  that  the  Colo- 
nists will  be  universally  condemned  if  they  do  not  comply  with  it ;  but 
the  least  observation  must  convince  us  that  this  proposal  was  no  other 
than  a  flimsy  State  trick  of  this  wise  Minister,  and  did  not,  in  reality, 
remove  any  grievance  of  which  the  Americans  complained.  According 
to  this  proposal  the  Parliament  of  Great  Britain  is  to  demand  a  cer- 
tain sum  in  bulk  of  the  Continent  of  America,  but  each  Assembly  is 
to  have  the  power  of  adjusting  the  particular  method  in  which  its  pro- 
portion shall  be  raised ;  but  if  it  refuses  to  pay  as  much  as  the  Parlia- 
ment demands  or  shall  demand,  it  is  to  be  dragooned  into  obedience  ; 
all  the  liberty  allowed  to  the  Colonies  is  to  determine  how  they  will 
raise  the  sum  taxed,  without  allowing  them  the  liberty  of  judging 
whether  they  ought  to  be  taxed  or  no  ;  so  that  the  power  of  taxation 
remains  virtually  and  truly  in  the  British  Parliament  still,  and  the 
Colonies  are  only  flattered  with  an  appearance  of  freedom.  The  pro- 
posal was  designed  as  a  bait  to  draw  off  our  friends  in  Great  Britain, 
and  to  dissolve  the  union  of  America;  but  it  is  seen  through  by  both, 
and  will  most  assuredly  be  treated  by  them  with  the  contempt  it 
deserves. 

What  must  be  the  heart  of  the  man  who  can  jest,  as  doth  this  exe- 
crable Clergyman,  with  the  miseries  of  his  Country,  and  can  exult  at 
the  thought  of  its  being  drenched  in  blood  :  the  prospect  of  the  arrival 
of  Troops  to  answer  this  purpose  affords  him  matter  of  triumph.  This 
is  a  Tory  Clergyman ;  to  such  men  as  these,  our  countrymen,  (if  we 
prevent  them  not  by  our  own  valorous  exertions,)  must  we  pay  tithes 
of  all  that  we  possess  ;  to  such  men  as  these  must  we  become  hewers 
of  wood  and  drawers  of  water  !  Who  can  endure  even  the  distant  idea 
of  such  a  state  ?  what  then  must  it  be  to  feel  and  to  groan  under  it ! 

It  hath  been  the  misfortune  of  this  Province  to  produce  many  such 
vermin  as  the  author  of  this  letter,  many  who  have  acted  the  part  of 
parricides  to  their  Country,  and  who  would  sacrifice  that,  together  with 
their  consciences,  to  their  ambition  and  avarice ;  but  we  may  comfort 
ourselves  with  the  reflection,  that  it  hath  produced  a  long  list  of  patriots, 
who  are  now  straining  every  nerve  to  secure  her  freedom,  and  who  will 
sacrifice  their  lives  rather  than  that  the  schemes  of  such  traitors  as  the 
author  of  this  letter  should  succeed. 

The  ever-memorable  nineteenth  of  April  gave  an  answer  to  the 
questions  so  often  asked  by  the  enemies  of  American  freedom,  and 
among  the  rest  by  this  little  tool  of  power :  what  think  ye  of  the  Con- 
gress now  ?  That  day  showed  the  efficacy  of  the  Resolutions  of  that 
illustrious  body,  and  evidenced  that  Americans  would  rather  die  than 
live  slaves  !  A  Hancock  and  an  Adams,  with  the  other  patriots, 
whose  names  will  be  handed  down,  with  everlasting  honour,  to  pos- 
terity, still  retain  their  invincible  firmness ;  and  in  despite  of  British 
Fleets  and  Armies,  under  the  assured  protection  of  their  God,  will 
secure  the  freedom  and  happiness  of  America. 


351 


NEW-YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONVENTION,  APRIL,  1775. 


352 


NEW.  YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONVENTION. 
Minutes  of  the  Provincial  Convention  of  New-York. 

City  of  Now- York,  April,  20,  1775. 
The  Deputies  hereinafter  named,  from  the  following 
Counties,  assembled  at  tlie  Exchange  in  this  City,  for  the 
purpose  of  forming  a  Provincial  Convention,  viz: 

City  and  County  of  New-York. — Philip  Livingston, 
Esquire,  Jo/in  Alsop,  Esquire,  James  JJuane,  Esquire, 
John  Jay,  Esquire,  Colonel  Leonard  Lispenard,  Mr. 
Francis  Lewis,  Mr.  Abraham  Walton,  Mr.  Isaac  Roo- 
sevelt, Mr.  Alexander  McDougall,  and  Mr.  Abraham 
Brasher. 

City  and  County  of  Albany. — Colonel  Philip  Schuy- 
ler, Colonel  Abraham  Ten  Urocele,  and  Abraham 
Yates,  Junior,  Esquire. 

Ulster  County. —  Charles  De  Witt,  George  Clinton, 
and  Levy  Pawling,  Esquires. 

Orange  County. — Colonel  A.  Hawkes  Hay,  Henry 
Wisner,  Esquire,  John  Herring,  Esquire,  Mr.  Peter 
Clowes,  and  Mr.  Israel  Seely. 

Westchester  County. — Colonel  Lewis  Morris,  John 
Thomas,  Junior,  Esquire,  Robert  Graham,  Esquire, 
Major  Philip  Van  Cortlandt,  Samuel  Drake,  Esquire, 
and  Mr.  Stephen  Ward. 

Dutchess  County. — Colonel  Morris  Graham,  Major 
Robert  R.  Livingston,  Junior,  and  Egbert  Benson, 
Esquire. 

King's  County. — Simon  Boerum,  Esquire,  Captain  Rich- 
ard Stillwell,  Mr.  Theodorus  Polhemus,  Mr.  Denice 
Denice,  and  Mr.  John  Vanderbilt. 

Suffolk  County. — Colonel  William  Floyd,  Colonel  Na- 
thaniel Woodhull,  Colonel  Phineas  Fanning,  Thomas 
Tredwell,  Esquire,  and  John  Sloss  Hobart,  Esquire. 

New-Town  and  Flushing,  in  Queen's  County. — Col- 
onel Jacob  Blackwell  and  Mr.  John  Talman. 

The  Convention  unanimously  chose  Philip  Livingston, 
Esquire,  to  be  their  President. 

Ordered,  That  the  sense  of  this  Convention,  upon  every 
question,  be  taken  and  determined  by  the  majority  of  the 
votes  of  the  Counties  here  represented. 

That  the  votes  of  the  City  and  County  of  New-York  be 
considered  as  four;  the  City  and  County  of  Albany  as 
three;  and  that  of  each  of  the  other  Counties,  respective- 
ly, as  two;  and  that  this  arrangement  shall  not,  upon  any 
future  occasion,  be  drawn  into  precedent. 

The  Convention  then  unanimously  elected  John  Mc- 
Kesson, Esquire,  to  be  their  Secretary. 

The  Deputies  of  the  City  and  County  of  New-York 
produced  the  poll-lists  taken  the  fifteenth  day  of  March 
last,  in  each  Ward  of  the  said  City,  certified  under  the 
hands  of  the  Vestrymen  of  the  respective  Wards,  and 
others  before  whom  they  were  taken,  by  which  it  appears 
that  Philip  Livingston,  John  Alsop,  James  Duane,  John 
Jay,  Leonard  Lispenard,  Esquires,  Messrs.  Francis  Lewis, 
Abraham  Walton,  Isaac  Roosevelt,  Alexander  McDougall, 
and  Abraham  Brasher,  all  now  present,  together  with  Mr. 
Isaac  Low,  who  is  not  present,  were  elected  by  a  very 
great  majority  of  voices  to  be  the  Deputies  of  the  said  City 
and  County  of  New-  York,  for  the  sole  purpose  of  appoint- 
ing Delegates  to  attend  the  next  Continental  Congress,  to 
meet  at  Philadelphia,  on  the  10th  day  of  May  next. 

Colonel  Philip  Schuyler,  Colonel  Abraham  Ten  Brocck, 
and  Abraham  Yates,  Junior,  Esquire,  produced  a  Certifi- 
cate subscribed  by  John  N.  Bleccker,  Clerk  of  the  Com- 
mittee of  Correspondence  for  the  City  and  County  of  Al- 
bany, certifying  that  they,  together  with  Colonel  Peter  R. 
Livingston  and  Walter  Livingston,  Esquire,  were  unani- 
mously elected  by  the  said  Committee,  (which  Committee 
was  expressly  empowered  for  that  purpose,)  as  Deputies 
for  the  City  and  County  of  Albany,  to  attend  the  Provin- 
cial Convention  to  be  held  in  the  City  of  New-York  on 
this  day,  for  the  purpose  of  choosing  Delegates  to  repre- 
sent this  Colony  in  the  next  Continental  Congress,  to  meet 
at  Philadelphia,  on  the  10th  day  of  May  next,  which  Cer- 
tificate bears  date  at  Albany  on  the  twenty-first  day  of 
March  last  past ;  and  being  read  and  accepted,  is  filed  with 
the  Secretary. 

Charles  De  Witt,  George  Clinton,  and  Levy  Pawling, 
Esquires,  produced  a  Certificate  bearing  date  the  seventh 


day  of  April  instant,  subscribed  by  Colonel  Johannes  Har- 
denbergh,  Chairman  or  President  of  all  the  Committees  of 
the  respective  Towns  and  Precincts  in  Ulster  County, 
(except  the  Towns  of  Rochester  and  Mamacoting)  which 
several  Committees  were  therein  named,  and  declared  to 
have  been  elected  and  appointed  to  meet,  nominate,  and 
appoint  Deputies  for  the  said  County,  to  serve  in  Provin- 
cial Convention  at  the  City  of  New-York,  on  this  day,  or 
at  such  other  time  and  place  as  might  be  agreed  on  ;  and 
were  then  assembled  at  the  Ncw-Paltz,  in  the  said  Coun- 
ty, for  that  purpose.  And  the  said  Credentials  certify  that 
they  the  said  Charles  De  Witt,  George  Clinton,  and  Levy 
Pawling,  Esquires,  were  unanimously  elected  by  all  the 
said  Committees,  as  Deputies  for  the  said  County  of  Ulster, 
to  attend  the  Provincial  Convention  to  be  held  at  the  City 
of  New-  York,  on  this  day,  or  at  such  other  time  and  place 
as  may  be  agreed  on,  for  the  purpose  of  electing  Delegates 
to  represent  this  Colony  in  the  Continental  Congress,  to 
meet  at  Philadelphia,  on  the  tenth  day  of  May  next,  or 
at  such  other  time  and  place  as  may  be  agreed  on  for  that 
purpose.  The  same  gentlemen  from  Ulster  County  also 
produced  a  Letter  signed  by  Jacob  Hoornbeck  and  Jochum 
Schoonmaker,  (the  Committee  elected  by  the  said  Town 
of  Rochester,)  bearing  date  at  Rochester  the  eleventh  day 
of  April  instant,  consenting  to  and  approving  of  the  ap- 
pointment of  the  said  gentlemen,  and  reposing  the  same 
trust  in  them  as  the  other  Towns  and  Precincts  in  the  said 
County  of  Ulster  had  done.  And  the  said  Credentials 
being  read  and  approved  of  by  this  Convention,  are  filed 
with  the  Secretary. 

The  Convention  then  adjourned  to  5  o'clock,  P.  M. 

Five  o'clock,  P.  M.,  April  20,  1775. 
The  Convention  met  pursuant  to  adjournment.  Present : 

City  and  County  of  New-York. — Philip  Livingston, 
Esquire,  President,  Messrs,  Francis  Lewis,  Alexander 
McDougall,  Abraham  Brasher,  John  Jay,  Esquire, 
Leonard  Lispenard,  Esquire,  Messrs.  Isaac  Roosevelt, 
and  Abraham  Walton. 

City  and  County  of  Albany. — Abraham  Yates,  Junior, 
Esquire,  Colonel  Philip  Schuyler,  and  Colonel  Abra- 
ham Ten  Broeck. 

Ulster  County. —  Charles  De  Witt,  George  Clinton, 
and  Levy  Pau-ling,  Esquires. 

Orange  County. — Colonel  A.  Hawkes  Hay,  Henry 
Wisner,  Esquire,  John  Herring,  Esquire,  Mr.  Peter 
Cloives,  and  Mr.  Israel  Seely. 

Westchester  County. — Colonel  Lewis  Morris,  John 
Thomas,  Junior,  Esquire,  Robert,  Graham,  Esquire, 
Major  Philip  Van  Cortlandt,  Sa?nuel  Drake,  Esquire, 
and  Mr.  Stephen  Ward. 

Dutchess  County. — Colonel  Morris  Graham,  Major 
Robert  R.  Livingston,  Junior,  and  Egbert  Benson, 
Esquire. 

King's  County. — Simon  Boerum,  Theodorus  Polhemus, 
Esquires,  and  Mr.  John  Vanderbilt. 

Suffolk  County. — Colonel  William  Floyd,  Colonel  Na- 
thaniel Woodhull,  John  Sloss  Hobart,  Esquire,  Thomas 
Tredwell,  Esquire,  and  Colonel  Phineas  Fanning. 

Flushing  and  Jamaica,  in  Queen's  County. — Mr. 
John  Talman  and  Mr.  Joseph  Robinson. 

The  Deputies  for  Orange  County  produced  here  several 
Credentials  from  the  respective  Towns  and  Precincts  in 
that  County,  in  substance  as  follows,  to  wit:  A  Certificate 
signed  by  Gilbert  Cooper,  Clerk,  setting  forth  that  at  a 
Town-Meeting  of  the  Precinct  of  Haverstraw,  in  the  said 
County  of  Orange,  held  at  the  New- City,  on  Tuesday,  the 
fourth  day  of  April  instant,  it  was — • 

Resolved,  1st.  That  that  meeting  did  highly  approve  of 
a  Convention  of  Deputies  from  the  different  Counties,  to 
meet  at  the  City  of  Neiv-York  on  this  day,  for  the  purpose 
of  choosing  Delegates  for  the  next  Continental  Congress, 
to  be  held  at  Philadelphia  in  the  month  of  May  next, 
as  the  most  effectual  means  to  promote  the  honour  and 
happiness  of  the  Colony,  and  to  unite  the  Colony  in  the 
common  cause,  for  the  preservation  of  our  rights  and  liber- 
ties ;  and, 

2dly.  That  it  was  then  and  there  resolved  that  Colonel 
A.  Hawkes  Hay  should  be,  and  was  thereby  appointed  a 
Deputy  to  represent  that  Precinct  at  such  Provincial  Con- 


353 


NEW- YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONVENTION,  APRIL,  1775. 


354 


vention,  to  meet  at  the  City  of  New-York  on  this  day  ; 
and  was  thereby  authorized  and  appointed  to  join  with  the 
Deputies  who  should  meet  in  such  Convention,  in  the  ap- 
pointment of  Delegates  to  represent  this  Colony  in  the 
next  Continental  Congress ;  and  also  to  concur  with  the 
said  Deputies  in  such  other  measures  as  might  be  thought 
necessary  to  promote  the  honour,  happiness,  and  interest  of 
this  Colony. 

Secondly.  The  same  gentlemen,  Deputies  for  Orange 
County,  produced  a  Certificate  signed  by  Daniel  Everett, 
Precinct  Clerk  of  the  Precinct  of  Goshen,  in  the  said 
County,  certifying,  that  at  an  annual  Town-Meeting  held 
at  Goshen,  in  and  for  the  Precinct  of  Goshen,  on  Tuesday, 
the  fourth  day  of  April  instant,  it  was  moved,  and  unani- 
mously voted  in  the  affirmative,  that  Henry  Wisncr  and 
Peter  Clowes,  Esquires,  be  appointed  Deputies  for  the 
said  Precinct  of  Goshen,  to  meet  such  other  Deputies  as 
should  be  appointed  by  other  parts  of  the  Colony,  in  a 
Provincial  Convention,  to  be  held  in  the  City  of  New- 
York  on  this  day,  for  the  purpose  of  electing  Delegates 
for  the  next  Continental  Congress,  to  be  held  at  Philadel- 
phia on  the  tenth  day  of  May  next. 

Thirdly.  The  said  Deputies  for  Orange  County  pro- 
duced a  Certificate  subscribed  by  Thomas  Outivatcr,  Town 
Clerk,  setting  forth  that  a  meeting  of  the  Freeholders  of  the 
Town  of  Orange,  in  Orange  County,  was  held  at  the 
house  of  Jost  Mabce,  in  the  said  Town,  on  the  17th  day 
of  April  instant,  agreeable  to  notice  given,  and  request 
made  by  publick  advertisements  for  that  purpose.  That 
the  freeholders  then  and  there  assembled,  took  into  con- 
sideration the  necessity  of  their  being  duly  and  properly 
represented  in  the  Provincial  Convention,  to  be  held  at  the 
City  of  New- York  on  this  twentieth  day  of  April,  for  the 
purpose  of  electing  and  appointing  Delegates  to  represent 
this  Colony  of  New-  York  in  the  next  Continental  Con- 
gress, to  be  held  in  the  City  of  Philadelphia  on  the  tenth 
day  of  May  next.  That  the  question  was  put,  Whether 
the  Freeholders  there  assembled  should  send  a  Deputy  to 
represent  the  said  Town  of  Orange  at  this  Convention  ? 
And  that  the  same  was  carried  in  the  affirmative.  And 
therein  also  setting  forth  and  certifying,  that  it  was  there- 
upon voted  and  ordered,  that  John  Herring,  Esquire, 
should  be  a  Deputy  for  the  said  Town  of  Orange,  to  re- 
present the  said  Town  in  this  Convention  ;  and  that  he 
act  and  vote  on  behalf  of  the  inhabitants  thereof,  in  all 
such  matters  and  things  as  should,  by  the  said  Convention, 
be  taken  into  consideration. 

Lastly.  The  said  Deputies  from  Orange  County  pro- 
duced a  Certificate  signed  by  Jesse  Wood  hull,  Esquire,  set- 
ting forth,  that  at  an  annual  meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and 
inhabitants  of  the  Precinct  of  Cornwall,  in  the  said  Coun- 
ty, held  at  the  house  of  John  Brewster,  in  Blooming- 
grove,  on  the  fourth  day  of  April  instant,  the  said  Jesse 
WoodhuU,  Esquire,  was  chosen  Moderator.  That  the  said 
Freeholders  then  proceeded  to  take  into  consideration  a  Let- 
ter from  the  Committee  of  the  City  and  County  of  New- 
York,  signed  by  Isaac  Low,  their  Chairman,  recommend- 
ing the  choosing  of  Deputies  for  the  several  Counties  in 
this  Colony,  to  meet  in  Provincial  Convention  at  the  City 
of  New-  York,  on  this  twentieth  day  of  April,  for  the  sole 
purpose  of  choosing  Delegates  to  represent  this  Colony  in 
the  next  Continental  Congress,  to  be  held  at  Philadelphia 
on  the  tenth  day  of  May  next  ensuing.  That  it  was  then 
proposed  to  the  said  Freeholders,  whether  the  subject-mat- 
ter of  the  said  Letter  should  be  taken  into  consideration  im- 
mediately, or  postponed  to  another  day  ;  and  that  debates 
arising  thereon,  and  the  question  being  put,  it  was  voted 
by  a  large  majority,  that  the  subject-matter  of  the  said  Let- 
ter should  be  considered  immediately.  That  it  was  then 
proposed  to  the  said  Freeholders,  whether  a  Deputy  should 
be  sent  from  that  Precinct  to  this  Convention,  or  not  ?  And 
that  debates  arising  thereon,  and  the  question  being  put,  it 
was  carried  in  the  affirmative  by  a  large  majority. 

And  the  said  Certificate  sets  forth  and  certifies,  that  Mr. 
Israel  Seely  was  then  and  there  chosen  as  one  of  the  De- 
puties of  that  County  for  the  purposes  aforesaid. 

And  all  the  said  Credentials  and  Certificates  produced 
by  the  said  Deputies  for  Orange  County  being  read  and 
approved  of,  and  accepted  by  this  Convention,  are  filed 
with  the  Secretary. 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii. 


Colonel  Lewis  Morris,  Mr.  Stephen  Ward,  Samuel 
Drake,  Esquire,  John  Thomas,  Junior,  Esquire,  Robert 
Graham,  Esquire,  and  Major  Philip  Van  Cortlandt,  the 
Deputies  from  Westchester  County,  produced  Credentials 
bearing  date  at  the  White-Plains,  in  Westchester  County, 
on  the  eleventh  day  of  April  instant,  signed  by  Lewis 
Morris,  Chairman,  therein  reciting  and  setting  forth,  that 
on  the  twenty-eighth  day  of  March  last  past,  a  number  of 
gentlemen  therein  particularly  named,  from  different  Dis- 
tricts in  the  County  of  Westchester,  having  received  Letters 
from  the  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of  the  City  and 
County  of  New- York  relative  to  the  appointment  of  De- 
puties for  the  County  of  Westchester,  to  this  Convention, 
met  at  the  White-Plains  aforesaid,  for  the  purpose  of  de- 
vising means  to  take  the  sense  of  the  people  of  the  County 
upon  the  subject.  That  they  had  sent  Letters  of  Notifica- 
tion to  the  principal  Freeholders  in  the  different  Towns 
and  Districts  in  the  County,  acquainting  them  that  they 
had  then  met  to  consider  of  the  most  proper  method  to 
obtain  the  sense  of  the  Freeholders  of  the  County  upon 
the  expediency  of  choosing  Deputies  to  meet  the  Deputies 
of  the  other  Counties,  for  the  purpose  of  electing  Dele- 
gates to  represent  this  Colony  in  the  Continental  Congress, 
to  be  held  at  Philadelphia  on  the  tenth  day  of  May  next ; 
and  therein  recommending  a  general  meeting  of  the  Free- 
holders of  the  said  County,  to  be  held  at  the  Ifliitc- 
Plains,  on  Tuesday,  the  eleventh  day  of  April  instant,  at 
ten  of  the  clock  in  the  forenoon,  at  the  Court-House  ;  and 
therein  and  thereby  requesting  each  such  principal  Free- 
holder to  give  notice  of  the  said  meeting  to  all  the  Free- 
holders in  his  District,  without  exception,  as  those  who  did 
not  appear  and  vote  on  that  day,  would  be  presumed  to 
acquiesce  in  the  sentiments  of  the  majority  of  those  who 
should  vote.  And  therein  also  further  setting  forth  and 
certifying,  that  such  notices  as  aforesaid  had  been  generally 
given  and  distributed  ;  and  that  a  very  numerous  body  of 
the  Freeholders  of  the  County  had  assembled  at  the  Court- 
House  at  the  White-Plains,  on  the  said  eleventh  day  of 
April  instant,  in  pursuance  thereof,  and  chose  Colonel 
Lewis  Morris  for  their  Chairman.  That  an  inconsidera- 
ble number  of  persons,  (among  whom  were  many  tenants 
not  entitled  to  a  vote,)  with  Isaac  Wilkins,  Esquire,  and 
Colonel  Philipse  at  their  head,  then  appeared  ;  and  Mr. 
Wilkins,  in  their  behalf,  as  he  said,  declared  that  they 
would  not  join  in  the  business  of  the  day,  or  have  any  thing 
to  do  with  Deputies  or  Congresses  ;  but  that  they  came 
there  for  the  sole  purpose  of  protesting  against  such  illegal 
and  unconstitutional  proceedings ;  after  which  they  de- 
parted. 

That  the  following  question  was  then  put  to  the  Free- 
holders by  the  Chairman,  viz :  Whether  they  would  ap- 
point Deputies  for  the  County  of  Westchester,  to  meet  the 
Deputies  of  the  other  Counties  at  the  City  of  New-  York, 
on  the  twentieth  day  of  April  then  instant,  for  the  purpose 
of  electing  Delegates  to  represent  this  Colony  in  the  Gen- 
eral Congress  to  be  held  at  Philadelphia,  on  the  tenth  day 
of  May  next  ?  That  the  Freeholders  then  there  met  unani- 
mously answered  in  the  affirmative  ;  and  thereupon  ap- 
pointed the  said  Colonel  Lewis  Morris,  Mr.  Stephen  Ward, 
Samuel  Drake,  Esquire,  John  Thomas,  Junior,  Esquire, 
Robert  Graham,  Esquire,  and  Major  Philip  Van  Cort- 
landt, together  with  Colonel  James  Holmes  and  Jonathan 
Piatt,  Esquire,  or  the  majority  of  them,  to  be  the  Depu- 
ties of  the  said  County  of  Westchester,  for  the  purposes 
aforesaid. 

The  same  Credentials  being  read  and  heard,  and  ac- 
cepted by  this  Convention,  are  now  filed  with  the  Secre- 
tary. 

The  Deputies  for  King's  County  produced  here  pro- 
ceedings of  a  meeting  of  the  several  Committees  chosen 
by  the  Freeholders  of  the  Townships  of  Flatbush ,  Brook- 
land,  Bushwick,  New-  Utrecht,  and  Gravesend,  held  at  the 
County  Hall,  in  Flatbush,  in  King's  County,  on  the  fif- 
teenth day  of  April  instant,  for  the  purpose  of  choosing 
Deputies  to  meet  with  the  Deputies  from  the  other  Coun- 
ties, at  New-York,  on  the  twentieth  day  of  April  instant, 
to  choose  Delegates  to  attend  the  Continental  Congress,  to 
be  held  at  Philadelphia  on  the  tenth  day  of  May  next. 
The  said  proceedings,  certified  by  Abraham  Van  Ranst, 
Clerk  to  the  said  several  large  and  respectable  Committees 


355 


NEW-YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONVENTION,  APRIL,  1775. 


356 


tliere  met,  do  certify,  that  Simon  Boerum,  Esquire,  having 
been  elected  their  Chairman,  they  unanimously  resolved 
that  the  said  Simon  Bocrum,  Richard  Stihvell,  Thcodorus 
Polhemus,  Dcnice  Dcnice,  and  John  Vandcrbilt,  or  the 
major  part  of  them,  he  appointed,  and  they  were  thereby 
appointed  Deputies  for  King's  County,  to  meet  the  Depu- 
ties of  the  other  Counties  within  this  Colony,  at  Ncw- 
Vork,  on  the  twentieth  day  of  April  instant,  to  choose 
Delegates  to  attend  the  Continental  Congress,  at  Phila- 
delphia, on  the  tenth  day  of  May  next. 

And  the  same  certified  proceedings  being  now  read  and 
heard  and  accepted,  and  approved  of  by  this  Convention, 
are  filed  with  the  Secretary. 

The  Deputies  for  Suffolk  County  produced  a  Certifi- 
cate, signed  by  Robert  Hempsted,  Chairman,  at  a  meeting 
of  the  Committees  from  the  different  Towns  in  the  County 
of  Suffolk,  held  at  the  County  Hall,  on  the  sixth  day  of 
April  instant,  certifying  that  it  was  then  and  there  unani- 
mously voted  and  agreed,  that  Colonel  William  Floyd, 
Colonel  Nathaniel  Woodhull,  Colonel  Phineas  Fanning, 
Thomas  Trcdwell,  and  John  Sloss  Hobart,  Esquires,  all 
now  present,  together  with  Thomas  Wickham,  Esquire, 
were  then  and  there  appointed  Deputies,  on  the  part  and 
behalf  of  that  County,  to  meet  the  Deputies  of  New-York 
and  the  other  Counties  within  this  Colony  in  a  Provincial 
Convention  at  the  City  of  New-  York,  on  the  20th  day  of 
April  instant,  (as  recommended  in  a  Letter  from  the  Chair- 
man of  the  Committee  in  the  said  City,)  there  to  unite 
with  the  other  Deputies  in  appointing  Delegates  to  attend 
the  Continental  Congress  at  Philadelphia  or  elsewhere,  in 
May  next.  And  thereby  also  farther  certifying  that  the 
said  Deputies  were  thereby  empowered  to  unite  with  the 
other  Deputies  in  Provincial  Convention  in  entering  into 
such  Resolves,  and  giving  such  Instructions  to  the  Dele- 
gates that  shall  be  there  chosen,  as  in  their  judgment  shall 
tend  to  the  preservation  of  the  rights  and  liberties  of  Ame- 
rica, and  to  restore  harmony  between  Great  Britain  and 
the  Colonies. 

And  the  said  certified  proceedings  and  appointments  be- 
ing read  and  heard,  and  accepted  by  this  Convention,  are 
now  filed  with  the  Secretary. 

The  Convention  then  proceeded  to  make  an  Order,  in 
the  words  following,  to  wit : 

It  having  been  reported  that  Mr.  Isaac  Low,  who  ap- 
pears to  have  been  elected  one  of  the  Deputies  for  the  City 
and  County  of  New-York,  and  has  not  attended,  does  not 
intend  to  act  in  that  capacity  ;  and  as  the  Convention  are 
restrained  in  the  appointment  of  Delegates  to  the  persons 
of  whom  it  is  composed, 

Ordered,  That  the  Secretary  wait  upon  Mr.  Low,  and 
request  the  favour  of  him  to  inform  the  Convention  whether 
they  are  to  consider  him  as  one  of  their  Members. 

The  Convention  then  adjourned  to  ten  o'clock  to-mor- 
row morning, 

Die  Veneris,  10  hora,  A.  M.,  April  21,  1775. 
The  Convention  assembled  at  the  Exchange,  in  New- 
York,  pursuant  to  adjournment,  Present : 

City  and  County  of  New-York. — Philip  Livingston, 
Esq.,  President,  John  Alsop,  Ja7nes  Ditane,  and  John 
Jay,  Esquires,  and  Colonel  Leonard  Lispenard,  Messrs. 
Isaac  Roosevelt,  Alexander  McDougall,  Abraham  Bra- 
sher, Francis  Lewis,  and  Abraham  Walton. 

City  and  County  of  Albany.— Col.  Philip  Schuyler, 
Colonel  Abraham  Ten  Broeck,  and  Abraham  Yates, 
Jun.,  Esquire. 

Ulster  County. —  Charles  Be  Wilt,  George  Clinton,  and 
Levy  Pawling,  Esquires. 

Orange  County. — Col.  A.  llawkes  Hay,  Henry  Wisner, 
Esquire,  John  Herring,  Esquire,  Messrs.  Peter  Clowes, 
and  Israel  Stely. 

Westchester  County. — Col.  Letvis  Morris,  Mr.  Ste- 
phen Ward,  Samuel  Drake,  Esquire,  John  Thomas, 
Jun.,  Esquire,  Robert  Graham,  Esquire,  and  Major 
Philip  Van  Cortlandt, 

Dutchess  County. — Col.  Morris  Graham,  Major  Robert 
R.  Livingston,  Junior,  and  Egbert  Benson,  Esq. 

King's  County. — Simon  Boerum,  Esq.,  Captain  Richard 
Stihvell,  Messrs.  Theodorus  Polhemus,  and  John  Van- 
dcrbilt, 


Suffolk  County. — Colonel  William  Floyd,  Colonel  Na- 
thaniel Woodhull,  Colonel  Phineas  Fanning,  Thomas 
Tredwell,  Esquire,  and  John  Sloss  Hobart,  Esquire. 

Newtown,  Oyster  Bay,  Flushing,  and  Jamaica,  in 
Queen's  County. — Colonel  Jacob  Blackwell,  Captain 
Zebulon  Williams,  Messrs.  John  Talman,  and  Joseph 
Robinson. 

Mr.  John  Talman,  of  Flushing,  in  Queen's  Count)-, 
produced  to  this  Convention  a  Certificate,  signed  by  John 
Rodman,  Town  Clerk,  and  by  Mr.  Stephen  Van  Wyck, 
certifying  that,  on  the  4th  day  of  April  instant,  after  due 
notice  had  been  given  to  the  Freeholders  of  Flushing,  at 
an  annual  Town  Meeting,  it  was  proposed  that  a  Deputy 
should  be  chosen  to  represent  the  said  Town  at  a  Provin- 
cial Convention,  to  be  held  at  the  City  of  New- York  on 
the  20th  day  of  April  instant.  That  after  some  debates 
the  matter  was  put  to  vote,  and  that  Mr.  John  Talman 
was,  by  a  great  majority,  chosen  their  Deputy,  to  repre- 
sent the  said  Town  of  Flushing  in  the  said  Provincial 
Convention. 

Mr.  Joseph  Robinson  produced  to  the  Convention  a 
Poll  List  of  one  hundred  and  seventy-six  of  the  Freehold- 
ers of  the  Town  of  Jamaica,  in  Queen's  County  ;  eighty-two 
whereof,  who,  though  a  minority  of  the  Freeholders  of  the 
said  Town  who  polled  on  that  occasion,  have  requested 
him  to  attend  this  Convention,  and  signify  their  willingness 
to  acquiesce  in  the  choice  of  the  Deputies  who  attend  this 
Convention  for  the  purpose  of  electing  Delegates  to  repre- 
sent this  Colony  at  the  next  Continental  Congress. 

Captain  Zebulon  Williams  produced  two  Certificates, 
signed  by  forty-three  of  the  F reeholders  of  the  Town  of 
Oyster  Bay,  in  Quecri's  County,  dated  the  12th  day  of 
April  instant,  who,  though  a  minority  of  the  Freeholders 
who  polled  on  that  occasion,  have  thereby  appointed  him 
their  Deputv,  to  attend  this  Convention  and  act  on  their 
behalf. 

Colonel  Jacob  Blackwell  produced  to  this  Convention  a 
Poll  List  of  Freeholders  of  the  Township  of  Neivtorni, 
whereby  it  appears  that  one  hundred  Freeholders  in  the 
said  Town  (who  were  all  that  did  poll  on  that  occasion) 
have  elected  him  their  Deputy  to  attend  this  Convention. 

The  said  Certificates  and  Poll  List  being  read,  heard, 
and  considered, 

Resolved,  That  the  Convention  allows  Colonel  Jacob 
Blackwell,  Captain  Zebulon  Williams,  and  Messrs.  John 
Talman  and  Joseph  Robinson  to  be  present  at  its  delibera- 
tions, and  will  take  into  consideration  any  advice  they  may 
offer. 

Colonel  Mon-is  Graham,  Major  Robert  R.  Livingston, 
Junior,  and  Egbert  Benson,  Esquire,  laid  before  the  Con- 
vention a  Certificate,  signed  by  the  respective  Committees 
of  the  Precincts  of  Rumbout,  Northeast  Amcnia,  and 
Rynbeck,  in  the  said  County  of  Dutchess,  at  a  meeting  held 
by  them  at  Charlotte  Precinct,  in  the  said  County,  on  the 
14th  day  of  April  instant,  certifying  that  they,  the  said 
Morris  Graham,  Robert  R.  Livingston,  Junior,  and  Eg- 
bert Benson,  were  elected  Deputies  to  represent  the  said 
County  in  the  Provincial  Convention  at  the  City  of  Niw- 
York,  on  the  20th  day  of  April  instant ;  or  to  represent 
the  respective  Precincts  who  had  sent  Committees  to  that 
meeting,  as  this  Convention,  from  a  state  of  facts  to  be  laid 
before  them,  should  determine. 

The  same  gentlemen  from  Dutchess  County  then  laid 
before  the  Convention  the  said  state  of  facts,  which  are  in 
the  words  following,  to  wit : 

1st.  That  at  a  meeting  in  August  last,  held  for  the  pur- 
pose of  nominating  Delegates  to  represent  the  County  of 
Dutchess  in  the  last  Continental  Congress,  Committees 
attended  from  seven  Precincts. 

2d.  That  shortly  after,  a  Committee  was  chosen  in  an- 
other Precinct,  who  approved  of  the  proceedings  of  this 
meeting,  and  wrote  to  the  Committee  of  Correspondence, 
informing  them  of  the  same. 

3d.  That  at  this  meeting  Messrs.  Anthony  Hoffman, 
John  Van  Ness,  and  Egbert  Benson  were  constituted  a 
Standing  Committee  of  Correspondence  for  the  whole 
County,  with  directions  to  communicate  to  the  other  Com- 
mittees whatever  intelligence  should,  from  time  to  time,  be 
received,  with  a  power  to  call  a  meeting  of  the  other  Com- 
mittees when  they  should  think  it  expedient ;  and  for  that 


•357 


NEW- YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONVENTION,  APRIL,  1775. 


358 


purpose  a  place  was  appointed  where  the  next  meeting 
should  be  held. 

4th.  That  immediately  upon  the  receipt  of  the  Letter 
from  the  Committee  of  the  City  of  New-  York,  of  the  16th 
of  March  last,  Circular  Letters  were  despatched  to  the 
several  Precincts  in  the  County,  mentioning  the  time  when 
another  meeting  would  be  held  at  the  place  appointed,  as 
above. 

5th.  That  Town  Meetings,  for  the  purpose  of  taking 
the  sense  of  the  Inhabitants  with  respect  to  sending  Depu- 
ties to  attend  this  Convention,  have  been  held  in  only  six 
Precincts. 

6th.  That  taking  the  six  Precincts  throughout,  of  the 
persons  who  actually  appeared  and  gave  their  voices,  either 
for  or  against  the  measure,  a  majority  were  in  favour  of  it. 

And  the  said  Certificate  and  state  of  facts  having  been 
read  and  heard,  and  duly  considered,  they  were  accepted 
of  by  this  Convention,  and  filed  with  the  Secretary. 

The  Secretary  being  then  called  on  for  that  purpose, 
reported  to  the  Convention  that,  in  pursuance  of  their  or- 
der, he  yesterday  evening  waited  on  Mr.  Low,  who,  in 
substance,  informed  him  that,  as  he  could  not  attend  the 
Committee  when  the  measure  of  having  eleven  Deputies 
for  the  City  and  County  of  New-  York  was  in  agitation,  he 
got  a  friend  to  signify  to  the  Committee  his  disapprobation 
of  the  measure,  and  that  if  he  was  nominated  he  should 
think  himself  obliged  to  refuse  to  serve  ;  that  he  had  after- 
wards published  a  declaration  that  he  would  not  serve  as  a 
Deputy,  that  the  City  might  have  an  opportunity  to  sup- 
ply his  place,  if  it  was  thought  necessary  to  have  eleven 
Deputies,  and  that,  therefore,  the  Convention  are  not  to 
consider  him  as  a  Member. 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  this  Convention,  sensible 
of  the  services  of  the  Delegates  from  this  Colony  who  at- 
tended the  Continental  Congress,  in  order  to  express  their 
approbation  of  their  conduct,  and  as  a  mark  of  the  confi- 
dence reposed  in  them,  have  unanimously  re-elected  all  of 
them  Delegates  to  attend  the  next  Continental  Congress 
at  Philadelphia,  except  Mr.  Isaac  Low,  who  had  previous- 
ly declared  that  the  Convention  was  not  to  consider  him  as 
a  Member  of  this  Convention,  and  is  therefore  ineligible. 

John  Herring,  Esquire,  declined  attending  at  the  next 
Continental  Congress  as  a  Delegate,  and  assigned  his  rea- 
sons to  the  Convention,  which  are  approved  of,  and  he  is 
therefore  excused. 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  five  gentlemen  be  added, 
as  Delegates,  to  those  who  attended  the  last  Continental 
Congress,  and  re-elected  by  this  Convention,  and  that  they 
be  chosen  by  ballot. 

And  the  following  gentlemen  were  then  elected  by  bal- 
lot, nemine  contradicenie,  viz :  Colonel  Philip  Schuyler, 
George  Clinton,  Esquire,  Colonel  Lewis  Morris,  Robert 
R.  Livingston.  Junior,  Esquire,  and  Francis  Lewis,  Es- 
quire. 

Resolved,  therefore,  unanimously,  That  Philip  Liv- 
ingston, James  Duane,  John  Alsop,  John  Jay,  Simon 
Boerum,  William  Floyd,  Henry  Winner,  Philip  Schuyler, 
George  Clinton,  Lewis  Morris,  Francis  Lewis,  and  Ro- 
bert R.  Livingston,  Junior,  Esquires,  be  Delegates  to 
represent  this  Colony  at  the  next  Continental  Congress  to 
be  held  at  the  City  of  Philadelphia  on  the  10th  day  of 
May  next,  with  full  power  to  them,  or  any  five  of  them,  to 
meet  the  Delegates  from  the  other  Colonies,  and  to  concert 
and  determine  upon  such  measures  as  shall  be  judged  most 
effectual  for  the  preservation  and  re-establishment  of  Ame- 
rican rights  and  privileges,  and  for  the  restoration  of 
harmony  between  Great  Britain  and  the  Colonies. 

The  Convention  then  adjourned  till  to-morrow  morning, 
eleven  o'clock. 

Die  Sabbati,  11  hora,  A.  M.,  April  22,  1775. 
The  Convention  assembled  at  the  Exchange,  in  New- 
York,  pursuant  to  adjournment,  Present : 

City  and  County  of  New-York. — Philip  Livingston, 
Esquire,  President,  John  Alsop,  Esquire,  Leonard  Lis- 
penard,  Esquire,  Francis  Lewis,  Esquire,  Messrs.  Abra- 
ham Walton,  Isaac  Roosevelt,  Alexander  McDougall, 
Abraham  Brasher,  and  James  Duane,  Esquire. 


City  and  County  of  Albany. — Colonel  Philip  Schuy- 
ler, Colonel  Abraham  Ten  Broeck,  Abraham  Yates, 
Jun.,  Esquire,  and  Walter  Livingston,  Esquire. 

Ulster  County. —  Charles  Be  Witt,  George  Clinton, 
and  Levy  Pawling,  Esquires. 

Orange  County. — Colonel  A.  Hawkes  Hay,  Henry 
Wisner,  Esquire,  John  Herring,  Esquire,  Messrs.  Piter 
Clowes,  and  Israel  Seely. 

Dutchess  County. — Robert  R.  Livingston,  Jun.,  Es- 
quire, Colonel  Morris  Graham,  and  Egbert  Benson, 
Esquire. 

Westchester  County. — Colonel~Z,cim  Morris,  John 
Thomas,  Jun.,  Esquire,  Robert  Graham,  Esquire,  Ma- 
jor Philip  Van  Cortlandt,  Samuel  Drake,  Esquire, 
and  Mr.  Stephen  Ward. 

King's  County. — Simon  Boerum,  Esquire,  and  John 
Vanderbilt. 

Suffolk  County. — Colonel  William  Floyd,  Colonel 
Nathaniel  Woodhull,  Colonel  Phineas  Fanning,  John 
Sloss  Hobart,  Esquire,  and  Thomas  Trcdwell,  Esquire. 

Newtown,  Oyster  Bay,  Flushing,  and  Jamaica,  in 
Queen's  County. — Colonel  Joseph  Blackwell,  Zcbu- 
lon  Williams,  Esquire,  Messrs.  John  Talman,  and  Jo- 
seph Robinson. 

A  Draft  of  Credentials  for  the  Delegates  of  this  Colony, 
elected  and  appointed  to  attend  at  the  next  Continental 
Congress  at  Philadelphia,  being  read  and  approved,  was 
agreed  to,  and  is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit: 

At  a  Provincial  Convention,  formed  of  Deputies  from 
the  City  and  County  of  New-York,  the  City  and  County 
of  Albany,  and  the  Counties  of  Dutchess,  Ulster,  Orange, 
Westchester,  King's,  and  Suffolk,  held  at  the  City  of 
New-  York  the  twenty-second  day  of  April,  one  thousand 
seven  hundred  and  seventy-five,  for  the  purpose  of  appoint- 
ing Delegates  to  represent  the  Colony  of  New- York  in 
the  next  Continental  Congress,  to  be  held  at  the  City  of 
Philadelphia  on  the  tenth  day  of  May  next,  Philip  Liv- 
ingston, Esquire,  James  Duane,  John  Alsop,  John  Jay, 
Simon  Boerum,  William  Floyd,  Henry  Wisner,  Philij) 
Schuyler,  George  Clinton,  Lewis  Morris,  Francis  Lewis, 
and  Robert  R.  Livingston,  Jun.,  Esquires,  were  unani- 
mously elected  Delegates  to  represent  this  Colony  at  such 
Congress,  with  full  power  to  them,  or  any  five  of  them,  to 
meet  the  Delegates  from  the  other  Colonies,  and  to  concert 
and  determine  upon  such  measures  as  shall  be  judged  most 
effectual  for  the  preservation  and  re-establishment  of  Ame- 
rican rights  and  privileges,  and  for  the  restoration  of  har- 
mony between  Great  Britain  and  the  Colonies. 

Ordered,  That  the  same  be  subscribed  by  the  Members 
of  this  Convention,  and  that  fair  copies  be  made  of  the  Re- 
solutions of  this  Convention  appointing  the  Delegates,  as 
also  a  list  of  the  Deputies  who  attended  thereat,  and  that 
the  same  be  signed  by  the  President,  and  published  in  the 
New-York  Newspapers. 

Ordered,  That  the  thanks  of  this  Convention  be  given 
to  the  Secretary  for  his  services  on  this  occasion  ;  which 
was  accordingly  done. 

Philip  Livingston,  Lewis  Morris, 

John  Alsop,  John  Thomas,  Jun., 

James  Duane,  Robert  Graham, 

Francis  Lewis,  P.  Van  Cortlandt, 

Abraham  Walton,  Samuel  Drake, 

Isaac  Roosevelt,  Stephen  Ward, 

Alex.  McDougall,  Morris  Graham, 

Abraham  Brasher,  R.  R.  Livingston,  Jr., 

Leonard  Lispenard,  Egbert  Benson, 

Philip  Schuyler,  Simon  Boerum, 

Abm.  Ten  Broeck,  John  Vanderbilt, 

Abm.  Yates,  Jun.,  William  Floyd, 

Walter  Livingston,  Nathaniel  Woodhull, 

Charles  De  Witt,  Phineas  Fanning, 

George  Clinton,  John  Sloss  Hobart, 

Levy  Pawling,  Thomas  Tredwell, 

A.  Hawkes  Hay,  Zebulon  Williams, 

Henry  Wisner,  Jacob  Blackwell, 

Peter  Clowes,  John  Talman, 

Israel  Seely,  Joseph  Robinson. 
John  Herring, 


359 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  kc,  APRIL,  1775. 


360 


ATTACK   ON   THE  INHABITANTS  OF  MASSACHUSETTS  BY 
THE   BRITISH  TKOOPS. 
Portsmouth  New-Hampshire,  April  20,  1775. 
Early  this  morning  we  were  alarmed  with  an  Express 
from  Newburyport,  with  the  following  Letter  to  the  Chair- 
man of  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  in  this  Town : 

Newburyport,  April  11),  1775. 

Sir:  This  Town  has  been  in  a  continual  alarm  since 
mid-day,  with  reports  of  the  Troops  having  marched  out 
of  Boston  to  make  some  attack  in  the  country.  The 
reports  in  general  concur,  in  part,  in  having  been  at  Lex- 
ington. And  it  is  very  generally  said  they  have  been  at 
Concord.  We  sent  oft'  an  express  this  afternoon,  who 
went  as  far  as  Simons's  at  Danvert,  before  he  could  get 
information  that  he  thought  might  be  depended  upon.  He 
there  met  two  or  three  gentlemen  who  affirmed,  the  regular 
Troops  and  our  men  had  been  engaged  chief  of  the  morn- 
ing, and  that  it  is  supposed  we  had  twenty-five  thousand 
men  engaged  against  four  thousand  Regulars ;  that  the 
Regulars  had  begun  a  retreat.  Our  men  here  are  setting 
off  immediately.  And  as  the  sword  is  now  drawn,  and 
first  drawn  on  the  side  of  the  Troops,  we  scruple  not  you 
will  give  the  readiest  and  fullest  assistance  in  your  power. 
And  send  this  information  further  on. 

In  behalf  of  the  Committee  for  this  Town. 

Your  humble  servant,      James  Hudson,  Chairman. 

LETTER  FROM   BOSTON   TO   A   GENTLEMAN   IN  NEW-YORK, 
DATED  APRIL  19,  1775. 

I  have  taken  up  my  pen  to  inform  you,  that  last  night 
about  eleven  o'clock,  one  thousand  of  the  best  Troops,  in 
a  very  secret  manner,  embarked  on  board  a  number  of 
Boats  at  the  bottom  of  the  Common,  and  went  up  Cam- 
bridge River,  and  landed. 

In  the  mean  time  they  stopped  every  person  from  going 
over  the  Neck,  or  any  Ferry ;  but  we  soon  found  a  way 
to  get  some  men  to  alarm  the  country.  From  thence 
they  marched  to  Lexington,  where  they  saw  a  number  of 
men  exercising.  They  ordered  them  to  disperse,  and  im- 
mediately fired  on  them,  killed  eight  men  on  the  spot, 
and  marched  to  Concord.  This  alarmed  the  country  so, 
that  it  seemed  as  if  men  came  down  from  the  clouds. 
This  news  coming  to  Town,  the  General  sent  out  another 
thousand  men,  with  a  large  train  of  artillery.  In  the  mean 
time,  those  Troops  at  Concord  had  set  fire  to  the  Court- 
House  there.  We  then  had  our  men  collected,  so  that  an 
engagement  immediately  ensued,  and  the  King's  Troops 
retreated  very  fast,  until  they  were  reinforced  with  the  last 
one  thousand  that  the  General  sent ;  but  they  did  not  stand 
long  before  the  whole  body  gave  way,  and  retreated  very 
fast.  Our  men  kept  up  at  their  heels,  loading  and  firing 
till  they  got  to  Charlestown,  when  our  men  thought  it 
not  prudent  to  proceed  any  farther,  fearing  the  Ships-of- 
War  would  be  ordered  to  fire  on  Boston  and  Charlestoivn. 
They  have  gained  a  complete  victory  ;  and,  by  the  best 
information  I  can  get,  most  of  the  officers  and  soldiers  are 
cut  off.  There  were  two  wagons,  one  loaded  with  powder 
and  ball,  and  the  other  with  provisions,  guarded  by  seven- 
teen men  and  an  officer  going  to  the  Army,  when  six  of 
our  men  waylaid  them,  killed  two,  wounded  two,  and  took 
the  officer  prisoner ;  the  others  took  to  the  woods,  and  we 
brought  off  the  wagons.  The  engagement  began  about 
twelve  o'clock,  and  continued  until  seven  ;  in  the  mean 
time  they  retreated  twenty  miles. 

1  have  endeavoured  to  give  you  a  few  of  the  particulars,  as 
near  as  I  am  able,  considering  the  situation  we  are  in,  not 
knowing  but  the  Troops  may  have  liberty  to  turn  their 
revenge  on  us.  We  have  now  at  least  ten  thousand  men 
round  this  Town.  It  has  been  a  most  distressing  day  with 
us ;  but  I  pray  God  we  may  never  have  reason  to  be  called 
to  such  another. 

EXTRACT   OF  A   LETTER  TO   A   GENTLEMAN   NEAR  PHILA- 
DELPHIA, DATED  BOSTON,  APRIL  20,  1775. 

Yesterday  produced  a  scene  the  most  shocking  that 
New-England  ever  beheld.  Last  Saturday  P,  M,,  orders 
were  sent  to  the  several  Regiments  quartered  here,  not  to 
let  their  Grenadiers  or  Light-Infantry  do  any  duty  till  far- 
ther orders ;  upon  which  the  inhabitants  conjectured  that 


some  secret  expedition  was  on  foot,  and,  being  upon  the 
look-out,  they  observed  those  bodies  on  the  move  between 
ten  and  eleven  o'clock  on  Tuesday  night,  observing  a  per- 
fect silence  in  their  march,  towards  the  point  opposite  to 
Phipps's  farm,  where  boats  were  in  waiting,  that  conveyed 
them  over.  The  men  appointed  to  alarm  the  country  on 
such  occasions  got  over  by  stealth  as  early  as  the  Troops, 
and  took  their  different  routes. 

The  first  advice  we  had  was  about  eight  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  when  it  was  reported  that  the  Troops  had  fired 
upon  and  killed  five  men  in  Lexington;  previous  to  which 
an  officer  came  express  to  his  Excellency  General  Gage, 
when,  between  eight  and  nine  o'clock,  a  Brigade  marched 
out  under  the  command  of  Earl  Percy,  consisting  of  the 
Marines,  the  Welsh  Fusileers,  the  Fourth,  and  Forty-seventh, 
and  Thirty-eighth  Regiments,  and  two  fieldpieces.  About 
twelve  o'clock  it  was  given  out  by  the  General's  Aid-de- 
Camp  that  no  person  was  killed,  and  that  a  single  gun  had 
not  been  fired,  which  report  was  variously  believed;  but, 
between  one  and  two  o'clock,  certain  accounts  came  that 
eight  were  killed  outright,  and  fourteen  wounded  of  the 
inhabitants  of  Lexington.  Those  people,  it  seems,  to  the 
number  of  about  forty,  were  drawn  out  early  in  the  morn- 
ing near  the  Meeting- House  to  exercise;  upon  which  the 
party  of  Light-Infantry  and  Grenadiers,  to  the  number  of 
about  eight  hundred,  came  up  to  them,  and  ordered  them  to 
disperse.  The  commander  replied  that  they  were  innocently 
amusing  themselves  with  exercise,  that  they  had  not  any 
ammunition  with  them,  and  therefore  should  not  molest  or 
disturb  them.  This  answer  not  satisfying,  the  Troops  fired 
upon  them,  and  killed  three  or  four;  the  others  took  to 
their  heels,  and  the  Troops  continued  to  fire.  A  few  took 
refuge  in  the  Meeting-House,  when  the  soldiers  shoved  up 
the  windows,  pointed  their  guns  in,  and  killed  three  there. 
This  is  the  best  account  I  can  learn  of  the  beginning  of  the 
fatal  day,  and  you  must  naturally  suppose  that  such  a  piece 
of  cruelty  would  rouse  the  Country. 

The  Troops  continued  their  march  to  Concord,  entered 
the  Town,  and  refreshed  themselves  in  the  Meeting-House 
and  Town-House.  In  the  latter  place  they  found  some 
ammunition  and  stores  belonging  to  the  country,  which 
finding  they  could  not  bring  away  by  reason  of  the  country 
people  having  occupied  all  the  posts  round  them,  they  set 
fire  to  the  house,  but  the  people  extinguished  it.  They 
set  it  on  fire  a  second  time,  which  brought  on  a  general 
engagement  at  about  eleven  o'clock.  The  Troops  took 
two  pieces  of  cannon  from  the  countrymen  ;  but  their  num- 
bers increasing,  they  soon  regained  them,  and  the  Troops 
were  obliged  to  retreat  towards  Town. 

At  noon  they  were  joined  by  the  other  Brigades,  under 
Earl  Percy,  when  another  very  warm  engagement  came 
on  at  Lexington.  The  Troops  not  being  able  to  stand  it, 
where  obliged  to  continue  their  retreat,  which  they  did 
with  the  bravery  becoming  British  soldiers ;  but  the  coun- 
try was  in  a  manner  desperate,  not  regarding  their  cannon 
in  the  least,  and  followed  on  till  seven  in  the  evening,  by 
which  time  they  got  into  Charlestown,  when  they  left  off 
the  pursuit,  lest  they  might  injure  the  inhabitants.  I  stood 
upon  the  hills  in  Town  and  saw  the  engagement  very  plain, 
which  was  very  bloody  for  seven  hours;  and  it  is  conjec- 
tured that  one  half  of  the  soldiers  at  least  are  killed.  The 
last  Brigade  was  sent  over  the  Ferry  in  the  evening  to 
secure  their  retreat;  and  they  are  this  morning  intrenching 
themselves  upon  Bunker's  Hill,  till  they  can  get  a  safe 
retreat  to  this  Town. 

It  is  impossible  to  learn  any  particulars,  as  the  commu- 
nication between  town  and  country  is  at  present  broke  off; 
they  were  till  ten  last  night  bringing  over  their  wounded, 
several  of  whom  are  since  dead,  two  officers  in  particular. 
When  I  reflect,  and  consider  that  the  fight  between  those 
whose  parents  but  a  few  years  ago  were  brothers,  I  shud- 
der at  the  thought,  and  there  is  no  knowing  where  our 
calamities  will  end. 


EXTRACT  OF   A   LETTER  FROM   BOSTON   TO  A  GENTLEMAN 
IN  NEW-YORK,  DATED  APRIL  20,  1775. 

I  have  yet  an  opportunity  of  writing  to  you  from  my 
own  house,  but  how  long  that  privilege  is  to  continue  God 
only  knows.  Yesterday  morning,  or  rather  late  in  the 
night  of  the  18th,  a  Brigade,  or  four  Regiments,  were  car- 


361 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  APRIL,  1775. 


362 


l  ied  from  the  west  part  of  the  Town,  in  boats  of  the  Men- 
of-War,  to  Cambridge,  from  whence  they  marched  on  to- 
wards Concord,  which  is  about  twenty  miles  from  hence. 
On  their  way,  in  passing  through  Lexington,  the  Troops 
came  unexpectedly  on  a  Company  of  our  country  people, 
(who  are  called  Minute-Men)  that  were  early  in  the  morn- 
ing exercising  with  arms,  without  ammunition.  The  Officer 
of  the  Troops  is  said  to  have  ordered  them  to  lay  down 
their  arms.  The  Captain  replied,  he  was  on  his  own 
ground;  that  his  Company  were  without  ammunition,  and 
had  no  intent  but  that  of  improving  in  the  military  art. 
After  some  altercation,  report  says  the  Captain  and  his  men 
turned  to  go  oft',  and  that  the  Light-Iufantrv  fired  on  them, 
killed  six,  and  wounded  mortally  two  others.  The  Troops 
continuing  their  route  to  Concord,  the  country,  by  the  time 
of  their  getting  there,  was  alarmed  ;  and  our  people,  taking 
to  a  hill,  hegan  firing  upon  the  Troops  with  about  two 
hundred  men,  which  number,  receiving  continual  additions, 
the  Troops  were  all  the  remainder  of  the  day  on  their  re- 
treat to  Charlestown,  and  many  of  the  officers  who  have 
returned  say  they  never  were  in  a  hotter  engagement. 
Many  are  killed  on  both  sides,  and  were  left  on  the  roads, 
neither  side  having  time  to  collect  their  dead.  Our  people 
came  to  no  regular  battle,  but  annoyed  their  whole  passage 
hack.  We  could  see  the  flashes,  and  hear  the  reports  of 
the  guns  for  hours  ;  the  warmest  fire  being  about  two  miles 
from  the  Town,  where  only  water  parted  us. 

The  marching  of  the  Troops  to  the  water  side  was  so 
sudden  and  silent,  that  few  of  the  inhabitants  knew  of  it 
till  next  morning. 

EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  BOSTON  TO  A  MERCHANT  IN 
NEW-YORK,  DATED  THURSDAY,  APRIL  20,  1775. 

What  I  was  apprehensive  of  in  my  last,  is  now  con- 
firmed. Yesterday  morning  the  Grenadiers  and  Light-In- 
fantry of  all  the  Regiments  in  Town  marched  out  very 
unexpectedly,  and  proceeded  to  Concord,  twenty-one  miles 
from  hence  ;  at  which  place  the  Provincial  Congress  sat, 
and  where  large  Magazines,  belonging  to  the  Country,  were 
collected,  which  were  totally  destroyed.  This  party  con- 
sisted of  about  eight  hundred  men,  under  the  command  of 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Smith,  of  the  Tenth  Regiment.  About 
six  hours  after  those  left  Boston,  a  Brigade  was  ordered 
out,  consisting  of  one  thousand  men,  commanded  by  Lord 
Percy.  These  marched  about  sixteen  miles,  to  a  place 
called  Lexington,  where  they  met  the  first  party  returning, 
and  who,  in  their  first  march  up,  had  killed  eight  or  ten 
men  that  opposed  their  march.  Upon  the  Army's  return, 
near  Lexington,  they  were  fired  on  from  the  woods,  which 
was  returned.  Thus  the  engagement  became  general,  and 
continued  for  seven  hours,  during  which  several  lives  were 
lost,  and  a  great  many  wounded.  It  is  surprising  how  soon 
the  country  people  mustered,  and  in  vast  numbers ;  so 
much,  that  the  Troops  were  obliged  to  retreat  near  twelve 
miles,  and  all  this  way  a  constant  firing  was  kept  up  on 
both  sides.  The  country  people  fired  all  from  cover,  and 
by  this  means  had  much  the  advantage  of  the  Troops.  The 
engagement  lasted  until  night  put  an  end  to  it.  I  saw  a 
great  part  of  it  from  Beacon  Hill.  They  kept  a  constant 
firing  until  they  got  into  Charlestown.  The  loss  on  the 
part  of  the  Troops,  from  the  best  information,  is  about  two 
hundred  killed  ;  among  which  there  are  no  Officers,  though 
many  very  much  wounded.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Barnard, 
of  the  Royal  Welch,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Smith,  of  the 
Tenth,  are  slightly  wounded.  Lieutenant  Gould,  of  the 
Fourth  Regiment,  is  also  wounded.  Major  Moncrieffe, 
Captain  Parsons,  and  Mr.  Haines,  are  safe  returned.  The 
loss  on  the  side  of  the  Country  must  be  considerable ;  at 
present,  there  is  no  coming  to  any  certainty.  From  the 
preparations  that  are  making,  I  think  it  will  be  soon  re- 
newed. 


extract  of  a  letter  from  a  gentleman  in  newport 
(rhode-island)  to  the  new-york  committee,  dated 
april  21,  1775. 

Yesterday  the  Town  was  alarmed  by  intelligence  con- 
tained in  a  letter,  which  came  express  from  Providence,  to 
the  Governour,  subscribed  by  the  Lieutenant-Governour, 
.S'.  Hopkins.  J.  Jenks,  S.  Nightingale,  J.  Brown,  and  about 


twenty  others,  inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Providence, 
which  says:  "Our  brethren  of  the  Massachusetts-Ban  are 
attacked  by  a  body  of  the  Regular  Troops,  and  many 
friends  are  slain."  They  then  request  the  Governour  to 
call  the  Assembly,  to  make  the  necessary  preparations  for 
the  common  defence  ;  to  which  a  postscript  is  added,  signed 
Thomas  Green,  that  Colonel  Warren  and  Doctoi  Pijn- 
cham,  two  Deputies  from  Massachusetts  Congress,  were  at 
Providence,  waiting  to  consult  the  Assembly  on  what  was 
proper  to  be  done.  There  is  also  another  letter  from  S. 
Hopkins  to  Major-General  Potter,  a  copy  of  which  was 
forwarded  to  the  Governour,  and  calls  upon  the  Major- 
General  to  repair  to  Providence,  to  consult  with  Lieutenant- 
General  Sessions;  this  says:  "The  King's  Troops  are  ac- 
tually engaged  butchering  and  destroying  our  brethren  in 
the  most  inhuman  manner.  The  inhabitants  oppose  them 
with  great  zeal  and  courage. " 

Both  the  above  letters  are  dated,  Providence,  April  19, 
1775,  at  night. 

EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  WEATH ERSFIELD,  IN  CON- 
NECTICUT, TO  A  GENTLEMAN  IN  NEW-YORK,  DATED 
APRIL  23,  1775. 

The  late  frequent  marchings  and  counter-marchings  into 
the  country,  were  calculated  to  conceal  the  most  cruel  and 
inhuman  design  ;  and  imagining  they  had  laid  suspicion 
asleep,  they  pitched  upon  Tuesday  night  for  the  execution. 
A  hint  being  got,  two  expresses  were  sent  to  alarm  the 
Congress.  One  of  them  had  the  good  fortune  to  arrive  ; 
the  other  (Mr.  Revere)  is  missing,  supposed  to  be  waylaid 
and  slain.  In  the  night  of  Tuesday,  the  Company  of  Gren- 
adiers and  Light-Infantry,  from  every  Regiment,  were 
transported  to  Charlestown  in  long-boats,  and  at  daybreak 
began  their  march  for  Lexington,  where  a  number  of  the 
inhabitants  were  assembled  peaceably,  without  arms,  to 
consult  their  safety.  The  Commander  called  them  re- 
bels, and  bade  them  disperse.  On  their  refusal,  he  fired  ; 
killed  and  wounded  nine.  They  then  proceeded  towards 
Concord,  marking  their  way  with  cruelties  and  barbarity, 
never  equalled  by  the  Savages  of  America.  In  one  house 
a  woman  and  seven  children  were  slaughtered,  (perhaps  on 
their  return.)  At  Concord,  they  seized  two  pieces  of  can- 
non, and  destroyed  two  others,  with  all  the  flour,  &tc.,  in 
store,  but  the  people  secured  their  magazine  of  powder,  &.c. 

By  this  time,  about  four  hundred  (no  accounts  make  them 
more  than  five  hundred)  of  our  men  assembled,  and  placed 
themselves  so  advantageously,  without  being  perceived,  that 
when  the  enemy  were  on  the  return,  they  received  the  full 
fire  of  our  men.  A  heavy  engagement  ensued  ;  the  enemy 
retreating,  and  our  men  pressing  on  them  with  constant  re- 
inforcements. At  Lexington,  they  retook  their  two  pieces 
of  cannon,  seized  the  enemy's  wagons  and  baggage,  and 
made  about  twenty  prisoners  ;  continuing  to  press  the  Regu- 
lars close  to  Charlestown,  where  they  were  on  the  point 
of  giving  up,  (one  account  says  this  Brigade  was  almost  all 
cut  off,)  but  a  reinforcement,  under  the  command  of  Lord 
Percy,  having  been  detached  that  morning  from  Boston, 
they  joined  the  first  detachment  in  the  retreat,  and  retired 
with  it  to  Bunker's  Hill,  where  they  intrenched,  and  night 
parted  them.  Our  number  increased,  and  next  morning 
would  have  surrounded  the  bill,  had  it  not  been  for  the 
situation  near  the  water,  where,  on  one  side,  they  were  ex- 
posed to  the  fire  from  a  Man-of-War. 

We  lost  thirty  men  in  the  action.  The  lowest  account 
of  the  enemy's  loss  is  one  hundred  and  fifty.  Lord  Percy. 
General  Haldimand ,  and  many  other  officers,  are  said  to 
be  among  the  slain.  A  gentleman  of  veracity  assured  me 
that  he  numbered,  within  half  a  mile  from  the  place  where 
the  fight  began,  one  hundred  and  fifty.  The  post  confirms 
the  same  account. 

We  are  all  in  motion  here,  and  equipt  from  the  Town, 
yesterday,  one  hundred  young  men,  who  cheerfully  offered 
their  service  ;  twenty  days  provision,  and  sixty-four  rounds, 
per  man.  They  are  all  well  armed,  and  in  high  spirits. 
My  brother  is  gone  with  them,  and  others  of  the  first  pro- 
perty. Our  neighbouring  Towns  are  all  arming  and  mov- 
ing. Men  of  the  first  character  and  property  shoulder  their 
arms  and  march  off  for  the  field  of  action.  We  shall,  by 
night,  have  several  thousands  from  this  Colony  on  their 
march. 


363 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  APRIL,  1775. 


364 


The  eyes  of  America  are  on  Neu-York ;  the  Ministry 
have  certainly  been  promised  by  some  of  your  leading  men, 
that  your  Province  would  desert  us ;  but  you  will  be  able 
to  form  a  better  judgment  when  you  see  how  this  intelli- 
gence is  relished.  Take  care  of  yourselves;  we  have  more 
than  men  enough  to  block  up  the  enemy  at  Boston,  and  if 
we  are  like  to  fall  by  treachery,  by  Heaven  we  will  not 
fall  unrevenged  on  the  traitors  ;  but  if  balls  or  swords  will 
reach  them,  they  shall  fall  with  us.  It  is  no  time  now  to 
dally,  or  be  merely  neutral  ;  he  that  is  not  for  us  is  against 
us,  and  ought  to  feel  the  first  of  our  resentment.  You  must 
now  declare,  most  explicitly,  one  way  or  the  other,  that  we 
may  know  whether  we  are  to  go  to  Boston  or  New- York. 
If  you  desert,  our  men  will  as  cheerfully  attack  New-York 
as  Boston ;  for  we  can  but  perish,  and  that  we  are  deter- 
mined upon,  or  be  free.  I  have  nothing  to  add,  but  am, 
your  friend  and  countryman,  &tc. 

P.  S.  Colonel  Murray's  son,  one  of  the  Tories,  under- 
took to  guide  the  Regulars  in  their  march  to  Concord,  and 
on  their  retreat  was  taken  prisoner ;  but  attempting  to  es- 
cape from  our  people,  they  shot  him — a  death  too  honour- 
able for  such  a  villain  !  They  have  made  another  of  them 
prisoner,  but  I  do  not  recollect  his  name  ;  none  of  ours  were 
taken. 

Will  Colonel  Grant  believe  now  that  New-England  men 
dare  look  Regulars  in  the  face  ?  Eighteen  hundred  of  their 
best  men  retreating  with  loss,  before  one-third  of  their  num- 
ber, seems  almost  incredible,  and  I  think  must  be  called 
an  omen  for  good.  In  every  struggle  Heaven  has,  as  yet, 
given  us  strength  equal  to  the  day  ;  its  hand  is  not  short- 
ened, nor  its  arm  weakened.  We  are  now  called  upon  to 
show  the  world  "  that  whom  we  call  fathers  did  beget  us," 
and  that  we  desire  to  enjoy  the  blessings  they  purchased 
for  us  with  their  lives  and  fortunes.  We  fix  on  our  Stand- 
ards and  Drums,  the  Colony  Arms,  with  the  motto,  "  qui 
transtulit  sustinet,"  round  it  in  letters  of  gold,  which  we 
construe  thus:  "  God,  who  transplanted  us  hither,  will  sup- 
port us." 

New- York,  Sunday,  April  23,  1775. 
This  morning  we  had  reports  in  this  City  from  Rhode- 
Island  and  New-London,  that  an  action  had  happened  be- 
tween the  King's  Troops  and  the  inhabitants  of  Boston, 
which  was  not  credited  ;  but  about  twelve  o'clock  an  ex- 
press arrived  with  the  following  account,  viz : 

Watcrtown,  Wednesday  morning,  } 
Near  ten  o'clock,  April  19,  1775.  $ 

To  all  Friends  of  American  Liberty  let  it  be  known: 

That  this  morning  before  break  of  day,  a  Brigade,  con- 
sisting of  about  one  thousand  or  twelve  hundred  men, 
landed  at  Phipps's  farm  at  Cambridge,  and  marched  to 
Lexington,  where  they  found  a  Company  of  our  Colony 
Militia  in  arms,  upon  whom  they  fired  without  any  provo- 
cation, and  killed  six  men  and  wounded  four  others.  By 
an  express  from  Boston  we  find  another  Brigade  are  upon 
their  march  from  Boston,  supposed  to  be  about  one  thou- 
sand. The  bearer,  Israel  Bessel,  is  charged  to  alarm  the 
Country  quite  to  Connecticut,  and  all  persons  are  desired 
to  furnish  him  with  fresh  horses  as  they  may  be  needed.  I 
have  spoken  with  several  who  have  seen  the  dead  and 
wounded.  Pray  let  the  Delegates  from  this  Colony  to 
Connecticut  see  this  ;  they  know  Colonel  Foster,  of  Brook- 
field,  one  of  our  Delegates.  T.  Palmer, 

One  of  the  Committee  for  Safety. 

A  true  copy  taken  from  the  original,  per  order  of  the 
Committee  of  Correspondence  for  Worcester,  April  19, 
1775.  Attest, 

Nathan  Baldwin,  Town-Clerk. 

Fairfield,  Connecticut,  Saturday,  22d  April,  8  o'clock. 
Since  the  above  was  written  we  have  received  the  fol- 
lowing by  the  second  express: 

Thursday,  20th  April,  3  o'clock,  A.  M. 
I  am  this  moment  informed  by  express  from  Woodstock, 
taken  from  his  own  mouth,  that  arrived  there  at  2  o'clock 
this  afternoon,  that  the  contest  between  the  first  Brigade 
that  marched  to  Concord  was  still  continuing  this  morning  at 
the  Town  of  Lexington,  to  which  place  said  Brigade  had  re- 


treated ;  that  another  Brigade,  said  to  be  the  second  mention- 
ed in  the  letter  of  this  morning,  had  landed  with  a  quantity 
of  artillery  at  the  place  where  the  first  did.  The  Provincials 
were  determined  to  prevent  the  two  Brigades  from  joining 
their  strength,  if  possible,  and  remain  in  great  need  of  suc- 
cour. The  Regulars,  when  in  Concord,  burnt  the  Court- 
House,  took  two  pieces  of  cannon,  which  they  rendered 
useless,  and  began  to  take  up  Concord  Bridge,  on  which 
Captain  ,  who,  with  many  on  both  sides,  were 

soon  killed,  then  made  an  attack  on  the  King's  Troops,  on 
which  they  retreated  to  Lexington.  I  am  your  humble 
servant,  Ebenezer  Williams. 

To  Colonel  Obadiah  Johnson,  Canterbury. 

P.  S.  Mr.  McFarland,  of  Cornfield,  Merchant,  lias 
just  returned  from  Boston,  by  way  of  Providence,  who 
conversed  with  an  express  from  Lexington,  who  further 
informs,  that  about  four  thousand  of  our  Troops  had  sur- 
rounded the  first  Brigade  above-mentioned,  who  were  on  a 
hill  in  Lexington;  that  the  action  continued,  and  there 
were  about  fifty  of  our  men  killed,  and  one  hundred  and 
fifty  of  the  Regulars,  as  near  as  they  could  determine  when 
the  express  came  away.  It  will  be  expedient  for  every 
man  to  go  who  is  fit  and  willing. 

The  above  is  a  true  copy  as  received  by  express  from 
New-Haven,  and  attested  to  by  the  Committee  of  Corres- 
pondence from  Town  to  Town. 

Test,    Jonathan  Sturges,        Andrew  Rowland, 
G.  Silleck  Silliman,     Thaddeus  Burr. 
Job  Bartram,  Committee. 

The  above  was  received  on  Sunday,  April  23,  about 
twelve  o'clock,  by  the  Committee  of  New-York,  and  for- 
warded to  Philadelphia  by  Isaac  Low,  Chairman  of  the 
Committee,  at  4  o'clock,  P.  M. 


LETTER  FROM  NEW-YORK  TO  A  GENTLEMAN  IN  PHILA- 
DELPHIA, DATED  APRIL  24,  1775. 

This  City  was  alarmed  yesterday  by  a  report  from  the 
Eastward,  that  the  King's  Troops  had  attacked  the  Mas- 
sachusetts-Bay 'people ;  the  report  was  confirmed  in  a  few 
hours  after  by  the  arrival  of  St.  Croix,  from  Rhode- 
Island,  and  an  express  from  near  Boston.  The  Commit- 
tee was  soon  called,  and  an  express  sent  off  to  your  City  ; 
as  you  will  have  particulars  by  him  before  this  reaches  you, 
1  need  say  no  more. 

There  were  two  Sloops  here  loaded  with  Flour  for  the 
Soldiers  at  Boston,  by  Mr.  Watts.  The  people  went, 
Sunday  as  it  was,  and  unloaded  them  in  a  hurry.  To- 
wards evening  they  went  and  secured  about  half  the  City 
Arms ;  a  guard  of  about  one  hundred  men,  I  am  told,  was 
then  placed  at  the  City-Hall,  to  secure  the  rest  of  the 
Arms,  and  anolher  hundred  at  the  Powder-House;  this 
was  not  done  by  the  Magistrates,  but  by  the  people. 


EXTRACT  OF   A   LETTER  FROM   NEW-YORK  TO   A  GENTLE- 
MAN IN  PHILADELPHIA,  DATED  APRIL  24,  1775. 

I  do  not  doubt  but  the  interesting  news  from  Boston 
must  give  every  good  and  virtuous  man  much  concern, 
that,  from  present  appearances,  a  reconciliation  between 
us  and  Great  Britain  is  at  a  farther  distance  than  we,  of 
late,  had  rational  grounds  to  hope.  Surely  this  proceeding 
on  the  part  of  General  Gage  is  not  the  olive  branch  held 
up  by  Government.  Yesterday  this  whole  City  was  in  a 
state  of  alarm;  every  face  appeared  animated  with  resent- 
ment. Soon  after  the  news  arrived  by  express,  many 
citizens  went  to  two  Transports  loaded  with  Bread,  Flour, 
&ic,  for  the  Troops,  and  they  were  speedily  unloaded. 
The  Committee  met,  and  after  despatching  the  express, 
considered  of  other  matters,  and  will  no  doubt  be  attentive 
to  every  thing  within  their  power  to  preserve  the  peace  of 
the  Town,  and  property,  and  all  other  matters  tending  to- 
wards maintaining  the  character  of  a  sister  Colony  that 
feels  for  another  in  distress.  Many  persons  of  influence, 
who  have  been  thought  inimical  to  the  cause,  now  come 
out  boldly  and  declare  their  sentiments  worthy  of  them- 
selves. Indeed  the  difference  of  sentiment  has  not  been 
much  ;  party  views  kept  men  of  weight  asunder;  it  is  hoped 
that  will  subside  more  and  more. 


365 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  APRIL,  1775. 


366 


New- York,  April  25,  1775. 

This  day,  about  noon,  arrived  a  second  express  from 
New-England,  with  the  following  important  advices: 

Wallingford,  Monday,  April  24,  1775. 

Dear  Sir:  Colonel  IVadsworth  was  over  in  this  place 
most  of  yesterday,  and  ha?  ordered  twenty  men  out  of  each 
Company  in  his  Regiment,  some  of  which  had  already  set 
off,  and  others  go  this  morning.  He  brings  accounts,  which 
came  to  him  authenticated,  from  Thursday  in  the  after- 
noon. The  King's  Troops  being  reinforced  a  second  time, 
and  joined,  as  I  suppose,  from  what  I  can  learn,  by  the 
party  who  were  intercepted  by  Colonel  Gardner,  were 
then  encamped  on  If  inter  Hill,  and  were  surrounded  by 
twenty  thousand  of  our  men,  who  were  intrenching.  Col. 
Gardner's  ambush  proved  fatal  to  Lord  Percy  and  an- 
other General  Officer,  who  were  killed  on  the  spot  the  first 
lire.  To  counterbalance  this  good  news,  the  story  is,  that 
our  first  man  in  command  (who  he  is  1  know  not)  is  also 
killed.  It  seems  they  have  lost  many  men  on  both  sides ; 
Colonel  IVadsworth  had  the  account  in  a  letter  from  Hart- 
ford. The  Country  beyond  here  are  all  gone,  and  we 
expect  it  will  be  impossible  to  procure  horses  for  our  wag- 
ons, as  they  have,  and  will,  in  every  place  employ  them- 
selves all  their  horses.  In  this  place  they  send  a  horse  for 
every  sixth  man,  and  are  pressing  them  for  that  purpose. 
I  know  of  no  way,  but  you  must  immediately  send  a  couple 
of  stout,  able  horses,  who  may  overtake  us  at  Hertford 
possibly,  where  we  must  return  Mrs.  Noycs's,  and  Mehy's, 
if  he  holds  out  so  far.  Remember,  the  horses  must  be  had 
at  any  rate. 

1  am,  in  the  greatest  haste,  your  entire  friend  and  hum- 
ble servant,  James  Lockwood. 

N.  B.  Colonel  Gardner  took  nine  prisoners,  and  twelve 
clubbed  their  firelocks,  and  came  over  to  our  party.  Col. 
Gardner's  party  consisted  of.seven  hundred  men,  and  the 
Regulars  one  thousand  eight  hundred,  instead  of  one  thou- 
sand two  hundred,  as  we  heard  before.  They  have  sent  a 
vessel  up  Mystick  River  as  far  as  Temple's  farm,  which  is 
about  half  a  mile  from  Winter  Hill.  These  accounts  being 
true,  all  the  King's  forces,  except  four  or  five  hundred, 
must  be  encamped  on  Winter  Hill. 

Al  the  instance  of  the  gentlemen  of  Fairfield,  just  de- 
parted from  hence,  this  is  copied  verbatim  from  the  origi- 
nal, to  be  forwarded  to  that  Town.  Isaac  Beers. 

New-Haven,  April  24,  1775,  half  past  nine  o'clock, 
forenoon.  Pierpont  Edwards. 

Fairfield,  April  24,  three  o'clock,  afternoon.  A  true 
copy,  as  received  per  express.       Thaddeus  Burr, 

Andrew  Rowland, 
Elijah  Abel. 

Norivalk,  April  24,  seven  o'clock,  afternoon.  A  true 
copy,  as  received  per  express. 

John  Cannon,  ^ 
Thaddeus  Betts,  >  Committee. 
Samuel  German,  ) 
Stamford,  April  24th,  ten  o'clock,  evening.     A  true 
copy.  John  Hait,  Jun., 

Samuel  Hutton, 
David  Webb, 
Daniel  Gray, 
Jonathan  Warring,  Jun. 
Greenwich,  April  25,  three  o'clock,  morning.  The 
above  is  forwarded  to  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  at 
New-  York.  Amos  Mead. 

A  true  copy,  received  in  New- York,  two  o'clock,  P. 
M.,  Tuesday,  April  25,  1775. 

Isaac  Low,  Chairman  New- York  Committee. 
A  true  copy,  received  at  Elizabethtown,  seven  o'clock 
in  the  evening,  Tuesday,  April  25,  1775. 

Jona.  Hampton, 
Chairman  of  the  Committee. 
Geo.  Ross, 
John  Blanchard. 

A  true  copy,  received  at  Woodbridge,  ten  of  the  clock 
in  the  evening,  Tuesday,  April  25,  1775. 

Nathaniel  Heard, 
Samuel  Parker, 
Jonathan  Clawson, 


The  above  received  at  New- Brunswick,  the  25th  April, 
1775,  twelve  o'clock  at  night. 

Wm.  Oake,  ) 

Jas.  Neilson,    >  Committee. 

Az.  Dunham,  ) 

A  true  copy,  received  at  V rincetown,  April  26,  1775, 

half  past  three  o'clock  in  the  morning. 

Thomas  Wiggin,  )  Members  of 

Jona.  Baldwin,  $  Committee. 

The  above  received  at  Trenton  on  Wednesday  morning, 

about  half  after  six  o'clock,  and  forwarded  at  seven  o'clock. 

Samuel  Tucker,  )  rr,, 

,         e  (I  hrce  of  the 

Isaac  smith,  >  „ 

.  Ti  V  Committee. 

Abraham  Hunt,  ) 

Philadelphia,  twelve  o'clock,  Wednesday,  received,  and 
forwarded  at  the  same  time,  by 

Lamb.  Cadwalader,  Committee 
Wm.  Bradford,  [for  the  City 
Tho.  Pryor,  fofPhiiadcl- 
Isaac  Malcher,  J  phia. 
Chester,  four  o'clock,  Wednesday,  P.  M.,  received,  and 
forwarded  by  Francis  Johnston, 

Isaac  Eyre, 
Samuel  Fairlamb. 
New- Castle,  nine  o'clock,  Wednesday  evening,  received, 
and  forwarded.  Z.  V.  Leuvenigh. 

Stephen  Spencer. 
Wednesday  night,  Christeen  Bridge,  tw-elve  o'clock, 
forwarded  to  Col.  Thomas  Couch,  Esquire,  who  received 
it  this  moment,  and  he  to  forward  it  to  Tobias  Rudulph, 
Esquire,  head  of  Elk,  in  Maryland.  Night  and  day  to  be 
forwarded.  S.  Patterson. 

27th  April,  1775,  half  past  four  o'clock,  A.  M.,  re- 
ceived, and  forwarded  to  Patrick  Hamilton,  Esquire,  in 
Charlcsiown,  by  Tobias  Rudulph, 

Jos.  Gilpin. 

Baltimore,  April  27,  1775,  received,  ten  o'clock,  P.  M. 

John  Boyd,  Clerk  of  the  Committee. 
A  true  copy,  received  in  Annapolis,  Friday,  April  28, 
1775,  half  after  nine  o'clock,  A.  M.,  and  forwarded  at  ten, 
per  express. 

Mat.  Tilghman, 
Ch.  Carroll,  of  Carrollton, 
Charles  Carroll, 
J.  Hall, 


Committee  of 
y  Correspondence 
|  for  Maryland. 


Three  of  the 
Committee. 


Thos.  Johnson,  Jun., 
Samuel  Chase,  j 

Friday,  Alexandria,  Eight  o'clock,  P.  M. 

We  received  the  enclosed  from  Annapolis  at  six  o'clock  ; 
please  forward  it  to  Fredericksburgh.  1  am,  for  self  and 
the  Committee  of  Correspondence  in  this  place,  gentle- 
men, your  humble  servant,  Wm.  Ramsay. 

To  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  in  Dumfries. 

Dumfries,  April  30,  Sunday. 
Gentlemen  :  The  enclosed  came  to  hand  this  morning, 
about  ten  o'clock.  In  one  hour  I  hired  the  bearer  to  con- 
vey it  to  your  place  to  the  different  Committees.  For  self 
and  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  in  this  place,  I  am, 
gentlemen,  your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

William  Carr. 
To  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  at  Fredericks- 
burgh.   By  express. 

Fredericksburgh,  Sunday  evening,  half  past  Four. 

Gentlemen:  The  enclosed  arrived  here  about  an  hour 
ago,  and  is  forwarded  to  your  Committee  by  your  very 
humble  servants,         Jas.  Mercer, 

Geo.  Thornton, 
Mann  Page,  Jun., 
Hugh  Mercer.  j 

King  William,  May  1,  1775. 

Gentlemen:  The  enclosed  arrived  here  to-day,  and  is 
forwarded  to  your  Committee  by  your  most  obedient  ser- 
vant, .  Carter  Braxton. 

Surry  County,  May  2,  1775. 

Gentlemen:  The  enclosed  arrived  here  this  evening, 
and  is  forwarded  by  your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

Allen  Cocke. 


Committee. 


367 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  kc,  APRIL,  ITT5. 


868 


Williamsburgh,  May  2,  1775. 

Gentlemen:  The  enclosed  is  this  moment  come  to 
hand,  and  I  forward  it  to  you  by  express,  with  the  request 
of  the  Committee  of  Williamsburgh  that  you  will  be 
pleased  to  forward  the  papers  to  the  Southward,  and  dis- 
perse the  material  passages  through  all  your  parts. 

I  am,  very  respectfully,  gentlemen,  your  most  obedient 
servant,  Ro.  C.  Nicholas,  Chairman. 

Smithfiild,  May  3,  1775,  Five  o'clock  in  the  morning. 

The  enclosed  arrived  here  this  morning,  and  is  forward- 
ed to  your  Committee  of  Correspondence  by  your  humble 
servants,  Arthur  Smith, 

Nathaniel  Burune. 

To  the  Committee  of  the  County  of  Nansemond,  or  any 
of  them.    An  express  from  Boston. 

Nansemond,  May  3,  1775. 
Gentlemen:  The  enclosed  is  this  moment  come  to 
hand,  and  we  forward  it  to  you  by  express,  with  the  re- 
quest of  the  Committee  of  Nansemond,  and  you  will  be 
pleased  to  forward  them  to  the  Southward. 

We  are,  gentlemen,  your  most  obedient  servants, 

Willis  Ridduh, 
Willis  Ceowper. 
To  the  Committee  of  Chowan,  North- Carolina . 

May  3,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  The  enclosed  papers  we  have  just  received, 
and  forw  ard  them  by  express  to  you,  to  be  sent  to  the  South- 
ward.   We  are,  gentlemen,  your  obedient  servants, 

The  Committee  of  the  County  of  Chowan. 

To  the  Committee  of  Correspondence,  for  the  Town  of 
Edcnton.    By  express. 

Edenton,  May  4,  Nine  o'clock,  1775. 

Gentlemen:  The  enclosed  is  this  moment  come  to 
hand,  and  we  forward  to  you  by  express,  with  the  request 
that  you  will  be  pleased  to  forward  the  papers  to  the  Com- 
mittee of  Craven  County  immediately,  and  disperse  the 
material  passages  through  all  your  parls.  We  are,  gentle- 
men, your  obedient  humble  servants, 

Jos.  Blount,  Chairman. 
Tho.  Jones,  Jno.  Hamilton, 

Chas.  Bondfield,  Robt.  Hardy, 
Jno.  Green,  Robt.  Smith, 

William  Bennett,     S.  Dickinson. 
To  the  Committee  of  Beaufort  County. 

Beaufort  County,  May  6,  1775. 
Gentlemen  :  The  enclosed  is  this  moment  come  to 
hand,  and  we  forward  to  you  by  express,  with  the  request 
that  vou  will  forward  the  different  papers  to  the  Southward 
immediately.  We  are,  gentlemen,  your  obedient  humble 
servants,  Roger  Osmond, 

William  Brown. 
To  the  Committee  of  Craven  County. 

Bath,  May  6,  1775. 
Dear  Sir  :  In  haste  have  sent  to  request  you  will  peruse 
the  enclosed  papers ;  and  that  you  will  do,  by  opening  the 
packet  herewith  sent  the  moment  it  comes  to  your  house. 
Get  three  or  four  of  your  Committee  to  write  a  line,  and 
send  the  whole,  enclosed,  to  the  next  Southward  Commit- 
tee, with  the  utmost  despatch. 

We  are,  dear  sir,  with  regard,  your  most  humble  servants, 

William  Brown, 
Roger  Osmond. 
To  Abner  Nash,  Esquire,  or  either  of  the  Committee 
for  the  County  of  Craven.    Per  express. 

Newbern,  May  6,  1775. 
Gentlemen:  The  enclosed  arrived  here  about  an  hour 
past,  and  is  forwarded  immediately  to  you  ;  and  desire  you 
will  keep  a  copy  of  James  Lockwood's  letter,  and  send 
them  on  as  soon  as  possible  to  the  Wilmington  Committee. 
We  are,  gentlemen,  your  obedient  servants, 

Samuel  Smith,  A.  Nash, 

B.  Cogdell,  Joseph  Leech, 

John  Green,  John  Fonvielle, 

William  Tisdale,      William  Stanly, 
Thomas  McLin,         James  Coor. 
N.  B.  We  have  enclosed  our  last  paper,  which  gives  an 
account  of  the  first  beginning  of  the  battle,  which  please 


to  send  to  Wilmington,  &ic,  and  send  all  the  bundle  of 
papers  forward  as  soon  as  possible  you  can. 
To  the  Committee  of  Onslow  County. 

Onslow,  Sunday  morning,  10  o'clock,  May  7. 

Gentlemen:  About  an  hour  past  I  received  the  en- 
closed papers.  Disperse  them  to  your  adjoining  County. 
Keep  a  copy  of  James  Lockwood's  letter ;  and  pray  write 
us  what  to  do.    We  are  for  Onslow. 

Wm.  Cray,  Edwd.  Ward, 

Seth  Ward,  Robert  Snead. 

Jos.  French, 
Enclosed  is  the  last  Gazette  for  Brunswick. 
To  the  Wilmington  and  Brunswick  Committees. 
For  Cornelius  Harnett,  Esquire,  Colonel  John  Ash,  or 
any  one  of  the  Committee  for  Wilmington.  (Express.) 

New  River,  May  7,  1775. 
Received  and  forwarded  by  William  Cray. 

Wilmington,  May  8,  1775,  4  o'clock,  afternoon. 

Dear  Sir:  I  take  the  liberty  to  forward  by  express  the 
enclosed  papers,  which  were  received  at  3  o'clock  this  af- 
ternoon. If  you  should  be  at  a  loss  for  a  man  and  horse, 
the  bearer  will  proceed  as  far  as  the  Boundary  House. 
You  will  please  direct  to  Mr.  Marion,  or  any  other  gentle- 
man, to  forward  the  packet  immediately  to  the  Southward, 
with  the  greatest  possible  despatch. 

I  am,  with  esteem,  dear  sir,  your  most  obedient  servant, 

Corns.  Harnett. 

P.  S.  For  God's  sake  send  the  man  on  without  the  least 
delay:  and  write  to  Mr.  Marion  to  forward  it  by  night  and 
by  day. 

To  Bichard  Quince,  Esquire,  Brunsivick. 

Brunswick,  May  8,  1775,  9  o'clock  in  the  evening. 

Sir:  1  take  the  liberty  to  forward  by  express  the  en- 
closed Papers,  which  I  just  received  from  Wilmington ; 
and  I  must  entreat  you  to  forward  them  to  your  community 
at  Georgetown,  to  be  conveyed  to  Charlestown  from  yours, 
with  all  speed.  Enclosed  is  the  newspaper,  giving  an  ac- 
count of  the  beginning  of  the  battle;  and  a  letter  of  what 
happened  after.  Pray  don't  neglect  a  moment  in  forward- 
ing.  1  am  your  humble  servant,        Richd.  Quince. 

To  Isaac  Marion,  Esq.,  at  the  Boundary. 

May  8,  1775. 

Dear  Sir:  Though  I  know  you  stand  in  no  need  of 
being  prompted  when  your  Country  requires  your  service, 
yet  I  cannot  avoid  writing  to  you,  to  beg  you  to  forward 
the  Papers  containing  such  important  news ;  and  pray  or- 
der the  express  you  send  to  ride  night  and  day. 

I  am,  dear  sir,  in  the  greatest  haste,  your  most  obedient 
servant,  R.  Howe. 

Isaac  Marion,  Esq.,  Boundary. 

Boundary,  May  9,  1775,  Little  River. 

Gentlemen  of  the  Committee:  I  have  just  now  re- 
ceived express  from  the  Committees  of  the  Northward 
Provinces,  desiring  I  would  forward  the  enclosed  Packet  to 
the  Southern  Committees.  As  yours  is  the  nearest,  I  re- 
quest, for  the  good  of  our  Country,  and  the  welfare  of 
our  lives  and  liberties,  and  fortunes,  you  will  not  lose  a  mo- 
ment's time,  but  despatch  the  same  to  the  Committee  of 
Georgetown,  to  be  forwarded  to  Charlestown. 

In  mean  time,  am,  gentlemen,  your  obliged  humble  ser- 
vant, &c,  Isaac  Marion. 
To  Danness  Hankins,  Josias  Alison,  and  Samuel  Duight, 
Esquires,  and  Messrs.  Francis  and  John  Allston,  gen- 
tlemen of  the  Committee  for  Little  River. 

Wednesday,  1  o'clock,  May  10,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  The  enclosed  Papers  were  just  now  de- 
livered to  me  by  an  express  from  Little  River.    1  make 
not  the  least  doubt  but  you  will  forward  them  with  the  ut- 
most despatch,  to  the  General  Committee  at  Charlestoivn . 
I  am,  gentlemen,  your  very  humble  servant, 

Benja.  Young. 
To  Paul  Trapicr,  Esq.,  Chairman  of  the  Committee  at 
Georgetown. 

Half  past  G,  Wednesday  evening. 

Gentlemen:  We  have  received  your  letter,  and  shall 
be  careful  to  execute,  with  all  the  diligence  in  our  power, 
whatever  you  have  recommended.    We  send  you  by  ex- 


369 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  he,  APRIL,  1775. 


370 


press  a  letter  and  newspaper,  with  momentous  intelligence, 
this  instant  arrived.    We  are  your  humble  servants, 

Paul  Tbapier,  P.  Trapier,  Junior, 
S.  Wragg,  Anthony  Bonneau. 

The  Committee  of  Intelligence  in  Charlestovm,  to  the  care 
of  the  Honourable  William  Henry  Drayton.  Esq.  Per 
Express. 


Salem,  Massachusetts,  April  20,  1775. 

Great  Britain,  adieu  !  No  longer  shall  we  honour  you  as 
our  mother  ;  you  are  become  cruel ;  you  have  not  so  much 
bowels  as  the  sea  monsters  towards  their  young  ones.  We 
have  cried  to  you  for  justice,  but  behold  violence  and  blood- 
shed !  Your  sword  is  drawn  offensively,  and  the  sword  of 
New-England  defensively  ;  by  this  stroke  you  have  broken 
us  off  from  you,  and  effectually  alienated  us  from  you.  O 
Britain!  see  you  to  your  own  house. 

King  George  the  Third,  adieu  !  No  more  shall  we  cry 
to  you  for  protection ;  no  more  shall  we  bleed  in  defence 
of  your  person.  Your  breach  of  covenant;  your  violation 
of  faith ;  your  turning  a  deaf  ear  to  our  cries  for  justice, 
for  covenanted  protection  and  salvation  from  the  oppressive, 
tyrannical,  and  bloody  measures  of  the  British  Parliament, 
and  putting  a  sanction  upon  all  their  measures  to  enslave 
and  butcher  us,  have  dissolved  our  allegiance  to  your 
Crown  and  Government.  Your  sword,  that  ought  in  jus- 
tice to  protect  us,  is  now  drawn  with  a  witness  to  destroy 
to.    O  George  !  see  thou  to  thine  own  house. 

General  Gage,  pluck  up  stakes  and  begone ;  you  have 
drawn  the  sword  ;  you  have  slain  in  cool  blood  a  number 
of  innocent  New-England  men  ;  you  have  made  the  as- 
sault, and  be  it  known  to  you,  the  defensive  sword  of  New- 
England  is  now  drawn  ;  it  now  studies  just  revenge,  and 
it  will  not  be  satisfied  till  your  blood  is  shed,  and  the  blood 
of  every  son  of  violence  under  your  command,  and  the 
blood  of  every  traitorous  Tory  under  your  protection  : 
therefore  depart  with  all  your  master's  forces;  depart  from 
our  territories ;  return  to  your  master  soon,  or  destruction 
will  come  upon  you.  Every  moment  you  tarry  in  Neiv- 
England,  in  the  character  of  your  master's  General,  you 
are  viewed  as  an  intruder,  and  must  expect  to  be  treated 
by  us  as  our  inveterate  enemy. 

O  my  dear  New-England,  hear  thou  the  alarm  of  war! 
The  call  of  Heaven  is  to  arms !  to  arms !  The  sword  of 
Britain  is  drawn  against  us ;  without  provocation,  how 
many  of  our  sons  have  been  fired  upon  and  slain  in  cool 
blood,  in  the  cool  of  the  day!  What  unheard-of  barbarity 
lias  been  committed  on  the  sickly  and  helpless  grey  hairs 
and  innocent  babes,  by  the  British  Troops !  Behold  the 
fruits  of  our  being  declared  rebels  by  the  British  Parlia- 
ment !  Behold  what  all  New-England  must  expect  to  feel, 
if  we  don't  cut  off  and  make  a  final  end  of  those  British 
sons  of  violence,  and  of  every  base  Tory  among  us,  or  con- 
fine the  latter  to  Simsbury  mines.  I  beseech  you,  for 
God's  sake,  and  for  your  own  sake,  watch  against  every 
vice,  every  provocation  of  God  Almighty  against  us ; 
against  intemperance  in  drinking ;  against  profane  lan- 
guage, and  all  debauchery ;  and  let  us  all  rely  on  the  arm 
of  the  Most  High;  and  whether  we  tarry  by  the  stuff,  or 
jeopard  our  lives  in  the  high  places  of  the  field,  let  us  all, 
like  good  Jehoshaphat,  address  the  Throne  of  God,  saying, 
"  Behold  how  they  reward  us,  to  come  to  call  us  out  of  thy 
possessions,  which  thou  hast  given  us  to  inherit !  O  our 
God,  wilt  thou  not  judge  them?  For  we  have  no  might 
against  them  ;  neither  know  we  what  to  do ;  but  our  eyes 
are  upon  thee." 

We  are,  my  brethren,  in  a  good  cause ;  and  if  God  be 
for  us,  we  need  not  fear  what  man  can  do.  Let  us  be  wise, 
be  prudent,  be  firm,  and  courageous.  The  cause  that 
General  Gage  has  undertaken  to  execute,  is  so  manifestly 
wrong,  that  he  must  be  a  terrour  to  himself.  Our  blood 
shed  by  the  Troops  under  his  command,  cries,  and  the 
cry  will  soon  appear  to  have  reached  Heaven  against 
him. 

O  thou  righteous  Judge  of  all  the  earth,  awake  for  our 
help.    Amen  and  Amen.  Johannes  in  Eremo. 


Concprd,  Massachusatts,  April  20,  1775. 
Sir:  The  Aimy  under  General  Gage  having  murdered 
sundry  inhabitants ;  this,  with  the  industrious  preparations 
Fourth  Series. — Vol.  n. 


making  in  Boston  for  a  speedy  march  into  the  country, 
impresses  us  with  the  absolute  necessity  of  convening  the 
Provincial  Congress  at  Concord,  as  soon  as  may  be,  agree- 
able to  a  vote  of  Congress  at  their  last  session.  You  are 
therefore  requested  immediately  to  repair  to  Concord,  as 
the  closest  deliberations,  and  the  collected  wisdom  of  the 
people,  at  this  alarming  crisis,  are  indispensably  necessary 
for  the  salvation  of  the  Country. 

Richard  Devens,  per  order. 
To  the  Members  of  the  Provincial  Congress. 


THE  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY  OF  MASSACHUSETTS  TO  THE 
GOVERNOUR  OF  CONNECTICUT. 

Cambridge,  April  20,  1775. 
On  Wednesday,  the  19th  instant,  early  in  the  morning, 
a  detachment  of  General  Gage's  Army  marched  into  the 
country  to  Eeocington,  about  thirteen  miles  from  Boston, 
where  they  met  with  a  small  party  of  Minute-men  exer- 
cising, who  had  no  intention  of  doing  any  injury  to  the 
Regulars.  But  they  fired  upon  our  men  without  any  pro- 
vocation, killed  eight  of  them  the  first  onset,  then  marched 
forward  to  Concord,  where  they  destroyed  the  Magazines 
and  Stores  for  a  considerable  time.  Our  people,  however, 
mustered  as  soon  as  possible,  and  repulsed  the  Troops, 
pursuing  them  quite  down  to  Charlestown,  until  they 
reached  a  place  called  Bunker's  Hill,  although  they  re- 
ceived a  very  large  reinforcement  at  Leodngton,  from  Gen- 
eral Gage.  As  the  Troops  have  now  commenced  hostili- 
ties, we  think  it  our  duty  to  exert  our  utmost  strength  to 
save  our  Country  from  absolute  slavery.  We  pray  your 
Honours  would  afford  us  all  the  assistance  in  your  power, 
and  shall  be  glad  that  our  brethren  who  come  to  our  aid 
may  be  supplied  with  Military  Stores  and  Provisions,  as 
we  have  none  of  either  more  than  is  absolutely  necessary 
for  ourselves.  We  pray  God  to  direct  you  to  such  mea- 
sures as  shall  tend  to  the  salvation  of  our  common  liber- 
ties.   Per  order  of  the  Committee  of  Safety. 

DOCTOR  WARREN  TO  GENERAL  GAGE. 

Cambridge,  April  20,  1775. 

Sir  :  The  unhappy  situation  into  which  this  Colony  is 
thrown  gives  the  greatest  uneasiness  to  every  man  who  re- 
gards the  welfare  of  the  Empire,  or  feels  for  the  distresses 
of  his  fellow-men ;  but  even  now  much  may  be  done  to 
alleviate  the  misfortunes  that  cannot  be  entirely  remedied ; 
and  I  think  it  of  the  utmost  importance  to  us,  that  our  con- 
duct be  such  as  that  the  contending  parties  may  entirely 
rely  upon  the  honour  and  integrity  of  each  other  for  the 
punctual  performance  of  any  agreement  that  shall  be  made 
between  them.  Your  Excellency  knows  very  well,  I  be- 
lieve, the  part  I  have  taken  in  publick  affairs;  I  ever 
scorned  disguise.  I  think  I  have  done  my  duty ;  some 
may  think  otherwise ;  but  be  assured,  Sir,  as  far  as  my  in- 
fluence goes,  every  thing  which  can  be  reasonably  required 
of  us  to  do,  shall  be  done  ;  every  thing  promised,  shall  be 
religiously  performed.  I  should  now  be  very  glad  to  know 
from  you,  Sir,  how  many  days  you  desire  may  be  allowed 
for  such  as  desire  to  remove  to  Boston  with  their  effects, 
and  what  time  you  will  allow  the  people  in  Boston  for  their 
removal.  When  I  have  received  that  information,  I  will 
repair  to  Congress,  and  hasten,  as  far  as  I  am  able,  the 
issuing  a  Proclamation.  I  beg  leave  to  suggest  that  the 
condition  of  only  admitting  thirty  Wagons  at  a  time  into 
the  Town  appears  to  me  very  inconvenient,  and  will  pre- 
vent the  good  effects  of  a  Proclamation  intended  to  be 
issued  for  encouraging  all  wagoners  to  assist  in  removing 
the  effects  from  Boston  with  all  possible  speed.  If  your 
Excellency  will  be  pleased  to  take  the  matter  into  con- 
sideration, and  favour  me  as  soon  as  may  be  with  an  an- 
swer, it  will  lay  me  under  a  great  obligation,  as  it  so  nearly 
concerns  the  welfare  of  my  friends  in  Boston.  I  have 
many  things  which  I  wish  to  say  to  your  Excellency,  and 
most  sincerely  wish  I  had  broken  through  the  formalities 
which  I  thought  due  to  your  rank,  and  freely  have  told 
you  all  I  knew  or  thought  of  publick  affairs ;  and  I  must 
ever  confess,  whatever  may  be  the  event,  that  you  gene- 
rously gave  me  such  an  opening  as  I  now  think  I  ought  to 
have  embraced ;  but  the  true  cause  of  my  not  doing  it  was 
the  knowledge  I  had  of  the  vileness  and  treachery  of  many 


371  CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  fee,  APRIL,  1775. 


persons  around  you,  who  I  supposed  had  gained  your  en- 
tire confidence.  I  am,  &tc. 


ADAM  BABCOCK  TO  OOVERNOUR  TRUMBULL. 

New-Haven,  April  20,  1775. 

Sir  :  I  have  a  Brig  now  ready  for  sea,  on  board  of  which 
is  laden  twelve  Oxen,  bound  for  the  foreign  IVest- Indies. 
She  was  cleared  out  the  15th  instant,  and  has  made  several 
attempts  to  sail,  and  once  actually  sailed,  but  by  contrary 
winds  was  obliged  yesterday  to  put  back,  and  must  unlade 
the  Cattle  she  has  on  board,  according  to  your  Honour's 
Proclamation,  unless  the  circumstances  attending  this  mat- 
ter can  induce  your  Honour  to  grant  a  dispensation.  I 
will  use  no  other  argument  in  favour  of  this  application 
than  this :  that  as  the  Cattle  were  purchased,  cleared  out, 
and  shipped  before  the  Embargo  was  laid,  and  indeed  be- 
fore the  cause  that  occasioned  the  Embargo  existed,  there 
was  consequently  no  intention  in  me  to  defeat  the  wise  pre- 
caution of  our  Legislature,  and  have  been  so  long  a  time 
on  ship-board,  at  a  great  expense.  Whether,  under  these 
circumstances,  1  may  not  claim,  at  least  ask  an  exemption, 
as  in  my  apprehension  the  publick  will  apparently  sustain  a 
greater  loss  through  me,  as  an  individual,  from  her  being 
stopped  and  unloaded,  (as  I  have  neither  time  nor  oppor- 
tunity to  supply  the  place  of  the  Oxen  with  Horses  before 
there  may  be  danger  of  sending  out  any  Vessel,)  than  from 
her  proceeding  to  perform  her  voyage ;  especially  when  I 
assure  your  Honour  that  the  nett  proceeds  of  this  Vessel 
and  Cargo  are  ordered  to  be  laid  out  in  the  West-Indies, 
and  shipped  home  to  me  in  certain  articles  which  the  com- 
munity are  in  much  greater  want  of  at  this  unhappy  period 
than  of  Cattle.  I  shall  wait  your  Honour's  determination 
by  the  return  of  the  young  man,  Mr.  Adam  Helme,  who 
waits  on  you  with  this ;  and  in  the  mean  time  have  the 
honour  to  be,  with  the  greatest  respect,  your  Honour's 
most  obedient  and  humble  servant,      Adam  Babcock. 

The  Honourable  Jonathan  Trumbull,  Governour  of  the 
Colony  of  Connecticut. 


Williamsburg!],  Virginia,  April  21,  1775. 

This  morning,  between  three  and  four  o'clock,  all  the 
Gunpowder  in  the  Magazine,  to  the  amount,  as  we  hear, 
of  about  twenty  barrels,  was  carried  off  in  his  Excellency 
the  Governour's  Wagon,  escorted  by  Captain  Collins  and  a 
detachment  of  Marines  from  the  armed  Schooner  Magda- 
len, now  lying  at  Burivcll's  Ferry,  and  lodged  on  board 
that  Vessel.  As  soon  as  the  news  of  this  manoeuvre  took 
wind,  the  whole  City  was  alarmed,  and  much  exasperated  ; 
and  numbers  got  themselves  in  readiness  to  repair  to  the 
Palace  to  demand  from  the  Governour  a  restoration  of 
what  they  so  justly  supposed  was  deposited  in  this  Maga- 
zine for  the  Country's  defence.  However,  as  some  gen- 
tlemen represented  the  propriety  of  remonstrating  to  the 
Governour  upon  this  occasion  in  a  decent  and  respectful 
manner,  the  Common  Hall  assembled,  who,  after  delibera- 
ting some  time,  waited  upon  his  Excellency  with  the  fol- 
lowing Address,  which  was  presented  by  the  Honourable 
Peyton  Randolph,  Esquire,  Recorder  of  this  City,  and  is 
as  follows : 

To  His  Excellency  the  Right  Honourable  John  Earl  of 
Dunmoue,  His  Majesty's  Lieutenant,  Governour- Gene- 
ral, and  Commander-in-chief  of  the  Colony  and  Do- 
minion of  Virginia  : 

The  humble  Address  of  the  Mayor,  Recorder,  Aldermen, 
and  Common  Council  of  the  City  of  Williamsburgh  : 
My  Lord  :  We,  His  Majesty's  dutiful  and  loyal  subjects, 
the  Mayor,  Recorder,  Aldermen,  and  Common  Council  of 
theCily  of  Willidmsburgh,  in  Common  Hall  assembled,  hum- 
bly beg  leave  to  represent  to  your  Excellency  that  the  inhabi- 
tants of  this  City  were  this  morning  exceedingly  alarmed 
by  a  report  that  a  large  quantity  of  Gunpowder  was,  in  the 
preceding  night,  while  they  were  sleeping  in  their  beds,  re- 
moved from  the  publick  Magazine  in  this  City,  and  con- 
veyed under  an  escort  of  Marines  on  board  one  of  His  Ma- 
jesty's armed  Vessels  lying  at  a  Ferry  on  James  River. 

We  beg  leave  to  represent  to  your  Excellency,  that  as 
this  Magazine  was  erected  at  the  publick  expense  of  this 
Colony,  and  appropriated  to  the  sufe-keeping  of  such  mu- 
nition as  should  be  there  lodged  from  time  to  time,  for  the 


372 

protection  and  security  of  the  Country,  by  arming  thereout 
such  of  the  Militia  as  might  be  necessary  in  case  of  inva- 
sions and  insurrections,  they  humbly  conceive  it  to  be  the 
only  proper  repository  to  be  resorted  to  in  times  of  immi- 
nent danger. 

We  farther  beg  leave  to  inform  your  Excellency,  that 
from  various  reports  at  present  prevailing  in  different  parts 
of  the  Country,  we  have  too  much  reason  to  believe  that 
some  wicked  and  designing  persons  have  instilled  the  most 
diabolical  notions  into  the  minds  of  our  Slaves,  anr.  that, 
therefore,  the  utmost  attention  to  our  internal  security  is 
become  the  more  necessary. 

The  circumstances  of  this  City,  my  Lord,  we  consider 
as  peculiar  and  critical.  The  inhabitants,  from  the  situa- 
tion of  the  Magazine  in  the  middle  of  their  City,  have  for 
a  long  tract  of  time  been  exposed  to  all  those  dangers  which 
have  happened  in  many  Countries  from  explosions  and 
other  accidents.  They  have,  from  time  to  time,  thought 
it  incumbent  on  them  to  jjuard  tne  Magazine.  For  their 
security,  they  have  for  some  time  past  judged  it  necessary 
to  keep  strong  patrols  on  foot.  In  their  present  circum- 
stances, then,  to  have  the  chief  and  necessary  means  of 
their  defence  removed,  cannot  but  be  extremely  alarming. 

Considering  ourselves  as  guardians  of  the  City,  we  there- 
fore humbly  desire  to  be  informed  by  your  Excellency 
upon  what  motives  and  for  what  particular  purpose  the 
Powder  has  been  carried  off  in  such  a  manner :  and  we 
earnestly  entreat  your  Excellency  to  order  it  to  be  imme- 
diately returned  to  the  Magazine. 

To  which  Address  His  Excellency  returned  this  verbal 
Answer : 

That  hearing  of  an  insurrection  in  a  neighbouring  Coun- 
ty, he  had  removed  the  Powder  from  the  Magazine,  where 
he  did  not  think  it  secure,  to  a  place  where  it  would  be  in 
perfect  security ;  and  that,  upon  his  word  and  honour, 
whenever  it  was  wanted  on  any  insurrection,  it  should  be 
delivered  in  half  an  hour.  That  he  had  removed  it  in  the 
night  time  to  prevent  any  alarm  ;  and  that  Captain  Collins 
had  his  express  commands  for  the  part  he  had  acted.  He 
was  surprised  to  hear  the  people  were  under  arms  on  this 
occasion,  and  that  he  should  not  think  it  prudent  to  put 
Powder  into  their  hands  in  such  a  situation. 


CUMBERLAND  COUNTY  (VIRGINIA)  COMMITTEE. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  for  Cumberland  County, 
held  on  Friday,  the  21st  of  April,  1775: 

The  Chairman  recommended  that  the  Committee  should 
take  under  consideration  the  proceedings  of  the  late  Pro- 
vincial Convention,  held  at  Richmond  Town,  in  the  County 
of  Henrico,  from  Monday,  the  20th  of  March,  to  Monday, 
the  27th  of  the  same  month. 

The  Committee  accordingly  proceeded  to  the  considera- 
tion thereof,  and,  after  the  maturest  deliberation,  came  to 
the  following  Resolutions : 

Resolved,  unanimously,  That  this  Committee  do  cordially 
approve  the  Proceedings  and  Resolutions  of  the  late  Pro- 
vincial Convention,  and  also  recommend  it,  in  the  strong- 
est terms,  to  the  inhabitants  of  this  County,  to  observe 
them  in  every  particular,  and  that  they  use  every  means 
in  their  power  to  carry  them  into  effect. 

Resolved,  unanimously,  That  the  most  cordial  thanks  of 
this  Committee,  and  of  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  Count} . 
are  justly  due  to  the  Honourable  Peyton  Randolph,  Es(j., 
and  the  rest  of  the  worthy  Delegates  who  represented  this 
Colony  in  the  late  Provincial  Convention,  for  the  cheerful 
undertaking,  and  faithful  discharge  of  the  trust  reposed  in 
them,  and  for  the  w  isdom  and  spirit  displayed  in  their  pro- 
ceedings. George  Caurington,  Chairman. 


CONNECTICUT  COMMITTEE  OF  CORRESPONDENCE   TO  JOHN 
HANCOCK. 

Lebanon,  April  21,  1775. 
Dear  Sir:  Two  of  the  Delegates  from  your  Congress 
were  with  Governour  Trumbull,  and  left  him  this  morning 
at  7  o'clock.  Writs  are  gone  out,  to  call  the  General  As- 
sembly to  meet  at  Hartford  next  Wednesday.  Every  pre- 
paration is  making  to  support  your  Province.  We  have 
many  reports  of  what  is  doing  with  you,  the  particulars  we 


37a 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  APRIL,  1775, 


374 


cannot  yet  get  with  precision.  The  ardour  of  our  people  is 
such,  that  they  can't  be  kept  back.  The  Colonels  are  to 
forward  part  of  the  best  men  and  most  ready,  as  fast  as 
possible,  the  remainder  to  be  ready  at  a  moment's  warning. 
These  are  the  present  movements  with  us.  All  that  we 
learn  from  you  is,  that  a  Brigade  marched  from  Boston  to- 
wards Concord  last  Tuesday  evening;  that  they  fired  on  a 
party  of  Provincials  at  that  place,  and  that  they  were  at- 
tacked by  the  Provincials,  and  obliged  to  retreat ;  and  that 
General  Gage  was  marching  out  to  cover  their  retreat ; 
that  numbers  were  killed  on  both  sides.  Indeed,  our  ac- 
counts are  so  various,  we  know  not  what  to  rely  on.  We 
therefore  have  despatched  Mr.  David  Trumbull,  the  son 
of  Governour  Trumbull,  with  orders  to  proceed  to  such 
place  as  he  shall  find  you  at,  and  get  such  intelligence  as 
may  be  depended  on,  that  we  may  know  how  to  concert 
the  measures  necessary  and  best  for  us  to  take. 

We  shall  anxiously  expect  to  hear  from  you,  and  hope 
to  have  such  intelligence  as  you  may  judge  necessary  to 
give  us,  by  the  return  of  Mr.  Trumbull. 

We  are,  with  anxious  prayers  for  your  safety,  and  a 
happy  event  of  this  most  disagreeable  contest,  gentlemen, 
your  most  humble  servants,  Wm.  Williams, 

Nath.  Wales,  Jr., 
Joseph  Trumbull. 
To  the  Honourable  John  Hancock,  Esquire,  President  of 

the  Provincial  Congress  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay.  Per 

Mr.  Trumbull. 

P.  S.  We  hope  despatches  will  be  immediately  sent  off 
from  you,  with  most  authentick  accounts  of  the  late  trans- 
actions, to  forestall  such  exaggerated  accounts  as  may  go 
from  the  Army  and  Navy ;  it  may  prevent  harsh  measures, 
ai.d  strengthen  the  hands  of  our  friends  in  Britain.  We 
hint  this  step,  and  dare  say  no  hints,  however  free,  at  such 
a  time  as  this,  will  be  taken  amiss. 


COMMITTEE  OF  NEWBURYPORT  TO  THE  COMMITTEE  OF 
SAFETY. 

Newburyport,  April  21,  1775. 

Sir  :  We  have  sent  forward  the  bearer,  to  have  your 
orders  with  all  possible  despatch  by  his  return,  whether 
the  forces  that  are  coming  from  the  Province  of  New- 
Hampshire,  and  from  the  eastern  parts  of  our  Province, 
who,  by  expresses,  are  hastening  along,  should  be  sent 
back,  especially  those  who  live  near  the  sea-shore.  We 
are  well  informed  numbers  passed  our  River  yesterday,  at 
the  upper  Ferries,  besides  four  Companies  through  this 
Town,  on  their  way  to  you.  We  shall  follow  your  direc- 
tions, and,  if  ordered,  take  care  to  find  expresses  as  far 
Eastward  as  necessary.  Wre  have  a  party  of  men  from 
this  Town  (upwards  of  one  hundred)  upon  their  march  to 
you.  If  they  are  not  wanted,  and  you  think  proper,  you 
can  order  our  express  to  turn  them  back.  We  sent  off 
last  evening  two  field-pieces  to  you ;  if  not  wanted,  they 
may  be  of  some  use  here.  We  would  be  glad  of  your  di- 
rections by  our  next  Express,  or  by  any  safe  opportunity, 
as  soon  as  you  can  attend,  how  we  shall  act  in  case  any 
Cutters  should  come  in  here,  more  especially  if  they  bring 
land  forces  with  them.  If  provisions  of  any  sort  are  wanted, 
give  us  an  account  what  sort,  and  we  will  forward  what  we 
are  able,  with  all  despatch.  If,  in  giving  answers  to  these 
inquiries,  it  be  necessary  for  you  to  give  any  private  infor- 
mation, please  to  direct  to  Benjamin  Greenleaf,  Esquire, 
sealed,  and  enclose  it  in  another  letter,  with  your  informa- 
tion that  may  be  communicated,  sealed,  to  the  Chairman 
of  the  Committee  for  this  Town,  by  whose  order,  and  in 
whose  behalf,  I  am,  Sir,  your  most  humble  servant, 

B.  Greenleaf. 


COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY  OF  MASSACHUSETTS  TO  NEW-HAMP- 
SHIRE CONGRESS. 

Cambridge,  April  22,  1775. 
Gentlemen:  On  Wednesday,  the  19th  instant,  early  in 
the  morning,  a  Brigade  of  General  Gage's  Army  marched 
into  the  country  to  Lexington,  about  thirteen  miles  from 
Boston,  where  they  met  with  a  small  party  of  our  Militia 
exercising,  who  had  no  intention  of  doing  injury  to  the  Regu- 
lars ;  but  they  fired  upon  our  men,  without  any  provocation, 
killed  eight  of  them,  and  wounded  two  others.    Then  they 


marched  to  Concord,  where  they  destroyed  part  of  our 
Magazines  and  Stores.  However,  our  people  collected  as 
soon  as  possible,  and  repulsed  the  Troops,  pursuing  them 
quite  down  to  Charlestons,  where  they  encamped  on  a 
place  called  Bunker's  Hill.  The  First  Division,  which 
consisted  of  about  one  thousand  men,  went  to  Concord,  and 
the  Second  Division,  about  the  same  number,  who  took  the 
same  route,  supported  the  First  Division  as  well  as  they 
could,  but  all  were  obliged  to  retire.  Our  loss  is  sup- 
posed between  twenty  and  thirty  killed,  and  a  few  wounded. 
Their  loss  is  much  larger.  As  the  Troops  have  now  begun 
hostilities,  we  think  it  our  duty  to  exert  our  utmost  strength 
to  save  our  Country  from  absolute  slavery,  and  we  pray 
you  to  afford  us  all  the  assistance  in  your  power ;  and  we 
shall  be  glad  that  our  brethren,  who  may  come  to  our  aid, 
may  be  supplied  with  all  necessary  provisions  and  military 
stores,  as  we  have  no  more  of  either  than  what  is  abso- 
lutely necessary  for  ourselves.  We  pray  God  to  direct 
you  to  such  measures  as  shall  tend  to  the  salvation  of  our 
common  liberties. 

We  are,  gentlemen,  with  great  respect,  your  distressed 
friends  and  brethren.  By  order  of  the  Committee  of 
Safety.  J.  Palmer. 

To  the  Honourable  John  Wentworth,  Esquire,  Chairman 
of  the  Provincial  Congress  of  New- Hampshire.  Per 
favour  of  Mr.  John  Grijfin. 


BENJAMIN  GREENLEAF  TO  THE  COMMITTEE  OF  CORRESPON- 
DENCE IN  HAMPTON. 

Newburyport,  April  22,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  We  have  now  received  information  from 
the  Committee  of  Safety  at  Cambridge,  who  are  appointed 
by  the  Province,  that  they  have  a  sufficient  number  of  men 
arrived,  and  therefore  would  not  have  any  more  come  from 
the  Northward  for  the  present,  but  think  it  needful  they 
should  be  ready  to  guard  the  sea-coasts  in  their  own  neigh- 
bourhood. Pray  forward  this  intelligence  as  far  as  may  be 
needful,  and  with  as  much  despatch  as  possible. 

W7e  were  unhappily  thrown  into  distress  yesterday,  by 
false  accounts  received  by  two  or  three  persons,  and  spread 
abroad,  of  a  number  of  Soldiers  being  landed  at  Ipswich 
and  murdering  the  inhabitants.  We  have  since  heard  that 
it  arose  in  the  first  place  from  a  discovery  of  some  small 
Vessels  near  the  entrance  of  their  River — one,  at  least, 
known  to  be  a  Cutter — and  it  was  apprehended  that  they 
were  come  to  relieve  the  captives  there  in  Jail. 

I  am,  gentlemen,  your  most  humble  servant, 

B.  Greenleaf. 
To  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  in  Hampton. 


COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY  TO  THE  INHABITANTS  OF  BOSTON. 

April  22, 1775. 

Gentlemen:  The  Committee  of  Safety  being  informed 
that  General  Gage  has  proposed  a  Treaty  with  the  inhabi- 
tants of  the  Town  of  Boston,  wherein  he  stipulates  that 
the  women  and  children,  with  all  their  effects,  shall  have 
safe  conduct  without  the  Garrison,  and  their  men  also,  upon 
condition  that  the  male  inhabitants  within  the  Town  shall, 
on  their  part,  solemnly  engage  that  they  will  not  take  up 
arms  against  the  King's  Troops  within  the  Town,  should 
an  attack  be  made  from  without.  We  cannot  but  esteem 
these  conditions  to  be  just  and  reasonable;  and  as  the  in- 
habitants are  in  danger  of  suffering  from  the  want  of  pro- 
visions, which,  in  this  time  of  general  confusion,  cannot  be 
conveyed  into  the  Town,  are  willing  you  should  enter  into, 
and  faithfully  keep  the  engagement  aforementioned,  said  to 
be  required  of  you,  and  to  remove  yourselves,  women, 
children,  and  effects,  as  soon  as  may  be. 

Per  order. 


BOSTON  COMMITTEE  TO  DR.  JOSEPH  WARREN. 

Boston,  April  23,  1775. 
Sir:  The  following  proceedings  contain  the  Agreement 
made  between  his  Excellency  General  Gage  and  the  Town 
of  Boston.  You  are  informed  it  is  the  earnest  desire  of 
the  inhabitants,  that  such  persons  as  incline  to  remove  into 
the  Town  with  their  effects,  may  be  permitted  so  to  do 
without  molestation,  and  they  having  appointed  us  as  a 


375  CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  he,  APRIL,  1775.  376 


Committee  to  write  to  you  on  this  subject,  we  hope  this  re- 
quest will  be  complied  with,  as  the  Town,  in  a  very  full 
meeting,  was  unanimous  in  this  and  every  other  vote,  re- 
lating to  this  matter ;  and  we  beg  the  favour  of  as  speedy 
an  answer  as  may  be.  We  are,  most  respectfully,  your 
obedient  humble  servants, 

James  Bowdoin,     John  Pitts, 
John  Scollay,       Ezek.  Goldthwait, 
Tim.  Newell,         Alexander  Hill, 
Thos.  Marshall,  Henderson  Inches, 
Samuel  Austin,      Edward  Payne. 
To  Doctor  Joseph  Warren. 

AGREEMENT  BETWEEN  GENERAL  GAGE   AND  THE  TOWN  OF 
BOSTON. 

Boston,  SS. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants 
of  the  Town  of  Boston,  legally  warned,  on  Saturday,  the 
day  of  April,  A.  D.  1775, 

The  Hon.  James  Bowdoin,  Esq.,  Moderator. 

The  Moderator  informed  the  Town  that  the  present 
meeting  was  in  consequence  of  an  interview  between  his 
Excellency  General  Gage  and  the  Selectmen,  at  his  de- 
sire, and  mentioned  the  substance  of  the  conversation  that 
passed  ;  and  also  that  the  Selectmen,  with  the  advice  and 
assistance  of  a  number  of  gentlemen,  had  prepared  several 
votes,  which  they  thought  it  might  be  proper  for  the  Town 
to  pass;  and  which,  in  conjunction  with  the  assurances 
that  had  been  given  to  his  Excellency  by  the  Selectmen, 
they  apprehended,  from  the  interview  aforesaid,  would  be 
satisfactory  to  his  Excellency  :  Whereupon,  the  Honour- 
able James  Bowdoin,  Esquire,  Ezekiel  Goldthwait,  Esq., 
Mr.  Henderson  Inches,  Mr.  Edward  Payne,  Mr.  Alexan- 
der Hill,  together  with  the  Selectmen,  viz:  John  Scollay, 
Esquire,  Mr.  Timothy  Newell,  Mr.  Samuel  Austin,  Tho- 
mas Marshall,  Esquire,  and  Mr.  John  Pitts  were  appoint- 
ed a  Committee  to  consider  of  this  important  matter,  and 
were  desired  to  report  as  soon  as  may  be. 

The  said  Committee  made  report,  and,  after  some  de- 
bate, the  two  following  Votes  passed  unanimously,  viz: 

His  Excellency  General  Gage,  in  an  interview  with  the 
Selectmen,  having  represented  that  there  was  a  large  body 
of  men  in  arms  assembled  in  the  neighbourhood  of  this 
Town,  with  hostile  intentions  against  His  Majesty's  Troops 
stationed  here,  and  that  in  case  the  Troops  should  be  at- 
tacked by  them,  and  the  attack  should  be  aided  by  the 
inhabitants  of  the  Town,  it  might  issue  in  very  unhappy 
consequences  to  the  Town  :  For  prevention  whereof,  his 
Excellency  assured  the  Selectmen,  that  whatever  might  be 
the  event  of  the  attack,  he  would  take  effectual  care  that 
the  Troops  should  do  no  damage,  nor  commit  any  act  of 
violence  in  the  Town  ;  but  that  the  lives  and  properties  of 
the  inhabitants  should  be  protected  and  secured,  if  the 
inhabitants  behaved  peaceably  :  And  the  Selectmen,  in 
behalf  of  the  Town,  engaged  for  the  peaceable  behaviour 
of  the  inhabitants  accordingly.  In  confirmation  of  which 
engagement, 

Voted,  That  as  the  Town  have  behaved  peaceably  to- 
wards the  Troops  hitherto,  they  hereby  engage  to  continue 
to  do  so ;  and  the  Peace  Officers  and  all  other  Town  Offi- 
cers are  enjoined,  and  the  Magistrates,  and  all  persons  of 
influence  in  the  Town,  are  earnestly  requested  to  exert 
their  utmost  endeavours  to  preserve  the  peace  of  the  Town. 
The  Town  at  the  same  time  relies  on  the  assurances  of 
his  Excellency  that  no  insult,  violence,  or  damage  shall  be 
done  to  the  persons  or  property  of  the  inhabitants,  either 
by  the  Troops  or  the  King's  Ships,  whatever  may  be  the 
event  of  the  attack  his  Excellency  seems  to  apprehend  ; 
but  of  which  attack  we  have  no  knowledge  or  information 
whatever,  as  all  communication  between  the  Town  and 
Country  has  been  interrupted  by  his  Excellency's  order 
ever  since  the  collection  of  the  body  aforesaid. 

Whereas  the  communication  between  this  Town  and  the 
Country,  both  by  land  and  by  water,  is  at  present  stopped 
by  order  of  his  Excellency  General  Gage,  and  the  inhabi- 
tants cannot  be  supplied  with  Provisions,  Fuel,  and  other 
necessaries  of  life ;  by  which  means  the  sick  and  all  inva- 
lids must  suffer  greatly  and  immediately,  and  the  inhabi- 
tants in  general  be  distressed,  especially  such  (which  is  by 
much  the  greatest  part)  as  have  not  had  the  means  of  laying 


in  a  stock  of  provisions,  but  depend  for  supplies  from  the  coun- 
try for  their  daily  support,  and  may  be  in  danger  of  perish- 
ing, unless  the  communication  be  opened:  Therefore, 

Resolved,  That  a  Committee  be  appointed  to  wait  on 
his  Excellency  General  Gage,  to  represent  to  him  the  state 
of  the  Town  in  this  regard,  and  to  remind  his  Excellency 
of  his  declarations  in  answer  to  Addresses  made  to  him 
when  the  works  on  the  Neck  were  erecting,  viz:  "  That  he 
had  no  intention  of  stopping  up  the  avenue  to  the  Town, 
or  of  obstructing  the  inhabitants  or  any  of  the  country  peo- 
ple coming  in  or  going  out  of  the  Town  as  usual ;  that  he 
had  no  intention  to  prevent  the  free  egress  and  regress  of 
any  person  to  and  from  the  Town,  or  of  reducing  it  to  the 
state  of  a  garrison  ;  that  he  could  not  possibly  intercept  the 
intercourse  between  the  Town  and  Country  ;"  that  "  it  is 
his  duty  and  interest  to  encourage  it ;  and  it  is  as  much 
inconsistent  with  his  duty  and  interest  to  form  the  strange 
scheme  of  reducing  the  inhabitants  to  a  slate  of  humilia- 
tion and  vassalage,  by  stopping  their  supplies."  Also,  to 
represent  to  him  that,  in  consequence  of  these  repeated 
assurances  of  his  Excellency,  the  fears  and  apprehensions 
of  the  inhabitants  had  generally  subsided,  and  many  per- 
sons, who  had  determined  to  remove  with  their  effects, 
have  remained  in  Town,  whilst  others  largely  concerned  in 
navigation  had  introduced  many  valuable  goods,  in  full 
confidence  of  the  promised  security.  That  the  Town  think 
his  Excellency  incapable  of  acting  on  principles  inconsist- 
ent with  honour,  justice,  and  humanity,  and  therefore  that 
they  desire  his  Excellency  will  please  to  give  orders  for 
opening  the  communication,  not  only  for  bringing  Provisions 
into  the  Town,  but  also  that  the  inhabitants,  such  of  them 
as  incline,  may  retire  from  the  Town  with  their  effects 
without  molestation. 

The  same  Committee  were  appointed  to  wait  upon  the 
General  with  the  foregoing;  votes. 

Then  the  meeting  was  adjourned  to  Sabbath  morning, 
ten  o'clock. 

Sabbath  morning,  Ten  o'clock,  April  23,  1775. 

The  Town  met,  according  to  adjournment. 

The  said  Committee  made  a  verbal  report.  Whereupon 
it  was  desired  that  the  Committee  would  withdraw  and  re- 
duce their  Report  to  writing,  which  was  accordingly  done, 
and  is  as  follows,  viz  : 

"  The  Committee  appointed  by  the  Town  to  wait  upon 
his  Excellency  General  Gage  with  a  copy  of  the  two  Votes 
passed  by  the  Town  yesterday  in  the  afternoon,  report : 
That  they  being  read  to  him  by  the  Committee,  and  a  long 
conference  had  with  him  upon  the  subject-matter  contained 
in  the  said  votes,  his  Excellency  finally  gave  for  answer, 
that  upon  the  inhabitants  in  general  lodging  their  arms  in 
Faneuil-Hall,  or  any  other  convenient  place,  under  the 
care  of  the  Selectmen,  marked  with  the  names  of  the 
respective  owners,  that  all  such  inhabitants  as  are  inclined 
may  depart  from  the  Town  with  their  families  and  effects, 
and  those  who  remain  may  depend  upon  his  protection  ; 
and  that  the  arms  aforesaid,  at  a  suitable  time,  would  be 
returned  to  the  owners." 

Whereupon,  Voted,  That  the  Town  accept  of  his  Ex- 
cellency's proposal,  and  will  lodge  their  arms  with  the 
Selectmen  accordingly. 

Voted,  That  the  same  Committee  he  desired  to  wait 
upon  his  Excellency  the  Governour  with  the  vote  of  the 
Town  complying  with  his  Excellency's  proposal,  and  the 
Committee  are  desired  to  request  of  his  Excellency  that 
the  removal  may  be  by  land  and  water,  as  may  be  most 
convenient  for  the  inhabitants. 

"  The  Committee  appointed  to  wait  upon  his  Excellen- 
cy report,  that  they  accordingly  waited  upon  him,  and  rend 
the  vote  of  the  Town,  which  was  accepted  by  his  Excel- 
lency ;  and  at  the  same  time  his  Excellency  agreed  that 
the  inhabitants  might  remove  from  the  Town  by  land  and 
water  with  their  effects,  within  the  limits  prescribed  by  the 
Port  Act ;  and  also  informed  the  Committee  he  would  de- 
sire the  Admiral  to  lend  his  boats  to  facilitate  the  removal 
of  the  effects  of  the  inhabitants,  and  would  allow  carriages 
to  pass  and  repass  for  that  purpose;  likewise  would  take 
care  that  the  poor  that  may  remain  in  Town  should  not 
suffer  for  want  of  provision  after  their  own  stock  is  expend- 
ed, and  desire  that  a  letter  might  be  wrote  to  Dr.  Warren, 


377  CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c.;  APRIL,  1775.  378 


Chairman  of  the  Committee  of  the  Congress,  that  those 
persons  in  the  country  who  may  incline  to  remove  into 
Boston  with  their  effects,  may  have  liberty  so  to  do  with- 
out molestation." 

The  Town  unanimously  accepted  of  the  foregoing  Re- 
port, and  desired  the  inhabitants  would  deliver  their  arms 
to  the  Selectmen  as  soon  as  may  be. 

The  meeting  was  then  adjourned  to  Tuesday  morning, 
the  25th  of  April,  ten  o'clock  in  the  forenoon,  and  was 
continued  by  successive  adjournments  to  Thursday,  P.  M., 
the  27th  of  April,  1775,  when  the  Town  met,  to  receive 
the  further  report  of  the  Committee.  They  reported  as 
follows,  viz : 

"  The  Committee  waited  on  his  Excellency  General 
Gage,  with  the  papers  containing  the  account  of  the  arms 
delivered  to  the  Selectmen,  and  the  return  made  to  them 
by  the  Constables  of  the  Town  relative  to  the  delivery  of 
arms  in  their  respective  Wards.  After  long  conversation 
on  the  subject  of  the  inhabitants  removing  themselves  and 
effects  from  the  Town,  his  Excellency  being  obliged  to  at- 
tend other  business,  left  the  affair  to  be  settled  with  Briga- 
dier General  Robinson,  who,  after  further  conference,  and 
reporting  the  substance  of  it  to  General  Gage,  returned  to 
the  Committee,  and  declared  to  them  that  General  Gage 
gives  liberty  to  t lie  inhabitants  to  remove  out  of  Town  with 
their  effects ;  and  desires  that  such  inhabitants  as  intend  to 
remove  would  give  their  names  to  the  Selectmen,  and  sig- 
nify whether  they  mean  to  convey  out  their  effects  by  land 
or  water,  in  order  that  passes  may  be  prepared  ;  for  which 
passes,  application  may  be  made  to  General  Robinson  any 
time  after  eight  o'clock  to-morrow  morning  ;  such  passes  to 
be  had  as  soon  as  persons  wanting  them  shall  be  ready  to 
depart." 

Voted,  That  the  foregoing  Report  be  accepted,  the  Town 
relying  on  the  honour  and  faith  of  General  Gage  that  he 
will  perform  his  part  of  the  contract,  as  they  have  faith- 
fully performed  their  part  of  it. 

Then  the  meeting  was  adjourned  to  Monday  next,  May  1, 
ten  o'clock  in  the  forenoon. 

Henry  Alline,  Jun.,  Toivn  Clerk,  pro  tern. 


In  Provincial  Congress,  Watertown,  ) 
April  23,  1775.  \ 

Resolved,  unanimously,  That  James  Sullivan,  Esquire, 
a  Member  of  this  Congress,  be  immediately  despatched  to 
the  Colony  of  New- Hampshire,  as  a  Delegate  from  this 
body,  to  deliver  to  the  Provincial  Congress  there  the  fol- 
lowing Letter ;  and  further  inform  them  of  the  present 
situation  of  this  Colony,  and  report  the  effect  of  his  mis- 
sion to  this  Congress,  as  soon  as  possible. 

Watertown,  April  23,  1775. 

Before  this  letter  can  reach  you,  we  doubt  not  you  have 
been  sufficiently  notified  of  the  late  alarming  Resolutions 
of  the  British  Parliament,  wherein  we  see  ourselves  de- 
clared Rebels,  and  all  our  sister  Colonies  in  New-England, 
in  common  with  us,  marked  out  for  the  severest  punish- 
ments. In  consequence  thereof,  General  Gage  has  suddenly 
commenced  hostilities  by  a  large  body  of  Troops  under  his 
command,  secretly  detached  in  the  night  of  the  18th  in- 
stant, which,  on  the  morning  ensuing,  had  actually  begun 
the  slaughter  of  the  innocent  inhabitants,  in  the  very  heart 
of  the  Country,  before  any  intentions  of  that  kind  were 
suspected.  And  although  the  roused  virtue  of  our  bre- 
thren in  the  neighbourhood  soon  compelled  them  to  precipi- 
tate retreat,  they  marked  their  savage  route  with  depre- 
dations, ruin,  and  butcheries  hardly  to  be  matched  by  the 
armies  of  any  civilized  Nation  on  the  globe. 

Justly  alarmed  by  these  manoeuvres,  vast  multitudes  of 
the  good  people  of  this  and  the  neighbouring  Colonies,  are 
now  assembled  in  the  vicinity  of  Boston  for  the  protection 
of  the  Country.  The  gates  of  that  devoted  Town  are 
shut,  and  the  miserable  inhabitants  are  pent  up  there,  with 
a  licentious  soldiery,  as  in  one  common  prison.  Large  re- 
inforcements of  the  Troops  under  General  Gage  are  hourly 
expected ;  and  no  reason  is  left  us  to  doubt  that  his  whole 
force,  as  soon  as  collected,  will  be  employed  for  the  de- 
struction, first  of  this,  and  then  of  our  sister  Colonies  en- 
gaged in  the  same  interesting  cause;  and  that  all  America 
will  be  speedily  reduced  to  the  most  abject  slavery,  unless 
it  is  immediately  defended  by  arms. 


Unavoidably  reduced  to  this  necessity,  by  circumstances 
that  will  justify  us  before  God  and  the  impartial  world, 
this  Congress,  after  solemn  deliberation  and  application  to 
Heaven  for  direction  in  the  case,  have  this  day  unanimous- 
ly resolved,  That  it  is  our  duty  immediately  to  establish 
an  Army  for  the  maintenance  of  the  most  invaluable  rights 
of  human  nature,  and  the  immediate  defence  of  this  Colo- 
ny, where  the  first  attack  is  made  ;  that  30,000  men  are 
necessary  to  be  forthwith  raised  in  the  New-England  Colo- 
nies for  that  purpose,  and  that  of  that  force  13,600  shall 
be  established  by  this  Colony  without  delay. 

We  have  not  a  doubt  of  the  virtue  of  the  Colony  ol 
New-Hampshire,  no  less  engaged  than  ourselves  in  the 
glorious  cause  at  stake,  and  equally  involved  in  the  mise- 
ries that  must  ensue,  should  it  be  lost.  In  testimony  of 
our  reliance  on  you,  we  have  sent  this  express  to  give  you 
the  earliest  notice  of  these  Resolutions,  and  the  circum- 
stances that  have  necessitated  them  ;  and  earnestly  to  re- 
quest your  speediest  concurrence  and  such  assistance  in 
this  most  important  cause,  as  the  present  urgent  necessity 
demands,  and  the  many  former  evidences  we  have  had  of 
the  spirit  and  firmness  of  the  Colony  of  New- Hampshire 
give  us  the  highest  reason  to  expect.  We  are,  gentlemen, 
your  most  obedient  humble  servants, 

Joseph  Warren,  Pres't  pro  tern. 

P.  S.  The  great  confusions  in  this  Colony  prevent  our 
being  able  to  send  with  this  letter  such  depositions  as  might 
give  full  and  particular  information  of  the  facts  above  re- 
ferred to;  but  measures  are  taking  for  that  purpose,  and 
we  shall  not  fail  to  transmit  the  result  of  them  by  the  first 
opportunity. 


JEDIDIAH  FOSTER  TO  THE  MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS. 

Brookfield,  April  23,  1775. 

Honoured  Sir  :  Mr.  Davidson  immediately  proceeded 
from  Concord  to  Governour  Trumbull  with  the  papers,  as 
directed  by  the  Congress;  but  from  the  then  appearance 
of  affairs  he  did  not  think  proper  to  call  the  Assembly. 
Early  on  Thursday  morning  Mr.  Davidson,  with  myself, 
set  out  for  Lebanon  to  Governour  Trumbull,  who,  about 
two  hours  before  our  arrival,  had  received  the  tragical  nar- 
rative from  Colonel  Palmer,  and  cheerfully  consented  to 
call  the  Assembly  of  the  Colony  to  be  held  at  Hartford, 
on  Wednesday  next,  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning,  at  which 
time  the  Delegates  will  attend  as  they  were  directed  by 
the  Congress.  I  purpose,  as  soon  as  I  have  discharged  my 
trust  there,  to  attend  my  duty  at  the  Congress.  Wishing 
the  Congress  may  be  under  the  special  guidance  and  direc- 
tion of  Heaven,  I  am,  Sir,  your  most  humble  servant, 

Jedidiah  Foster. 

To  the  President  of  the  Honourable  Provincial  Congress 
of  the  Massachusetts-Bay. 

ANDREW  M'CLARY  TO  THE  NEW -HAMPSHIRE  CONGRESS. 

Cambridge,  April  23,  1775. 
Honourable  Gentlemen  :  Being  in  great  haste,  but 
beg  leave  to  give  you  some  broken  intelligence  relating  to 
the  Army  that  is  now  assembled  here.  The  number  is  un- 
known at  present,  and  as  there  is  a  Council  of  War  now 
sitting,  their  result  is  still  kept  a  profound  secret.  The 
Army  has  already  provided  a  number  of  Cannon,  (there  is 
more  still  coming,)  and  is  providing  a  great  plenty  of  war- 
like stores,  implements,  and  utensils.  There  are  now  about 
two  thousand  brave  and  hearty  resolute  New-Hampshire 
men,  full  of  vigour  and  blood,  from  the  interiour  parts  of  the 
Province,  which  labour  under  a  great  disadvantage  for  not 
being  under  proper  regulations,  for  want  of  Field  Officers. 
In  our  present  situation  we  have  no  voice  in  the  Council 
of  War,  which  makes  a  great  difficulty.  Pray,  gentlemen, 
take  these  important  matters  under  your  mature  considera- 
tion, and  I  doubt  not  but  your  wisdom  will  dictate  and 
point  out  such  measures  as  will  be  most  conducive  to  ex- 
tricate us  from  our  present  difficulties.  The  conduct  of  a 
certain  person  belonging  to  New-Hampshire  will  have  a 
vast  tendency  to  stigmatize  the  Province  most  ignomini- 
ously.  Yesterday  it  was  reported  throughout  the  New- 
Hampshire  Troops,  that  one  Mr.  Espy,  who  appeared  in 
the  character  of  a  Captain  at  the  head  of  a  Company,  had 


379  CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  APRIL,  1775.  380 


been  to  the  General,  and  received  a  verbal  express  from 
him  that  all  Neiv- Hampshire  men  were  dismissed,  and  that 
they  might  return  home  ;  and  by  the  insinuation  of  him 
and  his  busy  emissaries,  about  five  or  six  hundred  of  our 
men  inconsiderately  marched  oft'  for  home.  Captain  Cilley 
and  I  were  three  miles  from  Cambridge  when  we  received 
the  intelligence,  which  was,  to  our  unspeakable  surprise, 
for  us  to  return  before  the  work  was  done.  We  immediately 
repaired  to  the  General  to  know  the  certainty  of  the  report, 
and  on  making  application  to  him  he  told  us  that  it  was  an 
absolute  falsehood,  for  he  never  had  any  such  thought ; 
whereas  he  very  highly  valued  Neiv- Hampshire  men, 
always  understanding  them  to  be  the  best  of  soldiers,  and 
that  he  would  not  have  any  of  them  to  depart  for  home 
on  any  consideration  whatever  till  matters  were  further  com- 
promised ;  and  strictly  inquired  for  the  man  in  order  to  have 
him  confronted.  We  replied  the  man  was  departed,  and 
therefore  we  could  not  conform  to  his  request.  But  since, 
we  understand  that  his  conduct  hath  stopped  a  number  of 
men  from  coming  in,  and  some  officers  that  tarried  have 
sent  for  their  men  to  return  back.  Pray,  gentlemen,  don't 
let  it  always  be  reported  that  New-Hampshire  men  were 
always  brave  Soldiers,  but  no  Commanders.  The  de- 
sertion of  those  men  causes  much  uneasiness  among  the 
remaining  Troops,  for  we  are  obliged  to  use  our  utmost  in- 
fluence to  persuade  them  to  tarry.  Gentlemen,  I  am,  with 
all  imaginable  respect,  yours  and  the  Country's  most  obe- 
dient and  humble  servant,  Andrew  McClary. 


MARYLAND  CONVENTION. 

At  a  Meeting  of  the  Deputies  appointed  by  the  several 
Counties  of  the  Province  of  Maryland,  at  the  City  of 
Annapolis,  on  Monday,  the  24th  of  April,  1775,  and 
continued,  by  adjournment  from  day  to  day,  till  the  3d  of 
May,  were  present  one  hundred  Members. 

The  Honourable  Matthew  Tilghman,  Esquire,  in  the 
chair  ;  Gabriel  Duval  appointed  Clerk. 

Resolved,  unanimously,  That  His  Majesty  King  George 
the  Third  is  lawful  and  rightful  King  of  Great  Britain, 
and  the  Dominions  thereunto  belonging  :  and  that  the  good 
people  of  this  Province  do  owe,  and  will  bear  faith  and 
true  allegiance  to  our  said  lawful  and  rightful  King,  as  the 
Sovereign,  constitutional  guardian,  and  protector  of  the 
rights  of  all  his  subjects. 

On  motion,  that  a  Committee  be  appointed  to  prepare  a 
draught  of  a  Letter  to  the  Committee  of  Correspondence 
for  Philadelphia,  acquainting  them  that  this  Convention 
had  received  from  gentlemen  of  their  Committee  an  ex- 
tract of  a  letter  from  Neiv-York,  communicating  the  very 
interesting  and  important  intelligence,  that  a  number  of 
Troops  were  ordered  for  that  City,  which  was  to  be  the 
place  of  Arms,  and  fortified  ;  that  all  communication  be- 
tween that  City  and  the  Southern  and  Eastern  Provinces, 
was  to  be  cut  oft";  that  the  people  of  that  Colony  were 
concerting  means  to  prevent  such  scheme,  were  embodying 
themselves,  and  desired  the  immediate  assistance  of  the 
Southward  Colonies,  before  the  arrival  of  the  Troops ; 
that  this  Convention  were  greatly  alarmed,  and  deeply 
concerned  for  that  Colony,  and  therefore  desired  to  be  ac- 
quainted with  the  authenticity  of  that  account,  and  the 
particulars  thereof;  and  that  the  Committee  of  Philadelphia 
would  give  this  Convention  as  full  and  particular  accounts 
of  the  state  of  the  Colony  of  New- York,  and  of  their  own 
Province,  as  they  possibly  can  ;  what  conduct  it  is  expect- 
ed will  be  adopted  by  their  Colony,  and  of  all  other  mat- 
ters which  they  may  think  of  consequence  to  the  general 
welfare  of  America. 

The  previous  question  was  moved  for  and  put,  whether 
the  above  question  be  now  put  ?  And  resolved  in  the  affirm- 
ative. 

The  above  question  was  then  put,  and  resolved  in  the 
affirmative. 

The  following  Letter  was  accordingly  sent  to  the  Com- 
mittee for  the  City  and  Liberties  of  Philadelphia : 

Annapolis,  Saturday,  April  2!),  1775,  5  o'clock,  afternoon. 

Gentlemen:  The  extract  of  the  letter  from  New- 
York,  communicating  the  very  interesting  and  important 
intelligence,  "  that  a  number  of  Troops  were  ordered  for 
that  City,  which  was  to  be  the  place  of  Arms,  and  fortified  ; 


that  all  communication  between  that  City  and  the  South- 
ern and  Eastern  Provinces,  was  to  be  cut  off ;  that  the 
people  of  that  Colony  were  concerting  means  to  prevent 
such  schemes,  were  embodying  themselves,  and  desired  the 
immediate  assistance  of  the  Southward  Colonies,  before  the 
arrival  of  the  Troops,"  was  this  morning,  about  10  o'clock, 
received,  and  immediately  laid  before  the  Provincial  Con- 
vention now  sitting. 

The  Convention  are  deeply  concerned  for  New- York, 
and  request  to  be  acquainted  with  the  authenticity  of  that 
account,  and  the  particulars  thereof;  and  that  you  will  ad- 
vise them  what  conduct  it  is  expected  will  be  held  by  New- 
York,  your  Province,  and  the  Jerseys,  on  the  very  inter- 
esting and  trying  occasion. 

By  order  of  the  Convention  : 

Mat.  Tilghman,  Chairman  of  the  Convention. 

Resolved,  unanimously,  That  all  Exportations  from  this 
Province  to  Quebeck,  Nova-Scotia,  Georgia,  and  New- 
foundland, or  any  part  of  the  Fishing  Coasts,  or  Fishing 
Islands,  and  to  the  Town  of  Boston,  ought  immediately  to 
be  suspended,  until  the  Continental  Congress  shall  give 
further  orders  therein. 

Resolved,  That  it  is  earnestly  recommended  to  the  in- 
habitants of  this  Province  to  continue  the  regulation  of  the 
Militia,  as  recommended  by  the  last  Provincial  Convention  ; 
and  that  particular  attention  be  paid  to  forming  and  exer- 
cising the  Militia  throughout  this  Province ;  and  that  the 
Subscriptions  for  the  purposes  by  the  said  Convention  re- 
commended, be  forthwith  completed  and  applied. 

Resolved,  That  it  is  the  sense  of  this  Convention,  that 
the  Honourable  Matthew  Tilghman,  Esquire,  Thomas 
Johnson,  Junior,  Robert  Goldsborough,  Samuel  Chase, 
William  Paca,  John  Hall,  and  Thomas  Stone,  Esquires, 
the  Delegates  of  our  Province,  or  any  three  or  more  of 
them,  do  join  with  the  Delegates  of  the  other  Colonies  and 
Provinces,  at  such  time  and  place  as  shall  be  agreed  on  ; 
and  in  conjunction  with  them,  deliberate  upon  the  present 
distressed  and  alarming  state  of  the  British  Colonies  in 
North  America,  and  concur  with  them  in  such  measures 
as  shall  be  thought  necessary  for  the  defence  and  protection 
thereof,  and  most  conducive  to  the  publick  welfare.  And 
as  this  Convention  has  nothing  so  much  at  heart  as  a  hap- 
py reconciliation  of  the  differences  between  the  Mother 
Country  and  the  British  Colonies  in  North  America,  upon 
a  firm  basis  of  constitutional  freedom,  so  has  it  a  confidence 
in  the  wisdom  and  prudence  of  the  said  Delegates,  that 
they  will  not  proceed  to  the  last  extremity,  unless,  in  their 
judgments,  they  shall  be  convinced  that  such  measure  is 
indispensably  necessary  for  the  safety  and  preservation  of 
our  liberties  and  privileges.  That,  in  the  present  state  of 
publick  affairs,  this  Convention  is  sensible  that  the  mea- 
sures to  be  adopted  by  the  Continental  Congress,  must  de- 
pend much  upon  events  which  may  happen  to  arise ;  and 
relying  firmly  upon  the  wisdom  and  integrity  of  their  Del- 
egates, this  Province  will,  as  far  as  it  is  in  their  power, 
carry  into  execution  such  measures  as  shall  be  agreed  on 
and  recommended  by  the  General  Congress. 

Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  that  the  sum  of  Six 
Hundred  Pounds  be  raised  in  the  different  Counties  of  this 
Province  by  subscription,  under  the  direction  of  the  several 
Committees,  in  the  following  proportion  : 

In  St.  Mary's  County,  Thirty-Six  Pounds ;  Charles, 
Forty-Eight  Pounds ;  Calvert,  Twenty-Two  Pounds ; 
Prince  George's,  Fifty  Pounds ;  Anne  Arundel,  Fifty- 
Two  Pounds ;  Frederick,  Eighty  Pounds  ;  Baltimore, 
Fifty-Six  Pounds  ;  Harford,  Twenty-Eight  Pounds ; 
Worcester,  Thirty-Two  Pounds ;  Somerset,  Thirty-Two 
Pounds ;  Dorchester,  Twenty-Nine  Pounds ;  Caroline, 
Twenty-One  Pounds ;  Talbot,  Twenty-Four  Pounds  ; 
One  en- Anne's,  Thirty-Two  Pounds ;  Kent,  Thirty-Four 
Pounds;  Cecil,  Twenty-Four  Pounds. 

And  that  the  several  sums  to  be  raised  on  the  Western 
Shore  be  paid  to  Mr.  Charles  Wallace,  of  the  City  of  An- 
napolis;  and  the  several  sums  to  be  raised  on  the  Eastern 
Shore  be  paid  to  Mr  Thomas  Ringgold,  of  Chestertown, 
to  defray  the  expenses  of  the  Delegates  at  the  ensuing 
Continental  Congress. 

Resolved,  That  it  is  recommended  to  all  ranks  and  de- 
nominations of  people,  to  use  their  utmost  endeavours  to 
preserve  peace  and  good  order  throughout  this  Province. 


I 


381  CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &tc,  APRIL,  1775.  3S2 


This  Convention,  deeply  considering  the  distressed  and 
perplexed  situation  of  British  America,  the  weakness  of 
all  human  counsels,  and  that  the  hearts  of  all  men  are  in 
the  disposal  of  the  Supreme  Being,  do  recommend  that  the 
eleventh  day  of  this  instant  may  be  observed  throughout 
this  Province  as  a  day  of  fasting  and  humiliation  ;  and  that 
the  inhabitants  of  this  Province,  on  that  day,  in  an  especial 
manner,  by  prayer  and  supplication,  humbly  and  devoutly 
implore  the  blessing,  support,  and  protection  of  Almighty 
God,  for  the  preservation  of  the  rights  and  liberties  of 
America,  and  the  restoration  of  peace,  union,  and  happi- 
ness to  the  British  Empire. 

This  Convention,  taking  into  consideration,  that  the  time 
proposed  for  the  meeting  of  the  next  Continental  Congress 
is  near  at  hand,  and  that  it  is  highly  expedient  that  the 
Delegates  of  this  Province  should  attend  the  said  Con- 
gress as  early  in  their  session  as  may  be,  where  the  state 
of  the  City  and  Colony  of  Neiv-  York,  as  well  as  the  cir- 
cumstances of  the  other  Colonies  and  Provinces,  may  be 
best  known,  and  measures  for  the  security  of  the  City  and 
Colony  of  New-  York,  as  well  as  the  safety  of  all  British 
America,  be  best  concerted  and  provided  for. 

And  whereas,  it  is  now  altogether  uncertain  when  an 
answer  may  be  received  to  the  Letter  sent  on  Saturday  last 
to  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  in  the  City  of  Phila- 
delphia ;  and  it  being  necessary  that  the  Members  of  this 
Convention  should  reUirn  to  their  respective  Counties,  it  is, 
therefore, 

Resolved,  That  this  Convention  do  now  rise;  and  it  is 
recommended  to  such  of  the  Counties  in  this  Province, 
where  it  may  be  necessary,  forthwith  to  make  choice  of 
Deputies  to  represent  them  in  a  Provincial  Convention,  to 
be  held  in  the  City  of  Annapolis,  on  Monday,  the  22d  of 
May,  unless  an  earlier  or  later  day  should  be  appointed  by 
the  Delegates  of  this  Province,  or  any  three  of  them,  ap- 
pointed to  attend  the  Continental  Congress. 

The  following  were  received  by  return  of  the  express 
sent  by  the  Provincial  Convention  to  the  Committee  of 
Correspondence  for  Philadelphia  : 

Philadelphia,  May  1,  1775. 

Gentlemen:  We  have  duly  received  your  favour  of  the 
29th  ultimo.  As  the  accounts  from  New-  York  were  not 
handed  to  this  Committee  through  a  channel  that  gave  us 
the  satisfaction  we  could  wish ;  and  as  they  were  very  im- 
portant, we  thought  proper  immediately  to  despatch  some 
of  our  members  to  that  place,  in  order  that  they  might,  on 
the  spot,  learn  the  true  situation  of  affairs  there,  and  what  the 
inhabitants  of  New-York  expect  from  the  Southern  Colo- 
nies. On  their  return,  or  on  the  receipt  of  any  certain  in- 
telligence, we  shall  immediately  communicate  the  particu- 
lars to  you. 

In  the  mean  time  we  have  to  inform  you,  that,  upon  the 
receipt  of  the  late  intelligence,  this  City  and  County  im- 
mediately took  the  alarm,  and  are  arming  and  forming  with 
all  possible  expedition  ;  and,  by  accounts  from  the  other 
Counties  in  this  Province,  the  same  spirit  prevails  every 
where  ;  and  we  hope,  in  a  short  time,  we  shall  be  in  a  con- 
dition to  unite  our  efforts  with  the  rest  of  the  Colonies. 

Enclosed  we  send  you  a  letter  from  Newport,  Rhode- 
Island,  which  contains  a  particular  account  of  the  situation 
of  affairs  to  the  Eastward,  together  with  some  important 
intelligence.    By  order  of  the  Committee  : 

John  Nixon,  Chairman. 
To  Matthew  Tilghman,  Esq.,  Chairman  of  the  Provincial 

Convention  of  the  Province  of  Maryland,  now  sitting  at 

Annapolis. 

Newport,  April  25,  1775. 
Gentlemen  :  You  have,  without  doubt,  before  this 
time,  heard  of  the  bloody,  savage  massacre  of  a  number  of 
the  inhabitants  of  Lexington,  a  Town  about  twelve  miles 
northwest  from  Boston,  perpetrated  by  a  detachment  of 
about  twelve  hundred  of  the  King's  Troops,  and  what  en- 
sued thereon.  We  enclose  you  two  accounts,  which  may 
be  more  particular  than  any  you  have  yet  received.  The 
one  was  brought  us  by  a  gentleman  who  left  Cambridgeon 
Thursday  last,  in  the  forenoon,  and  is  contained  in  the 
handbill ;  the  other  is  in  the  newspaper.  Since  we  re- 
ceived these  accounts,  we  have  been  credibly  informed  that 
the  number  of  the  King's  Troops  killed  and  taken  amounts 


to  about  three  hundred,  besides,  many  were  wounded  and 
carried  into  Boston;  the  number  of  Americans  to  about 
forty  killed  and  wounded,  and  it  is  said  about  four  or  five 
taken  prisoners.  A  large  body  of  men,  not  less  than 
twenty  thousand,  are  assembled,  and  form  a  semicircle  from 
Charlestown  to  Roxbury ;  what  their  plan  of  operation 
will  be,  is  unknown.  By  a  gentleman  of  the  Committee 
of  Correspondence  for  the  Town  of  Providence,  in  this 
Colony,  who  arrived  here  this  afternoon,  we  are  informed 
that  the  Provincial  Congress  of  the  Massachusetts- Bay, 
now  sitting,  have  determined  that  a  Standing  Army  of  thir- 
ty thousand  men  should  be  raised  in  the  New-England 
Colonies,  expecting  that  the  Southern  Colonies  will  assist 
in  furnishing  moneys  for  their  support.  That  our  people 
had  taken  possession  of  a  hill  on  Dorchester  Point,  which 
commands  General  Gage's  works  on  Boston  Neck,  and 
that  they  had  made  intrenchments  within  gunshot  of  those 
works  at  Roxbury.  That  two  Men-of-War  had  arrived  at 
Boston,  and  brought  the  three  Generals  that  have  been 
expected  ;  and  that  six  thousand  Troops  had  embarked  for 
that  place  when  those  Men-of-War  left  England.  There 
were  not  more  than  three  hundred  Americans  in  a  body  at 
any  one  time  during  the  action  on  Wednesday,  and  they 
acquitted  themselves  with  such  intrepidity,  as  has  con- 
vinced the  King's  Officers  that  Americans  can  and  will 
fight. 

All  communication  between  the  Town  of  Boston  and 
the  other  parts  of  the  Colony,  being  shut  up,  and  things 
being  in  a  state  of  confusion,  renders  it  almost  impossible 
to  obtain  any  certain  particular  intelligence  from  that  quar- 
ter ;  however,  the  foregoing  account,  we  think,  may  be 
depended  upon. 

We  had  hoped  that  the  dispute  between  Great  Britain 
and  these  Colonies  would  have  been  settled  without  blood- 
shed ;  but  the  Parliament  of  Great  Britain,  it  seems,  have 
determined  to  push  their  iniquitous  unconstitutional  mea- 
sures by  dint  of  arms.  The  sword  of  civil  war  has  been 
drawn  by  the  King's  Troops,  and  sheathed  in  the  bowels 
of  our  countrymen.  May  peace,  with  liberty,  soon  pre- 
sent the  scabbard ;  and  may  Americans  never  be  obliged 
again  to  take  up  arms  but  against  a  foreign  foe. 

YVe'hope  that  the  union  which  has  so  remarkably  taken 
place  throughout  the  American  Colonies,  may  acquire,  if 
possible,  greater  firmness,  by  this  unjustifiable,  inhuman, 
murderous  attack  upon  our  countrymen  ;  for,  upon  an  uni- 
versal firmly  cemented  union  of  the  American  Colonies, 
under  God,  depends  the  salvation  and  establishment  of 
American  liberty.  I  am,  in  behalf  of  the  Committee  of 
Correspondence  for  the  Town  of  Newport,  gentlemen, 
your  and  America's  sincere  friend, 

William  Ellerv. 
To  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  for  the  City  of 
Philadelphia. 

In  Committee,  Philadelphia,  May  L,  1775;  received 
per  Captain  Whitman  this  day,  and  forwarded  to  Anna- 
polis. J.  B.  Smith,  Secretary  of  Committee. 


NEWARK  (NEW-JERSEY)  COMMITTEE. 

At  a  Meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Observation  for  the 
Township  of  Newark,  April  24,  1775,  present,  eighteen 
Members : 

Mr.  Caleb  Camp,  Chairman. 

The  Chairman  having  opened  the  business  of  the  meet- 
ing, and  related  the  purport  of  the  expresses  lately  received 
from  Boston,  the  following  motions  were  made,  and  agreed 
to  unanimously : 

That  the  members  of  this  Committee  are  willing,  at  this 
alarming  crisis,  to  risk  their  lives  and  fortunes  in  support 
of  American  liberty;  and  that  it  be  recommended  to  our 
constituents  to  give  all  necessary  support  in  their  power  to 
our  brethren  in  the  Province  of  Massachusetts-Bay,  in  the 
present  alarming  exigency. 

That  it  be  also  recommended  to  the  Captains  of  the 
Militia  in  this  Township  to  muster  and  exercise  their  re- 
spective Companies  at  least  once  every  week,  and  carefully 
to  exact  that  each  man  be  provided  with  arms  and  ammu- 
nition, as  the  Militia  Law  directs. 

That  it  be  requested  of  all  heads  of  families  and  masters 
of  apprentices,  to  encourage  all  of  proper  age  under  their 


383 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  APRIL,  1775. 


384 


direction  to  learn  the  military  exercise,  and  to  allow  them 
such  portions  of  time  as  may  be  necessary  to  make  them 
perfect  therein.  Robert  Johnston,  Clerk. 


NEW-YORK  COMMITTEE  TO  GOVERNOUR  TRUMBULL. 

New-York,  April  24,  1775. 
Dear  Sir  :  As  the  most  unjustifiable  hostilities  on  the 
part  of  Great  Britain  have  actually  commenced  against 
America,  it  is  thought  not  only  prudent,  but  absolutely  ne- 
cessary and  justifiable  in  the  sight  of  God  and  man,  to  avail 
ourselves  of  every  opportunity  that  may  offer,  in  order  to 
preserve  our  liberties  and  religion,  as  well  as  to  prevent  the 
effusion  of  blood  as  much  as  possible.  Actuated  by  no 
other  motives,  we  take  the  liberty  of  informing  you  of  the 
arrival  of  the  Packet  this  afternoon,  in  which  there  are  des- 
patches for  General  Gage,  containing,  no  doubt,  matters 
of  the  utmost  importance  to  all  these  Colonies.  It  is  there- 
lore  recommended  to  your  most  serious  consideration,  to 
fall  on  the  most  probable  plan  for  intercepting  them  imme- 
diately on  the  receipt  of  this,  as  it  is  expected  they  will  be 
forwarded  very  speedily,  perhaps  in  the  morning,  or  at 
farthest  by  noon.  If  they  go  by  land  from  here,  we  think 
both  roads  ought  to  be  strictly  guarded,  on  the  first  notice 
of  this.  But  as  there  is  no  arriving  at  an  absolute  certainty 
whether  they  go  by  land  or  water,  we  think  an  express 
ought  to  be  directly  sent  as  far  as  Newport  and  Providence 
at  farthest,  and  every  other  caution  taken  that  your  pru- 
dence can  dictate,  and  your  zeal  prompt  you  to  think  of. 
If  the  intelligence  gained  should  be  much  better  than  can 
be  reasonably  expected,  it  may  save  an  infinite  expense 
and  trouble  to  the  Continent ;  but  if  otherwise,  it  may  save 
the  lives  of  thousands,  by  enabling  the  friends  of  this  bleed- 
ing land  to  defeat  the  designs  of  its  implacable  and  re- 
morseless enemies.  So  that  let  it  be  viewed  in  either  light, 
it  appears  to  us  to  be  an  affair  of  the  greatest  magnitude. 
Perhaps  it  may  be  asked  why  it  was  not  attempted  here  ? 
To  which,  let  it  be  observed,  there  is  a  weighty  objection, 
which  is  this :  the  late  melancholy  accounts  from  Boston 
have  had  a  most  excellent  effect  in  uniting  the  inhabitants 
of  this  City;  insomuch  that  we  have  been  able  to  stop  all 
supplies  from  the  Army,  and  get  possession  of  the  City 
Arms,  and  are  now  guarding  the  Powder  and  them  ;  but 
should  the  foregoing  attempt  succeed  or  not,  it  is  thought 
it  would  tend  to  throw  more  power  into  the  hands  of  our 
enemies.  We  most  ardently  wish  that  your  and  our  honest 
endeavours  to  serve  the  cause  of  liberty  may  be  attended 
with  all  the  success  that  the  righteousness  of  the  cause  can 
entitle  it  to. 

It  is  expected  that  the  general  despatches,  to  prevent 
suspicion,  may  be  directed  to  some  popular  person  in  the 
Massachusetts- Bay,  8tc,  perhaps  to  Hancock  or  Adams, 
ike. 

Oliver  Dclancy,  Junior,  who  is  now  here  from  Boston 
in  behalf  of  the  Army,  may  be  the  person  who  will  carry 
them,  in  which  case  you  are  to  know  that  he  is  a  lusty,  fat, 
ruddy  looking  young  fellow,  between  twenty  and  thirty 
years  of  age.    We  are  yours,  &c. 


Agreement  subscribed  by  Captain  Arnold  and  his  Com- 
pany of  fifty  persons,  when  they  set  out  from  Connec- 
ticut as  Volunteers  to  assist  the  Provincials  at  Cam- 
bridge. 

To  all  Christian  people  believing  in  and  relying  on  that 
God,  to  whom  our  enemies  have  at  last  forced  us  to 
appeal : 

Be  it  known  that  we,  the  subscribers,  having  taken  up 
arms  for  the  relief  of  our  brethren,  and  defence  of  their  as 
well  as  our  just  rights  and  privileges,  declare  to  the  world 
that  we,  from  the  heart,  disavow  every  thought  of  rebellion 
to  His  Majesty  as  supreme  head  of  the  British  Empire,  or 
opposition  to  legal  authority,  and  shall,  on  every  occasion, 
manifest  to  the  world,  by  our  conduct,  this  to  be  our  fixed 
principle.  Driven  to  the  lust  necessity,  and  obliged  to  have 
recourse  to  arms  in  defence  of  our  lives  and  liberties,  and, 
from  the  suddenness  of  the  occasion,  deprived  of  that  legal 
authority,  the  dictates  of  which  we  ever  with  pleasure  obey, 
find  it  necessary,  for  preventing  disorders,  irregularities,  and 
misunderstandings  in  the  course  of  our  march  and  service, 
solemnly  to  agree  to  and  with  each  other  on  the  following 


regulations  and  orders,  binding  ourselves  by  all  that  is  dear 
and  sacred  carefully  and  constantly  to  observe  and  keep 
them. 

In  the  first  place  we  will  conduct  ourselves  decently  and 
inoffensively  as  we  march,  both  to  our  countrymen  and  one 
another,  paying  that  regard  to  the  advice,  admonition,  and 
reproof  of  our  Officers,  which  their  station  justly  entitles 
them  to  expect,  ever  considering  the  dignity  of  our  own 
character,  and  that  we  are  not  mercenaries,  whose  views 
extend  no  farther  than  pay  and  plunder,  whose  principles 
are  such,  that  every  path  that  leads  to  the  obtaining  these 
is  agreeable,  though  wading  through  the  blood  of  their 
countrymen  ;  but  men  acquainted  with,  and  feeling  the  most 
generous  fondness  for  the  liberties  and  unalienable  rights 
of  mankind,  and  who  are,  in  the  course  of  Divine  Provi- 
dence, called  to  the  honourable  service  of  hazarding  our 
lives  in  their  defence. 

Secondly.  Drunkenness,  gaming,  profaneness,  and  every 
vice  of  that  nature  shall  be  avoided  by  ourselves,  and  dis- 
countenanced by  us  in  others. 

Thirdly.  So  long  as  we  continue  in  our  present  situation 
of  a  voluntary  independent  Company,  we  engage  to  sub- 
mit on  all  occasions  to  such  decisions  as  shall  be  made  and 
given  by  the  majority  of  the  Officers  we  have  chosen  ;  and 
when  any  difference  arises  between  man  and  man,  it  shall 
be  laid  before  the  Officers  aforesaid,  and  their  decision  shall 
be  final.  We  mean  by  Officers,  the  Captain,  Lieutenants, 
Ensign,  Sergeants,  Clerk,  and  Corporals;  the  Captain,  or 
in  his  absence  the  Commanding  Officer,  to  be  the  Modera- 
tor, and  have  a  turning  or  casting  voice  in  all  debates,  from 
whom  all  orders  shall  from  time  to  time  issue.  Scorning 
all  ignoble  motives,  and  superiour  to  the  low  and  slavish 
practice  of  enforcing  on  men  their  duty  by  blows,  it  is 
agreed  that  when  private  admonition  for  any  offence  by 
any  of  our  body  committed  will  not  reform,  publick  shall 
be  made ;  and  if  that  should  not  have  the  desired  effect, 
after  proper  pains  taken,  and  the  same  repeated,  such  in- 
corrigible person  shall  be  turned  out  of  the  Company,  as 
totally  unworthy  of  serving  in  so  great  and  glorious  a  cause, 
and  be  delivered  over  to  suffer  the  contempt  of  his  coun- 
trymen. 

As  to  particular  orders,  it  shall  from  time  to  time  be  in 
the  power  of  the  Officers  to  make  and  vary  them  as  occa- 
sion may  require,  as  to  delivering  our  provisions,  ammuni- 
tion, rules,  and  orders  for  marching,  &lc.  The  annexed 
order  for  the  present  we  think  pertinent,  and  agreeable  to 
our  mind.  To  which,  with  the  additions  or  variations  that 
may  be  made  by  our  said  Officers,  we  bind  ourselves  by 
the  ties  above  mentioned  to  submit. 

In  witness  whereof,  we  have  hereunto  set  our  hands, 
this  24th  of  April,  1775. 


GENERAL  WARD  TO  THE  MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS. 

Head  Quarters,  April  24,  1775. 
Gentlemen  :  My  situation  is  such,  that  if  I  have  not 
enlisting  orders  immediately  I  shall  be  left  all  alone.  It  is 
impossible  to  keep  the  men  here,  excepting  something  be 
done.  I  therefore  pray  that  the  plan  may  be  completed 
and  handed  to  me  this  morning,  that  you,  gentlemen  of  the 
Congress,  issue  orders  for  enlisting  men.  1  am,  gentlemen, 
yours,  &lc.  A.  Ward. 

To  the  Hon.  the  Delegates  of  the  Provincial  Congress. 


JOHN   HANCOCK  TO  THE  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY. 

Worcester,  April  24,  1775.  ) 
Monday  Evening.  $ 

Gentlemen:  Mr.  S.  Adams  and  myself,  just  arrived 
here,  find  no  intelligence  from  you,  and  no  guard.  We  just 
hear  an  express  has  just  passed  through  this  place  to  you, 
from  New-  York,  informing  that  Administration  is  bent  upon 
pushing  matters,  and  that  four  Regiments  are  expected 
there. 

How  are  we  to  proceed  ?  Where  are  our  bethren  ?  Surely 
we  ought  to  be  supported.  I  had  rather  be  with  you,  and, 
at  present,  am  fully  determined  to  be  with  you  before  I 
proceed.  I  beg,  by  the  return  of  this  express,  to  hear 
from  you,  and  pray  furnish  us  with  depositions  of  the  con- 
duct of  the  Troops,  the  certainty  of  their  firing  first,  and 
every  circumstance  relative  to  the  conduct  of  the  Troops, 


385 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  he.,  APRIL,  1775. 


386 


from  the  19th  instant  to  this  time,  that  we  may  be  able  to 
give  some  account  of  matters  as  we  proceed,  and  especially 
at  Philadelphia.  And  I  beg  you  would  order  your  Secre- 
tary to  make  out  a  copy  of  your  proceedings  since — what 
has  taken  place,  and  what  your  plan  is  ;  what  prisoners  we 
have,  and  what  they  have  of  ours  ;  who  of  note  was  killed 
on  both  sides ;  who  commands  our  forces.  Are  our  men 
in  good  spirits  ?  For  God's  sake  do  not  suffer  the  spirit 
to  subside,  until  they  have  perfected  the  reduction  of  our 
enemies.    Boston  must  be  entered.    The  Troops  must  be 

sent  away,  or   Our  friends  are  valuable,  but  our 

Country  must  be  saved.  1  have  an  interest  in  that  Town. 
What  can  be  the  enjoyment  of  that  to  me,  if  I  am  obliged 
to  hold  it  at  the  will  of  General  Gage,  or  any  one  else.  I 
doubt  not  your  vigilance,  your  fortitude,  and  resolutions. 
Do  let  us  know  how  you  proceed.  We  must  have  the 
Castle — the  Ships  must  be  ...  .  Stop  up  the  Harbour 
against  large  Vessels  coming.  You  know  better  what  to 
do  than  1  can  point  out.  Where  is  Cushingl  Are  Mr. 
Payne  and  Mr.  John  Adams  to  be  with  us.  What  are  we 
to  depend  upon?  We  travel  rather  as  deserters,  which  1 
will  not  submit  to.  I  will  return  and  join  you,  if  I  cannot 
travel  in  reputation.  1  wish  to  hear  from  you.  Pray  spend 
a  thought  upon  our  situation.  I  will  not  detain  this  man, 
as  I  want  much  to  hear  from  you.  How  goes  on  the  Con- 
gress ?  Who  is  your  President  ?  Are  the  Members  hearty  ? 
Pray  remember  Mr.  Adams  and  myself  to  all  friends.  God 
be  with  you. 

I  am,  gentlemen,  your  faithful  and  hearty  countryman, 

John  Hancock. 
Pray  give  me  a  particular  answer  to  my  queries. 
To  the  Gentlemen  Committee,  he.,  he.,  he. 


OLIVER  PRESCOTT  TO  THE  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY. 

Groton,  April  24,  1775. 
Gentlemen:  I  think  if  an  order  should  pass  for  the  es- 
tablishment of  a  Town  Guard,  to  be  kept  in  a  prudent 
manner,  in  every  Town  in  this  Province,  it  would  have  a 
great  tendency  to  deter  and  detect  villains  and  their  accom- 
plices. The  passes  that  people  bring  this  way  are  generally 
without  date,  or  assignment  to  any  person  or  place,  so  that 
a  man  may  pass  to  Africa  with  the  same  order.  Pardon 
my  freedom,  and  allow  me  to  subscribe,  gentlemen,  your 
most  obedient,  very  humble  servant, 

Oliver  Prescott. 

To  l he  Committee  of  Safety. 


MASSACHUSETTS  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY  TO  THE  CONGRESS 
OF  NEW-HAMPSHIRE. 

April  24,  1775. 

Our  friends  from  New- Hampshire  having  shewn  their 
readiness  to  assist  us  in  this  day  of  distress,  we  therefore 
thought  it  best  to  give  orders  for  enlisting  such  as  were  pre- 
sent in  the  service  of  the  Colony,  as  many  desired  some- 
thing may  be  done  to  hold  them  together  until  the  resolve 
of  your  Congress  is  known,  when  we  are  ready  and  desirous 
they  should  be  discharged  from  us,  and  put  under  such  com- 
mand as  you  shall  direct.  Colonel  Sargeant  has  been  so 
kind  as  to  afford  his  utmost  assistance  in  concluding  this 
matter.  We  are,  he,  he. 

H.  JACKSON  TO  COLONEL  JEREMIAH  LEE. 

Portsmouth,  New-Hampshire,  April  24,  1775. 

Dear  Sir  :  Although  this  is  no  time  for  ceremony  or 
compliments,  yet  so  great  is  the  pleasure  I  feel  on  your  es- 
cape from  the  hands  of  wicked  and  violent  men,  that  I  can- 
not help  congratulating  you.  May  God  Almighty  continue 
to  be  your  safety  and  defence. 

Could  it  be  thought  advisable  for  us  to  leave  the  sea- 
ports, I  should  long  before  this  have  been  with  you,  at  the 
head  of  a  Company  as  good  as  ever  twang'd  a  bow,  infe- 
riour  in  military  discipline  to  none ;  they  are  anxious  and 
eager  to  be  with  you. 

You  well  know  that  the  art  military  has  been  my  hobby- 
horse for  a  long  time  past.  I  have  vanity  enough  to  think 
that  the  recommendation  of  an  immediate  perusal  of  the 
enclosed  volume,  to  the  Officers  in  the  United  Army,  will 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii. 


not  be  thought  impertinent  at  this  time,  considering  the  na- 
ture of  our  Country ;  considering  the  natural  genius  of  our 
men,  no  piece  could  be  better  adapted  to  our  circum- 
stances. 

Our  men  are  natural  partisans.  Witness  the  Rogers, 
Starkey,  and  Shepherd,  he,  he.  Did  they  not,  in  the 
last  War,  take  the  very  sentries  from  off  the  walls  of  our 
enemies'  Fortresses,  in  the  heart  of  their  Country  ?  I  can't 
help  thinking  that  some  Horse  might  be  employed  to  great 
advantage,  if  our  adversaries  should  ever  venture  abroad 
again.  I  have  published  some  pieces  on  this  subject  in  our 
papers,  but  the  New- Hampshire  Gazette  can  hardly  be 
called  a  proper  channel  to  convey  one's  ideas  to  the  pub- 
lick.  Might  not  some  of  the  principal  parts  of  the  Par- 
tisan be  given  in  manuscript  to  some  of  our  officers  ?  Dear 
sir,  I  hope  you  will  not  construe  this,  my  humble  opinion, 
into  impertinent  dictation.  We  are  all  embarked  in  one 
cause,  and  from  the  ideas  of  all  (though  some  may  be  sim- 
ple) some  things  of  consequence  may  be  collected.  With 
humble  submission  to  the  better  judgment  of  every  one,  1 
conclude, 

Your  most  obedient,  most  obliged  humble  servant, 

H.  Jackson. 

P.  S.  I  have  been  in  my  sulky  more  than  once  to  pay 
you  a  visit,  but  my  friends  have  prevented  me.  When  op- 
portunity offers,  remember  me  to  Mrs.  Lee  and  family. 

As  I  apprehend  there  is  not  many  of  the  books  in  the 
Country,  you  will  make  what  use  of  this  you  think  proper, 
so  that  I  may  have  it  again  hereafter. 

Yours,  H.  J 

To  Colonel  Jeremiah  Lee. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  LONDON  TO  A  GENTLEMAN  tN 
MASSACHUSETTS,  DATED  APRIL  25.  1775. 

A  steady  friend  to  America  called  upon  me  this  after- 
noon, to  acquaint  me  with  the  following  intelligence,  com- 
municated to  him  by  this  day,  which  you  may  rely 

upon  as  a  fact.    The  said  that  the  Administration, 

on  Friday,  received  advices  from  General  Gage  to  the 
eighteenth  of  March,  wherein  he  acknowledges  the  receipt 
of  the  King's  order  to  apprehend  Messrs.  Cushing,  Ad- 
ams, Hancock,  he.,  and  send  them  over  to  England  to  be 
tried  ;  but  that  the  second  orders,  which  were  to  hang  them 
in  Boston,  he  said  the  General  had  not  then  received.  The 
General  expressed  his  fears  on  the  occasion ;  and  in  hopes 
of  their  being  reversed,  he  should  delay  the  execution  a 
while  longer,  because  he  must,  if  the  orders  were  fulfilled, 
come  to  an  engagement,  the  event  of  which  he  had  every 
reason  to  apprehend  would  be  fatal  to  himself  and  the 
King's  Troops,  as  the  Massachusetts  Government  had  at 
least  fifteen  thousand  men  ready  trained  for  the  onset,  and, 
besides,  had  every  publick  and  private  road  occupied  by 
the  Militia,  so  as  to  prevent  his  marching  into  the  country, 
and  which  were,  at  the  same  time,  ready  to  facilitate  any 
attempt  against  the  Army  ;  on  which  unwelcome  situation 
he  earnestly  wished  for  a  reinforcement,  if  that  disagreeable 
order  must  be  effected.  The  General  also  wrote  that  the 
Standard  was  hoisted  by  the  people  at  Salem,  and  multi- 
tudes flocked  to  it,  which  would  not  be  the  case  should  the 
Royal  Standard  be  erected  ;  added,  that  he  now  believed 
America  would  carry  their  point ;  that  many  of  the  Admin- 
istration were  of  the  same  mind,  and  sincerely  wished  they 
had  pursued  more  gentle  measures  with  the  Colonies.  He 
said  Lord  North  was  evidently  uneasy,  and  that  Govern- 
ment dreaded  the  news  by  the  April  Packet ;  that  they 
suppressed  this  intelligence  from  General  Gage,  because 
of  the  instant  effect  it  would  have  on  the  Stocks.  He  ac- 
knowledged the  Nation  was  ready  for  a  revolution,  if  any 
enterprising  genius  would  step  forth,  and  which  would  cer- 
tainly be  the  case  if  blood  was  ever  drawn  in  America. 
He  blames  Hutchinson  much,  and  says  Administration 
charges  him  with  duplicity,  in  telling  them  they  ought  to 
have  been  more  active,  and  that  they  would  have  made  the 
Massachusetts  submit;  to  others,  that  Administration  had 
gone  much  further  than  he  advised.  Be  this  as  it  may,  he 
added  that  the  King  consults  him,  places  a  confidence  in 
what  he  says,  and  has  actually  fixed  his  salary  at  two  thou- 
sand Pounds  per  annum  for  life,  which  had  much  chagrined 
some  of  the  Administration,  who  ardently  wished  him  given 


387 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  APRIL,  1775. 


388 


up  as  a  sacrifice  to  both  Countries.   My  intelligencer  wishes, 

if  this  letter  should  be  published,  that  name  might 

be  omitted,  as  the  information  was  confidential.  1  shall  only 
add  that  my  Country  may  be  free  if  she  will ;  and  that  she 
may  have  the  virtue  to  play  the  man,  is  the  aspiration  of, 
Sir,  your  most  obedient  servant. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  LONDON,  DATED  APRIL 

25,  1775. 

We  have  our  suspicions  and  fears  on  account  of  Phila- 
delphia and  Nciv-YorJc.  If  the  great  chain  of  continental 
connection  is  once  broken,  the  consequences  may  prove 
very  unhappy.  It  is  the  union  of  America  which  gives  it 
strength.  Any  defection,  especially  of  such  important 
Provinces,  would  contribute  greatly  to  encourage  our  ad- 
versaries and  check  the  endeavours  of  our  friends.  I  am 
not  without  hopes  that  the  next  Assembly  of  New-York 
may  be  composed  of  different  members  from  those  of  the 
present.  The  Petition  from  the  Assembly  of  New-Jersey 
is  arrived,  but  Lord  Dartmouth,  on  pretence  that  it  would 
be  improper  to  forward  it  to  the  King,  without  its  being 
brought  to  him  by  the  Agent  of  the  Province,  refuses  any 
attention  to  it.  When  Doctor  Franklin  is  here,  Ministry 
will  receive  no  Petition  by  him.  When  he  is  not  here, 
they  refuse  Petitions  because  they  are  not  offered  by  him. 
However,  all  this  is  in  perfect  unison  with  the  rest  of  their 
conduct. 


HUGH  MERCER,  ETC.,  TO   COLONEL  GEORGE  WASHINGTON. 

Fredericksburgh,  April  25,  1775. 

Sir  :  Ry  intelligence  from  Williamsburgh,  it  appears 
that  Captain  Collins,  of  His  Majesty's  Navy,  at  the  head 
of  fifteen  Marines,  carried  off  the  Powder  from  the  Maga- 
zine in  that  City  on  the  night  of  Thursday  last,  and  con- 
veyed it  on  board  his  vessel,  by  order  of  the  Governour. 
The  gentlemen  of  the  Independent  Company  of  this  Town 
think  this  first  publick  insult  is  not  to  be  tamely  submitted 
to,  and  determine,  with  your  approbation,  to  join  any  other 
bodies  of  armed  men  who  are  willing  to  appear  in  support 
of  the  honour  of  Virginia,  as  well  as  to  secure  the  military 
stores  yet  remaining  in  the  Magazine.  It  is  proposed  to 
march  from  hence  on  Saturday  next  for  Williamsburgh, 
properly  accoutred  as  Light-horsemen. 

Expresses  are  sent  off  to  inform  the  Commanding  Officers 
of  Companies  in  the  adjacent  Counties  of  this  our  resolu- 
tion, and  we  shall  wait  prepared  for  your  instructions  and 
their  assistance. 

We  are,  Sir,  your  humble  servants, 

Hugh  Mercer,  Alexander  Spotswood, 
G.  Weedon,        John  Willis. 

P.  S.  As  we  are  not  sufficiently  supplied  with  Powder, 
it  may  be  proper  to  request  of  the  gentlemen  who  join  us 
from  Fairfax  or  Prince  William,  to  come  provided  with 
an  over  proportion  of  that  article. 


extract  of  a  letter  from  one  of  the  virginia  dele- 
gates, on  his  way  to  the  congress,  to  a  friend  in 
Williamsburgh,  dated  april  25,  1775. 
The  storm  thickens  very  fast.    The  New-  Yorkers  have 
received  intelligence  that  their  Town  is  to  be  fortified,  and 
fourteen  Regiments  to  be  sent  there  to  cut  off  the  commu- 
nication between  the  Southern  and  Eastern  Colonies;  this 
has  united  them  to  a  man  in  the  American  cause.  They 
are  forming  themselves,  and  beg  assistance  from  the  South- 
ward.   This  comes  from  the  Philadelphia  Committee. 
The  Bostonians  have  given  a  good  drubbing  to  two  thou- 
sand Regulars. 


GLOUCESTER  COUNTY  (VIRGINIA)  COMMITTEE. 

At  an  adjourned  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Gloucester 
County,  at  the  Court-House  of  the  said  County,  on  Tues- 
day, the  25th  of  April,  1775,  they  came  to  the  following 
Resolves : 

Resolved,  That  as  an  encouragement  to  the  manufac- 
turing Gunpowder  in  this  Colony,  we  will  give  a  premium 
of  Twenty-Five  Pounds  to  any  person  who  shall  produce 
to  the  Chairman  of  this  Committee,  on  or  before  the  25th 


of  October  next,  three  hundred  pounds  of  good  Gunpowder 
made  in  Virginia,  which  we  will  purchase  at  the  current 
price  of  that  commodity ;  and  if  it  shall  be  prov  ed  to  be 
made  wholly  of  the  materials  of  this  Colony,  we  will  give 
an  additional  premium  of  Ten  Pounds. 

Resolved,  That  we  will  give  Fifty  Pounds  to  any  per- 
son who  shall  produce  to  the  Chairman  of  this  Committee 
sixty  pair  of  good  Wool,  and  sixty  pair  of  good  Cotton 
Cards,  on  or  before  the  25th  of  October  next,  with  an 
autheniick  certificate  of  their  having  been  made  in  this 
Colony,  and  we  will  purchase  the  same  at  the  usual  price. 

The  Committee  having  received  authentick  information 
that  last  Thursday  night  an  Officer  of  one  of  His  Majesn 's 
armed  vessels,  with  a  party  of  armed  men,  by  express 
command  of  Lord  Dunmore,  privately  removed  the  Gun- 
powder belonging  to  this  Colony  out  of  the  Magazine, 
it  was  unanimously  Resolved,  That  the  removal  of  the 
Powder  from  the  Publick  Magazine  on  board  one  of  His 
Majesty's  armed  vessels,  by  order  of  the  Goverr.our,  is 
exceedingly  alarming  at  this  time'. 

Resolved,  That  his  Lordship's  verbal  answer  to  the 
Address  of  the  Mayor,  Recorder,  Aldermen,  and  Common 
Council  of  the  City  of  Williamsburgh  on  that  occasion,  is 
unsatisfactory,  disrespectful,  and  evasive. 

Resolved,  That  his  Lordship,  by  this  and  other  parts  of 
his  conduct  which  have  lately  transpired,  has  justly  forfeit- 
ed all  title  to  the  confidence  of  the  good  people  of  Vir- 
ginia. 

Resolved,  That  the  Powder  ought  immediately  to  be 
restored. 

Ordered,  That  the  Clerk  send  by  express  copies  of 
these  Resolves  to  each  of  the  Printers,  and  they  are  desired 
to  publish  them  in  their  next  Gazettes. 

Jasper  Clayton,  Clerk. 


BEDFORD  COUNTY  (VIRGINIA)  COMMITTEE. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  for  the  County  of  Bed- 
ford, at  the  Court-House  of  the  said  County,  on  Tuesday, 
the  25th  of  April,  1775, 

John  Talbot,  Gentleman,  Chairman. 

The  Resolves  of  the  Convention  held  at  the  Town  of 
Richmond  the  20th  of  March,  1775,  were  read  : 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  this  Committee  will  strict- 
ly observe  and  adhere  to  the  several  Resolutions  of  the 
said  Convention,  and  will  leave  no  means  in  their  power 
unessayed  to  carry  the  same  into  effect. 

On  motion  made  that  this  Committee  be  dissolved, 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  this  Committee  do  consid- 
er their  delegation  as  now  at  an  end,  and  that  it  be  recom- 
mended to  the  Freeholders  of  this  County  to  meet  at  the 
Court-House,  on  Tuesday,  the  23d  of  next  month,  for  the 
purpose  of  electing  Delegates  to  represent  them  in  Colony 
Convention  for  one  year,  and  to  elect  another  Committee. 

At  which  time  the  Freeholders  accordingly  met,  and 
unanimously  made  choice  of  John  Talbot  and  Charles 
Lynch,  Esquires,  for  their  Delegates.  And  the  following 
gentlemen  were  duly  elected  for  a  Committee,  (agreeable 
to  the  Eleventh  Article  of  the  General  Congress,)  to  wit : 
John  Talbot,  Charles  Lynch,  William  Meade,  Richard 
Stith,  Guy  Smith,  John  F.  Patrick,  James  Callaway, 
Gross  Scruggs,  David  Rice,  Edmond  Winston,  James 
Stcjitoe,  John  Ward,  John  Callaway,  William  Callairay. 
Jun.,  John  Quarles,  Simon  Miller,  Hayncs  Morgan,  Wil- 
liam Leftwich,  William  Trigg,  and  George  Stovall. 

Then  the  said  Committee  immediately  proceeded  to 
business,  and  entered  into  the  following  Resolves: 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  John  Talbot,  gentleman, 
be  appointed  Chairman  of  this  Committee. 

Resolved.  That  Robert  Alexander  be  appointed  Clerk 
of  this  Committee. 

Resolved,  That  as  Gunpowder  is  much  wanted  in  this 
County,  and  finding,  from  experience,  that  every  article 
made  use  of  in  the  manufacturing  (except  Sulphur,  of 
which  we  have  not  made  trial)  can  be  easily  procured  here, 
we  will  give  a  premium  of  Ten  Pounds,  current  money,  to 
any  person  who  shall  first  produce  to  this  Committee 
twenty-five  pounds  of  good  Sulphur,  with  an  authentick 
certificate  that  the  same  was  refined  from  materials  in  this 
Colony.  Robert  Alexander,  Clerk. 


389 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &ic,  APRIL,  1775. 


390 


TO    MESSIEURS   DELANCY,   WHITE,   COLDEN,   WATTS,  AND 
COOPER,  OF  NEW-YORK. 

Philadolphia,  April  25,  1775. 
It  appears,  from  a  number  of  authentick  letters  from 
London,  that  the  present  hostile  preparations  against  the 
American  Colonies  were  occasioned  by  nothing  but  assur- 
ances from  you  of  the  defection  and  submission  of  the 
Colony  of  New-York.  It  is  impossible  to  unfold  the  ex- 
tensive and  complicated  nature  of  your  crimes.  You  have 
defeated  the  attempts  of  the  Congress  to  bring  about  a 
constitutional  reconciliaton  with  Great  Britain.  You  have 
involved  your  fellow-subjects  in  Britain,  Ireland,  and  the 
(Vest-Indies,  in  all  the  distresses  which  must  speedily  fall 
upon  them  from  an  interruption  of  their  Trade  with  Ame- 
rica. But  you  have  done  more  ;  you  have  unsheathed  the 
sword  of  Britain,  and  pointed  it  against  the  bosom  of  your 
Country.  You  have  held  up  a  signal  for  a  civil  war;  and 
all  the  calamities  of  Towns  in  flames,  a  desolated  Country, 
butchered  fathers,  and  weeping  widows  and  children  now 
lay  entirely  at  your  doors.  Go  now,  ye  parricides,  to  the 
Press  of  your  associate,  James  Rivington,  and  there  satiate 
yourselves  with  your  triumph.  But  do  not  presume  too 
much  upon  the  impunity  of  Bernard,  Hutchinson,  and 
other  traitors  to  America.  Repeated  insults  and  unparal- 
leled oppressions  have  reduced  the  Americans  to  a  state  of 
desperation.  Executions  of  villains  in  effigy  will  now  no 
longer  gratify  their  resentment.  The  blood  of  your  unfor- 
tunate British  and  American  fellow-subjects,  who  have 
already  fallen  in  Massachusetts-Bay,  calls  to  Heaven  for 
vengeance  against  you.  The  injury  you  have  done  to  your 
Country  cannot  admit  of  a  reparation.  Fly  for  your  lives, 
or  anticipate  your  doom  by  becoming  your  own  execu- 
tioners. Three  Millions. 


METCALF  BOWLER  TO  THE  MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS. 

Providence,  April  25,  1775. 

Sir  :  Your  intelligence  to  the  Governour  and  Company 
of  this  Colony,  by  Edward  Rawson,  Esquire,  was  received 
by  the  Assembly,  who  were  sitting  in  Providence  to  con- 
sult and  act  upon  the  present  distresses  into  which  your 
Colony  and  all  of  New-England  are  involved.  You  will 
see  by  the  enclosed  papers  what  we  have  done.  Notwith- 
standing an  exception  of  a  very  few  individuals,  you  may 
be  assured  that  the  Colony  are  firm  and  determined,  and 
that  a  greater  unanimity  scarce  ever  prevailed  in  the  Lower 
House  than  was  found  in  the  great  questions  before  them. 

We  pray  God  that  he  would  be  graciously  pleased  to 
bring  to  nothing  the  counsels  and  designs  of  wicked  men 
against  our  lives  and  liberties,  and  grant  his  blessing  upon 
our  righteous  contest.  I  am,  in  behalf  of  the  General  As- 
sembly, your  and  your  Colony's  sincere  friend  and  humble 
servant,  Metcalf  Bowler,  Speaker. 

President  of  the  Provincial  Congress  in  Massachusetts. 

TO  THE  SPEAKER  OF  THE  HOUSE   OF  COMMONS  OF  CON- 
NECTICUT. 

Providence,  April  25,  1775. 

Sir  :  I  am  directed  by  the  Lower  House  of  Assembly 
to  inform  you,  that  William  Bradford,  Esquire,  and  Mr. 
Nathaniel  Greene,  two  of  the  Members  of  this  House,  are 
appointed  "  to  wait  upon  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Co- 
lony of  Connecticut,  to  consult  upon  measures  for  a  com- 
mon defence  of  the  four  New-England  Colonies,  and  to 
make  report  to  the  next  session  of  Assembly,"  (which  will 
be  next  week  at  Providence,)  at  our  general  election. 

The  Assembly  this  day  have  passed  an  Act  to  raise 
fifteen  hundred  good  effective  men,  for  the  service  of  the 
Colony,  and  the  general  cause.  Great  firmness  and  reso- 
lution for  the  defence  of  the  common  rights  of  this  Coun- 
try, most  certainly  prevails  in  this  Colony  ;  and  greater 
unanimity  was  scarce  ever  found  than  was  manifested  in 
the  Lower  House  on  the  great  questions  which  came  be- 
fore them. 

We  pray  God  that  he  would  be  graciously  pleased  to 
bring  to  nothing  the  counsels  and  designs  of  wicked  men 
against  our  lives  and  liberties,  and  grant  a  blessing  upon 
our  righteous  contest.  I  am,  in  behalf  of  the  House,  your 
and  your  Colony's  sincere  friend  and  humble  servant, 

Metcalf  Bowler,  Speaker. 


Act  of  Rhode-Island  for  raising  an  Army  of  Observa- 
tion. 

At  this  very  dangerous  crisis  of  American  affairs ;  at  a 
time  when  we  are  surrounded  with  Fleets  and  Armies,  that 
threaten  our  immediate  destruction ;  at  a  time  when  the 
fears  and  anxieties  of  the  people  throw  them  into  the  ut- 
most distress,  and  totally  prevent  them  from  attending  to 
the  common  occupations  of  life — to  prevent  the  mischiev- 
ous consequences  that  must  necessarily  attend  such  a  dis- 
ordered state,  and  to  restore  peace  to  the  minds  of  the 
good  people  of  this  Colony,  it  is  thought  absolutely  neces- 
sary that  a  number  of  men  be  raised  and  embodied,  pro- 
perly armed  and  disciplined,  to  continue  in  this  Colony,  as 
an  Army  of  Observation ;  to  repel  any  insults  or  violence 
that  may  be  offered  to  the  inhabitants ;  and  also,  if  it  be 
necessary  for  the  safety  and  preservation  of  any  of  the  Co- 
lonies, that  they  be  ordered  to  march  out  of  this  Colony, 
and  join  and  co-operate  with  the  Forces  of  our  neighbour- 
ing Colonies. 

It  is  Voted  and  Resolved,  That  fifteen  hundred  Men  be 
enlisted,  raised,  and  embodied  as  aforesaid,  with  all  the  ex- 
pedition and  despatch  that  the  nature  of  the  thing  will 
admit  of. 

April  25,  1775. — In  the  House  of  Magistrates, 
Resolved,  nemine  contradiccnte,  That  the  afore-written 
pass  as  an  Act  of  this  Assembly. 

By  order :  Silas  Downer,  pro  Clerk. 

In  the  Upper  House,  Read  the  same  day  and  concurred. 
By  order:  James  Clarke,  D'y  Sec'y. 

April  25,  1775. — In  the  House  of  Magistrates, 
Resolved,  That  the  Military  Officers  throughout  this 
Colony,  or  any  other  gentlemen  who  shall  be  willing,  do 
forthwith  enlist  fifteen  hundred  good  and  effective  Men, 
for  the  service  of  this  Colony,  and  that  each  Man  who 
shall  enlist  shall  receive  a  bounty  of  Four  Dollars,  and  be 
entitled  to  the  monthly  wages  of  One  Pound  Sixteen  Shil- 
lings. 

Voted  and  passed.    By  order: 

Silas  Downer,  pro  Clerk. 

In  the  Upper  House,  Read  the  same  clay  and  concurred. 
By  order :  Jas.  Clarke,  D'y  Sec'y. 

April  25th,  1775. — In  the  Lower  House,  Resolved, 
That  the  Speaker  of  this  House  write  unto  the  President 
of  the  Provincial  Congress  in  Massachusetts-Bay,  and  the 
Speaker  of  the  House  of  Deputies  in  the  Colony  of  Con- 
necticut ;  and  that  he  transmit  to  the  Congress  copies  of 
the  Resolutions  of  this  House  touching  the  matters  con- 
tained in  the  President's  Letter.    By  order : 

Silas  Downer,  pro  Clerk. 

In  the  Upper  House,  Providence,  April  25,  1775. 

We,  the  subscribers,  professing  true  allegiance  to  His 
Majesty  King  George  the  Third,  beg  leave  to  dissent  from 
the  Vote  of  the  House  of  Magistrates  for  enlisting,  raising, 
and  embodying  an  Army  of  Observation  of  fifteen  hundred 
men,  to  repel  any  insults  or  violences  that  may  be  offered 
to  the  inhabitants,  and  also,  if  it  be  necessary  for  the  safety 
and  preservation  of  any  of  the  Colonies,  to  march  them 
out  of  this  Colony  to  join  and  co-operate  with  the  Forces 
of  our  neighbouring  Colonies :  because  we  are  of  the 
opinion  that  such  a  measure  will  be  attended  with  the  most 
fatal  consequences  to  our  Charter  privileges  ;  involve  this 
Colony  in  all  the  horrours  of  a  civil  war ;  and,  as  we  con- 
ceive, an  open  violation  of  the  oath  of  allegiance  which 
we  have  severally  taken  upon  our  admission  into  the  re- 
spective offices  we  hold  in  the  Colony. 

J.  Wanton,       Darius  Sessions, 
Tho.  Wickes,    Wm.  Potter. 


JOHN  HANCOCK  TO  THE  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY. 

Worcester,  April  25,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  From  a  conviction  of  your  disposition  to 
promote  the  publick  good,  I  take  the  freedom  to  request 
your  countenance  and  good  offices  in  favour  of  Mr.  Ed- 
ward Crafts,  of  this  place,  that  he  may  be  appointed  to 
the  command  of  a  Company.  I  know  him  well ;  he  is 
capable.    I  beg  your  attention  to  this ;  it  will  give  great 


391 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  APRIL,  1"5. 


392 


satisfaction  to  Mr.  Adams  and  myself,  and  to  the  people  of 
this  County — do  gratify  us.  1  also  beg  leave  you  would 
recommend  to  the  notice  of  General  Heath,  in  my  name, 
Mr.  Nathaniel  Nazro,  of  this  Town,  who  is  desirous  of 
being  noticed  in  the  Army;  he  is  lively,  active,  and  capa- 
ble. My  respects  to  Heath,  and  all  friends.  Pray  General 
Heath  to  take  notice  of  this  recommendation.  God  bless 
you.    Adieu.    I  am  your  real  friend, 

John  Hancock. 


COMMITTEE  OF  BOSTON  TO  THE  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY. 

Boston,  April  25,  1775. 

Sir  :  We  shall  communicate  to  the  Committee  of  Dona- 
tions the  advice  which  your  letter  of  yesterday  gave  us, 
respecting  the  application  of  the  donation  money  in  their 
hands,  and  are  much  obliged  for  your  assurances  that  you 
shall  not  fail  to  lend  the  inhabitants  of  the  Town  your  best 
assistance  with  regard  to  the  furnishing  them  with  habita- 
tions in  the  country.  They  will  also  want  a  great  number 
of  Wagons  to  carry  off  their  effects,  which,  we  hope,  can 
be  had  from  the  country,  and  which  you  will  please  to 
permit  to  come  in.  We  beg  leave  to  repeat  with  earnest- 
ness our  desire  and  the  desire  of  the  Town,  that  those  who 
incline  to  remove  from  the  country  with  their  effects  into 
Boston,  may  do  it  without  the  least  injury  or  interruption. 
For  this  purpose  you  will  permit  us  to  wish  that  you  would 
publish  proclamations  or  notifications  that  passes  may  be 
had  for  all  such  persons  at  Roxbury  and  Cambridge,  and 
such  other  places  as  you  shall  please  to  appoint.  You 
will  have  the  goodness  to  excuse  us  for  again  soliciting  that 
this  may  be  done  as  speedily  as  possible.  We  are,  re- 
spectfully, your  humble  servants, 

James  Bowdoin,         Sam'l  Austin, 
Ezek'l  Goldthwait,  John  Pitts, 
John  Scollay,  Edward  Payne, 

Timothy  Newell,  Henderson  Inches, 
Thomas  Marshall,  Committee. 

Permission  will  be  given  for  thirty  Wagons  to  enter  the 
Town  at  once,  to  carry  away  the  effects  of  the  inhabitants. 
So  soon  as  those  have  returned  to  the  end  of  the  Cause- 
way leading  to  Roxbury,  then  others  will  be  permitted  to 
come  in.  None  will  be  permitted  to  enter  till  after  sun- 
rise, nor  to  remain  after  sunset.  If  any  Vessel  or  Boat, 
now  in  the  Harbour,  be  employed  to  remove  the  inhabi- 
tants' effects,  security  must  be  given  that  the  Vessel  or 
Boat  be  returned.  That  leave  be  obtained  for  some  per- 
sons to  go  to  the  different  Parishes  to  give  notice  to  such 
persons  who  incline  to  come  with  their  effects  into  Boston, 
that  they  may  come  without  molestation  ;  and  it  is  desired 
that  the  Wagons  and  Vessels  employed  to  come  and  carry 
away  the  Goods  of  the  inhabitants  of  Boston,  may  bring 
the  effects  of  those  who  are  desirous  to  leave  the  country, 
they  paying  half  the  charge. 


Salem,  April  25,  1775. 

Last  Wednesday  the  19th  of  April,  the  Troops  of  His 
Britannick  Majesty  commenced  hostilities  upon  the  peo- 
ple of  this  Province,  attended  with  circumstances  of  cruelty, 
not  less  brutal  than  what  our  venerable  ancestors  received 
from  the  vilest  Savages  of  the  wilderness.  The  particu- 
lars relative  to  this  interesting  event,  by  which  we  are  in- 
volved in  all  the  honours  of  a  civil  war,  we  have  endea- 
voured to  collect  as  well  as  the  present  confused  state  of 
affairs  will  admit. 

On  Tuesday  evening  a  detachment  from  the  Army, 
consisting,  it  is  said,  of  eight  or  nine  hundred  men,  com- 
manded by  Lieutenant  Colonel  Smith,  embarked  at  the 
bottom  of  the  Common  in  Boston,  on  board  a  number  of 
boats,  and  landed  at  Phipps's  farm,  a  little  way  up  Charles 
River,  from  whence  they  proceeded  with  silence  and  ex- 
pedition on  their  way  to  Concord,  about  eighteen  miles 
from  Boston.  The  people  were  soon  alarmed,  and  began 
to  assemble  in  several  Towns,  before  daylight,  in  order  to 
watch  the  motion  of  the  Troops.  At  Lexington,  six  miles 
below  Concord,  a  company  of  Militia,  of  about  one  hun- 
dred men,  mustered  near  the  Meeting-House  ;  the  Troops 
came  in  sight  of  them  just  before  sunrise ;  and  running 
within  a  few  rods  of  them,  the  Commanding  Officer  accosted 
the  Militia  in  words  to  this  effect :  "  Disperse,  you  rebels — 
damn  you,  throw  down  your  arms  and  disperse;"  upon 


which  the  Troops  huzzaed,  and  immediately  one  or  two 
officers  discharged  their  pistols,  which  were  instantaneously 
followed  by  the  firing  of  four  or  five  of  the  soldiers,  and 
then  there  seemed  to  be  a  general  discharge  from  the 
whole  body  :  eight  of  our  men  were  killed,  and  nine  wound- 
ed. In  a  few  minutes  after  this  action  the  enemy  renewed 
their  march  for  Concord;  at  which  place  they  destroyed 
several  Carriages,  Carriage  Wheels,  and  about  twenty  bar- 
rels of  Flour,  all  belonging  to  the  Province.  Here  about 
one  hundred  and  fifty  men  going  towards  a  bridge,  of 
which  the  enemy  were  in  possession,  the  latter  fired  and 
killed  two  of  our  men,  who  then  returned  the  fire,  and 
obliged  the  enemy  to  retreat  back  to  Lexington,  where 
they  met  Lord  Percy,  with  a  large  reinforcement,  with 
two  pieces  of  cannon.  The  enemy  now  having  a  body  of 
about  eighteen  hundred  men,  made  a  halt,  picked  up  many 
of  their  dead,  and  took  care  of  their  wounded.  At  teno- 
tomy, a  few  of  our  men  attacked  a  party  of  twelve  of  the 
enemy,  (carrying  stores  and  provisions  to  the  Troops,) 
killed  one  of  them,  wounded  several,  made  the  rest  prison- 
ers, and  took  possession  of  all  their  arms,  stores,  provisions, 
&c,  without  any  loss  on  our  side.  The  enemy  having 
halted  one  or  two  hours  at  Lexington,  found  it  necessary 
to  make  a  second  retreat,  carrying  with  them  many  of  their 
dead  and  wounded,  who  they  put  into  chaises  and  on 
horses  that  they  found  standing  in  the  road.  They  continu- 
ed their  retreat  from  Lexington  to  Charlestown  with  great 
precipitation  ;  and  notwithstanding  their  field-pieces,  our 
people  continued  the  pursuit,  firing  at  them  till  they  got  to 
Charlestown  Neck,  (which  they  reached  a  little  after  sun- 
set.) over  which  the  enemy  passed,  proceeded  up  Bunker's 
Hill,  and  soon  afterwards  went  into  the  Town,  under  the 
protection  of  the  Somerset  Man-of-War  of  sixty -four  guns. 

In  Lexington  the  enemy  set  fire  to  Deacon  Joseph 
Loring's  house  and  barn,  Mrs.  Mullikin's  house  and  shop, 
and  Mr.  Joshua  Bond's  house  and  shop,  which  were  all 
consumed.  They  also  set  fire  to  several  other  houses, 
but  our  people  extinguished  the  flames.  They  pillaged 
almost  every  house  they  passed  by,  breaking  and  destroy- 
ing doors,  windows,  glasses,  &ic,  and  carrying  off  cloth- 
ing and  other  valuable  effects.  It  appeared  to  be  their 
design  to  burn  and  destroy  all  before  them  ;  and  nothing 
but  our  vigorous  pursuit  prevented  their  infernal  purposes 
from  being  put  in  execution.  But  the  savage  barbarity 
exercised  upon  the  bodies  of  our  unfortunate  brethren  who 
fell,  is  almost  incredible  :  not  contented  with  shooting  down 
the  unarmed,  aged,  and  infirm,  they  disregarded  the  cries 
of  the  wounded,  killing  them  without  mercy,  and  mangling 
their  bodies  in  the  most  shocking  manner. 

We  have  the  pleasure  to  say,  that,  notwithstanding  the 
highest  provocations  given  by  the  enemy,  not  one  instance 
of  cruelty,  that  we  have  heard  of,  was  committed  by  our 
victorious  Militia ;  but,  listening  to  the  merciful  dictates  of 
the  Christian  religion,  they  "  breathed  higher  sentiments  of 
humanity." 

The  consternation  of  the  people  of  Charlestown,  when 
our  enemies  were  entering  the  Town,  is  inexpressible  ;  the 
Troops  however  behaved  tolerably  civil,  and  the  people 
have  since  nearly  all  left  the  Town. 

The  following  is  a  List  of  the  Provincials  who  were 
killed  and  wounded : 

Cambridge. — Killed :  William  Marcy,  Moses  Rich- 
ardson, John  Hicks,  Jason  Russell,  Jabish  Wyman,  Jason 
Winship.  Wounded  :  Captain  Samuel  Whittemorc.  Mis- 
sing: Samuel  Frost,  Seth  Russell. 

Charlestown. — Killed :  James  Mller,  and  a  son  of 
Captain  William  Barber. 

Watertown. — Killed  :  Joseph  Cooledgc. 

Sudbury. — Killed:  Deacon  Josiah  Haynes,  Asahel 
Reed.    Wounded  :  Joshua  Haynes,  Jun. 

Acton. — Killed  :  Captain  Isaac  Davis,  Abner  Hos- 
mcr,  James  Hayward. 

Bedford. — Killed:  Captain  JonathanWilson.  Wound- 
ed :  Job  Lane. 

Needham. — Killed  :  Lieutenant  John  Racon,  Ser- 
jeant Elisha  Mills,  Amos  Mills,  Nathaniel  Chamberlain, 
Jonathan  Parker.  Wounded  :  Captain  Eleazer  Kings- 
bury, and  a  son  of  Doctor  Tolman. 

Medford. — Killed:  Henry  Putnam,  William  Polly. 

Newtown. — Wounded:  Noah  Wiswall. 


393 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  APRIL,  1775. 


394 


Woburn. — Killed:  *Asa  Parker,  Daniel  Thomson. 
Wounded  :  George  Read,  Jacob  Bacon. 

Lexington. — Killed :  *  Jonas  Parker,  *Robert  Munroe, 
Jedidiah  Munroe,  John  Raymond,* Samuel Hadley ^Jona- 
than Harrington,  Jun.,  *  Isaac  Muzzy,*  Caleb  Harrington, 
Nathaniel  Wyman,  *John  Brown.  Wounded  :  Francis 
Brown,  John  Robbins,  Solomon  Peirce,  John  Tidd,  Joseph 
Comie,  Ebene.zer  Munroe,  Jun.,  Thomas  Winship,  Na- 
thaniel Farmer,  Prince,  a  negro. 

Billerica. — Wounded  :  John  Nichols,  Timothy  Blan- 
ch ard. 

Chelmsford. — Wounded  :  Deacon  Aaron  Chamber- 
lain, Captain  Oliver  Barron. 

Concord. — Wounded:  Abel  Prescott,  Jun.,  Captain 
Charles  Miles,  Captain  Nathan  Barrett. 

Framingham. — Wounded  :  Daniel  Hemenway. 

Stow. — Wounded  :  Daniel  Conant. 

Dedham. — Killed  :  Eiias  Haven.  Wounded  :  Israel 
Everett. 

Riixbury. — Missing:  Elijah  Seaver. 

Brookline. — Killed  :  Isaac  Gardner,  Esq. 

Salem. — Killed  :  Benjamin  Peirce. 

Danvers. — Killed  :  Henry  Jacobs,  Samuel  Cook,  Eb- 
r:\czer  Goldthwait,  George  Southwick,  Benjamin  Deland, 
Jan.,  Jotham  Webb,  Perly  Putnam.  Wounded  :  Nathan 
Putnam,  Dennis  Wallis.    Missing:  Joseph  Bell. 

Beverly. — Killed  :  Mr.  Kinnym.  Wounded  :  Nathan- 
iel Cleaves,  Samuel  Woodbury,  William  Dodge. 

Lynn. — Killed :  Abednego  Ramsdell,  Daniel  Toivn- 
send,  William  Flynt,  Thomas  Hadley.  Wounded  :  Joshua 
Felt,  Timothy  Munroe.    Missing :  Josiah  Breed. 

We  have  seen  an  account  of  the  loss  of  the  enemy, 
said  to  have  come  from  an  Officer  of  one  of  the  Men-of- 
War ;  by  which  it  appears  that  sixty-three  of  the  Regu- 
lars, and  forty-nine  Marines  were  killed,  and  one  hundred 
and  three  of  both  wounded  :  in  all,  two  hundred  and  fifteen. 
Lieutenant  Gould  of  the  Fourth  Regiment,  who  is  wound- 
ed, and  Lieutenant  Potter  of  the  Marines,  and  about 
twelve  soldiers,  are  prisoners. 

Mr.  James  Howard  and  one  of  the  Regulars  discharged 
their  pieces  at  the  same  instant,  and  each  killed  the  other. 

Our  brethren  of  Danvers  who  fell  fighting  for  their 
Country,  were  interred,  with  great  solemnity  and  respect, 
on  Friday  last. 

The  publick  most  sincerely  sympathize  with  the  friends 
and  relations  of  our  deceased  brethren,  who  gloriously 
sacrificed  their  lives  in  fighting  for  the  liberties  of  their 
Country.  By  their  noble  and  intrepid  conduct,  in  helping 
to  defeat  the  forces  of  an  ungrateful  tyrant,  they  have 
endeared  their  memories  to  the  present  generation,  who 
will  transmit  their  names  to  posterity  with  the  highest 
honour. 


of  the  Town  was  communicated  to  him  for  his  instruction, 
as  follows,  viz : 

That  it  is  the  sense  of  this  Town,  that  we  are  at  all 
times  ready,  as  far  as  our  circumstances  will  allow,  to  join 
in  the  common  cause  of  American  liberty,  and  to  assist 
with  our  lives  and  fortunes,  as  occasion  may  require,  to 
maintain  our  rights  and  liberties  against  all  the  hostile  at- 
tempts to  deprive  us  of  our  rights  and  liberties,  made  by 
the  cruel  and  oppressive  Acts  of  the  British  Parliament ; 
and  are  always  ready  to  bear  our  proportion  to  defend  our 
countrymen,  and  to  assist  in  repelling  force  by  force,  in 
such  manner  as  the  collective  wisdom  of  the  Province,  in 
Provincial  Congress  convened,  shall  judge  most  expe- 
dient. 

The  Town  Clerk  being  absent,  the  meeting  ordered  the 
Selectmen  to  sign  in  behalf  of  the  Town. 

Nehemiah  Smedt, 
Nehemiah  Woodcock, 


JAMES  SULLIVAN  TO  JOSEPH  WARREN. 

Exeter,  New-Hampshire,  April  25,  1775. 

Sir:  I  have  this  day  endeavoured  to  execute  my  em- 
bassy to  this  Province  with  the  greatest  faithfulness. 
There  seems  some  opposition  here  to  the  assistance  we 
have  expected  from  this  quarter,  but  doubtless  the  des- 
patches you  receive  with  this  will  inform  you  of  the  deter- 
mination of  this  Congress  respecting  the  matter.  My 
being  a  Committee  from  the  Congress  of  Massachusetts- 
Bay,  has  procured  me  great  respect  here,  which  has  been 
shown  by  them  as  a  body  of  individuals.  I  doubt  not  but 
there  will  be  the  same  politeness  shown  by  you  towards 
their  missionaries  to  our  Congress. 

I  am,  dear  Sir,  &tc,  &.c.  James  Sullivan. 

To  Joseph  Warren,  Esq.,  President  of  the  Massachusetts 

Congress. 


INSTRUCTIONS   OF   THE   INHABITANTS   OF  WILLI AMSTOWN, 
MASS.,   TO   SAMUEL  KELLOGG. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Wil- 
liamstown,on  the  25th  day  of  April,  A.  D.,  1775,  the  Se- 
lectmen being  Moderators  of  the  meeting,  and  Ensign 
Samuel  Kellogg  was  unanimously  chosen  a  Delegate  to  re- 
present this  Town  in  Provincial  Congress  ;  and  the  sense 

•  Those  distinguished  with  this  mark  [  *  ]  were  killed  by  the  first  fire 
of  the  enemy. 


Selectmen. 


COLONEL  JOHN   WENTWORTH   TO   THE  NEW-HAMPSHIRE 
CONGRESS. 
Somersworth,  April  25,  1775,  Tuesday,  6  o'clock. 

Gentlemen  :  My  health  is  such  it  is  impracticable  for 
me  to  be  at  Exeter  this  day ;  I  was  very  ill  able  to  attend 
last  week.  Hope  you  will  agree  on  some  method  to  pre- 
vent the  Soldiers  being  mustered  on  every  false  alarm  : 
otherwise  we  shall  soon  be  distressed  for  the  want  of  pro- 
visions. It  was  surprising  to  see  the  number  that  collected 
when  I  came  from  Exeter,  at  Newmarket,  Durham,  Do- 
ver, Somersworth,  &£C,  some  of  whom  came  to  Dover, 
twenty  miles  or  more.  You  must  know  the  consequence, 
if  not  prevented. 

I  heartily  wish  the  Divine  direction  and  blessing  may 
attend  your  consultations  and  determinations ;  and  after 
assuring  you  I  am  heartily  engaged  in  the  same  cause  with 
you,  am  your  sincere  friend  and  most  obedient  and  humble 
servant,  John  Wentworth. 

To  the  Gentlemen  of  the  Congress  convened  at  Exeter. 


EXTRACT  OF   A   LETTER  FROM   A   MERCHANT   IN  LONDON, 
TO  HIS  FRIEND  IN  VIRGINIA,  DATED  APRIL  26,  1775. 

We  have  petitioned  the  King,  Lords,  and  Commons,  on 
behalf  of  the  Colonies,  which  has  produced  a  promise 
to  repeal  the  Tea  Act,  Boston  Port  Bill,  and  those  of  this 
Session  of  Parliament  for  restraining  the  Fishery  and 
Trade  of  some  of  the  Colonies,  to  Great  Britain,  Ireland, 
and  the  West-India  Islands,  provided  your  Assemblies  will 
raise  a  Revenue,  in  their  own  mode,  towards  the  support  of 
Government,  and  to  pay  part  of  the  interest,  amounting  to 
more  than  three-fourths  of  the  value  of  all  the  exports  to 
America,  annually,  for  eleven  years,  ending  at  Christmas, 
1773,  of  the  heavy  debt  contracted  the  last  war,  which 
was  begun  in  and  carried  on  for  the  defence  and  protection 
of  America.  This,  it  is  hoped,  will  restore  harmony  be- 
tween all  His  Majesty's  subjects  on  both  sides  the  Atlan- 
tick ;  and  that  the  Resolve  to  forbear  exporting  the  produce 
of  the  industrious  Planter,  will  be  expunged  and  buried  in 
oblivion.  If  it  should  be  strictly  adhered  to  in  the  present 
form,  I  doubt  the  beneficial  branch  of  your  commerce  in 
tobacco  will,  in  a  great  measure,  be  lost  to  Virginia  and 
Maryland,  as  that  trade  will  be  turned  into  other  channels, 
and  the  markets  will  be  plentifully  supplied  by  the  Hol- 
land, Flanders,  German,  Russian,  and  Turkey  Merchants, 
as  it  grows  plentifully  in  all  those  countries,  and  also  in 
Florida,  from  whence  some  very  good  tobacco  has  been 
lately  imported,  so  that  the  revenues  will  not  be  diminish- 
ed, and  the  revenge  intended  against  Government  will  ter- 
minate in  distressing,  if  not  in  the  ruin,  of  the  Planters  and 
a  few  Merchants,  there  being  only  twenty-two  houses  in 
London  who  regularly  send  ships  to  import  tobacco  from 
Virginia  and  Maryland. 

Having  a  little  leisure  time  on  my  hands,  1  thought  it  ex- 
pedient to  lay  these  facts  before  you,  knowing  you  can  make 
a  proper  use  of  them,  for  the  mutual  interest  of  Great 
Britain  and  America.  Peace  cannot  be  restored  by  threats 
or  hostilities,  but  may  be  easily  obtained  by  treaty,  which 
I  most  ardently  wish  for. 

The  Ship  Catharine,  Captain  Potter,  cleared  out  at  the 
Custom-House  at  Noifolk,  in  Virginia,  last  February, 


395 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  fcq.,  APRIL,  1775. 


396 


with  twenty  thousand  five  hundred  staves,  for  Lisbon, 
where  she  did  not  go,  but  arrived  at  Dunkirk,  and  deliv- 
ered her  cargo,  with  about  ninety  hogsheads  of  tobacco, 
which  were  covered  with  the  staves ;  also,  it  is  now  dis- 
covered, that  two  other  ships  have  arrived  with  like  car- 
goes, and  more  are  expected  at  the  same  port.  Quere,  Do 
these  ships  bring  their  return  in  tea,  brandy,  claret,  &,c, 
to  be  smuggled  into  the  Colony  ?  What  will  be  the  conse- 
quence of  tli is  pernicious  practice,  time  will  discover. 


CAPTAINS  GRAYSON  AN])  LEE  TO  COLONEL  WASHINGTON. 

Dumfries,  April  2G,  1775. 

Sir:  We  have  just  received  a  letter  from  the  Officers 
of  the  Independent  Company  of  Spottsyhania,  which  I 
have  herewith  enclosed.  We  immediately  called  together 
this  Company,  and  had  the  vote  put,  whether  they  would 
march  to  Williamsburgh  for  the  purposes  mentioned  in 
that  Letter,  which  was  carried  unanimously. 

We  have  nothing  more  to  add,  but  that  we  are  well  as- 
sured you  may  depend  on  them,  either  for  that  or  any  other 
service,  which  respects  the  liberties  of  America.  We  ex- 
pect your  answer  and  determination  by  Mr.  Davess. 

We  have  the  honour  to  be  your  most  obedient  servants. 

By  order  of  the  Company  : 

William  Grayson, 
Phil.  Rd.  Frans.  Lee. 

hi  gh  mercer,  etc.,  to  captain  william  grayson. 

Fredoricksburgh,  Virginia,  April  24,  1775. 
Sir  :  From  undoubted  authority,  we  received  here  this 
day,  morning,  the  very  disagreeable  intelligence,  that  in 
the  night  of  Tliursday  last,  Captain  Collins,  Commander  of 
one  of  His  Majesty's  Sloops  of  War,  by  command  of  his 
Excellency  the  Governour,  assisted  by  a  Company  of  Ma- 
rines, carried  off  all  the  Powder  from  the  Magazine  in  the 
City  of  Williamsburgh,  and  deposited  it  on  board  his  vessel, 
which  lay  at  BurwcWs  Ferry,  about  five  miles  below  the 
City. 

The  said  authority  informs  us  that  the  Corporation  of 
the  City  of  Williamsburgh  addressed  the  Governour  on 
that  occasion.  The  people  have  received  no  satisfaction  ; 
nor  are  they  likely  to  recover  the  Powder,  though  it  is  so 
very  necessary  for  the  security  of  the  Country. 

This  being  a  day  of  meeting  of  the  Independent  Com- 
pany of  this  Town,  they  considered  it  necessary  to  take 
the  matter  into  serious  consideration,  and  are  come  to  a 
unanimous  resolution,  that  a  submission  to  so  arbitrary  an 
exertion  of  Government,  may  not  only  prejudice  the  com- 
mon cause,  by  introducing  a  suspicion  of  a  defection  of  this 
Colony  from  the  noble  pursuit,  but  will  encourage  the  tools 
of  despotism  to  commit  further  acts  of  violence  in  this 
Colony,  and  more  especially  subject  the  Arms  in  the  Ma- 
gazine to  the  same  fate  as  the  Powder. 

In  these  sentiments,  this  Company  could  but  determine 
that  a  number  of  publick  spirited  gentlemen  should  em- 
brace this  opportunity  of  showing  their  zeal  in  the  grand 
cause,  by  marching  to  Williamsburgh  to  inquire  into  this 
affair,  and  there  to  take  such  steps  as  may  best  answer  the 
purpose  of  recovering  the  Powder,  and  securing  the  Arms 
now  in  the  Magazine.  To  this  end,  they  have  determined 
to  hold  themselves  in  readiness  to  march  from  this  place  as 
Light-Horse,  on  Saturday  morning ;  and,  in  the  mean 
time,  to  submit  the  matter  to  the  determination  of  yours 
and  the  neighbouring  Counties,  to  whom  expresses  are 
purposely  forwarded.  We  address  you  in  the  name  of  our 
Company,  as  its  Officers,  and  are,  Sir,  your  very  humble 
servants,  Hugh  Mercer,  G.  Weedon, 

Alex.  Spotswood,       Jno.  Willis. 

To  Captain  Wm.  Grayson. 


HENRICO   COUNTY   (VIRGINIA)  COMMITTEE. 

In  Committee,  Wednesday,  April  2G,  1775. 
It  appearing  from  the  Virginia  Gazette,  of  the  21st  in- 
stant, that  (lie  Powder  in  the  publick  Magazine,  in  the 
City  of  Williamsburgh,  deposited  there  at  the  expense  of 
the  Country,  and  for  the  use  of  the  people,  in  case  of  in- 
vasion or  insurrection,  had  been  secretly  removed,  under 
the  clouds  of  the  night,  by  Captain  Collins,  of  the  Mag- 


dalen Sloop-of-War,  and  by  order  of  the  Governour ;  and 
the  Committee  having  taken  into  their  consideration  the 
Address  of  the  Corporation  of  the  City  of  Williamsburgh, 
as  also  his  Excellency's  Answer  thereunto,  came  to  the 
following  Resolutions : 

Resolved,  That  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  Committee,  that 
the  removing  of  the  said  Gunpowder  in  the  manner,  at  the 
time,  and  for  the  reasons  given  for  so  doing,  is  an  insult  to 
every  freeman  in  this  Country,  a  high  reflection  upon  the 
respectable  Corporation  of  the  City  of  /I  illiamsburgh,  and 
to  the  last  degree  cruel,  under  their  circumstances,  being 
then  threatened  with  an  insurrection  ;  that  we  consider  the 
act  itself  as  a  determined  step,  tending  towards  establish- 
ing that  tyranny  we  so  much  dread,  and  which  the  British 
Ministry,  with  unrelenting  fury,  have  so  long  and  are  still 
endeavouring  to  effect.  And  further,  that  we  consider  it 
as  injurious  to  the  fame,  and  tending  to  destroy  the  pleas- 
ing idea  we  had  entertained  of  his  Excellency's  regard  for 
the  happiness  and  true  interests  of  this  Colony. 

Resolved,  That  we  think  it  incumbent  upon  us  to  avow 
our  sentiments  upon  this  occasion ;  and  while  we  declare 
our  detestation  and  abhorrence  of  the  act,  we  will  use  our 
best  endeavours  to  procure  an  immediate  restitution  of  the 
said  Powder  to  the  Magazine,  from  whence  it  was  taken. 

Resolved,  That  as  we  cannot  rest  satisfied  with  his  Ex- 
cellency's Answer  to  the  Address  of  the  Corporation  of 
the  City  of  Williamsburgh,  that  it  be  an  instruction  to  the 
Committee  of  Correspondence  to  write  to  the  Committee 
of  the  City  of  Williamsburgh,  or  to  the  Committee  of 
York  or  James  City  Counties,  and  procure  the  most  au- 
thentick  intelligence  respecting  the  same,  and  report  to 
this  Committee  at  their  next  meeting. 

By  order  of  the  Committee  : 

John  Beckley,  Clerk. 


TO   THE  PUBLICK. 

I  find  in  Messieurs  Bradfords  Journal,  "A  Plan  of  an 
union  of  the  several  Colonies,  fee,  proposed  by  Benjamin 
Franklin,  Esquire,  and  unanimously  agreed  to  by  all  the 
Commissioners  of  the  several  Colonies,  met,  by  order  of 
the  Crown,  at  Albany,  in  July,  1754,"  with  the  following 
introduction : 

"  The  following  Plan  bears  so  strong  a  resemblance  to 
that  introduced  into  the  late  Congress  by  a  Delegate  from 
this  Province,  as  his  own,  that  I  cannot  but  think  it  right  to 
take  the  child  from  its  putative,  and  restore  it  to  real  pa- 
rents. Had  it  been  produced,  as  undoubtedly  it  ought  to 
have  been,  as  perfect  and  complete  as  this,  it  is  possible  it 
would  have  met  with  a  more  favourable  reception  ;  but  this, 
perhaps,  would  not  have  so  entirely  corresponded  with  the 
views  of  this  gentleman,  as  it  would  have  lessened  his  title 
to  it,  and  rendered  his  claim  to  be  more  doubtful  or  liable 
to  detection." 

Having  perused  this  introduction,  I  slightly  ran  my  eye 
over  the  plan,  expecting  to  find  after  it,  some  strictures, 
proving  the  alleged  "  strong  resemblance"  between  it  and 
the  one  proposed  in  the  late  Congress,  but  not  a  remark 
followed  ;  the  reader  is  left  to  believe  the  similitude  upon 
the  futile  and  false  asseveration  of  an  anonymous  scribbler. 
This  is  a  practice,  of  late,  grown  too  common  with  a  num- 
ber of  men,  who  mean  to  mislead  and  deceive,  and  have 
not  even  the  appearance  of  facts  or  arguments  to  support 
that  deception.  It  certainly  calls  for  a  publick  reprehen- 
sion, because  whenever  it  is  done,  it  is  an  insult  offered  to 
the  publick,  an  affront  to  the  understandings  of  men  of 
sense  and  integrity,  and,  could  the  authors  be  known,  they 
must  become  the  objects  of  publick  contempt. 

The  plan  proposed  in  the  late  Congress,  though  offered 
to  their  consideration  with  the  most  beneficent  intentions 
towards  America,  has  unfortunately  produced  very  mis- 
chievous effects  with  some  folks.  It  has  given  them  infi- 
nite anxiety,  disgust,  and  distress.  Why  the  mere  proposal 
of  a  plan  of  union  between  the  subjects  of  the  same  state, 
in  order  to  the  establishment  of  a  permanent  harmony  be- 
tween them,  and  to  prevent  the  dreadful  effects  of  a  civil 
war,  should  produce  these  effects,  is  difficult  to  determine, 
unless  it  be  because  the  plan  is  so  replete  with  American 
liberty,  and  consequently  so  opposite  to  their  frantick  scheme 
of  independency,  and  yet  founded  on  such  solid  principles, 
that  they  know  not  what  to  do  with  it.    It  was  declared 


397 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  APRIL,  1775 


398 


in  Congress,  by  more  than  one  of  the  Delegates,  that  it 
was  "  buz  with  destruction  to  the  Colonies,"  and  one  of  them 
undertook,  at  a  future  day,  to  prove  it  so :  but  near  six 
months  have  elapsed,  and  it  is  not  done.  We  are  told  that 
it  is  "  idle,  dangerous,  whimsical,  and  ministerial.''  Such 
are  the  opprobrious  epithets  which  these  angry  gentlemen 
have  bestowed  upon  it,  but  the  publick  is  not  favoured  w  ith 
a  single  argument  to  prove  it  deserving  of  any  of  them. 
The  merits  of  the  plan  remain  uncanvassed  and  unsullied 
hut  by  their  abuse,  supported  by  their  defamatory  asser- 
tions only.  And  such  is  the  inconsistency  of  human  con- 
duct, when  it  becomes  subservient  to  bad  designs,  that  we 
ever  find  it  like  the  winds,  perpetually  changing  from  point 
to  point,  until  it  blows  opposite  blasts,  and  incurs  the  most 
palpable  contradictions.  Thus  the  enemies  to  this  plan, 
finding  their  attempts  to  persuade  the  publick  by  their  posi- 
tive assertions  to  believe  that  it  was  something  very  wicked 
and  inconsistent  with  the  true  interest  of  America,  unwil- 
lingly glide  into  an  acknowledgment  of  its  merit.  For  this 
same  plan,  which  not  long  since  was  pronounced  idle,  dan- 
gerous, whimsical,  and  ministerial,  is  now  of  a  sudden  be- 
come, instead  of  an  "  idle  and  whimsical  plan,"  the  real 
child  of  a  truly  worthy  great  man,  and  one  of  the  first  phi- 
losophers of  the  present  age;  instead  of  being  "dangerous 
to  America,"  it  is  the  child  of  the  warmest,  wisest,  and 
most  zealous  of  the  friends  of  America ;  and  instead  of  be- 
ing ministerial,  it  is  the  act  of  a  gentleman  the  most  anti- 
ministerial  of  any  one  living.  And  we  are  farther  told,  in 
the  same  Journal,  that  it  was  not  inserted  in  the  Journal  of 
the  last  Congress,  because  it  would  "  be  disgracing  their 
records."  Yet  now  we  find  that  it  bears  a  "  strong  resem- 
blance to  a  plan  "  unanimously  agreed  to  by  all  the  Com- 
missioners of  the  several  Colonies,  met  at  Albany  m  1754," 
and  consequently  entered  upon  their  records,  as  worthy  of 
the  attention  of  all  America.  Such  are  the  strange,  capri- 
cious, and  inconsistent  conduct  of  men  who  have  resolved 
to  desert  the  paths  of  truth  and  candour. 

And,  as  if  truth  and  the  convictions  of  reason  were  too 
powerful  to  be  longer  suppressed,  it  is  at  last  confessed,  in 
the  introduction,  that  had  the  plan  of  1774  "  been  pro- 
duced as  perfect  and  complete  as  the  one  of  1754,  it  would 
have  met  with  a  more  favourable  reception."  Here  again 
is  a  full  acknowledgment  that  the  former  has  not  deserved 
the  abuse  which  has  been  cast  upon  it,  and  that  it  only  re- 
quired to  be  more  "  perfect  and  complete"  to  entitle  it  to  a 
favourable  reception.  It  is  a  just  observation  of  a  great 
Lawyer  and  a  Statesman,  "  nihil  simul  et  semel  inception 
et  perfectum  est;"  that  there  is  scarce  any  thing  of  human 
invention  which  is  at  first  perfect ;  it  may  be  concluded, 
without  derogating  from  the  merit  of  the  great  man  who 
proposed  it,  that  the  plan  of  1754  was,  when  proposed,  in 
this  state,  and  that  it  did  not  assume  its  present  form  until 
it  had  been  canvassed  by,  and  received  the  alterations  and 
amendments  of  the  collected  wisdom  of  the  Govemours 
and  Delegates  of  the  several  Colonies.  Had  the  last  Con- 
gress acted  the  same  candid  and  impartial  part  agreeable  to 
their  first  resolution,  the  last  plan  might  have  been  made 
equally  perfect.  If  it  contained  the  great  outlines  of  a  ra- 
tional system  of  union  between  Great  Britain  and  the  Co- 
lonies, it  was  their  indispensable  duty  to  furnish  the  mate- 
rials wanting  to  finish  the  work  within,  and  to  complete  the 
superstructure.  And  it  is  yet  the  duty  of  the  pretended 
Patriots,  who  are  wasting  pen,  ink,  and  paper,  with  their 
calumnies,  to  point  out  its  defects,  and  propose  the  proper 
alterations  and  additions.  And  as  none  of  them  have  been 
capable  of  offering  to  the  publick  any  other  more  perfect 
system  of  union,  this  would  certainly  be  acting  the  part  of 
real  friends  to  their  Country,  and  save  them  from  the  dis- 
grace which  must  attend  the  continued  proofs  they  are  ex- 
hibiting, of  some  deep-laid,  dark  designs,  which  they  do 
not  care  to  unfold. 

But  it  is  further  alleged,  that  the  plan  agreed  in  the  Con- 
gress at  Albany,  "  bears  a  strong  resemblance  to  that  intro- 
duced by  a  Delegate  from  this  Province,  into  the  late  Con- 
gress, as  his  own,  and  that  it  is  but  right  to  take  the  child 
from  it  putative,  and  restore  it  to  its  real  parents."  It  be- 
ing a  matter  of  no  importance  to  the  publick,  whether  the 
ingenious  Doctor  Franlclin,  or  the  Pennsylvania  Delegate, 
was  the  author  of  the  last  plan,  no  notice  would  be  taken 
of  the  introduction,  did  not  the  above  charge  strike  at  the 
honour  and  candour  of  the  Delegate.    But  as  this  is  the 


sole  design  of  it,  it  is  hoped  the  publick  will  not  think  it 
improper  to  have  before  them  what  may  be  said  in  vindi- 
cation of  his  injured  honour  and  character.  A  comparison 
of  the  two  plans,  and  a  just  representation  of  his  conduct 
at  the  time  he  proposed  the  last,  will  prove  that  this  "  strong 
resemblance  "  exists  neither  in  the  names,  the  matter,  or 
substance  of  the  plans,  and  were  they  the  same,  that  he 
had  no  intent  to  assume  to  himself  the  merit  which  be- 
longed to  another. 

1.  The  plan  agreed  to  at  Albany  is  properly  called,  in 
its  title,  "  A  Plan  of  an  union  of  the  several  Colonies,"  &c. ; 
and  the  one  proposed  by  the  Pennsylvania  Delegate  is, 
"  A  Plan  of  union  between  Great  Britain  and  the  Colo- 
nies." 

2.  The  first  forms  a  distinct  inferiour  Legislature  for  the 
Colonies,  composed  of  two  perfect  branches  only,  upon 
the  same  principles  and  model  of  the  Legislature  of  Penn- 
sylvania, without  any  incorporation  or  union  with  the  Bri- 
tish Legislature.  But  the  second  proposes  to  establish  a 
grand  British  and  American  Legislature,  by  a  political 
union  and  incorporation  of  the  Representatives  of  the  free- 
men of  America  with  the  King,  Lords,  and  Commons. 

3.  By  the  first,  the  Legislative  acts  of  the  Grand  Coun- 
cil are  made  subject  to  the  negative  of  the  King,  a?  Repre- 
sentative of  the  British  State,  and  afterwards  to  his  nega- 
tive, as  one  of  the  branches  of  the  British  Legislature. 
By  the  second,  this  negative  in  the  Crown  is  rendered 
altogether  unnecessary,  and  totally  excluded,  by  a  direction 
in  one  of  the  Articles,  that  the  acts  of  the  Grand  Council 
shall  be  immediately  transmitted  for  the  approbation  or  dis- 
sent of  the  Parliament  of  Great  Britain,  before  they  are 
valid.  And  thus  these  acts  would  only  remain  subject  to 
the  negative  of  the  Parliament,  while  the  Grand  Council 
would  also  enjoy  the  like  negative  on  all  the  acts  of  the 
British  Legislature  which  concern  their  general  interest 
and  welfare,  either  "  civil,  criminal,  or  commercial." 

4.  The  Legislature  of  the  first  plan,  and  all  its  constitu- 
ents, were  to  remain  subordinate  to  the  authority  of  Par- 
liament, although  America  is  not  there  represented,  there 
being  nothing  either  in  the  expressions,  matter,  or  implica- 
tions of  the  plan  to  exclude  it,  but,  on  the  contrary,  an  ex- 
press acknowledgment  of  that  authority.  But  in  the  second, 
this  subordination,  now  so  much  complained  of,  and  the 
great  object  of  the  dispute  which  is  likely  to  involve  Ame- 
rica in  ruin,  is  taken  aw:ay,  and  a  remedy  proposed  by  an 
union  of  the  British  and  American  members  of  the  State, 
upon  constitutional  principles,  by  which  the  latter  is  placed 
on  a  par  of  power,  and  w  ill  enjoy  the  same  solid  security 
for  their  rights  and  freedom  with  the  former;  as  under  this 
plan  no  money  can  be  taken  from  them,  no  taxes  laid,  none 
of  their  manufactures  restrained,  or  their  commerce  pro- 
hibited or  burthened,  w  ithout  their  consent. 

5.  Thus  w  e  find  that  the  first  plan  proposes  no  more  than 
an  union  of  the  Colonies  by  a  Grand  Assembly  of  their 
Representatives,  subject  to  a  negative  on  their  acts  in  the 
Crown,  and  afterwards  to  the  repeal  and  control  of  the 
Parliamentary  authority,  which  leaves  the  rights  of  Ame- 
rica unrestored,  the  authority  of  Parliament  over  us  arbi- 
trary, and  the  essential  grievances  of  America  unredressed  : 
while  the  latter  proposes  a  political  union  of  the  Colonies 
with  Great  Britain,  in  which  the  rights  of  the  Colonies 
are  restored  on  the  most  solid  principles  of  liberty  ;  the 
Parliamentary  authority  over  them  modified  and  rendered 
safe  and  constitutional;  the  cause  and  reason  of  our  com- 
plaints removed  ;  and  a  solid  foundation  laid  for  a  perma- 
nent union  and  harmony  between  the  two  Countries. 

I  could  descend  to  many  other  particulars  in  which  these 
plans  materially  differ ;  but  this  must  be  unnecessary,  as  it 
cannot  be  thought  strange  that  they  should  be  substantially 
variant  from  each  other,  w  hen  impartial  men  will  give  them- 
selves time  to  reflect  on  the  different  circumstances  and 
motives  which  gave  rise  to  them.  At  the  time  when  the 
first  was  proposed,  the  supremacy  of  Parliament  over  the 
Colonies  was  not  questioned  by  any  American.  The  de- 
sign of  the  Congress  was  to  propose  some  mode  to  His  Ma- 
jesty, by  w  hich  the  Colonies  might  be  enabled  to  ascertain 
the  just  proportion  of  aids  that  each  ought  to  contribute 
towards  their  general  safety,  which  was  then  immediately 
endangered  by  their  disunion,  and  to  establish  some  power 
to  compel  the  refractory  and  unwilling  to  a  performance  of 
their  general  political  duties  among  themselves.    Here  the 


399 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  APRIL,  1773. 


400 


views  of  the  first  Congress  rested.  But  when  the  last 
met,  the  objects  of  their  deliberations  were  infinitely  more 
extensive  and  important.  Nothing  less  than  the  rights  of 
the  supreme  authority  of  a  great  Empire  over  its  members, 
and  the  essential  rights  of  a  very  respectable  part  of  those 
members,  were  the  questions  there  agitated.  The  first  plan 
was  calculated  to  afford  a  remedy  for  the  mischiefs  then 
under  consideration.  The  second,  to  remove  the  unhappy 
cause  of  the  dispute  between  Great  Britain  and  the  Co- 
lonies, by  restoring  America  to  her  right  of  participating  in 
the  supreme  authority,  and  reducing  that  authority  to  a 
constitutional  exercise  of  its  power  over  the  Colonies.  Such 
being  the  obvious  difference  in  the  causes  from  which  the 
plans  originated,  it  was  impossible,  if  they  were  in  any 
ways  calculated  to  answer  the  different  ends  in  view,  that 
they  should  not  be  greatly  different  both  in  their  names  and 
substance. 

I  shall  offer  but  one  argument  more  in  vindication  of  the 
Delegate  who  proposed  the  last  plan,  from  the  ungenerous 
calumny  so  undeservedly  thrown  upon  him,  which  will  fully 
demonstrate  that  he  could  entertain  no  design  of  taking  from 
Doctor  Franklin,  or  the  Congress  of  1754,  the  merit  of 
the  first.  He  carried  with  him  to  the  Congress  the  plan  of 
1754,  with  the  reasons  under  every  article,  which  induced 
the  then  Commissioners  to  adopt  them  in  the  Doctor's  own 
writing.  He  shewed  it  to  several  of  the  members  as  the 
plan  proposed  by  the  Doctor  and  agreed  to  by  the  Com- 
missioners. He  delivered  it  to  one  of  the  Delegates  with- 
out the  least  injunction  or  reserve.  From  that  Delegate  it 
passed  into  the  hands  of  several  others,  until  the  gentleman 
to  whom  it  was  first  delivered  could  not,  for  some  lime,  dis- 
cover in  whose  hands  to  find  it.  This  was  done  to  enable 
the  members  to  compare  the  two  plans,  to  digest  the  better 
the  one  then  proposed,  and  if  any  addition  could  be  made 
to  it,  that  it  might  be  done  when  it  should  be  taken  into 
consideration  agreeable  to  the  rule  of  the  Congress.  Hav- 
ing little  vanity  in  his  composition,  any  applause  which 
might  arise  from  the  merit  of  the  plan  never  entered  into 
his  imagination.  His  mind  was  too  earnestly  engaged  in 
endeavouring  to  lend  his  assistance  towards  preserving  the 
rights  of  America,  and  establishing  a  happy  union  of  the 
two  Countries.  These  were  his  motives,  his  only  motives  ; 
and  he  is  still  of  opinion,  had  the  Delegates  in  Congress 
formed  a  constitutional  system  of  union  upon  the  same,  or 
nearly  alike  principles,  that  great  and  beneficial  effects  would 
have  flowed  from  it  to  America.  It  would  have  been 
acting  the  wise  and  prudent  part  of  taking  the  best  ground 
of  defence  first.  It  would  have  been  asking,  what  we  have 
a  right  to  demand,  an  union  with  our  brethren  and  fellow- 
subjects  in  Britain,  on  principles  of  liberty  and  govern- 
ment. It  would  have  attached  to  us  innumerable  friends  in 
England  and  all  the  British  Dominions,  whom,  by  a  con- 
trary conduct,  we  have  lost.  It  would  have  united  us  firmly 
and  inseparably  among  ourselves,  upon  rational  and  sup- 
portable grounds,  while  the  measures  adopted  have  only 
tended  to  divide  and  weaken  the  Colonies.  And  should 
the  Administration  have  refused  (contrary  to  what  we  had 
then,  and  more  especially  now,  reason  to  expect)  so  reason- 
able and  just  a  proposition  as  that  of  granting  to  the  Ameri- 
cans the  common  constitutional  rights  of  British  subjects,  in 
all  probability  it  would  have  left  them  supported  by  very  few, 
if  any,  of  the  people,  on  whom  they  must  rely  for  aids,  to  en- 
able them  to  carry  any  scheme  into  execution.      C.  E. 


Philadelphia,  April  2G,  1775. 

Yesterday,  at  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  pursuant  to 
publick  notice,  there  was  a  meeting  of  near  eight  thousand 
of  the  inhabitants  of  this  City,  to  consider  of  the  measures 
to  be  pursued  in  the  present  critical  situation  of  the  affairs 
of  America. 

The  business  was  opened  with  several  eloquent  and  pa- 
triotick  speeches,  and  the  company  unanimously  agreed  to 
associate,  for  the  purpose  of  defending  with  arms,  their 
property,  liberty,  and  lives,  against  all  attempts  to  deprive 
them  of  them. 

PHILADELPHIA  ASSOCIATION. 

Whereas,  it  appears  from  authentick  accounts  received 
from  England,  that  it  is  the  design  of  the  present  Ministry 
to  enforce  the  late  cruel  and  unjust  Acts  of  Parliament 


complained  of  in  the  most  legal  and  dutiful  manner  by  the 
Congress  :  And  whereas,  an  additional  number  of  Troops, 
with  a  Fleet,  have  been  ordered  for  America,  to  assist  the 
Troops  now  in  Boston  in  the  execution  of  the  said  Acts : 
We,  the  subscribers,  agree  that  we  will  associate  for  the 
purpose  of  learning  the  Military  Exercise,  and  for  defend- 
ing our  property  and  lives  against  all  attempts  to  deprive 
us  of  them. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  READING,  PENNSYLVANIA, 
DATED  APRIL  26,  1775. 

We  have  raised  in  this  Town  two  Companies  of  Foot, 
under  proper  Officers ;  and  such  is  the  spirit  of  the  people 
of  this  free  County,  that  in  three  weeks  time  there  is  not 
a  Township  in  it  that  will  not  have  a  Company  raised  and 
disciplined,  ready  to  assert  at  the  risk  of  their  lives  the 
freedom  of  America. 


NEW-YORK  COMMITTEE. 

Wednesday,  April  26,  1775. 

The  Committee  having  taken  into  consideration  the  com- 
motions occasioned  by  the  sanguinary  measures  pursued  by 
the  British  Ministry;  and  that  the  powers  with  which  this 
Committee  is  invested,  respect  only  the  Association,  are 
unanimously  of  opinion  that  a  new  Committee  be  elected 
by  the  Freeholders  and  Freemen  of  this  City  and  County, 
for  the  present  unhappy  exigency  of  affairs,  as  well  as  to 
observe  the  conduct  of  all  persons  touching  the  Association  ; 
that  the  said  Committee  consist  of  one  hundred  persons  ; 
that  thirty-three  be  a  quorum,  and  that  they  dissolve  within 
a  fortnight  next  after  the  end  of  the  next  sessions  of  the 
Continental  Congress.  And  that  the  sense  of  the  Freehold- 
ers and  Freemen  of  this  City  and  County  upon  this  sub- 
ject may  be  better  procured  and  ascertained,  the  Commit- 
tee are  further  unanimously  of  opinion,  that  the  polls  be 
taken  on  Friday  morning  next,  at  nine  o'clock,  at  the  usual 
places  of  election  in  each  Ward,  under  the  inspection  of 
the  two  Vestrymen  of  each  Ward,  and  two  of  this  Com- 
mittee, or  any  two  of  the  four ;  and  that  at  the  said  elec- 
tions the  votes  of  the  Freemen  and  Freeholders  be  taken 
on  the  following  questions,  viz :  Whether  such  new  Com- 
mittee shall  be  constituted?  And  if  yea,  of  whom  it  shall 
consist?  And  this  Committee  is  further  unanimously  of 
opinion,  that  at  the  present  alarming  juncture,  it  is  highly 
advisable  that  a  Provincial  Congress  be  immediately  sum- 
moned ;  and  that  it  be  recommended  to  the  Freeholders 
and  Freemen  of  this  City  and  County,  to  choose  at  the 
same  time  that  they  vote  for  the  new  Committee  aforesaid, 
twenty  Deputies  to  represent  them  at  the  said  Congress ; 
and  that  a  Letter  be  forthwith  prepared  and  despatched  to 
all  the  Counties,  requesting  them  to  unite  with  us  in  form- 
ing a  Provincial  Congress,  and  to  appoint  their  Deputies 
without  delay,  to  meet  at  New- York,  on  Monday,  the  22d 
of  May  next.    By  order  of  the  Committee  : 

Isaac  Low,  Chairman. 


JOHN   COLLINS   TO   THE   COMMANDING   OFFICER   OF  THE 
PROVINCIAL   ARMY   AT  CAMBRIDGE. 

Newport,  April  2G,  1775. 

It  is  with  pleasure  that  I  communicate  to  you,  by  ex- 
press, the  following  important  intelligence,  by  a  vessel  just 
arrived  here  from  New-York. 

We  are  informed  that  the  news  of  the  engagement  be- 
tween the  Regulars  and  Provincials  got  to  New-York  on 
Sunday  last,  between  the  fore  and  afternoon  service  ;  that 
the  people  of  the  City  immediately  arose,  disarmed  the 
Soldiers,  and  possessed  themselves  of  the  Forts  and  Maga- 
zines, in  which  they  found  about  fifteen  hundred  Arms  ; 
that  they  unloaded  two  Transports  bound  to  Boston,  Cap- 
tain Montague  not  daring  to  give  them  any  assistance  ;  that 
a  third  Transport  had  sailed  while  they  were  seizing  the 
two  others,  and  that  the  people  had  fitted  out  a  vessel,  in 
order  to  take  and  bring  her  back  ;  that  they  had  forbid  all 
the  Pilots  from  bringing  up  any  of  the  King's  Ships ;  that 
Captain  Montague  was  not  able  to  procure  a  Pilot  in  the 
whole  City ;  and  that  the  inhabitants  were  preparing  to 
put  themselves  in  the  best  posture  of  defence. 

The  gentleman  who  brings  this  intelligence  left  Eliza- 
bithlown  yesterday  morning,  and  tells  us,  that  on  Monday 


401 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  APRIL,  1775. 


402 


the  Committee  of  that  Town  and  County  met,  and  agreed 
to  raise  one  thousand  men  immediately,  to  assist  in  the  de- 
fence of  Xew-  York,  against  any  attack  that  may  be  made 
upon  them.  I  have  the  honour  to  assure  you  that  this  in- 
telligence may  be  depended  upon,  and  that  I  am,  Sir,  your 
most  humble  servant,  John  Collins, 

Chairman  of  the  Committee  of  Inspection. 


TO  THE  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS  OF  MASSACHUSETTS. 

In  Provincial  Convention  at  Exeter,  April  26,  1775. 
"Resolved  unanimously,  That  Colonel  Nathaniel  Folsom, 
Col.  Josiah  Barllett,  and  Major  Samuel  Hobart,  Esquires, 
be  immediately  sent  as  a  Committee  from  this  Convention, 
to  the  Provincial  Congress  of  the  Province  of  Massachu- 
setts-Bay, to  deliver  to  them  the  following  Letter ;  and  fur- 
ther inform  them  of  the  particular  situation  of  this  Province, 
and  report  the  effect  of  their  mission  as  soon  as  may  be." 

Gentlemen  :  Before  the  receipt  of  your  letter  of  April 
•23,  intelligence  of  the  tragical  scene  which  hath  lately  been 
acted  in  your  Colony  by  the  regular  Troops,  had  pierced 
the  ears  of  the  inhabitants  of  this ;  upon  which,  many  of  our 
men,  fired  with  zeal  in  the  common  cause,  and  resentment 
at  the  inhuman  cruelty  and  savage  barbarity  of  the  action, 
instantly  flew  to  your  assistance,  and  vast  numbers  more  on 
their  march  were  stopped,  on  hearing  they  were  not  needed. 

The  Provincial  Committee,  upon  this  alarm,  immediate- 
ly called  a  special  Convention  of  Delegates  from  the  near- 
est Towns,  to  consult  with  the  Committee  what  was  then 
absolutely  necessary  to  be  done  upon  that  pressing  occa- 
sion ;  in  consequence  of  which  this  Convention  met. 

Previous  to  this,  our  Provincial  Committee,  upon  appli- 
cation to  them  from  a  Committee  of  your  body,  had  noti- 
fied the  respective  Towns  in  this  Province  to  choose  and  em- 
power Delegates  to  meet  at  Exeter  on  the  17th  day  of  May 
next,  to  deliberate  upon  the  important  and  momentous  ob- 
jects proposed  by  your  Congress  for  the  consideration  and 
concurrence  of  ours ;  at  which  time  the  important  matters 
recommended,  will  naturally  come  under  the  mature  deliber- 
ation of  our  Congress,  and,  no  doubt,  they  will  readily  concur 
and  co-operate  with  their  brethren  in  New-England  in  all 
such  measures  as  shall  be  thought  most  conducive  for  the 
common  safety.  But  this  body,  though  heartily  willing  to 
contribute  in  every  advisable  method  to  your  aid,  in  the 
general  defence  of  these  Colonies,  judge  it  not  expedient  now 
to  determine  upon  the  establishment  of  an  Army  of  Observa- 
tion, as  the  Towns  in  this  Government  are  not  generally  re- 
presented. But  it  is  recommended  in  the  mean  time  to  the 
Towns  in  this  Colony,  to  supply  the  men  gone  from  it  with 
provisions  and  other  necessaries,  if  their  continuance  shall  be 
thought  necessary;  and  from  the  spirit  of  the  inhabitants  you 
may  expect  their  aid,  if  any  emergency  should  require  it. 

We  most  fervently  wish  you  the  blessing  and  direction 
of  Heaven  in  all  your  deliberations ;  and  may  God  Al- 
mighty, who  protected  and  saved  our  pious  ancestors 
amidst  ten  thousand  dangers,  preserve  New-England  from 
the  horrours  and  desolations  of  a  civil  war. 

By  order  of  the  Convention  : 

Mesheck  Weare,  President  pro  tern. 


JOHN  HANCOCK  TO  THE  COMMITTEE   OF  SAFETY. 

Worcester,  April  26,  1775. 
Gentlemen  :  Having  had  the  honour  to  command  the 
Cadet  Company  at  Boston,  and  knowing  the  abilities  of 
those  who  composed  that  Corps,  I  cannot  withhold  men- 
tioning and  recommending  to  the  notice  of  you  and  the 
General  Officers,  Mr.  John  Smith  and  Mr.  John  Avery, 
two  excellent  good  soldiers  and  gentlemen,  who  will  ad- 
vance the  reputation  of  the  Province  in  that  department  of 
command  where  they  may  be  placed.  I  therefore  most 
strongly  recommend  them,  and  earnestly  pray  they  may 
be  noticed.  I  will  be  answerable  for  their  conduct.  There 
are  several  other  gentlemen  of  that  Corps  who  may  be 
useful,  particularly  Mr.  Brant  and  Mr.  Cunningham.  Do 
notice  Mr.  Smith  and  Avery ;  they  will  be  useful. 

I  set  out  to-morrow  morning.  God  bless  you.  Why 
don't  you  send  to  Mr.  Crafts  1  Pray  improve  him  ;  he  is  a 
good  man,  and  one  on  whom  you  may  depend  ;  don't  miss 
him.    I  am  your  real  friend,  John  Hancock. 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii.  < 


LETTER  FROM  THE  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY  TO  RHODE- 
ISLAND  AND  CONNECTICUT. 

April  26,  1775. 

The  distressed  situation  in  which  we  are,  and  the  danger 
to  which  the  liberties  of  all  America,  and  especially  the 
New-England  Colonies,  are  exposed,  will  be  the  best 
apology  for  the  importunate  application  to  you  for  imme- 
diate assistance.  We  pray,  as  you  regard  the  safety  of 
your  Country,  that  as  large  a  number  of  Troops  as  you  can 
spare  may  immediately  march  forward,  well  stocked  with 
provisions  and  ammunition  ;  that  they  come  under  proper 
Officers,  enlisted  for  such  a  time  as  may  be  necessary ;  that 
as  large  a  train  of  Artillery  as  can  be  procured,  may  be  sent 
down  to  our  aid.  We  rely  greatly  upon  you,  as  we  know 
the  bravery  of  your  men. 

Our  men  have  behaved  with  the  utmost  resolution  ;  but 
as  many  of  them  came  from  home  without  any  preparation, 
it  is  impossible  to  keep  them  in  the  field,  without  allowing 
many  of  them  time  to  return  to  their  families  for  one  or 
two  days,  during  which  time  we  may  all  possibly  be  cut 
off,  as  we  have  a  powerful  and  watchful  enemy  to  deal 
with.  We  are  far  from  despairing.  We  firmly  trust,  that, 
by  the  blessing  of  Heaven  on  us,  we  shall  deliver  our 
Country.  We  are  determined,  at  all  events,  to  act  our 
parts  with  firmness  and  intrepidity,  knowing  that  slavery  is 
far  worse  than  death.  We  pray  that  our  sister  Rhode- 
Island  would  immediately  put  in  for  a  share  of  honour,  in 
saving  the  liberties  of  America,  as  a  moment  lost  may 
never  be  recalled.  May  God  direct  you  and  us  at  this  im- 
portant moment,  on  which  the  fate  of  us  and  posterity  de- 
pends.   We  are,  &cc. 

FALMOUTH   COMMITTEE   TO   COMMITTEE   OF  SAFETY. 

Falmouth  April  26,  1775. 
Gentlemen  :  At  this  alarming  and  dangerous  time,  we 
find  our  stock  of  Powder  greatly  deficient ;  therefore  have 
sent  some  money  by  the  bearers  to  purchase  where  they 
can  find  it;  and  if  they  cannot  get  any  this  side  of  Cam- 
bridge, have  desired  them  to  wait  upon  you  for  advice,  pre- 
suming that  you  can  direct  them  where  it  may  be  had. 

We  rely  on  your  conduct,  under  God,  in  our  righteous 
cause,  for  deliverance  from  our  present  calamities,  and  are, 
gentlemen,  your  most  obedient  humble  servants, 

Enoch  Freeman,        John  Brackett, 
Benjamin  Mussey,       Wm.  Owen, 

Selectmen  of  Falmouth. 

P.  S.  The  bearers  are  Captain  Joseph  McLellan  and 
Captain  Joseph  Noyes. 


TO  COLONEL  PHILIP  SKEENE,  (INTERCEPTED.) 

Extract  of  a  Letter  intercepted  at  Ticonderoga,  directed 
to  Lieutenant  Colonel  Philip  Skeene,  of  the  Sixty-Ninth 
Regiment,  to  the  care  of  Messrs.  Cox  and  Mair,  Agents, 
London,  signed  A.  Mabane. 

Woodfield,  in  Canada,  April  26,  1775. 

Dear  Colonel  :  The  Fifty-Second  Regiment  has  been 
detained  in  America,  on  account  of  the  affairs  at  Boston ; 
and  God  knows  how  long  they  may  remain  there,  or  what 
will  be  the  event  of  these  disputes ;  but  it  is  generally 
thought  by  those  who  have  resided  any  time  in  America, 
and  who  have  observed  the  progress  which  the  Colonists 
have  made  in  their  demands  and  attempts  towards  inde- 
pendence, that  the  sooner  the  laws  are  put  in  force,  so 
much  the  better.  Procrastination  only  encourages  the  se- 
ditious, and  weakens  Government. 

Colonel  Jones  acts  as  Brigadier  at  Boston.  General 
Gage  has  sent  for  our  friend  Dunbar ;  and  I  would  fain 
flatter  myself  that  something  will  at  last  be  done  for  de- 
serving Officers. 

The  January  Packet  brought  Mr.  Carleton's  new  com- 
mission ;  it  does  not  differ  much  from  his  former  one,  ex- 
cept in  the  limits  of  the  Province,  and  a  power  given  to 
him  without  consent  of  Council  to  array  the  Militia,  march 
them  by  land,  or  transport  them  by  sea  into  any  of  the 
other  Colonies,  where  enemies,  pirates,  or  rebels,  may  be. 

The  Canadians,  by  the  late  Act  of  Parliament,  are  ex- 
empted from  the  Test,  &c,  and  may  be  admitted  into  of- 
fices ;  seven  of  them  are  named  to  the  Council,  and  two 
of  them,  Rouville  and  Panet,  are  added  to  the  number  of 


403 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  APRIL,  1775. 


404 


Judges.  The  Counsellors  are  six,  Croix  de  St.  Louis 
and  Mr.  Regauville,  who  acted  as  Major  to  the  Corps  of 
the  Canadian  Militia,  which  General  Murray  sent  to  the 
upper  country  during  the  last  Indian  war.  It  is  said  the 
officers  are  to  have  half  pay.  This  is  the  favourable  mo- 
ment for  Canada,  and  I  am  very  glad  that  the  Ministry 
have  seized  it.  Wlwlever  narrow-minded  men  may  say, 
the  Act  is  consonant  to  sound  policy,  humanity,  and  that 
moderation  which  becomes  an  enlightened  Nation.  To 
conquer,  has  been  often  the  lot  of  the  British  Nation ;  but 
to  conciliate  the  affections  of  the  conquered,  has  been  re- 
served to  the  reign  of  George  the  Third  ;  and  I  may  ven- 
ture to  say,  that  the  Canadians  will,  upon  every  occasion, 
show  their  fidelity  and  gratitude. 


NEW  COMMISSION  TO  THE  GOVERNOUR  OF  QUEBECK. 

George  the  Third,  by  the  Grace  of  God,  of  Great 
Britain,  France,  and  Ireland,  King,  Defender  of 
the  Faith,  fyc.  To  our  trusty  and  well-beloved  Guy 
Carleton,  Esquire,  Greeting. 

Whereas  we  did  by  our  Letters  Patent  under  our  great 
seal  of  Great  Britain,  bearing  date  at  Westminster  the 
twelfth  day  of  April,  in  the  eighth  year  of  our  reign,  consti- 
tute and  appoint  you  to  be  our  Captain  General  and  Gov- 
ernour-in-Chief  in  and  over  our  Province  of  Quebeck  in 
America,  bounded  on  the  Labrador  Coast  by  the  River  St. 
John,  and  from  thence  by  a  line  drawn  from  the  head  of 
that  River  through  the  Lake  St.  John  to  the  south-east  of 
Lake  Nipissin,  from  whence  the  said  line,  crossing  the 
River  St.  Lawrence  and  Lake  Champlain  in  forty-five 
degrees  of  northern  latitude,  passes  along  the  high  lands, 
which  divide  the  Rivers  that  empty  themselves  into  the 
said  River  St.  Lawrence,  from  those  which  fall  into  the 
Sea,  and  also  along  the  north  Coast  of  the  Bay  Des 
Chalcurs,  and  the  Coast  of  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence  to 
Cape  Rozieres,  and  from  thence  crossing  the  mouth  of  the 
River  St.  Lawrence  by  the  west  end  of  the  Island  of 
Anticosti,  terminates  at  the  aforesaid  River  St.  John,  to- 
gether with  all  the  rights,  members,  and  appurtenances 
whatsoever  thereunto  belonging,  for  and  during  our  will  and 
pleasure,  as  by  the  said  recited  Letters  Patent,  relation 
being  thereunto  had,  may  more  fully  and  at  large  appear. 
And  whereas  we  did  also  by  our  Letters  Patent  under  our 
great  seal  of  Great  Britain,  bearing  date  at  Westminster, 
the  .  .  day  of  ....  in  the  .  .  .  year  of 
our  reign,  constitute  and  appoint  Molineux  Shuldham, 
Esq.,  to  be  our  Governour  and  Commander-in-Chief  in 
and  over  our  Island  of  Newfoundland,  and  all  the  Coast 
of  Labrador,  from  the  entrance  of  Hudson's  Straits  to 
the  River  St.  John,  which  discharges  itself  into  the  Sea 
nearly  opposite  the  west  end  of  the  Island  of  Anticosti, 
including  that  Island,  with  any  other  small  Islands  on  the 
said  Coast  of  Labrador,  and  also  the  Islands  of  Madelaine 
in  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence,  as  also  of  all  our  Forts  and 
Garrisons  erected  and  established  in  our  said  Islands  of 
Newfoundland,  Anticosti,  and  Madelaine,  or  on  the  Coast 
of  Labrador  within  the  limits  aforesaid,  for  and  during  our 
will  and  pleasure,  as  by  the  said  Letters  Patent,  relation 
being  thereunto  had,  may  more  fully  and  at  large  appear. 
Now  know  you,  that  we  have  revoked  and  determined, 
and  by  these  presents  revoke  and  determine,  the  said  reci- 
ted Letters  Patent  granted  to  you,  the  said  Guy  Carleton, 
as  aforesaid,  and  every  clause,  article,  and  thing  therein 
contained  ;  and  that  we  have  also  revoked  and  determined, 
and  do  by  these  presents  revoke  and  determine  so  much 
and  such  part  of  the  said  recited  Letters  Patent  granted  to 
Molineux  Shuldham,  Esq.,  as  aforesaid,  as  relates  to  the 
Coast  of  Labrador,  including  the  Island  of  Anticosti,  with 
any  other  small  Islands  on  the  said  Coast  of  Labrador, 
and  every  clause,  article,  and  thing  therein  contained,  so 
far  as  the  same  relates  to  the  said  Coast  of  Labrador,  and 
the  Islands  herein  before  recited.  And  further  know  you, 
that  we,  reposing  especial  trust  and  confidence  in  the  pru- 
dence, courage,  and  loyalty  of  you,  the  said  Guy  Carleton, 
of  our  especial  grace,  certain  knowledge,  and  mere  motion, 
have  thought  fit  to  constitute  and  appoint  you,  the  said 
Guy  Carleton,  to  be  our  Captain-General  and  Governour- 
inrChief  in  and  over  our  Province  of  tyuebeck  in  America, 
comprehending  all  our  Territories,  Islands,  and  Countries 
in  North- America,  bounded  on  the  south  by  a  line  from 


the  Bay  of  Chaleurs  along  the  high  lands,  which  divide 
the  Rivers  that  empty  themselves  into  the  River  St.  Lau- 
rence from  those  which  fall  into  the  Sea,  to  a  point  in 
forty-five  degrees  of  northern  latitude,  on  the  eastern  bank 
of  the  River  Connecticut;  keeping  the  same  latitude  di- 
rectly west  through  the  Lake  Champlain,  until  in  the  same 
latitude  it  meets  with  the  River  St.  Lawrence,  from  thence 
up  the  eastern  bank  of  the  said  River  to  the  Lake  Ontario, 
thence  through  the  Lake  Ontario,  and  the  River,  com- 
monly called  Niagara,  and  thence  along  by  the  eastern 
and  southeastern  bank  of  Lake  Erie,  following  the  said 
bank,  until  the  same  shall  be  intersected  by  the  northern 
boundary  granted  by  the  Charter  of  the  Province  of  Penn- 
sylvania, in  case  the  same  shall  be  so  intersected,  and  from 
thence  along  the  said  northern  and  western  boundaries  of 
the  said  Province,  until  the  said  western  boundary  strikes 
the  Ohio ;  but,  in  case  the  said  bank  of  the  said  Lake 
shall  not  be  found  to  be  so  intersected,  then  following  the 
said  bank,  until  it  shall  arrive  at  the  point  of  the  said  bank 
which  shall  be  nearest  to  the  northwestern  angle  of  the 
said  Province  of  Pennsylvania,  and  thence  by  a  right  line 
to  the  said  northwestern  angle  of  the  said  Province,  and 
thence  along  the  western  boundary  of  the  said  Province, 
until  it  strikes  the  River  Ohio,  and  along  the  bank  of  the 
said  River  westward  to  the  banks  of  Mississippi,  and  north- 
ward along  the  eastern  bank  of  the  said  River  to  the  southern 
boundary  of  the  Territory  granted  to  the  Merchants  Ad- 
venturers of  England  trading  to  Hudson's  Bay ;  and  also 
all  such  Territories,  Islands,  and  Countries,  which  have, 
since  the  tenth  of  February,  1763,  been  made  part  of  the 
Government  of  Newfoundland,  as  aforesaid,  together  with 
all  the  rights,  members,  and  appurtenances  whatsoever 
thereunto  belonging. 

And  we  do  hereby  require  and  command  you  to  do  and 
execute  all  things  in  due  manner,  that  shall  belong  to  your 
said  command,  and  the  trust  we  have  reposed  in  you, 
according  to  the  several  powers  and  directions  granted  or 
appointed  you  by  this  present  Commission,  and  the  instruc- 
tions and  authorities  herewith  given  unto  you,  or  by  such 
further  powers,  instructions,  and  authorities  as  shall  at  any 
time  hereafter  be  granted  or  appointed  you  under  our  sig- 
net or  sign  manual,  or  by  our  order  in  our  Privy  Council, 
and  according  to  such  Ordinances  as  shall  hereafter  be  made 
and  agreed  upon  by  you,  with  the  advice  and  consent  of 
the  Council  of  our  said  Province  under  your  Government, 
in  such  manner  and  form  as  is  herein  after  expressed. 

And  our  will  and  pleasure  is,  that  you,  the  said  Guy 
Carleton,  do,  after  the  publication  of  these  our  Letters 
Patent,  in  such  manner  and  form  as  has  been  accustomed 
to  be  used  on  like  occasions,  in  the  first  place  take  the 
oaths  appointed  to  be  taken  by  an  Act  passed  in  the  first 
year  of  the  reign  of  King  George  the  First,  intituled,  "  An 
Act  for  the  further  security  of  His  Majesty's  person  and 
Government,  and  the  succession  of  the  Crown  in  the  heirs 
of  the  late  Princess  Sophia,  being  Protestants,  and  for  ex- 
tinguishing the  hopes  of  the  pretended  Prince  of  Wales, 
and  his  open  and  secret  abetters ;"  and  by  an  Act  passed  in 
the  sixth  year  of  our  reign,  intituled,  "  An  Act  for  altering 
the  Oath  of  Abjuration,  and  the  Assurance  ;  and  for  amend- 
ing so  much  of  an  Act  of  the  seventh  year  of  her  late 
Majesty  Queen  Anne,  intituled,  An  Act  for  the  Improve- 
ment of  the  Union  of  the  two  Kingdoms,  as,  after  the  time 
therein  limited,  requires  the  delivery  of  certain  lists  and 
copies  therein  mentioned,  to  persons  indicted  of  High  Trea- 
son, or  Misprision  of  Treason;"  as  also  that  you  make  and 
subscribe  the  declaration  mentioned  in  an  Act  of  Parlia- 
ment, made  in  the  twenty-fifth  year  of  the  reign  of  King 
Charles  the  Second,  intituled,  "  An  Act  for  preventing 
dangers  which  may  happen  from  Popish  recusants ;"  and 
likewise  that  you  take  the  oath  usually  taken  by  the  Go- 
vernours  in  the  Plantations,  for  the  due  execution  of  the 
office  and  trust  of  our  Captain-General  and  Governour  in 
and  over  our  said  Province,  and  for  the  due  and  impartial 
administration  of  justice ;  and  further  that  you  take  the 
oath  required  to  be  taken  by  Governours  of  the  Planta- 
tions, to  do  their  utmost,  that  the  several  laws  relating  to 
Trade  and  the  Plantations  be  duly  observed ;  which  said 
oaths  and  declaration  our  Council  of  our  said  Province,  or 
any  three  of  the  Members  thereof,  have  hereby  full  power 
and  authority,  and  are  required  to  tender  and  administer  to 
you  ;  all  which  being  duly  performed,  you  shall  yourself 


1 


405  CORRESPONDENCE,  PROC 

administer  to  each  of  the  Members  of  our  said  Council, 
(except  as  herein  after  excepted)  the  said  oaths  mentioned 
in  the  said  Acts,  intituled,  "  An  Act  for  the  further  security 
of  His  Majesty's  person  and  Government,  and  the  succes- 
sion of  the  Crown  in  the  heirs  of  the  late  Princess  Sophia, 
being  Protestants,  and  for  extinguishing  the  hopes  of  the 
pretended  Prince  of  Wales,  and  his  open  and  secret  abet- 
ters j"  and  "  An  Act  for  altering  the  Oath  of  Abjuration, 
and  the  Assurance,  and  for  amending  so  much  of  an  Act 
of  the  seventh  year  of  her  late  Majesty  Queen  Anne,  inti- 
tuled, An  Act  for  the  Improvement  of  the  Union  of  the 
two  Kingdoms,  as  after  the  time  therein  limited  requires 
the  delivery  of  certain  lists  and  copies,  therein  mentioned, 
to  persons  indicted  of  High  Treason,  or  Misprision  of  Trea- 
son ;"  as  also  cause  them  to  make  and  subscribe  the  afore- 
mentioned declaration,  and  to  administer  unto  them  the 
usual  oath  for  the  due  execution  of  their  places  and  trusts. 

And  whereas  we  may  find  it  expedient  for  our  service, 
that  our  Council  of  our  said  Province  should  be  in  part 
composed  of  such  of  our  Canadian  subjects,  or  their  de- 
scendants, as  remain  within  the  same  under  the  faith  of  the 
Treaty  of  Paris,  and  who  may  profess  the  religion  of  the 
Church  of  Rome ;  it  is  therefore  our  will  and  pleasure,  that 
in  all  cases  where  such  persons  shall  or  may  be  admitted, 
either  into  our  said  Council  or  into  any  other  offices,  they 
shall  be  exempted  from  all  tests,  and  from  taking  any  other 
oath  than  that  prescribed  in  and  by  an  Act  of  Parliament, 
passed  in  the  fourteenth  year  of  our  reign,  intituled,  "  An 
Act  for  making  more  effectual  provision  for  the  Govern- 
ment of  the  Province  of  Quebeck  in  North  America ;"  and 
also  the  usual  oath  for  the  due  execution  of  their  places 
and  trusts  respectively. 

And  we  do  further  give  and  grant  unto  you,  the  said 
Guy  Carleton,  full  power  and  authority  from  time  to  time, 
and  at  any  time  hereafter,  by  yourself,  or  by  any  other  to 
be  authorized  by  you  in  that  behalf,  to  administer  and  give 
the  oaths  mentioned  in  the  said  Acts,  intituled,  "  An  Act 
for  the  further  security  of  His  Majesty's  person  and  Gov- 
ernment, and  the  succession  of  the  Crown  in  the  heirs  of 
the  late  Princess  Sophia,  being  Protestants,  and  for  extin- 
guishing the  hopes  of  the  pretended  Prince  of  Wales,  and 
his  open  and  secret  abetters,"  and  "  An  Act  for  altering 
the  Oath  of  Abjuration,  and  the  Assurance  ;  and  for  amend- 
ing so  much  of  an  Act  of  the  seventh  year  of  her  late 
Majesty  Queen  Anne,  intituled,  An  Act  for  the  Improve- 
ment of  the  Union  of  the  two  Kingdoms,  as,  after  the  time 
therein  limited,  requires  the  delivery  of  certain  lists  and 
copies  therein  mentioned,  to  persons  indicted  of  High  Trea- 
son, or  Misprision  of  Treason,"  to  all  and  every  such  person 
or  persons,  as  you  shall  think  fit,  who  shall  at  any  time  or 
times  pass  into  our  said  Province,  or  shall  be  resident  or 
abiding  there. 

And  we  do  hereby  authorize  and  empower  you  to  keep 
and  use  the  publick  seal  of  our  Province  of  Quebeck  for 
sealing  all  things  whatsoever,  that  shall  pass  the  great  seal 
of  our  said  Province. 

And  we  do  hereby  give  and  grant  unto  you,  the  said 
Guy  Carleton,  full  power  and  authority,  with  the  advice 
and  consent  of  our  said  Council,  to  make  Ordinances  for  the 
peace,  welfare  and  good  Government  of  the  said  Province, 
and  of  the  people  and  inhabitants  thereof,  and  such  others, 
as  shall  resort  thereunto,  and  for  the  benefit  of  us,  our 
heirs,  and  successors ;  provided  always,  that  nothing  herein 
contained  shall  extend,  or  be  construed  to  extend  to  the 
authorizing  and  empowering  the  passing  any  Ordinance  or 
Ordinances  for  laying  any  Taxes  or  Duties  within  the  said 
Province,  such  rates  and  taxes  only  excepted,  as  the  inha- 
bitants of  any  Town  or  District  within  our  said  Province 
may  be  authorized  by  any  Ordinance  passed  by  you,  with 
the  advice  and  consent  of  the  said  Council,  to  assess, 
levy,  and  apply  within  the  said  Town  or  District  for  the 
purpose  of  making  roads,  erecting  and  repairing  publick 
buildings,  or  for  any  other  purpose  respecting  the  local 
convenience  and  economy  of  such  Town  or  District ;  pro- 
vided also,  that  every  Ordinance,  so  to  be  made  by  you,  by 
and  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  said  Council,  shall 
be,  within  six  months  from  the  passing  thereof,  transmitted 
to  us  under  our  seal  of  our  said  Province  for  our  approba- 
tion or  disallowance  of  the  same ;  as  also  duplicates  thereof 
by  the  next  conveyance;  and  in  case  any,  or  all  of  the 
said  Ordinances  shall  at  any  time  be  disallowed  and  not 


CEDING S,  &ic,  APRIL,  1775.  406 

approved,  and  so  signified  by  us,  our  heirs  and  successors 
by  order  in  their,  or  our  Privy  Council  unto  you,  the  said 
Guy  Carleton,  or  to  the  Commander-in-Chief  of  our  said 
Province  for  the  time  being,  then  such  and  so  many  of  the 
said  Ordinances,  as  shall  be  so  disallowed  and  not  approved, 
shall  from  the  promulgation  of  the  said  order  in  Council 
within  the  said  Province  cease,  determine  and  become 
utterly  void  and  of  no  effect ;  provided  also,  that  no  Ordi- 
nance touching  religion,  or  by  which  any  punishment  may  be 
inflicted  greater  than  fine  or  imprisonment  for  three  months, 
shall  be  of  any  force  or  effect,  until  the  same  shall  have 
been  allowed  and  confirmed  by  us,  our  heirs  and  successors, 
and  such  allowance  or  confirmation  signified  to  you,  or  to  the 
Commander-in-Chief  of  our  said  Province  for  the  time  be- 
ing, by  their  or  our  order  in  their  or  our  Privy  Council. 

Provided  also,  that  no  Ordinance  shall  be  passed  at  any 
meeting  of  the  Council,  where  less  than  a  majority  of  the 
whole  Council  is  present,  or  at  any  time,  except  between 
the  first  day  of  January  and  the  first  day  of  May,  unless 
upon  some  urgent  occasion ;  in  which  case  every  member 
thereof  resident  at  the  Town  of  Quebeck,  or  within  fifty 
miles  thereof,  shall  be  personally  summoned  to  attend  the 
same :  and  to  the  end  that  nothing  may  be  passed  or  done 
by  our  said  Council  to  the  prejudice  of  us,  our  heirs,  and 
successors,  we  will  and  ordain,  that  you,  the  said  Guy 
Carleton,  shall  have  and  enjoy  a  negative  voice  in  the 
making  and  passing  of  all  Ordinances,  as  aforesaid. 

And  we  do  by  these  presents  give  and  grant  unto  you, 
the  said  Guy  Carleton,  full  power  and  authority,  with  the 
advice  and  consent  of  our  said  Council,  to  erect,  constitute, 
and  establish  such  and  so  many  courts  of  judicature  and 
publick  justice  within  our  said  Province  under  your  gov- 
ernment, as  you  and  they  shall  think  fit  and  necessary  for 
the  hearing  and  determining  all  causes,  as  well  criminal 
as  civil,  and  for  awarding  execution  thereupon,  with  all 
reasonable  and  necessary  powers,  authorities,  fees,  and  pri- 
vileges belonging  thereunto ;  as  also  to  appoint  and  com- 
missionate  fit  persons  in  the  several  parts  of  your  Govern- 
ment to  administer  the  oaths  mentioned  in  the  aforesaid 
Acts,  intituled,  "  An  Act  for  the  further  security  of  His 
Majesty's  person  and  Government,  and  the  succession  of 
the  Crown  in  the  heirs  of  the  late  Princess  Sophia,  being 
Protestants,  and  for  extinguishing  the  hopes  of  the  pre- 
tended Prince  of  Wales,  and  his  open  and  secret  abetters ;" 
and,  "  An  Act  for  altering  the  Oath  of  Abjuration  and  the 
Assurance  ;  and  for  amending  so  much  of  an  Act  of  the 
seventh  year  of  her  late  Majesty  Queen  Anne,  intituled,  An 
Act  for  the  Improvement  of  the  Union  of  the  two  King- 
doms, as,  after  the  time  therein  limited,  requires  the  deli- 
very of  certain  lists  and  copies,  therein  mentioned,  to  per- 
sons indicted  of  High  Treason,  or  Misprision  of  Treason  ;" 
as  also  to  tender  and  administer  the  aforesaid  declaration 
to  such  persons  belonging  to  the  said  Courts,  as  shall  be 
obliged  to  take  the  same. 

And  we  do  hereby  grant  unto  you  full  power  and  autho- 
rity to  constitute  and  appoint  Judges,  and  in  cases  requi- 
site Commissioners  of  Oyer  and  Terminer,  Justices  of  the 
Peace,  Sheriffs,  and  other  necessary  Officers  and  Ministers 
in  our  said  Province  for  the  better  administration  of  jus- 
tice, and  putting  the  laws  in  execution  ;  and  to  administer 
or  cause  to  be  administered  unto  them  such  oath  or  oaths, 
as  are  usually  given  for  the  due  execution  and  performance 
of  offices  and  places,  and  for  the  clearing  of  truth  in  judi- 
cial causes. 

And  we  do  hereby  give  and  grant  unto  you  full  power 
and  authority,  where  you  shall  see  cause  or  shall  judge  any 
offender  or  offenders  in  criminal  matters,  or  for  any  fines 
or  forfeitures  due  unto  us,  fit  objects  of  our  mercy,  to  par- 
don all  such  offenders,  and  remit  all  such  offences,  fines, 
and  forfeitures  ;  treason  and  wilful  murder  only  excepted  ; 
in  which  cases  you  shall  likewise  have  power  upon  extra- 
ordinary occasions  to  grant  reprieves  to  the  offenders,  until, 
and  to  the  intent  our  Royal  pleasure  may  be  known  therein. 

And  we  do  by  these  presents  give  and  grant  unto  you 
full  power  and  authority  to  collate  any  person  or  persons 
to  any  Churches,  Chapels,  or  other  ecclesiastical  benefices 
within  our  said  Province,  as  often  as  any  of  them  shall 
happen  to  be  void. 

And  we  do  hereby  give  and  grant  unto  you,  the  said 
Guy  Carleton,  by  yourself,  or  by  your  Captains  and  Com- 
manders by  you  to  be  authorized,  full  power  and  authority 


r 


407  CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  kc,  APRIL,  1775. 


to  levy,  arm,  muster,  command,  and  employ  all  persons 
whatsoever  residing  within  our  said  Province ;  and,  as 
occasion  shall  serve,  them  to  march,  embark,  or  transport 
from  one  place  to  another,  for  the  resisting  and  withstand- 
ing of  all  enemies,  pirates,  and  rebels,  both  at  land  and  sea  ; 
and  to  transport  such  Forces  to  any  of  our  Plantations  in 
America,  if  necessity  shall  require,  for  defence  of  the  same 
against  the  invasion  or  attempts  of  any  of  our  enemies; 
and  such  enemies,  pirates  and  rebels,  if  there  shall  be  oc- 
casion, to  pursue  and  prosecute  in,  or  out  of,  the  limits  of 
our  said  Province  ;  and,  if  it  shall  so  please  God,  them  to 
vanquish,  apprehend,  and  take,  and,  being  taken,  according 
to  law  to  put  to  death,  or  keep  or  preserve  alive  at  your 
discretion,  and  to  execute  martial  law  in  time  of  invasion, 
war,  or  other  times,  when  by  law  it  may  be  executed  ;  and 
to  do  and  execute  all  and  every  other  thing  and  things, 
which  to  our  Captain-General  and  Governour-in-Chief 
doth  or  of  right  ought  to  belong. 

And  we  do  hereby  give  and  grant  unto  you  full  power 
and  authority,  by  and  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  our 
said  Council,  to  erect,  raise,  and  build  in  our  said  Province 
such  and  so  many  Forts,  Platforms,  Castles,  Cities,  Bor- 
oughs, Towns,  and  Fortifications,  as  you  by  the  advice 
aforesaid  shall  judge  necessary  ;  and  the  same  or  any  of 
them  to  fortify  and  furnish  with  Ordnance,  Ammunition, 
and  all  sorts  of  Arms  fit  and  necessary  for  the  security  and 
defence  of  our  said  Province  ;  and,  by  the  advice  aforesaid, 
the  same  again,  or  any  of  them  to  demolish  or  dismantle, 
as  may  be  most  convenient. 

And  forasmuch  as  divers  Mutinies  and  Disorders  may 
happen  by  persons  shipped  and  employed  at  Sea,  during 
the  time  of  War ;  and  to  the  end,  that  such,  as  shall  be  ship- 
ped and  employed  at  Sea  during  the  time  of  War,  may  be 
better  governed  and  ordered,  we  do  hereby  give  and  grant 
unto  you,  the  said  Guy  Carleton,  full  power  and  authority 
to  constitute  and  appoint  Captains,  Lieutenants,  Masters 
of  Ships,  and  other  Commanders  and  Officers ;  and  to 
grant  to  such  Captains,  Lieutenants,  Masters  of  Ships,  and 
other  Commanders  and  Officers,  Commissions  to  execute 
the  Law  Martial  during  the  time  of  War,  according  to  the  di- 
rections of  an  Act,  passed  in  the  twenty-second  year  of  the 
reign  of  our  late  Royal  Grandfather,  intituled,  "  An  Act 
for  amending,  explaining,  and  reducing  into  one  Act  of 
Parliament,  the  Laws  relating  to  the  Government  of  His 
Majesty's  Ships,  Vessels,  and  Forces  by  Sea  ;"  and  to  use 
such  proceedings,  authorities,  punishments,  corrections, 
and  executions  upon  any  offender  or  offenders,  who  shall 
be  mutinous,  seditious,  disorderly,  or  any  way  unruly  either 
at  Sea,  or  during  the  time  of  their  abode  or  residence  in  any 
of  the  Ports,  Harbours,  or  Bays  in  our  said  Province,  as  the 
case  shall  be  found  to  require,  according  to  Martial  Law ; 
and  the  said  directions,  during  the  time  of  War,  as  aforesaid. 

Provided,  that  nothing  herein  contained  shall  be  con- 
strued to  the  enabling  you,  or  any  by  your  authority  to 
hold  plea,  or  have  any  jurisdiction  of  any  offence,  cause, 
matter,  or  thing  committed  or  done  upon  the  High  Sea,  or 
within  any  of  the  Havens,  Rivers,  or  Creeks  of  our  said 
Province  under  your  Government,  by  any  Captain,  Com- 
mander, Lieutenant,  Master,  Officer.  Seaman,  Soldier,  or 
Person  whatsoever,  who  shall  be  in  actual  service  and  pay, 
in  or  on  board  any  of  our  Ships-of-War,  or  other  Vessels 
acting  by  immediate  Commission  or  Warrant  from  our 
Commissioners  for  executing  the  office  of  our  High-Admiral 
of  Great  Britain,  or  from  our  High- Admiral  of  Great 
Britain  for  the  time  being,  under  the  Seal  of  our  Admi- 
ralty ;  but  that  such  Captain,  Commander,  Lieutenant, 
Master,  Officer,  Seaman,  Soldier,  or  other  Person  so  of- 
fending, shall  be  left  to  be  proceeded  against,  and  tried,  as 
their  offences  shall  require,  either  by  Commission  under 
our  Great  Seal  of  this  Kingdom,  as  the  Statute  of  the 
twenty-eighth  of  Henry  VIII.  directs;  or  by  Commission 
from  our  said  Commissioners  for  executing  the  office  of 
High-Admiral  of  Great  Britain,  or  from  our  High-Admiral 
of  Great  Britain  for  the  time  being,  according  to  the 
aforementioned  Act,  intituled,  "  An  Act  for  amending,  ex- 
plaining, and  reducing  into  one  Act  of  Parliament,  the 
Laws  relating  lo  the  Government  of  His  Majesty's  Ships, 
Vessels,  and  Forces  by  Sea;"  and  not  otherwise. 

Provided,  nevertheless,  that  all  disorders  and  misde- 
meanors committed  on  shore  by  any  Captain,  Commander, 
Lieutenant,  Master,  Officer,  Seaman,  Soldier,  or  other 


408 

Person  whatsoever  belonging  to  any  of  our  Ships-of-War. 
or  other  Vessels  acting  by  immediate  Commission  or  War- 
rant from  our  Commissioners  for  executing  the  office  of 
High- Admiral  of  Great  Britain,  or  from  our  High- Ad- 
miral of  Great  Britain  for  the  time  being,  under  the  seal 
of  our  Admiralty,  may  be  tried  and  punished  according  to 
the  Laws  of  the  place,  where  any  such  disorders,  offences, 
and  misdemeanors  shall  be  committed  on  shore ;  notwith- 
standing such  offender  be  in  our  actual  service,  and  borne 
in  our  pay  on  board  any  such  our  Ships-of-War,  or  other 
Vessels  acting  by  immediate  Commission,  or  Warrant  from 
our  Commissioners  for  executing  the  office  of  High-Ad- 
miral of  Great  Britain,  or  from  our  High-Admiral  of 
Great  Britain  for  the  time  being,  as  aforesaid,  so  as  he 
shall  not  receive  any  protection  for  the  avoiding  of  justice 
for  such  offences  committed  on  shore  from  any  pretence  of 
his  being  employed  in  our  service  at  Sea. 

And  our  further  will  and  pleasure  is,  that  all  Publick 
Moneys  granted  and  raised  for  the  publick  uses  of  our  said 
Province,  be  issued  out  by  Warrant  from  you,  by  and  with 
the  advice  and  consent  of  our  Council,  as  aforesaid,  for  the 
support  of  the  Government,  and  not  otherwise. 

And  we  likewise  give  and  grant  unto  you  full  power  and 
authority,  by  and  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  our  said 
Council,  to  settle  and  agree  with  the  inhabitants  of  our  said 
Province  for  such  Lands,  Tenements,  and  Hereditaments, 
as  now  are,  or  hereafter  shall  be  in  our  power  to  dispose 
of,  and  them  to  grant  to  any  person  or  persons  upon  such 
terms  and  under  such  moderate  quit-rents,  services,  and 
acknowledgments  to  be  thereupon  reserved  unto  us,  as 
you,  with  the  advice  aforesaid,  shall  think  fit;  which  said 
Grants  are  to  pass,  and  be  sealed  by  our  publick  seal  of  our 
said  Province,  and  being  entered  upon  record  by  such  Offi- 
cer or  Officers  as  shall  be  appointed  thereunto,  shall  be  good 
and  effectual  in  Law  against  us,  our  heirs  and  successors. 

And  we  do  hereby  give  you,  the  said  Guy  Carleton,  full 
power  and  authority  to  order  and  appoint  Fairs,  Marts,  and 
Markets  ;  as  also  such  and  so  many  Ports,  Harbours,  Bays, 
Havens,  and  other  places  for  the  conveniency  and  security 
of  shipping,  and  for  the  better  loading  and  unloading  of 
Goods  and  Merchandises,  in  such  and  so  many  places,  as 
by  you,  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  our  said  Council, 
shall  be  thought  fit  and  necessary. 

And  we  do  hereby  require  and  command  all  Officers 
and  Ministers,  Civil  and  Military,  and  all  other  inhabitants 
of  our  said  Province  to  be  obedient,  aiding,  and  assisting 
unto  you,  the  said  Guy  Carleton,  in  the  execution  of  this 
our  Commission,  and  of  the  powers  and  authorities  therein 
contained  ;  and  in  case  of  your  death  or  absence  from  our 
said  Province  and  Government,  to  be  obedient,  aiding,  and 
assisting  as  aforesaid,  to  the  Lieutenant  Governour  or  Com- 
mander-in-Chief for  the  time  being,  to  whom  we  do  there- 
fore by  these  presents  give  and  grant  all  and  singular  the 
powers  and  authorities  herein  granted  to  be  by  him  exe- 
cuted and  enjoyed,  during  our  pleasure,  or  until  your  arri- 
val within  our  said  Province. 

And  if  upon  your  death  or  absence  out  of  our  said 
Province,  there  be  no  person  upon  the  place  commission- 
ated  or  appoioted  by  us  to  be  Lieutenant  Governour  or 
Commander-in-Chief  of  our  said  Province ;  our  will  and 
pleasure  is,  that  the  eldest  Councillor,  being  a  natural  born 
subject  of  Great  Britain,  Ireland,  or  the  Plantations,  and 
professing  the  Protestant  Religion,  who  shall  be  at  the  time 
of  your  death  or  absence  residing  within  our  said  Prov- 
ince, shall  take  upon  him  the  administration  of  the  Govern- 
ment, and  execute  our  said  Commission  and  Instructions, 
and  the  several  powers  and  authorities  therein  contained, 
in  the  same  manner  and  to  all  intents  and  purposes,  as  other 
our  Governour  or  Commander-in-Chief  should  or  ought  to 
do,  in  case  of  your  absence,  until  your  return,  and  in  all 
cases  until  our  further  pleasure  be  known  therein. 

And  we  do  hereby  declare,  ordain,  and  appoint,  that 
you,  the  said  Guy  Carleton,  shall  and  may  hold,  execute, 
and  enjoy  the  Office  and  place  of  our  Captain-General 
and  Governour-in-Chief,  in  and  over  our  said  Province  of 
Qucbeck,  and  all  the  Territories  dependant  thereon ;  with 
all  and  singular  the  powers  and  authorities  hereby  granted 
unto  you,  for  and  during  our  will  and  pleasure. 

In  witness  whereof  we  have  caused  these  our  Letters  to 
be  made  Patent.  Witness  ourself  at  Westminster,  the  .  .  . 
day  of  in  the  year  of  our  reign. 


409 


CONNECTICUT  ASSEMBLY,  APRIL,  1775. 


410 


CONNECTICUT  ASSEMBLY. 

At  a  General  Assembly  of  the  Governour  and  Com- 
pany of  the  English  Colony  of  Connecticut  in  New-Eng- 
land, in  America,  holden  at  Hartford  by  Special  Order  of 
the  Governour  of  said  Colony,  on  Wednesday  the  twenty- 
sixth  day  of  April,  Annoque  Domini  1775:  Present: 

The  Honourable  Jonathan  Trumbull,  Esq.,  Governour; 
the  Honourable  Matthew  Griswold,  Esq.,  Deputy  Govern- 
our; Jabez  Hamlin,  Elisha  Sheldon,  Eliphalet  Dyer, 
Jabez  Huntington,  William  Pitkin,  Roger  Sherman, 
Abraham  Davenport,  William  Samuel  Johnson,  Oliver 
Wolcott,  James  Abraham  Hilhouse,  Esquires,  Assistants. 

Representatives  or  Deputies  of  the  Freemen  of  the 
several  Towns  are  as  follows,  viz : 

Hartford. — Colonel  John  Pitkin,  Colonel  Thomas 
Seymour. 

Windsor. — Captain  Josiah  Bissell,  Mr.  Oliver  Ellsworth. 

Svmsbury. — Colonel  Jonathan  Pettibone,  Colonel  Jona- 
than Humphrey. 

East  Windsor. — Mr.  William  Wolcott,  Mr.  Erastus 
Wolcott. 

Glastenbury. — Captain  Jonathan  Wells,  Mr.  Ebenezer 
Plumer. 

Suffield. — Mr.  Alex.  King,  Captain  Abraham  Granger. 
Weathersfield. — Major  Thomas  Belding,  Mr.  Silas 
Dean. 

Middletown. — Mr.  Matthew  Takott,  Mr.  Titus  Hosmer. 
Wellington. — Mr.  Moses  Holmes,  Mr.  Elijah  Fenton. 
Tolland. — Mr.  Samuel  Cobb,  Mr.  Eleazer  Steel. 
Haddam. — Captain  Joseph  Brooks. 
Bolton. — Captain  Joel  White,  Captain  Benj.  Takott. 
Somers. — Mr.  Zera  Kibbee,  Mr.  Reuben  Sikes. 
Chatham. — Mr.  David  Sage,  Captain  Silas  Dunham. 
East  Haddam. — Mr.  Daniel  Brainard,  Mr.  Jabez  Chap- 
man. 

Colchester. — Mr.  Henry  Champion,  Mr.  John  Watrous. 
Stafford. — Mr.  Josiah  Converse,  Mr.  Joseph  Fuller. 
Enfield. — Mr.  Edward  Collins,  Major  Nath.  Terry. 
Hebron. — Captain  Daniel  Ingham,  Captain  Obadiah 
Hosford. 

Farmington. — Colonel  John  Strong,  Colonel  Fisher 
Gay. 

New-Haven. — Mr.  Sam.  Bishop,  Mr.  Joshua  Chandler. 
Durham. — Col.  Elihu  Chauncey,  Colonel  James  Wads- 
worth. 

Derby. — Captain  John  Wooster,  Mr.  James  Beard. 
Branford. — Mr.  Edward  Russell,  Mr.  Daniel  Page. 
Guilford. — Mr.  John  Burgess,  Col.  Andrew  Ward. 
Wallingford. — Mr.  Oliver  Stanley,  Major  Reuben  At- 
water. 

Waterbury. — Mr.  Joseph  Hopkins,  Colonel  Jonathan 
Baldwin. 

Milford. — Major  David  Baldwin. 

New-London. — Mr.  Richard  Law,  Mr.  William  Hil- 
house. 

Norwich. — Mr.  Benjamin  Huntington, 
Stonington. — Major   Charles  Phelps,   Major  Samuel 
Prentice. 

Saybrook. — Doctor  Samuel  Field,  Colonel  William  Wor- 
thington. 

Preston. — Mr.  Robert  Crary,  Captain  James  Morgan. 
Lyme. — Mr.  John  Lay,  Mr.  Ebenezer  Selden. 
Killingworth. — Mr.  Hezekiah  Lane. 
Groton. — Mr.  Thomas  Mumford,  Mr.  Stephen  Billings. 
Fairfield. — Mr.  Jonathan  Sturgess,  Captain  Samuel 
Squier. 

Stratford. — Captain  Robert  Fairchild,  Captain  Dan- 
iel Judson. 
Reading. — Mr  William  Hawley. 
Greenwich. — Major  John  Mead,  Mr.  Peter  Mead. 
Stamford. — Colonel  David  Waterbury,  Colonel  Charles 
Webb. 

Ridgefield. — Colonel  Philip  B.  Bradley, 
Norwalk. — Mr.  Tho.  Belding,  Doctor  Thaddeus  Betts. 
Newtown. — Captain  Henry  Glover,  Captain  Peter  Ni- 
chols. 

New-F airfield, — Mr.  Zaccheus  Towner,  Mr.  Alexan- 
der Fairchild. 

Danblry.— Col.  Joseph  P.  Cook,  Captain  Daniel  Taylor. 


Windham. — Colonel  Jedediah  Elderkin,  Mr.  Nathaniel 
Wales. 

Lebanon. — Colonel  William  Williams,  Mr.  Jonathan 
Trumbull. 

Canterbury. — Mr.  Solomon  Pain,  Mr.  Eliashib  Adams. 
Pomfret. — Mr.  Thomas  Williams,  Mr.  Elisha  Lord. 
Woodstock. — Mr.  Caleb  May,  Captain  Timothy  Perrin. 
Coventry. — Captain  Ebenezer  Kingsbury,  Mr.  Jere- 
miah Ripley. 

Mansfield. — Mr.  Constant  Southworth,  Colonel  Ebe- 
nezer Storrs. 

Plainfield. — Capt.  Isaac  Coit,  Capt.  John  Douglass. 
Voluntown. — Major  James  Gordon,  Mr.  Robert  Hunter. 
Killingly. — Mr.  Benjamin  Leavings. 
Ashford. — Captain  Benj.  Sumner,  Mr.  Elijah  Whitton. 
Litchfield. — Mr.  Jedediah   Strong,  Captain  David 
Welch. 

New-Hartford. — Capt.  Mattheiv  Gillett,  Captain  Seth 
Smith. 

Sharon. — Major  Ebenezer  Gay,  Mr.  James  Pardee. 
Salisbury. — Col.  Joseph  Porter,  Mr.  Hezekiah  Fitch. 
Kent. — Mr.  Ephraim  Hubbell,  Mr.  Justus  Sackett. 
Woodbury. — Mr.  Daniel   Sherman,  Captain  Increase 
Moseley. 

Goshen. — Colonel  Ebenezer  Norton,  Captain  Edmund 
Beach. 

Harwington. — Capt.  John  Willson,  Mr.  Josiah  Phelps. 
New-Milford. — Major  Samuel  Canfield,  Mr.  Sherman 
Boardman. 

Torrington. — Major   Epaphras    Sheldon,  Mr.  Roah 
Marshall. 

Cornwall. — Mr.  Heman  Swift,  Captain  Thomas  Porter. 
Canaan. — Mr.  John  Watson,  Colonel  Charles  Burrall. 
Westmoreland. — Mr  Joseph  Sluman. 

William  Williams ,  Esq.,  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Rep- 
resentatives ;  Richard  Law,  Clerk. 

Whereas  it  was  enacted  by  the  General  Assembly  held 
at  New-Haven,  on  the  second  Thursday  of  October  last, 
that  every  Regiment  in  this  Colony,  as  well  the  Horse  as 
Foot  belonging  thereto,  shall  meet  either  together  or  in 
parts,  at  the  discretion  of  the  Colonel  or  Commanding  Offi- 
cer, at  such  time  and  place  as  such  Colonel  or  Field  Offi- 
cer shall  appoint  for  Regimental  Exercise,  one  day  before 
the  tenth  day  of  May  next ;  and  whereas  the  meeting  of 
such  Regiments  agreeably  to  said  Act  will  be  inconveni- 
ent in  the  present  situation  of  affairs, 

Resolved  by  this  Assembly,  The  Colonels  or  Command- 
ing Officers  of  the  several  Regiments  in  this  Colony 
shall  be,  and  they  are  hereby  released  from  the  obligation 
to  call  out  their  said  Regiments  for  Regimental  Exercises 
before  the  tenth  day  of  May  next,  any  thing  in  said  Act  to 
the  contrary  notwithstanding. 

Resolved  by  this  Assembly,  That  an  Embargo  be  forth- 
with laid  upon  the  Exportation  out  of  this  Colony  by  water 
of  the  following  articles  of  Provision,  viz:  Wheat,  Rye. 
Indian-Corn,  Pork,  Beef,  live  Cattle  and  Beans,  Bread, 
Flour,  and  every  kind  of  Meal,  except  necessary  Stores 
for  Vessels  bound  to  Sea  ;  and  that  his  Honour  the  Govern- 
our be,  and  he  is  hereby  desired  to  issue  a  Proclamation, 
laying  such  Embargo  and  Prohibition  of  such  Provisions 
accordingly  ;  such  Embargo  to  continue  till  the  20th  day  of 
May  next. 

Resolved  by  this  Assembly,  That  William  Samuel 
Johnson  and  Erastus  Walcott,  Esquires,  wait  upon  his 
Excellency  Governour  Gage,  with  the  Letters  written  to 
him  by  his  Honour  our  Governour  by  the  desire  of  this 
Assembly,  and  confer  with  him  on  the  subject  contained 
in  said  Letters,  and  request  his  answer. 

Resolved  by  this  Assembly,  That  Thaddeus  Burr, 
Esq.,  of  Fairfield,  and  Charles  Church  Chandler,  Esq., 
of  Woodstock,  at  the  publick  expense  of  this  Colony,  be 
a  Committee  to  engage  and  employ  News-Carriers  to  per- 
form regular  stages  from  Fairfield  to  Woodstock,  and  from 
Woodstock  to  Fairfield,  in  such  manner  that  they  severally 
arrive  in  Hartford  every  Saturday,  and  that  they  forward 
all  proper  intelligence  to  Fairfield  and  Woodstock  with  all 
convenient  speed ;  also  that  Gurdon  Saltonstall,  Esq.,  of 
New-London,  be  a  Committee  to  engage  and  employ  two 
News-Carriers,  at  the  Colony's  expense,  to  perform  regular 


411 


CONNECTICUT  ASSEMBLY,  APRIL,  1775. 


412 


stages  from  Woodstock  to  New-Haven  on  the  Fairfield 
stage,  and  from  New-Haven  to  Woodstock  in  such  man- 
ner that  they  severally  arrive  in  New-London  every  Sa- 
turday, and  that  they  forward  all  proper  intelligence  each 
way  every  Monday  morning  with  all  convenient  despatch  ; 
also  that  Thaddeus  Burr,  Esq.,  of  Fairfield,  and  Charles 
Church  Chandler,  Esq.,  of  Woodstock,  and  Gurdon  Sal- 
tonstall,  Esq.,  of  New-London,  be  a  Committee  to  forward 
at  the  publick  expense  of  this  Colony,  all  such  extraordi- 
nary and  important  intelligence  which  shall  be  received  at 
either  place  from  time  to  time  as  they  shall  judge  proper 
and  necessary,  the  aforesaid  regulations  to  continue  in  force 
until  the  rising  of  the  Assembly  in  May  next,  and  no 
longer. 

Whereas  it  is  represented  to  this  Assembly,  that  sundry 
acts  of  hostility  and  violence  have  lately  been  committed 
in  the  Province  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay,  by  which  many 
lives  have  been  lost,  and  that  some  of  the  inhabitants  of 
this  Colony  are  gone  to  the  relief  of  the  people  distressed, 
it  is  thereupon, 

Resolved  by  this  Assembly,  That  Captain  Joseph  Trum- 
bull and  Mr.  Amasa  Keys  be,  and  they  are  hereby  ap- 
pointed a  Committee  to  procure  all  necessary  Provisions 
for  the  inhabitants  of  this  Colony  who  have  gone  to  the 
relief  of  the  people  aforesaid,  and  that  they  superintend 
the  delivery  out,  and  apportioning  the  same  among  them 
till  this  Assembly  shall  consider  what  measures  are  proper 
to  be  taken  relative  thereto,  and  give  orders  accordingly. 

An  Act  for  Assembling,  Equipping,  fyc,  a  number  of  the 
Inhabitants  of  this  Colony  for  the  special  defence  and 
safety  thereof 

Be  it  enacted  by  the  Governour,  Council,  and  Repre- 
sentatives in  General  Court  assembled,  and  by  the  authori- 
ty of  the  same,  That  one-fourth  part  of  the  Militia  of  this 
Colony  be,  and  it  is  hereby  ordered  and  directed  that  they 
be  forthwith  enlisted,  equipped,  accoutred,  and  assembled 
for  the  special  defence  and  safety  of  this  Colony,  to  be  led 
and  conducted  as  the  General  Assembly  shall  order.  That 
the  inhabitants  enlisted  and  assembled  shall  be  distributed 
into  Companies,  consisting  of  one  hundred  men  each.  That 
said  Companies  shall  be  formed  into  six  Regiments,  to  be 
commanded  by  one  Major  General,  assisted  by  two  Briga- 
dier Generals,  each  of  which  General  Officers  shall  take 
the  command  of  a  Regiment  as  Colonel.  That  each  of 
said  Regiments  shall  be  commanded  by  one  Colonel,  a 
Lieutenant  Colonel,  and  a  Major,  each  of  which  Field 
Officers  shall  likewise  command  a  Company  as  Captain, 
and  each  General  Officer  shall  be  assisted  by  two  Majors 
to  his  Regiment.  That  each  of  said  Companies  shall  be 
commanded  by  one  Captain,  two  Lieutenants,  and  an  En- 
sign, who  shall  all  be  duly  commissioned  by  his  Honour 
the  Governour  to  execute  the  office  to  which  they  are  res- 
pectively appointed.  That  there  shall  be  appointed  one 
Adjutant,  one  Quartermaster,  one  Chaplain,  one  Surgeon, 
and  two  Surgeon's  Mates  to  each  Regiment.  That  said 
inhabitants  shall  be  enlisted,  to  continue  in  the  said  service 
during  the  pleasure  of  the  General  Assembly,  not  exceed- 
ing seven  months. 

And  be  it  further  enacted  by  the  authority  aforesaid, 
That  a  premium  of  Fifty -Two  Shillings  per  man  shall  be 
advanced  and  paid  to  each  non-commissioned  Officer  and 
inhabitant  upon  their  enlistment,  they  supplying  themselves 
with  a  blanket,  knapsack,  clothing,  &c,  to  the  acceptance 
of  their  respective  Captains,  and  that  one  month's  pay 
shall  be  advanced  and  paid  to  each  of  said  Officers  and 
enlisted  inhabitants.  And  it  is  further  enacted  by  the  au- 
thority aforesaid,  that  the  establishment  of  pay  and  wages 
shall  be  as  follows,  viz :  the  pay  for  their  whole  services : 

Per  Calendar  Month. 


To  the  Major  General,        -       -       -  £20  00s. 

To  each  Brigadier  General,          -       -  17  00 

To  each  Colonel,        -       -       -       -  15  00 

To  each  Lieutenant  Colonel,        -       -  12  00 

To  each  Major,   10  00 

To  each  Captain,        -  6  00 

To  each  Lieutenant,    ....  4  00 

To  each  Ensign,        ....  3  00 

To  each  Adjutant,      -       -       -       -  5  10 


To  each  Quartermaster,       -       -  -  £3  00s. 

To  each  Chaplain,      ...  -  6  00 

To  each  Surgeon,       -       -       -  -  7  10 

To  each  Surgeon's  Mate,     -       -  -  4  00 

The  wages  of  each  Sergeant,        -  -  2  08 

The  wages  of  each  Corporal,        -  -  2  04 

The  wages  of  each  Fifer  and  Drummer,  2  04 

The  wages  of  each  Private,  -       -  -  2  00 


And  be  it  further  enacted  by  the  authority  aforesaid, 
That  each  inhabitant  so  enlisted  shall  be  furnished  with 
good  fire-arms ;  and  that  the  fire-arms  belonging  to  this 
Colony,  wherever  they  are,  shall  be  collected  and  put  into 
the  hands  of  such  enlisted  inhabitants  as  have  not  arms  of 
their  own ;  and  that  each  enlisted  inhabitant  that  shall  pro- 
vide arms  for  himself,  well  fixed  with  a  good  bayonet  and 
cartouch  box,  shall  be  paid  a  premium  of  Ten  Shillings ; 
and  in  case  such  arms  are  lost  by  inevitable  casualty,  such 
inhabitant,  providing  himself  as  aforesaid,  shall  be  allowed 
and  paid  the  just  value  of  such  arms  and  implements  so 
lost,  deducting  only  said  sum  of  Ten  Shillings  allowed  as 
aforesaid,  said  premium  of  Ten  Shillings  to  be  paid  as  soon 
as  such  inhabitant  shall  provide  such  arms  as  aforesaid. 
That  when  the  aforesaid  provision  fails,  sufficient  arms  shall 
be  impressed  completely  to  arm  and  equip  said  inhabitants, 
the  said  impress  to  be  limited  only  to  the  arms  belonging 
to  householders,  and  other  persons  not  on  the  Militia  Roll ; 
and  in  case  any  householder  or  other  person  shall  volunta- 
rily furnish  any  enlisted  inhabitant,  not  able  to  procure 
arms  for  himself,  with  a  good  gun,  well  fixed  with  a  good 
bayonet  and  cartouch  box,  shall  have  and  receive  a  premi- 
um of  Ten  Shillings,  and  in  case  of  loss  shall  receive  the 
value  thereof,  deducting  the  Ten  Shillings  as  aforesaid. 
And  also  that  every  person  from  whom  any  gun  shall  be 
impressed  as  aforesaid,  shall  be  paid  for  the  use  of  such 
gun  the  sum  of  Four  Shillings,  and  in  case  of  loss  shall  be 
paid  the  just  value  of  such  gun,  deducting  the  sum  of  Four 
Shillings  aforesaid  ;  and  that  a  particular  account  be  taken 
of  the  arms  that  may  be  used,  and  the  same  be  all  ap- 
praised by  indifferent  judges ;  and  that  if  any  enlisted  in- 
habitant, through  negligence,  shall  lose  or  damage  the  arms 
found  for  him  as  aforesaid,  such  loss  or  damage  shall  be 
deducted  out  of  his  wages.  And  it  is  also  further  en- 
acted by  the  authority  aforesaid,  that  three  thousand  stand 
of  arms  be  procured  as  soon  as  may  be,  and  held  in  readi- 
ness to  be  used  for  the  special  defence  and  safety  of  this 
Colony.  And  also  that  the  number  of  five  hundred  Spades, 
five  hundred  Pickaxes,  three  hundred  narrow  Axes,  and 
five  hundred  Tents  be  procured  for  the  use  of  this  Colony. 

Whereas  the  General  Assembly  of  this  Colony  have  or- 
dered and  enacted  that  one-fourth  part  of  the  Militia  of  said 
Colony  shall  be  forthwith  enlisted,  equipped,  and  assem- 
bled for  the  special  defence  and  safety  of  said  Colony,  &c. : 
For  the  encouragement  of  such  able  bodied  and  effectual 
men  of  said  Militia  or  others  as  shall  voluntarily  offer  and 
enlist  themselves  for  said  service  to  the  acceptance  of  the 
proper  Officers,  it  is  resolved  by  this  Assembly,  that  each 
enlisted  inhabitant  or  person  as  aforesaid,  shall  be  entitled 
to  a  premium  of  Fifty-Two  Shillings  upon  their  enlistment, 
they  supplying  themselves  with  a  blanket,  knapsack,  cloth- 
ing, &ic,  to  the  acceptance  of  their  respective  Captains, 
and  also  to  one  month's  advanced  pay  ;  Sergeants  shall  re- 
ceive Forty-Eight  Shillings  each  ;  Corporals-  Forty-Four 
Shillings  each  ;  Drummers  and  Fifers  Forty-Four  Shillings 
each  ;  and  each  Private  Forty  Shillings  per  calendar  month 
during  their  continuance  in  said  service.  That  each  en- 
listed inhabitant  or  person  as  aforesaid,  who  shall  provide 
arms  for  himself,  well  fixed  with  a  good  bayonet  and  car- 
touch  box,  shall  be  paid  a  premium  of  Ten  Shillings;  and 
in  case  such  arms  are  lost  by  any  inevitable  providence, 
such  inhabitant  so  providing  himself  shall  be  allowed  and 
paid  the  just  value  of  such  arms  and  implements  so  lost, 
deducting  only  the  sum  of  Ten  Shillings  allowed  as  afore- 
said, said  premium  of  Ten  Shillings  to  be  paid  as  soon  as 
such  inhabitant  shall  be  so  provided  as  aforesaid.  That  a 
particular  account  shall  be  taken  of  all  the  arms  that  may 
be  used,  and  the  same  shall  be  all  appraised  by  indifferent 
judges.  That  each  inhabitant  as  aforesaid,  upon  his  enlist- 
ment, shall  be  entitled  to  Six  Pence  per  diem  billet- 
ing money,  until  they  are  otherwise  provided  for  by  the 
Colony. 


413 


CONNECTICUT  ASSEMBLY,  APRIL,  1775. 


411 


Resolved  by  this  Assembly,  That  the  non-commissioned 
and  other  inhabitants  now  to  be  enlisted  for  the  special  de- 
fence and  safety  of  this  Colony,  shall  be  allowed  Six  Pence 
a  day,  for  billeting,  from  the  time  of  their  enlistment  until 
supplied  from  the  Colony  stores. 

Resolved,  That  the  three  thousand  stand  of  Arms  to  be 
procured  for  the  use  of  this  Colony  be  of  the  following  di- 
mensions, to  wit:  the  length  of  the  barrel  three  feet  ten 
inches,  the  diameter  of  the  bore  from  inside  to  inside  three- 
quarters  of  an  inch,  the  length  of  the  blade  of  the  bayonet 
fourteen  inches,  the  length  of  the  socket  four  inches  and 
one-quarter ;  that  the  barrel  be  of  a  suitable  thickness, 
with  iron  ramrod,  and  a  spring  in  the  lowest  loop  to  secure 
the  ramrod ;  a  good  substantial  lock,  and  a  good  stock  well 
mounted  with  brass,  marked  with  the  name  (initial  letters) 
of  the  maker's  name.  And 

Resolved,  That  all  the  Anns  that  shall  be  made  and 
completed  according  to  the  above  regulations  in  this  Colony 
by  the  first  day  of  July  next,  shall  be  purchased  and  taken 
up  by  this  Colony  at  a  reasonable  price. 

Resolved  by  this  Assembly,  That  the  form  for  Commis- 
sions for  the  Major  General  and  Brigadier  Generals  in  the 
service  of  this  Colony  shall  be  as  follows,  and  the  Gov- 
ernour  and  Secretary  are  desired  and  directed  to  sign  the 
same  : 

"  Colony  of  Connecticut  : 

"  Esquire,  Captain  General  and 

Governour-in- Chief  in  and  over  the  English  Colony 
of  Connecticut  in  New-England,  in  America, 

"  To  Esquire,  greeting  : 

"  By  virtue  of  the  power  and  authority  to  me  given  by 
the  Royal  Charter  to  the  Governour  and  Company  of  the 
said  Colony,  under  the  great  seal  of  England,  I  do,  by 
these  presents,  reposing  especial  trust  and  confidence  in 
your  loyalty,  courage,  and  good  conduct,  constitute  and 

appoint  you,  the  said  ,  to  be  ... 

General  and  Commander  of  the  Inhabitants  enlisted  and 
assembled  for  the  special  defence  and  safety  of  His  Majes- 
ty's said  Colony.  You  are,  therefore,  carefully  and  dili- 
gently to  discharge  the  duty  of  .  .  .  General  and 
Commander,  in  leading,  conducting,  ordering,  and  exer- 
cising in  the  service  aforesaid  the  said  Inhabitants,  both 
Officers  and  Soldiers,  and  to  keep  them  in  good  order  and 
discipline,  hereby  commanding  them  to  obey  you  as  their 
.  .  .  .  General ;  and  you  are  to  observe  and  follow 
such  orders  and  instructions  as  you  shall  from  time  to  time 
receive  from  me  or  the  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  said 
Colony  for  the  time  being,  according  to  military  rules  and 
discipline,  pursuant  to  the  trust  reposed  in  you. 

"  Given  under  my  hand  and  the  publick  seal  of  said 
Colony  of  Connecticut,  the  .  .  day  of  .  .  in  the 
fifteenth  year  of  the  reign  of  His  Majesty  George  the 
Third,  of  Great  Britain,  France,  and  Ireland,  King,  De- 
fender of  the  Faith,  he,  Anno  Domini  1775. 
"By  his  Honour's  command." 

Resolved  by  this  Assembly,  That  the  form  for  Commis- 
sions for  the  Captains  and  Subaltern  Officers  of  a  Company 
for  the  special  defence  and  safety  of  this  Colony  shall  be 
as  follows,  and  the  Governour  and  Secretary  are  desired  and 
directed  to  sign  the  same  : 

"  Colony  of  Connecticut  : 

"  Esquire,  Captain  General  and 

Governour-in- Chief  in  and  over  His  Majesty's  Colony 
of  Connecticut  in  New-England,  in  America, 

"  To  greeting : 

"  By  virtue  of  the  power  and  authority  to  me  given,  in 
and  by  the  Royal  Charter  to  the  Governour  and  Company 
of  the  said  Colony,  under  the  great  seal  of  England,  I  do, 
by  these  presents,  reposing  special  trust  and  confidence  in 
your  loyalty,  courage,  and  good  conduct,  constitute  and 

appoint  you,  the  said  ,  to  be    .    .  . 

of  the  .  .  .  Company  in  the  .  .  .  Regiment  of 
the  Inhabitants  enlisted  and  assembled  for  the  special  de- 
fence and  safety  of  His  Majesty's  said  Colony.  You  are, 
therefore,  carefully  and  diligently  to  discharge  the  duty  of 
a  ...  in  leading,  ordering,  and  exercising  said  Com- 
pany, both  inferiour  Officers  and  Soldiers,  in  the  service 


aforesaid,  and  to  keep  them  in  good  order  and  discipline, 
hereby  commanding  them  to  obey  you  as  their  .  .  .  ; 
and  you  are  to  observe  and  follow  such  orders  and  instruc- 
tions as  you  shall  from  time  to  time  receive  from  me  or  the 
Commander-in-Chief  of  the  said  Colony  for  the  time  being, 
or  other  your  superiour  Officers,  according  to  military  rules 
and  discipline,  pursuant  to  the  trust  reposed  in  you. 

"  Given  under  my  hand  and  the  publick  seal  of  said 
Colony,  at  ...  the  .  .  day  of  .  .  .in  the 
fifteenth  year  of  the  reign  of  His  Majesty  King  George 
the  Third,  Anno  Domini  1775. 

"  By  his  Honour's  command." 

Resolved  by  this  Assembly,  That  his  Honour  the  Gov- 
ernour be,  and  he  is  hereby  desired,  authorized,  and  em- 
powered to  sign  and  deliver  Beating  Orders  to  the  respective 
Officers  appointed  to  enlist  men  for  the  special  defence  and 
safety  of  the  Colony  in  the  form  following,  viz  : 

"  Jonathan  Trumbull,  Esquire,  Governour  of  the  Colony 
of  Connecticut,  to  greeting  : 

"  I  do  hereby  authorize  and  empower  you,  by  beat  of 
drum  or  otherwise,  to  raise  by  enlistment  a  Com  pany  of  able- 
bodied  effective  Volunteers  within  this  Colony,  to  consist 
of  one  hundred  men,  including  Officers,  for  the  defence  of 
this  Colony,  during  the  pleasure  of  the  Assembly,  not  ex- 
ceeding seven  months;  and  the  Colonels  of  the  respective 
Regiments  of  Militia,  and  the  several  Officers  thereof,  are 
requested  to  afford  you  all  proper  aid  and  assistance;  and 
the  Captains  in  the  several  Regiments  are  hereby  request- 
ed to  muster  their  respective  Companies  when  requested 
thereunto  by  you,  for  the  purpose  aforesaid. 

"  Given  under  my  hand  this  first  day  of  May,  1775." 

"I,  of  do  acknowledge 

to  have  voluntarily  enlisted  myself  a  Soldier,  to  serve  in  a 
Regiment  of  Foot,  raised  by  the  Colony  of  Connecticut, 
for  the  defence  of  the  same,  to  be  commanded  by  . 
during  the  pleasure  of  the  General  Assembly,  and  as  they 
shall  direct,  not  exceeding  seven  months.  As  witness  my 
hand,  the  .  .  day  of  .  .  .  ,  in  the  year  of  our 
Lord  1775." 

In  the  Lower  House  the  foregoing  form  of  Enlistment 
being  read,  &c,  is  approved. 

Test:  Richard  Law,  Clerk. 

Concurred  in  in  the  Upper  House. 

Test:  George  Wyllys,  Secretary. 

This  Assembly  do  appoint  the  persons  hereafter  named 
to  the  respective  offices,  to  take  the  command  of  the  in- 
habitants to  be  enlisted  and  assembled  for  the  special  de- 
fence and  safety  of  this  Colony,  to  lead  and  conduct  them 
as  the  General  Assembly  shall  order;  and  his  Honour  the 
Governour  is  desired,  and  he  is  hereby  authorized  and 
empowered,  to  give  Commissions  according  to  the  form 
provided  and  ordered  for  each  respective  Officer,  according 
to  his  office  and  rank,  and  Warrants  to  such  as  are  ap- 
pointed in  the  Staff,  viz  : 

This  Assembly  do  appoint  David  Wooster,  Esquire,  to  be 
Major  General. 

Joseph  Spencer,  Esquire,  to  be  Brigadier  General. 

Israel  Putnam,  Esquire,  to  be  Second  Brigadier  General. 

First  Company  in  the  First  Regiment. — Major  General 
David  Wooster,  Esquire,  to  be  Colonel  of  the  First 
Regiment,  and  Captain  ;  Jesse  Leavenworth,  to  be  First 
Lieutenant ;  James  Blakely,  to  be  Second  Lieutenant ; 
Amos  Shepard,  to  be  Ensign. 

Second  Company  in  the  First  Regiment. — Andrew  Ward, 
Junior,  Esquire,  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the  First  Regi- 
ment, and  Captain  ;  Stephen  Hall  to  be  First  Lieutenant ; 
Jehiel  Meigs  to  be  Second  Lieutenant ;  Augustus  Col- 
lins to  be  Ensign. 

Third  Company  in  the  First  Regiment. — Jabez  Thompson 
to  be  First  Major  in  the  First  Regiment,  and  Captain  ; 
Bradford  Stull  to  be  First  Lieutenant ;  Ambrose  Hind 
to  be  Second  Lieutenant ;  Nathan  Pierson  to  be  En- 

Fourth  Company  in  the  First  Regiment.. — David  Welch 
to  be  Second  Major  of  the  First  Regiment,  and  Captain  ; 
Bazaleel  Beebe  to  be  First  Lieutenant ;  Aaron  Foot  to 
be  Second  Lieutenant ;  Thomas  Catlin  to  be  Ensign. 


415 


CONNECTICUT  ASSEMBLY,  APRIL,  1775. 


416 


Fifth  Company  in  the  First  Regiment. — Benedict  Arnold 
Captain ;  Caleb  Trowbridge  to  be  First  Lieutenant ; 
Jesse  Curtiss  to  be  Second  Lieutenant ;  Nathan  Ed- 
wards to  be  Ensign. 

Sixth  Company  in  the  First  Regiment. — William  Doug- 
lass to  be  Captain  ;  Samuel  Blackman,  Junior,  to  be 
First  Lieutenant ;  Jarcd  Robertson  to  be  Second  Lieu- 
tenant;  Ebenezer  Trus  del  I  to  be  Ensign. 

Seventh  Company  in  the  First  Regiment. — Isaac  Cook, 
Junior,  to  be  Captain  ;  John  Hough  to  be  First  Lieu- 
tenant ;  Thomas  Shepard  to  be  Second  Lieutenant ; 
James  Peck  to  be  Ensign. 

Eighth  Company  in  the  First  Regiment. — Phineas  Porter 
to  be  Captain  ;  Stephen  Mathews  to  be  First  Lieutenant ; 
Isaac  Bronson  to  be  Second  Lieutenant ;  David  Smith 
to  be  Ensign. 

Ninth  Company  in  the  First  Regiment. — James  Arnold 

to  be  Captain  ;  Samuel  Wilmott  to  be  First  Lieutenant ; 

Nathaniel  Bunnel  to  be  Second  Lieutenant ;  Philemon 

Potter  to  be  Ensign. 
Tenth  Company  in  the  First  Regiment. — Samuel  Peck, 

Junior,  to  be  Captain  ;  John  Fowler,  Junior,  to  be  First 

Lieutenant ;  Israel  Terrel  to  be  Second  Lieutenant ; 

Samuel  Doolittle  to  be  Ensign. 
The  Reverend  Benjamin  Trumbull,  Chaplain  of  the  First 

Regiment. 

Jared  Potter,  Surgeon;  Levi  Ives,  Isaac  Chester,  Sur- 
geon's Mates,  First  Regiment. 

Second  Regiment. 

First  Company,  Second  Regiment. — Joseph  Spencer,  Esq., 
to  be  Colonel  of  the  Second  Regiment,  and  Captain ; 
Daniel  Cone,  First  Lieutenant ;  James  Smith,  Second 
Lieutenant;  Joel  Arnold,  Ensign. 

Second  Company,  Second  Regiment. — Samuel  Wyllys, 
Esquire,  to  be  Lieutenant-Colonel,  and  Captain  ;  Eze- 
kiel  Scott,  First  Lieutenant ;  Samuel  Cowper,  Second 
Lieutenant;  Marcus  Cole,  Ensign. 

Third  Company,  Second  Regiment. — Roger  Enos,  Esq., 
to  be  First  Major,  and  Captain  ;  Elijah  Rolinson,  First 
Lieutenant ;  Silas  Blogget,  Second  Lieutenant ;  Benja- 
min Frisbee,  Ensign. 

Fourth  Company,  Second  Regiment. — Return  Jonathan 
Meigs,  Esquire,  to  be  Second  Major,  and  Captain  ;  Eli- 
jah Blackman,  First  Lieutenant ;  Ebenezer  Sumner, 
Second  Lieutenant ;  Joseph  Savage,  Ensign. 

Fifth  Company,  Second  Regiment. — Solomon  Willis,  Cap- 
tain ;  Jonathan  Parker,  First  Lieutenant ;  Samuel  Fell, 
Jr.,  Second  Lieutenant ;  Noah  Chapin,  Jr.,  Ensign. 

Sixth  Company,  Second  Regiment. — Noadiah  Hooker, 
Captain  ;  Peter  Curtiss,  First  Lieutenant ;  Joseph  Boy- 
ington,  Second  Lieutenant ;  Amos  Wadsworth,  Ensign. 

Seventh  Company,  Second  Regiment. — Abel  Pcttibone, 
Captain  ;  Amasa  Mills,  First  Lieutenant ;  Joseph  For- 
ward, Second  Lieutenant ;  Jonathan  Pettibone,  Junior, 
Ensign. 

Eighth  Company,  Second  Regiment. — Levi  Wells,  Cap- 
tain ;  James  Ransom,  First  Lieutenant ;  John  Isham, 
Second  Lieutenant;  Samuel  Palmer,  Ensign. 

Ninth  Company,  Second  Regiment. — John  Chester,  Cap- 
tain ;  Barnabas  Dean,  First  Lieutenant ;  Stephen  Good- 
rich, Second  Lieutenant;  Charles  Butler,  Ensign. 

Tenth  Company,  Second  Regiment. — John  Harman,  Jun., 
Captain  ;  Samuel  Wright,  First  Lieutenant ;  Consider 
Williston,  Second  Lieutenant;  Oliver  Hanchel,  Ensign. 

Reverend  Benjamin  Boardman,  Chaplain  of  the  Second 
Regiment. 

William  Jepson,  Surgeon  ;  Daniel  Southmayd,  Richard 
Watrous,  Surgeon's  Mates,  Second  Regiment. 

Third  Regiment. 

First  Company,  Third  Regiment. — Israel  Putnam,  Esq., 
to  be  Colonel  of  the  Third  Regiment,  and  Captain  ; 
Jonathan  Kingsley,  First  Lieutenant ;  Thomas  Grosve- 
nor,  Second  Lieutenant;  Elijah  Loomis,  Ensign. 

Second  Company,  Third  Regiment. — Experience  Storrs, 
Esquire,  to  be  Lieutenant-Colonel,  and  Captain;  James 
Dana,  First  Lieutenant ;  Ebenezer  Gray,  Second  Lieu- 
tenant;  Isaac  Farewell,  Ensign. 

Third  Company,  Third  Regiment. — John  Durkey  to  be 
First  Major,  and  Captain  ;  Joshua  Huntington,  First 


Lieutenant ;  Jacobus  De  Witt,  Second  Lieutenant ; 
Samuel  Bingham,  Ensign. 

Fourth  Company,  Third  Regiment. —  Obadiah  Johnson, 
Esquire,  to  be  Second  Major,  and  Captain ;  Ephraim 
Lyon,  First  Lieutenant;  Hells  Cliff,  Second  Lieuten- 
ant ;  Isaac  Hide,  Junior,  Ensign. 

Fifth  Company,  Third  Regiment.- — Thomas  Knowlton, 
Captain  ;  Reuben  Marcey,  First  Lieutenant ;  John  Keys, 
Second  Lieutenant ;  Daniel  Allen,  Junior,  Ensign. 

Sixth  Company,  Third  Regiment. — James  Clark,  Captain  ; 
Daniel  Tilden,  First  Lieutenant;  Andrew  Fitch,  Second 
Lieutenant ;  Thomas  Bell,  Ensign. 

Seventh  Company,  Third  Regiment. — Ephraim  Manning, 
Captain  ;  Stephen  Lyon,  First  Lieutenant ;  Asa  Morris, 
Second  Lieutenant;  William  Fussell,  Ensign. 

Eighth  Company,  Third  Regiment. — Joseph  Elliott,  Cap- 
tain ;  Benoni  Cutler,  First  Lieutenant ;  Daniel  Waters, 
Second  Lieutenant ;  Comfort  Day,  Ensign. 

Ninth  Company,  Third  Regiment. — Ebenezer  Moseley, 
Captain  ;  Stephen  Brown,  First  Lieutenant ;  Melatiah 
Bingham,  Second  Lieutenant ;  Nathaniel  Wales,  En- 
sign. 

Tenth  Company,  Third  Regiment. — Israel  Putnam,  Jun., 
Captain  ;  Samuel  Robinson,  Junior,  First  Lieutenant ; 
Amos  Avery,  Second  Lieutenant ;  Caleb  Stanley,  En- 
sign. 

Rev.  Abiel  Leonard,  Chaplain  of  the  Third  Regiment. 
John  Spalding,  Surgeon  ;  Pcnuel  Cheeney,  Elijah  Adams, 
Surgeon's  Mates,  Third  Regiment. 

Fourth  Regiment. 

First  Company,  Fourth  Regiment. — Benjamin  Hinman, 
Esquire,  to  be  Colonel  of  the  Fourth  Regiment,  and 
Captain  ;  David  Hinman,  First  Lieutenant ;  Benjamin 
Hungerford,  Second  Lieutenant;  Asahel  Hurd,  Ensign. 

Second  Company,  Fourth  Regiment. — George  Pitkin, 
Esquire,  to  be  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the  Fourth  Regi- 
ment, and  Captain ;  Isaac  Fellows,  First  Lieutenant ; 
David  Bissell,  Second  Lieutenant;  Edivard  Payne, 
Ensign, 

Third  Company,  Fourth  Regiment. — Samuel  Elmore, 
Esquire,  to  be  Major  of  the  Fourth  Regiment,  and  Cap- 
tain ;  Amos  Chappel,  First  Lieutenant ;  Oliver  Parme- 
ly,  Second  Lieutenant ;  Moses  Shepard,  Ensign. 

Fourth  Company,  Fourth  Regiment. — Nathaniel  Buel, 
Captain  ;  Timothy  Holcomb,  First  Lieutenant ;  Luther 
Stoddard,  Second  Lieutenant ;  Nathan  Dawsey,  En- 
sign. 

Fifth  Company,  Fourth  Regiment. — Shubael  Griswold, 
Captain ;  Benjamin  Mills,  First  Lieutenant ;  Aaron 
Austin,  Second  Lieutenant;  Caleb  Lyman,  Ensign. 

Sixth  Company,  Fourth  Regiment. — Josiah  Starr,  Cap- 
tain ;  Asaph  Hall,  First  Lieutenant ;  Paul  Yates,  Second 
Lieutenant ;  Asahel  Hodge,  Ensign. 

Seventh  Company,  Fourth  Regiment. — Eleazar  Curtiss, 
Junior,  Captain ;  John  Ranson,  Junior,  First  Lieuten- 
ant ;  Morgan  Noble,  Second  Lieutenant ;  John  Rock- 
well, Ensign. 

Eighth  Company,  Fourth  Regiment. — John  Sedgtvick, 
Captain ;  Warham  Gibbs,  First  Lieutenant ;  James 
Thomas,  Second  Lieutenant ;  Matthew  Patterson,  En- 
sign. 

Ninth  Company,  Fourth  Regiment. — John  Watson,  Jun., 
Captain  ;  Theodore  Woodbridge,  First  Lieutenant ;  Ti- 
tus Watson,  Second  Lieutenant;  Jehiel  Hull,  Ensign. 

Tenth  Company,  Fourth  Regiment. — Hezckiah  Parsons, 
Captain  ;  Hezekiah  Holdridge,  First  Lieutenant ;  John 
Skinner,  Second  Lieutenant;  Ebenezer  Watson,  En- 
sign. 

Reverend  Cotton  Mather  Smith,  Chaplain  to  the  Fourth 
Regiment. 

Lemuel  Wheeler,  Surgeon ;  Daniel  Sheldon,  Abel  Catlin, 
Surgeon's  Mates,  Fourth  Regiment. 

Fifth  Regiment. 

First  Company,  Fifth  Regiment. — David  Waterbury,  Jun., 
to  be  Colonel  of  the  Fifth  Regiment,  and  Captain ;  Syl- 
vanus  Brown,  First  Lieutenant;  Jonathan  Whiting, 
Second  Lieutenant ;  Samuel  Hoyt,  Ensign. 

Second  Company,  Fifth  Regiment. — Samuel  Whiting, 
to  be  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the  Fifth  Regiment,  and 


417 


CONNECTICUT  ASSEMBLY,  APRIL,  1175. 


418 


Captain  ;  Elijah  Beach,  First  Lieutenant ;  Robert  Wal- 
ker, Second  Lieutenant ;  Abijah  Sterling,  Ensign. 

Third  Company,  Fifth  Regiment. — Thomas  Hobby,  to  be 
Major  of  the  Fifth  Regiment,  and  Captain ;  Bazaleel 
Brown,  First  Lieutenant ;  Samuel  Lockwood,  Second 
Lieutenant ;  John  Watcrbury,  Ensign. 

Fourth  Company,  Fifth  Regiment. — David  Dimon,  Cap- 
tain ;  Peter  Hendrick,  First  Lieutenant ;  Ebenezcr  Hill, 
Second  Lieutenant;  Wakeman  Burr,  Ensign. 

Fifth  Company,  Fifth  Regiment. — Matthew  Mead,  Cap- 
tain ;  Levi  Taylor,  First  Lieutenant ;  Samuel  Cannon, 
Second  Lieutenant;  William  Seymour,  Ensign. 

Sixth  Company,  Fifth  Regiment. — Noble  Benedict,  Cap- 
tain ;  James  Clark,  First  Lieutenant ;  Ephraim  Lyon, 
Second  Lieutenant ;  Daniel  Hickox,  Ensign. 

Seventh  Company,  Fifth  Regiment. — AbrahamGray,Cnp- 
tain  ;  Stephen  Wakeman,  First  Lieutenant ;  Thaddeus 
Rockwell,  Second  Lieutenant ;  George  Burr,  Ensign. 

Eighth  Company,  Fifth  Regiment. — Joseph  Smith,  Jr., 
Captain ;  Abel  Botsford,  Jr.,  First  Lieutenant ;  Nathan- 
iel Blackman,  Second  Lieutenant ;  Silas  Hubbel,  Ensign. 

Ninth  Company,  Fifth  Regiment. — Nehemiah  Beardslee, 
Captain  ;  Samuel  Keeler,  First  Lieutenant ;  Zcphaniah 
Briggs,  Second  Lieutenant ;  William  Benedict,  Ensign. 

Tenth  Company,  Fifth  Regiment. — Zalmon  Read,  Cap- 
tain ;  Peter  Fairchild,  First  Lieutenant ;  David  Pcet, 
Second  Lieutenant ;  Benjamin  Nichols,  Ensign. 

Reverend  Samuel  Wood,  Chaplain  of  the  Fifth  Regiment. 

John  Wood,  Surgeon ;  Asael  Fitch,  Samuel  Whiting, 
Surgeon's  Mates,  Fifth  Regiment. 

Sixth  Regiment. 

First  Company,  Sixth  Regiment. — Samuel  Holden  Par- 
sons, Esquire,  to  be  Colonel  of  the  Sixth  Regiment,  and 
Captain  ;  David  F.  Sill,  First  Lieutenant ;  Christopher 
Ely,  Second  Lieutenant ;  Elisha  Wade,  Ensign. 

Second  Company,  Sixth  Regiment. — John  Tyler,  Esq., 
to  be  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the  Sixth  Regiment,  and 
Captain;  Elnathan  Rossiter,  First  Lieutenant ;  Ebenezer 
Brewster,  Second  Lieutenant ;  Joseph  Hilyard,  Ensign. 

Third  Company,  Sixth  Regiment. — Samud  Prentice,  Esq., 
to  be  Major  of  the  Sixth  Regiment,  and  Captain  ;  James 
Eldridge,  First  Lieutenant ;  Richard  Hewet,  Second 
Lieutenant ;  Oliver  Babcock,  Ensign. 

Fourth  Company,  Sixth  Regiment. —  William  Coit,  Cap- 
tain ;  Jedediah  Hide,  First  Lieutenant ;  James  Day, 
Second  Lieutenant;  William  Adams,  Junior,  Ensign. 

Fifth  Company,  Sixth  Regiment. — James  Chapman,  Jun., 
Captain  ;  Christopher  Darrow,  First  Lieutenant ;  John 
Raymond,  Jr,  Second  ;  George  Lattimore,  Ensign. 

Sixth  Company,  Sixth  Regiment. — Waterman  Cleft,  Cap- 
tain ;  William  Edmond,  First  Lieutenant ;  John  McGre- 
gor, Second  Lieutenant ;  Nathaniel  Morgan,  Ensign. 

Seventh  Company,  Sixth  Regiment. — Edward  Molt,  Cap- 
tain :  Benjamin  Throop,  Jr.,  First  Lieutenant ;  Jeremiah 
Halsey,  Second  Lieutenant ;  Nathan  Peters,  Ensign. 

Eighth  Company,  Sixth  Regiment. — Samtiel  Gale,  Cap- 
tain; Josiah  Baldwin,  First  Lieutenant;  Elisha  Lee, 
Second  Lieutenant ;  David  Nevins,  Ensign. 

Ninth  Company,  Sixth  Regiment. — John  Ely,  Captain  ; 
Abraham  Waterhouse,  First  Lieutenant ;  Martin  Kirt- 
land,  Second  Lieutenant;  Israel  Doan,  Ensign. 

Tenth  Company,  Sixth  Regiment. — Abel  Spictr,  Cap- 
tain ;  Isaac  Gallop,  First  Lieutenant ;  Samuel  Williams, 
Second  Lieutenant;  William  Latham,  Ensign. 

Rev.  Stephen  Johnson,  Chaplain  of  the  Sixth  Regiment. 

Philip  Turner,  Surgeon  ;  Thomas  Fosdick,  Benjamin  El- 
lis, Surgeon's  Mates,  Sixth  Regiment. 

Whereas  this  Assembly  have  ordered  one-fourth  part  of 
their  Militia  to  be  enlisted  and  equipped  for  the  defence 
and  safety  of  this  Colony,  and  appointed  Officers  to  com- 
mand the  same,  and  as  some  of  the  Officers  so  appointed 
may  fail  to  accept  said  trust,  or  by  death  or  otherwise 
others  may  be  wanted  : 

Resolved  by  this  Assembly,  That  his  Honour  the  Go- 
vernour  be  desired,  and  he  is  hereby  desired  and  empow- 
ered to  appoint  Officers  to  fill  up  any  such  vacancy  that 
shall  happen,  and  commission  them  accordingly. 

Resolved  by  this  Assembly,  That  Captain  Joseph  Trum- 
bull be  appointed,  and  he  is  hereby  appointed  Commissary 
General,  to  take  care  of  the  Rations  purchased  at  Salem, 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii.  ! 


by  Brigadier-General  Spencer,  or  any  others  that  shall  be 
sent  for  our  inhabitants  enlisting  or  assembling  for  the  spe- 
cial defence  and  safety  of  this  Colony,  and  take  care  that 
the  same  are  distributed  among  them;  and  take  advantage 
of  any  opportunity  to  purchase  thereabouts  any  further 
supply,  when  to  be  had  on  belter  terms  than  to  be  pur- 
chased and  had  from  this  Colony ;  to  purchase  the  same  as 
there  shall  be  occasion,  and  inform,  from  time  to  time,  his 
doings  therein  for  the  directions  of  the  Commissaries  em- 
ployed in  this  Colony. 

This  Assembly  do  appoint  Oliver  Wolcott,  Henry 
Champion,  Thomas  Mumford,  Jedediah  Strong,  Esquires, 
Captain  Jeremiah  Wadsworth,  Thomas  Howel,  Samuel 
Squier,  Esquires,  Messrs.  Amasa  Keys  and  Hezckiah  Bis- 
sell,  Commissaries,  to  supply  all  necessary  Stores  and  Pro- 
visions for  the  Troops  now  to  be  raised  for  the  defence  of 
this  Colony. 

On  Report  of  the  Committee  to  consider  how  far  the 
Commissaries  shall  bo  instructed  to  procure  Provisions  and 
other  Supplies  for  the  immediate  use  of  the  men  now  to  be 
raised  for  the  defence  of  the  Colony,  it  is  now 

Resolved,  That  Joseph  Trumbull,  Esquire,  Commissary- 
General,  immediately  purchase  one  hogshead  of  New- 
England  Rum,  and  one  hundred  Tin  Kettles ;  and  that 
Captain  Jeremiah  Wadsworth  procure,  as  soon  as  may  be, 
one  hundred  Tin  Kettles,  and  also  fifty  barrels  of  Pork, 
also  fifty  bushels  of  Peas  and  Beans,  and  immediately  for- 
ward said  Peas  and  Beans  to  the  Commissary-General, 
and  also  procure  two  hundred  hundred  weight  of  Bread  ; 
and  that  Mr.  Hczekiah  Bissell  procure  sixty  barrels  of 
Pork,  and  two  hundred  and  forty  hundred  weight  of  Bread  ; 
and  that  the  Commissaries  in  Litchfield  County  procure 
twenty  barrels  of  Pork,  and  eighty  hundred  weight  of  Bread, 
and  that  the  Commissaries  for  the  County  of  New-Haven, 
Neiv-London,  and  Fairfield,  each  procure  fifty  barrels  of 
Pork,  and  two  hundred  hundred  weight  of  Bread. 

Resolved  by  this  Assembly,  That  William  Pitkin,  Tho- 
mas Seymour,  Oliver  Ellsivorth,  and  Ezekiel  Williams, 
Esquires,  or  any  three  of  them,  be  a  Committee  with  full 
power,  and  they,  or  any  three  of  them,  are  hereby  fully 
empowered  to  examine,  liquidate,  adjust,  settle,  and  give 
needful  orders  for  the  payment  of  the  several  accounts  of 
the  expenses  that  have,  or  may  be  incurred,  relative  to 
assembling,  equipping,  supplying,  encouraging,  or  paying 
wages  to  such  of  the  inhabitants  as  may  enlist  for  the  de- 
fence of  this  Colony  for  the  current  year ;  said  Committee 
to  proceed  therein  according  to  such  order,  rules,  and  direc- 
tions, as  shall  from  time  to  time  be  given  by  this  Assembly 
for  that  purpose. 

Resolved  by  this  Assembly,  That  the  Committee  of 
Pay-Table  be  and  they  are  hereby  directed  and  empow- 
ered to  take  Bonds,  with  sufficient  sureties,  payable  to  the 
Governour  and  Company  of  this  Colony,  of  every  Com- 
missary appointed,  to  provide  Stores  and  Provisions  for  the 
Troops  now  raising  for  the  defence  of  the  Colony  ;  and  in 
such  Bond  every  Commissary  shall  be  obliged,  faithfully 
and  justly,  to  dispose  of  the  money  he  shall  receive  for 
the  purpose  aforesaid,  and  to  account  with  the  Committee 
of  Pay-Table  for  the  same. 

Resolved  by  this  Assembly,  That  the  chief  Officers  and 
Captains  of  the  several  Companies  to  be  enlisted,  shall  be 
the  Paymasters  to  their  respective  Companies,  and  that 
the  Committee  of  the  Pay-Table  be  and  they  are  hereby 
directed  and  empowered  to  take  Bonds,  with  sufficient  sure- 
ties, payable  to  the  Governour  and  Company  of  this  Colony, 
of  every  Captain  or  other  person  who  shall  undertake  to  act 
as  Paymaster  to  any  one  of  said  Companies  now  to  be  en- 
listed ;  and  in  such  Bond,  every  Paymaster  shall  be  obligated 
faithfully  and  justly  to  dispose  of  the  money  he  shall  re- 
ceive for  the  purpose  aforesaid,  and  to  account  to  the  Com- 
mittee of  the  Pay-Table  for  the  same  ;  and  such  Paymaster 
shall  be  allowed  one  and  a  half  per  cent,  for  said  service. 

Whereas,  a  sum  of  Money  is  necessary  for  payment  of 
incident  charges  of  Government : 

Be  it  therefore  enacted  by  the  Governour,  Council,  and 
Representatives  in  General  Court  assembled,  and  by  the 
authority  of  the  same,  That  there  be  forthwith  imprinted 
the  sum  of  fifty  thousand  Pounds,  Bills  of  Credit  on  this 
Colony,  equal  to  lawful  money,  of  suitable  denominations 

7 


419 


CONNECTICUT  ASSEMBLY,  APRIL,  1775. 


420 


as  the  Committee  herein  appointed  shall  direct,  and  of  the 
same  tenour  with  the  late  impression  of  Bills  of  Credit  of 
this  Colony,  without  interest,  payable  at  or  before  the  tenth 
day  of  May,  1777,  dated  the  ninth  day  of  May,  1775. 
William  Pitkin,  George  Wyllys,  Elisha  Williams,  Ben- 
jamin Payne,  and  Thomas  Seymour,  Esquires,  or  any  three 
of  them,  are  appointed  a  Committee  for  the  purpose  afore- 
said, to  take  care  that  said  Bills  be  imprinted  with  all  con- 
venient speed,  and  to  sign  and  deliver  the  same  to  the 
Treasurer  of  this  Colony,  taking  his  receipt  therefor.  And 
the  said  Committee  shall  be  sworn  to  a  faithful  discharge  of 
their  trust,  and  the  Treasurer  is  hereby  directed  to  pay  out 
said  Bills  according  to  the  orders  of  Assembly.  And  for 
providing  an  ample  and  sufficient  Fund  to  call  in,  sink,  and 
discharge  the  aforesaid  sum,  to  be  emitted  as  aforesaid, 

Be  it  enacted  by  the  authority  aforesaid,  That  a  Tax  of 
seven  pence  on  the  pound  be,  and  is  hereby  granted  and 
ordered  to  be  levied  on  all  the  Polls  and  Rateable  Estate 
in  this  Colony,  according  to  the  list  thereof,  to  be  brought 
into  this  Assembly  in  October,  1775,  with  the  additions ; 
which  Tax  shall  be  collected  and  paid  into  the  Treasury 
of  this  Colony  by  the  tenth  day  of  May,  1777  ;  which  Tax 
may  be  discharged  by  paying  the  Bills  of  this  Colony  of 
this  emission,  or  lawful  money  ;  and  the  Treasurer  of  this 
Colony  is  hereby  ordered  and  directed  to  send  forth  his 
Warrants  for  collecting  the  same  accordingly. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  take  into  consideration  what 
disposition  is  best  to  be  made  of  the  Colony  Powder,  hav- 
ing made  their  Report,  which  has  been  accepted,  it  is  now 

Resolved,  That  Captain  Jabez  Huntington,  of  Wind- 
ham, take  into  his  care  all  the  Powder  that  is  lodged  in  the 
County  of  Windham,  and  that  Mr.  Winthrop  Saltonstall 
take  into  his  care  the  Powder  lodged  in  the  Town  o(  New- 
London,  and  that  Jabez  Huntington,  Esquire,  of  Norwich, 
take  into  his  care  the  Powder  lodged  in  the  Town  of  Nor- 
wich, and  that  twenty-eight  half-barrels  of  the  Powder, 
lodged  at  New-Haven,  be  sent  to  the  County  of  Fairfield, 
and  committed  to  the  care  of  Thaddeus  Burr,  Esq. ;  and 
that  fourteen  half-barrels  of  the  Powder  lodged  at  New- 
Haven  be  sent  to  the  County  of  Litchfield,  to  the  care 
of  Lynde  Lord,  Esq.,  of  Litchfield,  and  the  remainder  of 
the  Powder  lodged  at  Neiv-Haven,  be  taken  into  the  care 
of  Jonathan  Fitch,  Esq.,  of  New-Haven.  And  the  afore- 
said persons  are  ordered  to  deliver  out  the  same  according 
to  such  orders  as  shall  from  time  to  time  be  given  them 
respectively  by  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Colony  ;  or  in 
case  of  some  sudden  and  extraordinary  emergency,  by  the 
Selectmen  of  the  respective  Towns  where  the  same  is 
lodged,  taking  their  receipts  therefor. 

And  it  is  further  Resolved,  That  if  any  more  Powder 
shall  be  brought  into  the  Colony,  for  the  use  and  defence 
thereof,  a  suitable  proportion  thereof  be  committed  to  the 
care  of  John  Lawrence,  Esq.,  of  Hartford,  and  the  re- 
mainder thereof  to  be  distributed  into  the  several  Counties 
in  some  suitable  proportion,  and  committed  to  the  care  of 
the  gentlemen  before  named,  to  be  disposed  as  aforesaid. 

This  Assembly  do  appoint  and  direct  Robert  Fair  child, 
Esq.,  and  Captain  Daniel  Judson,  to  inquire  after  and  take 
into  their  care,  for  the  use  of  the  Colony,  whatever  Stores, 
of  the  camp  or  military  kind,  belonging  to  said  Colony,  as 
may  be  found  with  the  heirs  of  Theophilus  Nichols,  Esq., 
deceased,  late  a  Commissary  for  this  Government,  or  in  the 
hands  of  any  other  person  in  Stratford ;  and  cause  any 
Arms  which  need,  to  be  forthwith  repaired,  and  make  re- 
port to  next  Assembly. 

This  Assembly  do  appoint  Mr.  Jedediah  Strong  to  make 
inquiry  at  Albany,  whether  any  Arms  belonging  to  this 
Colony,  and  left  there  during  the  last  War,  yet  remain 
there,  and  if  any,  how  many,  and  in  whoso  custody.  He 
is  also  to  receive  and  give  proper  receipts  in  behalf  of  this 
Colony  for  the  same,  and  cause  the  same  to  be  transported 
into  this  Colony  as  soon  as  conveniently  may  be,  and  make 
report  of  his  doings  in  the  premises  to  the  next  General 
Assembly. 

This  Assembly  do  appoint  Daniel  Lyman,  Enos  Allyn, 
Thomas  Howel,  Dudley  Woodbridge,  Joseph  Denison 
the  second,  Stephen  Babcock,  Gurdon  Saltonstall,  Tho- 
mas Mumford,  John  Lay,  Esquires,  Captain  John  Deshon, 
Captain  Richard  Dickinson,  and  Mr.  John  McCurdy,  a 
Committee,  to  take  into  consideration  the  best  method  and 


means  of  securing  and  defending  our  Sea-coast,  Ports,  and 
Shipping  therein,  and  to  state  the  facts,  and  report  their 
opinion  thereon  to  the  Assembly  in  May  next,  jointly  or 
severally,  without  expense  to  this  Colony. 

Resolved  by  this  Assembly,  That  Colonel  Gurdon  Sal- 
tonstall, Samuel  Mott,  Esq.,  and  Captain  John  Deshon, 
be,  and  they  are  hereby  appointed  a  Committee,  forthwith 
to  prepare  Carriages,  and  other  necessary  apparatus  for  the 
Cannon  at  New-London,  in  this  Colony,  so  that  they  may- 
be put  into  the  best  order  for  use,  in  case  of  necessity  for 
defence. 

Resolved  by  this  Assembly,  That  his  Honour  the  Gover- 
nour  be,  and  he  is  hereby  desired,  authorized,  and  em- 
powered, to  give  to  Brigadier-General  Spencer  an  order  to 
the  Colonels  of  the  six  Regiments  under  his  command,  to 
send  to  their  respective  Captains,  to  forward  the  enlistment 
of  the  inhabitants  and  men,  for  the  special  defence  and 
safety  of  this  Colony,  and  to  hold  themselves  in  readiness 
to  march  on  the  shortest  notice ;  and  the  four  Regiments 
commanded  by  Brigadier  Spencer  and  Putnam,  and  Colo- 
nels Hinman  and  Parsons,  or  such  part  of  them  as  his 
Honour  the  Governour  shall  order,  do  forthwith  get  into 
readiness  and  march  forward  to  Boston,  or  such  place  or 
places  adjoining  near  thereto  as  shall  be  ordered. 

Considering  the  dark  and  gloomy  aspect  of  Divine  Provi- 
dence over  this  Colony  and  land,  and  that  it  is  the  indis- 
pensable duty  of  every  People,  suffering  under  the  afflic- 
tive chastisements  of  a  righteous  God,  with  deep  repentance, 
supplication,  and  amendment  of  life,  to  endeavour,  by  all 
the  ways  which  God  has  prescribed,  to  avert  his  anger  and 
incline  him  to  become  reconciled  to  his  People, 

It  is  therefore  Resolved  by  this  Assembly,  That  it  be  re- 
commended to  all  the  Ministers  of  the  Gospel  in  this  Co- 
lony, that  they  earnestly  endeavour  to  dissuade  their  several 
congregations  from  all  excess  and  all  diversions  which  may- 
be improper  in  the  present  day  of  distress,  and  that  both 
they  and  their  people  cry  mightily  to  God,  that  he  would 
be  pleased  to  spare  his  People,  and  be  gracious  unto  them, 
and  visit  them  with  his  loving  kindness  and  tender  mercies, 
and  not  give  up  his  heritage  to  reproach,  but  preserve  unto 
them  their  great  and  important  rights  and  privileges,  and 
guide  and  prosper  the  Publick  Councils  of  this  Colony  and 
land,  and  in  their  hour  of  difficulty  and  distress,  graciously 
manifest  his  power  in  the  deliverance  and  salvation  of  his 
People,  to  the  glory  of  own  name. 

This  Assembly  being  informed  by  Charles  Webb,  Esq., 
Colonel  of  the  Ninth  Regiment  of  Militia  in  this  Colony, 
that  Clap  Raymond  of  Norwalk,  in  said  Regiment,  Lieu- 
tenant of  a  Company  of  Militia,  in  the  Parish  of  Wilton, 
in  said  Norwalk,  of  which  Matthew  Mead  is  Captain,  hath, 
ever  since  said  Mead  was  established  and  commissioned  as 
Captain  of  said  Company,  wholly  refused  to  obey  the 
orders  of  said  Captain,  or  do  his  duty  as  Lieutenant  of  said 
Company,  in  any  respect ; 

Resolved  by  this  Assembly,  That  the  aforesaid  Clap 
Raymond  be  notified  to  appear  before  the  General  Assem- 
bly, to  be  holden  at  this  place  on  the  second  Thursday  of 
May  next,  to  answer  unto  said  information,  and  be  dealt 
with  thereupon  as  the  wisdom  of  said  Assembly  shall  di- 
rect. And  that  in  the  mean  time  the  said  Clap  Raymond 
be,  and  he  is  hereby,  suspended  from  the  exercise  of  his 
office  of  Lieutenant  of  the  Company  aforesaid,  and  the 
Secretary  of  this  Colony  is  hereby  directed  and  authorized, 
by  warrant  under  his  hand,  to  give  notice  to  said  Clap 
Raymond  that  he  appear  and  answer  as  aforesaid. 

An  Act  to  repeal  an  Act,  entitled  An  Act  in  further  ad- 
dition to  an  Act  of  this  Colony,  entitled  an  Act  concern- 
ing Book  Debts. 

Whereas  a  further  continuance  of  said  Act  in  force  at 
this  time  may  prove  very  inconvenient  and  prejudicial  : 

Be  it  enacted  by  the  Governour,  Council,  and  Represent- 
atives in  General  Court  assembled,  and  by  the  authority 
of  the  same,  That  the  said  Act  be  repealed,  and  the  same 
is  hereby  repealed  and  made  void. 

An  Act  to  exempt,  for  a  limited  time,  the  persons  of 
Debtors  from  being  imprisoned  for  Debt. 
Whereas,  in  the  present  situation  of  our  publick  affairs  it 
will  be  prejudicial  to  tho  Colony  to  confine  persons  in  Jail 
for  Debt ; 


421 


■  I 

CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  APRIL,  1775. 


422 


Be  it  enacted  by  the  Governour,  Council,  and  Repre- 
tentatives  in  General  Court  assembled,  and  by  the  autho- 
rity of  the  same,  That  during  the  continuance  of  this  Act, 
no  person  shall  be  imprisoned  or  confined,  or  held  in  Prison, 
on  any  attachment  or  execution  for  Debt ;  and  in  every  case 
wherein  any  Debtor  is  released  out  of  Prison  by  virtue  of 
this  Act,  who  was  imprisoned  by  virtue  of  an  execution  for 
Debt,  the  Creditor  may  take  out  an  alias  execution  against 
the  estate  of  such  Debtor ;  and  the  Clerk  of  the  Court,  or 
the  authority  before  whom  the  judgment  was  rendered,  is 
hereby  authorized  to  issue  such  alias  execution,  upon  being 
certified  by  the  Sheriff*  that  such  Debtor  was  released  out 
of  Prison  without  satisfying  the  Debt,  by  virtue  of  which 
alias  execution  the  lawful  fees  for  the  former  service  and 
commitment  may  be  collected,  as  well  as  the  Debt.  This 
Act  to  continue  in  force  until  the  rising  of  the  General  As- 
sembly in  October  next. 

Upon  the  Memorial  of  Joseph  Gurnsey  and  others,  in- 
habitants of  the  Parish  of  Westbury,  in  the  Town  of  Wa- 
terbury,  shewing  to  this  Assembly  that  they  have,  with 
great  care  and  expense,  applied  themselves  to  the  use  of 
arms  and  military  exercises  for  a  considerable  time,  have 
gained  considerable  skill  in  military  exercises  and  the  art 
of  war,  and  praying  this  Assembly  to  constitute  them  a  spe- 
cial and  distinct  Military  Company,  &c,  as  per  Memorial 
on  file ; 

Resolved  by  this  Assembly,  That  the  Memorialists  be, 
and  they  are  hereby,  constituted  and  made  a  distinct  Mili- 
tary Company,  and  shall  be  distinguished  by  the  name  of 
the  Nineteenth  Company  in  the  Tenth  Regiment  in  this 
Colony,  with  power,  under  the  direction  of  the  Field  Offi- 
cers, to  receive  and  enlist  in  the  room  of  those  that  shall 
be  removed  by  death  or  otherwise  from  said  Company,  pro- 
vided the  enlistment  and  enrolment  aforesaid  be  made  from 
the  two  Military  Companies  in  the  Parish  of  Westbury,  in 
said  Town  of  Waterbury,  and  that  that  enlistment  and  enrol- 
ment do  not  reduce  the  number  of  men  in  the  two  Military 
Companies  aforesaid  below  the  number  by  law  established ; 
and  that  said  Company  be,  and  they  are  hereby,  consti- 
tuted with  all  the  powers,  privileges,  and  advantages,  and 
under  the  same  regulations  that  other  Companies  by  law 
do  enjoy  ;  and  the  Colonel,  or  chief  Officers  of  said  Regi- 
ment, is  hereby  directed  and  empowered  by  himself,  or  such 
officer  as  he  shall  appoint,  to  lead  said  company  to  the  choice 
of  their  Officers  on  their  being  first  formed  and  enlisted. 

Upon  the  Memorial  of  John  Sutliff,  Jun.,  and  others,  in- 
habitants of  the  Society  of  Northbury,  in  the  Town  of  Wa- 


terbury, shewing  to  this  Assembly  that  there  are  within  the 
limits  of  the  West  Company  or  Trainband  in  said  Society, 
the  major  part  of  which  have  evidently  discovered  them- 
selves inimical  to  the  Constitution  of  this  Colony,  &.C., 
and  under  Commissioned  Officers  wholly  disaffected  to  the 
American  cause,  praying  to  be  annexed  to  the  new  Com- 
pany or  Trainband  in  said  Northbury,  lately  established  by 
this  Assembly,  &c,  as  per  Memorial  on  file  ; 

Resolved  by  this  Assembly,  That  Tlwmas  Matthews  and 
Timothy  Judd,  Esquires,  be,  and  they  are  hereby  appointed 
a  Committee  to  inquire  how  far  said  Commissioned  Officers 
are  inimical  to,  or  disaffected  with,  the  American  cause, 
and  all  matters  contained  in  said  Memorial,  and  make  re- 
port to  the  next  General  Assembly. 

Upon  the  Memorial  of  Joseph  Monson  of  New-Haven, 
praying  for  permission  to  transport  in  the  Sea-Flower,  to 
the  West-Indies,  twenty-six  head  of  Cattle,  by  him  pur- 
chased for  that  purpose,  before  laying  the  embargo  by  this 
Assembly  ; 

Resolved,  That  said  Monson  have  liberty,  and  he  is  here- 
by permitted,  to  transport  said  Cattle  in  said  vessel  to  the 
West-India  Islands. 

Upon  the  Memorial  of  Joseph  White,  of  Weathersjield, 
in  Hartford  County,  shewing  that  before  any  embargo  was 
laid  by  this  Assembly,  he  had  procured  twenty  Cattle  and 
necessary  provisions  for  them,  and  eighty  barrels  of  Pork, 
to  be  laden  on  board  a  vessel  he  owns,  called  the  Schooner 
Fox,  commanded  by  James  Mitchell,  and  destined  on  a 
voyage  to  the  West-Indies,  and  that  said  Cattle  remain  on 
his  hands  at  great  expense  and  loss,  &ic,  praying  for  liberty 
to  export  said  Cattle  in  said  vessel,  &ic,  as  per  Memorial 
on  file,  dated  May  3,  1775; 

Resolved  by  this  Assembly,  That  the  Memorialist,  upon 
his  taking  out  said  eighty  barrels  of  Pork,  except  so  much 
as  is  necessary  for  sea-stores,  have  liberty,  and  liberty  is 
given  to  him.  to  export  said  twenty  Cattle  in  said  vessel  to 
the  West-Indies,  any  thing  in  said  Act  laying  an  embargo 
notwithstanding. 

Upon  the  Memorial  of  Hezekiah  Smith,  shewing  that 
he  had  planned  a  voyage  to  the  West-Indies,  &.c. ; 

Resolved  by  this  Assembly,  That  the  said  Hezekiah 
Smith  have  liberty,  and  liberty  is  given  and  granted  to  him 
to  ship  the  said  fourteen  Cattle  to  the  West-Indies  on  board 
the  vessel  whereof  he  is  master,  the  said  embargo  lately 
laid  by  this  Assembly  notwithstanding. 

This  Assembly  was  adjourned  by  proclamation  without 
day.  George  Wyllys,  Secretary. 


PHILADELPHIA  COMMITTEE. 

Committee  Chamber,  April  27,  1775. 

W  hereas  the  Continental  Congress  did  resolve  in  the 
words  following,  viz  :  "  And  we  further  agree  and  associate 
that  we  will  have  no  Trade,  Commerce,  Dealings,  or  In- 
tercourse whatever,  with  any  Colony  or  Province  in  North 
America  which  shall  not  accede  to,  or  which  shall  hereaf- 
ter violate  this  Association,"  &tc. 

And  whereas  the  Parliament  of  Great  Britain,  in  pur- 
suance of  their  plan  for  subjugating  and  distressing  the 
Colonies,  have  passed  a  Bill  for  depriving  our  brethren  in 
New-England  of  the  benefit  of  Fishing  on  their  own  Coasts ; 
therefore, 

Resolved,  That  all  Exportations  from  this  City  to  Que- 
beck,  Nova-Scotia,  Georgia,  and  Newfoundland,  or  any 
part  of  the  Fishing  Coasts  or  Fishing  Islands,  ought,  in 
the  opinion  of  this  Committee,  immediately  to  be  suspend- 
ed ;  and  that  it  be  accordingly  recommended  to  every 
Merchant  immediately  to  suspend  all  Exportations  to  those 
places,  until  the  Continental  Congress  shall  give  further 
orders  therein.  By  order  of  the  Committee  of  the  City 
and  Liberties  of  Philadelphia. 

Jonathan  B.  Smith,  Secretary. 


STEPHEN"  HOPKINS  TO  THE  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  MASSA- 
CHUSETTS CONGRESS. 

Providence,  Rhode-Island,  April  27,  1775. 

Sir:  "Yesterday.  Mr.  John  Brown,  one  of  the  principal 
merchants  of  this  Town,  being  at  Newport,  as  an  agent  of 


this  Colony  appointed  by  the  General  Assembly  to  pur- 
chase provisions  for  the  use  of  this  and  your  Government, 
was  seized  upon  in  a  freight  or  packet  boat  coming  to  Pro- 
vidence. He  was  carried  and  confined  on  board  a  Man-of- 
War  lying  in  Newport,  and  about  three  hundred  barrels  of 
flour  in  that  packet  and  another  freight  boat,  taken  by  the 
Ship-of-War.  It  is  said  the  captures  are  to  be  sent  to 
Boston  for  condemnation. 

We  are  greatly  alarmed  at  this  open  force  and  hostility, 
and  cannot  but  expect  that  the  worst  of  treatment  will  be 
offered  to  our  agent.  We  have  thought  proper  to  send 
you  this  notice,  to  the  end  that  you  may  detain  all  such  of 
the  King's  Officers,  or  others,  in  his  immediate  service,  as 
may  be  in  your  hands,  to  answer  and  be  accountable  for 
the  conduct  and  treatment  which  may  be  had  and  acted  to 
Mr.  Brown,  and  such  as  may  be  captured  with  him  in  the 
said  two  vessels ;  and  that  you  would,  on  your  part,  in  the 
common  cause,  do  your  utmost  to  make  reprisals  of  per- 
sons to  stand  as  security  in  like  manner ;  not  doubting  but 
you  will  cheerfully  do  those  things  which,  by  the  laws  of 
Nature  and  Nations,  are  justifiable  to  be  done  to  those  who 
put  themselves  in  a  state  of  war  with  others. 

We  are  sorry  to  inform  you  that  the  first  struggle  which 
hath  happened  in  our  Colony,  hath  been  unfavourable;  an 
event  which  could  not  have  come  to  pass,  but  by  the  faith- 
lessness of  some  of  the  Members  of  our  Assembly,  who 
must  have  revealed  their  proceedings,  although  the  oath  of 
God  was  upon  them  to  secrecy. 

Reprisals,  recommended  by  the  Continental  Congress, 
and  sanctioned  by  the  several  Colonies,  appears  to  be  a 


# 


423 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  he,  APRIL,  1775. 


421 


good  remedial  provision,  and  in  this  instance  highly  neces- 
sary to  be  put  in  practice ;  and  we  shall  not  fail  ourselves 
to  make  use  of  it  at  every  opportunity,  and  make  the  life 
of  every  Crown  Officer  in  our  power  security  for  the  safety 
of  John  Brown,  and  those  captured  with  him. 

I  am,  Sir,  for  myself,  and  in  behalf  of  all  the  true  friends 
of  freedom  in  this  Colony,  your  friend  and  servant, 

Step.  Hopkins. 
To  the  President  of  the  Provincial  Congress  of  Massachu- 
setts-Bay, at  Concord,  or  elsewhere.    On  express  by 
Doctor  IV m.  Bo  won. 

COLONEL   ISAAC   LEE   TO   GOVERNOUR  TRUMBULL. 

Farmington,  April  27,  1775. 
Honoured  Sir:  In  consequence  of  the  alarming  scenes 
that  have  occurred  of  late,  by  advice  of  the  Field  Officers 
and  others  of  the  Fifteenth  Regiment,  in  this  Colony,  I  gave 
orders  for  the  whole  Regiment  under  my  command  to  be 
prepared  with  arms  and  ammunition,  and  cartridges,  and 
every  thing  necessary  for  the  defence  of  the  Country  ;  and 
to  hold  themselves  ready  to  march  at  the  shortest  notice. 
There  appeared  such  a  spirit  of  zeal  in  the  soldiers  for  an 
immediate  march,  that  it  was  with  difficulty  that  they  were 
prevented,  until  they  might  have  orders  from  the  Captain- 
General,  or  the  General  Assembly.  It  appeared  to  us  to 
be  attended  with  very  dangerous  consequences,  and  to  have 
a  tendency  to  ruin  the  State,  to  march  in  such  independent 
Companies,  and  ought  by  no  means  to  be  adopted  but  in 
a  case  of  absolute  necessity.  On  being  assured  by  (as  we 
thought)  good  authority,  that  more  Troops  were  arrived, 
&c,  gave  orders  for  one-fifth  of  the  Regiment  to  meet  at 
the  parade  of  the  First  Society,  on  the  26th  of  April  in- 
stant, at  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning.  About  one  hundred 
and  twenty  able-bodied  men  appeared,  and  being  divided 
into  two  Companies,  I  led  them  to  the  choice  of  their 
officers,  &ic.  The  First  Company  made  choice  of  Captain 
Neadiah  Hooker  for  their  Captain,  and  Lieutenant  Peter 
Curtis,  First  Lieutenant,  Sergeant  David  Mather,  Second 
Lieutenant,  Sergeant  Amos  ....  Ensign.  I  then 
led  the  Second  Company  to  a  choice,  and  they  made 
choice  of  Captain  Asa  Bray  for  their  Captain,  Lieutenant 
Joseph  Byington,  First  Lieutenant,  Sergeant  Amos  Beech- 
er,  Second  Lieutenant,  Sergeant  Ambrose  Sloper,  Ensign, 
&tc,  on  which  they  were  ordered  to  hold  themselves  in 
readiness  to  march  when  they  should  receive  orders  from 
the  Captain-General,  or  the  General  Assembly,  he,  and 
then  dismissed,  and  desired  them  to  attend  the  business  of 
their  respective  farms  until  further  orders,  he. 
Certified  by  your  Honour's  humble  servant, 

Isaac  Lee,  Jr.,  Colonel. 
To  the  Honourable  Jonathan  Trumbull,  Esquire,  Captain- 
General  of  His  Majesty's  Troops  in  the  Colony  of  Con- 
necticut, &{C. 

N.  B.  There  is  also  provisions  contracted  for — enough 
at  least  for  twenty  days,  as  also  teams  and  carriages. 


JEDEDIAH  HUNTINGTON  TO  JONATHAN  TRUMBULL,  JUN. 

Cambridge,  Thursday,  April  27,  1775. 

Dear  Sir:  I  came  into  this  place  through  Roxbury,  last 
evening,  and  find  great  numbers  of  Troops,  or  rather  armed 
men,  in  much  more  confusion  than  I  expected,  but  perhaps 
with  as  little  as  possible,  in  this  disordered  state  of  the 
Massachusetts.  Most  of  the  soldiers  here  are  inhabitants 
of  this  Province,  who  are  now  enlisting  in  a  regular  man- 
ner. General  Ward  is  at  Roxbury  ;  General  Putnam  is 
Commander-in-chief  at  this  place.  They  have  both  of  them 
too  much  business  upon  their  hands.  I  wish  our  General 
Officers,  as  soon  as  appointed,  might  immediately  repair  to 
Head  Quarters ;  they  will,  at  this  crisis  of  Provincial  poli- 
ticks, be  very  cordially  accepted,  and  be  of  eminent  service. 

The  Committee  of  Safety,  who  are  the  primwn  mobile 
in  the  military  movements,  are  crowded  with  business.  It 
is  expected  by  many,  that  the  inhabitants  of  Boston  will 
have  leave  to  come  out  this  day,  with  their  effects,  provided 
they  leave  their  arms  and  provisions.  It  is  said  that  pork 
sold  there  yesterday  for  a  pistareen  per  pound,  and  milk 
for  a  pistareen  per  quart.  Many  are  suspicious  that  the 
General  intends  to  deceive  them  till  he  get  possession  of 
their  arms.    An  experienced  Engineer  deserted  to  the 


Castle  the  25th  instant.  Mr.  Josiah  Quincy  is  arrived 
from  London,  in  a  very  low  state  of  health,  and  not  ex- 
pected to  live.  The  Restraining  Act  is  come  by  the  same 
ship.  The  reinforcements  from  England  were  not  to  sail 
till  the  middle  of  April.  I  will,  if  possible,  enclose  you  a 
Salem  paper.  I  expected  to  have  seen  brother  Joseph  by 
this  time.    Your  affectionate  brother, 

Jei>.  Huntington. 

Mr.  Jonathan  Trumbull,  Junior. 


committee  of  safety  to  the  selectmen  of  boston. 

Cambridge,  April  27,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  Your  letter  of  the  25th  instant  came  to 
hand  last  evening,  or  you  should  have  had  an  answer  soon- 
er. We  feel  for  you  with  the  keenest  sensibility.  Nothing 
on  our  part  shall  be  wanting.  Our  wish  is,  to  know  when 
you  are  to  be  permitted  to  come  out ;  and  at  what  time. 
We  shall  encourage  the  wagoners  to  go  in.  We  have  no 
desire  to  injure  or  molest  the  person  or  property  of  any  one 
who  inclines  to  take  refuge  in  Boston ;  and  so  soon  as  we 
know  the  day  appointed  for  you  to  come  out,  and  the  time 
limited  therefor,  we  shall  take  care  that  our  part  is  per- 
formed with  that  punctuality  which  we  are  determined  ever 
to  observe  in  all  cases  where  the  honour  of  our  Country,  or 
the  safety  of  our  beloved  countrymen  is  concerned.  We 
desire  that  we  may  be  furnished,  without  delay,  with  an 
authenticated  copy  of  your  engagements  with  the  General, 
and  such  other  information  as  is  necessary  for  us. 
We  are,  gentlemen,  he. 


COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY  TO  THE  SELECTMEN  OF  BOSTON. 

Cambridge,  April  27,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  It  is  here  currently  reported,  that  General 
Gage  gives  out  publickly  that  the  Povincials  fired  upon 
his  detachment  before  the  Troops  fired  upon  the  Provin- 
cials. Such  a  report  occasions  astonishment  and  resent- 
ment, as  there  is  the  clearest  evidence,  not  only  that  the 
Troops  fired  first  at  Lexington,  and  killed  eight  men  there 
before  our  people  fired  one  gun,  and  then  marched  several 
miles  further,  to  Concord,  and  killed  two  men  and  wounded 
several  others,  before  one  gun  was  fired  in  that  place  by 
our  men.  He  is  a  man,  we  trust,  of  too  much  honour  to 
propagate  such  a  false  account,  and  has  been  scandalously 
deceived  by  his  officers. 

We. think  it  probable  that  ten  days  may  suffice  for  re- 
moving your  persons  and  most  valuable  effects.  We  hope 
you  will  take  care  that  your  agreement  is  expressed  in  the 
most  unequivocal  terms.  We  take  it  that  it  is  not  expected 
that  we  suffer  any  persons  to  remove  into  Town,  besides 
such  as  mean  to  take  up  their  residence  there. 

We  are,  he. 


boston  committee  to  the  committee  of  safety. 

Boston,  April  27,  1775. 

Sir:  Agreeably  to  your  desire  expressed  in  your  letter 
of  this  date,  we  send  you  the  following,  which  contains 
what  has  passed  this  day  between  his  Excellency  General 
Gage,  and  the  Committee,  respecting  the  inhabitants  re- 
moving from  the  Town  of  Boston.  We  presume  there 
will  be  a  speedy  application  for  passes,  as  there  are  a  con- 
siderable number  already  who  have  given  in  their  names, 
according  to  his  Excellency's  prescription,  and  therefore 
apprehend  wagoners  may  be  encouraged  to  come  in  as 
soon  as  may  be. 

It  is  with  great  satisfaction  we  observe  your  determina- 
tion not  to  injure  or  molest  the  person  or  property  of  any 
one  who  inclines  to  take  refuge  in  Boston,  and  hope  you 
have  made  proclamation  for  them  to  come  in  accordingly  ; 
and  that  as  soon  as  you  know  the  time  appointed  for  us  to 
remove  out  of  the  Town,  you  are  so  kindly  disposed  to  as- 
sist us  all  in  your  power  under  our  perplexed  circum- 
stances. 

We  could  not  give  you  an  earlier  answer,  as  your  letter 
did  not  come  to  hand  till  late  this  afternoon. 

1  am,  respectfully,  in  behalf  of  the  Committee,  your 
most  obedient  humble  servant,  John  Scollay. 

To  Doctor  Jos.  Warren,  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of 

Congress. 


425 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  APRIL,  1775. 


426 


P.  S.  We  beg  you  will  proclaim  in  every  Township, 
that  all  persons  desirous  of  coming  into  Boston  with  their 
effects,  may  come  without  molestation  ;  and  that  we  may 
be  authorized  immediately  to  send  five  or  six  persons,  or 
gentlemen's  servants,  to  ride  through  the  different  Towns 
or  Parishes,  with  open  letters  to  the  families  of  such  people 
as  are  desirous  to  come  to  Boston,  to  give  them  proper  no- 
tice. You  will  favour  us  with  an  answer  as  soon  as  possi- 
ble.   I  am,  as  above,  your  most  humble  servant, 

John  Scollav. 

Town-Meeting,  Boston,  April  27,  1775. 
The  Committee  waited  on  his  Excellency  General  Gage, 
with  the  Papers  containing  the  account  of  the  Arms  de- 
livered to  the  Selectmen,  and  the  Return  made  them  by 
the  Constables  of  the  Town,  relative  to  the  delivery  of 
Arms  in  their  respective  Wards.  After  long  conversation 
on  the  subject  of  the  inhabitants  removing  themselves  and 
effects  from  the  Town,  his  Excellency  being  obliged  to  at- 
tend to  other  business,  left  the  affair  to  be  settled  with 
Brigadier  General  Robertson,  who,  after  further  conference, 
and  reporting  the  substance  of  it  to  General  Gage,  return- 
ed to  the  Committee,  and  declared  to  them  that  General 
Gage  gives  liberty  to  the  inhabitants  to  remove  out  of 
the  Town,  with  their  effects ;  and  desires  that  such  in- 
habitants as  intend  to  remove,  would  give  their  names  to 
the  Selectmen,  and  signify  whether  they  mean  to  convey 
out  their  effects  by  land  or  water,  in  order  that  passes  may 
be  prepared  ;  for  which  passes  application  may  be  made  to 
General  Robertson  any  time  after  eight  o'clock  to-morrow 
morning ;  such  passes  to  be  had  as  soon  as  persons  want- 
ing them  shall  be  ready  to  depart. 


DOCTOR  JOSEPH   WARREN   TO   ARTHUR  LEE. 

Cambridge,  April  27,  1775. 

My  Dear  Sir:  Our  friend  Quincy  just  lived  to  come 
on  shore  to  die  in  his  own  Country  ;  he  expired  yesterday 
morning.  His  virtues  rendered  him  dear,  and  his  abilities 
useful  to  his  Country. 

The  wicked  measures  of  the  Administration  have  at 
length  brought  matters  to  a  crisis.  I  think  it  probable  that 
this  rage  of  the  people,  excited  by  the  most  clear  view  of 
the  cursed  designs  of  the  Administration,  and  the  barba- 
rous effusion  of  the  blood  of  their  countrymen,  will  lead 
them  to  attack  General  Gage,  and  burn  the  ships  in  the 
harbour. 

Lord  Chatham  and  our  friends  must  make  up  the  breach 
immediately,  or  never.  If  any  thing  terrible  takes  place, 
it  will  not  do  to  talk  of  calling  the  Colonies  to  account  for 
it ;  but  it  must  be  attributed  to  the  true  cause — the  un- 
heard-of provocation  given  to  this  people.  They  will 
never  talk  of  accommodation  until  the  present  Ministry 
are  entirely  removed.  You  may  depend  the  Colonies  will 
sooner  suffer  depopulation  than  come  into  any  measures 
with  them. 

The  next  news  from  England  must  be  conciliatory,  or 
the  connexion  between  us  ends,  however  fatal  the  conse- 
quences may  be.  Prudence  may  yet  alleviate  the  misfor- 
tunes, and  calm  the  convulsions  into  which  the  Empire  is 
thrown,  by  the  madness  of  the  present  Administration. 
May  God  Almighty  direct  you.  If  any  thing  is  proposed 
which  may  be  for  the  honour  and  safety  of  Great  Britain 
and  these  Colonies,  my  utmost  efforts  will  not  be  wanting 
to  effect  a  reconciliation.  I  am,  in  the  utmost  haste,  sur- 
rounded by  fifteen  or  twenty  thousand  men,  your  most 
obedient  servant,  Jos.  Warren. 

To  Arthur  Lee,  Esquire,  London. 

P.  S.  The  Narrative  sent  to  Doctor  Franklin  contains 
a  true  state  of  facts ;  but  it  was  difficult  to  make  the  peo- 
ple willing  that  any  notice  should  be  taken  of  the  matter  by 
way  of  narrative,  unless  the  Army  and  Navy  were  taken 
or  driven  away.  J.  W. 

EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  QUEBECK,   APRIL  27,  1775. 

The  Governour's  Commission  from  the  King  was  read 
here  on  Monday,  the  24th  instant.  He  has  very  ample 
powers ;  he  chooses  all  the  Members  of  the  Council  him- 
self, and  can  discharge  them  at  pleasure ;  can  oblige  what 
number  of  His  Majesty's  subjects  in  Canada  he  pleases  to 


march  against  any  enemy,  or  supposed  enemy,  when  he 
shall  think  fit ;  can  build  forts,  or  do  any  thing  else  with 
the  people's  money,  and  demolish  them  at  pleasure.  In 
short,  he  is  possessed  of  absolute  and  despotick  power, 
only  with  this  difference,  (if  it  is  any,)  that  the  majority 
of  the  Council  (who  hold  their  seats  as  before-mentioned) 
must  approve  of  his  measures.  The  Council  consists  of 
twenty-three  persons,  seven  of  them  Roman  Catholicks. 


Williamsburgh,  Virginia,  April  28,  1775. 

Yesterday,  at  about  one  o'clock,  Mann  Page,  Junior, 
Esquire,  one  of  the  Representatives  for  Spottsylvania, 
arrived  here  in  twenty-four  hours  from  Fredericksburgh, 
being  charged  by  a  number  of  people  from  different  Coun- 
ties, now  assembling  there,  to  inquire  whether  the  gun- 
powder had  been  replaced  in  the  publick  magazine,  the 
removal  of  which  had  spread  a  general  alarm,  and  greatly 
exasperated  all  ranks  of  people.  Expresses  had  been  sent 
into  several  Counties,  and  it  was  expected  that  upwards  of 
two  thousand  men  would  be  assembled  in  Fredericksburgh 
by  this  evening ;  and  the  Militia  of  Caroline  were  ordered 
to  meet  to-morrow  at  ten  o'clock,  to  be  in  readiness  to 
join  those  of  the  upper  Counties.  Mr.  Page  returned 
again  in  the  evening,  and  carried  a  letter  from  the  Honour- 
able the  Speaker,  to  endeavour  to  pacify  the  people  ;  and 
as  that  gentleman  sets  out  to-morrow  by  land  to  attend  the 
General  Congress,  we  hear  he  proposes  meeting  them  ; 
and  it  is  hoped,  from  his  great  influence,  that  he  will  be 
able  to  prevail  on  them  to  return  home,  and  rest  satisfied 
with  the  Governour's  promise  that  the  powder  shall  be 
given  up  when  there  is  occasion  for  it.  The  independent 
Companies  of  Caroline  and  Spottsyhania,  we  hear,  have 
determined  to  escort  the  Delegates  from  this  Colony  to 
Hooe's  Ferry,  on  Potomack. 


PROCLAMATION  BY  GOVERNOUR  FRANKLIN. 

Perth-Amboy. 

By  His  Excellency  William  Franklin,  Esq.,  Captain- 
General,  Governour,  and  Commander-in-Chief  in  and 
over  the  Province  of  New-Jersey,  and  Territories 
thereon  depending,  in  America,  Chancellor  and  Vice- 
Admiral  in  the  same,  fyc. : 

A  Proclamation. 
Whereas  I  have  lately  received  despatches  from  one  of 
His  Majesty's  principal  Secretaries  of  State,  containing 
matters  of  great  importance  to  the  Colony,  in  the  present 
situation  of  publick  affairs,  and  calculated  to  restore  that 
harmony  between  Great  Britain  and  her  American  Colo- 
nies so  essential  to  the  interest  and  happiness  of  both  ;  and 
being  desirous  of  communicating  the  same  as  early  as  pos- 
sible to  the  General  Assembly  of  this  Colony,  in  order  to 
give  them  an  opportunity  of  using  their  best  endeavours 
towards  effecting  so  desirable  a  purpose ;  I  have,  there- 
fore, thought  fit,  and  by  and  with  the  advice  and  consent 
of  His  Majesty's  Council,  do  hereby  appoint  the  said  Gen- 
eral Assembly  to  meet  at  the  City  of  Burlington,  on  Mon- 
day, the  15th  day  of  May  next  ;  of  which  all  His  Majes- 
ty's subjects  concerned  therein  are  required  to  take  notice, 
and  govern  themselves  accordingly. 

Given  under  my  hand  and  seal  at  arms,  at  the  City  of 
Perth-Amboy,  the  twenty-eighth  day  of  April,  in  the 
fifteenth  year  of  the  reign  of  our  Sovereign  Lord  King 
George  the  Third,  Annoq.  Domini  one  thousand  seven  hun- 
dred and  seventy-five.  William  Franklin. 
By  His  Excellency's  command  : 

Charles  Pettit,  D.  Secretary. 
God  save  the  King. 


MEETING  OF  THE   INHABITANTS   OF  PERTH-AMBOY, 
NEW-JERSEY. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  North  Ward  of 
the  City  of  Perth-Amboy,  on  Friday,  the  28th  of  April, 
1775: 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  James  Parker,  Stephen 
Skinner,  and  Jonathan  Deare,  Esquires,  or  any  two  of  them, 
be  a  standing  Committee  of  Correspondence  for  the  North 
Ward  of  this  City. 


427 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  APRIL,  1775. 


428 


A  copy  of  a  Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Corres- 
pondence of  Princeton,  signed  by  Jonathan  D.  Sergeant, 
Esquire,  Clerk  to  the  said  Committee,  transmitted  by  the 
Committee  of  Woodbridge,  and  by  them  directed  to  the 
inhabitants  of  this  City,  was  read,  wherein,  after  mention- 
ing the  very  alarming  intelligence  lately  received,  a  Pro- 
vincial Congress  for  this  Province  is  proposed  to  be  held 
on  the  5th  day  of  May  next ;  and  a  meeting  of  the  inhabi- 
tants being  now  called,  that  their  sense  might  be  taken  on 
the  necessity  and  propriety  of  choosing  Deputies  to  attend 
the  said  Congress : 

The  question  was  thereupon  put,  whether  Deputies 
shall  be  sent  or  not,  and  carried  in  the  affirmative  unani- 
mously. 

James  Parker,  Stephen  Skinner,  and  Jonathan  Deare, 
Esquires,  were  then  nominated  as  Deputies  to  attend  the 
said  Congress  to  represent  this  City,  and  were  unanimously 
chosen  ;  and  it  is  requested  that  they,  or  any  one  or  more 
of  them  do  attend  the  said  Congress  accordingly. 

It  is  also  agreed  by  the  inhabitants  now  assembled,  that 
the  expenses  of  the  Deputies  who  shall  attend  the  said 
Congress  be  defrayed  by  this  City. 

It  is  also  requested  that  Mr.  Deare  acquaint  the  Com- 
mittees of  Princeton  and  Woodbridge  of  the  proceedings 
of  this  meeting.    By  order  of  the  meeting  : 

John  Thomson,  Clerk. 


ADDRESS  OF  THE   NEW-YORK  COMMITTEE. 

New-York,  April  28,  1775. 
To  the  Freeholders  and  Freemen  of  the  City  and  County 
of  New-York  : 

We  regret,  gentlemen,  the  necessity  we  are  under  of 
addressing  you  upon  this  occasion,  and  perceive  with 
anxiety  the  disorder  and  confusion  into  which  this  City 
lias  been  unfortunately  involved. 

From  cool  and  temperate  counsels  only,  good  conse- 
quences may  be  expected  ;  nor  can  union  (so  essential  to 
the  success  of  our  cause)  be  preserved,  unless  every  mem- 
ber of  society  will  consent  to  be  governed  by  the  sense  of 
the  majority,  and  join  in  having  that  sense  fairly  and  can- 
didly ascertained. 

Conscious  that  the  powers  you  conferred  upon  us  were 
not  adequate  to  the  present  exigency  of  affairs,  we  were 
unanimously  of  opinion  that  another  Committee  should  be 
appointed ;  and  well  knowing  that  questions  of  the  highest 
moment  and  the  last  importance  would  come  under  their 
consideration,  and  call  for  their  determination,  we  thought 
it  most  advisable  that  it  should  consist  of  a  large  number, 
in  order,  by  interesting  many  of  weight  and  consequence  in 
all  publick  measures,  they  might  meet  with  the  more  advo- 
cates, receive"  less  opposition,  and  be  attended  with  more 
certain  success. 

The  names  of  one  hunched  persons  were  mentioned  by 
this  Committee  ;  you  were  left  at  liberty  to  approve  or  re- 
ject them,  and  appoint  others  in  their  room  ;  and  that  your 
sense  might  be  the  better  taken,  polls  in  each  Ward  were 
directed  to  be  opened.    What  could  be  more  fair? 

By  all  means,  gentlemen,  let  us  avoid  divisions;  and  in- 
stead of  cherishing  a  spirit  of  animosity  against  one  another, 
let  us  join  in  forwarding  a  reconciliation  of  all  parties,  and 
thereby  strengthen  the  general  cause. 

Many,  no  doubt,  have  become  objects  of  distrust  and  sus- 
picion, and,  perhaps,  not  without  reason  ;  you  have  now 
an  opportunity  of  trying  them.  It  surely  never  can  be 
good  policy  to  put  it  out  of  their  power  to  join  us  heartily; 
it  is  time  enough  to  reject  them  when  they  refuse  us  their 
aid.  In  short,  gentlemen,  consider  that  our  contest  is  for 
liberty;  and  therefore  we  should  be  extremely  cautious 
bow  we  permit  our  struggles  to  hurry  us  into  acts  of  vio- 
lence and  extravagance  inconsistent  with  freedom. 

Permit  us  to  entreat  you  to  consider  these  matters 
seriously,  and  act  with  temper  as  well  as  firmness;  and, 
by  all  means,  join  in  the  appointment  of  some  Committee, 
to  whom  you  may  resort  for  counsel,  and  who  may  rescue 
you  from  tumult,  anarchy,  and  confusion. 

We  take  the  liberty,  therefore,  of  recommending  it  to 
you  to  go  to  the  usual  places  of  election  in  each  of  your 
Wards,  on  Monday  next  at  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning, 
and  then  and  there  give  your  voices  for  a  Committee  of  one 
hundred  ;  to  consist  of  such  persons  as  you  may  think  most 


worthy  of  confidence  and  most  capable  of  the  arduous  task. 
Being  also  fully  persuaded  of  the  necessity  of  a  Provincial 
Convention  being  summoned  with  all  possible  expedition, 
we  recommend  it  to  you,  at  the  same  time,  to  choose 
twenty  Deputies  to  represent  this  City  and  County  in  such 
Convention,  to  meet  here  on  the  22d  day  of  May  next. 
By  order  of  the  Committee  : 

Isaac  Low,  Chairman. 

COMMITTEE  FOR  THE  CITY  OF  NEW-YORK  TO  THE  SEVERAL 
COUNTIES  IN  THE  PROVINCE. 
Committee  Chamber,  New-York,  April  28,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  The  distressed  and  alarming  situation  of 
our  Country,  occasioned  by  the  sanguinary  measures  adopt- 
ed by  the  British  Ministry,  (to  enforce  which  the  sword 
has  been  actually  drawn  against  our  brethren  in  the  Mas- 
sachusetts,) threatening  to  involve  this  Continent  in  all  the 
horrours  of  a  civil  war,  obliges  us  to  call  for  the  united  aid 
and  counsel  of  the  Colony  at  this  dangerous  crisis. 

Most  of  the  Deputies  who  composed  the  late  Provincial 
Congress  held  in  this  City,  were  only  vested  with  powers 
to  choose  Delegates  to  represent  the  Province  at  the  next 
Continental  Congress,  and  the  Convention  having  executed 
that  trust,  dissolved  themselves.  It  is  therefore  thought 
advisable  by  this  Committee,  that  a  Provincial  Congress 
be  immediately  summoned  to  deliberate  upon,  and  from 
time  to  time  to  direct  such  measures  as  may  be  expedient 
for  our  common  safety. 

We  persuade  ourselves  that  no  arguments  can  now  be 
wanting  to  evince  the  necessity  of  a  perfect  union ;  and 
we  know  of  no  method  in  which  the  united  sense  of  the 
people  of  the  Province  can  be  collected,  but  in  the  one 
now  proposed.  We  therefore  entreat  your  County  hear- 
tily to  unite  in  the  choice  of  proper  persons  to  represent 
them  at  a  Provincial  Congress  to  be  held  in  this  City  on 
the  22d  of  May  next.  Twenty  Deputies  are  proposed  for 
this  City,  and  in  order  to  give  the  greater  weight  and  in- 
fluence to  the  councils  of  the  Congress,  we  could  wish  the 
number  of  Deputies  from  the  Counties  may  be  consider- 
able. 

We  can  assure  you,  that  the  appointment  of  a  Provin- 
cial Congress,  approved  of  by  the  inhabitants  of  this  City 
in  general,  is  the  most  proper  and  salutary  measure  that 
can  be  adopted  in  the  present  melancholy  state  of  this  Con- 
tinent ;  and  we  shall  be  happy  to  find  that  our  brethren  in 
the  different  Counties  concur  with  us  in  opinion.  By  or- 
der of  the  Committee  :  Isaac  Low,  Chairman. 


TO  THE  INHABITANTS  OF  NEW-YORK. 

New-York,  April  28,  177o. 

On  the  18th  of  instant,  April,  the  humane  and  benevo- 
lent General  Gage  ordered  a  select  number  of  about  twelve- 
hundred  of  his  Grenadiers  and  best  Troops,  in  a  most 
secret  manner,  to  march  up  the  country  as  far  as  Concord, 
(as  supposed)  to  seize  Colonel  Hancock  and  Mr.  Samuel 
Adams.  The  first  exploit  they  performed  was  in  their 
way  to  Lexington ;  they  found  about  thirty  men  exercis- 
ing, and,  without  any  provocation,  fired  upon  them,  (for 
about  fifteen  minutes,)  killed  six  men,  and  wounded  seve- 
ral when  they  were  retreating  as  fast  as  possible  ;  then  the 
Troops  proceeded  on  their  way  to  Concord.  On  the  road 
they  killed  a  man  on  horseback,  and  killed  geese,  hogs, 
cattle,  and  every  living  creature  they  came  across ;  they 
came  to  the  house  where  said  Hancock  and  Adams  lodged, 
(who  luckily  escaped  them  ;)  they  searched  the  house,  and 
when  they  could  not  find  them,  these  barbarians  killed  the 
woman  of  the  house  and  all  the  children  in  cool  blood,  and 
then  set  the  house  on  fire. 

Alas !  would  not  the  heathen,  in  all  their  savage  bar- 
barity and  cruelty,  blush  at  such  horrid  murder,  and  worse 
than  brutal  rage?  Is  this  the  bravery  of  British  Troops? 
Is  this  the  part  of  a  truly  great  commander?  Is  this  the 
native  courage  and  intrepidity  of  English  soldiers,  so  much 
boasted  of?  Is  it  not  rather  the  ferocity  of  a  mad  wild 
beast,  from  whom  they  cannot  be  supposed  to  differ  only 
in  shape  ?  Let  every  American  hear  and  abhor ;  let  every 
inhabitant  consider  what  he  is  likely  to  suffer  if  he  falls 
into  the  hands  of  such  cruel  and  merciless  wretches ;  what 
miseries  and  calamities  shall  we  not  be  subjected  to,  if  we 


429 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  APRIL,  1715. 


430 


submit  to  the  unrighteous  and  tyrannical  claims  of  the  Par- 
liament, of  taking  what  we  call  our  own,  when  and  in  what 
manner  they  please,  without  our  consent ;  don't  this  teach 
us  that  a  body  of  men,  as  well  as  a  particular  person,  may 
tyrannically  oppress  ?  Let  every  American  consider  what 
interest  have  we  in  George  the  Third,  or  what  inheritance 
have  we  in  the  Parliament  of  Great  Britain.  Have  they 
not  declared  that  all  the  New-England  Colonies  are  rebels, 
and  have  ordered  and  commanded  their  blood-thirsty  sol- 
diers to  cut  the  throats  of  men,  women,  and  children,  and 
are  they  not  at  this  instant  endeavouring  to  carry  their 
bloody  decrees  into  execution  ?  And  how  long  (besure 
not  a  great  while)  before  the  rest  of  the  Americans  will 
meet  with  the  same,  unless  they  tamely  give  up  their  all 
into  their  hands,  to  be  taken  by  them  as  they  please, 
without  the  Colonies'  consent ;  but  God  be  thanked,  the 
soldiery  have  met  with  a  check.  And  for  what  is  all  this 
rage  and  fury  ?  For  no  other  cause  but  that  we  are  slow 
to  believe  the  power  of  Parliament  is  omnipotent,  and  that 
they  have  a  right  to  dispose  of  us  and  all  we  have  as  they 
please,  without  our  consent.  Surely  no  man  in  his  senses, 
or  that  hath  any  notion  of  preserving  his  person  or  proper- 
ty, but  what  will,  without  hesitancy,  resolve  and  determine 
to  sell  his  life  as  dear  as  he  can,  rather  than  submit  to 
such  a  slavish  and  abject  condition.  Therefore,  my  coun- 
trymen, think,  and  by  thinking  you  will  necessarily  be  led  to 
determine  that  now  or  never  you  may  be  free  ;  if  once  you 
lose  this  opportunity  and  submit,  it  is  not  probable  you 
will  ever  have  another.  If  any  should  say  we  had  better 
try  conciliatory  measures,  and  again  petition  for  relief  from 
the  King  and  Parliament,  I  ask,  to  what  purpose  can  it 
be  ?  Have  not  particular  Colonies  tried  petitioning  by 
themselves,  and  have  not  all  the  Colonies  united  in  a  pe- 
tition for  relief?  And  to  what  effect?  Have  they  not 
been  disdainfully  and  contemptuously  trampled  upon,  and 
treated  with  scorn,  and  called  nothing  but  factious  com- 
plaints ?  Doth  it  not  plainly  appear,  that  both  the  King 
and  the  Ministry  are  so  fixed  and  determined  at  all  hazards 
to  destroy  American  liberty,  as  that  it  is  to  as  little  purpose 
to  complain,  or  reason  with  them,  as  it  is  to  reason  with 
irrational  creatures  ?  Therefore  it  seems  there  is  nothing 
for  us  to  do,  but  to  appeal  unto  God  in  the  use  of  what 
force  and  strength  we  have  in  defence  of  our  liberties  and 
properties,  and  rely  on  his  Almighty  aid  for  help  to  repel 
the  tyrant's  rage.  An  American. 


THOMAS  BROWN   TO   COLONEL  GEORGE  PITKIN. 

Cambridge,  April  28,  1775,  3  o'clock,  P.  M. 

This  minute  arrived  from  Bosto7i  Mr.  Henderson  Inches, 
with  the  agreeable  news  that  the  Governour  had  opened 
the  gates,  and  given  all  the  people  that  have  a  mind  to 
move  out,  notice  to  give  in  their  names  to  the  Selectmen  ; 
and  they  are  to  have  a  guard  to  guard  them  out ;  and  they 
are  to  have  thirty  wagons  to  move  their  effects ;  and  when 
they  return,  thirty  more  to  go  in.  The  inhabitants  are  to 
resign  their  arms,  and  the  Tories  to  have  liberty  to  move 
in  with  their  effects.  And  he  furthermore  brings  advice 
by  the  last  vessel  from  England,  that  when  the  Regiment 
of  Light-Horse  were  going  to  embark,  the  populace  rose 
and  prevented  their  embarkation  ;  and  the  General  Officers 
that  came  away,  were  obliged  to  go  on  board  incognito ; 
but  he  further  says  the  Ministry  have  ordered  ten  thousand 
Troops  more  to  be  sent,  but  they  will  not  be  here  until  the 
last  of  May;  and  being  in  haste,  shall  subscribe  myself 
your  most  humble  servant,  Thomas  Brown. 

To  Colonel  George  Pitkin. 


LETTER  FROM  THE  CONGRESS  OF  MASSACHUSETTS  TO  THE 
CONGRESS  OF  NEW-HAMPSHIRE. 

In  Provincial  Congress,  Watertown,  ) 
April  28,  1775.  \ 

"  Resolved  unanimously,  That  the  following  Letter  be 
authenticated  by  the  President  of  this  Congress,  and  de- 
livered to  Colonel  Nathaniel  Folsom,  Colonel  Josiah  Bart- 
lett,  and  Major  Samuel  Hobart,  Esquires,  Committee  from 
the  Convention  of  the  Colony  of  New-Hampshire,  as  an 
answer  to  their  Letter  of  the  26th  instant." 

Gentlemen:  It  is  with  pleasure  we  have  received  your 
letter  above  mentioned,  and  by  a  Committee  of  this  Con- 


gress have  had  a  conference  with  your  respectable  Com- 
mittee. 

We  find  the  fullest  conviction  in  the  minds  of  the  in- 
habitants of  our  sister  Colonies,  as  well  as  of  this,  that  by 
their  immediate  and  most  vigorous  exertions,  there  is  the 
greatest  prospect  of  establishing  their  liberties  and  saving 
their  Country  ;  and  that  without  such  exertions,  all  must 
be  lost. 

It  is  the  opinion  of  this  Congress,  as  already  communi- 
cated, that  a  powerful  army  on  our  side  must  at  once  cut 
out  such  a  work  for  a  tyrannical  Administration,  as,  under 
the  great  opposition  which  they  meet  with  in  England, 
they  cannot  accomplish  ;  and  that  their  system  of  despot- 
ism must  soon  be  shaken  to  the  foundation.  But  should 
they  still  pursue  their  sanguinary  measures,  the  Colonies 
will  then  be  able  to  make  a  successful  stand.  We  have 
the  utmost  confidence  in  your  patriotick  Colony,  whose  in- 
habitants have  signalized  themselves  in  joining  their  breth- 
ren in  this ;  and  I  hope  to  see  the  New-Hamj)shire  Gov- 
ernment, which  has  been  exposed  to  the  corruption  of  a 
British  Ministry,  soon  placed  upon  such  a  footing  as  will 
be  best  calculated  to  promote  the  true  interest  of  the  same, 
and  to  prevent  in  future  such  unhappy  disputes  as  have 
taken  place  with  the  Mother  Country.  We  have  just  re- 
ceived an  agreeable  account  of  the  conduct  of  our  brethren 
in  New-  York,  and  have  delivered  a  copy  of  the  letter  to 
your  Committee. 

We  sincerely  thank  you  for  the  late  measures  taken  by 
your  Convention  at  Exeter,  and  are  fully  persuaded  that 
the  Congress  of  the  Colony,  which  is  to  meet  on  the  17th 
of  May,  will  take  such  effectual  steps  as  the  present  emer- 
gency of  publick  affairs  requires,  and  the  Continent  of 
America  must  necessarily  approve  at  large. 


LETTER  TO  A  GENTLEMAN  IN  NEWPORT,  RHODE-ISLAM;. 

Roxbury,  April  28,  1775. 

Notwithstanding  your  many  neglects;  notwithstanding 
my  many  avocations,  I  once  more  salute  you,  jacta  est  aha. 
What  folly  could  have  induced  General  Gage  to  act  a  part 
so  fatal  to  Britain.  It  is  all  over  with  them  ;  their  wither- 
ing laurels  will  soon  be  plucked  from  their  brows  by  the 
rapacious  Bourbon.  I  pity  the  madness  which  effected 
their  destruction. 

You  have,  no  doubt,  been  informed  of  the  affair  of  Wed- 
nesday the  19th.  Is  it  not  truly  amazing,  that  such  a  body 
of  Regulars,  so  thoroughly  appointed,  with  artillery,  &c, 
should  be  defeated  and  put  to  flight  by  a  handful  of  raw, 
undisciplined  peasants?  We  have  lost  but  forty-one,  and 
but  few,  not  exceeding  ten,  wounded ;  they  have  near 
three  hundred  killed,  wounded,  and  missing.  Our  coun- 
trymen swarm  to  our  defence  from  all  quarters.  We  are 
busily  organizing  our  Troops,  and  shall  soon  have  a  well- 
constructed  army  in  the  field  of  thirty  thousand  men. 
Gage  and  his  Troops  are  immured  within  the  walls  of 
Boston ;  and  what  is  a  delay  to  our  satisfaction,  our  friends 
are  entrapped  by  them.  We  have  some  hopes  they  will 
be  liberated  this  day.  General  Gage  has  proposed,  upon 
their  surrendering  their  arms,  that  they  march  out.  They 
surrendered  their  arms  yesterday. 

Poor  Quincy,  alas !  he  is  no  more.  He  returned  to  his 
native  Country,  pressed  the  beloved  soil,  and  died.  We 
did  not  see  him  ;  he  breathed  his  last  the  night  before  last, 
at  Cape  Ann. 

We  have  had  an  express  by  the  way  of  Connecticut,  en- 
closing transcripts  from  letters  sent  lately  to  New-York. 
Such  a  vile  system  of  slavery  is  preparing  for  us  as  might 
make  a  Bomitian  blush.  Thank  God,  our  enemies  will 
assuredly  be  defeated. 

GOVERNOUR  HOPKINS  TO  THE  MASSACHUSETTS  PROVIN- 
CIAL CONGRESS. 

Providence,  April  28,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  Mr.  Joseph  Brown  and  Mr.  Moses 
Brown,  of  this  place,  principal  merchants,  and  gentlemen 
of  distinction  and  probity,  will  wait  upon  you  with  this 
letter.  Their  brother,  Mr.  John  Brown,  of  this  Town, 
merchant,  was,  two  days  ago,  forcibly  taken  at  Neivport 
in  a  packet,  as  he  was  coming  from  thence  with  a  quantity 
of  flour  which  he  had  purchased  there.    He  was  carried 


431 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  APRIL,  1775. 


432 


on  board  a  Sliip-of-YVar  and  confined  ;  and  we  have  since 
heard  that  he  was  sent  round  to  Boston  with  the  Hour. 

I  request  you  to  give  to  the  bearers  any  aid  and  assist- 
ance in  your  power,  for  procuring  the  relief  and  discharge 
of  their  brother.  Jn  my  letter  of  yesterday  to  the  Con- 
gress, the  measure  of  reprisal  in  this  instance  was  recom- 
mended, and  if  it  may  be,  I  wish  it  may  be  pursued. 

I  am  your  friend  and  humble  servant, 

Step.  Hopkins. 

President  of  the  Congress  in  Massachusetts. 


JAMES   ANGELL  TO   THE   MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS. 

Providence,  Rhode-Island,  April  28,  1775. 

Sir  :  At  the  request  of  his  Honour  the  Deputy  Govern- 
our,  I  have  undertaken  to  answer  yours  of  the  26th  in- 
stant. 

We,  Sir,  sensibly  feel  the  distresses  of  our  brethren  in 
the  Massachusetts- Bay,  and  can  only  say,  that,  as  Briga- 
dier of  the  three  Battalions  under  my  command  in  the 
County  of  Providence,  I  will  furnish  you,  upon  any  alarm, 
with  six  hundred  men  ;  but  the  situation  of  matters  is  such, 
occasioned  partly  by  our  Assembly's  not  appointing  officers 
for  the  fifteen  hundred  men  which  they  ordered  to  be  raised 
for  your  assistance,  and  partly  by  the  seizure  made  by  the 
Man-of-War  at  Newport  of  three  hundred  barrels  of  Hour 
bought  by  this  Colony  for  supplying  our  Army,  that  it  will 
be  impossible  for  our  forces  immediately  to  proceed  to  join 
your  Army,  unless  they  go  destitute  of  provision,  which, 
we  imagine  here,  would  rather  be  a  burden  than  a  help  to 
our  friends.  However,  men  are  enlisting  very  fast,  and 
when  our  Assembly  meets  here,  which  will  be  next  week, 
you  may  rely  on  it  that  our  forces  will,  as  fast  and  as  soon 
as  possible,  march  to  your  assistance.  I  am,  Sir,  your  most 
obedient  humble  servant,  James  Angell. 


Z.  ANDREWS  AND  T.   FREEMAN  TO   THE  MASSACHUSETTS 
CONGRESS. 
Providence,  Rhode-Island,  April  28,  1775. 
Dear  Sir  :  The  anxiety  we  feel  upon  seeing  the  present 
situation  of  affairs,  will  be  our  apology  for  troubling  you 
with  a  letter,  the  design  of  which  is  to  convey  you  intelli- 
gence that  might,  with  more  propriety,  come  to  you  from 
other  persons. 

Deputy  Governour  Sessions  received  your  letter  re- 
questing assistance,  which  we  have  seen  a  copy  of  yester- 
day. The  Assembly  have  adjourned,  after  passing  a  simple 
vote  that  fifteen  hundred  men,  with  suitable  stores,  should 
be  raised  at  Government's  expense  ;  and  leaving  the  matter 
there.  Nobody  at  present  thinks  himself  authorized  to 
enlist  men,  and  therefore,  scarce  any  thing  in  that  way  has 
been  done.  Mr.  John  Broivn  is  taken  prisoner  on  board 
a  Man-of-War,  and  a  quantity  of  flour  which  he  had  pur- 
chased at  Newport  is  seized,  and  it  is,  with  him,  to  sail  in 
a  sloop  for  Boston  immediately,  if  he  is  not  already  gone. 

Our  Assembly  meets  here  on  Wednesday  next,  and  then 
we  hope  to  see  something  done  in  compliance  with  your 
request;  but  we  do  absolutely  despair  of  any  thing  being 
done  before,  if  then.  We  are  sorry  to  say  it,  from  our 
hearts ;  but  fearing  you  might  rely  too  much  upon  this 
Government,  we  thought  it  our  indispensable  duty  to  give 
you  this  information.  The  gentlemen  who  attended  our 
Assembly  as  Delegates  from  your  Congress  well  know 
where  the  difficulty  lies,  and  which  we  hope  will  be  re- 
moved next  week. 

We  observed  one  clause  in  your  letter  respecting  the 
artillery,  upon  which  we  beg  leave  to  observe,  that  we 
have  heavy  cannon,  if  such  are  wanted;  but  if  field- 
pieces  are  most  required,  we  believe  that  more  than  four 
or  five  cannot  be  ready  to  come  to  you,  which  are  now  pre- 
paring with  all  possible  despatch.  We  are,  Sir,  with  great 
respect,  your  obedient  humble  servants, 

Zeph.  Andrews,  Lieut,  of  Grenadiers. 
Thos.  Freeman,  Lieut,  of  Light-Infantry. 


MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS  TO  STEPHEN  HOPKINS. 

Watertown,  April  28,  1775. 
Sir:  It  is  with  the  deepest  concern  we  find  Mr.  Broivn, 
that  valuable  friend  of  the  cause  of  America,  betrayed  into 


the  hands  of  our  common  enemies;  and  every  measure  for 
his  release  that  can  be  pursued  by  us,  shall  most  earnestly 
be  adopted. 

We  have  ordered  Samuel  Murray,  son  of  the  Mandamus 
Counsellor,  and  such  Officers  of  General  Gage's  Army  as 
are  prisoners  of  war,  not  disabled  from  travelling,  to  be 
immediately  sent,  with  a  sufficient  guard,  to  Providence ; 
and  I  think  it  best  that  Murray  and  Officers  should  write 
to  their  friends  in  Boston,  and  acquaint  them  that  Mr. 
Brown's  friends  have  the  same  advantage  over  them  as 
General  Gage  hath  over  Mr.  Brown. 

We  beg  leave  to  suggest  to  you  the  critical  situation  of 
the  Colony  at  the  present  time,  which  disables  the  Con- 
gress from  immediately  seizing  every  Crown  Officer  in  the 
Government.  Boston  is  closed,  and  the  numerous  inhabit- 
ants so  obnoxious  to  our  enemies,  are  imprisoned  therein. 
Several  of  our  seaports  are  blockaded  with  shipping,  and 
threatened  with  destruction  if  they  join  the  Army.  Under 
this  situation,  the  inhabitants  of  those  places  most  in  dan- 
ger, are  day  and  night  removing  their  furniture  and  effects  ; 
and  we  hope  soon  to  see  it  generally  done.  Should  we, 
therefore,  seize  the  Crown  Officers  as  proposed,  it  may 
hurl  on  us  and  our  seaports  sudden  destruction,  before 
they  have  an  opportunity  of  saving  themselves.  We  had 
it  in  contemplation  to  send  a  letter  to  the  General,  ac- 
quainting him  that  we  should  treat  the  Crown  Officers  with 
severity  if  Mr.  Brown  should  be  so  treated  by  him;  but 
we  are  apprehensive  it  would  produce  an  unhappy,  rather 
than  good  effect,  as  he  has  a  greater  number  of  our  friends 
than  we  have  of  his.  We  desire  you  to  give  us  your  fur- 
ther sentiments  of  the  matter.  If  any  other  way  is  left 
wherein  the  Congress  can  save  Mr.  Brown,  it  shall  be  rea- 
dily pursued.    We  are,  &ic. 

In  Provincial  Congress,  Watertown,  ) 
April  28,  1775.  \ 

Whereas,  a  worthy  friend  to  the  liberties  of  America. 
Mr.  John  Brown,  of  Providence,  hath  been  lately  seized, 
and  with  two  other  persons,  carried  on  board  a  British 
Ship-of-War  at  Newport  : 

Ordered,  That  Samuel  Murray  and  two  such  Officers 
of  General  Gage's  Army,  as  are  now  prisoners  of  war,  and 
not  disabled  from  travelling  on  account  of  their  wounds, 
be  immediately  sent  under  a  sufficient  guard  to  Providence  , 
and  delivered  to  Hon.  Stephen  Hopkiiis,  Esquire,  or  other 
friends  of  said  Mr.  Brown;  to  be  made  such  use  of  as 
they  shall  think  proper,  for  obtaining  the  liberty  of  the  said 
Mr.  Brown. 

MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS  TO  STEPHEN  HOPKINS. 

Watertown,  April  29,  1775. 

Sir  :  The  above  is  a  copy  of  an  Order  and  Letter  which 
passed  this  Congress  yesterday,  since  which  we  have  re- 
ceived from  Boston  copies  of  sundry  Votes  of  that  Town  to 
Gen.  Gage,  upon  the  subject  of  a  license,  for  the  inhabitants 
to  remove  with  their  effects  into  the  country ;  and  by  his  an- 
swers it  appears  that  he  has  consented  to  suffer  such  inhab- 
itants as  have  inclination  therefor,  to  leave  the  place  with 
their  effects,  excepting  fire-arms,  which  are  to  be  delivered 
at  Faneuil  Hall,  to  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town,  and  the 
name  of  the  owner  to  be  placed  on  them ;  and  the  Gen- 
eral expects,  on  the  other  hand,  a  Proclamation  from  Con- 
gress, giving  liberty  to  all  inhabitants  of  the  Colony  having 
inclination  therefor,  to  remove,  with  all  their  effects,  into 
Boston.  Some  of  the  inhabitants  have  already  left  the 
Town,  by  permission  of  the  General ;  and  under  these  cir- 
cumstances, should  we  issue  the  Order  which  has  passed 
in  Congress,  it  may  put  a  stop  to  this  unexpected  favour- 
able event,  and  prevent  the  emancipation  of  many  thou- 
sands of  friends  to  America.  We  nevertheless  propose  to 
detain  the  prisoners  of  war;  and  if  the  General  should  not 
forfeit  his  plighted  faith,  to  use  all  expedition  in  getting  out 
the  families  and  effects  of  our  friends  from  Boston,  that  we 
may  be  at  liberty  to  use  our  prisoners,  and  every  other 
means  in  our  power,  for  the  release  of  Mr.  Brown,  as  was 
intended.  We  have  just  heard  that  the  passages  to  and  from 
Boston  are  again  stopped  ;  but  the  occasion  of  this  extra- 
ordinary manoeuvre,  we  cannot  yet  learn. 

We  are,  with  great  respect,  Sic. 
To  the  Honourable  5.  Hopkins,  Esq.,  of  Providence. 


433 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  APRIL,  1775. 


434 


LETTER  FROM  THE   COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY  TO  THE 
SEVERAL  TOWNS   IN  MASSACHUSETTS. 

Cambridge,  April  28.  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  The  barbarous  murders  committed  on  our 
innocent  brethren  on  Wednesday  the  19th  instant,  have 
made  it  absolutely  necessary  that  we  immediately  raise  an 
Armv  to  defend  our  wives  and  children  from  the  butcher- 
ing hands  of  an  inhuman  soldiery,  who,  incensed  at  the 
obstacles  they  met  with  in  their  bloody  progress,  and  en- 
raged at  being  repulsed  from  the  field  of  slaughter,  will, 
without  doubt,  take  the  first  opportunity  in  their  power  to 
ravage  this  devoted  Country  with  fire  and  sword.  We 
conjure,  therefore,  by  all  that  is  dear,  by  all  that  is  sacred, 
that  you  give  all  assistance  possible  in  forming  the  Army. 
Our  all  is  at  stake.  Death  and  devastation  are  the  certain 
consequences  of  delay  ;  every  moment  is  infinitely  precious  ; 
an  hour  lost  may  deluge  your  Country  in  blood,  and  entail 
perpetual  slavery  upon  the  few  of  your  posterity  who  may 
survive  the  carnage.  We  beg  and  entreat,  as  you  will  an- 
swer it  to  your  Country,  to  your  own  consciences,  and, 
above  all,  to  God  himself,  that  you  will  hasten  and  encou- 
rage, by  all  possible  means,  the  enlistment  of  men  to  form 
the  Army,  and  send  them  forward  to  Head  Quarters  at 
Cambridge,  with  that  expedition  which  the  vast  importance 
and  instant  urgency  of  the  affair  demands.  We  are,  &c. 


NEWBURYPORT   COMMITTEE  TO  THE  MASSACHUSETTS 
COMMITTEE  OF  WAR. 

Newburyport,  April  23,  1775. 

Sir  :  Mr.  Christian  Febiger,  the  bearer,  has  been  a  re- 
sident in  this  Town  about  three  weeks.  He  came  last  from 
New-Haven,  in  Connecticut,  and  from  what  acquaintance 
we  have  had  with  him,  it  appears  that  he  is  a  person  well 
acquainted  with  the  art  military,  and  professes  that  since  he 
is  a  Dane,  he  is  willing  to  serve  in  the  American  Army  for 
pay.    He  appeared  very  ready  to  assist  in  our  late  alarm. 

In  behalf  of  the  Committee. 

Jona.  Titcomb. 
To  the  Honourable  the  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of  War. 


SELECTMEN  OF   SANDBORNTON  TO   THE  NEW-HAMPSHIRE 
CONGRESS. 

Sandbornton,  April  28,  1775. 

Gentlemen:  The  messenger  who  bears  this  waits  upon 
you  to  request  your  advice  at  this  critical  and  alarming 
juncture.  We  are  in  a  state  almost  totally  destitute  of  the 
proper  means  of  defence.  People  among  us  are  extremely 
uneasy  and  greatly  alarmed.  We  have  made  repeated 
trials  to  furnish  ourselves  with  ammunition,  but  without 
success.  We  therefore  request  such  advice  as  you  in  your 
wisdom  shall  think  fit,  and  such  assistance  as  you  may 
please  to  grant. 

We  are  encouraged  to  make  this  application,  as  we 
understand  the  Province  Store  is  opened,  and  a  barrel  of 
Powder  brought  to  Canterbury.  We  can  assure  you  that 
it  will  be  applied  to  no  other  use  but  our  Country's  defence, 
being  determined  to  resist  all  hostile  attempts  against  our 
sacred  and  invaluable  privileges  to  the  last  extremity. 

We  are,  gentlemen,  your  most  obedient  humble  servants, 

John  Sandborn, 
Aaron  Sandborn, 
Caleb  Gilman. 
To  the  Honourable  Congress  convened  at  Exeter. 


GOVERNOUR  TRUMBULL  TO  GENERAL  GAGE. 
[Read  before  Congress,  May  19,  1775.] 

Hartford,  April  28,  1775. 
Sir  :  The  alarming  situation  of  publick  affairs  in  this 
Country,  and  the  late  unfortunate  transactions  in  the  Prov- 
ince of  the  Massachusetts-Bay,  have  induced  the  General 
Assembly  of  this  Colony,  now  sitting  in  this  place,  to  ap- 
point a  Committee*  of  their  body,  to  wait  upon  your  Ex- 
cellency, and  to  desire  me,  in  their  name,  to  write  to  you, 
relative  to  those  very  interesting  matters. 

The  inhabitants  of  this  Colony  are  intimately  connected 

*  Doctor  Johnson  and  Oliver  Wolcott,  Esquire. 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii. 


with  the  people  of  your  Province,  and  esteem  themselves 
bound,  by  the  strongest  ties  of  friendship,  as  well  as  of 
common  interest,  to  regard  with  attention  whatever  con- 
cerns them.  You  will  not,  therefore,  be  surprised  that  your 
first  arrival  at  Boston,  with  a  body  of  His  Majesty's  Troops, 
for  the  declared  purpose  of  carrying  into  execution  certain 
Acts  of  Parliament,  which,  in  their  apprehension,  were  un- 
constitutional and  oppressive,  should  have  given  the  good 
people  of  this  Colony  a  very  just  and  general  alarm.  Your 
subsequent  proceedings  in  fortifying  the  Town  of  Boston, 
and  other  military  preparations,  greatly  increased  their  ap- 
prehensions for  the  safety  of  their  friends  and  brethren. 
They  could  not  be  unconcerned  spectators  of  their  suffer- 
ings in  that  which  they  esteemed  the  common  cause  of 
this  Country ;  but  the  late  hostile  and  secret  inroads  of  some 
of  the  Troops  under  your  command,  into  the  heart  of  the 
Country,  and  the  violences  they  have  committed,  have 
driven  them  almost  to  a  state  of  desperation.  They  feel 
now,  not  only  for  their  friends,  but  for  themselves,  and  their 
dearest  interests  and  connections. 

We  wish  not  to  exaggerate;  we  are  not  sure  of  every 
part  of  our  information,  but  by  the  best  intelligence  that 
we  have  yet  been  able  to  obtain,  the  late  transaction  was 
a  most  unprovoked  attack  upon  the  lives  and  property  of 
His  Majesty's  subjects  ;  and  it  is  represented  to  us  that  such 
outrages  have  been  committed  as  would  disgrace  even 
barbarians,  and  much  more  Britons,  so  highly  famed  for 
humanity  as  well  as  bravery. 

It  is  feared,  therefore,  that  we  are  devoted  to  destruction, 
and  that  you  have  it  in  command  and  intention  to  ravage 
and  desolate  the  Country.  If  this  is  not  the  case,  permit 
us  to  ask,  why  have  these  outrages  been  committed  ?  Why 
is  the  Town  of  Boston  now  shut  up?  To  what  end  are 
all  the  hostile  preparations  that  are  daily  making?  And 
why  do  we  continually  hear  of  fresh  destinations  of  Troops 
to  this  Country  ?  The  people  of  this  Colony,  you  may 
rely  upon  it,  abhor  the  idea  of  taking  up  arms  against  the 
Troops  of  their  Sovereign,  and  dread  nothing  so  much  as 
the  horrours  of  a  civil  war.  But,  sir,  at  the  same  time  we 
beg  leave  to  assure  your  Excellency,  that  as  they  appre- 
hend themselves  justified  by  the  principle  of  self-defence, 
they  are  most  firmly  resolved  to  defend  their  rights  and 
privileges  to  the  last  extremity  ;  nor  will  they  be  restrained 
from  giving  aid  to  their  brethren,  if  any  unjustifiable  attack 
is  made  upon  them. 

Be  so  good,  therefore,  as  to  explain  yourself  upon  this 
most  important  subject,  so  far  as  is  consistent  with  your 
duty  to  our  common  Sovereign.  Is  there  no  way  to  pre- 
vent this  unhappy  dispute  from  coming  to  extremities  ?  Is 
there  no  alternative  but  absolute  submission,  or  the  desola- 
tions of  war?  Byr  that  humanity  which  constitutes  so 
amiable  a  part  of  your  character,  and  for  the  honour  of  our 
Sovereign,  and  the  glory  of  the  British  Empire,  we  en- 
treat you  to  prevent  it  if  possible.  Surely  it  is  to  be  hoped 
that  the  temperate  wisdom  of  the  Empire  might  even  yet 
find  expedients  to  restore  peace,  that  so  all  parts  of  the 
Empire  may  enjoy  their  particular  rights,  honours,  and  im- 
munities. Certainly  this  is  an  event  most  devoutly  to  be 
wished  ;  and  will  it  not  be  consistent  with  your  duty  to 
suspend  the  operations  of  war  on  your  part,  and  enable  us 
on  ours  to  quiet  the  minds  of  the  people,  at  least  till  the 
result  of  some  further  deliberations  may  be  known? 

The  importance  of  the  occasion  will  no  doubt  sufficiently 
apologize  for  the  earnestness  with  which  we  address  you, 
and  any  seeming  impropriety  which  may  attend  it,  as  well 
as  induce  you  to  give  us  the  most  explicit  and  favourable 
answer  in  your  power. 

I  am,  with  great  esteem  and  respect,  in  behalf  of  the 
General  Assembly,  Sir,  your  most  obedient  servant. 

To  his  Excellency  Thomas  Gage,  Esq. 


GENERAL  GAGE  TO  GOVERNOUR  TRUMBULL. 

Boston,  April  29,  1775. 
Sir  :  I  transmit  you  herewith  a  circumstantial  account 
of  an  unhappy  affair  that  happened  in  this  Province  on  the 
nineteenth  instant,  between  His  Majesty's  Troops  and  the 
people  of  the  country,  whereby  you  will  see  the  pitch  their 
leaders  have  worked  them  up  to,  even  to  commit  hostilities 
upon  the  King's  Troops  when  an  opportunity  offered.  It 


435 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  he,  APRIL,  1775. 


436 


has  long  been  said  that  this  was  their  plan,  and  so  it  has 
turned  out. 

I  am,  with  regard  and  esteem,  Sir,  your  most  obedient 
humble  servant,  Thos.  Gage. 

To  the  Honourable  Governour  Trumbull. 

A  circumstantial  Account  of  an  Attaclc  that  happened  on 
the  \9th  April,  1775,  on  His  Majesty's  Troojii,  by  a 
ninnber  of  the  People  of  the  Province  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts-Bay. 

On  Tuesilay  the  18th  of  April,  about  half-past  ten  at 
night,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Smith,  of  the  Tenth  Regiment, 
embarked  from  the  Common,  at  Boston,  with  the  Grena- 
diers and  Light-Infantry  of  the  Troops  there,  and  landed 
on  the  opposite  side;  from  whence  he  began  his  march  to- 
wards Concord,  where  he  was  ordered  to  destroy  a  maga- 
zine of  military  stores,  deposited  there  for  the  use  of  an 
Army  to  be  assembled  in  order  to  act  against  His  Majesty 
and  his  Government.  The  Colonel  called  his  officers  to- 
gether, and  gave  orders  that  the  Troops  should  not  fire 
unless  fired  upon  ;  and  after  marching  a  few  miles,  detached 
six  Companies  of  Light-Infantry,  under  the  command  of 
Major  Pitcairn,  to  take  possession  of  two  bridges  on  the 
other  side  of  Concord.  Soon  after,  they  heard  many  sig- 
nal guns,  and  the  ringing  of  alarm-bells  repeatedly,  which 
convinced  them  that  the  country  was  rising  to  oppose  them, 
and  that  it  was  a  preconcerted  scheme  to  oppose  the  King's 
Troops,  whenever  there  should  be  a  favourable  opportunity 
for  it.  About  three  o'clock  the  next  morning,  the  Troops 
being  advanced  within  two  miles  of  Lexington,  intelligence 
was  received  that  about  five  hundred  men  in  arms  were 
assembled,  and  determined  to  oppose  the  King's  Troops ; 
and  on  Major  Pitcairn' s  galloping  up  to  the  head  of  the 
a  ivanced  Companies,  two  officers  informed  him  that  a  man 
(advanced  from  those  that  were  assembled)  had  presented 
his  musket,  and  attempted  to  shoot  them,  but  the  piece 
Hashed  in  the  pan.  On  this  the  Major  gave  directions  to 
the  Troops  to  move  forward,  but  on  no  account  to  fire,  nor 
even  to  attempt  it  without  orders.  When  they  arrived  at 
the  end  of  the  village,  they  observed  about  two  hundred 
armed  men  drawn  up  on  a  green,  and  when  the  Troops 
came  within  one  hundred  yards  of  them,  they  began  to  file 
off  towards  some  stone  walls  on  their  right  flank  ;  the  Light- 
Infantry  observing  this,  ran  after  them.  The  Major  in- 
stantly called  to  the  soldiers  not  to  fire,  but  to  surround  and 
disarm  them.  Some  of  them  who  had  jumped  over  a  wall, 
then  fired  four  or  five  shot  at  the  Troops,  wounded  a  man 
of  the  Tenth  Regiment,  and  the  Major's  horse  in  two 
places,  and  at  the  same  time  several  shots  were  fired  from 
a  meeting-house  on  the  left.  Upon  this,  without  any  order 
or  regularity,  the  Light-Infantry  began  a  scattered  fire,  and 
killed  several  of  the  country  people,  but  were  silenced  as 
soon  as  the  authority  of  their  officers  could  make  them. 

After  this,  Colonel  Smith  marched  up  with  the  remainder 
of  the  detachment,  and  the  whole  body  proceeded  to  Con- 
cord, where  they  arrived  about  nine  o'clock,  without  any 
thing  further  happening ;  but  vast  numbers  of  armed  peo- 
ple were  seen  assembling  on  all  the  heights.  While  Colonel 
Smith,  with  the  Grenadiers  and  part  of  the  Light-Infantry, 
remained  at  Concord  to  search  for  cannon,  &ic,  there,  he 
detached  Captain  Parsons,  with  six  light  companies,  to 
secure  a  bridge  at  some  distance  from  Concord,  and  to  pro- 
ceed from  thence  to  certain  houses,  where  it  was  supposed 
there  was  cannon  and  ammunition.  Captain  Parsons,  in 
pursuance  of  these  orders,  posted  three  companies  at  the 
bridge,  and  on  some  heights  near  it,  under  the  command 
of  Captain  Laurie,  of  the  Forty-Third  Regiment,  and  with 
the  remainder  went  and  destroyed  some  cannon-wheels, 
powder,  and  ball.  The  people  still  continued  increasing 
on  the  heights,  and  in  about  an  hour  after,  a  large  body  of 
them  began  to  move  towards  the  bridge.  The  light  com- 
panies of  the  Fourth  and  Tenth  then  descended  and  joined 
Captain  Laurie.  The  people  continued  to  advance  in  great 
numbers,  and  fired  upon  the  King's  Troops ;  killed  three 
men,  wounded  four  officers,  one  sergeant,  and  four  pri- 
vates ;  upon  which  (after  returning  the  fire)  Captain  Laurie 
and  his  officers  thought  it  prudent  to  retreat  towards  the 
main  body  at  Concord,  and  were  soon  joined  by  two  com- 
panies of  Grenadiers.  When  Captain  Parsons  returned 
with  the  three  Companies  over  the  bridge,  they  observed 


three  soldiers  on  the  ground,  one  of  them  scalped,  his  head 
much  mangled,  and  his  ears  cut  off',  though  not  quite  dead — 
a  sight  which  struck  the  soldiers  with  horrour.  Captain 
Parsons  marched  on  and  joined  the  main  body,  who  were 
only  waiting  for  his  coming  up  to  march  back  to  Boston. 
Colonel  Smith  had  executed  his  orders,  without  opposition, 
by  destroying  all  the  military  stores  he  could  find.  Both 
the  Colonel  and  Major  Pitcairn  having  taken  all  possible 
pains  to  convince  the  inhabitants  that  no  injury  was  intended 
them,  and  that  if  they  opened  their  doors  when  required, 
to  search  for  said  stores,  not  the  slightest  mischief  should 
be  done.  Neither  had  any  of  the  people  the  least  occa- 
sion to  complain  ;  but  they  were  sulky,  and  one  of  them 
even  struck  Major  Pitcairn. 

Except  upon  Captain  Laurie  at  the  bridge,  no  hostilities 
happened  from  the  affair  at  Lexington,  until  the  Troops 
began  their  march  back.  As  soon  as  the  Troops  had  got 
out  of  the  Town  of  Concord,  they  received  a  heavy  fire 
on  them  from  all  sides — from  walls,  fences,  houses,  trees, 
barns,  &tc,  which  continued,  without  intermission,  till  they 
met  the  First  Brigade,  with  two  field-pieces,  near  Lexing- 
ton, ordered  out  under  the  command  of  Lord  Percy  to  sup- 
port them.  Upon  the  firing  of  the  field-pieces,  the  people's 
fire  was  for  a  while  silenced ;  but  as  they  still  continued  to 
increase  greatly  in  numbers,  they  fired  again,  as  before, 
from  all  places  where  they  could  find  cover,  upon  the  whole 
body,  and  continued  so  doing  for  the  space  of  fifteen  miles. 

Notwithstanding  their  numbers,  they  did  not  attack  openly 
during  the  whole  day,  but  kept  under  cover  on  all  occasions. 
The  Troops  were  very  much  fatigued  ;  the  greater  part  of 
them  having  been  under  arms  all  night,  and  made  a  march 
of  upwards  of  forty  miles  before  they  arrived  at  Charles- 
toivn,  from  whence  they  were  ferried  over  to  Boston. 

The  Troops  had  above  fifty  killed,  and  many  more 
wounded:  reports  are  various  about  the  loss  sustained  by 
the  country  people;  some  make  it  very  considerable,  others 
not  so  much. 


Williamsburgh,  May  20,  1775. 

Account  of  an  Attaclc  upon  a  body  of  the  King's  Troops, 
by  a  number  of  People  of  the  Province  of  Massachu- 
setts-Bay, on  the  \  9th  of  April,  transmitted  by  Gene- 
ral Gage  to  Lord  Dunmore,  Governour  of  Virginia. 
General  Gage  having  received  intelligence  that  a  con- 
siderable magazine  of  military  stores  was  forming  at  Con- 
cord, for  an  Army  which  was  to  assemble  there  in  order  to 
act  against  His  Majesty  and  his  Government,  thought  pro- 
per to  order  the  Grenadiers  and  light  companies  of  the 
Regiments  at  Boston,  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant 
Colonel  Smith,  of  the  Tenth  Regiment,  to  march  to  the 
Town  of  Concord,  and  to  destroy  all  the  military  stores 
they  might  find  there.  Pursuant  to  these  orders  Lieutenant 
Colonel  Smith  crossed,  about  ten  o'clock  at  night,  from  the 
Common  to  the  opposite  side,  and  began  his  march  towards 
Concord,  having  first  given  strict  charge  to  all  his  officers 
that  they  should,  on  no  account,  suffer  any  of  their  men  to 
fire  upon  any  inhabitants,  unless  they  were  first  attacked  by 
them.  The  advanced  guard,  consisting  of  six  companies 
of  Light-Infantry,  under  Major  Pitcairn,  had  proceeded  to 
within  two  miles  of  Lexington,  when  they  received  intelli- 
gence that  five  hundred  men  were  drawn  together,  and 
seemed  determined  to  oppose  the  Troops;  at  the  same 
time  many  signal  guns  were  fired  from  different  places, 
bells  were  set  ringing,  and  the  country  every  where  alarm- 
ed. As  the  party  under  Major  Pitcairn  advanced  towards 
Lexington,  a  man  presented  his  piece  at  the  officer  in  the 
front,  but  it  flashed  in  the  pan  ;  and  when  the  party  reached 
the  end  of  the  village,  they  discovered  about  two  hundred 
men  under  arms,  and  drawn  up  on  a  green,  who  waited 
till  the  Troops  came  within  about  one  hundred  yards  of 
them,  and  then  filed  off  to  their  right,  and  posted  them- 
selves behind  some  stone  walls.  Upon  which  the  soldiers 
ran  up  towards  them,  and  Major  Pitcairn  called  out  to  them 
not  to  fire,  but  to  surround  and  disarm  them  ;  but  the 
others  having  got  over  the  walls,  fired  from  behind  them 
four  or  five  shot  at  the  Troops,  which  wounded  a  man  of 
the  Tenth  Regiment,  and  the  Major's  horse  in  two  places  ; 
at  the  same  time  several  shot  were  fired  from  a  meeting- 
house adjoining.  Upon  this,  without  any  order  or  regu- 
larity, the  soldiers  began  a  scattered  fire,  and  killed  several 


437 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c.;  APRIL,  1775. 


438 


of  the  country  people,  but  they  were  soon  stopped  by  their 
officers. 

Colonel  Smith  came  up  with  the  rest  of  the  detachment, 
and  they  proceeded  together  to  Concord,  where  they  ar- 
rived about  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  while  he  was 
putting  his  orders  into  execution,  in  destroying  the  maga- 
zine which  was  found  there,  he  detached  a  party  of  six 
companies  of  Light-Infantry  to  secure  a  bridge  at  some 
little  distance  from  the  Town,  and  to  destroy  some  ammu- 
nition which  they  were  informed  was  in  several  houses 
thereabouts.  This  detachment  was  commanded  by  Capt. 
Parsons,  of  the  Tenth  Regiment,  who,  leaving  three  com- 
panies at  the  bridge,  with  the  remainder  went  in  search  of 
and  destroyed  a  quantity  of  powder,  ball,  and  cannon- 
wheels,  which  he  found.  In  the  mean  time  a  great  num- 
ber of  the  country  people  assembled  about  this  party,  and 
fired  upon  the  three  companies  posted  at  the  bridge — 
killed  three  men,  wounded  four  officers,  one  sergeant,  and 
four  privates.  The  Troops  returned  the  fire,  and  retreated 
towards  their  main  body  at  Concord,  and  were  soon  fol- 
lowed by  Captain  Parsons  and  the  other  three  Companies, 
who.  in  passing  over  the  bridge,  found  three  soldiers  lying 
on  the  ground,  one  of  whom  had  been  scalped,  his  head 
much  mangled,  and  his  ears  cut  off,  though  not  quite  dead. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Smith  being  joined  by  this  party, 
and  having  completed  the  business  which  had  been  the  ob- 
ject of  this  design,  quitted  Concord  on  his  return  to  Boston; 
but  as  soon  as  he  had  got  without  the  place,  he  found  him- 
self attacked  on  all  sides  from  the  walls,  houses,  barns, 
trees,  and  every  place  that  afforded  cover,  and  a  heavy 
fire  continued  upon  the  Troops  until  they  were  met  by 
Lord  Percy  with  his  Brigade  and  two  field-pieces,  upon 
tne  firing  of  which  the  country  people  concealed  them- 
selves, and  ceased.  But  as  soon  as  the  Troops  put  them- 
selves in  march  they  were  again  attacked  as  before,  and 
without  intermission,  till  the  Troops  reached  Charlestown , 
from  whence  they  were  ferried  over  to  Boston. 

The  Troops  made  several  halts  and  returned  the  fire  of 
the  country  people,  who,  however,  kept  themselves  en- 
tirely covered  and  concealed,  and  did  not  make  the  least 
attempt  to  show  themselves,  or  venture  a  close  engagement. 
The  Troops  lost  fifty  men  killed,  and  many  more  are 
wounded ;  the  loss  sustained  by  the  others  is  not  known  ; 
some  accounts  make  it  very  considerable,  others  little  or 
nothing. 

ACCOUNT  OF  AN  ATTACK  ON  THE  INHABITANTS  OF  MASSA- 
CHUSETTS BY  THE  BRITISH  TROOPS,  ACTING  UNDER 
THE  ORDERS  OF  GENERAL  GAGE,  ON  THE  19TH  OF 
APRIL.  1775. 

Worcester,  Massachusetts,  May  3,  1775. 

Americans,  for  ever  bear  in  mind  the  battle  of  Lexing- 
ton, where  British  Troops,  unmolested  and  unprovoked, 
wantonly,  and  in  a  most  inhuman  manner,  fired  upon  and 
killed  a  number  of  our  countrymen,  then  robbed  them  of 
their  provisions,  ransacked,  plundered,  and  burnt  their 
houses!  Nor  could  the  tears  of  defenceless  women,  some 
of  whom  were  in  the  pains  of  childbirth,  the  cries  of  help- 
less babes,  nor  the  prayers  of  old  age,  confined  to  beds  of 
sickness,  appease  their  thirst  for  blood,  or  divert  them  from 
their  design  of  murder  and  robbery  ! 

The  particulars  of  this  alarming  event  will,  we  are  credi- 
bly informed,  be  soon  published  by  authority,  as  a  Com- 
mittee of  the  Provincial  Congress  have  been  appointed  to 
make  special  inquiry,  and  to  take  the  depositions,  on  oath, 
of  such  as  are  knowing  to  the  matter.  In  the  mean  time, 
to  satisfy  the  expectation  of  our  readers,  we  have  collected 
from  those  whose  veracity  is  unquestioned  the  following 
account,  viz : 

A  few  days  before  the  battle,  the  Grenadier  and  Light- 
Infantry  Companies  were  all  drafted  from  the  several 
Regiments  in  Boston,  and  put  under  the  command  of  an 
Officer,  and  it  was  observed  that  most  of  the  transports 
and  other  boats  were  put  together,  and  fitted  for  immedi- 
ate service.  This  manoeuvre  gave  rise  to  a  suspicion  that 
some  formidable  expedition  was  intended  by  the  soldiery, 
but  what  or  where,  the  inhabitants  could  not  determine ; 
however,  the  town-watches  in  Boston,  Charlestoiun, 
Cambridge,  Sic,  were  ordered  to  look  well  to  the  landing 
places.  About  ten  o'clock  on  the  night  of  the  18th  of 
April,  the  Troops  in  Boston  were  discovered  to  be  on  the 


move  in  a  very  secret  manner,  and  it  was  found  they  were 
embarking  in  boats  (which  they  privately  brought  to  the 
place  in  the  evening)  at  the  bottom  of  the  Common  ;  ex- 
presses sat  off  immediately  to  alarm  the  country,  that  they 
might  be  on  their  guard.  When  the  expresses  got  about 
a  mile  beyond  Lexington,  they  were  stopped  by  about 
fourteen  officers  on  horseback,  who  came  out  of  Boston 
in  the  afternoon  of  that  day,  and  were  seen  lurking  in 
by-places  in  the  country  till  after  dark.  One  of  the  ex- 
presses immediately  fled,  and  was  pursued  two  miles  by  an 
officer,  who,  when  he  had  got  up  with  him,  presented  a 
pistol,  and  told  him  he  was  a  dead  man  if  he  did  not  stop  ; 
but  he  rode  on  until  he  came  up  to  a  house,  when,  stop- 
ping of  a  sudden,  his  horse  threw  him  off.  Having  the 
presence  of  mind  to  halloo  to  the  people  in  the  house, 
"Turn  out!  turn  out!  I  have  got  one  of  them,"  the  offi- 
cer immediately  retreated  as  fast  as  he  had  pursued.  The 
other  express,  after  passing  through  a  stiict  examination, 
by  some  means  got  clear. 

The  body  of  the  Troops  in  the  mean  time,  under  the 
command  of  Lieutenant  Colonel  Smith,  had  crossed  the 
river,  and  landed  at  Phipps's  farm.  They  immediately, 
to  the  number  of  one  thousand,  proceeded  to  Lexnigton, 
six  miles  below  Concord,  with  great  silence.  A  Company 
of  Militia,  of  about  eighty  men,  mustered  near  the  meeting- 
house ;  the  Troops  came  in  sight  of  them  just  before  sun- 
rise ;  the  Militia,  upon  seeing  the  Troops,  began  to  dis- 
perse ;  the  Troops  then  sat  out  upon  the  run,  hallooing  and 
huzzaing,  and  coming  within  a  few  rods  of  them,  the  com- 
manding officer  accosted  the  Militia  in  words  to  this  effect : 
"Disperse,  you  damn'd  rebels!  damn  you,  disperse!" 
Upon  which  the  Troops  again  huzzaed,  and  immediately 
one  or  two  officers  discharged  their  pistols,  which  were 
instantaneously  followed  by  the  firing  of  four  or  five  of  the 
soldiers,  and  then  there  seemed  to  be  a  general  discharge 
from  the  whole  body.  It  is  to  be  noticed  they  fired  upon 
our  people  as  they  were  dispersing,  agreeable  to  their  com- 
mand, and  that  we  did  not  even  return  the  fire ;  eight  of 
our  men  were  killed,  and  nine  wounded.  The  Troops 
then  laughed,  and  damned  the  Yankees,  and  said  they 
could  not  bear  the  smell  of  gunpowder.  A  little  after 
this  the  Troops  renewed  their  march  to  Concord,  where, 
when  they  arrived,  they  divided  into  parties,  and  went  di- 
rectly to  several  places  where  the  Province  stores  were 
deposited.  Each  party  was  supposed  to  have  a  tory  pilot. 
One  party  went  into  the  jail  yard,  and  spiked  up  and 
otherwise  damaged  two  cannon  belonging  to  the  Province, 
and  broke  and  set  fire  to  the  carriages.  They  then  enter- 
ed a  store  and  rolled  out  about  a  hundred  barrels  of  flour, 
which  they  unheatled,  and  emptied  about  forty  in  the 
river;  at  the  same  time  others  were  entering  houses  and 
shops,  and  unheading  barrels,  chests,  &ic,  the  property  of 
private  persons;  some  took  possession  of  the  Town- 
House,  to  which  they  set  fire,  but  was  extinguished  by  our 
people  without  much  hurt.  Another  party  of  the  Troops 
went  and  took  possession  of  the  North  bridge.  About  one 
hundred  and  fifty  Provincials,  who  mustered  upon  the 
alarm,  coming  towards  the  bridge,  the  Troops  fired  upon 
them  without  ceremony,  and  killed  two  upon  the  spot ! 
(Thus  did  the  Troops  of  Britain's  King  fire  first  at  two 
several  times  upon  his  loyal  American  subjects,  and  put  a 
period  to  ten  lives,  before  one  gun  was  fired  upon  them.) 
Our  people  then  returned  the  fire,  and  obliged  the  Troops 
to  retreat,  who  were  soon  joined  by  their  other  parties,  but 
finding  they  were  still  pursued,  the  whole  body  retreated 
back  to  Lexington,  both  Provincials  and  Troops  firing  as 
they  went.  During  this  time  an  express  from  the  Troops 
was  sent  to  General  Gage,  who,  thereupon,  sent  out  a 
reinforcement  of  about  fourteen  hundred  men,  under  the 
command  of  Earl  Percy,  with  two  field-pieces.*  Upon 
the  arrival  of  this  reinforcement  at  Lexington,  just  as  the 
retreating  party  had  got  there,  they  made  a  stand,  picked 
up  their  dead,  and  took  all  the  carriages  they  could  rind 

*  When  the  Second  Brigade  marched  out  of  Boston  to  reinforce  the 
First,  nothing  was  played  by  the  Fifes  and  Drums  but  Yankee  Doodle, 
(which  had  become  their  favourite  tune  ever  since  that  notable  exploit, 
which  did  such  honour  to  the  Troops  of  Britain's  King,  of  tarring  and 
feathering  a  poor  countryman  in  Boston,  and  parading  with  him 
through  the  principal  streets,  under  arms,  with  their  bayonets  fixed.) 
Upon  their  return  to  Boston,  one  asked  his  brother  officer  how  he 
liked  the  tune  now  ?  "  Damn  them,  (returned  he,)  they  made  us  dance 
it  till  we  were  tired."  Since  which  Yankee  Doodle  sounds  less  swe.t 
to  their  ears. 


* 


139 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  fee,  APRIL,  1775. 


440 


and  put  their  wounded  thereon;  others  of  them,  to  their 
eternal  disgrace  be  it  spoken,  were  robbing  and  setting 
houses  on  fire,  and  discharging  their  cannon  at  the  meet- 
ing-house. Whilst  they  were  thus  employed,  a  number 
of  our  people  attacked  a  party  of  twelve  of  the  enemy, 
(carrying  stores  and  provisions  to  the  Troops,)  killed  one 
of  them,  and  took  possession  of  their  arms,  stores,  provi- 
sions, &ic,  without  any  loss  on  our  side.  The  enemy 
having  halted  about  an  hour  at  Lexington,  found  it  neces- 
sary to  make  a  second  retreat,  carrying  with  them  many  of 
their  dead  and  wounded.  They  continued  their  retreat 
from  Lexington  to  Charlcstown  with  great  precipitation  ; 
our  people  continued  the  pursuit,*  firing  till  they  got  to 
Charlestown  Neck,  (which  they  reached  a  little  after  sun- 
set,) over  which  the  enemy  passed,  proceeded  up  Bunker's 
Hill,  and  the  next  day  went  into  Boston  under  the  pro- 
tection of  the  Somerset  Man-of-VVar  of  sixty-four  guns. 

A  young  man,  unarmed,  who  was  taken  prisoner  by  the 
enemy,  and  made  to  assist  in  carrying  off"  their  wounded, 
says  that  he  saw  a  barber  who  lives  in  Boston,  thought  to 
be  one  Warden,  with  the  Troops,  and  that  he  heard 
them  say  he  was  one  of  their  pilots.  He  likewise  saw  the 
said  barber  fire  twice  upon  our  people,  and  heard  Earl 
Percy  order  the  Troops  to  fire  the  houses.  He  also  in- 
forms that  several  officers  were  among  the  wounded  who 
were  carried  to  Boston,  where  our  informant  was  dismissed. 
They  took  two  of  our  men  prisoners  in  battle,  who  are  now 
confined  in  barracks. 

Immediately  upon  the  return  of  the  Troops  to  Boston, 
all  communication  to  and  from  the  Town  was  stopped  by 
General  Gage.  The  Provincials,  who  flew  to  the  assist- 
ance of  their  distressed  countrymen,  are  posted  in  Cam- 
bridge, Charlestown,  Roxbury,  Watertown,  &,c,  and  have 
placed  guards  on  Roxbury  Neck,  within  gun-shot  of  the 
enemy  ;  guards  are  also  placed  every  where  in  view  of  the 
Town,  to  observe  the  motion  of  the  King's  Troops.  The 
council  of  war,  and  the  different  Committees  of  Safety  and 
Supplies  set  at  Cambridge,  and  the  Provincial  Congress 
at  fVatertown.  The  Troops  in  Boston  are  fortifying  the 
place  on  all  sides,  and  a  Frigate-of-War  is  stationed  up 
Cambridge  River,  and  a  sixty-four  gun  Ship  between  Bos- 
ton and  Charlestown. 

Deacon  Joseph  Loring's  house  and  barn,  Mrs.  Muni- 
kill's  house  and  shop,  and  Mr.  Joshua  Rond's  house  and 
shop  in  Lexington,  were  all  consumed.  They  also  set  fire 
to  several  other  houses,  but  our  people  extinguished  the 
flames.  They  pillaged  almost  every  house  they  passed  by, 
breaking  and  destroying  doors,  windows,  glasses,  he,  and 
carrying  off  clothing  and  other  valuable  effects.  It  appear- 
ed to  be  their  design  to  burn  and  destroy  all  before  them; 
and  nothing  but  our  vigorous  pursuit  prevented  their  infer- 
nal purposes  from  being  put  in  execution.  But  the  savage 
barbarity  exercised  upon  the  bodies  of  our  unfortunate 
brethren  who  fell,  is  almost  incredible.  Not  content  with 
shooting  down  the  unarmed,  aged,  and  infirm,  they  disre- 
garded the  cries  of  the  wounded,  killing  them  without 
mercy,  and  mangling  their  bodies  in  the  most  shocking 
manner. 

We  have  the  pleasure  to  say  that,  notwithstanding  the 
highest  provocations  given  by  the  enemy,  not  one  instance 
of  cruelty,  that  we  have  heard  of,  was  committed  by  our 
Militia;  but  listening  to  the  merciful  dictates  of  the  Christian 
religion,  they  "  breathed  higher  sentiments  of  humanity." 


EXTRACTS  FROM  SEVERAL  INTERCEPTED  LETTERS  OF  THE 
SOLDIERY  IN  BOSTON. 

Boston,  April  28,  1775. 

1  am  well,  all  but  the  wound  I  received  through  the  leg 
by  a  ball  from  one  of  the  Bostonians.    At  the  lime  I 

*  An  American  Soldier,  who  had  received  a  wound  in  his  broast  in 
panning  General  QagePt  Troops,  on  the  19th  of  April,  supported  his 
body  against  a  troo.  A  brother  Soldier  came  up  to  him,  and  offered 
him  assistance.  "  Pursue  the  enemy,"  said  the  wounded  man.  With 
these  words  on  his  lips,  he  fell  back  and  died. 

A  gentleman  who  travelled  lately  through  Connecticut,  informs  us 
that  he  mot  with  an  old  gentlowoman,  who  told  him  that  alio  had  fitted 
out  and  sent  fivo  sons  and  eleven  grandsons  to  Huston,  whon  she  hoard 
of  the  engagement  between  tho  Provincials  and  Regulars.  The  gen. 
tleman  askod  her,  if  sho  did  not  shod  a  tear  at  parting  with  them  ? 
"No,  (said  she,)  I  never  parted  with  them  with  more  pleasure."  But 
supposo,  said  the  gentleman,  they  had  all  been  killed.  "  I  had  rather 
(said  the  noble  matron)  this  had  been  the  case,  than  that  oiu  of  the  n 
had  come  back  a  coward." 


wrote  to  you  from  Quebeck  I  had  the  strongest  assurance 
of  going  home,  but  the  laying  the  tax  on  the  New-Eng- 
land people  caused  us  to  be  ordered  for  Boston,  where  we 
remained  in  peace  with  the  inhabitants,  till  on  the  night  of 
the  18th  of  April  twenty-one  companies  of  Grenadiers 
and  Light-Infantry  were  ordered  into  the  country  about 
eighteen  miles,  where,  between  four  and  five  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  we  met  an  incredible  number  of  people  of  the 
country  in  arms  against  us.  Colonel  Smith,  of  the  Tenth 
Regiment,  ordered  us  to  rush  on  them  with  our  bayonets 
fixed,  at  which  time  some  of  the  peasants  fired  on  us,  and 
our  men  returning  the  fire,  the  engagement  begun.  They 
did  not  fight  us  like  a  regular  army,  only  like  savages, 
behind  trees  and  stone  walls,  and  out  of  the  woods  and 
houses,  where  in  the  latter,  we  killed  numbers  of  them,  as 
well  as  in  the  woods  and  fields.  The  engagement  began 
between  four  and  five  in  the  morning,  and  lasted  till  eight 
at  night.  I  cannot  be  sure  when  you  will  get  another 
letter  from  me,  as  this  extensive  Continent  is  all  in  arms 
against  us.  These  people  are  very  numerous,  and  full  as 
bad  as  the  Indians  for  scalping  and  cutting  the  dead  men's 
ears  and  noses  oft",  and  those  they  get  alive,  that  are 
wounded,  and  cannot  get  off  the  ground. 

Boston,  April  28,  1775. 
The  Grenadiers  and  Light-Infantry  marched  lbr  Co/i- 
cord,  where  were  powder  and  ball,  arms,  and  cannon 
mounted  on  carriages ;  but  before  we  could  destroy  them 
all,  we  were  fired  on  by  the  country  people,  who,  not 
brought  up  in  our  military  way,  as  ourselves,  we  were  sur- 
rounded always  in  the  woods.  The  firing  was  very  hot  on 
both  sides.  About  two  in  the  afternoon  the  Second  Bri- 
gade came  up,  which  were  four  Regiments  and  part  of  the 
Artillery,  which  were  of  no  use  to  us,  as  the  enemy  were 
in  the  woods ;  and  when  we  found  they  fired  from  the 
houses,  we  set  them  on  fire,  and  they  ran  to  the  woods 
like  devils.  We  were  obliged  to  retreat  to  Boston  again, 
over  Charles  River,  our  ammunition  being  all  fired  away. 
We  had  one  hundred  and  fifty  men  wounded  and  killed, 
and  some  taken  prisoners ;  we  were  forced  to  leave  some 
behind,  who  were  wounded.  We  got  back  to  Boston 
about  three  o'clock  next  morning,  and  them  that  were  able 
to  walk  were  forced  to  mount  guard,  and  lie  in  the  field. 
I  never  broke  my  fast  for  forty-eight  hours,  for  we  carried 
no  provisions,  and  thought  to  be  back  next  morning.  1 
had  my  hat  shot  off  my  head  three  times,  two  balls  went 
through  my  coat,  and  carried  away  my  bayonet  by  my 
side,  and  was  near  being  killed.  The  people  of  Roston 
are  in  great  trouble,  for  General  Gage  will  not  let  the 
Town's  people  go  out.  Direct  for  me  to  Chatham's  divi- 
sion of  Marines. 

Boston,  April  30,  1775. 
Dear  Parents  :  Before  this  reaches  you,  you  may 
hear  that  our  regiment  has  been  engaged  with  the  Pro- 
vincials. The  Grenadiers  and  Light-Infantry  marched 
about  nine  at  night.  At  six  next  morning  four  hundred 
and  twenty-three  soldiers,  and  forty-seven  marines,  in  all 
fifteen  hundred,  marched  to  reinforce  the  Grenadiers  and 
Light-Infantry,  joined  about  one  o'clock,  and  found  them 
not  engaged,  which  they  had  been  eight  hours  before  ;  for 
we  had  two  pieces  of  cannon,  which  made  us  march  slow. 
As  soon  as  we  came  up  we  fired  the  cannon,  which  brought 
them  from  behind  the  trees,  for  we  did  not  fight  as  you  did 
in  Germany,  as  we  could  not  see  above  ten  in  a  body,  for 
they  were  behind  trees  and  walls,  and  fired  at  us,  and  then 
loaded  on  their  bellies.  We  had  thirty-six  rounds,  which 
obliged  us  to  go  home  that  night,  and  as  we  came  along 
they  got  before  us  and  fired  at  us  out  of  the  houses,  and 
killed  and  wounded  a  great  many  of  us,  but  we  levelled 
their  houses  as  we  came  along.  It  was  thought  there 
were  about  six  thousand  at  first,  and  at  night  double  that 
number.  The  King's  Troops  lost  in  killed  and  wounded 
one  hundred  and  fifty,  and  the  Americans  five  hundred 
men,  women,  and  children,  for  there  was  a  number  of 
women  and  children  burnt  in  their  houses.  Our  regiment 
has  five  killed  and  thirty-one  wounded,  particularly  Col- 
onel Bernard  in  the  thigh,  which  all  the  regiment  is  sorry 
for.  The  shot  flew  thick.  I  got  a  wounded  man's  gun, 
and  killed  two  of  them,  as  I  am  sure  of.  We  have  been 
busy  in  fortifying  the  Town  ever  since  we  engaged,  and  in 


441 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  APRIL,  1775. 


442 


a  few  days  wc  cxpoct  a  good  many  more  Troops  from 
England,  and  then  we  shall  surely  burn  the  whole  Coun- 
try before  us,  if  they  do  not  submit,  which  I  do  not  ima- 
gine they  will  do,  for  they  are  an  obstinate  set  of  people. 
Tell  Bill  if  he  comes  to  Boston  he  may  have  a  wife  in 
every  house  he  comes  to,  for  the  women  are  left  at  home 
while  the  men  go  to  fight  the  soldiers.  They  have  formed 
an  army,  and  keep  guard  close  to  our  works,  so  that  our 
centries  can  talk  together  at  ease.  We  were  engaged  from 
six  to  six.  The  whole  Country  is  in  arms  against  us,  and 
they  are  headed  by  two  of  the  Generals  that  headed  our 
army  last  war ;  their  names  are  Ward  and  Putnam. 
W  e  have  a  great  deal  of  shipping,  but  they  are  of  little 
service,  only  to  cover  the  Town,  cannon  and  Troops, 
except  the  small  schooners  that  go  up  in  the  creeks  and 
destroy  them,  which  they  have  done  many  of  them. 
There  is  no  market  in  Boston,  the  inhabitants  all  starv- 
ing ;  the  soldiers  live  on  salt  provisions,  and  the  officers 
are  supplied  by  the  men-of-war  cutters,  who  go  up  the 
creeks  and  take  live  cattle  and  sheep  wherever  they 
find  them.  We  vex  the  Americans  very  much,  by  cut- 
ting down  their  liberty  poles  and  alarm  posts.  We  have 
had  a  great  many  died  in  our  Regiment  last  winter,  so  that 
what  with  wounded  men,  and  what  have  deserted,  we  have 
not  three  hundred  men  ;  and  duty  is  so  hard  that  we  come 
off  guard  in  the  morning,  and  mount  picket  at  night. 

Boston,  April  25,  1775. 
Honoured  Mother:  The  rebels,  when  we  came  to 
Concord,  burnt  their  stores,  fired  upon  the  King's  Troops, 
and  a  smart  engagement  ensued.  About  two  o'clock  our 
Brigade  came  up  to  them,  where  we  engaged  and  contin- 
ued fi"htin"  and  retreating  towards  Boston.    The  rebels 

DO  ° 

were  monstrous  numerous,  and  surrounded  us  on  every 
side ;  when  they  came  up  we  gave  them  a  smart  fire,  but 
they  never  would  engage  us  properly.  We  killed  some 
hundreds  and  burnt  some  of  their  houses.  I  received  a 
wound  in  my  head.  The  Troops  are  in  Boston,  and  sur- 
rounded on  the  land  side  by  the  rebels,  who  are  very  numer- 
ous, and  fully  determined  to  lose  their  lives  and  fortunes, 
rather  than  be  taxed  by  England.  We  had  thirty-four 
killed  and  wounded  ;  1  suppose  the  King's  Troops  in  all 
about  one  hundred  and  sixty.  In  case  they  take  Boston, 
the  Troops  will  retire  on  board  the  Men-of-War,  and  then 
the  Men-of-War  will  burn  the  Town,  and  remain  till  more 
Troops  come  from  England,  and  then  conquer  them  ;  so 
their  estates  and  lives  will  be  forfeited.  There  are  only 
four  thousand  soldiers,  and  about  fifty  or  sixty  thousand  of 
them. 

Boston,  May  2,  1775. 
Loving  Brothers  and  Sisters:  The  19th  of  April 
the  engagement  happened,  and  my  husband  was  wounded 
and  taken  prisoner,  but  they  use  him  well,  and  I  am  striv- 
ing to  get  to  him,  as  he  is  very  dangerous ;  but  it  is  almost 
impossible  to  get  out  or  in,  or  to  get  any  thing,  for  we  are 
forced  to  live  on  salt  provisions  entirely',  and  they  are 
building  batteries  round  the  Town,  and  so  are  we,  for  we 
are  expecting  them  to  storm  us,  and  are  expecting  more 
Troops  every  day.  My  husband  is  now  lying  in  one  of 
their  hospitals,  at  a  place  called  Cambridge,  and  there  are 
now  forty  or  fifty  thousand  of  them  gathered  together,  and 
we  are  not  four  thousand  at  most.  It  is  very  troublesome 
times,  for  we  are  expecting  the  Town  to  be  burnt  down 
every  day,  and  I  believe  we  are  sold ;  and  I  hear  my  hus- 
band's leg  is  broke,  and  my  heart  is  broke. 


A  SERIOUS  ADMONITION  TO  THE  INHABITANTS  OF  WIL- 
LIAMSBURGH. 

Williamsburgh,  Va.,  April  29,  1775. 
Friends  and  Fellow- Citizens  : 

Permit  one  who  sincerely  wishes  the  prosperity  of  his 
Country,  to  address  you  on  a  subject  of  great  importance, 
which  has  engaged  the  attention  of  us  all,  though  the  effects 
it  has  produced  in  our  minds  seem  not  to  be  of  the  same 
impression. 

Some,  I  find,  consider  the  Governour's  ordering  the 
removal  of  the  powder  from  the  magazine  an  illegal  act, 
that  as  such  it  might  be  resisted  ;  and  the  rage  of  patrio- 
tism has  been  carried  so  far  as  even  to  occasion  a  tumult 
directed  to  that  end.    What  the  consequences  might  have 


been,  I  tremble  to  think  of;  and  earnestly  congratulate 
you,  and  my  Country  in  general,  that  a  stop  has  been  put 
to  this  scene  of  confusion  by  the  virtuous  and  zealous  in- 
terposition of  some  of  our  worthy  inhabitants.  I  feel  par- 
ticular pleasure,  too,  in  reflecting,  that  those  who,  in  an 
unguarded  moment  were  for  carrying  things  the  farthest, 
have  not  yet  advanced  so  far  as  to  be  impenetrable  to  the 
still  voice  of  reason.  Though  we  had  committed  our  un- 
ruddered  bark  to  the  mercy  of  a  stormy  ocean,  we  have 
providentially  recovered  the  firmer  element,  on  which  we 
may  tread  in  security  and  peace;  and  here  let  us  rest. 

Anxious,  my  friends,  for  every  thing  which  is  necessary 
to  our  welfare,  suffer  me  to  observe,  that  even  admitting 
the  powder  which  was  removed  to  have  been  purchased 
by  this  Country,  (a  fact  I  do  not  pretend  to  be  acquainted 
with,)  yet  the  money  given  for  that  purpose  could  be  con- 
stitutionally given  only  to  the  King.  The  powder  must 
therefore  be  under  his  direction,  to  be  employed  indeed  for 
the  benefit  of  the  Country  ;  but  how,  and  in  what  manner, 
as  long  as  our  Government  exists,  is  in  the  discretion  of 
the  King,  or  of  his  Representatives.  It  is  true,  Kin^s 
have  sometimes  violated  the  most  sacred  trust,  and  in  the 
course  of  their  Government  have  chose  rather  to  build  on 
a  discretionary  power  originating  in  themselves,  than  on 
that  fiduciary  and  limited  authority  which  is  derived  from 
the  people.  Instances  of  this  sort  we  have  had,  and  fatal 
instances  we  have  had  too  of  the  resentment  of  the  peo- 
ple on  account  of  their  abused  rights ;  but  no  man  ac- 
quainted with  that  part  of  our  history  will,  in  his  cooler 
moments,  think  it  right  to  fly  in  an  outrageous  manner  in 
the  face  of  Government,  upon  every  occasion  when  there 
may  be  real  cause  of  complaint.  A  decent  representa- 
tion of  grievances  ought  certainly  to  precede,  and  much, 
very  much,  ought  to  be  borne  before  the  people  can  be 
justified  in  resorting  to  their  natural  power,  in  the  reclaim- 
ing of  which  so  much  disorder  and  confusion  must  neces- 
sarily arise. 

How  frantick,  then,  would  it  appear  in  us  to  think  of 
acting  on  the  idea  of  reverted  power,  and  of  appealing  to 
Heaven  upon  no  other  inducement  than  the  Governour's 
exertion  of  a  right  certainly  vested  in  him  by  the  Consti- 
tution, which,  for  what  we  know,  might  have  been  neces- 
sary to  our  welfare,  and  which,  after  the  information  his 
Excellency  has  been  pleased  to  give  to  the  Corporation, 
cannot,  without  the  most  causeless  breach  of  good  manners 
to  him  as  a  man,  and  of  that  respect  and  decorum  which 
are  due  to  him  as  our  Governour,  be  conceived  not  to  have 
been  so,  at  least  in  his  Lordship's  opinion. 

Understanding,  however,  that  though  a  stop  has  been 
happily  put  to  the  commotions  first  occasioned  by  this  affair, 
there  is  still  a  leaven  of  discontent  among  a  few  of  us. 
which,  without  some  seasonable  address,  might  possibly 
spread,  and  break  out  into  fresh  disorder;  I  hope  it  will  be 
taken  in  good  part  that  I  thus  venture  to  commit  my 
sentiments  to  the  examination  of  every  friend  of  order. 

I  beg  leave  to  conclude  by  observing,  that  whatever 
opinions  we  may  hold  with  respect  to  the  British  Parlia- 
ment, I  have  never  yet  heard  it  doubted,  whether  we  are 
not  bound  to  the  King  by  the  most  sacred  tie  of  allegiance : 
and  I  trust  we  shall  all  join  hand  and  heart  in  proving  our- 
selves, as  we  have  always  hitherto  been,  among  the  mos: 
loyal  of  his  subjects.  Civis. 


OFFICERS   OF   ALBEMARLE   VOLUNTEERS   TO  COLONEL 
GEORGE  WASHINGTON. 

Charlottesville,  April  29,  1775. 

Sir:  The  County  of  Albemarle  in  general,  and  the 
Gentlemen  Volunteers  in  particular,  are  truly  alarmed  and 
highly  incensed  with  the  unjustifiable  proceedings  of  Lord 
Dunmorc,  who,  we  are  informed,  has  clandestinely  taken 
possession  of  our  ammunition  lodged  in  the  Magazine. 
WTe  should  have  attended  at  Frcdericksburgh.  in  order  to 
have  proceeded  to  Williamsburgh  to  demand  a  return  of 
the  powder,  had  the  alarm  reached  us  before  an  account 
of  security  being  given  for  its  delivery.  However,  to  as- 
sure you  and  the  world  of  our  readiness  and  willingness  to 
resent  any  encroachment  of  arbitrary  power,  we  now  de- 
clare to  you,  should  it  be  necessary,  that  the  First  Com- 
pany of  Independents  for  Albemarle  will  attend  in  Wil- 
liamsburgh, properly  equipped,  and  prepared  to  enforce  an 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  APRIL,  1775. 


444 


immediate  delivery  of  the  powder,  (if  not  to  be  obtained 
otherwise)  or  die  in  the  attempt.  With  respect,  we  re- 
main ready  to  obey  your  commands. 

Charles  Lewis,  Captain. 
Geokge  Gilmer,  Lieutenant, 
John  Marks,  Second  Lieutenant. 

P.  S.  The  Company  will  stand  under  arms  all  day  on 
Tuesday  waiting  your  answer. 


FREDERICKS  BURGH    (VIRGINIA)  COMMITTEE. 

Saturday,  April  2D,  1775. 

At  a  Council  of  one  hundred  and  two  Members,  Dele- 
gates of  the  Provincial  Convention,  Officers,  and  special 
Deputies  of  fourteen  Companies  of  Light-Horse,  consist- 
ing of  upwards  of  six  hundred  well-armed  and  disciplined 
men,  friends  of  Constitutional  Liberty  and  America,  now 
rendezvoused  here  in  consequence  of  an  alarm  occasioned 
by  the  Powder  being  removed  from  the  County  Magazine, 
in  the  City  of  Williamsburgh,  in  the  night  of  Thursday  the 
L21st  instant,  and  deposited  on  board  an  armed  Schooner, 
by  order  of  his  Excellency  the  Governour : 

The  Council  having  before  them  the  several  matters  of 
intelligence  respecting  this  transaction,  and  particularly  a 
Letter  from  the  Honourable  Peyton  Randolph,  Esquire, 
Speaker  of  the  late  House  of  Burgesses  of  Virginia,  re- 
ceived here  last  night  by  an  express  despatched  to  Wil- 
liamsburgh for  the  purpose  of  gaining  intelligence,  inform- 
ing that  the  gentlemen  of  the  City  of  Williamsburgh  and 
neighbourhood  have  had  full  assurance  from  his  Excellency 
that  this  affair  will  be  accommodated,  and  advising  that  the 
gentlemen  assembled  here  should  proceed  no  further  at  this 
time.  This  Council  came  to  the  following  determination, 
and  offer  the  same  as  their  advice  to  those  publick  spirited 
gentlemen,  friends  to  British  Liberty  and  America,  who 
have  honoured  them  by  this  appointment :  Highly  con- 
demning the  conduct  of  the  Governour  on  this  occasion,  as 
impolitick,  and  justly  alarming  to  the  good  people  of  this 
Colony,  tending  to  destroy  all  confidence  in  Government, 
and  to  widen  the  unhappy  breach  between  Great  Britain 
and  her  Colonies,  ill-limed  and  totally  unnecessary,  con- 
sider this  instance  as  a  full  proof,  that  no  opinion  which 
may  be  formed  of  the  good  intentions  of  a  Governour  in 
private  life,  can  afford  security  to  our  injured  and  oppressed 
Country  ;  but  that  obedience  to  arbitrary  and  ministerial 
mandates,  and  the  most  tyrannical  and  oppressive  system 
of  Government,  must  be  the  fatal  line  of  conduct  of  all  His 
Majesty's  present  servants  in  America.  At  the  same  time 
justly  dreading  the  horrours  of  a  civil  war,  influenced  by  mo- 
lives  of  the  strongest  affection  to  our  fellow-subjects  of  Great 
Britain,  most  ardently  wishing  to  heal  our  mutual  wounds, 
and  therefore  preferring  peaceable  measures,  whilst  the 
least  hope  of  reconciliation  remains,  do  advise  that  the 
several  companies  now  rendezvoused  here  do  return  to 
their  respective  homes;  but  considering  the  just  rights  and 
liberty  of  America  to  be  greatly  endangered  by  the  violent 
and  hostile  proceedings  of  an  arbitrary  Ministry,  and  being 
firmly  resolved  to  resist  such  attempts  at  the  utmost  hazard 
of  our  lives  and  fortunes,  we  do  now  pledge  ourselves  to 
each  other  to  be  in  readiness,  at  a  moment's  warning,  to 
reassemble,  and  by  force  of  arms,  to  defend  the  Law,  the 
Liberty,  and  Rights  of  this  or  any  sister  Colony,  from  un- 
just and  wicked  invasion. 

Ordered,  That  expresses  be  despatched  to  the  Troops 
assembled  at  the  Bowling  Green,  and  also  to  the  Compa- 
nies from  Frederick,  Berkley,  Dunmorc,  and  such  other 
Counties  as  are  now  on  their  march,  to  return  them  thanks 
for  their  cheerful  offer  of  service,  and  to  acquaint  them 
with  the  determination  now  taken. 

God  save  the  Liberties  of  America. 

The  foregoing  Determination  of  Council  having  been 
read  at  the  head  of  each  Company,  was  cordially  and 
unanimously  approved. 


JOHN   DICKINSON   TO   ARTHUR  LEE. 

Fuirhill,  April  29,  1775. 
Dear  Sir:  The  "  immedicabile  vulvitis"  is  at  length 
struck.    The  rescript  to  our  Petition  is  written  in  blood. 
The  impious  war  of  tyranny  against  innocence  has  com- 
menced in  the  neighbourhood  of  Boston. 


We  have  not  yet  received  any  authentiok  accounts,  but 
1  will  briefly  mention  the  most  material  parts  of  the  rela- 
tions that  have  reached  us. 

General  Gage  having  lately  received  despatches  from 
England,  gave  orders  on  Saturday,  the  15th  of  this  month, 
that  the  Grenadiers  and  Light-Infantry  should  be  excused 
from  duty  until  further  orders.  Some  of  the  inhabitants  of 
the  Town  being  alarmed  by  this  circumstance,  observed 
between  ten  and  eleven  o'clock  on  Tuesday  night  follow- 
ing, those  bodies  to  be  moving  with  great  silence  towards 
that  water  which  is  usually  crossed  in  going  to  Cambridge. 
Notice  of  this  movement  was  immediately  conveyed  into 
the  country.  The  Troops  mentioned  embarked  in  boats, 
and  landed  at  Cambridge,  about  four  or  five  miles  from 
Boston.  From  thence  they  marched,  on  Wednesday  the 
19th,  in  the  morning,  to  Lexington,  about  twelve  miles 
from  Boston.  At  this  place  they  found  some  Provincials 
exercising.  The  commander  of  the  party  ordered  them 
to  disperse.  They  did  not.  One  of  them  said  he  was  on 
his  own  ground ;  that  they  injured  no  person,  and  could 
not  hurt  any  one,  for  they  had  no  ammunition  with  them. 
The  word  was  given,  and  the  brave  Britons,  emulating  no 
doubt  the  glorious  achievements  of  their  ancestors,  gallantly 
gave  fire  upon  those  who  were  exercising,  killed  some,  and 
put  the  rest  to  flight.  This  victory  was  gained  by  the 
Grenadiers  and  Light-Infantry,  without  the  assistance  of 
any  other  corps,  though  their  numbers,  it  is  said,  did  not 
exceed  a  thousand,  and  the  Provincials  amounted  to  at 
least,  as  it  is  reported,  twenty-five  or  thirty  men  ! 

From  Lexington  the  victors  pursued  their  march  to  Con- 
cord, about  twenty  miles  from  Boston,  where  they  destroy- 
ed a  small  Magazine,  and  set  fire  to  the  Court-House.  By 
this  time  two  or  three  hundred  of  the  inhabitants  were  col- 
lected, and  an  engagement  began.  The  Troops  soon  re- 
treated, and  lost  two  pieces  of  cannon,  which  they  had 
seized. 

General  Gage  receiving  intelligence  of  this  engagement, 
or  of  the  murder  at  Lexington,  between  eight  and  nine 
o'clock  on  Wednesday  morning,  sent  out  a  Brigade  under 
Lord  Percy,  consisting  of  the  Marines,  the  Welsh  Fusileers, 
the  fourth,  thirty-eighth,  and  forty-seventh  Regiments,  with 
two  field-pieces.  The  Grenadiers  and  Light-Infantry, 
still  retreating,  met  his  Lordship  advancing  to  their  relief; 
but  the  place  of  meeting  is  uncertain,  supposed  to  be  about 
five  or  six  miles  from  Boston.  The  numbers  of  the  coun- 
try people  being  also  now  increased,  a  very  warm  contest 
ensued.  The  Provincials  fought  as  desperate  men.  The 
Regulars  bore  the  attack  awhile,  still  retreating,  but  at 
length  broke,  and  retired  in  the  utmost  confusion  to  a  hill 
called  Bunker's  Hill,  not  far  from  Charlestown,  which  place 
is  situated  opposite  to  Boston,  on  the  other  side  of  Charles 
River.  About  a  mile  from  the  hill,  one  vessel-of-war,  if 
not  more,  was  stationed  to  cover  the  retreat  into  Charles- 
town  down  to  the  water-side,  in  order  to  pass  over  to  Bos- 
ton. In  the  retreat  of  this  one  mile,  it  is  said  the  Regulars 
lost  twelve  officers  and  two  hundred  privates.  The  Pro- 
vincials, afraid  of  the  shipping's  firing  on  Charlestown,  and 
of  hurting  the  Town's  people,  stopped  the  pursuit. 

On  the  whole,  the  accounts  say  the  Regulars  had  about 
five  hundred  men  killed,  and  many  are  wounded  and  pri- 
soners. The  advices  by  several  expresses  are  positive,  that 
Lord  Percy  is  killed,  which  gives  great  and  general  grief 
here,  and  also  General  Haldimand,  the  two  first  in  com- 
mand ;  that  a  wagon  loaded  with  powder  and  ball,  another 
with  provisions,  and  the  field-pieces  attending  the  rein- 
forcement, are  taken.  It  is  added  that  a  party  of  three 
hundred  sent  out  to  Marshjield ,  are  cut  off  and  taken  to  a 
man.  Several  letters  from  Boston  mention  that  the  offi- 
cers returned  there,  several  of  whom  are  wounded,  declare 
they  never  were  in  hotter  service.  The  whole  of  the  fight 
lasted  about  seven  hours.  Part  of  it  was  seen  from  the 
hill  in  Boston. 

I  cannot  say  1  am  convinced  of  the  truth  of  all  the  par- 
ticulars above-mentioned,  though  some  of  them  are  sup- 
ported by  many  probabilities.  But  these  facts  I  believe 
you  may  depend  on :  that  this  most  unnatural  and  inexpressi- 
bly cruel  war  began  with  the  butchery  of  the  unarmed 
Americans  at  Lexington;  that  the  Provincials,  incredible 
as  it  may  be  at  St.  James  or  St.  Stephen's,  fought  bravely  ; 
that  the  Regulars  have  been  defeated  with  considerable 
slaughter,  though  they  behaved  resolutely  ;  that  a  Tory 


445 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  APRIL,  1775. 


446 


dare  not  open  his  mouth  against  the  cause  of  America, 
even  at  New-York ;  that  the  Continent  is  preparing  most 
assiduously  for  a  vigorous  resistance  ;  and  that  freedom,  or 
an  honourable  death,  are  the  only  objects  on  which  their 
souls  are  at  present  employed. 

What  human  policy  can  divine  the  prudence  of  precipi- 
tating us  into  these  shocking  scenes  ?  Why  have  we  rashly 
been  declared  rebels?  Why  have  directions  been  sent  to 
disarm  us  ?  Why  orders  to  commence  hostilities?  Why 
was  not  General  Gage  at  least  restrained  from  hostilities 
until  the  sense  of  another  Congress  could  be  collected  ?  It 
was  the  determined  resolution  of  some,  already  appointed 
Delegates  for  it,  to  have  strained  every  nerve  at  that  meet- 
ing to  attempt  bringing  the  unhappy  dispute  to  terms  of 
accommodation,  safe  for  the  Colonies,  and  honourable  and 
advantageous  for  our  Mother  Country,  in  whose  prosperity 
and  glory  our  hearts  take  as  large  a  share  as  any  Minister's 
of  State,  and  from  as  just  and  as  generous  motives,  to  say 
no  more  of  them. 

But  what  topicks  of  reconciliation  are  now  left  for  men 
who  think  as  I  do,  to  address  our  countrymen  ?  To  recom- 
mend reverence  for  the  Monarch,  or  affection  for  the  Mo- 
ther Country  ?  Will  the  distinctions  between  the  Prince 
and  his  Ministers,  between  the  People  and  their  Repre- 
sentatives, wipe  out  the  stain  of  blood?  Or  have  we  the 
slightest  reason  to  hope  that  those  Ministers  and  Repre- 
sentatives will  not  be  supported  throughout  the  tragedy,  as 
they  have  been  through  the  first  act  ?  No.  While  we  re- 
vere and  love  our  Mother  Country,  her  sword  is  opening 
our  veins.  The  same  delusions  will  still  prevail,  till  France 
and  Spain,  if  not  other  Powers,  long  jealous  of  Britain's 
force  and  fame,  will  fall  upon  her,  embarrassed  with  an  ex- 
hausting civil  war,  and  crush,  or  at  least  depress  her ;  then 
turn  their  arms  on  these  Provinces,  which  must  submit  to 
wear  their  chains,  or  wade  through  seas  of  blood  to  a  dear- 
hought  and  at  best  a  frequently  convulsed  and  precarious 
independence. 

All  the  ministerial  intelligence  concerning  us  is  false. 
We  are  a  united,  resolved  people  ;  are,  or  quickly  shall  be, 
well  armed  and  disciplined  ;  our  smiths  and  powder-mills 
are  at  work  day  and  night;  our  supplies  from  foreign  parts 
continually  arriving.  Good  officers,  that  is,  well-expe- 
rienced ones,  we  shall  soon  have,  and  the  Navy  of  Great 
Britain  cannot  stop  our  whole  trade.  Our  Towns  are  but 
brick  and  stone,  and  mortar  and  wood  ;  they,  perhaps,  may 
be  destroyed  ;  they  are  only  the  hairs  of  our  heads ;  if 
sheared  ever  so  close,  they  will  grow  again.  We  compare 
them  not  with  our  rights  and  liberties.  We  worship  as  our 
fathers  worshipped,  not  idols  which  our  hands  have  made. 

I  am,  dear  Sir,  your  sincerely  affectionate  friend, 

John  Dickinson. 


New. York,  April  29,  1775. 
The  following  publication,  under  the  initial  letters  of  my 
name,  having  appeared  in  an  English  Paper  of  the  27th 
of  January,  I  take  this  opportunity  to  declare  that  it  is  al- 
together a  malicious  forgery,  calculated  to  inflame  the 
minds  of  my  countrymen,  and  expose  me  to  undeserved 
suspicion  and  distrust.  Oliver  De  Lancey. 

"  The  following  is  a  copy  of a  Letter  written  by  O  .  .  .  .r 
De  L  ....  y  to  a  person  high  in  Administration  : 
"  Sir  :  The  Resolutions  of  the  Congress  will  never  be 
observed  ;  the  Delegates  themselves  are  a-hamed  of  them, 
and  many  are  studying  ways  to  elude  them.  The  people 
attached  to  Government,  Sir,  in  this  City,  laugh  at  their 
Resolutions,  and  the  most  flaming  zealots  despise  them- 
selves for  passing  them.  On  occasion  of  the  Stamp  Act 
confederacies  were  formed,  which  treachery  among  them- 
selves soon  put  an  end  to.  There  cannot  be  a  doubt,  Sir, 
but  a  similar  defection  will  soon  show  how  little  may  be  de- 
pended on  from  the  Resolutions  of  the  Congress.  In  such 
defection  this  City  will  take  the  lead,  and  in  which  my  in- 
fluence shall  be  exerted,  and  may  be  relied  on.  Five  of 
the  Provinces  are  already  preparing  to  violate  their  Reso- 
lutions. 

"  I  beg  leave  to  say  that  Government  are  extremely  mis- 
taken, if  they  are  alarmed  at  a  Congress  like  that  at  Phil- 
adelphia. I  was  born  in  this  City,  and  am  well  acquainted 
with  the  other  Colonies,  from  whose  opposition  Govern- 
ment has  nothing  to  fear,  except  from  Neiv-England ;  and 


as  a  dutiful  subject  to  the  Crown,  J  hope  that  they  will 
meet  a  punishment  suitable  to  their  rebellion.  This  Prov- 
ince of  New-York  and  Pennsylvania  are  most  attached  to 
the  Crown  and  Parliament ;  and  to  the  keeping  them  so, 
I  hope  I  have  some  merit,  together  with  my  relations  and 
connexions,  of  whom  many  are  in  the  Assembly  and  Coun- 
cil ;  but  notwithstanding,  I  would  advise  the  keeping  two 
Regiments  here.  I  was  not  in  Town  when  the  packet 
arrived.  Your  favour  I  shall  have  the  honour  to  answer  per 
next  opportunity.  The  Deputies  from  this  City  in  the 
Congress  were  some  of  the  meanest  of  the  people. 
'•  New-York,  Decsmbor  3,  1774." 

At  Mr.  De  Lancey's  request,  we  have  perused  several 
Letters  from  him  to  persons  in  England,  which  he  declared 
to  us  upon  his  honour  were  all  he  had  written  on  political 
subjects  during  the  present  disturbances.  These  Letters, 
far  from  exciting  violent  measures  against  America,  are  cal- 
culated to  discourage  all  hostile  proceedings,  and  represent 
the  Colonies  as  firmly  resolved  to  submit  to  no  Parliament- 
ary taxation.  James  Doane, 

John  Jav. 

New-York,  April  29,  1775. 


TO   THE  PCBLICK. 

Westchester  County,  Now. York,  April  29,  1775. 

We,  the  subscribers,  do  hereby  make  this  publick  dec- 
laration :  That  whereas  we  and  several  others  in  fVestcha- 
ter  County,  having  signed  a  certain  number  of  Resolves, 
which,  at  the  time  of  our  said  signing,  we  deemed  consti- 
tutional, and  as  having  a  tendency  to  promote  the  interest 
of  our  Country ;  but  since,  upon  mature  deliberation  and 
more  full  knowledge  of  the  matter,  find  not  only  injurious 
to  our  present  cause,  but  likewise  offensive  to  our  fellow- 
Colonists :  We  do  therefore  thus  publickly  testify  our  ab- 
horrence of  the  same,  and  declare  ourselves  friends  to  the 
Colonies,  and  ever  ready  cheerfully  to  exert  ourselves  in 
the  defence  and  preservation  of  the  same. 

Jonathan  Fowler,  Esquire, 
George  Cornwell,  Esquire. 


letter  from  the  committee  of  boston. 

Boston,  April  29,  1775. 

Sir:  We  wrote  you  yesterday,  and  were  in  hopes  of  an 
answer,  more  especially  as  we  find  you  have  this  day  wrote 
a  letter  to  Town,  part  of  which  has  been  communicated  to 
the  Committee,  upon  which  we  beg  leave  to  observe,  that 
it  is  very  desirable  to  u?  that  you  would  comply  with  our 
request  of  making  proclamation  or  notification  to  such  per- 
sons as  may  incline  to  come  into  Boston  with  their  effects, 
as  it  must  expedite  the  removal  of  our  inhabitants,  with 
their  effects,  from  the  Town  of  Boston;  but  to  determine 
how  many  days  will  be  necessary  to  effect  this  removal,  is 
utterly  impracticable.  Those  persons  who  are  here  from 
the  country,  and  have  left  their  effects  behind,  we  desire 
may  be  permitted  to  send  their  servants  to  put  them  up 
and  convey  them  to  Boston  without  molestation  ;  and  that 
the  Selectmen  may  be  informed  to  whom  they  may  direct 
such  persons  to  apply  for  permits. 

You  will  receive  this  by  the  hands  of  Mr.  Payne,  who, 
being  one  of  the  Committee,  we  refer  you  to  him  for  more 
particular  information.  We  are,  very  respectfully,  your 
most  humble  servants, 

John  Scollay,  Saml.  Austin, 

Ezek.  Goldthwait.        Edwd.  Payne, 
Thos.  Marshall,  John  Pitts. 

To  Doctor  Joseph  Warren,  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of 

Congress. 


LETTER  FROM  THE   COMMITTEE  OF   SAFETY  TO  THE  COM- 
MITTEES OF  THE  SEVERAL  TOWNS. 

Cambridge,  April  29,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  As  many  of  the  persons  now  in  camp 
came  from  their  respective  Towns,  without  any  expecta- 
tion of  tarrying  any  time,  and  are  now  under  the  necessity 
of  returning,  this  is  to  desire  that  you  would,  with  the 
utmost  haste,  send  other  persons  to  supply  their  places 
for  a  few  days,  until  the  enlistments  are  complete,  and  the 
men  sent  down  to  us.  We  pray  you  immediately  to  set 
about  this  business,  as  the  most  fatal  consequences  must 


1  17 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  APRIL,  1775. 


418 


follow,  if  we  should  be  reduced  to  so  weak  a  state  as  that 
the  Army  under  General  Gage  may  be  able  to  issue  out  of 
the  Town,  and  spread  destruction  through  this  Country, 
and  we  think  none  can  be  unwilling  to  come  for  a  few  days 
to  relieve  their  brethren,  who  have  been  absent  from  their 
families.       We  arc,  &ic. 


COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY  TO  THE  SEVERAL  TOWNS  IN  MASSA- 
CHUSETTS. 

Cambridge,  April  29,  1775. 
One  half  of  the  Militia  and  Minute-Men  in  your  Town 
are  hereby  ordered  forthwith  to  march  to  the  Town  of 
. ,  as  we  have  information  that  General  Gage 
designs  speedily  to  sally  out  of  the  Town  of  Boston  with 
a  detachment  of  his  Army.    You  are  therefore  not  to  lose 
one  moment's  time,  but  come  instantly  to  the  support  of 
your  brethren,  and  the  half  to  hold  themselves  in  com- 
plete readiness  to  march  upon  the  slightest  notice. 
We  are,  Ike. 


SAMUEL  THOMPSON  TO  THE  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY. 

Brunswick,  Maine,  April  29,  1775. 

I  this  minute  have  an  opportunity  to  inform  you  of  the 
state  of  our  affairs  at  the  eastward,  that  we  are  all  staunch 
for  country,  except  three  men,  and  one  of  them  is  de- 
serted. The  other  two  are  in  irons.  As  for  the  vessels 
which  attempted  to  convey  stuff  to  our  enemies,  are  stop- 
ped, and  1  am  about  to  move  about  two  hundred  of  white 
pine  masts  and  other  stuff"  got  for  our  enemies'  use.  Sir, 
having  heard  of  the  cruel  murders  they  have  done  in  our 
Province  makes  us  more  resolute  than  ever;  and  finding 
that  the  sword  is  drawn  first  on  their  side,  that  we  shall  be 
animated  with  that  noble  spirit  that  wise  men  ought  to  be, 
until  our  just  rights  and  liberties  are  secured  to  us.  Sir, 
my  heart  is  with  every  true  son  of  America,  though  my 
person  can  be  in  but  one  place  at  once,  though  very  soon 
I  hope  to  be  with  you  on  the  spot.  If  any  of  my  friends 
inquire  after  me,  inform  them  that  I  make  it  my  whole 
business  to  pursue  those  measures  recommended  by  the 
Congresses.  We  being  upon  the  sea-coast,  and  in  danger 
of  being  invaded  by  pirates,  as  on  the  27th  instant,  there 
was  a  boat  or  barge  came  into  our  harbour  and  river,  and 
sounding  as  they  went  up  the  river. 

Sir,  as  powder  and  guns  are  wanted  in  this  eastern  part, 
and  also  provisions,  pray  Sir,  have  you  thought  something 
on  this  matter  against  1  arrive,  which  will  be  as  soon  as 
business  will  admit.  Sir,  I  am,  with  the  greatest  regard 
to  the  country,  at  heart  your  ready  friend  and  humble 
servant,  Samuel  Thompson. 


MEETING  OF  THE  INHABITANTS  OF  LONDONDERRY,  NEW- 
HAMPSHIRE. 

At  a  Meeting  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Londonderry,  on 
the  29th  of  April,  Colonel  Stephen  Holland  personally 
appeared  and  made  the  following  Declaration,  upon  which 
the  inhabitants  of  said  Town  voted  unanimously,  that  it 
was  satisfactory  to  them  for  his  past  conduct. 

Attest:  John  Bell,  Town  Clerk. 

"  Whereas  through  mistake,  misunderstanding,  misrepre- 
sentation, or  for  reasons  unknown  to  me,  I  am  represent- 
ed an  enemy  to  my  Country  :  to  satisfy  the  publick,  I 
solemnly  declare  I  never  aided  or  assisted  any  enemy 
to  my  Country  in  any  thing  whatsoever ;  and  that  I 
make  this  Declaration  not  out  of  fear  of  any  thing  I  may 
suffer,  but  because  it  gives  me  the  greatest  uneasiness  to 
think  that  the  true  sons  of  liberty,  and  real  friends  to 
their  Country,  (from  any  of  the  first  mentioned  reasons,) 
should  believe  me  capable  so  much  as  in  thought  of  injur- 
ing or  betraying  my  Country,  when  the  truth  is,  I  am 
ready  to  assist  my  countrymen  in  the  glorious  cause  of 
liberty,  at  the  risk  of  my  life  and  fortune. 

"  Stephen  Holland. 

"Londonderry,  April  29,  1775." 


ALEXANDER  SPOTSWOOD  TO  COL.  GEORGE  WASHINGTON. 

Frederickeburgh,  April  30,  1775. 
Sir:  It  is  imagined,  that  the  first  thing  which  will  come 
on  the  carpet  at  the  meeting  of  Congress,  will  be  that  of 


establishing  regular  armies  throughout  the  Continent  on 
pay.  If  such  a  thing  should  take  place,  there  is  not  the 
least  doubt  that  you  will  have  the  command  of  the  whole 
forces  in  this  Colony.  In  that  case,  1  shall  ever  esteem 
you  as  my  best  friend,  if  you  will  use  your  interest  in  pro- 
curing me  a  commission  ;  or,  should  the  power  of  appoint- 
ing officers  be  vested  in  you,  and  you  should  think  proper 
to  confer  so  great  an  honour  on  me,  as  qualifying  me  to  be 
one  of  your  officers,  you  will  find  me,  as  I  have  always 
been,  ready  to  serve  my  Country  gratis  in  the  glorious 
cause  of  liberty,  at  the  risk  of  my  life  and  fortune. 

I  am  extremely  glad  to  inform  you,  that,  after  a  long 
debate,  it  was  at  last  agreed  we  should  not  march  to  Wil- 
liamsburgh.    I  am,  with  respect,  &tc. 

Alexander  Spotswood. 


TO  THE  RESPECTABLE  PUBLICK. 

New- York,  April  30,  1775. 
Johannes  Sleght,  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of  Ulster 
County,  has  published  me  as  an  enemy  to  my  Country 
for  selling  Tea,  in  which  is  set  forth,  that  all  the  Mer- 
chants and  Skippers  had  signed  articles,  in  which  they 
agreed  not  to  sell  Tea.  This  is  absolutely  false,  for  there 
are  more  which  have  not  signed  for  the  very  reasons  I  had, 
and  the  Committee  knew  that  they  had  not  all  signed  at 
the  time  of  publishing  this  piece  of  malice.  It  is  known  in 
Kingston,  that  I  was  for  maintaining  the  Association,  and 
that  I  offered  to  sign  the  third  article,  which  I  would  abide 
by,  but  that  the  Committee  would  not  agree  to  it ;  more- 
over, that  the  Committee  in  Netv-York  had  determined 
that  no  Tea  should  be  sold,  and  that  I  would  quit  selling- 
it.  It  was  reported  by  one  of  the  members  of  the  Com- 
mittee, on  the  day  of  meeting,  that  he  had  purchased  Tea 
at  my  house.  Johannes  Sleght  continued  drinking  Tea 
after  the  1st  of  March,  in  direct  violation  of  the  Associa- 
tion ;  and  John  Beekman  did  confess  at  the  meeting,  that 
he  had  a  quantity  of  Tea,  and  intended  that  it  should  be 
made  use  of  in  his  family,  contrary  to  the  Association. 
This  I  could  not  but  consider  as  a  great  piece  of  chicanery, 
that  the  sale  of  Tea  should  be  prohibited,  and  others  declare 
that  they  would  continue  to  use  it  in  their  families,  when 
the  Association  expressly  mentions,  that  they  shall  not 
purchase  nor  use  it.  I  told  those  gentlemen  that  I  would 
refer  the  matter  to  the  consideration  of  the  Committee  at 
New-  York,  and  would  firmly  adhere  to  their  explanation 
of  the  third  article  of  the  Association,  which  I  must  con- 
fess I  did  not  think  prohibited  the  selling  of  Tea,  and  that 
the  Non-Consumption  Agreement  was  only  intended  to 
preserve  the  Non-Importation  Agreement.  The  report 
that  I  am  unfriendly  to  the  cause  of  liberty,  and  had  given 
an  affront  to  the  Committee  of  New-York,  is  a  most  vil- 
lanous  falsehood.  And  as  it  is  agreed  upon  by  the  well 
wishers  of  American  liberty,  not  to  purchase  nor  use  any 
Tea  in  their  families,  I  am  determined  to  abide  by  such  their 
agreement.  Jacobus  Low. 


LETTER  FROM  A  GENTLEMAN  NOW  AT  NEW-YORK  TO  THE 
COMMITTEE  OF  CORRESPONDENCE  IN  PORTSMOUTH,  NEW- 
HAMPSHIRE,  DATED  APRIL  30,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  At  this  time  of  general  confusion  through 
the  Colonies,  nothing  can  give  greater  pleasure  to  every 
well-wisher  to  his  Country,  than  the  unanimity  that  takes 
place  through  the  Continent,  more  especially  at  this  City  ; 
as  it  is  evident  (from  a  number  of  private  letters  from  Lon- 
don) that  Administration  have  put  the  greatest  dependance 
on  the  Yorkers  breaking  with  the  other  Colonies.  But  not- 
withstanding all  the  endeavours  of  designing  men,  I  have 
the  pleasure  to  inform  you,  that  by  the  notable  struggles  of 
the  sons  of  freedom,  all  difficulties  are  surmounted,  and 
nothing  can  equal  the  determined  spirit  of  the  people 
here.  Yesterday  about  six  or  seven  thousand  men  were 
out  on  the  plain,  among  whom  were  some  families  who 
have  been  in  the  opposition  ;  one  and  all  unanimously  voted 
to  defend  their  liberties,  &c,  at  all  hazards.  They  have 
stopped  clearing  to  the  Custom-House,  have  taken  all  the 
city  arms  and  ammunition  from  the  Hall  and  Magazine ; 
every  preparation  is  making  to  completely  arm  the  inhabi- 
tants ;  great  numbers  of  people  are  employed  hauling  the 
cannon  from  the  City  to  King's  bridge,  about  fourteen 


449 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  fcc,  APRIL,  1775. 


450 


-wiles,  where  they  will  immediately  intrench.  All  denomi- 
nations are  under  arms,  and  in  high  spirits.  It  is  the 
opinion  of  almost  every  one  in  this  place  that  the  Acts 
oi'  Parliament  would  have  been  repealed,  had  it  not  been 
for  the  encouragement  given  Administration  by  this  place, 
that  the  Colonies  would  break  their  union.  No  people  can 
be  more  despised,  nor  more  frightened  than  those  here 
who  have  been  inimical  to  their  Country,  particularly  the 
eleven  Members  of  the  House.  Mr.  Riving  ton  has  made 
a  recantation  ;  President  Cooper  has  decamped ;  and  it  was 
with  much  difficulty  the  people  were  prevented  from  taking 
the  lives  of  those  who  they  have  considered  as  traitors  to 
their  Country.  All  Government  seems  to  be  laid  aside. 
The  City  is  now  to  be  regulated  by  a  Committee  of  Safety, 
consisting  of  one  hundred  worthy  men.  Though  there 
was  a  number  of  large  vessels,  loaded  with  wheat  and  flour, 
and  cleared  out,  and  many  partly  loaded  ...  It  was 
nobly  done;  immediately  stopt  every  vessel.  The  New- 
England  men  are  held  in  the  highest  esteem  for  their 
bravery,  and  people  here  are  determined  to  supply  provi- 
sions, and  march  to  their  assistance  when  called  lor.  The 
die  is  thrown,  and  every  man  of  us,  whether  we  are  hearty  in 
the  cause  or  not,  must  abide  by  the  cast ;  and  as  we  are  all 
considered  as  rebels,  (not  by  the  Nation,  but  by  a  .  .  . 
Ministry,)  let  us  one  and  all  (which  they  are  determined 
on  this  way)  stand  forth  boldly ;  which  will  most  cer- 
tainly, under  God,  insure  us  success,  and  that  soon. 


TO  GOVERNOUR  TRUMBULL. 

Killingsworth,  April  30,  1775.  ) 
Nine  o'clock,  P.  M.  $ 

Sir  :  This  moment  Captain  Caldwell  came  over  to  me 
from  Guildford,  where  I  have  a  vessel  loaded  for  the  West- 
Indies,  having  all  her  cargo  on  board,  consisting  of  forty 
thousand  lumber,  twenty-three  oxen,  and  one  horse,  hav- 
ing on  board  no  provisions  but  for  the  use  of  said  vessel, 
which  was  cleared  at  the  Custom-House  on  the  twenty- 
fourth  instant,  and  informed  me  that  the  honourable  Gene- 
ral Assembly  have  embargoed  all  vessels  bound  to  the 
II  est-lndics  with  stock  and  other  provisions.  As  I  have 
the  good  of  my  Country  at  heart,  and  pay  the  greatest  re- 
gard to  the  resolves  and  determinations  of  the  Legislature 
of  this  Colony,  I  would  by  no  means  do  any  thing  that 
should  have  the  remotest  appearance  of  acting  counter  to 
their  determinations ;  but  your  Honour  must  be  sensible 
the  unshipping  my  cattle  and  stores  must  be  attended  with 
great  loss,  as  the  stock  is  by  no  means  fit  for  a  present 
market.  I  humbly  request  my  said  vessel  may  be  per- 
mitted to  sail,  as  I  had  not  the  least  suspicion  of  an  em- 
bargo, and  have  only  waited  several  days  for  a  wind.  I 
would  have  waited  myself  on  your  Honour,  but  my  pre- 
sent indisposition  would  not  permit ;  and  for  the  purpose 
of  obtaining  permission,  my  son  now  waits  on  your  Honour, 
on  whose  goodness  1  greatly  rely  ;  and  am  your  Honour's 
most  obedient  and  most  humble  servant, 

Theophilus  Morgan. 

General  Assembly,  April,  1775.  I 
In  the  Upper  House.  ^ 

His  Honour  the  Govemour  is  desired  to  grant  a  permit 
to  Mr.  Theophilus  Morgan,  that  his  vessel  may  proceed 
on  its  voyage  according  to  the  request  in  the  within  letter. 
Test :  George  Wyllys,  Secretary. 

Concurred  in  in  the  Lower  House. 

Test:  Richard  Law,  Clerk. 


<  OMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY  TO  THE  SELECTMEN  OF  BOSTON. 

Cambridge,  April  30,  1775. 
Gentlemen:  Enclosed  you  have  a  Resolve  of  Con- 
gress, which  we  hope  will  remove  every  obstacle  to  the  re- 
moval of  our  friends  from  Boston.  The  necessity  of  going 
from  this  Town  to  Walertown,  in  order  to  lay  the  propo- 
sals of  this  Committee  before  the  Provincial  Congress,  we 
hope  will  suggest  to  you  an  apology  for  any  supposed  de- 
lay. But  be  assured  that  no  person  now  in  Boston  is  more 
sensible  of  the  distress,  nor  more  desirous  of  relieving  our 
brethren  there,  than  the  members  of  this  Committee.  En- 
couragement will  be  given  to-morrow  to  the  wagoners  in 
the  country,  to  repair  to  Boston  to  give  all  possible  assist- 
Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii. 


ance  to  our  friends,  in  the  removal  of  their  effects.  I 
wrote  yesterday  to  General  Gage  upon  the  subject,  and  re- 
quested him  to  take  into  consideration  the  expediency  of 
restraining  the  country  from  sending  in  more  than  thirty 
wagons  at  one  time,  but  I  have  received  no  answer.  If  I 
should  receive  any,  the  contents,  so  far  as  they  respect  my 
ever-adored  Town  of  Boston,  shall  be  communicated  to 
you.    We  are,  &c. 


TO  THE  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY  FOR  MASSACHUSETTS. 

Portsmouth,  New-Hampshire,  April  30,  1775. 
There  is  much  probability  that  the  last  mail  from  Eng- 
land for  General  Gage  passed  through  Northampton,  east- 
ward or  northward,  yesterday  about  twelve  o'clock.  It  may 
be  that  it  may  pass  up  the  river  as  far  as  Northfidd,  be- 
fore it  steers  its  course  from  the  sea-shore.  Probably  its 
direction  may  be  to  Portsmouth  or  Salem.  No  one  will 
judge  that  it  will  attempt  to  enter  Boston  directly.  No 
doubt  the  bearer  will  be  several  times  shifted  before  its 
arrival  to  the  place  of  destination.  The  people  of  North- 
ampton yesterday  knew  nothing  that  there  was  any  suspi- 
cion of  the  mail's  passing  by  land.  The  circumstances 
which  make  up  the  evidence  that  a  traveller  who  passed 
this  Town  yesterday  was  the  bearer  of  the  mail,  are  too 
many  to  be  mentioned.  He  undoubtedly  came  from  Hud- 
so7i's  River  to  Northampton,  whether  in  a  direct  or  oblique 
course,  is  not  yet  made  certain.  The  suspected  bearer, 
who  was  at  Northampton,  does  not  altogether  answer  the 
description  given  in  the  New-  York  letter  of  the  probable 
bearer  from  them,  but  many  think  it  more  likely  that  they 
would  attempt  to  get  the  mail  along  by  some  acquainted 
up  the  river,  in  the  County  of  Cumberland,  than  by 
Oliver  De  Lancey,  Jun. 

Quere.  Whether  it  is  not  expedient  to  search  every  sus- 
picious person  passing  as  far  northward  as  any  road  leading 
from  Connecticut  River  to  Portsmouth. 


BENEDICT   ARNOLD   TO  THE   MASSACHUSETTS  COMMITTEE 
OF  SAFETY. 

Cambridge,  April  30,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  You  have  desired  me  to  state  the  number 
of  cannon,  Sic,  at  Ticonderoga.  I  have  certain  informa- 
tion that  there  are  at  Ticonderoga  eighty  pieces  of  heavy 
cannon,  twenty  brass  guns,  from  four  to  eighteen  pound- 
ers, and  ten  to  twelve  large  mortars.  At  Skeneslorough, 
on  the  South-Hay,  there  are  three  or  four  brass  cannon. 
The  Fort  is  in  a  ruinous  condition,  and  has  not  more  than 
fifty  men  at  the  most.  There  are  large  numbers  of  small 
arms,  and  considerable  stores,  and  a  sloop  of  seventy  or 
eighty  tons  on  the  lake.  The  place  could  not  hold  out  an 
hour  against  a  vigorous  onset.  Your  most  obedient  ser- 
vant, Benedict  Arnold. 
Honourable  Joseph  Warren,  and  the  honourable  Committee 

of  Safety. 


MASSACHUSETTS  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY  TO  NEW-YORK 
COMMITTEE. 

Cambridge,  April  30,  1775. 

It  has  been  proposed  to  us  to  take  possession  of  the  For- 
tress at  Ticonderoga.  We  have  a  just  sense  of  the  im- 
portance of  that  fortification,  and  the  usefulness  of  those 
fine  cannon,  mortars,  and  field-pieces  which  are  there  ;  but 
we  would  not,  even  upon  this  emergency,  infringe  upon  the 
rights  of  our  sister  Colony,  Neiv-  York.  But  we  have  de- 
sired the  gentleman,  who  carries  this  letter,  to  represent 
the  matter  to  you,  that  you  mayr  give  such  orders  as  are 
agreeable  to  you. 

We  are,  with  the  greatest  respect,  your  most  obedient 
servants,  Joseph  Warren,  Chairman. 

To  Alexander  McDousrall. 


MEETING  OF  FREEHOLDERS  OF  ICING  WILLIAM  COUNTY, 
VIRGINIA. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Freeholders  of  the  County  of  King 
William,  at  the  Court-House,  on  Monday  the  first  of  May, 
Carter  Braxton  and  William  Aylctt,  Esquires,-were  unani- 
mously chosen  their  Delegates  to  represent  them  in  Con- 
vention for  one  year,  from  the  date  hereof. 


451 


PENNSYLVANIA  ASSEMBLY,  MAY,  1775. 


452 


A  subscription  being  tlien  opened  for  the  relief  of  our 
brethren  in  Massachusetts-Bay, and  it  being  thought  highly 
necessary,  at  this  important  crisis,  that  supplies  should  be 
sent  to  them,  and  money  being  the  only  means  by  which 


that  relief  could  be  afforded  with  certainty,  the  sum  of  one 
hundred  and  seventy-five  Pounds  was  immediately  contri- 
buted, and  it  is  expected  that  a  much  larger  sum  will  be 
given,  when  collections  are  made  from  the  whole  County. 


PENNSYLVANIA  ASSEMBLY. 

Monday,  May  1,  1775. 

The  House  met  pursuant  to  their  adjournment. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Gray  and  Mr.  Hillegas  wait  on  the 
Governour,  and  acquaint  him  that  a  quorum  of  the  Repre- 
sentatives being  met,  they  are  ready  to  receive  any  busi- 
ness his  Honour  may  be  pleased  to  lay  before  them. 

Mr.  Charles  Thomson  laid  before  the  House  a  Letter 
from  William  Bollan,  Benjamin  Franklin,  and  Arthur 
Lee,  Esquires,  dated  London,  February  5,  1775,  which 
was  read  by  order,  and  is  as  follows,  viz: 

Sir:  Our  last  letter  informed  you  that  the  King  had 
declared  his  intention  of  laying  the  Petition  before  his  two 
Houses  of  Parliament.  It  has  accordingly  been  laid  before 
each  House,  but  undistinguished  among  a  variety  of  letters 
and  other  papers  from  America. 

A  motion  made  by  Lord  Chatham,  to  withdraw  the 
Troops  from  Boston,  as  the  first  step  towards  a  conciliating 
plan,  was  rejected  ;  and  the  Ministry  have  declared,  in  both 
Houses,  the  determination  to  enforce  obedience  to  all  the 
late  laws.  For  this  purpose,  we  understand  that  three 
Regiments  of  Foot,  one  of  Dragoons,  seven  hundred  Ma- 
rines, six  Sloops-of-War  and  two  Frigates,  are  now  under 
orders  for  America. 

We  think  it  proper  to  inform  you  that  your  cause  was 
well  defended  by  a  considerable  number  of  good  and  wise 
men  in  both  Houses  of  Parliament,  though  far  from  being 
a  majority,  and  that  many  of  the  commercial  and  manufac- 
turing parts  of  the  Nation,  concerned  in  the  American 
Trade,  have  presented,  or,  as  we  understand,  are  preparing 
to  present  Petitions  to  Parliament,  declaring  their  great 
concern  for  the  present  unhappy  controversies  with  America, 
and  praying  expressly,  or  in  effect,  for  healing  measures,  as 
the  proper  means  of  preserving  their  commerce,  now  greatly 
suffering  or  endangered.  But  the  treatment  the  Petitions 
already  presented  have  hitherto  received,  is  such  as,  in  our 
opinion,  can  afford  you  no  reliance  on  any  present  relief 
through  their  means. 

As  soon  as  we  learned  that  the  Petition  of  the  Congress 
was  before  the  House  of  Commons,  we  thought  it  our  duty 
to  support  it,  if  we  might  be  permitted  so  to  do,  as  there 
was  no  other  opportunity  for  the  numerous  inhabitants  of 
the  Colonies  to  be  heard  in  defence  of  their  rights.  Ac- 
cordingly we  joined  in  a  Petition  for  that  purpose.  Sir 
George  Savile  kindly  undertook  to  present  it,  but  on  pre- 
viously opening  the  purport  of  it,  as  the  order  is,  a  debate 
arose  on  the  propriety  of  receiving  it,  and,  on  a  division, 
it  was  rejected  by  a  great  majority. 

The  following  extract  of  a  letter  from  General  Gage  to 
Lord  Dartmouth,  as  laid  before  Parliament,  we  think  it  our 
duty  to  transmit,  viz  : 

"  December  15, 1774. — Your  Lordship's  idea  of  disarm- 
ing certain  Provinces  would  doubtless  be  consistent  with 
prudence  and  safety,  but  it  neither  is,  nor  has  been  practi- 
cable, without  having  recourse  to  force,  and  being  masters 
of  the  Country." 

It  was  thrown  out  in  debate  by  a  principal  member  of 
Administration,  that  it  would  be  proper  to  alter  the  Charters 
of  Connecticut  and  Rhode-Lland. 

Enclosed  we  send  you  a  copy  of  the  Resolutions  passed 
in  a  Committee  of  the  Whole  House  on  Thursday  last, 
which  are  to  be  reported  on  Monday.*    It  is  said  thai  these 

*  That  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  Committee,  that  an  humble  Address 
bo  presented  to  His  Majesty,  to  return  His  Majesty  our  most  bumble 
thanks  for  having  be  n  most  graciously  pleased  to  communicate  to  this 
House  the  several  papers  relating  to  the  present  state  of  the  British 
Colonies  in  America,  which,  by  His  Majesty's  commands,  have  boen 
laid  before  this  House,  and  from  which,  after  taking  them  into  our  most 
sorious  consideration,  we  find  that  a  part  of  His  Majesty's  subjects,  in 
the  Province  of  the  Massachusetts-Buy,  have  procoedod  so  far  to  resist 
the  authority  of  the  Supremo  Legislature,  that  a  rebellion  at  this  time 
actually  oxists  within  the  said  Province,  and  we  see,  with  the  utmost 
concern,  that  they  have  boen  countenanced  and  encouraged  by  unlawful 
combinations  and  engagements,  entered  into  by  Ilis  Majesty's  subjects 
in  several  of  the  other  Colonies,  to  the  injury  and  oppression  of  many 
of  thoii  innocent  fcllow-subjocts,  resident  within  the  Kingdom  of  Great 


Resolutions  are  to  be  the  foundation  of  several  Bills  to  be 
brought  in  ;  but  the  purport  of  these  Bills  we  have  not  yet 
learned  with  sufficient  certainty. 

We  send  you  likewise  a  copy  of  Lord  Chatham's  first 
motion  in  the  House  of  Lords,  and  of  his  plan  of  a  Bill  for 
settling  the  troubles  between  Britain  and  her  Colonies, 
both  which  were  rejected  on  the  first  reading. 

With  great  respect,  we  are,  Sir,  your  most  obedient  hum- 
ble servants,  Wm.  Bollan, 

B.  Franklin, 
Arthur  Lee." 

The  Members  appointed  to  wait  on  the  Governour 
with  the  Message  of  the  House,  reported  they  had  de- 
livered the  same  according  to  order,  and  that  his  Honour 
was  pleased  to  say  he  should  lay  some  business  before  the 
House  shortly. 

The  House  adjourned  to  ten  o'clock  to-morrow  morning. 

May  2,  1775. — The  House  met  pursuant  to  adjourn- 
ment. 

The  Governour,  by  Mr.  Secretary,  sent  down  a  written 
Message  to  the  House,  together  with  a  copy  of  a  Resolu- 
tion of  the  House  of  Commons,  passed  the  20th  of  Feb- 
ruary last,  which  were  read  by  order,  and  are  as  they 
respectively  follow,  viz : 

A  Message  from  the  Governour  to  the  Assembly. 
Gentlemen  :  I  have  ordered  the  Secretary  to  lay  before 
you  a  Resolution!  entered  into  by  the  British  House  of 

Britain  and  the  rest  of  His  Majesty's  Dominions.  This  conduct,  on 
their  part,  appears  to  us  the  more  inexcusable,  when  we  consider  with 
how  much  temper  His  Majesty  and  the  two  Houses  of  Parliament  have 
acted  in  support  of  the  laws  and  Constitution  of  Great  Britain.  To 
declare  that  we  can  never  so  far  desert  the  trust  reposed  in  us  as  to  re- 
linquish any  part  of  the  sovereign  authority  over  all  His  Majesty's 
Dominions,  which  by  law  is  vested  in  His  Majesty  and  the  two  Houses 
of  Parliament,  and  that  the  conduct  of  many  persons  in  several  of  the 
Colonies  during  the  late  disturbances,  is  alone  sufficient  to  convince  us 
how  necessary  this  power  is  for  the  protection  of  the  lives  and  fortunes 
of  all  His  Majesty's  subjects  ;  that  we  ever  have  been,  and  always  shall 
be,  ready  to  pay  attention  and  regard  to  any  real  grievances  of  any  of 
His  Majesty's  subjects,  which  shall,  in  a  dutiful  and  constitutional 
manner,  be  laid  before  us ;  and  whenever  any  of  the  Colonies  shall  make 
a  proper  application  to  us,  we  shall  be  ready  to  afford  them  every  just 
and  reasonable  indulgence  ;  but  that  at  the  same  time  we  consider  it  as 
our  indispensable  duty,  humbly  to  beseech  His  Majesty  that  His  Ma. 
jesty  will  take  the  most  effectual  measures  to  enforce  due  obedience  to 
the  laws  and  authority  of  the  Supreme  Legislature ;  and  that  we  beg 
leave,  in  the  most  solemn  manner,  to  assure  His  Majesty,  that  it  is  our 
fixed  resolution,  at  the  hazard  of  our  lives  and  properties,  to  stand  by 
His  Majesty  against  all  rebellious  attempts  in  the  maintenance  of  the 
just  rights  of  His  Majesty  and  the  two  Houses  of  Parliament. 

Ayes,  two  hundred  and  ninety-six ;  noes,  one  hundred  and  six. 

Amendment  proposed  to  leave  out  from  the  first  [and]  to  the  end  of 
the  question,  and  insert  [to  assure  His  Majesty,  that  in  order  to  fix  the 
true  dignity  of  his  Crown,  and  the  authority  of  Parliament  on  a  sure 
foundation,  we  shall  endeavour  to  recover  the  hearts  of  his  subjects  in 
America,  too  many  of  whom  are  unhappily  alienated  from  their  usual 
affection  to  their  Mother  Country,  by  endeavouring  to  remove  all  those 
causes  of  jealousy  and  apprehension  which  have  arisen  from  an  unfor- 
tunate management  of  His  Majesty's  affairs,  and  from  acts  of  the  last 
Parliament,  made  without  sufficient  information  of  the  true  state  of 
America.] 

Question  put,  that  the  words  proposed  to  be  left  out  stand  part  of 
this  question?  Ayes,  throe  hundred  and  four;  noes,  one  hundred  and 
five. 

t  The  Resolution  of  the  House  of  Commons. 

Luna',  20"  Die.  Februarii,  1775. — The  House  in  a  Committee  on  the 
American  Papers,  motion  made  and  question  proposed, 

That  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  Committee,  that  when  the  Governour, 
Council,  and  Assembly,  or  General  Court,  of  any  of  His  Majesty's 
Provinces  or  Colonies  in  America  shall  propose  to  make  provision, 
according  to  tho  condition,  circumstances,  and  situation  of  such  Prov- 
ince or  Colony,  for  contributing  their  proportion  to  tho  common  de- 
fence, (such  proportion  to  be  raised  under  the  authority  of  the  General 
Court  or  General  Assombly  of  such  Province  or  Colony,  and  disposa- 
ble by  Parliament,)  and  shall  engage  to  make  provision  also  for  the 
support  of  the  civil  Government,  and  the  administration  of  justico  in 
such  Province  or  Colony,  it  will  be  proper,  if  such  proposal  shall  be 
approved  by  His  Majesty  and  the  two  Houses  of  Parliament,  and  for 
so  long  as  such  provision  shall  be  made  accordingly,  to  forbear,  in 
respect  of  such  Province  or  Colony,  to  levy  any  duty,  tax,  or  assess- 
ment, or  to  impose  any  further  duty,  tax,  or  assessment,  except  only 
such  duties  as  it  may  bo  expodient  to  continue  to  levy  or  impose  for 
the  regulation  of  Commerce,  the  nett  produce  of  the  duties  last  men- 
tioned to  be  carriod  to  the  account  of  such  Province  or  Colony  respec- 
tively. 


453 


PENNSYLVANIA  ASSEMBLY,  MAY,  1775. 


454 


Commons  the  twentieth  of  February  last,  relative  to  the 
unhappy  differences  subsisting  between  our  Mother  Coun- 
try and  her  American  Colonies.  You  will  perceive  by 
this  Resolve  not  only  a  strong  disposition  manifested  by 
that  august  hody  to  remove  the  causes  which  have  given 
rise  to  the  discontents  and  complaints  of  His  Majesty's 
subjects  in  the  Colonies,  and  the  dreadful  impending  evils 
likely  to  ensue  from  them,  but  that  they  have  pointed  out 
the  terms  on  which  they  think  it  just  and  reasonable  a  final 
accommodation  should  be  grounded. 

Let  me  earnestly  entreat  you,  gentlemen,  to  weigh  and 
consider  this  plan  of  reconciliation  held  forth  and  offered 
by  the  parent  to  her  children,  with  that  temper,  calmness, 
and  deliberation,  that  the  importance  of  the  subject  and 
the  present  critical  situation  of  affairs  demand.  Give  me 
leave  to  observe,  that  the  Colonies,  amidst  all  those  com- 
plaints which  a  jealousy  of  their  liberties  has  occasioned, 
have  never  denied  the  justice  or  equity  of  their  contribu- 
ting towards  the  burdens  of  the  Mother  Country,  to  whose 
protection  and  care  they  owe  not  only  their  present  opu- 
lence, but  even  their  very  existence.  On  the  contrary, 
every  state  and  representation  of  their  supposed  grievances 
that  I  have  seen,  avows  the  propriety  of  such  a  measure, 
and  their  willingness  to  comply  with  it. 

The  dispute,  then,  appears  to  me  to  be  brought  to  this 
point :  Whether  the  redress  of  any  grievances  the  Colonists 
have  reason  to  complain  of,  shall  precede,  or  be  postponed 
to  the  settlement  of  that  just  proportion  which  America 
should  bear  towards  the  common  support  and  defence  of 
the  whole  British  Empire. 

You  have,  in  the  Resolution  of  the  House  of  Commons, 
which  I  have  authority  to  tell  you  is  entirely  approved  by 
His  Majesty,  a  solemn  declaration  that  an  exemption  from 
any  duty,  tax,  or  assessment,  present  or  future,  except  such 
duties  as  may  be  expedient  for  the  regulation  of  Com- 
merce, shall  be  the  immediate  consequence  of  proposals 
on  the  part  of  any  of  the  Colony  Legislatures,  accepted  by 
His  Majesty  and  the  two  Houses  of  Parliament,  to  make 
provision,  according  to  their  respective  circumstances,  for 
contributing  their  proportion  to  the  common  defence,  and 
the  support  of  the  civil  Government  of  each  Colony. 

I  will  not  do  you  so  much  injustice,  gentlemen,  as  to 
suppose  you  can  desire  a  better  security  for  the  inviolable 
performance  of  this  engagement,  than  the  Resolve  itself, 
and  His  Majesty's  approbation  of  it  gives  you. 

As  you  are  the  first  Assembly  on  the  Continent  to  whom 
this  Resolution  has  been  communicated,  much  depends  on 
the  moderation  and  wisdom  of  your  counsels ;  and  you  will 
be  deservedly  revered  to  the  latest  posterity,  if,  by  any 
possible  means,  you  can  be  instrumental  in  restoring  the 
publick  tranquillity,  and  rescuing  both  Countries  from  the 
dreadful  calamities  of  a  civil  war.  John  Penn. 

May  2,  1775. 

A  Remonstrance  from  a  number  of  Farmers  and  Millers 
in  the  County  of  Bucks,  respecting  an  alteration  of  the 
sizes  of  Flour-Barrels,  was  presented  to  the  House  and 
read. 

Ordered  to  lie  on  the  table. 

Mr.  Speaker  laid  before  the  House  a  Letter  received  in 
their  recess  from  the  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Assembly 
of  the  Colony  of  New-  York,  with  sundry  Papers  therein 
referred  to,  which  were  read  by  order,  and  the  said  Letter 
is  as  follows,  viz  : 

"New-York,  April  10,  1775. 
"  Sir  :  By  an  order  of  the  General  Assembly  of  this 
Colony,  I  am  directed  to  transmit  you  the  enclosed  papers 
upon  the  subject  of  the  unhappy  situation  of  American 
affairs  ;  they  contain  a  List  of  Grievances,  with  the  Reso- 
lutions of  the  House  in  consequence  thereof,  and  also  a 
Petition  to  the  King,  a  Memorial  to  the  House  of  Lords, 
and  a  Representation  and  Remonstrance  to  the  Commons 
of  Great  Britain.  I  am  also  directed  to  request  of  you 
to  lay  the  same  before  the  House  of  Assembly  of  your 
Colony  at  their  first  meeting  after  the  receipt  hereof.  I 
shall  only  add  that  our  Assembly  stands  adjourned  until 
the  third  day  of  May  next,  and  that  I  am,  respectfully,  Sir, 
your  most  humble  servant, 

"  John  Cruger,  Speaker. 
"  To  the  Speaker  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Province 
of  Pennsylvania." 


May  3,  1775. — The  House  met  pursuant  to  adjourn- 
ment, and  taking  into  consideration  the  Governour's  Mes- 
sage of  yesterday,  with  the  Resolution  of  the  House  of 
Commons  attending  it,  after  some  debate  thereon, 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Dickinson,  Mr.  Charles  Thomson, 
Mr.  Brown,  Mr.  Pearson,  Mr.  Webb,  Mr.  Ewing,  Mr. 
Allen,  Mr.  Chreist,  Mr.  Edmonds,  Mr.  Dougherty,  Mr. 
Hunter,  and  Mr.  William  Thompson,  be  a  Committee  to 
essay  and  bring  in  a  draught  of  an  Answer  to  the  said 
Message. 

May  4,  1775. — The  House  met  pursuant  to  adjourn* 
ment. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  prepare  and  bring  in  a 
draught  of  an  Answer  to  the  Governour's  Message  reported 
an  Essay  for  that  purpose,  which  being  read  by  paragraphs, 
and  after  some  alteration,  agreed  to  by  the  House,  was 
ordered  to  be  transcribed. 

The  Answer  of  the  House  to  the  Governour's  Message 
being  transcribed  according  to  order,  was  again  read,  signed 
by  the  Speaker,  and  follows  in  these  words,  viz : 

Answer  to  the  Governour's  Message  from  the  House. 

May  it  please  your  Honour:  We  have  taken  into 
our  serious  consideration  your  Message  of  the  second  in- 
stant, and  the  Resolution  of  the  British  House  of  Com- 
mons therein  referred  to. 

Having  "  weighed  and  considered  this  plan  with  the  tem- 
per, calmness,  and  deliberation  that  the  importance  of  the 
subject  and  the  present  critical  situation  of  affairs  demand," 
we  are  sincerely  sorry  that  we  cannot  "  think  the  terms 
pointed  out "  afford  "  a  just  and  reasonable  ground  for  a 
final  accommodation "  between  Great  Britain  and  the 
Colonies. 

Your  Honour  observes,  "  that  the  Colonies,  amidst  all 
those  complaints  which  a  jealousy  of  their  liberties  has 
occasioned,  have  never  denied  the  justice  or  equity  of  con- 
tributing towards  the  burdens  of  the  Mother  Country;" 
but  your  Honour  must  know,  that  they  have  ever  unani- 
mously asserted  it  as  their  indisputable  right,  that  all  aids 
from  them  should  be  their  own  free  and  voluntary  gifts, 
not  taken  by  force  nor  extorted  by  fear. 

Under  which  of  these  descriptions  the  "  plan  held  forth 
and  offered  by  the  parent  to  her  children  "  at  this  time, 
with  its  attendant  circumstances,  deserves  to  be  classed,  we 
choose  rather  to  submit  to  the  determination  of  your  Hon- 
our's good  sense,  than  to  attempt  proving  by  the  enumera- 
tion of  notorious  facts,  or  the  repetition  of  obvious  reasons. 

If  no  other  objection  to  "  the  plan  "  proposed  occurred 
to  us,  we  should  esteem  it  a  dishonourable  desertion  of 
sister  Colonies,  connected  by  an  union  founded  on  just  mo- 
tives and  mutual  faith,  and  conducted  by  General  Councils, 
for  a  single  Colony  to  adopt  a  measure  so  extensive  in 
consequence,  without  the  advice  and  consent  of  those 
Colonies  engaged  with  us  by  solemn  ties  in  the  same  com- 
mon cause. 

For  we  wish  your  Honour  to  be  assured,  that  we  can 
form  no  prospect  appearing  reasonable  to  us,  of  any  lasting 
advantages  for  Pennsylvania,  however  agreeable  they  may  be 
at  the  beginning,  but  what  must  arise  from  a  communication 
of  rights  and  prosperity  with  the  other  Colonies  ;  and  that 
if  such  a  prospect  should  be  opened  to  us,  we  have  too 
sincere  an  affection  for  our  brethren,  and  too  strict  a  regard 
"  for  the  inviolable  performance  of"  our  "engagements," 
to  receive  any  pleasure  from  benefits  equally  due  to  them, 
yet  confined  to  ourselves,  and  which,  by  generously  reject- 
ing them  at  present,  may  at  length  be  secured  to  all. 

Your  Honour  is  pleased  to  observe,  that  as  we  are  "  the 
first  Assembly  on  the  Continent  to  whom  this  Resolution 
has  been  communicated,  much  depends  on  the  moderation 
and  wisdom  of  our  counsels,  and  we  shall  be  deservedly 
revered  to  the  latest  posterity,  if,  by  any  possible  means," 
we  "can  be  instrumental  in  restoring  the  publick  tranquil- 
lity, and  rescuing  both  Countries  from  the  dreadful  calami- 
ties of  a  civil  war." 

Your  Honour,  from  your  long  residence  and  conversation 
among  us,  must  be  persuaded  that  the  people  we  represent 
are  as  peaceable  and  obedient  to  Government,  as  true  and 
faithful  to  their  Sovereign,  and  as  affectionate  and  dutiful 
to  their  superiour  State,  as  any  in  the  world  ;  and  though 
we  are  not  inattentive  to  the  approbation  of  "  posterity,"  as 


455 


PENNSYLVANIA  ASSEMBLY,  MAY,  1775. 


456 


it  might  reflect  honour  upon  our  Country,  yet  higher  mo- 
tives have  taught  us  upon  all  occasions  to  demonstrate  by 
every  testimony  our  devotion  to  our  King  and  Parent  State. 

Still  animated  by  the  same  principles,  and  most  earnestly 
desirous  of  enjoying  our  former  undisturbed  condition  of 
dependance  and  subordination  productive  of  so  many  bless- 
ings to  "  both  Countries,"  we  cannot  express  the  satisfac- 
tion we  should  receive  "  if,  by  any  possible  means,"  we 
could  "  be  instrumental  in  restoring  the  publick  tranquilli- 
ty." Should  such  an  opportunity  offer,  we  shall  endea- 
vour with  the  utmost  diligence  and  zeal  to  improve  it,  and 
to  convince  His  Majesty  and  our  Mother  Country,  that 
we  shall  ever  be  ready  and  willing  with  our  lives  and  for- 
tunes to  support  the  interests  of  His  Majesty  and  that  Coun- 
try, by  every  effort  that  can  be  reasonably  expected  from 
the  most  loyal  subjects,  and  the  most  dutiful  Colonists. 

Until  Divine  Providence  shall  cause,  in  the  course  of 
his  dispensations,  such  a  happy  period  to  arrive,  we  can 
only  deprecate,  and,  if  it  be  possible,  strive  by  prudence 
to  avoid  the  "  calamities  of  a  civil  war ;"  a  dreadful  mis- 
fortune, indeed,  and  not  to  be  exceeded  but  by  an  utter 
subversion  of  the  liberties  of  America.  Signed  by  order 
of  the  House  :  John  Morton,  Speaker. 

May  4,  1775. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Brown  and  Mr.  John  Jacobs  wait 
on  the  Governour  and  deliver  the  foregoing  Answer  to  his 
Message. 

A  Petition  from  a  considerable  number  of  the  inhabi- 
tants of  the  City  and  Liberties  of  Philadelphia,  was  pre- 
sented to  the  House  and  read,  setting  forth  that  the  Peti- 
tioners, deeply  affected  with  a  sense  of  the  imminent  dan- 
gers to  which  this  Province  particularly  and  the  Colonies 
in  general  are  exposed  at  this  instant,  are  compelled,  by  the 
first  law  dictated  by  nature,  to  endeavour  to  preserve  them- 
selves from  utter  destruction,  and  therefore  look  up  to  the 
honourable  House,  the  guardians  of  publick  liberty,  in  whom 
the  people  of  this  Province  have  reposed  the  highest  trust, 
for  that  protection  which,  under  the  favour  of  the  Almighty 
God,  it  is  in  their  power  to  afford ;  that  the  Petitioners  in 
this  contest  for  freedom  and  all  the  blessings  attending  it, 
have  been  greatly  encouraged  by  the  firmness,  wisdom,  and 
publick  spirit  of  the  late  and  present  House  of  Assembly; 
and  affairs  being  now  reduced  to  extremity  by  the  com- 
mencement of  a  civil  war  on  this  Continent,  which,  in  all 
probability  must,  in  its  course,  soon  reach  Pennsylvania, 
the  Petitioners  most  humbly  and  fervently  beseech  and 
supplicate  the  honourable  House  to  grant,  raise,  and  apply 
with  all  possible  despatch,  a  sum  of  money,  at  least  amount- 
ing to  Fifty  Thousand  Pounds,  towards  putting  this  Prov- 
ince into  a  state  of  defence,  in  such  manner  as  to  the 
House  shall  appear  most  proper  and  effectual. 

Ordered  to  lie  on  the  table. 

May  5,  1775. — The  House  met  pursuant  to  their  ad- 
journment. 

The  Members  appointed  to  wait  on  the  Governour  with 
the  Answer  of  the  House  to  his  Message  of  the  second  in- 
stant, reported  they  had  delivered  the  same  according  to 
order. 

The  House  resumed  the  consideration  of  the  Petition 
presented  yesterday  from  the  inhabitants  of  the  City  and 
Liberties  of  Philadelphia,  for  aid  from  Government  towards 
putting  the  Province  into  a  state  of  defence ;  and  after  a 
debate  of  some  length,  adjourned  to  three  o'clock,  P.  M. 

The  House  met  at  three  o'clock  P.  M.,  and  proceeded 
to  the  consideration  of  the  Petition  from  the  inhabitants  of 
the  City  and  Liberties  of  Philadelphia,  and  after  further 
time  spent  therein,  adjourned  to  ten  o'clock  to-morrow 
morning. 

May  6,  1775. — The  House  met  pursuant  to  adjourn- 
ment. Being  acquainted  that  with  Captain  Osborne,  who 
arrived  yesterday,  came  passenger  Benjamin  Franklin, 
Esquire,  late  Agent  for  this  Province  in  London  : 

Resolved,  n.  c.  d.,  That  the  said  Benjamin  Franklin, 
Esquire,  be,  and  he  is  hereby  added  to  the  Deputies  ap- 
pointed by  this  House  on  the  part  of  Pennsylvania,  to  at- 
tend the  Continental  Congress  expected  to  meet  on  the 
10th  instant  in  this  City. 


Resolved,  n.  c.  d.,  That  the  Honourable  Thomas  Wil- 
ling, Esquire,  of  Philadelphia,  and  James  Wilson,  Esquire, 
of  Carlisle,  be  also  added  to  the  said  Deputies  for  this 
Province. 

Post  Meridian,  May  9,  1775. — The  House  resumed 
the  consideration  of  the  Petition  from  the  inhabitants  of 
the  City  and  Liberties  of  Philadelphia,  and  after  some 
time  spent  therein,  adjourned  to  three  o'clock,  P.  M. 

LTpon  motion,  the  House  resumed  the  consideration  of 
the  Draught  of  Instructions  to  the  Deputies  for  this  Prov- 
ince, brought  in  at  the  last  sitting,  which  being  consider- 
ed, and,  after  some  alterations,  agreed  to  by  the  House, 
was  ordered  to  be  transcribed. 

A  Petition  from  the  Committee  of  the  City  and  Liber- 
ties of  Philadelphia,  respecting  engagements  they  have 
entered  into  for  the  publick  security,  whereby  a  consider- 
able debt  hath  accrued,  which  cannot  be  discharged  without 
the  aid  of  the  Legislature,  was  presented  to  the  House  and 
read. 

Ordered  to  lie  on  the  table. 

The  Instructions  to  the  Deputies  appointed  by  this  Prov- 
ince to  attend  the  Continental  Congress  being  transcribed 
according  to  order,  were  signed  by  the  Speaker,  and  fol- 
low in  these  words,  viz  : 

Gentlemen  :  The  trust  reposed  in  you  is  of  such  a 
nature,  and  the  modes  of  executing  it  may  be  so  diversified 
in  the  course  of  your  deliberations,  that  it  is  scarcely  pos- 
sible to  give  you  particular  instructions  respecting  it. 

We  shall,  therefore,  in  general,  direct  that  you  meet  in 
Congress  the  Delegates  of  the  several  British  Colonies,  to 
be  held  on  the  10th  instant,  to  consult  together  on  the  pre- 
sent critical  and  alarming  situation  and  state  of  the  Colo- 
nies, and  that  you  exert  your  utmost  endeavours  to  agree 
upon  and  recommend  such  further  measures  as  shall  afford 
the  best  prospect  of  obtaining  redress  of  American  griev- 
ances, and  restoring  that  union  and  harmony  between  Great 
Britain  and  the  Colonies  so  essential  to  the  welfare  and 
happiness  of  both  Countries. 

You  are  directed  to  make  report  of  your  proceedings  to 
this  House  at  their  next  sessions  after  the  meeting  of  the 
Congress.    Signed  by  order  of  the  House  : 

John  Morton,  Speaker. 

May  9,  1775. 

The  House  adjourned  to  ten  o'clock  to-morrow  morning. 

May  11,  1775. — The  House  met  pursuant  to  adjourn- 
ment. 

Taking  again  into  consideration  the  Petition  from  the 
Committee  of  the  City  and  Liberties  of  Philadelphia,  after 
some  debate, 

Ordered,  That  the  Committee  of  Accounts  do  examine 
the  Funds  of  the  Province,  and  report  to  the  House  what 
sum  they  may  immediately  draw  from  thence. 

The  House  adjourned  to  three  o'clock,  P.  M. 

Three  o'clock,  P.  M. — The  Committee  of  Accounts 
reported  that,  upon  examining  the  Provincial  Funds,  they 
find  the  sum  of  Two  Thousand  Pounds  at  the  disposal  of 
the  House. 

Upon  motion, 

Resolved,  That  George  Gray,  Michael  Hillegas,  and 
Charles  Humphreys,  Esquires,  or  any  two  of  them,  are 
hereby  authorized  and  empowered  to  draw  orders  on  Sam- 
uel Preston  Moore,  Esquire,  to  the  amount  of  Eighteen 
Hundred  Pounds,  out  of  the  Interest  Money  in  his  hands, 
and  on  the  Provincial  Treasurer  for  the  sum  of  Two  Hun- 
dred Pounds,  out  of  the  rents  of  the  Province  Island,  to  be 
disposed  of  and  applied  towards  discharging  certain  engage- 
ments lately  entered  into  for  the  publick  security. 

The  House  then  adjourned  to  ten  o'clock,  to-morrow 
morning. 

May  12,  1775. — The  House  met  pursuant  to  adjourn- 
ment. 

Upon  motion, 

Resolved,  That  Mr.  Gray,  Mr.  Dickinson,  Mr.  Mifflin, 
Mr.  Charles  Thomson,  Mr.  Wynkoop,  Mr.  Wayne,  Mr. 
Slough,  Mr.  Ewing,  Mr.  Montgomery,  Mr.  Ed  month,  Mr. 
Dougherty,  Mr.  Hunter,  and  Mr.  William  Thompson,  or 


457 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &ic,  MAY,  1775 


458 


a  majority  of  them,  do  immediately  use  such  measures  to 
provide  Stores  that  may  be  necessary  for  the  service  of  the 
Province  at  this  time,  not  exceeding  in  value  the  sum  of 
Five  Thousand  Pounds,  as  to  them  shall  appear  most  ex- 
pedient and  effectual. 

Joseph  Galloivay,  Esquire,  having  repeatedly  moved  in 
Assembly  to  be  excused  from  serving  as  a  Deputy  for  this 
Province  in  the  Continental  Congress,  the  House  this  day 
took  his  motion  into  consideration,  and  do  hereby  agree 
to  excuse  him  from  that  service. 

The  House  adjourned  to  three  o'clock,  P.  M. 

Three  o'clock,  P.  M. —  Ordered,  That  Mr.  Wynkoop 
and  Mr.  Edmonds  wait  on  the  Governour,  and  acquaint 


him  that  the  House  incline  to  adjourn  to  Monday,  the  19th 
of  June  next,  if  his  Honour  has  no  objection  thereto. 
The  House  adjourned  to  nine  o'clock  to-morrow  morning. 

May  13,  1775. — The  House  met  pursuant  to  adjourn- 
ment. 

The  Members  appointed  to  wait  on  the  Governour  with 
the  Message  of  last  night,  reported  they  had  delivered  the 
same  according  to  order,  and  that  his  Honour  was  pleased 
to  say,  he  had  no  objection  to  the  adjournment  proposed  by 
the  House. 

The  House  adjourned  to  Monday,  the  19th  of  June 
next,  at  four  o'clock,  P.  M. 


MF.ET1NGS  OF  INHABITANTS  OF  MORRIS  COUNTY,  NEW- 
JERSEY. 

Pursuant  to  an  appointment  of  a  meeting  of  the  Free- 
holders and  Inhabitants  of  the  County  of  Morris,  agree- 
able to  notice  given  by  the  former  Committee  of  Corres- 
pondence, the  said  Freeholders  and  Inhabitants  did  meet 
accordingly  on  Monday,  the  first  day  of  May,  Anno 
Domini,  1775. 

Jacob  Ford,  Esq.,  Chairman, 
William  De  Hart,  Esq.,  Clerk. 

And  came  into  the  following  Votes  and  Resolutions,  to 
wit : 

That  Delegates  be  chosen  to  represent  the  County  of 
Morris,  and  that  the  said  Delegates  be  vested  with  the 
power  of  legislation,  and  that  they  raise  Men,  Money,  and 
Arms  for  the  common  defence,  and  point  out  the  mode, 
method,  and  means  of  raising,  appointing,  and  paying  the 
said  Men  and  Officers,  subject  to  the  control  and  direction 
of  the  Provincial  and  Continental  Congress  ;  and  that  after- 
wards they  meet  in  Provincial  Congress  with  such  Coun- 
ties as  shall  send  to  the  same,  jointly  with  them  to  levy 
taxes  on  the  Province,  with  full  power  of  legislative  au- 
thority, if  they  think  proper  to  exercise  the  same,  for  the 
said  Province,  and  the  said  Provincial  Congress  be  subject 
to  the  control  of  the  Grand  Continental  Congress. 

And  they  proceeded  to  elect  the  following  persons  to  be 
their  Delegates  as  aforesaid,  to  wit : 

William  Winds,  Esquire,  William  De  Hart,  Esquire, 
Silas  Condit,  Peter  Dickerson,  Jacob  Drake,  Ellis  Cook, 
Jonathan  Stiles,  Esq.,  David  Thompson,  Esq.,  Abraham 
Kitchell. 

By  order :  William  De  Hart,  Clerk. 

And  pursuant  to  the  above  appointment,  the  said  Dele- 
gates met  at  the  house  of  Captain  Peter  Dickerson,  at 
Morristown,  in  the  County  of  Morris,  on  the  said  first  day 
of  May,  1775 : 

Present :  William  Winds,  Esquire,  William  De  Hart, 
Esq.,  Silas  Condit,  Peter  Dickerson,  Jacob  Drake,  Ellis 
Cook,  Jonathan  Stiles,  Esq.,  David  Thompson,  Esquire, 
Abraham  Kitchell. 

William  Winds,  Esq.,  was  unanimously  chosen  Chair- 
man.   Archibald  Dallas  was  appointed  Clerk. 

Voted  unanimously,  That  any  five  of  the  Delegates, 
when  met,  be  a  body  of  the  whole,  and  do  make  a  board, 
and  that  a  majority  of  them  so  met  should  make  a  vote. 

Voted  unanimously,  That  Forces  should  be  raised. 

Then  the  Delegates  adjourned  till  to-morrow,  at  nine 
o'clock  in  the  forenoon,  to  meet  at  the  house  of  Captain 
Peter  Dickerson  aforesaid. 

Tuesday,  Nino  o'clock,  May  2,  1775. 

Pursuant  to  adjournment,  the  Delegates  met. 

Present:  William  Winds,  Esq.,  William  De  Hart,  Esq., 
Silas  Condit,  Peter  Dickerson,  Ellis  Cook,  Jonathan 
Stiles,  Esq.,  David  Thompson,  Esq.,  Abraham  Kitchell. 

Voted,  That  three  hundred  men  should  be  raised,  ex- 
clusive of  Commissioned  Officers. 

Voted,  That  the  said  three  hundred  men  be  Volunteers. 

Voted,  That  the  three  hundred  men,  so  raised,  shall  be 
divided  in  Five  Companies,  sixty  men  each. 

Voted,  That  those  Companies  shall  be  commanded  by 


three  Commissioned  Officers,  viz :  a  Captain  and  tw< 
Lieutenants. 

Voted,  That  two  Field  Officers  shall  be  appointed,  and 
that  each  of  them  shall  supply  the  place  of  Captain  in  the 
two  first  Companies. 

Voted,  That  William  Winds  shall  be  Colonel. 

At  twelve  o'clock  adjourned,  to  meet  at  half  an  hour 
after  one  o'clock  in  the  afternoon. 

Half  past  One  o'clock. 

Met,  according  to  adjournment.  All  the  Members  pre- 
sent. 

Voted,  That  William  De  Hart,  Esquire,  shall  be 
Major. 

Voted,  That  Samuel  Ball,  Joseph  Morris,  and  Daniel 
Budd  shall  be  Captains. 

Voted,  That  John  Huntington  be  Captain-Lieutenant 
in  the  Colonel's  Company,  and  Silas  Howell  to  be  Captain- 
Lieutenant  in  the  Major's  Company. 

Voted,  That  the  Captain  of  each  Company  shall  ap- 
point his  Lieutenants. 

Ordered,  That  the  Captains  shall  discipline  their  men 
at  the  rate  of  one  day  every  week,  and  to  continue  the 
same  till  further  orders;  and  the  times  be  appointed,  and 
the  places  of  training  affixed  by  the  Captains. 

Voted,  That  in  case  of  any  invasion  or  alarm,  either  in 
this  or  any  of  the  neighbouring  Provinces,  the  said  Officers 
and  men  shall  be  called  out  to  service  by  the  Commanding- 
Officer  for  the  time  being;  and  the  said  Officers  and  men 
shall  be  paid  as  follows,  viz :  Captains,  Seven  Shillings, 
Proclamation  money,  per  day  ;  First  Lieutenants,  Six  Shil- 
lings per  day  ;  Second  Lieutenants,  Five  Shillings  per  clay  ; 
Sergeants,  Three  Shillings  and  Six  Pence  per  day  ;  Pri- 
vate men,  Three  Shillings  per  day,  and  found  with  Provi- 
sions, Arms,  and  Ammunition;  and  when  only  in  discipline 
at  home,  the  same  wages,  and  to  find  themselves,  and  their 
wages  to  be  paid  every  two  months. 

Voted,  That  the  following  be  the  form  of  the  Enlistinc 
paper,  to  be  signed  by  the  recruits  : 

"  We,  the  subscribers,  do  voluntarily  enlist  in  the  Com- 
pany of  Captain  to  be  and  serve 

in  the  Regiment  under  the  command  of  Colonel  William 
IVinds,  in  this  or  any  of  the  neighbouring  Provinces, 
where  we  may  be  called,  agreeable  to  certain  Resolves, 
made  and  entered  into  by  the  Delegates  for  the  County  of 
Morris." 

Ordered,  That  five  hundred  weight  of  Powder  and  a 
ton  of  Lead  be  purchased  and  kept  in  a  Magazine,  for  the 
use  of  the  new  Regiment  now  to  be  raised  for  the  County 
of  Morris. 

Voted,  That  William  De  Hart,  Esquire,  be  appointed 
to  purchase  the  said  Powder  and  Lead. 

Voted,  That  the  Votes  and  Resolves  of  this  meeting 
shall  be  subject  to  the  control  of  the  Provincial  and  Conti- 
nental Congresses,  to  take  place  after  due  notice  being 
given  to  us  by  either  of  the  said  Congresses,  of  their  disap- 
probation of  all  or  any  of  our  proceedings. 

And  the  Delegates  taking  into  consideration  the  unhap- 
py circumstances  of  this  Country,  do  recommend  to  the 
inhabitants  of  this  County  capable  of  bearing  arms,  to  pro- 
vide themselves  with  Arms  and  Ammunition  to  defend 
their  Country  in  case  of  any  invasion. 


459 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


460 


Adjourned  till  the  ninth  day  of  this  month,  at  nine  o'clock 
in  the  forenoon,  to  meet  at  the  house  of  Captain  Peter 
Dickerson,  in  Morristown. 


WOODBRIDGE  (NEW-JERSEY)  COMMITTEE  TO  THE  SEVERAL 
COMMITTEES  OF  MASSACHUSETTS. 

In  Committee,  Woodbridge,  New-Jersey,  ) 
May  1,  1775.  \ 

Gentlemen:  We  have  received  repeated  intelligence 
by  expresses  of  your  engaging  and  defeating  the  Regulars 
under  the  command  of  General  Gage,  which  is  universally 
credited  in  this  Colony ;  and  we  have  the  pleasure  of  as- 
suring you,  your  conduct  and  bravery  on  that  occasion  is 
greatly  applauded  and  admired  by  all  ranks  of  men.  In 
consequence  of  the  intelligence,  a  Provincial  Convention 
will  be  held,  as  soon  as  the  Members  can  possibly  be  con- 
vened ;  in  the  mean  time  the  inhabitants  are  putting  them- 
selves in  the  best  posture  of  defence,  being  determined  to 
stand  or  fall  with  the  liberties  of  America.  We  have,  for 
some  time  past,  feared  the  New-Yorkers  would  desert 
American  liberty,  but  are  now  fully  convinced,  by  their 
late  spirited  conduct,  that  they  are  determined  to  support 
the  grand  cause.  We  also  learn,  with  pleasure,  that  the 
inhabitants  of  Pennsylvania  and  the  other  Southern  Prov- 
inces are  firm,  unanimous,  and  spirited.  We  have  only  to 
add,  that  you  have  our  unfeigned  and  hearty  thanks  for  the 
noble  stand  you  have  made,  and  our  sincere  and  fervent 
prayers  for  a  speedy  deliverance  from  all  your  calamities. 

We  are,  very  respectfully,  gentlemen,  your  most  obedi- 
ent humble  servants.    By  order  of  the  Committee: 

Moses  Bloomfield,  Chairman. 


New- York,  May  1,  1775. 
This  day  the  following  gentlemen  were  chosen  a  Gene- 
ral Committee  for  the  City  and  County  of  Neic-York,  in 
the  present  alarming  exigency  : 


Isaac  Low, 
Philip  Livingston, 
James  Duane, 
John  Alsop, 
John  Jay, 

P.  V.  B.  Livingston, 
Isaac  Sears, 
David  Johnston, 
Alex.  McDougall, 
Thomas  Randall, 
Leonard  Lisponard, 
William  Walton, 
John  Broome, 
Joseph  Hallett, 
Gabriel  H.  Ludlow, 
Nicholas  Hoffman, 
Abraham  Walton, 
Peter  Van  Schaack, 
Henry  Remsen, 
Peter  T.  Curtenius, 
Abraham  Brasher, 
Abraham  P.  Lott, 
Abraham  Duryee, 
Joseph  Bull, 
Francis  Lewis, 
Joseph  Totten, 
Thomas  Ivers, 
Hercules  Mulligan, 
John  Anthony, 
Francis  Bassett, 
Victor  Bicker, 
John  White, 
Theophilus  Anthony, 
William  Goforth, 


William  Denning, 
Isaac  Roos?velt, 
Jacob  Van  Voorhies, 
Jeremiah  Piatt, 
Comfort  Sands, 
Robert  Benson, 
William  W.  Gilbert, 
John  Berrian, 
Gabriel  W.  Ludlow, 
Nicholas  Roosevelt, 
Edward  Fleming, 
Lawrence  Embree, 
Samuel  Jones, 
John  De  Lancey, 
Frederick  Jay, 
William  W.  Ludlow, 
John  B.  Moore, 
Rodolphus  Ritzma, 
Lindley  Murray, 
Lancaster  Burling, 
John  Lasher, 
George  Janeway, 
Jamus  Beekman, 
Samuel  Verplanck, 
Richard  Yates, 
David  Clarkson, 
Thomas  Smith, 
James  Desbrosses, 
Augustus  Van  Home, 
Garret  Kotlotas, 
Eleazer  Miller, 
Benjamin  Kissam, 
John  M.  Scott, 


Cornelius  Clopper, 
John  Reade, 
J.  Van  Courtlandt, 
Jacobus  Van  Zandt, 
Gerardus  Duyckinck, 
Peter  Goelet, 
John  Marston, 
Thomas  Marston, 
John  Morton, 
George  Folliott, 
Jacobus  Lefferls, 
Richard  Sharpe, 
Hamilton  Young, 
Abram.  Brinckerhoff, 
Benjamin  Helme, 
Walter  Franklin, 
David  Beekman, 
William  Seaton, 
Evert  Banker, 
Robert  Ray, 
Nicholas  Bogart, 
William  Laight, 
Samuel  Broome, 
John  Lamb, 
Daniel  Phenix, 
Anthony  Van  Dam, 
Daniel  Dunscomb, 
John  Imlay, 
Oliver  Templcton, 
Lewis  Pintard, 
Cornelius  P.  Low, 
Thomas  Buchannan, 
Petrus  Byvanck. 


The  following  twenty-one  gentlemen  were,  at  the  same 
time,  chosen  Deputies  for  the  City  and  County  of  New- 
York,  to  meet  Deputies  of  the  other  Counties  in  Provincial 
Congress,  on  Monday,  the  21st  of  May,  1775  : 


Leonard  LiNponard, 
Isaac  Low, 
Abraham  Walton, 
Isaac  Roosevelt, 
Abraham  Brasher, 
Alex.  McDougall, 
P.  V.  B.  Livingston, 


James  Beekman, 
John  M.  Scott, 
Thomas  Smith, 
Benjamin  Kissam, 
Samuel  Verplanck, 
David  Clarkson, 
George  Folliott, 


Joseph  Hallet, 
J.  Van  Courtlandt, 
John  De  Lancey, 
Richard  Yates, 
John  Marston, 
Walter  Franklin, 
Jacobus  Van  Zandt. 


COUNCIL  OF  NEW-YORK. 

At  a  Council  held  at  the  Council  Chamber  in  the  City 
of  New-  York,  on  Monday,  the  first  day  of  May,  1775, 
Present:  The  Honourable  Cadwalladcr  Colden,  Esquire, 
His  Majesty's  Lieutenant  Govemour,  &.c,  &ic,  Mr.  Walts, 


Mr.  De  Lancey,  Mr.  Apthorp,  Mr.  Morris,  Mr.  Smith,  Mr. 
Wallace,  Mr.  White,  Mr.  Axtell,  Mr.  Crugcr,  Mr.  Jaun- 
cey. 

That  the  advice  of  the  Council  for  the  prorogation  of 
the  Assembly  may  not  be  interpreted  a  neglect  of  the  last 
intimations  of  His  Majesty's  pleasure  for  restoring  the  tran- 
quillity of  the  Empire,  signified  in  the  Earl  of  Dartmouth's 
Letter  of  the  3d  of  March,  the  Council  observed  to  his 
Honour : 

That  there  was,  in  the  course  of  the  last  winter,  a  gene- 
ral expectation  in  this  Province  of  some  signification  to  the 
Colonies  upon  the  contested  subject  of  taxation  and  other 
grievances,  and  an  earnest  desire  in  the  people  to  maintain 
their  ancient  union  with,  and  dependance  upon  Great 
Britain. 

That  if  the  Secretary  of  State's  Letter  had  found  the 
Colony  in  this  temper,  there  was  room  to  hope,  from  the 
explicit  declarations  contained  in  it,  of  His  Majesty's  most 
gracious  intentions  of  promoting  a  reconciliation  between 
the  several  branches  of  the  Empire,  that  the  Colonies 
would  have  declared  themselves  upon  its  important  con- 
tents in  some  way  favourable  to  the  Union,  which  every 
good  subject  to  His  Majesty  so  ardently  desires,  and  which 
the  Council  conceive  the  people  of  this  Colony  were  dis- 
posed most  strenuously  to  promote. 

That  Lord  Dartmouth's  Letter  arrived  on  the  24th  of 
April,  the  very  day  after  the  news  reached  us  of  the  me- 
lancholy event  in  the  Massachusetts-Bay,  of  the  19th 
April,  which  has  thrown  the  Provinces  into  confusion, 
kindled  a  flame  that  renders  it  impossible  for  the  Repre- 
sentatives of  the  people  to  give  that  attention  to  his  Lord- 
ship's Letter  that  is  expected  by  His  Majesty,  until  the 
present  ferments  subside. 

Astonished  by  accounts  of  acts  of  hostility  in  the  mo- 
ment of  the  expectation  of  terms  of  reconciliation,  and  now- 
filled  with  distrust,  the  inhabitants  of  this  City  burst  through 
all  retraints  on  the  arrival  of  the  intelligence  from  Boston, 
and  instantly  emptied  the  vessel  laden  with  Provisions  for 
that  place,  and  then  seized  the  City  Arms,  and  in  the 
course  of  a  few  days  distributed  them  among  the  multitude, 
formed  themselves  into  Companies,  and  trained  openly  in 
the  streets  ;  increased  the  numbers  and  power  of  the  Com- 
mittee before  appointed,  to  execute  the  Association  of  the 
Continental  Congress;  convened  themselves,  by  beat  of 
drum,  for  popular  Resolutions;  have  taken  the  keys  of 
the  Custom-House  by  military  force ;  shut  up  the  Port : 
drawn  a  number  of  small  cannon  into  the  country  ;  called 
all  parts  of  the  Colony  to  a  Provincial  Convention  ;  chosen 
twenty  Delegates  for  this  City;  formed  an  Association, 
now  signing  by  all  ranks,  engaging  submission  to  Commit- 
tees and  Congresses,  in  firm  union  with  the  rest  of  the 
Continent,  and  openly  avow  a  resolution,  not  only  to  resist 
the  Acts  of  Parliament  complained  of  as  grievances,  but  to 
withhold  succours  of  all  kinds  from  the  Troops,  and  to 
repel  every  species  of  force,  whenever  it  may  be  exerted, 
for  enforcing  the  taxing  claims  of  Parliament,  at  the  risk  of 
their  lives  and  fortunes. 

In  such  a  change  of  temper  and  conduct,  (which  has 
entirely  prostrated  His  Majesty's  Government  in  this  Prov- 
ince,) there  cannot  be  the  least  prospect  of  bringing  the 
Assembly  to  a  deliberate  consideration  of  the  Earl  of  Dart- 
mouth's Letter ;  nor  is  there  any  foundation  for  the  most 
distant  hope  of  accomplishing  His  Majesty's  intentions,  if 
there  is  any  farther  irritation  by  the  movements  of  the 
Army,  and  fresh  effusions  of  blood.  And  as  it  appears  to 
the  Council  to  be  of  the  last  importance  to  the  British 
Empire,  that  the  true  state  of  the  Colonies  be  immediately 
made  known  to  His  Majesty,  and  also  to  the  Commander- 
in-chief  of  his  forces  on  this  Continent,  the  Council,  moved 
by  their  zeal  for  the  interest  of  the  Crown  and  the  felicity 
of  His  Majesty's  subjects,  recommend  it  to  his  Honour  to 
transmit,  as  soon  as  possible,  the  full  information  of  the 
late  events  in  this  Province,  with  assurances  to  General 
Gage  that  the  great  end  of  the  reconciliation,  so  explicitly 
urged  in  the  Secretary  of  State's  Letter,  cannot  be  accom- 
plished, agreeable  to  His  Majesty's  expectations,  unless  he 
can  find  means  to  remove  the  suspicion  of  his  meditating 
further  operations  on  the  part  of  the  Army,  that  the  people 
may,  with  due  composure  of  mind,  attend  to  the  terms 
recommended  by  His  Majesty  for  re-establishing  the  tran- 
quillity of  the  Empire. 


461 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


462 


PROCLAMATION  EY  GOVERNOUR  COLDEN. 

By  the  Honourable  Cadwallader  Colden,  Esquire,  His 
Majesty's  Lieutenant  Governour  and  Commander-in- 
Chief  of  the  Province  of  New-York,  and  the  Terri- 
tories depending  thereon  in  America  : 

A  Proclamation. 

Whereas  the  General  Assembly  of  this  Province  stands 
adjourned  to  the  third  day  of  May  instant :  I  have  thought 
fit  for  His  Majesty's  service  to  prorogue,  and  I  do,  by  and 
with  the  advice  of  His  Majesty's  Council,  prorogue  the 
said  General  Assembly  to  the  seventh  day  of  June  next, 
of  which  all  His  Majesty's  subjects  concerned  therein  are 
required  to  take  notice,  and  govern  themselves  accord- 
ingly. 

Given  under  my  hand  and  seal  at  arms,  at  Fort  George, 
in  the  City  of  New-York,  the  first  day  of  May,  one  thou- 
sand seven  hundred  and  seventy-five,  in  the  fifteenth  year 
of  the  reign  of  our  Sovereign  Lord  George  the  Third,  by 
the  grace  of  God,  of  Great  Britain,  France,  and  Ireland, 
King,  Defender  of  the  Faith,  and  so  forth. 

Cadwallader  Colden. 

By  his  Honour's  command  : 

Sam.  Bayard,  Jun.,  Deputy  Secretary. 

God  save  the  King. 


TIMOTHY   PICKERING,  JUNIOR,   TO   THE   COMMITTEE  OF 
SAFETY  FOR  MASSACHUSETTS. 

Salem,  May  1,  1775. 
Gentlemen  :  As  a  great  number  of  men  will  soon  be 
out  of  employ  within  the  limits  of  the  First  Regiment,  in 
Essex,  it  is  thought  by  many  highly  expedient  that  they 
should  have  an  opportunity  to  enlist  into  the  Army.  I 
imagine  a  Regiment  may  presently  be  enlisted,  if  field 
officers  be  appointed  ;  and  I  beg  leave  to  recommend  Lieu- 
tenant Colonel  John  Mansfield,  of  Lynn,  as  well  qualified  to 
take  the  command  of  the  proposed  Regiment,  and  Captain 
Israel  Hutchinson,  of  Danvers,  to  be  the  second  in  com- 
mand. The  latter  is  an  active  man,  of  experience  in  war, 
having  made  three  campaigns;  and  both  he  and  Colonel 
Mansfield  will,  I  am  persuaded,  be  very  acceptable  to  the 
people.  I  do  not  think  just  now  of  a  Major ;  but  as  soon 
as  it  is  known  that  a  Regiment  is  to  be  formed  in  the  en- 
virons of  Salem,  I  doubt  not  but  a  sufficient  number  of 
suitable  persons  will  present  themselves  to  fill  all  the  va- 
cant offices  in  the  Regiment.  I  am,  gentlemen,  your  most 
humble  servant,  Tim.  Pickering,  Junior. 

To  the  Committee  of  Safety. 


BOSTON  COMMITTEE  TO  DOCTOR  JOSEPH  WARREN. 

Boston,  May  1,  1775. 

Sir:  We  wrote  you  the  29th  ultimo,  per  Mr.  Edivard 
Payne,  who  left  the  Town  yesterday  morning.  As  Gen- 
eral Gage  thought  that  he  could  not,  in  his  official  capacity, 
correspond  with  you  on  the  subject  you  imparted  to  him, 
he  desired  us  to  write  you  on  it ;  in  conformity  to  which, 
we  say  that  you  have,  in  a  great  measure,  adopted  the  same 
sentiments  in  your  Resolves,  which  we  are  this  day  favour- 
ed with  in  yours  of  yesterday,  saving  that  part  of  it  that 
respects  persons  being  sent  from  hence  to  carry  into  exe- 
cution the  desires  of  any  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  Province 
now  in  Boston,  respecting  their  bringing  their  effects  from 
the  different  parts  of  the  Government  where  their  dwelling 
places  are.  In  order  to  remove  all  difficulties,  we  do  pro- 
pose to  give  to  persons  to  be  sent  from  hence,  either  ser- 
vants or  others,  passes  to  the  office  you  have  established, 
desiring  they  may  be  furnished  with  passes  for  so  long  a 
time  as  may  be  proper  for  them,  according  to  the  distance 
they  go ;  that  they  may  have  liberty  to  procure  any  help 
necessary  for  the  conveyance  of  said  effects,  and  that  they 
may  pass  and  repass  unmolested. 

If  the  above  be  agreeable,  please  to  favour  us  with  an 
answer  by  the  bearer.   We  are,  with  respect  and  the  great- 
est regard  and  sincere  affection,  Sir,  your  most  humble  obe- 
dient servants,   John  Scollay,         Samuel  Austin, 
Thos.  Marshall,     John  Pitts, 
Timothy  Newell, 

To  Doctor  Joseph  Warren. 


LEMUEL  WILLIAMS  TO  BENJAMIN  AIKIN,  ESQUIRE,  IN 
WATERTOWN. 

Dartmouth,  May  1,  1775. 

Sir  :  I  am  desired  to  acquaint  you  that  Mr.  Samuel 
Allen,  (by  the  desire  of  the  principal  part  of  the  inhabit- 
ants of  this  place)  is  sent  to  you  to  know  the  minds  of  the 
Provincial  Congress,  whether  it  is  most  proper  at  this  time 
for  the  Merchants  in  this  place  to  send  their  Vessels  and 
Provisions  to  sea,  or  not.  Your  early  proposing  the  same 
to  that  respectable  body,  will  much  oblige  your  humble 
servant,  Lemuel  Williams. 


ELBRIDGE  GERRY  TO  THE  MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS. 

Monday  morning,  1775. 

Mr.  White,  of  Marhlehead,  from  Boston,  who  has  been 
an  Addresser,  was  dismissed  yesterday,  after  having  been 
taken  in  a  vessel  of  his  own,  with  salt,  and  carried  up  to 
that  place.  He  informs  the  inhabitants  of  Marhlehead, 
that  a  transport  arrived  there  yesterday  with  one  hundred 
and  fifty  Troops,  and  sailed  from  Ireland  in  company  with 
thirty-three  more,  which  had  on  board  eight  Regiments, 
three  hundred  and  fifty  Recruits,  and  one  Regiment  of 
Dragoons.  He  parted  with  seventeen  of  them  on  Friday 
last ;  and  it  was  supposed  when  they  all  arrived,  that  they 
would  be  twelve  thousand  strong;  but  I  cannot  conceive 
that  there  will  be  that  number.  Notwithstanding  which, 
it  may  be  highly  necessary  to  be  ready  for  such  an  army. 
This  I  have  by  a  brother  from  Marhlehead,  just  arrived, 
who  received  it  from  White,  and  thought  it  proper  to 
apprize  you  of  it,  to  be  communicated  to  Congress,  if  neces- 
sary. He  likewise  adds  an  anecdote  of  a  vessel  in  Mar- 
hlehead, loaded  with  molasses,  under  custody  of  the  Sloop- 
of-War  posted  there,  which  the  inhabitants  boarded  the  last 
night:  they  slipped  her  cables,  and  after  running  her  into 
the  wharf,  where  a  number  of  our  men  armed,  were  posted 
to  receive  her,  they  unladed  her  cargo,  and  saved  the 
whole.  1  am,  in  much  haste,  Sir,  your  very  humble  ser- 
vant, Elbridge  Gerry. 

Honourable  President  of  the  Congress. 


PETITION   OF   JONATHAN  BREWER. 

To  the  Honourable  the  President  and  Members  of  the 
Provincial  Congress  of  Massachusetts-Bay,  notv  sit- 
ting in  Watertown,  in  said  Province. 

The  Petition  of  Jonathan  Brticer,  Esq.,  of  Waltham. 
humbly  sheweth  : 

That  your  Petitioner  having  a  desire  of  contributing  al! 
in  his  power  for  this  Country's  good,  begs  leave  to  propose 
to  this  honourable  House  to  march  with  a  body  of  five  hun- 
dred Volunteers  to  Quebeck,  by  way  of  the  Rivers  Kenne- 
beck  and  Chadier,  as  he  humbly  begs  leave  to  apprehend 
that  such  a  diversion  of  the  Provincial  Troops  into  that  part 
of  Canada,  would  be  the  means  of  drawing  the  Governour 
of  Canada  with  his  Troops,  into  that  quarter,  and  which 
would  effectually  secure  the  Northern  and  Western  Fron- 
tiers from  any  inroads  of  the  Regular  or  Canadian  Troops. 
This  he  humbly  conceives  he  could  execute  with  all  the 
facility  imaginable.  He  therefore  begs  that  this  honour- 
able Assembly  would  lake  this  his  proposal  into  considera- 
tion, and  to  act  thereon  as  in  their  wisdom  shall  seem 
meet.  J.  Brewer. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  HOLLAND,  OF  MAY  2,  1775,  TO 
THE  REV.  MR.  WILLIAM  GORDON,  OF  ROXBURY. 

When  the  Parliament  met,  I  was  in  hopes  the  manly 
Address  of  the  General  Congress  to  the  King,  and  that 
to  the  People  of  England,  would  have  opened  their  eyes, 
and  have  led  them  to  apply  a  remedy  suitable  to  the  dis- 
ease ;  but  instead  of  that,  what  have  they  done  ?  Like  true 
quacks,  they  deal  in  inflammatories,  and  attempt  to  heal 
by  exasperating  the  evil  they  should  cure.  Of  this  nature 
is  Lord  North's  concession,  the  merit  of  which,  (if  it  has 
any)  is  wholly  destroyed  by  the  Restraining  Bill.  By  this 
they  will  further  provoke  those  who  are  already  sufficiently 
enraged,  and  force  the  discarded  useless  fishermen  to  fly 
to  arms,  and  to  fight  against  Administration,  from  a  princi- 
ple of  hatred,  as  well  as  zeal  for  the  publick.  Never,  sure, 
were  Ministers  more  infatuated  than  those  headless  beings 


463 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


464 


who  manage  the  aftairs  of  England ;  and  to  tell  you  the 
truth,  it  is  like  man  like  master  with  respect  to  the  latter. 
Don't  you  remember  what  Mr.  T  .  .  .  .  once  told  you 
concerning  his  invincible  obstinacy,  as  mentioned  by  a  gen- 
tleman who  was  much  about  his  person  when  he  was  a 
youth  ?  Has  not  all  his  conduct  confirmed  it  ever  since 
"he  mounted  the  Throne  ?  For  I  am  persuaded  he  (as 
tutored  by  the  assuming  favourite)  and  the  junto,  is  at  the 
bottom  of  all  these  wild  measures  ;  nor  will  they  relinquish 
them  till  they  smart  severely  for  their  folly.  Don  Quix- 
ote like,  they  are  obstinately  bent  on  fighting  wind-mills ; 
and  no  wonder  if  they  get  broken  heads  in  the  encounter. 
Were  they  alone  to  smart,  it  were  no  great  matter  ;  but  the 
mischief  is,  that  I  fear  they  will  draw  down  irreparable  evils 
upon  both  Englands.  Lord  North  is  only  a  tool  to  do  the 
dirty  work  of  his  more  dirty  superiours ;  and  the  precious 
Parliament  are,  in  their  place,  the  tools  to  do  his  dirty 
work  in  return,  for  the  pay  he  gives  them.  They  have 
lately  employed  that  old  mungy  jacobite  Doctor,  alias 
Dictionary  Johnson,  alias  the  Rambler,  to  answer  the  Con- 
gress, in  a  pamphlet  entitled  "  Taxation  no  Tyranny" — 
a  piece  full  of  sophistical  quibbles,  dressed  out  in  pedantick 
bombast  language.  I  hope  to  see  some  good  answer  to  it ; 
and  am  pleased  to  see  how  effectually  the  authors  of  the 
Monthly  Review,  in  their  last  Review,  {March,)  have  cut 
him  down  in  a  few  words.  If  you  ever  see  that  periodical 
work  on  your  side  the  water,  it  will  give  you  pleasure  to 
read  what  they  have  said  on  the  subject.  If  we  may  be- 
lieve the  papers,  all  things  with  you  threaten  war.  In  the 
last  it  is  affirmed  the  standard  of  liberty  had  been  lately 
erected  at  Salem,  and  that  it  was  repaired  to  by  numbers 
in  arms,  determined  to  fight  or  die.  Should  the  King's 
Troops  be  worsted  in  any  general  action,  of  which  I  think 
there  is  the  greatest  probability,  what  an  uproar  will  it 
make  in  England.  And  then  let  the  Ministry  stand  clear. 
If  the  Troops  beat  you,  you  can  soon  recruit.  If  they 
gain  five  battles,  and  lose  but  one,  it  is  over  with  them,  so 
great  is  the  disadvantage  under  which  they  engage,  besides 
what  arises  from  the  circumstances  of  climate,  and  fighting 
against  those  who  fight,  or  are  at  least  persuaded  they  fight 
pro  arts  etfocis,  and  this  upon  their  own  ground. 

The  English  Ambassador  at  the  Hague  applied  to  the 
States  to  forbid  their  subjects  supplying  the  Americans  with 
arms  and  ammunition.  The  States  published  a  prohibition 
under  the  penalty  of  a  Thousand  Guilders,  that  is,  about 
Ninety  Pounds  Sterling.  I  leave  you  to  comment  on  this 
at  your  leisure,  and  judge  if,  where  the  profits  of  a  voyage 
are  so  great  as  a  voyage  of  that  kind  must  be,  it  is  not 
worth  the  merchant's  while  to  risk  that  sum.  And  to  as- 
sist you  in  your  determination  on  that  point,  it  is  owned  by 
our  Ambassador  at  this  place,  that  a  Dutch  ship  has  lately 
got  into  Virginia,  where  it  has  landed  four  hundred  barrels 
of  powder  and  fourteen  hundred  stand  of  arms.  France 
was  applied  to  to  forbid  its  subjects  furnishing  you  with 
any  military  stores.  France,  it  is  well  known,  could  easily 
have  crushed  all  such  assistance  by  an  express  prohibition  ; 
but  France  knows  better  than  to  do  it,  and  therefore  only 
tells  its  subjects,  if  they  do  it,  it  is  entirely  at  their  own 
risk,  which  is  plainly  saying,  if  you  will  venture,  you  may. 
Spain,  when  applied  to,  roundly  refused  to  give  any  hin- 
drance to  her  subjects  supplying  you  ;  and  I  dare  say,  from 
present  appearances,  will  soon  act  openly  against  England. 

An  article  lately  appeared  in  the  English  papers,  that  a 
Prussian  ship  sailed  from  Stetten  to  some  part  of  America, 
with  thirty  field-pieces,  a  good  store  of  powder,  ball,  and 
small  arms,  and  six  or  seven  Prussian  Generals,  whose 
names  were  mentioned  at  length.  This  begins  to  gain 
great  credit  in  this  part  of  the  world,  and  is  now  affirmed 
to  be  true.  It  is  said  they  were  engaged  for  by  an  Ameri- 
can agent  at  the  Court  of  Berlin.  That  politick  Prince, 
too,  is  on  the  watch  ;  he  bears  no  good  will  to  the  Court  of 
Ijondon ;  and  in  case  England  should  be  engaged  in  a  war 
with  her  Colonies,  will  carve  himself  a  handsome  slice  out 
of  a  certain  Electorate,  or  the  world  will  be  greatly  mis- 
taken. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  AN  AMERICAN  GENTLEMAN 
AT  PARIS,  DATED  MAY  2,  1775,  TO  HIS  FRIEND  IN 
PHILADELPHIA. 

1  find  the  French  arc  extremely  attentive  to  our  Ameri- 
can politicks,  and  to  a  man  strongly  in  favour  of  us  ;  whe- 


ther mostly  from  ill-will  to  Britain,  or  friendship  to  the 
Colonies,  may  be  matter  of  doubt;  but  they  profess  it  to 
be  upon  a  principle  of  humanity,  and  a  regard  to  the  natu- 
ral rights  of  mankind.  They  say  that  the  Americans  will 
be  either  revered  or  detested  by  all  Europe,  according  to 
their  conduct  at  the  approaching  crisis;  they  will  have  no 
middle  character ;  for  in  proportion  as  their  virtue  and  per- 
severance will  render  them  a  glorious,  their  tame  submis- 
sion will  make  them  a  despicable  people. 


GLOUCESTER  COUNTY  (VIRGINIA)  COMMITTEE. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Gloucester,  at  the 
Court-House,  on  Tuesday,  the  2d  of  May,  1775  : 

Resolved,  That  we  will  not  ship  a  single  Hogshead  of 
Tobacco  to  Great  Britain,  until  the  determination  of  the 
Continental  Congress  respecting  Exportation  be  known. 

Resolved,  That  we  deem  the  Resolution  of  our  Com- 
mittee last  November,  not  to  ship  any  Tobacco  to  Mr. 
Norton's  House,  as  still  obligatory,  the  Ship  Virginia 
having  arrived  without  the  concessions  then  required. 

Jasper  Clayton,  Clerk. 


COUNCIL  OF  VIRGINIA. 

At  a  Council  held  at  the  Palace,  May  2,  1775.  Pre- 
sent :  His  Excellency  the  Governour,  Thos.  Nelson,  Rich- 
ard Corbin,  William  Byrd,  Ralph  Wormcley,  Jr.,  Esquires, 
John  Camrn,  Clerk,  and  John  Page,  Esquire. 

The  Governour  was  pleased  to  address  himself  to  the 
Board  in  the  following  manner : 

Gentlemen:  Commotions  and  insurrections  have  sud- 
denly been  excited  among  the  people,  which  threatens  the 
very  existence  of  His  Majesty's  government  in  this  Colony  ; 
and  no  other  cause  is  assigned  for  such  dangerous  measures, 
than  that  the  gunpowder,  which  had  some  time  past  been 
brought  from  on  board  one  of  the  King's  ships  to  which  it 
belonged,  and  was  deposited  in  the  Magazine  of  this  City, 
has  been  removed,  which,  it  is  known,  was  done  by  my 
order,  to  whom,  under  the  constitutional  right  of  the  Crown 
which  I  represent,  the  custody  and  disposal  of  all  publick 
stores  of  arms  and  ammunition  alone  belong.  And  whether 
I  acted  in  this  matter  (as  my  indispensable  duty  required) 
to  anticipate  the  malevolent  designs  of  the  enemies  of  order 
and  government,  or  to  prevent  the  attempts  of  any  enter- 
prising negroes,  the  powder  being  still  as  ready  and  con- 
venient for  being  distributed  for  the  defence  of  the  Country, 
upon  any  emergency,  as  it  was  before,  which  I  have  pub- 
lickly  engaged  to  do,  the  expediency  of  the  step  I  have 
taken  is  equally  manifest,  and  therefore  it  must  be  evident 
that  the  same  headstrong  and  designing  people,  who  have 
already  but  too  successfully  employed  their  artifices  in  de- 
luding His  Majesty's  faithful  subjects,  and  in  seducing  them 
from  their  duty  and  allegiance,  have  seized  this  entirely 
groundless  subject  of  complaint,  only  to  enslave  afresh,  and 
to  precipitate  as  many  as  possible  of  the  unwary  into  acts 
which,  involving  them  in  the  same  guilt,  their  corruptors 
think  may  bind  them  to  the  same  plans  and  schemes  which 
are  unquestionably  meditated  in  this  Colony  for  subverting 
the  present,  and  erecting  a  new  form  of  Government. 

Induced  by  an  unaffected  regard  for  the  general  welfare 
of  the  people  whom  I  have  had  the  honour  of  governing, 
as  well  as  actuated  by  duty  and  zeal  in  the  service  of  His 
Majesty,  I  call  upon  you,  his  Council,  in  this  Colony,  for 
your  advice  upon  this  pressing  occasion  ;  and  I  submit  to 
you  whether  a  Proclamation  should  not  issue  conformable 
to  what  I  have  now  suggested  ;  and  before  our  fellow-sub- 
jects abandon  themselves  totally  to  extremities,  which  must 
inevitably  draw  down  an  accumulation  of  every  human 
misery  upon  their  unhappy  Country,  to  warn  them  of  their 
danger,  to  remind  them  of  the  sacred  oaths  of  allegiance 
which  they  have  taken,  and  to  call  up  in  their  breasts  that 
loyalty  and  affection  which  upon  so  many  occasions  have 
been  professed  by  them  to  their  King,  their  lawful  sover- 
eign ;  and  farther,  to  urge  and  exhort,  in  particular,  those 
whose  criminal  proceedings  on  this  occasion  have  been,  and 
are  still,  so  alarming,  to  return  to  their  duty,  and  a  due  obe- 
dience to  the  laws;  and,  in  general,  all  persons  whatsoever 
to  rely  upon  the  goodness  and  tenderness  of  our  most  gra- 
cious Sovereign  to  all  his  subjects,  equally,  and  upon  the 
wisdom  of  his  Councils,  for  a  redress  of  all  their  real 


465 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,"  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


466 


grievances,  which  redress  can  only  be  obtained  by  constitu- 
tional applications;  and,  iastly,to  enjoin  all  orders  of  peo- 
ple to  submit,  as  becomes  good  subjects,  to  the  legal  au- 
thority of  their  Government,  in  the  protection  of  which 
their  own  happiness  is  most  interested. 

The  Council  thereupon  acquainted  his  Excellency,  that 
as  the  matters  he  had  been  pleased  to  communicate  to  them 
were  of  the  greatest  consequence,  they  desired  time  to  de- 
liberate thereon  till  the  next  day. 

At  a  Council  held  at  the  Palace,  May  3,  1775.  Present : 
His  Excellency  the  Governour,  Thomas  Nelson,  Richard 
Corbin,  William  Byrd,  Ralph  Wormeley,  Jr.,  Esquires, 
John  Camm,  Clerk,  and  John  Page,  Esquire. 

The  Board  resuming  the  consideration  of  the  subject  laid 
before  them  yesterday  by  the  Governour,  advised  him  to 
issue  the  following  Proclamation  ;  and  the  same  was  ordered 
accordingly. 

By  his  Excellency  the  Right  Honourable  John  Earl  of 
Dunmore,  His  Majesty's  Lieutenant  and  Governour 
General  of  the  Colony  and  Dominion  of  Virginia, 
and  Vice-Admiral  of  the  same  : 

A  Proclamation. 

Virginia,  to  wit: 

Whereas  there  is  too  much  reason  to  suppose  that  some 
persons  in  the  different  parts  of  this  Colony  are  disaffected 
to  His  Majesty's  Government,  and  by  their  weight  and  credit 
with  the  people,  are  endeavouring  to  bring  the  Country 
into  such  a  situation  as  to  afford  them  the  fairest  prospect 
of  effecting  a  change  in  the  form  of  it,  covering  the  wicked 
designs  under  the  specious  appearance  of  defending  their 
liberties,  and  have  taken  advantage  of  the  unhappy  ferment 
which  themselves  have  raised  in  the  minds  of  their  fellow- 
subjects,  in  prosecution  of  their  dangerous  designs  to  op- 
pose the  most  undoubted  prerogative  of  the  King,  which, 
in  a  late  instance,  I  thought  it  expedient  to  exert,  by  re- 
moving on  hoard  His  Majesty's  Ship  the  Foivey,  a  small 
quantity  of  Gunpowder,  belonging  to  His  Majesty,  from 
the  Magazine  in  this  City:  I  have  thought  fit,  by  advice 
of  His  Majesty's  Council,  to  issue  this  my  Proclamation, 
with  a  view  of  undeceiving  the  deluded,  and  of  exposing 
to  the  unwary  the  destruction  into  which  they  may  be  pre- 
cipitated, if  they  suffer  themselves  to  be  longer  guided  by 
such  infatuated  counsels. 

Although  1  consider  myself,  under  the  authority  of  the 
Crown,  the  only  constitutional  judge  in  what  manner  the 
munition,  provided  for  the  protection  of  the  people  of  this 
Government,  is  to  be  disposed  of  for  that  end,  yet,  for 
effecting  the  salutary  objects  of  this  Proclamation,  and  re- 
moving from  the  minds  of  His  Majesty's  subjects  the 
groundless  suspicions  they  have  imbibed,  I  think  proper  to 
declare  that  the  apprehensions  which  seemed  to  prevail 
throughout  this  whole  Country,  of  an  intended  insurrection 
of  the  Slaves,  who  had  been  seen  in  large  numbers  in  the 
night  time  about  the  Magazine,  and  my  knowledge  of  its 
being  a  very  insecure  depository,  were  my  inducements  to 
that  measure,  and  I  chose  the  night  as  the  properest  season, 
because  I  knew  the  temper  of  the  times,  and  the  misinter- 
pretations of  my  design  which  would  be  apt  to  prevail  if 
the  thing  should  be  known.  Acting  under  these  motives, 
1  certainly  rather  deserved  the  thanks  of  the  Country, 
than  their  reproaches.  But  whenever  the  present  ferment 
shall  subside,  and  it  shall  become  necessary  to  put  arms 
into  the  hands  of  the  Militia  for  the  defence  of  the  people 
against  a  foreign  enemy  or  intestine  insurgents,  I  shall  be  as 
ready  as  on  a  late  occasion  to  exert  my  best  abilities  in  the 
service  of  the  Country.  In  the  mean  time,  as  it  is  indis- 
pensably necessary  to  maintain  order  and  the  authority  of 
the  laws,  and  thereby  the  dignity  of  His  Majesty's  Govern- 
ment, I  exhort  and  require,  in  His  Majesty's  name,  all  his 
faithful  subjects  to  leave  no  expedient  unessayed  which  may 
tend  to  that  happy  end.  Such  as  are  not  to  be  influenced 
by  the  love  of  order  for  its  own  sake,  and  the  blessings  it 
is  always  productive  of,  would  do  well  to  consider  the  in- 
ternal weakness  of  this  Colony,  as  well  as  the  dangers  to 
which  it  is  exposed  from  a  savage  enemy,  who,  from  the 
most  recent  advices  I  have  received  from  the  frontier  in- 
habitants, are  ready  to  renew  their  hostilities  against  the 
people  of  this  Country.    But  as,  on  the  one  hand,  nothing 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii.  3 


can  justify  men,  without  proper  authority,  in  a  rapid  recur- 
rence to  arms,  nothing  excuse  resistance  to  the  Executive 
power  in  the  due  enforcement  of  law ;  so,  on  the  other, 
nothing  but  such  resistance  and  outrageous  proceedings 
shall  ever  compel  me  to  avail  myself  of  any  means  that 
may  carry  the  appearance  of  severity. 

Anxious  to  restore  peace  and  harmony  to  this  distracted 
Country,  and  to  induce  a  firmer  reliance  on  the  goodness 
and  tenderness  of  our  most  gracious  Sovereign  to  all  his 
subjects  equally,  and  on  the  wisdom  of  his  Councils  for  a 
redress  of  all  their  real  grievances,  which  can  only  be  ob- 
tained by  loyal  and  constitutional  applications,  I  again  call 
upon  and  require  all  His  Majesty's  liege  subjects,  and  espe- 
cially all  Magistrates  and  other  officers,  both  civil  and  mili- 
tary, to  exert  themselves  in  removing  the  discontents,  and 
suppressing  the  spirit  of  faction  which  prevail  among  the 
people,  that  a  dutiful  submission  to  the  laws  of  the  land 
may  be  strictly  observed,  which  shall  ever  be  the  rule  of 
my  conduct,  as  the  interest  and  happiness  of  this  Dominion 
ever  have  been,  and  shall  continue  to  be,  the  objects  of  my 
administration. 

Given  under  my  hand,  and  the  seal  of  the  Colony,  at 
Williamsburg h,  this  third  day  of  May,  1775,  and  in  the  fif- 
teenth year  of  His  Majesty's  reign.  Dunmore. 
God  save  the  King. 


COMMITTEE    OF   INSPECTION  FOR  KENT  COUNTY  ON  DELA- 
WARE. 

Dover,  Tuesday,  May  2,  1775.    P.  M. 

The  Committee  met  by  adjournment,  when  the  follow- 
ing Letter  was  laid  before  them  by  the  President  of  the 
Committee  of  Correspondence  for  said  County : 

"  I  acknowledge  to  have  wrote  a  piece  (and  did  not  sign 
it)  since  said  to  be  an  extract  of  a  Letter  from  Kent  County 
on  Delaware,  published  in  Humphreys's  Ledger,  No.  3. 
It  was  not  dated  from  any  place,  and  is  somewhat  altered 
from  the  original.  I  folded  it  up,  and  directed  the  same 
to  Joshua  Fisher  and  Sons.  I  had  no  intention  to  have  it 
published,  and  further  let  them  know,  the  author  thought 
best  it  should  not  be  published,  nor  did  I  think  they  would. 
I  am  sincerely  sorry  I  ever  wrote  it,  as  also  for  its  being 
published,  and  hope  I  may  be  excused  for  this  my  first 
breach  in  this  way,  and  I  intend  it  shall  be  the  last. 

"  Robert  Holliday." 
To  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  for  Kent  County  on 

Delaware. 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  this  be  not  satisfactory,  and 
that  Mr.  Holliday  be  requested  to  attend  the  Committee 
at  their  next  meeting,  on  Tuesday  the  ninth  instant,  then 
to  give  further  satisfaction  for  the  gross  misrepresentation 
of  the  people  of  this  County,  by  said  Letter,  from  which 
an  extract  was  published  in  Humphreys's  Ledger. 

Tuesday,  May  9,  P.  M. 

The  Committee  met  according  to  adjournment,  when 
Mr.  Holliday  appeared,  and  offered  to  make  the  necessary 
concessions  for  his  conduct. 

On  motion,  Resolved,  That  a  Committee  be  appointed 
to  draw  up  Mr.  Holliday's  concessions  in  writing. 

This  being  done,  Mr.  Holliday  waited  on  the  Com- 
mittee with  his  concessions,  drawn  up  in  the  form  of  an 
Address,  as  follows : 

"  To  the  Committee  of  Inspection  for  Kent  County  on 
Delaware  : 

"  Gentlemen  :  With  sorrow  and  contrition  for  my  weak- 
ness and  folly,  I  confess  myself  the  author  of  the  Letter 
from  which  an  extract  was  published  in  the  third  number 
of  Humphreys's  Ledger,  said  to  be  from  Kent  County,  on 
Delaware,  but  at  the  same  time  do  declare  it  was  published 
without  my  consent,  and  not  without  some  alterations. 

"I  am  now  convinced  the  political  sentiments  therein 
contained  were  founded  in  the  grossest  errour,  more  espe- 
cially that  malignant  insinuation,  that  "  if  the  King's  Stand- 
ard were  now  erected,  nine  out  of  ten  would  repair  to  it," 
could  not  have  been  suggested  but  from  the  deepest  insinu- 
ation. True,  indeed  it  is,  the  people  of  this  County  have 
ever  shown  a  zealous  attachment  to  His  Majesty's  person 
and  Government,  and  whenever  he  raised  his  standard  in 
a  just  cause,  were  ready  to  flock  to  it;  but  let  the, severe 


467 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  Sec,  MAY,  1775. 


468 


account  I  now  render  to  an  injured  people  witness  to  the 
world,  that  none  are  more  ready  to  oppose  tyranny,  or  to 
be  first  in  the  cause  of  liberty,  than  the  inhabitants  of  Kent 
County. 

"  Conscious  that  I  can  render  no  satisfaction  adequate  to 
the  injuries  done  my  Country,  1  can  only  beg  the  forgive- 
ness of  my  countrymen  upon  those  principles  of  humanity 
which  may  induce  them  to  consider  the  frailty  of  human 
nature.  And  I  do  profess  and  promise,  that  1  will  never 
again  oppose  those  laudable  measures  necessarily  adopted 
by  my  countrymen  for  the  preservation  of  American  free- 
dom, but  will  co-operate  with  them  to  the  utmost  of  my 
abilities,  in  their  virtuous  struggle  for  liberty,  so  far  as  is 
consistent  with  my  religious  principles. 

"  Robert  Holliday." 

May  9,  1775. 

Voted  satisfactory. 

Published  by  order  of  the  Committee, 

Thomas  Nixon,  Jr.,  Clerk. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  A  GKNTLEMAN  IN  PHILADEL- 
PHIA TO  HIS  FRIEND  IN  LONDON. 

Philadelphia,  May  2,  1775. 
Do  not  we  see  the  hand  of  Providence  in  the  late  re- 
pulse of  the  National  soldiery  ?  New-England  men  who 
are  justly  noted  for  religious  attentions,  do  say,  that  God 
hath  evidently  appeared  on  their  side,  and  fought  for  them  ; 
thus  deriving  powerful  motives  for  perseverance  and  vigour 
in  a  cause  so  favoured.  And  indeed  the  battle  has  been 
the  Lord's.  He  has  wrought  by  few,  as  easily  as  he  could 
by  many. 

The  Militia,  it  is  said,  threaten  the  siege  of  Boston,  how- 
ever difficult  it  may  seem,  and  we  have  a  report  that  Gen- 
eral Gage  is  suffering  the  inhabitants  to  retire.  This  fore- 
bodes the  destruction  of  that  City  ;  but  the  people  of  the 
Colony  contemplate  that  consequence,  the  bombardment 
of  their  Coast- Towns,  and  the  total  stagnation  of  their 
Fishery  and  Trade.  These  advices  must  strike  terrour 
into  the  British  Ministry,  and  astonish  all  Europe.  But 
this  comes  of  driving  people  to  despair.  Though  I  trust 
you  will  have  come  away,  yet  I  venture  to  risk  a  letter. 

This  is  the  last  I  shall  write  to  you,  till  further  advices 
from  you.  Indeed  means  of  conveyance  will  probably  fail, 
for  we  expect  that  the  Congress  (about  to  sit)  will  recom- 
mend the  total  suspension  of  exportation  at  their  first  meet- 
ing. This  has  already  taken  place  at  New-York.  The 
van  of  the  New-England  Militia  has  actually  arrived  there, 
and  will  be  joined  by  the  inhabitants,  who  are  arraying. 
You  may  be  assured  that  from  Maryland  north-eastward, 
there  is  no  scarcity  of  ammunition.  Gunpowder  abounds 
in  New-England.  A  proper  magazine  of  victuals  for  six 
months,  and  stores,  (even  tents  for  thirty  thousand  men,) 
have  been  collected  at  Worcester,  forty-five  miles  west  of 
Boston. 

Our  City  affords  thirty  Companies,  from  fifty  to  one 
hundred  each,  of  trained  bands,  who  daily  practise  the 
manual  exercise  of  the  musket.  Citizens  may  not  perhaps 
be  so  much  esteemed  as  soldiers  ;  but  it  is  the  same  through- 
out the  Country. 


NEW-JERSEY  COMMITTEE  OF  CORRESPONDENCE. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  New-Jersey  Provincial  Committee 
of  Correspondence  (appointed  by  the  Provincial  Congress) 
at  the  City  of  New-Jirunswick,  on  Tuesday,  the  second 
day  of  May,  Anno  Domini,  1775,  agreeable  to  summons 
of  Hendrick  Fisher,  Esq.,  Chairman. 

Present :  Hendrick  Fisher,  Samuel  Tucker,  Joseph 
Borden,  Joseph  Biggs,  Isaac  Pearson,  John  Chetwood, 
Lewis  Ogden,  Isaac  Ogdtn,  Abraham  Hunt,  and  Elias 
Boudinot,  Esquires. 

The  Committee  having  seriously  taken  into  consideration 
as  well  the  present  alarming  and  very  extraordinary  conduct 
of  the  British  Ministry,  for  carrying  into  execution  sundry 
Acts  of  Parliament  for  the  express  purpose  of  raising  a 
revenue  in  America,  and  other  unconstitutional  measures 
therein  mentioned  ;  as  also  the  several  acts  of  hostility 
that  have  been  actually  commenced  for  this  purpose  by  the 
Regular  Forces  under  General  Gage  against  our  brethren 
of  the  Colony  of  Massachusetts-Bay,  in  New-England  ; 


and  not  knowing  how  soon  this  Province  may  be  in  a  state 
of  confusion  and  disorder,  if  there  are  not  some  effectual 
measures  speedily  taken  to  prevent  the  same  :  This  Com- 
mittee are  unanimously  of  opinion,  and  do  hereby  advise 
and  direct,  that  the  Chairman  do  immediately  call  a  Pro- 
vincial Congress  to  meet  at  Trenton,  on  Tuesday  the 
twenty-third  day  of  this  instant,  in  order  to  consider  of  and 
determine  such  matters  as  may  then  and  there  come  before 
them ;  and  the  several  Counties  are  hereby  desired  to  nomi- 
nate and  appoint  their  respective  Deputies  for  the  same,  as 
speedily  as  may  be,  with  full  and  ample  powers  for  such 
purposes  as  may  be  thought  necessary  for  the  peculiar  exi- 
gencies of  this  Province. 

The  Committee  do  also  direct  their  Chairman  to  forward 
true  copies  of  the  above  minute  to  the  several  County  Com- 
mittees of  this  Province,  without  delay. 

Hendrick  Fisher,  Chairman. 


NEW-YORK  COMMITTEE. 


The  Committee 
Monday,  1st  May, 

Isaac  Low, 
Philip  Livingston, 
James  Duane, 
John  Alsop, 
Isaac  Sears, 
Alex.  McDougall, 
Thomas  Randall, 
Leonard  Lispenard, 
William  Walton, 
John  Broome, 
Joseph  Hallett, 
Nicholas  Hoffman, 
Abraham  Walton, 
Peter  Van  Schaack, 
Henry  Remsen, 
Peter  T.  Curtenius, 
Abraham  Brasher, 
Abraham  P.  Lott, 
Abraham  Duryee, 
Joseph  Bull, 
Francis  Lewis, 
Joseph  Totten, 
Thomas  Ivers, 
Hercules  Mulligan, 
John  Anthony, 
Francis  Bassett, 
Victor  Bicker, 
John  White, 


met  at  the  Exchange,  at  six  o'clock, 
1775.    Present : 


Theophilus  Anthony, 
William  Goforth, 
William  Denning, 
Isaac  Roosevelt, 
Jacob  Van  Voorhies, 
Jeremiah  Piatt, 
Comfort  Sands, 
Robert  Benson, 
William  W.  Gilbert, 
Nicholas  Roosevelt, 
John  Berrian, 
Edward  Fleming, 
John  De  Lancey, 
Frederick  Jay, 
William  W.  Ludlow, 
John  B.  Moore, 
Lindley  Murray, 
Lancaster  Burling, 
John  Lasher, 
George  Janeway, 
James  Beekman, 
Richard  Yates, 
David  Clarkson, 
Thomas  Smith, 
James  Desbrosses, 
Augustus  Van  Home, 
Garret  Kettletas, 
Fleazer  Miller, 


Benjamin  Kissam, 
John  M.  Scott, 
Cornelius  Clopper, 
John  Reade, 
John  Van  Cortlamlt, 
Jacobus  Van  Zandt, 
Gerardus  Duyckiuck, 
John  Marston, 
Thomas  Marston, 
Richard  Sharpe, 
Hamilton  Young, 
Benjamin  Helme, 
Walter  Franklin, 
David  Beekman, 
William  Seaton, 
Nicholas  Bogart, 
William  Laight, 
Samuel  Broome, 
John  Lamb, 
Daniel  Phenix, 
Anthony  Van  Dam, 
Daniel  Dunscouib, 
John  Imlay, 
Oliver  Templeton, 
Cornelius  P.  Low, 
Thomas  Buciiannan, 
Petrus  Byvanck. 


Mr.  Isaac  Low  was  unanimously  elected  Chairman  ; 
Mr.  Henry  Bemsen,  Deputy  Chairman  ;  Mr.  John  Blagge, 
Secretary;  and  Mr.  Thomas  Pettit,  Messenger. 

The  following  Address  was  received  from  Mr.  Samuel 
Broome  and  his  Company,  which  was  read  in  the  words 
following,  viz : 

"Mr.  Chairman  and  Gentlemen : 

"  We  wait  on  you  by  order  of  one  hundred  inhabitants 
who  have  formed  themselves  into  a  Military  Association 
Company,  in  order  to  co-operate  with  their  fellow-citizens 
in  carrying  into  effect  the  purposes  of  the  General  Asso- 
ciation ;  and  we  are  desired  to  assure  you  that  they  have 
great  confidence  in  your  wisdom  and  zeal,  and  are  deter- 
mined to  be  guided  by  your  advice,  and  to  support  your 
resolutions  respecting  the  preservation  of  American  liberty, 
of  the  peace  and  good  order  of  the  City,  the  safety  of 
individuals  (unless  proscribed  by  you)  and  of  private  pro- 
perty ;  upon  every  occasion  we  will  cheerfully  take  our 
tour  of  duty  ;  and  when  our  services  are  wanted  you  may 
apply  to  Mr.  Samuel  Broome,  who  we  have  chosen  to 
command  us." 

Mr.  Scott  moved,  seconded  by  Mr.  McDougall,  That 
a  Sub-Committee  of  four  members  for  each  Ward  be  ap- 
pointed to  offer  the  Association  without  delay  to  the  inha- 
bitants of  this  City  and  County,  and  that  they  take  down 
the  names  of  such  of  them  as  shall  not  sign  the  Associa- 
tion, and  report  their  names  to  this  Committee. 

On  the  question,  whether  every  person  should  be  waited 
on  except  the  Lieutenant-Governour,  carried  in  the  affirm- 
ative, by  a  great  majority. 

The  following  Rules  for  the  government  of  this  Com- 
mittee in  their  debates  and  proceedings,  were  read,  agreed 
to,  and  ordered  to  be  entered  on  their  Minutes,  viz  : 

1st.  That  the  Chairman,  and  in  his  absence,  the  Deputy 
Chairman,  and  in  the  absence  of  both,  a  Chairman  to  be 
appointed  pro  tempore,  shall  preside  at  every  meeting, 


469 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  tic,  MAY,  1775. 


470 


and  keep  order  and  decorum,  and  that  it  shall  be  his  duty 
to  sign  all  letters  from  the  Board. 

2d.  That  a  Secretary  shall  be  appointed  who  is  not  a 
member  of  the  Board. 

3d.  That  all  Addresses  shall  be  made  to  the  Chair,  and 
standing. 

4th.  That  if  more  than  one  shall  rise  to  speak  at  the 
same  time,  the  Chairman  shall  determine  who  shall  first  be 
heard. 

5th.  That  the  substance  of  every  motion  which  is 
seconded,  shall  be  entered  on  the  Minutes. 

6th.  That  no  interruption  shall  be  offered  while  a  mem- 
ber is  delivering  his  sentiments. 

7th.  That  every  question  shall  be  determined  by  a 
majority  of  voices,  and  after  a  determination,  the  same 
question  shall  not  be  resumed,  but  with  the  consent  of  a 
majority  at  a  subsequent  meeting. 

8th.  That  when  a  question  shall  be  determined,  the 
names  of  the  members  shall  be  entered  as  they  shall  vote, 
on  each  side. 

9ih.  That  the  Committee  shall  meet  every  Monday  at 
six  o'clock  in  the  evening,  and  on  application  of  any  five 
members  the  Chairman,  or  in  his  absence  the  Deputy,  and 
in  the  absence  of  both,  the  Secretary,  shall  call  a  special 
meeting,  printed  notice  whereof  to  be  left  at  the  residence 
of  each  member. 

10th.  That,  for  the  despatch  of  business  and  to  prevent 
interruptions,  the  doors,  at  our  meetings,  shall  be  shut, 
and  that  no  act,  proceeding,  or  debate  of  the  Committee 
shall  be  published  or  divulged,  except  to  a  member,  unless 
leave  shall  be  first  given  by  the  Committee. 

11th.  That  when  the  Chairman  and  Deputy  Chairman 
shall  be  out  of  Town,  the  five  first  members  named  on  the 
list  of  the  body,  who  may  be  in  Town,  shall  be  at  liberty  to 
open  Letters  directed  to  the  Committee,  and  that  the  con- 
tents of  such  Letters  shall  not  be  communicated  but  to  a 
member,  without  leave  of  the  Committee. 

12tb.  That  every  member  after  appearing  shall  keep  his 
seat,  and  not  leave  the  Committee  without  the  consent  of 
the  Chairman. 

13th.  That  no  question  shall  be  determined  the  day  that 
it  is  agitated,  if  one-third  of  the  members  then  present 
desire  it  to  be  postponed  to  the  next  meeting. 

14th.  That  no  member  shall  be  at  liberty  to  speak  more 
than  twice  to  the  same  point  without  leave  of  the  Board. 

15th.  That  at  every  staled  weekly  meeting,  these 
Rules  shall  be  publickly  read  previous  to  the  proceeding 
upon  business. 

Whereas  it  appears  by  the  publick  Papers  that  all  Ex- 
portation from  Philadelphia  to  Quebeck,  A  ova-Scotia, 
Georgia,  and  Newfoundland,  or  any  part  of  the  Fishing 
Coasts  or  Fishing  Islands  are  suspended,  and  that  it  be 
accordingly  recommended  to  every  Merchant  immediately 
to  suspend  all  Exportation  to  those  places  until  the  Conti- 
nental Congress  shall  give  further  orders  therein  : 

Resolved,  That  the  above  measure  be  recommended  by 
this  Committee  to  the  Merchants  and  Inhabitants  of  this 
City  and  County,  and  that  henceforth  no  Provisions  or 
other  necessaries  be  sent  from  this  Port  to  the  Army  or 
Navy  at  Boston,  and  that  the  Committee  of  Philadelphia 
be  requested  to  establish  the  same  restriction,  until  the 
Continental  Congress  shall  give  further  orders  therein. 

Ordered,  That  the  above  be  published. 

Ordered.  That  Mr.  Scott,  Mr.  Van  Schaack,  and  Mr. 
McDougall  be  a  Sub-Committee  to  draft  and  report  an 
Answer  to  Captain  Samuel  Broome's  Address. 

Mr.  McDougall  moved,  seconded  by  Mr.  Scott,  that  a 
Sub-Committee  be  appointed  to  devise  ways  and  means  to 
purchase  Arms,  Ammunition,  and  Provisions  in  our  exi- 
gency, and  that  they  report  the  same  without  delay  to  this 
Committee. 

Carried  unanimously  in  the  affirmative. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Remsen,  Mr.  Van  Zandt,  Mr.  Mc- 
Dougall, Mr.  Randall,  Mr.  Lispenard,  Mr.  Van  Dam,  Mr. 
Sands,  Mr.  Kissam,  Mr.  Scott,  Mr.  Duryee,  Mr.  Yates 
and  Mr.  Curtenius  be  a  Committee  for  the  above  pur- 
pose. 

The  Committee  adjourned  until  to-morrow  morning,  nine 
o'clock. 


The  Committee  met,  by  adjournment,  Tuesday  morn- 
ing, nine  o'clock,  May  2,  1775.    Present : 

Isaac  Low,  William  Goforth,         Cornelius  Clopper, 

Pliilip  Livingston,        Isaac  Roosevelt,  John  Rcade, 

James  Duane,  Jacob  Van  Voorhies,     John  Van  Cortlandt, 

Isaac  Sears,  Jeremiah  Piatt,  Jacobus  Van  Zandt, 

Alex.  McDougall,        Comfort  Sands,  Gerardus  Duyckinck, 

Thomas  Randall,         Robert  Benson,  John  Marston, 

Leonard  Lispenard,      William  W.  Gilbert,      Thomas  Marston, 
William  Walton,  John  Berrian,  Richard  Sharpe, 

John  Broome,  John  De  Lancey,  Hamilton  Young, 

Joseph  Hallett,  Frederick  Jay,  David  Beekman, 

Gabriel  H.  Ludlow,  William  W.  Ludlow,  William  Seaton, 
Nicholas  Hoffman,       John  B.  Moore,  Nicholas  Bogart, 

Abraham  Walton,  Lancaster  Burling,  William  Laight, 
Henry  Remsen,  John  Lasher,  Samuel  Broome, 

Peter  T  Curtenius,      George  Janeway,  John  Lamb, 

Abraham  Brasher,        James  Beekman,  Daniel  Phcnix, 

Abraham  P.  Lott,        Richard  Yates,  Anthony  Van  Dam, 

Abraham  Duryee,        Thomas  Smith,  Daniel  Dunscomb, 

Joseph  Bull,  James  Desbrosses,         John  Imlay, 

Francis  Lewis,  Augustus  Van  Home,    Oliver  Templeton, 

Joseph  Totten,  Eleazer  Miller,  Cornelius  P.  Low, 

Thomas  Ivers,  Garret  Kcttletas,  Thomas  Buchannan, 

Hercules  Mulligan,      Benjamin  Kissam,        Petrus  Byvanck. 
Theophilus  Anthony,    John  M.  Scott, 

Mr.  Duane  moved,  seconded  by  Mr.  McDougall,  that 
the  Committee  come  into  the  following  Resolution,  viz: 

Resolved,  That  it  be  earnestly  recommended  to  every 
inhabitant  to  perfect  himself  in  Military  Discipline,  and  be 
provided  with  Arms,  Accoutrements,  and  Ammunition  as 
directed  by  law. 

Carried  unanimously  in  the  affirmative. 

Ordered,  That  the  above  Resolve  be  immediately  made 
publick  by  a  handbill. 

Mr.  Goforth  moved,  seconded  by  Mr.  Lamb,  that  a 
Committee  be  appointed  to  move  all  the  Cannon  out  of 
Town  that  are  private  property,  and  to  provide  every  thing 
necessary  thereto,  and  that  a  particular  account  be  taken 
of  them,  and  the  names  of  the  proprietors. 

Carried  unanimously  in  the  affirmative. 

Ordered,  That  Captain  Sears,  Captain  Randall,  Mr. 
Lamb,  Mr.  A.  P.  Lott,  Mr.  Brasher,  and  Mr.  Goforth 
be  a  Sub-Committee  for  the  above  purposes.  Names 
added :  Mr.  Berrian,  Mr.  Sands,  Mr.  Byvanck. 

Mr.  Lamb,  seconded  by  Mr.  McDougall,  made  a  motion 
in  the  words  following,  viz : 

Whereas  it  is  essentially  necessary  in  the  present  posture 
of  our  affairs,  that  the  true  state  of  this  City  should  be 
known  in  regard  to  what  quantity  of  Arms  and  Ammuni- 
tion can  be  procured  for  our  defence : 

I  move  that  a  Sub-Committee  of  Inspection  be  appointed 
for  that  purpose,  and  to  make  inquiry  of  the  inhabitants 
what  Military  Stores  and  Arms  they  have  for  their  own 
use,  and  for  sale,  and  that  the  said  Committee  be  desired  to 
report  the  same  to  this  Board  with  all  convenient  speed. 

Which  being  unanimously  agreed  to; 

Ordered,  That  the  same  be  referred  to  the  Committees 
appointed  for  carrying  about  the  Association  in  the  differ- 
ent Wards,  and  that  the  same  consist  of  the  following  per- 
sons, viz : 

Montgomerie  Ward. — Joseph  Bull,  John  Berrian,  David 

Beekman,  Petrus  Byvanck. 
Sotjth  Ward. — Thomas  Randall,  Frederick  Jay,  John 

Lasher. 

Dock  Ward. —  Gabriel  H.  Ludloxc,  Nicholas  Hoffman. 
Gerardus  Duyckinck,  and  Abraham  Brinkerhoff. 

West  Ward. — Jacob  Van  Voorhies,  Peter  T.  Curtenius. 
William  TV.  Gilbert,  John  Van  Cortlandt. 

North  Ward. — Captain  Fleming,  John  TfTiite,  Robert 
Benson,  John  Anthony. 

Out  Ward. — John  M.  Scott,  George  Janeway,  Corne- 
lius P.  Low,  Jeremiah  Piatt,  Benjamin  Helme. 

East  Ward. —  Thomas  Ivers,  John  Imlay.  Oliver  Tem- 
pleton, John  Broome,  Joseph  Hallett,  Augustus  Van 
Home,  Daniel  Phenix. 

Mr.  Duane  moved,  seconded  by  Mr.  McDougall,  that 
the  Committee  come  into  the  following  Resolution,  viz : 

Resolved,  That  an  humble  Address  be  presented  to  his 
Honour  the  Lieutenant-Governour,  to  explain  the  motives 
which,  at  this  alarming  juncture,  have  obliged  the  inhabit- 
ants to  appoint  the  present  Committee  for  their  safety  and 
preservation,  and  to  assure  his  Honour  that  this  Committee 
will  at  all  times  exert  their  utmost  endeavours  to  promote 
good  order,  and  support  the  Civil  Magistrates  as  far  as 


471 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


472 


shall  be  compatible  with  the  melancholy  exigency  of  our 
publick  affairs. 

Carried  unanimously  in  the  affirmative. 

Ordered,  That  the  following  gentlemen  be  a  Committee 
for  the  above  purpose,  viz :  Mr.  Duane,  Mr.  Scott,  Mr. 
John  Jay,  Mr.  Van  Schaack,  Mr.  Kissam,  Mr.  Mc- 
Dougall,  Mr.  Low,  and  Mr.  Lewis. 

Resolved,  That  a  Committee  of  Correspondence  and 
Intelligence  be  appointed,  and  that  it  consist  of  the  follow- 
ing persons,  viz :  Mr.  Low,  Mr.  Van  SchaacJc,  Mr.  Kis- 
sam, Mr.  Scott,  Mr.  Jones,  Mr.  P.  V.  B.  Livingston, 
Mr.  Van  Cortlandt  and  Mr.  McDougall,  who  are  desired 
to  transmit  to  England,  and  to  the  Committees  of  the  prin- 
cipal Cities  on  this  Continent,  copies  of  the  Association 
entered  into  in  this  City,  with  such  further  acts  and  resolu- 
tions of  this  Committee  for  advancing  the  common  cause, 
as  they  shall  direct  to  be  published. 

The  Committee  adjourned  until  to-morrow  morning,  nine 
o'clock. 


ASSOCIATION  OF  NEW-YORK. 

New-York,  May  4,  1775. 

The  following  Association  was  set  on  foot  here  last 
Saturday,  April  29,  and  has  been  transmitted,  for  signing, 
to  all  the  Counties  in  the  Province,  and  signed  by  most  of 
the  men  of  this  City  : 

"  Persuaded  that  the  salvation  of  the  rights  and  liberties 
of  America  depend,  under  God,  on  the  firm  union  of  its 
inhabitants,  in  a  vigorous  prosecution  of  the  measures 
necessary  for  its  safety,  and  convinced  of  the  necessity  of 
preventing  the  anarchy  and  confusion  which  attend  a  disso- 
lution of  the  powers  of  Government :  We,  the  Freemen, 
Freeholders,  and  Inhabitants  of  the  City  and  County  of 
New- York,  being  greatly  alarmed  at  the  avowed  design  of 
the  Ministry  to  raise  a  revenue  in  America,  and  shocked 
by  the  bloody  scene  now  acting  in  the  Massachusetts-Bay, 
do,  in  the  most  solemn  manner,  resolve  never  to  become 
slaves;  and  do  associate,  under  all  the  ties  of  religion, 
honour,  and  love  to  our  Country,  to  adopt  and  endeavour 
to  carry  into  execution  whatever  measures  may  be  recom- 
mended by  the  Continental  Congress,  or  resolved  upon  by 
our  Provincial  Convention,  for  the  purpose  of  preserving 
our  Constitution  and  opposing  the  execution  of  the  several 
arbitrary  and  oppressive  Acts  of  the  British  Parliament, 
until  a  reconciliation  between  Great  Britain  and  America, 
on  constitutional  principles,  (which  we  most  ardently  de- 
sire,) can  be  obtained ;  and  that  we  will,  in  all  things, 
follow  the  advice  of  our  General  Committee  respecting  the 
purposes  aforesaid,  the  preservation  of  peace  and  good 
order,  and  the  safety  of  individuals  and  private  property." 


GQVERNOUR  WANTON  TO  THE  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY  OF 
RHODE^ISLAND. 

Newport,  May  2,  1775. 
To  the  General  Assembly  of  the  English  Colony  of 
Rhode-Island,  fyc,  to  be  held  at  Providence,  within 
and  for  said  Colony,  on  the  first  Wednesday  in  May, 
1775. 

Gentlemen:  As  indisposition  prevents  my  meeting  you 
in  the  General  Assembly,  that  candour  I  have  so  often  ex- 
perienced from  the  Representatives  of  the  freemen  of  this 
Colony  encourages  me  to  hope  that  you  will  excuse  my 
personal  attendance  at  this  Session.  Since  the  last  Session 
of  the  General  Assembly  at  Providence,  1  have  had  the 
honour  of  receiving  a  letter  from  the  Earl  of  Dartmouth, 
one  of  His  Majesty's  principal  Secretaries  of  State,  dated 
Whitehall,  the  3d  of  March,  1775,  enclosing  the  Resolu- 
tion of  the  House  of  Commons,  respecting  the  provision 
which  they  expect  each  Colony  or  Province  in  America 
to  make  for  the  common  defence,  and  also  for  the  civil 
Government  and  the  administration  of  justice  in  such  Colo- 
ny, both  which  I  have  directed  to  be  laid  before  you,  and 
also  a  letter  from  the  Committee  of  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress, which  are  all  the  publick  letters  I  have  received 
during  the  recess. 

As  the  dispute  between  Great  Britain  and  the  Colonies 
is  now  brought  to  a  most  alarming,  dangerous  crisis,  and 
this  once  happy  Country  threatened  with  all  the  horrours 
and  calamities  of  a  civil  war,  1  consider  myself  bound  by 


every  tie  of  duty  and  affection,  as  well  from  an  ardent 
desire  to  see  a  union  between  Britain  and  her  Colonies 
established  upon  an  equitable,  permanent  basis,  to  entreat 
you  to  enter  into  the  consideration  of  the  Resolution  of  the 
House  of  Commons,  and  also  his  Lordship's  Letter  which 
accompanied  that  Resolution,  with  the  temper,  calmness, 
and  deliberation  which  the  importance  of  them  demands, 
and  with  that  inclination  to  a  reconciliation  with  the  Parent 
State  which  will  recommend  your  proceedings  to  His  Ma- 
jesty and  both  Houses  of  Parliament. 

The  prosperity  and  happiness  of  this  Colony  is  founded 
on  its  connexion  with  Great  Britain,  "  for  if  once  we  are 
separated,  where  shall  we  find  another  Britain  to  supply 
our  loss  ?  Torn  from  the  body  to  which  we  are  united  by 
Religion,  Liberty,  Laws,  and  Commerce,  we  must  bleed 
at  every  vein." 

Your  Charter  privileges  are  of  too  much  importance  to 
be  forfeited ;  you  will,  therefore,  duly  consider  the  inter- 
esting matters  now  before  you  with  the  most  attentive 
caution  ;  and  let  me  entreat  you  not  to  surfer  your  proceed- 
ings for  accommodating  these  disputes,  which  have  already 
too  long  subsisted  between  both  Countries,  to  have  the  least 
appearance  of  anger  or  resentment ;  but  that  a  kind,  respect- 
ful behaviour  towards  His  Majesty  and  both  Houses  of 
Parliament  accompany  all  your  deliberations. 

1  shall  always  be  ready  to  join  with  you  in  every  mea- 
sure which  will  secure  the  full  possession  of  our  invaluable 
Charter  privileges  to  the  latest  posterity,  and  prevent  the 
good  people  of  this  Colony  from  that  ruin  and  destruction 
which,  in  my  opinion,  some  of  the  orders  of  the  late  As- 
sembly must  inevitably  involve  them  in,  if  they  are  not 
speedily  repealed ;  for,  besides  the  fatal  consequences  of 
levying  war  against  the  King,  the  immense  load  of  debt 
that  will  be  incurred,  if  the  late  Resolutions  for  raising  an 
Army  of  Observation  of  fifteen  hundred  men  within  this 
Colony  be  carried  into  execution,  will  be  insupportable, 
and  must  unavoidably  bring  on  universal  bankruptcy 
throughout  this  Colony. 

If  I  have  the  honour  of  being  re-elected,  I  shall,  as  I 
ever  have  done,  cheerfully  unite  with  you  in  every  pro- 
ceeding (which  may  be  consistent  with  that  duty  and  alle- 
giance which  I  owe  to  the  King  and  the  British  Constitu- 
tion) for  increasing  the  welfare  and  happiness  of  this  Gov- 
ernment. 

I  am,  with  great  respect  and  esteem,  gentlemen,  your 
most  humble  servant,  J.  Wanton. 


PROVIDENCE,  RHODE-ISLAND,  COMMITTEE   TO  COMMITTEE 
OF  SAFETY  OF  MASSACHUSETTS. 

Providence,  May  2,  1775. 

Sir  :  The  bearer  hereof,  John  Lascell,  hath  been  ap- 
pointed by  the  Committee  of  Inspection  for  this  Town  to 
ride  as  a  special  post  between  this  and  Cambridge,  Rox- 
bury,  &lc.  He  will  return  on  Friday  next.  We  have  only 
to  inform  you  that  the  General  Assembly  of  this  Colony 
meet  here  to-morrow,  for  the  purpose  of  an  annual  elec- 
tion, &,c,  in  which  session  the  melancholy  situation  of  your 
Colony  in  particular,  and  of  America  in  general,  will  be 
seriously  attended  to.  What  will  be  the  result,  God  Al- 
mighty only  knows  ;  we  wish  and  expect  the  best.  Should 
any  thing  occur  demanding  particular  notice,  you  will 
please  to  intimate  it. 

We  are,  Sir,  with  unfeigned  affection,  your  friends  and 
brethren,  James  Angell, 

J.  Varnum, 
Ezekl.  Cornell. 

President  Committee  of  Safety  at  Cambridge. 

EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  A  GENTLEMAN  IN  CONNEC- 
TICUT TO  HIS  FRIEND  IN  NEW-YORK,  DATED  MAY  2, 
1775. 

I  received  your  esteemed  favour  of  the  24th  April,  and 
observe  your  fears  respecting  the  times,  which  are  truly 
distressing  ;  however,  1  feel  no  apprehensions  from  General 
Gage's  ever  being  able  to  penetrate  into  the  country  thus 
far,  if  he  was  even  reinforced  with  fifty  thousand  men.  In 
the  last  conflict  there  never  was  more  than  two  hundred  and 
fifty  men  engaged  with  the  Troops,  who  made  out  to  kill, 
wound,  and  take  prisoners,  upwards  of  two  hundred  of  his 


473 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


474 


men,  with  the  loss  of  thirty-seven  at  most,  which  would 
not  have  been  even  so  many,  but  the  ardour  of  the  country 
people  led  them  between  the  flank  guards  and  main  body 
several  times,  which  exposed  them  to  certain  death,  being 
between  two  fires. 

Our  Assembly  has  sent  two  gentlemen  to  General  Gage, 
to  give  him  to  understand  that  if  he  means  to  continue  his 
hostile  proceedings,  he  must  expect  all  the  country  armed 
against  him,  determined  to  repel  force  with  force  to  the  last 
man ;  and  I  believe  the  prudent  General  will  not  venture 
his  bones  forty  miles  out  in  the  country,  with  all  the  aid 
expected  over  this  summer.  The  people  in  this  country 
and  Massachusetts,  &,c,  are  in  high  spirits,  and  fear  him 
not,  but  wish  he  would  try  one  expedition  more  into  the 
country. 


NATHANIEL  FREEMAN  TO  DR.  BENJAMIN  CHURCH. 

Sandwich,  May  2,  1775. 

Sir:  Yours,  enclosing  the  Resolve  of  the  Committee 
of  Safety,  as  to  securing  the  boats,  &ic,  has  been  received. 
I  have  secured  all  the  boats  in  this  part  of  the  Country 
that  will  be  of  service  to  the  Colony,  and  have  given  Col. 
Cobb  orders  to  secure  those  below,  which,  I  presume,  by 
this  time  is  done.  We  hauled  the  boats  ashore,  and  hid 
them  in  swamps,  sand,  and  wood,  which  was  all  that  could 
be  done  here.  Any  farther  orders  from  the  honourable 
Committee  in  the  cause  of  God  and  my  Country,  I  am 
ready  to  execute  with  the  greatest  pleasure.  And  am,  Sir, 
your  very  humble  servant,  Nathl.  Freeman. 

Doctor  Church. 

GENERAL  THOMAS  TO  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY. 

Roxbury  Camp,  May  2,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  In  consequence  of  directions  from  the 
Committee  of  Safety,  I  sent  an  officer,  on  whom  I  could 
depend,  to  the  house  of  Governour  Hutchinson,  who 
brought  off  all  the  papers  he  could  find  in  that  house,  but 
I  was  informed  that  Colonel  Taylor,  of  Milton,  had  lately 
taken  several  trunks  out  of  the  Governour's  house  not  many 
days  ago,  in  order  to  save  them  from  being  plundered.  I 
immediately  sent  another  messenger  to  Colonel  Taylor  for 
all  the  papers  that  belong  to  Governour  Hutchinson,  which 
he  had  in  possession ;  he  sent  me  for  answer,  he  did  not 
know  of  any  papers  that  belong  to  Doctor  Hutchinson, 
but  just  now  comes  and  informs  me  that  there  are  several 
trunks  in  his  house,  which  he  took  as  aforesaid,  which  he 
expects  will  be  sent  for  very  soon,  and  suspects  there  may 
be  papers  in  the  trunks ;  and  if  it  is  thought  proper  two  or 
three  judicious  persons  be  sent  to  break  open  and  search 
for  papers,  he  will  give  them  his  assistance.  This,  gentle- 
men, is  submitted  to  the  consideration  of  the  honourable 
Committee.  I  have,  gentlemen,  the  honour  to  subscribe 
myself  your  most  ohedient  humble  servant, 

Jno.  Thomas. 


COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY  OF  MASSACHUSETTS  TO  THE  GOV- 
ERNOUR OF  CONNECTICUT. 

Cambridge,  May  2,  1775. 

We  yesterday  had  a  conference  with  Dr.  Johnson  and 
Colonel  Wolcott,  who  were  appointed  by  your  Assembly 
to  deliver  a  letter  to,  and  hold  a  conference  with,  General 
Gage.  We  feel  the  warmest  gratitude  to  you  for  those 
generous  and  affectionate  sentiments  which  you  entertain 
towards  us.  But  you  will  allow  us  to  express  our  uneasi- 
ness on  account  of  one  paragraph  in  your  letter,  in  which  a 
cessation  of  hostilities  is  proposed.  We  fear  that  our  breth- 
ren in  Connecticut  are  not  even  yet  convinced  of  the  cruel 
designs  of  Administration  against  America,  nor  thoroughly 
sensible  of  the  miseries  to  which  General  Gage's  Army 
have  reduced  this  wretched  Colony.  We  have  lost  the 
Town  of  Boston,  and  we  greatly  fear  for  the  inhabitants  of 
Boston,  as  we  find  the  General  is  perpetually  making  new 
conditions,  and  forming  the  most  unreasonable  pretensions 
for  retarding  their  removal  from  that  garrison.  Our  sea- 
ports on  the  eastern  coasts  are  mostly  deserted.  Our 
people  have  been  barbarously  murdered  by  an  insidious 
enemy,  who,  under  cover  of  the  night,  have  marched  into 
the  heart  of  the  country,  spreading  destruction  with  fire 
and  sword.    No  business  but  that  of  war  is  either  done  or 


thought  of  in  this  Colony.  No  agreement  or  compact  with 
General  Gage  will  in  the  least  alleviate  our  distress,  as  no 
confidence  can  possibly  be  placed  in  any  assurances  he  can 
give  to  a  people  whom  he  has  first  deceived  in  the  matter, 
taking  possession  of  and  fortifying  the  Town  of  Boston,  and 
whom  he  has  suffered  his  Army  to  attack  in  the  most  in- 
human and  treacherous  manner.  Our  relief  now  must 
arise  from  driving  General  Gage,  with  his  Troops,  out  of 
the  Country,  which,  with  the  blessing  of  God,  we  are  de- 
termined to  accomplish,  or  perish  in  the  attempt,  as  we 
think  an  honourable  death  in  the  field,  whilst  fighting  for 
the  liberties  of  all  America,  far  preferable  to  being  butch- 
ered in  our  own  houses,  or  to  be  reduced  to  an  ignominious 
slavery. 

We  must  entreat  that  our  sister  Colony,  Connecticut, 
will  afford,  immediately,  all  possible  aid,  as  at  this  time 
delay  will  be  attended  with  all  that  fatal  train  of  events 
which  would  follow  from  an  absolute  desertion  of  the  cause 
of  American  liberty.  Excuse  our  earnestness  on  this 
subject,  as  we  know  that  upon  the  success  of  our  present 
contest  depend  the  lives  and  liberties  of  our  Country  and 
succeeding  generations.    We  are,  &c. 


COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY  TO  MR.  VOSE,  AT  MILTON. 

Cambridge,  May  2,  1775. 
I  am  directed  to  let  you  know  that  Mr.  Boyce  applied 
to  this  Committee  for  a  prisoner,  who  is  a  paper-maker, 
and  was  then  at  Worcester,  and  agreed  to  pay  the  expenses 
of  removal,  &c.  In  consequence  of  this  application,  the 
prisoner  has  been  removed  to  his  mills,  but  he  refuses  to 
pay  the  charges,  (as  Colonel  Barrett  informs.)  The 
Committee  consider  themselves  as  ill  treated,  and  are  de- 
termined to  remove  the  prisoner  from  Mr.  Boyce' s,  and 
tender  him  to  you  upon  the  same  conditions,  desiring  your 
immediate  attendance.    We  are,  &c. 


RICHARD  DERBY,  JUN.,  TO  GENERAL  WARD. 

Ipswich,  May  2,  1775,  Five  o'clock,  P.  M. 

Sir  :  I  am  now  on  my  way  from  Newburyport  to  Salem, 
from  whence  I  proposed  sending  the  following  advice  per 
express,  but  meeting  with  an  opportunity  by  one  of  your 
officers,  I  embrace  it,  and  inform  you  that  about  two 
o'clock  this  afternoon  Captain  John  Lee  arrived  at  New- 
bury from  Bilboa,  in  twenty-nine  days,  and  informed 
me  that  on  the  14th  of  last  month,  in  longitude  forty-five 
degrees  from  Ijondon,  he  spoke  a  vessel  from  Plymouth, 
in  England,  who  informed  him  that  three  days  before  he 
parted  with  a  fleet  of  sixty  sail  of  transports  bound  for 
Boston,  under  the  command  of  Admiral  Lord  Howe,  hav- 
ing on  board  twelve  thousand  Hessian  Troops.  He  saw 
and  read  the  London  papers  down  to  the  12th  of  March, 
from  which,  and  by  the  Captain  of  the  vessel,  he  learnt 
that  twenty-seven  Commissioners  were  on  board  the  fleet, 
and  that  they  were  directed,  if  possible,  to  adjust  matters ; 
if  not,  they  were  ordered  to  risk  every  thing  to  penetrate 
into  the  Country;  if  not  able  to  effect  this,  then  to  burn 
and  destroy  all  in  their  power.  Burgoyne  was  near  sail- 
ing, with  four  thousand  Hanoverians,  for  Quebeck,  and  a 
number  of  regiments  are  gone  to  the  Southern  Colonies. 
The  Ministry  had  quieted  the  Prussian  Monarch,  by  pay- 
ing him  all  his  demands.  France  and  Spain  had  objected 
against  any  Prussians  coming  this  way. 

This  is  the  purport  of  what  1  had  from  the  Captain, 
who  is  a  man  of  veracity.  I  advised  the  gentlemen  at 
Newbury  to  collect  what  further  they  could,  and  inform 
you.  Please  to  inform  the  Court  of  this  matter.  I  am,  &c, 

Richard  Derby,  Jun. 

P.  S.  Captain  Lee  could  not  obtain  leave  to  bring  any 
English  paper,  but  only  to  read  them. 


RICHARD  GLOVER  TO  MATTHEW  TILGHM  AN. 

London,  May  3,  1775. 

Sir:  The  high  station  which  you  hold,  and  the  distin- 
guished character  you  bear  in  your  Country,  must  apolo- 
gize for  me,  who,  trusting  to.  your  liberal  sentiments,  use 
the  freedom  of  troubling  you  with  this  application.  It  is 
suggested  by  a  sense  of  justice,  and  the  certain  knowledge 


475 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


476 


that  I  am  singly  possessed  of  the  means  to  vindicate  a 
friend  of  yours  and  mine — 1  mean  Mr.  William  Mollcson, 
the  most  eminent  trader  to  your  Province,  who  hath  been 
more  than  once  unwarrantably  traduced  in  the  American 
prints.  For  these  twelve  months  past,  that  gentleman, 
upon  the  subject  of  dispute  between  this  Kingdom  and  its 
Colonies,  hath  not  taken  a  single  step  without  my  privity 
and  advice.  If,  therefore,  his  conduct  hath,  in  any  shape, 
been  erroneous,  I  am  bound  in  justice  to  transfer  the  blame 
from  him  to  myself.  He  was  the  first  person  to  whom  I 
imparted,  in  confidence,  my  anxiety  at  the  consequences 
which  I  early  foreboded  from  such  a  dispute.  It  was  about 
the  beginning  of  last  May.  He  asked  my  opinion  of  call- 
ing a  general  meeting  of  the  Merchants  in  that  season.  I 
answered  in  the  negative,  alleging  that  the  Resolutions  of 
the  Congress  to  be  held  in  September  should  first  be  known, 
and  the  Parliament  assembled  here,  whence  the  only  lights 
could  proceed  to  regulate  a  conduct  without  doors,  which 
might  promise  success  ;  and  for  that  desirable  purpose,  all 
attempts  should  be  laid  aside  which  might  imply  the  least 
mixture  of  party  ;  that  the  subject  was  too  serious  and 
important  for  any  tincture  of  that  kind,  and  that  the  inter- 
val should  be  filled  up  by  his  communication  of  intelligence 
to  proper  quarters  from  time  to  time,  and  endeavour  to 
lay,  if  possible,  a  foundation  for  conciliatory  measures.  His 
unwearied  vigilance  and  attention  to  this  plan,  the  weight 
which  his  discreet  proceedings  acquired,  led  me  once  to 
hope  for  a  happier  issue  than,  to  my  grief  and  disappoint- 
ment, I  have  seen. 

The  same  feelings  at  length  produced  impatience  in  him  ; 
an  earlier  meeting  of  the  Merchants  than  I  wished,  was 
the  effect  of  his  zeal.  Upon  their  express  invitation,  I  had 
the  honour  to  attend  them,  and  rendered  all  the  little  as- 
sistance in  my  power.  Mr.  Molleson  was  among  the  fore- 
most in  diligence  and  activity  ;  and  I,  who  had  been  his 
original  adviser  and  partaker  in  all  his  proceedings  for  such 
a  length  of  time,  without  interruption,  must  be  a  competent 
witness  to  the  sincerity  of  his  ardour,  and  his  unshaken 
fidelity  of  conduct. 

Sir,  this  narrative  of  mine  deserves  some  regard,  because 
1  am  known  not  to  be  under  the  influence  of  any  party. 
What  I  am,  whoever  pleases  to  read  may  judge.  1  neither 
court  nor  fear  any  set  of  men  on  either  side  of  the  Allan- 
tick.  Truth  is  my  pursuit ;  the  prosperity  of  all  my  wish  ; 
and  that  each  may  contribute  to  that  end,  is  my  prayer. 

As  this  letter  contains  no  secret,  be  pleased  to  use  it  in 
any  shape,  as  may  best  conduce  to  its  design  of  defeating 
misrepresentation,  and  of  doing  justice.  1  have  the  honour 
to  remain,  Sir,  your  most  obedient  and  most  humble  ser- 
vant, Richard  Glover. 

To  the  Hon.  Matthew  Tilghman,  Esquire. 


KARL  OF  DARTMOUTH  TO  THE  COVERNOUR  OF  GEORGIA. 

Whitehall,  May  3,  1775. 

Sir  :  I  have  received  your  Letters,  numbered  from  35 
to  41,  and  have  laid  them  before  the  King. 

The  grounds  upon  which  Masters  of  Ships,  who  were 
Midshipmen,  and  acted  as  Master's  Mates  on  board  the 
Fleet  in  the  last  war,  claim  each  two  thousand  acres  of 
Land,  in  virtue  of  the  Royal  Proclamation,  refers  to  facts 
of  which  I  have  no  official  information.  Whenever  the 
Lords  of  the  Admiralty  shall,  upon  a  proper  application  to 
them  by  those  claimants,  certify  the  facts  on  which  they 
state  their  claims,  I  will  not  fail  to  receive  His  Majesty's 
pleasure  upon  their  case.  In  the  mean  time,  the  matter 
must  rest  upon  the  opinion  I  think  very  properly  adopted 
by  yourself  and  the  Council. 

I  have  already  so  repeatedly  expressed  to  you  my  sen- 
timents of  the  present  disorders  in  America,  and  the  sense 
I  have  of  your  meritorious  conduct,  in  the  prudent  and 
proper  measures  you  have  pursued  for  preventing,  as  far 
as  you  are  able,  the  contagion  from  spreading  itself  through 
the  Province  of  Georgia,  that  I  have  nothing  to  add  on 
that  subject,  but  to  express  my  wishes  that  the  steps  I  have 
taken  for  your  support  will  encourage  the  f  iends  of  Gov- 
ernment to  resist  the  violences  that  are  threatened,  and 
preserve  the  publick  peace  in  all  events.  I  am,  Sir,  your 
most  obedient  humble  servant,  Dartmouth. 

Sir  James  Wright.  Haronet. 


EARL  OF  DARTMOUTH  TO  THE  GOVERNOUR  OF  NORTH- 
CAROLINA. 

Whitehall,  May  3,  1775. 

Sir:  Your  Letters  of  the  26th  of  January  and  10th  of 
March,  numbers  27  and  28,  the  latter  of  which  I  received 
only  yesterday,  contain  matter  of  very  great  importance. 

The  Addresses  from  the  four  Counties  of  Guilford, 
Dobbs,  Rowan,  and  Surry,  breathe  a  spirit  of  loyalty  to 
the  King,  and  attachment  to  the  authority  of  Great  Bri- 
tain, which  cannot  be  too  much  encouraged  ;  and  it  will  be 
necessary  that  you  lose  no  time  in  acquainting  the  inhab- 
itants of  those  Counties,  that  these  testimonies  of  their  duty 
and  affection  have  been  most  graciously  received  by  His 
Majesty ;  that  His  Majesty  will  not  fail  to  afford  them 
those  marks  of  his  royal  favour  which  such  a  meritorious 
conduct  appears  to  deserve  ;  and  that,  as  soon  as  the  neces- 
sary forms  will  admit,  His  Majesty's  clemency  towards  the 
insurgents  in  1770,  will  be  extended,  in  a  Proclamation  of 
general  pardon  to  all,  except  Herman  Husbands.  In  the 
mean  time,  it  is  His  Majesty's  pleasure  that  you  do  pursue 
every  step  that  may  improve  so  favourable  a  symptom  in 
the  present  state  of  general  phrenzy ;  and  perhaps  you 
will  not  find  it  difficult,  through  the  channel  of  some  res- 
pectable persons  in  those  Counties,  to  procure  proper 
associations  of  the  people  in  support  of  the  Government. 
Such  a  measure  cannot  fail  to  cast  a  damp  upon  the  machi- 
nations of  faction,  and  disconcert  any  desperate  measure 
they  may  have  in  contemplation. 

1  hope  we  may  yet  avoid  the  fatal  necessity  of  drawing 
the  sword;  but  it  is  prudent  to  provide,  as  far  as  we  are 
able,  against  every  possible  mischief ;  and  therefore  you 
will  do  well  to  consider  in  time,  whether  it  may  not  be 
practicable,  in  such  an  event,  to  embody  and  lead  forth,  in 
support  of  Government,  such  of  the  men  in  those  Coun- 
ties as  are  able  to  bear  arms.  If  matters  should  come  to 
this  issue,  it  is  the  King's  pleasure  that  you  hold  out  to 
gentlemen  of  interest  and  leading  amongst  them,  assur- 
ances of  His  Majesty's  favour  in  granting  them  such  com- 
missions as  shall  be  suitable  to  their  rank  and  station  ;  and 
every  other  encouragement  and  advantage  allowed  to  any 
other  troops  in  His  Majesty's  service,  as  far  as  is  consist- 
ent with  the  established  rules  of  the  Army. 

I  confess  to  you,  Sir,  that  this  appears  to  me  to  be  a 
matter  of  so  much  importance,  that  I  cannot  too  earnestly 
recommend  it  to  your  attention,  and  that  no  time  may  be 
lost,  in  case  of  absolute  necessity. 

I  have  received  His  Majesty's  commands  to  write  to 
General  Gage,  to  apprize  him  of  this  favourable  circum- 
stance, and  to  instruct  him  that  he  do,  upon  application 
from  you,  send  some  able  and  discreet  officer  to  you,  in 
order  to  concert  the  means  of  carrying  so  essential  a  service 
into  effect;  and,  if  necessary,  to  lead  the  people  forth 
against  any  rebellious  attempts  to  disturb  the  publick  peace. 

There  are  several  other  matters  in  your  letters  which 
will  require  consideration  and  instruction ;  but,  as  the 
mail  for  Charleslown  will  be  made  up  to-night,  I  can 
only  for  the  present  add,  that  I  am,  Sir,  your  most  obe- 
dient humble  servant,  Dartmouth. 

His  Excellency  Gov.  Martin,  North- Carolina. 


AMELIA  COUNTY  (VIRGINIA)  COMMITTEE. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  the  County  of  Ame- 
lia, at  the  Court-House  thereof,  on  Wednesday,  the  3d  of 
May,  1775: 

William  Archer,  Esquire,  was  chosen  Chairman  for 
the  day. 

It  appearing  to  this  Committee  that  the  Militia  of  this 
County,  since  the  expiration  of  the  late  Militia  Laws,  hath 
been  totally  neglected ;  and  it  being  indispensably  neces- 
sary for  the  internal  security  of  the  County,  that  the  same 
be  properly  and  regularly  disciplined,  and  that  Patrollers 
in  every  neighbourhood  be  constantly  kept  on  duty : 

Resolved,  That  application  be  made  to  the  Lieutenant 
of  this  County,  to  direct  forthwith  a  general  muster  of  the 
Militia  of  the  County  ;  that  he  do  his  utmost  to  carry  into 
execution  the  Law  made  in  the  year  1738,  for  embodying 
and  disciplining  the  Militia  of  this  Colony  ;  that  he  give 
all  the  countenance  and  encouragement  in  his  power  to  the 


477 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


478 


Ollicers  who  are  recruiting  or  embodying  independent  Com- 
panies, agreeable  to  the  Resolution  of  the  Convention  of 
the  25th  day  of  March  last. 

Resolved,  That  every  member  of  this  Committee  open 
a  subscription  for  raising  half  a  pound  of  Gunpowder  and 
one  pound  of  Lead,  by  voluntary  donation  from  each  tit  li- 
able person  in  this  County,  agreeable  also  to  the  said  Re- 
solution of  the  25th. 

Resolved,  That  John  Tabb  and  Everard  Meade,  or 
either  of  those  gentlemen,  be  appointed  immediately,  to 
purchase,  for  the  use  of  this  County,  eight  hundred  pounds 
of  Gunpowder,  and  three  thousand  two  hundred  pounds  of 
Lead  at  least,  for  which  we,  and  every  of  us,  oblige  our- 
selves to  pay. 

Resolved,  That  every  member  of  this  Committee  have 
in  readiness  a  stand  of  Arms  and  Ammunition,  agreeable 
to  the  said  Resolution  of  the  25th. 

Resolved,  That  the  Ammunition,  when  purchased,  be 
lodged  in  the  care  of  Mr.  John  Tabb,  at  his  store,  Mr. 
Thomas  G.  Peachy,  Mr.  Samuel  Sherwin,  Mr.  Thomas 
Williams,  Mr.  Gabriel  Foulkes,  Mr.  John  Pride,  with 
each  one  hundred  pounds  of  Powder  and  four  hundred 
pounds  of  Lead  ;  and  with  Mr.  James  Scott,  at  this  Court- 
House,  two  hundred  pounds  of  Powder  and  eight  hundred 
pounds  of  Lead. 

Resolved,  That  publick  notice  be  given  to  the  Free- 
holders of  this  County,  to  meet  and  choose  Delegates  at 
next  Court,  to  represent  them  in  Convention  for  one  year. 

Resolved,  That  this  Committee  be  adjourned  till  the 
fourth  Thursday  in  this  month. 

John  Pride,  Cleric. 


NEW-KENT   COUNTY   (VIRGINIA)  COMMITTEE. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  for  New-Kent  County, 
at  the  Court-House,  the  3d  day  of  May,  1775: 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  Lord  Dunmore's  conduct 
in  removing  the  Powder  from  the  Magazine  of  this  Colony 
on  board  an  armed  vessel,  at  the  time  and  in  the  manner 
it  appears  to  have  been  done,  was  an  ill-advised  and  arbi- 
trary step,  tending  to  disquiet  the  minds,  and  endanger  the 
safety  of  His  Majesty's  loyal  subjects  of  this  Colony  in 
general,  and  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  City  of  Williams- 
burgh  in  particular. 

Resolved,  That  his  Lordship's  verbal  answer  to  the  Ad- 
dress of  the  Mayor,  Aldermen,  and  Common  Council  of 
the  City  of  Williamsburgh,  was  unsatisfactory  and  evasive  ; 
and  that  his  Lordship's  not  returning  the  Powder  agreeable 
to  their  request,  and  the  known  desire  of  the  people  of  this 
Colony,  is  a  sufficient  proof  that  he  was  influenced  by  the 
worst  motives. 

Resolved,  That  this  and  other  parts  of  his  Lordship's 
conduct  which  have  lately  transpired,  evince  him  to  be  an 
enemy  to  liberty  and  the  true  interests  of  this  Colony,  and 
a  zealous  supporter  of  tyranny  and  despotism  over  the  peo- 
ple who  have  the  unhappiness  to  live  under  his  Govern- 
ment, and  that  he  has  thereby  forfeited  all  title  to  their 
confidence. 

Resolved,  That  the  City  of  Williamsburgh  are  entitled 
to  the  ready  and  cheerful  assistance  of  this  County,  in  case 
they  should  be  in  danger  from  any  invasion  or  insurrec- 
tion . 

Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  this  Committee  are  due 
to  the  Committee  of  Hanover,  for  communicating  their  Or- 
der of  the  2d  instant ;  that  this  Committee  are  sensible  of 
the  dangers  that  threaten  us  from  the  Governour's  conduct, 
as  well  as  from  other  quarters,  and  will  co-operate  with  a 
majority  of  the  Counties  of  this  Colony  in  such  measures 
as  shall  be  adopted  for  their  defence  and  preservation. 

It  appearing  to  this  Committee  that  a  body  of  armed 
men  from  the  County  of  Hanover  have  marched  through 
this  County,  in  order  to  make  reprisals  upon  the  King's 
property  to  replace  the  Gunpowder  taken  from  the  Maga- 
zine : 

Resolved,  That  such  proceedings  make  it  particularly 
necessary  for  the  inhabitants  of  this  County  to  prepare  for 
their  defence,  against  any  dangers  that  may  ensue  in  conse- 
quence cf  it,  by  keeping  their  Arms  in  the  best  order,  and 
the  greatest  readiness  to  act  on  any  occasion. 

Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  inhabitants  of 
this  County  immediately  to  form  a  Company  of  Volunteers, 


to  be  assembled  at  the  lower  part  of  this  County,  ready  to 
act  on  any  emergency,  as  may  be  found  necessary. 
By  order  of  the  Committee  : 

William  Smith,  Clerk. 


CUMBERLAND  COUNTY  (VIRGINIA)  COMMITTEE. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  for  Cumberland  County, 
held  on  Wednesday,  the  3d  of  May,  1775 : 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  the  thanks  of  this  Com- 
mittee, and  of  all  the  inhabitants  of  this  County,  are  justly 
due  to  Captain  Charles  Scott,  and  his  Independent  Com- 
pany, for  their  spirited  offers  of  their  service  in  defending 
this  Colony  against  wicked  invaders,  and  their  cheerful  ap- 
pearance at  this  place  to  day,  in  readiness  to  march  forwards 
on  a  late  alarm  ;  and  that  this  Committee,  in  behalf  of 
themselves  and  their  constituents,  do  accordingly  present 
to  the  said  Captain  Scott,  and  his  Company,  their  most 
cordial  thanks  as  aforesaid. 

George  Carrington,  Chairman. 


EARL   OF   DARTMOUTH   TO   THE   GOVERNOUR  OF  PENN- 
SYLVANIA. 

Whitehall,  May  3,  1775. 
Sir:  I  have  received  your  letter  of  the  28th  of  Febru- 
ary, and  have  laid  it  before  the  King.  I  have  only  to  say 
that  it  gave  His  Majesty  great  concern  to  find  that  there  is 
yet  no  appearance  in  Pennsylvania  of  a  disposition  in  the 
people  to  return  to  a  just  sense  of  their  situation,  and  of 
the  fatal  consequences  of  their  longer  continuing  in  a  state 
of  disobedience  to  the  authoiity  of  the  Supreme  Legisla- 
ture.   I  am,  Sir,  your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

Dartmouth. 

Deputy  Governour  Penn. 


Philadelphia,  May  3,  1775. 
On  Saturday  last  we  had  a  meeting  in  this  City  of  the 
Military  Associators,  when  it  was  determined  that  each 
Ward  should  be  formed  into  one  or  more  Companies;  the 
Officers  to  be  chosen  in  the  respective  Wards.  Two 
troops  of  Light-Horse  are  now  raising.  Two  companies 
of  expert  Riflemen,  and  two  companies  of  Artillery-men 
are  forming.  We  have  six  pieces  of  brass  artillery,  and 
several  light  iron  ones.  Our  Provincial  arms,  powder,  &,c, 
are  all  secured.  Three  Provincial  Magazines  are  forming. 
In  short,  Mars  has  established  his  empire  in  this  populous 
City ;  and  it  is  not  doubted  but  we  shall  have,  in  a  few 
weeks  from  this  date,  four  thousand  men,  well  equipped, 
for  our  defence,  or  for  the  assistance  of  our  neighbours. 


MEETING  OF  INHABITANTS  OF  ACQUACKANONK,  ESSEX 
COUNTY,  NEW-JERSEY. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  Inhabitants  of  the 
Township  of  Acquackanonk,  in  said  County,  held  at  Mr. 
James  Leslie1 s,  near  Acquackanonk  Bridge,  on  Wednesday, 
the  3d  day  of  May,  Anno  Domini  1775,  an  Association 
was  then  and  there  entered  into  and  subscribed  by  the 
Freeholders  and  Inhabitants  of  said  Township,  being  ver- 
batim the  same  as  that  entered  into  by  the  Freeholders 
and  Inhabitants  at  Newark,  in  said  County.  The  following 
gentlemen,  in  number  twenty-three,  were  then  chosen  or 
elected  a  General  Committee,  agreeable  to  said  Associa- 
tion. 

Michael  Vreeland,  Esq.,  in  the  Chair. 

Henry  Garretse,  Peter  Peterse,  John  Berry,  Robert 
Drummond,  Esquires,  Captain  Francis  Post,  Thomas  Post, 
Daniel  Niel,  Richard  Ludlow,  Captain  Abraham  Godwin, 
John  Spier,  Jacob  Van  Riper,  Lucas  Wessels,  Francis 
Van  Winkle,  Cornelius  Van  Winkle,  Henry  Post,  Junior, 
Doctor  Walter  Degraw,  John  Peer,  Jacob  Garretse,  Jacob 
Vreeland,  Abraham  Van  Riper,  Stephen  Ryder,  Doctor 
Nicholas  Roche,  Committee  Clerk. 

Of  the  same  number  were  chosen  the  following  Dele- 
gates to  attend  the  Provincial  Convention  to  be  held  at 
Trenton  the  23d  instant,  agreeable  to  the  aforesaid  Asso- 
ciation, to  represent  said  Township :  Henry  Garretse, 
Robert  Drummond,  Michael  Vreeland,  and  John  Berry, 
Esquires. 


479 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


480 


Peter  Peterse,  Esquire,  Daniel  Niel,  Richard  Ludlow, 
Thomas  Post,  and  Doctor  Nicholas  Roche,  are  appointed 
a  Committee  of  Correspondence  for  said  Township. 

Daniel  Niel,  Deputy  Chairman  to  the  General  Commit- 
tee, and  Richard  Ludlow,  Deputy  Clerk. 


ADDRESS  OF  ISAAC  WILKINS. 

New-York,  May  3,  1775. 

My  Countrymen:  Before  I  leave  America,  the  land  I 
love,  and  in  which  is  contained  every  thing  that  is  valuable 
and  dear  to  me — my  wife,  my  children,  my  friends,  and  pro- 
perty; permit  me  to  make  a  short  and  faithful  declaration, 
which  1  am  induced  to  do  neither  through  fear,  nor  a  con- 
sciousness of  having  acted  wrong.  An  honest  man  and 
a  Christian  hath  nothing  to  apprehend  from  this  world. 
God  is  my  judge,  and  God  is  my  witness,  that  all  I  have 
done,  written,  or  said,  in  relation  to  the  present  unnatural 
dispute  between  Great  Britain  and  her  Colonies,  pro- 
ceeded from  an  honest  intention  of  serving  my  Country. 
Her  welfare  and  prosperity  were  the  objects  towards  which 
all  my  endeavours  have  been  directed.  They  still  are  the 
sacred  objects  which  I  shall  ever  steadily  and  invariably 
keep  in  view.  And  when  in  England,  all  the  influence 
that  so  inconsiderable  a  man  as  I  am  can  have,  shall  be 
exerted  in  her  behalf. 

It  has  been  my  constant  maxim  through  life  to  do  my 
duty  conscientiously,  and  to  trust  the  issue  of  my  actions  to 
the  Almighty.  May  that  God  in  whose  hands  are  all 
events,  speedily  restore  peace  and  liberty  to  my  unhappy 
Country.  May  Great  Britain  and  America  be  soon  united 
in  the  bands  of  everlasting  amity,  and  when  united  may 
they  continue  a  free,  a  virtuous,  and  happy  Nation  to  the 
end  of  time. 

I  leave  America,  and  every  endearing  connection,  be- 
cause I  will  not  raise  my  hand  against  my  Sovereign,  nor 
will  I  draw  my  sword  against  my  Country  ;  when  1  can 
conscientiously  draw  it  in  her  favour,  my  life  shall  be  cheer- 
fully devoted  to  her  service.  Isaac  Wilkins. 


NEW-YORK  COMMITTEE. 

The  Committee  met,  by  adjournment,  Wednesday  morn- 
ing, nine  o'clock,  May  3,  1775.    Present : 

Isaac  Low,  Francis  Bassett,  Garret  Kettletas, 

James  Duanc,  Victor  Bicker,  Eleazcr  Miller, 

John  Alsop,  John  White,  Benjamin  Kissain, 

John  Jay,  Theophilns  Anthony,  Cornelius  Clopper, 

P.  V.  B.  Livingston,  William  Goforth,  John  Reade, 

Alex.  McDougall,  William  Denning,  Jacobus  Van  Zandt, 

Thomas  Randall,  Isaac  Roosevelt,  Gerardus  Duyekinck, 

Leonard  Lispenard,  Jacob  Van  Voorhies,  Peter  Goelet, 

William  Walton,  Jeremiah  Piatt,  Thomas  Marston, 

Joseph  Hallett,  Comfort  Sands,  Jacobus  Lefferts, 

Gabriel  H.  Ludlow,  William  W.  Gilbert,  Abrain.  Brinkurhoff, 

Nicholas  Hoffman,  Gabriel  W.  Ludlow,  Benjamin  Helme, 

Abraham  Walton,  Nicholas  Roosevelt,  Evert  Banker, 

Peter  Van  Schaack,  Edward  Fleming,  Robert  Ray, 

Henry  Remsen,  Frederick  Jay,  Nicholas  Bogart, 

Peter  T.  Curtenius,  William  W.  Ludlow,  .Samuel  Broome, 

Abraham  Brasher,  John  B.  Moore,  John  Lamb, 

Abraham  P.  Lott,  Rodolphus  Ritzma,  Daniel  Dunscomb, 

Abraham  Duryee,  John  Lasher,  John  Imlay, 

Joseph  Bull,  George  Janeway,  Oliver  Templeton, 

Francis  Lewis,  James  Beekman,  Lewis  Pintard, 

Thomas  Ivers,  Richard  Yates,  Cornelius  P.  Low, 

Hercules  Mulligan,  Thomas  Smith,  Thomas  Buchannan, 

John  Anthony,  Augustus  Van  Home,  Petrus  Byvanck. 

A  Letter  dated  Neiv-York,  May  3,  1775,  from  John 
Cruger  and  Jacob  Walto?i,  Esquires,  received  and  read, 
and  is  as  follows,  viz  : 

New-York,  May  3,  1775. 

Sir:  At  the  desire  of  the  gentlemen  who  presented  the 
Association  to  us,  we  have  committed  to  writing  our  reasons 
for  not  signing  it,  which  we  have  thought  proper  to  com- 
municate to  you  in  order  to  be  laid  before  the  Committee. 

It  appears  to  us  that  signing  this  paper  would  involve  us 
in  the  greatest  inconsistency.  As  we  were  elected  Repre- 
sentatives in  General  Assembly  for  this  City  and  County, 
we  conceive  that  the  faithful  performance  of  this  impor- 
tant trust  requires  of  us  a  free,  unbiased  exercise  of  our 
own  judgment.  To  submit  this  to  the  control  of  any  power 
on  earth  would,  in  our  opinion,  be  deserting  that  trust;  but 
to  engage  implicitly  to  approve  and  carry  into  execution 
the  regulations  of  an)  other  body  would  justly  expose  us  to 
the  reproach  of  our  own  conscience,  the  censure  not  only  of 


our  constituents  but  of  the  whole  world.  In  our  legislative 
capacity  we  have  already  transmitted  to  the  King  and  both 
Houses  of  Parliament,  representations  of  our  grievances. 
We  have,  to  the  utmost  of  our  power,  framed  these  in  such 
a  manner  as  we  thought  would  be  most  likely  to  ensure 
them  success  by  procuring  a  redress  of  our  complaints, 
healing  the  present  unhappy  differences,  and  fixing  for  the 
Colonies  a  permanent  Constitution  upon  principles  of  liber- 
ty and  a  lasting  union  with  the  Mother  Country.  These 
representations  were  a  long  time  in  agitation,  and  a  state 
of  our  grievances,  with  the  Resolutions  of  the  House 
thereon,  were  publickly  known  to  our  constituents,  and  no 
disapprobation  of  our  proceedings  ever  signified  to  us. 
Upon  mature  reflection,  and  after  revolving  our  conduct 
with  the  most  impartial  deliberation,  we  cannot  but  approve 
what  we  have  done,  and  will  therefore  patiently  wait  for 
the  event,  which  will,  we  hope,  be  productive  of  much 
benefit  not  only  to  this  Colony,  but  to  the  cause  of  American 
liberty  in  general ;  at  least  we  have  the  fullest  testimony 
of  our  consciences  for  the  uprightness  of  our  intentions. 

We  can  with  the  greatest  truth  declare  our  approbation 
of  any  Association  for  preserving  the  peace  and  good 
order  of  the  City  and  Province,  and  for  the  protection  of 
personal  safety  and  private  property,  and  so  far  are  we 
from  giving  the  least  countenance  to  the  claims  of  Parlia- 
ment to  a  right  of  taxing  the  Colonies,  that  we  will  contri- 
bute to  the  utmost  of  our  power  in  measures  necessary  for 
preventing  its  being  carried  into  execution.  The  preserva- 
tion of  the  Constitution,  which  we  are  convinced  gives  us  a 
right  to  an  absolute  exemption  from  Parliamentary  taxation, 
we  have  most  ardently  at  heart,  and  we  shall  at  all  times 
strenuously  co-operate  in  opposing  every  violation  of  it. 
These  reasons,  with  the  publick  manifestation  of  our  princi- 
ples contained  in  the  representation  of  the  General  Assem- 
bly to  the  King  and  Parliament,  we  are  persuaded  must  be 
satisfactory  to  every  reasonable  man.  But  to  engage  for  an 
indiscriminate  approbation  of  the  measures  of  others,  and 
that  before  we  know  them,  would  be  to  prejudge  matters  of 
the  utmost  importance,  and  to  preclude  us  from  the  exer- 
cise of  our  own  judgments,  and  that  free  deliberation  without 
which  our  legislative  powers  would  be  a  mere  sound,  and 
thereby  to  betray  a  trust  which  we  are  under  the  most 
solemn  engagements  to  preserve  free  and  inviolate,  and  of 
which  we  cannot  be  divested  until  the  period  of  the  dissolu- 
tion of  the  House.  As  the  signing  of  this  Association, 
therefore,  would  in  effect  be  to  deprive  ourselves  of  our 
legislative  powers,  we  cannot  but  suppose,  from  the  tenor 
of  it,  an  exemption  of  us  is  implied  in  it. 

With  the  most  anxious  concern  for  the  distresses  of  the 
inhabitants  of  the  Massachusetts- Bay,  and  the  most  sincere 
wishes  for  their  relief,  and  the  liberty  and  prosperity  of  all 
the  Colonies, 

We  are,  Sir,  your  most  humble  servants, 

John  Cruger, 
Jacob  Walton. 
To  Mr.  Isaac  Low,  Chairman  of  the  Committee. 

Mr.  McDougall,  seconded  by  Mr.  Duane,  made  a 
motion  in  the  words  following : 

Whereas  this  Committee  is  informed  that  the  Postmas- 
ter has  discharged  the  Eastern  Post-rider: 

I  therefore  move,  Mr.  Chairman,  that  a  Sub-Committee 
be  immediately  appointed  to  wait  on  the  Postmaster,  to 
know  the  true  state  of  the  matter ;  and  that  they  report  his 
answer  in  writing. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Walton  and  Benjamin  Kissam, 
Esquires,  be  a  Committee  for  the  above  mentioned  purpose. 

Mr.  Lamb,  seconded  by  Mr.  Brasher,  made  a  motion 
in  the  words  following,  viz: 

Whereas  it  has  been  confidently  asserted  that  a  consi- 
derable body  of  the  British  soldiery  are  ordered  to  this 
City  from  England;  in  consequence  of  which  a  number  of 
Troops  from  Connecticut  have  lately  marched  into  this 
City,  with  a  view  of  aiding  and  assisting  us  in  preparing 
for  our  defence : 

1  therefore  move,  that  the  thanks  of  this  body  be  imme- 
diately presented  to  the  officers  and  men  for  their  kind 
offers  of  assistance,  a  conduct  that  is  equally  expressive  of 
their  anxious  solicitude  for  our  safety,  as  of  a  noble  zeal  in 
the  service  of  our  common  Country,  in  this  day  of  difficulty 
and  danger. 


481 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


482 


Which  being  unanimously  agreed  to, 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Lamb,  Mr.  Brasher,  Mr.  Ritzma, 
Captain  Fleming,  Captain  Scars,  Mr.  S.  Broome,  Mr. 
Duane,  and  Mr.  McDougall,  be  a  Committee  for  the  above 
purpose. 

The  Chairman  having  acquainted  this  Board  that  four 
gentlemen  from  Philadelphia  were  desirous  of  a  confer- 
ence with  some  of  the  members,  on  the  subject  of  our 
publick  affairs  at  this  alarming  juncture, 

Ordered,  That  the  Committee  consist  of  the  following 
gentlemen  for  that  purpose,  viz :  Mr.  P.  Livingston,  Mr. 
Remsen,  Mr.  Lewis,  Mr.  J.  Jay,  Mr.  Yates,  Mr.  Low, 
Mr.  Young,  Mr.  S.  Broome,  Mr.  P.  V.  B.  Livingston, 
Mr.  Van^Zandt,  Mr.  A.  Walton,  Mr.  Buchannan,  and 
Mr.  Pintard. 

A  Letter,  dated  New-Windsor,  29th  April  last,  signed 
by  James  Clinton  and  others,  inhabitants  of  Ulster  County, 
was  presented  to  this  Committee  by  Mr.  Robert  Boyd, 
Jun.,  requiring  our  advice  and  assistance  in  procuring 
Arms  and  Ammunition  for  their  poor. 

Resolved,  That  this  Committee  do  earnestly  recom- 
mend it  to  the  gentlemen  who  have  subscribed  the  said 
letters,  and  to  their  fellow-subjects  in  general,  to  adopt  and 
sign  an  Association  similar  to  that  which  has  so  cheerfully 
and- generally  been  entered  into  by  the  inhabitants  of  the 
City,  and  to  perfect  themselves  in  military  discipline  as 
soon  as  possible  ;  that  with  respect  to  purchasing  Arms,  this 
Committee  will  give  all  the  advice  in  their  power,  but  it 
will  be  necessary  to  raise  money  for  that  purpose  by  vo- 
luntary contributions  in  their  County  for  equipping  their 
poor  inhabitants. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  wait  on  the  Postmaster 
to  inquire  whether  he  had  discharged  the  Eastern  Post- 
rider, 

Report,  that  they  have  waited  on  him  accordingly,  and 
upon  asking  the  Postmaster  whether  he  had  discharged 
the  said  Post-rider,  he  answered  he  had,  and  assigned  the 
following  reasons  for  doing  it,  viz  :  That  the  four  last  mails 
between  New-York  and  Boston  have  been  stopped,  the 
mails  broken  open,  many  of  the  letters  taken  out  and  pub- 
lickly  read,  some  of  which  were  detained  and  others  sent 
open  to  the  General  Post  Office  in  this  City,  and  that  the 
riders  informed  him  that  it  was  not  safe  for  them  to  travel 
with  the  mail ;  in  consequence  of  which,  they  were  dis- 
missed by  him  until  they  could  carry  the  mail  with  safety 
as  heretofore.  And  we  report  also,  that  on  Mr.  Foxcroffs 
request,  we  left  with  him  the  order  of  this  Committee, 
which  was  certified  by  the  Chairman. 

Ordered,  That  the  subject-matter  of  this  Report  be 
referred  to  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  and  Intelli- 
gence, and  that  they  make  a  report  thereof  at  the  next 
meeting  of  this  Committee. 

The  Committee  adjourned  to  to-morrow  morning,  nine 
o'clock. 

The  Committee  met,  by  adjournment,  Tliursday  morn- 
ing, nine  o'clock,  4th  May,  1775.  Present: 


Isaac  Low, 
James  Duane, 
P.  V.  B.  Livingston, 
Isaac  Sears, 
Alex.  McDougall, 
Thomas  Randall, 
Leonard  Lispenard, 
Gabriel  H.  Ludlow, 
Nicholas  Hoffman, 
Abraham  Walton, 
Henry  Remsen, 
Peter  T.  Curtenius, 
Abraham  P.  Lott, 
Francis  Lewis, 
Joseph  Totten, 
Hercules  Mulligan, 
Victor  Bicker, 


John  White, 
Theophilus  Anthony, 
William  Goforth, 
Jeremiah  Piatt, 
Robert  Benson, 
John  Berrian, 
Gabriel  W.  Ludlow, 
Nicholas  Roosevelt, 
Frederick  Jay, 
William  W.  Ludlow, 
John  B.  Moore, 
John  Lasher, 
George  Janeway, 
James  Beekman, 
Richard  Yates, 
Augustus  Van  Home, 
Eleazer  Miller, 


John  M.  Scott, 
Cornelius  Clopper, 
Jacobus  Van  Zandt, 
Jacobus  Lefferts, 
Richard  Sharpe, 
Hamilton  Young, 
Abram.  BrinkerhofF, 
Evert  Banker, 
Robert  Ray, 
Anthony  Van  Dam, 
Daniel  Dunscomb, 
John  Imlay, 
Oliver  Templeton, 
Lewis  Pintard, 
Cornelius  P.  Low, 
Petrus  Byvanck, 
Thomas  Ivers. 


New. York  Committee  Chamber,  May  3,  1775. 
The  Postmaster  having,  for  the  present,  discharged  the 
Eastern  Post-riders,  the  General  Committee  have  directed 
us,  their  Sub-Committee  of  Intelligence,  to  devise  the  best 
ways  and  means  for  continuing  a  correspondence  with  the 
Eastern  Colonies:  It  is,  therefore,  our  opinion,  that  the 
present  Eastern  Post-riders  be  employed  to  depart  from 
this  City  on  the  usual  days,  and  to  go  the  usual  stages; 
and  the  publick  is  hereby  informed  that  Mr.  Ebenezer 
Hazard  has  undertaken  to  receive  and  forward  Letters 
from  this  City. 

From  information  received  by  the  Committee  from  Con- 
necticut, it  will  be  necessary  (in  order  to  prevent  Letters 
from  being  opened  by  the  Committees  on  the  road)  that 
they  be  inspected  here  by  some  well  known  member  of 
the  General  Committee,  and  by  him  endorsed  with  his 
name,  as  one  of  the  Committee  of  New-York. 

P.  V.  B.  Livingston,  - 
Benj.  Kissam, 
Alexr.  McDougall, 
Peter  Van  Schaack. 


Ordered,  That  Captain  Sears,  Captain  Randall,  and 
Captain  Fleming  be  a  Committee  to  procure  proper  judges 
to  go  and  view  the  ground  at  or  near  King's  Bridge,  and 
report  to  this  Committee,  with  all  convenient  speed,  whe- 
ther it  will  answer  the  purposes  intended  by  it. 

Ordered,  That  the  Accounts  against  the  Committee  of 
Sixty  be  procured  by  Mr.  Pettit  and  the  Secretary,  and 
that  a  return  thereof  be  made  to  this  Committee. 

The  Committee  adjourned  until  to-morrow  morning. 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii.  31 


GENERAL  GAGE  TO  GOVERNOUR  TRUMBULL. 
[Read  before  Congress,  May  19,  1775.] 

Boston,  May  3,  1775. 

Sir  :  I  am  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  letter  of 
the  28th  April  last,  in  behalf  of  the  General  Assembly  of 
your  Colony,  relative  to  the  alarming  situation  of  publick 
affairs  in  this  Country,  and  the  late  transactions  in  this 
Province. 

That  this  situation  is  greatly  alarming,  and  that  these 
transactions  are  truly  unfortunate,  are  truths  to  be  regretted 
by  every  friend  to  America,  and  by  every  well-wisher  for 
the  peace,  prosperity,  and  happiness  of  this  Province. 
The  intimate  connexion  and  strong  ties  of  friendship  be- 
tween the  inhabitants  of  your  Colony  and  the  deluded 
people  of  this  Province,  cannot  fail  of  inducing  the  former 
to  interpose  their  good  offices  to  convince  the  latter  of  the 
impropriety  of  their  past  conduct,  and  to  persuade  them  to 
return  to  their  allegiance,  and  to  seek  redress  of  any  sup- 
posed grievances  in  those  decent  and  constitutional  me- 
thods, in  which  alone  they  can  hope  to  be  successful. 

That  Troops  should  be  employed  for  the  purpose  of 
protecting  the  Magistrates  in  the  execution  of  their  duty, 
when  opposed  with  violence,  is  not  a  new  thing  in  the 
English  or  any  other  Government.  That  any  Acts  of  the 
British  Parliament  are  unconstitutional  or  oppressive,  I 
am  not  to  suppose  ;  if  any  such  there  are,  in  the  apprehen- 
sion of  the  people  of  this  Province,  it  had  been  happy  for 
them  if  they  had  sought  relief  only  in  the  way  which  the 
Constitution,  their  reason,  and  their  interest,  pointed  out. 

You  cannot  wonder  at  my  fortifying  the  Town  of  Bos- 
ton, or  making  any  other  military  preparations,  when  you 
are  assured  that,  previous  to  my  taking  these  steps,  such 
were  the  open  threats,  and  such  the  warlike  preparations 
throughout  this  Province,  as  rendered  it  my  indispensable 
duty  to  take  every  precaution  in  my  power  for  the  protec- 
tion of  His  Majesty's  Troops  under  my  command  against 
all  hostile  attempts. 

The  intelligence  you  seem  to  have  received,  relative  to 
the  late  excursion  of  a  body  of  Troops  into  the  Country, 
is  altogether  injurious,  and  contrary  to  the  true  state  of 
facts.  The  Troops  disclaim  with  indignation  the  barbarous 
outrages  of  which  they  are  accused,  so  contrary  to  their 
known  humanity.  I  have  taken  the  greatest  pains  to  dis- 
cover if  any  were  committed,  and  have  found  examples  of 
their  tenderness,  both  to  the  young  and  the  old ;  but  no 
vestige  of  their  cruelty  or  barbarity.  It  is  very  possible 
that  in  firing  into  houses,  from  whence  they  were  fired 
upon,  that  old  people,  women,  or  children,  may  have 
suffered  ;  but  if  any  such  thing  has  happened,  it  was  in 
their  defence,  and  undesigned. 

I  have  no  command  to  ravage  and  desolate  the  Country  ; 
and  were  it  my  intention,  I  have  had  pretence  to  begin  it 
upon  the  sea-ports,  who  are  at  the  mercy  of  the  fleet.  For 
your  better  information,  I  enclose  you  a  narrative  of  that 
affair,  taken  from  gentlemen  of  indisputable  honour  and 
veracity,  who  were  eye-witnesses  of  all  the  transactions  of 
that  day.  The  leaders  here  have  taken  pains  to  prevent 
any  account  of  this  affair  getting  abroad  but  such  as  they 


■183 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


484 


have  thought  proper  to  publish  themselves :  and  to  that 
end  the  post  has  been  stopped,  the  mails  broke  open,  and 
letters  taken  out ;  and  by  these  means  the  most  injurious 
and  inflammatory  accounts  have  been  spread  throughout 
the  Continent,  which  has  served  to  deceive  and  inflame  the 
minds  of  the  people. 

When  the  Resolves  of  the  Provincial  Congress  breathed 
nothing  but  war;  when  those  two  great  and  essential  pre- 
rogatives of  the  King,  the  levying  of  Troops  and  disposing 
of  the  Publick  Moneys,  were  wrested  from  him  ;  and  when 
magazines  were  forming,  by  an  assembly  of  men  unknown 
to  the  Constitution,  for  the  declared  purpose  of  levying 
war  against  the  King,  you  must  acknowledge  it  was  my 
duty,  as  it  was  the  dictate  of  humanity,  to  prevent,  if  possi- 
ble, the  calamities  of  a  civil  war,  by  destroying  such  maga- 
zines.   This,  and  this  alone,  I  attempted. 

You  ask,  why  is  the  Town  of  Boston  now  shut  up  ?  I 
can  only  refer  you  for  an  answer  to  those  bodies  of  armed 
men  who  now  surround  the  Town,  and  prevent  all  access 
to  it.  The  hostile  preparations  you  mention,  are  such  as 
the  conduct  of  the  people  of  this  Province  has  rendered  it 
prudent  to  make,  for  the  defence  of  those  under  my  com- 
mand. You  assure  me  the  people  of  your  Colony  abhor 
the  idea  of  taking  arms  against  the  Troops  of  their  Sover- 
eign ;  I  wish  the  people  of  this  Province  (for  their  own 
sakes)  could  make  the  same  declaration. 

You  inquire,  is  there  no  way  to  prevent  this  unhappy 
dispute  from  coming  to  extremities  ?  Is  there  no  alterna- 
tive but  absolute  submission,  or  the  desolations  of  war?  I 
answer,  I  hope  there  is.  The  King  and  Parliament  seem 
to  hold  out  terms  of  reconciliation,  consistent  with  the 
honour  and  interest  of  Great  Britain,  and  the  rights  and 
privileges  of  the  Colonies.  They  have  mutually  declared 
their  readiness  to  attend  to  any  real  grievances  of  the  Colo- 
nies, and  to  afford  them  every  just  and  reasonable  indul- 
gence which  shall,  in  a  dutiful  and  constitutional  manner, 
be  laid  before  them ;  and  His  Majesty  adds,  it  is  his  ardent 
wish  that  this  disposition  may  have  a  happy  effect  on  the 
temper  and  conduct  of  his  subjects  in  America.  I  must 
add,  likewise,  the  Resolution  of  the  27th  February,  on  the 
grand  dispute  of  taxation  and  revenue,  leaving  it  to  the 
Colonies  to  tax  themselves,  under  certain  conditions.  Here 
is  surely  a  foundation  for  an  accommodation,  to  people  who 
wish  a  reconciliation  rather  than  a  destructive  war  be- 
tween Countries  so  nearly  connected  by  the  ties  of  blood 
and  interest ;  but  I  fear  the  leaders  of  this  Province  have 
been,  and  still  are,  intent  only  on  shedding  blood. 

I  am  much  obliged  by  your  favourable  sentiments  of  my 
personal  character,  and  assure  you,  as  it  has  been  my  con- 
stant wish  and  endeavour  hitherto,  so  1  shall  continue  to 
exert  my  utmost  efforts  to  protect  all  His  Majesty's  liege 
subjects  under  my  care  in  their  persons  and  property.  You 
ask,  whether  it  will  not  be  consistent  with  my  duty  to  sus- 
pend the  operations  of  war  on  my  part  ?  1  have  commenced 
no  operations  of  war,  but  defensive  ;  such  you  cannot  wish 
me  to  suspend,  while  I  am  surrounded  by  an  armed  Coun- 
try, who  have  already  begun,  and  threaten  further  to  prose- 
cute an  offensive  war,  and  are  now  violently  depriving  me, 
the  King's  Troops,  and  many  others  of  the  King's  subjects 
under  my  immediate  protection,  of  all  the  conveniences  and 
necessaries  of  life,  with  which  the  Country  abounds.  But 
it  must  quiet  the  minds  of  all  reasonable  people,  when  I 
assure  you  that  I  have  no  disposition  to  injure  or  molest 
quiet  and  peaceable  subjects ;  but  on  the  contrary,  shall 
esteem  it  my  greatest  happiness  to  defend  and  protect  them 
against  every  species  of  violence  and  oppression. 

I  am,  with  great  regard  and  esteem,  Sir,  your  obedient 
and  humble  servant,  Thus.  Gage. 

The  Hon.  Governour  Trumbull. 


TO  THE  PRINTER  OF  THE  MASSACHUSETTS  SPY. 

Mr.  Thomas  :  The  piece  in  your  last,  signed  'Thomas 
Gage,  is  replete  with  such  notorious  falsehoods,  calumny, 
and  evasion,  that  I  scarce  know  whether  it  admits  of  any 
animadversion,  to  make  it  appear  most  false,  abusive,  and 
irritating  to  every  honest  mind ;  neither  would  it  come  into 
my  heart  to  say  any  thing  upon  it,  were  it  not  that  there 
are,  even  to  this  day,  those  that  will  speak  so  far  favour- 
ably of  him  as  to  suggest  that  they  do  not  think  it  is  his 
doings  so  much  as  some  others,  that  things  are  carried 


on  as  they  are ;  and  he  is  under  a  necessity  of  doing 
as  he  does,  or  he  would  endanger  his  own  life  to  his 
master,  &ic. 

Let  us,  then,  take  a  short  view  of  what  he  has  done,  and 
see  whether  we  have  any  reason  to  conceive  a  favourable 
opinion  of  him,  any  thing  better  than  that  he  is  a  most  in- 
imical, malicious,  and  blood-thirsty  man.  It  is  well  known 
what  a  calumniating,  malicious  letter  he  sent  to  England 
about  this  Province,  when  Bernard  was  Governour  here ; 
that  was  certainly  a  most  officious  piece  of  malice  ;  he  was 
under  no  necessity  of  doing  that.  It  is  as  manifest  that  he 
knew  what  he  was  undertaking  when  he  came  over  last 
year,  that  it  was  to  carry  most  arbitrary,  unrighteous 
schemes  into  execution.  Let  it  be  that  he  was  persuaded 
to  believe  that  he  should  meet  with  no  very  powerful  oppo- 
sition, and  that  he  would  not  have  undertook,  if  he  had 
known  what  opposition  would  have  been  ;  this  will  argue 
his  baseness,  and  not  any  goodness ;  a  disposition  to  tram- 
ple upon  the  weak,  and  to  set  up  power  instead  of  right- 
eousness, and  to  cast  truth  to  the  ground.  As  soon  as  he 
arrived,  the  first  specimen  of  his  goodness  was  to  strike  out 
thirteen  Counsellors,  very  worthy  men.  Soon  after  this  he 
dissolved  the  General  Assembly,  without  even  suffering 
them  to  have  any  pay  for  their  service. 

The  next  thing  he  did  remarkable,  was  his  sending  in 
the  night  and  plundering  the  magazine  at  Charlestown. 
Soon  after  this  he  went  to  intrenching  and  fortifying  upon 
the  Neck,  and  it  would  be  tedious  to  enumerate  all  the 
falsehoods  he  publickly  told  about  this  to  President  Ran- 
dolph, to  the  Town  of  Boston,  and  to  sundry  Committees  ; 
telling  them  that  he  was  not  about  to  hurt  the  Town  by  it, 
to  stop  the  avenues ;  that  he  could  not  fortify  it  stronger 
than  nature  had  formed,  &ic,  he.  It  would  be  endless  to 
enumerate  all  the  robberies,  abuses,  and  insults,  which  his 
Troops  have  committed  against  the  inhabitants  of  Boston, 
and  passengers ;  the  tarring  and  feathering,  quarrelling 
with  the  watch,  shooting  at  children  passing  quietly  in  the 
street,  violently  taking  away  men's  substance  from  them 
and  detaining  it,  knocking  them  down  and  leaving  them 
half  dead;  all  this  before  the  Concord  expedition,  and  all 
justified  by  the  humane  Thomas  Gage.  As  to  the  Can- 
cord  expedition  and  Lexington  battle,  they  are  too  well 
known  by  the  publick  to  be  the  most  barbarous,  savage 
conduct  of  the  Troops,  to  admit  of  any  illustration.  The 
most  barbarous  Indians,  I  presume,  would  be  ashamed  of 
such  conduct.  It  is  not  to  be  wondered  that  his  Troops 
deny  what  they  have  done ;  for  it  is  no  new  proverb  that 
they  who  steal  will  lie,  and  much  more  ;  they  that  rob  will 
murder,  in  a  most  savage  manner;  and  Thomas  Gage  owns, 
in  his  letter,  that  he  sent  out  his  men  to  destroy,  and  yet 
says  he  has  "  commenced  no  war  but  defensive  !" 

Upon  the  whole,  it  is  the  well'  known  character  of  the 
Devil  to  deceive  by  fair  pretences,  lie,  and  destroy  ;  which 
character  is  most  amply  exemplified  in  what  is  above 
related.  But  the  Devil  did  speak  the  truth  twice — I  do 
not  know  that  this  man  has  once ;  so  I  will  leave  him  for 
the  present. 

CERTIFICATE  TO  EBENEZER  BRADJSH,  JUNIOR,  ESQUIRE. 
OF  CAMBRIDGE. 

Cambridge,  May  3,  1775. 
Whereas  Ebenezer  Bradish,  Jun.,  Esq.,  of  Cambridge. 
has  been  represented  as  a  person  unfriendly  to  the  just 
rights  and  liberties  of  his  Country,  and  by  withdrawing  him- 
self from  Cambridge  and  retiring  to  Boston,  on  the  day  of 
the  late  unhappy  commencement  of  hostilities  between  the 
Troops  under  the  command  of  General  Gage  and  the  in- 
habitants of  this  Province,  he  has  increased  the  publick 
suspicions  against  him,  whereby  he  is  rendered  more  odious 
and  disagreeable  to  his  countrymen : 

Therefore,  to  remove  from  the  minds  of  our  beloved 
friends  and  countrymen  all  groundless  apprehensions,  and  to 
do  justice  to  Mr.  Bradish,  we,  the  subscribers,  having 
made  due  inquiry  into  the  cause  of  his  going  to  Boston  at 
the  time  aforesaid,  and  of  his  conduct  since,  do  say  that  we 
are  satisfied  that  Mr.  Bradish  had  no  desire  by  that  means 
to  do  any  injury  to  his  Country,  but  on  the  contrary  his 
design  was  friendly,  and  his  conduct  justifiable  ;  and  we 
recommend  it  to  all  persons  to  conduct  towards  Mr.  Bra- 
dish as  a  gentleman  who  is  not  unfriendly  to  the  rights  and 


485 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


486 


privileges  of  his  countrymen,  so  far  as  we  are  able  to  dis- 
cover, upon  strict  inquiry  into  his  late  conduct. 

Seth  Pomeroy,  General,  of  Northampton. 

Thomas  Legate,  Colonel,  of  Leominster. 

Elisha  Porter,  Colonel,  of  Hadley. 

John  Patterson,  Colonel,  of  Lenox. 

Henry  Herrick,  Colonel,  of  Beverly. 

Levi  Shephard,  Major,  of  Northampton. 

Jonathan  W.  Austin,  Major,  of  Chelmsford. 

Thomas  Williams,  Captain,  of  Stockbridge. 

Ebenezer  Sayer,  Colonel,  of  Wells. 

Jesse  Leavenworth,  of  New-Haven. 

N.  B.  Whereas  a  report  has  been  unjustly  spread  abroad 
that  it  was  not  the  Regulars  but  our  people  who  took  the 
goods  lost  out  of  my  house ;  this  is  to  certify  to  all  good 
people,  that  the  said  report  is  false,  and  never  came  from 
me,  and  that  1  am  certain  my  house  was  not  only  shot  at 
but  plundered  by  the  Regulars.     Ebenezer  Bradish. 

May  11,  1775. 

ORDERS  TO  BENEDICT  ARNOLD. 
In  Committee  of  Safety,  Cambridge,  May  3,  1775. 
Sir  :  Confiding  in  your  judgment,  fidelity,  and  valour, 
we  do,  by  these  presents,  constitute  and  appoint  you  Colo- 
nel and  Commander-in-Chief  over  a  body  of  men  not  ex- 
ceeding four  hundred.  Proceed  with  all  expedition  to  the 
western  parts  of  this  and  the  neighbouring  Colonies,  where 
vou  are  directed  to  enlist  those  men,  and  with  them  forth- 
with to  march  to  the  Fort  at  Ticonderoga,  and  use  your 
best  endeavours  to  reduce  the  same,  taking  possession  of 
the  cannon,  mortars,  stores,  he,  also  the  vessel  and  the 
other  cannon  and  stores  upon  the  Lake.  You  are  to  bring 
back  with  you  such  of  the  cannon,  mortars,  stores,  he,  as 
you  shall  judge  may  be  serviceable  to  the  Army  here,  leav- 
ing behind  what  may  be  necessary  to  secure  that  post,  with 
a  sufficient  garrison.  You  are  to  procure  suitable  provi- 
sions and  stores  for  the  Army,  and  draw  upon  the  Commit- 
tee of  Safety  for  the  same,  and  to  act  in  every  exigency 
according  to  your  best  skill  and  discretion  for  the  publick 
interest,  for  which  this  shall  be  your  sufficient  warrant. 
Benjamin  Church,  Chairman  Com.  of  Safety. 

By  order :  Wm.  Cooper,  Secretary. 

To  Benedict  Arnold,  Esquire,  Commander  of  a  body  of 
Troops  on  an  expedition  to  subdue  and  take  possession 
of  the  Fort  of  Ticonderoga,  he 


Weymouth,  May  3,  1775. 
To  the  Honourable  Committee  of  Safety  now  sitting  at 
Cambridge,  the  Petition  of  the  Selectmen  of  Brain- 
tree,  Weymouth,  and  Hingham,  humbly  showeth: 
That  the  several  Towns  to  which  they  respectively  be- 
long are  in  a  defenceless  state,  and,  as  we  apprehend,  in 
great  danger  of  an  attack  from  the  Troops  now  in  Boston, 
or  from  the  Ships  in  the  harbour,  more  especially  as  they 
are  now  or  soon  will  be  in  want  of  fresh  provisions.  That 
we  have  been  at  the  trouble  and  expense  of  keeping  up  a 
military  watch  in  each  Town  for  this  fortnight  past,  an 
expense  which  we  are  by  no  means  able  to  bear,  and  which 
is  no  real  defence  to  us ;  besides  all  that  has  been  said,  the 
inhabitants  of  said  Towns  have  been,  and  are  still  likely  to 
be  in  our  present  situation,  almost  constantly  kept  in  a  tu- 
mult and  disorder,  and  unable  to  keep  about  their  business, 
to  their  great  damage. 

Your  Petitioners,  therefore,  humbly  pray  your  Honours  to 
take  our  distressed  state  into  your  wise  and  serious  consid- 
eration, and  grant  us  at  least  the  return  of  those  men  that 
have  enlisted  in  the  service  from  our  several  Towns,  or  such 
other  relief  and  protection  as  in  your  wisdom  you  shall 
think  fit ;  and  your  Petitioners,  as  in  duty  bound,  shall  ever 
pray.  James  Peniman,  ~"| 

Norton  Quincy,     i  Selectmen  of 
Edmund  Soper,      [  Braintree. 
Jonathan  Bass,  J 

James  Humphrey,  ^  0  ;  ^  j> 
o        xt  I  selectmen  of 

saml.  Kingman,  >  1X7  ^ J 
T?      n  I  Weymouth. 

L.BR.  L/OLSON,  J  3 

Benj.  Cushing,  )  Selectmen  of 
Joseph  Andrews,  )  Hingham. 


New-Castle,  May  3,  1775. 
To  the  Honourable  John  Hancock,  Esquire,  President, 
and  the  Honourable  the  other  Members  of  Congress  for 
the  Province  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay,  in  Concord 
assembled,  the  Petition  of  James  Cargill  humbly 
showeth  : 

That  your  Petitioner  was  chosen  yesterday  to  take  com- 
mand of  the  Liberty-men  in  New- Castle,  and  on  viewing 
their  state  finds  them  almost  destitute  of  ammunition,  and 
chiefly  unable  to  supply  themselves,  as  their  greatest  de- 
pendance  was  on  lumber  trade,  which  is  now  stopped ;  and 
we  find  there  is  no  town  stock  to  supply  them,  and  those 
of  them  that  would  gladly  buy  for  themselves  know  not 
where  it  is  to  be  had.  Therefore  prays  that  you  would  take 
our  condition  into  your  wise  consideration,  and  if  in  your 
wisdom  you  should  judge  it  best  to  grant  us  any  supply  out 
of  the  publick  stock,  that  you  would  send  it  to  us  by  the 
bearer,  Lieutenant  John  Farley ;  and  your  Petitioner,  as  in 
duty  bound,  shall  ever  pray,  he.         James  Cargill. 


To  the  Honourable  Provincial  Congress  of  Massachu- 
setts-Bay, in  Congress  assembled,  May,  1775  : 
May  it  please  your  Honours  : 

The  Association  in  Eastham  (which,  at  present,  consists 
of  about  ninety  persons,  and  is  increasing)  finding  the  Town 
of  Eastham  (though  urged  thereto)  have  not  complied  with 
the  Resolve  made  and  passed  in  Provincial  Congress,  at 
Concord,  the  31st  of  March,  1775,  in  regard  to  paying  in 
their  money  to  the  Receiver-General,  immediately  called 
a  meeting  of  the  Association,  voted  to  hire  what  money 
was  not  collected  of  the  Association,  and  have  accordingly 
paid  in  the  whole  of  our  part  of  the  Province  Tax  to  the 
Constables,  viz :  Captain  Job  Crocker,  who  was  Collector 
for  the  year  1774,  and  Mr.  Jonathan  Linnelye,  the  third, 
who  is  Collector  for  the  present  year.  As  they  are  both 
members  of  this  Association,  they  have  engaged  to  trans- 
mit the  same  to  Henry  Gardner,  Esquire,  of  Stow,  with- 
out delay. 

N.  B.  It  is  voted  by  the  Association,  as  their  desire, 
that  the  Orders,  Resolves,  and  Recommendations  of  the 
Provincial  Congress  for  this  Town  may  be  directed  in  fu- 
ture to  some  one  of  this  Committee,  as  they  are  not  always 
made  publick  if  they  fall  into  the  hands  of  some  men  in 
this  Town.    Per  order  of  the  Association  : 

Thomas  Paine, 

Isaac  Sparrow, 

Thomas  Twining,  >  ^  , 
rT         T  '  |  Correspondence. 

Heman  Linnell,  t 

John  Davis,  J 


Committee  of 


PROVINCIAL   CONGRESS  OF  MASSACHUSETTS  TO  THE  CON- 
TINENTAL CONGRESS. 
[Read  in  Congress,  May  11,  1775.] 

In  Provincial  Congress,  Watertown,  { 
May  3,  1775.  \ 

To  the  Honourable  American  Continental  Congress,  to  be 
convened  at  Philadelphia  on  the  tenth  of  May  instant. 

May  it  please  your  Honours  :  The  Congress  of  this 
Colony,  impressed  with  the  deepest  concern  for  their  Coun- 
try, under  the  present  critical  and  alarming  state  of  its 
publick  affairs,  beg  leave,  with  the  most  respectful  submis- 
sion whilst  acting  in  support  of  the  cause  of  America,  to 
request  the  direction  and  assistance  of  your  respectable 
Assembly. 

The  enclosed  packet,  containing  the  copies  of  Deposi- 
tions which  we  have  despatched  for  London,  also  an  Ad- 
dress to  the  Inhabitants  of  Great  Britain,  and  a  Letter  to 
our  Colony  Agent,  Benjamin  Franklin,  Esq.,  are  humbly 
submitted  to  your  consideration. 

The  sanguinary  zeal  of  the  Ministerial  Army  to  ruin  and 
destroy  the  inhabitants  of  this  Colony,  in  the  opinion  of 
this  Congress,  hath  rendered  the  establishment  of  an  Army 
indispensably  necessary.  We  have  accordingly  passed  an 
unanimous  resolve  for  thirteen  thousand  six  hundred  men 
to  be  forthwith  raised  by  this  Colony,  and  proposals  are 
made  by  us  to  the  Congress  of  New-Hampshire,  and  Gov- 
ernments of  Bhode-Island  and  Connecticut  Colonies,  for 
furnishing  men  in  the  same  proportion. 


487 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  fcc,  MAY,  1115. 


488 


The  sudden  exigency  of  our  publick  affairs  precluded 
the  possibility  of  waiting  for  your  direction  in  these  impor- 
tant measures,  more  especially  as  a  considerable  reinforce- 
ment from  Great  Britain  is  daily  expected  in  this  Colony, 
and  we  are  now  reduced  to  the  sad  alternative  of  defending 
ourselves  by  arms,  or  submitting  to  be  slaughtered. 

With  the  greatest  deference  we  beg  leave  to  suggest  that 
a  powerful  Army,  on  the  side  of  America,  hath  been  con- 
sidered by  this  Congress  as  the  only  means  left  to  stem  the 
rapid  progress  of  a  tyrannical  Ministry.  Without  a  force 
superiour  to  our  enemies,  we  must  reasonably  expect  to  be- 
come the  victims  of  their  relentless  fury;  with  such  a  force 
we  may  still  have  hopes  of  seeing  an  immediate  end  put  to 
the  inhuman  ravages  of  mercenary  Troops  in  America,  and 
the  wicked  authors  of  our  miseries  brought  to  condign 
punishment,  by  the  just  indignation  of  our  brethren  in 
Great  Britain. 

We  hope  that  this  Colony  will  at  all  times  be  ready  to 
spend  and  be  spent  in  the  cause  of  America.  It  is  never- 
theless a  misfortune  greatly  operating  to  its  disadvantage, 
that  it  has  a  great  number  of  sea-port  towns  exposed  to 
the  approach  of  the  enemy  by  sea,  from  many  of  which 
the  inhabitants  have  removed,  and  are  now  removing  their 
families  and  effects  to  avoid  destruction  from  ships  of  war. 
These,  we  apprehend,  will  be  generally  distressed  from 
want  of  subsistence,  and  disabled  from  contributing  aid  for 
supporting  the  forces  of  the  Colony,  but  we  have  the 
greatest  confidence  in  the  wisdom  and  ability  of  the  Con- 
tinent to  support  us,  so  far  as  it  shall  appear  necessary  for 
supporting  the  common  cause  of  the  American  Colonies. 

We  also  enclose  several  Resolves  [passed  this  day]  for 
empowering  and  directing  our  Receiver-General  to  borrow 
the  sum  of  one  hundred  thousand  Pounds,  lawful  money, 
and  to  issue  his  notes  for  the  same,  it  being  the  only 
measure  which  we  could  have  recourse  to  for  supporting 
our  forces ;  and  we  request  your  assistance  in  rendering 
our  measures  effectual,  by  giving  our  notes  a  currency 
through  the  Continent. 

Jos.  Warren,  President  pro  tern. 

In  Provincial  Congress,  Watertown,  ) 
April  26,  1775.  $ 

To  the  Inhabitants  of  Great  Britain  : 

Friends  and  Fellow-Subjects  :  Hostilities  are  at 
length  commenced  in  this  Colony  by  the  Troops  under  com- 
mand of  General  Gage;  and  it  being  of  the  greatest  im- 
portance that  an  early,  true,  and  authentick  account  of  this 
inhuman  proceeding  should  be  known  to  you,  the  Congress 
of  this  Colony  have  transmitted  the  same,  and  from  want 
of  a  session  of  the  honourable  Continental  Congress,  think 
it  proper  to  address  you  on  the  alarming  occasion. 

By  the  clearest  depositions  relative  to  this  transaction,  it 
will  appear  that  on  the  night  preceding  the  nineteenth  of 
April  instant,  a  body  of  the  King's  Troops,  under  com- 
mand of  Colonel  Smith,  were  secretly  landed  at  Cambridge, 
with  an  apparent  design  to  take  or  destroy  the  military  and 
other  stores  provided  for  the  defence  of  this  Colony,  and 
deposited  at  Concord;  that  some  inhabitants  of  the  Colony, 
on  the  night  aforesaid,  whilst  travelling  peaceably  on  the 
road  between  Morton  and  Con-cord,  were  seized  and  greatly 
abused  by  armed  men,  who  appeared  to  be  officers  of  Gene- 
ral Gage's  Army  ;  that  the  Town  of  Lexington  by  these 
means  was  alarmed,  and  a  company  of  the  inhabitants  mus- 
tered on  the  occasion  ;  that  the  Regular  Troops,  on  their 
way  to  Concord,  marched  into  the  said  Town  of  Lexing- 
ton, and  the  said  Company,  on  their  approach,  began  to 
disperse  ;  that  notwithstanding  this,  the  Regulars  rushed  on 
with  great  violence,  and  first  began  hostilities  by  firing  on 
said  Lexington  Company,  whereby  they  killed  eight  and 
wounded  several  others;  that  the  Regulars  continued  their 
fire  until  those  of  said  Company,  who  were  neither  killed 
nor  wounded,  had  made  their  escape  ;  that  Colonel  Smith, 
with  the  detachment,  then  marched  to  Concord,  where  a 
number  of  Provincials  were  again  fired  on  by  the  Troops, 
two  of  them  killed,  and  several  wounded,  before  the  Pro- 
vincials fired  on  them  ;  and  that  these  hostile  measures  of 
the  Troops  produced  an  engagement  that  lasted  through 
the  day,  in  which  many  of  the  Provincials,  and  more  of  the 
Regular  Troops,  were  killed  and  wounded. 

To  give  a  particular  account  of  the  ravages  of  the 


Troops  as  they  retreated  from  Concord  to  Charlestown, 
would  be  very  difficult,  if  not  impracticable ;  let  it  suffice 
to  say,  that  a  great  number  of  the  houses  on  the  road  were 
plundered  and  rendered  unfit  for  use  ;  several  were  burnt ; 
women  in  childbed  were  driven  by  the  soldiery  naked  into 
the  streets  ;  old  men,  peaceably  in  their  houses,  were  shot 
dead  ;  and  such  scenes  exhibited  as  would  disgrace  the 
annals  of  the  most  uncivilized  Nation. 

These,  brethren,  are  marks  of  ministerial  vengeance 
against  this  Colony,  for  refusing,  with  her  sister  Colonies,  a 
submission  to  slavery.  But  they  have  not  yet  detached  us 
from  our  Royal  Sovereign.  We  profess  to  be  his  loyal 
and  dutiful  subjects,  and  so  hardly  dealt  with  as  we  have 
been,  are  still  ready,  with  our  lives  and  fortunes,  to  defend 
his  person,  family,  crown,  and  dignity.  Nevertheless,  to 
the  persecution  and  tyranny  of  his  cruel  Ministry  we  will 
not  tamely  submit;  appealing  to  Heaven  for  the  justice  of 
our  cause,  we  determine  to  die  or  be  free. 

We  cannot  think  that  the  honour,  wisdom,  and  valour  of 
Britons  will  suffer  them  to  be  longer  inactive  spectators 
of  measures  in  which  they  themselves  are  so  deeply  in- 
terested ;  measures  pursued  in  opposition  to  the  solemn 
protests  of  many  noble  Lords,  and  expressed  sense  of  con- 
spicuous Commoners,  whose  knowledge  and  virtue  have 
long  characterized  them  as  some  of  the  greatest  men  in  the 
Nation ;  measures  executing  contrary  to  the  interest,  Pe- 
titions, and  Resolves  of  many  large,  respectable,  and  opu- 
lent Counties,  Cities,  and  Boroughs,  in  Great  Britain; 
measures  highly  incompatible  with  justice,  but  still  pursued 
with  a  specious  pretence  of  easing  the  Nation  of  its  burden  ; 
measures  which,  if  successful,  must  end  in  the  ruin  and 
slavery  of  Britain,  as  well  as  the  persecuted  American 
Colonies. 

We  sincerely  hope  that  the  great  Sovereign  of  the  Uni- 
verse, who  hath  so  often  appeared  for  the  English  Nation, 
will  support  you  in  every  rational  and  manly  exertion  with 
these  Colonies,  for  saving  it  from  ruin  ;  and  that  in  a  consti- 
tutional connection  with  the  Mother  Country,  we  shall  soon 
be  altogether  a  free  and  happy  people. 

Per  order :  Jos.  Warren,  President  pro  tern. 

In  Provincial  Congress,  Watertown,  ) 
April  26,  1775.  ] 

To  the  Hon.  Benjamin  Franklin,  Esq.,  London  : 

Sir  :  From  the  entire  confidence  we  repose  in  your  faith- 
fulness and  abilities,  we  consider  it  the  happiness  of  this 
Colony  that  the  important  trust  of  agency  for  it,  on  this 
day  of  unequalled  distress,  is  devolved  on  your  hands  ;  and 
we  doubt  not  your  attachment  to  the  cause  of  the  liberties 
of  mankind  will  make  every  possible  exertion  in  our  be- 
half a  pleasure  to  you,  although  our  circumstances  will 
compel  us  often  to  interrupt  your  repose  by  matters  that 
will  surely  give  you  pain.  A  single  instance  hereof  is  the 
occasion  of  the  present  letter  ;  the  contents  of  this  packet 
will  be  our  apology  for  troubling  you  with  it.  From  these 
you  will  see  how  and  by  whom  we  are  at  last  plunged  into 
the  horrours  of  a  most  unnatural  war.  Our  enemies,  we 
are  told,  have  despatched  to  Great  Britain  a  fallacious 
account  of  the  tragedy  they  have  begun  ;  to  prevent  the 
operation  of  which  to  the  publick  injury,  we  have  engaged 
the  vessel  that  conveys  this  to  you  as  a  packet  in  the  service 
of  this  Colony,  and  we  request  your  assistance  in  supply- 
ing Captain  Derby,  who  commands  her,  with  such  neces- 
saries as  he  shall  want,  on  the  credit  of  your  constituents 
in  Massachusetts-Bay.  But  we  most  ardently  wish  that 
the  several  papers  herewith  enclosed  may  be  immediately 
printed  and  dispersed  through  every  Town  in  England, 
and  especially  communicated  to  the  Lord  Mayor,  Alder- 
men, and  Common  Council  of  the  City  of  London,  that 
they  may  take  such  order  thereon  as  they  may  think  proper ; 
and  we  are  confident  your  fidelity  will  make  such  improve- 
ment of  them  as  shall  convince  all  who  are  not  determined 
to  be  in  everlasting  blindness,  that  it  is  the  united  efforts  of 
both  Englands  that  must  save  either.  But  that  whatever 
price  our  brethren  in  the  one  may  be  pleased  to  put  on  their 
constitutional  liberties,  we  are  authorized  to  assure  you  that 
the  inhabitants  of  the  other,  with  the  greatest  unanimity, 
are  inflexibly  resolved  to  sell  theirs  only  at  the  price  of 
their  lives.  Signed  by  order  of  the  Provincial  Congress : 
Jos.  Warren,  President  pro  tern. 


489 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


490 


[No.  1.] 

Lexington,  April  25,  1775. 

We,  Solomon  Brown,  Jonathan  Loring,  and  Elijah 
Sanderson,  all  of  lawful  age,  and  of  Lexington,  in  the 
County  of  Middlesex,  and  Colony  of  the  Massachusetts- 
Bay,  in  New-England,  do  testify  and  declare,  that  on  the 
evening  of  the  eighteenth  of  April  instant,  being  on  the 
road  between  Concord  and  Lexington,  all  of  us  mounted 
on  horses,  we  were,  about  ten  of  the  clock,  suddenly  sur- 
prised by  nine  persons,  whom  we  took  to  be  regular  offi- 
cers, who  rode  up  to  us  mounted  and  armed,  each  having 
a  pistol  in  his  hand ;  and  after  putting  pistols  to  our  breasts, 
and  seizing  the  bridles  of  our  horses,  they  swore  that  if  we 
stirred  another  step  we  should  be  all  dead  men  ;  upon  which 
we  surrendered  ourselves.  They  detained  us  until  two 
o'clock  the  next  morning,  in  which  time  they  searched  and 
greatly  abused  us ;  having  first  inquired  about  the  maga- 
zine at  Concord,  whether  any  guards  were  posted  there, 
and  whether  the  bridges  were  up  ;  and  said  four  or  five 
regiments  of  Regulars  would  be  in  possession  of  the  stores 
soon.  They  then  brought  us  back  to  Lexington,  cut  the 
horses'  bridles  and  girths,  turned  them  loose,  and  then  left  us. 

Solomon  Brown, 
Jonathan  Loring, 
Elijah  Sanderson. 

Middlesex,  April  25,  1775: 

Jonathan  Loring,  Solomon  Broivn,  and  Elijah  Sander- 
son, being  duly  cautioned  to  testify  the  whole  truth,  made 
solemn  oath  to  the  truth  of  the  above  deposition,  by  them 
subscribed.    Before  us,  Wm.  Reed, 

Josiah  Johnson, 
Wm.  Stickney, 
Justices  of  the  Peace. 

Lexington,  April  25,  1775. 
I,  Elijah  Sanderson,  above  named,  do  further  testify  and 
declare,  that  I  was  in  Lexington  Common  the  morning  of 
the  nineteenth  of  April  aforesaid,  having  been  dismissed 
by  the  officers  above-mentioned,  and  saw  a  large  body  of 
Regular  Troops  advancing  towards  Lexington  Company, 
many  of  whom  were  then  dispersing.  I  heard  one  of  the 
Regulars,  whom  I  took  to  be  an  officer,  say,  "  damn  them, 
we  will  have  them  ;"  and  immediately  the  Regulars  shouted 
aloud,  run,  and  fired  on  the  Lexington  Company,  which 
did  not  fire  a  gun  before  the  Regulars  discharged  on  them. 
Eight  of  the  Lexington  Company  were  killed  while  they 
were  dispersing,  and  at  considerable  distance  from  each 
other,  and  many  wounded  ;  and  although  a  spectator,  I  nar- 
rowly escaped  with  my  life.  Elijah  Sanderson. 

31  iddlesex,  ss.,  April  25,  1775  : 

Elijah  Sanderson,  above  named,  being  duly  cautioned 
to  testify  the  whole  truth,  made  solemn  oath  to  the  truth 
of  the  above  deposition  by  him  subscribed. 
Before  us,  Wm.  Reed, 

Josiah  Johnson, 
Wm.  Stickney, 
Justices  of  the  Peace. 

Province  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay,  ) 
Charlestown,  ss.  £ 
I,  Nathaniel  Gorham,  Notary  and  Tabellion  Publick,  by 
lawful  authority,  duly  admitted  and  sworn,  hereby  certify 
all  whom  it  doth  or  may  concern,  that  William  Reed,  Jo- 
siah Johnson,  and  William  Stickney,  Esquires,  are  three 
of  His  Majesty's  Justices  of  the  Peace  for  the  County  of 
Middlesex,  and  that  full  faith  and  credit  are  to  be  given  to 
their  transactions  as  such.  In  witness  whereof  I  have  here- 
unto affixed  my  name  and  seal,  this  twenty-sixth  day  of 
April,  Anno  Domini  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and 
seventy-five. 

Nathaniel  Gorham,  Notary  Publick. 
[No.  2.] 

Lexington,  April  23,  1775. 
I,  Thomas  Price  Willard,  of  lawful  age,  do  testify  and 
declare,  that  being  in  the  house  of  Daniel  Harrington,  of 
said  Lexington,  on  the  nineteenth  instant,  in  the  morning, 
about  half  an  hour  before  sunrise,  looked  out  of  the  win- 
dow of  said  house  and  saw  (as  I  suppose)  about  four  hun- 
dred of  Regulars,  in  one  body,  coming  up  the  road,  and 


marched  toward  the  north  part  of  the  common,  back  of  the 
meeting-house  of  said  Lexington  ;  and  as  soon  as  said  Reg- 
ulars were  against  the  east  end  of  the  meeting-house,  the 
commanding  officers  said  something,  what  1  know  not ;  but 
upon  that  the  Regulars  ran  till  they  came  within  about 
eight  or  nine  rods  of  about  a  hundred  of  the  Militia  of 
Lexington,  who  were  collected  on  said  common,  at  which 
time  the  Militia  of  Lexington  dispersed  ;  then  the  officers 
made  a  huzza,  and  the  private  soldiers  succeeded  them. 
Directly  after  this  an  officer  rode  before  the  Regulars  to 
the  other  side  of  the  body,  and  hallooed  after  the  Militia 
of  said  Lexington,  and  said,  "  Lay  down  your  arms,  damn 
you  ;  why  don't  you  lay  down  your  arms  ?"  and  that  there 
was  not  a  gun  fired  till  the  Militia  of  Lexington  were  dis- 
persed.   And  further  saith  not. 

Thomas  Price  Willard. 

Middlesex,  ss.,  April  23,  1775: 

The  within  named  Thomas  Price  Willard  personally 
appeared,  and  after  due  caution  to  testify  the  whole  truth 
and  nothing  but  the  truth,  made  solemn  oath  to  the  truth 
of  the  written  deposition  by  him  subscribed. 
Before  us,  Wm.  Reed, 

Jona.  Hastings, 
Duncan  Ingraham, 
Justices  of  the  Peace. 

Province  of  Massachusetts-Bay,  ) 
Charlestown,  ss.  5 
I,  Nathaniel  Gorham,  Notary  and  Tabellion  Publick, 
duly  admitted  and  sworn,  do  certify  that  Wm.  Reed,  Jona. 
Hastings,  and  Duncan  Ingraham,  Esquires,  are  three  of 
His  Majesty's  Justices  for  the  County  of  Middlesex,  and 
that  full  faith  and  credit  is  to  be  given  to  their  transactions 
as  such.  In  witness  whereof  I  have  hereunto  affixed  my 
hand  and  seal  this  twenty-sixth  of  April,  one  thousand 
seven  hundred  and  seventy-five. 

Nathaniel  Gorham,  Notary  Publick. 

[No.  3.] 

Lexington,  April  25,  1775. 

Simon  Winship,  of  Lexington,  in  the  County  of  Mid- 
dlesex, and  Province  of  Massachusetts-Bay,  New-England, 
being  of  lawful  age,  testifieth  and  saith,  that  on  the  nine- 
teenth of  April  instant,  about  four  o'clock  in  the  morning, 
as  he  was  passing  the  publick  road  in  said  Lexington, 
peaceably  and  unarmed,  about  two  miles  and  a  half  dis- 
tant from  the  meeting-house  in  said  Lexington,  he  was 
met  by  a  body  of  the  King's  Regular  Troops,  and  being 
stopped  by  some  officers  of  said  Troops,  was  commanded 
to  dismount.  Upon  asking  why  he  must  dismount,  he  was 
obliged  by  force  to  quit  his  horse,  and  ordered  to  march  in 
the  midst  of  the  body ;  and  being  examined  whether  he 
had  been  warning  the  Minute-Men,  he  answered  no,  but 
had  been  out,  and  was  then  returning  to  his  father's.  Said 
Winship  further  testifies  that  he  marched  with  said  Troops 
until  he  came  within  about  half  a  quarter  of  a  mile  of  said 
meeting-house,  where  an  officer  commanded  the  Troops 
to  halt,  and  then  to  prime  and  load.  This  being  done,  the 
said  Troops  marched  on  till  they  came  within  a  few  rods 
of  Captain  Parker's  Company,  who  were  partly  collected 
on  the  place  of  parade,  when  said  Winship  observed  an 
officer  at  the  head  of  said  Troops  flourishing  his  sword, 
and  with  a  loud  voice  giving  the  word  fire ;  which  was  in- 
stantly followed  by  a  discharge  of  arms  from  said  Regular 
Troops.  And  said  Winship  is  positive,  and  in  the  most 
solemn  manner  declares,  that  there  was  no  discharge  of 
arms  on  either  side  till  the  word  fire  was  given  by  said 
officer  as  above.  Simon  Winship. 

Middlesex,  ss.,  April  25,  1775  : 

Simon  Winship,  above  named,  appeared,  and  after  due 
caution  to  testify  the  whole  truth,  and  nothing  but  the  truth, 
made  solemn  oath  to  the  truth  of  the  above  deposition  by 
him  subscribed.  Wm.  Reed, 

Josiah  Johnson. 

Province  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay,  ) 
Charlestown,  ss.  $ 
I,  Nathaniel  Gorham,  Notary  and  Tabellion  Publick, 
by  lawful  authority  duly  admitted  and  sworn,  hereby  certify 


491 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


492 


all  whom  it  doth  or  may  concern,  that  Wm.  Reed  and  Jo- 
siah Johnson,  Esquires,  are  two  of  His  Majesty's  Justices 
for  the  County  of  Middlesex,  and  that  full  faith  and  credit 
is  to  be  given  to  their  transactions  as  such.  In  witness 
whereof  I  have  hereunto  affixed  my  name  and  seal  this 
twenty-sixth  day  of  April,  Anno  Domini  one  thousand 
seven  hundred  and  seventy-five. 

Nathaniel  Gorham,  Notary  Publick. 

[No.  4.] 

Lexington,  April  25,  1775. 
I,  John  Parker,  of  lawful  age,  and  commander  of  the 
Militia  in  Lexington,  do  testify  and  declare,  that  on  the 
nineteenth  instant,  in  the  morning,  about  one  of  the  clock, 
being  informed  that  there  were  a  number  of  Regular  Offi- 
cers riding  up  and  down  the  road,  stopping  and  insulting 
people  as  they  passed  the  road,  and  also  was  informed  that 
a  number  of  Regular  Troops  were  on  their  march  from 
Boston,  in  order  to  take  the  Province  Stores  at  Concord, 
ordered  our  Militia  to  meet  on  the  common  in  said  Lexing- 
ton, to  consult  what  to  do,  and  concluded  not  to  be  dis- 
covered, nor  meddle  or  make  with  said  Regular  Troops 
(if  they  should  approach)  unless  they  should  insult  us  ;  and 
upon  their  sudden  approach,  I  immediately  ordered  our 
Militia  to  disperse  and  not  to  fire.  Immediately  said  Troops 
made  their  appearance,  and  rushed  furiously,  fired  upon 
and  killed  eight  of  our  party,  without  receiving  any  provo- 
cation therefor  from  us.  John  Parker. 

Middlesex,  ss.,  April  25,  1775  : 

The  above  named  John  Parker  personally  appeared, 
and  after  being  duly  cautioned  to  declare  the  whole  truth, 
made  solemn  oath  to  the  truth  of  the  above  deposition,  by 
him  subscribed.    Before  us,  Wm.  Reed, 

Josiah  Johnson, 
Wm.  Stickney, 
Justices  of  the  Peace. 

Province  of  Massachusetts-Bay,  ) 
Charlestown,  ss.  5 
I,  Nathaniel  Gorham,  Notary  and  Tabellion  Publick, 
by  lawful  authority  duly  admitted  and  sworn,  hereby  certify 
all  whom  it  doth  or  may  concern,  that  Wm.  Reed,  Josiah 
Johnson,  and  Wm.  Stickney,  Esquires,  are  three  of  His 
Majesty's  Justices  of  the  Peace  for  the  County  of  Middle- 
sex, and  that  full  faith  and  credit  is  and  ought  to  be  given 
to  their  transactions  as  such.  In  witness  whereof  I  have 
hereunto  set  my  name  and  seal  this  twenty-sixth  day  of 
April,  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  seventy-five. 

Nath'l  Gorham,  Notary  Publick. 

[No.  5.] 

Lexington,  April  24,  1775. 
I,  John  Robbins,  being  of  lawful  age,  do  testify  and  say, 
that  on  the  nineteenth  instant,  the  Company  under  the  com- 
mand of  Captain  John  Parker  being  drawn  up  (sometime 
before  sunrise)  on  the  green  or  common,  and  I  being  in 
the  front  rank,  there  suddenly  appeared  a  number  of  the 
King's  Troops,  about  a  thousand,  as  I  thought,  at  the  dis- 
tance of  about  sixty  or  seventy  yards  from  us,  huzzaing 
and  on  a  quick  pace  towards  us,  with  three  officers  in  their 
front  on  horseback,  and  on  full  gallop  towards  us  ;  the  fore- 
most of  which  cried,  "  Throw  down  your  arms,  ye  villains, 
ye  rebels ;"  upon  which  said  Company  dispersing,  the 
foremost  of  the  three  officers  ordered  their  men,  saying, 
"  Fire,  by  God,  fire  ;  at  which  moment  we  received  a  very 
heavy  and  close  fire  from  them  ;  at  which  instant,  being 
wounded,  I  fell,  and  several  of  our  men  were  shot  dead  by 
one  volley.  Captain  Parker's  men,  I  believe,  had  not  then 
fired  a  gun.    And  further  the  deponent  saith  not. 

John  Robbins. 

Middlesex,  ss.,  April  25,  1775: 

1,  John  Robbins,  within  named,  appeared,  and  being  duly 
cautioned  to  testify  the  truth,  and  nothing  but  the  truth, 
made  solemn  oath  to  the  truth  of  the  within  deposition, 
subscribed  by  his  special  order,  he  being  so  maimed  and 
wounded  that  he  thought  he  could  neither  write  his  name 
nor  make  his  mark.    Before  us,     Wm.  Reed, 

Josiah  Johnson, 
Justices  of  the  Peace. 


Province  of  Massachusetts-Bay,  ) 
Charlestown,  ss.  5 
1,  Nathaniel  Gorham,  Notary  and  Tabellion  Publick, 
by  lawful  authority  duly  admitted  and  sworn,  hereby  certify 
all  whom  it  doth  or  may  concern,  that  William  Reed  and 
Josiah  Johnson,  Esquires,  are  two  of  His  Majesty's  Jus- 
tices for  the  County  of  Middlesex,  and  that  full  faith  and 
credit  is  to  be  given  to  their  transactions  as  such.  In  wit- 
ness whereof  1  have  hereunto  affixed  my  name  and  seal 
this  twenty-sixth  day  of  April,  Anno  Domini  one  thousand 
seven  hundred  and  seventy-five. 

Nath'l  Gorham,  Notary  Publick. 

[No.  6.] 

Lexington,  April  25,  1775. 
We,  Benjamin  Tidd,  of  Lexington,  and  Joseph  Abbott, 
of  Lincoln,  in  the  County  of  Middlesex,  and  Colony  of 
Massachusetts-Bay,  in  New-England,  of  lawful  age,  do 
testify  and  declare,  that  on  the  morning  of  the  nineteenth 
of  April  instant,  about  five  o'clock,  being  on  Lexington 
common,  and  mounted  on  horses,  we  saw  a  body  of  Regu- 
lar Troops  marching  up  to  the  Lexington  Company  which 
was  then  dispersing.  Soon  after  the  Regulars  fired  first  a 
few  guns,  which  we  took  to  be  pistols  from  some  of  the 
Regulars  who  were  mounted  on  horses,  and  then  the  said 
Regulars  fired  a  volley  or  two  before  any  guns  were  fired 
by  the  Lexington  Company.  Our  horses  immediately 
started  and  we  rode  off.    And  further  saith  not. 

Benjamin  Tidd, 
Joseph  Abbott. 

Middlesex,  ss.,  April  25,  1775: 

Benjamin  Tidd  and  Joseph  Abbott  above  named,  being 
duly  cautioned  to  testify  the  whole  truth,  made  solemn  oath 
to  the  truth  of  the  above  deposition  by  them  subscribed. 

Wm.  Reed, 
Josiah  Johnson, 
Wm.  Stickney, 
Justices  of  the  Peace. 

Province  of  Massachusetts-Bay,  ) 
Charlestown,  ss.  3 
I,  Nathaniel  Gorham,  Notary  and  Tabellion  Publick,  by 
lawful  authority  duly  admitted  and  sworn,  hereby  certify 
all  whom  it  doth  or  may  concern,  that  Wm.  Reed,  Josiah 
Johnson,  and  William  Stickney,  Esquires,  are  three  of  His 
Majesty's  Justices  of  the  Peace  for  the  County  of  Middle- 
sex, and  that  full  faith  and  credit  is  to  be  given  to  their  trans- 
actions as  such.  In  witness  whereof  1  have  hereunto 
affixed  my  name  and  seal  this  twenty-sixth  day  of  April, 
one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  seventy-five. 

Nathaniel  Gorham,  Notary  Publick. 

Charlestown,  May  2,  1775. 

[No.  7.] 

Lexington,  April  25,  1775. 
We,  Nathaniel  Mullekin,  Philip  Russell,  Moses  Har- 
rington, Junior,  Thomas  and  Daniel  Harrington,  William 
Grimer,  William  Tidd,  Isaac  Hastings,  Jonas  Stone,  Jr., 
James  Wyman,  Thaddeus  Harrington,  John  Chandler, 
Joshua  Reed,  Jun.,  Joseph  Simonds,  Phineas  Smith,  John 
Chandler,  Jun.,  Reuben  Lock,  Joel  Viles,  Nathan  Reed, 
Samuel  Tidd,  Benjamin  Lock,  Thomas  Wiriship,  Simeon 
Snow,  John  Smith,  Moses  Harrington  the  third,  Joshua 
Reed,  Ebenezer  Parker,  John  Harrington,  Enoch  Wil- 
lington,  John  Hosmcr,  Isaac  Green,  Phineas  Stearns, 
Isaac  Durant,  and  TJiomas  Headly,  Jun.,  all  of  lawful  age, 
and  inhabitants  of  Lexington,  in  the  County  of  Middlesex, 
and  Colony  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay,  in  New-England, 
do  testify  and  declare,  that  on  the  nineteenth  of  April  in- 
stnnt,  about  one  or  two  o'clock  in  the  morning,  being 
informed  that  several  officers  of  the  Regulars  had,  the 
evening  before,  been  riding  up  and  down  the  road,  and  had 
detained  and  insulted  the  inhabitants  passing  the  same ; 
and  also  understanding  that  a  body  of  Regulars  were  march- 
ing from  Boston  towards  Concord,  with  intent  (as  it  was 
supposed)  to  take  the  stores  belonging  to  the  Colony  in 
that  Town,  we  were  alarmed;  and  having  met  at  the  place 
of  our  Company's  parade,  were  dismissed  by  our  Captain. 
John  Parker,  for  the  present,  with  orders  to  be  ready  to 
attend  at  the  beat  of  the  drum.    We  further  testify  and 


493 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


494 


declare,  that  about  five  o'clock  in  the  morning,  hearing  our 
drum  beat,  we  proceeded  towards  the  parade,  and  soon 
found  that  a  large  body  of  Troops  were  marching  towards 
us.  Some  of  our  Company  were  coming  up  to  the  parade, 
and  others  had  reached  it;  at  which  time  the  Company 
began  to  disperse.  Whilst  our  backs  were  turned  on  the 
Troops  we  were  fired  on  by  them,  and  a  number  of  our 
men  were  instantly  killed  and  wounded.  Not  a  gun  was 
fired  by  any  person  in  our  Company  on  the  Regulars,  to 
our  knowledge,  before  they  fired  on  us,  and  they  continued 
firing  until  we  had  all  made  our  escape. 

Nathanijl  Mullekin,  Joshua  Reed,  Jr.,  John  Smith, 

Philip  Russell,  Joseph  Simonds,  Mos.  Harrington  3d., 

Mos.  Harrington,  Jr.,  Phineas  Smith,  Joshua  Reed, 

Thomas  Harrington,  John  Chandler,  Jr.,  Ebenozer  Parker, 

Daniel  Harrington,  Reuben  Lock,  John  Harrington, 

William  Grimer,  Joel  Viles,  Enoch  Willington, 

William  Tidd,  Nathan  Reed,  John  Hosmer, 

Isaac  Hastings,  Samuel  Tidd,  Isaac  Green, 

Jonas  Stone,  Jr.,  Benjamin  Lock,  Phineas  Stearns, 

James  Wyman,  Thomas  Winship,  Isaac  Durant, 

Thad.  Harrington,  Simeon  Snow,  Thos.  HeadUy,  Jr. 
John  Chandler, 

Middlesex,  ss.,  April  25,  1775: 

.\athnniel  Mullekin,  Philip  Russell,  Moses  Harrington, 
Jim.,  Thomas  Harrington,  Daniel  Harrington,  William 
Grimer,  William  Tidd,  Isaac  Hasting,  Jonas  Stone,  Jr., 
James  Wyman,  Thaddeus  Harrington,  John  Chandler, 
Joshua  Reed,  Jun.,  Joseph  Simonds,  Phineas  Smith,  John 
Chandler,  Jun.,  Reuben  Lock,  Joel  Viles,  Nathan  Reed, 
Samuel  Tidd,  Benjamin  Lock,  Thomas  Winship,  Simeon 
Snow,  John  Smith,  Moses  Harrington,  3d,  Joshua  Reed, 
Ebenezer  Parker,  John  Harrington,  Enoch  Willington, 
John  Hosmer,  Isaac  Green,  Phineas  Stearns,  Isaac  Du- 
rant, and  Thomas  Headley,  Jun.,  above  named,  being  duly 
cautioned  to  testify  the  whole  truth,  made  solemn  oath  to 
the  above  deposition,  as  containing  nothing  but  the  truth  as 
subscribed  by  them.  William  Reed, 

Josiah  Johnson, 
Wm.  Stickney, 
D  Justices  of  the  Peace. 

Province  of  Massachusetts-Bay, 
Charlestown,  ss. 

1,  Nathaniel  Gorham,  Notary  and  Tabellion  Publick,  by 
lawful  authority  duly  admitted  and  sworn,  hereby  certify 
all  whom  it  doth  or  may  concern,  that  William  Reed, 
Josiah  Johnson  and  William  Stickney,  are  three  of  His 
Majesty's  Justices  for  the  County  of  Middlesex,  and  that 
full  faith  and  credit  is  to  be  given  to  their  transactions  as 
such.  In  witness  whereof  I  have  hereunto  affixed  my  name 
and  seal  this  twenty-sixth  day  of  April,  Anno  Domini 
one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  seventy-five. 

Nathaniel  Gorham,  Notary  Publick. 

[No  8.] 

Lexington,  April  25,  1775. 
We,  Nathaniel  Parkhurst,  Jonas  Parker,  John  Mun- 
roe,  Jun.,  John  Winship,  Solomon  Peirce,  John  Muzzy, 
Abner  Mead,  John  R ridge,  Junior,  Ebenezer  Bowman, 
William  Munroe  3d,  Micah  Hagar,  Samuel  Sanderson, 
Samuel  Hastings,  and  James  Brown,  of  Lexington,  in  the 
County  of  Middlesex,  and  Colony  of  Massachusetts  Bay, 
in  New-England,  and  all  of  lawful  age,  do  testify  and  say, 
that  on  the  morning  of  the  nineteenth  of  April  instant, 
about  one  or  two  o'clock,  being  informed  that  a  number  of 
Regular  Officers  had  been  riding  up  and  down  the  road, 
the  evening  and  night  preceding,  and  that  some  of  the 
inhabitants  as  they  were  passing  had  been  insulted  by  the 
officers,  and  stopped  by  them  ;  and  being  also  informed 
that  the  Regular  Troops  were  on  their  march  from  Boston, 
in  order  as  it  was  said,  to  take  the  Colony  Stores  then 
deposited  at  Concord,  we  met  on  the  parade  of  our  Com- 
pany in  this  Town ;  and  after  the  Company  had  collected 
we  were  ordered  by  Captain  John  Parker,  who  com- 
manded us,  to  disperse  for  the  present,  and  to  be  ready  to 
attend  the  beat  of  the  drum  ;  and  accordingly  the  Company 
went  into  houses  near  the  place  of  parade.  We  further 
testify  and  say,  that  about  five  o'clock  in  the  morning,  we 
attended  the  beat  of  our  drum,  and  were  formed  on  the 
parade.  We  were  faced  towards  the  Regulars,  then  march- 
ing up  to  us,  and  some  of  our  Company  were  coming  to 
the  parade  with  their  backs  towards  the  Troops,  and  others 


on  the  parade  began  to  disperse,  when  the  Regulars  fired 
on  the  Company  before  a  gun  was  fired  by  any  of  our  Com- 
pany on  them  ;  they  killed  eight  of  our  Company,  and 
wounded  several,  and  continued  iheir  fire  until  we  had  all 
made  our  escape. 

Nath'l  Parkhurst, 

Jonas  Parker, 

John  Munroe,  Jun., 

John  Winship, 

Solomon  Peirce, 

John  Muzzy, 

Abner  Mead, 


John  Bridge,  Jun., 
Ebenezer  Bowman, 
William  Munroe  3d. 
Micah  Hagar, 
Samuel  Sanderson, 
Samuel  Hastings. 
James  Brown. 


Middlesex,  ss.,  April  25,  1775  : 

Nathaniel  Parkhurst,  Jonas  Parker,  John  Munroe,  Jr., 
John  Winship,  Solomon  Peirce,  John  Muzzy,  Abner  Mead. 
John  Bridge,  Jun.,  Ebenezer  Bowman,  William  Munroe, 
third,  Micah  Hagar,  Samuel  Sanderson,  Samuel  Hastings, 
and  James  Brown,  above  named,  being  duly  cautioned  to 
testify  the  whole  truth,  made  solemn  oath  to  the  truth  of 
the  above  deposition,  by  them  subscribed. 

W illiam  Reed, 
Josiah  Johnson, 
Wm.  Stickney, 
Justices  of  the  Peace. 

Province  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay,  ) 
Charlestown,  ss.  $ 
I,  Nathaniel  Gorham,  Notary  and  Tabellion  Publick. 
by  lawful  authority  duly  admitted  and  sworn,  hereby  cer- 
tify all  whom  it  doth  or  may  concern,  that  William  Reed, 
Josiah  Johnson,  and  William  Stickney,  Esquires,  are  three 
of  His  Majesty's  Justices  for  the  County  of  Middlesex,  and 
that  full  faith  and  credit  is  to  be  given  to  their  transactions 
as  such.  In  witness  whereof,  I  have  hereunto  affixed  my 
name  and  seal,  this  twenty-sixth  day  of  April,  Anno 
Domini  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  seventy-five. 

Nathaniel  Gorham,  Notary  Publick. 

[  No.  9.  ] 

Lexington,  April  25,  1775. 

I,  Timothy  Smith,  of  Lexington,  in  the  County  of  Mid- 
dlesex and  Colony  of  Massachusetts-Ray,  in  New-Eng- 
land, being  of  lawful  age,  do  testify  and  declare,  that  on 
the  morning  of  the  nineteenth  of  April  instant,  being  at 
Lexington  common  as  a  spectator,  I  saw  a  large  body  of 
Regular  Troops  marching  up  towards  the  Lexington  Com- 
pany, then  dispersing,  and  likewise  saw  the  Regular  Troops 
fire  on  the  Lexington  Company,  before  the  latter  fired  a 
gun.  I  immediately  ran,  and  a  volley  was  discharged  at 
me,  which  put  me  in  imminent  danger  of  losing  my  life.  I 
soon  returned  to  the  common,  and  saw  eight  of  the  Lex- 
ington men  who  were  killed,  and  lay  bleeding,  at  a  con- 
siderable distance  from  each  other,  and  several  were  wound- 
ed ;  and  further  saith  not.  Timothy  Smith. 

Middlesex,  ss.,  April  25,  1775  : 

Timothy  Smith,  above  named,  being  duly  cautioned  to 
testify  the  truth,  made  solemn  oath  to  the  truth  of  the  above 


deposition,  by  him  subscribed. 


William  Reed, 
Josiah  Johnson, 
Wm.  Stickney. 
Justices  of  the  Peace. 


Province  of  Massachusetts-Bay, 
Charlestown,  ss. 
I,  Nathaniel  Gorham,  Notary  and  Tabellion  Publick, 
by  lawful  authority  duly  admitted  and  sworn,  hereby  cer- 
tify all  whom  it  doth  or  may  concern,  that  William  Reed, 
Josiah  Johnson,  and  William  Stickney,  Esquires,  are  three 
of  His  Majesty's  Justices  for  the  County  of  Middlesex, 
and  that  full  faith  and  credit  is  to  be  given  to  their  transac- 
tions as  such.  In  witness  whereof,  I  have  hereunto  affixed 
my  name  and  seal,  this  twenty-sixth  of  April,  one  thou- 
sand seven  hundred  and  seventy-five. 

Nathaniel  Gorham,  Notary  Publick. 

[  No.  10.  ] 

Lexington,  April  25,  1775. 
We,  Levi  Mead  and  Levi  Harrington,  both  of  Lexing- 
ton, in  the  County  of  Middlesex,  and  Colony  of  Massachu- 
setts-Bay, in  New-England,  and  of  lawful  age,  do  testify 


495 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  kc,  MAY,  1775. 


496 


and  declare,  that  on  the  morning  of  the  nineteenth  of  April, 
being  on  Lexington  common  as  spectators,  we  saw  a  large 
body  of  Regular  Troops  marching  up  towards  the  Lexing- 
ton Company,  and  some  of  the  Regulars  on  horses,  whom 
we  took  to  be  officers,  fired  a  pistol  or  two  on  the  Lexing- 
ton Company,  which  was  then  dispersing.  These  were 
the  first  guns  that  were  fired,  and  they  were  immediately 
followed  by  several  volleys  from  the  Regulars,  by  which 
eight  men  were  killed,  and  several  wounded. 

Levi  Mead, 

Levi  Harrington. 

Middlesex,  ss.,  April  25,  1775  : 

Levi  Harrington  and  Levi  Mead  above  named  being 
duly  cautioned  to  testify  the  whole  truth,  made  solemn  oath 
to  the  truth  of  the  above  deposition  by  them  subscribed. 
Before  us,  William  Reed, 

Josiah  Johnson, 
William  Stickney, 

Justices  of  the  Peace. 

Province  of  Massachusetts-Bay,  ) 
Charlestown,  ss.  J 
I,  Nathaniel  Gorham,  Notary  and  Tabellion  Publick, 
duly  admitted  and  sworn,  do  certify  all  whom  it  doth  or 
may  concern,  that  William  Reed,  Josiah  Johnson,  and 
William  Stickney,  Esquires,  are  three  of  His  Majesty's 
Justices  of  the  Peace  for  the  County  of  Middlesex,  and 
that  full  faith  and  credit  is  to  be  given  to  their  transactions 
as  such.  In  witness  whereof  1  have  hereunto  affixed  my 
name  and  seal  this  twenty-sixth  day  of  April,  Anno  Domini 
one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  seventy-five. 

Nathaniel  Gorham,  Notary  Publick. 

[No.  11.] 

Lexington,  April  25,  1775. 
I,  William  Draper,  of  lawful  age,  and  an  inhabitant  of 
Colrain,  in  the  County  of  Hampshire,  and  Colony  of  Mas- 
sachusetts-Bay, in  Neiv-England,  do  testify  and  declare, 
that  being  on  the  parade  of  said  Lexington,  April  19th 
instant,  about  half  an  hour  before  sunrise  the  King's  Regu- 
lar Troops  appeared  at  the  meeting-house  of  Lexington. 
Captain  Parker's  Company,  who  were  drawn  up  back  of 
said  meeting-house  on  the  parade,  turned  from  said 
Troops,  making  their  escape  by  dispersing ;  in  the  mean 
time  the  Regular  Troops  made  a  huzza  and  ran  towards 
Captain  Parser's  Company,  who  were  dispersing,  and  im- 
mediately after  the  huzza  was  made  the  commanding 
officer  of  said  Troops  (as  I  took  him)  gave  the  command 
to  the  said  Troops,  "  Fire  !  fire  !  damn  you,  fire  I"  and  im- 
mediately they  fired  before  any  of  Captain  Parker's  Com- 
pany fired,  I  then  being  within  three  or  four  rods  of  said 
Regular  Troops  ;  and  further  saith  not. 

William  Draper. 

Middlesex,  ss.,  April  25th,  1775: 

William  Draper,  above  named,  being  duly  cautioned  to 
testify  the  whole  truth,  made  solemn  oath  to  the  truth  of 
the  above  deposition  by  him  subscribed.    Before  us, 

William  Reed, 
Josiah  Johnson, 
William  Stickney, 

Justices  of  the  Peace. 

Province  of  Massachusetts-Bay,  ) 
Charlestown,  ss.  \ 

I,  Nathaniel  Gorham,  Notary  and  Tabellion  Publick,  by 
lawful  authority  duly  admitted  and  sworn,  hereby  certify 
to  all  whom  it  doth  or  may  concern,  that  William  Reed, 
Josiah  Johnson,  and  William  Stickney,  Esquires,  are  three 
of  His  Majesty's  Justices  for  the  County  of  Middlesex,  and 
that  full  faith  and  credit  are  to  be  given  to  their  transac- 
tions as  such.  In  witness  whereof  I  have  hereunto  affixed 
my  name  and  seal  this  twenty-sixth  day  of  April,  one 
thousand  seven  hundred  and  seventy-five. 

Nathaniel  Gorham,  Notary  Publick. 

[No.  12.] 

Lexington,  April  23,  1775. 
I,  Tliomas  Fessenden,  of  lawful  age,  testify  and  declare, 
that  being  in  a  pasture  near  the  meeting-house  at  said 


Lexington,  on  Wednesday  last,  at  about  half  an  hour  before 
sunrise,  I  saw  a  number  of  Regular  Troops  pass  speedily 
by  said  meeting-house  on  their  way  towards  a  Company 
of  Militia  of  said  Lexington,  who  were  assembled  to  the 
number  of  about  one  hundred  in  a  Company  at  the  distance 
of  eighteen  or  twenty  rods  from  said  meeting-house,  and 
after  they  had  passed  by  said  meeting-house,  I  saw 
three  officers  on  horseback  advance  to  the  front  of  said 
Regulars,  when  one  of  them  being  within  six  rods  of  the 
said  Militia,  cried  out  "  Disperse,  you  rebels,  immediately;" 
on  which  he  brandished  his  sword  over  his  head  three 
times ;  meanwhile  the  second  officer,  who  was  about  two 
rods  behind  him,  fired  a  pistol  pointed  at  said  Militia,  and 
the  Regulars  kept  huzzaing  till  he  had  finished  brandishing 
his  sword,  and  when  he  had  thus  finished  brandishing  his 
sword,  he  pointed  it  down  towards  said  Militia,  and  imme- 
diately on  which  the  said  Regulars  fired  a  volley  at  the 
Militia,  and  then  I  ran  off  as  fast  as  I  could,  while  they  con- 
tinued firing  till  I  got  out  of  their  reach.  I  further  testify, 
that  as  soon  as  ever  the  officer  cried  "  Disperse,  you 
rebels,"  the  said  Company  of  Militia  dispersed  every  way 
as  fast  as  they  could,  and  while  they  were  dispersing  the 
Regulars  kept  firing  at  them  incessantly,  and  further  saith 
not.  Thomas  Fessenden. 

Middlesex,  ss.,  April  23,  1775  : 

The  within  named  Thomas  Fessenden  appeared,  and 
after  due  caution  to  testify  the  whole  truth  and  nothing  but 
the  truth,  made  solemn  oath  to  the  truth  of  the  within  de- 
position by  him  subscribed. 

Before  us,  William  Reed, 

Josiah  Johnson, 
William  Stickney, 

Justices  of  the  Peace. 

Province  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay,  ) 
Charlestown,  ss.  ) 
I,  Nathaniel  Gorham,  Notary  and  Tabellion  Publick,  by 
lawful  authority  duly  admitted  and  sworn,  hereby  certify 
to  all  whom  it  may  or  doth  concern,  that  William  Reed, 
Josiah  Johnson,  and  William  Stickney,  Esquires,  are  three 
of  His  Majesty's  Justices  of  the  Peace  for  the  County  of 
Middlesex,  and  that  full  faith  and  credit  is  to  be  given  to 
their  transactions  as  such.  In  witness  whereof  I  have  here- 
unto affixed  my  hand  and  seal  this  twenty-sixth  day  of 
April,  Anno  Domini  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and 
seventy-five. 

Nathaniel  Gorham,  Notary  Publick. 
[No.  13.] 

I,  John  Bateman,  belonging  to  the  Fifty-Second  Regi- 
ment, commanded  by  Colonel  Jones,  on  Wednesday  morn- 
ing on  the  nineteenth  day  of  April  instant,  was  in  the 
party  marching  to  Concord,  being  at  Lexington,  in  the 
County  of  Middlesex;  being  nigh  the  meeting-house  in 
said  Lexington,  there  was  a  small  party  of  men  gathered 
together  in  that  place  when  our  Troops  marched  by,  and  I 
testify  and  declare,  that  I  heard  the  word  of  command  given 
to  the  Troops  to  fire,  and  some  of  said  Troops  did  fire, 
and  I  saw  one  of  said  small  party  lay  dead  on  the  ground 
nigh  said  meeting-house,  and  1  testify  that  1  never  heard 
any  of  the  inhabitants  so  much  as  fire  one  gun  on  said 
Troops.  John  Bateman. 

Middlesex,  ss.,  April  23,  1775  : 

The  above  named  John  Bateman  voluntarily,  being 
previously  cautioned  to  relate  nothing  but  the  truth,  made 
solemn  oath  to  the  above  deposition  by  him  subscribed. 
Before  us,  John  Cummings, 

Duncan  Ingraiiam, 
Justices  of  the  Peace. 

Province  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay,  ) 
Charlestown,  ss.  £ 
I,  Nathaniel  Gorham,  Notary  and  Tabellion  Publick, 
duly  admitted  and  sworn,  do  certify  that  John  Cummings 
and  Duncan  Ingraham,  Esquires,  are  two  of  His  Majes- 
ty's Justices  of  the  Peace  for  the  County  of  Middlesex, 
and  that  full  faith  and  credit  is  to  be  given  to  their  transac- 
tions as  such.    In  witness  whereof  I  have  hereunto  affixed 


497 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  he,  MAY,  1775. 


498 


my  name  and  seal  this  twenty-sixth  day  of  April,  one  thou- 
sand seven  hundred  and  seventy-five. 

Nath'l  Gorham,  Notary  Publick. 

[No.  14.] 

Lexington,  April  23,  1775. 
We,  John  Hoar,  John  Whitehead,  Abraham  Garfield, 
Benjamin  Munroe,  Isaac  Parks,  William  Hosmer,  John 
Adams,  and  Gregory  Stone,  all  of  Lincoln,  in  the  County 
of  Middlesex,  Massachusetts- Bay,  all  of  lawful  age,  do 
testify  and  say,  that  on  Wednesday  last  we  were  assembled 
at  Concord  in  the  morning  of  said  day,  in  consequence  of 
information  received  that  a  Brigade  of  Regular  Troops 
were  on  their  march  to  the  said  Town  of  Concord,  who 
had  killed  six  men  at  the  Town  of  Lexington.  About  an 
hour  afterward  we  saw  them  approaching  to  the  number, 
as  we  apprehended,  of  about  twelve  hundred,  on  which 
we  retreated  to  a  mill  about  eighty  rods  back,  and  the  said 
Troops  then  took  possession  of  the  hill  where  we  were 
first  posted.  Presently  after  this  we  saw  the  Troops  mov- 
ing towards  the  North  Bridge,  about  one  mile  from  the 
said  Concord  meeting-house ;  we  then  immediately  went 
before  them  and  passed  the  bridge,  just  before  a  party  of 
them,  to  the  number  of  about  two  hundred,  arrived  ;  they 
there  left  about  one-half  of  their  two  hundred  at  the  bridge, 
and  proceeded  with  the  rest  towards  Colonel  Barrett's, 
about  two  miles  from  the  said  bridge.  We  then  seeing 
several  fires  in  the  Town,  thought  the  houses  in  Concord 
were  in  danger,  and  marched  towards  the  said  bridge,  and 
the  Troops  who  were  stationed  there  observing  our  ap- 
proach, marched  back  over  the  bridge,  and  then  took  up 
some  of  the  plank  ;  we  then  hastened  our  march  towards 
the  bridge,  and  when  we  had  got  near  the  bridge  they  fired 
on  our  men,  first  three  guns,  (one  after  the  other,)  and  then 
a  considerable  number  more;  and  then,  and  not  before, 
(having  orders  from  our  commanding  officer  not  to  fire  till 
we  were  fired  upon,)  we  fired  upon  the  Regulars,  and  they 
retreated.  On  their  retreat  through  the  Town  of  Lexing- 
ton  to  Charlestown,  they  ravaged  and  destroyed  private 
property,  and  burnt  three  houses,  one  barn,  and  one  shop. 

John  Hoar,  Isaac  Parks, 

John  Whitehead,   William  Hosmer, 
Ab'm  Garfield,       John  Adams, 
Benjamin  Munroe,  Gregory  Stone. 

Middlesex,  ss.,  April  23,  1775  : 

The  within  named  John  Hoar,  John  Whitehead,  Abra- 
ham Garfield,  Benjamin  Munroe,  Isaac  Parks,  William 
Hosmer,  John  Adams,  and  Gregory  Stone,  appeared  and 
made  solemn  oath  to  the  truth  of  the  within  deposition. 
Before  us,  William  Reed, 

John  Cummings, 
Jonathan  Hastings, 
Duncan  Ingraham, 
Justices  of  the  Peace. 

Province  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay, 
Charlestown,  ss. 
I,  Nathaniel  Gorham,  Notary  and  Tabellion  Publick, 
duly  admitted  and  sworn,  do  certify,  that  William  Reed, 
John  Cummings,  Jonathan  Hastings,  and  Duncan  Ingra- 
ham, Esquires,  are  four  of  His  Majesty's  Justices,  and  that 
full  faith  is  to  be  given  to  their  transactions  as  such.  In 
witness  whereof  I  have  hereunto  affixed  my  name  and  seal 
this  twenty-sixth  day  of  April,  one  thousand  seven  hun- 
dred and  seventy-five. 

Nath'l  Gorham,  Notary  Publick. 

[No.  15.] 

Lexington,  April  23,  1775. 

We,  Nathan  Barrett,  Captain  ;  Jonathan  Farrer,  Joseph 
Butler,  and  Francis  Wheeler,  Lieutenants ;  John  Barrett, 
Ensign  ;  John  Brown,  Silas  Walker,  Ephraim  Melvin, 
Nathan  Buttrick,  Stephen  Hosmer,  Junior,  Samuel  Bar- 
rett, Thomas  Jones,  Joseph  Chandler,  Peter  Wheeler, 
Nathan  Peirce,  and  Edward  Richardson,  all  of  Concord, 
in  the  County  of  Middlesex,  in  the  Province  of  the  Mas- 
sachusetts-Bay, of  lawful  age,  testify  and  declare,  that  on 
Wednesday,  the  nineteenth  instant,  about  an  hour  after 
sunrise,  we  assembled  on  a  hill  near  the  meeting-house 
in  Concord  aforesaid,  in  consequence  of  an  information, 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii.  32 


that  a  number  of  Regular  Troops  had  killed  six  of  our 
countrymen  at  Lexington ,  and  were  on  their  march  to 
said  Concord ;  and  about  an  hour  afterwards  we  saw  them 
approaching  to  the  number,  as  we  imagine,  of  about  twelve 
hundred ;  on  which  we  retreated  to  a  hill  about  eighty  rods 
back,  and  the  aforesaid  Troops  then  took  possession  of  the 
hill  where  we  were  first  posted.  Presently  after  this  we 
saw  them  moving  towards  the  North  Bridge,  about  one 
mile  from  said  meeting-house ;  we  then  immediately  went  be- 
fore them,  and  passed  the  bridge  just  before  a  party  of  them, 
to  the  number  of  about  two  hundred,  arrived.  They  there 
left  about  one-half  of  these  two  hundred  at  the  bridge,  and 
proceeded  with  the  rest  towards  Colonel  Barrett's,  about 
two  miles  from  the  said  bridge.  We  then  seeing  several 
fires  in  the  Town,  thought  our  houses  were  in  danger,  and 
immediately  marched  back  towards  said  bridge,  and  the 
Troops  who  were  stationed  there  observing  our  approach, 
marched  back  over  the  bridge,  and  then  took  up  some  of 
the  planks.  We  then  hastened  our  steps  towards  the 
bridge,  and  when  we  had  got  near  the  bridge,  they  fired 
on  our  men,  first  three  guns,  (one  after  the  other,)  and  then 
a  considerable  number  more  ;  upon  which,  and  not  before, 
(having  orders  from  our  commanding  officer  not  to  fire  till 
we  were  fired  upon,)  we  fired  upon  the  Regulars,  and  they 
retreated.  At  Concord,  and  on  their  retreat  through  Lex- 
ington, they  plundered  many  houses,  burnt  three  at  Lexing- 
ton, together  with  a  shop  and  a  barn,  and  committed  damage, 
more  or  less,  to  almost  every  house  from  Concord  to  Charles- 
toivn.        Nathan  Barrett,      Nathan  Buttrick, 

Jonathan  Farrer,     Stephen  Hosmer,  Jr., 
Joseph  Butler,         Samuel  Barrett, 
Francis  Wheeler, 
John  Barrett, 
John  Brown, 
Silas  Walker, 
Ephraim  Melvin, 


Thomas  Jones, 
Joseph  Chandler, 
Peter  Wheeler, 
Nathan  Peirce, 
Edward  Richardson. 


Lexington,  April  23,  1775. 
We,  Joseph  Butler  and  Ephraim  Melvin,  do  testify  and 
declare,  that  when  the  Regular  Troops  fired  upon  our  people 
at  the  North  Bridge  in  Concord,  as  related  in  the  foregoing 
deposition,  they  shot  one,  and  we  believe  two,  of  our 
people,  before  we  fired  a  single  gun  at  them. 

Joseph  Butler, 
Ephraim  Melvin. 

Middlesex,  55.,  April  23,  177  5  : 

The  within  named  Nathan  Barrett,  Jonathan  Farrer, 
Joseph  Butler,  Francis  Wheeler,  John  Barrett,  John 
Brown,  Silas  Walker,  Ephraim  Melvin,  Nathan  Buttrick, 
Stephen  Hosmer,  Junior,  Samuel  Barrett,  Thomas  Jones, 
Joseph  Chandler,  Peter  JVheeler,  Nathan  Peirce,  and  Ed- 
ivard  Richardson,  appeared  and  made  solemn  oath  to  the 
truth  of  the  above  deposition  by  them  subscribed. 

Before  us,  Jonathan  Hastings, 

John  Cummings, 
Duncan  Ingraham, 
Justices  of  the  Peace. 

Province  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay, 
Charlestown,  ss. 
I,  Nathaniel  Gorham,  Notary  and  Tabellion  Publick, 
duly  admitted  and  sworn,  do  hereby  certify  all  whom  it 
may  or  doth  concern,  that  Jonathan  Hastings,  John  Cum- 
mings, and  Duncan  Ingraham,  Esquires,  are  three  of  His 
Majesty's  Justices  for  the  County  of  Middlesex,  and  that 
full  faith  and  credit  is  to  be  given  to  their  transactions  as 
such.  In  witness  whereof  I  have  hereunto  affixed  my 
name  and  seal  this  twenty-sixth  day  of  April,  one  thou- 
sand seven  hundred  and  seventy-five. 

Nathaniel  Gorham,  Notary  Publick. 

[No.  16.] 

Concord,  April  23,  1775. 
1,  Timothy  Minot,  Junior,  of  Concord,  on  the  nineteenth 
day  of  this  instant,  April,  after  that  I  had  heard  of  the 
Regular  Troops  firing  upon  Lexington  men,  and  fearing 
that  hostilities  might  be  committed  at  Concord,  thought  it 
my  incumbent  duty  to  secure  my  family.  After  1  had 
secured  my  family,  some  time  after  that  returning  towards 
my  own  dwelling  and  finding  that  the  bridge  on  the  north- 


499 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


500 


em  part  of  said  Concord  was  guarded  by  Regular  Troops, 
being  a  spectator  of  what  bad  happened  at  said  bridge, 
declare  that  the  Regular  Troops  stationed  on  said  bridge, 
after  they  saw  the  men  that  were  collected  on  the  westerly 
side  of  said  bridge  march  towards  said  bridge,  then  the 
Troops  returned  towards  the  easterly  side  of  said  bridge, 
and  formed  themselves,  as  I  thought,  for  regular  fight. 
After  that  they  fired  one  gun,  then  two  or  three  more, 
before  the  men  that  were  stationed  on  the  westerly  part  of 
said  bridge  fired  upon  them.      Timothy  Minot,  Jun. 

Middlesex,  ss.,  April  23,  1775  : 

Doctor  Timothy  Minot,  Junior,  personally  appeared, 
and  after  due  caution  to  testify  the  truth  and  nothing  but 
the  truth,  made  solemn  oath  to  the  truth  of  the  above 
deposition  by  him  subscribed. 

Before  us,  William  Reed, 

Jonathan  Hastings, 
John  Cummings, 
Duncan  Ingraham, 

Justices  of  the  Peace. 

Province  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay,  > 
Charlestown,  ss.  5 
I,  Nathaniel  Gorham,  Notary  and  Tabellion  Publick, 
duly  admitted  and  sworn,  do  certify  all  whom  it  doth  or 
may  concern,  that  William  Reed,  Jonathan  Hastings, 
John  Cummings,  and  Duncan  Ingraham,  are  four  of  His 
Majesty's  Justices  for  the  County  of  Middlesex,  and  that 
full  faith  and  credit  is  to  be  given  to  their  transactions  as 
such.  In  witness  whereof  I  have  hereunto  affixed  my 
name  and  seal  this  twenty-sixth  day  of  April,  one  thousand 
seven  hundred  and  seventy-five. 

Nathaniel  Gorham,  Notary  Publick. 

[No.  17.] 

Lexington,  April  23,  1775. 

I,  James  Barrett,  of  Concord,  Colonel  of  a  Regiment 
of  Militia  in  the  County  of  Middlesex,  do  testify  and  say, 
that  on  Wednesday  morning  last  about  daybreak  I  was  in- 
formed of  the  approach  of  a  number  of  the  Regular  Troops 
to  the  Town  of  Concord,  where  were  some  magazines  be- 
longing to  this  Province.  When  there  was  assembled 
some  of  the  Militia  of  this  and  the  neighbouring  Towns, 
I  ordered  them  to  march  to  the  North  Bridge,  (so  called,) 
which  they  had  passed  and  were  taking  up.  I  ordered 
said  Militia  to  march  to  said  bridge  and  pass  the  same,  but 
not  to  fire  on  the  King's  Troops  unless  they  were  first 
fired  upon.  We  advanced  near  said  bridge,  when  the  said 
Troops  fired  upon  our  Militia  and  killed  two  men  dead  on 
the  spot,  and  wounded  several  others,  which  was  the  first 
firing  of  guns  in  the  Town  of  Concord.  My  detachment 
then  returned  the  fire,  which  killed  and  wounded  several 
of  the  King's  Troops.  James  Barrett. 

Middlesex,  ss.,  April  23,  1775  : 

The  above  named  James  Barrett  personally  appeared, 
and  after  due  caution  to  testify  the  whole  truth  and  nothing 
but  the  truth,  made  solemn  oath  to  the  truth  of  the  above 
deposition  by  him  subscribed. 

Before  us,  William  Reed, 

Jonathan  Hastings, 
Duncan  Ingraham, 
Justices  of  the  Peace. 

Province  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay,  ) 
Charlestown,  ss.  $ 
I,  Nathaniel  Gorham,  Notary  and  Tabellion  Publick, 
duly  admitted  and  sworn,  do  certify  all  whom  it  doth 
or  may  concern,  that  William  Reed,  Jonathan  Hastings, 
and  Duncan  Ingraham,  Esquires,  are  three  of  His  Majes- 
ty's Justices  for  the  County  of  Middlesex,  and  that  full 
faith  and  credit  is  to  be  given  to  their  transactions  as  such. 
In  witness  whereof  I  have  hereunto  affixed  my  name  and 
seal  this  twenty-sixth  day  of  April,  one  thousand  seven 
hundred  and  seventy-five. 

Nath'l  Gorham,  Notary  Publick. 

[No.  18.] 

Lexington,  April  23,  1775. 
We,  Bradbury  Robinson,  Samuel  Spring,  Thaddeus 
Bancroft,  all  of  Concord,  and  James  Adams,  of  Lexing- 


ton, all  in  the  County  of  Middlesex,  all  of  lawful  age,  do 
testify  and  say,  that  on  Wednesday  morning  last,  near  ten 
of  the  clock,  we  saw  near  one  hundred  of  the  Regular 
Troops,  being  in  the  Town  of  Concord,  at  the  North  Bridge 
in  said  Town,  (so  called,)  and  having  passed  the  same, 
they  were  taking  up  said  bridge,  when  about  three  hun- 
dred of  our  Militia  were  advancing  towards  said  bridge  in 
order  to  pass  said  bridge,  when,  without  saying  any  thing 
to  us,  they  discharged  a  number  of  guns  on  us,  which  killed 
two  men  dead  on  the  spot,  and  wounded  several  others, 
when  we  returned  the  fire  on  them,  which  killed  two  of 
them  and  wounded  several ;  which  was  the  beginning  of 
hostilities  in  the  Town  of  Concord. 

Bradbury  Robinson, 
Samuel  Spring, 
Thaddeus  Bancroft, 
James  Adams. 

Middlesex,  ss.,  April  23,  1775: 

The  withinnamed  Bradbury  Robinson,  Samuel  Spring, 
Thaddeus  Bancroft,  and  James  Adams,  made  solemn  oath 
to  the  truth  of  the  within  deposition  by  them  subscribed. 
Before  us,  William  Reed, 

William  Stickney, 
Jonathan  Hastings, 
Justices  of  the  Peace. 

Province  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay,  ) 
Charlestown,  ss.  y 
I,  Nathaniel  Gorham,  Notary  and  Tabellion  Publick, 
certify  to  all  whom  it  doth  or  may  concern,  that  William 
Reed,  William  Stickney,  and  Jonathan  Hastings,  Esqrs., 
are  three  of  His  Majesty's  Justices  of  the  Peace  for  the 
County  of  Middlesex,  and  that  full  faith  and  credit  is  and 
ought  to  be  given  to  their  transactions  as  such.  In  witness 
whereof  I  have  hereunto  affixed  my  name  and  seal  this 
twenty-sixth  day  of  April,  Anno  Domini  one  thousand 
seven  hundred  and  seventy-five. 

Nath'l  Gorham,  Notary  Publick. 

[No.  19.] 

Concord,  April  23,  1775. 
I,  James  Marr,  of  lawful  age,  testify  and  say,  that  in 
the  evening  of  the  eighteenth  instant,  1  received  orders 
from  George  Hutchinson,  Adjutant  of  the  Fourth  Regi- 
ment of  Regular  Troops  stationed  at  Boston,  to  prepare 
and  march,  to  which  order  I  attended,  and  marched  to  Con- 
cord, where  I  was  ordered  by  an  officer,  with  about  one 
hundred  men,  to  guard  a  certain  bridge  there.  While  at- 
tending that  service,  a  number  of  people  came  along,  in 
order,  as  I  suppose,  to  cross  said  bridge,  at  which  time  a 
number  of  the  Regular  Troops  first  fired  upon  them. 

James  Marr. 

Middlesex,  ss.,  April  23,  1775: 

The  above  named  James  Marr  appeared,  and  after  due 
caution  to  testify  the  truth  and  nothing  but  the  truth,  made 
solemn  oath  to  the  truth  of  the  above  deposition  by  him 
voluntarily  subscribed. 

Before  us  :  Duncan  Ingraham, 

Jonas  Dix. 

Justices  of  the  Peace. 

Province  of  Massachusetts-Bay,  ) 
Charlestown,  ss.  ) 

1,  Nathaniel  Gorham,  Notary  and  Tabellion  Publick, 
duly  admitted  and  sworn,  do  certify  that  Duncan  Ingraham 
and  Jonas  Dix,  Esquires,  are  two  of  His  Majesty's  Jus- 
tices for  the  County  of  Middlesex,  and  that  full  faith  and 
credit  is  to  be  given  to  their  transactions  as  such.  In  wit- 
ness whereof  I  have  hereunto  affixed  my  name  and  seal, 
this  twenty-sixth  day  of  April,  one  thousand  seven  hundred 
and  seventy-five. 

Nathaniel  Gorham,  Notary  Publick. 

[No.  20.] 

Modford,  April  25,  1775. 
I,  Edward  Thoroton  Gould,  of  His  Majesty's  own  Re- 
giment of  Foot,  being  of  lawful  age,  do  testify  and  declare, 
that  on  the  evening  of  the  eighteenth  instant,  under  the 
orders  of  General  Gage,  I  embarked  with  the  Light-Infan- 
try and  Grenadiers  of  the  line,  commanded  by  Colonel 


501 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  Sic,  MAY,  1775. 


502 


Smith,  and  landed  on  the  marshes  of  Cambridge,  from 
whence  we  proceeded  to  Lexington.  On  our  arrival  at 
that  place,  we  saw  a  body  of  Provincial  Troops  armed,  to 
the  number  of  about  sixty  or  seventy  men  ;  on  our  ap- 
proach they  dispersed,  and  soon  after  firing  began  ;  but 
which  party  fired  first,  I  cannot  exactly  say,  as  our  Troops 
rushed  on  shouting  and  huzzaing  previous  to  the  firing, 
which  was  continued  by  our  Troops  as  long  as  any  of  the 
Provincials  were  to  be  seen.  From  thence  we  marched  to 
Concord.  On  a  hill  near  the  entrance  of  the  Town,  we 
saw  another  body  of  Provincials  assembled  ;  the  Light- 
Infantry  Companies  were  ordered  up  the  hill  to  disperse 
them ;  on  our  approach  they  retreated  towards  Concord. 
The  Grenadiers  continued  on  the  road  under  the  hill  towards 
the  Town.  Six  companies  of  Light-Infantry  were  ordered 
down  to  take  possession  of  the  bridge  which  the  Provin- 
cials retreated  over ;  the  Company  I  commanded  was  one  ; 
three  Companies  of  the  above  detachment  went  forward 
about  two  miles.  In  the  mean  time  the  Provincial  Troops 
returned,  to  the  number  of  about  three  or  four  hundred. 
We  drew  up  on  the  Concord  side  of  the  bridge ;  the  Pro- 
vincials came  down  upon  us,  upon  which  we  engaged,  and 
gave  the  first  fire.  This  was  the  first  engagement  after  the 
one  at  Lexington;  a  continual  firing  from  both  parties 
lasted  through  the  whole  day.  I  myself  was  wounded  at 
the  attack  of  the  bridge,  and  am  now  treated  with  the 
greatest  humanity,  and  taken  all  possible  care  of  by  the 
Provincials  at  Medford.     Edwd.  Thoroton  Gould, 

Lieut.  King's  own  Regt. 

Province  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay,  ) 
Middlesex  County,  April  25,  1775.  } 

Lieutenant  Ed  ward  Thoroton  Gould,  aforenamed,  per- 
sonally made  oath  to  the  truth  of  the  foregoing  declaration 
by  him  subscribed.    Before  us :       Thad.  Mason, 

Josiah  Johnson, 
Simon  Tufts, 
Justices  of  the  Peace  for  the  County  aforesaid, 
Quorum  unus. 

Province  of  Massachusetts-Bay,  ) 
Charlestown,  ss.  J 
I,  Nathaniel  Gorham,  Notary  and  Tabellion  Publick, 
by  lawful  authority  duly  admitted  and  sworn,  hereby  cer- 
tify to  all  whom  it  doth  or  may  concern,  that  Thaddeus 
Mason,  Josiah  Johnson,  and  Simon  Tufts,  Esquires,  are 
three  of  His  Majesty's  Justices  of  the  Peace,  quorum  unus, 
for  the  County  of  Middlesex ;  and  that  full  faith  and 
credit  is  and  ought  to  be  given  to  their  transactions  as  such, 
both  in  Court  and  out.  In  witness  I  have  hereunto  affixed 
my  name  and  seal,  this  twenty-sixth  day  of  April,  Anno 
Domini  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  seventy-five. 

Nathaniel  Gorham,  Notary  Publick. 


ALEXANDER  SCAMMELL  TO  JOHN  SULLIVAN. 

Portsmouth,  New-Hampshire,  May  3,  1775. 

Honoured  Sir:  Your  leaving  New- Hampshire  at  a 
time  when  your  presence  was  so  extremely  necessary  to 
cherish  the  glorious  ardour  which  you  have  been  so  instru- 
mental in  inspiring  us  with,  spread  a  general  gloom  in  Dur- 
ham, and  in  some  measure  damped  the  spirit  of  liberty 
through  the  Province  ;  and  nothing  but  the  important  busi- 
ness in  which  you  are  embarked  would  induce  us  to  dis- 
pense with  your  presence  with  any  degree  of  patience  or 
resignation. 

But  when  the  horrid  din  of  civil  carnage  surprised  us  on 
the  20th  of  April,  the  universal  cry  was — Oh  !  if  Major 
Sulli  van  was  here !  I  wish  to  God  Major  Sulliva?i  was 
here !  ran  through  the  distressed  multitude.  April  Court, 
which  was  then  sitting,  adjourned  immediately.  To  arms  ! 
to  arms !  was  breathed  forth  in  sympathetick  groans. 

I  went  express  to  Boston,  by  desire  of  the  Congressional 
Committee,  then  sitting  at  Durham,  proceeded  as  far  as 
Bradford,  where  I  obtained  credible  information  that  even- 
ing. ^  Next  morning  1  arrived  at  Exeter,  where  the  Pro- 
vincial Congress  was  assembling  with  all  possible  haste. 
There  I  reported  what  intelligence  I  had  gained :  that 
the  American  Army  at  Cambridge,  Woburn,  and  Charles- 
town,  was  more  in  need  of  provisions  than  men  ;  that  fifty 
thousand  had  assembled  in  thirty-six  hours ;  and  that  the 


Regulars,  who  had  retreated  from  Concord,  had  encamped 
on  Bunker's  Hill,  in  Charlestoivn . 

The  Congress,  upon  this  report,  resolved  that  the  Dur- 
ham Company,  then  at  Exeter,  (armed  complete  for  an 
engagement,  with  a  week's  provisions,)  should  return  home, 
and  keep  themselves  in  constant  readiness.  All  the  men 
being  gone  from  the  westward  and  southward  of  Newmar- 
ket, and  Men-of-War  expected  hourly  into  Portsmouth,  it 
was  with  the  greatest  difficulty  your  Durham  soldiers  were 
prevailed  upon  to  return.  Six  or  seven  expresses  arrived 
at  Durham  the  night  after  our  return  ;  some  desiring  us  to 
march  to  Kittcry ;  some  to  Hampton;  some  to  Ipswich, 
he,  which  places,  they  said,  sundry  Men-of-War  were 
ravaging.  The  whole  country  was  in  a  continual  alarm  ; 
but  suspecting  that  the  Marines  at  Portsmouth  might  take 
advantage  of  the  confusion  we  were  then  in,  and  pay  Dur- 
ham a  visit,  we  thought  proper  to  stand  ready  to  give  them 
a  warm  reception  ;  and  supposing  that  your  house  and 
family  would  be  the  first  mark  of  their  vengeance,  although 
I  had  been  express  the  whole  night  before,  I  kept  guard 
to  defend  your  family  and  substance  to  the  last  drop  of  my 
blood.  Master  Smith  being  under  the  same  apprehension, 
did  actually  lay  in  ambush  behind  a  warehouse,  and  came 
very  near  sinking  a  fishing-boat  anchored  off  in  the  river, 
which  he  supposed  heaped  full  of  Marines.  Men,  women, 
and  children,  were  engaged  day  and  night  in  preparing  for 
the  worst. 

Many  Towns  in  this  Province  have  enlisted  Minute-Men, 
and  keep  them  under  pay  ;  and  the  Congress,  before  this, 
would  actually  have  raised  an  army,  had  they  not  waited 
for  the  General  Court,  which  sits  to-morrow,  in  order  to 
raise  as  much  money  as  they  can,  to  pay  off  their  army 
when  raised. 

I  am  extremely  mortified  that  I  am  unable  to  join  the 
army  at  Cambridge.  The  particulars  of  the  skirmish  be- 
tween the  Regulars  and  Americans  will,  long  before  this, 
have  reached  you.  In  longing  expectation,  your  safe,  hap- 
py, and  speedy  return  is  hoped  for  by  all  your  friends,  but 
by  none  more  sincerely  than  your  dutiful  humble  servant, 

Alex.  Scammell. 

To  John  Sullivan,  Esq.,  at  Philadelphia  or  New-  York. 


COMMITTEE  OF  BRUNSWICK  TO  THE  BOSTON  COMMITTEE 
OF  CORRESPONDENCE. 

Brunswick,  May  3,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  We,  whose  names  are  hereunto  subscribed, 
beg  liberty  to  inform  you  with  our  situation,  as  we  are 
chosen  by  this  Town  to  examine  into  the  circumstances  of 
it;  and  finding  the  Town  very  deficient  as  to  arms  and 
ammunition,  have  sent  by  water  to  Salem,  but  have  just 
had  our  money  returned  back,  without  arms  or  ammunition  ; 
and  at  present  we  have  not  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  pound 
of  powder  to  a  man,  throughout  the  Town,  nor  more  than 
one  firelock  to  two  men  ;  and  in  this  defenceless  state  we 
are  obliged  to  apply  to  you  to  assist  our  trusty  friend  whom 
we  have  sent,  which  is  Captain  Nathaniel  Larrabee ;  and 
as  we  think  it  would  be  unsafe  to  transport  powder  by  wa- 
ter, we  have  ordered  him  to  take  only  one  hundred  weight, 
and  for  him  to  consult  with  you  how  and  in  what  way  it 
would  be  safest  to  get  arms  and  more  powder  down  to  us. 

We  should  esteem  it  a  favour  to  be  informed  by  you  by 
way  of  letter,  at  every  convenient  opportunity,  of  our  pub- 
lick affairs.    We  are,  gentlemen,  yours  ever  to  be  com- 
manded,      Aaron  Hinkley,      Saml.  Standwood, 
Benj.  Stone,  James  Curtis. 

Norfolk  (virginia)  committee. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  the  County  of  Nor- 
folk, at  the  Court-House  of  said  County,  on  Thursday, 
the  4th  of  May,  1775 : 

The  Resolves  of  the  Convention  held  at  the  Town  of 
Richmond,  on  the  20th  of  March  last,  were  read,  and  unan- 
imously approved. 

Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  this  Committee  be  pre- 
sented to  Thomas  Neivton,  Junior,  and  James  Holt,  Es- 
quires, our  worthy  Delegates,  for  their  faithful  discharge 
of  the  important  trust  reposed  in  them. 

Having  heretofore  placed  the  highest  degree  of  confi- 
dence in  the  good  intentions  of  our  Chief  Magistrate  to- 


499 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  fee,  MAY,  1775. 


500 


ern  part  of  said  Concord  was  guarded  by  Regular  Troops, 
being  a  spectator  of  what  had  happened  at  said  bridge, 
declare  that  the  Regular  Troops  stationed  on  said  bridge, 
after  they  saw  the  men  that  were  collected  on  the  westerly 
side  of  said  bridge  march  towards  said  bridge,  then  the 
Troops  returned  towards  the  easterly  side  of  said  bridge, 
and  formed  themselves,  as  I  thought,  for  regular  fight. 
After  that  they  fired  one  gun,  then  two  or  three  more, 
before  the  men  that  were  stationed  on  the  westerly  part  of 
said  bridge  fired  upon  them.       Timothy  Minot,  Jun. 

Middlesex,  ss.,  April  23,  1775: 

Doctor  Timothy  Minot,  Junior,  personally  appeared, 
and  after  due  caution  to  testify  the  truth  and  nothing  but 
the  truth,  made  solemn  oath  to  the  truth  of  the  above 
deposition  by  him  subscribed. 

Before  us,  William  Reed, 

Jonathan  Hastings, 
John  Cummings, 
Duncan  Ingkaham, 

Justices  of  the  Peace. 

Province  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay,  ) 
Charlestown,  ss.  $ 
I,  Nathaniel  Gorham,  Notary  and  Tabellion  Publick, 
duly  admitted  and  sworn,  do  certify  all  whom  it  doth  or 
may  concern,  that  William  Reed,  Jonathan  Hastings, 
John  Cummings,  and  Dunca?i  Ingraham,  are  four  of  His 
Majesty's  Justices  for  the  County  of  Middlesex,  and  that 
full  faith  and  credit  is  to  be  given  to  their  transactions  as 
such.  In  witness  whereof  I  have  hereunto  affixed  my 
name  and  seal  this  twenty-sixth  day  of  April,  one  thousand 
seven  hundred  and  seventy-five. 

Nathaniel  Gorham,  Notary  Publick. 

[No.  17.] 

Lexington,  April  23,  1775. 

I,  James  Barrett,  of  Concord,  Colonel  of  a  Regiment 
of  Militia  in  the  County  of  Middlesex,  do  testify  and  say, 
that  on  Wednesday  morning  last  about  daybreak  I  was  in- 
formed of  the  approach  of  a  number  of  the  Regular  Troops 
to  the  Towrn  of  Concord,  where  were  some  magazines  be- 
longing to  this  Province.  When  there  was  assembled 
some  of  the  Militia  of  this  and  the  neighbouring  Towns, 
I  ordered  them  to  march  to  the  North  Bridge,  (so  called,) 
which  they  had  passed  and  were  taking  up.  I  ordered 
said  Militia  to  march  to  said  bridge  and  pass  the  same,  but 
not  to  fire  on  the  King's  Troops  unless  they  were  first 
fired  upon.  We  advanced  near  said  bridge,  when  the  said 
Troops  fired  upon  our  Militia  and  killed  two  men  dead  on 
the  spot,  and  wounded  several  others,  which  was  the  first 
firing  of  guns  in  the  Town  of  Concord.  My  detachment 
then  returned  the  fire,  which  killed  and  wounded  several 
of  the  King's  Troops.  James  Barrett. 

Middlesex,  ss.,  April  23,  1775  : 

The  above  named  James  Barrett  personally  appeared, 
and  after  due  caution  to  testify  the  whole  truth  and  nothing 
but  the  truth,  made  solemn  oath  to  the  truth  of  the  above 
deposition  by  him  subscribed. 

Before  us,  William  Reed, 

Jonathan  Hastings, 
Duncan  Ingraham, 
Justices  of  the  Peace. 

Province  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay,  ) 
Charlestown,  ss.  $ 
I,  Nathaniel  Gorham,  Notary  and  Tabellion  Publick, 
duly  admitted  and  sworn,  do  certify  all  whom  it  doth 
or  may  concern,  that  William  Reed,  Jonathan  Hastings, 
and  Duncan  Ingraham,  Esquires,  are  three  of  His  Majes- 
ty's Justices  for  the  County  of  Middlesex,  and  that  full 
faith  and  credit  is  to  be  given  to  their  transactions  as  such. 
In  witness  whereof  I  have  hereunto  affixed  my  name  and 
seal  this  twenty-sixth  day  of  April,  one  thousand  seven 
hundred  and  seventy-five. 

Nath'l  Gorham,  Notary  Publick. 

[No.  18.] 

Lexington,  April  23,  1775. 
We,  Bradbury  Robinson,  Samuel  Spring,  Thaddeus 
Bancroft,  all  of  Concord,  and  James  Adams,  of  Lexing- 


ton, all  in  the  County  of  Middlesex,  all  of  lawful  age,  do 
testify  and  say,  that  on  Wednesday  morning  last,  near  ten 
of  the  clock,  we  saw  near  one  hundred  of  the  Regular 
Troops,  being  in  the  Town  of  Concord,  at  the  North  Bridge 
in  said  Town,  (so  called,)  and  having  passed  the  same, 
they  were  taking  up  said  bridge,  when  about  three  hun- 
dred of  our  Militia  were  advancing  towards  said  bridge  in 
order  to  pass  said  bridge,  when,  without  saying  any  thing 
to  us,  they  discharged  a  number  of  guns  on  us,  which  killed 
two  men  dead  on  the  spot,  and  wounded  several  others, 
when  we  returned  the  fire  on  them,  which  killed  two  of 
them  and  wounded  several ;  which  was  the  beginning  of 
hostilities  in  the  Town  of  Concord. 

Bradbury  Robinson, 
Samuel  Spring, 
Thaddeus  Bancroft, 
James  Adams. 

Middlesex,  ss.,  April  23,  1775: 

The  withinnamed  Bradbury  Robinson,  Samuel  Spring, 
Thaddeus  Bancroft,  and  James  Adams,  made  solemn  oath 
to  the  truth  of  the  within  deposition  by  them  subscribed. 
Before  us,  William  Reed, 

William  Stickney, 
Jonathan  Hastings, 
Justices  of  the  Peace. 

Province  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay,  ) 
Charlestown,  ss.  $ 
I,  Nathaniel  Gorham,  Notary  and  Tabellion  Publick, 
certify  to  all  whom  it  doth  or  may  concern,  that  William 
Reed,  William  Stickney,  and  Jonathan  Hastings,  Esqrs., 
are  three  of  His  Majesty's  Justices  of  the  Peace  for  the 
County  of  Middlesex,  and  that  full  faith  and  credit  is  and 
ought  to  be  given  to  their  transactions  as  such.  In  witness 
whereof  I  have  hereunto  affixed  my  name  and  seal  this 
twenty-sixth  day  of  April,  Anno  Domini  one  thousand 
seven  hundred  and  seventy-five. 

Nath'l  Gorham,  Notary  Publick. 

[No.  19.] 

Concord,  April  23,  1775. 
I,  James  Marr,  of  lawful  age,  testify  and  say,  that  in 
the  evening  of  the  eighteenth  instant,  1  received  orders 
from  George  Hutchinson,  Adjutant  of  the  Fourth  Regi- 
ment of  Regular  Troops  stationed  at  Boston,  to  prepare 
and  march,  to  which  order  I  attended,  and  marched  to  Con- 
cord, where  1  was  ordered  by  an  officer,  with  about  one 
hundred  men,  to  guard  a  certain  bridge  there.  While  at- 
tending that  service,  a  number  of  people  came  along,  in 
order,  as  I  suppose,  to  cross  said  bridge,  at  which  time  a 
number  of  the  Regular  Troops  first  fired  upon  them. 

James  Marr. 

Middlesex,  ss.,  April  23,  1775: 

The  above  named  James  Marr  appeared,  and  after  due 
caution  to  testify  the  truth  and  nothing  but  the  truth,  made 
solemn  oath  to  the  truth  of  the  above  deposition  by  him 
voluntarily  subscribed. 

Before  us  :  Duncan  Ingraham, 

Jonas  Dix. 

Justices  of  the  Peace. 

Province  of  Massachusetts-Bay,  ) 
Charlestown,  ss.  $ 
I,  Nathaniel  Gorham,  Notary  and  Tabellion  Publick, 
duly  admitted  and  sworn,  do  certify  that  Duncan  Ingraham 
and  Jonas  Dix,  Esquires,  are  two  of  His  Majesty's  Jus- 
tices for  the  County  of  Middlesex,  and  that  full  faith  and 
credit  is  to  be  given  to  their  transactions  as  such.  In  wit- 
ness whereof  I  have  hereunto  affixed  my  name  and  seal, 
this  twenty-sixth  day  of  April,  one  thousand  seven  hundred" 
and  seventy-five. 

Nathaniel  Gorham,  Notary  Publick. 

[No.  20.] 

Medford,  April  25,  1775. 

I,  Edward  Thoroton  Gould,  of  His  Majesty's  own  Re- 
giment of  Foot,  being  of  lawful  age,  do  testify  and  declare, 
that  on  the  evening  of  the  eighteenth  instant,  under  the 
orders  of  General  Gage,  I  embarked  with  the  Light-Infan- 
try and  Grenadiers  of  the  line,  commanded  by  Colonel 


501 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  k,  MAY,  1775. 


502 


Smith,  and  landed  on  the  marshes  of  Cambridge,  from 
whence  we  proceeded  to  Lexington.  On  our  arrival  at 
that  place,  we  saw  a  body  of  Provincial  Troops  armed,  to 
the  number  of  about  sixty  or  seventy  men ;  on  our  ap- 
proach they  dispersed,  and  soon  after  firing  began  ;  but 
which  party  fired  first,  I  cannot  exactly  say,  as  our  Troops 
rushed  on  shouting  and  huzzaing  previous  to  the  firing, 
which  was  continued  by  our  Troops  as  long  as  any  of  the 
Provincials  were  to  be  seen.  From  thence  we  marched  to 
Concord.  On  a  hill  near  the  entrance  of  the  Town,  we 
saw  another  body  of  Provincials  assembled  ;  the  Light- 
Infantry  Companies  were  ordered  up  the  hill  to  disperse 
them ;  on  our  approach  they  retreated  towards  Concord. 
The  Grenadiers  continued  on  the  road  under  the  hill  towards 
the  Town.  Six  companies  of  Light-Infantry  were  ordered 
down  to  take  possession  of  the  bridge  which  the  Provin- 
cials retreated  over ;  the  Company  1  commanded  was  one  ; 
three  Companies  of  the  above  detachment  went  forward 
about  two  miles.  In  the  mean  lime  the  Provincial  Troops 
returned,  to  the  number  of  about  three  or  four  hundred. 
We  drew  up  on  the  Concord  side  of  the  bridge ;  the  Pro- 
vincials came  down  upon  us,  upon  which  we  engaged,  and 
gave  the  first  fire.  This  was  the  first  engagement  after  the 
one  at  Lexington;  a  continual  firing  from  both  parties 
lasted  through  the  whole  day.  I  myself  was  wounded  at 
the  attack  of  the  bridge,  and  am  now  treated  with  the 
greatest  humanity,  and  taken  all  possible  care  of  by  the 
Provincials  at  Medford.     Enwc  Thoroton  Gould, 

Lieut.  King's  own  Regt. 

Province  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay,  ) 
Middlesex  County,  April  25,  1775.  ) 

Lieutenant  Edward  Thoroton  Gould,  aforenamed,  per- 
sonally made  oath  to  the  truth  of  the  foregoing  declaration 
by  him  subscribed.    Before  us :       Thad.  Mason, 

Josiah  Johnson, 
Simon  Tufts, 
Justices  of  the  Peace  for  the  County  aforesaid, 
Quorum  unus. 

Province  of  Massachusetts-Bay,  ) 
Charlestown,  ss.  5 
I,  Nathaniel  Gorham,  Notary  and  Tabellion  Publick, 
by  lawful  authority  duly  admitted  and  sworn,  hereby  cer- 
tify to  all  whom  it  doth  or  may  concern,  that  Thaddeus 
Mason,  Josiah  Johnson,  and  Simon  Tufts,  Esquires,  are 
three  of  His  Majesty's  Justices  of  the  Peace,  quorum  unus, 
for  the  County  of  Middlesex ;  and  that  full  faith  and 
credit  is  and  ought  to  be  given  to  their  transactions  as  such, 
both  in  Court  and  out.  In  witness  I  have  hereunto  affixed 
my  name  and  seal,  this  twenty-sixth  day  of  April,  Anno 
Domini  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  seventy-five. 

Nathaniel  Gorham,  Notary  Publick. 


ALEXANDER  SCAMMELL  TO  JOHN  SULLIVAN. 

Portsmouth,  New-Hampshire,  May  3,  1775. 

Honoured  Sir:  Your  leaving  New-Hampshire  at  a 
time  when  your  presence  was  so  extremely  necessary  to 
cherish  the  glorious  ardour  which  you  have  been  so  instru- 
mental in  inspiring  us  with,  spread  a  general  gloom  in  Dur- 
ham, and  in  some  measure  damped  the  spirit  of  liberty 
through  the  Province  ;  and  nothing  but  the  important  busi- 
ness in  which  you  are  embarked  would  induce  us  to  dis- 
pense with  your  presence  with  any  degree  of  patience  or 
resignation. 

But  when  the  horrid  din  of  civil  carnage  surprised  us  on 
the  20th  of  April,  the  universal  cry  was — Oh  !  if  Major 
Sullivan  was  here !  I  wish  to  God  Major  Sullivan  was 
here!  ran  through  the  distressed  multitude.  April  Court, 
which  was  then  sitting,  adjourned  immediately.  To  arms  ! 
to  arms !  was  breathed  forth  in  sympathetick  groans. 

I  went  express  to  Boston,  by  desire  of  the  Congressional 
Committee,  then  sitting  at  Durh  am,  proceeded  as  far  as 
Bradford,  where  I  obtained  credible  information  that  even- 
ing. Next  morning  I  arrived  at  Exeter,  where  the  Pro- 
vincial Congress  was  assembling  with  all  possible  haste. 
There  I  reported  what  intelligence  I  had  gained :  that 
the  American  Army  at  Cambridge,  Woburn,  and  Charles- 
town, was  more  in  need  of  provisions  than  men  ;  that  fifty 
thousand  had  assembled  in  thirty-six  hours ;  and  that  the 


Regulars,  who  had  retreated  from  Concord,  had  encamped 
on  Bunker's  Hill,  in  Charlestoivn . 

The  Congress,  upon  this  report,  resolved  that  the  Dur- 
ham Company,  then  at  Exeter,  (armed  complete  for  an 
engagement,  with  a  week's  provisions,)  should  return  home, 
and  keep  themselves  in  constant  readiness.  All  the  men 
being  gone  from  the  westward  and  southward  of  Newmar- 
ket, and  Men-of-War  expected  hourly  into  Portsmouth,  it 
was  with  the  greatest  difficulty  your  Durham  soldiers  were 
prevailed  upon  to  return.  Six  or  seven  expresses  arrived 
at  Durham  the  night  after  our  return  ;  some  desiring  us  to 
march  to  Kittcry ;  some  to  Hampton;  some  to  Ipswich, 
&c,  which  places,  they  said,  sundry  Men-of-War  were 
ravaging.  The  whole  country  was  in  a  continual  alarm  ; 
but  suspecting  that  the  Marines  at  Portsmouth  might  take 
advantage  of  the  confusion  we  were  then  in,  and  pay  Dur- 
ham a  visit,  we  thought  proper  to  stand  ready  to  give  them 
a  warm  reception  ;  and  supposing  that  your  house  and 
family  would  be  the  first  mark  of  their  vengeance,  although 
I  had  been  express  the  whole  night  before,  I  kept  guard 
to  defend  your  family  and  substance  to  the  last  drop  of  my 
blood.  Master  Smith  being  under  the  same  apprehension, 
did  actually  lay  in  ambush  behind  a  warehouse,  and  came 
very  near  sinking  a  fishing-boat  anchored  off  in  the  river, 
which  he  supposed  heaped  full  of  Marines.  Men,  women, 
and  children,  were  engaged  day  and  night  in  preparing  for 
the  worst. 

Many  Towns  in  this  Province  have  enlisted  Minute-Men, 
and  keep  them  under  pay  ;  and  the  Congress,  before  this, 
would  actually  have  raised  an  army,  had  they  not  waited 
for  the  General  Court,  which  sits  to-morrow,  in  order  to 
raise  as  much  money  as  they  can,  to  pay  off  their  army 
when  raised. 

I  am  extremely  mortified  that  I  am  unable  to  join  the 
army  at  Cambridge.  The  particulars  of  the  skirmish  be- 
tween the  Regulars  and  Americans  will,  long  before  this, 
have  reached  you.  In  longing  expectation,  your  safe,  hap- 
py, and  speedy  return  is  hoped  for  by  all  your  friends,  but 
by  none  more  sincerely  than  your  dutiful  humble  servant, 

Alex.  Scammell. 

To  John  Sullivan,  Esq.,  at  Philadelphia  or  Neiv-York. 


COMMITTEE  OF  BRUNSWICK  TO  THE  BOSTON  COMMITTEE 
OF  CORRESPONDENCE. 

Brunswick,  May  3,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  We,  whose  names  are  hereunto  subscribed, 
beg  liberty  to  inform  you  with  our  situation,  as  we  are 
chosen  by  this  Town  to  examine  into  the  circumstances  of 
it;  and  finding  the  Town  very  deficient  as  to  arms  and 
ammunition,  have  sent  by  water  to  Salem,  but  have  just 
had  our  money  returned  back,  without  arms  or  ammunition  ; 
and  at  present  we  have  not  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  pound 
of  powder  to  a  man,  throughout  the  Town,  nor  more  than 
one  firelock  to  two  men  ;  and  in  this  defenceless  state  we 
are  obliged  to  apply  to  you  to  assist  our  trusty  friend  whom 
we  have  sent,  which  is  Captain  Nathaniel  Larrabee ;  and 
as  we  think  it  would  be  unsafe  to  transport  powder  by  wa- 
ter, we  have  ordered  him  to  take  only  one  hundred  weight, 
and  for  him  to  consult  with  you  how  and  in  what  way  it 
would  be  safest  to  get  arms  and  more  powder  down  to  us. 

We  should  esteem  it  a  favour  to  be  informed  by  you  by 
way  of  letter,  at  every  convenient  opportunity,  of  our  pub- 
lick affairs.    We  are,  gentlemen,  yours  ever  to  be  com- 
manded,      Aaron  Hinkley,      Saml.  Standwood, 
Benj.  Stone,  James  Curtis. 

Norfolk  (virginia)  committee. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  the  County  of  Nor- 
folk, at  the  Court-House  of  said  County,  on  Thursday, 
the  4th  of  May,  1775 : 

The  Resolves  of  the  Convention  held  at  the  Town  of 
Richmond,  on  the  20th  of  March  last,  were  read,  and  unan- 
imously approved. 

Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  this  Committee  be  pre- 
sented to  Thomas  Neivton,  Junior,  and  James  Holt,  Es- 
quires, our  worthy  Delegates,  for  their  faithful  discharge 
of  the  important  trust  reposed  in  them. 

Having  heretofore  placed  the  highest  degree  of  confi- 
dence in  the  good  intentions  of  our  Chief  Magistrate  to- 


503 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  kc,  MAY,  rT?6, 


501 


wards  his  Majesty's  most  loyal  and  faithful  subjects,  the 
good  people  of  this  Dominion,  over  whom  he  presides, 
which  we  can  safely  affirm  had  gained  him  their  universal 
esteem  and  respect,  with  equal  surprise  and  sorrow  we 
have  seen  in  our  publick  Gazettes  an  extract  of  a  Letter 
said  to  be  wrote  by  our  said  Chief  Magistrate,  on  the  24th 
of  December  last,  to  the  Earl  of  Dartmouth,  one  of  His 
Majesty's  principal  Secretaries  of  State,  and  most  grossly 
misrepresenting  all  the  good  people  of  this  Colony,  par- 
ticularly the  Magistrates,  and  those  whom  the  people  have 
elected  as  Committees  to  be  the  guardians  of  their  inesti- 
mable rights  and  liberties.  And  as  his  Excellency  has  not 
thought  proper  to  disavow  being  the  author  of  such  Letter, 
we  must  take  it  for  granted  that  the  extract  published  is 
a  faithful  copy.  We  therefore  think  it  our  indispensable 
duty,  in  justice  to  our  own  reputations,  and  that  of  our  con- 
stituents, who  have  honoured  us  with  such  marks  of  their 
confidence  and  esteem,  to  refute  so  unjust  and  unmerited, 
so  defamatory  and  atrocious  a  charge. 

First,  then,  we  declare  that  we  know  of  no  instance 
wherein  anv  Committee  in  this  or  the  neighbouring  Coun- 

y  DO 

ties  has  assumed  an  authority  to  inspect  the  books,  or  any 
other  secrets  of  the  trade  of  Merchants.  We  admit  to 
have  known  some  instances  where  some  Merchants,  being 
suspected  of  a  breach  of  the  Association,  have  voluntarily 
offered  some  private  letters  and  books  to  be  inspected,  in 
order  to  acquit  themselves  of  such  charge. 

He  next  says  we  stigmatize  those  we  discover  to  have 
transgressed  what  we  hardly  call  the  Laws  of  the  Congress; 
which  stigmatizing,  to  use  the  words  in  the  said  extract, 
"  is  no  other  than  inviting  the  vengeance  of  an  outrageous 
and  lawless  mob  to  be  exercised  on  the  unhappy  victims." 
Several  in  this  Borough  and  County  have  been  held  up  for 
publick  censure  for  breaches  of  the  Association,  but  no 
vengeance  of  any  mob  or  individual  has  been  inflicted  on 
them,  not  even  that  fashionable  one  lately  introduced  by 
the  Troops  under  the  command  of  General  Gage;  and  we 
could  call  upon  sundry  persons  here  who  were  thus  stigma- 
tized, to  justify  this  assertion. 

We  wish  his  Excellency  had  deigned  to  name  the  Coun- 
ty where  the  Committee  had  proceeded  so  far  as  to  swear 
the  men  of  their  Independent  Company  to  execute  all 
orders  which  they  should  give  them,  as  it  is  a  piece  of  infor- 
mation entirely  new  to  us;  as  well  as  that  of  every  other 
County  forming  an  Independent  Company,  for  the  avowed 
purpose,  (as  he  says)  of  protecting  their  Committees,  and 
to  be  employed  against  Government,  if  occasion  require. 
We  hope  all  the  dark  plots  of  our  most  secret  or  declared 
enemies  will  prove  ineffectual  in  bringing  matters  to  that 
unhappy  issue  ;  and  we  have  so  high  an  opinion  of  the  vir- 
tue of  our  countrymen,  that  we  look  upon  the  solemnity  of 
an  oath  altogether  unnecessary  to  stimulate  them  to  stand 
forth  firm  and  intrepid  upon  all  just  occasions,  in  support  of 
their  civil  and  religious  rights  and  liberties. 

Whilst  we  were  thus  fondly  flattering  ourselves  that  we 
had  in  his  Excellency  a  most  powerful  advocate  in  order 
to  accommodate  the  unhappy  disputes  subsisting  between 
Great  Britain  and  the  Colonies,  we  leave  the  world  to 
judge  what  poignant  sorrow  we  must  feel  on  the  discovery 
that  it  was  a  vain  delusion  ;  and  that,  instead  of  the  good 
offices  we  expected,  he  was  all  the  time  widening  the 
breach,  by  misrepresenting  so  greatly  our  conduct  to  those 
in  power ;  and  we  now  discover,  from  his  Excellency's  said 
Letter,  that  his  gentle  and  lenient  conduct,  which  we  were 
too  ready  to  attribute  to  the  regard  lie  possessed,  and  which 
we  flattered  ourselves  he  had  for  his  Government,  proceed- 
ed only  from  his  fears  of  the  disgrace  of  a  disappointment; 
and  we  find,  as  soon  as  it  was  known  that  that  Letter  would 
be  made  publick,  the  mask  was  thrown  off;  and  the  first 
step  taken  to  open  the  eyes  of  the  people,  was  the  seizing 
of  the  Gunpowder  in  the  publick  Magazine,  in  the  most 
secret  manner.  How  far  such  a  manoeuvre  is  justifiable, 
is  not  our  intention  at  present  to  inquire  into,  that  being  a 
point  on  which  the  publick  will  undoubtedly  undertake  to 
judge  for  themselves;  but  we  cannot  help  giving  it  as  our 
opinion,  that  his  Excellency's  answer  to  the  Address  of  the 
respectable  Corporation  of  the  City  of  Williamsburgh,  on 
that  occasion,  is  highly  disrespectful  and  evasive.  And 
now,  my  countrymen,  let  us,  by  our  steady  perseverance 
in  virtue  and  unanimity,  convince  his  Excellency,  when  he 
says  that  every  step  we  take  must  inevitably  defeat  its  own 


purpose,  that  he  (to  ttsc  the  phrase  of  our  late  truly  wor- 
thy and  noble  Governour)  has  not  augured  right. 

We  thought  ourselves  under  the  indispensable  necessity 
of  making  the  foregoing  strictures  on  the  above-mentioned 
Letter,  lest  our  silence  might  be  construed  by  our  country- 
men, or  others,  into  a  tacit  confession  of  our  guilt ;  and  now 
we  submit  to  the  publick  how  far  his  Excellency  merits  the 
continuance  of  that  unlimited  confidence  heretofore  placed 
in  him.  The  tribute  of  our  respect  we  are  still  willing  to 
pay  him  as  our  Chief  Magistrate,  and  the  representative 
of  our  most  gracious  Sovereign,  to  whom  we  shall  always 
pay  all  due  obedience. 

Ordered,  That  the  Clerk  send  a  copy  of  these  proceed- 
ings to  Messrs.  Dixon  and  Hunter,  and  Mr.  John  Hunter 
Holt,  to  be  published  ;  and  they  are  desired  to  publish 
them  in  their  next  Gazettes. 

Benjamin  Crooker,  Clerk. 


Williamsburgh,  Virginia,  .May  4,  1775. 

The  Town  of  York  being  somewhat  alarmed  by  a  Let- 
ter from  Captain  Montague,  commander  of  His  Majesty's 
ship  the  Foivey,  addressed  to  the  Honourable  Thomas  JW- 
son,  Esquire,  President  of  His  Majesty's  Council  in  Vir- 
ginia;  and  a  copy  of  said  Letter  being  procured,  a  motion 
was  made  that  the  copy  should  be  laid  before  the  Commit- 
tee, and  considered.   The  copy  was  read,  and  is  as  follows  : 

Fowey,  May  4,  1775. 

Sir  :  I  have  this  morning  received  certain  information, 
that  his  Excellency  the  Lord  Dunmore,  Governour  of  Vir- 
ginia, is  threatened  with  an  attack  at  daybreak  this  morn- 
ing, at  his  Palace  at  Williamsburgh,  and  have  thought 
proper  to  send  a  detachment  from  His  Majesty's  Ship  un- 
der my  command,  to  support  his  Excellency;  therefore 
strongly  pray  you  to  make  use  of  every  endeavour  to  pre- 
vent the  party  from  being  molested  or  attacked,  as,  in  that 
case,  I  must  be  under  a  necessity  to  fire  upon  this  Town. 

To  the  Honourable  Thomas  Nelson,  from 

George  Montague. 

The  Committee,  together  with  Captain  Montague's  Let- 
ter, taking  into  consideration  the  time  of  its  being  sent, 
which  was  too  late  to  permit  the  President  to  use  his  influ- 
ence had  the  inhabitants  been  disposed  to  "  molest  and 
attack"  the  detachment ;  and  further  considering  that  Col- 
onel Nelson,  who,  had  this  threat  been  carried  into  execu- 
tion, must  have  been  a  principal  sufferer,  was,  at  that  very 
moment,  exerting  his  utmost  endeavours  in  behalf  of  Gov- 
ernment, and  the  safety  of  his  Excellency's  person,  unani- 
mously came  to  the  following  Resolutions : 

Resolved,  That  Captain  Montague,  in  threatening  to  fire 
upon  a  defenceless  Town,  in  case  of  an  attack  upon  the 
detachment,  in  which  said  Town  might  not  be  concerned, 
has  testified  a  spirit  of  cruelty  unprecedented  in  the  annals 
of  civilized  times;  that,  in  his  last  notice  to  the  President, 
he  has  added  insult  to  cruelty  ;  and  that,  considering  the 
circumstance  already  mentioned,  of  one  of  the  most  con- 
siderable inhabitants  of  said  Town,  he  has  discovered  the 
most  hellish  principles  that  can  actuate  a  human  mind. 

Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  inhabitants  of 
this  Town,  and  of  the  County  in  general,  that  they  do  not 
entertain  or  show  any  other  mark  of  civility  to  Captain 
Montague,  besides  what  common  decency  and  absolute 
necessity  require. 

Resolved,  That  the  Clerk  do  transmit  the  above  pro- 
ceedings to  the  publick  Printers,  to  be  inserted  in  the  Vir- 
ginia Gazettes. 

William  Russell,  Clerk  to  Committee. 


town-meeting,  upper  freehold,  (monmouth  county) 
new-jersey. 
Monmouth  County,  Upper  Freehold,  May  4,  1775. 
This  day,  agreeable  to  previous  notice,  a  very  consider- 
able number  of  the  principal  inhabitants  of  this  Township 
met  at  Imlay's  Town  : 

John  Lawkence,  Esquire,  in  the  Chair. 
When  the  following  Resolves  were  unanimously  agreed 
to  : 

Resolved,  That  it  is  our  first  wish  to  live  in  union  with 
Great  Britain,  agreeable  to  the  principles  of  the  Consti- 


505 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


506 


tution;  that  we  consider  the  unnatural  civil  war  which  we 
are  about  to  be  forced  into,  with  anxiety  and  distress ;  but 
that  we  are  determined  to  oppose  the  novel  claim  of  the 
Parliament  of  Great  Britain  to  raise  a  revenue  in  Ame- 
rica, and  risk  every  possible  consequence  rather  than  sub- 
mit to  it. 

Resolved,  That  it  appears  to  this  meeting  that  there  are 
a  sufficient  number  of  Arms  for  the  people. 

Resolved,  That  a  sum  of  money  be  now  raised  to  pur- 
chase what  further  quantity  of  Powder  and  Ball  may  be 
necessary  ;  and  it  is  recommended  that  every  man  capable 
of  bearing  arms  enter  into  Companies  to  train,  and  be  pre- 
pared to  march  at  a  minute's  warning;  and  it  is  further 
recommended  to  the  people  that  they  do  not  waste  their 
Powder  in  fowling  or  hunting. 

A  subscription  was  then  opened,  and  One  Hundred  and 
Sixty  Pounds  instantly  paid  into  the  hands  of  a  person  ap- 
pointed for  that  purpose.  The  Officers  of  four  Companies 
were  then  chosen,  and  the  meeting  broke  up  in  perfect 
unanimity.  Elisha  Lawrence,  Clerk. 


TOWN-MEETING,   NEWARK,  NEW-JERSEY. 

Newark,  New-Jersey,  May  4,  1775. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  Inhabitants  of  the 
Township  of  Newark,  in  New- Jersey,  on  Thursday,  the 
4th  day  of  May,  A.  D.  1775: 

Doctor  William  Burnett  in  the  Chair. 

An  Association  having  been  entered  into  and  subscribed 
by  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  said  Town,  a 
motion  was  made  and  agreed  to,  that  the  same  be  read. 
The  same  was  accordingly  read,  and  is  as  follows : 

"  We,  the  Freeholders  and  Inhabitants  of  the  Township 
of  Newark,  having  deliberately  considered  the  openly 
avowed  design  of  the  Ministry  of  Great  Britain  to  raise  a 
revenue  in  America;  being  affected  with  horrour  at  the 
bloody  scene  now  acting  in  the  Massachusetts-Bay  for  car- 
rying that  arbitrary  design  into  execution  ;  firmly  convinced 
that  the  very  existence  of  the  rights  and  liberties  of  Ame- 
rica can,  under  God,  subsist  on  no  other  basis  than  the 
most  animated  and  perfect  union  of  its  inhabitants ;  and 
being  sensible  of  the  necessity,  in  the  present  exigency,  of 
preserving  good  order,  and  a  due  regulation  in  all  publick 
measures,  with  hearts  perfectly  abhorrent  of  slavery,  do 
solemnly,  under  all  the  sacred  ties  of  religion,  honour, 
and  love  to  our  Country,  associate  and  resolve,  that  w  e 
will,  personally,  and  as  far  as  our  influence  can  extend, 
endeavour  to  support  and  carry  into  execution  whatever 
measures  may  be  recommended  by  the  Continental  Con- 
gress, or  agreed  upon  by  the  proposed  Convention  of  De- 
puties of  this  Province,  for  the  purposes  of  preserving  and 
fixing  our  Constitution  on  a  permanent  basis,  and  opposing 
the  execution  of  the  several  despotick  and  oppressive  Acts 
of  the  British  Parliament,  until  the  wished-for  reconcilia- 
tion between  Great  Britain  and  America,  on  constitu- 
tional principles,  can  be  obtained. 

"  That  a  General  Committee  be  chosen  by  this  Town  for 
the  purposes  aforesaid,  and  that  we  will  be  directed  by, 
and  support  them  in  all  things  respecting  the  "common 
cause,  the  preservation  of  peace,  good  order,  the  safety  of 
individuals,  and  private  property." 

Voted,  That  Isaac  Ogden,  Esquire,  Captain  Philip 
Van  Cortlandt,  Bethuel  Pierson,  and  Caleb  Camp,  be  the 
Deputies  to  represent  said  Township  in  the  Provincial 
Congress  referred  to  in  the  said  Association. 

The  General  Committee  also  mentioned  in  the  said  As- 
sociation, was  then  chosen,  consisting  of  forty-four. 

Agreed,  That  the  powers  delegated  to  the  Deputies  and 
General  Committee,  continue  until  the  expiration  of  five 
weeks  after  the  rising  of  the  next  Continental  Congress, 
and  no  longer. 

Agreed,  That  the  General  Committee  have  power  to 
appoint  one  or  more  Sub-Committees,  to  act  on  any  emer- 
gency. Isaac  Longworth,  Town  Clerk. 

The  General  Committee  immediately  convened,  and 
elected  Lewis  Ogden,  Esquire,  Chairman,  Doctor  William 
Burnett,  Deputy  Chairman,  and  Elisha  Boudinot,  Esq., 
Clerk  of  the  said  General  Committee. 

Agreed,  That  the  above-named  Lewis  Ogden,  Esquire, 


Doctor  William  Burnett,  Elisha  Boudinot,  Esquire,  Isaac 
Ogden,  Esquire,  and  Mr.  Isaac  Longuorth,  be  a  Commit- 
tee of  Correspondence  for  said  Town. 

Elisha  Boudinot,  Clerk  to  Committee. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  A  GENTLEMAN  IN  NEW-YORK 
TO  HIS  CORRESPONDENT  IN  LONDON,  DATED  MAY  4, 
1775. 

The  General  Committee  of  One  Hundred  have  stopped 
all  supplies  to  Boston,  Newfoundland,  and  all  the  Fishing 
Coasts,  after  the  example  of  Philadelphia.  The  members 
of  His  Majesty's  Council  have  sent  a  copy  of  the  Minutes 
of  their  proceedings  to  the  Committee  this  morning,  with 
liberty  to  communicate  the  purport  of  them.  The  min- 
utes (which  are  the  outlines  of  a  letter  to  be  transmitted 
by  this  packet)  contain  a  just  and  true  account  of  the 
circumstances  which  took  place  on  the  news  of  an  engage- 
ment ;  acknowledged  the  receipt  of  a  letter  from  Lord 
Dartmouth  of  the  24th  of  March,  wherein  he  hints  at  a 
plan  of  accommodation  being  to  be  offered  ;  in  answer  to 
which  they  give  their  opinion  explicitly,  that  no  terms  will 
be  attended  to  in  the  present  ferment;  and  unless  General 
Gage  ceases  hostilities,  it  will  be  in  vain  to  make  proposals 
of  any  kind.  In  short,  that  this  and  all  other  Provinces  are 
resolved,  not  only  to  refuse  submission  to  the  late  and  pre- 
sent Acts  of  Parliament,  but  to  oppose,  at  the  risk  of  their 
lives  and  fortunes,  all  those  who  come  to  enforce  them. 


New-York,  M;iy  4,  1775. 
We  hear  that  the  Post,  having  been  interrupted,  the 
Postmaster  (who  has  hitherto,  without  legal  authority, 
been  appointed  from  home,  and  as  a  conveniency,  permit- 
ted here  unquestioned)  has  discharged  the  riders,  the 
expense  of  which  he  has  no  longer  a  fund  to  support.  An 
office  for  this  necessary  business  will  doubtless  be  put  under 
proper  regulations  by  the  Continental  Congress,  and  no 
more  be  permitted  to  return  to  the  rapacious  hands  of 
unauthorized  intruders,  since  it  would  be  the  most  con- 
temptible pusillanimity  to  suffer  a  revenue  to  be  raised  from 
our  property  to  defray  the  expense  of  cutting  our  throats ! 
We  hear  Mr.  William  Goddard,  who  has  been  a  great  suf- 
ferer, with  many  others,  by  the  malpractices  of  an  illegal 
holder  of  this  office,  is  now  on  a  journey  to  the  Eastward, 
in  order  to  put  the  business  under  proper  regulations  to  be 
laid  before  the  Congress. 


GOVERNOUR  TRUMBULL  TO  DOCTOR  JOSEPH  WARREN. 

Hartford,  May  4,  1775. 

Sir  :  Your  letter  of  the  2d  of  May  instant,  is  received. 
You  may  be  informed  from  our  letter  to  Brigadier-General 
Putnam,  what  is  already  done  by  our  General  Assembly, 
and  need  not  fear  our  firmness,  deliberation,  and  unanimity 
to  pursue  the  measures  which  appear  best  for  our  common 
defence  and  safety,  and  in  no  degree  to  relax  our  vigilant 
preparations  for  that  end,  and  to  act  in  union  and  concert 
with  our  sister  Colonies,  and  shall  be  cautious  of  trusting 
promises  which  may  be  in  the  power  of  any  one  to  evade. 
We  hope  no  ill  consequences  will  attend  our  embassy  to 
General  Gage. 

Should  be  glad  to  be  furnished  with  the  evidences  duly 
authenticated  concerning  the  attack  on  the  19th  of  April 
last,  at  Lexington,  which  it  is  presumed  you  have  taken. 
Though  we  are  at  a  distance  from  the  distressing  scene 
before  your  eyes,  yet  are  most  sensibly  affected  with  the 
alarming  relations  of  them. 

I  am,  in  behalf  of  the  Governour  and  Company,  Sir. 
your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

Jonathan  Trumbull. 

To  the  Honourable  Joseph  Warren,  Esquire. 


COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY  OF  MASSACHUSETTS  TO  GOVERNOUR 
TRUMBULL. 

Cambridge,  May  4,  1775. 

The  distressed  situation  into  which  a  wicked  and  despo- 
tick Administration  have  involved  this  Country,  will  justify 
us  in  your  eyes,  as  we  presume,  in  our  present  most  earn- 
est and  pressing  desire  that  you  will  immediately  send  us 
three  or  four  thousand  men  of  your  establishment,  in  order 


503 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  Sic,  MAY,  1775. 


501 


wards  his  Majesty's  most  loyal  and  faithful  subjects,  the 
good  people  of  this  Dominion,  over  whom  he  presides, 
which  we  can  safely  affirm  had  gained  him  their  universal 
esteem  and  respect,  with  equal  surprise  and  sorrow  we 
have  seen  in  our  publick  Gazettes  an  extract  of  a  Letter 
said  to  be  wrote  by  our  said  Chief  Magistrate,  on  the  24th 
of  December  last,  to  the  Earl  of  Dartmouth,  one  of  His 
Majesty's  principal  Secretaries  of  State,  and  most  grossly 
misrepresenting  all  the  good  people  of  this  Colony,  par- 
ticularly the  Magistrates,  and  those  whom  the  people  have 
elected  as  Committees  to  be  the  guardians  of  their  inesti- 
mable rights  and  liberties.  And  as  his  Excellency  has  not 
thought  proper  to  disavow  being  the  author  of  such  Letter, 
we  must  take  it  for  granted  that  the  extract  published  is 
a  faithful  copy.  We  therefore  think  it  our  indispensable 
duty,  in  justice  to  our  own  reputations,  and  that  of  our  con- 
stituents, who  have  honoured  us  with  such  marks  of  their 
confidence  and  esteem,  to  refute  so  unjust  and  unmerited, 
so  defamatory  and  atrocious  a  charge. 

First,  then,  we  declare  that  we  know  of  no  instance 
wherein  anv  Committee  in  this  or  the  neighbouring  Coun- 
ties  has  assumed  an  authority  to  inspect  the  books,  or  any 
other  secrets  of  the  trade  of  Merchants.  We  admit  to 
have  known  some  instances  where  some  Merchants,  being 
suspected  of  a  breach  of  the  Association,  have  voluntarily 
offered  some  private  letters  and  books  to  be  inspected,  in 
order  to  acquit  themselves  of  such  charge. 

He  next  says  we  stigmatize  those  we  discover  to  have 
transgressed  what  we  hardly  call  the  Laws  of  the  Congress; 
which  stigmatizing,  to  use  the  words  in  the  said  extract, 
"  is  no  other  than  inviting  the  vengeance  of  an  outrageous 
and  lawless  mob  to  be  exercised  on  the  unhappy  victims." 
Several  in  this  Borough  and  County  have  been  held  up  for 
publick  censure  for  breaches  of  the  Association,  but  no 
vengeance  of  any  mob  or  individual  has  been  inflicted  on 
them,  not  even  that  fashionable  one  lately  introduced  by 
the  Troops  under  the  command  of  General  Gage ;  and  we 
could  call  upon  sundry  persons  here  who  were  thus  stigma- 
tized, to  justify  this  assertion. 

We  wish  his  Excellency  had  deigned  to  name  the  Coun- 
ty where  the  Committee  had  proceeded  so  far'  as  to  swear 
the  men  of  their  Independent  Company  to  execute  all 
orders  which  they  should  give  them,  as  it  is  a  piece  of  infor- 
mation entirely  new  to  us;  as  well  as  that  of  every  other 
County  forming  an  Independent  Company,  for  the  avowed 
purpose,  (as  he  says)  of  protecting  their  Committees,  and 
to  he  employed  against  Government,  if  occasion  require. 
We  hope  all  the  dark  plots  of  our  most  secret  or  declared 
enemies  will  prove  ineffectual  in  bringing  matters  to  that 
unhappy  issue  ;  and  we  have  so  high  an  opinion  of  the  vir- 
lue  of  our  countrymen,  that  we  look  upon  the  solemnity  of 
an  oath  altogether  unnecessary  to  stimulate  them  to  stand 
forth  firm  and  intrepid  upon  all  just  occasions,  in  support  of 
their  civil  and  religious  rights  and  liberties. 

Whilst  we  were  thus  fondly  flattering  ourselves  that  we 
had  in  his  Excellency  a  most  powerful  advocate  in  order 
to  accommodate  the  unhappy  disputes  subsisting  between 
Great  Britain  and  the  Colonies,  we  leave  the  world  to 
judge  what  poignant  sorrow  we  must  feel  on  the  discovery 
that  it  was  a  vain  delusion  ;  and  that,  instead  of  the  good 
offices  we  expected,  he  was  all  the  time  widening  the 
breach,  by  misrepresenting  so  greatly  our  conduct  to  those 
in  power;  and' we  now  discover,  from  his  Excellency's  said 
Letter,  that  his  gentle  and  lenient  conduct,  which  we  were 
too  ready  to  attribute  to  the  regard  he  possessed,  and  which 
we  flattered  ourselves  he  had  for  his  Government,  proceed- 
ed only  from  his  fears  of  the  disgrace  of  a  disappointment; 
and  we  find,,  as  soon  as  it  was  known  that  that  Letter  would 
be  made  publick,  the  mask  was  thrown  off;  and  the  first 
step  taken  to  open  the  eyes  of  the  people,  was  the  seizing 
of  the  Gunpowder  in  the  publick  Magazine,  in  the  most 
secret  manner.  How  far  such  a  manoeuvre  is  justifiable, 
is  not  our  intention  at  present  to  inquire  into,  that  being  a 
point  on  which  the  publick  will  undoubtedly  undertake  to 
judge  for  themselves  ;  but  we  cannot  help  giving  it  as  our 
opinion,  that  his  Excellency's  answer  to  the  Address  of  the 
respectable  Corporation  of  the  City  of  WiUiamsburgh,  on 
that  occasion,  is  highly  disrespectful  and  evasive.  And 
now,  my  countrymen,  let  us,  by  our  steady  perseverance 
in  virtue  and  unanimity,  convince  his  Excellency,  when  he 
says  that  every  step  we  take  must  inevitably  defeat  its  own 


purpose,  that  he  (to  use  the  phrase  of  our  late  truly  wor- 
thy and  noble  Governour)  has  not  augured  right. 

We  thought  ourselves  under  the  indispensable  necessity 
of  making  the  foregoing  strictures  on  the  above-mentioned 
Letter,  lest  our  silence  might  be  construed  by  our  country- 
men, or  others,  into  a  tacit  confession  of  our  guilt ;  and  now 
we  submit  to  the  publick  how  far  his  Excellency  merits  the 
continuance  of  that  unlimited  confidence  heretofore  placed 
in  him.  The  tribute  of  our  respect  we  are  still  willing  to 
pay  him  as  our  Chief  Magistrate,  and  the  representative 
of  our  most  gracious  Sovereign,  to  whom  we  shall  always 
pay  all  due  obedience. 

Ordered,  That  the  Clerk  send  a  copy  of  these  proceed- 
ings to  Messrs.  Dixon  and  Hunter,  and  Mr.  John  Hunter 
Holt,  to  be  published  ;  and  they  are  desired  to  publish 
them  in  their  next  Gazettes. 

Benjamin  Crooker,  Clerk. 


WiUiamsburgh,  Virginia,  May  4,  1775. 
The  Town  of  York  being  somewhat  alarmed  by  a  Let- 
ter from  Captain  Montague,  commander  of  His  Majesty's 
ship  the  Fowey,  addressed  to  the  Honourable  Thomas  kel- 
son, Esquire,  President  of  His  Majesty's  Council  in  Vir- 
ginia;  and  a  copy  of  said  Letter  being  procured,  a  motion 
was  made  that  the  copy  should  be  laid  before  the  Commit- 
tee, and  considered.   The  copy  was  read,  and  is  as  follows  : 

Fowey,  May  4,  1775. 

Sir  :  I  have  this  morning  received  certain  information, 
that  his  Excellency  the  Lord  Dunmore,  Governour  of  Vir- 
ginia, is  threatened  with  an  attack  at  daybreak  this  morn- 
ing, at  his  Palace  at  WiUiamsburgh,  and  have  thought 
proper  to  send  a  detachment  from  His  Majesty's  Ship  un- 
der my  command,  to  support  his  Excellency;  therefore 
strongly  pray  you  to  make  use  of  every  endeavour  to  pre- 
vent the  party  from  being  molested  or  attacked,  as,  in  that 
case,  I  must  be  under  a  necessity  to  fire  upon  this  Town. 

To  the  Honourable  Thomas  Nelson,  from 

George  Montague. 

The  Committee,  together  with  Captain  Montague's  Let- 
ter, taking  into  consideration  the  time  of  its  being  sent, 
which  was  too  late  to  permit  the  President  to  use  his  influ- 
ence had  the  inhabitants  been  disposed  to  "  molest  and 
attack"  the  detachment ;  and  further  considering  that  Col- 
onel Nelson,  who,  had  this  threat  been  carried  into  execu- 
tion, must  have  been  a  principal  sufferer,  was,  at  that  very 
moment,  exerting  his  utmost  endeavours  in  behalf  of  Gov- 
ernment, and  the  safety  of  his  Excellency's  person,  unani- 
mously came  to  the  following  Resolutions : 

Resolved,  That  Captain  Montague,  in  threatening  to  fire 
upon  a  defenceless  Town,  in  case  of  an  attack  upon  the 
detachment,  in  which  said  Town  might  not  be  concerned, 
has  testified  a  spirit  of  cruelty  unprecedented  in  the  annals 
of  civilized  times;  that,  in  his  last  notice  to  the  President, 
he  has  added  insult  to  cruelty  ;  and  that,  consideiing  the 
circumstance  already  mentioned,  of  one  of  the  most  con- 
siderable inhabitants  of  said  Town,  he  has  discovered  the 
most  hellish  principles  that  can  actuate  a  human  mind. 

Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  inhabitants  of 
this  Town,  and  of  the  County  in  general,  that  they  do  not 
entertain  or  show  any  other  mark  of  civility  to  Captain 
Montague,  besides  what  common  decency  and  absolute 
necessity  require. 

Resolved,  That  the  Clerk  do  transmit  the  above  pro- 
ceedings to  the  publick  Printers,  to  be  inserted  in  the  Vir- 
ginia Gazettes. 

William  Russell,  Clerk  to  Committee. 


town-meeting,  upper  freehold,  (monmouth  county) 
new-jersey. 

Monmouth  County,  Upper  Freehold,  May  4,  1775. 
This  day,  agreeable  to  previous  notice,  a  very  consider- 
able number  of  the  principal  inhabitants  of  this  Township 
met  at  Imlay's  Town  : 

John  Lawrence,  Esquire,  in  the  Chair. 
When  the  following  Resolves  were  unanimously  agreed 
to  : 

Resolved,  That  it  is  our  first  wish  to  live  in  union  with 
Great  Britain,  agreeable  to  the  principles  of  the  Consti- 


505 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


506 


tution ;  that  we  consider  the  unnatural  civil  war  which  we 
are  about  to  be  forced  into,  with  anxiety  and  distress ;  but 
that  we  are  determined  to  oppose  the  novel  claim  of  the 
Parliament  of  Great  Britain  to  raise  a  revenue  in  Ame- 
rica, and  risk  every  possible  consequence  rather  than  sub- 
mit to  it. 

Resolved,  That  it  appears  to  this  meeting  that  there  are 
a  sufficient  number  of  Arms  for  the  people. 

Resolved,  That  a  sum  of  money  be  now  raised  to  pur- 
chase what  further  quantity  of  Powder  and  Ball  may  be 
necessary  ;  and  it  is  recommended  that  every  man  capable 
of  bearing  arms  enter  into  Companies  to  train,  and  be  pre- 
pared to  march  at  a  minute's  warning;  and  it  is  further 
recommended  to  the  people  that  they  do  not  waste  their 
Powder  in  fowling  or  hunting. 

A  subscription  was  then  opened,  and  One  Hundred  and 
Sixty  Pounds  instantly  paid  into  the  hands  of  a  person  ap- 
pointed for  that  purpose.  The  Officers  of  four  Companies 
were  then  chosen,  and  the  meeting  broke  up  in  perfect 
unanimity.  Elisha  Lawrence,  Clerk. 


TOWN-MEETING,   NEWARK,  NEW-JERSEY. 

Newark,  New-Jersey,  May  4,  1775. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  Inhabitants  of  the 
Township  of  Newark,  in  New- Jersey,  on  Thursday,  the 
4th  day  of  May,  A.  D.  1775: 

Doctor  William  Burnett  in  the  Chair. 

An  Association  having  been  entered  into  and  subscribed 
by  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  said  Town,  a 
motion  was  made  and  agreed  to,  that  the  same  be  read. 
The  same  was  accordingly  read,  and  is  as  follows : 

"  We,  the  Freeholders  and  Inhabitants  of  the  Township 
of  Newark,  having  deliberately  considered  the  openly 
avowed  design  of  the  Ministry  of  Great  Britain  to  raise  a 
revenue  in  America;  being  affected  with  honour  at  the 
bloody  scene  now  acting  in  the  Massachusetts-Bay  for  car- 
rying that  arbitrary  design  into  execution  ;  firmly  convinced 
that  the  very  existence  of  the  rights  and  liberties  of  Ame- 
rica can,  under  God,  subsist  on  no  other  basis  than  the 
most  animated  and  perfect  union  of  its  inhabitants ;  and 
being  sensible  of  the  necessity,  in  the  present  exigency,  of 
preserving  good  order,  and  a  due  regulation  in  all  publick 
measures,  with  hearts  perfectly  abhorrent  of  slavery,  do 
solemnly,  under  all  the  sacred  ties  of  religion,  honour, 
and  love  to  our  Country,  associate  and  resolve,  that  we 
will,  personally,  and  as  far  as  our  influence  can  extend, 
endeavour  to  support  and  carry  into  execution  whatever 
measures  may  be  recommended  by  the  Continental  Con- 
gress, or  agreed  upon  by  the  proposed  Convention  of  De- 
puties of  this  Province,  for  the  purposes  of  preserving  and 
fixing  our  Constitution  on  a  permanent  basis,  and  opposing 
the  execution  of  the  several  despotick  and  oppressive  Acts 
of  the  British  Parliament,  until  the  wished-for  reconcilia- 
tion between  Great  Britain  and  America,  on  constitu- 
tional principles,  can  be  obtained. 

"  That  a  General  Committee  be  chosen  by  this  Town  for 
the  purposes  aforesaid,  and  that  we  will  be  directed  by, 
and  support  them  in  all  things  respecting  the  "common 
cause,  the  preservation  of  peace,  good  order,  the  safety  of 
individuals,  and  private  property." 

Voted,  That  Isaac  Ogden,  Esquire,  Captain  Philip 
Van  Cortlandt,  Bethuel  Pierson,  and  Caleb  Camp,  be  the 
Deputies  to  represent  said  Township  in  the  Provincial 
Congress  referred  to  in  the  said  Association. 

The  General  Committee  also  mentioned  in  the  said  As- 
sociation, was  then  chosen,  consisting  of  forty-four. 

Agreed,  That  the  powers  delegated  to  the  Deputies  and 
General  Committee,  continue  until  the  expiration  of  five 
weeks  after  the  rising  of  the  next  Continental  Congress, 
and  no  longer. 

Agreed,  That  the  General  Committee  have  power  to 
appoint  one  or  more  Sub-CominitteeSj  to  act  on  any  emer- 
gency. Isaac  Long  worth,  Town  Clerk. 

The  General  Committee  immediately  convened,  and 
elected  Lewis  Ogden,  Esquire,  Chairman,  Doctor  William 
Burnett,  Deputy  Chairman,  and  Elisha  Boudinot,  Esq., 
Clerk  of  the  said  General  Committee. 

Agreed,  That  the  above-named  Lewis  Ogden,  Esquire, 


Doctor  William  Burnett,  Elisha  Boudinot,  Esquire.  Isaac 
Ogden,  Esquire,  and  Mr.  Isaac  Longuorth,  be  a  Commit- 
tee of  Correspondence  for  said  Town. 

Elisha  Boudinot,  Clerk  to  Committee. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  A  GENTLEMAN  IN  NEW-YORK 
TO  HIS  CORRESPONDENT  IN  LONDON",  DATED  MAY  4, 
1775. 

The  General  Committee  of  One  Hundred  have  stopped 
all  supplies  to  Boston,  Newfoundland ,  and  all  the  Fishing 
Coasts,  after  the  example  of  Philadelphia.  The  members 
of  His  Majesty's  Council  have  sent  a  copy  of  the  Minutes 
of  their  proceedings  to  the  Committee  this  morning,  with 
liberty  to  communicate  the  purport  of  them.  The  min- 
utes (which  are  the  outlines  of  a  letter  to  be  transmitted 
by  this  packet)  contain  a  just  and  true  account  of  the 
circumstances  which  took  place  on  the  news  of  an  engage- 
ment ;  acknowledged  the  receipt  of  a  letter  from  Lord 
Dartmouth  of  the  24th  of  March,  wherein  he  hints  at  a 
plan  of  accommodation  being  to  be  offered ;  in  answer  to 
which  they  give  their  opinion  explicitly,  that  no  terms  will 
be  attended  to  in  the  present  ferment ;  and  unless  General 
Gage  ceases  hostilities,  it  will  be  in  vain  to  make  proposals 
of  any  kind.  In  short,  that  this  and  all  other  Provinces  are 
resolved,  not  only  to  refuse  submission  to  the  late  and  pre- 
sent Acts  of  Parliament,  but  to  oppose,  at  the  risk  of  their 
lives  and  fortunes,  all  those  who  come  to  enforce  them. 


New-York,  May  4,  177."). 
We  hear  that  the  Post,  having  been  interrupted,  the 
Postmaster  (who  has  hitherto,  without  legal  authority, 
been  appointed  from  home,  and  as  a  conveniency,  permit- 
ted here  unquestioned)  has  discharged  the  riders,  the 
expense  of  which  he  has  no  longer  a  fund  to  support.  An 
office  for  this  necessary  business  will  doubtless  be  put  under 
proper  regulations  by  the  Continental  Congress,  and  no 
more  be  permitted  to  return  to  the  rapacious  hands  of 
unauthorized  intruders,  since  it  would  be  the  most  con- 
temptible pusillanimity  to  suffer  a  revenue  to  be  raised  from 
our  property  to  defray  the  expense  of  cutting  our  throats ! 
We  hear  Mr.  William  Goddard,  who  has  been  a  great  suf- 
ferer, with  many  others,  by  the  malpractices  of  an  illegal 
holder  of  this  office,  is  now  on  a  journey  to  the  Eastward, 
in  order  to  put  the  business  under  proper  regulations  to  be 
laid  before  the  Congress. 


GOVERN OUR  TRUMBULL  TO  DOCTOR  JOSEPH  WARREN. 

Hartford,  May  4,  1775. 

Sir  :  Your  letter  of  the  2d  of  May  instant,  is  received. 
You  may  be  informed  from  our  letter  to  Brigadier-General 
Putnam,  what  is  already  done  by  our  General  Assembly, 
and  need  not  fear  our  firmness,  deliberation,  and  unanimity 
to  pursue  the  measures  which  appear  best  for  our  common 
defence  and  safety,  and  in  no  degree  to  relax  our  vigilant 
preparations  for  that  end,  and  to  act  in  union  and  concert 
with  our  sister  Colonies,  and  shall  be  cautious  of  trusting 
promises  which  may  be  in  the  power  of  any  one  to  evade. 
We  hope  no  ill  consequences  will  attend  our  embassy  to 
General  Gage. 

Should  be  glad  to  be  furnished  with  the  evidences  duly 
authenticated  concerning  the  attack  on  the  19th  of  April 
last,  at  Lexington,  which  it  is  presumed  you  have  taken. 
Though  we  are  at  a  distance  from  the  distressing  scene 
before  your  eyes,  yet  are  most  sensibly  affected  with  the 
alarming  relations  of  them. 

I  am,  in  behalf  of  the  Governour  and  Company,  Sir, 
your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

Jonathan  Trumbull. 

To  the  Honourable  Joseph  Warren,  Esquire. 


COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY  OF  MASSACHUSETTS  TO  GOVERNOUR 
TRUMBULL. 

Cambridge,  May  4,  1775. 

The  distressed  situation  into  which  a  wicked  and  despo- 
tick Administration  have  involved  this  Country,  will  justify 
us  in  your  eyes,  as  we  presume,  in  our  present  most  earn- 
est and  pressing  desire  that  you  will  immediately  send  us 
three  or  four  thousand  men  of  your  establishment,  in  order 


507 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &tc,  MAY,  1775. 


508 


to  enable  us  to  secure  a  pass  of  the  greatest  importance  to 
our  common  interest,  and  which  the  enemy  will  certainly 
possess  themselves  of  as  soon  as  their  reinforcement  arrive; 
and  if  they  once  get  possession,  it  will  cost  us  much  blood 
and  treasure  to  dislodge  them,  but  may  now  be  secured  by 
us  if  we  had  a  force  sufficient,  without  any  danger.  There- 
fore we  earnestly  repeat  our  request  for  three  or  four  thou- 
sand men  for  the  present  purpose,  with  all  possible  despatch, 
and  supported  with  all  necessary  stores  of  ammunition  and 
provision  ;  and  would  beg  that  they  may  be  forwarded  in 
Companies  or  Regiments,  as  fast  as  they  can  be  got  ready. 
This  will  make  it  easier  to  the  Troops,  and  to  the  country 
through  which  they  may  pass,  and  may  probably  be  of  more 
essential  service  to  our  common  cause.    We  are,  &,c. 


SELECTMEN  OF  TOPSHAM,  IN  LINCOLN  COUNTY,  TO  THE 
MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS. 

Topsham,  May  4,  1775. 
This  is  to  inform  the  Honourable  Congress  that  the 
Town  of  Topsham  is  almost  destitute  of  powder  and  flints  ; 
and  we  desire  that  your  honourable  body  would  direct  Mr. 
Prince  Rose,  the  man  we  have  sent  for  powder,  to  some 
place  where  he  can  get  about  sixty  or  seventy  weight  of 
powder,  and  you  will  oblige  the  inhabitants  of  Topsham, 
who  are  true  friends  to  liberty  and  friends  to  our  Country. 
In  behalf  of  the  inhabitants  of  Topsham  , 
John  Fulton, 
James  Beveridge, 


MASSACHUSETTS  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY  TO  THE  NEW- 
YORK  COMMITTEE. 

Cambridge,  May  4,  1775. 
It  is  with  the  highest  satisfaction  this  Committee  received 
your  letter  of  the  2d  instant,  expressive  of  your  tender 
care  and  sympathy  with  this  Colony  under  our  alarming 
situation.  All  we  can  write  on  this  occasion  is,  that  the 
exigency  of  our  affairs  requires  all  the  assistance  which 
your  better  judgment  shall  dictate.  We  rest  assured  that 
your  zeal  for  the  common  safety  will  inspire  you  to  do 
every  thing  that  is  proper  for  the  safety  and  preservation 
of  the  unalienable  rights  of  America.     We  are,  &ic. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM   A  GENTLEMAN  IN  PITTS- 
FIELD  TO  AN    OFFICER  AT    CAMBRIDGE,   DATED  MAY 

4,  1775. 

I  have  the  pleasure  to  acquaint  you  that  a  number  of 
gentlemen  from  Connecticut  went  from  this  place  last 
Tuesday  morning,  having  been  joined  by  Colonel  Easton, 
Captain  Dickinson,  and  Mr.  Brown,  with  forty  soldiers, 
on  an  expedition  against  Ticondcroga  and  Crown  Point, 
expecting  to  be  reinforced  by  a  thousand  men  from  the 
Grants  above  here,  a  post  having  previously  taken  his  de- 
parture to  inform  Colonel  Ethan  Allen  of  the  design,  and 
desiring  him  to  hold  his  Green- Mountain  boys  in  actual 
readiness.  The  expedition  has  been  carried  on  with  the 
utmost  secrecy,  as  they  are  in  hopes  of  taking  those  forts 
by  surprise.  We  expect  they  will  reach  those  forts  by 
Saturday  next,  or  Lord's  day  at  farthest.  The  plan  was 
concerted  at  Hartford  last  Saturday,  by  the  Governour 
and  Council ;  Colonel  Hancock,  and  Mr.  Adams,  and 
others  from  our  Province  being  present.  Three  hundred 
Pounds  were  drawn  immediately  out  of  the  Treasury  for  the 
aforesaid  purpose,  and  committed  to  those  gentlemen  that 
were  here.  We  earnestly  pray  for  success  to  this  impor- 
tant expedition,  as  the  taking  those  places  would  afford  us 
a  key  to  all  Canada.  Should  success  attend  this  expedi- 
tion, we  expect  a  strong  reinforcement  will  be  sent  from 
the  western  part  of  Connecticut  to  keep  those  forts,  and  to 
repair  and  fortify  them  well. 

We  have  had  much  work  here  of  late  with  the  Tories  ; 
a  dark  plot  has  been  discovered  of  sending  names  down  to 
General  Gage;  in  consequence  of  which,  and  the  critical 
situation  of  this  Town,  we  have  been  obliged  to  act  with 
vigour,  and  have  sent  Mr.  Jones  and  Mr.  Graves  to 
Northampton  Jail,  where  they  now  lie  in  close  confine- 
ment, and  have  sent  a  hue  and  cry  after  Major  Stoddard 
and  Mr.  Little,  who  have  fled  to  New-York  for  shelter. 
We  hope  it  will  not  be  long  before  they  are  taken  into 
custody  and  committed  to  close  confinement.  Our  Tories 
are  the  worst  in  the  Province ;  all  the  effect  the  late  and 
present  operations  have  had  upon  them  is,  they  are  mute 
and  pensive,  and  secretly  wish  for  more  prosperous  days 
to  toryism. 

As  to  your  important  operations,  sir,  you  have  the  fer- 
vent prayers  of  all  good  men  that  success  may  attend 
them.  I  hope  God  will  inspire  you  with  wisdom  from 
above  in  all  your  deliberations,  and  your  soldiers  with 
courage  and  fortitude,  and  that  Boston  will  be  speedily 
delivered  into  your  hands,  the  General  thereof,  and  all  the 
King's  Troops,  that  the  den  of  thieves,  that  nest  of  robbers, 
that  asylum  for  traitors  and  murderers,  may  be  broke  up, 
and  never  another  red  coat  from  England  set  foot  on  these 
shores. 


4 


Selectmen. 


COLONEL  THOMAS  GILBERT  TO  HIS  SONS. 

Boston,  May  4,  1775. 

On  the  27th  of  April,  I  left  the  Ship,  took  passage  on 
board  a  packet  sloop  on  the  first  instant,  in  health  arrived 
here,  where  I  expect  to  stay  till  the  Rebels  are  subdued, 
which  I  believe  will  not  be  long  first,  as  the  Ships  and 
Troops  are  daily  expected.  My  greatest  fears  are,  you  will 
be  seduced  or  compelled  to  take  arms  with  those  deluded 
people.  Dear  sons,  if  those  wicked  sinners,  the  Rebels, 
entice  you  believe  them  not,  but  die  by  the  sword  rather 
than  be  hanged  as  Rebels,  which  will  certainly  be  your 
fate  sooner  or  later  if  you  join  them,  or  be  killed  in  battle, 
and  will  be  no  more  than  you  deserve.  1  wish  you  in  J3os- 
ton,  and  all  the  friends  to  Government.  The  Rebels  have 
proclaimed  that  those  friends  may  have  liberty,  and  come  in  ; 
but  as  all  their  declarations  have  hitherto  proved,  I  fear, 
false,  this  may  be  so.  Let  Buggies  know  his  father  wants 
him  here.  You  may  come  by  water  from  Newport.  If 
here  the  King  will  give  you  provisions  and  pay  you  wages : 
but  by  experience  you  know  neither  your  persons  nor  estates 
are  safe  in  the  country,  for  as  soon  as  you  have  raised  any 
thing,  thay  will  rob  you  of  it,  as  they  are  more  savage 
and  cruel  than  heathens,  or  any  other  creatures,  and,  it  is 
generally  thought,  than  devils.  You  will  put  yourselves  out 
of  their  power  as  soon  as  possible.  This  is  from  your 
affectionate  father,  Thos.  Gilbert. 

EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  A  GENTLEMAN  IN  LONDON 
TO  HIS  FRIEND  IN  NEW-YORK,  DATED  MAY  5,  1775. 

It  has  been  long  the  object  of  Administration  to  tra- 
duce your  Province,  representing  it  as  inimical  to  the  sys- 
tem of  opposition  to  their  measures,  so  universally  adopted 
in  the  other  Colonies.  To  obviate  this  calumny,  the  friends 
of  America  have  had  little  opportunity  of  vindicating  you, 
because  the  intelligence  from  New-York  comes  here  gen- 
erally to  persons  absolutely  devoted  to  the  mandates  of  a 
very  wicked  Administration.  The  mercantile  connections 
of  Nciv-  York,  as  far  as  my  knowledge  extends,  are  as  little 
friendly  to  American  liberty  as  any  I  know.  I  wish  it  was 
in  my  power  to  point  out  your  friends,  for  I  do  not  mean 
to  expose  your  enemies,  who  make  themselves  conspicuous 
enough. 

The  Troops  from  Ireland,  destined  to  shackle  the  jBoi- 
tonians,  and  with  them  every  American,  are  about  sailing. 
The  three  Generals,  Howe,  Clinton,  and  Burgoyne,  have 
sailed.  Hoioe  is  well  known  in  America;  Clinton  is  the 
son  of  one  of  your  former  Governours ;  these  are  both 
men  of  character — they  go  on  this  business  with  much  re- 
luctance ;  but  they  were  told,  you  must  do  this  or  starve. 
As  to  Burgoyne,  I  am  not  master  of  language  enough  to 
express  the  horrible  blackness  of  his  character.  Refer  to 
the  letters  of  Junius  to  the  Duke  of  Grafton,  to  which  I 
will  add  but  one  anecdote,  for  the  truth  of  which  you  may 
be  assured  ;  that  he  (Burgoyne)  declared,  when  those  let- 
ters were  published,  if  he  could  find  out  the  author,  he 
would  assassinate  him.  Governour  Tryon  goes  off"  in  a 
day  or  two  to  strengthen  the  ministerial  party  with  you, 
and  has  the  command  of  money  to  bribe.  A  word  to  the 
wise.  Major  Skene  has  deceived  the  Ministry,  in  persua- 
ding them  that  he  can  bribe  all  the  Members  of  the  Conti- 
nental Congress,  for  which  purpose  he  has  been  sent  off  to 
Philadelphia. 

The  ministerial  plan  is  undoubtedly  to  reduce  every 
American  to  the  most  degraded  state  of  absolute  bondage 
and  servitude.  The  two  modes  by  which  they  hope  to 
accomplish  their  end,  are,  using  force  and  violence  in  Neu- 


509 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


510 


England ;  and  with  bribery  and  other  artifices,  to  divide 
the  rest  of  the  Colonies  from  the  common  cause  ;  for  this 
end  New-  York  is  not  mentioned  in  the  lately  passed  Act  of 
Parliament  for  restraining  the  trade  of  Virginia,  Maryland, 
&lc.  This  grant,  however,  I  cannot  view  in  any  other  light 
than  that  of  a  tyrant,  who  might  allow  me  to  eat,  but  at  the 
same  time  would  put  me  to  death  if  1  went  to  a  certain 
place  where  only  I  could  get  any  thing  to  eat ;  for  all  con- 
nection whatsoever  is  cut  off  between  New-  York  and  the 
other  Colonies.  There  is  not  in  nature  a  clearer  truth  to 
me,  than  that  if  America  is  firmly  united,  and  determined 
to  encounter  every  difficulty  rather  than  submit  to  the 
tyranny  that  is  at  this  moment  planned  for  them  all  without 
distinction  by  the  present  Ministers,  it  will  be  impractica- 
ble for  the  scheme  to  succeed.  Without  taking  into  the 
account  the  uncertainty  of  war,  where  the  battle  is  not 
always  to  the  strong,  the  natural  and  self-evident  reasons 
for  determining  so  absolutely  in  this  question,  are  so  clear 
and  decisive,  that  it  would  be  more  absurd  than  any  scep- 
lick  ever  was  yet  to  doubt  it.  I  therefore  conclude,  the 
yeomanry  at  large,  in  the  Government  of  New-  York,  will 
steadily  persevere  in  maintaining  their  rights,  and  firmly 
unite  with  the  other  Colonies  in  whatever  measures  the 
grand  Continental  Council  at  Philadelphia  may  think  best 
to  adopt;  notwithstanding  the  attempts  to  disunite  you  by 
a  few  men,  who,  for  a  golden  gratuity,  will  sell  themselves, 
their  Country,  and  posterity,  to  tyranny,  in  hopes  they 
may  be  the  under-execulioners.  It  is  confidently  said  here, 
that  Doctor  Cooper's  reward  for  what  he  has  been  doing 
and  writing  against  his  Country,  will  be  the  American 
Bishoprick,  which  is  certainly  to  be  established  as  soon  as 
you  are  subdued.  Parson  Vardell  is  here,  the  agent  for 
this  business,  I  am  told,  and  if  so,  no  doubt  expects  a 
deanery  to  be  added  to  his  present  appointments.  Your 
persecutions  will  be  complete,  when  the  religious  is  added 
to  the  military. 


NEW-YORK  COMMITTEE. 

The  Committee  met,  by  adjournment,  Friday,  5th  May, 
1 775.    Present : 

Philip  Livingston,        William  Goforth,         Jacobus  Van  Zandt, 
Isaac  Low,  William  Denning,        Gerardus  Duyckinck, 

John  Alsop,  Isaac  Roosevelt,  Peter  Goelet, 

John  Jay,  Jacob  Van  Voorhies,     Thomas  Marston, 

P.  V.  B.  Livingston,     Jeremiah  Piatt,  Jacobus  Lofferts, 

Alex.  McDougall,        Comfort  Sands,  Richard  Sharpe, 

Leonard  Lispenard,      Robert  Benson,  Abram.  Brinkerhoff, 

William  Walton,  William  W.  Gilbert,     Benjamin  Helme, 

John  Broome,  John  Berrian,  Walter  Franklin, 

Joseph  Hallett,  Gabriel  W.  Ludlow,     David  Beekman, 

Gabriel  H.  Ludlow,      Nicholas  Roosevelt,      William  Seaton, 
Nicholas  Hoffman,       Edward  Fleming,         Evert  Banker, 
Abraham  Walton,        John  De  Lancey,         Robert  Ray, 
Henry  Remsen,  Frederick  Jay,  Nicholas  Bogart, 

Peter  T.  Curtenius,  William  W.  Ludlow,  William  Laight, 
Abraham  Brasher,        John  B.  Moore,  Samuel  Broome, 

Abraham  P.  Lott,         Lancaster  Burling,       John  Lamb, 
Joseph  Bull,  John  Lasher,  Daniel  Plienix, 

Francis  Lewis,  George  Janeway,         Anthony  Van  Dam, 

Joseph  Totten,  Richard  Yates,  Daniel  Dunscomb, 

Thomas  Ivers,  Thomas  Smith,  John  Imlay, 

Hercules  Mulligan,      Augustus  Van  Home,    Oliver  Tcmpleton, 
John  Anthony,  Eleazer  Miller,  Luwis  Pintard, 

Francis  Basset,  Benjamin  Kissam,        Cornelius  P.  Low, 

Victor  Bicker,  John  M.  Scott,  Thomas  Buchannan, 

John  White,  Cornelius  Clopper,        Petrus  Byvanck. 

Theophilus  Anthony,    John  Reade, 

Mr.  McDougall,  from  the  Committee  of  Correspond- 
ence and  Intelligence,  reported  a  draft  of  a  Circular  Letter 
to  the  different  Colonies,  which  being  read  and  approved  of, 

Ordered,  That  copies  be  engrossed  and  forwarded  ac- 
cordingly by  the  Committee  of  Correspondence. 

A  Letter,  dated  Richmond  County,  2d  May,  1775,  from 
Paul  Micheau  and  others,  advising  of  their  having  appoint- 
ed Deputies  to  attend  the  Provincial  Congress,  received 
and  read. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Duyckinck  and  Mr.  Denning  be  a 
Sub-Committee  to  attend  the  sales  of  a  parcel  of  Cutlery, 
the  property  of  Henry  Johns,  imported  in  December  last. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Sharpe,  Mr.  Seaton,  Mr.  Duyc- 
kinck, and  Mr.  G.  fV.  Ludlow,  be  a  Committee  to  wait  on 
every  gentleman  chosen  to  represent  this  City  and  County 
in  Provincial  Congress,  and  to  request  their  strict  attend- 
ance at  the  time  appointed ;  and  if  any  of  them  should 
decline  to  accept  and  execute  that  trust,  to  make  report 


thereof  to  this  Committee  ;  and  that  they  also  wait  on  those 
gentlemen  who  have  been  chosen  of  this  Committee  and 
have  not  attended,  to  request  their  attendance  ;  and  if  any 
of  them  should  decline,  to  make  report  also  of  their  names 
to  this  Committee. 

Mr.  McDougall,  from  the  Committee  of  Correspondence, 
reported  a  draft  of  an  answer  to  the  address  of  Captain 
Samuel  Broome  and  his  Company  ;  which  being  approved 
of, 

Ordered,  That  the  same  be  engrossed,  signed  by  the 
Chairman,  and  presented  to  Captain  Broome. 

A  Letter,  dated  Annapolis,  May  1,  1775,  from  Mattheiv 
Tilghman,  enclosing  a  Resolution  of  their  Provincial  Con- 
vention, suspending  all  Exportation  to  Quebeck,  Neiu  found- 
land,  Nova-Scotia,  &c,  received  and  read. 

Mr.  Kissam,  from  the  Committee  of  Correspondence, 
reported  and  read  the  draft  of  a  Letter  to  the  Lord  Mayor 
and  Corporation  of  London,  which  being  approved  of, 

Ordered.  That  copies  be  engrossed,  signed,  and  for- 
warded. 

A  Letter,  dated  Albany,  3d  May,  1775,  from  the  Com- 
mittee of  Correspondence,  received  and  read. 

Ordered,  That  as  Messrs.  Adams  and  Hancock  are 
daily  expected  in  this  City,  the  Committee  of  Correspond- 
ence and  Intelligence  wait  on  them,  and  request  a  private 
conference  on  the  subject-matter  of  the  above  letter. 

Mr.  Berrian,  seconded  by  Mr.  Jay,  moved  that  the 
tenth  rule  of  this  Committee  be  amended  :  that  instead  of 
every  proceeding  or  debate  of  this  Committee  being  kept 
secret,  every  thing  may  be  divulged  except  such  particu- 
lar matters  as  shall  be  enjoined  from  the  Chair  to  be  kept 
private. 

Which  being  unanimously  agreed  to, 
Ordered,   That  the  said  amendment  be  accordingly 
made. 

The  Committee  adjourned  to  Monday,  8th  instant. 

CIRCULAR  LETTER  FROM  THE  NEW-YORK  COMMITTEE  TO 
THE  SEVERAL  COLONIES. 

New. York,  May  5,  1775. 

Gentlemen:  At  a  time  when  the  most  vigorous  exer- 
tions are  most  absolutely  necessary  for  the  defence  of  Ame- 
rican liberty  against  the  depredations  of  ministerial  power  ; 
and  the  blood  of  our  brethren  in  the  Massachusetts  has  been 
actually  shed  for  daring  to  maintain  the  rights  of  English- 
men;  the  inhabitants  of  this  City  and  County  have,  in  the 
most  explicit  manner,  as  you  may  perceive  by  the  enclosed 
Association,  resolved  to  stand  and  fall  with  the  freedom  of 
the  Continent. 

We  are  confident  that  our  constituents  are  sincere  in  the 
strong  assurances  they  have  given  us,  that  while  we  con- 
tinue in  office,  they  will  be  guided  by  our  advice  and  direc- 
tion. We  have  thought  it  necessary  to  advise  the  with- 
holding supplies  from  the  British  Fisheries  on  the  Ameri- 
can Coasts,  and  to  cease  all  exports  to  those  Colonies  which 
at  this  alarming  juncture  refuse  to  unite  in  the  common 
cause.  The  expediency  of  this  measure  is  too  evident  to 
need  elucidation,  and  will  doubtless  procure  us  many  heartv 
advocates  in  Britain  for  the  redress  of  our  grievances. 
Besides  which,  we  have  resolved  to  withhold  all  provisions 
and  necessaries  from  the  Army  and  Navy  at  Boston. 

Our  late  Committee  of  Observation  thought  proper  to 
recommend  the  appointment  of  a  Provincial  Congress;  in 
consequence  of  which  our  constituents  have  chosen  twenty- 
one  Deputies  to  meet  at  this  City,  on  the  22d  instant, 
those  who  may  be  appointed  for  that  purpose  in  the  other 
Counties  of  this  Colony.  For  your  further  satisfaction  on 
these  matters,  we  beg  leave  to  refer  you  to  the  enclosed 
papers,  to  require  you  to  communicate  the  substance  of 
this  information  to  your  next  neighbours,  and  to  assure  you 
that  in  our  department  we  will  watch  incessantly  for  the 
publick  safety.        By  order  of  the  Committee: 

I  am,  gentlemen,  your  most  obedient  and  humble  ser- 
vant, Henry  Remsen,  Deputy  Chairman. 

TO  THE  LORD  MAYOR  AND  CORPORATION  OF  LONDON. 

Committee  Chamber,  New-York,  May  5,  1775. 

My  Lord  and  Gentlemen  :  Distinguished  as  you  are 


511 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


512 


by  your  noble  exertions  in  the  cause  of  liberty,  and  deeply 
interested  in  the  expiring  commerce  of  the  Empire,  you 
necessarily  command  the  most  respectful  attention.  The 
General  Committee  of  Association  for  the  City  and  County 
of  New-York  beg  leave,  therefore,  to  address  you,  and  the 
capital  of  the  British  Empire,  through  its  Magistrates,  on 
the  subject  of  American  wrongs.  Born  to  the  bright  inherit- 
ance of  English  freedom,  the  inhabitants  of  this  extensive 
Continent  can  never  submit  to  the  ignominious  yoke,  nor 
move  in  the  galling  fetters  of  slavery  :  the  disposal  of  their 
own  property  with  perfect  spontaneity,  and  in  a  manner 
wholly  divested  of  every  appearance  of  constraint,  is  their 
indefeasible  birthright.  This  exalted  blessing  they  are 
resolutely  determined  to  defend  with  their  blood,  and  trans- 
fer it  uncontaminated  to  their  posterity. 

You  will  not  then  wonder  at  their  early  jealousy  of  the 
design  to  erect  in  this  land  of  liberty  a  despotism  scarcely 
to  be  paralleled  in  the  pages  of  antiquity,  or  the  volumes 
of  modern  times;  a  despotism  consisting  in  power  assumed 
by  the  Representatives  of  a  part  of  His  Majesty's  sub- 
jects, at  their  sovereign  will  and  pleasure  to  strip  the  rest 
of  their  property.  And  what  are  the  engines  of  Adminis- 
tration to  execute  this  destructive  project  ?  The  duty  on 
tea ;  oppressive  restraints  on  the  commerce  of  the  Colo- 
nies;  the  blockade  of  the  Port  of  Boston;  the  change  of 
internal  police  in  the  Massachusetts  and  Quebeck ;  the 
establishment  of  Popery  in  the  latter,  the  extension  of  its 
bounds ;  the  ruin  of  our  Indian  commerce  by  regulations 
calculated  to  aggrandize  that  arbitrary  Government;  uncon- 
stitutional admiralty  jurisdictions  throughout  the  Colonies  ; 
the  invasion  of  our  right  to  a  trial  in  the  most  capital  cases 
by  a  jury  of  the  vicinage  ;  the  horrid  contrivance  to  screen 
from  punishment  the  bloody  executioners  of  ministerial 
vengeance;  and,  not  to  mention  the  rest  of  the  black  cata- 
logue of  our  grievances,  the  hostile  operations  of  an  Army, 
who  have  already  shed  the  blood  of  our  countrymen.  The 
struggles  excited  by  the  detestable  Stamp  Act  have  so 
lately  demonstrated  to  the  world  that  the  Americans  will 
not  be  slaves,  that  we  stand  astonished  at  the  gross  impolicy 
of  the  Minister.  Recent  experience  has  evinced  that  the 
possessors  of  this  extensive  Continent  would  never  submit 
to  a  tax  by  pretext  of  legislative  authority  in  Britain; 
disguise,  therefore,  became  the  expedient;  in  pursuit  of  the 
same  end,  Parliament  declared  their  absolute  supremacy 
over  the  Colonies,  and  have  already  endeavoured  to  exer- 
cise that  supremacy  in  attempting  to  raise  a  revenue  under 
the  specious  pretence  of  providing  for  their  good  Govern- 
ment and  defence.  Administration,  to  exhibit  a  degree  of 
moderation,  purely  ostensible  and  delusory,  while  they 
withdrew  their  hands  from  our  most  necessary  articles  of 
importation,  determined,  with  an  eager  grasp,  to  hold  the 
duty  on  tea  as  a  badge  of  their  taxative  power.  Zealous 
on  our  part  for  an  indissoluble  union  with  the  Parent  State, 
studious  to  promote  the  glory  and  happiness  of  the  Empire, 
and  impressed  with  a  just  sense  of  the  necessity  of  a  con- 
trolling authority,  to  regulate  and  harmonize  the  discordant 
commercial  interests  of  its  various  parts,  we  cheerfully 
submit  to  a  regulation  of  commerce  by  the  Legislature  of 
the  Parent  State,  excluding  in  its  nature  every  idea  of  tax- 
ation. 

Whither,  therefore,  the  present  machinations  of  arbitrary 
power  infallibly  tend,  you  may  easily  judge ;  if  unremit- 
tedly  pursued,  as  they  were  inhumanly  devised,  they  will, 
by  a  fatal  necessity,  terminate  in  a  total  dissolution  of  the 
Empire.  The  subjects  of  this  Country  will  not,  we  trust, 
be  deceived  by  any  measures  conciliatory  in  appearance, 
while  it  is  evident  that  the  Minister  aims  at  a  solid  revenue 
to  be  raised  by  grievous  and  oppressive  Acts  of  Parlia- 
ment,  and  by  fleets  and  armies  employed  to  enforce  their 
execution.  They  never  will,  we  believe,  submit  to  an  auc- 
tion in  the  Colonies,  for  the  more  effectual  augmentation  of 
the  revenue,  by  holding  it  up  as  a  temptation  to  them,  that 
the  highest  bidders  shall  enjoy  the  greatest  share  of  govern- 
mental favour.  This  plan,  as  it  would  tend  to  sow  the 
seeds  of  discoid,  would  be  far  more  dangerous  than  hostile 
force,  in  which  we  hope  the  King's  Troops  will  ever  be,  as 
they  have  already  been,  unsuccessful.  Instead  of  those 
unusual,  extraordinary,  and  unconstitutional  modes  of  pro- 
curing levies  from  the  subject,  should  His  Majesty  gra- 
ciously be  pleased  upon  suitable  emergencies,  to  make 


requisitions  in  ancient  form,  the  Colonies  have  expressed 
their  willingness  to  contribute  to  the  support  of  the  Em- 
pire ;  but  to  contribute  of  their  voluntary  gift  as  English- 
men. And  when  our  unexampled  grievances  are  redressed, 
our  Prince  will  find  his  American  subjects  testifying  on  all 
proper  occasions,  by  as  ample  aids  as  their  circumstances 
will  permit,  the  most  unshaken  fidelity  to  their  Sovereign, 
and  inviolable  attachment  to  the  welfare  of  his  realm  and 
Dominions. 

Permit  us  further  to  assure  you,  that  America  is  grown 
so  irritable  by  oppression,  that  the  least  shock  in  any  part 
is,  by  the  most  powerful  and  sympathetick  affection,  instan- 
taneously felt  through  the  whole  Continent ;  that  Pennsyl- 
vania, Maryland,  and  New-York,  have  already  stopped  their 
exports  to  the  Fishing  Islands,  and  those  Colonies  which 
at  this  dangerous  juncture  have  refused  to  unite  with  their 
brethren  in  the  common  cause,  and  all  supplies  to  the 
Navy  and  Army  at  Boston;  and  that  probably  the  day  is 
at  hand  when  our  Continental  Congress  will  totally  shut 
up  our  Ports.  The  minions  of  power  here  may  now  inform 
Administration,  if  they  can  ever  speak  the  language  of 
truth,  that  this  City  is  as  one  man  in  the  cause  of  liberty ; 
that  to  this  end  our  inhabitants  are  almost  unanimously 
bound  by  the  enclosed  Association  ;  that  it  is  continually 
advancing  to  perfection  by  additional  subscriptions ;  that 
they  are  resolutely  bent  on  supporting  their  Committee, 
and  the  intended  Provincial  and  Continental  Congresses ; 
that  there  is  not  the  least  doubt  of  the  efficacy  of  their 
example  in  the  other  Counties;  in  short,  that  while  the 
whole  Continent  are  ardently  wishing  for  peace  on  such 
terms  as  can  be  acceded  to  by  Englishmen,  they  are  inde- 
fatigable in  preparing  for  the  last  appeal.  That  such  are  the 
language  and  conduct  of  our  fellow-citizens,  will  be  further 
manifested  by  a  representation  of  the  Lieutenant-Gover- 
nour  and  Council,  of  the  first  instant,  to  General  Gage,  at 
Boston,  and  to  His  Majesty's  Ministers,  by  the  packet. 

Assure  yourselves,  my  lord  and  gentlemen,  that  we  speak 
the  real  sentiments  of  the  confederated  Colonies  on  the 
Continent,  from  Nova-Scotia  to  Georgia,  when  we  declare, 
that  all  the  horrours  of  civil  war  will  never  compel  Ame- 
rica to  submit  to  taxation  by  authority  of  Parliament. 

A  sincere  regard  to  the  publick  weal  and  the  cause  of 
humanity,  a  hearty  desire  to  spare  the  further  effusion  of 
human  blood,  our  loyalty  to  our  Prince,  and  the  love  we 
bear  to  all  our  fellow-subjects  in  His  Majesty's  Realm  and 
Dominions,  and  a  full  conviction  of  the  warmest  attach- 
ment in  the  capital  of  the  Empire  to  the  cause  of  justice 
and  liberty,  have  induced  us  to  address  you  on  this  momen- 
tous subject,  confident  that  the  same  cogent  motives  will 
induce  the  most  vigorous  exertions  of  the  City  of  London 
to  restore  union,  mutual  confidence,  and  peace  to  the 
whole  Empire. 

We  have  the  honour  to  be,  my  lord  and  gentlemen, 
your  most  obedient,  and  affectionate  fellow-subjects, 


Isaac  Low,  Chairman, 
John  Jsy, 
Francis  Lewis, 
John  Alsop, 
Philip  Livingston, 
James  Duane, 
Gerarclus  Duyckinck, 
William  Seaton, 
Wm.  W.  Ludlow, 
Cornelius  Cloppor, 
Abrm.  Brinkerhoff, 
Henry  Remson, 
Robert  Ray, 
Evert  Banker, 
Joseph  Totten, 
Abraham  P.  Lott, 
David  Bookman, 
Isaac  Roosevelt, 
Gabriel  II.  Ludlow, 
William  Walton, 
Daniel  Phenix, 
Frederick  Jay, 
Samuel  Broome, 
John  D"  Lancey, 
Alex.  McDougall, 
John  Reade, 
Joseph  Bull, 
George  Janeway, 
John  White, 
Gabriel  W.  Ludlow, 


John  Lasher, 
Theophilus  Anthony, 
Thomas  Smith, 
Richard  Yates, 
Oliver  Templeton, 
Jacobus  Van  Zandt, 
Jeremiah  Piatt, 
Peter  T.  Curtenius, 
Thomas  Randall, 
Lancaster  Burling, 
Benjamin  Kissam, 
Jacobus  Left'orts, 
Anthony  Van  Dam, 
Abraham  Walton, 
Hamilton  Young, 
Augustus  Van  Home, 
Abraham  Duryee, 
Samuel  Vcrplanck, 

Rudolphus  Ritzma, 
John  Morton, 
Joseph  Hallelt, 
Robert  Benson, 
Abraham  Brasher, 
Leonard  Lispeuard, 
Thomas  Marston, 
Nicholas  Hoffman, 
P.  V.  It.  Livingston, 
Lewis  Pintard, 
John  Imlay, 
Eloazer  Miller,  Jun., 


John  Broome, 
John  B.  Moore, 
Nicholas  Bogart, 
John  Anthony, 
Victor  Bicker, 
William  Goforth, 
Hercules  Mulligan, 
Nicholas  Roosevelt, 
Cornelius  P.  Low, 
Francis  Bassett, 
James  Beekman, 
Thomas  Ivers, 
William  Denning, 
John  Borrian, 
Benjamin  Holme, 
William  W.  Gilbert, 
Daniel  Dunsoomb, 
John  Lamb, 
Richard  Sharp, 
John  Morin  Scott, 
Jacob  Van  Voorhics, 
Comfort  Sands, 
Edward  Fleming, 
Peter  Goelet, 
Gerrct  Ketletas, 
Thomas  Buchaiman, 
J.  Desbrosses,  Jan., 
Potrus  Byvanck, 
Law  rence  Embroo. 


To  the  Right  Honourable  the  Lord  Mayor,  the  Alder- 
men, and  Common  Council  of  the  City  of  London. 


513 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


514 


MEMBERS  OF  THE  NEW-YORK  ASSEMBLY  TO  GENERAL  GAGE. 

New. York,  May  5,  1775. 

Sir:  In  the  recess  of  the  General  Assembly  we,  who 
are  members  of  it,  cannot  avoid  addressing  your  Excellency 
on  a  subject  of  the  utmost  importance. 

We  have  long  seen,  with  the  greatest  anxiety,  the  pro- 
gress of  the  unhappy  contest  between  Great  Britain  and 
the  Colonies  ;  and  as  we  have  ardently  wished  for  a  cordial 
reconciliation,  so  we  have,  to  the  utmost  of  our  power,  en- 
deavoured to  pursue  the  means  of  attaining  so  desirable  an 
end.  While  we  were  looking  up  to  this  object,  encouraged 
to  hope  for  the  attainment  of  it  by  the  assurances  we  had 
that  a  spirit  of  reconciliation  was  prevailing  in  the  Mother 
Country,  we  were  extremely  alarmed  at  the  late  melan- 
choly transactions  in  the  Province  of  Massachusetts-Bay , 
ending  in  actual  bloodshed.  The  immediate  effect  occa- 
sioned by  the  intelligence  of  such  important  events,  was  a 
general  agitation  in  the  minds  of  the  people  here,  which 
has  since  subsided  into  a  fixed,  confirmed  resolution,  to 
withhold  all  supplies  and  succours  from  the  Troops  under 
your  Excellency's  command,  while  they  are  at  the  same 
time  associating  and  arming  to  put  themselves  in  a  state  of 
defence. 

Alarmed  as  we  are  by  the  ruinous  consequences  which 
must  inevitably  follow  the  prosecution  of  hostile  measures, 
and  anxiously  affected  with  the  calamities  of  an  unnatural 
civil  war,  we  are  induced  most  earnestly  to  entreat  your 
Excellency,  in  behalf  of  the  Colonies,  (which,  however 
tenacious  of  their  rights  and  liberties,  and  jealous  of  every 
infringement  of  them,  can  be  exceeded  in  loyalty  and 
affection  for  out  most  gracious  Sovereign  by  none  of  his 
subjects,)  that  your  Excellency  will,  as  far  as  may  be  con- 
sistent with  your  duty,  immediately  order  a  cessation  of 
further  hostilities,  until  His  Majesty  can  be  apprised  of  the 
situation  of  the  American  Colonies.  From  such  a  request 
we  entertain  the  most  favourable  expectations,  when  we 
reflect  on  the  humanity  and  clemency  which  distinguish 
your  Excellency's  character,  and  which  must  render  a 
conflict  between  Britons  and  Americans  a  subject  of  the 
most  disagreeable  nature  to  you.  While  we  consider  the 
state  of  mind  which  prevails  among  the  people  here,  we 
cannot  but  mention  their  apprehensions  at  the  report  of  the 
destination  of  some  Troops  for  this  place  ;  should  this 
really  be  the  case,  we  must  express  our  wish  that  it  might 
also  be  consistent  with  your  Excellency's  duty,  that  no 
military  force  might  land  or  be  stationed  in  this  Province. 

It  behooves  us  to  acquaint  your  Excellency  that  two  of 
the  members  of  His  Majesty's  Council  of  this  Province 
have  this  day  sailed  in  the  Packet  for  England;  and  we 
flatter  ourselves  that  the  indulgent  Father  of  his  People 
will  be  moved  by  the  distressed  situation  of  his  American 
subjects,  and  that  he  will  permit  a  negotiation  to  take 
place,  which  may  prevent  the  further  effusion  of  blood, 
and  open  a  door  for  a  lasting  accommodation  of  present 
disputes.  We  are  your  Excellency's  most  obedient  hum- 
ble servants, 

John  Cruger, 

Fred.  Philips, 

Jacob  Walton, 

Daniel  Kissam, 

P.  Van  Cortlandt, 

Simon  Boerum, 

John  Coe, 


James  Jauncey, 
Zeb.  Williams, 
Benj.  Seaman, 
John  Rapalje, 
Samuel  Gale, 
Christoph.  Billopp, 
Samuel  Wells. 
To  his  Excellency  General  Gage. 


SELECTMEN  OF  WORCESTER  TO  THE  MASSACHUSETTS 
CONGRESS. 

[Worcester,  May  5,  1775.] 
The  Selectmen  of  Worcester  humbly  pray  that  you 
would  let  them  know  what  establishment  you  have  made 
for  a  Post,  or  Post-riders  from  Worcester  to  the  Army, 
&c,  that  they  may  conduct  themselves  agreeable  to  your 
orders  and  the  publick  weal. 

We  also  beg  your  direction  what  regard  we  shall  pay  to 
Governour  Gage's  precept  for  calling  a  General  Assembly, 
to  be  held  in  Boston,  on  the  31st  day  of  May  next.  We 
think  a  similarity  of  conduct  of  every  Town  in  the  Prov- 
ince best,  and  know  not  how  to  obtain  it  but  by  your 
Fourth  Series. — Vol.  it. 


direction.  We  are,  gentlemen,  your  humble  servants,  the 
Selectmen  of  Worcester.    Per  order : 

Joshua  Bigelow. 
To  the  Honourable  President  of  the  Provincial  Congress, 

and  the  Honourable  Members  thereof,  now  assembled 

at  Watertown. 


PETITION  TO  THE  MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS. 

An  address  to  the  Provincial  Congress,  or  any  gentleman 
that  is  a  Storekeeper  for  the  Congress,  from  us,  the  out- 
skirts of  the  settlements  on  Sheepscot  River  and  Deer's 
River,  (without  the  limits  of  any  Town,)  under  the 
command  of  Charles  Glidden,  Senior. 
Gentlemen:  It  is  our  humble  petition  to  you  to  sup- 
ply us,  your  petitioners,  with  powder  and  ball,  or  lead,  in 
order  to  be  ready  furnished  to  attend  any  alarm  or  call  to 
assist  in  vindication  of  our  American  cause;  and  entreating 
your  compliance  with  and  fulfilment  of  this  our  address, 
will  encourage  our  hearts,  and  raise  up  our  spirits  to  a  high- 
er pitch  of  courage,  and  shall  ever  subscribe  ourselves  your 
obliged  friends,  and  ready  to  serve. 

Charles  Glidden,  John  Byenton, 

Nathan  Deasell,  John  Decker, 

Timothy  Ferrin, 
Jeremiah  Brand, 
Obadiah  North, 
Benjamin  Kenney, 
Charles  Glidden,  Jr., 
Michael  Glidden, 
Ebenezer  Grover, 
Thomas  Grover, 
Stephen  Grover, 
Benjamin  Dow, 
Samuel  Ball, 
John  Ball, 


Meires  Carr, 
John  Phillbrick, 
Benjamin  Stickncy, 
Ephraim  Brown, 
Mason  Wottles, 
James  Reics, 
William  Byenton, 
Ezekicl  Stearns, 
James  Murphy, 
Jacob  Rowell, 
Thos.  Cunningham, 
James  Shepard, 


Timothy  Ferrin, 
Joseph  Rodgers, 
William  Carr, 
Samuel  Parum, 
Ebenezer  Phillbrick, 
Jeremiah  Brand, 
Moses  Cope, 
Jonathan  Heath, 
David  Hutchins, 
Oliver  Peselen, 
Ezekiel  Peselen, 
Isaac  Heath, 
Andrew  Glidden. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  THE  HON.  ENOCH  FREEMAN, 
ESQ..,  TO  THE  MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS. 

Falmouth,  May  5,  1775. 

We  have  lately  heard  that  the  Penobscot  Indians  are 
highly  exasperated  at  Captain  Goldthwaite,  for  suffering 
the  Tender  to  dismantle  the  Fort  there,  and  carry  off  the 
powder;  that  the  truck  trade  is  stopped,  as  we  are  inform- 
ed ;  and  that  there  was  a  number  of  men  round  about  there 
going  to  take  Goldthwaite,  for  delivering  up  the  Fort,  into 
their  custody,  but  what  they  intend  to  do  with  him  I  don't 
hear.  Perhaps  it  would  be  prudent  for  the  Congress  to 
send  down  there  and  secure  the  Indians  in  our  interest,  by 
keeping  the  truck  trade  open,  supplying  them  powder,  or 
any  other  method  in  their  wisdom,  upon  mature  considera- 
tion, they  may  think  best.    A  hint  on  this  head  is  enough. 

The  Selectmen  of  this  Town  have  this  moment  agreed 
with  one  Mr.  Jabez  Matthexvs  and  one  David  Dinsmore, 
of  New- Gloucester,  to  go  over  to  Quebeck,  to  make  dis- 
covery whether  any  Canadians  are  in  motion  to  come  on 
our  back  settlements,  or  to  excite  the  Indians  to  do  it ; 
and  I  have  wrote  to  Mr.  Remington  Holby,  of  Vassalbo- 
rough,  to  procure  one  or  two  to  go  with  them  as  hunters. 
And  they  are  charged  to  be  cautious  not  to  let  the  Cana- 
dians have  reason  so  much  as  to  suspect  their  business ; 
and  they  will  depend  on  your  endeavouring  to  get  the 
Congress  to  order  them  adequate  satisfaction  out  of  the 
publick  fund.  If  they  discover  any  evil  designs,  we  shall 
be  glad  to  know  it,  that  we  may  prepare  accordingly  for 
our  defence.  If  they  find  there  is  no  design  upon  us,  it 
will  be  a  great  satisfaction  to  this  eastern  country. 

I  could  write  a  good  deal  in  favour  of  sending  such  an 
embassy,  but  as  my  time  is  almost  wholly  taken  up  on  pub- 
lick matters,  I  have  little  time  to  spare. 

PETITION  OF  TIMOTHY  LANGDON  TO  THE  MASSACHUSETTS 
CONGRESS. 

Georgetown,  May  5,  1775. 
To  the  Honourable  the  President  of  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress, the  Petition  of  Timothy  Langdon  humbly 
shoivcth  : 

That  upon  the  second  day  of  May  instant,  a  Committee 
of  Safety  for  ten  Towns  in  the  County  of  Lincoln,  met  at 
Pownalsborough,  and,  amongst  other  matters,  took  under 
consideration  the  expediency  of  removing  the  King's  masts. 


33 


515 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  kc,  MAY,  1775. 


516 


being  now  in  the  dock  in  Georgetown;  when  it  was  unani- 
mously voted  that  it  was  inexpedient  to  remove  them. 

That  on  the  fourth  day  of  May  instant,  a  meeting  of  the 
Committees  of  Inspection  for  a  number  of  Towns  in  the 
County  of  Lincoln,  was  held  in  Georgetown,  and  after 
duly  considering  of  all  matters  respecting  the  King's  masts, 
were  of  opinion  that  all  persons  be  forbid  to  work  upon 
said  masts,  or  aid  in  any  manner  in  fitting  them  for  the 
King's  use. 

That  Edward  Parry,  Esquire,  who  had  procured  those 
masts  more  than  a  year  since,  had  promised  the  Commit- 
tee that  no  person  should  ship  those  masts  for  him,  but 
there  they  should  remain  in  the  dock  in  Georgetown.  The 
Committees  of  Inspection  were  then  of  opinion,  that  it  was 
inexpedient  to  remove  the  masts  from  the  Dock. 

That  while  the  Committees  of  Inspection  were  met, 
Colonel  Samuel  Thompson,  of  Brunswick,  in  the  County 
of  Cumberland,  appeared  with  twenty  armed  men,  and 
when  he  had  heard  of  the  result  of  the  Committees,  he 
seized  upon  the  body  of  Edward  Parry,  Esquire,  and 
kept  him  in  custody  till  he  gave  bonds  in  two  thousand 
Pounds  to  tarry  in  this  Town  till  the  pleasure  of  Congress 
shall  be  known  respecting  him,  and  also  obliged  the  said 
Edward  to  pay  for  the  victuals  and  drink  of  him  the  said 
Thompson  and  his  men,  amounting  to  the  sum  of  forty-two 
Shillings,  lawful  money. 

That  the  said  Edward  Parry  has  ever  behaved  himself 
as  a  peaceable  member  of  society,  and  he  declared  to  the 
Committees,  that  had  he  known  there  was  any  order 
of  Congress  respecting  the  masts,  he  would  not  have  con- 
cerned himself  with  them.  Wherefore,  your  petitioner,  at 
the  request  of,  and  as  Clerk  to  the  Committee  of  Inspec- 
tion, humbly  prays  the  honourable  Congress  that  they 
would  take  the  matters  of  fact  above  stated  under  consid- 
eration, and  that  orders  be  sent  to  Messrs.  Dummer  Sewall 
and  Jordan  Parker,  the  bondmen  for  said  Parry,  that  he 
the  said  Parry  may  be  released  from  his  confinement,  and 
they  the  said  Dummer  and  Jordan  released  from  their 
bonds;  and  your  petitioner,  as  in  duty  bound,  shall  ever 
pray,  Sec.  Tim.  Langdon. 


JAMES  GOWEN  AND  OTHERS  TO  GENERAL  WARD. 

Kittery,  May  5,  1775. 

Sir:  Captain  Johnson  Moulton,  the  bearer  hereof,  who 
has  been  a  number  of  years  in  the  service  of  this  Province 
the  last  war,  and  performed  to  general  satisfaction  of  all 
parties,  and  it  appearing  by  the  disposition  of  our  men,  who 
are  acquainted  with  him  in  the  service,  that  he  will  be  the 
most  likely  to  raise  a  regiment  of  good  effective  men,  there- 
fore do  recommend  him  to  your  Honour  (if  you  think  pro- 
per) for  a  Colonel's  commission. 

And  are  your  Honour's  assured  friends  and  humble  ser- 
vants, James  Gowen, 

Benj.  Chadbourn, 
Nathan  Lord,  Jun. 

N.  B.  There  is  a  considerable  number  of  good  men 
enlisted  already,  with  a  view  of  said  Moulton's  being  their 
Colonel. 

The  Hon.  Artemas  Ward,  Esquire.. 


THOMAS  CHASE  TO  THE  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY. 

Roxbury  Camp,  May  5,  1775. 
Gentlemen  :  General  Thomas  desires  you  would  send 
a  Committee  to  examine  the  trunks  of  Thomas  Hutchinson, 
as  they  have  sent  for  them,  and  the  General  has  directions 
from  you  not  to  permit  them  to  go  to  Boston  till  your 
Committee  had  examined  them.  I  am,  in  behalf  of  his 
Excellency  the  General,  your  most  obedient  servant, 

Thos.  Chase,  Major  Brig. 
To  the  Honourable  the  Committee  of  Safety. 


COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY  TO  GENERAL  THOMAS. 

Boston,  May  6,  1775. 

Sir:  This  Committee  are  of  opinion,  that  it  is  the 
order  of  the  Provincial  Congress  that  the  effects  of  all  per- 
sons whatsoever  should  be  permitted  to  go  into  Boston 
without  search  or  detention,  and  therefore  the  trunks  of 
Governour  Uutchinson  are  not  to  be  detained  or  injured. 
We  are,.Sic. 


PROCLAMATION  BY  LORD  DUNMORE. 

By  His  Excellency  the  Bight  Honourable  John  Earl  of 
Dunmore,  His  Majesty's  Lieutenant  and  Governour 
General  of  the  Colony  and  Dominion  of  Virginia,  and 
Vice-Admiral  of  the  same. 

A  Proclamation. 

Virginia,  to  wit: 

Whereas  I  have  been  informed,  from  undoubted  au- 
thority, that  a  certain  Patrick  Henry,  of  the  County  of 
Hanover,  and  a  number  of  deluded  followers,  have  taken 
up  arms,  chosen  their  Officers,  and,  styling  themselves  an 
Independent  Company,  have  marched  out  of  their  County, 
encamped,  and  put  themselves  in  a  posture  of  war,  and 
have  written  and  despatched  letters  to  divers  parts  of  the 
Country,  exciting  the  people  to  join  in  these  outrageous 
and  rebellious  practices,  to  the  great  terrour  of  all  His  Ma- 
jesty's faithful  subjects,  and  in  open  defiance  of  law  and 
Government ;  and  have  committed  other  acts  of  violence, 
particularly  in  extorting  from  His  Majesty's  Receiver 
General  the  sum  of  Three  Hundred  and  Thirty  Pounds, 
under  pretence  of  replacing  the  Powder  I  thought  proper 
to  order  from  the  Magazine ;  whence  it  undeniably  appears 
that  there  is  no  longer  the  least  security  for  the  life  or  pro- 
perty of  any  man:  Wherefore,  I  have  thought  proper, 
with  the  advice  of  His  Majesty's  Council,  and  in  His 
Majesty's  name,  to  issue  this  my  Proclamation,  strictly 
charging  all  persons,  upon  their  allegiance,  not  to  aid,  abet, 
or  give  countenance  to  the  said  Patrick  Henry,  or  any 
other  persons  concerned  in  such  unwarrantable  combina- 
tions, but  on  the  contrary  to  oppose  them  and  their  designs 
by  every  means;  which  designs  must,  otherwise,  inevitably 
involve  the  whole  Country  in  the  most  direful  calamity,  as 
they  will  call  for  the  vengeance  of  offended  majesty  and 
the  insulted  laws  to  be  exerted  here,  to  vindicate  the  con- 
stitutional authority  of  Government. 

Given  under  my  hand  and  the  seal  of  the  Colony,  at 
William sburgh,  this  6th  day  of  May,  1775,  and  in  the 
fifteenth  year  of  His  Majesty's  reign.  Dunmore. 
God  save  the  King. 

EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  CARLISLE,  PENNSYLVANIA, 
DATED  MAY  6,  1775. 

Yesterday  the  County  Committee  met  from  nineteen 
Townships,  on  the  short  notice  they  had.  About  three 
thousand  men  have  already  associated.  The  arms  return- 
ed amount  to  about  fifteen  hundred.  The  Committee  have 
voted  five  hundred  effective  men,  besides  commissioned 
officers,  to  be  immediately  drafted,  taken  into  pay,  armed 
and  disciplined,  to  march  on  the  first  emergency  ;  to  be 
paid  and  supported  as  long  as  necessary,  by  a  tax  on  all 
estates,  real  and  personal,,  in  the  County ;  the  returns  to 
be  taken  by  the  Township  Committees,  and  the  tax  laid 
by  the  Commissioners  and  Assessors ;  the  pay  of  the  offi- 
cers and  men  nearly  as  usual  in  times  past.  This  morning 
we  meet  again  at  eight  o'clock :  among  other  subjects  of 
inquiry  this  day,  the  mode  of  drafting,  or  taking  into  pay, 
arming,  and  victualing  immediately  the  men,. and  the  choice 
of  field  and  other  officers,  will,  among  other  important  mat- 
ters, be  the  subject  of  deliberation.  The  strength  or  spirit 
of  this  County  perhaps  may  appear  small,  if  judged  of  by 
the  number  of  men  proposed ;  but  when  it  is  considered 
that  we  are  ready  to  raise  fifteen  hundred  or  two  thousand, 
should  we  have  support  from  the  Province  ;  and  that  inde- 
pendent, and  in  uncertain  expectation  of  such  support,  we 
have  voluntarily  drawn  upon  this  County  a  debt  of  about 
Twenty-Seven  Thousand  Pounds  per  annum,  I  hope  we 
shall  not  appear  contemptible.  We  make  great  improve- 
ment in  military  discipline  ;  it  is  yet  uncertain  who  may  go. 

N&w-York,  May  6,  1775. 
Many  printed  copies  of  a  letter  to  the  regular  soldiers  of 
Great  Britain,  now  on  service  in  America,,  were,  on  the 
4th  instant,  distributed  among  the  soldiers  in  the  barracks 
in  this  City.  The  purport  of  this  letter  was  to  prove  that 
soldiers  of  Great  Britain  could  not  legally  be  sent  to  Ame- 
rica, without  the  consent  of  the  Legislature  of  the  Colony 
where  they  were  sent ;  that  in  the  Colonies  soldiers  were 
not  subject  to  the  military  laws  of  England,  nor  could  be 


517 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  fee,  MAY,  1775. 


518 


punished  or  held  by  them  ;  but  that  any  officer  who  should 
presume  to  inflict  any  pains  or  penalties  on,  or  to  detain  a 
soldier  in  America,  on  authority  of  a  law  of  England  not 
adopted  by  the  Legislature  in  America,  would  himself  be 
liable  to  severe  punishments,  and  might  be  prosecuted  by 
any  soldier  he  should  so  punish  or  detain. 

The  next  day,  after  the  roll  was  called,  (which  was  an 
hour  before  the  usual  time,)  the  men  were  ordered  to  march 
and  form  a  circle ;  after  which,  Captain  ....  made  the 
following  elegant  oration  : 

"  Soldiers,  I  make  no  doubt  but  you  saw  and  have  read 
the  printed  handbills  which  were  thrown  over  our  gates  the 
last  evening;  those  that  have  not,  I  particularly  desire  they 
will  ;  they  will  see  the  licentiousness  of  the  people,  and 
the  intention  of  that  paper.  I  say  it  is  with  a  design  of 
endeavouring  to  draw  you  from  your  duty,  degrading  the 
Regiment ;  and  what  is  worse,  persuading  you  to  destroy 
your  souls  and  bodies.  Look  on  your  lappels,  and  I  think 
I  am  certain  it  will  put  you  in  remembrance  never  to  be 
guilty  of  either.  You  may  depend  that  these  disputes  will 
be  soon  settled,  in  such  a  manner,  and  upon  such  terms, 
that  all  the  deserters  must  be  given  up,  and  you  may  be 
certain  that  they  will  be  hanged  like  so  many  dogs.  These 
very  rebels  who  decoy  you,  will  be  the  first  to  deceive 
for  their  own  purposes.  I  forgot  to  mention  to  you  a  cir- 
cumstance which  Captain  ....  wrote  to  me  in  this  let- 
ter, (showing  it ;)  and  for  your  satisfaction  I  will  read  the 
paragraph,  to  show  you  what  you  are  to  expect,  if  you  are 
taken  by  any  of  those  rebels  and  barbarians :  '  Three  com- 
panies of  Light-Infantry  were  posted  at  a  bridge,  but  a'fter 
a  vigorous  defence  were  dislodged  by  so  great  a  number  of 
inhabitants  or  rebels,  (I  cannot  say  which,)  coming  upon 
them  ;  they  left  behind  them  one  killed  and  three  wound- 
ed. Three  scoundrels  were  so  barbarous,  that  nothing  but 
savages  could  have  equalled  it ;  two  of  these  wounded  men 
were  scalped;  besides  this,  one  of  them  had  his  ears  cut 
off,  and  eyes  picked  out.  Such  unheard-of  barbarity  could 
never  be  performed  before  by  any  civilized  Nation.'  " 

So,  my  brother  soldiers  of  the  Eighteenth  Regiment,  con- 
gratulate me  on  my  happy  escape  ;  I  could  not  bear  such 
confinement  ;  I  was  never  used  to  it  before,  though  I 
have  been  a  soldier  near  twenty  years.  I  am  now  in  good 
pay,  where  you  may  be  soon,  if  you  will  follow  my  exam- 
ple ;  make  haste,  and  come  all  to  me,  and  you  shall  be 
taken  good  care  of.  A  Deserter. 


New.York,  Tuesday,  May  9,  1775. 
Saturday  evening  last,  the  6th  instant,  arrived  here  from 
the  eastward,  on  their  way  to  the  Continental  Congress  at 
Philadelphia,  the  Honourable  John  Hancock,  Thomas 
Cushing,  Samuel  Adams,  John  Adams,  and  Robert  Treat 
Paine,  Esquires,  Delegates  for  the  Province  of  Massachu- 
setts-Bay; and  the  Honourable  Eliphalet  Dyer,  Roger 
Sherman,  and  Silas  Deane,  Esquires,  Delegates  for  the 
Colony  of  Connecticut.  They  were  met  a  few  miles  out 
of  Town  by  a  great  number  of  the  principal  gentlemen  of  the 
place,  in  carriages  and  on  horseback,  and  escorted  into  the 
City  by  near  a  thousand  men  under  arms.  The  roads 
were  lined  with  greater  numbers  of  people  than  were  ever 
known  on  any  occasion  before.  Their  arrival  was  an- 
nounced by  the  ringing  of  bells,  and  other  demonstrations 
of  joy.  They  had  double  centries  placed  at  the  doors  of 
their  lodgings. 

On  Monday  morning,  the  above  gentlemen,  with  Philip 
Livingston,  James  Duane,  John  Alsop,  and  Francis  Lew- 
is, Esquires,  Delegates  for  this  City ;  Colonel  William 
Floyd,  for  Suffolk,  and  Simon  Boerum,  Esq.,  for  King's 
County,  in  this  Province,  set  out  for  Philadelphia,  attend- 
ed by  a  great  train  to  the  North  River  ferry,  where  two  or 
three  sloops  and  a  number  of  other  vessels  were  provided ; 
and  it  is  said  about  five  hundred  gentlemen  crossed  the 
ferry  with  them,  among  whom  were  two  hundred  of  the 
Militia  under  arms. 

The  Delegates  were  received  at  the  ferry  by  a  number 
of  gentlemen  from  Newark,  in  New-Jersey,  Captain  Al- 
len, at  the  head  of  his  troop  of  Horse,  and  Captain  Rut- 
gers, at  the  head  of  his  company  of  Grenadiers,  (which 
were  allowed  by  the  gentlemen  present  to  be  as  complete 
companies  as  they  had  seen.)  The  whole  proceeded  to 
Newark,  where  an  entertainment  was  provided,  and  a 


number  of  patriotick  toasts  were  drank.  After  dinner  they 
were  escorted  to  Elizabethtown,  and  on  their  way  were 
met  by  the  gentlemen  and  militia  of  that  place. 

Jamaica  Plain,  Roxbury,  May  6,  1775. 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  a  paper  found  among  those 
of  the  late  Josiah  Quincy,  Esquire,  delivered  to  him,  sign- 
ed by  an  intimate  acquaintance  of  mine,  an  eminent  mer- 
chant in  London.  William  Gordon. 

"  The  Quebeck  Bill  recalls  to  my  mind  some  considera- 
tions, which  lead  me  to  think  that  it  is  fraught  with  infi- 
nitely more  mischief  to  Britain  and  America,  than  most 
of  its  opposers  are  aware  of ;  and  that  the  planners  and 
promoters  of  this  Bill  will,  in  the  end,  be  found  to  have 
advanced  the  interest  of  France  to  the  destruction  of  that 
of  Britain,  in  a  much  more  eminent  degree  than  has  hith- 
erto been  done  by  the  very  worst  Minister  that  ever  lived. 

"  The  late  Thomas  Mollis,  Esquire,  well  known  in  Ame- 
rica on  account  of  his  many  liberal  benefactions,  gave  the 
following  account  of  himself  to  a  gentleman  from  whom  I 
had  it,  viz :  That  the  said  Thomas  Hollis  had  always  the 
worst  opinion  of  Lord  Bute's  principles  ;  and  believing  him 
to  have  no  attachment  either  to  George  the  Third,  or  his 
family,  did,  when  the  last  peace,  (that  is,  of  Paris,)  was 
negotiating,  at  his  own  expense,  send  abroad  a  gentleman, 
whose  sole  business  it  was  to  watch  every  motion,  and  dis- 
cover every  secret  relating  to  this  peace.  The  gentleman 
thus  sent  by  Mr.  Hollis  so  far  succeeded  as  to  discover 
that  there  were  four  secret  articles ;  and  Mr.  Hollis  enu- 
merated the  four  following  to  my  friend,  and  he  to  me,  very 
soon  after  the  peace,  and  long  before  any  one  of  them  was 
ever  talked  of  being  carried  into  execution  : 

"  1.  That  a  Popish  Bishop  was  to  be  fixed  by  the  King 
in  Canada. 

"  2.  That  the  Popish  Religion  was  to  be  established 
there. 

"3.  That  the  bounds  of  Canada  were  to  be  fixed. 

"  4.  That  Canada,  when  thus  fixed,  was  to  be  given 
back  to  the  French. 

"  Now,  Sir,  when  this  account  was  first  related  to  me,  as 
it  was  long  before  any  thing  of  this  kind  was  agitated,  I 
own  I  did  not  believe  it  possible  that  Bute  could  be  bold 
enough  to  make  such  an  infamous  treaty,  and  therefore  was 
at  a  loss  how  to  controvert  an  authority  so  good,  or  to  dis- 
pute an  evidence  which  was  so  circumstantial ;  but  I  own, 
as  I  have  now  lived  to  see  three  of  those  secret  articles  ex- 
ecuted, I  firmly  believe  that  the  fourth  will  be  as  strictly 
observed ;  and  that  Canada  restored  to  the  French,  thus 
fixed  and  improved,  will  enable  France  to  distress  our  Col- 
onies, and  in  the  end  give  a  mortal  stab  to  the  trade,  the 
liberty,  and  glory  of  Britain.  When  I  see  either  King, 
Ministers,  or  People,  plan,  execute,  or  acquiesce  in  mea- 
sures so  evidently  ruinous  to  their  own  true  interest,  I  am 
at  a  loss  to  discover  what  are  the  leading  principles  on 
which  such  infatuation  is  founded.  No  sagacity  can  sug- 
gest any  adequate  motives. 

"  N.  B.  When  Lord  Bute  was  at  Venice,  he  attended 
mass  constantly  in  a  publick  manner." 


COPY  OF  AN  INTERCEPTED  LETTER,  DATED  MONTREAL, 
MAY  6,  1775. 

Dear  Finlay  :  Since  your  departure  we  have  had  many 
disagreeable  things  happened  here,  and  news  of  worse  from 
Boston,  which  have  given  me  great  uneasiness  on  your 
account,  for  fear  you  should  fall  into  their  hands,  and  be 
detained  till  matters  are  settled  between  them  and  the  Mo- 
ther Country,  which  desired  event,  I  am  afraid,  is  now  far 
distant,  since  hostilities  are  commenced ;  but  1  hope  you 
heard  the  shocking  news  in  time  to  take  such  measures  as 
to  avoid  any  danger. 

In  the  night  of  the  30th  of  April,*  some  malicious  and 
mischievous  person  or  persons  disfigured  the  King's  bust 
on  the  parade,  by  blacking  its  face,  hanging  a  chaplet  of 
potatoes  about  its  neck,  with  a  wooden  cross  and  a  label, 
on  which  was  wrote,  "  Le  Pape  de  Canada  ou  le  sot  An- 
glois,"  (the  Pope  of  Canada  and  the  fool  of  England,) 
with  an  intent,  no  doubt,  of  creating  jealousies,  animosities, 

*  The  Quebeck  Act  took  effect  in  Canada  on  the  first  of  May,  1775. 


519 


ASSEMBLY  OF  NEW-HAMPSHIRE,  MAY,  1775. 


520 


and  disturbances  amongst  the  people,  particularly  between 
the  English  and  Canadians;  and  I  am  sorry  to  tell  you 
they  have  met  with  great  success. 

Early  the  next  morning,  when  it  was  discovered,  the 
commanding  officer  sent  two  Sergeants  to  clean  the  bust 
and  take  off  the  chaplet,  label,  and  cross.  The  new  Judges 
and  conservators  of  the  peace  were  then  consulted,  but 
they  took  no  immediate  measures  on  the  occasion,  except 
sending  an  account  of  the  transaction  to  the  Governour. 
The  military  first  took  up  the  matter,  and  blamed  the  En- 
glish inhabitants,  throwing  many  reflections  on  them,  par- 
ticularly the  Committee,  who,  some  amongst  them,  were 
absolutely  charged  with  the  fact,  which  has  occasioned 
great  uneasiness,  and  I  am  afraid  will  be  attended  with  bad 
consequences.  The  Canailians  also  point  them  out  as  the 
authors;  so  that  you  may  judge  a  subscription  of  One  Hun- 
dred Pounds  Sterling  was  entered  into  by  the  Merchants, 
&c,  at  the  Coffee-House,  as  a  reward  to  any  person  who 
should  discover  the  offender.  The  military  gentlemen  also 
subscribed  Fifty  Guineas  for  the  same  purpose ;  and  ad- 
vertisements were  made  out  and  published  by  both  parties 
the  next  day,  by  beat  of  drum.  In  the  course  of  the  pub- 
lication two  frays  happened.  Mr.  Belestre  was  standing 
at  a  corner  of  a  street  with  a  number  of  others,  when  the 
advertisement  was  read,  and  he  observed  that  whoever  did 
it  deserved  to  be  hanged ;  upon  which  young  Franks  ob- 
served they  did  not  hang  people  for  such  trifles,  and  that 
it  was  not  worth  the  trouble,  which  incensed  Belestre,  who 
abused  Franks,  and  took  him  by  the  nose,  which  Franks 
returned  with  a  blow  that  knocked  him  down,  and  cut  his 
forehead ;  somebody  then  interposed  and  parted  them ; 
both  parties  applied  to  the  Judges,  but  neither  could  get 
satisfaction.  Belestre  being  the  aggressor,  could  not  get 
Franks  bound  over,  and  he  could  not  Belestre,  but  for  what 
reason  I  cannot  tell.  The  next  day  Franks  was  appre- 
hended and  committed  to  prison,  not  for  the  assault,  but  on 
Belestre's  affidavit,  for  the  expressions  he  made  use  of 
about  the  crime,  which  I  mentioned  before,  and  bail  was 
refused;  however,  the  day  following  the  Judges  sent  him 
notice,  that  upon  consideration  they  had  agreed  to  take 
bail,  but  he  refused  to  give  any,  and  is  now  in  prison  wait- 
ing for  an  answer  from  the  Governour,  to  a  state  of  the 
case  he  sent  to  his  father. 


The  other  affair  happened  between  Ezekiel  Solomons, 
the  Jew,  and  Pallieur ;  the  latter  accused  the  Jews  of 
having  disfigured  the  bust,  upon  which  some  words  ensued, 
and  Solomons  knocked  him  down  ;  he  has  been  apprehend- 
ed, and  has  given  bail. 


TO  THE  PRESIDENT  OK  THE  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS  OF 
MASSACHUSETTS. 

Portsmouth,  May  6,  1775. 

Sir  :  We  have  received  intelligence  that  Mr.  Edward 
Parry,  of  this  Town,  together  with  Mr.  John  Barnard 
and  Mr.  Wilson,  are  now  confined  in  irons  in  the  County 
of  Lincoln;  for  what  cause  we  have  not  been  able  to  ex- 
plore. But  from  the  past  conduct  of  Mr.  Parry  in  this 
Town,  we  are  convinced  he  never  merited  such  treatment ; 
and  that  it  cannot  but  meet  with  the  disapprobation  of 
your  Congress,  which  have  constantly  manifested,  in  all 
their  proceedings,  a  contrary  temper. 

We  trust  that  Congress  will  exert  their  influence  to  pro- 
cure the  immediate  release  of  that  gentleman  ;  and  wish 
that  humanity  and  candour  may  distinguish  all  our  noble 
struggles  in  the  cause  of  liberty.  1  am  your  most  obedient 
servant.    By  order  of  the  Committee : 

Wm.  Whipple. 


TO  THE  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY  AT  CAMBRIDGE. 

In  General  Assembly,  Providence,  May  6,  1775. 

Gentlemen:  Your  favour  of  yesterday  we  received  by 
express  this  morning.  We  are  now  pursuing  every  method 
in  our  power  to  have  our  men  in  readiness  to  take  the  field 
as  early  as  possible  ;  and  you  may  rest  assured  that  we  will 
exert  ourselves  upon  this  important  occasion  ;  and  that  the 
Army  we  have  voted  to  be  raised,  which  is  to  consist  of 
fifteen  hundred  men,  will  be  supplied  with  all  necessary 
stores  and  ammunition  ;  and  one  company  is  to  be  furnish- 
ed with  six  three-pounders.  As  soon  as  they  are  in  readi- 
ness we  will  give  you  the  earliest  information  thereof,  that 
they  may  be  disposed  of  in  such  a  manner  as  will  best  serve 
our  common  interest.  I  am,  with  great  respect,  gentlemen, 
your  most  humble  servant.    By  order  of  the  House  : 

Metcalf  Bowler,  Speaker. 


ASSEMBLY  OF  NEW-HAMPSHIRE. 
Members  of  the  House  of  Representatives  of  the  Prov- 
ince of  New-Hampshire,  at  a  Session  began  and  held  at 
Portsmouth,  in  said  Province,  on  Thursday,  the  4th  day 
of  May,  1775  : 

Somersworth. — Honourable  John  Wentworth,  Esquire. 
Portsmouth. — Mr.  Jacob  Sheafe,  Captain  Woodbury 

Langdon,  Captain  John  Langdon. 
Dover. —  Otis  Baker,  Esquire,  Captain  Caleb  Hodg- 

don,  Captain  Josiah  Moulton. 
Hampton. — Mr.  Josiah  Moulton,  Junior. 
Hampton  Falls. — Meshech  Weare,  Esquire,  John  Gid- 

ding,  Esquire. 
Exeter. — Colonel  Nathaniel  Folsom,  Esquire. 
New-Castle. — Mr.  Henry  Prescott. 
Rye. — Mr.  Samuel  Jenness. 
Kingstown. — Colonel  Josiah  Bartlett,  Esquire. 
Newington. — Major  Richard  Downing,  Esquire. 
Stratham. — Deacon  Stephen  Boardman. 
Londonderry. — Colonel  Stephen  Holland,  Esquire. 
Greenland. — Colonel  Clement  March,  Esquire. 
Durham. — Ebenczer  Thompson,  Esquire. 
Newmarket. — Colonel  Joseph  Smith,  Esquire. 
Southampton. — Captain  Eliphalet  Merrill. 
Chester. — Jo/in  Webster,  Esquire. 
Plastow  and  Hampstead. — Mr.  John  Calef. 
Salem  and  Pelham. — Mr.  Jacob  Butler,  Junior. 
Hollis. — Colonel  John  Hale,  Esquire. 
Merrimack. — Captain  John  Chamberlin. 
Nottingham-West  and  Litchfield. — Wiseman  Clag- 

get,  Esquire. 
Kensington. — Major  Nathaniel  Hcaly,  Esquire. 
Rochester. — Deacon  James  Knowles. 
Barrington. — Mr.  Joshua  Foss. 


Amherst  and  Bedford. — Mr.  Paul  Dudley  Sargent. 
Winchester. — Colonel  Samuel  Ashley,  Esquire. 
Keene. — Captain  Isaac  Wyman. 
Charlestown. — Mr.  Elijah  Grout. 
Plymouth. — Colonel  John  Fenton,  Esquire. 
Oxford. — Israel  Morey,  Esquire. 
Lyme. —  Greene,  Esquire. 

Thursday,  May  4,  1775,  A.  M. 
A  number  of  the  elected  Members  met,  and  were  ad- 
journed by  the  Deputy  Secretary  to  Friday,  the  5th  in- 
stant, at  eleven  of  the  clock  in  the  forenooon. 

Friday,  May  5,  1775,  A.  M. 

Met  according  to  adjournment. 

The  Honourable  Theodore  Atkinson,  Jonathan  War- 
ner, Peter  Gillman,  and  John  Sherburne,  Esquires,  came 
into  the  Assembly  Chamber  and  administered  the  usual 
oaths  to  the  Members  present,  and  then  returned. 

The  Honourable  Theodore  Atkinson,  Jonathan  Warner, 
Peter  Gillman,  and  John  Sherburne,  Esquires,  came  from 
the  Council  Board  with  a  message  from  his  Excellency, 
that  it  was  his  Excellency's  pleasure  that  the  House  pro- 
ceed to  the  choice  of  a  Speaker,  and  present  him  to  the 
Chair  for  approbation. 

The  House  then  proceeded  to  the  choice  of  a  Speaker, 
and  unanimously  chose  the  Honourable  John  Wentworth, 
Esquire. 

Voted,  That  Jacob  Sheafe,  Esquire,  Captain  Woodbury 
Langdon,  Otis  Baker,  and  Wiseman  Clagget,  Esquires,  be 
a  Committee  to  inform  his  Excellency  that  the  House  had 
made  choice  of  the  Honourable  John  Wentworth.  Esquire, 
for  their  Speaker. 


521 


ASSEMBLY  OF  KEW-HAMPSHIKE,  MAY,  1775. 


522 


The  Honourable  Theodore  Atkinson,  Jonathan  Hor- 
ner, Peter  Gillman,  and  John  Sherburne,  Esquires,  came 
from  the  Board  and  informed  the  House  that  his  Excellen- 
cy approved  of  the  Honourable  John  Wentworth,  Esquire, 
as  Speaker  of  the  House,  and  that  his  Excellency  required 
the  attendance  of  the  Speaker  and  all  the  Members  in  the 
Council  Chamber. 

The  Speaker  and  House  immediately  waited  on  his  Ex- 
cellency in  the  Council  Chamber,  where  his  Excellency 
was  pleased  to  make  a  Speech  to  both  Houses,  after  which 
they  returned  to  their  Chamber. 

Voted,  That  Meshech  JVeare.  Esquire,  be  Clerk  to  this 
House. 

The  Honourable  Meshech  JVeare,  Esquire,  the  Clerk 
elect  of  this  House,  being  absent, 

Voted,  That  Ebenezer  Thompson,  Esquire,  be  Clerk 
pro  tempore  to  this  House,  who  was  sworn  to  the  faithful 
discharge  of  his  trust  by  Wiseman  Ctagget,  Esquire. 

Voted,  That  the  following  Rules  be  observed  by  this 
House,  viz : 

First.  That  whoever  shall,  by  any  misbehaviour  in 
speech  or  action,  justly  offend  any  of  the  Members  of  this 
House,  shall  be  admonished,  fined,  or  imprisoned,  as  the 
House  shall  see  meet. 

Stcond.  That  no  Member  speak  twice  to  any  matter 
in  debate  before  the  House,  until  every  Member  have 
liberty  to  speak  once  to  the  same  matter,  if  he  should  see 
cause. 

Third.  That  every  Member  direct  his  speech  to  the 
Speaker,  and  not  to  one  another ;  and  when  any  Member 
has  a  mind  to  speak  to  any  matter  in  debate,  he  shall  stand 
up  and  ask  leave  of  the  Speaker,  and  not  speak  without 
his  consent,  and  shall  be  silent  at  his  command ;  but  if  the 
Member  speaking  thinks  such  command  unseasonable  or 
unreasonable,  the  Speaker  shall  take  a  vote  of  the  House 
thereon,  to  which  such  Member  shall  submit  on  pain  of 
forfeiting  such  sum  as  the  House  shall  determine. 

Fourth.  That  whenever  it  happens  there  are  as  many 
votes  on  the  one  side  of  the  question  as  on  the  other  with- 
out the  Speaker,  that  then  the  Speaker  make  the  casting 
vote. 

Fifth.  That  if  the  Speaker  be  absent,  the  House  may 
choose  a  Speaker  pro  tempore,  that  the  business  of  the 
House  may  be  carried  on  without  delay. 

Sicth.  That  if  any  Member,  after  being  qualified  and 
entered,  shall  absent  himself  at  any  time  without  leave 
from  the  House,  he  shall  be  liable  to  be  fined  at  the  dis- 
cretion of  the  House. 

Seventh.  That  if  any  Member  of  this  House  shall  by 
the  major  part  of  the  House  be  thought  unfit  and  not  quali- 
fied for  said  place,  it  shall  be  in  the  power  of  the  House 
to  dismiss  such  person,  giving  to  the  Town  or  Precinct 
notice  to  choose  another  person  to  fill  up  such  vacancy. 

Eighth.  That  every  Bill  to  be  passed  in  this  House 
be  read  three  times,  and  that  there  be  two  adjournments  of 
this  House  before  any  Bill  be  passed  into  an  Act. 

Ninth.  That  the  Speaker  and  eighteen  Members  be  a 
House  to  do  business. 

Tenth.  That  no  vote  that  is  passed  in  this  House  shall 
be  reconsidered  by  a  less  number  than  was  present  when  it 
passed. 

Voted,  That  Mr.  Speaker,  Doctor  Gidding,  Mr.  Clag- 
get,  Mr.  Langdon,  and  Colonel  Bartlett,  be  a  Committee 
to  make  a  draft  for  an  Answer  to  his  Excellency's  Speech, 
and  lay  the  same  before  the  House  as  soon  as  may  be. 

Saturday,  May  6,  1775,  A.  M. 
Met  according  to  adjournment. 

The  Speaker  communicated  to  the  House  a  Letter  di- 
rected to  him  and  signed  by  the  Speaker  of  the  House  of 
Representatives  of  JSew-  York,  requesting  the  same  to  be 
laid  before  this  House,  together  with  a  List  of  Grievances 
and  Resolutions  of  that  House  in  consequence  thereof,  and 
also  a  Petition  to  the  King,  a  Memorial  to  the  House  of 
Lords,  and  a  Representation  and  Remonstrance  to  the 
Commons  of  Great  Britain;  all  which  were  read,  and  are 
on  file. 

Mr.  Baker,  Mr.  Langdon,  and  Doctor  Gidding  being 
appointed  a  Committee  yesterday  to  wait  on  his  Excellen- 


cy and  desire  he  would  be  pleased  to  favour  the  House 
with  a  copy  of  his  Speech  to  both  Houses,  was  omitted 
to  be  entered  then,  as  also  that  Mr.  (t  urner  brought  a  copy 
of  his  Excellency's  Speech  and  delivered  it  to  the  Speaker, 
as  follows : 

Gentlemen  of  the  Council,  arid  of  the  Assembly : 

As  I  cannot  doubt  but  you  will  exercise  your  usual  dili- 
gence in  despatching  the  ordinary  business  of  the  Legisla- 
ture, it  becomes  unnecessary  for  me  particularly  to  urge 
your  attention  to  that  subject.  You  may  be  assured  that 
1  will  give  all  the  facility  in  my  power  to  every  measure 
that  may  be  found  conducive  to  the  publick  good  ;  for  as 
it  heretofore  hath  been,  so  shall  it  constantly  remain  the 
invariable  object  of  my  warmest  wishes  and  ambition,  to 
promote  the  happiness  and  prosperity  of  His  Majesty's 
Government  and  subjects  of  New- Hampshire. 

Mr.  Speaker  and  Gentlemen  of  the  Assembly  : 

It  is  incumbent  on  me  at  this  time  to  recommend  to  you 
to  grant  the  necessary  supply  for  the  support  of  His  Ma- 
jesty's Government  for  the  current  year;  but  1  doubt  not 
you  will  cheerfully  make  proper  provision  for  that  purpose. 
The  Treasurer's  accounts  for  the  year  past,  1  shall  order 
to  be  prepared  for  your  inspection. 

We  cannot  but  view  with  inexpressible  concern  the 
alarming  pitch  to  which  the  unfortunate  dispute  between 
Great  Britain  and  her  Colonies  is  daily  advancing.  A 
matter  of  such  a  momentous  nature,  which  fills  every  hu- 
mane mind  with  the  deepest  anxiety  and  affliction,  and 
wherein  this  Province  is  unhappily  involved,  cannot,  1  pre- 
sume, fail  of  engaging  your  most  serious  attention.  It  is 
therefore  my  duty,  at  such  a  critical  and  important  moment, 
to  call,  in  the  most  earnest  and  most  solemn  manner,  upon 
you,  gentlemen,  who  are  the  only  constitutional  and  legal 
Representatives  of  the  people,  to  direct  your  counsels  to 
such  measures  as  may  tend  to  secure  their  peace  and  safety. 

On  the  wisdom,  candour,  and  moderation  of  your  de- 
liberations it  will  greatly  depend  to  avert  the  calamities 
that  must  naturally  attend  a  continuance  of  this  unhappy 
contest ;  and  I  trust  your  conduct  will  be  guided  by  such 
principles  as  shall  effectually  lead  to  a  restoration  of  the 
publick  tranquillity  and  a  perfect  re-establishment  of  an 
affectionate  reconciliation  with  our  Mother  Country,  upon 
a  solid,  equitable,  and  permanent  foundation. 

Gentlemen  of  the  Council,  and  of  the  Assembly: 

Connected  as  we  are  with  our  Parent  State  by  the 
strongest  ties  of  kindred,  religion,  duty,  and  interest,  it  is 
highly  incumbent  upon  us,  in  this  time  of  general  disquie- 
tude, to  manifest  our  loyalty  and  attachment  to  the  best  of 
Sovereigns,  and  our  firm  and  unshaken  regard  for  the  Bri- 
tish Empire ;  and  I  have  full  confidence  that  those  great 
considerations  will  influence  every  part  of  your  conduct. 
You  may  entirely  rely  on  my  most  ardent  zeal  to  co-ope- 
rate with  you  in  whatever  constitutional  means  may  be 
found  necessary  to  accomplish  that  most  essential  object  to 
the  well-being  of  this  Province — a  restoration  of  our  har- 
mony with  Great  Britain.  J.  Wentworth. 

New.Hainpshire  Council  Chamber,  ) 
May  5,  1775.  \ 

The  Honourable  Theodore  Atkinson  came  from  the 
Board  and  delivered  the  following  written  Message  from 
his  Excellency: 

Mr.  Speaker  and  Gentlemen  of  the  Assembly  : 

The  Speaker,  Mr.  Gidding,  and  Mr.  Langdon,  three 
of  your  Members,  came  to  me  last  evening  as  a  Committee 
from  the  House,  desiring  a  short  adjournment.  I  am 
always  disposed  to  show  every  indulgent  regard  in  my 
power  to  the  wishes  of  the  House ;  but  when  I  consider 
what  uneasiness  prevails  at  present  among  your  constitu- 
ents, of  which  I  dare  say  you  are  not  insensible,  and  that 
they  must  look  to  your  counsels  for  relief  from  their  fears 
and  jealousies,  I  think  it  my  duty  to  recommend  to  you  to 
consider  the  matter,  and  if  you  should  be  of  opinion  that 
you  will  better  consult  the  interests  of  your  constituents  by 
continuing  to  sit,  I  doubt  not  but  your  own  private  con- 
cerns will  readily  give  way  to  the  publick  welfare. 

J.  Wentworth. 

New-Hampshire  Council  Chamber,  ) 
May  6,  1775.  $ 


523 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  kc,  MAY,  1775. 


521 


Upon  reading  and  considering  the  aforegoing  Message, 

Voted,  That  the  following  be  presented  to  his  Excel- 
lency as  an  Answer  thereto : 

May  it  please  your  Excellency:  In  answer  to  your 
Message  of  this  day  in  consequence  of  a  verbal  Message 
to  your  Excellency  from  the  House  last  evening  by  the 
Speaker,  Mr.  Gidding,  and  Mr.  Langdon,  requesting  a 
short  adjournment,  we  would  observe,  that  we  think  it  not 
only  very  necessary  for  our  private  interest,  at  this  par- 
ticular season  of  the  year,  but  especially  for  the  interest 
of  the  Province  in  general  at  this  peculiarly  alarming  crisis, 
that  this  House  should  be  adjourned  to  some  time  early  in 
June  next,  in  order  that  we  may  in  the  mean  time  have  an 
opportunity  of  fully  consulting  our  constituents  respecting 
the  several  weighty  matters  necessary  to  be  considered  by 
the  House  the  present  session. 

The  Deputy  Secretary  came  from  the  Board  and  said 
it  was  his  Excellency's  pleasure  to  adjourn  the  General 


Assembly  to  Monday,  the  12th  day  of  June  next,  and 
accordingly,  in  His  Majesty's  name,  adjourned  the  Gene- 
ral Assembly  to  that  time,  and  delivered  to  the  Speaker 
the  following  written  Message  from  his  Excellency: 

Mr.  Speaker  and  Gentlemen  of  the  Assembly: 

In  consequence  of  your  representation  to  me,  in  answer 
to  my  Message  of  this  day's  date,  that  it  will  be  expedient 
for  you,  as  well  for  the  accommodation  of  your  own  private 
affairs  as  to  give  an  opportunity  of  consulting  your  constitu- 
ents on  the  matters  necessary  to  be  considered  by  you  in  the 
present  session,  that  the  House  should  be  adjourned  for  a 
short  time,  I  have  thought  fit  to  adjourn  the  General  As- 
sembly, and  it  is  accordingly  adjourned  to  Monday,  the  12th 
day  of  June  next,  at  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning,  then  to 
meet  at  the  State-House  in  Portsmouth  for  the  despatch  of 
the  publick  business.  J.  Wentworth. 

New-Hampshiro  Council  Chamber,  \ 
May  6,  1775.  \ 


THOMAS  JEFFERSON  TO  DOCTOR  WILLIAM  SMALL. 

May  7,  1775. 

Dear  Sir:  Within  this  week  we  have  received  the 
unhappy  news  of  an  action  of  considerable  magnitude  be- 
tween the  King's  Troops  and  our  brethren  of  Boston,  in 
which,  it  is  said,  five  hundred  of  the  former,  with  the  Earl 
of  Percy,  are  slain.  That  such  an  action  has  occurred  is 
undoubted,  though  perhaps  the  circumstances  may  not  have 
reached  us  with  truth.  This  accident  has  cut  off  our  last 
hope  of  reconciliation,  and  a  phrenzy  of  revenge  seems  to 
have  seized  all  ranks  of  people.  It  is  a  lamentable  cir- 
cumstance that  the  only  mediatory  power  acknowledged 
by  both  parties,  instead  of  leading  to  a  reconciliation  has 
divided  people,  should  pursue  the  incendiary  purpose  of  still 
blowing  up  the  flames,  as  we  find  him  constantly  doing  in 
every  speech  and  publick  declaration.  This  may  perhaps 
be  intended  to  intimidate  into  acquiescence  ;  but  the  effect 
has  been  most  unfortunately  otherwise.  A  little  knowledge 
of  human  nature,  and  attention  to  its  ordinary  workings, 
might  have  foreseen  that  the  spirits  of  the  people  here 
were  in  a  state  in  which  they  were  more  likely  to  be  pro- 
voked than  frightened  by  haughty  deportment.  And  to 
fill  up  the  measure  of  irritation,  a  proscription  of  individuals 
has  been  substituted  in  the  room  of  just  trial.  Can  it  be 
believed  that  a  grateful  people  will  suffer  those  to  be  con- 
signed to  execution,  whose  sole  crime  has  been  the  develop- 
ing and  asserting  their  rights?  Had  the  Parliament  pos- 
sessed the  power  of  reflection,  they  would  have  avoided  a 
measure  as  impotent  as  it  was  inflammatory.  When  I  saw 
Lord  Chatham's  Bill,  I  entertained  high  hope  that  a  recon- 
ciliation could  have  been  brought  about.  The  difference 
between  his  terms  and  those  offered  by  our  Congress  might 
have  been  accommodated,  if  entered  on  by  both  parties 
with  a  disposition  to  accommodate.  But  the  dignity  of  Par- 
liament, it  seems,  can  brook  no  opposition  to  its  power. 
Strange  that  a  set  of  men  who  have  made  sale  of  their 
virtue  to  the  Minister,  should  yet  talk  of  retaining  dignity ! 
But  I  am  getting  into  politicks,  though  I  sat  down  only  to 
ask  your  acceptance  of  the  wine,  and  express  my  constant 
wishes  for  your  happiness.  Th.  Jefferson. 


MASSACHUSETTS  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY  TO  THE  COMMIT- 
TEE OF  SAFETY,  CORRESPONDENCE,  AND  PROTECTION, 
IN  ALBANY. 

In  Committco  of  Safety,  Cambridgo,  ) 
May  7,  1775.  i 

Sir  :  We  have  received  your  important  and  very  agree- 
able letter  of  the  first  of  May  current,  by  the  worthy  Cap- 
tain Ten  Eyck.  While  we  lament  the  effusion  of  the  blood 
of  our  friends  and  fellow-countrymen,  shed  by  more  than 
brutal  cruelty,  and  urged  on  by  the  corrupt  administration 
of  a  British  Minister  of  State,  yet,  amidst  all  our  sorrows 
on  that  melancholy  occurrence,  we  rejoice  greatly  at  the 
bright  prospect  lying  before  us,  in  the  unanimity  of  the 
Colonies  on  this  extended  Continent.  We  have  the  highest 
satisfaction  in  the  assurances  from  you,  that  the  City  of 
Albany  continues  firm  and  resolute  to  co-operate  with  their 
brethren  in  New-York,  and  in  the  several  Colonies  on  the 
Continent,  in  their  opposition  to  the  Ministerial  plan  now 


prosecuting  against  us,  and  that  the  City  have  unanimously 
appointed  a  Committee  of  Safety,  Protection,  and  Corres- 
pondence, which  we  esteem  as  a  necessary  measure  to  bind 
us  all  in  one  indissoluble  bond  of  union  in  the  common 
cause  of  the  American  Colonies.  Be  assured,  sir,  that  we 
shall  ever  esteem  it  as  our  honour  and  interest  to  corres- 
pond with  you  at  all  times  on  matters  tending  to  promote 
the  common  good.  Suffer  us  to  say  that  we  have  the 
greatest  pleasure  in  your  information  that  the  extensive 
County  of  Albany  will  follow  your  laudable  example,  and 
the  important  aid  the  general  cause  will  receive  from  our 
sister  Colony  New-York.  The  enclosed, you  may  depend 
upon  it,  is  a  well  authenticated  account  of  the  late  engage- 
ment in  this  Colony,  and  supported  by  a  great  number  of 
affidavits.  Permit  us  to  say  that  you  may  rely  upon  the 
resolution  of  the  people  of  this  Colony  to  exert  themselves 
in  every  possible  way,  and  have  long  since  devoted  their 
lives  and  fortunes  in  the  glorious  cause  of  liberty  and  their 
Country,  and  that  they  never  can  give  up  their  stand  to 
oppose  despotism  and  tyranny,  while  they  have  such  full 
assurances  from  their  sister  Colonies,  that  they  are  equally 
engaged  in  the  defence  of  the  natural  and  constitutional 
rights  of  Americans.  The  blood  of  our  neighbours,  untimely 
poured  out,  cries  aloud  to  the  survivors  to  defend  the  Ame- 
rican rights  for  which  they  bled  and  died.  We  have  their 
wounds  fresh  in  mind  ;  and  while  the  Colonies  are  united, 
we  have  the  fullest  assurances  (under  God)  of  the  saha- 
tion  of  our  Country. 
We  are,  &zx. 


MASSACHUSETTS  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY  TO  COLONEL 

JAMES  SCAMMON. 

In  Committee  of  Safety,  Cambridge,  } 
May  7,  1775.  $ 

We  are  informed  by  the  Field  Officers  of  the  First  and 
Second  Regiments,  together  with  a  number  of  gentlemen 
of  note  in  the  County  of  York,  that  it  would  be  most 
agreeable  that  Captain  Johnson  Moulton  should  have  the 
command  of  the  Regiment  to  be  raised  in  that  County. 
The  Committee,  taking  these  matters  into  their  most  serious 
consideration,  and  the  necessity  of  an  Army  being  formed 
as  soon  as  possible,  as  the  salvation  of  the  Country  must 
depend  (under  God)  on  our  union  and  exertions  ;  and  not- 
withstanding, sir,  you  have  received  orders  for  enlisting  a 
Regiment,  with  a  prospect  of  having  the  command  of  the 
same,  yet  we  flatter  ourselves  that  you  will,  when  you  view 
the  importance  of  completing  the  Army ,  the  delay  that  may 
arise  in  your  quarter  should  you  not  consent  to  come  under 
Mr.  Johnson  Moulton,  you  will  cheerfully  comply  and  rest 
satisfied,  as  we  conceive  it  is  the  interest  of  your  Country 
yon  aim  at,  and  not  any  emolument  or  honours  that  majr 
respect  you  as  an  individual.  We  doubt  not,  from  these 
considerations,  you  will  be  actuated  by  that  zeal  and  ardour 
in  the  cause  of  your  Country  that  shall  promote  its  truest 
interest,  and  that  we  shall  soon  be  informed  that  the  Regi- 
ment intended  to  be  raised  in  the  County  of  York  is  com- 
pleted to  the  satisfaction  of  officers  and  men. 

We  are,  &c. 
To  Colonel  James  Scammon. 


525 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  he,  MAY,  1775. 


526 


PROCLAMATION  BY  ADMIRAL  GRAVES. 

By  Samuel  Graves,  Esq.,  Vice-Admiral  of  the  Blue, 
and  Commander-in-Chief  of  His  Majesty's  Ships  and 
Vessels  employed,  and  to  be  employed,  in  the  River  St. 
Lawrence,  &c. 

Whereas  I  have  received  information  that  a  vessel  is  ar- 
rived at  Marblehead  with  a  very  considerable  quantity  of 
money  on  board  from  a  Spanish  wreck,  which  must  by  all 
means  be  prevented  from  falling  into  the  hands  of  the 
Rebels  :  You  are  therefore  hereby  required  and  directed  to 
sail  in  His  Majesty's  Schooner,  under  your  command,  to 
Marblehead,  without  a  moment's  delay  of  time,  and  bring 
the  vessel  into  Boston  Harbour  with  the  money,  or  remove 
the  money  into  the  Diana  without  delay,  and  let  the  vessel 
follow  you  hither. 

Given  under  my  hand  on  board  His  Majesty's  Ship  Pres- 
ton, at  Boston,  the  7th  of  May,  1775. 

Samuel  Graves. 

To  Lieut.  Graves,  Commander  of  His  Majesty's  Schooner 
Diana. 

By  command  of  the  Admiral :  G.  Sefferina. 


COMMON  COUNCIL  OF  WILLIAMS  BURGH,  VIRGINIA. 

At  a  Court  of  Common  Council  for  the  City  of  Wil- 
liamsburgh,  held  the  eighth  day  of  May,  1775: 

Whereas  it  hath  been  represented  to  this  Hall,  that  on 
the  fourth  instant,  in  the  night  time,  some  person  or  persons 
unknown,  had  broke  into  the  publick  Magazine,  and  taken 
from  thence  sundry  Fire-Arms  belonging  to  His  Majesty : 

We,  the  Mayor,  Aldermen,  and  Common  Council  of  the 
said  City,  being  desirous  to  maintain  peace,  order,  and  good 
government,  do  hereby  declare  our  abhorrence  of  such 
unlawful  proceeding,  and  do  require  the  inhabitants  to  use 
their  utmost  endeavours  to  prevent  the  like  outrage  in  fu- 
ture, and  exhort  all  persons  who  may  be  in  possession  of  any 
of  the  said  Arms,  to  return  the  same  immediately,  to  be  re- 
placed in  the  Magazine. 

And  it  having  been  recommended  to  this  meeting,  by 
the  Governour  and  Council,  to  appoint  a  guard  to  protect 
the  said  Magazine,  they  are  of  opinion  that  they  have  no 
authority  to  lay  any  tax  for  that  purpose,  but  that  if  some 
trusty  person  should  be  appointed  by  his  Excellency  the 
Governour  to  be  keeper  thereof,  and  care  taken  to  strengthen 
it  with  proper  bars,  there  probably  would  be  a  stop  put  to 
violences  of  that  nature  ;  and  they  do  humbly  recommend 
to  his  Excellency  Mr.  Gabriel  Maupin,  who  lives  near  the 
Magazine,  as  a  person  worthy  of  that  trust. 

Matthew  Davenport,  Town  Clerk. 


SUSSEX  COUNTY  (VIRGINIA)  COMMITTEE. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  for  the  County  of  Sus- 
sex,  at  the  Court-House,  Monday,  8th  of  May,  1775: 

Present :  David  Mason,  Augustine  Claiborne,  Michael 
Blow,  Henry  Gee,  John  Cargill,  William  Nicholson, 
miliam  Blunt,  Robert  Jones,  John  Peters,  John  Mason, 
Jr.,  James  Jones,  George  Rieves,  Richard  Parker,  and 
George  Booth,  gentlemen. 

Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  this  Committee  be  given 
to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Campbell,  for  his  excellent  prayer  of  this 
morning,  prior  to  the  Committee  entering  upon  business. 

This  Committee  taking  into  consideration  a  paragraph 
which  appeal's  in  the  publick  newspapers,  said  to  be  ex- 
tracted from  a  letter  written  to  Lord  Dartmouth,  one  of 
His  Majesty's  principal  Secretaries  of  State,  by  Lord  Dun- 
more,  Governour  of  Virginia,  on  the  twenty-fourth  day  of 
December  last : 

Resolved  unanimously,  as  their  opinion,  That  the  said 
extracts  (being  fraught  with  calumny,  falsehoods,  and  illibe- 
ral reflections  against  the  good  people  of  this  Colony  in 
general,  who  are  now,,  and  for  some  time  past  have  been, 
contending  for  their  dearest  rights  in  the  most  decent  and 
orderly  manner)  can  be  no  other  than  a  wicked  and  detest- 
able forgery,  or  the  work  of  some  dirty  ministerial  syco- 
phant, intending  to  widen  our  present  unhappy  differences 
with  the  Mother  Country,  and  impress  the  people  of  this 
Colony  with  unfavourable  sentiments  of  a  ruler  who,  they 
are  unwilling  to  believe,  would  so  meanly  forfeit  that  gene- 


ral esteem  he  had,  by  a  mild  and  pacific  k  administration, 
so  generally  acquired.  With  this  opinion  of  the  said  ex- 
tracts, this  Committee  cannot  forbear,  however  reluctantly, 
to  observe,  that  a  late  manoeuvre  in  seizing  the  powder  in 
the  publick  magazine  of  this  Colony,  and  privately  con- 
veying it  away  in  the  night,  together  with  his  evasive  answer 
to  the  addresses  of  the  Corporation  of  the  City  of  Wil- 
liamsburgh,  presented  to  his  Lordship  upon  that  occasion, 
but  too  plainly  point  out  to  this  Colony  that  the  first  Ma- 
gistrate has  swerved  from  the  line  of  conduct  which  has 
hitherto  marked  his  administration,  and  impressed  this 
Committee  with  an  idea  that  his  private  wishes  are  un- 
favourable to  the  welfare  of  this  Colony,  and  the  liberties 
of  mankind.  No  other  motives,  we  presume,  could  have 
actuated  him  to  the  commission  of  an  act  conceived  in 
secrecy  and  brought  forth  in  darkness  ;  the  design  of  which 
was  evidently  to  render  (at  least  as  far  as  in  his  power  so 
to  do)  this  Colony  defenceless,  and  lay  it  open  to  the  at- 
tacks of  a  savage  invasion,  or  a  domestick  foe,  which  a  late 
Proclamation  threatens  us  with,  and  which  his  Excellency 
could  not  be  ignorant  of. 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  it  is  absolutely  necessary 
that  this  County  be  put  into  the  best  posture  of  defence 
possible  ;  and  to  that  end,  that  a  meeting  of  the  people  be 
convened  at  the  following  places,  on  the  following  respec- 
tive days,  that  is  to  say:  those  that  muster  under  Captains 
Moore,  Judkins,  and  Mason,  at  Brown's  Quarter,  on  Tues- 
day the  sixteenth  instant ',  those  that  muster  under  Cap- 
tains Jones,  Smith,  Hill,  and  Marrable,  at  the  High-Hills 
on  the  seventeenth  ;  and  those  that  muster  under  Captains 
Nicholson,  Parker,  Reeves,  Irby,  and  Harrison,  at  the 
plantation  lately  belonging  to  Captain  James  Jones,  on  the 
nineteenth  ;  and  that  they,  and  every  of  them,  do  bring 
with  them  to  the  said  several  meetings  what  arms  they  and 
every  of  them  have.  And  this  Committee  do  earnestly 
request  the  Field-Officers  and  Captains  to  attend  the  said 
several  meetings,  in  order  to  animate  the  people  in  the  pre- 
sent time  of  danger  to  compliance  of  the  Resolutions  of 
the  late  Convention. 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  we,  the  members  of  this 
Committee  now  present,  and  every  of  us,  will,  in  order  to 
raise  a  sufficient  sum  of  money  to  purchase  Ammunition,  in 
this  time  of  imminent  danger,  pay,  by  way  of  contribution 
for  that  purpose,  the  sum  of  ten  Pounds,  current  money,  on 
or  before  the  first  day  of  June  next.  And  as  we  doubt  not 
but  the  absent  members  of  this  Committee  will  do  the  same 
for  themselves,  therefore  Messrs.  John  Cargill,  Jas.  Jones, 
and  George  Reeves,  are  requested  immediately  to  purchase 
ammunition  for  the  use  of  this  County,  to  the  amount  of 
two  hundred  Pounds,  current  money,  the  present  members 
engaging  to  indemnify  them  in  such  purchase;  and  that  they 
make  report  of  their  proceedings  to  the  next  Committee. 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  a  Committee  of  Intelli- 
gence and  Correspondence  be  appointed,  of  the  following 
persons,  that  is  to  say :  Messrs.  Blow,  Peetey  Nicholson, 
Cargill,  Gee,  David  Mason,  Claiborne^  and  Blunt ;  that 
upon  they,  or  any  one  of  them,  receiving  an  alarm,  he  or 
they  do  forthwith  fall  upon  the  best  method  in  his  or  their 
power,  to  give  notice  of  such  alarm  throughout  this  County, 
and  also  to  some  one  or  more  of  the  Committees  of  South- 
ampton and  Brunswick,  fixing  upon  the  most  convenient 
place  for  the  people  to  rendezvous  at,  being  guided  therein 
by  the  quarter  threatened  most  with  an  invasion,  insurrec- 
tion, or  other  attack. 

Ordered,  That  the  proceedings  of  this  day  be  transmitted 
by  the  Chairman,  as  soon  as  may  be  convenient,  to  the 
press,  in  order  to  their  publication. 

Michael  Blow,  Chairman. 


MECKLENBURG H  COUNTY  (VIRGINIA)  COMMITTEE. 

At  a  general  meeting  of  the  Freeholders  of  Mecklen- 
burgh  County,  convened  on  Monday,  the  8th  day  of  May, 
1775,  at  the  Court-House  of  said  County,  in  order  to  elect 
a  Committee,  pursuant  to  a  Resolution  of  the  American 
Continental  Congress :  The  better  to  secure  a  due  obser- 
vation of  the  Association  entered  into  by  said  Congress, 
the  Freeholders  then  proceeded  to  the  choice  of  a  Com- 
mittee, and  elected  into  the  office  the  following  gentlemen, 
viz :  John  Speed,  Bennett  Goode,  William  Lucas,  Henry 
Speed,  Francis  Rujjin,  Lewis  Burwell,  Robert  Burton, 


527 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


528 


Edmund  Taylor,  Clcverious  Coleman,  Thacker  Burwett, 
Sir  Peyton  Skipwith,  Benjamin  Whitehead,  George  Bas- 
kcrville,  Beuben  Vaughan,  Joseph  Speed,  John  Tabb, 
John  Jones,  William  Leigh,  Bobert  Ballard,  Samuel 
Hopkins,  Junior,  and  John  Ballard,  Junior. 

John  Speed,  Esq.,  was  unanimously  chosen  Chairman, 
and  Mr.  Isaac  Holmes,  Clerk  of  this  Committee. 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  every  member  of  this  Com- 
mittee exert  his  endeavours  to  enlist  Volunteer  Soldiers, 
agreeable  to  the  Resolution  of  the  late  Provincial  Conven- 
tion. 

It  being  too  late  in  the  day  to  proceed  on  business,  the 
Committee  adjourned  to  Saturday,  the  13th  of  May,  1775. 

Saturday,  May  13,  1775. 

The  Committee  met  according  to  adjournment,  and  came 
to  the  following  Resolves  : 

The  Resolves  of  the  Convention  held  at  the  Town  of 
Richmond,  the  20th  of  March,  1775,  were  read,  and  unani- 
mously approved  of. 

Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  this  Committee  be  pre- 
sented to  Robert  Burton  and  Bennett  Goode,  Esquires, 
our  worthy  Delegates,  for  their  faithful  discharge  of  the 
important  trust  reposed  in  them. 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  the  removal  of  the  Gun- 
powder out  of  the  Magazine,  by  express  orders  of  Lord 
Dunmore,  is  truly  alarming ;  and  that  by  his  answer  for 
such  conduct  to  the  Mayor,  Recorder,  Aldermen,  and 
Common  Council  of  the  City  of  Williamsburgh,  on  that 
important  occasion,  he  has  highly  forfeited  all  title  to  the 
confidence  of  the  good  people  of  Virginia. 

Ordered,  That  the  Clerk  send  copies  of  these  Resolves 
to  each  of  the  Printers,  and  they  are  desired  to  publish 
them  in  their  next  Gazettes. 

Isaac  Holmes,  Clerk. 


PRINCE  GEORGE  (VIRGINIA)  COMMITTEE. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  for  Prince  George's 
County,  held  at  Blandford,  on  Monday,  the  8th  of  May, 
1775,  the  following  Resolutions  were  entered  into,  viz: 

Resolved,  nem.  con.,  That  every  Merchant,  Trader,  or 
other  person,  importing  any  Goods,  Wares,  or  Merchan- 
dise into  this  County,  before  he  lands  the  same  ought  to 
produce  to  the  Chairman  of  this  Committee  a  certificate 
from  the  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of  the  County, 
Town,  or  City,  from  whence  the  said  Goods,  Wares,  or 
Merchandise  were  re-shipped,  that  the  same  were  imported 
into  this  Colony  before  the  first  day  of  February. 

Resolved,  That  a  Committee  of  Intelligence,  consisting 
of  Benjamin  Harrison,  of  Brandon,  David.  Meade,  Rich- 
ard K.  Meade,  Hubbard  Wyatt,  Peter  Eppes,  James 
Cocke,  Nathaniel  Harrison,  John  Baird,  Bobert  Boyd, 
William  McWhann,  Richard '  Bland,  Junior,  Theodorick 
Bland,  Junior,  Nathaniel  Baines,  Thomas  Bonner,  and 
John  Raines,  Senior,  be  appointed  to  convey  any  alarm, 
as  speedily  as  possible,  to  the  adjacent  Counties;  and  that 
the  same  mode  be  recommended  to  every  County  in  this 
Colony. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  of  the  above  Resolutions  be 
transmitted  to  the  Printer,  and  he  is  desired  to  publish 
them  as  soon  as  possible. 

By  order  of  the  Committee  : 

Hartwell  Raines,  Secretary. 

At  a  Committee  held  for  the  County  of  Prince  George, 
the  8th  of  May,  1775.    Present:  twenty  Members. 

The  following  Letter  from  the  Committee  of  the  Bo- 
rough of  Norfolk  to  the  Chairman  of  this  Committee,  was 
read,  viz  : 

Norfolk,  May  1,  1775. 

A  charge  was  laid  before  the  Committee  for  Norfolk- 
Borough,  that  Mr.  James  Marsden  had  purchased  of  Cap- 
tain Fazakerly  one  puncheon  of  Linens,  imported  since 
the  1st  of  February,  and  that  he  had  furnished  him  with 
twenty  barrels  of  Pork.  Upon  inquiry,  it  appeared  that 
Mr.  Marsden  knew  nothing  about  the  Linens,  but  furnished 
Captain  Fazakerly  with  the  Pork  by  order  of  Captain 
Charles  Alexander. 

As  there  may  have  been  some  foundation  for  the  charge, 


I  am  directed  by  this  Committee  to  request  you  will  please 
to  inquire  of  Captain  Alexander  for  what  consideration  he 
gave  the  order.  William  Davies,  Secretary. 

Captain  Charles  Alexander  being  requested,  did  attend 
the  Committee,  and  made  the  following  confession,  viz: 

That  he  had  himself  purchased  the  Linens  inadvertently, 
without  considering  the  consequence  of  violating  the  Reso- 
lutions of  the  Continental  Congress,  to  which  he  acknow- 
ledged he  ought  to  have  paid  agreeable  regard  ;  and  he  is 
extremely  sorry  for  having  thus  incurred  the  displeasure  of 
the  good  people  of  America,  and  thereby  forfeited  that 
good  opinion  which  he  would  be  always  happy  to  have, 
and  those  favours  which  he  might  otherwise  have  hoped  to 
have  enjoyed  from  them.  He  also  confesses  that  Mr. 
Marsden  was  acquainted  with  the  circumstances  of  the  said 
goods  being  imported  contrary  to  the  terms  of  the  Asso- 
ciation, subsequent  to  the  said  Alexander's  purchasing  of 
them  ;  and  that  the  said  Marsden  paid  the  Pork  to  the 
order  above-mentioned,  knowing  that  it  was  for  part  of  the 
price  of  the  said  Linens,  and  afterwards  sent  the  said  Lin- 
ens, and  a  parcel  of  Shoes,  with  an  invoice  thereof,  ac- 
companied with  a  Letter,  to  Humphrey  Richards,  factor  for 
the  said  Alexander,  in  Blandford,  signed  Marsden,  Max- 
well, and  Company.  And  the  said  Alexander  further  says, 
that  the  order  he  gave  on  Mr.  Marsden  to  pay  the  Pork 
to  Captain  Fazakerly,  was  a  conditional  order,  to  pay  Cap- 
tain Fazakerly,  in  case  the  Convention  then  sitting  should 
consent  to  the  sale  of  the  said  goods,  as  there  was  then  a 
Petition  before  the  Convention  for  that  purpose.  Captain 
Alexander  has  further  voluntarily  agreed  to  re-ship  the 
Linens,  and  a  parcel  of  Shoes  (under  the  same  circum- 
stances) remaining  unsold,  at  his  own  cost,  or  store  them 
under  the  inspection  of  the  Committee  ;  and  that  the  profits 
arising  upon  such  part  thereof  as  are  already  sold,  amount- 
ing to  ...  .  shall  be  lodged  in  the  hands  of  this  Com- 
mittee, for  the  use  of,  and  forthwith  to  be  sent  to  the  poor 
of  Boston.  Chas.  Alexander. 

The  above  examination  was  transmitted  to  the  Commit- 
tee of  the  Borough  of  Norfolk ;  in  consequence  of  which 
the  following  Letter  from  the  Committee  of  the  said  Bo- 
rough, directed  to  the  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of 
Prince  George,  the  3d  day  of  July,  1775,  when  twenty- 
four  of  the  members  were  present,  Richard  Bland,  Es- 
quire, in  the  Chair,  was  read  : 

Norfolk,  May  22,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  As  Captain  Alexander  is  within  your  ju- 
risdiction, the  Committee  of  this  Borough  are  clearly  of 
opinion  that  they  have  no  authority  to  take  up  the  matter 
with  respect  to  his  conduct,  but  only  as  far  as  relates  to 
Mr.  Marsden.  It  is  therefore  the  request  of  this  Commit- 
tee, that  you  will  please  to  resume  the  consideration  of 
Captain  Alexander's  conduct,  and  take  such  steps  therein 
as  you  may  think  proper.  With  respect  to  the  part  Mr. 
Marsden  took  in  the  matter,  Captain  Alexander  denies 
that  he  was  in  any  wise  concerned,  and  that  the  facts  con- 
tained in  your  letter  have  been  mistaken  by  you.  His  tes- 
timony here  directly  contradicts  his  testimony  before  you. 
We  therefore  send  you  his  examination,  taken  in  writing, 
and  repeatedly  read  and  assented  to  by  him.  We  shall 
be  glad  to  be  favoured  with  your  answer. 

William  Davies,  Secretary. 

Captain  Alexander's  Examination  at  Norfolk  Bo- 
rough. 

Question.  Did  Mr.  Marsden  know  of  your  purchasing 
the  Linens,  &tc,  from  Captain  Fazakerly  1 

Answer.  I  cannot  tell  positively,  but  think  he  did  not 
know  of  my  purchase. 

Q.  Did  Mr.  Marsden  pay  the  Pork  to  your  order, 
knowing  that  it  was  for  part  of  the  purchase  of  the  said 
Linens  ? 

A.  He  did  not. 

Q.  Did  Mr.  Marsden  send  the  Linens,  and  a  parcel  of 
Shoes,  with  an  invoice  thereof,  accompanied  with  a  letter, 
to  Mr.  Humphrey  Richards,  signed  Marsden,  Maxwell, 
and  Company,  or  not  ? 

A.  He  did  not,  but  there  was  a  letter  directed  to  me, 
written  by  Mr.  Marsden's  young  man,  (John  Elm)  in  their 
name 

Q.  Was  the  condition  respecting  the  consent  of  the 


529 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


530 


Convention  for  Captain  Fazakcrly  to  sell  his  Goods,  ex- 
pressed in  the  order,  or  not  ? 

A.  It  was  not,  but  was  only  agreed  to  verbally  between 
the  Captain  and  myself. 

The  said  Charles  Alexander  having  had  proper  notice, 
and  failing  to  attend  ;  and  the  Committee  taking  into  their 
consideration  the  aforesaid  Letter  and  Examination, 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  the  said  Charles  Alexander 
has  infringed  the  Tenth  Article  of  the  Continental  Con- 
gress, and  that  he  be  held  up  to  the  publick  as  inimical  to 
America,  agreeable  to  the  Eleventh  Article  of  the  Conti- 
nental Association ;  and  it  is  recommended  to  the  good 
people  of  America  to  break  off  all  dealings  with  the  said 
Charles  Alexander,  his  Factors,  or  Agents. 

By  order  of  the  Committee : 

Hartwell  Raines,  Secretary. 


LOUISA  COUNTY  (VIRGINIA)  COMMITTEE. 

At  a  Committee  held  for  the  County  of  Louisa,  at  the 
Court-House,  the  8th  of  May,  1775: 

The  Committee  being  fully  sensible  of  the  benefits  that 
may  redound  to  the  community  in  general  from  the  spirit- 
ed behaviour  of  Captain  Patrick  Henry,  and  the  other 
Officers  and  Gentlemen  Soldiers  of  the  Volunteer  Compa- 
ny of  Hanover,  in  procuring  satisfaction  for  the  Gunpowder 
taken  out  of  the  Colony's  Magazine,  beg  leave  to  return 
them  our  most  hearty  thanks. 

Thomas  Walker, 

William  White, 

James  Dabney, 

Charles  Barrett, 

Samuel  Ragland, 

William  Pettus, 

Waddy  Thompson, 


Garritt  Minor, 
Thos.  Johnson,  Jun., 
Thos.  Johnson,  Sen., 
Nathl.  Anderson, 
John  Crutchfield, 
Robert  Anderson, 
Charles  Smith. 


Signed  hy  the  whole  Committee,  except  one,  who  was 
absent.  Henry  Garritt,  Clerk. 


MEETING  OF  FREEHOLDERS  OF  WESTCHESTER  COUNTY, 
NEW-YORK. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Freeholders  of  the  County  of  West- 
chester, at  the  White-Plains,  on  Monday,  the  8th  day  of 
May,  1775,  pursuant  to  a  general  notice  for  that  purpose, 
they  did  appoint  a  Committee  of  ninety  persons  for  the 
said  County,  and  determined  that  any  twenty  of  them 
should  be  empowered  to  act  for  the  said  County,  and  then 
appointed  the  following  persons  (nominated  by  the  said 
Committee)  to  represent  the  said  County  in  Provincial  Con- 
vention, viz : 

Gouverneur  Morris,  Lewis  Graham,  James  Van  Cort- 
landt,  Stephen  Ward,  Joseph  Drake,  Philip  Van  Cort- 
landt,  James  Holmes,  David  Dayton,  John  Thomas,  Jun., 
Robert  Grahum,  William  Paulding. 

The  Committee  then  signed  an  Association,  similar  to 
that  which  was  signed  in  the  City  of  New-York,  and  ap- 
pointed Sub-Committees  to  superintend  the  signing  of  the 
same  throughout  the  County. 

By  order  of  the  Committee: 

James  Van  Cortlandt,  Chairman. 


NEW-YORK  COMMITTEE. 


The  Committee  met,  by  adjournment,  Monday,  May  8, 
1775.  Present: 


P.  V.  B.  Livingston, 
Isaac  Sears, 
Alex.  McDoug.ill, 
Thomas  Randall, 
Leonard  Lisponard, 
William  Walton, 
Joseph  Hallett, 
Nicholas  Hoffman, 
Henry  Remsen, 
Peter  T.  Curtenius, 
Abraham  Brasher, 
Joseph  Bull, 
Joseph  Totten, 
Thomas  Ivers, 
Hercules  Mulligan, 
John  Anthony, 
John  White, 
Theophilns  Anthony, 
William  Goforth, 
Cornelius  P.  Low, 


William  Denning, 
Isaac  Roosevelt, 
Jacob  Van  Voorhies, 
Robert  Benson, 
William  W.  Gilbert, 
John  Berrian, 
Gabriel  W.  Ludlow, 
Nicholas  Roosevelt, 
Edward  Fleming, 
Lawrence  Embree, 
William  W.  Ludlow, 
John  B.  Mooro, 
Lancaster  Burling, 
John  Lasher, 
Georgo  Janeway, 
David  Clarkson, 
Thomas  Smith, 
James  Desbrosses, 
Eleazer  Miller, 
Thomas  Buchannan, 


John  M.  Scott, 
Cornelius  Clopper, 
John  Reade, 
Jacobus  Van  Zandt, 
Gerardus  Duyckinck, 
John  Marston, 
Jacobus  Lefferts, 
Richard  Sharpe, 
Hamilton  Young, 
Abram.  Brinkerhoff, 
Benjamin  Helme, 
Evert  Banker, 
Robert  Ray, 
Nicholas  Bogart, 
John  Lamb, 
Anthony  Van  Dam, 
John  Imlay, 
Oliver  Templeton, 
Lewis  Pintard, 
Petrus  Byvanck. 


Mr.  McDougall,  seconded  by  Mr.  Scott,  moved  in  the 
words  following,  viz : 

Whereas  it  is  necessary  for  the  maintenance  of  the  liber- 
ties of  this  and  the  neighbouring  Colonies,  that  every  per- 
son in  this  City  and  County  who  now  have  Arms  or  Am- 
munition, or  other  articles  which  will  be  wanted  for  our 
defence,  to  dispose  of,  or  may  import  any  of  those  articles 
for  sale,  should  make  the  same  known  to  some  friend  of 
the  Country.  And  whereas,  the  disposal  of  any  of  those 
articles  to  any  person  other  than  such  who  will  put  them 
into  the  hands  of  men  well-affected  to  the  liberties  of  Ame- 
rica may  tend  to  enslave  this  Country,  I  therefore  move 
that  this  Committee  come  into  the  following  Resolutions, 
viz  : 

1 .  Resolved,  That  any  person  in  this  City  or  County 
who  have  Arms,  Ammunition,  or  the  other  articles  neces- 
sary for  our  defence,  to  dispose  of,  or  shall  import  any  of 
those  articles  for  sale,  and  shall  not,  within  ten  days  after 
the  publication  of  these  Resolutions,  or  in  ten  days  after 
the  importation  of  such  Arms,  Ammunition,  &c,  aforesaid, 
inform  the  Chairman  or  Deputy  Chairman  of  this  Commit- 
tee of  the  quantity  and  quality  of  the  same,  he  shall  be 
held  up  to  the  publick  as  an  enemy  to  this  Country. 

2.  Resolved,  That  any  person  in  this  City  or  County, 
who  shall,  during  the  unhappy  contest  with  our  Parent 
State,  dispose  of  any  Arms,  Ammunition,  or  other  articles 
aforesaid,  to  any  person,  knowing  or  having  reason  to  be- 
lieve such  person  to  be  inimical  to  the  liberties  of  America, 
or  shall  put  those  articles  in  the  hands  of  any  such  person, 
or  any  other  person,  knowing  or  having  reason  to  believe 
that  they  are  to  be  used  against  those  liberties,  he  shall  be 
held  up  as  an  enemy  to  this  Country. 

Which  being  unanimously  agreed  to, 

Ordered,  That  the  same  be  published  in  handbills. 

Mr.  Smith,  seconded  by  Mr.  Clarkson,  made  a  motion 
in  the  words  following,  viz : 

I  move  that  the  Committee  address  his  Honour  the  Lieu- 
tenant Governour,  requesting  that  he  would  immediately 
apply  to  General  Gage  to  give  orders,  in  case  any  Troops 
should  arrive  here  from  Great  Britain  or  Ireland,  that  they 
encamp  on  Statcn  Island,  and  not  be  permitted  to  land  in 
this  City  ;  and  that  in  case  any  Troops  should  arrive  here 
before  an  answer  can  be  had  from  General  Gage,  that  in 
that  case  his  Honour  would  apply  to  the  Commanding  Of- 
ficer of  such  Troops,  requesting  that  they  may  be  landed 
and  encamped  on  Staten  Island. 

Which  being  unanimously  agreed  to, 

Ordered,  That  an  Address  be  accordingly  drawn  up  and 
ingrafted  in  the  former  Address  ordered  to  be  presented  to 
his  Honour. 

A  Letter,  dated  Newark,  5th  May,  1775,  from  the 
Committee  of  Correspondence,  received  and  read. 

A  Letter,  dated  Suffolk  County,  5th  May,  1775,  from 
William  Smith,  received  and  read. 

Mr.  Scott,  from  the  Committee  of  Correspondence, 
reported  the  draught  of  a  Letter  in  answer  to  one  of  the 
3d  instant  from  Albany,  which  being  read  and  approved  of, 

Ordered,  That  the  same  be  engrossed  and  forwarded. 

The  Committee  adjourned  till  to-morrow,  the  9th  instant. 

The  Committee  met,  by  adjournment,  Tuesday,  9th  of 
May,  1775.    Present : 

P.  V.  B.  Livingston,  Chairman,  pro  tern. 


Isaac  Sears, 
Alex.  McDougall, 
Thomas  Randall, 
Nicholas  Hoffman, 
Peter  Van  Schaack, 
Abraham  P.  Lott, 
Abraham  Duryee, 
Joseph  Bull, 
Joseph  Totten, 
Thomas  Ivers, 
Hercules  Mulligan, 
Theophilns  Anthony, 
William  Goforth, 
Isaac  Roosevelt, 
Comfort  Sands, 


William  \V.  Gilbert, 
John  Berrian, 
Gabriel  W.  Ludlow, 
Edward  Fleming, 
William  W.  Ludlow, 
Rodolphus  Ritzma, 
John  Lasher, 
James  Desbrosses, 
Aug.  Van  Home, 
Cornelius  Clopper, 
Jacobus  Van  Zandt, 
Gerardus  Duyckinck, 
Thomas  Marston, 
Jacobus  Lefferts, 
Richard  Sharpe, 


Abram.  Brinkerhoff, 
Benjamin  Helme, 
David  Beekman, 
Evert  Banker, 
Robert  Ray, 
Nicholas  Bogart, 
John  Lamb, 
Anthony  Van  Dam, 
Daniel  Dunscomb, 
John  Imlay, 
Oliver  Templeton, 
Lewis  Pintard, 
Thomas  Buchannan, 
Petrus  Byvanck, 
Francis  Bassetl, 


Ordered,  That  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  be 
directed,  without  delay,  to  draught  and  report  to  this  Board 
a  Resolution  for  regulating  the  conduct  of  the  Owners, 
Masters,  and  Mates,  of  such  Vessels  as  shall  depart  from 
this  Port  with  Provisions. 


Fourth  Series. — Vol.  u. 


34 


531 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


532 


A  Letter,  dated  Kingsland  District,  Tryon  County,  19lli 
April,  1775,  from  William  Petri,  received  and  read. 

Ordered,  That  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  be 
directed  to  draught  and  report  an  Answer  to  the  above 
Letter. 

Mr.  Lamb,  seconded  by  Mr.  McDougall,  moved  in  the 
words  following,  viz : 

As  the  Firelocks  belonging  to  this  City  are  at  present 
only  fitted  with  ordinary  wooden  rammers,  and  conse- 
quently cannot  be  of  much  use  in  case  of  necessity.,  I  move 
that  a  Sub-Committee  be  appointed  to  wait  ou  the  Cor- 
poration, to  request  that  they  will  give  directions  to  have 
them  fitted  with  Steel  Rammers. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Sharpe,  Mr.  Curtenius,  and  Mr. 
Rilzma,  be  a  Committee  for  the  above  purpose. 

Ordered,  That  the  Letter  to  the  Lord  Mayor  of  Lon- 
don be  published  in  Monday's  Paper. 

On  motion,  Ordered,  That  the  Chairman  return  the 
thanks  of  this  Committee  to  Mr.  Sharpe,  for  delivering  a 
number  of  Arms  gratis  to  the  inhabitants  of  this  City. 

Committee  adjourned  until  to-morrow  afternoon. 

The  Committee  met  by  adjournment,  JVednesday,  May 
10,  1775.  Present: 


P.  V.  B.  Livingston, 
Isaac  Sears, 
Alex.  McDougall, 
Thomas  Randall, 
Leonard  Lispenard, 
John  Broome, 
Joseph  Hallett, 
(iabriel  H.  Ludlow, 
Nicholas  Hoffman, 
Henry  Remsen, 
Peter  T.  Curtenius, 
Abraham  Brasher, 
Abraham  P.  Lott, 
Joseph  Bull, 
Joseph  Totten, 
Thomas  Ivers, 
Hercules  Mulligan, 
John  Anthony, 
Francis  Bassett, 
Victor  Bicker, 
John  White, 
Theophilus  Anthony, 
William  Goforth, 


William  Denning, 
Jeremiah  Piatt, 
Comfort  Sands, 
Robert  Benson, 
William  W.  Gilbert, 
John  Berrian, 
Gabriel  W.  Ludlow, 
Nicholas  Roosevelt, 
Edward  Fleming, 
Lawrence  Embree, 
John  De  Lancey, 
Frederick  Jay, 
William  W.  Ludlow, 
John  B.  Moore, 
Rodolphus  Ritzma, 
Lancaster  Burling, 
John  Lasher, 
George  Janeway, 
James  Beekman, 
David  Clarkson, 
James  Desbrosses, 
Benjamin  Kissam, 
John  M.  Scott, 


Gerardus  Duyckinck, 
Peter  Goelet, 
John  Marston, 
Thomas  Marston, 
Jacobus  Lefferts, 
Richard  Sharpe, 
Hamilton  Young, 
Abram.  Brinkerhoff, 
Benjamin  Helme, 
David  Beekman, 
William  Seaton, 
Evert  Banker, 
Robert  Ray, 
Nicholas  Bogart, 
Samuel  Broome, 
John  Lamb, 
Anthony  Van  Dam, 
Daniel  Dunscomb, 
John  Imlay, 
Oliver  Templeton, 
Lewis  Pintard, 
•Cornelius  P.  Low, 
Petrus  Byvanck. 


Ordered,  That  Mr.  McDougall  and  Mr.  Kissam  be  di- 
rected to  draught  a  Letter  to  the  gentlemen  in  Delegation 
for  this  City  and  County,  requesting  the  advice  and  direc- 
tion of  the  Continental  Congress  now  silling  at  Philadel- 
phia, with  respect  to  the  conduct  to  be  observed  by  the 
inhabitants  of  this  City  toward  any  Troops  that  may  arrive 
bere. 

In  pursuance  of  the  above  Order,  Mr.  Kissam  reported 
and  read  the  draught  of  a  Letter  to  the  above  gentlemen 
at  Philadelphia. 

Ordered,  That  the  same  be  engrossed  and  forwarded. 

Mr.  Scott,  from  the  Committee  of  Correspondence,  re- 
ported the  draught  of  an  Address  to  his  Honour  the  Lieu- 
tenant-Governour,  which  being  read  and  approved  of, 

Ordered,  That  copies  thereof  be  engrossed,  and  that 
Mr.  De  Lancey,  Captain  Randall,  and  Mr.  J&hn  Marston 
be  a  Sub-Committee  to  wait  on  his  Honour  to  know  when 
be  would  be  pleased  to  receive  the  said  Address. 


The  Committee 
llth  of  May,  1775 

P.  V.  B.  Livingston, 
Isaac  Sears, 
Alex.  McDougall, 
Leonard  Lispenard, 
William  Walton, 
John  Broome, 
Gabriel  H.  Ludlow, 
Nicholas  'Hoffman, 

Abraham  Walton, 
Poter  Van  Schaack, 
Houry  Remsen, 
Abraham  Brasher, 
Abraham  P.  Lott, 
Abraham  Duryco, 
Joseph  Totten, 
Robert  Ray, 
Nicholas  Bogart, 
Oliver  Temploton, 
Thomas  Ivors, 


met  by  adjournment,  on  Thursd-ay,  the 
.    Present : 


Hercules  Mulligan, 
John  Anthony, 
Krancis  Bassett, 
Theophilus  Anthony, 
William  Goforth, 
William  Denning, 
Isaac  Roosevelt, 
Robert  Benson, 
William  W.  Gilbert, 
John  Berrian, 
Gabriel  W.  Ludlow, 
Edward  Fleming, 
Frederick  Jay, 
William  W.  Ludlow, 
Daniel  Phenix, 
Anthony  Van  Dam, 
Lewis  Pintard, 
John  B.  Moore, 


G  ^orge  Janeway, 
James  Beekman, 
Gerret  Ketletas, 
Benjamin  Kissam, 
Cornelius  Clopper, 
John  Reade, 
Jacobus  Van  Zand), 
Gerardus  Duyckinck, 
Jacobus  Lefferts, 
Richard  Sharpe, 
Hamilton  Young, 
Abram.  Brinkerhoff, 
Benjamin  Hehno, 
Evert  Banker, 
Daniel  Dunscomb, 
John  Imlay, 
Cornelius  P.  Low, 
Thomas  Buchannan. 


On  motion,  Ordered,  That  the  Circular  Letter  of  this 
Board  to  the  neighbouring  Colonies  be  printed. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  John  Broome,  Mr.  Benson,  and 
Mr.  Phenix,  be  a  Sub-Committee  to  convey  the  earliest 
intelligence  to  the  Committees  of  the  several  Counties  in 
this  Province  of  all  such  matters  as  they  shall  judge  neces- 
sary to  communicate,  and  they  are  hereby  authorized  to 
transmit  such  intelligence  without  previously  laying  it  be- 
fore this  Committee  for  their  approbation. 

Resolved,  That  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  Committee  that 
the  Physicians  and  others  in  this  City  and  County,  who 
are  in  the  practice  of  Innoculating  for  the  Small  Pox,  be 
requested  immediately  to  desist  from  Innoculating  in  this 
City  and  County.,  until  the  sense  of  this  Committee  be  sig- 
nified to  the  contrary  ;  and  that  this  Resolution  be  publish- 
ed in  the  several  Newspapers  in  this  City. 

The  Committee  adjourned  till  to-morrow  morning. 

The  Committee  met  by  adjournment,  Friday,  May  12, 
1775.  Present: 


P.  V.  B.  Livingston, 
Isaac  Sears, 
Alex.  McDougall, 
Thomas  Randall, 
Leonard  Lispenard, 
William  Walton, 
John  Broome, 
Joseph  Hallett, 
Nicholas  Hoffman, 
Abraham  Walton, 
Peter  Van  Schaack, 
Henry  Remsen, 
Peter  T  Curtenius, 
Abraham  Brasher, 
Abraham  P.  Lott, 
Abraham  Duryee, 
Joseph  Bull, 
Joseph  Totten, 
Thomas  Ivers, 
John  Anthony, 
Victor  Bicker, 
John  White, 


Theophilus  Anthony, 
William  Goforth, 
William  Denning, 
Isaac  Roosevelt, 
Comfort  Sands, 
Robert  Benson, 
William  W.  Gilbert, 
John  Berrian, 
Gabriel  W.  Ludlow, 
Edward  Fleming, 
John  De  Lancey, 
Frederick  Jay, 
William  W.  Ludlow, 
John  B.  Moore, 
John  Lasher, 
James  Beekman, 
Augustus  Van  Home, 
Gerret  Ketletas, 
Benjamin  Kissam, 
John  M.  Scott, 
Cornelius  Clopper, 
John  Reade, 


Jacobus  Van  Zaiult, 
Gerardus  Duyckinck, 
Peter  Goelet, 
Jacobus  Lefferts, 
Richard  Sharpe, 
Abram.  Brinkerhoff. 
Benjamin  Helme, 
Walter  Franklin, 
David  Beekman, 
Evert  Banker, 
Robert  Ray, 
Nicholas  Bogart. 
Daniel  Phenix, 
Daniel  Dunscomb, 
John  Imlay, 
Oliver  Templeton, 
Lewis  Pintard, 
Cornelius  P.  Low, 
Thomas  Buchannan, 
Nicholas  Roosevelt, 
George  Janeway. 


A  Letter,  dated  Albany,  8th  May,  1775,  from  the  Com- 
mittee of  Correspondence,  received  and  read. 


Captain  Randall,  from  the  Committee  appointed  to  wait 
on  his  Honour  the  Lieutenant-Governour,  to  know  when  it 
would  be  his  pleasure  to  receive  the  Addressiol  this  Com- 
mittee, reported  that  his  Honour  would  be  ready  to  receive 
the  Address  to-morrow  at  twelve  o'clock.,  at  Jamaica. 

Ordered,  That  Mr-  C.  P.  Low,  Mr.  Van  Dam,  Colonel 
Walton,  Captain  Randall,  Mr.  De  Lancey,  Mr.  T.  Mars- 
ton., Mr.  Van  Schaack,  Mr.  Sharpe,  Mr.  Duyckinck,  Mr. 
Templeton.,  Mr.  Beekman,  Mr.  Kissam,  Mr.  Scott,  Mr. 
Remsen,  Mr.  Duryee,  Mr.  A.  Walton^,  and  Mr.  F.  Jay,  be  a 
Committee  to  present  the  sajd  Address;  and  that  they  be 
charged  to  apply  to  the  principal  people  of  the  Towns  of 
Jamaica,  Hempstead,  and  Oyster  Bay,  to  represent  to  them 
the  necessity  of  their  joining  with  their  countrymen  in 
sending  Delegates  to  the  Provincial  Congress. 

A  Letter,  dated  Philadelphia,  llth  May,  1775,  from 
Mr.  Barclay,  received  and  read  ;  referred  to  the  Commit- 
tee of  Correspondence  to  answer. 

Mr.  McDougall,  seconded  by  Mr.  Fleming,  moved  that 
the  Committee  of  Correspondence  be  directed  to  draught 
and  report,  without  delay,  two  Resolutions  relative  to  the 
conduct  proper  to  be  observed  by  the  citizens  to  those  who 
do  not  sign  the  Association,  and  to  direct  that  no  inhabitant 
of  this  City  and  County  be  treated  as  an  enemy  to  his 
Country,  but  by  the  determination  of  the  Continental  or 
Provincial  Congress,  or  by  tins  Committee. 

Committee  adjourned  to  Monday,  15th  May,  1775. 

At  a  Speeial  Meeting  of  the  Committee,  Sunday,  14th 
May,  1775.  Present: 

Alex.  McDougall, 
Leonard  Lispenard, 
Joseph  Hallett, 
Nicholas  Hoffman, 
Henry  Remsen, 
Abraham  Brasher, 
Abraham  P.  Lott, 
Abraham  Duryee, 
Joseph  Bull, 
Joseph  Totten, 
Thomas  Ivers, 
Hercules  Mulligan, 
John  Anthony, 
Francis  Bassett, 
Victor  Bicker, 
John  White, 
Theophilus  Anthony, 


William  Goforth, 
William  Denning, 
Isaac  Roosevelt, 
Jacob  Van  Voorhies, 
Jeremiah  Piatt, 
Comfort  Sands, 
Robert  Benson, 
William  W.  Gilbert, 
John  Berrian, 
Nicholas  Rooseyelt, 
Edward  Fleming, 
William  W.  Ludlow, 
John  B.  Moore, 
Rodolphus  Ritzma, 
Lancaster  Burling, 
John  Lashor, 
James  Beekman, 


Samuel  Verplanck. 
Richard  Yates, 
Gerret  Ketletas, 
John  Van  Cortlandt, 
Jacobus  Lefferts, 
Abram.  Brinkerhoff. 
Benjamin  Helme. 
David  Beekman, 
Robert  Ray, 
Nicholas  Bogart. 
William  Laight. 
Daniel  Phenix, 
Anthony  Van  Dam, 
Daniel  Dunscomb, 
John  Imlay, 
Cornelius  Peter  Low, 
Petrus  Byvanck. 


533 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &cc,  MAY,  1775. 


534 


Ordered,  That  the  Address  from  this  Committee,  as 
presented  yesterday  to  Lieutenant-Governour  Colden,  with 
liis  Answer  now  read,  be  published. 

Whereas,  it  is  strongly  suspected  that  the  Man-of-War 
now  in  this  Harbour  is  supplied  from  some  part  of  the 
Jersey  and  Staten  Island,  with  Provisions  and  other  neces- 
saries, with  intent  to  ship  the  same  to  Boston  for  the  use 
of  the  Army  and  Navy  : 

Ordered,  That  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  write 
to  such  of  the  neighbouring  Committees,  as  also  to  such 
persons  as  they  shall  think  necessary,  requesting  them  to 
use  all  possible  means  for  preventing  the  same. 

Adjourned  till  to-morrow  afternoon,  at  4  o'clock. 

To  the  Honourable  Cadwallader  Colden,  Esquire, 
Lieutenant-Governour  and  Commander-in-Chief  of 
His  Majesty's  Colony  of  New-York,  and  the  Ter- 
ritories thereon  depending,  in  America,  fyc.  : 
The  Humble  Address  of  the  General  Committee  of  As- 
sociation for  the  City  and  County  of  New- York  : 
May  it  please  your  Honour: 

It  frequently  happens,  under  every  form  of  Govern- 
ment, that  the  measures  of  Administration  excite  the  just 
jealousies  of  the  people,  and  that  the  same  measures  pur- 
sued divest  them  of  all  confidence  in  those  in  whose  hands 
the  ordinary  executive  powers  are  lodged.  In  such  a  state 
of  things  it  is  natural  for  the  people  to  cast  their  eyes  upon 
those  of  their  fellow  sufferers  on  whose  abilities  and  in- 
tegrity they  can  rely,  and  to  ask  their  advice  and  direction 
for  the  preservation  of  all  that  is  dear  and  valuable  to 
them. 

That  such  is  the  frame  and  temper  of  our  inhabitants, 
you  have  had  the  fullest  opportunity  to  know  in  the  course 
of  that  residence  with  which  you  have  lately  honoured  us. 

This  City  and  County,  as  well  as  the  rest  of  the  Colo- 
ny, have  exercised  the  greatest  patience  in  waiting,  though 
in  vain,  for  a  redress  of  the  many  unconstitutional  and  op- 
pressive burdens  under  which  this  whole  Continent  has 
groaned  for  several  years  past.  To  their  inexpressible 
grief  they  have  found  that  the  most  dutiful  applications 
for  redress  have  not  only  been  rejected,  but  have  been 
answered  by  reiterated  violations  of  their  rights. 

You  cannot,  therefore,  wonder,  Sir,  that  at  this  most  in- 
teresting crisis,  when  their  all  is  at  stake,  and  when,  under 
the  authority  of  Administration,  the  sword  has  been  drawn, 
though  unsuccessfully,  against  their  brethren  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts, for  asserting  those  invaluable  rights  which  are  the 
common  inheritance  of  Britons  and  Americans,  that  the 
City  and  County  of  New-  York  have  proceeded  to  asso- 
ciate in  the  common  cause,  and  to  the  election  of  a  Com- 
mittee and  Delegates  in  Congress,  to  represent  them  in 
their  claims,  and  to  direct  their  counsels  and  conduct  for 
the  preservation  of  those  inestimable  privileges  to  which 
the  great  Creator,  the  order  of  their  being  as  rational 
creatures,  and  our  happy  Constitution,  have  given  them  an 
undoubted  title. 

To  this  important  end  they  have  unanimously  invested 
us,  their  Committee,  with  a  trust,  which  we  are  determined, 
with  the  best  of  our  abilities  and  most  faithfully  to  dis- 
charge ;  and  in  the  execution  of  which  we  think  it  our  in- 
dispensable duty  to  declare: 

That  our  constituents,  while  they  cheerfully  yield  that 
the  Legislature  of  the  Parent  State  may  make  provisions 
in  their  nature  merely  calculated  to  regulate  the  Trade  of 
the  Empire ;  yet  they  claim  as  their  indefeisible  birthright 
a  total  exemption  from  all  taxes,  internal  and  external,  by 
authority  of  Parliament,  and  from  every  aid  to  the  Crown, 
but  on  royal  requisitions  to  their  Representatives  in  Assem- 
bly, constitutionally  convened,  and  freely  deliberating  and 
determining  upon  every  such  requisition. 

That  they  never  can,  nor  will  submit  to  the  establish- 
ment of  unconstitutional  admiralty  jurisdictions ;  but  will 
ever  regard  them  as  engines  that  may  be  employed  for  the 
most  tyrannical  purposes. 

That  they  are  determined  never  to  part  with  their  pre- 
cious, and  lately  invaded  right,  of  trial  by  peers  of  their 
vicinage,  in  any  case  whatsoever. 

That  they  look  with  the  utmost  dread  on  every  expe- 
dient by  authority  of  Parliament,  or  otherwise,  that  may- 
tend  to  secure  from  condign  punishment  offenders  against 


the  most  essential  rights  of  human  nature,  by  removing 
them  for  their  trial  to  places  distant  from  the  scene  of  per- 
petration, at  the  discretion  of  a  Governour  or  Commander- 
in-Chief. 

That  they  esteem,  and  therefore  will  by  every  lawful 
means  oppose  the  late  oppressive  restraints  upon  Com- 
merce, as  subversive  in  their  nature  of  the  liberties  of 
America. 

That  they  regard  the  hostile  blockade  of  the  Port  of 
Boston,  the  attack  upon  the  venerable  Charter  rights  of 
the  Massachusetts,  the  extension  of  the  bounds  of  Quc- 
beck,  the  establishment  of  Popery  and  an  arbitrary  form 
of  Government  in  that  Province,  and  the  exclusive  privi- 
leges virtually  given  to  it  in  the  Indian  trade,  as  so  many 
steps  of  an  ill-judging  Administration,  that  most  eminently 
endanger  the  liberty  and  prosperity  of  the  whole  Empire. 

That  they  view  with  inexpressible  horrour,  the  bloody 
standard  erected  in  the  Eastern  parts  of  the  confederated 
Colonies,  and  feel,  as  in  their  own  bodies,  every  stroke 
which  their  brave  compatriots  have  received  from  the  hand 
of  their  fellow-subjects  cruelly  and  unnaturally  armed 
against  them  by  mistaken  ministerial  severity. 

In  short,  that  they  are  determined  to  equip  themselves 
for  maintaining,  with  successful  bravery  and  resolution,  the 
unquestionable  rights  of  Englishmen. 

Permit  us  at  the  same  time,  Sir,  to  assure  you  in  their 
behalf,  that  though  they  are  arming  with  great  diligence 
and  industry,  it  is  not  with  design  to  oppose,  but  to 
strengthen  Government  in  the  due  exercise  of  constitu- 
tional authority.  It  is  to  be  in  a  state  of  readiness  to  repel 
every  lawless  attack  by  our  superiours,  and  to  prevent  the 
anarchy  and  confusion  to  which  ministerial  misconduct  has 
evidently  paved  the  way.  It  is  to  defend  the  liberties  of 
the  subject,  and  to  enable  your  Honour,  and  those  in  office 
under  you,  efficaciously  to  administer  the  just  Government 
of  this  Colony. 

Your  Honour  cannot  but  see  the  sudden  transition  of 
the  inhabitants  of  this  Capital  from  a  state  of  tumult,  occa- 
sioned by  hostilities  committed  against  their  brethren,  to 
tranquillity  and  good  order,  as  the  consequence  of  our 
appointment.  It  is  our  ardent  wish,  Sir,  that  the  same  tran- 
quillity and  good  order  may  be  permanent.  We  look  for- 
ward, therefore,  with  deep  concern  at  the  expected  arrival 
of  Troops  from  Great  Britain;  an  event  that  will  probably 
be  attended  with  innumerable  mischiefs.  Their  presence 
will  doubtless  revive  the  resentment  of  our  inhabitants  at 
the  repeatedly  avowed  designs  of  subjugating  the  Colonies 
by  military  force.  Mutual  jealousies  may  break  out  into 
reciprocal  violence.  Thousands  will,  in  that  case,  be 
poured  in  upon  us  from  our  other  Counties  and  the  neigh- 
bouring Colonies,  who,  we  are  well  assured,  have  resolved 
to  prevent  this  City  from  being  reduced  to  the  present 
situation  of  Boston.  Thus,  instead  of  being  a  secure  gar- 
rison-town and  place  of  arms,  as  is  vainly  expected  by 
some,  the  streets  of  Xeic-York  may  be  deluged  with  blood. 
Such  a  destructive  evil,  we  are  well  assured,  your  Honour 
will  do  every  thing  in  your  power  to  avert.  Permit  us 
then,  Sir,  to  beseech  you  to  apply  to  Great  Britain  for 
orders  that  such  Troops  as  may  arrive  from  Great  Britain 
or  Ireland  do  not  land  or  encamp  in  this  City  and  Coun- 
ty; and  in  case  of  their  arrival  before  your  Honour  shall 
receive  the  General's  answer,  to  solicit  their  commanding 
officer  to  the  same  purpose. 

Give  us  leave,  Sir,  to  conclude  by  assuring  you,  that  we 
are  determined  to  improve  that  confidence  with  which  the 
people  have  honoured  us,  in  strengthening  the  hands  of 
the  civil  Magistrate,  in  every  lawful  measure  calculated  to 
promote  the  peace  and  just  rule  of  this  Metropolis,  and 
consistent  with  that  jealous  attention  which,  above  all 
things,  we  are  bound  to  pay  to  the  violated  rights  of 
America. 

We  are,  Sir,  with  the  greatest  respect,  your  Honour's 
most  obedient  and  humble  servants. 

Ordered  unanimously  by  the  Committee  : 

Henry  Remsen,  D.  Chairman. 
New.York,  May  11,  1775. 

His  Honour  s  Ansiver. 

Gentlemen:  I  have  the  best  authority  to  assure  you, 
that  our  most  gracious  Sovereign  and  both  Houses  of  Par- 
liament have  declared  their  readiness  to  afford  every  jusf 


535 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  Sec,  MAY,  1775. 


536 


and  reasonable  indulgence  to  the  Colonies,  whenever  they 
should  make  a  proper  application  on  the  ground  of  any 
real  grievances  they  may  have  to  complain  of.  This  dec- 
laration has  been  followed  by  a  Resolution  of  the  House 
of  Commons,  which  it  was  expected  would  have  manifest- 
ed the  justice  and  moderation  of  Parliament,  and  a  dispo- 
sition to  comply  with  every  wisli  of  the  subjects  in  Ame- 
rica. They  offer  to  forbear  every  kind  of  taxation  or 
assessment  on  America,  except  such  as  are  necessary  for 
the  regulation  of  Commerce,  and  only  require  that  the 
Colonies  should  make  provision  by  such  ways  and  means 
as  are  best  suited  to  their  respective  circumstances,  for  con- 
tributing a  proportion  to  the  common  defence  of  the  Em- 
pire, and  for  the  support  of  their  own  civil  Government 
and  the  administration  of  justice.  His  Majesty's  Ministers 
did  not  doubt  this  temper  in  Parliament  would  meet  with 
such  a  return  on  the  part  of  the  Colonies  as  would  lead  to 
a  happy  issue  of  the  present  disputes,  and  to  a  re-establish- 
ment of  publick  tranquillity  on  grounds  of  equity,  justice, 
and  moderation.  Is  it  not,  then,  to  be  lamented  as  the 
most  unfortunate  event,  that  the  patience  of  the  people 
was  exhausted  at  the  moment  of  this  prospect  of  a  peace- 
able and  happy  accomplishment  of  all  their  wishes?  Will 
not  those  in  whom  they  now  confide  yet  endeavour  to  ob- 
tain it  ?  Must  this  Country,  till  now  happy  and  flourishing 
beyond  parallel,  be  involved  in  the  dreadful  calamities  ever 
attendant  on  civil  war,  while  there  remains  one  possible 
means  untried,  by  which  so  great,  so  cruel  an  evil  might  be 
averted?  You  tell  me,  gentlemen,  that  the  people  have 
lost  all  confidence  in  the  ordinary  officers  of  Government, 
and  that  they  have  cast  their  eyes  upon  you  for  advice  and 
direction.  1  cannot  divest  myself  of  the  most  affectionate 
concern  for  the  welfare,  the  peace,  and  prosperity  of  the 
people  over  whom  I  have  so  long  presided  as  the  imme- 
diate representative  of  their  august  Sovereign  ;  with  whom 
I  have  lived  the  term  of  a  long  life,  and  among  whom  I 
leave  all  that  is  dear  and  valuable  to  me.*  I  am  impelled 
by  my  duty,  and  a  most  zealous  attachment  to  the  interest 
and  safety  of  this  people,  to  exhort  you  not  to  irritate  the 
present  enraged  state  of  their  minds,  nor  suffer  them  to 
plunge  into  labyrinths  from  whence  they  can  neither  ad- 
vance nor  retreat,  but  through  blood  and  desolation. 

His  Majesty's  Ministers  have,  in  the  strongest  terms, 
expressed  the  satisfaction  with  which  the  King  received 
the  assurances  of  the  loyalty  and  affection  of  his  faithful 
subjects  in  this  Government,  and  of  their  ardent  desire  for 
a  permanent  reconciliation  with  the  Mother  Country.  I 
cannot,  then,  conceive  upon  what  grounds  a  suspicion  is 
entertained  that  the  City  of  New-  York  is  to  be  reduced  to 
the  present  stale  of  Boston.  I  have  not  had  the  least  in- 
timation that  any  Regular  Troops  were  destined  for  this 
Province.  It  is  proper  that  General  Gage  should  know 
your  sentiments  on  this  subject,  and  I  shall  embrace  the 
first  opportunity  of  communicating  your  request  to  him. 
At  the  same  time  I  think  there  is  reason  to  suspect  that 
this  report  has  been  invented  to  facilitate  the  introduction 
of  an  armed  force  from  Connecticut,  which,  I  am  told,  is 
meditated.  Will  not  the  apprehension  of  such  a  design 
rouse  you,  gentlemen,  and  every  virtuous  citizen,  to  avert, 
by  every  means  in  your  power,  a  measure  so  humiliating, 
so  dangerous  to  the  honour,  safety,  and  freedom  of  this 
Colony  ? 

1  have  beheld  with  inexpressible  anxiety  the  state  of 
tumult  and  disorder  which  raged  in  the  Metropolis  of  this 
Province  ;  and  1  am  sorry  that  a  recent  instance,  since  your 
appointment,  revives  the  threatening  prospect  of  insecurity 
to  which  the  inhabitants  are  reduced.  I  exhort  you  to 
carry  into  effect  the  assurances  you  give  me,  that  you  are 
determined  to  improve  that  confidence  with  which  the 
people  have  honoured  you,  in  strengthening  the  hands  of 
the  civil  Magistrates.  Let  this  be  done  immediately,  and 
with  impartial  firmness  on  every,  occasion  ;  that  the  houses, 
persons,  and  property  of  your  fellow-citizens  may  not  be 
attacked  and  insulted  with  impunity,  and  every  degree  of 
domestick  security  and  happiness  sapped  to  the  foundation. 

Cadwallader  Colden. 

May  13,  1775. 

•  To  know  what  confidence  this  Colony  ought  to  put  in  tho  assur- 
ar.eos  given  to  our  Committoe  by  a  certain  p  TRon  who  fills  a  high 
post  in  this  Govornm  rot,  it  will  be  sufficient  to  read  the  extracts  of  the 
letters  ho  wrote  to  tho  Ministry,  and  which  have  been  exhibited  before 
tho  Parliament. 


To  the  Honourable  Jonathan  Trumbull,  Esq.,  Captain- 
General  and  Commander-in-Chief  of  His  Majesty's 
Forces  in  the  Colony  of  Connecticut: 
May  it  please  your  Honour: 

We,  your  Honour's  dutiful  Petitioners,  inhabitants  of  that 
part  of  the  society  of  Jiidgebury  which  is  within  the  Town- 
ship of  liidgefield,  beg  leave  humbly  to  represent,  that  in 
the  present  important  struggle  for  the  preservation  of  the 
rights  and  liberties  of  this  Country,  a  large  number  of  the 
inhabitants  of  this  Parish  have  appeared  firmly  attached  to 
the  common  cause,  and  adopted  the  measures  concerted  by 
the  General  Congress  and  recommended  by  our  worthy  Rep- 
resentatives in  the  General  Assembly;  whilst  the  Town, 
as  a  body,  have  rejected  and  protested  against  said  measures. 
That  as  we  presume  this  was  a  reason  why  the  appointment 
of  a  Captain  of  a  Company  in  the  Forces  now  raising  for 
the  defence  of  this  Colony  fell  upon  a  member  of  this 
rather  than  of  the  fiist  society  in  the  Town,  but  that  the 
man  appointed  (Lieutenant  Abraham  Gray)  hath  declined 
taking  a  commission  in  the  present  service,  yet  that  as  he 
was  not  one  of  those  who  had  openly  and  publickly  mani- 
fested a  concurrence  with  us,  and  with  the  Country  in 
general,  in  pursuing  the  measures  recommended  by  the 
General  Congress,  we  conceive  his  refusal  cannot  be  reason- 
ably construed  as  any  evidence  of  backwardness  among  us 
to  engage  in  the  present  service. 

We  therefore  humbly  pray  that  the  commission  may  not 
be  transferred  to  any  person  out  of  this  part  of  the  Town, 
especially  as  we  conceive  there  are  men  among  us  as  well 
qualified  to  hold  it  as  may  be  found  elsewhere  ;  and  we  beg 
leave  particularly  to  mention  Ichabod  Doolittle  as  a  man, 
in  our  apprehension,  very  suitable  for  the  office,  and  humbly 
pray  your  Honour  to  appoint  him  to  take  the  commission 
of  a  Captain,  which  the  said  Lieutenant  Gray  hath  declined  ; 
and  your  Honour's  Petitioners  shall  ever  pray. 

Daniel  Colby,  Timothy  Benedict, 

David  Rockwell,         Nathan  Stevens, 
Isaac  Keeler,  Jonah  Foster, 

Samuel  Bennet,  Nathaniel  Stevens. 

Samuel  Keeler,  Jr.,     Abraham  Gray, 
Zachariah  Stearns,     Nathan  Foster, 
Samuel  Northrup,       William  Forester, 
Bartholomew  Weed,    Azor  Hurlbert, 
Matthew  Northrup,    Jeremiah  Birchard, 
Thomas  Frost,  Jr.,      Abijah  Rockwell. 
Isaiah  Birchard, 
Ridgcbury,  in  Ridgefield,  May  8,  1775. 


COMMITTEE  OF  MALDEN  AND  CHELSEA. 

Maiden,  May  8,  1775. 

The  Joint  Committee  of  Maiden  and  Chelsea  met. 

Voted,  That  Captain  John  Dexter,  Tfiomas  Hills,  and 
Jonathan  Williams,  be  a  Committee  to  wait  on  General 
Ward,  and  inform  him  that  Doctor  Samuel  Danforth,  of 
Boston,  passes  backwards  and  forwards  to  that  place  ;  and 
from  his  well  known  conduct  and  behaviour,  we  have  reason 
to  suspect  his  attachment  to  our  most  righteous  cause  ;  like- 
wise his  screwing  Hay,  and  moving  it  down  to  \\  innesimtnet 
Ferry,  in  order  to  be  removed  to  Boston;  and  that  the 
Committee  has  taken  care  that  said  Hay  shall  be  removed 
to  some  more  secure  place. 

John  Dexter,  Chairman. 


Hartford,  Connecticut,  May  8,  1775. 
We  have  the  pleasure  to  acquaint  the  publick  that  a 
Constitutional  Post-Oflice  is  now  rising  on  the  ruins  of  the 
Parliamentary  one,  which  is  just  expiring  in  convulsions. 
Mr.  William  Goddard,  encouraged  by  the  friends  of  liberty 
at  New- York,  hath  engaged  a  faithful  rider  to  proceed  from 
Mr.  John  Holt's  office  on  Thursday  next,  with  the- Eastern 
mails  for  Philadelphia,  and  Colonies  southward.  The  first- 
mentioned  gentleman  is  arrived  here,  and  will  proceed  this 
day  for  the  Provincial  Congress  at  Walertoicn,  and  the 
camp  near  Boston,  in  order  to  complete  the  important 
business  of  his  journey,  having  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing 
Constitutional  Posts  and  Postmasters  established  in  every 
considerable  Town  which  he  hath  visited.  The  patriotick 
conduct  of  the  General  Assembly  of  this  Colony  hath 
greatly  contributed  to  the  success  of  Mr.  Goddard's  enter- 


537 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &tc,  MAY,  1775. 


538 


prise,  and  it  is  not  doubted  but  the  institution  will  be 
patronised  and  properly  regulated  by  the  Continental  Con- 
gress. Several  of  the  old  Postmasters  have  resigned  their 
appointments  and  engaged  in  the  new  plan,  and  others  may 
follow  their  example.  Messrs.  Peets  and  Hard,  and  Adams 
and  Hyde,  are  also  employed  as  riders  in  the  service  of 
their  Country. 


GODDARD  S  POST-OFFICES. 

Persons  aj)j)ointed  to  reccice  and  forward  Letters,  fyc. 

Cambridge,    Mass.  Mr.  James  Winthrop. 

Worcester,      "  Mr.  Isaiah  Thomas. 

Springfield,     "  Mr.  Moses  Church. 

Newport,  R.  Island,  The  Committee. 

Providence,     "  -  

New-London,  Conn.  Mr.  Nathaniel  Shaw. 

Hartford,        "  Mr.  William  Ellery. 

Middletown,     "  Mr.  Wcsly  Hobby. 

New-Haven,      "  Mr.  Elias  Beers. 

Fairfield,        "  Thaddeus  Burr,  Esq. 

Stamford,         b  Mr.  Ebenezer  Weed. 

Norwalk,          '•'  The  Committee,  who  will  ap- 
point a  Postmaster. 

New-York,    N.  Y.  Mr.  John  Holt* 

Newark,  New-Jersey,  Mr.  William  Camp. 

Eliza'town,      "  Mr.  He  Hart. 

Woodbridge,    "  Capt.  Nathaniel  Heard. 

Brunswick,      '•'  John  Dennis,  Esq. 

Princeton,       :<  Mr.  Baldwin. 

Trenton,         "  The  Committee. 

Bristol,      Penn.  Mr.  Charles  Besconer. 

Philadelphia  "  Mr.  William  Bradford. 

Wilmington,  Del.  Mr.  Hcmpjield. 

*  A  Constitutional  Post-Office  is  now  kept  at  J.  Holt's  Printing  Office 
in  Water  Street,  near  the  Coffee-House,  New-York,  where  Letters  are 
received  in,  and  carefully  despatched  by  riders  who  may  be  depended 
upon  for  the  faithful  performance  of  duty,  and  execution  of  the  most 
important  trusts  that  business  may  require,  as  none  but  men  of  pro- 
perty and  approved  characters,  will  be  employed. 

The  Posts  for  Philadelphia  and  the  Southwestern  Colonies  set  out 
about  eight  o'clock  every  Monday  and  Thursday  morning,  proceed  that 
day,  through  the  Towns  of  Newark,  Elizabeth/own,  Rahwuy,  Wood- 
bridge,  Bonumtown,  Piscataway,  and  Brunswick,  to  Princeton,  where 
they  meet  and  exchange  mails  with  the  Posts  from  Philadelphia,  who 
p  :ss  through  Frankfort,  Bristol,  Trenton,  and  Maidenhead.  These 
Posts  the  next  day  (Tuesday)  return  with  the  m  iils  to  the  above  office 
in  New-York,  and  to  Mr.  Bradford's,  at  the  Coffee-House  in  Philadel- 
phia ;  from  whence  other  Posts  set  out  for  the  Westward  and  East- 
ward at  the  usual  times.  Those  from  New.  York  for  the  Eastward,  set 
out  about  nine  o'clock  on  Monday,  about  noon  on  Thursday,  and  return 
to  New-York  with  the  Eastern  mails,  on  Wednesdays  and  Saturdays. 

Tho  rates  of  postage  for  the  present,  are  the  same  that  they  used  to 
be  under  the  unconstitutional  Post-Office,  and  accounts  are  car;  fullv 
kept  of  all  the  moneys  received  for  Letters,  as  well  as  expended  on 
r:ders,  &c.  That  where  rates  and  rules  are  affixed,  and  offices  regularly 
established  throughout  the  British  Colonies,  by  each  Provincial  and  by 
the  Continental  Congress,  what  shall  be  done  before  that  time  may  be 
taken  into  the  account,  and  properly  adjusted. 

The  subscriber  having  at  all  times  acted  consistently,  and  to  the 
utmost  of  his  power  in  support  of  the  English  Constitution  and  the 
rights  and  liberties  of  his  countrymen,  the  inhabitants  of  the  British 
American  Colonies,  esp  :cially  as  a  printer,  regjrdless  of  his  own  personal 
sif  tyor  private  advantage;  and  having  always,  both  by  speech  and 
publications  from  his  press,  openly,  fully,  and  plainly  denied  the  right 
of  the  British  Parliament  to  tax,  or  make  laws  to  bind  Americans,  in  any 
case  whatsoever,  without  their  own  free  consent ;  and  done  his  utmost 
to  stimulate  his  countrymen,  with  whom  he  is  determined  to  stand  or 
fall,  to  assert  and  defend  their  rights  against  the  encroachments  and 
unjust  claims  of  Great  Britain  and  every  other  power;  and  as  he  has, 
by  this  conduct,  incurred  the  displeasure  of  many  men  in  power,  and 
been  a  very  great  sufferer  (the  greatest,  he  believes,  in  this  Country; 
by  the  stoppage  and  obstruction  given  to  the  circulation  of  his  news- 
papers by  the  Post-Office,  which  has  long  been  an  engine  in  the  hand 
of  the  British  Ministry  to  promote  their  schemes  of  enslaving  the 
Colonics  and  destroying  the  English  Constitution,  (the  very  institution 
and  existence  of  this  office  afforded  the  Ministry  one  of  the  most  plau- 
sible arguments  in  favour  of  their  pretended  rig'it  to  tax  the  Colonies, 
and  was  a  precedent  of  their  admission  of  that  right,  and  of  the  exercise 
of  it ;)  and  as  the  Colonies  are  at  length  roused  to  defend  their  rights, 
and  in  particular  to  wrest  the  Post-Office  from  the  tyrannical  hands 
which  have  long  held  it,  and  put  it  on  a  constitutional  footing;  and 
many  gentlemen  among  the  most  hearty  and  able  friends  to  America, 
in  this  and  the  neighbouring  Colonics,  both  in  and  out  of  the  Conti, 
nental  Congress,  having  encouraged  the  subscriber  to  hope  that  they 
think  him  a  proper  person  to  hold  the  office  of  Postmaster  in  this  Col- 
ony, with  the  business  of  which  he  is  well  acquainted,  and  will  favour 
his  application  for  the  same  :  He  humbly  requests  the  favour,  concur- 
rence, and  assistance  of  the  honourable  Convention  of  Deputies  for 
this  Colony,  in  his  appointment  to  the  said  office,  the  duties  of  which 
it  will  be  his  constant  care  to  discharge  with  faithfulness,  and  to  gene- 
r  il  satisfaction,  ever  grateful  for  favours  conferred,  and  studious  to 
deserve  them.  John  Holt. 


Baltimore,  Maryland, 
Annapolis,  " 
Georgetown  on  ^  f( 
the  Potomack,  5 

Alexandria,  Virginia, 
Dumfries,  " 
Fred'kseurgh,  " 
Norfolk,  " 
Will'msburgh,  " 


Mr.  Goddard's  Office. 
Mr.  Samuel  H.  Howard. 

Mr.  Thomas  Richardson. 

Mr.  James  Hendricks. 
Mr.  Richard  Graham. 
Capt.  George  Weedon. 
William  Davits,  Esq. 
The  Committee,  who  will  ; 
point  a  Postmaster. 


post  riders. 

From  Falmouth  to  Portsmouth,  Mr  

From  Portsmouth  to  Cambridge,  Mr.  Trobh. 
From  Cambridge  to  Hartford,  Messrs.  Adams  and 
Hyde. 

From  Hartford  to  New-York,  Messsrs.  Feet  and 
Hurd. 

From  New-York  to  Philadelphia,  Mr.  James  J  an 
Brocket. 

From  Cambridge  to  Providence,  Newport  and  New- 
London,  Messrs.  Feter  and  Benjamin  Mumford. 

From  New-London  to  New-York,  lower  road,  Messrs. 
Feet  and  Hurd. 

From  Cambridge  to  Providence,  Norwich  and  New- 
London,  Mr.  Nathaniel  Bushel/. 


TO  THE  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS. 

Boston,  May  8,  1775. 

Honoured  Sir  :  The  printed  paper  which  I  now  send 
you,  was  brought  to  me  by  a  kind  neighbour  who  picked  it 
up  in  the  street,  and  as  it  is  mine  by  the  gift  of  the  finder 
of  it,  I  have  thought  it  my  duly  to  send  it  unto  you,  that  so, 
as  the  Province  is  interested  in  it,  it  may  by  you  be  commu- 
nicated to  the  Provincial  Assembly  over  which  you  preside. 

This  "  Circumstantial  Account,"  as  it  is  called,  of  the  late 
engagement,  has  been  so  privately  printed  that  some  of  their 
own  officers  have  not  the  knowledge  of  it ;  and  as  this  is 
the  account  which  is  most  probably  sent  home,  it  is  here 
currently  reported  that  above  thirty  depositions  upon  oath, 
to  the  truth  of  it,  have  been  sent  along  with  it. 

You  will  see,  by  this  account,  that  the  people  of  our 
Province  are  represented  as  the  blamable  causes  of  all  that 
occurred.  They  attacked  ;  they  fired  first ;  they  committed 
cruelties.  The  British  Soldiers  only  did  their  duty  ;  and 
having  done  it,  they  did  not  properly  retreat,  but  marched 
back  to  Charlestown. 

1  wish  you,  sir,  and  the  Provincial  Congress,  the  happiest 
direction  from  above  in  all  your  counsels  and  managements 
for  the  publick  weal,  and  prosperity  and  the  blessing  of  the 
Lord  of  Hosts  in  the  prosecution  of  them;  and  am,  with 
my  most  cordial  respects  to  yourself  and  all  our  Delegates 
with  you,  your  faithful  friend  and  most  obedient  servant, 

Samuel  Mather. 


SELECTMEN  OF  WORCESTER  TO  THE  MASSACHUSETTS 
CONGRESS. 
Worcester,  Massachusetts,  May  ij,  1775. 

The  Committee  appointed  by  the  inhabitants  of  the 
Town  to  take  into  their  consideration  what  is  requisite  to  be 
done  with  a  number  of  people  who  have  shown  themselves 
disaffected  to  their  Country,  do  report: 

That  in  their  humble  opinion,  as  William  Cambtll  has 
broke  through  his  engagements  with  the  fathers  of  the 
people,  and  presumed  to  go  out  of  the  Town  and  Prov- 
ince before  the  Resolve  of  the  Provincial  Congress  was 
known,  in  order  to  injure  the  good  people  of  this  place, 
and  has  been,  and  by  his  conduct  still  appears  to  be,  an 
inveterate  enemy  to  the  rights  and  privileges  of  this  Coun- 
try, notwithstanding  his  declarations  to  the  contrary,  he 
should  be  sent  to  Wateriown  or  Cambridge,  to  be  dealt 
with  as  the  honourable  Congress  or  the  Commander-in- 
Chief  shall  think  necessary,  it  being  judged  highly  improper 
that  he  should  tarry  any  longer  in  this  Town. 

And  whereas  Mr.  Samuel  Paine,  of  Worcester,  has  been 
found  guilty  of  propagating  a  report,  viz  :  "  that  the  goods. 
Sic,  taken  out  of  the  dwelling  house  of  Ebenezer  Bradish, 
of  Menotomy,  was  not  taken  by  the  Regular  Troops,  but 
by  our  people;  and  furthermore,  that  our  Troops  quartered 


539 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


540 


in  College  were  lousy  and  deserted  by  hundreds ;"  the  in- 
habitants of  the  Town  of  Worcester  assembled, 

Resolve,  That  said  Paine  be  sent  to  Watertown  or  Cam- 
bridge with  William  Cambell,  under  the  care  of  Captains 
Jonas  Hubbard  and  Edivard  Craft,  to  be  dealt  with  as  the 
honourable  Congress  or  Commander-in-Chief  shall,  upon 
examination,  think  proper.  Joshua  Bigelow, 

Per  order  Selectmen  of  Worcester. 

To  the  Honourable  Provincial  Congress  in  Watertown,  or 
Commander-in-Chief  at  Cambridge. 

Worcester,  Massachusetts,  May  9,  1775. 
1,  Gardner  Chandler,  of  lawful  age,  do  testify  and  say, 
that  on  the  sixth  instant,  being  in  my  garden,  Samuel  Paine 
'•ame  to  me,  (being  the  first  time  I  had  seen  him  since  he 
came  from  Cambridge.)  I  asked  him  what  news.  He  told 
me  none  but  what  we  had  here.  I  then  asked  him  how 
matters  were  at  Mr.  B radish's  house ;  he  said  that  the 
Hampshire  Soldiers  had  got  possession  of  it,  and  of  all  that 
was  in  it.  1  then  mentioned  the  things  that  were  lost  the 
first  day  ;  he  said  they  were  not  taken  by  the  Regulars, 
hut  by  our  people.  1  asked  him  if  the  Soldiers  did  not 
come  off ;  he  said  he  heard  they  did  in  great  numbers  ;  and 
that  he  was  told  that  the  men  were  so  close  stowed  in  the 
Colleges  that  they  were  lousy. 

Gardner  Chandler. 

Worcester,  ss.,  May  9,  1775: 

The  within  named  Gardner  Chandler,  after  due  caution, 
made  oath  to  the  truth  of  the  within  written  affidavit  taken 
before  me.  Robert  Goddard, 

Justice  oj  the  Peace. 


SPOTTSYLVANIA  COUNTY  (VIRGINIA)  COMMITTEE. 

At  a  Committee  for  the  County  of  Spottsylvania,  held 
at  the  Town-House  in  Fredericksburgh,  on  Tuesday  the 
ninth  of  May,  1775:  Present  twenty-six  members: 
Fielding  Lewis,  Esq.,  in  the  Chair. 

The  Committee  having  before  them  a  copy  of  the  pro- 
ceedings of  Captain  Patrick  Henry,  and  other  gentlemen, 
officers  and  volunteers  under  his  command,  concerning  the 
Powder  taken  from  the  County  Magazine,  cordially  approve 
of  the  same,  and  unanimously  vote  them  their  thanks  for 
their  prudent,  firm,  and  spirited  conduct  on  that  occasion. 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  the  easy  acquisition  of  the 
Powder  from  the  County  Magazine  in  the  City  of  Williams- 
burgh,  by  order  of  his  Excellency  the  Governour,  and  the 
convenient  situation  of  that  City  with  respect  to  the  Navy, 
render  it  unsafe  to  continue  the  publick  Treasury  at  that 
place,  and  that  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  Committee  that  the 
same  ought  to  be  removed  to  a  place  of  greater  safety. 

Resolved,  That  Mr.  Chairman,  Charles  Dick,  James 
Mercer,  Charles  Mortimer,  and  George  Thornton,  gentle- 
men, do  write  to  the  Treasurer,  requesting  him  to  call  a 
Convention  of  the  Delegates  for  this  Colony  as  soon  as 
possible.  Alexander  Dick,  Clerk. 


ORANGE  COUNTY  (VIRGINIA)  COMMITTEE. 

May  9,  1775. 

The  Committee  for  Orange  County  met  on  Tuesday 
the  ninth  of  May.  Taking  into  their  consideration  the  re- 
moval of  the  Powder  from  the  publick  Magazine,  and  the 
compensation  obtained  by  the  Independent  Company  of 
Hanover;  and  observing  also  that  the  receipt  given  by 
( laptain  Patrick  Henry  to  his  Majesty's  Receiver-General 
refers  the  final  disposal  of  the  Money  to  the  next  Colony 
Convention,  came  to  the  following  Resolutions  : 

1 .  That  the  Governour's  removal  of  the  Powder  lodged 
in  the  Magazine,  and  set  apart  for  the  defence  of  the  Coun- 
try, was  fraudulent,  unnecessary,  and  extremely  provoking 
to  the  people  of  this  Colony. 

2.  That  the  resentment  shewn  by  the  Hanover  Volun- 
teers, and  the  reprisal  they  have  made  on  the  King's  pro- 
perty, highly  merit  the  approbation  of  the  publick,  and  the 
thanks  of  this  Committee. 

.'}.  That  if  any  attempt  should  be  made,  at  the  ensuing 
Convention,  to  have  the  Money  returned  to  His  Majesty's 
Receiver-General,  our  Delegates  be,  and  they  are  hereby 


instructed,  to  exert  all  their  influence  in  opposing  such  at- 
tempt, and  in  having  the  Money  laid  out  in  Gunpowder  for 
the  use  of  the  Colony. 

4.  That  the  following  Address  be  presented  to  Captain 
Patrick  Henry,  and  the  gentlemen  independents  of  Han- 
over : 

"  Gentlemen  :  We,  the  Committee  for  the  County  of 
Orange,  having  been  fully  informed  of  your  seasonable  and 
spirited  proceedings  in  procuring  a  compensation  for  the 
Powder  fraudulently  taken  from  the  County  Magazine  by 
command  of  Lord  Dunmore,  and  which  it  evidently  appears 
his  Lordship,  notwithstanding  his  assurances,  had  no  inten- 
tion to  restore,  entreat  you  to  accept  their  cordial  thanks  for 
this  testimony  of  your  zeal  for  the  honour  and  interest  of 
your  Country.  We  take  this  occasion  also  to  give  it  as  our 
opinion,  that  the  blow  struck  in  the  Massachusetts  Govern- 
ment is  a  hostile  attack  on  this  and  every  other  Colony, 
and  a  sufficient  warrant  to  use  violence  and  reprisal,  in  all 
cases  where  it  may  be  expedient  for  our  security  and 
welfare."  James  Madison,  Chairman. 

James  Taylor,  Thomas  Barbour, 

Zachariah  Burnley,  Rowland  Thomas, 
James  Madison,  Jr.,     William  Moore, 
James  Walker,  Lawrence  Taliaferro, 

Henry  Scott,  Thomas  Bill. 


HANOVER  COUNTY  (VIRGINIA)  COMMITTEE. 

At  a  meeting  appointed  and  held  for  Hanover  County, 
at  the  Court-House,  on  Tuesday,  the  9th  of  May,  1775  : 
Present:  John  Syme,  Samuel  Overton,  William  Crunch, 
Meriwether  Skelton,  Richard  Morris,  Benjamin  Ander- 
son, John  Pendleton,  John  Robinson,  Nelson  Berkeley, 
and  George  Dabney,  Junior. 

Agreeable  to  a  Resolution  of  the  Committee  held  at 
Newcastle,  the  2d  instant,  setting  forth  that  they  being 
fully  informed  of  the  violent  hostilities  committed  by  the 
King's  Troops  in  America,  and  of  the  danger  arising  to 
the  Colony  by  the  loss  of  the  publick  Powder,  and  of  the 
conduct  of  the  Governour,  which  threatens  altogether  ca- 
lamities of  the  greatest  magnitude  and  most  fearful  con- 
se  juences  to  this  Colony  ;  and  therefore  recommending 
reprisals  to  be  made  upon  the  King's  property,  sufficient  to 
replace  the  Gunpowder  taken  out  of  the  Magazine  :  It 
appears  to  this  Committee  that  the  Volunteers  who  march- 
ed from  Newcastle  to  obtain  satisfaction  for  the  Gunpow- 
der, by  reprisal  or  otherwise,  proceeded  on  that  business  as 
follows,  to  wit : 

That  an  Officer,  with  sixteen  men,  was  detached  to  seize 
the  King's  Receiver-General,  with  orders  to  detain  him  ; 
and  this,  it  was  supposed,  might  be  done  without  impeding 
the  progress  of  the  main  body.  The  said  Receiver-Gen- 
eral not  being  apprehended,  owing  to  his  absence  from 
home,  the  said  detachment,  according  to  orders,  proceeded 
to  join  the  main  body  on  its  march  to  Williamsburgh,  and 
the  junction  happened  on  the  3d  instant,  at  Doncastle's 
Ordinary,  about  sunset.  A  little  after  sunrise  next  morn- 
ing, the  Commanding  Officer  being  assured  that  proper 
satisfaction,  in  money,  should  be  instantly  made,  the  Vol- 
unteers halted,  and  the  proposal  being  considered  by  them, 
was  judged  satisfactory  as  to  that  point ;  and  the  following 
Receipt  was  given,  to  wit: 

"  Doncastle's  Ordinary,  New-Kent,  May  4,  1775. 
"  Received  from  the  Honourable  Richard  Corbin,  Esq., 
His  Majesty's  Receiver-General,  £330,  as  a  compensation 
for  the  Gunpowder  lately  taken  out  of  the  publick  Magazine 
by  the  Governour's  order  ;  which  money  I  promise  to 
convey  to  the  Virginia  Delegates  at  the  General  Congress, 
to  be  under  their  direction  laid  out  in  Gunpowder  for  the 
Colony's  use,  and  to  be  stored  as  they  shall  direct,  until 
the  next  Colony  Convention,  or  General  Assembly,  unless 
it  shall  be  necessary,  in  the  mean  time,  to  use  the  same  in 
defence  of  this  Colony.  It  is  agreed,  that  in  case  the  next 
Convention  shall  determine  that  any  part  of  the  said  money 
ought  to  be  returned  to  His  Majesty's  Receiver-General, 
that  the  same  shall  be  done  accordingly. 

"  Patrick  Henry,  Junior." 

It  was  then  considered,  that  as  a  General  Congress  would 
meet  in  a  few  days ;  and  probably  a  Colony  Convention 
would  shortly  assemble,  and  that  the  reprisal  now  made 


541 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


542 


would  amply  replace  the  Powder,  with  the  charges  of  trans- 
portation, the  Commanding  Officer  wrote  the  following 
Letter,  and  sent  it  by  express : 

May  4,  1775. 

Sir:  The  affair  of  the  Powder  is  now  settled,  so  as  to 
produce  satisfaction  to  me,  and  I  earnestly  wish  to  the  Col- 
ony in  general.  The  people  here  have  it  in  charge  from 
the  Hanover  Committee,  to  tender  their  services  to  you 
as  a  publick  officer,  for  the  purpose  of  escorting  the  pub- 
lick  Treasury  to  any  place  in  this  Colony,  where  the 
money  would  be  judged  more  safe  than  in  the  City  of 
Williamsburg h.  The  reprisal  now  made  by  the  Hanover 
Volunteers,  though  accomplished  in  a  manner  least  liable 
to  the  imputation  of  violent  extremity,  may  possibly  be  the 
cause  of  future  injury  to  the  Treasury.  If,  therefore,  you 
apprehend  the  least  danger,  a  sufficient  guard  is  at  your 
service.  I  beg  the  return  of  the  bearer  may  be  instant, 
because  the  men  wish  to  know  their  destination. 

With  great  regard,  I  am,  Sir,  your  most  humble  servant, 
Patrick  Henry,  Junior. 
To  Robert  Carter  Nicholas,  Esq.,  Treasurer. 

To  which  an  answer  was  received  from  the  said  Mr. 
Nicholas,  importing  that  he  had  no  apprehension  of  the 
necessity  or  propriety  of  the  proffered  service.  For  which 
reasons,  and  understanding  moreover,  from  others,  that  the 
private  citizens  of  Wifliamsburgh  were  in  a  great  measure 
quieted  from  their  late  apprehensions  for  their  persons  and 
property,  the  Volunteers  judged  it  best  to  return  home, 
and  did  so  accordingly,  in  order  to  wait  the  further  direc- 
tions of  the  General  Congress,  or  Colony  Convention.* 

It  appears  also  to  this  Committee,  that  before  and  on 
the  march,  strict  orders  were  repeatedly  given  to  the  \  oI~ 
unteers  to  avoid  all  violence.,  injury,  and  insult,  towards  the 
persons  and  property  of  every  individual ;  and  that  in  exe- 
cuting the  plan  of  reprisal  on  the  persons  of  the  King's 
servants,  and  his  property,  bloodshed  should  he  avoided,  if 
possible  ;  and  that  there  is  the  strongest  reason  that  the 
foregoing  orders  respecting  private  persons  and  property, 
were  strictly  observed. 

Resolved,  That  this  Committee  do  approve  of  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  Officers  and  Soldiers  of  the  Volunteer 
Company,  and  do  return  them  their  sincere  thanks  for  their 
services  on  the  late  expedition  ;  and  also  that  the  thanks  of 
this  Committee  be  given  to  the  many  Volunteers  of  the 
different  Counties,  who  joined  and  were  marching,  and 
ready  to  co-operate  with  the  Volunteer  Company  of  this 
County. 

Ordered,  That  the  Clerk  do  transmit  a  copy  of  these 
proceedings  to  the  Printers,  and  desire  that  they  will  be 
pleased  to  publish  the  same  in  their  Gazettes  as  soon  as 
possible.    By  order  of  the  Committee  : 

Bartlett  Anderson,  Clerk. 


extract  of  a  letter  from  a  gentleman  in  bucks 
county,  to  his  friend  in  philadelphia,  dated 
may  9,  1775. 

Our  Committee  met  yesterday.  From  their  Resolves, 
(a  copy  of  which  I  enclose  you,)  you  will  find  they  have 
adopted  your  plan,  and  recommend  our  associating  into 
companies  to  learn  the  military  exercise  of  arms.  Some 
Townships  have  already  begun,  and  many  others,  animated 
with  the  same  zeal  for  the  welfare  of  their  Country,  will, 
I  trust,  readily  fall  in  wTith  the  plan,  a  knowledge  of  which, 
we  have  great  reason  to  fear  we  shall  soon  be  called  on  to 
give  a  proof  of.  The  unanimity,  prudence,  spirit,  and  firm- 
ness, which  appeared  in  the  deliberations  of  yesterday,  do 
honour  to  Bucks  County,  and  will,  I  hope,  in  some  measure, 
wipe  off  those  aspersions  we  too  deservedly  lay  under. 

A  large  number  of  the  inhabitants  being  assembled,  the 

*  Hanover,  May  12,  1775. — Yesterday,  Patrick  Henry,  one  of  the 
Delegates  for  this  Colony,  escorted  by  a  number  of  resp:etable  young 
gentlemen.  Volunteers  from  this  and  King  William  and  Caroline  Coun- 
ties, set  out  to  attend  the  General  Congress.  They  proceeded  with  him 
as  far  as  Mrs.  Hooe's  Ferry,  on  the  Poto.mack,  by  whom  they  .were  most 
kindly  and  hospitably  entertained ;  and  also  provided  with  boats  and 
hands  to  cross  the  river.  And  after  partaking  of  this  lady's  benefi- 
cence, the  bulk  of  the  Company  took  their  leave  of  Mr.  Henry,  salu- 
ting him  with  two  platoons  and  repeated  huzzas.  A  guard  accompa- 
nied that  worthy  gentleman  to  the  Maryland  side,  who  saw  him  safely 
landed ;  and  committing  him  to  the  gracious  and  wise  Disposer  of  all 
human  events,  to  guide  and  protect  him  whilst  contending  for  a  resti. 
tution  of  our  dearest  rights  and  liberties,  they  wished  him  a  safe  jour, 
ney,  and  happy  return  to  his  family  and  friands. 


Resolves  of  the  day  were  made  publick,  w  ho  testified  their 
highest  approbation  of  the  conduct  of  the  Committee,  and 
unanimously  voted  them  the-  thanks  of  the  County. 

A  disciple  of  those  species  of  creatures  called  Tories, 
being  formally  introduced  to  a  tar  barrel,  of  which  he  was 
repeatedly  pressed  to  smell,  thought  it  prudent  to  take  leave 
abruptly,  lest  a  more  intimate  acquaintance  with  it  should 
take  place. 

BUCKS  COUNTY  (PENNSYLVANIA)  COMMITTEE. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  the  County  of  Bucks. 
held  at  the  house  of  Richard  Leedom^  May  8,  1775: 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  we  do  heartily  approve  of 
the  Resolves  of  the  late  Provincial  Convention,  held  at 
Philadelphia,  the  23d  day  of  January  last,  and  do  earn- 
estly recommend  it  to  the  observation  of  the  inhabitants  of 
this  County. 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  notwithstanding  the  disap- 
probation we  have  hitherto  shown  to  the  prosecution  of  any 
violent  measures  of  opposition,  arising  from  the  hopes  and 
expectations  that  the  humanity,  justice,  and  magnanimity 
of  the  British  Nation  would  not  fail  of  affording  us  relief: 
being  now  convinced  that  all  our  most  dutiful  applications 
have  hitherto  been  fruitless  and  vain  ;  and  that  attempts  are 
now  making  to  carry  the  oppressive  Acts  of  Parliament  into 
execution  by  military  force,  we  do  therefore  earnestly  re- 
commend to  the  people  of  this  County  to  form  themselves 
into  Associations  in  their  respective  Townships,  to  improve 
themselves  in  the  military  art,  that  they  may  be  rendered 
capable  of  affording  their  Country  that  aid  which  its  par- 
ticular necessities  may  at  any  time  require. 

Joseph  Hart^  John  Kidd,  Joseph  Kirkbride,  James 
Wallace,  and  Henry  Wynkoop,  or  any  three  of  them,  are 
appointed  as  Delegates  to  meet  in  Provincial  Convention, 
if  any  should  be  found  necessary. 

The  Committee  request  all  persons  who  have  taken  sub- 
scriptions for  the  relief  of  the  poor  of  Boston,  as  soon  as 
possible  to  collect  and  pay  the  same  into  the  hands  of  the 
Treasurer,  Henry  Wynkoop,  that  it  may  be  speedily  ap- 
plied towards  the  benevolent  purpose  for  which  it  was 
intended  ;  and  at  the  same  time,  to  give  those  who  have 
not  subscribed  an  opportunity  to  contribute  also. 

By  order  of  the  Committee: 

Henry  Wynkoop,  Clerk  pro  tern. 


TO   THE   PHILADELPHIA  COMMITTEE. 

Bedford,  May  9,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  Not  long  since  we  were  favoured  with 
your  letter  of  the  18th  ultimo,  enclosing  the  melancholy 
news  of  a  number  of  Troops  being  ordered  for  America  ;  in 
consequence  of  which  we  advertised  a  meeting  of  the  Coun- 
ty Committee,  when  the  following  Resolves  were  unani- 
mously entered  into  : 

At  a  meeting  of  the  General  Committee  of  the  County 
of  Bedford,  held  at  Bedford,  the  9th  day  of  May,  1775,  in 
pursuance  of  a  notice  for  that  purpose  from  the  Committee 
of  Correspondence  for  the  said  County  : 

George  Woods,  Esquire,  Chairman. 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  this  County  will  imme- 
diately form  themselves  into  Military  Associations,  and  pie- 
pare  themselves,  in  order  to  defend  their  lives,  liberties,  and 
properties,  from  any  illegal  attempts  made  against  them. 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  each  Township  in  this 
County  shall  be  immediately  notified  to  assemble  them- 
selves at  a  certain  day  and  place  most  convenient  for  that 
purpose,  and  then  and  there,  by  ballot  or  otherwise,  choose 
Officers  in  their  respective  Townships. 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  the  said  Officers,  when 
chosen,  shall  make  out  a  Roll,  and  each  man  shall  subscribe 
his  name  in  said  Roll;  and  that  the  Captain  shall  imme- 
diately transmit  a  copy  thereof  to  the  Committee  of  Cor- 
respondence at  Bedford. 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  the  Committee  of  this 
County  shall  purchase  all  the  Powder  and  Lead  in  any 
store  that  may  be  had  within  the  said  County,  and  have  the 
same  put  up  in  some  safe  Magazine  in  the  Town  of  Bed- 
ford, for  the  use  of  the  said  Soldiers ;  and  that  each  Com- 
pany shall,  by  subscription,  make  up  a  proportionable  part 


543 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


541 


ol'  the  same ;  which  Ammunition  shall  not  be  distributed 
without  the  orders  of  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  of 
the  said  County,  or  until  it  shall  be  thought  necessary  by 
this  Committee,  or  a  majority  of  them. 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  each  Company  in  this 
County  shall  use  their  utmost  endeavours  to  purchase  or 
provide  all  the  Ammunition  they  can,  so  that  no  person  in 
the  said  Company  shall  have  less  than  one  pound  of  Pow- 
der, and  Lead  in  proportion. 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  as  soon  as  the  said  Com- 
panies are  formed,  they  and  each  of  them  shall  be  sub- 
ject to  military  regulations  and  discipline,  in  the  same 
manner  as  any  other  of  His  Majesty's  Troops  are,  (corpo- 
real punishment  only  excepted.) 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  in  case  any  person  or  per- 
sons in  this  County  shall  refuse  to  subscribe  himself  in  a 
roll  of  some  Company  in  the  said  County,  in  order  to  de- 
fend the  cause  of  liberty  now  contending  for,  or  by  any 
ways  or  means  whatever  discourage  or  disunite  the  said 
Associations,  that  then  he  or  they  so  offending  shall  be  im- 
mediately reported  by  some  of  the  officers  of  their  respec- 
tive Townships,  to  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  at 
Bedford,  in  order  that  such  steps  may  be  taken  as  by  the 
said  Committee  may  be  thought  most  prudent ;  and  that, 
in  the  mean  time,  no  person  or  persons  within  the  said 
County  shall,  directly  or  indirectly,  have  any  dealing  or 
commerce,  by  either  buying  or  selling,  borrowing,  or  lend- 
ing to  or  with  any  of  the  said  offenders. 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  all  persons  within  this 
County  that  are  not  at  present  provided  with  Guns,  Swords, 
or  Tomahawks,  in  case  of  ability  shall  provide  for  them- 
selves; and  in  case  of  inability,  that  the  Captain  of  each 
Company  shall  immediately  transmit  their  names,  or  their 
number,  to  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  at  Bedford, 
that  proper  measures  may  be  taken  in  order  to  provide  for 
them. 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  each  Township  shall  meet 
and  choose  their  Officers,  and  make  return  agreeable  to 
the  above  Resolves,  within  the  space  often  days  from  this 
date.    By  order  of  the  Committee  of  Correspondence : 

David  Espy,  Clerk. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  ULSTER  COUNTY,  NEW-YORK, 
DATED  MAY  9,  1775. 

A  great  revolution  in  political  measures  has  taken  place 
in  this  County  since  we  received  a  copy  of  the  Association 
entered  into  by  your  City,  with  which  many  of  us  have 
ever  been  desirous  to  harmonize,  especially  in  such  pro- 
ceedings as  were  conformable  to  the  general  sense  of  your 
inhabitants.  On  this  principle,  as  well  as  from  a  full  con- 
viction of  preventing  the  anarchy  and  confusion  which  at- 
tend a  dissolution  of  the  powers  of  Government,  and  of 
uniting  with  our  fellow-subjects  in  adopting  some  general 
plan  for  obtaining  a  redress  of  grievances,  on  constitutional 
principles,  forwarding  the  wished-for  reconciliation  between 
Great  Britain  and  America,  and  preserving  peace  and 
good  order,  the  safety  of  individuals  and  private  property  ; 
I  say,  concurring  with  you  unanimously,  so  far  as  1  have 
heard,  in  these  good  purposes,  the  inhabitants  of  several 
Precincts  met  yesterday,  and  cheerfully  agreed  to  bury  in 
oblivion  all  past  differences  that  had  happened  from  dis- 
cordant sentiments  respecting  the  mode  proper  to  be  pur- 
sued for  obtaining  a  redress  of  those  grievances  we  have  all 
so  loudly  complained  of,  and  heartily  to  join  with  you  in 
the  measures  you  had  taken  for  restoring  internal  harmony, 
peace,  and  concord,  to  our  convulsed  Country,  on  the  brink 
of  being  overwhelmed  with  every  species  of  the  most  out- 
rageous violence,  anarchy,  and  confusion. 

Never  were  meetings  so  numerous,  general,  calm,  dispas- 
sionate, orderly,  or  unanimous.  In  effecting  these  salutary 
dispositions,  Mr.  Mason,  Pastor  of  the  Sccedcrs'  Congrega- 
tion in  New-York,  has  great  merit,  for  his  repeated  exhorta- 
tions to  the  people  of  his  sect  here,  (to  whom  he  preached  at 
this  juncture,)  zealously  inculcating  the  doctrines  of  peace, 
order,  and  benevolence,  reprehending  all  acts  of  violence, 
outrage,  and  licentiousness,  and  exerting  all  his  other  influ- 
ences for  enforcing  those  objects  on  this  occasion.  I  hope 
the  good  seed  he  has  sown  will  take  firm  root,  produce  a 
British  constitutional  plant,  and  long  continue  to  bear  fruit 
worthy  of  the  husbandman  that  scattered  it.    May  it  never 


be  blasted  by  the  noxious  shade  of  a  superincumbent  tree, 
or  the  poisonous  exhalations  of  surrounding  shrubs ;  bui 
thrive  and  flourish,  and  spread  a  benign  farina,  impregnating 
every  variety  of  its  species  with  its  virtues,  far  and  near. 

It  is  the  ardent  wish  of  my  heart,  that  both  the  ensuing 
Continental  and  Provincial  Congress  of  this  Colony,  under 
the  influences  of  a  genuine  spirit  of  patriotism  and  love  for 
this  Country,  may  seriously  and  calmly  consider  of  and 
recommend  such  measures  only  as  will  tend  to  obtain  for 
us  a  redress  of  our  grievances  on  constitutional  principles ; 
lay  a  foundation  for  our  speedily  having  confirmed  to  us, 
in  the  most  extensive  latitude  our  local  circumstances  will 
admit  of,  the  pure  and  unmutilated  constitutional  rights  and 
privileges  of  free  Englishmen,  as  established  at  the  glorious 
and  happy  Revolution,  on  a  basis  solid  and  permanent ;  and 
whilst  they  are  firmly  actuated  by  these  views  and  endea- 
vours, 1  hope  they  may  glow  with  every  sentiment  of  affec- 
tion, veneration,  and  regard  for  their  Parent  State,  and  give 
every  testimony  of  it,  by  pursuing  and  recommending,  with 
all  their  power,  the  most  healing  and  conciliatory  measures. 
In  these  sentiments  I  am  happy  in  being  joined  by  many, 
and  most  of  the  serious,  considerate,  sensible  freeholders  in 
this  County.    God  send  us  a  good  deliverance. 


JOEL  CLARK  TO  GOVERNOUR  TRUMBULL. 

Farmington,  May  9,  1775. 

May  it  please  your  Honour:  I  have  been  too  long 
a  soldier  to  feel  my  breast  unmoved  at  the  sound  of  my 
neighbours  beating  to  arms.  I  feel  too  much  for  my  dis- 
tressed and  injured  Country  to  see  the  dangers  which 
threaten  it  without  wishing  to  share  them  with  my  coun- 
trymen ;  and  I  partake  too  much  of  the  spirit  of  tho.;e 
ancestors  we  boast,  not  to  offer  my  services  at  this  crisis 
in  any  way  inconsistent  with  honour  and  fidelity  to  my 
Country.  I  take  the  freedom  to  address  your  Honour  as 
the  Captain-General  of  this  Colony,  and  tender  therefore 
my  services.  I  served  in  the  ranks  at  the  age  of  fifteen, 
in  the  reduction  of  Louisburg,  in  '45.  I  served  in  every 
other  station  in  the  last  war,  until  I  was  appointed  to  the 
command  of  a  Company  in  the  three  last  years  before  the 
peace  ;  in  all  which  stations  I  appeal  to  those  in  the  service 
for  my  conduct.  Once  I  received  the  General's  thanks  for 
my  service  in  a  command  of  four  hundred  men,  in  1760, 
and  the  additional  pay  of  a  Captain  in  the  regular  service. 
Now  this  don't  argue  either  the  want  of  skill  or  readiness 
in  me  of  doing  my  duty.  When  I  saw  last  winter  the  ap- 
pointment of  Field  Officers  by  the  honourable  Assembly, 
of  the  Regiment  I  belong  to,  1  had  thoughts  which  I  sup- 
pressed. The  gentlemen  I  have  no  objection  to.  They  may 
make  a  figure  in  peace,  and  they  may  make  a  figure  in  war. 
They  have  never  had  experience.  I  now  see  the  danger 
to  which  my  Country  is  reduced  ;  and  my  love  to  that,  and 
duty  to  your  Honour,  demand  this  offer  of  my  service.  I 
do  not  apply  for  want  of  bread  or  business  of  my  own.  I 
have  enough  of  both,  and  a  property  to  defend.  The  pre- 
sent union  of  hearts  and  hands  of  all  ranks  of  people  in  the 
cause,  renders  it  needless  for  me  to  take  up  your  Honour's 
time.  When  dangers  were  represented  in  the  alarm  in 
September  last,  I  raised  a  Company  at  some  expense  of  my 
own,  and  was  in  readiness  to  march  at  the  confirmation  of 
the  news.  I  know  not  whether  it  is  in  your  Honour's 
power  to  give  me  a  proper  appointment  in  the  service,  but 
I  shall  always  be  satisfied  in  having  done  my  duty  in  this 
address  to  your  Honour,  and  am,  with  much  respect,  your 
Honour's  most  obedient  and  humble  servant, 

Joel  Clark. 

Jonathan  Trumbull,  Esq.,  Captain-General  of  the  Forces 
in  the  Colony  of  Connecticut. 

P.  S.  If  your  Honour  will  condescend  to  inquire  of 
Generals  Wooster,  Spencer,  Putnam,  and  Colonels  Ward, 
JVadsworth,  Waterbury,  Champion,  &tc,  for  my  charac- 
ter, &.c,  I  shall  esteem  it  as  a  favour:  also  Mr.  Root,  a 
Representative. 

THOMAS  HOWELL  TO  GOVERNOUR  TRUMBULL. 

New-Haven,  May  9,  1775. 
Honoured  Sir:  I  have  been  informed  that  I  had  the 
honour  to  be  nominated  by  the  honourable  General  Assem- 


545 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


546 


bly  as  a  Commissary  to  provide  for  the  Troops  now  raising 
in  the  defence  of  the  Colony.  I  sincerely  thank  the  As- 
sembly for  this  mark  of  respect.  I  have  the  interest  of 
the  Colony,  its  rights  and  privileges,  at  heart,  as  much,  I 
believe,  as  any  man.  But  as  there  has  been  for  some  time 
past  an  unhappy  dispute  in  this  Town,  and  by  which  we 
have,  in  some  measure,  been  thrown  into  parties ;  and  as 
one  parly  has  made  (as  I  am  told)  an  unfair  representation 
against  me,  I  think  it  my  duty,  when  the  interest  of  my 
Country  is  at  stake,  to  sacrifice  private  interest  to  the  pub- 
lick  good.  Upon  that  principle,  sir,  I  have  to  inform  you 
that  I  am  willing  to  resign  the  office  of  Commissary,  and  I 
conceive  it  will  conduce  to  the  peace  of  the  Town  to 
have  Mr.  Jonathan  Filch  appointed.  He  may,  perhaps, 
reconcile  all  parties,  which  is  the  desire  of,  Sir,  your  hum- 
ble servant,  Thomas  Howell. 


SHEFFIELD  (MASSACHUSETTS)  COMMITTEE. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Observation  for  the 
Town  of  Sheffield,  on  Tuesday,  the  ninth  day  of  May, 
1775: 

Complaint  being  made  to  this  Committee  that  John 
Westover,  Job  Westover,  and  Noah  Westover,  had,  in  vari- 
ous instances,  contravened  the  doings  and  Resolutions  of 
the  General  and  Provincial  Congresses ;  and  that  the  said 
John,  Job,  and  Noah,  were  enemies  of  American  liberty; 
it  was  thereupon  ordered,  that  the  Clerk  cause  the  said 
John,  Job,  and  Noah,  to  be  notified  to  attend  before  this 
Committee  on  Friday  next,  at  one  o'clock,  afternoon,  at 
the  house  of  Mr.  Daniel  Dewey,  in  this  Town,  to  answer 
to  the  aforementioned  complaint. 

Voted,  To  adjourn  this  meeting  till  Friday  next  at  one 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  then  to  meet  at  the  house  of  Mr. 
Daniel  Dewey. 

Friday,  May  12,  1775. 

The  Committee  met  according  to  adjournment. 

John  Westover  and  Job  Westover  appeared  before  the 
Committee;  Noah  Westover  not  being  to  be  found,  has 
not  been  notified.  The  Committee  took  into  considera- 
tion the  complaint  against  the  said  John  and  Job;  and 
Captain  Daniel  Lawrence,  his  wife,  Messrs.  Jonathan 
JVestovcr  and  Joseph  Kingman,  being  adduced  as  wit- 
nesses, it  appeared  from  their  evidence  (among  many  other 
matters)  that  the  said  John  hath  affirmed  that  the  late  Con- 
tinental Congress,  in  their  doings,  were  guilty  of  rebellion 
against  the  King  ;  and  that  the  said  Job  hath  affirmed  that 
the  Parliament  of  Great  Britain  had  a  right  to  tax  the 
Americans ;  and  that  each  of  them  had  said  many  things 
disrespectful  of  the  said  Congress,  and  the  Provincial  Con- 
gresses. The  following  question  being,  during  the  course 
of  the  examination,  put  to  the  said  John  and  Job,  viz : 
"  If  an  engagement  should  unfortunately  happen  between 
the  British  and  American  Armies,  which  they  would  choose 
should  prevail  ?"  the  said  John  answered,  that  the  question 
was  so  difficult  he  could  not  give  a  direct  answer.  The  said 
Job,  in  answer  to  said  question,  said  that  he  supposed  the 
consequences  of  a  victory  on  the  side  of  the  American 
Army  would  be  more  prejudicial  to  this  Country  than  the 
contrary.  During  the  time  the  several  matters  aforesaid 
were  under  the  consideration  of  the  Committee,  and  before 
any  resolution  was  had  thereon,  the  said  John  voluntarily 
and  solemnly  engaged,  that  at  no  time  hereafter  will  he  do 
any  thing  detrimental  to  the  cause  now  contended  for  by 
this  Country ;  and  that  so  far  as  he  understands  the  true 
intent  and  meaning  of  the  doings  of  the  Continental  and 
Provincial  Congresses,  he  will  not  violate  the  same  in  any 
particular. 

The  following  motion  was  then  made  and  seconded, 
Vi  hether  the  foregoing  declaration  of  the  said  John  is  satis- 
factory to  this  Committee  ?    It  passed  in  the  affirmative. 

The  following  motion  was  then  made  and  seconded, 
Whether  the  said  Job  is  an  enemy  of  American  liberty  ?  It 
passed  in  the  affirmative  unanimously.  Therefore, 

Resolved,  unanimously,  That  the  said  Job  Westover  is 
an  enemy  of  American  liberty,  and  that  it  is  the  duty  of 
all  those  who  wish  well  to  the  cause  of  freedom,  from  hence- 
forth to  break  off  all  dealings  with  the  said  Job. 

Voted,  That  the  Clerk  do  procure  the  foregoing  pro- 
ceedings with  regard  to  said  John  and  Job  Westover,  to  be 
inserted  in  the  American  Oracle  of  Liberty. 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  h.  ; 


A  GENTLEMAN  AT  P1TTSFIELD,  IN  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY,  TO 
AN  OFFICER  IN  CAMBRIDGE. 

Pittsfield,  Massachusetts,  May  9,  1775. 

In  my  last  1  wrote  to  you  of  the  Northern  Expedition  ; 
before  this  week  ends,  we  are  in  raised  hopes  here  of  hear- 
ing that  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point  are  in  our  hands. 
Solomons,  the  Indian  King  of  Stockbridge,  was  lately  at 
Colonel  Eastons  of  this  Town,  and  said  there  that  the 
Mohawks  had  not  only  given  liberty  to  the  Stockbridge 
Indians  to  join  us,  but  had  sent  them  a  belt,  denoting  that 
they  would  hold  five  hundred  men  in  readiness  to  join  us 
immediately  on  the  first  notice  ;  and  that  the  said  Solomons 
holds  an  Indian  post  in  actual  readiness  to  run  with  the 
news  as  soon  as  they  shall  be  wanted.  Those  Indians 
would  be  of  great  service  to  you  should  the  King's  Troops 
march  out  of  Boston,  as  some  think  they  undoubtedly  will 
upon  the  arrival  of  their  recruits,  and  give  us  battle.  Our 
Militia  this  way,  Sir,  are  vigorously  preparing  for  actual 
readiness  Adjacent  Towns  and  this  Town  are  buying  arms 
and  ammunition.  There  is  a  plenty  of  arms  to  be  sold  at 
Albany  as  yet ;  but  we  hear,  by  order  of  the  Mayor,  Sec, 
no  powder  is  at  present  to  be  sold  there.  The  spirit  of 
liberty  runs  high  there,  as  you  have  doubtless  heard  by 
their  post  to  our  Head  Quarters.  1  have  exerted  myself 
to  disseminate  the  same  spirit  in  King's  District,  which  has 
of  late  taken  surprising  effect.  The  poor  Tories  of  Kinder- 
hook  are  mortified  and  grieved,  and  are  wheeling  about, 
and  begin  to  take  the  quick  step.  New-York  Government 
begins  to  be  alive  in  the  glorious  cause,  and  to  act  with 
great  vigour. 

1  fervently  pray,  Sir,  that  our  Council  of  War  may  be 
inspired  with  wisdom  from  above,  to  direct  the  warlike 
enterprise  with  prudence,  discretion,  and  vigour.  O  !  may 
your  councils  and  deliberations  be  under  the  guidance  and 
blessing  of  Heaven  !  Since  I  began  to  write,  an  intelli- 
gent person,  who  left  Ticonderoga,  Saturday  before  last, 
informs  me,  that  having  went  through  there  and  Crown 
Point  about  three  weeks  ago,  all  were  secure :  but  on  his 
return,  he  found  they  were  alarmed  with  our  expedition, 
and  would  not  admit  him  into  the  Fort ;  that  there  were 
twelve  soldiers  at  Crown  Point,  and  he  judged  near  two 
hundred  at  Ticonderoga  ;  that  those  Forts  were  out  of  re- 
pair, and  much  in  ruins ;  that  it  was  his  opinion  our  men 
would  undoubtedly  be  able  to  take  them  ;  and  that  he  met 
our  men  last  Thursday,  who  were  well  furnished  with 
cattle,  and  wagons  laden  with  provisions,  and  in  good  spirits, 
who  he  supposed  would  arrive  there  last  Sabbath  day,  and 
he  doubted  not  but  this  week  they  would  be  in  possession 
of  those  Forts.  He  informed  them  where  theyr  might  ob- 
tain a  plenty  of  ball ;  and  there  are  cannon  enough  at 
Crown  Point,  which  they  cannot  secure  from  us.  That  he 
saw  the  Old  Sow,  brought  from  Cape  Breton,  and  a  number 
of  good  brass  cannon,  at  Ticonderoga.  Should  this  expe- 
dition succeed,  and  should  the  Council  of  War  send  up 
their  orders  for  the  people  this  way  to  transport  by  land 
twenty  or  thirty  of  the  best  of  the  cannon  to  Head  Quar- 
ters, I  doubt  not  but  the  people  in  this  country  would  do 
it  with  all  expedition.  We  could  easily  collect  a  thousand 
yoke  of  cattle  for  the  business. 


COMMITTEE  OF  CORRESPONDENCE  OF  LYNN  TO   THE  MAS- 
SACHUSETTS COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY. 

Lynn,  May  10,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  The  bearer,  Captain  Barker,  will  bring 
before  your  Honour  Mr.  Josiah  Martin,  as  a  person  whom 
we  have  considered  to  have  acted  as  an  enemy  to  the  Prov- 
ince, and  have  sent  the  evidences  that  appeared  against 
him.  John  Mansfield,  Chairman. 

Evidences  names  :  Harthorn  Ramsdell,  John  Bancroft, 
William  French,  James  Bancroft. 

JOSIAH  MARTIN  TO  THE  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY. 

Cambridge,  May  11,  1775. 

Gentlemen  of  the  Committee  of  Safety: 

I  was  sent  from  Lynn  by  a  guard  of  soldiers  to  be  ex- 
amined, and  am  sorry  that  myself  or  any  other  faithful  and 
loyal  subject  to  his  Country  should  be  treated  as  I  am. 
Methinks  it  would  give  a  check  to  the  spirit  of  an  Alex- 
ander. Humanity  is  the  least  we  may  expect  of  one 
another.  Your  true  and  loyal  Whig,    Josiah  Martin. 


547 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


518 


PETITION  FROM  COIIASSET. 

Cohusset,  May  9,  1775. 
The  Selectmen  of  the  District  o/Cohasset  humbly  shew: 

That  to  their  great  satisfaction  they  find  that  the  idea  of 
Counties,  Towns,  and  Districts,  are  in  a  great  measure  lost 
in  a  general  conference  for  the  safety  of  the  whole,  and  that 
this  Committee,  on  whom  are  the  eyes  of  the  Government, 
in  various  instances  granted  protection  to  such  parts  of  the 
sea-coasts  as  were  most  exposed.  Your  Petitioners  there- 
fore beg  leave  to  say,  that  they  are  in  a  defenceless  state, 
and  that  they  are  exposed  to  be  ravaged  by  the  crews  of 
every  ship  or  vessel  whose  inclination  leads  them  to  plunder  ; 
that  they  have  kept  up  a  military  watch  from  the  twentieth 
of  April  last  to  this  time,  and  which  is  absolutely  necessary 
to  be  continued  for  the  safety  not  only  of  said  District,  and 
the  Towns  adjoining,  but  of  the  whole.  They  therefore 
pray  that  they  may  have  liberty  to  raise,  on  the  same  foot- 
ing that  men  are  raising  in  our  neighbourhood,  and  have  a 
Company,  and  that  they  may  do  duty  in  this  place  until 
the  safety  of  the  whole  shall  require  their  removal. 

And,  as  in  duty  bound,  shall  pray. 

Isaac  Lincoln,  }  0  7    .  . 

K  (  selectmen  of 

Abel  K.ent,  >    r,  ,       ,  J 

rp  t  V  Lonasset. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  LONDON,  TO  A  GENTLEMAN 
IN  PHILADELPHIA,  DATED  MAY  10,  1775. 

Before  you  receive  this  you  will  probably  have  determined 
the  fate  of  both  parts  of  the  British  Empire  in  that  vener- 
able assembly,  the  Continental  Congress.  We  have  no 
fears  for  you,  but  the  infatuation  of  the  Ministry  here  gives 
us  as  much  to  apprehend  as  ever.  It  is  still  the  full  persua- 
sion of  all  the  courtiers  (and  I  almost  think  of  the  greatest 
part  of  the  Nation)  that  notwithstanding  all  your  seeming 
firmness  and  hostile  preparations,  you  will  submit  to  any 
thing  rather  than  contend  with  us.  A  very  short  time  will 
now  determine  that  matter,  for  there  is  no  appearance  of 
any  relaxation  here.  We  wait  for  the  great  event  with  the 
most  anxious  and  distressing  impatience. 


ADDRESS  OF  THE  VOLUNTEER  COMPANY  OF  WILLIAMS- 
BURGH,  VIRGINIA. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Volunteer  Company  of  the  City 
of  Williamsburgh,  on  the  tenth  day  of  May,  1775,  the 
following  Address  was  unanimously  agreed  to,  and  ordered 
to  be  published.  John  Brown,  Cleric. 

To  the  Gentlemen,  Freeholders,  and  Volunteers  who  so 
generously  offered  their  assistance  to  the  City  of  Wil- 
liamsburgh, on  a  late  alarming  occasion: 
Gentlemen:  A  quick  sensibility  to  insults  offered  our 
Country,  and  a  determined  resolution  to  risk  every  thing 
in  support  of  its  honour  and  interest,  are  ruling  motives  in 
the  breast  of  every  patriot.  To  these  we  ascribe  your  late 
movement  towards  the  Metropolis,  where  certain  incidents, 
sufficiently  alarming  at  this  juncture,  had  attracted  the  at- 
tention of  all  our  worthy  countrymen.  We  are  happy  in 
being  able  to  convince  you,  that  there  is  at  present  no 
necessity  for  their  vigorous  interposition ;  but  the  zealous 
alacrity  with  which  you  proffered  your  assistance,  as  it 
shows  a  sincere  devotion  to  the  publick  good,  must  be 
highly  pleasing  to  your  fellow-countrymen,  and  demands 
our  warmest  thanks  and  acknowledgments. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  TO  A  GENTLEMAN  IN  PHILADEL- 
PHIA, DATED  NEW-YORK,  MAY  10,  1775. 

When  the  news  of  the  engagement  between  the  Provin- 
cials and  the  Regulars  arrived  here,  Doctor  Cooper,  with 
several  others,  (led  on  board  the  Man-of-War,  and  have 
since  sailed  for  Europe,  so  that  the  City  is  almost  cleared 
of  Tories,  and  the  few  which  remain  are  ashamed  and 
afraid.  A  soldier  who  had  deserted  from  the  Welsh  Fusi- 
leers  was  among  the  forces  which  came  to  assist  us  from 
New-England ;  some  of  the  soldiers  in  the  barracks  saw 
him,  and  told  the  officers.  He  was  taken  and  confined  ; 
but  when  his  New-England  Captain  heard  of  it,  he  went 
to  the  barracks,  called  for  the  commanding  officer,  and  de- 
manded his  man.    The  officer  told  him  he  was  a  deserter  ; 


the  Captain  replied  he  did  not  care,  he  would  have  him, 
as  he  had  promised  to  protect  him.  An  officer  who  was 
standing  by,  said,  if  he  was  the  commanding  officer  he 
would  take  him  prisoner.  The  Captain  replied,  he  might, 
but  he  would  be  the  dearest  prisoner  he  ever  had,  and 
swore  the  barracks  should  be  in  a  flame  in  one  hour  if  they 
attempted  such  a  thing.  However,  the  commanding  officer 
thought  proper  to  deliver  up  the  man  ;  and  the  very  next 
day  two  sentinels  deserted  from  the  Governour's  door. 


TO  THE  PUBLICK. 
Kingston,  Ulster  County,  New- York,  May  10,  1775. 

When  the  characters  of  gentlemen  who  have  acted  in  a 
publick  capacity  are  impeached,  (especially  (hose  who  have 
taken  upon  them  the  execution  of  the  measures  of  the  last 
Continental  Congress,)  how  disagreeable  the  task  may  be, 
it  behooves  every  one  who  is  a  friend  to  truth,  honesty, 
and  liberty,  to  consider  it  as  their  duty,  and  incumbent  on 
them,  with  all  their  efforts  to  support  the  proceedings  of 
those  gentlemen.  This  County  in  general,  and  Kingston 
in  particular,  have  distinguished  themselves  by  a  ready 
compliance  with  the  Association  of  the  Congress,  and  some 
spirited  measures  to  render  them  effectual ;  but  as  every 
flock  contains  some  bad  sheep,  so  the  article  of  Tea  has 
discovered  the  infected  persons  amongst  us.  The  simile 
is  just,  and  the  cure  used  for  the  one,  must  be  applied  to 
the  other,  viz:  a  separation  of  the  clean  from  the  unclean. 
This  has  been  done ;  the  Committee  of  this  Town  have, 
after  many  friendly  advices  and  entreaties,  which  proved 
in  vain,  been  led  to  the  disagreeable  necessity  of  publish- 
ing Mr.  Jacobus  Low,  merchant  of  this  Town,  all  which 
have  not  as  yet  wrought  a  reformation  of  his  conduct. 
He  lately  published  a  piece  in  vindication  of  his  conduct, 
the  like  of  which  is  not  to  be  paralleled ;  it  not  only  con- 
tains scurrilous  and  abusive  language,  but  gross  false- 
hoods. 

First,  he  begins,  "  Johannes  Sleght,  Chairman  of  the 
Committee  of  Ulster  County,  has  published  me  as  an  enemy 
of  my  Country,  for  selling  Tea,  in  which  it  is  set  forth,  that 
all  the  Merchants  and  Skippers  had  signed  articles  in  which 
they  agreed  not  to  sell  Tea."  This,  he  says,  "  is  absolute- 
ly false,  for  there  are  more  who  have  not  signed  for  the 
very  reasons  I  had,  and  the  Committee  knew  that  they 
had  not  all  signed  at  the  time  of  publishing  this  piece  of 
malice." 

The  Committee  are  surprised  at  Mr.  Low's  ignorance 
and  stupidity,  since  he  has  as  well  incurred  the  displea- 
sure of  the  friends  of  liberty  in  the  City  of  New-York,  as 
here,  by  his  non-compliance  with  his  brethren,  merchants 
in  this  Town.  But  it  appears  that  he  will  endeavour  to 
heap  sin  upon  sin,  to  cure  a  wound  by  a  fresh  bruise ;  that 
is,  by  committing  a  crime  and  leading  the  guiltless  in  the 
execution  thereof. 

The  Committee  still  say,  that  every  Merchant  and  Skip- 
per in  this  Town,  who  were  possessed  of  East-India  Tea 
for  sale,  had  signed  the  said  articles  before  the  publication, 
which  they  are  ready  to  prove  by  the  original  in  their  cus- 
tody, (Jacobus  Loiv  only  excepted.)  They  also  deny 
that  Johannes  Sleght  was  Chairman  for  the  County  of 
Ulster,  (as  he  says,)  but  only  for  the  Town  of  Kingston. 
They  also  deny  that  any  malice  was  shown  unto  him  ;  bvit 
thatr  on  the  contrary,  he  was  solicited,  advised,  and  en- 
treated to  quit  selling  Tea,  as  the  other  merchants  had 
done,  to  prevent  a  publication,  which  then  proved  abortive. 
As  for  the  assertion  of  its  being  known  in  Kingston  that 
said  Low  had  offered  to  sign  the  Third  Article  of  the  As- 
sociation, is  even  contradicted  by  his  own  advertisement, 
for  he  still  adheres  to  the  consumption  of  it. 

As  for  the  matters  he  asserts  to  have  been  reported  in 
and  by  the  Committee,  is  absolutely  false ;  here  the  world 
may  discover  the  wickedness  of  his  heart,  by  endeavouring 
to  punish  others  for  his  own  crimes.  In  short,  it  is  impo- 
sing on  the  publick  to  answer  every  part  of  so  base  a  piece 
of  wilful  and  false  publication,  from  a  man  who  was  treated 
with  so  much  lenity  as  he  was  from  this  Committee. 

By  order  of  the  Committee  : 

Johannes  Sleght,  Chairman. 

N.  B.  Since  the  publication  of  Mr.  Low,  this  Committee 
has  been  augmented  to  the  number  of  seventeen,  and  have 
re-elected  Johannes  Sleght  Chairman. 


549 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


550 


TOWN-MEETING,  PKOVIDENCE,  RHODE-ISLAND. 

At  a  Town-Meeting  held  at  Providence,  on  the  tenth 
day  of  May,  A.  D.  1775,  by  adjournment,  Nicholas  Cooke, 
Esquire,  Moderator: 

Voted,  That  it  be  and  it  is  hereby  recommended  to  the 
honourable  Town  Council  at  their  next  session  to  establish 
a  Watch  in  this  Town  of  six  men  each  night,  agreeable  to 
law,  and  to  appoint  a  Master  or  Warden  to  set  said  Watch, 
and  to  have  the  oversight  and  direction  thereof,  for  six 
months  from  this  time;  and  that  the  said  Town  Council  be 
desired  to  meet  to  settle  said  Watch  on  Friday  next ;  and 
it  is  recommended  to  said  Council  that  each  person  have 
the  liberty  to  watch  in  their  turn,  or  to  furnish  a  person  in 
his  room,  and  on  failure  thereof  to  pay  Three  Shillings  for 
each  neglect. 

Voted,  That  six  persons  be  appointed  to  examine  into 
the  state  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  Town,  and  to  make 
report  of  all  such  that  are  provided  with  Small-Arms  and 
accoutrements  agreeable  to  law,  and  of  all  such  that  are 
not  provided  agreeable  to  law  wTith  Small- Arms,  &tc,  and 
of  all  persons  that  in  their  judgments  are  not  of  ability  to 
supply  themselves,  saving  and  excepting  all  those  that  are 
or  may  be  enlisted. 

The  following  persons  are  appointed  to  make  the  exami- 
nation, to  wit :  Nathaniel  H  heaton,  Benjamin  Thurber, 
David  Lawrence,  Paul  Allen,  Benoni  Pearce,  and  Bar- 
nard Eddy,  and  that  the  same  be  made  on  Saturday  next. 

Voted,  That  this  meeting  be  adjourned  to  Monday  next, 
two  o'clock,  P.  M. 

GENERAL  THOMAS  TO  THE  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY. 

Roxbury  Camp,  May  10,  1775. 

Gentlemen:  I  have  just  received  a  letter  from  the 
Committee  of  Inspection  for  the  Town  of  Providence,  de- 
siring me  to  inform  them  if  the  Committee  of  Safety  have 
transmitted  to  their  friend  in  London  an  account  of  the 
battle  at  Lexington,  and  have  informed  that  the  Colony 
have  appointed  a  Committee  of  Safety,  who  has  the  direc- 
tion of  the  Troops ;  therefore  letters  to  this  place  on  that 
subject  should  be  directed  to  said  Committee  of  Safety. 
1  should  be  glad  to  know  what  answer  I  may  return  them. 
]  am  unacquainted  with  the  proceedings  of  Congress,  or  the 
Committee  of  Safety,  relative  to  that  matter.  If  you  will 
be  pleased  to  send  me  an  answer  by  the  first  opportunity, 
it  will  oblige  your  most  obedient  and  very  humble  servant, 

John  Thomas. 

To  the  Committee  of  Safety  in  Cambridge. 


TOWN- MEETING,  BRISTOL,  MASSACHUSETTS. 

May  10,  1775. 

To  the  Honourable  the  Members  of  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress of  the  Massachusetts-Bat  : 

On  the  second  day  oi  May,  1775,  at  a  legal  meeting  of 
the  Fieeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Bris- 
tol, the  following  Articles  were  agreed  to : 

First.  Whereas  we  wrote  to  your  Honours  last  March 
a  little  sketch  of  our  circumstances,  and  that  we  would  put 
ourselves  as  soon  as  possible  into  military  order,  and  then 
inform  your  Honours  more  particularly  of  our  strength  in 
regard  to  arms  and  ammunition  :  therefore  we  would  now 
inform  your  Honours  that  we  have  endeavoured  to  put 
ourselves  into  military  order  and  discipline  as  well  as  we 
were  capable.  We  make  out  three  Companies,  each 
Company  consisting  of  about  sixty  training  soldiers  exclu- 
sive of  officers,  which  officers  were  chosen  by  vote  of 
the  several  Companies  in  the  training  field.  As  to  arms, 
the  most  of  us  have  got  guns,  but  we  are  in  very  low 
circumstances  in  regard  to  ammunition — powder  espe- 
cially; we  have  used  several  means  to  provide  ourselves 
with  powder,  but  it  has  happened  to  be  to  no  purpose. 
Therefore  if  it  is  possible  that  your  Honours  can  point  out 
to  us  any  way  of  relief  in  this  particular  we  shall  take  it 
as  a  very  great  favour ;  we  apprehend  that  we  are  very 
unsafe  to  be  destitute  of  ammunition  ;  as  our  Town  borders 
on  the  sea,  we  are  much  exposed  to  our  enemies. 

Second.  Voted  unanimously,  That  Mr.  Thomas  Brac- 
ken be,  and  we  hereby  empower  him  to  be,  our  agent  and 
attorney  in  all  matters  whatsoever,  in  our  name  and  stead 
to  contract  for  any  articles  that  our  said  attorney  shall 


think  necessary  for  this  Town :  by  whom  we  hope  to  re- 
ceive advices  from  your  Honours  how  we  shall  conduct  in 
all  matters.  We  remain,  with  earnest  prayer  to  Almighty 
God,  for  a  blessing  upon  your  Honours'  persons,  and  upon 
your  Honours'  proceedings  in  behalf  of  this  Province,  your 
Honours'  most  dutiful,  most  obedient,  and  most  humble 
servants.    By  order  and  in  behalf  of  the  Town  of  Bristol : 

Samuel  Oates,  } 

Robert  Given,      >  Committee-Men. 

Thomas  Boyd,  ) 

George  Rodgers,  )  0  ,   .  , 

Tt               '  f  selectmen  of 

hos.  Johnston,  >  „  .  .  ,  J 

t         tt               \  Bristol. 
James  Huston,  ) 

William  Barnes,  Toum  Clerk. 


TIMOTHY   PICKERING   TO  THE   COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY  OF 
MASSACHUSETTS. 

Salem,  May  10,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  It  appearing  highly  expedient  that  a  Regi- 
ment should  be  formed  from  Salem  and  its  environs,  with 
a  view  to  serve  the  general  cause,  I  took  the  liberty  of 
recommending  Colonel  Mansfield  and  Captain  Hutchinson 
Colonel  and  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  it.  They  then  appear- 
ed to  me  the  most  suitable  persons  that  could  be  found 
willing  to  fill  these  places,  and  I  am  still  of  the  same  opin- 
ion. I  should  not  give  you  any  further  trouble  about  the 
matter,  if  I  did  not  think  Colonel  Hutchinson  was  suffering 
unjustly  by  means  of  Colonel  Herrick ;  the  latter,  as  Mr. 
Hutchinson  informs  me,  declared  himself  well  pleased  with 
his  appointment,  and  heartily,  in  appearance,  congratulated 
him  upon  it ;  and  yet,  with  might  and  main  is  now  endeavour- 
ing to  supplant  him,  and  he  builds  his  hopes  of  succeeding, 
it  seems,  not  upon  Colonel  Hutchinson's  inefficiency,  nor 
upon  his  own  superiour  ability  and  merit,  but  upon  a  foun- 
dation which  a  man  of  honour,  I  think,  would  reject  with 
disdain  :  Colonel  Herrick,  truly,  has  friends  in  Court !  an 
admirable  plea  for  his  advancement ;  incontestable  evidence 
of  his  merit !  I  should  not  have  opened  my  lips  to  Colonel 
Herrick's  disadvantage,  had  he  not,  in  a  manner  which 
appears  to  me  most  ungenerous,  endeavoured  to  supplant 
Colonel  Hutchinson,  and  otherwise  treated  him  with  great 
incivility,  to  use  a  gentle  word.  What  I  have  said,  gen- 
tlemen, is  grounded  wholly  upon  Colonel  Hutchinson's 
account  of  the  matter ;  but  from  the  manners  and  charac- 
ter of  the  gentleman,  I  cannot  suffer  myself  to  doubt  his 
veracity.  Nevertheless,  if  I  am  misinformed,  I  will  readily 
ask  Colonel  Herrick's  pardon.  I  should  not, gentlemen,  have 
presumed  to  intrude  myself  upon  you,  if  Colonel  Hutch- 
inson himself  had  had  an  opportunity  of  laying  the  affair 
before  you  ;  but  as  he  failed  of  this,  I  thought  myself 
bound  in  justice  to  support  him,  and  to  express  my  indig- 
nation, and  to  bear  my  testimony  against  the  indecent  attack 
by  which  a  post  well  deserved,  and  fairly  obtained,  was 
attempted  to  be  wrested  from  him.  This  letter,  if  it  comes 
to  Colonel  Herrick's  knowledge,  will  doubtless  offend 
him  ;  but  if  it  be  necessary  to  expose  it,  I  do  not  wish  it 
should  be  concealed.  Yet  I  am  desirous  of  the  friendship 
of  all  men  ;  but  in  the  innocency  and  integrity  of  my  heart, 
I  wrote  my  first  letter  in  favour  of  Colonel  Hutchinson  and 
Colonel  Mansfield;  in  the  same  spirit  I  have  written  this, 
and  if  a  gentleman  is  offended  with  me  for  doing  my  duty, 
I  can  bear  his  resentment  or  reproaches  with  patience.  I 
had  like  to  have  forgot  to  add,  though  it  is  of  importance, 
and  what,  for  the  good  of  the  common  cause,  I  am  bound 
to  say,  that  it  is  probable  the  Regiment  will  be  much  dis- 
satisfied if  the  Lieutenant-Colonel  be  displaced  ;  and  one 
Company,  I  am  informed,  have  already  expressed  great 
uneasiness  about  it.  I  am,  gentlemen,  your  most  obedient 
servant,  Timothy  Pickering,  Jun. 

To  the  Committee  of  Safety. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  THE   HON.  ENOCH  FREEMAN, 
ESQ,.,  TO  SAMUEL  FREEMAN,  WATERTOWN. 

Falmouth,  May  10,  1775. 
We  are  in  confusion  ;  though  Colonel  Thompson  wrote 
us  he  had  laid  aside  the  scheme  of  coming  here  to  take 
the  Ship  Canceaux,  yet  he  appeared  yesterday  on  the  back 
of  the  Neck.  I  cannot  help  thinking  but  that  it  is  a  very 
imprudent  action,  and  fear  it  will  bring  on  the  destruction  of 


551 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  fcc,  MAY,  1775. 


552 


the  Town  ;  for  we  can  make  no  defence  against  a  Man-of- 
War,  and,  undoubtedly,  in  a  short  time  there  won't  be  a 
house  standing  here. 

Pray  let  Congress  be  informed  of  this  affair,  and  let  us 
know  whether  Thompson  had  such  orders ;  and  pray  the 
Congress  to  give  us  some  direction,  for  we  are  in  such 
confusion  nobody  seems  to  be  rational. 


NEW-KENT  COUNTY  ( VIRGINIA)  COMMITTEE. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  for  New-Kent  County, 
at  the  Court-House,  the  ]  Lth  day  of  May,  1775  : 

The  Committee  taking  into  consideration  Lord  Dun- 
more's  Proclamation,  dated  the  third  day  of  this  month, 
said  to  be  issued  with  the  advice  of  His  Majesty's  Coun- 
cil, wherein  the  inhabitants  of  this  Colony  are  indiscrimi- 
nately charged,  in  general  terms,  with  dissatisfaction  to  His 
Majesty's  Government,  and  a  design  to  effect  a  change  in 
the  form  of  it,  think  it  necessary  lor  themselves  and  their 
constituents  to  declare  their  sentiments.    And  accordingly, 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  unfeigned  loyalty  to  His 
Majesty's  person  and  Government,  as  by  law  established, 
and  a  due  obedience  to  the  laws  of  our  Country,  are  the 
ruling  principles  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  County;  and 
that  the  suggestion  on  which  the  said  Proclamation  appears 
to  be  founded,  so  far  as  it  respects  the  inhabitants  of  this 
County,  is  an  injurious  reflection  upon  them,  and  has  no 
foundation  in  truth.  At  the  same  time  we  are  determined, 
for  ourselves  and  posterity,  to  support  and  maintain  the 
rights  and  privileges  of  British  subjects,  which  we  are  en- 
titled to,  against  any  tyrannical  attempts  whatever. 

Resolved,  That  the  Resolutions  of  this  Committee,  en- 
tered into  on  the  third  of  this  month,  and  the  first  Resolu- 
tion entered  into  this  day,  be  sent  to  the  Printers  to  be 
published.    By  order  of  the  Committee  : 

William  Smith,  Clerk. 


SOMERSET  COUNTY  (nEW-JERSEy)  COMMITTEE. 

Pursuant  to  notice  given  by  the  Chairman  of  the  Com- 
mittee of  Correspondence  for  the  County  of  Somerset,  in 
New-Jersey,  the  Freeholders  of  the  County  met  at  the 
Court-House  the  11th  day  of  May,  1775  : 

Hendrick  Fisher,  Esq.,  chosen  Chairman, 
Frederick  Frelinghuysen,  Clerk. 

1.  Resolved,  That  the  several  steps  taken  by  the  Bri- 
tish Ministry  to  enslave  the  American  Colonies,  and  espe- 
cially the  late  alarming  hostilities  commenced  by  the  Troops 
under  General  Gage  against  the  inhabitants  of  Massachu- 
setts-Bay, loudly  call  on  the  people  of  this  Province  to 
determine  what  part  they  will  act  in  this  situation  of  affairs  ; 
and  that  we  therefore  readily  consent  to  elect  Deputies  for 
a  Provincial  Congress,  to  meet  at  Trenton  on  Tuesday, 
the  23d  instant,  agreeable  to  the  advice  and  direction  of 
the  Provincial  Committee  of  Correspondence. 

2.  Resolved,  That  the  number  of  Deputies  shall  be 
nine,  and  that  they  shall  be  chosen  by  ballot. 

Adjourned  for  an  hour. 

Four  o'clock,  the  people  re-assembled. 

Hendrick  Fisher,  John  Roy,  Esquires,  Mr.  Frederick 
Frelinghuysen,  Mr.  Enos  Kelsey,  Peter  Schenck,  Jonathan 
D.  Sergeant,  Nathaniel  Airs,  William  Patterson,  and 
Abraham  Van  Nest,  Esquires,  are  appointed  Deputies  for 
this  County,  who,  or  any  five  of  them,  are  hereby  empow- 
ered to  meet  the  Deputies  from  the  other  Counties  in  Pro- 
vincial Congress,  at  Trenton,  on  Tuesday  the  23d  instant, 
and  to  agree  to  all  such  measures  as  shall  be  judged  neces- 
sary for  the  preservation  of  our  constitutional  rights  and 
privileges. 

Resolved,  That  the  Deputies  for  this  County  be  in- 
structed, and  they  are  hereby  instructed  to  join  with  the 
Deputies  from  the  other  Counties,  in  forming  such  plan  for 
the  Militia  of  this  Province,  as  to  them  shall  seem  proper; 
and  we  heartily  agree  to  arm  and  support  such  a  number  of 
men  as  they  shall  order  to  be  raised  in  this  County. 

Resolved,  That  this  County  will  pay  the  expenses  of 
their  Deputies  who  shall  attend  the  Congress. 

Resolved,  That  Messrs.  Tobias  Van  Norden  and  Daniel 
Blackford  be  added  to  the  Committee  of  Observation  for 
the  Township  of  Bridgewater.    By  order: 

Frederick  Frelinghuysen,  Clerk. 


RECANTATIONS  OF  MR.  BAILEY,  MR.  M'MASTER,  AND  MR. 
ACHINCLOSS. 

Whereas,  I  the  subscriber,  have,  for  a  long  series  of 
time,  both  done  and  said  many  things  that  I  am  sensible 
has  proved  of  great  disadvantage  to  this  Town  and  the 
Continent  in  general ;  and  am  now  determined  by  my 
future  conduct  to  convince  the  publick  that  I  will  risk  my 
life  and  interest  in  defence  of  the  constitutional  privileges 
of  this  Continent,  and  humbly  ask  the  forgiveness  of  my 
friends  and  the  Country  in  general  for  my  past  conduct. 

P.  Bailey. 

Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  May  11,  1775. 

Whereas,  I  the  subscriber,  have,  for  a  long  series  of 
time,  both  done  and  said  many  things  that  I  am  sensible 
has  proved  of  great  disadvantage  to  this  Town  and  the 
Continent  in  general ;  and  am  now  determined  by  my 
future  conduct  to  convince  the  publick  that  I  will  risk  my 
life  and  interest  in  defence  of  the  constitutional  privileges 
of  this  Continent,  and  humbly  ask  the  forgiveness  of  my 
friends  and  the  Country  in  general  for  my  past  conduct. 

James  McMaster. 

Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  May  11,  1775. 

Whereas  my  past  conduct  hath  made  an  ill  impression 
upon  the  minds  of  many  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  Town 
and  Province ;  and  as  many  view  me  unfriendly  to  the 
rights  and  liberties  of  British  America,  I  hereby  declare 
that  I  am  heartily  sorry  that  any  part  of  my  conduct  should 
have  given  uneasiness  to  any  of  the  friends  of  America; 
and  hereby  engage  to  aid  and  assist  in  supporting  the  com- 
mon cause  of  America  to  the  utmost  of  my  power ;  and  I 
hope  my  future  conduct  will  render  me  worthy  of  the 
friendship  and  protection  of  this  Country. 

Thos.  Achincloss. 

Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  May  22,  1775. 


COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY  TO  GENERAL  THOMAS. 

Cambridge,  May  11,  1775. 
The  Captains  Caleb  Wright  and  John  Holmes,  of  the 
County  of  Berkshire,  now  report  verbally,  that  your  Ex- 
cellency is  willing  that  about  sixty  of  Colonel  Fellows's 
men,  who  have  not  enlisted,  may  have  liberty  to  return 
home,  they  having  first  the  consent  of  this  Committee. 
We  have  conferred  with  his  Excellency  General  Ward, 
upon  the  subject,  and  are  of  opinion  that  no  liberty  ought 
to  be  granted  to  any  for  that  purpose  until  the  camps  are 
so  far  strengthened  as  that  all  who  were  called  in  upon  the 
late  alarm  may  have  liberty  to  return  ;  and  as  the  Troops 
from  Connecticut  are  very  soon  expected,  we  think  that 
these,  with  others  which  are  daily  coming  in,  will  strength- 
en our  hands  so  far  as  to  relieve  those  who  want  to  return 
to  their  homes.    We  are,  &tc. 


LETTER  FROM  FALMOUTH,   MASS.,  TO  A  GENTLEMAN  IN 
WATERTOWN,  DATED  MAY   1],  1775. 

Sir:  It  may  not  be  disagreeable  to  you  to  have  a  more 
particular  account  of  the  solemn  scene  that  has  been  acted 
here  for  two  or  three  days  past,  than  it  can  be  expected 
common  fame  will  give  you. 

Last  Tuesday  morning,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Thompson, 
of  Brunswick,  with  about  fifty  armed  men,  with  each  a 
small  bough  of  spruce  in  his  hat,  and  having  a  spruce  pole, 
with  a  green  top  on  it  for  a  standard,  landed  on  the  back 
part  of  our  Neck,  at  a  place  called  Sandy  Point,  where  is 
a  thick  grove  of  trees.  In  that  place  they  lay,  unknown 
to  the  people  of  the  Town,  seizing  and  detaining  several 
persons  that  happened  to  pass  that  way,  till  about  one 
o'clock,  when  Captain  Mowat,  the  Surgeon  of  his  ship, 
and  the  Reverend  Mr.  Wiswal,  taking  a  walk  that  way  for 
their  pleasure,  were  seized  and  made  prisoners.  As  soon 
as  the  master  of  the  ship  (one  Hogg)  heard  of  it,  he  wrote 
to  Colonel  Freeman,  that  if  Captain  Mowat  and  the  other 
prisoners  were  not  delivered  up  in  an  hour  or  two,  (I  do 
not  certainly  know  the  time,)  he  would  lay  the  Town  in 
ashes.  You  can  hardly  conceive  the  consternation,  confu- 
sion, and  uproar  that  immediately  ensued.  Our  women 
were,  I  believe,  every  one  of  them  in  tears,  or  praying,  or 


553 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  he,  MAY,  1775. 


554 


screaming;  precipitately  leaving  their  houses,  especially 
those  whose  husbands  were  not  at  home,  and  widows  hur- 
rying their  goods  into  countrymen's  carts,  never  asking  their 
names,  though  strangers,  and  carrying  their  children  either 
out  of  Town,  or  up  to  the  south  end,  according  to  the  greater 
or  less  irritability  of  their  nerves.  Some  persons  bed-rid, 
or  in  childbed,  were  hastily  removed,  with  no  small  danger 
of  their  lives.  Several  gentlemen  of  the  Town,  who  could 
attend  it,  and  I  among  the  rest,  immediately  repaired  to 
Colonel  Thompson's  camp :  and  after  obtaining  leave  of 
the  advance  guard,  were  permitted  to  speak  with  him.  We 
endeavoured  to  persuade  him  to  deliver  up  the  prisoners, 
by  all  the  rational  arguments  we  could  think  of,  but  he  ap- 
peared inflexible,  and  even  furious.  Here  and  there  one 
in  the  Town  (none  but  Tories  however)  were  at  first  for 
rescuing  the  prisoners  by  our  Militia  ;  but  the  general  voice 
of  the  Town  was  to  observe  a  strict  neutrality,  excepting 
persuasives  and  arguments. 

Colonel  Phinney,  of  Gorham,  Colonel  of  the  Minute- 
Men,  being  in  Town,  and  fearing  a  rescue,  or  for  some 
other  reason,  sent  out  for  his  men,  1  suppose  without  asking 
the  advice  of  any  body  ;  and  soon  afterwards  sent  word 
that  they  need  not  come  into  Town.  Night  was  coming 
on,  and  the  weather  cool  and  windy,  which  endangered  the 
health  of  some  of  the  gentlemen,  at  least  in  the  open  field. 
It  was  therefore  agreed  by  Colonel  Freeman  and  his  ad- 
visers, at  the  desire  of  Mowat,  and  by  the  free  consent  of 
Thompson,  that  the  company  of  Cadets  should  escort  the 
party  and  the  prisoners  to  Mr.  Marston's,  in  order  that  a 
consultation  might  be  further  held  there.  The  two  com- 
panies remained  embodied  before  the  door.  Colonel 
Thompson  remained  unwilling  to  deliver  up  tbe  prisoners, 
insisting  much  that  Divine  Providence  had  thrown  them 
into  his  hands,  and  that  it  was  open  and  settled  war  be- 
tween the  Colonies  and  Britain.  But  he  was  more  and 
more  convinced  that  the  whole  force  of  the  Town  was 
against  him,  and  found  himself  disappointed  of  a  reinforce- 
ment that  he  expected  to  meet  him  here  ;  so  that  by  about 
nine  o'clock  in  the  evening  he  was  much  cooled  ;  and  the 
prisoners  giving  their  parole  that  they  would  deliver  them- 
selves into  his  hands  at  nine  the  next  morning,  General 
Preble  and  Colonel  Freeman  pledging  themselves  for  them, 
he  consented  to  set  them  at  liberty.  Upon  which  Mowat, 
having  expressed  his  gratitude  to  the  Town  in  strong  terms, 
went  aboard,  and  dismissed  a  number  of  our  people,  whom 
the  master  had,  during  the  afternoon,  caught  in  boats  and 
made  prisoners.  But  when  Colonel  Thompson's  men  found 
that  he  had  given  Mowat  his  liberty,  they  were  hard  to 
pacify.  Not  only  Colonel  Phinney's  Minute-Men,  but 
most  of  the  Militia  from  Gorham,  Scarborough,  Cape 
Elizabeth,  and  Stroudwater,  in  the  whole  amounting,  it  is 
said,  to  six  hundred,  came  into  Town  before  morning,  highly 
enraged  at  Captain  Mowat's  being  dismissed,  and  seem- 
ingly determined  to  destroy  his  ship.  Wednesday  morn- 
ing, when  it  was  found  that  Mowat  would  not  deliver  him- 
self up,  the  Army  took  and  made  prisoners  of  General 
Preble  and  Colonel  Freeman,  threatening  to  treat  them  in 
the  same  manner  as  they  would  treat  Mowat,  if  they  had 
him.  Even  their  children  were  not  permitied  to  speak  with 
them,  and  they  had  no  dinner  that  day.  All  the  officers  of 
the  companies  then  present  agreed  to  resolve  themselves 
into  a  Committee  of  War ;  and  after  some  hesitation  they 
admitted  the  officers  of  our  companies  on  the  Neck,  into  the 
Committee ;  in  which  Committee  a  vote  was  passed  by  a 
considerable  majority,  that  Captain  Moivat's  ship  ought  to 
be  destroyed.  In  the  next  place  they  appointed  a  Commit- 
tee out  of  their  number,  to  consider  in  what  manner  it 
should  be  done.  This  Committee  have  not  yet  reported 
as  I  can  find  ;  but  they  have  proceeded  to  call  men  before 
them  who  were  suspected  of  being  Tories,  to  question  them, 
to  draw  promises  from  them,  and  especially  to  draw  money 
and  provisions  from  them.  The  Reverend  Mr.  Wiswal 
delivered  himself  up  very  willingly,  and  seemed  rather  im- 
patient till  they  had  him  with  them ;  saying  to  some  that 
passed  by  his  door,  he  was  ready  to  die  at  any  time,  as  he 
knew  he  was  in  a  good  cause — the  cause  of  the  church  of 
England. 

The  Committee  interrogated  him  concerning  his  politi- 
cal principles.  He  declared  an  abhorrence  of  the  doctrine 
of  passive  obedience  and  non-resistance,  and  that  he  thought 


Great  Britain  had  no  right  to  tax  America  internally  ;  but 
as  to  the  late  Acts  of  Parliament,  he  had  not  examined 
them,  and  did  not  choose  to  give  his  opinion  concerning 
them. 

Old  Mr.  Wyer  had  a  file  of  men  sent  after  him,  who, 
holding  a  pistol  to  his  breast,  forced  him  to  go  before  the 
Committee;  and  when  there  he  was  interrogated  whether 
he  had  said,  "  the  Militia  ought  to  rescue  Captain  Mowat  V 
to  which  he  answered  in  the  affirmative ;  also,  whether  he 
did  not  think  it  an  imprudent  speech  ?  to  which  he  answer- 
ed, yes ;  also,  whether  he  were  of  the  same  mind  now ? 
He  answered,  no,  as  matters  are  circumstanced  ;  then 
whether  he  would  say  any  thing  again  against  the  body  of 
men  in  Town  ?  He  said,  no.  The  Committee  soon  agreed 
to  dismiss  him,  and  one  of  them  said  he  was  not  worth  their 
notice.  He  thanked  the  gentlemen  for  their  civility,  made 
a  low  bow,  and  departed.  Captain  Steward  called  to  the 
crowd  before  the  door,  to  make  way  for  Mr.  Wycr,  and  told 
them  out  of  the  window  the  Committee  had  dismissed  him 
as  unworthy  of  their  notice. 

Captain  Pote  was  fetched  before  the  Committee,  with- 
out making  any  resistance,  though  he  had  made  formidable 
preparations  to  defend  himself.  It  is  reported  that  the 
Committee  made  him  give  them,  for  the  benefit  of  the  body, 
about  fifty  Pounds,  (old  tenour,)  in  cash  and  provision?, 
and  that  they  have  bound  him  in  a  bond  of  two  thou- 
sand Pounds,  to  appear  at  the  Congress  of  the  Province, 
and  give  an  account  of  himself  to  them.  They  taxed 
General  Preble  some  barrels  of  bread  and  a  number  of 
cheeses,  and  two  barrels  of  rum  for  each  company  then  in 
Town,  which  he  readily  gave  them,  Wednesday  afternoon, 
in  value  about  ten  Pounds,  lawful  money.  JVednesday 
evening  they  made  out  a  bill  of  one  hundred  and  fifty- 
eight  Pounds,  lawful  money,  against  Preble  and  Freeman, 
to  satisfy  the  body  for  their  time  and  trouble  in  the  expedi- 
tion ;  but  I  hear  they  have  dropped  that  demand. 

Yesterday  morning  they  entered  the  house  of  Captain 
Coulson,  and  they  use  it  as  a  barrack.  The  men  made  so 
free  with  a  barrel  of  ^Sciv-Enghnid  rum,  which  they  found 
in  the  cellar,  that  some  of  them  were  quite,  and  others 
almost  drunken. 

Between  meetings  yesterday,  Calvin  Lombard,  being 
raised  with  liquor,  went  down  to  the  water  side  and  fired  a 
brace  of  balls  at  Mowat's  ship,  which  penetrated  deep  in 
its  sides.  The  fire  was  answered  from  a  fusee  on  board, 
but  with  no  aim  to  do  execution.  Captain  Mowat  imme- 
diately wrote  to  Colonel  Freeman  to  deliver  up  Calvin, 
and  to  raise  the  militia  to  dispel  the  mob  from  the  country, 
as  he  called  them,  assuring  him  that  otherwise  he  must  fire 
upon  the  Town.  This  threw  the  Town  again  into  a  pan- 
ick,  but  we  had,  notwithstanding,  a  pretty  full  meeting  in 
the  afternoon. 

Yesterday  they  hauled  Captain  Coulson' s  boat  up  to  the 
house,  where  it  remained  till  just  now,  three  quarters  after 
twelve,  when  near  a  hundred  men  hauled  it  up  through  the 
streets  and  into  Captain  Pearson's  back  lot,  down  almost 
to  the  Cove.  It  is  reported  that  Mowat  sent  word,  or 
wrote  on  shore  last  evening,  that  he  had  bought  that  boat 
of  Coulson,  and  paid  for  it,  and  that  if  it  were  not  returned 
immediately,  or  speedily,  he  would  fire  upon  the  Town. 
He  doubtless  saw  it  hauled  away  just  now,  but  he  has  not 
fired  as  yet ;  and  here  I  sit  writing  at  my  desk  in  the  old 
place,  being  fully  convinced  that  Mowat  never  will  fire 
upon  the  Town,  in  any  case  whatever.  My  house  is  turn- 
ed into  a  kind  of  barrack.  Several  have  removed  bedding 
and  other  goods  into  it.  We  are  full  at  nights.  I  don't 
know  why  people  think  themselves  so  safe  here,  unless  it 
be  because  my  wife  is  not  yet  much  affrighted. 

This  morning  the  Committee  sent  to  Deacon  Titcomb 
for  one  hundred  pounds  of  bread,  who  returned  for  answer 
that  he  had  no  bread  but  what  he  wanted  for  himself;  but 
if  the  company  would  go  out  of  Town  immediately,  he 
would  give  it  them.  Colonel  Phinney  promised  that  he 
would  do  his  utmost  endeavour  to  get  them  out  of  Town 
to-day  ;  therefore  the  bread  was  delivered. 

Friday,  3  o'clock. — They  have  just  hauled  another  boat 
over  to  Back  Cove,  and  left  it  with  the  former.  The  boat 
belongs  to  the  ship.  They  have  this  day  carried  off  Mr. 
Tyng's  Bishop,  a  piece  of  plate  said  to  be  worth  five  hun- 
dred Pounds,  (old  tenour,)  and  his  laced  hat ;  but  they  say 


555 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


556 


they  only  take  these  tilings  as  pawns,  to  make  the  owners 
behave  better,  or  to  that  purpose. 

Friday,  6  o'clock. — The  Gorham  Company  being  the 
only  one  that  remained  here  since  Wedneday  evening,  ex- 
cepting Thompson,  are  now  gone  out  of  Town,  being  urged 
and  coaxed  to  it  by  Colonel  Phinney.  The  Town  thinks 
itself  greatly  relieved  by  it. 

These  companies  paid  no  regard  to  the  fast  yesterday. 
1  cannot  find  that  any  of  them  attended  publick  worship, 
except  one  ;  nor  any  of  their  officers,  except  Colonel  Phin- 
ney.  He  was  sent  for  to  Back  Cove  by  Colonel  Mitchell 
and  Colonel  Merrill,  who  were  vexed  at  the  proceedings 
of  the  armament,  and  came  to  give  advice.  But  Thomp- 
son would  not  wait  on  his  senior. 

The  soldiery  thought  nothing  too  bad  to  say  of  the  Fal- 
mouth gentry.  Some  of  them  were  heard  to  say  as  they 
walked  the  streets  yesterday,  "  this  Town  ought  to  be  laid 
in  ashes."  1  find  the  plan  was  concerted  beforehand  on 
purpose  to  humble  Falmouth,  for  its  arrogance  in  sending 
a  message  to  Thompson  last  week,  to  dissuade  him  from 
coming  to  take  the  ships.  He  then  wrote  to  Colonel  Free- 
man that  he  had  wholly  laid  aside  his  design  ;  and  being 
reminded  of  it,  his  answer  was,  "  there  is  policy  in  war." 

Saturday,  A.  M. —  Thompson  is  not  gone,  as  we  sup- 
posed last  night.  The  ship  has  sent  out  a  little  vessel  with 
a  swivel,  to  interrupt  him.  If  he  had  gone  last  night  he 
would  have  been  destroyed.    Your  friend  and  servant. 

P.  S.  Being  disappointed  last  Saturday  of  sending  the 
above,  I  am  now  able  to  add  something  more.  Captain 
Mowat  sent  a  letter  to  the  Town  on  Saturday,  informing 
them  that  he  had  heard  that  fort  guns  were  going  to  be 
brought  in  and  replaced,  in  order  to  destroy  his  ship  ;  and 
demanding  of  the  Town  to  return  his  boats,  and  drive  out 
of  Town  the  cowardly  mob  that  was  here.  The  Select- 
men warned  a  Town-Meeting,  to  meet  at  eight  o'clock, 
Monday  morning.  They  met  accordingly,  and  gave  Mowat 
such  an  answer  as  pleased  him  :  "  That  the  Town  disap- 
proved of  the  proceedings  of  the  armed  body,  but  that  we 
were  unable  to  resist  them." 

The  Reverend  Mr.  IViswal  went  on  board  ship  on  Sa- 
turday ;  and  Sabbath  morning  sent  to  his  Wardens  that  he 
should  not  preach  in  the  church,  but  that  they  might  come 
on  board  if  they  pleased,  and  hear  him.  None  went. 
Some  say  he  has  taken  a  final  leave  of  his  people ;  how  it 
is  I  cannot  yet  find  out.  His  family  remains  here,  and  he 
is  gone  to  Portsmouth ;  some  say  and  think  to  get  himself 
a  settlement  there.  His  people  seem  to  be  universally  set 
against  him,  except  a  few  high  Tories,  and  wish  never  to 
see  his  face  any  more. 

Yesterday  Mowat  and  Coulson  and  their  ships  departed 
for  Portsmouth. 

COMMITTEE  OF  DEER  ISLAND  TO  THE  MASSACHUSETTS 
CONGRESS. 
Deer  Island,  Lincoln  County,  May  11,  1775. 
Sirs  :  We,  who  are  the  Committee  of  this  Town,  do  desire 
to  make  our  complaint  unto  you,  and  will  inform  you  in 
what  poor  circumstances  we  are  at  this  time;  and  would 
beg  your  assistance,  as  we  are  without  powder  and  ball,  and 
no  way  to  get  any,  as  our  wood  and  lumber  will  not  sell  at 
any  price  ;  and,  gentlemen,  we  are  in  great  want  for  corn 
and  pork,  and  shall  s  ffer,  unless  we  have  help  from  you, 
and  unless  the  ports  are  opened  and  trade  goes  on.  And, 
gentlemen,  if  you  will  be  so  kind  unto  us  as  to  help  us,  we 
will  make  you  full  satisfaction  for  the  same  when  we  can 
sell  our  lumber.  We  would  inform  you  that  there  is  on 
this  Island  about  three  hundred  souls,  and  we  beg  that  you 
would  consider  what  a  poor  condition  we  must  be  in. 
Gentlemen,  we  can't  purchase  either  corn  or  pork  at  any 
rate  whatsoever,  and  hope  that  your  love  and  regard  for 
your  brethren,  and  true  sons  of  liberty,  will  send  us  speedy 
relief.  .  And,  gentlemen,  in  complying  with  the  above,  you 
will  greatly  oblige  your  humble  servants, 

Nathan  Dow,  Robert  Nason, 

Francis  Haskell,     Samuel  Raynek, 
Covitney  Babidge,  Isaiah  Crockett. 
Thomas  Thomson. 
To  the  Hon.  Gentlemen  of  the  Provincial  Congress. 


COMMITTEE    OF  THE    MASSACHUSETTS    CONGRESS   TO  THE 
COMMITTEE  OF  INSPECTION,  NEW-YORK. 

Watortown,  May  11,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  We  are  directed  by  the  Congress  of  this 
Colony,  who  are  just  informed  that  two  men-of-war,  the 
Asia,  and  one  other,  with  three  or  four  companies  of  Troops 
on  board,  sailed  yesterday  from  Boston  for  your  place,  to 
give  you  the  earliest  notice  thereof. 

It  is  supposed  that  they  have  orders  to  secure  the  am- 
munition and  military  stores  in  the  Fort  of  your  City,  &c, 
and  your  noble  exertions  in  the  common  cause  have  given 
the  Congress  reason  to  think  that  a  timely  information  rela- 
tive to  the  matter,  would  be  important  to  you.  The  post 
is  now  in  waiting,  which  prevents  us  from  indulging  an  in- 
clination of  enlarging.    We  are,  respectfully,  gentlemen, 

&.C.,  Elbridge  Gerry,       )  r,       >..  e 

T        T,r  '      I  Committee  of 

James  Warren, 

Benjamin  Lincoln, 
To  the  Committee  of  Inspection  of  New-York. 


Congress. 


COMMITTEE  AT  TICONDEROGA  TO  THE  MASSACHUSETTS 
CONGRESS. 

Ticonderoga,  May  10,  1775. 
To  the  Provincial  Congress  now  sitting  at  Watertown: 

This  is  to  certify,  that  previous  to  Colonel  Benedict  Ar- 
nold's arrival  to  the  Forts  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point, 
a  Committee  sent  from  the  Colony  of  Connecticut,  fur- 
nished with  money  for  the  purpose  of  reducing  and  garri- 
soning said  Forts,  had,  with  the  assistance  of  seventy  men 
from  the  Massachusetts,  and  one  hundred  and  forty  from 
the  New-Hampshire  Grants,  marched  within  a  few  miles 
of  Ticonderoga,  and  this  morning,  at  daybreak,  took  pos- 
session of  said  Fort,  and  have  given  the  command  thereof 
into  the  hands  of  Colonel  Ethan  Allen.  And  said  Arnold 
refuses  to  give  up  his  command,  which  causes  much  diffi- 
culty ;  said  Arnold  not  having  enlisted  one  man,  neither  do 
we  know  that  he  has  or  could  do  it.  And  as  said  Com- 
mittee have  raised  the  men,  and  are  still  raising  supplies 
for  the  purpose  of  repairing  said  Forts,  taking  the  armed 
sloop,  and  defending  this  Country  and  said  Forts,  we  think 
that  said  Arnold's  farther  procedure  in  this  matter  highly 
inexpedient,  both  in  regard  to  expense  and  defence. 

James  Easton,     Edward  Mott, 
Epap.  Bull,        Noah  Phelps. 
Committee  of  War  for  the  Expedition  against  Ticon- 
deroga and  Crown  Point. 


ETHAN  ALLEN  TO  THE  MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS. 

Ticonderoga,  May  11,  1775. 
Gentlemen:  1  have  to  inform  you  with  pleasure  unfelt 
before,  that  on  break  of  day  of  the  tenth  of  May,  1775, 
by  the  order  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Colony  of 
Connecticut,  took  the  Fortress  of  Ticonderoga  by  storm. 
The  soldiery  was  composed  of  about  one  hundred  Green 
Mountain  Boys,  and  near  fifty  veteran  soldiers  from  the 
Province  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay.  The  latter  was  under 
the  command  of  Colonel  James  Easton,  who  behaved  with 
great  zeal  and  fortitude,  not  only  in  council,  but  in  the  as- 
sault. The  soldiery  behaved  with  such  resistless  fury,  that 
they  so  terrified  the  King's  Troops  that  they  durst  not 
fire  on  their  assailants,  and  our  soldiery  was  agreeably  dis- 
appointed. The  soldiery  behaved  with  uncommon  rancour 
when  they  leaped  into  the  Fort ;  and  it  must  be  confessed 
that  the  Colonel  has  greatly  contributed  to  the  taking  of 
that  Fortress,  as  well  as  John  Brown,  Esq.,  Attorney  at 
Law,  who  was  also  an  able  counsellor,  and  was  personally 
in  the  attack.  I  expect  the  Colonies  will  maintain  this 
Fort.  As  to  the  cannon  and  warlike  stores,  I  hope  they 
may  serve  the  cause  of  liberty  instead  of  tyranny,  and  I 
humbly  implore  your  assistance  in  immediately  assisting 
the  Government  of  Connecticut  in  establishing  a  garrison  in 
the  reduced  premises.  Colonel  Easton  will  inform  you  at 
large.  From,  gentlemen,  your  most  obedient  humble  ser- 
vant, Ethan  Allen. 

To  the  Honourable  Congress  of  the  Province  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts-Bay, or  Council  of  War. 


557 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


558 


BENEDICT  ARNOLD  TO  THE  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY. 

Ticonderoga,  May  11,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  I  wrote  you  yesterday  that  arriving  in  the 
vicinity  of  this  place,  I  found  one  hundred  and  fifty  men 
collected  at  the  instance  of  some  gentlemen  from  Connect- 
icut (designed  on  the  same  errand  on  which  I  came)  headed 
by  Colonel  Ethan  Allen,  and  that  I  had  joined  them,  not 
thinking  proper  to  wait  the  arrival  of  the  Troops  I  had 
engaged  on  the  road,  but  to  attempt  the  Fort  by  surprise ; 
that  we  had  taken  the  Fort  at  four  o'clock  yesterday 
morning  without  opposition,  and  had  made  prisoners,  one 
Captain,  one  Lieutenant,  and  forty  odd  privates  and  subal- 
terns, and  that  we  found  the  Fort  in  a  most  ruinous  condi- 
tion and  not  worth  repairing  ;  that  a  party  of  fifty  men  were 
gone  to  Crown  Point,  and  that  I  intended  to  follow  with  as 
many  men  to  seize  the  sloop,  &c,  and  that  I  intended  to 
keep  possession  here  until  I  had  farther  advice  from  you. 
On  and  before  our  taking  possession  here,  I  had  agreed  with 
Colonel  Allen  to  issue  further  orders  jointly,  until  I  could 
raise  a  sufficient  number  of  men  to  relieve  his  people;  on 
w  hich  plan  we  proceeded  when  I  wrote  you  yesterday,  since 
which,  Colonel  Allen,  finding  he  had  the  ascendancy  over 
his  people,  positively  insisted  I  should  have  no  command, 
as  I  had  forbid  the  soldiers  plundering  and  destroying  pri- 
vate property.  The  power  is  now  taken  out  of  my  hands, 
and  I  am  not  consulted,  nor  have  I  a  voice  in  any  matters. 
There  is  here  at  present  near  one  hundred  men,  who  are  in 
the  greatest  confusion  and  anarchy,  destroying  and  plunder- 
ing private  property,  committing  every  enormity,  and  pay- 
ing no  attention  to  publick  service.  The  party  I  advised 
were  gone  to  Crown  Point,  are  returned,  having  met  with 
head  winds,  and  that  expedition,  and  taking  the  sloop, 
(mounted  with  six  guns,)  is  entirely  laid  aside.  There  is 
not  the  least  regularity  among  the  Troops,  but  every  thing 
is  governed  by  whim  and  caprice;  the  soldiers  threatening 
to  leave  the  garrison  on  the  least  affront.  Most  of  them 
must  return  home  soon,  as  their  families  are  suffering. 
Under  our  present  situation,  I  believe  one  hundred  men 
would  retake  the  Fortress,  and  there  seems  no  prospect  of 
things  being  in  a  better  situation.  I  have  therefore  thought 
proper  to  send  an  express,  advising  you  of  the  state  of 
affairs,  not  doubting  you  will  take  the  matter  into  your 
serious  consideration,  and  order  a  number  of  Troops  to  join 
those  I  have  corning  on  here,  or  that  you  will  appoint  some 
other  person  to  take  the  command  of  them  and  this  place, 
as  you  shall  think  most  proper.  Colonel  Allen  is  a  proper 
man  to  head  his  own  wild  people,  but  entirely  unacquainted 
with  military  service  ;  and  as  I  am  the  only  person  who  has 
been  legally  authorized  to  lake  possession  of  this  place,  I 
am  determined  to  insist  on  my  right,  and  I  think  it  my  duty 
to  remain  here  against  all  opposition,  until  I  have  further 
orders.  I  cannot  comply  with  your  orders  in  regard  to  the 
cannon,  &c,  for  want  of  men.  I  have  wrote  to  the  Gov- 
ernour  and  General  Assembly  of  Connecticut,  advising  them 
of  my  appointment,  and  giving  them  an  exact  detail  of 
matters  as  they  stand  at  present.  I  should  be  extremely 
glad  to  be  honourably  acquitted  of  my  commission,  and  that 
a  proper  person  might  be  appointed  in  my  room.  But  as 
I  have,  in  consequence  of  my  orders  from  you,  gentlemen, 
been  the  first  person  who  entered  and  took  possession  of 
the  Fort,  I  shall  keep  it,  at  every  hazard,  until  I  have 
further  advice  and  orders  from  you  and  the  General  As- 
sembly of  Connecticut. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  gentlemen,  your  most  obedient 
humble  servant,  Benedict  Arnold. 

P.  S.  It  is  impossible  to  advise  you  how  many  cannon 
are  here  and  at  Crown  Point,  as  many  of  them  are  buried 
in  the  ruins.  There  is  a  large  number  of  iron,  and  some 
brass,  and  mortars,  &ic,  lying  on  the  edge  of  the  Lake, 
which,  as  the  Lake  is  high,  are  covered  with  water.  The 
confusion  we  have  been  in  has-prevented  my  getting  proper 
information,  further  than  that  there  are  many  cannon,  shells, 
mortars,  &lc,  which  may  be  very  serviceable  to  oar  Army 
at  Cambridge.  B.  A. 


EDWARD  MOTT  TO  THE  MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS . 

Shorehara,  May  11,  1775. 
Gentlemen  :  I  would  congratulate  you  on  the  surrender 
of  the  Garrison  of  Ticonderoga  to  the  American  forces. 


The  affair  was  planned  and  conducted  after  the  following 
manner.  A  number  of  the  principal  gentlemen  of  the  As- 
sembly at  Hartford,  on  Friday,  the  twenty-eighth  of  April, 
conversing  on  the  distressed  condition  of  the  people  of  Bos- 
ton, and  the  means  necessary  to  relieve  them,  fell  on  the 
scheme  to  take  that  Fortress,  that  we  might  have  the  ad- 
vantage of  the  cannon  that  were  there,  to  relieve  the  p  o- 
ple  of  Boston.  1  told  the  gentlemen  that  in  my  opinion 
it  might  be  taken  by  surprise  with  a  few  men,  if  properly 
conducted.  On  which  they  desired  me,  if  I  was  willing  lo 
serve  my  Country  in  that  way,  to  join  Captain  Noah  Phelps, 
of  Simsbury,  and  Mr.  Bernard  Romans,  on  that  design, 
and  furnished  us  with  three  hundred  Pounds  in  cash,  from 
the  Treasury,  and  desired  us  to  go  forward  to  the  upper 
Towns,  and  search  into  the  situation  of  said  Garrison,  and, 
if  I  thought  proper,  to  proceed  to  take  possession  of  the 
same.  On  which  we  collected  to  the  number  of  sixteen 
men  in  Connecticut,  and  proceeded  forward  till  we  came  to 
Colonel  Easton's,  at  Pittsjield,  and  there  consulted  with 
Colonel  Easton  and  John  Brown,  Esq.,  who,  after  they 
heard  our  plan  of  operation,  agreed  to  join  us;  and,  after 
informing  them  that  we  intended  raising  our  men  on  the 
Grants  for  the  aforesaid  purpose,  as  it  would  be  difficult  to 
raise  and  march  a  number  of  men  through  the  country  any 
distance,  without  our  plans  being  discovered,  Colonel  Easton 
and  Mr.  Broivn  told  us  that  the  people  on  the  Grants 
were  poor,  and  at  this  time  of  year  it  would  be  difficult  to 
raise  a  sufficient  number  of  men  there  to  take  and  hold  said 
Garrison,  whereupon  Colonel  Easton  offered  to  raise  men 
in  his  own  Regiment  for  the  aforesaid  purpose,  to  join  with 
the  Green  Mountain  Boys.  On  which  I  set  out  with  him 
for  the  Town  of  Jericho,  where  Colonel  Easton  raised  be- 
tween forty  and  fifty  men,  and  proceeded  to  Bennington, 
at  which  place  the  men  arrived  the  next  day.  At  which 
place  a  Council  of  War  was  called,  Colonel  Easton  being 
Chairman,  it  was  voted  that  Colonel  Allen  should  send 
forward  parties  to  secure  the  roads  to  the  northward,  to 
prevent  all  intelligence  from  arriving  before  us.  On  Sun- 
day evening,  the  seventh  of  this  instant,  (May)  we  arrived 
at  Castleton,  where,  the  next  day,  was  held  a  Council  of 
War  by  a  Committee  chosen  for  that  purpose,  of  which 
Committee  I  had  the  honour  to  be  Chairman.  After  de- 
bating and  consulting  on  different  methods  of  procedure  in. 
order  to  accomplish  our  designs,  it  was  concluded  and  voted 
that  we  would  proceed  in  the  following  manner,  viz:  That 
a  party  of  thirty  men,  under  the  command  of  Captain 
Herrick,  should,  on  the  next  day,  in  the  afternoon,  pro- 
ceed to  Skenesborongh,  and  take  into  custody  Major  Skene 
and  his  party,  and  take  possession  of  all  the  boats  that 
they  should  find  there,  and  in  the  night  proceed  up  the 
Lake  to  Shoreham,  with  the  remainder  of  our  men,  which 
was  about  one  hundred  and  forty,  who  were  under  the  com- 
mand of  Colonel  Ethan  Allen,  and  Colonel  James  Easton 
was  his  second,  and  Captain  Warner  the  third  in  command  ; 
as  these  three  men  were  the  persons  who  raised  the  men, 
they  were  chosen  to  command,  and  to  rank  according  to 
the  number  of  men  that  each  one  raised.  We  also  sent 
off  Captain  Douglass,  of  Jericho,  to  proceed  directly  to 
Panton,  and  there  consult  his  brother-in-law,  who  lived 
there,  and  send  down  some  boats  to  Shoreham,  if  possible,  to 
help  our  people  over  to  the  Fort.  All  this  was  concluded 
should  be  done,  or  attempted,  and  voted  universally.  After 
this  affair  was  all  settled,  and  the  men  pitched  on  to  go  in 
each  party,  all  were  preparing  for  their  march,  being  then 
within  about  nine  miles  of  Skenesborough,  and  about 
twenty-five  miles,  the  way  we  went,  from  Ticonderoga. 

Colonel  Arnold  arrived  to  us  from  you  with  his  orders. 
We  were  extremely  rejoiced  to  see  that  you  fully  agreed 
with  us  as  to  the  expediency  and  importance  of  taking  pos- 
session of  those  garrisons,  but  were  shockingly  surprised 
when  Colonel  Arnold  presumed  to  contend  for  the  com- 
mand of  those  forces  that  we  had  raised,  who  we  had  as- 
sured should  go  under  the  command  of  their  own  officers, 
and  be  paid  and  maintained  by  the  Colony  of  Connecticut. 
But  Mr.  Arnold,  after  we  had  generously  told  him  our 
whole  plan,  strenuously  contended  and  insisted  that  he  had 
a  right  to  command  them  and  all  their  officers,  which  bred 
such  a  mutiny  among  the  soldiers  which  had  nearly  frus- 
trated our  whole  design,  as  our  men  were  for  clubbing  their 
fire-locks  and  marching  home,  but  were  prevented  by  Col- 


559 


CONNECTICUT  ASSEMBLY,  MAY,  1715. 


560 


onel  Allen  and  Colonel  Eastern,  wlio  told  them  that  he 
should  not  have  the  command  of  them,  and  if  he  had,  their 
pay  would  he  the  same  as  though  they  were  under  their 
command;  but  they  would  damn  the  pay,  and  say  they 
would  not  he  commanded  by  any  others  but  those  they 
engaged  with  ;  and  after  the  Garrison  was  surrendered, 
Mr.  Arnold  again  assumed  the  command  of  the  Garrison, 
although  he  had  not  one  man  there,  and  demanded  it  of 
Colonel  Alien,  on  which  we  gave  Colonel  Allen  his  orders 
in  writing,  as  follows,  viz: 

"  To  Colonel  Ethan  Allen. 

"  Sir  :  Whereas,  agreeable  to  the  power  and  authority  to 
us  given  by  the  Colony  of  Connecticut,  we  have  appointed 
you  to  take  the  command  of  a  party  of  men,  and  reduce 
and  take  possession  of  the  Garrison  at  Ticonoleroga,  and 
the  dependencies  thereto  belonging,  and  as  you  are  now 
in  actual  possession  of  the  same,  you  are  hereby  required 
to  keep  the  command  and  possession  of  the  same,  for  the 
use  of  the  American  Colonies,  until  you  have  further  orders 
from  the  Colony  of  Connecticut,  cr  the  Continental  Con- 
gress. 

"  Signed  by  order  of  the  Committee  of  War : 

"  Edward  Mott,  Chairman.'" 


Colonel  James  Easton  was  of  great  service  both  in  coun- 
cil and  action,  and  in  raising  men  for  the  above  expedition, 
and  appeared  to  be  well  qualified  to  be  not  only  a  Colonel 
of  the  Militia  at  home,  but  to  command  in  the  field.  And 
also  John  Brown,  Esq.,  of  Pittsfield,  we  recommend  as 
an  able  counsellor,  and  full  of  spirit  and  resolution,  as  well 
as  good  conduct;  wish  they  may  both  be  employed  in  the 
service  of  their  Country  equal  to  their  merit. 

I  have  the  pleasure  to  add,  that  on  Wednesday  morning 
last,  the  tenth  of  this  instant  (May)  about  the  break  of  day, 
our  men  entered  the  gate,  till  when  they  were  undiscovered, 
and  in  the  most  courageous  and  intrepid  manner  darted  like 
lightning  upon  the  guards,  so  that  but  two  had  time  to  snap 
their  fire-locks  at  us,  and  in  a  few  minutes  the  Fortress, 
with  its  dependencies,  were  delivered  into  our  hands.  There 
are  about  forty  soldiers  taken  prisoners  of  war,  including 
officers  and  excluding  those  taken  at  Skenesborough.  Not 
one  life  lost  in  these  noble  acquisitions. 

I  am,  gentlemen,  in  haste,  your  most  obedient  humble 
servant,  Edward  Mott, 

Chairman  of  the  Committee  of  War. 
To  the  Honourable  Provincial  Congress,  or  to  the  Council 

of  War  for  the  Province  of  Massachusetts-Day.  Per 

favour  of  Colonel  James  Easton. 


CONNECTICUT  ASSEMBLY. 

At  a  General  Assembly  of  the  Governour  and  Company 
of  the  English  Colony  of  Connecticut  in  New-England, 
in  America,  holden  at  Hartford,  in  said  Colony,  on  the 
second  Thursday  of  May,  being  the  eleventh  day  of  said 
month,  and  continued  by  several  adjournments  until  the 
thirty-first  day  of  the  same  month,  Annoque  Domini 
1775:  Present: 

The  Honourable  Jonathan  Trumbull,  Esq.,  Governour; 
the  Honourable  Matthew  Grisivold,  Esq.,  Deputy  Govern- 
our ;  Jabez  Hamlin,  Elisha  Sheldon,  Eliphalet  Dyer, 
Jabez  Huntington,  William  Pitkin,  Roger  Sherman,  Wil- 
liam Samuel  Johnson,  Abraham  Davenport,  Joseph  Spen- 
cer, Oliver  Wolcott,  James  Abraham  Hilhouse,  Esquires, 
Assistants. 

Representatives  or  Deputies  of  the  Freemen  of  the 
several  Towns  are  as  follow,  viz : 

Hartford. — Colonel  John  Pitkin,  Col.  Samuel  Wyllys. 
Weathersfield. — Major  Thomas  Belding. 
East-Windsor. — Mr.  William  Wolcott,  Colonel  Erastus 
Wolcott. 

Symseury. — Captain  Judah  Holcomb,  Mr.  Asahal  Hol- 
comb. 

Windsor. — Captain  Henry  Allen,  Captain  Jonah  Phelps. 
Farmington. — Captain  Isaac  Lee,  Mr.  Jonathan  Root. 
Suffield. — Mr.  Alexander  King,  Captain  John  Leavitt. 
East-Haddam. — Mr.  Daniel  Brainard,  Mr.  Jabez  Chap- 
man. 

Stafford. — Capt.  Isaac  Pinney,  Captain  Samuel  Davis. 
Haddam. — Captain  Joseph  Brooks,  Mr.  Joseph  Smith. 
Colchester. — Mr.  Henry  Champion,  Dr.  John  Watrous. 
Somers. — Mr.  Reuben  Sikes,  Captain  Emery  Pease. 
Hebron. — Captain  Benjamin  Bucl,  Captain  Obadiah 
Hosford. 

Glastenbury. — Captain  Jonathan  Wells,  Mr.  Ebenezer 
Plummer. 

Middletown. — Col.  Matthew  Talcott,  Mr.  Titus  Hosmer. 
Bolton. — Mr.  Benjamin  Trumbull,  Mr.  Seth  King. 
Tolland. — Capt.  Solomon  Wells,  Captain  Samuel  Chap- 
man. 

Willington. — Maj.  Elijah  Fenton,  Capt.  Timothy  Pearl. 
Enfield. — Major  Nathaniel  Terry,  Mr.  Nathaniel  Cha- 
pin. 

Chatham. — Mr.  David  Sage,  Mr.  Ebenezer  White. 
New-Haven. — Mr.  Samuel  Bishop,  Captain  Jonathan 
Fitch. 

Durham. — Colonel  James  Wadsworth,  Mr.  Daniel  Hall. 
Guilford. — Colonel  Andrew  Ward,  Mr.  John  Burgess. 
Derby. — Captain  John  Holbrook,  Mr.  Joseph  Hull. 
Waterbury. — Mr.  Joseph  Hopkins,  Colonel  Jonathan 
Baldwin. 

Milford. — Captain  John  Fowler,  Mr.  Ephraim  Strong. 


Branford. — Captain  Edward  Russell,  Mr.  Daniel  Page. 
Wallingford. — Mr.  Samuel  Beach,  Captain  Thaddeus 
Cook. 

New-London. — Mr.  Richard  Law,  Mr.  William  Hil- 
house. 

Norwich. — Mr.  Benjamin  Huntington,  Mr.  Samuel  Hun- 
tington. 

Stonington. — Mr.  Charles  Phelps,  Mr.  Nathaniel  Minor. 
Killing  worth. — Captain  Elnathan  Stevens,  Capt.  John 
Pier  son. 

Groton. — Mr.  Thomas  Mumford,  Mr.  Nathan  Gallop. 
Preston. — Captain  Roger  Sperry,  Colonel  John  Tyler. 
Lyme. — Mr.  Marshfeld  Parsons,  Mr.  Ezra  Selden. 
Saybrook. — Captain  John  Ely. 

Fairfield. — Mr.  Jonathan  Sturgess,  Captain  Samuel 
Squier. 

Stratford. — Captain  Robert  Fairchild,  Captain  Ichabod 
Lewis. 

Stamford. — Col.  Charles  Webb,  Col.  David  Waterbury. 
Danbury. — Colonel  Joseph  Piatt  Cook,  Mr.  Thomas  Tay- 
lor, Junior. 
Ridgefield. — Mr.  Lemuel  Morehouse. 
Reading. — Mr.  William  Haivlcy. 
Norwalk. — Mr.  Thomas  Belding. 

New-F airfield. — Mr.  Ephraim  Hubbel,  Captain  Nehe- 

miah  Beardslee. 
Greenwich. — Major  John  Mead,  Mr.  Peter  Mead. 
Newtown. — Mr.  Joseph  Beach. 

Windham. — Colonel  Jcdediah  Elderkin,  Mr.  Ebenezer 
Devotion. 

Lebanon. — Colonel   William   Williams,   Mr.  Jonathan 

Trumbull,  Junior. 
Mansfield. — Colonel  Experience  Storrs,  Mr.  Nathaniel 

Atwood. 

Woodstock. — Captain  Elisha  Child,  Captain  Samuel 
McClellen. 

Coventry. — Captain  Ebenezer  Kingsbury,  Mr.  Jeremiah 
Ripley. 

Canterbury. — Mr.  David  Payne,  Mr.  Eliashib  Adams. 
Killingly. — Mr.  Stephen  Crosby,  Capt.  Eleazar  Warren. 
Pomfret. — General  Israel  Putnam,  Mr.  Elisha  Lord. 
Ashford. — Captain  Benjamin  Sumner,  Captain  Ichabod 
Ward. 

Plainfield. — Captain  James  Bradford,  Mr.  William 
Robinson. 

Voluntown. — Major  James  Gordon,  Mr.  Robert  Hun- 
ter. 

Litchfield. — Mr.  Jedediah  Strong,  Major  David  Welch. 
Woodbury. — Mr.  Daniel  Sherman,   Captain  Increase 
Moseley. 

Salisbury. — Colonel  Joshua  Porter,  Captain  Abel  Camp. 
Kent. — Mr.  Ephraim  Hubbel,  Junior,  Captain  Eliphalet 
Whittlesey. 


561 


CONNECTICUT  ASSEMBLY,  MAY,  1775. 


562 


Canaan. — Mr.  Asahcl  Bebee,  Captain  Samuel  Forbes. 
Sharon. — Major  Ebenezcr  Gay,  Mr.  James  Pardee. 
New-Milford. — Major  Samuel  Canfield,  Captain  »S7ier- 

man  Boardman. 
Goshen. — Colonel  Ebenezer  Norton,  Captain  Samuel 

Nash. 

New-Hartford. — Major  Abel  Merrill,  Mr.  Zebulon 
Merrill. 

Cornwall. — Mr.  Heman  Swift,  Captain  Thomas  Porter. 
Torrington. — Major  Epaphras  Sheldon,  Mr.  Noah  Mar- 
shall. 

Harwinton. — Mr.  Josiah  Phelps,  Mr.  Mark  Prindle. 
Westmoreland. — Captain  Zebulon  Butler,  Major  Eze- 
kiel  Pierce. 

William  Williams,  Esquire,  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Rep- 
resentatives ;  Richard  Law,  Esquire,  Clerk. 

An  Act  in  further  addition  to  an  Act  entitled  an  Act  for 
forming  and  regulating  the  Militia,  and  for  the  en- 
couragement of  military  skill,  for  the  better  defence  of 
this  Colony. 

Be  it  enacted  by  the  Govcrnour,  Council,  and  Repre- 
sentatives in  General  Court  assembled,  and  by  the  authori- 
ty of  the  same,  That  the  Town  of  Westmoreland  shall  be 
one  entire  Regiment,  distinguished  and  called  by  the  name 
of  the  Twenty-Fourth  Regiment,  and  shall  be  under  the 
same  rules  and  orders,  and  have  the  same  powers,  privi- 
leges, and  advantages,  as  other  Regiments  of  this  Colony 
by  law  have. 

An  Act  in  further  addition  to  an  Act  entitled  An  Act  for 
forming  and  regulating  the  Militia,  and  for  the  en- 
zouragement  of  military  skill,  for  the  better  defence  of 
this  Colony. 

Be  it  enacted  by  the  Governour,  Council,  and  Repre- 
sentatives in  General  Court  assembled,  and  by  the  authori- 
ty o  f  the  same,  That  the  Towns  of  Middletoivn  and  Chat- 
ham shall  be  one  entire  Regiment,  distinguished  and  called 
by  the  name  of  the  Twenty-Third  Regiment,  and  shall  be 
under  the  same  rules  and  orders,  and  have  the  same  powers, 
privileges,  and  advantages  as  other  Regiments  of  this  Colo- 
ny by  law  have. 

An  Act  in  addition  to  an  Act  made  and  passed  at  a  Gene- 
ral Assembly  holden  at  Hartford,  on  the  second  Wed- 
nesday of  January,  1774,  incorporating  and  consti- 
tuting the  Town  o  f  Westmoreland. 
Be  it  enacted  by  the  Governour,  Council,  and  Repre- 
sentatives in  General  Court  assembled,  and  by  the  authori- 
ty of  the  same,  That  the  bounds  of  the  Town  of  West- 
moreland be,  and  they  are  hereby  extended  westward  until 
they  meet  with  the  line  lately  settled  with  the  Indians  at 
Fort  Stanwix,  commonly  called  the  Stanwix  Line,  bound- 
ing north  and  south  on  the  north  and  south  lines  of  this 
Colony;  and  the  inhabitants  on  said  tract  of  land  annexed 
as  aforesaid  are  hereby  incorporated  with  said  Town  of 
Westmoreland,  and  the  same  is  hereby  annexed  to  the 
County  of  Litchfield,  to  be  under  the  same  regulations 
and  restrictions  as  are  in  and  by  said  Act  incorporating 
said  Town  of  Westmoreland  provided. 

Whereas  a  sum  of  Money  is  necessary  for  payment  of 
incident  charges  of  Government :  Be  it  enacted  by  the 
Governour,  Council,  and  Representatives  in  General  Court 
assembled,  and  by  the  authority  of  the  same,  That  there 
be  forthwith  imprinted  the  sum  of  Fifty -Thousand  Pounds, 
Bills  of  Credit  on  this  Colony,  equal  to  lawful  money,  of 
suitable  denominations,  as  the  Committee  herein  appointed 
shall  direct,  and  of  the  same  tenour  with  the  late  emission 
of  Bills  of  Credit  of  this  Colony,  without  interest,  paya- 
ble at  or  before  the  first  day  of  June,  Anno  Domini  1778, 
dated  the  first  day  of  June,  1775 ;  and  Jabez  Hamlin, 
William  Pitkin,  George  Wyllys,  Elisha  Williams,  Benja- 
min Payne,  Thomas  Seymour,  and  Jesse  Root,  Esquires, 
or  any  three  of  them,  are  appointed  a  Committee  for  the 
purpose  aforesaid,  to  take  care  said  Bills  be  imprinted  with 
all  convenient  speed,  and  to  sign  and  deliver  the  same  to 
the  Treasurer  of  this  Colony,  taking  his  receipt  therefor, 
and  the  said  Committee  shall  be  sworn  to  a  faithful  dis- 
charge of  their  trust ;  and  the  Treasurer  is  hereby  directed 
to  pay  out  said  Bills  according  to  the  order  of  Assembly. 
And  for  providing  an  ample  and  sufficient  Fund  to  call 
Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii.  J 


in,  sink,  and  discharge  the  aforesaid  sum  to  be  emitted  as 
aforesaid  :  Be  it  enacted  by  the  authority  aforesaid,  That 
a  Tax  of  Seven-Pence  on  the  Pound  be,  and  is  hereby 
granted  and  ordered  to  be  levied  on  all  the  polls  and  rate- 
able estate  in  this  Colony,  according  to  the  list  thereof,  to 
be  brought  into  this  Assembly  in  October,  1776,  with 
the  additions;  which  Tax  shall  be  collected  and  paid  into 
the  Treasury  of  this  Colony  by  the  first  day  of  June, 
Anno  Domini  1778 ;  which  Tax  may  be  discharged  by 
paying  the  Bills  of  this  Colony  of  this  emission,  or  lawful 
money.  And  the  Treasurer  of  this  Colony  is  hereby  or- 
dered and  directed  to  send  forth  his  warrants  for  collecting 
the  same  accordingly. 

Resolved  by  this  Assembly,  That  the  Embargo  laid  by 
the  General  Assembly  at  their  session  in  April  last,  be 
continued  on  the  several  articles  mentioned  in  the  Act  of 
said  Assembly  laying  said  Embargo,  until  the  first  day  of 
August  next,  and  the  same  is  continued  by  this  Assembly  ; 
and  his  Honour  the  Governour  is  desired  to  issue  his 
Proclamation  accordingly:  provided,  nevertheless,  that  his 
Honour  the  Governour,  by  and  with  the  advice  of  the 
Council,  be,  and  is  hereby  empowered  to  discontinue  such 
Embargo,  in  whole  or  in  part,  at  any  time  when  it  may  be 
judged  proper  and  expedient. 

Resolved  by  this  Assembly,  That  there  be  provided 
ninety  Marque  or  Officers'  Tents,  and  five  hundred  Tents 
for  private  Soldiers,  and  also  Cloth  for  forty-eight  marque 
tents  and  four  hundred  and  sixty  tents  for  private  soldiers ; 
one  thousand  and  ninety-eight  iron  Pots  that  will  contain 
about  ten  quarts  each,  unless  a  number  of  tin  Kettles  are 
already  provided,  in  which  case  the  number  of  pots  be 
reduced  to  the  number  that  will  remain  after  deducting 
said  kettles,  but  if  the  number  of  pots  cannot  be  procured, 
then  the  defect  to  be  supplied  with  tin  kettles ;  and  one 
thousand  and  ninety-eight  Pails ;  two  brass  Kettles  that 
will  contain  from  eight  to  twelve  gallons,  for  the  use  of 
each  Company ;  two  thousand  and  five  hundred  wooden 
Bowls,  in  the  whole  ;  four  Frying  Pans  for  the  use  of  each 
Company ;  six  thousand  quart  Rundlets  ;  sixty  Drums,  and 
one  hundred  and  twenty  Fifes,  all  for  the  use  of  said 
Troops ;  six  Standards,  one  for  each  Regiment,  distin- 
guished by  their  colour  as  follows,  viz :  for  the  first  yel- 
low, for  the  second  blue,  for  the  third  scarlet,  for  the  fourth 
crimson,  for  the  fifth  white,  and  for  the  sixth  azure ;  a 
Medicine  Chest  and  apparatus  to  the  value  not  exceeding 
Forty  Pounds,  for  each  Regiment,  under  the  direction  of 
the  respective  Surgeons,  with  a  capital  set  of  Instruments 
for  the  use  of  the  whole  corps  on  each  particular  destina- 
tion, and  that  whatever  of  medicine,  apparatus,  and  instru- 
ments are  left  or  not  used,  be  returned  for  the  use  of  the 
Colony;  about  seventy  Books,  each  in  quarto,  consist- 
ing of  one  quire  of  paper,  covered  with  cartridge  paper ; 
two  reams  of  writing  paper  immediately  ;  also  ten  reams 
of  paper  for  making  cartridges  ;  and  also  one  Cart  or  Wagon 
for  each  Company. 

And  it  is  further  resolved  by  this  Assembly,  That  the 
allowance  of  Provisions  for  said  Troops  be  as  follows,  viz : 
three-quarters  of  a  pound  of  Pork,  or  one  pound  of  Beef, 
and  also  one  pound  of  Bread  or  Flour,  with  three  pints  of 
Beans  to  each  man  per  day,  the  beef  to  be  fresh  two  days 
in  the  week ;  and  also  half  a  pint  of  Rice  or  a  pint  of  In- 
dian-Meal, and  also  six  ounces  of  Butter ;  also  three  pints 
of  Peas  or  Beans  to  each  man  per  week ;  also  one  gill  of 
Rum  to  each  man  upon  fatigue  per  day,  and  not  at  any 
other  time ;  Milk,  Molasses,  Candles,  Soap,  Vinegar, 
Coffee,  Chocolate,  Sugar,  Tobacco,  Onions  in  their  season, 
and  Vegetables  be  provided  for  said  Troops,  at  the  dis- 
cretion of  the  General  and  Field  Officers. 

And  it  is  further  resolved  by  this  Assembly,  That  One 
Shilling  and  Six  Pence  shall  be  paid  to  each  of  said  men 
who  shall  supply  themselves  with  three  pounds  of  Ball, 
also  Three  Shillings  for  a  pound  of  Powder,  and  Three 
Pence  for  half  a  dozen  Flints ;  in  case  of  failure  such 
defect  to  be  supplied  by  the  Selectmen  of  each  Town  re- 
spectively out  of  the  Town  Stock,  and  in  case  of  further 
failure  the  deficiency  of  three  pounds  of  ball,  one  pound 
of  powder,  and  six  flints  to  each  man,  shall  be  supplied 
out  of  the  stock  of  ammunition  belonging  to  this  Colony, 
and  the  Treasurer  is  hereby  directed  to  order  the  same 
accordingly.  Those  Troops  who  march  Eastward  to  be 
supplied  out  of  the  Colony  stock  at  New-London,  Nor- 


563 


CONNECTICUT  ASSEMBLY,  MAY,  1775. 


561 


uich,  Windham,  or  Mansfield;  and  that  the  account  of 
powder,  ball,  and  flints  that  shall  be  supplied  by  the  several 
Towns,  shall  be  adjusted  by  two  Assistants  or  Justices  of 
the  Peace,  and  delivered  to  the  Selectmen  of  such  respec- 
tive Towns,  who  shall  present  the  same  to  the  Committee 
of  the  Pay-Table,  who  shall  give  an  order  on  the  Trea- 
surer to  pay  the  sum  due  to  such  Selectmen  accordingly ; 
and  that  the  Paymaster  of  each  Company  shall  take  a 
particular  account  of  the  powder,  ball,  and  flints  that  each 
person  belonging  to  such  Company  shall  provide  for  him- 
self, and  shall  procure  an  order  on  the  Treasurer  from  the 
Committee  of  the  Pay-Table  for  the  sums  due  for  the  same 
according  to  the  rates  aforesaid,  and  such  Paymaster  shall 
receive  and  pay  the  same  to  each  person  to  whom  it  is  due 
accordingly;  and  that  five  thousand  of  the  flints  that  belong 
to  this  Colony  shall  be  sent  to  New-London,  and  five 
thousand  of  ditto  to  Norwich,  ten  thousand  of  ditto  to  Wind- 
ham,  five  thousand  of  ditto  to  remain  at  New-Haven,  three 
thousand  of  ditto  be  sent  to  Fairfield,  and  two  thousand 
be  sent  to  Litchfield,  and  delivered  to  the  Keepers  of  the 
Colony  Stores  in  those  places  ;  and  that  one  ton  of  the  ball 
belonging  to  the  Colony,  in  the  care  of  the  Treasurer,  be 
forthwith  sent  to  Windham. 

An  Act  for  encouraging  the  Manufacturing  Fire- Arms 
and  Military  Stores  within  this  Colony,  for  the  safety 
and  defence  thereof 

Be  it  enacted  by  the  Governour,  Council,  and  Repre- 
sentatives in  General  Court  assembled,  and  by  the  authori- 
ty of  the  same,  That  there  be  procured,  as  soon  as  may 
be,  three  thousand  stands  of  Arms  for  the  use  of  this  Colo- 
ny, of  the  following  dimensions,  viz :  the  length  of  the 
barrel  of  the  gun  three  feet  and  ten  inches,  the  diameter 
of  the  bore  from  inside  to  inside  three-quarters  of  an  inch, 
the  length  of  the  blade  of  the  bayonet  sixteen  inches,  the 
length  of  the  socket  four  inches  and  one-quarter ;  that  the 
barrels  of  the  guns  be  of  a  suitable  thickness,  with  iron 
ramrods,  with  a  spring  in  the  lowest  loop  to  secure  the 
ramrod  ;  a  good  substantial  lock,  and  a  good  stock  well 
mounted  with  brass,  and  marked  with  the  name  or  initial 
letters  of  the  maker's  name. 

And  be  it  further  enacted  by  the  authority  aforesaid, 
That  a  bounty  of  Five  Shillings  shall  be  given  for  every 
stand  of  Arms,  including  a  good  lock,  that  shall  be  manu- 
factured within  this  Colony  by  or  before  the  twentieth  day 
of  October  next ;  provided  the  same  be  not  made  for  or 
sold  to  any  person  not  belonging  to  this  Colony;  and  also 
that  a  bounty  or  premium  of  One  Shilling  and  Six  Pence 
be  given  for  every  good  Gun-lock  that  shall  be  made  and 
manufactured  within  this  Colony  by  or  before  the  twentieth 
day  of  October  next ;  and  that  all  such  arms  made  and 
manufactured  in  this  Colony  by  or  before  the  twentieth  day 
of  October  next,  shall  be  purchased  by  this  Colony  at  a 
reasonable  price  over  and  above  the  premium  or  bounty 
aforesaid. 

And  it  is  further  enacted  by  the  authority  aforesaid, 
That  William  Williams,  William  Hilhouse,  Titus  Hosmer, 
Ichabod  Lewis,  Ebenezer  Norton,  and  Erastus  Wolcott, 
Esquires,  be,  and  they  are  hereby  appointed  a  Committee 
to  procure  said  Fire-Arms  to  be  made  and  completed  ac- 
cording to  the  direction  of  this  Act ;  and  said  Committee 
are  hereby  ordered  and  directed  forthwith  to  make  inquiry 
what  number  of  fire-arms  and  gun-locks  may  probably  be 
made  and  furnished  in  the  several  parts  of  this  Colony  by 
the  twentieth  day  of  October  next,  and  report  the  same  to 
his  Honour  the  Governour  as  soon  as  may  be.  And  said 
Committee  are  also  hereby  empowered  and  directed  to  re- 
ceive such  sums  of  money  out  of  the  publick  Treasury  as 
may  be  necessary  to  pay  for  the  arms  that  shall  be  made 
and  completed  pursuant  to  this  Act  by  the  time  limited  as 
aforesaid,  with  the  bounty  and  premium  aforesaid  ;  and  the 
Treasurer  of  this  Colony  is  hereby  ordered  and  directed  to 
pay  the  same  accordingly.  And  said  Committee  are  here- 
by directed  to  pay  the  same  to  the  several  persons  to  whom 
it  is  due  pursuant  to  this  Act,  according  to  the  orders  and 
directions  they  shall  receive  from  the  General  Assembly  of 
this  Colony  for  that  purpose,  and  receive  and  secure  such 
arms  so  purchased  for  the  use  and  benefit  of  this  Colony. 

And  it  is  further  enacted  by  the  authority  aforesaid, 
That  a  bounty  or  premium  of  Ten  Pounds  shall  be  given 
for  every  fifty  pounds  weight  of  Saltpetre  that  shall  be 


made  and  manufactured  from  materials  found  in  this  Colo- 
ny within  one  year  next  after  the  rising  of  this  Assembly, 
and  so  in  proportion  for  a  greater  or  lesser  quantity.  And 
also  that  a  bounty  or  premium  of  Five  Pounds  shall  be 
given  for  every  hundred  pounds  weight  of  Sulphur  that 
shall  be  made  and  manufactured  within  this  Colony  from 
materials  found  in  any  of  the  British  Colonies  on  the  Con- 
tinent of  America  within  one  year  next  after  the  rising  of 
this  Assembly,  and  so  in  proportion  for  a  greater  or  lesser 
quantity. 

An  Act  for  Regulating  and  Ordering  the  Troops  that 

are  or  may  be  raised  for  the  defence  of  this  Colony. 

Whereas  God  in  his  providence  hath  been  pleased  in 
great  mercy  to  bestow  upon  the  inhabitants  of  this  Colony 
all  the  rights,  liberties,  and  immunities  of  the  free  and 
natural-born  subjects  of  the  Realm  of  England,  which 
have  been  established  and  confirmed  by  a  sacred  compact, 
and  secured  by  a  Royal  Charter — which  rights,  liberties, 
and  immunities  were  the  birthright  of  our  brave,  virtuous, 
and  religious  ancestors  whilst  in  England,  who,  rather  than 
submit  to  religious  or  civil  tyranny,  chose  to  leave  their 
pleasant  seats  and  all  their  happy  prospects  in  their  native 
Country,  bravely  encountered  the  danger  of  untried  seas 
and  coasts  of  a  howling  wilderness,  barbarous  men  and 
savage  beasts,  at  the  expense  of  their  ease  and  safety  of 
their  blood,  their  treasure,  and  their  lives,  transplanted  and 
reared  the  English  Constitution  in  these  wilds  upon  the 
strong  pillars  of  civil  and  religious  liberty,  and  having  led 
the  way  by  their  great  example,  bequeathed  their  inesti- 
mable purchase  as  a  sacred  and  inalienable  legacy  to  their 
posterity,  who  have  ever  since  united  the  sincerest  loyalty 
to  their  Sovereign  and  the  warmest  affection  for  their  elder 
brethren  in  England  with  the  enjoyment  of  their  aforesaid 
rights,  liberties,  and  immunities ;  nor  have  they  till  lately 
been  thought  incompatible: 

And  whereas  since  the  close  of  the  last  war  the  British 
Parliament,  claiming  a  power  of  right  to  bind  the  people  of 
America  by  Statute  in  all  cases  whatsoever  hath,  in  some 
Acts,  expressly  imposed  taxes  upon  them  ;  and  in  others, 
under  various  pretences,  but  in  fact  for  the  purpose  of  rais- 
ing a  Revenue,  hath  imposed  rates  and  duties  payable  in 
these  Colonies,  established  a  Board  of  Commissioners  with 
unconstitutional  powers,  and  extended  the  jurisdiction  of 
Courts  of  Admiralty,  not  only  for  collecting  said  duties, 
but  also  for  the  trial  of  causes  merely  arising  within  the 
body  of  a  County : 

And  whereas,  in  consequence  of  other  Statutes,  Judges, 
who  before  held  only  estates  at  will  in  their  offices,  have 
been  made  to  depend  on  the  Crown  alone  for  their  salaries ; 
and  Standing  Armies  kept  up  in  time  of  peace  ;  and  it  has 
been  lately  resolved  in  Parliament  that,  by  force  of  a  Sta- 
tute made  in  the  thirty -fifth  year  of  the  reign  of  King  Henry 
the  Eighth,  Colonists  may  be  transported  to  England  and 
tried  there  upon  accusations  for  treason  and  misprision,  or 
concealment  of  treasons  committed  or  alleged  to  be  com- 
mitted in  the  Colonies ;  and  by  a  late  Statute  such  trials 
have  been  directed  in  cases  therein  mentioned  : 

And  whereas  three  Acts  of  Parliament  have  been  pass- 
ed, by  one  of  which  the  Port  of  Boston  is  shut  up,  and 
thousands  reduced  from  affluence  to  poverty  and  distress  ; 
by  another  the  Charter  of  the  Province  of  the  Massachu- 
setts-Bay is  subverted  and  destroyed ;  and  by  the  third, 
under  pretence  of  the  impartial  administration  of  justice, 
all  hope  of  justice  is  taken  away  in  certain  cases : 

And  whereas  another  Statute  hath  been  made,  by  which 
the  Roman  Catholick  Religion  is  established,  the  equita- 
ble system  of  English  laws  abolished,  and  a  tyranny  exer- 
cised in  the  Province  of  Ojuebeck,  to  the  great  danger  of 
the  neighbouring  Colonies ;  and  also  in  the  present  session 
of  Parliament  another  Act  is  passed,  by  which  the  Neu-- 
England  Colonies  are  in  a  great  measure  deprived  of  their 
Trade  and  Fishery — the  blessings  which  God  and  nature 
have  indulged  them,  being  thus  attempted  by  force  to  be 
wrested  from  them : 

And  whereas  all  our  humble,  dutiful,  and  loyal  Petitions 
to  the  Throne  for  redress  of  grievances,  have  been  treated 
with  contempt,  or  passed  by  in  silence  by  His  Majesty's 
Ministers  of  State and  the  refusal  to  surrender  our  just 
rights,  liberties,  and  immunities,  hath  been  styled  rebellion, 
and  Fleets  and  Armies  haye  been  sent  into  a  neighbouring 


565 


CONNECTICUT  ASSEMBLY,  MAY,  1775. 


566 


Colony  to  force  them  to  submit  to  slavery,  and  awe  the 
other  Colonies  to  submission,  by  the  example  of  vengeance 
inflicted  on  her ;  who  have,  besides  the  usual  calamities  and 
insults  that  proceed  from  standing  armies,  fortified  the 
Town  of  Boston,  driven  the  peaceable  inhabitants  from 
their  dwellings,  and  imbrued  their  hands  in  the  blood  of 
our  countrymen ;  all  which  acts  and  measures  have  rela- 
tion to  all  the  British  Colonies,  in  the  principles  from  which 
they  flow,  and  are  evidently  intended  to  force  or  terrify 
them  into  a  submission  to  Parliamentary  taxation,  or  at 
least  into  a  surrender  of  their  property  at  the  pleasure  of 
the  British  Parliament,  and  in  such  proportions  as  they 
shall  please  to  prescribe,  with  which  we  must  comply,  or 
lie  at  the  mercy  of  those  who  cannot  know  our  situation  and 
circumstances,  and  will  be  interested  to  oppress  and  en- 
slave us;  our  liberty,  our  lives  and  property,  will  become 
precarious  and  dependant  on  the  will  of  men  over  whom 
we  can  have  no  check  or  control ;  religion,  property,  per- 
sonal safety,  learning,  arts,  publick  and  private  virtue,  so- 
cial happiness,  and  every  blessing  attendant  on  liberty,  will 
fall  victims  to  measures  advanced  and  pursued  against  us, 
whilst  shameless  vice,  infidelity,  irreligion,  abject  depend- 
ance,  ignorance,  superstition,  meanness,  scurrility,  and  the 
whole  train  of  despotism  present  themselves  to  our  view  in 
melancholy  prospect : 

And  whereas,  although  this  Assembly  wish  for  no  new 
rights  and  privileges,  and  desire  only  to  preserve  their 
ancient  Constitution,  as  it  has  been  understood  and  prac- 
tised upon  from  the  beginning ;  freely  yielding  to  the  Bri- 
tish Parliament  the  regulation  of  our  external  commerce, 
for  the  purpose  of  securing  the  commercial  advantages  of 
all  the  Dominions  of  our  Sovereign  to  the  Mother  Coun- 
try, and  the  commercial  benefits  of  its  several  members, 
excluding  every  idea  of  taxation  for  raising  a  revenue  with- 
out our  consent,  and  claiming  only  a  right  to  regulate  our 
internal  police  and  Government,  and  are  most  earnesly  de- 
sirous of  peace,  and  deprecate  the  horrours  of  war ;  yet, 
when  they  see  military  preparations  against  them  at  hand, 
and  the  hopes  of  peace  and  harmony  placed  at  a  greater 
distance  ;  being  fully  determined  never  to  make  a  voluntary 
sacrifice  of  their  rights,  and  not  knowing  how  soon  Parlia- 
mentary and  Ministerial  vengeance  may  be  directed  against 
them  immediately,  as  it  is  now  against  the  Province  of 
Massachusetts-Bat/,  who  are  suffering  in  the  common  cause 
of  British  America ;  trusting  in  the  justice  of  their  cause, 
and  the  righteous  providence  of  Almighty  God,  for  the 
restoration  of  quiet  and  peace,  or  success  in  their  efforts 
for  their  defence,  have  thought  it  their  duty  to  raise  Troops 
for  the  defence  of  this  Colony  : 

And  whereas  it  is  necessary  that  such  Troops,  both  offi- 
cers and  soldiers,  should  be  made  acquainted  with  their 
duty,  and  that  Articles,  Rules,  and  Regulations  should  be 
established  to  preserve  order,  good  government,  and  dis- 
cipline in  the  Army,  agreeable  to  the  mild  spirit  of  our 
Constitution,  and  not  according  to  the  severities  practised 
in  Standing  Armies : 

Therefore,  be  it  enacted  by  the  Govcrnour,  Council,  and 
Representatives,  in  General  Court  assembled,  and  by  au- 
thority of  the  same  :  Article  i.  That  all  officers  and  sol- 
diers not  having  just  impediment  shall  diligently  frequent 
divine  service  and  sermon,  in  the  places  appointed  for  as- 
sembling the  Regiment,  Troop,  or  Company  to  which  they 
belong ;  and  such  as  wilfully  absent  themselves,  or  being 
present  behave  indecently  or  irreverently,  shall,  if  commis- 
sioned officers,  be  brought  before  a  Regimental  Court  Mar- 
tial, there  to  be  publickly  and  severely  reprimanded  by  the 
President ;  if  non-commissioned  officers  or  soldiers,  every 
person  so  offending  shall,  for  his  first  offence,  forfeit  One 
Shilling,  to  be  deducted  out  of  his  wages ;  for  his  second 
offence,  he  shall  not  only  forfeit  One  Shilling,  but  be  con- 
fined not  exceeding  twenty-four  hours,  and  for  every  like 
offence  shall  suffer  and  pay  in  like  manner ;  which  money 
so  forfeited  shall  be  applied  to  the  use  of  the  sick  soldiers 
of  the  Troop  or  Company  to  which  the  offender  belongs. 

Art.  ii.  That  whatever  non-commissioned  officers  and 
soldiers  shall  use  any  unlawful  oath  or  execration,  shall 
incur  the  penalties  expressed  in  the  first  Article  ;  and  if  a 
commissioned  officer  be  thus  guilty  of  profane  cursing  or 
swearing,  he  shall  forfeit  and  pay  for  each  and  every  such 
offence  the  sum  of  Four  Shillings,  lawful  money. 

Art.  hi.  That  any  officer  or  soldier  who  shall  behave 


himself  with  contempt  or  disrespect  towards  the  General 
or  Generals,  or  Commander-in-Chief,  or  shall  speak  words 
tending  to  his  or  their  hurt  or  dishonour,  shall  be  punished 
according  to  the  nature  of  his  offence,  by  the  judgment  of 
a  General  Court  Martial. 

Art.  iv.  That  any  officer  or  soldier  who  shall  begin, 
excite,  cause,  or  join  in  any  meeting  or  sedition  in  the  Re- 
giment, Troop,  or  Company  to  which  he  belongs,  or  in  any 
other  Regiment,  Troop,  or  Company  of  the  forces  of  this 
Colony,  either  by  land  or  sea,  or  in  an  party,  post,  detach- 
ment, or  guard,  on  any  pretence  whatsoever,  shall  suffer 
such  punishment  as  by  a  General  Court  Martial  shall  be 
ordered. 

Art.  v.  That  any  officer,  non-commissioned  officer,  or 
soldier,  who  being  present  at  any  meeting  or  sedition,  does 
not  use  his  utmost  endeavours  to  suppress  the  same,  or, 
coming  to  the  knowledge  of  any  mutiny  or  intended  muti- 
ny, does  not,  without  delay,  give  information  thereof  to  the 
commanding  officers,  shall  be  punished  by  order  of  a  Gen- 
eral Court  Martial  according  to  the  nature  of  his  offence. 

Art.  vi.  That  any  officer  or  soldier  who  shall  strike  his 
superiour  officer,  or  draw  or  offer  to  draw,  or  shall  lift  up 
any  weapon  or  offer  any  violence  against  him,  being  in  the 
execution  of  his  office,  on  any  pretence  whatsoever,  or 
shall  disobey  any  lawful  command  of  his  superiour  officer, 
shall  suffer  such  punishment  as  shall,  according  to  the  na- 
ture of  his  offence,  be  ordered  by  the  sentence  of  a  Gen- 
eral Court  Martial. 

Art.  vii.  That  any  non-commissioned  officer  or  soldier 
who  shall  desert,  or  without  leave  of  his  commanding  offi- 
cer absent  himself  from  the  Troop  or  Company  to  which 
he  belongs,  or  from  any  detachment  of  the  same,  shall, 
upon  being  convicted  thereof,  be  punished  according  to  the 
nature  of  his  offence,  at  the  discretion  of  a  General  Court 
Martial. 

Art.  viii.  That  whatsoever  officer  or  soldier  shall  be 
convicted  of  having  advised  or  persuaded  any  other  officer 
or  soldier  to  desert,  shall  suffer  such  punishment  as  shall 
be  ordered  by  the  sentence  of  a  General  Court  Martial. 

Art.  ix.  That  all  officers  of  what  condition  soever  shall 
have  power  to  part  and  quell  all  quarrels,  frays  and  dis- 
orders, though  the  persons  concerned  should  belong  to 
another  Regiment,  Troop,  or  Company,  and  either  order 
officers  to  be  arrested,  or  non-commissioned  officers  or  sol- 
diers to  be  confined  and  imprisoned,  till  their  proper  supe- 
riour officers  shall  be  acquainted  therewith  ;  and  whoever 
shall  refuse  to  obey  such  officer,  though  of  an  inferiour 
rank,  or  shall  draw  his  sword  upon  him,  shall  be  punished 
at  the  discretion  of  a  General  Court  Martial. 

Art.  x.  That  no  officer  or  soldier  shall  use  any  re- 
proachful or  provoking  speeches  or  gestures  to  another,  nor 
shall  any  officer  or  soldier  presume  to  send  a  challenge  to 
any  person  to  fight  a  duel ;  and  whoever  shall,  knowingly 
and  willingly,  suffer  any  person  whatsoever  to  go  forth 
to  fight  a  duel,  or  shall  second,  promote,  or  carry  any 
challenge,  shall  be  deemed  a  principal  therein ;  and  what- 
soever officer  or  soldier  shall  upbraid  another  for  refusing 
a  challenge  shall  also  be  considered  as  a  challenger,  and  all 
such  offenders  in  any  of  these  or  such  like  cases,  shall  be 
punished  at  the  discretion  of  a  General  Court  Martial. 

Art.  xi.  That  every  officer  commanding  in  quarters,  or 
on  a  march,  shall  keep  good  order,  and  to  the  utmost  of  his 
power  redress  all  such  abuses  or  disorders  which  may  be 
committed  by  any  officer  or  soldier  under  his  command : 
if  upon  any  complaint  made  to  him  of  officers  or  soldiers 
beating  or  otherwise  ill  treating  any  person,  or  of  commit- 
ting any  kind  of  riot  to  the  disquieting  of  the  inhabitants 
of  this  Continent,  he  the  said  commander  who  shall  refuse 
or  omit  to  see  justice  done  on  the  offender  or  offenders, 
and  reparation  make  to  the  party  or  parties  injured,  as  far  as 
the  offender's  wages  shall  enable  him  or  them,  shall,  upon 
due  proof  thereof,  be  punished  as  ordered  by  a  General 
Court  Martial,  in  such  manner  as  if  he  himself  had  com- 
mitted the  crimes  or  disorders  complained  of. 

Art  xii.  That  if  any  officer  shall  think  himself  to  be 
wronged  by  his  Colonel,  or  his  Commanding  Officer  of 
the  Regiment,  and  shall,  upon  due  application  made  to 
him,  be  refused  to  be  redressed,  he  may  complain  to  the 
General  or  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  forces  of  this  Col- 
ony, in  order  to  obtain  justice,  who  is  hereby  required  to 
examine  into  said  complaint  and  see  that  justice  be  done. 


567 


CONNECTICUT  ASSEMBLY,  MAY,  1775. 


5(>8 


Art.  xiii.  That  if  any  inferiour  officer  or  soldier  shall 
think  himself  wronged  by  his  Captain  or  other  officer  com- 
manding the  Troop  or  Company  to  which  he  belongs,  he 
is  to  complain  thereof  to  the  Commanding  Officer  of  the 
Regiment,  who  is  hereby  required  to  summon  a  Regimental 
Court  Martial  for  the  doing  justice  to  the  complainant, 
from  which  Regimental  Court  Martial  either  party  may,  if 
he  think  himself  still  aggrieved,  appeal  to  a  General  Court 
Martial ;  but  if,  upon  a  second  hearing,  the  appeal  shall 
appear  to  be  vexatious  and  groundless,  the  person  so  ap- 
pealing shall  be  punished  at  the  discretion  of  the  General 
Court  Martial. 

Art.  xiv.  That  whatsoever  non-commissioned  officer 
or  soldier  shall  be  convicted  at  a  Regimental  Court  Mar- 
tial of  having  sold,  or  designedly,  or  through  neglect,  wast- 
ed the  Ammunition,  Arms,  or  Provision,  or  other  Military 
Stores  delivered  out  to  him  to  be  employed  in  the  service 
of  this  Colony,  shall,  if  an  officer,  be  reduced  to  a  private 
sentinel,  and  if  a  private  soldier,  shall  suffer  such  punish- 
ment as  shall  be  ordered  by  a  Regimental  Court  Martial. 

Art.  xv.  That  all  non-commissioned  officers  and  sol- 
diers who  shall  be  found  one  mile  from  the  camp,  without 
leave  in  writing  from  their  Commanding  Officer,  shall  suf- 
fer such  punishment  as  shall  be  inflicted  on  him  or  them 
by  the  sentence  of  a  Regimental  Court  Martial. 

Art.  xvi.  That  no  officer  or  soldier  shall  be  out  of  his 
quarters  or  camp  without  leave  from  their  Commanding 
Officer  of  the  Regiment,  upon  penalty  of  being  punished, 
according  to  the  nature  of  his  offence,  by  order  of  a  Regi- 
mental Court  Martial. 

Art.  xvii.  That  every  non-commissioned  officer  or  sol- 
dier shall  retire  to  his  quarters  or  tent  at  the  beating  of  the 
retreat,  in  default  of  which  he  shall  be  punished  according 
to  the  nature  of  his  offence,  by  order  of  the  Commanding 
Officer. 

Art.  xviii.  That  no  officer,  non-commissioned  officer, 
or  soldier,  shall  fail  of  repairing  at  the  time  fixed,  to  the 
place  of  parade  or  exercise,  or  other  rendezvous  appointed 
by  the  Commanding  Officer,  if  not  prevented  by  sickness 
or  some  other  evident  necessity,  or  shall  go  from  the  said 
place  of  rendezvous,  or  from  his  guard,  without  leave  from 
his  Commanding  Officer,  before  he  shall  be  regularly  dis- 
missed or  relieved,  on  penalty  of  being  punished  according 
to  the  nature  of  his  offence,  by  the  sentence  of  a  Regi- 
mental Court  Martial. 

Art.  xix.  That  whatsoever  commissioned  officer  shall 
be  found  drunk  on  his  guard,  party,  or  other  duty,  under 
arms,  shall  be  cashiered  for  it ;  any  non-commissioned  officer 
or  soldier  so  offending,  shall  suffer  such  punishment  as  shall 
be  ordered  by  the  sentence  of  a  Regimental  Court  Martial. 

Art.  xx.  That  whatsoever  sentinel  shall  be  found  sleep- 
ing upon  his  post,  or  shall  leave  it  before  he  shall  be  regu- 
larly relieved,  shall  suffer  such  punishment  as  shall  be  or- 
dered by  the  sentence  of  a  General  Court  Martial. 

Art.  xxi.  That  any  person  belonging  to  the  Troops  of 
this  Colony,  who,  by  discharging  of  fire-arms,  beating  of 
drums,  or  by  any  other  means  whatever,  shall  occasion  false 
alarms  in  camp  or  quarters,  shall  suffer  such  punishment  as 
shall  be  ordered  by  the  sentence  of  a  General  Court  Martial. 

Art.  xxii.  That  any  officer  or  soldier  who  shall,  with- 
out urgent  necessity,  or  without  leave  of  his  superiour  offi- 
cer, quit  platoon  or  division,  shall  be  punished  according  to 
the  nature  of  his  offence,  by  the  sentence  of  a  Regimental 
Court  Martial. 

Akt.  xxiii.  That  no  officer  or  soldier  shall  do  violence 
or  offer  any  insult  or  abuse  to  any  person  who  shall  bring 
provisions  or  other  necessaries  to  the  camp  or  quarters  of 
the  Army  ;  any  officer  or  soldier  so  offending  shall,  upon 
complaint  being  made  to  the  Commanding  Officer,  suffer 
such  punishment  as  shall  be  ordered  by  a  Regimental  Court 
Martial. 

Art.  xxiv.  That  whatsoever  officer  or  soldier  shall 
shamefully  abandon  any  post  committed  to  his  charge,  or 
shall  speak  words  inducing  others  to  do  the  like  in  time  of 
an  engagement,  shall  suffer  death  immediately. 

Art.  xxv.  That  any  person  belonging  to  the  forces 
raised,  or  that  may  be  raised  for  the  defence  of  this  Colo- 
ny, who  shall  make  known  the  watchword  to  any  person 
who  is  not  entitled  to  receive  it  according  to  the  rules  and 
discipline  of  war,  or  shall  presume  to  give  a  parole  or 
watchword  different  from  what  he  received,  shall  suffer 


death,  or  such  other  punishment  as  shall  be  ordered  by  the 
sentence  of  a  General  Court  Martial. 

Art.  xxvi.  That  whosoever  belonging  to  the  forces 
raised,  or  that  may  be  raised  for  the  defence  of  this  Colo- 
ny, shall  relieve  the  enemy  in  Money,  Victuals,  or  Ammu- 
nition, or  shall  knowingly  harbour  or  protect  an  enemy, 
shall  suffer  such  punishment  as  by  a  General  Court  Martial 
shall  be  ordered. 

Art.  xxvii.  That  whosoever  belonging  to  the  forces 
already  raised,  or  that  may  be  raised  for  the  defence  of  this 
Colony,  shall  be  convicted  of  holding  correspondence  with, 
or  of  giving  intelligence  to,  the  enemy,  either  directly  or 
indirectly,  shall  suffer  such  punishment  as  by  a  General 
Court  Martial  shall  be  ordered. 

Art.  xxviii.  That  all  Publick  Stores  taken  in  the  ene- 
my's camp  or  magazines,  whether  of  Artillery,  Ammuni- 
tion, Clothing,  or  Provisions,  shall  be  secured  for  the  use 
of  the  Colony. 

Art.  xxix.  That  if  any  officer  or  soldier  shall  leave 
his  Post  or  Colours,  in  time  of  an  engagement,  to  go  in 
search  of  plunder,  he  shall,  upon  being  convicted  thereof 
before  a  General  Court  Martial,  suffer  such  punishment  as 
by  said  Court  Martial  shall  be  ordered. 

Art.  xxx.  That  if  any  Commander  of  any  Post,  In- 
trenchment,  or  Fortress,  shall  be  compelled  by  the  officers 
or  soldiers  under  his  command  to  give  it  up  to  the  enemy, 
or  to  abandon  it,  the  commissioned  officers,  non-commis- 
sioned officers,  or  soldiers,  who  shall  be  convicted  of  having 
so  offended,  shall  suffer  death,  or  such  other  punishment 
as  shall  be  inflicted  upon  them  by  the  sentence  of  a  Gen- 
eral Court  Martial. 

Art.  xxxi.  That  all  sutlers  and  retailers  to  a  camp, 
and  all  persons  whatsoever  serving  with  the  forces  already 
raised,  or  that  may  be  raised  for  the  defence  of  this  Colony 
in  the  field,  though  not  enlisted  soldiers,  are  to  be  subjected 
to  the  same  orders,  rules,  and  regulations,  to  which  the  offi- 
cers and  soldiers  are  or  shall  be  subjected. 

Art.  xxxii.  That  no  General  Court  Martial  shall  con- 
sist of  less  than  thirteen,  none  of  which  shall  be  under  the 
degree  of  a  commissioned  officer ;  and  the  President  of  each 
and  every  Court  Martial,  whether  General  or  Regimental, 
shall  have  power  to  administer  an  oath  to  every  witness,  in 
order  to  the  trial  of  offenders ;  and  the  members  of  all 
Courts  Martial  shall  be  duly  sworn  by  the  President,  and 
the  next  in  rank  on  the  Court  Martial  shall  administer  the 
oath  to  the  President. 

Art.  xxxiii.  That  the  members  both  of  General  and 
Regimental  Courts  Martial  shall,  when  belonging  to  different 
Corps,  take  the  same  rank  which  they  hold  in  the  Army  ; 
but  when  Courts  Martial  shall  be  composed  of  officers  of  one 
Corps,  they  shall  take  their  ranks  according  to  their  com- 
missions by  which  they  are  mustered  in  the  said  Corps. 

Art.  xxxiv.  That  all  the  members  of  a  Court  Martial 
are  to  behave  with  calmness,  decency,  and  impartiality, 
and  in  giving  of  their  votes  are  to  begin  with  the  youngest 
or  lowest  in  commission. 

Art.  xxxv.  That  no  Field  Officer  shall  be  tried  by  any 
person  under  the  degree  of  a  Captain  ;  nor  shall  any  pro- 
ceedings or  trials  be  carried  on,  excepting  between  the 
hours  of  eight  in  the  morning  and  three  in  the  afternoon, 
except  in  cases  which  require  an  immediate  example. 

Art.  xxxvi.  That  the  commissioned  officers  of  a  Regi- 
ment may,  by  the  appointment  of  their  Colonel  or  Com- 
manding Officer,  hold  Regimental  Courts  Martial  for  the 
inquiry  into  such  disputes  or  criminal  matters  as  may  come 
before  them,  and  for  the  inflicting  corporeal  punishments 
for  small  offences,  and  shall  give  judgment  by  the  majority 
of  votes ;  but  no  sentence  shall  be  executed  till  the  Com- 
manding Officer  (not  being  a  member  of  the  Court  Martial) 
shall  have  confirmed  the  same. 

Art.  xxxvii.  That  no  Regimental  Court  Martial  shall 
consist  of  less  than  five  officers,  excepting  in  cases  where 
that  number  cannot  be  conveniently  assembled,  when  three 
may  be  sufficient,  who  are  likewise  to  determine  by  the 
majority  of  voices,  which  sontence  is  to  be  confirmed  by 
the  Commanding  Officer,  not  being  a  member  of  the  Court 
Martial. 

Art.  xxxviii.  That  every  officer  commanding  in  any 
Fort,  Castle,  or  Barrack,  or  elsewhere,  where  the  Corps 
under  his  command  consists  of  detachments  from  different 
Regiments,  or  of  independent  Companies,  may  assemble 


569 


CONNECTICUT  ASSEMBLY,  MAY,  1775. 


570 


Courts  Martial  for  the  trial  of  offenders,  in  the  same  man- 
ner as  if  they  were  Regimental,  whose  sentence  is  not  to 
he  executed  till  it  shall  be  confirmed  by  the  said  Command- 
ing Officer. 

Art.  xxxix.  That  no  person  whatsoever  shall  use  me- 
nacing words,  signs  or  gestures,  in  the  presence  of  a  Court 
Martial  then  sitting,  or  shall  cause  any  disorder  or  riot  so 
as  to  disturb  their  proceedings,  on  the  penalty  of  being  pun- 
ished at  the  discretion  of  the  Court  Martial. 

Art.  xl.  That  to  the  end  that  offenders  may  be  brought 
to  justice,  whenever  any  officer  or  soldier  shall  commit  a 
crime  deserving  punishment,  lie  shall,  by  his  Commanding 
Officer,  if  an  officer,  be  put  in  arrest ;  if  a  non-commis- 
sioned officer  or  soldier,  be  imprisoned  till  he  shall  be 
either  tried  by  a  Court  Martial,  or  shall  be  lawfully  dis- 
charged by  proper  authority. 

Art.  xli.  That  no  officer  or  soldier  who  shall  be  put 
in  arrest  or  imprisonment,  shall  continue  in  his  confinement 
more  than  eight  days,  or  till  such  time  as  a  Court  Martial 
can  be  conveniently  assembled. 

Art.  xlii.  That  no  officer  commanding  a  Guard,  or 
Provost  Marshal,  shall  refuse  to  receive  or  keep  any  pri- 
soner committed  to  his  charge  by  an  officer  belonging  to 
the  forces  aforesaid,  which  officer  shall,  at  the  same  time, 
deliver  an  account  in  writing,  signed  by  himself,  of  the 
crime  with  which  the  said  prisoner  is  charged. 

Art.  xliii.  That  no  officer  commanding  a  Guard,  or 
Provost  Martial,  shall  presume  to  release  any  prisoner  com- 
mitted to  his  charge,  without  proper  authority  for  so  doing ; 
nor  shall  he  suffer  any  prisoner  to  escape,  on  the  penalty 
of  being  punished  for  it  by  the  sentence  of  a  General  Court 
Martial. 

Art.  xliv.  That  every  Officer  or  a  Provost  Martial  to 
whose  charge  prisoners  shall  be  committed,  is  hereby  re- 
quired, within  twenty-four  hours  after  such  commitment,  or 
as  soon  as  he  shall  be  relieved  from  his  guard,  to  give,  in 
writing,  to  the  Colonel  of  the  Regiment  to  whom  the  pri- 
soner belongs,  (where  the  prisoner  is  confined  upon  the 
guard  belonging  to  the  said  Regiment,  and  that  his  offence 
only  relates  to  the  neglect  of  duty  in  his  own  Corps,)  or  to 
the  Commander-in-Chief,  their  names,  their  crimes,  and 
the  names  of  the  officers  who  committed  them,  on  the 
penalty  of  being  punished  for  his  disobedience  or  neglect, 
at  the  discretion  of  a  General  Court  Martial. 

Art.  xlv.  And  if  any  officer  under  arrest  shall  leave 
his  confinement  before  he  is'  set  a  liberty  by  the  officer  who 
confined  him,  or  by  a  superiour  power,  he  shall  be  cash- 
iered for  it. 

Art.  xlvi.  That  whatsoever  commissioned  officer  shall 
be  convicted  before  a  General  Court  Martial  of  behaving 
in  a  scandalous,  infamous  manner,  such  as  is  unbecoming 
the  character  of  an  officer  and  a  gentleman,  shall  be  dis- 
charged from  the  service. 

Art.  xlvii.  That  all  officers,  conductors,  matrosses, 
drivers,  or  any  other  persons  whatsoever,  receiving  pay  or 
hire  in  the  service  of  the  Artillery  of  this  Colony,  shall  be 
governed  by  the  aforesaid  Rules  and  Articles,  and  shall  be 
subject  to  be  tried  by  Court  Martial  in  like  manner  with 
the  officers  and  soldiers  of  the  Troops. 

Art.  xlviii.  That  for  offences  arising  amongst  them- 
selves, or  in  matters  relating  solely  to  their  own  Corps,  the 
Courts  Martial  may  be  composed  of  their  own  officers;  but 
where  a  number  sufficient  of  such  officers  cannot  be  assem- 
bled, or  in  matters  wherein  other  Corps  are  interested,  the 
officers  of  Artillery  shall  sit  in  Courts  Martial  with  the 
officers  of  the  other  Troops. 

Art.  xlix.  That  all  crimes  not  capital,  and  all  disorders 
and  neglects  which  officers  and  soldiers  may  be  guilty  of 
to  the  prejudice  of  good  order  and  military  discipline, 
though  not  mentioned  in  the  Articles  of  War,  are  to  be 
taken  cognizance  of  by  a  General  or  Regimental  Court 
Martial,  according  to  the  nature  or  degree  of  the  offence, 
and  be  punished  at  their  discretion. 

Art.  l.  That  no  Courts  Martial  shall  order  any  offender 
to  be  whipped  or  receive  more  than  thirty-nine  stripes  for 
one  offence. 

Art.  ti.  That  the  Field  Officers  of  each  and  every 
Regiment  are  to  appoint  some  suitable  person  belonging  to 
such  Regiment,  to  receive  all  such  Fines  as  may  arise 
within  the  same  for  any  breach  of  any  of  the  foregoing 
Articles,  and  shall  direct  the  same  to  be  carefully  and  pro- 


perly applied  to  the  relief  of  such  sick,  wounded,  or  neces- 
sitous soldiers  as  belong  to  such  Regiment,  and  such  per- 
sons shall  account  with  such  officer  for  all  Fines  received, 
and  the  application  thereof. 

Art.  lii.  That  all  members  sitting  in  Courts  Martial 
shall  be  sworn  by  the  President  of  said  Courts,  which  Pre- 
sident shall  himself  be  sworn  by  the  officer  in  said  Court 
next  in  rank;  the  oath  to  be  administered  previous  to  their 
proceeding  to  the  trial  of  any  offender,  in  form  following, 
viz  :  "  You,  A  B,  swear  that  you  will  well  and  truly  try  and 
impartially  determine  the  cause  of  the  prisoner  now  to  be 
tried,  according  to  the  Rules  for  Regulating  the  Forces 
raised  or  to  be  raised  for  the  defence  of  the  Colony  of  Con- 
necticut, so  help  you  God." 

Art.  liii.  That  all  persons  called  to  give  evidence  in 
any  case  before  a  Court  Martial,  who  shall  refuse  to  give 
evidence,  shall  be  punished  for  such  refusal  at  the  discre- 
tion of  such  Court  Martial ;  the  oath  to  be  administered 
in  the  form  following,  viz :  "  You  swear  the  evidence  you 
shall  give  in  the  case  now  in  hearing  shall  be  the  truth,  the 
whole  truth,  and  nothing  but  the  truth,  so  help  you  God." 

Resolved  by  this  Assembly,  That  the  military  officers  in 
the  several  Towns,  that  were  concerned  in  assembling  or 
furnishing  w  ith  Ammunition  any  of  the  inhabitants  of  this 
Colony  who  marched  in  the  late  alarm,  either  eastward  or 
westward,  are  hereby  ordered  and  directed  to  deliver  to  the 
Selectmen  of  such  respective  Towns,  where  any  expense 
has  been  occasioned  thereby,  a  particular  account  of  the 
names  of  the  persons  who  marched  under  arms  as  afore- 
said, for  the  relief  of  people  in  distress,  and  have  since 
returned  ;  and  also  of  the  time  every  such  person  was 
detained,  from  the  first  of  his  march  till  his  return  ;  and 
also  the  quantity  of  Ammunition  every  such  person  was 
supplied  with  from  any  Colony  or  Town  stock.  And  the 
Selectmen  of  all  such  respective  Towns  are  hereby  order- 
ed and  directed  to  collect  a  particular  account  of  the  ex- 
penses for  provision,  carriage,  &,c,  that  has  incurred  by 
means  aforesaid,  in  such  Town  severally,  with  the  names 
of  the  persons  who  advanced  the  same,  or  to  whom  the 
satisfaction  may  be  due.  And  such  Selectmen  are  also  or- 
dered and  directed  to  lay  before  the  Committee  of  the  Pay- 
Table  a  particular  account  of  the  quantum  of  each  article 
of  expense  for  provision,  time  of  those  that  marched,  mo- 
ney advanced,  he. ;  which  Committee  of  the  Pay-Table 
are  hereby  ordered  and  directed  to  settle  and  adjust  such 
accounts,  and  allow  what  shall  be  just  and  reasonable  ;  the 
pay  of  the  officers  respectively,  and  wages  of  the  men,  to 
be  the  same  as  in  the  present  establishment,  and  give  to 
such  Selectmen  an  order  on  the  Treasurer  for  payment  of 
the  same.  And  such  Selectmen  are  hereby  directed  to 
receive  and  pay  the  same  accordingly  to  each  of  the  per- 
sons to  whom  it  is  due  ;  and  such  Selectmen  are  also  here- 
by ordered  and  directed  to  receive  back  of  such  persons 
who  marched  in  the  service  aforesaid,  and  have  returned, 
such  articles  of  Ammunition  as  they  received  from  any 
Colony  or  Town  stock,  and  see  the  same  duly  returned 
accordingly.  And  in  case  such  Ammunition  or  part  there- 
of shall  not  be  returned,  the  value  of  such  proportion  so 
detained  by  each  of  said  persons  who  received  the  same, 
shall  be  deducted  out  of  the  sum  allowed  to  him  respec- 
tively for  his  service  aforesaid. 

Whereas  there  is  convincing  evidence  that  a  design  is 
formed  by  the  British  Ministry  of  making  a  cruel  invasion 
from  the  Province  of  Quebeck  upon  the  Northern  Colo- 
nies, for  the  purpose  of  distressing  our  lives  and  liberties, 
and  some  steps  have  actually  been  taken  to  carry  said  de- 
sign into  execution :  And  whereas  several  inhabitants  of 
the  Northern  Colonies,  residing  in  the  vicinity  of  Ticon- 
deroga,  immediately  exposed  to  incursions,  impelled  by  a 
just  regard  for  the  defence  and  preservation  of  themselves 
and  their  countrymen  from  such  imminent  dangers  and 
calamities,  have  taken  possession  of  that  post  and  of  Croun 
Point,  in  which  were  lodged  a  quantity  of  Cannon  and 
Military  Stores,  that  would  certainly  have  been  used  in  the 
intended  invasion  of  these  Colonies,  and  have  also  taken 
into  their  custody  a  number  of  officers  and  soldiers  who 
were  holding  and  keeping  said  Posts,  and  of  their  own 
motion  have  sent  them  into  this  Colony  ;  and  as  this  Colo- 
ny has  no  command  of  said  Posts,  now  in  possession  of 
people  of  several  Colonies,  it  is  impracticable  for  said  offi- 


571 


COiMNECTICUT  ASSEMBLY,  MAY,  1775. 


572 


cers  and  soldiers  to  return  to  said  posts,  and  the  dictates  of 
humanity  require  that  said  officers  and  soldiers,  with  their 
families,  should  he  provided  for  and  supported  while  they 
continue  in  this  Colony  :  it  is  therefore, 

Resolved  by  this  Assembly,  That  Col.  Erastus  Wolcott, 
Captain  Samuel  Wadsworth,  Captain  Ezckiel  Williams, 
ami  Mr.  Epaphras  Hull,  Henry  Allyn,  Esquire,  Colonel 
Fisher  Gay,  Col.  Matthew  Talcott,  Col.  James  Wadsworth, 
Captain  Jonathan  Wells,  Ebenezer  White,  Esquire,  and 
Colonel  Jonathan  Humphrey  be,  and  they,  or  any  three 
of  them,  are  hereby  appointed  a  Committee,  and  are  or- 
dered and  instructed,  at  the  expense  of  this  Colony,  to 
take  care  of  and  provide  for  said  officers  and  soldiers,  with 
their  families  at  present,  and  see  that  they  be  treated  with 
humanity,  kindness,  and  respect,  according  to  their  rank 
and  station,  and  encourage,  assist,  and  advise  said  soldiers 
in  procuring  such  profitable  labour  and  business  as  they 
may  be  capable  of,  wherever  said  soldiers  can  find  persons 
willing  to  entertain  and  give  them  employment,  until,  by 
the  advice  of  the  Continental  Congress  or  otherwise,  this 
Assembly  shall  take  further  order  concerning  them,  and 
that  the  Commander-in-Chief  make  a  proper  return,  under 
his  hand,  to  said  Committee,  of  the  corps  that  are  under  his 
command. 

Resolved  by  this  Assembly,  That  the  form  for  Commis- 
sions for  the  Field-Officers  in  the  service  for  the  special 
defence  and  safety  of  this  Colony,  shall  be  as  follows,  and 
the  Governour  and  Secretary  are  desired  and  directed  to 
sign  the  same : 

"  Colony  of  Connecticut  : 

"Jonathan  Trumbull,  Esquire,  Captain- General  and 
Governour -in- Chief  in  and  over  His  Majesty's  Eng- 
lish Colony  in  New-England  in  America, 

"  To  Benjamin  Hinman,  Esquire,  greeting : 

"  By  virtue  of  the  power  and  authority  to  me  given,  and 
by  the  Royal  Charter  to  the  Governour  and  Company  of 
the  said  Colony,  under  the  great  seal  of  England,  1  do,  by 
these  presents,  reposing  especial  trust  and  confidence  in 
your  loyalty,  courage,  and  good  conduct,  constitute  and  ap- 
point you,  the  said  Benjamin  Hinman,  to  be  Colonel  of  the 
Fourth  Regiment  of  the  inhabitants  enlisted  and  assembled 
for  the  special  defence  and  safety  of  His  Majesty's  said 
Colony.  You  are,  therefore,  to  lead,  conduct,  order,  and 
exercise  said  Regiment  in  the  service  aforesaid,  and  to 
keep  them  in  good  order  and  discipline,  hereby  command- 
ing them  to  obey  you  as  their  Colonel,  and  yourself  to 
observe  and  follow  such  orders  and  instructions  as  you  shall 
from  time  to  time  receive  from  me  or  the  Commander-in- 
Chief  of  the  said  Colony  for  the  time  being,  or  other  your 
superiour  officers,  according  to  military  rules  and  discipline, 
pursuant  to  the  trust  reposed  in  you. 

"Given  under  my  hand  and  the  publick  seal  of  the  said 

Colony  at  ,  the  first  day  of  May,  in  the 

fifteenth  year  of  the  reign  of  His  Majesty  King  George  the 
Third,  Anno  Domini  1775." 

Resolved,  further,  That  the  form  for  Warrants  for  the 
Officers  on  the  Staff  be  as  follows,  and  the  Governour  is 
directed  to  sign  the  same  : 

"Jonathan  Trumbull,  Esquire,  Governour  and  Com- 
mander-in-Chief of  His  Majesty's  Colony  of  Connect- 
icut in  New-England,  in  America, 
"  To  Rev.  Cotton  Mather  Smith,  greeting : 

"  Reposing  especial  trust  and  confidence  in  your  loyalty, 
piety,  ability,  integrity,  and  good  conduct,  1  do  hereby  ap- 
point you,  the  said  Cotton  Mather  Smith,  Chaplain  of  the 
Fourth  Regiment  of  the  inhabitants  enlisted  and  assem- 
bled for  the  special  defence  and  safety  of  His  Majesty's 
said  Colony  ;  and  do  hereby  authorize  and  empower  you 
to  exercise  the  several  acts  and  duties  of  your  office  and 
station  as  Chaplain  of  the  said  Regiment,  which  you  are 
faithfully  to  perform  in  a  due  and  religious  discharge  there- 
of, according  to  the  important  trust  reposed  in  you,  for 
which  this  is  your  warrant. 

"  Given  under  my  hand  and  seal  at  arms,  in  .  .  , 
in  the  Colony  aforesaid,  this  twentieth  day  of  May,  in  the 
fifteenth  year  of  the  reign  of  His  Majesty  King  George  the 
Third,  Anno  Domini  1775." 


"  Jonathan  Trumbull,  Esquire,  Governour  and  Com- 
mander-in-Chief in  and  over  His  Majesty's  English 
Colony  of  Connecticut  in  New-England,  in  Ame- 
rica, 

"  To  Lemuel  Wheeler,  Gentleman,  greeting  : 

"  I  do,  by  these  presents,  resposing  especial  confidence 
in  your  loyalty,  skill,  and  good  conduct,  appoint  you,  the 
said  Lemuel  Wheeler,  to  be  Physician  and  Surgeon  in  the 
Fourth  Regiment  of  inhabitants  enlisted  and  assembled  for 
the  special  defence  and  safety  of  His  Majesty's  said  Colony  ; 
and  1  do  hereby  authorize  and  empower  you  to  exercise 
your  said  office  in  a  due  discharge  of  the  duties  thereof, 
which  you  are  carefully  and  diligently  to  attend  as  a  Phy- 
sician as  aforesaid,  according  to  the  trust  reposed  in  you, 
for  which  this  is  your  sufficient  warrant. 

"  Given  under  my  hand  and  seal  at  arms,  at  .  .  , 
in  said  Colony,  the  twentieth  day  of  May,  1775,  in  the 
fifteenth  year  of  His  Majesty's  reign." 

"  Colony  of  Connecticut  : 

"Jonathan  Trumbull,  Esquire,  Governour  and  Com- 
mander-in-Chief in  and  over  His  Majesty's  Colony  of 
Connecticut  in  New- England,  in  America, 

"  To  ,    Gentleman,  greeting : 

"I  do,  by  these  presents,  reposing  especial  trust  and  con- 
fidence in  your  loyalty,  fidelity,  and  good  conduct,  consti- 
tute and  appoint  you,  the  said  ,  to  be 

Commissary  in  the  .  .  .  Regiment  of  the  inhabitants 
enlisted  and  assembled  for  the  special  defence  and  safety 
of  His  Majesty's  said  Colony  ;  and  you  having  first  given 
bond,  with  sufficient  surety  for  a  faithful  discharge  of  your 
trust,  I  do  authorize  and  empower  you  to  exercise  your 
said  office  in  a  due  performance  of  the  duties  thereof  in  the 
Regiment  aforesaid,  keeping  proper  accounts,  and  the  same 
render  on  oath  when  required,  according  to  the  trust  repos- 
ed in  you,  for  which  this  is  a  sufficient  warrant. 

"  Given  under  my  hand  and  seal  at  arms,  in  ...  , 
the  .  .  day  of  May,  A.  D.  1775,  in  the  fifteenth  year 
of  His  Majesty's  reign." 

Resolved  by  this  Assembly,  That  the  Committee  of  the 
Pay-Table  be  directed  to  give  orders  on  the  Treasurer  of 
this  Colony  for  payment  to  all  such  persons  who  have  ac- 
tually expended  moneys  or  given  their  written  obligations 
therefor,  more  than  to  the  amount  of  what  is  equitably  due 
to  them  for  their  personal  service  in  obtaining  possession  of 
Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point,  upon  their  exhibiting  their 
accounts,  and  having  them  liquidated  and  approved  by  said 
Committee;  and  also,  that  said  Committee  be,  and  they 
are  hereby  further  directed  to  receive  the  accounts  of  the 
cost  and  expenses,  both  of  men  and  provisions,  incurred  in 
taking  and  securing  said  Fortresses,  by  any  inhabitants  of 
this  Colony,  or  any  others  by  them  engaged  and  employed, 
digest  the  same  into  proper  form,  and  lay  the  same  before 
this  or  some  future  Assembly,  for  their  equitable  considera- 
tion and  allowance. 

Resolved  by  this  Assembly,  That  all  accounts  of  dis- 
bursements made  by  order  or  direction  of  this  Assembly 
relative  lo  the  present  extraordinary  emergencies  of  Gov- 
ernment, be  laid  before  the  Pay-Table  Committee  already 
appointed,  to  be  by  them  examined,  settled,  and  adjusted  ; 
and  said  Committee  are  hereby  directed  to  draw  all  need- 
ful orders  on  the  Treasurer  for  the  payment  thereof. 

Resolved  by  this  Assembly,  That  each  non-commissioned 
officer  and  soldier  belonging  to  any  military  company  or 
trainband  in  this  Colony,  shall  be  paid  out  of  the  Colony 
Treasury  Six  Pence  for  each  half  day  he  shall  attend  and 
perform  military  exercises,  and  Twelve  Pence  for  each  day 
lie  shall  attend  and  perform  regimental  exercise,  in  obe- 
dience to  a  law  of  this  Colony  passed  at  the  session  of  the 
General  Assembly  in  October  last ;  and  that  the  Clerk  of 
each  of  said  Companies  shall  make  out  duplicate  and  at- 
tested Rolls  of  such  non-commissioned  officers  and  soldiers 
as  performed  military  exercises  as  aforesaid,  and  deliver  the 
same  to  the  Captain,  or,  in  his  absence,  to  the  chief  officer 
of  such  company  whereof  he  is  Clerk,  and  said  Captain 
or  chief  officer  shall  present  said  Roll  to  two  assistants,  or 
two  Justices  of  the  Peace,  to  be  by  them  examined  and 
approved,  which  Rolls,  when  approved,  shall,  by  such  au- 
thority, be  noted  thereon  accordingly,  one  of  which  Rolls 
shall  be  delivered  to  such  officer,  and  the  other  held  by  said 


573 


CONNECTICUT  ASSEMBLY,  MAY,  1775. 


574 


authority ;  and  thereupon  said  authority  shall  draw  an 
order  on  the  Treasurer  of  this  Colony,  payable  to  such  Cap- 
tain or  chief  officer,  who  shall  receive  the  money  due  them 
of  the  Treasurer,  and  pay  the  same  to  each  non-commis- 
sioned officer  and  soldier  as  shall  be  due  according  to  said 
Roll. 

Resolved  by  this  Assembly,  That  Jabez  Hamlin,  Mat- 
thew Talcott,  and  Titus  Hosmer,  Esquires,  be  and  they 
are  hereby  appointed  a  Committee  to  provide  such  stores  of 
Lead  as  they  shall  judge  necessary  for  the  use  of  this  Col- 
ony ;  and  that  said  Committee  may  be  effectually  able  to 
execute  their  said  trust,  they  are  authorized  and  directed, 
on  behalf  of  this  Colony,  to  contract  for,  purchase,  or  take 
the  Lead  Ore  that  is  or  may  be  raised  out  of  the  Lead 
Mines  in  Middletown,  and  cause  any  and  greater  quantities 
of  Ore  to  be  dug  out  of  said  mine,  and  by  the  best  and 
most  prudent  ways  and  means  they  can,  to  procure  said 
Ore  to  be  refined  and  fitted  for  the  use  of  this  Colony,  and 
to  erect  any  furnace  or  building  necessary  for  that  purpose  ; 
and  that  said  Committee  have  power  and  authority  to  take 
and  receive  out  of  the  Colony  Treasury  from  time  to  time, 
any  sum  or  sums  of  money  that  shall  be  found  necessary 
to  enable  them  to  procure  said  Lead,  or  purchase  said  Lead 
Ore,  and  smelt,  refine,  and  separate  the  lead  therefrom, 
not  exceeding  the  sum  of  Four  Hundred  Pounds,  lawful 
money,  in  the  whole  ;  and  the  Colony  Treasurer  is  ordered 
to  pay  and  advance  the  said  sum  of  money  to  the  said 
Committee,  or  their  order,  accordingly,  always  provided 
that  the  owner  or  owners  of  said  mine  or  ore  shall  have 
reasonable  allowance  and  be  duly  compensated  for  any  loss, 
hurt,  or  damage,  that  he  or  they  may  or  shall  sustain  or 
suffer  by  reason  of  the  premises. 

Resolved  by  this  Assembly,  That  the  Commander-in- 
Chief  for  the  time  being,  of  the  Forces  raised  in  this  Col- 
ony, at  their  respective  destinations,  be  authorized  and 
empowered,  and  they  are  hereby  empowered  to  procure  a 
suitable  Armourer  or  Armourers  to  repair  any  Fire-Arms 
that  may  be  damaged  in  the  service,  as  occasion  may  call 
for,  and  lay  the  account  thereof  before  the  Committee  of  the 
Pay-Table,  who  are  hereby  directed  to  draw  orders  on  the 
Treasurer  for  the  payment  thereof. 

Resolved  by  this  Assembly,  That  the  Committee  of  the 
Pay-Table  be  directed  to  repair  the  Arms  belonging  to  this 
Colony  in  the  hands  of  the  Treasurer,  and  deliver  out  as 
many  of  them  as  may  be  wanted,  to  the  inhabitants  enlist- 
ed for  the  special  defence  of  this  Colony,  and  have  them 
appraised,  and  take  proper  receipts  therefor. 

Resolved  by  this  Assembly,  That  Samuel  Mott,  Esquire, 
be  and  he  is  hereby  appointed  Engineer,  forthwith  to  repair 
to  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point,  to  assist  and  act  in  said 
capacity,  and  to  take  rank  as  a  Lieutenant-Colonel  among 
the  Troops  raised  for  the  defence  of  this  Colony. 

Resolved  by  this  Assembly,  That  Thaddeus  Burr,  Esq., 
of  Fairfield,  and  Charles  Church  Chandler,  Esq.,  of  Wood- 
stock, be  a  Committee  to  engage  and  employ,  at  the  pub- 
lick  expense  of  this  Colony,  two  News-Carriers  to  perform 
regular  stages  from  Fairfield  to  Woodstock,  and  from 
Woodstock  to  Fairfield,  passing  through  the  Towns  of 
Windham  and  Lebanon,  in  such  manner  that  they  severally 
arrive  in  Hartford  every  Saturday ;  and  that  they  forward 
all  proper  intelligence  to  Fairfield  and  Woodstock,  with 
all  convenient  speed;  also,  that  Gurdon  Saltonstall,  Esq., 
of  Neiu-London,  be  a  Committee  to  engage  and  employ 
two  News-Carriers  at  the  expense  of  the  Colony,  to  per- 
form regular  stages  from  Woodstock  to  New-Haven,  on 
the  Fairfield  stage,  and  from  New-Haven  to  Woodstock, 
in  such  manner  that  they  severally  arrive  in  New-London 
every  Saturday ;  and  that  they  forward  all  proper  intelli- 
gence each  way  every  Monday  morning,  with  all  conve- 
nient despatch ;  and  that  Thaddeus  Burr,  Esquire,  of 
Fairfield,  Charles  Church  Chandler,  Esquire,  of  Wood- 
stock, and  Gurdon  Saltonstall,  Esq.,  of  New-London,  be 
a  Committee  to  forward,  at  the  publick  expense  of  this 
Colony,  all  such  extraordinary  and  important  intelligence 
which  shall  be  received  from  time  to  time  at  either  place, 
as  they  shall  judge  proper  and  necessary ;  the  aforesaid 
regulations  to  continue  in  force  until  the  rising  of  the  As- 
sembly in  October  next,  and  no  longer. 

This  Assembly  do  appoint  the  Honourable  Matthew 
Griswold,  Esquire,  and  the  Honourable  Eliphalet  Dyer, 
Jabez  Huntington,  and  Samuel  Huntington,  Esquires,  Wil- 


liam Williams,  Nathaniel  Wales,  Junior,  Jedediuh  Elder- 
kin,  Joshua  West,  and  Benjamin  Huntington,  Esquires,  a 
Committee  to  assist  his  Honour  the  Governour  when  the 
Assembly  is  not  sitting,  to  order  and  direct  the  marches 
and  stations  of  the  inhabitants  enlisted  and  assembled  for 
the  special  defence  of  the  Colony,  or  any  part  or  parts  of 
them,  as  they  shall  judge  necessary,  and  to  give  orders  from 
time  to  time  for  furnishing  and  employing  said  inhabitants 
so  enlisted  with  every  matter  and  thing  that  may  be  need- 
ful to  render  the  defence  of  the  Colony  effectual. 

Resolved  by  this  Assembly,  That  the  Commissions  or- 
dered by  the  Special  Assembly  in  April  last,  to  the  respec- 
tive Officers  appointed  to  enlist  men  for  the  defence  ot  the 
Colony,  shall  be  dated  May  1 ,  1775,  and  the  Secretary 
ordered  to  fill  them  up  accordingly. 

Resolved  by  this  Assembly,  That  the  Warrants  to  the 
Staff  Officers,  viz:  Chaplain,  Surgeon,  and  Surgeon's 
Mates  for  each  Regiment  enlisted  and  formed  for  the  spe- 
cial defence  and  safety  of  this  Colony,  shall  be  dated  the 
20th  day  of  May,  1775,  and  his  Honour  the  Governour  is 
directed  to  fill  the  same  accordingly. 

This  Assembly  grants  to  Major-General  Wooster  the 
sum  of  Four  Pounds  per  month,  to  assist  and  enable  him 
to  provide  a  proper  Secretary  for  the  necessary  service  of 
such  Department. 

This  Assembly  grants  to  Brigadier  Generals  Spencer  and 
Putnam,  respectively,  as  they  shall  find  necessary,  the  sum 
of  Four  Pounds  per  month,  to  assist  and  enable  them  to 
provide  proper  Secretaries  for  the  necessary  service  of  their 
respective  Departments. 

Resolved  by  this  Assembly,  That  the  Commissaries  ap- 
pointed by  this  Assembly  for  supplying  the  inhabitants 
raised  for  the  defence  of  the  Colony,  shall  be  allowed  one 
and  a  half  per  cent,  commission  on  all  supplies  purchased 
and  paid  for  by  order  of  the  Assembly. 

Resolved  by  this  Assembly,  That  Jabez  Hamlin  and 
Jesse  Root,  Esquires,  be  added  to,  and  they  are  hereby 
appointed  of  the  Committee  to  sign  the  Bills  of  Publick 
Credit  on  this  Colony,  ordered  to  be  emitted  by  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly  holden  at  this  place  by  special  order  of  his 
Honour  the  Governour,  on  the  26th  day  of  April  last,  any 
three  of  said  Committee  to  execute  the  trust  aforesaid. 

Resolved  by  this  Assembly,  That  five  hundred  pounds 
of  Powder  be  immediately  borrowed  by  the  Committee  of 
the  Pay-Table,  from  the  Town  stocks  of  the  adjacent 
Towns,  and  put  into  the  hands  of  Colonel  James  Easton, 
to  be  transported  with  the  utmost  expedition  to  Crown 
Point  and  Ticonderoga,  to  be  there  used  for  the  present 
and  immediate  defence  of  those  Posts,  till  the  Resolves  of 
the  Continental  Congress  may  be  carried  into  execution  ; 
and  that  an  order  be  drawn  by  the  Committee  ol  Pay-Table 
on  the  Colony  Treasurer,  in  favour  of  said  Colonel  Easton, 
for  Two  Hundred  Pounds,  lawful  money,  to  be  improved 
by  him  in  defraying  the  expenses  of  transporting  said  Pow- 
der and  other  necessary  purposes,  for  the  immediate  support 
and  security  of  said  Fortresses,  rendering  his  account 
therefor. 

Resolved  by  this  Assembly,  That  the  pay  of  the  Adju- 
tants in  the  Forces  assembled  for  the  defence  of  this  Col- 
ony shall  be  the  sum  of  Six  Pounds  per  month  ;  and  that 
such  Adjutants  shall  sustain  and  receive  pay  for  that  office 
only ;  and  it  is  further  resolved  that  the  pay  of  the  First 
Lieutenants  of  the  Colonels'  Companies  in  each  Regiment, 
respectively,  shall  be  Six  Pounds  per  month. 

This  Assembly  do  appoint  David  Johnson,  Junior,  Sec- 
ond Lieutenant  in  the  Second  Company  in  the  Fourth 
Regiment,  to  be  enlisted  and  assembled  for  the  special  de- 
fence of  this  Colony,  in  the  room  of  David  Bissell,  super- 
seded. 

This  Assembly  do  appoint  Major  Jabez  Thompson  to  be 
Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the  Second  Regiment  of  Militia  in 
this  Colony,  in  the  room  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Gould,  re- 
signed. 

Captain  William  Douglass,  Major  of  the  Second  Regi- 
ment, in  room  of  Major  Thompson,  promoted. 

Gold  Selleck  Silliman,  Esq.,  to  be  Colonel  of  the  Fourth 
Regiment,  in  room  of  Colonel  ,  resigned. 

Captain  Ichabod  Lewis  to  be  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the 
Fourth  Regiment,  in  the  room  of  Gold  Selleck  Silliman, 
Esq.,  promoted. 


575 


CONNECTICUT  ASSEMBLY,  MAY,  1775. 


576 


Thomas  Belding,  Esq.,  to  be  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the 
Sixth  Regiment,  in  the  room  of  Matthew  Talcott,  Esq., 
resigned. 

John  Chester,  Esq.,  to  be  Major  of  the  Sixth  Regiment, 
in  the  room  of  Thomas  Belding,  Esq.,  promoted. 

John  Mead,  Esq.,  to  be  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the  Ninth 
Regiment,  in  the  room  of  Vavid  Waterbury,  resigned. 

Stephen  11.  John,  Esq.,  to  be  Major  of  the  Ninth  Regi- 
ment, in  room  of  John  Mead,  Esq..  promoted. 

William  Williams,  Esq.,  to  be  Colonel  of  the  Twelfth 
Regiment,  in  room  of  Joseph  Spencer,  Esq.,  resigned. 

Henri/  Champion,  Esq.,  to  be  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the 
Twelfth  Regiment,  in  room  of  William  Williams,  Esq., 
resigned. 

Dyer  Throop,  Esq.,  to  be  Majorof  the  Twelfth  Regiment. 

Matthew  Talcott,  Esq.,  to  be  Colonel  of  the  Twenty- 
Third  Regiment. 

Captain  Comfort  Sage  to  be  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the 
Twenty-Third  Regiment. 

Captain  John  Penfield  to  be  Major  of  the  Twenty-Third 
Regiment. 

Zebulon  Butler,  Esq.,  to  be  Colonel  of  the  Twenty- 
Fourth  Regiment. 

Nathan  Denison,  Esq.,  to  be  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the 
Twenty-Fourth  Regiment. 

William  Judd,  Esq.,  to  be  Major  of  the  Twenty-Fourth 
Regiment. 

Oliver  Smith,  Esq.,  to  be  Major  of  the  Eighth  Regi- 
ment, in  room  of  Major  Charles  Phelps,  Esq.,  resigned. 

Upon  the  Memorial  of  John  Sutliff,  Junior,  and  others, 
Inhabitants  of  the  Society  of  Norlhbury,  in  Waterbury, 
showing  to  this  Assembly  that  they  live  within  the  limits  of 
the  West  Military  Company  or  Trainband,  in  said  Society, 
and  that  the  major  part  of  said  Company,  both  Officers  and 
Soldiers,  are  totally  disaffected  to  the  general  cause  of 
American  liberty,  and  that  they  altogether  refuse  to  adopt 
the  measures  advised  by  the  Continental  Congress,  but 
publickly  speak  and  act  in  direct  opposition  thereto : 

Upon  which  a  Committee,  viz :  Thomas  Matthews  and 
Timothy  Judd,  Esquires,  were  appointed,  who  have  made 
their  Report  to  this  Assembly,  and  the  same  being  also 
accepted  : 

Resolved  by  this  Assembly,  That  the  Captain  and  En- 
sign of  said  West  Military  Company  or  Trainband,  in  the 
Society  of  North  bury,  in  said  Waterbury,  be  and  they  are 
hereby  cashiered  and  dismissed  from  their  respective  mili- 
tary offices  ;  and  the  Colonel  of  the  Regiment  said  Com- 
pany is  part  of  is  hereby  directed  to  lead  said  Company  to 
the  choice  of  a  Captain  and  an  Ensign,  and  other  needful 
officers,  and  make  return  to  this  Assembly. 

Upon  the  Memorial  of  Nathaniel  Niles,  of  Norwich,  in 
the  County  of  New-London,  shewing  to  this  Assembly  that 
it  is  of  importance  that  the  manufacturing  of  Iron  Wire,  upon 
which  the  Woollen  and  Cotton  Manufactories  so  greatly 
depend,  should  be  set  up  and  carried  on  with  the  greatest 
expedition,  which  the  Memorialist  is  willing  to  undertake 
and  pursue,  upon  proper  encouragement,  and  hath  made 
some  progress  therein,  &ic,  as  per  Memorial  on  file : 

Resolved  by  this  Assembly,  That  Jabez  Huntington, 
Samuel  Huntington,  and  Elijah  Backus,  Esquires,  all  of 
Norwich,  be  and  they  are  hereby  appointed  a  Committee 
to  examine  into  the  matters  contained  in  said  Memorial, 
and  the  expenses  of  erecting  proper  works  for  the  manu- 
facturing of  Iron  Wire ;  and  what  encouragement  may  be 
properly  given  the  Memorialist  therefor;  and  if  said  Com- 
mittee, upon  due  examination,  shall  judge  it  reasonable  and 
expedient,  they  are  hereby  empowered  to  draw  their  order 
on  the  Colony  Treasurer  for  any  sum  not  exceeding  Three 
Hundred  Pounds  to  be  paid  by  said  Treasurer,  who  is 
hereby  directed  to  pay  the  same  to  the  Memorialist,  upon 
his  giving  good  security  to  the  acceptance  of  said  Commit- 
tee, that  said  sum  shall  be  improved  solely  for  the  setting 
up  and  carrying  on  said  Manufactory  ;  and  that  the  princi- 
pal sum  so  received  shall  be  repaid  at  the  expiration  of  four 
years  after  received,  without  any  interest  thereon. 

Resolved  by  this  Assembly,  That  the  Secretary  of  this 
Colony  be  directed  to  send  to  the  Towns  of  Torrington 
and  New-Hartford,  to  return  to  this  Assembly,  in  October 
next,  the  whole  of  their  Lists,  the  exemption  that  hath 
been  granted  to  the  Society  of  Torringford  notwithstand- 


ing ;  and  also  to  all  the  rest  of  the  Towns  in  this  Colony 
that  are  incorporated,  that  have  not  yet  sent  in  their  Lists. 

This  Assembly  do  appoint  Elisha  Sheldon,  Esq.,  Colo- 
nel Samuel  H'yllys,  Mr  Ezra  Selden,  Mr.  William  1  lav- 
ley,  Mr.  Jonathan  Trumbull,  Junior,  and  Major  Samuel 
Canfeld,  to  audit  and  adjust  the  Colony  Accounts  with  John 
Lawrence,  Esq.,  the  present  Treasurer  of  this  Colony. 

Whereas  the  situation  of  publick  affairs  are  such  at  pre- 
sent, that  the  attention  of  the  publick  is  called  off  from 
private  matters  to  things  of  greater  importance  ;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  the  consideration  of  all  private  business 
of  a  civil  and  disputable  nature,  be  referred  over  to  the  ses- 
sion of  this  Assembly  in  October  next. 

This  Assembly  grants  to  his  Honour  Governour  Trum- 
bull, the  sum  of  One  Hundred  and  Fifty  Pounds,  for  the 
first  half  of  his  salary  the  current  year. 

This  Assembly  grants  to  the  Honourable  Deputy  Gov- 
ernour Griswold  the  sum  of  Fifty  Pounds,  for  the  first  half 
of  his  salary  the  current  year. 

This  Assembly  grants  to  John  Laurence,  Esq.,  the  sum 
of  One  Hundred  and  Eighty  Pounds,  for  his  salary  the 
year  past  as  Treasurer  of  this  Colony. 

This  Assembly  grants  to  George  Wyllys,  Esq.,  Secretary 
of  this  Colony,  the  sum  of  Twenty  Pounds,  for  his  salary 
the  year  past. 

This  Assembly  is  adjourned  by  Proclamation,  he,  until 
the  Governour  shall  see  cause  to  call  it  to  meet  together 
again.        Test :  George  Wyllys,  Secretary. 

In  the  Lower  House  : 

Mr.  Hosmer,  Colonel  Wolcott,  Colonel  Elderkin,  and 
Mr.  Sturgess,  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  join  the  Com- 
mittee from  the  Honourable  Upper  House,  to  consider  what 
Intelligence,  Papers,  and  Documents  are  material  and  ne- 
cessary to  be  transmitted  and  communicated  to  the  Conti- 
nental Congress  at  Philadelphia ;  and  likewise  take  into 
their  consideration  what  matters  and  things  relative  to  the 
late  hostile  transactions,  it  is  expedient  to  make  publick, 
and  report  make.    Test :  Richard  Law,  Clerk. 

In  the  Upper  House  : 

Jabez  Hamlin,  Esquire,  is  appointed  to  join  the  Com- 
mittee of  the  Lower  House  in  the  affair  above-mentioned. 
Test:  George  Wyllys,  Secretary. 

To  the  Honourable  the  General  Assembly  now  sitting  in 
Hartford. 

We,  your  Honours'  Committee  appointed  to  consider 
what  Intelligence,  Papers,  and  Documents  are  material  and 
necessary  to  be  transmitted  and  communicated  to  the  Con- 
tinental Congress  now  sitting  at  Philadelphia ;  and  likewise 
what  matters  and  things  relative  to  the  late  hostile  transac- 
tions it  is  expedient  to  make  publick,  beg  leave  to  report 
our  opinion  : 

First.  That  it  is  material  and  necessary  that  copies  of 
the  Letter  wrote  by  his  Honour  the  Governour  to  General 
Gage,  at  the  request  and  in  behalf  of  the  Assembly,  and 
of  General  Gage's  answer  to  said  Letter,  and  of  his  Nar- 
rative of  the  proceedings  of  the  Troops  on  the  18th  and 
19th  of  April  last,  accompanied  with  a  Letter  from  his 
Honour  the  Governour,  should  be  prepared  and  transmitted 
to  Colonel  Eliphaltt  Dyer,  Roger  Sherman,  and  Silas 
Deane,  Esquires,  Delegates  from  this  Colony  to  the  Con- 
tinental Congress,  to  be  made  use  of  at  their  discretion  ;  the 
Narrative  from  the  Provincial  Congress  of  Massachusetts- 
Bay,  and  the  Depositions  taken  by  and  received  from  them, 
being,  as  we  are  well  informed,  already  sent  to  said  Con- 
tinental Congress,  we  are  of  opinion  it  is  not  necessary  to 
forward  from  hence. 

Secondly.  That  a  concise  and  true  Narration  of  the  late 
hostile  attack  made  by  the  Troops  under  the  command  of 
General  Gage  upon  the  inhabitants  of  the  Province  of  the 
Massachusetts-Bay,  with  the  Depositions  to  support  and 
confirm  the  same,  should  be  prepared  for  the  press,  and  be 
printed  and  dispersed  through  this  Colony  ;  and  we  farther 
beg  leave  to  submit  it  to  the  consideration  of  the  As- 
sembly, whether  it  would  not  answer  some  good  purpose, 
if  the  Narrative  of  said  transactions  received  from  General 
Gage,  were  printed  and  published  with  the  Narrative  and 
proofs  aforesaid.         Per  order:  J.  Hamlin. 


577 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


578 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM   LONDON  TO  A  GENTLEMAN 
I.N  PHILADELPHIA. 

London,  May  12,  1775. 

I  did  not,  unlil  this  day,  receive  your  kind  favour  of 
March  17,  which  confirmed  the  agreeahle  intelligence  of 
the  decisive  victory  of  the  sons  of  liberty  in  JSew-York, 
over  the  pitiful  and  mercenary  supporters  of  despotism. 

The  Remonstrance  of  their  Assembly  to  the  House  of 
Commons,  Mr.  Burke,  the  agent,  is  to  present  next  Mon- 
day, the  15th  instant.  I  fancy  you  may  take  it  for  granted, 
the  Ministry  are  determined  it  shall  not  be  received  ;  but  if 
their  minds  should  change  before  that  time,  it  will  be 
received  only  to  be  condemned,  by  ordering  it  to  lay  on  the 
table,  which  is  almost  as  slighting  a  mode  of  procedure  as 
refusing  to  receive  it.  Thus  are  applications  treated,  when 
made  in  the  very  manner  the  Ministers  themselves  have 
pointed  out.  In  short,  nothing  will  please,  but  an  absolute 
and  total  submission,  at  the  shrine  of  despotism,  of  the  lives, 
liberties,  and  property,  of  yourselves  and  posterity  to  end- 
less generations. 

Whether  these  things  are  not  worthy  of  contending  for, 
even  unto  death,  I  leave  you  to  judge,  who  may  enjoy 
the  blessings  of  them,  or  feel  the  curse  of  wanting  them 
forever.  The  advantages  of  commerce  are  now,  for  the 
first  time  in  this  Kingdom,  held  at  naught  by  our  wick- 
ed Ministers ;  as  they  suppose  commerce  enlarges  the 
ideas  of  men  in  general,  and  gives  more  aversion  to  tyran- 
ny than  confined  employment ;  therefore,  the  trade  of  poor 
old  England  is  to  be  buried  in  the  same  grave  with  Ame- 
rica n  liberty. 

The  merchants  and  manufacturers  you  well  know,  how- 
ever, before  this,  have  bestirred  themselves  in  the  American 
cause  ;  but  as  they  did  not  really  feel,  their  exertions  were 
not  earnest  enough  to  command  success.  For  my  own 
part,  I  am  convinced  this  business  can  never  be  settled 
without  bloodshed,  unless  you  are  tame  enough  to  give  up 
every  thing  that  can  be  held  dear  in  this  world,  viz :  civil 
and  religious  liberty,  to  absolute  tyranny  ;  because  1  know 
the  Ministers,  or,  in  plain  words,  their  master,  Lord  Bute, 
has  ordained  it  shall  be.  In  my  mind,  there  should  not  be 
one  moment's  hesitation  about  the  choice :  we  can  die  but 
once,  and  never  on  a  better  occasion  than  in  the  cause  of 
God,  and  the  rights  of  mankind.  The  friends  of  liberty 
in  this  Country,  who  are  really  numerous,  look  to  you 
with  wonderful  attention.  They  expect  much  good  from 
your  virtue ;  and,  in  my  judgment,  when  the  first  engage- 
ment happens  in  America,  a  flame  will  burst  out  here 
that  must  overwhelm  the  contrivers  of  all  this  mischief. 
The  eyes  of  all  Europe,  are  upon  you;  and  I  believe  we 
should  have  had  a  foreign  war  before  this,  but  France  and 
Spain  wait  to  see  the  business  first  fairly  begun  in  Ame- 
rica. However,  this  day  the  foreign  mail  brings  certain 
intelligence  of  twelve  Spanish  Men-of-War  arriving  at 
Cadiz  from  the  Mediterranean,  which  has  occasioned 
much  speculation  among  the  politicians,  and  horrible  gri- 
maces among  the  ministerial  gentry.  I  am  no  enthusiast : 
but  still  I  am  convinced  that  this  American  business  is  in 
the  hand  of  Providence,  to  make  you  a  great  and  wonderful 
Empire.  Every  circumstance  is  in  your  favour,  and  I  have 
no  doubt  of  your  sagacity  and  virtue  in  taking  advantage 
thereof. 

We  suppose,  by  this  time,  all  the  Troops  for  Boston 
have  left  Ireland — seven  Regiments  of  Infantry  and  one 
of  Horse  ;  the  Foot  may  be  about  three  thousand  effec- 
tive men,  and  the  Horse  from  two  to  four  hundred.  The 
Cavalry,  if  they  arrive  (for  probably  many  will  die  on  the 
passage)  cannot  be  fit  for  service  this  summer.  Next  week 
Sir  George  Savile  in  the  House  of  Commons,  and  Lord 
Camden  in  the  House  of  Lords,  are  each  of  them  to  pre- 
sent a  Petition  from  the  inhabitants  of  Quebcck,  praying 
for  the  repeal  of  the  Quebeck  Government  Act,  when 
each  of  them,  in  their  several  Houses,  will  make  a  motion 
for  that  purpose. 

From  what  knowledge  I  have  of  America,  it  appears  to 
me  an  absolute  certainty  that  the  ministerial  plan  of  slavery 
that  is  formed  for  you  can  never  succeed,  if  you  continue 
unanimous,  and  determine  to  resist,  even  unto  death,  rather 
than  resign  your  liberties.  Depend  on  your  own  efforts, 
and  leave  the  issue  to  Providence,  which,"  as  the  guardians 
of  virtue,  will  certainly  make  your  efforts  successful. 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii. 


RICHMOND  COUNTY  (VIRGINIA)  COMMITTEE. 

At  a  Committee  elected  for  the  County  of  Richmond, 
meeting  by  an  adjournment  from  the  10th  of  this  instant, 
at  the  Court-House  of  this  County,  on  the  12th  of  May. 
1775,  present  Landon  Carter,  Esquire,  Chairman,  and  a 
very  full  bench  of  the  Members : 

The  Committee  appointed  on  the  10th  instant,  having 
brought  in  their  Report,  according  to  the  order  of  that  day, 
the  same  was  received  and  read,  and  is  as  follows: 

Your  Committee,  taking  into  consideration,  according  to 
order,  the  late  Address  of  his  Excellency  the  Governour 
to  the  Council,  on  the  2d  of  this  instant,  and  the  Procla- 
mation issued  in  consequence  of  their  advice  on  the  3d 
instant,  think  themselves  indispensably  bound  to  their  con- 
stituents to  vindicate  them  from  the  groundless  aspersions, 
and  very  unjust  accusations  with  which  a  part  of  this 
community  are  therein  charged,  and  which  are  only  calcu- 
lated to  induce  a  belief  that  the  people  of  this  Country  are 
meditating  a  plan  to  change  the  present  form  of  Govern- 
ment.   They  have,  therefore, 

Resolved,  1st.  That  the  late  commotions  in  some  parts 
of  this  Country,  alluded  to  in  the  Address  and  Proclama- 
tion, arose  from  a  full  conviction  of  a  cruel  and  determined 
plan  of  Administration  to  enslave  these  Colonies,  which 
has  been  manifested  in  various  instances,  and  of  which  the 
late  proceedings  of  his  Excellency,  in  removing  the  Pow- 
der from  the  Magazine,  with  the  several  circumstances 
attending  the  same,  appear  evidently  to  be  a  part. 

2d.  That  our  repeated  and  dutiful  applications  for 
redress  of  grievances,  our  patient  endurance  under  a  long 
course  of  irritating  and  oppressive  measures,  and  our  most 
solemn  declarations  "  that  our  utmost  wish  was  a  restitu- 
tion of  the  rights  which  we  enjoyed  until  the  year  1763,'" 
are  convincing  proofs  of  our  attachment  to  the  Constitu- 
tion, our  loyalty  to  our  Sovereign,  and  our  love  of  order. 

3d.  That  the  whole  of  his  Excellency's  conduct  respect- 
ing the  unhappy  disputes  between  the  Colonies  and  the 
British  Ministry,  especially  the  groundless  and  injurious 
charges  alleged  against  the  people  of  this  Colony,  in  his 
Address  to  the  Council,  and  in  his  Proclamation  of  the 
3d  of  this  instant,  (May,)  are  unjustifiable  and  inimical,  and 
therefore  he  has  justly  forfeited  the  confidence  of  the  peo- 
ple of  this  Colony. 

4th.  That  the  Members  of  His  Majesty's  Council  who 
advised  the  above-mentioned  Proclamation,  acted  incon- 
sistently with  that  wisdom,  justice,  and  generosity  which 
ought  to  characterize  them  as  legislators,  judges,  and  natives 
of  the  most  distinguished  in  the  Colony  ;  and  we  do  declare, 
that  we  find  ourselves  deeply  affected  that  those  who  should 
be  mediators  between  the  executive  power  and  the  peo- 
ple, should  concur  in  fixing  a  stigma  on  their  fellow-sub- 
jects, so  unjust  and  so  undeserved. 

5th.  That  in  order  to  remove  these  atrocious  aspersions, 
and  to  convince  the  world  of  our  firm  attachment  to  the 
Constitution  as  it  existed  before  the  year  1763,  we  hereby 
solemnly  pledge  ourselves  to  support  it  at  the  hazard  ot 
our  lives  and  fortunes. 

Every  Resolve  contained  in  the  foregoing  being  distinct)} 
read,  and  separately  considered,  was  passed  nemine  contra- 
dicente'. 

Ordered,  That  these  proceedings  of  this  day,  as  soon 
as  may  be  convenient,  be  transmitted  to  the  Press  for  the 
satisfaction  of  the  publick. 

William  Smith,  Clerk  pro  tern. 


PROCLAMATION  BY  LORD  DUNMORE. 

By  His  Excellency  the  Right  Honourable  John  Earl  of 
Dunmore,  His  Majesty's  Lieutenant  and  Governour- 
General  of  the  Colony  and  Dominion  of  Virginia,  and 
Vice- Admiral  of  the  same  : 

A  Proclamation. 

Virginia,  to  wit  : 

Whereas  the  General  Assembly  stands  prorogued  to  the 
first  Thursday  in  September  next,  but  it  is  judged  expe- 
dient and  necessary  that  they  should  be  sooner  convened 
I  have  therefore  thought  proper,  by  this  Proclamation,  in 
His  Majesty's  name,  to  appoint  the  first  Thursday  in  the 
next  month  for  that  purpose ;  at  which  time  their  attend- 

7 


579 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &ic,  MAY,  1775. 


580 


ance  is  accordingly  required  at  the  Capitol,  in  the  City  of 
fVilliamsburgh,  for  the  despatch  of  publick  business. 

Given  under  my  hand  and  the  seal  of  the  Colony,  at 
Jl'il/iamsburgh  aforesaid,  this  12th  day  of  May,  in  the  fif- 
teenth year  of  His  Majesty's  reign.  Dunmore. 
God  save  the  King. 


TO  THE  PUBLICK. 

Whereas  the  following  false  reports  have  been  indus- 
triously propagated,  with  the  malicious  design  of  injuring 
my  character  with  the  publick,  viz:  that  I  had  insulted 
the  Delegates  of  the  present  Congress  at  Bristol,  and 
declared  that  they  were  an  unlawful  body  of  men,  and 
that  the  Magistrates  ought  to  disperse  them  ;"  and  "  that  I 
have  wrote  letters  to  the  Ministry  inimical  to  America:*' 
Now  in  justice  to  my  own  reputation,  and  that  the  good 
people  of  this  Province  may  not  be  deceived  by  such 
groundless  falsehoods,  I  do  declare  that  these  reports  are 
malicious  and  without  the  least  foundation  ;  and  that  how- 
ever easy  it  might  have  been  to  establish  a  correspon- 
dence with  Administration,  was  I  capable  of  entertaining  a 
thought  inimical  to  the  Country  where  all  I  hold  dear  and 
valuable  is  fixed,  and  where  1  am  determined  to  spend  the 
remainder  of  my  life,  yet  I  have,  neither  directly  nor  indi- 
rectly any  such  correspondence,  nor  ever  wrote  a  sentiment 
to  any  man  in  Great  Britain  injurious  to  the  rights  and 
freedom  of  America,  nor  ever  recommended  any  measure 
whatever  to  be  pursued  in  respect  to  the  present  dispute 
between  the  two  Countries.  And  I  do  hereby  call  on  the 
author  or  authors  of  these  false  reports  to  make  good  their 
malicious  charges,  or  to  take  that  blame  to  themselves  which 
such  malevolence  deserves. 

All  that  I  have  to  request  of  my  countrymen  on  this  or 
the  like  occasions  is,  that  they  will  deal  with  so  much  can- 
dour and  justice  towards  me  as  to  discredit  any  malevolent 
reports,  until  the  authors  shall  exhibit  some  proof  in  sup- 
port of  their  charges :  and  this  I  trust  no  good  man  will 
think  unreasonable,  as  he  cannot  but  be  aware  that  the 
most  innocent  may  be  condemned,  unless  this  great  rule  of 
justice  be  observed.  Joseph  Galloway. 

Trcvose,  Pennsylvania,  May  12,  1775. 


and  in  consequence  thereof,  the  Provincial  Congress  have 
made  a  Resolution,  the  purport  of  which  is  nearly  similar 
to  the  above  agreement,  in  confidence  that  said  agreement 
would  be  punctually  adhered  to  ;  but  by  sad  experience  we 
find  the  inhabitants  of  Boston  are  not  permitted  to  leave 
the  Town  according  to  the  agreement,  and  nothing  to  pre- 
vent, that  we  know  of,  but  the  cruel  exertion  of  despotick 
power :  Therefore  it  is  humbly  submitted  to  the  Committee 
of  Safety,  whether  it  is  not  advisable  to  suspend  the  afore- 
said Resolution  of  Congress  until  they  are  fully  satisfied 
the  above  agreement  is  punctually  fulfilled,  and  in  the  mean 
time  to  apprehend  and  seize  all  Crown  officers  and  known 
enemies  to  the  liberties  of  the  Colonies,  to  be  liberated 
when  it  may  be  judged  reasonable  by  the  Congress ;  and 
also  to  recommend  the  like  mode  of  conduct  to  our  sister 
Colonies.  S.  Osgood,  Major  of  Brigade. 

May  12,  1775. 


Bergen  County,  New-Jersey,  Committee  Chamber,  > 

May  12,  1775.  \ 

Besolved,  That  John  Fell,  Esquire,  Theunis  Dei/, 
Esquire,  Thomas  Broivn,  Esquire,  Peter  Zabriskie,  Esq., 
John  Demarcst,  Esquire,  Mr.  Samuel  Berry,  Mr.  Corne- 
lius Van  Vorst,  Mr.  Isaac  Noble,  Mr.  Aarent  J.  Schuy- 
ler, Mr.  Jacob  Terhune.  Doctor  Abraham  Van  Boskirk, 
John  Van  Boskirk,  Esquire,  Mr.  Gabriel  Ogdcn,  Mr. 
Jost  Zabriskie,  and  Mr.  Gabriel  Van  Orden,  be  a  Stand- 
ing Committee  of  Correspondence  for  this  County,  and 
that  any  five  of  them,  of  which  the  President  or  Vice 
President  to  be  one,  have  power  to  act. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  of  the  above  Resolve  be  printed 
in  the  Neiv-  York  Newspapers. 

By  order  of  the  Committee :    John  Fell,  Chairman. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  for 
Bergen  County,  New- Jersey,  May  12,  1775  : 

Present :  John  Fell,  Theunis  Bey,  Thomas  Brown, 
John  Demarcst,  Esquires,  Messrs.  Cornelius  Van  Vorst, 
Isaac  Noble,  Jacob  Terhune,  Doctor  Abraham  Van  Bos- 
kirk, JohnVan  Boskirk,  Esquire,  Messrs.  Gabriel  Ogden, 
Jost  Zjabriskie,  and  Gabriel  Van  Orden: 

John  Demarcst,  Esquire,  chosen  President ;  Mr.  Gabriel 
Van  Orden,  chosen  Vice-President. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  of  the  above  proceedings  be 
published  in  the  New-  York  Newspapers. 

By  order  of  the  Committee  of  Correspondence : 

John  Demarest,  President. 


PETITION  OF  JOHN  SAWYER  AND  OTHERS    TO  THE  MASSA- 
CHUSETTS CONGRESS. 

To  the  Honourable  Congress  norv  sitting  at  Watertown, 

the  humble  Petition  of  us  the  subscribers,  ivhose  yunncs 

are  underwritten,  humbly  shewcth,  cy-c. 

Whereas  your  petitioners  have  lately  settled  in  the  east- 
ern parts,  and  are  in  great  distress  for  want  of  provisons  and 
ammunition,  by  reason  of  the  lumber  failing  of  sale,  and 
the  great  drought  last  summer,  that  our  crops  being  cut 
short,  and  being  in  great  distress  for  fear  of  the  enemy,  as 
we  have  news  from  Cooper  shewing  that  the  Indians  on  the 
Cape  are  building  forty  Indian  canoes,  and  it  is  expected 
that  the  Governour  of  Halifax  has  hired  the  Indians  to 
come  along  shore  and  kill  us  and  our  families,  and  take  our 
creatures,  and  we  have  nothing  to  defend  ourselves  with  but 
our  hands,  as  there  is  no  powder  of  any  value  among  us, 
(we  also  fear  the  tenders  coming  to  get  our  cattle :) 

Your  humble  petitioners  therefore  beg  your  assistance, 
and  grant  us  some  relief,  and  send  us  some  com  and  other 
necessaries  of  life,  and  some  powder,  balls,  flints,  and  a 
few  small  arms,  that  we  may  have  wherewithal  to  defend 
ourselves  and  fight  for  our  lives  and  liberties,  which  we  pray 
God  to  give  us  strength  and  courage,  as  long  as  we  have 
life,  in  the  defence  of  our  Country,  provided  your  Honours 
should  order  us  any  support. 

We,  your  petitioners,  bind  ourselves  to  pay  forthwith 
the  interest  and  charges  in  sending,  as  soon  as  lumber  will 
have  any  sale,  and  trading  revive. 

We,  your  petitioners,  beg  your  serious  consideration,  and 
as  in  duty  bound  we  shall  ever  pray. 

John  Sawyer,  Andrew  Herrick,  Samuel  Robset, 

Jacob  Trussel,  Shadrach  Watson,  Joshua  Herrick, 

James  Dodge,  William  Reed,  Enoch  Blasdel, 

Samuel  Watson,  Robert  Dougherty,  Moses  Eaton, 

Abncr  Dodge,  Daniel  Black,  Ebenezer  Eaton, 

Nehemiah  Allen,  John  Herrick,  Nathaniel  Allen, 

John  Black,  James  Fly,  Benjamin  York, 

Moses  Black,  Samuel  Cousons,  George  Goodwin, 

Samuel  Hale,  Samuel  Herrick,  Ebenezer  Herrick, 

Joshua  Trussel,  Joseph  Bapson,  John  Dod<;e, 

William  Obee,  Stephen  G;itchell,  John  Carter, 

Jonathan  Clay,  Cornelius  Morgan,  James  Carter. 
Ebenezer  Hinkley, 

There  being  in  the  Town  in  number  that  are  able  to  bear 
arms  seventy,  but  living  at  a  great  distance,  and  not  having 
time  to  assemble  at  this  time,  the  vessel  just  ready  to  sail, 
we  would  beg  for  the  whole. 

May  12,  1775. 


TO  THE  MASSACHUSETTS  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY. 

Whereas  an  agreement  has  been  made  between  General 
Gage  and  the  inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Boston,  for  the 
removal  of  the  persons  and  effects  of  such  of  the  inhabi- 
tants of  the  Town  of  Boston  as  may  be  so  disposed,  (ex- 
cepting their  fire-arms  and  ammunition,)  into  the  country, 


TO  THE  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY. 

Amesbury,  May  12,  1775. 

Sir  :  Mr.  John  Currier  has  enlisted  about  forty  soldiers, 
who  are  ready  to  march,  provided  he  may  be  their  Cap- 
tain, (and  upon  this  condition  they  enlisted,)  and  we  can 
recommend  him  to  be  a  person  of  good  character,  and  con- 
ducted very  well  in  the  last  war,  and  that  he  has  been 
steady  and  faithful  in  the  affairs  of  the  Town  he  has  been 
chosen  to  serve  in  ;  and  we  desire  that  he  may  be  enlisted 
to  the  office  that  his  soldiers  expected  him  to  have  ;  and 
further,  we  expect  that  he  will  shortly  enlist  more  men  to 
fill  his  Company.  And  as  we  lately  received  a  letter  from 
the  Congress,  recommending  to  us  to  be  assisting  and  en- 
couraging the  enlisting  of  soldiers,  we  have  done  our 


581 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  he,  MAY,  1775. 


582 


endeavours  in  promoting  and  encouraging  the  same,  and 

are  still  ready  to  do  all  in  our  power  to  forward  all  necessaries 

recommended  to  us. 

Sir,  we  are  your  humble  and  obedient  servants, 

Caleb  Pilsbuky,  )  c,  ,  .  r  A  ?„ ,  , 
x         c  '  >  selectmen  of  Amesbury. 

JOSIAH  SaBGEANT,  5 


In  Committee  of  Supplies  Chamber,  } 
Watertown,  May  12,  1775.  $ 

Gentlemen:  The  Congress  having  resolved  that  the 
Army  should  be  supplied  with  such  goods,  wares,  and  mer- 
chandise as  shall  appear  necessary  by  the  Colony,  and 
not  as  has  been  by  Sutlers,  we  have  procured  some  articles 
that  are  wanted,  and  sent  them,  with  a  copy  of  the  Re- 
solves, to  one  of  the  Deputies  of  the  Commissary  at  Cam- 
bridge, Mr.  Browne ;  but  we  think  that  it  will  be  found 
necessary  to  have  Deputies  for  this  business  only,  as  it  must 
take  up  the  whole  time  of  one  person  to  deliver  goods  to 
two  Regiments  only,  and  keep  good  accounts  against  the 
soldiers,  more  especially  as  the  accounts  must  be  exhibited 
to  the  Captains,  that  they  may  deduct  them  on  making  up 
the  muster-roll.  As  the  Commissary  is  now  confined  with 
sickness  to  his  chamber,  we  desire  you  to  appoint  a  Deputy 
for  the  particular  business,  that  the  goods  procured  by  us 
may  be  received  by  him,  and  immediately  disposed  of  to 
the  soldiers,  who  are  much  in  want  thereof. 

David  Cheeveb, 
One  of  the  Committee  of  Supplies. 


In  Committee  of  Supplies  Chamber,  ) 
Watertown,  May  13,  1775.  \ 

Sib:  We  shall  be  glad  to  know  how  the  matter  is  cir- 
cumstanced with  respect  to  the  Colony  Arms  which  were 
lent  to  the  Scholars,  that  proper  measures  may  be  pursued 
to  get  them  in.    Pray  send  a  line  by  the  bearer. 

We  are  truly  your  friends,  he,  he. 

David  Cheeveb,  per  order. 

To  the  Committee  of  Safety. 


swear  they  are  worth  whatever  sum  is  in  the  recognizance, 
and  no  doubt  it  will  be  an  enormous  sum.  Mr.  Smith  was 
this  day  taken  with  a  writ  of  one  hundred  thousand 
Pounds  damages.  But  I  need  not  descend  into  particulars ; 
every  part  of  their  conduct  appears  that  they  not  only  want 
the  jurisdiction  of  this  quarter,  but  also  to  rob  every  man  of 
his  property. 

And,  gentlemen,  it  is  by  your  friends  here  thought  ad- 
visable that  the  Sheriff,  with  a  party  of  fifty  men,  or  there- 
abouts, should  come  up  and  take  us  who  are  in  confine- 
ment, and  also  as  many  of  these  rascals  as  possible,  as  there 
will  be  no  strength  to  oppose  you,  there  being  but  eighteen 
men  in  the  Fort.  It  is  surprising  what  a  pusillanimous 
temper  must  prevail  amongst  the  people  in  general  to  suffer 
the  peace  and  welfare  of  a  whole  County  to  be  destroyed 
by  such  a  handful  of  villains.  But  let  the  people  be  called 
upon  by  the  Sheriff,  and  certainly  they  will  not  refuse  to 
come.  If  such  a  step  be  thought  best,  it  ought  to  be 
managed  with  secrecy  and  despatch.  Pray  send  off  an 
express  by  Tuesday  night  to  us  with  advice,  for  if  we  are 
not  taken  off  we  must  give  bail,  if  it  can  be  had,  and  the 
thoughts  of  so  doing  is  no  small  mortification  after  hanging 
out  so  long.  I  have  no  time  to  say  any  more,  but  ac- 
knowledge myself  your  humble  servant, 

James  Cavet. 
To  Arthur  St.  Clair,  John  Carnaghan,  William  Lochey, 

Esquires,  and  all  our  brethren  inclusive. 

P.  S.  I  must  beg  your  pardon  and  patience  also  for 
writing  so  long  an  epistle,  but  I  had  almost  forgot  to  ac- 
knowledge the  receipt  of  your  favour  of  the  9th,  and  also 
to  inform  you  that  Mr.  Scott  is  bound  by  the  Sheriff  to 
appear  here  next  court,  and  I  suppose  will  share  the  same 
fate  of  Hanna  and  myself. 


GENERAL  THOMAS  TO  THE  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY. 

Roxbury,  May  12,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  I  find  no  establishment  made  by  the  Con- 
gress for  such  officers  as  Adjutant  and  Quartermasters  Gen- 
eral, which  officers  are  as  necessary,  in  a  large  encampment, 
as  almost  any  whatever ;  and  where  any  number  of  Regi- 
ments are  posted  in  camp,  there  cannot  be  a  proper  regu- 
lation of  duty  without  such.  I  should  be  glad  to  be  ad- 
vised whether  I  may  be  allowed  to  give  any  encouragement 
to  any  suitable  persons  for  such  office,  that  they  will  receive 
any  reward  in  future  if  they  will  undertake  it.  And  as  I 
understand  there  are  a  number  of  the  Rules  for  the  Mas- 
sachusetts Army  printed,  and  are  now  at  Cambridge, 
should  be  glad  a  number  may  be  forwarded  by  the  bearer 
for  the  use  of  the  Camp  in  Roxbury. 

I  am,  gentlemen,  with  due  respect,  your  most  obedient 
humble  servant,  Jno.  Thomas. 

To  the  Honourable  the  Committee  of  Safety. 


james  cavet  to  abthur  st.  claib  and  othebs. 

Pittsburgh,  May  13,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  I  am  sorry  that  it  is  so  much  in  my  power 
to  doubt  the  Governour's  attention  to  this  unhappy  Coun- 
try. We  have  not  had,  since  our  confinement,  the  least 
account  from  him,  and  I  think  it  is  beyond  a  doubt  he  got 
our  packet.  Our  express  is  returned,  and  says  he  gave  the 
letters  to  Doctor  Plunket  at  Susquehannah,  who  would 
certainly  send  them.  Our  situation,  and  that  of  the  well 
affected  inhabitants  of  this  place,  is  become  almost  in- 
tolerable :  it  is  impossible  for  any  person  to  conceive  the 
cruel  mode  of  proceedings  at  this  place,  unless  those  who 
are  unhappy  enough  to  be  eye-witnesses  thereof.  Mr. 
Smith,  in  particular,  will,  (if  not  by  some  means  prevent- 
ed,) in  a  short  time  be  absolutely  ruined.  Mr.  Hanna 
and  myself  will,  at  this  court,  be  confined  in  the  guard- 
room of  Fort  Dunmore,  if  we  don't  give  bail,  and  God 
knows  whether  it  will  be  in  our  power  so  to  do,  for  we  are 
informed,  by  some  of  our  friends,  that  none  other  will  be 
acceptable  but  those  who  will  come  into  open  court  and 


DOCTOR   ELEAZEB  WHEELOCK  TO  GOVEENOUB  TBUMBULL. 

Dartmouth  College,  May  13,  1775. 

Much  honoubed  and  bespected  Sib:  Your  favour  of 
17th  ultimo  duly  arrived.  Mr.  Dean  is  not  yet  returned ; 
I  am  now  daily  expecting  him,  with  one  of  my  English 
pupils,  who  has  resided  with  the  Tribe  at  St.  Francis  ever 
since  last  August,  to  learn  their  language.  I  have  no  sus- 
picion of  any  publick  design  of  hostilities  in  any  of  the 
Northern  Tribes ;  but  we  are  lately  alarmed  with  accounts 
that  several  of  our  own  people  have  been  authorized  by 
General  Gage  to  go  to  Canada  and  collect  a  party  there 
to  join  them  in  distressing  us  at  a  time  which  they  shall 
think  favourable  for  their  purpose.  The  bearer,  Mr. 
Smith,  who  is  a  tutor  of  this  college,  and  a  young  gen- 
tleman to  be  depended  upon,  can  give  you  the  account, 
which  I  suppose  you  have  likely  already  had,  for  substance, 
from  Esquire  Curtis,  of  this  place. 

But  we  are  many  of  us  more  alarmed  by  the  rash,  pre- 
cipitant, and  headlong  conduct  of  a  number  among  us  who 
have  been  honoured  with  His  Majesty's  commissions,  civil 
and  military,  but  have  of  late  openly  and  publickly  given 
them  up,  and  that  only  upon  this  principle,  viz:  that  His 
Majesty  has  forfeited  his  Crown,  and  that  all  commissions 
from  him  are  therefore  vacated  of  course ;  and  have  ac- 
cordingly appointed  a  set  of  officers  of  their  own  choosing, 
and  appear  to  be  plunging  themselves  and  their  dependants 
as  far  and  as  fast  as  they  can  into  a  state  of  anarchy.  They 
assume  to  themselves  the  right  of  treating  their  fellow  men 
in  a  rough  and  sovereign  manner,  seizing,  stopping,  con- 
trolling, and  examining  strangers  and  others  in  such  a  hos- 
tile manner  as  tends  to  inspire  a  general  fear  in  all  sorts ; 
e.  g.,  two  of  my  scholars,  a  few  days  ago,  were  peace- 
ably and  inoffensively  travelling  from  college  home,  when 
they  were,  by  a  ruffian,  stopped  in  the  road,  who  presented 
a  gun  cocked  at  their  breasts,  and  swore  by  God  they  were 
dead  men  if  they  did  not  immediately  tell  him  who  they 
were,  where  they  were  going,  and  what  their  business  was ; 
and  this  without  milder  or  other  introduction  to  his  inquiry. 
And  it  is  feared,  if  a  speedy  stop  cannot  be  put  to  this 
evil,  murders,  and  frequent  ones,  too,  will  ensue ;  and  that 
they  will  prove  themselves  really  to  be  what  these  Colo- 
nies have  been  so  injuriously  charged  with  being,  and  bring 
the  fiercest  rage  of  a  Northern  Army  upon  these  infant 
frontiers,  and  justify  them  in  savage  cruelties,  prevent 
any  testimonial  of  our  Governour  in  our  favour,  and  draw 
away  the  strength  of  the  Provinces  below  us  from  our  de- 


583 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  kc,  MAY,  1775- 


584 


fence,  which  he  may  have  no  occasion  to  do  if  we  behave 
ourselves  soberly,  adhere  firmly  to  our  Constitution,  though 
at  the  same  time,  as  individuals,  are  helping  our  brethren 
as  much  as  our  feeble  state  will  allow.  And  1  would 
humbly  propose  whether  this  case,  as  the  evil  seems  to  be 
spread  wide  in  part  of  this  Province,  and  in  the  new  coun- 
tries adjoining  in  New-York  Province,  be  not  worthy  to  be 
communicated  for  the  consideration  of  the  Continental  Con- 
gress, who  can  put  a  stop  to  it,  if  any  can. 

I  also  fear  much  evil  from  the  unprovoked,  harsh,  cruel, 
and  worse  than  savage  threats  given  out  by  some  against 
my  Indian  boys,  which  have  already  occasioned  fear  in 
some  of  them  ;  and  1  fear,  if  it  be  not  stopped,  will  produce 
some  unfavourable  accounts  from  them  to  their  friends  ; 
this  evil  I  am  constantly  guarding  against  as  much  as  pos- 
sible. 

I  have  lately  received  letters  from  my  honoured  patrons 
in  London,  of  February  17th,  replete  with  expressions  of 
friendship  to  this  institution,  but  with  assurances  that  no 
further  publick  aids  are  to  be  expected  by  me  from  that 
side  the  water  till  this  publick  controversy  between  them 
and  us  be  amicably  settled,  which  they  suggest  no  present 
grounds  of  encouragement  to  expect ;  nor  do  they  think 
fit  in  their  publick  and  united  capacity  to  write  a  word  of 
politicks,  but  as  private  friends  some  of  them  express  their 
great  friendship  to  the  religious  and  civil  liberties  of  Ame- 
rica, and  their  apprehensions  that  if  the  sword  should  be 
drawn  in  the  controversy  on  this  side  the  water,  it  will  be 
soon  theirs  also. 

I  would  humbly  propose  to  your  Honour,  and  if  you 
shall  think  proper,  to  your  honourable  Assembly,  whether — 
considering  the  surprising  progress  of  this  institution  under 
the  smiles  of  Heaven  hitherto,  and  the  fair  prospect  not 
only  of  its  great  utility  to  the  general  and  charitable  design 
of  it,  but  also  as  it  is,  and  likely  may  long  be,  an  important 
barrier  against  the  present  threatening  mischiefs  of  a  North- 
ern enemy — it  may  not  be  thought  worthy  your  charitable 
recommendation  of  it  to  the  charity  and  benevolence  of  the 
Continental  Congress,  to  be  by  them  recommended  to  the 
favour  and  notice  of  the  pious  and  charitable  of  these 
Colonies. 

This  may  greatly  serve  the  interests  of  this  institution 
in  its  present  infant,  feeble,  and  deserted  state,  and  not  only 
so,  but  raise  it  higher  in  the  esteem  of  the  savage  Tribes, 
which  are  its  first  object,  and  enable  me  to  increase  its  in- 
fluence to  the  good  purposes  of  preserving  and  increasing 
that  peace  and  friendship  which  at  present  subsists  between 
us  and  them,  and  seems  to  be  of  very  great  importance  to 
both.  My  printed  Narrative  may  give  you  and  other  gen- 
tlemen some  short  account  of  the  progress  and  present 
slate  of  it,  by  which  you  may  be  able  to  judge  for  your- 
selves of  the  propriety  and  expediency  of  what  I  here 
propose.  All  which  I  do,  with  the  greatest  cheerfulness  and 
confidence,  submit  to  your  wise,  prudent,  and  friendly  de- 
termination. I  would  not  have  any  thing  published  or  sent 
abroad  which  I  have  hinted,  so  as  to  expose  my  friends  at 
home,  who,  I  find,  are  cautious  in  that  matter.  1  am,  my 
honoured  and  dear  Sir,  with  much  esteem  and  respect, 
your  Honour's  most  obedient  and  most  humble  servant, 

Eleazer  Wheelock. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  THOMAS  FRASER  TO  GEORGE 
ERVING,  IN  BOSTON,  DATED  LONDON,  MAY  13,  1775. 

L  thank  you  most  heartily  for  the  great  trouble  you  have 
given  yourself  in  sending  our  house,  as  well  as  myself,  so 
particular  an  account  of  the  state  of  your  present  unfortu- 
nate Country.  Sorry,  very  sorry  am  I  to  find  so  many 
thousands  of  its  inhabitants  act  as  if  they  were  infatuated, 
and  determined,  as  much  as  in  them  lays,  that  every  thing 
shall  be  in  confusion.  I  have  for  many  months  flattered 
myself  there  was  no  chance  that  any  blood  would  be  shed 
on  account  of  the  present  disagreeable  contest.  I  still 
hope  the  wide  breach  may  be  healed  without  proceeding 
to  such  extremities,  but  really  I  have  now  my  fears.  How- 
ever, trusting  that  an  over-ruling  Providence  will  order 
every  thing  for  the  best,  I  will  patiently  wait  the  event.  I 
am  sorry  that  your  trade,  as  well  as  ours,  is  so  much  inter- 
rupted ;  when  it  will  be  otherwise  I  cannot  say.  Your 
brig,  the  Harmony,  lies  in  our  river,  and  what  is  to  be 
done  with  her  I  cannot  say;  on  her  arrival,  our  J.  L.  sent 


his  servant  with  a  note  to  Lord  North,  acquainting  him 
that  the  vessel  was  come,  and  that  he  was  ready  to  wait 
upon  his  Lordship.  I  am  surprised  he  has  not  sent  a  line  ; 
it  is  probable  he  may  have  forgot  it.  Mr.  Lane  sends  to 
him  again  to-morrow.  I  am  the  more  surprised  he  has  not 
desired  him  to  come  to  his  house,  because  he  read  your 
letter  with  great  attention,  and  expressed  his  uneasiness  that 
the  friends  of  good  order  laboured  under  so  many  incon- 
veniences, which  he  wished  might  be  avoided  in  future. 
You  have  before  been  informed  of  his  Lordship  saying  he 
was  glad  your  brig  was  gone  forward,  because  it  gave  him 
an  opportunity  of  well  considering  the  application  you  have 
made.  From  his  silence,  I  should  apprehend  he  doth  not 
mean  the  scheme  should  be  put  in  execution.  He  hinted 
to  Mr.  Lane,  that  if  permission  was  given,  we  must  apply 
to  the  Admiralty.  In  short,  I  wish  you  success  in  all  your 
engagements ;  but  whether  or  no  you  and  I  may  have  rea- 
son to  have  desired  that  Captain  Shayler  might  come  fully 
loaded  with  merchandise  from  hence,  is  a  point  that  1  can- 
not determine.  You  must  allow  that  affairs  are  in  a  very 
critical  situation  ;  and  although  a  civil  war  may  never  break 
out,  yet  there  has  been  a  great  appearance  of  one.  If  you 
should  for  once  lose  the  profit  you  expected  to  make  by 
the  Harmony,  I  hope  it  will  be  amply  made  up  to  you 
when  matters  get  settled ;  then  there  may  be  some  comfort 
in  executing  our  friends'  commissions.  You  may  believe 
me  when  I  say  I  have  experienced  very  little  satisfaction 
for  these  two  years  past,  and  scarce  know  what  course  to 
take  with  the  little  business  we  have  left.  I  trust  that 
when  matters  once  get  settled,  that  Administration  will 
take  proper  notice  of  those  who  have  ventured  so  much  to 
serve  them  ;  your  friends  here  will  not  be  backward  in 
promoting  your  interest  on  every  occasion. 

I  have  neither  time  nor  abilities  to  enter  into  the  minutiae 
of  things  as  I  could  wish.  I  have  a  great  respect  for  Mr. 
Erving,  and  hope  there  will  ever  be  a  lasting  friendship 
subsisting  between  us.  What  the  Americans  will  think  of 
the  Restraining  Act  of  the  Fishery,  &c.,  I  cannot  tell ;  I 
should  think  it  must  bring  about  universal  confusion  and 
anarchy,  or  a  happy  and  speedy  settlement ;  this  last  I 
earnestly  wish  may  take  place.  Mr.  Lane  proposes,  when 
he  sees  Lord  North,  to  desire  him  to  destroy  your  letter; 
though,  as  it  had  been  in  his  possession  many  weeks  before, 
presume  it  can  signify  but  little,  especially  as  I  am  pretty 
confident  the  contents  of  your  letter  will  never  be  known 
to  the  publick.  I  am,  with  great  respect,  Sir,  your  most 
humble  servant,  Thomas  Fraser. 


TIMOTHY  LADD  TO  THE  MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS. 

Goffstown,  N.  H.,  May  13,  1775. 
Gentlemen:  After  my  regards  to  your  Honours  with 
freedom,  whereas  it  is  thought  there  will  be  a  number  of 
soldiers  called  for  out  of  this  Province  for  the  assistance 
and  defence  of  North  America,  for  our  privileges  and 
liberties ;  1  would  inform  your  Honours  that  if  occasion 
should  call  for  a  number,  I  am  ready  to  serve  your  Hon- 
ours in  this  Government  and  my  Country,  for  the  de- 
fence of  our  privileges  and  the  enjoyment  of  liberty  in 
America. 

If  your  Honours  should  call  for  me,  I  am  ready  to  serve 
my  Country  with  all  freedom  and  assistance  that  1  am 
capable  of;  as  1  think  it  is  the  duty  of  all  well-wishers  to 
liberty  and  the  North  America.  Wishing  success  to  lib- 
erty, so  I  subscribe  myself  your  well-wisher  and  humble 
servant,  Timothy  Ladd. 

To  the  Honourable  Congress  sitting  at  Exeter. 

BENEDICT   ARNOLD   TO   THE   MASSACHUSETTS  COMMITTEE 
OF  SAFETY. 

Ticonderoga,  May  14,  1775. 
Gentlemen:  My  last  was  the  11th  instant  per  express, 
since  which  a  party  of  men  have  seized  on  Crown  Point, 
in  which  they  took  eleven  prisoners,  and  found  sixty-one 
pieces  of  cannon  serviceable,  and  fifty-three  unfit  for  ser- 
vice. I  ordered  a  party  to  Skenesborough,  to  take  Major 
Slcenc,  who  have  made  him  prisoner,  and  seized  a  small 
schooner,  which  is  just  arrived  here.  I  intend  setting  out 
in  her  directly,  with  a  batteau  and  fifty  men,  to  take  pos- 
session of  the  sloop,  which,  we  are  advised  this  morning 


585 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


586 


by  the  post,  is  at  St.  John's,  loaded  with  provisions,  &ic, 
waiting  a  wind  for  this  place.  Enclosed  is  a  list  of  cannon, 
Sic,  here,  though  imperfect,  as  we  have  found  many  pieces 
not  included,  and  some  are  on  the  edge  of  the  lake,  cov- 
ered with  water.  I  am,  with  the  assistance  of  Mr.  Ber- 
nard Romans,  making  preparation  at  Fort  George  for  trans- 
porting to  Albany  those  cannon  that  will  be  serviceable  to 
our  Army  at  Cambridge.  I  have  about  one  hundred  men 
here,  and  expect  more  every  minute.  Mr.  Allen's  party 
is  decreasing,  and  the  dispute  between  us  subsiding.  I  am 
extremely  sorry  matters  have  not  been  transacted  with 
more  prudence  and  judgment ;  I  have  done  every  thing  in 
my  power,  and  put  up  with  many  insults  to  preserve  peace 
and  serve  the  publick.  I  hope  soon  to  be  properly  releas- 
ed from  this  troublesome  business,  that  some  more  proper 
person  may  be  appointed  in  my  room  ;  till  which  I  am, 
very  respectfully,  gentlemen,  your  most  obedient  humble 
servant,  Benedict  Arnold. 

P.  S.  Since  writing  the  above,  Mr.  Romans  concludes 
going  to  Albany  to  forward  carriages  for  the  cannon, 
&c,  and  provisions,  which  will  be  soon  wanted.  I  beg 
leave  to  observe  he  has  been  of  great  service  here,  and  I 
think  him  a  very  spirited,  judicious  gentleman,  who  has  the 
service  of  the  Country  much  at  heart,  and  hope  he  will 
meet  proper  encouragement.  B.  A. 


TO  THE  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  NOW 
SITTING  AT  WATERTOVVN. 

Falmouth,  May  14,  1775. 
Honoured  Sir  :  The  Committee  of  Correspondence  in 
this  Town  beg  leave  to  inform  you,  that  some  time  past 
we  received  advice  from  Georgetown,  that  Colonel  Thomp- 
son was  fitting  two  vessels  there  with  design  to  attempt  the 
taking  the  King's  ship  Canceaux,  stationed  in  this  harbour, 
commanded  by  Captain  Mowat,  a  gentleman  whose  con- 
duct since  he  has  been  here  has  given  no  grounds  of  sus- 
picion  he  had  any  design  to  distress  or  injure  us;  but  on 
the  other  hand  has  afforded  his  assistance  to  sundry  vessels 
in  distress.  As  we  thought  such  an  attempt  had  the  appear- 
ance of  laying  the  foundation  for  the  destruction  of  this 
Town,  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  met,  and  wrote 
to  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  at  Georgetown, 
desiring  they  would  prevent  their  coming  ;  we  also  wrote  to 
Colonel  Thompson  desiring  him  to  desist  from  such  an 
attempt,  as  it  would  throw  this  Town  into  the  greatest  con- 
fusion imaginable;  we  sent  an  express,  and  received  his 
answer  that  he  had  dropped  the  design  of  coming.  But  on 
Monday  night  he  landed  upwards  of  sixty  men  on  the 
back  side  of  a  neck  of  land  joining  this  Town,  who  came 
there  in  a  number  of  boats,  and  lay  undiscovered  till  about 
the  middle  of  the  next  day  ;  at  which  time  Captain  Mowat, 
the  Doctor  of  the  ship,  and  Parson  Wisival,  were  taking 
a  walk  on  said  neck,  when  a  detachment  from  Colonel 
Thompson's  party  rushed  from  their  concealment,  surround- 
ed the  gentlemen,  and  made  them  prisoners,  and  conducted 
them  to  the  Colonel,  who  was  with  the  main  body  on  the 
back  side  of  the  neck.  Captain  Hogg,  who  now  commanded 
the  ship,  immediately  clapped  springs  on  his  cabels,  she  lay- 
ing within  musket  shot  of  the  Town,  and  swore  if  the  gen- 
tlemen were  not  released  by  six  o'clock,  he  would  fire  on 
the  Town.  He  fired  two  cannon,  and  although  there 
were  no  shot  in  them,  it  frightened  the  women  and  chil- 
dren to  such  a  degree,  that  some  crawled  under  wharves, 
some  ran  down  cellar,  and  some  out  of  Town.  Such  a 
shocking  scene  was  never  presented  to  view  here.  The 
gentlemen  who  were  in  custody  were  conducted  to  a  pub- 
lick  house,  where  Captain  Mowat  declared  if  he  was  not 
released  it  would  be  the  destruction  of  the  Town.  Every 
gentleman  present  used  his  utmost  endeavours  to  accom- 
modate the  matter.  Colonel  Thompson  consented  that  a 
Committee  should  be  chosen,  consisting  of  officers  from  his 
party,  and  gentlemen  from  the  Town,  to  consult  in  what 
manner  the  affair  could  be  accommodated  ;  but  as  it  was 
late,  the  Committee  chose  to  defer  the  consideration  of  it 
till  next  morning.  Captain  Moxvat  then  requested  he 
might  go  on  board  his  ship  that  night ;  and  he  would  pawn 
his  word  and  honour  he  would  return  next  morning,  at 
what  time,  and  at  what  place  should  be  appointed.  Col- 
onel Thompson  consented,  provided  Colonel  Freeman,  and 
Brigadier  Preble,  would  pass  their  words,  and  that  the 


several  gentlemen  should  return  according  to  their  promise, 
and  also  pawn  their  word  and  honour  if  the  gentlemen 
failed  coming,  that  they  would  deliver  themselves  up  and 
stand  by  the  consequences  ;  which  was  consented  to.  Cap- 
tain Moivat  not  coming  according  to  promise,  which  was 
to  have  been  at  nine  o'clock  next  morning,  the  sponsors 
appeared  according  to  promise,  and  were  confined.  Captain 
Mowat  wrote  to  them,  and  let  them  know  he  had  fully 
determined  to  have  complied  with  his  promise,  but  he 
had  sent  his  man  on  shore  to  carry  some  dirty  linen  to 
his  washing-woman,  and  to  bring  off  some  clean ;  that 
said  man  made  oath,  that  two  of  the  body,  under  arms, 
one  of  which  swore,  by  all  that  was  sacred,  the  moment 
he  came  on  shore  he  should  have  what  was  in  his  piece, 
and  the  other  that  he  should  never  return  on  board  again 
with  his  life:  and  that  two  more  of  his  men  made  oath,  they 
heard  several  of  the  men  under  arms  say,  the  moment  he 
came  on  shore  they  would  have  his  life ;  this  was  what  he 
wrote  to  plead  an  excuse  for  not  complying  with  his  pro- 
mise. Colonel  Thompson  told  the  two  gentlemen  under 
confinement,  that  he  must  have  some  provision  and  re- 
freshment for  his  men,  which  they  procured  to  the  amount 
of  thirteen  or  fourteen  Pounds,  lawful  money,  on  which 
they  were  dismissed.  About  ten  o'clock,  he  sent  an  ac- 
count to  them  for  time  and  expense,  amounting  to  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty-eight  Pounds  and  eighteen  Shillings,  lawful 
money,  and  gave  them  till  next  morning  nine  o'clock  to  re- 
turn an  answer,  which  they  did  in  the  negative.  He  said 
he  would  have  satisfaction  before  he  left  the  Town.  He 
then  seized  all  the  goods  he  could  find  belonging  to  Captain 
Coulson  and  William  Tyng,  Esquires.  They  also  carried 
off  one  boat  belonging  to  Coulson,  and  one  other  to  Cap- 
tain Mowat.  They  also  obliged  Captain  Rote  to  furnish 
them  with  some  provisions,  and  a  small  matter  of  cash. 
They  also  brought  one  man  on  his  knees  for  speaking  disre- 
spectfully of  the  Colonel  and  his  men.  Colonel  Thompson, 
we  doubt  not,  is  a  true  friend  to  his  Country,  and  a  man  of 
courage  and  resolution  ;  but  as  our  Town  lays  so  much 
exposed  to  the  Navy,  that  had  he  succeeded  in  his  attempt, 
(which  there  was  not  the  least  probability  of,)  it  must  have 
proved  the  destruction  of  this  Town  and  the  country  back, 
which  is  now  in  the  greatest  distress  for  want  of  provisions. 
We  have  only  related  plain  facts,  that  the  honourable 
members  of  the  Provincial  Congress  may  not  be  imposed 
on  with  false  accounts,  to  whom  please  to  communicate  this 
letter.  We  are,  with  great  esteem,  gentlemen,  your  most 
obedient  servant,  Jedediah  Preble,  Chairman. 


COMMITTEE  OF  CORRESPONDENCE  OF  FALMOUTH   TO  THE 
COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY. 

Falmouth,  May  15,  1775. 

May  it  please  your  Honours  :  We,  the  Committee  of 
Correspondence  in  Falmouth,  would  beg  leave  to  represent 
to  your  Honours  the  situation  and  circumstances  of  this 
Town  and  County,  and  if  there  is  any  impropriety  in  our 
doing  it,  your  candour  will  excuse  it. 

The  alarming  attempt  of  Colonel  Thompson  to  take  the 
Ship  Canceaux,  Captain  Henry  Mowat  commander,  now 
in  this  harbour,  has  occasioned  great  uneasiness  in  this 
Town,  as  it  has  a  tendency  to  bring  on  us  certain  ruin, 
by  the  Admiral  resenting  it  in  such  a  manner  as  to  block 
up  our  harbour  before  the  time;  and  we  have  no  force 
to  oppose  or  prevent  it;  no  fortifications,  no  ammunition, 
no  cannon ;  and  if  provisions  are  stopped  from  coming  in 
here,  the  Town  is  ruined,  as  well  as  the  country,  which 
depends  upon  the  Town  for  supplies,  of  which  at  present 
there  is  a  great  scarcity.  We  think  Colonel  Thompson' s 
attempt  was  rash  and  injurious,  if  not  unjustifiable,  as  we 
cannot  learn  he  had  any  authority  from  you  or  the  Con- 
gress. We  are  sure  it  was  contrary  to  the  will  and  without 
any  orders  from  his  superiour  officers  in  the  militia,  though 
solicited  for  by  him  ;  and  the  people  here  seemed  to  be 
laid  under  contribution  by  them  to  subsist  his  men. 

We  hope  care  will  be  taken  that  every  attack  upon  our 
enemies  through  the  Province  shall  be  conducted  by  proper 
officers,  orderly,  regularly,  and  with  proper  authority,  lest 
it  should  occasion  a  civil  war  among  ourselves.  'Tis  true, 
in  defending  ourselves,  which  may  be  sudden,  immediate 
and  resolute  opposition,  in  the  best  manner  that  can  be  sud- 
denly thought  of,  should  be  adopted  ;  but  we  are  afraid 


587 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  Sic,  MAY,  1775. 


588 


that  if  any  number  of  men  at  any  time,  and  in  any  man- 
ner, may  collect  together,  and  attack  any  thing,  or  any 
person  they  please,  every  body  may  be  in  danger.  Sat 
vcrbum  sapienti. 

We  are  also  concerned  lest  a  good  deal  of  confusion 
should  arise  from  a  number  of  our  young  men  in  the  coun- 
try possessing  themselves  of  the  enlisting  papers  lately 
printed,  some  calling  themselves  Colonels,  some  Majors, 
appointing  their  own  officers,  Adjutants,  Chaplains,  Chirur- 
geons,  &ic,  &.C.,  without  having,  as  we  can  learn,  any  writ- 
ten orders  for  so  doing ;  for  they  seem  to  contend  already 
who  shall  be  chief  officers,  and  they  are  uncertain  whe- 
ther the  men  they  enlist  are  to  be  stationed  here  for  de- 
fence, or  to  march  to  Cambridge  to  make  up  the  Standing 
Army. 

Enlisting  papers,  we  understand,  were  sent  to  General 
Preble,  but  he  not  having  any  written  orders  did  not  act  in 
the  affair.  If  the  Army  can  be  completed  without  drawing 
men  from  hence,  as  we  have  all  along  been  made  to  under- 
stand was  the  case,  we  cannot  help  thinking  it  would  be 
most  prudent ;  however,  we  shall  not  be  backward  if  there 
is  real  occasion  for  men;  and  in  that  case  we  humbly  submit 
whether  it  would  not  be  best  some  person  or  persons 
should  be  appointed  to  conduct  the  affair  according  to 
orders.  We  hope  we  shall  be  excused  for  thus  troubling 
your  Honours,  as  we  were  solicited  to  do  it  by  a  number  of 
gentlemen.  We  are,  with  great  veneration,  your  Honours' 
most  obedient  humble  servant, 

Enoch  Freeman,  per  order. 

To  the  Honourable  the  Committee  of  Safety  for  the  Prov- 
ince of  the  Massachusetts  Bay,  Cambridge. 


In  Provincial  Congress,  Watortown,  ) 
May  18,  1775.  \ 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Tho7npson  have  the  following 
Letter  sent  him. 

"  Sir  :  This  Congress  has  received  information  that  the 
Committee  of  Correspondence  of  the  Town  of  Falmouth, 
on  hearing  that  you  were  about  making  an  attack  on  the 
Canceaux  man-of-war,  lying  in  the  harbour  of  that  Town, 
desired  you  to  forbear  any  proceedings  of  that  kind,  which 
you  promised  to  do,  but  that  you  afterwards  took  the  Cap- 
tain of  said  ship-of-war,  and  detained  the  Honourable  Je- 
dediah  Preble  and  Enoch  Fret  man,  Esquire,  as  hostages 
for  the  return  of  the  said  Captain,  and  that  you  levied 
contributions  of  money  and  other  tilings  from  the  subjects 
there,  and  look  a  boat  belonging  to  the  said  Canceaux. 

"  Though  this  Congress  approves  of  your  general  zeal  for 
this  Country,  yet  it  appears  that  your  conduct  in  taking 
the  Captain  of  the  ship  against  your  promise,  and  your 
levying  money,  or  other  tilings  of  the  people,  is  by  no 
means  justifiable,  and  it  is  therefore  expected  that  you 
attend  the  next  Congress  that  shall  be  held  in  this  Colony, 
and  do  your  character  justice  in  this  matter,  and  that  you 
return  said  boat,  and  stay  all  further  proceedings  of  this 
kind  in  the  mean  time." 

Williamsburgh,  Va.,  May  19,  1775. 

On  Monday  last,  May  15,  1775,  Captain  Montague's 
detachment  of  Marines  took  their  departure  from  this  City, 
and  are  returned  on  board  the  Fowey. 

The  same  clay  a  Council  was  held  at  the  Capitol,  after 
the  breaking  up  of  which,  the  following  Address  was  made 
publick: 

"  To  all  the  good  People  of  Virginia  : 

"  We,  His  Majesty's  faithful  subjects,  the  Council  of 
this  Colony,  deeply  impressed  with  the  most  sincere  regard 
for  the  prosperity  of  our  Country,  and  the  welfare  of  all 
its  inhabitants,  and  being  desirous,  by  our  example,  and  by 
every  means  in  our  power,  to  preserve  the  peace  and  good 
order  of  the  community,  can  no  longer  forbear  to  express 
our  abhorrence  and  detestation  of  that  licentious  and  ungo- 
vernable spirit  that  is  gone  forth,  and  misleads  the  once 
happy  people  of  this  Country. 

"  The  Council  recommend  it  to  all  orders  of  men  to 
consider  seriously  what  will  be  the  probable  consequence 
of  such  a  conduct  as  hath  been  lately  pursued,  and  whether 
a  redress  of  the  grievances  complained  of  will  not  be  more 
likely  to  be  obtained  by  gentle,  mild,  and  constitutional 


methods,  than  by  such  intemperate  behaviour,  which  must 
tend  to  exasperate  and  inflame,  rather  than  reconcile  the 
differences  that  now  unhappily  subsist. 

"  The  Council  wish,  upon  this  occasion,  that  all  odious 
distinctions  may  be  laid  aside,  and  that  they  may  be  con- 
sidered not  as  a  separate  body  of  men,  and  having  a  dis- 
tinct interest  from  the  rest  of  their  countrymen  and  fellow- 
subjects,  but,  in  the  light  in  which  they  have  always  re- 
garded themselves,  as  the  watchful  guardians  of  the  rights 
of  the  people,  as  well  as  of  the  prerogative  of  the  Crown. 
They  are  most  of  them  natives  of  this  Country,  they  have 
families,  they  have  property,  and  they  trust  they  have  in- 
tegrity too,  which  are  the  best  securities  men  can  give  to 
any  society  for  the  faithful  discharge  of  their  duty. 

"  Let,  then,  their  exhortations  have  proper  weight  and 
influence  among  the  people ;  and  they  plight  their  faith 
that  they  will  join  heartily  with  them  in  the  use  of  such 
means  as  shall  be  judged  most  salutary  and  conducive  for 
enforcing  obedience  to  the  laws,  and  supporting  the  Con- 
stitution of  their  Country,  under  which  it  has  flourished 
from  its  infancy,  and  for  obtaining  a  happy  and  speedy 
conclusion  to  all  our  troubles. 

"  As  his  Excellency  the  Governour  hath  issued  his 
Proclamation  for  the  speedy  meeting  of  the  General  As- 
sembly, the  Council  are  happy  in  finding  an  opportunity 
will  be  given  the  people  of  representing  their  grievances 
in  the  manner  prescribed  by  the  Constitution. 

"  Signed  by  order  of  the  Members  of  the  Council : 
"  John  Blair,  Cleric  of  the  Council." 


CHESTER  COUNTY  (PENNSYLVANIA)  COMMITTEE. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  for  the  County  of 
Chester,  at  the  Borough  of  Chester,  May  15,  1775,  An- 
thony Wayne,  Esquire,  in  the  chair,  the  following  Resolves 
were  made,  viz : 

Whereas  the  British  Parliament,  instead  of  hearing  our 
just  complaints  or  showing  the  least  regard  to  the  dutiful 
and  loyal  Petition  of  the  late  Continental  Congress  in 
behalf  of  America,  have  proceeded  to  fresh  acts  of  tyranny 
and  oppression,  which,  added  to  an  Address  of  both  Lords 
and  Commons  to  His  Majesty,  declaring  the  inhabitants  of 
the  Province  of  Massachusetts-Bay  to  be  in  a  state  of  open 
rebellion,  and  several  of  the  other  Colonies  encouragers  of 
the  same,  have  induced  the  soldiery  under  the  command  of 
General  Gage,  at  Boston,  to  commence  a  civil  war,  by 
wantonly  firing  upon  and  murdering  a  number  of  the  inha- 
bitants of  that  Province :  And  whereas  the  said  Address 
militates  equally  against  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  other 
Colonies,  who  have  the  virtue  to  refuse  obedience  to  laws 
and  measures  destructive  to  the  best  rights  and  liberties  of 
America,  which,  if  suffered  to  take  effect,  must  inevitably 
reduce  these  Colonies  to  a  state  of  abject  slavery,  from 
which,  in  all  probability,  no  human  efforts  would  ever  he 
able  to  rescue  them  ;  and  although  we  will  not  yield  to 
any  of  our  fellow-subjects  in  point  of  duty  and  loyalty  to 
our  most  gracious  Sovereign,  yet  we  cannot  be  so  far  neg- 
ligent of  our  own  happiness  as  totally  to  neglect  providing 
for  our  common  safety  : 

Therefore  resolved  unanimously,  1st.  That  it  is  the  in- 
dispensable duty  of  all  the  freemen  of  this  County  imme- 
diately to  form  and  enter  into  Associations  for  the  purpose 
of  learning  the  military  art ;  and  that  they  provide  them- 
selves with  proper  Arms  and  Ammunition,  to  be  ready  in 
case  of  emergency  to  defend  our  liberty,  property,  and 
lives,  against  all  attempts  to  deprive  us  of  them.  And  we 
solemnly  engage  to  promote  such  Associations  to  the  utmost 
of  our  power. 

2d.  Resolved,  nem.  con.,  That  no  Powder  be  expended 
in  this  County,  except  on  emergent  occasions,  and  the 
store  and  shop-keepers  are  requested  not  to  dispose  of  any, 
except  to  some  one  or  more  of  this  Committee,  who  are 
ordered  to  purchase  the  same. 

3d.  Resolved,  nem.  con.,  That  this  Committee,  confiding 
in  the  wisdom  and  virtue  of  the  Continental  Congress  now 
sitting  in  Philadelphia,  will  adopt,  and  use  their  utmost 
endeavours  to  carry  into  execution,  all  such  measures  as 
the  said  Congress  shall  recommend  for  the  preservation  of 
American  liberty. 

4th.  Resolved,  nem.  con.,  It  is  earnestly  recommended 
to  every  subscriber  in  this  County  for  the  relief  of  the  poor 


589 


ASSEMBLY  OF  NEW-JERSEY,  MAY,  1773. 


590 


in  Boston,  that  they  immediately  pay  the  same,  as  it  is 
much  wanted  for  the  benevolent  purposes  intended. 

5th.  Resolved,  nem.  con.,  That  each  member  of  this 
Committee  will  give  his  attendance  at  the  Borough  of 
Chester  on  the  31st  of  this  instant,  at  ten  o'clock,  A.  M., 
in  order  to  consult  the  Justices,  Grand  Jury,  and  Board  of 


Commissioners  and  Assessors,  on  ways  and  means  to  pro- 
cure a  proper  quantity  of  Arms  and  Ammunition  for  the 
use  of  this  County. 

The  Committee  then  adjourned  to  the  time  and  place 
above-mentioned.    By  order  of  the  Committee  : 

Francis  Johnston,  Secretary. 


ASSEMBLY  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

Votes  and  Proceedings  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the 
Colony  of  Xtiv-Jersey,  at  a  sitting  begun  at  Burlington, 
Monday,  May  15,  1775,  and  continued  until  the  twentieth 
day  of  the  same  month  ;  being  the  first  sitting  of  the  Fourth 
Session  of  the  Twenty-Second  Assembly  of  A ew- Jersey. 

NAMES  OF  THE  REPRESENTATIVES. 

Citu  of  Perth- Amboy. —  Cortland  Skinner,  Speaker, 
John  Combs. 

Middlesex. — John  WctheriU,  Azariah  Dunham. 
Monmouth. — Edward  Taylor,  Richard  Lawrence. 
Essex. — Stephen  Crane,  Henry  Garritse. 
Somerset. — Hendrick  Fisher,  John  Ray. 
Bekgen. — Theunis  Dcy,  John  Demarest. 
Morris. — -Jacob  Ford,  lillliam  Winds. 
City  of  Burlington. — James  Kinsey,  Thomas  P.  Heiv- 
lings. 

County  of  Burlington. — Henry  Paxon,  Anthony  Sykes. 
Gloucester. — John  Hinchman,  Robert  F.  Price. 
Salem. — Grant  Gibbon,  Benjamin  Holme. 
Cape  May. — Jonathan  Hand,  Eli  Eldridge. 
Hl  xterdon. — Samuel  Tucker,  John  Mthelm. 
Cumberland. — John  Sheppard,  Theophilus  Elmer. 
Sussex. — Nathaniel  Pettit,  Joseph  Barton. 

Burlington,  Monday,  May  15,  1775. 
Pursuant  to  his  Excellency's  several  prorogations  of  the 
General  Assembly  from  time  to  time  till  this  day,  the  House 
met. 

Azariah  Dunham,  Esq.,  being  duly  returned  a  Repre- 
sentative to  serve  in  the  General  Assembly  for  the  County 
of  Middlesex,  and  now  attending,  was  admitted  into  the 
House,  and  took  the  usual  oaths,  and  made  and  subscribed 
the  declaration  by  law  appointed,  before  Cortland  Skinner, 
Esq.,  thereto  authorized  by  dedimus  potestatem. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Dunham  do  take  his  seat  in  the 
House. 

The  House  adjourned  till  three  P.  M. 
The  House  met. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Fisher  and  Mr.  Wetherill  do  wait 
upon  his  Excellency  and  acquaint  him  that  a  sufficient  num- 
ber of  Members  to  constitute  a  House  are  met,  and  are 
ready  to  receive  any  thing  he  may  please  to  lay  before 
them. 

Mr.  Speaker  laid  before  the  House  a  Letter  to  him  from 
William  Bollan,  Benjamin  Franklin,  and  Arthur  Lee, 
Esquires,  dated  London,  December  24,  1774;  which  was 
read. 

Mr.  Speaker  also  laid  before  the  House  a  Letter  to  him 
from  the  Honourable  John  Cruger,  Esquire,  Speaker  of  the 
House  of  Representatives  of  the  Province  of  New-York, 
enclosing  their  Petition  to  the  King,  the  Memorial  to  the 
House  of  Lords,  and  a  Representation  to  the  House  of  Com- 
mons, a  List  of  Grievances,  and  the  Resolutions  entered 
into  by  the  General  Assembly  there,  on  the  eighth  of  March 
last;  all  which  were  read. 

Mr.  Fisher  reported  that  Mr.  Wetherill  and  himself 
waited  upon  his  Excellency  with  the  message  of  the  House 
according  to  order,  and  that  his  Excellency  was  pleased  to 
say  that  the  House  should  hear  from  him  to-morrow  morn- 
ing. 

The  House  adjourned  till  9  o'clock  to-morrow  morning. 

Tuesday,  May  16,  1775. 

The  House  met  and  adjourned  rill  three  P.M. 
The  House  met. 

A  Message  from  his  Excellency  by  Mr.  Deputy  Secre- 
tary Pettit : 


Mr.  Speaker  :  His  Excellency  is  in  the  Council  Cham- 
ber, and  requires  the  immediate  attendance  of  the  House. 

Whereupon  Mr.  Speaker  left  the  Chair,  and,  with  the 
House,  went  to  wait  upon  his  Excellency  ;  and  being  re- 
turned, Mr.  Speaker  resumed  the  chair,  and  reported  that 
the  House  had  waited  on  his  Excellency,  who  was  pleased 
to  make  a  Speech  to  the  Council  and  House  of  Assembly, 
of  which  Mr.  Speaker  said  he  had,  to  prevent  mistakes, 
obtained  a  copy.  And  the  same,  by  order  of  the  House, 
was  read,  and  is  as  follows,  viz  : 

Gentlemen  of  the  Council,  and  Gentlemen  of  the  As- 
sembly : 

The  sole  occasion  of  my  calling  you  together  at  this  time, 
is  to  lay  before  you  a  Resolution  of  the  House  of  Com- 
mons, wisely  and  humanely  calculated  to  open  a  door  for 
the  restoration  of  that  harmony  between  Great  Britain 
and  her  American  Colonies,  on  which  their  mutual  welfare 
and  happiness  so  greatly  depend. 

This  Resolution  having  already  appeared  in  the  publick 
papers,  and  a  great  variety  of  interpretations  put  upon  it, 
mostly  according  to  the  different  views  and  dispositions  by 
which  men  are  actuated,  and  scarcely  any  having  seen  it  in 
its  proper  light,  I  think  I  cannot,  at  this  critical  juncture, 
better  answer  the  gracious  purposes  of  His  Majesty,  nor 
do  my  Country  more  essential  service,  than  to  lay  before 
you  as  full  an  explanation  of  the  occasion,  purport,  and  in- 
tent of  it,  as  is  in  my  power.  By  this  means  you,  and  the 
good  people  you  represent,  will  be  enabled  to  judge  for 
yourselves,  how  far  you  ought  or  ought  not  to  acquiesce 
with  the  plan  it  contains,  and  what  steps  it  will  be  prudent 
for  you  to  take  on  this  very  important  occasion. 

You  will  see  in  the  King's  answer  to  the  joint  Address 
of  both  Houses  of  Parliament  on  the  seventh  of  February, 
how  much  attention  His  Majesty  was  graciously  pleased  to 
give  to  the  assurance  held  out  in  that  Address,  of  the  readi- 
ness of  Parliament  to  afford  every  just  and  reasonable  in- 
dulgence to  the  Colonies,  whenever  they  should  make  a 
proper  application  on  the  ground  of  any  real  grievance  they 
might  have  to  complain  of.  This  Address  was  accordingly 
soon  after  followed  by  the  Resolution  of  the  House  of  Com- 
mons, now  laid  before  you,  a  circumstance  which  afforded 
His  Majesty  great  satisfaction,  as  it  gave  room  to  hope  for 
a  happy  effect,  and  would,  at  all  events,  ever  remain  an 
evidence  of  their  justice  and  moderation,  and  manifest  the 
temper  which  has  accompanied  their  deliberations  upon  that 
question,  which  has  been  the  source  of  so  much  disquiet  to 
the  King's  subjects  in  America. 

His  Majesty,  ardently  wishing  to  see  a  reconciliation  of 
the  unhappy  differences  by  every  means  through  which  it 
may  be  obtained,  without  prejudice  to  the  just  authority  of 
Parliament,  which  His  Majesty  will  never  suffer  to  be  vio- 
lated, has  approved  the  Resolution  of  his  faithful  Com- 
mons, and  has  commanded  it  to  be  transmitted  to  the  Gov- 
ernours  of  his  Colonies,  not  doubting  that  this  happy 
disposition  to  comply  with  every  just  and  reasonable  wish 
of  the  King's  subjects  in  America,  will  meet  with  such  a 
return  of  duty  and  affection  on  their  part,  as  will  lead  to  a 
happy  issue  of  the  present  dispute,  and  to  a  re-establish- 
ment of  the  publick  tranquillity  on  those  grounds  of  equity, 
justice,  and  moderation,  which  this  Resolution  holds  forth. 

What  has  given  the  King  the  greater  satisfaction  in  this 
Resolution,  and  the  greater  confidence  in  the  good  effects 
of  it,  is,  his  having  seen  that,  amidst  all  the  intemperance 
into  which  a  people,  jealous  of  their  liberties,  have  been 
unfortunately  misled,  they  have  nevertheless  avowed  the 
justice,  the  equity,  and  the  propriety  of  subjects  of  the 
same  State  contributing,  according  to  their  abilities  and 
situation,  to  the  publick  burdens  ;  and  this  Resolution,  it  is 
thought,  holds  no  proposition  beyond  that. 

It  would  probably  be  deemed  unjust  to  suppose  that  any 
of  the  King's  subjects  in  the  Colonies  can  so  far  forget  the 


591 


ASSEMBLY  OF  NEW-JERSEY,  MAY,  1775. 


592 


benefits  they  have  received  from  the  Parent  State  as  not 
to  acknowledge  that  it  is  to  her  support-,  held  forth  at  the 
expense  of  her  blood  and  treasure,  that  they  principally 
owe  that  security  which  hath  raised  them  to  their  present 
state  of  opulence  and  importance.  In  this  situation,  there- 
fore, justice  requires  that  they  should,  in  return,  contribute 
according  to  their  respective  abilities  to  the  common  de- 
fence ;  and  their  own  welfare  and  interest  demand  that  civil 
establishment  should  be  supported  with  becoming  dignity. 

It  has  been  the  care,  and  it  is  the  firm  determination  of 
Parliament  to  see  that  both  these  ends  are  answered,  and 
their  wisdom  and  moderation  have  suggested  the  propriety 
of  leaving  to  each  Colony  to  judge  of  the  ways  and  means 
of  making  due  provision  for  these  purposes,  reserving  to 
themselves  a  discretionary  power  of  approving  or  disap- 
proving what  shall  be  offered. 

The  Resolution  neither  points  out  what  the  civil  estab- 
lishment should  be,  nor  demands  any  specifick  sum  in  aid 
of  the  publick  burdens.  In  both  these  respects  it  leaves 
full  scope  for  that  justice  and  liberality  which  may  be  ex- 
pected from  Colonies  that,  under  all  their  prejudices,  have 
never  been  wanting  in  expressions  of  an  affectionate  attach- 
ment to  the  mother  Country,  and  a  zealous  regard  for  the 
general  welfare  of  the  British  Empire  ;  and  therefore  the 
King  trusts  that  the  provision  they  will  engage  to  make 
for  the  support  of  civil  government,  will  be  adequate  to  the 
rank  and  station  of  every  necessary  officer,  and  that  the 
sum  to  be  given  in  contribution  to  the  common  defence 
will  be  offered  on  such  terms,  and  proposed  in  such  a  way, 
as  to  increase  or  diminish  according  as  the  publick  burdens 
of  Great  Britain  are  from  time  to  time  augmented  or  re- 
duced, in  so  far  as  these  burdens  consist  of  taxes  and  duties 
which  are  not  a  security  for  the  National  Debt. 

By  such  a  mode  of  contribution,  the  Colonies  will  have 
full  security  that  they  can  never  be  required  to  tax  them- 
selves, without  Parliament's  taxing  the  subjects  in  Great 
Britain  in  a  far  greater  proportion  ;  and  it  may  be  relied  upon, 
that  any  proposition  of  this  nature,  made  by  any  of  the  Colo- 
nies, and  accompanied  with  such  a  state  of  their  faculties 
and  ability,  as  may  evince  the  equity  of  the  proposal,  will 
be  received  with  every  possible  indulgence ;  provided  it  be 
at  the  same  time  unaccompanied  with  any  declarations,  and 
unmixed  with  any  claims  which  will  make  it  impossible 
for  the  King,  consistently  with  his  own  dignity,  or  for  Par- 
liament, consistently  with  their  constitutional  rights,  to  re- 
ceive it.  But  it  is  not  supposed  that  any  of  the  Colonies 
will,  after  this  example  of  the  temper  and  moderation  of 
Parliament,  adopt  such  a  conduct.  On  the  contrary,  the 
pleasing  hope  is  cherished  that  the  publick  peace  will  be 
restored,  and  that  the  Colonies  will  enter  into  the  conside- 
ration of  the  Resolution  of  the  House  of  Commons  with  that 
calmness  and  deliberation  which  the  importance  of  it  de- 
mands, and  with  that  good  will  and  inclination  to  a  recon- 
ciliation, which  are  due  to  the  candour  and  justice  with 
which  Parliament  has  taken  up  this  business,  and  at  once 
declared  to  the  Colonies  what  will  be  ultimately  expected 
from  them. 

It  has  been  already  observed  that  the  King  entirely  ap- 
proves the  Resolution  of  the  House  of  Commons,  and  I 
have  His  Majesty's  commands  to  say,  that  a  compliance 
therewith  by  the  General  Assembly  will  be  most  graciously 
considered  by  His  Majesty,  not  only  as  a  testimony  of  their 
reverence  for  Parliament,  but  also  as  a  mark  of  their  duty 
and  attachment  to  their  Sovereign,  who  has  no  object  nearer 
to  his  heart  than  the  peace  and  prosperity  of  his  subjects 
in  every  part  of  his  Dominions.  At  the  same  time  I  must 
tell  you  His  Majesty  considers  himself  as  bound,  by  every 
tie,  to  exert  those  means  the  Constitution  has  placed  in  his 
hands  for  preserving  that  Constitution  entire,  and  to  resist, 
with  firmness,  every  attempt  to  violate  the  rights  of  Par- 
liament, to  distress  and  obstruct  the  lawful  commerce  of 
his  subjects,  or  to  encourage  in  the  Colonies  ideas  of  inde- 
pendence inconsistent  with  their  connexion  with  Great 
Britain. 

Here,  gentlemen,  you  have  a  full  and  candid  state  of  the 
disposition  and  expectations  of  His  Majesty  and  the  Parlia- 
ment. They  require  nothing  of  America  but  what  the 
Colonies  have  repeatedly  professed  themselves  ready  and 
willing  to  perform.  A  hue  Assembly  of  this  Province,  in 
their  Petition  to  the  King  in  1766,  express  themselves 
thus :    (i  As  no  danger  can  approach  Britain  without  giv- 


ing us  the  most  sensible  alarm,  so  your  Majesty  may  be 
assured,  that  with  filial  duty  we  shall  ever  be  ready  to 
afford  all  the  assistance  in  our  power,  and  stand  or  fall  with 
that  Kingdom  from  which  we  boast  our  descent,  and  to 
which  we  are  attached  by  the  strongest  ties  of  duty,  grati- 
tude and  affection."  And  in  a  subsequent  Petition  they 
say:  "  Very  far  it  is  from  our  intentions  to  deny  our  subor- 
dination to  that  august  body,  (the  Parliament,)  or  our  de- 
pendance  on  the  Kingdom  of  Great  Britain.  In  these 
connexions,  and  in  the  settlement  of  our  liberties  under  the 
auspicious  influence  of  your  Royal  House,  we  know  our 
happiness  consists;  and,  therefore,  to  confirm  those  con- 
nexions, and  to  strengthen  this  settlement,  is  at  once  our 
interest,  duty,  and  delight." 

Similar  declarations  have  been  repeatedly  made  in  other 
Colonies.  The  following  vote  was  passed  in  the  Assembly 
of  Pennsylvania,  to  wit :  "  The  House,  taking  into  con- 
sideration the  many  taxes  their  fellow-subjects  in  Great 
Britain  are  obliged  to  pay  towards  supporting  the  dignity 
of  the  Crown,  and  defraying  the  necessary  and  contingent 
charges  of  the  Government,  and  willing  to  demonstrate  the 
fidelity,  loyalty,  and  affection  of  the  inhabitants  of  this 
Province  to  our  gracious  Sovereign,  by  bearing  a  share  of 
the  burden  of  our  fellow-subjects,  proportionable  to  our 
circumstances,  do,  therefore,  cheerfully  and  unanimously 
resolve  that  three  thousand  Pounds  be  paid  for  the  use  of 
the  King,  his  heirs  and  successors,  to  be  applied  to  such 
uses  as  he  in  his  royal  wisdom  shall  think  fit  to  direct  and 
appoint."  And  the  said  three  thousand  Pounds  was  after- 
wards paid  into  His  Majesty's  Exchequer  by  the  Agent  of 
the  Province  accordingly. 

Nor  can  I  avoid  mentioning  what  was  done  in  the  Con- 
vention of  Committees  from  every  County  in  Pennsylvania, 
who  met  in  July  last  for  the  express  purpose  of  giving  in- 
structions to  their  Representatives  in  Assembly  on  this  very 
subject.  Several  of  these  instructions  manifest  such  a 
candour  and  liberality  of  sentiment,  such  just  ideas  of  the 
importance  of  our  connexion  with  Great  Britain,  and  point 
out  so  rational  a  method  to  be  pursued  for  obtaining  a  re- 
dress for  the  supposed  grievances,  (previous  to  any  attempts 
to  distress  the  trade  of  that  Kingdom,)  that  it  is  greatly  to 
be  regretted  that  the  conduct  of  America,  in  a  matter  of 
such  vast  importance  to  its  future  welfare,  had  not  been 
regulated  by  the  principles  and  advice  they  suggested. 
In  those  instructions,  speaking  of  the  powers  Parliament 
had  claimed  and  lately  exercised,  the  Convention  say  : 
"  We  are  thoroughly  convinced  they  will  prove  unfailing 
and  plentiful  sources  of  dissensions  to  our  mother  Country 
and  these  Colonies,  unless  some  expedients  can  be  adopted 
to  render  her  secure  of  receiving  from  us  every  emolument 
that  can,  in  justice  and  reason,  be  expected;  and  us  secure 
in  our  lives,  properties,  and  an  equitable  share  of  commerce. 
Mournfully  revolving  in  our  minds  the  calamities  that, 
arising  from  these  dissensions,  will  most  probably  fall  on  us 
and  our  children,  we  will  now  lay  before  you  the  particular 
points  we  request  of  you  to  procure,  if  possible,  to  be  finally 
decided,  and  the  measures  that  appear  to  us  most  likely  to 
produce  such  a  desirable  period  of  our  distresses  and  dan- 
gers." Then,  after  enumerating  the  particular  Acts  of 
Parliament,  which  they  consider  as  grievances,  and  desire 
to  have  repealed,  they  add :  "  In  case  of  obtaining  these 
terms,  it  is  our  opinion  that  it  will  be  reasonable  for  the 
Colonies  to  engage  their  obedience  to  the  Acts  of  Parlia- 
ment, commonly  called  the  Acts  of  Navigation,  and  to  every 
other  Act  of  Parliament  declared  to  have  force  at  this  time 
in  these  Colonies,  other  than  those  above  mentioned,  and 
to  confirm  such  Statutes  by  Acts  of  the  several  Assemblies. 
It  is  also  our  opinion  that,  taking  example  from  our  mother 
Country  in  abolishing  the  Courts  of  Wards  and  Liveries, 
tenures  in  capite,  and  by  Knights'  service  and  purvey- 
ance, it  will  be  reasonable  for  the  Colonics,  in  case  of  ob- 
taining the  terms  before  mentioned,  to  settle  a  certain 
annual  revenue  on  His  Majesty,  his  heirs  and  successors, 
subject  to  the  control  of  Parliament,  and  to  satisfy  all 
damages  done  to  the  East-India  Company.  This  our  idea 
of  settling  a  revenue,  arises  from  a  sense  of  duty  to  our 
Sovereign,  and  of  esteem  for  our  mother  Country.  We 
know  and  have  felt  the  benefits  of  a  subordinate  connexion 
with  her.  We  neither  are  so  stupid  as  to  be  ignorant  of 
them,  nor  so  unjust  as  to  deny  them.  We  have  also  expe- 
rienced the  pleasures  of  gratitude  and  love,  as  well  as 


593 


ASSEMBLY  OF  NEW-JERSEY,  MAY,  1775. 


594 


advantages  from  that  connexion.  The  impressions  are  not 
erased.  We  consider  her  circumstances  with  tender  con- 
cern. AVe  have  not  been  wanting,  when  constitutionally 
called  upon,  to  assist  her  to  the  utmost  of  our  abilities,  inso- 
much that  she  has  judged  it  reasonable  to  make  us  recom- 
penses for  our  over-strained  exertions :  and  we  now  think 
we  ought  to  contribute  more  than  we  do  to  the  alleviation 
of  her  burdens.  Whatever  may  be  said  of  these  proposals 
on  either  side  of  the  Atlantick,  this  is  not  a  time  either  for 
timidity  or  rashness.  We  perfectly  know  that  the  great 
cause  now  agitated  is  to  be  conducted  to  a  happy  conclu- 
sion only  by  that  well-tempered  composition  of  counsels 
which  firmness,  prudence,  loyalty  to  our  Sovereign,  respect 
to  our  Parent  State,  and  affection  to  our  native  Country, 
united,  must  form."  "  In  case  of  war,  or  in  any  emergency 
of  distress,  we  shall  also  be  ready  and  willing  to  contribute 
all  aids  within  our  power.  And  we  solemnly  declare,  that  on 
such  occasions,  if  we,  or  our  posterity,  shall  refuse,  neglect, 
or  decline  thus  to  contribute,  it  will  be  a  mean  and  mani- 
fest violation  of  a  plain  duty,  and  a  weak  and  wicked  deser- 
tion of  the  true  interests  of  this  Province,  which  ever  have 
been,  and  must  be,  bound  up  in  the  prosperity  of  our 
Mother  Country.  Our  union,  founded  on  mutual  compacts 
and  mutual  benefits,  will  be  indissoluble ;  at  least  more 
firm  than  an  union  perpetually  disturbed  by  disputed  rights 
and  retorted  injuries."  I  could  quote  several  more  passages 
from  these  instructions,  which  are  expressive  of  the  same 
honest  and  generous  sentiments  with  regard  to  Great  Bri- 
tain, but  I  shall  only  make  one  more  extract,  and  that 
respecting  the  mode  which  they  recommended  to  be  pur- 
sued for  the  redress  of  grievances,  viz  :  "  But  other  con- 
siderations have  weight  with  us.  We  wish  every  mark  of 
respect  to  be  paid  to  His  Majesty's  administration.  We 
have  been  taught,  from  our  youth,  to  entertain  tender  and 
brotherly  affections  for  our  fellow-subjects  at  home.  The 
interruption  of  our  commerce  must  greatly  distress  great 
numbers  of  them.  This  we  earnestly  desire  to  avoid.  We 
therefore  request  that  the  Deputies  you  shall  appoint  may 
be  instructed  to  exert  themselves  at  the  Congress,  to  induce 
the  Members  of  it  to  consent  to  make  a  full  and  precise 
state  of  grievances,  and  a  decent,  yet  firm  claim  of  redress, 
and  to  await  the  event  before  any  other  step  is  taken.  It 
is  our  opinion  that  persons  should  be  appointed  and  sent 
home  to  present  this  stale  and  claim  at  the  Court  of  Great 
Britain."  After  mentioning  their  confidence  in  the  intended 
General  Congress,  and  their  resolution  to  abide  their  deter- 
minations for  the  sake  of  unanimity,  they  declare  that  it  is 
"  with  a  strong  hope  and  trust  that  they  will  not  draw  this 
Province  into  any  measure  judged  by  us,  who  must  be 
better  acquainted  with  its  state  than  strangers,  highly  inex- 
pedient. Of  this  kind,  we  know  any  other  stoppage  of  trade, 
but  of  that  with  Great  Britain,  will  be.  Even  this  step  we 
should  be  extremely  afflicted  to  see  taken  by  the  Congress, 
before  the  other  mode,  above  pointed  out,  is  tried." 

Happy  would  it  have  been  at  this  day,  in  all  probability, 
if  some  such  healing  measure  had  been  pursued.  Some 
plan  of  union,  or  proposal  of  "  a  mutual  compact"  for  "  mu- 
tual benefit,"  was  the  grand  object  which  every  honest  man 
in  the  Colonies  had  at  heart.  An  imperfect  one  (if  not  too 
glaringly  so)  was  better  than  none,  as  it  would,  if  it  had 
answered  no  other  purpose,  have  laid  a  foundation  for  ne- 
gotiation and  treaty.  It  has  been  lately  observed  in  Par- 
liament, "That  it  does  not  appear  the  Colonies  wrere 
seriously  inclined  to  come  into  any  reasonable  terms  of  ac- 
commodation, as  no  body  was  authorized  to  make  any 
proposals  to  that  effect." 

However,  it  can  be  of  little  avail  now  to  animadvert  on 
past  transactions.  Who  has  been  most  in  the  right  or  most 
in  the  wrong,  can  never  be  satisfactorily  decided.  Many 
things  will  ever  happen  in  the  course  of  a  long  continued 
dispute,  which  good  men  of  both  parties  must  reflect  on 
with  pain,  and  wish  to  have  buried  in  oblivion.  In  the 
present  situation  of  affairs  we  should  only  look  forward,  and 
endeavour  to  fall  on  some  expedient  that  may  avert  the 
impending  danger.  To  effect  this  desirable  purpose,  a  plan 
is  now  formed  and  recommended  to  you  by  His  Majesty, 
containing  terms  greatly  corresponding  with  the  avowed 
sentiments  of  many  of  the  Colonies,  and  which,  I  think, 
can  only  want  to  be  rightly  understood  in  order  to  be  gene- 
rally adopted.  It  does  not  require  from  the  people  of  this 
Country  any  formal  acknowledgment  of  the  right  of.  taxa- 
Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii. 


tion  in  the  Parliament.  It  waives  all  dispute  on  that  head, 
and  suspends  the  exercise  of  it  forever,  if  so  long  the  Colo- 
nies shall  perform  their  part  of  the  contract.  It  does  not 
even  require  as  a  preliminary  that  the  Non-Importation  and 
Non-Exportation  Agreements  shall  be  abolished.  It  comes 
before  you  in  the  old  accustomed  manner,  by  way  of  requi- 
sition, being  approved  and  adopted  by  the  King,  who  has 
directed  his  several  Governours  to  signify  to  the  respective 
Assemblies  his  desire  that  they  should  grant  such  aids  for 
the  common  defence,  and  the  support  of  Government  within 
the  Colonies,  as  shall  appear  to  them  just  and  equitable, 
and  proportionate  to  their  abilities.  His  Majesty  and  the 
Parliament,  'tis  true,  are  to  judge  whether  the  aids  which 
each  Colony  may  offer  are  worth  acceptance,  or  adequate 
to  their  respective  abilities,  as  they  did  during  the  course  of 
the  last  war,  very  much  to  the  satisfaction  of  those  Colo- 
nies who  exerted  themselves ;  often  making  them  a  com- 
pensation "  according  as  their  active  vigour  and  strenuous 
efforts  respectively  appeared  to  merit."  The  necessity  of 
some  such  supreme  judge  is  evident  from  the  very  nature 
of  the  case,  as  otherwise  some  Colonies  might  not  contribute 
their  due  proportion.  During  the  last  war  I  well  remember 
it  was  ardently  wished  by  some  of  the  Colonies  that  others 
who  were  thought  to  be  delinquent  might  be  compelled, 
by  Act  of  Parliament,  to  bear  an  equal  share  bf  the  pub- 
lick  burdens.  It  appears,  by  the  minutes  of  Assembly,  in 
March  and  April,  1758,  that  some  of  the  neighbouring 
Colonies  thought  New-Jersey  had  not,  at  that  time,  con- 
tributed its  due  share  towards  the  expenses  of  the  war,  and 
that  President  Reading  (the  then  Commander-in-Chief  of 
the  Colony)  was  of  the  same  opinion.  And  since  my  ad- 
ministration, when  the  Assembly,  in  1764,  was  called  upon 
to  make  provision  for  raising  some  Troops  on  account  of 
the  Indian  war,  they  declined  doing  it  for  some  time  but 
;<  on  condition  a  majority  of  the  Eastern  Colonies,  as  far  as 
to  include  Massachusetts-Bay,  should  come  into  His  Ma- 
jesty's requisition  on  the  occasion."  But  as  none  of  the 
Assemblies  of  the  New-England  Governments  thought 
themselves  nearly  concerned,  nothing  was  granted  by  them, 
and  the  whole  burden  of  the  expeditions  then  carried  on 
fell  upon  Great  Britain  and  three  or  four  of  the  middle 
Colonies  ;  with  which  this  Colony  was  dissatisfied,  and  the 
Assembly  complained  of  it  in  one  of  their  Addresses  to  me 
on  the  occasion.  But  what  fully  evinces  that  there  is  no 
design  of  oppression  or  extortion  in  the  proposed  reserva- 
tion in  His  Majesty  and  his  Parliament  of  the  right  of  ap- 
proving the  aids  which  may  be  offered  by  the  Colonies,  is 
His  Majesty's  gracious  assurance  that  the  propositions  on 
this  head  will  be  received  with  every  possible  indulgence. 
The  moneys  raised  by  the  several  Colonies  as  their  propor- 
tion to  the  common  defence,  is  made  subject  to  the  disposal 
of  Parliament,  as  in  justice  it  ought,  as  they  furnish  the 
whole  sum  which  may  be  wanted  for  that  necessary  pur- 
pose, according  to  the  estimates  annually  laid  before  them 
by  the  Crown,  besides  making  provision  for  the  civil  list 
and  National  Debt,  towards  which  the  Colonies  are  not 
asked  to  contribute.  The  Army  and  Navy  establishment, 
it  is  well  known,  is  necessarily  increased  since  the  extension 
of  the  British  Dominions  in  America.  The  whole  Ame- 
rican civil  and  military  establishment,  as  paid  by  Great 
Britain,  after  the  peace  of  Aix-la-Chapelle,  was,  it  is  said, 
only  £70,000  sterling ;  but  since  the  last  peace,  it  amounts 
to  upwards  of  £350,000.  As  this  great  additional  expense 
was  chiefly  incurred  on  an  American  account,  it  cannot  but 
be  reasonable  that  America  should  pay  some  part  of  it. 
To  remove  every  objection  that  other  taxes  may  be  raised 
upon  America,  under  the  colour  of  regulations  on  com- 
merce, the  produce  of  all  such  duties  is  to  be  carried  to  the 
account  of  that  Province  where  it  is  to  be  levied. 

We  have  now,  thank  Heaven,  a  happy  opportunity  of 
getting  entirely  rid  of  this  unnatural  contest,  by  only  com- 
plying with  what  1  think  has  been  fully  proved  and  ac- 
knowledged to  be  our  indispensable  duty.  Wherever  a 
people  enjoy  protection,  and  the  other  common  benefits  of 
the  State,  nothing  can  be  more  reasonable  than  that  they 
should  bear  their  share  of  the  common  burden. 

It  is  much  to  be  lamented  that  there  is  so  much  truth  in 
the  observation,  that  mankind  generally  act,  not  according 
to  right,  but  according  to  the  present  interest,  and  most  ac- 
cording to  present  passion.  In  the  present  case  there  are 
no  difficulties  but  what  may  be  easily  surmounted,  if  men 


595 


ASSEMBLY  OF  NEW-JERSEY,  MAY,  1775. 


596 


come  together  sincerely  dis|K>sed  to  serve  their  Country, 
unbiased  by  any  sinister  views  or  improper  resentments. 
This,  gentlemen,  I  trust  will  be  found  to  be  your  dispo- 
sition in  this  most  alarming  situation  of  publick  affairs. 
Let  me  conjure  you,  however,  not  to  come  to  any  precipi- 
tate resolutions  respecting  the  plan  of  accommodation  now 
communicated  to  you.  I  have  no  objection  to  give  you 
any  time  you  may  think  necessary  for  the  due  considera- 
tion of  it.  It  is.  indeed,  a  concern  of  a  more  interesting 
nature  than  ever  before  came  under  the  consideration  of 
an  American  Assembly.  If  it  is  adopted,  all  will  yet  be 
well.  If  it  is  totally  rejected,  or  nothing  similar  to  it  pro- 
posed, or  made  the  basis  of  a  negotiation,  it  will  necessarily 
induce  a  belief  of  what  has  been  lately  so  often  mention- 
ed in  publick,  "That  it  is  not  a  dispute  about  modes  of 
taxation,  but  that  the  Americans  have  deeper  views,  and 
mean  to  throw  off  all  dependance  upon  Great  Britain, 
and  to  get  rid  of  every  control  of  their  Legislature."  Should 
such  sentiments  ever  prevail,  they  cannot  but  have  the  most 
fatal  effects  to  this  Country.  1  am,  however,  fully  con- 
vinced that  the  body  of  the  people  in  the  Colonies  do  not 
even  entertain  a  wish  of  the  kind.  Rather  than  lose  the 
protection  of  Great  Britain,  America,  were  it  ever  so  con- 
stitutionally and  allowedly  independent,  would  find  it  for  its 
advantage  to  purchase  that  protection  at  an  expense  far 
beyond  what  Great  Britain  would  ever  think  of  requiring 
while  we  show  her  that  regard  and  obedience  to  which  she 
is  justly  entitled,  and  which  our  own  interest  and  safety 
should  prompt  us  to  show,  if  there  were  no  other  consider- 
ations. 

Taxation  being  the  principal  source  of  the  present  dis- 
orders, when  that  important  point  is  once  settled,  every 
other  subject  of  complaint  which  has  grown  out  of  it  will, 
no  doubt,  of  course,  be  removed  ;  for  you  may  rely,  gen- 
tlemen, that  notwithstanding  the  many  inimical  and  op- 
pressive designs  which  the  jealousies  and  suspicions  of 
incensed  people  have  attributed  to  Government,  yet  it  is 
evident,  from  the  whole  tenour  of  the  letters  which  I  have 
had  the  honour  to  receive  from  the  King's  Ministers,  that 
His  Majesty  and  they  have  nothing  more  at  heart  than  to 
have  these  unhappy  differences  accommodated  on  some 
just  and  honourable  plan,  which  shall  at  the  same  time 
secure  the  liberties  of  the  people,  without  lessening  the 
necessary  power  and  dignity  of  Parliament. 

God  grant  that  the  Colonies  may  manifest  the  same 
laudable  disposition,  and  that  a  hearty  reconciliation  and 
harmony  may  take  place  of  the  present  confusion  and  dis- 
sension. Wm.  FllANKLIN. 
Council  Chamber,  May  16,  1775. 

Mr.  Deputy  Secretary  laid  before  the  House  the  copy 
of  an  Address  to  the  King  from  the  Lords  and  Commons 
of  Great  Britain,  of  the  7th  of  February,  1775,  together 
with  His  Majesty's  Answer ;  also,  a  copy  of  a  Resolution 
of  the  Honourable  House  of  Commons  of  Great  Britain, 
of  the  20th  of  February  last;  all  which  were  read. 

Ordered,  That  his  Excellency's  Speech  and  the  said 
Papers  be  read  a  second  time. 

Mr.  Tucker  laid  before  the  House  a  printed  Pamphlet 
lately  received  from  Great  Britain,  entitled  "  The  Parlia- 
mentary Register,  No.  5,"  containing,  among  other  things, 
a  Paper  entitled  "  An  extract  of  a  Letter  from  Governour 
Franklin  to  the  Earl  of  Dartmouth,  dated  Perth-Amboy, 
February  I,  1775  ;  received  February  28,"  in  these  words, 
viz  : 

"  The  General  Assembly  of  this  Province  are  now  sit- 
ting, being  convened  on  the  1  Ith  of  last  month,  in  order  to 
transact  the  publick  business. 

"  At  the  opening  of  the  session  I  had  some  hopes  of 
prevailing  on  the  House  of  Representatives  not  to  approve 
of  the  proceedings  of  the  General  Congress  held  at  Phil- 
adelphia, for  which  purpose  a  paragraph  of  my  speech  was 
particularly  calculated.  But  the  Delegates  from  this  Prov- 
ince took  the  alarm,  and  used  their  utmost  endeavours  with 
the  members  to  persuade  them  to  give  their  approbation  to 
those  proceedings,  as  otherwise  one  grand  end  the  Con- 
gress had  in  view  would  be  entirely  frustrated,  namely:  the 
preserving  an  appearance  of  unanimity  throughout  the  Col- 
onies, without  which  they  said  their  measures  could  not 
have  that  weight  and  ullicacy  with  the  Government  and 
people  of  Great  Britain,  as  was  intended. 


"  The  scheme,  however,  met  with  some  opposition  in 
the  House,  every  member  proposing  to  defer  the  consider- 
ation of  it  to  a  future  time,  or  to  give  their  approbation  to 
only  some  parts  of  the  proceedings  of  the  Congress ;  but 
by  the  artful  management  of  those  who  espoused  the  mea- 
sure, it  was  carried  through  precipitately  the  very  morning 
it  was  proposed,  as  your  Lordship  will  see  by  a  copy  of 
their  Resolutions  now  enclosed,  which  were  all  previously 
prepared  for  the  purpose." 

Which  Extract  was  read,  and  ordered  to  be  read  a  sec- 
ond time. 

Mr.  Crane  had  leave  of  absence  upon  special  occasion. 
The  House  adjourned  till  nine  o'clock  to-morrow  morn- 
ing. — 

Wednesday,  May  17,  1775. 

The  House  met. 

His  Excellency's  Speech,  together  with  the  Papers  ac- 
companying the  same,  were  read  the  second  time,  and  com- 
mitted to  a  Committee  of  the  Whole  House. 

Mr.  Speaker  laid  before  the  House  a  Letter  to  him  from 
John  Smith,  Esquire,  Treasurer  of  the  Eastern  Division, 
dated  Perth-Amboy,  May  13,  1775,  setting  forth  that  he 
had  attended  the  Justices  and  Freeholders  of  Middlesex, 
with  the  sum  of  Nine  Thousand  Five  Hundred  and  Ninety- 
Eight  Pounds  and  Three  Shillings,  to  be  sunk  according  to 
law  on  the  Wednesday  preceding ;  but  that  no  sufficient 
number  to  constitute  a  Board  had  attended  ;  and  praying 
that  an  act  of  Assembly  may  immediately  pass  to  cancel 
and  burn  said  Bills;  which  Letter  was  read,  and  ordered  a 
second  reading. 

The  House  adjourned  till  three,  P.  M. 

The  House  met. 

The  House,  according  to  Order,  resolved  itself  into  a 
Committee  of  the  Whole  House  on  His  Excellency's 
Speech  and  the  Papers  accompanying  the  same,  and  after 
some  time  spent  therein,  Mr.  Speaker  resumed  the  Chair, 
and  Mr.  Fisher,  Chairman  of  the  Committee,  reported 
that  the  Committee  had  gone  through  the  matters  to  them 
referred,  and  had  come  to  one  Resolution,  which  he  was 
ready  to  report  whenever  the  House  will  please  to  receive 
the  same. 

Ordered,  That  the  Report  be  made  immediately. 

Whereupon  Mr.  Fisher  reported  the  Resolution  of  the 
Committee,  as  follows,  viz  : 

Resolved,  That  an  humble  Address  be  presented  to  his 
Excellency  in  answer  to  his  Speech  ;  to  which  the  House 
agreed. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Fisher,  Mr.  Wetherill,  Mr.  Kinsey, 
Mr.  Paxon,  and  Mr.  Lawrence,  be  a  Committee  to  pre- 
pare and  bring  in  the  draught  of  an  Address  to  his  Excel- 
lency, in  answer  to  his  Speech. 

Joseph  Barton,  Esquire,  being  duly  returned  a  Repre- 
sentative in  Assembly  for  the  County  of  Sussex,  and  now 
attending,  was  admitted  into  the  House,  and  took  the  usual 
oaths,  and  made  and  subscribed  the  Declaration  by  law 
appointed,  before  Cortland  Skinner,  Esquire,  authorized 
by  dedimus  potcstatum. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Barton  do  take  his  seat  in  the 
House. 

The  House  adjourned  till  ten  o'clock  to-morrow  morning. 

Thursday,  May  18,  1775. 

The  House  met. 

The  printed  Paper,  entitled  "  An  Extract  of  a  Letter 
from  Governour  Franklin  to  the  Earl  of  Dartmoxith,  dated 
Perth-Amboy,  February  1, 1775;  received  February  28," 
was  read  the  second  time. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Hinchman,  Mr.  Mehelm,  Mr.  Combs, 
Mr.  Taylor,  and  Mr.  Holme,  be  a  Committee  to  prepare 
and  bring  in  the  draught  of  a  Message  to  his  Excellency, 
to  request  his  Excellency  would  be  pleased  to  inform  this 
House  whether  the  said  Extract  is  authentick  or  not. 

The  House  adjourned  till  three,  P.  M. 

The  House  met. 

Mr.  Hinchman,  from  the  Committee  appointed  this 
morning,  brought  in  the  draught  of  a  Message  to  his  Ex- 
cellency, according  to  order  ;  which  was  read,  amended, 
agreed  to,  and  ordered  to  be  engrossed. 


597 


ASSEMBLY  OF  NEW-JERSEY,  MAY,  1775. 


598 


The  engrossed  Message  to  his  Excellency  was  read  and 
compared,  and  the  same  is  as  follows,  viz  : 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Dey  and  Mr.  Hewlings  do  wait 
upon  his  Excellency  with  the  following  Message : 

May  it  please  your  Excellency : 

A  printed  Pamphlet  lately  received  from  Great  Britain, 
entitled  "  The  Parliamentary  Register,  l\o.  5,"  has  been 
laid  before  this  House,  containing,  among  other  things,  a 
Paper  entitled  "An  Extract  of  a  Letter  from  Governour 
Franklin  to  the  Earl  of  Dartmouth,  dated  Pcrth-Amboy, 
February  1, 1775  ;  received  February  28,"  in  these  words: 

"  The  General  Assembly  of  this  Province  are  now  sit- 
ting, being  convened  on  the  1 1th  of  last  month,  in  order  to 
transact  the  publick  business. 

"  At  the  opening  of  the  session  I  had  some  hopes  of 
prevailing  on  the  House  of  Representatives  not  to  approve 
of  the  proceedings  of  the  General  Congress  held  at  Phil- 
adelphia, for  which  purpose  a  paragraph  of  my  speech  was 
particularly  calculated.  But  the  Delegates  from  this  Prov- 
ince took  the  alarm,  and  used  their  utmost  endeavours  with 
the  members  to  persuade  them  to  give  their  approbation  to 
those  proceedings,  as  otherwise  one  grand  end  the  Con- 
gress had  in  view  would  be  entirely  frustrated,  namely  :  the 
preserving  an  appearance  of  unanimity  throughout  the  Col- 
onies, without  which  they  said  their  measures  would  not 
have  that  weight  and  efficacy  with  the  Government  and 
people  of  Great  Britain,  as  was  intended. 

"  The  scheme,  however,  met  with  some  opposition  in 
the  House,  every  member  proposing  to  defer  the  consider- 
ation of  it  to  a  future  time,  or  to  give  their  approbation  to 
only  some  parts  of  the  proceedings  of  Congress ;  but  by 
the  artful  management  of  those  who  espoused  the  measure, 
it  was  carried  through  precipitately  the  very  morning  it  was 
proposed,  as  your  Lordship  will  see  by  a  copy  of  their 
Resolutions  now  enclosed,  which  were  all  previously  pre- 
pared for  the  purpose." 

We  request  your  Excellency  will  be  pleased  to  inform 
this  House  whether  the  said  Extract  contains  a  true  repre- 
sentation of  the  words  or  substance  of  the  Letter,  or  any 
part  of  the  Letter  by  your  Excellency  written  relative  to 
the  proceedings  of  the  last  session  of  Assembly. 

By  order  of  the  House  : 

Richard  Smith,  Clerk. 

House  of  Assembly,  May  18,  1775. 

Mr.  Fisher,  from  the  Committee  on  the  Address  to  his 
Excellency,  brought  in  a  draught ;  which  was  read,  and 
ordered  a  second  reading. 

Mr.  Deputy  Secretary  Pettit  laid  before  the  House  His 
Majesty's  royal  approbation  of  two  Acts  of  Assembly  of 
this  Province  ;  and  also  His  Majesty's  royal  disallowance 
of  one  other  Act,  in  these  words,  viz : 

"  At  the  Court  at  St.  James's,  the  20th  day  of  February, 
1775.  Present :  The  King's  Most  Excellent  Majesty, 
Lord  President,  Duke  of  Queensbury,  Duke  of  Newcastle, 
Earl  of  Denbigh,  Earl  of  Rochford,  Earl  of  Dartmouth, 
Viscount  Falmouth. 

•:  Whereas,  by  commission  under  the  great  seal  of  Great 
Britain,  the  Governour,  Council,  and  Assembly  of  His 
Majesty's  Colony  of  New-Jersey  are  authorized  and  em- 
powered to  make,  constitute,  and  ordain  Laws,  Statutes, 
and  Ordinances  for  the  publick  peace,  welfare,  and  good 
government  of  the  said  Colony,  which  Laws,  Statutes,  and 
Ordinances  are  to  be  as  near  as  conveniently  may  be,  agree- 
able to  the  Laws  and  Statutes  of  this  Kingdom,  and  are  to 
be  transmitted  to  His  Majesty  for  his  royal  approbation  or 
disallowance  :  And  whereas,  in  pursuance  of  the  said  pow- 
ers, two  Acts  were  passed  in  the  said  Colony  in  the  last 
session  of  the  General  Assembly  there,  which  have  been 
transmitted,  entitled  as  follows,  viz: 

"  An  Act  for  striking  One  Hundred  Thousand  Pounds  in 
Bills  of  Credit,  and  directing  the  mode  for  sinking  the  same. 

"  An  Act  for  the  relief  of  Abner  Hatfield,  an  insolvent 
debtor. 

"  Which  Acts,  together  with  the  representation  from  the 
Lords  Commissioners  for  Trade  and  Plantations  thereupon, 
having  been  referred  to  the  consideration  of  a  Committee 
of  the  Lords  of  His  Majesty's  most  Honourable  Privy 
Council  for  Plantation  Affairs,  the  said  Lords  of  the  Com- 


mittee did  this  day  report  as  their  opinion  to  His  Majesty, 
that  the  said  Acts  were  proper  to  be  approved.  His  Ma- 
jesty taking  the  same  into  consideration,  was  pleased,  with 
the  advice  of  his  Privy  Council,  to  declare  his  approbation 
of  the  said  Acts;  and  pursuant  to  His  Majesty's  royal  plea- 
sure thereupon  expressed,  the  said  Acts  are  hereby  con- 
firmed, finally  enacted,  and  ratified  accordingly ;  whereof 
the  Governour  or  Commander-in-Chief  of  His  Majesty's 
said  Colony  of  New-Jersey,  for  the  time  being,  and  all 
others  whom  it  may  concern,  are  to  take  notice  and  govern 
themselves  accordingly.  G.  Chetwynd." 

"  At  the  Court  at  St.  James's,  the  20th  day  of  February, 
1775.  Present :  The  King's  Most  Excellent  Majesty, 
Lord  President,  Duke  of  Quetnsbury,  Duke  of  Newcastle, 
Earl  of  Denbigh,  Earl  of  Rochford,  Earl  of  Dartmouth, 
Viscount  Falmouth. 

"  Whereas,  by  commission  under  the  great  seal  of  Great 
Britain,  the  Governour,  Council,  and  Assembly  of  His 
Majesty's  Colony  of  New- Jersey  are  authorized  and  em- 
powered to  make,  constitute,  and  ordain  Laws,  Statutes, 
and  Ordinances  for  the  publick  peace,  welfare,  and  good 
government  of  the  said  Colony,  which  Laws,  Statutes,  and 
Ordinances  are  to  be  as  near  as  conveniently  may  be,  agree- 
able to  the  Laws  and  Statutes  of  this  Kingdom,  and  are  to 
be  transmitted  for  His  Majesty's  royal  approbation  or  dis- 
allowance :  And  whereas,  in  pursuance  of  the  said  pow- 
ers, an  Act  was  passed  in  the  said  Colony  in  the  last  session 
of  General  Assembly,  and  transmitted,  entitled  as  follows, 
viz : 

"  An  Act  for  lowering  the  interest  of  Money  to  Six  per 
Cent,  within  this  Colony. 

"  Which  Act,  together  with  a  representation  from  the 
Lords  Commissioners  for  Trade  and  Plantations  thereupon, 
having  been  referred  to  the  consideration  of  a  Committee 
of  the  Lords  of  His  Majesty's  most  Honourable  Privy 
Council,  the  said  Lords  of  the  Committee  did  this  day  re- 
port as  their  opinion  to  His  Majesty,  that  the  said  Act  ought 
to  be  disallowed.  His  Majesty,  taking  the  same  into  con- 
sideration, was  pleased,  with  the  advice  of  his  Privy  Coun- 
cil, to  declare  his  disallowance  of  the  said  Act;  and  pur- 
suant to  His  Majesty's  royal  pleasure  thereupon  expressed, 
the  said  Act  is  hereby  disallowed,  declared  void,  and  of 
none  effect ;  whereof  the  Governour  or  Commander-in- 
Chief  of  His  Majesty's  said  Colony  of  New-Jersey,  for 
the  time  being,  and  all  others  whom  it  may  concern,  are  to 
take  notice  and  govern  themselves  accordingly. 

"  G.  Chetwynd." 

The  House  adjourned  till  9  o'clock  to-morrow  morning. 

Friday,  May  19,  1775. 

The  House  met. 

The  Address  to  his  Excellency  was  read  the  second 
time,  and  committed  to  a  Committee  of  the  Whole  House. 

The  House  accordingly  resolved  itself  into  a  Committee 
of  the  Whole  House  on  the  Address,  and  after  some  time 
spent  therein,  Mr.  Speaker  resumed  the  Chair,  and  Mr. 
Fisher,  Chairman  of  the  Committee,  reported  that  the 
Committee  had  gone  through  the  Address,  and  had  made 
sundry  amendments  to  the  same ;  and  by  leave  of  the 
House  Mr.  Fisher  reported  the  Address  with  the  amend- 
ments ;  which  were  read ;  and  the  Address  being  further 
amended  in  the  House,  was  agreed  to. 

Ordered,  That  the  said  Address  as  amended  and  agreed 
to,  be  engrossed. 

The  House  adjourned  till  three,  P.  M. 

The  House  met. 

The  engrossed  Address  to  his  Excellency  was  read  and 
compared. 

Ordered,  nem.  con.,  That  Mr.  Speaker  do  sign  the 
same. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Tucker  and  Mr.  Hinchman  do  wait 
upon  his  Excellency,  and  desire  to  be  informed  when  his 
Excellency  will  be  attended  by  the  House  with  their  Ad- 
dress. 

Colonel  Ford  had  leave  of  absence  on  urgent  business. 

Mr.  Tucker  reported  that  Mr.  Hinchman  and  himself 
waited  on  his  Excellency  according  to  order,  and  that  his 
Excellency  was  pleased  to  say  the  House  should  hear  from 
him. 


599 


ASSEMBLY  OF  NEW-JERSEY,  MAY,  1775. 


600 


The  House  adjourned  till  nine  o'clock  to-morrow  morn- 
ing. _ 

Saturday,  May  20,  1775. 

The  House  met. 

A  Message  from  his  Excellency,  hy  Mr.  Deputy  Secre- 
tary Pettit  : 

G  entlemen : 

As  the  Honourable  Samuel  Smith,  Esquire,  has  resigned 
his  office  of  Treasurer  of  the  Western  Division,  I  now  in- 
form you  that  I  have,  with  the  advice  of  the  Council, 
appointed  Joscjjh  Smith,  Esquire,  to  that  office ;  which 
appointment,  I  doubt  not,  will  be  to  your  satisfaction. 

Wm.  Franklin. 

Burlington,  May  20,  1775. 

Which  was  read  ;  and  thereupon  a  certified  copy  of  the 
Bond  entered  into  by  the  said  Joseph  Smith,  Esq.,  being 
laid  before  the  House,  executed  according  to  law, 

Resolved,  That  this  House  is  entirely  satisfied  with  the 
security  therein  mentioned. 

It  also  appearing  that  the  late  Treasurer  hath  paid  into 
the  hands  of  the  said  Joseph  Smith,  Esquire,  the  sum  of 
Six  Thousand  One  Hundred  and  Sixty-Six  Pounds  Four- 
teen Shillings  and  Eight  Pence,  the  balance  of  the  said 
late  Treasurer's  accounts,  as  settled  by  the  Committees  of 
the  Council  and  this  House,  together  with  all  books,  pa- 
pers, fee,  belonging  to  the  Colony  : 

Resolved,  That  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  House  that  the 
late  Treasurer's  Bond  be  taken  off  the  files,  cancelled,  and 
delivered  to  him. 

It  also  appearing  that  the  Chest  heretofore  used  for  keep- 
ing the  publick  money,  &ic,  is  private  property, 

Ordered,  That  the  present  Treasurer  do  procure  a  pro- 
per and  strong  Iron  Chest  for  that  purpose ;  and  upon  his 
exhibiting  an  account  of  the  expense  thereof, 

Resolved,  That  this  House  will  make  provision  to  defray 
the  said  expense. 

A  Message  from  his  Excellency,  by  Mr.  Deputy  Secre- 
tary Pettit : 
Mr.  Speaker: 

His  Excellency  is  in  the  Council-Chamber,  and  requires 
the  immediate  attendance  of  the  House. 

Whereupon  Mr.  Speaker  left  the  Chair,  and  with  the 
House  went  to  wait  upon  his  Excellency  in  the  Council- 
Chamber,  when  he  addressed  the  Governour  in  the  words, 
or  to  the  effect  following : 

"  I  am  ordered  by  the  House  of  Assembly  to  deliver  to 
your  Excellency  their  Address,  which  being  different  from 
my  sentiments,  I  think  it  necessary  thus  publickly  to  de- 
clare it ;  a  step  I  should  not  have  taken,  had  I  been  permit- 
ted to  enter  my  dissent  on  the  Minutes  of  the  House." 

Having  delivered  the  Address,  and  being  returned,  Mr. 
Speaker  resumed  the  Chair,  and  reported  that  the  House 
had  waited  on  Ms  Excellency  with  their  Address,  in  these 
words,  viz : 

To  his  Excellency  William  Franklin,  Esquire,  Captain- 
General,  Governour,  and  Commander-in-Chief  in  and 
over  His  Majesty's  Colony  of  Nova-Oksarea,  or  New- 
Jersey,  and  Territories  thereon  depending  in  America, 
Chancellor  and  Vice- Admiral  in  the  same,  fyc. 

The  humble  Address  of  the  Representatives  of  the  said 
Colony,  in  General  Assembly  convened: 

May  it  please  your  Excellency  : 

We,  His  Majesty's  loyal  and  dutiful  subjects,  the  Repre- 
sentatives of  the  Colony  of  New-Jersey,  in  General  As- 
sembly convened,  have  taken  under  our  consideration  your 
Excellency's  Speech  at  the  opening  of  the  session,  together 
with  the  Resolution  of  the  House  of  Commons  accompa- 
nying the  same,  containing  a  proposition  for  accommodating 
of  the  unhappy  differences  at  present  subsisting  between 
our  Parent  Country  and  the  Colonies. 

As  the  Continenial  Congress  is  now  sitting  to  consider  of 
the  present  critical  situation  of  American  affairs ;  and  as 
this  House  has  already  appointed  Delegates  for  that  pur- 
pose, we  should  have  been  glad  that  your  Excellency  had 
postponed  the  present  meeting  until  their  opinion  could 
be  had  upon  the  Resolution  now  offered  for  our  considera- 


tion, and  to  which  we  have  no  doubt  that  a  proper  atten- 
tion will  be  paid  ;  more  especially  as  we  cannot  suppose 
you  to  entertain  a  suspicion  that  the  present  House  has  the 
least  design  to  desert  the  common  cause,  in  which  all  Ame- 
rica appears  to  be  both  deeply  interested  and  firmly  united, so 
far  as  separately,  and  without  the  advice  of  a  body  in  which 
all  are  represented,  to  adopt  a  measure  of  so  much  impor- 
tance. Until  this  opinion  is  known,  we  can  only  give  your 
Excellency  our  present  sentiments,  being  fully  of  opinion 
that  we  shall  pay  all  proper  respect  to,  and  abide  by,  the 
united  voice  of  the  Congress  on  the  present  occasion. 

Your  Excellency  is  pleased  to  tell  us  that  this  llesolu- 
tion  "  has  had  a  variety  of  interpretations  put  on  it ;"  "  that 
scarcely  any  have  seen  it  in  its  proper  light ;"  and  you 
proceed  to  give  us  that  explanation  of  the  design  and  occa- 
sion, which  you  apprehend  will  enable  us  and  our  constitu- 
ents to  judge  how  far  the  plan  it  contains  ought  to  be  ac- 
quiesced in,  and  what  steps  it  may  be  prudent  to  take  in 
the  present  situation.  We  confess  that  your  Excellency 
has  put  a  construction  on  the  proposition,  which  appears 
to  us  to  be  new;  and  if  we  would  be  of  the  opinion  that 
the  Resolution  "holds  no  proposition  beyond  the  avowal 
of  the  justice,  the  equity,  and  the  propriety  of  subjects  of 
the  same  State  contributing,  according  to  their  abilities  and 
situation,  to  the  publick  burden,"  and  did  not  convey  to  us 
the  idea  of  submitting  the  disposal  of  all  our  property  to 
others  in  whom  we  have  no  choice,  it  is  more  than  proba- 
ble that  we  should  gladly  embrace  the  opportunity  of  set- 
tling this  unhappy  dispute. 

Most  Assemblies  on  the  Continent  have,  at  various 
times,  acknowledged  and  declared  to  the  world  their  wil- 
lingness not  only  to  defray  the  charge  of  the  administration 
of  justice,  and  the  support  of  the  civil  Government,  but 
also  to  contribute,  as  they  have  hitherto  done  when  consti- 
tutionally called  upon,  to  every  reasonable  and  necessary 
expense  for  the  defence,  protection,  and  security  of  the 
whole  British  Empire  ;  and  this  Colony  in  particular  hath 
always  complied  with  his  Majesty's  requisitions  for  those 
purposes.  And  we  do  now  assure  your  Excellency  that  we 
shall  always  be  ready,  according  to  our  abilities  and  to  the 
utmost  of  our  power,  to  maintain  the  interests  of  His  Ma- 
jesty and  of  our  Parent  State.  If,  then,  your  Excellency's 
construction  be  right,  and  if  a  proposal  "of  this  nature" 
will,  as  you  are  pleased  to  inform  us,  be  received  hy  His 
Majesty  with  every  possible  indulgence,  we  have  hopes 
that  the  declaration  we  now  make  will  be  looked  on  by  His 
Majesty  and  his  Ministers,  not  only  to  be  similar  to  what  is 
required  from  us,  but  also  to  be  a  "  basis  of  a  negotia- 
tion" on  which  the  present  differences  may  be  accommo- 
dated— an  event  which  we  most  ardently  wish  for. 

We  have  considered  the  Resolution  of  the  House  of 
Commons.  We  would  not  wish  to  come  to  a  determination 
that  might  be  justly  called  precipitate,  in  the  present  alarm- 
ing situation  of  affairs ;  but  if  we  mistake  not,  this  Reso- 
lution contains  no  new  proposal.  It  appears  to  us  to  be 
the  same  with  one  made  to  the  Colonies  the  year  preceding 
the  passing  of  the  late  Stamp  Act;  at  least  it  is  not  mate- 
rially different  therefrom.  America  then  did  not  comply 
with  it ;  and  though  we  are  sincerely  disposed  to  make  use 
of  all  proper  means  to  obtain  the  favour  of  His  Majesty 
and  the  Parliament  of  Great  Britain,  yet  we  cannot,  in 
our  present  opinion,  comply  with  a  proposition  which  we 
really  apprehend  to  give  up  the  privileges  of  freemen  ;  nor 
do  we  want  any  time  to  consider  whether  we  shall  submit 
to  that  which,  in  our  apprehension,  will  reduce  us  and  our 
constituents  to  a  state  little  better  than  that  of  slavery. 

By  the  Resolution  now  offered,  if  assented  to,  we  think 
we  shall  be,  to  all  intents  and  purposes,  as  fully  and  effectu- 
ally taxed  by  our  fellow-subjects  in  Great  Britain,  where 
we  have  not  any  representation,  as  by  any  of  the  late  Acts 
of  the  British  Parliament  under  which  we  have  been  ag- 
grieved ;  of  which  we  have  complained;  and  from  which 
we  have  prayed  to  be  relieved;  and  that,  too,  in  a  much 
greater  degree,  perhaps,  than  by  all  those  Acts  put  together. 
We  cannot  consent  to  subject  the  property  of  our  consti- 
tuents to  be  taken  away  for  services  and  uses,  of  the  pro- 
priety of  which  we  have  no  right  to  judge,  while  to  us  are 
only  left  the  ways  and  means  of  raising  the  money.  We 
have  always  thought  and  contended,  that  we  had  a  right  to 
dispose  of  our  property  ourselves  ;  and  we  have  always 
cheerfully  yielded  our  assistance  to  His  Majesty  in  that 


601 


ASSEMBLY  OF  NEW-JERSEY,  MAY,  1775. 


602 


way,  when  the  exigencies  of  affairs  required  us  so  lo  do, 
and  he  has  condescended  to  ask  it  from  us.  It  is  the  freedom 
of  granting,  as  well  as  the  mode  of  raising  moneys,  which 
this  House  cannot  voluntarily  part  with,  without  betraying 
the  just  rights  of  the  Constitution.  The  present  Resolu- 
tion seems  to  require  us  to  raise  a  proportion  which  a  Par- 
liament of  Great  Britain  may  at  any  time  think  fit  to  grant. 
At  this  time  we  cannot  form  any  judgment,  either  of  the 
extent  of  the  proposition,  or  of  the  consequences  in  which 
the  good  people  of  the  Colony  may  be  involved  by  our 
assent  to  a  provision  so  indeterminate  ;  for  it  appears  to 
us  to  be  impossible  to  judge  w  hat  proportion  or  share  the 
people  can  bear,  until  we  know  what  situation  they  will  be 
in  when  any  sum  is  intended  to  be  raised. 

Upon  the  whole,  though  sincerely  desirous  to  give  every 
mark  of  duty  and  attachment  to  the  King,  and  to  show-  all 
due  reverence  to  the  Parliament  of  our  Parent  State,  we 
cannot,  consistent  with  our  real  sentiments,  and  the  trust 
reposed  in  us,  assent  to  a  proposal  big  with  consequences 
destructive  to  the  publick  welfare  ;  and  hope  that  the  jus- 
tice of  our  Parent  Country  will  not  permit  us  to  be  driven 
into  a  situation,  the  prospect  of  w  hich  fills  us  with  anxiety 
and  horrour. 

There  may  be  much  truth  in  the  observation,  "  that 
mankind  generally  act  not  according  to  right,  but  according 
to  present  interest,  and  most  according  to  present  passion." 
Yet  we  trust  that  our  conduct  on  the  present  occasion  is 
neither  influenced  by  the  one  nor  the  other;  and  we  per- 
suade ourselves  that  your  Excellency  is  so  well  acquainted 
with  the  people  you  govern,  that  it  is  quite  unnecessary  for 
us  to  make  use  of  any  means  to  convince  you  of  the  injus- 
tice of  the  charge,  "  that  the  Americans  have  deeper  views, 
and  mean  to  throw  of  all  dependance  on  Great  Britain, 
and  to  get  rid  of  every  control  of  their  Legislature." 

We  heartily  pray  that  the  supreme  Disposer  of  events, 
in  whose  hands  are  the  hearts  of  all  men,  may  avert  the 
calamities  impending  over  us,  and  influence  our  Sovereign, 
his  Ministry,  and  the  Parliament,  so  as  to  induce  them  to 
put  a  stop  to  the  effusion  of  the  blood  of  the  Colonists, 
who  wish  always  to  look  upon  their  fellow-subjects  in  Great 
Britain  as  their  brethren,  and  are  really  desirous  to  pro- 
mote their  interests  and  happiness  upon  any  reasonable 
terms ;  and  it  will  give  us  great  p'easure  to  find  your  Ex- 
cellency amongst  those  who,  by  just  and  proper  representa- 
tions of  the  dispositions  of  the  inhabitants  of  these  Colo- 
nies, shall  assist  in  settling  of  the  present  unhappy  differ- 
ences.   By  order  of  the  House  : 

Cortland  Skinner,  Speaker. 
House  of  Assembly,  May  19,  1775. 

To  which  his  Excellency  was  pleased  to  make  the  follow- 
ing Answer: 

Gentlemen : 

1  have  done  my  duty.  I  lost  no  time  in  laying  before 
you  the  propositions  I  had  received  lor  an  amicable  accom- 
modation of  the  present  unhappy  differences.  I  gave  you 
as  full  and  candid  an  explanation  of  them  as  I  was  autho- 
rized or  enabled  to  do.  Whether  those  propositions  or 
my  explanation  of  them  did  or  did  not  contain  any  thing 
new,  is  but  little  to  the  purpose.  The  question  is,  whether 
they  ought  or  ought  not  to  be  approved,  either  in  whole  or 
in  part,  or  be  made  the  ground  of  a  negotiation ;  and 
whether,  in  the  latter  case,  every  Assembly  on  the  Conti- 
nent ought  not  to  take  some  active  measures  to  effect  an 
end  so  desirable.  In  stating  the  matter  to  you,  I  could 
have  no  suspicion  that  you  did  not  think  yourselves  com- 
petent to  the  business,  and  were  necessarily  to  wait  the 
determination  of  another  body.  It  was  but  the  last  session 
you  assured  me  that  you  would  not  "  suffer  any  of  the 
rights  vested  in  you  by  the  Constitution  to  be  wrested  out 
of  your  hands  by  any  person  or  persons  whatsoever."  I 
shall  forbear  to  point  out  the  inconsistency  of  this  Address 
w  ith  that  declaration.  Nor  shall  I  aim  to  convince  you  of 
the  wrong  ideas  you  have  formed  of  those  propositions. 
Were  they  ever  so  rightly  understood,  or  ever  so  well  ap- 
proved by  you,  yet,  to  judge  by  your  own  declaration,  it 
could  be  of  no  avail.  The  times  are  indeed  greatly  alter- 
ed. I  shall  be  happy  to  see  some  proper  attempts  made 
to  mend  them.  My  representations  and  endeavours,  from 
the  first  commencement  of  this  unnatural  dispute  to  this 
day,  have  not  been,  nor  shall  they  ever  be,  wanting  to- 


wards effecting  a  reconciliation.  1  am  persuaded  that  if  a 
disposition  of  this  sort  is  manifested,  and  the  proper  steps 
are  pursued  by  those  who  have  it  in  their  power  to  take  the 
lead  in  this  important  affair  on  the  part  of  America,  it  may 
be  easily  accomplished  to  mutual  satisfaction.  His  Ma- 
jesty, I  am  sure,  would  wish  to  avoid  the  shedding  of  the 
blood  of  his  American,  as  much  as  that  of  his  British  sub- 
jects. They  must  be  all  equally  dear  to  him,  if  they  are 
equally  dutiful.  The  Americans,  in  general,  have  been, 
and  I  hope  will  ever  prove  as  well  disposed  to  His  Majesty 
and  Family,  as  the  subjects  of  any  other  part  of  the  Do- 
minions. 

The  House  adjourned  till  three,  P.  M. 
The  House  met. 

His  Excellency  having  laid  before  the  House  a  copy  of 
the  Resolution  of  the  honourable  the  House  of  Commons 
of  Great  Britain,  of  the  20th  of  February,  1775,  con- 
taining a  plan  formed  for  the  accommodation  of  the  unhap- 
py differences  between  our  Parent  State  and  the  Colonies  ; 
which  plan,  under  the  present  circumstances,  this  House 
could  not  comply  with  and  adopt ;  and  yet  this  House 
being  desirous  of  making  use  of  all  proper  means  to  effect 
a  reconciliation,  do  recommend  it  lo  their  Delegates  to  lay 
the  same  plan  before  the  Continental  Congress  for  their 
consideration. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Mehelm  and  Mr.  Elmer  do  go  to 
the  Council,  and  inquire  whether  they  have  any  business 
before  them ;  if  not,  that  this  House  proposes  to  apply  to 
his  Excellency  for  a  dismission. 

Mr.  Mehelm  reported  that  Mr.  Elmer  and  himself  waited 
on  the  Council  accordingly,  who  said  they  had  nothing 
before  them. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Fisher  and  Mr.  Lawrence  do  wait 
upon  his  Excellency,  and  acquaint  him  that  the  House  hav- 
ing gone  through  the  business,  is  desirous  of  a  dismission. 

Mr.  Fisher  reported,  that  Mr.  Lawrence  and  himself 
waited  upon  the  Governour  accordingly,  who  was  pleased 
to  say  the  House  should  hear  from  him  presently. 

A  Message  from  his  Excellency  by  Mr.  Deputy  Secre- 
tary Pettit. 

A  Message  to  the  Assembly. 

Gentlemen  : 

It  has  been  my  unhappiness  almost  every  session  du- 
ring the  existence  of  the  present  Assembly,  that  a  majority 
of  the  members  of  the  House  have  suffered  themselves 
to  be  persuaded  to  seize  on  every  opportunity  of  arraign- 
ing my  conduct,  or  fomenting  some  dispute,  let  the  occa- 
sion be  ever  so  trifling,  or  let  me  be  ever  so  careful  to 
avoid  giving  any  just  cause  of  offence.  This,  loo,  has 
been  done  with  such  an  eagerness  in  the  promoters  of  it  as 
can  only  be  accounted  for  on  a  supposition  that  they  are 
either  actuated  by  unmanly  private  resentment,  or  by  a 
conviction  that  their  whole  political  consequence  depends 
upon  a  contention  with  their  Governour.  Such  effusions 
of  ill-humour  have  never  yet,  however,  nor  is  it  likely  thev 
ever  will,  produce  any  benefit  to  the  Province;  on  the  con- 
trary, they  have  occasioned  great  delays  and  obstructions 
to  the  publick  business,  and  consequently  been  attended 
with  very  considerable  expense  to  the  people. 

In  this  light,  and  in  no  other,  can  I  look  upon  the  pro- 
ceedings of  your  House  with  respect  to  the  matter  men- 
tioned in  your  Message  of  Thursday.  A  member  receives 
a  pamphlet  from  England,  containing,  as  is  pretended,  an 
extract  of  a  letter  from  me  to  the  Secretary  of  State.  What 
does  he  do  with  it  ?  Does  he  come  to  me,  or  does  he  w  rite 
to  me  on  the  subject,  or  does  he  even  request  any  other 
person  to  inquire  of  me  whether  the  extract  is  genuine  or 
not?  No,  he  treasures  it  up,  till  the  House  meets;  but  either 
through  motives  of  shame  or  fear,  he  does  not  choose  to 
appear  openly  in  the  affair  himself.  He  looks  around  for 
some  person  to  take  the  odium  of  the  intended  business  off 
his  hands,  and  presently  finds  one  exactly  fitted  to  his  pur- 
pose. The  pamplet  is  accordingly  laid  before  the  Assem- 
bly, the  extract  is  read,  inserted  at  large  on  the  Minutes, 
ordered  a  second  reading,  and  after  it  had  been  on  record 
two  days,  the  House  at  length  thought  proper  to  send  me 
a  message  requesting  1  would  be  pleased  to  inform  them 
"  whether  the  said  extract  contains  a  true  representation  of 
the  words  or  substance  of  the  letter,  or  any  part  of  the 


603 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


604 


letter  by  me  written  relative  to  the  proceedings  of  the  last 
session  of  Assembly." 

If  such  a  procedure  does  not  manifest  a  premeditated 
affront,  and  an  intention  to  do  me  a  personal  injury,  let 
any  man  judge,  who  considers  the  several  steps  which  have 
been  taken  in  this  affair,  the  many  falsehoods  which  have 
been  industriously  propagated  respecting  the  contents  of 
the  letter,  and  the  present  turbulent  state  of  the  Province. 

Some,  if  not  all  of  you,  must  have  known  that  the  pamph- 
let though  called  the  Parliamentary  Register,  was  not  a 
publication  authorized  by  Parliament,  or  of  any  more  au- 
thority than  a  common  magazine  or  newspaper.  Nor  can 
I  doubt  but  that  some  of  you  must  have  seen  or  heard  that 
what  was  lately  published  in  that  work,  as  the  Speech  of 
the  Earl  of  Chatham,  was  publickly  denied  by  his  Lordship. 
It  is  well  known  to  be  as  much  the  practice  in  England  to 
write  and  publish  speeches  which  were  never  spoke,  as  it 
is  in  America  to  publish  extracts  of  letters  which  were 
never  wrote  by  the  persons  to  whom  they  are  attributed. 

Besides,  gentlemen,  as  to  the  particular  extract  in  ques- 
tion, I  cannot  but  flatter  myself  that  I  am  not  so  remark- 
able for  writing  nonsense  and  contradictions,  but  that  you 
might  have  at  least  doubted  the  genuineness  of  the  extract 
when  you  saw  on  the  very  face  of  it  so  glaring  an  absur- 
dity as  could  not  be  supposed  to  have  come  from  the  pen 
of  any  man  of  common  sense.  Would  you  not  have 
thought  me  extremely  deficient  in  the  common  marks  of 
respect  which  is  due  from  one  gentleman  to  another,  and 
much  more  from  one  branch  of  the  Legislature  to  another, 
had  I  seen  a  pretended  extract  of  a  letter,  said  to  be  wrote 
by  you  to  your  Agent,  or  from  him  to  you,  containing  evi- 
dent nonsense  and  absurdity,  and  should  order  it  to  be  read 
in  Council,  and  entered  on  the  minutes  without  making  any 
inquiry  as  to  the  authenticity  of  it,  until  two  days  after  ? 
Would  you  not  have  construed  such  conduct  into  a  designed 
affront,  or  suspected  that  it  was  calculated  to  expose  you 
to  ridicule,  or  to  promote  some  intended  injury,  more 
especially  in  times  so  circumstanced  as  the  present. 

I  cannot  think  that  you  have  the  least  right  to  a  sight  of 
any  part  of  my  correspondence  with  the  King's  Ministers, 
and  I  am  convinced  that  you  would  deem  it  a  very  impro- 
per request,  were  1  to  ask  you  to  communicate  to  me  your 
correspondence  with  the  Agent  of  this  Province,  at  the 
Court  of  Great  Britain.  I  will,  however,  thus  far  comply 
with  your  request  as  to  assure  you  that  "  the  said  extract 
does  not  contain  a  true  representation  of  the  words  or  sub- 
stance of  my  letter;"  but  had  you,  before  you  suffered  it 
to  be  entered  on  your  Minutes,  applied  to  me,  either  in 
a  private  or  publick  way,  I  should  have  had  not  the  least 
scruple  to  have  let  you  seen  the  whole  of  what  I  wrote 
"  relative  to  the  proceedings  of  the  last  session  of  Assem- 
bly." It  has  ever  been  my  rule,  as  it  is  my  duty,  to  repre- 
sent matters  exactly  in  the  light  as  they  appear  to  me  from 
the  best  information  I  can  obtain  at  the  time  of  writing  my 
despatches.  If  I  afterwards  find  that  I  have  been  mista- 
ken in  any  thing,  I  never  fail  to  rectify  the  mistake  as  soon 
as  discovered. 


On  the  whole,  gentlemen,  I  have  very  particular  reasons 
to  complain  of  the  treatment  I  have  received  on  account 
of  this  pretended  extract.  Great  pains  have  been  taken 
to  propagate  an  idea  that  I  wrote  a  letter  to  England 
inimical  to  the  Province  or  to  America  in  general.  After 
it  is  produced  nothing  of  the  kind  appears,  nor  should  I 
have  the  least  objection  to  the  publication  of  my  whole 
correspondence  with  the  King's  Ministers.  You  have  on 
your  Minutes  a  copy  of  a  letter  from  Lord  Shelburne, 
which  will  shew  that  the  representations  I  made  of  the  dis- 
position and  conduct  of  the  people  of  this  Province,  at  the 
time  of  the  Stamp  Act,  a  time  somewhat  similar  to  the 
present,  were,  to  use  his  Lordship's  words,  "  much  to  its 
honour."  My  sentiments  respecting  the  present  transac- 
tions I  have  no  scruple  to  declare  do  not  entirely  coincide 
with  those  of  either  party.  But  I  trust  that  those  who 
know  me  best  will  do  me  the  justice  to  allow  that  no  office 
or  honour  in  the  power  of  the  Crown  to  bestow,  will  ever 
influence  me  to  forget  or  neglect  the  duty  I  owe  my  Coun- 
try, nor  the  most  furious  rage  of  the  most  intemperate 
zealots  induce  me  to  swerve  from  the  duty  I  owe  His  Ma- 
jesty. Wm.  Franklin. 

1.  Resolved,  That  the  laying  of  the  Parliamentary 
Register  before  this  House,  containing  a  publication  said 
to  be  an  extract  of  a  Letter  from  Governour  Franklin  to 
Lord  Dartmouth,  so  far  from  doing  or  carrying  an  appear- 
ance of  intending  an  injury  to  the  character  of  his  Excel- 
lency, or  deserving  of  those  personal  reflections  contained 
in  his  Message  to  the  House  of  this  day,  had,  in  the  opin- 
ion of  this  House,  a  tendency  to  do  him  real  service,  by 
giving  him  an  opportunity  of  exculpating  himself  from  the 
charge  of  writing  the  said  Letter  or  extract,  if  the  charge 
had  been  groundless. 

2.  Resolved,  That  Mr.  Fisher,  Mr.  Kinsey,  Mr.  Tucker, 
Mr.  Paxon,  and  Mr.  Hinchman,  be  a  Committee  to  con- 
sider of  the  said  Message,  and  make  report  to  the  next 
sitting  of  Assembly. 

On  the  question,  Whether  the  House  agrees  to  the  said 
Resolutions  or  not  ?    It  passed  in  the  affirmative  : 


Yeas. 
Mr.  Combs, 
Mr.  Wetherill, 
Mr.  Dunham, 
Mr.  Taylor, 
Mr.  Lawrence, 
Mr.  Garritse, 
Mr.  Fisher, 
Mr.  Rey, 

Nay.  Mr.  Barton. 


Yeas. 
Mr.  Dey, 
Mr.  Demarest, 
Mr.  Winds, 
Mr.  Kinsey, 
Mr.  Hewlings, 
Mr.  Paxon, 
Mr.  Sykes, 
Mr.  Hinchman, 


Yeas. 
Mr.  Holme, 
Mr.  Hand, 
Mr.  Eldridge, 
Mr.  Tucker, 
Mr.  Mehelm. 
Mr.  Sheppard, 
Mr.  Elmer, 
Mr.  Pettit. 


A  Message  from  his  Excellency,  by  Mr.  Deputy  Sec- 
retary Pettit. 

Mr.  Speaker  :  His  Excellency  is  in  the  Council  Cham- 
ber, and  requires  the  immediate  attendance  of  this  House. 

Whereupon  Mr.  Speaker,  with  the  House,  waited  upon 
his  Excellency,  who  was  pleased  to  prorogue  the  General 
Assembly  to  the  20th  day  of  June  next,  then  to  meet  at 
Burlington. 


NEW-YORK  COMMITTEE. 

The  Committee  met,  by  adjournment,  Monday,  15th 
May,  1775.    Present : 


Isaac  Low, 
P.  V.  B.  Livingston, 
Alex.  McDougall, 
Leonard  Lispenard, 
John  Broome, 
Joseph  Hullett, 
Gabriel  H.  Ludlow, 
Peter  Van  Schaack, 
Henry  Remsen, 
Peter  T.  Curtenius, 
Abraham  Brasher, 
Abraham  P.  Lott, 
Joseph  Bull, 
Thomas  Ivers, 
Hercules  Mulligan, 
John  Anthony, 
John  Whito, 


Theophilus  Anthony, 
William  Gof'orth, 
William  Denning, 
William  W.  Gilbert, 
John  Berrian, 
Gabriel  W.  Ludlow, 
Edward  Fleming, 
John  De  Lancey, 
Frederick  Jay, 
William  W.  Ludlow, 
Lancaster  Burling, 
John  Lasher, 
George  Janeway, 
James  Bookman, 
Samuel  Verplanck, 
Richard  Yates, 
David  G'larkson, 


Gerret  Ketletas, 
Cornelius  Clopper, 
John  Reade, 
J.  Van  Cortlandt, 
Jacobus  Van  Zandt, 
Gerardns  Duyckinck, 
John  Marston, 
Hamilton  Young, 
Abram.  Brmkerhoff, 
Benjamin  Helme, 
David  Boekman, 
Evert  Banker, 
Robert  Ray, 
Nicholas  Bogart, 
William  Laight, 
Daniel  Phenix, 
John  Imlay. 


A  Letter,  dated  Philadelphia,  13th  May,  1775,  from 
John  Lamb,  received  and  read. 

Mr.  P.  V.  B.  Livingston,  from  the 
respondence  reported  and  read,  the  dra 


Committee  of  Cor- 
ft  of  an  Answer  to 


a  Letter,  dated  Tryon  County,  19th  April,  1775:  also  an 
Answer  to  one  received  from  Thomas  Barclay,  dated  Phi- 
ladelphia, May  11th,  1775,  which  being  approved  of, 

Ordered,  That  the  same  be  forwarded. 

Mr.  Remsen  moved,  seconded  by  Mr.  Laight,  in  the 
words  following : 

Whereas  the  inhabitants  of  this  City  have  reposed  a 
trust  of  great  importance  in  this  Committee,  which  we  are 
bound  in  honour  to  discharge  with  fidelity  ;  and  as  the  pur- 
poses of  our  appointment  may  in  a  great  measure  be  defeated 
unless  the  members  are  in  a  situation  to  be  assembled  on 
sudden  emergencies ;  I  therefore  move  that  it  be 

Resolved,  That  no  member  do  absent  himself  out  of 
Town  longer  than  forty-eight  hours  at  a  time,  without 
leave  first  obtained  from  the  Committee,  or  from  the 
Chairman ;  and  that  every  member  be  served  with  a  copy 
of  this  Resolve. 

The  following  Address  was  presented  by  Captains  Lash- 
er, Ritzma,  Stockholm,  Banker,  Fleming,  and  Lott  : 

We,  the  subscribers,  who,  by  the  unanimous  consent  and 
approbation  of  many  of  our  fellow-citizens,  have  formed  dif- 


605 


CORRESPOi\DEx\CE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


606 


ferent  companies  of  Foot,  in  order  to  co-operate  wiilj  the 
rest  of  our  fellow-citizens  in  carrying  into  execution  the 
General  Association  of  the  late  Continental  Congress,  do 
hereby  offer  our  service  to  the  General  Committee,  cheer- 
fully to  take  our  tour  of  duty  in  such  military  services  as 
the  Committee  may  direct,  and  to  be  otherwise  subservient 
to  the  end  of  their  appointment. 

John  Lasher,  Chris.  Banker, 

Rodol.  Ritzma,  Edward  Fleming, 

Andrew  Stockholm,   Abraham  P.  Lott. 

Ordered,  That  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  be 
directed  to  draft  an  Answer  to  the  above  Address. 

Committee  Chamber,  New. York,  May  15,  1775. 

Resolved,  That  copies  of  the  Association  be  lodged  at 
the  following  places  in  the  respective  Wards  in  this  City, 
to  wit : 

In  the  South-Ward,  at  the  house  of  Mr.  John  Lasher; 

Dock-  Hard,  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Gerardus  Duijckinck ; 

East- Ward,  at  the  house  of  Mr.  John  Imlay ; 

West-Ward,  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Peter  T.  Curtenius ; 

North- Ward,  at  the  house  of  Mr.  John  White  ; 

Montgomerie-Ward,  the  house  of  Mr.  Petrus  Byvanck ; 

Out- Ward ,  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Thomas  hers ; 
To  the  intent,  that  all  such  persons  who  have  not  yet 
subscribed  the  Association,  may  with  the  greater  conveni- 
ence do  it.  And  it  is  hereby  recommended  to  them  to 
make  their  subscriptions  as  speedily  as  possible,  as  returns 
of  all  such  as  decline  are  to  be  made  to  the  Committee. 
By  order  of  the  Committee  : 

Isaac  Low,  Chairman. 

NEW-YORK  COMMITTEE  TO  THE  CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS. 

New-York,  May  15,  1775. 
Gentlemen  :  We  have  this  moment  received  by  express 
from  Albany,  the  within  authentick  intelligence  of  the 
fortress  of  Ticonderoga  having  been  surprised  and  taken 
by  a  detachment  of  Provincials  from  Connecticut  and  the 
.Massachusetts-Bay.  And  as  we  do  not  conceive  ourselves 
authorized  to  give  any  opinion  upon  a  matter  of  such  im- 
portance, we  have  thought  proper  to  refer  it  to  the  Con- 
gress ;  and  that  the  people  of  Albany  may  be  acquainted 
with  the  sentiments  of  that  Assembly  as  early  as  possible, 
their  express,  who  is  the  bearer  hereof,  will  carry  any 
despatches  the  Congress  may  think  proper  to  send  on  the 
occasion  to  the  City  of  Albany,  by  a  short  route  from  Phi- 
ladelphia. 

We  have  already  wrote  to  the  Committee  of  Albany  in 
answer  to  their  letters  to  us,  referred  to  in  the  enclosed  ; 
but  it  seems  our  letters  were  not  come  to  hand. 

We  are,  gentlemen,  with  great  respect,  your  obedient 
humble  servants.    By  order  of  the  Committee  : 

Isaac  Low,  Chairman. 
The  Honourable  Peyton  Randolph,  Esquire,  President  of 

the  Continental  Congress. 

ALBANY  COMMITTEE  TO  THE  NEW-YORK  COMMITTEE. 

Albany,  May  12,  1775. 
Gentlemen:  We  applied  to  you  on  the  third  instant, 
for  your  advice  on  an  application  to  us  for  supplying  with 
provisions,  &c,  some  Troops  from  Connecticut,  on  their 
intended  attack  against  Ticonderoga,  &c,  and  it  is  to  our 
great  regret  that  we  have  hitherto  received  no  answer, 
although  we  pressed  it,  and  have  since  wrote  to  you  on  the 
subject,  by  Colonel  Schuyler,  since  which  time  frequent 
applications  have  been  made  to  us  on  the  same  subject; 
and  as  we  are  unacquainted  with  the  sentiments  of  our 
Colony  on  this  very  important  enterprise,  we  have  declined 
interfering. 

We  have  just  now  received  the  original  of  the  enclosed 
copy  ;  by  its  contents  you  will  see  that  they  have  succeed- 
ed in  surprising  Ticonderoga,  and  that  a  requisition  is  made 
for  men  and  provisions  in  order  to  enable  them  to  repair 
and  hold  that  fortress.  Mr.  Brown,  who  was  personally 
in  the  action,  brought  the  letter,  and  made  the  demand, 
says,  that  the  prisoners  were  on  their  way  to  this  City  ; 
but  that  unless  they  are  immediately  assisted,  they  are 
afraid  they  will  be  obliged  to  abandon  the  fort,  and  leave 
the  artillery  behind,  of  which  there  are  about  two  hundred 


pieces,  great  and  small.  He  is  dissatisfied  with  our  answer, 
and  went  away  abruptly,  though  we  told  him  the  circum- 
stances we  were  in,  and  that  we  would  immediately  despatch 
an  express  to  you.  We  hope  you  will  no  longer  keep  us 
in  suspense. 

As  the  Troops  in  Canada  will  probably  endeavour  to 
retake  it,  the  consequence  of  this  enterprise  will  probably 
involve  the  northern  parts  of  this  Colony  in  the  horrours 
of  war  and  devastation,  and  therefore  we  earnestly  call  on 
you  to  furnish  us  with  your  advice  in  this  alarming  crisis, 
immediately,  by  Captain  Barent  Ten  Eyck,  who  is  sent 
express.    We  are,  gentlemen,  your  humble  servants. 

By  order  of  the  Committee  of  the  City  of  Albany. 

Abraham  Yates,  Jun.,  Chairman. 
Mr.  Isaac  Lou-,  Chairman  of  the  Committee,  New-York. 

ETHAN  ALLEN  TO  THE  ALBANY  COMMITTEE. 

Ticonderoga,  May  11,  1775. 
Gentlemen  :  I  have  the  inexpressible  satisfaction  to 
acquaint  you  that  at  day-break  of  the  tenth  instant,  pur- 
suant to  my  directions  from  sundry  leading  gentlemen  of 
Massachusetts-Bay  and  Connecticut,  I  took  the  fortress 
of  Ticonderoga,  with  about  one  hundred  and  thirty  Green 
Mountain  Boys.  Colonel  Easton  with  about  forty-seven 
valiant  soldiers,  distinguished  themselves  in  the  action. 
Colonel  Arnold  entered  the  fortress  with  me  side  by  side. 
The  guard  was  so  surprised,  that  contrary  to  expectation 
they  did  not  fire  on  us,  but  fled  with  precipitancy.  We 
immediately  entered  the  fortress,  and  took  the  garrison 
prisoners,  without  bloodshed,  or  any  opposition.  They 
consisted  of  one  Captain,  and  a  Lieutenant  and  forty-two 
men. 

Little  more  need  be  said.  You  know  Governour  Carle- 
ton  of  Canada  will  exert  himself  to  retake  it;  and  as  your 
County  is  nearer  than  any  other  part  of  the  Colonies,  and 
as  your  inhabitants  have  thoroughly  manifested  their  zeal 
in  the  cause  of  their  Country,  I  expect  immediate  assist- 
ance from  you  both  in  men  and  provisions.  You  cannot 
exert  yourselves  too  much  in  so  glorious  a  cause.  The 
number  of  men  need  be  more  at  first,  till  the  other  Col- 
onies can  have  time  to  muster.  I  am  apprehensive  of  a 
sudden  and  quick  attack.  Pray  be  quick  to  our  relief,  and 
send  us  five  hundred  men  immediately — fail  not.  From 
your  friend  and  humble  servant, 

Ethan  Allen,  Commander  of  Ticonderoga. 
Abraham  Yates,  Chairman  of  the  Committee,  Albany. 


newbdrgh  (new-york)  committee. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  major  part  of  the  Committee  of 
Correspondence  and  Observation,  for  the  Precinct  of  New- 
burgh,  in  Orange  County,  New-York,  met  agreeable  to 
adjournment,  at  the  house  of  Martin  Wyganh,  on  Mon- 
day, the  15th  of  May,  1775 :  Wolver  lacker,  was  chosen 
Chairman,  Cornelius  Hasbrouch,  Clerk. 

This  Committee,  taking  into  consideration  the  present 
most  alarming  situation  of  our  publick  affairs,  occasioned 
by  the  bloody  measures  of  a  wicked  Ministry ;  and  consi- 
dering the  great  utility  of  a  General  Association  being  fully 
signed  by  every  male  person,  from  the  age  of  sixteen  and 
upwards  in  this  Province ;  and  whereas  we  have  reason  to 
lament  that  a  nuir  3er  of  persons  in  this  Precinct  are  so 
lost  to  the  preservation  of  themselves  and  their  Country, 
that  they  refuse,  or  neglect  to  sign  the  Association  with  the 
rest  of  their  neighbours,  fellow-sufferers,  and  countrymen 
in  this  Precinct : 

1 .  Resolved,  That  this  Committee,  in  their  several  Dis- 
tricts, as  they,  or  the  major  part  of  them  shall  agree  respec- 
tively, be,  and  are  hereby  appointed  to  wait  on  such  person 
or  persons  who  have  neglected  and  refused  to  sign  the 
said  Association,  and  in  the  most  friendly  manner  to  invite 
them  to  sign  the  same. 

2.  Resolved,  That  in  case  any  person  or  persons,  being 
males,  and  of  the  age  aforesaid,  shall  refuse  to  sign  the 
same,  or  does  not  come  in  and  sign  the  same,  on  or  before 
the  29th  of  this  instant,  he  or  they  shall,  and  are  hereby 
deemed  enemies  to  their  Country. 

3.  Resolved,  That  any  person  or  persons  refusing  as 
aforesaid,  that  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  Committee,  that  no 
person  or  persons  whatsoever  shall  have  any  kind  of  con- 


607 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  Sec,  MAY,  1775. 


608 


nection  or  dealings  with  such  person  or  persons  whatso- 
ever; and  that  whosoever  shall  have  any  such  connection, 
ought  to  be  treated  in  like  manner,  and  be  considered  as  an 
enemy  to  his  Country,  notwithstanding  he  or  they  may 
have  signed  the  Association. 

4.  Rtsohed,  And  we  do  recommend  it  to  all  our  neigh- 
bouring and  adjacent  Towns,  Precincts,  Counties,  and 
Provinces,  that  they  will,  in  like  manner  treat  such  persons 
as  aforesaid. 

5.  Resolved,  That  the  names  of  such  person  or  per- 
sons, who  shall  refuse  as  aforesaid,  shall  be  made  publick 
in  the  Newspapers. 

6.  Resolved,  That  any  person  or  persons  owning  Ne- 
groes in  this  Precinct  shall  not,  on  any  account  whatever, 
suffer  his  or  their  Negro  or  Negroes  to  be  absent  from  his 
dwellinghouse  or  farm,  after  sun-down,  or  send  them  out 
in  the  day  time  off  their  farm  without  a  pass ;  and  in  case 
any  Negroes  shall  be  found  absent,  contrary  to  the  above 
Resolve,  (except  it  be  in  return  with  his  or  their  masters 
team,)  shall  be  apprehended  by  any  person  or  persons' 
whatsoever,  and  brought  forthwith  before  any  two  or  more 
of  this  Committee,  who  shall  cause  them  to  receive  thirty- 
five  lashes,  or  any  number  less,  as  the  said  Committee  shall 
judge  proper. 

7.  Resolved,  That  the  above  Resolves  of  the  Com- 
mittee shall  be  subject  to  the  control  of  the  Provincial 
and  Continental  Congresses,  to  their  approbation  and  dis- 
approbation. 

8.  Resolved,  That  we  will  truly  adhere  to  and  obey  what- 
ever Resolutions  the  Continental  and  Provincial  Congresses, 
or  either  of  them  shall  resolve  and  direct,  with  respect  to 
this  Precinct  or  other  matters  which  are  to  be  observed  in 
genera],  until  such  times  as  His  Majesty,  and  his  Lords 
and  Commons  shall  repeal  and  disannul  all  their  present 
tyrannical  acts  and  measures,  and  again  restore  us  to  our 
former  liberties  and  privileges,  which,  by  law  and  nature 
we  are  entitled  to,  as  natural  born  subjects. 

By  order  of  the  Committee  : 

WoLVER  EcKER. 


PROVIDENCE  (RHODE-ISLAND)  TOWN-MEETING. 

At  a  Town-Meeting  held  at  Providence,  by  adjourn ment, 
on  Monday,  the  fifteenth  day  of  May,  A.  D.  1775,  Mr. 
Joseph  Brown,  Moderator : 

Voted,  That  the  doings  of  the  Town  Council,  on  the 
matter  of  the  Watch,  be  approved  and  accepted,  and  that 
Mr.  Zephauiah  Andrews  be,  and  is  hereby  appointed  to 
build  a  guard-house  and  three  watch-boxes  in  this  Town, 
agreeable  to  the  vote  of  the  Town  Council  establishing  a 
Watch,  and  that  the  said  Mr.  Andrews  advise  with  Messrs. 
John  Brown  and  Jonathan  Arnold  on  that  matter. 

Voted,  Thai  the  master  of  the  Watch,  together  with 
John  Brown  and  Jonathan  Arnold,  have  full  power  to 
direct  what  instrument  or  instruments  the  Watch  shall  be 
provided  with  from  time  to  time. 

Voted  unanimously,  That  the  Committee  who  were  ap- 
pointed by  the  Town,  at  their  last  meeting,  to  inquire  into 
the  state  and  preparation  of  the  several  inhabitants  of  this 
Town,  in  respect  to  Fire-Arms  and  other  military  stores  and 
accoutrements  required  by  law,  as  they  are  not  prepared  to 
make  their  report  at  this  meeting,  be,  and  they  are  hereby 
directed  to  make  their  report  to  Colonel  John  Mathewson, 
Edward  Thurber,  and  Jonathan  Arnold,  who  are  appoint- 
ed by  the  Town  a  Committee  to  receive  the  same  ;  and 
they,  together  with  the  aforesaid  Committee,  are  hereby 
appointed  and  empowered  to  purchase,  at  the  expense  and 
on  account  and  risk  of  the  Town,  such  and  so  many  Arms 
as  shall  appear  to  them  necessary  to  supply  all  able-bodied 
men  who  are  by  said  Committee  deemed  unable  to  provide 
for  themselves,  and  furnish  such  supplies  of  military  stores 
and  accoutrements  as  they  judge  necessary,  under  certain 
rules  and  restrictions  to  be  by  them  made.  And  that  the 
said  Committee  make  their  report  to  the  Town  as  soon  as 
they  have  completed  the  business  assigned  them  in  this 
vote,  together  with  the  regulations  which  shall  be  by  them 
made  as  aforesaid. 

And  it  is  farther  voted.  That  the  said  Committee  do, 
as  soon  as  may  be  after  receiving  the  Report  of  the  first 
Committee  as  aforesaid,  furnish  each  Captain  of  the  Mi- 
litia Companies  in  this  Town  with  lists  of  those  persons 


who  live  within  the  limits  of  their  respective  Companies, 
that  are  able  to  provide  themselves  with  Arms,  &tc,  as  the 
law  requires;  and  that  upon  receipt  thereof  it  is  recom- 
mended to  them  to  strictly  adhere  to  the  law,  and  cause  all 
such  to  provide  themselves,  or  exact  their  fines  for  each 
deficiency. 

Voted,  That  Major  Truman  and  Mr.  Paul  Allen  be  a 
Committee  to  make  up  the  whole  of  the  Town's  stock  of 
Powder  and  Lead,  or  procure  the  same  to  be  made  into 
Cartridges  as  soon  as  may  be,  at  the  expense  of  the  Town, 
and  when  so  made,  return  the  same  to  the  Captains  of  the 
several  Military  Companies  in  this  Town. 

Voted,  That  the  vote  passed  in  town-meeting  on  the 
last  Tuesday  of  August,  be  reprinted  in  the  Providence 
Gazette. 


Worcester,  Muy  24,  177."). 
The  week  before  last,  the  Falcon,  sloop-of-war,  was 
cruising  about  Cape  Cod,  and  meeting  with  a  wood  sloop 
in  ballast,  seized  her,  but  promising  the  Skipper  to  release 
him  and  his  vessel  if  he  would  give  information  of  any 
vessel  that  was  just  arrived  from  the  West-Indies  with  a 
cargo  on  board ;  he  at  length  told  the  Captain  of  the  Fal- 
con that  there  was  a  sloop  at  Dartmouth,  which  had  just 
arrived;  whereupon  the  Captain  of  the  Falcon,  instead  of 
releasing  the  wood  sloop,  armed  and  manned  her,  and  sent 
her  in  search  of  the  West-lndiaman.  They  found  the 
vessel  lying  at  anchor,  but  her  cargo  was  landed  ;  how- 
ever, they  seized  her  and  carried  her  off,  after  putting  part 
of  their  crew  and  some  guns  and  ammunition  on  board. 
Notice  of  this  getting  on  shore,  the  people  fitted  out  a 
third  sloop,  with  about  thirty  men  and  two  swivel-guns,  and 
went  in  pursuit  of  these  royal  pirates,  whom  they  came  up 
with  at  Martha's  Vineyard,  where  they  lay  at  anchor,  at 
about  a  league's  distance  from  each  other ;  the  first  surren- 
dered without  firing  a  gun  ;  our  people,  after  putting  a 
number  of  hands  on  board,  bore  down  upon  the  other, 
which,  by  this  time,  had  got  under  sail ;  but  the  people  in 
the  Dartmouth  sloop  coming  up  with  her,  the  pirates  fired 
upon  them  ;  the  fire  was  immediately  returned,  by  which 
three  of  the  pirates  were  wounded,  among  whom  was  the 
commanding  officer.  Our  people  boarded  her  immedi- 
ately, and  having  taken  both  sloops,  carried  them  into 
Dartmouth,  and  sent  the  prisoners  to  Cambridge ;  from 
thence  nine  of  them  were  yesterday  brought  to  this  Town. 


EXTRACT   OF  A  LETTER  FROM   NEWPORT,   RHODE- ISLAND, 
DATED  MAY  10,  1775. 

Last  Friday  the  Falcon,  Captain  Lindscy,  took  two 
sloops  at  Bedford,  with  intention  of  sending  them  to  the 
Islands  near  the  Vineyard,  to  carry  from  thence  a  parcel 
of  sheep  to  Boston.  The  Bedford  people  resented  this 
conduct  in  such  a  manner  as  to  immediately  fit  out  two 
sloops,  with  thirty  men  on  board,  and  last  Saturday  retook 
them  both,  with  fifteen  men  on  board.  In  the  action  there 
were  three  of  the  men-of-war  sailors  badly  wounded,  one 
of  whom  is  since  dead.  The  other  thirteen  they  immedi- 
ately sent  to  Taunton  Jail. 


groton  (Massachusetts)  committee. 

Groton,  May  15,  1775. 
The  inhabitants  of  Groton  in  town-meeting  assembled, 
the  Reverend  Samuel  Dana  offered  that  to  t he  Town  with 
regard  to  his  political  principles  and  conduct  with  which 
the  Town  voted  themselves  fully  satisfied,  and  that  he 
ought  to  enjoy  the  privileges  of  society  in  common  with 
other  members;  and  we  hope  this,  with  the  following  by 
him  subscribed,  will  be  fully  satisfactory  to  the  publick. 

Oliver  Prescott,    Isaac  Farnsworth, 
James  Prescott,      Moses  Child, 
Josiah  Sartell, 
Committee  of  Correspondence  for  Groton. 

"  1,  the  subscriber,  being  deeply  affected  with  the  miseries 
brought  on  this  Country  by  a  horrid  thirst  for  ill-got  wealth 
and  unconstitutional  power;  and  lamenting  my  unhappi- 
ness  in  being  left  to  adopt  principles  in  politicks  different 
from  the  generality  of  my  countrymen,  and  thence  to  con- 
duct in  a  manner  that  has  but  too  justly  excited  the  jealousy 


609 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


610 


and  resentment  of  the  true  sons  of  liberty  against  me, 
earnestly  desirous  at  the  same  lime  to  give  them  all  the 
satisfaction  in  my  power,  do  hereby  sincerely  ask  forgive- 
ness of  all  such  for  whatever  1  have  said  or  done  that  had 
the  least  tendency  to  the  injury  of  my  Country,  assuring 
them  that  it  is  my  full  purpose,  in  my  proper  sphere,  to 
unite  with  them  in  all  those  laudable  and  fit  measures  that 
have  been  recommended  by  the  Continental  and  Provin- 
cial Congresses,  for  the  salvation  of  this  Country,  hoping 
my  future  conversation  and  conduct  will  fully  prove  the 
uprightness  of  my  present  professions. 

"  Samuel  Dana. 

"Groton,  May  22,  1775." 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER   FROM   GOVERNOUR   GAGE  TO  LORD 
DARTMOUTH,  DATED  BOSTON,  MAY  15,  1775. 

They  have  been  enlisting  among  the  country  people  as 
many  men  as  could  be  collected  at  forty  shillings  a  man, 
and  we  are  told  they  are  enlisting  them  in  the  other  Prov- 
inces. If  they  proceed  in  their  movements  it  seems  im- 
possible to  be  long  before  we  again  come  to  blows ;  and 
from  the  beginning  1  have  perceived  it  was  the  wish  and 
design  of  the  leaders  here  to  bring  affairs  to  that  crisis ; 
but  so  to  manage  it  as  to  bring  the  rest  of  the  Colonies  to 
support  them.  It  is  astonishing  how  they  have  duped  the 
whole  Continent. 


TO  THE  MASSACHUSETTS  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY. 

To  the  Honourable  the  Committee  of  Safety  for  the  Prov- 
ince of  the  Massachusetts-Bay: 

The  Petition  of  William  Bent  and  others,  humbly 
sheweth : 

That  from  various  hands  we,  the  subscribers,  have  ob- 
tained beating  orders,  and  have  respectively  enlisted  a 
company  of  men,  consisting  of  fifty-six  privates;  and  being 
all  from  the  same  neighbourhood,  and  doing  duty  along  our 
seacoast,  we  are  desirous  of  being  immediately  formed 
into  a  regiment. 

And  we  beg  leave  most  earnestly  to  move  to  your 
Honours,  that  Colonel  Lemuel  Robinson,  of  Dorchester, 
may  be  appointed  to  take  the  command  of  us  as  our  Col- 
onel. From  the  acquaintance  we  have  with  this  gentle- 
man, and  from  his  known  military  character,  we  are  induced 
to  think  that  he  is  highly  worthy  the  honour  and  the  trust, 
and  therefore  are  very  desirous  of  being  under  his  com- 
mand. 

Besides,  we  are  concerned  for  the  honour  of  the  County 
of  Suffolk.  Present  appearances  render  it  suspicious  that 
there  are  not  gentlemen  enough  in  said  County  sufficiently 
capacitated  to  command  the  Companies  raised  in  it — a 
thought  too  degrading.  And  we  are  apprehensive  that  we, 
or  a  part  of  us,  shall  be  put  under  the  command  of  officers 
from  other  Counties;  which  will  be  very  disagreeable,  not 
only  to  us,  but  to  our  Companies  also. 

We  therefore  pray,  that  for  the  honour  of  the  County, 
and  for  the  peace  and  good  order  of  our  Companies,  Colonel 
Lemuel  Robinson  may  have  the  command  of  us.  And  as 
in  duty  bound,  will  ever  pray. 

William  Bent, 

Elijah  Vose, 

Seth  Turner, 

John  Vinton, 

Silas  Wild, 

Jacoe  Gould, 

Joseph  Trefont, 

Jotham  Loring, 

James  Lincoln, 

Job  Cushing, 

May  15,  1775. 


Milton. 
Braintree. 

Weymouth . 

^  Hingham. 
Cohasset. 


Ham  Durant,  and  William  Pierse,  now  enlisted  soldiers  in 
the  Provincial  service,  were  all  of  them  apprentices  to  your 
petitioners,  and  have  attained  so  great  a  knowledge  in  the 
art  of  paper  making,  that  their  attendance  on  that  business 
is  absolutely  necessary  to  its  being  carried  on  ;  that  they 
have  done  the  principal  part  of  the  work  at  your  petition- 
ers' mills  for  two  years  past ;  and  unless  they  are  released 
from  the  service  they  are  now  in,  it  is  impossible  for  your 
petitioners  to  continue  this  so  useful  and  necessary  branch 
of  American  manufactures.  Wherefore,  the  petitioners 
pray  that  the  said  John  Salter,  James  Calder,  William 
Durant,  and  William  Pierse,  may  be,  by  order  of  this 
honourable  Congress,  dismissed  as  soon  as  may  be  from  the 
service  of  the  Provincial  Army.  And  your  petitioners,  as 
in  duty  bound,  shall  ever  pray.  John  Boice, 

Hugh  McLean. 

May  15,  1775. 


JOSEPH   PRIME  AND  OTHERS  TO  THE  MASSACHUSETTS 
COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY. 

Berwick,  May  15,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  This  day,  on  our  waiting  on  Major  Wood, 
on  his  march  to  Head-Quarters,  we  are  informed  that  one 
Alexander  Scammell  is  appointed  Major  of  the  Regiment 
now  raising  in  the  County  of  York.  Mr.  Scammell  lives 
in  New -Hampshire,  and  has  no  property  in  Berwick  or 
the  County  of  York.  We  being  military  officers  in  said 
County  of  York,  not  attending  the  County  meeting  in  ad- 
vising to  the  field  officers,  do  approve  of  the  choice  at  said 
meeting,  that  is,  Johnson  Moulton,  First  Colonel ;  J.  S. 
Scammon,  Lieutenant-Colonel ;  Daniel  Wood,  Major. 

We  are,  gentlemen,  with  esteem,  yours,  &tc. 

Joseph  Prime,  Joseph  Pray,  Jun., 

Jona.  Hamilton,  Jun.,  Mark  Lord. 

To  the  Committee  of  Safety  at  Cambridge,  fcc,  &tc. 


PETITION  OF  JOHN  BOICE  AND  HUGH  M'LEAN. 

To  the  Honourable  the  Congress  of  the  Province  of  the 
Massachusetts-Bay,  assembled  at  Watertown  : 

The  Petition  of  John  Boice  and  Hugh  McLean,  of 
Milton,  humbly  sheweth  : 

That  your  petitioners  carry  on  the  business  of  manufac- 
turers of  Paper  at  Milton,  which  has  been  deemed  of  great 
utility  to  the  publick  ;  that  John  Salter,  James  Calder,  Wil- 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii.  39 


JEDEDIAH   PREBLE  TO  THE  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY. 

Falmouth,  May  15,  1775. 
Honoured  Gentlemen  :  These  wait  on  you  by  Colonel 
Phinney,  who  brought  me  all  the  papers  necessary  for 
enlisting  a  Regiment  in  the  County  of  Cumberland.  I 
advised  with  the  Committee  of  Correspondence,  who  was 
of  opinion  it  would  be  difficult  for  our  County  to  spare  a 
Regiment  to  be  moved  out  of  the  Province  of  Maine,  as 
we  lay  much  exposed  to  the  Navy  by  sea,  and  the  Indians 
and  French  on  our  back  settlements,  if  they  should  be  em- 
ployed against  us ;  but  should  be  glad  to  do  every  thing  in 
our  power  for  the  defence  of  our  just  rights  and  dearer 
liberties.  Our  men  are  zealous  in  the  cause  of  their  Coun- 
try, and  ready  to  venture  every  thing  for  the  defence  of  it. 
Colonel  March  informs  me  your  Honours  have  appointed 
him  a  Colonel,  and  gave  him  orders  to  raise  a  Regiment 
in  this  County,  and  to  appoint  all  his  officers  ;  this  he  ac- 
quainted me  with  after  I  had  delivered  Colonel  Phinney 
the  papers  back  again,  which  he  brought  to  me.  It  is  im- 
possible we  can  spare  two  Regiments  out  of  this  County, 
and  they  have  both  made  considerable  progress ;  am  much 
afraid  there  will  be  some  difficulty  in  settling  the  affair.  1 
am  persuaded  the  men  in  general  would  prefer  Colonel 
Phinney,  and  so  should  I  for  that  reason,  as  I  look  on 
Colonel  Phinney  to  be  equal  to  Colonel  March  in  every 
respect. 

Should  have  done  myself  the  honour  to  have  waited  on 
you  in  person,  but  am  still  in  a  poor  state  of  health,  and 
so  exercised  with  the  gout  that  I  cannot  bear  my  shoes. 
I  purpose  to  visit  the  Camp  whenever  I  am  able  to  un- 
dergo the  fatigue  of  so  long  a  journey.  I  wish  courage 
and  conduct  in  our  officers,  resolution  and  a  spirit  of  obe- 
dience in  our  soldiery,  and  a  speedy  end  of  all  our  troubles. 
I  am  your  Honours'  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

Jedediah  Preble. 


LETTER  TO  THE  EASTERN  INDIANS. 

In  Provincial  Congress,  Watertown,  May  15,  1775. 

Friends  and  good  Brothers  :  We,  the  Delegates  of 
the  Colony  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay,  being  come  together 
in  Congress  to  consider  what  may  be  best  for  you  and  our- 
selves to  do  to  get  rid  of  the  slavery  designed  to  be  brought 


611 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


612 


upon  us,  have  thought  it  our  duty  to  write  you  the  follow- 
ing Letter : 

Brothers,  the  great  wickedness  of  such  as  should  be 
our  friends,  but  are  our  enemies,  (we  mean  the  Ministry  of 
Great  Britain,)  have  laid  deep  plots  to  take  away  our 
liberty  and  your  liberty.  They  want  to  get  all  our  money ; 
make  us  pay  it  to  them  when  they  never  earned  it ;  to  make 
you  and  us  their  servants,  and  let  us  have  nothing  to  eat, 
drink,  or  wear,  but  what  they  say  we  shall,  and  prevent 
us  from  having  guns  and  powder  to  use  and  kill  our  deer 
and  wolves,  and  other  game,  or  to  send  to  you  for  you  to 
kill  your  game  with,  and  to  get  skins  and  furs  to  trade  with 
us  for  what  you  want.  But  we  hope  soon  to  be  able  to 
supply  you  with  both  guns  and  powder  of  our  own  making. 

We  have  petitioned  to  England  for  you  and  us,  and  told 
them  plainly  we  want  nothing  but  our  own,  and  don't  want 
to  hurt  them  ;  but  they  won't  hear  us,  and  have  great  ships 
and  their  men  with  guns  to  make  us  give  up,  and  kill  us, 
and  have  killed  some  of  our  men;  but  we  have  drove  them 
back  and  beat  them,  and  killed  a  great  many  of  their  men. 
The  Englishmen  of  all  the  Colonies,  from  Nova-Scotia  to 
Georgia,  have  firmly  resolved  to  stand  together  and  oppose 
them.  Our  liberty  and  your  liberty  is  the  same.  We 
are  brothers,  and  what  is  for  our  good  is  for  your  good  ; 
and  we,  by  standing  together,  shall  make  those  wicked  men 
afraid,  and  overcome  them,  and  all  be  freemen.  Captain 
Goldthwait  has  given  up  Fort  Powimll  to  our  enemies. 
We  are  angry  at  it,  and  we  hear  you  are  angry  with  him, 
and  we  don't  wonder  at  it.  We  want  to  know  what  you, 
our  good  brothers,  want  from  us  of  clothing  or  warlike 
stores,  and  we  will  supply  you  as  fast  as  we  can.  We  will 
do  all  for  you  we  can,  and  fight  to  save  you  any  time,  and 
hope  none  of  your  men,  or  the  Indians  in  Canada,  will 
join  with  our  enemies.  You  may  have  a  great  deal  of  good 
influence  on  them.  Our  good  brothers,  the  Indians  at 
Stockbridge,  all  join  with  us,  and  some  of  their  men  have 
enlisted  as  soldiers,  and  we  have  given  them  that  enlisted 
each  one  a  blanket  and  a  ribbon,  and  they  will  be  paid 
when  they  are  from  home  in  the  service,  and  if  any  of  you 
are  willing  to  enlist  we  will  do  the  same  for  you.  We 
have  sent  Captain  John  Lane  to  you  for  that  purpose,  and 
he  will  show  you  his  orders  for  raising  one  Company  of 
your  men  to  join  with  us  in  the  war  with  your  and  our 
enemies. 

Brothers,  we  humbly  beseech  that  God,  who  lives  above, 
and  who  does  what  is  right  here  below,  to  be  your  friend, 
and  bless  you,  and  to  prevent  the  designs  of  those  wicked 
men  from  hurting  you  or  us. 

Brothers,  if  you  let  Mr.  John  Preble  know  what  things 
you  want,  he  will  take  care  to  inform  us,  and  we  will  do 
the  best  for  you  that  we  can. 


TOWN-MEETING,  PORTSMOUTH,  NEW-H AMI' SHIRE. 

Extracts  of  sundry  Votes  passed  at  a  Town-Meeting 
held  at  the  North  Meeting-House  in  Portsmouth,  May  15, 
1775: 

Voted,  That  the  Town  will  aid  and  assist  the  Commit- 
tee that  is  or  shall  be  chosen  in  behalf  of  this  Town,  to 
preserve  the  peace  and  order  of  it,  whenever  the  Com- 
mittee shall  judge  occasion  may  require. 

And  that  this  Committee  be  fully  empowered  to  inquire 
touching  any  obnoxious  persons  who  may  flee  to  this  Town 
for  an  asylum,  and  that  they  shall  judge  whether  it  is  ex- 
pedient for  any  such  refugees  to  reside  here  or  depart  from 
it ;  and  any  inhabitant  of  this  Town  who  shall  be  obnox- 
ious, shall  be  only  accountable  to  the  Committee  for  their 
conduct. 

Voted,  That  no  other  persons  but  the  Committee  shall 
concern  with  any  such  refugees ;  but  if  any  person  shall 
know  of  any  such  obnoxious  persons  coming  into  Town, 
the  earliest  notice  thereof  should  be  given  the  Committee. 

Voted,  That  the  Committee  be  empowered  to  call  be- 
fore them,  and  upon  proper  evidence  to  pass  censure  upon, 
any  inhabitants  of  this  Town  who  shall  dare  to  transgress 
any  of  the  preceding  votes,  or  in  any  manner  to  disturb  the 
peace  of  the  Town. 

Voted,  That  it  is  recommended  to  the  inhabitants  of 
this  Town  to  refrain  from  purchasing  any  Lamb  that  shall 
be  killed  before  the  first  day  of  August  next,  and  that  they 
kill  no  Lambs  before  that  time. 


Voted,  That  the  Town  recommend  the  use  of  fresh  Fish 
to  the  inhabitants,  twice  a  week  at  least. 


COMMITTEE  AND   SELECTMEN  OF  MAHLOW  TO  THE  PROVIN- 
CIAL COMMITTEE  OF  NEW-HAMPSHIRE. 

Marlow,  N.  H.,  May  15,  1775. 
We  received.your  letter  inviting  us  to  send  a  Deputy  in 
our  behalf  to  represent  us  at  a  Congress  at  Exeter,  on  the 
1 7th  instant,  to  consult  on  the  affairs  of  this  Government, 
and  adopt  such  plan  as  may  be  most  expedient  to  preserve 
the  rights  and  privileges  of  this  and  the  otherColonies.  After 
notice,  we  met  and  considered  the  matters,  and  our  own  cir- 
cumstances, and  our  poverty  is  such  that  at  present  we  are 
not  able  to  support  a  Deputy  at  said  Congress.  But  being 
well-wishers  to  the  continuance  of  our  rights  and  privileges, 
both  civil  and  sacred,  we  have  chosen  us  a  Committee  of 
Correspondence  with  the  other  Committees  of  the  other 
Towns  in  said  Province,  and  we  do  hereby  acquaint  you 
of  our  free  and  voluntary  will  and  resolution,  with  the 
hazard  of  our  lives  and  interests  to  assist  in  the  defence  of 
the  same  with  our  neighbouring  Colonies  ;  and  we  do  here- 
by commit  and  entrust  the  consulting  of  the  measures  to 
be  proceeded  in  to  your  wise  and  prudent  conduct,  under 
God,  considering  him  as  the  alone  Governour  of  men  under 
him  ;  and  we  hope  and  trust  that  God  will  give  wisdom  and 
understanding  and  strength  according  to  the  troubles  and 
trials  of  the  day  in  which  we  now  live  :  and  in  all  things  we 
mean  to  pay  our  portion  according  to  our  ability,  hoping 
that  God  will  help  us  so  to  do. 

Samuel  Guftin, 
Nathaniel  Hadley, 
Elias  Lewis, 
Com.  of  Correspondence  and  Selectmen  of  Marlow. 

To  the  Provincial  Committee  to  be  held  at  Exeter,  in  the 
Province  of  New-Hampshire. 

P.  S.  We  should  be  glad  to  be  favoured  with  what 
measures  are  concerted  by  the  said  Congress. 


town  of  alstead  to  the  new-hampshire  congress. 

Alstead,  N.  H.,  May  15.  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  We  received  a  letter  from  the  former 
Convention  requesting  us  to  assist  by  sending  a  man  to 
represent  us.  We  should  gladly  have  embraced  the  privi- 
lege were  we  in  a  capacity:  but  our  ability  is  such  that  we 
look  upon  ourselves  as  not  able  to  maintain  a  man  to  sit  in 
Congress,  but  have  proceeded  so  far  in  town-meeting, 
duly  warned,  to  choose  a  Committee  to  correspond  with 
our  sister  Towns,  and  to  draw  a  letter  to  forward  our 
doings,  joining  with  the  Town  of  Marlow  in  this  pro- 
cedure, which  are  as  follows,  viz : 

Made  choice  of  Nathaniel  Sartell  Prentiss,  Oliver 
Shepherd,  and  Simon  Brooks,  as  a  Committee  of  Corres- 
pondence, and  voted  to  abide  by  the  proceedings  of  a  Con- 
vention at  the  risk  of  our  all,  trusting  in  their  wisdom  and 
sagacity  (under  God)  that  their  endeavours  and  proceed- 
ings will  happily  extricate  us  out  of  the  alarming  evil  that 
we  either  feel  or  fear ;  which  w  ill  be  the  constant  prayer 
and  wish  of  your  friends  and  brethren  in  one  common 
cause,  the  inhabitants  of  Alstead. 

By  a  vote  of  the  Town  chose  Mr.  Oliver  Shepherd  to 
forward  these  our  proceedings  immediately,  and  make 
return.    In  behalf  of  the  Committee : 

Nathaniel  Prentiss,  Town  Clerk. 
To  the  Honourable  the  Delegates  from  the  several  Towns 

in  this  Province  now  sitting  at  Exeter,  New- Hampshire. 


AUGUSTA  COUNTY  (VIRGINIA)  COMMITTEE. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  that  part  of  Augusta 
County  that  lies  on  the  west  side  of  the  Laurel  Hill,  at 
Pittsburgh,  the  16th  day  of  May,  1775,  the  following 
gentlemen  were  chosen  a  Committee  for  the  said  District, 
viz :  George  Croghan,  John  Campbell,  Edward  Ward, 
Thomas  Smallman,  John  Cannon,  John  McCullaugh,  Wil- 
liam Gee,  George  Valandingham,  John  Gibson,  Horsey 
Penticost,  Edward  Cook,  William  Crauford,  Hevereux 
Smith,  John  Anderson,  Havid  Rodgers,  Jacob  Vunmelre, 


613 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  Sic,  MAY,  1775. 


614 


Henry  Enoch,  James  Ennis,  George  JHIJson,  William 
J'ancc.  David  Shepherd,  William  Elliot,  Richmond  Wil- 
lis. Samuel  Sample,  John  Ormsbey,  Richard  McMaher, 
John  Nevill,  and  John  Sweringer. 

The  foregoing  gentlemen  met  in  committee,  and  resolved 
that  John  Campbell,  John  Ormsbey,  Edivard  Ward,  Tho- 
mas Smallman,  Samuel  Sample,  John  Anderson,  and  Deve- 
rtux  Smith,  or  any  four  of  them,  be  a  Standing  Committee, 
and  shall  have  full  power  to  meet  at  such  times  as  they 
shall  judge  necessary,  and  in  case  of  any  emergency,  to 
call  the  Committee  of  this  District  together,  and  shall  be 
vested  with  the  same  power  and  authority  as  the  other 
Standing  Committees  and  Committees  of  Correspondence 
are  in  the  other  Counties  within  this  Colony. 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  the  cordial  and  most  grate- 
ful thanks  of  this  Committee  are  a  tribute  due  to  John 
Harvie,  Esquire,  our  worthy  Representative  in  the  late 
Colonial  Convention  held  at  Richmond,  for  his  faithful  dis- 
charge of  that  important  trust  reposed  in  him  ;  and  to  John 
Nevill,  Esquire,  our  other  worthy  Delegate,  whom  nothing 
but  sickness  prevented  from  representing  us  in  that  re- 
spectable Assembly. 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  this  Committee  have  the 
highest  sense  of  the  spirited  behaviour  of  their  brethren  in 
yew-England,  and  do  most  cordially  approve  of  their 
opposing  the  invaders  of  American  rights  and  privileges  to 
the  utmost  extreme,  and  that  each  member  of  this  Com- 
mittee, respectively,  will  animate  and  encourage  their 
neighbourhood  to  follow  the  brave  example. 

The  imminent  danger  that  threatens  America  in  gene- 
ral, from  Ministerial  and  Parliamentary  denunciations  of 
our  ruin,  and  is  now  carrying  into  execution  by  open  acts 
of  unprovoked  hostilities  in  our  sister  Colony  of  Massachu- 
setts, as  well  as  the  danger  to  be  apprehended  to  this 
Colony  in  particular  from  a  domestick  enemy,  said  to  be 
prompted  by  the  wicked  minions  of  power  to  execute  our 
ruin,  added  to  the  menaces  of  an  Indian  war,  likewise  said 
to  be  in  contemplation,  thereby  thinking  to  engage  our 
attention,  and  divert  it  from  that  still  more  interesting  ob- 
ject of  liberty  and  freedom,  that  deeply,  and  with  so  much 
justice,  hath  called  forth  the  attention  of  all  America ;  for 
the  prevention  of  all,  or  any  of  those  impending  evils,  it  is 

Resolved,  That  the  recommendation  of  the  Richmond 
Convention,  of  the  20th  of  last  March,  relative  to  the 
embodying,  arming,  and  disciplining  the  Militia,  be  immedi- 
ately carried  into  execution  with  the  greatest  diligence  in 
this  County,  by  the  officers  appointed  for  that  end  ;  and 
that  the  recommendation  of  the  said  Convention  to  the 
several  Committees  of  this  Colony,  to  collect  from  their 
constituents,  in  such  manner  as  shall  be  most  agreeable  to 
them,  so  much  money  as  shall  be  sufficient  to  purchase 
half  a  pound  of  gunpowder,  and  one  pound  of  lead,  flints, 
and  cartridge  paper,  for  every  tithable  person  in  their 
County,  be  likewise  carried  into  execution. 

This  Committee,  therefore,  out  of  the  deepest  sense  of 
the  expediency  of  this  measure,  most  earnestly  entreat 
that  every  member  of  this  Committee  do  collect  from  each 
tithable  person  in  their  several  districts  the  sum  of  Two 
Shillings  and  Six-Pence,  which  we  deem  no  more  than 
sufficient  for  the  above  purpose,  and  give  proper  receipts 
to  all  such  as  pay  the  same  into  their  hands  ;  and  the  sum 
so  collected  to  be  paid  into  the  hands  of  Mr.  John  Camp- 
bell, who  is  to  give  proper  security  to  this  Committee,  or 
their  successors,  for  the  due  and  faithful  application  of  the 
money  so  deposited  with  him  for  the  above  purpose,  by  or 
with  the  advice  of  this  Committee,  or  their  successors  ; 
and  this  Committee,  as  your  representatives,  and  who  are 
most  ardently  labouring  for  your  preservation,  call  on  you, 
our  constituents,  our  friends,  brethren,  and  fellow-sufferers, 
in  the  name  of  God,  of  every  thing  you  hold  sacred  or 
valuable,  for  the  sake  of  your  wives,  children,  and  unborn 
generations,  that  you  will,  every  one  of  you,  in  your  seve- 
ral stations,  to  the  utmost  of  your  power,  assist  in  levying 
such  sum,  by  not  only  paying  yourselves,  but  by  assisting 
those  who  are  not  at  present  in  a  condition  to  do  so.  We 
heartily  lament  the  case  of  all  such  as  have  not  this  small 
sum  at  command  in  this  day  of  necessity ;  to  all  such  we 
recommend  to  tender  security  to  such  as  Providence  has 
enabled  to  lend  them  so  much  ;  and  this  Committee  do 
pledge  their  faith  and  fortunes  to  you,  their  constituents, 
that  we  shall,  without  fee  or  reward,  use  our  best  endeav- 


ours to  procure,  with  the  money  so  collected,  the  ammu- 
nition our  present  exigencies  have  made  so  exceedingly 
necessary. 

As  this  Committee  has  reason  to  believe  there  is  a  quan- 
tity of  Ammunition  destined  for  this  place  for  the  purpose 
of  Government,  and  as  this  country,  on  the  west  side  of 
the  Laurel  Hill,  is  greatly  distressed  for  want  of  ammuni- 
tion, and  deprived  of  the  means  of  procuring  it,  by  reason 
of  its  situation,  as  easy  as  the  lower  Counties  of  this  Colony, 
they  do  earnestly  request  the  Committees  of  Frederick, 
Augusta,  and  Hampshire,  that  they  will  not  suffer  the  am- 
munition to  pass  through  their  Counties  for  the  purposes  of 
Government,  but  will  secure  it  for  the  use  of  this  destitute 
country,  and  immediately  inform  this  Committee  of  their 
having  done  so. 

Resolved,  That  this  Committee  do  approve  of  the  Re- 
solution of  the  Committee  of  the  other  part  of  this  Coun- 
ty, relative  to  the  cultivating  a  friendship  with  the  Indians  ; 
and  if  any  person  shall  be  so  depraved  as  to  take  the  life 
of  any  Indian  that  may  come  to  us  in  a  friendly  manner, 
we  will,  as  one  man,  use  our  utmost  endeavours  to  bring 
such  offender  to  condign  punishment. 

Ordered,  That  the  Standing  Committee  be  directed  to 
secure  such  Arms  and  Ammunition  as  are  not  employed  in 
actual  service,  or  private  property,  and  that  they  get  the 
same  repaired,  and  deliver  them  to  such  Captains  of  Inde- 
pendent Companies  as  may  make  application  for  the  same, 
and  taking  such  Captain's  receipt  for  the  arms  so  delivered. 

Resolved,  That  the  sum  of  fifteen  Pounds,  current  money, 
be  raised  by  subscription,  and  that  the  same  be  transmitted 
to  Robert  Carter  Nicholas,  Esq.,  for  the  use  of  the  Depu- 
ties sent  from  this  Colony  to  the  General  Congress.  Which 
sum  of  money  was  immediately  paid  by  the  Committee 
then  present. 

Mr.  John  Campbell  reported,  from  the  Select  Committee 
for  considering  the  grievances,  as  Instructions  to  the  Dele- 
gates, which  he  read  in  his  place,  and  handed  it  to  the 
Clerk's  table,  where  it  was  again  read,  and  is  as  follows : 

To  John  Harvie  and  George  Rootes,  Esquires. 

Gentlemen  :  You  being  chosen  to  represent  the  people 
on  the  west  side  the  Laurel  Hill  in  the  Colonial  Congress 
for  the  ensuing  year,  we,  the  Committee  for  the  people 
aforesaid,  desire  you  will  lay  the  grievances  hereafter  men- 
tioned before  the  Congress  at  their  first  meeting,  as  we 
conceive  it  highly  necessary  they  should  be  redressed,  to 
put  us  on  a  footing  with  the  rest  of  our  brethren  in  the 
Colony. 

1st.  That  many  of  the  inhabitants  in  this  part  of  the 
County  have  expended  large  sums  of  money,  and  supplied 
the  soldiers  in  the  last  Indian  war  with  provisions  and  other 
necessaries,  many  of  whom  have  expended  all  they  had  ; 
and  though,  at  the  same  time,  we  bear  a  grateful  remem- 
brance of  the  good  intentions  of  the  late  Colonial  Congress, 
so  feelingly  and  generously  expressed  in  their  Resolves, 
yet  the  unhappy  situation  we  are  reduced  to  by  the  pay- 
ment of  those  supplies  being  delayed,  involves  this  new 
and  flourishing  country  in  extreme  poverty. 

2d.  That  the  maintaining  a  garrison  at  this  place,  when 
there  is  no  other  method  used  for  supplying  them  with  pro- 
visions, but  by  impressing  from  the  inhabitants  of  the  coun- 
try, ought  to  be  considered. 

3d.  That  this  country,  joining  the  Indian  Territory  and 
the  Province  of  Qjucbeck,  (which  by  its  late  change  of  Con- 
stitution is  rendered  inimical  to  liberty,)  lies  exposed  to  the 
inroads  of  the  Savages  and  the  Militia  of  that  Province  ; 
and  should  the  Ministry  or  their  emissaries  be  able  to  stir 
up  either  of  them  against  the  Colonies,  this  country  will 
be  in  need  of  support  to  enable  them  to  provide  against, 
and  withstand  any  attempt  that  may  be  made  on  their  civil 
or  religious  liberties. 

4th.  That  for  want  of  freeholders  we  cannot  get  legal 
Grand  Jurors,  which  are  necessary  for  the  well  government 
of  the  country. 

5th.  That  the  unsettled  boundary  between  this  Colony 
and  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania,  is  the  occasion  of  many 
disputes. 

6th.  That  the  collecting  the  duty  on  skins  and  furs, 
for  which  a  commission  hath  lately  been  sent  up  here,  will 
banish  the  Indian  Trade  from  this  place  and  Colony. 

Which  Report  being  agreed  to, 


615 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  kc,  MAY,  1775. 


616 


Resolved  unanimously,  That  a  fair  copy  be  drawn  off  and 
delivered  to  our  Delegates  as  tlieir  instructions. 

Ordered,  That  the  foregoing  proceedings  be  certified  by 
the  Clerk  of  this  Committee,  and  published  in  the  Vir- 
ginia Gazette. 

By  order  of  the  Committee. 

James  Berwick,  Clerk. 


DOCTOR  FRANKLIN  TO  DOCTOR  PRIESTLEY,  IN  LONDON. 

Philadelphia,  May  16,  1775. 
Dear  Friend  :  You  will  have  heard,  before  this  reaches 
you,  of  a  march  stolen  by  the  Regulars  into  the  country  by 
night,  and  of  their  expedition  back  again.    They  retreated 
twenty  miles  in  six  hours. 

The  Governour  had  called  the  Assembly  to  propose  Lord 
North's  paeifick  plan,  but,  before  the  time  of  their  meet- 
ing, began  cutting  of  throats.  You  know  it  was  said  he 
carried  the  sword  in  one  hand,  and  the  olive  branch  in  the 
other;  and  it  seems  he  chose  to  give  them  a  taste  of  the 
sword  first. 

He  is  doubling  his  fortifications  at  Boston,  and  hopes  to 
secure  his  Troops  till  succour  arrives.  The  place,  indeed, 
is  naturally  so  defensible,  that  1  think  them  in  no  danger. 

All  America  is  exasperated  by  his  conduct,  and  more 
firmly  united  than  ever.  The  breach  between  the  two 
Countries  is  grown  wider,  and  in  danger  of  becoming 
irreparable. 

I  had  a  passage  of  six  weeks,  the  weather  constantly  so 
moderate  that  a  London  wherry  might  have  accompanied 
us  all  the  way.  I  got  home  in  the  evening,  and  the  next 
morning  was  unanimously  chosen  by  the  Assembly  of  Penn- 
sylvania a  Delegate  to  the  Congress  now  sitting. 

In  coming  over,  I  made  a  valuable  philosophical  dis- 
covery, which  I  shall  communicate  to  you  when  I  can  get 
a  little  time.    At  present  am  extremely  hurried. 

Yours,  most  affectionately,  B.  Franklin. 


MEETING  OF  THE  INHABITANTS  OF  WESTMORELAND, 
PENNSYLVANIA. 

At  a  general  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  County 
of  Westmoreland,  held  at  Hanna's  Town  the  16th  day  of 
May,  1775,  for  taking  into  consideration  the  very  alarming 
situation  of  this  Country,  occasioned  by  the  dispute  with 
Great  Britain  : 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  the  Parliament  of  Great 
Britain,  by  several  late  Acts,  have  declared  the  inhabitants 
of  the  Massachusetts-Bay  to  be  in  rebellion,  and  the  Min- 
istry, by  endeavouring  to  enforce  those  Acts,  have  at- 
tempted to  reduce  the  said  inhabitants  to  a  more  wretched 
slate  of  slavery  than  ever  before  existed  in  any  state  or 
country.  Not  content  with  violating  their  constitutional 
and  chartered  privileges,  they  would  strip  them  of  the  rights 
of  humanity,  exposing  lives  to  the  wanton  and  unpunishable 
sport  of  a  licentious  soldiery,  and  depriving  them  of  the 
very  means  of  subsistence. 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  there  is  no  reason  to  doubt 
but  the  same  system  of  tyranny  and  oppression  will  (should 
it  meet  with  success  in  the  Massachusetts- Bay)  be  extended 
to  every  other  part  of  America  :  it  is  therefore  become  the 
indispensable  duty  of  every  American,  of  every  man  who 
has  any  publick  virtue  or  love  for  his  Country,  or  any 
bowels  for  posterity,  by  every  means  which  God  has  put 
in  his  power,  to  resist  and  oppose  the  execution  of  it;  that 
for  us  we  will  be  ready  to  oppose  it  with  our  lives  and  for- 
tunes. And  the  better  to  enable  us  to  accomplish  it,  we  will 
immediately  form  ourselves  into  a  military  body,  to  consist 
of  Companies  to  be  made  up  out  of  the  several  Townships 
under  the  following  Association,  which  is  declared  to  be  the 
Association  of  Westmoreland  County  : 

Possessed  with  the  most  unshaken  loyalty  and  fidelity 
to  His  Majesty,  King  George  the  Third,  whom  we  acknow- 
ledge to  be  our  lawful  and  rightful  King,  and  who  we  wish 
may  long  be  the  beloved  Sovereign  of  a  free  and  happy 
people  throughout  the  whole  British  Empire  ;  we  declare 
to  the  world,  that  we  do  not  mean  by  this  Association  to 
deviate  from  that  loyalty  which  we  hold  it  our  bounden 
duty  to  observe ;  but,  animated  with  the  love  of  liberty,  it 
b  no  less  our  duty  to  maintain  and  defend  our  just  rights 


(which,  with  sorrow,  we  have  seen  of  late  wantonly  vio- 
lated in  many  instances  by  a  wicked  Ministry  and  a  cor- 
rupted Parliament)  and  transmit  them  entire  to  our  pos- 
terity, for  which  purpose  we  do  agree  and  associate 
together : 

1st.  To  arm  and  form  ourselves  into  a  Regiment  or  Re- 
giments, and  choose  officers  to  command  us  in  such  propor- 
tion as  shall  be  thought  necessary. 

2d.  We  will,  with  alacrity,  endeavour  to  make  ourselves 
masters  of  the  manual  exercise,  and  such  evolutions  as  may 
be  necessary  to  enable  us  to  act  in  a  body  with  concert  ; 
and  to  that  end  we  will  meet  at  such  times  and  places  as 
shall  be  appointed  either  for  the  Companies  or  the  Regi- 
ment, by  the  officers  commanding  each  when  chosen. 

3d.  That  should  our  Country  be  invaded  by  a  foreign 
enemy,  or  should  Troops  be  sent  from  Great  Britain  to 
enforce  the  late  arbitrary  Acts  of  its  Parliament,  we  will 
cheerfully  submit  to  military  discipline,  and  to  the  utmost 
of  our  power  resist  and  oppose  them,  or  either  of  them, 
and  will  coincide  with  any  plan  that  may  be  formed  for  the 
defence  of  America  in  general,  or  Pennsylvania  in  par- 
ticular. 

4th.  That  we  do  not  wish  or  desire  any  innovation,  but 
only  that  things  may  be  restored  to,  and  go  on  in  the  same 
way  as  before  the  era  of  the  Stamp  Act,  when  Boston  grew 
great,  and  America  was  happy.  As  a  proof  of  this  dispo- 
sition, we  will  quietly  submit  to  the  laws  by  which  we  have 
been  accustomed  to  be  governed  before  that  period,  and 
will,  in  our  several  or  associate  capacities,  be  ready  when 
called  on  to  assist  the  civil  magistrate  in  carrying  the  same 
into  execution. 

5th.  That  when  the  British  Parliament  shall  have  re- 
pealed their  late  obnoxious  Statutes,  and  shall  recede  from 
their  claim  to  tax  us,  and  make  laws  for  us  in  every  instance, 
or  when  some  general  plan  of  union  and  reconciliation  has 
been  formed  and  accepted  by  America,  this  our  Association 
shall  be  dissolved ;  but  till  then  it  shall  remain  in  full  force  ; 
and  to  the  observation  of  it,  we  bind  ourselves  by  every 
thing  dear  and  sacred  amongst  men. 

No  licensed  murder !  no  famine  introduced  by  law  ! 

Resolved,  That  on  Wednesday,  the  twenty-fourth  instant, 
the  Township  meet  to  accede  to  the  said  Association,  and 
choose  their  officers. 


PENNSYLVANIA  COUNCIL. 

At  a  Council  held  at  Philadelphia  on  Tuesday,  16th 
May,  1775. 

Present :  The  Honourable  John  Penn,  Esq.,  Governour, 
James  Tifghman,  Andrew  Allen,  Esquires. 

The  Governour  acquainted  the  Board  that  eight  Cayuga 
Indians  came  to  Town  on  Saturday  last  from  Canasadego, 
on  the  Cayuga  branch  of  Susquehannah,  on  some  business 
with  this  Government,  and  that  he  now  proposed  to  hear 
what  they  had  to  say. 

Whereupon  the  Board  agreed  that  they  should  be  imme- 
diately sent  for,  and  they  were  accordingly  introduced. 

The  Governour  then  acquainting  them  that  he  was  ready 

to  hear  them,  ,  addressing  himself  to  the 

Governour,  first  went  through  some  short  usual  ceremonies 
of  clearing  the  throat  and  heart,  and  opening  the  ears,  Stc, 
and  then  producing  a  belt  of  wampum,  spoke  as  follows, 
viz:  That  three  of  their  company  who  were  present  as  the 
nearest  surviving  relations  of  the  old  Seneca  Sohaes,  who 
lived  for  many  years  with  his  family  and  connexions  on  a 
tract  of  land  within  the  manor  of  Conestogo,  in  Lancaster 
County  ;  that  the  old  man,  with  his  family  and  relations, 
were  several  years  ago  murdered  there  by  some  wicked 
men  belonging  to  this  Government ;  and  that  the  said  tract 
of  land,  containing  about  five  hundred  acres,  now  became 
the  property  of  his  three  relatives  present,  one  of  whom  is 
Sohaes's  brother ;  that  they  had  come  down  at  this  time  to 
see  their  brother  Onas,  and  to  make  sale  of  the  said  land 
to  him.  That  the  land  is  very  rich,  and  worth  a  great  deal 
of  money  ;  but  as  their  brother  Onas  was  himself  well 
acquainted  with  its  value,  they  desired  he  would  purchase 
it  from  them,  for  such  a  price  as  he  thought  reasonable,  and 
they  would  be  entirely  satisfied. 

He  then  delivered  the  belt  of  wampum  to  the  Governour, 
and  told  him  that  he  had  finished  what  he  had  to  say. 

The  Governour  thereupon  acquainted  the  Indians  that 


617 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


618 


lie  and  his  Council  would  take  their  Speech  into  consider- 
ation, and  give  tliein  an  answer  on  Thursday  morning. 

At  a  Council  held  at  Philadelphia  on  Thursday,  1 8th 
May,  1775.  Present :  The  Honourable  John  Penn,  Esq., 
Governour,  William  Logan,  Benjamin  Chew,  Andrew  Al- 
len, Edward  Shippcn,  Jr.,  Esquires. 

The  eight  Cayuga  Indians  being  sent  for,  attended  at  the 
Board  in  order  to  receive  the  Governour's  answer  to  their 
Speech  on  Tuesday  last,  which  the  Governour  in  part  de- 
livered to  them ;  but  as  it  appeared  to  the  Board  that  the 
Indians  did  not  clearly  and  fully  comprehend  his  meaning, 
the  person  who  undertook  to  interpret  to  them,  not  being 
sufficiently  acquainted  with  their  language,  and  the  Indians 
expressing  great  dissatisfaction  on  being  informed  that  this 
land  had  already  been  purchased  and  paid  for,  it  was  agreed 
that  Isaac  Still,  a  Delaware  Indian  interpreter,  should  be 
immediately  sent  for,  to  interpret  the  Governour's  answer 
to  the  Indians  in  Council,  on  Saturday  morning  next. 

At  a  Council  held  at  Philadelphia  on  Saturday,  20th 
May,  1775.  Present:  The  Honourable  John  Penn,  Esq., 
Governour,  William  Logan,  James  Tilghman,  Andrew 
Allen,  Edward  Shippen,  Jr.,  Esquires. 

The  eight  Cayuga  Indians,  by  the  desire  of  the  Gov- 
ernour, again  attended  the  Board,  with  the  Indian  inter- 
preter, Isaac  Still,  and  having  taken  their  seats,  the  Speaker 
repeated  over  the  Speech  he  had  delivered  to  the  Governour 
on  Tuesday  last,  which  was  the  same  in  substance  as 
entered  on  the  Minutes  of  that  day,  and  the  Governour 
relumed  them  his  answer,  which  was  fully  explained  to 
them  by  Isaac  Still,  and  is  as  follows,  viz : 

"  Brethren  :  The  tract  of  land  you  mention,  consist- 
ing of  five  hundred  acres,  part  of  the  Conestogo  Manor 
where  old  Sohaes  dwelt,  was  included  in  a  purchase  long 
s  nee  made  from  the  Indians;  notwithstanding  which  I  agree 
that  Sohaes  and  his  family  had  the  proprietary's  permis- 
sion to  live  thereon  as  long  as  they  chose  to  remain  in  the 
inhabited  part  of  the  country. 

"  Some  time  after  the  death  of  Sohaes,  and  all  his  family 
that  resided  there,  in  the  year  1766,  there  was  a  treaty 
held  at  Fort  Stanwix,  to  which  1  was  invited  by  Sir  Wil- 
liam Johnson,  in  order  to  treat  with  the  Indians  concerning 
the  purchase  of  a  large  tract  of  land,  part  of  which  lay  in 
the  King's  Government,  and  part  in  the  Province  of  Penn- 
sylvania. At  this  treaty  the  last  great  Indian  purchase 
was  made,  for  which  I  then  paid  the  Indians  ten  thousand 
Dollars.  But  before  the  treaty  was  finished,  Sir  William 
Johnson  informed  me  that  the  Indians  expected  to  be  paid 
for  the  five  hundred  acres  of  land,  part  of  the  Conestogo 
Manor,  where  Sohaes  dwelt.  I  accordingly  agreed  to  pay 
them  for  it.  The  price  agreed  on  was  two  hundred  Pounds, 
York  money,  or  five  hundred  Dollars,  the  value  of  which 
was  then  delivered  in  goods  to  Togaiaio,  the  Cayuga  Chief, 
to  be  distributed  as  he  thought  proper ;  and  the  deed  I  now 
show  you  for  the  land  I  bought  of  the  Indians  at  that 
treaty,  signed  by  the  Chiefs  of  the  Six  Nations,  expressly 
includes  this  five  hundred  acres  of  land.  Having  therefore 
already  purchased  the  lands  twice,  it  cannot  reasonably  be 
expected  that  I  should  pay  for  it  again.  However,  as  you 
have  come  from  a  great  distance,  under  an  expectation  of 
selling  this  land,  and  perhaps  did  not  receive  so  great  a  por- 
tion of  the  goods  I  delivered  at  Fort  Stanwix  as  should  have 
been  paid  to  the  relatives  of  Sohaes,  and  to  show  you  the 
desire  I  have  to  preserve  peace  and  friendship  with  the 
Indians,  and  that  when  they  pay  me  a  visit  they  should 
not  go  away  dissatisfied,  I  am  willing  to  make  you  a  present, 
which  I  hope  you  will  think  a  generous  one.  I  there- 
fore desire  you  will  accept  of  these  three  hundred  Dollars." 
A  belt. 

The  Indians  accordingly  very  gladly  accepted  the  three 
hundred  Dollars,  and  signed  a  receipt  for  the  same  on  the 
back  of  the  deed  executed  at  Fort  Stanwix,  expressing  it 
to  be  in  full  satisfaction  of  all  claims  of  Sohaes's  family  to 
the  said  five  hundred  acres  of  land. 


NEW-YORK  COMMITTEE. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee,  by  adjournment,  Tues- 
day, 16th  May,  1775.    Present,  forty-seven  Members. 


Mr.  McDougall,  from  the  Committee  of  Correspond- 
ence, reported  the  draft  of  an  answer  to  a  Letter  received 
from  Elisha  Lawrence,  dated  9th  May,  1775,  which  being 
read  and  approved  of, 

Ordered,  That  the  same  be  forwarded. 

Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  Ward  Com- 
panies of  Militia  for  the  City  and  County  of  New-York, 
to  enroll  their  men  in  the  different  beats,  so  that  they  may 
be  in  readiness  to  take  their  tour  of  duty  as  a  Military 
Night  Watch  for  this  City,  and  it  is  recommended  to  the 
men  in  the  different  Wards  to  appear  punctually  for  that 
purpose. 

At  a  special  meeting  of  the  Committee,  on  Wednesday, 
17th  May,  1775.    Present,  forty-seven  Members. 

A  Letter,  dated  Philadelphia,  17th  May,  1775,  from 
the  gentlemen  in  delegation  for  this  Colony,  enclosing  an 
extract  of  the  Minutes  of  the  Continental  Congress,  respect- 
ing the  conduct  to  be  observed  by  the  inhabitants  of  this 
City  towards  any  Troops  that  may  arrive  here,  received 
and  read. 

Ordered,  That  the  same  be  published. 

An  Affidavit  of  Charles  Murray,  Captain  of  the  sloop 
Modesty,  respecting  the  seizing  Guns  and  Powder  on  board 
the  said  sloop,  by  His  Majesty's  ship-of-war  Kingfisher, 
was  read. 

Resolved,  That  his  worship  the  Mayor  of  this  City,  be 
furnished  with  a  copy  of  the  Affidavit  of  Captain  Charles 
Murray,  and  be  requested  to  procure  a  conveyance  of  it 
to  Captain  Montague  of  His  Majesty's  Ship  Kingfisher, 
and  to  desire  his  answer  on  the  subject  matter  of  the  said 
Affidavit. 

Philadelphia,  May  16,  1775. 
Gentlemen  :  Enclosed  we  send  you  the  advice  of  the 
Congress  on  the  subject  on  which  you  requested  it ;  and 
lest  the  advice  to  remove  the  Military  Stores  might  be 
construed  to  extend  to  those  belonging  to  the  Crown,  we 
think  it  prudent  to  suggest  to  you,  that  the  contrary  con- 
struction is  the  true  one. 

You  would  have  received  this  advice  before,  had  not 
sundry  circumstances  not  material,  or  perhaps  proper  to 
explain,  concurred  in  deferring  it  till  now. 
We  are,  gentlemen,  your  humble  servants, 

James  Duane,        Lewis  Morris, 
Francis  Lewis,     Philip  Livingston, 
John  Jay,  John  Alsop. 

In  Congress,  Monday,  May  15,  1775. 

The  City  and  County  ofNetv-  York,  having  through  their 
Delegates  applied  to  the  Congress  for  their  advice  how  to 
conduct  themselves  with  regard  to  the  Troops  expected 
there ;  the  Congress  took  the  matter  into  their  most  serious 
deliberation,  and  came  to  the  following  Resolution: 

"  That  it  be  recommended  for  the  present  to  the  inha- 
bitants of  New-  York,  that  if  the  Troops  which  are  expected 
should  arrive,  the  said  Colony  act  on  the  defensive,  so  long 
as  may  be  consistent  with  their  safety  and  security ;  that 
the  Troops  be  permitted  to  remain  in  the  barracks  so  long 
as  they  behave  peaceably  and  quietly,  but  that  they  be  not 
suffered  to  erect  fortifications,  or  take  any  steps  for  cutting 
off  the  communication  between  the  town  and  country ; 
and  that  if  they  commit  hostilities,  or  invade  private  pro- 
perty, the  inhabitants  should  defend  themselves  and  their 
property,  and  repel  force  by  force ;  that  the  warlike  stores 
be  removed  from  the  Town  ;  that  places  of  retreat,  in  case 
of  necessity,  be  provided  for  the  women  and  children  of 
New-York ;  and  a  sufficient  number  of  men  be  embodied, 
and  kept  in  constant  readiness  for  protecting  the  inhabi- 
tants from  insult  and  injury." 

A  true  copy  from  the  Minutes : 

Charles  Thomson,  Secretary. 


ERASTUS  WALCOTT  AND  OTHERS  TO  THE  MASSACHUSETTS 
CONGRESS. 

Hartford,  May  16,  1775. 
Gentlemen  :  We  were  yesterday  informed  of  the  suc- 
cess of  an  expedition  undertaken,  and  set  on  foot  by  some 
individuals  of  this  Colony,  in  a  secret  manner,  against 


619 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


620 


Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point,  the  particular  account  of 
which  you  will  have  received  before  this  comes  to  hand. 
Immediately  on  receipt  of  this  news,  an  express  was 
despatched  from  hence  to  the  Continental  Congress  for 
their  advice  in  this  important  matter.  Posts  were  also  sent 
to  Albany,  to  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  for  that 
City,  requesting  them  to  afford  their  aid  in  maintaining 
that  pass  till  the  opinion  of  the  Colonies  can  be  known. 

We  understand  an  expedition  against  the  same  place 
hath  been  undertaken  under  the  authority  of  your  Prov- 
ince;  but  the  adventure  being  set  on  loot  by  some  private 
gentlemen  in  this  Colony,  and  success  having  attended 
their  enterprise  before  the  forces  from  the  Massachusetts 
Bay  came  up,  some  question  arose  about  the  right  to  com- 
mand and  hold  this  important  pass.  We  consider  all  the 
Colonies,  and  the  New-England  Colonies  especially,  as 
brethren  united  together  in  one  joint  interest,  and  pursuing 
the  same  general  design,  and  that  whatever  expedition  in 
furtherance  of  the  grand  designs  may  be  undertaken  by 
any  one  of  the  Colonies,  or  body  of  men  in  either  of  them, 
ought  to  be  considered  as  undertaken  for  the  joint  benefit 
of  the  whole  confederate  Colonies,  and  the  expenses  of  the 
enterprise,  and  cost  of  maintaining  and  defending  the  same, 
is  to  be  borne  by  all  in  proportion  to  their  abilities. 

This  is  not  a  time  for  the  Colonies  to  contend  about 
precedency,  but  we  hope  all  will  wish  to  put  out  a  helping 
hand,  and  mutually  afford  each  other  all  necessary  assist- 
ance against  our  common  enemy.  Some  parts  of  your 
Province  are  more  conveniently  situated  to  furnish  men, 
Sic,  for  maintaining  our  possession.  We  doubt  not  you  will 
exert  yourselves  to  secure  every  advantage  which  may  arise 
from  this  successful  attempt,  in  which  we  hope  the  City 
and  County  of  Albany,  and  the  Colony  of  Connecticut 
will  co-operate  with  you,  but  of  this  we  cannot  assure  you, 
as  our  calls  are  very  many. 

We  are,  gentlemen,  your  humble  servants, 

Erastus  Wolcott,      Samuel  Bishop, 
William  Williams,     Samuel  H.  Parsons. 
Committee  of  Correspondence  for  Connecticut. 
Honourable  Provincial  Congress  of  Massachusetts. 

P.  S.  We  hope  you  will  not  omit  any  thing  you  can  do, 
as  'tis  uncertain  what  Neiu-York  will  undertake  without 
the  consent  of  the  General  Congress,  &c. 


JOSEPH  WARREN  TO  ARTHUR  LEE. 

Cambridge,  May  16,  1775. 

My  dear  Sir:  Every  thing  here  continues  the  same 
as  at  the  period  of  my  writing  a  short  time  ago.  Our 
military  operations  go  on  in  a  very  spirited  manner.  Gen- 
eral Gage  had  a  reinforcement  of  about  six  hundred  Ma- 
rines the  day  before  yesterday  ;  but  this  gives  very  little 
concern  here.  It  is  not  expected  that  he  will  sally  out  of 
Boston  at  present,  and  if  he  does,  he  will  but  gratify  thou- 
sands who  impatiently  wait  to  avenge  the  blood  of  their 
murdered  countrymen.  The  attempt  he  has  made  to  throw 
the  odium  of  the  first  commencement  of  hostilities  on  the 
people  here,  has  operated  very  much  to  his  disadvantage, 
as  so  many  credible  people  were  eye  witnesses  of  the  whole 
affair,  whose  testimonies  are  justly  supposed  of  infinitely 
greater  weight  than  any  thing  he  has  brought  or  can  bring 
in  support  of  his  assertion.  My  private  opinion  is,  that  he 
is  really  deceived  in  this  matter,  and  is  led  (by  his  officers 
and  some  other  of  the  most  abandoned  villains  on  earth, 
who  are  natives  of  this  Country,  and  who  are  now  shut 
up  with  him  in  Boston)  to  believe  that  our  people  actually 
began  the  firing;  but  my  opinion  is  only  for  myself ;  most 
people  are  satisfied  not  only  that  he  knows  that  the  Regu- 
lars began  the  fire,  but  also  that  he  gave  his  orders  to  the 
commanding  officer  to  do  it.  Thus  by  attempting  to  clear 
the  Troops  from  what  every  one  is  sure  they  were  guilty 
of,  he  has  brought  on  strong  suspicions  that  he  himself  is 
guilty  of  having  preconcerted  the  mischief  done  by  them. 
Indeed  his  very  unmanly  conduct,  relative  to  the  people  of 
Boston,  in  detaining  many  of  them,  and  contriving  new 
excuses  for  delaying  their  removal  after  they  had  given  up 
their  fire-arms  upon  a  promise  of  being  suffered  to  leave 
town  and  carry  with  them  their  effects,  has  much  lessened 
his  character  confirmed  formed  suspicions. 

The  Continental  Congress  is  now  sitting.    I  suppose 


before  I  hear  from  you  again,  a  new  form  of  Government 
will  be  established  in  this  Colony.  Great  Britain  must 
now  make  the  best  she  can  of  America.  The  folly  of  her 
Minister  has  brought  her  into  this  situation.  If  she  has 
strength  sufficient  even  to  depopulate  the  Colonies,  she 
has  not  strength  sufficient  to  subjugate  them.  However, 
we  can  yet  without  injuring  ourselves  offer  much  to  her. 
The  great  national  advantages  derived  from  the  Colonies 
may,  I  hope,  yet  be  reaped  by  her  from  us.  The  plan  for 
enslaving  us,  if  it  had  succeeded,  would  only  have  put  it 
in  the  power  of  the  Administration  to  provide  for  a  num- 
ber of  their  unworthy  dependants,  whilst  the  Nation  would 
have  been  deprived  of  the  most  essential  benefits  which 
might  have  arisen  from  us  by  commerce;  and  the  taxes 
raised  in  America  would,  instead  of  easing  the  Mother 
Country  of  her  burdens,  only  have  been  employed  to  bring 
her  into  bondage. 

I  cannot  precisely  tell  you  what  will  become  of  General 
Gage;  I  imagine  he  will  at  least  be  kept  closely  shut  up 
in  Boston.  Perhaps  you  will  very  soon  hear  something 
further  relative  to  these  things.  One  thing  I  can  assure 
you  has  very  great  weight  with  us;  we  fear  if  we  push 
this  matter  as  far  as  we  think  we  are  able — to  the  destruc- 
tion of  the  Troops  and  Ships-of-War — we  shall  expose 
Great  Britain  to  those  invasions  from  foreign  Powers, 
which  we  suppose  it  will  be  difficult  for  her  to  repel. 

In  fact,  you  must  have  a  change  in  men  and  measures 
or  be  ruined.  The  truly  noble  Richmond,  Rockingham, 
Chatham,  Shelburne,  with  other  Lords,  and  the  virtuous 
and  sensible  minority  in  the  House  of  Commons,  must 
take  the  lead.  The  confidence  we  have  in  them  will  go  a 
great  way ;  but  I  must  tell  you  that  those  terms  which 
would  readily  have  been  accepted  before  our  countrymen 
were  murdered,  and  we  in  consequence  compelled  to  take 
arms,  will  not  now  do. 

Every  thing  in  my  power  to  serve  the  united  interest  of 
Great  Britain,  shall  be  done ;  and  I  pray  that  you,  your 
brother,  and  Mr.  Sayre,  (to  whom  I  beg  you  would  make 
my  most  respectful  compliments,)  would  write  fully,  freely, 
and  speedily,  to  me,  and  let  me  know  what  our  great  and 
good  friends  in  the  House  of  Commons  think  expedient 
and  practicable  to  be  done. 

God  forbid  that  the  Nation  should  be  so  infatuated  as  to 
do  any  thing  further  to  irritate  the  Colonies  ;  if  they  should, 
the  Colonies  will  sooner  throw  themselves  into  the  arms  of 
any  other  power  on  earth,  than  ever  consent  to  an  accom- 
modation with  Great  Britain.  That  patience  which  I 
frequently  told  you  would  be  at  last  exhausted,  is  no  lon- 
ger to  be  expected  from  us.  Danger  and  war  are  become 
pleasing ;  and  injured  virtue  is  now  armed  to  avenge  her- 
self.   I  am,  my  dear  Sir,  your  most  obedient  servant, 

Jos.  Warren. 

To  Arthur  Lee,  Esq.,  London. 

P.  S.  Please  to  let  Mr.  Sayre  and  Sheriff  Lee  know 
that  I  shall  write  to  them  by  the  first  opportunity.  This 
will  be  handed  you  by  our  good  friend  Mr.  Barrell,  who 
will  give  you  a  more  particular  account  of  our  publick 
affairs.  J.  W. 


LETTER  FROM  THE  MASSACHUSETTS  TO  THE  CONTINEN- 
TAL CONGRESS. 

In  Provincial  Congress,  Watertown,  i 
May  16,  1775.  \ 

"  Resolved,  That  Doctor  Benjamin  Church  be  ordered  to 
go  immediately  to  Philadelphia,  and  deliver  to  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  Honourable  American  Congress  there  now- 
sitting,  the  following  application,  to  be  by  him  communicated 
to  the  Members  thereof ;  and  the  said  Church  is  also  di- 
rected to  confer  with  the  said  Congress  respecting  such 
other  matters  as  may  be  necessary  to  the  defence  of  this 
Colony,  and  particularly  the  state  of  the  Army  therein." 

May  it  please  your  Honours  : 

That  system  of  Colony  administration  which,  in  the 
most  firm,  dutiful,  and  loyal  manner,  has  been  in  vain  re- 
monstrated against  by  the  representative  body  of  the  Uni- 
ted Colonies,  seems  still,  unless  speedily  and  vigorously 
opposed  by  the  collected  wisdom  and  force  of  all  America, 
to  threaten  ruin  and  destruction  to  this  Continent. 

For  a  long  time  past  this  Colony  has,  by  a  corrupt  Ad- 
ministration in  Great  Britain  and  here,  been  deprived  of 


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CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


622 


the  exercise  of  those  powers  of  government,  without  which 
a  people  can  be  neither  rich,  happy,  nor  secure.  The  whole 
Continent  saw  the  blow  pending,  which  if  not  warded  off 
must  inevitably  have  subverted  the  freedom  and  happiness 
of  each  Colony.  The  principles  of  self-defence,  roused 
in  the  breasts  of  freemen  by  the  dread  of  impending  slave- 
ry, caused  to  be  collected  the  wisdom  of  America  in  a 
Congress,  composed  of  men  who,  through  time,  must,  in 
every  land  of  freedom,  be  revered  among  the  most  faithful 
asserters  of  the  essential  rights  of  human  nature. 

Tin's  Colony  was  then  reduced  to  great  difficulties,  being 
denied  the  exercise  of  civil  Government,  according  to  our 
Charter,  or  the  fundamental  principles  of  the  English  Con- 
stitution, and  a  formidable  Navy  and  Army  (not  only 
inimical  to  our  safety,  but  flattered  with  the  prospect  of 
enjoying  the  fruit  of  our  industry)  were  stationed  for  that 
purpose  in  our  Metropolis.  The  prospect  of  deciding  the 
ijuestion  between  our  Mother  Country  and  us  by  the 
sword,  gave  us  the  greatest  pain  and  anxiety  ;  but  we  have 
made  all  the  preparation  for  our  necessary  defence  that 
our  confused  state  would  admit  of;  and  as  the  question 
equally  affected  our  sister  Colonies  and  us,  we  have  de- 
clined, though  urged  thereto  by  the  most  pressing  neces- 
sity, to  assume  the  reins  of  civil  Government  without  their 
advice  and  consent ;  but  have  hitherto  borne  the  many  dif- 
ficulties and  distressing  embarrassments  necessarily  resulting 
from  a  want  thereof. 

We  are  now  compelled  to  raise  an  Army,  which,  with 
the  assistance  of  the  other  Colonies,  we  hope,  under  the 
smiles  of  Heaven,  will  be  able  to  defend  us  and  all  Ame- 
rica from  the  further  butcheries  and  devastations  of  our 
implacable  enemies.  But  as  the  sword  should,  in  all  free 
States,  be  subservient  to  the  civil  powers;  and  as  it  is  the 
duty  of  the  Magistrates  to  support  it  for  the  people's  ne- 
cessary defence,  we  tremble  at  having  an  Army  (although 
consisting  of  our  own  countrymen)  established  here,  with- 
out a  civil  power  to  provide  for  and  control  them. 

We  are  happy  in  having  an  opportunity  of  laying  our 
distressed  state  before  the  representative  body  of  the  Con- 
tinent, and  humbly  hope  you  will  favour  us  with  your  most 
explicit  advice  respecting  the  taking  up  and  exercising  the 
powers  of  civil  Government,  which  we  think  absolutely 
necessary  for  the  salvation  of  our  Country  ;  and  we  shall 
readily  submit  to  such  a  general  plan  as  you  may  direct  for 
the  Colonies,  or  make  it  our  great  study  to  establish  such  a 
form  of  Government  here,  as  shall  not  only  most  promote 
our  own  advantages,  but  the  union  and  interest  of  all  Ame- 
rica. 

As  the  Army  now  collecting  from  different  Colonies  is 
for  the  general  defence  of  the  rights  of  America,  we  would 
beg  leave  to  suggest  to  your  consideration  the  propriety  of 
your  taking  the  regulation  and  general  direction  of  it,  that 
the  operations  of  it  may  more  effectually  answer  the  purposes 
designed.  Jos.  Warren,  President  pro  tern. 

Attest:  Samuel  Freeman,  Secretary  pro  tern. 

To  the  Hon-  the  Continental  Congress,  Philadelphia. 

COMMITTEE  OF  BROWNFIELD  TO  THE  MASSACHUSETTS 
CONGRESS. 

Brownfield,  May  16,  1775. 
Gentlemen  ;  There  are  five  or  six  families  of  Indians 
hunting  at  Androscoggin,  about  twenty-five  miles  north  of 
my  house.  Several  of  the  women  and  youngsters  were 
at  my  house  last  week  ;  one  of  them  expressed  much  con- 
cern about  the  times ;  said  their  men  could  not  hunt,  eat, 
nor  sleep;  keep  calling  together  every  night;  courting, 
courting,  courting,  every  night,  all  night.  O,  strange 
Englishmen  kill  one  another.  I  think  the  world  is  coming 
to  an  end.  Mrs.  Brown  asked  which  side  they  would 
fight.  Answered,  why  should  we  fight  for  t'other  country, 
for  we  never  see  t'other  country ;  our  hunting  is  in  this 
country.  One  of  them  said  her  brother  was  a  Colonel; 
she  wished  she  could  see  him  ;  she  would  tell  him  not  to 
fight  lor  t'other  country,  but  to  fight  for  this  country.  One 
of  the  party  is  gone  to  Canada.  They  wanted  powder, 
but  got  none.  Some  of  them  were  painted  ;  and  as  it  was 
the  first  time  they  came  in  paint,  it  surprised  some  of  our 
women.  I  thought  it  best  you  should  know  of  their  con- 
cern and  uneasiness,  and  that  one  was  gone  to  Canada. 
The  bearer,  Mr.  Holt,  is  used  to  the  woods;  has  been  a 


hunting  this  spring  where  they  are;  if  necessary  will  goto 
them. 

At  this  day  it  appears  to  me  to  be  necessary  for  every 
man  to  be  supplied  with  arms,  kc.  We  have  in  this  Town 
ten  guns,  shot,  twenty  pounds  of  powder,  and  half  a  hundred 
of  lead.  James  Holt,  James  Haywood,  and  myself,  are  a 
Committee  in  behalf  of  this  Town,  and  was  to  provide  every 
thing  necessary.  I  have  been  to  Portsmouth  to  purchase, 
but  could  not ;  my  business  called  me  immediately  home. 
Now  Mr.  Holt  sets  out  to  apply  to  you  for  relief.  If  he 
can  be  supplied,  we  will  stand  accountable,  and  stand  ready 
to  serve  our  Country.  The  bearer  has  served  long  in  the 
last  war;  was  at  Nova-Scotia  in  1755  ;  was  in  the  siege 
at  Fort  Bosajure:  has  given  repeated  evidence  he  can 
stand  fire,  and  is  now  ready  to  serve  his  Country,  if  re- 
quired. I  am,  gentlemen,  your  most  obedient  humble 
servant,  Henry  Young  Brown. 


CUMBERLAND  COUNTY  (VIRGINIA)  COMMITTEE. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  for  Cumberland  County, 
held  on  Wednesday,  the  17th  of  May,  1775: 

Mr.  Chairman  opened  the  business  of  the  day  by  laying 
before  the  Committee  informations  lately  received  by  ex- 
press from  the  Northward,  respecting  the  Government  of 
New-  York,  amongst  which  is  a  Resolution  of  the  Mary- 
land Provincial  Convention,  for  immediately  suspending 
all  Exportations  from  that  Province  to  Quebeck,  Nova- 
Scotia,  Georgia,  and  Newfoundland,  or  any  part  of  the 
Fishing  Coasts,  or  Fishing  Islands,  and  to  the  Town  of 
Boston,  until  the  Continental  Congress  shall  give  farther 
directions  thereon  :  Whereupon  the  Committee,  after  the 
maturest  deliberation,  came  to  the  following  Resolutions  : 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  this  Committee  doth  heart- 
ily approve  of  the  said  Resolution  of  the  Maryland  Pro- 
vincial Convention,  as  well  concerted  upon  the  view  of  the 
present  conjuncture  of  affairs,  and  doth  recommend  it  as  a 
proper  rule  of  conduct  to  all  men. 

Resolved,  That  the  present  alarming  situation  of  Ame- 
rican affairs,  especially  in  the  Province  of  Nciv-  York, 
renders  it  absolutely  necessary  that  a  Colony  Convention 
be  immediately  called  ;  and  this  Committee  do  recommend 
it  to  Robert  Carter  Nicholas,  Esquire,  in  the  most  earnest 
terms,  to  call  a  Colony  Convention  as  speedily  as  possible, 
provided  the  General  Assembly  now  called  to  meet  on  the 
first  Thursday  in  June,  shall  be  proiogued  to  a  farther 
day. 

The  following  Address  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  lower 
parts  of  Virginia,  was  proposed  ,  and  unanimously  agreed  to  : 

Friends  and  Countrymen  : 

We,  the  Committee  for  the  County  of  Cumberland. 
taking  into  our  serious  consideration  the  unremitting  efforts 
of  despotick  Administration  to  effect  the  total  subversion 
of  American  liberty,  aided  by  the  wicked  and  venal  tools 
of  corruption,  who  are  endeavouring,  by  the  basest  misrep- 
resentations and  falsehoods,  to  effect  an  unnatural  division 
between  the  Mother  Country  and  her  Colonies,  covering 
their  wicked  design  under  the  specious  pretence  of  dutv 
and  attachment  to  our  gracious  Sovereign,  and  the  sacred 
laws  of  the  British  Empire ;  and  also  to  the  unhappy 
situation  to  which  you  will  be  reduced  in  case  of  a  hostile 
invasion  of  this  Colony,  do,  for  ourselves  and  our  constit- 
uents, (should  such  a  distressing  circumstance  take  place.) 
most  cordially  invite  you  to  remove  so  many  of  your  wives 
and  children  into  this  County  as  the  inhabitants  thereof 
can  conveniently  entertain,  where  they  will  meet  with  the 
best  protection  and  accommodations  we  are  able  to  afford. 

George  Carrington,  Chairman. 


cecil  county  (Maryland)  committee. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Cecil  County,  at  Elk 
Ferry,  on  the  17th  day  of  May,  1775: 

In  consequence  of  an  information  being  made,  that 
Charles  Gordon,  Attorney-at-Law  in  Cec?7  County,  had 
treated  with  great  disrespect,  and  maliciously  aspersed  the 
Continental  Congress,  the  Provincial  Convention,  and  the 
Committee  of  this  County  ;  and  had,  at  divers  times,  and 
by  sundry  ways  and  means,  vilified  their  proceedings ;  a 
Summons  thereupon  issued  from  the  Committee,  command- 
ing his  appearance  to  answer  to  the  above  charge  ;  to  which 


623 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


624 


Summons  lie  returned  the  following  verbal  answer,  as  ap- 
pears by  affidavit : 

"  On  the  1 7th  day  of  May,  1 775,  personally  came  William 
Savin  before  me  the  subscriber,  one  of  his  Lordship's  Jus- 
tices of  the  Peace  for  the  County  aforesaid,  and  made  oath 
on  the  Holy  Evangelists  of  Almighty  God,  that  he  served 
Mr.  Gordon  with  a  copy  of  the  within  Summons  in  time 
for  him  to  have  observed  it  ;  and  that  he  told  him  (this 
deponent)  that  he  would  not  meet,  and  if  the  Committee 
wanted  him  they  must  come  to  his  plantation,  but  not  inside 
his  yard  gate  ;  that  he  asked  why  they  did  not  come  them- 
selves, or  send  some  of  their  head  men  ;  that  upon  bis 
(this  deponent)  saying  he  believed  unless  he  did  not  com- 
ply with  their  request,  they  would  all  come,  he,  Mr.  Gor- 
don, said  he  was  ready  to  receive  them  ;  that  his  plantation 
was  large  enough  to  hold  them  all,  but  they  must  not  come 
inside  his  yard  gate,  or  there  would  be  lives  lost.  Mr. 
Gordon  said  he  had  said,  and  does  still  say,  that  they  are 
a  parcel  of  damned  scoundrels  of  the  Committee,  and  that 
if  they  have  any  thing  to  say  to  him,  they  must  come  to 
him,  for  he  was  at  their  defiance." 

Sworn  before  David  Smith. 

Whereupon  the  Committee  entered  into  the  following 
Resolve,  viz : 

Whereas  Charles  Gordon,  Aitomey-at- Law  in  Cecil 
County,  hath  treated  this  Committee  with  great  contempt 
and  insolence  ;  and  the  general  tenour  of  his  conduct  for  a 
long  time  hath  been  such,  as  in  our  opinions  declares  him 
to  be  an  enemy  to  the  common  cause  of  liberty  for  which 
we  are  contending  ;  and  whereas  he  hath  this  day  been  duly 
summoned  to  appear  before  this  Committee  and  answer 
unto  the  above  charge,  to  which  Summons  he  returned  an 
impertinent  and  insolent  answer,  even  menacing  this  Com- 
mittee with  destruction  if  they  attempt  to  proceed  any 
farther  against  him  :  It  is,  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  he  lie  under  the  imputation  of  being 
an  enemy  to  this  Country,  and  as  such  we  will  have  no 
dealings  or  communication  with  him,  nor  permit  him  to 
transact  any  business  with  us,  or  for  us,  either  in  a  publick 
or  private  capacity,  which  shall  be  commenced  after  the 
date  hereof,  until  he  appears  before  this  Committee  and 
satisfies  them  with  respect  to  the  above  charge ;  and  we 
do  earnestly  recommend  it  to  all  the  good  people  of  this 
County  to  observe  the  same  line  of  conduct. 

Resolved,  That  the  above  be  published. 

James  Veazey,  Junior,  Chairman. 
John  Veazey,  3d,  Clerk  pro  tern. 


Philadelphia,  May  20,  1775. 

On  Wednesday  evening  last,  May  17,  arrived  here  John 
Brown,  Esquire,  from  Ticonderoga,  express  to  the  Gen- 
eral Congress,  from  whom  we  learn,  that  on  the  beginning 
of  this  instant,  a  company  of  about  fifty  men  from  Connecti- 
cut and  the  western  part  of  Massachusetts,  and  joined  by 
upwards  of  one  hundred  from  Bennington,  in  New-York 
Government,  and  the  adjacent  Towns,  proceeded  to  the 
eastern  side  of  Lake  Champlain,  and  on  the  night  before 
the  11th  current,  crossed  the  Lake  with  eighty-five  men, 
(not  being  able  to  obtain  craft  to  transport  the  rest)  and 
about  daybreak  invested  the  Fort,  whose  gate,  contrary  to 
expectation,  they  found  shut,  but  the  wicker  open,  through 
which,  with  the  Indian  war-whoop,  all  that  could,  entered 
one  by  one,  others  scaling  the  wall  on  both  sides  of  the 
gate,  and  instantly  secured  and  disarmed  the  sentries,  and 
pressed  into  the  parade,  where  they  formed  the  hollow 
square ;  but  immediately  quitting  that  order,  they  rushed 
into  the  several  barracks  on  three  sides  of  the  Fort,  and 
seized  on  the  garrison,  consisting  of  two  officers  and  up- 
wards of  forty  privates,*  whom  they  brought  out,  disarmed, 
put  under  guard,  and  have  since  sent  prisoners  to  Hartford, 
in  Connecticut.  All  this  was  performed  in  about  ten  min- 
utes, without  the  loss  of  a  life,  or  a  drop  of  blood  on  our 
side,  and  but  very  little  on  that  of  the  King's  Troops. 

In  the  Fort  were  found  about  thirty  barrels  of  flour,  a 
few  barrels  of  pork,  seventy  odd  chests  of  leaden  ball, 
computed  at  three  hundred  tons,  about  ten  barrels  of  pow- 
der, in  bad  condition,  near  two  hundred  pieces  of  ordnance, 
of  all  sizes,  from  eighteen-pounders  downwards,  at  Ticon- 

*  A  party  of  the  Twenty-Sixth,  commanded  by  Captain  Delaplace. 


deroga  and  Crown  Point,  which  last  place,  being  held  only 
by  a  Corporal  and  eight  men,  falls  of  course  into  our 
hands. 

15y  this  sudden  expedition,  planned  by  some  principal 
persons  in  the  four  neighbouring  Colonies,  that  important 
pass  is  now  in  the  hands  of  the  Americans,  where  we  trust 
the  wisdom  of  the  Grand  Continental  Congress  will  take 
effectual  measures  to  secure  it,  as  it  may  be  depended  on 
that  Administration  means  to  form  an  army  in  Canada, 
composed  of  British  Regulars,  French,  and  Indians,  to 
attack  the  Colonies  on  that  side. 

Mr.  Brown  brought  intercepted  letters  from  Lieutenant 
Malcolm  Fraser,  to  his  friends  in  New-England,  from 
which  appear,  that  General  Carleton  has  almost  unlimited 
powers,  civil  and  military,  and  has  issued  orders  for  raising 
a  Canadian  Regiment,  in  which,  Mr.  Fraser  observes,  the 
officers  find  difficulty,  as  the  common  people  are  by  no 
means  fond  of  the  service.  He  likewise  remarks,  that  all 
the  King's  European  subjects  are  disaffected  at  the  partial 
preference  given  to  the  late  converts  to  loyalty,  as  he 
phrases  it,  to  their  utter  exclusion  from  all  confidence,  or 
even  common  civility.  Matters  are  indeed  in  such  a  situa- 
tion, that  many,  if  not  most  of  the  merchants,  talk  of 
leaving  the  Province. 

Mr.  Broivn  also  relates,  that  two  regular  officers  of  the 
Twenty-Sixth  Regiment,  now  in  Canada,  applied  to  two 
Indians,  one  a  head  warriour  of  the  Cavghnawaga  tribe, 
to  go  out  with  them  on  a  hunt  to  the  south  and  east  of  the 
Rivers  St.  Lawrence  and  Sorrel,  and  pressing  the  Indians 
farther  and  farther  on  said  course,  they  at  length  arrived 
at  Cohass,  where  the  Indians  say  they  were  stopped  and 
interrogated  by  the  inhabitants,  to  whom  they  pretended 
they  were  only  on  a  hunt,  which  the  inhabitants  (as  the 
Indians  told  Mr.  Broivn)  replied  must  be  false,  as  no  hun- 
ters used  silver  (bright)  barrelled  guns.  However,  the 
Cohass  people  dismissed  them  all ;  and  when  they  return- 
ed into  the  woods,  the  Indian  warriour  insisted  on  knowing 
what  their  real  intention  was,  and  they  told  him  that  it  was 
to  reconnoitre  the  woods  to  find  a  passage  for  an  army  to 
march  to  the  assistance  of  the  King's  friends  in  Boston. 
The  Indian  asked  where  they  would  get  the  army  ?  They 
answered,  in  Canada,  and  that  the  Indians  in  the  upper 
Castles  would  join  them.  The  Chief,  on  this,  expressed 
resentment,  that  he,  being  one  of  the  head  men  of  the 
Caughnawaga  tribe,  should  never  have  been  consulted  in 
the  affair.  But  Mr.  Brown  presumed  the  aversion  of  this 
honest  fellow  and  his  friends  to  their  schemes,  was  the  rea- 
son of  their  being  kept  from  their  knowledge. 

The  conductors  of  this  grand  expedition  are  to  be  Mon- 
sieur St.  Luke  le  Come,  the  villain  who  let  loose  the 
Indians  on  the  prisoners  at  Fort  William  Henry,  and  one 
of  his  associates. 


Watertown,  May  18,  1775. 

Yesterday  Colonel  Easton  arrived  at  the  Provincial 
Congress  in  Watertown  from  Ticonderoga,  and  brings  the 
glorious  news  of  the  taking  of  that  place  by  the  American 
forces  without  the  loss  of  a  man ;  of  which  interesting 
event  we  have  collected  the  following  particulars,  viz : 

Last  Tuesday  se'night  about  two  hundred  and  forty 
men  from  Connecticut  and  this  Province,  under  Colonels 
Allen  and  Easton,  arrived  at  the  Lake  near  Ticonderoga ; 
eighty  of  them  crossed  it,  and  came  to  the  Fort  about  the 
dawn  of  day.  The  sentry  was  much  surprised  at  seeing 
such  a  body  of  men,  and  snapped  his  piece  at  them ;  our 
men,  however,  immediately  rushed  forward,  seized  and  con- 
fined the  sentry,  pushed  through  the  covered  way,  and  all 
got  safe  upon  the  parade,  while  the  garrison  were  sleeping 
in  their  beds.  They  immediately  formed  a  hollow  square, 
and  gave  three  huzzas,  which  brought  out  the  garrison  ;  an 
inconsiderable  skirmish  with  cutlasses  or  bayonets  ensued, 
in  which  a  small  number  of  the  enemy  received  some 
wounds.  The  commanding  officer  soon  came  forth  ;  Col- 
onel Easton  clapped  him  upon  the  shoulder,  told  him  he 
was  his  prisoner,  and  demanded,  in  the  name  of  America, 
an  instant  surrender  of  the  Fort,  with  all  its  contents,  to 
the  American  forces.  The  officer  was  in  great  confusion, 
and  expressed  himself  to  this  effect :  damn  you,  what — 
what  does  all  this  mean?  Colonel  Easton  again  told  him 
that  he  and  his  garrison  were  prisoners.  The  officer  said 
that  he  hoped  he  should  be  treated  with  honour.  Colonel 


625 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


626 


Easton  replied  he  should  be  treated  with  much  more  hon- 
our than  our  people  had  met  with  from  the  British  Troops. 
The  officer  then  said,  he  was  all  submission,  and  imme- 
diately ordered  his  soldiers  to  deliver  up  all  the  arms,  in 
number  about  oue  hundred  stands.  As  they  gave  up  their 
arms,  the  prisoners  were  secured  in  the  hollow  square. 

The  American  forces  having  thus  providentially  got  pos- 
session of  this  important  fortress,  found  in  it  upwards  of 
one  hundred  pieces  of  cannon,  several  mortars,  and  a  con- 
siderable quantity  of  shot,  stores,  and  some  powder. 

After  this  acquisition,  a  detachment  of  our  Troops  was 
despatched  to  take  possession  of  Crown  Point,  where  there 
is  a  considerable  number  of  cannon.  Another  detachment 
was  sent  to  Skenesborough,  where  they  took  Major  Skene 
and  his  family,  with  a  number  of  soldiers,  and  several  small 
pieces  of  cannon. 

Colonel  Easton  met  several  hundred  men  from  the  west- 
ern parts  of  this  Province,  on  their  way  to  Ticonderoga. 
They  were  on  the  same  expedition,  not  knowing  the  Fort 
was  taken  till  they  met  Colonel  Easton.  Part  of  them 
pursued  their  march,  in  order  to  secure  and  garrison  the 
Fort. 

The  prisoners,  to  the  number  of  about  one  hundred,  in- 
cluding negroes,  &tc,  were  brought  off  by  John  Brown, 
Esquire.  Colonel  Allen  was  left  commander  of  the  Fort. 

The  officers  and  soldiers  in  this  important  expedition 
behaved  with  the  utmost  intrepidity  and  good  conduct,  and 
therefore  merit  the  highest  applauses  of  their  grateful 
Country. 


PHILADELPHIA  COMMITTEE. 

Committee-Chamber,  May  17,  1775. 

Whereas,  by  some  misapprehension  or  mistake  of  the 
Seventh  Resolve  of  the  late  Provincial  Convention,  sundry 
Lambs  have  been  lately  brought  into  market  and  purchased 
by  some  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  City  :  In  order,  there- 
fore, to  rectify  such  mistake,  and  as  much  as  possible  to 
preserve  and  promote  the  breed  of  Sheep,  it  is  ordered  that 
said  Resolve  be  re-published  in  all  the  Newspapers ;  and 
the  Committee  do  earnestly  request  all  persons  to  discour- 
age a  practice  which  has  so  pernicious  a  tendency  to  de- 
prive us  of  wool,  one  of  the  most  material  and  necessary 
articles  of  manufacture. 

"  Resolved  unanimously,  That  from  and  after  the  first 
day  of  March  next,  no  person  or  persons  should  use  in  his, 
her,  or  their  families,  (unless  in  cases  of  necessity,)  and  on 
no  account  to  sell  to  the  butchers,  or  kill  for  the  market, 
any  Sheep  under  four  years  old  ;  and  where  there  is  a  ne- 
cessity for  using  any  mutton  in  their  families,  it  is  recom- 
mended to  them  to  kill  such  as  are  the  least  profitable  to 
keep."  Isaac  Melcher,  Secretary  pro  tern. 


An  account  of  the  commencement  of  Hostilities  between 
Great  Britain  and  America,  in  the  Province  of  the 
Massachusetts-Bat;  .  By  the  Reverend  Mr.  William 
Gordon  of  Roxrury,  in  a  Letter  to  a  Gentleman  in 
England,  dated  May  17,  1775. 

My  dear  Sir  :  I  shall  now  give  you  a  letter  upon  pub- 
lick  affairs.  This  Colony,  judging  itself  possessed  of  an 
undoubted  right  to  the  chartered  privileges  which  had  been 
granted  by  our  glorious  deliverer,  King  William  the  Third, 
and  finding  that  the  Continent  was  roused  by  the  measures 
and  principles  of  Administration,  was  determined  upon  pro- 
viding the  necessary  requisites  for  self-defence,  in  case  there 
should  be  an  attempt  to  support  the  late  unconstitutional 
Acts  by  the  point  of  the  sword,  and  upon  making  that 
resistance  which  the  laws  of  God  and  nature  justified,  and 
the  circumstances  of  the  people  would  admit,  and  so  to 
leave  it  with  the  righteous  Judge  of  the  world  to  settle  the 
dispute.  Accordingly  the  Provincial  Congress,  substituted 
by  the  inhabitants  in  lieu  of  the  General  Assembly,  which 
could  not  convene  but  by  the  call  of  the  Governour,  pre- 
pared a  quantity  of  stores  for  the  service  of  an  army, 
whenever  the  same  might  be  brought  into  the  field.  These 
stores  were  deposited  in  various  places;  many  of  them  at 
Concord,  about  twenty  miles  from  Charlestown,  which  lies 
on  the  other  side  of  the  river,  opposite  to  Boston,  answer- 
ing to  Southwark,  but  without  the  advantage  of  a  bridge. 
It  was  apprehended  by  numbers,  from  the  attempt  made  to 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii. 


surprise  some  cannon  at  Salem  on  the  26th  February,  that 
there  would  be  something  of  the  like  kind  in  other  places ; 
and  many  were  uneasy,  after  the  resolutions  of  the  Parlia- 
ment were  known,  that  any  quantity  of  stores  was  within 
so  small  a  distance  of  Boston,  while  there  was  no  regular 
force  established  for  the  defence  of  them.  Several  were 
desirous  of  raising  an  army  instantly  upon  hearing  what 
had  been  determined  at  home;  but  it  was  judged  best  upon 
the  whole  not  to  do  it,  as  that  step  might  be  immediately 
construed  to  the  disadvantage  of  the  Colony  by  the  ene- 
mies of  it,  and  might  not  meet  with  the  unanimous  appro- 
bation of  the  Continental  Congress. 

Here  I  must  break  off  for  a  few  minutes  to  inform  you, 
by  way  of  episode,  that  on  the  30th  of  March,  the  Gov- 
ernour ordered  out  about  eleven  hundred  men  to  parade  it 
for  the  distance  of  five  miles,  to  Jamaica  Plains,  and  so 
round  by  the  way  of  Dorchester  back  again  ;  in  perform- 
ing which  military  exploit,  they  did  considerable  damage 
to  the  stone  fences,  which  occasioned  a  Committee's  being 
formed,  and  waiting  upon  the  Provincial  Congress,  then  at 
Concord,  on  the  point  of  adjourning,  which  prevented 
their  adjournment,  and  lengthened  out  the  session  till  the 
news  of  what  Parliament  had  done  reached  them  on  April 
2d,  by  a  vessel  from  Falmouth,  which  brought  the  account 
before  the  Governour  had  received  his  despatches,  so  that 
obnoxious  persons  took  the  advantage  of  withdrawing  from 
Boston,  or  keeping  away,  that  they  might  not  be  caught  by 
the  General,  were  orders  for  that  purpose  given  him  from 
home,  as  there  is  much  reason  to  suppose  was  the  case, 
from  a  hint  in  an  intercepted  letter  of  Mr.  Mauduii's  to 
Commissioner  Hallowell,  and  from  subsequent  intelligence. 
The  Tories  had  been  for  a  long  while  filling  the  officers 
and  soldiers  with  the  idea,  that  the  Yankees  would  not 
fight,  but  would  certainly  run  for  it,  whenever  there  was 
the  appearance  of  hostilities  on  the  part  of  the  Regulars. 
They  had  repeated  the  story  so  often,  that  they  themselves 
really  believed  it,  and  the  military  were  persuaded  to  think 
the  same  in  general,  so  that  they  held  the  country  people 
in  the  utmost  contempt.  The  officers  had  discovered,  espe- 
cially since  the  warlike  feat  of  tarring  and  feathering,  a 
disposition  to  quarrel,  and  to  provoke  the  people  to  begin, 
that  they  might  have  some  colour  for  hostilities.  This  cast 
of  mind  was  much  increased  upon  the  news  of  what  Par- 
liament had  resolved  upon ;  the  people,  however,  bore 
insults  patiently,  being  determined  that  they  would  not 
be  the  aggressors. 

At  length  the  General  was  fixed  upon  sending  a  detach- 
ment to  Concord,  to  destroy  the  stores,  having  been,  I 
apprehend,  worried  into  it  by  the  native  Tories  that  were 
about  him,  and  confirmed  in  his  d  esign  by  the  opinion  of 
his  officers,  about  ten  of  whom,  on  the  18th  of  April,  pass- 
ed over  Charlestotcn  Ferry,  and  by  the  neck  through  Rox- 
bury,  armed  with  swords  and  pistols,  and  placed  them- 
selves on  different  parts  of  the  road  in  the  night  to  prevent 
all  intelligence,  and  the  country's  being  alarmed ;  they 
stopped  various  persons,  threatening  to  blow  their  brains 
out,  ordering  them  to  dismount,  he.  The  Grenadier  and 
Light-Infantry  Companies  had  been  taken  off  duty  some 
days,  under  pretence  of  learning  a  new  exercise,  which 
made  the  Bostonians  jealous  ;  one  and  another  were  con- 
firmed in  their  suspicions  by  what  they  saw  and  heard  on 
the  18th,  so  that  expresses  were  forwarded  to  alarm  the 
country,  some  of  whom  were  secured  by  the  officers  on 
the  road ;  the  last  had  not  got  out  of  Town  more  than 
about  five  minutes,  ere  the  order  arrived  to  stop  all  persons 
from  leaving  the  Town.  An  alarm  was  spread  in  many 
places,  (to  some  the  number  of  officers  on  the  road  to 
Concord  proved  an  alarm ;)  however,  as  there  had  been 
repeated  false  ones,  the  country  was  at  a  loss  what  to 
judge.  On  the  first  of  the  night,  when  it  was  very  dark, 
the  detachment,  consisting  of  all  the  Grenadiers  and  Light- 
Infantry,  the  flower  of  the  army,  to  the  amount  of  eight 
hundred  or  better,  officers  included,  the  companies  having 
been  filled  up,  and  several  of  the  inimical  torified  natives, 
repaired  to  the  boats,  and  got  into  them  just  as  the  moon 
rose,  crossed  the  water,  landed  on  Cambridge  side,  took 
through  a  private  way  to  avoid  discovery,  and  therefore 
had  to  go  through  some  places  up  to  their  thighs  in  water. 
They  made  a  quick  march  of  it  to  Lexington,  about  thir- 
teen miles  from  Charlestown,  and  got  there  by  half  an  hour 
after  four. 


627 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY, 


628 


Here  I  musl  pause  again,  to  acquaint  you  that  in  the 
morning  of  the  19th,  before  we  had  breakfasted,  between 
eight  and  nine,  the  whole  neighbourhood  was  in  alarm ;  the 
Minute-men  (so  called  from  their  having  agreed  to  turn 
out  at  a  minute's  warning)  were  collecting  together;  we 
had  an  account  that  the  Regulars  had  killed  six  of  our 
men  at  Lexington;  the  Country  was  in  an  uproar;  another 
detachment  was  coming  out  of  Boston;  and  I  was  desired 
to  take  care  of  myself  and  partner.  I  concluded  that  the 
Brigade  was  intended  to  support  the  Grenadiers  and  Light- 
Infantry,  and  to  cover  their  retreat,  in  which  I  was  not 
mistaken.  The  Brigade  took  out  two  cannon,  the  detach- 
ment had  none.  Having  sent  oft'  my  books,  which  1  had 
finished  packing  up  the  day  before,  conjecturing  what  was 
coming  on  from  the  moment  I  had  heard  of  the  resolutions 
of  Parliament,  though  I  did  not  expect  it  till  the  reinforce- 
ment arrived,  we  got  into  our  chaise,  and  went  to  Ded- 
ham.  At  night  we  had  it  confirmed  to  us,  that  the  Regu- 
lars had  been  roughly  handled  by  the  Yankees,  a  term  of 
reproach  for  the  IS ew- En  glanders,  when  applied  by  the 
Regulars.  The  Brigade  under  Lord  Percy  marched  out, 
playing,  by  way  of  contempt,  Yankee  Doodle;  they  were 
afterwards  told,  that  they  had  been  made  to  dance  to  it. 

Soon  after  the  affair,  knowing  what  untruths  are  propa- 
gated by  each  party  in  matters  of  this  nature,  I  concluded 
that  I  would  ride  to  Concord,,  inquire  for  myself,  and  not 
rest  upon  the  depositions  that  might  be  taken  by  others. 
Accordingly  I  went  the  last  week.  The  Provincial  Con- 
gress have  taken  depositions,  which  they  have  forwarded 
to  Great  Britain;  but  the  Ministry  and  pretended  friends 
to  Government,  will  cry  them  down,  as  being  evidence 
from  party  persons  and  rebels ;  the  like  may  be  objected 
against  the  present  account,  as  it  will  materially  contra- 
dict what  has  been  published  in  Boston,  though  not  ex- 
pressly, yet  as  it  is  commonly  supposed,  by  authority  ; 
however,  with  the  impartial  world,  and  those  who  will  not 
imagine  me  capable  of  sacrificing  honesty  to  the  old,  at 
present  heretical,  principles  of  the  Revolution,  it  may  have 
some  weight. 

Before  Major  Pitcairn  arrived  at  Lexington  signal  guns 
had  been  fired,  and  the  bells  had  been  rung  to  give  the 
alarm ;  but  let  not  the  sound  of  bells  lead  you  to  think  of 
a  ring  of  bells  like  what  you  hear  in  England;  for  they 
are  only  small  sized  bells,  (one  in  a  Parish,)  just  sufficient 
to  notify  to  the  people  the  time  for  attending  worship,  &,c. 
Lexington  being  alarmed,  the  train  band  or  Militia,  and 
the  alarm  men  (consisting  of  the  aged  and  others  exempt- 
ed from  turning  out,  excepting  upon  an  alarm)  repaired  in 
general  to  the  common,  close  in  with  the  meeting-house, 
the  usual  place  of  parade ;  and  there  were  present  when 
the  roll  was  called  over  about  one  hundred  and  thirty  of 
both,  as  I  was  told  by  Mr.  Daniel  Harrington,  clerk  to 
the  company  ;  who  further  said,  that  the  night  being  chilly, 
so  as  to  make  it  uncomfortable  being  upon  the  parade, 
they  having  received  no  certain  intelligence  of  the  Regu- 
lars being  upon  their  march,  and  being  waiting  for  the 
same,  the  men  were  dismissed,  to  appear  again  at  the  beat 
of  drum.  Some  who  lived  near,  went  home,  others  to  the 
publick  house  at  the  corner  of  the  common.  Upon  infor- 
mation being  received  about  half  an  hour  after,  that  the 
Troops  were  not  far  off",  the  remains  of  the  company  who 
were  at  hand  collected  together,  to  the  amount  of  about 
sixty  or  seventy,  by  the  time  the  Regulars  appeared,  but 
were  chiefly  in  a  confused  state,  only  a  few  of  them  being 
drawn  up,  which  accounts  for  other  witnesses  making  the 
number  less,  about  thirty.  There  were  present  as  specta- 
tors, about  forty  more,  scarce  any  of  whom  had  arms.  The 
printed  accounts  tell  us,  indeed,  that  they  observed  about 
two  hundred  armed  men.  Possibly  the  intelligence  they 
had  before  received  had  frightened  those  that  gave  the 
account  to  the  General,  so  that  they  saw  more  than  dou- 
ble. The  said  account,  which  has  little  truth  in  it,  says, 
"  that  Major  Pitcairn  galloping  up  to  the  head  of  the  ad- 
vanced companies,  two  officers  informed  him,  that  a  man 
(advanced  from  those  that  were  assembled)  had  presented 
his  musket,  and  attempted  to  shoot  them,  but  the  piece 
flashed  in  the  pan." 

The  simple  truth,  I  take  to  be  this,  which  I  received 
from  one  of  the  prisoners  at  Concord  in  free  conversation, 
one  James  Marr,  a  native  of  Aberdeen,  in  Scotland,  of 
the  Fourth  Regiment,  who  was  upon  the  advanced  guard, 


consisting  of  six,  besides  a  sergeant  and  corporal :  They 
were  met  by  three  men  on  horseback  before  they  got  to 
the  meeting-house  a  good  way  ;  an  officer  bid  them  stop ; 
to  which  it  was  answered,  you  had  better  turn  back,  for 
you  shall  not  enter  the  Town  ;  when  the  said  three  per- 
sons rode  back  again,  and  at  some  distance  one  of  them 
offered  to  fire,  but  the  piece  flashed  in  the  pan  without 
going  off.  I  asked  Marr  whether  he  could  tell  if  the 
piece  was  designed  at  the  soldiers,  or  to  give  an  alarm  ? 
He  could  not  say  which.  The  said  Marr  further  declared, 
that  when  they  and  the  others  were  advanced,  Major  Pit- 
cairn said  to  the  Lexington  Company,  (which,  by  the  by, 
was  the  only  one  there,)  stop,  you  rebels  !  and  he  supposed 
that  the  design  was  to  take  away  their  arms;  but  upon 
seeing  the  Regulars  they  dispersed,  and  a  firing  commen- 
ced, but  who  fired  first  he  could  not  say.  The  said  Marr, 
together  with  Evan  Davies  of  the  Twenty-Third,  George 
Cooper  of  the  Twenty-Third,  and  William  McDonald  of 
the  Thirty-Eighth,  respectively  assured  me  in  each  other's 
presence,  that  being  in  the  room  where  John  Batcman,  of 
the  Fifty-Second,  was,  (he  was  in  an  adjoining  room,  too 
ill  to  admit  of  my  conversing  with  him,)  they  heard  the 
said  Bateman  say,  that  the  Regulars  fired  first,  and  saw 
him  go  through  the  solemnity  of  confirming  the  same  by 
an  oath  on  the  bible. 

Samuel  Lee,  a  private  in  the  Eighteenth  Regiment, 
Royal  Irish,  acquainted  me,  that  it  was  the  talk  among 
the  soldiers  that  Major  Pitcairn  fired  his  pistol,  then  drew 
his  sword,  and  ordered  them  to  fire;  which  agrees  with 
what  Levi  Harrington,  a  youth  of  fourteen  last  Novem- 
ber, told  me,  that  being  upon  the  common,  and  hearing  the 
Regulars  were  coming  up,  he  went  to  the  meeting-house, 
and  saw  them  down  in  the  road,  on  which  he  returned  to 
the  Lexington  Company  ;  that  a  person  on  horseback  rode 
round  the  meeting,  and  came  towards  the  company  that 
way,  said  something  loud,  but  could  not  tell  what,  rode  a 
little  further,  then  stopped  and  fired  a  pistol,  which  was 
the  first  report  he  heard,  then  another  on  horseback  fired 
his  pistol ;  then  three  or  four  Regulars  fired  their  guns  ; 
upon  which,  hearing  the  bullets  whistle,  he  ran  off,  and 
saw  no  more  of  the  affair. 

Mr.  Paid  Revere,  who  was  sent  express,  was  taken  and 
detained  some  time  by  the  officers,  being  afterwards  upon 
the  spot,  and  finding  the  Regulars  at  hand,  passed  through 
the  Lexington  Company  with  another,  having  between 
them  a  box  of  papers  belonging  to  Mr.  Hancock,  and 
went  down  a  cross  road,  till  there  was  a  house  so  between 
him  and  the  company  as  that  he  could  not  see  the  latter; 
he  told  me  likewise,  that  he  had  not  got  half  a  gun-shot 
from  them  before  the  Regulars  appeared  ;  that  they  halted 
about  three  seconds;  that  upon  hearing  the  report  of  a 
pistol  or  gun,  he  looked  round,  and  saw  the  smoke  in  front 
of  the  Regulars,  our  people  being  out  of  view  because  of 
the  house;  then  the  Regulars  huzzaed  and  fired,  first  two 
more  guns,  then  the  advanced  guard,  and  so  the  whole 
body.  The  bullets  flying  thick  about  him,  and  he  having 
nothing  to  defend  himself  with,  ran  into  a  wood,  where  he 
halted,  and  heard  the  firing  for  about  a  quarter  of  an  hour. 

James  Brown,  one  of  the  Lexington  Militia,  informed 
me,  that  he  was  upon  the  common  ;  that  two  pistols  were 
fired  from  the  party  of  the  soldiers  towards  the  Militia- 
men as  they  were  getting  over  the  wall  to  be  out  of  the 
way,  and  that  immediately  upon  it  the  soldiers  began  to 
(ire  their  guns ;  that  being  got  over  the  wall,  and  seeing 
the  soldiers  fire  pretty  freely,  he  fired  upon  them,  and 
some  others  did  the  same. 

Simon  Winship  of  Lexington,  declared,  that  being  upon 
the  road  about  four  o'clock,  two  miles  and  an  half  on  this 
side  of  the  meeting-house,  he  was  stopped  by  the  Regu- 
lars, and  commanded  by  some  of  the  officers  to  dismount, 
or  he  was  a  dead  man  ;  that  he  was  obliged  to  march  with 
the  said  Troops  until  he  came  within  about  half  a  quarter 
of  a  mile  of  the  said  meeting-house,  when  an  officer 
commanded  the  Troops  to  halt,  and  then  to  prime  and 
load  ;  which  being  done,  the  Troops  marched  on  till  they 
came  within  a  few  rods  of  Captain  Parker's  Lexington 
Company,  who  were  partly  collected  on  the  place  of  pa- 
rade, when  said  IVinship  observed  an  officer  at  the  head 
of  said  Troops  flourishing  his  sword  round  his  head  in  the 
air,  and  with  a  loud  voice  giving  the  word  fire ;  the  said 
H'inshij}  is  positive  that  there  was  no  discharge  of  anus 


629 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


630 


on  either  side,  until  the  word  fire  was  given  by  the  said 
officer  as  above. 

I  shall  not  trouble  you  with  more  particulars,  but  give 
you  the  substance  as  it  lies  in  my  own  mind,  collected 
from  the  persons  whom  I  examined  for  my  own  satisfac- 
tion. The  Lexington  Company  upon  seeing  the  Troops, 
and  being  of  themselves  so  unequal  a  match  for  them, 
were  deliberating  for  a  few  moments  what  they  should  do, 
when  several  dispersing  of  their  own  heads,  the  Captain 
soon  ordered  the  rest  to  disperse  for  their  own  safety. 
Before  the  order  was  given,  three  or  four  of  the  regular 
officers,  seeing  the  company  as  they  came  up  on  the 
rising  ground  on  this  side  the  meeting,  rode  forward  one 
or  more,  round  the  meeting-house,  leaving  it  on  the  right 
hand,  and  so  came  upon  them  that  way  ;  upon  coming  up 
one  cried  out,  "  you  damned  rebels,  lay  down  your  arms  ;" 
another,  "  stop,  you  rebels ;"  a  third,  "  disperse,  you  rebels," 
&.c.  Major  Pitcairn,  I  suppose,  thinking  himself  justified 
by  Parliamentary  authority  to  consider  them  as  rebels,  per- 
ceiving that  they  did  not  actually  lay  down  their  arms, 
observing  that  the  generality  were  getting  off,  while  a  few 
continued  in  their  military  position,  and  apprehending  there 
could  be  no  great  hurt  in  killing  a  few  such  Yankees,  which 
might  probably,  according  to  the  notions  that  had  been 
instilled  into  him  by  the  tory  party,  of  the  Americans 
being  poltrons,  end  all  the  contest,  gave  the  command  to 
fire,  then  fired  his  own  pistol,  and  so  set  the  whole  affair 
agoing.  The  printed  account  says  very  different;  but  what- 
ever the  General  may  have  sent  home  in  support  of  that 
account,  the  publick  have  nothing  but  bare  assertions,  and 
I  have  such  valid  evidence  of  the  falsehood  of  several 
matters  therein  contained,  that  with  me  it  has  very  little 
weight.  The  same  account  tells  us,  that  several  shots 
were  fired  from  a  meeting-house  on  the  left,  of  which  I 
heard  not  a  single  syllable,  either  from  the  prisoners  or 
others,  and  the  mention  of  which  it  would  have  been 
almost  impossible  to  have  avoided,  had  it  been  so,  by  one 
or  another  among  the  numbers  with  whom  1  freely  and 
familiarly  conversed.  There  is  a  curious  note  at  the  bot- 
tom of  the  account,  telling  us,  that  notwithstanding  the  fire 
from  the  meeting-house,  Colonel  Smith  and  Major  Pit- 
cairn, with  the  greatest  difficulty  kept  the  soldiers  from 
forcing  into  the  meeting-house,  and  putting  all  those  in  it 
to  death.  Would  you  not  suppose  that  there  was  a  great 
number  in  the  meeting-house,  while  the  Regulars  were 
upon  the  common  on  the  right  of  it,  between  that  and  the 
Lexington  Company  ?  Without  doubt.  And  who  do  you 
imagine  they  were  ?  One  Joshua  Simonds,  who  happened 
to  be  getting  powder  there  as  the  Troops  arrived;  besides 
whom,  1  believe  there  were  not  two,  if  so  much  as  one ; 
for  by  reason  of  the  position  of  the  meeting-house,  none 
would  have  remained  in  it  through  choice  but  fools  and 
madmen.  However,  if  Colonel  Smith  and  Major  Pit- 
cairns  humanity  prevented  the  soldiers  putting  all  those 
persons  to  death,  their  military  skill  should  certainly  have 
made  some  of  them  prisoners,  and  the  account  should  have 
given  us  their  names.  To  what  I  have  wrote  respecting 
Major  Pitcairn,  I  am  sensible  his  general  character  may 
be  objected.  But  character  must  not  be  allowed  to  over- 
throw positive  evidence  when  good,  and  the  conclusions 
fairly  deduced  therefrom.  Besides,  since  hearing  from 
Mr.  Jones  in  what  shameful  abusive  manner,  with  oaths 
and  curses,  he  was  treated  by  the  Major  at  Concord,  for 
shutting  the  doors  of  his  tavern  against  him  and  the  Troops ; 
and  in  order  to  terrify  him  to  make  discoveries  of  stores ; 
and  the  manner  in  which  the  Major  crowed  over  the  two 
four-and- twenty  pounders  found  in  the  yard,  as  a  mighty 
acquisition,  worthy  the  expedition  on  which  the  detach- 
ment was  employed,  I  have  no  such  great  opinion  of  the 
Major's  character ;  though,  when  he  found  that  nothing 
could  be  done  of  any  great  importance  by  bullying,  blus- 
tering, and  threatening,  he  could  alter  his  tone,  begin  to 
coax,  and  offer  a  reward.  It  may  be  said  this  Jones  was  a 
jailer;  yes,  and  such  a  jailer  as  I  would  give  credit  to, 
sooner  than  the  generality  of  those  officers  that  will  degrade 
the  British  arms,  by  employing  their  swords  in  taking  away 
the  rights  of  a  free  people,  when  they  ought  to  be  devoted 
to  a  good  cause  only.  There  were  killed  at  Lexington 
eight  persons — one  Parker  of  the  same  name  with  the 
Captain  of  the  company,  and  two  or  three  more,  on  the 
common ;  the  rest  on  the  other  side  of  the  walls  and 


fences  while  dispersing.  The  soldiers  fired  at  persons  who 
had  no  arms.  Eight  hundred  of  the  best  British  Troops 
in  America  having  thus  nobly  vanquished  a  company  of 
non-resisting  Yankees  while  dispersing,  and  slaughtering  a 
few  of  them  by  way  of  experiment,  marched  forward  in 
the  greatness  of  their  might  to  Concord.  The  Concord 
people  had  received  the  alarm,  and  had  drawn  themselves 
up  in  order  for  defence;  upon  a  messenger's  coming  and 
telling  them  that  the  Regulars  were  three  times  their  num- 
ber, they  prudently  changed  their  situation,  determining  to 
wait  for  reinforcements  from  the  neighbouring  Towns, 
which  were  now  alarmed  ;  but  as  to  the  vast  numbers  of 
armed  people  seen  assembling  on  all  the  heights,  as  related 
in  the  account,  'tis  mostly  fiction.  The  Concord  Company 
retired  over  the  north  bridge,  and  when  strengthened  re- 
turned to  it,  with  a  view  of  dislodging  Captain  Laurie, 
and  securing  it  for  themselves.  They  knew  not  what  had 
happened  at  Lexington,  and  therefore  orders  were  given 
by  the  commander  not  to  give  the  first  fire.  They  boldly 
marched  towards  it,  though  not  in  great  numbers,  (as  told 
in  the  account,)  and  were  fired  upon  by  the  Regulars,  by 
which  fire  a  Captain  belonging  to  Acton  was  killed,  and  I 
think  a  private.  The  Reverend  Mr.  Emerson  of  Concord, 
living  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  bridge,  who  gave  me 
the  account,  went  near  enough  to  see  it,  and  was  nearer  the 
Regulars  than  the  killed.  He  was  very  uneasy  till  he 
found  that  the  fire  was  returned,  and  continued  till  the  Reg- 
ulars were  drove  oft".  Lieutenant  Gould,  who  was  at  the 
bridge,  and  was  wounded  and  taken  prisoner,  has  deposed 
that  their  Regulars  gave  the  first  fire  there,  though  the 
printed  narrative  asserts  the  contrary ;  and  the  soldiers 
that  knew  any  thing  of  the  matter,  with  whom  I  conversed, 
made  no  scruple  of  owning  the  same  that  Mr.  Gould  de- 
posed. 

After  the  engagement  began,  the  whole  detachment  col- 
lected together  as  fast  as  it  could.  The  narrative  tells  us, 
that  as  Captain  Parsons  returned  with  his  three  companies 
over  the  bridge,  they  observed  three  soldiers  on  the  ground, 
one  of  them  scalped,  his  head  much  mangled,  and  his  ears 
cut  off,  though  not  quite  dead  ;  all  this  is  not  fiction, 
though  the  most  is.  The  Reverend  Mr.  Emerson  in- 
formed me  how  the  matter  was,  with  great  concern  for  its 
having  happened.  A  young  fellow  coming  over  the  bridge 
in  order  to  join  the  country  people,  and  seeing  the  soldier 
wounded  and  attempting  to  get  up,  not  being  under  the 
feelings  of  humanity,  very  barbarously  broke  his  skull,  and 
let  out  his  brains  with  a  small  axe,  (apprehend  of  the  toma- 
hawk kind,)  but  as  to  his  being  scalped  and  having  his  ears 
cut  off,  there  was  nothing  in  it.  The  poor  object  lived  an 
hour  or  two  before  he  expired.  The  detachment,  when 
joined  by  Captain  Parsons,  made  a  hasty  retreat,  finding 
by  woful  experience  that  the  Yankees  would  fight,  and 
that  their  numbers  would  be  continually  increasing.  The 
Regulars  were  pushed  with  vigour  by  the  country  people, 
who  took  the  advantage  of  walls,  fences,  &c,  but  those 
that  could  get  up  to  engage  were  not  upon  equal  terms 
with  the  Regulars  in  point  of  number  any  part  of  the  day, 
though  the  country  was  collecting  together  from  all  quar- 
ters, and  had  there  been  two  hours  more  for  it,  would  pro- 
bably have  cut  off  both  detachment  and  Brigade,  or  made 
them  prisoners.  The  soldiers  being  obliged  to  retreat  with 
haste  to  Lexington,  had  no  time  to  do  any  considerable 
mischief.  But  a  little  on  this  side  Lexington  Meeting- 
House  where  they  were  met  by  the  Brigade,  with  cannon, 
under  Lord  Percy,  the  scene  changed.  The  inhabitants 
had  quitted  their  houses  in  general  upon  the  road,  leaving 
almost  every  thing  behind  them,  and  thinking  themselves 
well  off  in  escaping  with  their  lives.  The  soldiers  burnt 
in  Lexington  three  houses,  one  barn,  and  two  shops,  one 
of  which  joined  to  the  house,  and  a  mill-house  adjoining 
to  the  barn  ;  other  houses  and  buildings  were  attempted  to 
be  burnt,  and  narrowly  escaped.  You  would  have  been 
shocked  at  the  destruction  which  has  been  made  by  the 
Regulars,  as  they  are  miscalled,  had  you  been  present  with 
me  to  have  beheld  it.  Many  houses  were  plundered  of 
every  thing  valuable  that  could  be  taken  away,  and  what 
could  not  be  carried  off  was  destroyed  ;  looking-glasses, 
pots,  pans,  &c,  were  broke  all  to  pieces;  doors  when  not 
fastened,  sashes  and  windows  wantonly  damaged  and  de- 
stroyed. The  people  say  that  the  soldiers  are  worse  than 
the  Indians ;  in  short,  they  have  given  the  Country  such 


631 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1773. 


632 


an  early  specimen  of  their  brutality  as  will  make  the  inha- 
bitants dread  submission  to  the  power  of  the  British  Min- 
istry, and  determine  them  to  fight  desperately  rather  than 
have  such  cruel  masters  to  lord  it  over  them.  The  Troops 
at  length  reached  Charlestown,  where  there  was  no  attack- 
ing them  with  safety  to  the  Town,  and  that  night  and  the 
next  day  crossed  over  in  boats  to  Boston,  where  they  con- 
tinue to  be  shut  up;  for  the  people  poured  down  in  so 
amazing  a  manner  from  all  parts,  for  scores  of  miles  round, 
(even  the  grey-headed  came  to  assist  their  countrymen,) 
the  General  was  obliged  to  set  about  further  fortifying  the 
Town  immediately  at  all  points  and  places. 

The  proceedings  of  April  19th  have  united  the  Colony 
and  Continent,  and  brought  in  Neic-York  to  act  as  vigor- 
ously as  any  other  place  whatsoever ;  and  has  raised  an 
army  in  an  instant,  which  are  lodged  in  the  several  houses 
of  the  Towns  round  Boston  till  their  tents  are  finished, 
which  will  be  soon.  All  that  is  attended  to,  besides  plough- 
ing and  planting,  &ic,  is  making  ready  for  fighting.  The 
non-importations  and  non-exportations  will  now  take  place 
from  necessity,  and  traffick  give  place  to  war. 

We  have  a  fine  spring,  prospects  of  great  plenty  ;  there 
was  scarce  ever  known  such  a  good  fall  of  lambs ;  we  are 
in  no  danger  of  starving  through  the  cruel  acts  against  the 
New-England  Governments ;  and  the  men  who  had  been 
used  to  the  fishery,  (a  hardy  generation  of  people,)  Lord 
North  has  undesignedly  kept  in  the  Country  to  give  strength 
to  our  military  operations,  and  to  assist  as  occasion  may 
require :  thanks  to  a  superiour  wisdom  for  his  blunders. 
The  General  is  expecting  reinforcements,  but  few  have 
arrived  as  yet;  the  winds,  contrary  to  the  common  run  at 
this  season,  instead  of  being  easterly,  have  been  mostly  the 
reverse.  When  the  reinforcement  arrives,  and  is  recovered 
of  the  voyage,  the  General  will  be  obliged  in  honour  to 
attempt  dislodging  the  people,  and  penetrating  into  the 
country  :  both  soldiers  and  inhabitants  are  in  want  of  fresh 
provisions,  and  will  be  like  to  suffer  much,  should  the  Pro- 
vincial Army  be  able  to  keep  the  Town  shut  up  on  all 
sides,  excepting  by  water,  as  at  present. 

The  General  engaged  with  the  Selectmen  of  Boston, 
that  if  the  Town's  people  would  deliver  up  their  arms  into 
their  custody,  those  that  chose  it  should  be  allowed  to  go 
out  with  their  effects.  The  townsmen  complied,  and  the 
General  forfeited  his  word,  for  which  there  will  be  an  after 
reckoning,  should  they  ever  have  it  in  their  power  to  call 
him  to  an  account.  A  few  have  been  allowed  to  come  out 
with  many  of  their  effects ;  numbers  are  not  permitted  to 
come  out,  and  the  chief  of  those  who  have  been,  have  been 
obliged  to  leave  their  merchandise  and  goods  (linen  and 
household  stuff,  cash  and  plate  excepted)  behind  them. 
You  must  look  back  to  the  origin  of  the  United  Provinces, 
that  you  may  have  an  idea  of  the  resolution  of  this  people. 
May  the  present  struggle  end  as  happily  in  favour  of  Ame- 
rican liberty,  without  proving  the  destruction  of  Great 
Britain.  We  are  upon  a  second  edition  of  King  Charles 
the  First's  reign,  enlarged.  May  the  dispute  be  adjusted 
before  the  times  are  too  tragical  to  admit  of  it.  Both  offi- 
cers and  privates  have  altered  their  opinion  of  the  Yankees 
very  much  since  the  18th  of  April. 

The  detachment  while  at  Concord  disabled  two  twenty- 
four-pounders,  destroyed  their  two  carriages  and  seven 
wheels  for  the  same,  with  their  limbers  ;  sixteen  wheels  for 
brass  three-pounders,  and  two  carriages,  with  limber  and 
wheels  for  two  four-pounders  ;  five  hundred  pounds  of  ball 
thrown  into  the  river,  wells,  and  other  places ;  and  broke 
in  pieces  about  sixty  barrels  of  flour,  half  of  which  was 
saved.  Cannot  be  certain  of  the  number  that  were  killed. 
Apprehend,  upon  the  whole,  the  Regulars  had  more  than 
one  hundred  killed,  and  one  hundred  and  fifty  wounded, 
besides  about  fifty  taken  prisoners.  The  country  people 
had  about  forty  killed,  seven  or  eight  taken  prisoners,  and 
a  few  wounded. 

N.  B.  I  never  saw  the  printed  account  till  Monday,  so 
that  I  was  not  directed  by  it  in  any  of  my  inquiries  when 
at  Lexington  and  Concord.  The  General,  I  am  persuaded, 
gave  positive  orders  to  the  detachment  not  to  fire  first,  or  I 
am  wholly  mistaken  in  my  opinion  of  him.  The  prison- 
ers at  Worcester,  Concord,  and  Lexington,  all  agreed  in 
their  being  exceedingly  well  used.  "The  policy  of  the 
people  would  determine  them  thereto,  if  their  humanity 
did  not. 


Worcester,  May  17,  1775. 
A  great  number  of  that  arch  traitor  Hutchinson's  letters 
have  lately  fell  into  the  hands  of  our  people.  By  them 
is  discovered  the  diabolical  plans  that  have  been  laid  to 
enslave  this  Country,  and  show  to  the  world  what  an  inde- 
fatigable slave  he  has  been  to  his  masters  the  Ministry,  and 
their  grand  master  the  Devil.  These  letters  will,  undoubt- 
edly, be  soon  made  publick.  A  correspondent  at  Roxbury 
has  favoured  us  with  the  following  extract  from  one  of  them, 
to  General  CI  age,  then  at  New-  York  : 

«•  Boston,  July  23,  1771. 

"Sir:  I  have  the  honour  of  your  letter  of  the  15th. 
Yesterday  a  vessel  arrived,  which  left  London  on  the  24th 
of  May.  I  have  letters  to  the  22d.  Parliament  rose  the 
9th,  and  nothing  done  as  to  America.  I  send  you  a  pas- 
sage of  a  letter  from  Sir  Francis  Bernard.  1  have  the 
honour  to  be,  very  respectfully,  &c. 

"  Sir:  It  appears  to  me  to  be  a  matter  of  great  impor- 
tance to  His  Majesty's  general  service,  and  to  the  real  in- 
terest of  the  Colony,  that  the  discord  beginning  between 
New-York  and  us  should  be  encouraged.  I  wrote  some 
time  ago  to  Mr.  Colden  upon  this  subject,  but  he  rather 
declined  concerning  himself  in  it.  There  is  certainly  a 
strong  aversion,  which  nothing  but  the  confederacy  against 
Great  Britain  could  have  conquered.  This  has  too  much 
the  appearance  of  Machiavelian  policy  ;  but  it  is  justifi- 
able, as  it  has  the  most  obvious  tendency  to  save  the  Col- 
onies from  ruining  themselves,  as  well  as  distressing  the 
Mother  Country.  If  Pennsylvania  could  be  brought  to 
take  part  with  New-York,  I  think  the  business  would  be 
done.  I  must  beg  the  favour  of  you  not  to  suffer  this  letter 
to  come  under  any  other  than  your  own  observation.  I 
have  the  honour  to  be,"  &£C.  &.c. 


NORTH  BOROUGH   COMMITTEE   OF   CORRESPONDENCE  TO 
GENERAL  WARD. 

Northborough,  May  17,  1775. 
Sir:  We,  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  for  the 
Town  of  Northborough,  have  taken  into  our  custody  Mr. 
Ebenezer  Cutler,  late  of  Groton,  but  now  of  this  Town, 
who,  from  his  conduct,  appears  to  us  to  be  an  avowed  ene- 
my to  his  Country.  He  has  set  at  naught  and  despised  all 
the  Resolutions,  &,c.  of  the  Continental  and  Provincial 
Congresses,  and  also  utterly  refuses  to  act  in  any  defence 
of  his  now  perishing  Country  whatever ;  and  as  he  has,  from 
his  past  conduct,  ever  since  we  have  been  struggling  for  the 
liberties  of  our  Country,  appeared  in  the  eyes  of  the  pub- 
lick  to  be  aiding  and  abetting  in  defeating  the  plans  of  the 
good  people  of  this  Province,  and  has  been  riding  from 
one  part  of  this  Province  to  the  other,  and,  in  our  opinion, 
for  no  good  design,  we  think  it  highly  necessary  to  send 
him  to  the  Council  of  War,  to  know  whether  he  may  (as 
he  deserves)  have  a  pass  to  go  into  Boston.  We  also 
enclose  the  substance  of  two  evidences  concerning  said 
Cutler.    By  order  of  the  Committee  of  Correspondence : 

Gillam  Bass,  Clerk. 

To  the  Hon.  General  Artemas  Ward,  Esq.,  or  Council  of 
War  now  sitting  at  Cambridge. 

N.  B.  General  Ward,  we  apprehend,  is  well  acquainted 
with  the  character  and  conduct  of  said  Cutler. 


PORTSMOUTH  COMMITTEE  TO  NEW-HAMPSHIRE  CONGRESS. 

Portsmouth,  May  17,  1775. 

Sir  :  A  brig  from  Biddeford,  in  England,  arrived  this 
day,  the  master  of  which  has  just  been  with  the  Commit- 
tee, and  acquaints  them  that  his  orders  are  to  take  on  board 
six  masts,  of  about  sixteen  inches  diameter. 

We  are  informed  that  the  ship  lately  built  at  Casco  Bay, 
which  arrived  in  the  harbour  this  morning,  is  come  with 
the  intention  to  load  masts,  which  are  now  ready  for  her. 
The  opinion  of  the  Congress  touching  the  propriety  of 
shipping  the  masts,  is  desired  as  soon  as  may  be. 

We  have  heard  that  part  of  the  Troops  from  England 
arrived  yesterday  at  Boston.  I  am,  by  order  of  the  Com- 
mittee, Sir,  your  most  humble  servant, 

H.  Wentworth,  Chairman. 

To  the  President  of  the  Provincial  Congress,  at  Exeter. 


633 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


634 


NEWCASTLE   (DELAWARE)  COMMITTEE. 

Newcastle,  on  Delaware,  ss  : 

Whereas,  the  Committee  chosen  in  the  several  Hun- 
dreds of  the  County  of  Newcastle,  did,  at  their  meeting  on 
the  third  day  of  May  instant,  take  "  into  consideration  the 
present  distressed  and  defenceless  situation  of  the  inhabit- 
ants of  this  County,  and  the  unhappy  circumstances  of 
their  brethren  in  the  other  Colonies ;"  and  did  therefore 
"  resolve  unanimously,  that  a  sum  of  Money  be  imme- 
diately raised  for  establishing  a  fund  for  procuring  and  pro- 
viding the  necessary  means  for  our  and  their  protection  and 
support ;"  and  further,  "  that  the  sum  of  one  shilling  and 
six  pence  in  the  Pound,  be  collected  from  each  taxable  in- 
habitant in  the  County,  according  to  the  County  rate",  as 
well  estates  as  those  resident,  for  the  purposes  aforesaid," 
to  be  collected  by  the  members  of  the  said  Committee : 

And  whereas  the  said  Committee  have  found  a  difficulty 
in  collecting  the  said  Money:  We,  the  subscribers,  Jus- 
tices of  the  Peace  and  Grand  Jurymen  for  the  County 
aforesaid,  do  hereby  engage,  under  the  solemn  ties  of  vir- 
tue, honour,  and  love  of  our  Country,  that,  in  order  to 
remedy  the  inconvenience  which  the  Committee  aforesaid 
have  met  with  in  the  collection  of  the  said  Money,  we  and 
each  of  us  will,  at  the  Levy  Court  next  to  be  held  for  this 
County,  vote  for,  and  to  the  utmost  of  our  power  promote 
the  laying  a  Tax  of  one  shilling  and  six  pence  in  the 
Pound,  upon  the  "  taxables,  as  well  estates  as  those  resi- 
sident,"  in  this  County,  for  the  purposes  aforesaid,  in  addi- 
tion to  the  tax  which  may  be  necessary  for  the  current 
expenses  of  the  County  ;  out  of  which  additional  tax  all 
sums  of  money  already,  or  which  may  hereafter  be  paid  in 
compliance  with  the  said  Resolves  of  the  Committee,  are 
to  be  deducted,  and  credit  given  for  them  to  the  persons 
who  have  paid  or  may  pay  the  same,  respectively. 
Wilness  our  hands,  this  18th  day  of  May,  1775. 
George  Monroe,         John  Jones, 
Morton  Morton,         John  Evans, 
William  Hemphill,     Thomas  Cooch, 
Thomas  Kean,  David  Finney, 

George  Evans,  James  Latimer, 

William  Anderson,      R.  Cantwell, 
John  James,  John  Malcolm, 

Robert  Kirkwood,      George  Craghead, 
David  Howell,  John  Stapler, 

John  Hyatt,  William  Patterson, 

John  Taylor,  Samuel  Patterson, 

William  Read,  Thomas  McKim, 

William  Clark,  Grand  Jurymen. 

John  McKinley,  Chairman. 

It  being  found  quite  impracticable  to  raise  the  sums  of 
money  that  were  necessary  for  the  purposes  aforemention- 
ed, in  so  short  a  time  as  the  urgency  required,  in  the  usual 
legal  ways,  therefore  the  Committee  were  obliged  to  adopt 
the  aforegoing  method,  as  appearing  the  most  speedy,  ef- 
fectual, and  equitable  manner  of  raising  the  same ;  and  it 
is  hoped  that  all  lovers  of  their  Country  will  readily  pay 
their  several  quotas  to  the  Committee-men  of  their  respec- 
tive Hundreds,  who  have  undertaken  to  collect  the  same 
without  any  fees  or  commissions,  as  the  money  is  imme- 
diately wanted. 

Each  of  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  are  required 
to  be  diligent  in  collecting,  as  speedily  as  possible,  what 
money  has  been  subscribed  and  not  paid  towards  the  relief 
of  our  suffering  brethren  at  Boston,  and  to  apply  to  such 
as  have  not  before  contributed  to  their  support,  as  their 
situation  is  at  present  most  deplorable. 


few  minutes  for  their  affairs,  which  is  truly  a  business  of 
the  last  consequence  to  them,  threatening  them  with  no 
less  than  absolute  ruin. 

We  have  an  account  that  Lord  Dunmore  has  been 
obliged  to  abandon  his  Government ;  it  is  the  only  piece 
of  good  news  has  reached  us  since  the  disputes  with  Great 
Britain  took  so  serious  a  turn;  but  I  doubt  the  truth  of  it. 

The  Pittsburgh  Court  is  now  sitting ;  whether  they  do 
business  or  not,  1  have  not  heard.  The  proposition  for  the 
relief  of  Cavet  and  Hanna,  though  I  believe  it  practicable 
enough,  I  would  do  nothing  in  without  the  Governour's 
concurrence,  as  it  might  be  attended  with  serious  conse- 
quences. 

Yesterday  we  had  a  County  meeting,  and  have  come  to 
resolutions  to  arm  and  discipline,  and  have  formed  an  As- 
sociation, which  1  suppose  you  will  soon  see  in  the  papers. 
God  grant  an  end  may  be  speedily  put  to  any  necessity  for 
such  proceedings.  I  doubt  their  utility,  and  am  almost  as 
much  afraid  of  success  in  this  contest,  as  of  being  van- 
quished. 1  am,  with  much  respect,  dear  Sir,  your  most 
obedient  and  most  humble  servant, 

Ar.  St.  Clair. 
Joseph  Shippen,  Junior,  Philadelphia. 


ARTHUR  ST.  CLAIR  TO  JOSEPH  SHIPPEN,  JUN. 

Ligonier,  May  18,  1775. 
Dear  Sir:  I  yesterday  received  the  enclosed  letter  from 
Mr.  Cavet,  with  the  contents  of  which  I  request  you  will 
make  the  Governour  acquainted.  You  see  Hanna  and  he 
are  very  uneasy,  which  is  really  not  to  be  wondered  at,  as 
they  have  been  now  upwards  of  three  months  in  confine- 
ment, for  paying  obedience  to  his  Honour's  Proclamation, 
and  have  not  had  a  single  line  from  any  person  about  Gov- 
ernment, or  any  directions  how  to  conduct  themselves. 
The  Governour  in  these  times  must  be  occupied  by  objects 
of  much  greater  magnitude ;  but  I  wish  he  could  spare  a 


NEWARK   (NEW-JERSEY)  COMMITTEE. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  General  Committee  of  Association 
for  the  Township  of  Newark,  in  New-Jersey,  on  Thurs- 
day, the  18th  day  of  May,  1775: 

The  Committee  taking  into  consideration  the  Resolu- 
tions of  the  Committees  of  Netv-  York  and  other  Prov- 
inces, relative  to  the  suspension  of  all  exportation  to  Qjit- 
beck,  Nova-Scotia,  Georgia,  and  Newfoundland,  or  any 
part  of  the  Fishing  Coasts  and  Fishing  Islands  ;  and  highly 
approving  the  same,  do  resolve  that  it  be  recommended  to 
the  gentlemen  Traders  of  this  Town,  that  they  stop  all  ex- 
portations  to  the  said  places ;  and  also  to  our  constituents 
in  general,  that  they  do  not  supply  any  person  whatsoever 
with  any  kind  of  Exports,  which  they  have  reason  to  be- 
lieve are  designed  for  either  of  those  places,  nor  any  of  the 
King's  ships  or  boats  with  provisions  clandestinely  ;  nor  in 
any  manner  whatsoever  that  may  counteract  any  Resolu- 
tions that  have  been  made  by  the  Committee  of  Neic- 
York.    By  order  of  the  Committee : 

Lewis  Ogden,  Chairman. 


INSTRUCTIONS  TO  DELEGATES  FROM  NEWARK  IN  CONGRESS 
OF  NEW-JERSEY. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  General  Committee  of  Association 
held  at  Newark,  the  18th  day  of  May,  1775: 

The  following  Instructions  to  Isaac  Ogden  and  Philip 
Van  Cortlandt,  Esquires,  Messrs.  Bethuel  Pierson  and  Ca- 
leb Camp,  the  Deputies  elected  to  represent  said  Town  in 
Provincial  Congress,  were  unanimously  agreed  on  : 

Gentlemen  :  The  great,  the  important  crisis  which  will 
determine  the  fate  of  America,  seems  hastily  approaching  ; 
a  crisis  in  which  not  only  you,  the  fond  wives  of  your 
bosoms,  the  infants  of  your  tenderest  solicitude ;  but  mil- 
lions of  your  posterity  yet  unborn,  and  every  thing  that  is 
near  and  dear  to  you,  worthy  your  wish,  or  meriting  your 
care,  are  deeply  interested ;  a  crisis  which  will  decide 
whether  this  Continent  shall  be  governed  by  the  unlimited 
will  of  a  Senate  in  which  it  has  no  voice ;  by  a  power 
without  the  right,  over  which  it  can  have  no  influence  or 
control ;  whether  it  shall  be  forever  bound  in  wretched, 
relentless  chains  of  slavery,  or  whether  the  glorious  sun  of 
constitutional  liberty  shall  still  enlighten  this  horizon,  and 
permanently  shine,  unclouded  with  the  tainted  breath  of 
despotism. 

To  you,  gentlemen,  is  delegated  by  the  inhabitants  of 
this  Town  one  of  the  most  important  trusts  in  their  power, 
which  nothing  less  than  tyrant  necessity  could  have  urged 
them  to  grant,  or  you  to  accept ;  a  necessity  which,  with 
hearts  glowing  with  affection,  overflowing  with  loyalty  to 
our  Sovereign,  we  unfeignedly  lament. 

We  need  not,  we  mean  not,  gentlemen,  to  wish  you  ad- 
ditional firmness  in  the  common  cause  ;  your  being  chosen 
to  this  trust  sufficiently  approves  your  principles  and  steady 
regard  to  the  duties,  the  great  interests  of  your  delegation  ; 
nor  need  we  advise  that  you  carry  with  you  that  spirit  of 


635 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  he,  MAY,  1775. 


636 


harmony,  that  firmness  with  moderation,  which  we  are 
happy  to  say  animates  this  part  of  the  Province ;  and  as 
we  have  the  pleasure  and  reason  to  expect  that  the  interests 
of  the  general  weal,  on  constitutional  ground,  will  he  the 
constant  line  of  your  conduct ;  that  you  will  keep  this  goal 
steadily  in  view ;  so  wc  do  not  wish  to  bind  you  with  an 
embarrassing  chain  of  restrictions,  much  less  do  we  pre- 
sume to  dictate  measures  to  the  Provincial  Congress ;  but 
shall  only  lay  before  you  some  outlines  of  a  plan  which  we 
desire  you  to  propose  to  the  wisdom  of  that  Convention. 

Money  has  been  aptly  called  the  sinews  of  war ;  so  may 
it  also  the  anima  that  enlivens,  that  braces  and  gives  firm- 
ness to  the  nerves  of  our  Constitution.  In  the  alarming 
exigency  rising  before  us,  there  will  probably  be  occasion 
for  a  publick  fund  ;  and  we  could  wish,  as  the  whole  Prov- 
ince is  equally  interested,  that  the  burden  should  be  also 
equal.  We  conceive,  when  the  necessary  sum  is  fixed  by 
the  Congress,  that  the  present  Quota  Bill,  by  which  the 
proportion  of  taxes  in  the  several  Counties  for  the  support 
of  Government,  he,  has  been  ascertained,  will  be  a  just 
scale  to  regulate  the  present  occasion  ;  and  perhaps  the 
Assessors  and  Collectors  in  the  several  Townships  may,  in 
general,  be  proper  persons  to  conduct  the  like  business, 
leaving  it  in  the  option  of  such  Towns  as  may  incline  to 
make  a  special  choice  of  new  officers  for  this  purpose. 

We  consider  it  advisable  that  a  certain  number  of  men 
be  immediately  raised,  disciplined,  well  accoutred  with 
arms  and  ammunition,  and  prepared  in  every  respect  for  an 
instant  service. 

That  as  men  who  go  volunteers  will  be  most  likely  to 
be  hearty  in  the  service,  and  the  disagreeable  measure  of 
draughting  from  the  Militia  may  thereby  be  prevented,  a 
roll  be  opened  in  every  Town  where  it  can  be  advanta- 
geously, for  the  enlistment  of  Volunteers,  to  be  prepared 
as  above-mentioned,  for  every  emergency  ;  that  the  Con- 
gress appoint  the  commandant  and  all  the  field-officers,  and 
that  the  General  Committees  of  those  Towns  where  any 
company  or  companies  shall  be  raised,  have  the  appoint- 
ment of  the  Captains  and  subalterns;  that  one  or  more 
proper  persons  be  empowered  by  the  Congress  to  sign  and 
affix  a  pioper  seal  to  the  commissions,  agreeable  to  such 
appointment ;  that  the  Volunteers,  on  their  enlistment,  sub- 
scribe certain  articles,  to  oblige  themselves,  under  certain 
penalties,  (to  be  ascertained  by  the  Congress,  similar  to 
the  Mutiny  Bill,  if  thought  proper,)  to  be  obedient  to  their 
officers,  and  to  prevent  desertion  ;  that  proper  persons  be 
appointed  for  a  Treasurer  of  said  fund,  and  for  a  Paymas- 
ter-General, giving  the  necessary  security,  he ;  that  the 
pay  for  the  officers  and  men  be  fixed  by  the  Congress  ; 
and  that  the  said  Volunteers,  from  the  day  of  their  enlist- 
ment, be  in  discipline  at  least  so  much  time  as  may  amount 
to  one  day  in  a  week ;  and  also  such  further  time,  not  ex- 
ceeding   days  in  the  whole,  per  week,  as  shall  be 

judged  expedient  by  the  said  General  Committees;  that 
sufficient  arms  and  ammunition  for  such  Volunteers  as  are 
unable  to  furnish  themselves  therewith,  and  provisions  for 
emergent  occasions,  be  provided  ;  and  that  every  Volunteer 
entrusted  with  the  arms,  he,  belonging  to  the  Province, 
be  obligated  to  return  them  to  the  Commanding  Officer, 
when  called  for,  except  such  as  may  be  lost  in  the  service, 
&.c.  ;  that  magazines  of  powder  and  other  necessary  mili- 
tary stores  be  formed  in  such  parts  of  the  Province  as  shall 
be  judged  most  advantageous  for  emergencies ;  that  Com- 
missioners be  appointed  to  direct  and  regulate  any  contin- 
gent business  which  cannot  be  ascertained  with  precision  by 
the  Congress  ;  that  Muster-Masters  be  appointed  to  review 
the  companies,  and  to  take  care  that  none  but  able-bodied 
men  be  continued  on  the  rolls  ;  nor  any  apprentice  or  servant 
enlisted,  without  his  master's  consent  in  writing  ;  that  a  pro- 
per number  of  field-pieces  be  provided,  and  one  or  more 
Artillery  Companies  raised  and  disciplined.  As  exigencies 
may  happen  which  may  require  a  greater  force  than  the  num- 
ber of  Volunteers  to  be  raised  as  aforesaid,  that  the  Congress 
recommend  it  to  the  Militia  Captains  throughout  the  Prov- 
ince to  procure  such  persons  as  are  capable  of  teaching 
military  discipline,  to  be  paid  out  of  the  publick  fund  ;  and 

that  their  men  be  exercised  at  least  times  per  week  ; 

that  it  be  recommended  by  the  Congress  to  the  several 
Towns  or  Counties  throughout  the  Province,  who  have  not 
already  done  it,  to  appoint  General  Committees  to  enter 
into  and  subscribe  an  Association  of  similar  import  to  that 


adopted  by  this  County.  We  are,  gentlemen,  your  hum- 
ble servants.    By  order  of  the  Committee : 

Lewis  Ogden,  Chairman. 


NEW-YORK  COMMITTEE. 

The  Committee  met  Thursday,  the  18th  of  May,  1775. 
Present : 

Isaac  Low,  Victor  Bicker,  Cornelius  Clopper, 

P.  V.  B.  Livingston,    John  White,  John  Reade, 

Alex.  McDougall,  Theophilus  Anthony,  John  Van  Cortlandt, 

Thomas  Randall,  William  Goforth,  Gerardus  Duyckinck, 

Leonard  Lispenard,  Comfort  Sands,  Peter  Goclet, 

William  Walton,  Robert  Benson,  Thomas  Marston, 

John  Broome,  William  W.  Gilbert,  Jacobus  Lefferts, 

Joseph  Hallett,  John  Berrian,  Richard  Sharpe, 

Gabriel  H.  Ludlow,  Gabriel  W.  Ludlow,  Hamilton  Young, 

Nicholas  Roosevelt,  Edward  Fleming,  Abram.  BrinkerhofF, 

Nicholas  Hoffman,  John  De  Lancey,  Benjamin  Holme, 

Abraham  Walton,  Frederick  Jay,  Walter  Franklin, 

Peter  Van  Schaack,  William  W.  Ludlow,  Evert  Banker, 

Henry  Remsen,  John  B.  Moore,  Robert  Ray, 

Peter  T.  Curtenius,  John  Lasher,  Nicholas  Bogart, 

Abraham  Brasher,  George  Janeway,  William  Laight, 

Abraham  P.  Lott,  Jamus  Beekraan,  John  Lamb, 

Abraham  Duryee,  Samuel  Verplanck,  Anthony  Van  Dam, 

Joseph  Totten,  Richard  Yates,  Daniel  Dunscomb, 

Thomas  Ivers,  Augustus  Van  Home,  John  Imlay, 

Hercules  Mulligan,  Gcrret  Kettletas,  Oliver  Templcton, 

John  Anthony,  Benjamin  Kissam,  Thomas  Buchannan. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  JValton,  Colonel  Tjispenard . 
Colonel  Beelcman,  Major  Van  Dam,  Mr.  Brasher,  Mr. 
Lasher,  Mr.  Fleming,  and  Mr.  Curtenius,  be  a  Committee 
for  instituting  a  Military  Night  Watch  in  this  City,  to  con- 
sist of  forty  men,  each  with  an  officer  to  command  them, 
and  that  they  report  the  mode  to  this  Committee  with  all 
convenient  speed. 

Ordered,  That  the  following  Letter  be  immediately 
despatched  to  his  Honour  the  Governour  of  Cormecticut, 
to  wit : 

New-York,  May  18,  1775. 
Sir  :  As  we  have  great  reason  to  expect  the  arrival  of 
Troops  from  Britain,  to  be  quartered  in  this  Province,  we 
thought  it  a  necessary  piece  of  precaution  to  ask  of  the  Con- 
tinental Congress  a  line  of  conduct  for  our  inhabitants  on  that 
event.  We  have  received  their  directions  on  that  head,  as 
appears  by  the  enclosed.  We  have  also  been  informed  that 
our  brethren  of  Connecticut,  attentive  to  the  common  cause, 
and  kindly  tendering  the  safety  of  this  City  in  its  present 
defenceless  state,  are  upon  the  point  of  marching  a  con- 
siderable body  of  Troops  into  it  with  intent  to  assist  us  in 
securing  it  against  any  attempt  to  reduce  it  to  the  condition 
of  a  garrison-town  or  place  of  arms.  We  have  on  this  head 
to  request  your  Honour,  should  those  Troops  be  about  to 
march,  to  direct  their  encampment  on  the  Western  fron- 
tiers of  your  Colony,  if  your  Honour  should  think  it  expe- 
dient they  should  proceed  so  far,  until  some  plan  can  be 
properly  settled  with  our  Provincial  Congress,  who  are  to 
meet  on  the  22d  instant,  so  as  to  place  their  introduction, 
if  necessary,  on  such  a  basis  as  will  produce  perfect  con- 
cord and  unanimity,  and  most  effectually  answer  the  valu- 
able ends  of  so  friendly  a  succour. 

To  His  Honour  Jonathan  Trumbull,  Esquire. 
Directions  for  a  Military  Watch  in  the  City  of  New- 

YoRK. 

First.  That  a  guard  be  mounted  every  evening  at  eight 
o'clock,  at  the  City-Hall,  consisting  of  not  less  than  fortv 
men  properly  officered. 

Second.  That  detachments  be  made  from  the  said  guard 
to  patrole  the  streets  every  two  hours,  under  the  command 
of  a  non-commissioned  officer,  accompanied  by  a  constable 
or  other  civil  officer,  who  may  be  directed  by  a  Magistrate 
to  attend  from  nine  o'clock  in  the  evening  until  five  o'clock 
in  the  morning. 

Third.  That  they  pay  particular  attention  that  no  Pro- 
visions be  exported  from  this  City;  and  if  any  persons  are 
discovered  exporting  Provisions  contrary  to  the  Resolves 
of  this  Committee,  to  take  particular  notice  of  them,  and 
endeavour,  by  persuasion  and  other  peaceable  methods,  to 
prevent  it,  and  that  they  make  a  report  thereof. 

Fourth.  That  the  patroles  do  not  challenge  persons, 
boats,  he,  but  watch  their  motions,  if  suspected,  and  by 
all  means  endeavour  to  prevent  outrage  on  person  or  pro- 
perty, and  report  the  perpetrators. 


637 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


638 


Fifth.  That  no  unnecessary  and  wanton  alarm  be  given 
to  our  fellow-citizens,  either  by  filing  of  guns,  beating  of 
drums,  or  otherwise,  in  the  night,  but  that  all  their  opera- 
tions be  conducted  with  that  manly  prudence  and  discre- 
tion becoming  citizens  zealous  to  support  their  freedom 
without  tumult  and  disorder. 

Sixth.  That  the  commanding  officer  of  the  guard  dis- 
miss his  guard  at  five  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  report  in 
writing  by  ten  o'clock,  to  the  Chairman,  Deputy,  or  Chair- 
man pro  tempore,  all  extraordinary  occurrences  which  may 
have  happened  during  the  time  of  his  being  on  duty,  signed 
by  himself.  Abm.  Brasher,  Edward  Fleming, 

John  Lasher,    Alex.  McDougall. 

At  a  special  meeting  of  the  Committee,  19th  of  May 
1775: 

The  Chairman  produced  a  Letter  delivered  him  by  his 
Worship  the  Mayor,  in  answer  to  a  Resolution  of  yester- 
day, requesting  him  to  furnish  Captain  Montague  with  a 
copy  of  Charles  Murray's  Affidavit. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Scott,  Mr.  Kissam,  Mr.  Van  Schaack, 
Mr.  Hclme,  Mr.  Jones,  Mr.  Ritzma,  Mr.  Murray,  and  Mr. 
Smith,  be  a  Committee  to  inquire  into  the  merits  of  Cap- 
tain Montague's  plea  for  having  seized  the  Powder,  &c, 
on  board  of  Captain  Murray's  Vessel,  and  report  their 
opinion  thereon  to  the  Committee  at  their  next  meeting. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee,  May  20, 1775.  Present 
forty-six  Members. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Van  Dam,  Mr.  Burling,  Mr.  Tot- 
ten,  and  Mr.  Laight,  be  a  Committee  to  form  an  estimate 
of  what  Stores  may  be  necessary  to  forward  to  Albany. 

Mr.  Charles  McEvers  exhibited  a  complaint  in  writing 
against  Mr.  John  Anderson. 

A  Letter  from  the  Continental  Congress,  dated  May 
18,  1775,  enclosing  a  Resolve  of  that  Board,  was  received 
and  read. 

Mr.  McDougall  reported  the  draft  of  a  Letter  to  the 
Committee  at  Albany,  which  being  approved  of, 
Ordered,  That  the  same  be  forwarded. 


COMMITTEE  OF  PALATINE  DISTRICT,  TRYON  COUNTY,  NEW- 
YORK,  TO  THE  ALBANY  COMMITTEE. 

May  18,  1775. 

We  are  so  peculiarly  circumstanced  in  this  County,  re- 
lating to  the  present  struggle  for  American  liberty,  that  we 
cannot  longer  defer  laying  the  situation  of  this  County 
before  you.  The  District  we  represent  has  been  foremost 
in  avowing  its  attachment  to  liberty,  and  approving  the 
method  of  opposition  adopted  in  America,  and  are  now 
signing  an  Association  similar  to  what  has  been  signed  in 
other  Counties  in  this  Province,  and  we  hope  in  a  few 
days  to  have  I  he  pleasure  to  transmit  it  down  for  the  press. 
The  County  being  extensive,  it  takes  a  considerable  time 
before  the  people  who  are  favourable  to  the  cause  can  be 
got  to  sign  ;  for  we  have  caused  copies  of  the  Association 
to  be  dispersed  in  divers  parts  of  the  County.  This 
County  has,  for  a  series  of  years,  been  ruled  by  one  family, 
the  different  branches  of  which  are  still  strenuous  in  dis- 
suading people  from  coming  into  Congressional  measures, 
and  even  have,  last  week,  at  a  numerous  meeting  of  the 
Mohawk  District,  appeared  with  all  their  dependants  armed 
to  oppose  the  people  considering  of  their  grievances ;  their 
number  being  so  large,  and  the  people  unarmed,  struck 
terrour  into  most  of  them,  and  they  dispersed.  We  are 
informed  that  Johnson-Hall  is  fortifying  by  placing  a  parcel 
of  swivel-guns  round  the  same,  and  that  Colonel  Johnson 
has  had  parts  of  his  regiment  of  Militia  under  arms  yes- 
terday, no  doubt  with  a  design  to  prevent  the  friends  of 
liberty  from  publishing  their  attachment  to  the  cause  to  the 
world.  Besides  which  we  are  told  that  about  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  Highlanders,  (Roman  Catholicks,)  in  and 
about  Johnstown,  are  armed  and  ready  to  march  upon  the 
like  occasion.  We  have  been  informed  that  Colonel  John- 
son has  stopped  two  New-England 'ers,  and  searched  them, 
being,  we  suppose,  suspicious  that  they  came  to  solicit  aid 
from  us  or  the  Indians,  whom  we  dread  most,  there  being 
a  current  report  through  the  County  that  they  are  to  be 
made  use  of  in  keeping  us  in  awe. 


We  recommend  it  strongly  and  seriously  to  you  to  take 
it  in  your  consideration,  whether  any  powder  and  ammu- 
nition ought  to  be  permitted  to  be  sent  up  this  way,  unless 
it  is  done  under  the  inspection  of  the  Committee,  and  con- 
signed to  the  Committee  here,  and  for  such  particular  shop- 
keepers as  we  in  our  next  shall  acquaint  you  of.  We  are 
determined  to  suffer  none  in  our  District  to  sell  any  but 
such  as  we  approve  of,  and  sign  the  Association.  When 
any  thing  particular  comes  to  our  knowledge  relating  to  the 
Indians,  (whom  we  shall  watch,)  or  any  other  thing  inter- 
esting, we  shall  take  the  earliest  opportunity  in  communi- 
cating the  same  to  you.  And  as  we  are  a  young  County, 
remote  from  the  Metropolis,  we  beg  you  will  give  us  all 
the  intelligence  in  your  power.  We  shall  not  be  able  to 
send  down  any  Deputies  to  the  Provincial  Congress,  as  we 
cannot  possibly  obtain  the  sense  of  the  County  soon  enough 
to  make  it  worth  our  while  to  send  any,  but  be  assured  we 
are  not  the  less  attached  to  American  liberty.  For  we 
are  determined,  although  few  in  number,  to  let  the  world 
see  who  are,  and  who  are  not  such  :  and  to  wipe  off  the 
indelible  disgrace  brought  on  us  by  the  Declaration  signed 
by  our  Grand  Jury  and  some  of  our  Magistrates,  who,  in 
general,  are  considered  by  the  majority  of  the  County  as 
enemies  to  their  Country.  In  a  word,  gentlemen,  it  is  our 
fixed  resolution  to  support  and  carry  into  execution  every 
thing  recommended  by  the  Continental  Congress,  and  to 
be  free  or  die. 


COLONEL  GUY  JOHNSON  TO  THE  COMMITTEE  OF  SCHE- 
NECTADY, NEW-YORK. 

Guy  Park,  May  18,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  We  have,  for  some  days  past,  heard  of  many 
threats  from  the  publick,  that  gives  us  reason  to  apprehend 
that  the  persons  or  properties  of  gentlemen  of  the  first 
consideration,  both  with  respect  to  station  and  property, 
would  have  been  insulted  in  this  County,  and  myself  in 
particular,  under  colour  of  a  gross  and  notorious  falsehood, 
uttered  by  some  worthless  scoundrels,  respecting  my  inten- 
tions as  Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs.  To  gentle- 
men of  sense  and  moderation,  these  malicious,  ill-founded 
charges  ought  to  be  self-evidently  false  ;  my  duty  is  to  pro- 
mote peace,  and  my  office  of  the  highest  importance  to  the 
trade  and  frontiers.  But  as  these  reports  are  daily  in- 
creasing, it  becomes  me,  both  as  a  subject  and  a  man,  to 
disavow  them,  and  until  I  can  find  out  and  chastise  the 
author,  to  assure  the  publick  of  their  mistake,  and  to  in- 
form them  that  it  has  rendered  it  my  duty  for  self-preser- 
vation so  necessary,  that  1  have  taken  precaution  to  give 
a  very  hot  and  disagreeable  reception  to  any  persons  that 
shall  attempt  to  invade  my  retreat;  at  the  same  time  that 
I  have  no  intention  to  disturb  those  who  choose  to  permit 
me  the  honest  exercise  of  my  reason  and  duties  of  my 
office,  and  requesting  that  you  will  immediately  cause  this 
to  be  made  publick  to  the  Albany  Committee,  I  remain, 
gentlemen,  your  very  humble  servant,       G.  Johnson. 


AUTHENTICK  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  TAKING  OF  FORTRESSES  AT 
TICONDEROGA  AND  CROWN  POINT,  BY  A  PARTY  OF  THE 
CONNECTICUT  FORCES. 

New-York,  May  18,  1775. 
Captain  Edward  Mott  and  Captain  Noah  Phelps  set  out 
from  Hartford  on  Saturday,  the  twenty-ninth  of  April, 
in  order  to  take  possession  of  the  fortress  of  Ticonderoga, 
and  the  dependencies  thereunto  belonging.  They  took  with 
them  from  Connecticut  sixteen  men  unarmed,  and  marched 
privately  through  the  country  till  they  came  to  Pittsfield, 
without  discovering  their  design  to  any  person,  till  they  fell 
in  company  with  Colonel  Ethan  Allen,  Colonel  Easton, 
and  John  Brown,  Esq.,  who  engaged  to  join  themselves  to 
said  Mott  and  Phelps,  and  to  raise  men  sufficient  to  take 
the  place  by  surprise  if  possible.  Accordingly  the  men 
were  raised,  and  proceeded  as  directed  by  said  Mott  and 
Phelps,  Colonel  Ethan  Allen  commanding  the  soldiery. 
On  Tuesday  they  surprised  and  took  the  fortress,  making 
prisoners  the  commandant  and  his  party.  On  Wednesday 
morning  they  possessed  themselves  of  Crown  Point ;  taking 
possession  of  the  ordnance  stores,  consisting  of  upwards  of 
two  hundred  pieces  of  cannon,  three  mortars,  sundry  how- 
itzers, and  fifty  swivels,  &tc. 


639 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  kc,  MAY,  17:5. 


640 


Ethan  Allen,  fearful  of  an  attempt  from  Governour  Car- 
Icton  to  retake  the  place,  lias  written  to  the  Committee  of 
Albany  for  a  supply  of  five  hundred  men  and  provisions; 
the  Committee,  however,  not  perceiving  themselves  com- 
petent to  determine  on  a  matter  of  so  much  importance, 
requested  the  advice  of  our  General  Committee,  who  re- 
ferred them,  and  immediately  despatched  an  express,  to  the 
Congress  now  sitting  in  Philadelphia. 


ETHAN  ALLEN  TO  THE  MERCHANTS  OF  MONTREAL. 

St.  John's,  May  18,  1775. 

Gentlemen:  1  have  the  pleasure  to  acquaint  you  that 
Lakes  George  and  Champlain,  with  the  fortresses,  artillery, 
&.c,  particularly  the  armed  sloop  of  George  the  Third, 
with  all  water  carriages  of  these  Lakes,  are  now  in  posses- 
sion of  the  Colonies.  I  expect  the  English  Merchants,  as 
well  as  all  virtuous  disposed  gentlemen,  will  be  in  the  inte- 
rest of  the  Colonies.  The  advanced  guard  of  the  Army 
is  now  at  St.  Johns,  and  desire  immediately  to  have  a  per- 
sonal intercourse  with  you.  Your  immediate  assistance  as 
to  provisions,  ammunition,  and  spirituous  liquors,  is  wanted 
and  forthwith  expected,  not  as  a  donation,  for  I  am  em- 
powered by  the  Colonies  to  purchase  the  same;  and  I  desire 
you  would  forthwith,  and  without  further  notice,  prepare 
for  the  use  of  the  Army  those  articles  to  the  amount  of 
five  hundred  Pounds,  and  deliver  the  same  to  me  at  St. 
Joint's,  or  at  least  a  part  of  it  almost  instantaneously,  as 
the  soldiers  press  on  faster  than  provisions.  I  need  not 
inform  you  that  my  directions  from  the  Colonies  are  not  to 
contend  with,  or  any  way  injure  or  molest  the  Canadians 
or  Indians;  but,  on  the  other  hand,  treat  them  with  the 
greatest  friendship  and  kindness.  You  will  be  pleased  to 
communicate  the  same  to  them,  and  some  of  you  immedi- 
ately visit  me  at  this  place,  while  others  are  active  in  de- 
livering the  provisions. 

I  write  in  haste,  and  am,  gentlemen,  your  obedient  hum- 
ble servant,  Ethan  Allen. 
To  Mr.  James  Morrison  and  the  Merchants  that  are  friendly 

to  the  cause  of  liberty  in  Montreal. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  THE   CAMP  AT  CAMBRIDGE, 
DATED  MAY  18,  1775. 

We  hear  from  Hali  fax  that  the  people  have  at  last  shewn 
they  have  spirit.  It  seems  the  agents  for  procuring  forage 
for  the  expected  regiment  of  Dragoons  had  taken,  without 
the  consent  of  the  owner,  and  were  shipping  for  Boston,  a 
great  quantity  of  hay,  on  which  the  people  set  fire  to,  and 
wholly  destroyed  it.  And  when  that  work  was  finished, 
they  attempted  the  like  by  the  King's  Magazines,  which 
they  several  times  filed,  but  they  were  extinguished  by  the 
people  from  the  ships-of-war  lying  there,  who  made  a  brisk 
fire  on  the  people,  and  prevented  them  from  effecting  their 
design.    The  fugitives  from  Boston  are  gone  for  Halifax, 

but  the  people  say  no  d  d  Tories  shall  be  allowed  to 

breathe  in  their  air,  so  that  these  devils  can't  find  a  resting 
place  there,  which  was  the  only  place  on  the  Continent 
that  they  ever  dared  to  hope  they  might  stay  in. 


COLONEL  STARK  TO  THE  NEW- HAMPSHIRE  CONGRESS. 

Mcdford,  May  18,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  About  the  twenty-ninth  of  April  last,  a 
Committee  sent  from  Provincial  Congress  of  the  Province 
of  New- Hampshire  to  the  Provincial  Congress  of  the  Prov- 
ince of  Massachusetts-Bay ,  having  discretionary  instruc- 
tions from  said  Congress,  advised  to  raise  a  Regiment  from 
the  Province  of  Neiv-Hampshire  as  soon  as  possible,  under 
the  Constitution  and  establishment  of  the  Massachusetts- 
Bay,  but  to  be  deemed  as  part  of  the  quota  of  men  of 
the  Province  of  New-Hampshire,  and  that  New-Hampshire 
Congress  would  establish  said  measures.  In  consequence 
of  which,  a  number  of  officers  of  the  Province  of  New- 
Hampshire  convened,  and  made  choice  of  their  field-offi- 
cers for  said  Regiment,  who  have  raised  the  same,  fifty-four 
of  whom  are  now  present  at  Mcdford,  exclusive  of  drum- 
mers and  fifers,  and  the  remainder  are  hourly  expected  ; 
and  as  a  great  number  of  those  already  here  (who  expect- 
ed, when  they  enlisted,  to  draw  arms  from  the  Provincial 
stocks)  are  destitute  of  the  same,  and  cannot  be  furnished, 


(as  no  arms  are  to  be  procured  here  at  present,)  must 
inevitably  return  from  whence  they  came,  unless  they  are 
supplied  from  some  quarter  speedily.  I  humbly  pray  that 
you  would  maturely  consider  our  defenceless  situation,  and 
adopt  some  measure  or  measures  whereby  they  may  be 
equipped.  In  confidence  of  your  immediate  compliance 
with  the  above  request,  I  am,  in  the  Country's  common 
cause,  your  most  obedient  and  devoted  humble  servant, 

John  Stark. 

N.  B.  The  gentleman  who  presents  this  to  the  Conven- 
tion, can  give  you  particular  information  as  to  our  present 
situation. 


ADDRESS  OF  THE  NEW- HAMPSHIRE  CONGRESS  TO  GOVERN- 
OUR WENTWORTH. 

May  it  jjlease  your  Excellency  : 

Governour  Gage,  in  a  letter  to  the  Earl  of  Dartmouth, 
dated  27th  January,  1775,  informed  the  British  Ministry 
that  your  Excellency  had  applied  to  him  for  two  Regiments 
of  the  British  Troops,  to  be  stationed  at  Portsmouth ;  and 
as  it  evidently  appears,  at  this  alarming  period,  that  the 
British  Troops  are  ministerial  tools,  sent  to  America  to 
endeavour  to  enforce  unconstitutional  and  tyrannical  Acts 
of  the  British  Parliament,  by  fire,  sword,  and  famine,  and 
as  we  humbly  conceive  it  is  your  Excellency's  duty,  in 
your  political  capacity,  to  guard  and  defend  the  lives,  liberty, 
and  properties  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  Province,  your 
Excellency's  sending  for  Troops  to  destroy  the  lives,  liber- 
ties, and  properties  you  have  solemnly  engaged  to  defend 
and  protect,  conveys  to  our  minds  such  shocking  ideas,  that 
we  shall  rejoice  to  find  what  is  represented  to  be  fact  in 
said  letter,  to  be  farce.  But  as  we  have  such  information, 
duty  to  ourselves  and  constituents,  obliges  us  humbly  to 
desire  your  Excellency  to  give  us  such  evidence  as  will 
enable  us  to  know  and  inform  our  constituents  what  to 
expect. 

We  are,  &ec.,  Sz.c. 


CAROLINE  COUNTY  (VIRGINIA)  COMMITTEE. 

At  a  Committee  held  for  the  County  of  Caroline,  on 
Friday,  the  nineteenth  of  May,  1775,  the  Committee 
having  taken  into  their  most  serious  consideration  his  Ex- 
cellency Lord  Dunmore's  Letter,  dated  the  twenty-fourth 
of  December  last,  to  Lord  Dartmouth,  His  Majesty's  Sec- 
retary of  State  for  the  American  Department ;  also  his 
Lordship's  Proclamation,  and  a  Letter  wrote  by  a  certain 
Captain  Montague  to  the  Honourable  Thomas  Nelson,  Esq., 
(which  were  severally  published  in  the  Gazettes,)  think  it 
their  indispensable  duty  to  remonstrate  against  the  illiberal 
aspersions  which  are  most  injuriously  thrown  out  against 
our  constituents,  as  part  of  the  community,  and  also  to  de- 
clare our  abhorrence  of  the  brutal  disposition  that  dictated 
the  menaces  contained  in  the  said  Montague's  Letter: 
Therefore,  Resolved, 

1st.  That  his  Lordship's  Letter,  if  founded  on  the  infor- 
mation of  others,  fully  evinces  to  us  their  unfriendly  and 
inimical  disposition  towards  this  Country,  and  his  wishes  to 
perpetuate  the  unhappy  dispute  between  Great  Britain 
and  America,  which  we  so  fervently  and  ardently  desire  to 
terminate  on  constitutional  principles.  We  cannot  forbear 
adverting  to  that  part  of  his  Lordship's  Letter,  where  he 
asserts  that  armed  Companies  in  some  Counties  are  formed, 
and  sworn  to  enforce  the  order  of  the  Committees  directly 
in  open  defiance  of  the  legal  prerogative  of  the  Crown. 
Such  proceedings  as  these,  we  are  apprehensive,  never  had 
existence,  or  we  should  have  had  as  early  intelligence  of 
them  as  his  Lordship. 

2d.  That  diat  part  of  his  Lordship's  Proclamation  w  here- 
in he  charges  some  persons  with  being  disaffected  to  His 
Majesty's  Government,  and  endeavouring  to  effect  a  change 
in  it,  under  the  appearance  of  defending  their  liberties,  con- 
tains an  accusation  totally  groundless,  and  cannot  be  meetly 
applied  to  the  people  of  this  Colony,  who  ever  were,  and 
in  future  wish  to  be,  distinguished  for  their  loyalty  to  our 
most  gracious  Sovereign,  whom  we  sincerely  pray  may  ever 
enjoy  his  reign  in  peace,  happiness,  and  glory.  We  think 
ourselves  extremely  ill-treated  by  his  Lordship,  while  we 
are  aiming  to  preserve  that  liberty  and  freedom  which  the 
God  of  nature  originally  gave,  and  our  ancestors  have 


64: 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


642 


handed  down  to  us,  to  be  charged  with  disaffection  to  His 
Majesty's  Government.  On  a  review  of  li is  Lordship's 
conduct,  we  cannot  avoid  suspecting  his  design  in  removing 
the  gunpowder  (more  especially  in  the  night)  was  rather 
to  deprive  this  Colony  of  it,  than  to  be  used  for  suppress- 
ing any  insurrection. 

3d.  That  Captain  Montague's  threat  of  firing  upon  the 
defenceless  Town  of  York,  bespeaks  such  a  base  and  dia- 
bolical disposition,  that  he  ought  to  be  contemned  and  de- 
spised by  all  men  of  spirit  and  humanity.  We  therefore 
recommend  it  to  our  constituents,  not  to  show  the  said 
Montague  any  mark  of  civility  or  respect  whatsoever. 

Samuel  Hawes,  Jr.,  Clerk. 


TO  THE  INHABITANTS  OF  VIRGINIA. 

Williamsburgh,  May  19,  1775. 

There  are  few  attempts  in  life  so  unlikely  to  give  uni- 
versal satisfaction  as  those  that  are  brought  before  the  all- 
scrutinizing  eye  of  the  publick;  for  although  a  man  be  so 
fortunate  as  to  please  some,  he  may,  on  the  other  hand, 
offend  many.  And  there  are  few  men,  possessed  of  a  tole- 
rable knowledge  of  men  and  manners,  but  what  must  be, 
on  the  least  attentive  consideration,  assured  of  the  truth  of 
this  thesis.  How  careful,  then,  ought  that  man  to  be,  who 
makes  his  appearance  in  the  publick  papers,  in  knowing 
that  he  is  embarked,  if  not  in  an  unoffending,  yet  a  righteous 
cause.  Thus  equipped,  he  may  fearlessly  pass  the  rock  of 
criticism,  if  not  with  eclat,  with  that,  at  least,  which  affords 
more  permanent  felicity — the  heartfelt  commendation  of 
a  good  conscience.  These  animadversions  lead  me  to  a 
few  strictures  on  our  truly  great  and  worthy  Governour's 
Proclamation  of  the  sixth  of  this  instant.  1  confess,  in  the 
first  place,  that  it  is  with  the  most  pungent  sorrow  I  find 
that  justice,  and  the  great  cause  of  America's  inherent 
rights,  make  it  indispensably  necessary,  in  these  unhappy 
days,  that  nothing  should  pass  unnoticed  that  is  not  dignified 
by  the  sacred  signature  of  truth,  and  which,  through  the 
malversation  of  bad  and  designing  men,  might  have  the 
baneful  tendency  of  extending  the  unnatural  breach  between 
Great  Britain  and  her  Colonies,  and  bring  on  the  additional 
displeasure  of  our  gracious  King.  Of  such  a  tendency 
appears  our  Governour's  Proclamation  of  the  above  date, 
particularly  aimed  at  Patrick  Henry,  Jun.,  Esquire,  his 
Country's  and  America's  unalterable  and  unappalled  great 
advocate  and  friend.  As  most  of  the  good  people  of  this 
Country  may  have  seen  this  unparalleled  Proclamation,  I 
shall  not  take  up  much  of  their  or  your  time,  in  a  very 
minute  recital  of  it ;  suffice  it  to  say,  that  the  whole  must 
appear  a  Ministerial  trick,  calculated  to  please  some,  to 
delude  others,  and,  what  is  of  more  serious  and  alarming 
consequence,  (similar  to  one  of  his  other  laudable  efforts,*) 
to  prejudice  and  detract  from  the  great  American  cause,  by 
effecting  a  disunion  amongst  the  friends  of  it,  as  the  only 
possible  means  of  obtaining  success  to  Ministerial  machina- 
tions. The  degenerate  tools  of  lawless  power  may  applaud 
his  Lordship's  ingenuity,  but  the  honest,  virtuous,  and 
upright  sons  of  constitutional  liberty  will  reprobate  the 
want  of  that  candour  and  nobleness  of  spirit,  which  can 
alone  give  effulgence  to  high  birth  or  exalted  station,  and 
deprived  of  which,  either  the  one  or  the  other  must, 
in  the  reflection  of  the  virtuous  mind,  (to  use  the  great 
Mr.  Pope's  words,)  appear  but  as  so  much  "  leather  or 
prunella."  There  are,  however,  representations  of  the 
conduct  of  the  said  Mr.  Henry,  and  his  deluded  followers, 
(as  his  Lordship  is  pleased,  fashionably,  to  call  them,)  so 
exceedingly  inconsonant  to  my  idea  of  the  case,  that  his 
Lordship  must  pardon  me  if  I  should,  for  the  sake  of  jus- 
tice, attempt  to  set  the  matter  in  a  different  and  less  partial 
point  of  view.  His  Lordship  observes,  "  That  the  said 
Mr.  Henry,  with  a  number  of  deluded  followers,  had  taken 
up  arms,  chosen  their  officers,  and,  styling  themselves  an 
Independent  Company,  had  marched  out  of  their  County, 
encamped,  and  put  themselves  into  a  posture  of  war,  and 
had  written  letters,  &c,  to  the  great  terrour  of  all  His 
Majesty's  faithful  subjects,  and  in  open  defiance  of  law  and 
Government ;  and  have  committed  other  acts  of  violence, 
particularly  in  extorting  from  his  Receiver-General  the  sum 

•  See  his  Lordship's  Letter  to  the  Earl  of  Dartmouth,  dated  the 
twenty.fourth  of  December  last. 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii.  4 


of  three  hundred  and  thirty  Pounds,  tinder  pretence  of  re- 
placing the  powder  he  (the  Governour)  thought  proper  to 
order  from  the  Magazine  ;"  whence,  adds  his  Lordship,  "  it 
undeniably  appears  that  there  is  no  longer  the  least  security 
for  the  life  or  property  of  any  man."  Would  not  strangers 
to  this  manoeuvre  of  Mr.  Henry  be  induced  readily  to 
believe,  from  this  Proclamation  of  his  Lordship,  that  his 
conduct  in  the  affair  of  the  powder  was  directly  consistent 
with  the  greatest  rectitude;  and,  on  the  contrary,  that  Mr. 
Henry's  behaviour  was,  in  the  extreme,  impolitical,  dis- 
orderly, and  base  ?  But  let  such  first  recur  to  the  many- 
poor  subterfuges  that  Ministerial  vicegerents  have  lately 
been  drove  to,  and  then  they  will  not  be  greatly  astonished 
at  the  contents  of  his  Lordship's  Proclamation. 

The  powder  which  was  removed  from  the  Magazine  in 
the  City  of  Williamsburgh,  under  cover  of  the  night,  (a 
time  most  friendly  and  best  adapted  to  dark  and  insidious 
designs,)  appears  clearly  to  have  been,  if  not  the  perma- 
nent and  exclusive  property  of  this  Colony,  at  least  so 
intended  for  its  direct  emolument  and  protection,  by  an  Act 
of  Assembly,  passed  in  the  first  year  of  King  George  the 
First's  reign,  entitled,  "An  Act  for  erecting  a  Magazine ;" 
that  his  Lordship's  removal  of  it  on  board  one  of  His  Ma- 
jesty's armed  vessels,  just  at  that  alarming  and  critical  time, 
was,  in  my  view,  illegal,  and  a  competent  declaration  of 
his  hostile  and  inimical  designs  against  this  unhappy  Coun- 
try, and  sufficient,  of  itself,  to  have  roused  the  good  people 
of  it  from  that  lethargick  state  of  security  into  which  the 
great  appearance  of  his  Lordship's  friendship  had  lulled 
them ;  and  farther,  to  have  placed  themselves  in  such  a 
posture  of  defence  as  might  enable  them  to  guard  against 
the  impending  blow  which  this  step  of  his  Lordship  plainly 
told  them  was  but  too  fast  approaching.  The  inhabitants 
of  Williamsburgh,  justly  alarmed  and  incensed  at  such 
behaviour  from  his  Lordship,  like  men  determined  to  sup- 
port their  constitutional  rights  and  property  in  opposition 
to  every7  act  of  violence  under  Heaven  against  them,  take 
up  arms,  and  are  about  to  demand  restitution  of  the  pow- 
der, when  they  are  dissuaded  from  such  a  step  by  gentlemen 
in  whom  great  confidence  is  placed,  who  persuade  them  to 
lay  down  their  arms,  and  return  to  their  respective  homes ; 
assuring  them  at  the  same  time,  that  every  pacifick  endeavour 
should  be  made  in  order  to  have  the  powder  replaced  in 
the  Magazine.  They  then  convened  a  common  hall,  and 
in  a  very  respectful  manner,  address  his  Lordship  on  the 
impropriety  of  his  conduct  in  the  affair  of  the  powder ; 
entreating  him  at  the  same  time  to  return  it  again  to  the 
Magazine,  and  thereby  restore  peace  and  order  to  the  in- 
habitants of  the  Town.  To  which  said  address  his  Lord- 
ship was  pleased  to  return  a  verbal  answer,  (being,  it  is 
said,  peculiarly  happy  in  expressing  his  sentiments  with 
ease  and  propriety  that  way,)  whereby  it  most  evidently 
appears  that  his  Lordship  expressly  avows  the  impropriety 
of  his  conduct  in  the  removal  of  the  powder,  in  promising, 
upon  his  "  word  and  honour,"  that  in  case  there  should  be 
an  insurrection  of  the  slaves,  which  he  acknowledges  there 
was  cause  to  apprehend,  he  would  then  return  the  powder, 
on  being  allowed  a  half  hour  to  do  it  in.  The  inconsis- 
tency of  such  an  answer  is  so  plain,  that  it  needs  no  com- 
ment. In  short,  several  gentlemen,  who  were  dissatisfied 
with  such  an  evasive,  contradictory,  and  affrontive  answer, 
wait  on  his  Lordship  in  person,  and  entreat  him,  as  the 
representative  of  His  Majesty  here,  as  the  Chief  Magis- 
trate, and,  above  all,  as  a  friend  to  peace  and  order,  to 
return  the  powder,  and  thereby  quiet  the  fears  and  appre- 
hensions of  the  people,  which  he  now  positively  refuses  to 
do;  assigning,  as  a  reason  for  his  strange  and  unwarrantable 
conduct,  that  the  people  of  Williamsburgh  had  been  in 
arms. 

But  attend  to  his  subsequent  conduct,  and  see  if  it  ac- 
cords with  those  pompous  professions  of  regard  for  peace, 
order,  and  good  government,  and  the  happiness  of  the 
people  (who  are  so  unhappy  as  to  be  under  his  rule)  which 
he  would  induce  a  belief  are  the  grand  objects  of  his  care 
and  study.  Conscious  that  the  people  would  no  longer 
acquiesce  in  a  behaviour  in  one  moment  so  disingenuous 
and  evasive,  iu  another  so  disrespectful  and  irritating,  he 
determined  to  fling  off  the  mask,  and  bid  defiance  to  their 
utmost  efforts  to  regain  the  powder ;  and  therefore  imme- 
diately began  to  arm  his  menial  servants,  who  were,  by 


643 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  fee.,  MAY,  1775. 


644 


their  lord  and  master's  example,  taught  to  look  upon  and 
treat  the  good  people  of  this  Country  with  the  greatest 
indignity  and  contempt.  Add  to  all  this,  that  we  had  just 
heard  that  many  of  our  worthy  and  nohle  friends,  the  guar- 
dians and  zealous  supporters  of  our  liberty,  were  on  the 
black  list  of  American  victims,  destined  to  sacrifice,  in  order 
to  appease  those  sanguinary  wretches  in  power;  and  that, 
farther,  we  had  received  the  long-feared  and  melancholy 
news,  that  the  sword  was  now  drawn  by  the  King's  Troops 
against  our  brethren  the  Bostonians,  who  were  then  bleed- 
ing in  the  common  cause.  Thus  unhappily  circumstanced 
on  all  sides,  what  does  Mr.  Henry  to  deserve  those  inglo- 
rious epithets,  which  are,  though  obscurely,  yet  most  cer- 
tainly aimed  principally  at  him,  not  only  by  his  Lordship's 
candid  and  liberal  Address  to  the  Council,  previous  to  the 
issuing  of  a  former  Proclamation,  but  by  those  also  in 
exalted  station,  who,  it  was  hoped  from  their  affinity  to  our 
wrongs,  and  having  received  their  birth  here,  would  have 
entertained  sentimentsof  a  more  generous  and  liberal  kind, 
of  those  who  are  the  produce  of  the  same  Country,  and 
in  loyalty  and  attachment  to  their  gracious  Sovereign,  not 
an  iota,  1  trust,  inferiour  to  them.  I  repeat,  what  does  Mr. 
Henry  (matters  being  thus  situated)  to  deserve  the  censure 
of  his  countrymen?  Why,  like  the  vigilant  guardian  and 
protector  of  their  constitutional  rights  and  liberties,  he  was 
resolved,  with  proper  assistance,  by  the  force  of  arms,  to 
effect  a  restitution  of  the  powder,  or  an  equivalent  thereto, 
which  had  been,  by  low  fraud  and  artifice,  removed  out  of 
the  Country's  possession,  and  which  he  now  was  sorry  to 
find  pacifick  measures  were  not  likely  to  accomplish.  This 
gentleman,  therefore,  by  the  advice  and  determination  of 
the  Hanover  Committee,  held  at  Newcastle  the  second  in- 
stant, accompanied  by  many  of  his  respectable  and  worthy 
countrymen,  set  out  from  Newcastle  on  their  way  to  the 
capital,  and  were  joined  on  their  way  down  by  several 
spirited  gentlemen  from  different  Counties.  With  what 
prudence  and  penetration  Mr.  Henry  took  his  measures,  and 
what  they  eventually  produced,  may  be  fully  known  by  a 
reference  to  a  publication  of  his  conduct  at  large,  in  the 
proceedings  of  the  Committee  of  Hanover  County  on  the 
ninth  instant;  and,  as  the  matter  stands  represented  there, 
and  which  is  incontroverlibly  consistent  with  the  real  truth 
of  the  case,  how  then  does  his  Lordship  get  his  intelligence 
that  this  movement  of  Mr.  Henry  was  to  the  great  "  ter- 
rourof  all  His  Majesty's  faithful  subjects?"  From  whence 
does  he  learn  that  Mr.  Henry  had  committed  <;acts  of  vio- 
lence?" Have  any  of  those  terrified  "  faithful  subjects," 
on  whom  those  acts  of  violence  were  committed,  preferred 
their  complaints  before  his  Lordship,  in  order  to  obtain  re- 
dress? Or  are  these  words  inserted  only  to  heighten  or 
aggravate  this  supposed  guilty  conduct  of  Mr.  Henry,  in 
the  opinion  of  those  who  cannot  be,  in  all  probability,  from 
the  remoteness  of  their  situation,  furnished  with  an  impar- 
tial and  fair  state  of  the  case  ?  The  guilty,  perhaps,  might 
fear  and  tremble  at  an  apprehension  of  the  just  vengeance 
of  the  incensed  people,  roused  and  provoked  as  they  were 
by  reiterated  acts  of  oppression  and  tyranny  ;  but  whether 
the  innocent  Americans  (of  which,  1  thank  Heaven,  there 
is  by  far  the  greater  majority)  were  terrified  and  frightened 
by  this  attempt  of  Mr.  Henry  to  regain  their  property,  I 
leave  the  candid  part  of  mankind  to  determine,  from  the 
publication  of  the  proceedings  of  the  many  Committees 
which  have  sat  on  this  occasion,  as  may  be  seen  in  the 
papers  subsequent  to  this  step  taken  by  Mr.  Henry. 

Thus  much  I  have  thought  proper  to  lay  before  the 
publick,  in  vindication  of  the  conduct  of  a  gentleman  who 
is  now  absent,  and,  as  the  advocate  and  steady  friend  of  his 
Country,  contending,  1  doubt  not,  for  all  that  is  precious 
and  worth  the  preserving,  to  those  who  are  by  nature  free, 
and  who,  by  their  laws  and  Constitution,  have  an  indubi- 
table right  to  remain  so,  in  opposition  to  every  power  on 
earth  to  make  them  otherwise. 

Had  his  Lordship,  at  this  perplexed  and  unhappy  junc- 
ture of  affairs,  steadily  pursued  that  noble  line  of  right 
which  prudence  and  his  duty  had  marked  out  to  him ;  had 
he  evinced  from  his  actions,  in  accordance  to  his  profes- 
sions, that  the  happiness  of  the  people  which  he  ruled  was 
his  great  object  and  care ;  had  he,  like  a  good,  virtuous, 
and  great  man,  stepped  in  as  a  mediator  in  this  unnatural 
struggle  between  Great  Britain  and  her  Colonies,  and  at- 
tempted to  close,  rather  than  by  disingenuous  misrepresent- 


ations, to  widen  the  breach,  I  trust  he  would  still  have 
continued  to  receive  that  grateful  tribute  of  applause  which 
the  people  here  have,  on  some  late  occasions,  so  cordially 
offered  up  to  him.  Hut  from  his  late  conduct,  as  held  up 
to  the  world,  what  confidence  can  they  place  in  him  who  has 
declared  himself  to  be  (and  his  actions  manifest  he  is  not  in 
jest)  their  opposed  and  dangerous  enemy  ?  Brutus. 


TO   THE   INHABITANTS   OF  THE   MANOR  OF  CORTLANDT, 
NEW-YORK. 

Manor  of  Cortlandt,  May  19,  17?."). 

Gentlemen:  The  dangerous  innovations  and  infringe- 
inents  attempted  by  certain  mercenary  Ministerial  tools  and 
infamous  traitors  (in  this  Manor)  to  their  Country,  who 
assume  to  themselves  the  name  of  loyalists,  on  the  liberties 
of  their  fellow-subjects,  have  greatly  alarmed  the  impartial 
friends  of  liberty  herein.  A  fool,  says  an  author,  has  great 
need  of  title  ;  it  teaches  men  to  call  him  Count  and  Duke, 
and  to  forget  his  proper  name  of  fool. 

In  a  day  when  American  pulse  beats  high  for  liberty  ; 
when  it  is  the  subject  of  almost  every  publick  paper,  as 
well  as  topick  of  discourse,  it  might  justly  have  been  ex- 
pected that  no  American  would  be  so  hardy  as  to  violate 
the  rights  of  his  fellow-subjects ;  and  if  any  such  monster 
should  appear  in  this  land  of  liberty,  that  there  would  not 
be  wanting  advocates  for  so  glorious  and  important  a  cause, 
as  to  expose  those  of  its  members  who  are  trampling  on 
the  sacred  rights  of  the  people. 

I  have  waited  with  great  impatience,  expecting  that 
some  able  hand  would  have  undertaken  the  benevolent  task 
to  warn  you  to  beware  of  the  conduct  of  some  of  the  basest 
villains  that  ever  disgraced  any  society,  and  draw  the  atten- 
tion of  the  inhabitants  to  its  danger ;  but  finding  that 
although  now  some  months  are  elapsed  since  the  com- 
mencement of  the  measures  of  these  traitors,  fee,  yet  none 
has  appeared  to  sound  the  friendly  alarm  to  the  very  indo- 
lent inhabitants,  I  have  attempted  what  I  so  ardently 
wished  might  have  been  done  by  some  more  able  hand. 
While  we  are  straining  every  nerve  to  baffle  foreign  at- 
tempts to  enslave  us,  surely  it  must  be  very  criminal  in  the 
descendants  of  Britons,  who  ought  to  love  life  and  liberty 
alike,  to  be  so  assiduous  in  exerting  themselves  to  enslave 
their  fellow-subjects. 

It  may  not  be  improper  to  inform  you,  gentlemen,  of  the 
springs  and  motives  which  induce  these  principal  movers 
to  forget  their  duty  to  God,  their  fellow-countrymen,  and 
their  posterity. 

They,  anxious  to  secure  to  themselves  and  their  poster- 
ity power  and  authority,  and  to  engross  some  offices  or 
pensions  from  or  under  the  Crown,  have  made  a  sacrifice 
of  all  publick  virtue  on  the  altar  of  self-interest.  This 
desperate  spirit  it  was  that  induced  these  traitors  or  merce- 
nary hirelings  to  exert  their  influence  to  bring  about  the 
detestable  measures  proposed  by  a  certain  paper  handed 
about  here  last  winter,  entitled  "  The  Loyalists'  Test."' 
But,  happily  for  this  Manor,  this  very  dangerous  scheme 
was  disconcerted  by  some  lovers  of  loyalty  and  liberty. 
For  the  men  who  would  make  such  inroads  on  the  liberties 
of  the  people,  as  they  were  aiming  at,  to  gratify  their  thirst 
for  power,  and  give  Administration  a  high  idea  of  their 
influence  in  this  Manor,  would,  from  the  same  principle, 
exert  every  nerve  of  influence  to  carry  any  ministerial  man- 
date into  execution,  at  the  expense  of  the  liberties  of  their 
fellow-countrymen. 

Can  any  judicious  American  son  of  liberty  behold  these 
traitors  of  their  Country  without  the  utmost  abhorrence,  by 
whose  influence  the  more  illiterate,  and  those  who  are  unac- 
quainted with  the  principles  of  the  present  dispute,  are  so 
besotted  as  to  resign  their  liberties  into  the  hands  of  the  most 
ambitious  and  designing  fellows,  who  are  aiming  to  make  a 
merit  with  the  Ministry  by  enslaving  their  fellow-country- 
men, and  to  aggrandise  themselves  and  their  posterity  ? 
Surely  he  cannot.  If  Charles  the  First  deserved  the  axe, 
and  James  the  Second  the  loss  of  his  Kingdom,  for  chang- 
ing the  Constitution,  and  thereby  trampling  on  the  rights 
of  their  subjects,  I  leave  you,  my  countrymen,  to  judge 
what  punishment  would  be  adequate  to  the  crimes  of  these 
loyalists  and  their  tools,  who  are  aiming  at  the  same  by 
a  sacrifice  of  all  publick  virtue,  and  the  liberty  of  their 
Country.  An  Inhabitant. 


645 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


646 


COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY  TO  THE  COMMITTEE  OF  SUPPLIES. 

Cambridge,  May  19,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  Mr.  Benedict  Arnold  having  been  author- 
ized and  empow  ered  to  raise  and  furnish  a  number  of  men, 
not  exceeding  four  hundred,  to  proceed  against  and  reduce 
the  garrison  at  Ticonderoga,  with  its  dependencies,  has, 
we  find,  in  consequence  of  said  commission,  been  supplied 
with  fifteen  oxen,  by  Mr.  Thomas  Wells  Dickason ;  and 
this  Committee  being  informed  by  said  Dickason}  that 
the  Committee  of  Supplies  wanted  a  certificate  of  said 
order  and  appointment,  that  they  may  with  propriety  dis- 
charge the  order  of  said  Arnold  on  the  Committee  of 
Safety,  have  handed  this,  presuming  it  may  be  sufficient 
to  satisfy  the  Committee  of  Supplies  of  his  (said  Arnold's) 
appointment.  We  would  observe  that  the  above-mention- 
ed cattle  are  at  Viewport.  You  will  give  such  directions 
respecting  them  as  to  you  in  your  wisdom  shall  seem 
meet.    We  are,  he. 


BENEDICT  ARNOLD  TO  THE  MASSACHUSETTS  COMMITTEE 
OF  SAFETY. 

Crown  Point,  May  19,  1775. 
Gentlemen:  My  last  was  of  the  14th  instant,  by  Mr. 
Romans,  via  New-Haven.  I  then  acquainted  you  of  the 
occasion  of  delay  in  not  carrying  your  orders  into  execu- 
tion. The  afternoon  of  the  same  day,  being  joined  by 
Captains  Broicn  and  Oswald,  with  fifty  men,  enlisted  on 
the  road,  they  having  taken  possession  of  a  small  schooner 
at  Skenesborough,  we  immediately  proceeded  on  our  way 
for  St.  John's,  and  at  eight  o'clock,  P.  M.,  the  17th  instant, 
arrived  within  thirty  miles  of  St.  John's ;  the  weather  prov- 
ing calm,  manned  out  two  small  batteaus  with  thirty-five 
men,  and  the  next  morning,  at  six  o'clock,  arrived  at  »SV. 
John's,  surprised  and  took  a  sergeant  and  his  party  of 
twelve  men,  the  King's  sloop,  of  about  seventy  tons,  with 
two  brass  six-pounders  and  seven  men,  without  any  loss 
on  either  side.  The  Captain  was  gone  to  Montreal,  and 
hourly  expected  with  a  large  detachment  for  Ticonderoga, 
a  number  of  guns  and  carriages  for  the  sloop,  which  was 
just  fixed  for  sailing ;  add  to  this,  there  was  a  Captain  of 
forty  men  at  Chamblee,  twelve  miles  distant  from  iSif. 
John's,  who  was  expected  there  every  minute  with  his 
party  ;  so  that  it  seemed  to  be  a  mere  interposition  of  Provi- 
dence that  we  arrived  at  so  fortunate  an  hour.  We  took 
such  stores  on  board  as  were  valuable,  and  the  wind  prov- 
ing favourable,  in  two  hours  after  we  arrived,  weighed  an- 
chor for  this  place,  with  the  sloop  and  four  of  the  King's 
batteaus,  having  destroyed  five  others  ;  so  that  there  is  not 
left  a  single  batteau  for  the  King's  Troops,  Canadians,  or 
Indians,  to  cross  the  Lake  in,  if  they  have  any  such  inten- 
tion. 

1  must,  in  justice  to  Colonel  Allen,  observe  that  he  left 
Crown  Point  soon  after  me  for  St.  John's,  with  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  men,  and  on  my  return  met  him  five  leagues 
this  side,  and  supplied  him  with  provisions,  his  men  being 
in  a  starving  condition.  He  informed  me  of  his  intention 
of  proceeding  on  to  St.  John's  with  eighty  or  one  hundred 
men,  and  keeping  possession  there.  It  appeared  to  me  a 
wild,  impracticable  scheme,  and  provided  it  could  be  car- 
ried into  execution,  of  no  consequence,  so  long  as  we  are 
masters  of  the  Lake,  and  of  that  I  make  no  doubt,  as  I  am 
determined  to  arm  the  sloop  and  schooner  immediately. 

I  wrote  you,  gentlemen,  in  my  former  letters,  that  I 
should  be  extremely  glad  to  be  superseded  in  my  command 
here,  as  I  find  it  next  to  impossible  to  repair  the  old  fort 
at  Ticonderoga,  and  am  not  qualified  to  direct  in  building 
a  new  one.  I  am  really  of  opinion  it  will  be  necessary  to 
employ  one  thousand  or  fifteen  hundred  men  here  this  sum- 
mer, in  w  hich  I  have  the  pleasure  of  being  joined  in  senti- 
ment by  Mr.  Rojnans,  who  is  esteemed  an  able  engineer. 
I  am  making  all  possible  provision  for  wheel-carriages  to 
cany  such  cannon,  he.  to  Albany  as  can  be  spared  here, 
and  will  be  serviceable  to  our  army  at  Cambridge. 

I  must  refer  you  for  particulars  to  the  bearer,  Captain 
Jonathan  Brown,  who  has  been  very  active  and  service- 
able, and  is  a  prudent,  good  officer  ;  and  I  beg  leave  to 
observe  I  have  had  intimations  given  me,  that  some  persons 
had  determined  to  apply  to  you  and  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress, to  injure  me  in  your  esteem,  by  misrepresenting  mat- 
ters of  fact.    I  know  of  no  other  motive  they  can  have, 


only  my  refusing  them  commissions,  for  the  very  simple 
reason  that  I  did  not  think  them  qualified.  However,  gen- 
tlemen, I  have  the  satisfaction  of  imagining  I  am  employed 
by  gentlemen  of  so  much  candour,  that  my  conduct  will 
not  be  condemned  until  I  have  the  opportunity  of  being 
heard.  I  am,  with  the  greatest  respect,  gentlemen,  your 
most  devoted  and  very  humble  servant, 

Benedict  Arnold. 
To  the  Committee  of  Safety,  Cambridge. 

P.  S.  Enclosed  is  a  memorandum  of  such  cannon,  he. 
as  I  intend  sending  to  Cambridge,  also  of  such  as  are  here. 
By  a  return  from  Montreal  to  General  Gage,  I  find  there 
are  seven  hundred  and  seventeen  men  in  Canada,  of  the 
Seventh  and  Twenty-Sixth  Regiments,  including  seventy 
which  we  have  taken  prisoners. 

A  List  of  Cannon,  <J-c,  taken  at  Crown  Point. 


2  iron  24-pounders, 

1      do.       do.  useless, 

1  brass        do.  serviceable, 

4  iron  18-pounders,  not  examined, 
but  appear  good, 
14  iron  12-pounders,  do. 
4  French     do.  useless, 
8  12  and  18  do.      not  examined, 

but  appear  good, 
7  long  9-pounders,  double  forti- 
fied, good, 
12  long  9-pounders,  serviceable, 

2  do.       do.  mounted, 


33  G  and  9-pounders,  useless, 
7  9  and  12  do.  do. 
2  long  6     do.  good, 

2  short  6     do.  bad, 

3  do.       do.       not  examined, 
3    do.       do.  useless, 
1  English  13-inch  mortar, ' 

1  French  do. 

2  do.      8-inch  do. 
2  8-inch  howitzers. 

Ill 


r  <£ 

Kg 


A  List  of  Cannon,  cj-c,  taken  at  Ticonderoga. 


3  18-pounders,  good, 
2  French  do.  bad, 
2  12-pounders,  good, 


6  12  do. 

good, 
2  12  do. 


12  9 

59 
18  6 

9  4 

1  6 

N.  B 


do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 


double  fortified, 

useless, 

good, 

bad, 

bad, 

good, 

good, 


19  swivels,  good, 
2  wall  pieces,  good, 
2  French  12-pounders,  bad, 
1  13-inch  mortar,  and  bed,  good, 
1  7        do.  do.  good, 

1  7-inch  howitzer,  good. 

86 

28  iron  truck  wheels, 
10  carriages,  fit  for  use. 


I  shall  send  to  Cambridge  the  24-pounders,  12  and  6-pound- 
crs,  howitzers,  &c,  as  directed  by  Colonel  Gridley.  Four  brass  how- 
itzers in  the  edge  of  the  Lake,  and  covered  with  water,  cannot  be  come 
at  at  present.  BENEDICT  ARNOLD. 

Return  of  Ordnance  Stores  found  at  Ticonderoga. 


Species  of  Stores. 


Mortars,  iron,  and  iron  beds, 


Iron  ordnance,  dismounted. 


Brass  do. 
Petards,  brass, 
Portfires,     -  . 


do. 


Ladles  with  staves,  copper, 


Ladles  without  staves, 
Ladles  for  swivels,  - 
Linlstocks  with  corks, 
Do.      without,  . 
Slow  match,  - 


r 


Shot, 


Powder,  whole  barrels, 
Shells,  


Round, 


Fixed  to  wooden  bolts 
Quilted  grape,    -  - 

Ball  | 

Quilted  grape, 

Do.  .  . 


Fusees,  fixed 


Flints,  

Leaden  aprons,  

Crow-bar,  

Some  other  articles  of  little  note. 
Engineers'  stores,  none. 


Quality.  Quantity 


13-inch 
64  do. 
18  lbs. 
13 
12 
9 
6 
4 
4 

Patareroes 
3  lbs. 


18  lbs. 
12 

6 

6 

4 


18  lbs. 
12 
9 
6 
4 
12 

8  9-in.  how. 
Lead,  tons 
Iron,  lbs. 

6  lbs. 
Swivel 
Damaged 
Royal 
Grenades 
13-inch 
8  do. 
Royal 
Cohorns 
Sorts 
Sorts 


4 
1 

12 
14 
6 
23 
29 
3 
2 
2 
42 
2 
1 
2 
12 
2 
9 


100 

550 
240 


1,430 

1C5 
68 
9 

3,700 
100 

20 
28 
6 

906 
166 
168 
128 
240 
30,000 
27 
1 


By  me, 

Ticonderoga,  May  13,  1775. 


B.  ROMANS,  Engineer. 


647 


NEW-HAMPSHIRE  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  MAY,  1775. 


648 


GENERAL  WARD  TO  THE  MASSACHUSETTS  CONORESS. 

May  19,  1775. 

Sir  :  It  appears  to  me  absolutely  necessary  that  the  Re- 
giments be  immediately  settled  ;  the  officers  commission- 
ed ;  the  soldiers  numbered  and  paid,  agreeable  to  what  has 
been  proposed  by  the  Congress — if  we  would  save  our 
Country.   I  am,  Sir,  your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

A.  Ward. 

J.  Warren,  Esq.,  President  of  the  Congress  at  Watertown. 


JAMES   RUSSELL   TO  JOSEPH  WARREN. 

Charlestown,  May  19,  1775. 

Sir  :  I  yesterday,  by  Major  Fuller,  Mr.  Whiitcmore, 
and  Mr.  Bliss,  received  a  Resolve  of  the  Congress  ap- 
pointing them  a  Committee  to  call  on  me  to  know  whether 
1  have  any  of  the  publick  moneys  in  my  hands.  In  an- 
swer thereto,  I  would  desire  you,  Sir,  to  inform  the  Provin- 
cial Congress,  that  the  light  money  for  several  years  past 
since  the  increase  of  light-houses,  and  more  especially 
since  the  obstructions  of  the  last  year  upon  our  trade,  has 
not  been  sufficient  to  defray  the  expense  of  said  houses ; 
and  I  have  consequently  been  under  a  necessity  to  apply 
the  money  arising  from  the  Impost  for  that  purpose.  Ever 
since  I  received  the  favours  of  my  Country,  in  being  cho- 
sen to  the  Impost  Office,  I  have  done  all  in  my  power  in 
the  discharge  of  my  duty  therein  to  their  satisfaction.  The 
means  of  procuring  oil,  by  the  unhappy  and  increasing 
troubles  of  our  Country,  appearing  very  uncertain  and  pre- 
carious, I  have  endeavoured  to  purchase  as  large  a  stock 
as  I  could  :  and  as  the  Impost  Bill  expired  the  first  of 
March  last,  the  publick  moneys  I  have  in  my  hands  will 
not  be  more  than  sufficient  to  enable  me  to  pay  for  the  oil 
contracted  for  to  complete  for  the  present  year. 

Your  most  humble  servant,  James  Russell. 

Joseph  Warren,  Esq.,  President  Provincial  Congress. 


ABIJAH   BROWN   TO   THE   COMMITTEE    OF  SAFETY. 

Watertown,  May  19,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  Agreeable  to  your  order  I  have  removed 
the  cannon  under  my  care  at  Waltham,  to  the  Town  of 
Watertown,  and  have  delivered  them  to  the  Committee  of 
Correspondence  for  the  same  Town  ;  and  shall  have  my 
company  in  readiness  to  march  to  Cambridge  to-morrow 
morning.  I  am,  gentlemen,  with  much  respect,  your  most 
obedient  and  most  humble  servant,  Abijah  Brown. 
To  the  Hon.  the  Committee  of  Safety,  at  Cambridge. 


PETITION   OF  BENJAMIN  THOMPSON. 

To  the  Honourable  the  Committee  of  Safety  for  the  Col- 
ony of  Massachusetts-Bay  : 

The  Petition  of  Benjamin  Thompson,  Esq.,  of  Concord, 
in  the  Province  of  New-Hampshire,  humbly  sheweth  : 
That  on  Monday,  the  15th  instant,  your  petitioner  was 
taken  up  and  confined  in  this  Town,  upon  suspicion  of 
being  inimical  to  the  liberties  of  this  Country;  and  that  in 
consequence  of  his  being  taken  up,  the  Committee  of  Cor- 
respondence for  the  Town,  after  having  given  publick 
notice  of  the  time  and  place  of  hearing,  and  desired  all 
persons  that  could  give  evidence  to  attend,  proceeded  to  an 
examination  of  the  affair,  agreeable  to  the  recommendation 
of  the  Honourable  Provincial  Congress.  But  as  no  per- 
son appeared  to  lay  any  thing  of  consequence  to  his  charge  ; 
and  as  the  Committee  were  not  pleased  either  to  acquit  or 
condemn  him ;  and  as  his  own  personal  safety,  as  well  as 
the  quiet  and  satisfaction  of  the  publick,  but  more  espe- 
cially of  the  poople  of  New-Hampshire,  depends  on  his 
having  an  acquittance  after  the  most  publick,  thorough, 
and  impartial  examination,  your  petitioner  humbly  prays 
that  the  Committee  of  Safety  would  be  pleased  to  take  the 
matter  into  consideration,  and  examine  the  same;  and  that 


they  would  be  pleased  to  give  notice  of  the  time  and  place 
of  hearing,  not  only  to  the  people  of  Neiv-Hampshire,  and 
others  that  are  in  the  Army  at  Cambridge,  or  elsewhere, 
but  also  that  the  publick  in  general,  and  the  inhabitants  of 
the  Town  of  Concord,  in  the  Province  of  New-Hampshire, 
and  the  adjacent  Towns  in  particular,  be  desired  to  attend 
or  send  in  depositions  of  what  they  know  relative  to  the 
affair.  And  your  petitioner,  as  in  duty  bound,  shall  ever 
pray,  &ic,  Benj.  Thompson. 

Woburn,  May  19,  1775. 


NEW-HAMPSHIRE  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY. 

May  19,  1775. — A  Committee  of  Safety  was  appointed 
by  the  Congress,  consisting  of  the  following  persons,  viz : 
Honourable  Matthew  Thornton,  Doctor  Josiah  Bartlctt, 
Esquire,  Captain  William  Whipple,  Nathaniel  Folsom, 
Esquire,  and  Ebenezcr  Thompson,  Esquire. 

May  23,  1775. — The  Committee  of  Safety  was  empow- 
ered by  vote  of  the  Congress  to  recommend  persons  they 
think  proper  for  Chaplains,  Surgeons,  and  Surgeons'  Mates, 
and  also  to  procure  proper  forms  for  enlisting  Soldiers. 

May  24,  1775. — Israel  Morey  and  Samuel  Ashley, 
Esquires,  Captain  Josiah  Moulton,  and  Reverend  Samuel 
Webster,  were  added  to  the  Committee  of  Safety;  and  said 
Committee  was  empowered  to  issue  orders  for  enlisting 
men  sufficient  for  one  Regiment,  in  the  same  manner  as  is 
practised  in  the  Massachusetts-Bay,  and  receive  returns  of 
men  enlisted  as  is  done  there. 

Accordingly,  the  same  day  the  Committee  gave  orders 
to  Winborn  Adams  of  Durham,  Winthrop  Rowe  of  Ken- 
sington, Henry  Elkins  of  Hampton,  Samuel  Gilman  of 
Newmarket,  Philip  Tilton  of  Kingston,  Benjamin  Tit- 
comb  of  Dover,  Jonathan  Wentworth  of  Somersworth, 
Jeremiah  dough  of  Canterbury,  James  Norris  of  Epping, 
and  Zaccheus  Clough  of  Poplin,  to  enlist  each  a  Compa- 
ny; which  orders,  &ic,  were  of  the  forms  following: 

"  In  Committee  of  Safety,  ) 
"Exeter,    .    .    .    1775.  J 

"To  

"  Sir  :  You  are  hereby  empowered  immediately  to  en- 
list a  Company,  to  consist  of  sixty-two  able-bodied  and 
effective  men,  well  accoutred,  including  Sergeants,  as  Sol- 
diers in  the  New-Hampshire  service,  for  the  preservation 
of  American  liberty,  and  cause  them  to  pass  muster  as  soon 
as  possible.   Chairman." 

"Exeter,    .    .    .  1775. 

"  Whereas  you  have  this  day  received  orders  for  enlist- 
ing sixty-two  Soldiers  well  accoutred,  including  Sergeants, 
for  the  Neiv-Hampshire  service,  for  the  preservation  of  the 
liberties  of  America,  you  are  hereby  acquainted  that  the 
commission  of  a  Captain  in  said  service  shall  be  made  out 
for  you  as  soon  as  you  have  completed  the  said  enlistment, 
and  you  will  also  be  allowed  to  nominate  two  Subalterns 
to  serve  under  you,  who  will  receive  commissions  accord- 
ingly, if  the  Committee  shall  approve  of  them. 

"By  order  of  the  Committee  of  Safety: 

"  Chairman." 

The  Enlistment. 

"  We,  the  subscribers,  do  hereby  severally  solemnly 
engage  and  enlist  ourselves  as  Soldiers  in  the  New-Hamp- 
shire service  for  the  preservation  of  the  liberties  of  Ame- 
rica, from  the  day  of  our  enlistment  to  the  last  day  of 
December  next,  unless  the  service  should  admit  of  a  dis- 
charge of  a  part  or  the  whole  sooner,  which  shall  be  at  the 
discretion  of  the  Committee  of  Safety,  and  we  hereby 
promise  to  submit  ourselves  to  all  the  orders  and  regula- 
tions of  the  Army,  and  faithfully  to  observe  and  obey  all 
such  orders  as  we  shall  receive  from  time  to  time  from  our 
Officers.   

"   .   .    .   .  1775." 


NEW-HAMPSHIRE  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS. 

At  a  Convention  of  Deputies  from  the  several  Towns 
in  the  Province  of  Neiv-Hampshire,  met  at  Etetcr,  the 
17th  day  of  May,  1775,  the  following  persons  from  the 


Towns,  Parishes,  and  places  respectively  annexed  to  the 
several  names  being  returned  to  sit  as  Members  in  this 
Convention,  took  their  seats  accordingly,  viz: 

Portsmouth. — Captain  William  Whipple,  Captain  Wil- 


619 


NEW-HAMPSHIRE  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  MAY,  1775. 


650 


Ham  Pcarn,  Samuel  Cults,  Esquire,  Samuel  Sherburne, 

Captain  Pierce  Long. 
Newington. — Richard  Downing,  Esquire,  Samuel  Faban. 
Greenland. —  Clement  March,  Esquire,  Major  William 

Weeks,  Captain  Nathan  Johnson. 
Hampton. — Captain  Josiah  Moulton,  Josiah  Moulton,  3d. 
Exeter. — General  Nathaniel  Folsom,  Colonel  Nicholas 

Oilman,  Colonel  Enoch  Poor. 
Stratham. — Deacon  Stephen  Boardman,  Samuel  Lane, 

Esquire. 

Southampton. — Benjamin  Broim. 
Rye. — Samuel  Knowlcs,  Nathan  Goss. 
Newcastle. —  

Newmarket. — Captain  Jeremiah  Folsom,  Mr.  Edward 
Parsons. 

Chester. — Stephen  Morse,  Captain  Robert  Wilson. 
Hampton-Falls. — Colonel  Meshech  Weare,  Reverend 
Pain  J]  innate. 

o 

Seabrook. — Henri/  Robie. 

Northampton. — Doctor  Levi  Dearborn,  David  Masten, 

Captain  Abraham  Drake. 
Kensington. — Captain  Ezekiel  Worthen. 
Epping. — Rev.  Josiah  Steams,  David  Lawrence,  Esq. 
Brentwood. — Samuel  Dudley,  Esquire,  William  Morrill, 

Esquire. 
Poplin. — Stephen  Sleeper. 

Kingston  and  Hawk. — Josiah  Bartlctt,  Esquire. 

East  Kingston. — Nathaniel  Batchelder,  Esquire,  Major 

Jacob  Gale. 
Sandown. — Jethro  Sanborn,  Esquire. 
Pembroke. — David  Gillman. 
Deerfield. — Reverend  Timothy  Upham. 
Bow. — Benjamin  Noycs. 
Hampstead. — Jonathan  Carlton. 
Plaistow. — Major  Joseph  Welsh. 
Atkinson. — John  Webster,  Daniel  Poor. 
Newtown. — Joseph  Bartlctt,  Esquire. 
New-Salem. —  Caleb  Dusten. 
Pelham, — James  Gibson. 

Nottingham. — Major  Joseph  Cilley,  Lieutenant  Thomas 
Bartlett. 

Epsom. — John  Mc  Clary,  Esquire. 
Raymond. — John  Dudley,  Esquire. 
Candia. — Samuel  Moore,  Esquire. 

Londonderry. — Matthew  Thornton,  Esquire,  Mr.  James 

McGregor. 
Concord. — Timothy  Walker,  Junior. 
C  anterbury. — Reverend  Abel  Forster,  Captain  Jeremiah 

Clough. 

Chichester. — Captain  John  Cram. 

Dunbarton. — Colonel  W  

Loudon. — Natha?i  Batchelder,  Esquire. 

Northwood. — Sherburne  Blake. 

Meredith. — Ebenezer  Smith,  Esquire. 

Durham. — George  Frost,  Esquire,  Ebenezer  Thompson, 

Esquire. 
Madbury. — John  Wingate. 
Lee. — Joseph  Sias,  Esquire,  Smith  Emerson. 
Sanbornton. — Daniel  Sanborn,  Esquire. 
Moultonborough. — Adam  Brown. 
Gilmanton. — Antepas  Gilman. 

Rochester. — Deacon  James  Knowles,   Colonel  John 

McDuffee. 
Wakefield. — Nathaniel  Balsh. 

Dover. — Capt.  Shadrach  Hodgdon,  Capt.  Stephen  Evans. 
Somersworth. — Ichabod   Rawlings,    Esquire,  Captain 

James  Garvin. 
Litchfield. — Captain  John  Parker. 
Henniker. — Timothy  Gibson. 
Cockbourn. — Captain  Abijah  Learned. 
Dunstable. — Jonathan  Lovewell,  Esquire,  Joseph  Ayers, 

Noah  Loveivell. 
Merrimack. — Jacob  McGaw. 
Boscawen. — Captain  Henry  Gerrish. 
Goffstown. — Moses  Reille. 
North-Ipswich. — Richard  Stephen  Farrar. 
Amherst. — Paul  Dudley  Sergeant,  Moses  Parsons. 
Bedford. — James  Martin. 
Temple. — Reverend  Samuel  Webster. 
Dunbarton. — Captain  Caleb  Page. 
Hopki  nton. — Reverend  Elijah  Fletcher. 


Barrington. — Lieutenant  Samuel  Hayes. 
Windham. — Lieutenant  John  Dinsmore. 
Wilton. — Jonathan  Martin,  Jacob  Abbot. 
Mason. — Amos  Daken. 
Weare. — Samuel  Page. 

Nottingham  West. — Captain  Abraham  Page. 
Lyndsborough. — Ep.  Putnam. 
New-Boston. — Thomas  Wilson. 

Hollis. — Colonel  John  Hale,  Deacon  Enoch  Noyes. 

Samuel  Hobart,  Esquire. 
Peterborough. —  William  Smith. 

Plymouth,  Campton,  Rumney,  and  Newchester. — 

Abel  Webster. 
Lyme. — Jonathan  Child. 
Cockermouth. — Samuel  Haselton. 
Orford. — Israel  Morey,  Esquire,  Nathaniel  Rogers. 
Hanover. — John  Wheelock. 
Lebanon. — Nehemiah  Eastabrook. 
Thornton. — Matthew  Thornton,  Esquire. 
Plainfield. — Francis  Stnith. 
Westmoreland. — Joseph  Willbore. 
Fitz willi am. — Reverend  Benjamin  Bridgeham. 
Swansey. — Samuel  Hill. 
Dublin. — Joseph  Greenwood. 
Keene  and  Surry. —  Timothy  Ellis. 
Claremont. —  Oliver  Ashley. 
Cornish. — Samuel  Chase,  Esquire. 

Packerfield. — Dr.  Nathaniel  Breed,  Eleazer  Tivitchcll. 

Walpole. — Thomas  Sparhawk. 

Winchester. — Samuel  Ashley,  Esquire. 

Salisbury. — Matthew  Pettingill. 

Ch arlestown. —  William  Haywood. 

Haverhill. — Captain  Ejjhraim  Weston. 

Piermont. — Captain  Richard  Young. 

Landaff. — Captain  Nathaniel  Hovey. 

Wednesday,  May  17,  1775. 

The  Members  being  called  over  and  seated,  proceeded 
as  follows : 

Voted,  That  the  Honourable  Matthew  Thornton,  Esq., 
be  President. 

Voted,  That  Ebenezer  Thompson,  Esq.,  be  Secretary. 

Voted,  That  as  Ebenezer  Thompson,  Esquire,  the  elect- 
ed Secretary,  is  not  present,  Samuel  Cutis,  Esquire,  be 
Secretary  pro  tempore. 

At  the  desire  of  the  Convention,  the  Reverend  Mr. 
Stearns  made  a  prayer. 

Voted,  That  those  Members  who  did  not  produce  cer- 
tificates be  allowed  to  sit  in  Convention  until  the  adjourn- 
ment ;  and  if  they  do  not  then  produce  them,  to  be  ex- 
cluded. 

Voted,  That  the  Reverend  Mr.  Stearns,  Colonel  Fol- 
som, Mr.  President,  George  Frost,  Esquire,  Mr.  Wheelock, 
Mr.  Sparhawk,  and  the  Reverend  Mr.  Webster,  be  a  Com- 
mittee to  draw  up  Rules  to  be  observed  by  the  Members 
of  this  Convention  while  sitting,  and  present  them  as  soon 
as  may  be. 

Voted,  That  the  aforesaid  Committee,  together  with 
Mr.  Whipple  and  Mr.  Cutts,  be  a  Committee  to  report 
what  they  think  necessary  to  be  done  about  establishing  a 
Post-Ofhce. 

Adjourned  till  to-morrow,  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning. 

Thursday,  May  18,  1775,  A.  M. 
Met  according  to  adjournment. 

Voted,  That  the  following  Rules  be  adopted  and  ob- 
served by  the  Members  of  this  Convention  while  sitting  : 

"  1st.  That  no  person  speak  without  asking  leave  of, 
and  addressing  himself  to  the  President. 

"  2.  That  no  Member  speak  while  another  is  speaking. 

"  3.  That  no  Member  should  speak  a  second  time  upon 
a  point,  if  another  person  who  has  not  spoke  before,  should 
desire  to  speak. 

"  4.  That  no  Member  make  a  new  motion  upon  a  point, 
until  that  which  is  under  consideration  is  determined. 

"  5.  That  there  he  silence  among  the  other  Members 
while  any  one  is  speaking. 

"  6.  That  no  Member  absent  himself  more  than  half  an 
hour  without  permission  from  the  President. 

"  7.  That  on  any  matter  of  importance  under  considera- 


651 


INEW-HAMPSHIRE  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  MAY,  1115. 


652 


lion  of  tliis  body,  on  the  request  of  the  Members  of  ten 
Towns,  the  determination  thereof  shall  be  put  off  to  the 
next  day  of  sitting. 

"  8.  That  no  Member  speak  without  standing  up." 

A  Letter  being  received  from  Hunking  Wcntworth, 
Esquire,  Chairman  of  a  Committee  at  Portsmouth,  the 
same  was  read  and  ordered  to  lay. 

Voted,  That  a  Post-Office  shall  be  established  at  Ports- 
mouth, and  that  Samuel  P cnhallow ,  Esquire,  shall  be  Post- 
master, and  that  he,  together  with  the  Members  from 
Portsmouth,  shall  be  a  Committee  to  agree  with  a  Post 
Rider  or  Riders. 

Voted,  That  Joh?i  Hale,  Esquire,  be  empowered  in  be- 
half of  this  Convention  to  proceed  immediately  to  the  City 
of  Albany,  or  any  other  place  he  thinks  proper,  for  the 
purpose  of  procuring  Fire-Arms  and  Gunpowder  for  the 
use  of  this  Province ;  and  as  the  scarcity  of  money  and 
suddenness  of  the  occasion  hinders  this  Convention  from 
supplying  Colonel  Hale  with  cash  for  the  said  purpose,  if 
Colonel  Hale  can  obtain  credit  for  said  articles,  this  Con- 
vention pledges  their  honour  and  faith  to  pay  said  money 
at  the  time  agreed  by  Colonel  Hale  and  the  vender  or 
venders  of  the  same. 

Voted,  That  a  number  of  men  be  raised  in  this  Prov- 
ince to  join  in  the  common  cause  of  defending  our  just 
rights  and  liberties. 

Voted,  That  Colonel  Bartlctt,  Captain  Whipple,  Col- 
onel Folsom,  Mr.  President,  Reverend  Mr.  Webster,  Rev- 
erend Mr.  Stearns,  Colonel  Nicholas  Oilman,  Captain 
Page,  Moses  Parsons,  Mr.  Whcelock,  Mr.  Rollings,  Rev- 
erend Mr.  Farrar,  Mr.  Morey,  Mr.  Gregor,  and  Colonel 
Ashley,  be  a  Committee  to  prepare  and  bring  into  this 
Convention  a  plan  of  ways  and  means  for  furnishing 
Troops,  he. 

Voted,  That  the  Reverend  Mr.  Wingate,  Reverend 
Mr.  Fletcher,  and  Mr.  Samuel  Sherbum,  be  a  Committee 
to  prepare  a  draught  to  be  sent  to  the  several  Towns  in 
this  Province,  respecting  disputes  about  Tories. 

Adjourned  till  eight  o'clock  to-morrow  morning. 

Friday,  May  19,  1775. 

Met  according  to  adjournment. 

The  President  being  necessarily  absent, 

Voted,  That  Sa7nuel  Cutis,  Esquire,  be  President  pro 

tempore. 

A  Petition  of  Major  Andreiv  Mc Clary,  praying  redress 
of  sundry  grievances :  read  and  ordered  to  lay  for  consider- 
ation. 

A  Letter  from  Colonel  John  Stark,  requesting  a  supply 
of  Fire-Arms  for  the  Soldiers  under  his  command  ;  read 
and  ordered  to  be  put  under  the  consideration  of  the  Com- 
mittee of  Ways  and  Means. 

1.  Voted  unanimously,  That  the  good  and  wholesome 
Laws  of  this  Province  be  faithfully  supported,  and  that  all 
persons  assist  the  Justices  thereof  in  the  due  execution  of 
their  office. 

2.  That  in  these  times  of  general  distress,  it  is  recom- 
mended to  the  inhabitants  of  this  Province,  that  they  en- 
courage all  Religious  Worship,  and  that  they,  by  all  means, 
discountenance  all  manner  of  vice,  and  especially  the  pro- 
fanation of  the  Sabbath,  which  is  and  has  been  a  growing 
evil,  and  that  all  officers  exert  themselves  for  the  above 
purpose. 

3.  That  it  is  enjoined  on  all  Planters  and  Farmers  that 
they  pay  the  strictest  attention  to  Agriculture,  that,  with 
the  blessings  of  kind  Heaven,  the  sore  calamities  of  famine 
may  not  be  added  to  our  present  distress;  and  that  to  en- 
courage the  Woollen  Manufactory,  they  kill  no  Lambs 
before  the  first  of  August  next ;  likewise  that  they  raise  as 
much  Flax  as  possible. 

4.  That  as  the  Linen  and  Woollen  goods  will  be  much 
in  demand,  it  is  recommended  that  those  who  have  abilities 
employ  all  persons  who  are  acquainted  with  those  manu- 
factures ;  likewise,  that  extravagance  and  dissipation  of 
every  kind  be  discountenanced. 

5.  That  encouragement  be  given  for  the  making  of  Salt- 
petre, by  granting  a  Bounty  of  One  Shilling  per  pound  for 
the  first  hundred  weight ;  and  that  the  said  Bounty  be  con- 
tinued as  long  as  this  Congress  shall  think  proper. 

C.  That  whereas  many  persons,  who,  through  inadver- 


tency, wilful  malice,  or  immoderate  heat,  have  thrown  out 
many  opprobrious  expressions  respecting  the  several  Con- 
gresses, and  the  methods  of  security  they  have  thought 
proper  to  adopt,  and  thereby  have  made  themselves  obnox- 
ious to  the  inhabitants  of  this  Province,  it  is  therefore  re- 
commended that  the  Committees  of  the  several  Towns 
have  a  watchful  eye  over  all  such  persons ;  and  they  shall 
be  the  proper  persons  only  to  take  cognizance  thereof,  and 
that  their  result  be  final ;  and  that  proper  complaint  being 
made  to  either  of  the  Committee,  they  make  the  most 
speedy  and  critical  inquiry  thereof,  in  order  to  prevent  riots 
and  mobs,  and  that  they  discountenance  the  same. 
Adjourned  to  three  o'clock,  P.  M. 

Met  according  to  adjournment, 

The  Convention  being  informed  that  a  Committee  from 
the  Convention  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay  were  wailing  to 
deliver  a  message  to  this  Convention, 

Voted,  That  Mr.  President,  Colonel  Folsom,  Colonel 
Bartlctt,  Captain  Whipple,  Mr.  Cutts,  Mr.  Stearns,  and 
Captain  McDuffee,  be  a  Committee  to  wait  on  those 
gentlemen,  and  introduce  them  into  the  Convention,  and 
further  converse  with  them  relative  to  their  mission. 

The  Honourable  Joseph  Gcrrish,  Esquire,  and  Colonel 
Ebcnezcr  Sawyer,  a  Committee  from  the  Massachusetts 
Congress,  were  introduced  and  delivered  a  Letter  to  the 
President  from  the  President  of  the  Congress,  together 
with  a  copy  of  an  application  by  them  made  to  the  Conti- 
nental Congress,  both  of  which  are  on  file. 

Voted,  That  the  Selectmen  of  the  respective  Towns 
where  the  persons  enlisted  under  Colonel  Stark,  who  are 
destitute  of  Fire-Arms,  belong,  be  desired  to  procure  the 
same  and  forward  them  to  the  persons  so  destitute,  and  if 
such  Towns  cannot  furnish  them,  Colonel  Stark,  or  any  of 
the  Officers  under  him,  are  desired  to  purchase  the  same, 
and  upon  a  just  account  thereof  being  rendered  to  this 
Convention,  it  shall  be  allowed  and  paid.  And  Colonel 
Stark  is  desired,  as  soon  as  circumstances  will  permit,  to 
transmit  to  this  Convention  what  shall  be  done  in  conse- 
quence of  this  Vote  ;  and  every  Soldier  supplied  as  afore- 
said is  required  to  give  a  receipt  for  such  Fire-Arm  that 
he  will,  at  his  dismission  from  the  service,  return  the  same, 
or  have  the  value  thereof  deducted  out  of  his  wages. 

Voted,  That  Mr.  Enoch  Poor,  Captain  Ezekiel 
Worthen,  and  Colonel  Nicholas  Gilman,  be  a  Com- 
mittee to  fix  immediately  on  Carriages  fit  for  the  field 
eight  Cannon,  out  of  such  as  they  think  most  serviceable 
among  those  that  may  be  found  for  that  purpose. 

Adjourned  till  to-morrow  morning,  eight  o'clock. 

Saturday,  May  20,  1775,  A.  M. 

Met  according  to  adjournment,  and  came  to  the  follow- 
ing Resolutions,  viz : 

Whereas  by  the  late  Acts  of  the  British  Parliament, 
and  conduct  of  the  Ministers  in  pursuance  thereof,  it  ap- 
pears very  evident  that  a  plan  is  laid  and  now  pursuing  to 
subjugate  this  and  the  other  American  Colonies  to  the 
most  abject  slavery,  and  the  late  hostilities  committed  by 
the  British  Troops  in  our  sister  Colony  of  the  Massachu- 
setts-Bay, leaves  us  no  doubt  in  determining  that  no  other 
way  is  left  us  to  preserve  our  most  darling  rights  and  ines- 
timable privileges  but  by  immediately  defending  them  by 
arms.  Reduced,  therefore,  by  this  most  terrible  necessi- 
ty, this  Convention,  after  the  most  solemn  deliberations 
thereon,  have, 

1.  Resolved,  That  it  is  necessary  to  raise  immediately 
two  thousand  effective  Men  in  this  Province,  including 
Officers  and  those  of  this  Province  already  in  the  service, 
and  that  the  time  from  their  enlistment  continue  to  the 
last  day  of  December,  unless  the  Committee  of  Safety 
should  judge  it  proper  that  a  part  or  the  whole  be  dis- 
charged sooner. 

2.  That  every  Member  pledge  his  honour  and  estate, 
in  the  name  of  his  constituents,  to  pay  their  proportion  of 
maintaining  and  paying  the  Officers  and  Soldiers  of  the 
above  number  while  in  their  service. 

3.  That  application  be  made  immediately  to  the  Conti- 
nental Congress  for  their  advice  and  assistance  respecting 
means  and  ways  to  put  the  above  plan  into  execution. 

4.  That  the  establishment  of  Officers  and  Soldiers  shall 
be  the  same  as  in  the  Massachusetts-Bay. 


653 


NEW-HAMPSHIRE  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  MAY,  1775. 


654 


5.  That  the  Selectmen  of  the  several  Towns  and  Dis- 
tricts within  this  Colony  be  desired  to  furnish  the  Soldiers, 
who  shall  enlist  from  their  respective  Towns  and  Districts, 
with  good  and  sufficient  Blankets,  and  render  their  accounts 
to  the  Committee  of  Supplies. 

6.  That  if  it  should  appear  that  the  above  number  of 
men  is  not  our  full  proportion  with  the  other  Governments, 
that  this  Convention  will  be  ready  to  make  a  proper  addi- 
tion for  that  purpose. 

Voted,  That  the  thanks  of  this  Convention  be  given  to 
the  persons  who  took  away  and  secured  for  the  use  of  this 
Government,  a  quantity  of  Gunpowder,  from  the  Castle 
called  Ifilliam  and  Mary,  in  this  Province. 

Voted,  That  Colonel  Thornton,  Colonel  Barthtt,  Cap- 
tain Whipple,  Colonel  Folsom,  and  Ebcnezer  Thompson, 
be  a  Committee  of  Safety,  and  that  their  Instructions  be 
deferred  until  next  week. 

Voted,  That  Colonel  Nicholas  GUman,  Samuel  Cults, 
Esquire,  Ichabod  Rawlings,  Esquire,  Mr.  Timothy  Walker, 
Junior,  Doctor  John  Giddingc,  Mr.  Thomas  Sparhaick, 
and  Colonel  John  Hale,  be  a  Committee  of  Supplies,  and 
t'.iat  the  giving  them  necessary  Instructions  be  deferred 
until  next  week. 

Voted,  That  Colonel  Nicholas  Oilman  and  Mr.  Poor 
be  a  Committee  to  sell  any  quantity  of  Gunpowder,  not 
exceeding  four  barrels,  to  such  frontier  Towns  in  this 
Province  as  they  shall  think  most  need  it. 

Voted,  That  the  Reverend  Mr.  Stearns,  the  Reverend 
Mr.  IVebster,  and  Mr.  Josiah  Moullon  the  third,  be  a  Com- 
mittee to  make  a  draught  of  a  Letter  in  answer  to  one  re- 
ceived from  the  Congress  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay,  as 
also  a  Letter  to  the  Continental  Congress,  and  lay  the  same 
before  this  Convention  as  soon  as  may  be. 

Adjourned  to  Monday  next,  three  o'clock  in  the  after- 
noon. 

Monday,  May  22,  1775,  P.  M. 
AI ct  according  to  adjournment. 
The  President  being  absent, 

Voted,  That  Colonel  Folsom  be  President  pro  tempore. 
The  Secretary  being  absent, 

Voted,  That  Thomas  Sparhawk  be  Secretary  pro  tem- 
pore. 

Voted,  That  John  Ackerman  be  brought  before  this 
body  for  examination. 

Voted,  That  the  examination  of  John  Ackerman,  Ben- 
jamin Hart,  and  John  Pierce,  be  referred  to  the  Commit- 
tees of  Portsmouth,  Greenland,  and  Rye,  and  that  if  they 
find  any  thing  worthy  of  notice,  they  make  report  to  this 
body  as  soon  as  may  be. 

Voted,  That  John  Ackerman  he  committed  to  Jail,  and 
there  remain  until  to-morrow  morning. 

Voted,  That  Major  Samuel  Hobart  and  Mr.  Enoch 
Poor  be  Muster  Masters  for  the  present,  and  that  they 
repair  to  Cambridge,  as  soon  as  may  be,  and  the  places 
thereabouts  in  the  Province  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay, 
and  regularly  muster  all  the  men  enlisted  in  the  several 
Companies  in  the  Regiment  commanded  by  Colonel  John 
Stark,  and  that  no  men  be  accepted  but  those  who  are 
able-bodied  effective  men ;  also  to  inquire  if  any  other 
men  are  enlisted  by  any  other  person  or  persons,  and 
muster  them,  if  any  there  be,  and  receive  such  only  as 
are  good  effective  men,  and  inform  the  Officers  by  whom 
such  men  are  enlisted,  that  they  immediately  repair  to  the 
Committee  of  Safety  at  Exeter,  there  to  represent  the 
matter  and  receive  instructions. 

Voted,  That  it  be  left  discretionary  with  the  Muster 
Masters,  how  long  men  that  have  already  enlisted  into  the 
Province  service  unarmed,  shall  continue  there ;  and  that 
those  gentlemen  are  desired  to  make  inquiry  where  Pro- 
visions, Chirurgeon's  Instruments,  and  Medicine  can  be 
procured,  and  upon  what  terms ;  also  that  they  be  desired 
to  obtain  the  Rules  of  the  several  Committees  of  Safety 
and  Supplies;  and  further  to  inform  the  Committee  or  Con- 
gress that  there  is  a  Post  Office  established  at  Exeter,  and 
to  know  if  their  Post  Rider,  who  comes  to  Haverhill,  will 
proceed  to  the  Post  Office  here ;  and  report  to  the  Con- 
vention as  soon  as  may  be. 

Voted,  That  the  two  thousand  men  this  body  have 
agreed  to  raise  be  equally  divided  into  three  Regiments. 


Voted,  That  Colonel  Fcnton  be  desired  personally  to 
appear  and  inform  this  body  concerning  the  subject-matter 
of  his  Letter  to  the  people  of  the  County  of  Grafton. 

Adjourned  till  to-morrow  eight  o'clock,  A.  M. 

Tuesday,  May  23,  1775,  A.  M. 

Voted,  That  the  Secretary  prepare  a  List  of  the  Dele- 
gates to  keep  a  proper  account  of  their  daily  attendance. 

Voted,  That  there  be  a  Post  Office  in  Exeter. 

Voted,  That  the  Reverend  Mr.  Farrar,  Mr.  Sparhau-k. 
and  Mr.  Edicard  Parsons,  be  added  to  the  Committee  for 
preparing  a  Letter  to  the  Continental  Congress. 

Adjourned  to  three  o'clock,  P.  M. 

Met  according  to  adjournment. 

Voted,  That  Colonel  Nathaniel  Folsom  be  appointed 
to  take  the  general  command  of  the  men  that  may  be 
raised,  or  are  already  raised  in  this  Government,  for  this 
season. 

Voted,  That  Josiah  Moulton,  3d,  be  added  to  the  Com- 
mittee of  Supplies. 

Voted,  That  there  be  procured  some  suitable  person  to 
officiate  as  Chaplain  to  each  Regiment  in  the  service. 

Voted,  That  there  be  a  Surgeon  and  Surgeon's  Mate 
procured  for  each  Regiment. 

Voted,  That  it  be  left  to  the  Committee  of  Safety  to 
recommend  persons  they  think  proper  for  Chaplains,  Sur- 
geons, and  Surgeon's  Mates. 

Poled,  That  the  Committee  of  Safety  procure  proper 
forms  for  enlisting  Soldiers,  &c. 

Voted,  That  Colonel  Nicholas  Gilman  be  Treasurer  and 
Receiver-General  of  this  Colony,  and  that  he,  with  two 
sufficient  sureties,  give  bond  to  the  Honourable  Matthew 
Thornton,  Esq.,  President  of  this  Congress,  or  his  succes- 
sor in  that  office,  for  the  faithful  discharge  of  his  trust. 

Voted,  That  there  be  raised,  levied,  and  paid  by  the 
inhabitants  of  this  Province,  in  the  same  proportion  as  was 
last  used  in  levying  and  proportioning  the  Taxes  of  this 
Province,  the  sum  of  Three  Thousand  Pounds,  lawful 
money,  and  paid  unto  Nicholas  Gilman,  Esq.,  of  Eveter, 
as  Treasurer  appointed  by  this  Convention,  by  the  first  day 
of  November  next. 

Voted,  That  all  Officers  and  Soldiers  employed  in  the 
service  shall  be  taxed  as  other  persons  are,  according  to 
their  ability. 

Adjourned  till  to-morrow,  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning. 

Wednesday,  May  21,  1775. 

Met  according  to  adjournment. 

Voted,  That  the  Committee  of  Safety  recommend  three 
persons  for  Field-Officers  in  the  Regiment  now  to  be 
raised. 

Voted,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  several  Towns 
in  this  Government  to  encourage  Manufactures  in  general, 
and  that  of  Fire-Arms  in  particular. 

Voted,  That  there  be  added  to  the  Committee  of  Safety 
one  from  the  County  of  Hillsborough,  one  from  Cheshire, 
and  one  from  Grafton. 

Voted,  That  Mr.  Enoch  Poor  be  the  first  in  command 
in  the  Second  Regiment  to  be  raised,  under  Colonel  Fol- 
som; Captain  John  McDuffee  to  be  second,  and  Captain 
Joseph  Cillcy  the  third. 

Voted,  That  Mr.  Cutts,  Mr.  Wheelock,  and  Mr.  Walk- 
er, be  a  Committee  to  examine  into  the  state  of  our  late 
Treasurer,  Doctor  Giddinge's  Account. 

Voted,  That  Israel  Morey,  Esq.,  be  one  of  the  Com- 
mittee of  Safety. 

Voted,  That  Captain  Josiah  Moulton  be  one  of  the 
Committee  of  Safety. 

Voted,  That  Mr.  James  McGrcgory  be  added  to  the 
Committee  of  Supplies. 

Voted,  That  the  same  forms  for  enlisting  men  in  the 
several  parts,  to  be  used  here  as  in  the  Massachusetts-Bay . 
mutatis  mutandis. 

Voted,  That  the  Committee  of  Safety  be  empowered  to 
issue  orders  for  enlisting  men  sufficient  for  one  Regiment, 
in  the  same  manner  as  is  practised  in  the  Massachusetts- 
Bay ;  and  receive  returns  of  men  enlisted,  in  the  same 
manner  as  there. 

Adjourned  till  to-morrow,  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning. 


655 


NEW-HAMPSHIRE  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  MAY,  1175. 


656 


Thursday,  May  25,  1775. 

Met  according  to  adjournment. 

fooled,  That  Messrs.  Samuel  Shcrburn,  Pierce  Long, 
John  Dudley,  Esq.,  be  a  Committee  to  bring  in  a  draught 
empowering  the  Committee  of  Safety  and  Committee  of 
Supplies  to  act  in  the  recess  of  this  Congress ;  and  also  to 
recommend  to  this  body  some  suitable  person  for  a  Com- 
missary. 

Voted,  That  the  Rev.  Mr.  Farrar  and  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Steams  be  added  to  the  above-mentioned  Committee. 

Voted,  That  Moses  Emerson,  Esq.,  be  Commissary  for 
the  Army. 

Voted,  That  the  Congress  sit  by  adjournment  from  day 
to  dav,  till  the  return  of  the  Committee  from  Cambridge. 

Friday,  May  26,  1775. 

Met  according  to  adjournment. 

Voted,  The  following  Instructions  to  the  Committee  of 
Safety  :  That  the  Committee  of  Safety  be  empowered  and 
directed,  in  the  recess  of  the  Congress,  to  take  under  their 
consideration  all  matters  in  which  the  welfare  of  the  Prov- 
ince in  the  security  of  their  rights  shall  be  concerned,  ex- 
cept the  appointment  of  the  Field-Officers,  and  take  the 
utmost  care  that  the  publick  sustain  no  damage;  and  that 
they  act  in  the  following  manner : 

1st.  That  they  see  to  it  that  whatever  plans  have  been 
determined  upon  by  the  Congress  to  be  immediately  carried 
into  execution,  which  have  not  been  entrusted  to  the  man- 
agement of  any  particular  persons  or  Committee,  shall  be 
executed  by  such  persons,  and  in  such  ways,  as  the  Com- 
mittee shall  judge  best. 

2d.  If  any  exigence  not  provided  for  by  the  Congress  re- 
quires immediate  attention — such  as  marching  Troops  raised 
to  repel  an  invasion  in  any  part,  or  directing  the  motions  of 
the  Militia  within  the  Province,  or  without  the  Province, 
with  their  own  consent  for  the  same  purpose  ;  or  make  use 
of  any  special  advantage  for  securing  Military  Stores,  or 
securing  any  important  Post,  or  preventing  our  enemies 
from  securing  advantageous  Posts,  or  from  obtaining  Mili- 
tary Stores  or  Provisions — immediately  they  shall  take  the 
most  prudent  and  effectual  method  to  accomplish  the  above 
and  similar  purposes. 

3d.  That  they  be  and  hereby  are  empowered  and  direct- 
ed to  apply  to  the  Committee  of  Supplies  for  the  necessary 
Stores,  Provisions,  &.C.,  for  the  effectual  carrying  the  afore- 
said Instructions  into  execution. 

Voted,  That  a  copy  of  Colonel  Fenton's  Letters  which 
have  been  read  in  Congress  ;  also,  a  copy  of  a  Letter  from 
the  Congress  to  Colonel  Fenton,  be  sent  to  the  Towns  of 
Portsmouth,  Greenland ,  and  Rye. 

Adjourned  to  three  o'clock,  P.  M. 

Met  according  to  adjournment. 

Voted,  That  a  Company,  not  exceeding  sixty  men,  in 
the  Northwesterly  parts  of  this  Colony,  be  forthwith  en- 
listed, to  be  ready  to  act  as  occasion  may  require  ;  that  at 
present  a  small  party  of  them,  not  exceeding  ten  men  at  a 
time,  be  employed  to  guard  the  passes  and  gain  intelligence ; 
and  that  those  only  who  are  in  actual  service  shall  be  un- 
der pay ;  and  that  the  enlisting  and  further  directing  them 
be  referred  to  the  Committee  of  Safety. 

Voted,  That  the  Committee  of  Supplies  be  empowered 
and  directed  to  furnish  the  Commissary  with  whatever  Mil- 
itary Stores  and  Provisions  the  Committee  of  Safety  shall 
think  necessary.  And  that  they  and  each  of  them  be  em- 
powered to  take  up  such  Stores,  &c.,  on  the  faith  of  TlTis 
Colony,  on  the  best  terms,  and  from  such  person  or  per- 
sons as  they  can  procure  them  ;  and  also  that  they,  or  the 
major  part  of  them,  be  empowered  to  borrow,  on  the  faith 
of  this  Colony,  any  sum  not  exceeding  Ten  Thousand 
Pounds,  lawful  money,  as  the  Committee  find  necessary, 
to  answer  the  directions  from  the  Committee  of  Safety. 
And  this  Convention,  for  themselves  and  constituents,  plight 
their  faith  and  estates  to  said  Committee  of  Supplies,  as 
their  bondmen  to  all  intents  and  purposes,  for  the  payment 
of  whatever  sum  they  hire  or  borrow  in  consequence  of 
this  Vote. 

Adjourned  to  Wednesday,  ten  o'clock,  A.  M. 

Wednesday,  May  31,  1775. 

Met  according  to  adjournment. 

Voted,  That  the  division  of  the  two  thousand  men  raised 


and  to  be  raised  in  this  Colony,  into  Regiments  and  Com- 
panies, be  referred  to  the  Committee  of  Safety,  for  them 
to  report  their  opinion  to  the  Congress  as  soon  as  may  be. 
Adjourned  to  three  o'clock,  P.  M. 

Met  according  to  adjournment. 

The  Committee  of  Safety  reported  as  their  opinion,  that 
the  two  thousand  men  be  divided  into  three  Regiments,  and 
each  Regiment  into  ten  Companies,  as  equally  as  can  con- 
veniently be  done. 

Voted,  That  the  foregoing  Report  be  received,  and  that 
the  Regiments  and  Companies  be  divided  accordingly. 

Voted,  That  the  enlisting  men  in  this  Colony  by  per- 
sons belonging  to  any  other,  is  a  wrong  measure,  and  ought 
to  be  discouraged. 

A  Petition  being  read,  signed  by  twelve  persons,  praying 
that  James  Read,  Esq.,  might  not  be  commissioned  in  the 
Army,  as  he  had,  heretofore,  shown  himself  inimical  to  the 
liberty  of  his  Country  ;  and  no  person  appearing  to  prove 
or  enforce  the  Petition,  voted  that  it  be  dismissed. 

Voted,  That  the  thanks  of  this  Congress  be  given  to  the 
party  who  this  day  have  removed  sundry  Cannon  from  the 
sea-coast  in  this  Colony,  to  the  Town  of  Portsmouth,  and 
to  Doctor  Hall  Jackson  in  particular,  for  assisting  in  the 
matter  and  bringing  us  the  intelligence. 

Voted,  That  Major  Hobart  be  Muster-Master  to  muster 
Captain  Adams's  Company. 

Adjourned  till  to-morrow,  eight  o'clock. 

Thursday,  June  1,  1775. 

Voted,  That  two  Companies,  as  soon  as  they  can  be 
properly  mustered  and  equipped,  be  sent  to  guard  the  sea- 
coast  for  the  present. 

Voted,  That  the  two  Companies  first  equipped  and  mus- 
tered, be  sent  to  guard  the  sea-coast. 

Voted,  That  there  be  three  Field-Officers  appointed  for 
each  Regiment,  exclusive  of  the  General  Officers. 

The  complaint  of  Joseph  Reille  against  Major  Hobart, 
read  and  considered. 

Voted,  That  the  Petition  or  complaint  be  dismissed. 

Voted,  That  Major  Hobart  be  empowered  to  administer 
the  same  oath  to  Soldiers  in  the  common  service,  as  has 
been  taken  in  the  Massachusetts  service. 

Voted,  That  James  Reed,  Esq.,  be  appointed  Colonel 
of  a  Regiment. 

Voted,  That  Israel  Gilman,  Esq.,  be  appointed  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel of  Colonel  Reed's  Regiment. 

Voted,  That  Nathan  Hale  be  Major  of  the  aforesaid 
Regiment. 

Whereas  in  the  course  of  the  present  disputes  it  may 
be  necessary  to  import  on  the  risk  of  the  Colony  a  quan- 
tity of  Military  Stores: 

Resolved,  That  the  Committee  of  Supplies  be,  and  they 
hereby  are  empowered  and  directed  to  import  or  cause  to 
be  imported  from  any  place  whatever,  such  and  so  many 
Stores  aforesaid,  not  exceeding  the  value  of  three  thousand 
Pounds,  lawful  money,  and  the  same  to  risk  at  their  discre- 
tion, with  or  without  making  insurance  on  the  vessels  or 
cargoes  which  may  be  so  employed,  sent  out,  or  imported. 

Voted,  That  the  Committee  of  Safety  be  empowered  to 
give  out  Enlisting  Orders  to  ten  persons  to  enlist  each  a 
company  of  sixty-two  Soldiers,  including  non-commis- 
sioned officers,  to  make  a  Regiment,  to  be  under  the  com- 
mand of  Colonel  James  Reed. 

Resolved,  That  the  Committee  of  Portsmouth,  together 
with  Captain  Ezekiel  Worthen,  be  desired  to  provide  a 
number  of  Fascines ;  and  also  to  procure  proper  Carriages 
for  those  Guns  removed  from  Jerry's  Point;  and  also  such 
other  materials  as  they  may  think  necessary  for  erecting  a 
Battery  to  hinder  the  passage  of  Ships  up  lo  the  Town; 
and  also  that  they  endeavour,  if  it  can  be  done  with  secrecy 
and  safety,  to  get  what  Shot  may  be  at  the  Fort  at  New- 
castle :  and  that  all  those  matters  be  done  with  the  utmost 
secrecy  the  matter  will  allow  of,  and  then  determine  upon 
some  suitable  place  for  a  Battery,  where  the  materials,  when 
completed,  may  suddenly  be  removed  to. 

Whereas  his  Excellency  the  Govemour  of  this  Colony, 
in  calling  a  General  Assembly,  to  meet  at  Portsmouth  in 
February  last,  required  three  new  Towns  that  had  never 
sent  Members  before  to  elect  persons  to  represent  them  in 
said  Assembly,  and  as  said  Assembly  are  to  sit  by  adjourn- 


657 


NEW-HAMPSHIRE  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  MAY,  1775. 


658 


ment  on  the  12th  instant,  this  Congress  are  of  opinion  that 
the  Goveruour's  assuming  the  right  of  sending  to  such  new 
Towns,  as  he  thinks  fit  without  concurrence  of  the  other 
branches  of  the  Legislature,  is  unconstitutional  and  subver- 
sive of  the  rights  and  privileges  of  the  good  people  of  this 
Colony,  and  the  establishing  such  a  precedent  may  leave 
room  for  some  designing  Governour  to  occasion  a  very 
partial  representation  of  the  people  by  sending  to  small 
Towns,  and  omitting  large  ones  with  many  other  evils : 

Therefore  do  resolve  further,  That  it  is  the  opinion  of 
Congress,  that  the  persons  called  and  elected  as  aforesaid, 
ought  not  to  be  allowed  a  seat  in  the  House  of  Represent- 
atives of  this  Colony. 

Adjourned  till  to-morrow  morning,  eight  o'clock. 

Friday,  June  2,  1775. 

Met  according  to  adjournment. 

Voted,  That  the  Committee  of  Supplies  be  desired  to 
apply,  and  obtain  the  quantity  and  quality  of  the  Powder 
brought  from  the  Fort  William  and  Mary,  also  take  it  into 
their  possession,  and  lay  the  state  of  it  before  the  Com- 
mittee of  Safety. 

Adjourned  till  three  o'clock,  P.  M. 

Met  according  to  adjournment,  three  o'clock,  P.  M. 
An  Address  to  the  inhabitants  of  this  Colony,  voted 
and  is  on  file. 

Saturday,  June  3,  1775. 

Met  according  to  adjournment. 

Voted,  An  Address  to  the  Congress  of  New-York  re- 
specting the  Fort  at  Ticonderoga,  and  our  sending  Men 
upon  the  Frontiers,  Sic. 

Voted,  An  Address  to  the  Congress  at  Watertown  re- 
specting the  same. 

Voted,  An  Address  to  the  Colony  of  Connecticut  re- 
specting the  same. 

Voted,  An  Address  to  the  Continental  Congress  re- 
specting the  Fort  at  Ticonderoga,  &lc. 

Voted,  An  Address  to  our  Delegates,  John  Sullivan 
and  John  Langdon,  Esquires,  respecting  the  same. 

Copies  of  all  which  on  file. 

Voted,  That  John  Stark  be  the  Colonel  of  the  First 
Regiment. 

Voted,  That  Isaac  Wyman  be  Lieutenant-Colonel  of 
the  same  Regiment. 

Voted,  That  Andrew  Mc Clary  be  Major  of  the  Third 
Regiment. 

Voted,  That  Thursday  fortnight  be  recommended  as  a 
day  of  Fasting  and  Prayer  in  this  Colony. 

Voted,  That  General  Folsom.  as  Brigadier-General  and 
first  commander  of  the  New-Hampshire  Forces,  under 
the  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  New-England  Army,  be 
allowed  the  same  wages  as  a  Brigadier-General  shall  receive 
in  the  Massachusetts  service,  both  as  General  and  comman- 
der of  a  Regiment,  while  in  actual  service,  and  that  he  have 
no  particular  Regiment  of  his  own,  but  equally  command 
all  the  Neiv-Hampshire  Forces ;  and  that  ten  Companies 
of  the  Regiment,  of  sixty-two  men  each,  now  at  Medford, 
in  the  Province  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay,  be  the  first  or 
oldest  Regiment. 

Whereas,  at  the  particular  desire  of  the  people  on  the 
western  frontiers  of  this  Colony,  a  vote  was  passed  by 
this  Congress  the  26th  instant,  to  raise  a  Company  of  sixty 
men,  under  such  directions  and  restrictions  as  is  therein 
expressed ;  and  at  their  special  request  it  is  now  thought 
necessary  to  alter  that  establishment,  and  augment  the 
number : 

Therefore,  voted,  That  a  Company  of  sixty  men  be 
raised  of  the  inhabitants  of  said  frontiers,  to  be  commis- 
sioned by  the  Committee  of  Safety  ;  and  that  they,  and  two 
Companies  out  of  the  two  thousand  men  raised  in  this 
Colony,  be  stationed  as  soon  as  the  Committee  of  Sup- 
plies procure  Stores  for  them,  by  the  Committee  of  Safety 
on  said  frontiers,  and  remain  until  further  orders. 

Monday,  June  5,  1775. 

Met  according  to  adjournment,  three  o'clock,  P.  M. 
But  few  Members  present,  adjourned  till  to-morrow,  at 
eight  o'clock. 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii.  , 


Tuesday,  Juno  6,  1775. 

Met  according  to  adjournment. 

Voted,  That  all  Officers  and  Soldiers  of  the  New- 
Hampshire  Army,  now  raising  for  the  defence  and  security 
of  the  rights  and  liberties  of  this  and  our  sister  Colonies  in 
America,  shall  each  and  every  of  them  (excepting  the 
General  Officers,)  repeat  and  take  the  following  oath,  viz: 

"  I,  A  B,  swear  I  will  truly  and  faithfully  serve  in  the 
New-Hampshire  Troops  to  which  I  belong,  for  the  defence 
and  security  of  the  estates,  lives,  and  liberties  of  the  good 
people  of  this  and  the  sister  Colonies  of  America,  in  op- 
position to  ministerial  tyranny  by  which  they  are  or  may 
be  oppressed,  and  to  all  other  enemies  and  opposers  what- 
soever ;  that  I  will  adhere  to  the  Rules  and  Regulations  of 
said  Army,  observe  and  obey  the  General  and  other  offi- 
cers set  over  me,  and  disclose  and  make  known  to  said 
officers  all  traitorous  conspiracies,  attempts,  and  designs 
whatsoever,  which  I  shall  know  to  be  made  against  said 
Army,  or  any  of  the  English  American  Colonies.  So  help 
me  God." 

Voted,  To  raise  one  Artillery  Company,  to  be  at  Ports- 
mouth. 

Voted,  That  the  Committee  of  Safety  look  out  and 
commission  the  best  men  they  can  find,  as  officers  of  the 
said  Artillery  Company. 

Adjourned  to  three  o'clock,  P.  M. 

Met  according  to  adjournment. 

Whereas  a  vote  passed  on  the  third  instant,  respecting 
General  Folsom's  wages,  and  that  of  ranking  Colonel 
Stark's  Regiment:  Voted,  That  that  part  of  said  vote, 
which  respects  General  Folsom's  wages,  be  reconsidered ; 
and  instead  thereof,  voted  that  General  Folsom,  as  chief 
commander  of  the  New-Hampshire  Forces,  under  the 
Commander-in-Chief  of  the  New-England  Forces,  be 
allowed  the  wages  of  a  Colonel  of  a  Regiment,  and  such 
other  allowances  as  this  Convention  may  think  proper  here- 
after. 

Voted,  That  Captain  Elkins's  Company  be  for  the  pre- 
sent placed  upon  the  sea-coast. 

Voted,  That  the  Proclamation  for  a  Fast  on  the  22d 
instant  be  sent  to  the  press,  and  from  thence  sent  to  all 
the  Towns  in  the  Colony. 

Voted,  That  the  Artillery  Company  consist  of  sixty- 
five  men,  including  officers,  to  be  at  Portsmouth. 

Voted,  That  the  Committee  of  Safety  appoint  Muster 
Masters. 

Adjourned  till  eight  o'clock  to-morrow. 

Wednesday,  June  7,  1775. 

Met  according  to  adjournment. 

Voted,  That  every  transaction  which  this  Convention 
thinks  expedient  should  be  kept  as  a  profound  secret,  we 
do  hereby  solemnly  promise  and  oblige  ourselves  strictly 
to  conform  to,  and  not  communicate  upon  any  pretence 
whatsoever,  unless  by  leave  of  this  Congress. 

Adjourned  till  eight  o'clock  to-morrow. 

Thursday,  June  8,  1775. 

Met  according  to  adjournment. 

Voted,  An  Address  to  the  inhabitants  of  this  Colony  be 
sent  to  the  press,  respecting  lenity  by  creditors  to  their 
debtors,  Sic. 

Colonel  Hale  returned,  got  no  Powder  or  Small-Arms, 
but  gives  us  great  encouragement  that  we  shall  have  some 
soon  from  the  Southern  Colonies  ;  and  that  Powder  is  made 
at  Philadelphia  in  such  quantities,  that  two  hundred  barrels 
is  made  in  a  day  ;  and  that  Provisions  are  plenty  and  cheap 
in  Connecticut,  and  that  quantities  are  now  transporting  to 
Cambridge. 

Adjourned  till  three  o'clock. 

Met  according  to  adjournment. 

Voted,  That  Captain  Page  and  Colonel  Stark,  from 
Dunbarton,  have  a  hearing  before  this  Convention  the 
second  day  of  sitting,  after  adjournment,  for  any  time  longer 
than  from  Saturday  lo  Monday. 

Voted,  That  the  sum  of  Fifty  Pounds  be  paid  by  the 
Treasurer  of  this  Colony  to  any  inhabitant  of  said  Colony 
who  shall  manufacture  the  largest  quantity  of  Saltpetre, 
not  less  than  one  hundred  weight,  within  one  year  from  this 


659 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


660 


date  :  also  the  sum  of  six  pence  per  pound  for  every  pound 
above  ten  pound  (excepting  that  person  who  receives  the 
bounty  of  fifty  Pounds)  manufactured  by  any  person  within 
said  Colony,  in  the  said  year,  and  that  the  Committee  of 
Supplies  be  directed  and  empowered  to  examine  any  quan- 
tity offered,  and  to  draw  on  the  Treasurer  agreeable  to  this 
Resolve,  or  some  other  Committee  who  shall  be  particu- 
larly empowered  for  this  purpose. 

Whereas  a  number  of  the  Towns  of  this  Colony  have 
not  yet  paid  into  the  hands  of  George  Jaffrey,  Esq.,  their 
Province  Tax : 

Resolved,  That  the  Constables  and  Collectors  of  said 
Towns  be,  and  hereby  are  directed  to  pay  said  money  into 
the  hands  of  Colonel  Nicholas  Oilman,  Receiver-General 
for  the  Colony  of  New- Hampshire,  who  is  authorized  to 
receive  and  give  receipts  for  the  same. 

Voted,  That  Deacon  Samuel  Books  be  Postmaster  for 
this  Town. 

Adjourned  till  eight  o'clock  to-morrow. 

Friday,  June  9,  1775. 
Voted,  That  Ebenczcr  Thompson,  Esquire,  and  Colonel 
Nicholas  Oilman,  be  a  Committee  to  procure  the  plates, 
and  see  the  Notes  struck  off.    Adjourned  to  three  o'clock. 

Met  according  to  adjournment. 

Resolved,  That  the  Receiver-General  of  this  Colony, 
appointed  by  this  Congress,  be  hereby  empowered  to  give 
his  notes  of  hand  on  the  faith  of  the  Colony,  payable  to 
the  possessor,  for  the  sum  of  Ten  Thousand  and  Fifty 
Pounds,  of  the  present  currency,  or  lawful  money,  to  be 
paid  into  the  Treasury  aforesaid  by  a  Tax  on  the  polls  and 
estates  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  Colony,  in  the  following 
manner,  viz  :  four  thousand  Pounds  to  be  paid  by  the 
twentieth  December,  which  will  be  in  the  year  of  our  Lord 

1776,  and  six  per  cent,  interest  from  the  date;  and  the 
sum  of  three  thousand  Pounds  the  twentieth  December, 

1777,  and  three  thousand  and  fifty  Pounds  the  twentieth 
December,  1778.  And  the  said  notes  shall  be  struck  by 
copper-plate,  to  be  engraved  under  the  direction  of  this 
Congress  for  the  several  sums  following,  to  complete  said 
sum  of  Ten  Thousand  and  Fifty  Pounds,  viz :  Six  thou- 
sand Pounds  in  Forty  Shilling  notes  ;  three  thousand  Pounds 
in  Twenty  Shilling  notes ;  nine  hundred  Pounds  in  Six 
Shilling  notes,  and  one  hundred  and  fifty  Pounds  in  One 
Shilling  notes  ;  and  the  form  of  said  notes  to  be  in  the  fol- 
lowing words,  with  such  other  devices  as  may  be  ordered 
by  the  Congress,  viz  : 

"  Colony  of  New-Hampshire,  ) 
No.    .     June  20,  1775.  \ 

"The  possessor  of  this  note  shall  be  entitled  to  receive, 

out  of  the  Treasury  of  this  Colony,  the  sum  of  

Shillings,  lawful  money,  on  the  twentieth  of  December, 
177-,  with  interest  at  the  rate  of  six  per  cent,  per  annum  ; 
and  this  note  shall  be  received  in  all  payments  at  the  Trea- 
sury at  any  time  after  the  date  hereof,  for  the  principal  sum, 


without  interest,  if  so  paid  before  the  said  twentieth  day  of 
December,  A.  D.  177-. 

S.  T.  N.  O. 

And  the  Treasurer  or  Committee  who  shall  number  the 
same,  shall  fill  the  blank  left  for  time  of  payment  in  a  num- 
ber of  bills  sufficient  to  complete  four  thousand  Pounds, 
with  the  figure  6,  and  number  to  complete  three  thousand 
Pounds  with  the  figure 7,  and  the  remainder  witli  the  figure  8. 
And  the  said  Notes,  when  brought  unto  said  Receiver-Gen- 
eral and  paid  by  him,  shall,  after  the  said  time  fixed  for 
payment,  be  burnt  to  ashes  in  the  presence  of  the  Congress 
of  this  Colony. 

3,000    40s.  is  £6,000 

3,000    20s.  is  3,000 

3,000     6s.  is  900 

3,000      Is.  is  150 


£10,050  lawful  money. 
Adjourned  to  eight  o'clock  to-morrow. 

Saturday,  June  10,  177 j. 

Voted,  That  all  Bills  of  Credit  on  the  faith  of  the  Colo- 
ny of  the  Massachusetts-Bay,  have  a  free  currency  in  this 
Colony  of  New-Hampshire. 

Voted,  That  the  President  of  the  Congress  be  empowered 
to  sign  any  papers  in  the  recess  of  the  Congress,  which  it 
is  necessary  should  be  signed  by  hirn  as  President,  and  in 
particular  the  commissions  to  all  officers  appointed  for  the 
Army  belonging  to  this  Colony. 

Voted,  That  one  month's  wages  be  paid  to  all  the  offi- 
cers and  soldiers  in  the  pay  of  this  Colony  as  soon  as  may 
be,  and  that  prior  thereto  the  Paymaster  administer  to 
each  of  the  said  officers  and  soldiers  the  oath  appointed  by 
this  Congress. 

Voted,  That  George  Frost,  Esq.,  be  one  of  the  Com- 
mittee with  Ebenezer  Thompson,  Esq.,  instead  of  Colonel 
Nicholas  Oilman,  to  procure  the  plate,  see  the  money  struck 
off,  signed,  and  delivered  to  the  Receiver-General. 

This  body  having  taken  into  consideration  the  great  stag- 
nation of  Trade,  and  the  difficulty  to  which  their  constituents 
are  reduced  by  the  unhappy  dispute  with  Great  Biitain, 
as  to  the  turning  either  their  real  or  personal  estates  into 
cash,  think  it  necessary  to  recommend  for  the  present  all 
possible  lenity  and  forbearance  in  creditors  towards  those 
who  may  stand  indebted  to  them,  but  that  they  avoid  mul- 
tiplying suits  at  law,  and  especially  the  carrying  them  to 
such  length  as  the  levying  execution  on  real  estates,  which 
must,  in  this  case,  in  our  apprehension,  be  sold  much  below 
their  real  value.  We  most  particularly  recommend  this 
lenity  and  forbearance  in  reference  to  such  who  have  or 
may  engage  as  officers  and  soldiers  in  the  defence  of  the 
invaded  rights  and  liberties  of  America ;  and  we  further 
recommend  to  debtors  all  possible  care  and  endeavour  to 
discharge  to  the  utmost  of  their  power  all  just  demands 
upon  them. 

Adjourned  to  the  twenty-seventh  instant. 


ANNE  ARUNDEL  COUNTY  (MARYLAND)  COMMITTEE. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Anne  Arundel  Coun- 
ty, at  Pigg  Point,  on  Saturday,  the  twentieth  of  May,  at 
the  request  of  Mr.  David  JVeems,  Jr. ;  Joseph  Galloway, 
Esq.,  in  the  Chair.  Present:  Mr.  Thomas  Tillard,  Tho- 
mas Deale,  Marmaduke  Wyvlll,  Thomas  Tongue,  Robert 
Brown,  William  Tillard,  Edward  Tillard,  Samuel  Har- 
rison, and  John  Stewart. 

Mr.  Wcems  desired  to  know  if  he  might  procure  some 
articles  that  he  had  occasion  for.  of  any  of  the  masters 
of  ships,  particularly  an  anchor  and  cable  of  Captain  David 
Carcaud,  of  the  Ship  Industry. 

Resolved,  That  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  Committee,  that 
Mr.  Weems,  nor  any  other  person,  can,  consistent  with  the 
letter  and  spirit  of  the  Association  of  the  Continental  Con- 
gress, purchase  or  receive  the  same. 

Resolved,  That  Captain  Carcaud  cannot  sell,  or  in  any 
manner  dispose  of,  or  land  the  aforesaid  anchor  and  cable, 
or  any  rigging,  sails,  or  other  goods  he  may  have  on  board 


his  ship,  to  any  person  within  the  Province  of  Maryland, 
or  any  part  of  America. 

Ordered,  That  this  be  printed  in  the  Maryland  Gazette. 

J.  Stewart,  Clerk. 


Newcastle,  Delaware,  May  20,  1775. 
This  day,  agreeable  to  appointment,  the  Captains  and 
Subaltern  Officers  of  Newcastle  County  met  at  Christiana 
Bridge  to  choose  Commanders,  when  the  following  gentle- 
men were  chosen,  viz : 

For  the  Upper  Division. 

James  McKinley,  Esq.,  Colonel ; 

James  Latimer,  Esq.,  Lieutenant  Colonel ; 

Thomas  Duff,  Esq.,  Major. 

For  the  Lower  Division. 

Thomas  Gooch,  Esq.,  Colonel ; 
Samuel  Patterson,  Lieutenant  Colonel ; 
Gunning  Bedford,  Major. 


661 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


662 


TO  THE  DELEGATES  OF  NEW-JERSEY  IN  THE  CONTINENTAL 
CONGRESS. 
[Read  before  Congress  May  27,  1775.] 

House  of  Assembly,  New-Jersey,  ) 
May  20,  1775.  \ 

His  Excellency  having  laid  before  the  House  a  copy  of 
the  Resolution  of  the  honourable  House  of  Commons  of 
Great  Britain,  of  the  twentieth  of  February,  1775,  con- 
taining a  plan  formed  for  the  accommodation  of  the  unhappy 
differences  between  our  Parent  State  and  the  Colonies, 
which  plan,  under  the  present  circumstances,  this  House 
could  not  comply  with  and  adopt;  and  yet  this  House,  being 
desirous  of  making  use  of  all  proper  means  to  effect  a  re- 
conciliation, do  recommend  it  to  their  Delegates  to  lay  the 
same  plan  before  the  Continental  Congress  for  their  consi- 
deration. 

A  true  copy  from  the  Journals : 

Richard  Smith,  Clerk  of  Assembly. 


COLONEL  GUT  JOHNSON  TO  THE  MAGISTRATES  AND  OTHERS 
OF  PALATINE,  ETC.,  TRYON  COUNTY,  N.  Y. 

Guy  Park,  May  20,  1775. 

Gentlemen:  I  have  lately  had  repeated  accounts  that 
a  body  of  New-Englanders  or  others  were  to  come  to 
seize  and  carry  away  my  person,  and  attack  our  family, 
under  colour  of  malicious  insinuation  that  I  intend  to  set 
the  Indians  upon  the  people.  Men  of  sense  and  character 
know  that  my  office  is  of  the  highest  importance  to  promote 
peace  amongst  the  Six  Nations,  and  prevent  their  entering 
into  any  such  dispute.  This  I  effected  last  year  when  they 
were  much  vexed  about  the  attack  made  upon  the  Shawa- 
nese,  and  I  last  winter  appointed  them  to  meet  me  this 
month,  to  receive  the  answer  of  the  Virginians.  And  all 
men  must  allow,  that  if  the  Indians  find  their  council  fire 
disturbed,  and  their  Superintendent  insulted,  they  will  take 
a  dreadful  revenge.  It  is  therefore  the  duty  of  all  people 
to  prevent  this,  and  to  satisfy  any  who  may  have  been 
imposed  on,  that  their  suspicions,  and  the  allegations  they 
have  collected  against  me,  are  false  and  inconsistent  with 
my  character  and  office. 

I  recommend  this  to  you  as  highly  necessary  at  this  time, 
as  my  regard  for  the  interest  of  the  Country,  and  self-pre- 
servation, has  obliged  me  to  fortify  my  house,  and  keep  men 
armed  for  my  defence,  till  these  idle  and  ridiculous  reports 
are  removed.  You  may  lay  this  letter  before  such  as  are 
interested  in  those  matters.  I  am,  gentlemen,  your  hum- 
ble servant,  G.  Johnson. 
To  the  Magistrates  and  others  of  Palatine,  Canajoharie, 

and  the  Upper  Districts. 


COLONEL  GUY  JOHNSON   TO  THE   MAGISTRATES  OF  SCHE- 
NECTADY AND  ALBANY. 

Guy  Park,  May,  1775. 
Gentlmen  :  As  the  peace  and  happiness  of  the  Coun- 
try are  objects  that  every  good  man  should  have  at  heart, 
I  think  it  highly  necessary  to  acquaint  you,  that  for  a  few 
days  I  have  been  put  to  the  great  trouble  and  expense  of 
fortifying  my  house,  and  keeping  a  large  body  of  men  for 
the  defence  of  my  person;  and  have  received  repeated 
accounts  that  either  the  New-Englanders,  or  some  persons 
in  or  about  the  City  of  Albany  or  Town  of  Schenectady, 
are  coming  up,  to  a  considerable  number,  to  seize  and  im- 
prison me  on  a  ridiculous  and  malicious  report  that  I  intend 
to  make  the  Indians  destroy  the  inhabitants,  or  to  that  effect. 
The  absurdity  of  this  apprehension  may  easily  be  seen  by 
men  of  sense  ;  but  as  many  credulous  and  ignorant  persons 
may  be  led  astray  and  inclined  to  believe  it,  and  as  they 
have  already  sent  down  accounts,  examinations,  &tc.,  from 
busy  people  here,  that  I  can  fully  prove  to  be  totally  devoid 
of  all  foundation,  it  is  become  the  duty* of  all  those  who 
have  authority  or  influence,  to  disabuse  the  publick,  and 
prevent  consequences  which  I  foresee  with  very  great  con- 
cern, and  most  cordially  wish  may  be  timely  prevented. 
Any  differences  in  political  ideas  can  never  justify  such 
extravagant  opinions  ;  and  I  little  imagined  that  they  should 
have  gained  belief  amongst  any  order  of  people  who  know 
my  character,  station,  and  the  large  property  I  have  in  the 
country,  and  the  duties  of  my  office,  which  are  to  preserve 
tranquillity  amongst  the  Indians,  hear  their  grievances,  &c, 


and  prevent  them  from  falling  upon  the  trade  and  frontiers. 
These  last  were  greatly  threatened  by  the  Indians  on  ac- 
count of  the  disturbances  last  year  between  the  Virginians 
and  Shawanese;  during  which,  my  endeavours  prevented 
the  Six  Nations  from  taking  a  part  that  would  have  sensibly 
affected  the  publick ;  and  I  appointed  last  fall  that  the  Six 
Nations  should  come  to  me  this  month,  in  order  to  receive, 
amongst  other  things,  final  satisfaction  concerning  the  lands 
said  to  be  invaded  by  the  Virginians,  who  have  now  sent 
me  their  answer.  In  the  discharge  of  this  duty,  I  likewise 
essentially  serve  the  publick.  But  should  I  neglect  myself, 
and  be  tamely  made  prisoner,  it  is  clear  to  all  who  know 
any  thing  of  Indians,  they  will  not  sit  still  and  see  their 
Council  fire  extinguished,  and  Superintendent  driven  from 
his  duty,  but  will  come  upon  the  frontiers,  in  revenge,  with 
a  power  sufficient  to  commit  horrid  devastation.  It  is  there- 
fore become  as  necessary  to  the  publick,  as  to  myself,  that 
my  person  should  be  defended.  But  as  the  measures  I  am 
necessitated  to  take  for  that  purpose  may  occasion  the  pro- 
pagation of  additional  falsehoods,  and  may  at  last  appear 
to  the  Indians  in  a  light  that  is  not  for  the  benefit  of  the 
publick,  I  should  heartily  wish,  gentlemen,  that  you  could 
take  such  measures  for  removing  these  apprehensions,  as 
may  enable  me  to  discharge  my  duties  (which  do  not  inter- 
fere with  the  publick)  without  the  protection  of  armed 
men  and  the  apprehension  of  insult;  and  as  the  publick 
are  much  interested  in  this,  I  must  beg  to  have  your  answer 
as  soon  as  possible.  I  am,  gentlemen,  your  most  humble 
servant,  G.  Johnson. 

To  the  Magistrates  and  Committee  of  Schenectady,  and 
to  the  Mayor,  Corporation,  he,  of  Albany;  to  be  for- 
warded by  the  former. 


CENERAL  ASSEMBLY  OF  RHODE-ISLAND. 

Providence,  Rhode-Island,  May  20,  1775. 

Whereas  the  Ministry  and  Parliament  of  Great  Britain, 
sacrificing  the  glory  and  happiness  of  their  Sovereign,  and 
the  good  of  Britain  and  the  Colonies,  to  their  own  ambi- 
tious and  lucrative  views,  have  entered  into  many  arbitrary 
illegal  resolutions,  for  depriving  His  Majesty's  subjects  in 
America  of  every  security  for  the  enjoyment  of  life,  liberty, 
and  property  ;  and  have  sent,  and  are  still  sending,  Troops 
and  Ships-of-War  into  these  Colonies,  to  enforce  their  tyran- 
nical mandates,  and  have  actually  begun  to  shed  the  blood 
of  the  innocent  people  of  these  Colonies ;  in  consequence 
whereof,  this  Assembly,  at  the  session  held  on  the  twenty- 
second  of  April  last,  passed  an  Act  for  raising  fifteen  hun- 
dred men,  as  an  Army  of  Observation,  and  to  assist  any  of 
our  sister  Colonies : 

And  whereas  the  Honourable  Joseph  Wanton,  Esquire, 
then  Governour  of  this  Colony,  did  enter  a  Protest  against 
the  said  Act,  conceived  in  such  terms  as  highly  to  reflect 
upon  the  General  Assembly,  and  upon  the  united  opposi- 
tion of  all  America,  to  the  aforesaid  tyrannical  measures  : 
And  whereas  the  said  Joseph  Wanton,  Esquire,  hath  neg- 
lected 1o  issue  a  Proclamation  for  the  due  observation  of 
Thursday,  the  eleventh  of  May  instant,  as  a  day  of  fast- 
ing and  prayer,  agreeable  to  an  Act  passed  at  the  said  ses- 
sion :  And  whereas  the  said  Joseph  Wanton,  Esq.,  hath 
been  elected  to  the  office  of  Governour  of  this  Colony  for 
the  present  year,  and  been  duly  notified  by  this  Assembly, 
notwithstanding  which,  he  has  not  attended  at  this  General 
Assembly,  and  taken  the  oath  required  by  law  :  And  where- 
as the  said  Joseph  Wanton,  Esquire,  hath  positively  refused 
to  sign  the  commissions  for  the  officers  appointed  to  com- 
mand the  Troops  so  ordered  to  be  raised.  By  all  which 
he  hath  manifested  his  intention  to  defeat  the  good  people 
of  these  Colonies  in  their  present  glorious  struggle  to  trans- 
mit inviolate  to  posterity  those  sacred  rights  they  have  re- 
ceived from  their  ancestors: 

Be  it  therefore  enacted  by  this  General  Assembly,  and 
by  the  authority  thereof  it  is  enacted,  That  the  Deputy- 
Governour  and  Assistants  be,  and  they  are  hereby  forbid  to 
administer  the  oath  of  office  to  the  said  Joseph  Wanton, 
Esq.,  unless  in  free  and  open  General  Assembly,  according 
to  the  unvaried  practice  of  this  Colony,  and  with  the  assent 
of  such  Assembly  ;  that  until  the  said  Joseph  Wanton, 
Esq.,  shall  have  taken  the  oath  of  office  as  aforesaid,  it 
shall  not  be  lawful  for  him  to  act  as  Governour  of  this  Col- 
ony in  any  case  whatever  ;  and  that  every  act  done  by  him, 


663 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  he,  MAY,  1775. 


664 


in  the  precedent  capacity  of  Govcrnour,  shall  be  null  and 
void  in  itself,  and  shall  not  operate  as  a  warrant  or  discharge 
to  any  person  acting  by  his  order  or  under  his  authority. 

And  be  it  further  enacted  by  the  authority  aforesaid, 
That  Henry  Ward,  Esq.,  Secretary  of  the  Colony,  be  and 
he  is  hereby  directed  and  fully  authorized  and  empowered 
to  sign  the  commissions  for  all  officers,  civil  and  military, 
chosen  by  this  Assembly,  as  well  those  going  in  the  service 
aforesaid,  as  others ;  he  receiving  therefor,  out  of  the  gen- 
eral Treasury,  two  shillings  and  eight  pence  for  each  com- 
mission. And  that  such  commission  so  signed,  with  the 
Colony  seal  affixed,  shall  be  as  full  and  effectual  warrants 
to  every  and  all  such  officers  so  chosen,  for  the  faith- 
ful discharge  of  his  and  their  duty,  as  If  the  same  were 
signed  by  a  Governour  of  this  Colony,  duly  elected  and 
engaged  according  to  law ;  any  law,  custom,  or  usage,  to 
the  contrary  hereof  in  any  wise  notwithstanding. 

And  be  it  further  enacted  by  the  authority  aforesaid, 
That  bis  Honour  the  Deputy  Governour  be  requested,  and 
fully  authorized  and  empowered,  to  call  the  General  As- 
sembly together  upon  any  emergency,  to  meet  at  such  time 
and  place  as  he  shall  think  tnost  fit  for  the  interest  of  the 
Colony. 


COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY  OF  MASSACHUSETTS  TO  GENERAL 
PREBLE. 

Cambridge,  May  20,  1775. 

Sir:  This  Committee  received  your  favour  of  the  15th 
instant,  touching  the  raising  men  for  the  service  of  this 
Colony,  and  note  your  just  observations  on  the  subject. 

The  Committee,  after  the  Resolutions  of  the  Congress 
for  the  establishing  an  Army  of  13,600  men,  thought  the 
exigencies  of  the  times,  and  the  exposed  situation  of  the 
several  Towns  near  Boston,  made  it  absolutely  necessary 
that  the  Army  should  be  immediately  raised,  and  that  for 
the  facilitating  of  this  important  business,  it  was  expedient 
orders  should  be  issued  to  such  men  as  are  recommended 
as  proper  persons  for  such  important  trusts.  Accordingly 
orders  were  issued  to  as  many  Colonels  as  were  sufficient 
to  complete  said  Army  ;  but  from  the  delay  which  appeared 
in  the  Army's  being  formed,  by  the  slow  progress  made  in 
the  enlisting  men,  and  the  exposed  situation  of  the  Colony 
camp,  by  the  going  off  of  numbers  from  time  to  time,  it 
was  rendered  necessary  that  further  orders  should  be  issued 
for  completing  the  Army  with  all  possible  speed ;  and,  in 
consequence  of  that  determination,  among  others,  Colonel 
March  received  orders  for  the  enlisting  of  a  Regiment  for 
the  service  of  this  Colony,  and,  we  understand,  has  made 
some  considerable  progress  in  enlisting  men  for  said  service. 
We  are  also  informed  by  your  Honour,  that  Colonel  Phin~ 
ney  has  received  enlisting  orders  from  you,  and  has  engaged 
in  the  business  of  enlisting  men  to  complete  a  Regiment. 
And  we  are  further  informed  by  your  Honour,  that  it  is 
impracticable  that  two  Regiments  should  be  raised  in  the 
County  of  Cumberland ;  and  being  told  by  Colonel  Phin- 
ney  that  many  of  the  men  that  would  be  raised  in  your 
County,  could  not  be  supplied  by  the  Towns,  from  which 
they  are  enlisted,  with  fire-arms  and  blankets,  this  Com- 
mittee, taking  into  consideration  the  exposed  situation  of 
your  County,  and  the  probability  of  the  Army's  being  com- 
pleted without  drawing  men  from  those  parts  of  the  Colony 
which  are  more  immediately  exposed,  would  recommend, 
Sir,  that  you  would  use  your  influence  that  a  stop  be  put  to 
the  raising  any  men  in  your  County,  until  it  may  be  known 
by  the  various  returns  from  the  several  Colonels  authorized 
for  the  raising  Regiments,  whether  it  may  be  necessary  to 
take  any  men  from  your  County  ;  and  should  this  necessity 
take  place,  of  raising  a  Regiment  in  your  County,  this  Com- 
mittee will  endeavour  to  give  you  such  early  intelligence 
as  may  be  necessary.  The  request  of  this  Committee  to 
your  Honour,  we  flatter  ourselves  will  not  be  conceived  by 
you  as  carrying  in  it  the  least  disrespect  to  Colonel  March 
or  Colonel  Phinncy,  but  solely  from  the  probability  of  the 
Army's  being  complete,  without  taking  men  from  those 
parts  of  the  Colony  which  are  more  immediately  exposed. 
We  should  be  glad  to  see  your  Honour  at  Head-Quarters  ; 
hope  your  health  will  soon  admit,  and  with  you  join  in  the 
hope  of  soon  seeing  a  speedy  end  to  the  great  difficulties 
this  distressed  Colony  now  labours  under. 

We  are,  S'r.  w'ln  great  respect,  your  Honour's  humble 
servants. 


LETTER  FROM  THE   COMMITTEE   APPOINTED  TO  CONFER 
WITH  THE  CONGRESS  OF  NEW-HAMPSHIRE. 

Exeter,  May  20,  1775. 

Sir  :  In  obedience  to  the  orders  of  the  Congress,  we 
have  executed  the  commission  betrusted  us,  and  find  the 
General  disposed  to  concur  in  every  measure  that  shall  con- 
duce to  the  publick  good.  Enclosed,  Sir,  is  their  Resolve 
of  Congress.  We  can  add  no  more  than  giving  you  ac- 
count of  their  seizing  a  number  of  masts  in  Portsmouth, 
destined  for  the  Navy.  Their  firmness,  resolution,  and 
unanimity,  gives  us  great  pleasure,  and  are,  Sir,  with  the 
highest  respect,  your  most  obedient  humble  servants, 

Joseph  Gerrish, 
Ecenezer  Sawyer. 
To  the  President  of  the  Congress  of  the  Massachusetts 

Colony,  if  sitting,  and  if  not,  to  the  Chairman  of  the 

Committee  of  Safety. 

In  Provincial  Convention  at  Exeter,  ( 
May  20,  1775.  $ 

Whereas  by  the  late  Acts  of  the  British  Parliament,  and 
conduct  of  the  Ministers  in  pursuance  thereof,  it  appears 
very  evident  that  a  plan  is  laid  and  now  pursuing,  to  subju- 
gate this  and  the  other  American  Colonies  to  the  most 
abject  slavery  ;  and  the  late  hostilities  committed  by  the 
British  Troops  in  our  sister  Colony  of  the  Massachusetts- 
Bay,  leaves  us  no  doubt  in  determining  that  no  other  way- 
is  left  us  to  preserve  our  most  darling  rights,  and  inestima- 
ble privileges,  but  by  immediately  defending  thern  by  arms. 
Reduced,  therefore,  by  this  most  terrible  necessity,  this 
Convention,  after  the  most  solemn  deliberations,  have 

Resolved,  That  it  is  necessary  to  raise  immediately  two 
thousand  effective  men  in  this  Province,  including  officers, 
and  those  of  this  Province  that  are  already  in  the  service, 
and  that  the  time  of  their  enlistment  continue  to  the  last 
day  of  December  next,  unless  the  Committee  of  Safety- 
should  judge  it  proper  that  a  part  or  the  whole  be  discharged 
sooner. 

That  every  member  pledge  his  honour  and  estate  in  the 
name  of  his  constituents,  to  pay  their  proportion  for  the 
maintenance  and  pay  of  the  above  officers  and  soldiers 
while  in  service. 

That  application  be  made  immediately  to  the  Continen- 
tal Congress,  for  their  advice  and  assistance  respecting 
means  and  ways  to  put  the  above  plan  into  execution. 

That  the  establishment  of  the  officers  and  soldiers  shall 
be  the  same  as  in  the  Massachusetts-Bay. 

Agreed,  That  the  Selectmen  of  the  several  Towns  and 
Districts  within  this  Colony,  be  desired  to  furnish  the  sol- 
diers, who  shall  enlist  from  their  respective  Towns  and 
Districts,  with  good  and  sufficient  blankets,  and  render  their 
account  to  the  Committee  of  Supplies. 

That  if  it  should  appear  that  the  above  number  of  men 
is  not  our  full  proportion  with  other  Governments,  that  this 
Convention  will  make  a  proper  addition  for  that  purpose. 

Matthew  Thornton,  President. 


REVEREND  WILLIAM  GORDON  TO  DOCTOR  J.  WARREN. 

Jamaica  Plains,  May  20,  1775. 

Sir  :  Shall  be  obliged  to  you  would  you  stop  any  letters 
directed  for  me  that  may  be  brought  by  the  post,  and  send 
them  by  the  bearer,  who  will  pay  the  postage.  Should  the 
Committee  approve  of  sending  me  Hutchinson's  loose  let- 
ters, with  the  letter  books,  on  Monday,  will  apply  myself 
to  sorting  them  according  to  date,  reading  them  over,  and 
notifying  every  thing  that  shall  appear  to  me  of  impor- 
tance to  be  laid  before  the  publick.  Your  very  humble 
servant,  and  brother  in  the  same  common  cause, 

William  Gordon. 

letter  from  four  mohawks  to  the  oneidas,  trans- 
lated from  the  mohawk  into  english. 

Written  at  Guy  Johnson's,  May,  1775. 

This  is  your  letter,  you  great  ones  or  Sachems.  Guy 
Johnson  says  he  will  be  glad  if  you  get  this  intelligence,  you 
Oneidas,  how  it  goes  with  him  now,  and  he  is  now  more 
certain  concerning  the  intention  of  the  Boston  people.  Guy 
Johnson  is  in  great  fear  of  being  taken  prisoner  by  the  Bos- 


6G5 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


GG6 


Immm.  We  Mohaicks  are  obliged  to  watch  him  constantly. 
Therefore  we  send  you  this  intelligence  that  you  shall  know 
it,  and  Guy  Johnson  assures  himself,  and  depends  upon 
your  coming  to  his  assistance,  and  that  you  will  without 
fail  be  of  that  opinion.  He  believes  not  that  you  will 
assent  to  let  him  suffer.  We  therefore  expect  you  in  a 
couple  of  days'  time.  So  much  at  present.  We  send  but 
so  far  as  to  you  Oneidas,  but  afterward  perhaps  to  all  the 
other  Nations.  We  conclude  and  expect  that  you  will 
have  concern  about  our  ruler,  Guy  Johnson,  because  we 
are  all  united.  Aren  Kannenzaron, 

Johannes  Tegarihoge, 
Deyagodeaghnaweagh. 

Joseph  Brant, 

Guy  Johnson's  Interpreter. 

RESOLUTIONS  OF  THE  COMMITTEE  OF  TRYON  COUNTY,  NEW- 
YORK,  ON  THE  LETTER  OF  COLONEL  GUY  JOHNSON,  OF 
MAY  20,  AND  THE  LETTER  FROM  THE  MOHAWKS. 

In  Committee,  Tryon  County,  May  21,  1775. 

1.  That  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  Commitee  that  the  Li- 
llians who  signed  the  letter  never  would  have  presumed  to 
write  or  send  the  same,  if  they  had  not  been  counte- 
nanced. 

2.  That  as  we  have  unanimously  adopted  the  proceed- 
ings of  the  Grand  Continental  Congress,  and  mean  vir- 
tuously to  support  the  same,  so  we  feel  and  commiserate 
the  sufferings  of  our  brethren  in  the  Massachusetts-Bay, 
and  the  other  Colonies  in  America,  and  that  we  mean 
never  to  submit  to  any  arbitrary  and  oppressive  acts  of  any 
power  under  Heaven,  or  to  any  illegal  and  unwarrantable 
action  of  any  man  or  set  of  men. 

3.  That  as  the  whole  Continent  has  approved  of  the 
actions  and  proceeding  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay,  and 
other  of  the  Provinces  of  New-England,  we  do  adopt 
and  approve  of  the  same.  Wherefore  we  must  and  do 
consider  that  any  fortification  or  armed  force  raised,  to  be 
made  use  of  against  them,  as  evidently  designed  to  over- 
awe and  make  us  submit. 

4.  That  Colonel  Johnson's  conduct  in  raising  fortifica- 
tions round  his  house,  keeping  a  number  of  Indians  and 
armed  men  constantly  about  him,  and  stopping  and  search- 
ing travellers  upon  the  King's  highway,  and  stopping  our 
communication  with  Albany,  is  very  alarming  to  this  Coun- 
ty, and  is  highly  arbitrary,  illegal,  oppressive,  and  unwar- 
rantable ;  and  confirms  us  in  our  fears,  that  his  design  is 
to  keep  us  in  awe,  and  oblige  us  to  submit  to  a  state  of 
slavery. 

5.  That  as  we  abhor  a  state  of  slavery,  we  do  join  and 
unite  together  under  all  the  ties  of  religion,  honour,  jus- 
tice, and  a  love  for  our  Country,  never  to  become  slaves, 
and  to  defend  our  freedom  with  our  lives  and  fortunes. 


COMMITTEE  OF  PALATINE  DISTRICT,  TRYON  COUNTY,  TO 
THE  ALBANY  COMMITTEE. 

Upon  the  alarming  news  that  expresses  were  gone  to 
call  down  the  Upper  Nation  of  Indians  to  Colonel  John- 
son's, we  caused  ourselves  to  be  convened  this  day,  to  take 
the  state  of  this  County  into  consideration ;  upon  which 
we  have  determined  to  order  the  inhabitants  of  this  District 
to  provide  themselves  with  sufficient  arms  and  ammuni- 
tion, and  to  be  ready  at  a  moment's  warning.  We  are 
sorry  to  acquaint  you  that  all  communication  with  your 
County  is  entirely  stopped  by  Colonel  Johnson,  who  has 
five  hundred  men  to  guard  his  house,  which  he  has  forti- 
fied, under  pretence  that  he  is  afraid  of  a  visit  of  the  New- 
Englandmen,  as  will  appear  by  a  copy  of  a  letter  we 
intercepted  this  morning.  We  have  not  fifty  pounds  of 
powder  in  our  District,  and  it  will  be  impossible  for  you  to 
help  us  to  any  till  the  communication  is  opened,  not  a  man 
being  suffered  to  pass  without  being  searched.  To-morrow 
is  to  be  a  meeting  of  Canajoharie  District,  when  we  expect 
they  will  adopt  congressional  measures  very  heartily,  and 
we  purpose  to  have  a  meeting  of  the  Committees  of  both 
Districts,  and  propose  the  question,  whether  we  will  not 
open  the  communication  by  force ;  if  which  question  is 
determined  in  the  affirmative,  we  shall  despatch  another 
express  to  you,  acquainting  you  with  the  day,  when  we 
hope  you  will  be  on  your  way  up  with  some  ammunition. 


We  have  just  sent  off  an  express  to  the  German  Flats, 
and  Kingsland  Districts,  desiring  them  to  unite  with  us  and 
give  us  their  assistance  ;  which  Districts,  or  at  least  a  great 
majority  of  them,  we  are  credibly  informed,  are  very  hearty 
in  the  present  struggles  for  American  liberty.  We  are, 
gentlemen,  perhaps  in  a  worse  situation  than  any  part  of 
America  is  at  present.  We  have  an  open  enemy  before 
our  faces,  and  treacherous  friends  at  our  backs,  for  which 
reason  we  hope  you  will  take  our  case  into  your  immediate 
consideration,  and  give  us  an  answer  by  the  bearers,  who 
go  express  by  the  way  of  Schoharie,  as  we  dare  not  trust 
them  any  other  way.  .  They  have  orders  to  wait  for  an 
answer.  We  have  reason  to  think  that  a  great  many  of 
the  Indians  are  not  satisfied  with  Colonel  Johnson's  con- 
duct, for  which  reason  we  have  thought  it  would  not  be 
improper  to  send  a  couple  of  men,  well  acquainted  with 
the  Indian  language,  to  dissuade  them  from  coming  down. 
And  we  think  it  would  be  of  service  to  us  if  you  could 
send  two  also,  who  are  able  to  make  the  Indians  sensible 
of  the  present  dispute  with  the  Mother  Country  and  us. 
We  have  the  pleasure  to  acquaint  you,  that  we  are  very 
unanimous  in  our  District,  as  well  as  in  Canajoharie,  and 
we  are  determined  by  no  means  to  submit  to  the  oppres- 
sive acts  of  Parliament,  much  less  to  Colonel  Johnson* 
arbitrary  conduct. 
May  21,  1775. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  TO  A  GENTLEMAN  IN  PHILADEL- 
PHIA, DATED  BOSTON,  MAY  21,  1775. 

You  request  my  writing  freely,  which  I  must  be  cautious 
of,  for  reasons  which  will  naturally  occur  to  you.  As  to 
the  inhabitants  removing,  they  are  suffered  to  go  out  under 
certain  restrictions.  This  liberty  was  obtained  after  many 
town  meetings,  and  several  conferences  between  their  Com- 
mittee and  General  Gage.  The  terms  mutually  agreed 
to  were,  "  that  the  inhabitants  should  deliver  up  all  their 
arms  to  the  Selectmen."  This  was  generally  done,  though 
it  took  up  some  days.  On  this  occasion  the  inhabitants 
were  to  have  had  liberty  to  remove  out  of  Town,  with 
their  effects,  and  during  this,  to  have  free  egress  and 
regress.  But  mark  the  event :  the  arms  being  delivered, 
orders  were  issued  by  the  General,  that  those  who  inclined 
to  remove  must  give  in  their  names  to  the  Selectmen,  to 
be  by  them  returned  to  the  Military  Town  Major,  who 
was  then  to  write  a  pass  for  the  person  or  family  applying, 
to  go  through  the  lines,  or  over  the  ferry  ;  but  all  mer- 
chandise was  forbid  ;  after  a  while,  all  provisions  were 
forbid  ;  and  now  all  merchandise,  provisions,  and  medicine. 
Guards  are  appointed  to  examine  all  trunks,  boxes,  beds, 
and  every  thing  else  to  be  carried  out ;  these  have  pro- 
ceeded to  such  extremities,  as  to  take  from  the  poor  peo- 
ple a  single  loaf  of  bread,  and  half  pound  of  chocolate  ; 
so  that  no  one  is  allowed  to  carry  out  a  mouthful  of  provi- 
sions ;  but  all  is  submitted  to  quietly.  The  anxiety  indeed 
is  so  great  to  get  out  of  Town,  that  even  were  we  obliged 
to  go  naked,  it  would  not  hinder  us.  But  there  are  so 
many  obstructions  thrown  in  the  way,  that  I  do  not  think 
those  who  are  most  anxious  will  be  all  out  in  less  than 
two  or  three  months — vastly  different  from  what  was 
expected,  for  the  General  at  first  proposed,  unasked,  to 
procure  the  Admiral's  boats  to  assist  the  inhabitants  in  the 
transportation  of  their  effects,  which  is  not  done,  and  there 
are  but  two  ferry-boats  allowed  to  cross.  They  have  their 
designs  in  this,  which  you  may  easily  guess  at.  We  suffer 
much  for  want  of  fresh  meat. 


GENERAL  WARD  TO  THE  MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS. 

Head-Quarters,  May  21,  1775. 

The  General  requests  the  ordnance  hereafter  mentioned 
may  be  immediately  procured  and  sent  to  Head-Quarters, 
viz:  thirty  twenty-four  pounders — if  the  whole  number 
cannot  be  obtained,  the  number  be  made  up  with  eighteen 
pounders,  double  fortified  ;  ten  twelve-pounders  ;  eighteen 
nine-pounders ;  and  ordnance  stores  for  the  above  can- 
non, viz :  twenty-one  thousand  and  six  hundred  pounds  of 
powder,  and  eighty  balls  for  each  cannon ;  fifteen  hundred 
stand  of  arms;  twenty  thousand  pounds  musket  powder; 
forty  thousand  pound  of  lead  ;  and  also  seventeen  hundred 
pots.  J.  Ward,  Secretary. 


667 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  he,  MAY,  1775. 


668 


JAMES  SULLIVAN  TO  THE  MASSACHUSETTS  COMMITTEE  OF 
SAFETY. 

New-Hampshire,  May  21,  1775. 

Honoured  Sir:  This  will  be  handed  to  you  by  Mr. 
Scammdl  who  I  have  recommended  as  major  of  the  Coun- 
ty of  York  Regiment. 

I  trouble  you  early,  to  let  you  know  that  the  Regiment 
in  the  County  of  Cumberland  will  have  not  more  than  one 
gun  to  three  men,  and  expect  to  be  armed  by  the  Prov- 
ince. If  the  Colony  does  not  intend  to  arm  them,  I  appre- 
hend that  notice  thereof  should  be  immediately  given  to 
Colonel  March.  It  may  be  thought  best  to  bring  no  men 
from  that  part  of  the  Colony.  I  am,  with  much  vener- 
ation, your  very  humble  servant,  James  Sullivan. 
To  Joseph  Warren,  President  of  the  Committee  of  Safety. 


THE  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY  TO  THE  MASSACHUSETTS 
CONGRESS. 

Cambridge,  May  21,  1775. 

This  Committee  have  often  contemplated  the  mode  of 
ascertaining  the  method  of  completing  the  several  Regi- 
ments, and  find  no  clear  and  explicit  rule  to  their  satisfac- 
tion, and  therefore  beg  leave  to  suggest  to  the  honourable 
Congress  of  this  Colony  whether  a  return  from  a  muster- 
master,  that  such  or  such  a  Regiment  had  such  a  number 
of  privates  who  had  passed  muster,  would  not  be  a  good 
rule  for  ascertaining  when  a  Regiment  may  be  said  to  be 
full,  and  submit  the  consideration  of  the  same  to  the  hon- 
ourable Congress.    We  are,  &tc. 


PRINCE  WILLIAM  COUNTY  (VIRGINIA)  COMMITTEE. 

At  a  meeting  of  a  Special  Committee  for  the  County  of 
Prince  William,  held  at  the  house  of  Thomas  Young,  in 
the  Town  of  Dumfries,  on  Monday,  the  22d  day  of  May, 
1775.  Present:  Foushee  Tebbs,  Esquire,  in  the  Chair. 
Messrs.  William  Grayson,  Thos.  Blackboum,  Henry  Lee, 
Andrew  Leitch,  Richard  Graham,  William  Brent,  John 
Brett,  John  McMillian,  Henry  Peyton,  John  Peyton, 
Hugh  Brent,  James  Tripolett,  Synaugh  Helen,  William 
Tebbs,  Thomas  Atwell,  William  Carr,  Jesse  Ewell,  and 
Cuthbert  Harrison. 

A  Proclamation  by  his  Excellency  Lord  Dunmore,  with 
the  advice  of  His  Majesty's  Council,  having  appeared  in 
the  publick  papers,  charging  a  certain  Patrick  Henry,  and 
his  followers,  with  rebellious  practices,  for  extorting  from 
the  Receiver-General  the  sum  of  three  hundred  and  thirty 
Pounds,  in  satisfaction  for  the  Powder  his  Lordship  thought 
proper  to  remove  from  the  publick  Magazine  in  Williams- 
burgh  ; 

This  Committee  having  taken  the  said  transaction  into 
their  serious  consideration  ;  and  it  appearing  to  them  Com 
the  Address  of  the  Corporation  of  the  City  of  Williams- 
burgh,  on  the  removal  of  the  Powder,  wherein  a  claim  is 
made,  as  restitution  is  required,  and  no  right  in  Govern- 
ment by  his  Excellency  at  that  time  alleged,  which  we 
conceive  he  would  naturally  and  necessarily  have  done  if 
any  such  had  existed  ;  and  having  also  been  informed  from 
respectable  authority,  that  assurance  had  been  given  to 
several  gentlemen  in  Williamsburgh,  by  his  Lordship,  that 
if  no  disturbances  were  raised  the  Powder  should  be  re- 
turned :  for  these  and  other  reasons  which  might  be  given, 
they  are  of  opinion  that  the  Powder  removed  from  the 
publick  Magazine  in  Williamsburgh,  did  of  right  belong  to 
this  Colony. 

This  Committee  being  further  of  opinion  that  the  late 
violent  and  hostile  proceedings  of  His  Majesty's  Troops  in 
the  Massachusetts-Bay,  in  attempting  to  seize  the  military 
stores  of  that  Colony,  would  have  justified  reprisals  of  a 
much  greater  magnitude  : 

Resolved,  therefore,  unanimously,  That  the  thanks  of 
this  Committee  are  justly  due  to  Captain  Patrick  Henry, 
and  the  Gentlemen  Volunteers  who  attended  him,  for  their 
proper  and  spirited  conduct  on  that  alarming  occasion. 

By  order:  Evan  Williams,  Clerk. 


BUCKINGHAM  COUNTY  (VIRGINIA)  COMMITTEE. 

The  Committee  of  the  County  of  Buckingham  desire  it 
may  be  known  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  lower  Counties, 


that  should  any  of  them,  in  the  impending  struggle  for  our 
dearest  rights,  be  driven  from  their  habitations,  that  the 
people  of  Buckingham  are  disposed  to  give  the  most 
friendly  reception  to  as  many  of  the  wives,  children,  and 
slaves  of  those  their  brethren,  as  their  situations  severally 
will  permit;  as  also  to  join  them  with  their  whole  strength 
to  restore  them  to  the  peaceable  and  quiet  enjoyment  of 
their  possessions. 

Farther,  that  if  any  of  their  said  brethren  would  choose, 
by  way  of  precaution,  to  make  settlements  and  cultivate 
grain  in  Buckingham,  that,  coming  with  recommendations 
from  their  County  Committees,  they  may  have  lands  as- 
signed them,  and  continue  on  them  as  their  own,  until  a 
cessation  of  the  present  troubles ;  also,  that  their  stocks 
shall  be  equally  welcome  to  the  woods  and  fields  of  the  said 
County,  except  such  part  only  as  may  propagate  the  mur- 
rain, which,  as  endangering  the  common  means  of  subsist- 
ence, may  be  equally  dangerous  to  all  parties.  The  Com- 
mittee of  Buckingham  do  not  doubt  but  their  sentiments 
upon  the  matter  in  question  will  be  general  throughout  the 
interiour  Counties. 

Published  by  order  of  the  Committee,  held  at  the  Court- 
House,  the  22d  of  May,  1775. 

Rolfe  Eldridge,  Clerk. 


MIDDLESEX  COUNTY  (VIRGINIA)  COMMITTEE. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  for  the  County  of  Mid- 
dlesex, on  Monday,  the  17th  of  April,  1775  : 

A  complaint  was  lodged  against  one  Thomas  Haddin, 
an  inhabitant  of  said  County,  for  refusing  to  sign  the  Con- 
tinental Association,  and  reviling  the  same :  Whereupon 
the  Committee  ordered  him  to  be  summoned  to  appear  be- 
fore them  this  22d  of  May ;  and  it  plainly  appearing  that 
he  had  been  summoned,  but  that  he  not  only  refused  to 
appear,  but  expressed  himself  in  terms  of  the  highest  con- 
tempt, both  of  the  Association  and  Committee  : 

Resolved,  therefore,  That  the  said  Thomas  Haddin  be 
held  forth  to  the  publick  as  an  enemy  to  American  lib- 
erty. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  of  the  above  be  sent  to  the 
Printers  of  the  Virginia  Gazette,  and  that  they  be  re- 
quested to  print  the  same. 

Lodowick  Jones,  Clerk  to  Committee. 


MEETING   OF   THE  INHABITANTS   OF   CHARLES  COUNTY, 
MARYLAND. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Charles  County,  in 
Port-Tobacco  Town,  on  Monday,  the  22d  day  of  May, 
1775: 

Captain  George  Dent,  Chairman,  and 

John  Gwinn,  Clerk. 
Resolved  unanimously,  That  George  Dent,  Samuel 
Hanson,  William  Smallwood,  Josias  Hawkins,  Francis 
Ware,  Joseph  H.  Harrison,  Tliomas  Stone,  Daniel  Jeni- 
fer, Robert  T.  Hooe,  John  Dent,  Samuel  Love,  Thomas 
Hanson  Marshall,  Philip  R.  Fendall,  Samuel  Hanson,  of 
Samuel,  William  Harrison,  and  John  H.  Stone,  be  and 
are  by  this  meeting  appointed  Deputies  to  represent  this 
County  in  any  General  Convention  to  be  held  for  this 
Province ;  and  that  any  five  or  more  of  them  have  power 
and  authority  to  act  for  and  bind  this  County. 
By  order  of  the  Committee : 

John  Gwinn,  Clerk. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  A  GENTLEMAN  IN  PHILA- 
DELPHIA TO  HIS  FRIEND  IN  WILLIAMSBURGH,  VIRGINIA, 
DATED  MAY  22,  1775. 

We  know  the  plan  of  Ministry  is  to  bring  the  Canadians 
and  Indians  down  upon  us;  for  this  reason  the  Provincial 
Troops  of  Connecticut  and  Massachusetts  have  wisely 
taken,  by  a  brave  coup  de  main,  possession  of  the  forts  at 
Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point.  In  the  former  they  got 
two  hundred  pieces  of  large  cannon,  some  field-pieces, 
swivels,  powder,  &.c.  &c.  The  Congress  have  directed 
New- York,  Connecticut,  and  Massachusetts,  to  remove 
these  stores,  &z.c,  to  the  south  end  of  Lake  George,  and  take 
strong  posts  there,  to  intercept  the  communication  and 
march  of  Canadian  and  Indian  forces  into  these  Colonies. 


669 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  kc,  MAY,  1775. 


670 


The  taking  of  Ticonthroga  last  war  cost  Great  Britain 
many  thousand  lives,  and  an  immense  expense :  but  now 
it  lias  been  taken  from  them,  though  strong  and  well  gar- 
risoned, by  the  bravery  and  enterprise  of  a  few  Provincials, 
and  at  a  very  small  expense. 

There  never  was  a  more  total  revolution  at  any  place 
than  at  New-York.  The  Tories  have  been  obliged  to  fly. 
The  Province  is  arming ;  and  the  Governour  dares  not  call 
his  prostituted  Assembly  to  receive  Lord  North's  foolish 
plan.  Two  of  the  Delanceijs,  Watts,  Cooper,  Rivington, 
Colonel  Philips,  and  the  rest  of  the  Tory  leaders,  are  fled  ; 
some  to  England,  and  some  to  private  places  in  the  coun- 
try, where  they  are  not  known.  The  Congress  have  ad- 
vised the  Yorkers  to  make  provision  for  carrying  their 
women  and  children  into  the  country,  and  to  remove  their 
warlike  stores  before  the  arrival  of  the  Troops  there,  whom 
they  are  not  to  suffer  to  encamp,  or  commit  with  impunity 
any  hostilities  against  the  people. 

The  latest  and  best  accounts  from  Boston  make  the  loss 
of  Regulars,  in  killed  and  wounded  and  missing,  one  thou- 
sand men.  The  Provincial  loss  was  trifling.  Ten  thousand 
men  are  now  encamped  before  the  Town,  between  which 
and  the  country  there  is  no  intercourse.  General  Gage 
refuses  to  let  the  people  out ;  in  consequence  of  which  their 
distress  presently  must  be  grievous  indeed.  The  besieging 
army  keep  the  one  besieged  in  constant  alarm ;  so  that  it  is 
said  that  they  rest  neither  night  nor  day.  Every  day  is 
expected  to  bring  two  thousand  men  more  from  Ireland, 
and  seven  Regiments  to  New-  York,  where  the  Tories  had 
informed  Ministry  they  would  be  well  received.  But  now, 
behold,  they  come  to  a  Country  universally  hostile,  and 
in  arms,  to  receive  them.  Connecticut  has  twelve  thousand 
men  in  arms  ;  the  Jerseys  a  good  many ;  and  this  Province 
at  least  ei^ht  thousand.  There  are  two  thousand  in  this 
City,  well-armed  and  disciplined.  In  short,  every  Col- 
ony this  way  is  well  prepared  for  war,  and  appear  to  be 
secure  against  any  force  likely  to  be  sent  against  them.  It 
would  seem  as  if  the  Southern  Colonies  were  alone  vulner- 
able at  present,  and  this  should  be  remedied  as  soon  as 
possible. 

It  seems  the  bill  for  restraining  the  Trade  of  the  Colo- 
nies is  not  to  have  force  until  a  certain  time  after  its  arrival 
in  North  America ;  so  that  in  this  instance  the  whole  power 
of  the  Legislature  is  given  to  Ministry ;  for  it  will  depend 
on  them  when  the  Act  shall  arrive  here,  since  they  may 
send  it  when,  or  never,  as  they  please. 

We  find,  by  the  late  accounts,  that  Ministry  will  be  more 
puzzled  than  they  imagine,  to  accomplish  their  detestable 
purposes  against  us.  A  gentleman  of  the  strictest  veraci- 
ty writes,  that  the  embarkment  from  England  has  been 
delayed,  by  the  impossibility  of  getting  seamen  for  the 
ships  ;  but,  he  adds,  let  not  this  delay  your  vigorous  efforts 
for  defence.  From  Ireland  we  learn  that  the  people  there 
have  interposed  to  prevent  the  embarkment ;  and  that  a 
contest  has  happened,  in  which  several  lives  were  lost  on 
both  sides. 

The  other  day,  General  Gage  hearing  that  all  the  Pro- 
vincial Troops,  except  fifteen  hundred,  were  retired  to  sign 
an  Association  prepared  for  them  at  some  distance  from  the 
encampment,  marched  with  his  whole  force  out  of  Boston; 
but  seeing  the  fifteen  hundred  Provincials  drawn  up  in  or- 
der for  battle,  and  disliking  their  countenance,  he  returned 
within  his  lines. 

A  man-of-war's  tender  at  Rhode-Island  lately  seized  a 
vessel  loaded  with  provisions  for  the  Army  at  Boston ;  and 
the  country  people,  in  boats,  attacked  and  took  both  the 
provisions,  vessel,  and  tender,  having  wounded  the  Lieu- 
tenant of  the  man-of-war,  and  taken  his  men  prisoners, 
whom  they  conveyed  captives  into  the  country.  Thus  you 
see  our  infant  struggles  on  the  water  are  not  unsuccessful. 


LETTER  FROM  THE  NEW-HAMPSHIRE  DELEGATES  AT  PHI- 
LADELPHIA, TO  THE  PROVINCIAL  COMMITTEE  OF  THAT 
COLONY. 

Philadelphia,  May  22,  1775. 
Gentlemen  :  We  take  this  early  opportunity  of  inform- 
ing you  by  Captain  Partridge,  that  the  Congress,  upon 
hearing  of  the  forts  at  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point 
being  seized  by  the  people  of  New-England,  to  prevent 
General  Carhion,  with  his  Canadians  and  Indians  taking 


possession  of  them  to  annoy  our  frontiers  ;  and  finding,  by 
about  thirty  Indian  Chiefs  now  in  Philadelphia,  as  well  as 
by  persons  sent  to  sound  the  dispositions  of  all  the  several 
Indian  Nations,  that  such  a  design  is  really  on  foot ;  and 
that  General  Johnson,  the  Superintendent  for  Indian  affairs, 
has  really  endeavoured  to  persuade  the  Indians  to  enter 
into  a  war  with  us ;  and  that  many  other  steps  have  been 
taken  by  a  bloody-minded  and  cruel  Ministry,  to  induce 
those  hereditary  enemies  of  America  to  fall  upon  and 
butcher  its  inhabitants  ;  we  say,  upon  those  things  appear- 
ing to  the  Congress,  they  have  ordered  the  above  forts  to 
be  demolished,  and  the  warlike  stores  to  be  removed,  and 
another  fort  to  be  erected  and  maintained  at  the  lower 
part  of  Lake  George,  if  the  Committee  of  New-York  shall 
think  it  necessary,  and  to  call  upon  all  the  New-England 
Governments  to  give  assistance,  if  required  by  Netv-York. 
We  earnestly  entreat  you,  for  the  honour  of  the  Province, 
if  such  a  requisition  be  made,  to  give  them  every  possible 
assistance  to  preserve  our  people  from  the  incursions  of  a 
barbarous  and  savage  enemy. 

We  are  sorry,  gentlemen,  that  honour  will  not  permit  us 
to  give  you  the  least  information  respecting  our  proceed- 
ings. We  can  only  say  that  all  the  Colonies  are  firmly 
united,  and  are  preparing  for  the  worst.  We  hope  that 
you  will,  in  imitation  of  the  other  Colonies,  proceed  to 
choose  your  officers,  and  establish  your  Militia  upon  the 
new  plan  which  has  been  adopted  by  every  Colony  upon 
the  Continent.  We  shall  bring  with  us  Governour  Went- 
wortKs  letters  to  Lord  Dartmouth,  for  twelve  months 
past,  that  you  my  judge  whether  he  is  your  friend,  as 
he  pretends,  or  whether  he  is  not  rather  your  inveterate 
enemy. 

Gentlemen,  we  are,  with  great  respect,  your  most  obe- 
dient servants,  John  Sullivan, 

John  Langdon. 

To  the  Provincial  Committee  of  New-Hampshire. 

P.  S.  We  earnestly  entreat  you  to  prevent  our  General 
Court  from  making  any  application  to  Great  Britain  for 
redress  of  grievances,  as  that  would  draw  all  America  upon 
our  Province,  it  being  agreed  that  no  one  shall  make  terms 
without  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  whole. 


NEW-YORK  COMMITTEE. 


The  Committee  met,  by  adjournment,  Monday,  2-3d  of 
May,  1775.  Present: 


Isaac  Low, 
Henry  Remsen, 
David  Johnston, 
P.  V.  B.  Livingston, 
David  Beekman, 
Victor  Bicker, 
John  Broome, 
John  Imlay, 
Daniel  Dunscomb, 
Oliver  Templeton, 
John  Anthony, 
John  B.  Moore, 
Thomas  Randall, 
Jacobus  Van  Zandt, 
Thomas  Smith, 
Peter  Van  Schaack, 
Gerret  Ketletas, 
John  De  Lancey, 
Joseph  Hallett, 
Alex.  McDougall, 
Frederick  Jay, 
Jacob  Van  Voorhies, 
William  W.  Gilbert, 


Hamilton  Young, 
Gabriel  H.  Ludlow, 
Evert  Banker, 
Joseph  Totten, 
Cornelius  Clopper, 
Gerardus  Duyckinck, 
Benjamin  Kissam, 
William  Walton, 
Abram.  Brinkerhoff, 
William  Laight, 
James  Beekman, 
John  M.  Scott, 
Jacobus  Lefferts, 
Benjamin  Helme, 
Anthony  Van  Dam, 
Daniel  Phenix, 
John  Lasher, 
Richard  Yates, 
Augustus  Van  Home, 
Francis  Bassett, 
Thomas  Marston, 
Samuel  Verplanck, 
Nicholas  Bogart, 


Nicholas  Hoffman. 
Gabriel  W.  Ludlow, 
Isaac  Roosevelt, 
Peter  Goelet, 
Lancaster  Burling, 
Robert  Benson, 
John  Lamb, 
Harcules  Mulligan, 
Theophilus  Anthony 
Abraham  Walton, 
Robert  Ray, 
William  W.  Ludlow, 
Petrus  Byvanck. 
William  Denning, 
Abraham  Duryee, 
John  Berrian, 
William  Goforth, 
Thomas  Buchannan, 
David  Clarkson, 
Edward  Fleming, 
Comfort  Sands, 
Peter  T.  Curtenius. 


Mr.  Laight,  from  the  Sub-Committee  appointed  to  make 
an  estimate  of  materials  necessary  to  be  forwarded  to  Al- 
bany, made  a  Report  thereof. 

Ordered,  That  the  same  be  forwarded. 

Mr.  McDougall,  seconded  by  Mr.  Lamb,  moved  in  the 
words  following,  viz : 

That  two  members  of  this  Committee  be  sent  to  the 
Deputies  of  the  County  of  Albany,  now  in  this  City,  to 
confer  with  them  whether  the  County  of  Albany  can  fur- 
nish men  to  garrison  Ticonderoga,  till  the  Stores  there  are 
removed  to  the  south  side  of  Lake  George,  agreeable  to  a 
Resolution  of  the  Continental  Congress. 

Mr.  De  Lancey,  seconded  by  Mr.  Scott,  moved  for  an 
amendment  of  the  above  Motion,  in  the  words  following, 
viz:  by  leaving  out  all  the  latter  part  of  the  said  Motion, 
from  the  words  "  be  sent,"  and  substituting  in  its  room  : 


671 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  fee,  MAY,  1775. 


672 


be  desired  to  wait  on  the  Provincial  Convention,  without 
delay,  and  lay  before  them  the  Recommendation  of  the 
Continental  Congress  relative  to  applying  to  the  neighbour- 
ing Colonies  for  Forces. 

And  the  question  being  put  thereon,  it  was  carried  in  the 
affirmative,  as  follows,  viz: 

For  the  Amendment.  Against  the  Amendment. 

Mr.  Remsen,  Mr.  Lefferts,  Mr.  Livingston, 

Mr.  Johnston,  Mr.  Helme,  Mr.  J.  Broome, 

Mr.  D.  Beekman,         Mr.  Van  Dam,  Mr.  Imlay, 

Mr.  Dunscomb,  Mr.  Van  Home,  Mr.  Sands, 

Mr.  Templeton,  Mr.  Bassett,  Mr.  F.  Jay, 

Mr.  Moore,  Mr.  Bogart,  Mr.  Berrian, 

Mr.  Randall,  Mr.  Hoffman,  Mr.  Goforth, 

Mr.  Smith,  Mr.  G.  W.  Ludlow,         Mr.  J.  Anthony, 

Mr.  Van  Schaack,        Mr.  J.  Roosevelt,  Mr.  Lasher, 

Mr.  Ketletas,  Mr.  Goelet,  Mr.  Burling, 

Mr.  Do  Lancey,  Mr.  Benson,  Mr.  Bicker, 

Mr.  Hallett,  Mr.  T.  Anthony,  Mr.  McDougall, 

Mr.  Young,  Mr.  A.  Walton,  Mr.  Yates, 

Mr.  G.  H.  Ludlow,       Mr.  Ray,  Mr.  Buchannan, 

Mr.  Banker,  Mr.  W.  W.  Ludlow,        Mr.  Van  Zandt, 

Mr.  Clopper,  Mr.  Byvanck,  Mr.  Lamb, 

Mr.  Duyckinck,  Mr.  Duryee,  Mr.  Denning, 

Mr.  Kissam,  Mr.  Clarkson,  Mr.  T.  Marston, 

Mr.  W.  Walton,  Mr.  Van  Voorhies,  Mr.  Brinkerhoff, 

Mr.  Laight,  Mr.  Verplanck,  Mr.  Phenix, 

Mr.  J.  Beekman,  Mr.  Fleming,  Mr.  Mulligan, 

Mr.  Scott,  Mr.  Curtenius.  Mr.  Gilbert, 

Mr.  Totten. 

Ordered,  That  Captain  Berrian  and  Mr.  Laight  be  a 
Sub-Committee  to  wait  on  Mr.  Anderson,  to  know  whether 
he  chooses  to  give  any  answer  to  Mr.  McEvers's  written 
application  to  this  Committee,  which  was  served  upon  him 
last  Sunday  morning. 

Ordered,  That  Messrs.  Brinkerhoff,  Ketletas,  Sands, 
F.  Jay,  Bull,  and  Curtenius,  be  a  Committee  to  inquire 
what  quantity  of  Blankets,  Ravens  Duck,  Osnaburghs, 
Bussia  Sheeting,  Tin  Plates,  and  Coarse  Cloths,  are  in 
this  City,  and  to  request  the  favour  of  the  possessors  not 
to  part  with  them  for  a  few  days,  until  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress shall  determine  on  the  expediency  of  detaining  them 
for  our  own  use. 

The  Committee  adjourned  to  Monday,  29th  May,  1775. 


NEW-YORK.   COMMITTEE   TO   GOVERNOUR  TRUMBULL. 

New-York,  May  22,  1775. 

Honoured  Sir:  I  am  directed  by  the  General  Com- 
mittee of  Association  for  this  City  and  County,  to  transmit 
to  your  Honour  the  enclosed  authentick  copy  of  a  Reso- 
lution of  the  Continental  Congress,  received  by  express  ; 
and  to  inform  your  Honour,  that  in  consequence  thereof, 
we  immediately  shipped  to  Albany  one  hundred  barrels  of 
pork  ;  and  that  a  Select  Committee  has  been  appointed  to 
purchase  and  forward,  without  delay,  cordage,  oakum,  pitch 
gins,  and  every  other  necessary  that  may  be  wanted  from 
hence,  to  carry  into  execution  the  aforesaid  Resolution. 
We  have  also,  by  express,  desired  our  brethren  at  Albany 
to  give  their  aid  and  assistance.  I  have  the  honour  to  be, 
most  respectfully,  your  Honour's  most  obedient  and  hum- 
ble servant,  Henry  Remsen,  Dep.  Chairman. 

Honourable  Governour  Trumbull. 


LETTER  FROM  THE  MAYOR,  ALDERMEN,  AND  COMMONALTY 
OF  ALBANY  TO  THE  COMMITTEE  FOR  PALATINE  DISTRICT, 
TRYON  COUNTY,  NEW-YORK. 

Albany,  May  22,  1775. 

We  this  day  received  yours,  without  date,  directed  to  the 
Magistrates  and  Committee  of  Albany  and  Schenectady, 
and  to  the  Mayor,  Corporation,  &ic,  of  Albany,  wherein 
you  write  that  you  have  received  repeated  accounts  that 
either  the  JSew-Englanders,  or  some  persons  in  or  about 
this  City  or  the  Town  of  Schenectady,  are  coming  up,  to  a 
considerable  number,  to  seize  and  imprison  you,  on  a  ridicu- 
lous and  malicious  report  that  you  intend  to  make  the  In- 
dians destroy  the  inhabitants,  or  to  that  effect,  and  that 
you,  in  consequence  thereof,  have  been  put  to  the  great 
trouble  and  expense  of  fortifying  your  house,  and  keeping 
a  large  body  of  men  for  the  defence  of  your  person,  &ic. 

You  proceed  and  say,  that  the  absurdity  of  this  appre- 
hension may  easily  be  seen  by  men  of  sense,  but  that  as 
many  credulous  and  ignorant  persons  may  be  led  astray, 
and  inclined  to  believe  it,  Ike,  it  is  become  the  duty  of  all 
those  who  have  authority  or  influence  to  disabuse  the  pub- 


lick,  and  prevent  consequences  which  you  foresee  with 
very  great  concern. 

We  are  very  sorry  to  learn  from  you  that  any  groundless 
reports  should  have  arisen,  and  be  propagated  to  your  pre- 
judice, considering  your  character,  station,  and  the  large 
property  you  have  in  the  County.  And  we  trust  that  you 
are  so  well  acquainted  with  the  nature  and  duties  of  your 
office,  that  you  will  pursue  the  dictates  of  an  honest  heart, 
and  study  the  interest,  peace,  and  welfare  of  your  Coun- 
try ;  in  which  case  we  presume  you  need  not  be  appre- 
hensive of  any  injury  in  your  person  or  property.  Neither 
can  we  learn  nor  conceive  that  there  either  is  or  has  been 
any  intention  of  taking  you  captive,  or  offering  you  any  in- 
dignity whatever,  either  by  the  New-England  people  or 
any  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  City,  or  any  one  else  ;  and  we 
have  but  too  much  reason  to  think  that  these  groundless 
reports  have  been  raised  and  industriously  propagated,  in 
your  own  phraseology,  by  some  busy  people  in  your  Coun- 
ty, to  rouse  up  the  Indians  from  their  peaceful  habitations, 
and  take  up  arms  against  such  of  our  American  brethren 
as  are  engaged  on  the  part  of  America  in  the  unhappy 
contest  between  Great  Britain  and  her  Colonies. 

As  it  appears  from  your  letter  that  you  consider  the 
station  wherein  you  are  placed,  as  Superintendent  of  Indian 
affairs,  to  be  of  the  highest  importance  to  the  publick,  we 
hope  that  you  will  use  all  possible  means  in  your  power  to 
restore  peace  and  tranquillity  among  the  Indians,  and  as- 
sure them  that  the  report  propagated  prejudicial  to  you  or 
to  them  is  totally  groundless  of  any  just  foundation,  and 
that  nothing  will  afford  His  Majesty's  subjects  in  general  a 
greater  satisfaction,  than  to  be  and  continue  with  them  on 
the  strictest  terms  of  peace  and  friendship. 


ALBANY,  NEW-YORK,  COMMITTEE  TO  COL.  GUY  JOHNSON. 

Committee  Chamber,  May  23,  1775. 

Sir  :  Several  letters  have  been  handed  to  us,  addressed 
to  the  Magistrates  of  Schenectady  and  Mayor  and  Corpo- 
ration of  Albany,  some  of  which  you  requested  to  be  com- 
municated to  us,  whereby  we,  with  great  concern,  observe 
you  are  much  alarmed  with  apprehensions  of  evil  intentions 
against  your  family,  and  self  in  particular,  from  a  body  of 
New-Englanders  or  people  from  those  parts,  so  as  to  put 
you  under  the  necessity  of  fortifying  yourself  for  safety. 
From  what  cause  these  terrible  ideas  have  sprung,  we  are 
entirely  ignorant.  If  any  real  ones,  you  must  be  better 
acquainted  with  them  than  we  are ;  however,  we  do  assure 
you  that  the  first  and  last  knowledge  of  such  designs  have 
come  to  us  from  you,  and  of  course  must  have  originated 
somewhere  near  you.  We  are  not  ignorant  of  the  impor- 
tance of  your  office  as  Superintendent,  and  have  been  per- 
fectly easy  with  respect  to  any  suspicions  of  the  Indians 
taking  a  part  in  the  present  dispute  between  Great  Britain 
and  her  Colonies,  knowing  them  to  be  a  people  of  too 
much  sagacity  to  engage  with  the  whole  Continent  in  a 
controversy  that  they  can  profit  nothing  by,  and  which 
would  throw  them  into  endless  war  and  misery.  As  long 
as  they  are  peaceable,  they  need  not  be  under  apprehen- 
sions of  hostilities  commencing  against  them. 

We  have  been  some  time  ago  informed  that  there  was  to 
be  a  Congress  at  your  house  of  the  Indians,  and  hope  such 
methods  may  be  taken  then  as  will  give  them  a  just  sense 
of  the  nature  of  the  present  disturbances,  and  that  they  may 
govern  themselves  by  such  a  line  of  conduct  as  will  appease 
the  minds  of  such  persons  in  your  County  as  may  be  un- 
easy on  their  account. 

The  information  we  have  from  time  to  time  received, 
very  lately  from  travellers  passing  by  your  house,  has  given 
us  some  pain,  as  we  find  the  communication  betwixt  this 
and  your  County  in  a  manner  stopped,  insomuch  that  no 
person  is  permitted  to  pass  without  undergoing  a  strict  ex- 
amination. These  proceedings  will,  if  not  speedily  stop- 
ped, raise  the  resentment  of  the  people,  we  fear,  and  cause 
them  to  undertake  such  acts  as  will  not  be  in  the  power  of 
any  authority  to  restrain.  We  would,  therefore,  be  glad, 
and  permit  us  to  recommend  it  seriously  to  your  attention, 
that  you  would  leave  the  communication  free,  and  disperse 
your  guards,  and  not  interfere  with  the  meetings  of  the 
people,  intended  solely  to  concert  measures  for  the  preser- 
vation of  their  liberties,  in  conjunction  with  the  other 
Counties  of  this  and  the  rest  of  His  Majesty's  Colonies. 


673 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  he,  MAY,  1775. 


674 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS. 

In  Provincial  Congress,  Watertown,  > 
May  22,  1775.  $ 

:i  Resolved,  That  the  following  Narrative  of  the  excur- 
sion and  ravages  of  the  King's  Troops,  under  the  com- 
mand of  General  Gage,  on  the  nineteenth  of  April  last, 
together  with  the  Depositions  taken  by  order  of  the  Con- 
gress to  support  the  truth  of  it,  be  sent  to  the  press  for 
publication.  Samuel  Freeman,  Secretary." 

A  Narrative  of  the  Eicursion  and  Ravages  of  the  King's 
Troops,  under  the  command  of  General  Gage,  on  the 
nineteenth  of  April,  1775;  together  with  the  Deposi- 
tions taken  by  order  of  Congress  to  support  the  truth 
of  it.    Published  by  authority. 

On  the  nineteenth  day  of  April,  one  thousand  seven 
hundred  and  seventy-five,  a  day  to  be  remembered  by  all 
Americans  of  the  present  generation,  and  which  ought, 
and  doubtless  will  be  handed  down  to  ages  yet  unborn,  the 
Troops  of  Britain,  unprovoked,  shed  the  blood  of  suudry 
of  the  loyal  American  subjects  of  the  British  King  in  the 
field  of  Lexington.  Early  in  the  morning  of  said  day,  a 
detachment  of  the  forces  under  the  command  of  General 
Gage,  stationed  at  Boston,  attacked  a  small  party  of  the 
inhabitants  of  Lexington  and  some  other  Towns  adjacent, 
the  detachment  consisting  of  about  nine  hundred  men,  com- 
manded by  Lieutenant-Colonel  Smith :  the  inhabitants  of 
Lexington,  and  the  other  Towns  were  about  one  hundred, 
some  with  and  some  without  fire-arms,  who  had  collected 
upon  information  that  the  detachment  had  secretly  march- 
ed from  Boston  on  the  preceding  night,  and  landed  on 
Phipps's  farm  in  Cambridge,  and  were  proceeding  on  their 
way  with  a  brisk  pace  towards  Concord,  as  the  inhabitants 
supposed,  to  take  or  destroy  a  quantity  of  stores  deposited 
there  for  the  use  of  the  Colony  ;  sundry  peaceable  inhabi- 
tants having  the  same  night  been  taken,  held  by  force,  and 
otherwise  abused  on  the  road,  by  some  officers  of  General 
Gage's  Army,  which  caused  a  just  alarm,  and  a  suspicion 
that  some  fatal  design  was  immediately  to  be  put  in  exe- 
cution against  them.  This  small  party  of  the  inhabitants 
was  so  far  from  being  disposed  to  commit  hostilities  against 
the  Troops  of  their  Sovereign,  that,  unless  attacked,  they 
were  determined  to  be  peaceable  spectators  of  this  extra- 
ordinary movement ;  immediately  on  the  approach  of  Col- 
onel Smith  with  the  detachment  under  his  command,  they 
dispersed  ;  but  the  detachment,  seeming  to  thirst  for  blood, 
wantonly  rushed  on,  and  first  began  the  hostile  scene  by 
firing  on  this  small  party,  by  which  they  killed  eight  men 
on  the  spot,  and  wounded  several  others  before  any  guns 
were  fired  upon  the  Troops  by  our  men.  Not  contented 
with  this  effusion  of  blood,  as  if  malice  had  occupied  their 
whole  souls,  they  continued  the  fire,  until  all  of  this  small 
party  who  escaped  the  dismal  carnage  were  out  of  the 
reach  of  their  fire. 

Colonel  Smith,  with  the  detachment,  then  proceeded  to 
Concord,  where  a  part  of  this  detachment  again  made  the 
first  fire  upon  some  of  the  inhabitants  of  Concord  and  the 
adjacent  Towns,  who  were  collected  at  a  bridge  upon  this 
just  alarm,  and  killed  two  of  them,  and  wounded  several 
others,  before  any  of  the  Provincials  there  had  done  one 
hostile  act.  Then  the  Provincials,  roused  with  zeal  for  the 
liberties  of  their  Country,  finding  life  and  every  thing  dear 
and  valuable  at  stake,  assumed  their  native  valour,  and 
returned  the  fire,  and  the  engagement  on  both  sides  began. 
Soon  after,  the  British  Troops  retreated  towards  Charles- 
town,  having  first  committed  violence  and  waste  on  publick 
and  private  property,  and  on  their  retreat  were  joined  by 
another  detachment  of  General  Gage's  Troops,  consisting 
of  about  a  thousand  men,  under  the  command  of  Earl 
Percy,  who  continued  the  retreat.  The  engagement  lasted 
through  the  day  ;  and  many  were  killed  and  wounded  on 
each  side,  though  the  loss  on  the  part  of  the  British 
Troops  far  exceeded  that  of  the  Provincials. 

The  devastation  committed  by  the  British  Troops  on 
their  retreat,  the  whole  of  the  way  from  Concord  to  Charles- 
town,  is  almost  beyond  description  ;  such  as  plundering  and 
burning  of  dwelling-houses  and  other  buildings,  driving  into 
the  street  women  in  child-bed ;  killing  old  men  in  their 
houses  unarmed.  Such  scenes  of  desolation  would  be  a 
reproach  to  the  perpetrators,  even  if  committed  by  the 
most  barbarous  Nations;  how  much  more  when  done  by 
Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii.  ' 


Britons  famed  for  humanity  and  tenderness!  and  all  this 
because  these  Colonies  will  not  submit  to  the  iron  yoke  of 
arbitrary  power. 

DEPOSITIONS  TAKEN  BY  ORDER  OF  THE  CONGRESS. 
[For  Depositions  No.  1.  to  No.  20.  inclusive,  see  Folio  489-501.] 

A  paper  having  been  printed  in  Boston,  representing  that 
one  of  the  British  Troops  killed  at  the  bridge  at  Concord, 
was  scalped  and  the  ears  cut  off  from  the  head ;  supposed 
to  be  done  in  order  to  dishonour  the  Massachusetts  people, 
and  to  make  them  appear  to  be  savage  and  barbarous,  the 
following  deposition  was  taken,  that  the  truth  may  be  known. 

[No.  21.] 

Concord,  May  11,  1775. 
We,  the  subscribers,  of  lawful  age,  testify  and  say,  that 
we  buried  the  dead  bodies  of  the  King's  Troops  that  were 
killed  at  the  North  Bridge  in  Concord,  on  the  nineteenth 
day  of  April,  1775,  where  the  action  first  began,  and  that 
neither  of  those  persons  were  scalped,  nor  their  ears  cut 
off,  as  has  been  represented.  Zachariah  Brown, 

Thomas  Davis,  Jr. 

Zachariah  Brown  and  Thomas  Davis,  Jr.,  personally 
appeared  before  me,  and  made  oath  to  the  above  declara- 
tion. Duncan  Ingraham,  Justice  of  the  Peace. 

[No.  22.] 

Hannah  Adams,  wife  of  Deacon  Joseph  Adams,  of  the 
second  Precinct  in  Cambridge,  testifieth  and  saith,  that  on 
the  nineteenth  day  of  April  last  past,  upon  the  return  of 
the  King's  Troops  from  Concord,  divers  of  them  entered 
our  house  by  bursting  open  the  doors,  and  three  of  the 
soldiers  broke  into  the  room  in  which  I  then  was  laid  on 
my  bed,  being  scarcely  able  to  walk  from  my  bed  to  the 
fire,  and  not  having  been  to  my  chamber  door  from  my 
being  delivered  in  child-birth  to  that  time.  One  of  said 
soldiers  immediately  opened  my  curtains  with  his  bayonet 
fixed,  and  pointing  the  same  to  my  breast.  I  immediate- 
ly cried  out,  "  for  the  Lord's  sake  don't  kill  me."  He  re- 
plied, "damn  you."  One  that  stood  near,  said,  "we 
will  not  hurt  the  woman  if  she  will  go  out  of  the  house, 
but  we  will  surely  burn  it."  I  immediately  arose,  threw  a 
blanket  over  me,  went  out,  and  crawled  into  a  corn-house 
near  the  door,  with  my  infant  in  my  arms,  where  I  remained 
until  they  were  gone.  They  immediately  set  the  house  on 
fire,  in  which  I  had  left  five  children  and  no  other  person  ; 
but  the  fire  was  happily  extinguished  when  the  house  was 
in  the  utmost  danger  of  being  utterly  consumed. 

Hannah  Adams. 

Middlesex,  ss.,  Cambridge,  Second  Precinct,  ) 
May  17, 1775:  $ 
Hannah  Adams,  the  subscriber  of  the  above  deposition, 
personally  appeared  and  made  oath  to  the  truth  of  the 
same.    Before  me, 

Jona.  Hastings,  Justice  of  the  Peace. 

[No.  23.] 

Cambridge,  May  19,  1775. 

We,  Benjamin  Cooper  and  Rachel  Cooper,  both  of  Cam- 
bridge aforesaid,  and  of  lawful  age,  testify  and  say,  that  in 
the  afternoon  of  the  nineteenth  day  of  April  last,  the 
King's  Regular  Troops,  under  the  command  of  General 
Gage,  upon  their  return  from  blood  and  slaughter  which 
they  had  made  at  Lexington  and  Concord,  fired  more  than 
one  hundred  bullets  into  the  house  where  we  dwell,  through 
doors,  windows,  Sic. ;  then  a  number  of  them  entered  the 
house  where  we  and  two  aged  gentlemen  were,  all  unarmed. 
We  escaped  for  our  lives  into  the  cellar  ;  the  two  aged  gen- 
tlemen were  immediately  most  barbarously  and  inhumanly 
murdered  by  them,  being  stabbed  through  in  many  places, 
their  heads  mauled,  sculls  broke,  and  their  brains  beat  out 
on  the  floor  and  walls  of  the  house.    And  further  saith  not. 

Benjamin  Cooper, 
Rachel  Cooper. 

Middlesex,  ss.,  May  19,  1775  : 

The  above  named  Benjamin  Cooper  and  Rachel  Cooper 
appeared,  and  after  due  caution,  made  solemn  oath  to  the 
truth  of  the  above  deposition  by  them  subscribed. 

Before  me,  Jonas  Dix,  Justice  of  the  Peace. 


675 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


676 


RAVAGES  OF  THE  KINg's  TROOPS  ON  THE  NINETEENTH 
OF  APRIL,  1775. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  estimate  the  damages  done 
at  Cambridge,  Lexington,  and  Concord,  by  the  King's 
Troops  on  the  19th  day  of  April,  1775,  having  attended 
that  service,  heg  leave  to  report : 

That  the  devastation  made  hy  fire  and  robbery  on  said 
day,  by  said  Troops,  is  as  follows,  viz: 

The  damage  to  the  buildings  in  Cambridge,  estimated 
according  to  the  best  skill  and  judgment  of  your  Commit- 
tee, after  viewing  the  same,  amounts  to       £76    5a-.  dd. 

The  value  of  the  goods  and  chatties  that  were  destroyed 
or  taken  out  of  said  houses,  or  near  the  same,  by  the  estima- 
tion of  those  persons,  (by  their  several  accounts  exhibited) 
on  oath,  who  lost  the  same,  amounts  to    £1036    6s.  3d. 

The  value  of  the  goods  and  chatties  that  were  destroyed 
or  taken  out  of  said  bouses,  or  near  the  same,  by  the  esti- 
mation of  those  persons,  by  their  several  accounts  exhi- 
bited, who  left  the  same,  but  were  not  sworn  to  by  reason 
of  some  being  absent,  or  some  other  inconveniences  that 
attended  the  same,  amounts  to  -       £72   6s.  lOd. 

Damage  done  to  the  meeting-house  and  school-house  in 
the  north-west  precinct,  in  said  Cambridge,  estimated  by 
your  Committee,  amounts  to     -       -         £0  13s.  4d. 

Vessels,  linen,  and  cash  belonging  to  the  church  of 
said  precinct,  taken  out  of  the  house  of  Joseph  Adams, 
deacon  of  said  church,  as  by  his  account  exhibited  on 
oath,  amounts  to     ....       £16  16s.  8d. 

Total,       £1202   8s.  Id. 


Damages  sustained  in  Lexington,  viz: 

The  following  buildings  destroyed  by  fire,  with  cash, 
utensils,  and  other  moveables,  either  burnt  in  the  same,  or 
carried  away,  estimated  by  the  owners  of  said  premises,  as 
by  their  accounts  exhibited  on  oath,         £891    8s.  6d. 

Damage  to  other  buildings  in  said  Town,  estimated  as 
the  buildings  in  Cambridge,  amounts  to       £32  1 8s.  Id. 

Damage  (by  robbing  of  said  Troops)  by  sundry  inhabi- 
tants, as  by  their  several  accounts  on  oath,  £760  18s.  2d. 

Damage  sustained  by  other  inhabitants,  as  their  several 
accounts  exhibited,  but  not  on  oath,  for  the  reasons  afore 
mentioned,  amounts  to  £74   4s.  2d. 

Damage  to  meeting-house  in  said  Town,   £l  12s.  Od. 

Total,       £1761    Is.  5d. 


Damage  sustained  in  Concord,  viz: 

The  buildings  estimated  as  above,    -        £2  12s.  Od. 

Damage  sustained  by  sundry  inhabitants  in  manner  afore- 
said, under  oath,  amounts  to        -        -    £209  16s.  lOd. 

Damage  by  other  inhabitants,  not  under  oath,  for  rea- 
sons aforesaid,  amounts  to  -       -      £59    Is.  9d. 

Damage  to  sundry  door-locks  broke  to  His  Majesty's 
Jail,  in  said  Town,  by  account  exhibited  on  oath,  by  the 
under  keeper  of  said  jail,  amounts  to  £3   6s.  Od. 

Total,       £274  16s.  Id. 

Abraham  Fuller,  } 

Ichabod  Goodwin,    >  Committee. 

Oliver  Whitney,  }- 


SAMUEL  BULLARD  TO  THE  MASSACHUSETTS  COMMITTEE  OF 
SAFETY, 

Sherburn,  May  22,  1773. 

Gentlemen  :  A  harmony  between  officers  and  privates 
was  never  more  necessary  to  promote  the  general  good 
than  at  this  present  period.  Permit  me  for  a  moment  to 
suggest  to  you,  what  appears  to  me  in  its  consequences 
very  detrimental  to  that  unanimity  hinted  above.  A  ser- 
geant and  private  soldier  informed  me  this  day,  that  Col- 
onel Jacob  Miller,  of  Ilollistoivn,  was  likely  to  be  dis- 
charged from  his  command  in  the  Regiment.  I  must  say, 
gentlemen,  this  information  gave  me  great  pain,  when  I 
consider  him  as  a  brave  and  resolute  man,  a  good  soldier, 
and  a  person  who  made  no  interest  to  obtain  the  command 
he  held.   He  is  universally  esteemed  by  all  who  personally 


know  him,  and  was  chosen  agreeably  to  the  direction  of 
the  Committee  of  Safety,  as  declared  by  Colonel  Pierce, 
moderator  of  the  corps  of  officers  at  the  time  of  choice. 
Consider,  gentlemen,  the  apparent  consequences  which  are 
likely  to  ensue  should  Colonel  Miller  be  discharged.  1 
am  credibly  informed  that  three  or  four  companies  that 
are  raised  and  are  raising  will  refuse  serving  in  the  Re- 
giment, and  perhaps  be  the  means  of  ruining  the  Regi- 
ment entirely.  1  thought  it  my  duty  to  communicate  the^e 
hints  for  the  good  of  my  Country,  which  1  hope  will  be  a 
sufficient  apology  for  this  address.  I  am,  gentlemen,  your 
most  obedient  servant,  Samuel  Bullard. 


TO  THE  PROVINCI  VL  CONGRESS  OF  MASSACHUSETTS. 

In  Committee  of  Supplies,  Watertown,  ( 
May  22,  1775.  \ 

Sir:  The  letters  which  we  have  this  day  received  from 
General  Ward,  through  your  Honourable  Congress,  carry 
with  them  such  ungenerous  treatment  as  this  Committee 
could  not  conceive  that  it  had  merited.  We,  Sir,  are  con- 
scious to  ourselves  of  having  discharged  the  heavy  duty  of 
our  office  to  the  utmost  of  our  power  with  fidelity,  and  we 
think  if  your  General  has  any  consideration  he  must  ac- 
knowledge it ;  nevertheless,  after  he  knew  that  we  had 
issued  an  advertisement  for  collecting  the  Colony  Arms  in 
the  Essex  Gazette,  instead  of  assisting  us  in  the  matter, 
the  Congress  is  troubled  with  the  affair,  as  if  their  Com- 
mittee was  incapable  of  transacting  such  a  trivial  under- 
taking. 

But  what  we  think  most  hardly  of  is  the  affair  of  the 
plank.  We  received  a  memorandum,  and  ordered  it  to  be 
provided  immediately  ;  the  owner  of  the  mills  had  not  pro- 
cured them  yesterday,  but  engaged  to  have  them  in  readi- 
ness by  Tuesday  morning,  which  we  directed  the  boatman 
to  apprise  the  General  of.  We  shall,  in  justice  to  ourselves, 
expect  an  explanation  of  this  matter,  when  the  affairs  of 
the  Colony  can  be  a  little  settled,  from  the  General;  and 
in  the  interim  think  it  necessary  to  remove  any  unfair  sug- 
gestions from  the  minds  of  the  members  of  your  Honour- 
able Congress.  Being,  Sir,  with  respect,  your  humble  ser- 
vant, David  Cheever,  per  order. 

MASSACHUSETTS  COMMITTEE   OF   SAFETY  TO  THE  PROVIN- 
CIAL CONGRESS. 

In  Committee  of  Safety,  Cambridge,  \ 
May  22,  1775.  \ 

Sir:  This  Committee  having  received  from  Captain 
Benedict  Arnold,  by  letter  of  the  11th  of  May,  instant, 
information  respecting  the  reduction  of  Ticondcroga,  and 
the  situation  of  that  fortress  in  many  respects,  beg  leave 
to  lay  said  letter  before  the  Honourable  Congress,  that 
they  may  proceed  thereon  in  such  manner  as  to  them  in 
their  wisdom  shall  seem  meet.  This  Committee  apprehend 
it  to  be  out  of  their  province  in  any  respect  whatever. 

We  are,  with  due  respect,  your  Honours'  obedient  hum- 
ble servants,  J.  Palmer,  Chairman. 
To  the  Honourable  President  of  the  Provincial  Congress, 

now  sitting  at  Watertown. 


MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS  TO  BENEDICT  ARNOLD. 

Watertown,  May  22,  1775. 

Sir:  This  Congress  have  this  day  received  your  letter 
of  the  eleventh  instant,  informing  the  Committee  of  Safety 
of  the  reduction  of  the  fort  at  Ticondcroga,  with  its  depen- 
dencies which  was  laid  before  this  Congress  by  said  Com- 
mittee. We  applaud  the  conduct  of  the  Troops,  and 
esteem  it  a  very  valuable  acquisition. 

We  thank  you  for  your  exertions  in  the  cause,  and  con- 
sidering the  situation  of  this  Colony  at  this  time,  having  a 
formidable  Army  in  the  heart  of  it,  whose  motions  must  be 
constantly  attended  to,  and  as  the  affairs  of  that  expedition 
began  in  the  Colony  of  Connecticut,  and  the  cause  being 
common  to  us  all,  we  have  already  wrote  to  the  General 
Assembly  of  that  Colony  to  take  the  whole  matter  respect- 
ing the  same  under  their  care  and  direction,  until  the  advice 
of  the  Continental  Congress  can  be  had  in  that  behalf,  a 
copy  of  which  letter  we  now  enclose  you. 
We  are,  &ic. 


677 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  fcc,  MAY,  1775. 


678 


EARL  OF  DARTMOUTH  TO  GO VERNOUR  TRYON. 

Whitehall,  May  23,  1775. 
Sir:  In  a  very  short  lime  after  you  embarked  upon 
your  return  to  your  Government,  the  Petition  to  the  King, 
the  Memorial  to  the  House  of  Lords,  and  the  Representa- 
tion to  the  House  of  Commons  of  the  Assembly  of  Neic- 
York,  upon  the  subject  matter  of  the  grievances  they 
complain  of,  in  various  instances,  of  the  exercise  of  the 
constitutional  authority  of  Parliament,  were  received ;  and 
Mr.  Burke  having  delivered  to  me  the  Petition  to  the 
King,  I  had  the  honour  to  present  it  to  His  Majesty,  who 
was  pleased  to  receive  it  with  the  most  gracious  expres- 
sions of  regard,  and  attention  to  the  humble  request  of  his 
faithful  subjects  in  New-York,  who  have  on  this  occasion 
manifested  a  duty  to  His  Majesty,  and  a  regard  for  the 
authority  of  the  Parent  State,  which,  had  they  not  in  the 
Memorial  to  the  House  of  Lords,  and  in  the  Representa- 
tion to  the  House  of  Commons,  been  unfortunately  blended 
with  expressions  containing  claims  which  made  it  impossi- 
ble for  Parliament,  consistent  with  its  justice  and  dignity, 
to  receive  them,  might  have  laid  the  foundation  of  that 
conciliation  we  have  so  long  and  so  ardently  wished  for. 

I  will,  however,  still  hope  (and  I  am  strengthened  in  that 
hope  by  private  advices  received  to  day  from  Pennsylva- 
nia) that  the  Resolution  of  the  House  of  Commons  of  the 
27th  of  February  will  remove  all  obstacles  to  the  restora- 
tion of  the  publick  tranquillity  ;  and  1  am  commanded  by 
the  King  to  say  that  nothing  can  give  greater  satisfaction 
to  the  Royal  breast  than  to  see  us  again  a  happy  and  united 
people. 

Should  such  an  event  take  place  it  will  be,  and  ought 
in  justice  to  be,  attributed  in  great  measure  to  the  mode- 
ration aud  good  disposition  which  has  appeared  in  the  As- 
sembly of  ^ew-York ;  and  whilst  they  continue  firm,  the 
body  of  people  must  soon  be  convinced  how  equally  vain 
and  improper  it  is  to  insist  upon  claims  inconsistent  with 
their  dependance  on  the  authority  of  Parliament,  and  that 
the  only  constitutional  method  of  obtaining  redress  for  any 
grievances  they  may  have  to  complain  of,  is  through  the 
channel  of  their  legal  Representatives  in  Assembly.  I  am, 
Sir,  your  most  obedient  humble  servant,  Dartmouth. 

Governour  Tryon. 


THE  CRISIS,  NO.  XIII. 

London,  May,  1775. 

Every  Englishmo7t  must  deplore  the  ill  success,  and 
abhor  the  unworthy  treatment,  which  attended  the  two  late 
conciliatory  plans  in  relation  to  America.  Pregnant  with 
good  sense,  benevolence,  and  sound  reason,  they  will  do 
eternal  honour  to  the  wisdom,  justice,  policy,  and  human- 
ity of  the  heads  and  hearts  that  formed  them.  How  dif- 
ferent was  the  plan  of  North !  Crafty,  mean,  insidious, 
impolitick,  irrational,  shallow,  and  (like  himself  and  coad- 
jutors) beneath  contempt.  This  was  not  treating  with 
America,  but  insulting  her;  every  step  against  her  hitherto 
has  been  founded  in  the  greatest  inhumanity,  the  grossest 
ignorance,  and  the  worst  policy.  I  will  proceed  to  prove 
my  assertion,  and  defy  the  whole  cabal  of  ministerial 
slaughtermen  to  confute  me.  I  do  not  call  upon  the 
master  butcher,  because  he  can  only  be  considered  (after 
the  part  he  has  acted  by  asserting)  an  executive,  and  not 
as  a  rational  master  in  this  business. 

First,  then,  for  the  humanity  of  these  proceedings  :  let 
it  be  granted  only,  as  it  must,  that  the  Crown  stands  in 
the  same  relation  to  America  as  a  parent  to  her  child,  and 
my  first  assertion  proves  itself.  Have  any  gentle,  tender, 
sensible  means  been  used  to  reconcile  her?  Have  not  her 
humble  remonstrances,  proposals,  submissions,  and  suppli- 
cations, been  treated  with  contempt  ?  Not  suffered  to  lie 
on  the  table  of  a  British  House  of  Commons?  Have 
they  been  deemed  worthy  of  a  thought  by  her  pious  Sover- 
eign ?  Has  she  not  been  branded  with  the  ignominious 
name  of  rebel  by  Act  of  Parliament,  for  no  other  reason, 
(1  mean  no  true  one,)  than  because  she  has  wisely  and 
calmly  deliberated  upon,  remonstrated  against,  and  steadily, 
but  not  tumultously,  resented  the  repeated  injuries  she 
has  received  ? 

As  to  riots  by  mobs,  they  are  not  to  be  imputed  to  her 
as  treason  and  rebellion.  America,  as  a  Nation  most  un- 
constitutionally oppressed,  has  hitherto  only  deliberated 


upon  her  sufferings.  She  has  not  acted.  My  Lords  Suf- 
folk, Potnfret,  Radnor,  Apsley,  and  Sandwich,  they  have 
not  acted.  It  is  as  yet  no  treason,  my  Lords,  to  think,  to 
advise,  to  fear,  and  to  prepare.  You  cannot,  you  dare 
not  move  to  annul,  as  you  may  wish,  the  statute  of  treasons 
in  America.  The  Americans  have  as  good  a  right  to  that 
as  your  Lordships.  I  mean,  as  yet,  my  Lords,  because  I 
am  not  quite  satisfied  that,  even  in  the  present  smuggled 
and  corrupt  Parliament,  the  boldest  and  most  venal  prosti- 
tute durst  make  so  dangerous  a  trial  upon  the  patience  and 
long  sufferance  of  this  Kingdom. 

I  will  now  inform  your  Lordships,  that  it  is  contrary  to 
the  Law  of  Nations  to  attempt  the  destruction  even  of  the 
most  inveterate  enemy  by  famine,  until  he  has  been  first 
solemnly  summoned  to  submit.  Have  the  Americans  ever 
yet  been  (though,  if  men,  they  shortly  will  be)  in  arms? 
Have  they  yet  had  a  prospect  of  any  other  terms  than 
such  as  would  make  them  slaves  ?  Will  they  be  weak 
enough  to  submit  to  such  conditions  ?  The  preliminaries 
hitherto  proposed  have  been  founded  in  oppression,  not  in 
reason  ;  they  are  fit  for  brutes,  not  men.  The  lenient, 
the  compassionate  I\orth,  has  treated  America  like  the 
assassin  of  an  alley  ;  with  his  knife  at  her  throat,  he  has 
humanely  left  it  at  her  choice  to  strip  herself,  for  fear  she 
should  be  stripped  by  him.  Why  have  the  Ministry  had 
recourse  at  first  to  this  inhuman  scheme  of  famine  ?  They 
fear  the  Army  will  relent,  when  they  find  they  must  wade 
through  the  blood  of  their  own  countrymen.  Their  present 
General  ( Gage )  has,  to  his  honour,  declined  the  bloody 
task.  Even  a  foreigner,  to  whom  the  same  command  was 
offered,  has  revolted  at  the  thought.  Is  not  this  stratagem 
of  starving  freemen  into  slavery,  the  most  inhuman,  as  well 
as  the  most  cowardly  of  all  others,  especially  when  it  is 
considered  that  all  the  remonstrances  of  these  unhappy 
sufferers  have  been  rejected?  I  should  insult  the  reader's 
understanding  by  waiting  for  a  reply.  I  therefore  come 
to  the  next  ingredient  in  the  American  persecution — igno- 
rance. 

I  must  first  remark,  that  some  of  their  wise  Lordships 
were  for  having  Maryland  and  Virginia,  very  remote  in- 
land countries,  prohibited  from  the  Fishery.  Thus  far 
have  some  of  the  great  and  sage  counsellors  of  this  Nation 
been  ignorant  even  of  the  situation  of  that  part  of  their 
fellow-creatures  whom  they  wish  to  involve  in  the  most 
dreadful  of  all  calamities — famine.  But  the  very  scheme 
itself  is  impracticable ;  these  wretched  people  cannot  be 
totally  destroyed,  either  by  butchery  or  famine  ;  their  num- 
bers are  great  and  formidable  ;  in  such  a  vast  extent  of 
country  their  resources  will  be  endless  ;  they  are  not  desti- 
tute of  arms  already,  and  they  will  be  supplied  with  more 
in  spite  of  our  vigilant  fleet.  They  have  all  the  materials 
necessary  for  war  in  the  bowels  of  their  Country ;  they 
have  artists,  handicraftsmen,  manufacturers,  and  mechan- 
icks  of  all  sorts ;  cattle  of  all  kinds ;  fruit  of  the  earth  in 
vast  abundance ;  fine  streams  and  rivers,  though  no  doubt 
Administration,  for  the  sake  of  consistency,  will  give  strict 
orders,  and  pay  highly  for  the  poisoning  of  these  ;  but  that 
will  not  easily  be  effected  ;  these  people  in  general  know 
the  use  of  arms ;  they  have  perseverance,  courage,  reso- 
lution, and,  above  all,  most  prophetick  Lord  Sandwich ! 
they  have  virtue,  which  can  never  be  overcome.  Should 
our  Army  strike  and  fall,  the  hatred,  enmity,  and  revolt  of 
America,  is  fixed  forever ;  they  never  will  submit  to  lick 
the  tyrant  hand  which  has  once  been  raised  against  their 
liberties,  their  properties,  and  their  lives.  Under  the 
above  considerations,  the  present  scheme  of  Government 
must  seem  impracticable  ;  if  so,  or  if,  from  rancour  and 
resentment  it  has  been  viewed  but  partially,  it  is  the  gross- 
est ignorance  to  pursue  it.  Should  Heaven  interpose  on 
the  side  of  justice,  we  shall  perceive  our  error  too  late. 
But  were  our  attempts  by  sword  or  famine  sure  of  success, 
Government  is  only  destroying  its  own  vitals. 

What,  then,  is  the  policy  of  this  unnatural  war?  It  is 
like  the  war  between  the  belly  and  the  other  members ; 
the  whole  State  must  feel  its  consequence.  Shallow  North 
told  his  House  of  Commons  (for  it  is  his)  that  the  imports 
from  the  American  Continent  were  inconsiderable.  Now, 
my  Lord,  you  ought  to  know  (and  in  honour  you  should 
have  declared)  that  the  imports  of  that  part  of  America 
into  our  Sugar  Colonies,  were  the  very  life  of  them ;  neither 
planters  nor  negroes  can  subsist  without  them,  particularly 


679 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  fcc,  MAY,  1715. 


680 


in  the  prohibited,  interdicted  article  of  fish,  which,  when 
salted,  is  their  general  food.  Your  Lordship,  by  your 
war  and  your  intended  famine,  has  effectually  starved  and 
ruined  all  the  passive  and  obedient  Sugar  Colonies,  as  well  as 
your  declared  enemies  in  America.  Thus  a  most  valuable 
fishery,  a  considerable  sugar  trade,  and  thousands  (perhaps 
millions)  of  innocent  and  brave  lives  will  be  sacrificed  by 
a  narrow-minded  Ministry  to  wicked  views  and  insatiable 
resentments,  in  the  reign  of  a  monarch  born  a  Briton  ! 
An  ancient  Pict,  or  a  wild  Indian,  savage  in  their  natures, 
would  blush  and  shudder  at  such  proceedings.  With  the 
Colonies  and  trade  the  revenue  must  sink.  If  royal 
profusion  and  ministerial  corruption  were  to  sink  likewise, 
it  would  be  well ;  but  they  will  still  attempt  to  draw  blood 
from  the  most  impoverished  veins.  The  commercial,  the 
landed  interest,  the  publick  bank,  at  last,  must  feel  the 
shock.  Then,  perhaps,  when  famine  threatens  at  our  own 
doors,  the  British  lion  will  be  roused.  Then,  for  I  will 
prophesy  in  my  turn,  comes  a  revolution,  fatal  to  minions, 
pensioners,  placemen,  knaves,  and  tyrants;  but  happy  for 
the  Nation,  if,  from  the  ashes  of  all  these  pests,  the  rights 
of  suffering  and  insulted  Englishmen  can  be  once  more 
established.  We  shall  find  it  to  our  cost  in  vain  to  send 
English  soldiers ;  none  but  Scotch  will  do  the  business 
against  English  breasts.  I  am  of  opinion,  let  the  wishes 
of  the  Ministry  be  what  they  will,  that  if  every  officer  who 
goes  upon  this  assassination  were  a  Burgoyne,  he  would 
be  disappointed  of  the  blood  he  pants  for,  his  command 
will  be  sinecure,  and  his  victory  a  brave  and  virtuous  de- 
sertion. All  who  deserved  the  name  of  soldiers,  would 
throw  down  their  arms,  and  embrace  their  gallant  and 
happy  countrymen.  An  English  army  will  not,  and  a 
navy  cannot  destroy  the  liberties  of  America;  the  Minis- 
try, who  wish  to  deceive  the  Nation,  are,  as  they  frequently 
are,  deceived  themselves ;  they  cannot  execute  their  plan 
without  extraordinary  and  successive,  almost  perpetual 
drafts  of  forces.  Should  the  patient  spirit  of  this  King- 
dom rise  at  such  a  time  in  arms,  and  France  and  Spain 
add  to  the  horrours  of  a  civil  war,  even  in  the  midst  of 
these  calamities  it  will  be  some  consolation,  that  the  ad- 
visers, abetters,  and  detestable  heads  of  these  diabolical 
measures,  cannot  long  escape  the  vengeance  of  an  injured 
people. 


WILLIAM   HOOPER  TO  SAMUEL  JOHN  JOHNSTON,  IN  NORTH 
CAROLINA. 

Philadelphia,  May  23,  1775. 

Dear  Johnston  ;  The  close  attention  which  I  am  com- 
pelled to  pay  to  the  business  of  the  Congress,  scarce  gives 
me  an  opportunity  to  pay  my  duty  to  my  friends.  As  we 
meet  at  nine  A.  M.  and  sit  till  four  P.  M.,  you  will  readily 
conceive  that  the  little  leisure  we  have  is  not  sufficient  for 
the  common  functions  of  life  and  exercise  to  keep  us  in 
health.  While  I  am  writing  I  encroach  upon  Congress 
hours,  and  if  1  could  furnish  you  with  any  thing  interest- 
ing it  might  be  some  apology  for  the  transgression.  But 
the  strict  secrecy  which  is  enjoined  upon  the  members, 
leaves  us  at  large  to  communicate  nothing  worthy  atten- 
tion that  happens  within  the  walls  of  the  State-House. 
Let  it  suffice,  that  the  most  perfect  harmony  subsists  among 
the  members. 

The  character  of  the  New-Yorkers  is  no  longer  sus- 
picious. They  take  a  forward  and  an  active  share  in  the 
opposition  ;  all  ranks  of  people  among  them  are  embarked 
in  the  common  cause,  and  are  sacredly  resolved  to  preserve 
the  cargo  or  perish  with  the  ship.  The  few  Tories  among 
them  are  silent ;  the  cry  of  liberty  is  irresistible.  The 
,  who  are  never  happy  except  when  dabbling 
in  faction,  have  met  a  just  reward  for  their  misguided  zeal, 
and  have  been  compelled  (six  of  them)  to  seek  protection 
on  board  a  King's  ship.  Rivington  follows  their  fortunes, 
and  his  printing  shop,  which  forged  calumny  and  sedition 
for  the  whole  Continent,  is  shut  up.  Nine-York,  must 
now  become  the  seat  of  war.  The  taking  of  Ticondcro^ 
ga  will  divert  the  attention  of  Government  to  that  quarter, 
and  the  New-Yorkers  will  not  long  be  suffered  to  be  in- 
different spectators  of  its  operations.  Believe  me,  I  do 
not  think  they  wish  to  be.  Their  City  is  filled  with 
armed  men,  whom  they  have  raised  and  disciplined,  to  be 
called  into  action  when  hostilities  begun  on  the  part  of 


Lord  North's  troops  shall  render  it  necessary.  Govern- 
ment has  sent  them  the  Asia,  man-of-war,  we  suppose  to 
protect  their  trade,  or  rather  to  give  spirit  to  the  Tories ; 
but  that  day  is  past;  they  are  sunk,  never  to  rise  again. 

This  City  has  taken  a  deep  share  in  the  insurrection 
which  is  so  generally  diffused  through  the  Continent. 
Men,  women,  and  children  feel  the  patriotick  glow,  and 
think  every  man  in  a  state  of  reprobation  beyond  the  power 
of  heavenly  mercy  to  forgive,  who  is  not  willing  to  meet 
death  rather  than  concede  a  tittle  of  the  Congress  creed. 

Quakerism  has  received  a  shock  from  which  it  will  never 
recover.  An  attempt  to  restrain  the  other  sects  in  their 
spirited  conduct,  has  only  shown  the  weakness  of  their 
efforts,  and  the  insignificancy  of  their  numbers,  when  in 
competition  with  those  who  think  and  act  differently  from 
them.  The  Testimony,  to  their  eternal  dishonour,  accom- 
panied with  the  proceedings  of  the  Neiv-YorJc  Assembly, 
gave  encouragement  to  Administration  to  adopt  the  present 
compulsory  measures,  which,  at  this  hour,  we  all  lament ; 
for  certain  it  is,  till  those  got  to  hand,  the  plan  prepared 
by  the  Administration  was  conciliatory. 

If  it  should  be  thought  expedient  to  raise  troops  in  each 
Colony,  and  money  of  course  must  be  supplied,  from 
whence  must  it  come  in  our  Province  ?  Would  the  Pro- 
vincial Convention  think  it  prudent  to  emit  for  that  pur- 
pose, or  are  not  the  circumstances  such  as  to  leave  no 
alternative  to  their  choice  ?  Whether  this,  or  what,  will  be 
recommended,  is  still  in  suspense.  This,  however,  is  cer- 
tain, that  it  will  be  necessary  that  a  Convention  should  be 
held  immediately  upon  the  return  of  the  Delegates.  I 
would,  therefore,  advise  Mr.  Harvey  to  warn  the  several 
Counties  immediately  to  elect  Representatives  to  sit  in 
Convention,  and  I  would  propose  that  each  County  should 
send  ten  at  least.  This  is  consistent  with  the  New-York 
policy,  which  thereby  has  given  strength  to  the  cause,  by 
interesting  so  many  in  the  protection  of  it.  Every  man, 
let  his  property  be  ever  so  small,  has  still  his  rights  to 
preserve,  and  claims  a  share  in  the  publick  consultation, 
which  must  eventually  affect  him.  Such  a  step  with  us 
would  be  prudent.  The  spirit  wants  more  in  Psorth- Caro- 
lina, I  think;  perhaps  you  may  think  ten  too  many. 

Heives  sends  you  the  newspapers.  Pray  make  my  com- 
pliments acceptable  to  every  branch  of  your  worthy  family. 
Remember  me  affectionately  to  Mr.  Iredell.  I  refer  you 
to  James  Charlston  for  every  thing  which  is  not  related  in 
the  newspapers.  Only  let  me  add  to  the  members  of  the 
Committees,  that  a  resolve  has  passed  the  Congress,  and 
ordered  to  be  published,  that  no  vessel  shall  be  suffered  to 
load  for  Newfoundland,  St.  John's,  or  Nova-Scotia,  to  sup- 
ply the  British  fisheries  there,  or  any  where  else  along  the 
coast  of  America.  This  is  much  to  be  noticed  ;  it  is  a  just 
retaliation  for  restraining  the  American  fishery. 

Hewcs  orders  me  to  Congress  that  he  may  have  an 
opportunity  to  despatch  his  vessel;  and  as  Caswell  is  indis- 
posed I  must  obey,  and  thereby  save  your  patience  a 
further  trial.  I  am  your  affectionate  friend  and  obedient 
humble  servant,  Wiluam  Hooper. 


Williamsburgh,  Virginia,  May  25,  1775. 
Last  Tuesday  evening,  May  23d,  the  Honourable  Pey- 
ton Randolph,  Esquire,  escorted  all  the  way  from  Ruffin's 
Ferry  by  a  troop  of  thirty-six  of  the  IVilliamsburgh  Volun- 
teers, and  met  a  little  way  out  of  Town  by  the  rest  of  the 
company,  arrived  safe  at  his  house  in  this  City,  amidst  the 
acclamations  of  the  inhabitants,  from  the  General  Congress 
at  Philadelphia ;  and  next  morning  they  presented  him 
with  the  following  Address,  as  a  tender  of  their  best  ser- 
vices at  this  dangerous  and  alarming  period  : 

To  the  Honourable  Peyton  Randolph,  Esquire: 

We,  the  members  of  the  Volunteer  Company  in  Wil- 
liamsburgh,  embodied  to  support  the  constitutional  rights 
and  liberties  of  America,  are  exceedingly  alarmed  to  hear, 
from  report,  that  the  same  malevolent  demons  from  whom 
have  originated  all  the  evils  of  America,  are  now  exerting 
their  utmost  treachery  to  ensnare  your  life  and  safety.  The 
friends  of  liberty  and  mankind  have  never  escaped  the  fury 
of  arbitrary  despots.  No  wonder,  then,  that  you  should  be 
selected  as  a  proper  victim  to  be  sacrificed  to  the  malice  of 
the  present  Administration. 


681 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


682 


Permit  us,  therefore,  (attached  to  you  by  the  noble  ties 
of  gratitude  and  fellow-citizens,)  to  entreat  you  in  the 
warmest  manner  to  be  particularly  attentive  to  your  own 
safety,  as  you  regard  the  interests  of  this  Country.  We 
now  proffer  to  you  our  services,  to  be  exerted  at  the  ex- 
pense of  every  thing  a  freeman  ought  to  hold  dear,  as  you 
may  think  most  expedient,  in  the  defence  of  your  person 
and  constitutional  liberty,  and  will  most  cheerfully  hazard 
our  lives  in  the  protection  of  one  who  has  so  often  encoun- 
tered every  danger  and  difficulty  in  the  service  of  his  coun- 
trymen. May  Heaven  grant  you  long  to  live,  the  father 
of  your  Country  and  the  friend  to  freedom  and  humanity. 

To  which  he  was  pleased  to  return  the  following  Answer: 
Gentlemen  :  The  affection  you  have  expressed  for  me 
demands  the  warmest  returns  of  gratitude.  I  feel  very 
sensibly  the  happiness  resulting  from  the  kind  attention  of 
my  worthy  fellow-citizens  to  my  security  and  welfare. 
Your  apprehensions  for  my  personal  safety  arise  from  re- 
ports which,  I  hope,  have  no  foundation.  Such  unjust  and 
arbitrary  proceedings  would  bring  on  the  authors  of  them 
the  resentment  and  indignation  of  every  honest  man  in  the 
British  Empire.  1  shall  endeavour  to  deserve  the  esteem 
you  have  expressed  on  this  occasion,  and  shall  think  it  the 
greatest  misfortune  that  can  attend  me  if  ever  my  future 
conduct  should  give  you  any  reason  to  be  displeased  with 
the  testimony  you  have  now  offered  of  your  approbation. 


WESTMORELAND  COUNTY  (VIRGINIA)  COMMITTEE. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Westmoreland  Coun- 
f,  held  at  the  Court-House  the  -23d  of  May,  1775,  pre- 
sent the  Rev.  Ttiomas  Smith,  Chairman,  and  fifteen  other 
members  of  said  Committee. 

This  Committee  having  taken  into  consideration  the 
Address  of  the  citizens  of  Williamsburgh,  presented  to  his 
Excellency  the  Governour,  on  the  21st  of  April  last,  and 
his  Excellency's  verbal  answer  thereto,  as  also  his  Lord- 
ship's Speech  to  the  Council,  the  2d  of  May,  and  the 
Proclamation  issued  the  next  day,  in  consequence  of  the 
advice  given  him  by  a  majority  of  the  said  Council,  look 
upon  themselves  as  indispensably  bound  to  declare  their 
sentiments  thereon,  as  well  to  expose  the  inimical  measures 
of  men  in  high  office,  for  a  long  time  steadily  pursued 
against  the  just  rights  of  a  loyal  people,  as  to  take  off  the 
odium  they  have  endeavoured  by  some  late  proceedings  to 
fix  upon  this  Colony. 

The  seizing  the  powder,  confessedly  placed  in  the  Maga- 
zine for  the  defence  and  protection  of  this  Colony,  by  order 
of  his  Excellency  the  Governour,  was  a  step  by  no  means 
to  be  justified,  even  upon  the  supposition  of  its  being  lodged 
there  from  on  board  a  man-of-war,  as  his  Lordship  has  in 
his  Proclamation  asserted,  although  in  his  verbal  answer  to 
the  Address  of  the  citizens  of  Williamsburgh,  he  has  ta- 
citly acknowledged  the  powder  to  belong  to  the  Country, 
by  agreeing  to  deliver  it  up  :  that  is,  the  same  powder  they 
demanded  as  the  Country's;  and  we  have  been  informed 
that  the  Country  had  powder  in  the  Magazine,  which  cannot 
now  be  found  there :  We  therefore  consider  the  removing 
the  powder  privately,  and  when  that  part  of  the  Country 
was,  as  his  Lordship  confesses,  in  a  very  critical  situation, 
to  be  a  part  of  that  cruel  and  determined  plan  of  wicked 
administration  to  enslave  the  Colonies,  by  first  depriving 
them  of  the  means  of  resistance,  and  do  Resolve, 

1st.  That  the  dissatisfaction  discovered  by  the  people  of 
this  Country,  and  late  commotions  raised  in  some  parts 
thereof,  proceeded,  not  as  his  Lordship  in  his  Proclama- 
tion has  injuriously  and  inimically  charged,  from  a  dis- 
affection to  His  Majesty's  Government,  or  to  a  design  of 
changing  the  form  thereof,  but  from  a  well  grounded  alarm, 
occasioned  altogether  by  the  Governour's  late  conduct, 
which  clearly  evinced  his  steady  pursuit  of  the  above  men- 
tioned ministerial  plan  to  enslave  us. 

2d.  That  so  much  of  his  Excellency's  Proclamation 
which  declares  "  the  real  grievances  of  the  Colony  can  be 
only  obtained  by  loyal  and  constitutional  applications,"  is 
an  insult  to  the  understanding  of  mankind,  inasmuch  as  it 
is  notorious  that  this  and  the  other  Colonies  upon  the  Con- 
tinent have  repeatedly  heretofore  made  those  applications, 
which  have  ever  been  treated  with  contumely,  and  as  his 
Lordship,  since  the  late  unhappy  differences  between 


Great  Britain  and  the  Colonies  have  subsisted,  hath  de- 
prived us  of  the  constitutional  mode  of  application,  by  re- 
fusing to  have  an  Assembly. 

3d.  That  so  far  from  endeavouring  or  desiring  to  subvert 
our  ancient,  and  to  erect  a  new  form  of  Government,  we 
will,  at  the  risk  of  our  lives  and  fortunes,  support  and  de- 
fend it,  as  it  existed  and  was  exercised  until  the  year  1763, 
and  that  his  Lordship,  by  misrepresenting  the  good  people 
of  this  Colony,  as  well  in  his  letter  to  the  British  Minister  as 
in  his  late  Proclamation,  has  justly  forfeited  their  confidence. 

4th.  That  His  Majesty's  Council,  who  advised  the 
Proclamation  before-mentioned,  have  not  acted  as  tbey 
were  bound  to  do  from  their  station  in  Government,  which 
ought  to  have  led  them  to  be  mediators  between  the  first 
Magistrate  and  the  people,  rather  than  to  join  in  fixing  an 
unjust  and  cruel  stigma  on  their  fellow-subjects. 

5th.  That  the  thanks  of  this  Committee  are  justly  due 
to  the  Delegates  of  the  late  Continental  Congress,  and  to 
the  Delegates  from  this  Colony  particularly,  for  their  pru- 
dent, wise,  and  active  conduct,  in  asserting  the  liberties  of 
America;  and  that  the  design  of  Government  which,  in 
some  instances,  we  are  informed,  has  already  been  carried 
into  execution,  to  deprive  them  of  all  offices,  civil  and 
military,  tends  manifestly  to  disturb  the  minds  of  the  peo- 
ple in  general ;  and  that  we  consider  every  person  advising 
such  a  measure,  or  who  shall  accept  of  any  office  or  pre- 
ferment, of  which  any  of  the  noble  asserters  of  American 
liberty  have  been  deprived,  as  an  enemy  to  this  Country. 

Ordered,  That  the  Clerk  transmit  a  copy  of  the  forego- 
ing Resolutions  to  the  Printer  as  soon  as  conveniently  may 
be,  in  order  that  the  same  may  be  published  in  the  Ga- 
zette. James  Davenport,  Clerk  Com' tee. 

At  a  Committee  held  for  Westmoreland  County,  May 
23,  1775, 

Resolved,  That  every  Merchant  or  Factor  who  shall 
import  European  Goods  into  this  County  from  any  other 
Colony  or  District,  shall,  before  he  be  permitted  to  sell 
such  Goods,  produce  to  the  Chairman,  or  any  one  of  the 
Committee,  a  certificate  from  the  Committee  of  the  Colony, 
County,  or  District  from  whence  such  Goods  were  pur- 
chased, of  their  having  been  imported  agreeable  to  the 
terms  of  the  Association  of  the  Continental  Congress. 

James  Davenport,  Clerk. 


TALBOT  COUNTY  (MARYLAND)  COMMITTEE. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Observation  for  Talbot 
County,  on  the  23d  of  May,  1775,  at  the  Court-House  of 
the  said  County, 

The  Rev.  Mr.  John  Gordon,  Chairman. 

A  Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Observation  in  Balti- 
more Town,  bearing  date  May  20,  1775,  and  signifying  that 
the  Ship  Johnston,  belonging  to  Mr.  Gi/dart,  of  Liverpool, 
was  loaded  with  Salt  and  Dry  Goods,  by  the  house  of  Messrs. 
Ashton,  and  bound  to  Chesapeake  Bay,  was  read. 

In  consequence  whereof,  a  deputation,  consisting  ot 
eleven  gentlemen,  was  appointed  to  wait  on  Mr.  James 
Braddock,  a^ent  and  store-keeper  for  Mr.  Gildart,  owner 
of  the  said  Ship  Johnston,  to  advise  him  of  the  information 
received,  to  request  him  to  give  a  satisfactory  account  and 
state  of  all  goods  now  in  his  hands,  and  not  to  assist  or 
countenance,  directly  or  indirectly,  the  landing  of  any 
goods  from  the  said  ship,  or  in  any  way  to  promote  the 
sale  thereof.  On  the  whole,  the  deputation  aforesaid  had 
it  in  charge  to  require  an  answer  from  Mr.  Braddock,  as  to 
the  part  he  meant  to  act  on  this  occasion,  and  whether  he 
would  comply  with  their  requisition,  and  to  report  the  same 
to  the  Committee  on  Tuesday,  the  30th  instant,  on  which 
day  they  agreed  to  meet,  unless  the  deputation  should 
think  it  necessary  to  call  a  Committee  sooner,  in  which 
case  they  were  requested  to  give  publick  notice. 

On  the  30th  instant  the  Committee,  as  above,  met  ac- 
cording to  appointment,  when  the  deputation  aforesaid 
appeared,  and  reported  that  they  went  to  Mr.  Braddock's 
store,  but  not  finding  him  at  home,  they  left  a  copy  of  the 
letter  from  the  Committee  of  Baltimore  Town,  together 
with  a  copy  of  the  order  of  this  Committee,  to  be  delivered 
to  him  when  he  should  return. 

In  consequence  of  this  Mr.  Braddock  appeared  before 
the  Committee,  and  informed  them  "that  he  did  espect 


683 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  iic,  MAY,  1775. 


684 


the  Ship  Johnston  shortly  to  arrive  in  Miles  River,  but  that 
he  had  no  advice,  nor  had  any  reason  to  believe  (except 
from  the  aforesaid  letter  from  the  Baltimore  Town  Com- 
mittee) that  the  said  ship  would  bring  either  Dry  Goods  or 
Salt." 

Mr.  Braddock  did  likewise,  at  the  same  time,  volunta- 
rily enter  into  the  following  engagement  and  promise : 
"That  if  the  Ship  Johnston,  or  any  other  vessel  having  on 
board  any  Goods  or  Merchandise  prohibited  by  the  Ame- 
rican Association,  shall  come  addressed  to  him,  or  to  any 
other  agent  or  factor  for  Mr.  Qildart,  he  will,  in  such  an 
event,  neither  directly  nor  indirectly  receive,  nor  assist  in 
landing,  storing,  or  following  the  said  Goods  or  Merchan- 
dise, but  that,  on  the  contrary,  he  will,  immediately  and 
forthwith,  give  notice  of  the  arrival  of  the  said  ship  or 
other  vessel  to  the  above  mentioned  deputation,  or  to  some 
four  of  them,  (who  are  appointed  to  go  on  board  such  ship 
or  vessel,  and  to  examine  the  papers,  viz:  the  manifest, 
the  cockets,  and  log-book,)  and  that  he  would  give  direc- 
tions for  the  immediate  return  of  any  ship  or  vessel  address- 
ed to  him,  without  breaking  bulk." 

Mr.  Braddock  delivered,  at  the  same  time,  to  the  Com- 
mittee an  inventory  of  the  Goods  he  has  now  on  hand, 
with  which  they  declared  themselves  satisfied  for  the  pre- 
sent. 

On  the  same  day  information  being  made  to  the  Com- 
mittee that  Mr.  Brascup,  ta vein-keeper  at  Talbot  Court- 
House,  had,  on  Tuesday,  the  23d  of  May,  served  up  a 
Lamb  at  his  table,  he  was  accordingly  called  before  the 
Committee  to  give  an  account  of  his  conduct;  and  upon 
his  informing  them  that  he  had  not  purchased  more  than 
two  or  three  Lambs,  which  he  had  been  assured  were  yean- 
ed before  the  first  day  of  January,  and  on  his  promise  that 
he  would  not,  for  the  future,  purchase  any  more  Lambs 
without  a  certificate  from  the  seller  that  they  had  been 
yeaned,  either  before  the  first  day  of  January  or  after  the 
first  of  May,  the  Committee  were  satisfied,  and  dismissed 
Mr.  Brascup. 

Ordered,  That  the  above  proceedings  be  published  in 
the  Maryland  Gazette. 

Signed  by  order  of  the  Committee  : 

Robert  Wilson,  Clerk  pro  tern. 


ROBERT  HANNA  AND  OTHERS  TO  GOV  ERNOUR  PENN. 

Pittsburgh,  May  23,  1775. 

May  it  please  your  Honour:  Shortly  after  our  con- 
finement here  we  wrote  you  in  what  manner  we  have  been 
treated  by  the  court  of  Fort  Dunmore,  as  'tis  called,  and 
also  enclosed  a  list  of  actions  brought  against  us  for  acting 
in  our  office,  with  the  writs  of  adjournment  from  and  to 
Staunton;  but  we  have  the  greatest  reason  to  believe  it 
has  not  yet  come  to  your  hands,  by  reason  of  our  receiving 
no  answer.  We  have  ever  since  remained,  and  now  are  in 
jail  bounds,  though  often  threatened  with  close  confine- 
ment. We,  with  the  assistance  of  one  of  our  brethren 
now  in  the  same  state  with  us,  (namely,  Thomas  Scott,) 
would  inform  your  Honour  as  follows,  viz:  The  said  Scott 
was  recognised  on  the  thirteenth  of  November  last  past,  to 
appear  at  the  next  court  then  to  be  holden  at  this  place  ; 
notwithstanding  the  appearance  was  made  accordingly,  and 
no  court  held,  yet  the  recognisance  was  continued;  and 
since,  the  body  of  said  Scott  was  arrested  by  armed  force, 
with  five  writs,  one  at  the  suit  of  the  King,  and  four  civil 
processes,  for  acting  by  virtue  of  your  Honour's  commis- 
sion of  the  peace  ;  to  which  process  the  said  Scott  appeared 
here  at  court  the  sixteenth  instant,  and  upon  the  said  recog- 
nisance, was  adjudged  by  the  court  to  be  bound  in  five 
hundred  Pounds,  with  two  sureties  in  two  hundred  and  fifty 
Pounds  each,  to  keep  the  peace,  be  of  good  behaviour,  and 
in  particular  not  to  act  as  a  Magistrate  by  any  authority  de- 
rived from  Pennsylvania.  On  refusing  to  give  such  bail, 
on  account  of  the  latter  clause  in  particular,  though  suffi- 
cient bail  for  the  prison  bounds  was  tendered,  was  ordered, 
and  put  into  close  jail  with  murderers  and  thieves,  and 
there  detained  about  one  hour ;  but  on  a  motion  to  the  court, 
made  by  Mr.  Harvic,  was  admitted  to  prison  bounds  bail. 

In  consequence  of  the  disagreeable  circumstances  we 
now  labour  under,  and  more  especially  those  of  us  who 
have  families,  we  look  upon  it  absolutely  necessary  to  send 
the  bearer  hereof  express,  (who  is  ordered  to  wait  your 


answer.)  praying  your  immediate  instructions,  whether  we 
shall  give  the  bail  required  by  this  court,  break  the  bounds, 
or  in  what  manner  we  shall  be  enlarged,  or  conduct  our- 
selves to  your  Honour's  satisfaction,  and  the  interest  of  the 
Government,  to  which  we  are  closely  attached. 

Sir,  the  unhappy  situation  to  which  this  Country  is  at 
present  reduced  by  the  proceedings  of  the  Virginians,  has 
rendered  it  impossible  for  us  to  collect  any  sum  of  money 
whatever ;  and  our  ready  cash  being  nearly  exhausted  in 
defence  of  the  cause,  lays  us  under  the  necessity  of  apply- 
ing to  your  Honour  for  the  sum  of  fifteen  Pounds,  which 
we  were  obliged  to  promise  to  said  express  for  his  services, 
which  we  hope  you  will  order  him  paid  before  he  leaves 
Town,  and  also  enclose  such  other  sums  of  money  as  you 
may  think  sufficient  to  defray  the  past  expenses,  and  answer 
the  present  necessities  of  your  Honour's  most  obliged  and 
very  humble  servants,  Robert  Hanna, 

James  Cavet, 
Thomas  Scott. 
To  the  Honourable  John  Penn,  Esq.,  Governour  and  Com- 
mander-in-Chief of  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania,  &tc. 


ROBERT  HANNA  AND  OTHERS  TO  GOVERNOUR  PENN. 

Pittsburgh,  Muy  23,  1775. 
May  it  please  your  Honour:  Messrs.  Hanna  and 
Cavet,  who  were  apprehended  and  taken  into  custody  the 
twenty-second  of  last  February,  as  you  have  been  already 
informed  by  despatches  forwarded  to  you  by  them  imme- 
diately for  that  purpose  ;  and  we  are  sorry  to  find  that  they 
have  not  as  yet  received  any  reply  to  their  letters  on  that 
subject,  although  they  are  now  upwards  of  three  months 
confined  to  prison  bounds  at  this  place,  to  the  great  preju- 
dice of  their  persons  and  families,  by  pretended  authority 
from  the  Government  of  Virginia,  which  did,  and  still 
continues  to  tyrannize  over  this  unhappy  part  of  your 
Province,  but  more  especially  over  us,  who  beg  leave  to 
address  your  Honour  on  this  pressing  occasion,  for  we  are 
aimed  at  in  a  particular  manner  as  the  objects  of  their  re- 
sentment, therefore  are  doomed  to  utter  ruin  and  destruc- 
tion, if  they  by  any  means  can  accomplish  their  aim.  They 
are  not  satisfied  with  imprisoning  our  persons,  (of  which 
every  one  of  us  has  participated  in  turn,)  but  insult  and 
domineer  over  us  as  well  in  open  court  as  every  where 
else  opportunity  serves.  They  have  procured  a  number  of 
litigious  law  suits,  entered  against  every  one  of  us,  for  act- 
ing as  Magistrates  by  authority  from  the  Government  of 
Pennsylvania,  as  well  before,  as  since  Lord  Dunmore  and 
his  tools  usurped  the  jurisdiction  of  this  distressed  part  of 
the  Province  ;  the  Militia  continuing  to  kill  our  cattle  and 
hogs,  just  as  it  suits  them,  without  any  questions  asked  of 
the  owners,  or  satisfaction  offered. 

They  likewise  take  upon  themselves  to  determine  our 
title  to  lands,  as  well  between  this  and  Jjigonier,  as  beyond 
this  place,  by  a  jury  of  twelve  men  of  their  own  choosing, 
without  allowing  the  defendant  the  privilege  of  objecting 
to  any  of  that  number;  notwithstanding  Magistrates  of  their 
own  appointment  could  be  procured  on  the  ground  to  testify 
some  of  these  select  men  were  the  sworn  enemies  of  the 
defendants. 

This  was  actually  the  case  with  Mr.  Devereux  Smith. 
the  third  instant,  when  Connolly  in  the  like  manner  dispos- 
sessed him  of  a  tract  of  land  some  miles  eastward  of  this 
place,  and  declared  it  should  be  the  property  of  one  (Jeorge 
Sly ;  and,  in  six  days  afterwards,  the  Sheriff  broke  open 
Mr.  Smith's  door,  and  gave  the  said  Sly  possession.  In 
short  we  are  deemed  and  treated  like  degraded  beings  that 
are  nowise  entitled  to  the  common  right  of  mankind;  and 
the  very  name  of  a  Pennsylvanian  is  sufficient  to  render 
any  man  odious  at  this  day  now-a-days. 

To  conclude,  we  are  worried  out  with  repetitions  of  ty- 
ranny and  oppression,  and  greatly  injured  in  bodies,  minds, 
and  estates  ;  in  the  meantime  we  are,  with  sincere  attach- 
ments to  your  Honour's  person  and  Government,  your 
Honour's  most  humble  and  most  devoted  servants, 

Robert  Hanna,      ./Eneas  Mackat, 
James  Cavet,         Thomas  Scott. 
Devereux  Smith, 
To  John  Penn,  Esquire,  Governour  of  the  Province  of  Penn- 
sylvania, Sic. 

P.  S.  As  we  find  ourselves  so  deeply  engaged  in  law- 


685 


NEW- JERSEY  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  MAY,  1775. 


686 


suits,  brought  against  us  for  acting  as  Magistrates,  both 
before  and  since  Lord  Dunmore  extended  the  jurisdiction 
this  length,  we  were  obliged  to  employ  Mr.  John  Harvie 
to  appear  in  our  behalf  in  all  the  actions  already  brought 
on  account  of  Government.  We  therefore  humbly  hope 
you  will  be  pleased  to  honour  a  draft  amounting  to  thirty 
Pounds,  our  money,  drawn  by  us  in  favour  of  said  Harvie 
on  you  ;  to  be  paid  when  it  may  come  to  hand,  which 
will  oblige  us  all. 


NATHANIEL  WALES,  JUN.,  AND  OTHERS,  TO  THE  SPEAKER 
OF  THE  ASSEMBLY  OF  CONNECTICUT. 

New-York,  M  ly  23,  1775. 
Sir:  We  arrived  in  this  city  last  evening,  and  have  the 
satisfaction  to  inform  you  that  the  Committee  of  New- 
York  have  complied  with  the  direction  of  the  Continental 
Congress,  as  to  furnishing  our  forces  at  Ticonderoga  with 
provision. 

The  Provincial  Convention  of  this  Province  are  now 
sitting,  but  have  not  got  through  the  business  of  examining 
certificates,  &,c. ;  we  have  not  therefore  as  yet  laid  our  ap- 
pointment before  them.  We  have  had  a  personal  con- 
ference with  Mr.  Fierce,  an  eminent  English  merchant  of 
Montreal,  express  to  the  Continental  Congress,  with  intel- 
ligence of  a  most  interesting  nature.  He  informs  us  that 
all  the  French  officers  of  Canada  are  now  in  actual  pay 
under  General  Carleton.  That  St.  Luke  le  Come,  who 
was  Superintendent  of  all  the  Indians  in  Canada  while  it 
was  in  the  hands  of  the  French,  and  is  father-in-law  of  Mr. 
Campbell,  who  is  Superintendent  under  His  Majesty,  has 
sent  belts  to  Northern  Tribes,  as  far  up  as  the  Falls  of 
St.  Mary  and  Michilimackinack,  to  engage  them  to  take 
up  arms  against  the  New-England  Colonies,  but  the  event 
of  that  embassy  is  not  yet  known.  That  a  similar  appli- 
cation has  been  made  to  the  tribes  nearer  to  the  frontiers 
of  the  English  settlements,  but  with  little  success,  as  not 
more  than  forty  Indians  could  be  found  that  would  engage 
in  the  measures ;  that  the  plan  of  operations  in  Canada  is 
to  procure  the  savages  to  join  with  the  Canadians  in  hos- 
tilities against  the  rebels  of  Nevj-England. 

Mr.  Pierce  gives  it  as  his  opinion  that  the  Canadians, 
viz  :  the  plebeians,  will  not,  but  with  the  utmost  reluctance, 
engage  against  the  Colonists,  but  that  the  nobles  are  our 
bitter  enemies.  He  also  says  that  General  Carleton  was 
expected  at  Montreal  in  a  day  or  two  after  he  left  that 
place,  which  was  the  eleventh  May  instant,  and  that  he  was 
to  take  up  his  residence  there  for  this  summer. 

We  are  now  about  to  take  up  lodgings  in  the  heart  of 
the  City,  where  we  shall  have  an  opportunity  of  conversing 
with  the  citizens,  and  learn  their  true  spirit.  The  Provin- 
cial Convention  of  New- Jersey  meet  this  day  ;  we  propose 
to  wait  on  them  some  time  this  week. 

We  can  at  present  give  you  no  just  account  of  the  state 
of  the  cause  of  liberty  in  this  City,  but  hope,  from  the  little 
information  we  have  already  had,  that  there  will  not  be  so 
general  a  defection  as  we  apprehended. 

We  are,  with  due  respect,  your  most  obedient  servants, 
Nathaniel  Wales,  Jr., 
Thaddeus  Burr, 
Pierpoint  Edwards. 

To  the  Honourable  William  Williams,  Esq.,  Speaker  of 
the  House  of  Assembly,  Connecticut.. 


extract  of  a  letter  from  ticonderoga  to  a  gen- 
tleman IN  HARTFORD,  CONN. ,  DATED  MAY  23,  1775. 

1  shall  endeavour  to  give  you  a  very  concise  journal  of 
matters  here  since  the  twelfth  instant. 

May  1 1. — We  set  sail  from  Skenesborough  in  a  schooner 
belonging  to  Major  Skene,  which  we  christened  Liberty. 

Sunday  13. — Arrived  at  Ticonderoga,  from  whence, 
after  some  preparations,  we  set  sail  for  Crown  Point. 

Monday  14. — Contrary  winds  retarded  our  voyage,  and 
the  day  drew  to  a  close  when  we  anchored  at  Crown 
Point. 

Tuesday  15. — Contrary  winds.  Colonel  Arnold,  with 
thirty  men,  took  the  boat  and  proceeded  on  for  St.  Johns, 
leaving  to  Captain  Sloan  the  command  of  the  vessel  with 
the  sailors,  and  to  me  the  command  of  the  soldiers  on  board. 
About  twelve  o'clock,  while  beating  down,  we  espied  a 
boat ;  sent  out  our  coxswain  to  bring  her  in.  It  proved 
to  be  the  French  post  from  Montreal,  with  Ensign  Mo- 
land  on  board.  We  examined  the  mail,  and  among  other 
things,  found  an  exact  list  of  all  the  regular  Troops  in  the 
Northern  Department,  amounting  to  upwards  of  seven  hun- 
dred. 

Wednesday  16. — A  fair  gale.  We  overtook  Colonel  Ar- 
nold in  the  boat,  took  him  on  board,  and  at  night  arrived 
within  thirty  miles  of  St.  John's,  when  the  wind  fell  and 
the  vessel  was  becalmed.  We  immediately  armed  our  two 
boats,  manned  them  with  thirty-five  men,  and  determined, 
by  dint  of  rowing,  to  fetch  St.  John's,  and  take  the  place 
and  the  King's  sloop  by  surprise  at  break  of  day. 

Thursday  17. — After  rowing  hard  all  night,  we  arrived 
within  half  a  mile  of  the  place  at  sunrise,  sent  a  man  to 
bring  us  information,  and  in  a  small  creek,  infested  with 
numberless  swarms  of  gnats  and  musquetoes,  waited  with 
impatience  for  his  return.  The  man  returning,  informed 
us  they  were  unapprised  of  our  coming,  though  they  had 
heard  of  the  taking  of  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point.  We 
directly  pushed  for  shore,  and  landed  at  about  sixty  rods 
distance  from  the  barracks;  the  men  had  their  arms,  but 
upon  our  briskly  marching  up  in  their  faces,  they  retired 
within  the  barracks,  left  their  arms,  and  resigned  themselves 
into  our  hands.  We  took  fourteen  prisoners,  fourteen  stands 
of  arms,  and  some  small  stores.  We  also  took  the  King's 
sloop,  two  fine  brass  field-pieces,  and  four  boats.  We  de- 
stroyed five  boats  more,  lest  they  should  be  made  use  of 
against  us.  Just  at  the  completion  of  our  business,  a  fine 
gale  arose  from  the  north  ;  we  directly  hoisted  sail,  and  re- 
turned in  triumph.  About  six  miles  from  St.  John's,  we 
met  Colonel  Allen  with  four  boats  and  ninety  men,  who  de- 
termined to  proceed  and  maintain  the  ground.  This  scheme 
Colonel  Arnold  thought  impracticable,  as  Montreal  was 
near,  with  plenty  of  men,  and  every  necessary  for  war. 
Nevertheless,  Colonel  Allen  proceeded  and  encamped  on 
the  opposite  side  of  the  lake,  or  river,  as  it  is  there  called  ; 
the  next  morning  he  was  attacked  by  two  hundred  Regulars, 
and  obliged  to  decamp  and  retreat. 

Friday  18. — Returned  again  to  Crown  Point,  from  thence 
to  Ticonderoga. 

Saturday  19. — Encamped  at  Ticonderoga.  Since  that 
time  nothing  material  has  happened.  It  is  Colonel  Arnold's 
present  design  that  the  Sloop  Enterprise,  as  she  is  called, 
and  the  Schooner  Liberty,  shall  cruise  on  the  Lake,  and 
defend  our  frontiers,  till  men,  provisions,  and  ammunition 
are  furnished  to  carry  on  the  war. 


NEW-JERSEY  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS. 

Extracts  from  the  Journal  of  Proceedings  of  the  Provin- 
cial Congress  of  New- Jersey,  held  at  Trenton  on  the 
23d  of  May,  1775. 
List  of  Deputies  who  attended  : 

Bergen. — John  Fell,  John  Demarest,  Hendrick  Kuyper, 
Abraham  Van  Boskirk,  Edo  Merselius. 

Essex. — Henry  Garritse,  Michael  Vreeland,  Robert 
Drummond,  John  Berry,  William  P.  Smith,  John 
Stites,  John  Chetwood,  Abraham  Clark,  Elias  Boudi- 
not,  huac  Ogden,  Philip  Van  Cortlandt,  Bethuel 
Ptirson,  Caleb  Camp. 


Middlesex. — Nathaniel  Heard,  William  Smith,  John 
Dunn,  John  Lloyd,  Azariah  Dunham,  John  Schur- 
man,  John  Wetherill,  David  Williamson,  Jonathan 
Sergeant,  Jonathan  Baldwin,  Jonathan  Deare. 

Morris. —  William  Winds,  William  De  Hart,  Jonathan 
Stiles,  Peter  Dickerson,  Jacob  Drake,  Ellis  Cook. 
Silas  Condit. 

Somerset. — Hendrick  Fisher,  John  Roy,  Peter  Schenck, 
Abraham  Van  Neste,  Enos  Kelsey,  Jonathan  D.  Ser- 
geant, Frederick  Frelinghuysen,  William  Paterson. 

Sussex. — Archibald  Stewart,  Edward  Dumont,  William 
Maxwell,  Ephraim  Martin. 

Monmouth.. — Edward  Taylor.   Joseph   Saltar.  Robert 


687 


NEW-JERSEY  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  MAY,  1775. 


688 


Montgomery,  John  Holmes,  John  Covenhoven,  Daniel 
Hendrickspn,  Nicholas  I'an  Brunt. 

Hunterdon". — Samuel  Tucker,  John  Mehelm,  John 
Hart,  John  Stout,  Jasj>er  Smith,  Thomas  Lowry, 
Charles  Stewart,  Daniel  Hunt,  Ralph  Hart,  Jacob 
Jennings,  Richard  Stevens,  John  Stephens,  Junior, 
Thomas  Stout,  Thomas  Jones,  John  Rasset. 

Burlington. — Joseph  Borden,  Isaac  Pearson,  Colin 
Campbell,  Joseph  Read,  John  Pope. 

Gloucester. — John  Cooper,  Elijah  Clark,  John  Sparks. 

Cumberland. — Samuel  Fithian,  Jonathan  Elmer,  Tho- 
mas Eiving. 

Salem. — Andrew  Sinnickson,  Robert  Johnson,  Samuel 

Dick,  Jacob  Scoggin,  James  James. 
Cape-May. — Jesse  Hand. 

Tuesday,  May  23,  1775. 
The  Provincial  Congress  having  been  appointed  to  con- 
vene this  day  at  Trenton,  a  large  number  of  the  Deputies 
accordingly  assembled  ;  and  the  day  was  spent  in  examin- 
ing and  comparing  the  Certificates  of  election  of  the  seve- 
ral Members  present. 

Wednesday,  May  24,  1775. 
The  Congress  proceeded  to  the  choice  of  a  President, 
when  Hendrick  Fisher,  Esquire,  was  duly  elected  ;  Jona- 
than D.  Sergeant,  Esquire,  was  chosen  Secretary,  and 
William  Paterson,  Esquire,  and  Mr.  Frederick  Frcling- 
huysen,  his  Assistants. 

Inasmuch  as  the  business  on  which  this  Congress  are 
now  assembled,  and  is  likely  to  engage  their  deliberations, 
appears  to  be  of  the  highest  moment,  and  may,  in  the 
event,  affect  the  lives  and  properties,  the  religion  and  liber- 
ties of  their  constituents,  and  of  their  remotest  posterity,  it 
unquestionably  becomes  the  representative  body  of  a  Chris- 
tian community  to  look  up  to  that  all-powerful  Being,  by 
whose  providence  all  human  events  are  guided,  humbly 
imploring  his  divine  favour,  in  presiding  over  and  directing 
their  present  councils  towards  the  re-establishment  of  order 
and  harmony  between  Great  Rritain  and  her  distressed 
Colonies ;  and  that  he  would  be  graciously  pleased  to  suc- 
ceed the  measures  that  may  be  devised  as  most  conducive 
to  these  desirable  ends  :  It  is,  therefore, 

Ordered,  That  the  President  do  wait  upon  the  Minis- 
ters of  the  Gospel  in  this  Town,  and,  in  behalf  of  this 
Congress,  request  their  alternate  attendance  and  service 
every  morning  at  eight  o'clock,  during  the  session,  in  order 
that  the  business  of  the  day  may  be  opened  with  prayer 
for  the  above  purposes. 

The  President  opened  to  the  Congress  the  important 
occasion  of  their  meeting ;  recommended  the  utmost  de- 
liberation in  determining  on  the  measures  to  be  pursued  in 
defending  those  inestimable  rights  and  privileges  to  which, 
by  our  happy  Constitution,  the  inhabitants  of  this  Province 
are  justly  entitled  ;  and  that  due  care  might  be  taken  to 
support  the  established  civil  authority  (so  far  as  might  con- 
sist with  the  preservation  of  their  fundamental  liberties) 
for  the  maintenance  of  good  order  and  the  undisturbed  ad- 
ministration of  justice. 

The  Congress  then  took  into  consideration  the  present 
unhappy  contest  between  Great  Rritain  and  these  Colo- 
nies, which  they  determined  to  be  of  such  a  nature,  and 
had  arrived  to  such  a  crisis,  that  this  Convention  had  be- 
come absolutely  necessary,  in  order  to  provide  such  ways 
and  means  for  the  security  of  the  Province,  as  the  exigen- 
cies of  the  times  require  ;  and,  at  the  same  time,  declared 
that  they  had  assembled  with  the  profoundest  veneration 
for  the  person  and  family  of  His  sacred  Majesty  George 
the  Third,  firmly  professing  all  due  allegiance  to  his  right- 
ful authority  and  Government. 

Whereas  a  majority  of  the  several  legislative  Represent- 
atives of  this  Colony,  in  General  Assembly  convened  at 
Perth- Amboy,  in  January  last,  was  instructed  and  author- 
ized by  their  constituents  to  elect  and  appoint  Deputies  to 
represent  this  Province  in  the  Continental  Congress  now 
sitting  in  the  City  of  Philadelphia :  And  whereas  the  said 
General  Assembly  accordingly  did  elect  and  appoint  Ste- 
phen Crane,  James  Kinsey,  William  Livingston,  John  De 
Hart,  and  Richard.  Smith,  Esquires,  for  that  purpose  : 
And  whereas  some  of  the  Counties  of  this  Colony  omitted 


so  to  instruct  and  authorize  their  said  legislative  Represent- 
atives, who,  notwithstanding,  cordially  joined  in  the  said 
election  and  appointment :  This  Congress  do,  therefore, 
heartily  approve  of  the  said  Stephen  Crane,  James  Kinsey, 
William  Livingston,  John  De  Hart,  and  Richard  Smith, 
as  Representatives  of  this  Province  in  the  said  Continental 
Congress ;  and  do  also  sincerely  thank  the  House  of  As- 
sembly for  the  laudable  regard  they  have  shown  for  the 
rights  and  liberties  of  the  good  people  of  this  Province,  in 
timely  adopting  the  Continental  Association,  and  resolving 
in  favour  of  the  Resolutions  and  Proceedings  of  the  late 
Continental  Congress. 

And  it  is  unanimously  agreed  and  Resolved,  That  it  will 
be  most  eligible  for  the  inhabitants  of  each  respective 
County  in  this  Colony,  whenever  a  Continental  Congress 
shall  be  again  necessary,  to  appoint  and  empower  Depu- 
ties to  meet  in  Provincial  Congress,  for  the  purpose  of 
electing  Delegates  to  represent  this  Province  in  such  Con- 
tinental Congress. 

Ordered,  That  all  Votes  be  taken  from  the  Counties 
respectively,  so  that  the  Vote  of  each  County  be  taken  as 
one. 

The  Congress  having  considered  the  application  of  about 
two  hundred  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  Township  of  Shrews- 
bury, in  the  County  of  Monmouth,  calling  themselves  As- 
sociators  of  the  said  Township,  do  unanimously  advise  that 
the  persons  appointed  by  the  said  present  Associators  as 
their  Committee,  do  immediately  advertise  a  meeting  of 
the  inhabitants  of  the  said  Township  of  Shrewsbury,  in 
order  to  choose  a  Committee  of  Observation  for  the  said 
Township,  and  adopt  the  Association  recommended  by  the 
Continental  Congress;  and  after  such  choice  and  adoption, 
to  elect  Deputies,  one  or  more,  to  represent  them  in  this 
Congress.  And  that  the  persons  who  shall  be  so  elected, 
by  a  majority  of  the  inhabitants  attending  the  said  meeting 
of  the  Township,  be  received  as  members  of  this  Congress. 
And  in  case  of  the  refusal  or  neglect  of  the  Township  so  to 
do,  then  this  Congress  do  advise  the  said  Committee  of  the 
present  Associators  to  send  a  Deputy  or  Deputies  for  them- 
selves to  this  Congress;  and  do  direct  the  said  Committee 
to  make  and  certify  their  report  to  this  Congress  of  what 
shall  have  been  done  in  this  behalf. 

Thursday,  May  25,  1775. 

Samuel  Tucker,  Esquire,  was  elected  Vice-President,  by 
a  plurality  of  votes. 

The  Congress  resumed  the  consideration  of  a  written 
Message  to  the  Continental  Congress,  which,  after  certain 
amendments,  was  approved  and  ordered  to  be  entered,  and 
a  copy  to  be  made  and  signed  by  the  President ;  which 
Message  is  in  the  words  following,  viz : 

In  Provincial  Congress  of  New-Jersey,  ) 
Trenton,  May  25,  1775.  $ 

Gentlemen  :  In  the  present  very  alarming  crisis,  we 
have  been  appointed  by  the  several  Counties  of  this  Prov- 
ince as  their  Deputies,  to  meet  in  Provincial  Congress. 

We  are  accordingly  now  convened  in  this  place,  with 
dispositions  the  most  heartily  to  concur,  to  the  utmost  of 
our  abilities,  in  the  common  cause  of  America.  Yet  we 
think  it  not  advisable  to  enter  into  any  measures  of  conse- 
quence, until  some  general  plan  may  be  agreed  upon  and 
recommended  by  you. 

In  this  first  instance  of  such  Assembly  in  the  Colony, 
without  any  precedent  among  ourselves  to  direct  us,  and, 
at  the  same  time,  anxiously  concerned  to  make  our  Pro- 
vincial measures  consistent  with  that  plan  which  may  be 
devised  and  recommended  by  the  Continental  Congress, 
we  have  judged  it  necessary  to  address  ourselves  to  you, 
for  such  advice  and  assistance  as  you,  in  your  wisdom,  may 
think  proper  to  favour  us  with.  For  this  purpose  we  have 
deputed  two  of  our  members,  William  P.  Smith  and  Elius 
Boudinot,  Esquires,  the  bearers  hereof,  whom  we  recom- 
mend to  the  Congress,  requesting  you  will  furnish  us,  by 
them,  with  such  directions  concerning  the  line  of  conduct 
in  which  we  ought  to  act,  as  will  prevent  any  measures  we 
may  adopt  from  marring  or  obstructing  the  general  views 
of  the  Congress,  or  disappointing  your  expectations. 
Signed  by  order: 

Hendrick  Fisher,  President. 

To  the  Members  of  the  Continental  Congress. 


689 


NEW-JERSEY  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  MAY,  1775. 


690 


Friday,  May  26,  1775. 

The  Continental  Congress  having  resolved  unanimous- 
ly, "That  all  exportations  to  Quebeck,  Nova-Scotia,  the 
Island  of  St.  John's,  Newfoundland,  Georgia,  (except  the 
Parish  of  St.  JoAn's)  and  to  East  and  West  Florida,  im- 
mediately cease;  and  that  no  Provisions  of  any  kind,  or 
other  necessaries,  be  furnished  to  the  British  Fisheries  on 
the  American  coasts,  until  it  be  otherwise  determined  by 
the  Congress :" 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  this  Congress  do  earnestly 
recommend  to  the  good  people  of  this  Province,  that  they 
do  most  religiously  adhere  to  the  said  Resolution  ;  and  that 
the  Secretary  do  publish  this  Resolve  in  one  or  more  of  the 
publick  Newspapers. 

The  Committee  appointed  for  opening  a  correspondence 
with  the  Provincial  Congress  of  New-York,  reported  a 
draught  of  a  Letter  for  that  purpose ;  which  was  read,  ap- 
proved, and  ordered  to  be  entered,  and  a  copy  to  be  made 
out  and  signed  by  the  President ;  which  Letter  was  in  the 
words  following,  viz : 

Gentlemen  :  We,  the  Deputies  appointed  by  the  in- 
habitants of  New-Jersey  to  meet  in  Provincial  Congress, 
are  now  convened  here,  for  the  purpose  of  pursuing  such 
measures  as  may  be  thought  most  expedient  in  the  present 
unhappy  situation  to  which  the  Colonies  are  reduced,  and 
which  the  peculiar  exigencies  of  the  times  may  require. 
As  nothing  can  tend  more  to  ensure  success  to  the  steps 
which  may,  at  this  critical  juncture,  be  adopted  by  the 
several  Provinces,  than  a  uniform  plan  of  conduct,  we  con- 
ceived it  necessary  to  look  up  to  the  Continental  Congress 
for  their  advice  and  direction,  which  we  have  accordingly 
applied  for,  and  hope  soon  to  receive.  We  also  think  it  of 
consequence  that  a  correspondence  should  be  established 
with  you  and  our  other  sister  Colonies,  and  a  free  commu- 
nication be  had,  from  time  to  time,  of  such  measures  as  may 
be  judged  most  conducive  to  the  interest  of  the  common 
cause  ;  and  we  request  to  be  favoured  with  such  intelli- 
gence as  may  occur  to  you  worthy  of  attention,  and  of 
which  our  situation  may  probably  deprive  us. 

Monday,  May  29,  1775. 
Pierpoint  Edwards,  Esquire,  one  of  a  Committee  from 
the  Assembly  of  Connecticut  to  this  Congress,  attended 
with  certain  propositions  and  instructions,  which  were  re- 
ceived and  read,  and  ordered  to  be  referred  for  further 
consideration. 

Messrs.  Daniel  Hcndrickson  and  Nicholas  Van  Brunt, 
from  the  Township  of  Shrewsbury,  in  the  County  of  Mon- 
mouth, produced  a  certificate  that  the  said  Township  had 
chosen  a  Committee  of  Observation  pursuant  to  the  direc- 
tions of  the  Continental  Congress,  and  that  they  had  elected 
these  gentlemen  as  Deputies  to  represent  the  said  Town- 
ship in  this  Congress.  The  said  certificate  was  allowed 
and  filed. 

Tuesday,  May  30,  1775. 

WiUiam  P.  Smith  and  Elias  Boudinot,  Esquires,  the 
Committee  sent  by  this  Congress  with  a  Message  to  the 
Continental  Congress,  returned  with  a  written  Answer,  im- 
porting that  the  Congress  were  not  as  yet  prepared  to  give 
any  advice  on  the  state  of  this  Province,  and  promising  the 
same  as  soon  as  they  should  be  prepared. 

Jonathan  D.  Sergeant,  Esquire,  having  resigned  his 
office  of  Secretary  to  this  Congress,  WiUiam  Paterson, 
Esquire,  was  chosen  Secretary,  and  Mr.  Frederick  Fre- 
linghuysen  Deputy  Secretary. 

The  Congress  received  a  Letter  from  the  Provincial 
Congress  of  New-  York,  in  answer  to  theirs  of  the  26th 
instant,  importing  their  readiness  to  establish  a  correspond- 
ence with  us,  and  a  free  communication  of  such  measures 
as  may  from  time  to  time  be  judged  conducive  to  promote 
the  common  cause. 

Wednesday,  May  31,  1775. 

The  Petition  of  Robert  Murray  and  John  Murray,  set- 
ting forth  their  sincere  contrition  for  violating  the  Conti- 
nental Association,  and  their  determined  resolution  for  the 
future  strictly  to  observe  the  same,  &c,  was  read,  and  or- 
dered a  second  reading. 

The  Petition  of  Robert  and  John  Murray  was  read  a 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii. 


second  time ;  and,  being  now  considered,  it  was  unani- 
mously resolved,  that  the  petitioners,  having  made  the  best 
satisfaction  in  their  power  for  their  former  breach  of  the 
General  Continental  Agreement,  and  expressed  their  reso- 
lution strictly  to  adhere  to  the  same  in  future,  ought  to  be 
restored  to  the  favourable  regard  of  their  Country  ;  and 
the  said  Robert  and  John  Murrey  are  accordingly  restored 
to  all  the  civil  and  commercial  privileges  which  they  here- 
tofore enjoyed  in  this  Province. 

Afternoon. 

The  Congress  resumed  the  consideration  of  the  form 
of  an  Association,  which  was  reported  in  the  morning ; 
and,  after  certain  amendments,  approved  the  same,  and  or- 
dered it  to  be  entered,  which  is  in  the  words  following : 

"  We,  the  subscribers,  freeholders  and  inhabitants  of  the 

Township  of  ,  in  the  County  of  ,  and 

Province  of  New-Jersey,  having  long  viewed  with  concern 
the  avowed  design  of  the  Ministry  of  Great  Britain  to 
raise  a  revenue  in  America;  being  deeply  affected  with 
the  cruel  hostilities  already  commenced  in  the  Massachu- 
setts-Bay for  carrying  that  arbitrary  design  into  execution  ; 
convinced  that  the  preservation  of  the  rights  and  privileges 
of  America  depends,  under  God,  on  the  firm  union  of  its 
inhabitants,  do,  with  hearts  abhorring  slavery,  and  ardently 
wishing  for  a  reconciliation  with  our  Parent  State,  on  con- 
stitutional principles,  solemnly  associate  and  resolve,  under 
the  sacred  ties  of  virtue,  honour,  and  love  to  our  Country, 
that  we  will  personally,  and  as  far  as  our  influence  extends, 
endeavour  to  support  and  carry  into  execution  whatever 
measures  may  be  recommended  by  the  Continental  and 
our  Provincial  Congresses,  for  defending  our  Constitution, 
and  preserving  the  same  inviolate. 

"  We  do  also  further  associate  and  agree,  as  far  as  shall 
be  consistent  with  the  measures  adopted  for  the  preserva- 
tion of  American  freedom,  to  support  the  Magistrates  and 
other  civil  officers  in  the  execution  of  their  duty,  agreeable 
to  the  laws  of  this  Colony ;  and  to  observe  the  directions  of 
our  Committee,  acting  according  to  the  Resolutions  of  the 
aforesaid  Continental  and  Provincial  Congresses ;  firmly 
determined,  by  all  means  in  our  power,  to  guard  against 
those  disorders  and  confusions  to  which  the  peculiar  cir- 
cumstances of  the  times  may  expose  us." 

Resolved,  That  copies  of  the  above  Association  be  im- 
mediately sent  to  the  Committees  of  Observation  or  Cor- 
respondence in  the  several  Counties  in  this  Province,  which 
have  not  already  associated  in  a  similar  manner,  in  order 
that  the  same  may  be  signed  by  the  several  inhabitants, 
accompanied  with  the  following  Letter,  to  be  signed  by  the 
President : 

Gentlemen  :  Anxiously  desirous  to  promote,  as  far  as 
possible,  an  union  among  the  inhabitants  of  this  Colony , 
we  have  thought  proper  to  recommend  to  them  the  en- 
closed Association,  which  we  desire  may  be  immediately 
signed  by  the  good  people  of  your  Township  ;  that  at  a 
time  when  our  most  valuable  privileges  are  invaded,  we 
may,  in  a  uniform  manner,  make  our  defence,  and  prevent 
the  evils  to  which  our  unhappy  situation  exposes  us. 

Thursday,  June  I,  1775. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  prepare  the  draught  of  an 
answer  to  Pierpoint  Edwards,  Esquire,  reported  the  same, 
which  was  read,  approved,  and  ordered  to  be  entered,  and 
a  copy  thereof  to  be  delivered,  signed  by  the  President ; 
which  is  in  the  words  following : 

In  Provincial  Congress,  New-Jersey,  ) 
June  1,  1775.  \ 

Pierpoint  Edwards,  Esquire,  from  the  Colony  of  Con- 
necticut, having  laid  before  this  Congress  sundry  papers, 
containing,  among  other  things,  the  appointment  of  a  Com- 
mittee by  the  House  of  Representatives  of  said  Colony, 
for  the  purpose  of  procuring  intelligence  of  the  true  state 
of  this  Province,  giving  information  of  the  state  of  the  said 
Colony  of  Connecticut,  and  for  cultivating  harmony  and 
good  correspondence  with  this  Province  ;  and  this  Congress 
having  read  and  considered  the  same,  take  this  method  of 
expressing  their  highest  satisfaction  with  the  spirited  con- 
duct and  proceedings  of  the  said  Colony  of  Connecticut, 
and  do  hereby  request  the  said  Mr.  Edivards  to  assure  the 
Honourable  House  of  Representatives  of  that  Colony,  that 


691 


NEW-JERSEY  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  MAY,  1775. 


692 


the  Province  of  New-Jersey  will  most  heartily  co-operate 
with  them  in  the  general  measures  now  pursuing  for  the 
common  defence  of  the  rights  of  America,  and  will,  with 
great  pleasure,  cultivate  that  harmony  and  good  correspond- 
ence with  our  brethren  of  Connecticut,  which  they  so  earn- 
estly desire  ;  that  t his  Congress  are  now  engaged  in  set- 
tling a  plan  for  putting  the  Province  in  the  best  state  of 
defence  in  their  power,  and  are  ready  to  pursue  such  other 
methods  and  directions  as  shall  be  recommended  to  them 
by  the  Continental  Congress,  from  whom  they  are  daily 
expecting  advice  for  this  purpose  ;  and  whenever  any  par- 
ticular measure  shall  be  finally  settled  and  concluded  upon 
by  this  Province,  the  House  of  Representatives  of  Con- 
necticut shall  have  the  earliest  intelligence. 

Friday,  June  2,  1775. 

A  Letter  from  Pierpoint  Edwards,  Esquire,  requesting 
copies  of  such  of  the  Resolves  and  Proceedings  of  this 
Congress  as  respected  the  regulation  of  the  Militia,  the 
raising  of  men  and  money,  for  the  common  defence 
of  America,  was  received  and  read  ;  to  which  the  following 
answer  was  returned,  viz : 

Sir  :  The  Congress  received  your  polite  letter  of  this 
morning,  and  are  sorry  that  the  Militia  Bill  and  other  mat- 
ters now  before  them  are  not  so  far  completed  that  they 
can  comply  with  your  request,  in  giving  you  extracts  from 
them  to  take  with  you  to  the  Honourable  House  of  As- 
sembly of  the  Colony  of  Connecticut.  You  may,  how- 
ever, be  assured,  that  when  the  Congress  rises,  a  copy  of 
such  proceedings  as  shall  be  necessary  to  be  communicated, 
will  be  transmitted  to  the  Speaker  of  your  Honourable 
House.    We  are,  &c. 

Saturday,  June  3,  1775,  P.  M. 
The  draught  of  a  plan  for  regulating  the  Militia  of  this 
Colony,  which  was  reported  in  the  morning,  was  read 
a  second  time  ;  and,  after  sundry  amendments,  was  ap- 
proved, and  ordered  to  be  entered ;  which  is  in  the  words 
following  : 

The  Congress,  taking  into  consideration  the  cruel  and 
arbitrary  measures  adopted  and  pursued  by  the  British 
Parliament  and  present  Ministry  for  the  purpose  of  sub- 
jugating the  American  Colonies  to  the  most  abject  servi- 
tude ;  and  being  apprehensive  that  all  pacifick  measures  for 
the  redress  of  our  grievances  will  prove  ineffectual,  do 
think  it  highly  necessary  that  the  inhabitants  of  this  Prov- 
ince be  forthwith  properly  armed  and  disciplined  for  de- 
fending the  cause  of  American  freedom.  And  further 
considering  that,  to  answer  this  desirable  end,  it  is  requisite 
that  such  persons  be  entrusted  with  the  command  of  the 
Militia  as  can  be  confided  in  by  the  people,  and  are  truly 
zealous  in  support  of  our  just  rights  and  privileges,  do  re- 
commend and  advise  that  the  good  people  of  this  Province 
henceforward  strictly  observe  the  following  Rules  and 
Regulations,  until  this  Congress  shall  make  further  order 
therein  : 

1st.  That  one  or  more  Companies,  as  the  case  may  re- 
quire, be  immediately  formed  in  each  Township  or  Corpo- 
ration ;  and,  to  this  end,  that  the  several  Committees  in  this 
Province  do,  as  soon  as  may  be,  acquaint  themselves  with 
the  number  of  male  inhabitants  in  their  respective  Districts, 
from  the  age  of  sixteen  to  fifty,  who  are  capable  of  bearing 
arms,  and  thereupon  form  them  into  companies,  consisting, 
as  near  as  may  be,  of  eighty  men  each  ;  which  companies 
so  formed  shall,  each  by  itself,  assemble  and  choose,  by 
plurality  of  voices,  four  persons  from  among  themselves,  of 
sufficient  substance  and  capacity,  for  its  officers,  namely, 
one  Captain,  two  Lieutenants,  and  an  Ensign. 

2d.  That  the  officers  so  chosen  appoint  for  their  respect- 
ive companies  fit  persons  to  be  sergeants,  corporals,  and 
drummers. 

3d.  That  as  soon  as  the  companies  are  so  formed,  the 
officers  of  such  a  number  of  companies  as  shall  by  them 
be  judged  proper  to  form  a  Regiment,  do  assemble  and 
choose  one  Colonel,  one  Lieutenant-Colonel,  a  Major,  and 
an  Adjutant,  for  each  Regiment. 

4th.  That  each  Captain,  as  soon  as  elected,  furnish  him- 
self with  a  Mnster-Roll,  after  the  form  following,  to  be 
signed  by  every  person  under  his  command,  viz: 

"  We,  the  subscribers,  do  voluntarily  enlist  ourselves  in 


the  company  of  ,  in  the  Township  of  , 

in  the  County  of  ,  under  the  command  of  Colo- 
nel  ,  (if  a  Colonel  shall  be  chostn  at  the  time  of 

subscribing,)  and  do  promise  to  obey  our  officers  in  such  ser- 
vice as  they  shall  appoint  us,  agreeable  to  the  rules  and  or- 
ders of  the  Provincial  Congress.    Witness  our  hands,  &.c." 

5th.  That  the  persons  so  enlisted  meet  under  the  direc- 
tion of  their  officers,  in  such  manner,  and  at  such  times  and 
places,  as  shall  by  them  be  judged  necessary  for  their  im- 
provement in  military  discipline  ;  and  that  each  whole  com- 
pany do  assemble  at  least  once  a  month  for  the  same  pur- 
pose ;  and  that  a  general  muster  or  review  of  the  whole 
Regiment  be  had  as  often,  and  at  such  times,  as  the  Field 
Officers  shall  appoint. 

6th.  That  each  person  enlisted  be  equipped  as  soon  as 
possible  with  arms  and  ammunition,  in  such  manner  as  by 
the  Field  Officers  of  such  Regiment  shall  be  directed. 

7th.  That  due  obedience  be  paid  to  the  officers,  and 
strict  attention  observed  in  learning  the  military  exercise. 

8th.  That  where  Companies  and  Regiments  are  already 
formed,  and  officers  chosen  and  appointed,  the  same  be 
continued,  provided  that  they  do  adopt  such  further  rules 
and  orders  respecting  the  signing  of  a  muster-roll,  days  of 
meeting  and  reviews,  as  are  hereinbefore  contained ;  and 
that  where  part  only  of  the  officers  are  already  appointed 
and  chosen,  they  do  proceed  to  elect  such  other  officers  as 
remain  yet  to  be  chosen,  in  conformity  to  the  rules  herein 
contained. 

The  Congress  taking  into  consideration  the  spirited  ex- 
ertions of  the  Counties  of  Morris,  Sussex,  and  Somerset, 
in  raising  Minute-Men,  do  approve  of  and  thank  them  for 
their  zeal  in  the  common  cause,  and  w  ill  take  the  same  into 
further  consideration  at  their  next  meeting. 

The  draught  of  an  Ordinance  for  raising  a  sum  of  money 
for  the  purpose  therein  mentioned,  after  sundry  amend- 
ments, was  approved,  and  ordered  to  be  entered,  in  the 
words  following : 

Whereas  it  has  become  absolutely  necessary,  in  the  pre- 
sent dangerous  and  extraordinary  state  of  publick  affairs, 
in  which  the  usual  resources  of  Government  appear  to  be 
insufficient  for  the  safety  of  the  people,  and  in  which  the 
good  people  of  this  Province  have  therefore  thought  proper 
to  choose  Deputies  in  this  present  Congress,  that  a  fund  be 
provided  for  the  use  of  the  Province,  we,  the  said  Depu- 
ties, being  persuaded  that  every  inhabitant  is  willing  and 
desirous  to  contribute  his  proportion  of  money  for  so  im- 
portant a  purpose,  do,  pursuant  to  the  powers  entrusted  to 
us  by  the  people,  Resolve  and  direct,  that  the  sum  of  Ten 
Thousand  Pounds,  proclamation  money,  be  immediately 
apportioned  and  raised  for  the  use  aforesaid,  the  same  to  be 
apportioned,  laid  out  and  disposed  of,  in  such  manner  as 
hereinafter  is  directed. 

2.  And  it  is  resolved  and  directed,  That  the  part  and 
proportion  of  the  said  sum  to  be  raised  in  the  County  of 
Bergen  be  six  hundred  and  sixty-four  Pounds  eight  Shil- 
lings ;  and  that  the  part  and  proportion  of  Essex  be  seven 
hundred  and  forty-two  Pounds  eighteen  Shillings  ;  and  that 
the  part  and  proportion  of  Middlesex  be  eight  hundred  and 
seventy-two  Pounds  six  Shillings  and  eight  Pence;  and 
that  the  part  or  proportion  of  Somerset  be  nine  hundred 
and  four  Pounds  two  Shillings;  and  that  the  part  or  pro- 
portion of  Monmouth  be  one  thousand  and  sixty-nine 
Pounds  two  Shillings  and  eight  Pence ;  and  that  the  part 
or  proportion  of  Morris  be  seven  hundred  and  twenty-three 
Pounds  eight  Shillings ;  and  that  the  part  or  proportion  of 
Sussex  be  five  hundred  and  ninety-three  Pounds  five  Shil- 
lings and  four  Pence  ;  and  that  the  part  or  proportion  of 
Hunterdon  be  one  thousand  three  hundred  and  sixty-three 
Pounds  sixteen  Shillings  and  eight  Pence ;  and  that  the 
part  or  proportion  of  Burlington  be  one  thousand  and  sev- 
enty-one Pounds  thirteen  Shillings  and  four  Pence ;  and 
that  the  part  or  proportion  of  Gloucester  be  seven  hundred 
and  sixty-three  Pounds  two  Shillings  and  eight  Pence ; 
and  that  the  part  or  proportion  of  Salem  be  six  hundred 
and  seventy-nine  Pounds  twelve  Shillings;  and  that  the 
part  or  proportion  of  Cumberland  be  three  hundred  and 
eighty-five  Pounds  six  Shillings  and  eight  Pence  ;  and  that 
the  part  or  proportion  of  Cape-May  be  one  hundred  and 
sixty-six  Pounds  eighteen  Shillings. 

3.  And,  in  order  that  the  said  sum  may  be  duly  raised, 


693 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


694 


It  is  further  resolved  and  directed.  That  the  same  be 
apportioned  by  persons  hereafter  to  be  appointed  by  the 
Committees  of  the  several  Townships  in  this  Colony,  in 
which  apportionment  all  certainties  shall  be  rated  one-fifth 
less  than  the  sums  they  are  respectively  directed  to  be  rated 
at  by  the  fourth  section  of  an  Act  of  the  General  Assembly 
of  this  Colony,  made  and  passed  in  the  tenth  year  of  the 
reign  of  his  present  Majesty,  entitled  "  An  Act  to  settle  the 
quotas  of  the  several  Counties  in  this  Colony  for  the  levying 
Taxes  ;"  and  that  all  lands,  horses,  cattle,  and  other  taxables, 
be  valued  as  in  the  above-mentioned  Act  is  directed  ;  which 
said  apportionment  shall  be  made  and  delivered  to  the  per- 
sons to  be  appointed  by  the  several  Committees  in  each 
Township,  at  or  before  the  first  day  of  August  next  ensuing. 

And  it  is  further  resolved  and  directed,  That  the  per- 
sons who  shall  be  appointed  for  apportioning  the  same  as 
aforesaid  in  the  several  Townships  of  each  County,  to  that 
end  do  meet  together  on  the  first  Monday  in  July  next,  at 
such  place  as  by  the  laws  of  this  Colony  have  been  ap- 
pointed for  the  Assessors  to  meet  in  for  the  like  purpose ; 
and  then  and  there  settle  and  divide  to  each  Township  with- 
in their  County  its  quota  of  the  sum  hereinbefore  directed 
to  be  raised  in  the  County. 


4.  And  it  is  further  resolved  and  directed,  That  the 
several  Committees  in  each  Township  of  the  Colony  shall 
appoint  fit  persons  to  collect  the  same,  who,  upon  receiving 
the  said  apportionment,  shall  immediately  collect  and  pay 
the  same  to  such  person  or  persons  as  the  several  Commit- 
tees in  each  County  may  hereafter  appoint ;  or,  where 
there  is  no  County  Committee,  to  such  person  or  persons 
as  the  several  Township  Committees  shall  jointly  appoint. 

5.  And  it  is  further  resolved  and  directed,  That  after 
the  part  or  proportion  of  each  County  shall  have  been  ap- 
portioned and  received  by  the  County  Collector,  he  shall 
and  do  pay  the  same,  or  any  part  or  parts  thereof,  to  the 
County  Committee,  or  to  their  order,  signed  by  their  Chair- 
man, by  their  vote,  the  same  to  be  disposed  of  by  them  in 
such  manner  as  they  in  their  discretion  shall  think  most 
proper  to  answer  the  said  exigencies. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Fisher,  Mr.  Tucker,  Mr.  Daniel 
Hunt,  Mr.  Frelinghuyscn,  Mr.  I.  Pearson,  Mr.  Dunham, 
Mr.  Schurman,  Mr.  John  Hart,  Mr.  Borden,  Mr.  Dcare, 
Mr.  Baldwin,  Mr.  Schenck,  Mr.  Ralph  Hart,  and  Mr. 
Heard,  or  any  three  of  them,  in  conjunction  with  the  Presi- 
dent or  Vice-President,  be  a  Committee  of  Correspond- 
ence, with  power  to  convene  this  Congress. 


BE.VEOICT  ARNOLD  TO  THE  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETT  AT 
CAMBRIDGE. 

;Pcr  express.)  Crown  Point,  May  23,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  My  last  was  of  the  19th  instant,  by  Cap- 
t?in  Jonathan  Brown.  I  then  advised  you  of  my  taking 
possession  of  the  King's  sloop,  &c. ;  and  that,  on  the 
13th  instant,  on  my  return  from  St.  John's,  Colonel  E. 
Allen,  with  about  eighty  or  one  hundred  men,  passed  me 
with  intention  of  making  a  stand  at  St.  John's;  and  not 
being  able  to  dissuade  him  from  so  rash  a  purpose,  I  sup- 
plied them  with  provisions,  &ic.  Yesterday  he  arrived  at 
Ticondcroga,  with  his  party,  and  says  that  on  the  evening 
of  the  18th  instant  he  arrived  with  his  party  at  St.  John's, 
and  hearing  of  a  detachment  of  men  on  the  road  from 
Mortreal,  laid  in  ambush  for  them ;  but  his  people  being 
so  much  fatigued,  (when  the  party  were  about  one  mile 
distant,)  thought  proper  to  retreat,  and  crossed  the  lake  at 
St.  John's,  where  they  continued  the  night.  At  dawn  next 
day  they  were,  when  asleep,  saluted  with  a  discharge  of 
grape-shot  from  six  field-pieces,  and  a  discharge  of  small 
arms  from  about  two  hundred  Regulars.  They  made  a 
precipitate  retreat,  and  left  behind  them  three  men.  Im- 
mediately on  this  advice  I  proceeded  here  with  the  sloop 
and  schooner,  well  armed  as  possible  under  our  circum- 
stances, and  eighty  men,  which,  with  the  party  here  before, 
makes  near  one  hundred  and  fifty  men,  with  whom  I  am 
determined  to  make  a  stand  here  to  secure  the  cannon,  it 
being  impossible  to  remove  them  at  present.  1  am  in 
hourly  expectation  of  two  or  three  hundred  men  more ; 
most  of  those  here  are  enlisted.  Colonel  Allen's  men  are 
in  general  gone  home. 

As  the  Regulars  have  good  information  of  our  strength 
and  movements,  1  am  apprehensive  of  their  paying  us  a 
visit,  provided  they  can  get  batteaus  from  Montreal  to  St. 
John's.  I  shall  make  every  possible  preparation  to  give 
them  a  warm  reception.  I  have  commissioned  Captain 
John  Sloan  in  the  sloop,  and  Captain  Isaac  Mathues  in  the 
schooner.  I  have  wrote  to  New-York  for  a  number  of 
gunners  and  seamen  to  man  the  two  vessels,  being  in  great 
want  of  them.  At  present  obliged  to  stay  on  board  one  of 
them  myself. 

As  soon  as  a  sufficient  number  of  men  arrives,  I  shall 
lose  no  time  in  carrying  your  orders  into  execution  in  re- 
gard to  the  cannon,  &.c.  This  morning,  very  luckily,  an 
escort  of  provisions  (five  barrels  of  pork  and  thirty  barrels 
of  flour)  arrived  here  as  a  present  from  Albany,  under  the 
rare  of  Captain  Elisha  Phelps.  The  last  barrel  of  our 
pork  being  abroach,  I  have  ordered  fifty  barrels  of  pork 
and  one  hundred  of  flour  from  Albany,  which  I  expect 
soon ;  prior  to  which  I  bought  fifteen  oxen  and  thirty  bar- 
rels of  flour,  which  is  all  the  provisions  purchased  as  yet. 
The  people  who  have  enlisted  are  promised  the  same 
bounty  as  is  given  in  the  Massachusetts-Bay.  A  sum  of 
money  will  be  requisite  to  carry  matters  into  execution.  1 


have  one  hundred  and  sixty  Pounds,  found  in  the  sloop  ; 
but  as  it  was  the  Captain's  property,  do  not  choose  to  make 
use  of  it  at  present.  I  have  sent  to  Albany  repeatedly  for 
powder,  and  can  get  none  ;  have  only  one  hundred  and  fifty 
pounds  here,  which  I  brought  from  Concord.  I  beg  you 
will  order  a  quantity  to  be  forwarded  here  immediately.  I 
have  wrote  to  Connecticut,  but  can  have  no  dependance 
from  that  quarter,  as  it  is  very  scarce  there. 

I  hope  some  gentleman  will  soon  be  appointed  in  my 
room  here,  who  is  better  able  to  serve  the  publick  than  I 
am.  Interim,  I  am,  gentlemen,  your  most  obedient  hum- 
ble servant,  Benedict  Arnold. 

To  the  Committee  of  Safety  at  Cambridge. 

P.  S.  Since  writing  the  above,  one  of  Colonel  Allen's 
party,  who  was  taken  prisoner  at  St.  John's,  has  made  his 
escape,  and  says,  that  on  the  19th  instant  there  were  four 
hundred  Regulars  at  St.  John's,  who  expected  to  be  joined 
by  more  men,  and  were  making  all  possible  preparation  to 
cross  the  lake  and  retake  Crown  Point  and  Ticonderoga. 
I  have  sent  expresses  to  Fort  George  and  Skenesborough, 
to  rally  the  Country.  You  may  depend,  gentlemen,  these 
places  will  not  be  given  up  unless  we  are  overpowered  by 
numbers,  or  deserted  by  Providence,  which  has  hitherto 
supported  us. 


MASSACHUSETTS  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY  TO  THE  PROVIN- 
CIAL CONGRESS. 

In  Committee  of  Safety,  Cambridge,  ) 
May  23,  1775.  \ 

Gentlemen  :  There  appears  to  be  some  considerable 
difficulty  in  the  adjustment  of  General  Ward's  Regiment, 
so  far  as  it  respects  the  first  that  may  have  command  under 
him  in  his  Regiment.  The  circumstances  we  would  beg 
leave  to  lay  before  your  Honours :  Colonel  Joseph  Hen- 
shaw  came  down  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  a  Minute  Regi- 
ment, under  General  Ward,  and  still  expects  to  hold  his 
command  under  General  Ward  in  said  Regiment,  upon  the 
present  establishment,  as  he  was  early  applied  to  by  the 
Committee  for  that  purpose ;  Colonel  Jonathan  Ward 
came  down  Lieutenant-Colonel  under  General  Ward,  of 
the  Standing  Militia,  and  likewise  expects  to  hold  his  com- 
mand under  General  Ward,  in  the  present  establishment, 
having  given  out  enlisting  orders  to  the  Captains  in  said 
Regiment.  Seven  Captains  in  said  Regiment  desire  that 
Colonel  Hard  may  be  appointed,  as  appears  by  a  cer- 
tificate under  their  hands.  This  Committee  have  applied 
to  General  Ward  to  determine  which  of  said  Colonels 
should  have  the  command,  but  he  declines  to  act  in  the 
affair.  We  therefore  thought  it  proper  to  make  this  short 
representation  to  your  Honours,  that  you  might,  in  your 
wisdom,  put  a  speedy  end  to  said  controversy. 

William  Cooper,  Secretary. 

To  the  Hon.  Provincial  Congress  in  Watertown. 


695 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


696 


PETITION   OF  JOHN  MERRILL. 

To  the  Honourable  Provincial  Congress  now  at  Water- 
town  :  The  Petition  of  the  subscriber  humbly  sheweth  : 
That  there  is  now  at  Topsham  a  company  of  able-bodied 
men,  the  number  about  sixty,  who  have  mostly  good  effect- 
ual fire-arms,  but  they  have  very  little,  or  most  of  them  no 
powder,  on  which  account  they  are  supposed  to  be  in  great 
danger  from  the  Indians,  as  well  as  other  ways ;  this  is 
therefore  to  pray  your  Honours  to  give  some  directions 
where  may  be  had  about  fifty  or  sixty  pounds  of  powder, 
for  which  the  cash  shall  be  paid  by  your  very  humble  ser- 
vant, John  Merkill. 
W.t.rtown,  May  23,  1775. 


SELECTMEN  OF  WALTHAM  TO  THE  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY 
AT  CAMBRIDGE. 

Waltham,  May  23,  1775. 
Gentlemen  :  In  obedience  to  a  letter  we  received  from 
you  with  respect  to  Mr.  Millicant,  we  have  made  particular 
inquiry  into  Mrs.  Millicant's  passing  to  and  repassing  from 
Boston,  and  after  the  most  critical  inquiry,  we  find  Mrs. 
Millicant  went  only  once  to  Boston,  to  bring  her  little  chil- 
dren out  of  Boston,  which  were  at  Mrs.  Newman's,  before 
the  engagement ;  and  from  a  particular  inquiry  into  that 
affair,  are  persuaded  she  conveyed  no  intelligence  to  our 
enemies,  that  can  be  any  ways  detrimental  to  the  important 
cause  in  which  we  are  engaged  ;  and  from  Mr.  Millicant's 
known  integrity,  uprightness,  and  good  conduct,  since  he 
has  been  with  us,  we  cannot  but  suppose  the  information 
you  received  of  Mr.  Millicant's  conveying  intelligence  to 
our  enemies,  was  from  a  person  either  prejudiced  against, 
or  entirely  unknown  to  him,  and  so  suspected  him  to  be 
our  enemy,  because  he  is  on  the  half-pay  list.  However, 
we  shall  be  on  the  watch,  and  very  careful  that  no  intelli- 
gence be  conveyed  to  our  enemies  by  Mr.  Millicant,  or 
any  other  person  in  this  Town.    We  are,  gentlemen,  with 
due  deference,  your  humble  and  obedient  servants, 
Jonas  Dix,  ^| 
Nath.  Bridge,  {Selectmen  of 
Josiah  Brown,  [  Waltham, 
John  Clark,  J 


TEWKESBURY  (MASS.)  COMMITTEE  OF  INSPECTION. 

Tewkesbury,  May  23,  1775. 

Whereas  Mr.  Timothy  Brown,  of  this  Town,  has  been 
suspected  of  being  an  enemy  to  the  liberties  of  America : 
We,  the  Committee  of  Inspection  of  said  Tewkesbury,  hav- 
ing heretofore  taken  the  matter  under  our  inspection,  and 
had  the  said  Brown  upon  examination  before  us,  and  found 
no  proof  of  the  late  charges  laid  against  him,  we  set  up 
notifications  desiring  any  person  that  had  any  thing  to  offer 
by  way  of  evidence  against  the  said  Brotvn's  character,  to 
offer  it  to  us  ;  and  again  having  met  this  day  upon  adjourn- 
ment, and  had  the  said  Brown  again  upon  examination, 
and  still  no  further  evidence  against  the  said  Brown  appears, 
but  he  declares  himself  a  friend  to  the  liberties  of  his  Coun- 
try, and  that  he  will  use  the  utmost  of  his  endeavours  to 
defend  the  same;  therefore  we  would  inform  the  publick, 
that  unless  some  absolute  proof  be  brought  against  him, 
the  said  Brown  ought  not  to  be  treated  as  an  enemy,  but 
as  a  friend  to  our  just  rights  and  liberties. 

Isaac  Kitteridge,       Jacob  Shed, 
Nathaniel  Heywood,  Eldad  Worcester, 
David  Bayley,  Ezra  Kendall, 

Eb'zer  Whittemore, 

Committee  of  Inspection  for  Tewkesbury. 


NEW-HAMPSHIRE   CONGRESS  TO  JOHN  SULLIVAN  AND  JOHN 
LANGDON,  ESQUIRES,  AT  PHILADELPHIA. 

Exeter,  May  23,  1775. 
Gentlemen:  Although  it  is  painful  to  us  to  have  occa- 
sion to  realize  the  necessity  of  deciding  by  the  sword  the 
present  controversy  with  Great  Britain,  yet  we  trust  you 
will  know  with  satisfaction  that,  in  the  fullest  representa- 
tive body  this  Province  ever  had,  it  was  unanimously  voted 
to  raise  a  body  of  men  for  the  purposes  of  general  defence. 
As  we  conclude  you  have  been  already  sufficiently  apprised 
of  the  hostile  conduct  of  the  Army  under  General  tinge, 


we  can  assure  you  that  the  whole  Colony  seems  to  be  of 
one  heart  and  one  soul  ;  so  that  even  those  who  had  been 
formerly  inactive,  are  now  soberly  awake  and  active.  The 
blood  of  their  brethren  has  roused  them. 

We  could  have  desired  to  consult  a  General  Congress, 
if  time  had  allowed,  before  we  had  taken  such  an  important 
step  as  raising  a  military  force.  But  the  case  seemed  too 
plain  to  be  doubted,  and  loo  urgent  to  be  delayed.  We 
have  resolved  to  raise  forthwith  two  thousand  men.  How 
shall  we  pay  them,  you  are  sensible,  must  now  be  one 
question. 

We  trust,  as  you  know  the  state  of  the  Colony,  that 
you  will  enter  into  the  full  importance  of  the  question.  We 
desire  you  will  do  your  utmost  to  forward  some  plan  in 
which  we  may  be  able  to  discharge  our  engagements.  We 
must,  gentlemen,  press  you  on  this  article.  The  little  cash 
we  ever  had,  is  by  one  means  or  another  almost  entirely 
drained  off.  The  most  are  ready  to  join,  and  are  willing 
to  expend  one  half,  if  they  may  preserve  the  other.  Yet 
we  seem  to  have  no  method  left  but  borrowing,  and  we 
don't  know  that  we  can  borrow,  unless  we  issue  a  pioper 
currency  ourselves,  or  have  a  currency  on  a  general  plan, 
or  can  borrow  in  some  of  the  other  Colonies. 

With  regard  to  what  is  further  necessary  to  regulate  the 
general  policy  of  the  Colonies,  you  will  find  our  situation 
and  views,  so  far  as  we  have  formed  any,  in  our  enclosed 
letter  to  the  Congress.  You  may  rely  upon  it  that  if  any 
general  regulations  of  the  Province  are  thought  necessary 
or  best,  we  shall  be  ready  to  receive  the  same,  and  govern 
ourselves  accordingly. 

Gentlemen,  we  commit  ourselves  and  you,  the  honourable 
body  of  which  you  are  members,  and  the  cause  of  liberty 
and  justice  throughout  America  and  the  world,  to  the  all- 
directing  Mind,  and  subscribe,  with  much  esteem,  your 
most  obedient  servant. 

To  the  Honourable  John  Sullivanand  John  Langdon,  Es- 
quires, Members  for  this  Colony  of  New-Hampshire  in 
the  Continental  Congress. 


THE  NEW-HAMPSHIRE  TO  THE  CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS. 
[Received  and  read  before  Congress  June  2,  1775.] 

Exeter,  May  23.  1775. 

Honourable  Gentlemen:  British  America  being  be- 
trusted  to  your  wisdom,  the  proposal  of  those  plans,  by 
which,  as  by  a  pole  star,  it  may  steer  in  the  tempest  occa- 
sioned by  the  arrogant  claims,  the  haughty  threats,  and 
unnatural  attacks  of  the  British  Ministry,  it  is  reasonable 
for  you  to  expect,  and  for  each  Colony  to  choose,  that 
whatever  important  step  is  taken  by  any  of  the  Colonies, 
the  consequence  of  which  reaches  the  whole,  you  should 
receive  the  earliest  authentick  intelligence  of  the  measure 
itself,  together  with  the  facts  and  motives  leading  to  it,  that 
it  may  be  either  diverted,  forwarded,  or  ripened,  so  as  to 
harmonize  with  whatever  extensive  plan  the  great  Fountain 
of  wisdom,  and  Friend  of  justice  shall  inspire  the  guardians 
of  our  common  rights. 

Long  has  America  mourned  to  find  those  she  wishes  to 
revere,  adopting  one  plan  after  another  to  strip  her  of  the 
blessings  of  freedom,  deaf  to  all  her  pleas  for  justice. 

The  counsels  of  America,  united  in  that  illustrious  body, 
the  late  Continental  Congress,  we  hoped,  that,  by  denying 
ourselves,  we  should  scatter  the  mists  which  hid  the  path 
of  justice  from  the  eye  of  Britain ;  but  with  pain  we  have 
learned  that  firmness  is  insolence,  and  that  the  most  calm 
resolution  to  be  free  is  treason  in  the  new  Ministerial  lan- 
guage. 

In  spite  of  the  gathering  storm,  we  yet  resolved,  if  pos- 
sible, to  avoid  the  last  retreat  of  the  injured — an  appeal  to 
God  by  the  sword  ;  but  at  length  plain  and  pressing  facts 
constrain  us  to  believe  that  our  enemies  mean  to  deny  us 
every  other  ;  though,  to  our  view,  the  thought  is  shaded  deep 
in  horrours. 

Not  long  since  the  alarm  sounded  through  this  Colony, 
that  the  insidious  foe,  though  continually  speaking  of  peace, 
had  begun  a  scene  of  bloodshed  and  devastation  on  the 
lives  and  property  of  our  brethren  in  the  Massachusetts. 

Listening  only  to  calls  of  humanity,  without  waiting  for 
consultations,  with  all  the  speed  of  common  interest  and 
friendship,  we  generally  run  to  their  aid;  but  we  come  to 


697 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  Sic,  MAY,  1775. 


698 


be  only  witnesses,  as  yet,  of  the  scenes  of  pillage  and  of 
slaughter,  perpetrated  by  the  sons  of  violence.  The  enemy 
were  retreated.  Our  situation  obliged  us  to  return,  not  to 
neglect  the  cause,  but  that  we  might  prosecute,  by  united 
and  consistent  counsels,  with  steady  firmness. 

As  soon  as  convenience  would  allow,  being  directed  by 
our  brethren  of  this  Colony  to  act  for  them  in  the  present 
exigence,  which  seems  not  to  allow  time  for  consulting 
America  at  large,  feeling  for  ourselves,  our  friends,  and  our 
Country,  we  have  determined  to  exert  our  utmost  efforts 
in  defence  of  the  common  cause  of  America,  and  for  the 
present  have  resolved  to  raise  the  nutnber  of  two  thousand 
men,  (including  officers,)  to  be  employed  as  occasion  shall 
require,  under  the  regulation  of  this  Convention,  until  we 
have  the  advice  of  the  Continental  Congress,  to  whose 
superintendence  we  choose  to  submit.  We  have,  in  conse- 
quence, engaged  to  provide  for  the  pay  of  the  above  number, 
until  the  last  day  of  December  next. 

We  beg  leave  to  suggest  that  this  will,  of  course,  intro- 
duce a  vast  expense.  We  will  not  conceal  that  the  circu- 
lating cash  in  this  Province  is  very  small,  in  but  a  trifling 
proportion,  as  we  suppose,  to  the  necessary  demand  on  this 
occasion.  We  ask  the  advice  and  assistance  of  the  Con- 
gress w  ith  regard  to  the  best  method  of  carrying  the  abov  e 
vote  into  execution.  We  desire  to  have  the  benefit  of 
some  general  plan  for  bills  of  credit,  or  that  we  may  act 
with  the  advice  of  the  Congress  in  issuing  such  ourselves; 
or  that  we  may  be  pointed  to  such  other  methods  as  shall 
appear  just  and  equal,  in  apportioning  the  expense  of  the 
common  cause. 

Although  we  ardently  wish  that,  if  possible,  a  connection 
may  yet  be  preserved  between  Great  Britain  and  these 
Colonies,  founded  on  the  invariable  principles  of  justice, 
and  the  general  principles  of  the  British  Constitution,  yet 
we  are  entirely  disposed  to  respect,  and  willing  to  submit 
to  any  plan  of  further  uniting  the  Colonies,  for  the  purpose 
of  common  security  and  defence. 

We  will  not  conceal  that  many  among  us  are  disposed  to 
conclude,  that  the  voice  of  God  and  Nature,  to  us,  since 
the  late  hostile  design  and  conduct  of  Great  Britain,  is,  that 
we  are  bound  to  look  to  our  whole  political  affairs. 

We  have  not  yet  largely  and  fully  consulted  with  one 
another  on  this  article,  but  have  only  acted  with  the  single 
view  of  the  plain  necessity  of  certain  steps  to  be  taken,  to 
secure  us  from  the  ruin  which  the  British  Ministry  have 
prepared  for  us.  We  trust  we  shall  keep  this  alone  in  view 
until  we  hear  the  united  plan  of  the  Colonies  in  the  General 
Council,  which  we  pray  and  trust  may  be  under  the  influ- 
ence of  Heaven. 

By  order  of  the  Convention  of  the  Colony  of  Neiv- 
Hampshire. 

I  am,  gentlemen,  your  most  humble  servant, 

Matthew  Thornton,  President. 

To  the  Honourable  Members  of  the  Congress  now  sitting 
in  the  City  of  Philadelphia. 


NEW-HAMPSHIRE  CONGRESS  TO  THE  MASSACHUSETTS 
CONGRESS. 

Province  of  New-Hampshire,  in  Provincial  Convention,  > 
Exeter,  May  23,  1775.  \ 

Gentlemen:  We  acknowledge  the  honour  of  an  inter- 
view with  your  Committee,  the  Honourable  Joseph  Gerrish, 
Esquire,  and  Colonel  Ebenezer  Saivyer,  and  the  intelligence 
by  them  communicated  to  us  ;  and,  in  way  of  reply,  would 
inform  you,  that  in  consideration  of  the  present  alarming 
state  of  the  Colonies  in  general,  and  your  Province  in  par- 
ticular, we  have  determined  to  raise,  for  the  common  de- 
fence and  safety,  two  thousand  men,  including  officers  and 
those  already  employed  in  the  publick  service,  belonging  to 
this  Province  ;  to  be  raised  and  qualified  as  soon  as  may  be, 
and  more,  if  it  shall  appear  to  be  our  proportion,  as  soon 
as  a  proper  estimate  can  be  made.  And  in  respect  to  such 
other  matters  as  your  Committee  had  in  commission  to  us, 
we  shall  take  them  into  our  serious  consideration  ;  as  they 
are  matters  of  so  great  importance  we  cannot  immediately 
determine  respecting  them,  but  would  wait  the  advice 
and  direction  of  the  General  Congress,  to  which  we  are 
about  immediately  to  apply,  as  we  find  you  have  done. 
We  would  beg  leave  to  assure  you  that  the  people  of  this 
Province  appear  to  be  heartily  engaged  in  the  common 


cause,  and  at  all  hazards  determined  to  stand  by  and  sup- 
port it,  relying  on  Divine  Providence  for  success. 
By  order  of  Convention  : 

Matthew  Thornton,  President. 
To  the  Honourable  Congress  of  Massachusetts-Bay. 


COLONEL  JOHN  FENTON  TO  THE  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS  OF 
NEW-HAMPSHIRE. 

Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  May  23,  1775. 

Gentlemen:  I  this  moment  received  your  letter  of  the 
twenty-third  instant.  I  do  assure  you,  gentlemen,  I  men- 
tioned the  matter  respecting  the  IndiaJis  coming  down  on 
our  frontiers,  in  my  letter  to  the  people  of  the  County  of 
Grafton,  as  a  matter  of  opinion  only,  nor  have  I  the  least 
clue  or  circumstance  to  guide  me  in  these  sentiments  but 
mere  opinion. 

I  am,  gentlemen,  your  most  obedient  and  very  humble 
servant,  John  Fenton. 

P.  S.  I  wrote  that  letter  to  the  people  of  the  County  of 
Grafton  out  of  absolute  friendship  and  regard  to  the  County. 

Portsmouth,  April  26,  1775. 
To  the  People  of  the  County  of  Grafton,  from  a  real 

Jriend,  who  sincerely  wishes  their  ivell  doing: 

For  God's  sake  pay  the  closest  attention  to  the  sowing 
and  planting  your  lands,  and  do  as  much  of  it  as  possible, 
not  only  for  your  own  and  families'  subsistence,  but  to  sup- 
ply the  wants  of  your  fellow-men  down  country  ;  for  you 
may  be  assured  that  every  kind  of  distress,  in  the  provi- 
sion way,  is  coming  upon  them. 

Let  nothing  induce  you  to  quit  your  farming  business. 
Mind  no  reports  ;  and  do  not  think  of  coming  down  country 
to  fight.  There  are  enough  without  you  ;  therefore  your 
diligence  in  farming  will  much  more  serve  your  Country 
than  coming  to  assist  us.  Much  depends  on  the  back  set- 
tlements raising  plenty  of  grain. 

I  am  informed  that  should  the  people  from  the  back  set- 
tlements take  up  arms,  a  number  of  Indians  and  Canadians 
will  fall  upon  them  ;  but  that  if  they  remain  quiet  they  will 
not.  This  I  inform  you  of  from  the  love  1  bear  you,  and 
give  it  you  as  a  sincere  friend  should  do. 

John  Fenton. 

Exeter,  June  27,  1775. 
Colonel  Fentotis  compliments  to  the  President  of  the 
Congress,  requests  to  know  if  it  will  be  convenient  to  be 
called  before  them  to-morrow  morning ;  if  so,  he  begs  he 
may  be  informed,  as  his  family  are  only  waiting  to  know 
what  is  to  become  of  him,  before  they  quit  this  Province. 

In  Congress,  Exeter,  June  30,  1775. 
Upon  a  full  hearing  of  sundry  complaints  against  Colonel 
John  Fenton  : 

Voted,  That  the  said  Colonel  John  Fenton  is  an  enemy 
to  the  liberties  of  America. 

July  1,  1775. 

Voted,  That  Captain  Josioh  Moulton  be  desired  to  take 
four  men  and  an  officer  out  of  Captain  Elkins's  Company 
at  Hampton,  and  convey  Colonel  John  Fenton  to  Head- 
Quarters  of  the  New-Hampshire  Forces,  and  deliver  him 
to  General  Nathaniel  Folsom,  there  to  be  confined  till 
further  orders. 


PETITION  OF  CAPTAIN  DELAPLACE. 

To  the  Honourable  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Govern- 
our  and  Company  of  the  English  Colony  of  Connect- 
icut, in  New-England,  in  America,  now  convened  at 
Hartford. 

The  memorial  of  William  Delaplace,  a  Captain  in  His 
Majesty's  Twenty-sixth  Regiment,  and  commandant  of  the 
Fort  and  Garrison  of  Ticonderoga,  in  behalf  of  himself  and 
the  officers  and  soldiers  under  his  command,  beg  leave  to 
represent  our  difficult  situation  to  your  Honours,  and  peti- 
tion for  redress. 

Your  memorialist  would  represent,  that  on  the  morning 
of  the  tenth  of  May  instant,  the  Garrison  of  the  Fortress 
of  Ticonderoga,  in  the  Province  of  New-York,  was  sur- 
prised by  a  party  of  armed  men  under  the  command  of  one 


699 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


700 


Ethan  Allen,  consisting  of  about  one  hundred  and  fifty, 
who  had  taken  such  measures  effectually  to  surprise  the 
same,  that  very  little  resistance  could  be  made,  and  to  whom 
your  memorialists  were  obliged  to  surrender  as  prisoners ; 
and  overpowered  by  a  superiour  force,  were  disarmed,  and 
by  said  Allen  ordered  immediately  to  be  sent  to  Hartford, 
in  the  Colony  of  Connecticut,  where  your  memorialists  now 
are  detained  as  prisoners  of  war,  consisting  of  officers,  for- 
ty-seven private  soldiers  of  His  Majesty's  Troops,  besides 
women  and  children.  That  your  memorialists  being  igno- 
rant of  any  crime  by  them  committed,  whereby  they  should 
be  thus  taken  and  held,  also  are  ignorant  by  what  authority 
said  Allen  thus  took  them,  or  that  they  are  thus  detained  in 
a  strange  country,  and  at  a  distance  from  the  post  assigned 
them  ;  thus  know  not  in  what  light  they  are  considered  by 
your  Honours,  consequently  know  not  what  part  to  act; 
would  therefore  ask  your  Honours'  interposition  and  pro- 
tection, and  order  that  they  be  set  at  liberty,  to  return  to  the 
post  from  whence  they  were  taken,  or  to  join  the  Regiment 
to  which  they  belong  ;  or  if  they  are  considered  in  the  light 
of  prisoners  of  war,  your  Honours  would  be  pleased  to  sig- 
nify the  same  to  them,  and  by  whom  they  are  detained, 
and  that  your  Honours  would  afford  us  your  favour  and 
protection  during  the  time  we  shall  tarry  in  this  Colony; 
and  your  memorialists  shall  ever  pray. 

William  Delaplace, 
Captain  Commandant  Ticondcroga  Fort. 
Hartford,  May  24,  1775. 


TO  THE  INHABITANTS  OF  MASSACHUSETTS-BAY. 

In  Provincial  Congress,  Watcrtown,  ) 
May  24,  1775.  \ 

Friends  and  Fellow-  Countrymen  : 

With  great  satisfaction  we  bear  publick  testimony  of 
your  disposition  to  serve  the  glorious  cause  in  which  Ame- 
rica is  now  engaged,  evidenced  by  your  readiness  to  sup- 
ply on  the  credit  of  the  Colony  many  necessary  articles 
for  the  use  of  the  Army,  and  in  various  other  ways  ;  by 
which  you  have  given  convincing  proofs  that  you  are 
heartily  disposed  to  maintain  the  publick  liberty.  The 
cause,  we  have  not  the  least  doubt,  if  you  continue  to  exert 
yourselves  in  conjunction  with  our  sister  Colonies,  will 
finally  prevail. 

This  Congress  have  opened  a  subscription  for  one  hun- 
dred thousand  Pounds,  lawful  money,  for  which  the  Re- 
ceiver-General is  directed  to  issue  notes  on  interest  at  the 
rate  of  six  per  cent,  per  annum,  payable  in  June,  1777; 
and  as  it  is  of  the  utmost  importance  that  the  money  be 
immediately  obtained,  that  the  publick  credit  may  not 
suffer,  we  most  earnestly  recommend  to  such  of  you  as 
have  cash  in  your  hands,  which  you  can  spare  from  the 
necessary  supplies  of  your  families,  that  you  would  lend 
the  same  to  the  Colony  ;  by  which  you  will  put  it  in  our 
power  to  carry  into  effect  the  measures  undertaken  for  the 
salvation  of  the  Country. 

That  the  Army  should  be  well  supplied  with  every 
article  necessary  for  the  most  effectual  military  operations, 
you  must  all  be  sensible,  and  that  if  we  should  fail  herein 
it  may  prove  ruinous  and  destructive  to  the  community, 
whose  safety  (under  God)  depends  upon  their  vigorous 
exertions. 

As  you  have  already,  in  many  instances,  nobly  exerted 
yourselves,  this  Congress  have  not  the  smallest  doubt  but 
that  you  will  with  great  cheerfulness  crown  all  by  furnish- 
ing as  much  cash  as  will  be  necessary  for  the  good  pur- 
poses aforementioned ;  especially  when  it  is  considered 
that  there  are  now  no  ways  of  improving  money  in  trade, 
and  that  there  is  the  greatest  probability  the  other  Colo- 
nies will  give  a  ready  currency  to  the  notes,  which  will 
render  them  in  one  respect  at  least  on  a  better  footing  than 
any  other  notes  heretofore  issued  in  this  Colony. 

If  you  should  furnish  the  money  that  is  now  needed 
you  will  perform  a  meritorious  service  for  your  Country, 
and  prove  yourselves  sincerely  attached  to  its  interests. 
But  if  an  undue  caution  should  prevent  your  doing  this 
essential  service  to  the  Colony,  the  total  loss  both  of  your 
liberties  and  that  very  property  which  you  by  retaining  it 
affect  to  save,  may  be  the  unhappy  consequence ;  it  being 
past  all  controversy  that  the  destruction  of  individuals  must 
be  involved  in  that  of  the  publick. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  THE  HON.  ENOCH  FREEMAN. 

Falmouth,  May  24,  1775. 

You  informed  me  that  the  last  Provincial  Conuress  did 
me  the  honour  to  choose  me  one  of  the  Committee  of 
Safety  for  the  Province.  You  may  acquaint  that  Com- 
mittee that  were  my  health  and  capacity  equal  to  my  in- 
clination to  serve  the  publick,  I  should  cheerfully  attend 
that  service  without  delay ;  but  at  present  I  cannot  possi- 
bly go  up.  Yet  if  1  can  be  of  any  service  to  the  common 
cause  in  the  mean  time,  in  these  exposed  parts  of  the 
Country,  my  utmost  endeavours  shall  not  be  wanting,  and 
as  soon  as  I  can  find  myself  able,  purpose  to  come  up. 

It  would,  perhaps,  be  convenient  for  the  publick,  that 
some  person  or  persons  here  should  be  appointed,  whose 
business  it  should  be  to  execute  the  orders  of  the  Congress 
and  Committee  of  Safety,  and  to  communicate  back  to 
them,  from  time  to  time,  intelligence  and  occurrences  that 
may  affect  the  publick,  without  the  trouble  of  getting  a 
quorum  of  Committee  and  Selectmen  together,  who  live 
at  a  distance,  which  often  causes  great  delay ;  and  my  time 
is  so  often  taken  up  in  one  publick  affair  and  another, 
that  I  am  obliged  to  neglect  my  own  business  to  my  great 
damage. 

If  the  Congress  should  allow  the  Regiment  raised  here 
in  this  County  to  be  stationed  among  us  for  our  defence,  it 
will  be  necessary  that  some  body  should  have  the  care  of 
them,  besides  their  own  officers,  to  employ  them  in  such  a 
manner  as  shall  be  most  for  the  safety  of  the  whole. 

In  this  service  1  think  I  might  be  of  as  much  or  more 
service  to  the  publick  than  if  I  were  to  go  up  to  the  Com- 
mittee ;  and  as  the  gentlemen  there  are  more  acquainted 
with  the  circumstances  of  that  part  of  the  Province  than 
I  am,  I  should  be  of  the  less  advantage  to  them,  and  I 
presume  1  am  more  acquainted  with  this  part  of  the  Prov- 
ince, and,  with  their  concurrence,  may  be  of  more  service 
to  the  publick  here,  than  there ;  for  here  new  emergencies 
may  and  do  often  arise,  which  require  immediate  attention. 

I  heard  to-day  that  lately  there  were  a  number  of  In- 
dians up  Androscoggin  River  consulting  what  side  to  take, 
but  could  not  agree  among  themselves.  'Tis  pity  but 
somebody  here  should  be  employed  to  negotiate  with 
them,  or  any  other  Indians,  as  opportunity  should  offer. 

A  man  from  Deer  Island,  near  Penobscot,  was  here  this 
afternoon,  and  gives  a  melancholy  account  of  the  distress 
the  people  are  in  that  way,  for  want  of  bread,  owing  to  the 
stoppage  of  trade.  He  heard  that  several  children  had 
died  of  hunger.  What  will  become  of  them  God  only 
knows ;  we  are  not  able  to  help  them  or  ourselves.  I 
don't  know  what  can  be  done  for  them  or  us,  without  some 
vessel  of  superiour  force  to  the  tenders  should  be  provided 
to  bring  bread-kind  among  us. 

I  just  now  heard  that  Colonel  John  Cox  was  taken  on  his 
passage  to  New-  York  with  spars,  and  carried  into  Boston. 


WORCESTER  COUNTY  (MASSACHUSETTS)  COMMITTEE. 

Worcester,  May  24,  1775. 
Whereas  the  meeting  of  the  Convention  of  this  County 
stands  adjourned  to  the  second  Tuesday  in  June  next,  but 
as  the  honourable  Provincial  Congress  have  resolved  that 
it  will  be  expedient  for  the  several  Committees  of  Corres- 
pondence to  render  a  true  statement  of  the  conduct  of  their 
respective  Towns  and  Districts,  on  the  fourth  Wednesday 
of  this  instant,  May,  especially  with  regard  to  their  out- 
standing Provincial  rates :  Agreeable  thereto  the  Com- 
mittees of  Correspondence  for  the  several  Towns  and  Dis- 
tricts in  this  County,  are  hereby  requested  to  meet  at  the 
Court-House  in  Worcester,  on  Wednesday  next,  at  ten 
o'clock  in  the  forenoon.  Several  matters  of  importance 
require  a  general  attendance.  Such  Towns  as  have  voted 
for  a  County  Treasurer  are  desired  to  send  in  their  votes 
to  said  Convention  on  said  day. 

William  Young,  Chairman. 


Worcester,  Massachusetts,  May  24,  1775. 
It  having  been  thought  highly  expedient,  at  this  exi- 
gency of  our  publick  affairs,  that  every  person  among  us 
who  is  known  to  be  an  enemy  to  the  rights  and  privileges 
of  this  Country,  and  has  been  aiding  or  abetting  to  the 
cursed  plans  of  a  tyrannical  ruler  and  an  abandoned  Min- 


roi 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


02 


istry,  sliould  be  disarmed,  and  rendered  as  incapable  as 
possible  of  doing  further  material  mischief  to  this  distressed 
Province,  the  Tories  in  this  Town  were  notified  to  appear 
with  their  arms  and  ammunition  on  Monday  last.  They 
accordingly  appeared,  and  after  surrendering  their  arms 
to  the  Committee  of  Correspondence,  and  being  strictly 
ordered  not  to  leave  the  Town  or  to  meet  together,  with- 
out a  permit,  were  dismissed. 


woburn  (.Massachusetts)  committee. 
Whereas  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  for  the 
Town  of  fVoburn,  authorized  by  the  honourable  Provin- 
cial Congress  to  examine  into  the  principles  and  conduct  of 
any  person  suspected  of  being  inimical  to  the  liberties  of 
this  Country,  have  examined  Major  Benjamin  Thompson, 
of  Concord,  in  the  Piovince  of  New- Hampshire,  being 
brought  before  them,  suspected  of  being  thus  inimical. 
And  whereas  the  said  Committee  have  summoned  certain 
evidences,  who  they  supposed  could  give  light  into  the 
matter,  to  attend,  which  evidence  failed  of  so  doing  :  This 
is  therefore  to  inform  all  persons  who  are  knowing  to  the 
sa  d  Major  Thompsons  conduct,  that  the  Committee  have 
adjourned  to  Monday,  the  29th  day  of  May  next,  at  three 
o'clock,  afternoon,  at  the  meeting-house,  where  said  evi- 
dence are  desired  to  attend,  as  the  Committee  think  them- 
selves bound  to  dismiss  and  recommend  the  said  Thomp- 
son, unless  something  more  appears  against  him  than  w  hat 
they  have  heard.  Samuel  Wyman,  Chairman. 

May  24,  1775. 


COMMITTEES  OF  SAFETY  OF  PORTSMOUTH,  GREENLAND, 
AND  RYE. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committees  of  Safety  of  the  Towns 
of  Portsmouth,  Greenland,  and  Rye,  concerning  the  exami- 
nation of  one  John  Ackerman,  upon  a  suspicion  of  the  said 
John  Ackerman1  s  being  inimical  to  the  liberties  and  privi- 
leges of  this  Country,  suspected  to  be  giving  and  receiving 
intelligence  from  the  British  Troops,  for  which  purposes 
of  inquiry  the  said  Ackerman  was  sent  from  the  Provincial 
Congress  in  Exeter,  to  their  Committees ;  and  after  a  tho- 
rough examination  of  the  said  Ackerman,  Benjamin  Hart 
and  John  Reise,  who  were  represented  to  them  by  said  Con- 
gress as  having  sent  the  said  Ackerman  into  the  country: 
It  appears  to  the  said  Committees  that  the  said  Ackerman 
was  sent  into  the  country  as  aforesaid  for  personal  safety,  to 
give  intelligence  of  any  armed  men  coming  to  Portsmouth, 
as  the  peculiar  stations  of  some  persons  gave  suspicion  of 
some  design  against  them,  and  that  it  was  for  no  other 
end  that  the  said  Ackerman  was  sent,  as  appears  from 
their  particular  examination  upon  oath,  had  before  us,  the 
said  Committees,  and  they  were  accordingly  dismissed. 

By  order  of  the  Committee  for  Portsmouth : 

H.  Wentworth,  Chairman. 

By  order  of  the  Committee  for  Greenland  : 

John  Haven,  Chairman. 

By  order  of  the  Committee  for  Rye  : 

Joseph  Parsons,  Chairman. 
Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  May  24,  1775. 

Portsmouth,  May  23,  1775. 
This  certifies  that  the  bearer,  Mr.  John  Folsom,  brought 
a  prisoner,  viz :  John  Ackerman,  from  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress at  Exeter,  before  the  Committee  of  Safety  for  the 
Town  of  Portsmouth,  who  ordered  a  guard  to  be  kept  on 
him  till  examination  to-morrow,  ten  o'clock,  A.  M. 
Committee  Hall,  Tuesday,  4  o'clock,  P.  M. 

Neal  McIntyre,  Secretary. 


RICHMOND  COUNTY  (VIRGINIA)  COMMITTEE. 

In  Committee,  May  25,  1775. 
In  Committee,  London  Carter,  Esquire,  in  the  Chair. 
As  His  Majesty's  Council  have  judged  it  proper  to  publish 
an  admonitory  address  to  the  community  at  large,  we 
should  think  ourselves  wanting  in  respect  to  the  delibera- 
tions of  that  honourable  Board  not  to  consider  it  with  the 
strictest  attention.  We  have  done  so  accordingly ;  and  as 
we  find  that  the  matter  of  the  address  is  not  only  exception- 
able, but  are  farther  informed  that  it  is  industriously  circu- 


lated amongst  the  people,  together  with  a  proposition  lately 
made  in  the  House  of  Commons  by  Lord  North,  which 
covers  the  most  insidious  and  dangerous  views,  under  an 
artful  guise  of  wisdom,  humanity,  and  peace,  we  should  be 
wanting  in  a  much  higher  duty  to  ourselves  and  our  con- 
stituents, should  we  fail  to  animadvert  on  both  with  freedom 
and  decency.    We  cannot,  then,  think, 

First.  That  the  mild  professions  of  regard  for  the  pros- 
perity and  welfare  of  this  Country,  in  the  first  part  of  the 
address,  are  consistent  with  the  passionate  expressions  of 
detestation  and  abhorrence  for  that  spirit  in  the  people  by 
which  alone  the  liberties  of  this  Country  can  be  secured. 
We  confess  we  are  entire  strangers  to  any  licentious  and 
ungovernable  spirit  prevailing.  If  the  honourable  gentle- 
men mean  to  brand  the  late  commotions  with  these  appel- 
lations, we  are  compelled  to  observe  that  no  person  can  so 
unjustly  and  uncharitably  construe  them,  unless  he  entirely 
turn  aside  from  the  violent  and  provoking  measures  which 
justify  them  ;  for  it  cannot  be  expected  that  the  people 
should  continue  quiet  when  every  violence  is  offered  to 
their  privileges  and  prosperity,  or  that  they  should  tamely 
suffer  the  foundation  of  their  Constitution  to  be  overturned 
by  a  too  scrupulous  adherence  to  its  form. 

Second.  That  inviting  and  exhorting  to  mild  and  con- 
stitutional modes  of  application  clearly  implies,  that  they 
esteem  our  former  proceedings  in  this  respect  violent  and 
irregular.  The  justice  of  this  charge  we  leave  to  be  de- 
cided by  the  world,  who  are  in  possession,  and  who  have 
given  ample  testimony  in  favour  of  the  many  suppliant, 
wise,  and  firm  applications,  which  have  been  addressed  to 
the  several  branches  of  the  British  Legislature. 

Third.  We  allow  all  due  weight  to  the  pledges  of  their 
friendship,  which  the  Honourable  Council  have  among  us  ; 
and  we  hope  that  their  integrity  may  ever  be  an  effectual 
antidote  to  the  influence  of  that  servile  and  baneful  spirit 
which  we  are  authorized  (by  the  explicit  declarations  of 
many  independent  and  respectable  members  of  both  Houses 
of  Parliament)  to  say,  prevail  extensively  in  this  age,  with 
men  in  office. 

With  respect  to  the  proposition  of  Lord  North,  above- 
mentioned,  insultingly  called,  by  ministerial  tools,  the 
olive  branch,  we  are  of  the  opinion  that  it  offers  no  kind  of 
redress  (even  if  the  Colonies  should  submit)  of  any  one  of 
the  many  grievances  under  which  they  now  labour ;  for  in 
the  only  instance  in  which  a  seeming  redress  is  proposed, 
(that  of  taxation,)  the  Parliament  of  Great  Britain  is  to 
settle  the  quantum  to  be  raised  by  each  Colony,  and  the 
application  thereof,  the  Colonies  determining  only  on  the 
mode  of  levying.  This  by  no  means  is  relief  to  them, 
but  in  fact  puts  them  in  a  worse  situation  than  ever,  as 
they  thereby  will  fully  acknowledge  the  absolute  power  of 
the  British  Parliament :  and  we  are  still  to  have  the  sword 
hung  over  our  heads,  ready  to  fall  on  such  as  shall  in  any 
instance  disoblige  the  Minister,  or  refuse  to  obey  his  dic- 
tates. Lord  North  himself  declared  his  intention  was  only 
to  divide  the  Colonies,  and  thereby  the  more  easily  subdue 
them.  The  selecting  out  Governour  Pownall's  speech  alone, 
approving  the  motion,  when  so  many  excellent  speeches 
were  made  exposing  the  measure,  and  setting  its  treachery 
and  absurdity  in  a  clear  and  evident  light,  is  a  certain  proof 
of  the  design  of  the  King's  officers  here  to  mislead  the  good 
people  of  this  Colony. 

By  order  of  the  Committee  : 

Le  Roy  Peachy,  Clerk. 


LANCASTER  COUNTY  (VIRGINIA)  COMMITTEE. 

The  Committee  of  the  County  of  Lancaster,  on  the  25th 
day  of  May,  1775,  taking  into  consideration  his  Excellency 
Lord  Dunmorc's  Address  to  the  Council,  and  their  recom- 
mendation and  Proclamation  issued  in  consequence  thereof, 
hold  they  are  necessarily  bound  to  justify  themselves  and 
their  constituents  from  such  cruel  imputations  and  asser- 
tions, and  that  such  Proclamation  must  tend  to  excite  a 
belief  of  an  intention  to  change  the  Government,  or  raise 
convulsions  in  the  state. 

That  the  behaviour  of  some  of  the  people  in  this  Col- 
ony, alluded  to,  originated  in  a  full  assurance  of  the  deter- 
mined bloody  plan  to  enslave  the  Colonies,  manifested  in 
various  instances  and  ungracious  encroachments,  and  more 
particularly  and  immediately  in  his  Excellency's  clandes- 


703 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


704 


tine  removal  of  the  powder  from  the  publick  Magazine  of 
the  Colony. 

That  his  Excellency's  ill-founded  and  injurious  charge, 
to  criminate  the  body  of  the  people  in  this  Colony,  is  hostile, 
and  cannot  be  justified  ;  therefore,  he  has  forfeited  the  con- 
fidence of  the  inhabitants  of  this  Country. 

That  those  members  of  His  Majesty's  Council  who  re- 
commended and  assisted  in  such  Proclamation,  and  also 
since  gave  their  advice  to  the  good  people  of  this  Coun- 
try, prefaced  with  cruel  and  indecent  allegations,  manifestly 
implying  seditious  and  rebellious  actions,  tending  to  raise 
bitter  dissensions  and  animosities,  acted  without  prudence, 
policy,  moderation,  or  generosity  ;  and  we  are  most  sensi- 
bly grieved,  that  those  whose  duty  and  high  department 
should  warm  them  to  every  mode  of  reconciliation,  should 
not  only  countenance,  but  themselves  become  incendiaries 
to  fix,  by  their  publication,  a  stigma  by  such  an  unmerited 
stricture  on  their  brethren  and  fellow  sufferers. 

That  our  application  for  redress  of  grievances  so  justly 
founded,  so  often  and  vainly  repeated  ;  our  long  sufferance 
and  forbearance  under  such  unfellovv-feeling,  unrelenting 
measures,  and  our  ardent  wishes  and  endeavours  for  a  re- 
conciliation, by  the  restitution  of  our  just  rights  and  privi- 
leges, as  we  enjoyed  them  in  the  year  1763,  evinces  our 
attachment  to  our  once  happy  Constitution,  and  our  alle- 
giance to  our  gracious  Sovereign. 

We,  in  order  to  exculpate  ourselves  and  our  constituents 
from  such  heinous  maledictions,  and  to  convince  the  world 
of  our  upright  intentions,  pledge  ourselves  to  support  the 
Constitution,  and  His  Majesty  King  George  the  Third,  in  all 
his  just  rights  and  prerogatives,  with  our  lives  and  fortunes. 

Published  by  order  of  the  Committee. 


TO  THE  PUBLICK. 

Norfolk,  Va.,  May  25,  1775. 
The  inhabitants  of  the  Borough  of  Norfolk,  in  town- 
meeting  assembled,  being  informed  that  Captain  Collins,  of 
the  Magdalen  armed  schooner,  is  endeavouring  to  dispose 
of  a  sloop  seized  by  him,  lately  belonging  to  John  Bow- 
doin,  Esquire,  of  the  Eastern  Shore';  and  being  also  fur- 
ther informed,  that  the  said  Collins  has  made  application 
to  some  persons  for  the  purchase  of  a  pilot  boat,  probably 
with  an  intention  to  convert  her  into  a  tender,  to  distress 
the  trade  of  this  or  some  other  Colony  :  The  inhabitants  of 
this  Borough  are  therefore  determined  to  give  no  encour- 
agement to  him,  or  any  such  men,  nor  purchase  any  of 
their  prizes  from  them,  nor  in  the  least  contribute  to  their 
emolument  by  bidding  for  the  plunder  of  our  countrymen ; 
nor  will  we  sell  any  pilot  boat  or  any  other  vessel  to  them 
for  their  hostile  purposes,  nor  in  any  respect  have  any  kind 
of  dealings  with  them.  And  the  inhabitants  of  this  Bo- 
rough, assembled  as  aforesaid,  do  further  resolve,  to  have 
no  dealing  with  any  person  that,  in  spite  of  the  ties  of 
duty  and  attachment  to  his  Country,  shall  counteract  these 
our  resolutions,  by  granting  any  assistance  for  the  destruc- 
tion of  our  rights  and  properties,  or  of  any  other  of  the 
good  people  of  the  confederated  Colonies.  And  we  invite 
all  persons  to  accede  to  this  resolution. 

Test :  William  Davies,  Secretary. 


TO  THE  PEOPLE  OF  VIRGINIA. 

Williamsburgh,  M  ty  25,  1775. 
Whilst  we  are  almost  involved  in  all  the  terrours  of  a 
civil  war;  whilst  the  injured  genius  of  America  cries  aloud 
for  justice ;  and  whilst  the  only  measures  by  which  an  ac- 
commodation can  be  procured  meet  with  a  most  daring 
and  unjust  opposition  from  some  of  our  most  distinguished 
men,  who  should  rather  be  the  principal  promoters  of  it: 
can  I,  without  doing  violence  to  reason,  avoid  exclaiming 
against  the  inhumanity  of  the  action?  Were  they  English- 
men, I  should  only  say  that  they  could  not  divest  them- 
selves of  that  partiality  for  their  native  Country,  almost 
inherent  in  our  nature,  and  of  consequence  had  imbibed 
wrong  principles;  but  for  Americans,  both  born  and  brought 
up  among  us,  to  sell  their  Country  for  a  smile,  or  some 
ministerial  office,  what  language  is  sufficient  to  express  the 
indignation,  the  contempt,  which  such  conduct  must  natu- 
rally create  in  every  viituous  breast.  Alas!  Great  Bri- 
tain, thy  vices  have  even  extended  to  America.    So  small 


an  isle  is  become  insufficient  to  contain  such  innumerable 
pollutions.  Americans  !  the  torrent  as  yet  is  but  small ; 
only  a  few  are  involved  in  it ;  it  must  be  soon  stopped,  or 
it  will  bear  all  before  it  with  an  impetuous  sway.  The 
warlike  Coriolanus,  after  he  had  fought  many  great  and 
memorable  battles  in  the  service  of  his  Country,  after  he 
had  opposed  in  Carioli,  an  extensive  city,  all  its  inhabi- 
tants, as  valiantly  as  ever  extravagant  fiction  represents 
Hector  to  have  done  in  the  Grecian  camp ;  1  say,  after  he 
had  performed  such  meritorious  actions  for  his  Country, 
when  he  found  himself  treated  contemptuously,  and  ban- 
ished from  the  city  for  taking  up  arms  against  his  Country 
in  his  own  defence,  has  all  his  former  glory  sullied.  In 
what  light,  then,  must  we  look  on  our  countrymen,  who 
espouse  the  side  of  the  infamous  Ministry  ?  The  conclu- 
sion is  obvious.  Pity  for  the  despicable  wretches  bids  me 
cease  to  draw  it.  Voluntarils. 


Kent-County  upon  Delaware,  May  25,  1775. 
The  Militia  Officers  of  above  twenty  Companies,  chosen 
in  the  several  Districts  throughout  said  County,  met  toge- 
ther at  Dover;  and  that  the  business  of  the  day  might  be 
conducted  with  order  and  regularity,  they  chose  Captain 
John  Haslet,  Chairman,  and  Lieutenant  Mark  McCall, 
Clerk. 

The  following  Association  was  then  drawn  up,  and  unani- 
mously approved  and  subscribed,  viz : 

"  We,  whose  names  are  hereunto  written,  Military  Offi- 
cers, duly  elected  and  chosen  by  the  good  people  of  the 
several  Hundreds  and  Districts  of  the  County  of  Ken 
upon  Delaware,  pursuant  to  the  direction  and  recommen- 
dation of  the  Committee  of  Inspection  for  said  County,  do 
hereby  jointly  and  severally,  for  ourselves  and  each  of  us, 
solemnly  promise  and  engage,  by  the  sacred  ties  of  honour 
and  love  for  our  Country,  that  we  and  each  of  us  will,  to 
the  utmost  of  our  abilities,  well  and  faithfully  execute  the 
important  offices  conferred  upon  us  by  our  fellow-subjects, 
and  in  our  military  and  every  other  capacity,  at  the  risk  of 
our  lives  and  fortunes,  defend  the  liberties  and  privileges  of 
America,  as  well  natural  as  constitutional,  against  all  inva- 
ders, or  such  as  may  attempt  any  the  least  violation  or  in- 
fringement of  them. 

"  And  we  do  further,  in  manner  aforesaid,  promise  and 
agree,  that  we,  and  each  of  us,  will  subject  ourselves  to 
such  pains,  penalties,  military  punishments,  and  disgrace, 
as  Courts  Martial,  to  be  constituted  from  time  to  time  of 
the  officers  of  our  own  body,  shall  or  may  inflict  on  any  of 
us  offending  against  the  rules  of  military  discipline,  or  con- 
travening, in  word  or  deed,  the  true  interest  of  America. 
or  the  spirit  and  principle  of  this  Association." 

The  Convention  next  proceeded  to  divide  the  County 
into  two  Divisions,  each  division  to  contain  one  Regiment 
of  men,  and  then  chose  the  necessary  Field-Officers  for 
each  Regiment,  viz : 

For  the  Upper  Regiment. 
The  Honourable  Casar  Rodney,  Esq.,  Colonel ; 
Thomas  Collins,  Esquire,  Lieutenant-Colonel ;  arid 
Mr.  French  Battel!,  Major. 

For  the  Lower  Regiment. 
John  Haslet,  Esquire,  Colonel ; 
William  Rhodes,  Esquire,  Lieutenant-Colonel ;  and 
Mr.  Robert  Hodgson,  Major. 

They  then  settled  an  uniform  plan  of  their  future  con- 
duct, with  rules  to  be  observed  in  every  Company  ;  and 
broke  up  in  perfect  harmony. 

Published  by  order  of  the  Convention  : 

Mark  McCall,  Clerk. 


ARTHUR  ST.  CLAIR  TO  GOVERNOUR  PENN. 

Ligonier,  May  25,  1775. 
Sir:  An  express  from  Pittsburgh,  with  despatches  for 
your  Honour,  having  called  here  this  morning,  I  embrace 
the  opportunity  to  inform  your  Honour  that  a  commis- 
sion is  come  up  from  Virginia  to  collect  the  Colony  duty 
on  all  peltries  exported  from  that  place,  and  that  notice 
has  been  given  to  the  traders  there  to  conduct  themselves 
accordingly.  I  think  they  will  find  some  way  to  evade 
paying  it,  and  those  that  are  not  yet  come  in,  will  cer- 


705 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


706 


tainly  carry  them  past.  'Tis  a  shocking  tiling  that  people 
should  be  obliged  to  such  shift,  and  the  trade  of  the  Prov- 
ince be  destroyed,  by  the  obstinacy  and  caprice  of  one  man. 
I  flatter  mvself,  however,  it  will  not  be  of  long  continu- 
ance. Lord  Dunmore's  seizing  the  magazine  has  raised 
such  a  ferment  that  he  will  not  probably  visit  the  frontiers 
soon,  and  by  the  prorogation  of  his  Assembly,  the  invasion 
law,  under  which  it  seems  the  garrison  of  the  fort  was  kept 
up,  will  expire;  I  think  the  ninth  of  next  month  is  its  pe- 
riod, and  1  am  informed  Connolly  is  preparing  to  decamp. 

We  have  nothing  but  masters  and  Committees  all  over 
the  country,  and  every  thing  seems  to  be  running  into  the 
greatest  confusion.  If  some  conciliating  plan  is  not  adopted 
by  the  Congress,  America  has  seen  her  golden  days ;  they 
may  return,  but  will  be  preceded  by  scenes  of  horrour.  An 
Association  is  formed  in  this  County  for  defence  of  Ameri- 
can liberty.  I  got  a  clause  added,  by  which  they  bind 
themselves  to  assist  the  civil  Magistrates  in  the  execution  of 
the  laws  they  have  been  accustomed  to  be  governed  by. 

Hanna  and  Cavet  are  still  pressing  me  to  do  something 
for  their  relief,  and  are  very  desirous  they  should  be  brought 
off  by  force ;  their  project  was,  that  writs  should  be  issued 
against  them,  and  that  the  Sheriff  should  take  a  posse  with 
him  and  bring  them  away,  and  make  prisoners  at  the  same 
time  of  their  persecutors.  I  believe  'tis  very  practicable, 
but  I  gave  them  to  know  that  without  positive  directions 
from  your  Honour  I  would  advise  no  such  step,  and  that  I 
thought  you  would  not  direct  any  that  might  have  a  ten- 
dency to  embroil  the  Provinces.  However,  it  is  no  won- 
der that  they  are  uneasy ;  they  have  been  long  confined, 
and  must  have  suffered  considerably  by  it. 

Lord  Dunmore  has  issued  a  Proclamation,  disclaiming 
the  proceedings  of  the  Surveyors  in  taking  entries  of  lands, 
and  ordering  them  to  return  the  money  received  for  them, 
but  has  spared  their  names  ;  but  I  have  seen  none  of  them  ; 
they  were  spirited  away,  it  seems,  as  fast  as  they  appeared. 

If  the  Fort  should  be  evacuated  next  month,  pray,  Sir, 
would  it  be  proper  to  endeavour  to  get  possession  of  it,  or 
to  raze  it?    That  may  possibly  be  done  by  themselves. 

Mr.  Connolly  has  sent  out  for  some  of  the  principal  men 
of  the  Indians  to  come  and  receive  the  prisoners,  and  the 
Pittsburgh  Committee  have  petitioned  the  General  Con- 
gress to  hold  a  treaty  with  the  Western  Tribes.  I  have 
the  honour  to  be,  Sir,  your  Honour's  most  obedient  and 
most  humble  servant,  Arthur  St.  Clair. 


In  Provincial  Congress,  New-York,  ) 
May  25,  1775.  $ 

To  the  Honourable  the  Governour  and  Company  of  the 

English  Colony  of  Connecticut  : 

Brethren  :  By  a  minute  of  the  Grand  Continental  Con- 
gress, of  the  eighteenth  of  May,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord 
one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  seventy-five,  a  copy  of 
which  we  do  herewith  transmit  you,  we  are  informed  that 
Ticonderoga  hath  been  taken  by  sundry  inhabitants  of  the 
Northern  Colonies ;  and  from  the  minute  aforesaid  we  are 
assured  that  this  measure  was  for  the  common  safety  of  the 
American  Colonies. 

In  pursuance  of  the  directions  contained  in  that  minute, 
we  have  given  the  necessary  orders  for  removing  the  can- 
non and  stores  taken  at  that  important  fortress  to  the  south 
end  of  Lake  George,  and  for  securing  them  there  ;  and  we 
have  appointed  Messrs.  John  N.  Bleeker,  Henry  I.  Bo- 
gart,  George  Palmer,  Dirk  Swart,  and  Peter  Lansing, 
superintendents  of  this  business. 

There  is  no  doubt  but  that  our  brethren  of  Connecticut 
will  feel  great  reluctance  at  the  idea  of  ordering  any  of 
their  troops  to  march  within  the  bounds  of  this  Colony, 
for  the  purpose  of  defending  the  fort  of  Ticonderoga  and 
the  cannon  and  stores  above-mentioned  at  Fort  George. 
But  we  pray  you  to  cast  away  all  fears  of  offending  us  upon 
this  occasion.  We  shall  be  happy  to  hear  that  you  have 
placed  a  part  of  your  forces  in  these  posts,  with  intent  to 
defend  them,  until  they  shall  be  relieved  by  troops  from 
this  Colony. 

In  further  pursuance  of  the  directions  of  the  Grand  Con- 
gress, we  have  ordered  provisions  to  be  conveyed  to  Ticon- 
deroga and  Lake  George,  and  we  shall  continue  to  furnish 
such  supplies  as  we  shall  deem  necessary. 

You  will  be  pleased,  gentlemen,  to  appoint  trusty  com- 
Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii.  ^ 


manders  over  your  forces  destined  for  the  purposes  above- 
mentioned  ;  and  we  do  assure  you  of  our  willingness  that 
they  shall  take  the  command  at  those  places  while  garri- 
soned by  your  troops.  We  beg  leave  to  assure  you  that 
in  this  and  all  other  matters  we  will  pay  the  highest  atten- 
tion to  every  recommendation  of  the  Grand  Continental 
Congress,  and  that  we  have  the  honour  to  be,  gentlemen, 
your  most  obedient  humble  servants, 

P.  V.  B.  Livingston,  President. 
By  order  of  the  Congress  : 

John  McKesson,  )    o     ,  • 
u  '  >  Secretaries. 

KOBERT  JOENSON,  J 

P.  S.  We  pray  you  to  use  every  effort  to  preserve  and 
improve  the  present  peaceable  disposition  of  the  Canadians 
and  Indians,  for  which  purpose  we  think  it  will  be  neces- 
sary to  keep  up  the  strictest  vigilance  to  prevent  any  incur- 
sions from  being  made  into  the  Province  of  Quebeck. 

In  Congress,  Thursday,  May  18,  1775. 

Whereas,  there  is  indubitable  evidence  that  a  design  is 
formed  by  the  British  Ministry  of  making  a  cruel  invasion 
from  the  Province  of  Quebeck  upon  these  Colonies,  for 
the  purpose  of  destroying  our  lives  and  liberties,  and  some 
steps  have  actually  been  taken  to  carry  the  said  design  into 
execution  :  and  whereas  several  inhabitants  of  the  Northern 
Colonies,  residing  in  the  vicinity  of  Ticonderoga,  immedi- 
ately exposed  to  incursions,  impelled  by  a  just  regard  for 
the  defence  and  preservation  of  themselves  and  their  coun- 
trymen from  such  imminent  danger  and  calamities,  have 
taken  possession  of  that  post  in  which  was  lodged  a  quantity 
of  cannon  and  military  stores  that  would  certainly  have 
been  used  in  the  intended  invasion  of  these  Colonies  :  this 
Congress  earnestly  recommend  it  to  the  Committees  of  the 
Cities  and  Counties  of  New-York  and  Albany,  immediately 
to  cause  the  said  cannon  and  stores  to  be  removed  from  Ti- 
conderoga to  the  south  end  of  Lake  George ;  and,  if  neces- 
sary, to  apply  to  the  Colonies  of  New-Hampshire,  Massa- 
chusetts-Bay, and  Connecticut,  for  such  an  additional  body 
of  forces  as  will  be  sufficient  to  establish  a  strong  post  at  that 
place,  effectually  to  secure  the  said  cannon  and  stores,  or  so 
many  of  them,  as  it  may  be  judged  proper  to  keep  there, 
and  that  an  exact  inventory  be  taken  of  all  such  cannon 
and  stores,  in  order  that  they  may  be  safely  returned  when 
the  restoration  of  the  former  harmony  between  Great  Bri- 
tain and  the  Colonies,  so  ardently  wished  for  by  the  latter, 
shall  render  it  prudent  and  consistent  with  the  overruling 
law  of  self-preservation. 

A  true  copy  from  the  Minutes : 

Charles  Thompson,  Secretary. 

New-York,  May  20,  1775. — A  true  copy: 

Henry  Remsen,  Dep.  Chairman. 


COLONEL  SPENCER  TO  THE  ASSEMBLY  OF  CONNECTICUT. 

Hartford,  May  25,  1775. 
Colonel  Spencer  returns  his  hearty  thanks  to  the  Hon- 
ourable General  Assembly  now  sitting  at  Hartford,  for  the 
undeserved  honours  that  have  been  conferred  upon  him 
from  time  to  time,  and  particularly  that  he  has  had  the 
honour  for  some  time  to  command  the  Twelfth  Regiment 
of  Militia  in  this  Colony.  And  he  begs  leave  to  assure  your 
Honours  that  he  always  has  been  and  still  is  ready  to  serve 
your  Honours,  according  to  his  ability,  in  any  place  to 
which  he  has  been  appointed,  so  far  as  may  be  in  his 
power;  but  as  his  late  appointment  in  the  Colony  service 
forbids  that  attendance  to  the  duty  of  a  Colonel  as  afore- 
said, as  the  circumstances  of  the  times  require,  he  humbly 
begs  leave  to  lay  down  his  said  office  of  Colonel ;  and  sub- 
scribes himself  your  Honours'  most  obedient  and  most  hum- 
ble servant,  Joseph  Spencer. 

GOVERNOUR  TRUMBULL  TO  THE  MASSACHUSETTS  CON- 
GRESS. 

Hartford,  May  25,  1775. 
Gentlemen  :  Your  letter  of  the  17th  instant,  with  the 
enclosed  Resolve  of  the  Provincial  Congress  of  Massa- 
chusetts-Bay, was  delivered  to  me  by  Colonel  Easton, 
and  communicated  to  the  General  Assembly,  who  have 
desired  me  to  return  their  congratulations  on  the  reduction 
of  Ticonderoga,  a  fortress  truly  important,  and  to  assure 


707 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  kc,  MAY,  177'. 


708 


you  they  entertain  a  proper  sense  of  the  merit  of  those 
officers  and  soldiers  by  whose  bravery  and  good  conduct  it 
was  achieved.  As  this  advantage  was  gained  by  the  united 
counsels  and  enterprise  of  a  number  of  private  gentlemen 
in  your  Province,  New-Hampshire,  New-York,  and  this 
Colony,  prompted  only  by  a  zeal  for  the  liberty  of  their 
Country,  without  publick  authority,  (to  our  knowledge,) 
and  is  of  great  and  general  importance  to  the  United  Colo- 
nies, it  was  thought  best  to  take  the  advice  of  the  Conti- 
nental Congress  upon  the  manner  of  treating  it  in  future, 
both  by  the  General  Assembly  of  this  Colony  and  the  Com- 
mittee of  New-  York,  as  well  as  by  you.  Despatches  were 
accordingly  sent  to  Philadelphia,  and  the  intention  of  the 
Continental  Congress  thereupon  hath  been  this  day  receiv- 
ed by  express,  with  a  letter  from  the  Committee  of  Netv- 
York,  copies  of  which  enclosed  are  herewith  sent  you.  By 
them  you  will  see  the  present  custody  of  that  fortress  is 
committed  to  the  Province  of  New-York,  with  the  assist- 
ance of  the  New-England  Colonies,  if  needed. 

The  General  Assembly  of  this  Colony  behold  your  situa- 
tion with  concern,  and  a  fixed  resolution  to  contribute  every 
thing  in  their  power  to  your  defence  and  preservation,  and, 
as  far  as  pertains  to  them,  are  willing  and  desirous  you 
should  have  the  benefit  of  such  artillery  as  may  be  spared 
from  the  fortresses  of  Crown  Point  and  Ticonderoga;  but 
as  they  do  not  consider  themselves  as  entitled  to  the  com- 
mand of  those  places,  they  cannot  take  upon  themselves 
to  give  orders  for  the  removal  of  the  heavy  cannon  that 
may  be  spared  without  the  concurrence  of  the  other  Colo- 
nies, in  them. 

The  necessity  of  securing  and  maintaining  the  posts  on 
the  lakes  for  defence  of  the  frontiers,  becomes  daily  more 
evident  from  the  iterated  intelligence  we  receive  of  the  plan 
formed  by  our  enemies  to  distress  us  by  inroads  of  Cana- 
dians and  savages,  from  the  Province  of  Quebeck,  upon 
the  adjacent  settlements.  The  enclosed  copy  of  a  letter 
from  our  Delegates  attending  at  New-York,  to  communi- 
cate measures  with  the  Provincial  Congress  in  that  City, 
throws  an  additional  light  on  this  subject,  and  is  thought 
worthy  to  be  communicated  to  you  ;  and  whilst  the  designs 
of  our  enemies  against  us  fill  us  with  concern,  we  cannot 
omit  to  observe  the  smiles  of  Providence  upon  us  in  reveal- 
ing their  wicked  plans,  and  hitherto  prospering  the  attempts 
of  the  Colonies  to  frustrate  them.  With  a  humble  reliance 
on  the  continuance  of  Divine  favour  and  protection  in  a 
cause  of  the  justice  of  which  a  doubt  cannot  be  enter- 
tained, the  General  Assembly  of  this  Colony  are  ready  to 
co-operate  with  the  other  Colonies  in  every  exertion  for 
their  common  defence,  and  to  contribute  their  proportion 
of  men  and  other  necessaries  for  maintaining  the  posts  on 
the  frontiers,  or  defending  or  repelling  invasions  in  any 
other  quarter,  agreeable  to  the  advice  of  the  Continental 
Congress.  I  am,  gentlemen,  in  behalf  of  the  General 
Assembly  of  this  Colony,  your  most  obedient  humble  ser- 
vant, Jonathan  Trumbull. 

The  Honourable  Provincial  Congress  of  Massachusetts. 


GENERAL  THOMAS  TO  THE  MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS. 

Roxbury  Camp,  May  25,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  I  have  had  the  honour  of  being  informed 
by  your  Committee,  that  the  Honourable  Congress  have 
niade  choice  of  me  as  Lieutenant-General  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts Army,  and  desire  to  know  whether  1  would  accept 
that  trust.  I  am  sensible  of  the  great  importance  of  the 
office,  and  of  my  inability  of  discharging  that  duty ;  but 
since  you  have  done  me  the  honour  of  appointing  me  to 
that  important  office,  shall  accept  of  the  same,  and  attend 
the  Congress  to-morrow.  I  am,  gentlemen,  with  the  most 
profound  respect,  your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

John  Thomas. 
To  the  Honourable  Provincial  Congress. 

LETTER  FROM  DOCTOR  JOSEPH  WARREN. 

Watertown,  May  25,  1775. 
Gentlemen  :  Upon  my  arrival  here  just  this  minute,  I 
had  the  pleasure  of  being  informed  that  our  worthy  friend 
Colonel  Arnold,  not  having  had  the  sole  honour  of  redu- 
cing Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point,  determined  upon  an 
expedition  against  St.  Johnys,  in  which  he  happily  suc- 


ceeded. The  letters  were  directed  to  the  Committee  of 
Safety,  but  were  supposed  to  be  necessary  to  be  laid  before 
this  Congress.  I  have  not  seen  them  yet,  but  you  will 
have  the  particulars  from  the  bearer. 

I  have  also  received  a  letter  from  the  Congress  at  New- 
Hampshire,  informing  me  of  a  resolve  to  raise  forthwith 
two  thousand  men,  and  more  if  it  should  be  necessary. 
The  Troops,  at  least  one  Company  of  them,  with  a  train 
of  artillery  from  Providence,  are  in  the  upper  end  of  Rox- 
bury. To  say  the  truth,  I  find  my  health  much  mended 
since  this  morning.  I  am,  gentlemen,  your  most  obedient 
servant,  J.  Warren. 

P.  S.  You  will  be  kind  enough  to  communicate  the 
contents  of  this  letter  to  General  Room,  as  I  love  to  give 
pleasure  to  good  men. 


committee  of  malden  to  committee  of  safety. 

Maiden,  May  25,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  This  may  certify  that  Mr.  Ebenczer  Pratt, 
Mr.  John  Nichols,  Mr.  John  Barrett,  and  Mr.  John  Ni- 
chols, Jr.,  are  persons  who  may  be  confided  in,  that  they 
will  not  take  any  advantage  of  a  pass  which  has  been  ob- 
tained for  them  from  Samuel  Graves,  Vice-Admiral  of  the 
Blue,  to  the  disadvantage  of  the  common  cause,  in  which 
we  are  all  engaged,  desiring,  at  the  same  time,  that  you 
will  lay  them  under  such  restrictions,  in  every  respect,  as 
you  shall  judge  necessary. 

Signed  by  order  and  in  the  name  of  the  Selectmen,  the 
Committee  of  Correspondence  and  Inspection  of  the  Town 
of  Maiden.  Peter  Thacher, 

Benjamin  Blaney, 
Elisha  Story. 
Honourable  Committee  of  Safety,  sitting  in  Cambridge. 


PETITION  FROM  THE  INHABITANTS  OF  MACHIAS  TO  THE 

MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS. 

Machias,  May  25,  1775. 
To  the  Honourable  Congress  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay: 

Gentlemen:  With  the  highest  satisfaction  we  now  con- 
sider you  as  the  guardians  of  this  extensive  and  wealthy 
Province ;  and  relying  on  your  wisdom,  the  wisdom  of  the 
Continental  Congress,  the  justice  of  our  cause,  and  the 
tender  mercy  of  our  fathers'  God,  we  promise  ourselves,  in 
due  time,  a  happy  deliverance  from  the  iron  chains  of  ty- 
ranny, which  were  forming  for  us,  and  from  servitude  equal 
to  Egyptian  bondage. 

As  a  part,  therefore,  of  your  charge,  we,  the  distressed 
inhabitants  of  Machias,  beg  leave  to  approach  your  presence, 
and  to  spread  our  grievances  at  your  feet.  We  dare  not 
say  we  are  the  foremost  in  supporting  the  glorious  cause  of 
American  liberty ;  but  this  we  can  truly  affirm,  that  we  have 
done  our  utmost  to  encourage  and  strengthen  the  hand  of 
all  the  advocates  for  America  with  whom  we  have  been 
connected  ;  that  we  have  not  even  purchased  any  goods  of 
those  persons  whom  we  suspected  to  be  inimical  to  our 
Country,  except  when  constrained  by  necessity ;  and  that 
none  on  the  Continent  can  more  cheerfully  risk  all  that  is 
dear  to  them  on  earth,  when  called,  in  support  of  those 
precious  privileges  which  God  and  our  venerable  ancestors, 
as  a  most  invaluable  legacy,  have  handed  down  to  us.  We 
must  now  inform  your  Honours,  that  the  inhabitants  of  this 
place  exceed  one  hundred  families,  some  of  which  are  very 
numerous,  and  that  Divine  Providence  has  cut  off  all  our 
usual  resources.  A  very  severe  drought  last  fall  prevented 
our  laying  in  sufficient  stores  ;  and  had  no  vessels  visited  us 
in  the  winter,  we  must  have  suffered.  Nor  have  we  this 
spring  been  able  to  procure  provisions  sufficient  for  carry- 
ing on  our  business ;  our  labourers  are  dismissed,  some  of 
our  mills  stand  still,  almost  all  vessels  have  forsaken  us,  our 
lumber  lies  by  us  in  heaps,  and,  to  complete  our  misfortunes, 
all  our  ports  are  to  be  shut  up  on  the  first  of  July  next. 
We  must  add,  we  have  no  country  behind  us  to  lean  upon, 
nor  can  we  make  an  escape  by  flight ;  the  wilderness  is  im- 
pervious, and  vessels  we  have  none.  To  you,  therefore, 
honoured  gentlemen,  we  humbly  apply  for  relief;  you  are 
our  last,  our  only  resource ;  and  permit  us  to  say  again, 
you  are  our  guardians,  and  we  rejoice  and  glory  in  being 
subject.  Pardon  our  importunity.  We  cannot  take  a 
denial,  for,  under  God,  you  are  all  our  dependance  ;  and  if 


709 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


710 


you  neglect  us,  we  are  ruined.  Save,  dear  Sirs,  one  of 
your  most  flourishing  settlements  from  famine  and  all  its 
horrours.  We  ask  not  for  charity;  we  ask  for  a  supply  to 
be  put  into  the  hands  of  Messrs.  Smith  and  Stillman,  or 
any  other  person  or  persons  your  wisdom  may  point  out, 
who  shall  obligate  themselves  to  pay  the  whole  amount  in 
lumber,  the  only  staple  of  our  country. 

That  God  may  long  preserve  you,  and  make  you  happily 
instrumental  in  his  hand,  in  restoring  all  the  sweets  of  peace 
and  liberty  to  this  much  injured  Country,  and  even  to 
Great  Britain  herself,  is  the  constant  and  fervent  prayer 
of,  gentlemen,  your  most  humble  petitioners. 

John  Longfellow,  Bradbury  Merrill,  Stephen  Young, 

Abraham  Clark,  Samuel  Millberry,  William  Bodwin, 

James  Flinn,  John  Watts,  John  Chaloner, 

Amos  Boynton,  Samuel  Barnum,  Benj.  Gooch,  Jr., 

B.  D.  J.  Underwood,  James  Colbroth,  Jonathan  Brown, 

John  Sinkler,  Jonas  Farnsworth  Joseph  Clifford, 

William  Chaloner,  Eleazer  Hathaway,  Joseph  Sealey,  Jr., 

William  Albee,  Ezekicl  Foster,  George  Sealey, 

Daniel  Hill,  Solomon  Littlefield,  John  Chase, 

Nathan  Longfellow,  Jacob  Libby,  Ephraim  Chase, 

James  Lyon,  Lodowick  Holway,  Beriah  Rice, 

James  Elliott,  Micajah  How,  Israel  Andrews. 

Timothy  Young,  Benjamin  Gatchell, 


COMMITTEE  OF  CORRESPONDENCE  OF  CUMBERLAND  COUNTY 
TO  THE  MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS. 

Colony  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay,  ) 
County  of  Cumberland.  \ 

To  the  Honourable  the  Representatives  of  the  several 
Towns  in  said  Colony,  in  General  Congress  assembled : 

May  it  please  your  Honours  :  We,  the  Committees  of 
Correspondence  of  the  several  Towns  in  said  County,  beg 
leave  to  represent  to  your  Honours  the  circumstances  of 
this  County  in  this  day  of  struggle  and  danger.  In  the 
first  place  we  confess  our  Towns  have,  in  general,  heretofore, 
been  negligent  in  providing  arms  and  ammunition  according 
to  law,  until  distress  came  upon  us  from  our  mother  Coun- 
try, and  then  were  debarred  from  having  them  from  thence 
where  we  were  wont  to  purchase  them ;  since  which  we 
have  not  been  able  to  furnish  ourselves.  And  in  the  next 
place  we  are  in  a  distressed  situation  with  respect  to  provi- 
sion for  our  people  to  subsist  upon  till  their  new  crops  come 
in,  owing,  in  part,  to  their  last  year's  crops  being  cut  short 
by  the  drought,  and  so  many  of  our  people  not  being 
farmers,  but  lumbering  sailors,  &£c,  together  with  the  diffi- 
culty and  danger  there  now  is  of  getting  any  from  the 
Southern  Governments,  owing  to  their  carefulness  to  keep 
a  sufficient  supply  for  their  own  people  in  this  day  of  ex- 
pense, and  the  hazard  of  having  it  taken  by  the  men-of- 
war  and  tenders,  could  we  procure  any  of  them  ;  and  where 
to  fly  for  relief,  but  to  your  Honours,  we  know  not.  Not- 
withstanding these  difficulties,  we  can  with  pleasure  say 
that  the  people  of  this  country  almost  universally  are 
zealous  in  the  cause  of  constitutional  liberty,  and  have  ex- 
erted themselves  in  complying  with  the  recommendations 
of  the  Congresses,  and  particularly  in  raising  a  Regiment  of 
hardy  and  spirited  men  for  the  service  of  the  Colony,  who 
have  been  exercising  every  day,  as  we  understand,  for  some 
time  past,  and  expected  to  be  sent  for  to  the  Army ;  till 
lately  we  have  the  satisfaction  to  hear  the  Army  is  like  to 
be  complete  without  them.  We  would  likewise  represent 
to  your  Honours,  that  we  are  exposed  to  our  enemies  by 
sea  and  land  ;  by  sea,  our  sheep  and  cattle  on  the  islands 
and  shores  are  exposed  to  be  ravaged  by  every  little  tender 
that  may  be  sent  to  get  fresh  meat  for  their  fleet  and  army  ; 
and  by  land,  we  may  be  alarmed  by  the  inroads  of  our  old 
enemies,  the  Indians  and  French,  though  we  hope  better 
things  from  them. 

Wherefore  we  pray  your  Honours  to  take  our  plain 
and  just  representation  into  consideration,  and,  if  possible, 
find  out  some  way  whereby  we  may  be  supplied  with  some 
arms,  ammunition,  and  provisions,  and  that  the  Regiment 
enlisted  here  may  be  stationed  among  us,  and  subsisted  at 
the  charge  of  the  publick,  for  our  defence,  until  they  shall 
be  more  wanted  elsewhere,  (in  which  case  they  will  be 
ready  to  march  on  the  first  notice,)  and  while  here,  to  be 
employed  in  such  a  manner  as  may  be  most  for  our  safety 
and  advantage,  and  that  they  may  pass  muster  here  by 
some  person  who  may  be  appointed  "for  that  purpose.  Your 
Honours'  favourable  answer  to  our  request  will  much  oblige 


this  County  in  whose  behalf  we  are  your  Honours'  most 
obedient  humble  servants, 

Jedediah  Preble,  Chairman. 


THOMAS  BARNARD   TO  THE   COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY  FOR 
SALEM. 

Salem,  May  25,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  A  suspicion  of  being  inimical  to  those 
with  whom  we  are  connected  in  society,  and  whom  we  es- 
teem and  love,  cannot  but  give  severe  pain  to  a  generous 
mind. 

Unhappily  I  have  been  viewed  by  my  countrymen  in  a 
light  so  disagreeable.  The  Address  which  I  signed  to  Gov- 
ernour  Hutchinson,  upon  his  leaving  this  Province,  I  signed 
with  no  party  views;  with  no  design  whatever  of  injuring 
that  Country,  with  the  prosperity  of  which  my  dearest  hu- 
man interests  are  closely  connected  ;  but  with  strong  hopes 
of  promoting  the  lasting  peace  and  welfare  of  my  native 
land.  But  I  own  my  fond  expectations  arising  therefrom 
have  been  disappointed.  The  cause  of  America  I  look 
upon  as  capable  of  full  defence  by  the  voice  of  justice  and 
the  British  Constitution,  and  shall  be  ever  ready  to  support 
it  in  that  way  which  the  united  wisdom  of  the  Continent 
shall  dictate. 

Such  are  my  sentiments,  and  upon  the  strength  of  them 
I  would  request  of  my  countrymen  to  throw  the  veil  of 
charity  and  forgiveness  over  any  incautious  action  of  mine, 
which  may  have  led  them  to  think  unfavourably  of  me, 
and  to  grant  me  a  place  in  their  esteem,  which  1  shall  ever 
think  myself  happy  in  deserving. 

Thomas  Barnard,  Jr. 

In  Committee  of  Safety,  Salem,  May  25,  1775. 
Resolved  unanimously,  That  the  foregoing  declaration  of 
the  Reverend  Thomas  Barnard,  Jr.,  now  laid  before  the 
Committee,  is  fully  satisfactory,  and  we  hope  will  remove 
any  ill  impressions  that  may  have  been  made  on  the  minds 
of  the  good  people  of  this  Province  in  consequence  of  his 
addressing  Governour  Hutchinson,  and  cause  them  to  look 
upon  him  as  a  friend  to  his  Country. 

Richard  Derby,  Jr.,  Chairman. 


Charlestown,  S.  C,  May  26,  1775 
We  are  informed  that  the  inhabitants  of  this  Town  lately 
presented  a  memorial  to  the  General  Committee,  setting 
forth  the  dearness  and  alarming  scarcity  of  grain  ;  and  that 
the  Committee,  after  having  made  a  full  inquiry  into  the 
facts,  have  resolved  that  it  is  their  opinion  that  no  Indian 
corn  should  be  exported  from  this  Province,  except  by 
persons  who  may  have  plantations  in  Georgia,  for  their 
own  immediate  use  upon  such  plantations ;  nor  any  rice, 
except  to  complete  the  lading  of  such  vessels  as  had  actu- 
ally taken  on  board  part  of  their  intended  cargoes  of  rice 
before  the  twenty-fourth  instant,  until  the  General  Assem- 
bly, or  the  Provincial  Congress,  shall  take  the  matter  under 
their  consideration,  and  come  to  some  determination  there- 
upon. 

We  are  also  informed  that  the  General  Committee  hav- 
ing been  applied  to  by  Captain  Heslope,  of  the  Brigantine 
Hannah,  lately  arrived  from  Liverpool  with  about  eight 
thousand  bushels  of  salt,  for  permission  to  cast  the  said 
cargo  of  salt  overboard  into  Hog-Island  Creek,  as  if  it  was 
only  common  ballast,  and  not  merchandise ;  after  having 
duly  considered  every  circumstance,  and  being  fully  satis- 
fied that  the  said  cargo  was  shipped  at  Liverpool  as  mer- 
chandise, with  an  intent  to  put  the  American  Association 
at  defiance,  and  putting  the  virtue  of  the  inhabitants  of  this 
Colony  to  the  test,  have  resolved  that  it  was  their  opinion 
that  the  said  cargo  "  ought  to  be  forthwith  sent  back  ;"  and 
we  hear  that  Captain  Heslope,  finding  too  late  the  effects 
of  his  owner's  folly  and  presumption,  is  preparing  to  return 
to  Liverpool  with  their  full  cargo. 


LOUDOUN  COUNTY  (VIRGINIA)  COMMITTEE. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Loudoun  County,  held 
at  Leesburgh  on  Friday,  May  26, 1775.  Present :  Francis 
Peyton,  Esq.,  Josias  Clapham,  Thomas  Lewis,  Anthony 
Russell,  John  Thomas,  George  Johnston,  Thomas  Shore, 


711 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  k,  MAY,  1775. 


712 


James  Lane,  Jacob  Reed,  Levcn  Powell,  William  Smith, 
Robert  Jamison,  llardage  Lane,  and  John  Lewis,  gen- 
tlemen. 

The  Committee,  taking  into  consideration  the  conduct  of 
the  Governour  relative  to  the  powder  which  was,  by  his 
express  orders,  taken  secretly  out  of  the  publick  Magazine 
belonging  to  this  Colony,  in  the  night  of  the  twentieth  ult., 
and  carried  on  board  the  Magdaline  Schooner: 

Resolved,  nemine  contradicente,  That  his  Lordship,  by 
this  and  other  parts  of  his  conduct  which  have  lately  trans- 
pired, has  not  only  forfeited  the  confidence  of  the  good 
people  of  this  Colony,  but  that  he  may  be  justly  esteemed 
an  enemy  to  America;  and  that  as  well  his  excuse  pub- 
lished in  his  Proclamation  of  the  fourth  instant,  as  his  verbal 
answer  to  the  Address  presented  him  on  that  occasion  by 
the  City  of  Williamsburgh,  are  unsatisfactory  and  evasive, 
and  reflect,  in  our  opinion,  great  dishonour  on  the  General 
Assembly  and  inhabitants  of  this  Colony,  as  from  the  latter 
a  suspicion  may  be  easily  deduced,  that  the  Representatives 
of  the  people  are  not  competent  judges  of  the  place  wherein 
arms  and  ammunition,  intended  for  the  defence  of  the  Colo- 
ny, may  be  safely  lodged,  and  that  the  inhabitants  (unlike 
other  subjects)  cannot,  in  prudence,  be  trusted  with  the 
means  necessary  for  their  protection  from  insurrection,  or 
even  invasion  ;  so  in  the  former  a  very  heavy  charge  is 
exhibited  against  the  best  men  among  us,  of  seducing  their 
fellow-subjects  from  their  duty  and  allegiance ;  a  charge, 
we  are  confident,  not  founded  in  reality,  and  which,  we  be- 
lieve, is  construed  out  of  the  discharge  of  that  duty  which 
every  good  man  is  under,  to  point  out  to  his  weaker  coun- 
trymen, in  the  day  of  publick  trial,  the  part  they  should 
act,  and  explain,  on  constitutional  principles,  the  nature  of 
their  allegiance,  the  ground  of  which  we  fervently  pray 
may  never  be  removed,  whose  force  we  desire  may  never 
with  reason  be  relaxed,  but  yet  may  be  subservient  to  con- 
siderations of  superiour  regard. 

The  Committee  being  informed  by  some  of  the  officers 
who  commanded  the  Troops  of  this  County  that  marched 
on  the  above  occasion,  that  the  reason  of  their  marching  no 
farther  than  Fredericksburg h  was,  their  having  received 
repeated  requests  from  the  Honourable  Peyton  Randolph, 
Esq.,  to  return  home,  assuring  them  that  the  peaceable 
citizens  of  Williamsburg h  were  under  no  apprehensions  of 
danger,  either  in  their  persons  or  properties ;  that  the  pub- 
lick treasury  and  records  were  perfectly  safe  ;  and  that 
there  was  no  necessity  for  their  proceeding  any  further ; 
three  of  the  other  Delegates  appointed  to  the  Continental 
Congress,  the  only  civil  power  we  know  of  in  this  great 
struggle  for  liberty,  being  of  the  same  opinion. 

Resolved,  nemine  contradicente,  That  under  such  circum- 
stances we  approve  the  conduct  of  the  said  Officers  and 
Troops. 

Resolved,  nemine  contradicente,  That  we  cordially  ap- 
prove the  conduct  of  our  countryman,  Captain  Patrick 
Henry,  and  the  other  volunteers  of  Hanover  County,  who 
marched  under  him,  in  making  reprisals  on  the  King's  pro- 
perty for  the  trespass  committed  as  aforesaid,  and  that  we 
are  determined  to  hazard  all  the  blessings  of  this  life  rather 
than  suffer  the  smallest  injury  offered  to  their  persons  or 
estates,  on  this  account,  to  pass  unrewarded  with  its  equal 
punishment. 

Resolved,  nemine  contradicente,  That  it  be  recommended 
to  the  Representatives  of  this  County,  as  the  opinion  of  this 
Committee,  that  they  by  no  means  agree  to  the  reprisals, 
taken  as  aforesaid,  being  returned. 

Ordered,  That  the  Clerk  transmit  immediately  a  copy 
of  the  preceding  Resolves  to  the  Printers  of  the  Virginia 
and  Pennsylvania  Gazettes,  to  be  published. 

By  order  of  the  Committee, 

George  Johnston,  Clerk. 


NEW-YORK  CONGRESS  TO  MASSACHUSETTS    COMMITTEE  OF 
SAFETY. 

In  Provincial  Congress,  Now- York,  ) 
May  26,  1775.  $ 

Brf.thren  :  Having  received  a  minute  of  the  Grand  Con- 
tinental Congress,  of  which  we  send  you  a  copy  herewith, 
we  wrote  a  letter  to  the  Governour  and  Company  of  the 
Colony  of  Connecticut,  of  which  we  also  send  you  a  copy. 

We  do  not  doubt  of  your  ready  concurrence  in  the  mea- 


sures recommended  by  that  august  body,  in  which  we  do 
entirely  acquiesce. 

We  pray  you  to  act  on  this  occasion  with  prudence  and 
expedition,  especially  as  we  have  received  intimation  from 
our  brethren  in  Connecticut  that  they  cannot  send  a  suffi- 
cient force  for  the  purposes  mentioned  to  them  in  our  letter : 
and  we  beg  leave  to  assure  you  that  we  are  affectionately 
your  friends  and  brethren  in  the  generous  cause  of  freedom. 

We  are,  gentlemen,  your  humble  servants, 

P.  V.  B.  Livingston,  President. 
To  Joseph  Warren,  Esq.,  and  others,  the  Committee  of 

Safety  for  the  Colony  of  Massachusetts-Bay. 


THE  SUB-COMMITTEE  OF  THE  CITY  AND  COUNTY  OF  ALBANY 
TO  THE  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS  OF  NEW-YORK. 

[Read  before  Congress  June  3,  1775.] 

Albany  Committee-Chamber,  ) 
May  26,  1775.  J 

Gentlemen  :  We  have  received  a  letter  from  the  New- 
York  Committee,  of  the  twentieth  inst.,  enclosing  the  Re- 
solution of  the  Continental  Congress  of  the  eighteenth  in- 
stant. We  have  likewise  received  some  material  information 
from  the  north  and  westward,  which  we  shall  now  lay  before 
you.  And  first  respecting  our  western  intelligence.  We 
are  so  much  crowded  with  business  and  despatches  from  dif- 
ferent quarters,  that  we  cannot  so  copiously  enlarge  on  every 
different  subject  as  we  could  wish  ;  we  shall  therefore  only 
state  the  necessary  facts  to  you,  interspersed  with  such  re- 
marks as  we  conceive  of  consequence. 

The  first  of  our  intelligence  from  the  west  was,  that  the 
Indians  were  exceedingly  uneasy,  and  more  of  them  daily 
coming  in  to  Colonel  Johnson's  place  at  Guy  Park,  occa- 
sioned, as  he  alleges,  by  reason  of  a  report  in  his  neighbour- 
hood, that  the  New-England  people,  with  some  others, 
intended  seizing  and  taking  him  captive  to  New-England, 
and  by  this  means  extinguish  the  Indian  council  fire.  And 
that  this  was  to  be  done  in  consequence  of  another  report 
that  Colonel  Johnson  was  setting  up  the  Indians  to  destroy 
the  inhabitants,  &.c. 

Next  we  received  a  letter  wrote  by  four  Mohawks  to  the 
Oneidas,  whereof  we  enclose  you  a  copy,  translated  from 
the  Mohawk  into  English,  No.  2. 

Next  we  received  a  letter  from  the  Committee  of  Pala- 
tine District,  in  Try  on  County,  whereof  we  enclose  you  a 
copy,  No.  3 ;  our  answer  to  which  you  have  enclosed, 
No.  3,  a. 

Next,  five  persons  from  Tryon  County  here,  who  made 
oath  of  their  being  stopped  in  the  road  at  Colonel  Johnson's 
on  the  seventeenth  instant ;  we  enclose  copy  of  the  affi- 
davit, No.  4. 

On  the  same  day  we  also  received  from  the  Committee 
of  Schenectady  a  copy  of  Colonel  Johnson's  letter  to  them, 
dated  the  eighteenth,  which  you  have  enclosed,  No.  5,  and 
to  which  the  Schenectady  Committee  wrote  him  an  answer, 
whereof  we  have  no  copy. 

Next  we  received  copy  of  a  letter  from  Colonel  Johnson 
to  the  Magistrates  and  others  of  Palatine,  Canajoharie, 
and  the  upper  Districts,  dated  twentieth  instant,  which  you 
have  enclosed,  No.  6;  and  of  the  answer  to  which  we  have 
no  copy. 

Next  we  received  copy  of  another  letter  from  Colonel 
Johnson,  without  a  date,  directed  to  the  Magistrates,  &ic, 
of  Schenectady,  and  the  Mayor  and  Corporation,  &ic,  of 
Albany,  which  you  have  enclosed,  No.  7;  whereupon  we 
wrote  him  a  letter,  dated  the  twenty-third  instant,  copy 
whereof  you  have  enclosed,  No.  8.,  and  one  to  the  same 
effect  was  wrote  to  him,  on  the  same  subject,  by  the  Cor- 
poration here. 

Next  we  received  copy  of  the  speech  of  the  Mohawks, 
interpreted  by  the  Reverend  Mr.  Kirkland, on  the  twentieth 
instant,  whereof  you  have  a  copy  enclosed,  No.  9  ;  whereto 
we  wrote  an  answer,  datid  twenty-third  instant,  and  ap- 
pointed two  persons  of  our  Committee,  to  wit,  Gilbert 
Marselis  and  Peter  Schuyler,  to  go  to  the  Mohawks,  with 
Mr.  Martin  Lydias  as  an  interpreter ;  enclosed  you  have 
a  copy  thereof,  No.  10. 

Next  we  received  a  reply  from  the  Mohawks  to  our 
answer,  dated  the  twenty-fifth  ;  a  copy  whereof  you  have 
enclosed,  No.  11,  wherein  is  contained  the  reply  of  the 
Indians,  and  the  Sub-Committee's  answer  thereto. 


713 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  Sic,  MAY,  1775. 


714 


We  shall  now  proceed  to  communicate  our  northern  in- 
telligence, the  substance  of  which  you  will  fully  collect  from 
Col.  Arnold's  letter  to  us,  dated  twenty-second  inst.,  where- 
of we  enclose  you  a  copy,  No.  12.  Second  :  Col.  Arnold's 
letter  to  Captain  Noah.  Lee,  dated  the  twenty-third  in- 
stant, whereof  we  enclose  you  a  copy,  No.  13.  Third: 
We  yesterday  received  the  Quebeck  mail  opened,  and  sent 
to  us  bp  some  of  our  people  from  above,  and  such  letters 
as  were  already  opened,  were  inspected  by  two  of  our  mem- 
bers, who  made  an  extract  of  such  passages  in  them  as 
respected  their  publick  commotions,  a  copy  of  which  ex- 
tract we  enclose  you,  No.  14. 

We  shall  now  lake  notice  of  the  New-York  Commit- 
tee's letter  to  us.  of  the  twentieth  instant,  enclosing  the  Re- 
solution of  the  Continental  Congress,  from  which  we  find 
that  the  reduction  of  Ticonderoga  by  our  forces,  is  ap- 
proved of,  and  recommending  us  to  proceed  with  all  pos- 
sible despatch  with  a  sufficient  body  of  forces,  fee,  to  the 
northward,  to  remove  the  cannon  and  stores  from  Ticon- 
deroga to  the  south  end  of  Lake  George.  We  are  now 
busy  to  raise  two  Companies,  each  Company  composed  of 
fifty  men,  in  order  to  go  upon  said  expedition,  who  we  ex- 
pect will  be  in  readiness  to  march  in  two  or  three  days. 
But,  gentlemen,  there  are  a  number  of  very  material  diffi- 
culties that  immediately  arise.  We  have  no  ammunition  ; 
all  the  powder  already  gone  up,  with  what  we  can  possibly 
collect  yet  among  us,  will  not  amount  to  above  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty  pounds ;  and  with  so  small  a  quantity  it  is 
impossible  for  us  to  do  any  thing  of  consequence,  nor  can 
we  possibly  conceive  how  the  Provincial  forces  can  main- 
tain these  northern  posts,  or  withstand  the  attack  of  the 
British  Troops  from  Quebeck,  who  are,  from  the  best  in- 
telligence we  can  collect,  preparing,  as  fast  as  possible,  to 
come  down,  in  order  to  take  these  places  from  us;  an 
enterprise  which,  if  by  them  undertaken  and  completed,  will 
introduce  our  enemies  into  the  very  bowels  of  our  Country. 
We  beg  of  you,  gentlemen,  without  delay,  to  take  these 
important  matters  into  your  most  serious  and  immediate 
consideration,  and  afford  us  the  necessary  assistance  in  this 
our  distressed  situation,  and  send  us  up,  with  all  possible 
speed,  a  sufficient  quantity  of  powder,  without  which  nothing 
can  possibly  be  done.  We  likewise  stand  in  need  of  blankets, 
pitch,  tar,  oakum,  nails,  spikes,  gin,  ropes,  camp-kettles, 
intrenching  tools,  &c,  and  some  rice,  oat-meal,  and  barley, 
&:c. ;  also  for  the  sloop  and  schooner,  two  mates,  two  gun- 
ners, two  gunner's  mates,  two  boatswains,  and  eighteeen 
seamen,  agreeable  to  Colonel  Arnold's  list,  (copy  enclosed,) 
No.  15,  all  which  you'll  be  pleased  to  cause  to  be  sent  up 
to  us  with  all  possible  despatch. 

We  would  beg  of  you,  likewise,  to  take  into  considera- 
tion some  mode  or  plan  for  raising  and  paying  our  forces ; 
the  one  which  we  have  adopted  here,  pro  hdc  vice,  until 
vou  conclude  upon  a  better  one,  we  enclose  you  a  copy  of, 
No.  16. 

We  would  mention  another  matter  to  you,  which,  in  our 
humble  opinion,  requires  your  immediate  consideration  ;  that 
as  the  vessel  from  St.  John's  has  lately  been  taken  by  our 
forces,  and  whereof  the  Continental  Congress  have  had  no 
intelligence,  on  the  eighteenth  instant,  when  they  entered 
into  the  Resolution  respecting  Ticonderoga,  and  removing 
the  stores  and  cannon  from  thence  to  Lake  George,  whether 
it  would  not  be  expedient  to  fortify  the  latter  instead  of  the 
former,  as  Ticonderoga  is  by  far  the  strongest  and  most 
important  fortress. 

We  beg  the  favour  of  you  that  you  will,  immediately 
after  your  perusal  of  this  our  letter,  and  the  papers  here- 
with sent,  be  pleased  to  forward  the  same  to  the  Conti- 
nental Congress  by  the  most  speedy  and  eligible  mode  of 
conveyance. 

We  are,  gentlemen,  you  most  obedient  servants. 
By  order  of  the  Committee : 

Samuel  Stringer,  Chairman  pro  tern. 


ETHAN  ALLEN  TO  THE  ASSEMBLY  OF  CONNECTICUT. 

Crown  Point,  May  26,  1775. 
Honourable  Gentlemen  :  I  here  communicate  to  you 
a  copy  of  a  letter  I  sent  by  Mr.  Winthrop  Hoit  and  Cap- 
tain Abraham  Nimham,  a  friendly  Stockbridge  Indian,  to 
the  several  Tribes  of  Indians  in  Canada. 


M  Head. Quarters  of  the  Army.  Crowr.  Point,  ) 
May  24,  1775.  S 

"  By  advice  of  council  of  the  officers,  I  recommend  our 
trusty  and  well-beloved  friend  and  brother,  Captain  Abra- 
ham Nimham,  of  Stockbridge,  as  our  ambassador  of  peace 
to  our  good  brother  Indians  of  the  four  Tribes,  viz:  the 
Hocnawagoes,  the  Sivagachcs,  the  Canesadaugans,  and 
the  Saint  Fransauas. 

"  Loving  brothers  and  friends :  I  have  to  inform  you 
that  George  the  Third,  King  of  England,  has  made  war 
with  the  English  Colonies  in  America,  who  have  ever  till 
now  been  his  good  subjects;  and  sent  his  army  and  killed 
some  of  your  good  friends  and  brothers  at  Boston,  in  the 
Province  of  the  Massachusetts-Buy.  Then  your  good 
brothers  in  that  Province,  and  in  all  the  Colonies  of  Eng- 
lish America,  made  war  with  King  George,  and  have  begun 
to  kill  the  men  of  his  army,  and  have  taken  Ticonderoga 
and  Crown  Point  from  him,  and  all  the  artillery,  and  also 
a  great  sloop  which  was  at  St.  John's,  and  all  the  boats  in 
the  lake,  and  have  raised,  and  are  raising  two  great  armies  ; 
one  is  destined  for  Boston,  and  the  other  for  the  fortresses 
and  department  of  Lake  Champlain,  to  fight  the  King's 
Troops  that  oppose  the  Colonies  from  Canada ;  and  as 
King  George's  soldiers  killed  our  brothers  and  friends  in  a 
time  of  peace,  1  hope,  as  Indians  are  good  and  honest 
men,  you  will  not  fight  for  King  George  against  your 
friends  in  America,  as  they  have  done  you  no  wrong,  and 
desire  to  live  with  you  as  brothers.  I  was  always  a  friend 
to  Indians,  and  have  hunted  with  them  many  times,  and 
know  how  to  shoot  and  ambush  like  Indians,  and  am  a 
great  hunter. 

"  1  want  to  have  your  warriours  come  and  see  me,  and 
help  me  fight  the  King's  Regular  Troops.  You  know  they 
stand  all  along  close  together,  rank  and  file,  and  my  men 
fight  so  as  Indians  do,  and  I  want  your  warriours  to  join 
with  me  and  my  warriours,  like  brothers,  and  ambush  the 
Regulars:  if  you  will,  I  will  give  you  money,  blankets, 
tomahawks,  knives,  paint,  and  any  thing  that  there  is  in 
the  army,  just  like  brothers;  and  I  will  go  with  you  into 
the  woods  to  scout ;  and  my  men  and  your  men  will  sleep 
together,  and  eat  and  drink  together,  and  fight  Regulars, 
because  they  first  killed  our  brothers  ;  and  will  fight  against 
us;  therefore  I  want  our  brother  Indians  to  help  us  fight; 
for  I  know  Indians  are  good  warriours,  and  can  fight  well 
in  the  bush.  You  know  it  is  good  for  my  warriours  and  In- 
dians too  to  kill  the  Regulars,  because  they  first  began  to 
kill  our  brothers  in  this  Country  without  cause. 

"  Ye  know  my  warriours  must  fight,  but  if  you  our  bro- 
ther Indians  do  not  fight  on  either  side,  we  will  still  be 
friends  and  brothers ;  and  you  may  come  and  hunt  in  our 
woods,  and  come  with  your  canoes  in  the  lake,  and  let  us 
have  venison  at  our  forts  on  the  lake,  and  have  rum,  bread, 
and  what  you  want,  and  be  like  brothers. 

"  I  have  sent  our  friend,  Winthrop  Hoit,  to  treat  with  you 
on  our  behalf  in  friendship  ;  you  know  him,  for  he  has  lived 
with  you,  and  is  your  adopted  son,  and  is  a  good  man  ; 
Captain  Nimham,  of  Stockbridge,  and  he  will  tell  you 
about  the  whole  matter  more  than  I  can  write.  I  hope 
your  warriours  will  come  and  see  me.  So  I  bid  all  my 
brother  Indians  farewell.  Ethan  Allen, 

"  Colonel  of  the  Green  Mountain  Boys." 

This,  gentlemen,  is  a  copy  of  the  letter  I  have  sent  the 
Indians;  I  hope  it  may  have  a  good  effect.  I  thought  it 
advisable  that  the  Honourable  Assembly  should  be  informed 
of  all  our  politicks.  And  am,  gentlemen,  with  the  greatest 
respect,  your  most  obedient  and  humble  servant, 

Ethan  Allen. 

The  Honourable  General  Assembly. 


BENEDICT  ARNOLD  TO  THE  MASSACHUSETTS  COMMITTEE 
OF  SAFETY. 

Crown  Point,  May  26,  1775. 
Gentlemen:  My  last  was  of  the  23d  instant;  I  then 
advised  you  of  the  situation  of  matters  here,  since  which 
there  has  been  no  material  alteration.  Very  few  men  have 
arrived.  We  have  fixed  the  sloop  with  six  carriage  and 
twelve  swivel  guns ;  the  schooner  with  four  carriage  and 
eight  swivels.  Both  vessels  are  in  good  order,  and  toler- 
ably well  manned.  Eight  gentlemen  having  arrived  from 
Hartford,  who  are  seamen,  I  have  sent  two  ten-inch  iron 


715 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


716 


mortars,  and  two  eight-inch  brass  mortars,  and  two  eight- 
inch  howitzers,  to  Ticonderoga,  to  be  forwarded  to  Fort 
George. 

You  may  depend  on  my  sending  the  cannon  from  this 
place  as  soon  as  possible.  There  are  three  thirteen-inch 
iron  mortars  here — beg  to  know  what  1  shall  do  with  them. 
1  have  received  large  donations  of  flour,  pork,  peas,  &ic, 
from  Albany — near  seventy  barrels — and  I  am  informed 
there  is  a  large  quantity  on  the  road  from  that  place,  and  a 
quantity  supplied  from  Connecticut. 

The  advice  I  received  from  Butterjield,  and  communi- 
cated in  the  postscript  of  my  last,  of  the  23d  instant, 
proves  to  be  premature.  I  have  good  intelligence  from  a 
batteau  immediately  from  St.  John's,  which  place  she  left 
on  the  19th  instant,  that  the  Regulars  were  returned  to 
Chamblee.  I  am,  with  great  respect,  gentlemen,  your  obe- 
dient servant,  Benedict  Arnold. 

To  the  Commitee  of  Safety,  Cambridge. 


LETTER  FROM  THE  MASS  AC  HITS  ETTS  CONGRESS  TO  THE 
NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

Ill  Provincial  Congress,  at  Watertown,  ) 
May  26,  1775.  \ 

"  Resolved,  That  the  following  Letter  be  sent  to  the 
Provincial  Congress  of  the  Colony  of  Neiv-York,  now 
sitting  in  that  Colony." 

Gentlemen  :  Enclosed  are  copies  of  a  letter  from  Col- 
onel Arnold,  and  a  list  of  military  stores  at  Ticonderoga, 
foe.  You  cannot  fail  to  observe  that  Mr.  Arnold,  for  the 
defence  of  this  Colony,  is  endeavouring  that  such  ordnance 
as  he  judges  can  be  spared  from  that  quarter,  should  be 
transported  to  the  army  in  this  Colony.  This  step  is  taken 
in  consequence  of  orders  given  by  our  Committee  of  Safe- 
ty. Perhaps  this  may  appear  to  you  extraordinary,  but 
we  trust  you  will  candidly  overlook  such  a  mistake  (if  it  is 
one,)  being  made  in  the  hurry  and  confusion  of  war  ;  and 
we  most  solemnly  declare  to  you,  that  this  Congress,  and 
the  inhabitants  of  this  Colony,  are  at  the  utmost  remove 
from  any  disposition  or  design  to  make  any  the  least  in- 
fraction upon,  or  usurpation  of  the  jurisdiction  of  any  of 
our  sister  Colonies.  And  if  any  of  those  cannon,  &lc, 
taken  at  the  Lake  Champlain,  should  happen,  through  the 
exertions  of  enterprising  spirits,  to  be  brought  within  the 
allowed  limits  of  this  Colony,  and  come  to  our  use,  we 
shall  hold  ourselves  accountable  for  them  to  the  Repre- 
sentatives of  the  Continent;  and  whenever  they  shall  in- 
form us  that  they  are  more  needed  for  the  general  defence 
at  any  other  part  of  the  Continent  than  in  this  Colony,  we 
shall  endeavour  that  they  be  removed  thither  with  the  utmost 
despatch.  As  to  the  expediency  and  policy  of  endeavour- 
ing to  maintain  those  old  fortresses  near  Lake  Champlain, 
or  abating  them,  and  erecting  others  in  some  other  places 
upon  the  same  lake,  or  abandoning  those  posts,  and  bring- 
ing off  all  the  ordnance  and  warlike  stores  in  those  posts, 
we  conceive  that  the  advice  of  the  Continental  Congress 
ought  to  be  obtained,  and  we  have  therefore  addressed  them 
in  the  most  pressing  manner,  being  of  opinion  that  the 
maintaining  a  post  there  is  absolutely  necessary  for  the 
defence  of  your,  and  all  the  New-England  Colonies. 

Gentlemen  and  brethren,  could  you  have  seen  the  hor- 
rid devastation  and  carnage  in  this  Colony,  committed  by 
ministerial  Troops,  those  sons  of  violence,  who  have  got 
some  footing  in  this  Colony,  the  breach  of  a  most  solemn 
treaty  with  respect  to  the  inhabitants  of  Boston,  when  they 
had  surrendered  their  arms,  and  put  themselves  wholly  in 
the  power  of  a  military  commander,  relying  upon  his  faith, 
then  pledged,  that  they  should  immediately  depart  the 
Town  with  their  effects  as  stipulated,  which  was  no  sooner 
done  than  they  were  positively  refused  permission  to  carry 
out  the  most  valuable  part  of  those  effects,  but  their  persons 
detained  under  the  most  idle  pretences,  and  suffered  only 
to  scatter  from  their  prison  a  few  in  a  day,  hardly  to  be 
seen  or  noticed  ;  we  say,  gentlemen,  could  you  see  and  re- 
alize these  scenes  of  distress,  you  could  not  refrain  one 
moment  from  doing  every  thing  in  your  power  to  prevent 
the  like  distress  from  happening  to  your  metropolis,  and 
availing  yourselves  of  every  article,  which  an  enemy  can 
improve  with  the  least  advantage  to  themselves,  for  effecting 
the  like  desolation,  horrours,  and  insults  on  the  inhabitants 
of  your  City  and  Colony,  or  which  might  enable  you  to 


make  the  most  effectual  defence.  Have  you  not,  gentle- 
men, divers  of  those  articles  as  it  were  under  your  hand? 
If  you  should  delay  securing  them  until  they  should  be  out 
of  your  power,  and  within  a  few  days  you  should  behold 
those  very  materials  improved  in  murdering  you,  and  your- 
selves perishing  for  the  want  of  them,  will  not  your  chagrin 
and  regret  be  intolerable  ?  Brethren,  pardon  our  impor- 
tunity. It  is  our  own  case.  Don't  we  daily  behold  Castle 
William,  and  realize  the  ample  warlike  provisions  and  ap- 
paratus therein,  held  by  our  enemies,  to  our  infinite  and  inex- 
pressible mortification  ?  We  wish  to  heaven  that  you  may  be 
timely  admonished  by  the  consequence  of  our  delay. 


JOSEPH  HAWLEY  TO  THE  MASSACHUSETTS   COMMITTEE  OF 
SAFETY. 

Watertown,  May  26,  1775. 
Gentlemen  :  The  Congress  have  directed  a  Commit- 
tee, of  which  I  have  the  honour  to  be  Chairman,  to  apply 
to  you  forthwith  for  copies  of  the  commission,  and  every 
paper  containing  the  appointment  of  Colonel  Benedict 
Arnold,  to  a  secret  warlike  enterprise  to  the  westward  ;  of 
the  instructions  given  him  by  you  ;  of  your  engagements  to 
him  in  behalf  of  this  Colony ;  and  authority  to  raise  a  Re- 
giment to  be  in  the  pay  of  this  Colony,  if  any  such  author- 
ity was  given  him  by  you  ;  his  orders  respecting  the  ord- 
nance at  Ticonderoga,  and  places  on  Lake  Champlain;  and 
every  thing  necessary  to  give  the  Congress  a  full  under- 
standing of  the  relation  Colonel  Arnold  then  stood,  and 
now  stands  in  to  this  Colony,  and  send  them  as  soon  as 
possible  to  us  by  Captain  Broivn.  I  am,  gentlemen,  with 
the  greatest  respect,  your  most  obedient  servant, 

Joseph  Hawley. 

To  the  Committee  of  Safety. 


BENJAMIN  GREENLF.AF  TO  THE  MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS. 

Newburyport,  May  26,  1775. 
Sir  :  1  yesterday  received  your  letter  of  the  19th  instant, 
informing  me  that  the  Provincial  Congress  had  done  me 
the  honour  of  choosing  me  a  member  of  the  Committee 
of  Safety,  and  that  they  requested  my  attendance  without 
delay.  I  readily  exert  myself  on  every  occasion  that  pre- 
sents, as  far  as  I  am  able,  to  promote  such  measures  as  have 
a  tendency  to  relieve  the  Country  from  its  present  difficul- 
ties and  embarrassments ;  but  my  ill  state  of  health  forbids 
my  attending  closely  to  business,  and  therefore  disqualifies 
me  to  act  in  that  department  with  advantage  to  the  pub- 
lick  or  myself,  for  which  reason  I  have  to  entreat  the  indul- 
gence of  the  Congress  while  I  ask  to  be  excused  from  that 
service ;  assuring  them  I  cannot  be  an  indifferent  observer 
of  scenes  that  are  now  acting;  but  as  I  have  hitherto  attend- 
ed to  our  publick  affairs  as  far  as  my  health  would  permit, 
almost  to  the  total  neglect  of  my  own  personal  concerns,  1 
shall  continue  to  do  so,  if  my  life  is  spared,  until  this  land 
obtains  a  complete  deliverance  from  the  hands  of  tyranny 
and  oppression  ;  but  then  it  must  be  in  a  sphere  wherein  I 
shall  not  be  liable  to  so  much  confinement  and  solicitude 
as  I  must  necessarily  submit  to  as  a  member  of  that  Com- 
mittee. I  am,  with  respect,  Sir,  your  most  humble  ser- 
vant, B.  Greenleaf. 
To  Mr.  Freeman,  Secretary  of  the  Provincial  Congress. 


COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY  TO  THE  MASSACHUSETTS  CON- 
GRESS. 

Cambridge,  May  26,  1775. 
The  Committee  of  Safety  beg  leave  to  represent  to  your 
Honours  the  conduct  of  Jonathan  Brewer,  of  Waltham. 
Said  Brewer  was  recommended  to  this  Committee  as  a 
suitable  person  to  take  orders  to  enlist  a  Regiment  on  the 
present  establishment,  and  accordingly  received  ten  sets  of 
orders  from  this  Committee  for  that  purpose.  Since  that, 
various  complaints  have  been  made  to  us  relative  to  his 
conduct.  When  he  gave  out  his  enlisting  orders  he  made 
proclamation  that  he  had  received  orders  to  enlist  a  Regi- 
ment of  Rangers,  and  gave  some  of  his  Captains  written 
orders  accordingly,  directly  contrary  to  the  orders  he  re- 
ceived from  this  Committee,  and  in  that  way  drew  off  men 
from  the  companies  and  regiments,  which  occasioned  great 
uneasiness  and  frequent  complaints.  He  has,  without  any 
orders  or  directions,  taken  into  his  service  two  horses — one 


717 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  fcc,  MAY,  1775. 


718 


belonging  to  Colonel  Jones,  the  other  to  Colonel  Taylor — 
and  has  kept  them  for  several  weeks  past.  He  has  also 
given  a  lease  of  part  of  Colonel  Jones's  real  estate,  without 
the  least  pretence  of  right,  and  taken  security  therefore  in 
his  own  name. 

Although  this  Committee  were  first  induced  to  give  the 
said  Brewer  enlisting  orders  for  raising  a  Regiment,  from 
the  character  they  had  of  him  as  being  courageous,  and 
experienced  in  war,  &c,  they  are  now  fully  convinced, 
from  the  evidence  they  have  since  had  of  the  low  artifices 
and  impositions  he  has  made  use  of  to  obtain  the  small 
number  of  men  he  has  returned,  his  seizing  private  pro- 
perty and  converting  it  to  his  own  use,  in  a  manner  that 
cannot  by  any  means  be  justified,  and  which  we  fear  will 
be  improved  by  our  inveterate  enemies  to  the  dishonour 
and  detriment  of  this  Colony,  he  is  unworthy  of  confidence. 
Upon  the  whole,  we  apprehend  he  has  not  only  disqual- 
ified himself  for  serving  this  Colony,  as  a  Colonel  of  a 
Regiment,  but  ought  immediately  to  be  dealt  with  in  such 
a  manner  as  you  in  your  wisdom  shall  think  proper. 
We  are,  &:c. 

THE  MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS  TO  THE  NEW-HAMPSHIRE 
CONGRESS. 

Watertown,  May  26,  1775. 
Gentlemen:  We  received  your  favour  of  the  23d  in- 
stant, wherein  you  inform  us  of  your  determination  to  raise 
immediately  two  thousand  men  for  the  common  defence  of 
America. 

It  gives  us  the  greatest  pleasure  and  satisfaction  to  ob- 
serve the  present  concordant  temper  and  disposition  so 
prevalent  throughout  the  several  Colonies,  in  support  of 
their  common  rights.  Such  a  remarkable  unanimity,  under 
the  smiles  of  a  kind  Providence,  can  scarcely  fail  of  suc- 
ceeding to  the  utmost  of  our  sanguine  wishes.  We  trust, 
gentlemen,  our  cause  is  just  and  right;  and  that  to  submit 
to  the  vassalage  and  slavery  of  an  unconscionable  Adminis- 
tration, would  not  only  be  ignominious,  but  highly  deroga- 
tory to  the  spirit  and  resentment  of  free  and  loyal  Ameri- 
cans ;  and  although  the  horrours  and  devastation  of  war  are 
highly  deprecated  by  us,  yet  pressing  necessity  urges  to 
the  utmost  of  our  exertion,  in  the  preservation  of  every 
thing  dear  to  us,  (even  life  itself,)  by  a  resolute  opposition 
to  our  unwrearied  and  unnatural  enemies.  We  therefore 
earnestly  request  you,  gentlemen,  to  forward  with  all  speed 
those  Troops  you  are  raising,  to  co-operate  with  us  against 
the  common  enemy,  hoping,  under  the  Divine  protection, 
to  convince  even  the  British  Parliament  of  their  unreason- 
able, rash,  and  inconsiderate  proceedings  against  a  most 
injured  and  cruelly  oppressed  people.  We  are,  gentlemen, 
with  sincere  affection,  your  most  obedient  humble  servants, 

By  order:  Joseph  Warren,  P res' t  pro  tern. 

To  the  Hon.  Congress  of  New-Hampshire  Colony. 


BENJAMIN  BULLARD  AND  OTHERS  TO  THE  MASSACHUSETTS 
COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY. 

Cambridge,  May  26,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  We,  the  subscribers,  being  highly  dissatis- 
fied with  the  alteration  that  is  likely  to  take  place  respect- 
ing the  field-officers  in  Colonel  Nixon's  Regiment,  as  we 
took  out  enlisting  orders  under  Colonel  John  Nixon,  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Jacob  Miller,  and  Major  Nathaniel  Cud- 
worth,  with  the  expectation  that  they  were  to  be  the  esta- 
blished field-officers  of  the  Regiment,  especially  as  we  were 
at  the  choice  of  said  gentlemen,  and  knowing  the  choice 
to  be  fair  and  above  board  ;  and  every  gentleman  present 
appeared  to  be  pleased  with  the  same  ;  therefore,  we  think 
it  a  great  grievance  that,  after  they  had  been  at  the  trouble 
of  recruiting,  and  had  almost  filled  up  our  respective  com- 
panies before  we  had  any  notice  of  any  design  to  make  an 
alteration  in  the  leaders  of  said  Regiment.  And  further, 
that  we  were  to  come  to  a  new  choice  with  men  that  were 
not  nominated  with  us,  to  be  in  our  corps  as  Captains. 
And  furthermore,  that  several  Lieutenants  should  act  in 
behalf  of  their  Captains,  they  being  not  present ;  and  one 
Lieutenant  saying  at  the  same  time  he  had  no  thought  of 
tarrying  in  the  Army.  All  which  we  think  to  be  sufficient 
reasons  that  the  first  choice  stands  fair,  and  the  last  the 
contrary.  Therefore,  as  we  are  earnest  to  be  in  the  service 


in  the  defence  of  our  Country,  (if  the  last  choice  is  estab- 
lished,) beg  leave  to  have  the  privilege  of  joining  in  some 
other  Regiment.   And  as  in  duty  bound  shall  ever  prav. 

Benj.  Bullard,  Captain, 
John  Leland,  Captain, 
Thos.  Drurv,  Captdin, 
Thaddeus  Russell,  Captain. 
To  the  Honourable  Committee  of  Safety. 


FREDERICK  COUNTY  (VIRGINIA)  COMMITTEE. 

Besohed  unanimously,  That  the  thanks  of  this  Commit- 
tee be  presented  to  the  Reverend  Charles  Minn  Thruston 
and  Colonel  Isaac  Zane,  who  represented  this  County  in 
the  late  Convention,  from  a  just  sensibility  of  a  faithful 
discharge  of  the  trust  reposed  in  them. 

Besohed  unanimously,  That  this  Committee  do  recom- 
mend to  the  Representatives  of  this  County  to  use  their 
influence  in  the  ensuing  session  of  Assembly,  to  procure 
adequate  satisfaction  to  the  officers  and  soldiers  who  bravely 
ventured  their  lives  in  defence  of  their  Country,  in  the  late 
expedition  against  the  Indians ;  and  also  to  those  who  ad- 
vanced their  property  on  the  credit  of  the  publick,  for  the 
support  of  the  Army. 

Whereas,  it  is  expected  that  proposals  will  be  made  to 
the  Assembly,  on  behalf  of  Administration,  to  levy  a  cer- 
tain sum  of  money  annually,  disposable  by  Parliament :  it 
is  therefore  earnestly  recommended  to  our  Representatives 
to  oppose  such  proposal  to  the  utmost  of  their  abilities,  and 
to  express  their  determined  resolution  to  reject  any  propo- 
sition whatever  which  may  be  offered,  while  an  armed  force 
remains  on  this  Continent,  for  the  purpose  of  compelling 
submission  to  Parliamentary  mandates ;  and  every  requisi- 
tion for  levying  money  on  their  constituents,  coming  through 
any  other  channel  than  the  official  servants  of  the  Crown, 
the  use  to  which  such  moneys  are  to  be  applied  being  al- 
ways expressed  in  such  requisitions.  And  we  would  have 
it  understood,  as  the  sense  of  this  Committee,  that  no  mea- 
sures with  Administration,  which  may  affect  the  liberties  of 
America,  ought  to  be  agreed  to  on  behalf  of  this  Colony, 
without  the  concurrence  of  our  sister  Colonies. 

Besohed  unanimously,  That  the  several  arbitrary  and 
illegal  Proclamations  lately  issued  by  Lord  Dunmore,  his 
seizure  of  the  Colony  Powder,  and  his  gross  misrepresent- 
ations of  the  state  of  this  Colony  to  the  Ministry,  render  it 
highly  necessary  to  regard  with  peculiar  attention  whatever 
comes  through  his  hands. 

Ordered,  That  the  Clerk  transmit  a  copy  of  the  above 
to  the  publick  Printer.  William  Heth,  Clerk. 

May  27,  1775. 


prince  george's  county  (Maryland)  committee. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Observation  for 
Prince  George's  County,  at  the  house  of  Bichard  Games, 
in  Piscataway,  on  Saturday,  the  27th  day  of  May,  1775, 
were  present  nineteen  members. 

Thomas  Baily  failing  to  appear,  according  to  former  re- 
ference, with  the  evidence  proposed  from  Baltimore,  the 
Committee  proceeded  to  consider  the  charges  against  him ; 
and  as  it  appeared  from  the  said  Baily's  own  declaration, 
that  he  was  informed  at  Alexandria,  before  he  landed  the 
Salt,  that  the  ship-load  of  Salt  which  arrived  at  Baltimore, 
consigned  to  Doctor  John  Stevenson,  was  declared  to  be 
illegally  imported,  and  ordered  to  be  destroyed ;  they  do 
resolve,  that  the  said  Thomas  Baily  has  committed  a  wilful 
violation  of  the  Continental  Association,  by  selling  and  land- 
ing the  Salt  imported  in  the  Sally,  Captain  Moate. 

The  Committee  being  informed  that  Mr.  John  Baynes, 
of  Piscataivay,  has  killed  a  Lamb,  contrary  to  the  Resolve 
of  the  Provincial  Convention,  held  at  Annapolis,  in  De- 
cember last,  Messrs.  Luke  Marbury  and  George  Diggs 
were  sent  to  inform  him  that  the  Committee  desired  his 
immediate  attendance.  Mr.  Baynes  appeared,  and  being 
informed  as  above,  acknowledged  that  he  had  killed  a 
Lamb,  and  conceived  that  he  had  not  thereby  violated  the 
Continental  Association,  which  he  purposed  to  adhere  to, 
and  thought  it  superiour  to  the  Provincial  Convention, 
which  he  conceived  was  only  intended  to  carry  the  Re- 
solves of  the  Continental  Congress  into  execution. 

Besohed,  That  the  said  Mr.  Baynes,  in  killing  the  said 
Lamb,  has  violated  the  Resolve  of  the  Provincial  Conven- 


719 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  fcc,  MAY,  1775. 


720 


tion ;  that  such  measures  may  be  of  mischievous  conse- 
quence, as  tending  to  a  create  a  disregard  to  publick  regu- 
lations, formed  for  preserving  the  liberties  of  America. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  of  these  proceedings  be  signed 
by  the  Chairman,  and  sent  to  be  published  in  the  Mary- 
land Gazelle.    By  order  of  the  Committee: 

Josias  Beall,  Chairman. 

ASSEMBLY  OF   CONNECTICUT  TO   THE  MASSACHUSETTS 
CONGRESS. 

Hartford,  May  27,  1775. 

Gentlemen:  You  have  doubtless  received  the  advice 
of  the  Continental  Congress,  relative  to  the  important  for- 
tress and  pass  of  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point.  We 
esteem  it  necessary  to  be  guided  by  their  opinion  in  every 
important  transaction,  and  have  great  satisfaction  in  their 
approbation  of  the  capture  made  of  those  posts;  and  their 
advice  relating  to  removing  the  cannon,  Sic,  to  the  south 
end  of  Lake  George,  and  making  a  stand  there,  must  pro- 
bably be  complied  with,  unless  they,  upon  further  consid- 
eration, shall  alter  their  opinion,  and  advise  to  making  the 
stand  at  one  or  both  the  aforesaid  forts,  which  this  House 
and  Assembly  judge  to  be  much  more  expedient,  on  many 
obvious  accounts,  and  have  several  days  since  signified  their 
opinion  to  our  Delegates  at  said  Congress ;  and  for  these 
and  other  reasons,  hope  for  their  concurrence. 

The  bearer,  Captain  Phelps,  who  has  been  very  active 
and  useful  in  the  captures,  is  just  arrived  with  important 
advices  from  Colonel  Arnold,  of  an  expected  attack  speed- 
ily from  Governour  Carlelon,  and  is  charged  with  the  same 
advices  from  Mr.  Arnold  to  you.  In  consequence  of 
them,  and  the  imminent  danger  the  people  there  are  ex- 
posed to,  our  Assembly  have  just  ordered  five  hundred 
pounds  of  our  pittance  of  powder  to  be  forthwith  sent  to 
them  ;  and  also  four  companies  to  march  for  their  present 
relief,  and  have  advised  the  New-York  Provincial  Con- 
gress of  this  step  ;  and  also  are  now  despatching  advice  of 
the  same  to  the  Continental  Congress ;  and  also  again  set- 
ting forth  the  advantage  of  maintaining  a  post  at  Ticonde- 
roga or  Crown  Point,  and  suggesting  our  wishes  that  they 
reconsider  their  advice.  In  the  mean  time  you  may  be 
assured  that  we  have  no  just  claim  to  the  acquisition  or  the 
command  of  them,  as  in  the  least  degree  to  interfere  with 
any  measures  you  may  think  proper  to  adopt  relating  to 
them,  and  consider  what  we  have  done  as  a  small  and  tem- 
porary relief. 

I  am,  gentlemen,  in  the  name  and  behalf  of  the  House 
of  Representatives,  your  most  obedient  and  very  humble 
servant.    By  order :  Wm.  Williams,  Speaker. 


CIRCUMSTANTIAL  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  BATTLE  AT  CHELSEA, 
HOG  ISLAND,  ETC.,  IN  MASSACHUSETTS. 

On  Saturday,  May  27,  1775,  a  party  of  the  American 
Army  at  Cambridge,  to  the  number  of  between  two  and 
three  hundred  men,  had  orders  to  drive  oft"  the  live  stock 
from  Hog  and  Noddle  Islands,  which  lie  near  Chelsea, 
Winnesimmel,  on  the  northeast  side  of  Boston  Harbour. 
From  Chelsea  to  Hog  Island,  at  low  water,  it  is  but  about 
knee  high,  and  from  that  to  Noddle's  Island  about  the  same. 
The  stock  on  the  former  belonging  to  Mr.  Oliver  Wendell, 
at  Boston,  and  Mr.  Jonathan  Jackson,  at  Newburyport ; 
that  on  Noddle's  Island  was  owned  by  Mr.  Williams,  of 
Boston,  who  hires  the  island. 

About  eleven  o'clock,  A.  M.,  between  twenty  and  thirty 
men  went  from  Chelsea  to  Hog  Island,  and  from  thence  to 
Noddle's  Island,  to  drive  off  the  stock  which  was  there, 
but  were  interrupted  by  a  schooner  and  sloop  despatched 
from  the  fleet  in  Boston  Harbour,  and  forty  Marines,  who 
had  been  stationed  on  the  island  to  protect  the  live  stock. 
However,  they  sent  off  two  fine  English  stallions,  two  colts, 
and  three  cows,  killed  fifteen  horses,  two  colts,  and  three 
cows,  burnt  a  large  barn  full  of  salt,  hay,  and  an  old  farm- 
house. By  this  time  they  were  fired  on  from  the  schooner 
and  sloop,  and  a  large  number  of  Marines  in  boats,  sent 
from  the  several  men-of-war ;  upon  which  they  retreated 
to  a  ditch  on  the  marsh,  and  kept  themselves  undiscovered 
till  they  had  an  opportunity  to  lire  on  the  Marines,  when 
tbey  shot  down  two  dead,  and  wounded  two  more,  one  of 
whom  died  soon  after.  They  then  retreated  to  Hog  Island, 
where  they  were  joined  by  the  remainder  of  their  party 


from  Chelsea,  and  drove  off  all  the  stock  thereon,  viz: 
between  three  and  four  hundred  sheep  and  lambs,  some 
cows,  horses,  &ic.  During  this  there  were  firings  between 
the  Provincials  and  the  schooner,  sloop,  boats,  and  Ma- 
rines, on  the  other  island. 

Having  cleared  Hog  Island,  the  Provincials  drew  up  on 
Chelsea  Neck,  and  sent  for  a  reinforcement  of  three  hun- 
dred men  and  two  pieces  of  cannon,  (four-pounders,)  which 
arrived  about  nine  o'clock  in  the  evening  ;  soon  after  which 
General  Putnam  went  down  and  hailed  the  schooner,  and 
told  the  people  that  if  they  would  submit  they  should  have 
good  quarters,  which  the  schooner  returned  with  two  can- 
non shot  ;  this  was  immediately  answered  with  two  cannon 
from  the  Provincials:  upon  this  a  very  heavy  fire  ensued 
from  both  sides,  which  lasted  till  eleven  o'clock  at  night, 
when  the  fire  from  the  schooner  ceased ;  the  fire  from  the 
shore  being  so  hot  that  her  people  were  obliged  to  quit  her 
and  take  to  the  boats,  a  great  number  of  which  had  been 
sent  from  the  ships  to  their  assistance,  and  also  a  large  re- 
inforcement of  Marines  sent  to  Noddle's  Island,  with  two 
twelve-pounders. 

The  schooner  being  thus  left,  drove  ashore,  where,  about 
break-of-day,  the  Provincials  carried  some  hay  under  her 
stern,  and  set  her  on  fire,  the  sloop  keeping  up  a  small 
fire  upon  them ;  at  which  time  a  heavy  cannonading  was 
begun  at  Noddle's  Island  Hill,  with  the  twelve-pounders, 
upon  the  Provincials ;  also  General  Putnam  kept  a  heavy 
fire  upon  the  sloop,  which  disabled  her  much,  and  killed 
many  of  her  men,  so  that  she  was  obliged  to  be  towed  off 
by  the  boats,  when  the  firing  ceased,  except  a  few  shot 
which  were  exchanged  between  the  party  at  Chelsea,  and 
the  Marines  on  Noddle's  Island.  Thus  ended  this  long 
action,  without  the  loss  of  one  Provincial,  and  only  four 
wounded,  one  of  whom  was  wounded  by  the  bursting  of 
his  own  gun,  and  another  only  lost  his  little  finger.  The 
loss  of  the  enemy  amounted  to  twenty  killed,  and  fifty 
wounded.  The  Provincials  took  out  of  the  schooner  four 
double  fortified  four-pounders,  twelve  swivels,  chief  of  her 
rigging  and  sails,  many  clothes,  some  money,  &c,  which 
the  Sailors  and  Marines  left  behind,  they  having  quitted 
in  great  haste. 


COMPLAINT  AGAINST  LIEUT.  COLONEL  ABIJAH  BROWN. 

Waltham,  May,  1775. 
To  the  Honourable  Committee  of  Safety  now  assembled  at 
Cambridge,  Province  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay: 

Whereas  a  number  of  the  inhabitants  in  and  about  Wal- 
tham, in  the  County  of  Middlesex  and  Province  aforesaid, 
having  a  deep  sense  of  their  obligations  to  the  Honourable 
Committee  for  their  services,  upon  information  given,  look 
upon  themselves  in  duty  bound,  to  represent  to  them  in 
this  publick  manner,  the  repeated  and  publick  insults  and 
abuses  that  the  Honourable  Committee  and  Congress  are 
from  day  to  day  treated  with  by  one  Abijah  Brown,  who 
calls  himself  Lieutenant-Colonel,  who,  from  time  to  time, 
and  in  different  company,  in  the  most  publick  manner  upon 
the  road,  and  in  publick  houses,  where  company  of  strangers 
or  town's  people  are  on  any  occasion  assembled,  taking 
such  opportunity  to  declare,  though  in  such  profane  lan- 
guage that  we  must  be  excused  from  repeating,  viz :  that 
the  Congress  had  no  power  to  do  as  they  did  ;  for  all  the 
power  was  and  would  be  in  the  Army  ;  and  if  the  Congress 
behaved  as  they  did,  that  within  forty-eight  hours  the  Army- 
would  turn  upon  the  Congress,  and  they  would  settle  mat- 
ters as  they  pleased  ;  that  there  would  be  nothing  done 
but  what  would  be  done  by  the  Army ;  and  with  respect 
to  the  General  and  Committee,  that  they  had  no  more  right 
or  power  to  give  their  orders  to  remove  the  cannon  and 
stores  from  Waltham,  than  one  John  Stewart,  who  is  a 
poor  unhappy  man,  that  is  non  compos  mentis ;  hereby  rep- 
resenting the  General  and  Committees  as  a  set  of  idiots  and 
lunaticks,  in  order  to  lessen  and  bring  into  contempt  the 
power  and  authority  of  the  Province,  at  this  very  important 
day.  This  conduct,  from  one  assuming  rank  in  the  Army, 
in  and  about  Head-Quarters  where  the  Army  is,  and  his 
reasons  for  such  conduct,  we  leave  every  one  to  judge  for 
himself,  Sec. 

We  therefore  would  humbly  pray  that  your  Honours 
would  be  pleased  to  take  into  your  consideration  this  very- 
dangerous  matter,  before  it  is  too  late,  and  before  the  seeds 


721 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


722 


of  discord  and  mutiny  have  taken  loo  deep  root,  and  take 
such  steps  to  put  an  end  to  it,  as  well  as  to  him,  with  regard 
to  his  being  any  way  concerned  in  the  Army,  as  your 
Honours  in  your  wisdom  shall  see  fit.  Abler  Sanders,  John 
Sanders,  Jedediah  White,  Peter  Ball,  Eleazer  Bradshaw, 
SfCv  of  Waltham,  and  Captain  Abijah  Child,  now  in  the 
Army,  stand  ready,  upon  any  day  that  your  Honours  may 
appoint,  to  appear  and  give  your  Honours  the  fullest  proofs 
of  what  is  here  set  forth,  though  this  is  but  in  part. 

Jonas  Dix,  ~1 
Nath'l  Bridge,  !  Selectmen  of 
Josiah  Brown,    j  Waltham. 
John  Clark,  J 


COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY  TO  THE  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS. 

In  Committee  of  Safety,  Cambridge,  ) 
May  27,  1775.  $ 

Gentlemen  :  This  Committee  having  received  informa- 
tion from  sundry  persons,  Selectmen  of  the  Town  of  Wal- 
tham, respecting  the  conduct  of  Major  Abijah  Brown,  of 
said  Waltham,  informing  that  he,  the  said  Brown,  at  sun- 
dry times  and  in  sundry  places,  did  utter  many  things  dis- 
respectful and  reflecting  on  the  conduct  of  said  Provincial 
Congress,  the  several  Committees,  and  upon  the  General 
of  the  Colony  Army,  this  Committee,  apprehending  that 
any  determination  on  this  case  is  out  of  the  department  of 
this  Committee,  beg  leave  to  refer  this  matter,  with  the 
evidences  respecting  the  same,  to  your  Honours,  that  you 
may  be  furnished  with  such  light  as  may  enable  you  to  de- 
termine thereon,  as  to  you  in  your  wisdom  shall  seem  meet. 
We  are  your  Honours'  most  obedient  humble  servants, 
Benjamin  White,  Chairman. 

To  the  Honourable  Provincial  Congress. 

In  Provincial  Congress,  Watertown,  ) 
May,  1775.  \ 

The  Committee  appointed  to  examine  into  the  complaint 
against  Lieutenant-Colonel  Brown,  beg  leave  to  make  the 
following  Report,  viz : 

That  after  a  full  hearing  of  the  allegations  and  proofs 
for  and  against  said  Brown,  on  the  complaint  of  some  un- 
known persons,  through  the  Selectmen  of  Waltham,  to  this 
honourable  Congress,  we  are  of  sentiment  that  an  unhappy 
controversy  has  existed  in  said  Town,  relating  to  publick 
affairs,  in  which  said  Brown  has  exerted  himself  very  earn- 
estly in  favour  of  the  cause  of  liberty,  by  which  means 
he  has  disgusted  several  persons,  who  have  since  endeav- 
oured therefor  to  censure  and  stigmatize  him  as  being  an 
officious,  busy,  and  designing  man  ;  and,  unhappily,  it  ap- 
pears that  Mr.  Brown  has  associated  in  taverns  indiscrimi- 
nately with  many  persons,  in  discourse  with  whom  he  at 
some  limes  inadvertently  expressed  himself,  which  he  could 
not  strictly  justify  himself  in,  and  that  it  is  evident  those 
disaffected  antagonists  of  Mr.  Brown  had  taken  the  advan- 
tage of  his  halting  purely  from  revenge ;  and  the  Commit- 
tee adjudge,  from  the  whole  of  the  evidence  for  and  against 
said  Brown,  that  he  is  injuriously  treated  by  the  secret 
resentments  of  designing  persons,  and  that  he  ought  to  be 
reinstated  to  the  esteem  and  countenance  of  every  friend 
to  the  liberties  of  this  Country.    Per  order: 

Richard  Perkins,  Chairman. 


the  Massachusetts  congress  to  the  continental 
congress. 
[Read  in  Congress  June  2,  1775.] 

Watertown,  May  27,  1775. 
May  it  please  your  Honours  :  Enclosed  are  copies 
of  a  letter  from  Colonel  B.  Arnold,  (dated  Crown  Point, 
May  19th,)  and  a  list  of  military  stores  at  Ticonderoga, 
&ic.  It  seems  that  the  step  Colonel  Arnold  is  taking  in 
transporting  into  this  Colony  part  of  the  ordnance  taken 
at  Lake  Champlain,  is  in  consequence  of  orders  given  him 
by  our  Committee  of  Safety ;  and  if  they  had  considered 
the  proposal  in  a  calmer  season,  perhaps  they  might  have 
thought  it  would  have  been  proper  previously  to  have  con- 
sulted our  brethren  of  the  Colony  of  New-  York ;  certain 
it  is,  that  this  Colony  is  in  the  most  pressing  need  of  the 
ordnance  which  Colonel  Arnold  is  transporting  hither.  On 
Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii. 


this  occasion,  we  beg  leave  most  solemnly  to  assure  your 
Honours  that  nothing  can  be  more  abhorrent  to  the  temper 
and  spirit  of  this  Congress  and  the  people  of  this  Colony, 
than  any  attempt  to  usurp  on  the  jurisdiction  of  any  of 
our  sister  Colonies,  which,  upon  a  superficial  consideration 
of  this  step,  there  may  seem  to  be  some  appearance  of. 
But  we  assure  ourselves  that  such  is  the  candour  and 
generous  sentiments  of  our  brethren  of  New- York,  as 
that  we  may  rest  secure  that  they  will  readily  overlook 
this  mistake,  (if  it  is  one,)  committed  in  the  haste  of 
war,  and  which  may  be  naturally  attributed  thereto.  And 
if  any  of  the  cannon  should  arrive  within  the  limits  of  this 
Colony  we  shall  hold  ourselves  accountable  for  them  to 
your  Honours,  or  any  succeeding  Representatives  of  the 
Continent. 

May  it  please  your  Honours,  permit  us  to  observe,  that 
in  our  opinion  nothing  can  be  more  obvious  than  the  infi- 
nite importance  to  the  safety  of  the  inhabitants  of  the 
Colonies  of  New-  York,  New-Hampshire,  and  even  Con- 
necticut, than  maintaining,  holding,  and  effectually  securing 
the  post  at  Ticonderoga,  or  some  spot  near  the  southwest 
end  of  Lake  Champlain ;  for  if  that  post  is  abandoned,  the 
whole  of  Lake  Champlain  will  be  commanded  by  the  Gov- 
ernment of  Canada,  and  the  command  of  that  water  will 
amazingly  facilitate  all  such  descents  upon  these  Colonies, 
whether  greater  or  less,  which  Administration  shall  see  fit 
to  order.  But  if  that  post  should  be  held  by  the  Colo- 
nies, all  such  attempts  for  the  destruction  of  the  Colonies, 
may  be  vastly  obstructed,  if  not  wholly  defeated.  We 
have,  therefore,  the  most  full  confidence  that  your  Honours 
will  immediately  take  these  matters  into  your  most  serious 
consideration,  and  make  such  order  thereon  as  will  appear 
most  fit  and  reasonable,  and  most  conducive  to  the  general 
safety. 

We  would  further  humbly  suggest  that  we  stand  in  need 
of  large  quantities  of  gunpowder,  and  it  is  impossible  to 
obtain  that  article  from  any  quarter  this  way ;  we  therefore 
most  earnestly  entreat  your  Honours  that  some  effectual 
measures  may  be  devised  that  we  may  be  supplied  with 
that  most  necessary  means  of  defence ;  and  we  find  that 
the  deficiency  of  that  article  prevails  in  all  the  Colonies. 
We  most  earnestly  press  this  matter,  as  the  salvation  of 
these  Colonies  depends  so  much  thereon.  We  would  not 
presume  to  dictate  to  your  Honours,  but  would  quere 
whether  it  would  not  be  prudent  to  advertise  all  Nations 
of  the  opportunities  they  now  have  to  dispose  of  that  article 
in  America,  as  the  best  market. 

We  have  the  strongest  persuasion  that  the  settled  plan 
of  the  British  Administration  is  to  break  the  chain  of 
union  of  the  Colonies  at  New-York ;  and  we  are  sure  that 
the  evidence  of  such  design,  and  their  machinations  for 
that  purpose,  cannot  escape  your  attention. 

We  confide  in  the  wisdom  and  vigilance  of  your  Hon- 
ours to  devise  such  measures  as  (under  God)  will  effect- 
ually defeat  a  plan  so  fatal,  and  which,  if  effected,  will  be 
the  destruction  of  all  the  Colonies.  We  are,  with  the 
greatest  respect,  yours,  &tc. 

By  order  of  the  Provincial  Congress : 

Joseph  Warren,  Pres't  pro  tern. 


THE  MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS  TO  THE  ASSEMBLY  OF 
CONNECTICUT. 

Watertown,  May  27,  1775. 
Gentlemen  :  Enclosed  are  copies  of  a  letter  from  Col- 
onel Arnold,  dated  May  19,  1775,  and  a  list  of  military 
stores  at  Ticonderoga,  he.  We  wrote  to  you  (of  the 
17th  instant)  relative  to  that  fortress,  &c,  and  were  desi- 
rous that  you  would  give  such  orders  relative  thereto  as  to 
you  should  seem  meet ;  but  we  are  of  opinion  that  the 
advice  of  the  Continental  Congress  should  be  had  thereon 
as  soon  as  may  be,  and  also  the  particular  advice  of  the 
Provincial  Congress  of  New-York,  to  each  of  whom  we 
have  wrote  upon  this  matter.  Those  fortresses  being  within 
the  jurisdiction  of  the  Colony  of  New-York,  we  are  of 
opinion  that  it  is  necessary  to  consult  them  upon  a  matter 
in  which  they  are  so  greatly  interested. 

We  have  appointed  and  directed  Colonel  Joseph  Hen- 
shaw  to  repair  to  you,  and  consult  with  you  upon  the  affair 
of  that  fortress,  the  maintenance  of  which  we  think  of  the 
utmost  importance  to  the  security  of  New-York  and  the 
46 


723 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


724 


New-England  Colonies.  His  instructions  will  be  laid  before 
you,  and  we  have  no  doubt  you  will  take  such  measures 
relative  thereto  as  will  promote  the  general  safety  of  these 
Colonies. 

To  the  Honourable  the  Governour  and  Company  of  the 
Colony  of  Connecticut. 


MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS  TO  COL.  BENEDICT  ARNOLD. 

Watertown,  May  27,  1775. 

Sir  :  We  have,  this  day,  with  pleasure,  received  your 
letter  to  the  Committee  of  Safety,  of  the  19th  instant,  by 
Captain  Brown,  and  return  you  our  hearty  thanks  for 
your  exertions  in  the  publick  cause,  and  fully  agree  with 
you  that  the  interposition  of  Providence,  in  this  and  many 
other  instances,  is  apparent,  for  which  we  have  the  great- 
est cause  for  thankfulness. 

We  are  clearly  of  opinion  that  keeping  Ticonderoga  is 
a  matter  of  great  importance,  and  we  make  no  doubt  the 
honourable  Continental  Congress  will  take  that  affair  imme- 
diately under  their  wise  consideration,  and  give  all  neces- 
sary orders  therefor,  as  we  have  addressed  them  most 
earnestly  on  the  subject. 

You  inform  us  that  you  have  had  intimations  that  some 
persons  were  determined  to  apply,  in  order  to  injure  your 
character.  If  any  such  applications  should  be  made  here, 
you  may  be  assured  we  shall  be  so  candid  as  not  to  suffer 
any  impressions  to  your  disadvantage,  until  you  shall  have 
opportunity  to  vindicate  your  conduct. 

We  enclose  a  Resolve  of  this  Congress,  appointing  and 
directing  Colonel  Joseph  Henshaxu  to  repair  to  Hartford, 
and  consult  with  the  General  Assembly  there,  upon  this 
important  matter,  by  which  you  will  see  the  resolution  this 
Congress  has  taken  relative  thereto. 

We  would  just  add,  that  the  letter  you  refer  to,  of  the 
14th  instant,  by  Colonel  Romans,  has  not  come  to  hand, 
so  that  no  order  can  be  taken  thereon.    We  are,  &ic. 

To  Colonel  Benedict  Arnold,  Ticonderoga. 

INSTRUCTIONS  TO  COLONEL  HENSHAW,  DELEGATE  TO  CON- 
NECTICUT AND  CROWN  POINT. 

In  Provincial  Congress,  Watertown,  ) 
May  27,  1775.  \ 

Resolved,  That  Colonel  Joseph  Henshaiv  be  appointed 
and  directed  to  repair  to  Hartford,  and  inquire  whether 
provision  is  made  by  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Colony 
of  Connecticut  for  securing  and  maintaining  the  fortress  at 
JHconderoga  and  the  adjacent  posts;  and  if  that  Assembly 
has  made  provision  for  that  purpose,  the  said  Colonel  Hen- 
shaiv proceed  directly  to  Ticonderoga  and  acquaint  Col- 
onel Arnold  that  it  is  the  order  of  this  Congress  that  he 
return,  and  render  accounts  of  his  expenses  in  that  expe- 
dition, in  order  that  he  may  be  honourably  discharged;  but 
if  Colonel  Henshaw  shall  find  that  such  provision  is  not 
made,  and  the  General  Assembly  not  sitting,  that  he  pro- 
ceed to  Ticonderoga,  and  inform  Colonel  Arnold  that  it 
is  the  order  of  this  Congress  that  he  continue  there,  with 
such  a  number  of  forces  as  said  Colonel  Henshaw  shall 
judge  necessary,  for  the  purpose.  Nevertheless,  if  the 
said  Colonel  Henshaw  shall  find  the  General  Assembly 
sitting,  and  have  not  made  such  provision,  that  he  consult 
with  them  touching  this  important  matter,  and  take  their 
proposals,  and  immediately  make  report  to  the  Congress 
of  this  Colony. 

COLONEL  HENSHAW  TO  DR.  J.  WARREN. 

Watertown,  May  28,  1775. 
Sir  :  I  cannot  proceed  on  my  journey  to  Hartford  and 
Crown  Point  through  want  of  the  papers  sent  last  even- 
ing to  Cambridge  by  Mr.  Gill,  to  be  attested.  Mr.  Gill 
promised  to  bring  me  a  horse  and  sulkey  to  proceed  on  as 
far  as  Leicester,  where  I  shall  take  a  horse  of  my  own, 
there  being  none  that  may  be  obtained  here.  If  he  has 
not  provided  me  with  a  horse  and  sulkey  already,  he  knows 
where  to  do  it,  having  your  directions ;  therefore  you  will 
please  to  forward  the  papers,  with  a  horse  and  sulkey,  by 
Mr.  Gill,  when  I  shall  instantly  proceed.  I  am  your  most 
obedient  servant,  Jos.  Henshaw. 


MINUTES   OF   COLONEL  JOSEPH   HENSHAw's  JOURNEY  TO 
CONNECTICUT. 

May  28,  1775. — At  noon  set  off  from  Watertown  for 
Hartford  and  Ticonderoga. 

Wednesday  noon. — Arrived  at  Hartford ;  delivered  the 
letter  to  the  Governour  and  Council,  with  whom  had  a 
conference  respecting  the  fortress  at  Ticonderoga,  before 
dinner. 

P.  M. — Attended  the  House,  with  whom  conferred  on 
the  same  subject,  and  desired  a  conference  by  a  Commit- 
tee, which  was  granted,  and  a  joint  Committee  of  the 
Council  and  House  appointed  for  that  purpose  ;  from  whom 
I  understood  that  intelligence  had  been  received  from  the 
Continental  Congress  and  New-York,  which  had  been 
forwarded  to  the  Provincial  Congress  since  my  departure, 
that  the  Continental  Congress  had  recommended  to  New- 
York  to  maintain  the  fortress,  and  remove  such  cannon  as 
may  not  be  wanted,  &ic. ;  that  New-York  had  requested 
Connecticut  to  provide  for  the  safety  of  the  post  till  Nerv- 
York  could  take  it  on  themselves ;  that  in  consequence 
thereof  Connecticut  had  ordered  one  thousand  men  to  Ti- 
conderoga, under  Colonel  Hinman,  with  artificers,  and  five 
hundred  pounds  of  powder,  provisions,  &c,  and  were 
about  to  send  up  an  engineer;  that  four  Companies  were 
raising  in  Albany  for  the  same  purpose ;  that  considering 
the  intelligence  received  by  our  Congress  since  my  depar- 
ture, it  was  the  unanimous  opinion  of  the  Committee  it 
would  be  advisable  to  return  immediately  there  before  I 
proceeded  to  Ticonderoga,  as  it  would  not  make  more 
than  two  or  three  days  difference,  and  it  was  probable  the 
Congress  would  have  some  fresh  instructions  to  furnish  me 
with  from  said  intelligence  ;  that  Connecticut  expects  we 
shall  not  draw  off  our  forces,  but  leave  them  to  co-operate 
with  theirs  for  the  defence  of  the  post ;  that  a  Colonel  and 
two  Majors  are  appointed  over  the  Connecticut  forces,  &tc. 

Thursday,  June  1. — Waited  till  noon  for  Capt.  Brown, 
who  was  to  meet  me  at  Hartford,  and  then  proceed  to 
Ticonderoga,  but  he  not  coming,  I  wrote  to  Colonel  Ar- 
nold, and  left  the  letter,  with  others,  for  Captain  Brown  to 
take  on  his  arrival  at  Hartford,  and  proceed  to  Ticonde- 
roga, when  I  set  off  for  the  Congress. 

COLONEL  HENSHAW  TO  COLONEL  BENEDICT  ARNOLD. 

Hartford,  May  31,  1775. 

Sir  :  By  Captain  Brown  I  would  advise  you  of  my 
consulting  the  General  Assembly  of  this  Colony  respecting 
the  fortress  at  Ticonderoga.  They  have  ordered  Colonel 
Hinman  to  take  the  command  there  with  one  thousand 
men,  and  four  Companies  raising  at  Albany,  artificers,  &tc, 
to  repair  and  defend  that  post.  It  is  expected  you  will 
continue  with  Colonel  Allen,  and  put  the  place  in  the 
best  posture  of  defence  you  are  able,  and  guard  against 
any  surprise  from  the  enemy  till  the  succours  arrive,  and 
you  receive  further  directions  from  the  Congress.  I  should 
have  proceeded  from  hence  to  Ticonderoga,  but  some 
events  taking  place  since  my  departure  from  the  Congress, 
makes  it  necessary  for  me  to  repair  immediately  thither. 

I  am,  Sir,  your  most  obedient  servant, 

Joseph  Henshaw. 


SELECTMEN  OF  PARTRIDGE  FIELD  TO  THE  MASSACHUSETTS 
CONGRESS. 

Partridgefield,  May  27,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  The  Selectmen  of  the  Town  of  Par- 
tridgefield having  received  a  message  from  the  Provincial 
Congress,  dated  at  Concord,  March  3.1,  1775,  requiring  the 
speedy  payment  of  some  money  to  Henry  Gardner,  Esq., 
of  Stow,  they  immediately  warned  a  town-meeting,  and 
the  inhabitants  being  assembled,  and  taking  into  considera- 
tion the  present  circumstances  of  the  Town,  they  unani- 
mously voted  that,  considering  the  present  circumstances 
of  the  Town,  they  were  not  able  to  pay  the  tax  required 
of  them  by  the  Provincial  Congress ;  and  also  voted  that 
the  Town  Clerk  should  write  to  the  Congress,  and  give 
them  some  information  concerning  the  present  circum- 
stances of  the  Town — a  specimen  of  which  is  as  follows, 
viz:  This  Town  is  but  new,  and  but  few  people  in  it,  and 
the  generality  of  them  are  people  of  low  fortunes  ;  and  it 


725 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


726 


is  not  long  since  we  were  at  great  expense  (for  us)  in  set- 
tling a  Minister  in  the  Town ;  and  as  our  farms  are  mostly 
new,  and  our  land  not  quick  to  produce  a  crop,  we  are 
obliged  every  year  to  buy  a  great  part  of  our  provision  ; 
and  this  year  especially,  as  the  blast  and  vermin  destroyed 
a  great  part  of  our  grain  the  last  year.  We  have  no  Town 
stock  of  ammunition,  nor  do  we  know  how  to  procure  it, 
as  all  the  money  we  can  get  must  go  to  purchase  the  ne- 
cessaries of  life.  I  am  apt  to  think  there  is  as  many  men 
gone  and  going  from  this  Town  in  defence  of  the  liberties  and 
privileges  of  America,  as  from  any  Town  in  this  Province, 
if  not  more,  according  to  the  number  of  people  in  this  and 
the  other  Towns.  And  sve  should  be  as  free  with  our 
money  as  with  our  men,  if  we  bad  it,  and  could  possibly 
spare  it.  The  taxes  which  the  Great  and  General  Court 
of  this  Province  was  pleased  to  lay  upon  this  Town,  we 
petitioned  to  be  relieved  of,  and  not  altogether  without 
success.  And  we  hope  the  Congress  will  be  graciously 
pleased  to  excuse  us  for  not  complying  with  their  requisi- 
tions, when  it  was  not  in  our  power  to  do  it. 
In  the  name  and  in  behalf  of  the  Town, 

Nathaniel  Stowell,  Town  Clerk. 

To  the  Honourable  the  Provincial  Congress,  held  at  TVa- 
tertown. 


CONDITION  OF  NEW-HAMPSHIRE,  AS  DELIVERED  BY  THEIR 
DELEGATES  TO  THE   CONTINENTAL   CONGRESS,   MAT  27, 

1775. 

The  Delegates  from  }\ev:-Hampshire  beg  leave  to  in- 
form the  Committee,  that  two  of  the  principal  Towns  in 
that  Colony,  viz:  Portsmouth  aud  Newcastle,  are  situate 
on  Piscataqua  River,  near  the  entrance  of  the  harbour, 
and  are  much  exposed  to  naval  attacks ;  that  those  Towns 
are  about  five  miles  distance  from  each  other,  Portsmouth, 
the  capital,  lying  farthest  up  the  river,  and  not  quite  so 
much  exposed  as  Newcastle,  which  lies  at  the  entrance,  de- 
fended only  by  a  fort  capable  of  mounting  about  thirty  pieces 
of  cannon,  in  the  rampart ;  but  the  fortifications  are  ex- 
tremely weak.  That  to  defend  the  entrance  of  the  harbour 
against  a  naval  force,  would  be  extremely  difficult,  if  not 
impracticable  ;  that  batteries  might  be  erected  between 
those  Towns,  which,  with  booms,  chains,  k.c,  might  pos- 
sibly secure  Portsmouth  from  such  attack ;  that  to  defend 
the  pass,  and  secure  the  retreat  of  the  inhabitants,  will  re- 
quire at  least  fifteen  hundred  men.  But  as  they  have  a  well- 
regulated  Militia  in  that  neighbourhood,  which  may  suddenly 
be  called  together  for  that  purpose,  they  are  of  opinion 
there  will  be  no  necessity  of  enlisting  men  at  the  Conti- 
nental expense,  especially  as  the  Militia  will  readily  agree 
to  serve  in  turn  for  the  defence  of  those  places. 

They  beg  leave  further  to  inform  the  Committee,  that 
there  are  sixteen  Regiments  of  Foot,  and  two  of  Horse,  in 
that  Colony,  the  Foot  amounting  in  the  whole  to  upwards 
of  sixteen  thousand  effective  men,  tolerably  well  provided 
with  arms  and  ammunition  ;  that  the  number  of  the  Horse 
is  uncertain,  and  those  but  ill  provided  ;  that  great  num- 
bers of  their  Foot  soldiers  have  been  in  actual  service  ;  and 
that  out  of  those  they  are  ready  to  raise  and  send  to  serve 
in  Massachusetts,  so  many  as  the  Committee  shall  choose 
to  order  ;  that  the  number  of  their  inhabitants  are  very 
uncertain,  as  persons  are  continually  emigrating  from  other 
Colonies,  and  settling  in  that  more  than  in  any  other  of  the 
Northern  Colonies ;  that  the  persons  thus  emigrating  are 
extremely  poor,  for  which  reason  the  wealth  of  the  Prov- 
ince bears  no  proportion  to  the  number  of  inhabitants. 

With  respect  to  the  amount  of  their  Exports  and  Im- 
ports, no  accurate  account  can  be  given,  as  the  officers  of 
the  Customs  have  long  since  refused  to  suffer  the  books  to 
be  inspected. 


RECANTATION  OF  EBENEZER  LOVERIN. 

Kensington,  New-Hampshire,  May  27,  1775. 

Whereas  I  have  offended  the  community  in  times  past, 
by  refusing  to  equip  myself  with  arms  and  ammunition, 
and  by  my  opposition  to  military  orders,  for  which  I  am 
sorry :  1  hereby  engage  to  equip  myself  according  to  or- 
ders, and  be  ready  to  take  up  arms  in  defence  of  my  Coun- 
try, in  the  present  contest  between  Great  Britain  and  the 
Colonies.  Ebenezer  Loverin. 


GOUVERNEUR  MORRIS  TO  RICHARD  HENRY  LEE. 

New-York,  May,  1775. 

Dear  Sir:  When  I  had  the  honour  of  your  company 
and  acquaintance  at  Philadelphia,  you  made  it  a  request 
that  I  would  exert  my  poor  abilities  in  the  honest  endea- 
vour to  keep  my  fellow-citizens  in  the  line  of  their  duty, 
their  interest,  and  honour.  I  freely  made  you  the  promise, 
and  I  did  honestly  and  faithfully  perform  it. 

I  am  informed  that  the  Committee  of  this  City  have 
drawn  up  a  representation  of  Mr.  Rivington's  case,  for  the 
animadversions  of  that  respectable  body  of  which  you  are 
a  member.  The  consequence  of  this  step  will  undoubtedly 
strike  your  mind  ;  it  is  the  giving  a  new  power  to  the  Con- 
gress. Our  Association  hath  given  them  the  Legislative, 
and  this  now  tenders  them  the  Judicial  supremacy. 

The  power  of  Government,  as  of  man,  is  to  be  collected 
from  small  instances ;  great  affairs  are  more  the  objects  of 
reflection  and  policy.  Here  both  join.  A  mild  and  favour- 
able sentence  will  conciliate  the  opinions  of  mankind;  and 
what  is  the  force  of  opinion,  a  gentleman  who  has  made  it 
his  study  to  investigate  the  nature  of  Government,  need 
not  be  told.  I  will  not  pretend  to  offer  you  any  reasoning 
on  this  subject ;  because  it  will  be  tedious  to  repeat  things 
which  strike  your  mind  at  the  first  glance  ;  but  I  can  venture 
to  assure  you  that  a  favourable  sentence  to  this  creature  will 
be  highly  agreeable  to  most  men  here.  The  history  of  his 
conduct  is  simply  this :  His  company,  his  acquaintances, 
his  friends,  were  warm  advocates  for  the  power  of  Govern- 
ment ;  indifferently  wise,  his  mind  took  a  wrong  bias  from 
interest,  deference  for  the  sentiments  of  others,  and  oppo- 
sition. A  tool  in  prosperity,  a  cast-off  in  adversityr,  he 
solicits  the  assistance  of  that  body  which  his  press  has  as- 
persed. Magnanimity  will  dictate  to  that  body  the  true 
line  of  conduct. 

The  liberty  I  take  in  writing  to  you,  can  only  be  excused 
by  the  intention  I  have  to  do  good  ;  this,  I  trust,  will  be  a 
sufficient  apology  for,  Sir,  your  most  obedient  and  humble 
servant,  Gov.  Morris. 

Richard  Henry  Lee,  Esq.,  Philadelphia. 


RICHARD  HENRY  LEE  TO  GOUVERNEUR  MORRIS. 

Philadelphia,  May  28,  1775. 

Dear  Sir  :  The  friends  of  virtuous  liberty  in  Neiv-York 
have  certainly  effected  a  most  important  change  in  the  po- 
litical system  of  that  flourishing  City.  I  congratulate  you, 
Sir,  and  your  worthy  associates,  in  this  happy  revolu- 
tion. It  is  most  certain  that  a  profligate  Ministry  have 
greatly  relied  on  the  assistance  of  your  fine  fertile  Prov- 
ince for  carrying  into  execution  their  cruel  system  ;  a  sys- 
tem by  which  existing  millions,  and  millions  yet  unborn, 
are  to  be  plunged  into  the  abyss  of  slavery,  and  of  conse- 
quence deprived  of  every  distinction  that  marks  the  man 
from  the  beast.  But  happily  for  the  cause  of  humanity, 
the  Colonies  are  now  united,  and  may  bid  defiance  to  tyran- 
ny and  its  infamous  abetters. 

You  will  see  that  Mr.  Rivington's  case  is  involved  in  all 
of  a  similar  nature,  which  are  to  be  determined  on  by  the 
Colony  Conventions  where  the  offence  is  committed.  I 
am  sorry,  for  the  honour  of  human  nature,'  that  this  man 
should  have  so  prostituted  himself  in  support  of  a  cause 
the  most  detestable  that  ever  disgraced  mankind.  But  he 
repents,  and  should  be  forgiven.  It  is  not  yet  too  late  to 
exert  his  powers  in  defence  of  the  liberty  and  just  rights  of 
a  much  injured  Country. 

I  wish  you  happy,  Sir,  and  I  assure  you  that  I  am,  with 
singular  esteem,  your  friend  and  countryman, 

Richard  Henry  Lee. 


THE  MASSACHUSETTS  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY  TO  COLONEL 
BENEDICT  ARNOLD. 

Cambridge,  May  28,  1775. 

The  expedition  to  Ticonderoga,  &c,  requiring  secrecy, 
the  Congress  of  this  Colony  was  not  acquainted  with  the 
orders  you  received  from  this  Committee.  It  gives  us  great 
pleasure  to  be  informed  by  the  express,  Captain  Brown. 
that  the  success  you  have  met  with  is  answerable  to  your 
spirit  in  the  undertaking.  We  have  now  to  acquaint  you 
that  the  Congress  have  taken  up  this  matter,  and  given  the 
necessary  directions  respecting  these  acquisitions.    It  is, 


727 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  fcc,  MAY,  1775. 


728 


then,  Sir,  become  your  duty,  and  is  our  requirement,  that 
you  conform  yourself  to  such  advice  and  orders  as  you  shall 
from  time  to  time  receive  from  that  body.   We  are,  &tc. 


CHARLES  COUNTY  (MARYLAND)  COMMITTEE. 

Information  being  made  to  some  of  the  members  of  the 
Committee  of  this  County,  on  Monday,  the  29th  of  May, 
that  certain  persons  had  imported,  and  were  privately  sell- 
ing goods  in  a  daring  and  direct  violation  of  the  Continen- 
tal  Association,  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  was  imme- 
diately called,  and  but  few  members  attending,  a  general 
meeting  was  publickly  requested  this  day,  when  a  very  full 
and  respectable  number  attended  at  the  Court-House,  in 
Port-Tobacco,  to  make  inquiry  into  this  affair;  and  it  was 
clearly  and  satisfactorily  proved,  that  a  certain  John  Bail- 
lie,  who  last  May  came  a  passenger  in  the  Ship  Lady 
Margaret,  Captain  William  Noble,  from  Scotland,  had 
brought  sundry  Dry  Goods  with  him,  which  appeared,  by 
the  testimony  of  Baillie  and  Patrick  Graham,  living  in 
Port-Tobacco,  to  have  been  put  on  board  and  landed  with- 
out the  consent  or  knowledge  of  the  Captain,  though  Bail- 
lie  swore  that  Captain  Noble  knew  of  his  having  goods  on 
board  the  ship  when  he  arrived  in  Wicomico.  It  also  ap- 
peared that  Baillie,  when  he  put  these  goods  on  board  the 
ship  in  Scotland,  knew  of  the  Continental  Association,  and 
that  Patrick  Graham,  in  a  secret  manner,  did  assist  and  aid 
him  in  taking  them  from  on  board  the  ship,  and  did  privately 
take  them  into  his  house,  and  secretly  sell  a  part  thereof, 
for  his  own  and  Baillie's  interest,  to  several  people  in  this 
County,  without  letting  them  know  the  circumstances  un- 
der which  they  were  imported.  Whereupon  the  Commit- 
tee Resolved,  That  the  said  John  Baillie  and  Patrick 
Graham,  for  their  infamous  conduct,  ought  to  be  publickly 
known  and  held  up  as  foes  to  the  rights  of  British  Ame- 
rica, and  universally  contemned  as  the  enemies  of  Ameri- 
can liberty  ;  and  that  every  person  ought  henceforth  to 
break  off  all  dealings  with  the  said  John  Baillie  and  Pa- 
trick Graham;  and  as  the  ship  which  brought  the  goods 
had  sailed,  and  there  being  no  opportunity  of  shipping  and 
sending  them  back  to  Britain,  the  Committee  further 

Resolved,  That  such  of  the  goods  as  are  unsold,  or  can 
be  collected  from  the  purchasers,  shall  be  stored  with  and 
kept  by  Mr.  Ziephaniah  Turner,  until,  and  twelve  months 
after  a  general  importation  is  agreed  on  by  the  Continental 
Congress ;  and  that,  where  any  of  the  goods  which  may 
have  been  sold  cannot  be  collected,  the  said  Graham  shall 
deposite  the  amount  of  the  sales  thereof,  in  cash,  to  be 
kept  with  the  goods  stored  ;  the  whole  at  the  risk  of  the 
owners.    Published  by  order  of  the  Committee : 

John  Gwinn,  Clerk. 


NEW-YORK  COMMITTEE. 


The  Committee  met  by  adjournment,  29th  May,  1~75. 
Present : 


Honry  Remsen, 
Daniel  Phenix, 
Cornelius  Clopper, 
Gjorge  Jancway, 
John  White, 
Gabriel  W.  Ludlow, 
Robert  Ray, 
Evert  Banker, 
William  Laight, 
Benjamin  Helme, 
P:tru8  Byvanck, 
Alex.  McDougall, 
Co.nfort  Sands, 
Nicholas  Roosevelt, 
Joseph  Bull, 
John  Reade, 
Thomas  Randall, 
Nicholas  Hoffman, 
Abraham  Walton, 


Gabri  1  W.  Ludlow, 
John  Morton, 
William  Seaton, 
David  Johnston, 
John  Imlay, 
Eleazer  Miller, 
John  Broome, 
Theophilus  Anthony, 
John  Lasher, 
John  B.  Moore, 
John  Anthony, 
John  Berrian, 
Peter  Van  Sehaack, 
Lancaster  Burling, 
William  Goforth, 
Hercules  Mulligan, 
Oliver  Templeton, 
Joseph  Totten, 
John  Van  Cortlandt, 


Thomas  Smith, 
Edward  Fleming, 
William  Walton, 
Abraham  Brasher, 
Cornelius  P.  Low, 
James  Desbrosses, 
Francis  Bassott, 
Gorrot  Ketletas, 
Daniel  Dunscomb, 
Anthony  Van  Dam, 
Abraham  P.  Lott, 
Nicholas  Bogart, 
Hamilton  Young, 
Abraham  Duryoe, 
Peter  T.  Curtcnius, 
William  W.  Ludlow, 
John  Lamb, 
David  Beekman, 
Jeremiah  Plutt. 


Ordered,  That  Mr.  Seaton,  Mr.  Imlay,  Mr.  Berrian, 
and  Mr.  Phenix,  be  a  Sub-Committee  to  observe  the  con- 
duct of  the  proprietors  of  goods  imported  in  the  Snow  Patty, 
Captain  Shcppard,  from  Liverpool,  during  her  stay  in  this 
port,  and  to  permit  her  being  supplied  with  water  and 
other  necessaries  for  her  departure,  and  also  to  procure  two 
trusty  persons,  inhabitants  of  this  City,  to  continue  on 
board  while  she  remains  in  this  harbour ;  that  they  desire 
the  Captain  to  depart  from  this  port  on  or  before  Thurs- 
day morning  next,  wind  and  weather  permitting ;  and 


that  he  be  further  requested  to  make  oath,  that  he  will  not 
discharge  any  part  of  his  cargo  in  this  Province,  and  that 
it  be  recommended  to  him  to  go  back  again  agreeable  to 
the  directions  of  the  late  Continental  Congress. 

The  Committee  adjourned  to  Monday,  5th  June,  1715. 

New- York  Committee  Chamber,  ) 
May  29,  1775.  (, 

Whereas,  the  publick  service  of  the  Colony  may  render 
large  supplies  of  the  following  articles  absolutely  necessary, 
upon  sudden  emergencies,  this  Committee  doth  therefore 
recommend  to  all  our  fellow  citizens,  who  are  possessed  of 
any  Osnaburghs,  Ravens  Duck,  brown  Russia  Sheeting, 
brown  Drilling,  striped  and  plain  Blankets,  eight-quarter 
green  and  spotted  Rugs,  coarse  Woollens,  barrelled  Beef, 
barrelled  Pork,  or  tin  Plates,  not  to  dispose  of  them  until  the 
Provincial  Congress  shall  determine  on  the  expediency  of 
detaining  them  for  our  own  use.  And  it  is  also  recommend- 
ed, that  the  owners  of  said  articles  make  reports  of  the 
quantities  that  they  have  on  hand,  to  the  Chairman,  Depu- 
ty-Chairman, or  Secretary  of  this  Committee,  within  six 
days  from  this  date.    By  order  of  the  Committee: 

Henry  Remsen,  Deputy  Chairman. 


NEW-YORK  CONGRESS  TO  OOVERNOUR  TRUMBULL. 

In  Provincial  CongTess,  New.York,  ) 
May  29,  1775.  \ 

Sir:  We  have  been  honoured  with  the  receipt  of  your 
favour  of  the  27th  instant,  containing  information,  and  en- 
closing despatches  relating  to  the  important  posts  of  Ticon- 
deroga  and  Crown  Point.  We  are  sorry  to  hear  the  im- 
minent danger  of  the  people  at  those  posts,  from  a  threat- 
ened attack  from  Ouebeck,  which  might  be  attended  with 
the  loss  of  them  before  any  resolve  of  the  Continental 
Congress,  for  their  preservation,  could  be  carried  into  exe- 
cution by  our  Colony. 

Though  therefore  we  agree,  Sir,  in  opinion  with  your 
Assembly,  that  the  said  fortresses  are  properly  under  the 
direction  of  this  Colony;  yet  we  are  satisfied  that  the 
pressing  and  urgent  necessity  of  the  case,  and  our  present 
inability  to  take  the  command  of  those  posts,  fully  justify 
the  arrangements  mentioned  in  your  letter,  to  have  been 
taken  by  your  respectable  body  for  their  immediate  de- 
fence. 

We  are,  therefore,  far  from  considering  them  as  an  inva- 
sion of  this  Colony,  or  an  intermeddling  with  the  service 
entrusted  to  it,  as  you  may  collect  from  our  former  letter  on 
this  subject ;  but  rather  esteem  them  as  a  most  friendly  in- 
terposition for  the  safety  of  our  frontiers,  and  as  the  wise 
improvement  of  your  early  intelligence,  and  your  state  of 
readiness  to  provide  against  immediate  danger.  As  in 
consequence  of  these  arrangements,  and  the  succours  we 
may  be  able  to  supply  till  we  are  in  a  condition  to  take 
that  direction  of  the  above-mentioned  fortresses,  which  their 
situation,  and  the  determination  of  the  Continental  Con- 
gress have  allotted  to  us,  we  shall  attend  to  a  proper  sup- 
ply of  provisions  for  the  posts.  We  beg  leave  at  the  same 
time  to  present  you  our  unfeigned  thanks  for  your  most 
friendly  and  seasonable  reinforcement,  from  the  burden  of 
which  we  shall,  without  loss  of  time,  endeavour,  in  pur- 
suance of  further  directions  from  the  Continental  Congress, 
to  relieve  our  brethren  of  Connecticut ;  and  should  your 
stock  of  ammunition  permit  the  increase  of  that  supply 
which  you  have  generously  destined  for  that  service,  we 
shall  exert  ourselves  in  replacing  it  as  soon  as  we  shall 
have  it  in  our  power. 

We  are,  with  great  respect,  Sir,  your  Honour's,  and  the 
General  Court's  most  obedient  and  humble  servants. 
By  order  of  the  Congress: 

P.  V.  B.  Livingston,  President. 

To  the  Honourable  Jonathan  Trumbull,  Governour  of  tho 
Colony  of  Connecticut. 


J.  TRUMBULL,  JR.,  TO  HIS  BROTHER. 

Hartford,  May  29,  1775. 
Dear  Brother:  I  have  received  your  letter  per  Bacon. 
A  little  of  politicks  before  I  answer  that.    In  consequence 
of  our  last  letters  from  Colonel  Arnold,  (copies  of  which 
you  will  see  before  you  have  this,)  we  have  sent  off  five 


729 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


730 


hundred  pounds  of  powder  for  Colonel  Euston,  with  two 
hundred  Pounds  in  cash,  and  have  given  orders  to  four 
companies  to  march  immediately  to  the  relief  and  support 
of  our  people  at  Crown  Point  and  Ticondtroga,  and  have 
sent  express  to  New-York  and  Philadelphia  of  our  pro- 
ceedings, that  no  jealousies  may  arise  from  our  zeal  and  for- 
wardness in  this  matter,  which,  without  explanation,  might 
seem  to  militate  with  a  resolution  of  Continental  Congress. 
Since  these  proceedings,  have  received  a  letter  per  express 
from  New-York  Provincial  Convention,  desiring  our  assist- 
ance for  the  support  of  those  northern  posts,  until  they  can 
be  in  readiness  to  defend  them  with  their  own  Troops, 
which,  I  understand,  they  are  like  to  set  on  foot  (this  was 
without  any  knowledge  of  what  we  have  done)  for  relief 
of  Crown  Point.  They  intimate  their  hopes  that  we  will 
not  be  concerned  lest  they  take  umbrage  at  our  doing  any 
thing  which  we  judge  necessary  for  the  general  safety  re- 
specting those  fortresses ;  seem  very  cordial,  and  we  hear 
are  well  united.  This  intelligence  I  imagine  will  occasion 
our  ordering  Colonel  Hinman,  with  his  whole  Regiment 
that  way.  The  Deputy-Governour  was  consulting  with 
the  Governour  on  the  necessity  of  sending  more  assistance 
to  the  support  of  our  northern  brethren,  when  Mr.  Brown 
arrived  with  the  above  letter  from  New-  York.  Intelligence 
that  way  begins  to  brighten  the  prospect  from  that  from 
quarter.  Our  gentlemcu  give  us  accounts  of  their  having 
full  and  free  conferences  with  Committee  of  New-  York 
Convention,  and  give  us  favourable  report  from  th  m. 
However,  must  not  please  ourselves  loo  much. 

Our  Assembly  have  agreed  to  a  bounty  of  ten  Pounds 
per  hundred  weight  on  saltpetre,  and  five  Pounds  per  hun- 
dred weight  on  sulphur,  for  any  quantity  of  either  that  may 
be  procured  and  made  within  the  Colony  for  one  year. 
Have  also  agreed  to  a  bounty  of  five  Shillings  each  on  all 
fire- arms  made  within  the  Colony,  and  one  Shilling  and  Six 
Pence  for  each  gun-lock  so  made,  to  continue  till  the  -20th 
of  October  next,  and  have  promised  to  take  on  Govern- 
ment account  all  the  arms  that  can  be  made  in  this  Colony 
and  offered  to  them  for  sale,  till  the  said  20th  October. 
You  will  see  by  this  we  are  not  entirely  wanting  in  our 
duty.  Colonel  Parsons,  I  believe,  will  soon  come  your 
way.  He  is  very  desirous  of  going  to  Boston;  has  the 
same  ideas  you  have  of  being  stationed  on  his  own  ground. 
I  delivered  your  letter  for  Captain  Wadsworth.  He  was 
gone  to  Middlttown.  You  will  receive  no  answer  from 
him  per  this  post,  and  I  am  unable  to  say  what  they 
have  done;  I  believe  they  intend  you  shall  purchase  at 
least  for  all  the  Troops  coming  your  way,  which,  I  ima- 
gine, must  be  three  thousand  or  upwards,  though,  in  the 
present  incertitude  of  events,  there  are  not  so  many  under 
orders  for  Boston.  John  Mumford  has  done  wrong  to 
raise  in  your  mind  such  ideas  as  your  letter  intimates. 
The  matter  of  purchasing  beef  is  not  yet  adopted,  and 
don't  know  if  it  will ;  also  the  method  of  paying.  These 
matters  you  must  leave  till  you  see  us.  You  will  then, 
perhaps,  understand  our  trim  better  than  by  writing.  The 
pay  table  is  composed  of  Hilliam  Pitkin,  Thomas  Sey- 
mour, Oliver  Ellsworth,  and  Ezekiel  Williams,  Esquires. 
Our  caution  and  fears  respecting  Ticonderoga,  &.C.,  are 
fully  removed.  A  Committee  is  appointed  to  take  care  of, 
and  dispose  of  the  officers,  soldiers,  kc,  belonging  to  those 
posts  who  are  prisoners;  they  are  all  here.  Albany  would 
not  receive  them.  I  don't  imagine  you  will  very  soon  see 
the  Troops  out  of  Boston.  In  what  way  can  they  make 
an  impression  upon  your  camp  ?  They  seem  to  be  attended 
by  some  fatality  in  all  their  attempts  hitherto ;  however, 
hope  their  ill  success  will  not  beget  a  security  in  our  peo- 
ple. I  was  in  hopes  there  would  be  but  little  business  for 
sutlers. 

I  am  glad  to  find  per  our  letters  from  New-York,  that 
their  Congress  do  not  construe  the  resolution  of  Grand  Con- 
gress to  intend  an  evacuation  of  Ticonderoga  and  Croicn 
Point,  but  only  a  removal  of  such  artillery,  stores,  &cc,  as 
necessary,  to  Fort  George,  and  keep  possession  above. 
For  this  purpose  it  is  they  desire  our  assistance.  We  have 
been  in  great  agitation  lest  they  should  immediately  order 
an  abandoning  those  forts.  New-York  have  sent  a  Com- 
mittee to  superintend  the  removal,  &c,  with  a  number  of 
men  for  the  purpose,  and  materials,  &c,  for  ship  or  sloop 
building  on  the  lakes.  The  Provincial  Congress  of  New- 
York  seem  much  pleased  with  cur  delegation  to  them,  so 


also  do  the  people  of  the  City,  &ic.  Mr.  Low  has  failed 
of  the  presidentship,  which  is  given  to  Mr.  Peter  V.  B. 
Livingston,  who,  it  is  said,  is  a  warm  friend.  They  are 
also  much  pleased  with  a  full  and  free  representation  of 
people,  (for  first  time.)  Their  number  consists  of  more 
than  one  hundred.    Your  .affectionate  brother. 

J.  Trlmbull,  Jr. 


NEVV-MILFORD  (CONNECTICUT)  COMMITTEE. 

The  Committee  of  Observation  for  New-Milford,  in  the 
County  of  Litchfield,  Connecticut,  having  duly  notified 
Zechariah  Ferris,  Joseph  Ferris,  Jun.,  James  Osborne, 
Daniel  Taylor,  Nathaniel  Taylor,  and  Hezekiah  Stevens, 
Jun.,  all  of  said  New-Milford,  to  appear  before  said  Com- 
mittee this  day,  to  give  reason,  if  any  they  had,  why  they 
and  each  of  them  should  not  be  advertised  as  foes  to  the 
rights  of  British  America;  and  said  said  Zechariah  Ferris, 
Joseph  Ferris,  Jun.,  James  Osborne,  Daniel  Taylor,  and 
Hezekiah  Stevens,  Jun.,  having  neglected  to  appear,  and  to 
give  any  satisfaction  to  said  Committee  ;  and  said  Nathaniel 
Taylor  having  appeared,  and  declared  his  opposition  to  the 
doings  of  the  Continental  Congress ;  and  said  Committee 
having  fully  deliberated  upon,  and  finding  each  of  the  afore- 
named persons  obstinately  fixed  in  their  opposition  to  the 
doings  of  said  Congress,  and  the  now  bleeding  cause  of 
America ;  thinks  itself  in  duty  bound  to  make  this  publica- 
tion, that  each  of  said  persons  may  be  universally  neglected, 
and  treated  as  incorrigible  enemies  to  the  rights  of  British 
America,  according  to  the  eleventh  article  of  the  Associa- 
tion, entered  into  by  said  Congress. 

By  order  of  the  Committee: 

Samuel  Canfield,  Committee  Clerk. 

Litchfield,  May  29,  1775. 

N.  B.  Five  other  persons  being  also  notified  to  appear 
with  the  above,  have  made  their  retraction,  and  signed  a 
compliance  in  full,  with  the  doings  of  the  Congress,  to  the 
acceptance  of  the  Committee. 


SELECTMEN  OF  NEW-HAVEN  TO  GOVERNOUR  TRUMBULL. 

New-Haven,  May  29,  1773. 

Sir  :  One  of  our  number  waits  on  your  Honour  with 
this,  to  inform  the  General  Assembly,  through  the  channel 
of  your  Honour,  that  we  are  now  in  possession  of  upwards 
of  sixty  cannon,  nine,  six,  and  three-pounders,  for  the  use 
of  the  Colony,  out  of  which  a  sufficient  number  may  be 
made  use  of  for  the  defence  of  this  Town,  if  the  honour- 
able General  Assembly  think  proper  to  order  a  battery 
built  and  carriages  made  for  the  guns,  with  suitable  stores 
of  powder  and  ball  to  be  provided. 

We  refer  you  to  Mr.  Ball  for  the  particulars  of  the  man- 
ner of  our  being  possessed  of  these  cannon,  which  we  think 
a  great  acquisition,  and  shall  esteem  ourselves  happy  to 
receive  the  directions  of  the  honourable  Assembly  how 
they  are  to  be  disposed  of.  We  are,  writh  great  respect, 
your  most  obedient  servants, 

Jeremiah  Atwater,  ^ 
Isaac  Doolittle,      >  Selectmen. 
James  Gilbert,  ) 
Honourable  Jonathan  Trumbull,  Esq, 


GOVERNOUR  TRUMBULL  TO  MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS. 

Hartford,  May  29,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  I  am  desired  to  enclose  to  you  a  copy  of 
a  letter  from  the  Congress  of  New-  York  to  this  Assembly, 
dated  25th  instant,  which  you  will  receive  herewith  per  Mr. 
Brown,  who  is  on  his  return  from  the  Continental  Con- 
gress. The  contents  of  the  above  mentioned  letter  were 
immediately  taken  into  consideration  by  this  Assembly;  in 
consequence  whereof,  they  came  into  the  following  resolu- 
tions:  That  one  thousand  men,  (including  four  hundred 
which  we  had  before  ordered,)  under  command  of  Colonel 
Hinman,  should  march  as  soon  as  possible  to  Ticonderoga 
and  Crown  Point,  for  the  support  and  defence  of  those 
fortresses.  That  they  continue  there  until  they  are  relieved 
by  the  Province  of  New-York,  or  are  otherwise  ordered 
by  this  Assembly.  That  Colonel  Hinman  take  the  com- 
mand of  our  Troops  on  those  station*.  That  the  Troops 
be  furnished  with  one  pound  of  powder,  and  three  pounds 


731 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  he,  MAY,  1775. 


732 


of  bullets  to  cacli  soldier.  That  Colonel  Hinman  be  order- 
ed to  keep  up  the  strictest  vigilance  to  prevent  any  hos- 
tile incursions  from  being  made  into  the  settlements  of  the 
Province  of  Qucbeck,  and  that  the  Provincial  Congresses 
of  New- York  and  Massachusetts-Day  be  advised  of  these 
measures,  and  the  New- York  Congress  be  requested  to 
forward  the  necessary  supplies  for  said  Troops,  and  such 
other  supplies  of  ammunition  as  they  shall  judge  necessary. 
Advice  of  these  resolutions  is  already  sent  forward  to  New- 
York,  per  Mr.  Colton,  your  express  to  Philadelphia. 

It  is  matter  of  doubt  with  us  whether  the  above-men- 
tioned detachment  of  Troops,  ordered  by  this  Colony,  will 
be  sufficient  for  the  important  purposes  for  which  they  are 
destined  ;  but  we  recollect  that  Colonel  Arnold  is  now  on 
the  spot,  with  a  commission  (as  we  understand)  to  raise 
a  Regiment  in  the  pay  of  your  Province.  We  are  not  in- 
Ibrmed  how  far  he  has  proceeded  in  that  design.  If  he 
meets  with  success,  we  flatter  ourselves  that  his  Regiment, 
joined  with  the  Troops  we  have  sent,  will  be  able  to  main- 
tain their  ground,  and  keep  possession  of  those  important 
posts. 

We  take  the  liberty  to  recommend  to  your  consideration 
the  furnishing  such  additional  supply  of  powder  from  you 
as  you  shall  think  necessary,  to  be  sent  forwards  for  the 
support  of  those  northern  posts.  I  am  very  sorry  to  have 
it  to  say,  that  we  are  credibly  informed  there  is  not  five 
hundred  pounds  of  powder  in  the  City  of  New-York ;  but 
at  the  same  time  are  advised  that  means  are  taking  to  sup- 
ply them  with  that  very  important  article. 

I  am,  with  great  truth  and  regard,  gentlemen,  your  most 
obedient  humble  servant,  Jonathan  Trumbull. 

The  Hon.  Provincial  Congress  of  Massachusetts-Bay. 


CONNECTICUT  ASSEMBLY  TO  THE  ALBANY  COMMITTEE. 

Hartford,  May  29,  1775. 

Gentlemen:  Your  favour  of  the  27th  instant,  by  ex- 
press, came  safe  to  hand;  the  contents  have  been  duly 
considered,  and  in  reply  have  the  pleasure  to  acquaint  you 
that  we  had  before  received  the  resolve  of  the  Congress  at 
New-York,  with  their  request  to  send  forward  some  forces 
to  the  northward,  to  keep  those  important  posts  until  such 
time  as  they  might  be  relieved  by  Troops  from  your  Colony. 
We  have  accordingly  ordered  one  thousand  Troops,  under 
command  of  Colonel  Hinman,  to  march  immediately  to  Ti- 
condcroga  and  Crown  Point,  furnished  with  one  pound  of 
powder  and  three  pounds  of  ball,  to  each  soldier,  to  continue 
there  until  relieved  by  the  Province  of  New-York,  or  are 
otherwise  ordered  ;  also  sent  forward,  under  the  care  of  Col- 
onel Easton,  of  Pittsjicld,  five  hundred  weight  of  powder 
for  those  fortresses;  and  forwarded  advice  of  our  doings  to 
the  Provincial  Congresses,  both  at  Massachusetts  and  New- 
York,  just  before  the  receipt  of  your  letter,  which  renders 
it  unnecessary  your  express  should  go  forward  to  the  Con- 
gress at  Massachusetts-Bay.  Colonel  Hinman  is  directed 
to  exercise  the  greatest  vigilance  that  no  incursions  be 
made  into  the  Province  of  Quebeck,  to  disturb  the  inhabi- 
tants there.  It  is  hoped  that  the  Provincial  Congress  at 
Neu'-  York  will  forward  the  supplies  of  provisions,  and 
whatever  may  be  thought  necessary  ;  and  that  the  people 
in  your  Province,  who  are  under  the  best  advantage  from 
their  situation,  will  spare  no  endeavours  that  may  be  bene- 
ficial to  preserve  peace  and  harmony  with  the  Indians,  and 
prevent  their  taking  part  against,  but  rather  that  they  take 
part  for,  the  security  of  the  liberties  of  these  Colonies, 
whereon  their  own  happiness  so  much  depends. 


WILLIAM  GILLELAND  TO  THE  CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS. 

Near  Crown  Point,  May  29,  1775. 
Gentlemen  :  As  a  lover  of  my  liberty  and  my  country, 
1  beg  leave  to  offer  you  my  warmest  congratulation  on  the 
success  of  His  Majesty's  arms,  under  the  prudent  and 
spirited  conduct  of  Colonel  Arnold  and  Mr.  Ethan  Allen, 
in  reducing  the  important  posts  at  Ticonderoga  and  Crown 
Point,  and  in  seizing  the  armed  sloop  on  this  lake,  and 
all  the  officers,  soldiers,  and  military  stores.  These  ac- 
quisitions 1  conceive  to  be  highly  advantageous  to  the  Ame- 
rican cause  ;  and  we  all  ardently  hope  that  you,  gentlemen, 
will  order  them  to  be  sufficiently  supported  and  defended  ; 
for  which  purpose  I  imagine  that  a  thousand  men  (sailors, 


engineers,  and  artillery-men,  included)  should  be  imme- 
diately stationed  at  Ticonderoga,  Crown  Point,  and  Point 
Aufere,  and  a  sufficient  number  to  man  the  sloop,  the 
schooner,  and  the  large  and  small  boats  now  in  our  posses- 
sion, and  which  at  present  gives  us  the  mastery  of  the 
lake.  Point  Aufere  is  on  the  west  side  of  this  lake, 
seven  miles  south  of  the  Canada  line,  whereon  was  built 
last  summer  a  very  strong  stone  and  lime  wall  house,  with 
strong  ball-proof  brick,  sentry  boxes  at  each  corner,  com- 
manding every  inch  of  ground  about  the  house,  having  in 
them,  and  in  a  large  dry  cellar  under  the  house,  forty-four 
port-holes.  This  may,  at  a  small  expense,  be  made  a  very 
important  post,  by  throwing  up  a  breast-work,  or  by  in- 
trenching round  the  house,  to  be  defended  by  a  few  pieces 
of  cannon,  whereby  every  naval  irruption  that  may  be  at- 
tempted by  the  enemy,  may  be  greatly  obstructed,  if  not 
entirely  frustrated  ;  and  we  frontier  inhabitants  encouraged 
to  remain  on  our  flourishing  settlements,  without  being 
alarmed  at  or  exposed  to  the  incursions  of  either  the  sol- 
diery, the  Canadians,  or  the  Indians — the  latter  two  of 
whom  I  must  say,  at  present,  have  all  the  appearance  of 
being  neutrals,  if  not  friends. 

I  must  beg  leave  to  observe  to  you,  that  there  are  now 
in  these  parts  a  very  considerable  number  of  men  under 
the  command  of  Mr.  Ethan  Allen,  as  brave  as  Hercules,  and 
as  good  marksmen  as  can  be  found  in  America,  who  might 
prove  immediately  serviceable  to  the  common  cause,  were 
they  regularly  embodied,  and  commanded  by  officers  of 
their  own  choice,  subordinate  to  whoever  has  or  may  be 
appointed  commander-in-chief,  or  to  the  instructions  of 
the  Grand  Congress.  These  men  being  excellent  wood 
rangers,  and  particularly  acquainted  in  the  wilderness  of 
Lake  Champlain,  would,  in  all  likelihood,  be  more  service- 
able in  these  parts  than  treble  their  number  of  others  not 
having  these  advantages,  especially  if  left  under  the  direc- 
tion of  their  present  enterprising  and  heroick  commander, 
Mr.  Allen. 

I  hope,  gentlemen,  you  will  pardon  the  freedom  of  this 
address,  since  it  goes  to  you  from  one  very  much  interested 
in  the  subject,  having  upwards  of  fifty  families  settled  under 
his  protection,  on  the  most  remote  frontier  of  this  Prov- 
ince, some  of  whom  only  ten  miles  south  of  the  Canada 
line,  the  first  settlement  ever  made  under  the  British  Gov- 
ernment on  Lake  Champlain. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  with  the  most  profound  respect, 
gentlemen,  your  most  devoted  and  most  obedient  servant, 

William  Gilleland. 
To  the  Hon.  the  Continental  Congress. 

New- York,  May  29,  1775. 
The  martial  spirit  which  prevails  among  the  inhabitants 
of  Somerset  County,  in  New-Jersey,  truly  merits  the  atten- 
tion of  the  publick.  We  have  certain  intelligence  that 
they  are  forming  themselves  into  companies,  and  daily  ex- 
ercising to  become  complete  masters  of  the  military  dis- 
cipline ;  and,  particularly,  that  the  Township  of  Bridge- 
ivater,  in  said  County,  met  at  Raritan,  the  6th  instant,  and 
chose  Mr.  Abraham  Ten  Eyck  Captain,  under  whose  com- 
mand eighty-five  volunteers  immediately  enlisted,  to  be  in 
readiness  at  an  hour's  warning  to  march  for  the  assistance 
of  any  neighbouring  Colony,  on  any  emergency.  Their 
pay  and  other  necessaries  are  provided  by  said  Township. 
The  other  Counties  and  Townships,  it  is  hoped,  will  follow 
their  example,  as  it  may  be  necessary  to  repel  force  by 
force,  in  order  to  secure  our  national  rights  and  privileges. 


ETHAN  ALLEN  TO  THE  CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS. 
[Read  in  Congress  Juno  10,  1775.] 

Crown  Point,  May  29,  1775. 
Worthy  Gentlemen  :  An  abstract  of  the  minutes  of 
Council  from  the  Continental  Congress,  signed  per  Mr. 
Charles  Thomson,  Secretary,  has  just  come  to  hand,  and 
though  it  approves  of  the  taking  the  fortresses  on  Lake 
Champlain,  and  the  artillery,  he,  I  am  nevertheless  much 
surprised  that  your  Honours  should  recommend  it  to  us  to 
remove  the  artillery  to  the  south  end  of  Lake  George,  and 
there  to  make  a  stand  ;  the  consequence  of  which  must 
mm  the  frontier  settlements,  which  are  extended  at  least 
one  hundred  miles  to  the  northward  from  that  place.  Pro- 


733 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


734 


bably  your  Honours  were  not  informed  of  tbose  settle- 
ments, which  consist  of  several  thousand  families,  who  are 
seated  on  that  tract  of  country  called  the  JSew- Hampshire 
Grants. 

The  misfortune  and  real  injury  to  those  inhabitants,  by 
making  the  south  end  of  Lake  George  the  northernmost 
point  of  protection,  will  more  fully  appear  from  the  follow- 
ing consideration,  namely:  It  was  at  the  special  request 
and  solicitation  of  the  Governments  of  the  Province  of  the 
Massachusetts-Bay  and  Connecticut,  that  those  very  in- 
habitants put  their  lives  into  the  hand  of  their  Govern- 
ments, and  made  those  valuable  acquisitions  for  the  Colo- 
nies. By  doing  it  they  have  incensed  Governour  Carleton 
and  all  the  ministerial  party  in  Canada  against  them ;  and 
provided  they  should,  after  all  their  good  service  in  behalf 
of  their  Country,  be  neglected  and  left  exposed,  they  will 
be,  of  all  men,  the  most  consummately  miserable. 

The  south  promontory  of  Lake  Champlain  and  Lake 
George,  as  to  a  southern  direction,  are  near  the  same,  and 
if  we  should  give  up  the  sovereignty  of  Lake  Champlain, 
we  may  as  well  give  up  the  whoie.  If  the  King's  Troops 
should  be  again  in  possession  of  Ticondcroga  and  Crcivn 
Point,  and  command  the  lake,  the  Indians  and  Canadians 
will  be  much  more  inclined  to  join  with  them,  and  make 
incursions  into  the  heart  of  our  Country.  But  the  Colo- 
nies are  now  in  possession  and  actual  command  of  the  lake, 
Inning  taken  the  armed  sloop  from  George  the  Third, 
which  was  cruising  in  the  lake,  and  also  seized  a  schooner 
belonging  to  Major  Skene,  at  South-Bay,  and  have  armed 
and  manned  them  both  for  the  protection  of  our  Country, 
and  the  Constitution  and  civil  privileges  and  liberties 
thereof. 

By  a  council  of  war  beld  on  board  the  sloop,  the  27th 
instant,  it  was  agreed  to  advance  to  the  Point  Aufere,  with 
the  sloop  and  schooner,  and  a  number  of  armed  boats  well 
manned,  and  there  make  a  stand,  and  act  on  the  defensive, 
and  by  all  means  command  the  lake  and  defend  the  fron- 
tiers, and  wait  for  the  special  directions  of  the  honourable 
Continental  Congress,  and  govern  ourselves  accordingly. 
We  are  now  almost  ready  to  sail  to  that  station,  which  is 
about  six.  miles  this  side  of  latitude  forty-five  degrees  north. 
A  small  force,  with  the  armed  vessels,  will  at  present  com- 
mand the  lake,  and  secure  the  frontiers. 

The  Canadians,  all  except  the  noblesse,  and  also  the 
Indians,  appear  at  present  to  be  very  friendly  to  us ;  and 
it  is  my  humble  opinion,  that  the  more  vigorous  the  Colo- 
nies push  the  war  against  the  King's  Troops  in  Canada, 
the  more  friends  we  shall  find  in  that  country.  Provided 
I  had  but  five  hundred  men  with  me  at  St.  John's,  when 
we  took  the  King's  sloop,  I  would  have  advanced  to  Mon- 
treal. Nothing  strengthens  our  friends  in  Canada  equal  to 
our  prosperity  in  taking  the  sovereignty  of  Lake  Cham- 
plain ;  and  should  the  Colonies  forthwith  send  an  army  of 
two  or  three  thousand  men,  and  attack  Montreal,  we  should 
have  little  to  fear  from  the  Canadians  or  Indians,  and  would 
easily  make  a  conquest  of  that  place,  and  set  up  the  stand- 
ard of  liberty  in  the  extensive  Province  of  Quebeck,  whose 
limit  was  enlarged  purely  to  subvert  the  liberties  of  Ame- 
rica. Striking  such  a  blow  would  intimidate  the  Tory 
party  in  Canada,  the  same  as  the  commencement  of  the 
war  at  Boston  intimidated  the  Tories  in  the  Colonies. 
They  are  a  set  of  gentlemen  that  will  not  be  converted  by 
reason,  but  are  easily  wrought  upon  by  fear. 

Advancing  an  army  into  Canada  will  be  agreeable  to  our 
friends ;  and  it  is  bad  policy  to  fear  the  resentment  of  an 
enemy.  If  we  lie  easy,  and  in  a  supine  state,  and  Gov- 
ernour Carleton  exerts  himself  against  us  vigorously,  as  we 
know  he  will,  and  who,  by  a  legal  Constitution,  can  oblige 
our  friends  to  assist  him,  he  will,  by  slow  degrees,  discour- 
age our  friends,  and  encourage  our  enemies,  and  form  those 
that  are  at  present  indifferent,  into  combinations  against  us. 
Therefore,  the  possible  way  to  circumvent  him  and  the 
scheme  of  the  Ministry,  is  to  nervously  push  an  army  into 
Canada.  But  if  the  wisdom  of  the  Continent  in  Congress 
should  view  the  proposed  invasion  of  the  King's  Troops 
in  Canada  as  premature  or  impolitick,  nevertheless  I  hum- 
bly conceive,  when  your  Honours  come  to  the  knowledge 
of  the  before-mentioned  facts,  you  will  at  least  establish 
some  advantageous  situation  towards  the  northerly  part  of 
Lake  Champlain,  as  a  frontier,  instead  of  the  south  pro- 
montory of  Lake  George. 


There  are  many  advantages  in  forming  the  frontier  near 
the  country  of  the  enemy,  as,  first :  it  will  be  in  our  power 
to  ravage  and  make  inroads  into  the  heart  of  the  enemy's 
country,  the  same  as  they  might  easily  do.  were  they  in 
possession  and  command  of  Lake  Champlain.  This  advan- 
tage will  be  of  the  utmost  consequence,  be  it  in  the  hands 
of  which  party  it  will.  Though  it  is  now  in  our  hands,  to 
give  it  up  to  them  would  be  fatal  to  the  interest  of  the  Col- 
onies, but  more  particularly  to  those  who  were  instrumental 
in  the  achievement  of  the  supremacy  of  that  lake.  But 
secondly  :  commanding  the  northerly  part  of  the  lake  puts 
it  in  our  power  to  work  our  policy  with  the  Canadians  and 
Indians.  We  have  made  considerable  proficiency  this  way 
already.  Sundry  tribes  have  been  to  visit  us,  and  have 
returned  to  their  tribes  to  use  their  influence  in  our  favour. 
We  have  just  sent  Captain  Abraham  Nimham,  a  Stock- 
bridge  Indian,  as  our  ambassador  of  peace  to  the  several 
tribes  of  Indians  in  Canada.  He  was  accompanied  with 
Mr.  Winthrop  Hoit,  who  has  been  a  prisoner  with  the  In- 
dians, and  understands  their  tongue.  I  do  not  imagine, 
provided  we  command  Lake  Champlain,  there  will  be  any 
need  of  a  war  with  the  Canadians  or  Indians. 

Pray  pardon  me  on  account  of  any  impertinency  or  in- 
accuracy in  this  composition,  as  it  is  but  a  rough  draught, 
wrote  in  great  haste,  from  your  Honours'  ever  faithful,  most 
obedient  and  humble  servant,  Ethan  Allen. 

To  the  Continental  Congress. 


BENEDICT  ARNOLD  TO  THE  CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS. 

Crown  Point,  May  29,  1775. 

Gentlemen:  Your  resolution  of  the  18th  instant,  and 
recommendation  of  measures  to  the  City  of  New-  York  and 
Albany,  in  consequence  of  the  taking  possession  of  Ticon- 
deroga  and  Crown  Point,  has  this  moment  been  delivered 
me,  as  commanding  officer  here,  the  purport  of  which  in- 
duces me  to  believe  the  Committee  of  Safety  of  the  Mas- 
sachusetts-Bay have  not  informed  you  of  my  appointment, 
or  instructions  from  them,  which  I  have  taken  the  liberty 
to  enclose;  and,  in  consequence,  arrived  in  the  neighbour- 
hood of  Ticonderoga  the  9th  instant,  where  I  met  one  Col- 
onel Allen,  with  about  one  hundred  men,  raised  at  the 
instance  of  some  gentlemen  from  Connecticut,  who  agreed 
we  should  take  a  joint  command  of  the  Troops.  The  next 
morning,  at  four  o'clock,  we  surprised  the  garrison  and  took 
them  prisoners,  the  particulars  of  which  you  have  doubtless 
heard.  Some  dispute  arising  between  Colonel  Allen  and 
myself,  prevented  my  carrying  my  orders  into  execution, 
until  the  16th,  when,  being  joined  by  fifty  men  of  my  own 
Regiment,  and  a  small  schooner  taken  at  Skenesborough , 
which  I  immediately  armed,  and  sailed  for  St.  John's,  in 
quest  of  the  sloop.  The  17th,  being  becalmed  within  ten 
leagues  of  St.  John's,  I  manned  out  two  small  batteaus, 
with  thirty-five  men,  and,  after  rowing  all  night,  at  six 
o'clock  next  morning  landed  at  St.  John's,  and  took  a  ser- 
geant and  his  party  of  twelve  men  prisoners,  the  King's 
sloop,  of  seventy  tons,  mounted  with  two  brass  six-pound- 
ers, and  seven  men,  and  in  two  hours  after  left  St.  John's, 
having  previously  taken  on  board  such  stores,  &c,  as  were 
valuable.  Providence  remarkably  smiled  on  us,  as  a  few 
hours'  delay  would  have  ruined  our  design,  a  party  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty  men,  with  six  pieces  of  cannon  for  the 
sloop,  being  on  their  march  from  Montreal,  at  only  twenty 
miles  distant ;  add  to  this  a  party  of  forty  men  on  a  march 
from  Chamblee,  twelve  miles  distant.  Colonel  Allen  arrived 
at  St.  John's  the  same  evening,  with  one  hundred  men, 
and  being  attacked  the  next  morning  by  the  Regulars,  re- 
treated, and  left  three  men  behind,  two  of  which  are  since 
arrived. 

I  have  armed  the  sloop  with  six  carriage  and  twelve 
swivel-guns ;  the  schooner  with  four  carriages  and  eight 
swivels.  I  have  sent  to  Lake  George  one  brass  twelve- 
pounder,  six  large  brass  and  iron  mortars  and  howitzers, 
and  am  making  all  possible  preparation  for  transporting  all 
the  cannon  here,  and  as  many  as  can  be  spared  at  Ticon- 
deroga, to  Fort  George. 

I  must  beg  leave  to  observe,  gentlemen,  that  the  report 
of  Ticonderoga's  being  abandoned,  have  thrown  the  inhab- 
itants here  into  the  greatest  consternation.  There  are  about 
five  hundred  families  to  the  northward  of  Ticonderoga, 
who,  if  it  is  evacuated,  will  be  left  at  the  mercy  of  the 


735 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  kc,  MAY,  1775 


736 


King's  Troops  and  Indians,  and  who  have,  part  of  them, 
joined  the  Army,  and  cannot  now  remain  neuter,  to  whom 
a  remove  would  be  entire  ruin,  as  they  have  large  families 
and  no  dependance  but  a  promising  crop  on  the  ground. 
1  need  not  add  to  this,  gentlemen,  that  Ticonderoga  is  the 
key  of  this  extensive  country,  and  if  abandoned,  leaves  a 
very  extensive  frontier  open  to  the  ravages  of  the  enemy, 
and  to  continual  alarms,  which  will  probably  cost  more  than 
the  expense  of  repairing  and  garrisoning  it. 

I  esteemed  it  my  duty,  as  a  servant  of  the  publick,  to 
give  you  the  foregoing  hints,  and  hope  the  exigence  of  the 
times  will  be  a  sufficient  apology  for  the  liberty  I  have 
taken. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  very  respectfully,  gentlemen, 
your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

Benedict  Arnold,  Colonel,  fyc. 


BENEDICT  ARNOLD  TO  THE  MASSACHUSETTS  COMMITTEE 
OF  SAFETY. 

Crown  Point,  May  29,  1775. 

Gentlemen:  I  was  equally  surprised  and  alarmed  this 
day,  on  receiving  advice,  via  Albany,  that  the  Continental 
Congress  had  recommended  the  removing  all  the  cannon, 
stores,  Sic,  at  Ticonderoga,  to  Fort  George,  and  evacua- 
ting Ticonderoga  entirely,  which  being  the  only  key  of 
this  country,  leaves  our  very  extensive  frontiers  open  to  the 
lavages  of  the  enemy  ;  and  if  put  into  execution,  will  be 
the  entire  ruin  of  five  hundred  families  to  the  northward  of 
Ticonderoga.  I  have  wrote  the  Congress,  and  given  my 
sentiments  very  freely,  with  your  instructions  to  me,  as  I 
fancy  they  have  had  no  intelligence  of  my  appointment  or 
orders. 

Colonel  Allen  has  entirely  given  up  the  command.  I 
have  one  hundred  and  fifty  men  here,  and  expect  in  two  or 
three  weeks  to  have  my  Regiment  complete,  and  believe 
they  will  be  joined  by  a  thousand  men  from  Connecticut 
and  New-York.  1  have  sent  to  Lake  George  six  large 
brass  and  iron  mortars  and  howitzers,  one  brass  and  three 
iron  twelve-pounders,  and  shall  pursue  your  orders  with  all 
the  despatch  in  my  power.  I  am,  gentlemen,  with  great 
respect,  your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

Benedict  Arnold. 


MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS  TO  GOVERNOUR  TRUMBULL. 

In  Provincial  Congress,  Watertown,  ) 
May  29,  1775.  \ 

May  it  please  your  Honour:  Yesterday,  about  three 
of  the  clock,  P.  M.,  this  Congress  received  your  Honour's 
most  kind  and  friendly  letter  of  the  25th  instant,  enclosing 
a  resolution  of  the  Genera!  Congress,  of  the  1 8th  instant, 
relating  to  Ticonderoga,  the  order  of  the  General  Com- 
mittee of  Association  of  New-Yorlc,  for  executing  the  said 
resolution,  and  the  letter  from  the  Connecticut  Delegates 
at  New-York ;  each  of  which  contain  articles  of  intelli- 
gence very  important  and  interesting  to  all  the  New- 
England  Governments.  But  while  we  are  consoled  and 
rejoiced  to  find  that  the  General  Congress  is  attentive  to 
the  safety  and  general  interests  of  the  Colonies,  we  cannot 
conceal  from  the  General  Assembly  of  your  Colony,  that  we 
should  be  to  the  last  degree  agitated,  if  we  really  supposed 
that  the  said  resolution  of  the  General  Congress,  touching 
Ticonderoga  and  said  posts  on  Lake  Champlain,  was  their 
ultimatum,  and  that  they  would  not  reconsider  that  resolu- 
tion. But  as  we  cannot  suffer  ourselves  to  doubt  of  their 
best  intentions  and  great  concern  for  the  liberty  and  safety 
of  all  the  Colonies,  we  assure  ourselves,  that  upon  better 
information,  and  knowledge  more  just,  they  will  be  fully 
convinced  of  the  great  impolicy  of  abandoning  Lake  Cham- 
plain,  which  we  conceive  they  have  in  effect  advised  to, 
although  we  confess  their  expressions  are  not  the  clearest. 
But  we  are  confirmed  in  our  construction  of  the  said  reso- 
lution, by  the  order  taken  by  the  General  Committee  of 
New-York  to  execute  the  same. 

May  it  please  your  Honour,  permit  us  to  acquaint  you, 
that  as  soon  as  possible  after  we  had  received  advice  of  the 
success  of  our  people  at  Crown  Point  and  St.  John's,  and 
the  taking  of  the  armed  sloop  on  that  lake,  by  Col.  Arnold's 
letter,  a  copy  whereof  we  have  sent  you  by  Col.  Hcnshaw, 
we  sent  an  express  to  New- York  and  to  the  General  Con- 
gress, signifying  to  the  General  Congress  and  to  the  Con- 


gress of  New-  York,  in  the  strongest  manner,  our  opinion  of 
the  absolute  necessity  and  great  advantages  of  maintaining 
the  post  of  Ticonderoga.  But  as  we  conceived  the  reasons 
and  grounds  of  such  an  opinion  were  obvious  and  generally 
known,  we  supposed  that  a  detail  of  the  arguments  and 
proofs  was  altogether  unnecessary.  But  upon  seeing  the 
resolution  of  the  General  Congress  upon  that  important 
matter,  we  were  much  surprised  and  concerned  ;  and  in  the 
little  time  we  have  had  to  deliberate  on  the  subject,  we 
have  resolved  to  endeavour  to  suggest  to  your  Honour  and 
your  Assembly  the  reasons  which  at  present  occur  to  us, 
which  we  apprehend  make  it  evident  that  the  maintaining 
that  post  is  not  only  practicable,  and,  under  God,  in  the 
power  of  the  Colonies,  but  of  inexpressible  necessity,  for 
the  defence  of  the  Colony  of  New-  York,  and  all  the  New- 
England  Colonies ;  and  having  enumerated  those  reasons 
as  they  occur,  without  consulting  method  or  any  orderly 
arrangement,  to  submit  them  to  your  Assembly,  most  im- 
portunately praying  you,  if  your  Honours  approve  them, 
that  you  will,  with  the  greatest  despatch,  communicate 
them,  with  many  more  observations  which  your  better 
knowledge  of  facts  will  suggest,  to  the  General  Congress ; 
and,  if  you  should  judge  it  advisable,  also  to  the  Congress 
of  Neiv- York ;  conceiving  that,  in  several  respects,  they 
would  go  from  you  with  more  advantage,  not  only  to  Nuc- 
York,  but  also  to  the  General  Congress,  than  from  us.  It 
seems  natural  to  compare  the  two  stations  proposed  to  be 
maintained,  viz :  Ticonderoga  and  William  Henry,  in  the 
following  manner,  that  is  to  say,  with  regard  to  the  benefits 
and  advantages  of  the  two  stations  which  will  arise  for  the 
purposes  of  general  defence  and  annoyance  of  the  common 
enemy,  and  with  regard  to  the  feasibility  of  maintaining 
each  place. 

And,  in  the  first  place,  as  to  the  advantages  of  general 
defence  resulting  from  a  post  at  Ticonderoga,  beyond  those 
of  William  Henry -  they  are  so  great  and  many,  that  they 
cannot  be  enumerated  in  an  ordinary  letter.  In  the  view 
of  a  post  of  observation,  we  beg  leave  to  observe,  that  all 
movements  from  Canada,  intended  against  New-England 
or  New- York,  by  the  way  of  Lake  Champlain,  whether 
by  scalping  parties  or  large  bodies,  whether  in  the  winter 
or  open  seasons  of  the  year,  may  almost  certainly  be  dis- 
covered so  seasonably  as  that  the  blow  may  be  generally 
warded  off ;  whereas,  if  the  post  at  William  Henry  be  only- 
kept,  it  is  probable  that  three-fourths  of  the  attempts  on 
the  frontiers  of  New-York  and  New-England,  by  Cham- 
plain, will  never  be  known  until  executed.  As  to  enter- 
prises by  any  large  body  by  the  way  of  Champlain,  it  is  clear 
that  they  may  be  known  much  earlier  from  the  former  than 
the  latter  station  ;  also,  if  it  should  become  necessary  and 
just  that  the  United  Colonies  should  annoy  the  inhabitants 
of  Canada,  and  cause  them  to  feel  the  grievousness  of  war 
on  their  borders,  (as  it  most  certainly  will,  in  case  they  en- 
gage in  the  war  upon  us,)  the  two  stations  scarcely  bear  any 
comparison;  for  if  we  abandon  the  post  at  Ticonderoga, 
the  enemy  will  infallibly  seize  it;  and,  in  that  case,  what 
annoyance  can  we  give  Canada  by  the  way  of  Champlain, 
by  means  of  a  fortified  post  at  William  Henry?  If  the 
enemy  hold  Ticonderoga,  they  will  effectually  command 
the  whole  of  Lake  Champlain.  If  the  United  Colonies 
hold  it,  they  will  so  far  command  that  lake,  as,  by  the  way 
of  it,  they  will  be  able  to  make  descents  by  small  parties 
upon  great  part  of  the  country  of  Canada,  and  infinitely 
distress  them  ;  but  from  William  Henry  none  can  be  made 
without  vast  difficulty  and  risk.  As  to  the  advantages  of 
subsisting  and  defending  a  garrison,  and  maintaining  a  post 
against  the  efforts  of  Canada,  either  at  Ticonderoga  or 
Fort  William  Henry,  we  conceive  that  they  are  much  in 
favour  of  the  former;  for  as  to  supplies  of  victuals  for 
either  a  garrison  or  an  army  stationed  at  one  place  or  the 
other,  we  conceive  that,  on  the  whole,  they  may  be  more 
easily  and  certainly  afforded  to  Ticonderoga  than  II  illiam 
Henry.  We  suppose  that  what  should  be  sent  from  posts 
on  the  westerly  side  of  Hudson's  River,  may  almost  as 
easily  be  transported  to  Ticonderoga  as  to  William  Henry ; 
and  as  to  such  supplies  as  would  go  from  posts  eastward  of 
Hudson's  River,  they  may  be  conveyed  to  the  former  place 
with  much  more  facility  than  the  latter.  And  as  to  the 
speed  and  certainty  of  marching  succours  for  the  relief  of 
a  garrison  at  one  place  or  the  other,  in  case  of  an  attack, 
we  suppose  the  advantages  of  Ticonderoga  are  vastly  supe- 


737 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


738 


riour  to  those  of  William  Henry;  for  we  cannot  forbear 
observing,  that  our  brethren  of  Neiv-York  Government, 
settled  on  the  westerly  side  of  Hudson's  River,  have  been 
always  rather  slow  in  warlike  efforts  ;  and  if  the  succours 
must  go  from  Connecticut,  Massachusetts,  New- Hampshire, 
or  the  northeasterly  parts  of  New-  York  Governments,  they 
may  be  mustered  and  marched  much  sooner  to  the  former 
station  than  the  latter.  We  have  no  doubt  but,  on  a  press- 
ing emergency,  a  large  body  of  men  might  be  marched 
from  the  middle  of  the  County  of  Hampshire  to  Ticonde- 
roga  in  six  days  ;  but  to  gentlemen  so  well  acquainted  with 
the  geography  of  the  two  places,  we  need  not  dwell  on  this 
part  of  the  argument ;  and,  in  short,  we  have  no  idea  of 
maintaining  the  one  or  the  other  of  the  two  posts  in  time 
of  war  with  Canada,  but  either  by  constantly  keeping  an 
army  on  the  spot,  or  making  a  fort  of  sufficient  strength  for 
a  garrison  to  hold  out  against  an  attack  until  an  army  could 
be  marched  from  New-York  or  New-England,  sufficient  to 
raise  the  siege  ;  the  latter  method  we  suppose  most  politick, 
and  quite  practicable  with  regard  to  Ticonderoga.  But 
at  the  same  time  we  beg  leave  just  to  hint,  that  a  fortified 
station,  on  the  easterly  side  of  South-Bay,  or  Lake  Cham- 
plain,  opposite  to  Ticonderoga  or  Crown  Point,  or  still 
farther  on,  affords  great  advantages  for  the  maintaining  of 
Ticonderoga,  and  defending  the  settlements  on  the  easterly 
side  of  Lake  Champlain;  and  there  is  artillery  enough  to 
spare  to  other  places ;  and  if  we  abandon  the  land  be- 
tween the  Lakes  George  and  Champlain,  we  shall  give  the 
enemy  an  opportunity  to  build  at  or  near  the  points ;  and 
by  that  means  we  shall  lose  the  whole  of  Lake  Champlain, 
and  the  shipping  we  now  have  on  that  lake,  by  which  we 
can  command  the  whole  of  it,  and  keep  the  enemy  at  a 
distance  of  a  hundred  miles  from  our  English  settlements, 
near  Otter  Creek,  &tc. ;  but  if  that  fortress  should  be  main- 
tained, we  shall  have  those  very  settlements,  with  some 
aids  from  the  old  settlements,  to  support  it,  which  will  not 
be  half  the  charge  that  it  would  be  to  maintain  a  sufficient 
number  of  soldiers  so  far  from  their  homes.  We  have  there 
about  four  or  five  hundred  hardy  men,  with  many  families, 
who,  if  those  grounds  should  be  abandoned,  will  be  driven 
from  their  settlements,  and  leave  the  Massachusetts  and 
Neio- Hampshire  people  naked,  without  any  barrier,  and 
exposed  to  the  Canadians  and  savages,  who  will  have  a 
place  of  retreat  at  the  point,  as  they  had  almost  the  whole 
of  the  last  war.  By  abandoning  this  ground,  we  give  up 
an  acquisition  which  cost  immense  sums  of  money,  the  loss 
of  many  lives,  and  five  campaigns. 

As  to  the  expense  of  maintaining  a  fortress  at  Ticonde- 
roga, this  Colony  will  not  fail  to  exert  themselves  to  the 
utmost  of  their  power. 

We  are  under  the  greatest  obligations  to  your  Honour 
and  the  General  Assembly,  for  the  intelligence  you  have 
given  us  ;  and  you  may  depend  we  shall  not  fail  of  convey- 
ing to  you  all  important  intelligence  with  the  greatest  des- 
patch. The  interpositions  of  Divine  Providence,  in  favour 
of  America,  are  very  obvious,  which  demands  our  utmost 
thankfulness.  Enclosed  is  a  brief  narrative  of  some  of 
them.    We  are,  &lc. 


THE  MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS  TO  THE  NEW-HAMPSHIRE 
CONGRESS. 

In  Provincial  Congress,  Watertown,  ) 
May  29,  1775.  \ 

"  Resolved,  That  the  following  Letter  be  immediately 
sent  to  the  Provincial  Congress  of  New-Hampshire." 

Gentlemen  :  Enclosed  are  copies  of  Governour  Trum- 
bull's letter  to  this  Congress,  enclosing  a  resolution  of  the 
Continental  Congress,  respecting  the  fortresses  at  Ticonde- 
roga, Crown  Point,  he,  and  the  resolution  of  the  General 
Committee  of  Association  of  New- York  thereon,  and  a  let- 
ter from  the  Connecticut  Delegates,  from  Neiv-York,  to 
their  Assembly. 

The  measure  taken  by  the  Continental  Congress,  if  car- 
ried into  execution,  will,  in  our  humble  opinion,°affect  those 
Colonies  east  of  Hudson  River,  in  the  highest  degree.  By 
that  you  will  see  that  all  the  lands  and  waters  between  the 
south  end  of  Lake  George  and  Crown  Point,  together 
with  all  Lake  Champlain,  will  be  left  open  for  Canadians 
and  savages,  if  they  should  be  so  disposed,  to  ravage  all 
that  country  east,  and  distress  all  our  new  settlements. 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii. 


We  have  addressed  the  Continental  Congress  upon  the 
necessity  of  keeping  a  fortress  at  or  near  Ticonderoga, 
and  have  also  most  pressingly  desired  the  Colony  of  Con- 
necticut to  exert  themselves  to  effect  the  maintaining  such 
a  fortress.  We  have  also  written  to  New-  York  upon  the 
matter. 

We  now  lay  the  same  advice  before  you,  that  you  may 
have  opportunity  to  take  such  measures  as  you  shall  think 
proper.  As  your  Colony  is  so  deeply  affected,  you  will, 
from  a  concern  for  that,  and  a  general  regard  for  the  com- 
mon safety,  which  you  have  at  all  times  appeared  to  have, 
we  trust,  take  the  matter  up,  and,  by  decent  and  respectful 
addresses  to  the  Continental  Congress,  endeavour  to  pre- 
vail with  them  to  alter  a  measure  so  dangerous  in  its  effects. 

We  are,  gentlemen,  your  most  obedient  and  very  hum- 
ble servants,  Jos.  Warren,  Pres't  pro  tern. 


committee  or  sandwich  to  the  provincial  congress 

OF  MASSACHUSETTS. 

Sandwich,  May  29,  1775. 

Honourable  Gentlemen  :  In  consequence  of  com- 
plaint made  to  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  of  the 
Town  of  Sandwich,  by  Messrs.  Simeon  Wing  and  Jesse 
Barlow,  we  have  thought  it  advisable  to  represent  to  your 
Honours  the  circumstances  of  their  vessels  being  taken  by 
Captain  Linsey,  of  the  Falcon,  and  retaken  by  a  schooner 
from  Dartmouth,  under  command  of  Captain  Egery,  and 
to  beg  some  advice  and  order  of  the  Congress  may  be 
passed  concerning  it.  Mr.  Wing's  vessel,  commanded  by 
his  son  Thomas,  has  been  plied  as  a  wood  boat  to  carry 
wood  to  Nantucket  from  Sandwich,  for  some  years  past, 
and  it  hath  been  the  usual  practice  for  them  to  settle  with 
the  Custom-House  once  a  year,  the  officer  of  which  always 
gave  them  their  choice  of  paying  twelve  pence  per  trip,  or 
the  whole  at  the  year's  end  :  and  this  hath  been,  we  find  on 
examination,  the  common  practice  with  other  vessels  that 
have  followed  the  same  business  at  the  same  place.  Upon 
Captain  Wing's  returning  from  Nantucket,  through  the 
Vineyard  Sound,  the  sloop  was  taken  by  a  barge  from 
said  Captain  Linsey's  brig ;  an  Indian  fellow  on  board  of 
Wing's  vessel  informed  Captain  Lindsey  of  said  Barlow's 
vessel,  which  had  run  a  cargo  lately  from  the  West-In- 
dies, and  was  laden  with  provisions  in  Buzzard's  Bay. 
Captain  Linsey  took  possession  of  Captain  Wing's  ves- 
sel, putling  fourteen  men  on  board,  to  proceed  up  the 
bay  and  take  Jesse  Barlow's  vessel,  which  they  carried 
off.  The  master  of  this  latter  vessel  was  taken  with 
Wing,  being  then  on  board  as  a  passenger ;  so  that  both 
vessels,  with  all  the  crews,  passengers,  he,  were  cap- 
tured, and  proceeded  to  the  cove  to  Captain  Linsey.  Mr. 
Barlow  made  application  to  some  people  at  Dartmouth, 
who  went  with  a  sloop,  one  half  of  which  Barlow  ven- 
tured, and  retook  both  said  vessels  and  men,  with  their 
arms,  he,  and  carried  them  into  Dartmouth.  Messrs. 
Wing  and  Barlow  applied  to  the  Dartmouth  people,  who 
took  the  vessels  from  them  again.  The  people  offered 
them  their  vessels  upon  Wing's  paying  them  eight  dollars 
and  Barlow's  paying  ten  dollars,  with  which  they  com- 
plied, and  Wing  paid  the  money ;  after  which  the  Dart- 
mouth people  detained  the  vessels  till  the  order  of  Con- 
gress could  be  known,  and  now  refuse  to  deliver  up  the 
said  vessels  without  Wing  and  Barlow's  paying  forty -five 
dollars,  and  giving  bonds  of  a  very  extraordinary  nature, 
to  indemnify  said  Dartmouth  people,  he  These  are  a 
true  state  of  facts,  as  nearly  as  we,  after  examination  of 
said  Wing  and  Barlow,  can  ascertain  ;  and  the  said  Wing 
and  Barloiv,  thinking  they  ought  to  have  their  vessels 
again  without  further  difficulty,  desire  the  Committee  of 
Correspondence  of  this  Town  to  lay  the  matter  before 
you,  and  pray  your  orders,  to  which  they  profess  their 
readiness  to  submit  and  acquiesce  in. 

We  are  your  Honours'  very  humble  servants,  the  Com- 
mittee of  Sandwich. 

Nathaniel  Freeman,  per  order. 

In  Congress,  Watertown,  July  1,  1775. 
The  Committee  appointed  to  take  the  Remonstrance 
from  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  of  the  Town  of 
Sandwich  into  consideration,  have  considered  the  same, 
and  report  as  follows,  viz  : 


739 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  ttc,  MAY,  17:5. 


740 


Tliat  the  people  of  the  Town  of  Dartmouth,  mentioned 
in  said  Remonstrance,  who  withhold  said  vessels  from  said 
Wing  and  Barlow,  be  notified  to  appear  the  second  Tues- 
day of  the  next  meeting  of  the  House  of  Representatives, 
in  Watertown,  to  give  their  reasons  why  they  withhold  the 
same,  and  that  they  be  served  with  a  copy  of  this  Remon- 
strance, and  that  Wing  and  Barlow  be  notified  to  attend 
at  the  same  time  and  place ;  which  is  humbly  submitted. 

Per  order,  Ezra  Richmond. 


TO  THE  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY  FOR  MASSACHUSETTS. 

Salem,  May  29,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  Mr.  Stephen  Higginson,  of  this  Town, 
arrived  here  yesterday  from  London.  The  answers  he 
gave  on  his  examination  before  the  House  of  Commons, 
and  which  were  some  time  since  printed  in  the  newspa- 
pers, have  given  umbrage  to  some  persons  in  this  place, 
(and  we  hear  in  Marblchead  also,)  who  imagine  those  an- 
swers to  be  highly  injurious  to  the  Province,  and  given 
with  an  intention  to  distress  it.  He  this  day  appeared 
before  the  Committee  of  Safety  of  this  Town,  and,  upon 
exhibition  of  the  facts,  the  Committee,  to  a  man,  were 
perfectly  satisfied  of  his  innocence  and  good  intention  rela- 
tive to  the  matter  complained  of;  but  that  every  one  might 
be  made  easy,  as  the  Town  were  to  meet  this  day,  it  was 
judged  best  to  publish  the  whole  to  the  inhabitants  when 
assembled,  which  was  done  accordingly  to  a  full  meeting, 
and  the  Town  thereupon  expressed  their  satisfaction  by  a 
vote,  from  which  only  three  or  four  dissented,  but  many 
did  not  vote  at  all ;  and  since  the  meeting  was  dissolved 
we  find  that  several  remain  dissatisfied,  and  desire  the 
matter  may  bs  inquired  into  by  the  Provincial  Committee 
of  Safety;  we  have,  therefore,  advised  Mr.  Higginson  to 
wait  on  you,  that  your  decision  may  quiet  the  minds  of  the 
people  here  and  through  the  Country.  We  have  stated 
the  facts  above-mentioned  as  a  necessary  apology  for 
troubling  you  about  a  matter  so  extremely  obvious. 

We  are,  gentlemen,  your  most  humble  servants, 

Rich,  Derby,  Chrti'n  Com.  of  Safety. 
Tim.  Pickering,  Jun.,  Town  Clerk. 
To  the  Provincial  Committee  of  Safety. 


COLONEL  STARK  TO  THE  NEW-HAMPSHIRE  CONGRESS. 

Medford,  May  29,  1775. 

Gentlemen:  Yours  of  the  26th  instant  I  have  re- 
ceived, and  note  the  contents ;  and  as  to  the  fire-arms  for 
the  use  of  the  Regiment  under  my  command,  the  greatest 
part  of  those  who  were  destitute  when  I  wrote  to  you,  are 
since  furnished,  and  I  am  informed  by  the  officers  of  the 
several  Companies,  that  the  remainder  will  be  equipped 
very  shortly;  so  I  flatter  myself  that  this  difficulty  (as  to 
my  Regiment)  will  be  soon  surmounted.  Yet,  as  to  the 
manner  of  procuring  them,  whether  by  the  respective 
Towns  to  which  they  belong,  or  by  individuals,  I  cannot 
at  present  inform  you,  as  no  account  has  yet  come  to  hand. 
But  I  would  still  beg  leave  to  entreat  you  to  take  some 
further  notice  of  the  Army.  And,  in  the  first  place,  con- 
sider that  a  great  part  of  the  Regiment  or  Army  here,  are 
destitute  of  blankets,  and  cannot  be  supplied  by  their 
Towns,  and  are  very  much  exposed  ;  some  of  whom, 
for  the  want  thereof,  are  much  indisposed,  and  thereby 
rendered  unfit  for  duty.  Secondly,  that  we  are  in  very 
great  want  of  money,  and  that  neither  officers  nor  soldiers 
can  subsist  much  longer,  without  some,  by  any  means.  And 
this  I  am  well  assured  of,  (from  daily  complaints  which  are 
made  to  me,)  that  unless  you,  by  some  means,  advance 
some  money  to  the  Army  directly,  (as  there  is  no  room  in 
my  mind  to  doubt  that  there  is  a  very  considerable  sum  in 
;he  Province  belonging  thereto,)  they  will  certainly  return, 
for  they  cannot  nor  will  not  continue.  I  would  also  re- 
commend to  your  consideration  the  necessity  of  a  sutler 
or  sutlers  for  the  benefit  of  the  Army ;  and  if  it  should  be 
thought  necessary  that  there  should  be  such,  and  if  one  can- 
not be  found  in  that  Province  who  will  undertake  to  supply 
the  Army  upon  reasonable  terms,  I  know  of  a  gentleman  in 
this  Province  that  would  gladly  embrace  the  opportunity,  if 
applied  to.  I  would  likewise  be  glad  there  might  be  a  chest 
of  medicine  procured  for  the  Regiment,  and  forwarded,  as 
it  is  wanted  very  much,  and  also  armourer's  tools. 


According  to  your  request,  I  have  transmitted  to  the 
Committee  of  Safety  a  regimental  return  of  the  men  who 
have  enlisted  under  me  into  the  service  of  the  Province  of 
New- Hampshire,  and  who  expect  to  be  paid  therefrom. 

Your  compliance  with  the  above  will  greatly  oblige 
your's  in  the  common  cause,  John  Stark. 


COMMITTEE  OF  PORTSMOUTH,  N.  H.,  TO  THE  COMMITTEE 
OF  NEWBL'RYPOKT. 

Portsmouth,  May  29,  1775. 
Gentlemen  :  We  had  two  provision  vessels  seized  at 
the  mouth  of  our  harbour  the  last  night,  by  the  Scarbo- 
rough, and  upon  application  to  Captain  Barclay  for  their 
release,  find  he  has  positive  orders  from  the  Admiral  to 
take  possession  of  all  vessels  laden  with  provisions,  salt,  or 
molasses,  and  send  them  to  Boston,  and  says  further,  those 
orders  are  circular  through  the  Continent. 

We  give  this  earliest  intelligence  for  your  government, 
and  also  inform  you  that  the  Canceavx,  a  small  ship,  of  six 
or  eight  guns,  sails  the  first  wind,  to  convoy  the  two  vessels 
already  seized  to  Boston,  and  are  sorry  to  find  ourselves 
unable  to  prevent  it,  as  we  have  our  harbour  blocked  up 
by  a  twenty-gun  ship,  and  have  no  vessel  of  force  able  to 
retake  them.  One  reason  of  our  mentioning  this  circum- 
stance, and  sending  an  express  this  night  with  it,  is,  be- 
cause we  have  just  heard  that  you  have  an  armed  vessel  in 
your  port.  We  have  ordered  two  small  vessels  to  cruise 
off  and  on,  and,  if  possible,  give  this  intelligence  to  all 
vessels  bound  to  this  or  any  other  port,  and  trust  you  will 
do  the  same.  Your  most  obedient  servants.  By  order  of 
the  Committee:  H.  Wentworth,  Chairman. 

To  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  of  Newburyjjort. 

Newburyport,  May  30,  1775. 

This  letter  was  received  this  morning  by  the  Committee 
of  this  Town ;  and  as  the  Admiral's  orders,  herein  men- 
tioned, may  affect  every  part  of  the  Continent,  we  think  it 
our  duty  to  send  it  forward  to  the  Committee  of  Safety 
for  the  Province,  or  to  the  Congress. 

B.  Greenleaf,  per  order. 

To  the  Provincial  Congress  of  Massachusetts. 


Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  May  30,  1775. 

This  day  about  thirty  or  forty  men  from  on  board  the 
Scarborough,  man-of-war,  now  in  this  harbour,  came  on 
shore  at  Fort  William  and  Mary,  and  tore  down  great  part 
of  the  breast-work  of  said  fort,  and  did  other  damage. 

The  day  before  this  attempt,  the  Scarborough  took  two 
provision  vessels,  loaded  with  corn,  pork,  flour,  rye,  &c, 
coming  in  from  Long-Island,  which  were  for  the  relief  of 
this  place,  as  the  inhabitants  are  in  great  want  of  provisions  ; 
and  notwithstanding  the  most  prudent  application  of  the 
principal  gentlemen  of  this  Town,  the  Captain  refused  to 
release  them.    O  shocking  situation. 

Upon  this  refusal  it  was  apprehended  the  most  violent 
outrages  and  tumults  of  the  people  would  immediately  fol- 
low this  detention  of  their  provisions,  the  consequences  of 
which  would  be,  most  probably,  very  fatal  to  His  Majesty's 
subjects,  by  bringing  into  the  most  imminent  danger  the 
lives  and  properties  of  his  said  subjects,  which  ought  by  all 
means  to  be  prevented,  if  possible. 

Upon  this  unwarrantable  transaction,  the  inhabitants  of 
this  and  the  neighbouring  Towns  were  greatly  alarmed,  and, 
next  morning,  between  five  and  six  hundred  men,  in  arms, 
went  down  to  the  battery,  called  Jerry's  Point,  and  brought 
off  eight  cannon,  twenty-four  and  thirty-two  pounders, 
being  the  whole  that  were  there,  weighing  four  thousand 
eight  hundred  pounds  each,  and  brought  them  up  to  this 
Town.  While  they  were  taking  off  the  above  cannon,  the 
Canccaux,  with  a  tender,  set  sail  with  the  two  provision 
vessels  for  Boston.  The  next  day  the  Town  was  full  of 
men  from  the  country,  in  arms. 

This  uncommon  exertion  of  arbitrary  power  immediately 
alarmed  the  inhabitants,  and  the  Committee  of  Safety  hav- 
ing met,  a  memorial  was,  by  their  approbation,  presented 
to  the  Governour  and  Council,  who  took  every  prudent 
method  in  their  power  to  pacify  the  people,  aud  to  obtain 
a  release  of  the  captures.    His  Excellency  repaired  on 


741 


MASSACHUSETTS  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY,  APRIL,  1775. 


742 


board  the  Scarborough,  and  informed  the  Captain  that  the 
provisions  were  the  property  of  some  of  the  inhabitants,  who 
had  before  contracted  for  the  same  ;  but  the  only  answer  he 
could  obtain  was,  "  that  Admiral  Graves  and  the  General 
had  forwarded  orders  to  take  every  provision  vessel  that 
should  be  met  with,  on  every  station,  and  to  send  them 
forthwith  to  Boston  for  the  supply  of  the  Army  and  Navy." 
Captain  Barclay,  the  commander  of  the  Scarborough,  in- 
formed two  of  the  Committee  at  Fort  William  and  Mary, 
that  his  orders  were  such  that  he  must  even  take  all  vessels 
with  salt  or  molasses,  they  being  a  species  of  provision,  and 
send  them  to  Boston. 


TO  GENERAL  GAGE. 

Sir:  If  you  are  not  too  busy  in  granting  passes  to  the 
people  of  Boston,  and  in  protecting  the  remains  of  your 
Army,  1  beg  the  favour  of  addressing  you  once  more.  You 
have  lately  risen  above  contempt.  You  have  commenced 
hostilities  between  Great  Britain  and  America,  in  the  Prov- 
ince of  Massachusetts-Bay.  The  heinousness  and  conse- 
quences of  this  crime  would  have  raised  even  a  sentinel 
into  importance,  and  will  serve,  in  spite  of  the  natural  in- 
significance of  your  character,  to  "damn"  even  General 
Gage  "  to  everlasting  fame." 

Your  attempt  to  prove  that  the  Militia  of  Massachusetts 
fired  first  in  the  late  engagement  at  Lexington,  if  successful, 
would  add  nothing  to  your  cause.  You  acknowledge  that 
you  sent  your  Troops  out  of  Boston  to  destroy  a  magazine 
of  provisions  and  military  stores  at  Concord.  The  invasion 
of  property,  among  all  Nations,  is  justly  deemed  a  declara- 
tion of  war.  But,  Sir,  however  contrary  to  your  intention, 
your  account  of  the  matter  has  served  to  entail  double  in- 
famy upon  the  memories  of  those  ministerial  Troops  that 
fell  in  the  battle,  for  it  proves  that  they  suffered  not  only 
as  murderers,  but  as  thieves.  Publick  justice  quickened 
its  steps,  and  their  punishment  trod  upon  the  heels  of  their 
crimes.  We  congratulate  ourselves  upon  the  history  which 
you  have  sent  of  that  transaction  to  the  Ministry.  It  will 
certainly  add  weight  to  the  depositions  transmitted  by 
the  Provincial  Congress  of  Massachusetts-Bay ;  for  even 
treachery  itself,  when  it  reads  your  account  of  the  battle, 
will  be  forced  to  acknowledge  that  it  was  begun  by  your 
Troops,  and  that  the  ravages  they  committed  flowed  less 
from  provocations  than  from  the  natural  barbarity  of  their 
dispositions. 


The  reign  of  George  the  Third  seems  intended  by  Provi- 
dence to  establish  the  belief  of  the  most  miraculous  parts 
of  the  Scriptures.  It  requires  less  faith  to  believe  the  mira- 
cle of  Joshua,  than  that  freemen  will  not  fight  in  defence  of 
their  liberty.  It  requires  less  faith  to  believe  that  an  Egyp- 
tian Army  perished  in  the  Bed  Sea,  in  pursuit  of  a  people 
who  had  brought  the  greatest  calamities  upon  their  Country, 
than  to  believe  that  a  few  Regiments  of  English  soldiers, 
three  thousand  miles  from  resources  of  all  kinds,  can  subdue 
a  Continent  eighteen  hundred  in  extent,  crowded  with  in- 
habitants, all  united  to  each  other  by  the  closest  ties  of  inte- 
rest and  affection.  You,  too,  Sir,  have  contributed  your 
share  towards  confirming  a  historical  fact  in  the  Bible.  We 
cease  now  to  wonder  that  the  soldiers  who  guarded  our 
Saviour's  sepulchre,  swore  that  his  disciples  stole  his  body 
away  while  they  slept.  Your  conduct  shows  that  there  is 
nothing  repugnant  to  the  folly  of  human  nature  in  this  story. 
Your  letter  to  Governour  Trumbull  is  a  commentary  upon 
that  passage  of  Scripture,  and  serves  to  prove  that  soldiers 
are  actuated  by  the  same  principles  in  all  arbitrary  Govern- 
ments, and  that  their  abilities  do  not  equal  their  inclinations 
in  contriving  falsehoods. 

Where  now  is  the  martial  spirit  of  your  Army  ?  Where 
are  those  dogs  of  war  who  panted  so  eagerly  for  the  blood 
of  their  countrymen?  Alas!  how  are  the  mighty  fallen! 
No  wonder  they  trembled  and  fled  at  the  sight  of  a  few 
Companies  of  American  Militia;  for  English  courage  can 
dwell  only  in  the  society  of  justice  and  humanity.  The 
genius  of  Britain  deserted  her  sons  when  she  beheld  them 
fighting  under  the  banners  of  slavery.  No  successes  against 
America  can  ever  wipe  away  the  stain  they  have  brought 
upon  the  British  arms;  for  should  the  Colonies  at  last  be 
reduced,  I  will  venture  to  predict  that  three  hundred  half 
disciplined  British  Troops  will  never  chase  two  thousand 
well  disciplined  Americans  twenty  miles  in  six  hours. 

History  is  unfurnished  with  a  character  like  yours.  You 
are  cruel  without  inhumanity,  unjust  without  avarice,  and 
artful  without  design.  For  Heaven's  sake  let  experience 
teach  you  wisdom,  and  lead  you  to  truth.  Let  not  your 
talent  for  dissimulation  prove  your  ruin.  You  have  exer- 
cised it  hitherto  in  such  a  manner  as  to  serve  none  but  your 
enemies,  and  injure  none  but  your  friends.  One  candid 
acknowledgment  of  the  strength  and  union  of  the  Colonies, 
and  of  the  weakness  of  your  Troops,  in  your  letters  to  the 
Ministry,  will  immediately  restore  peace  and  union  to  Bri- 
tain and  the  Colonies.  Junius  Americantjs. 


MASSACHUSETTS  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY. 

April  5,  1775. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Safety,  at  the  house  of 
Mr.  Taylor,  of  Concord,  on  Wednesday,  the  5th  of  April, 
1775.    Present ; 

Honourable  John  Hancock,  Esq.,  Colonel  Palmer,  Col. 
Heath,  Capt.  White,  Mr.  Watson,  J.  Pigeon,  Mr.  Devens. 

Voted  unanimously,  That  the  Committee  of  Supplies  do 
directly  furnish  this  Committee  with  an  exact  account,  in 
writing,  of  all  the  Provisions  and  Stores,  and  the  places  of 
their  disposition. 

Voted,  That  one  piece  of  Cannon  be  sent  to  Colonel 
Mitchell,  of  Bridgeuater. 

April  14,  1775. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Safety,  at  Concord,  at 
the  house  of  Mr.  Taylor,  on  Saturday,  the  14th  of  April, 
1775.  Present: 

The  Honourable  John  Hancock,  Esq.,  Colonel  Heath, 
Captain  White,  Mr.  Devens,  Colonel  Gardner,  Mr.  Wat- 
son, Mr.  Palmer. 

Voted,  That  the  Cannon  now  in  the  Town  of  Concord 
be  immediately  disposed  of  within  said  Town,  as  the  Com- 
mittee of  Supplies  may  direct. 

Voted,  That  the  Cannon-powder,  now  at  Leicester,  be 
removed,  one  load  at  a  time,  to  this  Town,  and  made 
into  cartridges,  under  the  direction  of  the  Committee  of 
Supplies. 

N.  B.  Mr.  Devens  acted  as  Clerk  pro  tempore.  Colonel 
Gardner  this  day  was  chosen  as  one  of  the  Committee  of 


Safety,  instead  of  Deacon  Fisher,  who  resigned,  in  conse- 
quence of  the  distance  he  lives. 

April  17, 1775. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committees  of  Safety  and  Supplies, 
at  Mr.  Taylor's  house,  in  Concord,  on  Monday,  17th  April, 
1775.  Present: 

Committee  of  Safety. — Honourable  John  Hancock, 
Esq.,  Colonel  Heath,  Colonel  Palmer,  Captain  White,  Mr. 
Devens,  Colonel  Gardner,  Mr.  Watson,  Colonel  Orne,  J. 
Pigeon. 

Committee  of  Supplies. — Colonel  Lee,  Mr.  Gill,  Mr. 
Cheever,  Mr.  Gerry,  Colonel  Lincoln. 

Voted  unanimously,  That  application  be  made  to  Cap- 
tain Hatch,  for  captain  of  the  Artillery  Company  for  Bos- 
ton; and  if  he  refuses,  to  offer  it  to  Mr.  Crafts,  and  so  on 
in  order,  as  they  stand  in  the  Company.  Also  that  Capt. 
Bobinson,  of  Dorchester,  be  applied  to  as  captain  of  the 
Company  of  Dorchester ;  and  that  Mr.  Newall,  of  Charles- 
town,  be  applied  to  ;  that  the  Captain  for  the  Marblehead 
Company  be  not  appointed  until  the  Members  fox  Marble- 
head  make  inquiry  and  report.  That  Capt.  Timothy  Bige- 
low  be  applied  to  as  captain  of  the  Worcester  Company, 
and  that  Mr.  Thomas  Wait  Foster,  of  Hadley,  be  applied 
to  as  captain  of  the  Company  at  Hadley. 

Voted,  That  the  two  Four-Pounders  now  at  Concord  be 
mounted  by  the  Committee  of  Supplies;  and  that  Colonel 
Barrett  be  desired  to  raise  an  Artillery  Company,  to  join 
the  Army  when  raised,  they  to  have  no  pay  until  they  join 
the  Army ;  and  also  that  an  Instructor,  for  the  use  of  the 
cannon,  be  appointed,  and  to  be  put  directly  in  pay. 


743 


MASSACHUSETTS  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY,  APRIL,  1775. 


744 


Voted  unanimously,  That  six  Pounds,  lawful  money,  per 
month,  be  for  Captain's  pay  in  the  Artillery  Companies  ; 
that  the  First  and  Second  Lieutenants  have  four  Pounds  ; 
the  Lieutenant  of  fire-works  to  have  three  Pounds  five  Shil- 
lings ;  the  Sergeants  to  have  forty-two  Shillings  per  month  ; 
the  Corporals  thirty-eight  Shillings  per  month ;  the  com- 
mon men  thirty-six  Shillings  per  month ;  the  Drummers 
and  Fifers  thirty-eight  Shillings  per  month ;  also,  that  four 
Shillings  per  week  be  allowed  for  their  board. 

Voted,  That  when  these  Committees  adjourn,  it  be  to 
Mr.  Wetherby's,  at  the  Black-Horse,  Menotomy,  on  Wed- 
nesday, ten  o'clock. 

Voted,  That  the  four  Six-Pounders  be  transported  to 
Groton,  and  put  under  the  care  of  Colonel  Prescott. 

Voted,  That  two  seven-inch  Brass  Mortars  be  trans- 
ported to  Acton. 

Voted,  That  the  two  Committees  adjourn  to  Mr.  Wether- 
bi/s,  at  Menotomy,  ten  o'clock. 

April  18,  1775. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committees  of  Safety  and  Supplies, 
at  Mr.  Wctherby's,  in  Menotomy,  on  Tuesday,  the  18th  of 
April,  1775.  Present: 

Committee  of  Safety. — Colonel  Orne,  Colonel  Pal- 
mer, Colonel  Heath,  Colonel  Gardner,  Mr.  Devens,  Mr. 
Watson,  Captain  White,  J.  Pigeon. 

Committee  of  Supplies. — David  Cheever,  Esq.,  Mr. 
Gerry,  Colonel  Lee,  Colonel  Lincoln. 

Voted,  That  the  two  brass  Two-Pounders,  and  two  brass 
Three-Pounders.be  under  the  care  of  the  Boston  Company 
of  Artillery  and  Captain  Robinson. 

Newton,  April  17,  1775. 

Captain  Timothy  Bigelow: 

Sir  :  The  Committee  desired  me  to  write  you,  to  desire 
the  favour  of  your  company  next  Wednesday,  the  nine- 
teenth instant,  at  Mr.  Wetherby's,  at  the  Black-Horse,  in 
Menotomy,  on  business  of  great  importance. 

Sir,  your  most  humble  servant,       J.  Pigeon,  Clerk. 

P.  S.  The  Committee  meets  at  ten  o'clock. 

Voted,  That  all  the  Ammunition  be  deposited  in  nine  dif- 
ferent Towns  in  this  Province :  that  Worcester  be  one  of 
them  ;  that  Lancaster  be  one,  (N.  B.  Colonel  Whitcomb  is 
there;)  that  Concord  be  another;  that  Groton  be  another; 
that  Stoughtonham  be  another  ;  that  Stow  be  another;  that 
Mendon  be  another;  that  Leicester  be  another;  that  Sud- 
bury be  the  other. 

Voted,  That  part  of  the  Provisions  be  removed  from 
Concord,  viz :  Fifty  barrels  beef  from  thence  to  Sudbury, 
with  Deacon  Plympton;  one  hundred  barrels  flour  to  ditto, 
of  which  what  is  in  the  malt-house,  in  Concord,  be  part ; 
twenty  casks  rice  to  ditto ;  fifteen  hogsheads  molasses  to 
ditto ;  ten  hogsheads  rum  to  ditto ;  five  hundred  pounds 
candles  to  ditto. 

Voted,  That  there  be  by  the  Committee  of  Supplies 
provided,  six  Ammunition  Carts,  one  to  be  in  each  Town 
where  a  Company  of  Matrosses  is  fixed. 

Voted,  That  one  Company  of  Matrosses  be  stationed  at 
Worcester ;  one  ditto  at  Concord ;  one  ditto  at  Stoughton- 
ham;  one  ditto  at  Stoughton ;  one  ditto  at  Stow;  one  ditto 
at  Lancaster. 

Voted,  That  thirty-three  rounds  of  Round-Shot,  thirty- 
three  rounds  of  Grape-Shot,  and  thirty-three  Canisters  of 
Langrage,  be  provided  and  lodged  with  each  of  the  twelve 
field-pieces  belonging  to  the  Province,  together  with  one 
hundred  Cartridges  of  Powder,  one  hundred  and  sixteen 
Tubes,  one  hundred  Wads,  together  with  all  necessary  ma- 
terials. 

Voted,  That  the  Towns  of  Worcester,  Concord,  Stotv, 
and  Lancaster,  be  furnished  with  two  iron  Three-Pound 
Cannon  each. 

Voted,  That  four  hundred  and  fifty  Four-Pound  Cannon 
Ball  be  carried  from  Stoughtonham  to  Sudbury. 

Voted,  That  one  ton  of  Grape-Shot  be  carried  from 
StoughtonJiam  to  Sudbury. 

Voted,  That  one  ton  of  Three-Pound  Cannon  Balls  be 
carried  from  ditto  to  ditto. 

Voted,  That  one  half  the  Two-Pound  Cannon  Ball,  now 
at  Stoughtonham,  exclusive  of  what  is  for  the  use  of  the 
Matrosses,  be  carried  to  Sudbury. 


Voted,  That  the  vote  of  the  fourteenth  instant,  relating  to 
the  Powder  being  removed  from  Leicester  to  Concord,  be 
reconsidered,  and  that  the  Clerk  be  directed  to  write  to 
Colonel  Barrett  accordingly,  and  to  desire  he  would  not 
proceed  in  making  it  up  into  cartridges. 

Voted,  That  one  half  the  Musket-Cartridges  be  removed 
from  Stow  to  Groton. 

Voted,  That  the  Musket-Balls,  under  the  care  of  Col. 
Barrett,  be  buried  under  ground,  in  some  safe  place;  that 
he  be  desired  to  do  it,  and  let  the  Commissary  only  be  in- 
formed thereof. 

Voted,  That  the  Spades,  Pick-Axes,  Bill-Hooks,  Shov- 
els, Axes,  Hatchets,  Crows,  and  Wheelbarrows,  now  at 
Concord,  be  divided,  and  one  third  remain  in  Concord,  one- 
third  at  Sudbury,  and  one  third  at  Stow. 

Voted,  That  five  hundred  Iron  Pots  be  deposited  at  Sud- 
bury, five  hundred  at  Concord,  and  one  thousand  at  l\  or- 
cester. 

Voted,  That  the  two  thousand  Wooden  Bowls  be  depo- 
sited as  the  pots  and  the  spoons,  in  same  manner. 

Voted,  That  the  fifteen  thousand  Canteens  be  deposited 
as  the  above. 

Voted,  That  the  Weights  and  Measures  be  put  into  the 
Commissary's  hands. 

Voted,  That  two  Medicinal  Chests  still  remain  at  Con- 
cord, at  two  different  parts  of  the  Town  ;  three  of  said 
chests  at  Sudbury,  in  different  parts  of  the  Town  ;  six  ditto 
at  Groton,  Mendon,  and  Stow,  two  in  each  Town,  and  in 
different  parts ;  two  ditto  in  Worcester,  one  in  each  part  of 
the  Town  ;  and  two  ditto  at  Lancaster ;  that  sixteen  hun- 
dred yards  of  Russia  Linen  be  deposited  in  seven  parts, 
with  the  Doctors'  chests ;  that  the  eleven  hundred  Tents 
be  deposited  in  equal  parts  in  Worcester,  Lancaster,  Gro- 
ton, Stow,  Mendon,  Leicester,  and  Sudbury. 

Voted,  That  these  Committees  adjourn  to  nine  o'clock 
instead  of  ten. 

Voted,  That  the  Papers  belonging  to  the  Committees  be 
lodged  with  Mr.  Abraham  Watson. 

Newton,  April  19,  1775, 

Colonel  Barrett: 

Sir:  The  Committee  have  directed  me  to  inform  you, 
that  the  cannon-powder  which  last  Saturday  you  were  de- 
sired to  have  removed  from  Leicester,  one  load  at  a  time, 
and  to  make  up  into  cartridges,  they  would  not  have  you 
send  for,  unless  you  have  already  ;  but,  if  sent  for,  take 
care  of  it ;  but  don't  make  it  into  cartridges. 

I  am,  Sir,  your  humble  servant,      J.  Pigeon,  Clerk. 

April  21,  1775. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Safety,  April  21st, 
1775,  the  following  form  of  Enlistment  was  adopted  : 

"I,  A.  B.,  do  hereby  solemly  engage  and  enlist  mysell 
as  a  Soldier  in  the  Massachusetts  service,  from  the  day  ol 
my  enlistment  to  the  last  day  of  December  next,  unless  the 
service  should  admit  of  a  discharge  of  a  part  or  the  whole 
sooner,  which  shall  be  at  the  discretion  of  the  Committee 
of  Safety  ;  and  I  hereby  promise  to  submit  myself  to  all 
the  orders  and  regulations  of  the  Army,  and  faithfully  to 
observe  and  obey  all  such  orders  as  I  shall  receive  from 
any  superiour  officer." 

Resolved,  That  there  be  immediately  enlisted,  out  of  the 
Massachusetts  Forces,  eight  thousand  effective  men,  to  be 
formed  into  Companies,  to  consist  of  a  Captain,  one  Lieu- 
tenant, one  Ensign,  four  Sergeants,  one  Filer,  one  Drum- 
mer, and  seventy  rank  and  file  ;  nine  Companies  to  form  a 
Regiment,  to  be  commanded  by  a  Colonel,  Lieut.  Colonel, 
and  Major ;  each  Regiment  to  be  composed  of  men  suitable 
for  the  service,  which  shall  be  determined  by  a  Muster- 
Master  or  Muster-Masters,  to  be  appointed  for  that  pur- 
pose. Said  officers  and  men  to  continue  in  the  service  of 
the  Province  for  the  space  of  seven  months  from  the  time 
of  enlistment,  unless  the  safety  of  the  Province  will  admit 
of  their  being  discharged  sooner ;  the  Army  to  be  under 
proper  rules  and  regulations. 

Voted,  That  the  Field-Pieces  be  removed  from  Neu-bu- 
ryport,  and  deposited,  for  the  present,  into  the  hands  of 
Captain  Dexter,  of  Maiden. 

Voted,  That  a  Courier  be  immediately  despatched  to 
Stoughton,  to  require  the  immediate  attendance  of  Colonel 


745 


MASSACHUSETTS  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY,  APRIL,  1775. 


746 


Ruhard  Gridley,  and  his  son  Scarborough  Gridley,  upon 
this  Committee. 

J  ottd,  That  a  Courier  be  sent  to  command  the  attendance 
of  David  Mason,  now  upon  furlough  at  Salem. 

Voted,  That  Mr.  Mason  be  ordered  to  provide  one  Field- 
Piece  with  every  implement  necessary  for  action,  and  pro- 
ceed forthwith  to  provide  for  the  remainder,  till  the  whole 
are  in  a  thorough  state  of  preparation,  unless  otherwise 
ordered  ;  the  Cannon  to  be  provided  for  are  eight  three- 
pounders  and  three  six-pounders. 

Voted,  That  orders  be  given  to  Captain  Dexter  to  con- 
ceal the  Cannon  committed  to  his  care. 
Which  was  accordingly  done. 

Voted,  The  Resolve  above  written  be  so  far  reconsidered, 
as  that  the  Companies,  rank  and  file,  consist  of  fifty  men 
each,  and  that  no  further  obligation  be  required  of  those 
Companies  who  are  adjudged  to  be  firmly  enlisted  by  their 
respective  officers. 

Voted,  That  an  establishment  be  proposed  for  the  Troops 
at  an  early  day  after  the  meeting  of  Congress. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Pigeon,  the  Commissary-General, 
be  directed  to  carry  thirty-five  barrels  of  Pork,  and  half  a 
barrel  of  hog's  fat,  from  the  Town  of  Salem  to  the  Town  of 
Cambridge,  by  virtue  of  an  order  from  Mr.  William  Bond. 

Voted,  That  the  General  Officers  be  forthwith  desired  to 
make  a  return  of  such  Officers  and  Soldiers  as  are  already 
under  sufficient  engagements  to  serve  in  the  Massachusetts 
Army. 

Voted,  That  the  General  Officers  be  desired,  with  all  pos- 
sible speed,  to  give  in  a  list  of  such  Officers  as  they  shall 
judge  duly  qualified  to  serve  as  Colonels,  Lieutenant-Col- 
onels, and  Majors,  for  such  a  number  of  Regiments  as  shall, 
with  the  officers  and  soldiers  already  engaged,  make  up  an 
army  of  eight  thousand  men. 

Voted,  That  Major  Bigelow  be  applied  to,  to  furnish  a 
Man  and  Horse  to  attend  the  Surgeons,  and  convey  Medi- 
cines agreeable  to  their  direction. 

April  22,  1775. 

Voted,  That  the  Commissary-General  be  directed  to 
have  the  Stores  belonging  to  the  Colony  removed  from  all 
the  sea-port  Towns  with  all  possible  speed. 

Voted,  That  Captain  Foster  be  ordered  to  take  the  care 
of  the  Cannon  and  Intrenching  Tools  at  Mr.  Bichardson's 
Tavern. 

Voted,  That  the  Commissary-General  be  directed  to  in- 
spect the  Intrenching  Tools,  and  if  any  are  out  of  order,  to 
see  them,  with  all  possible  speed,  repaired. 

April  24,  1775. 

Resolved,  That  General  Ward  be  desired  immediately 
to  direct  all  the  Field-Officers  of  the  Regiments  of  Minute- 
Men,  now  in  Cambridge,  to  attend  the  Committee  of  Safety 
at  their  chamber,  at  Mr.  Steward  Hastings's  house. 

Besolved,  That  the  inhabitants  of  Chelsea  and  Maiden 
be,  and  hereby  are  absolutely  forbidden  to  fire  upon,  or 
otherwise  injure  any  Seamen  belonging  to  the  Navy,  under 
the  command  of  Admiral  Graves,  unless  fired  upon  by  them, 
until  the  said  inhabitants  of  Chelsea  and  Maiden  receive 
orders  from  this  Committee,  or  the  General  of  the  Provin- 
cial Forces,  to  do  so. 

April  25,  1775. 

Besolved,  That  the  three  Cannon  now  at  Marlborough, 
be  brought  to  the  Town  of  Waltham,  and  mounted  on  the 
carriages  prepared  for  them,  till  further  orders. 

Besolved,  That  Colonel  Freeman,  of  Sandwich,  be  di- 
rected to  take  such  a  number  of  Men  as  may  be  sufficient 
for  the  purpose,  and  secure  the  Whale  and  such  other  Boats 
at  Cape  Cod,  as  may  be  of  use  to  this  Colony. 

Besolved,  That  Colonel  Paul  Dudley  Sergeant,  of  New- 
Hampshire,  be  desired  forthwith  to  recommend  ten  per- 
sons belonging  to  the  Colony  of  New-Hampshire,  to  receive 
beating  orders  for  the  enlistment  of  persons  belonging  to 
said  Colony,  until  they  are  discharged  by  this  Committee, 
or  taken  into  the  service  of  the  Colony  of  New-Hamp- 
shire. 

Besolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  Provincial 
Congress  to  reduce  the  Regiments  so  far  as  that  the  Com- 
panies consist  of  fifty-nine  men,  including  officers,  and  also 
that  they  allow  only  two  Lieutenants  to  a  Company. 


Besolved,  That  be  ordered,  with  the  Troop 

of  Horse  under  his  command,  to  proceed  forward  as  an 
escort  to  the  honourable  Members  of  the  Continental  Con- 
gress, on  their  way  to  Philadelphia,  until  they  are  met  by 
an  escort  from  the  Colony  of  Connecticut. 

April  26,  1775. 

Voted,  That  an  Express  be  sent  ofTto  General  Preble, 
at  Falmouth,  desiring  his  attendance  at  Cambridge,  as  a 
general  officer,  or  in  his  private  capacity. 

Ordered,  That  fifteen  of  the  Prisoners  at  Concord  be  re- 
moved from  thence  to  Worcester  Jail  immediately. 

Upon  a  motion  made,  Voted,  That  the  Secretary  of  this 
Committee  be  directed  and  empowered  to  sign  any  Papers 
or  writings  in  behalf  of  this  Committee. 

Voted,  That  Mr.  Ephraim  Jones,  Jail-keeper  of  Worces- 
ter, be  directed  to  receive  fifteen  Prisoners  from  the  Jail  in 
Concord. 

Voted,  That  this  Committee  recommend  it  to  the  Pro- 
vincial Congress,  that  they  make  an  establishment  for  such 
a  number  of  Armourers  as  they  may  judge  necessary  for  the 
Forces  belonging  to  this  Colony. 

Besolved,  That  as  many  men  as  are  not  already  enlisted, 
and  incline  to  remain  in  the  Army,  immediately  enlist,  in 
order  that  it  may  be  ascertained  what  number  may  be  still 
necessary  to  be  raised  in  each  Town  to  complete  the  com- 
plement of  Troops  for  this  Colony,  and  to  forward  to  each 
Town  their  remaining  quota ;  and  the  men  that  may  now 
enlist  may  be  assured,  that  they  shall  have  liberty  to  be 
under  the  command  of  such  officer  as  may  be  appointed  by 
the  Committee  of  Safety,  until  the  particular  Regiment 
and  Companies  are  completed  ;  and  the  utmost  care  will  be 
taken  to  make  every  soldier  happy  in  being  under  good 
officers. 

On  the  twenty-fourth  of  April  it  was  resolved  that  the 
inhabitants  of  Chelsea  and  Maiden  be,  and  hereby  are  ab- 
solutely forbidden  to  fire  upon  or  otherwise  injure  any  Sea- 
men belonging  to  the  Navy,  under  the  command  of  Admiral 
Graves,  unless  fired  upon  by  them,  until  the  said  inhabitants 
of  Chelsea  and  Maiden  receive  orders  from  this  Committee, 
or  the  General  of  the  Provincial  Forces,  so  to  do : 

Besolved,  That  the  Resolve  of  the  twenty-fourth  instant, 
respecting  the  inhabitants  of  Chelsea  and  Maiden,  be  recon- 
sidered, and  ordered  that  it  be  immediately  remanded ;  also, 

Besolved,  That  the  inhabitants  of  Chelsea  and  Maiden 
be  hereby  desired  to  put  themselves  in  the  best  state  of  de- 
fence, and  exert  the  same  in  such  manner,  as,  under  their 
circumstances,  their  judgments  may  direct. 

The  following  Warrant,  for  supplying  an  Express  on  the 
Colony  service,  was  issued  : 

"  To  all  Innkeepers,  Taverners,  and  other  persons  whom 
it  may  concern : 

"  You  are  desired  to  furnish  the  bearer,  Mr.  John  GUI, 
with  all  necessaries  upon  his  journey  to,  and  return  from 
Bhode-Island ,  as  also  with  horses,  if  necessary,  and  to  ex- 
hibit your  accounts  to  the  Committee  of  Safety  for  this 
Colony,  he  being  an  Express  in  the  Colony  service." 

The  following  Certificate  was  given  to  Doctor  Bond : 

"  In  Committee  of  Safety,  Cambridge,  i 
"  April  26,  1775.  I 

"Doctor  Nathaniel  Bond,  of  Marblehead,  having  been 
charged  before  this  Committee  with  having  acted  an  un- 
friendly part  to  this  Colony,  the  said  Committee  appointed 
Joseph  Warren,  Esq.,  Colonel  Thos.  Gardner,  and  Lieut. 
Colonel  Joseph  Palmer,  as  a  Court  of  Inquiry,  to  examine 
witnesses  in  the  case,  and  hear  and  determine  the  same;  and 
upon  full  inquiry  into  the  case,  they  are  clearly  of  opinion 
that  said  Bond's  general  behaviour  has  been  friendly  to 
American  liberty ;  and  though  he  may  have  discovered  an 
imprudent  degree  of  warmth  in  some  instances,  yet  we  do 
not  find  any  proof  of  an  inimical  temper  or  disposition  to 
this  Country,  and  therefore  recommend  him  to  the  esteem 
and  friendship  of  his  Country,  that  (as  the  errour  which 
occasioned  his  being  brought  before  this  Committee  appears 
to  have  been  altogether  involuntary,  and  was  such  as  seve- 
ral of  our  most  firm  friends  were  led  into,  by  false  rumours 
spread,  of  the  transactions  of  the  nineteenth  instant)  no  im- 
pressions to  the  Doctor's  disadvantage  may  remain  on  the 
minds  of  any  person  whatsoever. 

"Joseph  Warren,  Chairman." 


747 


MASSACHUSETTS  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY,  APRIL,  1775. 


748 


April  27,  1775. 

Resolved,  Tliat  Captain  Derby  be  directed,  and  he  here- 
by is  directed,  to  make  for  Dublin,  or  any  good  port  in  Ire- 
land, and  from  thence  to  cross  to  Scotland  or  England,  and 
hasten  to  London.  This  direction  is,  that  so  he  may  escape 
all  cruisers  that  may  be  in  the  chops  of  the  Channel  to 
stop  the  communicating  of  the  Provincial  intelligence  to 
the  Agent. 

Voted,  That  it  is  the  sense  of  this  Committee  that  it 
would  promote  the  service,  if  two  Majors  be  appointed  to 
each  of  the  general  officers'  Regiments,  and  that  it  be  re- 
commended accordingly  to  the  Provincial  Congress. 

A  Letter,  dated  twenty-sixth  instant,  was  sent  to  the 
Colony  o{  Rhode-Island ;  and  another,  of  the  same  tenour, 
was  sent  to  the  Colony  of  Connecticut. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  John  Glover  take  such  effectual 
methods  for  the  prevention  of  intelligence  being  carried  on 
board  the  Lively,  ship-of-war,  Captain  Bishop,  command- 
er, now  lying  in  the  harbour  of  Marblehead,  or  any  other, 
as  may  have  a  tendency  to  injure  the  most  important  cause 
we  are  engaged  in,  and  that  he  take  such  effectual  methods 
for  carrying  this  order  into  execution,  as  shall  appear  best 
calculated  to  effect  this  purpose. 

April  28,  1775. 

Voted.,  To  recommend  to  the  Colony  Congress,  now  sit- 
ting in  Watertown,  and  it  is  recommended  accordingly,  to 
make  an  establishment  for  Post-Riders  between  the  Massa- 
chusetts Forces  and  the  Town  of  Worcester. 

Also  that  the  said  Congress  take  such  order  as  they  may 
think  proper,  to  prevent  any  Town  or  District  taking  any 
notice  of  his  Excellency  General  Gage's  precepts  for  call- 
ing a  General  Assembly. 

Doctor  Warren  was  appointed  to  give  the  sentiments  of 
this  Committee  on  Lord  Dartmouth's  Circular  Letter  to 
the  other  Governments. 

Voted,  That  Mr.  President  Langdon  be,  and  he  hereby 
is  appointed  Chaplain  of  the  Army  in  Cambridge,  pro  tern., 
and  that  he  be  furnished  with  a  copy  of  this  vote. 

Major  Brown  was  appointed  to  give  such  repairs  to  the 
Cannon  at  Waltham,  as  may  be  judged  proper. 

Ordered,  That  the  Commissary-General  be  directed  to 
provide  Quarters  for  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  men  from 
Connecticut,  under  the  command  of  Major  Brown. 

Voted,  That  it  is  the  sense  of  this  Committee  that  no 
Enlisting  Orders  be  hereafter  given  out,  unless  a  written 
order  is  received  from  the  respective  Colonels. 

Voted,  That  for  the  future,  no  order  go  out,  to  any  men 
that  live  in  New-York  Government,  or  any  other  Govern- 
ment, for  the  enlisting  of  men  for  the  service  of  this  Prov- 
ince. 

Ordered,  That  the  Cannon  now  in  Medford  be  immedi- 
ately brought  to  this  Town,  under  the  direction  of  Captain 
Foster. 

Voted,  That  General  Thomas  be  desired  to  distribute 
the  Orders  which  he  has  received,  some  time  since,  for 
enlisting  a  Regiment,  to  such  Captains  as  he  thinks  proper. 

Mr.  Henderson  Inches,  who  left  BostoJi  this  day,  attended, 
and  informed  the  Committee  that  the  inhabitants  of  Boston 
had  agreed  with  the  General,  to  have  liberty  to  leave  Bos- 
ton with  their  effects,  provided  that  they  lodged  their  Arms 
with  the  Selectmen  of  that  Town,  to  be  by  them  kept 
during  the  present  dispute ;  and  that  agreeable  to  said  agree- 
ment, the  inhabitants  had,  on  the  yesterday,  lodged  seven- 
teen hundred  and  seventy-eight  Fire-Arms,  six  hundred 
and  thirty-four  Pistols,  nine  hundred  and  seventy-three 
Bayonets,  and  thirty-eight  Blunderbusses,  with  their  Se- 
lectmen. 

Voted,  That  Doctor  Warren,  Colonel  Palmer,  and  Mr. 
Watson,  be  a  Sub-Committee,  to  take  the  state  of  Boston 
into  consideration,  and  report  as  soon  as  may  be. 

April  29,  1775. 

A  Vote  of  Provincial  Congress  was  read,  respecting  the 
removal  of  the  inhabitants  of  Boston;  whereupon  Colonel 
Orne,  Mr.  Dcvens,  and  Captain  White,  were  appointed  a 
Sub-Committee,  to  take  the  matter  into  consideration,  and 
report  as  soon  as  may  be. 

Voted,  That  orders  be  sent  into  the  neighbouring  Towns, 
requiring  one-half  of  the  Militia  to  be  immediately  sent 
into  Roxbury  and  Cambridge,  as  a  rc-enforccment  to  our 


Army,  and  that  the  rest  of  the  inhabitants  hold  themselves 
in  readiness  to  march  at  a  minute's  warning ;  also, 

Voted,  That  Mr.  Watson,  Captain  White,  and  Colonel 
Gardner,  be  a  Sub-Committee  to  report  the  Towns  to  be 
sent  to,  the  destination  of  the  re-enforcements,  and  the  ex- 
presses to  be  despatched. 

Voted,  That  the  Secretary  be  directed  to  empower  Ex- 
presses to  press  as  many  Horses  as  they  may  have  occasion 
for. 

Voted,  That  the  Committee  of  Supplies,  at  Watertown, 
be  directed  to  attend  this  Committee  immediately,  and  that 
the  Secretary  write  them  accordingly. 

Upon  information  that  the  supplies  of  Powder  and  Ball 
at  Watertown  were  in  the  keeping  of  the  Commissary- 
General, 

Voted,  That  General  Ward  be  desired  to  apply  to  the 
Commissary  for  such  a  quantity  of  said  Stores  as  he  may 
have  occasion  for. 

Voted,  That  Dr.  Isaac  Foster  be  directed  and  empower- 
ed to  remove  all  the  sick  and  wounded,  whose  circumstan- 
ces will  admit  of  it,  into  the  Hospital,  and  to  supply  proper 
beds  and  bedding,  clothing,  victuals,  and  furniture,  with 
every  other  article  that  he  shall  judge  proper  for  said  Hos- 
pital, and  that  this  be  a  sufficient  order  for  him  to  draw  on 
the  Commissary  for  such  articles  as  he  can  supply,  and  to 
draw  orders  on  the  Commissary  for  the  payment  of  what- 
ever expenses  are  necessary,  for  procuring  the  above-men- 
tioned articles. 

Voted,  That  the  Secretary  desire  Messrs.  Halls,  printers, 
at  Salem,  to  print  three  hundred  Letters,  to  be  sent  to  the 
several  Towns  in  the  Province. 

Captain  Benedict  Arnold,  with  a  Company,  being  ar- 
rived here  from  Connecticut, 

Ordered,  That  the  Commissary-General  be  directed  to 
provide  suitable  Quarters  for  said  Company. 

Upon  motion  made,  Voted,  That  orders  be  given  to  Gen. 
Thomas  for  seizing  Governour  Hutchinson's  Papers. 

A  Letter  from  General  Thomas,  respecting  some  Compa- 
nies of  Minute-Men  at  Dartmouth,  was  read  ;  whereupon, 

Voted,  That  Colonel  Orne,  Colonel  Palmer,  and  Colo- 
nel Gardner,  be  a  Sub-Committee  to  consider  and  give  di- 
rections relative  to  the  General's  request. 

A  Letter  from  Colonel  Hancock,  now  at  Worcester,  was 
read ;  whereupon, 

Voted,  That  four  reams  of  Paper  be  immediately  ordered 
to  Worcester  by  Mr.  Barber,  for  the  use  of  Mr.  Thomas, 
printer,  he  to  be  accountable. 

Letter  from  Medford  read  ;  whereupon,  Voted,  That  the 
Company  now  raised,  hold  themselves  in  readiness  to  march 
at  a  minute's  warning ;  remaining  in  Medford  till  further 
orders. 

The  Sub-Committee  on  Gen.  Thomas's  Letter,  report- 
ed, that  it  be  ordered  that  Capt.  Nathaniel  Richmorid,  with 
any  other  Captain  that  can  bring  into  the  camp  fifty-six 
men,  including  Sergeants,  that  will  enlist  into  the  service  of 
this  Colony,  shall  have  the  encouragement  given  by  the 
Provincial  Congress,  and  shall  immediately  enter  into  pay 
upon  their  enlistment.  The  critical  situation  of  our  publick 
affairs  demand  the  utmost  exertion  of  the  friends  of  Ame- 
rica, and  should  remissness  now  appear,  the  consequences 
may  be  fatal. 

Voted,  That  Mr.  Watson  be  desired  to  make  inquiry 
with  respect  to  the  Colony  Arms  not  in  use,  and  that  Cap- 
tain Gutteridge,  of  the  Indian  Company,  have  such  a  num- 
ber as  is  desired. 

Voted,  That  Colonel  Gerrish  be  desired  to  send  Major 
Dunbar,  now  a  prisoner  at  Head-Quarters,  to  Woburn, 
under  a  strong  guard,  and  order  him  to  be  there  kept  in  safe 
custody,  till  further  orders  from  this  Committee. 

Voted,  That  Captain  Hill  and  Company  be  furnished 
with  Provisions  at  any  tavern  they  see  fit  to  call  at,  in  con- 
veying Major  Dunbar  to  a  place  of  safety,  at  the  expense 
of  the  Province. 

Voted,  That  Captain  Brown,  of  Watertown,  be  desired, 
upon  any  advice  of  the  Troops  coming  out,  to  order  the 
Cannon  to  a  place  of  safety,  and  that  for  that  purpose  he  be 
empowered  to  press  horses,  cattle,  &ic. 

April  30,  1775. 

Captain  Benedict  Arnold,  captain  of  a  Company  from 
Connecticut,  attended,  and  reports,  that  there  are  at  Ticon- 


719 


MASSACHUSETTS  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY,  MAY,  1 775. 


750 


deroga  eighty  pieces  of  heavy  cannon,  twenty  pieces  brass 
cannon,  from  four  to  eighteen-pounders,  and  ten  or  twelve 
mortars ;  at  Skcnesboroiigh,  on  the  South  Bay,  three  or 
four  pieces  of  brass  cannon ;  the  Fort,  in  a  ruinous  condition, 
is  supposed  to  have  about  forty  or  forty-five  men,  a  number 
of  small  arms,  and  considerable  stores.  A  sloop  of  seventy 
or  eighty  tons  on  the  lake. 

Voted,  That  an  order  be  given  to  Major  Bigeloiv,  de- 
siring him  to  have  the  Province  Arms,  either  in  Worcester 
or  Concord,  immediately  brought  to  this  Town. 

Voted,  That  Mr.  John  Chandler  Williams  be  directed 
to  attend  this  Committee,  that  he  may  be  employed  as  an 
Express. 

Voted,  That  the  Committee  appointed  yesterday,  to 
consider  the  state  of  the  Town  of  Boston,  be  now  desired 
to  sit,  and  form  a  plan  for  the  liberation  of  the  inhabitants. 

The  Sub-Committee,  on  the  removal  of  the  inhabitants 
from  Boston,  reported  ;  which  report  was  accepted,  and  Dr. 
Warren,  Col.  Palmer,  and  Col.  Orne,  were  appointed  to 
wait  upon  the  Congress  with  the  proposals. 

Voted,  That  two  Offices  be  opened  to  deliver  permits  for 
such  persons  as  desire  to  enter  Boston  with  their  effects. 

Voted,  That  Colonel  Samuel  Gcrrish  be  appointed  to 
the  office  of  granting  permits,  at  the  house  of  Mr.  John 
Greaton,  of  Roxbury. 

Voted,  That  Colonel  William  Hcnshaiv  be  appointed  to 
the  office  of  granting  permits,  at  the  sign  of  the  Sun,  in 
Charlestown. 

The  following  Orders  were  delivered  to  Col.  Gerrish: 

"  You  are  hereby  empowered,  agreeably  to  a  vote  of  the 
Provincial  Congress,  to  grant  liberty  that  any  of  the  in- 
habitants of  this  Colony,  who  may  incline  to  go  into  Bos- 
tun  with  their  effects,  fire-arms  and  ammunition  excepted, 
have  toleration  for  that  purpose,  and  that  they  be  protected 
from  any  injury  or  insult  whatsoever  in  their  removal  to 
Boston.  The  following  form  of  a  permit  is  for  your  govern- 
ment, the  blanks  of  which  you  are  to  fill  up  with  the  names, 
and  number  of  the  persons,  viz : 

"  Permit  A.  B.,  the  bearer  hereof,  with  his  family,  con- 
sisting of  .  .  .  persons,  with  his  effects,  fire-arms  and  am- 
munition excepted,  to  pass  unmolested  into  the  Town  of 
Boston,  between  sunrise  and  sunset. 

"  By  order  of  the  Provincial  Congress  : 

"Joseph  Warren,  Clerk,  \no  tern." 

Voted,  That  Andrew  Craigie  be  appointed  to  take  care 
of  the  Medical  Stores,  and  to  deliver  them  out  as  ordered 
by  this  Committee ;  and  that  the  Secretary  make  out  his 
commission  accordingly. 

Voted,  That  it  be  recommended  by  this  Committee  to  the 
Council  of  War,  that  Mr.  Joseph  Pierce  Palmer  be  appoint- 
ed to  the  post  of  Quarter-Master  General  of  the  Army. 

Whereas,  proposals  have  been  made  by  General  Gage, 
to  the  inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Boston,  for  the  removal 
of  their  persons  and  effects  into  the  country,  excepting 
their  arms  and  ammunition  : 

Resolved,  That  any  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  Colony, 
who  may  incline  to  go  into  the  Town  of  Boston  with  their 
effects,  fire-arms  and  ammunition  excepted,  have  tolera- 
tion for  that  purpose,  and  that  they  be  protected  from  any 
injury  or  insult  whatsoever ;  this  Resolve  to  be  immediately 
published. 

May  1,  1775. 

T'oted,  That  the  Quarter-Master  General  be  directed 
to  clear  that  Chamber  in  Stoughton  College,  occupied  by 
>S'.  Parsons,  for  a  Printing  Office  for  Messrs.  Halls. 

Whereas,  many  of  our  brethren  of  the  Colonies  of  Con- 
necticut and  Rhode-Island  are  now  with  us,  to  assist  in 
this  day  of  publick  and  general  distress,  in  which  we  are 
all  deeply  concerned :  and,  whereas,  our  brethren  of  said 
Colonies  have  brought  with  them  some  of  the  Paper  Cur- 
rencies of  their  respective  Colonies,  which  have  not  of  late 
had  a  currency  with  us,  and  for  want  of  which  our  com- 
mon interest  may  greatly  suffer: 

Resolved,  That  said  Paper  Currencies  shall,  from  and 
after  the  date  hereof,  be  paid  and  received  within  this 
Colony,  in  all  payments,  to  all  intents  and  purposes,  in 
the  same  proportion  to  silver  as  the  same  are  paid  and 
received  within  the  respective  Colonies  by  which  the  same 
have  been  issued. 


Resolved,  That  Col.  Palmer  be  a  Committee  to  inquire 
into  the  matter,  to  find  what  Colonies  have  such  Currencies, 
to  alter  the  Resolve  agreeably  thereto,  and  to  present  the 
same  to  the  honourable  Congress  for  their  consideration. 

Voted,  That  the  Reverend  Mr.  Gordon  have  free  access 
to  the  Prisoners  detained  at  Worcester  and  elsewhere,  and 
that  all  civil  Magistrates  and  others  be  aiding  and  assist- 
ing him  in  examining  and  taking  depositions  of  them  and 
others. 

May  2,  1775. 

Doctor  Warren,  Colonel  Palmer,  and  Colonel  Gardner, 
were  appointed  a  Sub-Committee  to  confer  with  General 
Ward,  relative  to  the  proposal  made  by  Colonel  Arnold, 
of  Connecticut,  for  an  attempt  upon  Ticonderoga. 

A  number  of  Recantations,  from  the  Town  of  Marble- 
head,  having  been  laid  before  the  Committee  for  their  opin- 
ion as  to  the  propriety  of  receiving  them : 

Voted,  That  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  Committee,  that 
said  Recantations  be  received,  and  that  the  persons  making 
them  be  made  acquainted  with  the  Proclamation  lately 
issued  by  Congress,  respecting  those  who  may  incline  to 
get  into  Boston  ;  and  that  it  be  recommended  to  the  inhab- 
itants of  this  Province  that  they  be  protected  from  all  inju- 
ries or  insults  whatsoever,  so  long  as  they  adhere  to  their 
several  Recantations,  now  before  this  Committee,  and  con- 
tinue to  assist  and  abide  by  their  Country,  and  the  inhabit- 
ants of  Marb/chead  in  particular,  in  the  important  dispute 
between  Great  Britain  and  America. 

Voted,  That  two  Muster-Masters  he  appointed,  one  at  the 
Camp  in  Cambridge,  and  one  at  the  Camp  in  Roxbury. 

Voted,  That  General  Thomas  be  desired  to  give  such 
orders  respecting  the  Whale-Boats  at  Falmouth,  and  other 
parts  southward,  as  he  may  judge  proper. 

Voted,  That  the  Massachusetts  Congress  be  desired 
to  give  an  order  upon  the  Treasurer  for  the  immediate 
payment  of  one  hundred  Pounds,  in  cash  ;  and  also  order 
two  hundred  pounds  of  Gunpowder,  two  hundred  weight 
of  Lead  Balls,  and  one  thousand  Flints,  and  also  ten 
Horses,  to  be  delivered  unto  Captain  Benedict  Arnold, 
for  the  use  of  this  Colony,  upon  a  certain  service  approved 
of  by  the  Council  of  War :  said  Arnold  to  be  accountable 
for  the  same,  to  this  or  some  future  Congress,  or  House  of 
Representatives  of  this  Colony. 

Voted,  That  two  Companies  be  raised  in  Brainiree,  for 
the  immediate  defence  of  the  sea-coast  of  said  Town  ;  the 
said  Companies  to  be  joined  to  such  Regiment  in  future  as 
they  may  be  ordered  to,  should  there  be  occasion,  or  dis- 
charged from  service  as  soon  as  the  publick  good  would 
admit  of  it ;  and  that  Colonel  Thayer  be  furnished  with 
two  sets  of  enlisting  papers  for  this  purpose. 

Voted,  That  General  Thomas  be,  and  he  hereby  is 
directed  and  empowered  to  stop  the  Trunks  mentioned  to 
be  in  Colonel  Taylor's  hands,  until  this  Committee  send 
some  proper  persons  to  examine  their  contents. 

Resolved,  That  agreeably  to  a  Vote  of  Congress,  Gen- 
eral Thomas  be  directed  and  empowered  to  appoint  suit- 
able persons  to  accompany  such  people  into  the  country  as 
may  be  permitted  to  bring  their  effects  into  Boston,  upon 
the  conditions  mentioned  in  the  Proclamations  posted  up, 
and  that  General  Thomas  give  such  general  orders  as  he 
may  judge  the  common  safety  requires. 

Voted,  That  Colonel  Arnold,  appointed  to  a  secret  ser- 
vice, be  desired  to  appoint  two  Field-Officers,  Captains, 
&c,  to  be  allowed  the  same  pay  during  their  continuance 
in  service  as  is  established  for  officers  and  privates  of  the 
same  rank,  who  are  ordered  by  the  Congress  of  Massachu- 
setts-Bay to  be  raised  for  the  defence  of  the  rights  and 
liberties  of  America ;  the  officers  and  privates  to  be  dis- 
missed by  Colonel  Arnold,  or  the  Committee  of  Safety, 
whenever  they  shall  think  proper. 

Voted,  That  the  Committee  of  Supplies  be  desired  to 
procure  ten  Horses  for  Colonel  Arnold,  to  be  employed  on 
a  special  service. 

Voted,  That  Mr.  Isaac  Bradish,  Keeper  of  the  Prison 
in  Cambridge,  be  supplied  with  Provisions  out  of  the  Colo- 
ny Stores,  for  the  support  of  the  Prisoners  under  his  care, 
who  have  or  may  be  committed  by  the  orders  of  the  Coun- 
cil of  War,  or  this  Committee. 

The  Quarter-Master  General  having  informed  that  some 
persons  unknown  had  made  spoil  of  Liquors  in  the  cellars 


\ 


751 


MASSACHUSETTS  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY,  MAY,  1775. 


752 


of  General  Brattle,  and  Mr.  Borland,  and  others;  where- 
upon, 

Voted,  That  lie  be  directed  to  take  possession  of  those 
Liquors,  and  other  Stores,  immediately,  in  all  the  houses 
which  are  deserted,  and  that  a  particular  account  of  such 
stores  be  taken,  and  they  then  be  committed  to  the  care  of 
the  Commissary-General. 

May  3,  1775. 

Voted,  That  two  Companies  be  raised  in  the  Towns  of 
Maiden  and  Chelsea,  for  the  defence  of  the  sea-coast  of 
said  Towns,  the  said  Companies  to  be  joined  to  such  Regi- 
ments in  future  as  they  may  be  ordered  to,  should  there  be 
occasion,  or  discharged  from  service  as  soon  as  the  publick 
good  will  admit  of  it. 

Voted,  That  the  Quarter-Master  General  be  directed  to 
pay  the  strictest  attention,  that  the  Household  Furniture, 
of  those  persons  who  have  taken  refuge  in  the  Town  of 
Boston,  may  be  properly  secured,  and  disposed  of  in  places 
of  safety. 

The  following  Orders  were  given  Colonel  Arnold,  rela- 
tive to  an  attempt  upon  Ticonderoga,  viz  : 

To  Benedict  Arnold,  Esquire,  commander  of  a  body  of 
Troops  on  an  expedition  to  subdue  and  take  possession 
of  the  Fort  of  Ticonderoga  : 

Sir:  Confiding  in  your  judgment,  fidelity,  and  valour, 
we  do,  by  these  presents,  constitute  and  appoint  you  Col- 
onel and  Commander-in-Chief  over  a  body  of  men,  not 
exceeding  four  hundred,  to  proceed  with  all  expedition  to 
the  Western  parts  of  this  and  the  neighbouring  Colonies, 
where  you  are  directed  to  enlist  those  men,  and  with  them 
forthwith  to  march  to  the  Fort  at  Ticonderoga,  and  use 
your  best  endeavours  to  reduce  the  same,  taking  possession 
of  the  cannon,  mortars,  stores,  &tc,  upon  the  Lake ;  you 
are  to  bring  back  with  you  such  of  the  cannon,  mortars, 
stores,  &c,  as  you  shall  judge  may  be  serviceable  to  the 
Army  here,  leaving  behind  what  may  be  necessary  to 
secure  that  post,  with  a  sufficient  garrison ;  you  are  to  pro- 
cure suitable  provisions  and  stores  for  the  Army,  and  draw 
upon  the  Committee  of  Safety  for  the  amount  thereof,  and 
to  act  in  every  exigence,  according  to  your  best  skill  and 
discretion,  for  the  publick  interest,  for  which  this  shall  be 
your  sufficient  warrant. 

Benj.  Church,  Jun.,  for  Com.  of  Safety. 
By  order  :  William  Cooper,  Secretary. 

Cambridge  May  3,  1775. 

Moved  and  voted,  That  the  Vote  passed  the  second  of 
May,  respecting  the  raising  of  two  Companies  in  Brain- 
tree,  be  reconsidered,  and  that  the  copy  of  said  Vote, 
together  with  the  two  Enlisting  Papers,  be  ordered  to  be 
returned  into  the  hands  of  said  Committee  of  Safety  ; 

And  whereas,  a  Petition  from  the  Towns  of  Braintree, 
Weymouth,  and  Hingham,  hath  this  day  been  presented  to 
this  Committee,  setting  forth  the  exposed  situation  of  those 
Towns,  and  praying  for  such  relief  and  protection  as  may 
be  thought  proper :  therefore, 

Voted,  That  the  Town  of  Braintree  be  hereby  empow- 
ered to  raise  one  Company,  the  Town  of  Hingham  another 
Company,  and  the  Town  of  Weymouth  half  of  one  Com- 
pany, for  the  immediate  defence  of  the  sea-coasts  of  said 
Towns ;  the  said  Two  Companies  and  a  half  to  be  joined 
to  such  Regiment  in  future  as  they  may  be  ordered  to, 
should  there  be  occasion,  or  discharged  from  service  on  the 
last  day  of  December  next,  or  sooner,  if  the  publick  safety 
will  admit  of  it,  and  that  the  Selectmen  of  said  Towns  be 
furnished  with  a  copy  of  this  Vote,  and  one  set  of  Beating 
Orders,  respectively. 

May  4,  1775. 

Resolved,  as  the  opinion  of  this  Committee,  That  the 
publick  good  of  this  Colony  requires  that  Government  in 
full  form  ought  to  be  taken  up  immediately,  and  that  a 
copy  of  this  Resolution  be  transmitted  to  the  Congress  now 
sitting  at  Watertown. 

The  Sub-Committee  reported  the  draught  of  a  Letter  to 
the  Governour  and  Company  of  the  Colony  of  Connecti- 
cut, requesting  the  speedy  march  of  three  or  four  thousand 
of  their  men  ;  which  was  accepted,  and  ordered,  that  a  fair 
copy  be  transmitted  immediately. 


Voted,  That  William  Cooper,  Junior,  be  appointed  a 
Clerk  to  this  Committee,  in  the  room  of  Mr.  Palmer, 
appointed  Quarter-Master  General ;  Samuel  Cooper  was 
added  as  an  Assistant. 

Voted,  That  a  Chest  of  Medicines  be  removed  from 
hence  to  Roxbury,  under  the  care  of  General  Thomas. 

There  having  been  eight  Guns  sent  in  for  the  use  of  the 
Colony,  Colonel  Whitcomb  and  General  Heath  were  ap- 
pointed to  appraise  the  same,  who  reported  as  follows,  viz : 

One  Gun  taken  of  Captain  How,  appraised  at  £2  00  0 

One  "  "  Joel  Brigham,  "  2  00  0 

One  «  «  John  Baker,  "  1  08  0 

One  "  "  Aaron  Agar,  "  2  08  0 

One  "  "  James  Stone,  "  1  04  0 

One  "  "  Asa  Fay,  "  1  10  0 

One  "  Aaron  Fay,  "  1  01  4 

One  "  "  William  Bethank,  "  0  18  0 

£8  09  4 


Memorandum. — Colonel  Jonathan  Ward  gave  a  receipt 
for  the  above  Guns,  for  which  he  made  himself  accountable, 
which  receipt  is  entered  in  the  Minute-Book. 

A  Letter  was  reported  for  the  Inhabitants  of  New-  York ; 
which  was  accepted,  and  a  copy  of  the  same  put  on  file. 

Draught  of  a  Letter  to  the  Governour  and  Company  of 
Rhode- Island,  respecting  the  sending  a  number  of  Troops 
immediately,  was  reported  ;  whereupon, 

Voted,  That  the  same  be  accepted,  and  transmitted  by 
an  express. 

Voted,  That  a  Sub-Committee  may  be  appointed  to 
wait  upon  the  Council  of  War  to  recommend  their  giving 
orders  for  a  return  of  the  enlisted  men,  and  that  they  will 
take  order  that  such  men  as  are  enlisted,  may  be  admitted 
to  join  the  Camp  with  all  expedition,  that  so  such  men  as 
are  far  from  home,  and  do  not  intend  to  enlist,  may  have 
leave  to  depart  as  soon  as  it  can  be  done  with  safety  to  the 
Colony. 

Voted,  That  Colonel  Gardner  be  appointed  to  lay  this 
Vote  before  the  Council  of  War. 

Voted,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  Council  of  War, 
that  six  Companies  of  each  of  the  two  Regiments  to  be 
raised  in  the  County  of  Plymouth,  be  ordered  to  join  the 
Army  at  Roxbury,  as  soon  as  they  are  completed  ;  and  that 
the  four  other  Companies  of  each  of  said  Regiments,  which 
may  be  raised  most  contiguous  to  the  sea-coast  of  said 
County,  be  retained  for  the  immediate  defence  of  said  sea- 
coast,  to  be  regulated  by  the  Colonels  of  said  Regiments, 
until  further  orders. 

Voted,  That  Colonel  Palmer  and  Colonel  Cushing  be 
appointed  to  lay  the  foregoing  Vote  before  said  Council. 

Advice  being  received  that  a  number  of  Transports  with 
Troops  are  just  arrived  at  Boston  from  England,  Doctor 
Church,  Colonel  Palmer,  and  Mr.  Devens,  were  appointed 
to  confer  with  the  Council  of  War  upon  the  occasion. 

Voted,  That  Colonel  Bricket  be  desired  to  take  posses- 
sion of  all  the  Arms  and  Ammunition  that  he  shall  find  in 
Mr.  Borland's  house,  and  bring  them  to  Head-Quarters. 

May  7,  1775. 

Whereas,  it  appears  to  this  Committee,  that  great  uneasi- 
ness may  arise  in  the  Army  by  the  appointment  of  Sur- 
geons who  may  not  be  agreeable  to  the  Officers  and  Sol- 
diers in  their  respective  Regiments  :  therefore, 

Voted,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  Congress  to 
allow  the  Colonel  of  each  Regiment  to  nominate  the  Sur- 
geon for  his  Regiment ;  the  said  Surgeon  to  nominate  his 
Mate ;  and,  unless  there  is  some  material  objection  made 
against  them,  that  they  be  accordingly  appointed. 

Mr.  George  Babcock,  charged  with  the  care  of  a  House, 
having  complained  that  certain  persons  had  come  to  said 
House,  and  taken  from  thence  considerable  Furniture  : 

Voted,  That  this  complaint  be  referred  to  Congress,  and 
that  Mr.  Cushing  be  desired  to  accompany  said  Babcock 
there  ;  and  that  the  above  Vote  he  sent  to  the  Council  of 
War  for  their  approbation  ;  which  Vote  being  sent,  it  was 
approved  of  accordingly. 

Resolved,  That  it  be,  and  hereby  is  recommended  to 
the  Selectmen  and  Committee  of  Correspondence  for  the 


753 


MASSACHUSETTS  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY,  MAY,  1775. 


754 


Town  of  Sudbury,  that  they  use  their  utmost  influence 
that  the  effects  of  Colonel  Ezra  Taylor,  of  that  Town, 
be  secured  from  any  injury  whatsoever. 

Ordered,  That  the  Selectmen  and  the  Committee  of 
Correspondence  for  the  Town  of  Chelsea,  be  desired  to 
take  such  effectual  methods  for  the  prevention  of  any  Pro- 
visions being  carried  into  the  Town  of  Boston,  as  may  be 
sufficient  for  that  purpose. 

May  9,  1775. 

Moved  and  Voted,  That  the  Congress  be  desired  to  di- 
rect their  Secretary  to  furnish  this  Committee  with  copies 
of  all  such  Resolves  as  have  passed  the  Congress,  any 
ways  relative  to  the  duty  enjoined  this  Committee ;  and 
as  the  circumstances  of  this  Colony  are  very  different  from 
what  they  were  at  their  first  appointment,  the  Committee 
would  represent  to  the  Congress  that  they  apprehend  it  ne- 
cessary that  the  whole  of  their  duty  may  be  comprised  in 
a  new  commission. 

The  Council  of  War  having  determined  that  two  thou- 
sand men  are  necessary  to  re-enforce  the  Army  now  at  Rox- 
bury, and  that  if  possible  the  re-enforcement  be  brought  into 
camp  the  ensuing  night,  this  Committee  took  the  vote  of 
the  Council  of  War  into  consideration  :  Whereupon, 

Ordered,  That  the  Commanding  Officers  of  the  Town 
of  Dorchester,  Dedham,  Newton,  Watertown,  Waltham, 
Roxbury,  Milton,  Brainlree,  Brookline,  and  Ncedham,  im- 
mediately muster  one-half  of  the  Militia,  and  all  the  Minute- 
men  under  their  command,  and  march  them  forthwith  to  the 
Town  of  Roxbury.  for  the  strengthening  of  the  camp  there. 

A  Firelock  of  Mr.  Borland's  was  appraised  by  Colonel 
Pahner  and  Colonel  Orne,  at  forty  shillings,  and  delivered 
Colonel  Sergeant,  for  which  he  is  to  be  accountable. 

A  Vote  passed,  recommending  it  to  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress, that  a  Court  of  Inquiry  be  appointed  for  the  trial  of 
accused  persons. 

Voted,  That  Daniel  Taylor,  of  Concord,  be  desired  to 
send  down  to  Cambridge  about  sixty  Oars  for  boats,  from 
twelve  to  sixteen  feet  in  length. 

May  10,  1775. 

Voted,  That  one  Company  of  men  be  raised  by  the 
District  of  Cohasset,  for  the  immediate  defence  of  the  sea- 
coast  of  said  District,  the  said  Company  to  be  joined  to 
such  Regiment  in  future  as  they  may  be  ordered  to,  should 
there  be  occasion,  or  discharged  from  service,  as  soon  as  the 
publick  good  will  permit  it. 

Voted,  That  Nathan  Cushing.  Esq.,  be  desired  forth- 
with to  engage  four  Armourers  for  the  service  of  this  Col- 
ony, and  order  them  immediately  to  repair  to  the  Town  of 
Cambridge,  with  their  tools  and  other  matters  necessary 
for  that  purpose. 

Whereas,  the  Council  of  War  are  of  opinion,  that  many 
Batteaus,  Whale-boats,  and  other  vessels,  will  immediately, 
or  very  soon  be  wanted  in  Charles  River,  and  other  places  ; 
and  as  there  are  not  a  sufficient  number  of  such  vessels  to 
be  now  obtained  ;  it  is,  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  it  would  be  of  publick  utility  to  have 
one  or  more  Master  Carpenters  immediately  engaged  in 
that  service  ;  and  that  this  Resolve  be  immediately  sent  to 
Congress  for  their  consideration. 

Mr.  Daniel  Taylor,  of  Concord,  is  empowered  to  im- 
press a  Carriage  or  Carriages  for  the  bringing  down  Oars 
from  that  Town  to  Cambridge. 

Voted,  That  Orders  be  issued  to  the  Colonels  of  the 
several  Regiments,  to  repair,  with  the  men  they  have  en- 
listed, to  Cambridge,  immediately. 

The  Provincial  Congress  having  resolved  that  the  Gen- 
eral Officers  be  directed  forthwith  to  call  in  all  the  Soldiers 
w  ho  are  enlisted  in  the  service  of  this  Colony ;  and  that 
they  give  immediate  orders  to  all  the  enlisted  Soldiers,  and 
all  others  now  in  the  camp  at  Cambridge  and  Roxbury, 
that  they  do  not  depart  till  the  further  orders  of  the  Con- 
gress: Whereupon, 

Voted,  That  the  following  Letter  be  immediately  sent 
to  the  respective  Colonels  of  the  Army,  viz : 

Cambridge,  May  10,  1775. 

Sir  :  As  we  are  meditating  a  blow  against  our  restless 
enemies,  we  therefore  enjoin  you,  as  you  would  evidence 
your  regaid  for  your  Country,  forthwith,  upon  receipt  of 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii.  / 


this  order,  to  repair  to  the  Town  of  Cambridge,  with  the 
men  enlisted  under  your  command.*   We  are,  &:c. 

Voted,  That  the  following  Letter,  signed  by  Benjamin 
Church,  Junior,  as  Chairman  of  this  Committee,  be  trans- 
mitted to  Joseph  Warren,  Esq.,  President  of  the  Congress, 
to  be  communicated,  viz  : 

Sir  :  Conformable  to  order  of  Congress,  the  Committee 
of  Safety,  with  the  Council  of  War,  have  issued  orders  to 
the  several  Colonels,  a  copy  of  which  we  enclose  you. 
Upon  receiving  the  Return,  those  who  have  completed 
their  Regiments  will  be  commissioned,  agreeably  to  the 
direction  of  Congress.  Those  who  find  it  impracticable  to 
fill  their  Companies,  must  be  incorporated  into  other  de- 
fective Regiments,  which  is  the  only  plan  the  Committee 
find  themselves  able  to  suggest  on  this  emergency  ;  but 
should  there  finally  be  a  deficiency,  enlisting  orders  must 
be  given  to  others.    Yours,  &z.c. 

On  a  motion  made  and  seconded,  Ordered,  That  Wil- 
liam  Goodwin  have  orders  to  fetch  a  number  of  Boats  from 
Charlestown,  and  likewise  orders  to  press  Teams  for  the 
same  purpose. 

Mr.  William  Goodwin,  of  Charlestown,  was  directed 
and  empowered  to  take  possession  of  a  number  of  Boats 
now  at  Charlestown,  and  likewise  to  press  Teams  wherever 
they  may  be  found,  to  convey  said  Boats  to  Cambridge, 
directing  the  owners  of  such  Teams  to  transmit  their  ac- 
counts to  this  Committee. 

Voted,  That  Mr.  Watson  be  directed  and  empowered 
to  remove  to  Cambridge  the  Boats  now  in  Menotomy  River, 
and  to  impress  what  Carriages  may  be  necessary. 

The  Commanding  Officers  of  the  neighbouring  Regi- 
ments were  directed  forthwith  to  repair  to  the  Town  of 
Cambridge,  with  the  men  enlisted  under  their  command. 

The  following  Orders,  relative  to  furnishing  one  of  the 
Expresses  with  Provisions,  Horses,  fcc,  were  issued,  viz : 

"  To  all  Innkeepers,  Taverners,  and  other  persons  whom  it 
may  concern : 

"  You  are  desired  to  furnish  the  bearer,  Mr.  JohnChandler 
Williams,  with  all  necessaries  upon  his  journey  and  return  : 
as  also  with  horses,  if  necessary,  and  to  exhibit  the  ac- 
counts to  the  Committee  of  Safety  for  this  Colony,  as  he  is 
now  upon  the  Country  service." 

May  11,  1775. 

Voted,  That  Mr.  William  Cooper,  Junior,  be  and  he 
hereby  is  appointed  a  Clerk  to  Doctor  Warren,  President 
of  the  Congress. 

In  Committee  of  Safety,  Cambridge,  \ 
May  11,  1775.  \ 

Whereas,  this  Committee,  as  also  the  Council  of  War, 
is  frequently  interrupted  in  very  important  business,  by 
hearing  and  determining  matters  relative  to  persons  sup- 
posed enemies  to  this  Country,  under  various  circumstances, 
and  other  matters  in  which  the  publick  good  is  affected, 
which  obstructs  proceedings  :  Therefore, 

Resolved,  That  this  Committee  apprehend,  that  if  the 
Provincial  Congress  of  this  Colony  would  erect  a  Court  of 
Inquiry,  to  hear  and  determine  all  such  cases  as  relate  to 
persons  apprehended  and  brought  before  them  as  enemies 
to  American  liberty,  and  other  cases  which  concern  the 
publick  good,  it  would  be  of  great  publick  advantage;  and 
therefore, 

Resolved,  That  this  Vote  be  immediately  transmitted  to 
said  Congress  for  their  consideration. 

William  Cooper,  Secretary. 

*  May  8,  1775. — An  old  Campaigner  says,  he  knows  by  the  move- 
ments, that  there  is  a  stroke  meditated  somewhere,  likely  to  be  to-night ; 
he  thinks,  a  feint  at  the  Neck  to  divert,  and  a  large  body  to  take  the 
ground  on  Dorchester  Neck. 

He  advises  to  send  a  large  body  on  Dorchester  Neck,  so  as  not  to  be 
discovered  from  the  Town,  every  night,  and  have  a  strong  body  in 
Roxbury.  If  they  should  observe  the  Troops  landing  on  Dorchester 
Neck,  to  have  force  sufficient  to  cut  them  off  entirely.  We  in  Town 
know  nothing,  nor  are  able  to  communicate,  as  the  Tories  and  Troops 
are  very  vigilant. 

May  10,  1775. — Elijah  Shaw  declares,  that  General  Gage's  officers 
have  said  in  his  hearing,  that  they  shall  soon  come  out;  and  that  a  sol- 
dier requested  him  to  convey  him  into  the  country,  for  the  Troops 
would  soon  make  a  push  either  towards  Dorchester  Neck  or  Chelsea ; 
but  he  refused.  Further  declares  that  Earl  Percy  swears  he  will  be 
revenged  on  some  of  our  men  ;  and  further  says  that  the  Troops  have 
robbed  him  of  eleven  cows,  three  calves,  a  yearling  heifer,  forty-eight 
sheep,  sixty-one  lambs,  four  hogs,  and  poultry,  hay  five  tons,  and  almost 
all  1  lis  furniture. 


755 


MASSACHUSETTS  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY,  MAY,  1775. 


756 


In  Committee  of  Safety,  Cambridge,  May  11,  1775. 
The  Captains  William  Good  ridge  and  Charles  De  Bell 
have  applied  to  this  Committee  for  assistance  in  Cash,  to 
enable  them  to  enlist  two  Companies  from  the  western  parts 
of  this  Colony,  having  liberty,  as  they  say,  from  the  Gen- 
eral, for  that  purpose.  We,  thinking  that  the  matter  ought 
to  be  laid  before  the  Provincial  Congress,  have  referred  it 
accordingly.    We  are,  &.C. 

May  12,  1775. 

Voted,  That  Mr.  Charles  Miller  be,  and  he  hereby  is 
appointed  Deputy  Commissary  to  Mr.  Pigeon,  Commis- 
sary-General. 

Voted,  That  orders  be  given  to  Mr.  Clarlc,  Boat-build- 
er, that  he  give  such  repairs  to  the  Boats  as  may  be  judged 
necessary. 

Voted,  That  Mr.  Isaiah  Thomas  have  Sixty  Reams  of 
Printing  Crown  Paper,  and  Eight  Reams  of  Printing  Demy 
Paper,  supplied  him  by  the  Committee  of  Supplies,  they 
taking  his  obligation  to  be  accountable  to  the  Colony  for  the 
amount  thereof. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Charles  Miller  be,  and  he  hereby  is 
empowered  and  directed  to  impress  any  Horse  he  may  have 
occasion  for  on  the  service  of  the  Province. 

Voted,  That  Mr.  Joseph  Cranch  be,  and  he  hereby  is 
appointed  one  of  the  Armourers  for  the  Colony  Forces. 

The  following  is  the  Report  of  a  Joint  Committee  ap- 
pointed by  the  Committee  of  Safety  and  the  Council  of 
War,  for  the  purpose  of  reconnoitring  the  Highlands  in 
Cambridge  and  Charlestown,  viz: 

We  have  carefully  examined  the  lands,  and  their  situa- 
tion, in  regard  of  annoying  and  preventing  the  enemy  from 
passing  into  the  country  from  Boston,  and  are  of  opinion 
that  the  Engineers  be  directed  to  cause  a  Breastwork  to  be 
raised  near  the  bridge,  by  the  Red  House,  at  the  head  of 
the  Creek,  near  the  road  from  Cambridge  to  Charlestown, 
on  the  south  side  of  said  road  ;  also,  a  Breastwork  raised 
at  the  north  side  of  the  road,  opposite  to  the  said  Red 
House,  and  run  in  the  same  line  as  the  fence  now  stands, 
upon  the  declivity  of  the  hill  there  ;  also,  a  Redoubt  on  the 
top  of  the  hill,  where  the  guard-house  now  stands,  and  three 
or  four  nine-pounders  planted  there ;  also,  a  strong  Re- 
doubt raised  on  Bunker's  Hill,  with  cannon  planted  there, 
to  annoy  the  enemy  coming  out  of  Charlestown,  also,  to 
annoy  them  going  by  water  to  Med  ford.  When  these  are 
finished,  we  apprehend  the  country  will  be  safe  from  all 
sallies  of  the  enemy  in  that  quarter.  All  which  is  humbly 
submitted. 

Benjamin  Church, 
Chairman  of  Sub- Committee  from  Committee  of  Safety. 

William  Henshaw, 
Chairman  of  Sub-Committee  from  Council  of  War. 

The  Committee  of  Safety  having  taken  the  foregoing 
Report  into  consideration,  apprehend  the  matter  not  to 
belong  to  them  officially  ;  and  although  they  are  persuaded 
the  Highlands  above-mentioned  are  important,  yet,  not 
being  the  proper  judges  what  works  are  necessary  to  be 
constructed  to  make  said  posts  tenable,  are  of  opinion  that 
the  determination  of  this  matter  rests  solely  with  the  Coun- 
cil of  War.  Benjamin  Church,  Jh.,  Chairman. 

Ordered,  That  this  Report  be  sent  up  to  the  Council 
of  War. 

The  Council  of  War  having  sent  in  to  this  Committee,  a 
proposal  respecting  the  suspending  the  orders  of  Congress 
respecting  the  removal  of  the  persons  and  effects  of  the 
Tories,  and  ordering  the  Crown  Officers  through  the  Con- 
tinent to  be  apprehended  : 

Resolved,  That  the  recommendation  of  the  Council  of 
War,  respecting  the  seizure  of  the  servants  and  friends  of 
Government,  improperly  so  called,  and  keeping  them  in 
custody  until  General  Gage  shall  have  complied  with  the 
condition  proposed  by  him  to  the  Town  of  Boston,  and 
accepted  by  them,  be  referred  to  Congress,  for  their  deter- 
mination thereon. 

Voted,  That  this  Committee  adjourn  to  Congress,  upon 
matters  of  great  importance. 

May  13,  1775. 

Voted,  That  Captain  Isaac  Foster  be  recommended  to 
the  Council  of  War,  as  a  suitable  person  to  carry  such 


Provisions  into  the  Town  of  Charlestown,  for  the  use  of  the 
inhabitants,  as  the  General  shall  think  proper  to  permit 
to  be  carried  in. 

Voted,  That  General  Thomas  be  desired  to  deliver  out 
Medicines  to  such  persons  as  he  shall  think  proper,  for  the 
use  of  the  sick  Soldiers  at  Roxbury,  until  the  Surgeons  for 
the  respective  Regiments  are  regularly  appointed. 

Voted,  That  the  Provisions  and  Chest  of  Medicines  be- 
longing to  Madam  Vassal,  now  under  the  care  of  Colonel 
Starks,  be  stored  as  Colonel  Starks  may  direct,  till  further 
orders ;  and  that  the  other  packages  may  pass  into  Boston 
or  elsewhere. 

Ordered,  That  the  Commissary-General,  or  his  Depu- 
ty be,  and  he  hereby  is  directed  to  supply  Captain  Ros- 
seter  with  Provisions  for  thirteen  men  for  eight  days,  said 
men  being  discharged  by  recommendation  of  the  Council  of 
War,  and  order  of  this  Committee. 

Whereas  the  Committee  are  informed,  that  a  number  of 
men  enlisted  into  the  Colony  Army,  under  Colonel  Jona- 
than Brewer,  are  now  posted  at  Waltham,  and  are  receiv- 
ing Provisions  from  the  publick  stores  : 

Resolved,  That  the  Commanding  Officer  of  the  Col- 
ony Forces  be  desired  to  order  said  enlisted  men  at  Wal- 
tham, immediately  to  repair  to  Head- Quarters;  and  in  case 
of  refusal,  that  orders  be  given  for  the  prevention  of  their 
being  supplied  with  Provisions  of  any  kind  from  the  pub- 
lick  Magazines. 

One  Thomas  Nicols,  a  negro,  brought  before  this  Com- 
mittee on  account  of  his  suspicious  behaviour  for  some  time 
past,  having  been  examined  : 

Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  Council  of 
War  to  commit  said  negro,  until  there  be  further  inquiry 
into  his  conduct. 

Mr.  Solomon  Shaw  was  appointed  one  of  the  Armour- 
ers for  the  Army,  and  General  Thomas  was  desired  to  ac- 
commodate him  with  a  suitable  place  at  Roxbury,  for  car- 
rying on  his  business. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Isaac  Bradish,  Keeper  of  the  Jail 
in  Cambridge,  be  directed  and  empowered  to  confine  one 
Thomas  Nicols,  negro,  till  further  orders. 

May  14,  1775. 

Ordered,  That  the  Commissary-General  supply  with 
Provisions  for  six  days,  four  men  of  Captain  Williams'  Com- 
pany, and  three  men  of  Captain  Noble's  Company  : — these 
men  came  down  with  Colonel  Patterson,  and  are  returning 
home,  being  dismissed. 

Voted,  That  Capt.  John  Currier  have  one  set  of  Beating 
Orders  for  Colonel  Fry's  Regiment ;  and  in  case  it  should 
not  be  consented  to  by  the  Colonel,  he  agrees  to  join  that 
Regiment  which  shall  be  thought  most  convenient. 

Mr.  Andrew  Craigie,  Commissary  of  the  Medicine,  Stores, 
&ic,  was  directed  and  empowered  to  impress  Beds,  Bedding, 
and  other  necessaries  for  the  sick,  as  they  may  be  wanted, 
giving  the  owners  a  receipt  for  such  articles  as  he  may  take 
for  the  purpose  aforesaid. 

Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  Committee 
of  Supplies  to  engage  ninety-seven  barrels  of  Tar,  in  the 
Sloop  Adventure,  Samuel  Foot  master,  just  arrived  at 
Salem  from  Virginia,  it  being  apprehended  that  the  ser- 
vice of  the  Colony  requires  said  Tar  being  secured. 

A  Vote  of  the  Council  of  War,  desiring  a  supply  of 
Hoes  and  Brooms,  was  recommended  to  the  Committee 
of  Supplies  by  this  Committee. 

The  following  was  sent  to  the  gentlemen  the  Selectmen 
of  the  Town  of  Lynn: 

Whereas  Josiah  Martin  has,  under  guard,  been  brought 
before  this  Committee,  to  be  inquired  of  touching  his  con- 
duct respecting  his  appearing  in  favour  of  carrying  into 
execution  the  tyrannical  designs  of  Administration  for  the 
enslaving  of  this  Province :  Upon  examination  of  the  evi- 
dences produced, 

Resolved,  That  the  said  Martin's  conduct  has,  in  some 
instances,  been  unfriendly  to  his  Country  ;  but  that  on  his 
being  charged  with  the  same,  he  has  promised,  with  his  life 
and  fortune,  to  stand  for  the  defence  of  his  Country  ;  and 
that  so  long  as  he  evidences  this  disposition  by  his  conduct, 
and  does  not  any  more  attempt  to  go  into  the  Town  of  Bos- 
ton, that  he  be  received  into  the  favour  of  his  countrymen, 
and  that  no  insult  or  injury  be  offered  him  or  his  property. 


757 


MASSACHUSETTS  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY,  MAY,  1775. 


758 


The  following  Resolve,  relative  to  the  live-stock  on  the 
islands,  near  Boston,  passed  this  Committee,  viz : 

Resolved,  As  the  opinion  of  this  Committee,  that  all  the 
live-stock  be  taken  from  Noddle's  Island,  Hog  Island,  and 
Snake  Island,  and  from  that  part  of  Chelsea  near  the  sea- 
cost,  and  be  driven  back.  And  that  the  execution  of  this 
business  be  committed  to  the  Committee  of  Correspond- 
ence and  Selectmen  of  the  Towns  of  Midford,  Maiden, 
Chelsea,  and  Lynn,  and  that  they  be  supplied  with  such  a 
number  of  men  as  they  shall  need,  from  the  Regiment 
now  at  Medford. 

Resolved,  That  Colonel  Palmer  and  Colonel  Qrne  be 
directed  to  apply  to  the  Committee  of  Supplies,  at  Water- 
town,  for  a  particular  account  of  the  Ordnance  and  Mili- 
tary Stores,  and  where  the  same  are  deposited,  agreeably 
to  the  request  of  t he  Council  of  War. 

Voted,  That  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  body,  that  all  per- 
sons escaping  from  their  imprisonment,  in  the  Town  of 
Boston,  ought  to  be  received  and  protected  in  the  several 
Towns  in  this  and  the  neighbouring  Colonies,  except  such 
as  are  of  principles  inimical  to  the  liberties  of  their  Coun- 
try, who  are  not  to  be  received  but  on  their  first  recanting 
their  said  principles,  and  making  their  peace  with  their 
countrymen  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  Selectmen,  Commit- 
tees of  Inspection,  &tc,  in  the  Town  to  which  they  shall 
apply  :  and  that  the  wives  and  children  of  such  persons  who 
shall  choose  to  remain  in  Boston  with  General  Gage,  may 
and  ought  to  be  treated  with  humanity  and  tenderness  in  the 
several  Towns  they  may  go  to  dwell  in,  during  the  present 
trouble^,  and  by  no  means  to  suffer  the  least  injury,  or  meet 
with  the  smallest  mark  of  disrespect  upon  account  of  their 
said  husbands  or  fathers. 

The  Council  of  War,  having  recommended  that  forty 
persons  of  the  Regiment  commanded  by  Colonel  Fellows 
have  liberty  to  return  to  their  several  homes  : 

Resolved,  That  they  be  dismissed  accordingly,  and  that 
the  Commissary-General  be  directed  to  supply  said  persons 
with  six  days'  provisions,  to  serve  them  on  their  return  home. 

This  Committee,  having  been  informed  by  the  Commit- 
tee of  Supplies  that  they  had  secured  as  much  Naval  Stores 
as  Colonel  Gridlcy  of  the  Train  had  indented  for: 

Voted,  That  Captain  Foot  be  permitted  to  deliver  the 
cargo,  (Naval  Stores  not  excepted,)  agreeably  to  the  bills 
of  lading  he  had  signed  for  the  same. 

Voted,  That  Mr.  Jt'illiam  Haskins  be,  and  he  hereby 
is  appointed  first  clerk  to  the  Deputy  Commissary-General. 

The  Council  of  War  having  recommended  that  Captain 
Joseph  Foster,  Thomas  Jenkins,  James  Lammans,  John 
Rutherford,  Jonathan  March,  J.  Mcnsh,  J.  Simmins,  J. 
Crost,  of  Colonel  Porter  s  Regiment,  who  are  not  enlisted, 
may  be  dismissed,  they  were  accordingly  dismissed,  and 
had  an  order  on  the  Commissary-General  for  four  days' 
provisions  each. 

Voted,  That  Mattheiv  Clark  and  five  other  persons,  who 
are  repairing  the  Boats  brought  to  this  Town,  be  supplied 
with  Provisions  while  they  are  at  work  for  the  Colony. 

May  15,  1775. 

The  Sub-Committee,  appointed  to  apply  to  the  Com- 
mittee of  Supplies  for  a  particular  account  of  the  Ordnance 
and  Military  Stores,  reported,  and  handed  into  the  Commit- 
tee the  following  List,  viz: 

A  List  of  Military  Stores  under  the  cart  of  Captain 
Foster,  viz : 

At  Cambridge  : — pick  axes,  460  :  hatchets,  23  :  seven- 
inch  shells,  298  :  spades,  190  :  pieces  of  cannon  24  :  axes, 
156:  boxes  of  grape  shot,  4l£:  hogsheads  of  flints  con- 
taining 75,000,  2 :  carpenter's  tool  chests,  2 :  boxes  of 
axes,  4  :  4  barrels  1  cask  leaden  balls  :  boxes  of  small  arm 
cartridges,  18  :  barrels  of  bomb  fuses,  1  :  barrels  of  matches, 
1:  chests  of  tin  cannisters,  2:  boxes  of  paper  for  car- 
tridges, 1:  nine-pound  ball,  607:  six-pound  balls,  1123: 
four-pound  ditto,  200 :  two-pound  ditto,  800 :  seven-inch 
shells,  298:  twenty-four  pound  ball,  122:  three-pound 
ditto,  620:  l\o.  1  and  2  paper  cartridges  for  cannon  boxes, 
2:  one  barrel  containing  four  tube  cannisters,  16  straps,  4 
packs,  4  powder-horns,  5  skeins  dry  matches :  1  barrel  of 
cannisters  filled  with  langrage,  but  no  cartridges  affixed  to 
them,  lor  6  pounders:  4  casks,  marked,  paper  cartridges 
filled  :  1  barrel,  marked,  84  two-pound  cartridges. 


Under  the  care  of  Colonel  Barrett  and  Captain  Hey- 

WOOJ). 

Musket  balls,  9,000:  grape  shot,  1,600:  bar  lead,  700  : 
musket  cartridges,  about  3,000  weight :  3  barrels  of  band- 
ages. 

More  at  Cambridge,  under  the  care  of  Captain  Foster. 

2  casks  of  tubes:  1  barrel,  marked,  60  cases  with  flan- 
nel cartridges  for  three  pair  single  fortified  guns:  2  barrels 
containing  case  shot,  part  fuses  and  tubes :  1  barrel  con- 
taining a  number  of  paper  cartridges  not  filled  :  2  casks  of 
cases  with  flannel  cartridges,  marked  I.  T.  T. 

Attest:        Alexander  Shepherd,  Jun., 
By  order  of  the  Committee. 

Moved  and  Voted,  That  the  original  list  of  Military 
Stores  be  handed  in  to  the  Council  of  War ;  and  it  w  as 
handed  in  accordingly. 

Voted,  That  the  Hampshire  Companies,  now  at  Med- 
ford, if  enlisted  into  this  Colony's  service,  under  Colonel 
Stark  or  Colonel  Sargeant,  and  properly  equipped,  shall 
be  provided  with  barracks;  those  of  them,  if  any,  who  are 
not,  and  do  not  choose  to  be  enlisted,  and  are  not  equipped, 
are  to  be  furnished  with  provisions  for  their  return. 

Voted,  That  Captain  John  Walker  of  Worcester,  who 
came  down  to  this  Committee  for  liberty  to  go  into  Bos- 
ton, upon  the  Proclamation  issued  by  Congress,  be  appre- 
hended, and  confined  as  a  prisoner  of  war,  he  being  a  half 
pay  officer,  and  under  the  orders  of  General  Gage,  and  so 
not  included  in  said  Proclamation. 

Upon  a  motion  made,  the  question  was  put,  whether 
Colonel  Phipps  be  permitted  to  have  a  Cow,  Calf,  and  a 
load  of  Hay,  go  into  the  Town  of  Boston:  passed  in  the 
negative. 

Voted,  That  Captain  Nalcr  Hatch,  with  the  Maiden 
Company,  be  assigned  to  Colonel  Gardner's  Regiment; 
but  they  are  to  remain  in  Maiden  until  the  special  order  of 
Colonel  Gardner  shall  be  received  for  their  attendance 
elsewhere. 

Voted,  That  nine  Indians,  of  Colonel  Porter  s  Regi- 
ment, have  liberty  to  return  home,  and  that  the  Commis- 
snry-General  be  directed  to  furnish  them  with  six  days' 
Provisions  for  that  purpose,  the  same  having  been  recom- 
mended by  the  Council  of  War. 

Upon  the  application  of  Lady  Frankland ',*  Voted,  that 
she  have  liberty  to  pass  into  Boston  with  the  following 
goods  and  articles  for  her  voyage,  viz : 

Six  trunks ;  1  chest ;  3  beds  and  bedding  ;  6  wethers  ;  2 
pigs  ;  1  small  keg  of  pickled  tongues ;  some  hay  ;  3  bags 
of  corn  ;  and  such  other  goods  as  she  thinks  proper. 

The  following  permit  was  granted  : 

To  the  Colony  Guards : 

Permit  Lady  Frankland  of  Hopkinton,  with  her  attend- 
ants, goods,  and  the  provisions  above  mentioned,  to  pass  to 
Boston,  by  express  order  of  the  Committee  of  Safety. 

Benjamin  Church,  Jun.,  Chairman. 

Head-Quarters,  May  15,  1775. 

Voted,  That  the  Letters  and  writings  from  New-York, 
via  New-London,  relative  to  the  establishing  a  Post-Office 
and  Riders,  for  the  service  of  the  Colony,  be  sent  to  the 
Congress. 

Voted,  That  John  Tucker,  of  Colonel  Porters  Regi- 
ment, be  dismissed  from  the  service,  and  that  he  be  fur- 
nished by  the  Commissary  with  seven  days'  Provisions. 

Voted,  That  Jonathan  Blaisdel,  of  Amesbury,  be  ap- 
pointed an  Armourer  for  the  Army. 

*  Hopkinton,  May  15,  1775. — Lady  Frankland  presonts  her  com- 
pliments to  Doctor  Warren,  begs  leave  to  acquaint  him,  she  has  sent  in 
a  list  of  things  necessary  for  her  voyage  to  England;  begs  he  would 
use  his  interest  with  the  Committee  of  Safety,  that  her  request  may 
be  granted,  which  will  lay  Lady  F.  under  a  very  great  obligation  to 
Doctor  Warren,  and  on  her  return  to  New-England,  if  it  is  ever  in  her 
power,  will  return  the  obligation  with  thanks. 

Hopkinton,  May  15,  1775. — Lady  Frankland  presents  her  compli- 
ments to  the  Committee  of  Safety,  begs  leave  to  acquaint  them,  that 
according  to  their  request,  she  has  sent  in  a  list  of  things  necessary 
for  her  intended  voyage,  which  obtained  Lady  F.  will  esteem  as  a 
peculiar  favour  ;  and  begs  she  may  have  her  pass  t'oiThursday. 

A  list  of  things  for  Lady  Frankland : — Six  trunks  ;  one  chest ;  three 
beds  and  bedding;  six  wethers;  two  pigs;  one  small  keg  of  pickled 
tongues  ;  some  hay  ;  three  bags  of  corn. 


759 


MASSACHUSETTS  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY,  MAY,  1775. 


760 


Resolved,  That  Mr.  Borland's  house  be  appropriated 
for  the  use  of  the  Committee  of  Safety  ;  and  the  Quarter- 
Master  General  is  directed  to  provide  Quarters  for  the 
Troops  now  lodged  at  said  house. 

Voted,  That  the  Quarter-Master  General  be  directed 
to  remove  as  many  of  the  three  Companies  now  at  Mr. 
Borland's,  to  the  house  of  Doctor  Kneeland,  as  the  house 
can  accommodate,  and  that  the  three  Companies  in  Mr. 
Vassal's  house  be  placed  at  Mr.  Foxcroft's  house,  and 
that  Mr.  Borland's  house  be  cleared  and  cleansed  as  soon 
as  possible. 

Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  Honourable 
Congress,  that  the  Records  of  the  Probate  Office  for  the 
County  of  Middlesex,  supposed  to  be  at  Mr.  Danforth's 
and  Doctor  Knecland's  houses,  be  removed  to  Doctor  Mi- 
not's,  at  Concord,  and,  that  the  Records  of  the  County,  at 
Mr.  Foxcroft's  office,  be  removed  to  said  Minot's  house. 

The  following  Certificate  was  delivered  to  Mr.  John 
Goddard,  viz : 

"This  is  to  certify,  that  "Sir.  John  Goddard  has  been 
appointed  by  the  joint  Committees  of  Safety  and  Supplies 
as  Wagon-Master  to  this  Colony,  to  convey  such  articles 
of  Stores  from  one  part  of  this  Colony  to  another  as  the 
publick  eKigencies  shall  require,  under  the  direction  of  the 
Commissary-General  and  Ordnance  Store  Keeper,  and  that 
such  other  Wagoners  or  Drivers  are  to  be  employed,  as 
he  shall  recommend  for  that  purpose." 

The  following  Permit  was  given  to  Captain  Walker: 

"  Permit  Captain  John  Walker,  now  on  his  parole  of 
honour,  to  pass  unmolested  to  his  family  at  Worcester." 

Mr.  John  Goddard,  Wagon-Master,  was  directed  and 
empowered,  in  case  of  emergency,  to  impress  such  Wag- 
ons and  Cattle  as  shall  be  requisite  for  the  publick  ser- 
vice. 

Voted,  That  the  clearing  Mr.  Borland's  and  Mr.  Vas- 
sal's houses  be  suspended  till  further  orders. 

Voted,  That  Thomas  Austin,  of  Charlestown,  be,  and 
hereby  is  appointed  an  Armourer  for  the  Army. 

Voted,  That  the  above  Vote,  appointing  Mr.  Thomas 
Austin  one  of  the  Armourer  for  the  Army,  be,  and  hereby 
is  reconsidered. 

May  16,  1775. 

In  a  Letter  from  Colonel  James  Barrett,  of  this  day,  it 
is  represented,  that  a  prisoner  now  at  Worcester  is  a  Paper- 
maker,  and  that  Mr.  James  Boice,  of  Milton,  is  in  want 
of  such  a  person  in  his  Paper  Manufactory  ;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  Colonel  Barrett  be,  and  he  hereby  is 
directed  and  empowered,  to  remove  said  prisoner  from 
Worcester  to  said  Boice's  Manufactory  in  Milton. 

Voted,  That  Captain  Hill,  and  four  men,  with  four  pri- 
soners, have  an  order  for  Supplies  on  the  Taverners  and 
Innholders  in  the  Towns  they  pass  through. 

Whereas,  it  is  recommended  by  the  Council  of  War, 
that  fifty-four  Whale-Boats  be  immediately  provided  for 
the  use  of  this  Colony  : 

Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  said  Vote  of  the  Council  of 
War  be  transmitted  to  the  Committee  of  Supplies,  and 
that  they  be  desired  to  procure  and  place  said  Boats,  agree- 
able to  the  recommendation  of  the  Council  of  War. 

Voted,  That  Captain  Butler  be  desired  to  furnish  those 
men  of  his  own  Company  with  Arms,  who  are  destitute 
thereof. 

By  a  Resolve  of  the  Provincial  Congress,  the  following 
is  the  establishment  for  ten  Companies  of  Matrosses : 

Captain,    -  £6  ]0s.  Od.  per  month. 

Captain-Lieutenant,    -  5  10  0  t; 

First  Lieutenant,        -  4  10  0  " 

Two  Second  Lieutenants,  each,  3  12  0  " 

Sergeants,  each,         -  2  10  0  " 

Corporals,  each,         -       -  2  6  0  " 

Six  Bombadiers,  each,        -  2  4  6 

Six  Gunners,  each,     -       -  2  4  0  " 

Thirty-two  Matrosses,  each,  2  3  0  " 

Voted,  That  Colonel  Gridley  have  one  set  of  Beating 
Orders,  for  a  Company  of  Matrosses. 

Voted,  That  Colonel  Azor  Orne  have  one  of  the  Col- 
lege Arms,  he  giving  a  receipt  for  the  same. 


May  17,  1775. 

Whereas,  it  is  determined,  in  Council  of  War,  that  ten 
Swivels  be  immediately  provided  for  the  use  of  the  Army, 
and  delivered  in  Camp,  zlJJambridge  : 

Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  the  foregoing  Vote  be  trans- 
mitted to  the  Committee  of  Supplies,  and  that  they  be 
desired  to  procure  said  Swivel-Guns  accordingly. 

Resolved,  That  the  three  pieces  of  Cannon,  with  the 
Stores,  now  at  Waltham,  be  immediately  removed  to  Wa- 
tcrtown,  near  the  bridge,  by  advice  of  the  General ;  and 
that  Mr.  Elbridge  Gerry,  one  of  the  Committee  of  Sup- 
plies, be  desired  and  empowered  to  remove  the  same. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Omc,  Doctor  Church,  and  Col- 
onel Palmer,  be  a  Committee  to  repair  to  the  Provincial 
Congress,  and  request,  that  forthwith  the  duty  of  the  Com- 
mittee of  Safety  be  precisely  staled,  and  that  said  Committee 
be  empowered  by  Congress  to  conduct  in  such  manner  as 
shall  tend  to  the  advantage  of  the  Colony  ;  and  justify  the 
conduct  of  said  Committee,  so  far  as  their  proceedings  are 
correspondent  with  the  trust  reposed  in  them ;  and  to  in- 
form the  Congress,  t hat  until  the  path  of  their  duty  is 
clearly  pointed  out,  they  must  be  at  a  total  loss  how  to 
conduct,  so  as  to  stand  justified  in  their  own  minds,  and  in 
the  minds  of  the  people  of  this  Colony. 

Mr.  William  Beman,  in  Colonel  Felloivs's  Regiment,  is 
appointed  by  this  Committee  to  act  as  an  Armourer  for  the 
forces  posted  at  Roxbury. 

Resolved,  That  Mr.  Joseph  Austin,  of  Charlestons,  be 
directed  to  attend  upon  the  Committee  of  Safety,  imme- 
diately. 

Voted,  That  Colonel  Fellows  be  directed  to  procure  a 
Shop  and  Tools,  and  every  material  necessary  for  an  armour- 
er, at  Roxbury,  to  work  immediately  in  the  Colony  service. 

Voted,  That  the  Commissary  deliver  Mr.  Matthew 
Clark  sixty  Oars,  for  the  use  of  this  Colony. 

Voted,  That  the  carrying  any  Hay  into  the  Town  of 
Boston,  on  account  of  John  Borland,  Esq.,  be  suspended 
until  further  order  from  this  Committee. 

Voted,  That  Mr.  Stephen  Hall  be  appointed  to  inspect 
the  College  Walls,  and  see  that  they  be  kept  in  proper 
repair. 

Voted,  That  the  Selectmen  of  Cambridge  be  directed 
to  supply  General  Ward  with  four  half  barrels  of  Powder, 
for  the  use  of  this  Colony. 

Whereas,  General  Gage  has  not  kept  his  agreement  with 
the  inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Boston,  but,  notwithstand- 
ing his  said  agreement,  has  prevented,  and  even  refused 
said  inhabitants,  with  their  effects,  from  moving  into  the 
country :  Therefore, 

Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  Congress, 
that  they  rescind  their  Resolution  of  the  30th  ultimo,  per- 
mitting the  inhabitants  of  this  Colony  to  remove,  with  their 
effects,  into  the  Town  of  Boston,  which  Resolution  na- 
founded  upon  said  agreement. 

Resolved,  That  Colonel  Omc  and  Colonel  Palmer  be 
directed  to  attend  the  Congress,  with  the  above  Resolve. 

Resolved,  That  in  case  of  an  alarm,  this  Committee  will 
repair  to  Coolidge's  Tavern,  in  Watertown. 

Upon  a  motion  made,  Voted,  That  Captain  How  be 
directed  to  restore  the  six  sets  of  Enlisting  Papers,  which 
he  this  day  took  out  without  the  consent  of  the  Commit- 
tee, by  a  fraud  practised  upon  the  Chairman. 

Voted,  That  application  be  made  to  his  Excellency 
General  Ward,  that  he  would  order  Edward  How  under 
guard,  until  this  Committee  can  have  a  full  hearing  of  his 
case. 

Whereas,  one  Mr.  Mcllicant,  of  Waltham,  who  is  an 
officer  in  His  Majesty's  service,  under  half  pay,  is  suspect- 
ed, by  means  of  his,  said  Mcllicant's,  wife  having  free  access 
into  and  out  of  the  Town  of  Boston,  of  communicating 
such  intelligence  to  our  enemies  as  may  have  a  tendency 
to  injure  the  important  cause  we  are  engaged  in,  and,  in 
some  degree,  defeat  the  plans  forming  for  the  salvation  of 
this  Colony  and  Continent:  Therefore, 

Resolved,  That  the  Selectmen  and  Committee  of  Cor- 
respondence of  the  Town  of  Waltham,  be,  and  hereby  are 
directed  and  empowered  to  take  such  effectual  methods  for 
the  preventing  any  intelligence  going  into  the  Town  of 
Boston,  by  means  of  the  abovesaid  Mr.  Mcllicant,  or  any 
of  his  family,  as  to  them,  in  their  wisdom,  shall  seem 
meet. 


761 


.MASSACHUSETTS  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY,  MAY,  1775. 


762 


Whereas,  some  of  the  Students  of  Harvard  College  are 
in  possession  of  Arms  and  Bayonets  belonging  to  the  Col- 
ony, which  were  sent  them  for  the  purpose  of  their  obtain- 
ing skill  in  military  discipline  : 

Voted,  That  they  be  and  hereby  are  desired  to  cause 
the  same  to  be  delivered,  as  soon  as  may  be,  to  Mr.  Wil- 
liam Hunt,  of  this  place  ;  and  all  other  persons  having  in 
possession  Arms  or  Military  Stores,  of  any  kind,  belonging 
to  the  Colony  as  aforesaid,  are  also  desired  forthwith  to 
deliver  the  same  to  the  said  Mr.  William  Hunt. 

And  whereas,  the  Surgeons  of  the  Massachusetts  Forces 
are  in  want  of  considerable  quantities  of  Linen  Rags,  either 
coarse  or  fine : 

Voted,  That  the  female  friends  to  America,  in  the  neigh- 
bouring Counties,  are  hereby  desired  to  send  such  quantities 
of  Rags  as  they  can  spare,  to  the  Selectmen  of  their  re- 
spective Towns ;  and  the  Selectmen  are  desired  to  cause 
the  same  to  be  delivered  at  Cambridge,  to  Commissary 
Craigie,  at  the  Hospital ;  and  the  expenses  of  transporta- 
tion shall  be  paid  by  the  Committee. 

May  19.  1775. 

Voted,  That  Captain  John  Lane  have  Enlisting  Papers 
delivered  him,  for  raising  a  Company  of  Indians  at  the 
Eastward. 

The  following  Certificate  was  delivered  Colonel  Gerrish 
for  the  Provincial  Congress: 

"  Colonel  SamuelGcrrish  having  satisfied  this  Committee 
that  his  Regiment  is  full,  we  recommend  to  the  Congress 
that  said  Regiment  be  commissioned  accordingly." 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Newall  proceed  to  Watertown,  and 
lodge  the  ten  Swivel-Guns  he  has  under  his  care,  at  Edward 
Richardson's,  innholder,  in  said  Watertoun,  it  being  re- 
commended by  General  Ward. 

The  Committee  of  Correspondence  of  the  Town  of 
Xorthborough  having  sent  a  certain  Ebenezer  Cutler  to 
this  Committee  for  trial,  upon  complaint  of  his  being  an 
enemy  to  this  Country  ;  and  this  Committee  not  having 
authority  to  act  in  the  case,  as  they  apprehend,  do  refer  the 
matter  to  Congress. 

Col.  Ebenezer  Learned  having  satisfied  this  Committee 
that  his  Regiment  is  full,  it  was  recommended  to  the  Con- 
gress that  said. Regiment  be  commissioned  accordingly. 

The  following  Letter  of  Directions  to  the  several  Col- 
onels, was  forwarded,  viz : 

Sir:  The  necessity  of  completing  the  Colony  Army, 
and  the  suspicions  entertained  by  some  of  the  officers  who 
have  been  engaged  in  recruiting  men,  oblige  us  to  request 
your  immediate  Return  to  this  Committee  of  the  number 
of  men  enlisted  in  your  Regiment,  with  the  names  of  the 
Officers  of  said  Regiment,  as  the  Congress  have  urged  for 
those  Returns,  that  Commissions  may  be  issued,  and  due 
subordination  take  place. 

Voted,  That  Mr.  John  Wood,  of  Roxbury,  be  and  here- 
by is  appointed  an  Armourer  for  the  Army. 

Voted,  That  Mr.  Dike,  of  Bridgewater,  be  and  here- 
by is  appointed  an  Armourer  for  the  Army. 

General  Thomas  was  informed  by  Letter,  that  the  Com- 
mittee had  appointed  Messrs.  Be  man,  Shaw,  Wood,  and 
Dike,  as  Armourers  for  the  Forces  posted  at  Roxbury,  and 
was  desired  to  acquaint  the  Committee  if  any  further  ap- 
pointments were  necessary. 

\  otcd,  That  Doctor  Church  have  an  order  for  a  Horse 
and  Sulkey,  and  a  single  Horse,  for  his  journey  to  Phila- 
delphia, upon  the  Province  account. 

\N  hereas  some  persons  have  hinted  that  Samuel  Barrett, 
Esquire,  of  Boston,  has,  in  some  instances,  been  unfriendly 
to  his  Country  and  the  common  cause  of  liberty,  for  which 
this  Colony  now  suffers  and  bleeds ;  and  as  such  sugges- 
tions may  have  a  tendency  to  injure  him,  we  have  inquired 
into  the  conduct  of  the  said  Samuel  Barrett,  Esq.,  during 
the  unnatural  contest  between  Great  Britain  and  the  Col- 
onies, and  from  his  acts  and  explicit  declarations,  we  have 
reason  to  think  that  he  is  friendly  to  the  rights  and  liber- 
ties of  this  his  native  Country,  and  we  recommend  him 
accordingly. 

May  20,  1775. 

loted,  That  Captain  Edward  How,  Ebenezer  Cutler, 
and  I\icols,  a  black  fellow,  now  under  guard,  be  sent  up  to 


Congress  for  examination  and  trial,  and  Captain  White  is 
appointed  to  attend  Congress  with  the  above-named  per- 
sons. 

Voted,  That  the  General  be  desired  to  furnish  a  Guard 
for  the  occasion. 

Voted,  That  for  the  future  no  person  having  orders  to 
impress  Horses,  shall  impress  the  Horse  of  Deacon  Timo- 
thy Winn,  of  Woburn,  he  and  his  horse  being  employed  in 
the  Colony  service. 

Resolved,  That  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  Committee,  as 
the  contest  now  between  Great  Britain  and  the  Colonies 
respects  the  liberties  and  privileges  of  the  latter,  which  the 
Colonies  are  determined  to  maintain,  that  the  admission  of 
any  persons  as  Soldiers  into  the  Army  now  raising,  but  only 
such  as  are  Freemen,  will  be  inconsistent  with  the  princi- 
ples that  are  to  be  supported,  and  reflect  dishonour  on  this 
Colony;  and  that  no  Slaves  be  admitted  into  this  Army 
upon  any  consideration  whatever. 

Colonel  Joseph  Reed  having  satisfied  this  Committee 
that  his  Regiment  is  full,  a  Certificate  was  given  him  of  the 
same  ;  and  it  was  recommended  to  the  honourable  the 
Provincial  Congress  that  his  Regiment  might  be  commis- 
sioned accordingly. 

Colonel  Read  had  thirteen  sets  of  Regulations  for  the 
Army  delivered  him  by  order. 

May  22,  1775. 

Whereas  it  appears  to  this  Committee  that  no  immediate 
service  renders  it  necessary  that  Riders  should  be  kept  in 
pay  at  present :  Therefore, 

Voted,  That  all  such  Riders  as  have  been  employed  by 
this  Committee  be,  from  this  day,  discharged  from  said 
service. 

Miy  23,  1775. 

This  Committee  find  themselves  much  at  a  loss  for  a 
rule  by  which  to  determine  when  a  Regiment  may  be  said 
to  be  full,  and  beg  leave  to  suggest  to  the  honourable  Con- 
gress, whether  a  certificate  from  the  Muster-Master,  rela- 
tive to  the  premises,  will  not  be  a  good  rule  for  ascertaining 
when  a  Regiment  is  complete  :  and  said  Committee  beg 
instructions  in  the  matter. 

Benjamin  White,  Chairman. 

Whereas,  our  enemies  make  frequent  excursions  to  the 
Islands  and  Sea-Coasts,  from  whence  they  plunder  Hay, 
Cattle,  and  Sheep,  which  not  only  greatly  injures  many  in- 
dividuals, but  also  the  publick,  and  strengthens  the  hands 
of  our  enemies  :  Therefore, 

Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  Honourable 
Congress  to  take  take  some  effectual  measure  to  secure 
the  stock  on  the  Islands  and  Sea-Coasts,  to  prevent  its  fall- 
ing into  the  hands  of  our  enemies. 

Whereas,  this  Committee  have  taken  into  their  most  se- 
rious consideration  the  state  of  the  Neiv-England  Army, 
proposed  to  be  raised  for  the  defence  and  security  of  the 
lives,  liberties,  and  property  of  the  Americans,  and  find 
that  the  several  Colonies  have  not,  collectively,  raised  more 
than  twenty-four  thousand  five  hundred  men,  whereas  thirty 
thousand  were  supposed  to  be  necessary;  and  the  said 
Committee  also  find  a  considerable  number  of  officers  of 
Minute-men  now  at  Head-Quarters,  who,  witli  their  men. 
cannot  find  room  for  employment  in  the  Army,  upon  the  pre- 
sent establishment  of  this  Colony  ;  and  as  our  enemies  have 
determined  to  distress  us  upon  our  Sea-Coasts,  by  taking 
our  vessels,  with  provisions,  salt,  molasses,  &c,  as  well  as 
by  plundering  our  Islands  and  Coasts  of  live  stock,  which 
will  require  a  greater  number  of  men  to  guard  said  coasts 
than  was  at  first  estimated  ;  and  as  said  Army,  or  any  part 
thereof,  may  be  disbanded  at  any  future  time,  when  the 
publick  safety  will  admit  thereof ;  and  as  the  publick  mili- 
tary spirit  runs  high  :  it  is,  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  the  consideration  of  these  premises  be 
recommended  to  the  honourable  Congress ;  and  that  Col- 
onel Palmer  be  directed  to  attend  said  Congress  with  this 
Resolve,  in  order  to  know  whether  they  will  make  any  ad- 
dition to  the  present  establishment. 

May  24,  1775. 

Voted,  That  the  Commissary-General  be  directed  to 
supply  John  Carter  and  three  others  with  Provisions,  as 
Armourers  and  Coopers,  now  in  the  Province  service. 


763 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  APRIL,  1775. 


764 


Colonel  Scammon  having  satisfied  the  Committee  that 
his  Regiment  was  nearly  full,  a  Certificate  was  given  him 
thereof;  and  it  was  recommended  to  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress that  his  Regiment  be  commissioned  accordingly. 

General  Thomas  hav  ing  satisfied  this  Committee  that  his 
Regiment  was  complete,  a  Certificate  was  given  him  there- 
of; and  it  was  recommended  to  the  Provincial  Congress 
that  his  Regiment  be  commissioned  accordingly. 

Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  Congress  imme- 
diately to  take  such  order  respecting  the  removal  of  the 
Sheep  and  Hay  from  Noddle's  Island,  as  they  may  judge 
proper,  together  with  the  stock  on  the  adjacent  islands. 

Voted,  That  the  Commissary -General  be  directed  to 
supply  twenty-five  men  of  Captain  Sprague's  Company, 
who  are  stationed  at  Chelsea. 

May  26,  1775. 

The  Congress  having  passed  a  Resolve,  that  the  house 
of  John  Vassal,  Esquire,  be  appropriated  for  the  use  of  the 
Committee  of  Safety  :  Therefore, 

Resolved,  That  the  Quarter-Master  General  be  directed 
to  clear  the  said  house  immediately  of  the  Soldiers  now 
lodged  there,  that  it  may  be  improved  for  that  purpose. 

Colonels  Ward,  and  Gardner  having  satisfied  this  Com- 
mittee that  their  Regiments  were  in  good  forwardness,  a 
Certificate  to  that  purpose  was  given  them  ;  and  it  was 
recommended  to  the  honourable  Provincial  Congress  that 
said  Regiments  be  commissioned  accordingly. 

Colonels  Patterson  and  William  Prescott  having  satis- 
fied this  Committee  that  their  respective  Regiments  are 
nearly  full,  a  Certificate  was  given  them  of  the  same;  and 
it  was  recommended  to  the  Provincial  Congress  that  said 
Regiments  be  commissioned  accordingly. 

Colonels  Cotton  and  Bridge  having  satisfied  this  Com- 
mittee that  their  respective  Regiments  are  full,  a  Certificate 
was  given  them  thereof ;  and  it  was  recommended  to  the 
Provincial  Congress  that  said  Regiments  be  commissioned 
accordingly. 

Colonels  Asa  Whitcomb,  Frye,  and  Doolitlle,  having 
satisfied  this  Committee  that  their  respective  Regiments 
are  nearly  full,  a  Certificate  was  given  them  thereof;  and 
it  was  recommended  to  the  honourable  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress that  said  Regiments  be  commissioned  accordingly. 

Colonel  Walker  having  satisfied  this  Committee  that  his 
Regiment  was  complete,  a  Certificate  was  given  him  there- 
of; and  it  was  recommended  to  Congress  that  said  Regi- 
ment be  commissioned  accordingly. 

Colonel  Donaldson  having  satisfied  this  Committee  that 
his  Regiment  is  in  good  forwardness,  a  Certificate  was 
given  him  thereof;  and  it  was  recommended  to  the  hon- 
ourable Congress  that  said  Regiment  be  commissioned  ac- 
cordingly. 

May  27,  1775. 

Colonel  Mansfield  having  satisfied  this  Committee  that 
his  Regiment  is  in  good  forwardness,  he  had  a  Certificate 
thereof,  and  a  recommendation  to  Congress  that  the  Regi- 
ment be  commissioned  accordingly. 

Mr.  Wesson,  keeper  of  Thomas  Oliver,  Esquire's,  farm, 
had  orders  to  secure  any  creatures  that  might  be  put  into 
his  enclosures  by  ill-disposed  persons,  and  to  inform  the 
Committee  thereof. 

Voted,  That  agreeable  to  the  recommendation  of  Gen- 
eral Ward,  Jacob  Rhodes,  of  Charlestown,  be  empowered 
to  impress  such  Cattle  as  may  be  necessary  for  the  removal 
of  two  Boats  from  that  Town  to  Cambridge. 

Josejyh  Smith,  keeper  of  John  Vassal,  Esquire's,  farm, 
had  orders  to  secure  any  creatures  that  might  be  put  into 
his  enclosures  by  ill-disposed  persons,  and  to  inform  the 
Committee  thereof. 


May  28,  1775. 

A  number  of  Guns  taken  from  some  persons  in  Grafton, 
were  appraised  by  a  Sub-Committee  appointed  for  that 
purpose,  and  delivered  Luke.  Drury,  for  the  use  of  his 
Company,  and  a  receipt  taken  in  the  rough  minutes,  as, 
reference  thereto  being  had,  will  particularly  appear. 

May  29,  1775. 

A  number  of  Letters  taken  from  Robert  Temple,  Esq., 
by  the  Committee  of  Safety  of  Cohasset,  were  sent  to  this 
Committee  for  examination,  and  though  the  Committee 
think  that  the  matter  is  not  strictly  within  their  commis- 
sion, yet,  considering  that  the  present  Congress  must  be 
dissolved  this  day,  and  the  good  and  safety  of  this  Colony 
may  be  affected  by  an  immediate  examination  of  said  Let- 
ters :  Therefore, 

Resolved,  That  the  matter  be  immediately  taken  up  by 
the  Committee  ;  and  as  Mr.  Temple  is  now  attending,  that 
he  be  so  directed  respecting  said  Letters,  as  shall,  after  ex- 
amination, appear  necessary  to  promote  the  greatest  good 
of  this  Colony. 

Voted,  That  a  Committee  be  chosen  to  diaw  up  a  Cer- 
tificate for  Mr.  Temple,  and  an  order  for  his  receiving  the 
goods  taken  from  him. 

The  Committee,  appointed  for  that  purpose,  reported  a 
Certificate,  which  was  accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz : 

"  Whereas  the  Committee  of  Inspection  of  the  District  of 
Cohasset,  have  transmitted  to  us  a  number  of  Letters  found 
in  the  possession  of  Robert  Temple,  Esq. ;  and  this  Com- 
mittee having  carefully  inspected  said  Letters,  and  had  the 
said  Mr.  Temple  before  them,  and  examined  him,  both  with 
regard  to  his  principles  and  conduct  in  the  present  contro- 
versy between  Great  Britain  and  the  Colonies  in  America  : 
And  whereas,  we  think  it  the  duty  of  this  Committee,  at 
the  same  time  that  we  applaud  the  vigilance  of  the  Com- 
mittee of  Cohasset,  who  have  stopped  those  Letters,  and  that 
of  the  Town  of  Plymouth,  who  have  sent  two  of  their 
members  with  Mr.  Temple  to  this  Committee,  to  do  justice 
to  individuals;  in  consequence  of  which  we  Resolve,  that 
it  be  recommended  to  the  Committee  at  Cohasset  to  deliver 
Mr.  Temple  such  articles  of  his  as  are  now  in  their  posses- 
sion ;  and  likewise  that  they,  and  all  others,  consider  and 
treat  him  as  a  friend  to  the  interest  of  this  Country,  and  the 
rights  of  all  America." 

Colonel  Quincy,  of  Braintree,  having  proposed  to  this 
Committee  the  erecting  a  small  defensive  work  against  the 
depredations  of  our  enemies,  upon  the  farms  in  his  neigh- 
bourhood, they  do  refer  the  matter  to  the  Council  of  War. 

Colonel  Fellows  having  satisfied  this  Committee  that  his 
Regiment  is  full,  he  had  a  Certificate  thereof,  and  a  recom- 
mendation that  said  Regiment  be  commissioned  according- 
ly, was  given  him  for  the  honourable  Congress. 

It  being  expected  that  the  present  Congress  will  be  dis- 
solved this  night,  and  hearing  that  one  volume  of  copies  of 
Mr.  Hutchinson's  Letters  are  in  the  hands  of  Captain  Mc- 
Lanc,  at  the  upper  Paper-Mills,  in  Milton,  which  volume 
may  be  of  use  to  this  Colony,  if  in  the  hands  of  the  Pro- 
vincial Congress :  Therefore, 

Resolved,  That  the  Reverend  Mr.  Gordon,  of  Roxbury, 
be  desired  and  empowered  to  receive  from  said  Captain 
McLane  all  such  copies  as  are  in  his  hands,  or  in  any  other 
hands,  and  to  be  accountable  to  the  present  or  some  future 
Congress  for  the  same. 

May  30,  1775. 

Elisha  Lettinwell  was  directed  to  proceed  with  two 
Teams  to  Chelsea,  and  bring  from  thence  the  Cannon  and 
other  Stores  saved  from  the  Schooner  which  has  been 
burned  by  our  people,  and  to  lodge  said  Stores  in  this 
Town. 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS. 

Journal  of  the  Proceedings  of  the  Congress  of  the  Colony 
of  Massachusetts-Bay;  assembled  at  Concord,  Sa- 
turday, April  22,  1775. 

Mr.  Richaud  Devens,  Chairman, 
Mr.  John  Murray,  Clerk. 
Mr.  Gerry  represented  to  Congress,  that  a  Letter  from 
Mr.  tyuincy  to  Mr.  Adams,  had  been  delivered  to  him, 


with  a  desire  that  it  might  be  opened  by  Congress  in  Mr. 

Adams's  absence : 
After  some  debate, 

Ordered,  That  the  Members  present,  belonging  to  the 
Committee  on  the  state  of  the  Province,  retire,  open,  and 
peruse  the  said  Letter,  and  report  to  Congress  what  parts 
they  think  proper. 

The  Committee  retired,  and  desired  that  the  whole  be 
read  in  Congress ; 


765 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  APRIL,  1775. 


766 


Which  being  done, 

Ordered,  That  the  same  be  sent  to  Doctor  Warren,  to 
be  used  at  his  discretion. 

Adjourned  to  Watertown,  at  four  o'clock,  P.  M. 

Watertown,  4  o'clock,  P.  M. 

Congress  met  according  to  adjournment. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Watson  notify  the  Committee  of 
Safety  of  the  time  and  place  of  our  adjournment,  and  re- 
quest their  attendance  with  whatever  plans  they  may  have 
in  readiness  for  us ;  and  also  notify  the  absent  members 
that  are  at  Cambridge,  and  request  their  punctual  attend- 
ance. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Sullivan,  Colonel  dishing,  and  Mr. 
Crane,  be  a  Committee  to  wait  on  the  Selectmen  for  lib- 
erty of  the  Meeting-House  during  the  session  of  Congress 
here. 

They  returned,  and  reported  that  the  Selectmen  readily 
granted  their  request. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Gerry,  Colonel  Gushing,  Colonel 
Barrett,  Captain  Stone,  Dr.  Taylor,  Mr.  Sullivan,  Mr. 
Freeman,  Mr.  Watson,  and  Esquire  Dix,  be  a  Committee 
to  take  Depositions,  in  perpetuam,  from  which  a  full  account 
of  the  transactions  of  the  Troops  under  General  Gage,  in 
their  route  to  and  from  Concord,  &tc,  on  Wednesday  last, 
may  be  collected,  to  be  sent  to  England  by  the  first  ship 
from  Salem. 

Adjourned  to  this  place,  to-morrow,  at  7  o'clock,  A.  M. 

Sunday,  April  23,  1775. 

Congress  met  conformably  to  adjournment,  and  adjourn- 
ed to  the  School-House. 

Upon  a  Letter  from  General  Ward,  respecting  the  New- 
Hamj)shire  Troops, 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  it  is  necessary  for  the  de- 
fence of  the  Colony,  that  an  army  of  Thirty  Thousand  Men 
be  immediately  raised  and  established. 

Resolved,  That  Thirteen  Thousand  Six  Hundred  Men 
be  raised  immediately  by  this  Province. 

Resolved,  That  the  Committee  of  Safety  be  a  Commit- 
tee to  bring  in  a  plan  for  the  establishment  of  the  Officers 
and  Soldiers  necessary  for  the  Army,  to  be  raised  at  this 
time,  and  that  they  sit  immediately. 

Voted,  That  Colonel  dishing,  Mr.  Sulliva7i,  Colonel 
Whitcomb,  and  Mr.  Durant,  be  added  to  the  Committee 
of  Safety. 

Resolved,  That  Mr.  Sullivan  be  a  Committee  to  wait 
on  the  New-Hampshire  Congress  at  Exeter,  to  inform  them 
of  our  Resolutions,  and  request  their  concurrence  ;  and  that 
Major  Bliss  go  to  Connecticut,  and  Deacon  Rawson  to 
Rhode-Island,  for  the  same  purpose. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Sullivan  be  a  Committee  to  inform 
the  Committee  from  the  Congress  of  New-Hampshire,  now 
waiting,  of  our  Resolutions  immediately. 

Resolved,  That  Mr.  Murray,  Mr.  Gill,  and  Captain 
Stone,  be  a  Committee  to  draught  a  Letter  to  each  of  the 
Colonels,  to  be  sent  by  the  express. 

Adjourned  to  this  place,  at  two  o'clock,  P.  M. 

Afternoon,  2  o'clock. 

Congress  met  according  to  adjournment,  and  adjourned 
to  the  Meeting-House. 

Being  there  met,  the  Committee  reported  a  draught  of 
a  Letter  to  the  Colonels,  which  was  accepted,  and  ordered 
to  be  copied  by  Captain  Stone. 

Mr.  Gerry  read  in  his  place  a  Letter  from  Marblchead, 
reporting  that  the  British  Man-of-War  Lively  was  lying 
off  the  Harbour  of  that  Town ;  representing  that  then- 
means  of  defence  were  inadequate  to  repel  attack ;  and 
asking  direction  and  aid  ;  upon  which, 

Resolved,  That  the  matter  subside  until  further  informa- 
tion. 

Doctor  Warren  read  a  Letter  from  the  Committee  of 
Correspondence  of  Connecticut  : 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Gerry,  Mr.  Gill,  and  Doctor  Tay- 
lor, be  a  Committee  to  draught  an  Answer,  and  report  im- 
mediately. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Orne,  Major  Fuller  of  New- 
ton, and  Major  Fuller  of  Middleton,  be  a  Committee  to 
count  and  sort  the  voles  for  a  President  pro  tempore. 


The  Committee  reported  that  the  vote  was  full  for  Doc- 
tor Warren. 

Colonel  Palmer  was  chosen  Secretary  pro  tempore. 

The  Committee  reported  a  Resolve  for  the  establishment 
of  the  Army  ;  which  being  read,  was  referred  for  further 
consideration. 

A  report  was  made  of  a  draught  of  an  Answer  to  the 
Committee  of  Connecticut,  which,  after  amendment,  was 
accepted. 

Voted,  That  a  Committee  be  appointed  to  draw  up  a 
Narrative  of  the  Massacre  on  Wednesday  last. 

Ordered,  That  Doctor  Church,  Mr.  Gerry,  and  Mr. 
Cushing,  be  that  Committee. 

Resolved,  That  the  Establishment  of  Forces,  now  imme- 
diately to  be  raised,  for  the  recovery  and  preservation  of 
our  undoubted  rights  and  liberties,  be  as  follows,  viz: 

Per  Month. 

To  each  Colonel  of  a  Regiment  of  598  men,  £15  00 


To  one  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  such  Regiment,  12  00 

To  a  Major  of  such  Regiment,    -    -    -    -  10  00 

For  a  Captain  of  59  men,  including  officers,  6  00 

For  two  Lieutenants  for  such  Company,  each  4  00 

For  one  Ensign  for  such  Company,  -    -    -  3  00 

For  one  Adjutant  for  such  Regiment,    -    -  5  10 

For  a  Quarter-Master  for  such  Regiment,   -  3  00 

For  one  Chaplain  for  such  Regiment,     -  6  00 

For  one  Chirurgeon  for  such  Regiment,      -  7  10 

For  two  Chirurgeon 's  Mates,  each    -    -    -  4  00 

For  each  Sergeant,  -    --    --    --    -  2  08 

For  each  Corporal,  -------    -  2  04 

For  each  Drummer,     -    --    --    --  2  04 

For  each  Fifer,   2  04 

For  each  Private  Soldier,   2  00 


Resolved,  That  besides  the  above,  a  Coat  for  a  uniform 
be  given  to  each  of  the  Non-commissioned  Officers  and 
Privates,  as  soon  as  the  state  of  the  Province  will  admit  of 
it ;  also, 

Resolved,  That  the  Selectmen  of  the  several  Towns 
and  Districts  within  this  Colony  be  desired  to  furnish  the 
Soldiers,  who  shall  enlist  from  their  respective  Towns  and 
Districts,  with  good  and  sufficient  Blankets,  and  render 
their  accounts  to  the  Committee  of  Supplies,  who  are 
hereby  directed  to  draw  on  the  Colony  Treasurer  for  pay- 
ment of  the  same. 

Adjourned  to  eight  o'clock  to-morrow  morning,  in  this 
place. 

Watertown,  Monday,  April  24,  1775. 

Met  according  to  adjournment. 

The  Reverend  Mr.  Murray  was  appointed  President 
pro  tempore,  and  Ichabod  Goodwin,  Spcretary  pro  tempore. 
Jonas  Dix,  Esquire,  was  appointed  Monitor. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Gerry  give  the  Express  going  to 
the  press,  his  orders  for  the  Enlisting  Papers. 

Ordered,  That  the  Enlisting  Papers  going  to  the  press 
be  authenticated  by  the  Secretary  pro  tempore. 

Resolved,  That  six  hundred  of  these  Papers  be  printed, 
and  that  the  Congress  Express  wait  for  two  hundred  of 
them. 

Resolved,  That  the  Committee  of  Safety  or  Committee 
of  Supplies  be  empowered  to  impress  Horses  or  Teams, 
and  direct  the  owners  of  them  to  send  their  accounts  to  the 
Committee  of  Supplies;  also,  to  empower  other  persons 
to  impress  on  special  occasions. 

Resolved,  That  the  Establishment  of  the  Army  be  print- 
ed in  Handbills,  and  that  a  copy  of  them  be  sent  by  the 
Express  who  is  going  for  the  Enlisting  Papers;  and  that 
three  hundred  of  them  be  printed  immediately. 

Moved,  That  a  Member  from  each  County  be  appointed 
to  attend  the  Committee  of  Safety,  and  let  them  know  the 
names  of  the  Officers  in  said  Counties,  belonging  to  the 
Minute-Men,  and  such  as  are  most  suitable  for  Officers  in 
the  Army  now  raising. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Lincoln  be  appointed  for  the 
County  of  Suffolk ; 

Major  Fuller  for  the  County  of  Essex ; 

Colonel  Frescott  for  the  County  of  Middlesex ; 

Colonel  Pomeroy  for  the  County  of  Hampshire ; 

Nathaniel  Cushing,  Esq.,  for  the  County  of  Plymouth  , 


767 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  APRIL,  1775. 


768 


Daniel  Davis,  Esq.,  for  the  County  of  Barnstable ; 

Colonel  Daggct  for  the  County  of  Brisol; 

lvhabod  Goodwin,  Esq..  for  the  County  of  York; 

Joseph  Mayhcw,  Esq.,  for  the  County  of  Dukes  County ; 

Major  Bigeloiv  for  the  County  of  Worcester; 

Mr.  Samuel  Freeman  for  the  County  of  Cumberland ; 

Reverend  Mr.  John  Murray  for  the  County  of  Lincoln  ; 

Colonel  John  Patterson  for  the  County  of  Berkshire ;  and 

Stephen  llussey,  Esq.,  for  the  County  of  Nantucket. 

Ordered,  That  each  of  these  Members  attend  the  ser- 
vice according  to  their  appointment,  or  write  to  the  Com- 
mittee. 

Ordered,  That  Major  Fuller,  of  Middleton,  give  a  list 
of  the  names  of  these  Members  to  the  Committee  of 
Safety. 

Resolved,  That  when  this  Congress  do  adjourn,  they 
adjourn  to  three  o'clock  this  afternoon,  and  the  Members 
are  enjoined  to  attend  punctually  at  that  time. 

Adjourned  accordingly  to  three  o'clock,  P.  M. 

Afternoon,  April  24,  1775. 

Letters  from  Hartford,  directed  to  the  President  of  this 
Congress,  laid  on  the  table,  ordered  to  be  read,  and,  after 
reading  them,  were  ordered  to  be  immediately  forwarded  to 
the  Committee  of  Safety,  then  sitting  at  Cambridge. 

Moved,  That  a  Committee  be  now  appointed  to  exam- 
ine the  Records,  and  report  such  matters  contained  therein 
as  may  be  made  publick,  and  such  as  shall  remain  secret  at 
present. 

Ordered,  That  Major  Brooks,  Deacon  Fisher,  and  Mr. 
Freeman,  be  a  Committee  for  that  purpose. 

Congress  adjourned  to  eight  o'clock,  next  morning,  at 
this  place. 

Tuesday,  April  25,  1775,  8  o'clock,  A.  M. 

Congress  met  pursuant  to  adjournment. 

Ordered,  That  the  Treasurer  be  inquired  of  respecting 
the  state  of  the  Treasury. 

Answered  by  said  Treasurer  in  a  general  way,  that  for 
the  year  1773,  it  was  supposed  that  about  Twenty  Thou- 
sand Pounds  was  due,  and  that  he  had  received  about  Five 
Thousand  Pounds. 

Moved,  That  a  Committee  be  appointed  to  bring  in  a 
Resolve  how  we  may  ascertain  the  number  of  Towns  and 
Districts  which  are  delinquent.    Passed  in  the  negative. 

Moved  for  a  reconsideration,  and  passed  negatively. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  bring  in  a  Report  of  what 
they  thought  might  be  made  publick  of  the  Resolves,  re- 
ported, that  nothing  relative  to  our  proceedings  with  the 
Indiun  Nations  be  known,  and  that  other  matters  be  left 
at  discretion  with  each  Member. 

Moved,  That  this  matter  subside  for  the  present. 

Leave  of  absence  is  granted  Jcrathmiel  Boivcrs,  Esquire, 
to  return  home. 

Adjourned  to  three  o'clock,  afternoon. 

Afternoon. 

The  Letter  from  Haverhill  committed. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Gill,  Colonel  Gerrish,  and  Major 
Fuller,  of  Middleton,  be  a  Committee  for  that  purpose, 
and  to  sit  forthwith. 

Moved,  by  the  Committee  of  Safety,  for  two  gentlemen 
as  Engineers,  and  an  Establishment  for  them. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Gill,  Jonas  Dix,  Esq.,  and  Henry 
Gardner,  Esq.,  be  a  Committee  for  that  purpose  to  bring 
in  a  Resolve. 

Ordered,  That  a  Resolve  be  submitted  by  the  Commit- 
tee of  Safety,  to  reduce  the  Regiments. 

Moved,  That  the  Companies  in  each  Regiment  be  re- 
duced from  one  hundred  men  each,  to  fifty-nine  men, 
including  three  officers — one  Captain  and  two  Subalterns  ; 
and  passed  unanimously  in  the  affirmative. 

Moved,  That  each  Regiment  be  reduced  to  ten  of  these 
Companies ;  and  passed  in  the  affirmative. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Orne,  Colonel  Palmer,  and 
Henry  Gardner,  Esq.,  be  a  Committee  for  regulating  the 
Regiments  of  the  Army,  and  to  sit  forthwith. 

A  Letter  from  Salem  was  read,  setting  forth  the  expe- 
diency of  the  Depositions  we  are  now  taking  being  for- 
warded as  fast  as  possible.    The  same  was  ordered  to  be 


sent  to  the  Committee  for  that  purpose,  at  Lexington,  im- 
mediately. 

Ordered,  That  the  Memorial  from  Marblehead ,  with 
the  debate  thereon,  subside  for  the  present. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  take  into  consideration  the 
Letters  from  Messrs.  Nathaniel  P.  Sargca7it,  Jr.,  Esq.,  and 
Jonathan  Webster,  reported,  That  the  Congress  write  to 
the  Town  of  Haverhill,  acquaint  them  of  the  Letters  re- 
ceived from  said  Sargeant  and  Webster,  and  let  them  know 
the  important  business  of  Congress  requires  the  wisdom  of 
the  whole  Province ;  and  therefore  desire,  that  in  case 
those  gentlemen  cannot  attend,  they  would  elect  other 
member  or  members  to  attend  in  their  room ;  and  that  the 
Letter  be  directed  to  the  Town  Clerk. 

In  Provincial  Congress,  Watertown,  ) 
April  25,  1775.  \ 

Sir  :  The  Congress  have  this  day  received  a  Letter  from 
Nathaniel  Peaslce  Sargeant  and  Jonathan  Webster,  Esqrs., 
acquainting  them  that  the  late  dreadful  fire  in  Haverhill, 
together  with  some  publick  disturbances  in  said  Town, 
make  it  necessary  they  should  be  at  home  at  this  time. 
The  Congress  apprehend,  that  the  important  business  of 
the  Colonies  requires  that  every  Town  should  now  be  re- 
presented ;  therefore  desire,  that  if,  in  case  neither  said 
Nathaniel  P.  Sargeant  or  Jonathan  Webster,  Esqrs.,  can 
attend,  that  the  Town  would  elect  one  or  more  mem- 
bers to  attend  in  their  room,  that  the  wisdom  of  the  whole 
Colony  may  be  collected  at  our  hour  of  need. 

Adjourned  to  eight  o'clock  next  day. 

Wednesday,  April  26,  1775,  8  o'clock,  A.  M. 
Met  according  to  adjournment. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  President,  Doctor  Taylor,  Mr. 
Freeman,  Henry  Gardner,  Esq.,  and  Colonel  Stone,  be  a 
Committee  to  draught  a  Letter  to  our  Agent  in  Great 
Britain. 

Ordered,  That  William  Burbeck  be  and  he  is  hereby 
appointed  an  Engineer  of  the  Forces  now  raising  in  this 
Colony  for  the  defence  of  the  rights  and  liberties  of  the 
American  Continent;  and  that  there  be  paid  to  the  said 
William  Burbeck,  out  of  the  publick  Treasury  of  this  Col- 
ony, during  his  continuance  in  that  service,  at  the  rate  of 
one  hundred  and  fifty  Pounds,  lawful  money,  per  annum. 
And  it  is  further  Resolved,  That  from  and  after  the  time 
when  the  said  Troops  shall  be  disbanded,  during  the  life  of 
the  said  Burbeck,  there  be  paid  to  him,  out  of  the  Treasu- 
ry, the  sum  of  ninety-seven  Pounds  six  Shillings  and 
eight  Pence,  lawful  money,  annually. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Gerrish,  Deacon  Fisher,  Col- 
onel Orne,  Mr.  Batchclder,  and  Captain  Brou-n,  be  a  Com- 
mittee to  take  into  consideration  the  Letter  laid  on  the 
table  by  the  Committee  of  Safety,  from  James  Sullivan, 
Esq.,  and  the  Committee  to  sit  forthwith. 

Ordered,  That  the  Letter  drawn  by  the  Committee,  to 
send  to  Doctor  Franklin,  as  Agent,  be  copied  and  authen- 
ticated by  the  President  pro  tempore. 

The  Depositions  taken  by  the  Committee  for  that  pur- 
pose, laid  on  the  table,  and  ordered  to  be  read. 

Ordered,  That  the  Committee  make  Duplicates  of  the 
same,  and  Captain  Stone,  Jonas  Dix,  Esq.,  Colonel  Tyng, 
Colonel  Divight,  Captain  Whittcmorc,  Major  Fuller,  and 
Mr.  Freeman,  assist  as  scribes  in  that  business. 

Adjourned  to  three  o'clock. 

Afternoon. 

Met  according  to  adjournment. 

Ordered,  That  the  Letters  and  Papers  just  now  re- 
ceived from  Rhode-Island,  by  Doctor  Perkins,  be  sent  to 
the  Committee  of  Safety  now  sitting  in  Cambridge,  by  him, 
and  that  he  have  leave  to  go  home  for  a  few  days. 

Resolved,  That  Richard  Gridley,  Esquire,  be  and  he 
hereby  is  appointed  Chief  Engineer  of  the  Forces  now 
raising  in  this  Colony  for  the  defence  of  the  rights  and  lib- 
erties of  the  American  Continent ;  and  that  there  be  paid 
to  the  said  Richard  Gridley,  out  of  the  publick  Treasury 
uf  this  Colony,  during  his  continuance  in  that  service,  at 
the  rate  of  one  hundred  and  seventy  Pounds,  lawful 
money,  per  annum.  And  it  is  further  Resolved,  That 
from  and  after  the  time  when  (he  said  Forces  shall  be  dis- 


769 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  APRIL,  1775. 


770 


banded,  during  the  life  of  the  said  Gridley,  there  be  paid 
to  him  out  of  the  said  Treasury,  the  sum  of  one  hundred 
and  twenty-three  Pounds,  lawful  money,  per  annum. 

Ordered,  That  the  duplicates  lay  on  the  table  till  the 
Narrative  comes  in. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Freeman,  Doctor  Taylor,  Deacon 
Cheever,  Doctor  Baylies,  and  Colonel  Farley,  be  a  Com- 
mittee to  consider  the  state  of  the  eastern  parts  of  this 
Province  at  large  in  regard  to  supplying  them  with  Am- 
munition, and  to  sit  forthwith. 

The  Committee  made  the  following  Report,  which  was 
accepted : 

In  Provincial  Congress,  Watertown,  > 
April  26,  1775.  $ 

Whereas,  representation  has  been  made  to  this  Congress, 
that  several  of  the  Towns  in  the  eastern  parts  of  the  Col- 
ony are  deficient  in  such  supply  of  ammunition,  as  is  neces- 
sary they  should,  at  this  day,  be  furnished  with,  for  the 
safety  and  defence  of  the  Colony  in  general,  and  that  part 
of  it  in  particular ;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  the  Committee  of  Supplies  be,  and  they 
are  hereby  directed,  forthwith  to  take  some  effectual  mea- 
sures to  procure  such  a  quantity  of  Powder  and  Ball  as  will 
appear  to  them  to  be  necessary  for  the  use  of  this  Colony, 
under  the  present  alarming  situation  of  our  publick  affairs  ; 
and,  in  particular,  that  they  immediately  send  to  the  Colo- 
nies of  Connecticut  and  Rhode-Island  for  so  much  Powder 
as  they  shall  think  necessary,  and  when  procured,  to  de- 
liver so  much  of  it  to  the  order  of  the  Selectmen  of  such 
deficient  Towns,  and  in  such  quantities,  as  they  may  think 
will  be  proportional  to  the  exigencies  of  each  Town  respec- 
tively, and  to  the  safety  and  defence  of  the  Colony  in 
general ;  such  Towns  to  pay  for  the  supplies  which  they 
may  receive  of  said  Committee,  according  to  the  nett  ex- 
pense of  procuring  the  same. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Cutts,  lchabod  Goodwin,  and 
Deacon  Fisher,  be  appointed  to  proportion  the  Powder  that 
is  recommended  to  be  sold  to  the  Towns  of  York,  Welles, 
Biddeford,  Boothbay,  and  Sandford,  and  to  sit  forthwith. 

The  Committee  presented  the  following  Report,  which 
was  accepted : 

Whereas,  the  Towns  of  York,  Welles,  Boothbay,  and 
Biddeford,  have  applied  to  this  Congress,  setting  forth  the 
dangerous  situation  they  are  in,  being  seaports,  and  there- 
by exposed  to  the  ravages  of  the  enemy,  although  but  a 
small  force  should  be  sent  to  attack  them  by  sea  ;  and  like- 
wise showing  that  they  have  not  ammunition  sufficient 
wherewith  to  make  defence,  should  they  be  thus  attacked; 
and  considering  them,  as  they  ought  to  be,  part  of  the  whole, 
and  should  they  suffer,  that  the  whole  must  be  affected : 
therefore, 

Resolved,  That  it  be,  and  it  hereby  is  recommended  to 
the  Selectmen  of  the  Towns  of  Marblehead,  Salem,  and 
Newburyport,  that  they  forthwith  sell,  out  of  their  Town 
stock,  four  half  barrels  of  Powder  each,  to  said  Towns  of 
York,  Welles,  Biddeford,  and  Boothbay,  to  put  the  inhabi- 
tants thereof  in  some  tolerable  state  of  defence  ;  and  should 
the  Towns  of  Marblehead,  Salem,  and  Newburyport,  be 
under  the  necessity  of  having  the  quantities  which  they 
have  delivered  to  the  said  Towns  of  York,  Welles,  Booth- 
bay,  and  Biddeford,  replaced,  in  that  case  the  Congress 
will  give  orders  for  the  same  as  soon  as  may  be.  The  Pow- 
der to  be  apportioned  according  to  the  number  of  inhabi- 
tants in  the  said  Towns,  as  also  to  Sandford,  said  Town 
having  made  application  for  supplies  of  the  same  kind. 

Ordered,  That  the  Rev.  James  Murray,  Major  Fuller, 
and  Jonas  Dix,  Esq.,  be  a  Committee  to  return  the  thanks 
of  this  Congress  to  the  Reverend  Ministers  who  have  gen- 
erously offered  to  supply  the  Army  as  Chaplains,  each  a 
month  in  rotation. 

Ordered,  That  at  three  o'clock  to-morrow,  this  Congress 
will  take  into  consideration  some  effectual  method  of  sup- 
plying the  Treasury. 

Ordered,  That  Deacon  How  have  leave  to  return  home, 
but  is  to  return  to  his  duty  immediately. 

Ordered,  That  the  copies  of  the  Order  to  the  Honour- 
able Richard  Derby,  Esq.,  for  fitting  out  his  Vessel  for  a 
Packet,  be  taken  and  authenticated  by  the  President  pro 
tempore. 

Ordered,  That  the  Honourable  Richard  Derby,  Esqr's, 
Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii. 


Orders  to  the  Treasury,  be  also  authenticated  by  the  Pre- 
sidentpro  tempore. 

Ordered,  That  the  Committee  of  Supplies,  directed  to 
draught  the  Letter  to  our  Agent  in  Great  Britain,  be  re- 
quested to  send  the  same  with  the  papers  now  preparing 
for  that  purpose. 

Ordered,  That  Doctor  Holten,  Doctor  Baylies,  Captain 
Whittemore,  Colonel  Dwight,  and  Mr.  Kollock,  be  a  Com- 
mittee to  take  the  recommendation  of  the  Committee  of 
Safety  into  consideration,  with  respect  to  the  Army  now 
forming. 

Moved,  That  when  this  Congress  do  adjourn,  that  they 
adjourn  to  seven  o'clock  to-morrow  morning. 
Adjourned  accordingly. 

Thursday,  April  27,  1775,  i 
Seven  o'clock,  A.  M.  $ 

Met  pursuant  to  adjournment. 

Ordered,  That  Captain  Goodman  inquire  of  the  Com- 
mittee of  Safety,  whether  any  provision  is  made  for  a  Post 
or  Posts,  to  ride  from  the  Army  to  Worcester,  agreeably  to 
a  request  from  the  Selectmen  of  that  Town ;  and  also  to 
procure  a  Writ  for  calling  a  General  Assembly  in  May  next, 
issued  from  General  Gage  for  that  purpose. 

Ordered,  That  the  Secretary  pro  tempore  take  Extracts 
from  the  Minutes  of  the  Resolves  of  this  Congress,  and 
authenticate  the  same,  and  deliver  them  to  the  men  now 
in  waiting  from  York  and  Welles,  for  the  purpose  of  obtain- 
ing some  Powder. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Gerry  have  leave  to  bring  in  a 
Resolve,  with  regard  to  the  seaports  in  the  County  of 
Essex. 

Whereupon  Mr.  Gerry  offered  the  following : 

Whereas,  hostilities  have  been  commenced  in  this  Colony 
by  Great  Britain,  and  the  sword  may  remain  unsheathed 
for  a  considerable  time  : 

Resolved,  That  it  be,  and  it  hereby  is  earnestly  recom- 
mended to  the  Committees  of  the  seaport  Towns  in  the 
County  of  Essex,  that  they  use  their  utmost  endeavours  to 
have  all  the  effects  of  the  inhabitants  of  their  respective 
Towns  removed  as  soon  as  possible ;  that  the  Congress 
highly  approves  of  the  conduct  of  said  Towns,  in  wearing 
a  pacifick  appearance,  until  their  effects  shall  be  secured  ; 
that  the  Congress  consider  it  as  absolutely  necessary  for 
said  inhabitants  to  be  in  readiness  to  go  into  the  country  on 
the  shortest  notice,  and  to  avoid  mixing  with  our  enemies, 
as  thereby  their  own  lives  will  ever  be  in  imminent  danger, 
when  the  Colony  and  the  Continent  shall  attack  such  ene- 
mies. And  it  is  also  recommended  to  them  that  their  ap- 
plication to  Congress  for  advice,  and  this  Resolve  in  conse- 
quence thereof,  be  kept  a  secret,  that  their  effects  may  be 
more  easily  removed. 

Ordered,  That  three  o'clock  next  Tuesday  be  assigned 
to  take  up  the  matter  in  the  Resolve  brought  in  by  Mr. 
Gerry. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  President,  Col.  Orne,  Doctor  Tay- 
lor, Major  Fuller,  of  Middleton,  and  Captain  Goodman, 
be  a  Committee  to  confer  with  the  Officers  of  the  Army 
relative  to  the  reduction  of  their  pay. 

Colonel  Dwight  was  appointed  to  wait  on  the  Committee 
of  Safety,  and  acquaint  them  with  the  names  of  the  Officers 
in  the  Regiments  of  Minute-Men  in  Worcester  County. 

Mr.  Hale  appointed  to  the  same  business,  in  the  County 
of  Hampshire. 

Adjourned  to  three  o'clock,  P.  M. 

Afternoon. 

Met  according  to  adjournment. 

Ordered,  That  Captain  Kingsbury,  Doctor  Holten,  and 
Deacon  Stone,  be  appointed  to  inquire  and  endeavour  to 
get  an  exact  account  of  the  men  killed,  and  wounded,  and 
murdered,  in  the  late  scene,  on  the  nineteenth  instant. 

The  Order  of  the  Day  was  moved  for,  to  take  up  the 
matter  of  supplying  the  Treasury. 

Ordered,  That  a  Committee  be  appointed  for  that  pur- 
pose, to  consist  of  five,  and  to  be  chosen  by  written  votes. 

Ordered,  That  two  be  added  to  this  Committee. 

Ordered,  That  Doctor  Holten,  Mr.  Bidlen,  and  Captain 
Batchelder,  be  appointed  to  sort  and  count  the  votes. 

Ordered,  That  nine  o'clock  be  assigned  for  that  purpose. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Patridge,  Captain  Greenleaf,  and 


771 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  APRIL,  1773. 


772 


Doctor  Baker,  be  appointed  to  consider  the  Petition  from 
Gorham,  and  to  sit  forthwith. 

Ordered,  That  Captain  Whitemore,  Mr.  Freeman,  and 
Doctor  Baylies,  assist  as  scribes  the  Committees,  in  taking 
fair  copies  of  the  Depositions  in  order  for  the  Press,  and  to 
sit  forthwith. 

Ordered,  That  Jonas  Dix,  Esq.,  William  Stickney,  Esq., 
and  Deacon  Stone,  be  appointed  to  take  true  copies  of  the 
Depositions,  and  have  them  signed  by  the  Deponents,  and 
authenticated  by  the  Justices  and  Notary  Publick. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Hubbart  have  leave  to  go  home  a 
few  days. 

Adjourned  to  nine  o'clock  to-morrow  morning. 

Friday,  April  28,  1775. 

Met  conformably  to  adjournment. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  President,  Col.  Gerrish,  Mr.  Gerry, 
Doctor  Holten,  and  Mr.  Gill,  be  appointed  to  confer  with 
the  gentlemen  from  New- Hampshire,  and  are  desired  to 
lay  the  Letters  just  received  from  New-  York,  dated  April 
nineteenth,  before  them. 

Ordered,  (at  the  desire  of  the  Secretary  pro  tempore,) 
that  he  be  excused  from  that  service,  after  another  is  ap- 
pointed in  that  place. 

Accordingly  Mr.  Samuel  Freeman  was  appointed  to  that 
office,  pro  tempore. 

In  Provincial  Congress,  Watertown,  ) 
April  28,  1775.  I 

Resolved,  That  the  Committee  appointed  to  confer  with 
the  Committee  who  this  day  arrived  here  from  the  Colony 
of  New-Hampshire,  have  leave  to  report  to  this  Congress  a 
draught  of  a  Letter,  which  they  have  prepared  as  an  answer 
to  one  received  from  the  Convention  of  the  said  Colony 
of  New-Hampshire,  dated  twenty-sixth  instant. 

The  said  draught  was  accordingly  reported,  read,  and 
unanimously  accepted,  and  ordered  to  be  authenticated  by 
the  President,  and  delivered  to  Colonel  Nathaniel  Folsom, 
Colonel  Josiah  Bartlett,  and  Major  Samuel  Hobart,  Esq., 
the  Committee  from  thesaid  Convention  of  New-Hampshire, 
and  is  as  follows,  viz  : 

"Gentlemen:  It  is  with  pleasure  we  have  received 
your  letter,  above  mentioned,  and  by  a  Committee  of  this 
Congress,  have  had  a  conference  with  your  respectable 
Committee. 

"We  find  the  fullest  conviction  in  the  minds  of  the  in- 
habitants of  our  sister  Colonies,  as  well  as  of  this,  that  by 
their  immediate  and  most  vigorous  exertions,  there  is  the 
greatest  prospect  of  establishing  their  liberties,  and  saving 
their  Country,  and  that,  without  such  exertions,  all  must  be 
lost. 

"  It  is  the  opinion  of  this  Congress,  as  already  communi- 
cated, that  a  powerful  Army  on  our  side  must  at  once  cut 
out  such  a  work  for  a  tyrannical  Administration,  as,  under 
the  great  opposition  which  they  meet  with  in  England,  they 
cannot  accomplish,  and  that  their  system  of  despotism  must 
soon  be  shaken  to  the  foundation.  But  should  they  still 
pursue  their  sanguinary  measures,  that  the  Colonies  will 
then  be  able  to  make  a  successful  stand. 

«  We  have  the  utmost  confidence  in  your  patriotick  Col- 
ony, whose  inhabitants  have  signalized  themselves,  in  join- 
ing their  brethren  in  this,  and  hope  to  see  New- Hampshire, 
and  every  other  Government  which  has  been  exposed  to 
the  corruption  of  a  British  Ministry,  soon  placed  upon  such 
a  footing  as  will  be  best  calculated  to  promote  the  true  inte- 
rest of  the  same,  and  to  prevent,  in  future,  such  unhappy 
disputes  as  have  taken  place  with  the  mother  Country. 

'•'  We  have  just  received  an  agreeable  account  of  the  con- 
duct of  our  brethren  in  New-York,  and  have  delivered  a 
copy  of  the  letter  to  your  Committee. 

"  We  sincerely  thank  you  for  your  measures,  taken  in 
Convention  at  Exeter,  and  are  fully  persuaded  that  the 
Congress  of  your  Colony,  which  is  to  meet  on  the  seven- 
teenth of  May,  will  take  such  effectual  steps  as  the  present 
exigencies  of  publick  affairs  require,  and  the  Continent  of 
America  must  necessarily  approve." 

Ordered,  That  the  Secretary  authenticate  a  copy  of  a  Let- 
ter this  day  received  from  Governour  Hopkins,  of  Rhodc- 
hland,  and  deliver  the  same  to  the  above  mentioned  Com- 
mittee from  New- Hampshire. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Dickerson,  Doctor  Holten.  and  Col- 
onel Gerrish,  be  a  Committee  to  wait  upon  the  Committee 


from  New-Hampshire  to  the  Committee  of  Safety  of  this 
Colony,  now  sitting  at  Cambridge,  to  consult  with  them 
respecting  the  Neiv-Hampshire  Forces,  now  at  Cambridge. 

Ordered,  That  the  President,  Mr.  Gerry,  and  Mr.  Gard- 
ner, be  a  Committee  to  take  into  consideration  a  Letter  this 
day  received  from  the  Honourable  Stephen  Hopkins,  Esq.. 
dated  Providence,  April  27,  1775. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Crane,  Mr.  Grout,  and  Mr.  Fisher, 
be  a  Committee  to  take  into  consideration  the  expedien- 
cy of  establishing  Post-Riders  between  the  Massachusetts 
Forces  and  the  Town  of  Worcester. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Crane,  Mr.  Grout,  and  Mr.  Fisher, 
be  a  Committee  to  take  into  consideration  the  propriety  of 
recommending  to  the  several  Towns  and  Districts  in  this 
Colony,  that  they  take  no  notice  of  the  Precepts  lately 
issued  by  General  Gage,  for  calling  a  General  Assembly. 

Ordered,  That  Major  Fuller,  of  Newton,  Mr.  Goodman, 
Doctor  Taylor,  Doctor  Baylies,  and  Major  Brooks,  be  a 
Committee  to  prepare  a  form  of  a  Commission  for  the 
several  Officers  of  the  Army  now  forming  in  this  Province. 

Adjourned  to  three  o'clock  this  afternoon. 

Afternoon. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Fisher,  Doctor  Taylor,  and  Benja- 
min Aiken,  Esq.,  be  a  Committee  to  prepare  a  draught  of 
Rules  and  Regulations,  to  be  in  future  observed  by  the 
several  Members  of  this  Congress. 

The  Committee  appointed  in  the  forenoon,  to  take  into 
consideration  a  Letter  received  from  the  Honourable  Ste- 
phen Hopkins,  Esq.,  reported. 

The  Report  was  accepted,  and  ordered  to  lie  on  the 
table,  for  the  present. 

Ordered,  That  the  Committee  appointed  to  introduce 
the  Honourable  Delegates  from  the  Convention  at  Exeter, 
in  New- Hampshire,  to  the  Committee  of  Safety,  apply  to 
said  Committee  for  an  authentick  aceount  of  what  transac- 
tions have  certainly  taken  place  with  respect  to  the  libera- 
tion of  our  friends  in  Boston,  and  report  as  soon  as  may  be. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Dexter,  Major  Brooks,  Doctor 
Taylor,  Captain  Batchelder,  and  Captain  Greenlcaf,  be  a 
Committee  to  bring  in  a  Resolve,  empowering  the  Com- 
mittee of  Supplies  to  procure  such  Provisions,  Military 
Stores,  and  other  Stores,  as  they  shall  judge  necessary  for 
the  Army  now  forming  in  this  Colony,  during  its  establish- 
ment. 

It  was  Moved,  That  the  sense  of  this  Congress  be  taken, 
whether  it  would  be  expedient  to  reduce  the  Pay  of  the 
Field-Officers  of  the  Army.  After  much  debate,  the  ques- 
tion was  put,  and  it  passed  in  the  affirmative,  by  a  large 
majority;  whereupon  it  was  determined,  that  the  Pay  of 
the  Chief  Colonel  be  reduced  from  fifteen  Pounds  to  twelve 
Pounds,  and  that  the  Lieutenant-Colonels  and  Majors  be 
reduced  in  the  same  proportion. 

Ordered,  That  Major  Fuller,  of  Newton,  Colonel  Dex- 
ter, and  Captain  Little,  be  a  Committee  to  bring  in  a  Re- 
solve for  that  purpose. 

Adjourned  to  eight  o'clock  to-morrow  morning. 

Saturday,  April  29,  1775. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  wait  on  the  New-Hamp- 
shire Committee  to  the  Committee  of  Safety  at  Cambridge, 
and  to  make  inquiry  respecting  the  liberation  of  the  in- 
habitants of  Boston,  reported,  that  they  had  attended  that 
business,  and  had  brought  from  the  Committee  of  Safety  a 
number  of  papers,  which  contain  the  proceedings  of  the 
Town  of  Boston  with  General  Gage,  in  respect  to  moving 
the  inhabitants  and  their  effects. 

And  that  the  Committee  of  Safety,  having  taken  the 
substance  of  them  into  consideration,  desired  they  might 
be  returned  to  them,  and  that  the  Congress  would  not  pass 
any  resolve  respecting  them  until  they  had  come  to  some 
resolve  concerning  them  ;  therefore, 

Ordered,  That  the  subject-matter  of  said  Papers  be  re- 
ferred to  the  consideration  of  the  said  Committee  of  Safety  ; 
they  to  make  report  to  this  Congress  as  soon  as  may  be. 

On  a  motion  made,  Ordered,  That  the  day  appointed 
for  the  first  meeting  of  the  County  Committees,  which 
was  the  first  Wednesday  in  May  next,  be  postponed  to  the 
fourth  Wednesday  in  May  next. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  prepare  a  draught  of  Rules 
and  Regulations  to  be  observed  by  this  Congress,  reported  ; 


773 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  APRIL,  1775. 


774 


tlie  Rules  were  read,  and  severally  accepted,  and  are  as 
follow,  viz : 

"1.  No  Member  shall  speak  out  of  his  place,  nor 
without  standing  up,  and  applying  to  the  President  for 
leave,  and  shall  sit  down  as  soon  as  he  is  done  speaking. 

"2.  No  Member,  speaking  by  leave  of  the  President, 
shall  be  interrupted  by  another,  but  by  rising  up  to  speak 
to  order. 

"  3.  No  Member  shall  speak  more  than  twice  to  one 
question,  without  first  obtaining  leave  of  Congress,  nor  more 
than  once,  until  others  have  spoken  that  shall  desire  it. 

"  4.  Whenever  any  Member  shall  have  liberty  from  the 
President  to  make  a  motion,  and  such  motion  shall  be 
seconded  by  another,  the  same  shall  be  received  and  con- 
sidered by  the  Congress,  and  not  otherwise. 

"  5.  No  Member  shall  declare  or  question  whether  it 
be  a  Vote  or  not. 

"  6.  No  grant  for  Money,  or  other  thing,  shall  be  made, 
unless  there  be  a  time  before  assigned  for  that  purpose. 

;<  7.  No  Vote  shall  be  reconsidered  when  a  less  number 
is  present  in  Congress  than  there  was  when  it  passed. 

"  8.  No  Member  shall  nominate  more  than  one  person 
for  a  Committee,  provided  the  person  so  nominated  be 
chosen. 

"  9.  No  Member  shall  be  obliged  to  be  upon  more  than 
two  Committees  at  a  time,  nor  Chairman  of  more  than  one. 

••'  10.  That  no  Member  be  permitted  to  stand  up,  to  the 
interruption  of  another,  while  such  other  Member  is  speak- 
ing." 

Ordered,  That  the  Monitors  of  this  Congress  be,  and 
they  are  hereby  directed  to  see  that  the  foregoing  Rules 
are  observed  by  the  several  Members  of  this  Congress. 

Ordered,  That  the  Letter  and  Resolve,  prepared  to  be 
sent  to  the  Honourable  Stephen  Hopkins,  Esq.,  of  Rhode- 
Island,  be  recommitted  for  a  suitable  addition,  and  the 
Committee  to  sit  forthwith. 

Ordered,  The  Hon.  Mr.  Dexter  be  a  Committee  to  bring 
in  a  Resolve,  expressive  of  the  Vote  of  this  Congress  for 
altering  the  first  meeting  of  the  County  Committees. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  bring  in  a  Resolve,  em- 
powering the  Committee  of  Supplies  to  procure  Provisions 
and  Military  Stores,  reported ;  the  Report  was  read  and 
accepted,  and  is  as  follows : 

"  In  Provincial  Congress,  Watertown,  \ 
"April  29,  1775.  $ 

■  Rcsolred,  That  the  Committee  of  Supplies  be,  and 
they  hereby  are  empowered  to  purchase  every  kind  of 
Military  Stores,  Provisions,  and  all  other  supplies  which 
they  shall  judge  necessary  for  the  use  of  the  Forces  of 
this  Colony,  during  the  establishment  of  an  Army  for  its 
defence,  or  until  it  shall  be  otherwise  ordered,  by  this  or 
some  future  Congress,  or  House  of  Representatives,  on 
the  credit  of  the  Colony,  and  draw  for  suitable  sums  from 
the  Treasury  for  payment  of  the  same.  Also  to  deposite 
the  said  Stores  in  such  places  as  they,  in  consultation  with 
the  Generals  of  the  Colony,  shall  judge  proper ;  and  to 
deliver  such  and  so  many  of  said  Stores  to  the  Commis- 
sary-General, from  time  to  time,  as  he  shall  judge  needful 
to  supply  the  Army.  Likewise,  said  Committee  of  Sup- 
plies are  hereby  empowered  to  employ  such  and  so  many 
Assistants  as  they  shall  judge  necessary,  to  be  paid  as  afore- 
said ;  said  Committee  of  Supplies  to  be  accountable,  when 
called  upon,  for  their  doings  to  this,  or  some  future  Con- 
gress, or  House  of  Representatives  of  this  Colony." 

The  Committee  appointed  to  prepare  an  addition  to  a 
Letter  to  the  Honourable  Stephen  Hopkins,  Esquire,  re- 
ported ;  which  addition  was  read  and  accepted. 

Adjourned  to  three  o'clock,  P.  M. 

Afternoon. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  bring  in  a  Resolve,  with 
respect  to  reducing  the  Pay  of  the  Field-Officers,  reported 
the  following ;  which  was  read  and  accepted,  and  ordered 
to  be  signed  by  the  Secretary-,  and  transmitted  to  the  Com- 
mittee of  Safety : 

"  In  Provincial  Congress,  Watertown,  ) 
"April  29,  1775.  \ 

"  W  hereas,  the  reducing  of  the  several  Regiments  to 
be  raised  in  the  Provincial  service,  from  one  thousand  men 
in  a  Regiment  to  five  hundred  and  ninety,  makes  the  ser- 


vice of  the  said  Field-Officers  of  said  Regiments  less  bur- 
densome :  therefore, 

"  Resolved,  That  the  Pay  of  said  Field-Officers  be  re- 
duced one-fifth  part  from  the  first  establishment,  and  that 
said  Field-Officers'  pay  in  said  service  of  this  Province  to 
the  last  day  of  December  next,  unless  dismissed  before, 
shall  be  as  follows,  viz :  A  Colonel's  pay  twelve  Pounds  per 
month  ;  a  Lieut.  Colonel's  pay  nine  Pounds  twelve  Shil- 
lings per  month  ;  a  Major's  pay  eight  Pounds  per  month." 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Rawson,  Doctor  Dunsmore,  and 
Colonel  Davis,  be  a  Committee  to  wait  on  the  Committee 
of  Safety,  now  sitting  at  Cambridge,  to  inform  them  of  the 
deep  concern  this  Congress  feel  on  account  of  the  state 
and  situation  of  the  Cannon,  and  desire  information  re- 
specting the  disposition  of  them,  and  that  this  Committee 
forthwith  proceed  on  this  business. 

Resolved,  That  this  Congress  will  now  proceed  to  choose 
a  Committee  to  consider  some  method  of  supplying  the 
Treasury. 

Ordered,  That  Esquire  Greenleaf,  and  Mr.  Hall,  (in 
the  room  of  Doctor  Holten  and  Mr.  Batchelder,)  be  of 
the  Committee  to  count  and  sort  the  votes. 

The  absent  Members  ordered  to  be  called  in. 

The  Honourable  Mr.  Dexter,  who  was  appointed  to 
bring  in  a  Resolve  expressive  of  the  Vote  of  this  Congress 
for  altering  the  first  meeting  of  the  County  Committees, 
reported ;  which  Report  being  read  and  amended,  was 
accepted,  and  is  as  follows : 

"  Whereas,  this  Congress,  on  the  twelfth  day  of  this  in- 
stant, April,  appointed  a  Committee  for  each  County,  to 
receive  from  the  Committees  of  Correspondence  in  such 
Counties  a  state  of  the  conduct  of  the  Towns  and  Dis- 
tricts with  respect  to  their  having  executed  the  Continen- 
tal and  Provincial  measures,  for  the  preservation  of  this 
Country  from  slavery  :  And  whereas  the  distressed  cir- 
cumstances of  the  Colony  may  probably  render  it  very 
inconvenient  that  so  great  a  number  of  Members  should  be 
absent  from  the  Congress  on  the  first  Wednesday  of  May 
next,  the  day  mentioned  for  their  first  meeting: 

"  Therefore,  Resolved,  That  the  first  meeting  of  said 
Committees  be  postponed  to  the  fourth  Wednesday  in  said 
month,  and  it  is  recommended  to  the  several  Committees 
of  Correspondence  to  render  a  true  state  of  the  conduct 
of  their  respective  Towns  and  Districts,  on  the  said  fourth 
Wednesday  of  May  accordingly,  and  especially  with  re- 
spect to  their  outstanding  Province  Rates ;  any  thing  con- 
tained in  the  former  Resolve  of  this  Congress,  differing 
herefrom,  notwithstanding." 

Ordered,  That  the  several  County  Committees  be,  and 
they  hereby  are,  directed  to  inform  the  Committees  of 
Correspondence  of  the  several  Counties  of  the  purport  of 
the  foregoing  Resolve. 

Ordered,  That  the  Secretary  be,  and  he  hereby  is, 
directed  to  notify  the  Chairman  of  each  of  the  said  County 
Committees  of  the  purport  of  the  said  Resolve. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  count  and  sort  the  votes 
for  a  Committee  to  consider  on  some  method  for  supplying 
the  Treasury,  reported  that  the  following  gentlemen  were 
chosen,  viz : 

The  Reverend  Mr.  Murray,  Colonel  Dexter,  Colonel 
Gerrish,  Mr.  Gill,  Mr.  Gerry,  Captain  Stone,  and  Cap- 
tain Greenleaf. 

On  a  motion  made  by  the  Reverend  Mr.  Murray  that 
he  might  be  excused  from  serving  on  the  above  Commit- 
tee, and  having  offered  his  reasons  therefor,  the  question 
was  put,  whether  he  be  excused,  agreeably  to  his  request, 
from  serving  on  said  Committee ;  and  it  passed  in  the 
affirmative. 

The  Congress  then  made  choice  of  Doctor  Taylor  to 
serve  on  said  Committee,  in  the  room  of  Mr.  Murray,  who 
hath  been  excused. 

In  Provincial  Congress,  April  29,  1775. 

The  President  having  received  a  Letter  from  Messrs.  Nich- 
olas Brown  and  Joseph  Brown,  dated  Providence,  April 
27,  1775,  desiring  that  this  Congress  would  observe  secrecy 
in  respect  to  the  capture  of  their  brother,  John  Brown,  at 
Newport,  on  the  26th  instant :  And  also  another  from  the 
Honourable  Stephen  Hopkins,  Esquire,  dated  Providence, 
April  27th,  1775,  presented  the  same  to  this  Congress ; 
which  being  read, 


775 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  MAY,  1775. 


776 


Ordered,  That  Mr.  Gerry,  Colonel  Gerrish,  and  Doc- 
tor Taylor,  be,  and  they  hereby  are  appointed  a  Com- 
mittee to  confer  with  the  abovesaid  Josej>h  Broun,  who 
now  waits  the  further  advice  of  this  Congress. 

Ordered,  That  said  Committee  be,  and  they  are  here- 
by authorized  to  consider  what  is  proper  to  be  done,  and 
make  report  forthwith. 

The  President  likewise  received  a  Letter  from  Worces- 
ter, enclosing  one  from  Neiv-York,  dated  April  24,  1775, 
which  gave  information  of  the  arrival  of  a  Packet  there, 
with  despatches  for  General  Gage,  and  recommended  that 
care  be  taken  to  intercept  the  same. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Grout  be  directed  to  carry  the 
Letter,  last  mentioned,  to  the  Committee  of  Safety,  now 
sitting  at  Cambridge. 

Adjourned  till  to-morrow  morning,  seven  o'clock. 

Sunday,  April  30,  1775. 
The  Committee  appointed  yesterday  to  wait  on  the 
Committee  of  Safety,  reported  that  they  had  attended  the 
business  to  which  they  were  appointed,  and  brought  from 
said  Committee  the  following  account : 

"  In  Committee  of  Safety,  Cambridge,  ) 
"  April  29,  1775.  \ 

"  Agreeably  to  the  order  of  the  Provincial  Congress, 
this  Committee  have  inquired  into  the  state  and  situation 
of  the  Cannon  and  Ordnance  Stores,  with  the  provision 
made  for  the  Companies  of  Artillery,  and  beg  leave  to 
report  as  follows,  viz  : 

"  In  Cambridge,  six  three-pounders  complete,  with  am- 
munition, and  one  six-pounder. 

"  In  Watertown,  sixteen  pieces  of  artillery,  of  different 
sizes.  The  said  six-pounder  and  sixteen  pieces  will  be 
taken  out  of  the  way,  and  the  first  mentioned  six  pieces 
will  be  used  in  a  proper  way  of  defence. 

"  Captain  Foster  is  appointed  to  command  one  of  the 
Companies  of  Artillery,  and  ordered  to  enlist  said  Com- 
pany. 

"  Captain  William  Lee,  of  Marblchead ,  has  been  sent 
for  to  take  the  command  of  another,  and  several  other 
persons  have  been  sent  for  to  take  the  command  of  other 
Companies.  Joseph  Warren,  Chairman." 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Grout  be  directed  to  request  of 
the  Committee  of  Safety  a  Report  respecting  the  inhabi- 
tants of  Boston. 

A  motion  was  made  for  an  addition  to  the  Committee  of 
Safety,  and  after  some  debate,  the  matter  was  ordered  to 
subside. 

The  Congress  then  adjourned  to  twelve  o'clock  this  day. 

The  Congress  met  at  twelve  o'clock,  and  adjourned  to 
half  after  one. 

Congress  met  pursuant  to  adjournment,  and  adjourned 
to  half  after  three. 

At  which  time  the  Congress  met  again. 

Ordered,  That  another  express  be  immediately  sent  to 
the  Committee  of  Safety  to  procure  their  result  with  re- 
spect to  moving  out  the  inhabitants  of  Boston. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Mosely  be  directed  to  repair 
forthwith  to  Cambridge,  on  this  errand. 

The  President  was  then  directed  to  write  a  short  Letter 
to  said  Committee  on  this  important  purpose.  The  Letter 
i.s  as  follows : 

"  In  Provincial  Congress,  April  30,  1775. 

"  Sir:  I  am  directed  to  inform  you,  that  it  is  with  re- 
gret this  Congress  find  themselves  obliged  to  send  to  the 
Committee  of  Safety  a  third  messenger,  to  request  their 
immediate  Report  on  the  subject  of  the  removal  of  the 
poor  inhabitants  of  Boston. 

"  To  wait  for  that  Report  the  Congress  have  suspended 
all  proceedings  on  that  matter,  and  sat  in  almost  impatient 
expectation,  by  several  adjournments,  since  seven  o'clock 
this  morning.  I  am  obliged  to  request  your  answer  by 
this  express,  without  loss  of  time,  that  the  Congress  may 
then  see  what  it  is  their  duty  to  conclude  on.  I  have  the 
honour  to  be,  with  great  respect,  Sir,  your  most  obedient 
humble  servant,  John  Murray. 

"  To  Joseph  Warren,  Esquire,  Chairman  of  the  Committee 
of  Safety." 


Ordered,  That  Mr.  Bit,  Doctor  Taylor,  and  Mr.  Bul- 
len,  be  a  Committee  to  inquire  into  the  conduct  of  the 
several  Towns  relative  to  the  prisoners  of  war. 

Ordered,  That  the  Resolve,  relative  to  altering  the  time 
of  meeting  of  the  County  Committees,  be  printed  in  the 
Salem  Gazette,  and  in  the  Massachusetts  Spy. 

A  Committee  from  the  Committee  of  Safety  offered  to 
this  Congress  a  Resolve  respecting  the  liberation  of  the 
inhabitants  of  Boston,  which  being  read,  and  amended,  was 
accepted,  and  is  as  follows: 

"  In  Provincial  Congress,  Waterfown,  ) 
April  30,  1775  S 

"  Whereas,  an  agreement  has  been  made  between  Gen- 
eral Gage  and  the  inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Boston,  for 
the  removal  of  the  persons  and  effects  of  such  of  the  inha- 
bitants of  the  Town  of  Boston  as  may  be  so  disposed,  ex- 
cepting their  fire-arms  and  ammunition,  into  the  country: 

"  Besolved,  That  any  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  Colony, 
who  may  incline  to  go  into  the  Town  of  Boston,  with  their 
effects,  fire-arms  and  ammunition  excepted,  have  toleration 
for  that  purpose,  and  that  they  be  protected  from  any  injury 
and  insult  whatsoever,  in  their  removal  to  Boston,  and  that 
this  Resolve  be  immediately  published." 

"  P.  S.  Officers  appointed  for  giving  permits  for  the  above 
purpose  are,  one  at  the  sign  of  the  Sun,  at  Charlestoun. 
and  another  at  the  house  of  Mr.  John  Greaion,  Jun.,  at 
Roxbury." 

Ordered,  That  attested  copies  of  the  foregoing  Resolve 
be  forthwith  posted  up  at  Roxbury,  Charlestown,  and  Cam- 
bridge. 

Resolved,  That  the  Resolution  of  Congress,  relative  to 
the  removal  of  the  inhabitants  of  Boston,  be  authentica- 
ted, and  sent  to  the  Selectmen  of  Boston,  immediately 
to  be  communicated  to  General  Gage,  and  also  be  pub- 
lished in  the  Worcester  and  Salem  Papers. 

Ordered,  That  Dr.  Taylor,  Mr.  Bailey,  Mr.  Lothrop, 
Mr.  Holmes,  and  Colonel  Farley,  be  a  Committee  to  consi- 
der what  steps  are  necessary  to  be  taken,  for  the  assisting 
the  poor  of  Boston  in  moving  out  with  their  effects  to 
bring  in  a  Resolve  for  that  purpose,  and  to  set  forthwith. 

Adjourned  till  to-morrow  morning,  seven  o'clock. 

Monday,  May  1,  1775. 

The  Committee  who  were  appointed  to  consider  what 
steps  are  necessary  to  be  taken  with  respect  to  assisting 
the  poor  of  Boston  in  moving  out  with  their  effects,  re- 
ported ;  the  Report  was  recommitted  for  amendment,  and 
Captain  Smith,  of  Granby,  Colonel  Mosely,  Captain  Good- 
ridge,  and  Major  Smith,  were  added  to  the  Committee. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Patridge,  Doctor  Baylies  and  Mr. 
Greenleaf,  be  a  Committee  to  inspect  the  Papers  of  this 
Congress,  and  consider  what  would  be  proper  to  furnish 
the  Printer  with  for  publication,  and  make  report. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  inspect  the  Papers  of  the 
Congress,  reported  several  extracts  of  Letters  for  publica- 
tion, which  are  ordered  to  be  delivered  to  Mr.  Hall,  of 
Salem,  for  that  purpose. 

On  a  motion  made,  that  the  sense  of  the  Congress  be 
taken  on  this  question,  viz:  Whether  the  Commissions  to 
be  given  for  the  Officers  of  the  Army,  now  forming  in  this 
Colony,  shall  be  signed  by  the  President  of  the  Congress  : 
the  question  was  put,  and  it  passed  in  the  affirmative. 

Congress  then  adjourned  to  three  o'clock,  this  afternoon. 

Afternoon. 

A  Letter  brought  from  Northampton,  by  express,  from 
Major  Hawley,  respecting  the  bearer  of  despatches  from 
General  Gage,  was  read. 

On  which,  Ordered,  That  Colonel  Gerrish,  Esquire 
Gardner  and  Major  Gooding,  be  a  Committee  to  take  the 
same  into  consideration,  and  report. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  take  into  consideration  the 
Letter  from  Major  Hawley,  reported,  that  the  most  likely 
way  of  detecting  the  bearer  of  despatches  for  Governour 
Gage,  was,  to  forward  the  said  Letter  by  Major  Gooding, 
to  the  Committee  of  Safety  at  Cambridge,  that  they  may 
take  order  thereon. 

Which  Report  was  accepted,  and  the  said  Letter,  to- 
gether with  two  anonymous  Letters  from  London,  were 
ordered  to  be  sent  to  the  said  Committee  of  Safety. 


777 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  MAY,  1775. 


778 


Moved,  That  William  Read,  Esq.,  be  admitted  in  this 
House,  to  represent  to  this  Congress  the  sufferings  lie  met 
with  on  the  19th  April  last,  at  Lexington. 

The  question  being  put,  after  debate  had  thereon,  it 
passed  in  the  negative. 

Ordered,  That  Captain  Bragdon,  Captain  Dix,  and 
Mr.  Gill,  be  a  Committee  to  confer  with  the  above  named 
Esquire  Read,  and  to  make  report  of  their  conference. 

Resolved,  That  Mr.  Gerry  have  leave  to  bring  in  an 
order  of  this  House,  for  leave  to  the  several  Members  of 
this  Congress  to  pass  the  Guards  of  the  Colony  Army 
without  molestation. 

Mr.  Gerry  accordingly  brought  in  an  order  for  this  pur- 
pose, and  after  debates  had  thereon,  it  was  ordered  to  be 
recommitted. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  prepare  a  form  of  a  Com- 
mission for  the  Colony  Officers,  reported. 

The  form  which  they  reported  was  read,  and  accepted, 
and  is  as  follows  : 

u  The  Congress  of  the  Colony  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay. 

'•To  Greeting: 

'■  We,  reposing  especial  trust  and  confidence  in  your  cour- 
age and  good  conduct,  do,  by  these  presents,  constitute 

and  appoint  you,  the  said  to  be  of 

the  Regiment  of  foot  raised  by  the  Congress 

aforesaid,  for  the  defence  of  said  Colony.  You  are,  there- 
fore, carefully  and  diligently  to  discharge  the  duty  of  a 

 in  leading,  ordering  and  exercising  the  said 

 in  arms,  both  inferiour  officers  and  soldiers, 

and  to  keep  them  in  good  order  and  discipline;  and  they 

are  hereby  commanded  to  obey  you  as  their  , 

and  you  are  yourself  to  observe,  and  follow,  such  orders 
and  instructions  as  you  shall,  from  time  to  time,  receive 
from  the  General  and  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  Forces 
raised  in  the  Colony  aforesaid  for  the  defence  of  the  same, 
or  any  other  your  superiour  officers,  according  to  military 
rules  and  discipline  in  war,  in  pursuance  of  the  trust  reposed 
in  you.    By  order  of  the  Congress: 

"  President  pro  tern. 

the  ....  of  ....  A.  D.  1775. 
"  Secretary  pro  tern." 

Ordered,  That  a  fair  copy  of  the  foregoing  form  of  a 
Commission  be  taken,  and  transmitted  to  the  press;  and 
that  one  thousand  copies  thereof  be  printed. 

Mr.  Gerry  again  reported  the  form  of  a  Pass  for  the  use 
of  the  Members  of  this  Congress ;  which  was  accepted, 
and  six  hundred  of  them  ordered  to  be  printed.  It  is  as 
follows : 

"  To  the  Guards  of  the  Colony  Army. 
"  Pursuant  to  a  Resolve  of  the  Provincial  Congress,  you 
are  hereby  ordered  to  permit  .  .  .  .  ,  a  Member  of  said 
Congress,  to  pass  and  repass  at  all  times. 

"  Secretary." 

In  Provincial  Congress,  Watertown,  ) 
May  1,  1775.  \ 

Resolved,  That  the  General  Officer  of  the  Army  of  this 
Colony  be,  and  he  hereby  is  directed  to  sign  a  sufficient 
number  of  blank  Passes  for  Members  of  this  Congress,  and 
to  deliver  the  same  to  the  Secretary. 

The  Committee  who  were  appointed  to  consider  of  mea- 
sures for  assisting  the  poor  of  Boston  to  move  out  of  said 
Town,  having  amended  their  Report,  again  reported  :  which 
Report  being  read,  was  accepted,  and  one  hundred  and  fifty 
copies  thereof  ordered  to  be  printed,  and  a  copy  forthwith 
transmitted  to  the  Committee  of  Donations  in  Boston,  and 
that  Mr.  Gill  take  the  charge  of  transmitting  the  same. 

The  Report  is  as  follows,  viz  : 

"  In  Provincial  Congress,  Watertown,  > 
May  1,  1775.  \ 

"  Whereas,  the  inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Boston  have 
been  detained  by  General  Gage,  but  at  length,  by  agree- 
ment, are  permitted  to  remove,  with  their  effects,  into  the 
country ;  and  as  it  has  been  represented  to  this  Congress, 
that  about  five  thousand  of  said  inhabitants  are  indigent, 
and  unable  to  be  at  the  expense  of  removing  themselves  : 

Therefore,  Resolved,  That  it  be,  and  it  is  hereby  recom- 
mended to  all  the  good  people  of  this  Colony,  and  espe- 
cially to  the  Selectmen,  and  Committee  of  Correspond- 


ence most  convenient  to  Boston,  that  they  aid  and  assist 
such  poor  inhabitants  with  teams,  wagons,  &ic,  as  shall 
procure  a  certificate  from  the  Committee  of  Donations 
that  they  are  unable  to  remove  themselves;  and  it  is  fur- 
ther recommended  to  the  Selectmen  of  the  several  Towns 
specified  in  the  schedule  annexed,  to  provide  for  said  in- 
habitants, in  the  best  and  most  prudent  way,  until  this,  or 
some  future  Congress  shall  take  further  order  thereon;  and 
that  the  said  Selectmen  receive,  support,  and  employ  their 
proportion  of  said  inhabitants,  assigned  them  in  said  sche- 
dule, and  no  other ;  and  render  their  accounts  to  this  or 
some  future  Congress,  or  House  of  Representatives,  for 
allowance ;  which  reasonable  accounts  shall  be  paid  out  of 
the  publick  Treasury.  And  it  is  further  recommended  to 
the  Committee  of  Donations,  to  apply  said  donations  for 
the  removal  of  said  inhabitant?,  and  for  their  support  whilst 
removing ;  and  in  case  that  is  insufficient,  it  is  further  re- 
commended to  said  Committee  of  Donations,  that  they 
make  up  said  deficiency,  and  lay  their  accounts  before  the 
Congress  for  allowance,  which  reasonable  expense  shall  be 
paid  out  of  the  publick  Treasury  of  the  Colony.  And  it 
is  further  Resolved,  That  the  inhabitants  of  Boston  thus 
removed,  shall  not,  in  future,  be  considered  as  the  poor  of 
said  Town  into  which  they  remove  ;  and  it  is  to  be  under- 
stood, that  if  the  number  of  the  poor  who  shall  be  removed 
in  consequence  hereof,  should  surpass  or  fall  short  of  the 
number  herein  calculated,  the  distribution  of  them  shall  be 
increased  or  diminished,  in  proportion  to  this  regulation  : 


County  of  Suffolk. 

Wrentham,      persons,  89 

Stoughtonham,      "  32 

Med  way,  "  38 

Bellingham,  "  25 

Walpole,  "  31 


215 

Middlesex  County 

Concord, 

persons, 

66 

Marlborough, 

a 

80 

Billerica, 

ft 

54 

Framingham, 

tt 

63 

Chelmsford, 

tt 

49 

Sherburne, 

tt 

31 

Sudbury, 

tt 

85 

Weston, 

tt 

41 

Westford, 

tt 

45 

Littleton, 

it 

41 

Hopkinton, 

a 

42 

Stow, 

tt 

36 

Groton, 

tt 

61 

Pepperel, 

tt 

34 

Townsend, 

tt 

26 

Natick, 

tt 

20 

Dracut, 

a 

35 

Bedford, 

it 

29 

Holliston, 

tt 

34 

Tewksbury, 

tt 

28 

Acton, 

tt 

32 

Dunstable, 

tt 

30 

Lincoln, 

it 

29 

Wilmington, 

n 

25 

1016 

Berkshire  County. 
Sheffield,  persons, 
Great-Barrington  " 
Stockbrirlge,  " 
Pittsfield,  « 
New-Marlborough, 
Egremont,  " 
Richmond,  " 
Lenox,  " 
Tyringham,  " 
Lanesborough,  " 
Sandisfield,  " 
Williamstovvn,  " 
East-Hoosock,  " 


54 
24 
25 
31 
30 
13 
23 
16 
13 
32 
23 
20 
10 


314 


Plymouth  County. 

Brige  water,      persons,  81 

Abington,  "  22 

Halifax,  "  12 


115 

Bristol  County. 

Taunton, 

persons, 

103 

Rehoboth, 

<( 

129 

Dartmouth, 

tt 

113 

Norton, 

tt 

47 

Mansfield, 

tt 

30 

Attleborough, 

tt 

75 

Raynham, 

tt 

31 

Easton, 

tt 

35 

Berkley, 

tt 

25 

588 

Hampshire 

Comity. 

Springfield,  persons, 

68 

Wilbraham, 

tt 

31 

Northampton, 

70 

Southampton, 

tt 

25 

Hadley, 

tt 

30 

South  Hadley, 

ie  „ 

23 

Amherst, 

<< 

34 

Granby, 

<( 

17 

Hatfield, 

tt 

35 

Whately, 

tt 

13 

Williamsburgh, 

tt 

9 

Westfield, 

tt 

50 

Deerfield, 

tt 

36 

Greenfield, 

tt 

24 

Shelburn, 

tt 

14 

Conway, 
Sunderland, 

it 

17 

tt 

19 

Montague, 
Northfield, 

tt 

18 

tt 

26 

Brimfield, 

tt 

44 

South-Brimfield, 

tt 

26 

Monson, 

tt 

23 

Pelham, 

it 

25 

Greenwich, 

tt 

24 

Blandford, 

it 

19 

Leverett, 

tt 

4 

Palmer, 

tt 

25 

Granville, 
New-Salem, 

tt 

44 

it 

22 

Belchertown, 

a 

28 

Colrain, 

tt 

17 

Ware, 
Warwick, 

tt 

13 

tt 

10 

Bernardston, 

it 

14 

Murraysfield, 

tt 

17 

779 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  MAY,  1775. 


780 


Charlemont,  persons,    12  Shrewsbury,  persons, 

Worthington,  "  6  Luncnburgh,  " 

Shutesbury,  "  14  Fitchburgh, 

Chesterfield,  "  22  Uxbridge,  " 

Southwick,  "  19  Harvard,  " 

West-Springfield,  "  72  Dudley,  " 

Ludlow,  "  10  Bolton,  " 

1069  UPton>  " 
—  Sturbridge,  " 

Leominster,  " 

persons,    82  Hardwick,  " 

103  Holden, 

76  Weston, 

99  Douglass, 

35  Grafton,  « 

35  Petersham,  " 

98  Royalston, 

"        36  Westminster,  " 

31  Athol, 

20  Templeton,  « 
"        48  Princeton,  " 
"        14  Ashburnham,  " 
"        42  Winchendon,  " 
9  Northbridge,  M 
32 
36 

38      Whole  number, 
25 


Worcester  County 
W  orcester, 
Lancaster, 
Mendon, 
Brookfield, 
Oxford, 
Charlton, 
Sutton, 
Leicester, 
Spencer, 
Paxton, 
Rutland, 
Oakham, 
Hutchinson, 
Hubbardston, 
New-Braintree, 
Southborough, 
Westborough, 
Northborough, 


32 
51 
19 

36 
50 
32 
48 
20 
45 
38 
55 
26 
35 
22 
38 
38 

8 
31 
20 
25 
24 
12 

9 
13 


1586 
■1903 


Ordered,  That  Mr.  Patridge,  Mr.  Lothrop  and  Doc- 
tor Baylies,  be  directed  to  assist  the  Secretary  in  copying 
the  foregoing  Report,  he. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  confer  with  William  Read, 
Esq.,  reported  the  following,  (presented  to  them  by  Wm. 
Read,  Esq.,  of  Lexington,  in  behalf  of  Joseph  Loring,  J. 
Loring,  Jan.,  Widow  Mulliken,  and  Joseph  Pond,)  viz: 

"Joseph  Loring,  Joseph  Loring,  Jun.,  Widow  Lydia 
Mulliken,  and  Joseph  Pond,  had  their  houses,  furniture,  pro- 
visions, and  all  apparel,  burnt  by  Gen.  Gage's  Troops  in  the 
late  battle,  whereby  they  are  reduced  to  a  state  of  abject 
poverty.  William  Read,  Esquire,  prays,  in  behalf  of  the 
above  distressed  inhabitants  of  Lexington,  that  they  may 
have  a  present  relief  from  the  honourable  Congress  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty  pounds  of  Pork,  in  order  to  prevent 
their  starving." 

Whereupon,  Ordered,  That  the  Committee  of  Supplies 
be,  and  they  are  hereby  directed  to  deliver  to  said  William 
Read,  Esq.,  or  to  his  order,  for  the  use  of  the  said  Joseph 
Loring,  Joseph  Loring,  Jun.,  Widow  Mulliken,  and  Joseph 
Pond,  one  barrel  of  Pork. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Hollock,  Colonel  How  and  Cap- 
tain White,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  what  is  proper  to 
be  done,  with  respect  to  furnishing  the  Army  with  some 
present  necessaries. 

All  the  Committees  were  enjoined  to  sit. 

Adjourned  until  to-morrow  morning. 

Tuesday,  May  2,  1775. 

Resolved,  That  another  President  be  chosen  pro  tern., 
and  that  he  be  chosen  by  nomination. 

Colonel  Warren  was  then  nominated  and  chosen. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Patridge,  Doctor  Taylor  and  Mr. 
Dix,  be  a  Committee  to  wait  on  Colonel  Warren,  to  inform 
him  of  said  choice. 

Colonel  Warren  accordingly  attended,  and  after  offering 
his  reasons  for  excuse,  Moved,  that  a  Committe  be  appoint- 
ed to  wait  on  Doctor  Joseph  Warren,  informing  him  of  the 
absence  of  the  Reverend  Mr.  Murray,  who  has  lately  offi- 
ciated as  President,  and  to  know  if  he  can  now  attend  the 
Congress  in  that  station.  Whereupon, 

Ordered,  That  Doctor  Dunsmore  be  a  Committee  for 
that  purpose  ;  who  accordingly  waited  upon  Doctor  War- 
ren, and  received  the  following  reply : 

"Cambridge,  May  2,  1775. 

"  Doctor  Warren  presents  his  best  respects  to  the  hon- 
ourable the  Provincial  Congress :  informs  them  that  he 
will  obey  their  order,  and  attend  his  duty  in  Congress  in 
the  afternoon." 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Gerrish,  Colonel  Warren,  Hon. 
Mr.  Dexter,  Mr.  Gill,  and  Capt.  Brown,  of  Abing ton,  be 


a  Committee  to  consider  the  propriety  of  taking  measures 
for  securing  the  records  of  those  Counties  which  are  more 
immediately  exposed  in  this  day  of  danger. 

Ordered,  That  the  Honourable  Mr.  Dexter,  Colonel 
Warren,  and  Mr.  Gill,  be  a  Committee  to  prepare  a 
draught  of  a  Letter  to  the  Delegates  of  Congress,  now  in 
Connecticut,  giving  them  instruction  with  respect  to  the 
arrival  at  this  Colony  of  two  gentlemen  from  the  Assembly 
of  Connecticut,  with  an  address  to  General  Gage,  and  a 
commission  to  treat  with  him  respecting  a  cessation  of  hos- 
tilities, he. 

Ordered,  That  Captain  Stone,  of  Oakham,  Deacon 
Rawson,  and  Major  Puller,  of  Newton,  be  a  Committee 
to  draw  up  the  form  of  an  oath  to  be  taken  by  the  Officers 
and  Soldiers  of  the  Army,  now  forming  in  this  Colony. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  what  might  be 
proper  to  be  done  with  respect  to  furnishing  the  Army 
with  some  present  necessaries,  reported. 

The  Report  was  read,  and  ordered  to  lie  on  the  table  for 
the  present. 

A  Letter  from  Manchester,  to  Doctor  Taylor,  respecting 
a  computation  of  the  Taxes  paid  by  Great  Britain  and 
America,  kc,  was  read:  Whereupon, 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Webster,  Deacon  Cheever,  and 
Captain  Stone,  be  a  Committee  to  take  the  said  Letter  into 
consideration,  and  make  report. 

The  Committee  who  were  appointed  to  prepare  a  Letter 
to  the  Delegates  of  this  Congress  at  Connecticut,  reported  : 
which  Report  being  read,  was  unanimously  accepted,  and  is 
as  follows,  viz : 

"Gentlemen:  Although  this  Congress  entertain  the 
highest  opinion  of  the  virtue  and  publick  spirit  of  the 
Colony  of  Connecticut,  and  have  not  the  smallest  doubt 
of  the  attachment  of  the  General  Assembly  of  that  Colony 
to  the  glorious  cause  of  freedom,  now  threatened  with  total 
destruction  by  a  corrupt  Ministry ;  yet  the  arrival  of  two 
gentlemen,  of  the  first  character,  from  that  Colony,  with  an 
address  to  General  Gage,  and  a  commission  to  treat  with 
him  on  the  subject  of  American  grievances,  and  to  propose, 
as  we  are  informed,  a  cessation  of  hostilities,  at  a  time 
when  that  gentleman  can  be  considered  in  no  other  light 
than  as  an  instrument  in  the  hands,  and  under  the  absolute 
direction  of  Administration,  to  subjugate,  and  for  that  de- 
testable purpose,  to  spread  slaughter  and  destruction  among 
His  Majesty's  loyal  subjects ;  of  his  disposition  to  do  which, 
he  has  recently  given  a  flagrant,  proof  in  massacring  a 
number  of  innocent  people,  who  were  in  the  peace  of  God 
and  the  King;  and  by  other  acts  of  injustice  and  cruelty, 
we  cannot  but  be  greatly  alarmed  for  the  consequences. 
Any  interruptions  of  that  happy  union  of  the  Colonies 
which  has  taken  place,  would  prove  of  the  most  fatal  ten- 
dency, and  we  cannot  but  view  every  kind  of  negotiation 
between  any  Colony  and  the  chief  instrument  of  ministerial 
vengeance  here,  as  being  likely  to  operate  towards  such  an 
interruption.  We  apprehend  that  things  are  now  reduced 
to  such  a  state,  that  nothing  but  an  immediate  recourse  to 
arms,  and  a  steady  and  persevering  exertion  in  military 
operations  can  possibly  prevent  our  destruction,  and  that  a 
recourse  to  any  other  method  is,  at  best,  nugatory  and  vain. 

"  Any  proposals,  either  to  Parliament,  to  the  Ministry,  or 
to  their  Agents  here,  made  separately  by  a  single  Colony, 
may  produce  most  tremendous  events  with  regard  to  Ame- 
rica; and  we  apprehend  nothing  could  be  more  pleasing  to 
our  enemies  than  the  making  such  proposals.  We  are  so 
deeply  impressed  with  the  sense  of  the  importance  and 
absolute  necessity  of  a  thorough  union  of  the  Colonies,  and 
particularly  with  respect  to  the  raising  and  supporting  an 
Army,  to  act  with  the  utmost  vigour  at  this  alarming  crisis; 
and  so  fearful  of  any  measures  taking  place,  whereby  the 
common  cause  may  be  endangered,  that  we  have  unani- 
mously concluded  it  necessary  to  suggest  to  you  our  fears 
respecting  the  effects  of  this  embassy  from  Connecticut  to 
Gage ;  and  we  expect  you  will  make  a  proper  representa- 
tion of  the  sentiments  of  this  Congress  to  their  Assembly, 
in  hopes  that  you  will  receive  such  an  explanation  of  their 
motives,  and  such  assurances  of  their  intention  immediately 
to  co-operate  with  this  Colony,  as  may  remove  every 
gloomy  apprehension,  and  confirm  us  in  that  high  estima- 
tion in  which  we  have  ever  held  the  respectable  Colony  of 
Connecticut. 


781 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  MAY,  1775. 


782 


"  P.  S.  If  the  Assembly  is  dissolved,  it  is  expected  that 
you  will  tarry  to  treat  with  the  next  Assembly. 
"  To  Jedediah  Foster,  Timothy  Daniehon,  and  John 

Bliss,  Esquires." 

On  motion  made, 

Ordered,  That  at  three  o'clock  this  afternoon,  this 
Congress  do  take  into  consideration  the  Precepts  issued  by 
General  Gage  for  calling  a  General  Assembly. 

Resohed,  That  Captain  Goodman  be  directed  to  take 
the  charge  of  transmitting,  forthwith,  the  Letter  to  the 
Delegates  of  this  Colony,  now  in  Connecticut. 

Ordered,  That  a  postscript  be  added  to  said  Letter,  in- 
structing said  Delegates  that  if  their  Assembly  should  be 
dissolved,  they  tarry  there,  to  treat  with  the  new  Assem- 
bly. 

Adjourned  to  three  o'clock,  P.  M. 

Afternoon. 

A  Letter  was  presented  to  this  Congress  by  Esquire 
Aikin,  from  Mr.  Lemuel  Williams,  dated  Dartmouth,  May 
1st,  1775,  to  said  Aikin,  which  was  read:  Whereupon, 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Batchelder,  Esquire  Dix,  Colonel 
Furley,  Mr.  Greenleaf,  and  Mr.  Bent,  be  a  Committee 
to  take  the  said  Letter  into  consideration,  and  report  as 
soon  as  may  be,  and  that  Esquire  Aikin  be  desired  to  at- 
tend on  said  Committee. 

The  Order  of  the  Day  was  moved  for. 

Resolved,  That  the  further  consideration  of  the  Precepts 
for  calling  a  General  Assembly,  be  referred  to  Thursday 
next,  at  ten  o'clock,  A.  M. 

Ordered,  That  Deacon  Cheever,  Colonel  Warren,  Mr. 
GUI,  Honourable  Mr.  Dexter,  and  the  President,  be  a 
Committee  to  bring  in  a  Resolve,  for  the  purpose  of  grant- 
ing liberty  to  such  persons  in  Boston  as  incline  to  send 
into  the  country  for  their  effects,  that  so  another  obstacle 
may  be  removed  to  the  liberating  of  the  inhabitants  of 
Boston. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Gerry,  President  Warren,  Hon. 
Mr.  Dexter,  Colonel  Warren,  and  Colonel  Gerrish,  be  a 
Committee  to  forward  an  express  to  the  honourable  Con- 
tinental Congress,  with  authenticated  copies  of  the  Depo- 
sitions and  Address  to  the  inhabitants  of  Great  Britain, 
and  Letter  to  Mr.  Franklin,  lately  sent  to  Great  Britain, 
per  Captain  Derby,  of  Salem ;  also,  to  send  another  original 
set  of  said  papers  by  said  express,  to  be  forwarded  by  the 
vessel  in  the  Southern  Colonies,  to  London,  and  to  report 
an  application  to  be  sent  by  said  express  to  the  Continen- 
tal Congress. 

Colonel  Learned  moved,  that  the  sense  of  this  Con- 
gress might  be  taken,  whether  the  Regiment  he  is  now 
raising,  may  be  a  Regiment  of  Grenadiers.  The  matter 
was  ordered  to  subside. 

A  motion  was  made  and  seconded,  that  a  Committee  be 
appointed,  to  take  into  consideration  the  expediency  of 
drafting  a  certain  proportion  of  the  Town's  stock  of  Pow- 
der, &c,  from  such  Towns  as  they  shall  think  proper,  for 
the  present  supply  of  the  Army  now  establishing  in  this 
Colony.  The  matter  was  ordered  to  subside  until  the 
Congress  had  passed  upon  a  Report  for  giving  license  to 
such  persons  in  Boston  as  incline  to  send  into  the  country 
for  their  effects  ;  which  Report  was  read,  amended,  and  ac- 
cepted, and  is  as  follows,  viz : 

"  In  Provincial  Congress,  Watertown,  May  2,  1775. 
"  Resolved,  That  such  inhabitants  of  this  Colony  as  have 
repaired  to  the  Town  of  Boston,  there  to  take  up  their 
resideuce,  and  have  effects  in  the  other  Towns  of  this 
Government,  be  permitted,  each  of  them,  to  send  out  a 
servant  or  other  person,  without  arms,  to  put  up  and  trans- 
port into  the  said  Town  of  Boston,  any  such  goods  or 
effects,  excepting  arms  and  ammunition  ;  and  that  the 
officers  appointed  for  granting  permits  at  Roxbury  and 

Charlestoicn,  be,  and  hereby  are  directed  to  provide  a 
suitable  attendant  to  each  person  so  sent  out,  whose  busi- 
ness it  shall  be  to  continue  with  him  till  he  returns,  and 
that  permits,  agreeable  to  the  intention  of  this  Resolve,  be 

granted." 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Freeman,  Doctor  Taylor,  Mr. 
Lewis,  Colonel  Dwight,  and  Esquire  Gardner,  be  a  Com- 
mittee to  consider  what  measures  are  proper  to  be  taken 


for  liberating  those  persons  who  were  taken  prisoners  by 
the  Troops  under  the  command  of  General  Gage,  on  the 
1 9th  of  April. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  devise  ways  and  means  for 
supplying  the  Treasury,  reported,  as  to  the  first  step,  and 
asked  leave  to  sit  again.* 

All  the  Committees  were  enjoined  to  sit. 

Adjourned  to  nine  o'clock  to-morrow  morning. 

Wednesday,  May  3,  1775. 

Ordered,  That  Deacon  Cheever  be  desired  to  make 
application  to  the  Reverend  Doctor  Cooper,  to  request 
that  he  would  officiate  as  Chaplain  to  this  Congress  during 
its  session  in  this  place. 

Ordered,  That  Doctor  Taylor,  Mr.  Lothrop,  and  Mr. 
Paine,  be  a  Committee  to  forward  the  Proclamations  for  a 
Fast  into  the  country  as  soon  as  possible. 

Resolved,  That  this  last  mentioned  Order  be  reconsider- 
ed ;  and  thereupon, 

Ordered,  That  the  Committee  who  were  appointed  at 
Concord  for  dispersing  the  Proclamations,  be  required  to 
perform  their  duty  with  all  possible  expedition. 

On  the  application  from  the  Committee  of  Safety  rela- 
tive to  supplying  Col.  Arnold  with  one  hundred  Pounds, 
and  sundry  VVarlike  Stores, 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Greenleaf,  Mr.  Gill,  and  Mr.  Pa- 
tridge,  be  a  Committee  to  take  said  application  into  con- 
sideration, and  report. 

The  Committee  on  the  application  from  the  Committee 
of  Safety  reported.  The  Report  was  read  and  acceptec!, 
and  is  as  follows: 

"  In  Provincial  Congress,  Watertown,  May  3,  1775. 
"  Resolved,  That  the  within  request  of  the  Committee  of 
Safety  be  granted,  and  that  the  Committee  of  Supplies  be, 
and  they  hereby  are  directed  to  furnish  Colonel  Benedict 
Arnold  with  ten  Horses,  two  hundred  pounds  of  Gun- 
powder, two  hundred  pounds  of  Lead  Balls,  and  one  thou- 
sand Flints,  at  the  expense  of  the  Colony  ;  and  that  said 
Committee  draw  upon  Henry  Gardner,  Esquire,  Receiver- 
General,  for  one  hundred  Pounds,  in  favour  of  said  Ar- 
nold, and  take  his  receipt  for  the  whole,  said  Arnold  to  be 
accountable  therefor  to  this  or  some  other  Congress,  or 
future  House  of  Representatives." 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Warren,  Doctor  Holten,  Mr. 
Dix,  Colonel  Farley,  and  Doctor  Taylor,  be  a  Committee 
to  ascertain  the  power  of  the  Committees  of  Supplies  and 
of  Safety,  and  to  see  whether  it  be  necessary  that  they  be 
invested  with  other  powers  than  they  now  have. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  bring  in  the  form  of  a  Re- 
solve, empowering  the  Treasurer  to  borrow  a  certain  sum 
of  Money,  and  the  form  of  a  Note  to  be  by  him  given  to  the 
lender,  &lc,  reported.  The  Report  was  amended,  read, 
and  accepted,  and  is  as  follows  : 

Resolved,  That  the  Receiver-General  be,  and  hereby  is 
empowered  and  directed  to  borrow  the  sum  of  One  Hun- 
dred Thousand  Pounds,  lawful  money,  and  issue  Colonv 
securities  for  the  same,  payable  with  annual  interest,  at  six 
per  cent.,  June  1st,  1777  ;  and  that  the  Continental  Con- 
gress be  desired  to  recommend  to  the  several  Colonies  to 
give  a  currency  to  such  securities. 

Resolved,  That  the  Securities  given  by  the  Receiver- 
General  for  the  Moneys  borrowed  by  him,  in  pursuance  of 
the  aforegoing  Resolve,  be  in  the  form  following,  viz  : 

"  No.  ...  The  ...  day  of  A.  D.  177  . 

"  Borrowed  and  received  of  A.  B.  the  sum  of  

Pounds,  lawful  money,  for  the  use  and  service  of  the 
Colony  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay ;  and  in  behalf  of  said 
Colony,  I  do  hereby  promise  and  oblige  myself  and  my  suc- 
cessors in  the  office  of  Treasurer  or  Receiver-General,  to 
repay  to  the  said  A.  B.,  or  to  his  order,  on  the  first  day  or 

+  The  Committee  appointed  to  devise  ways  and  means  for  supplying 
the  Treasury,  beg  leave  to  report,  as  the  first  step,  that  the  Receiver 
General  be  empowered  and  directed  to  borrow  the  sum  of  One  Hun- 
dred Thousand  Pounds,  and  issue  Colony  securities  in  the  form  fol- 
lowing, payable  with  annual  interest,  at  six  per  cent.,  in  the  year 
177  ;  and  that  when  the  subscription  is  filled  up,  the  Continental 
Congress  be  desired  to  recommend  it  to  the  several  Colonies,  to  give  a 
currency  to  such  securities  in  all  payments  whatsoever,  and  that  a 
Resolve  pass  for  that  purpose.    The  Committee  ask  leave  to  sit  again. 

S.  Dexter,  per  order 


783 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  MAY,  1775. 


784 


June,  1777,  the  aforesaid  sum  of  Pounds, 

lawful  money,  in  Spanish  milled  dollars,  at  six  shillings 
each,  or  in  the  several  species  of  coined  silver  and  gold 
enumerated  in  an  act  for  ascertaining  the  rates  at  which 
coined  silver  and  gold,  English  half-pence  and  farthings, 
may  pass  within  this  Government,  and  according  to  the 
rates  therein  mentioned,  with  interest,  to  be  paid  annually, 
at  six  per  cent. 

A.  13,  )  Witness  my  hand, 

CD,  i  £  H.G. 
E.  F.  ) 

The  Committee  on  the  Letter  from  Mr.  Lee  to  Doctor 
Taylor,  reported  verbally,  that  a  copy  of  said  Letter  be 
forwarded  to  our  Members  of  the  Continental  Congress. 

Upon  a  motion,  the  question  was  put,  whether  the  above 
Report  be  accepted,  and  passed  in  the  negative. 

Resolved,  That  in  all  orders  for  impressing  Horses  and 
Carriages,  the  Horses  and  Carriages  of  the  Members  of 
this  Congress  be  excepted,  and  that  a  copy  of  this  Resolve 
be  sent  to  the  Committee  of  Safety  and  Committee  of 
Supplies. 

Ordered,  That  at  three  o'clock  this  afternoon,  the  Con- 
gress will  take  into  consideration  the  propriety  of  establish- 
ing pay  for  a  Brigade  Major. 

Ordered,  That  at  five  o'clock  this  afternoon,  the  Con- 
gress will  come  to  the  choice  of  a  Committee  of  three 
persons  (by  ballot)  to  procure  a  Copperplate  for  printing 
the  Colony  Notes,  and  to  countersign  them. 

Ordered,  That  the  Committee  who  reported  a  Resolve 
relative  to  borrowing  Money,  Sic,  bring  in  a  Resolve  that 
no  note  be  given  by  the  Receiver-General  for  a  less  sum 
than  four  Pounds. 

Adjourned  to  three  o'clock,  P.  M. 

Afternoon. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  bring  in  a  Resolve  that 
no  note  be  given  by  the  Receiver-General  for  any  sum 
less  than  four  Pounds,  reported  ;  the  Report  was  amended 
and  accepted,  and  is  as  follows: 

"  Whereas,  inconveniences  may  arise  by  the  Receiver- 
General  issuing  notes  for  small  sums  : 

<:  Therefore,  resolved,  That  the  Receiver-General  be, 
and  he  hereby  is,  directed  not  to  issue  any  notes  for  a  less 
sum  than  four  Pounds,  lawful  money." 

The  Report  of  the  Committee  appointed  to  take  into 
consideration  the  advance  pay  to  the  Soldiers,  was  taken 
up  and  read,  but  as  part  of  the  Report  is  superseded  by  a 
Resolve  in  the  morning  : 

"  Therefore,  ordered,  That  the  Report  be  recommitted, 
and  that  part  thereof  which  hath  been  superseded  be  left 
out,  and  that  each  Soldier  be  allowed  twenty  Shillings, 
lawful  money,  advance. 

The  Order  of  the  Day  was  moved  for. 

Resolved,  That  Captain  Parker,  Colonel  Howe,  and 
Colonel  Farley,  be  a  Committee  to  take  into  consideration 
the  propriety  of  establishing  pay  for  a  Brigade  Major. 

The  above  Vote  was  reconsidered. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  report  the  form  of  an  Oath, 
reported  ;  the  Report  was  read,  and  recommitted. 

Ordered,  That  Major  Fuller  and  Captain  Brown,  of 
Watertown,  be  a  Committee  to  count  and  sort  the  votes 
for  a  Committee  to  procure  a  Copperplate  for  printing 
the  Colony  Notes,  and  to  countersign  them. 

The  Committee  having  attended  that  service,  reported, 
that  the  Honourable  Samuel  Dexter,  Esquire,  Doctor 
Joseph  Warren,  and  Mr.  Moses  Gill,  were  chosen. 

Mr.  Cheevcr,  who  was  appointed  to  wait  on  the  Reve- 
rend Doctor  Cooper,  and  desire  his  attendance  on  this  Con- 
gress to  officiate  as  their  Chaplain,  reported,  that  he  had 
attended  the  service  assigned  him,  and  that  the  state  of  the 
Doctor's  affairs  was  such  that  he  could  not  attend,  accord- 
ing to  the  desire  of  the  Congress. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  report  a  Letter  to  the  Con- 
tinental Congress,  reported ;  the  Report  was  read  and 
accepted,  and  ordered  to  be  copied,  and  forwarded  as  soon 
as  may  be. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Davis  be  desired  to  wait  on  the 
Reverend  Mr.  Gordon,  and  desire  that  he  would  attend 
on  this  Congress,  and  officiate  as  their  Chaplain  during 
their  session  in  the  Town  of  If'atcrtoum. 


The  Committee  who  were  appointed  to  take  under  con- 
sideration the  advance  pay  to  the  Soldiers,  reported  ;  the 
Report  was  recommitted,  and  Captain  Stone  and  Doctor 
Taylor  added  to  the  Committee. 

The  Committee  who  were  appointed  to  consider  what 
measures  are  proper  to  be  taken  for  liberating  those  persons 
who  were  taken  prisoners  by  the  Troops,  under  General 
Gage,  on  the  nineteenth  of  April,  reported  a  Resolve ; 
which  was  read  and  accepted,  and  Ordered,  that  any 
Member  who  desires  a  copy  may  have  one.*  The  Re- 
solve is  as  follows : 

"  In  Provincial  Congress,  Watertown,  ) 
"May  3,  1775.  \ 

"  Whereas,  a  number  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  Colony 
were  taken  prisoners  by  the  Troops,  under  the  command 
of  General  Gage,  on  the  nineteenth  of  April  last,  and  are 
by  him  so  held  : 

"  Resolved,  That  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  Congress,  that 
an  application  be  sent  to  General  Gage,  signed  by  the 
wives  or  nearest  relations  of  such  prisoners,  and  the  Se- 
lectmen of  the  Towns  to  which  they  respectively  belong, 
desiring  that  he  would  discharge  their  friends  from  their 
said  imprisonment ;  and  they  are  empowered  hereby  to 
offer  to  send  in  to  the  General  an  equal  number  of  his 
Troops,  now  in  the  hands  of  this  people,  who  were  taken 
prisoners  on  the  aforesaid  nineteenth  of  April,  upon  his 
liberating  their  friends  as  aforesaid." 

Adjourned  to  nine  o'clock  to-morrow  morning. 

Thursday,  May  4,  1775. 

Colonel  Davis,  who  was  appointed  to  wait  upon  the 
Reverend  Mr.  Gordon,  to  desire  that  he  would  officiate 
as  Chaplain  to  this  Congress,  reported  that  he  had  waited 
upon  Mr.  Gordon,  and  that  Mr.  Gordon  informed  him 
that  he  would  attend  accordingly. 

The  Committee  who  were  appointed  to  take  into  con- 
sideration the  advance  pay  to  the  Soldiers,  again  reported  ; 
which  Report  was  read,  amended,  and  accepted,  and  order- 
ed to  be  authenticated,  and  sent  forthwith  to  Head-Quar- 
ters.   It  is  as  follows : 

"  Whereas,  the  distressed  state  of  this  Colony,  at  this 
alarming  crisis,  calls  for  its  utmost  exertions  that  the  Army 
now  to  be  raised  be  forthwith  completed : 

"  Therefore,  resolved,  That  each  non-commissioned  Offi- 
cer and  Private  Soldier,  who  has  or  shall  enlist  himself  into 
the  service  of  this  Colony,  shall  have  twenty  Shillings  paid 
him  out  of  the  Receiver-General's  Office,  as  an  advance  ; 
and  that  the  Commanding  Officer  of  each  Regiment,  who 
shall  be  empowered  to  act  as  Muster-Master  for  his  said 
Regiment,  shall  draw  from  the  Receiver-General's  Office 
the  sum  of  twenty  Shillings  for  each  Non-commissioned 
Officer  and  Private  Soldier  in  his  said  Regiment,  and  pay 
the  same,  according  to  the  tenour  of  this  Resolve,  as  soon 
as  said  men  shall  have  enlisted  themselves  and  be  duly 
sworn,  and  give  his  bond  (with  sufficient  surety)  to  the 
Receiver-General  therefor ;  said  bond  to  be  discharged  by 
a  receipt  produced  by  said  Officer  from  each  Non-commis- 
sioned Officer  and  Private  Soldier,  that  he  has  received  the 
same." 

On  application  made  to  this  Congress  for  an  order  on 
the  Committee  of  Supplies  for  one  barrel  of  Powder,  for 
the  use  of  the  inhabitants  of  Falmouth,  in  Casco-Bay  : 

Ordered,  That  this  matter  be  referred  to  the  said  Com- 
mittee of  Supplies;  they  to  act  thereon  as  they  think  best. 

The  Order  of  the  Day  moved  for. 

The  absent  Members  were  ordered  to  be  called  in. 

On  a  motion  made,  that  a  Committee  be  appointed  to 
bring  in  a  Resolve  containing  a  reconsideration  of  a  Re- 
solve passed  by  this  Congress  at  Concord,  the  first  of  April 

*  In  Provincial  Congress,  Watertown,  May  3,  1775. 
The  Committee  who  wore  appointed  hy  this  Congress  to  consider 
what  measures  are  proper  to  be  taken  for  liberating  those  persons  who 
were  taken  prisoners  by  the  Troops  under  (Jenoral  Gage,  on  the  nine- 
teenth of  April,  bog  leave  to  report,  they  arc  of  opinion,  that  if  an 
application  were  sent  to  General  Gage,  signed  by  the  wives  or  near- 
est relations  of  such  prisoners,  and  the  Selectmen  of  tho  Towns  to 
which  they  respectively  belong,  who  are  empowered  hereby  to  offer  to 
send  in  those  names,  it  would  be  the  most  effectual  method  which 
could  be  taken  for  their  roleaso ;  but  if  such  application  should  be  un- 
successful, they  think  it  would  be  highly  cxpodiont  for  this  Congress 
to  consent  to  an  exchange  of  prisoners  ;  further,  to  take  such  measures 
in  assistance  to  the  friends  of  thoso  unhappy  captives  as,  in  their 
wisdom,  they  may  think  will  be  proper  to  bo  taken  for  that  purpose. 


785 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  MAY,  1775. 


786 


last,  giving  it  as  their  opinion,  that  "if  Writs  should  be 
issued  for  calling  a  General  Assembly,  to  be  held  on  the 
last  Wednesday  of  May  next,  that  the  several  Towns  in 
this  Colony  ought  to  obey  such  precepts,"  and  to  bring  in 
a  Resolve  recommending  to  the  several  Towns  and  Dis- 
tricts in  this  Colony  not  to  obey  such  precepts  :  after  a  long 
and  serious  debate,  the  question  was  put,  and  it  passed  in 
the  affirmative.  For  the  question  94 ;  the  whole  number 
of  the  House  107. 

Colonel  Warren,  Mr.  Gerry,  Colonel  Gerrish,  Doctor 
Holten,  and  Colonel  Mandell,  were  accordingly  appointed 
for  this  purpose. 

Ordered,  That  Captain  Stone,  of  Framingham,  Mr. 
Bent,  and  Major  Fuller,  be  a  Committee  to  examine  the 
returns  of  the  several  Towns  and  Districts'  stocks  of  Pow- 
der, and  to  bring  in  a  Resolve  recommending  to  such 
Towns  as  they  think  proper,  which  are  not  immediately 
exposed,  to  furnish  the  Towns  of  Falmouth  and  Arundel 
with  one  barrel  of  Powder  each. 

Adjourned  to  three  o'clock,  this  afternoon. 

Afternoon. 

Resolved,  That  General  Putnam  and  Colonel  Porter, 
who  were,  with  others  of  the  Committee  of  Safety,  ap- 
pointed by  the  said  Committee  of  Safety  and  the  Council 
of  War  to  lay  some  special  matters  before  this  Congress, 
be  admitted  into  this  House,  and  that  Colonel  Warren, 
Mr.  Devens,  and  Colonel  Gerrish,  be  a  Committee  to  in- 
troduce them. 

The  left  hand  front  Pew  was  assigned  them  to  sit  in. 

The  absent  Members  were  directed  to  attend. 

The  said  Committee  having  accordingly  attended  this 
Congress,  they  informed  the  Congress,  that  the  gentlemen 
delegated  by  the  Assembly  of  Connecticut,  to  execute  an 
embassy  to  General  Gage,  had  come  out  of  Boston  with 
Letters  from  him  to  the  Assembly  of  Connecticut,  of  which 
they  thought  it  proper  to  inform  this  Congress,  that  they 
might  take  order  thereon  if  they  thought  fit.  Whereupon, 

Ordered,  That  the  President,  Colonel  Warren,  Doctor 
Holten,  Colonel  Gerrish,  Colonel  Palmer,  Doctor  Baylies, 
Doctor  Taylor,  Mr.  Gardner,  Mr.  Patridge,  Mr.  Gerry, 
and  Mr.  Mills,  together  with  the  Committee  from  the  Com- 
mittee of  Safety  and  Council  of  War,  be  a  Committee  to 
hold  a  conference  with  the  said  Delegates  from  Connecticut, 
and  to  attend  forthwith. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  inquire  into  the  conduct  of 
the  several  Towns,  relative  to  the  prisoners  of  war,  reported. 
Whereupon, 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Wyman  apply  to  the  Committee  of 
Safety,  desiring  that  they  would  take  such  measures  with 
respect  to  the  Colony  Stores,  and  two  Regular  Officers,  with 
their  waiters,  now  at  Woburn,  as  will  remove  the  necessi- 
ty of  keeping  so  large  a  guard  as  is  now  placed  there  to 
guard  the  same. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  confer  with  the  Connecticut 
Delegates,  reported,  that  they  had  conferred  with  them  on 
the  subject  of  their  embassy,  and  of  the  Letter  to  their 
Assembly  from  General  Gage;  but  that  they  thought  it  in- 
consistent with  their  honour,  and  the  interest  of  the  Colo- 
nies, to  open  it;  but  that  they  would  use  their  influence 
when  they  returned,  to  have  the  contents  of  it  communi- 
cated to  this  Colony. 

Moved,  That  the  Delegates  from  Connecticut  be  desired 
to  attend  this  Congress. 

After  debate,  the  matter  was  ordered  to  subside. 

Ordered,  That  the  President,  Colonel  Warren,  Colonel 
Dicight,  Mr.  Gerry,  and  Colonel  Holten,  be  a  Committee 
to  return  the  compliments  to  the  gentlemen  from  Connect- 
icut, for  their  patient  attendance  to  the  inquiry  made  of 
them  by  this  Congress,  respecting  their  embassy  to  General 
Gage. 

Moved,  That  the  Resolve  passed  yesterday,  respecting 
advance  pay  for  the  Soldiers,  be  reconsidered,  so  far  as  it 
respects  Muster-Masters,  and  that  two  Muster-Masters  be 
appointed  by  this  Congress. 

After  debate,  the  matter  was  ordered  to  subside. 

Ordered,  That  the  President,  Mr.  Gerry,  and  Colonel 
llairen,  be  a  Committee  to  prepare  a  Letter  to  the  As- 
sembly of  Connecticut,  respecting  their  late  application  to 
General  Gage. 

Ordered,  That  Captain  Stone,  Mr.  Mills,  Captain  Mc- 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii.  = 


Cobb,  Doctor  Perkins,  Colonel  Grout,  and  Mr.  Kollock,  be 
directed  to  copy  the  Depositions  of  the  late  hostile  pro- 
ceedings of  General  Gage's  Troops,  to  be  transmitted  to 
Connecticut. 

Adjourned  until  to-morrow  morning,  nine  o'clock. 

Friday,  May  5,  1775. 

Ordered,  That  Deacon  Stickncy  and  Mr.  Webster  be 
added  to  the  Committee  who  were  appointed  to  examine 
the  Returns,  and  Districts'  stock  of  Powder,  8cc,  May  4, 
A.  M. 

Ordered,  That  Doctor  Taylor,  Mr.  Batchelder,  and 
Doctor  Holten,  be  a  Committee  to  bring  in  a  Resolve,  re- 
lative to  an  obstruction  to  the  removing  the  inhabitants  of 
Boston,  as  expressed  in  a  Letter  to  this  Congress  from  the 
Selectmen  of  Boston,  and  other  papers  ;  and  that  said  Re- 
solve, when  passed,  together  with  the  Resolve  that  passed 
this  Congress  the  second  instant,  giving  license  to  those 
persons  in  Boston  who  incline  to  send  a  servant  out  for 
their  effects,  be  authenticated  and  transmitted  to  General 
Ward. 

The  Committee  who  were  appointed  to  bring  in  two 
Resolves  respecting  General  Gage's  Writs  for  calling  an 
Assembly,  reported  ;  both  of  which  were  read  and  accepted, 
and  are  as  follows,  viz: 

Whereas,  this  Congress  did,  at  their  session  at  Concord, 
on  the  first  day  of  April  last,  resolve,  as  their  opinion,  that 
if  Writs  be  issued  (in  form  as  the  law  directs)  for  calling 
a  General  Assembly,  to  be  held  on  the  last  Wednesday  of 
May  next,  that  such  Writs  should  be  obeyed,  &tc.  And 
whereas,  many  reasons  now  prevail,  to  convince  us  that 
consequences  of  a  dangerous  nature  would  result  from  the 
operation  of  that  Resolution  :  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  the  said  Vote  and  Resolution  be  recon- 
sidered, and  it  is  hereby  reconsidered  and  declared  null  and 
void. 

Whereas,  his  Excellency  General  Gage,  since  his  arrival 
in  this  Colony,  hath  conducted  as  an  instrument  in  the  hands 
of  an  arbitrary  Ministry  to  enslave  this  people,  and  a  de- 
tachment under  his  command  have  of  late  been  ordered  to 
the  Town  of  Concord,  to  destroy  the  publick  Stores  de- 
posited in  that  place  for  the  use  of  the  Colony :  and  where- 
as, by  this  clandestine  and  perfidious  measure,  a  number  of 
respectable  inhabitants  of  the  Colony,  without  any  provoca- 
tion, have  been  illegally,  wantonly,  and  inhumanly  slaugh- 
tered by  the  Troops  :  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  the  said  General  Gage  hath,  by  these 
means,  and  many  others  utterly  disqualified  himself  to  serve 
this  Colony  as  a  Governour,  and  in  every  other  capacity, 
and  that  no  obedience  ought,  in  future,  to  be  paid  by  the 
several  Towns  and  Districts  in  this  Colony  to  his  Writs 
for  calling  an  Assembly,  or  to  his  Proclamations,  or  any 
other  of  his  acts  or  doings ;  but  that,  on  the  other  hand,  he 
ought  to  be  considered  and  guarded  against  as  an  unnatural 
and  inveterate  enemy  to  this  Country. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Gardner,  Colonel  Dwight,  and 
Colonel  Warren,  be  a  Committee  to  bring  in  a  Resolve, 
recommending  the  several  Towns  and  Districts  in  this  Col- 
ony, to  choose  Delegates  for  a  new  Provincial  Congress, 
to  be  held  on  the  last  Wednesday  of  the  present  month. 

The  Committee  who  were  appointed  to  prepare  the 
form  of  an  Oath,  to  be  taken  by  the  Officers  and  Soldiers 
of  the  Army  now  raising  in  this  Colony,  reported;  which 
Report  was  ordered  for  the  present  to  subside. 

The  Committee  who  were  this  day  appointed  to  bring 
in  a  Resolve  for  the  purpose  of  removing  an  obstruction  to 
the  liberating  the  inhabitants  of  Boston,  reported  ;  which 
Report  was  ordered  to  be  recommitted,  and  that  Mr.  Gill 
and  Mr.  Patridge  be  added  to  the  Committee. 

The  Committee  who  were  yesterday  appointed  to  pre- 
pare a  Letter  to  the  Assembly  of  Connecticut,  reported  a 
Letter,  which  was  read,  amended,  and  accepted,  and  is  as 
follows : 

To  the  Honourable  the  Governour  and  Company  of  the 
Colony  of  Connecticut: 

Gentlemen  :  The  Delegates  appointed  by  your  respect- 
able Assembly,  to  treat  with  General  Gage  on  the  late  un- 
happy events  which  have  occurred  in  this  Colony,  have 
favoured  us  with  a  conference,  and  communicated  the  sub- 
stance of  their  interview  with  him.   We  are  greatly  alarmed 


787 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  MAY,  1775. 


788 


at  the  unparalleled  wickedness  of  our  unnatural  enemies, 
in  endeavouring  to  persuade  our  sister  Colony  that  the  in- 
habitants of  this  first  commenced  hostilities ;  a  suggestion 
which  we  cannot  but  think  will  appear  absurd,  when  the 
great  inequality  of  the  Lexington  Company,  and  detach- 
ment of  Regular  Troops  which  attacked  them,  is  coolly  con- 
sidered. But  to  put  this  matter  in  the  clearest  light,  we  beg 
leave  to  enclose  you  the  copies  of  depositions,  taken  by 
order  of  this  Congress  and  despatched  for  London,  con- 
taining the  most  incontestable  evidence  that  the  King's 
Troops  first  fired  upon  and  killed  several  of  the  inhabitants 
of  this  Colony,  before  any  injury  was  offered  to  them. 
We  also  enclose  you  the  copies  of  an  Address  to  the  in- 
habitants of  Great  Britain,  and  of  a  letter  to  our  Colony 
Agent,  and  think  it  expedient  to  suspend  the  publication 
of  the  address  and  letter,  until  they  shall  have  had  their 
effect  in  England. 

The  experience  which  we  have  had  of  General  Gage, 
hath  fully  convinced  us  that  hut  little  dependance  can  be 
placed  in  his  professions.  Whilst  he  has  been  collect- 
ing his  forces,  fortifying  our  capital,  and  in  every  other 
respect  preparing  for  war,  we  have  been  amused  with 
his  pretension  to  benevolence  and  kindness,  evidently  cal- 
culated to  retard  the  measures  which  we  were  necessarily 
pursuing  for  self-defence.  And  we  are  constrained  to  de- 
clare, that  should  he  be  at  any  future  time  possessed  of 
forces  superiour  to  those  raised  for  opposing  him,  we 
should,  from  his  past  conduct,  have  no  hopes  of  escaping 
the  heaviest  vengeance  which  ministerial  tyranny  could 
devise,  assisted  by  the  most  inveterate  enemies  to  man- 
kind in  general,  and  of  this  their  native  Country  in  par- 
ticular. 

On  the  exertions  of  the  Colonies  and  blessings  of  Heaven, 
we  alone  can  depend  for  safety  and  support ;  and  it  is  clearly 
the  opinion  of  this  Congress,  that  the  establishment  of  a 
powerful  army  is  the  best  and  only  measure  left  to  bring 
the  present  disputes  to  a  happy  issue. 

It  is  evidently  the  business  of  the  General  to  subjugate 
these  and  the  other  Colonies ;  and  we  think  there  are  the 
most  convincing  proofs,  that,  in  order  to  effect  it,  he  is  con- 
stantly aiming  to  suspend  their  operations  for  defence  until 
his  re-enforcements  shall  arrive.  But  although  we  have 
been  under  great  apprehensions  with  respect  to  the  advan- 
tages which  the  conference  of  Connecticut  with  General 
Gage  may  give  our  enemies,  yet  we  have  the  greatest  con- 
fidence in  the  wisdom  and  vigilance  of  your  respectable 
Assembly  and  Colony,  as  well  as  of  our  other  sister  Col- 
onies, and  have  reason  to  hope,  that  while  he  fails  in  his 
intentions  to  lull  and  deceive  this  Continent,  he  can  never 
accomplish  his  designs  to  conquer  it. 

Ordered,  That  the  foregoing  Letter  be  fairly  copied  and 
authenticated,  and  committed  to  the  care  of  Col.  Dwight, 
together  with  the  copy  of  the  Depositions  respecting  the 
late  hostile  proceedings  of  General  Gage's  Troops,  attested 
by  the  Secretary,  to  be  delivered  by  Colonel  Dwight  to 
the  Governour  and  Company  of  Connecticut,  as  soon  as 
may  be. 

Adjourned  to  three  o'clock,  P.  M. 

Afternoon. 

The  Committee  who  were  to  bring  in  a  Resolve  for  the 
purpose  of  removing  an  obstruction  to  the  liberating  the 
inhabitants  of  Boston,  again  reported;  which  Report  being 
read  and  accepted,  it  was  ordered  that  Mr.  Patridgc  carry 
the  same  immediately  to  Mr.  Ward.    It  is  as  follows,  viz  : 

Resolved,  That  the  following  Letter  be  sent  to  Gen- 
eral Ward,  and  a  copy  of  the  same  to  the  Selectmen  of 
Boston  : 

In  Provincial  Congress,  May  5,  1775. 

Sir  :  By  the  enclosed  papers  you  will  see  that  the  libe- 
ration of  our  good  friends  in  Boston  is  greatly  obstructed  ; 
therefore,  Sir,  you  are  directed  to  examine  into  the  matter, 
and  give  such  orders  as  shall  be  effectual  for  the  future ; 
strictly  to  execute  the  resolutions  of  this  Congress,  respect- 
ing permits  into  the  country,  and  protection  of  all  persons 
thus  permitted  ;  and  also  communicate  your  doings  hereon 
to  the  Selectmen  of  Boston  with  all  possible  despatch,  that 
our  friends  may  not  be  detained  any  longer ;  and  also  that 
you  give  directions  to  your  officers,  carefully  to  execute 
the  resolves  of  Congress  in  all  matters  in  which  they  are 


to  act,  without  any  levity,  or  indecency  of  expression  or 
behaviour. 

To  the  Honourable  Artemas  Ward,  Esquire. 

P.  S.  The  pass  given  by  the  Selectmen  must  be  in  strict 
conformity  to  the  resolve  of  Congress,  viz :  That  the 
bearer  is  sent  out  to  put  up  and  transport  into  the  Town 
of  Boston,  the  goods  and  effects  of  such  persons  as  l)3\e 
repaired  to  Boston,  there  to  take  up  their  residence. 

On  a  Petition  from  Charles  Glidden  and  others,  for  a 
supply  of  Powder,  &£c. : 

Ordered,  That  Doctor  Taylor  inform  said  Glidden,  now 
in  waiting,  that  this  Congress  would  gladly  comply  with 
their  request,  did  not  the  present  exigencies  of  the  Colony 
make  it  necessary  that  all  their  stock  of  Ammunition  be 
retained  in  the  Colony  Magazine. 

The  Committee  who  were  appointed  to  bring  in  a  He- 
solve,  recommending  the  choice  of  Delegates  for  a  new 
Provincial  Congress,  reported  the  following,  which  was  read 
and  accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz: 

Whereas  the  term  for  which  this  present  Congress  was 
chosen,  expires  on  the  thirtieth  instant,  and  the  exigencies 
of  our  publick  affairs  render  it  absolutely  necessary,  for  the 
safety  of  this  Colony,  that  a  new  Congress  be  elected  and 
convened,  to  consider  of  and  transact  the  publick  affairs 
thereof : 

Resolved,  That  it  be,  and  it  is  hereby  recommended  to 
the  several  Towns  and  Districts  in  this  Colony,  that  they 
each  of  them  do  forthwith  elect  and  depute  as  many  Mem- 
bers as  to  them  shall  seem  necessary  and  expedient,  to  rep- 
resent them  in  a  Provincial  Congress,  to  be  held  at  the 
meeting-house  in  Watertown,  on  the  thirty-first  day  of  May 
instant,  to  be  chosen  by  such  only  as  are  qualified  by  law 
to  vote  for  Representatives  in  the  General  Assembly,  and 
to  be  continued  by  adjournment  from  day  to  day,  as  they 
shall  see  cause,  until  the  expiration  of  six  months  from 
their  being  first  convened  on  the  thirty- first  of  this  instant, 
May,  and  no  longer,  and  consult,  deliberate,  and  resolve 
upon  such  further  measures  as,  under  God,  shall  be  effectual 
to  save  this  people  from  impending  ruin,  and  to  secure  those 
inestimable  liberties  derived  to  us  from  our  ancestors,  and 
which  it  is  our  duty  to  preserve  for  posterity. 

Ordered,  That  this  last  mentioned  Resolve,  together 
with  the  Resolve  passed  in  the  forenoon,  respecting  General 
Gage's  precepts,  be  printed  in  handbills,  and  that  Major 
Fuller,  Captain  Batcheldcr,  and  Esquire  Dix,  be  a  Com- 
mittee to  get  the  same  printed  and  dispersed  to  the  several 
Towns  and  Districts  in  this  Colony. 

The  gentlemen  who  were  appointed  Delegates  for  this 
Colony,  to  the  Colony  of  Connecticut,  reported,  that  they 
had  attended  the  business  to  which  they  were  appointed, 
and  had  brought  a  letter  from  the  Speaker  of  the  Connect- 
icut Assembly,  which  they  laid  before  this  Congress. 

Resolved,  That  the  Vote  which  passed  in  Congress  this 
day,  respecting  a  Petition  made  by  Charles  Glidden  and 
others,  for  Powder  and  Ball,  be  reconsidered,  and  that  the 
Committee  of  Supplies  be,  and  hereby  are  desired  to  fur- 
nish the  said  Charles  Glidden,  for  the  use  of  the  subscri- 
bers to  said  Petition,  one  half  barrel  of  Powder,  and 
such  a  quantity  of  Lead  as  will  be  proper  and  propor- 
tional thereto. 

Resolved,  That  the  Assembly  of  Connecticut  be  supplied 
with  the  Rules  and  Regulations  which  have  been  recom- 
mended to  be  observed  by  the  Army  now  raising  in  this 
Colony. 

On  a  motion  made  by  Captain  McCobb,  that  some  mea- 
sures might  be  taken  to  preserve  a  number  of  large  Masts, 
Plank,  &.C.,  now  lying  in  Kennebeck  River,  and  to  prevent 
their  being  carried  to  Halifax,  where  they  might  be  used 
to  the  injury  of  this  Country  : 

Ordered,  That  the  consideration  thereof  be  referred  to 
the  Committee  of  Safety,  and  that  Captain  McCobb  be  de- 
sired to  attend  the  said  Committee,  and  give  them  all  the 
information  he  can,  relative  thereto. 

A  Resolution  of  the  Committee  of  Safety,  giving  it  as 
their  opinion,  that  Government  in  full  form  ought  to  be 
taken  up  immediately,  was  read  :  Whereupon, 

Ordered,  That  the  consideration  of  this  matter  be  refer- 
red to  Tuesday  next,  at  three  o'clock,  P.  M. 

Adjourned  until  to-morrow  morning,  nine  o'clock. 


789 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  MAY,  1775. 


790 


Saturday,  May  6,  1775. 

Resolved,  That  the  Committee  of  Safety  be,  and  they 
are  hereby  empowered  to  procure  Powder,  in  such  quanti- 
ties as  they  shall  think  necessary,  not  only  at  Connecticut 
and  Rhode-Island,  but  at  New-  York,  or  any  other  Colony 
on  the  Continent. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Sawyer,  Captain  Stone,  and  Doctor 
Tai/lor,  be  a  Committee  to  bring  in  a  Resolve  for  the  pur- 
pose of  appointing  two  Officers  (one  in  each  Camp)  of 
the  Colony  Army,  whose  business  it  shall  be  to  pass  muster 
on  the  Soldiers,  and  draw  for  them,  out  of  the  Treasury, 
their  half  month's  pay. 

Ordered,  That  the  President,  Colonel  Dexter,  Colonel 
fi'arren,  Doctor  Holten,  and  Mr.  Mills,  be  a  Committee 
to  take  into  consideration  the  Letter  received  yesterday 
from  the  Speaker  of  the  General  Assembly  of  Connecticut. 

A  form  of  a  Pass,  and  Resolve  thereon,  brought  in  by 
Colonel  Warren,  was  accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz: 

"  To  the  Guards  of  the  Colony  Army  : 
"  Pursuant  to  a  Resolve  of  the  Provincial  Congress, 

vou  are  hereby  ordered  to  permit  ,  a  Member 

of  said  Congress,  to  pass  and  repass,  with  his  company,  at 

all  times.   ,  President  pro  tern. 

"  May  .  .  .  ,  1775." 

Resolved,  That  the  General  Officer  of  the  Army  of  this 
Colony  be,  and  hereby  is  directed  to  give  orders  to  his  Offi- 
cers to  pay  obedience  to  all  Permits  of  the  foregoing  form, 
signed  by  the  President  of  this  Congress. 

Resolved,  That  Colonel  Dwight  proceed  with  the  Let- 
ters and  Depositions,  as  ordered  by  this  Congress,  with  all 
possible  speed,  to  Hartford,  there  to  tarry  (if,  at  his  dis- 
cretion, he  thinks  necessary)  until  he  receives  an  answer  to 
said  Letter,  and  a  copy  of  the  Letter  sent  by  General 
Gage  to  the  Assembly  at  Connecticut;  and  to  inform  the 
said  Assembly  of  the  alteration  made  by  this  Congress  in 
the  pay  of  the  Field-Officers  of  the  Army  now  raising  in 
this  Colony. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Whiting,  Major  Fuller,  Colonel 
Thurston,  Doctor  Taylor,  Colonel  Field,  Doctor  Sawyer, 
and  Colonel  Warren,  be  a  Committee  to  bring  in  a  Re- 
solve containing  a  reconsideration  of  the  Resolve  passed 
yesterday,  respecting  the  choice  of  Delegates  for  a  new 
Congress,  so  far  as  to  determine  what  Towns  should  send 
Members,  and  how  many  Members  each  Town  and  District 
ought  to  send. 

This  last  Order  was  reconsidered  :  Whereupon, 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Rauson,  of  Mendon,  Colonel  Gard- 
ner, Mr.  Thurston,  Esquire  Davis,  and  Mr.  Sawyer,  be  a 
Committee  to  take  into  consideration  an  equal  representa- 
tion of  this  Colony,  and  report  thereon. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Thurston,  Esquire  Dix,  and 
Mr.  Lothrop,  be  a  Committee  to  take  into  consideration 
the  form  of  an  Establishment  for  the  Train,  and  report  a 
Resolve  thereon. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  bring  in  a  Resolve  for  the 
appointment  of  Muster-Masters,  reported. 

Resolved,  That  three  o'clock  this  afternoon  be  assigned 
for  choosing  two  Musters-Masters,  and  that  they  be  chosen 
by  ballot. 

Col.  Lincoln  brought  in  a  Resolve  empowering  the  Com- 
mittee of  Supplies  to  import  Military  Stores  from  such  place, 
and  in  such  manner  and  quantities,  as  they  shall  judge  pro- 
per; which  was  read  and  accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz  : 

Whereas,  in  the  course  of  the  present  disputes  with 
Great  Britain,  it  may  be  necessary  to  import,  on  the  risk 
of  the  Colony,  many  kinds  of  Military  and  other  Stores  : 

Resolved,  That  the  Committee  of  Supplies  be,  and  they 
hereby  are  empowered  and  directed  to  import,  or  cause  to 
be  imported  from  any  place  whatever,  such  and  so  many 
Stores  aforesaid,  as  they  shall  judge  necessary  for  the  de- 
fence of  the  Colony,  and  the  same  to  risk  at  their  discre- 
tion, with  or  without  making  insurance  on  the  vessels  and 
cargoes  which  may  be  so  sent  out  or  imported. 

Ordered,  That  this  Resolve  be  kept  an  absolute  and 
entire  secret  by  every  Member  of  this  Congress. 

Resolved,  That  four  o'clock  this  afternoon  be  assigned 
to  consider  if  any  method  can  be  taken  for  settling  the  ap- 
pointment of  the  Field-Officers. 

Adjourned  to  three  o'clock,  P.  M. 


Afternoon. 

The  Order  of  the  Day  was  read. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Dix,  Mr.  Gill,  and  Doctor  Sawyer, 
be  a  Committee  to  sort  and  count  the  votes  for  two  Muster- 
Masters  ;  who  reported,  that  General  John  Whitcomb  and 
Colonel  Benjamin  Lincoln  were  unanimously  chosen. 

The  Report  of  the  Committee  respecting  the  appoint- 
ment of  Muster-Masters,  was  accepted,  and  is  as  follows, 
viz  : 

Resolved,  That  General  John  Whitcomb  and  Colonel 
Benjamin  Lincoln  be,  and  hereby  are  appointed  Muster- 
Masters  in  the  Massachusetts  Army,  whose  business  it  shall 
be  to  pass  muster  on  every  Soldier  that  shall  be  enlisted 
into  said  Army,  and  by  no  means  to  accept  of  any  but 
such  as  are  able-bodied  effective  men  ;  and  also  examine  if 
their  Arms  and  Accoutrements  are  in  proper  order.  And 
said  Muster-Masters  are  hereby  directed  and  empowered 
to  receive  from  Henry  Gardner,  Esq.,  Receiver-General, 
or  his  successors  in  office,  twenty  Shillings,  lawful  money, 
for  each  and  every  Non-commissioned  Officer  and  Private 
Soldier  thus  mustered  and  sworn,  who  shall  appear  with 
their  Arms  and  Accoutrements;  and  shall  give  Bonds  to 
said  Receiver-General,  with  sufficient  surety,  for  such 
Moneys  drawn  out  of  the  Treasury ;  and  shall  forthwith 
pay  out  said  sum  of  twenty  Shillings  as  advance  pay  to 
each  and  every  Non-commissioned  Officer  and  Private 
Soldier ;  and  on  producing  Receipts  from  them  to  said  Re- 
ceiver-General, said  Bonds  shall  be  cancelled. 

Resolved,  That  the  consideration  of  the  Pay  of  the  Mus- 
ter-Masters be  referred  to  some  future  time. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Thurston  and  Mr.  Sawyer  be 
a  Committee  to  apply  to  the  Committee  of  Safety  for  a  list 
of  all  such  persons  to  whom  they  have  given  encourage- 
ment to  receive  Commissions  as  Field-Officers  of  the  Army 
now  raising  in  this  Colony ;  and  they  are  directed  to  in- 
quire of  said  Committee  of  Safety  what  Field-Officers  they 
expect  will  be  most  likely  to  succeed  in  filling  up  their 
Regiments. 

Ordered,  That  Esquire  Rawson,  Mr.  Patridge,  Major 
Brooks,  Mr.  Webster,  Colonel  Mosely,  Mr.  Bliss,  and 
Captain  Stone,  be  a  Committee  to  inquire  what  number  of 
Province  Arms  there  are  in  the  Province,  and  in  what 
place  ;  and  in  particular,  that  they  apply  to  the  Committee 
of  Supplies  to  know  what  number  of  Fire-Arms  they  have 
procured,  and  how  they  have  disposed  of  them. 

The  Committee  who  were  appointed  to  consider  the 
form  of  an  Establishment  for  the  Train,  reported  verbally, 
that  the  pay  was,  in  their  opinion,  reasonable ;  but  as  to 
the  number  of  Matrosses,  they  were  not  proper  judges. 
The  Establishment  was  accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz : 

An  Establishment  for  the  Company  of  Tram,  as  fixed 
upon  by  the  Committee  of  Safety. 

Per  month. 


1  Captain,  £6  10 

2  Lieutenants,  each    -    --    --    --  410 

1  Lieutenant  Fire- Worker,    -    --    --  310 

4  Sergeants,  each       -    --    --    --  2  10 

4  Corporals,  each       -   2  06 

32  Matrosses,  each    2  03 

1  Drummer,     -    --    --    --    --  2  06 

1  Fifer,    2  06 


46  men,  officers  included,  in  each  Company  of  Matross- 
es ;  a  blanket  and  coat,  as  for  rest  of  the  Army. 

William  Cooper,  Secretary. 
Adjourned  until  to-morrow  morning,  eight  o'clock. 

Sunday,  May  7,  1775. 

Resolved,  That  the  Committee  of  Supplies  be,  and  they 
are  hereby  empowered  and  directed  to  procure  at  Connecti- 
cut, Rhode-Island,  New-York,  or  any  other  Colony  on 
the  Continent,  such  a  number  of  Fire-Arms  and  Bayonets 
for  the  use  of  this  Colony,  as  they  shall  think  necessary. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  make  application  to  the 
Committee  of  Supplies,  to  know  what  number  of  Fire- 
Arms  they  had  procured,  reported  verbally,  that  they  had 
not  procured  any. 

On  an  application  made  to  this  Congress  by  Captain 
Benjamin  Dunning,  of  Harpswell,  for  Powder,  this  Con- 
gress passed  the  following  Resolve,  viz: 


791 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  MAY,  1775. 


792 


Whereas  the  District  of  Harpswell,  in  the  County  of 
Cumberland,  lies  exposed  to  the  ravages  of  the  enemies, 
and  is  unprovided  with  a  supply  of  Powder :  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  Selectmen  of 
the  Town  of  Haverhill,  that  they  deliver  to  Captain  Nehe- 
miah  Curtis  and  Mr.  Benjamin  Dunning,  for  the  use  of 
the  said  District  of  Harpswell,  one  barrel  of  Powder,  they 
paying  for  the  same ;  which  shall  be  replaced  (if  needed) 
as  soon  as  the  Colony  Magazine  can  be  supplied. 

Adjourned  to  twelve  o'clock  this  day. 

Met  at  twejve  o'clock,  and  adjourned  to  four  o'clock, 
P.  M. 

Met  at  four  o'clock,  and  adjourned  until  to-morrow  morn- 
ing, nine  o'clock. 

Monday,  May  8,  1775. 
Ordered,  That  Mr.  Lothrop,  Mr.  Patridge,  Mr.  Mills, 
Mr.  Whiting,  Captain  Stone,  Colonel  Howe,  Colonel 
Mandell,  Colonel  Mosely,  Colonel  Pierce,  and  Colonel 
Thurston,  be  a  Committee  to  transcribe  the  Narrative  of  the 
proceedings  of  the  King's  Troops  on  the  19th  ultimo,  to- 
gether with  Depositions  thereof  accompanying,  to  be  trans- 
mitted to  Mr.  Thomas  for  immediate  publication. 

A  Letter  from  a  number  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  Town 
of  Hopkinton,  was  read  :  Whereupon, 

Ordered,  That  Doctor  Church,  Colonel  Foster,  and 
Deacon  Rawson,  be  a  Committee  to  prepare  an  Answer 
to  the  Selectmen  of  that  Town,  giving  the  opinion  of  the 
Congress  on  the  subject  thereof. 

The  form  of  an  Oath,  to  be  administered  to  the  Offi- 
cers and  Private  Soldiers  of  the  Army  now  raising  in  this 
Colony,  was  read  and  accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz: 

Resolved,  That  all  Officers  and  Soldiers  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts Army  now  raising  for  the  defence  and  security  of 
the  rights  and  liberties  of  this  and  our  sister  Colonies  in 
America,  shall  each  and  every  of  them,  excepting  only 
the  General  Officers,  repeat  and  take  the  following  Oath, 
viz  : 

"  I,  A,  B,  swear  I  will  truly  and  faithfully  serve  in  the 
Massachusetts  Army,  to  which  I  belong,  for  the  defence 
and  security  of  the  estates,  lives,  and  liberties  of  the  good 
people  of  this  and  the  sister  Colonies  in  America,  in  oppo- 
sition to  Ministerial  tyranny,  by  which  they  are  or  may  be 
oppressed,  and  to  all  other  enemies  and  opposers  whatso- 
ever ;  that  I  will  adhere  to  the  Rules  and  Regulations  of 
said  Army,  observe  and  obey  the  Generals  and  other  Offi- 
cers set  over  me,  and  disclose  and  make  known  to  said 
Officers  all  traitorous  conspiracies,  attempts  and  designs 
whatsoever,  which  I  shall  know  to  be  made  against  said 
Army,  or  any  of  the  English  American  Colonies.  So  help 
me  God." 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Warren,  Colonel  Gerrish,  and 
Colonel  Foster,  be  a  Committee  to  prepare  the  form  of 
an  Oath  to  be  administered  to  the  General  Officers. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Warren,  Esquire  Dix,  and  Col- 
onel Foster,  be  a  Committee  to  draw  up  a  Resolve  recom- 
mending to  the  Committees  of  Correspondence  of  the 
several  Towns  and  Districts  in  this  Colony,  and  to  the  Se- 
lectmen of  Towns  and  Districts  who  have  no  such  Commit- 
tees, to  take  effectual  care  to  discover  all  such  persons  in 
their  respective  Towns,  who  will  not  give  them  an  assurance 
of  their  good  intentions  and  regard  to  the  interest  of  this 
Country  ;  and  also  to  recommend  to  the  people  of  this 
Colony  to  take  effectual  measures  to  oblige  all  who  are 
liable  by  law  to  appear  in  arms  in  the  Militia,  to  appear 
when  properly  called  upon  by  their  Officers. 

Resolved,  That  the  Muster-Masters  be  and  hereby  are 
empowered  and  directed  to  administer  the  Oath  to  the  Offi- 
cers and  Private  Soldiers  of  the  Army  now  raising  in  this 
Colony,  agreeably  to  the  form  prescribed  by  this  Con- 
gress. 

The  Committee  who  were  appointed  to  prepare  a  Letter 
to  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town  of  Hopkinton,  reported  the 
following  ;  which  was  read  and  accepted,  and  ordered  to  be 
dated,  signed,  and  delivered  to  the  messenger  in  waiting  : 

Gentlemen  :  Your  favour  of  the  7th  instant  was  duly 
considered  in  Congress.  We  cannot  but  regret  that  any 
persons  who  have  heretofore  evidenced  their  attachment  to 
the  rights  and  liberties  of  their  Country,  should,  in  this  day 


of  trial  and  hazard,  be  so  far  influenced  by  an  inordinate 
attachment  to  their  personal  safety,  or  the  security  of  their 
property,  as  to  desert  the  common  interest,  and  basely  re- 
fuse to  contribute  of  their  wealth,  or  assist  personally  in 
that  struggle  which  they  are  conscientiously  led  to  approve. 
Nevertheless,  gentlemen,  such  is  the  peculiar  delicacy  of 
our  situation,  that  true  policy  suggests  we  should  act  with 
extreme  caution  respecting  these  fugitives.  A  violation  of 
the  natural  right  of  an  individual  to  remove  his  person  and 
effects  wherever  he  pleases,  would  ill  become  those  who 
are  contending  for  the  inalienable  right  of  every  man  to 
his  own  property,  and  to  dispose  of  it  as  he  pleases.  We 
would  likewise  suggest,  that  should  we  restrain  any  inhabi- 
tant from  conveying  his  goods  to  Philadelphia,  our  brethren 
there  might  justly  arraign  us  of  selfishness  in  such  a  trans- 
action ;  and  it  would  evidence  such  a  distinction  of  interests 
in  the  two  Colonies,  as  might  have  a  tendency  to  disunite 
us,  at  a  time  when  the  safety  of  the  whole  must  ultimately 
depend  upon  the  firmest  confederacy.  We  are  aware  of 
the  mischiefs  too  general  a  removal  might  produce  ;  but  we 
have  so  much  confidence  in  the  disinterested  virtue  of  our 
countrymen,  as  to  indulge  hopes  that  Mr.  Barrett's  exam- 
ple will  not  become  infectious. 

We  highly  approve  the  steady  patriotism  and  manly 
jealousy  of  our  brethren  in  Hopkinton.  and  are,  gentlemen, 
with  much  esteem,  yours,  &tc. 

Ordered,  That  the  President  pro  tern.,  Doctor  Church. 
Doctor  Taylor,  Doctor  Holten,  and  Doctor  Dunsmore,  be 
a  Committee  to  examine  such  persons  as  are  or  may  be 
recommended  for  Surgeons  for  the  Army  now  forming  in 
this  Colony. 

Resolved,  That  the  persons  recommended  by  the  Com- 
manding Officers  of  the  several  Regiments,  be  appointed 
as  Surgeons  to  their  respective  Regiments,  provided  they 
appear  to  be  duly  qualified,  upon  examination. 

A  Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  in 
Portsmouth,  dated  May  6,  was  received  by  a  messenger 
express. 

The  Messenger  was  admitted  on  the  floor. 

Ordered,  That  said  Letter  be  committed  for  an  answer, 
to  Doctor  Church,  the  President,  and  Captain  Fester. 

A  Letter  from  General  Ward  was  read  :  Whereupon, 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Danielson,  Doctor  Church,  Col- 
onel Foster,  Mr.  Bliss,  and  Mr.  Rawson,  be  a  Committee 
to  take  the  subject  thereof  into  consideration,  and  report. 

Leave  of  absence  was  granted  to  Mr.  Patridge. 

The  Committee  on  the  Letter  from  Portsmouth,  in  Neiv- 
Hampshire,  reported  the  following  Answer;  which  was 
read  and  accepted,  and  ordered  to  be  copied  and  sent. 

Gentlemen  :  The  Congress  have  considered  the  subject 
of  your  express ;  are  surprised  that  a  gentleman  of  the 
character  you  have  mentioned,  should  have  such  just  reason 
to  complain  of  unmerited  severity  from  any  of  our  brethren 
in  this  Colony.  From  a  regard  to  justice,  as  well  as  to 
your  recommendation,  gentlemen,  we  shall  not  fail  to  make 
immediate  inquiry  into  this  transaction  ;  and  if  any  outrage 
has  been  offered  to  innocent  persons,  the  perpetrators,  you 
may  be  assured,  will  be  properly  censured,  and  the  suffer- 
ers meet  with  all  that  redress  which  it  may  be  in  the  power 
of  this  Congress  to  obtain.  Be  assured,  gentlemen,  we 
shall  be  studious  to  maintain  that  character  for  humanity, 
which  we  would  wish  may  ever  be  the  characteristiek  of 
Americans;  and  cannot  but  applaud  those  generous  and 
benevolent  sentiments  which  influenced  you  in  your  appli- 
cation.  We  are,  &tc. 

The  Committee  who  were  appointed  to  prepare  the  form 
of  an  Oath  to  be  taken  by  the  General  Officers,  reported  ; 
the  consideration  whereof  was  referred  to  some  future 
time. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Mnscly  and  Major  Bliss  be,  and 
are  hereby  empowered  and  directed  to  collect  all  the  Prov- 
ince Arms  which  are  in  the  County  of  Hampshire ;  and 
that  Doctor  William  Whiting  be  empowered  and  directed 
to  collect  all  the  Province  Arms  which  are  in  the  County 
of  Berkshire. 

Adjourned  to  three  o'clock,  P.  M. 

Afternoon. 

Resolved,  That  Captain  Trucman  Wheeler,  of  Great 
Barrington,  be  desired  to  assist  Doctor  Whiting  in  collect- 


793 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  MAY,  1775. 


794 


ing  the  Province  Arms  which  are  in  the  County  of  Berk- 
shire. 

Mr.  Sawyer  informed  the  Congress,  that  General  Whit- 
comb,  on  account  of  his  various  avocations,  could  not  ac- 
cept the  office  of  Muster-Master  to  which  lie  has  been 
appointed:  Whereupon, 

Resolved,  That  this  Congress  will  now  proceed  to  the 
choice  of  another  person,  by  ballot,  in  his  room,  and  that 
Mr.  Sawyer,  Esquire  Dix,  and  Major  Fuller,  be  a  Com- 
mittee to  sort  and  count  the  votes. 

On  a  Motion  made,  Resolved,  That  this  last  Resolve  be 
reconsidered,  and  that  to-morrow  morning,  eleven  o'clock, 
be  assigned  for  the  choice  of  a  Muster-Master,  in  the  room 
of  General  Whitcomh,  who  declines  that  trust. 

Ordered,  That  Major  Bliss,  Deacon  Whitney,  and  Col- 
onel Patterson,  be  a  Committee  to  give  notice  to  such 
Members  of  this  Congress  as  are  now  at  Cambridge  and 
Roxbury,  and  other  absent  Members  whom  they  can  noti- 
fy, that  a  matter  of  the  greatest  importance  is  to  be  taken 
into  consideration  at  three  o'clock  to-morrow  afternoon, 
and  to  direct  their  attendance  at  that  time. 

The  Committee  who  were  appointed  to  bring  in  a  Re- 
solve recommending  the  disarming  certain  persons  in  the 
Colony,  reported  ;  which  Report  was  read,  amended,  and 
accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz  : 

Whereas,  there  are  divers  persons  now  in  this  Colony,  who 
have,  by  their  conduct,  discovered  themselves  to  be  ene- 
mies to  the  rights  of  mankind,  and  the  interest  of  America  : 
and  whereas,  our  very  peculiar  situation  renders  it  abso- 
lutely necessary,  not  only  to  discriminate  them  from  tho^e 
who  have  shewn  a  disposition  to  be  friendly  to  their  Coun- 
try, but  also  to  put  it  out  of  their  power  to  join  with  the 
open  and  avowed  enemies  of  America,  in  their  endeavours 
to  subjugate  their  countrymen  to  the  full  operations  of  the 
tyrannical  system  of  the  British  Administration,  and  the 
ruin  and  destruction  concerted  by  the  British  Parliament 
against  these  Colonies:  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  it  be  and  hereby  is  recommended  to 
the  several  Committees  of  Correspondence  in  the  several 
Towns  and  Districts  where  such  Committees  reside,  and 
to  the  Selectmen  of  such  Towns  and  Districts  as  have  not 
appointed  them,  to  inquire  into  the  principles  and  conduct  of 
such  suspected  persons  ;  and  that  they  cause  all  such  to  be 
disarmed,  who  do  not  give  them  full  and  ample  assurances, 
in  which  they  can  with  safety  confide,  of  their  readiness  to 
join  their  countrymen  on  all  occasions  in  defence  of  the 
rights  and  liberties  of  America ;  and  likewise  that  they  take 
effectual  steps  to  put  it  out  of  the  power  of  such  persons 
to  obstruct,  by  any  means  whatever,  the  measures  which 
shall  be  taken  for  the  common  defence  ;  and  it  is  also  here- 
by recommended  to  the  good  people  of  this  Colony,  that 
they  take  effectual  care  to  secure  obedience  to  the  several 
Resolves  of  Congress  for  the  regulation  of  the  Militia,  and 
cause  a  due  regard  to  be  paid  to  the  orders  of  the  several 
Military  Officers  who  have  been  elected  by  the  suffrages 
of  the  sev  eral  Companies  and  Regiments,  agreeably  to  the 
Resolves  of  Congress. 

Ordered,  That  Major  Fuller,  Doctor  Taylor  and  Mr. 
Webster,  be  a  Committee  to  get  the  Resolve  last  men- 
tioned, printed  and  dispersed  through  the  several  Towns 
and  Districts  in  this  Colony. 

Ordered,  That  the  Committee  who  were  appointed  to 
take  into  consideration  the  subject-matter  of  the  Letter 
from  General  Ward,  now  send  a  written  Message  (by  the 
Messenger  in  waiting)  to  the  General,  informing  him,  that 
lh c y  are  considering  the  same,  and  will  make  report  as  soon 
as  possible. 

Ordtred,  That  said  Committee  sit  forthwith. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Fisher  be  added  to  said  Commit- 
tee, in  the  room  of  Mr.  Bliss,  who  is  going  to  Cambridge 
on  other  business  of  the  Congress. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Lothrop,  Doctor  Taylor  and  Mr. 
Webster,  be  a  Committee  to  bring  in  a  Resolve,  recom- 
mending to  the  inhabitants  of  this  Province,  to  save  their 
Straw. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Mosely,  Esquire  Davis,  Colonel 
Walker,  Deacon  Hovey,  Mr.  Lewis,  Captain  McCobb,  and 
Major  Smith,  be  a  Committee  to  confer  with  the  Com- 
mittee of  Safety  with  respect  to  settling  the  appointment 
of  Field-Officers,  and  to  sit  forthwith. 

Mr.  Gerry  (by  leave  of  Congress)  brought  in  a  Resolve, 


empowering  the  Committee  of  Supplies  to  furnish  Com- 
missaries with  necessaries  for  the  Army,  he.  ;  which  was 
recommitted. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  Letter  from 
General  Ward,  reported  an  Answer  thereto,  which  was 
amended  and  accepted,  and  is  as  follows : 

"  In  C'o::gross,  Watertown,  May  8,  1775. 

"Sir:  This  Congress  received  your  letter  of  this  clay, 
and  the  complaint  enclosed,  informing,  that  several  per- 
sons, falsely  pretending  to  have  your  order  to  search  tor 
fire-arms,  have  committed  robbery  on  private  property  . 
We  have  taken  the  matter  seriously  into  consideration,  and 
are  of  opinion,  that  such  criminals  ought  to  meet  with  con- 
dign punishment. 

"  The  persons  suspected  to  be  the  offenders  are,  one 
Saunders,  Samuel  Mallows,  Jacob  Whittenwre,  Edward 
Bugby,  and  Ebenezer  Smith,  all  of  Roxbury,  with  two 
other  persons,  unknown  :  therefore,  Sir,  you  are  directed  to 
apprehend  the  abovesaid  persons,  by  a  number  of  men 
under  your  command,  and  cause  them  to  be  carried  beiore 
the  Committee  of  Safety,  who  are  hereby  empowered  and 
directed  to  examine  them,  touching  their  offence,  and  search 
for,  and,  if  possible,  to  find  the  goods,  and  direct  that  they 
are  immediately  replaced  Com  whence  they  were  taken. 

"  And  if  on  examination  the  said  persons  are  found 
guilty  of  the  said  robbery,  the  Committee  of  Safety  are 
hereby  directed  to  imprison  them  till  the  further  order  of 
Congress." 

Ordered,  That  the  Committee  just  now  appointed,  to 
confer  with  the  Committee  of  Safety  respecting  the  appoint- 
ment of  Field-Officers,  be  instructed  to  inquire  into  the 
state  of  the  Army  at  Cambridge  and  Roxbury;  and,  il 
they  find  the  numbers  reduced,  as  is  reported  to  this  Con- 
gress, that  they  advise  the  Committee  of  Safety  to  send  out 
immediately  for  re-enforcements. 

Resolved,  That  the  consideration  of  the  expediency  of 
assuming  Government,  which  was  to  have  been  entered 
upon  to-morrow  afternoon,  be  postponed  to  Friday  next, 
at  three  o'clock,  P.  M. ;  and  that  the  Committee  who 
were  just  now  appointed  to  confer  with  the  Committee  of 
Safety,  be  directed  to  give  notice  hereof  to  the  several 
Members  of  this  Congress,  who  are  now  at  Cambridge  and 
Roxbury. 

Adjourned  to  nine  o'clock  to-morrow  morning. 

Tuesday,  May  9,  1775,  A.  M. 

Resolved,  That  tlie  Receiver-General  be,  and  he  is  here- 
by directed  to  give  publick  notice  of  the  Resolve  lately 
passed  by  this  Congress,  for  borrowing  Money  on  the 
credit  of  the  Colony,  and  assign  certain  time  and  place 
when  he  will  attend  that  business. 

The  Congress  granted  permission  to  Colonel  Trumbull 
to  have  a  copy  of  the  Resolve  of  this  Congress  relative  to 
the  inhabitants  moving  out  of  Boston. 

Henry  Gardner,  Esq.,  Receiver-General,  requested  that 
this  Congress  would  excuse  him  from  serving  any  longer  in 
that  office. 

The  consideration  thereof  was  ordered  to  subside  for  tht 
present. 

Mr.  Gerry  brought  in  again  a  Resolve  respecting  the 
supply  of  the  Soldiers;  which  was  accepted,  and  is  as  fol- 
lows, viz : 

Whereas,  it  hath  frequently  happened  that  Sutlers,  whilst 
permitted  to  supply  Soldiers  in  the  service  of  this  Colony , 
have  vended  their  goods  at  extravagant  rates,  and  thereby , 
in  a  great  measure,  deprived  the  families  of  such  Soldiers 
of  the  benefit  of  their  wages : 

Therefore,  Resolved,  That  the  Committee  of  Supplies 
he,  and  they  hereby  are  directed  and  empowered  to  pm- 
chase  and  supply  the  Commissary  for  the  time  being,  with 
such  Goods,  Wares,  and  Merchandise  as  they  shall  at  any- 
time judge  necessary  for  supplying  the  Colony  Forces, 
and  to  draw  on  the  publick  Treasury  therefor.  And  the 
Commissary  aforesaid,  as  also  his  Deputies,  who  shall  be 
accountable  to  him,  are  hereby  directed  and  empowered  tc 
supply,  at  the  first  cost,  the  soldiers  who  shall  belong  to  the 
Regiments  in  which  they  shall  be  stationed,  with  such  arti- 
cles as  their  respective  Captains  shall  at  any  time  order  ; 
and  to  keep  and  render  to  the  Captains  aforesaid,  true  and 


795 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  MAY,  1775. 


796 


exact  accounts  thereof  at  any  time  before  the  making  up  of 
the  Muster  Rolls  :  and  the  said  Captains  are  hereby  direct- 
ed to  give  orders  for  such  articles  only  as  they  judge  neces- 
sary for  their  respective  soldiers,  not  exceeding  one  half  of 
the  wages  that  shall  at  any  time  be  due  to  them,  and  to 
cause  the  same  to  be  deducted  from  their  wages  on  making 
up  the  muster  rolls. 

Ordered,  That  Doctor  Church,  the  President,  Colonel 
Dexter,  Colonel  Warren,  and  Mr.  Gerry,  be  a  Committee 
to  prepare  a  spirited  application  to  General  Gage,  respect- 
ing his  treatment  of  the  inhabitants  of  Boston. 

Ordered,  That  the  same  gentlemen  be  a  Committee  to 
consider  what  provision  shall  be  made  for  furnishing  such 
enlisted  Soldiers  as  are  unprovided  with  Fire-Arms,  with 
such  effective  Fire-Arms  as  are  necessary  for  them  to  carry 
into  the  field. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Barrett,  Doctor  Tlolten,  and 
Colonel  Danielson,  be  a  Committee  to  take  into  consider- 
ation a  printed  false  account  of  the  late  excursion  of  the 
King's  Troops  to  Concord. 

The  Order  of  the  Day  was  moved  for. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Far/ey,  Doctor  Molten,  and  Col- 
onel Danielson,  be  a  Committee  to  sort  and  count  the 
votes  for  a  Muster-Master. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  sort  and  count  the  votes 
for  a  Muster-Master,  in  the  room  of  Colonel  John  Whit- 
comb,  who  declined  accepting  that  trust,  reported  that  Col- 
onel Asa  Whitcomb  was  chosen. 

A  motion  was  made  and  seconded,  that  a  Committee  he 
appointed  to  take  into  consideration,  the  expediency  of 
restraining  the  people  of  this  Colony  from  supplying  the 
inhabitants  of  Boston  with  Provisions. 

After  debate,  the  question  was  put,  and  it  passed  in  the 
negative. 

Adjourned  to  three  o'clock,  P.  M. 

Afternoon. 

On  a  motion  made,  that  the  Resolve  passed  yesterday, 
assigning  Friday  next,  three  o'clock,  P.  M.,  lor  the  con- 
sideration of  the  expediency  of  assuming  Government,  be 
reconsidered,  and  that  an  earlier  day  be  assigned  for  that 
purpose : 

The  question  was  put,  and  it  passed  in  the  negative. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Pickering  be  added  to  the  Com- 
mittee appointed  to  take  into  consideration  an  equal  repre- 
sentation of  this  Colony,  in  the  room  of  Mr.  Raivson, 
absent. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Satvyer,  Colonel  Foster  and  Mr. 
Dix,  be  a  Committee  to  take  into  consideration  the  expe- 
diency of  establishing  Post-Offices  and  Riders  in  this  Col- 
ony. 

The  Committee  who  were  appointed  to  prepare  a  Re- 
monstrance to  General  Gage,  reported.  The  Report  was 
ordered  to  lie  on  the  table  until  the  further  orders  of  this 
Congress. 

The  same  Committee,  agreeably  to  their  appointment, 
reported  a  Resolve  relative  to  furnishing  those  enlisted 
Soldiers  with  Fire-Arms  who  are  unequipped  therewith  ; 
which,  after  debate,  was  ordered  to  be  recommitted. 

Ordered,  That  Captain  Stone,  of  Framingham,  be  added 
to  the  Committee  who  was  appointed  to  consider  of  some 
measures  to  be  taken  with  respect  to  the  County  Records, 
in  the  room  of  Mr.  Brown,  of  Abington,  now  absent. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  expediency 
of  establishing  Post-Offices  and  Riders,  in  this  Colony, 
reported  ;  whereupon, 

Resolved,  That  the  further  consideration  thereof  be 
referred  till  to-morrow  morning,  ten  o'clock. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  false  account 
of  the  late  excursion  of  the  King's  Troops,  reported  ; 
which  Report  being  read,  amended,  and  completed,  was 
accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz  : 

Whereas,  a  printed  paper,  said  to  be  a  circumstantial 
account  of  an  attack  which  happened  on  the  1 9th  of  April, 
1775,  on  His  Majesty's  Troops,  by  a  number  of  the  peo- 
ple of  the  Province  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay,  has  been 
read  in  this  Congress ;  which  contains,  among  many  false- 
hoods, the  following  paragraph,  viz: 

"  When  Captain  Parsons  returned  with  the  three  Com- 
panies over  the  bridge,  [at  Concord,]  they  observed  three 


soldiers  on  the  ground,  one  of  them  scalped,  his  head  much 
mangled,  and  his  ears  cut  off,  though  not  quite  dead." 

Resolved,  That  Colonel  Barrett  be,  and  hereby  is  direct- 
ed to  make  strict  inquiry  of  the  persons  who  saw  the  three 
soldiers  aforementioned  lying  at  the  said  bridge,  and  also 
of  those  who  buried  them,  and  take  their  depositions,  that 
so  the  truth  or  falsity  of  the  aforesaid  assertion  may  be  as- 
certained. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  of  some  method 
for  furnishing  those  Soldiers  with  Fire-Arms  who  are  not 
therewith  equipped,  again  reported. 

The  Report  was  read,  and  is  as  follow  s,  viz : 

Whereas,  a  few  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  Colony,  who 
are  enlisted  into  its  service,  are  destitute  of  Fire-Arms  and 
Bayonets,  and  other  accoutrements  :  Therefore, 

Resolved,  That  the  Selectmen  of  the  several  Towns  and 
Districts  in  this  Colony  be,  and  hereby  are  directed  and 
empowered  to  examine  into  the  state  of  the  equipment  of 
such  inhabitants  of  their  respective  Towns  and  Districts 
as  are,  or  may  be  enlisted  into  the  service  of  this  Colony  ; 
and  where  any  are  deficient  in  Arms  or  Accoutrements  as 
aforesaid,  it  is  recommended  to  the  Selectmen  to  supply 
them  out  of  the  Town  Stock ;  and  in  case  of  a  deficiency 
there,  to  apply  to  such  inhabitants  of  their  respective 
Towns  and  Districts,  as  in  their  opinions  can  best  spare 
their  Arms  or  Accoutrements,  and  to  borrow,  or  purchase 
the  same  for  the  use  of  said  inhabitants  so  enlisted :  and 
the  Selectmen  are  also  directed  to  take  a  bill  from  such 
persons  as  shall  sell  their  Arms  and  Accoutrements  in  the 
name  of  this  Colony,  and  receipts  from  the  soldiers  to 
whom  they  shall  cause  them  to  be  delivered,  and  render  the 
same  to  the  Committee  of  Supplies  for  this  Colony  :  and 
each  soldier  so  supplied,  shall  pay  (or  the  use  of  such  Arms 
and  Accoutrements,  out  of  his  wages,  the  sum  of  six  shil- 
lings ;  and  if  he  does  not  return  the  said  Arms  and  Accou- 
trements, there  shall  be  deducted  from  his  wages,  at  the 
time  of  making  up  the  muster-roll,  the  full  value  of  said 
Arms  and  Accoutrements,  as  appraised  by  the  Selectmen, 
at  the  time  of  borrowing  or  purchasing  the  same.  And  it 
is  strongly  recommended  to  such  inhabitants  of  the  Colony 
as  the  Selectmen  as  aforesaid  shall  apply  to  for  Arms  and 
Accoutrements,  that  they  supply  the  Colony  with  the  same. 

And  as  many  Arms  in  this  Colony  which  are  now  use- 
less may,  by  small  repairs,  be  rendered  fit  for  service, 

Resolved,  That  a  sufficient  number  of  Armourers,  not 
exceeding  twenty,  be  appointed  by  the  Committee  of  Safety , 
to  mend  and  repair  such  Arms  as  shall  be  brought  to  them 
by  the  Soldiers  enlisted  into  the  Massachusetts  Army. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Webster,  Major  Fuller,  anil  Mr. 
Batchelder,  be  a  Committee  to  get  this  Resolve  publish- 
ed and  dispersed. 

Adjourned  till  to-morrow  morning,  nine  o'clock. 

Wednesday,  May  10,  1775. 

Ordered,  That  the  Committee  appointed  to  confer  with 
the  Committee  of  Safety  upon  the  general  state  of  the 
Army,  be  directed  particularly  to  confer  with  them  on  the 
propriety  of  removing  the  whole  or  part  of  the  Cannon  and 
Stores  now  at  Cambridge,  further  back  into  the  country. 

Resolved,  That  the  General  Officers  be,  and  are  hereby 
directed,  forthwith,  to  call  in  all  the  Soldiers  who  are  al- 
ready enlisted  in  the  service  of  this  Colony  ;  and  that  they 
give  immediate  orders  to  all  the  enlisted  Soldiers,  and  all 
others  now  in  the  Camp  at  Cambridge  and  Roxbury,  that 
they  do  not  depart  till  the  further  orders  of  this  Congress. 

A  Petition  from  the  Committees  of  Correspondence  and 
the  Committees  of  Inspection  for  the  Town  of  Pownal- 
borough,  was  preferred  by  Joseph  Ihikham. 

Ordered,  That  this  Petition  lie  on  the  table. 

Ordered,  That  the  Resolve  passed  by  this  Congress 
the  23d  ultimo,  recommending  to  the  Selectmen  of  the 
several  Towns  in  this  Colony  to  furnish  each  Non-com- 
missioned Officer  and  Private  Soldier  with  a  Blanket,  be 
fairly  copied  by  the  Secretary,  and  printed  in  a  handbill, 
and  sent  to  the  Selectmen  of  the  several  Towns  and  Dis- 
tricts in  the  Colony. 

Ordered,  That  the  Petition  from  Pownalborough  just 
now  read,  be  delivered  to  Mr.  Joseph  Tinkham,  agreeably 
to  his  request. 


797 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  MAY,  1775. 


798 


Ordered,  That  Mr.  Lothrop,  Doctor  Taylor,  and  Doc- 
tor Holten,  be  a  Committee  to  take  into  consideration  the 
proceedings  of  the  Town  of  Bristol,  presented  to  this 
Congress  by  Mr.  Thomas  Bracket,  in  behalf  of  said  Town. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  bring  in  a  Resolve,  recom- 
mending to  the  inhabitants  of  this  Colony  to  save  their 
Straw,  reported  ;  which  Report  was  read  and  accepted,  and 
ordered  to  be  copied  and  sent  to  the  Printer  of  the  Cam- 
bridge Newspaper,  and  to  the  Printer  of  the  Worcester 
Newspaper  for  publication,  and  is  as  follows,  viz: 

Whereas,  it  will  be  indispensably  necessary  that  large 
quantities  of  Straw  be  provided  for  the  use  of  the  Army 
now  forming  for  the  defence  and  protection  of  this  Colony  : 
therefore, 

Resolved,  And  it  is  hereby  strongly  recommended  to  all 
such  inhabitants  of  this  Colony  as  have  or  may  have  of 
that  article  by  them,  that  (as  they  regard  the  lives  and 
health  of  their  brethren,  who  engage  to  the  service  above- 
said)  they  take  immediate  care  the  same  be  preserved  for 
the  purpose  above  mentioned. 

Ordered,  That  Captain  Foster,  Mr.  Lothrop,  and  Mr. 
Pickering,  be  a  Committee  to  transcribe  the  Depositions 
taken  by  a  Committee  of  this  Congress,  of  the  proceedings 
of  the  Troops,  under  command  of  General  Gage,  the  19th 
ultimo,  and  that  they  transmit  them  to  Mr.  Hall,  at  Cam- 
bridge, to  be  published  in  a  pamphlet,  and  that  said  Com- 
mittee agree  with  him  for  the  expense  of  publication. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Barrett  attend  the  business  to 
which  he  was  yesterday  appointed,  of  inquiring  into  the 
truth  or  falsity  of  a  paragraph  taken  from  a  printed  account 
of  the  action  of  the  King's  Troops  on  the  19th  ultimo. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  some  measures 
for  securing  the  County  Records,  reported.  The  Report 
was  read  and  accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz : 

Resolved,  That  the  Committee  appointed  for  each 
County,  on  the  12th  of  April  last,  be  instructed  to  take 
proper  measures  for  securing  the  Records  of  the  several 
Counties,  where  they  are  exposed. 

The  Order  of  the  Day  was  moved  for. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  of  the  expediency 
of  establishing  Post-Offices,  kc,  reported. 

The  Report  was  recommitted,  for  the  purpose  of  set- 
tling the  rates  of  Postage,  and  taking  into  consideration 
some  method  of  establishing  Post-Offices.  Mr.  Hall,  of 
Medford,  and  Mr.  Cross,  were  added  to  the  Committee ; 
also,  Mr.  Batchelder,  in  the  room  of  Mr.  Dix. 

Resolved,  That  the  Resolve  for  accepting  the  establish- 
ment for  the  Train,  which  passed  this  Congress  the  6th 
instant,  be  reconsidered  ;  and  that  Colonel  Mandell,  Cap- 
tain Baker,  Doctor  Taylor,  Major  Perley,  and  Colonel 
Coffin,  be  a  Committee  to  take  into  consideration  the  pro- 
priety of  establishing  a  Regiment  of  the  Train;  and  that 
they  sit  forthwith. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Warren,  Mr.  Gerry,  and  Col- 
o  lei  Foster,  be  a  Committee  to  take  into  consideration  a 
Resolve  of  the  Committee  of  Safety,  recommending  to  this 
Congress  to  establish  a  Court  of  Inquiry. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Richard  Gridlcy  be  and  hereby 
is  directed  forthwith  to  recommend  to  the  Committee  of 
Safety,  for  Officers  of  the  Train  of  Artillery,  such  persons 
as  he  thinks  are  qualified  for  that  appointment. 

On  a  complaint  of  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town  of  Wor- 
cester, against  Samuel  Pain  and  Jftlliam  Campbell,  prison- 
ers from  that  Town ;  Ordered,  That  said  Prisoners  be 
committed  to  the  care  of  Captain  Brown,  or  such  persons 
as  he  shall  appoint,  to  be  kept  in  custody  till  the  further 
orders  of  this  Congress. 

Ordered,  That  the  Committee  appointed  to  transcribe  the 
Depositions  of  the  late  proceedings  of  the  King's  Troops,  be 
directed  to  prepare  a  Narrative  thereof,  as  an  introduction 
to  said  Depositions;  which  are  ordered  to  be  printed. 

Adjourned  to  three  o'clock,  P.  M. 

Afternoon. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Gill,  Colonel  Warren,  Colonel 
Gerrish,  Mr.  Dix,  and  Doctor  Perkins,  be  a  Committee 
to  inquire  into  the  complaint  made  by  the  Selectmen  of  the 
Town  of  Worcester  against  Samuel  Pain  and  William 
Campbell,  and  report  to  this  Congress. 


The  consideration  of  the  Remonstrance  to  General  Gage 
was  resumed,  and  the  same  was  accepted,  and  ordered  to 
be  authenticated,  and  sent  forward. 

It  is  as  follows,  viz: 

"In  Provincial  Congress,  Watertown,  May  10,  1775. 

<;  To  his  Excellency  General  Gage  : 

"  Sir  :  This  Congress  have  received  frequent  intelli- 
gence, that  their  brethren,  the  inhabitants  of  the  Town  of 
Boston,  have  to  contend,  in  their  removal  therefrom,  with 
numerous  delays  and  embarrassments,  contrary  to  the  sti- 
pulation proposed  and  agreed  to  between  your  Excellency 
and  the  Selectmen  of  that  Town. 

"  We  think  it  our  duty  to  remonstrate  to  your  Excellen- 
cy, that  from  the  papers  communicated  to  us  by  the  said 
Selectmen,  it  appeared,  that  the  inhabitants  were  pro- 
mised, upon  surrendering  their  arms,  that  they  should  be 
permitted  to  leave  the  Town,  and  carry  with  them  their 
effects.  The  condition  was  immediately  complied  with  on 
the  part  of  the  people ;  since  which,  though  a  number  of  days 
have  elapsed,  but  a  very  small  proportion  of  the  inhabitants 
have  been  allowed  to  take  the  benefit  of  your  covenant. 

"  We  would  not  affront  your  Excellency  by  the  most 
distant  insinuation,  that  you  intended  to  deceive  and  dis- 
arm the  people  by  a  cruel  act  of  perfidy.  A  regard  to 
your  own  character,  as  well  as  the  fatal  consequences 
which  will  necessarily  result  from  the  violation  of  your 
solemn  treaties,  must  be  sufficient  reasons  to  deter  a  gen- 
tleman of  your  rank  and  station  from  so  injurious  a  design. 
But  your  Excellency  must  be  sensible,  that  a  delay  of  jus- 
tice is  a  denial  of  it,  and  extremely  oppressive  to  the  peo- 
ple now  hHd  in  duress. 

"  This  Congress,  though  not  the  original  party  in  the 
treaty,  have  taken  every  step  in  their  power  to  facilitate 
the  measure;  and,  in  the  whole  of  their  conduct,  have 
endeavoured  to  evidence  a  disposition  to  act  upon  the  prin- 
ciples of  humanity  and  good  faith  ;  and  still  indulge  hopes, 
that  the  confidence  of  the  inhabitants  of  Boston  in  your 
Excellency's  honour  and  faithfulness,  is  not  misplaced,  and 
that,  notwithstanding  any  disagreeable  occurrences,  natu- 
rally resulting  from  the  confused  state  of  the  Colony,  which 
this  Congress  have  discountenanced,  and  endeavoured  to 
rectify,  your  Excellency  will  no  longer  suffer  your  treaty 
with  a  distressed  people,  who  ought  by  no  means  to  be 
effected  thereby,  to  be  further  violated." 

The  Committee  appointed  to  take  into  consideration 
the  expediency  of  establishing  a  Regiment  of  the  Train, 
reported.  Part  of  the  Establishment  reported,  was  ac- 
cepted ;  the  consideration  of  the  residue  was  referred  to  a 
future  time. 

Resolved,  That  the  Resolve,  which  this  Congress  pass- 
ed at  Concord,  the  13th  ultimo,  directing  the  Committee  of 
Safety  to  engage  a  suitable  number  of  persons  for  forming 
six  Companies  of  the  Train,  be  so  far  reconsidered,  as  that 
it  be,  and  hereby  is  Resolved,  That  the  Committee  of  Safety 
be  directed  to  engage  a  suitable  number  of  persons,  and 
form  ten  Companies  of  the  Train  for  the  artillery  already 
provided  by  this  Colony,  to  enter  immediately  on  constant 
discipline,  and  be  in  readiness  to  enter  the  service  of  the 
Colony  ;  and  that  said  Committee  be,  and  they  are  herebv 
empowered  to  draw  on  the  publick  Treasury,  for  said  Com- 
panies, a  suitable  consideration  for  their  services. 

The  Petition  of  Timothy  Langdon  was  read,  and  order- 
ed to  lie  on  the  table  till  some  of  the  eastern  Members 
should  be  present. 

Ordered,  That  the  Secretary  be  directed,  pursuant  to  a 
request  of  the  Committee  of  Safety,  to  furnish  them  with 
copies  of  all  such  Resolves  as  have  passed  the  Congress, 
in  any  ways  relative  to  the  duty  enjoined  them. 

The  Secretary  pro  tempore  represented  to  the  Congress, 
that  the  multiplicity  of  the  business  of  his  office  was  such, 
as  made  it  necessary  that  he  should  have  some  assistance. 
Whereupon, 

Ordered,  That  Captain  Stone,  of  Oakham,  assist  him 
in  that  service. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  inquire  into  the  state  of  the 
Army,  and  to  settle  the  appointment  of  the  Field-Officers, 
reported  a  Letter  from  Head-Quarters. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  inquire  into  the  complaint 
of  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town  of  Worcester  against  Sam- 
uel Pain  and  William  Campbell,  reported;  which  Report 


799 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  MAY,  1775. 


800 


was  accepted,  and  ordered  to  be  transmitted  and  delivered 
to  Captain  Jonas  Hubbard  and  Mr.  Edward  Crafts,  who 
exhibited  the  above  complaint,  together  with  a  printed 
Resolve  of  Congress,  lately  passed,  for  disarming  the  dis- 
affected inhabitants  of  the  Colony. 
The  Report  is  as  follows,  viz : 

"  The  Committee  appointed  to  hear  the  complaints  ex- 
hibited by  the  Selectmen  of  Worcester  against  William 
Campbell  and  Samuel  Pain,  have  attended  that  service  ; 
heard  the  parties,  and  beg  leave  to  report :  That  we  find 
the  charges  against  them  proved  by  depositions,  and  con- 
ceded by  them  ;  and  that  William  Campbell  has  been  guilty 
of  leaving  the  Town  of  Worcester  without  a  permit  from 
the  Selectmen,  contrary  to  his  own  engagements. 

"  And  that  the  said  Samuel  Pain  has,  in  one  instance, 
propagated  reports  with  regard  to  our  Massachusetts  sol- 
diers' rifling  the  house  of  Mr.  Bradish,  instead  of  the 
regular  Army  ;  and  that  those  which  were  quartered  in  the 
colleges  were  lousy,  and  deserted  in  great  numbers;  which, 
however  indiscreet,  does  not  appear  to  us  to  be  done  with 
any  bad  design  ;  and  that  he  ought  to  be  dismissed  imme- 
diately ;  and  that  the  said  Campbell  may  be  returned  to  the 
Town  of  Worcester,  to  be  dealt  with  by  the  Committee  of 
Correspondence  of  that  Town,  agreeably  to  a  Resolve  of 
this  Congress,  passed  the  8th  instant.  The  matter,  how- 
ever, we  think,  not  important  enough  to  be  brought  before 
this  Congress." 

The  consideration  of  the  Petition  of  Timothy  Langdon 
was  again  resumed,  and  ordered  to  lie  on  the  table. 

Ordered,  That  Captain  McCobb,  Mr.  Leu-is,  and  Doc- 
tor Perkins,  be  a  Committee  to  take  into  consideration  the 
several  applications  made  to  this  Congress  from  the  eastern 
parts  of  the  Province,  for  Arms  and  Ammunition. 

Adjourned  until  to-morrow  morning,  eight  o'clock. 

Thursday,  May  11,  1775,  A.  M. 

The  Petition  of  James  Cargill,  of  New- Castle,  com- 
mitted to  the  Committee  who  were  appointed  to  consider 
the  applications  to  this  Congress  for  Ammunition,  &lc. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  take  into  consideration  the 
several  applications  to  this  Congress  for  a  supply  of  Ammu- 
nition, &c,  reported.  The  Report  was  recommitted,  and 
the  Committee  directed  to  inspect  the  list  of  Returns  of  the 
Town's  stock  of  Powder,  &lc,  that  it  may  be  known  whe- 
ther this  Congress  can,  with  prudence,  recommend  to  any 
Town  which  may  be  stocked  therewith,  to  supply  those 
Towns  which  are  destitute. 

Adjourned  to  twelve  o'clock,  this  day. 

Noon. 

Congress  met  agreeably  to  adjournment. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  several  appli- 
cations made  to  this  Congress  for  Ammunition,  and  to 
inspect  the  list  of  Returns,  &tc.  reported.  The  Report 
was  read  and  accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz  : 

Whereas,  the  Towns  of  Falmouth  and  Arundel,  and  the 
District  of  Cape  Elizabeth,  being  seaport  places,  and 
much  exposed  to  the  rage  of  our  enemies,  and  not  having 
a  sufficient  quanity  of  Gunpowder  to  defend  themselves 
in  case  of  any  long  attack ;  and  the  Town  of  Andover 
being  well  stocked  with  Gunpowder,  and  not  so  much  ex- 
posed :  therefore, 

Resolved,  And  it  is  hereby  recommended  to  the  Select- 
men of  the  Town  of  And  over,  that  they  deliver  to  Mr. 
Josej)h  McLellan,  of  Falmouth,  two  half  barrels  of  Gun- 
powder for  the  use  of  the  Town  of  Falmouth ;  also,  de- 
liver to  Mr.  Zebulon  Trickey,  of  Cape  Elizabeth,  one  half 
barrel  of  Gunpowder  for  the  use  of  said  Cape  Elizabeth ; 
also,  deliver  to  Mr.  John  Hovey,  of  Arundel,  two  half 
barrels  of  Gunpowder  for  the  use  of  said  Arundel;  they 
paying  them  for  said  Powder,  which  shall  be  replaced,  if 
needed,  as  soon  as  the  Colony  Magazine  can  be  supplied. 

Whereas,  the  Towns  of  Brunswick,  Pownalborough , 
Bristol,  and  Ncivcastle,  being  seaport  places,  in  the  east- 
ern parts  of  this  Colony,  and  much  exposed  to  the  rage 
and  incursions  of  our  unnatural  enemies,  and  not  having  a 
sufficient  quantity  of  Gunpowder  to  defend  themselves,  in 
case  of  any  attack  ;  and  the  Towns  of  Marlborough,  Sud- 
bury, and  Framingham,  being  well  stocked  with  Gunpow- 
der, and  not  so  much  exposed  :  therefore, 


Resolved,  And  it  is  hereby  recommended  to  the  Select- 
men of  the  above  mentioned  several  Towns,  that  they  de- 
liver, as  follows,  viz :  The  Selectmen  of  Sudbury,  one 
half  barrel  of  Gunpowder  to  Nathaniel  Larrabee,  for  the 
use  of  Brunswick;  the  Selectmen  of  Marlborough,  two 
half  barrels  of  Gunpowder — one  to  Joseph  Tinhliam.  for 
the  use  of  Pownalborough,  the  other  to  Lieutenant  John 
Farley,  for  the  use  of  Newcastle ;  the  Selectmen  of 
Framingham,  one  half  barrel  of  Gunpowder  to  Thomas 
Bracket,  for  the  use  of  Bristol;  they  paying  them  for  said 
Powder,  which  shall  be  replaced,  if  needed,  as  soon  as  the 
Colony  xMagazine  can  be  supplied. 

Ordered,  That  each  person,  now  in  waiting,  w  ho  has 
made  application  to  this  Congress  for  Powder,  be  served 
with  a  copy  thereof. 

Information  being  made  to  this  Congress,  that  two  Men- 
of-War,  with  Troops,  had  sailed  from  Boston  to  New- 
York,  with  a  design,  as  it  is  supposed,  of  frustrating  a  de- 
sign of  the  inhabitants  of  that  Colony  and  Connecticut,  to 
secure  the  Arms  and  Ammunition  now  in  the  fort  at  Neic~ 
York  : 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Gerry,  Colonel  Warren,  and  Col. 
Lincoln,  be  a  Committee  to  prepare  a  Letter  to  the  Com- 
mittee of  Correspondence  of  New-York,  informing  them  of 
the  sailing  of  said  Men-of-War,  and  inserting  such  articles 
therein,  as  will  put  the  people  upon  their  guard  against 
any  attempt  that  may  be  made  against  them  by  said  Ships. 

Ordered,  That  this  Committee  prepare  said  Letter,  and 
forward  it  forthwith,  without  wailing  to  report  to  this  Con- 
gress; said  Committee  laying  before  this  Congress,  as  soon 
as  may  be,  a  copy  of  said  Letter. 

Adjourned  to  four  o'clock,  P.  M. 

Afternoon. 

Met  at  four  o'clock,  according  to  adjournment,  and  ad- 
journed to  eight  o'clock  to-morrow  morning. 

Friday,  May  12,  1775. 

Moved,  That  a  Committee  be  appointed,  to  consider  the 
expediency  of  recommending  to  the  Selectmen  of  the 
several  Towns  in  the  Colony,  to  furnish  such  as  may  enlist 
in  their  respective  Towns  with  necessaries  for  their  march 
to  Head-Quarters. 

The  question  was  put,  and  it  passed  in  the  negative. 

Ordered,  That  Captain  Stone,  Colonel  Warren,  and 
Mr.  Sullivan,  be  a  Committee  to  take  into  consideration 
an  extract  of  a  Letter  from  the  Honourable  Enoch  Free- 
man, Esquire,  of  Falmouth,  to  Samuel  Freeman. 

Ordered,  That  Captain  Stone,  Colonel  Warren,  and 
Mr.  Sullivan,  above  mentioned,  be  a  Committee  to  take 
into  consideration  the  expediency  of  taking  measures  for 
raising  a  company  or  two  of  Indians. 

Resolved,  That  to-morrow  morning,  at  ten  o'clock,  be, 
and  is  now  assigned  for  the  purpose  of  choosing  some  per- 
son to  preach  a  sermon  to  the  Congress  on  the  31st  May 
instant. 

Resolved,  That  all  persons  who  have  the  care  of  any 
Prisoners  detained  at  Concord,  Lexington,  or  elsewhere, 
be  and  hereby  are  directed  to  give  the  Rev.  Mr.  Gordon 
free  access  to  them,  whenever  he  shall  desire  it ;  and  it  is 
recommended  to  all  civil  Magistrates  and  others,  to  be  aid- 
ing and  assisting  him  in  examining  and  taking  Depositions 
of  them  and  others,  without  exception. 

Ordered,  That  the  establishment  for  a  Train  of  Artillery 
be  recommitted. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Sullivan  be  added  to  the  Commit- 
tee appointed  for  revising  the  commissions  of  the  Commit- 
tee of  Safety  and  Committee  of  Supplies,  in  the  room  of 
Doctor  Holten,  absent. 

Resolved,  That  the  several  Committees  be  enjoined  to 
sit,  and  that  this  Congress  be  adjourned  to  this  afternoon, 
three  o'clock. 

Afternoon. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  measures  for  es- 
tablishing Post-Offices  and  Post-Riders,  reported.  After 
some  debate,  the  matter  was  ordered  to  subside  for  the  pre- 
sent. 

The  Order  of  the  Day  was  moved  for. 

The  absent  Members  were  ordered  to  be  called  in. 


801 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  MAY,  1775, 


802 


It  was  then  moved,  that  the  sense  of  the  Congress  be 
taken  on  this  question,  viz  :  Whether  there  is  now  existing 
in  this  Colony  a  necessity  of  taking  up  and  exercising  the 
powers  of  Civil  Government  in  all  its  parts? 

After  some  debate,  it  was 

Resolved,  That  this  Congress  will  now  form  itself  into 
a  Committee  of  the  Whole  House,  for  consideration  of  the 
question  in  debate. 

The  Commiltee  having  considered  thereon,  the  Presi- 
dent, on  a  motion  made,  resumed  the  chair. 

The  Committee  then,  by  the  Honourable  Joseph  Warren, 
Esquire,  their  chairman,  reported:  "That  a  Committee 
be  raised,  for  the  purpose  of  reporting  to  the  Congress  an 
application  to  the  Continental  Congress,  for  obtaining  their 
recommendation  for  this  Colony  to  take  up  and  exercise 
Civil  Government  as  soon  as  may  be,  and  that  the  Com- 
mittee be  directed  to  ground  the  application  on  the  neces- 
sity of  the  case  ;"  which  Report  being  read,  was  accepted, 
by  a  very  large  majority:  Whereupon, 

Ordered,  That  the  President,  Doctor  Church,  Mr. 
(Jerry,  Colonel  Warren,  Mr.  Sullivan,  Colonel  Daniel- 
son,  and  Colonel  Lincoln,  be  a  Committee  to  prepare  an 
application  agreeable  to  said  Report. 

A  Letter  from  Colonel  Quin-cy,  of  Braintree,  to  the 
President,  was  read  :  Whereupon, 

Resolved,  That  General  Ward  be,  and  hereby  is  direct- 
ed to  order  four  respectable  Officers  to  escort  the  President 
of  this  Congress  to  Colonel  Qidncy,  at  Braintree,  to-mor- 
row morning. 

Ordered,  That  Major  Fuller,  Mr.  Goodwin,  and  Dea- 
con Whitney,  be  a  Committee  to  estimate  the  damages 
done  at  Concord,  Lexington,  and  Cambridge,  by  the 
King's  Troops  on  the  19th  ultimo,  so  far  as  respects  pri- 
vate property  only. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Sullivan,  Doctor  Taylor,  and  Mr. 
Leu-is,  be  a  Committee  to  take  into  consideration  a  Letter 
from  the  Honourable  Enoch  Freeman,  Esquire,  dated  May 
10,  1775,  to  his  son,  Mr.  Samuel  Freeman. 

Resolved,  That  the  further  consideration  of  the  Report 
of  the  Committee  who  were  appointed  to  bring  in  a  Re- 
solve respecting  the  establishment  of  Post-Offices  and  Post- 
Riders,  be  resumed  to-morrow  morning,  nine  o'clock. 

Resolved,  That  the  Establishment  for  a  Train  of  Artil- 
lery, which  has  been  accepted  by  this  Congress,  be  re- 
considered, and  that  the  following  Report  for  such  an 
establishment  be  accepted,  viz : 

Resolved,  That  the  following  Establishment  be  made  for 
ten  Companies  of  Malrosses  : 

Captain,  ...  £Q  \0s.0d.  per  month. 
Captain-Lieutenant,  -  -  5  10  0  " 
First-Lieutenant,  -  -  4  10  0  " 
Two  Second-Lieutenants,  each  3  12  0  " 
Sergeants,  each  -  -  2  10  0  " 
Corporals,  each  -  -  2  06  0  " 
Six  Bombardiers,  each  -  2  04  6  " 
Six  Gunners,  each  -  -  2  04  0  " 
Thirty-two  Matrosses,  each        2  03   0  " 

Adjourned  till  to-morrow  morning,  eight  o'clock. 

Saturday,  May  13,  1775. 

Met  according  to  adjournment. 

The  Petition  of  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town  of  Top- 
sham,  in  the  County  of  Lincoln,  respecting  their  being 
supplied  with  Powder,  was  read  ;  and 

Ordered,  That  the  same  be  committed  to  Captain 
McCobb,  Mr.  Lewis,  and  Doctor  Taylor. 

The  Order  of  the  Day,  respecting  the  further  consider- 
ation of  the  Report  of  the  Committee  appointed  to  bring 
in  a  Resolve  respecting  the  establishing  Post-Offices,  &c, 
was  taken  up,  and  the  blanks  for  Postmasters  being  filled 
up,  ordered  to  subside  till  the  Report  on  the  Letter  from 
the  Honourable  Enoch  Freeman,  Esquire,  was  read. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  take  into  consideration  a 
Letter  from  the  Hon.  Enoch  Freeman,  Esquire,  dated 
May  10th,  reported;  and,  after  a  long  debate  thereon,  was 
ordered  to  be  recommitted  for  amendment. 

Moved,  That  a  Committee  be  appointed  to  count  and 
sort  the  votes  for  a  Committee  to  be  chosen,  by  ballot,  to 
appoint  Post-Riders.  Time  assigned  for  that  purpose, 
three  o'clock,  P.  M. 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii.  I 


The  Order  of  the  Day  was  moved  for,  to  choose  a  gen- 
tleman to  preach  the  sermon  on  the  31st  May. 

Moved,  That  a  Committee  be  chosen  to  count  and  sort 
the  votes.  Colonel  Warrtn,  Captain  Jennison,  and  Major 
Bliss,  were  chosen. 

The  Committee  chosen  to  count  and  sort  the  votes,  re- 
ported that  the  Rev.  Dr.  Langdon  was  chosen. 

Moved,  That  a  Commiltee  of  three  persons  be  appoint- 
ed, to  wait  on  the  Rev.  Dr.  Langdon,  and  acquaint  him 
that  this  Congress  have  made  choice  of  him  to  preach  a 
sermon  to  the  Congress  of  this  Colony  on  the  31st  instant, 
and  desire  his  compliance  therewith.  Colonel  Gerrish, 
Mr.  Pitts,  and  Doctor  Sawyer,  were  chosen  accordingly. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  prepare  a  Resolve,  respect- 
ing the  taking  a  third  set  of  the  Depositions  relative  to  the 
battle  of  Lexington,  reported ;  which  Report  was  accept- 
ed, and  is  as  follows,  viz  : 

Resolved,  That  William  Read,  William  Sticktuy, 
Thaddeus  Mason,  Jonathan  Hastings,  Jonathan  Cummins, 
Josiah  Johnson,  Duncan  Ingraham,  Jonas  Dix,  and  Si- 
meon Tufts,  Esquires,  be,  and  they  hereby  are  required  to 
take  a  third  set  of  the  Depositions  relative  to  the  battle  of 
Lexington,  similar  to  the  two  sets  already  by  them  taken  ; 
and  they  are  empowered  to  summon,  or  cause  to  be  sum- 
moned, such  inhabitants  of  this  Colony  as  they  shall  think 
proper,  to  attend  them  at  any  time  and  place  in  this  coun- 
try which  they  shall  direct,  for  the  purposes  mentioned ; 
and  all  such  persons  as  shall  be  summoned  by  the  Justices 
aforesaid,  are  hereby  directed  punctually  to  obey  their 
summons. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Pitts,  Mr.  Gill,  and  Mr.  Sawyer, 
be  a  Committee  to  take  into  consideration  a  Letter  from 
Mr.  John  Peck,  respecting  his  confinement,  to  the  Select- 
men of  Boston,  and  the  said  Selectmen's  Letter  to  this 
Congress  on  the  same  subject. 

The  Committee  reported  their  amendment  of  the  Re- 
port on  the  Honourable  Enoch  Freeman's  Letter.  Referred 
to  the  afternoon. 

Adjourned  to  three  o'clock,  P.  M. 

Afternoon. 

Met  according  to  adjournment. 

The  Report  of  the  Committee  respecting  the  Honour- 
able Enoch  Freeman,  Esquire's  Letter,  wa3  taken  up, 
amended,  and  accepted. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  Petition  of 
the  Selectmen  of  the  Town  of  Topsham,  reported.  The 
Report  was  accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz : 

Whereas,  the  Town  of  Topsham,  being  a  seaport  place, 
in  the  eastern  part  of  the  Colony,  and  much  exposed  to  the 
rage  and  incursions  of  our  unnatural  enemies,  and  not  hav- 
ing a  sufficient  quantity  of  Gunpowder  to  defend  them- 
selves in  case  of  an  attack,  and  the  Town  of  Wrentham 
being  well  stocked  with  that  article  :  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  it  be  and  hereby  is  recommended  to  the 
Selectmen  of  the  above-said  Town  of  Wrentham,  to  deli- 
ver one  half  barrel  of  Gunpowder  to  Mr.  Prince  Rose,  for 
the  use  of  the  Town  of  Topsham,  he  paying  them  for  said 
Powder,  which  shall  be  replaced,  if  needed,  as  soon  as  the 
Colony  Magazine  can  be  supplied. 

Resolved,  That  the  Order  of  the  Day,  on  the  subject  of 
Post-Riders,  be  now  taken  up;  when  Captain  Jonathan 
Brown,  Jonas  Dix,  Esq.,  and  Deacon  Chcever,  were  chosen 
a  Committee  to  count  and  sort  the  votes  for  a  Committee  to 
establish  Post-Riders ;  which  Committee  was  chosen,  and 
the  blanks  in  the  Resolve,  respecting  Post-Offices,  being 
filled  up  with  said  Committee's  names,  the  Resolve  was 
accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz : 

Resolved,  As  the  opinion  of  this  Congress,  that  Post- 
Riders  be  immediately  established,  to  go  from  Cambridge, 
and  to  ride  the  following  roads,  viz :  To  Georgetown,  in 
the  County  of  Lincoln;  to  Haverhill;  to  Providence;  to 
Woodstock,  by  Worcester;  and  from  Worcester  to  Great 
Barrington,  by  Springfield ;  and  to  Falmouth,  in  the 
County  of  Barnstable.  And  that  Post-Offices  be  kept 
as  followeth,  viz:  one  at  Cambridge ;  one  at  Salem;  one 
at  Ipswich;  one  at  Haverhill;  one  at  Newburyport ;  one 
at  Kennebunk,  or  Welles ;  one  at  Sandwich ;  one  at  Fal- 
mouth, in  the  County  of  Cumberland;  one  at  Georgetoum, 
County  of  Lincoln;  one  at  Worcester;  one  at  Spring- 


♦ 


803 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  MAY,  1771 


80  1 


field;  one  at  Great  Harrington;  one  at  Plymouth ;  and 
one  at  Falmouth,  in  the  County  of  Barnstable. 

And  it  is  further  resolved,  That  Mr.  James  Winthrop 
be  appointed  Postmaster  for  the  Town  of  Cambridge;  Mr. 
Edward  Morris,  for  Salem;  Mr.  James  Foster,  for  Ips- 
wich; Mr.  Simeon  Greenough,  for  Haverhill;  Mr.  Bulk- 
ley  Emerson,  for  Newburyport ;  Captain  Nathaniel  Kim- 
ball, for  Kennebunk ;  Mr.  Samuel  Freeman,  for  Falmouth, 
in  Cumberland ;  Mr.  Jo/m  H  ood,  for  Georgetown ;  iVJr. 
Isaiah  Thomas,  for  Worcester;  Mr.  Moses  Church,  for 
Springfield ;  Doctor  William  Whiting,  for  GVe«*  jSw- 
rington;  Mr.  Joseph  Nye,  third,  for  Sandwich;  William 
Watson,  Esquire,  for  Plymouth;  and  Mr.  Moses  Stcift, 
for  Falmouth,  in  Barnstable. 

And  that  Captain  Jonathan  Brown,  Jonas  Dix,  Esq., 
and  David  Chcevcr,  Esquire,  be  a  Committee  to  give 
directions  for  the  setting  off  and  returning  of  the  Posts  in 
their  several  routes,  and  to  appoint  the  number  of  Riders, 
and  to  agree  with  them.  And  to  agree  also  with  the  Post- 
masters for  their  services.  And  that  the  Rates  of  and  Du- 
ties for  Postage  of  Letters,  &,c,  be  as  follows,  viz : 
For  any  distance  not  exceeding  -  -  60  miles,  0s.  h^d. 
Upwardsof  60  miles,  and  not  exceeding  100  "08 
Upwards   100    "  "        "        200    "    0  10£ 

Upwards  200    "  "        "        300    "    1  1 

Upwards  300    "  "        "        400    "    1  4 

Upwards  400    "  ,:        "        500    "    1  6* 

Upwards  500    "  "        "        600    "    1  9~ 

Upwards  600    "  "        "        700  "20 

Upwards  700    "  "        "        800    "    2  2£ 

Upwards  800    "  "        «        900  "25 

Upwards  900    "  "        "      1,000  "28 

The  above  rates  to  be  paid  in  lawful  money  of  this 
Colony. 

The  above  Rates  are  for  the  Postage  of  a  Single  Letler. 
They  are  to  be  doubled  for  all  Double  Letters ;  trebled 
for  all  Treble  Letters;  and  for  every  ounce  weight  four 
times  as  much  to  be  charged  as  for  a  Single  Letter ;  and 
that  the  Postmasters  be  accountable  to  the  aforesaid  Com- 
mittee for  what  they  shall  receive.  And  that  the  forego- 
ing Rules  and  Orders  continue  until  the  Continental  Con- 
gress, or  the  Congress,  or  future  House  of  Representatives 
of  this  Colony,  shall  make  some  further  order  relative  to 
the  same. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  draw  a  Resolve  respecting 
a  Court  of  Inquiry,  reported;  and, 

Ordered,  That  Monday,  at  three  o'clock  in  the  after- 
noon, be  assigned  for  taking  the  same  into  consideration. 

Adjourned  till  to-morrow  morning,  eight  o'clock. 

Sunday,  May  14,  1775. 
Met,  and  adjourned  to  twelve  o'clock. 
At  twelve  o'clock  met,  and  adjourned  to  three  o'clock. 
At  three  o'clock  met  again. 

Moved,  That  a  Committee  be  appointed  to  apply  to  the 
Committee  of  Safety  for  a  list  of  such  persons  as  they 
have  given  Listing  Orders  to,  that  this  Congress  may  com- 
mission such  as  they  think  proper  without  delay. 

Resolved,  That  the  further  consideration  of  this  matter 
be  referred  until  to-morrow  morning. 

Adjourned  till  to-morrow  morning,  nine  o'clock. 

Monday,  May  15,  1775,  A.  M. 

Resolved,  That  four  o'clock,  in  the  afternoon  of  this 
day,  be  assigned  for  making  choice  of  two  persons,  Mem- 
bers of  this  Congress,  to  attend  the  Provincial  Congress 
of  New-Hampshire,  on  Wednesday  next. 

The  Order  of  the  Day  was  moved  for,  and  read. 

Resolved,  That  David  Checver,  Esquire,  for  reasons 
by  him  offered,  be  excused  from  serving  in  the  business  to 
which  he  was  appointed  by  a  Resolvo  of  this  Congress, 
passed  the  twelfth  instant,  for  establishing  Post  Offices  and 
Post-Riders;  and  that  Mr.  William  Greenleaf,  Joseph 
Greenleaf,  Esquire,  and  Mr.  John  Pitts,  be  added  to  the 
Committee  therein  appointed. 

Resolved,  That  five  o'clock,  this  afternoon,  be  assigned 
for  the  choice  of  a  person  to  serve  on  the  Committee  of 
Supplies,  in  the  room  of  Colonel  Lee,  deceased. 

Ordered,  That  the  Committee  appointed  to  prepare  an 
application  to  the.  Continental  Congress,  be  directed  to 


insert  a  clause  therein,  desiring  that  the  said  Congress 
would  take  some  measures  for  directing  and  regulating  the 
American  Forces. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  prepare  an  Introduction  to 
the  Depositions  relating  to  the  late  affair  at  Lexington,  re- 
ported. The  same  was  recommitted,  for  the  purpose  of 
examining  it,  to  find  if  the  Narrative  contained  in  the  said 
Introduction  be  supported  by  the  Depositions,  and  to  add 
such  other  Depositions  as  may  be  procured. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Fisher,  Colonel  Field,  and  Mr. 
Bttllen,  be  a  Committee  to  examine  the  Letters  of  Gov- 
ernour  Hutchinson,  lately  discovered,  and  report  to  this 
Congress  such  Letters  and  Extracts  as  they  think  it  will 
be  proper  to  publish. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Warren,  Mr.  Sawyer,  and  Ma- 
jor Bliss,  be  a  Committee  to  take  into  consideration  the 
subject  of  a  Letter,  read  in  Congress,  from  William  Wai- 
son,  Esquire,  to  Colonel  Warren  and  Mr.  Lolhrop. 

Colonel  Barrett,  who  was  appointed  to  take  a  Deposi- 
tion at  Concord,  reported;  the  Deposition  reported  was 
ordered  to  be  committed  to  the  Committee  who  were  ap- 
pointed to  prepare  an  Introduction  to  the  Depositions. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  take  into  consideration 
Extracts  of  a  Letter  from  the  Honourable  Enoch  Freeman, 
Esquire,  reported  a  Letter  to  the  Eastern  Tribes  of  Indians ; 
which  was  accepted,  and  ordered  to  be  authenticated,  and 
sent  to  Mr.  John  Lane,  to  be  communicated  to  them. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  a  Letter  from 
William  Watson,  Esquire,  of  Plymouth,  reported  the  fol- 
lowing Resolve;  which  was  accepted,  and  ordered  to  be 
printed,  and  dispersed  to  the  several  Towns  in  the  Colony, 
and  is  as  follows,  viz  : 

"Whereas,  some  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  Colony,  and 
most  of  them  such  as  have  been  inimical  to  the  Constitu- 
tion and  interest  of  the  same,  are  now  (after  having  united 
themselves  with  our  enemies  in  reducing  us  to  the  distresses 
and  difficulties  we  are  labouring  under)  taking  steps  to  re- 
move themselves  and  effects  out  of  this  Colony  into  the 
Government  of  Nova-Scotia  and  elsewhere,  in  order  to 
avoid  their  proportion  of  the  burdens  necessarily  incurred 
for  our  defence :  to  prevent  which,  it  is 

"  Resolved,  That  no  person  be,  from  this  time,  permitted 
to  move  bis  Goods  and  Effects  out  of  this  Colony,  unless 
he  shall  obtain  the  permission  of  the  Committee  of  Cor- 
respondence of  the  Town  he  belongs  to,  or  (if  no  such  Com- 
mittee be  there  appointed)  of  the  Selectmen,  or  the  ma- 
jority of  them,  under  their  hands,  for  that  purpose,  but  by 
the  leave  of  this  or  some  future  Congress.  And  the  seve- 
ral Committees  of  Correspondence,  or  Selectmen,  where 
there  are  no  such  Committees,  are  hereby  directed  to  be 
very  vigilant  in  observing  the  motions  of  all  such  persons 
whom  they  may  have  reason  to  suspect,  and  to  see  that 
this  Resolve  be  carried  into  full  execution." 

Adjourned  to  three  o'clock,  P.  M. 

Afternoon. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  Extracts  of  a 
Letter  from  the  Honourable  Enoch  Freeman,  Esquire,  re- 
ported a  Resolve  respecting  an  Embassy  to  Canada;  which 
being  read,  and  amended,  was  accepted,  (and  a  copy  or- 
dered to  be  authenticated  and  sent  to  the  Selectmen  of 
Falmouth,)  and  is  as  follows,  viz: 

"Whereas,  it  is  absolutely  necessary  for  the  interest 
and  safety  of  this  Colony,  in  its  present  unhappy  situ- 
ation, that  the  most  certain  intelligence  from  Canada  of 
the  designs  and  manoeuvres  of  the  inhabitants  of  that 
Colony  should  be  obtained  as  speedily  as  possible :  And 
whereas,  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town  of  Fahnouth  having 
been  alarmed  by  reports,  which  had  prevailed  in  the  eastern 
parts  of  the  Colony,  that  the  Canadians  would  soon  attack 
them  on  their  frontiers,  and  thereby  bring  not  only  them- 
selves, but  the  whole  Colony,  into  a  still  more  deplorable 
situation  :  and  judging  it  of  the  utmost  importance,  that 
the  truth  or  falsity  of  such  reports  should  be  known  without 
delay,  have  employed  Mr.  Jabez  Matthews  and  Mr.  David 
Dinsmorc  to  go  across  the  woods  to  Qucbcck,  in  order 
to  observe  the  motions  of  the  people  there,  and,  as  far  as 
possible,  to  gain  a  knowledge  of  their  intentions ; 

"  Therefore,  resolved,  That  this  Congress  do  approve 
of  the  care  and  attention  of  the  Selectmen  of  Falmouth  to 
the  general  interest  of  the  Colony. 


805 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  MAY,  1775. 


8  or, 


"  And  it  is  hereby  recommended  to  the  said  Selectmen, 
that  they  transmit  the  intelligence  that  they  may  receive 
by  them,  together  with  the  expenses  of  the  said  Embassy, 
to  this,  or  some  future  Congress  of  this  Colony,  with  all 
convenient  speed,  that  the  account  of  their  expenses  may 
be  adjusted  and  allowed  out  of  the  Treasury  of  the  Col- 
ony." 

The  Order  of  the  Day  was  moved  for. 

The  Report  of  the  Committee  appointed  to  bring  in  a 
Resolve  for  establishing  a  Court  of  Inquiry,  was  read  ;  and 
is  as  follows,  viz  : 

"Whereas,  it  appears  to  this  Congress  that  a  want  of  a 
Hue  and  regular  execution  of  Justice  in  this  Colony  has 
encouraged  divers  wicked  and  disorderly  persons  not  only 
to  commit  outrages  and  trespasses  upon  private  property 
and  private  persons,  but  also  to  make  the  most  daring 
attacks  upon  the  Constitution,  and  to  unite  in  their  endea- 
vours to  disturb  the  peace  and  destroy  the  happiness  and 
security  of  their  Country :  and  whereas,  this  Congress 
conceive  it  to  be  their  indispensable  duty  to  take  effectual 
measures  to  restrain  all  disorders  and  promote  the  peace 
and  happiuess  of  this  Colony,  by  the  execution  of  Justice 
in  criminal  matters  :  therefore, 

"  Resolved,  That  a  Court  of  Inquiry  be  immediately 
erected,  consisting  of  seven  persons,  to  be  chosen  by 
this  Congress,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  hear  all  com- 
plaints against  any  person  or  persons  for  treason  against 
the  Constitution  of  their  Country,  or  other  breaches  of  the 
publick  peace  and  security,  and  to  determine  and  make 
up  judgment  thereon,  according  to  the  laws  of  this  Prov- 
ince, and  those  of  reason  and  equity :  no  judgments  to  be 
made  up  or  punishments  inflicted  in  consequence  of  them, 
unless  in  such  cases  where  five  of  the  Judges  so  appointed 
were  agreed  ;  any  three  of  said  Judges  to  have  power, 
upon  complaint  made,  to  cause  any  person  or  persons  com- 
plained of  to  be  imprisoned  until  the  said  Court  can  be 
convened  to  hear  the  same,  or  for  any  further  orders  of 
Congress  which  may  be  thought  necessary;  five  of  said 
Judges  to  be  a  quorum,  and  to  be  vested  with  the  full 
powers  of  the  Court,  and  to  meet  and  sit  in  such  place  or 
places  as  they  shall  agree  on. 

"  Resolred,  That  be,  and  they 

hereby  are  appointed  as  Judges  of  the  said  Court  of  In- 
quiry, to  execute  the  trust  agreeably  to  the  above  Re- 
solve." 

After  debate,  the  question  was  put,  whether  said  Report 
be  accepted?  And  it  passed  in  the  negative. 

Ordered,  That  the  Committee  who  reported  a  Letter 
to  the  Eastern  Tribes  of  Indians,  be  directed  to  prepare  in- 
structions to  Mr.  John  Lane,  who  is  appointed  to  commu- 
nicate the  Letter  to  them,  and  enlist  a  Company  of  them 
in  the  service  of  the  Colony. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  GUI,  Mr.  Bliss,  and  Mr.  How,  be 
a  Committee  to  sort  and  count  the  votes  for  two  persons, 
Members  of  this  Congress,  to  repair  to  the  Congress  of  the 
Province  of  New-Hampshire. 

The  Committee  last  mentioned,  reported,  that  the  Hon- 
ourable Joseph  Gerrish,  Esq.,  and  Colonel  Ebcnczer  Saw- 
yer,  were  chosen. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Dexter,  Colonel  Warren,  and 
Colonel  Foster,  be  a  Committee  to  bring  in  a  Resolve  for 
supplying  the  Soldiers  with  two  Twenty  Shilling  Bills  each, 
for  a  month's  advance  pay,  and  they  are  directed  to  draw 
up  a  form  for  said  Bills,  and  employ  an  Engraver  to  pre- 
pare a  plate  for  engraving  the  same  without  delay ;  and 

Resolved,  That  to-morrow  morning,  ten  o'clock,  be  as- 
signed for  the  consideration  of  the  Report  of  said  Com- 
mittee thereon. 

Ordered,  That  the  Committee  appointed  to  prepare  an 
application  to  the  Continental  Congress,  sit  forthwith. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Gill,  Mr.  Bliss,  and  Mr.  How,  be 
a  Committee  to  sort  and  count  the  votes  for  a  Member  of 
the  Committee  of  Supplies,  in  the  room  of  Colonel  Lee, 
deceased. 

The  Committee  last  mentioned,  reported  that  Mr.  John 
Pitts  was  chosen. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Barrett,  Esquire  Rawson,  and 
Mr.  Webster,  be  a  Committee  to  take  into  consideration  a 
Petition  to  this  Congress  from  Mr.  Boice  and  Mr.  McLean, 
of  Milton. 


Ordered,  That  Mr.  Lothrop,  Colonel  Warren,  and  Mr. 
Jamison,  be  a  Committee  to  draw  up  some  instructions  to 
the  Delegates  appointed  to  go  to  the  Congress  of  New- 
Hampshire. 

Adjourned  to  eight  o'clock,  to-morrow  morning. 

Tuesday,  May  16,  1775,  A.  M. 

Ordered,  That  Doctor  Taylor,  Mr.  Grcenleaf,  and  Cap- 
tain Die,  be  a  Committee  to  apply  to  the  Committee  of 
Safety  for  a  list  of  such  persons  as  they  have  given  Listing 
Orders  to,  and,  in  particular,  a  list  of  such  as  have  com- 
pleted, or  nearly  completed  their  respective  Regiments,  and, 
as  far  as  can  be  speedily  obtained,  the  number  of  men  each 
Officer  has  enlisted,  that  this  Congress  may  commission 
such  persons  as  they  think  proper,  without  delay. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  Petition  of 
Messrs.  Boice  and  McLean,  reported.  A  long  debate  was 
had  thereon,  and  it  was  finally  determined  that  the  Peti- 
tioners have  leave  to  withdraw7  their  Petition. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Sullivan,  Captain  Stone,  Colonel 
Farley,  Major  Brooks,  and  Doctor  Rawson,  be  a  Com- 
mittee to  take  into  consideration  a  verbal  information  of  the 
capture  of  three  Vessels,  by  a  King's  Cutter,  at  Dartmouth, 
and  the  retaking  two  of  them,  and  fifteen  Marines,  prisoners. 

Adjourned  to  three  o'clock,  P.  M. 

Afternoon. 

Henry  Gardner,  Esq.,  having  renewed  his  request  that 
this  Congress  would  excuse  him  from  serving  the  Colony 
in  the  office  of  Receiver-General : 

Resolved,  That  the  determination  of  this  matter  be  re- 
ferred until  to-morrow  morning,  ten  o'clock ;  and  if  Mr. 
Gardner  should  then  insist  on  being  excused,  that  then  the 
Congress  will  proceed  to  the  choice  of  some  other  person 
to  supply  his  place. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  prepare  an  application  to 
the  Continental  Congress,  reported  the  following,  which 
was  read,  paragraph  by  paragraph,  and  accepted,  viz : 

Resolved,  That  Doctor  Church  be  ordered  to  go  imme- 
diately to  Philadelphia,  and  deliver  to  the  President  of  the 
honourable  American  Congress,  there  now  sitting,  the  fol- 
lowing application,  to  be  by  him  communicated  to  the  Mem- 
bers thereof.  And  the  said  Church  is  also  directed  to  confer 
with  the  said  Congress,  respecting  such  other  matters  as 
may  be  necessary  to  the  defence  of  this  Colony,  and  par- 
ticularly the  state  of  the  Army  therein.    [See  Folio  620.] 

The  Committee  appointed  to  prepare  Instructions  to  the 
Delegates  who  are  going  to  Neiv- Hampshire,  reported  the 
following,  which  w  as  accepted,  viz  : 

Resolved,  That  the  Honourable  Joseph  Gerrish,  Esquire, 
and  Colonel  Ebenezer  Saicyer,  who  are,  by  this  Congress, 
chosen  a  Committee  to  wait  on  the  Delegates  of  the  Colony 
of  New-Hampshire,  are  hereby  empowered  and  directed  to 
take  such  methods,  and  make  such  application  to  the  said 
Congress,  as  shall,  in  the  judgment  of  said  Committee,  ap- 
pear most  conducive  to  the  union  of  the  Colonies,  and  the 
most  direct  way  to  induce  said  Congress  of  New-Hamp- 
shire to  raise  their  proportion  of  men  to  defend  the  Colo- 
nies. 

And  it  is  also  Resolved,  That  the  said  Committee  be 
furnished  with  a  copy  of  the  application  of  this  Congress 
to  the  Honourable  Members  of  the  Continental  Congress, 
which  the  said  Committee  is  directed  to  deliver  to  the  Pre- 
sident of  the  Congress  of  that  Colony,  and  to  do  all  that 
they  can  to  procure  the  approbation  of  that  Colony  to  our 
assuming  Government,  and  to  communicate  to  said  Con- 
gress such  of  the  proceedings  of  this  Congress  as  they  shall 
think  conducive  to  the  good  of  the  whole. 

Ordered,  That  the  said  Delegates  be  furnished  with  a 
copy  of  the  Establishment  for  the  Massachusetts  Army, 
Rules  and  Regulations  for  the  same,  and  form  of  the  Oath 
for  the  Officers  and  Soldiers. 

A  Letter  from  Col.  Thomas  Legate,  dated  Cambridge, 
16th  May,  1775,  was  read,  and  committed  to  Col.  Foster, 
Mr.  Parker,  and  Mr.  Bliss. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  bring  in  a  Resolve  for  sup- 
plying the  Soldiers  with  two  Twenty  Shilling  Bills,  for  a 
month's  advance  pay,  again  reported. 

The  Order  of  the  Day  was  moved  for. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Foster,  Major  Bliss,  and  Mi  . 
Bent,  be  a  Committee  to  sort  and  count  the  votes  for  a 


807 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  MAY,  1775. 


808 


Member  of  this  Congress  to  go  to  Philadelphia,  with  the 
application  of  this  Congress  to  the  Continental  Congress. 

The  Committee  reported  that  Doctor  Benjamin  Church 
was  chosen. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  take  into  consideration  the 
Iietter  from  Colonel  Legate,  reported  ;  which  Report,  being 
read  and  amended,  was  accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz: 

Whereas,  it  is  of  the  utmost  importance  that  the  men 
who  shall  he  enlisted  into  the  Artillery  Company  should 
be  well  qualified  for  that  employment ;  and  it  being  impos- 
sible to  enlist  the  men  for  the  Artillery  at  large  in  the  Col- 
ony so  soon  as  the  service  requires:  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  the  Officers  of  the  Artillery  be  allowed 
to  enlist  the  men  from  the  several  Regiments  already  en- 
gaged, when  the  men  are  willing  to  engage  in  that  service, 
until  the  whole  Artillery  establishment  shall  be  completed. 
Always  provided,  that  such  enlistments  shall  be  no  preju- 
dice or  hindrance  to  the  Officers  with  whom  such  men  are 
already  enlisted,  in  entitling  them  to  their  respective  com- 
missions, and  that  not  more  than  four  men  be  taken  from 
any  one  Company.  And  the  Officers  of  the  Train  of  Ar- 
tillery are  directed  to  use  their  endeavours  to  enlist  as  many 
(who  are  not  under  any  previous  engagement  in  the  Army) 
as  they  can  speedily  ;  and  the  Officers  from  whose  Regi- 
ment or  Company  any  person  is  enlisted  into  the  Train  of 
Artillery,  are  also  directed  to  fill  up  their  said  Regiment  or 
Company  with  all  convenient  speed,  by  enlisting  other 
Soldiers  in  the  place  of  those  enlisted  into  the  Train  of  Ar- 
tillery. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Gerry,  Mr.  Pitts,  Doctor  Taylor, 
the  President,  and  Mr.  Batcheldcr,  be  a  Committee,  to  con- 
sider what  measures  it  would  be  expedient  to  take,  relative 
to  the  prisoners  in  Boston,  and  the  inhabitants  which  are 
there  kept  in  duress. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  apply  to  the  Committee  of 
Safety  for  a  list  of  Officers,  Sec,  reported  verbally,  that 
they  had  no  other  list  than  what  they  had  before  sent  to 
the  Congress  ;  that  they  had  received  no  returns,  and  knew 
not  how  many  had  enlisted,  or  whether  any  Regiments  were 
completed. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Barrett,  Doctor  Taylor,  and  Mr. 
Fuller,  be  a  Committee  to  take  into  consideration  a  Pe- 
tition from  the  inhabitants  of  Canaan  and  Norridgewoclc , 
on  Kennebeck  River,  and  report. 

The  Committee  who  were  appointed  to  consider  the  in- 
formation from  Dartmouth,  reported.  The  Report  was 
recommitted  for  further  examination  and  inquiry  into  the 
affair. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Freeman  and  Doctor  Holtcn  be 
added  to  the  Committee  appointed  to  examine  Hutchinson's 
Letters. 

Adjourned  to  nine  o'clock  to-morrow  morning. 

Wednesday,  May  17,  1775. 

A  Letter  from  Edward  Mott  to  this  Congress,  dated 
11th  May,  1775,  giving  an  account  of  the  taking  of  the 
Fortress  at  Ticonderoga,  was  read,  together  with  a  Letter 
from  Ethan  Allen.  Also  an  application  from  Col.  Easton 
and  others;  whereupon, 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Foster,  Mr.  Sullivan,  and  Doc- 
tor Ilohc.n,  be  a  Committee  to  introduce  Colonel  Easton 
to  this  House,  to  give  a  narrative  of  that  transaction,  and 
that  each  Member  have  liberty  to  ask  him  any  questions. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  President,  Doctor  Taylor,  Colonel 
Foster,  Doctor  Holtcn,  and  Mr.  Cross,  be  a  Committee  to 
take  the  same  into  consideration  and  report. 

A  Resolve  from  the  Committee  of  Safety,  relative  to  the 
seizing  the  servants  and  friends  to  Government,  (improperly 
sa  called,)  was  read,  and  ordered  to  lie  on  the  table. 

Resolved,  That  three  o'clock,  P.  M.,  be  assigned  for  the 
purpose  of  considering  the  expediency  of  making  out  a 
Commission  to  General  Ward. 

The  Congress  appointed  two  other  Monitors,  viz  :  Mr. 
John  Hale  and  Captain  Woodbridge  Brown. 

The  Resolve  and  form  of  an  Oath  to  be  taken  by  the 
General  Officers,  were  read,  amended,  and  accepted,  and 
are  as  follow,  viz : 

Resolved,  That  the  General  Officers  of  the  Massachu- 
setts Army,  now  raising  for  the  defence  and  security  of  the 
rights  and  liberties  of  this,  and  our  sifter  Colonies  in  Ame- 
rica, shall,  each  and  every  of  them,  repeat,  take,  and  sub- 


scribe the  following  Oath,  to  be  administered  by  ....  , 

viz : 

"I,  A.  B.,  do  solemnly  swear,  that,  as  a  General  Officer 
in  the  Massachusetts  Army,  I  will  well  and  faithfully  exe- 
cute the  office  of  a  General,  to  which  I  have  been  appointee!, 
according  to  my  best  abilities,  in  defence  and  for  the  secu- 
rity of  the  estates,  lives,  and  liberties,  of  the  good  people 
of  this,  and  the  sister  Colonies  in  America,  in  opposition 
to  Ministerial  tyranny,  by  which  they  are,  or  may  be  op- 
pressed, and  to  all  other  enemies  and  opposers  whatsoever. 
That  I  will  adhere  to  the  Rules  and  Regulations  of  said 
Army,  established  by  the  Congress  of  the  Massachusetts- 
Bay,  observe  and  obey  the  Resolutions  and  Orders  which 
are,  or  shall  be  passed  by  said  Congress,  or  any  future  Con- 
gress, or  House  of  Representatives,  or  legislative  body  of 
said  Colony,  and  such  Committees  as  shall  be  by  them  au- 
thorized for  that  purpose  ;  and  that  I  will  disclose  and  make 
known  to  the  authority  aforesaid,  all  traitorous  conspiracies, 
attempts,  and  designs  whatsoever,  which  I  shall  know  to  be 
made,  or  have  reason  to  suspect  are  making,  against  the 
Army,  or  any  of  the  English  American  Colonies." 

Ordered,  That  Jonas  Dix,  Esq.,  be  directed  to  take 
Depositions,  relative  to  the  destruction  of  private  property 
by  the  King's  Troops,  on  the  nineteenth  ultimo,  and  their 
driving  women  in  child-bed  out  of  their  houses,  and  killing 
old  men  unarmed. 

Henry  Gardner,  Esq.,  informed  the  House  that  he  was 
willing  to  continue  to  serve  this  Colony  in  the  office  of 
Receiver-General. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Kolloclc,  Deacon  Nichols,  and  Mr. 
Rawson,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  what  steps  are  proper 
to  be  taken  for  the  relief  of  such  of  the  inhabitants  of  Bos- 
ton as  come  over  to  Chcrlcstown,  who  are  not  able  to  take 
care  of  themselves. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  account  of 
taking  the  Fortress  of  Ticonderoga,  reported  the  following 
Resolve,  and  Letter  to  the  Assembly  of  Connecticut,  which 
were  accepted,  and  the  Letter  ordered  to  be  authenticated 
and  sent  forward : 

Gentlemen  :  We  have  the  happiness  of  presenting  our 
congratulations  to  you  on  the  reduction  of  that  important 
fortress,  Ticonderoga.  We  applaud  the  conduct  of  both 
the  officers  and  soldiers,  and  are  of  opinion,  that  the  advan- 
tageous situation  of  that  fortress  makes  it  highly  expedient 
that  it  should  be  repaired,  and  properly  garrisoned.  In  the 
mean  time,  as  we  suppose  that  there  is  no  necessity  for 
keeping  all  the  cannon  there,  we  should  be  extremely  glad 
if  all  the  battery  cannon,  especially  brass  cannon,  which 
can  be  spared  from  that  place,  or  procured  from  Crown 
Point,  (which  we  hope  by  this  time  is  in  the  hands  of  our 
friends,)  may  be  forwarded  this  way,  with  all  possible  expe- 
dition, as  we  have  here  to  contend  with  an  Army  furnished 
with  as  fine  a  train  of  artillery  as  ever  was  seen  in  America. 
And  we  are  in  extreme  want  of  a  sufficient  number  of  can- 
non to  fortify  those  important  passes,  without  which  we  can 
neither  annoy  General  Gage,  if  it  should  become  neces- 
sary, nor  defend  ourselves  against  him. 

We  therefore  must  most  earnestly  recommend  this  very 
important  matter  to  your  immediate  consideration  ;  and  we 
would  suggest  it,  as  our  opinion,  that  the  appointing  Col- 
onel Arnold  to  take  charge  of  them,  and  bring  them  down, 
with  all  possible  haste,  may  be  a  means  of  settling  any  dis- 
putes which  may  have  arisen  between  him  and  some  other 
officers,  which  we  are  always  desirous  to  avoid,  and  more 
especially  at  a  time  when  our  common  danger  ought  to  unite 
us  in  the  strongest  bonds  of  unity  and  affection. 
We  are,  gentlemen,  Sic. 

This  Congress  having  received  authentick  intelligence 
that  the  Fort  at  Ticonderoga  is  surrendered  into  the  hands 
of  Colonel  Ethan  Allen  and  others,  together  with  the  Ar- 
tillery and  Artillery  Stores,  Ammunition,  &c,  thereunto 
belonging,  for  the  benefit  of  these  Colonies,  occasioned  by 
the  intrepid  valour  of  a  number  of  men  under  the  com- 
mand of  the  said  Colonel  Allen,  Colonel  Easton  of  the 
Massachusetts,  and  others  ;  and  by  the  advice  and  direction 
of  the  Committee  for  that  expedition,  the  said  Colonel 
Allen  is  to  rernain  in  possession  of  the  same  and  its  depen- 
dencies, until  further  order: 

Resolved,  That  this  Congress  do  highly  approve  of  the 
same  ;  and  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Colony  of  Con- 


809 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  MAY,  1775. 


810 


necticut  are  hereby  desired  to  give  directions  relative  to 
garrisoning  and  maintaining  the  same,  for  the  future,  until 
the  advice  of  the  Continental  Congress  can  be  had  in  that 
behalf. 

And  as  this  Colony  is  in  want  of  some  Battering  Can- 
non for  their  defence  immediately,  it  is  further  Resolved, 
That  the  President  of  this  Congress  be  desired  to  write  to 
the  General  Assembly  of  the  Colony  of  Connecticut,  desir- 
ing that  they  would  give  order  for  the  immediate  removal 
of  some  of  those  Cannon  to  this  Colony,  for  the  purpose 
aforesaid. 

Adjourned  to  three  o'clock,  P.  M. 

Afternoon. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  Petition  from 
the  inhabitants  of  Canaan  and  Norridgewock,  reported. 

The  question  being  put,  Whether  the  Report  shall  be 
accepted  ?  it  passed  in  the  negative. 

Thereupon,  Resolved,  That  the  Petitioners  have  leave 
to  withdraw  their  Petition. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Foster,  Mr.  Sullivan,  and  Cap- 
tain Farley,  be  a  Committee  to  prepare  a  Commission  for 
General  Ward. 

Tiie  Committee  appointed  to  consider  of  the  verbal  in- 
formation from  Dartmouth,  reported  verbally,  "Thatlhe 
inhabitants  of  Dartmouth  be  advised  to  conduct  themselves 
(with  respect  to  the  prisoners  they  have  taken)  agreeably 
to  the  direction  of  the  Committee  of  Inspection  for  that 
Town." 

After  a  long  debate,  it  was  moved  that  the  consideration 
of  this  matter  should  subside. 

And  the  question  being  put,  it  passed  in  the  affirmative. 

And  the  matter  accordingly  subsided. 

Ordered,  That  the  Secretary  be  directed  to  inform  the 
gentlemen  from  Dartmouth,  of  the  determination  of  the 
Congress,  respecting  the  information  from  Dartmouth, 
and  the  reason  thereof. 

Ordered,  That  the  Committee  appointed  to  revise  the 
Commission  of  the  Committee  of  Safety,  sit  forthwith, 
and  report  as  soon  as  may  be.  That  Mr.  Sullivan  be  ex- 
cused, and  that  Colonel  Foster  and  Deacon  Fisher  be 
added  to  this  Committee. 

Resolved,  That  Doctor  Church  be  allowed  one  Servant 
to  attend  him  in  his  journey  to  Philadelphia. 

Ordered,  That  the  Letters  relative  to  taking  the  For- 
tress of  Ticonderoga,  be  delivered  to  the  Committee  of 
Safety. 

Ordered,  That  the  Committee  appointed  to  prepare  an 
Establishment  for  Post-Offices,  &tc,  be  directed  to  bring 
in  a  Resolve,  for  the  purpose  of  empowering  the  Commit- 
tee, who  were  appointed  to  agree  with  the  Post-Riders, 
fee,  to  take  Bonds  of  the  Postmasters,  and  appoint  oaths 
to  be  taken  by  the  Postmasters  and  Post-Riders ;  and  that 
Colonel  Foster  be  excused,  and  Captain  Stone  and  Mr. 
Greenleaf  be  added  to  the  Committee. 

Adjourned  to  nine  o'clock  to-morrow  morning. 

Thursday,  May  18,  1775,  A.  M. 

The  Committee  who  were  appointed  to  revise  the  Re- 
solves respecting  the  Committee  of  Safely,  reported : 

Whereupon,  Resolved,  That  three  o'clock,  in  the  after- 
noon, be  assigned  for  the  choice  of  a  Committee  of  Safety, 
to  consist  of  thirteen  Members,  and  for  the  further  consi- 
deration of  said  Report. 

Ordered,  That  Captain  Rawson,  Mr.  Bullen,  and  Col- 
onel Farley,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  the  practicability 
of  employing  Chaplains  for  the  Army  out  of  the  number 
of  Clergy  of  this  Colony. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Warren,  Mr.  Gardner,  and  Mr. 
Sullivan  be  a  Committee  to  bring  in  a  Resolve,  recom- 
mending it  to  the  inhabitants  of  this  Colony  not  to  choose 
any  person  to  represent  them  in  Congress,  who  has  a  Com- 
mission in  the  Army. 

The  Committee  made  the  following  Report ;  which  was 
read  : 

In  Provincial  Congress,  May  18,  1775. 
Whereas,  in  all  free  States,  the  sword  should  be  subser- 
vient to,  and  under  the  control  of  the  civil  powers  of 
Government ;  from  whence  arises  the  impropriety  of  the 
Officers  of  the  Army  of  this  Colony  being  members  of  the 
Congress  to  be  held  therein  :  and  whereas,  it  is  absolutely- 


necessary  that  every  Officer  of  the  Army  aforesaid  con- 
stantly attend  his  duty  therein  : 

Therefore,  Resolved,  That  it  be,  and  it  is  hereby  recom- 
mended to  the  several  Towns  in  this  Colony  that  they  do 
not  return  to  the  next  Congress,  to  be  held  here,  any  Offi- 
cer of  the  Army,  as  a  member  of  said  Congress. 

Ordered,  That  Major  Fuller,  of  Middleton,  Mr.  Whitti- 
more,  and  Mr.  Bliss,  be  a  Committee  to  wait  upon  the 
Honourable  James  Russell,  Esq.,  Impost-Master,  to  know 
if  he  has  any  Publick  Moneys,  now  in  his  hands. 

Ordered,  That  the  President,  Mr.  Sullivan,  and  Col- 
onel Warren,  be  a  Committee  to  bring  in  a  Resolve,  re- 
commending to  the  inhabitants  of  this  Colony  to  make  no 
purchases,  nor  receive  any  conveyances  of  Estates,  from  the 
Mandamus  Counsellors,  or  other  inveterate  enemies  to  the 
rights  of  this  Country,  and  that  they  have  no  dealings  of 
any  kind  with  such  persons. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Gardner,  Doctor  Taylor,  and  Mr. 
KoUock,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  and  inquire  into  the 
subject-matter  of  a  Resolve  of  the  Committee  of  Safety 
respecting  Lady  Frankland. 

Adjourned  to  three  o'clock,  P.  M. 

Afternoon. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Sullivan,  Colonel  Foster,  Doctor 
Holten,  Mr.  Bragdon  and  Captain  Batchelder,  be  a  Com- 
mittee to  take  into  consideration  a  Letter  from  the  Com- 
mittee of  Correspondence  for  the  Town  of  Falmouth,  and 
such  parts  of  a  Letter  from  the  Honourable  Enoch  Free- 
man, Esq.  to  the  Secretary,  as  he  may  communicate. 
The  Order  of  the  Day  was  moved  for. 
Ordered,  That  Captain  Brown,  Mr.  Bayley,  and  Cap- 
tain Baker,  bs  a  Committee  to  sort  and  count  the  votes 
for  a  Committee  of  Safety. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  count  and  sort  the  votes 
for  a  Committee  of  Safety,  reported  that  the  following 
gentlemen  were  chosen,  viz: 

Hon.  John  Hancock,  Esq.,    Capt.  Benjamin  White. 
Doctor  Joseph  Warren,        Col.  Joseph  Palmer, 
Doctor  Benjamin  Church.      Mr.  Richard  Devens. 
Mr.  Abraham  Watson,  Mr.  John  Pigeon, 

Colonel  Azor  Orne,  Hon.  Benj.  Greenleaf, 

Mr.  Nathan  Cushing,  Doct.  Samuel  Holten. 

Hon.  Enoch  Freeman,  Esq., 

The  Report  was  recommitted  for  filling  up  the  blanks. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Kollock,  Doctor  Taylor,  and  Colo- 
nel Davis,  be  a  Committee  to  inquire  where  the  Treasurer 
may  procure  Money  for  the  Muster-Masters,  to  supply  the 
Soldiers  with  advance  pay. 

The  Committee  who  were  appointed  to  consider  the 
Resolve  of  the  Committee  of  Safety  respecting  Ladv 
Frankland,  reported  as  follows : 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  Resolution  of 
the  Committee  of  Safety,  respecting  the  removal  of  Lady 
Frankland,  with  her  effects,  from  Hopkinton  to  Boston. 
have  attended  to  that  service,  and  ask  leave  to  report  facts 
as  the  Committee  find  them,  viz : 

That  Mrs.  Frankland  hath  with  her  now  going  into  Bos- 
ton, four  horses,  two  chaises,  one  phaeton,  six  oxen,  two 
carls,  five  sheep,  one  swine,  about  four  hundred  of  hay,  two 
barrels  and  one  hamper  filled  with  bottled  wine,  one  keg  of 
tongues,  six  trunks  and  several  small  boxes,  containing 
chiefly  men  and  women's  wearing  apparel,  sheeting  and 
other  linens,  three  beds,  with  their  furniture  ;  one  gun,  one 
pistol,  and  one  sword,  one  flask,  with  a  small  quantity  of 
powder  and  lead  ;  about  ten  bushels  of  Indian  corn,  and 
one  canister,  with  a  small  quantity  of  tea. 

As  a  number  of  people  at  or  near  the  place  where  the 
above  articles  are  confined,  appear  to  be  greatly  irritated  a: 
Mrs.  Frankland's  proceeding  to  Boston,  the  Committee 
think  it  their  duty  to  report  facts.    Which  is  submitted. 

Per  order:  Henry  Gardner. 

Whereupon,  Resolved,  That  Mr.  Craft  be  and  hereby 
is  directed  forthwith  to  attend  this  Congress. 

Mr.  Craft  accordingly  attended  ;  and  having  heard  the 
allegations  against  him,  and  having  made  his  defence,  with- 
drew. 

The  Congress  then  Resolved,  That  he  should  be  gently 
admonished  by  the  President,  and  be  assured  that  the 


811 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  MAY,  1775. 


812 


Congress  were  determined  to  preserve  their  dignity  and 
power  over  the  Military. 

Mr.  Craft  was  again  called  in,  and  the  President  politely 
admonished  him,  agreeably  to  the  Resolve  of  Congress. 

Resolved,  That  Lady  Frank/and  be  permitted  to  go 
into  Boston  with  the  following  articles,  viz:  seven  trunks; 
all  the  beds,  and  furniture  to  them ;  all  the  boxes  and  crates ; 
a  basket  of  chickens,  and  a  bag  of  corn  ;  two  barrels  and 
a  hamper ;  two  horses  and  two  chaises,  and  all  the  articles 
in  the  chaise,  excepling  arms  and  ammunition  ;  one  pha- 
eton, some  tongues,  hams  and  veal,  and  sundry  small  bun- 
dles. 

Which  articles  having  been  examined  by  a  Committee 
from  this  Congress,  she  is  permitted  to  have  them  carried 
in  without  any  further  examination. 

Adjourned  to  nine  o'clock  to-morrow  morning. 

Friday,  May  19,  1775. 

Resolved,  That  Colonel  Bond  be  and  hereby  is  directed 
to  appoint  a  Guard  of  six  men  to  escort  Lady  Frank/and 
to  Boston,  with  such  of  her  effects  as  this  Congress  have 
permitted  her  to  carry  with  her;  and  Colonel  Bond  is  di- 
rected to  wait  on  General  Thomas  with  a  copy  of  the  Re- 
solves of  this  Congress  respecting  Lady  Frankland. 

Resolved,  That  Mr.  Ezekicl  Hall,  of  this  Town,  be 
recommended  to  the  Generals  of  our  Colony  Army,  in 
order  to  have  such  aid  as  they  can  afford  him  in  going  into 
or  out  of  Boston,  or  sending  some  suitable  person  there, 
which  appears  to  be  necessary,  in  order  to  save  some  of 
his  valuable  effects,  which  there  is  reason  to  fear  were  ex- 
posed by  the  late  fire. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Warren  wait  on  General  Ward, 
directing  him  to  attend  this  Congress  forthwith,  to  receive 
his  Commission  ;  and  also  on  the  Committee  of  Safety,  for 
a  list  of  such  Colonels  and  other  Officers  as  they  shall 
report  to  be  prepared  for  receiving  their  Commissions. 

A  Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  of 
Connecticut,  was  read,  respecting  the  taking  of  Ticonde- 
roga :  Whereupon, 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Gerry  prepare  an  answer  thereto, 
informing  them  what  steps  this  Congress  have  taken  rela- 
tive to  that  affair. 

Ordered,  That  Doctor  Perkins  and  Captain  Baker  be 
added  to  the  Committee  who  were  appointed  to  inquire 
where  the  Treasurer  can  borrow  money. 

Resolved,  That  all  persons  who  may  have  any  Goods 
or  Chattels  belonging  to  Lady  Frankland,  now  in  their 
custody,  which  are  not  mentioned  in  the  Resolve  of  this 
Congress  for  allowing  her,  with  certain  effects,  to  go  into 
Boston,  be  and  hereby  are  directed  to  permit  her  to  send 
them  to  Hopkinton,  or  dispose  of  them  in  any  way  agree- 
able to  her,  not  inconsistent  with  the  Resolves  of  this  Con- 
gress 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  what  steps  may 
be  taken  for  the  relief  of  such  of  the  inhabitants  of  Boston 
as  come  over  to  Charlestown,  he,  reported  :  Whereupon, 

Ordered,  That  Deacon  Cheever,  Colonel  Davis,  and 
Captain  E.  Withington,  be  a  Committee  to  bring  in  a  list 
of  names  of  persons  to  fill  up  the  blank  in  said  Report. 

Mr.  Gerry  reported  an  Answer  to  a  Letter  from  the 
Committee  of  Correspondence  of  Connecticut,  which  was 
accepted. 

Adjourned  to  three  o'clock,  P.  M. 

Afternoon. 

Ordered,  That  Doctor  llolten,  Mr.  Whittemore,  and 
Major  Bliss,  be  a  Committee  to  take  into  consideration  the 
Representation  made  to  this  Congress  by  Colonel  Warren, 
by  desire  of  General  Ward,  of  the  necessity  there  is  that 
the  Army  should  be  immediately  supplied  with  Iron  Pots, 
as  well  as  an  additional  stock  of  Powder ;  as  also  for  pro- 
viding a  Mouse  for  the  abode  of  Joseph  Trumbull,  Esquire, 
of  Connecticut,  and  another  for  the  Chairman  and  the  other 
Members  of  the  Committee  of  Safety. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  take  into  consideration  the 
Representation  made  to  this  Congress  by  Colonel  Warren, 
by  desire  of  General  Ward,  made  the  following  Report  : 

That  they  applied  to  the  Committee  of  Supplies  respect- 
ing the  want  of  Iron  Pols  for  the  use  of  the  Army  ;  and 
also  of  an  additional  stock  of  Powder,  and  received  for 
answer,  that  Mr.  Gerry  would  wait  upon  the  Congress  this 


afternoon,  and  inform  them  respecting  the  same.  And  said 
Committee  beg  leave  further  to  report,  as  their  opinion, 
that  a  Resolve  be  brought  in  empowering  Joseph  Trum- 
bull, Esquire,  of  Connecticut,  to  use  and  improve  the  house 
of  John  Borland,  Esquire,  late  of  Cambridge,  until  further 
orders  of  this  Congress,  or  some  future  Congress,  or  House 
of  Representatives;  and  also  a  Resolve  empowering  the 
Committee  of  Safety  to  use  and  improve  the  house  of  John 
Vassall.  Esquire,  late  of  Cambridge,  until  further  orders  of 
this  Congress,  or  some  future  Congress,  or  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives; said  houses  to  be  improved  as  above  expressed, 
as  soon  as  General  Ward  shall  provide  for  the  soldiers  in 
said  houses  in  some  other  places. 

The  Report  of  the  Committee  for  revising  the  Commis- 
sions of  the  Committee  of  Safety,  after  being  read,  para- 
graph by  paragraph,  was  amended  and  accepted,  and  is  as 
follows,  viz : 

Whereas,  the  former  Congresses  of  this  Colony  have 
chosen,  and  by  divers  Resolutions  have  empowered,  John 
Hancock,  Esquire,  Doctor  Joseph  Warren,  Doctor  Benja- 
min Church,  Captain  Benjamin  White,  Colonel  Joseph 
Palmer,  Mr.  Richard  Devens,  Mr.  Abraham  Watson,  Jr., 
Mr.  John  Pigeon,  Colonel  Azor  Orne,  Nathan  Cushing. 
Esq.,  Colonel  William  Heath,  Colonel  Thomas  Gardner, 
Colonel  Asa  Whitcomb,  Mr.  Edward  Durant,  and  Mr. 
James  Sullivan,  to  be  a  Committee  of  Safety  ;  and  by 
virtue  of  the  authority  of  that  office,  on  certain  occasions, 
to  cause  to  be  assembled  the  Militia  of  this  Colony,  for  the 
defence  of  the  inhabitants  thereof;  and  which  Committee 
of  Safety  are,  by  the  Resolutions  of  said  Congresses,  em- 
powered to  do  several  other  acts  for  the  service  of  the  Col- 
ony, as  by  the  Journals  and  Records  of  said  Congresses 
appears : 

It  is  Resolved,  That  whatever  the  said  Committee  of 
Safety,  or  any  of  them,  have  done  pursuant  to  the  said 
Resolutions  of  said  Congress,  shall  be  held  good  and  valid, 
and  that  the  said  inhabitants  of  said  Colony  shall  be  held 
thereby,  as  well  according  to  the  true  intent  and  meaning 
of  said  Resolutions,  as  according  to  the  strict  letter  thereof. 

And  whereas,  there  appears  to  be  still  a  deficiency  of 
power  in  said  Committee,  considering  the  particular  exi- 
gencies of  the  Colony,  and  it  being  necessary  to  have  their 
Commission  as  concise  and  explicit  as  possible,  which  can 
be  done  only  by  consolidating  the  powers  intended  by  the 
several  Resolutions  of  this  as  well  as  the  former  Congresses, 
to  be  given  them  ;  it  is,  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  all  and  every  Resolution  now  in  force 
respecting  the  said  Committee  of  Safety,  shall  be  and 
hereby  are  repealed,  revoked,  and  rendered  null  and  void. 

And  it  is  also  Resolved,  That  the  Honourable  John 
Hancock,  Esquire,  Doctor  Joseph  Warren,  Doctor  Benja- 
min Church,  Captain  Benjamin  White,  Colonel  Joseph 
Palmer,  Mr.  Richard  Devens,  Mr.  Abraham  Watson,  Mr. 
John  Pigeon,  Colonel  Azor  Orne,  Honourable  Benjamin 
Greenleaf,  Esquire,  Mr.  Nathan  Cushing,  Doctor  Samuel 
Holtcn,  and  Honourable  Enoch  Freeman,  Esq.,  be  a  Com- 
mittee of  Safety  for  this  Colony  hereafter,  until  some  fur- 
ther order  of  this  or  some  future  Congress  or  House  of 
Representatives  of  this  Colony  shall  revoke  their  or  either 
of  their  appointment. 

And  it  is  also  Resolved,  That  the  said  Committee  of 
Safety  shall  be,  and  hereby  are  empowered,  when  they  shall 
think  it  necessary,  in  defence  of  the  lives  and  properties  of 
the  inhabitants  of  this  Colony,  to  assemble  such  and  so 
many  of  the  Militia  thereof,  and  them  to  dispose  and  place 
where,  and  detain  so  long,  as  the  said  Committee  of  Safety 
shall  judge  necessary,  and  to  discharge  said  Militia  when 
the  safety  of  this  Colony  will  admit  of  it ;  and  the  Officers 
of  the  said  Militia  are  hereby  enjoined  to  pay  strict  obe- 
dience to  the  orders  and  directions  of  the  said  Committee 
of  Safety. 

And  it  is  also  Resolved,  That  the  said  Committee  of 
Safety  shall  be,  and  hereby  are  empowered  to  direct  the 
Army  of  this  Colony  to  be  stationed  where  the  said  Com- 
mittee of  Safety  shall  judge  most  conducive  to  the  defence 
and  service  of  the  Colony;  and  the  General,  and  other  Of- 
ficers of  the  Army,  are  required  to  render  strict  obedience 
to  such  orders  of  said  Committee  ;  provided  always,  that  it 
shall  be  in  the  power  of  this,  or  any  future  Congress,  to 
control  any  order  of  the  said  Committee  of  Safety,  respect- 
ing this  or  any  other  matter. 


813 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  MAY,  1775. 


811 


And  whereas,  the  former  Committee  of  Safety  were,  by 
a  Resolve  of  this  Congress,  empowered  to  nominate  per- 
sons to  this  Congress  to  be  commissioned  to  be  officers  in 
the  Army  now  establishing  for  the  defence  of  this  Colony  ; 
and  said  Committee  having  already  given  orders  to  a  num- 
ber of  persons  to  enlist  men  for  that  purpose: 

Resolved,  That  the  Committee  of  Safety  now  appointed 
proceed  in  that  matter,  that  such  officers,  where  the  Regi- 
ments are  completed,  may  be  commissioned  by  this  Con- 
gress ;  and  if  any  Regiment  should  be  nearly  completed, 
and  the  officers  thereof  ready  to  be  commissioned,  agree- 
ably to  the  Resolve  of  this  Congress,  during  the  time  be- 
tween the  dissolution  of  this  Congress  and  the  meeting  of 
t he  next,  the  said  Committee  shall  have  power  to  fill  up 
and  deliver  out  Commissions  to  them  ;  and  blank  Commis- 
sions, signed  by  the  President  of  this  Congress,  and  attest- 
ed by  the  Secretary,  shall  be  delivered  to  the  said  Com- 
i ni i lee  for  this  purpose. 

And  it  is  also  Resolved,  That  any  five  of  the  said  Com- 
mittee be  a  quorum,  with  full  power  to  transact  any  busi- 
ness which  the  Committee,  by  the  Resolves  above,  are 
empowered  and  vested  with  authority  to  do. 

Ordered,  That  Letters  be  sent  to  the  Honourable  Ben- 
jamin Greenleaf,  Esquire,  and  the  Hon.  Enoch  Freeman, 
Esquire,  informing  them  of  their  being  chosen  Members  of 
the  Committee  of  Safety,  and  requesting  their  attendance 
as  soon  as  possible. 

Resolved,  That  Mr.  John  Pigeon  be,  and  he  hereby  is 
appointed  and  empowered  as  a  Commissary  for  the  Army 
of  this  Province,  to  draw  from  the  Magazines  which  are  or 
may  be  prov  ided  for  that  purpose,  such  Provisions  and  other 
stores,  as  from  time  to  time  he  shall  find  necessary  for  the 
Army  :  and  he  is  further  empowered  to  recommend  to  the 
Congress  such  persons  as  shall  be  necessary,  and  as  he 
shall  think  qualified,  to  serve  as  Deputy  Commissaries  ; 
and  said  Deputy  Commissaries,  when  confirmed  by  the 
Congress  for  the  time  being,  shall  have  full  power  to  act  in 
said  office,  and  are  to  be  accountable  to  the  Commissary 
for  their  doings ;  also,  said  Commissary  is  empowered  to 
contract  with  and  employ  such  other  persons  to  assist  him 
in  executing  his  office,  as  shall  be  by  him  found  necessary  ; 
and  his  contracts  for  necessaries  to  supply  the  Army  during 
the  late  confused  state  of  the  Colony,  shall  be  allowed  ; 
and  the  Committee  of  Supplies  are  hereby  directed  to  ex- 
amine, and  if  they  find  thein  reasonable,  considering  the 
exigencies  of  the  times,  to  draw  on  the  Treasury  for  pay- 
ment of  the  same. 

The  form  of  a  Commission  for  General  Ward  was  read, 
amended,  and  accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz  : 

"  The  Congress  of  the  Colony  of  the  Massachusetts- 
Bay  to  the  Honourable  Artemas  Ward,  Esquire, 
greeting  : 

"  We,  reposing  especial  trust  and  confidence  in  your 
courage  and  good  conduct,  do,  by  these  presents,  constitute 
and  appoint  you,  the  said  Artemas  Ward,  to  be  General 
and  Commander-in-Chief  of  all  the  Forces  raised  by  the 
Congress  aforesaid,  for  the  defence  of  this  and  the  other 
American  Colonies.  You  are,  therefore,  carefully  and 
diligently  to  discharge  the  duty  of  a  General,  in  leading, 
ordering,  and  exercising  the  said  Forces  in  arms,  both  in- 
feriour  Officers  and  Soldiers,  and  to  keep  them  in  good 
order  and  discipline ;  and  they  are  hereby  commanded  to 
obey  you  as  their  General ;  and  you  are  yourself  to  ob- 
serve and  follow  such  orders  and  instructions  as  you  shall, 
from  time  to  time,  receive  from  this  or  any  future  Congress, 
or  House  of  Representatives  of  this  Colony,  or  the  Com- 
mittee of  Safety,  so  far  as  the  said  Committee  is  empow- 
ered, by  their  commission,  to  order  and  instruct  you  for 
the  defence  of  this  and  the  other  Colonies,  and  to  demean 
yourself  according  to  the  military  rules  and  discipline,  es- 
tablished by  Congress  in  pursuance  of  the  trust  reposed  in 
you.    By  order  of  the  Congress : 

"  President  pro  tern. 

"  ....  the  ....  of  ....  A.  D.  1775. 

"  Secretary  pro  tern." 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Foster,  Captain  Stone,  and 
Mr.  U  ebstcr,  be  a  Committee  to  get  the  Depositions  and 
Narrative  of  the  late  excursion  of  the  King's  Troops  to 


Concord,  printed  in  a  pamphlet,  on  the  best  terms  they 
can ;  and  that  they  forward  one  pamphlet  to  each  Town 
and  District  in  the  Colony. 

Resolved,  That  there  be  a  blank  left  in  the  Commis- 
sions to  be  given  the  Officers  of  the  several  Regiments  of 
the  Colony  Army,  for  the  rank  of  the  Regiment,  and  that 

 be  a  Committee  to  settle  the  ranks 

of  the  Regiments,  when  the  Regiments  are  completed. 

Resolved,  That  the  same  Committee  be  directed  to 
bring  in  a  Resolve,  settling  the  rank  or  number  of  the  Re- 
giments, according  to  the  rank  or  age  of  the  Counties  from 
whence  the  majority  of  the  Regiments  shall  come. 

Resolved,  That  the  rank  of  the  Regiments,  where  there 
are  more  than  one  in  each  County,  be  according  to  the 
rank  which  those  Regiments  formerly  sustained  in  the  old 
arrangement,  from  which  they  are  taken,  provided  that  can 
be  ascertained  ;  and  where  that  cannot  be  determined,  the 
rank  to  be  determined  by  lot. 

Resolved,  That  the  Commissions  be  all  of  one  date,  and 
that  the  rank  of  the  Officers  be  determined  by  this  Con- 
gress, or  by  a  Committee  Horn  this  Congress  at  some 
future  lime. 

Resolved,  That  Colonel  Samuel  Gcrrish  have  a  Com- 
mission for  a  Colonel  in  the  Army,  and  that  the  oath  be 
administered  to  him  by  Mr.  Gardner,  the  Receiver-Gen- 
eral; also,  that  Commissions,  as  Captains,  issue  for  Richard 
Dodge,  Jacob  Gerrish,  and  William  Rogers;  Commissions 
to  bear  date  the  19th  May. 

Adjourned  to  nine  o'clock  to-morrow  morning. 

Saturday,  Ma}'  20,  1775. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Foster,  Doctor  Holten,  and 
Major  Brooks,  be  a  Committee  to  confer  with  Mr.  Revert, 
respecting  his  proposal  for  an  alteration  in  the  value  of  the 
Colony7  Notes,  which  have  been  ordered  to  be  struck  off'. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Thurston,  Esquire  Aikin,  and 
Mr.  Crane,  be  a  Committee  to  take  into  consideration  a 
Petition  from  a  number  of  the  inhabitants  of  Deer  Island. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  case  of  the 
prisoners  in  Boston,  and  the  inhabitants  which  are  there 
kept  in  duress,  reported.  The  Report  was  read  and  ac- 
cepted, and  is  as  follows,  viz : 

Whereas  this  Congress  did,  on  the  30th  of  April  last 
past,  pass  a  Resolve  for  permitting  such  inhabitants  of  the 
Colony  to  remove  into  Boston,  "with  their  effects,  fire- 
arms and  ammunition  excepted,"  as  should  incline  thereto  ; 
it  being  in  consequence  of  General  Gage's  promise  to  the 
inhabitants  of  Boston,  that  upon  resigning  their  arms  and 
ammunition  they  should  have  liberty  to  remove  from  said 
Town  with  their  effects :  And  whereas  but  a  small  propor- 
tion of  the  said  inhabitants  of  Boston  have  been  hitherto 
permitted  to  leave  the  Town,  and  those  only  to  bring  their 
clothing  and  household  furniture,  they  being  constrained  to 
leave  their  provisions  and  all  their  other  effects  :  Therefore, 

Resolved,  That  General  Ward  be,  and  he  hereby  is 
directed  to  order  the  Guards  in  future  not  to  suffer  any  pro- 
visions or  effects,  excepting  furniture  and  clothing,  to  be 
carried  into  the  Town  of  Boston,  so  long  as  the  said  Gen- 
eral Gage  shall  suffer  the  persons  or  effects  of  the  inhabi- 
tants of  said  Town,  contrary  to  his  plighted  faith,  to  be 
restrained. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  confer  with  Mr.  Revere, 
brought  in  the  following  Resolves,  which  were  accepted, 
and  the  Secretary  directed  to  erase  from  the  Minutes  the 
Resolve  which  passed  this  Congress  for  issuing  Colony 
Notes  often  Shillings  each  : 

Whereas  this  Congress  did,  on  the  fourth  day  of  this  in- 
stant, May,  pass  a  Resolve  in  the  following  form,  viz : 

Resolved,  That  each  Non-commissioned  Officer  and  Pri- 
vate Soldier,  who  has  or  shall  enlist  himself  into  the  service 
of  this  Colony,  shall  have  twenty  Shillings  paid  him  out  of 
the  Receiver-General's  office,  as  advance  pay,  and  that  the 
Commanding  Officer  of  each  Regiment,  who  shall  be,  and 
hereby  is  empowered  to  act  as  Muster-Master  to  his  said 
Regiment,  shall  draw  from  the  Receiver  General's  office 
the  sum  of  twenty  Shillings  for  each  Non-commissioned 
Officer  and  Private  Soldier  in  his  said  Regiment,  and  pay 
the  same,  according  to  the  tenor  of  this  Resolve,  as  soon 
as  said  men  have  enlisted  themselves,  and  been  duly  sworn, 
and  give  his  Bond,  with  sufficient  sureties,  to  the  Receiver- 


815 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  MAY,  1773. 


816 


General  therefor ;  said  Bond  to  be  discharged  by  a  receipt 
produced  by  said  Officer  from  each  Non-commissioned  Offi- 
cer and  Private  Soldier,  that  lie  has  received  the  same. 

And  whereas  this  Congress  have,  by  a  subsequent  Re- 
solve, superseded  the  appointment  of  the  Muster- Masters 
aforementioned,  and  directed  that  Colonel  Benjamin  Lin- 
coln and  Colonel  Asa  Wldtcomb,  be  appointed  Muster- 
Masters  in  the  Massachusetts  Army,  whose  business  it  shall 
be  to  pass  muster  on  every  Soldier  that  should  be  enlisted 
into  the  said  Army,  and  by  no  means  to  accept  of  any  but 
such  as  are  able-bodied  and  effective;  men,  and  also  to  ex- 
amine their  Arms  and  Accoutrements,  fkc,  that  they  are  in 
proper  order ;  and  said  Muster-Masters  are  thereby  directed 
and  empowered  to  receive  from  Henry  Gardner,  Esquire, 
Receiver-General,  twenty  Shillings,  lawful  money,  for  each 
and  every  Non-commissioned  Officer  and  Private  Soldier 
then  mustered  and  sworn,  and  as  shall  appear  with  their 
Anns,  &.c,  and  shall  give  Bond  to  said  Receiver-General, 
with  sufficient  sureties  for  such  moneys  drawn  out  of  the 
Treasury,  and  shall  forthwith  pay  out  said  sum  of  twenty 
Shillings  advance  pay,  to  each  and  every  Non-commissioned 
Officer  and  Private  Soldier,  and  on  producing  receipts  from 
them  to  said  Receiver-General,  said  Bonds  shall  be  can- 
celled :  And  whereas  it  is  found  thai  sufficient  ready  cash 
cannot  be  obtained  so  soon  as  it  will  be  needed  for  the  pur- 
pose aforesaid  :  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  each  Non-commissioned  Officer  and  Pri- 
vate Soldier  aforesaid,  (if  he  will  accept  the  same,)  shall, 
instead  of  twenty  Shillings  advance  pay,  upon  the  muster 
aforesaid,  receive  forty  Shillings  advance  pay  in  three  Notes, 
on  interest  from  the  Receiver-General,  to  be  paid  in  one 
year  from  the  date  of  said  Notes  ;  and  that  for  all  such  sums 
as  the  said  Col.  Lincoln  and  Col.  W/titcomb  shall  receive 
of  the  Receiver-General  in  Notes  as  aforesaid,  they  give 
Bonds,  and  that  such  Bonds  be  discharged  by  receipts,  as 
in  and  by  the  last  mentioned  Resolve  is  directed. 

Ordered,  That  the  President,  Major  Hawley,  General 
Whitcomb,  Mr.  Gerry,  Colonel  Palmer,  Colonel  Lincoln, 
and  Colonel  Foster,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  what  mea- 
sures are  proper  to  he  taken,  for  organizing  the  Massachu- 
setts Army  in  the  most  effeclaal  and  ready  manner. 

Resolved,  That  for  the  payment  of  advance  pay  to  the 
Massachusetts  Army,  there  be  issued  by  the  Receiver- 
General,  on  the  credit  of  this  Colony,  a  sum  not  exceeding 
Twenty-Six  Thousand  Pounds,  lawful  money,  in  Notes  of 
the  following  denominations,  viz:  of  Twenty  Shillings,  of 
Eighteen,  Sixteen,  Fifteen,  Fourteen,  Twelve,  Ten,  Nine, 
and  of  Six  Shillings ;  to  be  four  thousand  three  hundred 
and  thirty-three  of  each  denomination,  and  no  more;  and 
to  be  of  the  form  following,  viz : 

Colony  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay. 
No.  May  25,  1775. 

The  possessor  of  this  Note  shall  be  entitled  to  receive, 
out  of  the  publick  Treasury  of  this  Colony,  the  sum  of 
 Shillings,  lawful  money,  on  the  twenty- 
fifth  day  of  May,  Anno  Domini  1776,  with  interest,  at  the 
rate  of  six  per  cent,  per  annum.  And  this  Note  shall  be 
received  in  all  payments  at  the  Treasury,  at  any  time  after 
the  date  hereof,  for  the  principal  sum,  without  interest,  if 
so  paid  before  the  said  25th  day  of  May,  Anno  Domini 

1776.   

Receiver- General. 

Which  Notes  shall  be  received  in  all  payments  in  this 
Colony  ;  and  no  discount  or  abatement  shall  be  made  there- 
on in  any  payment,  trade,  or  exchange  whatsoever. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  practicability 
of  providing  Chaplains  for  the  Army,  reported. 

The  Report  was  read,  and  recommitted. 

The  Petition  of  Benjamin  Thompson  to  the  Committee 
of  Safety,  was  read,  and  ordered  to  subside. 

Adjourned  to  three  o'clock,  P.  M. 

Afternoon. 

The  Report  of  the  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the 
practicability  of  providing  Chaplains,  was  again  read,  ac- 
cepted, and  is  as  follows,  viz  : 

Whereas,  it  is  necessary  that  Chaplains  should  be  ap- 
pointed in  the  Massachusetts  Army,  under  the  command  of 
the  Honourable  Artemas  Ward,  Esquire,  which,  if  appoint- 


ed on  the  establishment  made  by  this  Colony,  will  greatly 
enhance  the  Colony  debt : 

And  whereas,  it  has  been  represented  to  this  Congress, 
that  several  Ministers  of  the  Religious  Assemblies  within 
this  Colony  have  expressed  their  willingness  to  attend  the 
Army  aforesaid  in  the  capacity  of  Chaplains,  as  they  may 
be  directed  by  this  Congress :  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  it  be,  and  it  is  hereby  recommended  to 
the  Ministers  of  the  several  Religious  Assemblies  within 
this  Colony,  that,  with  the  leave  of  their  several  Congrega- 
tions, they  attend  said  Army  in  their  several  Towns,  to  the 
number  of  thirteen  at  one  lime,  during  the  time  the  Army 
shall  be  encamped  ;  and  that  they  make  known  their  Re- 
solutions to  the  Congress  thereon,  or  to  the  Committee  of 
Safety,  as  soon  as  may  be. 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  the  President  be  desired  to 
deliver  to  General  Ward  the  Commission  prepared  for  him 
by  this  Congress,  as  General  and  Commander-in-Chief  of 
the  Massachusetts  Forces. 

Ordered,  That  Major  Brooks,  Colonel  Mitchell,  Es- 
quire Rawson,  Esquire  Dix,  and  Major  Bliss,  be  a  Com- 
mittee to  examine  the  prisoner  at  the  door,  brought  from 
Head-Quarters,  and  report  some  order  to  be  taken  thereon. 

The  President  communicated  to  Congress  the  request  of 
the  Selectmen  of  Boston,  that  the  Congress  would  permit 
Mr.  Ball  to  carry  two  loads  of  Hay  into  Boston,  one  for 
himself  and  one  for  another  person,  (Lieutenant-Governonr 
Oliver:)  Whereupon, 

Ordered,  That  the  messenger  in  waiting  be  dismissed. 

Resolved,  That  only  the  Colonels  of  each  Regiment 
should  attend  this  Congress  to  receive  their  Commissions, 
unless  they  should  be  indisposed,  or  otherwise  necessarily 
prevented  ;  in  which  case  the  next  Field-Officer  may  apply 
for  his  Commission,  and  Commissions  for  the  inferiour  Of- 
ficers in  his  Regiment. 

The  Honourable  Mr.  Dexter  having,  by  order  of  Con- 
gress, administered  the  Oath  to  General  Ward,  bis  Com- 
mission was  delivered  to  him  by  the  President. 

The  following  Commissions  were  likewise  delivered,  viz : 

To  Thomas  Cogswell  and  John  Wood,  Captains,  under 
command  of  Colonel  Gerrish. 

Ephraim  Doolittle,  Colonel ;  Ebenezer  Learned,  Colo- 
nel;  Joseph  Reed,  Colonel;  James  Bricket,  Lieutenant- 
Colonel,  under  Colonel  James  Fry ;  Calvin  Smith,  Major, 
under  Colonel  Joseph  Read. 

Danforth  Keys,  Lieutenant-Colonel,  Jonathan  Holman, 
Major,  under  Colonel  Ebenezer  Learned. 

Ebenezer  Clap,  Lieutenant-Colonel,  under  Colonel  Jo- 
seph Read. 

Ordered,  That  Commissions  be  delivered  to  the  Captains 
of  Col.  Fry's  Regiment,  agreeably  to  a  list  exhibited. 

Resolved,  That  nine  o'clock  next  Tuesday  morning,  be 
assigned  for  taking  into  consideration  the  expediency  of 
giving  Lieutenants'  Commissions  to  the  Subaltern  Officers. 

Resolved,  That  three  o'clock  next  Tuesday  afternoon, 
be  assigned  to  consider  a  Motion  made  by  Colonel  Doolit- 
tle, for  appointing  a  Muster-Master  for  the  enlisted  Com- 
panies at  Northfield. 

Ordered,  That  Captain  Brown  and  Esquire  Dix  be  a 
Committee  to  procure  a  Guard  over  the  prisoners  from 
Head-Quarters ;  and  that  the  Guard  who  conducted  them 
from  thence  be  now  released. 

Adjourned  until  to-morrow  afternoon,  at  four  o'clock. 

Sunday,  May  21,  1775. 

Met  at  four  o'clock,  and  adjourned  until  to-morrow 
morning,  eight  o'clock. 

Monday,  May  22,  1775. 

The  Committee  on  the  Petition  from  the  inhabitants  of 
Deer  Island,  reported  as  follows,  vise: 

The  Committee  on  the  Petition  of  a  number  of  the  in- 
habitants of  Deer  Island,  so  called,  in  the  County  of  Lin- 
coln, beg  leave  to  report :  That  they  have  made  inquiry  of 
the  bearer  of  the  Petition,  Major  Low,  and  find  that  the 
people  there  are  greatly  in  want  of  provisions,  and  ought 
to  be  relieved  ;  but  whether  it  will  be  best  to  remove  them 
from  the  Island,  or  to  supply  them  with  one  hundred  and 
lifty  bushels  of  Corn,  one  hundred  bushels  of  Potatoes,  two 
barrels  of  Pork,  twenty  Cod-lines,  with  leads  and  hooks, 
and  a  small  quantity  of  Salt,  we  submit  to  the  Congress. 


817 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  MAY,  1775. 


818 


Ordered,  That  the  consideration  of  this  Report  be  de- 
ferred until  there  is  a  fuller  House. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  what  measures 
should  be  adopted  in  relation  to  the  Estates  of  persons  un- 
friendly to  the  Country,  reported  the  following  Resolve, 
which  was  accepted,  and  ordered  to  be  published  in  the 
Newspapers  printed  in  Cambridge  and  Salem: 

Whereas  a  number  of  men,  some  of  whom  have,  in  times 
past,  by  the  good  people  of  this  Province,  been  raised  to 
the  highest  places  of  honour  and  trust,  have  become  inimi- 
cal to  this  Colony ;  and  merely  on  principles  of  avarice, 
have,  in  conjunction  with  the  late  Governour  Hutchinson, 
been  trying  to  reduce  all  America  to  the  most  abject  state 
of  slavery  ;  and,  as  well  to  avoid  the  just  indignation  of  the 
people  as  to  pursue  their  diabolical  plans,  have  fled  to  Bos- 
ion  and  other  places  for  refuge  :  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  those  persons,  among  whom  are  the 
Mandamus  Counsellors,  are  guilty  of  such  atrocious  and 
unnatural  crimes  against  their  Country,  that  every  friend 
to  mankind  ought  to  forsake  and  detest  them,  until  they 
shall  evidence  a  sincere  repentance,  by  actions  worthy  of 
men  and  christians  ;  and  that  no  person  within  this  Colony 
shall  take  any  Deed,  Lease,  or  Conveyance  whatever,  of 
the  Lands,  Houses,  or  Estates  of  such  persons.  And  it  is 
hereby  recommended  to  the  Committee  of  Inspection,  in 
every  Town  in  this  Colony,  to  see  this  Resolve  fully  en- 
forced, unless  in  such  cases  as  the  Congress  shall  otherwise 
direct. 

A  Letter  was  received  from  General  Ward,  recommend- 
ing that  the  Ordnance,  Arms,  and  Ammunition  mentioned 
in  the  following  List,  be  immediately  procured  and  sent  to 
Head-Quarters,  for  the  supply  of  the  Army  of  Massachu- 
setts, viz : 

Thirty  Twenty-Four-Pounders,  and  if  that  number  of 
Cannon  cannot  be  obtained,  that  the  weight  of  metal  be 
made  up  with  Eighteen-Pounders,  double  fortified ;  ten 
Twelve-Pounders  ;  eighteen  Nine-Pounders  ;  twenty-one 
thousand  six  hundred  pounds  of  Powder,  and  eighty  Balls 
for  each  gun  ;  one  thousand  five  hundred  Stands  of  Arms  ; 
twenty  thousand  pounds  of  Musket  Powder ;  forty  thou- 
sand pounds  of  Lead  ;  seventeen  hundred  Iron  Pots. 

This  Congress  having  requested  the  Reverend  Doctor 
Langdon  to  deliver  a  Sermon  before  the  next  Massachu- 
setts Congress,  at  their  meeting  in  this  place  on  the  last 
fVednesday  of  this  month,  and  he  having  signified  that  he 
will  comply  with  such  request : 

Resolved,  That  it  is  the  desire  of  this  Congress,  that  the 
Reverend  Ministers  of  the  Gospel  in  this  Colony  would  as- 
semble at  that  time,  agreeable  to  their  ancient  custom,  and 
hold  a  Convention  as  usual,  if  they  think  proper,  as,  in  the 
opinion  of  this  Congress,  the  cause  of  religion,  and  the 
political  interest  of  this  Colony,  ma)'  be  served  by  such 
meeting. 

Ordered,  That  the  Secretary  cause  the  foregoing  Resolu- 
tion to  be  published  in  the  Newspapers  as  soon  as  may  be. 

A  Letter  was  received  from  the  Committee  of  Safety, 
enclosing  a  communication  from  Colonel  Benedict  Arnold, 
giving  information  of  the  surrender  of  I^iconderoga. 

Ordered,  That  the  following  Letter  to  Colonel  Arnold, 
reported  by  a  Committee,  be  accepted,  signed  by  the  Secre- 
tary, and  forwarded  in  the  name  and  behalf  of  this  Con- 
gress, as  soon  as  may  be.    [See  the  Letter,  Folio  676.] 

Ordered,  That  Doctor  Taylor,  Mr.  Hale,  and  Mr. 
Kollock,  be  a  Committee  to  take  into  consideration  a  Let- 
ter communicated  this  day  by  the  President  from  the  Hon- 
ourable James  Russell,  Commissioner  of  Imposts,  dated 
Charlestoivn,  May  19 ;  and,  in  particular,  to  inquire  into 
Mr.  Russell's  right  of  making  the  contract  therein  men- 
tioned, and  the  circumstances  of  it,  and  report  as  soon  as 
may  be. 

Tuesday,  May  23,  1775. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  Letter  from 
Brovmfield ,  reported,  that  they  find  by  the  bearer  of  the 
Letter  that  the,  inhabitants  have  some  Arms,  Powder,  &c, 
and  are  not  in  danger,  except  from  Indians,  who  are  friendly 
at  present ;  and  the  state  of  our  affairs  calls  for  such  large 
supplies,  that  the  consideration  of  their  request  be  deferred 
till  the  sitting  of  the  next  Congress. 

The  Report  was  accepted,  and  Mr.  Israel  Hohart  was 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii. 


directed  to  inform  the  bearer  of  the  Letter  of  the  action  of 
Congress  thereon. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  bring  in  a  Resolve  respect- 
ing the  depredations  of  the  British  Troops  on  the  Islands 
and  Sea-Coasts,  reported  as  follows  : 

Whereas,  the  Troops  and  Forces  under  the  command  of 
General  Gage  and  Admiral  Graves  are  frequently  plun- 
dering and  making  depredations  on  the  Islands  and  Sea- 
Coasts  of  this  Province,  from  whence  they  plunder  or  pur- 
chase Hay,  Cattle,  Sheep,  and  many  other  things,  to  the 
injury  not  only  of  individuals,  but  also  to  the  great  damage 
of  the  publick,  and  thus  strengthen  the  hands  of  our  ene- 
mies :  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  several  Towns 
and  Districts  on  the  Sea-Coasts  of  this  Colony,  and  to  all 
those  persons  living  on  the  several  Islands  on  said  Coasts, 
that  they  remove  their  Hay,  Cattle,  Sheep,  he,  that  are 
exposed  to  those  ravages,  and  cannot  be  sufficiently  guard- 
ed, so  far  into  the  country  as  to  be  out  of  the  way  of  those 
implacable  enemies  to  this  people ;  also,  that  it  be  recom- 
mended to  the  Committees  of  Correspondence  in  each  Town 
and  District,  and  to  the  Selectmen,  where  no  such  Com- 
mittee is  chosen,  that  they  take  effectual  care  that  this  Re- 
solve be  immediately  and  strictly  put  into  execution  ;  and 
that  all  persons  who  refuse  to  comply  with  the  aforegoing 
Resolve  shall  be  held  as  incorrigible  enemies  to  the  rights 
and  liberties  of  this  Country. 

This  Report  being  read  and  amended, 

Ordered,  That  the  further  consideration  thereof  be  re- 
ferred to  the  next  Provincial  Congress. 

Whereas  Edward  How  hath  been  brought  before  this 
Congress,  and  charged  with  crimes  committed  in  the  camp  ; 
and  as  this  Congress  do  adjudge  the  Head-Quarters  of  the 
Army  to  be  the  most  suitable  and  proper  place  to  try  the 
said  Edward  How,  and  determine  what  is  adequate  to  his 
demerits :  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  the  said  Edward  How  be  sent  under  a 
guard  to  Head-Quarters,  and  that  he  be  there  dealt  with 
as  the  nature  of  his  offence  doth  require. 

Ordered,  That  Captain  Brown  be  directed  to  see  that 
the  said  How  is  sent  to  Head-Quarters  with  a  copy  of  the 
foregoing  Resolve. 

Whereas  Thomas  Nicols,  a  negro  man,  hath  been  brought 
before  this  Congress,  and  there  being  no  evidence  to  prove 
any  matters  or  things  alleged  against  him  :  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  the  said  Thomas  be  sent  to  the  Town 
or  District  where  he  belongs,  and  that  the  Committee  of 
Correspondence,  or  Selectmen  of  said  Town  or  District, 
take  such  care  of  the  said  Thomas,  that  he  may  be  dealt 
with  as  they,  in  their  judgment,  shall  think  proper. 

Ordered,  That  Captain  Kingsbury  be  directed  to  ap- 
point some  persons  to  conduct  the  above-mentioned  negro 
to  Natick,  agreeably  to  the  foregoing  Resolve. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  what  further  mea- 
sures are  necessary  to  be  taken  for  the  organization  of  the 
Army,  presented  their  Report;  which  was  read,  accepted, 
and  is  as  follows  : 

The  Committee  appointed  on  the  twentieth  May  current, 
to  consider  what  further  orders  are  necessary  to  be  taken 
and  passed,  that  the  Army  now  raising  by  this  Province 
for  the  necessary  defence  thereof  may  be  effectually  offi- 
cered and  organized,  have  attended  that  service,  and  beg 
leave  to  report,  that  they  are  humbly  of  opinion  that,  for 
the  end  aforesaid,  it  is  necessary  that,  over  and  above  the 
General  already  appointed  for  said  Army,  and  commissioned 
by  Congress,  the  following  Officers  (not  yet  ordered  by 
Congress)  should  be  chosen  and  commissioned,  to  wit :  one 
Lieutenant-General,  two  Major-Generals,  four  Brigadier- 
Generals,  two  Adjutant-Generals,  and  two  Quarter-Master- 
Generals  ;  and  that  this  Congress,  before  they  shall  rise, 
and  as  soon  as  shall  be  convenient,  proceed  to  choose  and 
commission  such  Lieutenant-General;  but  that  the  choice 
of  the  rest  of  the  Officers  above  specified,  should  be  referred 
to  the  beginning  of  the  first  session  of  the  next  Congress. 
And  they  beg  leave  to  subjoin,  as  their  opinion,  that  it  will 
be  proper  that  such  Brigadier-Generals  should  be  chosen, 
and  taken  of  and  from  among  the  Colonels  who  may  be 
commissioned  by  Congress. 

All  which  is  humbly  submitted  by  your  Committee,  who 
ask  leave  to  sit  again.        Joseph  Hawley,  per  order. 

5-2 


819 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  MAY,  1775. 


820 


Wednesday,  May  24,  1775. 

Ebenezer  Cutler*  of  Northborough,  having  been  brought 
before  this  Congress  on  complaint  of  sundry  persons,  for 
uttering  sundry  expressions  against  the  liberties  of  the  good 
people  of  this  Colony,  and  the  same  having  been  inquired 
of  by  a  Committee,  who  reported,  among  other  matters, 
that  all  the  expressions  of  which  he  is  accused  were  uttered 
some  time  ago ;  and  that  the  said  Ebenezer  had  requested 
that  he  might  have  the  same  privilege  of  going  into  the 
Town  of  Boston,  without  his  effects,  as  other  persons  have, 
by  the  order  of  Congress : 

The  Report  was  accepted,  and  it  was  thereupon  Re- 
solved, That  he  have  liberty  for  so  doing. 

Mr.  Gerry,  from  the  Committee  to  consider  the  pro- 
priety of  appointing  some  additional  Armourers,  reported 
as  follows,  viz : 

"Resolved,  That  the  Committee  of  Supplies  be  empow- 
ered and  directed  to  appoint  such  and  30  many  Armourers, 
in  addition  to  those  already  appointed,  as  may  be  wanted 
by  the  Army  of  this  Colony,  not  exceeding  fifteen,  in- 
cluding those  already  appointed ;  and  that  the  said  Ar- 
mourers, as  also  those  already  appointed  by  the  Committee 
of  Safety,  shall  each  receive  four  Pounds  per  month,  and 
be  entitled  to  billeting  as  Soldiers,  they  providing  their  own 
tools ;  and  the  said  Armourers  are  hereby  directed  to  keep 
true  accounts  of  the  expense  of  repairing  the  Fire-Arms 
of  such  Soldiers  whose  Fire-Arms  are  repaired  in  order  to 
qualify  them  to  pass  muster.  And  the  Committee  of  Sup- 
plies be,  and  hereby  are  empowered  and  directed  to  dis- 
charge such  as  are,  or  may  hereafter  be  appointed,  when 
they  shall  think  it  for  the  interest  of  the  Colony  so  to  do." 

The  Report  being  read,  and  amended, 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Whittemore,  Captain  Dwight,  and 
Mr.  Kollock,  be  a  Committee  to  bring  in  a  Resolve  for  the 
appointment  of  a  number  of  Armourers  as  aforesaid,  and 
for  the  establishment  of  their  Pay. 

It  being  made  to  appear  to  this  Congress  that  the  major 
part  of  the  Committee  appointed  to  effect  the  Removal  of 
the  Poor  of  the  Town  of  Boston  to  the  place  to  which  they 
are  destined,  are  removed  out  of  the  Towns  of  Charles- 
town  and  Roxbury,  to  which  they  belonged  : 

Resolved,  That  Messrs.  Isaac  Foster,  Nathaniel  Gor- 
ham,  Edward  Goodwin,  John  Frothingham,  Joseph  Hop- 
kins, Colonel  Joseph  Williams,  Mr.  Nathaniel  Patten, 
Major  Nathaniel  Ruggles,  Mr.  Noah  Parsons,  Deacon 
William  Gridley,  Lewis  Fay,  and  James  Bradish,  Jun., 
or  any  three  of  them,  (being  present,)  be  a  Committee 
for  all  the  purposes  and  with  all  the  powers  to  which  the 
said  Committee  were  appointed. 

And  it  being  also  made  to  appear  that  said  Committee 
cannot  proceed  unless  further  provision  be  made  in  that 
behalf: 

Therefore  Resolved,  That  said  Committee,  or  any  three 

*  Water. town,  May  22,  1775. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  examine  the  case  of  Ebenezer  Cutler, 
do  find,  by  full  proof,  that  said  Cutler  has  proved  himself  very  inimical 
to  his  Country,  by  speaking  many  things  very  disrespectful  of  the  Con- 
tinental and  Provincial  Congresses,  and  acting  against  their  resolves ; 
and  by  saying  he  would  assist  Gage;  calling  such,  damned  fools  who 
signed  the  Town  Covenant,  or  Non-consumption  Agreement;  saying,  the 
Acts  of  the  Parliament  were  just  and  righteous,  (meaning  those  which 
tended  to  take  away  our  liberties;)  and  many  other  ways  has  manifested 
his  enmity  to  this  Country,  for  which  he,  said  Cutler,  deserves  severe 
punishment ;  but  he  pleading  the  Resolve  of  this  Congress  to  tolerate 
such  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  Colony  as  were  so  minded  to  go  into 
Boston,  are  humbly  of  the  opinion  he,  said  Ebenezer  Cutler,  have  the 
privilege  of  said  R  solve.  All  which  we  submit  to  the  Congress. 

Not  accepted.  Edward  Mitchell,  Chairman. 

In  Provincial  Congress,  Watertown,  May  23,  1775. 

Wh.ircas  Ebenezer  Culler,  of  Northborough,  hath  been  brought  be- 
fore this  Congress,  charged  with  endeavouring  to  subvert  the  Constitu- 
tion, and  by  words,  from  time  to  time,  for  many  months  past,  in  various 
places,  stirring  up  the  people  to  assist  in  the  execution  of  the  lato  Acts 
of  Parliament,  encouraging  the  people  not  to  submit  to  the  measures 
proposed  by  the  Continental  and  Provincial  Congresses  for  extricating 
these  Colonies  out  of  the  difficultijs  brought  upon  them  by  the  mea- 
sures of  tho  British  Administration  ;  whioh  oharges,  with  others  of  the 
like  nature,  boing  proved  to  be  true,  this  Congress  do  adjudge  the  said 
Ebenezer  Cutler  to  bo  an  implacable  enemy  to  the  liberties  of  his 
Country :  thoroforo, 

Resolved,  That  the  said  Ebenezer  be  committed  to  close  confinement 

in  the  common  Jail  at  ,  until  the  further  ordor  of  this  or  a 

future  Congress ;  and  tho  keeper  of  said  Jail  is  horeby  directed  to  re- 
ceive and  detain  him  accordingly,  and  is  hereby 

dircoted  to  lea  that  this  Resolve  bj  ciriied  into  execution. 

Not  accepted. 


of  them,  shall  have  full  power  to  procure,  upon  the  credit 
of  this  Colony,  in  the  most  frugal  manner,  as  much  Pro- 
vision as  they  shall  find  necessary  to  support  those  poor 
persons  to  the  places  of  their  destination  ;  and  the  said 
Committee  are  further  empowered  to  procure  Teams  to 
carry  such  persons  and  their  effects  to  those  places ;  and 
if  such  Teams  cannot  be  hired,  to  impress  them  for  that 
service  ;  and  all  the  charges  arising  by  the  measures  before 
directed  shall  be  paid  out  of  the  Donations  to  the  Poor 
of  said  Town  of  Boston,  now  in  the  hands  of  the  Com- 
mittee who  were  appointed  to  receive  and  dispose  thereof; 
and  if  that  should  be  insufficient,  the  remainder  shall  be 
paid  by  this  Colony.  And  the  Committee  hereby  ap- 
pointed to  the  service  aforesaid,  are  hereby  directed  to  lay 
before  the  next  Congress  an  account  of  the  charges  arising 
in  pursuance  of  the  above  commission,  that  whatever  shall 
appear  to  be  reasonable  and  just  may  be  liquidated  and 
allowed. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Joseph  Cushing,  Mr.  Ellis,  and 
Mr.  Crane,  be  a  Committee  to  fill  up  and  deliver  to  the 
Colonels  of  each  Regiment  the  Commissions  for  the  Offi- 
cers of  their  respective  Regiments,  when  said  Committee 
shall  be  notified  by  the  Secretary  of  this  Congress  that 
the  Congress  have  approved  of  the  persons  to  be  commis- 
sioned ;  and  that  blank  Commissions  be  put  in  the  hands 
of  said  Committee,  properly  authenticated,  for  that  pur- 
pose ;  and  that  when  said  Commissions  are  filled  up,  they 
be  delivered  by  said  Committee  to  the  Colonel,  on  his  ap- 
plying for  the  same,  he  engaging  he  will  not  deliver  such 
Commissions  to  the  respective  Officers  until  they  shall 
have  taken  the  oath  appointed  to  be  taken  by  them  by 
order  of  this  Congress;  and  that  William  Holden,  Esq., 
be  appointed  to  administer  the  oath  to  the  Officers  sta- 
tioned at  Roxbury,  and  James  Prescolt,  Esquire,  be  ap- 
pointed to  administer  the  oath  to  the  Officers  stationed  at 
Cambridge, 

The  Committee  appointed  to  prepare  an  Address  to  the 
Inhabitants  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay,  relative  to  an  issue 
of  Notes  by  said  Colony,  reported.  The  Address  was  read, 
and  accepted. 

Thursday,  May  25,  1775. 
The  Committee  ordered  to  inspect  the  several  Towns 
and  Districts'  stocks  of  Powder,  and  consider  what  Towns 
are  well  stocked,  and  what  proportion  they  could  spare  for 
the  publick  service,  have  attended  that  business,  and  beg 
leave  to  report  the  following  proportion,  viz : 


Weston,  barrels, 
Westford, 

Groton,  " 
Townsend,  " 
Dracut,  " 
Stow,  " 

Plymouth  County. 

Bridgevvater,  barrels, 
Middleborough,  " 

Worcester  County. 


1 

04 
l 

04 
l 

o* 


Suffolk  County. 

Roxbury,  barrels,  3 

Medficld,  « 

Wrentham,  " 

Stoughton,  " 

Medway,  " 

Walpole,  " 

Essex  County. 

Marblehead,  barrels, 

Newburyport,  " 

Newbury,  " 

Andover,  " 

Haverhill,  " 
Bradford, 

Boxford,  " 

Middlesex  County. 

Cambridge,  barrels, 

Charlestown,  " 

Marlborough,  " 

Framingham,  " 

Littleton,  " 

Chelmsford,  " 

Sudbury,  " 


Daniel  Thurston,  per  order. 
Upon  the  foregoing  Report, 

Ordered,  That  the  Committee  who  brought  in  said  Re- 
port be  directed  to  bring  in  a  Resolve  in  conformity  there- 
to, and  that  it  be  inserted  in  the  Resolve  that  the  Towns 
shall  be  respectively  paid  for  what  Powder  is  drawn  from 
their  several  Towns  stock,  or  have  it  replaced  ;  and  that 


2  Worcester, 

barrels, 

1 

2  Lancaster, 

u 

1 

OJ  Mendon, 

(( 

24 

04  Brookfield, 

ct 

3 

Oxford, 

(C 

14 

Charlton, 

ti 

04 

3  Sutton, 

et 

24 

3$  Loicester, 
3  Westborough, 

it 

1 

<c 

1| 

2  Shrewsbury, 

tt 

24 

04  Lunenburgh, 

(< 

1 

1 4  Bolton, 

« 

] 

2  Total, 

68* 

821 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  MAY,  1775. 


822 


each  Town  be  notified  of  the  quantity  respectively  to  be 
taken  from  its  stock. 

Samuel  Freeman,  Sec'y  pro  tern. 

The  Committee  reported  a  Resolve,  as  directed ;  which 
was  read  and  accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz: 

"  Resolved,  That  there  be  draughted  out  of  the  Town 
stocks  of  Powder,  from  each  respective  Town  before 
named,  the  quantity  of  Powder  affixed  to  the  name  of 
the  Town,  for  the  use  of  the  Army,  in  the  defence  of  the 
Colony,  and  that  it  be  replaced  as  soon  as  the  state  of  the 
Colony  Magazine  will  admit  of  it,  or  otherwise  paid  for  in 
money;  and  that  the  Selectmen  of  each  Town  be  forth- 
with served  with  an  account  of  the  draught  made  on  their 
Town,  and  that  they  immediately  deliver  it  to  the  Com- 
mittee of  Supplies,  or  their  order. 

The  Committee  of  Safety  having  represented  to  this 
Congress  that  considerable  difficulty  exists  in  the  adjust- 
ment of  General  Ward's  Regiment,  in  consequence  of  the 
pretensions  of  Colonel  Joseph  Henshaw  and  Colonel  Jona- 
than Ward  to  the  post  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  in  said  Re- 
giment, it  was  Ordered,  That  said  representation,  as  also 
the  Memorial  of  Colonel  Henshaw,  setting  forth  his  claims 
to  said  post,  be  referred  to  a  Committee.  The  Committee 
having  considered  the  matter,  reported  a  Resolve ;  which 
was  accepted,  and  is  as  follows: 

Resolved,  as  the  opinion  of  this  Congress,  That  Colonel 
Ward  is  best  entitled  to  receive  the  Commission  as  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel of  the  Regiment,  which  right  was  disputed 
by  Lieutenant-Colonel  Henshaw. 

Ordered,  That  the  Honourable  Mr.  Dexter  be  desired 
to  attend  his  duty  on  the  Committee  for  countersigning  the 
Treasurer's  Notes  immediately. 

Mr.  Dexter  transmitted  the  following  Letter  to  the  Con- 
gress, which  was  read : 

Dedham,  May  25, 1775,  P.  M. 

Honourable  Gentlemen  :  I  was  under  a  necessity  to 
come  home  last  evening.  Had  I  been  at  Congress  to-day, 
and  been  as  unwell  as  I  am  at  present,  I  should  have  very 
poorly  performed  my  duty  respecting  the  Notes.  I  found 
myself  so  indisposed  this  morning  that  I  ventured  to  con- 
clude to  tarry  till  to-morrow  morning  at  home.  I  am  in- 
clined to  attend  the  business,  and,  sick  or  well,  will  endea- 
vour to  be  early  at  Watertoxvn  for  that  purpose. 

With  much  regard,  I  am,  gentlemen,  your  very  humble 
servant,  S.  Dexter. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  take  into  consideration  the 
Petition  of  several  persons  at  Roxbury,  reported  verbally, 
That  it  is  the  opinion  of  the  Committee  that  the  said  Pe- 
tition be  sent  to  General  Thomas,  and  that  he  be  directed 
to  inquire  into  the  causes  of  the  complaint  therein  con- 
tained, and  take  proper  measures  for  their  redress. 

The  Report  was  accepted. 

The  Committee  to  whom  was  referred  an  application 
from  the  Officers  of  the  Army  respecting  absconding  Sol- 
diers, reported.  The  Report  was  read  and  accepted,  and 
is  as  follows,  viz  : 

Whereas  application  hath  been  made  to  this  Congress, 
by  some  of  the  Officers  of  the  Army,  that  some  effectual 
method  may  be  taken  for  the  speedy  return  of  absconding 
Soldiers,  or  such  as  shall  tarry  beyond  the  time  limited  by 
furlough  : 

Therefore,  Resolved,  That  it  be,  and  it  hereby  is  recom- 
mended to  the  Committees  of  Correspondence  in  the  sev- 
eral Towns  and  Districts  in  this  Colony,  or  to  the  Select- 
men, where  no  such  Committees  are  appointed,  that  they 
take  effectual  care  that  such  absconding  or  delinquent  Sol- 
diers be  immediately  sent  back  to  their  respective  Regi- 
ments. 

Friday,  May  26,  1775. 
The  Honourable  Joseph  Haivley,  from  the  Committee 
appointed  to  prepare  a  Letter  to  the  Provincial  Congress 
of  JSeu>- York,  now  sitting  in  that  Colony,  reported;  the 
Letter  was  accepted,  and  ordered  to  be  forwarded.  [See 
Folio  715.] 

The  Committee  to  whom  was  referred  the  Letter  of  the 
Honourable  James  Russell,  reported  the  following  Resolve, 
which  was  accepted : 

Resolved,  That  the  Honourable  James  Russell,  Esq.,  be, 
and  he  hereby  is  directed,  immediately  to  call  in  all  the 


publick  Moneys  committed  to  his  care  as  Impost  Officer, 
and  pay  the  same  to  Henry  Gardner,  Esq.,  the  Receiver- 
General  of  this  Province. 

It  having  been  represented  to  this  Congress,  that  it  would 
be  agreeable  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  Colony  of  New- 
llampshire,  that  the  Post-Rider  on  the  road  from  Cam- 
bridge to  Haverhill  should  extend  his  route  to  the  Town 
of  Exeter,  to  meet  the  Post-Rider  from  Portsmouth  to  that 
place,  and  a  Post-Office  having  been  appointed  at  Exeter 
by  the  inhabitants  of  New-Hampshire : 

Resolved,  That  the  route  of  the  Post-Rider  from  Cam- 
bridge be  extended  to  said  Exeter,  so  long  as  it  shall 
be  found  to  be  expedient,  or  until  the  Massachusetts  or 
New-Hampshire  Congress,  or  future  House  of  Represen- 
tatives, shall  otherwise  order. 

Whereas  it  appears  to  this  Congress,  that  although  divers 
able-bodied  and  effective  men  who  have  enlisted  into  the 
Massachusetts  Army,  are  either  not  furnished  with  Arms 
and  Accoutrements,  or  with  such  only  as  are  insufficient  f  r 
use,  yet  that  it  will  be  for  the  publick  service  that  such 
men  be  accepted  :  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  the  Resolve  of  this  Congress  passed  the 
6th  instant,  be  so  far  reconsidered,  that  the  Muster-Mas- 
ters be,  and  they  hereby  are  directed  to  accept  of  all  such 
able-bodied  and  effective  men,  and  muster  them  accordingly, 
any  thing  contained  in  the  aforementioned  Resolve  to  the 
contrary  notwithstanding;  and  the  several  Muster-Masters 
be,  and  hereby  are  directed  to  make  a  return  to  this  or 
some  future  Congress,  or  House  of  Representatives,  of  the 
names  of  such  Soldiers  as  shall  be  found  deficient  in  Arms 
and  Accoutrements,  and  also  of  the  names  of  the  Towns 
to  which  they  shall  belong  respectively. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  of  the  foregoing  Resolution  be 
sent  to  each  Muster-Master. 

Upon  a  representation  of  the  Committee  of  Safety  that 
Mr.  Jonathan  Brewer,  of  Waltham,  has,  contrary  to  the 
orders  of  the  said  Committee,  undertaken  to  enlist  a  Com- 
pany of  Rangers,  has  made  use  of  artifices  and  impositions 
to  obtain  said  enlistments ;  and  that  he  has  also  seized  and 
retained  possession  of  horses  and  certain  real  estate,  the 
private  property  of  various  individuals,  and  converted  the 
same  to  his  own  use,  whereby  he  has  disqualified  himself 
for  the  command  of  a  Regiment;  it  was 

Ordered,  That  the  matter  be  referred  to  Dr.  Perkins, 
Mr.  Kollock,  and  Mr.  Bent. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  of  the  charges 
alleged  against  Mr.  Jonathan  Brewer,  by  the  honourable 
Committee  of  Safety,  having  attended  that  service,  beg 
leave  to  report  the  defence  of  said  Brewer,  viz :  That  he, 
the  said  Brewer,  absolutely  denies  the  charge  of  seducing 
men  belonging  to  other  corps  to  enlist  in  his  Regiment,  or 
any  of  the  Companies  thereof.  As  to  the  taking  the  horses 
of  Colonels  Jones  and  Taylor,  he  acknowledges  his  thus 
doing,  and  thinks  himself  justified  therein,  by  furthering  the 
service  of  the  Province  in  which  he  was  engaged  ;  that  he 
had  used  them  some  time  past  in  that  way,  and  on  Satur- 
day last  past  had  returned  Jones's  horse. 

He  also  owns  the  leasing  part  of  said  Jones's  estate,  and 
taking  security,  which  security,  he  says,  was  in  the  keep- 
ing of  one  Captain  Butler;  that  he  had  proceeded  in  the 
affair  merely  from  a  principle  of  saving  the  improvement  of 
one  Mr.  Jennison,  (whose  lands  were  contiguous  to  those 
of  said  Jones,)  and  which  were  exposed,  by  a  neglect  of 
said  Jones  in  keeping  up  sufficient  fences.  Said  Jennison 
(as  Breiver  says)  supposing  if  he  would  thus  dispose  of 
the  above  leased  land  to  him,  he  could  fence  and  improve 
it  without  molestation.  And  that  the  Committee  can  pro- 
ceed no  further,  unless  they  are  enabled,  by  hearing  the  full 
of  the  evidence  supposed  to  support  the  complaint. 

Per  order:        Richard  Perkins,  Chairman. 

Monday,  May  29,  1775. 

The  Committee  to  whom  were  referred  the  Papers  re- 
lating to  Jonathan  Brewer,  reported.  The  Report  was 
accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz  : 

Resolved,  That  the  Papers  respecting  Jonathan  Breiver 
be  transmitted  by  the  Secretary  to  the  Committee  of  Safe- 
ty, to  be  by  them  acted  upon  in  such  a  manner  as  they 
think  fit,  so  far  as  to  determine  on  the  expediency  of  re- 
commending, or  not  recommending  him,  to  this  Congress, 
as  an  Officer  of  the  Army  now  raising  in  this  Colony. 


823 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  MAY,  1775. 


821 


RETURN  OF  COLONEL  READ'S  REGIMENT,  MAY  18,  1775. 

Joseph  Read,  Colonel ;  Ebenezer  Clapp,  Lieutenant-Col- 
onel; Calvin  Smith,  Major ;  Ilezckiah  Chapman,  Chap- 
lain ;  John  Holden,  Adjutant ;  William  Jennison,  Quar- 
termaster ;  Levi  IVillard,  Surgeon ;  Joseph  Adams, 
Surgeon's  Mate.  • 

Captains.  Lieutenants.  Ensigns. 

Oliver  Pond,         W.  Messenger,      Elias  Bacon. 
Samuel  Payson,     Royal  Kollock,      Enoch  Ilewens. 
Andrew  Peters,      Levi  Aldrich,         William  Daling. 
William  Briggs,     Simeon  Leach,      Jed.  South  worth. 
Seth  Bullard,         Thomas  Potter,      Ezekiel  Plympton. 
Samuel  Warren,     Joseph  Cody,        Geo.  Whipple. 
David  Baeheller,    Benjamin  Fairer,   Robert  Taft. 
Samuel  Cobb,        Japheth  Daniels,    Amos  Ellis. 
Moses  Knap,         Nehemiah  While,  Benjamin  Capron. 
Edward  Seagrove,  Job  Knapp,  Peter  Taft. 

Officers,  30;  Men,  564  ;  Total,  594. 

W  ate;  town,  May  24,  1775. 

Received  the  Commissions  for  the  officers  above-men- 
tioned. Joseph  Read,  Colonel. 

CENERAL  WARD'S  REGIMENT. 

Jonathan  Ward,  Lieutenant-Colonel ;  Edward  Barnes, 
Major;  Timothy  Bigelow,  Second  Major;  James  Hart, 
Adjutant ;  William  Boyd,  Quartermaster. 

Captains.  Lieutenants.  Ensigns. 

Josiah  Fay,   

Seth  Washburn,     Joseph  Livermore,  Lowning  Lincoln. 

Job  dishing,         Ezra  Beaman,        Asa  Rice. 

Daniel  Barnes,       William  Morse,      Paul  Brigham. 

James  Miller,         Abel  Perry,  Aaron  Abby. 

Luke-Drury,         Asaph  Sherman,    Jonas  Brown. 

Jonas  Hubbard,     John  Smith,  William  Gales. 

Samuel  Wood,       Timothy  Brigham,  Thomas  Seaver. 

Moses  Wheelock,  Thomas  Bond,      Obadiah  Mann. 
Total,  Officers  and  Privates,  440. 

In  Provincial  Congress,  Watertown,  May  23,  1775. 

Resolved,  That  Commissions  be  given  out  to  General 
Ward's  Regiment,  agreeable  to  the  above  List. 

Saml.  Freeman,  Secretary  pro  tern. 

COLONEL  LEARNED's  REGIMENT. 

J.  Danforth  Keys,  Lieutenant-Colonel ;  Jonathan  Holl- 
man,  Major;   Bannister,  Adjutant. 

Captains.  Lieutenants.  Ensigns. 

Peter  Harwood,  Asa  Danforth,  Benjamin  Pollard. 

Adam  Martin,  Abel  Mason,  Benjamin  Felton. 

John  Granger,  Matthew  Gray,  Stephen  Gorham. 

Joel  Greene,  David  Prouty,  Thomas  Fish. 

Samuel  Billings,  Barnabas  Sears,  John  Howard. 

Win,  Campbell,  Reuben  Davis,  William  Polly. 

Arthur  Doggett,  Jonathan  Caroll,   

Nathaniel  Healy,  Salem  Town,   

Samuel  Curtis,  Samuel  Learned,   

Isaac  Bolster,  John  Hasleton,   

In  Provincial  Congress,  Watertown,  May  23,  1775. 

Resolved,  That  Commissions  be  given  to  the  Officers  of 
Col.  I*earned's  Regiment,  agreeable  to  the  above  list. 

COLONEL  WALKER'S  REGIMENT,  MAY  23,  1775. 

Timothy  Walker,  Colonel ;  Nathaniel Leonai  /!,  Lieutenant- 
Colonel;  Abel  Mitchell,  Major;  Mason  Shaw,  Adjutant; 
Daniel  Park,  Surgeon  ;  Jacob  Fuller,  Quartermaster. 

Captains.  Lieutenants.  Ensigns. 

John  Perry,  John  Paine,  James  Bucklin. 

Silas  Cobb,  Isaac  Smith,  Isaac  Fisher. 

Macy  Williams,     Samuel  Lane,        John  Cook. 
Caleb  Richardson,  Enoch  Robinson,    Solomon  Stanley. 
Oliver  Soaper,       Simeon  Cobb,       Thomas  Williams. 
Saml.  Tubbs,  Jun.,  John  Shaw,  Joel  Stubbs. 

Samuel  Bliss,        Aaron  Walker,      Joseph  Allen. 
Francis  Liscomb,   Matthew  Randall,  Seth  Pratt. 
Peter  Pitts,  Zebedoe  Raidcan.  Henry  Brings. 

John  King,  Noah  Hall,  Abin.  Hathaway. 

Total,  Officers  and  Privates,  562. 


In  Provincial  Congress,  M.iy  24,  1775. 

Ordered,  That  the  Officers  of  Colonel  Walker's  Regi- 
ment be  commissioned,  agreeable  to  the  foregoing  list. 

Saml.  Freeman,  Secretary. 

COLONEL  SCAMMON'S  REGIMENT,  MAY  23,  1775. 

Johnson  Molton,  Lieutenant-Colonel ;  David  Wood,  Ma- 
jor;  George  Madison,  Adjutant ;  Samuel  iSasson,  Quar- 
termaster. 


Captains. 

Philip  Hubbard, 
Jesse  Dormon, 
Joshua  Bragdon, 
Samuel  Darby, 
Jeremiah  Hill, 
Tobias  Farrell, 


Lieutenants. 

Jedediah  Goodwin, 
Daniel  Merill, 
Morgan  Lues, 
James  Donncll, 
Samuel  Merill, 
Thomas  Cattes, 


Ensigns. 

James  Roberts. 
Joseph  Pettingil 
Moses  Sweet. 
Joshua  Frafton. 
Peter  Page. 
Parker  Foster. 
Nathan  Lord. 
Edward  Low. 
Jer.  Littlefleld. 
William  Frost. 


Ebenezer  Sullivan,  Thomas  Butler, 
Jonathan  Nowell,  Thomas  Nowell, 
Samuel  Sawyer,     William  Cupont, 
Samuel  Lather,      William  Furnell, 
Total  rank  and  file,  512. 

In  Provincial  Congress,  Watertown,  June  2,  1775. 
Ordered,  That  Commissions  be  given  to  the  Officers  of 
Colonel  Scammon's  Regiment,  (except  those  Captains  who 
have  already  received  their  commissions,)  agreeable  to  the 
above  list.  Saml.  Freeman,  Secretary. 


COLONEL  PRESCOTT's  REGIMENT,  MAY  25,  1775. 

William  Prescott,  Colonel ;  John  Robinson,  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  ;  Henry  Wood,  Major ;  William  Green,  Adju- 
tant. 

Captains.  Captains.  Captains. 

Henry  Farwell,  Asa  Lawrence,  AbijahWyman, 

Hugh  Maxwell,  Elpt.  Dinsmore,  Timo.  Woodward, 

John  Nutting,  Samuel  Patch,  Joseph  Moor. 

Joshua  Parker,  Oliver  Parker. 

Total,  Officers  and  Soldiers,  483. 

Wm.  Green,  Adjutant. 

In  Provincial  Congress,  May  26,  1775. 
Ordered,  That  Commissions  be  given  to  Colonel  Wil- 
liam Prescott' s  Regiment,  agreeable  to  the  above  list. 

In  Committee  of  Safety,  Cambridge,  June  22,  1775. 

It  is  recommended  to  the  honourable  the  Provincial 
Congress,  that  Samuel  Patch,  in  Colonel  William  Pres- 
cott's  Regiment,  be  commissioned  as  a  Captain ;  and 
Zachary  Walker  and  Joshua  Brown,  as  Lieutenants  in 
said  Company.  Wm,  Cooper,  Secretary. 

In  Committee  of  Safety,  Cambridge,  June  23,  1775. 
It  is  recommended  to  the  honourable  the  Provincial 
Congress,  that  the  following  Officers  in  Colonel  Prescott's 
Regiment  be  commissioned,  viz: 

Ebenezer  Spalding  First  Lieutenant,  Thomas  Rogers  Se- 
cond Lieutenant,  in  Captain  Parker's  Company. 

John  Williams  First  Lieutenant,  Thomas  Spalding  Second 
Lieutenant,  in  Captain  Lawrence's  Company. 

Benjamin  Ball  Second  Lieutenant,  in  Captain  FarweWs 
Company. 

John  Mosher  Second  Lieutenant,  in  Captain  Nutting's 
Company. 

Thomas  Cummings  Second  Lieutenant,  in  Captain  Wy- 

man's  Company. 
Joseph  Baker  Second  Lieutenant,  in  Captain  Gilbert's 

Company.  William  Cooper,  Secretary. 

In  Provincial  Congress,  Juno  25,  1775. 

Ordered,  That  Commissions  be  delivered  to  the  above 
Officers.  Attest :       Saml.  Freeman,  Secretary. 


COLONEL  COTTON'S  REGIMENT,  STATIONED  IN  ROXBURY. 

Sta If  Officers. — Dr.  William  Thomas,  Surgeon;  John 
Thomas,  Surgeon's  Mate  ;  John  Cotton,  Junior,  Quar- 
termaster; Joshua  Thomas,  Adjutant. 


825 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  MAY,  1775. 


826 


Captains. 

Thomas  Mayhew, 
Earl  Clap, 
John  Bradford, 
John  Brigham, 
Joshua  Benson, 
Isaac  Wood, 
Peleg  Wadsworth, 
Amos  Wade, 
Jno.  Bradford, 
Edw.  Hammond, 


Lieutenants. 
Nathaniel  Lewis, 
Isaac  Pope, 
Jesse  Sturtefant, 
Edward  Sparrow, 
Wm.  Thompson, 
Abiel  Tounshend, 
Seth  Drew, 
Archelaus  Cole, 
Andrew  Sampson, 
Timothy  Ruggles, 


Ensigns. 

Benjamin  Warren. 
Charles  Church. 
Thomas  Sampson. 
Nehemiah  Cobb. 
James  Smith. 
Foxwell  Thomas. 
Joseph  Sampson. 
Lemuel  Wood. 
Judah  Allen. 
Nathan  Sears. 


In  Provincial  Congress,  Watertown,  M.iy  2G,  1775. 

Resolved,  That  Commissions  be  delivered  the  Officers 
of  Colonel  Cotton's  Regiment,  agreeable  to  the  above  list. 

Saml.  Freeman,  Secretary  pro  tern. 

In  Provincial  Congress,  May  27,  1775. 
Ordered,  That  Commissions  be  delivered  to  Ichabod 
Aldcn,  Esquire,  Lieutenant-Colonel,  and  Ebenezer  Sprout, 
Junior,  Major,  of  Colonel  Theophilus  Cotton's  Regiment. 

Saml.  Freeman,  Secretary  pro  tern. 

COLONEL  FRy's  REGIMENT,  MAY  26,  1775. 

James  Fry,  Colonel;  James  Brickett.  Lieutenant-Colonel; 
Thomas  Poor,  Major;  Daniel  Hardy,  Adjutant ;  Tho- 
mas Kilteridge,  Surgeon  ;  Benjamin  Foster,  Quarter- 
master ;  Benjamin  Vamum,  Surgeon's  Mate. 

Lieutenants.  Ensigns. 
Benj.  Farnham, 
Samuel  Johnson, 
David  Chandler,    Isaac  Abbot. 
Nathaniel  Herrick,  Eliphalet  Bodwill 
John  Robinson,      Benjamin  Pearly. 
Thomas  Stickney,  Eliphalet  Hardy. 
Timothy  Johnson,  Nathaniel  Eaton. 


Captains. 

Thomas  Poor,  < 

Benjamin  Ames, 
John  Davis, 
William  Pearly, 
Nathaniel  Gage, 
James  Sawyer, 
Jonathan  Evans, 
John  Courier, 
Jonas  Richardson, 
William  Hudson, 


Cyrus  Marble. 


Captains.  Lieutenants.  Ensigns. 

William  Read,       Samuel  Brown,      Solomon  Shaw. 
Josiab  Hayden,      Zachariah  Gurney,  Joseph  Cole,  Jr. 
Daniel  Lothrop,     Ephraim  Jackson,  Abner  Howard. 

Elisha  Crooker,    Jacob  Rogers. 

Total,  Officers  and  Privates,  596. 


COLONEL  BRIDGE  S  REGIMENT. 

Moses  Parker,  Lieutenant-Colonel ;  John  Brooks,  Major  ; 
Joseph  Fox,  Adjutant. 

Captains.  Lieutenants.  Ensigns. 

John  Stickney,      Elijah  Danforth,     John  Levis. 
John  Batchelder,    Eben.  Damon,       James  Bancroft. 
Peter  Coburn,       Josiah  Foster,       Eben.  Varnum. 
Benjamin  Walker,  John  Flint,  Eben.  Fitch. 

Eben.  Bancroft,     Nathaniel  Holman,  Samuel  Brown. 
John  Ford,  Isaac  Parker,        Jonas  Parker. 

In  Provincial  Congress,  Watertown,  May  27,  1775. 
Ordered,  That  Commissions  be  given  to  the  Officers  ot 
Colonel  Bridge's  Regiment,  agreeable  to  the  above  named 
list.  Saml.  Freeman,  Secretary  pro  tern. 

colonel  Mansfield's  regiment. 


John  Merritt,        Reuben  Evans. 
Wells  Chasse,        ....  Reed. 

....  Fox,   

Ballard  Foller,   

Whole  number,  556. 

In  Provincial  Congress,  June  8,  1775. 
Ordered,  That  a  Commission  be  delivered  to  Thomas 
Poor,  Esquire,  as  Major  of  the  Regiment  of  Colonel  Fry. 

Saml.  Freeman,  Secretary. 

colonel  Patterson's  regiment. 
Field  Officers. — John  Patterson,  Colonel ;  Seth  Read, 

Lieutenant-Colonel ;  Jeremiah  Cady,  Major. 
Staff  Officers  not  returned. 

Captains.  Lieutenants.  Ensigns. 

Samuel  Shelton,     John  Bacon,  Nahum  Powers. 

William  Wyman,    Samuel  Chapin,  Enos  Parker. 

Joseph  Moss,         William  Boudin,   

Samuel  Sloan,       Zebediah  Sabins,  

Charles  Dibbell,     Simeon  Smith,  Peter  White. 

William  Goodrich,  David  Pixley,   

David  Noble,         Joseph  Wilche,  Josiah  Wright. 

Thomas  Williams,  Orange  Stoddard,   Ashley. 

Nathan  Watkins,    William  Clark,  Samuel  Wilcocks. 
Total,  496. 

In  Provincial  Congress,  May  27,  1775. 

Ordered,  That  Commissions  be  delivered  to  the  Offi- 
cers of  Colonel  Patterson's  Regiment,  agreeable  to  the 
above  list.  Saml.  Freeman,  Secretary. 

general  john  thomas's  regiment. 
John  Bayley,  Jun.,  Lieutenant-Colonel ;  Thomas  Mitchell, 
John  Jacobs,  Majors  ;  Lemuel  Gushing,  Surgeon  ;  Gad 
Hitchcock,  Surgeon's  Mate ;  Luther  Bayley,  Adjutant ; 
Adam  Bayley,  Quartermaster. 

Captains.  Lieutenants. 

James  Allen,         Jacob  Allen, 
Amos  Turner,       Prince  Studson, 
Saml.  Stockbridge,  At  wood  Motte, 
Nathl.  Winslow,    Joshua  Jacobs, 
Fred. Chamberlain,  John  Turner,  Jr., 
Eleazer  Hamblin,  Amos  Shaw, 


Ensigns. 

Perez  Warren. 
Joshua  Barstow. 
Caleb  Nicholson. 
Nathl.  Chitonson. 
John  Seavill. 
Increase  Robinson. 


Captains. 

Ezra  Newell, 
Enoch  Putnam, 
Ebenezer  Francis, 
Asa  Prince, 
Benjamin  Kimball, 
Thomas  Barnes, 
Adn.  Richardson, 
John  Low, 
Gideon  Foster, 
Nathan  Brown, 


Lieutenants. 

Zadock  Buffington, 
John  Dodge, 
James  Bancroft, 
John  LTpton, 
Job  Whipple, 
Nathaniel  Cleaves, 
Francis  Fox, 
Stephen  Wilkins, 
Bill.  Porter, 
Ephraim  Emerson. 


Ensigns. 
John  Reese. 
Benjamin  Craft. 
James  Matthews. 
Simeon  Tufts. 
Benjamin  Gardner. 
Joseph  Herrick. 
Frederick  Breed. 
Archel.  Batchelor. 
Harfail  White. 
.  .  .  .  Downing. 


In  Provincial  Congress,  May  27,  1775. 
Ordered,  That  Commissions  be  delivered  to  the  Cap- 
tains of  Colonel  Mansfield' s  Regiment,  agreeable  to  the 
above  list.  Saml.  Freeman,  Secretury  pro  tern. 

In  Provincial  Congress,  June  7,  1775. 

Ordered,  That  Commissions  be  delivered  to  the  Offi- 
cers, Lieutenants,  and  Ensigns  of  Col.  Mansfield' s  Regi- 
ment, agreeable  to  the  above  list. 

Saml.  Freeman,  Secretary  pro  tern. 

colonel  danielson's  regiment,  may  27,  1775. 

Timothy  Danielson,  Colonel ;  William  Shepherd,  Lieute- 
nant-Colonel ;  David  Leonard,  Major ;  William  Too- 
good,  Adjutant ;  William  Young,  Quartermaster  ;  Da- 
vid Shcphard,  Surgeon. 

Captains.  Lieutenants.  Ensign". 

Sylvanus  Walker,  Esau  Coburn,   

Enos  Chanin,        Samuel  Flower,     Luke  Day. 
Joseph  Thompson,  Caleb  Keep,         John  Carpenter. 
Warham  Parks,     J.  Shepperd,  Jr.,   Richard  Falley. 
Libbeus  Ball,        Samuel  Bancroft,   Levy  Dunham. 

Paul  Langdon,       Daniel  Cadwell,   

Gideon  Burst,     

John  Farguison,     David  Hambleton,  

Jonathan Bardwell,  William  Gillmore,  Moses-How. 

In  Provincial  Congress,  May  27,  1775. 
Ordered,  That  Commissions  be  given  to  Col.  Timothy 
Danielson's  Regiment,  agreeable  to  the  above  list. 

Saml.  Freeman,  Secretary  pro  tern. 

COLONEL  FELLOWS'S  REGIMENT,  MAY  31,  1775. 

Field  Officers. — John  Fellou-s,  Colonel ;  Nathan  Eager, 
Lieutenant-Colonel ;  Benjamin  Tupjjer,  Major. 


Captains. 
William  King, 
Jonathan  Allen, 
Israel  Chapin, 
William  Baron, 


Lieutenants. 

Samuel  Brewer, 
Oliver  Lyman, 
Perez  Bardwell, 
John  Hubbard. 


Ensigns. 
Gamaliel  Whiting. 
Jonathan  Stearns. 
William  Watson. 
Michael  Loomis. 


827 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  MAY,  1775. 


828 


Ensigns. 

Solomon  Deming. 
Everton  Bostwick. 
Daniel  Kirkland. 

Samuel  Allen. 


Captains.  Lieutenants. 

Moses  Soul,          Noah  Allen, 
Robert  Webster,    Christ.  Banister, 
Ebr.  Pomeroy,      ....  Wallis, 
Abel  Thayer,        Joseph  Warner, 
Ebenezcr  Webber,  S.  Bartlett, 
Simeon  Hazelton,  George  Blake,   

Total  Officers  and  Soldiers,  548. 

In  Provincial  Congress,  Watcrtown,  June  7,  1775. 

Ordered,  That  Commissions  be  delivered  to  the  Offi- 
cers of  Colonel  Fellows' s  Regiment,  agreeable  to  the  above 
list.  Saml.  Fkeeman,  Secretary. 


COLONEL  THOMAS  GARDNER  S  REGIMENT. 

W  illiam  Bond,  Lieut.  Colonel ;  Michael  Jackson,  Major. 


Lieutenants.  Ensigns. 
William  Maynard,  Joseph  Muier. 
Josiah  Warren,      Aaron  Richardson. 
Nathan  Smith,       John  George. 
Caleb  Brooks,       Samuel  Cutter. 
BartholomewTroWjThomas  Miller. 
Josiah  Swan,         John  Child. 
Solomon  Bowman,  Jedediah  Thayer. 
Ebenezer  Brattle,  Stephen  Frost. 


Captains. 

Thomas  Downy, 
Phineas  Cook, 
Nathan  Fuller, 
Jsaac  Hall, 
Josiah  Harris, 
Abner  Craft, 
Abijah  Child, 
Benjamin  Lock, 

Moses  Draper,     

Nailor  Hatch,   

The  Committee  of  Safety  hereby  certify  the  honourable 
Congress,  that  they  approve  the  above  named  Officers,  and 
recommend  it  to  the  honourable  Congress,  that  they  be 
commissioned  accordingly. 

William  Cooper,  Secretary. 

In  Provincial  Congress,  Watertown,  Juno  2,  1775. 
Ordered,  That  Commissions  be  delivered  to  the  Offi- 
cers of  Colonel  Gardner's  Regiment,  agreeable  to  the 
above  list.  Saml.  Freeman,  Secretary. 


Camp  No.  2,  Cambridge,  June  30,  1775. 
This  may  certify,  that  we,  the  subscribers,  being  chosen 
Officers  of  a  Minute  Company,  in  Bolton,  have  taken  or- 
ders to  raise  a  Company  in  the  present  Army ;  and  having 
fifty-three  able-bodied,  effective  men,  fit  for  service,  in  our 
Company,  and  having  done  duty  in  Colonel  Whitcomb's 
Regiment  from  our  first  taking  out  orders,  we  desire  that 
we  may  be  commissioned  under  the  above  said  Colonel, 
which  was  the  expectation  of  the  Company. 

Benjamin  Hastings,  Captain. 

Jonathan  Haughton,  Lieutenant. 

Jonathan  Meriam,  Second  Lieutenant. 
To  the  Honourable  the  Provincial  Congress. 

In  Committee  of  Safety,  Cambridge,  June  30,  1775. 

It  is  recommended  to  the  honourable  the  Provincial 
Congress,  that  Sajnuel  West,  above  named,  be  commis- 
sioned as  Second  Lieutenant,  in  Captain  Aimer  Cranston's 
Company,  in  Colonel  Asa  Whitcomb's  Regiment. 

William  Cooper,  Secretary. 

COLONEL  DOOLITTLE'S  REGIMENT,  JUNE  12,  1775. 
Captains.  Lieutenants.  Ensigns. 

Joel  Fletcher,  John  Wheeler,      Jonas  Proctor. 

Adam  Wheeler,  Elijah  Stearns,       Adam  Maynard. 

John  Holman,  John  Bowkin,        David  Poor. 

John  Jones,  Samuel  Thompson,  

Robert  Oliver,  Thomas  Grover,    Abraham  Pennel. 

Abel  Wilder,  Jonas  Allen,  Daniel  Pike. 

In  Committee  of  Safety,  Cambridge,  June  12,  1775. 
The  within  mentioned  Captains  and  Subalterns  in  Col. 
Doolitile's  Regiment  are  recommended  to  be  commissioned. 

Benjamin  White,  Chairman. 

In  Provincial  Congress,  June  12,  1775. 

Ordered,  That  Commissions  be  delivered  to  the  Offi- 
cers of  Col.  Doolittle's  Regiment,  agreeable  to  the  above 
list.  Samuel  Freeman,  Secretary. 


COLONEL  ASA  WHITCOMB'S  REGIMENT,  JUNE  3,  1775. 


Captains. 
John  Fuller, 
Eph.  Richardson, 
James  Burt, 
David  Wilder, 
Andrew  Haskell, 
Robert  Lan<;ley, 
Agrippa  Wells, 
Jonathan  Davis, 
Abner  Cranston, 
Edmond  Bemis, 


Lieutenants. 

Ebenezer  Bridge, 
Seth  Hayward, 
Ebenezer  Woods, 
Jonathan  Quits, 
John  Kindrick, 
Sylvanus  Smith, 
Jacob  Poole, 
Elisha  Fallum, 
John  Wyman, 
John  Hore, 


Ensigns. 

Jared  Smith. 
Ephraim  Boynton. 
Jabez  Keep. 
Timothy  Boutall. 
Jonathan  Sawyer. 
Ephraim  Smith. 
Ezekiel  Foster. 
John  Meed. 
Benjamin  West. 
David  Foster. 


In  Committee  of  Safety,  Cambridge,  June  9,  1775. 

We  recommend  to  the  honourable  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress, that  the  within  Officers,  belonging  to  Colonel  Whit- 
comb's Regiment,  may  be  commissioned,  if  the  Congress 
have  no  objection.         Benjamin  White,  Chairman. 

In  Congress,  Juno  10,  1775. 

Resolved,  That  the  gentlemen  above  named  be  com- 
missioned. Jas.  Warren. 

Cambridge,  Juno  30,  1775. 

A  list  of  the  Staff  Officers  and  Commissioned  Officers,  in 
Col.  Asa  Whitcomb's  Regiment,  not  commissioned. 

Staff. — Jeremiah  Gage,  Adjutant ;  Jeremiah  Laughton, 
Quartermaster  ;  William  Dunsmore,  Doctor. 

Samuel  West,  Second  Lieutenant  in  Captain  Abner 
Cransto?i's  Company,  in  the  place  of  him  that  was  killed  at 
the  fight  at  Charlestown. 

N.  B.  I  have  a  full  Regiment,  exclusive  of  Benjamin 
Hastings,  who  has  fifty-three  in  his  Company  ;  and  he  has 
done  duty  with  me,  and  declines  joining  any  other  Regi- 
ment; and  I  desire  that  the  Officers  of  that  Company,  viz  : 
Benjamin  Hastings,  Captain  ;  Jonathan  Haughton,  Lieu- 
tenant :  Jonathan  Meriam,  Second  Lieutenant,  may  be 
commissioned,  and  join  my  Regiment. 

Asa  Whitcomb. 


COLONEL  WOODBRIDGE's  REGIMENT,  JUNE  16,  1775. 

Abijah  Brown,  Lieutenant-Colonel ;  William  Stacy,  Major. 

Captains.  Lieutenants.  Ensigns. 

Reubn.  Dickinson,  Zaccheus  Croaker,  Dal.  Shay. 
Noadiah  Leonard,  Zariah  Smith,        Samuel  Gould. 
Stephen  Pearl,       Aaron  Rowley,      Abner  Pease. 

David  Cowden,   

John  Cowls,     

Ichabod  Dexter,     Tho.  Goodenough,  John  Mayo. 

John  King,     

Seth  Murray   Total,  363. 

In  Committee  of  Safely,  Cambridge,  June  21,  1775. 
Colonel  Woodbridgc  having  satisfied  this  Committee 
that  the  above  eight  Companies  are  in  good  forwardness, 
it  is  recommended  to  the  honourable  Congress  that  said 
Regiment  be  commissioned  accordingly. 

Benjamin  White,  Chairman. 

In  Provincial  Congress,  June  21,  1775. 
Ordered,  That  Commissions  be  delivered  to  the  Officers 
of  Col.  Woodbridge's  Regiment,  agreeable  to  the  above 
list.  Samuel  Freeman,  Secretary. 

In  Committee  of  Safety.  Cambridge,  July  3,  1775. 
It  is  recommended  to  the  honourable  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress, that  Asa  Barnes  be  commissioned  as  a  Captain  in 
Col.  Woodbridge's  Regiment,  Caleb  Smith  as  Lieutenant 
in  said  Company,  Timothy  Bead  as  Second  Lieutenant; 
also  William  Smith  as  Third  Lieutenant,  and  Oliver  Wag- 
get  as  Second  Lieutenant  in  Captain  King's  Company,  of 
said  Woodbridge's  Regiment. 

William  Cooper,  Secretary. 

COLONEL  JOHN  GLOVER's  REGIMENT,  JUNE  15,  177"). 


Captiins. 

William  Lee, 
William  Curtis, 
William  Bacon, 
Thomas  Grant, 


Lieutenants. 
John  Glover, 
Robert  Harris, 
William  Mills, 
William  Bubier, 


Ensigns. 
Edward  Archbald. 
Thomas  Courts. 
Suard  Lee. 
Ebenezer  Graves. 


829 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  MAY,  1775. 


830 


Ensigns. 

Joshua  Orne. 
J.  Devereaux,  Jr. 
Nathaniel  Pearce. 
Robert  Nimblett. 
Edward  Holman. 
Geonje  Lignerass. 


Captains.  Lieutenants. 

Joel  Smith,  John  Bray, 

Nich.  Broughton,   John  Stacey, 
William  Bleeker,   Nathaniel  Clark, 
John  Merritt,        Joshua  Prentice, 
John  Selmon,        Isaac  Collyer, 
Francis  Simonds,   William  Russell, 

Total  number  of  men,  505. 

In  Committee  of  Safety,  Cambridge,  June  22,  1775. 

The  above  Officers  being  approved  of  by  this  Committee, 
are  recommended  to  the  honourable  Congress  to  be  com- 
missioned. N.  Gushing,  per  order. 

In  Provincial  Congress,  June  23,  1775. 
Ordered,  That  the  Officers  in  the  above  list  be  com- 
missioned, except  Captain  William  Lee,  his  Lieutenant, 
and  Ensign.  Sam.  Fkeeman,  Secretary. 

COLONEL  NIXON'S  REGIMENT. 
Captains.  Lieutenants.  Ensigns. 

Thomas  Drury,     William  Maynard,  James  Muier. 
Samuel  McCobb,  Benjamin  Patten,  John  Briggs. 

John  Nixon,  Colonel. 

In  Committee  of  Safety,  Cambridge,  June  16,  1775. 

The  above  Officers  are  approved  of,  and  recommended 
to  the  honourable  Congress  to  be  commissioned. 

Benjamin  White,  Chairman. 
In  Provincial  Congress,  June  15,  1775. 

Ordered,  That  Commissions  be  delivered  out  to  the 
above  named  Officers,  in  Colonel  Nixon's  Regiment. 

Attest :  Sam.  Freeman,  Secretary. 

In  Provincial  Congress,  June  16,  1775. 

Ordered,  That  Commissions  be  delivered  to  the  follow- 
in?  Officers  in  Colonel  Nixon's  Regiment,  viz:  Ebenezer 
If  inship,  Captain ;  William  Warren,  Lieutenant ;  Richard 
Buckminster,  Ensign.         Sam.  Freeman,  Secretary. 

COLONEL  JONATHAN  BREWER'S  REGIMENT. 

William  Buckminster,  Lieutenant-Colonel ;  Nathan.  Cud- 
worth,  Major. 

Captains.  Lieutenants.  Ensigns. 

Isaac  Gray,  Thos.  Willington,  ....  Wilson. 

Edward  Blake,      Abm.  Tuckeman,  John  Ermes. 

John  Black,         Benjamin  Gales,  John  Patrick. 

Daniel  Whiting,     Obadiah  Dewey,   

Thaddeus  Russell,  Nathl.  Maynard,  Nathaniel  Reeves. 

Aaron  Haynes,      Elisha  Brewer,   

Benjamin  Bullard,  Aaron  Gardiner,   

Joseph  Stebbins,   

Total  number  of  men,  371.      J.  Brewer,  Colonel. 

In  Committee  of  Safety,  Cambridge,  June  17,  1775. 
Colonel  Jonathan  Brewer  having  satisfied  this  Com- 
mittee that  there  are  three  hundred  and  twenty-one  men 
in  the  eight  Companies  mentioned  above,  it  is  recommend- 
ed to  the  honourable  Provincial  Congress  that  said  Brew- 
er's Regiment  may  be  commissioned  accordingly. 

Wm.  Cooper,  Secretary. 

In  Provincial  Congress,  June  17,  1775. 
Ordered,  That  a  Commission  be  delivered  to  each  of  the 
Officers  within  named,  except  Capt.  Joseph  Stebbins,  who 
has  but  twenty-one  men  in  his  Company. 

Sam.  Freeman,  Secretary. 


COLONEL  ROBINSON  S  REGIMENT. 


Captains. 

William  Bent, 
Silas  Wild, 
Elijah  Vose, 
Jacob  Gould, 


Captains. 

Job  Cushing, 
Jotham  Loring, 
James  Lincoln, 
Seth  Turner, 


Captains. 
John  Vinton, 
Peter  Procrit, 
Truant  Brantry, 


Total,  rank  and  file,  466. 


Captains. 

Amos  Waldridge, 
Peter  Ingersoll, 
Levi  Rounsevall, 
Malcomb  Henry, 
Jonathan  Dan  forth, 
Isaac  Colton, 
Jona.  Bardwell, 
Abiathar  Angel, 
John  Packard, 


Lieutenants. 

Ithiel  Mungar, 
Silas  Goodrich, 
Henry  Rice, 
John  Gray, 
Joseph  McNall, 
John  Wright, 
William  Gillmore 
Isaac  Warren, 
David  Brewer, 
David 


Ensigns. 

James  Blodgett. 

Thomas  Burnham. 

Lemuel  Taber. 

David  Lackett. 

Lewis  Boen. 

Nathl.  Alexander. 
,  Moses  Howe. 

Simeon  Learned. 

Jonathan  Allen. 
Brewer,  Colonel. 


In  Committee  of  Safety,  Cambridge,  June  17,  1775. 

These  certify  the  Honourable  Congress,  that  Colonel 
David  Brewer  has  satisfied  this  Committee  that  there  are 
in  the  nine  Companies  mentioned  near  five  hundred  men. 
It  is  therefore  recommended  to  Congress  that  said  Brewer's 
Regiment  be  commissioned  accordingly. 

Wm.  Cooper,  Secretary. 

In  Provincial  Congress,  June  17,  1775. 
Ordered,  That  Commissions  be  delivered  to  the  several 
Officers  above  mentioned.     Sam.  Freeman,  Secretary. 

COLONEL  GERRISH's  REGIMENT,  JUNE  22,  1775. 

Loarnmi  Baldwin,  Lieut.  Colonel ;  James  Wessen,  Major  ; 
Christian  Ftbiger,  Adjutant ;  Michael  Farley ,  Quarter- 
master ;  David  Jones,  Surgeon. 

Captains.  Lieutenants.  Ensigns. 

Richard  Dodge,     Robert  Dodge,      Paul  Dodge. 
Barnabas  Dodge,   Matthew  Fairfield,  Joseph  Knight. 
Thomas  Cogswell,  Moses  Danton,      Amos  Cogswell. 
Timothy  Corey,     Thos.  Cummings,  Jonas  Johnson. 
Samuel  Sprague,    Joseph  Cheever,    William  Oliver. 
John  Baker,  Jr.,    Joseph  Pettingill,  Mark  Cressy. 

Thomas  Mighill,    Thomas  Pike,   

Samuel  Gerrish,  Colonel. 

In  Committee  of  Safety,  Cambridge,  June  22,  1775. 
It  is  recommended  to  the  honourable  Congress  that  the 
above  mentioned  Officers  in  Colonel  Gerrish's  Regiment, 
not  already  commissioned,  may  now  receive  their  Com- 
missions. William  Cooper,  Secretary. 

COLONEL  MOSES  LITTLE'S  REGIMENT,  JUNE  26,  1775. 

Isaac  Smith,  Lieutenant-Colonel ;  James  Collins,  Major. 


Second  Lieutenants. 

Thomas  Brown. 
Daniel  Collins. 
Aaron  Parker. 
James  Lord. 


COLONEL  DAVID  BREWER'S  REGIMENT,  JUNE  17,  1775. 

Rufus  Putnam,  Lieutenant-Colonel;  Nathaniel  Daniel- 
son,  Major;  Thomas  Weeks,  Adjutant;  Ebenezer  Wash- 
burn, Quartermaster. 


Captains.  First  Lieutenants. 

Jacob  Gerrish,       Silas  Adams, 
Nathaniel  Warner,  John  Burman, 
Nathaniel  Wade,    Joseph  Wedkins, 
Abraham  Dodge,   Ebenezer  Low, 
John  Baker,  Caleb  Thompson,  Daniel  Draper. 

Ezra  Lunt,  Moses  Kent,         N.  Montgomery. 

Benjamin  Perkins,  James  Whittemore,  William  Stickney. 
Gideon  Parker,      Joseph  Everly,      Moses  Trask. 
Joseph  Robey,      Shubael  Gorham,   Enoch  Parsons. 
Timothy  Brinard,  Paul  Lunt,  Amos  Atkinson. 

Total  number  of  men,  582. 

In  Committee  of  Safety,  June  26,  1775. 

This  Committee  recommend  to  the  honourable  the  Pro- 
vincial Congress  that  the  above  named  Officers,  in  Colonel 
Little's  Regiment,  may  be  commissioned. 

Wm.  Cooper,  Secretary. 

In  Provincial  Congress,  June  27,  1775. 

Ordered,  That  Commissions  be  delivered  to  the  Officers 
of  Colonel  Little's  Regiment,  agreeable  to  the  above  list. 
Attest :  Sam.  Freeman,  Secretary. 

Cambridge  Camp,  June  30,  1775. 

To  the  Honourable  Provincial  Congress  at  Watertown  : 
Mr.  Stephen  Jenkins  and  Mr.  Thomas  Hodgkins  are 
recommended,  the  former  for  Adjutant,  and  the  latter  for 
Quartermaster,  in  the  Regiment  of  which  I  have  the  com- 
mand, and  the  honourable  Congress  are  prayed  to  appoint 
those  gentlemen  to  said  offices  accordingly. 

Moses  Little,  Colonel. 

Accepted  and  passed. 


831 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


832 


MEETING   OF   FREEHOLDERS   OF   RICHMOND  COUNTY, 
NEW-YORK. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Freeholders  of  the  County  of  Rich- 
mond, at  Richmond  Town,  in  the  said  County,  on  the  first 
day  of  May,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1775,  agreeable  to  a 
publick  notice  of  such  meeting  : 

Benjamin  Seaman,  Esquire,  Chairman, 
Paul  Micheau,  Clerk. 

The  Freeholders  of  the  said  County,  taking  into  consi- 
deration the  distressed  and  alarming  state  of  the  Colonies, 
and  the  necessity  of  a  Provincial  Congress,  did  unanimous- 
ly elect  and  appoint  Messrs.  Paul  Micheau,  John  Journey, 
Aaron  Cortclyou,  Richard  Conner,  and  Richard  Law- 
rence, or  the  major  part  of  them,  to  represent  the  said 
County  of  Richmond  at  the  next  Provincial  Congress  in- 
tended to  be  held  in  the  City  ot  New-York  on  the  22d 
day  of  May  instant. 

Signed  by  order  of  the  said  Freeholders: 

Paul  Micheau,  Clerk  of  County  of  Richmond. 


RICHMOND  (NEW-YORK)  COMMITTEE   TO  COMMITTEE  OF 
NEW-YORK. 

Richmond  County,  May  2,  1775. 

Gentlemen:  Yours  of  the  28th  ultimo  we  received, 
and,  agreeable  to  your  request,  convened  the  Freeholders 
of  the  County  of  Richmond  yesterday,  to  consider  of  the 
alarming  and  dangerous  situation  the  Province  is  in,  being 
fully  persuaded  that  no  time  should  be  lost,  as  every  hour 
threatens  us  with  inevitable  ruin.  The  necessity  of  the 
case  requires  we  should  unite  in  forming  a  Provincial  Con- 
gress, and  appoint  Deputies  without  delay.  The  said 
Freeholders  were  unanimously  of  opinion,  that  the  present 
exigency  of  affairs  required  their  adopting  the  measures 
recommended  by  your  Committee,  and  appointed  us,  the 
subscribers,  for  that  purpose,  who  will  give  our  attendance 
accordingly. 

We  are,  gentlemen,  your  very  humble  servants, 

Paul  Micheau,        Richard  Conner, 
John  Journey,        Richard  Lawrence. 
Aaron  Cortelyou, 

To  Mr.  Isaac  Low,  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of  Neiv- 
York. 


meeting  of  inhabitants  OF  orangetown,  NEW-YORK. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  Inhabitants  of 
Orangctoivn,  in  the  County  of  Orange,  at  the  house  of 
Mr.  Yoast  Mabic,  in  the  said  Town,  on  Wednesday,  the 
third  day  of  May,  A.  D.  1775 : 

Jacob  Conklin,  Esquire,  Chairman, 
Dr.  Thomas  Outwater,  Clerk. 
Resolved,  nem.  con.,  That  Colonel  Abraham  Lent  and 
John  Mating,  Esquire,  be  the  Deputies  for  this  Town,  to 
represent  us  at  the  Provincial  Congress  proposed  to  be  held 
in  the  City  of  New-  York  on  the  22d  day  of  this  instant, 
and  that  we  will  abide  by  and  observe  such  measures  as 
the  said  Congress  shall,  from  time  to  time,  direct  or  re- 
commend.   By  order  of  the  meeting: 

Jacob  Conklin,  Chairman. 
Thomas  Outwater,  Clerk. 


MEETING  OF  COMMITTEES  OF  SUFFOLK  COUNTY,  NEW-YORK. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  several  Committees  of  Correspond- 
ence from  the  different  Towns  in  the  County  of  Suffolk, 
at  the  County  Hall,  the  5th  of  May,  1775  : 
William  Smith,  Chairman. 

The  letter  from  the  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of  Cor- 
respondence of  Nciv-Yor k,  recommending  to  this  County 
to  choose  Deputies  to  meet  Deputies  from  all  t lie  Counties 
in  this  Province  in  General  Congress,  in  '.he  City  of  New- 
York,  on  Monday,  22d  of  May  instant,  being  read, 

Voted,  nem.  con.,  That  Colonel  Nathaniel  Woodhull, 
John  Sloss  llobart,  Thomas  Tredwell,  John  Foster,  Ezra 
li  llommedicu,  Thomas  Wickham,  and  James  Havens,  or 
any  three  of  them,  be  Deputies  for  this  County,  who  are 
hereby  fully  empowered  to  meet  the  Deputies  from  the 
other  Counties  in  this  Province,  in  Provincial  Congress,  in 


Ne iv-  York  or  elsewhere,  on  the  22d  day  of  this  instant, 
to  deliberate  upon,  and,  from  time  to  time,  to  direct  such 
measures  as  shall  be  expedient  for  our  common  safely,  and 
the  preservation  of  our  rights  and  privileges ;  the  said 
Deputies  to  act  for  one  year,  unless  peace  and  harmony 
between  the  Colonics  and  Great  Britain  be  sooner  re- 
stored, or  other  persons  chosen  in  their  stead. 
Signed  by  order  of  the  Committee : 

Wm.  Smith,  Chairman. 


SUFFOLK  COUNTY  (NEW-YORK)  COMMITTEE  TO  COMMITTEE 
OF  BROOKHAVEN. 

County  Hall,  May  5,  1775. 
Gentlemen:  We  beg  leave  to  inform  you  that  the 
Committees  from  the  several  Towns  in  this  County,  here 
met,  have  chosen  seven  persons  to  represent  this  County 
at  the  Provincial  Congress,  to  be  held  at  New-York  the 
22d  of  this  instant,  and  should  be  glad  of  your  concurrence 
therein.  The  Association  Agreement,  so  generally  entered 
info  in  New-York  by  all  parties,  is  herewith  sent  to  you, 
hoping  you  will  sign  the  same,  and  take  such  measures  as 
you  judge  proper  to  let  the  inhabitants  of  your  Town  have 
an  opportunity  to  sign.  If  your  Town  approve  of  our 
choice,  you  will  signify  it  to  one  of  the  Deputies,  and  if 
you  think  proper  to  choose  a  Deputy,  it  will  be  very  agree- 
able to  this  Committee.    By  order  of  the  Committee: 

Wm.  Smith,  Chairman. 

To  Captain  Nathan  Woodhull,  Richard  JVoodhull,  Jona- 
than Thompson,  John  JVoodhull,  Selah  Strong,  Tho- 
mas Helmes,  Esquires,  Major  Benjamin  Floyd,  and  Mr. 
Samuel  Thompson,  of  Brookhaven. 


WESTCHESTER  COUNTY  (NEW-YORK)  COMMITTEE. 

We,  who  are  this  clay  appointed  as  a  Committee  for  the 
County  of  Westchester,  do  certify  that  Gouvcrneur  Morris, 
Lewis  Graham,  James  Van  Cortlandt,  Stephen  Ward, 
Joseph  Drake,  Fhilip  Van  Cortlandt,  James  Holmes, 
David  Dayton,  John  Thomas,  Junior,  Robert  Graham. 
and  William  Paulding,  were  chosen  to  be  the  Deputies 
from  this  County  to  the  Provincial  Convention  of  the 
Province  of  New-York. 

Witness  our  hands,  the  eighth  day  May,  in  the  year 
of  our  Lord  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  seventy-five. 

Gilbert  Drake,  Chairman. 

David  Dan,  Jona.  G.  Tompkins,  Thomas  Thomas, 

Jum^s  Harmer,  Jona.  G.  Graham,  Gcorg:  Comh, 

Micah  Townsend,  Jonathan  Piatt,  Samuel  Drake, 

Lewis  Morris,  Gilbert  Thorn,  Michael  Hays, 

Samuel  Crawford,  James  Vaiian,  Benoni  Piatt, 

F.  Van  Cortlandt,  Robert  Bloomer,  Samuel  Haviland, 

Benjamin  Lyon,  William  Miller,  Joshua  Ferris. 
Miles  Oakley, 


MEETING  OF  THE  FREEHOLDERS  OF  GOSHEN  PRECINCT, 
NEW-YORK. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  Inhabitants  of  the 
Precinct  of  Goshen,  in  the  County  of  Orange,  and  Colony 
of  New-  York,  assembled  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Isaac  Nico/l, 
Inn-holder,  in  the  Town  of  Goshen,  on  Wednesday,  the 
10th  day  of  May,  1775: 

Peter  Clowes,  Chairman. 

Resolved,  unanimously,  That  as  the  present  critical 
situation  of  affairs  makes  it  necessary  for  a  Provincial  Con- 
gress to  he  held,  that  Michael  Jackson,  Peter  Cloivcs, 
Benjamin  Tustcn,  and  William  Allison,  or  any  two  of 
them,  do  attend  therein  at  the  City  of  Neiv-  York,  on  the 
22d  day  of  this  instant,  May,  as  Delegates  for  this  Pre- 
cinct.   By  order  of  the  meeting: 

Balth.  De  Heart,  Clerk. 


MEETING  OF  COMMITTEES  OF  ULSTER  COUNTY,  NEW-YOItk  . 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committees  of  the  several  Towns 
and  Precincts  in  the  County  of  Ulster,  elected  and  ap- 
pointed to  meet  in  Provincial  Convention,  at  the  City  of 
Neiv- York,  on  the  22d  day  of  May  instant,  or  at  such 
other  time  and  place  as  may  be  agreed  on,  held  at  Ncw- 
Paltz,  at  the  house  of  Mrs.  Ann  Dubois,  in  the  County 
aforesaid,  the  11th  day  of  May,  1775,  the  following  per- 


833 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1T75. 


834 


sons  appeared  as  Committees  for  the  different  Towns  and 
Precincts,  viz : 

Kingston. — Abraham  Van  Keuren,  Johannes  Snyder, 
Esquire,  Egbert  Dumond,  Esquire,  Oke  Sudani,  Ja- 
cobus Van  Goesbeck. 
Awsley. — Adrian  IVynkoop,  Esquire,  Captain  John  Fan 

Deusen,  Matthew  Ten  Eyck,  Charles  Be  Witt,  Esq. 
Marbletown. — Matthew  Cantine,  Levi  Pawling,  John 
Cantine,  David  Bevier,  Cornelius  E.  Wynkoop,  Esqr's. 
Rochester. — Andries  Be  Witt,  Esq.,  Jacob  Hombeck, 
Esq.,  Johannes  Schoonmakcr,  Joachim  Schoonmaker, 
Jacobus  Van  Wagenon,  Andries  Bevier. 
Wallkill. —  William  Wilkin,  Francis  Byrns. 
New-Windsor. — Captain  James  M.  Claghry,  John  Ni- 

colson,  Esquire,  Colonel  James  Clinton. 
Newburgh. — Col.  Jonathan  Hasbrouck,  John  Robinson, 

Benjamin  Birdsell. 
New-Marlborough. — Lewis  Du  Bois,  Benjamin  Car- 
penter, Esq.,  Joseph  Morey. 
Nkw  -Paltz. — Jacob  Hasbrouck.  Joseph  Hasbrouck,  Jo- 
hannes A.  Hardenbergh,  Andries  Lafever,  Esquire, 
Abraham  Donaldson,  Esquire. 
Shawangunk. — Jacobus  Bruyn,  Johan.  Jansen,  Matthew 
Rea,  Benj.  Smedes,  Esquires,  Capt.  Thomas  Jansen,  Jr., 
Major  Johannes  Hardenbergh,  Dirck  Roosa. 
Hanover. — Dr.  Charles  Clinton,  Alexander  Trimble, 
Arthur  Parks,  William  Jackson,  Abimael  Young. 
Charles  De  Witt,  Esquire,  being  unanimously  chosen 
and  appointed  Chairman,  the  business  of  the  day  was  open- 
ed, when  Colonel  Johannes  Hardenbergh,  Colonel  James 
Clinton,  Egbert  Dumond,  Esquire,  Dr.  Charles  Clinton, 
Christopher  Tappen,  John  Nicolson,  and  Jacob  Horn- 
heck,  Esquires,  were  nominated,  and  unanimously  chosen 
and  appointed  Deputies  for  the  said  County,  to  serve  in 
Provincial  Convention,  at  the  City  of  New-York,  on  the 
22d  day  of  May  instant,  or  at  such  other  time  and  place 
as  may  be  agreed  on,  in  order  to  adopt  and  endeavour  to 
carry  into  execution  whatever  measures  may  be  recom- 
mended by  the  Continental  Congress,  or  resolved  upon  by 
our  Provincial  Convention,  for  the  purpose  of  preserving 
our  Constitution,  and  opposing  the  execution  of  the  several 
arbitrary  and  oppressive  acts  of  the  British  Parliament, 
until  a  reconciliation  between  Great  Britain  and  America, 
on  constitutional  principles,  can  be  obtained ;  with  such 
further  power  to  declare  the  sense  of  this  County  relative 
to  the  grievances  and  oppressions  under  which  His  Majes- 
ty's American  subjects  now  groan,  and  to  consult  such 
measures  as  may  tend  to  the  preservation  of  the  rights  and 
liberties  of  America.  And  the  Deputies  hereby  appointed 
are  instructed  (when  met  in  Provincial  Convention)  to 
move  that  a  day  be  set  apart  for  publick  fasting  and  prayer 
throughout  the  Colony,  to  implore  Divine  aid  in  restoring 
a  happy  reconciliation  between  the  Mother  Country  and 
her  American  Colonies. 

Ordered,  That  the  proceedings  of  this  day  be  signed 
by  the  Chairman,  and  that  the  same  be  published  in  the 
Xeic-York  Journal.  Ch.  De  Witt,  Chairman. 

To  Col.  Johannes  Hardenbergh,  Col.  James  Clinton,  Eg- 
bert Dumond,  Esq.,  Dr.  Charles  Clinton,  Christopher 
Tappen,  John  Nicolson,  and  Jacob  Hombeck,  Esqr's. 


meeting  of  freeholders  of  haverstraw  (new-yohr) 
precinct. 

Whereas,  it  is  proposed  that  a  Provincial  Convention  of 
Deputies,  Com  the  different  Cities  and  Counties  in  this 
Province,  should  meet  in  the  City  of  New-York,  on  the 
22d  day  of  this  instant,  in  order  to  deliberate  and  direct 
such  measures  as  may  be  thought  necessary  for  the  pre- 
servation of  our  rights  and  liberties,  we,  the  freeholders 
and  inhabitants  of  the  Precinct  of  Haverstraw,  in  the 
County  of  Orange,  being  met,  do  unanimously  choose 
John  Coc  and  David  Pye  as  Deputies  to  represent  the 
said  Precinct,  and  do  authorize  and  empower  the  said 
John  Coe  and  David  Pye  to  represent  the  said  Precinct 
in  the  said  Convention,  and  to  act,  transact,  and  direct  all 
such  measures  as  shall  be  thought  necessary  for  the  pur- 
poses aforesaid.    By  order  of  the  said  meeting : 

Johannes  Isa  Blanvelt,  Moderator. 

May  12,  1775. 


MAMICOTING  COMMITTEE  TO  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

May  13,  1775. 

The  inhabitants  of  the  Precinct  of  Mamicoting  met  to- 
gether, and  chose  a  Committee ;  likewise  they  all  signed 
the  Association,  and  are  determined  to  stand  by  the  same. 
And  whereas  we  were  destitute  of  militia  officers  hitherto, 
the  following  officers  were  chosen,  viz :  Jacob  Rutson  De 
Witt,  Captain;  Abraham  Cuddeback,  Junior,  First  Lieu- 
tenant ;  Robert  Cook,  Second  Lieutenant ;  Samuel  King, 
Ensign.  We,  the  Committee,  do  think  it  proper  to  send 
you  the  account  of  our  proceedings.  Although  Benja- 
min Depuy,  Esquire,  of  our  Precinct,  joined  the  County 
Committee,  yet  it  was  before  we  were  formed  into  a  Com- 
mittee. 

Whereas,  we  are  a  frontier  Company,  if  an  Indian  war 
should  happen  to  break  out,  difficulties  may  arise  by  the 
officers  lacking  authority:  we  therefore  petition  the  gen- 
tlemen of  the  Congress  that  the  nominated  officers  may  be 
authorized  to  act  as  in  commission.  And  whereas,  there 
are  several  poor  men  in  our  Precinct,  who  are  able  and 
willing  to  fight  for  their  rights  and  liberty,  and  not  capable 
of  providing  themselves  either  with  arms  or  ammunition : 
we,  therefore,  further  petition  that  you,  gentlemen,  will 
take  it  into  consideration,  and  provide  for  such  poor  people ; 
and  you  will  oblige  your  humble  petitioners.  By  order  of 
the  Committee  :  John  Young,  Chairman. 

To  the  Chairman  of  the  Provincial  Congress,  convened 

in  the  City  of  New-  York. 


MEETING  OF  CHARLOTTE   COUNTY  (nEW-YORk)  COM- 
MITTEE. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  in  the  Townships  of 
11  hite-Creek,  Cktmden,  Adingtown,  Manchester,  Dorset, 
Rupert,  Pollett,  and  Wells,  in  the  County  of  Charlotte, 
Province  of  Neiv-York,  for  choosing  two  Delegates  to 
meet  at  the  Convention  at  New-York,  the  22d  instant: 
Be  it  known,  that  John  Williams  and  William  Marsh 
were  elected  for  the  purpose  above  mentioned,  as  witness 
our  hands,  this  12th  day  of  May,  1775. 
Signed  by  the  Committee : 

Hamilton  IMcCallister,  Jona.  Willard, 
John  Williams,  Smith  Smith, 

William  Marsh,  Caleb  Smith, 

Joshua  Conkey,  Jos.  McCracken, 

Nathan  Hawley,  John  Batus, 

Samuel  Rose,  James  Heard, 

John  Nesbett,  Cephas  Kent. 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii.  53 


MEETING  OF  THE  INHABITANTS  OF  CORNWALL  (NEW-YORk) 

precinct. 

Blooming  Grove,  May  15,  1775. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Freeholders  of  the  Precinct  of 
Cornwall,  in  Orange  County,  held  at  the  house  of  John 
Brewster,  on  the  15th  of  May,  1775,  convened  agreeably 
to  advertisement:  After  choosing  Jesse  Woodhull,  Esq.. 
Moderator,  and  Thomas  Moffat,  Clerk,  a  letter  was  then 
read,  signed  by  Isaac  Low,  Chairman  of  the  Committee 
of  New-  York,  recommending  the  choosing  of  Deputies  in 
the  several  Counties  in  this  Province,  to  represent  them 
in  Provincial  Congress  on  the  22d  instant.  The  meeting 
then  proceeded  deliberately,  and  chose  Israel  Seely,  Jesse 
Woodhull,  Esquire,  and  Jeremiah  Clark,  (or  any  one  of 
them,)  Deputies  for  this  Precinct  for  the  purposes  afore- 
said, as  part  of  the  representation  of  the  County  of  Orange. 

Jesse  Woodhull,  Chairman. 


COMMITTEE  OF  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  TO  THE  NEW-YORK 
CONGRESS. 

We,  the  subscribers,  do  hereby  certify,  that  at  a  County 
meeting,  in  consequence  of  notifications  for  that  purpose, 
held  at  Poughkeepsie,  on  Tuesday,  the  16th  May,  1775, 
Dirck  Brinkerhoff,  Anthony  Hoffman,  Zephaniah  Piatt, 
Richard  Montgomery,  Ephraim  Paine,  Gilbert  Living- 
ston, and  Jonathan  London,  Esquires,  and  Messrs.  Gys- 
bert  Schenck,  Melancthon  Smith,  and  Nathaniel  Sackett, 
were,  by  a  majority  of  voices,  elected  Deputies  for  the 
term  of  six  months,  to  represent  the  County  of  Dutchess 


835 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


836 


in  the  Provincial  Convention  to  be  held  at  the  City  of 
New-  York,  on  the  22d  instant. 

Roswell  Hopkins, 
Bev.  Robinson, 
James  Smith, 
Abraham  Bocker, 


Ananias  Cooper, 
Jacob  Swartwout, 
Jonathan  Lewis, 
Egbert  Benson. 


Cornelius  Humphrey, 


VOTE  OF  FIRST  COMPANY  IN  BROOKHAVEN,  NEW-YORK. 

Brookhaven,  May  17,  1775. 
Whereas,  the  Committees  of  the  several  Towns  within 
the  County  of  Suffolk  met  at  the  County-Hall  on  the  5th 
of  May,  1775 ;  and  whereas  Brookhaven  was  not  repre- 
sented by  a  Committee  at  said  meeting,  the  several  Com- 
mittees thought  fit  to  write  a  letter  to  the  inhabitants  of 
said  Brookhaven,  signifying  their  desire  that  they  should 
unite  with  the  other  Towns  in  choosing  a  Deputy  to  unite 
with  the  seven  Deputies  which  they  had  chosen  to  repre- 
sent this  County  at  the  Provincial  Congress,  to  be  held  at 
New-  York,  on  the  22d  day  of  this  instant : 

Now  we,  the  residents  within  the  limits  of  the  First 
Company  of  Militia  of  said  Town,  do,  in  conjunction  with 
the  other  Companies  in  said  Township,  choose  Selah 
Strong,  Esquire,  as  one  of  the  Deputies  to  represent  said 
In  witness  whereof  we  have  hereunto  signed  our 


County 
names. 


Nathan  Woodhull, 
Jonathan  Thompson, 
Nathaniel  Roe, 
Richard  Woodhull, 
Samuel  Thompson, 
Selah  Strong,  Jun., 
Caleb  Brewster, 
Nath'l  Roe,  Jun., 
Philip  Roe, 
John  Roe, 


Thomas  Smith, 
Alex.  Hawkins, 
David  Hawkins, 
Simeon  Hawkins, 
Alex.  Hawkins,  Jun., 
Jacob  Hawkins, 
Edmund  Smith, 
Samuel  Davis, 
Joseph  Hawkins, 
Isaac  Davis. 


VOTE   OF   SECOND   COMPANY  IN  BROOKHAVEN,  NEW-YORK. 

Brookhaven,  May  17,  1775. 

There  being  met  the  Second  Company  of  the  above- 
said  Town,  whereof  Ebenezer  Miller  is  Captain,  and  were 
desired  that  all  such  as  were  willing  to  be  represented  in 
the  Provincial  Convention,  to  be  held  at  New-York,  the 
22d  of  this  month,  would  manifest  it  by  setting  their  votes 
or  names  to  this  paper.  Selah  Strong,  Esquire,  being  the 
man  chosen  to  represent  us. 


Capt.  Ebenezer  Miller,  Joshua  Davis, 
Lieut.  Woodhull,  Samuel  Philips,  Jun.. 

Ensign  Davis,  William  Philips, 

Noah  Hallock,  Israel  Davis, 

David  Davis,  Andrew  Miller, 

Merrit  Smith  Woodhull,  Henry  Woodhull, 
Joseph  Philips,  James  Woodhull, 

Timothy  Norton,  Jun,,  Gilbert  Woodhull, 
Azel  Jarritt,  Jacob  Eaton, 

Edmond  Robinson,       Fortunatus  Taylor, 


Daniel  Bales, 
Martin  Brown, 
Elisha  Davis, 
Silas  Davis, 
Timothy  Davis, 


Josiah  Hallock, 
Spiser  Davis, 
Josiah  Woodhull, 
William  Miller, 
Gilbert  Davis, 


Richard  Davis, 
Jeffry  Woodhull, 
Chapman  Davis, 
Noah  Hallock,  Jun., 
Joseph  Brown,  Jun., 
Mica  Skidmore, 
Rynear  Vanhoosen, 
Justis  Jno.  Woodhull, 
Joseph  Brown, 
Thomas  Robinson, 
Dr.  Theoph.  Philips, 
Thomas  Balis, 
Rosel  Hubberd, 
Joseph  Davis, 


The  above  names  signed  in  the  presence  of  us : 

Wissell  Sill,  Clerk, 
Ebenezer  Miller, 
Joseph  Brown. 


VOTE  OF  THIRD  COMPANY  IN  BROOKHAVEN,  NEW-YORK. 

Brookhaven,  May  17,  1775. 

There  were  called  together  the  Third  Company,  com- 
manded by  Captain  Nathan  Rose. 

The  question  being  put,  whether  they  were  for  appointing 
a  Deputy  in  this  Town  to  join  the  other  Deputies  of  this 
County,  to  meet  the  Provincial  Convention,  to  be  held  the 
twenty-second  of  this  instant  May,  in  New-York,  to  con- 
sult the  general  good  of  this  Colony;  passed  in  the  affirm- 
ative nemine  contradicente. 

Then  the  question  was  put,  whether  Selah  Strong,  Esq., 
should  be  the  man  to  represent  this  Town,  in  joining  with 
the  other  Deputies  of  this  County,  in  Provincial  Conven- 
tion, to  be  held  in  New-York,  the  twenty-second  of  this 


instant  ?  Passed,  without  one  dissenting  voice, in  the  affirm- 
ative, to  which  they  have  affixed  their  names. 

Capt.  Nathan  Rose,  William  Baker,  Daniel  Jones, 

Lieut.  Thos.  Rose,  Bcnaiah  Hubbard,  Francis  Barto,  Jr. 

John  Marvin,  Samuel  Dayton,  John  Smith, 

Jehiel  Weed,  Richard  Hulse,  Stephen  Satterly, 

Matthew  Woodruff,  Joseph  Terry,  Nathaniel  Brewster, 

Thaddeus  Cole,  Jeffery  Brewster,  Isaac  Robbins, 

Robert  Hawkins,  Mordecai  Homan,  Jr. 


Jedediah  Marvin, 
Ephraim  Smith, 
Thomas  Avery, 
Jesse  Rose, 
Isaac  Woodruff, 
Ezekiel  Hedges, 
Isaiah  Moger, 
Ebenezer  Homan, 


Ebe'zer  Homans,  Jr.,  Ananias  Smith, 
Nathaniel  Finck,       Micajah  Lane, 


Ezekiel  Homan, 
Daniel  Rose, 
Mordecai  Homan, 
Nathaniel  Smith, 
Joseph  Sweasy. 


Mord.  Homan,  3d. 
Matthew  Marvin, 
Reynold  Finck, 
Joseph  Homan, 
Jonah  Tucker, 
Nathan  Rose,  Jun.,   Matthew  Beale, 

We,  the  underwritten  persons,  were  present  when  the 
above  and  within  persons  subscribed  their  names,  and  were 
freeholders  and  inhabitants  within  the  Town  of  Brookhaven. 

William  Smith, 
Nath'l  Woodhull, 
Josiah  Smith. 


VOTE  OF  FOURTH   COMPANY   IN   BROOKHAVEN,  NEW-YORK. 

Brookhaven,  May  16,  1775. 

Met  the  Fourth  Company  of  Brookhaven,  whereof  Da- 
vid Mulford  is  Captain,  and  were  desired  to  manifest,  by 
their  votes,  whether  they  were  desirous  to  be  represented 
in  the  Provincial  Convention,  to  be  held  at  New-York,  the 
twenty-second  of  this  instant,  P.  M.;  then,  who  should  rep- 
resent them. 

Voted,  That  Selah  Strong,  Esq.,  be  the  person  to  rep- 
resent them.  Passed  without  contradiction,  to  which  we 
have  subscribed  our  names. 


W.  Brewster,  Lieut. 
E.  Davis,  Qu^naster. 

C.  Moger,  Ensign. 
J.  Howel,  Sergeant. 
N.  Norton,  Serg't. 

D.  Mulford,  Clerk. 
James  Overton, 
Benjamin  Woodhull, 
Mordecai  Homan, 
Stephen  Randal, 
John  Albeen, 
Isaac  Smith, 
Jonathan  Bonjamin, 
Palmer  Overton, 
Benjamin  Gerrard, 
William  Davis, 
William  Edwards, 
James  Moger, 
Samuel  Tallmadge, 
Bennet  Dayton, 
James  Tucker, 
Luke  Pritchard, 
Gershom  Terry, 
Joseph  Garrard, 


Daniel  Roe, 
Jonathan  Johnes, 
Job  Mulford, 
Ludly  Clarke, 
William  Still, 
William  Gerrard,  Jr. 
Nehemiah  Hulse, 
Daniel  Swezey, 
Isaac  Swezey, 
John  Turner, 
Nathaniel  Overton, 
John  Arnold, 
Jonathan  Jones, 
Daniel  Petty, 
Gershom  Brown, 
Brewster  Terry, 
Nathan  Davis, 
James  Orsborn, 
Justus  Overton, 
Paul  Hulse, 
Wm.  Clarke,  Sen., 
Joseph  Seward,  Jun., 
Arthur  Moger, 
Joseph  Terry, 


William  Swezey, 
Gillum  Davis, 
Selah  Brown, 
Goldsmith  Davis, 
Zopher  Davis, 
John  Leek, 
William  Clark,  Jr , 
Daniel  D.ivis,  Jr., 
Ebenezer  Dayton, 
Abel  Swezey, 
James  Swezey, 
Francis  Hallit, 
Messenger  Overton, 
Isaac  Davis, 
Timothy  Wood, 
Wm  Brewster,  Jr., 
James  Sell, 
Benjamin  Petty, 
Christopher  Swezey, 
Enos  Bishop, 
Eleazer  Bellows, 
Samuel  Satterly, 
James  Swezey,  Jr. 


Those  of  the  contrary  mind  : 

J.  Homan,  Sergeant.  David  Overton,  Zach.  Hawkins,  Jr., 
Nath.  Longbottom,    Timothy  Lane. 

The  above  dissenters  professed  to  be  nothing  against  or 
for  the  vote,  but  stand  as  neutrals. 

Note. — The  whole  of  the  names  in  both  lists  were  put 
down  at  their  desire,  in  presence  of  us, 

Ebenezer  Dayton, 
John  Woodhull, 
William  Smith. 


AN  ADDRESS  FROM  JAMES  RIVINGTON  TO  THE  HONOURABLE 
DELEGATES  AT  THE  CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS. 

Whereas  the  subscriber,  by  the  freedom  of  his  publica- 
tions during  the  present  unhappy  disputes  between  Great 
Britain  and  her  Colonies,  has  brought  upon  himself  much 
publick  displeasure  and  resentment,  in  consequence  of  which 
his  life  has  been  endangered,  his  property  invaded,  and  a 
regard  to  his  personal  safety  requires  him  still  to  be  absent 
from  his  family  and  business  ;  and  whereas  it  has  been 
ordered  by  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  for  the  City 
of  New-  York,  that  a  report  of  the  state  of  his  case  should 
be  made  to  the  Continental  Congress,  that  the  manner  of 
his  future  treatment  may  be  submitted  to  their  direction  ; 
he  thinks  himself  happy  in  having  at  last  for  his  judges, 
gentlemen  of  eminent  rank  and  distinction  in  the  Colonies, 
from  whose  enlarged  and  liberal  sentiments,  he  flatters  him- 
self that  he  can  receive  no  other  than  an  equitable  sentence, 
unbiased  by  popular  clamour  and  resentment.    He  humbly 


837 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  Stc,  MAY,  1775. 


838 


presumes  that  the  very  respectable  gentlemen  of  the  Con- 
gress now  sitting  at  Philadelphia,  will  permit  him  to  de- 
clare, and,  as  a  man  of  honour  and  veracity,  he  can  and 
does  solemnly  declare,  that  however  wrong  and  mistaken 
he  may  have  been  in  his  opinions,  he  has  always  meant 
honestly  and  openly  to  do  his  duty  as  a  servant  of  the 
publick.  Accordingly  his  conduct,  as  a  printer,  has  always 
been  conformable  to  the  ideas  which  he  entertained  of 
English  liberty,  warranted  by  the  practice  of  all  printers 
in  Great  Britain  and  Ireland  for  a  century  past,  under 
every  Administration;  authorized,  as  he  conceives,  by  the 
laws  of  England,  and  countenanced  by  the  declarations  of 
the  late  Congress.  He  declares  that  his  press  has  been 
always  open  and  free  to  all  parties,  and  for  the  truth  of  this 
fact  appeals  to  his  publications,  among  which  are  to  be 
reckoned  all  the  pamphlets,  and  many  of  the  best  pieces 
that  have  been  written  in  this  and  the  neighbouring  Colonies 
in  favour  of  the  American  claims.  However,  having  found 
that  the  inhabitants  of  the  Colonies  were  not  satis6ed  with 
this  plan  of  conduct,  a  few  weeks  ago  he  published  in  his 
paper  a  short  apology,  in  which  he  assured  the  publick  that 
he  would  be  cautious,  for  the  future,  of  giving  any  further 
offence.  To  this  declaration  he  resolves  to  adhere,  and  he 
cannot  but  hope  for  the  patronage  of  the  publick  so  long 
as  his  conduct  shall  be  found  to  correspond  with  it.  It  is 
his  wish  and  ambition  to  be  an  useful  member  of  society. 
Although  an  Englishman  by  birth,  he  is  an  American  by 
choice,  and  he  is  desirous  of  devoting  his  life,  in  the  busi- 
ness of  his  profession,  to  the  service  of  the  Country  he  has 
adopted  for  his  own.  He  lately  employed  no  less  than 
sixteen  workmen,  at  near  one  thousand  Pounds  annually  ; 
anJ  his  consumption  of  printing  paper,  the  manufacture  of 
Pennsylvania,  New-York,  Connecticut,  and  the  Massachu- 
setts-Bay, has  amounted  nearly  to  that  sum.  His  exten- 
sive foreign  correspondence,  his  large  acquaintance  in  Eu- 
rope and  America,  and  the  manner  of  his  education,  are 
circumstances  which,  he  conceives,  have  not  improperly 
qualified  him  for  the  station  in  which  he  wishes  to  continue, 
and  in  which  he  will  exert  every  endeavour  to  be  useful. 
He  therefore  humbly  submits  bis  case  to  the  consideration 
of  the  honourable  gentlemen  now  assembled  in  the  Conti- 
nental Congress,  and  begs  that  their  determination  may  be 
such  as  will  secure  him,  especially  as  it  is  the  only  thing 
that  can  effectually  secure  him  in  the  safety  of  his  person, 
the  enjoyment  of  his  property,  and  the  uninterrupted  pro- 
secution of  his  business.  James  Rivington. 
May  20,  1775. 


TOWN  MEETING  IN  BROOKLYN,  NEW-YORK. 
Brooklyn,  Kings  County,  Nassau  Island,  May  20,  1775. 

At  a  general  Town  Meeting,  regularly  warned,  the  Ma- 
gistrates and  Freeholders  met,  and  voted  Jeremiah  Remsen, 
Esq.,  into  the  Chair,  and  Leffert  Lefferts,  Esq.,  Clerk. 

Taking  into  our  serious  consideration  the  expediency  and 
propriety  of  concurring  with  the  freeholders  and  freemen 
of  the  City  and  County  of  New-  York,  and  the  other  Coun- 
ties, Townships,  and  Precincts,  within  this  Province,  for 
holding,  continuing,  and  maintaining  a  Provincial  Congress 
of  Deputies,  chosen  out  of  the  whole  Province,  to  advise, 
consider,  consult,  watch  over,  protect,  and  defend,  at  this 
very  alarming  crisis,  all  our  civil  and  religious  rights,  liber- 
ties, and  privileges,  according  to  their  collective  prudence: 

After  duly  weighing  and  considering  the  unjust  plunder 
and  inhuman  carnage  committed  on  the  property  and  per- 
sons of  our  brethren  in  the  Massachusetts,  who,  with  the 
other  Neiv-England  Colonies,  are  now  deemed,  by  the 
Mother  Country,  to  be  in  a  state  of  actual  rebellion,  by 
which  declaration  England  hath  put  it  beyond  their  own 
power  to  treat  with  ]\tw-England,  or  to  propose  or  receive 
any  terms  of  reconciliation,  until  those  Colonies  will  submit 
as,  or  shall  become  a  conquered  Country;  the  first  effort 
to  effect  which  was  by  military  and  naval  force ;  the  next 
attempt  is  to  bring  a  famine  (a  dreadful  engine  of  war) 
amongst  them,  by  depriving  them  of  both  their  natural  and 
acquired  right  of  fishing — natural  by  their  situation,  ac- 
quired by  their  joint  exertions  to  acquire  the  sovereignty 
of  those  fisheries  :  Further,  contemplating  the  very  unhap- 
py situation  to  which  the  powers  at  home,  by  oppressive 
measures,  have  driven  all  the  other  Protestant  Provinces, 
(in  which  we  are  included,)  we  have  all  evils  in  their  power 


to  fear,  as  they  have  already  declared  all  the  Provinces 
aiders  and  abettors  of  rebellion :  It  remains  only  with  the 
infallibility  and  omnipotency  of  Parliament,  to  determine 
how  the  Crown  of  England  can  propose  to,  or  accept  of 
any  conditions  of  accommodations  from  any  of  these  Pro- 
testant Provinces :  Therefore, 

1st.  Resolved,  That  Henry  Jl'illiams  and  Jeremiah 
Remsen,  Esquires,  be  now  elected,  chosen,  and  deputed  by 
us,  and  in  our  behalf,  Deputies  for  this  Township,  to  meet 
and  associate  with  all  the  Deputies  of  the  Cities,  Counties, 
Townships,  and  Precincts,  within  this  Province  of  New- 
York,  in  a  Provincial  Convention,  intended  to  be  holden 
in  the  City  of  New-  Yor k  on  Monday  next,  the  twenty- 
second  day  of  this  present  instant,  May,  and  so  to  continue 
to  meet  from  time  to  time,  and  at  all  times,  according  to 
the  adjournments  of  the  said  Provincial  Convention,  and 
then  and  there  to  consider,  consult,  agree,  determine,  act, 
and  do  all  prudential  and  necessary  business  accordingly. 

2d.  Resolved,  That  we,  confiding  in  the  wisdom  and 
equity  of  said  Convention,  collectively,  do  consent,  agree, 
and  conclude  to  observe,  abide  by  and  fulfil,  all  necessary 
and  warrantable  acts,  associations,  orders,  and  directions,  as 
the  said  Provincial  Congress  shall,  in  their  prudence,  require, 
direct,  and  enjoin. 

Signed  by  order  of  the  Town  Meeting : 

Leffert  Lefferts,  Clerk. 


COMMITTEE  FROM  CONNECTICUT  TO  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

New- York,  Friday  Morning,  nine  o'clock,  ) 
May  21,  1775.  \ 

Sir  :  As  we  are  much  indisposed,  think  it  most  prudent 
to  set  out  for  Connecticut,  and  shall  leave  this  City  at  two 
o'clock  this  afternoon.  If  the  Convention  have  any  com- 
mands to  the  Governour  and  Company  of  that  Colony, 
we  shall  be  proud  of  the  honour  of  executing  them.  Mr. 
Edwards  will  go  afterwards  to  New-Jersey,  and,  on  his  way 
to  Connecticut,  will  wait  on  the  Convention  of  this  Province 
for  further  intelligence,  and  will  give  them  such  informa- 
tion as  lies  in  his  power. 

We  are,  Sir,  your  most  obedient  humble  servants, 

Nathaniel  Wales, 
Thaddeus  Burr. 
The  Honourable  Peter  Van  Brugh  Livingston,  Esq. 


MEETING  OF  COMMITTEES  FOR  KINGS  COUNTY,  NEW-YORK. 

Flatbush,  May  22,  1775. 
At  a  meeting  held  this  twenty-second  day  of  May,  of 
the  several  Deputies  of  the  different  Townships  in  Kings 
County,  for  the  purpose  of  electing  Delegates  to  represent 
the  County  of  Kings  in  Provincial  Congress,  now  held  in 
the  City  of  New-  York,  agreeable  to  said  meeting,  they 
have  and  hereby  do  appoint  Richard  Stilwell,  Theodorus 
Polhemus,  John  Lefferts,  Nicholas  Covenhoven,  Johannes 
E.  Lott,  John  Van  Der  Bilt,  Henry  Williams,  and  Jere- 
miah Remsen,  Esquires,  Delegates,  or  any  three  of  them, 
to  represent  and  fully  to  act  in  behalf  of  the  before  men- 
tioned County,  in  Provincial  Congress  before  named,  now 
held  in  the  City  of  New-  York. 

Abraham  E.  Lott,  Secretary. 


MEETING  OF  FREEHOLDERS  AT  JAMAICA,  NEW-YORK. 

At  a  meeting  of  a  number  of  the  Freeholders  of  Queens 
County,  at  Jamaiea,  on  the  22d  day  of  May  inst.,  pursuant 
to  publick  notice  thereof  given,  I  certify  that  the  following 
persons,  to  wit:  Col.  Jacob  Blackwell,  Jonathan  Law- 
rence, Daniel  Rapelje,  Esq.,  Zebulon  Williams,  Esquire, 
Samuel  Townsend,  Esq.,  Joseph  French,  Esq.,  Joseph 
Robinson,  Nathaniel  Tom,  Thomas  Hicks,  Esq.,  and  Cap- 
tain Richard  Thome,  were  unanimously  chosen  and  elected 
Deputies  for  the  said  County,  to  meet  in  Provincial  Con- 
gress with  the  Deputies  from  the  other  Counties  within 
this  Province.  Given  under  my  hand  this  22d  day  of 
May,  1775.  Danl.  Kissam,  Chairman. 

Vote  of  the  Town  of  Jamaica,  in  Queens  County,  New- 
York,  on  the  expediency  of  choosing  a  Deputy  ;  pre- 


839 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1715. 


840 


sentcd  to  the  Provincial  Congress  on  the  21st  day  of 

April,  1775. — [See  Folio  356.] 

No  Committee — No  Deputy. 

Adam  Lawrence.  John  Doughty,  A.  Van  Noorstrout, 

Johannes  Polhemus,  Nathaniel  Highy,         Daniel  Lawrence, 

Joseph  Oldfiold,  Richard  Betts,  Capt.     Goorgo  Dunbar, 

Tunis  Bargin,  Tunis  Covert, 

Charles  Aiding,  Nicholas  Lamberson, 

John  Lamberson,  Simeon  Lamberson, 

John  Smith,  William  Pettet, 

John  Troup,  Johan.  Williamson, 

Powel  Auibcnnan,  Obadiah  Hinckman, 

Johannes  Lott,  Jacob  Bargin, 

Johannes  Suedeker,  Nicholas  Ludlam, 

Joseph  Colder,  Bcrnardus  Ryder, 

Abraham  Ditinus,  Philip  Piatt, 

Jeconiah  Valentine,  Nathaniel  Mills,  Jr., 

William  Cornell,  Johannes  Blderd, 

Isaac  Amberman,  Peter  Noorstrout, 

Lucas  Eldord,  Garret  Noorstrout, 

Stephen  Lott,  Garret  Durland,  Jr., 

William  Welling,  Garret  Durland,  Sr., 

Nich.  Van  Ausdoll,  Jacob  Lott, 

Lucas  Bergen,  Nathl.  Townscnd, 

John  Wiggins,  Garret  Snedokcr, 

Obadiah  Mills,  Derrick  Bargin, 

Aury  Ramson,  Stephen  Clements, 

John  Williamson,  A.  Van  Noorstrout, 

Cornelius  Beanet,  Nathaniel  Mills,  Sr., 

Nicholas  Jones,  Matthias  Lamberson, 

S  :ml  Doughty,  George  Rierson, 

Daniel  Ramson,  John  Ramson, 

John  Forster,  Stephen  Highy, 

Thomas  Betts,  John  Ramson,  Sen., 
John  B 3n.net, 


Henry  Highy, 
Benj  imin  Doughty, 
William  Watts, 
John  Watts, 
William  Golden, 
Timothy  Cornell, 
John  Van  Leew, 
Jabesh  Woodruff, 
Joseph  Van  Brunt, 
John  Rovvlan, 
Hope  Mills, 
Benj.  Whitehead, 
Nehemiah  Carpenter, 
Hemlrick  Emmons, 
R.  Ilimson,  Jamaica, 
John  Bargin, 
Dow  Ditmus, 
Evert  Van  Wickley, 
William  Thatford, 
Anthony  Ramson, 
John  Noorstrout, 
Garret  Lotting, 
Ludlam  Smith, 
Samuel  Forster, 
Isaac  Leffert, 
Rueloff  Duryee, 
Johannes  Polhemus, 
J.  French,  Esq.— 94. 


C  iptain  Rutgers, 
John  Skidmore, 
Robert  Hinckman, 
Waters  Smith, 
William  Ludlam, 
Abraham  Kettletas, 
Jonas  Fredrick, 
William  Steed, 
John  Mills, 
Isaac  Bayley, 
Increase  Carpenter, 
John  Cockle, 
Isaac  Hendrickson, 
John  Innes,  Sen., 
Elias  Bayley, 
Aaron  Hendrickson, 
Robert  Denton, 
John  Smith, 
Jacob  Wright, 
Nicholas  Smith,  Sr., 
William  Messenger, 
Nicholas  Everitt, 
Peter  Smith, 
John  Brimner, 
Daniel  Tuthill, 
H.  Hendrickson,  Sr., 
.Daniel  Everitt, 
John  Brush, 
1  jaae  Roads, 


For  a  Deputy. 

John  Roads, 
Jonah  Roads, 
A.  Hendrickson, 
Whited  Skidmore, 
Christopher  Ryder, 
Amos  Denton, 
Samuel  Skidmore, 
Noah  Smith, 
Daniel  Bayley, 
Wait  Smith, 
John  Thurston, 
Hope  Roads, 
Samuel  Messenger, 
John  J.  Skidmore, 
Jacques  Johnson, 
Nehemiah  Everitt, 
Increase  Carpenter, 
Joseph  Higby, 
Andrew  Oackly, 
Moses  Higby, 
Jacob  Forster, 
Daniel  Ludlam, 
Saml.  Higby,  cooper, 
II.  Hendrickson,  Jr., 
Cornelius  Losce, 
Daniel  Smith, 
Samuel  Higby,  Jr., 
Jonathan  Thurston, 


Nathaniel  Smith, 
Ephraim  Mnrston, 
J.  Hendrickson,  Jr., 
Othniel  Smith, 
Samuel  Smith: 
William  Creed, 
Nehemiah  Carpenter, 
John  Skidmore,  Jr., 
Thomas  Denton, 
Benjamin  Everitt, 
John  Van  Leow, 
Benjamin  Creed, 
Isaac  Mills, 
Nicholas  Smith,  Jr., 
Benj.  Hinckman, 
David  Lamberson, 
Nathaniel  Box, 
William  Creed,  Jr., 
Ephraim  Bayley, 
Obadiah  Smith, 
Jacob  Carpenter, 
Nehemiah  Carpenter, 
Joshua  Carpenter, 
Richard  Roads, 
John  Messenger, 
Joseph  Robinson, 
Thomas  Wiggins, 
Jacob  Duryee. — 85. 


BENEDICT  ARNOLD  TO  THE  ALBANY  COMMITTEE. 

Ticonderoga,  May  22,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  I  take  the  liberty  to  advise  you  that,  on 
the  13th  instant,  having  proceeded  from  this  place  to  Si. 
John's,  with  a  party  of  my  Regiment,  of  thirty-five  men, 
1  surprised  and  took  prisoners  a  sergeant  and  his  party  of 
twelve  men,  the  King's  sloop,  of  seventy  tons  and  seven 
men, .  mounted  with  two  brass  six-pounders,  and  in  two 
hours  after  weighed  anchor  with  the  sloop,  &c,  and  pro- 
ceeded for  this  place.  Six  leagues  this  side  of  St.  John's, 
met  one  Colonel  Allen,  with  a  party  of  near  one  hundred 
men,  who  were  determined  to  proceed  to  St.  John's,  and 
make  a  stand  there.  Not  being  able  to  dissuade  them  from 
iheir  rash  design,  I  supplied  them  with  provisions.  They 
then  proceeded  to  *SV.  John's,  and  the  next  morning  were 
attacked  by  about  two  hundred  Regulars,  with  six  field- 
pieces,  and  were  obliged  to  make  a  precipitate  retreat,  with 
the  loss  of  three  men  killed  or  taken.  The  party  arrived 
here  last  evening. 

I  am  now  fixing  the  sloop  with  six  carriages  and  ten 
swivels;  the  schooner  with  four  carriages  and  six  swivels, 
and  am  determined  to  proceed  to  Crown  Poi7it,  and  make 
a  stand  there,  in  order  to  secure  the  cannon,  near  one  hun- 
dred pieces,  at  that  place.  We  are  in  great  want  of  a  num- 
ber of  seamen,  gunners,  carpenters,  &tc,  for  both  vossels. 
Our  safety,  in  a  great  measure,  depends  on  them,  (the  ves- 
sels,) as  they  will  be  able  to  command  the  lake,  if  properly 
manned.  Enclosed  is  a  list  of  men  wanted  immediately, 
which  I  beg  the  favour  of  you,  gentlemen,  to  ship  and  send 


up  here  without  loss  of  time,  furnishing  them  with  such 
things  as  you  judge  necessary.  1  have  judicious  able  com- 
manders for  both  vessels,  and  want  only  mates,  gunners, 
marines,  &ic.  Annexed  is  the  wages  I  propose  giving,  but 
must  refer  that  to  your  direction  ;  and  any  sums  you  are 
kind  enough  to  advance  for  the  above  purpose,  I  will  give 
a  draft  for  on  the  Committee  of  Safety  at  Cambridge,  being 
fully  empowered  for  that  purpose.  We  have  only  one 
hundred  and  fifty  pounds  of  good  powder  for  both  vessels, 
and  one  hundred  men.  I  have  wrote  repeatedly  to  Albany 
for  powder,  and  must  once  more  entreat  you,  gentlemen,  if 
not  forwarded,  to  send  me  as  soon  as  possible  ten  or  twelve 
hundred  weight  of  powder.  If  the  seamen,  Sic,  are  not 
to  be  procured  at  Albany,  I  beg  the  favour  of  you  to  for- 
ward this  letter  to  the  Committee  of  Safety  at  New-York, 
and  you  will  much  oblige,  gentlemen,  your  most  obedient 
humble  servant,  Benedict  Arnold, 

Commander  at  Ticonderoga. 
To  the  Committee  of  Safety  at  Albany. 


BENEDICT  ARNOLD  TO  THE  ASSEMBLY  OF  CONNECTICUT. 

Crown  Point,  May  23,  1775. 
Gentlemen:  My  last  was  of  the  19th  instant,  per  Cap- 
tain Oswald.  I  then  advised  you  of  my  taking  possession 
of  the  King's  sloop,  fee,  at  St.  John's,  and  that,  on  the 
18th  instant,  I  met  Colonel  Allen,  with  eighty  or  one  hun- 
dred men,  who  were  proceeding  to  St.  John's,  with  inten- 
tion to  make  a  stand  there  ;  and  not  being  able  to  dissuade 
them  from  their  rash  purpose,  I  supplied  them  with  pro- 
visions, &ic.  Yesterday  he  returned  to  Ticonderoga,  with 
his  party,  and  says,  that  on  the  evening  of  the  18th  he 
arrived  at  St.  John's,  and  hearing  of  a  detachment  of  men 
on  the  road  from  Montreal,  lay  in  ambush  for  them ;  but 
his  party  being  so  much  fatigued,  when  the  detachment 
were  at  about  two  miles  distance,  he  thought  proper  to  re- 
treat, and  crossed  the  lake  at  St.  John's,  where  they  con- 
tinued the  night,  and  at  dawn  of  day  were  saluted  with  a 
discharge  of  grape-shot  from  six  field-pieces,  and  a  dis- 
charge of  small  arms  from  about  two  hundred  Regulars. 
They  made  a  precipitate  retreat,  and  left  three  men  behind. 
Immediately  on  this  intelligence  I  proceeded  for  this  place 
with  the  sloop  and  schooner,  as  well  armed  as  possible  un- 
der our  circumstances,  and  eighty  men,  which,  with  the 
party  here  before,  makes  near  one  hundred  and  fifty  men, 
with  whom  I  am  determined  to  make  a  stand  here  to  secure 
the  cannon,  &c.  As  the  Regulars  have  got  advice  ot  our 
strength  and  movements,  I  am  apprehensive  of  their  paying 
us  a  visit,  provided  they  can  get  batteaus  from  Montreal  to 
St.  John's.  I  shall  make  every  possible  preparation  to  give 
them  a  warm  reception.  We  have  plenty  of  ball  of  every 
kind,  but  have  no  more  than  one  hundred  and  fifty  pounds 
of  powder  here.  I  have  wrote  repeatedly  to  Albany  for 
powder,  and  can  get  none.  I  must  entreat  you,  gentlemen, 
to  send  me  four  or  five  hundred  weight  as  soon  as  possible. 
Out  of  twenty-six  barrels  found  here  there  is  not  one  pound 
good. 

I  am,  with  great  esteem,  gentlemen,  your  most  obedient 
humble  servant,  Benedict  Arnold. 

The  Hon.  General  Assembly  of  Connecticut. 

P.  S.  This  will  be  delivered  you,  gentlemen,  by  Cap- 
lain  Phelps,  who  has  been  very  serviceable  here,  whom  I 
must  refer  you  to  for  particulars.  Must  beg  leave  to  ob- 
serve, I  think  it  highly  necessary  for  Connecticut  to  send 
here  immediately  fifteen  hundred  men  at  least,  with  good 
arms,  ammunition,  &c. 

Gentlemen:  Since  writing  the  above,  one  of  Colonel 
Allen's  party,  taken  at  St.  John's,  made  his  escape  on  the 
19th  instant,  and  says  there  were  then  four  hundred  Regu- 
lars at  St.  John's,  making  all  possible  preparation  to  cross 
the  lake,  and  expected  to  be  joinod  by  a  number  of  In- 
dians, with  a  design  of  retaking  these  places,  &tc.  I  have 
sent  to  alarm  the  country  for  fifty  miles  below  Skene*4 
borough,  and  fifty  miles  below  Fort  George,  towards  Al- 
bany. The  men  from  that  distance  will  be  sufficient  for 
the  present,  if  we  arc  well  supplied  with  powder.  We  are 
making  all  possible  preparation,  and  I  hope,  with  the  smiles 
of  Providence,  to  keep  our  ground,  if  not  overpowered  by 
numbers.    I  am,  gentlemen,  yours,  &.c, 

B.  Arnold. 


841 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


842 


BENEDICT  ARNOLD  TO  CAPTAIN  NOAH  LEE. 

Crown  Point,  May  23,  1775. 

Sir  :  I  am  this  minute  advised  by  one  of  Colonel  Allen's 
party,  who  was  taken  prisoner  and  made  his  escape  from 
St.  John's  on  the  18th  instant,  that  there  were  then  arrived 
at  that  place  four  hundred  Regulars,  and  more  expected, 
besides  the  Indians,  who  were  repairing  the  boats,  with  a 
design  to  cross  the  lake,  and,  if  possible,  to  retake  Crown 
Point  and  Ticonderoga.  It  is  my  hearty  desire  that  every 
man  within  fifty  miles  of  Skenesborough,  who  can  be  of 
service,  would  immediately  repair  to  Ticonderoga  or  Crown 
Point,  and  bring  all  the  powder  that  can  be  found,  and  as 
many  spades,  pick-axes,  and  hoes,  as  they  have.  Let  this 
letter  be  forwarded  down  the  country,  that  they  may  send 
up  provisions  to  supply  the  families  of  the  upper  Towns, 
who  are  obliged  to  come  forward  this  way.  Let  them  bring 
all  the  good  arms  they  have. 

Benedict  Arnold,  Commander-in-Chief. 

Captain  Noah  Lee. 

P.  S.  We  have  only  one  hundred  and  fifty  men  here 
and  at  Ticonderoga. 


ALBANY   COMMITTEE   TO   THE   COMMITTEE   OF  PALATINE 
DISTRICT. 

Committee-Chamber,  Albany,  May  23,  1775. 

Gentlemen:  We  received  yours  of  the  21st  instant, 
and  can  assure  you  that  we  sympathise  with  you  in  your 
distressed  and  distracted  situation ;  but  at  the  same  time 
must  rejoice  to  find  you  so  warmly  engaged  amidst  the  op- 
position you  meet  with,  in  the  grand  plan  of  operation  gene- 
rally, nay  almost  universally  adopted  through  the  Colonies, 
for  the  preservation  of  our  liberty,  and  security  of  our  pro- 
perty. Enclosed  you  have  a  copy  of  a  letter  we  have 
sent  to  Colonel  Guy  Johnson.  We  have  sent  also  a  Com- 
mittee to  join  a  Committee  from  Schenectady  to  wait  upon 
bin)  to  know  the  reasons  of  his  military  preparations,  and 
the  source  from  whence  those  apprehensions  he  has  from 
an  assault  from  the  Neiv-England  people  arose  ;  an  answer 
to  the  speech  of  the  Indian  speech,  (a  copy  of  which  you 
have  enclosed,)  and  an  interpreter  to  translate  it  for  him, 
and  to  make  the  Indians  sensible  of  the  nature  of  the  dis- 
pute between  the  Mother  Country  and  the  Colonies. 

You  complain  of  a  scarcity  of  ammunition  amongst  you. 
We  are  very  sorry  that  though  there  was  a  free  communi- 
cation between  you  and  us,  we  have  it  not  in  our  power  at 
present  to  afford  you  any  assistance  in  that  particular,  as 
the  New-England  people  have  carried  off  almost  every 
pound  of  powder  that  can  be  spared,  though  we  under- 
stand that  the  Committee  of  Schenectady  have  some  ;  but 
be  assured  that  we  will  afford  you  every  assistance  that  is 
in  our  power  to  give,  and  shall  rejoice  to  walk  hand  in 
hand  with  you  in  every  thing  that  shall  tend  to  your  par- 
ticular advantage  in  so  critical  a  situation,  and  promote  the 
grand  the  general  cause,  which  thousands  of  our  neigh- 
bouring brethren  are  strenuously  supporting,  at  the  expense 
of  their  lives  and  estates.  We  cannot  at  present  advise 
you  to  force  a  direct  communication  between  you  and  us, 
as  it  may  be  attended  with  bad  consequences,  and  perhaps 
it  may  be  effected  without  such  a  risk  as  you  must  run  in 
the  attempt. 

We  have  heard,  several  weeks  ago,  that  Colonel  Guy 
Johnson  had  appointed  last  winter  to  have  a  general  Con- 
gress with  the  Indians  this  spring.  We  have  wrote  a  letter 
to  the  Reverend  Samuel  Kirldand,  missionary  among  the 
Oneida  Indians,  to  use  his  influence  with  them  to  maintain 
peace  and  harmony  with  the  white  people. 

A  Speech  of  the  Mohawks  to  the  Magistrates  and  Com- 
mittee of  the  Town  of  Schenectady,  and  Mayor,  Cor- 
poration, and  Committee  of  the  City  of  Albany,  &c, 
delivered  by  Little  Abraham  : 

Brothers  :  Our  present  situation  is  very  disagreeable 
and  alarming,  what  we  never  expected  ;  therefore  desire  to 
know  what  is  designed  by  the  reports  that  are  spread  amongst 
us.  We  hear  that  companies  and  troops  are  coming  from 
one  quarter  to  another,  to  molest  us ;  particularly,  that  a 
large  body  are  hourly  expected  from  New-England  to  ap- 
prehend and  take  away  by  violence  our  Superintendent 


and  extinguish  our  council  fire ;  for  what  reason  we  know 
not. 

Brothers :  We  desire  you  would  inform  us,  if  you  know 
of  any  such  design  on  foot,  whether  by  the  New-England 
people,  or  in  your  vicinity,  and  not  deceive  us  in  this  mat- 
ter, for  the  consequence  will  be  important  and  extensive. 

Brothers:  We  shall  support  and  defend  our  Superin- 
tendent, and  not  see  our  council  fire  extinguished.  We 
have  no  inclination  or  purpose  of  interfering  in  the  dispute 
between  Old  England  and  Boston ;  the  white  people  may 
settle  their  own  quarrels  between  themselves ;  we  shall 
never  meddle  in  those  matters,  or  be  the  aggressors,  if  we 
are  let  alone.  We  have,  for  a  long  time,  lived  in  great 
peace  with  one  another,  and  we  wish  ever  to  continue  so ; 
but  should  our  Superintendent  be  taken  from  us,  we  dread 
the  consequences:  the  whole  Confederacy  would  resent  it, 
and  all  their  allies;  and  as  reports  now  are,  we  should  not 
know  where  to  find  our  enemies ;  the  innocent  might  fall 
with  the  guilt)'.  We  are  so  desirous  of  maintaining  peace, 
that  we  are  unwilling  the  Six  Nations  should  know  the 
bad  reports  spread  amongst  us,  and  threats  given  out. 

Brothers:  We  desire  you  will  satisfy  us  as  to  your 
knowledge  of  the  foundation  of  these  reports,  and  what 
your  news  is,  and  not  deceive  us  in  a  matter  of  so  much 
importance.  Abraham,  Chief. 

[Interpreted  by  Samuel  Kirldand,  Missionary,  May  20, 
1775.] 

An  Answer  to  a  Speech  of  Little  Abraham,  a  Mohawk,  to 
the  Magistrates  and  Committee  of  the  Town  of  Schenec- 
tady, and  Mayor,  Corporation,  and  Committee  of  the 
City  of  Albany: 

Brothers:  We  are  sorry  that  any  reports  spread 
amongst  you  should  alarm  you  or  make  you  uneasy.  We 
know  of  no  troops  or  companies  coming  from  any  quarter 
to  molest  you,  or  to  apprehend  and  take  away  by  violence 
your  Superintendent,  or  extinguish  your  council  fire.  We 
have  not  heard,  nor  do  we  know,  the  New-England,  people 
ever  intended  to  molest  you  or  your  Superintendent ;  nor 
do  we  believe  it  ;  for  they  are  our  friends,  and  they  are 
your  friends,  and  will  do  neither  of  us  injury. 

Brothers :  We  cannot,  however,  pass  over  in  silence 
what  probably  may  have  given  rise  to  such  reports.  We 
understand  that  two  persons  passing  on  their  own  business, 
were  detained  by  jour  Superintendent,  they  being  Hew- 
England  men,  which  is  against  our  laws  ;  perhaps  this  may 
have  occasioned  the  report. 

Brothers :  We  are  extremely  well  satisfied  to  learn  that 
you  have  no  inclination  or  purpose  to  interfere  in  the  dis- 
pute between  Old  England  and  America,  for  you  must 
not  understand  that  it  is  with  Boston  alone  ;  it  is  between 
Old  England  and  all  her  Colonies ;  the  people  here  are 
oppressed  by  Old  England,  and  she  sends  over  Troops 
among  us  to  destroy  us ;  this  is  the  reason  our  people  are 
all  in  alarm  to  defend  themselves.  They  intend  no  hostilities 
against  you  ;  do  you  continue  peaceable,  and  you  need 
apprehend  no  danger ;  it  is  a  dispute  wherein  you  have 
nothing  to  do ;  don't  you  disturb  any  of  our  people,  and 
depend  upon  it  they  will  leave  you  in  peace. 

Brothers:  As  we  have  always  lived  in  strict  friendship, 
so  we  mean  to  continue  to  live  in  peace,  not  only  with  our 
brethren,  the  Mohawks,  but  all  the  Six  Nations,  for  which 
reason  we  desire  our  brethren  to  give  ear  to  no  reports  that 
may  prevail.  You  can  at  any  time  satisfy  yourselves  more 
fully,  if  you  choose  to  send  down  to  us  one  or  more  of  your 
Nation,  any  of  whom  we  shall  always  be  glad  to  see,  to 
talk  with  them  on  these  affairs. 

Answer  of  the  Mohawks  to  the  Speech  of  the  Magis- 
trates,  &c,  of  Albany  and  Schenectady. 

Guy  Park,  May  25,  1775. 
Present :  Gysbert  Marselis,  Peter  P.  Schuyler,  John 
Visher,  John  Roseboom,  Chris.  Yates,  of  the  Committee. 
Colonel  Johnson,  Superintendent,  Colonel  Daniel  Claus. 
William  Allen,  Esquire,  of  Philadelphia,  with  several 
other  gentlemen. 

Abraham,  Chief  of  the  Mohawks,  Speaker. 
Brothers  :  We  are  glad  to  meet  you  here  at  this  our 
fire-place,  where  we  meet  to  transact  business.    You  are 


843 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


844 


our  old  friends,  and  we  heard  you  came  now  to  answer  our 
speech.  We  have  attended  to  your  answer,  and  now  ac- 
quaint you  that  the  reports  we  had  rendered  it  necessary  to 
send  you  such  a  speech,  to  prevent  the  dangerous  conse- 
quences that  might  ensue. 

We  are  extremely  glad  to  hear  your  speech,  which  is 
very  peaceable,  and  it  gives  us  pleasure,  because  we  would 
not  willingly  quarrel  with  a  people  with  whom  we  have 
been  so  long  at  peace  ;  and  this  must  have  happened,  if 
the  news  we  heard  had  been  true ;  for  we  have  but  one 
head,  and  that  is  Colonel  Johnson,  our  Superintendent. 
We  heard  that  there  were  designs  against  him,  and  we  must 
protect  him  ;  we  cannot  do  without  him  ;  so  that  if  there 
are  no  designs  against  him,  we  shall  be  easy  in  our  minds  ; 
for  though  we  have  long  heard  of  disputes  between  the 
English  and  the  people  here,  we  do  not  think  proper  to 
interfere. 

You  all  know  that  during  Sir  William  Johnson's  life- 
time, and  since,  we  have  been  peaceably  disposed  ;  but  we 
were  greatly  alarmed  at  the  report  of  a  design  against  Col- 
onel Johnson;  for  he  is  our  property,  and  we  shall  not  part 
with  him.  We  desire  you  will  hearken  to  us,  and  that  you 
will  believe  we  speak  our  minds.  We  likewise  hope  you 
are  sincere.  But  one  thing  alarms  us  much,  and  we  hope 
it  is  not  true.  There  was  a  report  that  you  have  stopped 
some  powder ;  you  know  we  get  this  and  other  things  from 
our  Superintendent ;  and  we  are  hunters,  and  must  have 
powder.  If  we  lived  as  you  do,  it  would  not  have  been 
so  great  a  loss ;  but  we  must  have  ammunition,  and  if  it  is 
stopped,  we  shall  have  reason  to  doubt  your  sincerity,  and 
to  suspect  that  you  do  not  regard  us  or  our  words.  We 
have  both  given  fair  assurances,  and  hope  no  doubt  remains 
between  us,  otherwise  it  might  be  bad.  We  are  pleased 
to  hear  you  say  that  you  are  willing  to  communicate  freely 
with  us  ;  this  we  like,  and  this  is  the  place  where  we  do 
business ;  we  will  at  all  times  listen  to  whoever  you  send 
here,  in  the  presence  of  our  Superintendent.  This  is  the 
truth,  brothers,  and  agreeable  to  the  customs  of  our  ances- 
tors, which  we  shall  follow. 

The  gentlemen  of  the  Committee,  after  retiring  for  some 
little  time,  returned  and  gave  the  following  Answer: 

Brothers  :  We  are  very  glad  to  hear  you  speak,  and 
hear  you  confirm  the  old  friendship  of  our  forefathers,  which 
we  intend  to  abide  by,  and  thank  you  for  the  same. 

Brothers :  The  reports  you  have  heard  of  in  regard  to 
the  powder,  we  also  hope  to  be  false,  and  assure  you  that 
we  shall  acquaint,  on  our  return,  our  old  and  wise  men 
about  the  same,  and  do  our  endeavours  to  prevent  any  such 
things  for  the  future ;  and  you  may  depend  upon  it,  that 
whenever  we  have  any  business  with  you,  that  we  shall 
apply  here  at  your  council  fire,  where  we  hope  to  meet 
you  in  the  presence  of  your  Superintendent ;  and  that  we 
shall  always  keep  the  communication  free  and  open  as  is 
usual. 

To  which  the  Mohawk  answered : 

Brothers  :  We  are  glad  both  our  speeches  are  so 
agreeable,  and  hope  that  you  are  not  surprised  to  hear  us 
say  we  cannot  spare  Colonel  Johnson ;  for  besides  his  being 
our  Superintendent,  the  love  we  have  for  the  memory  of 
Sir  William  Johnson,  and  the  obligations  the  whole  Six 
Nations  are  under  to  him,  must  make  us  regard  and  pro- 
tect every  branch  of  his  family,  whom  we  include  in  our 
speech. 

We  now  find  there  have  been  several  false  reports  on 
both  sides ;  we  hope  that  concerning  the  powder  is  one  of 
them  ;  we  shall  therefore  explain  the  same  truly  to  the  rest 
of  our  Confederacy,  and  we  expect  that  you  will,  on  your 
part,  explain  the  truth  immediately  to  all  the  white  people 
east  and  west,  as  we  mean  to  do  the  same  among  the  In- 
dians. 


COMMITTEE  FROM  CONNECTICUT  TO  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

New-York,  May  24,  1775. 
Sir  :  The  House  of  Representatives  of  the  Colony 
of  Connecticut  have  appointed  us  a  Committee  on  their 
behalf  to  wait  on  the  "  Provincial  Convention  of  this  Prov- 
ince, in  order  to  procure  intelligence  of  the  measures 
that  may  be  adopted  by  said  Convention,  respecting  the 
common  cause  of  the  British  Colonies ;  to  communicate 


a  true  state  of  the  measures  taken  by  said  Colony  ;  and 
to  cultivate  the  friendship  and  harmony  which  subsists  be- 
tween this  Province  and  that  Colony  :"  we  therefore  take 
the  liberty,  through  you,  to  communicate  the  business  of 
our  appointment  to  the  Provincial  Convention  of  this  Prov- 
ince, and  to  inform  them  that  we  are  at  Mrs.  Blau's,  op- 
posite the  Exchange,  and  should  esteem  it  a  favour  to  be 
furnished  from  time  to  time  with  accounts  of  the  steps  taken 
by  the  Convention,  "  that  respect  the  general  cause  of  the 
British  Colonies  ;"  and  that  we  are  ready,  on  our  part,  "  to 
communicate  a  true  state  of  the  measures  adopted  by  the 
Colony  of  Connecticut,"  and  to  use  all  means  in  our 
power  "  to  cultivate  and  improve  the  friendship  subsisting 
between  this  Province  and  said  Colony." 

We  are,  Sir,  your  most  obedient  humble  servants, 

Nathaniel  Wales, 
Thaddetjs  Burr, 
Pierpont  Edwards. 
Peter  Van  Brugh  Livingston,  Esq. 


JOHN  HANCOCK,  PRESIDENT,  TO  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

Philadelphia,  May  26,  1775. 

Sir:  I  enclose  you  the  Resolves  of  the  Continental 
Congress  respecting  the  measures  they  conceive  more  im- 
mediately necessary  for  the  defence  and  safety  of  your 
City  and  Province,  and  which,  it  is  expected,  will  be  car- 
ried into  execution  with  all  possible  despatch,  and  with  as 
much  secresy,  as  to  the  particular  operations  intended,  as 
the  nature  of  the  service  will  possibly  admit  of. 

I  am,  Sir,  your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

John  Hancock,  President. 
To  the  President  of  the  Provincial  Congress  New-  York. 

In  Congress,  May  25,  1775. 

Resolved,  That  a  Post  be  immediately  taken  and  forti- 
fied at  or  near  King's  Bridge,  in  the  Colony  of  New-  York ; 
that  the  ground  be  chosen  with  a  particular  view  to  pre- 
vent the  communication  between  the  City  of  New-York 
and  the  country  from  being  interrupted  by  land. 

2.  Resolved,  That  a  Post  be  also  taken  in  the  High- 
lands on  each  side  of  Hudson's  River,  and  Batteries  erect- 
ed in  such  manner  as  will  most  effectually  prevent  any 
vessels  passing,  that  may  be  sent  to  harass  the  inhabitants 
on  the  border  of  said  river  ;  and  that  experienced  persons 
be  immediately  sent  to  examine  said  river,  in  order  to  dis- 
cover where  it  will  be  most  advisable  and  proper  to  obstruct 
the  navigation. 

3.  That  the  Militia  of  New-York  be  armed  and  trained, 
and  in  constant  readiness  to  act  at  a  moment's  warning, 
and  that  a  number  of  men  be  immediately  embodied  and 
kept  in  that  City,  and  so  disposed  of  as  to  give  protection 
to  the  inhabitants  in  case  any  insult  should  be  offered 
by  the  Troops  that  may  land  there,  and  to  prevent  any 
attempts  that  may  be  made  to  gain  possession  of  the  City, 
and  interrupt  its  intercourse  with  the  country. 

4.  That  it  be  left  to  the  Provincial  Congress  of  New- 
York  to  determine  the  number  of  men  sufficient  to  occupy 
the  several  Posts  above  mentioned,  and  also  that  already 
recommended  to  be  taken  at  or  near  Lake  George,  as  well 
as  to  guard  the  City,  provided  the  whole  do  not  exceed 
the  number  of  three  thousand  men,  to  be  commanded  by 
such  officers  as  shall  be  thereunto  appointed  by  the  Pro- 
vincial Congress,  and  to  be  governed  by  such  rules  and 
regulations  as  shall  be  established  by  said  Congress,  until 
further  order  is  taken  by  this  Congress  ;  provided  also, 
that  if  the  said  Provincial  Congress  should  be  of  opinion 
that  the  number  proposed  will  not  be  sufficient  for  the 
several  services  above  recommended,  that  the  said  Con- 
gress report  their  sentiments  upon  this  subject  to  this  Con- 
gress as  soon  as  may  be. 

5.  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  said  Provincial  Con- 
gress, that,  in  raising  those  forces,  they  allow  no  bounties  or 
clothing,  and  that  their  pay  shall  not  exceed  the  establish- 
ment of  the  New- England  Colonies. 

6.  That  it  be  further  recommended  to  the  Provincial 
Congress  aforesaid,  that  the  Troops  be  enlisted  to  serve 
until  the  last  day  of  December  next,  unless  this  Congress 
shall  direct  that  they  be  sooner  disbanded. 

7.  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  Congress  aforesaid 
to  persevere  the  more  vigorously  in  preparing  for  their 


845 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


840 


defence,  as  it  is  very  uncertain  whether  the  earnest  endea- 
vours of  the  Congress  to  accommodate  the  unhappy  dif- 
ferences between  Great  Britain  and  the  Colonies,  by  con- 
ciliatory measures,  will  be  successful. 
A  true  copy  from  the  minutes : 

Charles  Thomson,  Secretary. 


CONGRESS  OF  NEW-JERSEY  TO  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

In  Provincial  Congress,  NewJersey,  Trenton,  > 
May  26,  1775.  $ 

Gentlemen:  We,  the  Deputies  appointed  by  the  inha- 
bitants of  this  Province,  to  meet  in  Provincial  Congress, 
are  now  convened  here  for  the  purpose  of  pursuing  such 
measures  as  may  be  thought  expedient  in  the  present  un- 
happy situation  to  which  the  Colonies  are  reduced,  and 
which  the  peculiar  exigencies  of  the  times  may  require. 
As  nothing  can  tend  more  to  ensure  success  to  the  steps 
that  may  at  this  critical  juncture  be  adopted  by  the  several 
Provinces,  than  a  uniform  plan  of  conduct,  we  conceived 
it  necessary  to  look  up  to  the  Continental  Congress  for 
their  advice  and  direction,  which  we  have  accordingly 
applied  for,  and  hope  soon  to  receive.  We  also  think  of 
consequence,  that  a  correspondence  should  be  established 
with  you,  and  our  other  sister  Colonies,  and  a  free  com- 
munication be  had  from  time  to  time  of  such  measures  as 
may  be  judged  most  conducive  to  the  interest  of  the  com- 
mon cause ;  and  request  that  we  may  be  favoured  with 
such  intelligence  as  may  occur  to  you  worthy  of  atlention, 
and  of  which  our  situation  may  probably  deprive  us. 

We  are,  gentlemen,  your  humble  servants, 

Hendrick  Fisher,  President. 

To  the  Provincial  Congress  of  New-York. 

SAMUEL  TUDER  TO  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

To  the  Honourable  the  Provincial  Congress  of  New- 
York. 

The  Petition  of  Samuel  Tuder,  Captain,  and  the  other 
Officers  of  the  Independent  Company  of  Artillery  in 
the  City  of  New-York,  humbly  sheweth: 
That  they  have  made  considerable  progress  in  forming, 
training  and  exercising  the  said  company  ;  and  natter  them- 
selves that,  if  properly  supplied,  they  may,  at  this  critical 
period  prove  of  signal  service  to  the  Province.  There  are 
no  carriages  for  even  such  cannon  as  they  have  pitched 
on  to  use  until  brass  field-pieces  be  provided.  Quite  des- 
titute of  ammunition,  and  the  necessary  apparatus,  they 
cannot  exert  themselves  with  that  effect  for  the  defence  of 
the  Colony,  which  they  are  emulous  of  contributing  to. 
They  therefore  pray  you  will  take  the  matter  into  consi- 
deration, and  grant  such  relief  in  the  premises  as  you  in 
your  wisdom  shall  think  fit.  Samuel  Tuder, 

In  behalf  of  the  Independent  Company  of  Artillery . 
New-York,  May  26,  1775. 


LETTER  FROM  THE  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS  TO  THEIR  DELE- 
GATES IN  THE  CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS. 

New-York,  May  26,  1775. 
Gentlemen:  Upon  considering  the  present  state  of 
these  Colonies,  it  naturally  occured  to  this  Congress  that 
an  uncommon  levy  of  money  will  soon  be  necessary  for 
Continental  service,  and  that  therefore  an  universal  paper 
currency  may  probably  become  the  subject  of  consider- 
ation in  your  respectable  body.  To  this  scheme  it  may 
naturally  be  objected,  that  it  will  be  imprudent  in  one  Col- 
ony to  interpose  its  credit  for  the  others.  On  the  other 
hand,  it  is  clearly  impossible  to  raise  any  sum  adequate  to 
the  service,  by  tax ;  and  the  necessary  intercourse  of  ex- 
penditures throughout  the  Colonies  will  be  obstructed  by 
separate  emissions  on  the  respective  credits  of  the  several 
Colonies,  which  cannot,  in  their  nature,  gain  universal  cir- 
culation. We  have  this  important  subject  under  serious 
deliberation,  and  are  still  at  a  loss  for  the  best  expedient 
most  effectually  to  answer  the  purpose.  We  have  there- 
fore appointed  a  Committee  of  our  body  to  give  it  their 
closest  attention,  and  to  report  their  opinion  to  us  with  all 
possible  despatch  ;  the  result  of  which  and  our  final  re- 
solution thereon,  we  shall  communicate  to  you  without  loss 
of  time.  In  the  mean  time,  should  this  matter  be  now  in 
contemplation  in  the  Continental  Congress,  we  earnestly 


request  that  its  determination  may  be  so  postponed  as  to 
furnish  an  opportunity  of  acquainting  you  with  our  more 
mature  sentiments  on  this  most  important  point. 

We  beg  leave,  through  our  Delegates,  to  inform  the 
grand  representative  body  of  the  Continent,  that  we  have, 
in  the  best  manner  in  our  power,  executed  their  order  to 
the  Committee  of  New-York  and  Albany,  respecting  the 
Post  at  Ticonderoga,  and  for  further  satisfaction,  inclose 
copies  of  our  proceedings  on  that  subject. 

We  are,  gentlemen,  with  the  greatest  respect,  your  most 
obedient  humble  servants. 


EXTRACTS  OF  INTERCEPTED  LETTERS,  ENCLOSED  IN  A 
LETTER  FROM  THE  ALBANY  COMMITTEE  TO  PROVINCIAL 
CONGRESS  OF  NEW-YORK,  DATED  MAY  26,  1775. 

Extract  of  a  Letter  from  Lieutenant  George  Cupbarge, 
of  the  Twenty-Sixth  Regiment,  to  Mr.  Cupbarge,  at 
Belleville,  in  Ireland,  dated  at  Montreal,  1st  of 
May,  1775. 

"  I  am  apt  to  think  our  Regiment  will  be  sent  very  soon 
to  serve  against  the  rebellious  New-England 'ers." 

Extract  of  a  Letter  from  Randle  Meredith,  dated 
Montreal,  2d  May,  1775,  to  Mr.  John  Rowe,  Mer- 
chant in  Boston. 

"  I  am  sorry  to  find  the  Government  intend  to  put  their 
detestable  measures  in  execution.  God  only  knows  the 
event.  I  feel  for  your  situation,  but  yet  have  some  faint 
hopes  a  plan  of  reconciliation  may  be  adopted  before  blood 
is  spilt.  The  English  in  this  country  are  in  a  deplorable 
situation,  being  deprived  of  all  their  liberties  and  privileges, 
and  are  afraid  to  speak  or  act  relative  to  publick  affairs. 
Our  brethren  below  must  pity  us,  and  our  only  hopes  are, 
that  if  Providence  ordains  that  they  succeed  in  their  just 
demands,  they  will  then  exert  themselves  to  obtain  redress 
for  us,  our  wills  being  good,  but  dare  not  act,  being  few  in 
number,  and  our  little  attempts  have  been  treated  with  dis- 
dain by  the  tools  of  power  at  home." 

An  anonymous  Letter  to  Mr.  Gomus,  at  .Boston,  dated 

Caldwell  Place,  26th  April,  1775. 

"  There  is  a  passage,  that  the  Governour's  Commission 
was  read  on  Monday,  and  that  he  has  power  to  raise  a 
Canadian  Regiment,  and  send  it  where  he  pleases." 

Extract  of  a  Letter  dated  Quebeck,  April  21th,  1775, 
from  John  McCord  to  Lieutenant  James  Pettegrew, 
of  the  Tenth  Regiment. 

"  We  are  impatient  for  the  Packet ;  there  are  rumours 
here  of  bad  news  ;  have  heavy  fears  for  our  friends  at  Bos- 
ton on  both  sides  the  question.  I  pray  God  to  grant  peace 
on  almost  any  terms.  The  blood  of  British  subjects  is  very 
precious ;  would  gladly  hope  a  method  will  still  be  found 
out  to  prevent  the  spilling  of  any." 


ABRAHAM  LOTT  TO  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

Mr.  Lott  having  received  an  order  from  the  Purser  of 
His  Majesty's  Ship  Asia  to  supply  the  said  ship  with  sun- 
dry provisions,  takes  the  liberty  herewith  to  hand  the  same, 
and  to  request  the  favour,  that  the  Honourable  Congress 
will  be  pleased  to  signify  their  opinion,  whether  the  order 
shall  be  complied  with,  and  whether  he  shall  be  at  liberty 
to  supply  the  said  ship  with  such  other  provisions  as  she 
may  from  time  to  time  have  occasion  for,  for  her  own  use, 
during  her  stay  in  this  Colony. 

City  of  New-York,  May  27,  1775. 
To  the  Provincial  Congress  of  New-  York. 


GOVERNOUR  TRUMBULL  TO  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

Hartford,  May  27,  A.  D.  1775. 
Gentlemen  :  The  General  Assembly  of  this  Colony, 
now  sitting  in  this  place,  having  received  intelligence  of 
the  imminent  danger  of  the  people  at  Ticonderoga  and 
Crown  Point,  by  reason  of  a  threatened  attack  from  the 
Province  of  Quebeck,  in  a  letter  from  Colonel  Arnold, 
who,  at  present,  commands  there,  of  the  23d  instant,  a 
copy  of  which  we  send  you  enclosed,  which  may  deprive 
the  Colonies  of  those  important  posts,  before  the  resolve 
of  the  Continental  Congress  respecting  them  could  be  car- 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &ic,  MAY,  1775.  848 


847 

ried  into  execution  in  your  Province  ;  have,  from  the  press- 
ing and  urgent  necessity  of  the  case,  given  orders  that 
five  hundred  pounds  of  powder  should  be  sent  there,  and 
that  four  companies  of  one  hundred  men  each  should  march 
immediately  for  support  and  defence  of  the  men  there,  and 
for  the  security  and  defence  of  the  artillery  and  stores  there, 
until  they  may  be  removed  and  secured  agreeable  to  the 
resolve  of  the  Continental  Congress,  or  until  relieved  by 
your  Province. 

This  Assembly  acquiesce  in  the  resolve  of  Congress, 
that  puts  the  said  fortresses  under  the  direction  of  the 
Province  of  New- York ;  and  in  the  steps  they  have  now 
taken,  would  by  no  means  be  considered  as  invading  the 
Province,  or  intermeddling  with  the  service  entrusted  to  the 
Province  of  New- York ;  but,  as  they  first  had  the  intelli- 
gence of  their  danger,  and  had  Troops  ready  which  might 
be  spared  for  the  present,  they  thought  it  their  duty  to  pro- 
vide against  the  present  danger  until  you  might  be  advised 
of  their  situation,  and  take  such  measures  as  your  wisdom 
and  prudence  shall  suggest  for  their  safety  and  defence. 

1  am,  in  behalf  of  the  General  Assembly  of  Connecticut, 
with  great  truth  and  regard,  gentlemen,  your  most  obedient 
and  humble  servant,  Jonathan  Tkumbull. 

The  Honourable  Provincial  Congress  of  New-  York. 


GOVERNOUR  TRUMBULL  TO  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

Hartford,  May  29,  1775. 

Gentlemen:  Your  favour  of  the  25th  instant,  May, 
came  safe  per  Mr.  Brown.  This  Assembly  have  entered 
into  the  consideration  of  its  contents,  and  have  come  into 
the  following  resolutions  in  consequence  thereof: 

That  one  thousand  men,  (including  those  four  compa- 
nies which  were  before  sent  forward,)  under  command  of 
Colonel  Benjamin  Hinman,  march  as  soon  as  possible  to 
Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point,  for  the  support  and  de- 
fence of  those  fortresses ;  and  that  they  there  continue  till 
they  are  relieved  by  the  Province  of  New-  York,  or  are 
otherwise  ordered  by  this  Assembly.  That  Colonel  Hin- 
man take  the  command  of  our  troops  destined  to  those 
stations.  That  the  troops  be  furnished  with  one  pound  of 
powder  and  three  pounds  of  bullets  to  each  soldier.  That 
Colonel  Hinman  be  ordered  to  keep  up  the  strictest  vigi- 
lance to  prevent  any  hostile  incursion  from  being  made 
into  the  settlements  of  the  Province  of  Qiiebeck ;  and  that 
the  Provincial  Congresses  of  New-York  and  Massachu- 
setts-Bay be  advised  of  these  measures,  and  the  Neiv- 
York  Congress  be  requested  to  forward  the  necessary  sup- 
plies for  said  troops,  and  such  further  supplies  of  ammuni- 
tion as  they  shall  judge  necessary. 

The  above  transactions  will  manifest  the  readiness  with 
which  this  Assembly  have  complied  with  your  desires.  I 
am,  with  great  truth  and  regard,  in  behalf  of  the  Govern- 
our  and  Company  of  Connecticut,  gentlemen,  your  most 
obedient  humble  servant,  Jonathan  Trumbull. 

To  the  Provincial  Congress  of  New-York. 


BENEDICT  ARNOLD  TO  NEW-yORK  CONGRESS. 

Ticonderoga,  May  39,  1775. 

Memorandum  of  Men,  &fc,  wanted  for  the  ensuing  sum- 
mer, viz:  1200  men,  including  B.  Arnold's  Regiment  of 
400  men  :  100  men  of  the  train  of  artillery  :  10  caulkers  : 
25  ship-carpenters :  2  gun-smiths :  2  surgeons,  and  their 
mates :  20  men  for  ten  teams :  20  masons  and  black- 
smiths :  25  house-carpenters — the  latter  may  doubtless  be 
found  among  the  privates  who  enlist,  except  the  master 
workmen  :  100  tents,  with  proper  equipage:  600  hatchets  : 
100  narrow  axes:  50 broad  axes:  50  pickaxes:  200 spades: 
200  wooden  shovels,  shod:  50  hoes :  100  camp  kettles : 
200  wooden  canteens :  arms,  blankets,  &c,  for  the  men. 

I  observe  the  Committee  of  New-  York  intend  forwarding 
a  number  of  articles,  for  which  reason  I  have  omitted  them. 

Sundry  necessaries  for  transporting  the  Cannon  over  Lake 
George,  viz  : 
To  be  built  on  Lake  George,  2  flat-bottom  boats,  forty 
feet  long,  twelve  wide,  and  four  deep,  with  strong  knees, 
well  timbered,  and  of  four-inch  oak  plank — these  may 
be  built  at  Sparden's,  where  there  is  timber  and  a  saw 


mill  handy :  1  flat-bottom  boat,  of  same  size  and  construc- 
tion, to  go  between  Ticonderoga  and  the  Landing,  or  Lake 
Champlain:  4  gins,  the  triangles  fifteen  feet  long — the 
wood  may  be  procured  here :  8  falls  for  the  gins,  of  three 
and  a  half  inch  white  rope,  made  of  the  best  hemp :  1 
coil  two  and  a  half  inch  rope,  1  coil  two  inch  rope,  1  coil 
one  and  a  half  inch  rope,  100  fathoms  each  :  4  pieces 
raven  duck:  10  barrels  pitch:  4  barrels  tar:  500  pounds 
oakum:  40  pounds  sewing  twine:  10  dozen  sail  and  roll 
rope  needles  :  1  dozen  palms  :  3  seines,  thirty  fathoms  long, 
capped  twelve  feet  and  arms  six  feet  deep,  made  of  large 
twine,  the  meshes  one  and  a  half  inches  wide,  which  will 
probably  supply  the  Army  with  fish,  as  they  are  very 
plenty  and  good :  1  barrel  twenty  penny  nails :  I  barrel 
ten  penny  nails :  1  barrel  four  penny  nails :  2  dozen  nail 
hammers,  with  other  necessary  tools  for  the  house  and 
ship  carpenters — iron  may  be  supplied  from  Skenes- 
borough ;  steel  will  be  wanted — 4  pair  strong  wheels, 
wanted  between  Lakes  George  and  Champlain,  that  will 
carry  three  tons  weight :  4  pair  strong  wheels  wanted  at 
Fort  George. 

N.  B.  Common  cart  wheels  will  answer  (if  good)  for 
most  of  the  small  cannon  :  there  will  probably  be  wanted 
at  Fort  George,  10  good  teams  of  four  yoke  of  oxen  each, 
to  bring  up  provisions,  fcc,  and  take  such  cannon  and 
mortars  to  Albany  as  may  be  wanted  by  our  Army  at  New- 
York  or  Cambridge :  8  yoke  of  good  oxen  will  be  want- 
ed at  Ticonderoga — these  may  probably  be  procured  in 
the  neighbourhood,  of  which  Colonel  Webb  may  inform 
himself.  Benedict  Arnold, 

Colonel  and  CommdH  at  Ticonderoga,  fyc. 


Secretary  of  State's  Office,  Whitehall,  May  30,  1775. 

A  report  having  been  spread,  and  an  account  having 
been  printed  and  published,  of  a  skirmish  between  some  of 
the  people  in  the  Province  of  Massachusetts-Bay  and  a 
detachment  of  his  Majesty's  troops,  it  is  proper  to  inform 
the  publick,  that  no  advices  have  as  yet  been  received  in 
the  American  Department  of  any  such  event. 

There  is  reason  to  believe  that  there  are  despatches 
from  General  Gage  on  board  the  Sukey,  Captain  Brown, 
which,  though  she  sailed  four  days  before  the  vessel  that 
brought  the  printed  accounts,  is  not  yet  arrived.* 


LETTER  FROM  ARTHUR  LEE. 

London,  Tuesday,  May  30,  1775. 
As  a  doubt  of  the  authenticity  of  the  account  from  Sa- 
lem, touching  an  engagement  between  the  King's  Troops 
and  the  Provincials  in  the  Massachusetts-Bay ,  may  arise 

*  London,  June  1,  1775. — The  publick  are  requested  to  attend  one 
moment  to  the  conduct  of  Ministry,  and  they  will  forever  detest  their 
duplicity.  A  massacre  is  attempted  by  the  King's  mercenaries  in 
America;  the  peaceable  inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Concord  are 
wantonly  fired  on,  and  many  are  inhumanly  murdered.  Ministr}', 
unable  to  contest  the  proofs  adduced  in  confirmation  of  this  infamous 
transaction,  caused  the  foregoing  paragraph  to  bo  inserted  in  the  Ga. 
zette. 

To  what  does  this  shuffling  State  production  amount  ?  Is  the  Ame. 
rican  massacre  less  true  because  no  accounts  of  it  have  been  received 
at  the-  Secretary's  Office  ?  Is  this  a  time  to  talk  of  departments,  when 
human  blood,  when  the  blood  of  our  brethren  is  poured  out  like  water 
by  a  detachment  of  his  Majesty's  troops  ?  Are  we  to  pay  attention  to 
trivial  formalities,  when  the  sword  is  drawn,  and  the  hands  of  the 
King's  troops  are  uplifted  to  cut  the  throats  of  our  brethren  ?  Is 
this  a  time  to  talk  of  the  routine  of  office  ?  If  the  news  received, 
of  a  detachment  of  his  Majesty's  troops  having  glutted  themselves 
with  blood,  if  this  news  is  untrue,  why  do  Ministry  not  contradict  it  ? 
And,  if  it  be  true,  what  have  they  to  say?  Shall  we  adopt  their  lan. 
guage,  and  call  a  bloody  massacre  a  trifling  skirmish  ?  Or  are  we 
not  to  believe  that  cither  massacre  or  skirmish  hath  happened,  be- 
cause  the  American  Department  hath  not  as  yet  received  thoso  advices 
from  General  Gage  which  are  on  board  the  Sukey  ?  The  matter  of  fact 
is,  that  Ministry  are  so  confounded  at  the  arrival  of  the  news,  that  it 
will  require  some  time  before  they  can  furbish  up  their  account  of  th« 
matter.  Bronzed  as  they  are,  and  now  all  over  besprinkled  with  the  blood 
of  our  brethren,  it  still  requires  some  tiino  before  facts  can  be  falsified, 
or  tho  truth  wholly  explained  away.  The  Court  Gazette  may  talk  of 
advices  on  board  the  Sukei/,  (which  will  never  arrive,)  but  there  are 
better  advices  which  have  arrived,  wherein  it  is  incontestably  prove<l 
that  the  King's  troops  have  pillaged  tho  houses,  set  fire  to  tho  stores, 
and  slaughtered  the  inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Concord.  That  a  de. 
tachment  of  his  Majesty's  regular  troops,  after  a  commission  of  these 
crimes,  should  be  forced  to  run  away  and  shelter  under  the  guns  of  a 
man-of-war,  was  rather  an  unfortunate  circumstance.  If  a  wish  re- 
mains to  be  accomplished,  it  is,  that  in  case  a  similar  massacre  should 
be  altemptrd,  an  English  man-of-war  may  not  bo  disgraced  by  afford- 
ing protection  to  a  banditti  who  are  enlisted  into  his  Majesty's  service 
for  other  purposes  than  that  of  butchering  his  subjects. 


849 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


850 


from  a  paragraph  in  the  Gazette  of  this  evening,  I  desire 
to  inform  all  those  who  wish  to  see  the  original  affidavits 
which  confirm  that  account,  that  they  are  deposited  at  the 
Mansion  House,  with  the  Right  Honourable  the  Lord 
Mayor,  for  their  inspection.  Arthur  Lee, 

Agent  for  the  House  of  Representatives  of  the 
Massachusetts-Bay. 


JAMES  E ASTON  TO  THE  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  COMMITTEE 
OF  SAFETY,  AND  COUNCIL  OF  WAR,  IN  CAMBRIDGE  AND 
WATERTOWN,  MASS. 

Pittsfield,  May  30,  1775. 
May  it  please  your  Honours  :  When  I  arrived  ex- 
press from  Ticonderoga  to  the  honourable  Provincial 
Congress  and  Committee  of  Safety  at  Watcrtoxm  and 
Cambridge,  I  represented  to  those  two  honourable  Boards 
that  the  reduction  of  that  important  fortress  had  took  its 
rise  in  the  General  Court  of  the  Colony  of  Connecticut,  as 
it  was  also  mentioned  in  the  letter  from  Captain  Mott  to 
those  two  honourable  Boards  aforesaid ;  upon  which  the 
Congress  passed  a  resolve,  and  the  President  of  the  Con- 
gress was  ordered  to  write  to  the  said  General  Assembly, 
desiring  them  to  garrison  and  fortify  those  late  acquisitions, 
and  also  to  bring  down  some  of  the  cannon  to  our  head 
quarters  at  Cambridge.  When  I  arrived  at  the  Assem- 
bly and  delivered  the  letter  to  the  Governour,  his  Honour 
told  me  that  the  Assembly  had  not,  as  an  Assembly,  taken 
the  matter  up,  but  that  it  had  its  origin  in  private  persons 
belonging  to  the  Assembly.  However,  it  was  immediately 
attended  to,  and  a  Committee  of  both  Houses  was  appoint- 
ed to  take  the  matter  under  consideration,  and  did  so,  but 
did  not  report  till  Captain  Mott  came  from  the  Continental 
Congress  with  the  approbation  of  that  honourable  body  in 
the  taking  and  maintaining  the  fortress  aforesaid.  The 
Council  have  detained  me  till  farther  intelligence  can  be 
had  from  the  Congress  at  Neiv-York,  and  Mr.  Shephard 
is  sent  in  my  stead.  1  am,  however,  sent  on  my  way  with 
all  haste  for  Ticonderoga,  without  receiving  said  intelli- 
gence, on  account  of  the  great  danger  that  fortress  is  in  of 
being  besieged  in  a  short  time.  By  order  of  the  aforesaid 
Assembly,  I  have  sent  forward  five  hundred  pounds  of 
powder  under  a  proper  guard,  and  shall  this  day  hasten 
after  it  with  all  expedition. 

I  expect  no  provision  from  Connecticut  will  be  made  for 
me  and  the  men  that  were  with  me  from  this  Province  at 
the  taking  of  said  fort,  which  were  about  fifty,  and  about 
one  hundred  who  have  gone  as  a  re-enforcement,  except  the 
paying  them  till  about  this  time.  Though  Connecticut 
will  raise  men,  and  assist  in  the  defence  of  that  fortress,  yet 
they  expect  that  our  Congress  will  properly  officer  and  or- 
ganize the  men  they  send,  and  also  pay  them. 

It  is  a o reed  on  all  hands  the  fortress  must  be  maintain- 
ed, as  it  is  of  infinite  importance  to  the  general  cause.  I 
have  no  doubt  but  very  violent  attempts  will  soon  be  made 
to  wrest  it  out  of  our  hands.  As  I  have  about  one  hundred 
and  fifty  men  now  at  that  fort,  and  shall  be  able  to  fill  up  a 
Regiment  in  a  few  days'  time,  I  would  just  hint  to  your 
Honours,  that  I  should  be  willing  to  serve  my  Country  in 
the  capacity  I  stand  in  at  home,  as  head  of  a  Regiment 
on  this  northern  expedition.  Should  you  see  fit  to  gratify 
me  with  the  command  of  a  Regiment  for  the  fortifying  and 
garrisoning  said  fortress,  you  may  depend  on  my  most 
faithful  exertions  to  defend  it  to  the  last  extremity,  against 
the  whole  weight  of  Canada,  and  most  punctual  observance 
of  all  your  orders.  And  I  shall  be  ready  to  make  such 
farther  acquisitions  as  shall  be  in  my  power,  consistent 
with  wisdom  and  prudence,  for  the  safety  of  what  are  al- 
ready made,  that  you  in  your  wisdom  shall  direct. 

As  to  other  regimental  officers,  Capt.  Israel  Dickenson 
and  John  Brown,  Esq.,  have  distinguished  themselves  very 
highly,  both  in  council  and  action,  and  in  my  humble  opinion 
are  well  qualified  to  command  in  the  field.  In  a  word,  gen- 
tlemen, what  is  now  wanted  is,  that  you  put  that  fortress  into 
the  best  posture  of  defence,  in  conjunction  with  Connecti- 
cut ;  that  you  properly  officer  one  or  more  Regiments,  as 
there  must  be  order  and  command  in  all  armies ;  that  you 
nominate  a  Commander-in-Chief,  and  forward  pay  with  all 
expedition.  I  hope  to  receive  an  answer  to  this  without 
any  unnecessary  delay.  Should  you  see  fit  to  appoint  a 
Chaplain  to  attend  us,  I  recommend  to  you  the  Reverend 
Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii.  I 


Thomas  Allen,  of  this  place,  as  a  suitable  person,  who  is 
well  known  to  General  Pomeroy.  I  am,  gentlemen,  your 
humble  servant,  James  Easton. 

To  the  honourable  Provincial  Congress  at  fVatertovm,  and 
the  honourable  Committee  of  Safety  at  Cambridge. 

N.  B.  It  is  necessary  that  provisions  for  the  Troops  be 
provided  immediately,  and  also  a  number  of  military  laws 
lately  made  by  the  Congress.  J.  E. 


NEW-YORK  DELEGATES  TO  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS. 

Philadelphia,  May  30,  1775. 
Gentlemen  :  We  received  your  favour  of  the  26th  in- 
stant, and  have  the  pleasure  of  informing  you  that  the 
manner  in  which  you  have  executed  your  trust  was  very 
acceptable  to  the  Congress,  to  whom  we  communicated  it. 
We  shall  pay  a  particular  attention  to  what  you  say  on  the 
subject  of  a  paper  currency,  since  we  are  well  apprized 
both  of  its  difficulty  and  importance  ;  and  we  wish  you  to  be 
speedy  in  your  determinations  upon  it,  as  it  may  throw 
some  light  upon  the  subject  that  we  may  otherwise  want. 
You  see  by  the  order  of  the  Congress  heretofore  sent  you, 
that  they  have  trusted  to  your  prudence  the  appointment 
of  officers.  As  we  have  the  pleasure  to  hear  that  the  prin- 
cipal people  in  every  County  have  stepped  forth  on  this 
important  occasion,  we  make  no  doubt  that  they  will  con- 
tinue the  same  conduct,  and  not  refuse  to  accept  those 
commands  which  we  imagine  you  will  see  the  propriety  of 
placing  in  no  other  hands,  both  on  account  of  the  influence 
they  will  have  among  yourselves,  and  the  effect  it  may 
probably  have  in  England.  If,  gentlemen,  there  is  any 
thing  that  you  may  think  serviceable  to  you,  either  on  the 
subject  of  the  above  resolves,  or  any  other,  you  will  oblige 
us  by  a  free  communication  of  your  thoughts  upon  the 
same,  to  which,  you  may  be  persuaded,  we  will  pay  the 
greatest  deference.  We  would  just  hint,  that  if  there  are 
any  Counties  in  which  no  Committees  have  been  chosen, 
as  we  are  informed  there  are,  that  it  would  be  proper  to 
recommend  that  they  be  immediately  elected,  as  the  num- 
bers interested  will  give  strength  to  the  cause.  We  observe 
that  Tryon  County  has  not  sent  Deputies  to  your  Conven- 
tion, and  would  submit  it  to  your  consideration,  whether  it 
would  not  be  proper  to  send  them  a  message,  suggesting 
the  inconvenience  attending  such  conduct,  and  the  necessity 
it  will  lay  you  under  of  breaking  off  all  connexion  with 
them. 

We  should  be  glad  to  have  a  particular  account  from 
you  of  any  measures  that  you  may  have  taken  to  establish 
Port  Beder.  And  are,  gentlemen,  with  great  respect, 
your  most  obedient  humble  servants, 

Jas.  Duane,       Lewis  Morris, 
John  Alsop,      Robt.  Livingston,  Jun. 
Geo.  Clinton,    Phil.  Livingston. 
To  the  Provincial  Congress  of  New-  York. 


GOVERNOUR  TRUMBULL  TO  THE  ALBANY  COMMITTEE. 

Hartford,  May  30,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  Your  favour  of  the  27th  inst.,  by  express, 
came  safe  to  hand  ;  the  contents  have  been  duly  considered, 
and  in  reply  have  the  pleasure  to  acquaint  you  that  we  had 
before  received  the  resolve  of  the  Congress  of  New-  York, 
with  their  request  to  send  forward  some  forces  to  the  north- 
ward, to  keep  those  important  posts,  until  such  time  as 
they  might  be  relieved  by  Troops  from  your  Colony.  We 
have  accordingly  ordered  one  thousand  Troops,  under 
command  of  Colonel  Hinman,  to  march  immediately  to 
Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point,  furnished  with  one  pound 
of  powder  and  three  pounds  of  ball  to  each  soldier,  to  con- 
tinue there  until  relieved  by  the  Province  of  New-York, 
or  are  otherwise  ordered  ;  also,  sent  forward,  under  the  care 
of  Colonel  Easton,  of  Pittsfield,  five  hundred  weight  of 
powder  for  those  fortresses,  and  forwarded  advice  of  our 
doings  to  the  Provincial  Congresses,  both  at  Massachusetts 
and  New-York,  just  before  the  receipt  of  your  letter, 
which  renders  it  unnecessary  your  express  should  go  for- 
ward to  the  Congress  at  Massachusetts-Bay.  Colonel 
Hinman  is  directed  to  exercise  the  greatest  vigilance  that 
no  incursions  be  made  into  the  Province  of  Quebeck,  to 
disturb  the  inhabitants  there.  It  is  hoped  that  the  Provin- 
cial Congress  at  New-York  will  forward  supplies  of  provi- 


851 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  kc,  MAY,  1775. 


852 


sions,  and  whatever  may  be  thought  necessary;  and  that 
the  people  in  your  Province,  who  are  under  the  best  ad- 
vantage, from  their  situation,  will  spare  no  endeavours  that 
may  be  beneficial  to  preserve  peace  and  harmony  with  the 
Indians,  and  prevent  their  taking  part  against  us,  but  rather 
that  they  take  part  for  the  security  of  the  liberties  of  these 
Colonies,  whereon  their  own  happiness  so  much  depends. 

I  am,  with  great  truth  and  regard,  in  behalf  of  the  Gov- 
ernour  and  Company  of  the  Colony  of  Connecticut,  gentle- 
men, your  obedient  and  humble  servant, 

Jonathan  Thumbull. 

Sam' I  Stringer,  Esq.,  Chairman  of  Committee  at  Albany. 


JONATHAN  PARSONS,  JUN.,  TO  THE  NEW-YORK  COMMITTEE. 

St.  John's,  Newfoundland,  May  30,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  As  liberty  is  the  blessing,  and  ought  to  be 
the  care  of  all  men,  I  need  no  other  apology  for  this  letter, 
than  to  acquaint  you  I  am  an  American,  of  Newburyport, 
New -England.  On  my  arrival  here,  the  19th  instant, 
from  the  Mediterranean,  I  was  informed  of  the  care  you 
had  taken  with  regard  to  the  exportation  of  bread  and  flour 
to  this  Island,  especially  in  the  instance  of  Capt.  Taverner, 
commander  of  a  ship  belonging  to  Isaac  and  Benjamin 
Lester,  of  Pool,  in  England,  and  loaded  by  T.  Beach,  of 
New- York;  which  Lesters  are  noted  enemies  to  American 
liberty,  as  appears  by  the  petition  of  the  Town  of  Pool 
for  an  exclusive  right  to  the  fishery  on  the  Banks  of  New- 
foundland, &tc,  of  which  petition  1  am  informed  they  were 
the  principal  promoters,  the  contents  of  which  you  have 
undoubtedly  seen.  I  am  able  to  inform  you  that,  notwith- 
standing your  care  relative  to  said  ship,  she  arrived  the 
24th  instant  at  Trinity,  in  this  Island;  and  the  necessities 
of  the  people  here  for  bread  and  flour  are  so  great,  that  I 
doubt  not  you  will  have  numbers  of  vessels  on  your  coast, 
under  various  pretexts,  to  get  bread  and  flour  to  supply 
them.  They  are  now  at  their  wits  end  to  find  means  to 
acquire  the  necessaries  of  life;  yet  such  is  their  inveterate 
enmity  against  the  Americans,  that  they  cannot  help  breath- 
ing out  their  malice  at  every  opportunity,  where  their 
interest  is  not  immediately  affected.  Last  Saturday  a 
schooner  arrived  here,  belonging  to  Salem,  in  New-Eng- 
land, from  a  fishing  voyage ;  the  merchants  immediately 
sent  the  crier  through  the  Town,  to  notify  a  meeting  at 
seven  that  evening,  which  was  adjourned  to  Sunday,  to 
consult  on  the  mailer.  It  seems  they  were  in  hopes  to  get 
some  hold  of  her  from  some  Acts  of  Parliament  relative  to 
the  regulation  of  the  fishery  in  this  Island,  but  finding  their 
expectations  fail  them,  that  they  could  not  get  her  seized, 
nor  prevent  an  entry,  they  mustered  their  forces,  seized 
upon  and  sent  her  to  sea;  and  what  is  more  surprising  to 
me  is,  (if  I  am  rightly  informed,)  that  upon  a  promise  of 
indemnification,  they  obtained  an  order  from  the  Judge  of  the 
Admiralty  for  this  extraordinary  procedure,  and  that  after 
her  being  admitted  to  a  legal  entry  in  the  Custom-House. 

This,  gentlemen,  is  the  breath  they  breathe,  and  this 
conduct  is  but  the  overflowing  of  that  inveterate  enmity 
they  have  imbibed  at  the  Americans,  for  their  defending 
that  Constitution  by  which  the  throne  is  established,  and 
the  rights  of  the  people  secured ;  I  say  the  overflowing, 
because  they  cannot  live  without  you,  and  are  under  the 
greatest  obligations  to  keep  their  enmity  smothered  as 
much  as  possible.  If  they  are  denied  bread  and  flour  from 
the  Southern  American  Governments,  the  Newfoundland 
fishery  must  break  up.  Canada  is  too  uncertain  to  depend 
on  for  any  supplies;  that  Country,  with  which  I  am  ac- 
quainted, is  mostly  low,  and  altogether  clay  land.  If  the 
season  is  good,  they  generally  have  great  crops;  but  if  they 
have  too  much  or  too  little  rain,  they  must  have  supplies 
from  abroad,  or  starve  themselves  :  this  the  people  here  are 
sensible  of,  and  are  trying  all  methods  they  can  to  obtain 
present  supplies  from  the  Southern  Governments,  as  they 
have  no  intelligence  how  Canada  may  be  stocked  at  pre- 
sent. Would  it  not  be  surprising  to  see  men  breathing  out 
slaughter  and  death  at  the  Americans,  petitioning  the  Con- 
tinental Congress  to  supply  them  with  bread  and  flour ;  and 
pleading  their  not  joining  with  the  Pool  men  in  the  petition 
abovementioned,  as  a  reason  why  the  prayer  of  their  peti- 
tion should  be  granted?  Yet  such  I  expect  will  be  the 
case,  if  the  Canada  market  fails  them,  and  the  Govern- 
ments to  the  southward  are  vigilant  to  watch  the  motions 


of  those  vessels  which  make  excursions  to  obtain  bread  and 
flour  by  delusive  evasions,  many  of  which  I  expect  will 
soon  make  the  experiment.  However,  gentlemen,  though 
I  have  already  been  drawn  to  a  greater  length  than  I  at 
first  intended,  I  must,  in  faithfulness  to  several  gentlemen, 
beg  your  indulgence  a  little  longer.  Messrs.  Robert  and 
Benjamin  Jenkins  have  at  all  times  publickly  declared 
their  fixed  determination  to  do  nothing  to  the  prejudice  of 
the  American  cause.  Mr.  Robert  Bulley  is  also  our  stead- 
fast friend,  and  I  doubt  not  but  we  have  many  more  in  this 
Town  and  Island  ;  but  as  I  never  saw  this  Island  till  a  few 
days  past,  I  cannot  give  you  their  names. 

I  am,  gentlemen,  with  sentiments  of  esteem,  your  and 
our  Country's  friend  and  humble  servant, 

Jonathan  Parsons,  Ji  n. 
To  the  Committee  of  Safety  for  the  City  of  New-  York. 

P.  S.  If  you  judge  the  above  representation  deserves 
your  attention,  1  would  gladly  contribute  to  remove  the 
difficulty  you  must  labour  under,  by  not  being  able  to  place 
any  confidence  in  the  testimony  of  a  stranger;  must,  there- 
fore, in  that  case,  beg  the  favour  of  your  writing  a  letter, 
directed  to  the  Honourable  Benjamin  Greenleaf,  Esquire, 
at  Newburyport,  New-England,  to  be  communicated  to  the 
Committee  of  Safety  for  that  place,  whose  joint  testimony 
will  doubtless  set  my  character  in  its  true  light.  An}'  use 
may  be  made  of  the  above  which  may  tend  to  promote  the 
publick  good.    Yours,  as  above, 

  J.  Parsons,  Jln. 

TO  THE  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY  FOR  SALEM. 

Salem,  May  30,  1775. 
Whereas,  we  the  subscribers,  did  some  time  since  sign  an 
Address  to  Governour  Hutchinson,  which  though  prompt- 
ed to  by  the  best  intentions,  has,  nevertheless,  given  great 
offence  to  our  Country  ;  we  do  now  declare  that  we  were 
so  far  from  designing  by  that  action  to  show  our  acqui- 
escence in  those  acts  of  Parliament  so  universally  and  justly 
odious  to  all  America,  that,  on  the  contrary,  we  hoped  we 
might  in  that  way  contribute  to  their  repeal,  though  now, 
to  our  sorrow,  we  find  ourselves  mistaken.  And  we  do 
now  further  declare,  that  we  never  intended  the  offence 
which  this  Address  has  occasioned  ;  that  if  we  had  foreseen 
such  an  event  we  should  never  have  signed  it ;  as  it  always 
has  been,  and  now  is,  our  wish  to  live  in  harmony  with  our 
neighbours,  and  our  serious  determination  to  promote,  to  the 
utmost  of  our  power,  the  liberty,  the  welfare,  and  happi- 
ness of  our  Country,  which  is  inseparably  connected  with 
our  own. 

John  Nutting,  Francis  Cabot, 

N.  Goodale,  N.  Sparhawk, 

Andrew  Dalgleish,      Nathaniel  Dabney, 
Thomas  Barnard,  William  Pickman, 

E.  A.  Holyoke,  C.  Gayton  Pickman, 

William  Pyncbon,        John  Turner. 
Ebenezer  Putnam, 

In  Committee  of  Safety,  Salem,  May  30,  1775. 

The  declaration,  of  which  the  above  is  a  copy,  being 
presented  and  read,  it  was  voted  unanimously  that  the 
same  was  satisfactory,  and  that  the  said  gentlemen  ought 
to  be  received  and  treated  as  real  friends  to  this  Country. 

By  order  of  the  Committee  : 

Rich ABD  Derby,  Jun.,  Chairman. 


JOSHUA  UPHAM  TO  THE  COMMITTEE  OF  CORRESPONDENCE 
OF  THE  TOWN  OF  BROOKFIELD. 

May  20,  1775. 

Gentlemen:  Having  been  informed  by  one  of  your 
body  that  my  attendance  was  expected  at  this  time,  in  order 
that  you  inquire,  under  a  late  resolve  of  the  Provincial 
Congress,  into  my  political  principles  and  conduct ;  in  com- 
pliance with  your  request  I  now  make  my  appearance ; 
and  as  written  are  much  less  liable  to  be  misconceived, 
misapplied,  and  misrepresented,  than  parole  declarations, 
I  have  chosen  to  declare  myself  in  that  way. 

It  is  indeed  a  great  misfortune  at  any  time,  but  more 
especially  at  this,  to  be  deemed  an  enemy  to  one's  Country. 
I  not  only  deny  the  charge,  but  abhor  the  character.  I 
shall  not,  however,  pretend  that  I  have  in  general  approved 


853 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


854 


of  the  measures  pursued  by  the  Colonies  to  obtain  redress 
of  grievances,  nor  do  I  arrogantly  set  up  my  own  private 
judgment  against  the  publick  judgment  of  my  Country,  as 
infallibly  right.  I  can  truly  say  that  I  shall  rejoice  at  the 
salvation  of  the  Country,  even  though  the  same  be  obtained 
by  the  very  measures  which  have  appeared  to  me  to  be 
improper,  and  not  likely  to  be  successful.  But  to  inquire 
freely  into  the  propriety  of  every  publick  measure,  (pro- 
vided the  same,  when  established,  be  not  resisted,)  I  have 
ever  held  as  an  inalienable  right,  and  what,  in  a  great  mea- 
sure, constitutes  the  freedom  of  an  Englishman. 

I  have  ever  deemed  it  the  duty,  as  well  as  wisdom  of 
the  individuals  of  every  community,  to  submit  and  conform 
to  the  sense  and  opinion  of  the  majority  of  the  members 
of  that  community  ;  always  reserving  to  themselves,  and 
saving  entire  and  inviolate,  the  rights  of  conscience,  private 
judgment,  and  freedom  of  speech.  Therefore  I  have  not 
resisted  such  measures  as  have  been  approved  of  by  the 
majority  of  the  people,  whether  agreeable  to  my  private 
judgment  or  not.  Upon  the  same  principles  I  now  declare, 
that  I  mean  and  intend  to  submit  to  what  I  find  to  be  the 
sense  and  resolution  of  the  majority  of  my  countrymen, 
and  expect  to  bear  an  equal  share  and  proportion  of  such 
publick  charge  and  expense  as  shall  be  deemed  by  such 
majority  necessary  to  extricate  this  Country  out  of  its 
present  alarming  and  critical  situation ;  nor  is  there  any 
thing  I  hold  so  dear,  in  comparison  of  my  Country's 
good,  that  1  would  not  risk  in  its  defence — even  life  itself, 
if  necessary. 

Therefore,  as  submission,  or  allegiance  and  protection, 
are  reciprocal  duties  and  obligations,  which  ought  ever  to 
subsist  and  take  place  with  equal  and  mutual  force  between 
rulers  and  those  over  whom  they  are  appointed  to  rule,  I 
must  expect,  and  shall  depend  upon  it,  that  I  am  to  be  pro- 
tected and  secured  in  my  person,  family,  and  property,  from 
all  violent  attacks  upon  either ;  which  protection  and  secu- 
rity, so  far  as  it  is  within  your  power  to  afford  me,  I  now 
ask,  and  doubt  not  but  I  shall  obtain  the  same ;  which  con- 
cludes me,  gentlemen,  your  most  respectful  friend  and  fel- 
low-countrymen, Joshua  Upham. 

In  Committee  of  Correspondence,  Brookfield,  ) 
May  30,  1775.  £ 

The  foregoing  declaration  being  read  and  considered,  and 
vote  asked  of  said  Committee,  and  also  of  a  number  of 
the  inhabitants  of  the  Town  then  present,  whether  said 
declaration  be  satisfactory;  it  passed  in  the  affirmative  nemine 
contradicente. 

By  order,  Joshua  Dodge,  Chairman. 


MASSACHUSETTS   COMMITTEE   OF   SAFETY  TO  THE  COM- 
MITTEE OF  SUDBURY. 

Cambridge,  May  30,  1775. 

This  Committee  have  taken  into  their  consideration  the 
conduct  of  Ezra  Taylor,  Esq.,  in  going  into  the  Town  of 
Boston,  and  tarrying  there  a  considerable  time,  since  the 
important  nineteenth  of  .<4pn7  last ;  and  after  examining  him 
as  to  his  conduct,  have  dismissed  him,  and  verbally  advised 
him  to  remain  in  the  Town  of  Sudbury,  as  what  we  judged 
best  for  him  and  the  publick.  Gentlemen,  your  good  sense 
will  easily  suggest  your  duty.    We  are,  he. 


would  be  so  kind  to  the  Province  as  to  appoint  some  certain 
criterion,  or  signal,  by  which  a  true  alarm  may  be  distin- 
guished from  a  false  one.  If  by  this  we  are  able  to  suggest 
any  thing  for  the  good  of  the  Province,  we  are  happy,  and 
are,  with  great  respect  and  devotion,  gentlemen,  your  hum- 
ble servants,  John  Holmes,  )  c  ,  r 
o  d  f  Selectmen  of 

OAMUEL  1  ARK,        >    ti     7  • 

Gilbert  Dench,  \  Hopkmton. 


SELECTMEN  OF  HOPKINTON  TO  MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS. 

May  30,  1775. 

To  the  Honourable  the  Delegates  of  the  Province  of  the 
Massachusetts-Bay,  in  General  Congress  assembled: 

Whereas  there  has  been  a  false  alarm  this  day  spread 
here  in  this  part  of  the  Province,  whereby  the  people  have 
been  called  off  from  their  labour,  and  much  loss  and  ex- 
pense incurred  ;  and  judging  that  unless  such  things  can  be 
prevented,  husbandry  will  entirely  be  neglected :  Where- 
fore this  Town  have  chosen  a  Committee  of  Safety,  to 
consist  of  five  persons,  whose  names  are  as  follow,  viz : 
Gilbert  Dench,  Samuel  Park,  Ebenezer  Clafin,  Samuel 
Hayden,  and  Jonathan  Hull,  who  are  to  determine  when 
it  is  necessary  for  the  people  of  this  Town  to  march  on  any 
alarm ;  and  hereby  desire  that  the  first  intelligence  may 
be  conveyed  to  one  of  them.    We  also  desire  that  you 


COMMITTEE  FOR  MANCHESTER  TO  THE  COMMITTEE  FOR 
CHEBACCO. 

Manchester,  May  30,  1775. 
Gentlemen:  A  letter  has  been  Just  received  from  Cam- 
bridge by  express,  from  General  Ward  to  the  Committee 
for  Salem,  of  which  we  subjoin  a  copy.  As  no  particulars 
appear,  we  think  it  prudent  to  notify  you  thereabout,  and 
inform  you  that  there  are  eight  tenders  cruising  around 
us,  six  of  which  are  gone  to  Salem,  their  decks  filled  with 
boats,  &ic.  We  desire  you  to  forward  the  report  to  Ipswich, 
as  it  is  uncertain  where  the  mischief  will  fall. 

By  order  of  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  for  Man- 
chester. 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  General's  Letter : 

"  Head-Quarters,  Cambridge,  May  29,  1775. 

"  Sir  :  By  information  just  received  from  Boston,  I  ap- 
prehend the  enemy  intend  to  make  an  attack  some  where 
this  night ;  therefore  would  have  your  people  in  readiness 
to  act  on  the  shortest  notice  if  there  should  be  occasion. 

"  I  am,  &tc,  Artemas  Ward." 

Captain  Marston  sent  the  above  to  the  Committee  for 
Chebacco,  about  half  past  ten  o'clock. 

Ipswich,  May  30,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  I  received  the  within  intelligence  about 
one  of  the  clock  this  day,  and  thought  proper  to  let  you 
know  what  I  have  received.       John  Baker,  Colonel. 
To  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  in  Nexvburyport. 

Newburyport,  May  30,  1775,  half  past  four  o'clock. 
Gentlemen:  Having  just  received  the  above  informa- 
tion from  Ipswich  by  express,  we  forward  it  to  you  with- 
out delay. 

Per  order  of  the  Committee :  B.  Greenleaf. 

To  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  of  Hampton. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  LONDON  TO  A  GENTLEMAN  IN 
PHILADELPHIA,  DATED  MAY  31,  1775. 

I  cannot  let  Captain  Hazlewood  depart  without  sketch- 
ing a  few  lines  to  you.  You  will  find  by  the  papers  that 
we  have  received  an  account  from  Salem  of  the  defeat  of 
Colonel  Smith,  and  the  precipitate  retreat  of  Lord  Percy, 
by  the  animated  resistance  of  the  brave  Bostonians.  This 
intelligence,  so  contrary  to  the  expectations  of  Govern- 
ment, who  have  daily  announced  the  Americans  cowards, 
has  panick-struck  Administration  and  their  tory  dependants, 
and  has  exhilarated  the  spirits  of  the  sons  of  America  in 
this  metropolis,  and  the  friends  to  freedom,  in  the  most 
exalted  manner.  It  is  impossible  to  describe  the  shame  and 
vexation  which  are  visibly  depicted  in  the  countenances  of 
North  and  his  tyrannical  abetters.  They  are  constrained 
to  acknowledge  that  the  Regulars  began  the  attack,  and 
equally  forced  to  admit  the  intrepidity  of  our  countrymen  ; 
but  what  alarms  them  most  is  the  expectation  of  hourly  re- 
ceiving advice  of  the  whole  of  General  Gage's  Army  being 
cut  off,  or  meanly  sheltering  themselves  on  board  the  men- 
of-war,  or  in  the  castle.  God  grant  their  total  extirpation  ! 
Government  has  not  yet  received  any  despatches  from  the 
General ;  she  has  craved  a  suspension  of  animadversions 
on  the  news,  until  she  can  refute,  or  is  compelled  to  authen- 
ticate it.  In  the  mean  time  stocks  have  had  a  shock,  and 
the  people  every  where  denounce  vengeance  against  Bute, 
Mansfield,  North,  Sandwich,  and  their  ignominious  adhe- 
rents. I  impatiently  wait  the  next  intelligence,  as  I  have 
no  doubt  we  shall  hear  of  farther  significant  manifestations 
of  American  prowess,  founded  on  that  principle  which  God 
and  their  right  will  inspire  them  with. 


855 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


856 


MECKLENBURGH  (nORTH-CAROLINa)  RESOLUTIONS.* 
Charlottotown,  Mecklonburgh  County,  May  31,  1775. 

This  day  the  Committee  of  this  County  met,  and  passed 
the  following  Resolves  : 

Whereas  by  an  Address  presented  to  His  Majesty  by 
both  Houses  of  Parliament  in  February  last,  the  American 
Colonies  are  declared  to  be  in  a  state  of  actual  rebellion ; 
we  conceive  that  all  Laws  and  Commissions  confirmed  by, 
or  derived  from  the  authority  of  the  King  or  Parliament, 
are  annulled  and  vacated,  and  the  former  civil  Constitution 
of  these  Colonies  for  the  present  wholly  suspended.  To 
provide  in  some  degree  for  the  exigencies  of  this  County, 
in  the  present  alarming  period,  we  deem  it  proper  and 
necessary  to  pass  the  following  Resolves,  viz: 

i.  That  all  Commissions,  civil  and  military,  heretofore 

*  THE  DECLARATION  OF  INDEPENDENCE  RY  THE  CITIZENS  OF  MECKLENBURGH 
COUNTY,  NORTH-CAROLINA,  ON  THE  TWENTIETH  DAY  OF  MAY,  1775,  WITH 
ACCOMPANYING  DOCUMENTS  J  PUBLISHED  BY  THE  GOVERNOUR,  UNDER  THE 
AUTHORITY  AND  DIRECTION  OF  THE  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY  OF  TnE  STATE  OF 
NORTH-CAROLINA. 

Report  and  Resolutions  adopted  by  the  General  Assembly,  at  the  ses. 
sion  of  1830-'31,  upon  which  this  publication  is  predicated. 

The  Committee  to  whom  it  was  referred  to  examine,  collate,  and  ar- 
range in  proper  order  sucli  parts  of  the  Journals  of  the  Provincial  As- 
semblies of  North-Carolina  as  relate  to  the  Declaration  of  American 
Independence;  also  such  documents  as  relate  to  the  Declaration  of 
Independence  made  by  the  patriotick  men  of  Mecklenburgh  in  May, 
1775;  and  also  such  measures  as  relate  to  the  same  cause,  adopted  by 
the  freemen  of  Cumberland  County,  previous  to  the  fourth  of  July, 
177G,  in  order  to  the  publication  and  distribution  of  such  documents, 
having  performed  the  duty  assigned  them,  respectfully  report : 

That  upon  an  attentive  examination  of  the  Journals  of  the  Provin. 
cial  Assembly  of  North-Carolina,  which  met  at  Halifax  in  the  month 
of  April,  1776,  the  Committee  are  of  opinion,  that  no  selection  could 
l>2  made  from  the  said  Journal  to  answer  the  purpose  of  the  House, 
liut  as  every  thing  relating  to  that  period  must  be  interesting  to  those 
who  value  the  blessing  of  national  independence,  the  Committee  re- 
commend that  the  whole  of  the  Journal  be  printed,  and  receive  the 
same  extended  distribution  which  the  Resolution  of  the  House  contem. 
plates  for  the  proceedings  in  Mecklenburgh  and  Cumberland.  This 
course  is  deemed  by  the  Committee  the  more  proper,  because  the  Jour- 
nal is  now  out  of  print,  and  it  is  highly  probable  that  the  copy  in  the 
possession  of  the  Committee  is  the  only  one  now  extant. 

Your  Committee  have  also  examined,  collated,  and  arranged  all  the 
documents  which  have  been  accessible  to  them,  touching  the  Declara- 
tion of  Independence  by  the  citizens  of  Mecklenburgh,  and  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  freemen  of  Cumberland. 

By  the  publication  of  these  papers  it  will  be  fully  verified,  that  as 
early  as  the  month  of  May,  1775,  a  portion  of  the  people  of  North. 
Carolina,  sensible  that  their  wrongs  could  no  longer  be  borne,  without 
sacrificing  both  safety  and  honour;  and  that  redress,  so  often  sought, 
so  patiently  waited  for,  and  so  cruelly  delayed,  was  no  longer  to  be 
expected,  did,  by  a  publick  and  solemn  act,  declare  the  dissolution  of 
the  ties  which  bound  them  to  the  Crown  and  people  of  Great  Britain, 
and  did  establish  an  independent,  though  temporary  Government,  for 
their  own  control  and  direction. 

This  first  claim  of  independence  evinces  such  high  sentiments  of 
valour  and  patriotism,  that  we  cannot,  and  ought  not  lightly  to  esteem 
the  honour  of  having  made  it.  The  fact  of  the  Declaration  should 
be  announced,  its  language  should  be  published  and  perpetuated,  and 
the  names  of  the  gallant  Representatives  of  Mecklenburgh,  with  whom 
it  originated,  should  be  preserved  from  an  oblivion  which,  should  it 
involve  them,  would  as  much  dishonour  us,  as  injure  them.  If  the 
thought  of  independence  did  not  first  occur  to  them,  to  them,  at  least, 
belongs  the  proud  distinction  of  having  first  given  language  to  the 
thought;  and  it  should  be  known,  and,  fortunately,  it  can  still  bo 
conclusively  established,  that  the  Revolution  received  its  first  impulse 
towards  independence,  however  feeble  that  impulse  might  have  been, 
m  North-Carolina.  The  Committee  are  aware  that  this  assertion  has 
elsewhere  been  received  with  doubt,  and  at  times  met  with  denial ;  and 
it  is,  therefore,  believed  to  be  more  strongly  incumbent  upon  the  House 
to  usher  to  the  world  the  Mecklenburgh  Declaration,  accompanied  with 
such  testimonials  of  its  genuineness,  as  shall  silence  incredulity,  and 
with  such  care  for  its  general  diffusion,  as  shall  forever  secure  it  from 
being  forgotten.  And  in  recounting  the  causes,  the  origin,  and  the 
progress  of  our  revolutionary  struggle,  till  its  final  issue  in  acknow- 
ledged independence,  whatever  the  brilliant  achievements  of  other  States 
may  have  been,  let  it  never  be  forgotten,  that  at  a  period  of  darkness 
and  oppression,  without  concert  with  others,  without  assurances  of 
support  from  any  quarter,  a  few  gallant  North.Carolinians,  all  fear  of 
consequences  lost  in  a  sense  of  thoir  Country's  wrongs,  relying,  under 
Heaven,  solely  upon  themselves,  nobly  dared  to  assert,  and  resolved  to 
maintain  that  independence,  of  which,  whoever  might  have  thought, 
nono  had  then  spoken;  and  thus  earned. for  themselves,  and  for  their 
fellow-citizens  of  North.Carolina,  the  honour  of  giving  birth  to  the 
first  Declaration  of  Independence. 

The  Committee  respectfully  recommend  tho  adoption  of  the  follow, 
ing  Resolutions. 

All  of  which  is  submitted.  Thomas  G.  Polk,  Chairman. 

John  Bragg, 
Evan  Alexander, 
Louis  D.  Henry, 
Alex.  McNeill. 

Resolved,  That  his  Excellency  the  Govcrnour  be  directed  to  causo 
to  bo  published  in  pamphlet  form  the  above  Report,  and  the  accompany- 
ing documents,  in  the  manner  and  order  following,  viz :  After  the  Re- 
port, first,  the  Mecklenburgh  Declaration,  with  the  NamoB  of  tho  Dele- 
gates composing  the  meeting ;  second,  the  Certificates,  testifying  to 
the  circumstances  attending  the  Declaration;  third,  the  Proceeding! 


granted  by  the  Crown,  to  be  exercised  in  these  Colonies, 
are  null  and  void,  and  the  Constitution  of  each  particular 
Colony  wholly  suspended. 

ii.  That  the  Provincial  Congress  of  each  Province, 
under  the  direction  of  the  great  Continental  Congress,  is 
invested  with  all  legislative  and  executive  powers  within 
their  respective  Provinces,  and  that  no  other  legislative  or 
executive  power  does,  or  can  exist,  at  this  time,  in  any  of 
these  Colonies. 

in.  As  all  former  laws  are  now  suspended  in  this  Prov- 
ince, and  the  Congress  have  not  provided  others,  we  judge 
it  necessary,  for  the  better  preservation  of  good  order,  to 
form  certain  rules  and  regulations  for  the  internal  govern- 
ment of  this  County,  until  laws  shall  be  provided  for  us 
by  the  Congress. 

of  the  Cumberland  Association  ;  and  that  he  be  further  directed  to 
have  reprinted  in  like  manner,  separate  and  distinct  from  the  above, 
the  accompanying  Journal  of  the  Provincial  Assembly,  held  at  Hali. 
fax  in  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  seventy-six. 

Resolved,  further,  That  after  publication,  the  Governour  be  in- 
structed to  distribute  said  documents  as  follows,  to  wit:  Twenty  copies 
of  each  to  the  Library  of  the  State ;  to  each  of  the  Libraries  at  the 
University,  ten  copies ;  to  the  Library  of  the  Congress  of  the  United 
States,  ten  copies ;  and  one  copy  to  each  of  the  Executives  of  the 
several  States  of  the  Union. 


DECLARATION  OF  INDEPENDENCE. 


May  20,  1775. 
Col.  Thomas  Polk, 
Ephraim  Brevard, 
John  Ford, 
Richard  Barry, 
Abraham  Alexander, 
J.  McKnitt  Alexander, 
Hezekiah  Alexander, 
Adam  Alexander, 
Charles  Alexander, 


— Names  of  the  Delegates  present. 
Hezekiah  J.  Batch,      James  Harris, 
John  Phifer,  William  Kennon, 

Henry  Downs,  William  Graham, 

Ezra  Alexander,  John  Queary, 

Zacheus  Wilson,  Sen.,  Robert  Irwin, 
Waightstill  Avery,       John  Flenniken, 
Benjamin  Patton,         David  Reese, 
Matthew  M'Clure,       Richard  Harris,  Sen. 
Neil  Morrison, 

Abraham  Alexander  was  appointed  Chairman,  and  John  McKnitt 
Alexander  Clerk.    The  following  Resolutions  were  offered,  viz : 

1.  Resolved,  That  whosoever  directly  or  indirectly  abetted,  or  in 
any  way,  form  or  manner,  countenanced  the  unchartered  and  danger, 
ous  invasion  of  our  rights,  as  claimed  by  Great  Britain,  is  an  enemy 
to  this  Country,  to  America,  and  to  the  inherent  and  inalienable  rights 
of  man. 

2.  Resolved,  That  we,  the  citizens  of  Mecklenburgh  County,  do 
hereby  dissolve  the  political  bands  which  have  connected  us  to  the 
Mother  Country,  and  hereby  absolve  ourselves  from  all  allegiance  to 
the  British  Crown,  and  abjure  all  political  connection,  contract,  or 
association  with  that  Nation,  who  have  wantonly  trampled  on  our 
rights  and  liberties,  and  inhumanly  shed  the  blood  of  American  pa. 
triots  at  Lexington. 

3.  Resolved,  That  we  do  hereby  declare  ourselves  a  free  and  inde- 
pendent people ;  are,  and  of  right  ought  to  be,  a  sovereign  and  self- 
governing  Association,  under  the  control  of  no  power  other  than  that 
of  our  God  and  the  general  government  of  the  Congress ;  to  the  main- 
tenance of  which  independence,  we  solemnly  pledge  to  each  other 
our  mutual  co-operation,  our  lives,  our  fortunes,  and  our  most  sacred 
honour. 

4.  Resolved,  That  as  wc  now  acknowledge  the  existence  and  con- 
trol of  no  law  or  legal  officer,  civil  or  military,  within  this  County, 
we  do  hereby  ordain  and  adopt  as  a  rule  of  life,  all,  each  and  every  of 
our  former  laws ;  wherein,  nevertheless,  the  Crown  of  Great  Britain 
never  can  be  considered  as  holding  rights,  privileges,  immunities,  or 
authority  therein. 

5.  Resolved,  That  it  is  further  decreed,  that  all,  each,  and  every 
military  officer  in  this  County,  is  hereby  reinstated  in  his  former  com- 
mand and  authority,  he  acting  conformably  to  these  regulations.  And 
that  every  Member  present,  of  this  delegation,  shall  henceforth  be  a 
civil  officer,  viz :  a  Justice  of  the  Peace,  in  the  character  of  a  "  Com. 
viittee.man,"  to  issue  process,  hear  and  determino  all  matters  of  con- 
troversy, according  to  said  adopted  laws,  and  to  preserve  peace,  union 
and  harmony  in  said  County ;  and  to  use  every  exertion  to  spread 
the  love  of  country  and  fire  of  freedom  throughout  America,  until  a 
more  general  and  organized  Government  be  established  in  this  Pro- 
vince. 

After  discussing  tho  foregoing  Resolves,  and  arranging  by-laws  and 
regulations  for  the  government  of  a  Standing  Committee  of  Publick 
Safety,  who  were  selected  from  these  Delegates,  the  whole  proceedings 
were  unanimously  adopted  and  signed.  A  Select  Committee  was  then 
appointed  to  draw  a  more  full  and  definite  statemont  of  grievances, 
and  a  more  formal  declaration  of  independence.  Tho  Delegation  then 
adjourned  about  two  o'clock,  A.  M.,  May  20. 


A. 

FROM  THE  RALEIGH  REGISTER  OF  APRIL  30,  1819. 

•It  it  not  probably  known  to  many  or  our  readers,  that  the  citizens  or  Mecklenburgh 
County,  in  thin  Suite,  made  n  Declaration  of  Independence  more  than  a  year  before 
Congress  made  theirs.  The  following  document  on  the  subject  has  lately  come  to 
Oil  bunds  of  the  Editor  from  unquestionable  authority,  and  is  published  that  it  may 
go  down  to  posterity. 

North-Carolina,  Mecklenburgh  County,  May  20,  1775. 

In  tho  spring  of  1775,  the  leading  oharaoters  of  Mecklenburgh 
County,  stimulated  by  that  enthusiastick  patriotism  which  elevates 
the  mind  above  considerations  of  individual  aggrandizement,  and 
scorning  to  shelter  themselves  from  tho  impending  storm,  by  submis- 
sion to  lawless  power,  etc.,  &.C.,  held  several  detached  meetings,  in 
each  of  which  the  individual  scutiments  were,  "that  tho  cause  of  Bos. 


857 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


858 


iv.  That  the  inhabitants  of  this  County  do  meet  on  a 
certain  day  appointed  by  this  Committee,  and  having  formed 
themselves  into  nine  Companies,  viz :  eight  in  the  County, 
and  one  in  the  Town  of  Charlotte,  do  choose  a  Colonel 
and  other  military  officers,  who  shall  hold  and  exercise 
their  several  powers  by  virtue  of  this  choice,  and  indepen- 
dent of  the  Crown  of  Great  Britain  and  former  Constitu- 
tion of  this  Province. 

##**##** 

[Then  follows  a  number  of  Resolves,  for  the  preserva- 
tion of  peace,  and  the  administration  of  justice ;  in  order 
to  which,  proper  persons  are  to  he  chosen,  empowered  to 
hear  and  determine  all  matters  of  controversy,  or  in  cases 
of  felony,  to  commit  persons  convicted,  to  close  confine- 
ment ;  and  to  answer  all  the  purposes  of  regular  Govern- 

ton  was  the  cause  of  all ;  that  their  destinies  were  indissolubly  con. 
nected  with  those  of  their  Eastern  fellow.citizens;  and  that  they  must 
either  submit  to  all  the  impositions  which  an  unprincipled,  and  to 
th?m  an  unrepresented,  Parliament  might  impose;  or  support  their 
brethren  who  were  doomed  to  sustain  the  first  shock  of  that  power, 
which,  if  successful  there,  would  ultimately  overwhelm  all  in  the  com. 
mon  calamity."  Conformably  to  these  principles,  Colonel  Thomas 
Polk,  through  solicitation,  issued  an  order  to  each  Captain's  Company 
in  the  County  of  Meckleuburgh,  (then  comprising  the  present  County 
of  Cabarrus,)  directing  each  Militia  Company  to  elect  two  persons, 
and  delegate  to  them  ample  power  to  devise  ways  and  means  to  aid 
and  assist  their  suffering  brethren  in  Boston,  and  also  generally  to 
adopt  measures  to  extricate  themselves  from  the  impending  storm,  and 
to  secure  unimpaired  their  inalienable  rights,  privileges,  and  liberties, 
from  the  dominant  grasp  of  British  imposition  and  tyranny. 

In  conformity  to  said  order,  on  the  nineteenth  of  May,  1775,  the 
said  Delegation  met  in  Charlotte,  vested  with  unlimited  powers;  at 
which  time  official  news,  by  express,  arrived  of  the  battle  of  Lexing- 
ton on  that  day  of  the  preceding  month.  Every  Delegate  felt  the 
value  and  importance  of  the  prize,  and  the  awful  and  solemn  crisis 
which  had  arrived;  every  bosom  swelled  with  indignation  at  the 
malice,  inveteracy,  and  insatiable  revenge,  developed  in  the  late  attack 
at  Lexington.  The  universal  sentiment  was :  let  us  not  flatter  our. 
selves  that  popular  harangues  or  resolves,  that  popular  vapour  will 
avert  the  storm,  or  vanquish  our  common  enemy ;  let  us  deliberate  ; 
lit  us  calculate  the  issue — the  probable  result ;  and  then  let  us  act 
with  energy,  as  brethren  leagued  to  preserve  our  property,  our  lives, 
and,  what  is  still  more  endearing,  the  liberties  of  America.  Abraham 
Alexander  was  then  elected  Chairman,  and  John  McKnitt  Alexander 
Clerk.  After  a  free  and  full  discussion  of  the  various  objects  for  which 
the  Delegation  had  been  convened,  it  was  unanimously  ordained : 

1.  Resolved,  That  whoever  directly  or  indirectly  abetted,  or  in  any 
way,  form,  or  manner,  countenanced  the  unchartered  and  dangerous 
invasion  of  our  rights,  as  claimed  by  Great  Britain,  is  an  enemy  to 
this  Country,  to  America,  and  to  the  inherent  and  inalienable  rights 
of  man. 

2.  Resolved,  That  we,  the  citizens  of  Mecklenburgh  County,  do 
hereby  dissolve  the  political  bands  which  have  connected  us  to  the 
Mother  Country,  and  hereby  absolve  ourselves  from  all  allegiance  to 
the  British  Crown,  and  abjure  all  political  connection,  contract,  or 
association  with  that  Nation,  who  have  wantonly  trampled  on  our 
rights  and  liberties,  and  inhumanly  shed  the  innocent  blood  of  Ame- 
rican patriots  at  Lexington. 

3.  Resolved,  That  we  do  hereby  declare  ourselves  a  free  and  inde- 
pendent people ;  are,  and  of  right  ought  to  be,  a  sovereign  and  self, 
governing  Association,  under  the  control  of  no  power  other  than  that 
of  our  God  and  the  general  government  of  the  Congress ;  to  the  main, 
tenance  of  which  independence,  we  solemnly  pledge  to  each  other 
our  mutual  co-operation,  our  lives,  our  fortunes,  and  our  most  sacred 
honour. 

4.  Resolved,  That  as  we  now  acknowledge  the  existence  and  control 
of  no  law  or  legal  officer,  civil  or  military,  within  this  County,  we  do 
hereby  ordain  and  adopt,  as  a  rule  of  life,  all,  each  and  every  of  our 
former  laws;  wherein,  nevertheless,  the  Crown  of  Great  Britain 
never  can  be  considered  as  holding  rights,  privileges,  immunities,  or 
authority  therein. 

5.  Resolved,  That  it  is  also  further  decreed,  that  all,  each,  and 
every  military  officer  in  this  County,  is  hereby  reinstated  to  his  former 
command  and  authority,  he  acting  conformably  to  these  regulations. 
And  that  every  Member  present  of  this  Delegation  shall  henceforth  be 
a  civil  officer,  viz  :  a  Justice  of  the  Peace,  in  the  character  of  a  "  Com. 
mittee.man,"  to  issue  process,  hear  and  determine  all  matters  of  con- 
troversy,  according  to  said  adopted  laws,  and  to  preserve  peace,  and 
union,  and  harmony,  in  said  County ;  and  to  use  every  exertion  to 
spread  the  love  of  country  and  fire  of  freedom  throughout  America, 
until  a  more  general  and  organized  Government  be  established  in  this 
Province. 

A  number  of  by-laws  were  also  added,  merely  to  protect  the  Asso- 
ciation from  confusion,  and  to  regulate  their  general  conduct  as  citi. 
zens.  After  sitting  in  the  Court-House  all  night,  neither  sleepy,  hun. 
gry,  nor  fatigued,  and  after  discussing  every  paragraph,  they  were  all 
passed,  sanctioned,  and  decreed,  unanimously,  about  two  o'clock,  A. 
M.,  May  20.  In  a  few  days,  a  deputation  of  said  Delegation  con. 
vened,  when  Captain  James  Jack,  of  Charlotte,  was  deputed  as  ex- 
press to  the  Congress  at  Philadelphia,  with  a  copy  of  said  Resolves 
and  Proceedings,  together  with  a  Letter  addressed  to  our  three  Repre- 
sentatives there,  viz :  Richard  Caswell,  William  Hooper,  and  Joseph 
Hughes,  under  express  injunction,  personally,  and  through  the  State 
representation,  to  use  all  possible  means  to  have  said  proceedings  sanc- 
tioned and  approved  by  the  General  Congress.  On  the  return  of  Cap- 
tain Jack,  the  Delegation  learned  that  their  proceedings  were  indi- 
vidually approved  by  the  Members  of  Congress,  but  that  it  was  deemed 
premature  to  lay  them  before  the  House.  A  joint  letter  from  said 
three  Members  of  Congress  was  also  received,  complimentary  of  the 


ment,  till  that  shall  be  settled  by  the  Grand  Congress. 
Provision  is  likewise  made  for  the  collection  of  Taxes,  to 
be  paid  into  the  hands  of  Committees ;  appointment  of 
collectors,  removable  at  the  pleasure  of  their  constituents, 
and  to  indemnify  them  for  the  money  paid  to  the  Com- 
mittee.] 

The  16th  Resolve  is, 

xvi.  That  whatever  person  shall  hereafter  receive  a  Com- 
mission from  the  Crown,  or  attempt  to  exercise  any  such 
Commission  heretofore  received,  shall  be  deemed  an  enemy 
to  his  Country;  and  upon  information  to  the  Captain  of  the 
Company  in  which  he  resides,  the  Company  shall  cause  him 
to  be  apprehended,  and  upon  proof  of  the  fact,  committed 
to  safe  custody,  till  the  next  sitting  of  the  Committee,  who 
shall  deal  with  him  as  prudence  shall  direct. 

zeal  in  the  common  cause,  and  recommending  perseverance,  orcer. 
and  energy. 

The  subsequent  harmony,  unanimity,  and  exertion  in  the  cause  of 
liberty  and  independence,  evidently  resulting  from  these  regulation!:', 
and  the  continued  exertion  of  said  Delegation,  apparently  tranquillized 
this  section  of  the  State,  and  met  with  the  concurrence  and  high 
approbation  of  the  Council  of  Safety,  who  held  their  sessions  at  New- 
bern  and  Wilmington,  alternately,  and  who  confirmed  the  nomination 
and  acts  of  the  Delegation  in  their  official  capacity. 

From  this  Delegation  originated  the  Court  of  Inquiry  of  this  Coun- 
ty, who  constituted  and  held  their  first  session  in  Charlotte — they  then 
held  their  meetings  regularly  at  Charlotte,  at  Colonel  James  Harris's, 
and  at  Colonel  Phifer's,  alternately,  one  week  at  each  place.  It  was 
a  Civil  Court  founded  on  military  process.  Before  this  judicature,  all 
suspicious  persons  were  made  to  appear,  who  were  formally  tried  and 
banished,  or  continued  under  guard.  Its  jurisdiction  was  as  unlimited 
as  loryism,  and  it  decrees  as  final  as  the  confidence  and  patriotism 
of  the  County.  Several  were  arrested  and  brought  before  them  from 
Lincoln,  Rowan,  and  the  adjacent  Counties. 

[The  foregoing  is  a  true  copy  of  the  papers  on  the  above  subject, 
left  in  my  hands  by  John  McKnitt  Alexander,  deceased.  I  find  it 
mentioned  on  file,  that  the  original  book  was  burned,  April,  1S00 ; 
that  a  copy  of  the  proceedings  was  sent  to  Hugh  Williamson,  in  New- 
York,  then  writing  a  history  of  North-Carolina,  and  that  a  copy  was 
sent  to  General  W.  R.  Davie.  J.  McKnitt. 

B. 

State  of  North-Carolina,  Mecklenburgh  County : 

I,  Samuel  Henderson,  do  hereby  certify,  .that  the  paper  annexed  was 
obtained  by  me  from  Major  William  Davie,  in  its  present  situation, 
soon  after  the  death  of  his  f.ither,  General  William  R.  Davie,  and 
given  to  Doctor  Joseph  McKnitt  by  me.  In  searching  for  some  par- 
ticular paper,  I  came  across  this,  and  knowing  the  handwriting  of 
John  McKnitt  Alexander,  took  it  up  and  examined  it.  Major  Davie 
said  to  me  (when  asked  how  it  became  torn)  his  sisters  had  torn  it,  not 
knowing  what  it  was.  Given  under  my  hand,  this  25th  of  November, 
1830.  Sam.  Henderson. 

[yov.— To  this  certificate  of  Doctor  Henderson  is  annexed  the  copy  of  the  paper  A, 
originally  deposited  bv  John  McKnitt  Alexander  in  the  hands  of  General  Davie,  whose 
name  seems  to  have  been  mistaken  by  Mr.  Jrfftrton  for  that_  of  Governour  Casu-t.t. 
This  paper  is  somewhat  torn,  but  is  entirely  legible,  and  constitutes  the  u  solemn  and 

Eositive  proof  of  authenticity"  which  Mr.  Jej^erjon  required,  and  w  hich  would  doublh  ss 
ave  been  satisfactory,  had  it  been  submitted  to  him.] 

c. 

CAPTAIN  JACK'S  CERTIFICATE. 

Having  seen  in  the  newspapers  some  pieces  respecting  the  Declara- 
tion of  Independence  by  the  people  of  Mecklenburgh  County,  in  the 
State  of  North. Corolina,  in  May,  1775,  and  being  solicited  to  state 
what  I  know  of  that  transaction,  I  would  observe,  that  for  some  time 
previous  to,  and  at  the  time  those  Resolutions  were  agreed  upon,  I  re. 
sided  in  the  Town  of  Charlotte,  Mecklenburgh  County  ;  was  privy  to  a 
number  of  meetings  of  some  of  the  most  influential  and  leading  charac- 
ters of  that  County  on  the  subject,  before  the  final  adoption  of  the  Re- 
solutions, and  at  the  time  they  were  adopted.  Among  those  who  ap- 
peared to  take  the  lead,  may  be  mentioned  Hezekiah  Alexander,  who 
generally  acted  as  Chairman,  John  McKnitt  Alexander,  as  Secretary, 
Abraham  Alexander,  Adam  Alexander,  Major  John  Davidson,  Major, 
afterwards  General  William  Davidson,  Colonel  Thomas  Polk,  Ezekiel 
Polk,  Doctor  Ephraim  Brevard,  Samuel  Martin,  Duncan  Ochletree, 
William  Willson,  Robert  Irvin. 

When  the  Resolutions  were  finally  agreed  on,  they  were  publickJv 
proclaimed  from  the  Court-House  door  in  the  Town  of  Charlotte,  and 
received  with  every  demonstration  of  joy  by  the  inhabitants. 

I  was  then  solicited  to  be  the  bearer  of  the  proceedings  to  Congress. 
I  set  out  the  following  month,  say  June,  and  in  passing  through  Salis- 
bury, the  General  Court  was  sitting ;  at  the  request  of  the  Court  I 
handed  a  copy  of  the  Resolutions  to  Colonel  Kennon,  an  attorney  , 
and  they  were  read  aloud  in  open  Court.  Major  William  Davidson, 
and  Mr.  Avery,  an  attorney,  called  on  me  at  my  lodgings  the  evening 
after,  and  observed,  they  had  heard  of  but  one  person,  (a  Mr.  Beard,  i 
but  approved  of  them. 

I  then  proceeded  on  to  Philadelphia,  and  delivered  the  Mecklenburgh 
Declaration  of  Independence,  of  May,  1775,  to  Richard  Caswell  and 
William  Hooper,  the  Delegates  to  Congress  from  the  State  of  Nortn- 
Carolina. 

I  am  now  in  the  eighty-eighth  year  of  my  age,  residing  in  the  County 
of  Elbert,  in  the  State  of  Georgia.  I  was  in  the  Revolutionary  War, 
from  the  commencement  to  the  close. 

I  would  further  observe,  that  the  Reverend  Francis  Cummins,  a 
Presbyterian  Clergyman,  of  Greene  County,  in  this  State,  was  a  stu- 
dent in  the  Town  of  Charlotte  at  the  time  of  the  adoption  of  the  Reso- 
lutions, and  is  as  well,  or  perhaps  better  acquainted  with  the  proceed- 
ings at  that  time,  than  any  man  now  living. 

Colonel  William  Polk,  of  Raleigh,  in  North-Carolina,  was  living 
with  his  father,  Thomas,  in  Charlotte,  at  the  time  I  have  been  speak- 


859 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


860 


CHESTER  COUNTY  (PENNSYLVANIA)  COMMITTEE. 

In  Committee,  Chester,  May  31,  1775. 

Whereas  it  appears  very  necessary,  in  order  to  avert  the 
evils  and  calamities  which  threaten  our  devoted  Country, 
to  embody  ourselves  and  make  all  the  military  preparations 
in  our  power;  and  it  appears  absolutely  impossible  to  carry 
this  laudable  design  into  execution,  without  observing  the 
greatest  order,  harmony,  and  concord,  not  only  under  the 
laws  of  civil  Government,  but  also  while  under  arms  and 
on  actual  duty.  We,  therefore,  unanimously  recommend 
the  following  Association  to  be  entered  into  by  the  good 
people  of  this  County: 

"  We,  the  subscribers,  do  most  solemnly  resolve,  pro- 
mise, and  engage,  under  the  sacred  ties  of  honour,  virtue 

ing  of,  and  although  then  too  young  to  be  forward  in  the  business,  yet 
the  leading  circumstances  1  have  related  cannot  have  escaped  his 
recollection.  James  Jack. 

Signed  this  7th  of  December,  1819,  in  presence  of 

Job  Weston,  C.  C.  O., 

James  Oliver,  Attorney-at-Law. 

C  2. 

North-Carolina,  Cabarrus  County,  November  29,  1830: 

We,  the  undersigned,  do  hereby  certify,  that  we  have  frequently 
heard  William  S.  Alexander,  deceased,  say  that  he,  the  said  William 
S.  Alexander,  was  at  Philadelphia  on  mercantile  business,  in  the  early 
part  of  the  summer  of  1775,  say  in  June ;  and  that  on  the  day  General 
Washington  left  Philadelphia  to  take  the  command  of  the  Northern 
Army,  he,  the  said  William  S.  Alexander,  met  with  Captain  James 
Jack,  who  informed  him,  the  said  William  S.  Alexander,  that  he,  the 
said  James  Jack,  was  there  as  the  agent  or  bearer  of  the  Declaration 
of  Independence  made  in  Charlotte,  on  the  twentieth  day  of  May,  sev- 
enteen hundred  and  seventy-five,  by  the  citizens  of  Mecklenburgh,  then 
including  Cabarrus,  with  instructions  to  present  the  same  to  the  Dele- 
gates from  North-Carolina,  and  by  them  to  be  laid  before  Congress, 
and  which  he  said  he  had  done ;  in  which  Declaration  the  aforesaid 
citizens  of  Mecklenburgh  renounced  their  allegiance  to  the  Crown  of 
Great  Britain,  and  set  up  a  Government  for  themselves,  under  the 
title  of  The  Committee  of  Safety.  Given  under  our  hands  the  date 
above  written.  Alphonso  Alexander, 

Amos  Alexander, 
J.  McKnitt. 

D. 

Lexington,  Georgia,  November  16,  1819. 

Dear  Sir:  The  bearer,  the  Honourable  Thomas  W.  Cobb,  has  sug- 
gested to  me  that  you  had  a  desire  to  know  something  particularly  of 
the  proceedings  of  the  citizens  of  Mecklenburgh  County,  in  Norlh-Caro. 
Una,  about  the  beginning  of  our  Revolutionary  War. 

Previous  to  my  becoming  more  particular,  I  will  suppose  you  re- 
member the  Regulation  business,  which  took  its  rise  in  or  before  the 
year  1770,  and  issued  and  ended  in  a  battle  between  the  Regulators 
and  Governour  Tryon,  in  the  spring  of  1771.  Some  of  the  Regulators 
were  killed,  and  the  whole  dispersed.  The  Regulators'  conduct  was 
a  "rudis  indigestaque  moles,"  as  Ovid  says  about  the  beginning  of 
creation;  but  the  embryotick  principles  of  the  Revolution  were  in 
their  temper  and  views.  They  wanted  strength,  consistency,  a  Con- 
gress, and  a  Washington  at  their  head.  Tryon  sent  his  officers  and 
minions  through  tho  State,  and  imposed  the  oath  of  allegiance  upon 
the  people,  even  as  far  up  as  Mecklenburgh  County.  In  theyoar  1775, 
after  our  Revolution  began,  the  principal  characters  of  Mecklenburgh 
County  met  on  two  sundry  days,  in  Queen's  Museum,  in  Charlotte,  to 
digest  Articles  for  a  State  Constitution,  in  anticipation  that  tho  Prov- 
ince would  proceed  to  do  ao.  In  this  business,  the  leading  characters 
were,  the  Reverend  Hezekiah  James  Hatch,  a  graduate  of  Princeton 
College,  an  elegant  scholar,  Waightstill  Avery,  Esquire,  attorney-at- 
]aw,  Hezekiah  and  John  McKnitt  Alexander,  Esquires,  Colonel  Thos, 
Polk,  &c,  &c. 

Many  men,  and  young  men,  (myself  one,)  before  Magistrates,  abjured 
allegiance  to  George  the  Third,  or  any  other  foreign  Power.  At 
length,  in  the  same  year,  1775,  I  think,  at  least  positively  before  July 
4,  1776,  the  males  generally  of  that  County  met  on  a  certain  day  in 
Charlotte,  and  from  the  head  of  the  Court-House  stairs  proclaimed  In- 
dependence on  English  Government,  by  their  herald,  Colonel  Thomas 
Polk.  I  was  present,  and  saw  and  heard  it,  and  as  a  young  man,  and 
then  a  student  in  Queen's  Museum,  was  an  agent  in  theso  things.  I 
did  not  then  take  and  keep  the  dates,  and  cannot,  as  to  date,  be  so  par- 
ticular as  I  could  wish.  Captain  James  Jack,  then  of  Charlotte,  but 
now  of  Elbert  County  in  Georgia,  was  sent  with  the  account  of  theso 
proceedings  to  Congress,  then  in  Philadelphia,  and  brought  back  to 
the  County  the  thanks  of  Congress  for  their  zeal,  and  the  advice  of 
Congress  to  bo  a  littlo  more  patient,  until  Congress  should  take  the 
measures  thought  to  be  best. 

I  would  suppose,  Sir,  that  some  minutos  of  theso  things  must  bo 
found  among  tho  records  of  the  first  Congress,  that  would  perfectly 
settle  their  dates.  I  am  perfectly  sure,  being  present  at  tho  whole  of 
thorn,  they  wore  beforo  our  National  Declaration  of  Indopcndonce. 

Honourable  Sir,  if  tho  above  few  things  can  afford  you  any  gratifica- 
tion, it  will  add  to  tho  happiness  of  your  friend  and  humble  servant, 

Francis  Cummins. 

Hon.  Nathaniel  Macon. 

E. 

Vesuvius  Furnace,  October  4,  1830. 

Dear  Sir  :  Agroeably  to  your  roquost,  I  will  givo  you  tho  details  of 
the  Mecklenburgh  Declaration  of  Independence,  on  tho  20th  of  May 
1775,  as  well  as  I  can  rocolloct  after  a  lapse  of  fifty-five  years.  I  was 
then  a  lad  about  half  grown,  was  present  on  that  occasion,  (a  looker  on.) 

During  tho  winter  and  spring  preceding  that  evont,  several  popular 
meetings  of  tho  people  were  held  in  Charlotte,  two  of  which  I  attend- 


and  love  to  our  Country,  that  we  will  use  our  utmost  en- 
deavours to  learn  the  military  exercise,  and  promote  har- 
mony and  unanimity  in  our  respective  Companies ;  that 
we  will  strictly  adhere  to  the  rules  of  decency  during  duty  ; 
that  we  will  pay  a  due  regard  to  our  Officers  ;  that  we  will, 
when  called  upon,  support  with  our  utmost  abilities  the 
civil  Magistrate  in  the  execution  of  the  laws  for  the  good  of 
our  Country  ;  and  that  we  will  at  all  times  be  in  readiness 
to  defend  the  lives,  liberties,  and  properties  of  ourselves 
and  fellow-countrymen  against  all  attempts  to  deprive  us  of 
them." 

Information  being  lodged  with  this  Committee  that  Wil- 
liam Moore,  Esq.,  has  expressed  himself  in  terms  inimical 
to  the  liberties  of  America,  and  derogatory  to  the  Conti- 

ed;  papers  were  read,  grievances  stated,  and  publick  measures  dis- 
cussed. As  printing  was  not  then  common  in  the  South,  the  papers 
were  mostly  manuscript ;  one  or  more  of  which  was  from  the  pen  of 
the  Reverend  Doctor  Reese,  then  of  Mecklenburgh,  which  met  with  gen- 
eral approbation,  and  copies  of  it  circulated.  It  is  to  be  regretted  that 
those  and  other  papers  published  at  that  period,  and  the  journal  of  their 
proceedings  are  lost.  They  would  show  much  of  the  spirit  and  tone 
of  thinking,  which  prepared  them  for  the  measures  they  afterwards 
adopted. 

On  the  20th  of  May,  1775,  besides  the  two  persons  elected  from 
each  Militia  company,  (usually  called  Committee-men,)  a  much  larger 
number  of  citizens  attended  in  Charlotte  than  at  any  former  meeting, 
perhaps  half  the  men  in  the  County.  The  news  of  the  battle  of  Lex- 
ington, the  19th  of  April  preceding,  had  arrived.  There  appeared 
among  the  people  much  excitement.  The  Committee  were  organized 
in  the  Court-House,  by  appointing  Abraham  Alexander,  Esq.,  Chair- 
man and  John  McKnitt  Alexander,  Esquire,  Clerk  or  Secretary  to  the 
meeting. 

After  reading  a  number  of  papers  as  usual,  and  much  animated  dis- 
cussion, the  question  was  taken,  and  they  resolved  to  declare  them- 
selves independent.  One  among  other  reasons  offered,  that  the  King 
or  Ministry  had,  by  proclamation  or  some  edict,  declared  the  Colonies 
out  of  the  protection  of  the  British  Crown  ;  they  ought,  therefore,  to 
declare  themselves  out  of  his  protection,  and  resolve  on  independence. 
That  their  proceedings  might  be  in  due  form,  a  Sub-Committee,  con. 
sisting  of  Doctor  Ephraim  Brevard,  a  Mr.  Kennon,  an  attorney,  and 
a  third  person,  whom  I  do  not  recollect,  were  appointed  to  draft  their 
Declaration.  They  retired  from  the  Court-House  for  some  time,  but 
the  Committee  continued  in  session  in  it.  One  circumstance  occurred 
I  distinctly  remember :  a  member  of  the  Committee,  who  had  said  but 
little  before,  addressed  the  Chairman,  as  follows:  "If  you  resolve  on 
independence,  how  shall  we  all  be  absolved  from  the  obligations  of  the 
oath  we  took  to  be  true  to  King  George  the  Third,  about  four  years 
ago,  after  the  Regulation  battle,  when  we  were  sworn,  whole  Militia 
companies  together.  I  should  be  glad  to  know  how  gentlemen  can 
clear  their  consciences  after  taking  that  oath."  This  speech  produced 
confusion.  The  Chairman  could  scarcely  preserve  order,  so  many 
wished  to  reply.  There  appeared  groat  indignation  and  contempt  at 
the  speech  of  the  member.  Some  said  it  was  nonsense;  others,  that 
allegiance  and  protection  were  reciprocal;  when  protection  was  with- 
drawn allegiance  ceased ;  that  the  oath  was  only  binding  while  the 
King  protected  us  in  the  enjoyment  of  our  rights  and  liberties,  as  they 
existed  at  the  time  it  was  taken,  which  he  had  not  done,  but  now  de- 
clared us  out  of  his  protection,  therefore  was  not  binding.  Any  man 
who  would  interpret  it  otherwise,  was  a  fool.  By  way  of  illustration, 
(pointing  to  a  green  tree  near  the  Court-House)  stated,  if  he  was  sworn 
to  do  any  thing  as  long  as  the  leaves  continued  on  that  troc,  it  was  so 
long  binding ;  but  when  the  leaves  fell,  he  was  discharged  from  its 
obligation.  This  was  said  to  be  certainly  applicable  in  the  present 
case.  Out  of  respect  for  a  worthy  citizen,  long  since  deceased,  and  his 
respectable  connexions,  I  forbear  to  mention  names ;  for,  though  he 
was  a  friend  to  the  cause,  a  suspicion  rested  on  him  in  the  publick 
mind  for  some  time  after. 

The  Sub-Committee  appointed  to  draft  the  Resolutions,  returned, 
and  Doctor  Ephraim  Brevard  read  their  report,  as  near  as  I  can  recol- 
lect, in  the  very  words  we  have  since  seen  them  several  times  in  print. 
It  was  unanimously  adopted ;  and  shortly  after,  it  was  moved  and  se- 
conded to  have  proclamation  made,  and  the  people  collected,  that  tho 
proceedings  be  read  at  the  Court-House  door,  in  order  that  all  might 
hear  them.  It  was  done,  and  they  were  received  with  enthusiasm.  It 
was  then  proposed  by  some  one  aloud,  to  give  three  cheers  and  throw 
up  their  hats.  It  was  immediately  adopted,  and  the  hats  thrown. 
Several  of  them  lit  on  the  Court-Houso  roof ;  the  owners  had  some 
difficulty  to  reclaim  them. 

The  foregoing  is  all  from  personal  knowledge.  I  understood  after- 
wards, that  Captain  James  Jack,  then  of  Charlotte,  undertook,  on  tho 
request  of  tho  Committee,  to  carry  a  copy  of  their  proceedings  to  Con- 
gress, which  then  sat  in  Philadelphia ;  and  on  his  way,  at  Salisbury, 
the  tiino  of  Court,  Mr.  Kennon,  who  was  one  of  tho  Committee  who 
assisted  in  drawing  the  Declaration,  prevailed  on  Captain  Jack  to  get 
his  papers,  and  have  them  read  publickly ;  which  was  done,  and  the 
proceedings  mot  with  general  approbation.  But  two  of  the  lawyers, 
John  Dunn  and  a  Mr.  Booth,  dissented,  and  asserted  they  were  trea. 
sonable,  and  endeavoured  to  have  Captain  Jack  detained.  Ho  drew 
his  pistols,  and  threatened  to  kill  tho  first  man  who  would  interrupt 
him,  and  passed  on.  The  news  of  this  reached  Charlotte  in  a  short 
time  after,  and  tho  Executive  of  the  Committoe,  whom  they  had  in- 
vested  with  suitable  powers,  ordered  a  party  of  ten  or  twelve  armed 
horsemen  to  bring  said  lawyers  from  Salisbury;  when  they  were 
brought,  and  the  case  investigated  before  the  Committee.  Dunn,  on 
giving  security  and  making  fair  promises,  was  permitted  to  return,  and 
Booth  was  sentenced  to  go  to  Camden,  in  South-Carolina,  out  of  tho 
sphere  of  his  influence.  My  brother,  George  Graham,  and  tho  late  Colo- 
nel John  Carruth,  were  of  the  party  that  wont  to  Salisbury  ;  and  it  is  dis. 
tinctly  romomberod  that  when  in  Charlotte  they  camo  homo  at  night, 
in  order  to  provide  for  their  trip  to  Camden ;  and  that  they  and  two 
others  of  the  party  took  Booth  to  that  place.    This  was  tho  first  mill- 


861 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


862 


nental  Congress ;  and  as  a  special  Committee  is  now  ap- 
pointed to  examine  into  the  affair,  the  publick  are  desired 
to  suspend  their  judgment  until  Mr.  Moore  has  had  an 
opportunity  either  to  exculpate  himself  from  the  charge,  or 
make  proper  acknowledgment  to  his  Country. 
By  order  of  the  Committee  : 

Francis  Johnson,  Secretary. 


TO  LORD  SANDWICH. 

Philadelphia,  May  31,  1775. 
My  Lord:  I  congratulate  your  Lordship  on  an  instance 
of  American  cowardice,  which  your  Lordship  had  so  pro- 
phetically foretold.*  The  instance  I  allude  to  is  to  be  found 

tary  expedition  from  Mecklenburgh  in  the  Revolutionary  War,  and  be- 
lieved to  be  the  first  any  where  to  the  South.    Yours,  respectfully, 

J.  Graham. 

Dr.  Joseph  McKt.  Alexander,  Mecklenburgh,  N.  C. 

F. 

EXTRACT  FROM  THE  MEMOIR  OF  THE  LATE  REV.  HUMPHREY  HUNTER. 

Orders  were  prcsontly  issued  by  Colonel  Thomas  Polk,  to  the  several 
Militia  companies,  that  two  men,  selected  from  each  Corps,  should 
meet  at  the  Court-House  on  the  19th  of  May,  1775,  in  order  to  consult 
with  each  other  upon  such  measures  as  might  be  thought  best  to  be 
pursued.  Accordingly,  on  said  day  a  far  larger  number  than  two  out 
of  each  company  were  present.  There  was  some  difficulty  in  choosing 
the  Commissioners.  To  have  chosen  all  thought  to  be  worthy,  would 
have  rendered  the  meeting  too  numerous.  The  following  were  select- 
ed, and  styled  Delegates,  and  are  here  given,  according  to  my  best  re- 
collection, as  they  were  placed  on  roll :  Abram  Alexander,  Senior, 
Thomas  Polk,  Richard  Harris,  Senior,  Adam  Alexander,  Richard  Bar. 
ry,  John  McKnitt  Alexander,  Neil  Morrison,  Hezekiali  Alexander,  He. 
;<  kinh  J.  Balch,  Zacheus  Wilson,  John  Phifer,  James  Harris,  William 
Kennon,John  Ford,  Henry  Downs,  Ezra  Alexander,  William  Graham, 
John  Qneary,  Charles  Alexander,  Waitstill  Avery,  Ephraim  Brevard, 
Benjamin  Patton,  Matthew  McClure,  Robert  Irwin,  John  Flenniken, 
and  David  Reese. 

Abram  Alexander  was  nominated,  and  unanimously  voted  to  the 
Chair.  John  McKnitt  Alexander  and  Ephraim  Brevard  were  chosen 
Secretaries.  The  Chair  being  occupied,  and  the  Clerks  seated,  the 
House  was  called  to  order,  and  proceeded  to  business.  Then  a  full,  a 
free,  and  dispassionate  discussion  obtained,  on  the  various  subjects  for 
which  the  delegation  had  been  convened,  and  the  following  Resolu- 
tions were  unanimously  ordained : 

1st.  Resolved,  That  whosoever  directly  or  indirectly  abetted,  or  in  any 
way,  form,  or  manner,  countenanced  the  unchartered  and  dangerous 
i.ivasion  of  our  rights,  as  claimed  by  Great  Britain,  is  an  enemy  to  this 
Country,  to  America,  and  to  the  inherent  and  inalienable  rights  of  man. 

2d.  Resolved,  That  we,  the  citizens  of  Mecklenburgh  County,  do 
hereby  dissolve  the  political  bands  which  have  connected  us  to  the 
Mother  Country,  and  hereby  absolve  ourselves  from  all  allegiance  to 
the  British  Crown,  and  abjure  all  political  connexion,  contract,  or  asso- 
ciation, with  that  Nation,  who  have  wantonly  trampled  on  our  rights 
and  liberties,  and  inhumanly  shed  the  blood  of  American  patriots  at 
Lexington. 

3d.  Resolved,  That  we  do  hereby  declare  ourselves  a  free  and  inde- 
pendent people ;  are,  and  of  right  ought  to  be,  a  sovereign  and  self- 
governing  Association,  under  the  control  of  no  power  other  than  that 
of  our  God  and  the  general  government  of  the  Congress  ;  to  the  main- 
tenance of  which  independence,  we  solemnly  pledge  to  each  other  our 
mutual  co-operation,  our  lives,  our  fortunes,  and  our  most  sacred  honour. 

4th.  Resolved,  That  as  we  now  acknowledge  the  existence  and  con- 
trol of  no  law  or  legal  officer,  civil  or  military,  within  this  County,  we 
do  hereby  ordain  and  adopt,  as  a  rule  of  life,  all,  each  and  every  of  our 
former  laws,  wherein,  nevertheless,  the  Crown  of  Great  Britain  never 
can  be  considered  as  holding  rights,  privileges,  immunities,  or  authority 
therein. 

5th.  Resolved,  That  it  is  further  decreed,  that  all,  each  and  every 
military  officer  in  this  County,  is  hereby  reinstated  in  his  former  com. 
inand  and  authority,  he  acting  conformably  to  these  Regulations.  And 
that  every  member  present,  of  this  Delegation,  shall  henceforth  be  a 
civil  officer,  viz :  a  Justice  of  the  Peace,  in  the  character  of  a  "  Com- 
mittee-man," to  issue  process,  hear  and  determine  all  matters  of  con- 
troversy, according  to  said  adopted  laws,  and  to  preserve  peace,  union, 
and  harmony  in  said  County ;  and  to  use  every  exertion  to  spread  the 
love  of  country  and  fire  of  freedom  throughout  America,  until  a  more 
general  and  organized  Government  be  established  in  this  Province. 

Those  Resolves  having  been  concurred  in,  by-laws  and  regulations 
for  the  government  of  a  Standing  Committee  of  Public  Safety  were 
enacted  and  acknowledged.  Then  a  Select  Committee  was  appointed, 
to  report  on  the  ensuing  day  a  full  and  definite  statement  of  grievances, 
together  with  a  more  correct  and  formal  draught  of  the  Declaration  of 
Independence.  The  proceedings  having  been  thus  arranged,  and  some- 
what in  readiness  for  promulgation,  the  Delegation  then  adjourned  until 
to-morrow,  at  twelve  o'clock. 

The  20th  of  May,  at  twelve  o'clock,  the  Delegation,  as  above,  had 
convened.  The  Select  Committee  were  also  present,  and  reported 
agreeably  to  instructions,  viz  :  a  statement  of  grievances,  and  formal 
draught  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  written  by  Ephraim  Bre- 
vard, Chairman  of  said  Committee,  and  read  by  him  to  the  Delegation. 
The  Resolves,  By-Laws,  and  Regulations,  were  read  by  John  McKnitt 
Alexander.  It  was  then  announced  from  the  Chair,  Are  you  all  agreed  1 
There  was  not  a  dissenting  voice.  Finally,  the  whole  proceedings  were 
read  distinctly  and  audibly  at  the  Court-House  door,  by  Colonel  Thomas 
Polk,  to  a  large,  respectable,  and  approving  assemblage  of  citizens  who 
were  present,  and  gave  sanction  to  the  business  of  the  day.  A  copy  of 
all  those  transactions  were  then  drawn  off,  and  given  in  charge  to  Cap- 
tain James  Jack,  then  of  Charlotte,  that  he  should  present  them  to 
Congress,  then  in  session  in  Philadelphia. 

On  that  memorable  day  I  was  twenty  years  and  fourteen  days  of  age, 
*  March  16,  1775.    See  Vol.  I.  1681. 


in  General  Gage's  circumstantial  account,  or  narrative  of 
the  attack  or  battle  at  Lexington  and  Concord,  in  the  Prov- 
ince of  Massachusetts-Bay,  in  which  he  gives  a  clear  and 
impartial  account  of  the  barbarity  of  the  Americans,  as  well 
as  that  of  their  cowardice.  I  make  no  doubt  but  the  Yan- 
koos  will  pretend  not  to  believe  it,  especially  the  barbarity, 
which  is  not  quite  so  clear  ;  but  as  to  the  cowardice,  it  is  so 
incontestably  proved,  that  they  themselves  will  not  under- 
take to  deny,  if  they  do  not  own  it.  The  General,  in  this 
sensible  and  masterly  performance,  says  a  man  had  ad- 
vanced from  the  Provincials  assembled  at  Lexington,  and 
attempted  to  shoot  the  Regulars  by  snapping  his  gun,  which 
flashed  in  the  pan  ;  and  that  on  the  attack  of  the  Troops 
at  Concord  bridge,  after  some  of  them  had  fallen,  and  they 

a  very  deeply  interested  spectator,  recollecting  the  dire  hand  of  oppres- 
sion that  had  driven  me  from  my  native  clime,  now  pursuing  me  in  this 
happy  asylum,  and  seeking  to  bind  again  in  the  fetters  of  bondage. 

On  the  return  of  Captain  Jack,  he  reported  that  Congress,  indivi- 
dually, manifested  their  entire  approbation  of  the  conduct  of  the  Meck- 
lenburgh citizens,  but  deemed  it  premature  to  lay  them  officially  before 
the  House. 

Note. — The  forgoing  extract  is  copied  from  a  manuscript  account  of  the  Revolu- 
tionary War  in  the  South,  addressed  by  the  writer  to  a  friend,  who  had  requested  his- 
torical information  upon  this  subject.  Mr.  Hunter  was  in  the  battle  of  Canitteny and 
has  given  an  interesting  narrative  of  the  circumstances  connected  with  the  death  <  : 
Baron  lie  Kalb.  The  manuscript  gives  the  biography  of  the  writer,  from  which  it 
appears  he  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  and  born  on  the  lJth  of  May,  1755,  and  at  an  early 
age  emigrated  from  his  native  land  to  the  Province  of  North-Carolina. 

Additional  Papers. — From  the  Raleigh  Register,  February  18,  1820. 

MECKLENBURGH  DECLARATION  OF  INDEPENDENCE. 

When  this  Declaration  was  fiist  published  in  April  last,  some  doubts  were  expressed 
in  the  Eastern  papers  as  to  its  authenticity,  (none  of  the  Histories  of  the  Revolution 
having  noticed  the  circumstance.)  Colonel  William  Polk,  of  this  City,  (who,  though 
n  mere  youth  at  the  time,  was  present  at  the  meeting  which  made  the  Declaration, 
and  whose  father  being  Colonel  of  the  County,  appears  to  have  acted  a  conspicuous 
part  on  the  occasion,)  obstrving  this,  assured  us  of  the  correctness  of  the  facts  gene- 
ral! \,  though  he  thought  there  were  errours  as  to  the  name  of  the  Secretary,  &c,  and 
shid  that  lie  should  probably  be  able  to  correct  these,  and  throw  some  further  light 
on  the  subject,  by  inquiries  amongst  some  of  his  old  friends  in  Mecklenburgh  Coun- 
ty. He  has  accordingly  made  inquiries,  and  communicated  to  us  the  following  Do- 
cuments as  the  result,  which,  we  presume,  will  do  away  all  doubts  on  the  subject. 

CERTIFICATE. 

State  of  North-Carolina,  Mecklenburgh  County : 

At  the  request  of  Colonel  William  Polk,  of  Raleigh,  made  to  Major- 
General  George  Graham,  soliciting  him  to  procure  all  the  information 
that  could  be  obtained  at  this  late  period,  of  the  transactions  which 
took  place  in  the  County  of  Mecklenburgh,  in  the  year  1775,  as  it  re- 
spected the  people  of  that  County  having  declared  Independence  ;  of 
the  time  when  the  Declaration  was  made ;  who  were  the  principal 
movers  and  leaders,  and  the  members  who  composed  the  body  of  Pa- 
triots who  made  the  Declaration,  and  signed  the  same : 

We,  the  undersigned  citizens  of  the  said  County,  and  of  the  several 
ages  set  forth  opposite  to  each  of  our  names,  do  certify,  and  on  our 
honour  declare,  that  we  were  present  in  the  Town  of  Charlotte,  in  the 
said  County  of  Mecklenburgh,  on  the  19th  day  of  May,  1775,  when  two 
persons  elected  from  each  Captain's  Company  in  said  County,  appeared 
as  Delegates,  to  take  into  consideration  the  state  of  the  Country,  and 
to  adopt  such  measures  as  to  them  seemed  best,  to  secure  their  lives, 
liberty,  and  property,  from  the  storm  which  was  gathering,  and  had 
burst  upon  their  fellow-citizens  to  the  Eastward,  by  a  British  Army, 
under  the  authority  of  the  British  King  and  Parliament. 

The  order  for  the  election  of  Delegates  was  given  by  Colonel  Tho- 
mas Polk,  the  commanding  officer  of  the  Militia  of  the  County,  with 
a  request  that  their  powers  should  be  ample,  touching  any  measure  that 
should  be  proposed. 

We  do  further  certify  and  declare,  that  to  the  best  of  our  recollection 
and  belief,  the  delegation  was  complete  from  every  company,  and  that 
the  meeting  took  place  in  the  Court-House,  about  12  o'clock  on  the 
said  19th  day  of  May,  1775,  when  Abraham  Alexander  was  chosen 
Chairman,  and  Doctor  Ephraim  Brevard  Secretary.  That  the  Dele- 
gates continued  in  session  until  in  the  night  of  that  day ;  that  on  the 
20th  they  again  met,  when  a  Committee,  under  the  direction  of  the 
Delegates,  had  formed  several  Resolves,  which  were  read,  and  which 
went  to  declare  themselves,  and  the  people  of  Mecklenburgh  County, 
free  and  independent  of  the  King  and  Parliament  of  Great  Britain — 
and  that,  from  that  day  thenceforth,  all  allegiance  and  political  rela- 
tion was  absolved  between  the  good  people  of  Mecklenburgh,  and  the 
King  of  Great  Britain;  which  Declaration  was  signed  by  every  mem- 
ber of  the  Delegation,  under  the  shouts  and  huzzas  of  a  very  large  as- 
sembly of  the  people  of  the  County,  who  had  come  to  know  the  issue 
of  the  meeting.  We  further  believe,  that  the  Declaration  of  Indepen- 
dence was  drawn  up  by  the  Secretary,  Doctor  Ephraim  Brevard,  and 
that  it  was  conceived  and  brought  about  through  the  instrumentality 
and  popularity  of  Colonel  Thomas  Polk,  Abraham  Alexander,  John 
M'Knitt  Alexander,  Adam  Alexander,  Ephraim  Brevard,  John  Phifer, 
and  Hezekiah  Alexander,  with  some  others. 

We  do  further  certify  and  declare,  that  in  a  few  days  after  the  Dele- 
gates adjourned,  Captain  James  Jack,  of  the  Town  of  Charlotte,  was 
engaged  to  carry  the  Resolves  to  the  President  of  Congress,  and  to  our 
Representatives — one  copy  for  each  ;  and  that  his  expenses  were  paid 
by  a  voluntary  subscription.  And  we  do  know  that  Captain  Jack  exe- 
cuted the  trust,  and  returned  with  answers,  both  from  the  President 
and  our  Delegates  in  Congress,  expressive  of  their  entire  approbation 
of  the  course  that  had  been  adopted,  recommending  a  continuance  in 
the  same ;  and  that  the  time  would  soon  be,  when  the  whole  Continent 
would  follow  our  example. 

We  further  certify  and  declare,  that  the  measures  which  were  adopt- 
ed at  the  time  before  mentioned,  had  a  general  influence  on  the  people 
of  this  County  to  unite  them  in  the  cause  of  liberty  and  the  Country, 
at  that  time ;  that  the  same  unanimity  and  patriotism  continued  unim- 
paired to  the  close  of  the  war  ;  and  that  the  Resolutions  had  considerable 
effect  in  harmonizing  the  people  in  two  or  three  adjoining  Counties. 

That  a  Committee  of  Safety  for  the  County  were  elected,  who  were 
clothed  with  civil  and  military  power,  and  under  their  authority  sev. 


863 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  kc,  MAY,  1775. 


864 


began  their  retreat,  they  observed  soldiers  dead  on  the 
ground,  one  of  them  scalped  and  his  ears  cut  off,  though 
not  quite  dead ;  from  which  it  is  very  clear  that  one  or 
more  of  the  Provincials  had  the  cowardice  to  go  in  amongst 
the  Regular  Troops,  and  cut  off  the  ears  of  a  soldier  that 
had  fallen,  though  not  quite  dead. 

This,  my  Lord,  may  seem  no  less  odd  than  true,  for  it 
is  fully  proved  ;  for  unless  the  soldier's  ears  had  been  cut  off 
whilst  among  the  body  of  Regulars,  they  could  not  possibly 
have  known  it,  as  they  do  not  pretend,  nor  the  Provincials 
believe,  that  they  ever  regained  any  ground  they  had  re- 

eral  disaffected  persons  in  Rov>an  and  Tryon  (now  Lincoln  County) 
were  sent  for,  examined,  and  conveyed  (after  it  was  satisfactorily  proven 
they  were  inimical)  to  Camden,  in  South  Carolina,  for  safekeeping. 

We  do  further  certify,  that  the  acts  passed  by  the  Committee  of 
Safety,  were  received  as  tho  civil  law  of  the  land  in  many  cases,  and 
that  Courts  of  Justico  for  the  decision  of  controversies  between  the 
people  were  held,  and  we  have  no  recollection  that  dissatisfaction  ex- 
isted in  any  instance  with  regard  to  the  judgments  of  said  Courts. 

We  are  not,  at  this  late  period,  able  to  give  the  names  of  all  the 
Delegation  who  formed  the  Declaration  of  Independence ;  but  can 
safely  declare  as  to  the  following  persons  being  of  tho  number,  viz  : 
Thomas  Polk,  Abraham  Alexander,  John  M'Knitt  Alexander,  Adam 
Alexander,  Ephraim  Brevard,  John  Phifer,  Hezekiah  James  Balsh, 
Benjamin  Patton,  Hezekiah  Alexander,  Richard  Barry,  William  Gra- 
ham, Matthew  M'Clure,  Robert  Irwin,  Zacheus  Wilson,  Neil  Morrison, 
John  Flenniken,  John  Queary,  Ezra  Alexander. 

In  testimony  of  all  and  every  part  herein  set  forth,  we  have  here- 
unto set  our  hands.  Geo.  Graham,  aged  61,  near  62. 

Wm.  Hutchinson,  68. 
Jonas  Clark,  61. 
Robert  Robinson,  68. 

from  john  simeson  to  colonel  william  polk. 

"  Providence,  January  20,  1820. 
"  Dear  Sir  :  After  considerable  delay,  occasioned  partly  to  obtain 
what  information  I  could,  in  addition  to  my  own  knowledge  of  the 
facts  in  relation  to  our  Declaration  of  Independence,  and  partly  by  a 
precarious,  feeble  old  age,  I  now  writo  to  you  in  answer  to  yours  of  the 
24th  ult. 

"  I  have  conversed  with  many  of  my  old  friends  and  others,  and  all 
agree  in  the  point,  but  few  can  state  the  particulars;  for  although  our 
County  is  renowned  for  general  intelligence,  we  have  still  some  that 
don't  read  the  publick  prints.  You  know,  in  the  language  of  the  day, 
every  Province  had  its  Congress,  and  Mecklenburgh  had  its  County  Con- 
gress, as  legally  chosen  as  any  other,  and  assumed  an  attitude  until 
then  without  a  precedent ;  but,  alas !  those  worthies  who  conceived 
and  executed  that  bold  measure,  are  no  more  ;  and  one  reason  why  so 
little  new  light  can  be  thrown  on  an  old  truth,  may  be  this— and  I  ap- 
peal to  yourself  for  the  correctness  of  the  remark — we,  who  arc  now 
called  Revolutionary  men,  were  then  thoughtless,  precipitate  youths ; 
we  cared  not  who  conceived  the  bold  act,  our  business  w.is  to  adopt  and 
support  it.  Yourself,  sir,  in  your  eighteenth  year  and  on  the  spot,  your 
worthy  father,  the  most  popular  and  influential  character  in  the  Coun- 
ty, and  yet  you  cannot  slate  much  from  recollection.  Your  father,  as 
commanding  officer  of  the  County,  issued  orders  to  the  Captains  to  ap- 
point two  men  from  each  company  to  represent  them  in  the  Commit- 
tee. It  was  done.  Neill  Morrison,  John  Flenniken,  from  this  Com- 
pany ;  Charles  Alexander,  John  M'Knitt  Alexander,  Hezekiah  Alex, 
under,  Abraham  Alexander,  Esq.,  John  Phifer,  David  Reese,  Adam 
Alexander,  Dickey  Barry,  John  Queary,  with  others,  whose  names  I 
cannot  obtain.  As  to  tho  names  of  those  who  drew  up  the  Declara- 
tion, I  am  inclined  to  think  Doctor  Brevard  was  the  principal,  from 
his  known  talents  in  composition.  It  was,  however,  in  substance  and 
form,  like  that  great  national  act  agreed  on  thirteen  months  after. 
Ours  was  towards  tho  close  of  May,  1775.  In  addition  to  what  I  have 
said,  the  same  Committee  appointed  three  men  to  securo  all  the  mili- 
tary stores  for  the  County's  use — Thomas  Polk,  John  Phifer,  and  Jo- 
soph  Kennedy.  I  was  under  arms  near  the  head  of  tho  line,  near  Col- 
onel Polk,  and  heard  him  distinctly  road  a  long  string  of  grievances, 
the  declaration,  and  military  order  above.  I  likewise  hoard  Colonel 
Polk  have  two  warm  disputes  with  two  men  of  the  County,  who  said 
the  measures  were  rash  and  unnecessary.  He  was  applauded  and  they 
silenced.  I  was  then  in  my  22d  year,  an  enemy  to  usurpation  and 
tyranny  of  every  kind,  with  a  retentive  memory,  and  fond  of  liberty, 
that  had  a  doubt  arisen  in  my  mind  that  the  act  would  be  controverted, 
proof  would  not  have  been  wanting  ;  but  I  comfort  myself  that  none 
but  the  solf-important  poace-party  and  blue-lights  of  tho  East,  will 
have  tho  assurance  to  oppose  it  any  further.  The  biographer  of  Pa- 
trick Henry,  (Mr.  Wirt)  says  he  first  suggested  independence  in  tho 
Virginia  Convention  ;  but  it  is  known  they  did  not  reduce  it  to  action — 
so  that  it  will  pass  for  nothing.  The  Courts  likewise  acted  indepen- 
dently. I  myself  heard  a  dispute  take  place  on  the  bench,  and  an  acting 
Magistrate  was  actually  taken  and  sent  to  prison  by  an  order  of  tho 
Chairman. 

"Thus,  Sir,  havo  I  thrown  together  all  that  I  can  at  this  time.  I 
am  too  blind  to  writo  fair,  and  too  old  to  writo  much  sense — but  if  my 
deposition  before  tho  Supreme  Court  of  tho  United  States  would  add 
more  weight  to  a  truth  so  well  known  here,  it  should  be  at  tho  servico 
of  my  fellow-citizens  of  tho  County  and  State  generally. 

"  1  am,  Sir,  your  friend  and  humblo  servant, 

"  John  Simeson,  Sen." 

"  P.  S.  I  will  give  you  a  short  anecdote.  An  aged  man  near  me,  on 
being  asked  if  he  knew  any  think  of  this  afT.iir,  replied,  "  Och,  aye, 
Tam  Polk  declared  independence  lang  before  any  body  else."  This  old 
man  is  81." 

CERTIFICATE  OF  ISAAC  ALEXANDER. 

I  hereby  certify  that  I  was  present  in  Charlotte  on  the  19th  and  20th 
days  of  May,  1775,  when  a  regular  deputation  from  all  the  Captains' 
companies  of  Militia  in  tho  County  of  Mecklenburgh,  to  wit:  Colonel 
Thomas  Polk,  Adam  Alexander,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Abram  Alexander, 
John  M'Knitt  Alexander,  Hezekiah  Alexander,  Ephraim  Brevard  and 
a  numbor  of  others,  who  mot  to  consult  and  tako  measures  for  tho  poaco 


treated  over;  and  besides,  my  Lord,  as  proof,  if  his  ears 
had  been  cut  off  after  they  had  retreated,  and  left  him  on 
the  ground  which  the  Provincials  had  gained,  the  King's 
Troops  could  not  possibly  have  seen  him  to  prove  it. 
Another  instance,  my  Lord  ;  one  of  them  had  the  cow- 
ardice to  strike  Major  Pitcairn  at  the  head  of  his  Troops  ; 
so  that,  my  Lord,  I  think  I  have  very  fully  proved  to  your 
Lordship  at  least,  (and  for  which  I  hope  to  be  rewarded,) 
the  clearest  and  most  flagrant  instances  of  American  cow- 
ardice, and  which,  I  think,  is  quite  sufficient  to  satisfy  your 
Lordship,  that  a  few  more  Troops,  in  addition  to  those 

and  tranquillity  of  the  citizens  of  said  County,  and  who  appointed 
Abraham  Alexander  their  Chairman,  and  Doctor  Ephraim  Brevard 
Secretary ;  who,  after  due  consultation,  declared  themselves  absolved 
from  their  allegiance  to  the  King  of  Great  Britain,  and  drew  up  a  de- 
claration of  their  independence,  which  was  unanimously  adopted  ;  and 
employed  Captain  James  Jack  to  carry  copies  thereof  to  Congress, 
who  accordingly  went.  These  are  a  part  of  the  transactions  that  took 
place  at  that  time,  as  far  as  my  recollection  serves  mo. 

Isaac  Alexander. 

October  8,  1830. 

CERTIFICATE  OF  SAMUEL  WILSON. 

State  of  North-Carolina,  Mecklenburgh  County: 

I  do  hereby  certify,  that  in  May,  1775,  a  Committoe  or  Delegation 
from  the  different  Militia  Companies  in  this  County,  met  in  Charlotte; 
and  after  consulting  together,  they  publickly  declared  their  indepen- 
dence on  Great  Britain,  and  on  her  Government.  This  was  done  beforo 
a  large  collection  of  people,  w  ho  highly  approved  of  it.  I  was  then  and 
there  present,  and  heard  it  read  from  the  Court-House  door.  Certified 
by  me.  Sam'l  Wilson. 

CERTIFICATE  OF  JOHN  DAVIDSON. 

Beaver  Dam,  October  5,  1830. 

Dear  Sir  :  I  received  your  note  of  the  25th  of  last  month,  rrquir- 
ing  information  relative  to  the  Mecklenburgh  Declaration  of  Indepen. 
dence.  As  I  am,  perhaps,  the  only  person  living  who,  as  a  member  of 
that  Convention,  and  being  far  advanced  in  yoars,  and  not  having  my 
mind  frequently  directed  to  that  circumstance  for  some  years,  I  can 
give  you  but  a  very  succinct  history  of  that  transaction.  There  were 
two  men  chosen  from  each  Captain's  company,  to  meet  in  Charlotte,  to 
take  the  subject  into  consideration.  John  M'Knitt  Alexander  and 
myself  were  chosen  from  one  company ;  and  many  other  members 
were  there  that  I  now  recollect,  whoso  names  I  deem  unnecessary  to 
mention.  When  the  members  met,  and  were  perfoctly  organized  for 
business,  a  motion  was  made  to  declare  ourselves  independent  of  the 
Crown  of  Great  Britain,  which  was  carried  by  a  largo  majority.  Doc- 
tor Ephraim  Brevard  was  then  appointed  to  give  us  a  sketch  of  the  De- 
claration of  Independence,  which  he  did.  James  Jack  was  appointed 
to  lake  it  on  to  the  American  Congress,  then  sitting  in  Philadelphia, 
with  particular  instructions  to  deliver  it  to  the  North-Carolina  Delega- 
tion in  Congress,  {Hooper  and  Caswell.)  When  Jack  returned,  he 
stated  that  the  Declaration  was  presented  to  Congress,  and  the  reply 
was,  that  they  highly  esteemed  the  patriotism  of  the  citizens  of  Meck- 
lenburgh;  but  they  thought  the  measure  too  premature. 

I  am  confident  that  the  Declaration  of  Independence  by  the  peopla 
of  Mecklenburgh  was  made  publick  at  least  twelve  months  before  that 
of  the  Congress  of  tho  United  States. 

I  do  certify  that  the  foregoing  statement,  relative  to  the  Mecklen- 
burgh Independence,  is  correct,  and  which  I  am  willing  to  bo  qualified 
to,  should  it  be  required.    Yours  respectfully,  John  Davidson. 

Dr.  J.  M.  Alexander. 

LETTER  FROM  J.  G.  M.  RAMSEY. 

Mecklenburgh,  T.  October  1,  1830. 

Dear  Sir  :  Yours  of  tho  21st  ultimo  was  duly  received,  lu  answer 
I  have  only  to  say,  that  little  is  in  my  possession  on  the  subject  alluded 
to  which  you  have  not  already  seen.  Subjoined  are  the  certificates  of 
two  gentlemen  of  this  County,  whose  respectability  and  veracity  are 
attested  by  their  acquaintances  here,  as  well  as  by  the  accompanying 
testimonials  of  the  Magistrates  in  whose  neighbourhood  they  reside. 
With  this  you  will  also  receive  extracts  from  letters  on  the  same  sub. 
ject  from  gentlemen  well  known  to  you,  and  to  the  Country  at  large. 

I  am,  very  respectfully,  yours,  &c.  J.  G.  M.  Ramsey. 

CERTIFICATE  OF  JAMES  JOHNSON. 

I,  James  Johnson,  now  of  Knox  County,  Tennessee,  hut  formerly  of 
Mecklenburgh  County,  North-Carolina,  do  hereby  cortify,  that  to  the 
best  of  my  recollection,  in  tho  month  of  May,  1775,  there  were  soveral 
meetings  in  Charlotte  concerning  tho  impending  war.  Being  young, 
I  was  not  called  on  to  take  an  active  part  in  the  same;  but  one  thing  I 
do  positively  remember,  that  she  {Mecklenburgh  County)  did  meet  and 
hold  a  Convention,  declared  independence,  and  sent  a  man  to  Phila- 
delphia with  tho  proceedings.  And  I  do  further  certify,  that  I  am  well 
acquainted  with  several  of  the  men  who  formed  or  constituted  said 
Convention,  viz:  John  M'Knitt  Alexander,  Hezekiah  Alexander,  Abra- 
ham Alexander,  Adam  Alexander,  Robert  Irwin,  Neill  Morrison,  John 
Flenniken,  John  Queury. 

Certified  by  me  this  11th  day  of  October,  1827. 

James  Johnson,  in  my  seventy  third  year. 

CERTIFICATE  OF  ELIJAH  JOHNSON  AND  JAMES  WILIIITE. 

Wo,  Elijah  Johnson  and  James  Wilhite,  acting  Justices  of  tho  Poaco 
for  tho  County  of  Knox,  do  certify,  that  we  havo  been  a  long  time 
well  acquainted  with  Samuel  Montgomery  and  James  Johnson,  both 
residonls  of  Knox  County  ;  and  that  they  aro  entitled  to  full  credit, 
and  any  statement  they  may  make  to  implicit  confidence. 

Given  under  our  hands  and^eals  this  4th  day  of  October,  1830. 

Elijah  Johnson,  (seal.) 
James  Wilhite,  (seal.) 
Justices  of  the  Peace  for  Knox  County. 

Kotc.—Mr.  Moutgomen/t  certificate  docs  uot  purport  to  state  the  facts  a*  having 
eonie  under  his  own  personal  observation.    It  is  therefore  omitted  in  this  publication. 


865 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  MAY,  1775. 


866 


already  here  in  command  of  General  Gage,  (who  have 
shown  so  much  bravery  as  to  suffer  a  single  cowardly  Ame- 
rican or  two,  to  enter  into  the  Army  and  cut  off  the  ears 
of  a  soldier  that  had  fallen  in  battle,)  will  be  sufficient  to 
frighten  all  the  inhabitants  out  of  America,  whereby  your 
Lordship,  and  the  rest  of  the  junto,  will  have  an  opportu- 
nity of  amply  serving  your  faithful  friends,  in  the  glorious 
cause  of  despotism  and  arbitrary  power,  by  granting  to  them 
the  lands  and  estates  of  these  refugees.  In  doing  which, 
I  should  not  forget  to  remind  your  Lordship  to  remember 
your  faithful,  humble  servant,  An  Expectant. 


COLONEL  GEORGE  WASHINGTON  TO  GEORGE  WILLIAM  FAIR- 
FAX, ENGLAND. 

Philadelphia,  May  31,  1775. 

Dear  Sir:  Before  this  letter  will  come  to  hand,  you 
must  undoubtedly  have  received  an  account  of  the  engage- 
ment in  the  Massachusetts-Bay ,  between  the  Ministerial 
Troops  (for  we  do  not,  nor  can  we  yet  prevail  upon  our- 
selves to  call  them  the  King's  Troops)  and  the  Provincials 
of  that  Government.  But  as  you  may  not  have  heard  how 
tiiat  affair  began,  I  enclose  you  the  several  affidavits  which 
were  taken  after  the  action. 

General  Gage  acknowledges  that  the  detachment  under 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Smith  was  sent  out  to  destroy  private 
property  ;  or,  in  other  words,  to  destroy  a  magazine,  which 
self-preservation  obliged  the  inhabitants  to  establish.  And 
he  also  confesses,  in  effect  at  least,  that  his  men  made  a 
very  precipitate  retreat  from  Concord,  notwithstanding  the 
re-enforcement  under  Lord  Percy;  the  last  of  which  may 
serve  to  convince  Lord  Sandwich,  and  others  of  the  same 
sentiment,  that  the  Americans  will  fight  for  their  liberties 
and  property,  however  pusillanimous  in  his  Lordship's  eyes 
they  may  appear  in  other  respects. 

From  the  best  accounts  1  have  been  able  to  collect  of 
that  affair,  indeed  from  every  one,  I  believe  the  fact,  stripped 
of  all  colouring,  to  be  plainly  this :  that  if  the  retreat  had 
not  been  as  precipitate  as  it  was,  (and  God  knows  it  could 
not  well  have  been  more  so,)  the  Ministerial  Troops  must 
have  surrendered  or  been  totally  cut  off ;  for  they  had  not 
arrived  in  Charlestown,  under  cover  of  their  ships,  half  an 
hour,  before  a  powerful  body  of  men  from  Marblehead  and 
Salem  was  at  their  heels,  and  must,  if  they  had  happened 
to  be  up  one  hour  sooner,  inevitably  have  intercepted  their 
retreat  to  Charlestotvn.  Unhappy  it  is,  though,  to  reflect 
that  a  brother's  sword  has  been  sheathed  in  a  brother's 
breast,  and  that  the  once  happy  and  peaceful  plains  of 
America  are  either  to  be  drenched  with  blood,  or  inhabited 
by  slaves.  Sad  alternative  !  But  can  a  virtuous  man  hesi- 
tate in  his  choice  ? 

I  am,  with  sincere  regard  and  affectionate  compliments 
to  Mrs.  Fairfax,  dear  Sir,  yours,  Sic. 


WORCESTER  (MASSACHUSETTS)  CONVENTION. 

May  31,  1775. 

The  Convention  met  according  to  adjournment,  at  the 
Court-House  in  Worcester. 

Mr.  William  Young  was  elected  Chairman  pro  tempore, 
and  Jeduthan  Baldwin  Clerk  pro  tempore. 

Voted,  That  the  Rev.  Mr.  Chaplain  be  desired  to  open 
this  Convention  with  prayer. 

Voted,  To  pass  over  counting  the  votes  for  County 
Treasurer. 

Voted,  That  Colonel  Hezekiah  Ward,  Mr.  Padleford, 
and  Mr.  Joshua  Bigelow,  be  a  Committee  to  draw  up  a 
Remonstrance  to  the  Provincial  Congress,  that  no  man  be 
allowed  to  have  a  seat  therein  who  does  not  vote  away  his 
own  money  for  publick  purjtoses,  in  common  with  the  other 
members,  and  with  his  constituents. 

Resolved,  That  a  Committee  be  appointed  to  take  into 
consideration  the  subject  of  allowing  those  who  are  inimical 
to  the  Country,  to  exercise  the  right  of  voting  in  Town 
meetings. 

Resolved,  That  the  erecting  of  a  Paper-Mill  in  this  Coun- 
ty would  be  of  great  publick  advantage ;  and  if  any  person 
or  persons  will  undertake  the  erecting  of  such  Mill,  and 
the  manufacture  of  Paper,  that  it  be  recommended  to  the 
people  of  the  County  to  encourage  the  undertaking  by 
generous  contributions  and  subscriptions. 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii. 


REPRESENTATION  OF  ROBERT  TEMPLE  TO  THE  COMMITTEE 
OF  SAFETY. 

Plymouth,  May  31,  1775. 
I,  Robert  Temple,  of  Ten  Hills,  near  Charlestotvn,  New- 
England,  do  declare,  that  I  have  received  no  injury  to  my 
property,  nor  have  I  been  under  any  apprehensions  of 
danger  to  either  my  person  or  property  from  the  Troops 
that  are  under  the  command  of  General  Ward;  but  it  is  a 
fact  that  I  have  been  so  threatened,  searched  for,  attacked 
by  the  name  of  tory,  an  enemy  to  this  Country,  and  treated 
in  such  a  manner,  that  not  only  my  own  judgment,  but  that 
of  my  friends,  and  of  almost  the  whole  of  the  Town  where 
I  lived,  made  it  necessary  or  prudent  for  me  to  fly  from  my 
home.  I  am  confident  that  this  is  owing  to  the  wickedness 
of  a  few,  very  few,  who  have  prejudiced  some  short-sighted 
people  against  me,  who  live  too  far  from  my  abode  to  be 
acquainted  with  my  proper  character.  I  am  confirmed  in 
this  opinion  from  the  kind  protection  that  my  wife  and 
family  have  received,  and  continue  to  receive  from  General 
Ward,  as  well  as  from  the  sentiments  which  the  Committee 
of  Safety  have  been  pleased  to  entertain  of  me. 

R.  Temple. 


STEPHEN  NYE  TO  NATHANIEL  FREEMAN. 

Sandwich,  May  31,  1775. 
Sir:  I  would  give  you  a  relation  of  Captain  Linsey's 
proceeding  at  the  islands  since  your  going  from  here.  On 
Sunday  he  received  a  re-enforcement  by  a  schooner  from 
Boston,  and  proceeded  from  thence  to  the  west  end  of 
the  island,  where  they  took  off  about  two  hundred  sheep, 
chiefly  from  Tucker's  Island,  which  belonged  to  John 
Wing;  from  thence  they  came  down  to  the  cove,  and 
ordered  the  sheep  there  to  be  yarded,  which  was  accord- 
ingly dene,  but  it  being  near  night  they  concluded  to  leave 
them  in  the  yard  till  morning.  They  rudely  insulted, 
abused,  and  threatened  the  people  for  their  backwardness 
in  assisting  them.  In  the  night,  word  was  brought  off  to 
Falmouth  of  the  above  proceeding,  by  Nye,  who  went  im- 
mediately back  to  take  care  of  his  family,  on  which  a  num- 
ber of  men,  well  equipped,  immediately  went  on  the  island. 
Before  their  arrival  at  the  cove  the  sheep  were  turned  out 
of  the  yard  into  the  woods.  The  people  from  the  ship  had 
been  on  shore,  and  on  finding  the  sheep  were  gone,  were 
still  more  enraged,  and  took  all  the  arms  they  could  find, 
six  calves  and  the  hogs,  and  carried  them  off.  When  the 
people  from  Falmouth  got  to  the  cove,  which  was  before 
day,  they  placed  themselves  in  the  bushes,  and  lay  undis- 
covered. In  the  morning  the  boat  came  on  shore  with  the 
doctor,  boatswain,  he,  whom  they  might  have  taken  had 
they  not  expected  the  captain  ashore  soon  ;  however,  the 
boat  soon  went  back  without  going  to  the  house,  and  both 
vessels  immediately  weighed  anchor  and  went  down  to 
Holmes's  Hole,  where  they  lay  last  night  at  anchor.  Cap- 
tain Bassett  is  now  on  the  island,  with  about  fifty  men,  and 
will  tarry  to  guard  the  stock  until  we  have  the  advice  of 
the  Congress  what  method  is  best  to  take.  By  the  best 
account,  there  is  not  less  than  four  thousand  sheep,  and  be- 
tween two  and  three  hundred  horned  cattle,  and  a  number 
of  horses,  on  the  Island  of  Naushan,  and  perhaps  nigh  as 
many  on  the  other  islands.  It  is  generally  judged  that 
fifty  or  sixty  men,  placed  on  the  island  at  Tarpaidin  Cove. 
would  guard  the  above  stock.  It  is  certainly  impracticable 
to  bring  it  off ;  and  it  must  most  certainly  either  be  de- 
stroyed where  it  is,  or  fall  into  the  hands  of  our  enemies ; 
which  is  best,  the  Congress  must  judge.  Their  determina- 
tion we  should  be  glad  of  as  soon  as  possible,  for  we  fear 
the  men  now  there  will  be  impatient  to  come  off  unless 
they  are  put  under  pay.  Captain  Bassett  is  perhaps  the 
best  officer  that  can  be  placed  there  ;  his  courage  and  con- 
duct have  been  heretofore  well  approved,  and  he  is  more- 
over well  acquainted  with  the  ground  on  the  island,  which 
must  certainly  be  of  great  advantage.  There  went  a  num- 
ber of  men  from  this  town,  some  of  whom  are,  we  con- 
clude, now  on  the  island.  We  hope  the  Congress  will  let 
us  have  their  advice  and  determination  as  soon  as  possible, 
and  pray  that  in  all  their  determinations  they  will  be  coun- 
selled by  the  Supreme  Counsellor  ;  and  are,  Sir,  your  hum- 
ble servants,  Stephen  Nye. 
To  Colonel  Nathaniel  Freeman,  to  be  communicated  to 
Congress. 


867 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  kc,  MAY,  1775. 


868 


SELECTMEN  OF  SCARBOROUGH  TO  THE  MASSACHUSETTS 
CONGRESS. 

To  the  Honourable  Representatives  in  Congress  assem- 
bled, the  3lst  of  M  ay,  1775: 
The  Selectmen  of  the  Town  of  Scarborough,  for  and  in 
behalf  of  said  Town,  humbly  showcth: 
That  the  said  Town  of  Scarborough  thought  themselves 
not  able  to  support  the  charge  of  a  Member  in  said  Con- 
gress at  present,  said  Town  having  no  money  to  pay  any 
tax  whatever.    Our  lumber  was  our  chief  trade  in  this 
Town  ;  that  being  done,  we  are  in  great  distress  for  want 
of  money  and  provisions.    Our  crops  are  very  short  the  last 
year,  and  under  present  circumstances,  little  or  no  supplies 
brought  from  the  Southern  Colonies,  makes  it  distressing. 

But  we  doubt  not  of  your  Honours'  great  wisdom  in 
consulting  the  good  of  the  whole  Colony  ;  and  though  this 
Town  has  no  Representative  in  Congress,  we  look  upon 
ourselves  in  duty  bound  to  conform  to  the  Resolves  ol  the 
honourable  Congress,  and  shall  ever  be  willing  to  exert 
ourselves  to  the  utmost  to  support  good  government  and 
defend  our  just  rights  and  privileges.  We  have  only  to  add 
our  prayers  that  God  may  bless  and  prosper  your  counsels, 
and  in  the  end  confirm  to  us  that  liberty  which  our  forefa- 
thers came  into  these  regions  to  enjoy. 

We  beg  leave  to  subscribe  ourselves,  as  in  duty  bound, 
your  obedient  humble  servants, 

Reuben  Fogg,  ^ 

Peter  Libeee,   >  Selectmen. 

Joshua  Fabyan, ) 


SELECTMEN   OF    EDGARTOWN   TO    THE  MASSACHUSETTS 
CONGRESS. 

To  the  Honourable  the  Members  of  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress to  be  held  at  Watertown^  on  the  3\st  day  of 
May  instant: 

Gentlemen:  Agreeable  to  the  recommendation  of  the 
late  honourable  Provincial  Congress,  we  have  caused  the 
Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  Edgartown,  qualified 
by  law  to  vote  for  Representatives  in  the  General  Assem- 
bly, to  meet,  in  order  to  elect  and  depute  a  Member  or 
Members  to  represent  them  in  a  Provincial  Congress  1o  be 
held  at  Watertown,  on  the  said  31st  day  of  May  instant, 
but  did  not  elect  or  depute  any  Member  or  Members  for 
the  purpose  aforesaid  ;  because  it  was  thought  inexpedient, 
on  account  of  the  peculiar  situation  and  circumstances  of 
this  small  and  much  exposed  Town ;  being  situated  on 
an  Island,  the  communication  to  the  main  land  not  only 
difficult  but  dangerous,  and  frequently  surrounded  by  armed 
vessels,  by  reason  of  the  advantageous  situation,  and  con- 
venient harbour  suitable  for  their  reception;  by  reason 
whereof,  a  man-of-war  is  for  the  most  part  stationed  here, 
to  the  great  detriment  and  terrour  of  the  inhabitants,  and 
apprehensive  that  in  case  they  publickly  manifest  any 
great  degree  of  forwardness,  with  regard  to  the  publick's 
unhappy  affairs  of  this  Province,  that  some  fatal  conse- 
quence may  ensue,  being  thus  exposed.  We  are  fully 
convinced  that  the  inhabitants  of  this  place  have  a  most 
sincere  regard  for  the  Congress,  and  mean  to  follow  and 
pursue  their  recommendations  from  time  to  time  cheerfully 
with  punctuality,  consistent  with  their  safety  under  their 
situation.  We  are  therefore  led  to  think  that  the  situation 
of  this  people  at  this  time  deserves  much  pity  and  some  in- 
dulgence. All  which  is  humbly  submitted  in  behalf  of 
said  Town  of  Edgartown. 

Thomas  Cooke, 

Ebenezer  Smith, 


Selectmen. 


PETITION  OF   INHABITANTS  OF  BERWICK   TO  THE  MASSA- 
CHUSETTS CONGRESS. 

To  the  Honourable  the  Delegates  of  the  Colony  of  Mas- 
sachusetts-Bay  in  Provincial  Congress  at  Water- 
town  convened: 

The  Petition  of  the  Inhabitants  and  Freeholders  of  Ber- 
wick, in  the  County  of  York,  in  town-meeting  con- 
vened, humbly  showcth  : 

That  the  harbours  of  York  and  Kittery,  within  the  said 
County,  lie  entirely  open  to  our  now  known  enemies,  and 
the  lives  and  properties  of  the  inhabitants  thereof  and  the 


neighbouring  Towns  along  the  sea-coast  exposed  to  the 
ravages  and  depredations  of  the  enemy. 

And  that  the  remaining  part  of  the  inhabitants  of  this 
and  the  remaining  Towns  labour  under  the  disagreeable 
situation  (for  want  of  arms  and  ammunition)  of  being  inca- 
pable to  defend  themselves,  wives,  and  children,  and  pro- 
perties, should  a  descent  be  made  by  the  King's  Troops  on 
this  coast,  which  your  Petitioners  have  the  greatest  reason 
to  fear  will  inevitably  be  the  event. 

Your  Petitioner-,  therefore,  humbly  pray  this  honour- 
able House,  in  their  great  wisdom,  to  take  the  premises  into 
serious  consideration,  and  that  they  would  be  pleased  to 
despatch  one  or  more  of  the  Companies  now  in  the  servic  e 
of  this  Colony,  in  order  to  assist  in  guarding  and  defending 
this  coast,  or  enable  them,  by  raising  more  Troops  for  the 
Colony  service,  in  some  measure  to  guard  and  defend  them- 
selves. And  your  Petitioners,  as  in  duty  bound,  shall  ever 
pray,  kc,  kc.    By  order  of  the  Town  : 

Nahum  Marshall,  Town  Cleric. 

Berwick,  May  31,  1775. 


SELECTMEN  OF  BEDFORD  TO  MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS. 

To  the  Honourable  Provincial  Congress  convened  at  Wa- 
tertown, May  31,  1775: 

Gentlemen  :  We  have  received  the  Resolve  of  the  late 
Provincial  Congress,  signifying  the  necessity  of  a  new 
Congress,  and  recommending  to  us  that  we  elect  one  or 
more  Members  to  represent  us  therein,  which  hath  been 
laid  before  our  Town,  at  a  general  meeting  called  for  that 
purpose ;  but  as  the  Town  is  small,  and  hath  of  late  been 
visited  with  sickness  and  death,  as  well  as  the  general  ca- 
lamities of  our  times,  and  apprehending  it  not  necessary  to 
multiply  the  number  of  Members,  we  hope  to  be  excused, 
as  we  did  not  obtain  a  major  vote  of  the  Town  to  send  one. 
Notwithstanding,  we  do  highly  approve  of,  and  are  well 
sensible  of  the  expediency  of  such  a  Congress  at  this  im- 
portant crisis,  and  will  freely  comply  with  all  the  wise  and 
salutary  measures  thereof  relative  to  us. 

So,  wishing  Divine  influence  and  blessings  on  your  en- 
deavours for  the  peace  and  safety  of  this  Province,  at  this 
alarming  day,  we  subscribe  ourselves  yours,  &tc. 

In  the  name  and  by  order  of  the  Selectmen  of  Bedford  : 
Stephen  Davis,  Town  Cleric. 


LETTER  FROM   THE   NEW-HAMPSHIRE    CONGRESS   TO  GEN- 
ERAL WARD. 

Exeter,  May  31,  1775. 

Sir:  In  order  to  commission  the  Officers  belonging  to 
the  New-Hampshire  Regiments,  the  Congress  have  thought 
it  absolutely  necessary  that  Colonel  Stark  should  appear 
before  them  ;  therefore  should  take  it  as  a  favour,  that  you 
grant  him  leave  for  that  purpose. 

To  his  Excellency  General  Ward. 


NEW-HAMPSHIRE  CONGRESS  TO  COLONEL  STARK. 

Exeter,  May  31,  1775. 
Sir:  As  some  difficulties  have  arisen  in  settling  the  Re- 
giment under  your  command,  the  Congress,  as  you  will 
see  by  the  enclosed  vote,  have  thought  proper  that  you 
should  immediately,  without  loss  of  time,  repair  to  this 
Town,  to  receive  their  orders,  and  give  a  more  particular 
account  of  the  state  of  the  Troops  under  your  care. 
To  Colonel  John  Stark,  Esq. 


PORTSMOUTH  COMMITTEE   TO   NEW-HAMPSHIRE  CONGRESS. 

Portsmouth,  May  31,  1775. 
Sir:  We  beg  leave  to  inform  you  that  this  day  eight 
pieces  of  cannon  were  removed  from  Jersey  Point  to  this 
Town,  and  that  threats  are  thrown  out  by  the  Captain  ol 
the  man-of-war,  that  in  case  he  hears  of  any  preparation  of 
rafts,  or  any  other  means  being  used  to  annoy  him,  he  shall 
come  up  with  his  ship  to  fire  upon  the  Town.  We  would 
submit  it  to  the  wisdom  of  the  Congress,  whether  these 
guns  should  not  be  immediately  placed  in  some  convenient 
battery  to  prevent  this  mischief,  and  whether  a  Committee 
should  not  be  forthwith  employed  for  this  purpose.  The 
guns  are  six  twenty-four  and  two  thirty-two-pounders. 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &ic,  JUNE,  1775.  870 


869 

And  it  is  absolutely  necessary  that  we  be  provided  with 
ammunition  and  carriages,  Sic,  to  save  them,  of  w  hich  we 
are  entirely  destitute. 

I  am,  by  order  of  the  Committee,  your  most  humble 
servant,  H.  Wentworth.  Chairman. 

To  Matthew  Thornton,  Esq.,  President  of  the  Congress 
at  Eieter. 


MESH  EC  H  WEARE  TO  THE  NEW- HAMPSHIRE  CONGRESS. 

To  the  Provincial  Congress  for  the  Province  of  New- 
Hampshire,  convened  at  Exeter,  May  31,  1775: 
Gentlemen:  As  you  have  now  under  your  considera- 
tion the  important  affair  of  raising  Troops,  and  appointing 
them  to  proper  stations,  as  well  for  (he  safety  and  defence 
of  this  Province,  as  for  promoting  the  common  cause  at  this 
critical  and  alarming  season,  we  doubt  not  but  you  will 
kindly  receive  intimations  from  any  number  of  persons  of 
things  which  appear  to  them  of  great  importance ;  we 
therefore  beg  leave  to  represent,  from  frequent  alarms  we 
have  had,  and  from  authentick  advice  from  General  Ward. 
that  a  number  of  armed  cutters  are  sailed  from  Boston, 
for  what  design  is  unknown.  We  apprehend  it  to  be  ab- 
solutely necessary  that  a  proper  proportion  of  the  Troops 
to  be  raised  in  this  Province  be  immediately  assigned  for 
the  defence  of  our  sea-coasts ;  and  permit  us  to  suggest, 
that  if  a  proper  number  of  Troops  for  this  purpose  were 
ordered  to  be  raised  in  the  Towns  near  the  sea-coasts,  it 
would  greatly  facilitate  the  raising  the  men  immediately, 
and  be  a  great  help  for  procuring  immediate  supplies,  and 
we  can  conceive  will  be  much  more  service  to  the  common 
cause  than  sending  our  men  elsewhere.  It  will  also  be  a 
great  discouragement  to  men  enlisting  to  be  sent  to  a  dis- 
tance, at  the  same  time  that  they  leave  their  friends  and 
substance  exposed  by  their  absence,  when  they  themselves 
might  be  more  advantageously  employed  for  their  defence. 

We  therefore  pray  that  a  proper  quota  of  men  may  be 
assigned,  and  Officers  for  enlisting  them,  for  this  service,  as 
soon  as  may  be,  which  we  submit  to  your  wisdom  and  de- 
termination. Meshech  Weare. 

To  the  President  of  the  Provincial  Congress. 

At  the  request  of  many  persons  who  represented  to  me 
that  the  general  mind  of  the  people  in  the  Towns  near  the 
sea-coast,  is  as  above  represented,  and  that  much  uneasi- 
ness is  in  their  minds  until  some  provision  be  made  for  their 
defence,  I  subscribe,  on  their  behalf,  to  save  the  time  of 
collecting  a  great  number  of  subscribers.  M.  W. 


WIN  BORN  ADAMS  TO  THE  N  EW-HAMPSHIRE   COMMITTEE  OF 
SAFETY. 

Gentlemen  :  By  a  message  from  Portsmouth,  I  am 
desired  to  go  there  to-morrow  with  my  Company,  to  assist 
in  endeavouring  to  destroy  the  men-of-war  in  our  harbour. 
As  my  Company  were  enlisted  under  your  direction,  I 
think  it  my  duty  to  wait  your  order  on  any  movement, 
therefore  have  sent  the  bearer,  and  desire  your  direction 
in  this  affair,  which  I  shall  endeavour  to  obey.  And  am, 
with  great  respect,  your  very  humble  servant, 

Winborn  Adams. 

To  the  Honourable  the  Provincial  Committee  of  Safety  at 
Exeter. 

P.  S.  The  plan  proposed  to  execute  the  aforesaid  affair 
1  have  not  heard  in  particular,  only  that  it  was  thought  the 
deck  might  be  commanded  with  small  arms  from  the  shore, 
while  she  was  set  on  fire  by  rafts  sent  down  by  water. 


CHARLES  JOHNSON  TO  THE  NEW-HAMPSHIRE  CONGRESS. 

To  the  Provincial  Congress  convened  at  Exeter: 

Gentlemen:  We  hereby  inform  you  that  we  sent  a 
scouting  party  towards  Canada,  which  party  returned  on 
Saturday  last,  by  whom  we  have  the  following  informa- 
tion : 

They  give  us  to  understand  that,  by  the  best  information 
that  could  be  got,  there  is  a  body  of  Indians  now  lying  on 
the  west  side  of  the  Lake  Champlain,  nearly  opposite  to 
the  mouth  of  Onion  River.    What  the  particular  number 


of  them  is,  we  cannot  certainly  determine  ;  but  by  the  best 
information,  not  less  than  four  or  five  hundred.  And  fur- 
thermore, that  the  day  before  the  scouting  party  left  the 
mouth  of  Onion  River,  they  were  informed  there  were  ten 
canoes  of  Indians  from  Canada,  who  joined  said  party. 
And,  moreover,  that  Governour  Carleton,  of  Quebeck,  is 
enlisting  men  in  Canada;  and  also,  he  has  sent  to  those 
tribes  of  Indians  whom  General  Montcalm  had  with  him 
at  the  reduction  of  Fort  William  and  Henry.  The  same 
party  give  account  of  the  taking  Ticonderoga  and  Crown 
Point  by  our  parties  of  the  Southern  Government. 

Now,  gentlemen,  as  to  the  situation  of  these  parts.  How 
near  the  borders  of  the  enemy  we  are,  every  one  knows  who 
is  acquainted  with  the  boundaries  of  our  own  Province. 
As  to  the  position  of  defence,  we  are  in  difficult  circum- 
stances; we  are  in  want  of  both  arms  and  ammunition. 
There  is  but  very  little,  or  none  worth  mentioning,  perhaps 
not  one  pound  of  powder  to  twenty  men,  according  to  cal- 
culation, and  not  the  one-half  of  our  men  have  arms.  Now, 
gentlemen,  we  have  all  reason  to  suspect,  and  really  look 
upon  ourselves  in  imminent  danger  of  the  enemy,  and  at 
this  time  in  no  capacity  for  a  defence,  for  want  of  arms 
and  ammunition.  And,  moreover,  we  have  not  a  sufficient 
number  of  men  to  defend  these  our  frontiers,  without  some 
assistance  from  the  lower  Towns,  which  assistance,  gentle- 
men, we  humbly  conceive  should  necessarily  be  here,  in 
order  to  act  upon  the  first  alarm. 

We,  gentlemen,  refer  the  matter  to  your  mature  con- 
sideration, whether  it  is  not  necessary  to  give  us  assistance, 
that  we  may  be  ready  in  case  of  invasion.  We  have,  gen- 
tlemen, a  number  of  men  in  these  parts  of  the  Country 
who  have  not  any  real  estate,  who  will  certainly  leave  us, 
unless  some  assistance  be  given  ;  and  who  are  ready  to 
assist,  and  stand  by  our  cause  with  their  lives,  provided  en- 
couragement be  given  them. 

If,  gentlemen,  you  shall  think  it  necessary  to  raise  forces 
to  defend  this  our  Province,  if  you  will  give  orders  in  what 
manner  assistance  shall  be  procured,  please  to  inform  us 
as  expeditiously  as  the  nature  of  things  will  allow.  There 
is  no  doubt  of  enlisting  numbers,  without  distressing  or 
much  interfering  with  the  lower  Towns  near  the  sea-coasts, 
provided  we  have  the  platform  to  act  upon. 

We  are,  gentlemen,  with  all  due  respect,  your  humble 
servants.    In  behalf:  Chas.  Johnston, 

Clerk  to  the  Committee  of  the  Northern  Regiment 
in  the  County  of  Grafton. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  RECEIVED  AT  WATERTOWN,  DATED 
LONDON,  JUNE  1,  1775. 

The  intelligence  by  Captain  Derby,  of  the  defeat  of 
General  Gage's  men  under  Lord  Percy,  by  the  Americans, 
on  the  19th  of  April  last,  has  given  very  general  pleasure 
here,  as  the  newspapers  will  testify.  'Tis  not  with  cer- 
tainty that  one  can  speak  of  the  disposition  of  people  in 
England  with  respect  to  the  contest  with  America;  though 
we  are  clear  that  the  friends  of  America  increase  every 
day,  particularly  since  the  above  intelligence. 

It  is  believed  the  Ministers  have  not  as  yet  formed  any 
plans  in  consequence  of  the  action  of  April  19th.  They 
are  in  total  confusion  and  consternation,  and  wait  for  Gen- 
eral Gage's  despatches  by  the  Sukey,  Captain  Broivn. 
The  talk  of  the  day  is,  that  more  troops  and  ships  are  to 
be  sent  immediately  ;  but  this,  it  is  thought,  cannot  be  done 
without  calling  the  Parliament  to  raise  more  money.  If  it 
should  be  attempted,  much  disturbance  may  be  expected 
in  England. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  RECEIVED  IN  NEW-YORK,  DATED 
LONDON,  JUNE  1,  1775. 

It  is  my  indispensable  duty  to  inform  my  countrymen  on 
your  side  the  water  of  whatever  resolutions  are  formed  on 
this  side  injurious  to  your  sacred  rights,  that  you  may  be 
timely  on  your  guard  to  defeat  the  pernicious  attempts  of 
that  implacable  and  tyrannical  Administration.  My  intelli- 
gence is  founded  on  the  best  information,  and  therefore  full 
credence  ought  to  be  paid  to  it. 

On  the  arrival  of  the  news  of  the  defeat  and  retreat  of 
the  detachments  under  Lord  Percy  and  Colonel  Smith, 
this  great  city  was  agitated  to  its  centre.    The  friends  to 


871 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


872 


America  rejoiced  at  the  noble  victory  of  the  Bostonians, 
and  its  enemies  were  abashed  at  their  courage.  The  news 
flew  rapidly,  and  soon  caught  the  ear  of  an  unwise  and 
deluded  King.  Administration  were  alarmed  at  the  unex- 
pected success  of  the  Provincials,  and  were  at  a  loss  what 
lies  to  fabricate  which  would  destroy  the  force  of  the  qual- 
ifications which  accompanied  the  intelligence.  Runners 
were  sent  to  every  part  of  the  City,  who  were  authorized 
to  deny  the  authenticity  of  the  facts;  and  so  distressed  was 
Government,  that  they  officially  requested  a  suspension  of 
belief,  until  despatches  were  received  from  General  Gage. 
No  advice  is  received  yet  from  that  quarter.  In  the  mean 
time  frequent  ministerial  councils  were  held  without  any 
conclusive  determinations  until  yesterday,  when  His  Ma- 
jesty presided  at  one  of  them.  The  King,  after  having 
heard  the  news  read,  asked  what  mode  should  be  pursued 
to  support  the  dignity  of  the  Nation,  retrieve  the  honour 
of  the  British  arms,  and  annihilate  the  American  opposi- 
tion ?  Lord  North  replied,  that  there  were  thirty  thousand 
Troops  in  Quebeck  and  Canada,  ready  to  march  to  Boston 
for  General  Gage's  relief;  that  more  men-of-war  should  be 
sent  out,  and  that  the  Admiral  should  have  positive  orders 
to  seize  provision  vessels  for  the  due  supply  of  the  Navy 
and  Army.  He  observed,  that  from  the  natural  formation 
of  the  entrance  into  Boston,  with  the  precautions  taken  by 
the  General,  there  was  no  apprehension  of  any  attack,  for 
in  fact  it  could  not  be  stormed.  Upon  this  futile  opinion, 
instructions  were  immediately  despatched  to  Gage,  to  order 
the  regulars  from  Quebeck,  and  to  march  the  militia  of 
Canada,  as  well  as  to  obtain  the  necessary  supply  of  pro- 
visions by  seizing  the  American  vessels  at  sea,  or  in  the 
harbours.  To  facilitate  this  accursed  plan,  the  General  is 
to  assure  the  officers  of  the  King's  determination  to  pro- 
mote them;  and  to  stimulate  the  soldiers  to  acts  of  butchery, 
their  pay  is  to  be  increased,  to  which  purpose  fifty  thousand 
Pounds  were  sent  off  last  night  to  Boston. 

The  General  has  positive  orders  to  destroy  the  maga- 
zines, to  spike  the  cannon,  to  order  the  riot  act  to  be  read, 
and  to  set  up  the  King's  standard  immediately.  What 
infatuation  possesses  this  Nation !  You  and  I,  who  know 
the  strength  of  America  and  the  consolidated  union  of  its 
inhabitants,  must  laugh  at  their  threats,  and  despise  their 
shallow  schemes.  But  whilst  they  are  forming  this  im- 
practicable plan  of  extracting  thirty  thousand  Troops  from 
Canada,  they  dread  the  arrival  of  the  Packet ;  because, 
however  they  would  dupe  the  credulous  inhabitants  of 
England  with  fallacious  contradictions  of  the  facts  an- 
nounced, they  cannot  help  believing  that  General  Gage 
and  his  Army  are  even  now  either  cut  off,  or  ignominiously 
constrained  to  retreat  into  the  castle,  or  on  board  the  men- 
of-war. 

Such  also  is  the  terrour  of  Administration,  that  they  have 
despatched  some  of  the  nobility  and  gentry  throughout 
England  to  contradict  the  Boston  news,  in  order  to  quiet 
the  landed  gentlemen,  cajole  the  manufacturing  cities,  and 
prevent  the  dreaded  effects  on  the  stocks.  But  alas  !  these 
are  temporary,  ineffectual  expedients;  for  the  next  Ameri- 
can  intelligence  will  arouse  the  supine  landed  and  manu- 
facturing interest,  and  a  vital  stab  will  be  given  to  the 
funds.  This  Nation  has  passed  her  meridian  splendour. 
America,  by  her  virtue  and  her  numbers,  will  permanently 
establish  her  rights,  and  be  the  blessed  means  of  extirpa- 
tion of  this  most  flagitious  Ministry,  and  of  establishing  the 
British  throne  in  wisdom  and  clemency. 

This  evening  some  of  the  principal  Common  Council- 
men  meet,  to  revive  and  effectually  equip  the  military  of 
London,  which  consists  of  eight  thousand  men,  in  order  to 
co-operate  with  the  Americans  in  forcing  a  relinquishment 
of  the  present  infernal  politicks,  and  in  supporting  consti- 
tutional liberty  throughout  the  British  Dominions. 


sincerely  espouse  the  great  cause  contended  for  by  you  ; 
and  who  ardently  wish  that  the  noble  stand  you  have  made 
in  defence  of  these  rights,  to  which,  as  men  and  British  sub- 
jects we  are  entitled,  may  be  crowned  with  success.  The 
distresses  our  brethren  must  unavoidably  experience  by 
enforcement  of  the  late  acts  of  a  cruel  and  vindictive  Min- 
istry, deeply  affect  us.  The  unhappy  division  amongst  us 
has  hitherto  prevented  our  contributing  to  their  support ; 
but  have  now  the  pleasure  to  transmit  you,  by  the  Juliana, 
Captain  Stringham,  bound  to  New-York,  a  small  contri- 
bution of  sixty-three  barrels  of  rice,  and  one  hundred  and 
twenty-two  Pounds  sterling,  in  specie,  under  the  care  of 
John  Eaton  Le  Conte.  Esq.,  which  we  desire  you  will 
please  to  appropriate  towards  the  relief  of  those  who  have 
lately  left  the  Town  of  Boston.  We  hope  soon  to  be  en- 
abled by  our  friends  who  reside  at  a  distance  from  Savan- 
nah, to  send  you  a  further  token  of  our  regard  for  you,  and 
those  whose  misfortunes  must  increase  with  the  oppressive 
measures  now  pursued  by  Administration  against  America. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  on  behalf  of  the  contributors 
gentlemen,  your  most  obedient  servant, 

W.  Jones. 

To  the  gentlemen  of  the  Committee  for  receiving  Dona- 
tions for  the  relief  of  the  distressed  inhabitants  of  Bos- 
ton. 


INDEPENDENT  COMPANY  OF  ALBEMARLE  TO  THE  W1L- 
LIAMSBURGH  VOLUNTEERS. 

Charlottesville,  Virginia,  June  1,  1775. 

Gentlemen:  The  first  Company  of  Independents  for 
the  County  of  Albemarle  are  highly  pleased  with  the 
resolves  of  the  gentlemen  volunteers  in  JVilliamsburgh, 
and  have  been  truly  alarmed  at  the  late  arbitrary  proceed- 
ings carried  on  in  that  city.  We  think  that  every  apos- 
tate to  the  American  cause  should  be  properly  stigmatized. 
We  coincide  with  you  in  opinion,  that  the  landing  any 
armed  force  in  this  Colony,  will  not  only  be  a  dangerous 
attack,  but  a  sufficient  cause  to  justify  us,  with  our  coun- 
trymen, in  any  opposition;  and  we  are  determined,  at  all 
events,  to  act  on  that  occasion  as  men  of  spirit  ought  to  do 
in  defence  of  their  natural  rights  and  country's  cause. 

With  great  respect,  we  remain,  gentlemen,  your  humble 
servants, 

Charles  Lewis,  Caytain. 

George  Gilmer,  >  r  . 

T       j..  '  >  Lieutenants. 

John  Marks,  5 


w.  j  ones  to  the  committee  of  donations,  boston, 

MASSACHUSETTS. 

Savannah,  Juno  1,  1775. 
Gentlemen  :  Although  the  inhabitants  of  Georgia  have 
unfortunately  drawn  on  themselves  the  censure  of  her  sis- 
ter Colonies,  by  not  adopting  those  measures  which  the 
wisdom  of  the  General  Congress  have  pointed  out  for  the 
preservation  of  the  liberties  of  America;  yet,  we  flatter 
ourselves  you  will  believe  there  are  many  among  us  who 


TO   RICHARD   HENRY  LEE. 

Easton,  June  1,  1775. 

Honoured  Sir:  An  ancient,  and  accounted  a  long- 
headed man,  in  these  parts,  has  dropped  some  hints  de- 
vising a  scheme  of  reconciliation  between  the  Mother 
Country  and  the  Colonies,  which  I  think  worthy  of  con- 
sideration ;  and  I  am  persuaded  your  zeal  for  a  reconcilia- 
tion is  such,  that  you  will  lend  an  ear  to  healing  proposi- 
tions, let  them  come  from  what  quarter  they  may  ;  other- 
wise, you  would  be  unworthy  of  the  eminence  of  character 
you  possess  for  republican  candour  of  sentiment. 

He  observed,  "  suppose  the  Congress  were  to  offer  as 
much  to  the  Crown  as  all  the  duties  amount  to  by  a  proper 
estimate ;"  meaning  such  duties  as  we  agree  they  have  a 
right  to  lay,  as  regulations  of  trade,  and  that  exempt  from 
all  impositions  by  the  Crown,  called  running,  which  might 
easily  be  assessed  on  each  Province,  by  having  recourse  to 
their  books  of  entry,  and  making,  at  the  same  time,  an 
allowance  for  what  are  run,  which  is  thought  to  be  as  much 
again  ;  and  besides  this,  to  offer  a  number  of  forces,  well 
disciplined,  in  case  of  requisition,  as  was  the  case  in  the 
last  two  wars ;  so  many  hundred  or  thousand  from  each 
Province,  according  to  its  importance,  and  ship,  pay,  and 
victual  and  clothe  the  same,  or  some,  or  all,  as  Congress 
judges  best ;  and  the  same  to  continue  for  a  certain  season, 
or  during  an  expedition,  as  was  the  case  in  the  attack  in 
the  last  war,  on  Carthagcna  and  Havana.  At  least,  the 
most  strenuous  endeavours  ought  to  be  made,  in  some  way  or 
other,  to  effect  an  accommodation,  considering  what  lament- 
able confusion  and  distress  must  attend  the  quarrel,  if  it 
continues  any  length  of  time ;  and  the  idea  of  aiming  at 
independence  at  present,  affords  the  most  frightful  of  all 


873 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


874 


prospects,  whilst  the  Mother  Country  lias  such  power  on 
the  ocean.    Your  unknown  friend  and  humble  servant, 

Philopatria. 

P.  S.  I  had  like  to  have  forgotten  the  venerable  sage 
would  have  insisted  that  all  the  obnoxious  Acts  of  Parlia- 
ment should  be  repealed  at  the  same  time  that  the  above 
offers  should  be  made  ;  the  one  to  be  made  the  inseparable 
condition  of  repealing  the  other;  and  in  the  space  of  ten, 
fifteen,  or  twenty  years,  an  additional  quantity  of  troops 
and  money  might  be  offered,  in  case  of  pressing  requisi- 
tions from  home,  according  as  the  Colonies  flourish,  and 
trade  increases  ;  but  still  the  mode  of  raising,  as  well  as 
the  quantity,  to  be  wholly  left  in  the  power  of  the  Colonial 
Assemblies.  And  to  confess  the  truth,  the  within  letter, 
on  account  of  your  reputed  eloquence  in  the  Congress,  I 
direct  to  you,  as  it  is  the  more  likely  you  will  thereby  have 
more  influence  on  that  august  assembly,  though  you  are 
under  no  obligation,  but  may  still  pursue  your  opinions. 


NEW- YORK  CONGRESS  TO  THEIR  DELEGATES  IN  THE  CON- 
TINENTAL CONGRESS. 
[Road  in  Congress  June  3,  1775  ] 
In  Provincial  Congress  at  New- York,  June  1,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  We  this  morning  received  despatches  from 
Albany,  Waiertovm,  and  Hartford,  which  contains,  as 
you  will  observe,  very  important  intelligence.  We  think 
it  our  duty,  through  you,  to  lay  it  before  the  Continental 
Congress ;  and  for  that  purpose  have  prepared  copies  of 
the  several  papers  which  were  received  as  aforesaid.  We 
shall  make  no  comments  on  them,  being  convinced  that 
your  own  good  understanding  and  knowledge  of  the  state 
of  these  Colonies  will  render  any  such  attempt  useless. 

Our  business  proceeds  with  great  heaviness,  for  want  of 
the  sinews  of  war,  which  we  have  not,  neither  have  we 
any  powder.  Money  we  cannot  have,  until  we  receive  the 
directions  of  your  body,  as  you  will  easily  believe.  Be- 
sides this,  we  would  be  extremely  happy  to  know  that  your 
body  had  taken  into  their  serious  consideration  the  several 
circumstances  of  the  associated  Colonies  ;  and  that  they, 
in  their  wisdom,  had  assigned  the  several  quotas  of  men 
and  money  to  each.  This  information  will  guide  our  de- 
liberations to  a  proper  object,  for  the  want  of  which  our 
present  attention  is  distracted,  by  the  uncertainty  of  what 
shall  be  determined  with  respect  to  this  Colony. 

We  have  the  honour  to  be,  gentlemen,  your  most  obe- 
dient and  humble  servants. 

By  order  of  the  Congress  : 

P.  V.  B.  Livingston,  President. 

To  the  New-York  Delegates  at  the  Continental  Congress, 
Philadelphia. 

MEMORIAL  OF  JOHN  SPARDING  TO  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

To  the  Honourable  the  President  and  Members  of  the 
Provincial  Congress  now  assembled  at  New-York  : 

The  Memorial  of  J  ohn  Sparding,  living  at  Ticonderoga 
Landing,  the  north  end  of  Lake  George,  June  1, 1775, 
humbly  sheweth : 

That  your  memorialist  has,  for  upwards  of  six  years 
past,  been  at  a  great  expense  in  providing  boats  and  car- 
riages for  the  ease  and  convenience  of  persons  travelling 
this  way  with  their  baggage  and  effects,  over  the  lake  and 
carrying  place,  at  an  easy  rate  ;  likewise  providing  batteaus 
on  Lake  Champlain,  for  the  conveniency  of  gentlemen  and 
others  travelling  to  Canada.  The  unhappy  differences  now 
subsisting  between  the  Colonies  and  the  Mother  Country, 
have  put  a  stop  to  any  business  your  memorialist  was  former- 
ly engaged  in.  Your  memorialist  has,  ever  since  the  tenth 
day  of  May,  (the  day  on  which  the  fort  at  Ticonderoga  was 
taken,)  assisted  with  his  boats,  men,  &ec,  in  transporting  the 
troops,  with  their  baggage  and  provisions,  over  Lake 
George  and  the  carrying  place,  upon  no  other  security 
than  a  verbal  agreement  with  Colonel  Arnold,  for  twenty 
shillings,  currency,  per  day,  for  a  perryaugre  capable  of 
crossing  the  lake  with  seventy  men,  besides  a  quantity  of 
provision,  and  a  batteau  for  carrying  expresses ;  and  when 
there  was  not  a  sufficient  loading  for  the  perryaugre,  to 
have  the  privilege  of  conveying  such  private  property  as 
might  offer,  of  which  your  memorialist  is  at  present  de- 


prived ;  your  memorialist  having  likewise  carted  the  great- 
est part  of  the  baggage  and  provisions  over  the  carrying 
place,  the  whole  amount  of  which,  to  this  clay,  is  near 
seventeen  Pounds.  And  as  the  gentlemen  appointed  here 
have  this  day  intimated  to  your  memorialist  that  his  teams 
are  not  to  be  any  more  employed,  they  having  brought 
teams  over  the  lake  for  said  service  ;  your  memorialist, 
therefore,  trusting  in  the  known  justice  and  humanity  of 
the  gentlemen  in  New-York,  who  scorn  to  let  any  individ- 
ual surfer,  which  must  inevitably  be  the  case  of  your  me- 
morialist, unless  your  goodness  prevents  it,  by  confirming 
the  agreement  made  by  Colonel  Arnold:  your  memo- 
rialist therefore  humbly  hopes,  as  he  has  done  his  utmost 
endeavour  for  the  good  of  the  common  cause,  and  is  dis- 
abled at  present  from  providing  for  his  family,  you  will  take 
the  same  into  consideration.  And  your  memorialist  will 
ever  pray.  J.  Sparding. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  RECEIVED  IN  NEW-YORK,  FROM  A 
GENTLEMAN  IN  THE  PROVINCIAL  CAMP,  DATED  JUNE  1  . 

1775. 

When  our  people  were  engaged  in  taking  the  stock, 
&ic,  from  Noddle  and  Hog  Islands,  the  King's  Troops 
made  an  attack  upon  them.  On  Hog  Island  the  combat 
began  about  five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  and  continued 
almost  incessantly  till  midnight.  The  attack  was  made 
with  cannon,  swivels,  and  small  arms,  from  an  armed 
schooner,  sloop,  and  eight  or  ten  barges,  upon  our  people, 
who  had  small  arms  only,  but  were  very  advantageously- 
posted  by  Colonel  Putnam,  who  got  to  them  just  in  season 
to  station  and  command  them  properly.  He  placed  them 
in  a  ditch,  up  to  their  waists  in  water,  and  covered  by  the 
bank  to  their  necks.  The  schooner,  sloop,  and  boats,  full 
of  men,  came  within  twelve  or  fifteen  rods  of  them,  and 
gave  our  people  a  fine  opportunity  to  place  their  shot  well. 
About  midnight  the  fire  ceased  a  little,  and  our  people  re- 
treated to  the  main  land,  where  they  were  soon  after  joined 
by  Captain  Foster,  with  two  field-pieces,  which  were  plar.i- 
ed  on  the  way  of  JVinnesimit  ferry.  At  daylight  the  com- 
bat was  renewed  ;  as  the  schooner  passed  the  ferry  way, 
she  was  briskly  attacked  by  our  people  with  the  field-pieces 
and  small  arms,  which  soon  clearing  her  deck,  she  drifted 
on  shore,  where  our  people  set  fire  to  her,  and  she  blew 
up,  notwithstanding  the  utmost  endeavours  of  the  people 
in  the  boats,  &c,  to  tow  her  off  and  save  her  from  destruc- 
tion. In  this  they  exposed  themselves  much  to  our  fire, 
and  suffered  greatly.  When  they  found  the  schooner  was 
lost,  they  with  difficulty  rowed  off  the  sloop,  much  dis- 
abled, and  retired  to  their  den  ;  and  thus  ended  the  combat 
at  about  seven  o'clock  in  the  morning.  In  the  afternoon 
{Sunday)  our  people  got  out  of  the  wreck  twelve  four- 
pounders,  six  swivels,  and  every  thing  else  that  was  valua- 
ble, without  molestation.  They  afterwards  removed  or 
destroyed  from  both  the  islands  all  the  stock,  Sic,  viz : 
about  five  or  six  hundred  sheep,  thirty  horses,  about  as 
many  cattle,  a  large  quantity  of  hay,  and  burned  all  the 
barns  and  houses. 

All  this  was  done  in  sight,  and  as  we  may  say  under  the 
noses  of  the  whole  fleet  and  army  at  Boston,  without  mo- 
lestation. The  killed  of  the  enemy,  (viz :  General  Gage's 
crew  of  enemies  to  the  English  Constitution,)  they  them- 
selves allow  to  be  more  than  one  hundred,  besides  wound- 
ed ;  others,  who  have  good  opportunity  to  know,  say  their 
killed  and  wounded  exceed  three  hundred  ;  and  I  believe 
they  have  suffered  as  much  as  in  their  precipitate  flight 
from  Lexington,  on  the  memorable  19th  of  April.  Our 
killed,  none ;  wounded,  three.  Heaven  apparently  and 
most  evidently  fights  for  us,  covers  our  heads  in  the  day 
of  battle,  and  shields  our  people  from  the  assaults  of  our 
common  enemies.  What  thanks  can  speak  our  gratitude. 

These  interpositions,  and  our  determined  resolutions, 
may  perhaps  make  our  haughty  enemies  glad  to  quit  their 
unjust  possessions,  for  a  cooler  and  more  calm  retreat  in 
some  distant  quarter  of  the  globe,  and  leave  us  peaceably 
to  enjoy  those  rights  and  liberties  which  God  in  our  nature 
has  given  us  as  our  inalienable  right,  and  which  they  are 
most  unjustly  endeavouring  to  wrest  from  us  by  violence. 

The  men-of-war's  cruisers  are  out,  with  orders  to  take 
all  vessels  with  provisions,  or  any  kind  of  West-India 
goods.    Two  men-of-war  lying  in  Portsmouth  River,  have 


875 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &tc,  JUNE,  1775. 


876 


taken  two  corn  sloops  bound  in  there  to  supply  the  necessi- 
ties of  the  place,  and  were  about  sending  them  to  Boston. 
Governour  IV ait  worth  went  on  board  to  solicit  their  dis- 
charge, and  represented  the  necessity  of  the  Town,  but 
without  effect.  This  proceeding  has  so  exasperated  the 
people,  that  not  a  single  Tory  is  left  in  the  Province,  and 
some  of  the  most  bigoted  have  quitted  the  cause,  declared 
for  the  people,  and  join  them  in  their  most  spirited  mea- 
sures, &iC. 

An  important  expedition  was  on  foot,  but  as  we  have 
received  no  news  of  its  success,  we  fear  it  has  miscarried. 


DECLARATION   OF   ALEXANDER  WALKER. 

Salem,  June  1,  1775. 
W  hereas  I,  the  subscriber,  did  some  time  since  sign  an 
Address  to  Governour  Hutchinson,  which  has  given  just 
cause  of  resentment  to  this  Town  and  Country  ;  I  do  now 
declare,  that  at  the  same  time  of  signing  said  Address,  I 
did  suppose  it  might  serve  the  Colonies,  but  am  convinced 
of  my  error,  and  am  sorry  for  the  offence  I  have  given  ; 
and  stand  ready  as  any  other,  as  far  as  in  me  lies,  to  sup- 
port the  rights  and  liberties  of  this  Country. 

Alexander  Walker. 

In  Committee  of  Safety,  June  3,  1775. 
The  foregoing  Declaration  being  presented  and  read, 
voted  unanimously  that  the  same  is  satisfactory. 

Attest:  R.  Derby,  Jun.,  Chairman. 

TO   THE  AMERICANS. 

Salem,  Massachusetts,  June  1,  1775. 

We  are  now  called  by  the  providence  of  God  to  fight 
for  those  precious  liberties  which  were  handed  down  to  us 
by  our  heroick  and  venerable  ancestors.  Our  present  cir- 
cumstances are  unhappy,  but  our  prospect  is  great  and 
glorious.  God  hath  in  a  signal  manner  favoured  our  right- 
eous cause,  covered  our  heads  in  the  day  of  battle,  miracu- 
lously given  us  the  victory  over  our  enemies,  and  shewn  us 
his  salvation.  So  very  remarkably  hath  Heaven  appeared 
on  our  side,  that  I  hope  our  murderous  enemies  will  no 
longer  dare  to  oppose  what  God  approves. 

We  greatly  lament  that  we  are  driven  by  tyranny  to 
shed  human  blood.  It  would  give  us  infinitely  greater 
pleasure  to  make  our  enemies  free  and  happy,  than  to  tri- 
umph in  victory.  As  a  testimony  of  this  disposition,  we 
have  given  freedom  to  the  soldiers  who  were  well  inclined, 
that  we  have  taken  in  the  late  engagement.  And  it  is  our 
ardent  wish  and  prayer  to  Almighty  God,  that  these  Col- 
onies may  be  enabled  to  give  freedom  and  happiness  to  our 
oppressed  land  and  Nation,  without  injury  to  any  person, 
and  the  once  happy  union  between  Britons  and  Americans 
be  restored,  and  both  forever  live  together  as  brethren. 

An  American. 


%REV.  SAMUEL  LANGDON  TO  MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS. 

June  1,  1775. 

Sir  :  We,  the  Pastors  of  the  Congregational  Churches 
of  the  Colony  of  Massachusetts-Bay ,  in  our  present  annual 
Convention,  gratefully  beg  leave  to  express  the  sense  we 
have  of  the  regard  shown  by  the  honourable  Provincial 
Congress  to  us,  and  the  encouragement  they  have  been 
pleased  to  afford  to  our  assembling  as  a  body  this  day. 
Deeply  impressed  with  sympathy  for  the  distresses  of  our 
much  injured  and  oppressed  Country,  we  are  not  a  little 
relieved  in  beholding  the  Representatives  of  this  people, 
chosen  by  their  free  and  unbiased  suffrages,  now  met  to 
concert  measures  for  their  relief  and  defence,  in  whose 
wisdom  and  integrity,  under  the  smiles  of  Divine  Provi- 
dence, we  cannot  but  express  our  entire  confidence.  As 
it  has  been  found  necessary  to  raise  an  Army  for  our  safety, 
and  our  brave  countrymen  have  so  willingly  offered  them- 
selves to  this  hazardous  service,  we  are  not  insensible  of  the 
vast  burden  that  their  necessary  maintenance  must  devolve 
upon  the  people.  We  therefore  cannot  forbear,  upon  this 
occasion,  to  oiler  our  service  to  the  publick,  and  to  signify 
our  readiness,  with  the  consent  of  our  several  congrega- 
tions, to  officiate,  by  rotation,  as  Chaplains  to  the  Army. 

We  devoutly  commend  the  Congress,  and  our  brethren 
in  arms,  to  the  guidance  and  protection  of  that  Providence, 


which,  from  the  first  settlement  of  this  Country,  has  so  re- 
markably appeared  for  the  preservation  of  its  civil  and  re- 
ligious rights.  Sam'l  Langdon,  Moderator. 
To  the  Honourable  Joseph  Warren,  Esq.,  President  of  the 
Provincial  Congress  of  the  Colony  of  the  Massachusetts- 
Bay,  &c. 

At  the  Convention  of  the  Ministers  of  the  Massachusetts- 
Bay,  June  1, 1775 : 

The  Convention,  taking  into  consideration  the  method 
of  furnishing  the  Army  with  Chaplains,  agreeably  to  the 
offer  they  have  made  to  the  honourable  Congress,  think  it 
most  expedient  that  a  sufficient  number  of  persons  should 
be  chosen  out  of  their  members  by  the  Officers  of  the  Army, 
to  officiate  statedly,  rather  than  by  quick  rotation  in  that 
character;  and  the  Convention  depend  that  the  parochial 
duties  of  those  Ministers  who  shall  serve  in  the  Army,  will 
be  performed  by  their  brethren  in  the  vicinity. 

A  true  copy.    Test:  Amos  Adams,  Scribe. 


SELECTMEN  OF  LUNENBURG H  TO  DOCTOR  JOHN  TAYLOR. 

Lunenburgh,  June  1,  1775. 

Sir:  We  have  received  the  resolve  of  the  Provincial 
Congress,  that  there  be  draughted  out  of  the  town  stock 
of  powder  from  Lunenburgh,  two  half  barrels  for  the  use 
of  the  Army.  Now,  Sir,  we  here  represent  the  circum- 
stances, the  greater  part  of  which  you  have  a  knowledge 
of.  You  may  remember  that  the  Town  granted  twenty- 
five  Pounds  to  supply  the  town  stock  of  ammunition,  but 
by  reason  of  the  scarcity  of  powder  we  have  never  obtained 
it ;  and  at  the  time  of  the  alarm  at  Concord,  we  were  obliged 
to  open  the  town  stock  to  furnish  those  that  marched  on 
that  occasion,  (which  was  upwards  of  one  hundred  men,) 
and  if  we  should  take  out  the  two  half  barrels,  we  should 
not  have  above  thirty  pounds  of  powder  left  in  the  town 
stock.  Now,  Sir,  we  desire  to  know  if  the  Congress, 
under  these  circumstances,  will  excuse  us  from  taking  out 
the  two  half  barrels,  and  if  not,  we  are  ready  to  comply 
with  the  resolve.  Please  to  write  to  us  as  soon  as  may- 
be ;  in  the  mean  time  we  remain  yours,  &tc. 

By  order  of  the  Selectmen,       George  Kimball, 

Toivn  Clerk. 

To  Dr.  John  Taylor,  Member  of  Congress. 

N.  B.  If  you  know  of  any  powder  to  be  sold,  please  to 
inform  us. 


PETITION  OF  WILLIAM  TALMAN  AND  OTHERS  TO  THE  MAS- 
SACHUSETTS CONGRESS. 

Dartmouth,  June  1,  1775. 

To  the  Honourable  Provincial  Congress  now  sitting  at 

Watertown  : 
The  Petition  of  us  the  subscribers  humbly  sheweth  : 

That  your  petitioners  have,  at  great  expense,  fitted  out 
some  vessels  for  whaling  voyages,  and  one  or  two  with  lumber 
for  the  West  Indies,  some  of  which  are  now  ready  for  the 
sea,  and  being  advised  thereto  by  the  Committee  of  Corres- 
pondence of  this  Town,  and  not  being  restricted  therefrom  by 
the  Continental  or  Provincial  Congress,  the  advice  or  direc- 
tions of  which  we  determine  to  abide  by  in  this  affair;  not- 
withstanding which  some  people  manifest  an  uneasiness  that 
we  should  send  our  vessels  to  sea,  and  will  not  be  satisfied 
unless  we  have  the  advice  of  the  honourable  the  Provincial 
Congress,  now  sitting,  thereon,  which  will  quiet  the  minds 
of  the  people,  and  give  them  and  us  satisfaction  relative  to 
said  matter.  Therefore,  your  petitioners  pray  your  advice 
and  direction  thereon;  and  as  in  duty  bound  shall  ever  pray. 

William  Talman,  Isaac  Howland,  Lemuel  Williams, 

G.  Church,  John  Alden,  Joseph  Russell,  Jr., 

John  Williams,  Joseph  Russ  II,  Barnabas  Russell, 

Loonanl  Jarvis,  David  Shepherd,  Seth  Russell, 

John  Howl.ind,  William  Claghorn,  Patrick  Maxficld, 

Zadock  Maxfield,  Abraham  Smith,  Daniel  Smith. 
Uriah  Ray,  Jr., 


MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS  TO  NEW- HAMPSHIRE  CONGRESS. 

Watertown,  Juno  1,  1775. 
Gentlemen:  We  send  you  enclosed  a  copy  of  a  letter 
from  Colonel  Arnold,  commander  of  the  Troops  at  Ticon- 
deroga  and  Crown  Point,  together  with  a  copy  of  a  letter 


877 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


878 


from  the  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives  for  the 
Colony  of  Connecticut,  by  which  you  will  be  acquainted 
with  the  present  situation  of  those  fortresses,  and  the  mea- 
sures necessary  to  be  taken  for  serving  and  defending  so 
valuable  acquisitions.  You  will  doubtless  agree  with  us  in 
sentiment,  that  it  is  a  matter  of  the  greatest  importance  that 
those  places  remain  in  our  possession,  in  order  to  secure 
our  frontiers  from  the  depredations  of  our  enemies,  if  they 
should  attempt  to  attack  us  from  that  quarter,  of  which 
there  appears  to  be  great  danger.  It  was  the  agreement 
of  this  Colony  that  four  hundred  men,  and  one  hundred 
Pounds  of  money,  should  be  raised  for  the  reduction  of  the 
place,  and  it  is  our  determination  to  contribute  our  full  pro- 
portion towards  securing  the  acquisition. 

By  the  letter  from  the  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives for  Connecticut,  you  will  find  that  that  Colony 
have  voted  to  send  immediately  to  their  assistance  four 
companies  and  five  hundred  weight  of  powder,  and  we 
suppose  that  the  Troops  are  upon  their  march  there. 

And  we  most  earnestly  request  that  you  would  continue 
your  endeavours,  likewise,  for  the  speedy  and  effectual  se- 
curity of  the  aforementioned  places,  which,  considering  the 
importance  of  the  affair,  and  the  ready  disposition  which 
you  have  discovered  for  the  defence  of  the  common  cause, 
leaves  us  no  room  to  doubt  of  your  compliance  therewith. 

Joseph  Warren,  President. 

To  the  Provincial  Congress  of  New-Hampshire . 


MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS  TO  ASSEMBLY  OF  CONNECTICUT. 

Watertown,  June  1,  1775. 
Gentlemen:  We  gratefully  acknowledge  the  receipt 
of  your  favour  of  the  27th  ultimo.  We  fully  concur  in 
opinion  with  you,  that  maintaining  a  post  at  Ticonderoga 
or  Croxvn  Point,  is  of  the  utmost  importance ;  therefore 
take  particular  satisfaction  that  you  have,  on  this  subject, 
so  early  and  repeatedly  expressed  your  minds  to  the  Con- 
tinental Congress. 

By  private  intelligence,  of  the  29th  ultimo,  sent  to 
Captain  Joseph  Trumbull,  we  are  informed  that  the  Pro- 
vincial Congress  of  Neiv-York  do  not  understand  the 
resolve  of  the  Continental  Congress,  concerning  said  for- 
tresses, to  extend  so  far  as  wholly  to  disseminate  them  ; 
but  so  far  only  as  to  supply  any  fortifications  that  may  be 
built  at  the  south  end  of  Lake  George.  Which  resolve, 
in  this  sense  of  it,  they  are  with  despatch  executing ;  there- 
fore, in  our  present  distressing  situation,  we  have  post- 
poned sending  further  assistance  to  Captain  Arnold,  espe- 
cially since  New-York  have  not  requested  it. 
To  the  Hon.  William  Williams,  Speaker  of  the  House  of 

Assembly  of  the  Colony  of  Connecticut. 


appears  important  that  shall  come  first  to  my  knowledge. 
Please  to  direct  for  me  at  Lebanon.  I  congratulate  you 
on  the  union  and  increasing  harmony  of  these  North- Ame- 
rican Colonies,  and  the  wonderful  concurrence  and  coinci- 
dence of  counsels  among  them.  May  our  hearts  he  united 
in  humble  thankfulness  therefor.  I  am,  with  great  truth 
and  regard,  gentlemen,  your  most  obedient  humble  ser- 
vant, Jonathan  Trumbull. 
To  the  Provincial  Congress  of  Massachusetts-Bay. 


GOVERNOUR   OF   CONNECTICUT  TO    MASSACHUSETTS  CON- 


GRESS. 


Hartford,  June  1,  1775. 


Gentlemen  :  Your  letter  of  the  twenty-ninth  of  May, 
per  Sheppard,  is  received,  and  observe  your  agitation  occa- 
sioned by  the  resolution  of  the  General  Congress  touch- 
ing Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point.  It  was  looked  on  in 
the  same  light  here,  and  hath  been  repeatedly  mentioned 
to  the  Delegates  from  Connecticut,  that  removing  from 
Ticonderoga  to  the  south  end  of  Lake  George  would 
expose  great  part  of  the  frontiers  to  invasion  and  distress, 
and  a  fort  at  the  latter  scarcely  tenable.  The  expressions 
of  the  resolution  are  not  clear.  The  Provincial  Con- 
gress at  New-York  take  them  to  mean  no  more  than  the 
removing  the  supernumerary  cannon  and  stores  from  those 
two  fortresses  to  the  south  end  of  Lake  George,  but  not 
to  leave  or  abandon  those  two  important  posts.  Mine  of  the 
29th  of  May,  per  Mr.  Brown,  informs  what  hath  been  re- 
solved here,  which  is  fully  approved  by  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress at  New-  York.  They  express  their  concern  to  keep  and 
maintain  "  the  important  posts  of  Ticonderoga  and  Crown 
Point."  We  have  received  intelligence  from  Albany  of 
the  readiness  of  that  City  and  County  to  afford  their  ut- 
most assistance  for  securing  those  important  posts  for  the 
common  defence  of  our  rights  and  liberties.  Our  General 
Assembly  was  closed  last  evening.  I  shall  be  attentive  to 
your  intelligence,  and  will  communicate  to  you  all  that 


JOSEPH  KELLY  TO  NEW-HAMPSHIRE  CONGRESS. 

To  the  Honourable  Committee  of  Safety  and  Gentlemen 
of  the  Congress,  now  sitting  at  Exeter,  in  and  for 
the  Province  of  New-Hampshire  : 

The  Petition  of  Joseph  Kelly,  of  Nottingham-West, 
in  said  Province,  humbly  sheueth: 

That  your  petitioner  has,  by  orders  from  the  Committee 
of  Safety  at  Cambridge,  raised  a  number  of  men  for  the 
preservation  of  the  liberties  of  America,  and  has  been  at 
some  considerable  expense  in  providing  arms  and  fitting 
them  for  said  service  ;  some  of  which  men  are  now  at  Med- 
ford,  some  at  Cambridge,  and  the  others  wait  for  orders  when 
and  where  to  march.  That  your  petitioner  verily  thought 
he  was  serving  God  and  his  Country  in  so  doing;  notwith- 
standing, Major  Hubbert  told  your  petitioner  we  were  not 
looked  upon  as  friends  by  this  Congress,  for  no  other  rea- 
son, that  your  petitioner  knows  of,  than  only  because  the 
soldiers  at  Cambridge  refused  to  be  mustered  by  said  Hub- 
bert, as  they  said  they  well  knew  him  to  be  an  enemy  to 
the  common  cause;  which  your  petitioner  had  no  other 
hand  in  than  to  persuade  the  soldiers  to  be  easy  and  not 
to  treat  the  said  Hubbert  ill,  and  to  tell  him  the  minds  of 
the  people,  and  prevent  any  disorder  in  the  camp.  Your 
petitioner  prays  the  men  may  be  taken  into  the  service  of 
this  Province,  and  put  under  some  officers  who  they  shall 
agree  cheerfully  to  go  under,  or  that  they  may  not  be  re- 
strained of  their  liberty  of  joining  with  any  other  Prov- 
ince, when  they  are  willing  to  serve  their  Country  to  the 
utmost  of  their  power  in  the  common  cause  ;  which  is  the 
prayer  of,  gentlemen,  your  hearty  and  sincere  well-wisher, 

t     ,  Joseph  Kelly. 

June  1,  1775. 


Philadelphia,  June  2,  1775. 
The  spirit  of  opposition  to  the  arbitrary  and  tyrannical 
acts  of  the  Ministry  and  Parliament  of  Britain,  hath  dif- 
fused itself  so  universally  throughout  this  Province,  that 
the  people,  even  to  its  most  extended  frontiers,  are  inde- 
fatigable in  training  themselves  to  military  discipline.  The 
aged,  as  well  as  the  young,  daily  march  out  under  the  ban- 
ners of  liberty,  and  discover  a  determined  resolution  to 
maintain  her  cause  even  until  death.  In  the  Town  of 
Reading,  in  Berks  County,  Pennsylvania,  there  had  been 
some  time  past  three  Companies  formed,  and  very  forward 
in  their  exercise  ;  since,  however,  we  are  well  informed  a 
fourth  Company  have  associated  under  the  name  of  the 
Old  Man's  Company.  It  consists  of  about  eighty  Ger- 
mans, of  the  age  of  forty  and  upwards.  Many  of  them 
have  been  in  the  military  service  in  Germany.  The  per- 
son who,  at  their  first  assembling,  led  them  to  the  field,  is 
ninety-seven  years  of  age  ;  has  been  forty  years  in  the 
regular  service,  and  in  seventeen  pitched  battles ;  and  the 
drummer  is  eighty-four.  In  lieu  of  a  cockade,  they  wear 
in  their  hats  a  black  crape,  as  expressive  of  their  sorrow 
for  the  mournful  events  which  have  occasioned  them,  at 
their  late  time  of  life,  to  take  arms  against  our  brethren, 
in  order  to  preserve  that  liberty  which  they  left  their  na- 
tive Country  to  enjoy.  A  correspondent,  who  lately  saw 
them  perform  their  exercise  for  several  hours,  says,  they 
discovered  such  a  sober  firmness  in  their  countenances,  and 
such  vigour  and  address  in  handling  their  arms  and  per- 
forming their  evolutions,  as  filled  him  with  the  highest  re- 
spect and  esteem  for  this  truly  venerable  band. 


COMMITTEE  OF  TRYON  COUNTY,  NEW-YORK. 

June  2,  1775. 

Palatine  District. —  Christopher  P.  Yates,  John  Frey, 
Andrew  Fink,  Andrew  Reeber,  Peter  Waggoner,  Dan- 
iel McDou<rall,  Jacob  Klork,  George  Ecker,  Jr.,  Har- 


879 


CORRESPONDENCE.  PROCEEDINGS,  fee,  JUNE,  1775. 


880 


menus  Van  Slyck,  Christopher  W.  Fox,  Anthony  Van 
Veghten. 

I  snajoharie  District. — Nicholas  Herkimer,  Ebenezer 
Cot,  William  Stebcr,  John  Moore,  Samuel  Campbell, 
Samuel  Clyde,  Thomas  Henry,  John  Pickard. 

K  ingslani)  and  German  Flatts  Districts. — Edward 
Hall,  William  Petri/,  John  Petry,  Augustine  Hess, 
Frederick  Orendorf,  George  Wentz,  Michael  Ittig, 
Frederick  Fox,  George  Herkimer,  Duncan  McDou- 
gall,  Frederick  Helmer,  John  Frink. 

Mohawk  District. — John  Morlctt,  John  Bliven,  Abra- 
ham Van  Home,  Adam  Fonda,  Frederick  Fisher, 
Sampson  Simmons,  William  Schuyler,  Volkert  Veeder, 
James  McMaster,  Daniel  Lane. — 42. 

Christopher  P.  Yates  was  chosen  Chairman. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  THE  COMMITTEE  OF  TRYON 
COUNTY,  NEW-YORK,  TO  COL.  GUY  JOHNSON. 

According  to  the  example  of  the  Counties  in  this  and 
the  neighbouring  Colonies,  the  people  of  the  District  we 
represent  have  met  in  a  peaceable  manner  to  consider  of 
the  present  dispute  with  the  Mother  Country  and  the  Co- 
lonies, signed  a  General  Association,  and  appointed  us  a 
Committee  to  meet  in  order  to  consult  the  common  safety 
of  our  rights  and  liberties,  which  are  infringed  in  a  most 
enormous  manner,  by  enforcing  oppressive  and  unconstitu- 
tional Acts  of  the  British  Parliament,  by  an  armed  force 
in  the  Massachusetts-Bay. 

Was  it  any  longer  a  doubt  that  we  are  oppressed  by  the 
Mother  Country,  and  that  it  is  the  avowed  design  of  the 
Ministers  to  enslave  us,  we  might,  perhaps,  be  induced  to 
use  argument  to  point  out  in  what  particulars  we  conceive 
that  it  is  the  birthright  of  English  subjects  to  be  exempted 
from  all  taxes,  except  those  which  are  laid  on  them  by 
their  Representatives,  and  think  we  have  a  right,  not  only 
by  the  laws  and  Constitution  of  England,  to  meet  for  the 
purpose  we  have  done.  Which  meeting  we  probably 
would  have  postponed  awhile,  had  there  been  the  least 
kind  of  probability  that  the  Petition  of  the  General  As- 
sembly would  have  been  noticed  more  than  the  united  pe- 
tition of  almost  the  whole  Continent  of  America,  by  their 
Delegates  in  Congress ;  which,  so  far  from  being  anywise 
complied  with,  was  treated  with  superlative  contempt  by 
the  Ministry,  and  fresh  oppressions  were,  and  are,  daily 
heaped  upon  us.  Upon  which  principles,  principles  which 
are  undeniable,  we  have  been  appointed  to  consult  methods 
to  contribute  what  little  lies  in  our  power  to  save  our  de- 
voted Country  from  ruin  and  devastation ;  which,  with  the 
assistance  of  Divine  Providence,  it  is  our  fixed  and  deter- 
mined resolution  to  do;  and,  if  called  upon,  we  shall  be 
foremost  in  sharing  the  toil  and  danger  of  the  field.  We 
consider  New-England  suffering  in  the  common  cause,  and 
commisserate  their  distressed  situation  ;  and  we  should  be 
wanting  in  our  duty  to  our  Country  and  to  ourselves,  if 
we  were  any  longer  backward  in  announcing  our  determi- 
nation to  the  world. 

We  know  that  some  of  the  members  of  this  Committee 
have  been  charged  with  compelling  people  to  come  into 
the  measures  which  we  have  adopted,  and  with  drinking 
treasonable  toasts.  But  as  we  are  convinced  that  these 
reports  are  false  and  malicious,  spread  by  our  enemies  with 
the  sole  intent  to  lessen  us  in  the  esteem  of  the  world,  and 
as  we  are  conscious  of  being  guilty  of  no  crime,  and  of 
having  barely  done  our  duty ;  we  are  entirely  unconcerned 
as  to  any  thing  that  is  said  of  us,  or  can  be  done  with  us. 
We  should,  however,  be  careless  of  our  character,  did  we 
not  wish  to  detect  the  despicable  wretch  who  could  be  so 
base  as  to  charge  us  with  things  which  we  never  have  en- 
tertained the  most  distant  thoughts  of.  We  are  not  igno- 
rant of  the  very  great  importance  of  your  office,  as  Super- 
intendent of  the  Indians,  and,  therefore,  it  is  no  more  our 
duty  than  inclination  to  protect  you  in  the  discharge  of 
the  duty  of  your  proper  province,  and  we  meet  you  with 
pleasure,  in  behalf  of  ourselves  and  our  constituents,  to 
thank  you  for  meeting  the  Indians  in  the  upper  parts  of 
the  County,  which  may  be  the  means  of  easing  the  people 
of  the  remainder  of  their  fears  on  this  account,  and  prevent 
the  Indians  committing  irregularities  on  their  way  down  to 


Guy-Park.  And  we  beg  of  you  to  use  your  endeavours 
with  the  Indians  to  dissuade  them  from  interfering  in  the 
dispute  with  the  Mother  Country  and  the  Colonies.  We 
cannot  think  that,  as  you  and  your  family  possess  very 
large  estates  in  this  County,  you  are  unfavourable  to  Ame- 
rican freedom,  although  you  may  differ  with  us  in  the 
mode  of  obtaining  a  redress  of  grievances.  Permit  us 
further  to  observe,  that  we  cannot  pass  over  in  silence  the 
interruption  which  the  people  of  the  Mohawjc  District  met 
in  their  meeting ;  which,  we  are  informed,  was  conducted 
in  a  peaceable  manner ;  and  the  inhuman  treatment  of  a 
man  whose  only  crime  was  being  faithful  to  his  employers, 
and  refusing  to  give  an  accouni  of  the  receipt  of  certain 
papers  to  persons  who  had  not  the  least  colour  of  right  to 
demand  any  thing  of  that  kind.  We  assure  you,  that  we 
are  much  concerned  about  it,  as  two  important  rights  of 
English  subjects  are  thereby  infringed,  to  wit :  a  right  to 
meet,  and  to  obtain  all  the  intelligence  in  their  power. 


TO  MR.  JOHN  HOLT. 

New.York,  June  2,  1775. 
Sir  :  We  have  seen  with  that  satisfaction  which  we  be- 
lieve every  British  Const itulionist  must  feel  at  beholding 
your  name  on  the  Address  which  you  printed  against  un- 
lawful Standing  Armies.  You  have  clone  right ;  for  the 
abetters  of  despotism  cannot  legally  prosecute,  though  they 
may  censure  and  dislike  you  for  your  honest  boldness  in 
conveying,  through  the  channel  of  your  press,  the  instruc- 
tion which  was  much  wanted  concerning  deserters. 

That  in  the  Colonies  no  soldier  can  be  lawfully  detained 
against  his  will,  or  punished  in  any  case  by  military  officers, 
under  colour  of  any  act  of  the  British  Parliament  only ; 
that  now  all  soldiers  are  under  the  sole  protection  of  the 
civil  power  of  such  of  the  British  Colonies  where  they 
may  be  respectively  stationed  ;  and  that  whether  the  sol- 
diers choose  to  remain  in  or  desert  from  the  King's  service, 
it  is  highly  criminal  and  absurd  in  us  not  to  protect  thein 
in  their  civil  rights  against  the  oppression  of  their  tyranni- 
cal masters,  or  the  usurpations  of  unlawful  courts-martial. 
All  these,  Sir,  are  self-evident  truths.  And  yet  our  citi- 
zens were  alarmed  on  Saturday  last,  by  a  party  of  soldiers 
who  sallied  out  of  our  barracks,  seized  a  deserter  in  the 
street,  and  forcibly  dragged  him  to  their  hold,  where,  it  is 
said,  the  officer  who  received  him  swore  the  deserter  should 
be  "  shot  or  whipped  to  death."  A  quiet  application  (too 
quiet,  doubtless)  was  made  to  one  of  the  officers ;  for,  the 
deserter  is  still  detained,  and  may  be  very  soon  transported 
elsewhere.  Not  long  ago  a  deputation  of  four  men  from 
a  Connecticut  detachment,  which  did  not  stay  here,  was 
very  differently  received  at  the  same  barracks  by  an  officer 
of  the  same  corps.  A  deserter  was  peremptorily  demand- 
ed there,  and  the  officer  immediately  delivered  him  to  the 
deputation.  Shall  we  behave  with  less  spirit  than  our 
neighbours  ?  Must  we  be  reduced  to  call  on  them  for 
assistance  ? 

The  audacious  attack  on  the  person  of  the  deserter,  vio- 
lently taken  by  the  soldiery  on  Saturday  last,  was  certain- 
ly intended  to  keep  as  long  as  possible  in  their  state  of 
delusion,  the  soldiery,  who  begin  to  doubt  the  local  force 
of  the  abominable  edict,  under  pretence  of  which  many 
of  their  comrades  have  been  most  iniquitously  "  shot  or 
whipped  to  death !"  And  shall  destruction  be  the  lot  of 
men  who  would  avoid  shedding  the  blood  of  their  brethren, 
our  own  blood,  and  fly  to  us  for  protection  against  that 
unnatural  command  ?    God  forbid  ! 

As  military  men  cannot  now  exercise  over  the  soldiers 
stationed  in  this  Colony  any  lawful  authority  independent 
of  our  own  established  courts  of  judicature,  we  think  it 
very  necessary  to  inform  you,  that  many  of  our  fellow- 
citizens,  ancient  sons  of  liberty,  as  well  as  ourselves,  ex- 
pect that  some  orthodox  casuist  amongst  your  readers  will 
speedily  determine,  and  without  evasion,  whether  or  not 
to  apprehend  deserters  in  defiance  of  our  laws,  be  out  of 
the  line  of  that  peaceable  behaviour  which  the  Continen- 
tal Congress  lately  fixed  as  the  criterion  of  our  future 
operations  respecting  the  Regulars  who  are  permitted  to 
remain  in  our  barracks  ;  and  if  yea,  what  must  be  done 
for  the  safety  of  those  who  have  been  apprehended,  and 
for  our  own?  A  Club  of  Concressionists.  . 


881 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


882 


NO  STANDING  ARMY  IN  THE  BRITISH  COLONIES;  OR,  AN 
ADDRESS  TO  THE  INHABITANTS  OF  THE  COLONY  OF 
NEW-YOKE  AGAINST  UNLAWFUL  STANDING  ARMIES. 

"  Resolved,  nemine  contradicente,  That  the  keeping  a 
Standing  Army  in  these  Colonies,  in  times  of  peace,  with- 
out the  consent  of  the  Legislature  of  the  Colony  in  which 
such  Army  is  kept,  is  against  law." — Proclamation  of  the 
Continental  Congress. 

Brethren,  Friends,  and  Countrymen : 

The  sanguinary  schemes  of  the  present  Administration 
have  been  sealed  with  the  approbation  of  the  late  ministe- 
rial Parliament.  Every  vessel  that  came  to  this  or  the 
neighbouring  ports,  since  the  proceedings  of  our  late  Con- 
gress were  published  in  London,  brought  us  fresh  intelli- 
gence of  the  hostile  measures  resolved  on  against  us. 
More  regiments  are  to  be  sent  over,  some  of  which  will 
be  stationed  in  this  metropolis  and  in  New- Jersey,  to  sup- 
port the  King's  friends,  to  intimidate  and  divide  us,  to  be 
a  check  on  the  Southern  Colonies,  and,  if  judged  practica- 
ble, to  prevent  their  relieving  our  suffering  brethren  of  the 
Massachusetts-Bay . 

These  particulars,  and  many  more,  have,  doubtless,  come 
to  the  knowledge  of  that  body,  commonly  styled  our  Re- 
presentatives ;  and  yet,  amongst  the  objects  of  real  com- 
plaint, resolved  as  such  by  that  Assembly,  in  their  late 
catalogue  of  grievances,  we  do  not  read  any  of  the  ruin- 
ous consequences  of  an  act  of  Parliament,  which  was 
solely  machinated  to  extort  the  submission  of  all  the  Bri- 
tish Colonies  to  every  parliamentary,  or.  what  is  synony- 
mous, to  every  ministerial  mandate,  though  ever  so  ruinous. 
Bui  it  may  be  predicted  that,  sooner  or  later,  this  act  will 
have  the  intended  effect,  should  its  not  appearing  to  press 
upon  us  in  a  direct  manner  render  us  so  inattentive,  or  so 
very  selfish  as  to  suffer  its  continuing  to  be  enforced  with 
impunity. 

This  introduction  must  point  out  to  you,  that  the  act,  or 
rather  edict  here  alluded  to,  is  that  which  was  made  for  ex- 
tending to  all  the  British  Colonies  on  this  Continent  the 
acts  of  Parliament  relating  to  mutiny  and  desertion  in  Great 
Britain,  as  likewise  to  maintain  the  discipline  of  His  Ma- 
jesty's Army,  so  styled,  instead  of  its  true  descriptive  name, 
the  British,  or  National  Army — an  impropriety  of  the 
greatest  importance  to  a  free  people,  justly  jealous  of  their 
honour,  and  conscious  of  their  real  dignity  !  But,  to  the 
manifest  danger  of  the  national  liberty,  this  is  little  attend- 
ed to  by  military  men  ;  too  many  of  whom,  from  a  field- 
marshal  to  a  drummer,  mistake  the  true  sense  of  that 
phraseology,  which,  when  at  first  used,  was  meant  but  as  a 
complaint,  and  appeared,  as  it  really  was,  perfectly  harm- 
less, before  our  Kings  kept  a  Standing  Army.  Erroneous 
notions  on  this  head  are  now  big  with  ruin,  it  being  not 
unfrequent  to  find  in  the  military  order  a  commissioned,  as 
well  as  a  non-commissioned  varlet,  ignorant  enough  to 
believe  that  he  eats  the  King's  bread,  and  is  bound,  for 
that  very  reason,  implicitly  to  obey  any  command  he  re- 
ceives from  his  superiours,  who  eat  the  same  bread!  As 
men  of  this  stamp  never  inquire  with  whose  bread  the  King 
himself  is  fed,  it  is  judged  very  necessary,  at  this  critical 
juncture,  to  awaken  the  attention  and  sensibility  of  many 
men  of  liberal  principles,  who  serve  in  the  British  Army 
and  Navy,  some  of  whom  inadvertently  mention  the  King, 
and  even  address  him,  as  their  master. 

The  enemies  to  our  Constitution,  well  knowing  the  fatal 
effects  of  the  illusion  which  this  old  prejudice  never  fails 
to  produce  in  the  minds  of  the  vulgar,  surreptitiously  pro- 
vided themselves  with  the  Extension  Edict,  before  (though 
not  long  before)  the  late  Parliament  issued  their  inquisito- 
rial sentences  against  the  people  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay. 
That  edict  demonstrates  to  you  by  what  means  the  Min- 
istry have  determined  to  conduct  their  conspiracy  against 
our  liberty.  Surely,  this  is  a  grievance  of  the  first  magni- 
tude. 

The  American  newspapers  have  informed  you  since 
that  time,  that  Courts-Martial  have  dared  to  decree  various 
punishments,  which  have  been  inflicted  on  soldiers  in  Ame- 
rica ;  but,  though  such  Courts-Martial  acted  under  colour 
of  that  same  illegal  edict,  we  do  not  learn  that  any  of  their 
members,  or  the  deluded  victims  that  became  their  accom- 
plices by  executing  the  felonious  sentences,  have  been  in- 
dicted for  their  respective  crimes  !   Nay.  have  not  such 

Fourth  Seeues. — Vol.  ii.  J 


unlawful  Courts-Martial  been  suffered  in  our  metropolis  to 
exercise  the  same  illegal  authority  ? 

About  the  beginning  of  the  last  war,  an  Administration, 
which  had  formed  no  design  against  our  liberty,  acted  on 
very  different  principles,  to  prevent  the  mutiny  and  deser- 
tion of  the  British  forces  in  North  America.  The  Min- 
ister sent  circular  directions  to  most  of  the  American  Gov- 
ernours,  for  procuring  temporary  acts,  which,  as  they  mani- 
festly tended  to- the  welfare  and  safety  of  the  whole  Bri- 
tish Empire,  were  cheerfully  granted.  The  Legislatures 
to  which  such  applications  were  made,  extended  to  their 
respective  territories  the  acts  of  Parliament  for  punishing 
mutiny  and  desertion,  &c.  Those  acts  afterwards  re- 
ceived the  Royal  assent;  but  the  legal  force  of  every  such 
temporary  act  has  long  since  expired.  They  were  granted 
with  the  same  caution  that  acts  of  a  similar  nature  pass  in 
Great  Britain,  where  the  Lords  and  Commons  know,  that 
the  national  liberty  might  be  easily  destroyed  should  they 
declare  acts  of  such  importance,  perpetual.  The  Legisla- 
ture can  give  no  lawful  authority  to  such  acts  of  perpetual 
duration,  any  more  than  they  can  lawfully  surrender  the 
liberties  of  the  people.  These  have,  in  reserve,  an  ina- 
lienable right  to  ratify,  or  annual  every  act  of  their  dele- 
gates to  legislative  assemblies. 

The  fair  proceedings  of  the  Administration  above  men- 
tioned, are  of  publick  notoriety.  They  not  only  prove,  in 
the  most  authentick  manner,  that  Administration  then  be- 
lieved the  British  Parliament  had  no  right  to  bind  us  in 
all  cases  whatsoever,  but  that  the  King  and  his  Ministers 
were  solicitous  to  demonstrate  the  uprightness  of  their  in- 
tentions— that  they  would  not  violate  any  of  our  constitu- 
tional rights,  by  attempting  to  bind  us  in  any  case  what- 
soever, without  our  legal  consent. 

The  anti-British  junto,  being  sensible  the  legal  expira- 
tion of  those  temporary  acts  of  the  Colonies  was  an  invin- 
cible obstacle  to  their  projects  of  depredation,  so  artfully 
conducted  themselves  in,  and  out  of  Parliament,  that  their 
dark  designs  were  not  suspected.  For  this  reason,  the 
patriotick  minority,  who  did  not  think  that  more  regi- 
ments were  intended  to  be  sent  over  to  America,  made 
little  or  no  opposition  to  the  Extension  Edict.  This  shows 
you,  my  brethren,  how  cautious  you  ought  to  be  of  your 
friends  themselves.  They  may  be  sincere,  but  thev  do  not 
feel  ! 

Let  us  see  now  what  our  late  venerable  Congress  did 
for  us — they  who  felt  with  us  the  innumerable  evils  that 
are  inseparable  from  a  Standing  Army  not  dependant  on 
ourselves.  Their  ninth  resolve  expressly  declares,  that 
to  keep  such  Army  is  unlawful,  and  consequently  pro- 
claims the  nullity  of  the  Extension  Edict,  in  the  compre- 
hensive words  which  are  prefixed  to  this  address,  although 
the  consequence  which  results  from  the  truth  contained  in 
them,  being  founded  on  the  self-evident  principles  of  univer- 
sal jurisprudence,  that  respectable  authority  might  have 
been  omitted  here,  without  the  least  danger.  This  conse- 
quence is  acknowledged  by  the  uniform  proceedings  of 
every  civilized  Country  relative  to  distributive  justice,  as 
well  as  in  the  judgment  of  every  person  who  is  not  in  a 
state  of  insanity.  Whatever  is  done  any  where  against 
law,  cannot  be  supported  there,  by  law.  It  is  a  mere  nul- 
lity. 

We  have  often  been  astonished  at  the  superlative  effron- 
tery of  ministerial  hirelings ;  and  yet,  it  is  improbable  any 
caviller  of  that  tribe  will  be  so  irreverent  and  scurrilous  as 
to  urge,  that  the  ninth  resolve  of  the  Congress  does  not 
affect  the  extension  edict.  However,  should  you  meet  with 
that  wretch,  read  to  him,  and  intrench  yourselves  within 
the  tenth  resolve  in  their  Bill  of  Rights,  from  which  the 
following  quotation  is  inserted  here,  to  support  the  ninth 
resolve,  and  several  other  parts  of  this  address,  to  wit : 

"  All  and  each  of  which,"  that  is  to  say,  the  rights 
mentioned  in  the  nine  preceding  resolves,  "  the  aforesaid 
Deputies,  in  behalf  of  themselves  and  their  constituents, 
do  claim,  demand,  and  insist  on,  as  their  indubitable  rights 
and  liberties,  which  cannot  be  legally  taken  from  them, 
altered,  or  abridged  by  any  power  whatever,  without  their 
own  consent,  by  their  Representatives,  in  their  several 
Provincial  Legislatures. 

"  In  the  course  of  our  inquiry  we  find  many  infringe- 
ments and  violations  of  the  foregoing  rights,  which,  from 
an  ardent  desire  that  harmony  and  a  mutual  intercourse  of 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


884 


affection  and  interest  may  be  restored,  we  pass  over  for  the 
present,  and  proceed  to  state  such  acts  and  measures  as 
have  been  adopted  since  the  last  war,  which  demonstrate  a 
system  formed  to  enslave  America." 

Now,  can  a  fair  reasoner  assert  that,  notwithstanding  the 
declared  illegality  of  the  infringements  alluded  to  in  the 
preceding  quotation,  the  declaration  implies,  that  the  Con- 
gress admitted  the  legal  operation  of  any  such  act,  till  it 
should  be  repealed  ?  That  it  is  to  be  so  understood, 
though  the  whole  of  the  proceedings  shows  that  it  is 
feared  there  will  be  a  civil  war,  unless  they  be  repealed  ? 
Though  the  repeal  be  solicited,  not  to  annul  such  acts, 
(they  being  all  illegal,  and  every  one  of  them,  whether 
enumerated  or  not,  being  consequently  null  and  void,)  but 
"  to  restore  harmony,"  that  is,  to  prevent  that  civil  war 
which  is  justly  feared,  unless  the  violences  which  have 
been  already  committed  to  enforce  those  unlawful,  illegal, 
and  null  acts,  be  discontinued  ? 

If  those  men  who,  solemnly  appealing  to  God  and  the 
equity  of  mankind  for  the  justice  of  our  cause,  declared 
to  you  and  the  other  members  of  the  British  Nation  that 
"  to  keep  a  Standing  Army  in  these  Colonies  without  our 
consent,  is  against  law,"  had  justified  the  least  suspicion  of 
their  admitting  that  it  was  not  against  law  to  punish,  with- 
out our  consent,  mutiny  and  desertion  in  such  unlawful 
Standing  Army:  Believe  me,  my  dear,  devoted  coun- 
trymen, the  most  iniquitous  Administration  that  can  be 
conceived,  the  present  Administration  itself,  never  would 
wish  to  obstruct  their  proceedings.  „ 

The  Extension  Act  is  unlawful,  illegal,  and  null,  being 
made  to  support  the  discipline  of  an  unlawful  Standing 
Army  :  and  should  a  Standing  Army  be  made  lawful  in  any 
Colony,  (which  God  avert,)  the  Extension  Act  would,  ne- 
vertheless, remain  unlawful,  illegal,  and  null  in  that  Colo- 
ny, until  the  Legislature  should  have  given  it  their  local 
lawfulness,  legality,  and  therefore  existence.  But  you 
have  no  reason  to  fear  this  ;  for  self-preservation  will  effect- 
ually prevent  the  most  abandoned  traitor  from  making  a 
motion  of  that  tendency  in  any  American  legislative  as- 
sembly, against  the  safety  of  a  people  protected  by  the 
British  Constitution. 

Regardless  of  every  principle  of  justice  and  policy,  the 
British  Parliament  are  trying  against  our  liberty  experi- 
ments which,  if  hazarded  against  the  people  under  their 
immediate  legislative  authority,  would  infallibly  involve 
Great  Britain  in  a  civil  war,  and  might  produce  another 
revolution  there.  The  King  is  vested  with  the  supreme 
command  of  all  the  forces  of  the  Nation,  wherever  they 
may  be  stationed  ;  but  he  has  no  legal  coercive  authority 
any  where  over  the  soldiers  or  sailors,  otherwise  than  by 
local  laws,  made  from  time  to  time,  to  that  effect.  And, 
as  the  safety  of  every  constitutional  right  depends  on  the 
limitation  of  that  authority,  the  other  branches  of  the  Le- 
gislature grant  him  but  temporary  acts,  for  maintaining  the 
discipline  of  the  army  and  navy,  by  coercive  laws,  and  for 
restraining  or  enlarging  the  power  of  Courts-Martial  in  both 
these  departments,  within  the  limits  of  that  Legislature  by 
which  they  are  granted. 

The  limited  duration  of  those  laws  being  as  short  as  it 
appears,  from  occasional  circumstances,  to  be  consistent 
with  the  publick  safety,  the  treasonable  designs  of  Admin- 
istration may  be  counteracted  with  more  facility  than  if 
such  laws  were  perpetual.  After  the  legal  expiration  of 
those  acts,  the  King's  lawful  authority  over  the  national 
forces  expiring  of  course,  can  he  punish,  or  detain  any 
body  in  that  service,  since  Courts-Martial  arc  abolished  by 
law,  as  they  now  are  in  the  British  Colonies  ?  And  if  the 
King  would  attempt  to  retain  them  in  his  own  service,  how 
could  he  accomplish  it  before  he  had  usurped  an  arbitrary 
power  over  the  purses  of  the  people?  Could  he  satisfy  ca- 
pricious demands,  which  would  increase  in  proportion  to 
the  knowledge  that  every  man  in  his  army  and  navy  would 
have  of  the  embarrassments  of  their  master?  No!  for 
those  salutary  limitations  are  solely  intended  to  preserve 
inviolate  our  rights  of  opening  or  shutting  up  our  purses, 
as  we  think  fit.  They  have  till  now  prevented  such  usur- 
pations, which,  to  exercise  with  safety,  is  the  ultimate  end 
of  every  other  usurpation  that  ever  was  exercised  by  any 
tyrant  in  the  world.  It  was  but  to  attain  that  end  the 
selfish  Parliament  of  Great  Britain  have  so  flagitiously 
exceeded  the  limits  of  lawful  power. 


If  you  admit,  as  lawful,  the  extension  illegally  decreed 
by  a  ministerial  Parliament,  and  machinated  but  as  a  pro- 
visional edict  to  insure  the  success  of  measures  resolved  on, 
relatively  to  the  proscription  of  the  Bostonians,  and  other 
proscriptions  in  petto ;  if  you  only  tolerate  its  illegal  ope- 
ration any  longer,  the  King  will  not  experience  those  diffi- 
culties which  would  thwart  his  arbitrary  projects  in  Great 
Britain,  were  his  usurpations  to  begin  there.  His  Pailia- 
rnent  might  pay  us  the  compliment  of  renewing  the  exten- 
sion and  other  temporary  acts  of  their  own  sole  legislation, 
for  the  sole  purpose  of  raising  a  revenue  to  lighten  their 
own  burdens,  which  luxury  and  corruption  have  already 
prodigiously  increased,  and  which  your  tameness  will  in- 
crease to  a  degree  which  it  is  now  beyond  the  power  of  cal- 
culators to  ascertain.  But  you  may  rest  assured  that,  in  a 
very  short  time,  Administration  will  sport  with  your  liberties, 
and,  soon  after,  with  those  of  the  whole  British  Empire. 
The  opprobrious  and  degrading  denomination  of  Province, 
which  now  is  but  an  innocent  and  unmeant  misapplication 
of  a  foreign  word  adopted  in  our  language,  will  significantly 
describe  the  real  state  of  every  British  Colony,  and,  indeed, 
of  every  Shire  in  Great  Britain  and  Ireland.  Never  forget 
that  about  two  years  ago  a  crowned  miscreant  compelled 
the  states  of  Sweden,  the  Parliament  of  that  Country,  to 
release  him  from  his  coronation  oath  !  His  success  may 
tempt  others  to  commit  the  same  sacrilege. 

Our  enemies  are  now  terrified  at  the  superiority  of 
strength  which  the  justice  of  our  cause  gives  us  over  them 
in  the  present  contest.  They  will  be  amazed  at  the  effect 
of  their  flimsy  artifices,  if,  by  tolerating  the  extension 
edict,  we  stupidly  subject  ourselves  to  a  set  of  men  upon 
whom  we  can  have  no  check;  who,  having  exempted 
themselves  and  their  tools  from  the  power  of  our  tribunals, 
will  drag  before  theirs,  such  of  us  who  may  indicate  the 
least  inclination  to  a  better  change.  Then,  our  disguised 
friends,  and  our  open  foes,  united  in  the  British  Parlia- 
ment, will,  with  iron  hands  and  unfeeling  hearts,  "  bind  us 
in  all  cases  whatsoever."  We  shall  be  in  the  condition  of 
the  Swedes,  French,  Spaniards,  and  most  other  Nations, 
where,  now  and  then,  an  honest  man  may  regret  the  loss  of 
his  natural  rights,  but  where  an  attempt  to  recover  them 
would  be  next  to  madness. 

It  will  be  a  melancholy  reflection  to  us,  perhaps  for 
many  years,  that  no  strictures  have  yet  been  tendered 
respecting  the  destructive  tendency  of  the  extension  edict. 
It  is  expected  that  the  tried  patriotism  of  our  ablest  writers 
will  inspire  them  to  hold  it  up  to  publick  view  in  its  most 
minute  circumstances.  The  silence  now  complained  of 
dismays  our  friends,  and  secretly  elates  our  enemies  on  the 
other  side  of  the  water;  it  may,  in  some  measure,  excul- 
pate the  Magistrates  and  Grand-Juries,  who  have  not 
yet  brought  to  justice  any  of  the  persons  who  are  liable  to 
be  prosecuted  in  their  respective  districts  for  crimes  com- 
mitted there,  under  the  unlawful  sanction  of  Parliamentary 
edicts. 

But,  every  such  edict,  or  illegal  act  of  Parliament,  being 
void  and  null  in  law,  respecting  its  operation  amongst  us, 
it  clearly  follows,  that  all  the  robberies  and  burglaries  com- 
mitted by  Custom-House  Officers  and  others,  under  colour 
of  several  edicts  of  a  similar  nullity ;  that  all  the  murders 
and  violences  perpetrated  under  the  directions  of  illegal 
Courts-Martial ;  that  the  oppression  of  the  soldiers,  who 
now  are  legally  under  the  sole  protection  of  the  civil  power 
of  the  British  Colonies  on  this  Continent,  where  they  are 
unlawfully  stationed  by  a  despotick  Administration  ;  and 
that  the  enormities  which  Custom-House  Officers,  and  il- 
legal Courts  of  Admiralty  or  Vice-Admiralty,  or  which  the 
deluded  soldiery  in  the  ministerial  service,  have  already 
committed,  or  may  hereafter  commit,  shall  be  wholly  charge- 
able to  the  pusillanimous,  or  treasonable  connivance  of 
the  Colonists  themselves,  if  such  crimes  remain  unnoticed 
by  those  whose  sworn,  and  therefore  whose  indispensable 
duty  it  is,  to  bring  them  to  light  and  trial. 

0  my  countrymen,  will  you  cease  to  incur  the  con- 
tempt of  the  world  ?  Will  you  no  longer  continue  the  jest 
of  your  enemies?  Listen  no  more  to  trembling  delin- 
quents, who  artfully  whisper  to  you,  that  your  Courts  of 
Justice  would  quash  such  indictments.  For  God's  sake, 
do  justice  to  the  understanding  and  integrity  of  your 
Judges.  Consider,  and  you  will  clearly  see,  that  were 
they  as  corrupt  as  we  know  them  to  be  otherwise,  they 


885 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


886 


would  not  dare,  at  this  juncture,  to  betray  their  iniquitous 
partiality.  Nay,  the  most  profligate  member  of  our  As- 
sembly, though  he  could  depend  on  the  concurrence  of  a 
majority  of  the  same  corrupt  principles,  would  not  dare 
now  to  abuse  representation  so  far  as  to  move  for  a  bill 
tending  to  screen,  directly  or  indirectly,  under  the  illusory 
declaration  of  your  assent,  manifested  by  them  only,  any  of 
the  obnoxious  acts  which  the  late  Congress  reprobated,  as 
demonstratory  of  "  a  system  formed  to  enslave  America." 

Timid  well-wishers  to  their  Country  may  object,  that 
our  zeal  will  be  frustrated  by  an  unprincipled  Governour; 
that,  not  daring  with  a  high  hand  to  impede  the  prosecu- 
•  tion  of  criminals,  protected  by  himself,  he  will  stretch  pre- 
rogative even  to  the  pardon  of  irremissible  crimes,  none  of 
which  are  more  so  than  those  by  which  our  sacred  Consti- 
tution is  endangered.  But,  may  not  the  well  known  fate 
of  a  Portcus  check  traitors,  by  convincing  them  that  they 
cannot  always  shelter  themselves  under  the  wings  of  pre- 
rogative? And  should  this  prove  ineffectual,  our  holy  re- 
ligion teaches  us,  that  no  worldly  consideration  ought  to 
deter  the  just  from  doing  his  duty.  Our  Committees,  and, 
what  is  much  safer,  Colonial  Conventions,  vested  with  dis- 
cretionary powers,  will,  at  last,  bafBe  the  arts  of  ministe- 
rial tools,  and  work  our  political  salvation. 

If  there  be  amongst  us  a  conscientious  lawyer,  he  cer- 
tainly will  point  out  to  the  officers  of  the  unlawful  Standing 
Army,  stationed  in  the  British  Colonies,  the  imminent 
danger  they  run  by  detaining  soldiers  in  North  America, 
under  the  illegal  extension  edict.  As  to  pettifoggers,  we 
know  they  are  seduced  by  the  prospect  of  a  plentiful  har- 
vest, and  that  self-interest,  not  justice,  determines  them  to 
act,  whatever  side  they  undertake  to  defend.  If  the 
Minister  do  not  value  these  enough  to  retain  them  in  his 
service  for  supporting  the  unlawful  acts,  they  will  of  course 
rejoice  at  the  almost  innumerable  actions  of  a  civil  nature 
which  may  be  grounded  on  the  local  nullity  of  Parliamen- 
tary edicts,  and  commenced  by  soldiers  for  unjust  deten- 
tion, loss  of  time,  and  unpaid  labour;  or  for  various  tres- 
passes, unjustifiable  before  tribunals  which  follow  the 
British  system  of  law. 

All  injuries  sustained  by  any  person  in  this  Colony,  in 
consequence  of  the  same  unlawful  sanction,  maybe  re- 
dressed, and  the  same  offences  will  be  prevented  for  the 
future,  if  we  have  but  sense  and  firmness  enough  to  apply 
as  we  should,  and  where  we  should.  It  is  never  too  late 
to  do  our  duty.  Let  us  trust  the  event  to  the  omnipotent 
Ruler  of  the  universe,  and  He  will  reward  our  persever- 
ance. 

If,  through  ignorance  or  inattention,  any  of  you  ever 
gave  a  verdict  in  contradiction  to  the  fundamentals  of  jus- 
tice; if  he  admitted  the  force  of  any  act  of  Parliament  to 
which  your  own  Colonial  laws  have  given  no  such  force, 
that  man  must  be  very  unhappy  whenever  he  reflects  on 
the  injustice  he  has  occasioned ;  but  he  is  guiltless — he 
deserves  compassion.  It  is  far  different  with  jurymen,  who 
knew  the  local  nullity  of  acts  of  Parliament,  and  by  their 
verdicts  authorized  their  illegal  operation.  Those  jurymen, 
and  the  judges  who  designedly  suffered  it — who  have  sup- 
pressed the  warnings  and  instructions  which  they  ought  to 
have  given,  and  strengthened  with  their  eloquence — have 
been  bribed.  Whether  hope,  fear,  avarice,  or  any  other 
worldly  motive  influences  such  judges  and  jurymen — they 
have  been  bribed.  They  stand  guilty  before  God  and 
man,  of  wilful  and  corrupt  perjury. 

Do  not  believe,  my  dear  countrymen,  that,  infatuated  as 
the  junto  may  be,  they  hope  that  the  Continental  Associa- 
tion can  be  dissolved  by  the  external,  the  seeming  defection 
of  any  Colony,  were  it  even  ours,  which  is  nearly  central, 
and  the  most  liable  to  such  suspicions.  A  Governour  may 
bribe  the  majority  of  an  Assembly,  who  fancy  that  they 
represent  a  people  not  virtuous  enough  to  exercise  their 
rights  of  choosing  their  representatives  and  elective  officers 
by  ballot.  Illegal  warrants  may  be  issued,  and  remain 
unquashed  for  a  considerable  time,  to  bewilder  the  bulk  of 
the  people  with  the  innumerable  doubts  which,  it  is  evi- 
dent, will  arise  from  the  untried  illegality  of  those  proceed- 
ings ;  to  intimidate  and  oppress,  till  the  bench  determine 
the  question;  and,  in  the  mean  while,  to  deter  the  injured 
from  prosecuting  such  daring  conspirators. 

He  may  bribe  a  few  trading  justices,  and  seduce  other 
sons  of  corruption  and  power,  who  hold,  or  expect  to  hold 


magistracy  or  other  offices  during  pleasure,  and  are  as  much 
afraid  of  Colonial  Conventions  as  the  Minister  is  of  Con- 
tinental Congresses.  But  he  cannot  bribe  the  body  of 
the  people,  in  whom,  originally  and  finally,  lies  the  sover- 
eign power,  represented  for  their  benefit  only  by  one 
single  person. 

All  the  Colonies,  nay,  the  internal  force  of  any  single 
Colony,  can  punish  a  few  venal  officers  for  abusing  the  au- 
thority with  which  they  are  entrusted  by  their  superiours, 
who  are  themselves  subordinate  to  another  superiour,  like- 
wise entrusted  by,  and  (as  glorious  experience  shows)  ac- 
countable, as  well  as  every  one  of  his  dependants,  to  the 
people  at  large,  whether  they  meet  in  one  single  spot,  or 
in  their  respective  Districts.  The  patriotick  spirit  of  the 
American  Britons  cannot  be  subdued.  They  will  exer- 
cise their  constitutional  right  to  hold  Conventions  for  their 
safety ;  a  right  which  cannot  be  questioned,  without  open- 
ly denying  the  legal  title  of  the  Hanoverian  line  of  our 
Kings  to  the  British  Crown.  Therefore,  my  dear  coun- 
trymen, do  not  basely  relinquish  that  sacred  right,  when 
you  ought  to  exercise  it.  You  know  that,  should  you  be 
oppressed  by  a  wicked  knot  of  traitors,  you  will  be  deliver- 
ed by  your  happier  neighbours  as  soon  as  their  assistance 
is  required. 

The  arch  fiend  to  our  Constitution  knows  all  this.  The 
Colonies  which  delegated  members  to  the  late  Congress, 
have  already  appalled  him,  that  insolent,  cruel,  and  cow- 
ardly wretch,  who,  a  year  ago,  declared  by  his  wicked 
trumpet,  that  he  would  not  relent  "  till  he  saw  you  pros- 
trate at  his  feet !"  Your  Congress  made  him  stoop  to 
proposals,  which  he  well  knows  you  will  reject  with  dis- 
dain. He  means  but  to  divide  and  betray  you,  whom  he 
despairs  to  subjugate  by  force.  However,  he  will  send 
more  Troops,  more  indeed  than  he  thinks  it  is  prudent 
now  to  divulge.  But  it  is  not  solely  in  that  re-enforcement 
he  confides.  Will  you  believe  it,  my  dear  devoted  coun- 
trymen, it  is  in  his  opinion  of  your  folly.  I  shall  reveal  to 
you  his  grand  secret — the  only  resource  left  him  to  extort 
your  compliance. 

Now  that  the  vices  of  the  Nation  have  reduced  to  a  state 
of  impotence  the  small  portion  of  virtue  which  still  re- 
mains in  the  British  Parliament,  he  hopes  that  a  supersti- 
tious reverence  for  that  body,  degenerate  as  it  is,  will  con- 
tinue to  betray  you  into  absurdities,  and  an  inconsistent 
passiveness.  He  still  hopes  that  your  inattention  to  the 
extension  edict  will  enable  him  at  last  to  defeat  your  united 
forces.  Your  supineness  justifies  him  in  believing,  and  per- 
suading his  associates,  that  you  will  always  tolerate  the 
operation  of  that  destructive  edict,  which  is  sufficient  in 
itself  to  put  all  the  others  in  force. 

Can  we,  without  feeling  the  severest  stings  of  self- 
reproach,  reflect  on  the  many  crimes  which,  since  the  ex- 
tension act  was  quietly  enforced,  our  inattention  has  em- 
boldened Custom-House  Officers  and  other  sons  of  tyranny 
to  commit?  Oh  !  had  criminal  prosecutions  been  instituted 
in  that  Country  where  the  first  felony  or  the  first  degrada- 
tion of  human  nature  was  committed,  in  defiance  of  our 
laws,  and  under  the  usurped  authority  of  Courts-Martial, 
or  rather,  immediately  after  their  first  unwarrantable  sen- 
tence was  known !  had  soldiers  been  duly  protected 
against  their  tyrannical  masters,  robberies  and  murders 
might  have  been  prevented  ;  our  brethren  at  Boston  could 
not  be  dragooned  ;  we  might  long  ago  have  defied  the  com- 
binations of  the  parricidal  junto,  whose  aim  is  to  destroy  our 
Constitution  !  We  should  no  longer  fear  their  dethroning 
our  King,  and  fixing  his  crown  on  the  head  of  a  race  of 
tyrants  whom  a  patriotick  Parliament  justly  proscribed 
about  ninety  years  ago,  as  irreconcilable  foes  to  the  natu- 
ral rights  of  the  British  Nation  !  With  truth  and  security 
we  might  tell  the  arch  fiend,  "  What  do  you  think  of  venal 
Parliaments  now  ?" 

Since  no  sophistry  can  delude  an  incorrupted  American 
jury  ;  since  the  joint  efforts  of  the  ministerial  hirelings  can- 
not, without  our  connivance,  hold  up  before  the  eyes  of 
the  soldiers  the  veil  which  hides  from  them  the  knowledge 
of  their  civil  rights,  let  us  instruct  those  deluded  victims  ; 
let  us  openly  protect  them  against  their  oppressors.  If  we 
adopt  this  pacifick  mode  of  resistance,  which  no  political 
casuist  who  has  subscribed  to  the  Revolution  creed  can 
disapprove,  the  Minister  may  send  over  as  many  Regiments 
as  he  pleases ;  the  intended  instruments  of  our  ruin  will 


S87 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &ic,  JUNE,  1775. 


883 


but  add  to  our  strength  and  prosperity.  As  soon  as  they 
know  it  is  against  law  to  detain  them  in  the  Army,  the 
ministerial  army,  there  will  be  no  obstacle  to  their  deser- 
tion. Then,  but  not  before,  sycophants,  paid  to  calumni- 
ate and  betray  the  British  Colonies,  will  in  vain  attempt  to 
persuade  the  instructed  and  less  credulous  soldiers  that  we 
shall  deliver  them  up  to  facilitate  our  reconciliation  with  the 
British  Parliament,  who  will  not  hear  of  any  proposal  of 
accommodation,  unless  this,  their  sine  qua  non  condition,  be 
first  complied  with .  If  we  adopt  this  generous  measure,  we 
shall  enjoy  the  purest  pleasure  that  can  affect  freemen — 
that  of  rescuing  our  fellow-creatures,  our  brethren,  from 
disgraceful  bondage.  And  if  experience  can  teach  us 
wisdom,  we  shall  so  cautiously  grant  temporary  acts  for 
preventing  mutiny  and  desertion,  should  ever  the  safety  of 
the  British  Empire  make  it  again  necessary  to  grant  such 
acts,  that  the  abominable  project  of  reducing  us  into  a  state 
of  slavery,  by  the  means  of  a  Standing  Army,  cannot  enter 
the  head  of  any  future  Minister. 

The  virtuous  part  of  the  British  Officers  themselves 
impatiently  wait  for  this  manifestation  of  our  prudence. 
They  will  secretly  rejoice,  as  Britons,  at  the  mutiny  and 
desertion  of  whole  battalions,  whatever  they  may  do  in 
their  publick  character  to  the  contrary.  And  General 
Gage,  whom  his  weakness  and  incapacity  recommended 
to  a  perfidious  Administration,  who  emulously  extol  his 
abilities,  though  they  would  not  have  employed  him  if  a 
sensible  man,  of  an  established  military  reputation,  had 
accepted  the  dishonourable  command  ;  that  General,  whom 
they  have  decorated  but  as  a  bound  victim,  may  be  brought 
to  justice,  and  answer  for  the  many  crimes  which  his  thirst 
of  power  inspired  him  to  perpetrate,  or  patronize,  as  the 
most  acceptable  offerings  which  could  propitiate  to  him  his 
tutelar  Deity  at  St.  James's. 

It  is  not  yet  too  late  to  pursue  this  plan  of  philanthropy 
and  self-defence ;  but  we  must  exert  ourselves  with  activi- 
ty and  constancy.  If  we  lose  time,  the  soldiers,  not  know- 
ing the  local  nullity  of  an  edict  made  for  the  purpose  of 
detaining  them  against  law,  on  an  unnatural  service  which 
they  abhor,  will  be  afraid  of  being  treacherously  delivered 
up,  in  case  they  desert.  They  will  not  cease  to  be  awed 
by  illegal  Courts-Martial,  though  if  they  were  properly 
instructed  they  would  not  fear,  but  despise,  the  authority 
usurped  by  those  Courts ;  and  the  soldiers  who  have  been 
injured  by  them,  or  by  any  military  officer,  would  obtain 
legal  redress,  should  they  make  proper  application. 

If  we  suffer  them  to  be  misled  by  a  sacrilegious  interpre- 
tation of  their  military  oath,  from  which  they  are  released 
as  soon  as  the  Army  is  kept  against  law  ;  if  we  scandalous- 
ly forsake  thein,  in  vain  shall  we  cry  out  to  them  in  the 
strain  of  the  Roman  Patriot, 

Whither,  oh  !  whither  do  you  madly  run  ? 
Tis  not  that  Britons,  with  avenging  flame, 
Might  burn  the  rival  of  the  British  name  ; 
But  that  the  Stuarts  should  their  vows  enjoy, 
And  George,  with  impious  hand,  himself  destroy  ! 

When  they  are  ordered  to  butcher  us,  and  destroy  our 
habitations,  then  they  will  not  listen  to  us ;  self-preserva- 
tion, and  even  revenge,  must  impel  them  to  imbrue  their 
hands  in  our  blood,  and  our  destruction  or  slavery,  attend- 
ed with  the  curses  of  posterity,  may  be  the  fatal  conse- 
quences of  our  infatuation,  in  neglecting  to  seize  an  oppor- 
tunity to  vanquish  our  enemies  without  shedding  the  blood 
of  our  friends.  An  Anti-Despot. 


ROBERT  AND  JOHN  MURRAY  TO  THE  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

Ncw.York,  June  2,  1775. 
Sir  :  Herewith  you  have  a  memorial  to  the  Congress 
now  assembled,  together  with  a  copy  of  the  papers  laid  be- 
fore the  Continental  Congress.  We  should  take  it  as  a 
favour,  if  you  would  lay  the  whole  before  the  gentlemen  as 
soon  as  possible.  Your  compliance  will  much  oblige  your 
humble  servants,  Robert  &  John  Murray. 

P.  V.  B.  Livingston,  Esq.,  President  of  the  Congress. 

Memorial  of  Robert  Murray  and  John  Murray  to  the 
Honourable  the  Provincial  Congress  of  New-York. 
Gentlemen  :  The  annexed  papers  are  copies  of  what 

we  laid  before  the  honourable  Continental  Congress,  in 


consideration  of  which  they  came  to  the  following  Resolu- 
tion : 

"  In  Congress,  May  27,  1775. 

"  Upon  motion,  the  Memorial  of  Robert  Murray  and 
John  Murray,  desiring  to  be  restored  to  their  former  situa- 
tion, with  respect  to  their  commercial  privileges,  was  taken 
into  consideration,  and  after  some  time  spent  thereon, 

"  Resolved,  That  where  any  person  hath  been,  or  shall 
be,  adjudged  by  a  Committee  to  have  violated  the  Conti- 
nental Association,  and  such  offender  shall  satisfy  the  Con- 
vention of  the  Colony  where  the  offence  was  or  shall  be 
committed,  or  the  Committee  of  the  Parish  of  St.  John's, 
in  the  Colony  of  Georgia,  if  the  offence  be  committed 
there,  of  his  contrition  for  his  offence,  and  sincere  resolu- 
tion to  conform  to  the  Association  for  the  future,  the  said 
Convention  or  Committee  of  the  Parish  of  St.  John's  afore- 
said, may  settle  the  terms  upon  which  he  may  be  restored 
to  the  favour  and  forgiveness  of  the  publick,  and  that  the 
terms  be  published. 

"  A  true  copy  from  the  Minutes : 

"  Charles  Thomson,  Secretary." 

From  the  foregoing  it  appears,  that  to  procure  restora- 
tion to  publick  favour,  we  have  no  tribunal  but  yours  to 
appeal  to.  The  annexed  papers  exhibit  a  full  state  of  our 
case,  which  we  humbly  submit  to  your  consideration,  not 
doubting  but  that  in  your  wisdom  you  will  afford  us  such 
relief  as  will  be  consistent  with  humanity  and  the  publick 
good.  Robert  Murray. 

John  Murray. 

June  2,  1775. 

MEMORIAL  OF  ROBERT  AND  JOHN  MURRAY  TO  THE  CONTI- 
NENTAL CONGRESS. 

To  the.  Honourable  the  Continental  Congress  now  sitting 

at  Philadelphia  : 
The  Memorial  of  Robert  Murray  and  John  Murray, 

of  the  City  of  New- York,  Merchants,  humbly  shew- 

eth  : 

That  the  memorialists  being  owners  of  the  ship  Dutchess 
of  Gordon,  and  expecting  she  would  be  in  London  by  the 
time  their  orders  could  arrive  there,  did,  on  the  7th  of  Sep- 
tember last,  by  a  letter  to  Philip  Sansom,  direct  him  to 
put  certain  articles  on  board  the  said  ship,  on  account  of 
the  memorialists,  together  with  what  freight  he  could  pro- 
cure for  her,  and  to  despatch  her  immediately  for  New- 
York,  as  may  appear  by  an  extract  of  the  letter  hereunto 
annexed,  marked  No.  1. 

That  the  memorialists,  so  far  from  entertaining  any  de- 
sign to  counteract  the  measures  recommended  by  the  late 
Continental  Congress,  did,  as  soon  as  they  were  informed 
thereof,  countermand  the  above-mentioned  orders,  except 
as  to  such  goods  as  might,  in  consequence  thereof,  have 
actually  become  the  property  of  the  memorialists  and  their 
partner,  the  said  Philip  Sansom ;  for  the  truth  of  which 
they  beg  leave  to  refer  to  the  annexed  extract  of  a  letter 
to  the  said  Philip  Sansom,  dated  the  5th  of  October,  1774, 
marked  No.  2. 

That  in  pursuance  of  the  above  directions,  there  were 
shipped  on  board  the  Beulah,  (a  vessel  belonging  to  the 
memorialists)  at  London,  sundry  goods,  on  account  of  the 
memorialists  and  their  partner,  with  which  goods  the  said 
vessel  sailed  for  New-York  on  the  5th  or  6th  day  of  De- 
cember last,  and  arrived  there  the  16th  or  17th  of  February 
following. 

That  on  the  arrival  of  the  said  vessel  and  cargo,  which 
happened  after  the  time  limited  by  the  Congress  for  the 
continuance  of  our  importations,  the  memorialists  having 
no  intention  to  land  their  goods  contrary  to  the  terms  of  the 
Association,  would  have  cheerfully  submitted  to  what  they 
conceived  to  be  the  spirit  and  design  thereof,  and  were 
therefore  willing,  and  did  offer  to  unload  their  cargo  and 
ship  it  in  another  bottom,  under  the  inspection  of  some 
of  the  Committee  here,  and  to  send  it  to  some  place  not 
within  the  restriction  imposed  by  the  Congress ;  and  the 
memorialists  beg  leave  to  refer  to  the  annexed  copy  of  their 
letter,  sent  to  the  Committee  upon  this  subject,  marked 
No.  3,  containing  more  at  large  their  proposal,  and  the 
reasons  on  which  it  was  founded. 

The  memorialists  beg  leave  further  to  observe,  that  they 
did  verily  believe  their  construction  of  this  part  of  the 


889 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


890 


Association  was  consistent  with  tlie  spirit  and  design  there- 
of; and  had  the  Committee  here  been  of  that  opinion,  such 
a  mode  of  compliance  would  have  greatly  alleviated  the 
loss  of  the  memorialists,  as  they  might,  in  that  case,  have 
shipped  their  cargo  away  in  a  small  vessel,  instead  of  send- 
ing it  in  a  vessel  not  above  one-third  full. 

That,  reduced,  as  they  thought,  to  an  unnecessary  hard- 
ship, and  chagrined  with  the  disappointment,  the  memo- 
rialists rashly  formed  the  design  of  secretly  landing  some 
small  part  of  the  cargo,  and  were  so  imprudent  as  to  carry 
the  same  into  execution.  That  before  a  discovery  was 
made  thereof,  and  at  a  time  when  the  memorialists  had 
great  reason  to  suppose  the  place  where  the  goods  were 
deposited  would  not  be  discovered,  to  wit:  the  13th  of 
March  last,  they  made  a  declaration  of  the  fact,  and  offered 
to  give  the  Committee  a  full  account  of  the  particulars,  on 
oath,  which  they  accordingly  did  on  the  15th  of  the  same 
month,  when  all  the  goods  landed  had  been  delivered  up 
to  the  Committee  of  Elizabethtown,  and  the  disposition 
thereof  submitted  entirely  to  the  directions  of  the  Com- 
mittees at  Nav-York ;  all  which  particulars  will  more 
fully  appear  from  Holt's  New-York  Journal,  of  the  23d 
March,  hereunto  also  annexed,  to  which  the  memorialists 
refer. 

The  memorialists  having  proceeded  thus  far,  and  mani- 
fested their  intention  to  satisfy  the  publick  in  any  reason- 
able way  that  could  be  expected,  as  well  as  to  express  their 
contrition  for  the  hasty  and  imprudent  measure  they  had 
taken  ;  and  to  prevent  their  future  commercial  intercourse 
with  others  from  becoming  the  means  of  other  infractions 
of  the  Association,  the  memorialists  did  shut  up  their 
store,  discontinue  all  trade,  shut  up  their  own  goods  under 
the  seals  of  certain  persons  here,  transfer  their  commis- 
sion business  to  others,  and  give  up  their  wharf  as  free  for 
the  use  of  the  navigation  of  this  City,  until  they  should  be 
relieved  in  the  premises  by  the  interposition  of  the  Con- 
gress. As  vouchers  of  these  facts,  the  memorialists  refer 
to  the  annexed  printed  publications,  marked  No.  5  and 
No.  6. 

The  foregoing  is  a  true  state  of  the  facts  relative  to  this 
unhappy  affair  in  which  the  memorialists  are  involved  ;  and 
as  their  commercial  concerns  were  large  and  extensive,  at 
least  amounting  to  £50,000  per  annum,  this  total  derelic- 
tion of  business  has  become  an  immense  loss  to  them  ;  and 
if  unrelieved,  cannot  but  terminate  in  their  ruin. 

That  Mr.  Philip  Sansom,  their  partner,  who  has  been 
distinguished  for  his  warm  attachment  to  American  liberty, 
though  not  concerned  in  the  indiscreet  step  taken  by  the 
memorialists,  is  yet  involved  in  all  its  fatal  consequences. 
That  besides  the  weight  of  distress  and  sufferings  to  which 
the  memorialists  themselves  have  been  exposed,  not  only 
from  their  great  losses,  but  the  resentment  of  an  incensed 
people,  their  present  situation  must  be  attended  with  a  train 
of  evils  to  the  innocent  who  are  connected  with  them  in 
business  ;  their  creditors  must  suffer ;  those  who  depended 
on  their  large  commercial  business  for  bread,  are  turned  out 
of  employ,  and  the  publick  deprived  of  the  advantages 
which  necessarily  flow  from  a  continuance  of  their  trade 
and  commerce. 

That  the  memorialists  presume  the  American  Congress, 
from  the  great  and  important  ends  of  the  Convention,  will 
move  only  on  publick  principles,  and  therefore  think  it  im- 
proper to  address  their  tender  and  benevolent  feelings,  not 
doubting  but  every  generous  and  humane  sentiment  to- 
wards the  memorialists,  which  is  consistent  with  the  pub- 
lick good,  will  have  their  due  influence  in  a  determination 
of  this  subject,  in  which  the  memorialists  are  so  deeply 
interested. 

Permit  them,  then,  to  hope  that  this  august  and  respect- 
able body,  from  a  consideration  of  the  conduct  of  the  me- 
morialists in  this  affair ;  from  their  utmost  endeavours  to 
atone,  in  some  measure,  for  their  indiscretion ;  from  the 
great  and  complicated  distress  they  have  already  sustained  ; 
from  the  circumstance  that  the  innocent  are  deeply  involved 
in  their  sufferings ;  and  that  a  continuation  of  their  suffer- 
ings can  only  perpetuate  their  calamities,  without  advanc- 
ing the  important  ends  of  publick  safety,  will,  in  their  wis- 
dom, reinstate  the  memorialists  in  their  former  situation, 
with  respect  to  their  commercial  privileges. 

Robt.  Murray, 
John  Murray. 


No.  1. 

EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  TO  PHILIP  SANSOM,  DATED  NEW- 
YORK,  SEPTEMBER  7,  1774. 

As  we  expect  the  Dutchess  will  be  with  you  by  the  time 
this  reaches  thy  hands,  we  have  thought  it  most  prudent  to 
order  out  some  bulky  articles,  such  as  we  apprehend  will 
pay  a  good  freight,  in  consequence  of  which,  we  have  now 
enclosed  thee  a  list  of  such  articles  as  we  would  have  thee 
send  out  in  her  immediately,  with  what  freight  offers. 

No.  2. 

EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  TO  PHILIP  SANSOM,  DATED  OCTO- 
BER 5,  1774. 

The  foregoing  is  a  copy  of  our  last,  per  the  Thetis,  to 
the  contents  of  which  refer  you.  She  sailed  the  2d  cur- 
rent, since  which  we  find  it  to  be  the  sense  of  the  Congress, 
that  all  orders  that  are  gone  may  be  suspended  or  counter- 
manded ;  in  consequence  of  which,  we  desire  that  all  our 
orders  sent  may  be  countermanded,  except  such  as  are  al- 
ready become  our  property.  Those  we  would  have  you 
ship  immediately,  by  the  first  vessel  for  this  port,  giving  the 
preference  to  one  of  our  own,  if  there. 

No.  3. 

February  20,  1775. 
Gentlemen:  We  being  sole  owners  of  the  Ship  Beu- 
lah,  from  London,  do  propose,  (with  your  approbation,) 
that  the  ship  be  regularly  entered  at  the  Custom-House  ; 
in  which  case  we  pledge  to  you  our  word  and  honour,  that 
no  part  of  the  goods  shall  be  landed  in  this  Province;  but 
the  same  shall  be  forthwith  reshipped  and  sent  off  in  some 
other  bottom.  If  it  shall  be  thought  more  satisfactory,  we 
consent  that  any  number  of  your  body  be  on  board  the 
ship  while  here,  to  see  that  the  above  engagement  is  strictly 
observed. 

This  proposition,  we  think,  must  appear  reasonable,  as 
being  not  inconsistent  with  the  resolution  of  the  Congress ; 
and  therefore  we  are  led  to  hope  it  will  meet  not  only  with 
your  approbation,  but  that  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  City 
in  general.  The  Congress  having  been  silent  as  to  what 
bottom  the  goods  shall  be  returned  in,  probably  meant  to 
expose  the  owners  of  the  ship  and  cargo  to  as  little  incon- 
venience as  possible,  by  leaving  that  matter  to  their  discre- 
tion, which,  from  the  terms  in  which  their  resolve  is  ex- 
pressed, seems  evidently  to  be  the  case.  Their  words  are  : 
"  If  any  goods,  wares,  or  merchandises,  shall  be  imported 
after  the  first  day  of  February,  the  same  ought  forthwith 
to  be  sent  back  again  without  breaking  any  of  the  pack- 
ages thereof."  This,  we  conceive,  manifestly  declares  that 
the  goods,  (which  are  the  object  of  this  resolve,)  are  to  be 
imported  after  the  first  day  of  February;  but  as  there  can- 
not be  a  legal  importation  without  an  entry  at  the  Custom- 
House,  it  follows  that  such  entry  is  presupposed  and  im- 
plied in  their  resolution  ;  and  the  more  especially,  as  they 
direct  that  the  packages  shall  be  sent  back  unopened  ;  for, 
as  opening  the  packages  without  an  entry,  would  make  the 
ship  liable  to  a  seizure,  the  Congress  could  hardly  have 
thought  such  rash  conduct  in  the  owners  to  be  probable  ; 
and,  therefore,  from  this  prohibitory  clause,  they  must  have 
considered  the  goods  as  in  a  situation  in  which  the  pack- 
ages might  be  lawfully  opened,  which  plainly  includes  the 
idea  of  a  previous  entry  at  the  Custom-House.  By  per- 
mitting, therefore,  such  entry  under  the  guards  proposed, 
we  think  that  not  only  the  letter,  but  the  spirit  and  inten- 
tion of  the  resolution  of  the  Congress  will  be  fully  com- 
plied with. 

It  has,  and  probably  may  again  be  insisted  on  against 
this  construction  of  the  resolve,  that  the  first  article  of  the 
Association  prohibits  the  importation  of  goods  from  Great 
Britain,  &ic,  after  the  first  day  of  December ;  and  there- 
fore, that  it  must  be  absurd  to  suppose  the  Congress  could 
intend  an  importation  after  the  first  day  of  February,  in  the 
sense  we  contend  for,  as  it  would  imply  a  contradiction. 
Whatever  force  there  may  appear  to  be  in  this  argument  at 
first  view,  it  is  entirely  taken  off  by  the  explanatory  clause 
in  the  tenth  article,  which  declares,  that  in  case  any  mer- 
chant, trader,  or  other  persons,  shall  import  any  goods  after 
the  first  day  of  December,  and  before  the  first  day  of  Febru- 
ary, the  same  ought  forthwith,  at  the  election  of  the  owner, 
to  be  either  reshipped  or  delivered  up  to  the  Committee 


891 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &cc,  JUNE,  1775. 


892 


of  the  County,  &ic.  That  an  importation,  in  the  proper 
and  legal  sense  of  the  word,  is  here  meant,  cannot  admit 
of  a  douht,  since  neither  of  the  alternatives  imposed  on  the 
owner,  of  reshipping  or  delivering  the  goods  to  the  Com- 
mittee, can  possibly  take  place  without  an  actual  unloading 
of  the  cargo,  for  which  purpose  an  entry  was  absolutely 
necessary,  and  therefore  must  have  been  intended  by  the 
Congress. 

As  to  the  objection  that  proper  evidences  cannot  be 
given  to  the  neighbouring  Colonics,  that  the  goods  are  sent 
back  unless  they  go  in  the  same  bottom,  we  think  it  must 
be  effectually  removed,  by  having  the  matter  transacted 
under  the  inspection  of  some  of  the  Committee,  in  the  way 
we  propose.  Besides,  we  cannot  help  observing,  that  the 
grand  object  of  the  Congress  seems  to  have  been  the  send- 
ing the  goods  back ;  and  as  it  must  be  immaterial  in  what 
vessel  they  are  carried,  this  may  well  account  for  their 
leaving  that  circumstance  to  the  discretion  of  the  owner. 
And  as  we  are  disposed  to  comply  not  only  with  the  ex- 
press words  of  the  Congress,  but  likewise  with  the  very 
spirit  thereof,  we  shall  therefore  think  ourselves  ill  used,  if 
we  are  obliged  to  carry  the  goods  back  in  the  same  bottom, 
which  will  be  laying  a  very  heavy  burthen  on,  that  we  and 
many  more  believe  was  not  intended  by  the  Congress. 

We  have  no  objection  to  your  publishing  this  letter,  as 
we  are  free  the  publick  should  have  an  opportunity  of 
judging  thereof.  We  may  further  inform  you,  that  the 
proprietors  of  the  goods  are  quite  free  that  they  be  reship- 
ped  in  the  manner  here  proposed. 

Murray,  Sansom,  &  Co., 
Wm.  M.  Bossell. 


JOHN  LAMB  TO  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

New-York,  June  2,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  As  I  embarked  very  early  in  the  cause  of 
liberty,  and  have  ever  defended  the  rights  of  America  by 
every  means  in  my  power,  so  1  am  still  actuated,  both  by 
principle  and  inclination,  to  exert  myself  to  the  utmost  of 
my  abilities,  in  preserving  the  freedom  of  my  country  ;  and 
as  it  is  highly  probable  that  troops  will  soon  be  raised  in 
this  Colony,  I  take  the  liberty  to  tender  you  my  best  ser- 
vices. Should  you  think  me  worthy  your  confidence,  I 
flatter  myself  that  my  future  conduct  will  evince  it  has  not 
been  placed  on  an  improper  object.  At  the  same  time,  I 
must  beg  leave  to  observe,  that  I  should  incline  to  serve  in 
the  Artillery  department,  having  made  that  branch  of  mili- 
tary science  more  particularly  my  study. 

I  am,  with  the  greatest  respect,  gentlemen,  your  most 
humble  servant,  John  Lamb. 

To  the  Honourable  Provincial  Congress  for  the  Colony  of 
New-  York. 


ETHAN  ALLEN  TO  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

Crown  Point,  Juno  2,  1775. 

Respectable  Gentlemen  :  Before  this  time  you  have 
undoubtedly  received  intelligence  not  only  of  the  taking 
the  fortified  places  on  Lake  Champlain,  but  also  the  armed 
sloop  and  boats  therein,  and  the  taking  possession  of  a 
schooner,  (the  property  of  Major  Skene,)  which  we  have 
armed  and  manned,  and  of  the  conversion  of  them,  with  a 
large  train  of  artillery,  to  the  defence  of  the  liberty  and 
constitutional  rights  of  America.  You  have  likewise  been 
undoubtedly  informed  that  the  expedition  was  undertaken 
at  the  special  encouragement  and  request  of  a  number  of 
respectable  gentlemen  in  the  Colony  of  Connecticut.  The 
pork  forwarded  to  subsist  the  Army  by  your  Honours'  di- 
rection, evinces  your  approbation  of  the  procedure;  and  as 
it  was  a  private  expedition,  and  common  fame  reports  that 
there  arc  a  number  of  overgrown  tories  in  the  Province, 
your  Honours  will  the  readier  excuse  me  in  not  first  taking 
your  advice  in  the  matter,  lest  the  enterprises  might  have 
been  prevented  by  their  treachery.  It  is  here  reported 
that  some  of  them  have  been  lately  savingly  converted, 
and  that  others  have  lost  their  influence.  If,  in  those  achieve- 
ments, there  be  any  thing  honorary,  the  subjects  of  your 
Government,  viz:  the  New-Hampshire  settlers,  are  justly 
entitled  to  a  large  share,  as  they  had  a  great  majority  of 
numbers  of  the  soldiery,  as  well  as  the  command  in  making 
those  acquisitions ;  and  as  your  Honours'  justify  and  ap- 


prove the  same,  I  desire  and  expect  your  Honours  already 
have,  or  soon  will  lay  before  the  Grand  Continental  Con- 
gress, the  great  disadvantage  it  must  inevitably  be  to  the 
Colonies  to  evacuate  Lake  Champlain,  and  give  up  to  the 
enemies  of  our  Country  those  invaluable  acquisitions,  the 
key  of  either  Canada  or  of  our  Country ,  according  as  which 
party  holds  the  same  in  possession  and  makes  a  proper  im- 
provement of  it.  The  key  is  ours  as  yet,  and  provided  the 
Colonies  would  suddenly  push  an  Army  of  two  or  three 
thousand  men  into  Canada,  they  might  make  a  conquest 
of  all  that  would  oppose  them  in  the  extensive  Province 
of  Qucbcck,  except  a  re-enforcement  from  England  should 
prevent  it.  Such  a  diversion  would  weaken  General  Gage 
or  insure  us  of  Canada.  I  wish  to  God  America  would, 
at  this  critical  juncture,  exert  herself  agreeable  to  the  in- 
dignity offered  her  by  a  tyrannical  Ministry.  She  might 
rise  on  eagles'  wings,  and  mount  up  to  glory,  freedom,  and 
immortal  honour,  if  she  did  but  know  and  exert  her  strength. 
Fame  is  now  hovering  over  her  head.  A  vast  continent 
must  now  sink  to  slavery,  poverty,  horrour,  and  bondage, 
or  rise  to  unconquerable  freedom,  immense  wealth,  inex- 
pressible felicity,  and  immortal  fame. 

I  will  lay  my  life  on  it,  that  with  fifteen  hundred  men  and 
a  proper  train  of  artillery,  I  will  take  Montreal.  Provided 
I  could  thus  be  furnished,  and  if  an  Army  could  com- 
mand the  field,  it  would  be  no  insuperable  difficulty  to  take 
Qucbeck.  This  object  should  be  pursued,  though  it  should 
take  ten  thousand  men  to  accomplish  the  end  proposed  ; 
for  England  cannot  spare  but  a  certain  number  of  her 
Troops.  Nay,  she  has  but  a  small  number  that  are  disci- 
plined, and  it  is  as  long  as  it  is  broad  ;  the  more  that  are 
sent  to  Quebeck,  the  less  they  can  send  to  Boston,  or  any 
other  part  of  the  continent.  And  there  will  be  this  un- 
speakable advantage  in  directing  the  war  into  Canada,  that, 
instead  of  turning  the  Canadians  and  Indians  against  us, 
(as  is  wrongly  suggested  by  many,)  it  would  unavoidably 
attach  and  connect  them  to  our  interest.  Our  friends  in 
Canada  can  never  help  us  till  we  first  help  them,  except  in 
a  passive  or  inactive  manner.  There  are  now  about  seven 
hundred  regular  Troops  in  Canada.  I  have  lately  had 
sundry  conferences  with  the  Indians ;  they  are  very  friendly. 
Captain  Abraham  Ninham,  a  Stockbridgc  Indian,  and  Mr. 
Winthrop  Hoit,  who  has  sundry  years  lived  with  the  Caugh- 
nawagoes  in  the  capacity  of  a  prisoner,  and  was  made  an 
adopted  son  to  a  motherly  squaw  of  that  tribe,  have  both 
been  gone  ten  days  to  treat  with  the  Indians,  as  our  am- 
bassadors of  peace  and  friendship.  I  expect,  in  a  few  weeks, 
to  hear  from  them.  By  them  I  sent  a  friendly  letter  to  the 
Indians,  which  Mr.  Hoit  can  explain  to  them  in  Indian. 
The  thing  that  so  unites  the  temper  of  the  Indians  to  us, 
is  our  taking  the  sovereignty  of  Lake  Champlain.  They 
have  wit  enough  to  make  a  good  bargain,  and  stand  by  the 
strongest  side.  Much  the  same  may  be  said  of  the  Ca- 
nadians. They  have  no  personal  controversy  with  us,  but 
act  on  political  principles.  If  we  evacuate  Lake  Chain- 
plain  and  retire  to  Lake  George,  Governour  Carlcton  can 
by  intrigue,  and  will  not  fail  to  draw  them  into  his  interest. 
If  we  hold  the  supremacy,  we  shall  do  the  same,  for  cun- 
ning and  power  are  but  the  same  thing,  be  it  exercised  by 
either  Carlcton  or  us:  but  cunning  without  power  can  hold 
no  equal  contest  with  that  which  is  armed  with  it. 

It  may  be  thought  that  to  push  an  Army  into  Canada 
would  be  too  premature  and  imprudent.  If  so,  I  propose 
to  make  a  stand  at  the  Isle-au-]Soii,  which  the  French 
fortified  by  intrenchment  the  last  war,  and  greatly  fatigued 
our  large  Army  to  take  it ;  it  is  about  fifteen  miles  this  side 
St.  John's,  and  is  an  island  in  the  river,  on  which  a  small 
artillery  placed  would  command  it.  An  establishment  of  a 
frontier  so  far  north,  would  not  only  better  secure  our  own 
frontier,  but  put  it  into  our  power  better  to  work  our  policy 
with  the  Canadians  and  Indians;  or,  if  need  be,  to  make 
incursions  into  the  territory  of  Canada;  the  same  as  they 
could  into  our  Country,  provided  they  had  the  sovereignty 
of  Lake  Champlain,  and  had  erected  head  quarters  at  or 
near  Skcncsborongh.  Our  only  having  it  in  our  power  thus 
to  make  incursions  into  Canada,  might  probably  be  the  very 
reason  why  it  would  be  unnecessary  so  to  do,  even  if  the 
Canadians  should  prove  more  refractory  than  I  think  for. 
Lastly,  with  submission,  I  would  propose  to  your  Honours 
to  raise  a  small  regiment  of  Rangers,  which  I  could  easily 
do,  and  that  mostly  in  the  Counties  of  Albany  and  Char- 


893  CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  fee,  JUNE,  1775.  894 


lolte,  provided  your  Honours  should  think  it  expedient  to 
grant  commissions,  and  thus  regulate  and  put  the  same  under 
pay.  Probably  your  Honours  may  think  this  an  impertinent 
proposal ;  it  is  truly  the  first  favour  I  ever  asked  of  the 
Government,  and  if  it  be  granted,  I  shall  be  zealously  am- 
bitious to  conduct  for  the  best  good  of  my  Country  and  the 
honour  of  the  Government. 

I  subscribe  myself,  gentlemen,  with  due  respect,  your 
Honours'  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

Ethan  Allen. 

P.  S.  In  the  narrative  contained  in  the  enclosed  was  too 
materially  omitted  the  valour  and  intrepidity  of  Colonel 
James  Easton,  and  forty-six  veteran  soldiers  from  the  Mas- 
sachusetts-Bay, who  assisted  in  taking  of  Ticonderoga. 
Colonel  Easton  is  just  returned  from  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress of  the  Massachusetts-Bay  to  this  place,  and  expects 
he  will  soon  have  the  command  of  a  Regiment  from  that 
Province.    Yours,  8cc.  E.  A. 


ADDRESS    OF    THE    NEW-YORK    PROVINCIAL   CONGRESS  TO 
THE  INHABITANTS  OF  QUEBECK. 

In  Provincial  Congress,  New-York,  June  2,  1775. 
Friends  and  Countrymen  : 

The  Parent  of  the  universe  has  divided  this  earth  among 
the  children  of  men,  and  drawn  out  the  line  of  their  habi- 
tations. The  great  God  having  ordained  that  all  our  joys 
and  sorrows  here  below  should  proceed  from  the  effect  of 
human  actions  upon  human  beings,  our  situation  has  drawn 
together  this  great  bond  of  natural  dependance,  and  ena- 
bled us  to  deal  out  injuries  and  kindness  to  each  other. 
We  consider  you  as  our  friends,  and  we  feel  for  you  the 
affection  of  brothers. 

The  great  question  between  Britain  and  her  Colonies 
is,  whether  they  are  subjects,  or  whether  they  are  slaves. 
The  rights  delivered  down  to  us  from  our  forefathers,  the 
venerable  laws  of  our  Country,  have  subjected  our  own 
property  to  our  own  disposal,  nor  hath  any  earthly  power 
a  right  to  take  it  away.  Mankind  ought  to  be  governed 
by  the  dictates  of  justice,  not  by  the  hand  of  oppression. 
The  peaceable  enjoyment  of  what  we  yet  call  our  own,  and 
that  liberty  which  confers  on  every  man  the  right  of  ador- 
ing his  God  in  the  manner  which  he  humbly  thinks  most 
agreeable  to  the  Divine  nature — these  are  the  objects  of 
all  our  labours  and  all  our  cares.  Ministerial  tyranny  hath 
endeavoured,  throughout  all  these  Colonies,  to  rend  from 
us  the  dearest  rights  of  humanity;  and  in  the  defence  of 
those  rights  some  persons  have  taken  certain  forts  in  this 
Colony,  which  are  near  your  frontiers.  We  have  heard 
that  others  have  made  an  attack  upon  the  post  of  St. 
John's,  an  attempt  without  our  counsel  or  participation. 
And  although  we  have  taken  measures  for  the  defence  of 
our  own  fortresses,  yet  our  only  intention  is  to  prevent  any 
hostile  incursions  upon  us  by  the  troops  of  your  Province. 
Confident  that  the  enemies  of  our  King  and  his  people  will 
take  every  opportunity  to  excite  jealousies  and  discord 
amongst  us,  we  beseech  you  not  to  be  imposed  on  by  their 
artifices,  but  call  to  your  remembrance  the  complicated 
horrours  of  a  barbarous  war.  Avoid  those  measures  which 
must  plunge  us  both  into  distress,  and  instead  of  consenting 
to  become  miserable  slaves,  generously  dare  to  participate 
with  your  fellow-subjects  in  the  sweets  of  that  security 
which  is  the  glorious  lot  of  freedom.  We  are,  with  sincere 
affection,  your  brethren  and  friends. 

P.  V.  B.  Livingston,  President. 
To  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Province  of  Quebeck. 


GENERAL  GREENE  TO  JACOB  GREENE,  ES^. 

Rhode-Island  Camp,  June  2,  1775. 

I  arrived  in  camp  on  Saturday  last,  and  found  it  in  great 
commotion.  A  few  days  longer  in  the  state  of  excitement 
in  which  1  found  our  Troops,  would  have  proved  fatal  to 
our  campaign.  The  want  of  government,  and  of  a  cer- 
tainty of  supplies,  had  thrown  every  thing  into  disorder. 
Several  Companies  had  clubbed  their  muskets  in  order  to 
march  home.  I  have  made  several  regulations  for  intro- 
ducing order  and  composing  their  murmurs ;  but  it  is  very 
difficult  to  limit  people  who  have  had  so  much  latitude, 
without  throwing  them  into  disorder.    The  Commissaries 


had  been  beaten  off  at  my  arrival,  and  were  about  return- 
ing home  the  next  day.  I  believe  there  never  was  a  person 
more  welcome,  who  was  so  little  deserving,  as  myself.  1 
wish  you  would  forward  Colonel  Varnum's  Regiment ;  he 
will  be  a  welcome  guest  in  camp.  I  expect  much  from 
his  and  his  troops'  example. 


WILLIAM  LITHGOW  TO  THE  MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS. 

To  the  Honourable  the  Provincial  Congress  noiv  assembled 
at  Watertown,  fyc,  the  humble  Petition  of  William 
Lithgow  shews  to  your  Honours  : 
That  he  is  an  inhabitant  of  Georgetown,  on  Kennebeclc 
River,  and  comes  in  behalf  and  at  the  request  of  said  Town, 
to  let  your  Honours  know  that  we  are  in  daily  expectation 
of  being  plundered  by  cutters  or  armed  vessels,  and  thus 
exposed  to  our  enemy's  insults ;  therefore  humbly  pray  that 
your  Honours  would  grant  us  one  or  two  barrels  or  half 
barrels  of  powder,  or  such  a  quantity  as  in  your  wisdom 
may  seem  meet,  as  our  town  stock  of  powder,  upon  due 
examination,  is  found  not  to  exceed  thirty  pounds.  And. 
as  in  duty  bound,  shall  ever  pray.         Wm.  Lithgow. 

Wat.rtown,  June  2,  1775. 


COL.  RICHARD  GR1DLEY  TO  THE  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY. 

Cambridge,  June  2,  1775. 
Gentlemen  :  I  am  very  sensible  you  are  engaged  in  a 
multiplicity  of  business  of  consequence,  but  I  shall  think 
my  self  blameable  in  my  duty  if  I  do  not  urge,  in  the  strongest 
terms,  the  necessity  there  is  of  providing  an  establishment 
for  an  ordnance  store-keeper,  conductors,  and  clerks,  to  take 
care  to  keep  accounts  of  the  stores  as  they  receive  them 
and  deliver  them,  and  also  to  make  an  establishment  for  a 
company  of  artificers  to  make  beds  for  mortars,  and  car- 
riages for  guns,  and  platforms,  and  mending  wheelbarrows, 
and  keeping  tools  in  repair,  &lc. 

The  want  of  such  establishments  hinders  greatly  the 
progress  of  the  works,  which  I  think  is  of  great  importance, 
and  beg  you  will  please  to  use  your  interest  with  the  Con- 
gress, that  such  establishments  be  made  immediately,  if  you 
think  proper. 

I  am,  gentlemen,  with  respect,  your  most  obedient  servant, 

Richard  Gridley. 

In  Committee  of  Safety,  Cambridge,  June  2,  1775. 
The  above  not  being  within  the  department  of  this  Com- 
mittee, they  refer  the  same  to  the  honourable  Congress  of 
the  Colony.  Benj.  White,  Chairman. 


NATHANIEL  SHAW  TO  THE  NEW-HAMPSHIRE  CONGRESS. 

New-London,  June  2,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  The  bearer,  Mr.  John  Stale,  applied  to 
me  for  a  quantity  of  powder  for  the  use  of  your  Province, 
but  am  sorry  to  inform  you  that  article  is  very  scarce  in  this 
Colony,  and  not  to  be  purchased.  What  I  have  imported 
is  on  Government  account,  and  by  letters  from  New-YorTc 
I  have  lately  received,  it  is  not  to  be  had  in  that  Province, 
neither  in  Rhode-Island.  I  expect  a  large  quantity,  but 
from  its  not  arriving,  I  begin  to  suspect  that  either  the 
cruisers  in  the  channel,  or  the  negotiation  between  Great 
Britain  and  the  States,  has  prevented  it.  If  I  should  have 
a  larger  quantity  arrive  than  should  be  wanted  in  this  Col- 
ony on  Government  account,  I  will  give  you  the  offer  of  it ; 
but  at  the  same  time  I  would  recommend  to  you  that  you 
make  no  dependance  on  having  any  from  me. 

I  am,  gentlemen,  your  very  humble  servant, 

Nath'l  Shaw,  Jr. 

To  Matthew  Thornton,  President  of  the  Provincial  Con- 
vention of  New-Hampshire. 


NEW-HAMPSHIRE  CONGRESS  TO  THEIR  DELEGATES  IN  THE 
CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS. 

Exeter,  June  2,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  Enclosed  we  send  you  an  address  to  your 
Congress,  relating  to  their  order  for  the  demolition  of  the 
fort  at  Ticonderoga.  The  taking  that  garrison  by  the  Col- 
onists, and  hopes  of  keeping  it,  have  very  much  encouraged 
the  frontiers  of  this  and  the  neighbouring  Colonies.  The 


895 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


896 


continual  accounts  received  from  Canada,  by  scouts  sent 
from  our  frontiers,  and  otherwise,  keep  them  under  the  most 
terrible  apprehensions  of  being  ravaged  by  the  Canadians 
and  Indians.  The  late  determination  of  your  Congress  has 
much  increased  it,  as  the  destroying  that  fortress  leaves 
such  an  opening  to  the  excursions  of  our  enemies.  We 
desire  your  vigilance  in  a  critical  review  of  that  matter. 

Our  circumstances  appear  daily  more  and  more  alarming. 
The  men-of-war  stop  all  provision  vessels  coming  into  our 
harbour,  and  send  them  to  Boston  ;  and  the  Captain  of  the 
Scarborough  has  shewn  his  orders  to  a  Committee- who 
waited  upon  him,  to  stop  all  provisions,  salt,  molasses,  &.C., 
coming  to  us.  Since  which  several  hundred  armed  men, 
in  the  day  time,  went  down  to  the  entrance  of  our  harbour, 
in  open  sight  of  the  men-of-war,  and  brought  from  a  point 
of  land  there  a  number  of  large  cannon,  and  deposited 
them  at  Portsmouth  for  the  present,  where  preparations 
are  making  for  mounting  and  fitting  them  for  action.  A 
number  of  men  are  now  making  a  battery  on  Kitttry  Point; 
and  if  we  had  a  sufficiency  of  ammunition,  should  hope 
soon  to  be  able  to  command  our  harbour. 

We  would  desire  you,  if  any  arms  or  gunpowder  can  be 
procured  in  the  Southern  Governments,  to  procure  them,  if 
possible,  on  such  terms  as  you  can  make,  with  which  the 
Colony  will  endeavour  punctually  to  comply.  The  diffi- 
culty of  land-carriage  we  would  surmount,  as  the  want 
thereof  must  exclude  every  other  difficulty.  We  have 
wrote  to  you  on  the  pressing  occasion  we  have  for  a  paper 
currency,  or  some  other,  to  answer  our  urgent  necessity  ; 
and  still  must  desire  that  you  do  all  in  your  power  that 
some  plan  be  formed,  or  directions  given  us  by  your  Con- 
gress for  that  purpose. 

Enclosed  we  send  you  a  copy  of  a  vote  of  Council,  rela- 
tive to  stopping  provisions,  &c.  We  would  have  you  en- 
deavour to  keep  a  constant  correspondence  with  the  Con- 
gress or  Committee  of  Safety,  at  Exeter,  and  inform  us  of 
every  thing  you  think  essential. 

In  behalf  of  the  Provincial  Congress: 

Matthew  Thornton,  President. 

NEW- HAMPSHIRE  CONGRESS  TO  CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS. 

[Road  in  Congres?,  June  21,  1775.] 

In  Provincial  Congress,  Exeter,  ) 
June  2,  1775.  $ 

Gentlemen  :  A  late  order  of  your  very  respectable 
Congress,  for  the  demolition  of  the  fortress  at  Ticonderoga, 
and  removal  of  the  artillery  from  thence,  has  very  much 
damped  the  expectation  of  the  people  in  this  Colony, 
arising  from  the  security  our  frontiers  hoped  to  receive  by 
the  check  the  Canadians  and  savages  might  receive  in  any 
incursions  on  us,  by  a  good  garrison  there.  We  are  heartily 
disposed  to,  and  shall  readily  obey  all  the  orders  and  di- 
rections you  give  us ;  and  on  this  occasion  would  not  pre- 
sume to  complain  or  dictate,  but  most  humbly  (o  suggest, 
that  all  the  land  and  waters  between  the  south  end  of  Lake 
George  and  Crown  Point,  together  with  all  Lake  Cham- 
plain,  will  be  left  open  for  Canadians  and  savages  (if  they 
should  be  disposed,  which  we  very  much  fear)  to  ravage 
all  the  country  east.  Our  new  settlements,  extended  on 
Connecticut  River  for  a  hundred  miles,  are  very  defence- 
less in  every  respect,  and  under  terrible  apprehensions,  from 
the  accounts  of  the  warlike  preparations  making  in  Canada 
against  the  Colony. 

The  reasons  which  directed  your  order  in  this  matter, 
we  are  unacquainted  with,  but  would  wish  a  review  thereof; 
and  if  you  should  then  think  it  best  that  the  former  order 
be  countermanded,  we  hope  it  will  be  a  service  to  the  com- 
mon cause ;  otherwise,  shall  concur  in  your  determination 
of  that  as  well  as  all  other  matters  that  concern  the  welfare 
of  America. 

In  behalf  of  the  Provincial  Congress  aforesaid,  I  am, 
gentlemen,  your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

Matthew  Thornton,  President. 
To  the  Honourable  Continental  Congress. 


CONGRESS  OK  NEW-HAMPSHIRE  TO  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

Exeter,  Now. Hampshire,  June  2,  1775. 
Gentlemen  :  1  am  directed  by  the  Provincial  Congress 
now  convened  in  this  Town,  to  advise  you  that  the  Reso- 


lution of  the  Continental  Congress,  respecting  the  demo- 
lition of  the  fortress  at  Ticonderoga,  is  just  come  to  hand  ; 
that  we  have  taken  the  same  into  consideration,  and  as  we 
esteem  that  fortress  to  be  at  a  place  truly  important  to  the 
welfare  of  all  these  Northern  Colonies  in  general,  and  to 
this  Colony  in  particular,  the  thoughts  of  its  demolition 
casts  a  damp  on  the  spirits  of  our  people,  as  we  appre- 
hend our  western  frontiers  will  be  thereby  greatly  exposed 
to  the  depredations  of  the  Canadians  and  Indians,  if  (as 
we  have  reason  to  fear)  theyr  should  incline  to  annoy  us. 
And  not  being  acquainted  with  the  reasons  for  passing  that 
order,  we  have  thought  it  our  duty  to  entreat  that  respect- 
able body  again  to  take  that  matter  into  their  consideration, 
And,  if  they  shall  think  proper,  to  order  that  the  said  for- 
tress may  be  kept  in  possession  of  the  Colonies ;  and  we 
would  earnestly  entreat  your  concurrence  with  us  in  said 
request.  At  the  same  time  you  may  be  assured  that  no 
Colony  on  this  Continent  is,  or  can  be  more  determined 
than  we  are,  to  abide  by  the  determination  of  that  respect- 
able body. 

In  behalf  of  the  Provincial  Congress  aforesaid,  I  am, 
gentlemen,  your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

Matthew  Thornton,  President. 

To  the  President  of  the  Congress  at  New-  York. 

P.  S.  By  an  enclosed  Resolve  of  this  body,  you  will 
find  we  are  providing  against  any  attempt  from  Canada  on 
our  adjacent  frontier.  We  earnestly  desire  your  approba- 
tion of  this  measure,  and  concurrence  with  it,  by  adding 
such  numbers  of  troops  from  your  Colony,  as  in  your  wis- 
dom and  concern  for  the  general  good,  you  may  think 
proper.  M.  T. 


COMMITTEE  OF  PORTSMOUTH  TO  NEW-HAMPSHIRE  CON- 
GRESS. 

Portsmouth,  June  2,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  On  the  preservation  of  the  peace  and 
good  order  of  this  Town,  is  the  only  security  that  this  Com- 
mittee have,  whereby  they  expect  to  carry  into  execution 
any  measures  which  the  Provincial  Congress  may  resolve 
upon;  therefore  find  ourselves  necessitated  to  desire  you 
would  be  pleased  to  regulate  all  future  movements  of  any- 
bodies of  armed  men  from  one  Town  to  another,  as  many- 
inconveniences  and  losses  to  the  publick  are  sustained 
thereby,  especially  at  this  time,  when  so  many  idle  and 
false  reports  are  spread,  by  which  the  good  people  of  this 
Province  are  alarmed,  and  assemble  together  for  the  defence 
of  the  grand  cause  in  which  we  are  all  embarked.  We  are 
fearful  our  enemies  will  improve  every  opportunity  to  in- 
crease these  alarms,  and  make  them  so  familiar  to  us  as  to 
put  us  off  our  guard,  and  then  may  strike  some  fatal  blow. 

We  find  this  Town  labours  under  many  difficulties  pecu- 
liar to  seaports,  and  which  our  friends  in  the  country  are 
free  from.  The  stagnation  of  trade,  and  the  return  of  our 
shipping,  increases  the  number  of  our  people,  who,  for  want 
of  employment,  readily  fall  into  disorders,  and  when  num- 
bers are  once  collected,  it  is  very  difficult  to  persuade  them 
to  disperse,  until  they  exceed  the  bounds  of  reason.  We 
have  great  reason  to  believe  that  our  invaders  are  endea- 
vouring to  promote  alarms  to  harass  the  country,  and  to 
prevent  our  agriculture,  by  calling  off  and  diverting  our 
attention  from  that  great,  and,  at  this  time,  particularly 
necessary  duty. 

Any  resolves  Congress  may  pass  upon  our  request,  it 
is  desired  that  copies  of  the  same  be  sent  to  every  Com- 
mittee in  every  Town,  besides  being  published  in  the  pub- 
lick  prints,  as  it  is  necessary  it  should  be  known  in  the 
most  publick  manner,  and  as  soon  as  possible.  We  submit 
our  request  to  your  wisdom,  wishing  you  Divine  assistance 
in  your  consultations  for  the  publick  weal. 

I  am,  gentlemen,  your  most  humble  servant. 
By  order  of  the  Committee  : 

H.  Wentworth,  Chairman. 
To  the  Honourable  Congress  at  Exeter. 


SOUTH-CAROLINA  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS. 

Charlestown,  Saturday,  June  3,  1775. 
Resolved,  That  this  Congress  do  earnestly  recommend 
to  all  their  constituents,  the  promotion  of  union  and  har- 
mony by  all  means  in  their  power.    That  to  this  purposB 


897 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  kc,  JUNE,  1775. 


898 


all  those  things  be  avoided  which  tend  to  promote  disaffec- 
tion between  the  people,  utterly  discountenancing  all  na- 
tional reflections,  and  engaging  to  be  watchful  and  diligent 
that  the  laws  for  the  peace  and  good  order  of  the  Colony 
be  observed  inviolate  as  far  as  may  be. 

Wednesday,  June  7,  1775. 

Ordered,  That  the  above  Resolve  be  printed,  and  made 
publick. 

A  true  copy  from  the  Minutes : 

Peter  Timothy,  Secretary. 


ASSOCIATION 

Unanimously  agreed  to  in  the  Provincial  Congress  of 
South-Carolina,  on  Saturday,  June  3,  1775. 
The  actual  commencement  of  hostilities  against  this 
Continent,  by  the  British  Troops,  in  the  bloody  scene  on 
the  19th  of  April  last,  near  Boston ;  the  increase  of  arbi- 
trary impositions  from  a  wicked  and  despotick  Ministry, 
and  the  dread  of  instigated  insurrections  in  the  Colonies, 
are  causes  sufficient  to  drive  an  oppressed  people  to  the 
use  of  arms.  We,  therefore,  the  subscribers,  inhabitants 
of  South- Carolina,  holding  ourselves  bound  by  that  most 
sacred  of  all  obligations — the  duty  of  good  citizens  towards 
an  injured  Country  :  and  thoroughly  convinced  that,  under 
our  present  distressed  circumstances,  we  shall  be  justified 
before  God  and  man  in  resisting  force  by  force,  do  unite 
ourselves  under  every  tie  of  religion  and  honour,  and  asso- 
ciate as  a  band  in  her  defence,  against  every  foe ;  hereby 
solemnly  engaging,  that  whenever  our  Continental  or  Pro- 
vincial Councils  shall  decree  it  necessary,  we  will  go  forth 
and  be  ready  to  sacrifice  our  lives  and  fortunes  to  secure 
her  freedom  and  safety.  This  obligation  to  continue  in 
full  force  until  a  reconciliation  shall  take  place  between 
Great  Britain  and  America,  upon  constitutional  princi- 
ples ;  an  event  which  we  most  ardently  desire.  And  we 
will  hold  all  those  persons  inimical  to  the  liberty  of  the 
Colonies,  who  shall  refuse  to  subscribe  to  this  Association. 

Subscribed  by  every  member  present,  on  the  fourth  day 
of  June,  1775. 

Certified  by  Henry  Laurens,  President. 


Norfolk  (virginia)  committee. 

Committee-Chamber,  Norfolk,  June  3,  1775. 

Present :  Mr.  Chairman  and  twenty  Members. 

The  Committee  being  informed  that  the  Ship  Molly, 
Captain  Mitchcson,  has  lately  arrived  from  Great  Britain, 
laden  with  a  large  quantity  of  goods  from  Messrs.  Eilbeck, 
Ross,  and  Company  ;  and  the  circumstances  of  the  impor- 
tation appearing  very  suspicious,  and  inducing  this  Com- 
mittee to  believe  there  was  an  intention  thereby  to  coun- 
teract the  Association  : 

Resolved,  therefore,  That  agreeably  to  the  Association, 
the  said  ship  ought,  on  or  before  Tuesday  morning  next,  to 
return  directly  back  with  the  said  goods ;  and  that  a  copy 
of  the  invoice  ought  to  be  delivered  to  the  Sub-Committee 
which  this  Committee  shall  appoint ;  and  that  a  Certificate, 
properly  authenticated,  that  the  said  goods  have  been  ac- 
tually relanded  in  Great  Britain,  ought  also  to  be  produced 
to  this  Committee  by  the  said  Eilbeck,  Ross,  and  Compa- 
ny, as  soon  as  the  said  Certificate  can  be  produced  and 
transmitted  to  their  hands. 

Ordered,  That  the  above  Resolution  be  published. 

William  Davies,  Secretary. 

Committee  Chamber,  June  4,  1775. 

Present :  Mr.  Chairman  and  twenty-two  Members. 

Upon  motion,  Resolved,  That  it  be  published  at  the 
same  time  with  the  Resolution  of  yesterday,  that  Mr.  Ross 
and  Mr.  Eilbeck  did  this  day  wait  on  this  Committee,  and 
produced  their  invoice  of  goods  shipped  on  board  the  Mol- 
ly ;  and  that  it  did  not  appear  to  this  Committee  that  the 
said  goods  were  shipped  by  order  of  the  said  Ross  or  Eil- 
beck, but  on  their  account,  by  Mr.  Chambers,  of  White- 
haven. 

By  order  of  the  Committee : 

William  Davies,  Secretary. 
Fourth  Series. — Vol.  u.  57 


NEW-YORK  DELEGATES  TO  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS. 

Philadelphia,  June  3,  1775. 

Gentlemen:  We  have  received  your  several  letters, 
and  communicated  such  of  your  papers  to  the  Congress  as 
were  intended  for  their  inspection.  Your  plan  for  raising 
money  we  are  much  pleased  with,  though  we  have  some 
doubt  of  its  being  adopted  ;  however,  as  the  reasons  on 
which  it  is  founded  appear  to  us  to  be  conclusive,  we  shall 
use  our  endeavour  to  carry  it  through.  Till  the  success  is 
known,  you  will,  we  dare  say,  see  a  propriety  in  keeping 
the  whole  secret.  We  observe  with  pleasure  the  atten- 
tion of  our  Colony  to  Indian  affairs,  as  they  are  really  of 
the  highest  importance.  Should  you  conceive  the  interpo- 
sition of  the  Congress  necessary,  you  will  let  us  know  the 
mode  in  which  you  think  it  will  be  most  effectual. 

You  inquire  whether  the  direction  relative  to  the  Militia 
of  Neio-York  was  intended  to  extend  farther  than  that  City 
and  County.  In  answer  to  this  we  must  inform  you,  that 
it  was  the  design  of  the  Congress  that  the  whole  Province 
should  be  well  armed  and  disciplined. 

We  wish  to  hear  that  you  have  received  some  supply  of 
powder,  as  we  fear  that  none  is  to  be  purchased  here,  the 
people  conceiving  they  have  not  a  sufficient  stock  for  their 
own  defence.  We  believe,  however,  that  Connecticut  will 
take  care  to  supply  their  Troops  at  Ticonderoga  with  that 
article,  as  the  command  of  that  post  is  for  the  present  vested 
in  their  officers,  owing  to  your  repeated  declaration  of  your 
inability  to  furnish  the  arms  and  ammunition  necessary  for 
its  defence. 

We  think  it  an  object  of  great  consequence  to  know  in 
whom  you  would  wish  to  vest  the  command  of  the  Conti- 
nental Army  in  our  Province,  which  is  to  be  maintained  at 
the  general  charge,  and  hope  you  will  not  be  at  a  loss  to  fix 
on  men  among  yourselves  who  may  be  entrusted  with  that 
important  charge.  As  General  Officers  will,  in  all  proba- 
bility, be  shortly  appointed  by  this  Congress,  your  express 
should  return  immediately,  with  a  warm  recommendation  of 
those  persons  in  our  Province  who  you  think  may  safely  be 
trusted  with  the  first  and  second  commands,  as  Major  and 
Brigadier  Generals.  If  possible  let  us  have  an  answer  to 
this  by  Tuesday  morning,  drawn  up  in  such  a  manner  that, 
if  necessary,  it  may  be  offered  to  the  Congress,  with  the 
reasons  on  which  such  choice  is  founded.  We  know  of 
nothing  farther  that  may  require  your  attention,  unless  it 
be  to  recommend  a  profound  secresy  with  respect  to  any 
advice  we  may  offer,  particularly  on  the  subject  of  this 
letter,  though  we  conceive  that  your  own  prudence  will 
render  any  such  recommendation  unnecessary.  If  you 
wish  for  any  other  directions,  pray  be  speedy  and  explicit 
in  your  application. 

We  remain,  with  great  respect,  your  most  obedient  hum- 
ble servants, 

James  Duane,  Francis  Lewis, 

R.  R.  Livingston,  Jr.,     William  Floyd, 
Philip  Schuyler,  Simon  Boerum, 

John  Alsop,  Henry  Wisner. 

To  the  Provincial  Congress  of  the  Colony  of  New-  York. 


NEW-YORK  COMMITTEE. 


At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee,  Monday,  3d  of  June, 
1775.  Present: 


Henry  Remsen, 
George  Janeway, 
Frederick  Jay, 
Evert  Banker, 
Robert  Ray, 
Nicholas  Roosevelt, 
Abrm.  Brinkerhoff, 
Cornelius  Clopper, 
Abraham  Duryee, 
Alex.  McDougall, 
Edward  Fleming,. 
Joseph  Bull, 
Comfort  Sands, 

A  Letter,  dated  New-York,  3d  June,  1775,  from  Mr. 
George  Folliott,  received  and  read  ;  in  which  he  declines 
representing  this  City  and  County  in  Provincial  Congress. 

Mr.  Lamb,  seconded  by  Mr.  De?ining,  moved  in  the 
words  following,  viz:  as  Mr.  George  Folliott  has  declined 
serving  as  a  member  of  the  Provincial  Congress,  and  of 
this  Committee,  I  move  that  this  Committee  do  proceed 


James  Desbrosses, 
Cornelius  P.  Low, 
Petrus  Byvanck, 
William  Denning, 
John  Imlay, 
Peter  T.  Curtenius, 
Thomas  I  vers, 
John  Anthony, 
Thomas  Randall, 
John  Lamb, 
William  W.  Ludlow, 
John  Berrian, 


Gabriel  W.  Ludlow, 
John  Morton, 
William  Goforth, 
Oliver  Templeton, 
James  Beekman, 
Nicholas  Bogart, 
Lancaster  Burling, 
Francis  Bassett, 
William  Laight, 
John  Lasher, 
Abraham  P.  Lott, 
William  W.  Gilbert. 


S99 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


900 


to  the  nomination  to  serve  in  his  stead,  both  in  the  Pro- 
vincial Congress  and  in  this  Committee. 

Resolved,  That  Mr.  Isaac  Sears  be  nominated  by  this 
Committee  for  the  approbation  of  the  freeholders  and  free- 
men of  this  City  and  County,  to  represent  them  in  Pro- 
vincial Congress  in  the  room  of  Mr.  George  Folliott,  who 
declines  serving.  And  that  Mr.  William  Bedlow  and  Mr. 
John  Woodward,  be  also  nominated  as  members  of  this 
Committee  instead  of  the  said  Mr.  Folliott,  and  of  Mr. 
Samuel  Jones,  who  never  has  attended. 

Ordered,  That  a  poll  be  opened  at  the  City-Hall,  on 
Thursday,  the  8th  instant,  at  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning, 
to  elect  the  above  persons,  or  such  others  as  may  be  ap- 
proved of  for  the  above  purposes. 

At  which  time  the  Freeholders  and  Freemen  are  request- 
ed to  attend.  The  poll  will  be  under  the  inspection  of 
Messrs.  R.  Ray  and  Evert  Banker,  and  the  Vestrymen  of 
the  North  Ward. 


PROCLAMATION  BY  GOVERNOUR  COLDEN. 

By  the  Honourable  Cadwallader  Colden,  Esquire, 
His  Majesty's  Lieutenant-Governour  and  Commander- 
in-Chief  of  the  Province  of  New- York,  and  the  Ter- 
ritories defending  thereon  in  America: 

A  Proclamation. 
Whereas  the  General  Assembly  of  this  Province  stands 
prorogued  to  the  seventh  day  of  June  instant :  I  have 
thought  fit,  for  His  Majesty's  service,  to  prorogue,  and  I  do, 
by  and  with  the  advice  of  His  Majesty's  Council,  farther 
prorogue  the  said  General  Assembly  to  the  fifth  day  of 
July  next;  of  which  all  His  Majesty's  subjects  concerned 
therein  are  required  to  take  notice,  and  govern  themselves 
accordingly. 

Given  under  my  hand  and  seal  at  arms,  at  Fort  George, 
in  the  City  of  New-  York,  the  third  day  of  June,  one  thou- 
sand seven  hundred  and  seventy-five,  in  the  sixteenth  year 
of  the  reign  of  our  Sovereign  Lord  George  the  Third,  by 
the  Grace  of  God,  of  Great-Britain,  France,  and  Ireland, 
King,  Defender  of  the  Faith,  and  so  forth. 

Cadwallader  Colden. 

By  his  Honour's  command, 

Samuel  Bayard,  Jun.,  D.  Secretary. 
God  save  the  King. 


JAMES  R1V1NGTON  TO  THE  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

Friday  Morning,  10  o'clock. 

Sir  :  Having  been  just  now  informed  that  my  case  has 
been  referred  to  the  judgment  of  the  gentlemen  of  the 
Provincial  Congress  of  this  City,  and  that  it  may  probably 
be  considered  by  them  this  morning,  I  have  been  employed 
the  little  time  allowed  rne,  to  copy  and  enclose  the  letter 
from  the  gentlemen  of  the  Netv-  York  Committee,  and  my 
own  address  to  the  Delegates  in  the  Continental  Congress, 
and  added  a  newspaper,  in  which  is  inserted  my  address  to 
the  publick,  that  the  gentlemen  of  the  very  respectable 
Board  over  which  you  have  the  honour  to  preside,  may  be 
acquainted  with  the  whole  proceedings  in  the  matter. 

Your  continuance  of  my  suit,  and  your  friendly  media- 
tion on  this  occasion,  will  everlastingly  oblige,  Sir,  your 
most  obedient  servant,  James  Rivington. 


COMMITTEE  OF  NEW-YORK  TO  THE  CONTINENTAL  CON- 
GRESS. 

Gentlemen:  The  agitation  of  this  Town  respecting 
Mr.  Rivington,  as  a  printer,  has  given  this  Committee 
much  concern.  Some  of  the  warm  friends  of  liberty  seem 
not  to  be  fully  satisfied  that  his  former  offences,  as  they 
were  against  the  whole  Continent,  are  within  our  authority ; 
and  we  are  concerned  that  nothing  less  than  a  determina- 
tion of  the  General  Congress  will  give  full  satisfaction  on 
that  head,  much  less  secure  him  in  his  person  and  proper- 
ty. We  have  therefore  resolved  to  refer  his  case  to  your 
respectable  body,  and  would  beg  leave  strongly  to  urge  it 
as  a  subject  of  their  consideration.  We  have  adopted 
temporary  expedients  ;  but  as  they  are  merely  temporary 
in  effect,  as  far  as  concerns  him,  we  beg  the  direction  of 
that  body,  whose  determination  we  doubt  not  will  be  a  law 


to  the  Continent.  His  transgressions  are  known  to  your 
whole  body.  He  has  subscribed  our  Association,  and  we 
know  not  that  he  has  since  his  subscription  done  any  thing 
contrary  to  its  true  intent  and  meaning.  Those  expedients 
we  have  gone  into  to  preserve  present  peace  and  good 
order  will  appear  from  the  enclosed.  We  pray  the  direc- 
tions of  the  Congress  on  this  matter,  and  are,  he. 

Providence,  Rhode-Island,  June  3,  1775. 

The  Committee  of  this  Town  have  appointed  a  person 
to  act  as  Postmaster  here,  as  also  a  Post-Rider  under  the 
direction  and  control  of  said  Committee,  until  the  Legis- 
lature of  this  Colony,  or  the  Continental  Congress,  shall 
be  pleased  to  make  other  regulations  and  appointments. 

A  number  of  the  inhabitants  of  Plymouth  went  a  few 
days  ago  to  Nantucket,  in  whale-boats,  and  took  from 
thence  eight  hundred  barrels  of  flour,  the  property  of  a 
merchant  at  Dartmouth,  and  which  is  supposed  was  in- 
tended to  be  smuggled  into  Boston,  for  supplying  the 
Ministerial  Army. 

Last  week  the  company  of  the  train  of  Artillery  lately 
raised  here,  all  well  accoutred,  with  four  excellent  field- 
preces,  marched  to  join  the  American  Army  near  Boston ; 
they  made  a  very  military  appearance,  and  are,  without 
exception,  as  complete  a  body  of  men  as  any  in  the  King's 
Dominions.  The  other  companies  raised  here,  and  in  the 
adjacent  Towns,  as  also  several  from  the  south  Counties, 
all  able-bodied  men,  and  well  armed,  have  marched  to  the 
American  camp.  Several  companies  of  the  Connecticut 
forces  have  also  passed  through  this  Town,  to  join  their 
brethren. 

Twelve  pieces  of  battering  cannon,  eighteen  and  twen- 
ty-four pounders,  with  a  quantity  of  ordnance  stores,  were 
sent  from  hence  to  the  American  camp  a  few  days  since. 


MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS  TO  HENRY  GARDNER. 

Provincial  Congress,  Watertown,  June  3,  1775. 
Sir  :  For  the  absolute  necessity  of  paying  the  Colony 
forces  immediately,  (having  been  duly  considered  by  this 
Congress,  and  not  being  able  to  make  necessary  payment 
to  prevent  the  Troops  from  returning  home  without  your 
being  present,)  you  are  therefore  directed,  upon  the  receipt 
of  this  order,  immediately  to  repair  to  this  place,  and  make 
the  utmost  despatch  in  completing  the  signing  of  the  Bills 
wanted  for  the  above  purpose. 
Signed  by  order  of  the  Congress : 

Saml.  Freeman,  Secretary. 

To  Henry  Gardner,  Esq.,  Receiver-General. 

P.  S.  The  Congress  is  just  informed  that  a  gentleman 
at  Salem  has  five  hundred  Pounds,  which  he  is  willing  to 
lend  the  Province,  which  would  be  of  the  greatest  impor- 
tance, to  pay  immediately  to  the  soldiers,  and  might  pre- 
vent the  greatest  mischiefs. 


COMMITTEE  OF  ARUNDEL  TO  MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS. 

To  the  Honourable  Congress  of  the  Province  of  the  Mas- 
sachusetts-Bay, in  New-England,  now  sitting  : 
The  Committee  of  the  Town  of  Arundel,  in  said  Prov- 
ince, sendeth  greeting: 

Whereas,  a  sloop  belonging  to  the  said  Town  of  Arundel, 
about  three  weeks  ago  sailed  out  of  this  harbour,  and  dis- 
posed of  her  cargo  at  Plymouth,  and  having  received  her 
effects,  upon  her  return  was  seized  and  carried  into  Bos- 
ton, and  there  detained  by  General  Gage  for  some  time, 
and  her  effects  taken  into  his  custody,  for  which  he  paid 
near  the  prime  cost.  After  which  a  proposal  was  made  to 
the  master  of  said  sloop  by  the  officers  of  the  Troops  to 
enlist  into  the  Governour's  service,  with  a  promise  of  a 
large  reward  for  his  service  therein.  The  master  being 
now  under  confinement,  and  knowing  of  no  means  of  ob- 
taining his  liberty,  now  thought  this  proposal  the  only  way 
to  make  his  escape,  and  obtain  his  liberty,  and  therefore 
complied  with  the  same,  and  accordingly  received  orders  to 
sail  immediately  for  Annapolis,  to  bring  a  quantity  of  hay 
and  other  stores  for  the  use  of  the  Troops  in  Boston.  A 
number  of  the  King's  arms,  with  cartridges,  were  put  on 


901 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


902 


board,  and  two  young  men  (one  named  Josiah  Jones  and 
the  other  Jonathan  Hicks)  were  put  on  board,  one  or  both 
of  whom  as  supercargo  in  the  above  employment,  with  a 
packet  of  letters,  orders,  and  other  papers.  The  master 
then  being  prepared  to  go  out,  sailed  directly  for  this  port, 
and  arrived  in  this  harbour  the  2d  instant,  with  the  persons, 
letters,  &tc,  as  above  mentioned,  who  were  immediately 
carried  before  the  Committee  of  this  Town,  and  after  ex- 
amination of  both,  it  was  agreed  by  the  Committee,  and 
they  have  accordingly  sent  the  persons  and  papers  under 
guard  to  this  honourable  Provincial  Congress  now  sitting, 
for  examination,  and  to  be  dealt  with  as  they  in  their  united 
wisdom  shall  think  just.  The  master  and  mate  of  said 
sloop  we  have  hereby  sent,  by  whom  an  account  of  the 
whole  affair  will  be  given. 

Bexj.  Durrell,       Jonathan  Stone, 
James  Burnham,       John  Hovey, 
Thos.  Wiswall, 

Committee  of  the  Town  of  Arundel. 

Arundel.  June  3,  1775. 

Watertown,  June  9,  1775. 
I,  the  subscriber,  being  of  lawful  age,  do  testify  that, 
being  in  a  coasting  sloop  belonging  to  Arundel,  and  on  my 
return  from  Plymouth,  was  taken  by  a  cutter  belonging  to 
Admiral  Graves's  squadron,  in  Boston,  and  carried  into 
that  port,  and  there  detained  several  days  ;  and  being  soli- 
cited by  Admiral  Graves's  Secretary  to  enter  into  His  Ma- 
jesty's service,  and  knowing  no  other  way  wherein  1  could 
possibly  make  my  escape  but  by  entering  into  said  service, 
to  go  to  Windsor,  in  Nova-Scotia,  for  hay  and  other  things  ; 
and  having  one  Josiah  Jones  put  on  board  as  factor,  and 
being  ready  to  sail,  I  desired  of  the  Captain  of  our  convoy 
leave  to  sail,  but  he  told  me  I  must  not  sail  till  to-morrow, 
at  ten  o'clock,  as  there  were  a  number  of  other  vessels  in 
the  same  employ,  and  should  all  sail  together.  I  then  de- 
sired leave  of  Mr.  Jones  to  haul  off  into  the  road,  and 
obtained  leave.  It  being  dark,  I  got  consent  of  our  factor, 
Mr.  Jones,  to  sail ;  I  therefore  embraced  the  opportunity, 
and  immediately  sailed  for  Arundel,  where  I  arrived  in 
about  twenty-four  hours,  and  delivered  up  Mr.  Jones,  and 
one  Jonathan  Hicks,  who  was  introduced  on  board  my 
sloop  by  Mr.  Jones,  but  for  what  purpose  I  cannot  tell. 
And  further  saith,  that  Mr.  Jones  desired  me  to  oil  and 
clean  the  fire-arms  that  were  put  on  board  to  defend  our- 
selves, as  he  said  the  rebels  might  attack  us  on  our  passage. 

Samuel  Smith. 

Mr.  Ephraim  Perkins :  Boston,  May  30, 1775. 

Sir  :  You  will  immediately  proceed  with  the  Sloop 
Molly,  under  your  command,  to  Windsor,  in  the  Bay  of 
Funda.  and  receive  such  orders  as  Mr.  Jones  will  give  you 
respecting  your  cargo,  making  every  despatch  that  is  pos- 
sible, taking  care  to  touch  at  no  other  harbour  unless  it  be 
absolutely  necessary.  Jos.  Goldthwait,  for 

VVm.  Sherriff, 
Deputy  Quartermaster  General. 

Boston,  May  30,  1775. 

Mr.  Jones:  You  will  proceed  to  Windsor,  in  Nova- 
Scotia,  with  the  Sloop  Polly,  Ephraim  Perkins  master, 
and,  immediately  upon  your  arrival  there,  you  will  apply 
to  Messrs.  Day  and  Scott  for  a  cargo,  as  specified  in  the 
letter  herewith  transmitted  to  them ;  and  in  case  they  should 
not  be  there  when  you  arrive,  you  will  immediately  hire 
an  express  and  forward  the  letter  to  them  at  Halifax.  And 
I  trust  in  your  diligence  in  receiving  the  cargo,  and  making 
every  despatch  in  your  power  on  your  return  to  this  port. 
And  you  are  further  to  observe,  that  you  are  not,  upon 
your  return,  to  put  into  any  harbour  upon  the  eastern 
coast,  without  being  forced  to  by  absolute  necessity. 

Sir.  I  am  your  most  obedient  servant, 

Wm.  Sherriff,  Dep.      M.  General. 

Boston,  May  30,  1775. 
Gentlemen  :  The  bearer,  Mr.  Josiah  Jones,  with  the 
Sloop  Polly,  Ephraim  Perkins,  master,  is  chartered  for 
Hindsor,  in  Nova-Scotia,  in  order  to  receive  from  you 
hay  and  oats.  I  am  therefore  to  desire  you  will  use  every 
endeavour  to  despatch  him  as  soon  as  possible,  agreeable 


to  my  letter,  wrote  you  via  Halifax,  the  29th  instant. 
Please  to  forward  the  enclosed  by  express  to  Annapolis. 
I  am,  gentlemen,  your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

VVm.  Sherriff. 
To  Messrs.  Day  and  Scott,  at  Windsor,  Nova-Scotia. 

Boston,  May  29,  1775. 
Dear  Sir:  I  have  received  your  obliging  favour,  and 
return  you  many  thanks  for  the  trouble  you  have  taken, 
and  readiness  you  have  shown,  in  giving  your  assistance,  so 
necessary  at  present,  for  the  good  of  the  service.  The 
hay  will  be  most  acceptable,  and  I  am  in  hopes  Captain 
Perkins's  vessel  has  taken  a  part  on  board,  as  he  promised 
me  she  should  return  immediately,  and  I  will  send  you  an- 
other one  as  soon  as  possible.  I  shall  want  three  or  four 
thousand  tons  of  hay,  and  I  wish,  with  all  my  heart,  poor 
Annapolis  could  furnish  it ;  but  all  it  can  furnish  I  will 
take ;  and  if  they  are  industrious  they  may  get  a  great  deal 
of  money  for  their  vegetables,  poultry,  butter,  eggs,  &ic, 
&c,  and  may  come  directly  into  this  port  without  any  ex- 
pense whatever,  and  will  be  sure  to  find  every  encourage- 
ment and  assistance  that  can  be  given  them.  On  the  other 
hand,  if  they  give  themselves  airs,  and  follow  the  cursed 
example  of  these  madmen,  they  will  easily  consider  how 
readily  Government  can  chastise  them,  and  they  may  rely 
upon  it  they  will,  and  that  immediately  too.  But  I  hope 
they  will  consider  their  interest  better,  and  make  all  the 
money  they  can  ;  they  never  will  have  a  fairer  opportunity. 

I  have  wrote  to  Messrs.  Day  and  Scott,  at  Halifax, 
respecting  tonnage,  and  have  desired  them  to  consult  with 
you  about  the  quantity  that  may  be  procured  at  Annapolis, 
as  they  are  to  furnish  the  remainder  from  Windsor  and 
that  neighbourhood. 

Procure  hay-screws,  and  at  any  rate,  and  the  whole  should 
be  carried  to  a  particular  place  most  convenient  for  that 
purpose,  as  also  for  shipping  of  it.  You  have  not  advised 
me  in  what  manner  I  am  to  make  you  remittances  for  ex- 
penses to  be  incurred  in  the  above  service,  therefore  shall 
expect  it  per  next.  We  are  in  the  same  situation  as  when 
I  wrote  you  last,  except  the  addition  of  twelve  hundred 
Troops,  lately  arrived  from  England,  three  Regiments  of 
Horse,  and  eight  other  Regiments  are  hourly  expected, 
when  I  hope  you  will  hear  better  accounts  from  us.  I  am 
hurried  to  death,  therefore  have  only  time  to  add  my  com- 
pliments to  all  friends,  and  to  wish  you  every  happiness, 
being  truly,  dear  Sir,  your  faithful  and  obedient  servant, 

Wm.  Sherriff. 
Thomas  Williams,  Esquire,  Storekeeper  of  Ordnance  at 

Annapolis  Boyal. 

P.  S.  If  you  can  add  to  the  quantity  of  old  hay,  pray 
do,  and  don't  mind  the  expense.  W.  S. 


LOAMMI  BALDWIN  TO  THE  MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS. 

Cambridge,  June  3,  1775. 

His  Excellency  General  Ward,  having  been  pleased  to 
approve  of  a  proposal  made  for  taking  some  surveys  of  the 
ground  between  us  and  our  enemies,  and  as  some  mathe- 
matical instruments  are  wanting  to  enable  us  to  complete 
the  same,  this  is,  therefore,  humbly  to  desire  that  the  hon- 
ourable Provincial  Congress  would  grant  leave  for  such 
instruments  as  are  wanting  for  said  purpose  to  be  taken 
out  of  the  apparatus  belonging  to  Harvard  College,  to  be 
returned  as  soon  as  said  surveys  shall  be  finished. 

I  am,  gentlemen,  your  most  obedient  servant, 

Loammi  Baldwin. 

To  the  Honourable  the  Provincial  Congress  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts-Bay. 


NEW-HAMPSHIRE  CONGRESS  TO  MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS. 

In  Provincial  Congress,  Exeter,  June  3,  1775. 
Gentlemen  :  Having  undoubted  intelligence  of  the  at- 
tempts of  the  British  Ministry  to  engage  the  Canadians  and 
savages  in  their  interest  in  the  present  controversy  with  Ame- 
rica, and  of  actual  movements  in  Canada  in  consequence 
thereof,  we  have  thought  it  necessary  that  measures  should  be 
immediately  taken  to  defend  and  quiet  the  minds  of  the  peo- 
ple more  especially  exposed  in  the  frontiers,  and  accordingly 
have  resolved  to  send  a  number  of  Troops  as  soon  as  may 


903 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  kc,  JUNE,  1715. 


S04 


be  ;  three  companies,  for  the  present,  to  be  employed  where, 
and  in  sucb  manner  as  may  best  answer  that  important  end. 
We  thought  it  expedient  to  give  you  the  earliest  intelli- 
gence of  what  we  have  done  in  this  way,  earnestly  praying, 
and  nothing  doubting,  but  that  you  will  concur  in  such  mea- 
sures as  in  your  wisdom  you  shall  judge  reasonable  and 
necessary  for  the  defence  and  safety  of  the  back  settlements, 
for  whom  both  you  and  we  must  very  sensibly  feel. 

We  furthermore  think  it  suitable  just  to  suggest,  that  we 
have  some  apprehension  lest  our  military  manoeuvres  on  the 
frontiers  should  raise  a  jealousy  in  the  minds  of  the  Cana- 
dians, and  awaken  their  fears  of  direct  intentions  of  hos- 
tilities against  them.  We  should  give  them  the  most  posi- 
tive assurance  upon  this  head,  that  we  desire  nothing  more 
than  our  own  security,  and  that  it  is  our  most  hearty  wish 
to  remain  on  steady  terms  of  friendship  with  them.  And 
in  order  to  the  more  regular,  harmonious,  and  effectual 
prosecution  of  the  important  object  aforesaid,  as  also  other 
valuable  purposes  that  we  conceive  it  may  answer,  we  would 
humbly  move  for  a  conference  by  a  Committee,  with  a  Com- 
mittee from  you,  at  such  time  and  place  as  you  shall  please 
to  appoint,  and  to  consider  of  an  address  to  be  forwarded 
to  the  Canadians,  and  put  it  in  the  power  of  this  Congress 
to  join  with  you,  and,  if  it  might  be,  the  other  Neiv-Eng- 
land  Colonies  and  Neiv-York,  that  this  negotiation  might 
answer  the  most  effectual  purpose. 

By  order  of  Congress,  I  am  your  most  obedient  humble 
servant,  Matthew  Thornton,  President. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  A  GENTLEMAN  IN  LONDON  TO 
HIS  FRIEND  IN  PHILADELPHIA,  DATED  JUNE  4,  1775. 

From  business  you  naturally  expect  1  should  descend 
to  news  and  politicks.  Of  the  former  we  should  have  had 
a  dearth,  had  it  not  been  for  the  arrival  of  Captain  Darby 
with  the  account  of  the  Lexington  affair,  which  has  greatly 
agitated  the  people  and  confounded  the  Ministry,  who  fain 
would  suppress  the  account,  or  disbelieve  it ;  but  notwith- 
standing we  are  without  despatches  from  General  Gage,  it 
has  full  credit  with  many,  and  friends  are  daily  added  to 
the  American  cause.  Even  Hutchinson  is  become  a  con- 
vert. 1  hope  he  will  live  to  make  amends  for  all  the  harsh 
things  he  has  said  and  wrote  against  America. 

The  virtue  and  spirit  of  your  City  is  highly  spoken  of, 
and  your  strict  adherence  to  the  rules  of  the  Congress  does 
you  honour.  The  duplicity  of  Netv-  York  will  ever  render 
them  suspected.  The  many  and  repeated  assurances  given 
to  the  Ministry  by  their  quondam  leaders,  will  justify  a  sus- 
picion, which  the  conduct  of  some  of  the  merchants  and 
traders  confirms,  that  they  would  adopt  any  means  to  break 
through  or  elude  the  Association. 

One  avenue,  indeed,  seems  to  have  been  unguarded  by 
the  Congress,  through  which  they  may  attempt  to  break 
the  Association  with  impunity,  and  that  is,  by  importing 
goods  and  manufactures  from  the  Island  of  Guernsey,  where 
large  quantities  of  goods,  suitable  to  the  American  con- 
sumption, have  been  landed.  Now,  as  a  friend  to  America, 
I  would  fain  hold  forth  to  the  publick  view  every  secret  at- 
tempt to  frustrate  and  destroy  your  present  Association, 
which  I  consider  as  your  grand  bulwark.  I  would  recom- 
mend it  to  the  sons  of  liberty  in  Neiv-York,  to  be  watchful 
and  circumspect  of  all  arrivals  from  that  quarter,  as  goods 
or  manufactures  imported  from  thence  are  as  much  English 
as  those  manufactured  in  Great  Britain  itself,  to  which  it 
is  so  contiguous.  To  guard  against  such  attempts  you  may, 
if  you  think  proper,  communicate  my  fears  to  the  real 
friends  of  America  and  all  congressional  measures. 


ANNE  ARUNDEL  COUNTY  ( MARYLAND)  COMMITTEE. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Observation  for  Anne 
Arundel  County  and  City  of  Annapolis,  on  the  fourth  day 
of  June,  1775,  in  the  said  City, 

Mr.  Charles  Wallace,  Chairman. 
A  charge  having  been  made  on  oath,  before  the  Com- 
mittee, that  Thomas  Chijichasc,  of  this  City,  butcher,  on 
the  twenty-third  day  of  May  last,  had  killed  several  Lambs, 
he  was  ordered  to  attend.  He  appeared,  and  confessed  the 
fact,  alleging,  as  an  excuse,  that  lie  understood  that  there 
was  no  absolute  prohibition  by  tho  Continental  Congress, 


and  that  the  scarcity  of  provisions  at  that  time  would  plead 
for  him,  as  what  he  did  was  from  a  desire  of  supplying  the 
many  strangers  in  Town  ;  but  as  he  had  since  been  informed 
that  such  procedure  was  contrary  to  a  resolve  of  a  Provin- 
cial Convention,  he  would  take  care  to  offend  in  that  manner 
no  more,  and  hoped  the  Committee  would  forgive  him. 

The  sense  of  the  Committee  being  taken  on  the  above, 
they  declared  it  a  breach  of  the  resolve  of  the  Provincial 
Convention  respecting  the  killing  of  Lambs;  but,  all  cir- 
cumstances considered,  they  were  of  opinion  he  ought  to 
be  forgiven. 

Ordered,  That  these  proceedings  be  published  in  the 
Maryland  Gazette.  G.  Duvall,  Clerk. 


GENERAL  SCHUYLER  TO  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

New.York,  June  4,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  As  I  am  ordered  by  the  Continental  Con- 
gress to  liquidate  the  accounts  of  the  people  employed  in 
the  reduction  of  Ticonderoga,  that  they  may  be  paid ;  and 
as  Messrs.  Allen  and  Warner  were  concerned,  there  will 
be  money  due  to  them  ;  and  as  they  are  in  want  of  some,  I 
could  wish  you  to  advance  them  thirty  Pounds,  and  to  make 
it  a  Continental  charge,  for  which  I  shall  debit  them  in  their 
account  with  the  publick. 

I  am,  gentlemen,  your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

Philip  Schuyler. 
To  the  Honourable  Members  of  the  New-York  Provincial 

Congress. 

ETHAN  ALLEN  TO  THE  CANADIANS. 

Ticonderoga,  June  4,  1775. 
To  our  worthy  and  respectable  Countrymen  and  Friends, 
the  French  People  of  Canada,  greeting : 
Friends  and  Fellow-Countrymen  :  You  are  undoubt- 
edly more  or  less  acquainted  with  the  unnatural  and  un- 
happy controversy  subsisting  between  Great  Britain  and 
her  Colonies,  the  particulars  of  which,  in  this  letter,  we  do 
not  expatiate  upon,  but  refer  your  consideration  of  the  jus- 
tice and  equitableness  thereof  on  the  part  of  the  Colonies, 
to  the  former  knowledge  that  you  have  had  of  this  matter. 
We  need  only  observe,  that  the  inhabitants  of  the  Colonies 
view  the  controversy  on  their  part  to  be  justifiable  in  the 
sight  of  God,  and  all  unprejudiced  and  honest  men  that 
have  or  may  have  opportunity  and  ability  to  examine  into 
the  merits  of  it.    Upon  this  principle  those  inhabitants  de- 
termine to  vindicate  their  cause,  and  maintain  their  natural 
and  constitutional  rights  and  liberties  at  the  expense  of  their 
lives  and  fortunes,  but  have  not  the  least  disposition  to 
injure,  molest,  or  any  way  deprive  our  fellow-subjects,  the 
Canadians,  of  their  liberty  or  property.    Nor  have  they 
any  design  to  wage  war  against  them  ;  and  from  all  intima- 
tions that  the  inhabitants  of  the  said  Colonies  have  received 
from  the  Canadians,  it  has  appeared  that  they  were  alike 
disposed  for  friendship  and  neutrality,  and  not  at  all  disposed 
to  take  part  with  the  King's  Troops  in  the  present  civil  war 
against  the  Colonies.    We  were  nevertheless  surprised  to 
hear  that  a  number  of  about  thirty  Canadians  attacked  our 
reconnoitring  party,  consisting  of  four  men,  fired  on  them, 
and  pursued  them,  and  obliged  them  to  return  the  fire. 
This  is  the  account  of  the  party  which  has  since  arrived  at 
Head-Quarters.    We  desire  to  know  of  any  gentlemen  Ca- 
nadians, the  facts  of  the  case,  as  one  story  is  good  till 
another  is  told.    Our  general  order  to  the  soldiery  was, 
that  they  should  not,  on  pain  of  death,  molest  or  kill  any 
of  your  people.    But  if  it  shall  appear,  upon  examination, 
that  our  reconnoitring  party  commenced  hostilities  against 
your  people,  they  shall  suffer  agreeable  to  the  sentence  of 
a  court-martial ;  for  our  special  orders  from  the  Colonies 
are,  to  befriend  and  protect  you,  if  need  be ;  so  that  if  you 
desire  their  friendship,  you  are  invited  to  embrace  it,  for 
nothing  can  be  more  undesirable  to  your  friends  in  the 
Colonies,  than  a  war  with  their  fellow-subjects  the  Cana- 
dians, or  with  the  Indians.    You  are  very  sensible  that 
war  has  already  commenced  between  England  and  the 
Colonies.    Hostilities  have  already  begun  ;  to  fight  with 
the  King's  Troops  has  become  a  necessary  and  incumbent 
duty  ;  the  Colonies  cannot  avoid  it.    But  pray,  is  it  neces- 
sary that  the  Canadians  and  the  inhabitants  of  the  English 
Colonies  should  butcher  one  another?  God  forbid.  There 
is  no  controversy  subsisting  between  you  and  them.  Pray 


905 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  Sic,  JUNE,  1775. 


906 


lei  old  England  and  the  Colonies  fight  it  out ;  and  you, 
Canadians,  stand  by  and  see  what  an  arm  of  flesh  can  do. 
We  are  apprehensive  that  the  conduct  of  your  people,  be- 
fore complained  of,  had  not  a  general  approbation,  and  are 
still  confident  that  your  Country,  as  such,  will  not  wage  war 
with  the  Colonies,  or  approve  the  aforesaid  hostile  conduct 
of  your  people,  as  we  conceive  it  to  be  impolitick  to  the  last 
degree  for  the  Canadians  to  enter  into  a  bloody  war  with- 
out either  a  provocation  or  motive,  and  when,  at  the  same 
time,  every  motive  of  interest,  virtue,  and  honour,  are  ready 
at  hand  to  dissuade  you  from  it.  In  fine,  we  conclude  Saint 
Luke,  Captain  McCoy,  and  other  evil-minded  persons, 
whose  interest  and  inclination  it  is  that  the  Canadians  and 
the  people  of  those  Colonies  should  cut  one  another's 
throats,  have  inveigled  some  of  the  baser  sort  of )  our  peo- 
ple to  attack  our  said  reconnoitring  party.  We  expect, 
gentlemen,  as  to  these  particulars,  you  will  in  good  time 
inform  us;  and  subscribe  ourselves  your  real  friends, 

Ethan  Allen, 
At  present  the  principal  Commander  of  the  Army. 

James  Easton. 

A  copy  of  the  foregoing  letter  was  this  day  sent  to  Mr. 
Ji'alker,  our  trusty  friend  at  Montreal,  per  favour  of  Mr. 
Jeffere,  whose  fidelity  is  unquestionable;  and  it  is  wholly 
left  with  Mr.  Walker  to  make  its  contents  the  most  publiclc 
that  he  possibly  can,  whether  by  printing  it  and  translating 
it  into  French,  &.c.  We  furthermore  thought  it  expedient 
your  Honours  should  have  a  copy  communicated  to  you. 

Yours  at  command,  Ethan  Allen, 

James  Easton. 

To  the  Provincial  Congress  of  New-  York. 


ELBRIDGE  GERRY  TO  THE  MASSACHUSETTS  DELEGATES  IN 
THE  CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS. 

Watertown,  June  4,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  A  publick  express  for  your  honourable 
body  gives  me  opportunity  to  hand  you  information  of  the 
affairs  of  this  Province.  From  the  confusion  in  which  the 
engagement  at  Lexington  threw  the  people,  they  are  now 
beginning  to  recover,  and  I  hope,  by  the  speedy  assistance 
of  some  form  of  Government,  that  the  measures  which 
will  be  necessary  for  defence,  will  not  only  be  practicable, 
but  executed  here  with  success.  The  spirit  of  the  people 
is  equal  to  our  wishes,  and  if  they  continue  as  they  began, 
it  will  be  as  familiar  to  fight  as  to  pursue  the  dangers 
of  the  ocean.  We  want  assistance  by  ammunition  and 
money.  A  full  supply  of  these  would  render  Lord  North 
and  his  myrmidons  as  harmless  as  they  are  infamous.  We 
have  stripped  the  seaports  of  canvass  to  make  tents ;  and 
it  is  of  great  importance  to  possess  ourselves  of  about  five 
hundred  pieces  of  ravens  duck,  to  keep  the  soldiers  in 
health.  I  should  be  glad  if  the  bearer  could  obtain  it  on 
the  credit  of  our  vote,  as  we  want  all  of  our  specie  to 
send  out  of  the  Government  for  other  purposes ;  but  I  am 
doubtful  whether  you  can  assist  us  in  this  matter,  although 
very  important,  as  the  great  objects  of  your  attention  must 
take  up  your  whole  time. 

Government  is  so  essential  that  it  cannot  be  loo  soon 
adopted ;  and  although  no  argument  can  be  necessary  to 
convince  you  of  so  plain  a  truth,  yet  it  may  not  be  amiss 
to  hint  a  matter  which  can  only  be  discovered  by  being 
where  it  has  taken  place.  The  people  are  fully  possessed 
of  their  dignity  from  the  frequent  delineation  of  their 
rights,  which  have  been  published  to  defeat  the  ministe- 
rial party  in  their  attempt  to  impress  them  with  high  no- 
tions of  Government.  They  now  feel  rather  too  much 
their  own  importance,  and  it  requires  great  skill  to  produce 
such  subordination  as  is  necessary.  This  takes  place  prin- 
cipally in  the  Army.  They  have  affected  to  hold  the  mili- 
tary too  high,  but  the  civil  must  be  first  supported  ;  and 
unless  an  established  form  of  Government  is  provided,  it 
will  be  productive  of  injury.  Every  day's  delay  will 
make  the  task  more  arduous. 

We  want,  also,  a  regular  General  to  assist  us  in  dis- 
ciplining the  Army,  which,  in  twelve  months'  time,  and 
perhaps  less,  by  frequent  skirmishes,  may  be  brought  to 
stand  against  any  troops,  however  formidable  they  may 
be  with  the  sounding  names  of  Welsh  Fusileers,  Grena- 
diers, &.C.    And  although  the  pride  of  our  people  would 


prevent  their  submitting  to  be  led  by  any  General  not  an 
American,  yet  1  cannot  but  think  that  General  Lee  might 
be  so  established  as  to  render  great  service  by  his  presence 
and  counsels  with  our  officers.  I  should  heartily  rejoice 
to  see  this  way  the  beloved  Colonel  Washington,  and  do 
not  doubt  the  New-England  Generals  would  acquiesce  in 
showing  to  our  sister  Colony,  Virginia,  the  respect  which 
she  has  before  experienced  from  the  Continent,  in  making 
him  Generalissimo.  This  is  a  matter  in  which  Dr.  War- 
ren agrees  with  me,  and  we  had  intended  to  write  you 
jointly  on  the  affair. 

The  letter  from  our  Joint  Committees  and  the  Gene- 
rals to  the  Congress,  will  come  before  you,  and  nothing 
further  is  necessary  on  this  head.  I  remain,  gentlemen, 
with  great  respect,  your  obedient  servant, 

Elbridge  Gerry. 

To  the  Honourable  Members  of  the  Continental  Congress 
from  Massachusetts-Bay. 


GEN.  WARD  AND  OTHERS  TO  CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS. 

Cambridge,  June  4,  1775. 

May  it  please  your  Honours  :  We  beg  leave  to  rep- 
resent to  you  the  peculiar  distresses  of  this  Colony,  being 
assured  that  you  will,  as  the  wise  guardians  of  the  lives, 
liberties,  and  properties  of  the  whole  of  this  extensive 
Continent,  attend  to  the  several  circumstances  of  all  who, 
under  God,  look  up  to  you  for  protection  and  deliverance. 

Our  capital  is  filled  with  disciplined  troops,  thoroughly 
equipped  with  every  thing  necessary  to  render  them  formi- 
dable. A  train  of  artillery,  as  complete  as  can  be  con- 
ceived of;  a  full  supply  of  arms  and  ammunition  ;  and  an 
absolute  command  of  the  harbour  of  Boston,  which  puis 
it  in  their  power  to  furnish  themselves  with  whatever  they 
shall  think  convenient  by  sea,  are  such  advantages  as  must 
render  our  contest  with  them  in  every  view  extremely  diffi- 
cult. 

We  suffer  at  present  the  greatest  inconveniences  from  a 
want  of  a  sufficient  quantity  of  powder ;  without  this  every 
attempt  to  defend  ourselves  or  annoy  our  enemies,  must 
prove  abortive.  We  have  taken  every  step  to  avail  our- 
selves of  this  article,  by  drawing  into  our  general  maga- 
zines whatever  could  be  spared  from  the  respective  Towns 
of  this  Colony ;  but  the  frequent  skirmishes  we  have  had 
have  greatly  diminished  our  stock,  and  we  are  now  under 
the  most  alarming  apprehensions  that,  notwithstanding  the 
bravery  of  our  troops,  (whom  we  think  we  can,  without 
boasting,  declare  are  ready  to  encounter  every  danger  for 
the  preservation  of  the  rights  and  liberties  of  America,) 
we  shall,  barely  for  want  of  the  means  of  defence,  fall  at 
last  a  prey  to  our  enemies. 

We,  therefore,  most  earnestly  beseech  you,  that  you 
would  warmly  recommend  it  to  the  other  Colonies,  to 
send  whatever  ammunition  they  can  possibly  spare  forth- 
with to  our  relief.  The  manner  of  recommending  this 
matter  we  submit  to  your  superiour  judgment ;  we  only 
beg  leave  to  suggest,  that  an  immediate  supply  is  of  the 
last  importance  to  us,  and  that  a  discovery  of  our  weak- 
ness in  this  particular,  before  we  receive  assistance,  may 
be  fatal,  not  to  us  only,  but  to  the  liberties  of  the  whole 
Continent;  whereas,  with  a  full  supply  of  arms  and  am- 
munition, we  might,  with  the  common  blessings  of  Provi- 
dence, baffle  the  designs  of  our  enemies,  and  be  greatly 
instrumental  in  bringing  our  present  disputes  to  a  happy 
issue.    We  are  your  Honours'  most  obedient  servants, 

Art.  Ward,  General  of  the  Massachusetts  Forces. 

Jos.  Warren,  Chairman  of  the  Comm.  of  Safety. 

Moses  Gill,  Chairman  of  the  Comm.  of  Supplies. 

P.  S.  We  beg  what  powder  you  can  possibly  spare 
may  be  immediately  conveyed  to  us  by  land  in  the  way 
least  liable  to  be  suspected  by  any  persons  who  may  cor- 
respond with  the  enemy. 


MRS.  BOWDOIN  TO  THE  MASSACHUSETTS  COMMITTEE  OF 
SAFETY. 

Dorchester,  June  4,  1775. 
Gentlemen  :  Mr.  Bowdoin  has  just  received  the  enclosed 
depositions,  and  being  in  a  very  weak  state,  desires  me  to 
inform  you,  that  for  some  time  past  the  Falkland  Sloop-of- 


907 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


90S 


War,  commanded  by  Captain  Linsey,  lias  been  cruising 
about  the  islands  called  Elizabeth  Islands,  near  Martha's 

Vineyard.  That  the  said  sloop's  boats  liave  divers  times 
tanded  armed  men  on  the  said  islands,  who  have  abused 
the  inhabitants,  stove  their  boats,  and  by  force  taken  away 
a  considerable  part  of  their  property,  as  may  more  fully  ap- 
pear by  the  said  depositions. 

It  is  humbly  apprehended  if  about  one  hundred  armed 
men  were  properly  posted  on  the  said  islands,  they  would 
tie  a  sufficient  force  to  defend  the  inhabitants,  and  protect 
their  stock  of  cattle  and  sheep,  which  is  very  considerable, 
and  which  has  hitherto  every  year  furnished  divers  parts 

>f  this  Colony  with  fat  sheep  and  cattle  for  provisions,  and 
particularly  with  a  large  quantity  of  wool  for  our  home 
manufacture. 

I  beg  leave  to  make  this  representation  that  you  may 
take  such  measures  as  your  wisdom  shall  dictate ;  and  am, 
most  respectfully,  in  Mr.  Boicdoiiis  behalf,  who  is  part 
owner  of  one  of  said  islands,  gentlemen,  your  most  obedi- 
ent humble  servant,  Elizabeth  Bowdoin. 

To  the  Honourable  Committee  of  Safety. 

depositions. 

1,  Elisha  Nye,  innholder,  living  on  one  of  the  Elizabeth 
Islands,  commonly  called  Naushan,  and  near  to  Tarpaulin 
Cove,  testifieth  and  sayeth,  that  some  time  about  the  fifth 
■n  May  the  sloop-of-war  called  the  Falkland,  commanded 
by  Captain  Linsey,  came  into  the  cove,  and  as  soon  as 
The  vessel  had  come  to  anchor,  the  Captain  came  on  shore 
with  his  boat's  crew,  all  armed,  and  came  to  the  house,  and 
-aid  unto  the  deponent,  You  need  not  be  scared;  upon 
which  I  told  him  it  was  enough  to  scare  any  body  to  see 
so  many  men  come  on  shore  armed ;  and  the  women  are 
all  fled,  and  to  where  I  knew  not.  Upon  which  Captain 
Linsey  told  me  to  call  them  in,  for  he  did  not  mean  to 
hurt  any  body  ;  upon  which  promise  I  and  my  family  were 
satisfied.  Soon  after,  the  Captain  asked  me  to  walk  with 
him,  which  1  complied  with,  and  in  the  course  of  the 
walk  he  demanded  to  know  what  stock  I  had,  and  added, 
to  tell  him  right,  for  if  I  did  not,  he  would  lake  all  that 
he  met;  upon  which  I  gave  him  the  account.  Then  the 
Captain  told  me,  (the  deponent,)  if  I  sold  any  one  of  them 
he  would  take  the  remainder  by  force;  upon  which  1  told 
hirfi  if  he  were  here  when  they  were  fit  for  market,  he 
might  have  them  by  paying  the  price  I  used  to  have.  Soon 
after  which  he  went  to  Rhode-Island,  and  returned  back 
in  a  few  days ;  after  which  he  used  to  pass  and  re-pass  the 
island  almost  every  day,  mostly  in  company  with  the  Doc- 
tor of  the  ship,  leaving  down  the  fence  repeatedly,  which 
iet  the  cattle  often  mix  together,  which  1  told  the  Doctor 
was  a  great  damage.  The  Doctor's  answer  was,  then  you 
may  put  it  up  yourselves,  for  1  will  not;  and  often  talked 
in  an  abusive,  insulting  manner,  that  he  (the  Doctor)  would 
soon  take  what  he  wanted  without  any  pay.  On  the  twenty- 
sixth  instant  a  sloop  came  into  the  cove  with  about  twenty 
passengers — men,  women,  and  children — in  great  distress  for 
provisions,  and  made  application  to  me  for  supplies.  Cap- 
tain Linsey,  knowing  that,  (his  boat  having  boarded  her,) 
sent  his  boat  on  shore  and  forbid  me  letting  them  have  any. 
Then  I  advised  them  to  apply  to  Captain  Linsey,  and  see 
if  they  could  not  prevail  upon  him  to  let  them  have  some. 
Accordingly  they  went.  Afterwards  the  Captain  of  the 
sloop  told  me  that  he  absolutely  refused  them,  and  said, 
damn  the  dog  that  would  let  them  have  any,  and  if  they 
were  not  gone  immediately  they  would  sink  them  ;  upon 
which  they  set  sail  immediately  without  any  supplies. 

And  further,  the  deponent  declareth  that  the  Doctor 
came  on  shore,  and  said  that  the  Captain's  orders  were  that 
I  should  go  with  him  and  destroy  all  the  boats  on  the  island. 
I  told  him  I  could  not  go  upon  such  business  as  that.  He 
said  he  would  send  me  on  board  the  ship  if  I  did  not  go; 
upon  which  I  found  I  must  comply,  and  accordingly  went 
with  him,  and  saw  him  (the  Doctor)  stave  three  boats. 
On  the  twenty-ninth,  about  eight  o'clock  in  the  evening, 
he  (the  said  Doctor)  came  on  shore,  and  told  me  he  had 
come  for  my  sheep ;  upon  which  I  told  him  they  were  out 
m  the  pasture,  and  I  could  not  get  them  into  the  pen,  it  be- 
Dg  dark,  but  would  fetch  them  in  as  early  in  the  morning 
as  he  pleased.  The  answer  from  the  Doctor  was,  damn  you, 
what  did  you  turn  them  out  for ;  the  reason  1  told  him  was 


that  they  had  got  out  their  own  sheep,  and  did  not  say 
any  thing  more  about  when  they  should  want  mine,  and  I 
thought  it  best  the  sheep  should  be  let  out  to  feed.  Upon 
which  the  said  Doctor  said  to  me,  Damn  your  eyes,  go  on 
board  the  ship,  and  I'll  see  what  they  were  turned  out  for. 
I  told  him  1  would  not,  but  would  go  and  try  to  get  the 
sheep  up ;  well,  damn  you,  make  haste;  and  swung  his 
sword  over  my  head.  But  upon  trial  I  found  it  so  dark  I 
could  not  get  them  in  ;  but  on  my  return  was  informed  that 
he  (the  Doctor)  had  sent  on  board  for  more  help  to  carry 
me  and  my  brother  on  board  the  ship.  Upon  which,  with 
the  abuses  and  threats  I  had  received  before,  thought  it 
time  to  make  my  escape,  which  1  did,  to  the  main  land,  and 
begged  the  assistance  of  the  people,  who  readily  came  to 
my  assistance  ;  and  when  I  returned,  which  was  about  three 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  some  of  my  family  told  me  they 
had  been  ashore,  armed,  and  had  taken  all  my  calves,  be- 
ing seven  in  number  ;  two  of  the  poorest  and  smallest  they 
sent  ashore  in  the  morning,  the  others,  with  four  sheep 
they  had  some  days  before,  they  carried  oft*  without  paying 
any  thing  for  them.  And  I  do  further  declare  the  abuses 
and  threats  I  received  from  Captain  Linsey  and  the  Doctor 
is  the  occasion  of  my  moving  off  the  island  and  leaving  my 
interest.  And  I  declare  that  1  never  refused  Captain  Linsey, 
or  any  other  person  belonging  to  a  sloop-of-war,  entertain- 
ment in  my  house,  or  supply  of  provisions  that  I  had  on 
my  farm  that  I  could  spare.  And  I  further  declare,  that  on 
the  night  of  the  twenty -ninth  instant  aforesaid,  the  Doctor, 
as  my  wife  informs  me,  came  on  shore  and  demanded  my 
gun  with  his  sword  in  his  hand,  which  she  delivered  to  him, 
and  have  not  seen  it  since,  though  the  only  weapon  of  de- 
fence that  I  had  on  the  island.  The  value  of  the  sheep, 
calves,  and  gun,  which  they  took  from  me,  and  the  use  of 
my  horse  and  well,  are  as  follows,  viz: — 

Four  sheep,  value  £2  16s.;  three  calves  two  months 
old,  value  £3  6s.;  four  quarters  of  veal,  weight  sixty 
pounds,  sold  before  and  delivered,  16s. ;  one  gun,  taken 
out  of  my  house  by  the  Doctor  of  the  ship,  of  great 
value,  £3 ;  riding  my  horse,  and  use  of  my  well,  £3. 

Elisha  Nye. 

Barnstable,  ss.,  May  31,  1775: 

Then  the  within  and  above  named  Elisha  ]\ye  made 
oath  to  the  within  and  above  named  deposition  and  account 
as  the  truth,  and  by  him  subscribed.    Before  me, 

Thos.  Smith,  Justice  of  the  Peace. 

We,  the  subscribers,  testify  and  say,  that  on  the  29th 
day  of  May,  1775,  Captain  Linsey,  commander  of  a  ship- 
of-war,  then  at  Tarpaulin  Cove,  came  with  a  number  of 
armed  men  and  landed  on  one  of  the  Elizabeth  Islands, 
called  Rcskatemeth,  and  came  to  the  place  where  the  men 
that  owned  part  of  the  stock  on  said  island  were  shear- 
ing their  sheep,  and  demanded  the  sheep,  saying  and  pro- 
mising that  he  would  pay  for  them,  and  give  the  full  value 
of  the  sheep,  or  words  to  that  purpose ;  but  the  owners  of 
said  sheep  told  him  that  they  were  unwilling  to  part  with 
them,  but  if  he  would  take  them,  they  should  not  molest 
him,  as  most  of  the  owners  of  the  sheep  were  of  the  people 
called  Quakers,  and  that  they  would  not  be  concerned  in 
defending  themselves  or  their  interest  by  force  of  arms,  but 
would  treat  him  with  civility  ;  but  said  Captain,  with  his 
men,  took  said  sheep,  and  carried  them  away,  some  shorn, 
and  many  not  shorn.  The  sheep  were  hurried  away  in 
such  a  manner  that  we  could  not  take  an  account  of  the 
numbers  with  exactness,  but  according  to  the  best  of  our 
judgment,  the  numbers  and  value  of  the  sheep  are  as  fol- 
low, viz : 

Took  from  Joseph  Tucker  and  Sons  ninety-three  sheep, 
value  £68  8s.,  lawful  money  ;  took  from  Jeremiah  Robin- 
son seventeen  sheep,  value  £12  4s.  10c/.,  lawful  money; 
took  from  William  and  Elisha  Robinson  twenty-four 
sheep,  value  £14  Ss.,  lawful  money;  took  from  Ebenezer 
Meiggs  seventy-two  sheep,  value  £51  15s.  6d.,  lawful 
money. 

John  Tucker,  Elisha  Robinson, 

Jeremiah  Robinson,     Ebenezer  Meiggs. 

Barnstable,  ss.,  May  31,  1775: 

Then  the  above  named  Ebenezer  Meiggs  made  oath  to 
the  truth  of  the  above  written,  by  him  subscribed,  and  the 
above  named  John  Tucker,  Jeremiah  Robinson,  and  Elisha 


909 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE..  177.5. 


910 


Robinson,  being  of  the  people  called  Quakers,  affirmed  to 
the  truth  of  the  above  written,  by  them  subscribed. 

Before  me  :  Thomas  Smith, 

Justice  of  the  Peace. 

Daniel  Egry,  of  Dartmouth,  says,  that  last  Sabbath,  a 
Whaleman  went  through  Robinson's  Hole  into  the  Sound; 
just  at  the  eastward  lay  three  tenders,  who  fired  upon  the 
schooner.  The  master  then  ordered  the  schooner  about 
a<rain,  and  run  into  the  Hole ;  all  the  people  then  left  the 
vessel,  by  the  master's  orders.  The  officer  of  a  barge 
then  came  on  board,  and  snapped  his  pistol  at  the  master, 
which  did  not  go  off,  though  well  primed,  and  all  the  rest 
of  the  barge's  crew  cocked  their  pistols,  but  were  ordered 
by  the  officer  not  to  fire.  The  people  of  the  three  tenders 
swore  they  would  have  all  the  stock  on  the  island,  having 
forced  the  tenants  to  give  an  inventory  thereof,  and  intend- 
ed to  seize  five  vessels  to  carry  them  off,  and  pursued  one 
vessel  which  hove  in  sight.  The  name  of  the  island  is 
Xaushan,  and  owned  by  Mr.  Boivdoin  ;  suppose  there  are 
three  thousand  sheep  on  the  island,  and  a  large  stock  of 
cattle.  It  is  supposed  they  intended  to  rob  the  several 
islands  near,  on  which  islands  it  is  supposed  there  were 
ten  thousand  sheep,  beside  cattle. 

May  10,  1775. 

POLITICAL  OBSERVATIONS. 

London,  June  5,  1775. 

In  the  course  of  animadversion  upon  our  dispute  with 
America,  the  principle,  "  that  wheresoever  the  supreme 
power  of  legislation  is  vested,  there  also  centres  the  supreme 
power  of  taxation,"  has  been  (it  is  thought)  fully  proved 
to  the  conviction  of  every  unbiased  reader;  and,  indeed, 
the  Americans  themselves  seem  so  thoroughly  convinced 
of  it,  as  to  have  given  up  the  distinction  not  only  between 
interna!  and  external  taxation,  but  also  the  difference  be- 
tween the  legislative  and  taxing  power;  well  knowing  that 
they  who  can  tax  will  rule,  and  those  who  can  rule  must 
and  will  tax  ;  the  act  of  taxation  being  an  essential  act  of 
dominion  and  sovereignty,  without  which  no  Government 
can  subsist,  or  maintain  its  authority. 

The  rebellious  Americans  depend  upon  their  numbers 
and  distance  from  us;  but  we  hope  they  will  be  of  but 
little  service  to  them,  for  there  are  other  ways  and  means 
of  distressing  them,  besides  our  meeting  them  in  the  field. 
Their  wealth  is  the  source  of  their  rebellion  ;  and  our  Min- 
istry have  already  wisely  begun  to  reduce  them  to  reason 
by  lessening  it ;  and  when  they  find  themselves  so  blocked 
up  by  sea  that  nothing  can  go  to  or  come  from  them  with- 
out falling  into  our  hands ;  or,  if  that  will  not  do,  that  their 
vessels  and  properties  are  seized,  and,  if  occasion  requires, 
their  coasts  plundered,  their  towns  and  ports  reduced  to 
ashes,  &c,  poverty  and  distress  will  by  degrees  break  in 
upon  them  ;  and  though  they  have  got  a  great  Army,  they 
will  see  their  ruin  daily  approaching  without  being  able 
to  prevent  it.  If,  therefore,  they  still  persist  in  their  re- 
bellion, contrary  to  their  own  interest,  and  contrary  to  all 
the  feelings  of  humanity  for  their  fellow-subjects,  but  in  a 
more  particular  manner,  contrary  to  the  compassion  they 
ought  to  have  for  their  wives  and  children,  all  the  evils  and 
calamities  that  arise  from  it  will,  in  the  sight  of  God  and 
man,  lie  at  their  door ;  and  even  the  cries  of  the  injured 
orphan  and  widow,  that  will  go  up  to  Heaven  upon  that 
account,  will  go  up  against  them. 

■  apgs   

PHILADELPHIA  COMMITTEE. 

Committee  Chamber,  June  5,  1775. 

Whereas,  the  businesb  of  this  Committee  has  been  much 
obstructed  arid  embarrassed  by  necessary  inquiries  into  the 
circumstances  of  Goods  imported  here  from  other  Prov- 
inces : 

Resolved,  therefore,  That  for  the  future,  whenever  goods 
shall  be  imported  into  this  Province  from  any  of  the  neigh- 
bouring Colonies,  the  importer  do  produce  a  certificate 
from  the  Chairman  of  the  Committee  from  whence  such 
goods  are  sent,  signifying  their-  importation  within  the  rules 
of  the  Congress,  or  do  produce  a  qualification  taken  before 
some  Magistrate  of  the  identity  of  such  goods,  of  the 
time  of  their  importation  into  this  Country,  and  vessel  in 


which  they  were  imported;  in  failure  whereof  no  sue: 
goods  be  permitted  to  be  landed  or  sold  within  the  limits 
of  this  City  and  Liberties. 

By  order  of  the  Committee  for  the  City  and  Liberties 
of  Philadelphia.        Jonathan  B.  Smith,  Secretary. 


TO  GENERAL  BURGOYNE. 

Philadelphia,  June  5,  1775. 

Permit  me,  Sir,  though  a  stranger  to  your  person,  but 
not  wholly  unacquainted  with  your  character,  to  address 
you  on  your  arrival.  Glad  should  I  be  to  offer  the  la 
guage  of  congratulation  ;  but  the  love  of  my  Country  for- 
bids. Unhappy  situation  !  that  virtue  must  restrain  the 
plaudits  with  which  she  hath  been  used  to  meet  the  accom- 
plished Burgoyne. 

With  the  manly  openness  of  a  soldier  you  have  delivered 
your  sentiments  in  the  Senate ;  you  have  wished  that  the 
bravery  of  every  "military  man"  in  America  "maybe 
judged  by  the  test  of  compassion  ;"  you  have  chosen  "ar- 
gument," if  admitted  to  intercourse  in  America,  "  before 
activity  in  the  line  of  your  profession."  The  precious  op- 
portunity that  you  desire  is  granted ;  the  fertile,  the  once 
peaceful,  the  free  shores  of  America  have  received  you  ;  a 
people  delighting  in  freedom  of  inquiry,  susceptible  of  the 
force  of  solid  argument,  capable  of  refuting  sophistry,  would 
gladly  meet  you  on  this  first  ground  of  your  choice,  with 
candour  enough  to  admire  the  copiousness  of  your  elo- 
quence, though  possessed  with  too  much  judgment  to  mis- 
take it  for  argument.  We  desire  not  to  meet  you  reason- 
ing "  to  the  best  of  your  power  in  the  line  of  your  profes- 
sion," because  the  issues  of  war  are  dreadful  and  uncertain  ; 
and  though  you  have  been  victorious  in  a  "cause"  whicii 
it  was  honourable  "  to  fight  for,  to  bleed,  and  to  die  for," 
yet  in  this,  we  apprehend,  whether  victor  or  vanquished, 
you  will  "  find"  nothing  but  "  sorrow  and  remorse." 

When  Chairman  of  the  Select  Committee  on  East  In- 
dia affairs,  you  declared,  "  that  the  most  infamous  designs 
had  been  carried  into  execution  by  perfidy  and  murder  ; 
that  the  East  India  Princes  held  their  dignities  on  the  pre- 
carious condition  of  being  the  highest  bribers  ;  and  that  no 
claim  could  be  admitted,  however  just  on  their  part,  with- 
out being  introduced  by  enormous  sums  of  rupees.  Your 
noble  nature  started  from  the  horrid  scene ;  the  ghost  of 
Omich und  could  not  have  thus  appalled  you.  And  can 
you,  Sir,  be  instrumental  to  enslave  and  oppress,  not  effem- 
inate East  Indians,  but  the  sons  of  Englishmen  1  Can 
you  imbrue  your  hands  in  brothers'  blood,  or  stoop  to  the 
infamous  designs  of  perfidy  ?  Can  you  wish  that  claims 
the  most  just  should  not  be  admitted,  unless  the  fallacious 
scheme  of  the  treasury  be  adopted  ?  Forbid  it  every  enno- 
bling sentiment  of  the  human  breast !  No,  Sir,  satisfied 
with  the  glorious  laurels  that  adorned  your  brow,  let  the 
peaceful  olive  twine  around  them ;  so  shall  Britain  and 
America  in  future  time  bless  the  man  who  felt  that 
bravery  and  compassion  were  associate  virtues. 

A  PENNSYLV  VNI  AN. 


WILLIAM  DUER  TO  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

Fort  Millar,  June  5,  1775. 

Sir  :  I  esteem  it  a  duty  which  I  owe  to  the  Province  to 
inform  you  that  my  apprehensions  with  respect  to  the 
designs  of  the  people  in  this  County  to  stop  the  courts  of 
justice,  were  not  ill  founded.  A  party  of  the  people  on 
the  Neiv- Hampshire  Grants,  strengthened  by  some  persons 
of  desperate  fortunes  and  bad  characters  in  the  western  dis- 
tricts, had  formed  a  resolution  of  abolishing  the  law  ;  and  to 
effect  their  purpose,  had  actually  marched  on  their  way  to 
Fort  Edward.  Yesterday  fortnight  I  had  intelligence  of 
their  design,  and  by  a  lucky  incident  put  a  stop  to  their 
proceedings,  at  least  for  the  present. 

Captain  Mott,  who  is  the  bearer  of  this,  was  marching 
his  company  to  join  the  forces  at  Ticonderoga.  I  men- 
tioned to  him  the  intelligence  I  had  received,  and  applied 
to  him  for  his  assistance.  This  gentleman  coincided  with 
myself  in  opinion  of  the  absolute  necessity  there  was  oi 
keeping  up  at  least  the  shadow  of  order  and  justice,  and 
detained  his  company  at  Fort  Edivard  in  order  to  protect 
the  Bench.  The  riotous  party  getting  information  of  this 
unlooked  for  relief,  desisted  from  their  attempt. 


911 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


912 


As  Captain  Mutt  is  on  his  way  to  j  our  Congress,  I 
esteem  myself  bound  in  gratitude  to  mention  his  alacrity 
in  supporting  good  order  within  our  Province,  not  doubt- 
ing but  such  a  line  of  conduct  will  recommend  him  to  your 
attention.  I  have  likewise  to  submit  it  again  to  your  con- 
sideration, whether  it  might  not  be  proper  for  the  Provin- 
cial Congress  to  make  publick  their  sentiments  with  respect 
to  the  courts  of  justice.  However  daring  many  of  the 
people  are  in  this  County,  I  scarcely  imagine  they  would 
dare  to  counteract  the  avowed  opinions  of  the  Congress. 
It  is  merely  owing  to  chance,  and  Captain  MotCs  conduct, 
that  this  last  Court  was  not  broke  up  ;  and  should  this  at- 
tempt once  succeed,  it  will  not  be  an  easy  matter  to  restore 
order  amongst  a  people  of  so  turbulent  a  spirit.  Our 
County  will  then  be  reduced  to  a  worse  dilemma  than  any 
other.  We  shall  not  only  have  to  oppose  the  incursions 
of  the  enemy  on  the  frontiers,  but  shall  be  torn  to  pieces 
with  intestine  anarchy  and  confusion.  I  am  conscious, 
from  the  knowledge  1  have  of  your  personal  character,  of 
your  aversion  to  such  proceedings,  and  have  therefore 
thought  it  advisable  to  write  to  you  on  the  subject.  Your 
interposition  in  this  matter  may  save  the  spilling  of  blood 
the  next  Court,  for  so  long  as  I  know  it  to  be  the  sense  of 
the  Country  that  the  courts  of  justice  should  be  support- 
ed, and  that  I  have  the  honour  of  sitting  as  one  of  the 
Judges,  I  shall  endeavour  to  keep  them  open  even  at  the 
risk  of  my  life.  I  am,  Sir,  with  respect,  your  obedient 
humble  servant,  Wm.  Duer. 

To  Peter  Van  Brugh  Livingston,  Esq.,  President  of  the 
Provincial  Congress  at  New-  York. 


COLONEL  GUY  JOHNSON  TO  THE  COMMITTEE  OF  TKYON 
COUNTY,  NEW-YORK. 

Thompson's,  Cosby's  Manor,  June  5,  1775. 
Gentlemen:  I  have  received  the  paper  signed  Chris. 
P.  Yates,  Chairman,  on  behalf  of  the  Districts  therein 
mentioned,  which  1  am  now  to  answer,  and  shall  do  it 
briefly,  in  the  order  you  have  stated  matters.  As  to  the 
letter  from  some  Indians  to  the  Oneidas,  1  really  knew 
nothing  of  it  till  I  heard  such  a  thing  had  been  by  some 
means  obtained  from  an  Indian  messenger ;  and  from  what 
I  have  heard  of  its  contents,  1  can't  see  any  thing  material 
in  it,  or  that  could  justify  such  idle  apprehensions ;  but  I 
must  observe  that  these  fears  among  the  people  were  talked 
of  long  before,  and  were,  I  fear,  propagated  by  some  mali- 
cious persons  for  a  bad  purpose. 

As  to  your  political  sentiments,  on  which  you  enter  in 
the  next  paragraph,  1  have  no  occasion  to  enter  on  them 
or  the  merits  of  the  cause.  I  desire  to  enjoy  liberty  of 
conscience  and  the  exercise  of  my  own  judgment,  and  that 
all  others  should  have  the  same  privilege  ;  but,  with  regard 
to  your  saying  you  might  have  postponed  the  affair,  if 
there  had  been  the  least  kind  of  probability  that  the  peti- 
tion of  the  General  Assembly  would  have  been  noticed 
more  than  that  of  the  Delegates,  I  must,  as  a  true  friend 
to  the  Country,  in  which  I  have  a  large  interest,  say,  that 
the  present  dispute  is  viewed  in  different  lights,  according 
to  the  education  and  principles  of  the  parties  affected  ; 
and  that,  however  reasonable  it  may  appear  to  a  consider- 
able number  of  honest  men  here,  that  the  petition  of  the 
Delegates  should  merit  attention,  it  is  not  viewed  in  the 
same  light  in  a  country  which  admits  of  no  authority  that 
is  not  constitutionally  established  ;  and  I  persuade  myself 
you  have  that  reverence  for  His  Majesty,  that  you  will  pay 
due  regard  to  the  Royal  assurance  given  in  his  speech  to 
Parliament,  that  whenever  the  American  grievances  should 
be  laid  before  him  by  their  constitutional  Assemblies,  they 
should  be  fully  attended  to.  1  have  heard  that  compulsory 
steps  were  taken  to  induce  some  persons  to  come  into  your 
measures,  and  treasonable  toasts  drank  ;  but  1  am  not  willing 
to  give  loo  easy  credit  to  flying  reports,  and  am  happy  to 
hear  you  disavow  them. 

1  am  glad  to  find  my  calling  a  Congress  on  the  frontiers 
gives  satisfaction  ;  this  was  principally  my  design,  though  I 
cannot  sufficiently  express  my  surprise  at  those  who  have, 
either  through  malice  or  ignorance,  misconstrued  my  in- 
tentions, and  supposed  me  capable  of  setting  the  Indians 
on  the  peaceable  inhabitants  of  this  Country.  The  inte- 
rest our  family  has  in  this  Country  and  my  own,  is  con- 
siderable, and  they  have  been  its  best  benefactors ;  any 


malicious  charges,  therefore,  to  their  prejudice,  are  highly 
injurious,  and  ought  to  be  totally  suppressed. 

The  office  1  hold  is  greatly  for  the  benefit  and  protec- 
tion of  this  Country,  and  on  my  frequent  meetings  with  the 
Indians  depends  their  peace  and  security  ;  I  therefore  can- 
not but  be  astonished  to  find  the  endeavours  made  use  of 
to  obstruct  me  in  my  duties,  and  the  weakness  of  some 
people  in  withholding  many  things  from  me,  which  are  in- 
disputably necessary  for  rendering  the  Indians  contented  ; 
and  I  am  willing  to  hope  that  you,  gentlemen,  will  duly 
consider  this  and  discountenance  the  same. 

You  have  been  much  misinformed  as  to  the  origin  of  the 
reports  which  obliged  me  to  fortify  my  house  and  stand  on 
my  defence.  I  had  it,  gentlemen,  from  undoubted  authori- 
ty from  Albany,  and  since  confirmed  by  letters  from  one 
of  the  Committee  at  Philadelphia,  that  a  large  body  of 
men  were  to  make  me  prisoner.  As  the  effect  this  must 
have  on  the  Indians  might  have  been  of  dangerous  conse- 
quences to  you,  (a  circumstance  not  thought  of,)  I  was 
obliged,  at  great  expense,  to  take  these  measures.  But 
the  many  reports  of  my  stopping  travellers  were  false  in 
every  particular,  and  the  only  instance  of  detaining  any 
body  was  in  the  case  of  two  New-England  men,  which  I 
explained  fully  to  those  of  your  body  who  brought  your 
letter,  and  wherein  I  acted  strictly  agreeable  to  law,  and  as 
a  magistrate  should  have  done. 

I  am  very  sorry  that  such  idle  and  injurious  reports  meet 
with  any  encouragement.  I  rely  on  you,  gentlemen,  to 
exert  yourselves  in  discountenancing  them  ;  and  I  am  hap- 
py in  this  opportunity  of  assuring  the  people  of  a  Country 
1  regard,  that  they  have  nothing  to  apprehend  from  my 
endeavours,  but  that  I  shall  always  be  glad  to  promote 
their  true  interests. 

I  am,  gentlemen,  your  humble  servant, 

G.  Johnson. 


extract  of  a  lettkr  to  a  gentleman  in  new-york, 
dated  hartford,  connecticut,  june  5,  1775. 
Mr.  Hide,  the  Boston  post,  reports  that  a  vessel  bound 
to  London,  on  board  of  which  Mr.  Robert  Temple,  a  high- 
flying tory,  was  passenger,  sprang  a  leak  soon  after  her  de- 
parture, and  put  into  Plymouth,  (Neiv- England,)  to  refit. 
That  the  people  took  Temple  prisoner,  sent  him  to  the  camp 
at  Cambridge,  secured  his  papers,  and  opened  a  great  num- 
ber of  letters,  many  of  which  were  from  officers  of  the 
Army  at  Boston.  That  those  letters  in  general  are  full  of 
complaints  and  expressions  of  uneasiness.  Some  of  the 
officers  desire  and  entreat  to  sell  out,  others  say  they  are 
fighting  in  a  bad  cause,  and  apprehensive  of  a  mutiny  ; 
others  mention  a  difference  between  the  General  and  the 
Admiral,  and  that  the  Army  in  general  are  disheartened  and 
uneasy  ;  other  letters  are  full  of  invectives  against  the  poor 

Yankees,  as  they  call  us.  We  hear  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress will  keep  Temple  as  a  hostage ;  but  I  hope  they  will 
let  the  vessel  go  with  the  above  letters. 


JAMES  CURGENVEN  TO  GOVERNOUR  TRUMBULL. 

New-Haven,  June  5,  1775. 

Sir:  I  beg  permission  to  acquaint  your  Honour  that  I 
am  appointed  Collector  of  the  Customs  for  the  port  of 
New-Haven,  vice  Peter  Harrison,  Esquire,  deceased;  and 
that  on  the  second  instant,  when  1  arrived  within  your 
Government,  some  people  showed  a  great  dislike  to  my 
taking  upon  me  the  duty  of  my  office.  But  by  the  inter- 
position of  several  gentlemen  concerned  in  trade,  and  my 
informing  them  that  I  should  wait  on  your  Honour  as  soon 
as  I  had  recovered  from  the  fatigues  of  the  voyage,  they 
appeared  to  be  satisfied. 

I  look  on  it  a  respect  due  to  your  Honour,  that  I  should 
satisfy  you  as  to  the  legality  of  my  appointment,  as  well  as 
necessary  that  I  should  take  the  oaths  prescribed  by  law 
previous  to  my  entering  upon  the  execution  of  my  duty  ; 
but  as  my  ill  state  of  health  will  not  admit  of  my  taking  a 
journey  at  present,  and  as  I  have  already  taken  the  oath  of 
office  before  the  Board  of  Customs,  I  hope  this  will  be  ad- 
mitted as  a  sufficient  apology.  And  some  persons  having 
suggested  that  your  Honour  would  refuse  to  administer  the 
oaths  appointed  to  be  taken  by  officers  of  the  Crown  in 
similar  cases  with  mine,  I  take  the  liberty  to  request  that 
your  Honour  will  be  pleased  to  inform  me  by  a  line,  if  you 


913 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  he,  JUNE,  1775. 


914 


have  any  objection  to  administer  them.  Your  condescen- 
sion herein  will  lay  me  under  the  most  lasting  obligations. 

I  am,  with  the  greatest  respect,  Sir,  your  Honour's  most 
obedient  and  most  humble  servant, 

James  Curgenven. 
The  Hon.  Jonathan  Trumbull,  Esq.,  Governour  of  His 
Majesty's  Colony  of  Connecticut,  he,  he,  he 


I,  James  Curgenven,  do  sincerely  promise  and  swear, 
that  I  will  be  faithful,  and  bear  true  allegiance  to  His  Ma- 
jesty George  the  Third.    So  help  me  God. 

I,  James  Curgenven,  do  swear  that  I  do,  from  my  heart, 
abhor,  detest,  and  abjure,  as  impious  and  heretical,  that 
damnable  doctrine  and  position  that  Princes,  excommuni- 
cated or  deprived  by  the  Pope  or  any  authority  of  the  See 
of  Rome,  may  be  deposed  or  murdered  by  their  subjects  or 
any  other  whatsoever.  And  I  do  declare  that  no  foreign 
prince,  person,  prelate,  state,  or  potentate,  hath,  or  ought 
to  have,  any  jurisdiction,  power,  superiority,  pre-eminence, 
or  authority,  ecclesiastical  or  spiritual,  within  the  Realm  of 
Great  Britain.    So  help  me  God. 

I,  James  Curgenven,  do  solemnly,  in  the  presence  of  God, 
profess,  testify,  and  declare,  that  I  do  believe  that  in  the 
Sacraments  of  the  Lord's  Supper  there  is  not  any  transub- 
stantiation  of  the  elements  of  bread  and  wine  in  the  body 
and  blood  of  Christ,  at  or  after  the  consecration  thereof  by 
any  person  whatsoever,  and  that  the  invocation  or  adora- 
tion of  the  Virgin  Mary,  or  any  other  Saint,  and  the  sacri- 
fice of  the  Mass;  as  they  are  now  used  in  the  Church  of 
Rome,  are  superstitious  and  idolatrous.  And  I  do  solemn- 
ly, in  the  presence  of  God,  profess,  testify,  and  declare, 
that  I  do  make  this  declaration,  and  every  part  thereof,  in 
the  plain  and  ordinary  sense  of  the  words  read  unto  me,  as 
they  are  commonly  understood  by  English  Protestants, 
without  any  evasion,  equivocation,  or  mental  reservation 
whatsoever,  and  without  any  dispensation  already  granted 
me  for  this  purpose  by  the  Pope,  or  any  authority  or  per- 
son whatsoever,  or  without  any  hope  of  any  such  dispensa- 
tion from  any  authority  or  person  whatsoever,  or  without 
thinking  that  1  am  or  can  be  acquitted  before  God  or 
man,  or  absolved  of  this  declaration,  or  any  part  thereof, 
although  the  Pope  or  any  other  person  or  persons,  or  pow- 
er whatsoever,  should  dispense  with  or  annul  the  same,  or 
declare  that  it  was  null  and  void  from  the  beginning. 

I,  James  Curgenven,  do  truly  and  sincerely  acknowledge, 
profess,  testify,  and  declare,  in  my  conscience,  before  God 
and  the  world,  that  our  sovereign  Lord,  King  George,  is  law- 
ful and  rightful  King  of  this  Realm,  and  all  other  His  Majes- 
ty's Dominions  and  Countries  thereunto  belonging.  And 
I  do  solemnly  declare,  that  I  do  believe,  in  my  conscience, 
that  not  any  of  the  descendants  of  the  person  who  pretend- 
ed to  be  Prince  of  Wales  during  the  life  of  the  late  King 
James  the  Second,  and  since  his  decease,  pretended  to  be, 
and  took  upon  himself  the  style  and  title  of  King  of  Eng- 
land, by  the  name  of  James  the  Third,  or  of  Scotland,  by 
the  name  of  James  the  Eighth,  or  the  style  or  title  of  King 
of  Great  Britain,  hath  any  right  or  title  whatsoever  to  the 
Crown  of  this  Realm,  or  any  other  Dominions  thereunto 
belonging.  And  1  do  renounce,  refuse,  and  abjure  any 
allegiance  or  obedience  to  any  of  them ;  and  I  do  swear 
that  I  will  bear  faith  and  true  allegiance  to  His  Majesty 
King  George,  and  him 'will  defend  to  the  utmost  of  my 
power  against  all  traitorous  conspiracies  and  attempts  what- 
soever, which  shall  be  made  against  his  person,  crown,  or 
dignity.  And  I  will  do  my  utmost  endeavour  to  disclose 
and  make  known  to  His  Majesty  and  his  successor  all  trea- 
sons and  traitorous  conspiracies  which  I  shall  know  to  be 
against  him  or  any  of  them.  And  I  do  faithfully  promise, 
to  the  utmost  of  my  power,  to  support,  maintain,  and  de- 
fend the  succession  of  the  Crown  against  the  defendants 
of  the  said  James,  and  against  all  persons  whatsoever, 
which  succession,  by  an  Act  intituled  "  An  Act  for  the  fur- 
ther limitation  of  the  Crown,  and  better  securing  the  rights 
and  liberties  of  the  Subjects,"  is  and  stands  limited  to  the 
Princess  Sophia,  Electoress  and  Dutchess  Dowager  of 
Hanover,  and  the  heirs  of  her  body  being  Protestants. 
And  all  these  things  I  do  plainly  and  sincerely  acknowledge 
and  swear,  according  to  these  express  words  by  me  spoken, 
according  to  the  plain  common  sense  and  understanding  of 
the  same  words,  without  any  equivocation,  mental  evasion, 


or  secret  reservation  whatsoever.  And  I  do  now  make 
this  recognition,  acknowledgment,  abjuration,  renunciation, 
and  promise,  heartily,  willingly,  and  truly,  upon  the  true 
faith  of  a  Christian.    So  help  me  God. 

June  9,  1775.  JaMES  Curgenven. 


Camp  Cambridge,  June  5,  1775. 
The  Petition  of  the  subscribers,  Soldiers  in  the  Company 
commanded  by  Captain  Drury,  humbly  showeth  : 
That  your  petitioners,  with  the  utmost  concern,  find 
themselves  shifted  out  of  Colonel  Nixen's  Regiment  into 
that  of  Colonel  Gardner's,  contrary  to  our  inclination,  and 
repugnant  to  the  promise  made  us  at  our  enlisting.  We, 
therefore,  beg  that  your  Excellency  would  be  pleased  to 
continue  us  in  the  Regiment  we  engaged  to  serve  in,  and 
not  to  be  removed  for  the  future  only  to  serve  the  malevo- 
lent disposition  of  our  Captain ;  and,  as  in  duty  bound, 
shall  ever  pray. 

Brigham  Eaton, 
William  Clark, 
Simeon  Rogers, 
Joseph  Jennings, 
Ebenezsr  James, 
Josiali  Waite, 
Azariah  Walker, 
Amos  Gates, 
Peter  Sabin, 


Windsor  Stone, 
Samuel  Ordway, 
Simon  Stow, 
Josiah  Bent, 
Francis  Stow, 
Joseph  Brown, 
Joseph  Stow, 
Abijah  Abbot, 
John  Stacy, 


David  Waite, 
George  Gates, 
Joseph  Goynit, 
Benjamin  Clark, 
Joseph  Seaver, 
Samuel  Everdean, 
Isaac  Heminway, 
Henry  Gates, 
Nehemiah  Wright. 


To  his  Excellency  General  Ward,  he 


To  the  Colony  Congress  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay,  in 

New- England  : 
We,  the  subscribers,  Captains  in  the  Regiment  whereof 
James  Scammon,  Esq.,  is  Colonel,  humbly  showeth  : 
That  whereas  there  is  no  provision  made  for  the  money 
that  we,  our  subalterns,  and  soldiers,  have  advanced  for 
their  support,  from  the  time  of  enlistment  to  their  arrival  at 
Cambridge,  humbly  pray,  in  behalf  of  ourselves,  he,  that 
your  Honours  would,  in  your  wisdom,  contrive  some  way 
that  is  most  agreeable  for  their  being  refunded  the  several 
sums  they  have  advanced.  And  your  petitioners,  as  in  duty 
bound,  will  ever  pray,  he 

Philip  Hubbard, 

Jesse  Dorman, 

Joshua  Bragdon, 

Jeremiah  Hill, 


Tobias  Fernald,  Jun., 
Samuel  Sayer, 
Samuel  Leighton, 
Samuel  Darby. 


Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii. 


TOWN  MEETING  IN  CONWAY,  NEW-HAMPSHIRE. 

At  a  legal  meeting  held  by  the  inhabitants  of  Conway, 
on  the  fifth  day  of  June,  1775,  the  following  Votes  were 
passed : 

Voted,  That  Col.  Andrew  McMullen,  Capt.  Timothy 
Walker,  Capt.  David  Page,  Lieut.  James  Osgood,  and 
Ensign  Joshua  Heath,  be  a  Committee  at  and  in  behalf  of 
the  Town,  in  any  matter  respecting  the  present  time  of 
difficulty. 

Voted,  That  the  Town  will  aid  and  assist  the  above 
Committee  that  is  chosen  in  behalf  of  the  Town  to  pre- 
serve the  peace  and  order  of  it,  whenever  the  Committee 
shall  judge  occasion. 

Voted,  That  this  Committee  be  fully  empowered  to  in- 
quire touching  any  obnoxious  person  who  may  flee  to  this 
Town  for  an  asylum,  and  that  they  shall  judge  whether  it 
is  expedient  for  any  such  refugee  to  reside  here,  or  depart 
from  it ;  and  any  inhabitant  of  this  Town  who  shall  be  ob- 
noxious, shall  be  only  accountable  to  the  Committee  for 
their  conduct. 

Voted,  That  no  other  person  but  the  Committee  shall 
concern  with  any  such  refugees ;  but  if  any  person  shall 
know  of  any  such  obnoxious  person  coming  into  Town,  the 
earliest  notice  thereof  shall  be  given  the  Committee. 

Voted,  That  the  Committee  be  empowered  to  call  be- 
fore them,  and  upon  proper  evidence  to  pass  upon  any 
inhabitants  of  the  Town,  who  shall  dare  to  transgress  any 
of  the  preceding  Votes,  or  in  any  manner  to  disturb  the 
peace  of  the  Town. 

Voted,  That  the  Committee  shall  make  application  to 
the  Congress  of  this  Province  for  arms  and  ammunition  that 
are  wanting  in  this  Town,  and  for  men  for  a  scouting  guard 
for  our  safety.  Richard  Eastman,  Town  Clerk. 


58 


915 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  lie.,  JUNE,  1775. 


916 


TO  THE  MINISTER. 

London,  Juno  6,  1775. 

The  sword  of  civil  war  is  at  last  unsheathed.  You  are 
astonished  ;  for  you  believed  those  sagacious  counsellors, 
who  assured  you  that  the  Americans  were  cowards.  You 
were  persuaded  that  what  you  are  pleased  to  call  "  firmness" 
in  the  King,  and  "steadiness"  in  his  Ministers,  were  alone 
sufficient  to  stifle  that  thing  called  "liberty,"  which,  having 
fled  from  this  island,  took  shelter  in  America.  You  find, 
my  Lord,  you  were  deceived,  and  from  that  fatal  hour  in 
which  the  hostile  sword  glittered  in  America,  every  ship 
will  bring  fresh  proof  of  your  error.  I  know  the  Americans, 
my  Lord,  better  than  any  of  your  military  informers.  You 
are  deceived,  abused,  wretchedly  abused,  and  you  will  find 
your  errour  when  it  is  too  late.  Just  God !  I  lose  all  pa- 
tience when  I  recollect  the  incredible  absurdity  of  your  con- 
duct ;  the  paltry,  shallow,  contemptible  system  of  politicks, 
by  which  every  transaction  of  your  Ministry  hath  been 
governed.  With  regard  to  America,  you  have  struggled 
under  an  universal  cloud  of  infatuation,  and  the  arguments 
of  your  treasury  slaves  in  support  of  your  tyranny  are  a 
continued  burlesque  on  argumentation.  You  have  been 
equally  unlucky,  my  Lord,  in  your  pensioned  scribblers, 
the  two  celebrated  Doctors,  who,  unfortunately  for  your 
Lordship,  are,  in  truth,  most  scurvy  politicians. 

But,  my  Lord,  I  will,  for  the  present,  waive  all  other 
matters  of  discussion,  and  confine  myself  to  the  topick  of 
the  day.  America,  my  Lord,  America!  You  shudder  at 
the  sound.  1  marvel  not ;  it  will  be  your  destruction.  Your 
present  game,  my  Lord,  depends  entirely  on  your  ability 
to  persuade  the  people  of  England  that  their  fellow-subjects 
in  America  are  in  a  state  of  rebellion.  The  people  of  Eng- 
land are  less  liable  to  mistake  declamation  for  argument 
than  any  people  in  Europe.  The  people  of  England  know 
that  to  resist  illegal  exertions  of  power  is  not  rebellion.  If 
you,  my  Lord,  have  presumed  to  stretch  the  power  of  the 
Crown,  or  of  the  Parliament,  beyond  its  legal  bounds,  you 
are  a  rebel  to  the  People  and  a  traitor  to  your  Country. 
You  have  dared  to  tax  America,  an  unrepresented  part  of  the 
King's  Dominions.  That  taxation  and  representation  are 
inseparable,  is  the  avowed  opinion  of  the  first  lawyer  in  the 
Kingdom.  It  is  not  only  an  opinion,  but  a  glaring  axiom 
of  the  Constitution  ;  and  if  you  dare  deny  it,  my  Lord,  I 
thus  publickly  declare  you  an  errant  traitor  to  your  Coun- 
try. America  is  not  represented,  and  therefore  cannot  be 
taxed  but  by  themselves ;  and  whatever  may  be  your  pre- 
sent position,  I  pledge  my  credit  with  the  publick,  that  I 
will  bring  you  or  your  advocates  to  acknowledge  the  truth 
of  this  position.  If,  therefore,  you  have  presumed  to  tax 
America  illegally  ;  if  you  have  sent  an  Army  to  enforce 
laws  unconstitutionally  enacted,  the  Americans  are  not  in  a 
state  of  rebellion.  On  the  contrary ,  they  deserve  our  prayers 
and  assistance ;  and  you,  my  Lord,  are  the  arch  rebel 
against  whom  all  our  vengeance  should  be  directed.  I  am 
unexpectedly  interrupted,  and  I  must  therefore  beg  leave 
to  conclude  myself,  my  Lord,  yours,  &,c. 


PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS  OF  SOUTH  CAROLINA. 

Charlestown,  Tuesday,  June  6,  1775. 
Resolved,  That  the  following  gentlemen,  viz :  Sir  Ed- 
mund Head,  Bart.,  David  Dcas,  Esq.,  Mr.  John  Fuller- 
ton,  Mr.  John  Wagner,  Mr.  Josiah  Smith,  Jr.,  Mr.  Joseph 
Dill,  Robert  Williams,  Jr.,  Esq.,  Mr.  Thomas  Eveleigh, 
John  Scott,  Esq.,  of  Broad-street,  Major  William  Savage, 
Mr.  Edward  Lightwood,  Captain  Alexander  Gillon,  Alex- 
ander Rose,  Esq.,  Mr.  George  Abbott  Hall,  Mr.  Barnard 
Beclcman.  Captain  Edward  Blake,  Doctor  Peter  Fayssoux, 
Captain  Simon  Tufts,  Captain  John  Scott,  Mr.  James  Fa- 
gartic,  Mr.  William  Johnson,  Mr.  James  Carsan,  Joshua 
Ward,  Esq.,  Mr.  Samuel  Eegare,  Mr.  Charles  Johnston, 
and  Mr.  John  Horlbcck,  be  a  Committee  to  receive  the 
signatures  of  all  the  inhabitants  of  Charlestown,  to  the  As- 
sociation entered  into  on  the  third  instant,  and  signed  on 
the  fourth  by  every  member  of  this  Congress.  And  that 
it  be  recommended  to  them  to  complete  the  subscriptions 
as  speedily  as  possible,  and  make  a  return  of  the  names  of 
such  as  decline  to  sign  the  said  Association,  to  the  General 
Committee. 

By  order  of  the  Congress : 

Peter  Timothy,  Secretary. 


CHESTER  COUNTY  (PENNSYLVANIA)  COMMITTEE. 

In  Committee,  Chester  County,  June  6,  1775. 
The  Committee  met  pursuant  to  appointment,  in  the 
Township  of  Charlestown,  and  proceeded  to  examine  into 
the  charge  lodged  against  William  Moore,  Esquire,  setting 
forth  that  he  was  inimical  to  the  liberties  of  America,  and 
that  he  had  expressed  a  design  to  oppose  the  present  As- 
sociation. 

Mr.  Moore  being  ill,  was  waited  on  by  two  of  the  Com- 
mittee, with  copies  of  the  several  charges  exhibited  against 
him,  to  which,  after  due  consideration,  he  returned  the  fol- 
lowing answer,  viz : 

Gentlemen  :  I  have  read  the  different  charges  against 
me,  which  have  been  laid  before  you,  and  am  extremely 
sorry  for  any  unguarded  expression  therein  contained  that 
may  have  dropped  from  me  ;  for  believe  me,  I  have  no 
interest  but  what  is  in  America.  I  wish  well  to  every 
individual  in  it,  and  pray  that  its  liberties  may  be  preserved 
to  the  latest  times.  I  also  further  declare  that  I  have  of 
late  encouraged,  and  will  continue  to  encourage,  learning 
the  military  art,  apprehending  the  time  is  not  far  distant 
when  there  may  be  occasion  for  it. 

I  hope,  gentlemen,  this  will  be  satisfactory  to  you.  I 
am  now  an  old  man,  and  cannot  possibly  entertain  a  thought 
but  what  is  friendly  to  America,  in  which  I  am  to  leave 
my  family  and  all  that  is  dear  to  me ;  and  the  short  time  I 
have  to  live,  I  wish  to  seek  peace  with  all  men. 

Witness  my  hand  this  6th  of  June,  1775. 

Wm.  Moore. 

To  Anthony  Wayne,  Esq.,  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of 
Chester  County. 

On  motion,  Resolved,  nem.  con.,  That  William  Moore, 
Esquire,  has  made  a  proper  acknowledgment,  and  given  a 
satisfactory  answer  to  this  Committee  :  Therefore, 

Ordered,  That  this  proceeding  be  published,  to  the  end 
that  Mr.  Moore's  person  and  property  may  remain  free 
from  injury  on  account  of  any  thing  that  has  heretofoie 
been  alleged  against  him  respecting  publick  matters. 

By  order  of  the  Committee  : 

Lewis  Gronow,  Secretary  pro  tern. 


NEW-YORK  CONGRESS  TO  GOVERNOUR  TRUMBULL. 

In  Provincial  Congress,  New- York,  June  6,  1?7j. 

May  it  please  your  Honour:  We  take  leave  to  en- 
close a  Resolution  of  the  Grand  Congress,  of  the  31st  of 
May,  and  at  the  same  time  to  present  you  our  acknow- 
ledgments for  the  letter  which  we  had  the  honour  to  re- 
ceive from  you,  dated  the  29th. 

Be  assured,  Sir,  that  we  are  most  gratefully  sensible  of 
the  cheerfulness  with  which  the  Government  of  Connecticut 
has  exerted  itself  to  support  the  important  posts  of  Crown 
Point  and  Ticonderoga,  until  our  abilities  may  enable  us 
to  execute  that  trust  which  the  Continental  Congress  has, 
on  that  subject,  thought  proper  in  the  first  instance  to  re- 
pose in  us. 

In  compliance  with  the  requisitions  made  upon  us,  we 
have  expedited  our  orders  for  the  several  things  contained 
in  the  enclosed  lists,  at  the  bottom  whereof  are  accounts  of 
the  several  articles  already  sent  for  that  service,  and  the 
persons  employed  in  it. 

We  are  sorry  to  present  you  with  the  very  disagreeable 
intelligence  that  we  have  not  a  sufficient  quantity  of  powder 
in  this  Colony  to  enable  us  at  present  to  contribute  in  the 
least  towards  supplying  those  forts  with  that  article  ;  a  cir- 
cumstance which  is  the  more  distressing,  as  we  have  great 
reason  to  believe  that  a  considerable  quantity  will  be  re- 
quired for  the  defence  of  the  northern  frontier. 

We  pray  your  Honour  to  believe  that  we  feel  the 
utmost  desire  of  co-operating  with  our  sister  Colonies  in 
executing  the  Resolves  of  the  Congress,  and  that  we  are, 
with  great  respect,  your  Honour's  most  obedient  humble 
servants. 

Per  order,  and  in  behalf  of  the  Provincial  Congress  : 
P.  V.  B.  Livingston,  President. 
To  the  Hon.  Jonathan  Trumb       ~"  r-1    ^-'-  -v 

c-  •nccticV 


917 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


918 


FREDERICK  WEISSENFELS  AND  OTHERS  TO  NEW-YORK 
CONGRESS. 

New. York,  June  6,  1775. 
Gentlemen  :  As  we  have  ever  been  heartily  attached 
to  the  cause  of  our  Country,  so  we  are  now  ready  to  en- 
gage in  the  defence  of  its  rights ;  and  as  we  understand 
Troops  are  soon  to  be  raised  in  this  Province,  we  think  it 
a  duty  incumbent  on  us  to  offer  our  service. 

Should  you  think  proper  to  confide  in  us,  and  appoint 
us,  respectively,  to  the  command  of  a  company,  we  shall 
study  to  conduct  ourselves  in  such  a  manner  as  to  merit 
your  approbation. 

We  are,  with  the  greatest  respect,  gentlemen,  your  most 
humble  servants, 

Fredk.  Weissenfels,  Garret  Roorback, 
Marinus  Willett,  Jacobus  Wynkoop, 
Gershom  Mott,  James  Alner, 

John  Johnson,  John  Quackenbos. 

To  the  Honourable  Provincial  Congress  of  the  Province  of 
New-  York. 


PIERPONT  EDWARDS  TO  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

New-York,  June  6,  1775. 

Sir:  I  am  now  on  my  way  to  Connecticut ;  shall  there- 
fore be  much  obliged  to  the  Congress  of  this  Province  for 
giving  me  the  fullest  information  of  the  measures  they  have 
adopted,  that  I  may  communicate  them  to  the  House  of 
Representatives  of  the  Colony  of  Connecticut. 

As  it  will  be  impossible  for  me  to  give  them  an  accurate 
account,  relying  merely  on  memory,  I  shall  esteem  it  a  fa- 
vour to  be  furnished  with  attested  copies  of  those  parts  of 
the  Minutes  of  the  Congress  which  contain  the  most  im- 
portant Resolutions  and  Orders. 

I  intend  to  set  out  to-morrow  morning,  and  shall  esteem 
myself  happy  in  having  an  opportunity  to  execute  any 
commands  that  the  Congress  may  have  to  the  Eastward. 

I  am,  Sir,  your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

Pierpont  Edwards. 
Peter  V.  B.  Livingston,  Esquire. 


KINGSTON,  (ULSTER  COUNTY,  NEW-YORK,)  COMMITTEE. 

Kingston,  June  6,  1775. 

Gentlemen:  Whereas,  there  is  a  dispute  now  subsist- 
ing between  me  and  you,  gentlemen  of  the  Committee  of 
this  Town  ;  and  considering  that  unanimity  is  necessary  for 
the  preservation  of  our  rights  and  liberties  at  this  critical 
juncture,  the  welfare  of  individuals,  and  for  my  own  in- 
terest in  particular,  1  do  most  earnestly  request,  if  it  be 
possible,  that  we  may  come  to  an  amicable  reconciliation, 
by  the  following  concessions: 

First.  That  I  am  very  sorry  so  great  a  misunderstand- 
ing has  so  long  subsisted  between  us,  respecting  the  dif- 
ference in  opinion  of  the  Resolves  of  the  Continental  Con- 
gress. 

Secondly.  I  earnestly  entreat  that  the  gentlemen  of  the 
Committee  will  forgive  me  all  the  offences  and  transgres- 
sions, wherein  I  have  offended  and  injured  them  in  their 
respective  reputations  or  characters,  either  in  their  publick 
or  private  capacities.  Jacobus  Low. 

At  a  Meeting  of  the  Committee  of  the  Town  of 
Kingston,  in  Ulster  County,  on  the  sixth  day  of  June, 
1775: 

It  is  hereby  certified  to  all  whom  it  may  concern,  that 
Mr.  Jacobus  Low,  of  said  Town  of  Kingston,  personally- 
appeared  before  us,  and  did  make  all  such  reasonable  satis- 
faction (by  publick  concession)  as  was  required  relative  to 
his  former  conduct.  And  we  recommend  to  the  publick, 
that  from  henceforth  he  may  again  be  received  as  a  friend 
to  the  liberties  and  privileges  of  British- America. 

By  order  of  the  Committee  : 

Johannes  Sleght,  Chairman. 

I  am  both  disposed  and  willing  to  forgive  all  injuries 
and  damages  which  1  have  sustained  in  consequence  of 
divers  advertisements.  Jacobus  Low. 


CAPT.  HENRY  B.  LIVINGSTON  TO  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

Claremont,  June  6,  1775. 

Sir  :  Yesterday  I  received  my  warrant  (which  permits 
me  the  liberty  I  now  take)  from  Captain  Shehlen,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Committee  appointed  for  Dutchess  County.  It 
was  not  without  surprise  I  received  a  commission  inferiour 
to  that  I  have  been  honoured  with.  But  the  reflection, 
that  the  Congress  will  undoubtedly  supply  places  of  higher 
rank  with  more  experienced  officers,  soon  rid  me  of  the 
disagreeable  sensations  my  degradation  had  excited,  and 
determined  me  to  accept  of  the  commission  offered,  with  a 
fixed  resolution  to  be  as  useful  to  my  Country  as  the  sta- 
tion I  am  placed  in  will  allow  me.  I  have  this  day  en- 
listed ten  men,  and  have  provided  quarters  and  provisions 
for  my  whole  complement,  at  the  rate  of  eight  shillings 
per  week  for  each  man.  The  men  I  have  enlisted  bear 
good  characters,  and  to  appearance  are  healthy,  lively,  and 
of  robust  constitutions ;  proper  persons  will  be  appointed 
to  inspect  them  by  Saturday  next.  Few  of  them  will 
be  able  to  furnish  shoes,  stockings,  arms,  &ic.  You 
will  infinitely  oblige  me  if  you  would  lay  this  matter  be- 
fore the  Congress,  and  use  your  endeavours  to  get  arms 
sent  to  us  as  expeditiously  as  possible,  as  the  disciplining 
them  will  be  much  retarded  for  want  of  them.  I  can  en- 
list many  who  have  those  necessaries,  but  this  will  take  up 
more  time,  and  perhaps  hinder  me  from  getting  men  so  fit 
for  action  as  those  I  now  have  A  fifer,  I  believe,  cannot 
be  found  in  this  part  of  the  Country;  a  drummer  I  have 
engaged.  The  rest  of  my  task  shall,  with  all  diligence, 
be  performed.    Sir,  your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

Henry  B.  Livingston. 

To  Peter  V.  B.  Livingston,  Esquire,  President  of  the 
Provincial  Congress  of  New-  York. 


CUMBERLAND  COUNTY  (nEW-YORk)  COMMITTEE. 

At  a  full  meeting  of  the  Delegates  from  the  several 
Towns  in  the  County  of  Cumberland,  Colony  of  New- 
York,  convened  at  Westminster,  June  6,  1775 : 

The  County  of  Cumberland  having  received  certain  in- 
telligence from  Mr.  Isaac  Loiv,  Chairman  of  the  Commit- 
tee of  Correspondence  at  New-  York,  that  it  is  the  desire 
of  the  said  respectable  Committee  of  Correspondence  at 
New-  York,  that  the  sense  of  the  people  in  said  County  of 
Cumberland  should  be  fully  known  with  regard  to  the  hos- 
tile measures  that  are  using  by  the  British  Parliament  to 
enforce  the  late  cruel,  unjust,  and  oppressive  Acts  of  the 
said  British  Parliament,  through  the  British  Colonies  in 
America :  We,  the  Delegates  from  the  several  Towns  and 
Districts  in  said  County  of  Cumberland,  being  chosen  by 
the  freeholders  and  inhabitants  of  the  same,  to  exhibit  to 
the  Provincial  Congress  the  sense  and  voice  of  the  people 
with  regard  to  the  unjust  proceedings  of  the  British  Par- 
liament, &lc,  do  pass  the  following  Resolves: 

1.  Resolved,  nem. con.,  That  the  late  Acts  of  the  Bri- 
tish Parliament,  passed  in  order  to  raise  a  revenue  in 
America,  are  unjust,  illegal,  and  diametrically  opposite  to 
the  Bill  of  Rights,  and  a  fundamental  principle  of  the  Bri- 
tish Constitution,  which  is,  "  that  no  person  shall  have  his 
property  taken  from  him  without  his  consent." 

2.  Resolved,  nem.  con.,  That  we  will  resist  and  oppose 
the  said  Acts  of  Parliament,  in  conjunction  with  our  breth- 
ren in  America,  at  the  expense  of  our  lives  and  fortunes, 
to  the  last  extremity,  if  our  duty  to  God  and  our  Country 
require  the  same. 

3.  Resolved,  nem.  con.,  That  we  think  it  needless  to 
pass  many  resolves  exhibiting  our  sentiments  with  regard 
to  the  unhappy  controversy  subsisting  between  Great  Bri- 
tain and  America.  Let  it  suffice,  therefore,  that  we  fully 
acquiesce  with  what  our  brethren  have  lately  done  at  New- 
York,  in  their  late  Association  ;  and  it  is  hereby  resolved 
that  the  late  Association  entered  into  at  New-  York  is  per- 
fectly agreeable  to  the  sentiments  of  the  freeholders  and 
inhabitants  of  this  County,  and  that  they  fully  acquiesce  in 
the  same. 

4.  Resolved,  nem.  con.,  That  this  County  is  at  present 
in  a  very  broken  situation  with  regard  to  the  civil  authority. 
We  therefore  sincerely  desire  that  the  advice  of  the  hon- 
ourable Congress  may  be  by  our  Delegates  transmitted  to 
us,  whereby  some  order  and  regularity  may  be  established 


919 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  kc,  JUNE,  1775. 


920 


among  us.  We  therefore  should  take  it  as  a  favour  if  the 
honourable  Congress  would  particularly  recommend  to  us 
in  this  County  some  measures  to  be  pursued  by  us  the  in- 
habitants of  the  same ;  for  we  are  persuaded  their  advice 
herein  would  have  great  weight  to  influence  our  people  uni- 
versally to  pursue  such  measures  as  would  tend  to  the  peace, 
safety,  and  good  order  of  this  County  for  the  future. 

5.  Resolved,  nem.  con.,  That  we,  the  inhabitants  of  this 
County,  are  at  present  in  an  extremely  defenceless  state 
with  regard  to  arms  and  ammunition.  We  sincerely  desire 
the  honourable  Provincial  Congress  would  consider  us  in 
this  respect,  and  from  their  generosity  and  goodness  would 
do  what  in  them  lies  for  our  relief  in  the  premises.  We 
have  many  brave  soldiers,  but,  unhappily  for  us,  we  have 
nothing  to  fight  with. 

6.  Resolved,  nem.  con.,  That  in  pursuance  of  the  Hon- 
ourable Isaac  Low's  (Chairman  of  the  Committee  of  Cor- 
respondence) request  for  this  County  to  send  Delegates  to 
the  City  of  New-York,  in  order  to  ascertain  the  sentiments 
of  the  people  in  the  County  concerning  the  unconstitu- 
tional measures  lately  adopted  by  the  British  Parliament 
against  the  Americans  in  general,  and  some  other  matters, 
and  so  forth,  we  do  hereby  vote  and  resolve,  that  Colonel 
John  Hazehine,  Doctor  Paul  Spooncr,  and  William  Wil- 
liams, Esquire,  be  our  Delegates  to  meet  and  join  the  other 
respectable  Delegates  convened  at  New-York,  to  represent 
the  affairs  of  this  County  in  said  Congress,  at  the  City  of 
New-York.  John  Hazeltine, 

Chairman  of  the  County  of  Cumberland  Congress 
and  Committee  of  Correspondence. 


JAMES  EASTON  TO  THE  MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS. 

Crown  Point,  June  6,  1775. 

Respectable  Gentlemen:  It  is  of  the  utmost  impor- 
tance to  the  United  Colonies  to  cultivate  harmony  and 
friendship  with  the  Canadians  and  their  Indians.  I  have 
painfully  exerted  myself  to  procure  and  secure  it.  Have 
sent  you  a  copy  of  a  letter  Colonel  Allen  and  myself 
wrote  to  the  Canadians.  It  appears  to  me  of  importance 
that  your  Honours  should  be  acquainted  with  the  state  of 
policy  and  of  facts.  You  will  discern  by  perusing  the  en- 
closed, that  a  party  of  Canadians  made  an  attack  upon  our 
reconnoitring  party.  Since  that,  Mr.  Ferris,  an  inhabitant 
of  the  New-Hampshire  Grants,  has  been  at  Montreal,  and 
returned  to  this  place.  He  is  a  man  I  can  confide  in,  and 
informs  that  Saint  LukeLaCorne,  who  acted  many  barbari- 
ties towards  our  people  last  war,  (for  which  he  was  saint- 
ed,) has  been  using  his  utmost  influence  to  excite  the  Cana- 
dians and  Indians  to  take  part  in  the  war  against  the  United 
Colonies,  and  that  he  and  Captain  McCoy,  who  command- 
ed the  Canadians'  attack,  have  made  but  little  proficiency. 
Most  of  the  said  party  of  Canadians  were  appointed  offi- 
cers, but  could  procure  but  very  few  soldiers,  and  not  one 
Indian.  Saint  Luke  advises  that  some  in  every  Parish  be 
immediately  executed,  except  they  will  join  the  King's 
Troops.  There  are  lately  come  to  St  Johns  near  two 
hundred  Regulars,  and  joined  Captain  McCoy's  party  of 
about  fifty  Canadians,  who  have  been  mentioned  as  assail- 
ants on  the  reconnoitring  party  ;  they  are  there  fortifying. 

I  still  retain  my  sentiments,  that  policy  demands  that 
the  Colonies  advance  an  Army  of  two  or  three  thousand 
men  into  Canada  and  environ  Montreal.  This  will  inevi- 
tably fix  and  confirm  the  Canadians  and  Indians  in  our 
interest.  Nothing  gives  me  so  much  concern,  as  the  mis- 
taken policy  in  our  worthy  Congresses  and  Assemblies, 
who,  for  want  of  the  real  knowledge  of  certain  facts,  ima- 
gine that  to  push  an  Army  thither  would  offend  the  Cana- 
dians, and  incense  them  against  the  Colonies.  The  armed 
vessels  are  advanced  to  the  north  part  of  the  lake  to  com- 
mand it,  and  consequently  to  guard  the  frontier  settlements 
thereon. 

We  hear  that  Colonel  Ilinman  is  appointed  Commander- 
in-Chief  of  this  department,  and  is  marching  hither  with  a 
thousand  men.  This  is  joyful  tidings  to  us;  we  hope  it 
will  prove  true ;  for  we  cannot  long  conduct  our  Army, 
without  it  be  regularly  organized  with  officers,  and  under 
pay.  I  am,  gentlemen,,  your  most  obedient  humble  ser- 
vant, James  Easton. 
To  the  Hon.  Provincial  Congress,  Committee  of  Safety, 

or  the  Council  of  War,  at  Watertown  and  Cambridge. 


STAMFORD  (CONNECTICUT)  COMMITTEE. 

Stamford,  June  6,  1775. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Observation  for  the 
Town  of  Stamford,  held  in  said  Stamford  on  Tuesday,  the 
6th  day  of  June,  1775,  personally  appeared  Silvanus 
Whitney,  of  said  Stamford,  before  said  Committee,  and 
made  Hie  following  confession  :  Whereupon,  the  Commit- 
tee passed  sentence  against  him,  agreeable  to  the  direction 
of  the  Continental  Congress.  His  punishment  being  greater 
than  he  was  able  to  bear,  he  requested  the  liberty  to  ad- 
vertise himself,  and  offering  to  deliver  up  the  unfortunate 
Tea  to  be  burnt,  the  Committee  were  of  opinion  that  it 
would  satisfy  the  publick,  who  are  requested  to  accept  of 
the  following  concession  as  a  satisfaction  for  his  crime. 

By  order  of  the  Committee  : 

John  Hait,  Jun.,  Clerk. 

to  the  publick. 
Whereas  T,  the  subscriber,  have  been  guilty  of  buying 
and  selling  Dohea  Tea,  since  the  first  of  March  last  past, 
whereby  I  have  been  guilty  of  a  breach  of  the  Association 
entered  into  by  the  Continental  Congress ;  and  sensible  of 
my  misconduct,  do,  in  this  publick  manner,  confess  my 
crime,  and  humbly  request  the  favour  of  the  publick  to 
overlook  this  my  transgression,  promising  for  the  future  to 
conduct  myself  as  a  true  friend  to  my  Country.  And  in 
testimony  of  my  sincerity,  I  do  now  deliver  up  the  whole 
of  the  Tea  I  have  on  hand  unto  the  said  Committee  of  In- 
spection, to  be  by  them  committed  to  the  flames. 

Silvanus  Whitney. 

A  short  Narrative  of  the  execution  of  the  unfortunate 
Tea  above-mentioned. 

About  eight  o'clock  in  the  evening,  a  gallows  was  erect- 
ed in  the  middle  of  the  street  opposite  Mr.  Weed's  tavern  ; 
a  large  concourse  of  people  soon  collected,  and  were  joined 
by  a  number  of  the  soldiery  quartered  in  the  Town.  A 
grand  procession  soon  began  to  move.  In  the  first  place, 
a  large  guard  under  arms,  headed  by  two  Captains,  who 
lead  the  van,  with  the  unfortunate  Tea  hung  across  a  pole, 
sustained  by  two  unarmed  soldiers.  Secondly,  followed 
the  Committee  of  Observation.  Thirdly,  the  spectators 
who  came  to  see  the  great  sight.  And  after  parading 
through  part  of  the  principal  streets,  with  drums  beating 
and  fifes  playing  a  most  doleful  sound,  they  came  to  the 
gallows,  where  the  common  hangman  soon  performed  his 
office,  to  the  general  satisfaction  of  the  spectators.  As  it 
was  thought  dangerous  to  let  the  said  Tea  hang  all  night, 
for  fear  of  an  invasion  from  our  Tea-lovers,  a  large  bonfire 
was  made  under  it,  which  soon  reduced  it  to  ashes ;  and, 
after  giving  three  loud  huzzas,  the  people  soon  dispersed 
to  their  respective  homes,  without  any  bad  consequences 
attending. 

The  owner  of  the  aforesaid  Tea  attended  during  the  ex- 
ecution, and  behaved  himself  as  well  as  could  be  expected 
on  the  occasion. 


EXCHANGE  OF  PRISONERS. 

Cambridge,  New-England,  June  6,  1775. 

This  being  the  day  agreed  on  for  the  exchange  of  Pri- 
soners, between  twelve  and  one  o'clock  Doctor  Warren 
and  Brigadier  General  Putnam,  in  a  phaeton,  together  with 
Major  Dunbar  and  Lieutenant  Hamilton,  of  the  Sixty- 
Fourth,  on  horseback,  Lieutenant  Potter,.ot  the  Marines, 
in  a  chaise,  John  Hilton,  of  the  Forty-Seventh,  Alex- 
ander Campbell,  of  the  Fourth,  John  Tyne,  Samuel 
Marcy,  Thomas  Parry,  and  Thomas  Sharp,  of  the  Ma- 
rines, wounded  men,  in  two  carts,  the  whole  escorted 
by  the  Weathcrsfield  Company,  under  the  command  of 
Captain  Chester,  entered  the  Town  of  Charlestown,  and 
marching  slowly  through  it,  halted  at  the  ferry,  where, 
upon  a  signal  being  given,  Major  Moncrief  landed  from 
the  Lively,  in  order  to  receive  the  prisoners,  and  see  his 
old  friend,  General  Putnam.  Their  meeting  was  truly 
cordial  and- affectionate.  The  wounded  privates  were  soon 
sent  on  board  the  Lively;  but  Major  Moncrief  and  the 
other  officers  returned  with  General  Putnam  and  Doctor 
Warrant,  to  the  house  of  Doctor  Foster,  where  an  enter- 
tainment was  provided  for  them. 


921 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  Sic,  JUNE,  1775. 


922 


About  three  o'clock  a  signal  was  made  by  the  Lively, 
that  they  were  ready  to  deliver  up  our  prisoners ;  upon 
which,  General  Putnam  and  Major  Moncrief  went  to  the 
ferry,  where  they  received  Messrs.  John  Peck,  James 
Hewes,  James  Brewer,  and  Daniel  Preston,  of  Boston, 
Messrs.  Samuel  Frost  and  Sctli  Russell,  of  Cambridge,  Mr. 
Joseph  Bell,  of  Danvers,  Mr.  Elijah  Scaver,  of  Roxbury, 
and  Ccesar  Augustus,  a  negro  servant  to  Mr.  Tileston,  of 
Dorchester,  who  were  conducted  to  the  house  of  Captain 
Foster,  and  there  refreshed ;  after  which  the  General  and 
Major  returned  to  their  company,  and  spent  an  hour  or  two 
in  a  very  agreeable  manner.  Between  five  and  six  o'clock, 
Major  Moncrief,  with  the  officers  that  had  been  delivered 
to  him,  were  conducted  to  the  ferry,  where  the  Livcly's 
barge  received  them.  After  which,  General  Putnam,  with 
the  prisoners  that  had  been  delivered  to  him,  &z.c,  returned 
to  Cambridge,  escorted  in  the  same  manner  as  before.  The 
whole  was  conducted  with  the  utmost  decency  and  good 
humour,  and  the  IVeathersficld  Company  did  honour  to 
themselves,  their  officers,  and  their  Country.  The  regu- 
lar officers  expressed  themselves  as  highly  pleased.  Those 
who  had  been  prisoners  acknowledged  the  genteel,  kind 
treatment  they  had  received  from  their  captors.  The 
privates,  who  were  all  wounded  men,  expressed,  in  the 
strongest  terms,  their  grateful  sense  of  the  tenderness  which 
had  been  shewn  them  in  their  miserable  situation  ;  some  of 
them  could  do  it  only  by  their  tears.  It  would  have  been 
to  the  honour  of  the  British  arms,  if  the  prisoners  taken 
from  us  could,  with  justice,  have  made  the  same  acknow- 
ledgment. It  cannot  be  supposed  that  any  officers  of  rank, 
or  common  humanity,  were  knowing  to  the  repeated  cruel 
insults  that  were  offered  to  them ;  but  it  may  not  be  amiss 
to  hint  to  the  upstarts  concerned,  two  truths,  of  which  they 
seem  to  be  totally  ignorant,  viz  :  that  compassion  is  as  essen- 
tial a  part  of  the  character  of  a  truly  brave  man  as  daring; 
and  that  insult  offered  to  a  person  entirely  in  the  power  of 
the  insulter,  smells  as  strongly  of  cowardice  as  it  does  of 
cruelty. 

DECLARATION  OF  JOHN  PRENTICE. 

Londonderry,  N.  H.,  Juno  G,  1775. 
Whereas  I,  the  subscriber,  was  so  unfortunate  some  time 
since  as  to  sign  an  address  to  the  late  Governour  Hutchin- 
son, so  universally  and  so  justly  deemed  an  enemy  to  Ame- 
rican liberty  and  freedom,  I  hereby,  in  this  publick  manner 
declare,  that  at  the  time  I  signed  the  said  address,  I  intended 
the  good  of  my  Country  and  that  only;  but  finding,  to  my 
sorrow,  it  had  not  that  but  quite  a  contrary  effect,  I  hereby 
renounce  the  same  address  in  every  part,  and  hope  my  in- 
jured and  affronted  fellow-countrymen  will  overlook  my 
past  misconduct,  as  I  am  ready  to  assist  them  in  their  strug- 
gles for  liberty  and  freedom,  in  whatever  way  I  shall  be 
called  upon  by  them.  John  Prentice. 


King's  Arms  Tavern,  Cornkill,  London,  June  7,  1775. 

At  a  special  meeting  this  day  of  several  members  of  the 
Constitutional  Society,  during  an  adjournment,  a  gentleman 
proposed  that  a  subscription  should  he  immediately  entered 
into  by  such  of  the  members  present  who  might  approve 
the  purpose,  for  raising  the  sum  of  one  hundred  Pounds, 
to  be  applied  to  the  relief  of  the  widows,  orphans,  and 
aged  parents  of  our  beloved  American  fellow-subjects,  who, 
faithful  to  the  character  of  Englishmen,  preferring  death  to 
slavery,  were,  for  that  reason  only,  inhumanly  murdered  by 
the  King's  Troops  at  or  near  Lexington  and  Concord,  in 
the  Province  of  MassacJiusetts-Bay ,  on  the  nineteenth  of 
last  April. 

Which  sum  being  immediately  collected,  it  was  there- 
upon 

Resolved,  That  Mr.  Home  do  pay  to-morrow,  into  the 
hands  of  Messrs.  Brownes  and  Collison,  on  the  account  of 
Doctor  Franklin,  the  said  sum  of  one  hundred  Pounds, 
and  that  Doctor  Franklin  be  requested  to  apply  the  same 
to  the  above  mentioned  purpose- 


London,  June  7,  1775. 
A  commercial  correspondent  has  obliged  us  with  the 
several  quantities  of  wheat  and  flour  imported  at  Bristol 


from  the  following  Provinces,  from  the  first  of  January, 
1775,  to  the  twenty-seventh  of  April  last. 


Barrels  of  Flour.  Bushels  of  Wheat. 

From  New- York,  -  5,523  71,122 
"  Maryland,  -  7,594  91,888 
"  Philadelphia,  -  8,045  35,967 
"    Virginia,    -    -    1,252  42,155 


22,414  241,812 


Suppose  five  bushels  of  wheat  goes  to  a  barrel  of  flour, 
which  being  added  to  the  sum  total  of  the  wheat,  makes 
353,882  bushels,  which  is  the  produce  of  17,694  acres,  at 
twenty  bushels  per  acre ;  and  the  value  of  the  same,  at 
five  shillings  per  bushel,  amounts  to  £88,470  10s.  The 
bread,  rye,  rice,  and  Indian  corn,  are  omitted,  and  likewise 
wheal,  barley,  and  oats,  imported  from  Holland,  Germany. 
and  Ireland,  at  Bristol. 

During  the  abovesaid  period,  twenty  ships  were  cleared 
out  from  Bristol  for  North  America,  with  nothing  but  bal- 
last, viz : 

For  New-  York,  -    -    7  Virginia,  -    -  3 

"   Maryland,     -    -    3  South  Carolina,  3 

"   Philadelphia,     -    3  North  Carolina,  1 

N.  B.  The  quantity  of  American  provisions  imported  at 
Bristol,  is  scarce  a  fourth  of  what  is  imported  at  London. 
Liverpool,  Lancaster,  and  throughout  the  other  parts  of 
England;  and  therefore  when  the  Non-Exportation  Agree- 
ment from  America  takes  place,  with  the  present  scarcity 
and  almost  dearth  of  our  own  corn  this  year,  a  famine  may 
be  dreaded  before  next  spring,  if  the  present  American 
disputes  are  not  previously  settled. 


Charlestovvn,  South-Carolina,  June  8,  1775. 
The  Association  signed  by  the  Provincial  Congress,  and 
recommended  by  them  as  a  proper  instrument  to  be  subscri- 
bed to  at  this  juncture  by  persons  of  all  persuasions,  was,  in 
a  few  days,  with  the  greatest  avidity  and  cheerfulness,  sign- 
ed also  by  almost  every  man  in  this  Town  ;  in  short,  such 
is  here  the  spirit  for  liberty  and  freedom,  that  of  the  very 
few  who  objected,  there  were  only  two  who  were  hardy 
enough  to  ridicule,  or  treat  it  with  contempt,  viz  :  Laughlin 
Martin  and  John  Dealey,  on  which  account  they  drew  on 
themselves  the  resentment  of  the  populace.  Yesterday  they 
were  carted  through  the  principal  streets  of  this  Town,  in 
complete  suits  of  tar  and  feathers.  The  very  indecent  and 
daring  behaviour  of  the  two  culprits  in  several  instances,  oc- 
casioned their  being  made  publick  spectacles  of.  After  hav- 
ing been  exhibited  for  about  half  an  hour,  and  having  made 
many  acknowledgments  of  their  crime,  they  were  conducted 
home,  cleaned,  and  quietly  put  on  board  of  Captain  Las- 
ley's  ship,  lying  wind-bound  for  Bristol.  We  hear  that, 
upon  the  intercession  of  Martin  s  friends,  and  his  repeated 
promises  of  future  good  behaviour,  he  is  allowed  to  come 
on  shore  and  follow  his  business  as  usual. 

To  the  Honourable  Members  o  f  the  Committee  of  Corres- 
pondence at  Charlestown,  the  humble  Petition  of  Mi- 
chael Hubart  shoivcth  : 

That  upon  the  second  day  of  June,  your  petitioner  be- 
ing in  the  house  of  Thomas  JSicoll,  in  King-street,  a  certain 
James  Dealey  came  in,  and  said  there  was  good  news  come 
to  Town.  Being  asked  what  it  was,  he  answered  that  a 
number  of  arms  was  sent  over  to  be  distributed  amongst  the 
Negroes,  Roman  Catholicks,  and  Indians.  Upon  which 
your  petitioner  replied,  he  thought  it  was  very  bad  news 
that  Roman  Catholicks  and  savages  should  be  permitted  to 
join  and  massacre  christians.  Upon  which  Dealey  struck 
his  breast,  and  swore  "  he  was  a  Roman  Catholick,  and  that 
he  had  arms,  and  would  get  arms,  and  use  them  as  he 
pleased.'^  Your  petitioner  went  home  to  his  house,  and 
shortly  after  came  in  said  Dealey  and  a  certain  Laughlin 
Martin,  and  A.  Reed. 

After  sitting  down  a  little,  Laughlin  Martin  arose  and 
said,  "  So,  Mr.  Hubart,  you'll  not  allow  Roman  Catholicks 
to  carry  guns."  Your  petitioner  answered  that  his  circum- 
stances were  too  small  to  forbid  any  party  or  sect  to  carry 


923 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


921 


arms.  Martin  then  damned  your  petitioner  for  a  false-faced 
villain,  and  declared  he  would  believe  Dealey  sooner  than 
me ;  at  the  same  time  ordered  said  Dtaley  to  drag  your 
petitioner  out  of  the  house  and  pull  him  to  pieces,  at  the 
same  time  standing  with  a  drawn  cutteau  in  his  hand,  swear- 
ing if  he  did  not,  that  he  (Martin)  would  have  blood  him- 
self. Dealey  then  dragged  your  petitioner  into  a  shop  in 
front  of  the  house,  holding  him  by  the  throat,  until  released 
by  the  aforesaid  Reed.  But,  upon  being  released,  said 
Martin  came  up  with  his  cutteau  drawn,  threatening  to  put 
your  petitioner  to  immediate  death,  when  your  petitioner, 
falling  upon  his  knees,  begged  his  life;  your  petitioners' 
wife  and  children  begging  at  the  same  time  to  spare  the  life 
of  their  father  and  husband.  Your  petitioner  then  arose 
and  went  into  the  next  room,  but  was  still  followed  by  Mar- 
tin, who  vowed  to  God  if  your  petitioner  did  not  beg  pardon 
of  Dealey,  he  would  that  instant  cut  off  his  head.  Upon 
which  your  petitioner,  to  save  his  life,  did  ask  his  (Dealey's) 
pardon. 

Martin  then  declared  he  was  a  Roman  Catholiclc,  and 
vowed  to  God  to  cut  off  the  head  of  any  person  who  said 
he  should  not  carry  arms.  After  which  said  Martin  called 
for  some  drink,  and  drank  of  it  with  Dealey  and  Reed;  and 
one  of  his  toasts  was,  "  Damnation  to  the  Committee  and 
their  proceedings." 

Your  petitioner  has  prosecuted  them  as  the  law  directs  ; 
but  as  the  times  appear  to  be  very  troublesome,  and  num- 
bers of  enemies  both  to  the  Protestant  interest  and  the  pre- 
sent cause  are  lurking  amongst  us,  your  petitioner  hopes 
that  you  will  inquire  into  such  parts  of  the  transaction  as 
concerns  the  publick ;  and  your  petitioner,  as  in  duty  bound, 
shall  ever  pray.  Michael  Hubart. 

Secret — tar  and  feather  him. 

Passed  the  Secret  Committee  and  ordered  to  be  put  in 
execution. 

On  the  back  of  the  petition  is  written,  in  the  real  hand- 
writing of  William  Henry  Drayton,  the  Chairman  of  the 
Secret  Committee,  the  following,  viz  :  Locldin  Martin.* 
James  Dealey.-f^, 

*  To  land  and  be  discharged,  upon  his  expressing  his  contrition  in  the 
most  publick  manner, 
t  Send  away. 

§  During  the  events  which  took  place  about  this  time,  and  of  which 
mention  has  been  made,  it  is  of  some  consequence  to  observe,  that  in 
the  course  of  June  of  this  year,  Laughlin  Martin  and  James  Dealey, 
having  behaved  in  a  very  improper  manner  respecting  the  General  Com- 
mittee and  their  proceedings,  as  well  as  respecting  the  Association ; 
and  having  threatened  Michael  Hubart  with  death,  unless  he  begged 
their  pardon  for  having  justified  the  conduct  of  the  Committee,  he  sent 
a  petition,  respecting  the  affiir,  to  the  Committee  of  Correspondence 
of  Charlestown.  This  Committee  immediately  transferred  it  to  the  Se- 
cret Committee  of  five,  who  having  considered  the  same,  ordered  botli 
Martin  and  Dealey  to  be  tarred  and  feathered. [|  The  order  was  promptly 
put  in  execution  by  suitable  agents,  and  they  were  both  stripped  of  their 
clothes,  tarred,  feathered,  and  carted  through  the  streets  of  Charlestown, 
affording  the  first  instance  of  such  a  spectacle  in  this  Colony.  This 
being  done,  the  Secret  Committee  sent  them  on  board  a  ship  ready  to 
Sail  for  England;  Laughlin  Martin  was,  however,  permitted  to  laud 
again,  and  was  discharged,  on  expressing  his  contrition  in  a  publick 
manner,  but  James  Dealey,  for  an  example,  was  sent  away.  These 
summary  measures  have  been  supposed  by  writers  to  have  proceeded 
from  the  intemperate  zeal  of  the  populace,  and  there  can  be  no  doubt 
hut  many  of  them  took  their  rise  from  that  source ;  but  there  can  be 
as  little  doubt  this  first  commencement  of  so  ludicrous  and  disgraceful 
a  punishment  owed  its  origin  in  South-Carolina  to  this  very  case.  And 
that  it  was  sanctioned  and  directed  by  the  Secret  Committee  is  equally 
clear,  as  the  case  is  specially  noted  in  the  minuscriptof  William  Henry 
Drayton,  who  was  Chairman  of  that  Committee,  as  having  been  done 
by  the  sanction  of  the  same,  and  the  original  petition  of  Hubart,  with 
the  orders  of  the  Secret  Committee  thereon,  one  of  them  in  the  known 
hand-writing  of  the  Chairman,  Mr.  Drayton,  is  now  in  the  possession 
of  the  writer  of  these  Memoirs.  We  need  go  no  farther  for  authority 
to  show  what  vast  power  and  confidence  were  lodged  in  this  Secret 
Committee  of  five,  and  particularly  in  the  abilities,  prudence,  and  enter- 
prise of  its  leading  members,  William  Henry  Drayton,  Arthur  Middle, 
ton,  and  Charles  Cotesworih  Pirickncy.  And  had  the  revolution  not 
taken  place,  but  colonial  affairs  had  settled  down  in  a  rebellion,  there 
can  be  no  doubt  but  these  distinguished  patriots  would  have  been  marked 
out  as  early  victims  to  private  persecution  and  British  vengeance.  For 
the  councils  of  this  Committee  were  not  paralyzed  by  timid  opposition, 
as  often  happened  in  the  Provincial  Congress,  Council  of  Safety,  and 
General  Committee.  It  was  only  necessary  that  the  emergency  should 
arise,  calling  on  the  Committee  to  act,  for  thorn  to  direct  the  blow,  and 
it  often  fell  before  the  cause  of  it  could  have  been  surmised.  Hence 
the  lead  and  tono  which  this  Secret  Committee  gave  to  publick  opinion 
and  to  publick  operations,  was  great  and  decisive,  and  they  much  tended 
to  concentrate  the  publick  energies  into  a  firm  and  manly  opposition. — 
Drayton. 

||  The  Brit ish  Fortv-Seventh  Regiment,  under  the  command  of  Lieutetiluit-Cuionel 
Krs'j't,  coTnn.i  nc-tl  tins  lingular  punishment  on  one  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  Town  of 
Bllterica,  in  the  State  of  Mtusnc/iutettt,  on  the  eighth  <,( March,  1775.  See  the  London 
Remembrancer  for  1775,  nage  62. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  TO   A   GENTLEMAN  IN  NEW-YORK, 
DATED  NORTH-CAROLINA,  JUNE  7,  1775. 

We  are  much  alarmed  here  with  the  intentions  of  Ad- 
ministration ;  and  unless  affairs  take  a  turn  in  our  favour 
very  shortly,  we  shall  expect  the  worst  effort  of  its  villany, 
that  of  spiriting  up  an  enemy  among  ourselves,  from  whose 
barbarity,  if  roused,  the  most  dreadful  consequences  will 
follow.  Our  Governour  has  sent  his  family  to  New-York, 
and  being  greatly  disgusted  with  the  people  of  Newbern, 
has  taken  up  his  residence  in  Fort  Johnston,  at  the  mouth 
of  Cape  Fear  River,  which  he  has  chosen  as  a  place 
of  retreat  from  popular  complaints.  Our  brethren  in  the 
Colonies  may  be  assured  that  we  never  shall  be  bribed,  by 
the  benefit  of  an  exclusive  trade,  to  desert  the  common 
cause. 


WORCESTER  COUNTY  (MARYLAND)  COMMITTEE. 

At  a  meeting  of  a  great  majority  of  the  Committee  of 
Worcester  County,  at  the  Court-House,  at  Snoio  Hill 
Town,  on  Wednesday,  the  7th  June,  1775: 

Benton  Harris,  Esquire,  in  the  Chair. 

1st.  Resolved  unanimously,  That  we  owe  and  acknow- 
ledge most  faithful  and  perfect  duty  and  allegiance  to  His 
Majesty  King  George  the  Third,  rightful  King  of  Great 
Britain,  &c;  that  we  are  actuated  by  the  most  loyal  and 
sincere  attachment  to  his  person,  the  most  fervent  zeal 
for  the  support  of  his  Crown  and  dignity  ;  and  that,  when 
constitutionally  required,  we  are  ready  to  expend  our  lives 
and  fortunes  in  his  service. 

2d.  Resolved  unanimously,  That  we  feel  ourselves  bound 
by  the  strongest  ties  of  love  and  affection  to  our  fellow- 
subjects  in  the  Mother  Country,  and  that  we  most  ardently 
wish  for  a  speedy,  cordial,  and  permanent  reconciliation 
and  union  with  them ;  but  we  do  further  resolve,  that  we 
will,  to  the  utmost  of  our  power,  oppose  the  detested  min- 
isterial plan  for  enslaving  us — a  plan  calculated  to  divest  us 
of  every  privilege  which  can  render  life  valuable  or  desir- 
able; that  we  are  incontestably  entitled  to  all  the  rights  and 
liberties  of  Englishmen;  that,  as  we  received  them  from 
our  glorious  ancestors  without  spot  or  blemish,  we  are  de- 
termined to  transmit  them  pure  and  unsullied  to  our  pos- 
terity. 

3d.  Resolved  unanimously,  That  we  will,  from  time  to 
time,  as  often  as  shall  be  found  necessary,  contribute  cheer- 
fully for  the  support  and  relief  of  our  distressed  brethren 
in  the  Province  of  Massachusetts-Bay,  now  actually  expe- 
riencing the  fullest  extent  of  ministerial  vengeance  and 
tyranny,  and  groaning  under  the  horrouis  of  war,  in  defence 
of  their  and  our  common  rights  and  liberties. 

The  following  Letter  from  Mr.  Dixon  Quinton,  an  inha- 
bitant of  this  County,  relative  to  a  quantity  of  Salt  im- 
ported contrary  to  the  Resolves  of  the  Continental  Con- 
gress, was  produced  and  read,  to  wit : 

"  June  1st,  1775. 
"  Sir:  I  have  bought  forty  bushels  of  Liverpool  Salt,  at 
two  shillings  per  bushel ;  and  if  you  have  occasion  for  any, 
you  may  have  it  as  I  bought.  Please  to  write  me  a  line 
whether  you  will  take  any  or  no,  that  I  may  dispose  of  it 
to  other  people.    From  your  humble  servant, 

"  Dixon  Quinton." 

"  To  Mr.  James  Houston,  this." 

Likewise  Mr.  Thomas  Lambdcn,  an  inhabitant  of  this 
County,  and  crier  of  said  County  Court,  being  called 
before  the  Committee,  and  full  proof  being  made  that  he 
had  declared  "all  those  who  took  up  arms,  or  exercised 
agreeable  to  the  Resolves  of  the  Provincial  Convention  at 
Annapolis,  to  be  rebels,"  and  that,  in  conversation  relative 
to  a  quantity  of  Salt  being  thrown  into  the  water  by  the 
Baltimore  Committee,  the  said  Thomas  Lambdcn  had  de- 
clared, "  that  the  Committee  were  a  parcel  of  damn'd  ras- 
cals, and  would  not  be  easy  until  some  of  them  were 
hanged  up ;"  and  further,  that  in  conversation  relative  to  a 
report  that  the  Ships  and  Troops  were  about  to  be  recalled 
from  Boston,  the  said  Thomas  Lambdcn  had  declared, 
"  that  he  should  be  very  sorry  they  should  be  withdrawn, 
until  the  Bostonians  were  fully  humbled:" 


925 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


926 


It  is,  therefore,  unanimously  Resolved,  That  we  hold  the 
said  Dixon  Quint  on  and  Thomas  Lambden  to  be  ene- 
mies to  their  Country  ;  that  we  are  determined  immediate- 
ly to  break  off  all  dealings  and  intercourse  with  them,  and 
with  every  person  who  shall  have  any  connexion  with  them, 
or  either  of  them  ;  and  do  recommend  to  every  attorney  of 
this  Province  not  to  bring  or  prosecute  any  action  at  law, 
nor  to  appear  or  plead  for  them,  or  either  of  them,  on  any 
trial,  until  they  shall  make  such  proper  acknowledgments, 
and  show  such  genuine  marks  of  repentance  and  reforma- 
tion as  shall  be  satisfactory  to  a  majority  of  this  Commit- 
tee. 

Resolved,  That  these  proceedings  be  immediately  print- 
ed in  the  Maryland  Gazette. 
A  true  copy  from  the  Minutes: 

Test:  Robert  Dennis,  Clerk. 


DELAWARE  ASSEMRLT. 

Monday,  June  5,  1775. 

The  House  met,  pursuant  to  their  adjournment,  and  ad- 
journed till  ten  o'clock,  on  Wednesday,  A.  31. 

Wednesday,  June  7,  1775,  A.  M. 

The  House  met,  pursuant  to  their  adjournment,  and  the 
Speaker  assumed  the  Chair. 

The  Speaker  informed  the  House  that,  during  the  recess 
of  this  House,  he  had  received  a  Letter  from  the  Speaker 
of  the  House  of  Assembly  at  New-York,  enclosing  a  List 
of  Grievances,  with  the  Resolutions  of  the  House  in  con- 
sequence thereof;  also,  a  Petition  to  the  King,  a  Memorial 
to  the  House  of  Lords,  and  a  Representation  and  Remon- 
strance to  the  Commons  of  Great  Britain,  which  he  now 
laid  before  the  House. 

On  motion,  by  order, 

The  same  were  read,  and  ordered  to  be  filed  among  the 
Records  of  this  House. 

The  House  being  informed  by  the  Delegates  appointed 
to  represent  this  Colony  in  the  Grand  Continental  Congress 
now  held  at  Philadelphia,  in  the  Province  of  Pennsylva- 
nia, that  the  said  Congress  are  unanimously  of  opinion, 
that  it  is  absolutely  necessary,  for  the  preservation  of  the 
lives,  liberties,  and  properties  of  the  good  people  of  the 
twelve  United  Colonies,  and  of  the  Parish  of  St.  John's, 
in  Georgia,  to  have  an  armed  force,  at  their  general  ex- 
pense, sufficient  for  repelling  and  defeating  all  hostile  at- 
tempts by  arms  to  deprive  them  of  the  same,  took  the  same 
into  their  most  serious  consideration,  and  unanimously  ap- 
proved thereof. 

Resolved,  nemine  contradicente,  That  the  inhabitants  of 
this  Government  be  chargeable  and  charged  with  their 
quota  or  share  of  said  expense,  to  be  ascertained  by  the 
Congress,  and  that  this  House  will  provide  the  same  by  all 
ways  and  means  in  their  power. 

Resolved,  nemine  contradicente,  That  the  sum  of  Five 
Hundred  Pounds  be  drawn  for  by  the  Speaker,  upon  the 
Trustees  of  the  several  Loan  Offices  of  this  Government, 
according  to  the  Proportion  Act,  to  be  paid  to  Mr.  Speaker, 
Thomas  McKean,  and  George  Read,  Esquires,  towards 
the  share  of  this  Colony  of  the  expense  aforesaid  ;  and  that 
the  same  be  hereafter  replaced  in  the  said  Offices  by  the 
Assembly. 

Then  the  House  adjourned  till  the  twenty-first  day  of 
August  next. 


GENERAL  LEE  TO  GENERAL  BURGOYNE  IN  BOSTON. 

Philadelphia,  June  7,  1775. 
My  dear  Sir:  We  have  had  twenty  different  accounts 
of  your  arrival  at  Boston,  which  have  been  regularly  con- 
tradicted the  next  morning  ;  but  as  I  now  find  it  certain 
that  you  are  arrived,  I  shall  not  delay  a  single  instant  ad- 
dressing myself  to  you  ;  it  is  a  duty  I  owe  to  the  friend- 
ship I  have  long  and  sincerely  professed  for  you  ;  a  friend- 
ship to  which  you  have  the  strongest  claims  from  the  first 
moments  of  our  acquaintance.  There  is  no  man  from 
whom  I  have  received  so  many  testimonies  of  esteem  and 
affection  ;  there  is  no  man  whose  esteem  and  affection  could, 
in  my  opinion,  have  done  me  greater  honour.  I  entreat  and 
conjure  you,  therefore,  my  dear  Sir,  to  impute  these  lines  not 
to  a  petulant  itch  of  scribbling,  but  to  the  most  unfeigned 


solicitude  for  the  future  tranquillity  of  your  mind,  and  for 
your  reputation.    I  sincerely  lament  the  infatuation  of  the 
times,  when  men  of  such  a  stamp  as  Mr.  Burgoyne  and 
Mr.  Howe  can  be  seduced  into  so  impious  and  nefarious  a 
service  by  the  artifice  of  a  wicked  and  insidious  Court  and 
Cabinet.    You,  Sir,  must  be  sensible  that  these  epithets 
are  not  unjustly  severe.    You  have  yourself  experienced 
the  wickedness  and  treachery  of  this  Court  and  Cabinet. 
You  cannot  but  recollect  their  manoeuvres  in  your  own 
Select  Committee,  and  the  treatment  yourself,  as  Presi- 
dent, received  from  these  abandoned  men.    You  cannot 
but  recollect  the  black  business  of  »S'r.  Vincent's,  by  an 
opposition  to  which  you  acquired  the  highest  and  most 
deserved  honour.    I  shall  not  trouble  you  with  my  opin- 
ion of  the  right  of  taxing  America  without  her  own  con- 
sent, as  I  am  afraid,  from  what  I  have  seen  of  your  speeches, 
that  you  have  already  formed  your  creed  on  this  article  : 
but  1  will  boldly  affirm,  had  this  right  been  established  by 
a  thousand  statutes ;  had  America  admitted  it  from  time 
immemorial,  it  would  be  the  duty  of  every  good  English- 
man to  exert  his  utmost  to  divest  Parliament  of  this  right, 
as  it  must  inevitably  work  the  subversion  of  the  whole 
Empire.     The  malady  under  which  the  state  labours  is 
indisputably  derived  from  the  inadequate  representation  of 
the  subject,  and  the  vast  pecuniary  influence  of  the  Crown. 
To  add  to  this  pecuniary  influence  and  incompetency  of 
representation,  is  to  insure  and  precipitate  our  destruction. 
To  wish  any  addition  can  scarcely  enter  the  heart  of  a  citi- 
zen who  has  the  least  spark  of  publick  virtue,  and  who  is 
at  the  same  time  capable  of  seeing  consequences  the  most 
immediate.    I  appeal,  Sir,  to  your  own  conscience,  to  your 
experience  and  knowledge  of  our  Court  and  Parliament  ; 
and  I  request  you  to  lay  your  hand  upon  your  heart,  and 
then  answer  with  your  usual  integrity  and  frankness,  whe- 
ther, on  the  supposition  America  should  be  abject  enough 
to  submit  to  the  terms  imposed,  you  think  a  single  guinea 
raised  upon  her  would  be  applied  to  the  purpose  (as  it  is 
ostentatiously  held  out  to  deceive  the  people  at  home)  of 
easing  the  Mother  Country  ;  or  whether  you  are  not  con- 
vinced that  the  whole  they  could  extract  would  be  applied 
solely  to  heap  up  still  further  the  enormous  fund  for  cor- 
ruption which  the  Crown  already  possesses,  and  of  which 
the  most  diabolical  use  is  made?    On  these  principles  I 
say,  Sir,  every  good  Englishman,  abstracted  of  all  regard 
for  America,  must  oppose  her  being  taxed  by  the  British 
Parliament.    For  my  own  part,  I  am  convinced  that  no 
argument  (not  totally  abhorrent  from  the  spirit  of  liberty 
and  the  British  Constitution)  can  be  produced  in  support 
of  this  right.    But  it  would  be  impertinent  to  trouble  you 
upon  a  subject  which  has  been  so  amply,  and,  in  my  opi- 
nion, so  fully  discussed. 

I  find,  by  a  speech  given  as  yours  in  the  papers,  that 
it  was  by  the  King's  positive  command  you  embarked  in 
this  service.  1  am  somewhat  pleased  that  it  is  not  an 
office  of  your  own  seeking,  though,  at  the  same  time,  1 
must  confess  that  it  is  very  alarming  to  every  virtuous  citi- 
zen, when  he  sees  men  of  sense  and  integrity  (because  of 
a  certain  profession)  lay  it  down  as  a  rule  implicitly  to 
obey  the  mandates  of  a  Court,  be  they  ever  so  flagitious. 
It  furnishes,  in  my  opinion,  the  best  arguments  for  the  total 
reduction  of  the  Army.  But  I  am  running  into  a  tedious 
essay,  whereas  I  ought  to  confine  myself  to  the  main 
design  and  purpose  of  this  letter,  which  is  to  guard  you 
and  your  colleagues  from  those  prejudices  which  the  same 
miscreants  who  have  infatuated  General  Gage,  and  still 
surround  him,  will  labour  to  instil  into  you  against  a  brave, 
loyal,  and  most  deserving  people.  The  avenues  of  truth 
will  be  shut  up  to  you.  I  assert,  Sir,  that  even  General 
Gage  will  deceive  you,  as  he  has  deceived  himself.  I  do 
not  say  he  will  do  it  designedly  ;  I  do  not  think  him  capa- 
ble. But  his  mind  is  so  totally  poisoned,  and  his  under- 
standing so  totally  blinded  by  the  society  of  fools  and 
knaves,  that  he  no  longer  is  capable  of  discerning  facts 
as  manifest  as  the  noon-day  sun.  1  assert,  Sir,  that 
his  letters  to  the  Ministry  (at  least  such  as  the  publick 
have  seen)  are  one  continued  tissue  of  misrepresentation, 
injustice,  and  tortured  inferences  from  misstated  facts.  I 
affirm,  Sir,  that  he  has  taken  no  pains  to  inform  himself  of 
the  truth  ;  that  he  has  never  conversed  with  a  man  who 
has  had  the  courage  or  honesty  to  tell  him  the  truth. 
I  am  apprehensive  that  you  and  your  colleagues  may  fall 


927 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


928 


into  the  same  trap;  and  it  is  the  apprehension  that  you  may 
be  inconsiderately  hurried,  by  the  vigour  and  activity  you 
possess,  into  measures  which  may  be  fatal  to  many  inno- 
cent individuals;  may  hereafter  wound  your  own  feelings; 
and  which  cannot  possibly  serve  the  cause  of  those  who 
sent  you,  that  has  prompted  me  to  address  these  lines  to 
you.  I  most  devoutly  wish  that  your  industry,  valour,  and 
military  talents,  may  be  reserved  for  a  more  honourable 
and  virtuous  service  against  the  natural  enemies  of  our 
Country,  (to  whom  our  Court  are  so  basely  complacent,) 
and  not  in  ineffectual  attempts  to  reduce  to  the  wretchedest 
state  of  servitude  the  most  meritorious  part  of  your  fel- 
low-subjects. I  say,  Sir,  that  any  attempts  to  accomplish 
this  purpose  must  be  ineffectual.  You  cannot  possibly 
succeed.  No  man  is  better  acquainted  with  the  state  of 
this  Continent  than  myself.  I  have  ran  through  almost 
the  whole  Colonies,  from  the  north  to  the  south,  and  from 
the  south  to  the  north.  I  have  conversed  with  all  orders 
of  men,  from  the  first  estated  gentlemen  to  the  lowest 
planters  and  farmers,  and  can  assure  you  that  the  same 
spirit  animates  the  whole.  Not  less  than  one  hundred  and 
fifty  thousand  gentlemen,  yeomen,  and  farmers,  are  now  in 
arms,  determined  to  preserve  their  liberties  or  perish. 

As  to  the  idea  that  the  Americans  are  deficient  in  cour- 
age, it  is  too  ridiculous  and  glaringly  false  to  deserve  a 
serious  refutation.  I  never  could  conceive  upon  what  this 
notion  was  founded.  I  served  several  campaigns  in  Ame- 
rica last  war,  and  cannot  recollect  a  single  instance  of  ill- 
behaviour  in  the  Provincials,  where  the  Regulars  acquitted 
themselves  well.  Indeed,  we  well  remember  some  instan- 
ces of  the  reverse,  particularly  where  the  late  Colonel 
Grant  (he  who  lately  pledged  himself  for  the  general 
cowardice  of  America)  ran  away  with  a  large  body  of  his 
own  Regiment,  and  was  saved  from  destruction  by  the 
valour  of  a  few  Virginians.  Such  preposterous  argu- 
ments are  only  proper  for  the  Rigbys  and  Sandwiches,  from 
whose  mouths  never  issued,  and  to  whose  breasts  truth  and 
decency  are  utter  strangers. 

You  will  much  oblige  me  in  communicating  this  letter  to 
General  Hoive,  to  whom  I  could  wish  it  should  be  consi- 
dered in  some  measure  addressed,  as  well  as  to  yourself. 
Mr.  Howe  is  a  man  for  whom  I  have  ever  had  the  highest 
love  and  reverence.  I  have  honoured  him  for  his  own 
connexions,  but  above  all  for  his  admirable  talents  and  good 
qualities.  I  have  courted  his  acquaintance  and  friendship, 
not  only  as  a  pleasure,  but  as  an  ornament ;  1  flattered 
myself  that  I  had  obtained  it.  Gracious  God!  is  it  pos- 
sible that  Mr.  Howe  should  be  prevailed  upon  to  accept  of 
such  an  office  !  That  the  brother  of  him,  to  whose  memo- 
ry the  much  injured  people  of  Boston  erected  a  monu- 
ment, should  be  employed  as  one  of  the  instruments  of 
their  destruction.  But  the  fashion  of  the  times,  it  seems, 
is  such  as  renders  it  impossible  he  should  avoid  it.  The 
commands  of  our  most  gracious  Sovereign  are  to  cancel 
all  moral  obligations,  to  sanctify  every  action,  even  those 
that  the  satrap  of  an  Eastern  despot  would  start  at. 

I  shall  now  beg  leave  to  say  a  few  words  with  respect 
to  myself,  and  the  part  I  act.  I  was  bred  up  from  my  in- 
fancy in  the  highest  veneration  for  the  liberties  of  mankind 
in  general.  What  I  have  seen  of  Courts  and  Princes  con- 
vinces me,  that  the  power  cannot  be  lodged  in  worse  hands 
than  in  theirs  ;  and  of  all  Courts,  I  am  persuaded  that  ours 
is  the  most  corrupt  and  hostile  to  the  rights  of  humanity. 
I  am  convinced  that  a  regular  plan  has  been  laid  (indeed 
every  act  since  the  present  accession  evinces  it)  to  abolish 
even  the  shadow  of  liberty  from  amongst  us.  It  was  not 
the  demolition  of  the  tea,  it  was  not  any  other  particular  act 
of  the  Bostonians,  or  of  the  other  Provinces  which  con- 
stituted their  crimes ;  but  it  is  the  noble  spirit  of  liberty 
pervading  the  whole  Continent  which  has  rendered  them 
the  objects  of  ministerial  and  royal  vengeance.  Had  they 
been  notoriously  of  another  disposition  ;  had  they  been 
homines  ad  scrvitudinem  parates,  they  might  have  made  as 
free  with  the  property  of  the  East-India  Company  as  the 
felonious  North  himself,  with  impunity.  But  the  Lords 
of  St.  James's,  and  their  mercenaries  of  St.  Stephen's, 
well  know,  that  as  long  as  the  free  spirit  of  this  great 
Continent  remains  unsubdued,  the  progress  they  can  make 
in  their  scheme  of  universal  despotism  will  be  but  trifling. 
Hence  it  is  that  they  wage  inexpiable  war  against  Ameri- 
ca, la  short,  this  is  the  last  asylum  of  persecuted  Liberty. 


Here,  should  the  machinations  and  fury  of  her  enemies 
prevail,  that  bright  goddess  must  fly  off  from  the  face  of 
the  earth,  and  leave  not  a  trace  behind.  These,  Sir,  are 
my  principles  ;  this  is  my  persuasion  ;  and,  consequently,  I 
am  determined  to  act.  1  have  now,  Sir,  only  to  entreat, 
that  whatever  measures  you  pursue,  whether  those  which 
your  real  friends  (myself  amongst  them)  would  wish,  or 
unfortunately  those  which  our  accursed  misrulers  shall  dic- 
tate, you  will  still  believe  me  to  be  personally,  with  the 
greatest  sincerity  and  affection, 

Yours,  C.  Lee. 


PHILADELPHIA  COMMITTED. 

Philadelphia,  June  7,  1775. 

The  Committee  last  evening  having  requested  as  many 
members  as  conveniently  could  to  meet  this  day  at  the 
Coffee-House,  to  inquire  concerning  an  information  given, 
that  Captain  Robert  Torrans  had  imported  and  sold  Irish 
Linens  some  time  about  the  first  of  May  last,  in  direct  vio- 
lation of  the  Association  of  the  Congress: 

Mr.  Blair  McClenaghan,  in  whose  vessel  Captain  Tor- 
rans sailed,  gave  the  following  affidavit,  made  by  the  Cap- 
tain : 

"On  the  fifth  day  of  June,  1775,  before  the  subscribing 
Justice,  cometh  Robert  Torrans,  Master  of  the  Ship  Duke 
of  York,  lately  arrived  at  the  City  of  Philadelphia,  and 
maketh  oath  on  the  Holy  Gospels,  and  saith,  that  Mr. 
Blair  McClenaghan,  of  said  City,  merchant,  was  not  privy 
to,  nor  interested  in  any  goods  or  merchandise  lately  im- 
ported in  said  vessel  from  Ireland;  and  that  Blair  McClen- 
aghan aforesaid  was  not  privy  to,  nor  aiding  or  assisting, 
nor  consenting  to  the  sale,  landing,  or  putting  on  shore  at 
Philadelphia,  or  elsewhere  in  America,  said  goods  or  mer- 
chandise so  imported.  Robert  Torrans. 

"Taken  and  sworn  before  me:       George  Bryan." 

1.  Resolved,  That  Mr.  McClenaghan  appears  to  this 
Committee  to  be  liable  to  no  censure  or  suspicion  with  re- 
gard to  the  importation,  landing,  or  sale  of  goods  in  said 
vessel,  and  that  he  has  done  his  duty  in  discharging  Cap- 
tain Torrans  from  his  employ. 

2.  Resolved,  That  Messrs.  Harbison  and  Dean  call  at 
Captain  Torrans's  lodgings,  and  inquire  if  he  is  in  Town, 
and  request  his  attendance  immediately. 

3.  Messrs.  Harbison  and  Dean  report,  that  Captain  Tor- 
rans has  not  been  at  his  lodgings  since  yesterday  morning. 

4.  Resolved,  That  as  Captain  Torrans  cannot  now  be 
found,  the  consideration  of  his  conduct,  and  further  pro- 
ceedings of  the  Committee  thereon,  be  deferred  to  next 
meeting  of  the  Committee. 

June  9. — The  Committee  resumed  the  consideration  of 
Captain  Robert  Torrans,  late  of  the  Ship  Duke  of  York : 

Resolved,  unanimously,  That  Captain  Torrans  has  wil- 
fully and  knowingly  violated  the  Association  of  the  Con- 
gress, and  that  it  is  the  duty  of  this  Committee  to  advertise 
his  conduct,  agreeable  to  the  eleventh  Resolution  of  the 
Continental  Congress. 

NEW-YORK  CONGRESS  TO  MASSACHUSETTS   COMMITTEE  OF 
SAFETY. 

In  Provincial  Congress,  New. York,  June  7,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  The  multiplicity  of  business  brought  be- 
fore us  by  the  Continental  Congress,  and  a  short  adjourn- 
ment of  our  body  from  Saturday  till  Tuesday  morning, 
have  rendered  it  impossible  for  us  to  give  a  more  early  at- 
tention to  your  favour  of  the  26th  ultimo. 

We  have  little  to  say  upon  the  principal  subject  of  your 
letter,  as  we  conceive  that  the  Provincial  Congress  of  both 
Colonies  are  concluded  from  any  discretionary  provision 
relative  to  the  ordnance  and  other  stores  taken  at  Croicn 
Point  and  Ticonderoga,  of  which  you  must  be  fully  con- 
vinced by  the  acts  of  the  Continental  Congress  on  that 
subject,  copies  of  which  are  enclosed. 

We  are  fully  apprised  of  the  dangerous  consequences 
that  would  await  this  capital  of  our  Colony,  either  from 
supineness  or  a  confidence  in  the  honour  of  those  who, 
being  the  avowed  instruments  of  ministerial  vengeance,  we 
cannot  expect  will  hold  any  faith  with  us.  Whatever  arti- 
cles we  are  now  possessed  of,  that  may  be  used  to  the 


929 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


930 


injury  of  this  City  in  particular,  or  of  the  Continent  in 
general,  we  shall  be  studious  to  prevent,  if  possible,  from 
falling  into  the  hands  of  our  enemies.  In  sympathizing 
with  you  for  the  unhappy  Town  of  Boston,  we  shall  do 
every  thing  in  our  power  to  prevent  this  City  from  being 
reduced  to  the  same  deplorable  situation,  and  shall  watch- 
fully attend  to  every  means  of  defence  which  our  present 
or  future  circumstances  may  enable  us  to  improve. 

We  are,  gentlemen  and  brethren,  with  great  respect  and 
sincere  affection,  your  most  obedient  humble  servants, 
P.  V.  B.  Livingston,  President. 

To  Joseph  Warren,  Esquire,  and  the  Committee  of  Safety 
for  the  Colony  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay. 


DONALD  McLEOD  TO  NEW-YORK  COMMITTEE. 

To  the  Honourable  Gentlemen  of  the  Committee  for  the 
City  and  County  of  New- York,  in  Assembly  or  body 
convened :  The  Petition  of  Donald  McLeod,  Esq., 
late  from  Scotland,  humbly  sheiveth  : 

That  your  petitioner,  from  a  deep  sense  of  the  favours 
conferred  on  himself,  as  well  as  those  shown  to  many  of 
his  countrymen  when  in  great  distress  after  their  arrival 
into  this  once  happy  City,  is  moved  by  a  voluntary  spirit 
of  liberty  to  offer  himself  in  the  manner  and  form  follow- 
ing, viz : 

That  your  said  petitioner  understands  that  a  great 
many  Companies  are  now  on  foot  to  be  raised  for  the 
defence  of  our  liberties  in  this  once  happy  land,  which  he 
thinks  to  be  a  very  proper  maxim  for  the  furtherance  of 
our  rights  and  liberty;  that  your  said  petitioner  (although 
he  has  nothing  to  recommend  himself  but  the  vanity  of 
calling  himself  a  Highlander,  from  North-Britain )  flat- 
ters himself  that  if  this  honourable  Committee  were  to 
giant  him  a  commission,  under  their  hand  and  seal,  that 
he  could,  without  difficulty,  raise  one  hundred  Scotch 
Highlanders  in  this  City  and  the  neighbouring  Provinces, 
provided  they  were  to  be  put  in  the  Highland  dress,  and 
under  pay  during  their  service  in  defence  of  our  liberties. 
Therefore,  may  it  please  your  Honours  to  take  this  peti- 
tion under  your  serious  consideration  ;  and  should  your 
Honours  think  proper  to  confer  the  honour  upon  him  as 
to  have  the  command  of  a  Highland  Company,  under  the 
circumstances  proposed,  your  petitioner  assures  you  that  no 
person  shall  or  will  be  more  willing  to  accept  of  the  offer 
than  your  humble  petitioner.  Donald  McLeod. 

New- York,  June  7,  1775. 


BENJAMIN  LINDSAY  TO  NEW-VORK  COMMITTEE. 

New- York,  June  7,  1775. 
Captain  Benjamin  Lindsay  acquaints  the  gentlemen  of 
the  Committee  that  he  arrived  here  yesterday  from  Provi- 
dence, and  has  brought  with  him  a  letter  to  the  Commit- 
tee, and  informs  them  that  application  has  been  made 
to  him  by  the  Committee  and  people  of  that  Town  to 
bring  back  with  him  a  load  of  flour  and  other  necessaries, 
of  which  they  stand  much  in  need,  and  of  the  former  are 
at  present  much  necessitated,  owing  to  the  uncommon 
large  supplies  that  Town  has  contributed  to  the  Provin- 
cial Army.  And  Captain  Lindsay  can  assure  the  Com- 
mittee, from  repeated  trials,  he  can  go  and  come  from  that 
place  through  the  back  part  of  ^'arragansett,  so  as  en- 
tirely to  evade  the  vigilance  of  the  men-of-war  stationed 
at  Newport,  besides  his  being  well  manned  and  completely 
armed  and  able  to  resist  any  attacks  from  their  boats,  or 
otherwise.  He  therefore  requests  the  concurrence  of  the 
Committee,  as  also  to  take  on  board  a  parcel  of  flour  and 
other  necessaries  that  Mr.  Curtenius  informs  him  he  has 
in  care  for  the  poor  of  Boston,  and  which  may  easily  be 
forwarded  by  land  to  the  Provincial  Camp,  Mr.  Curtenius 
having  applied  to  him  for  that  purpose. 


BENJAMIN  LINDSAY  TO  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

New- York,  June  11,  1775. 
Gentlemen  of  the  Provincial  Congress  : 

I  am  very  sorry  that  any  difficulties  should  arise  from 
the  flour  that  was  to  be  shipped  by  Captain  Coffin.  As 
Mr.  Cook  and  I  came  from  Providence  together,  and  as 
I  found  that  I  could  not  take  all  the  flour  on  board  my 
Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii. 


own  vessel,  so  we  agreed  that  he  should  procure  another 
vessel,  and  Mr.  Cook  applied  to  Mr.  Vixson  to  procure 
the  flour  for  us ;  and  when  Mr.  Vixson  understood  how 
matters  were  circumstanced,  he  provided  the  effects,  and 
we  were  to  sail  together.  Gentlemen,  if  you  will  take  it 
into  consideration,  and,  believe  me,  it  is  for  the  same  pur- 
pose as  mine  is,  for  the  Committee  of  Providence,  and  to 
supply  our  camp,  or  rather  called  Provincial  Camp.  This 
I  certify  and  declare  to,  with  my  hand,  that  there  is  no 
other  intent  in  this  matter.  Benjamin  Lindsay. 


SELECTMEN  OF  LANCASTER  TO  MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS. 

To  the  Honourable  Provincial  Congress  noiv  holden  at 
Watertown,  in  the  Province  of  the  Massachusetts- 
Bay: 

We,  the  subscribers,  do  request  and  desire  that  you 
would  be  pleased  to  direct  or  inform  this  Province  in  gen- 
eral, or  the  Town  of  Lancaster  in  particular,  what  is  best 
to  be  done  with  the  estates  of  those  men  who  are  gone 
from  their  estates  to  General  Gage,  and  are  now  with  him 
in  Boston ;  and  who  shall  take  possession  of  such  houses 
and  lands  as  belong  to  such  men  as  are  with  General 
Gage,  and  to  whose  use  they  shall  improve  them,  whether 
for  the  Province  or  the  Town  where  said  estate  is. 

Ebenezer  Allen,  ~i 

Cyrus  Fairbank,    >  Selectmen. 

Samuel  Thurston,  ) 

Lancaster,  June  7,  1775. 


COMMITTEE  OF  BELFAST,  ETC.,  TO  THE  MASSACHUSETTS 
CONGRESS. 

Penobscot,  June  7,  1775. 

Gentlemen:  We,  the  subscribers,  being  duly  appoint- 
ed a  Committee  by  the  inhabitants  settled  on  Penobscot 
River,  the  inhabitants  of  Belfast,  Majabigwaduce,  and 
Benjamins  River,  to  make  a  representation  to  you  of  the 
difficulties  and  distress  the  said  inhabitants  are  under  in 
respect  to  the  scarcity  of  corn  and  ammunition,  occasioned 
by  the  interruption  of  vessels  which  they  depended  upon 
for  their  supplies,  and  also  the  impediments  in  the  exporta- 
tion from  the  seaport  Towns  from  different  Committees, 
after  the  said  articles  have  been  purchased  :  We  accord- 
ingly herewith  send  you  the  votes  of  said  inhabitants,  pass- 
ed by  them  at  a  general  meeting,  on  Tuesday,  the  6th  day 
of  June  instant,  which  we  are  to  pray  your  consideration 
of,  being  encouraged  thereto  from  the  many  instances  of 
favour  and  assistance  which  the  Province  have  heretofore 
afforded  to  this  infant  settlement ;  and  without  some  at  this 
time,  we  have  real  cause  to  apprehend  that  these  promising 
settlements  may  be  broken  up.  We  are  further  to  assure, 
you  that  the  said  inhabitants  are  ready,  with  their  lives  and 
all  they  have,  to  support  the  cause  which  this  Country  is 
engaged  in,  in  defence  of  their  liberties  and  privileges,  and 
will  hold  themselves  in  readiness  for  that  purpose.  The 
said  Committee  are  also  to  inform  you  that  it  was  repre- 
sented at  the  said  meeting  that  the  establishment  of  Fort 
Pou-nall  is  nearly  expired  ;  that  the  commander  of  the 
said  fort,  in  obedience  to  the  commands  of  the  Governour, 
delivered  to  his  order  the  artillery  and  some  arms  belonging 
to  the  said  fort ;  that  he  also  delivered  to  our  own  inhabi- 
tants in  the  different  parts  of  this  vicinity,  upon  their  appli- 
cation, some  arms  and  ammunition,  reserving  only  a  small 
quantity  of  each  for  the  use  of  the  soldiers  belonging  to 
said  garrison,  which  occasions  the  said  fort  at  this  time  to 
be  very  bare  in  those  respects.  We  are  also  to  represent 
to  you  that  the  Town  of  Belfast  is  in  want  of  about  one 
dozen  stands  of  arms,  which  is  not  practicable  to  be  got 
here.  All  which  we  are  enjoined  to  lay  before  you,  gen- 
tlemen, who  represent  the  Province  in  this  unhappy  time, 
and  to  pray  you  to  take  the  same  into  your  consideration, 
and  give  them  such  relief  as,  upon  mature  deliberation,  you 
judge  expedient. 

We  are,  in  behalf  of  the  said  inhabitants,  gentlemen, 
your  most  humble  servants, 

Tho.  Goldthwait,  Edmund  Moores, 
John  Tufts,  Benjamin  Shute, 

Jonathan  Buck,        Oliver  Crary. 
To  the  Honourable  Gentlemen  assembled  at  Cambridge  in 
Provincial  Congress. 


931 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


932 


To  the  Honourable  Provincial  Congress  now  sitting  at 
Watektown  : 

The  Petition  of  Davis  and  Coverly,  late  of  Boston, 
humbly  showeth : 

That  whereas  your  petitioners  have  a  quantity  of  Eng- 
lish goods  in  Boston;  that  Mr.  Henry  Barnes,  of  Marl- 
borough, now  in  Boston,  has  quantities  of  English  goods 
at  said  Marlborough,  near  the  same  quality,  and  is  willing 
to  make  an  exchange  for  the  same:  We  therefore  beg 
leave  of  this  honourable  Congress  that  we,  your  petition- 
ers, be  allowed  to  make  the  exchange ;  and,  as  in  duty 
hound,  shall  ever  pray.  Davis  &  Coverly. 

W.itertown,  June  7,  1775. 


RESOLVES  OF  ft ANOVER  (VIRGINIA)  VOLUNTEERS. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Hanover  Volunteer  Company  on 
the  8th  of  June,  1775  : 

Resolved,  That  this  Company  approve  of  the  spirited 
resolution  of  the  Jt'illiamsburgh  Volunteers  of  the  25th 
ult.,  and  that  they  are  determined,  at  the  risk  of  their  lives, 
to  aid  and  assist  in  protecting  the  liberties  of  this  Country 
against  all  arbitrary  measures  whatsoever. 

Resolved,  That  the  expedition  undertaken  by  this  Com- 
pany in  making  reprisals  on  the  King's  property  for  pow- 
der removed  from  the  Country's  magazine  by  the  command 
of  the  Governour,  proceeded  from  a  sincere  attachment  to 
the  liberties  of  their  Country;  and  it  is  with  heartfelt  satis- 
faction that  their  conduct  is  so  generally  approved  by  their 
worthy  countrymen. 

Signed  by  order  of  the  Company  : 

James  Overton,  Clerk. 


Philadelphia,  June  8,  1775. 

This  morning  the  three  Battalions  of  this  City  and  Li- 
berties, consisting  of  fifteen  hundred  men,  the  Artillery 
Company  of  one  hundred  and  fifty,  (with  two  twelve  and 
four  six-pound  brass  field-pieces,)  a  troop  of  Light-horse, 
several  companies  of  Light- Infantry,  Rangers,  and  Rifle- 
men, in  the  whole  above  two  thousand  men,  marched  to  the 
commons,  and  having  joined  in  brigade,  went  through  the 
manual  exercise,  firings,  and  manoeuvres,  (with  a  dexterity 
scarcely  to  have  been  expected  from  such  short  practice,) 
in  the  presence  of  the  honourable  members  of  the>  Conti- 
nental Congress,  and  several  thousand  spectators,  among 
whom  were  a  great  number  of  the  most  respectable  inhabi- 
tants of  this  City. 


ABRAHAM  CLARK  TO  THE  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

Elizabethtown,  New-Jersey,  June  8,  1775. 

Sir  :  You  have  now  sent  you  six  quarter  casks  and  two 
half  barrels  of  powder.  The  quarter  casks  I  got  at  Neiv- 
Brunswick,  and  the  two  half  barrels,  containing  one  hun- 
dred and  five  pounds,  I  got  at  Woodbridgc;  for  each  of 
which  I  gave  receipts  that  I  received  them  to  be  forward- 
ed to  the  Provincial  Camp  near  Boston,  agreeable  to  a  re- 
quisition from  them.  There  was  no  more  to  be  obtained  ; 
they  had  sold  the  most  of  their  stores  to  the  inhabitants. 
You  will  be  so  kind  as  to  send  a  receipt  of  the  same  tenour 
of  those  I  gave,  that  I  may  show  them  the  stores  are  for- 
warded agreeable  to  my  promises.  I  am,  Sir,  your  humble 
servant,  Abraham  Clark. 

To  Peter  V.  B.  Livingston,  Esq. 


NEW-YORK  CONGRESS  TO  THE  CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS. 
[Read  in  Congress  June  10,  1775.] 
In  Provincial  Congress,  New-York,  June  8,  1775. 
Gentlemen  :  We  take  the  liberty  to  intrude  on  the  pa- 
tience of  your  most  respectable  body,  by  enclosing  a  letter 
which  we  have  this  instant  received  from  our  brethren  in 
the  Massachusetts-Bay .    When  we  inform  you  that  it  is 
utterly  impracticable  for  us  to  procure  what  they  have  re- 
quested, you  will  certainly  excuse  a  freedom  which  is  dic- 
tated by  an  attention  to  the  publick  safety.  How  necessary 
it  is  to  provide  some  remedy  to  this  pressing  necessity,  we 
will  not  presume  to  mention.    Our  duty  hath  compelled  us 
to  relate  to  you  the  facts.     They  speak  for  themselves 
loudly  ;  and  a  most  entire  confidence  in  your  wisdom  pre- 
cludes us  from  saying  any  thing  farther  on  the  subject. 


We  are,  gentlemen,  most  faithfully  and  respectfully, 
your  fellow-labourers  and  countrymen. 

By  order  and  in  behalf  of  the  Provincial  Congress: 
Volkert  P.  Douw,  Vice-President . 
To  the  Honourable  the  Continental  Congress. 

GENERAL  WARD  AND  OTHERS  TO  NEW-YORK  CONGREbS. 

Camp,  June  4,  1775. 

Gentlemen:  Your  noble  exertions  in  the  common 
cause,  your  zeal  for  the  maintenance  of  the  rights  of  Ame- 
rica, and  the  sympathizing  concern  with  which  we  know 
you  look  on  our  sufferings,  encourages  us  to  represent  to 
you  the  distressing  state  of  this  Colony. 

Our  capital  is  filled  with  disciplined  troops,  thoroughly 
equipped  with  every  thing  necessary  to  render  them  formi- 
dable; a  train  of  artillery  as  complete  as  can  be  conceived 
of;  a  full  supply  of  arms  and  ammunition  ;  and  an  absolute 
command  of  the  harbour  of  Boston,  which  puts  it  in  their 
power  to  furnish  themselves  with  whatever  they  shall  think 
convenient  by  sea,  are  such  advantages  as  must  render  our 
contest  with  them  in  every  view  extremely  difficult. 

We  suffer  at  present  the  greatest  inconveniences  from 
a  want  of  a  sufficient  quantity  of  powder ;  without  this, 
every  attempt  to  defend  ourselves,  or  annoy  our  enemies, 
must  prove  abortive.  We  have  taken  every  step  to  avail 
ourselves  of  this  article,  by  drawing  into  our  general  maga- 
zines whatever  could  be  spared  from  the  respective  Towns 
of  this  Colony ;  but  the  frequent  skirmishes  we  have  had 
has  greatly  diminished  our  stock,  and  we  are  now  under 
the  most  alarming  apprehensions,  that  notwithstanding  the 
bravery  of  our  troops,  (whom  we  think  we  can,  without 
boasting,  declare  are  ready  to  encounter  every  danger  for 
the  preservation  of  the  liberties  and  rights  of  America,)  we 
shall  basely,  for  the  want  of  means  of  defence,  fall  at  last  a 
prey  to  our  enemies.  We,  therefore,  most  earnestly  be- 
seech you  that  you  would,  if  possible,  afford  us  some  relief 
in  this  respect,  by  lending  or  selling  to  us  some  part  of  the 
powder  in  your  Colony.  We  readily  conceive  the  unwil- 
lingness with  which  you  must  part  with  so  necessary  an 
article  at  this  time.  We  know  you  have  not  the  quantity 
you  would  wish  to  keep  for  your  own  use.  We  apply  to 
you,  not  because  we  suppose  you  have  a  surplusage,  but 
because  we  are  in  the  most  distressing  want.  We  beg, 
therefore,  that  we  may  not  be  suffered  to  perish.  We  have 
taken  such  steps  as  we  have  great  reason  to  hope  will,  in  a 
short  time,  furnish  us  with  powder,  and  if  we  can  be  assist- 
ed till  that  arrives,  we  doubt  not  but  that  we  shall  be  able 
to  baffle  the  designs  of  our  enemies,  and  be  greatly  instru- 
mental in  preserving  the  rights  and  liberties  of  all  America. 
We  must  request  that  whatever  aid  you  shall  find  it  in  your 
power  to  give  us,  may  be  in  the  most  secret  manner,  as  a 
knowledge  of  our  deficiency  in  the  article  of  powder  before 
we  are  supplied,  might  be  attended  with  the  most  fatal 
consequenoes. 

We  are,  gentlemen,  with  great  respect,  your  affectionate 
brethren  and  very  humble  servants, 

Ahtemas  Ward, 
General  of  the  Massachusetts  Army. 
Joseph  Warren, 
Chairman  of  the  Committee  of  Safety. 
Moses  Gill, 
Chairman  of  the  Committee  of  Supplies. 
To  the  Hon.  Congress  for  the  Colony  of  New-  York. 

P.  S.  We  beg  what  powder  you  can  possibly  spare  may 
be  immediately  conveyed  to  us  by  land,  in  the  way  least 
liable  to  be  suspected  by  any  persons  who  may  correspond 
with  the  enemy. 

To  the  Honourable  Gentlemen  of  the  Congress  for  the 

Colony  of  New-York,  in  body  convened: 
The  Petition  of  Donald  McLeod,  Esquire,  late  from 
Scotland,  most  humbly  showeth  : 

That  yesterday  your  said  petitioner  presented  a  petition 
before  this  honourable  body,  and  as  to  the  contents  of 
which  he  begs  leave  to  give  reference.  That  since,  a  ship 
arrived  from  Scotland,  with  a  number  of  Highlanders  pas- 
sengers. That  your  petitioner  talked  to  them  this  morn- 
ing, and  after  informing  them  of  the  present  state  of  this 


933 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


934 


as  well  as  the  neighbouring  Colonies,  they  all  seemed  to 
be  very  desirous  to  form  themselves  into  companies,  with 
the  proviso  of  having  liberty  to  wear  their  own  country 
dress,  commonly  called  the  Highland  habit,  and  moreover 
to  be  under  pay  for  the  time  they  are  in  the  service  for  the 
protection  of  the  liberties  of  this  once  happy  Country,  but 
by  all  means  to  be  under  the  command  of  Highland  offi- 
cers, as  some  of  them  cannot  speak  the  English  language. 
That  the  said  Highlanders  seem  very  desirous  of  being 
commanded  by  your  petitioner,  provided  an  answer  shall 
be  given  them  very  soon,  as  their  intention  is  not  to  stay 
here  any  considerable  time.  That  the  said  Highlanders 
are  already  furnished  with  guns,  swords,  pistols,  and  High- 
land dirks,  which,  in  case  of  occasion,  is  very  necessary,  as 
all  the  above  articles  are  at  this  time  very  difficult  to  be 
had.  Therefore,  may  it  please  your  Honours  to  take  all 
and  singular  the  premises  under  your  serious  and  immedi- 
ate consideration ;  and  as  your  petitioner  wants  an  answer 
as  soon  as  possible,  he  further  prays  that  as  soon  as  they 
think  it  meet,  he  may  be  advised.  And  your  petitioner, 
as  in  duty  bound,  shall  ever  pray, 

Donald  McLeod. 

City  of  New. York,  June  8,  1775. 


NEW-YORK  COMMITTEE. 


The  Committee  met,  by  adjournment,  8th  June,  1775. 
Present  : 


Henry  Remsen, 
Ab.  BrinkerhofF, 
Wm.  D  'lining, 
John  Berrian, 
Oliver  Templeton, 
Joseph  Totten, 
Jacob  Van  Voorhies, 
John  Morton, 
William  Laight, 
Jeremiah  Piatt, 
Nicholas  Bogart, 
Abraham  Durvee, 


Edward  Fleming, 
Hercules  Mulligan, 
William  Goforth, 
Lancaster  Burling, 
Petrus  Byvanck, 
Eleazer  Miller, 
John  Imlay, 
Peter  T.  Curtenius, 
Richard  Sharpe, 
Thomas  Ivers, 
Robert  Ray, 
Cornelius  P.  Low, 


Evert  Banker, 
Daniel  Dunscomb, 
Nicholas  Hoffman, 
Gerret  Kettletas, 
Isaac  Sears, 
Jacobus  Lefferts, 
Abraham  P.  Lott, 
Alex.  McDougall, 
John  M.  Scott, 
James  Beekman, 
John  Van  Corllandt. 


In  pursuance  of  an  order  of  this  Committee  at  their  last 
meeting,  a  poll  was  this  day  opened  at  the  City-Hall,  for 
the  electing  a  Deputy  to  represent  this  City  and  County 
in  Provincial  Congress,  in  the  place  of  Mr.  George  Fol- 
liott,  who  declined  serving ;  and  also  of  two  members  to 
serve  in  this  Committee,  in  the  room  of  the  said  George 
Folliott,  and  of  Samuel  Jones,  who  never  has  attended. 
And  by  a  return  of  the  said  poll,  it  appears  that  Mr.  Isaac 
Scars  was  elected  by  a  large  majority  as  a  Deputy,  and 
Mr.  William  Bedlow  and  Mr.  John  Woodward  as  mem- 
bers of  this  Committee. 

Ordered,  That  the  Chairman  of  this  Board  grant  no 
certificates  for  licensing  the  exportation  of  Goods  from  this 
City  and  County  to  any  port  or  place  out  of  this  Colony, 
unless  due  proof,  in  writing,  on  oath,  be  produced  to  him, 
that  the  said  Goods  were  not  imported  contrary  to  the 
tenour  or  true  intent  and  meaning  of  the  General  Conti- 
nental Association. 

Ordered,  That  John  lmlay,  John  Berrian,  Thomas 
Buchannan,  William  Goforth,  Joseph  Bull,  Abraham  P. 
Lott,  Cornelius  Clopper,  and  Evert  Banker,  be  a  Sub- 
Committee  to  inspect  and  examine  into  the  Cargoes  of  any 
vessels  which  may  arrive  in  this  Port,  suspected  of  having 
goods  on  board  not  admissible. 

Ordered,  That  Daniel  Phenix,  Captain  Bedlow,  Wil- 
liam Denning,  and  John  Woodward  be  added  to  the  above 
Committee. 


BROOKHAVEN  (nEW-YORk)  COMMITTEE. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  freeholders  and  other  inhabitants  of 
the  Town  of  Brookhavcn,  in  the  County  of  Suffolk,  and 
in  the  Province  of  New-York,  on  the  8th  day  of  June, 
1775 :  Then  by  a  large  majority  of  votes,  were  chosen  and 
elected  sixteen  persons  as  a  Committee  of  Observation,  to 
represent  said  Town,  and  to  deliberate  on  other  matters 
relative  to  our  present  political  welfare.  Agreed  that  the 
last  Tuesday  in  June  be  appointed  as  a  day  for  the  above 
named  Committee  to  meet. 

The  Committee  met,  pursuant  to  appointment,  at  Co- 
ram, on  the  27th  of  June,  1775.  Present :  John  Woodhull, 
Esquire,  Thomas  Helme,  Esq.,  Mr.  John  Robinson,  Mr. 
Thomas  Fanning,  Lieut.  William  Brewster,  Mr.  Noah 
Hallock,  Mr.  Joseph  B  roivn,  Mr.  John  Woodhull,  Jim., 


Mr.  Nathaniel  Roe,  Jun.,  Captain  Jonathan  Baker,  Mr. 
Daniel  Roc,  and  Mr.  Samuel  Thompson,  of  the  Manor  of 
St.  George's;  Mr.  William  Smith  and  Mr.  Jonah  Hulse, 
of  the  Patentship  of  Moriches;  Capt.  Josiah  Smith. 

Then  proceeded,  and  chose  John  Woodhull,  Esquire, 
Chairman,  and  Mr.  Sa7nuel  Thompson  Clerk,  and  entered 
into  the  following  Votes  and  Resolutions : 

First.  Resolved,  nemine  contradicente,  That  we  express 
our  loyalty  to  His  Majesty  King  George  the  Third,  and 
acknowledge  him  as  our  rightful  Lord  and  Sovereign,  as 
settled  on  Revolution  principles,  being  of  legal  descent  from 
the  illustrious  house  of  Brunswick,  to  the  utter  exclusion 
of  the  family  of  the  Stuarts,  who,  by  their  despotick  and 
tyrannical  principles,  were  deservedly  banished  and  ren- 
dered unfit  to  sway  the  British  sceptre. 

Second.  Resolved,  That  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  Com- 
mittee that  the  above  Resolution  was  the  opinion  of  the 
Continental  Congress  that  set  last  year;  and  is  also  the 
opinion  of  the  Continental  Congress  and  our  Provincial 
Congress  now  sitting ;  and  that  it  is  also  the  opinion  of 
very  far  the  greater  part  of  the  English  inhabitants  of  this 
most  extensive  Continent. 

Third.  Resolved,  unanimously,  That  it  is  the  opinion  of 
this  Committee  that  the  several  acts  passed  in  the  British 
Parliament  for  the  express  purpose  of  raising  a  revenue  in 
America  ;  also,  the  acts  for  stopping  the  Port  of  Boston ;  for 
altering  their  Charter  and  Government ;  for  establishing  the 
Roman  Catholick  religion,  and  abolishing  the  equitable 
system  of  English  laws,  and  erecting  in  their  stead  French 
despotick  Government,  in  Canada ; — as  also  the  act  for  re- 
straining the  New-England  fishery,  and  many  other  acts  of 
a  similar  nature ;  and  further  declaring  they  have  power 
vested  in  them  to  make  laws  binding  on  us  in  all  cases 
whatsoever,  are  contrary  to  the  Constitution,  and  subver- 
sive of  our  legal  rights  as  English  freemen  and  British 
subjects. 

Fourth.  Resolved,  nemine  contradicente,  That  we  will 
use  our  utmost  endeavours,  as  far  as  in  us  lies,  and  we  will 
earnestly  recommend  it  to  our  constituents,  strictly  and  in- 
variably to  abide  by  and  adhere  to  the  determinations  and 
resolutions  of  the  honourable  the  Continental  Congress,  and 
also  strictly  to  comply  with  the  injunctions  of  our  Provin- 
cial Convention,  which  (under  God)  we  hope  is  the  most 
effectual  means  to  obtain  a  redress  of  our  present  publick 
grievances,  and  save  us  from  impending  ruin. 

Fifth.  We  do  unanimously  make  this  our  apology  to  the 
respectable  publick,  and  to  our  several  Congresses  in  par- 
ticular, that  we  have  come  so  late  into  Congressional  mea- 
sures, and  hope  a  veil  may  be  cast  over  our  past  conduct, 
for  we  can  assure  the  publick  in  general  that  our  remissness 
was  not  for  want  of  a  patriotick  spirit  in  a  number  of  our 
individuals,  but  because  that  opposition  ran  so  high  in  some 
parts  of  this  Town,  that  an  attempt  of  this  kind  would  per- 
haps have  answered  no  valuable  purpose,  but  we  verily 
believe  that  the  past  opposition  arose  in  a  great  measure 
from  want  of  better  information. 

Sixth.  It  is  unanimously  resolved  by  us  at  this  meeting, 
that  we  will  keep  a  strict  watch  that  no  Provisions  or  ne- 
cessaries be  transported  from  within  the  bounds  of  our  con- 
stituents, so  as  designedly  or  accidentally  to  fall  into  the 
hands  of  those  we  have  just  cause  to  esteem  and  treat  a? 
our  enemies. 

Seventh.  Ordered,  That  the  resolves  and  proceedings 
of  this  Committee  be  printed  by  Mr.  John  Holt. 
Signed  by  order  of  the  Committee  : 

John  Woodhull,  Chairman. 


CUMBERLAND  COUNTY  (NEW-YORK)  COMMITTEE  TO  NEW- 
YORK  CONGRESS. 

AVestminster,  June  8,  1775. 
Honoured  Sir:  Having  received  certain  advice  from 
Mr.  Isaac  Low,  Chairman  of  the  honourable  Committee 
of  Correspondence  at  Neva-  York,  that  it  is  the  desire  of 
the  said  Committee  that  this  County  of  Cumberland  should 
send  Delegates  to  the  City  of  Neic-York,  to  consult  with 
the  very  respectable  members  of  the  Provincial  Congress, 
what  measures  are  best  to  be  pursued  in  this  distressing  and 
very  alarming  situation  of  this  Province  ;  we  hereby  in- 
form your  Honour  that  the  inhabitants  of  the  several  Towns 
in  said  County  of  Cumberland  immediately  assembled,  (at 


935 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &ic,  JUNE,  1775. 


936 


the  earliest  notice  from  Mr.  Low,)  and  all  of  us,  inhabitants 
of  the  same  County,  were  unanimously  disposed  to  send 
Delegates  to  the  City  of  New-York,  in  order  to  consult 
what  measures  are  proper  to  be  taken  in  this  alarming 
situation  of  our  publick  affairs. 

We  hereby  return  our  most  sincere  thanks  to  the  honour- 
able Committee  of  Correspondence,  for  the  favourable  no- 
tice they  have  taken  of  us  in  this  far-distant,  infant  County. 

You,  Sir,  and  the  honourable  Provincial  Congress,  may 
be  assured  (although  the  minions  and  tools  of  power  may 
assert  to  the  contrary)  that  we,  in  this  County,  are  almost 
to  a  man  resolute  and  fully  determined,  (under  God,) 
as  much  as  in  us  lies,  to  vindicate  and  maintain  those 
liberties,  both  civil  and  religious,  which,  by  the  laws  of  God 
and  the  British  Constitution,  we  are  clearly  entitled  to. 

We  detest  and  abhor  those  arbitrary,  tyrannick,  and  san- 
guinary measures  which  the  British  Parliament  are  most 
industriously  pursuing  against  the  American  Colonies,  in 
order  to  dragoon  them  into  compliance  of  certain  late  de- 
testable acts  of  Parliament,  replete  with  horrour,  and  re- 
pugnant to  every  idea  of  British  freedom,  and  which  have 
a  direct  tendency  to  reduce  the  free  and  brave  Americans 
into  a  state  of  the  most  abject  slavery  and  vassalage. 

We,  therefore,  think  it  our  indispensable  duty  to  God, 
our  Country,  and  ourselves,  at  the  expense  of  our  lives  and 
fortunes,  (if  called,)  to  the  last  extremity,  to  join  with  our 
brethren  in  America  in  general,  and  most  vigorously  to  op- 
pose and  resist  the  said  detestable  measures  and  proceed- 
ings. Confidently  relying  upon  the  wisdom  and  integrity 
of  the  honourable  Provincial  and  Continental  Congresses, 
we  are  determined  to  pursue,  at  all  times,  such  salutary 
measures  as  they  in  their  wisdom  and  prudence  shall  ad- 
vise to. 

We  would  earnestly  request  that  you,  Sir,  would  exert 
your  influence  with  the  members  of  the  honourable  Con- 
gress, that  this  poor  infant  County,  at  present  in  a  very 
defenceless  state,  might  have  some  relief  from  Neiv-  York. 
We  esteem  it  a  privilege,  and  a  peculiar  happiness,  that 
we  are  in  a  Government,  rich,  opulent,  and  flourishing,  and 
abundantly  able  to  afford  assistance  to  a  needy  but  indus- 
trious people,  who  are  settling  a  rude  and  uncultivated  wil- 
derness, but  at  the  same  time  are  heartily  disposed  to  pro- 
mote the  grand  American  cause. 

Sir,  we  would  flatter  ourselves,  and  humbly  hope  that 
the  honourable  Congress  will  assist  our  Delegates  in  pro- 
curing arms  and  ammunition,  which  are  so  very  necessary 
for  us  at  this  important  crisis.  Sir,  you  may  rely  upon  it 
that  our  people  in  general  are  spirited,  resolute,  and  active, 
in  the  defence  of  our  dear-bought  rights  and  liberties,  and 
will  not  flinch,  if  called,  generously  to  spill  our  blood  to 
oppose  and  resist  ministerial  tyranny  and  oppression. 

Therefore,  wishing  this  Province  all  imaginable  prospe- 
rity, happiness,  and  success,  we,  in  behalf  of  the  freeholders 
and  inhabitants  of  this  County  of  Cumberland,  subscribe 
ourselves  your  most  obedient  humble  servants,  &,c. 

John  Hazeltine, 
Chairman  of  the  Committee  of  Correspondence 
and  County  of  Cumberland  Congress. 

To  the  Hon.  P.  V.  B.  Livingston,  Esq.,  President  of  the 
Honourable  Provincial  Congress  now  convened  at  the 
City  of  Neio-York. 


PETITION  OF  SENIOR  CLASS    RHODE-ISLAND   COLLEGE,  TO 
THEIR  PRESIDENT,  ETC. 

College  in  Providence,  June  8,  1775. 
To  the  Reverend  President,  Honourable  Professor,  and  the 
rest  of  the  Honourable  Corporation  of  Rhode-Island 
College :  the  dutiful  Petition  of  the  St7iior  Class : 
Most  worthy  Patrons  :  Deeply  affected  with  the  dis- 
tresses of  our  oppressed  Country,  which  now  most  unjustly 
feels  the  baneful  effects  of  arbitrary  power,  provoked  to  the 
greatest  height  of  cruelty  and  vengeance  by  the  noble  aud 
manly  resistance  of  a  free  and  determined  people,  permit 
us,  gentlemen,  to  approach  you  with  this  our  humble  and 
dutiful  petition,  that  you  would  be  pleased  to  take  under 
your  most  serious  consideration  the  propriety  of  holding 
the  ensuing  Commencement  in  a  publick  manner  as  usual ; 
whether  such  a  celebration  of  that  anniversary  would  be  in 
conformity  to  the  eighth  article  of  the  Association,  formed 


by  the  Grand  American  Congress,  and  which  all  the  Colo- 
nies are  now  religiously  executing,  and  that  you  would  be 
pleased  to  signify  unto  us  your  resolution  respecting  the 
same,  that  we  may  govern  ourselves  accordingly. 

Signed  by  Committee  in  behalf  of  the  Senior  Class. 

Josiah  Read, 
Andrew  Law, 
James  Fulton. 

answer  to  the  petition  of  the  senior  class. 

College  Library,  June  9,  1775. 
To  the  Committee  of  the  Senior  Class: 

Gentlemen  :  Your  dutiful  and  reasonable  petition  has 
been  duly  attended  to ;  and  permit  us  to  assure  you  that  it 
gives  us  no  small  satisfaction,  that  the  present  members  of 
this  institution,  and  particularly  the  respectable  Senior  Class, 
are  so  sensibly  affected  with  the  distresses  of  our  Country 
in  its  present  glorious  struggles  for  liberty.  We  rejoice  that 
you  are  so  ready  to  sacrifice  that  applause  to  which  your 
abilities  would  entitle  you  at  a  publick  Commencement. 
And  though  by  this  means  you  may  be  deprived  of  an  ad- 
vantageous opportunity  to  give  proof  of  \our  abilities  in 
pleading  the  righteous  cause  of  liberty,  for  which  your  pre- 
decessors, in  this  institution,  have  been  justly  celebrated, 
yet  you  have  hereby  given  us  a  convincing  proof  of  your 
inviolable  attachment  to  the  true  interest  of  your  Country. 
Be  assured  that  we  shall  most  heartily  concur  in  this,  and 
every  other  measure  which  has  been  or  may  be  adopted  by 
the  Grand  American  Congress,  as  well  as  the  Legislature  of 
this  Colony,  in  order  to  obtain  a  most  ample  redress  of  all 
our  grievances,  and  deem  it  the  greatest  honour  to  which  a 
noble  and  generous  mind  can  aspire,  to  contribute  in  any 
degree  towards  a  restoration  and  re-establishment  in  our 
Country,  of  all  those  liberties  and  privileges,  both  civil  and 
religious,  which  the  Almighty  Father  of  the  Universe  ori- 
ginally granted  to  every  individual  of  the  human  race,  and 
which  all  ought  to  enjoy  till  by  law  forfeited  ;  which  reason 
claims;  which  the  right  of  soil,  obtained  of  the  natives  by 
free  purchase,  settles  upon  us  ;  which  our  charters  ensure 
to  us,  and  which  have  been  recognised  by  Great  Britain, 
and  guarantied  to  us  by  the  faith  of  the  English  Nation. 
These  inestimable  rights  and  privileges  our  Country  has  for 
many  years  enjoyed,  the  source  of  its  present  wealth  and 
strength,  more  than  its  fertile  soil  or  healthy  climate.  By 
the  cruel  and  wanton  invasion  and  violation  of  these,  she 
now  bleeds  in  almost  every  vein  ;  and  finally,  it  is  these  that 
her  noble  sons,  the  illustrious  American  patriots,  prompted 
as  well  as  justified  by  the  examples  of  heroes  in  all  ages, 
are  now  prepared  to  defend,  by  the  same  means  which  have 
hitherto  preserved  the  liberties  of  Great  Britain,  and  raised 
to  royal  dignity  the  House  of  Brunsivick. 

And  though  the  din  of  arms,  and  the  horrours  of  a  civil 
war,  should  invade  our  hitherto  peaceful  habitations,  yet 
even  these  are  preferable  to  a  mean  and  base  submission  to 
arbitrary  power  and  lawless  rapine. 

Institutions  of  learning  will  doubtless  partake  in  the  com- 
mon calamities  of  our  Country,  as  arms  have  ever  proved 
unfriendly  to  the  more  refined  and  liberal  arts  and  sciences  ; 
yet  we  are  resolved  to  continue  College  orders  here  as  usual, 
excepting  that  the  ensuing  Commencement,  by  the  advice 
of  such  of  the  Corporation  as  could  be  conveniently  con- 
sulted, will  not  be  publick. 

James  Manning,  President. 
David  Hoell,  Philos.  Professor. 


GOVKRNOUR  TRUMBULL  TO  MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS. 

Lebanon,  June  8,  1775. 
Gentlemen:  Since  my  letter  of  the  first  instant,  I  have 
received  three  Resolves  from  the  honourable  Continental 
Congress  ;  the  copies  enclosed  will  show  you  their  ultimate 
determination  touching  the  fortresses  on  Lake  Champlain, 
agreeable  to  our  desires,  set  right  by  taking  the  sloop  at 
St.  John's. 

I  take  encouragement  that  the  Indians  of  the  Six  Na- 
tions will  prove  friendly,  from  the  speeches  and  answers  to 
and  from  the  Magistrates,  Sec,  of  Albany  and  Schenectady, 
with  the  Indians  at  Guy  Park,  May  25,  1775 ;  too  long  to 
copy  at  this  time,  received  this  day. 

From  Albany  and  places  adjacent,  six  companies,  con- 


937 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


938 


sisting  of  fifty  men  each,  and  one  of  a  hundred  men,  are 
gone  and  going  to  the  above-mentioned  fortresses. 

The  Albanians  appear  spirited  in  defence  of  our  rights. 

Enclosed  letter  from  Colonel  Arnold  came  enclosed  to 
me,  with  desire  to  forward  it  to  you. 

I  am,  with  truth  and  regard,  gentlemen,  your  most  obe- 
dient humble  servant,  Jonathan  Trumbull. 
To  the  Honourable  Provincial  Congress  of  Massachusetts- 

Bay.   

In  Provincial  Congress,  Watcrtown,  Juno  8,  1775. 
To  the  Moheakounuck  Tribe  of  Indians,  living  in  and 
about  Stockbridge  : 

Brothers:  We  this  day,  by  the  Delegate  from  Stock- 
bridge,  first  heard  your  friendly  answer  to  our  speech  to 
you  by  Captain  William  Goodrich ;  which  answer  we  are 
told  you  made  to  us  immediately,  by  a  letter  which  we  have 
not  yet  received.    We  now  reply. 

Brothers  !  you  say  that  you  were  once  great,  but  are  now 
little,  and  that  we  once  were  little,  but  are  now  great.  The 
Supreme  Spirit  orders  these  things.  Whether  we  are  little 
or  great,  let  us  keep  the  path  of  friendship  clear,  which  our 
fathers  made,  and  in  which  we  have  both  travelled  to  this 
time. 

The  friends  of  the  wicked  counsellors  of  our  King  fell 
upon  us,  and  shed  some  blood,  soon  after  we  spoke  to  you 
last  by  our  letter;  but  we,  with  a  small  twig,  killed  so  many, 
and  frightened  them  so  much,  that  they  have  shut  them- 
selves up  in  our  great  Town,  called  Boston,  which  they 
have  made  strong. 

We  have  now  made  our  hatchets,  and  all  our  instruments 
of  war,  sharp  and  bright.  All  the  chief  counsellors  who 
live  on  this  side  of  the  great  water,  are  sitting  in  the  Grand 
Council-House  in  Philadelphia.  When  they  give  the  word, 
we  shall  all,  as  one  man,  fall  on  and  drive  our  enemies  out 
of  their  strong  fort,  and  follow  them  till  they  shall  take 
their  hands  out  of  our  pouches,  and  let  us  sit  in  our  Coun- 
cil-House as  we  used  to  do,  and  as  our  fathers  did  in  old 
times. 

Brothers!  though  you  are  small,  yet  you  are  wise.  Use 
your  wisdom  to  help  us.  If  you  think  it  best,  go  and  smoke 
your  pipe  with  your  Indian  brothers  towards  the  setting  of 
the  sun,  and  tell  them  all  you  hear,  and  all  you  see,  and 
let  us  know  what  their  wise  men  say. 

If  some  of  your  young  men  should  have  a  mind  to  see 
what  we  are  doing  here,  let  them  come  down  and  tarry 
among  our  warriors.  We  will  provide  for  them  while  they 
are  here. 

Brothers!  when  you  have  any  trouble,  come  and  tell  it 
to  us  and  we  will  help  you. 
Signed  by  order  of  Congress: 

Samuel  Freeman,  Secretary. 

To  Capt.  Solomon  Uhhaunnauivaunmut,  Chief  Sachem  of 
the  Moheakounuck  Tribe  of  Indians  at  Stockbridge. 


PORTSMOUTH  COMMITTEE  TO  NEW-HAMPSHIRE  CONGRESS. 

Portsmouth,  Jane  8,  1775. 

Sir:  A  mail  containing  a  quantity  of  letters  were  last 
night  sent  from  on  board  the  man-of-war  to  Eleazer  Rus- 
sell, Esq.,  in  whose  hands  they  now  remain.  Mr.  King 
waits  on  the  Congress  to  request  their  determination  on  this 
matter,  and  will  give  them  what  further  information  they 
require.  We  must  entreat  Mr.  King  may  return  to  Town 
this  night,  as  the  people  will  be  impatient  for  their  letters. 

I  am,  by  order  of  the  Committee,  Sir,  your  most  humble 
servant,  Thos.  Hart,  Chairman. 

To  the  President  of  the  Provincial  Congress  at  Exeter. 


In  Provincial  Congress,  Exeter,  June  8,  1775. 

Whereas  the  present  alarming  and  very  critical  situation 
of  this  Colony  has  occasioned  this  Congress  to  raise  a 
number  of  Soldiers  to  defend  the  same,  and  the  extreme 
scarcity  of  money  in  the  Colony  makes  it  very  difficult  to 
raise  a  sufficiency  for  supplying  said  Soldiers,  and  as  there 
is  a  considerable  sum  in  the  Treasury  of  this  Colony  raised 
on  the  polls  and  estates  of  the  inhabitants  thereof:  it  is 

Resolved,  That  Ichabod  Rollings,  Esq.,  Col.  Bartlett, 
Ebcn.  Thompson,  Mr.Cilley,  Major  Welch,  David  Gilman, 


and  Captain  Evans,  be  a  Committee,  in  the  name  of  this 
Congress,  to  call  upon  the  Honourable  George  Jaffrty, 
Esquire,  for  the  balance  due  from  him  to  the  Colony,  as 
Treasurer  aforesaid,  and  that  they  receive  from  him  said 
money,  and  give  him  such  security  as  shall  be  sufficient  for 
justifying  his  payment  of  the  same,  which  they  are  hereby 
empowered  to  do,  and  are  authorized  to  assure  said  Trea- 
surer, that  the  exigence  of  the  Colony  is  such  that  no  ex- 
cuse or  delay  of  the  same  will  be  admitted  ;  and  make 
return  of  your  doings. 


Charlestown,  South-Carolina,  June  9,  1775. 

We  are  informed  that  the  Association  lately  subscribed 
by  the  Provincial  Congress,  and  recommended  by  them  as 
proper  to  be  signed  by  all  the  inhabitants,  meets  with  the 
greatest  success.  In  the  course  of  four  days  it  has  been 
signed  by  almost  every  man  in  Charlestown ;  none  having 
refused  that  we  hear  of,  except  a  few  gentlemen  under  pe- 
culiar circumstances. 

We  also  learn,  that  the  Provincial  Congress  have  deter- 
mined to  raise  two  Regiments  of  Foot,  and  one  of  Horse, 
immediately;  and  also  to  put  the  Militia  upon  a  respect- 
able footing,  to  which  the  people  most  cheerfully  accord  : 
and  we  have  the  satisfaction  of  knowing,  that  the  Colony 
will  very  speedily  be  put  in  a  good  posture  of  defence. 

The  Provincial  Congress  have  resolved  to  lay  up  proper 
quantities  of  rice  and  flour  in  granaries  in  divers  parts  of 
the  Colony  ;  and  have  appointed  Commissioners  for  pur- 
chasing these  articles,  and  carrying  these  resolutions  forth- 
with into  execution.  They  have  also  prohibited  the  fur- 
ther exportation  of  rice  and  corn  for  three  months. 


MEETING  OF  LANCASTER  (VIRGINIA)  VOLUNTEERS. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Volunteer  Company  of  Lancaster 
County,  on  Friday,  June  9,  1775: 

Resolved,  That  every  Member  of  this  Company  do  re- 
turn thanks  to  the  worthy  Captain  Patrick  Henry  and  the 
Volunteer  Company  of  Hanover,  for  their  spirited  conduct 
on  a  late  expedition,  and  they  are  determined  to  protect 
him  from  any  insult  that  may  be  offered  him  on  that  ac- 
count, at  the  risk  of  life  and  fortune. 

Resolved,  That  we  are  determined  to  defend  our  wor- 
thy Speaker,  and  the  rest  of  our  worthy  Delegates,  who 
have  so  nobly  exerted  themselves  in  the  cause  of  Ameri- 
ca ;  and  all  other  friends  to  American  liberty,  whom  the 
abandoned  tools  of  Administration  may  dare  to  attack. 

Resolved,  That  notice  be  given  to  the  Volunteer  Com- 
pany of  the  City  of  Williamsburgh  that  this  Company  bind 
themselves  by  the  sacred  ties  of  honour  and  love  for  their 
Country,  to  join  them  on  the  smallest  warning,  and  march 
to  any  part  of  the  Colony  in  defence  of  liberty,  and  that 
they  concur  with  them  in  opinion  that  landing  any  foreign 
forces  at  this  time  in  this  Country  will  be  a  dangerous 
attack  on  the  liberties  of  the  same ;  and  therefore  if  any 
such  should  be  landed,  they  are  determined,  with  the  assis- 
tance of  their  countrymen,  immediately  to  oppose  them. 

Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  the  aforesaid  Resolutions  be 
transmitted  to  Mr.  John  Pinkney,  and  that  he  be  desired 
to  print  the  same  in  his  Gazette  as  soon  as  convenient. 


WILLIAM  WILLIAMS  AND  OTHERS  TO  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

Westminster,  June  9,  1775. 

Sir:  We,  the  subscribers,  beg  leave  most  humbly  to 
shew,  that  being  deeply  impressed  with  the  great  impor- 
tance of  having  a  Regiment  duly  prepared,  at  the  least 
notice,  in  this  County,  in  order  to  keep  under  proper  sub- 
jection Regulars,  Roman  Catholicks,  and  the  Savages  at 
the  northward,  as  also  to  be  ready  at  all  times  to  defend 
our  rights  and  privileges  against  Ministerial  tyranny  and 
oppression,  seeing  hostilities  have  already  commenced,  and 
the  sword  is  actually  drawn  in  order  to  enforce  certain 
tyrannick  and  arbitrary  acts  of  the  British  Parliament, 
replete  with  horrour,  and  repugnant  to  every  idea  of  Bri- 
tish freedom;  we,  the  loyal  inhabitants  of  this  County, 
glowing  with  true  martial  ardour,  and  willing,  with  the 
utmost  cheerfulness  and  alacrity,  to  unsheath  the  sword  in 
defence  of  the  lives  and  properties  of  the  good  people  of 
this  ancient  and  truly  respectable  patriotick  Colony  of 


939 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


940 


Ncto-Y&rk,  beg  leave  to  offer  our  services  in  the  defence 
of  this  Province,  and  America  in  general.  We  therefore, 
with  due  submission,  propose  cheerfully  and  with  the  utmost 
gratitude  to  accept  (if  your  honourable  Congress  shall  think 
proper)  commissions  from  this  honourable  Provincial  Con- 
gress, viz:  Colonel,  Lieutenant-Colonel,  and  Major. 

We  determine  to  be  entirely  under  the  command  and 
order  of  the  Provincial  Congress,  hoping  we  shall  truly  merit 
the  favours  of  said  Congress,  and  be  useful  instruments  in 
serving  this  ancient  and  honourable  Colony  of  New-  York, 
us  also  the  common  grand  American  cause. 

Sir  your  assisting  us  in  this  our  humble  request,  and  pre- 
senting to  us  the  above-mentioned  Commissions,  would 
much  oblige  your  most  obedient  humble  servants, 

Wm.  Williams, 
Benjamin  Waite, 

JoAB  HoiSINGTON. 

To  the  Honourable  P.  V.  B.  Livingston,  President  of  the 
Provincial  Congress. 

N.  B.  We  hope  to  raise  a  Regiment  of  good  active  enter- 
prising soldiers  in  this  County,  which  we  hope  will  reflect 
honour  on  this  Colony.  The  arrangement  of  said  com- 
missions we  desire  might  be  according  to  the  following 
order :  Major  William  Williams,  our  Delegate,  to  be  first 
Colonel ;  Major  Benjamin  Wait,  Lieutenant-Colonel ;  and 
Captain  Joab  Hoisington,  Major. 


ETHAN  ALLEN  TO  THE  MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS. 

Crown  Point,  June  9,  1775. 

Honourable  Gentlemen:  I  am  informed  by  Colonel 
Easton  that  you  are  well  satisfied  with  the  economy  and 
enterprising  spirit  of  a  number  of  the  sons  of  liberty,  who, 
animated  with  the  glorious  example  of  the  brave  action  at 
Concord,  were  inspired  to  make  those  acquisitions  to  the 
United  Colonies  of  which  your  Honours  have  received  in- 
telligence, viz:  the  sovereignty  of  Lake  Champlain,  and  the 
fortresses  thereon,  with  an  armed  sloop  and  all  the  boats  on 
the  lake,  and  also  took  into  possession  a  schooner,  which 
was  the  property  of  Major  Skene,  and  furnished  it  out  for 
war.  These  armed  vessels  are  at  present  abundantly  suffi- 
cient to  command  the  lake.  The  making  these  acquisi- 
tions has  greatly  attached  the  Canadians,  and  more  espe- 
cially the  Indians,  to  our  interest.  They  have  no  personal 
prejudice  or  controversy  with  the  United  Colonies,  but  act 
upon  political  principles,  and  consequently  are  inclined  to 
fall  in  with  the  strongest  side.  At  present  ours  has  the  ap- 
pearance of  it,  as  there  are  at  present  but  about  seven 
hundred  regular  Troops  in  all  the  different  Posts  in  Canada. 
Add  to  this  the  consideration  of  the  imperious  and  haugh- 
ty conduct  of  the  Troops  which  has  much  alienated  the 
affections  of  both  the  Canadians  and  Indians  from  them. 
Probably  there  may  soon  be  more  Troops  from  England 
sent  there,  but  at  present  you  may  rely  on  it  that  Canada 
is  in  a  weak,  and  almost  helpless  condition.  Two  or  three 
thousand  men,  conducted  by  intrepid  commanders,  would 
at  this  juncture  make  a  conquest  of  the  ministerial  party  in 
Canada,  with  such  additional  numbers  as  may  be  suppo- 
sed to  vie  with  the  re-enforcements  that  may  be  sent  from 
England.  Such  a  plan  would  make  a  diversion  in  favour 
of  the  Massachusetts-Bay ,  who  have  been  too  much  bur- 
dened with  the  calamity  that  should  be  more  general,  as 
all  partake  of  the  salutary  effects  of  their  merit  and  valour 
in  the  defence  of  the  liberties  of  America.  There  would, 
furthermore,  be  this  unspeakable  advantage  in  directing  the 
war  into  Canada,  that  it  would  unite  and  confirm  the  Ca- 
nadians and  Indians  in  our  interest;  and  as  England  can 
spare  but  a  certain  number  of  her  Troops,  therefore  the 
more  she  sends  to  defend  her  interest  in  Canada,  which 
at  present  is  languid  and  weak,  the  less  she  can  send  to 
Boston,  or  any  other  part  of  the  Continent.  By  gaining 
the  sovereignty  of  Canada,  would  intercept  the  design  of 
the  Quebeck  Bill,  and  greatly  discourage  the  Ministry,  who 
dote  much  on  the  efficacy  of  it. 

I  woidd  to  God  America  would  exert  herself  in  propor- 
tion lo  the  indignity  offered  her  by  a  tyrannical  Ministry. 
She  might  mount  on  eagles'  wings  to  glory.  Fame  is  now 
hovering  over  her  head.  A  vast  Comment  must  either  sink 
to  bondage,  ignominy,  and  exquisite  honour,  or  rise  trium- 
phant above  the  shackles  of  tyranny  to  immortal  fame. 

I  hope,  gentlemen,  you  will  use  your  influence  in  for- 


warding men,  provision,  and  every  article  for  the  Army 
that  may  be  thought  necessary.  Blankets  and  provisions 
are  scarce.  1  might  have  added  the  article  of  powder. 
It  ought  to  be  observed  that  the  Colonies  must  first  help 
their  friends  in  Canada,  and  then  it  will  be  in  their  power 
to  help  them  again. 

I  subscribe  myself  your  Honours'  most  obedient  servant, 

Ethan  Allen. 
To  the  Honourable  Provincial  Congress  of  the  Massachu- 
setts-Bay, or  the  Council  of  War,  at  Watertown  and 
Cambridge. 

proclamation  by  covernour  carleton. 
By  his  Excellency  Guy  Carleton,  Captain-General  and 
Governour-in- Chief  in  and  over  the  Province  of  Que- 
beck,  and  the  Territories  depending  thereon,  in  Ame- 
rica, Vice-Admiral  of  the  same,  and  Major-General 
of  His  Majesty's  Forces,  commanding  the  Northern 
District  : 

A  PROCLAMATION. 

Whereas,  a  rebellion  prevails  in  many  of  His  Majesty's 
Colonies  in  America,  and  particularly  in  some  of  the  neigh- 
bouring ones :  and  whereas,  many  of  the  said  rebels  have, 
with  an  armed  force,  made  incursions  of  late  into  this  Prov- 
ince, attacking  and  carrying  away  from  thence  a  party  of 
His  Majesty's  Troops,  together  with  a  parcel  of  stores,  and 
a  vessel  belonging  to  His  Majesty,  and  are  at  present  ac- 
tually invading  this  Province  with  arms,  in  a  traitorous 
and  hostile  manner,  to  the  great  terrour  of  His  Majesty's 
subjects,  and  in  open  defiance  of  his  laws  and  Government ; 
falsely  and  maliciously  giving  out,  by  themselves  and  their 
abetters,  that  their  motives  for  so  doing  are  to  prevent  the 
inhabitants  of  this  Province  from  being  taxed  and  oppressed 
by  Government,  together  with  divers  other  false  and  sedi- 
tious reports,  tending  to  inflame  the  minds  of  the  people, 
and  alienate  them  from  His  Majesty:  To  the  end,  there- 
fore, that  so  treasonable  an  invasion  may  be  soon  defeat- 
ed ;  that  all  such  traitors,  with  their  said  abetters,  may  be 
speedily  brought  to  justice,  and  the  publick  peace  and 
tranquillity  of  this  Province  again  restored,  which  the  ordi- 
nary course  of  the  civil  law  is  at  present  unable  to  effect, 
1  have  thought  fit  to  issue  this  Proclamation,  hereby  de- 
claring, that  until  the  aforesaid  good  purpose  be  attained, 
1  shall,  in  virtue  of  the  powers  and  authority  to  me  given 
by  His  Majesty,  execute  martial  law,  and  cause  the  same 
to  be  executed  throughout  this  Province,  and  to  that  end, 
1  shall  order  the  Militia  within  the  same  to  be  forthwith 
raised  ;  but  as  a  sufficient  number  of  commissions  to  the 
several  officers  thereof  cannot  be  immediately  made  out,  I 
shall,  in  the  mean  time,  direct  all  those  having  any  militia 
commissions  from  the  Honourable  Thoinas  Gage,  the  Hon- 
ourable James  Murray,  Ralph  Burton,  and  Frederick 
Haldimand,  Esquires,  heretofore  His  Majesty's  Govern- 
ours  in  this  Province,  or  either  of  them,  to  obey  the  same, 
and  execute  the  powers  therein  mentioned,  until  they 
shall  receive  orders  from  me  to  the  contrary;  and  I  do 
accordingly,  in  His  Majesty's  name,  hereby  require  and 
command  all  his  subjects  in  this  Province,  and  others 
whom  it  may  concern,  on  pain  of  disobedience,  to  be  aid- 
ing and  assisting  such  commissioned  officers,  and  others 
who  are  or  may  be  commissioned  by  me,  in  the  execution 
of  their  said  commissions  for  His  Majesty's  service. 

Given  under  my  hand  and  seal  of  arms,  at  Montreal, 
this  ninth  day  of  June,  1775,  in  the  fifteenth  year  of  the 
reign  of  our  Sovereign  Lord  George  the  Third,  by  the 
grace  of  God,  of  Great  Britain,  France,  and  Ireland. 
King,  Defender  of  the  Faith,  and  so  forth. 

Guy  Carleton. 

By  his  Excellency's  command  : 

H.  T.  Cramahe. 


COVERNOUR  TRUMBULL  TO  THE   PRESIDENT  OF  THE  CON- 
TINENTAL CONGRESS. 

Lebanon,  June  9,  1775. 

Sir:  I  have  received  your  letters  of  the  31st  May  and 
1st  June,  enclosing  the  resolves  of  the  honourable  Conti- 
nental Congress  of  the  same  dates.  By  a  wonderful  coin- 
cidence of  counsels  the  first  was  nearly  complied  with 
before  the  receipt  of  it. 


941 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


042 


Colonel  Benjamin  Hinman  is  appointed  to  the  com- 
mand of  the  troops  at  Ticonderoga,  consisting  of  one  thou- 
sand men  from  this  Colony,  well  armed,  and  furnished 
with  one  pound  of  powder  and  three  pounds  of  ball  to 
each  man,  with  flints  sufficient ;  besides  this  we  have  also 
sent  there  about  eight  hundred  pounds  of  powder.  Col- 
onel Hinman  is  a  gentleman,  in  whom  we  trust  full  confi- 
dence may  be  placed.  On  giving  my  orders  to  him,  (dated 
99th  of  May,  1775,)  instructed  him  to  keep  up  the  strictest 
vigilance  to  prevent  any  hostile  incursions  from  being  made 
into  the  settlements  in  the  Province  of  Quebeck. 

In  compliance  with  the  other  resolution  of  Congress,  I 
have  appointed  a  Commissary  to  receive  at  Albany,  and 
forward  the  supplies  of  provisions  for  the  forces  on  Lake 
Champlain,  with  directions  to  him,  with  advice  of  Colonel 
Hinman,  to  employ  such  others  under  him  as  that  service 
shall  appear  to  require. 

1  am,  with  great  truth  and  regard,  Sir,  your  most  obedi- 
ent humble  servant,  Jonathan  Trumbull. 
To  Hon.  John  Hancock,  Esquire. 


the  Committee  of  Safety,  for  raising  a  company  of  Ran- 
gers in  the  Province  of  the  Massachusetts- Bay,  for  the 
defence  of  the  liberties  of  America.  And  that  your  peti- 
tioner, judging  said  men  to  be  greatly  wanted,  exerted 
himself  to  raise  a  company,  and  expended  upwards  of 
twelve  Pounds,  lawful  money,  in  effecting  the  same,  and 
marched  them  from  the  remotest  part  of  this  Province, 
greatly  against  the  minds  of  the  inhabitants  where  they 
came  from,  on  account  of  the  commotions  to  the  north- 
ward ;  but  as  your  petitioner  was  under  no  regular  estab- 
lishment from  authority  to  go  that  way,  1  marched  my  men 
forward  towards  Head-Quarters  at  Cambridge,  and  came 
as  far  as  Worcester,  where  they  now,  by  my  orders,  remain. 
1  do,  therefore,  at  the  earnest  request  of  the  Committees 
and  principal  inhabitants  of  sundry  Towns  from  whence 
they  came,  earnestly  pray  this  honourable  Congress  that  I 
may  be  regularly  appointed,  by  the  authority  of  this  Prov  - 
ince, to  march  with  my  company  to  Ticonderoga,  for  the 
safely  and  protection  of  the  inhabitants  in  the  northwest- 
ern frontiers  of  this  Prov  ince.  And  your  petitioner,  as  in 
duty  bound,  shall  ever  pray.  Abiathar  Angel. 


ABIATHAR  ANGEL  TO  MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS. 

Watertown,  June  9,  1775. 

Honoured  Sir  :  I  take  this  method  to  communicate 
to  you  my  present  unhappy  situation,  viz:  that  I  have  a 
company  of  men  now  lying  at  Worcester,  which  1  enlisted 
and  brought  from  the  remotest  parts  of  this  Province, 
many  of  them  having  been  in  the  expedition  to  Ticonde- 
roga, and  now  enlisted  as  Rangers  in  the  service  of  this 
Province ;  and  whereas,  as  matters  have  turned,  there  is 
not  such  an  establishment. 

I  came  off  myself  in  the  alarm  after  the  battle  of  Con- 
cord, from  my  house,  one  hundred  and  forty  miles  from 
here,  and  here  staid  many  days  a  volunteer,  on  my  own 
expense ;  but  seeing  nothing  of  importance  speedily  to  be 
done,  and  that  there  was  a  regular  establishment  on  foot 
for  a  standing  army,  I  received  orders  from  David  B reiver, 
of  Kingston,  from  under  the  hand  of  the  honourable  Com- 
mittee of  Safety,  for  enlisting  a  company  of  Rangers  into 
the  service  of  this  Province ;  and  judging  the  men  to  be 
greatly  wanted,  I  exerted  myself  in  speedily  raising  and 
equipping  said  company,  and  have  expended  above  twen- 
ty Pounds  for  said  purpose,  and  marched  my  men  away, 
greatly  against  the  minds  of  the  inhabitants  from  whence 
they  came,  on  account  of  the  commotions  to  the  westward. 
But  being  under  no  regular  establishment  to  go  that  way, 
1  marched  my  men  forward,  and  came  as  far  as  Worcester ; 
there  halted  last  Sunday,  and  came  forward  myself,  pre- 
viously hearing  of  some  difficulties  attending  Colonel  Brew- 
er's establishment,  of  which  you,  Sir,  are  not  unapprised. 
1  have  been  now  in  waiting  ever  since  Tuesday  last,  en- 
deavouring to  obtain  some  orders  and  directions  from  the 
honourable  Congress  in  regard  to  my  situation.  The  situ- 
ation of  about  fifty  men,  who  have,  most  of  them,  been 
in  the  service  near  six  weeks  at  Ticonderoga,  without  re- 
ceiving the  least  consideration  for  the  same,  surely  demands 
some  attention  ;  for  them  to  be  now  disbanded,  when  they 
have  laid  out  of  their  business  for  the  season,  will  be  almost 
the  ruin  of  many ;  and  as  they  are  so  greatly  wanted  to 
the  westward,  1  have  petitioned  the  House  for  orders  to 
march  them  to  Ticonderoga,  but  have  received  as  yet  no 
orders  thereon.  I  most  earnestly  entreat  you,  Sir,  to  have 
some  regard  to  my  situation,  and  use  your  influence  for  my 
relief. 

I  am,  Sir,  your  sincere  friend,  and  most  obedient  ser- 
vant, Abiathar  Angel. 

To  the  Honourable  the  Provincial  Congress  for  the  Prov- 
ince of  Massachusetts-Bay: 
The  Petition  and  Remonstrance  of  Abiathar  Angel, 

of  Lanesborough,  in  the  County  of  Berkshire, 

humbly  showeth  : 

That  the  petitioner  came  off  from  his  home,  one  hun- 
dred and  forty  miles  from  this  place,  a  volunteer,  in  the 
alarm  after  the  battle  of  Concord,  and  here  staid  several 
days  on  his  own  expense,  and  seeing  nothing  of  impor- 
tance to  be  speedily  done,  and  that  there  was  a  regular 
establishment  on  foot  for  a  standing  army,  received  orders 
from  Captain  David  Brewer,  signed  by  the  Chairman  of 


JOHN  LANE  TO  THE  MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS. 

Fort  Pownall,  June  9,  1775. 
Sir  :  I  have  proceeded  agreeable  to  my  orders,  as  you 
will  see  by  the  enclosed  journal,  and  have  got  one  of  the 
chiefs  to  go  as  an  ambassador,  attended  by  three  young 
men,  as  far  as  Falmouth,  and  I  am  in  hopes  to  be  able  to 
get  them  as  far  as  Watertown.  I  could  not  have  thought 
that  they  had  been  so  hearty  in  the  cause,  and  are  very 
ready  to  assist  us,  if  occasion  requires.  The  Canada  In- 
dians are  all  of  the  same  mind.  The  Indians  are  now 
here,  and  we  shall  go  to  Casco-Bay  to-morrow,  when  I 
shall  write  more  fully.  I  am,  Sir,  with  respect,  your  much 
obliged  servant,  John  Lane, 

Honourable  Joseph  Warren,  Esquire. 

The  following  is  my  journal  to  Penobscot,  in  behalf  oi 
the  honourable  Provincial  Congress : 

Monday,  May  22,  1775. — 1  received  my  orders  from 
the  Congress,  by  James  Sullivan,  Esquire,  Monday,  and 
proceeded  to  Falmouth,  where  1  arrived  on  the  24th  cur- 
rent, and  applied  to  Colonel  Preble  and  the  gentlemen 
belonging  to  the  Committee  for  that  place,  who  supplied 
me  with  some  stores  for  the  Indians.  On  Sunday,  the 
28ih  of  said  month,  set  sail  for  Penobscot,  and  arrived  at 
Boothbay  the  same  day.  Monday  morning  sailed  abou: 
ten  miles  towards  Penobscot,  and  meeting  with  a  sloop  at 
sea,  commanded  by  David  Hanwood,  bound  for  Penob- 
scot, which  I  got  on  board  of  and  proceeded.  Tuesday. 
the  30th,  arrived  at  a  place  called  Ou-Vs-Head,  at  the 
mouth  of  Penobscot-Bay.  The  31st  set  sail  to  go  up  the 
Bay,  and  got  up  to  the  fort. 

The  first  of  June,  when  I  waited  on  Colonel  Gold- 
thivait,  and  acquainted  him  of  my  business,  who  was 
willing  to  do  every  thing  in  his  power  for  the  good  of  the 
Province,  and  offered  me  all  the  assistance  possible  to 
forward  my  business,  and  any  sort  of  provision  or  clothing 
that  I  should  want  for  the  Indians,  which  1  accepted,  and 
ordered  the  interpreter  of  the  fort  to  go  with  me  to  assist 
in  my  business.  The  second  day  of  June  I  went  up  the 
river,  accompanied  by  said  interpreter  and  an  Indian  of 
the  Penobscot  tribe,  and  got  up  to  the  Truck-House  the 
same  day  :  there  met  a  number  of  this  tribe,  and  informed 
them  of  my  business,  among  whom  was  an  Englishman, 
belonging  to  the  St.  Francois  tribe,  who  gave  me  the  great- 
est assurance  of  his  utmost  abilities  to  engage  the  St.  Fran- 
cois tribe  in  our  behalf,  and  doubted  not  but  he  could 
accomplish  it;  and  I  think  this  Englishman  is  a  man 
of  truth,  by  the  conversation  I  had  with  him,  and  may  be 
relied  on.  On  the  third  I  had  some  discourse  with  them, 
when  they  agreed  to  go  up  to  their  village  to  bring  their 
chiefs  down  to  the  Truck-House,  to  know  their  minds  re- 
specting going  to  the  westward.  Sunday,  the  fourth,  four 
of  their  chiefs,  accompanied  by  a  number  of  Indians,  came 
to  the  Truck-House,  and  after  my  making  known  my  pro- 
posals to  them,  they  told  me  they  fully  understood  the 
nature  of  the  thing,  and,  after  some  talk,  agreed  to  send  one 
of  their  chiefs  as  an  ambassador,  and  three  of  the  young 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


944 


men  lo  attend  him  as  far  as  Falmouth,  with  me,  and  one 
Mr.  Andrew  Oilman,  who  came  in  with  them,  who  also 
agreed  to  go  with  me. 

On  the  sixth,  attended  the  meeting  of  said  river,  Bel- 
fast, Benjamin's  River,  and  Majabiguaducc,  who  are 
all  ready,  on  notice,  and  repaired  to  the  fort,  waiting  for 
the  Indians  to  come  down  the  river  to  go  to  Casco  with 
me  at  the  same  lime.  1  informed  Colonel  Goldthwait 
what  success  1  had  met  with,  and  who  proved  to  me  of 
his  being  contrary  to  what  had  been  represented  by  some 
evil-minded  person  respecting  his  delivering  up  the  can- 
non to  the  Governour;  and  I  am  sensible,  in  my  own  mind, 
lie  could  not  have  acted  to  the  contrary,  not  because  he 
was  obliged  to  obey  the  Governour's  orders,  but  that  there 
was  not  sufficient  ammunition  to  defend  it.*  And  I  am 
further  convinced,  by  the  conversation  I  had  with  him,  he 
is  ready  to  give  all  the  assistance  in  his  power  for  the  good 
of  the  Province,  and  has  been  a  great  help  to  me  in  my 
tour  this  way ;  and  I  don't  know  of  any  person  better 
qualified  to  act  in  the  office  he  holds  for  the  good  of  the 
poor  in  that  part,  for  I  am  sure  neither  I  nor  the  Indians 
could  have  been  accommodated  upon  the  river  elsewhere. 
He  assures  me  that,  by  the  advice  of  Congress,  he  will 
still  keep  up  the  fort  and  pay  the  soldiers  off,  and  wait  for 
the  pay  till  its  convenient  for  them,  although  at  this  time 
there  is  twelve  months  pay  due  to  the  garrison,  and  which 
he  has  paid  off  to  the  soldiers  and  some  of  the  officers. 
And  I  don't  think  that  he  ought  by  any  means  to  lay 
under  the  scandalous  report  that  has  been  spread  abroad 
about  his  delivering  the  cannon. 

Remainder  per  another  opportunity. 


EL1SHA  HEWES  TO  THE  MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS. 

Penobscot  River,  June  9,  1775. 

To  Joseph  Warren,  Esquire,  President  of  the  Provin- 
cial Congress  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay. 
Sir  :  1  have  had  the  pleasure  of  being  well  acquaint- 
ed with  your  uniform  and  unalterable  principles,  from 
the  first  instant  of  your  publickly  engaging  in  the  glorious 
cause  which  you  now  so  nobly  lead  on  in  the  defence  of. 
Should  your  high  appointment  and  the  complicated  situa- 
tion of  affairs  under  your  inspection  and  direction,  render 
my  scrawl  too  minute  for  your  notice,  I  shall  not  won- 
der. I  now  live  on  Penobscot  River,  about  twenty-three 
miles  above  Fort  Pownall;  the  settlement  is  very  new — the 
first  man  that  pitched  in  my  neighbourhood  has  not  been 
there  more  than  five  years.  'Tis  true  Captain  John  Buck 
began  near  ten  years  ago,  but  he  lives  not  more  than  eight 
miles  above  the  fort,  the  inhabitants  being  settled  about 
twenty  miles  above  him.  I  find  this  a  country  very  good 
ibr  both  tillage  and  grass,  though  at  present  covered  with 
a  fine  growth  of  pine,  spruce,  cedar,  hemlock,  &z.c,  and 
some  oak.  The  river  excels  for  fish  of  various  kinds,  and 
easy  navigation  for  the  largest  of  vessels.  The  people  are 
firmly  attached  to  the  Constitution  you  preside  in  defence 
of,  and  I  am  confident  will  support  it  to  the  last  moment 
of  their  lives,  being  willing  in  general  to  encounter  any 
difficulty  rather  than  yield  to  that  band  of  tyrants  whose 
plodding  pates  have  long  been  projecting  methods  to  en- 
slave us. 

I  am  confirmed  in  this  opinion  by  an  anecdote  or  two 
that  have  come  to  my  knowledge  since  my  residence 
on  this  river,  for  I  live  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Colonel 
Thomas  Goldthwait,  who  was  a  member  of  our  Assem- 
bly (as  you  may  remember)  for  many  years,  and  particu- 
larly in  the  year  1762;  from  whom  I  had  the  following 
story:  Richard  Jackson,  Esq.,  was  then  agent  for  our 
Province.  The  Colonel  says  that  then,  in  some  of  the  pri- 
vate letters  which  he  wrote  after  his  appointment,  he  inti- 
mated his  fears  that  it  would  not  be  in  his  power  to  do  the 
Province  much  service,  as  there  was  a  principle  prevailing 
in  England  at  that  time  to  render  the  Colony  Assemblies 
useless.  The  Colonel  also  says,  that  Mr.  Bollan  (who 
was  agent  before  Mr.  Jackson)  was  continually  warning 
the  General  Court  of  this  principle  then  prevailing  in  Eng- 
land, and  yet  no  doubt  you  remember  both  these  gentle- 
men were  turned  out  of  their  agency  upon  a  suspicion 
that  they  were  not  in  the  interest  of  the  Province.  Cer- 
tainly  they  were  faithful  as  touching  the  most  important 

*  Only  about  600  pounds  of  powder. 


matter,  whatever  part  of  their  conduct  might  give  umbrage 
to  their  constituents.  And  there  seems  to  be  some  degree 
of  similarity  in  the  case  of  the  above  gentleman  and  Col- 
onel Goldthwait ;  for  one  of  your  members,  viz:  Captain 
John  Lane,  who  is  now  here,  says  the  Congress  had  re- 
ceived very  unfavourable  accounts  of  the  Colonel's  con- 
duct; whereas,  on  a  fair  and  impartial  examination,  it  will 
appear  that  Colonel  Goldthwait  has  been  a  steady,  uniform 
friend  to  our  Constitution. 

Should  the  Almighty  prosper  us  so  as  to  bring  on  an 
accommodation,  among  other  grievances  I  think  the  Green- 
ivich  Hospital  money,  exacted  from  our  American  seamen, 
to  be  a  very  capital  one.  I  hope  the  Congress  will  com- 
passionate the  case  of  this  infant  settlement,  as  we  have 
not  got  to  the  years  of  tillage  and  raising  our  own  bread  and 
clothing,  and  like  to  be  shut  from  the  privilege  of  importing. 
We  could  now  manufacture  our  own  clothing,  but  are  des- 
titute of  wool  and  flax,  which  is  a  very  great  grievance. 

There  is  an  island  in  the  mouth  of  the  river,  owned  by 
Isaac  Winsloic,  Esquire,  as  he  saith,  which  contains  six  or 
seven  thousand  acres.  1  first  settled  on  it ;  there  are  ten 
or  twelve  families,  of  good  Connecticut  men,  who  are  hearty 
in  our  cause,  and  should  hold  what  they  have  taken  in  their 
own  right ;  the  rest  should  be  deemed  forfeit.  This  is  my 
private  opinion,  made  publick  to  none  but  you. 

Pray  excuse  the  want  of  order  in  these  hints  from,  hon- 
ourable Sir,  your  humble  servant,  in  haste, 

Elisha  Hewes. 

P.  S.  I  have  wrote  by  this  opportunity  to  Joseph  Hcwes, 
Esq.,  in  the  Continental  Congress;  we  are  brothers'  chil- 
dren, and  were  brought  up  together  in  the  same  family. 
Your  favour  in  forwarding  is  prayed  by,  Sir,  &ic. 


JOSEPH  HAWLEY  TO  THE  HONOURABLE  JOSEPH  WARREN. 

Northampton,  June  9,  1775. 

Dear  Sir:  In  my  letter  sent  yesterday  in  great  haste, 
I  suggested  some  broken  hints  respecting  Ticonderoga.  I 
am  still  in  agonies  for  the  greatest  possible  despatch  to 
secure  that  pass.  I  don't  call  it  an  acquisition,  for  it  don't 
merit  that  epithet;  nor  can  it,  until  more  is  done  for  main- 
taining it  than  I  have  yet  heard  of.  It  is  clear  that  it  is 
necessary  we  should  lake  precisely  the  same  measures  for 
retaining  that  post,  as  if  the  country  of  Canada  was  in  the 
full  possession  of  the  French.  Nay,  1  believe  we  have 
more  to  fear  from  that  quarter  than  if  France  alone  held 
Canada.  I  think  there  is  much  reason  to  apprehend  that 
Britain  and  France  will, and  do  act  jointly  against  America, 
and  nothing  more  probable  than  that  they  design,  in  their 
partition  of  America,  that  the  Province  of  Quebcck,  as  lately 
defined,  shall  be  ceded  or  given  up  to  France.  1  most 
heartily  wish  that  every  member  of  our  Congress,  yea, 
every  inhabitant  of  the  Province,  had  a  true  idea  of  the 
infinite  importance  and  consequence  of  that  station.  If 
Britain,  while  they  are  in  hostility  against  New-England , 
hold  that  post,  they  will,  by  means  thereof,  be  able  to  do 
more  to  vanquish  and  subdue  us  from  that  quarter,  than  they 
will  be  able  to  do  in  all  other  parts  of  the  continent;  yea, 
more  than  they  could  do  in  all  other  parts  of  the  globe.  If 
Britain  should  regain  and  hold  that  place,  they  will  be 
able  soon  to  harass  and  waste,  by  the  savages,  all  the  bor- 
ders of  New-England,  eastwards  of  Hudson's  River  and 
southeast  of  Lake  Champlain  and  the  River  St.  Lawrence, 
and  shortly,  by  the  Lake  Champlain,  to  march  an  army  to 
Hudson's  River,  to  subdue  the  feeble  and  sluggish  efforts 
of  the  inhabitants  on  that  river,  and  so  to  connect  Montreal 
and  Neio-  York ;  and  then  Ncw-Engla7id  will  be  wholly 
environed  by  sea  and  land,  east,  west,  north,  and  south. 
The  chain  of  the  Colonies  will  be  entirely  and  irreparably 
broken;  the  whole  Province  of  Neic- 1  ork  will  be  fully 
taken  into  the  interest  of  Administration  ;  and  this  very  pass 
of  Ticonderoga  is  the  post  and  spot  where  all  this  mischief 
may  be  withstood  and  resisted ;  but  if  that  is  relinquished 
or  taken  from  us,  desolation  must  come  in  upon  us  like  a 
flood.  I  am  bold  to  say,  (for  I  can  maintain  it,)  that  the 
General  Congress  would  have  not  advised  to  so  destructive 
a  measure,  if  they  had  recommended  and  prescribed  that 
our  whole  Army,  which  now  invests  Boston,  should  in- 
stantly decamp,  and  march  with  all  the  baggage  and  artil- 
lery to  Worcester,  and  suffer  Gage's  Army  to  ravage  what 


945 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


94G 


part  of  the  country  they  pleased.  Good  God!  what  could 
be  their  plan.  11  they  intend  defence,  they  ruust  be  unac- 
quainted with  the  geography  of  the  country,  or  never  ad- 
verted to  the  matter.  The  design  of  seizing  that  post  was 
gloriously  conceived;  but  to  what  purpose  did  our  forces 
light  there,  if  they  are  now  to  fly  away  from  there.  Cer- 
tainly to  no  good  purpose,  but  to  very  bad  and  destructive 
purposes ;  for  by  this  step  General  Carleton  is  alarmed. 
Whereas  if  this  step  had  not  been  taken,  his  proceedings 
might  have  been  slow  and  with  some  leisure ;  but  now,  if 
he  is  worthy  of  command,  he  will  exert  himself  to  the  ut- 
most, and  proceed  with  despatch.  If  we  maintain  the  post, 
the  measure  of  taking  it  was  glorious.  If  we  abandon  it, 
the  step  will  turn  out  to  have  been  a  destructive  one. 

I  am  informed  that  Connecticut  have  ordered  five  hundred 
men  for  that  place.  What  number  they  have  proposed  that 
this  Province  should  send,  [  have  not  heard.  I  hope  that 
a  moment's  time  will  not  be  lost  before  a  proper  number 
get  on  their  way  thither,  if  it  is  posssible  that  they  can  be 
furnished  with  so  much  ammunition  as  will  make  them  of 
anv  service  when  they  shall  arrive  there.  I  shan't  presume 
to  say  any  more,  what  more  1  conceive  to  be  fittest  for  this 
service ;  perhaps  I  went  too  far  on  that  head  in  my  last. 
Instead  of  seeing  men  march  eastward  from  the  County  of 
Berkshire,  (as  they  have  within  these  two  days.)  I  hope  to 
see  some  marching  westward  for  Ticonderoga.  I  think  it 
would  be  best  to  importune  Connecticut  to  spare  some  more 
gunpowder  to  that  place,  we  paying  them  for  a  part  or  all 
of  it,  as  they  have  had  a  late  arrival  of  at  least  two  tons 
since  they  sent  five  hundred  pounds  for  that  place.  All 
that  I  can  say  on  that  head  is,  that  they  and  we  must  do  as 
wel'  as  we  can.  As  to  supplies  of  victuals,  there  can  be 
no  difficulty  of  procuring  a  sufficiency  on  Hudson's  River 
and  in  Berkshire  County,  if  proper  persons,  with  the  need- 
ful, are  appointed  for  that  purpose. 

I  think,  Sir,  that  Connecticut  have  good  pretensions  to 
appoint  the  commanding  or  chief  officer  there,  and  hope, 
Sir,  that  we  shall  not  make  any  difficulty  about  it,  but  fully 
cede  that  prerogative  to  them. 

1  purpose  to  set  out  for  Congress  the  day  after  to-morrow  ; 
but  as  the  case  of  Ticonderoga  calls  for  the  greatest  des- 
patch, 1  could  not  endure  the  loss  of  a  day  before  1  com- 
municated more  of  my  mind  to  you.  You  will  use  these 
hints,  Sir,  as  you  please. 

i  am,  Sir,  with  great  truth  and  best  regards,  your  Honour's 
friend  and  most  humble  servant,       Joseph  Hawley. 

Honourable  Joseph  Warren,  Esq.,  at  Jt atertoivn. 


Whitehall,  June  10,  1775. 
Lieutenant  Aunn,  of  the  Navy,  arrived  this  morning  at 
Lord  Dartmouth's,  and  brought  letters  from  General  Gage, 
Lord  Percy,  and  Lieutenant-Colonel  Smith,  containing  the 
following  particulars  of  what  passed  on  the  nineteenth  of 
April  last  between  a  detachment  of  the  King's  Troops  in 
the  Province  of  Massachusetts-Bay,  and  several  parties  of 
rebel  Provincials,  viz : 

General  Gage  having  received  intelligence  of  a  quantity 
of  military  stores  being  collected  at  Concord,  for  the  avowed 
purpose  of  supplying  a  body  of  troops  to  act  in  opposition 
to  His  Majesty's  Government,  detached,  on  the  eighteenth 
of  April  at  night,  the  Grenadiers  of  his  Army,  and  the 
Light-Infantry,  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Smith,  of  the  Tenth  Regiment,  and  Major  Pitcairn,  of  the 
Marines,  with  orders  to  destroy  the  said  stores;  and  the 
next  morning  eight  Companies  of  the  Fourth,  the  same 
number  of  the  Twenty-Third  and  Forty-Ninth,  and  some 
Marines,  marched  under  the  command  of  Lord  Percy,  to 
support  the  other  detachment. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Smith  finding,  after  he  had  advanced 
some  miles  on  his  march,  that  the  country  had  been  alarmed 
by  the  firing  of  guns  and  ringing  of  bells,  despatched  six 
Companies  of  Light-Infantry,  in  order  to  secure  two  bridges 
on  different  roads  beyond  Concord,  who,  upon  their  arrival 
at  Lexington,  found  a  body  of  the  country  people  under 
arms,  on  a  green  close  to  the  road  ;  and  upon  the  King's 
Troops  marching  up  to  them,  in  order  to  inquire  the  reason 
of  their  being  so  assembled,  they  went  off  in  great  confu- 
sion, and  several  guns  were  fired  upon  the  King's  Troops 
from  behind  a  stone  wall,  and  also  from  the  meeting-house 
and  other  houses,  by  which  one  man  was  wounded,  and 
Fourth  Series. — Vol.ii.  ( 


Major  Pitcairn' s  horse  shot  in  two  places.  In  consequence 
of  this  attack  by  the  rebels,  the  troops  returned  the  fire  and 
killed  several  of  them.  After  which  the  detachment  marched 
on  to  Concord  without  any  thing  further  happening,  where 
they  effected  the  purpose  for  which  they  were  sent,  having 
knocked  off  the  trunnions  of  three  pieces  of  iron  ordnance, 
burnt  some  new  gun  carriages  and  a  great  number  of  car- 
riage-wheels, and  thrown  into  the  river  a  considerable  quan- 
tity of  flour,  gunpowder,  musket-balls,  and  other  articles. 
Whilst  this  service  was  performing,  great  numbers  of  the 
rebels  assembled  in  many  parts,  and  a  considerable  body  of 
them  attacked  the  Light-Infantry,  posted  at  one  of  the 
bridges,  on  which  an  action  ensued,  and  some  few  were 
killed  and  wounded. 

On  the  return  of  the  Troops  from  Concord,  they  were 
very  much  annoyed,  and  had  several  men  killed  and  wound- 
ed by  the  rebels  firing  from  behind  walls,  ditches,  trees, 
and  other  ambushes;  but  the  brigade,  under  the  command 
of  Lord  Percy,  having  joined  them  at  Lexington  with  two 
pieces  of  cannon,  the  rebels  were  for  a  while  dispersed  ; 
but  as  soon  as  the  troops  resumed  their  march,  they  began 
to  fire  upon  them  from  behind  stone  walls  and  houses,  and 
kept  up  in  that  manner  a  scattering  fire  during  the  whole 
of  their  march  of  fifteen  miles,  by  which  means  several 
were  killed  and  wounded ;  and  such  was  the  cruelty  and 
barbarity  of  the  rebels,  that  they  scalped  and  cut  off  the 
ears  of  some  of  the  wounded  men  who  fell  into  their  hands. 

It  is  not  known  what  numbers  of  the  rebels  were  killed 
and  wounded,  but  it  is  supposed  that  their  loss  was  con- 
siderable. 

General  Gage  says  that  too  much  praise  cannot  be  given 
to  Lord  Percy  for  his  remarkable  activity  during  the  whole 
day ;  and  that  Lieutenant-Colonel  Smith  and  Major  Pit- 
cairn did  every  thing  that  men  could  do,  as  did  all  the 
officers  in  general,  and  that  the  men  behaved  with  their 
usual  intrepidity. 

Return  of  the  Commission,  Non-commission  Officers,  and 
Rank  and  File,  killed,  wounded,  prisoners,  and  missing, 
on  the  19th  of  April,  1775: 

Fourth,  or  the  King's  own  Regiment :  Lieut.  Knight, 
killed;  Lieutenant  Gould,  wounded  and  prisoner;  three 
sergeants  and  one  drummer  wounded ;  five  rank  and  file 
killed,  twenty-one  wTounded,  and  eight  missing. 

Fifth  Regiment :  Lieutenant  Thomas  Baker,  Lieutenant 
William  Cox,  Lieutenant  Thomas  Hawkshaw,  wounded; 
five  rank  and  file  killed,  fifteen  wounded,  and  one  missing. 

Tenth  Regiment:  Lieutenant-Colonel  Francis  Smith, 
Captain  Lawrence  Parsons,  and  Lieutenant  Wald  Kelly, 
killed ;  Ensign  Jeremiah  Lester,  wounded  ;  one  rank  and 
file  killed,  thirteen  wounded,  and  one  missing. 

Twenty-Third  Regiment :  Lieut.  Colonel  Berry  Ber- 
nard, wounded  ;  four  rank  and  file  killed,  twenty-six  wound- 
ed, and  six  missing. 

Thirty-Eighth  Regiment :  Lieutenant  William  Suther- 
land, wounded  ;  one  sergeant  wounded ;  four  rank  and  file 
killed,  and  eleven  wounded. 

Forty-Third  Regiment :  Lieutenant  Hull,  wounded  and 
prisoner;  four  rank  and  file  killed,  five  wounded,  and  two 
missing. 

Forty-Seventh  Regiment:  Lieutenant  Donald  Mc  Cloud 
and  Ensign  Henry  Baldwin,  wounded ;  one  sergeant  wound- 
ed, five  rank  and  file  killed,  and  twenty-one  wounded. 

Fifty-Second  Regiment :  one  sergeant  missing,  three 
rank  and  file  killed,  and  two  wounded. 

Fifty-Ninth  Regiment :  three  rank  and  file  killed,  and 
three  wounded. 

Marines :  Captain  Souter,  and  Second  Lieutenant  Mc- 
Donald, wounded  ;  Second  Lieutenant  Isaac  Potter,  mis- 
sing; one  sergeant  killed,  two  wounded,  and  one  missing; 
one  drummer  killed,  twenty -five  rank  and  file  killed,  thirty- 
six  wounded,  and  five  missing. 

Total :  One  Lieutenant-Colonel  killed ;  two  Lieutenant- 
Colonels  wounded ;  two  Captains  wounded  ;  nine  Lieu- 
tenants wounded ;  one  Lieutenant  missing ;  two  Ensigns 
wounded  ;  one  Sergeant  killed,  four  wounded,  two  missing  ; 
one  Drummer  killed,  one  wounded;  sixty-two  rank  and  file 
killed,  one  hundred  and  fifty-seven  wounded,  and  twenty- 
four  missing. 

N.  B.  Lieutenant  Isaac  Potter  reported  to  be  wounded 
and  taken  prisoner.  Thomas  Gage. 


947 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


948 


TO  THE  PUBLICK. 

London,  June  12,  1775. 

When  tne  news  of  a  massacre  first  arrived,  the  pensioned 
writer  of  the  Gazette  entreated  the  publick  "  to  suspend 
their  judgment,  as  Government  had  received  no  tidings  of 
the  matter."  It  was  added  "  that  there  was  every  reason  to 
expect  despatches  from  General  Gage,  by  a  vessel  called 
the  Sulccy." 

The  publick  have  suspended  their  judgment ;  they  have 
waited  the  arrival  of  the  Sukey;  and  the  humane  part  of 
mankind  have  wished  that  the  fatal  tale  related  by  Captain 
Derby  might  prove  altogether  fictitious.  To  the  great 
grief  of  every  thinking  man,  this  is  not  the  case.  We  are 
now  in  possession  of  both  the  accounts.  The  Ameiicans 
have  given  their  narrative  of  the  massacre;  the  favourite 
official  servants  have  given  a  Scotch  account  of  the  skirmish. 
In  what  one  material  fact  do  the  two  relations,  when  con- 
trasted with  each  other,  disagree?  The  Americans  said 
"  that  a  detachment  of  the  King's  Troops  advanced  towards 
Concord ;  that  they  attempted  to  secure  two  bridges  on  dif- 
ferent roads  beyond  Concord ;  that  when  they  reached  Lex- 
ington, they  found  a  body  of  Provincials  exercising  on  a 
green  ;  that  on  discovering  the  Provincial  Militia  thus  em- 
ployed, the  King's  Troops  called  out  to  them  to  disperse, 
damned  them  for  a  parcel  of  rebels,  and  killed  one  or  two, 
as  the  most  effectual  method  of  intimidating  the  rest."  This 
the  writer  of  the  Scotch  account  in  the  Gazette  styles, 
"  marching  up  to  the  rebels  to  inquire  the  reason  of  being 
so  assembled."  Both  relations,  however,  agree  in  this,  that 
a  question  was  asked  ;  the  pensioned  varnisher  only  say- 
ing that  it  was  asked  in  a  civil  way,  attended  with  the  loss 
of  blood. 

Thus  far,  then,  the  facts,  in  every  material  circumstance, 
precisely  agree ;  and  as  yet,  we  have  every  reason  to  be- 
lieve that  the  Salem  Gazette  is  to  the  full  as  authentiek  as 
our  Government  paper,  which,  as  a  literary  composition, 
is  a  disgrace  to  the  Kingdom. 

The  Salem  Gazette  assured  us  that  the  King's  Troops 
were  compelled  to  return  from  Concord ;  that  a  handful  of 
militia  put  them  to  rout,  and  killed  and  wounded  several  as 
they  fled.  Is  this  contradicted  in  the  English  Gazette? 
Quite  the  contrary  ;  it  is  confirmed.  The  Scotch  account 
of  the  skirmish  acknowledges  that,  "  on  the  hasty  return  of 
the  Troops  from  Concord,  they  were  very  much  annoyed, 
and  several  of  the  men  killed  and  wounded."  The  Scotch 
account  also  adds,  "that  the  Provincials  kept  up  a  scatter- 
ing fire  during  the  whole  of  the  march  of  the  King's  Troops 
of  fifteen  miles,  by  which  means  several  of  them  were 
killed  and  wounded."  If  the  American  Militia  "  kept  up 
a  scattering  fire  on  the  King's  Troops,  of  fifteen  miles," 
the  Provincials  must  have  pursued,  and  the  Regulars  must 
have  fled,  which  confirms  the  account  given  in  the  Salem 
Gazette,  wherein  it  is  asserted  that  the  Regulars  "  were 
forced  to  retreat."  Whether  they  marched  like  mutes  at  a 
funeral,  or  whether  they  fled  like  the  relations  and  friends 
of  the  present  Ministry  who  were  amongst  the  rebel  army 
at  the  battle  of  Cullodon,  is  left  entirely  to  the  conjecture 
of  the  reader;  though  it  should  seem  that  a  scattering  fire, 
poured  in  upon  a  retreating  enemy  for  fifteen  miles  together, 
would  naturally,  like  goads  applied  to  the  sides  of  oxen, 
make  them  march  oft*  as  fast  as  they  could. 

The  Scotch  account,  in  our  English  Gazette,  relates  dread- 
ful things  respecting  "  the  cruelty  and  barbarity  of  the  rebels, 
who  scalped  and  cut  off  the  ears  of  some  of  the  wounded 
men."  If  the  publick  have  any  aversion  to  being  imposed 
upon,  they  need  only  refer  to  the  affidavits  of  the  Lieuten- 
ants, and  the  rest  of  the  King's  force,  who  were  wounded 
and  taken  prisoners.  In  those  affidavits  the  parties  freely, 
and  of  their  own  accord  make  oath,  that  "  although  the 
King's  Troops  began  the  bloody  business,  and  thus  provoked 
the  Provincials  to  a  rage  that  might  have  justified  merciless 
revenge,  yet  the  Provincials  behaved  with  unparalleled  mo- 
deration, and  had  exercised  every  virtuous  office  humanity 
could  suggest  to  such  of  the  King's  Troops  as  had  fallen 
into  their  hands."  Whether,  therefore,  is  the  greater  credit 
to  be  paid,  to  the  oaths  of  the  parties  who  experienced  this 
tenderness,  or  to  the  naked  assertion  of  a  pensioned  var- 
nisher, who  trumps  up  a  Scotch  account  of  the  matter, 
manifestly  to  serve  the  purpose  of  Ministry,  by  glossing 
over  murders,  for  the  perpetration  of  which  their  heads 
should  instantly  be  struck  oft".    The  Gazette  writer  con- 


cludes his  narrative,  by  informing  the  publick  that  General 
Gage  says  "  that  too  much  praise  cannot  be  given  to  Lord 
Percy  for  his  remarkable  activity  during  the  whole  day." 

The  publick  will  think  this  a  very  singular  kind  of  com- 
pliment. The  preceding  part  of  the  narrative  had  told  a 
story  about  the  troops  marching,  or,  in  plainer  English,  re- 
treating from  Lexington;  they  did  not  halt,  but  continued 
their  retreat  for  fifteen  miles.  What  then  are  we  to  under- 
stand by  the  "  remarkable  activity  of  Lord  Percy?"  His 
personal  bravery  is  too  well  known  to  leave  room  for  sus- 
picion that  he  ever  would  shew  "  remarkable  activity"  in 
retreating.  Yet  the  Scotch  account  in  the  Gazette  leaves 
the  compliment  so  ambiguous,  that  an  invidious  reader 
might  suppose  Lord  Percy  made  it,  like  the  swift-footed 
Achilles,  with  a  light  pair  of  heels.  It  is  not  surprising 
that  General  Gage  should  wish  to  pay  his  court  at  North- 
umberland house ;  but  when  he  pays  another  compliment, 
as  he  cannot  write  himself,  he  should  entrust  a  better  hand 
than  the  pensioned  compiler  of  the  Gazette. 

To  reason  on  the  facts,  which  are  now  indisputable,  is  a 
task  which  will  better  suit  some  future  opportunity.  The 
publick  have  but  to  ponder  on  the  melancholy  truths  thus 
attested  by  Government.  The  sword  of  civil  war  is  drawn, 
and  if  there  is  truth  in  Heaven,  the  King's  Troops  un- 
sheathed it.  Will  the  English  Nation  much  longer  suffer 
their  fellow-subjects  to  be  slaughtered  ? 

It  is  a  shameful  fallacy  to  talk  about  the  supremacy  of 
Parliament.  It  is  the  despotism  of  the  Crown,  and  the 
slavery  of  the  people,  which  the  Ministry  aim  at.  For  re- 
fusing those  attempts,  and  for  that  only,  the  Americans  have 
been  inhumanly  murdered  by  the  King's  Troops. 

Englishmen !  weigh  these  things  with  deliberation  ;  make 
the  case  your  own.  If  the  massacre  of  brethren  will  not 
open  your  eyes,  they  deserve  to  be  forever  shut  against  your 
welfare.  Away  with  the  canting  piety  of  a  Court !  Away 
with  the  affected  candour  of  tools  in  office !  Ministry  are 
so  candid  that  they  would  disguise  the  truth,  and  so  pious 
that  they  would  take  the  sacrament  as  barbarians  keep  ca- 
rousals, and  drink  of  the  cup,  if  it  was  but  filled  with  the 
libations  of  the  blood  of  freemen. 


STRICTURES  ON  THE  GAZETTE  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  ACTION 
BETWEEN  THE  PROVINCIALS  AND  THE  REGULARS,  NEAR 
BOSTON.  London,  June,  1775. 

We  must  give  the  Ministry  credit  for  the  little  cunning 
of  putting  General  Gage's  name  to  the  end  of  the  whole 
account,  when  in  truth  it  was  to  the  return  only.  This  is 
a  trick,  or,  as  Lord  Sandwich  would  say,  a  "  take  in,"  and 
suits  at  once  their  genius  and  their  capacity.  The  truth  is. 
that  the  whole  was  culled  out  of  a  variety  of  letters  by 
two  Secretaries,  their  Sub-Secretaries,  and  office  Clerks. 
Though  I  do  not  conceive  General  Gage  to  be  a  Cccsar  or 
a  Wolfe,  yet  I  know  him  incapable  of  writing  such  stuff  as 
is  here  indirectly  imputed  to  him. 

The  Ministry  were  exceedingly  puzzled  between  the 
shame  of  being  themselves  obliged  to  refute  the  charge  of 
cowardice,  which  they  have  been  so  forward  to  urge  against 
the  Americans,  and  the  reproach  of  having  commenced  a 
civil  war,  by  a  wanton  and  unprovoked  murder  of  the  peo- 
ple. Of  two  evils,  the  Ministry  chose  the  least ;  and,  as 
men  who  have  neither  wisdom  nor  veracity  generally  cor- 
rect one  extravagance  by  another,  a  small  body  of  those 
cowardly  poltron  Americans,  millions  of  whom  were  to 
fly  before  the  face  of  the  Regulars,  are  represented  as 
daring  enough  to  attack  the  flower  of  General  Gage's 
Army. 

The  Gazette  tells  us,  "  that  General  Gage  detached  in 
the  night  the  Grenadiers  and  Light-Infantry  of  his  army, 
to  destroy  some  stores  at  Concord." 

Every  one  knows  that  this  description  comprehends  the 
best  and  most  active  troops  of  the  whole  body.  They 
have  the  advantage,  too,  of  stealing  a  march  upon  the  peo- 
ple. We  might  have  expected  some  enterprise  and  ex- 
ploit of  moment  and  magnitude,  equal  to  the  preparation, 
the  secrecy,  and  confidence  of  this  expedition.  But,  alas ! 
the  trunnions  of  three  old  iron  ordnance  are  the  vast  ob- 
ject of  this  mighty  achievement.  Some  flour,  musket- 
balls,  and  gunpowder,  were  also  thrown  into  the  river.  I 
should  be  glad  to  know  what  motive  could  induce  the 
King's  Troops  to  throw  away  articles  so  useful  to  them- 


949 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  Sic,  JUNE,  1775. 


950 


selves,  but  the  distress  occasioned  by — a  precipitate  re- 
treat ? 

However,  the  Ministry  go  on  to  inform  us,  "  that  whilst 
this  prodigious  service  was  performing,  the  rebels  assem- 
bled, and  a  considerable  body  of  them  attacked  the  Light- 
Infantry  posted  at  one  of  the  bridges,  on  which  an  action 
ensued."  Well,  and  who  were  defeated  ?  Not  a  word  of 
that,  but — "  a  few  were  killed  and  wounded."  These  das- 
tardly Americans  march  up  and  attack  the  best  of  the 
Regulars,  advantageously  posted  ;  and  we  are  left  to  con- 
clude, from  their  continuing  to  annoy,  kill,  and  wound  the 
troops  on  their  return  (as  it  is  generally  termed)  from  Con- 
cord, that  the  Light-Infantry  were  driven  from  their  post 
and  defeated.  All  this  we  should  readily  admit,  on  the 
credit  of  the  Gazette,  had  not  the  former  assurances  of  the 
Ministry,  that  the  Americans  were  too  cowardly  ever  to 
face  the  Regulars,  rendered  it  utterly  incredible. 

But  let  us  accompany  the  Army  in  its  return,  and  we 
find  them  met  by  Lord  Percy,  at  Lexington,  with  sixteen 
companies  and  the  Marines,  amounting  in  all  to  about 
twelve  hundred  men,  with  two  pieces  of  cannon.  We  have 
now  almost  the  whole  army  that  was  collected  at  Boston, 
under  so  active  a  leader  as  Lord  Percy,  with  the  assistance 
of  Colonel  Smith  and  Major  Pitcaim,  "  doing  every  thing 
(so  says  the  Gazette)  that  men  could  do,"  and  two  pieces 
of  cannon.  We  may  now  expect  that  not  a  man  of  the 
unheaded  poltron  Provincials  will  be  left  alive.  Not  quite 
so  bad.  The  Gazette  tells  us  dryly,  that  "  the  rebels  were 
for  a  while  dispersed." 

They  were  so  dispersed,  however,  that  "  as  soon  as  the 
troops  resumed  their  march,"  (not  their  flight,)  they  began 
again  to  fire  upon  them,  and  continued  it  during  the  whole 
of  fifteen  miles  march,  "  by  which  means  several  were  kill- 
ed and  wounded." 

If  this  was  not  a  flight,  and  if  Lord  Percy's  activity  was 
not  in  running  away,  1  should  be  glad  to  know  where  were 
the  flanking  parties  of  this  army  on  its  march,  with  all  this 
Light-Infantry  ?  Would  any  commanding  officer  suffer  such 
an  enemy  to  continue  killing  and  wounding  his  troops,  from 
stone-walls  and  houses,  if  it  was  not  a  defeat  and  flight  ? 
Would  they  have  left  so  many  of  their  wounded  to  fall  into 
the  enemy's  hands?  I  feel  for  the  honour  of  the  British 
Troops,  though  the  Ministry  do  not.  This  Gazette  will 
proclaim  their  disgrace  throughout  all  Europe ;  and  yet  I 
think,  that  when  the  military  lend  themselves  to  fight 
against  the  freedom  of  their  fellow-subjects,  they  deserve 
to  be  both  disgraced  and  defeated. 

Take,  then,  the  whole  of  this  account  as  it  stands,  and 
to  what  does  it  amount,  but  that  General  Gage's  Army 
having  marched  out  of  Boston  in  the  night,  was  attacked 
by  the  Militia,  hastily  assembled,  without  a  leader,  and  was 
driven  back,  with  the  loss  of  sixty-five  killed,  one  hundred 
and  eighty  wounded,  and  twenty-eight  taken  prisoners, 
making  in  all  two  hundred  and  seventy-three. 

In  the  mean  time  the  Ministers,  who  have  thus  involved 
us  in  disgrace  and  blood,  are  perfectly  unconcerned.  They 
comfort  themselves  with  throwing  out  some  shameful  re- 
flections on  the  Americans,  and  boast  of  the  activity  of 
their  officers  and  the  intrepidity  of  their  troops.  They  have 
not  sense  to  perceive,  that  the  more  they  exaggerate  the 
bravery  and  conduct  of  the  Regulars,  the  more  they  extol 
their  opponents,  whom  they  and  their  Scotch  tools  have 
been  traducing,  both  publickly  and  privately,  as  the  most 
abject  cowards.  What  must  the  resolution  of  that  Militia 
be,  which  could  drive  these  active  and  intrepid  Regulars, 
with  loss  and  confusion,  back  into  their  intrenchments  ? 
In  fact  this  superiority  does  not  arise  from  any  difference 
between  the  English  and  the  Americans,  but  from  the 
one  contending  in  the  cause  of  tyranny,  and  the  other  in 
that  of  liberty.  It  never  has  entered  into  the  hearts  of 
these  wretched  Ministers  and  their  tools,  to  feel  or  conceive 
the  enthusiasm  and  valour  which  so  good  and  noble  a  cause 
inspires.  Is  it  not,  therefore,  wonderful  that  they  should 
not  foresee  its  effects  ? 

The  charge  of  scalping  is  of  the  same  complexion  with 
those  which  they  have  constantly  made,  and  which  we  have 
as  constantly  found  to  be  false.  It  is  like  those  of  Bernard 
and  Hutchinson,  made  in  such  general  terms  that  it  cannot 
have  a  particular  refutation.  Had  they  mentioned  the 
names  of  those  men  who  were  thus  treated,  we  might  then 
have  sought  them  out  to  refute  the  falsehood  ;  but  no,  they 


content  themselves  with  saying,  the  Provincials  "scalped 
and  cut  off  the  ears  of  some  of  the  wounded ;"  which  I 
very  sincerely  believe  to  be  an  infamous  falsehood,  because 
we  have  had  affidavits  from  several  of  the  wounded  prison- 
ers, acknowledging  the  kindest  treatment ;  and  it  is  most 
certain  that  General  Ward  sent  word  to  General  Gage, 
"  that  his  surgeons  were  at  liberty  to  come  into  the  Pro- 
vincial camp  and  attend  the  wounded  prisoners,  if  General 
Gage  had  more  confidence  in  them  than  in  the  Provincial 
surgeons."  The  publick  will  hardly  believe  that  so  fair 
and  generous  an  enemy  could  be  guilty  of  barbarity  and 
cruelty,  because  an  unfair  and  ungenerous  Ministry  are 
their  accusers. 

The  Gazette  tells  us  "  that  the  Troops,  on  seeing  some 
Provincials  drawn  up  at  Lexington,  marched  up  to  them." 
For  what  purpose  do  you  think,  gentle  reader?  to  ask  the 
civilest  question  in  the  world,  "  the  reason  of  their  being 
so  assembled."  But  the  Militia  not  being  apprised  of  their 
very  civil  intentions,  "  went  off  in  great  confusion  ;"  and 
yet,  to  our  utter  astonishment,  we  are  in  the  next  line  told 
that  this  confounded  and  flying  enemy  immediately  began 
an  attack  upon  the  victorious  Regulars,  wounding  one  man, 
and,  what  was  an  inexpiable  offence,  shot  a  Scots  officer's 
Scots  poney  !  It  is,  I  believe,  the  first  time  in  the  world 
that  one  army  marched  up  to  another  to  "  ask  questions." 
We  have  heard  of  Parthians  wounding  as  they  fled,  but  I 
did  not  know  this  was  the  American  method.  Surely  they 
might  have  told  a  more  plausible  story,  to  make  us  believe 
the  Americans  were  the  aggressors  ;  but  the  Ministry  have 
so  often  imposed  on  our  credulity,  that  they  think  any  thing 
will  suffice.  The  presumption  arising  from  this  very  de- 
tail, compared  with  that  of  Lieutenant  Gould's  affidavit, 
and  the  positive  oaths  of  a  variety  of  witnesses,  render  it 
unquestionable  that  the  King's  Troops  began  the  fire,  and 
that,  too,  upon  a  small  body  of  Provincials  who  were  dis- 
persing. 

The  whole  of  this  business  is  shocking  in  itself,  danger- 
ous in  its  consequences  ;  nor  can  any  thing  comfort  us  under 
the  evils  attending  it,  but  a  trust  that  the  wicked  authors  of 
it  will  soon  be  brought  to  condign  punishment. 

I  am  of  opinion  that  children  unborn  will  not  alone  have 
occasion  to  lament  the  bloody  and  inhuman  carnage  of 
Lexington.  Some  men,  whose  advice  has  tended  to  pro- 
duce so  unhappy  a  scene,  and  whose  abilities  have  since 
been  prostituted  in  misrepresenting  and  reviling  their  coun- 
trymen, may  have  cause  to  join  in  the  general  lamentation. 

The  hypocritical  eye  of  Mr.  H  may  once  more  weep, 

and  even  Coriolanus*  may  shed  a  tear  from  a  different 
cause  than  that  of  virtuous  compunction.  Coriolanus' s 
friend  and  adviser,  the  late  Major  of  Brigade,  will  meet 
with  a  reception  worthy  of  his  treachery ;  and  the  noble 
Lord  who  has  been  his  dupe,  will  find  that  he  has  bestow- 
ed rewards  on  a  person  unworthy  of  his  confidence.  His 
engagement  to  bribe  the  Members  of  the  Continental  Con- 
gress, and  to  raise  ten  thousand  men  to  join  the  Parlia- 
mentary Army,  showed  the  extremity  of  impudence.  He 
must  have  known  that  he  was  deceiving  the  Secretary  of 
State,  and  his  Lordship  ought  to  be  ashamed  of  his  own 
puerile  credulity.  The  solicitations  of  modest  virtuous 
merit,  have  by  him  been  often  rejected,  and  the  most  for- 
ward and  wicked  incendiaries  countenanced  and  promoted. 
Coriolanus  has  been  extremely  liberal  in  charging  his  coun- 
trymen with  treason  and  rebellion.  I  shall  not  lose  so 
much  time  as  to  discuss  this  question  with  him.  It  would 
necessarily  lead  me  to  the  examination  of  the  right  of  taxa- 
tion. 

All  the  disorders  of  America  have  arisen  from  that 
source,  and  I  defy  him  to  derive  them  from  any  other.  If 
the  Parliament  have  not  a  right  to  tax  America,  they  have 
no  right  to  send  troops  to  compel  submission.  If  compul- 
sion be  attempted,  resistance  is  justifiable.  The  greatest 
authorities  that  ever  this  Country  produced  might  be  cited 
to  prove  this.  I  forbear  mentioning  the  names  of  Sidney 
and  Locke,  of  Chatham,  and  Camden.  Their  doctrines 
are  obsolete,  and  too  uncourtly  for  the  ear  of  a  young  di- 
vine, newly  flattered  with  the  pomp  of  a  professorship  in 
divinity,  and  gratified  with  the  more  substantial  acquisition 
of  two  hundred  Pounds  a  year.  I  appeal  to  Judge  Black- 
stone;  he  cannot  be  suspected  of  partiality  in  favour  ol  the 
people  in  opposition  to  sovereign  power.  In  his  seventh 
*  A  writer  for  the  Ministry  in  the  publick  papers. 


95  i 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


952 


chapter,  which  treats  of  the  rights  of  persons,  he  says, 
"  All  oppressions  which  may  happen  to  spring  from  any 
branch  of  the  sovereign  power,  must  necessarily  be  out  of 
the  reach  of  any  stated  rule  or  express  legal  provision  ;  but 
if  ever  they  unfortunately  happen,  the  prudence  of  the 
times  must  provide  new  remedies  upon  new  emergencies." 
And  again,  "  It  is  found  by  experience  that  whenever  the 
unconstitutional  oppressions  even  of  the  sovereign  power 
advance  with  gigantick  strides,  and  threaten  desolation  to  a 
State,  mankind  will  not  be  reasoned  out  of  the  feelings  of 
humanity,  nor  will  sacrifice  their  liberty  by  a  scrupulous 
adherence  to  those  political  maxims  which  were  originally 
established  to  preserve  it."  "  Whenever  necessity  and  the 
safety  of  the  whole  shall  require  it,  they  will  exert  those 
inherent  though  latent  powers  of  society,  which  no  climate, 
no  time,  no  constitution,  no  contract  can  ever  destroy  or 
diminish."  A  fuller  and  plainer  justification  of  resistance 
on  certain  occasions  cannot  be  penned  ;  and  that  the  occa- 
sions have  offered  which  call  forth  the  exertion  of  those 
"  inherent  though  latent  powers  of  society,"  is  very  evi- 
dent, from  the  convulsions  into  which  all  America  is 
thrown. 

The  American  gentlemen,  in  their  petition  to  Parlia- 
ment last  year,  which  has  done  them  infinite  honour,  and 
which  he  ought  to  remember  with  shame,  very  justly  ob- 
serve, that  "  no  history  can  show,  nor  will  human  nature 
admit  of  an  instance  of  general  discontent,  but  from  a 
general  sense  of  oppression.  As  there  is  now  no  legal 
provision  against  such  oppression  left  untried,  every  Prov- 
ince having  in  vain,  first  separately  and  then  unitedly,  peti- 
tioned and  remonstrated,  they  are  compelled  into  a  contest 
the  most  shocking  and  unnatural,  with  a  parent  State  which 
has  ever  been  the  object  of  their  veneration  and  their 
love." 

The  present  Administration  and  the  rest  of  the  friends 
of  arbitrary  power  and  non-resistance,  have  been  prema- 
ture in  declaring  this  contest  rebellion.  The  event  must 
prove  whether  it  may  not  be  called  the  necessary  step  to 
a  revolution.  I  hope  that  this  Nation  may  have  wisdom 
and  virtue  enough  to  prevent  it,  by  a  total  and  immediate 
repeal  of  all  the  offensive  acts,  and  by  resting  satisfied  with 
the  monopoly  of  the  American  trade,  which  is  all  that  the 
one  ought  to  require,  or  the  other  submit  to.  But  it  seems 
the  honour  of  Parliament  must  not  be  hurt.  They  have 
declared  that  these  are  terms  they  will  not  be  satisfied 
with.  This  is  a  difficulty  that  Lord  North  will  be  so  good 
as  to  obviate  for  me.  The  necessity  of  the  case  has  al- 
ways been  thought  a  sufficient  justification  for  a  departure 
from  such  resolutions,  which,  if  not  impracticable,  never 
can  compensate  for  the  miseries  and  calamities  which  must 
be  the  consequence  of  an  attempt  to  carry  them  into  exe- 
cution. "  If  (says  Lord  North,  in  his  speech  on  what  he 
called  his  conciliatory  motion)  it  should  seem  to  be  aban- 
doning the  high  ground  taken  in  the  address,  or  be  contrary 
to  the  assurances  so  frequently  given  that  no  terms  should 
be  held  out  to  America  previous  to  her  submission,  this  is 
nothing  but  what  is  common.  The  greatest  Powers  have 
done  it.  In  the  war  of  the  Succession  it  was  a  fundamen- 
tal point  that  no  Prince  of  the  house  of  Boifrbon  should 
ever  sit  on  the  throne  of  Spain.  This  .was  several  times 
repeated,  and  in  the  most  solemn  manner.  Such  politicks 
are  necessary  to  gain  or  to  animate  allies.*  Yet  all  the 
powers  which  composed  this  confederacy  yielded,  and  a 
Prince  of  the  house  of  Bourbon  did  sit,  and  one  of  the 
same  house  does  now  sit  on  the  throne  of  Spain.  In  the 
Spanish  war  of  1739,  we  declared  that  we  could  never 
treat  with  Spain,  until  she  had  given  up  the  point  of 
search.  Yet  peace  was  made  without  her  giving  up  the 
point,  and  the  search  continued."  Lord  North  added  to 
these  many  other  instances  in  which  great  Powers  had 
abandoned  their  pretensions.  His  Lordship  will,  I  hope, 
for  the  sake  of  stopping  the  farther  effusion  of  blood,  and 
for  the  sake  of  making  us  a  happy,  powerful,  and  united 
people,  add  another  example  to  his  catalogue.  I  shall 
trouble  Coriolanus  with  but  one  more  observation,  which, 
to  a  clergyman,  may  have  some  weight.  If  he  should  be 
as  fortunate  as  Dr.  Johnson,  and  get  an  addition  to  his 
pension ;  if  he  should  succeed  his  worthy  friend  and 
patron,  the  President  of  the  College  in  which  he  is  a 

*  Or  to  endeavour  to  intimidate  the  Colonies  into  a  surrender  of 
every  thing  that  is  dear  and  valuable  to  then), 


professor ;  if  he  should  attain  the  summit  of  all  spiritual 
honours  in  this  kingdom,  even  the  See  of  Canterbury,  it  is 
worthy  of  his  consideration  whether  there  may  not  be 

 Some  chosen  curse, 

Some  hidden  thunder  in  the  stores  of  Heaven, 
Red  with  uncommon  wrath,  to  blast  the  man 
Who  owes  his  greatness  to  his  Country's  ruin. 


TO  THE  PEOFLE  OF  ENGLAND. 

London,  June,  17?.">. 

I  am  a  plain  man,  and  you  must  therefore  expect  to 
hear  plain  truths.    Silence  would  now  be  a  crime. 

You  have  but  two  choices  left,  and  if  you  have  not  wis- 
dom to  choose  wisely,  or  virtue  to  act  as  wisdom  dictates, 
you  will  deserve  to  sink  under  the  evils  which  this  very 
moment  hang  suspended,  ready  to  crush  you  by  their  fall. 

Continue  these  tory  Ministers  at  your  helm,  and  after 
having  been  accustomed  for  ten  years  to  the  news  of  unna- 
tural carnage,  you  will  have  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  the 
whole  Continent  of  America  totally  wrested  from  you,  or, 
what  is  equally  hurtful,  their  affections  entirely  estranged. 
Your  commerce,  of  course,  must  decay,  and  your  enemies 
will  have  cause  to  rejoice  in  your  destruction. 

Or,  if  you  prefer  your  own  welfare  to  the  emoluments 
and  gratification  of  your  tory  Ministers,  drive  them  from 
their  offices,  and  prevail  on  Lord  Chatham  to  take  the 
reins  of  Government.  He  will  offer  the  Americans  the 
terms  proposed  by  their  Congress,  namely,  to  be  governed 
as  in  the  late  reigns  ;  and  the  Americans  must  gladly  accept 
these  terms  from  whig  Ministers,  or  else  all  England,  to  a 
man,  will  zealously  be  their  enemies.  This  pen  has  often 
fought  their  battles,  because  1  think  them  injured  by  the 
common  enemy  of  our  liberties ;  but  let  them  refuse  to  be 
governed  by  a  whig  Administration,  according  to  whig  prin- 
ciples, and  I  will  be  their  most  violent  opposer.  1  think 
they  ought  not  to  trust  tory  Ministers,  though  they  should 
offer  ever  such  fair  terms,  because  they  are  not  to  be  trust- 
ed. Enemies  to  freedom,  they  must  be  enemies  to  Ame- 
rica. But  if  whigs  govern,  America  may  depend  on  their 
favour,  for  they  have  fought  one  battle,  and  our  hearts  are 
with  them.  It  may  truly  be  said,  that  if  this  Nation  is 
saved  from  ruin,  it  will  be  by  American  virtue,  for  I  fear 
there  is  none  left  in  England.  The  sun  of  Liberty  is  set- 
ting here,  but  Englishmen  may  yet  be  warmed  by  its  rays 
from  America,  since  they  have  courage  to  bleed  for  free- 
dom. 

The  Gazette  styles  them  rebels ;  the  Ministry  honoured 
them  with  that  appellation  long  before  they  drew  the  sword. 
I  say  "  honoured  them,"  because  I  think  it  an  honour  to  be 
termed  rebels  by  such  men. 

Is  it  rebellion  to  defend  freedom  ?  If  your  Juries  were 
attacked,  if  Magna  Charta  in  any  shape  was  to  be  daringly 
violated,  would  you  not  yourselves  draw  the  sword  ?  Could 
you  then  be  properly  styled  rebels  ?  Certainly  you  could 
not.  Can  you  hesitate  in  the  choice  of  the  only  alternatives 
left  you  by  Heaven?  Can  you  read  the  accounts  from 
America  without  horrour?  Are  you  not  shocked  when 
your  imagination  presents  to  your  view  Englishmen  shed- 
ding English  blood  ?  Do  you  wish  for  the  continuance  of 
such  unnatural,  horrid  carnage  ?  If  the  idea  of  this  detes- 
table civil-war  does  not  excite  the  most  generous  feelings 
for  your  brave  countrymen,  (now  driven  almost  to  madness 
by  the  obstinate  perseverance  of  tories,)  you  have  lost  the 
humanity,  you  have  degenerated  from  the  virtue  of  your 
ancestors. 

Are  the  Ministry  to  be  gratified  longer  with  the  ability 
of  involving  you  still  deeper  in  this  ruinous  contention  ? 
Will  you  allow  them  to  prosecute  this  bloody,  unnatural 
war,  any  longer?  They  talk  of  embodying  the  Militia,  in 
order  to  be  able  to  send  more  mercenaries  to  America ; 
ought  they  not  rather  to  lose  their  heads,  for  having  sent 
those  which  are  already  there  ?  Has  not  enough  of  Eng- 
lish blood  been  shed  ?  Must  more  be  spilled?  Are  they 
to  add  a  fresh  list  of  murders  to  the  black  account  ?  If  the 
idea  of  such  repeated  massacres  does  not  awaken  your 
feelings,  England  ought  to  be  deserted  by  the  few  whigs, 
whose  hearts  glow  with  indignation;  they  should  fly  to  Ame- 
rica, where  liberty  is  idolized,  and  tyranny  detested. 

Have  not  Ministry,  by  every  measure  hitherto  adopted, 
made  what  was  bad,  still  worse?    Did  the  bills  of  spring 


953 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


954 


1774,  or  those  of  spring  1775,  answer  any  good  purpose? 
Did  they  not  add  fuel  to  the  flame  ? 

If,  then,  you  have  found  Ministers  so  very  unequal  to  the 
task  they  have  undertaken,  can  you  be  so  very  weak  as  to 
trust  any  longer  to  their  management  ?  You  would  not 
surely  wish  to  become  habituated  to  the  recital  of  battles, 
in  which  English  hlood  must  be  shed  by  Englishmen.  You 
have  now  heard  of  above  two  hundred  of  your  soldiers 
killed  and  wounded.  The  Gazette  informs  us,  that  the 
loss  of  the  Provincials  was  much  greater;  in  all,  lost  to 
England  above  five  hundred  men. 

And  as  a  salve  General  Gage  informs  us,  that  "  the  men 
behaved  with  their  usual  intrepidity :"  if  so,  I  have  been 
mistaken  in  my  opinion  of  English  soldiers.  If  they  can 
be  brought  to  fight  with  ardour  against  their  countrymen, 
who  are  standing  forward  in  the  most  glorious  of  all  causes, 
that  of  their  Country,  they  should  never  be  known,  hence- 
forward, by  any  other  name  than  "  mercenaries." 


EXTRACT  OF   A   LETTER  TO   A   GENTLEMAN  IN  PHILADEL- 
PHIA, DATED  FALMOUTH,  ENGLAND,  JUNE  10,  1775. 

We  have  received  the  melancholy  news  of  hostilities 
being  commenced  in  America,  between  the  King's  Troops 
and  the  Provincials,  which  will  be  attended,  1  fear,  with 
fatal  consequences  to  both  parties.  1  was  in  hopes  the 
armed  force  on  both  sides  would  have  conducted  them- 
selves with  such  prudence  as  to  prevent  bloodshed  until 
affairs  could  have  been  amicably  settled,  but  now  I  fear  an 
accommodation  is  by  this  means  removed  at  a  distance. 
Our  Ministry  have  carried  matters  with  too  high  a  hand, 
and  been  too  arbitrary  in  their  determinations;  they  are 
greatly  blamed  (even  by  those  who  are  of  the  same  senti- 
ments in  respect  to  taxing  the  Americans)  for  sending  any 
Troops  to  the  Colonies. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  CHARLESTOWN,  SOUTH-CAR- 
OLINA, DATED  JUNE  10,  1775. 

Our  Congress  has  done  hard  duty  this  week,  and  are 
still  sitting.  They  have  resolved  to  raise  two  Regiments 
(each  seven  hundred  and  fifty  men)  of  Foot,  and  another 
of  Horse  to  consist  of  four  hundred  and  fifty,  exclusive  of 
officers.  The  command  of  one  Regiment  is  to  be  given  to 
Mr.  Gadsden,  as  Chief  Colonel,  and  Isaac  Huger  as 
Lieutenant-Colonel ;  the  other  officers  are  to  be  deter- 
mined on  this  evening.  About  two  hundred  gentlemen,  I 
am  informed,  are  candidates  for  commissions  in  our  Pro- 
vincials. 

We  are  informed  the  Whigs  and  Tories  in  Georgia  are 
disputing  with  each  other,  and  that  Governour  Wright  is 
much  alarmed  for  his  safety.  The  officers  of  the  Grenadiers 
Company  in  that  Colony,  on  receiving  some  orders  from 
Governour  Wright,  positively  refused  to  pay  any  attention 
thereto,  threw  down  their  commissions,  and  declared  they 
would  fight  in  defence  of  their  liberties. 

Officers  of  the  First  and  Second  Regiments  of  Infantry, 
and  of  the  Regiment  of  Horse  Rangers. 

Field  Officers  of  the  First  Regiment. —  Christopher 
Gadsden,  Colonel;  Isaac  Huger,  Lieutenant-Colonel; 
Owen  Roberts,  Major. 

Field  Officers  of  the  Second  Regiment. —  William 
Moultrie,  Colonel ;  Isaac  Motte,  Lieutenant-Colonel ; 
Alexander  Mcintosh,  Major. 

Captains  of  the  First  and  Second  Regiments. —  Charles 
Cotesworth  Pinclcney,  Barnard  Elliott,  Francis  Marion, 
Jf'illiam  Catlell,  Peter  Horry,  Daniel  Horry,  Adam 
McDonald,  Thomas  Lynch,  William  Scott,  John  Barn- 
well, Nicholas  Eveleigh,  James  McDonald,  Isaac  Harles- 
ton,  Thomas  Pinclcney,  Francis  Huger,  William  Mason, 
Edmund  Hyrne,  Roger  Parker  Saunders,  Charles  Motte, 
Benjamin  Cattell. 

First  Lieutenants  in  the  First  and  Second  Regiments. 
— Anthony  Ashby,  James  Ladson,  Richard  Singleton, 
Thomas  Elliott,  William  Olyphant,  John  Vanderhorst, 
Robert  Armstrong,  John  Blake,  Glen  Drayton,  Richard 
Shubrick,  Richard  Fuller,  Thomas  Lessesne,  Benjamin 
Dickenson,  William  Charnock,  John  Moat,  Joseph  Joor, 
James  Peronneau,  John  A.  Walter,  Thomas  Moultrie, 
Alexander  McQueen. 


Field  Officers  of  the  Regiment  of  Rangers. —  William 
Thomson,  Lieutenant-Colonel ;  James  Mayson,  Major. 

Captains  of  the  Rangers. — Samuel  Wise,  Eli  Kershaw, 
Edward  Richardson,  Ezekiel  Polk,  Robert  Goodwin, 
Thomas  Woodward,  John  Caldwell,  Moses  Kirkland. 
John  Purvis. 

First  Lieutenants  of  the  Regiment  of  Rangers. — John 
Lewis  P.  Imhoff,  Charles  Heatley,  Allen  Cameron,  Rich- 
ard Winn,  John  Donaldson,  Hugh  Middleton,  Lewis  Du- 
tarque,  Francis  Boy  akin,  Samuel  Watson. 


JOHN  HANCOCK,  PRESIDENT,  TO  NEW-YORK  CONCRESS. 

Philadelphia,  June  10,  1775. 
Gentlemen:  The  enclosed  Resolution  of  this  Congress 
I  am  directed  to  transmit  you,  and  to  desire  you  will  order 
it  to  be  executed  in  as  expeditious  and  secret  a  manner  as 
possible,  referring  to  your  judgment  the  most  suitable  places 
for  landing  it,  and  where  there  will  be  the  least  risk  of  in- 
terruption from  the  ships-of-war.  You  will  please  to  con- 
sign it  to  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  in  each  place, 
with  a  direction  to  forward  the  flour  to  the  Army  as  soon 
as  possible. 

1  have  it  also  in  charge  to  recommend  to  you  that  the 
flour  be  transported  in  small  quantities,  as  there  may  be 
danger  of  the  enemy.    I  am,  gentlemen,  your  most  obedi- 
ent servant,  John  Hancock,  President. 
To  the  Honourable  Members  of  the  Provincial  Congress  of 

New-  York. 


NEW-YORK  DELEGATES  TO  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

Philadelphia,  June  10,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  We  are  now  to  acknowledge  the  honour 
of  your  despatches  of  the  7th  instant. 

We  have  long  foreseen  the  difficulties  you  must  be  re- 
duced to  for  want  of  money.  They  will  not  be  lessened 
by  the  resolutions  of  the  Congress  of  yesterday,  recom- 
mending it  to  you  to  procure  and  forward  five  thousand 
barrels  of  flour  for  the  use  of  the  Army  at  Boston. 

We  communicated  the  paragraph  of  your  letter,  in  which 
you  complain,  that  unless  the  Congress  shall  make  some 
speedy  order  with  relation  to  the  levying  of  money,  it  will 
be  impossible  for  you  to  comply  with  their  farther  requests. 
They,  however,  seem  persuaded  that  their  note  of  credit, 
Which  accompanies  the  order  for  the  supply,  will  remove 
every  obstruction  ;  and  relying  on  your  zeal  for  the  com- 
mon cause,  they  hope  you  will  be  able  to  throw  in  this 
provision,  which  we  are  apprehensive  will  soon  become 
highly  necessary. 

We  may  venture  to  hint  to  you,  that  the  emission  of 
paper  money  will  be  discussed  on  Monday,  and  we  expect 
in  the  course  of  next  week  to  be  able  to  present  you  with 
a  determination  of  this  important  business,  which  will  free 
us  from  much  anxiety. 

We  shall  not  fail  to  attend  to  what  you  suggest  concern- 
ing the  Indians.  This  is  an  object  to  our  Colony  of  the 
highest  moment,  and  we  hope  in  due  time  will  be  consi- 
dered by  the  Congress.  We  think  the  Indians  will  not  be 
disposed  to  engage  in  this  unhappy  quarrel,  unless  deceived 
and  deluded  by  misrepresentations,  and  this,  with  vigilance 
and  care  on  our  part,  can  be  prevented.  As  one  step  to- 
wards it,  which  we  much  applaud,  are  the  assurances  you 
have  given  the  Superintendent  of  his  safety.  From  the 
temper  and  customs  of  the  Indians,  they  would  illy  brook 
the  extinguishing  of  their  council  fire  ;  and  had  it  been 
damped  by  any  violence  to  Colonel  Johnson's  person  or 
property,  they  must  have  been  alarmed  and  very  probably 
excited  to  extremities. 

It  is  much  to  be  lamented  that  we  are  still  destitute  of 
ammunition.  The  Government  of  Connecticut  have  been 
more  provident,  or  more  fortunate,  and  will  be  able  to  sup- 
ply the  forces  at  Ticonderoga  with  powder. 

We  commend  your  caution  in  directing  two  letters  to  us 
upon  the  subject  of  general  officers  to  command  our  Troops. 
What  we  wrote  to  you  was  in  the  character  of  your  own 
immediate  Delegates,  and  with  a  view  to  discover  the 
sense  of  our  Colony,  that  we  might,  when  this  matter  came 
to  be  debated  in  Congress,  be  fortified  with  your  opinion 
and  arguments,  which,  having  obtained,  we  shall,  to  the 
utmost  of  our  power,  enforce  your  recommendations. 


955 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


956 


Your  remarks  on  l lie  resolution  of  the  Continental  Con- 
gress relative  to  taking  post  at  King's  Bridge  appear  to  us 
to  be  conclusive;  we  shall,  however,  lay  them  before  our 
body  as  soon  as  the  other  important  matters  under  consi- 
deration shall  be  determined. 

We  have  the  honour  to  be,  with  the  greatest  respect, 
gentlemen,  your  most  obedient  humble  servants, 

Philip  Livingston,  William  Floyd. 
James  Duane,         John  Alsop. 
Francis  Lewis, 
To  the  Provincial  Congress  at  New-York. 


the  Charter.  As  to  giving  a  credit  to  our  Provincial  note, 
and  regulating  the  Army,  you  will  hear  further  from  the 
Congress  soon.  The  bearer  carries  a  recommendation  to 
the  other  Colonies  to  supply  you  with  all  the  powder  they 
can  safely  spare. 

In  great  haste,  I  ain,  with  respect,  your  most  humble 
servant,  Thomas  Gushing. 

Mr.  Elbridge  Gerry,  Watertown. 

P.  S.  Pray  let  me  hear  from  you  soon  concerning  my  dear 
Country.   Must  refer  you  for  particulars  to  Dr.  Church. 


JOHN  HANCOCK,  PRESIDENT,  TO  THE  MASSACHUSETTS 
CONGRESS. 

Philadelphia,  June  10,  1775. 

Gentlemen:  In  consequence  of  your  application  to 
this  Congress  for  advice  respecting  a  form  of  Government 
to  be  adopted  in  the  Massachusetts-Bay,  under  your  pre- 
sent circumstances,  I  am  directed  by  the  Congress  to  trans- 
mit you  their  Resolution  thereon,  which  is  here  enclosed. 

I  am  also  to  inform  you  that  the  Congress  have  been  so 
pressed  with  business  that  they  have  been  prevented  deter- 
mining upon  the  other  matters  mentioned  in  your  letters  to 
them,  but  they  will  very  soon  come  under  their  considera- 
tion, and  their  resolutions  thereon  shall  be  forwarded  you. 

I  also  enclose  you  a  Resolve  of  Congress  for  furnishing 
our  Army  with  flour.  This  you  will  keep  secret,  at  least 
as  far  as  the  nature  of  it  will  admit,  as  the  publication  may 
give  an  alarm,  which  may  prevent  the  good  effects  of  it. 

Last  evening  Mr.  Fessenden,  your  express,  arrived  with 
your  despatches  of  June  4th,  which  I  shall  this  morning 
lay  before  the  Congress,  and  when  considered  by  Con- 
gress, their  determinations  shall  be  immediately  transmit- 
ted to  you. 

I  am,  with  much  esteem,  gentlemen,  your  most  obedient 
humble  servant,  John  Hancock,  President. 

To  the  Gentlemen  of  the  Provincial  Congress,  Massachu- 
setts-Bay. 

In  Congress,  Friday,  June  9,  1775. 

Resolved,  That  no  obedience  being  due  to  the  Act  of 
Parliament  for  altering  the  Charter  of  the  Colony  of  Mas- 
sachusetts-Bay, nor  to  a  Governour  or  Lieutenant-Govern- 
our  who  will  not  observe  the  directions  of,  but  endeavour 
to  subvert,  that  Charter,  the  Governour  and  Lieutenant- 
(iovernour  are  to  be  considered  as  absent,  and  these  offi- 
ces vacant ;  and  as  there  is  no  Council  there,  and  the  in- 
conveniences arising  from  the  suspension  of  the  powers  of 
Government  are  intolerable,  especially  at  a  time  when 
General  Gage  hath  actually  levied  war,  and  is  carrying  on 
hostilities  against  His  Majesty's  peaceable  and  loyal  sub- 
jects of  that  Colony  ;  that  in  order  to  conform  as  near  as 
may  be  to  the  spirit  and  substance  of  the  Charter,  it  be 
recommended  to  the  Provincial  Congress  to  write  letters  to 
the  inhabitants  of  the  several  places  which  are  entitled  to 
representation  in  Assembly,  requesting  them  to  choose 
such  Representatives ;  and  that  the  Assembly,  when  cho- 
sen, should  elect  Counsellors  ;  which  Assembly  and  Coun- 
cil should  exercise  the  powers  of  Government,  until  a 
Governour  of  His  Majesty's  appointment  will  consent  to 
govern  the  Colony  according  to  its  Charter. 

A  true  copy  from  the  Minutes : 

Charles  Thomson,  Secretary. 

By  order  of  the  Congress  : 

John  Hancock,  President. 


THOMAS  CUSHING  TO  ELBRIDGE  GERRY. 

Philadelphia,  June  10,  1775. 
Sir:  Doctor  Church  will  bring  with  him  a  vote  of  the 
Congress  advising  our  people  to  consider  the  Governour 
and  Lieutenant-Governour  as  absent,  and  their  offices  va- 
cant;  and  further  recommending  it  to  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress to  issue  letters  to  all  such  places  as  are  entitled  to  a 
representation,  to  choose  Representatives,  who,  when  con- 
vened, are  advised  to  choose  Counsellors,  agreeable  to  the 
Charter;  which  Assembly,  together  with  the  Counsellors 
that  may  be  chosen,  are  advised  to  carry  on  the  affairs  of 
Government  until  a  Governour  of  His  Majesty's  appoint- 
ment will  consent  to  govern  according  to  the  directions  of 


ROBERT  TREAT  PAINE  TO  ELBRIDGE  GERRY. 

Philadelphia,  June  10,  1775. 

My  dear  Sir  :  I  cannot  express  to  you  the  surprise  and 
uneasiness  1  received  on  hearing  the  Congress  express  re- 
specting the  want  of  gunpowder;  it  always  was  a  matter 
that  lay  heavy  on  my  mind  ;  but  the  observation  I  made 
of  your  attention  to  it,  and  your  alertness  and  perseve- 
rance in  every  thing  you  undertake,  and  your  repeatedly 
expressing  it  as  your  opinion  that  we  had  probably  enough 
for  this  summer's  campaign,  made  me  quite  easy.  I  rely 
upon  it,  that  measures  are  taken  in  your  parts  of  the  Con- 
tinent to  supply  this  defect.  The  design  of  your  express 
will  be  zealously  attended  to,  I  think.  1  have  seen  one  of 
the  powder-mills  here,  where  they  make  excellent  pow- 
der, but  have  worked  up  all  the  nitre.  One  of  our  members 
is  concerned  in  a  powder-mill  at  New-York,  and  has  a  man 
at  work  making  nitre.  I  have  taken  pains  to  inquire  into 
the  method.  Doctor  Franklin  has  seen  saltpetre  works  at 
Hanover  and  Paris;  and  it  strikes  me  to  be  as  unnecessa- 
ry, after  a  certain  time,  to  send  abroad  for  gunpowder  as  for 
bread,  provided  people  will  make  use  of  common  under- 
standing and  industry  ;  but  for  the  present  we  must  import 
from  abroad.  Major  Foster  told  me  at  Hartford  he  sus- 
pected he  had  some  land  that  would  yield  nitre  ;  pray  con- 
verse with  him  about  it.  Doctor  Franklin's  account  is 
much  the  same  as  is  mentioned  in  one  of  the  first  of  the 
American  magazines;  the  sweepings  of  the  streets  and 
rubbish  of  old  buildings  are  made  into  mortar,  and  built 
into  walls,  exposed  to  the  air,  and  once  in  about  two 
months  scraped,  and  lixiviated,  and  evaporated.  When  I 
can  describe  the  method  more  minutely  I  will  write  you  ; 
mean  while  give  me  leave  to  condole  with  you  the  loss  of 
Colonel  Lee.  Pray  remember  me  to  Colonel  Orne,  and 
all  other  our  worthy  friends.  Pray  take  care  of  your  im- 
portant health,  that  you  may  be  able  to  stand  stiff  as  a 
pillar  in  our  new  Government. 

I  must  now  subscribe,  with  great  respect  and  affection, 
your  humble  servant,  R.  T.  Paine. 


JOHN    HANCOCK,    PRESIDENT,   TO   NEW-HAMPSHIRE  CON- 
GRESS. 

Philadelphia,  June  10,  1775. 

Sir  :  By  order  of  the  Congress  I  transmit  to  you  the 
enclosed  Resolutions  passed  by  the  Congress  this  morning. 
The  necessity  of  the  present  emergency  requires  a  speedy 
compliance  with  the  first,  respecting  the  supply  of  powder 
to  the  Army ;  and  I  need  not  inform  you,  that  the  nature 
of  the  service  requires  that  it  should  be  done  with  as  much 
secrecy  as  possible.  If  there  are  any  supplies  of  powder 
to  be  purchased  in  your  Colony,  you  will  readily  see  the 
propriety  of  engaging  it  for  the  use  of  the  Continental 
Army,  and  informing  the  General  of  the  Army  thereof,  as 
well  as,  Sir,  your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

John  Hancock,  President. 
To  the  President  of  the  Provincial  Congress,  or  Commit- 
tee of  the  Colony  of  Nciv-Hampshirc. 

P.  S.  I  am  directed  by  the  Congress  to  request  you  will 
please  to  transmit  to  them,  as  soon  as  may  be,  an  estimate 
of  the  powder,  arms,  and  ammunition  in  your  Colony,  in- 
cluding private  as  well  as  publick  stocks.  Your  humble 
servant,  &ic. 


NEW-YORK   CONGRESS  TO  THEIR  DELEGATES. 
[Road  in  Congress  June  14,  1775.] 
In  Provincial  Congress,  New-York,  June  10,  1775. 

Gentlemen:  A  certain  Captain  Coffin  being  suspected 
of  taking  on  board  his  vessel  provisions  for  the  Army  and 


957 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


958 


Navy  at  Boston,  though  consigned  to  persons  at  Rhode- 
Island,  we  have  thought  proper  to  delay  his  voyage  until 
we  have  the  sentiments  of  the  General  Congress  on  the 
subject.  Our  reason  of  suspicion  is  this,  that  it  hath  been 
intimated  to  us,  that  Messrs.  Lopez  and  Roam,  to  whom 
great  part  of  the  cargo  is  assigned,  are  commissioned  to 
supply  those  articles  to  the  Army  and  Navy,  which  is 
done,  as  is  alleged,  by  suffering  vessels  which  contain  pro- 
visions to  lie  in  the  harbour  unladen  until  seized  by  a  ship- 
of-war,  according  to  agreement  for  that  purpose. 

We  should  have  made  inquiry  and  order  in  the  premises, 
but  that  one  of  our  sister  Colonies  being  concerned,  it 
might  tend  to  create  divisions  among  us  at  a  time  when 
unanimity  is  so  necessary  to  the  publick  safety. 

We  are,  gentlemen,  your  most  obedient  humble  ser- 
vants.      By  order  of  the  Congress : 

P.  V.  B.  Livingston,  President. 

To  the  New-  York  Delegates  at  the  Continental  Congress. 


NEW-YORK  CONGRESS  TO  GOVERNOUR  TRUMBULL. 

Ill  Provincial  Congress,  New- York,  June  10,  1775. 
Sir:  Since  our  former  letters  to  your  Company  on  the 
subject  of  gunpowder,  by  application  to  a  neighbouring 
Colony  we  have  procured  a  quantity,  which  we  cheer- 
fully spare,  as  we  apprehend  it  will  be  most  acceptable  to 
our  brethren  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay.  For  the  more 
speedy  despatch,  we  would  ask  the  favour  of  you  to  issue, 
out  of  your  most  easterly  magazine,  six  hundred  and  fifty- 
five  pounds  weight,  and  forward  to  the  American  camp  at 
Boston,  and  we  shall  immediately  replace  it,  the  like  quan- 
tity being  already  on  the  way  to  your  Colony. 

We  are,  Sir,  your  most  obedient  and  humble  servants. 
By  order  of  the  Congress  : 

P.  V.  B.  Livingston,  President. 

Hon.  Jonathan  Trumbull,  Governour  of  Connecticut. 

P.  S.  As  we  have  given  a  receipt  for  the  powder  to 
our  neighbouring  Colony,  you  will  please  to  direct  the  like 
to  be  given  us. 


ROBERT  BOYD,  JUN.,  TO  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

New-Windsor,  June  10,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  In  consequence  of  a  resolve  of  this  hon- 
ourable Convention,  passed  the  6th  instant,  Mr.  Henry 
Watkeys  hath  waited  on  me  for  the  purpose  of  fixing  a 
plan  for  making  muskets,  bayonets,  &c,  agreeable  to  said 
resolve;  and  after  mature  deliberation  on  the  subject,  I  find 
that  the  expense  of  manufacturing  a  gun-barrel,  bayonet, 
and  steel  rammer,  (which  are  the  parts  Mr.  Watlceys 
would  assign  me,)  will  amount  to  thirty-two  shillings  cur- 
rency; this,  I  think,  will  be  the  extent,  but  dare  not  fix  it 
lower  previous  to  making  trial.  Gentlemen,  it  would  give 
me  particular  pleasure  to  have  a  manufactory  of  this  kind 
established  in  this  Province ;  and  believe  me,  that  if  you 
shall  be  pleased  to  appoint  me  as  one  to  bear  a  part  in 
the  execution  thereof,  I  will  exert  my  utmost  skill  in  en- 
deavouring to  give  satisfaction,  both  respecting  price  and 
quality ;  but  must  remind  you,  gentlemen,  that  in  order  to 
facilitate  the  business,  it  will  be  necessary  to  fix  machine- 
ry, and  provide  a  number  of  tools  not  necessary  in  other 
business,  the  expense  of  which  will  amount  to  about  one 
hundred  Pounds ;  this  sum  will  be  requisite  previous  to 
the  undertaking;  and  if  a" contract  can  be  obtained  for  one 
thousand  barrels,  &.c,  the  money  advanced  shall  be  dis- 
counted on  the  first  payment;  if,  on  the  contrary,  it  shall 
be  judged  by  the  honourable  Congress  inexpedient  to 
prosecute  the  plan  proposed,  the  sum  advanced  must  be 
considered  as  sunk. 

I  am,  gentlemen,  with  due  esteem,  your  most  obedient 
and  humble  servant,  Robert  Boyo,  Junior. 

The  Honourable  the  Provincial  Congress  for  the  Colony  of 

New-York,  now  convened  in  the  City  of  New-York. 


Crown  Point,  June  10,  1775. 

To  the  Honourable  the  Continental  Congress  of  North- 
America,  held  at  Philadelphia: 

Colonel  Ethan  Allen ;  Major  Samuel  Elmore,  of  the  Con- 
necticut Farms;  Colonel  James  Easton,  of  Pittsfield ; 
Captain  Seth  Warner;  Captain  Hezekiah  Balding; 


Captain  Ebenezer  Marvin;  Captain  Remember  BuLa 
Captain  George  White;  Captain  James  Noble,  com- 
mandant at  this  place  ;  Captain  Amos  Chappie ;  Captain 
Wait  Hopkins;  Captain  Joseph  McCracken ;  Captain 
John  Grand  ;  Captain  Barnabas  Barnum ;  Captain 
James  Wills;  Lieutenant  Ira  Allen  ;  Lieutenant  Oliver 
Parmerly;  Isaac  Hitchcock,  Commissary ;  Stephen  Bay, 
clerk  to  Major  Elmore. 

Honoured  Sirs:  We,  whose  names  are  prefixed  above, 
do  in  council  approve  of  and  nominate  Colonel  Ethan  Al- 
len, Captain  >Se^  Warner,  and  Captain  Remember  Baker, 
to  meet  you  in  Congress,  to  consult  and  have  your  advice 
upon  this  move,  which  we  have  understood  that  you  have 
approved  ;  we  are  now  in  possession  of  Ticonderoga  and 
Crown  Point.  And  this  day,  at  five  o'clock,  our  armed 
sloop  and  schooners  arrived  here  and  furnished  us  with  in- 
telligence, that  about  three  hundred  of  the  Regular  forces 
were  at  St.  John's,  fortifying  and  intrenching  upon  the 
Grants,  near  this  place.  We  think  it  might  be  practicable, 
in  case  of  emergency,  to  raise  about  five  hundred  men,  in 
case  (as  they  are  poor)  of  encouragement.  Colonel  Allen 
has  behaved,  in  this  affair,  very  singularly  remarkable  for 
his  courage,  and  must,  in  duty,  recommend  him  to  you  and 
the  whole  Continent. 

A  number  of  gentlemen,  among  whom  were  Major  El- 
more, of  Connecticut,  and  Colonel  Easton,  of  Pittsfield, 
contributed,  as  a  present,  to  a  number  of  Indians  of  the 
Caughnawagas  and  Captain  Ninham,  of  Stockbridge, 
largely,  out  of  their  own  pockets,  who  ask  no  fee  nor  re- 
ward ;  it  was  given  upon  their  assurance  of  friendship. 
The  majority  of  us  have  seen  the  marks  of  his  abuse  that 
he  had  received  at  St.  John's  from  the  Regulars ;  they 
assure  us,  (and  we  believe  that  the  Indians  will  meddle  in 
no  way,)  that  they  understand  this  affair  to  be  a  family 
dispute.  Samuel  Elmer,  President. 


ELISHA  HEWES  TO  MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS. 

Fort  Pownall,  June  10,  1775. 

Honourable  Sir:  I  expect  my  letters,  sent  by  Cap- 
tain Buck,  will  reach  you  before  Captain  Lane,  who  will 
be  impeded  with  his  charge.  I  hope  none  will  rob  him  of 
the  honour  he  alone  deserves  (under  the  smiles  of  Heaven) 
for  the  success  he  has  met  with  in  his  tour  up  our  river. 
I  hope  we  shall  have  more  of  his  company,  if  our  troubles 
continue;  you  cannot  send  a  man  that  can  act  more  for 
the  service  and  interest  of  the  Country.  I  dare  not  ask  a 
written  answer  to  this,  or  mine  by  Buck,  but  a  few  words 
will  be  highly  acceptable  to,  Sir,  your  very  humble  ser- 
vant, Elisha  Hewes. 
To  Joseph  Warren,  Esquire,  President  of  the  Provincial 

Congress. 


COMMITTEE  OF  CONWAY  TO  NEW-HAMPSHIRE  CONGRESS. 

Conway,  June  10,  1775. 
Sir:  Last  Monday  we  had  a  Town-meeting;  a  copy  of 
the  same  will  be  shown  to  you  by  Mr.  Burbank,  one  of 
our  Committee ;  and  as  he  is  not  acquainted  with  any 
of  the  Congress,  we  have  recommended  him  to  you,  and 
hope  you  will  direct  and  assist  him  in  the  business  he  is 
sent  upon.  Sir,  it  is  needless  to  mention  any  thing  con- 
cerning our  situation  on  the  frontiers  of  this  Province,  for 
it  is  well  known  to  you,  and  most  part  of  those  gentlemen 
appointed  and  chosen  for  the  Congress.  But  although 
we  are  at  such  a  distance  from  you,  we  are  willing  to  do 
every  thing  in  our  power  in  support  of  the  common  cause  ; 
but,  under  our  present  situation,  we  are  neither  able  to 
defend  ourselves  or  assist  you,  if  there  should  be  occasion, 
for  reasons  which  we  shall  mention.  In  the  first  place, 
there  is  a  number  of  our  men  enlisted  and  gone  into  the 
service,  we  think  about  fourteen  or  fifteen,  from  this  Town. 
The  most  part  of  those  who  are  left  have  no  provision  to 
support  themselves  and  families,  but  what  they  must  bring 
from  some  seaport,  and  but  very  few  have  any  money  to 
purchase ;  and  not  more  than  half  of  the  Town  have  got 
any  arms,  and  those  who  have  got  arms  have  scarcely  any 
ammunition.  Therefore,  as  Mr.  Burbank  and  myself  are 
appointed  to  make  application  for  arms  and  ammunition, 
we  thought,  as  you  were  the  one  man,  to  make  our  first 


959 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  he,  JUNE,  1775. 


960 


application  lo  you  ;  and  are  confident  you  will  do  what 
you  can,  that  he  may  have  such  warlike  stores  as  he  wants, 
if  they  are  to  be  had,  or  to  assist  and  advise  him  what 
steps  to  take  so  that  we  may  be  provided  ;  and  that  he 
may  be  despatched  back  as  soon  as  possible :  for  we  have 
reason  to  be  suspicious  of  the  Indians,  and,  were  we  able, 
would  keep  a  scout  in  the  woods  daily,  to  discover  their 
motions ;  but  without  the  assistance  of  the  Province,  of 
ourselves  we  are  not  able;  for  there  are  so  many  of  our 
young  men  enlisted,  that  all  the  men  that  are  left  are  not 
sufficient  to  carry  on  our  farming.  Therefore,  we  shall  be 
under  the  necessity  of  asking  or  petitioning  the  Congress 
for  some  men,  to  be  employed  as  a  scouting  party,  to  guard 
this  quarter  of  the  frontiers;  but  we  are  afraid  these  mat- 
ters will  be  omitted  until  it  is  too  late.  We  shall  esteem 
it  a  favour  if  the  Congress  will  give  us  directions  what  to 
do,  or  what  steps  to  take,  for  we  are  fully  determined  to 
adhere  strictly  to  all  orders  that  may  come  from  the  Con- 
gress. 

We  expected  to  have  been  called  upon  to  send  a  mem- 
ber to  the  Congress,  but  we  suppose  our  being  at  such  a 
distance  left  us  to  be  forgot.  We  shall  come  down  as 
soon  as  Burbank  returns.  Any  arms  or  ammunition  that 
we  want,  we  are  ready  to  make  over  our  estates  for  secu- 
rity, but  as  to  money,  at  present  we  have  none. 

In  hopes,  Sir,  you  will  do  and  assist  us  all  you  can,  I 
subscribe  myself,  your  obedient  humble  servant, 

Signed  in  behalf  of  the  Town  and  Committee : 

Andrew  McMullen. 

To  Colonel  M.  Thornton. 


TRYON  COUNTY  (NEW-YORK)  COMMITTEE. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Tryon  County,  on 
Sunday,  the  eleventh  of  June,  1775,  at  the  house  of  Gosen 
Van  Alstyn:  Upon  reading  Letters  from  the  Provincial 
Congress,  dated  the  thirty-first  of  May,  and  third  of  June, 
1775,  recommending  the  appointing  of  Deputies  to  meet  in 
Congress  with  the  Deputies  of  the  different  Counties  at 
New-York,  the  question  being  put,  whether  any  should  be 
sent  down  ?  was  carried  in  the  affirmative. 

This  Committee  having  great  confidence  in  the  integrity 
and  ability  of  Christopher  P.  Yates  and  John  Malett,  Es- 
quires, do  resolve  that  the  said  Christopher  P.  Yates,  and 
John  Malett,  be  appointed,  and  are  accordingly  appointed, 
to  be  Deputies  to  attend  the  Provincial  Congress  without 
delay,  and  to  act,  in  conjunction  with  the  members  of  that 
body,  upon  the  very  alarming  and  calamitous  situation  of 
British  America.    By  order  of  the  Committee: 

Nicholas  Herkimer,  Chairman  pro  tern. 
Andrew  Finck,  Jun.,  Clerk. 


MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS  TO  CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS. 
[Read  in  Congress  June  19,  1775  ] 
In  Provincial  Congress,  Watertown,  June  11,  1775. 
Resolved  unanimously,  That  the  following  address  be  im- 
mediately transmitted  to  the  honourable  American  Congress 
now  sitting  at  Philadelphia. 

May  it  please  your  Honours  :  The  situation  of  any 
Colony  or  People,  perhaps,  was  never  before  such  as  made 
it  more  necessary  for  fully  exercising  the  powers  of  civil 
government  than  the  present  state  and  situation  of  the  Col- 
ony of  the  Massachusetts-Bay . 

The  embarrassments,  delays,  disappointments,  and  ob- 
structions, in  executing  every  undertaking  necessary  for  the 
preservation  of  our  lives,  and,  much  more,  of  our  property, 
are  so  great  and  many,  as  that  they  cannot  be  represented 
or  enumerated  ;  and  that  is  chiefly  to  be  attributed  to  our 
want  of  a  settled  civil  polity  or  government.  Besides, 
every  thing  necessary  for  the  abovesaid  most  important  pur- 
poses, which  is,  in  some  degree,  effected,  is  done  in  the 
most  expensive  manner,  in  that  although  the  times  we  are 
fallen  into,  and  the  prospects  before  us  are  such  as  require 
the  utmost  economy  ;  yet  nothing  of  the  kind  can  be  pre- 
served in  our  present  state. 

There  are,  in  many  parts  of  the  Colony,  alarming  symp- 
toms of  the  abatement  of  the  sense  in  the  minds  of  some 
people  of  the  sacredness  of  private  property,  which  is 
plainly  assignable  to  the  want  of  civil  government ;  and 


your  Honours  must  be  fully  sensible  that  a  community  of 
goods  and  estate  will  soon  be  followed  with  the  utter  waste 
and  destruction  of  the  goods  themselves.  Besides,  the 
necessity  of  civil  government  appears  more  and  more  ap- 
parent, from  the  extreme  difficulty  of  maintaining  the  pub- 
lick  peace  without  it ;  although  we  can  truly  say,  much  fewer 
enormities  and  breaches  of  the  peace  have  happened  among 
us,  than  it  was  natural  to  expect  from  the  contemplation  of 
such  a  state  as  we  have  been  cast  into. 

May  it  please  your  Honours,  the  pressing  weight  of  our 
distresses  has  necessitated  the  sending  a  special  post  to  ob- 
tain your  immediate  advice  upon  this  subject,  and  we  do 
most  earnestly  entreat  that  you  would,  as  soon  as  possible, 
despatch  the  messenger  with  such  advice. 

Our  former  application  to  you,  of  the  sixteenth  of  May 
last,  has  rendered  it  unnecessary  that  we  should  further  en- 
large upon  the  subject ;  and  to  prevent  repetition,  we  beg 
leave  to  refer  you  to  our  letter  of  that  date. 

The  Army  under  the  command  of  General  Gage,  we 
estimate  to  amount  to  at  least  five  thousand  men,  well  ap- 
pointed, under  the  command  of  Generals  of  character  and 
experience,  and  prepared  with  every  thing  necessary  for 
action,  exclusive  of  the  additional  strength  derived  from 
negroes,  which  the  General  has  taken  into  his  service,  and 
disaffected  Americans ;  and  we  have  great  reason  to  appre- 
hend a  re-enforcement  of  at  least  eight  regiments  of  Foot, 
and  one  of  Horse,  may  be  hourly  expected.  We  enclose 
a  copy  of  an  intercepted  letter  from  Major  Shcrriff,  which 
exhibits  to  you  one  ground  of  that  apprehension. 

We  have  had  under  our  consideration  the  propriety  and 
necessity  of  augmenting  our  Army,  notwithstanding  our 
great  embarrassments,  and  though  we  have  not  yet  adopted 
it,  nothing  perhaps  but  the  more  ample  provision  of  the 
neighbouring  Colonies  will  relieve  that  necessity. 

The  depredations  and  piracies  frequently  committed  on 
our  sea-coasts,  and  the  little  trade  which  remains  to  us, 
whereby,  among  other  capital  articles,  the  importation  of 
ammunition  and  provision  is  almost  totally  obstructed,  and 
threatens  our  ruin,  has  also  occasioned  our  contemplating 
steps  to  prevent  these  inconveniences,  by  fitting  out  a  num- 
ber of  armed  vessels,  with  suflicient  strength  to  encounter 
their  small  though  numerous  cutters. 

We  shall  only  add,  that  as  the  seat  of  war  and  all  the 
attendant  distresses  have,  for  the  present,  taken  their  prin- 
cipal residence  here,  we  should  consider  it  as  a  happy  event 
if  you  should  think  proper  to  adjourn  to  some  part  of  the 
Continent  not  so  far  distant,  that  the  advice  and  aid  of  the 
Continent  may  be  more  expeditiously  afforded  upon  any 
emergency. 

We  have,  may  it  please  your  Honours,  the  honour  to  be 
your  most  obedient  humble  servants, 
By  order  of  Congress : 

Joseph  Hawlev,  Vice-President. 
Attest :  Samuel  Freeman,  Secretary. 


EXTRACT   OF  A  LETTER  FROM   LONDON  TO  A  GENTLEMAN 
IN  VIRGINIA,  DATED  JUNE  12,  1775. 

We  have  had  the  news  of  the  skirmish  at  Concord  be- 
tween the  King's  Troops  and  the  Provincials  for  some  time 
past;  and  yesterday  it  was  confirmed  by  an  express  from 
General  Gage  to  Government,  in  the  Sukcy,  Capt.  Broicn. 
The  first  advice  many  (especially  the  Court  party)  threw 
away,  declaring  it  to  be  an  absolute  lie,  and  wished  Govern- 
ment would  secure  the  person  who  brought  it,  although  we 
had  the  Salem  paper  brought  by  Captain  John  Derby,  who 
said  that  the  account  was  as  particular  as  could  be  collected 
at  the  time  of  his  departure  ;  but  now  they  believe  it  to 
their  shame,  that  eighteen  hundred  disciplined  troops  ran 
away  from  a  handful  of  brave  Yankees.  1  believe  that 
seven-eighths  of  this  Country  would  willingly  fight  for  us 
against  the  King's  Troops,  if  it  were  possible  for  them  to 
get  to  you.  The  Americans  bear  the  greatest  applause 
here  of  any  people  in  the  world,  and  1  hope  they  may  now 
stand  firm,  for  it  is  not  in  the  power  of  Government  tosei  d 
out  any  more  troops.  I  had  the  honour  of  being  sent  for 
by  Sir  John  Warren,  who  is  nephew  to  the  late  Admiral, 
and  a  great  friend  to  America,  with  whom  I  breakfasted. 
We  had  all  the  American  affairs  over,  and  he  positively  de- 
clared there  were  not  seven  thousand  of  the  King's  Troops 
both  in  England  and  Ireland ;  and  he  hoped  the  Ameri- 


961 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


962 


cans  would  stand  firm  to  each  other,  and  then  they  might 
have  the  affair  settled  as  they  liked  ;  for,  says  he,  it  is  im- 
possible for  this  Country  to  do  without  you,  neither  can 
they  subdue  you. 


ON  THE  DISTURBANCES  IN  AMERICA. 

London,  June  12,  1775. 
Whether  this  is  the  best  of  possible  worlds,  is  a  point  with 
which  the  politician  has  nothing  to  do ;  he  must  take  men 
as  they  are,  and,  till  the  period  of  the  millenium  arrives, 
wars  and  tumults  will  possess  their  full  number  of  pages  in 
the  history  of  mankind.  A  too  eager  love  of  peace,  the 
child  of  pusillanimity,  will  be  generally  found  a  prelude  to 
the  most  destructive  scenes  of  blood  and  slaughter.  When- 
ever unavoidable  danger  presents  itself,  prudence  directs  us 
to  face  it  boldly.  Shall  our  humanity  induce  us  to  leave 
the  contest,  so  big  with  danger,  to  our  immediate  descend- 
ants? Forb'id  it  justice  and  paternal  affection.  The  pro- 
bability of  success,  which  is  now  on  our  side,  will  be  against 
them.  Yet,  shall  we  give  up  the  sovereignty  in  America, 
their  right  of  inheritance,  and  the .  price  of  so  many  cares 
and  of  so  much  blood  and  treasure,  without  some  struggle? 
Though  they,  if  the  contest  was  deferred  till  their  day, 
might  probably  fail  and  involve  the  British  Empire  in  ruin, 
vet  we,  by  a  spirited  conduct,  now  may  shelter  them  from 
the  danger,  and  procrastinate  the  event. 

The  Bostonians  have  been  guilty  of  numberless  acts  of 
rebellion,  which  have  no  other  real  foundation  than  their 
opinion  that  they  can  resist  with  success.  On  the  slightest 
occasion,  large  bodies  of  men  appear  in  arms,  with  the 
avowed  intention  of  fighting  the  King's  Troops.  Let  them 
have  their  humour.  In  every  essential  point  of  view  they 
are  the  enemies  of  Great  Britain,  and  their  insults  must 
not  be  forgiven  because  they  are  dangerous — so  dangerous, 
that  suppose  them  defeated,  suppose  them  suing  for  forgive- 
ness with  all  the  humility  which  may  be  expected  from 
their  present  insolence,  they  must  not  be  forgiven  ;  they  can 
never  be  again  entitled  to  the  protection  and  encouragement 
of  the  Mother  Country.  Their  soil  and  climate,  their  grow- 
ing manufactories  of  iron  and  wool,  their  ship-building,  and 
even  their  industry,  are  our  natural,  our  irreconcilable  ene- 
mies. The  Colonists  must  not  only  be  defeated,  but,  as  far 
as  it  is  in  our  power,  the  Colonies  destroyed.  This  may 
be  done  without  much  of  that  carnage  which  is  so  dreaded 
by  us.  The  steady  and  inflexible  regulations  of  policy,  by 
which  every  source  of  trade  or  manufactures  must  be  cut 
off  from  the  Northern  Colonies,  and  every  possible  encou- 
ragement given  to  settlements  in  warmer  latitudes,  can  alone 
effect  it.  Indigo,  rice,  rum,  sugar,  cotton,  silk,  and  the 
various  productions  of  the  tropicks,  are  commodities  we 
want,  and  the  habits  of  life  in  southern  climates  will  forever 

Srevent  their  interfering  with  our  laborious  manufactories, 
lutual  wants  are  the  true  foundation  of  trade  and  political 
friendship,  and  Colonies  established  without  this  permanent 
view,  have  ever  been  the  ruin  of  the  Mother  Country.  We 
waut  nothing  from  the  Colony  most  dangerous  to  us,  but 
provisions  and  lumber  for  the  islands ;  and  these  it  will  fur- 
nish, even  were  it  in  a  much  less  cultivated  and  improved 
state  than  it  now  is. 

The  Americans  are  fond  of  repeating  their  arguments, 
though  it  seems  agreed  on  all  sides  that  it  is  time  that  ac- 
tion should  commence.  1  shall  not,  therefore,  enter  into 
those  reasons  by  which  a  Mother  Country  may  be  justified 
in  ruining  a  Colony  which  has  been  found  prejudicial  to 
her ;  they  deny  the  debt  of  gratitude,  by  asserting  that  we 
raised  and  supported  them  from  motives  of  interest  alone. 
Admit  this  to  be  true,  we  raised  them  at  an  immense  ex- 
pense, with  permanent  views  of  political  advantage.  They 
are  now  found  to  be  not  barely  detrimental,  but  highly 
dangerous  to  us.  The  same  policy  will  teach  us  to  destroy 
that  which  we  have  been  mistaken  in  defending  and  sup- 
porting. This  cannot  be  done  without  much  private  injury 
and  publick  calamity,  but  in  disputes  of  this  magnitude 
they  are  unavoidable.  In  the  management  of  natural  con- 
cerns, the  lesser  evil  must  be  resolutely  chosen,  and  to  listen 
to  the  complaints  of  unavoidable  evil  is  a  dangerous  hu- 
manity, and  will  have  the  same  effect  as  the  most  con- 
temptible weakness.  Shall  we,  to  avoid  the  effusion  of 
human  blood,  give  up  the  sovereignty  of  America  without 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii.  ( 


a  blow  ?  What  kind  of  philanthropy  must  that  be  which 
can  resolve  on  this,  and  survey,  with  a  steady  eye,  the 
dreadful  prospects  of  calamity  and  ruin  which  will  imme- 
diately overwhelm  the  British  Empire,  if,  by  our  tameness, 
or  by  American  resolution,  the  Colonies  are  torn  from  us. 
Expedients,  in  a  dispute  so  rooted  as  this  is,  were  always 
ridiculous,  and  are  now  by  all  parties  given  up.  What 
trivial  nonsense  are  affidavits,  to  prove  who  fired  first.  The 
moment  the  Americans  attempted  to  raise  troops,  with  the 
avowed  intention  of  resisting  Government  by  force,  the  first 
bullet  should  have  been  fired ;  and  that  we  have  so  long  de- 
ferred it  is  an  errour,  for  which  we  shall  be  severely  pun- 
ished. We  ought,  long  ere  now.  to  have  been  as  unanimous 
as  the  Americans  in  perceiving  that  the  voice  of  necessity, 
and  the  great  vortex  of  human  affairs,  is  too  powerful  to  be 
confined  by  the  forms  of  a  constitution.  The  sword  alone 
can  decide  this  dispute,  and  he  is  a  traitor  to  his  Country 
who  does  not  contribute  every  thing  in  his  power  to  pre- 
vent the  ruin  of  the  British  Empire,  which  will  immedi- 
ately take  place  if  we  are  defeated. 


SOUTH-CAROLINA  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS. 

Charlestown,  Monday,  June  12,  1775. 

Resolved,  That  any  person  having  violated  or  refused 
obedience  to  the  authority  of  the  Provincial  Congiess,  shall, 
by  the  Committee  of  the  District  or  Parish  in  which  such 
offender  resides,  be  questioned  relative  thereto ;  and  upon 
due  conviction  of  either  of  the  offences  aforesaid,  and  con- 
tinuing contumacious,  such  person  shall,  by  such  Commit- 
tee, be  declared  and  advertised  an  enemy  to  the  liberties  of 
America,  and  an  object  of  the  resentment  of  the  publick  ; 
and  that  the  said  Committee  shall  be  supported  in  so  doing. 

Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  inhabitants 
of  the  Parishes  of  *S'f.  Philip  and  St.  Michael,  when  they 
attend  Divine  service  in  places  of  publick  worship,  to  take 
with  them  their  fire-arms  and  ammunition. 

By  order  of  the  Congress : 

Peter  Timothy,  Secretary. 

In  Provincial  Congress,  Charlestown,  June  12,  1775. 

The  Provincial  Congress  having  received  an  intimation 
that  certain  persons  have  already  bought  up,  and  others  are 
now  buying  up,  Indian  Corn,  with  design  to  take  advantage 
of  the  times,  have 

Resolved,  That  such  engrossing  is  intolerable,  and  ought 
not  to  be  suffered  in  this  time  of  scarcity. 

Resolved,  also,  That  such  persons  as  may  have  bought 
up  Indian  Corn,  ought  not  to  sell  it  an  advanced  price,  and 
that  proper  information  ought  immediately  to  be  laid  be- 
fore the  Congress  or  General  Committee. 

Ordered,  That  the  foregoing  Resolves  be  forthwith 
printed,  and  made  publick. 

By  order  of  the  Congress  : 

Peter  Timothy,  Secretary. 


SOME  THOUGHTS  ON  THE  CONSTITUTION  OF  THE  BRITISH 
EMPIRE,  AND  THE  CONTROVERSY  BETWEEN  GREAT  BRI- 
TAIN AND  THE  AMERICAN  COLONIES. 

Philadelphia,  June  12,  1775. 
As  all  lawful  Government  is  founded  in  compact,  it  be- 
hooves those  who  claim  authority,  to  prove  that  they  have  it. 
English  Government  is  territorial,  that  is,  it  is  limited  to 
certain  districts  of  territory  ;  and  owning  lands  within  these 
limits  gives  a  right  to  participate  in  the  Government;  and 
those  who  own  the  lands  have  a  right  to  fix  the  terms  on 
which  others  may  reside  within  the  jurisdiction.  This  princi- 
ple seems  to  be  founded  on  the  law  of  nature,  and  therefore 
those  who  are  not  freeholders  are  justly  bound  by  the  laws 
of  the  land,  though  they  have  no  vote  in  electing  members 
of  Parliament,  and  not  on  the  principle  of  virtual  represen- 
tation ;  yet  they  have  this  security,  that  the  freeholders  and 
other  inhabitants  are  governed  by  the  same  laws. 

A  civil  society  or  state  is  a  number  of  proprietors  of  land 
within  certain  limits,  united  by  compact  or  mutual  agree- 
ment for  making  laws,  and  appointing  persons  to  execute 
those  laws  for  their  common  benefit. 

The  British  Empire  consists  of  such  societies,  subject 
to  one  King,  each  having  a  distinct  legislature  :  such  is  the 


963 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  tic,  JUNE,  1775. 


964 


Realm  or  G rent  Britain,  the  Realm  of  Ireland,  and  each 
English  Colony  in  America. 

This  doctrine  of  distinct  Dominions  or  States,  subject  to 
the  same  Crown,  is  not  a  new  doctrine,  but  was  known  in 
the  English  Nation  long  before  the  settlement  of  the  Ame- 
rican Colonies,  as  is  well  known  to  all  who  are  acquainted 
with  the  English  history.  One  instance  of  this  kind  will 
appear  by  the  following  extract  from  a  petition  presented  to 
the  King  of  England  by  the  inhabitants  of  the  County 
palatine  of  Chester,  in  the  year  1450,  wherein  they  say: 
"  The  said  County  is  and  hath  been  a  County  palatine,  as 
well  before  the  conquest  of  England  as  continually  since, 
within  which  County  you  and  all  your  noble  progenitors, 
since  it  came  into  your  hands,  have  had  your  High  Courts 
of  Parliament,  and  no  possessionem  or  inheritors  within  the 
said  County  be  not  chargeable  or  liable,  nor  have  not  been 
bounden,  charged,  nor  hurt  of  their  bodies,  liberties,  fran- 
chises, lands,  goods,  nor  possessions,  within  the  same  Coun- 
ty, but  by  such  laws  as  they  have  agreed  unto;  and  also, 
they  have  no  Knights,  Citizens,  nor  Burgesses,  nor  ever 
had  of  the  said  County  to  any  Parliament  holden  out  of  the 
said  County,  whereby  they  might  by  any  way  of  reason 
be  bounded,"  he.  Whereupon  the  King  discharged  them 
from  paying  a  subsidy  granted  by  act  of  the  Parliament 
of  England  held  at  Westminster,  notwithstanding  that 
County  was  expressly  named  in  the  act. 

Whence,  then,  doth  the  Parliament  of  Great  Britain 
derive  the  authority  it  claims  to  make  statutes  to  bind  the 
people  of  the  Colonies  in  America,  and  other  Dominions 
of  the  Crown  not  within  that  Realm,  nor  represented  in 
that  Parliament,  but  who  have  Parliaments  of  their  own  ? 
Is  this  claim  founded  in  compact  ?  Where  is  the  evidence 
of  such  a  compact?  The  landholders  in  America  are  not 
incorporated  with  those  of  Britain  for  the  purpose  of  legis- 
lation, nor  does  their  being  owners  of  real  estates  in  Ame- 
rica (to  any  amount)  entitle  them  to  a  voice  in  the  election 
of  any  members  of  the  British  Parliament.  Should  it  be 
said  that  the  Colonists  were  subjects  of  the  Crown  of  Eng- 
land, and  members  of  that  State  before  their  emigration, 
and  therefore  must  continue  so  unless  they  can  show  that 
they  are  discharged  by  some  express  agreement ;  it  may 
be  answered,  that  their  compact  as  members  of  that  State 
was,  in  the  nature  of  it,  limited  to  their  continuance  in  that 
Realm,  and  consequently  was  discharged  by  their  emigra- 
tion. Should  it  be  farther  inquired,  how  is  it  that  they 
continue  subjects  of  the  Crown  of  England  or  Great  Bri- 
tain since  their  emigration,  if  their  relation  to  that  State 
was  dissolved  ?  I  answer,  that  the  people  of  each  Colony, 
either  before  or  soon  after  their  emigration,  entered  into 
particular  compacts  with  the  Kings  of  England  to  con- 
tinue in  allegiance  to  them,  their  heirs,  and  successors,  and 
also  as  to  their  particular  forms  of  Government,  which  ap- 
pears by  Charters,  royal  Proclamations,  and  the  laws  and 
regulations  in  each  Colony,  made  by  the  mutual  consent  of 
the  King  and  the  people.  But  it  may  be  further  objected, 
that  the  British  Parliament  hath,  from  time  to  time,  made 
laws  to  bind  the  Colonies,  which  have  been  acquiesced  in 
for  more  than  a  century  past,  by  which  it  appears  that  it 
was  mutually  understood  that  the  Parliament  had  authority 
to  make  such  laws.  To  which  it  may  be  answered,  that 
when  the  Parliament  of  England  first  attempted  to  exer- 
cise legislative  authority  over  the  Dominions  of  the  Crown 
out  of  that  Realm,  their  authority  was  denied  by  Ireland, 
Virginia,  and  the  ancient  Colony  of  the  Massachusetts- 
Bay.  The  last  mentioned  Colony  refused  and  neglected  to 
y  ield  any  obedience  to  the  acts  of  Parliament  for  regulating 
the  Plantation  trade  in  the  reign  of  King  Charles  the  Se- 
cond, from  the  year  1660  to  1675,  when  the  King  wrote 
to  the  Governour  and  Company  of  that  Colony,  requiring 
their  conformity  to  said  acts ;  to  which  they  returned  an 
answer,  that  they  had  not  conformed  to  them  because  they 
judged  them  to  be  an  infringement  of  their  rights,  for  that 
the  authority  of  the  Parliament  was  limited  by  the  four 
seas;  but  as  His  Majesty  had  signified  to  them  that  it  was 
his  pleasure  that  they  should  conform  to  said  regulations, 
they  had  enjoined  obedience  to  them  by  an  act  of  their 
own  ;  for  which  the  King,  in  another  letter,  returned  them 
his  thanks.  This  shows  how  some  of  the  Colonies  under- 
stood the  Constitution  while  some  persons  were  living  who 
were  active  in  settling  the  terms  of  it.   Now,  can  the  con- 


formity of  some  individuals  in  the  Colonies  to  acts  of  Par- 
liament, from  motives  of  necessity  or  convenience,  be  con- 
strued as  the  consent  of  the  Colonies  to  the  authority  of  the 
Parliament  to  make  laws  to  bind  them?  Some  suppose 
there  is  a  superintending  power  in  the  British  Parliament 
over  the  Colonics,  resulting  from  the  nature  of  colonization 
and  their  relation  to  the  parent  State,  especially  for  regu- 
lating and  restraining  their  trade.  But  how  can  parental 
authority  be  applied  to  support  or  illustrate  such  a  princi- 
ple ?  A  parent  has  a  natural  right  to  govern  his  children 
during  their  minority  and  continuance  in  his  family,  but 
has  no  such  authority  over  them  after  they  arrive  at  full 
age,  and  are  settled  in  families  of  their  own.  A  mutual 
affection,  friendship,  and  regard  to  each  other's  interests 
ought  always  to  subsist  between  parents  and  children,  and 
likewise  between  parent  States  and  their  Colonies,  but  no 
connexion  in  Government  but  what  is  founded  in  mutual 
compact.  Nor  can  the  arbitrary  demands  or  exactions  of 
any  parent  States  from  their  Colonies,  be  a  foundation  to 
determine  what  is  right  in  the  present  case. 

It  has  been  urged  as  a  reason  why  the  Colonies  should 
acknowledge  a  right  in  the  British  Parliament  to  make 
laws  to  regulate  their  trade,  that  no  Colony  Legislature  is 
competent  for  that  purpose,  their  authority  being  confined 
to  the  limits  of  their  respective  Colonies.  But  if  the  au- 
thority of  the  British  Parliament  is  limited  to  that  Realm, 
it  is  no  more  competent  to  make  a  law  to  extend  without 
the  limit  of  its  jurisdiction  than  a  Colony  Legislature.  But 
it  is  further  said  that  Great  Britain,  by  her  Navy,  has 
power  to  enforce  obedience  to  her  laws  of  trade  and  navi- 
gation, therefore  the  people  of  the  whole  Empire  must  sub- 
mit to  them  ;  and  that  she  protects  their  trade,  and  there- 
fore it  is  reasonable  that  she  should  regulate  it  so  as  may 
be  most  conducive  to  the  good  of  the  Nation.  To  which 
it  may  be  replied,  that  upon  the  two  last  mentioned  con- 
siderations the  people  of  the  Colonies  have,  for  about  a 
century  past,  cheerfully  consented  to  the  operation  of  such 
acts  of  the  British  Parliament  as  are  limited  to  the  regula- 
tion of  their  external  commerce  for  the  mutual  advantage  of 
Great  Britain  and  her  Colonies,  and  seem  still  disposed 
to  persevere  in  the  same  line  of  conduct,  so  that  no  contro- 
versy will  be  likely  to  arise  on  that  subject  but  what  may 
relate  to  the  justice  or  utility  of  particular  regulations  ;  and 
the  only  way  to  remove  that  ground  of  controversy  is,  for 
the  Legislature  of  each  Colony  to  confirm,  by  their  own  acts, 
all  such  laws  of  trade  as  are  to  be  executed  within  their 
respective  jurisdictions  ;  which  doubtless  they  would  readily 
agree  to,  and  by  that  means  the  acts  of  trade  would  be 
more  strictly  observed.  But  as  the  present  inquiry  is, 
whether  the  British  Parliament  hath  authority  to  make 
laws  to  bind  the  people  of  the  Colonies  in  any  case  without 
their  consent,  it  may  be  well  to  consider  that  there  is  an 
important  distinction  between  authority  to  command,  and 
power  to  enforce  submission,  and  also  between  an  equitable 
claim  in  Great  Britain  to  receive  a  compensation  from  the 
Colonies  for  protecting  their  trade,  and  her  having  a  legis- 
lative authority  over  them  to  compel  them  to  make  that 
compensation  in  any  particular  way  without  their  consent. 
And  why  has  not  the  Parliament  as  good  a  right  to  compel 
them  to  make  such  compensation  by  laws  imposing  duties 
on  their  imports  and  exports,  as  by  restraining  their  trade? 
But  if  all  lawful  Government  is  founded  in  compact,  the 
Parliament  cannot  have  right  in  either  case  to  make  laws 
to  bind  the  people  of  the  Colonies  without  their  consent. 

According  to  Lord  Somer's  opinion,  the  right  of  the 
people  to  share  in  legislation  is  so  necessary  for  the  pre- 
servation of  the  society,  that  they  cannot  part  with  it  even 
by  their  own  consent.  Take  the  opinion  of  that  celebrated 
author  in  his  own  words:  "Amongst  all  the  rights  and 
privileges  appertaining  unto  us,  that  of  having  a  share  in  the 
legislation,  and  being  to  be  governed  by  such  laws  as  we  our- 
selves shall  choose,  is  the  most  fundamental  and  essential, 
as  well  as  the  most  beneficial ;  for  thereby  we  are  enabled 
to  make  such  successive  and  continual  provisions  as  to  the 
preservation  of  the  society,  and  the  promoting  either  the 
temporal  or  eternal  welfare  of  the  subject,  as  shall  be  found 
expedient,  he.  No  man  or  society  of  men  have  power  to 
deliver  their  preservation,  or  the  means  of  it,  to  the  abso- 
lute will  of  any  man,  and  they  will  have  always  a  right 
to  preserve  what  they  have  not  power  to  part  with." 


965 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  kc,  JUNE,  1775. 


966 


Should  it  be  inquired,  what  is  the  constitutional  con- 
nexion between  these  several  distinct  States  which  com- 
pose the  British  Empire?  it  may  be  answered,  they  are 
all  united  under  one  Crown,  subjects  of  the  same  Prince, 
whose  person,  crown,  and  dignity,  they  are  all  obliged  to 
maintain  and  defend  to  their  utmost  ability,  against  all  ene- 
mies and  opposers  whatsoever;  therefore  the  enemies  of 
any  one  of  the  Dominions  of  the  Crown  are  the  common 
enemies  of  all  the  subjects  of  the  Crown,  and  it  is  the  duty 
of  all  to  afford  their  aid  for  common  defence  in  time  of  war, 
and  to  be  prepared  for  it  in  time  of  peace.  Also,  the  su- 
preme executive  and  one  branch  of  the  legislative  authority 
being  lodged  in  the  Crown,  a  similarity  in  the  laws  and 
administration  of  justice  is  thereby  preserved  in  all  the 
several  Dominions.  Also,  the  King's  subjects  have  a  com- 
mon right  to  participate  in  all  privileges  and  immunities  in 
any  of  the  Dominions  of  the  Crown,  if  they  remove  from 
one  jurisdiction  to  another,  unless  that  right  be  abridged  by 
some  positive  law. 

This  union  of  Great  Britain  and  the  Colonies,  under 
the  same  Crown,  differs  from  the  case  of  Hanover,  which 
is  at  present  subject  to  the  same  King,  who  holds  that 
Dominion  by  a  different  title,  and  not  as  King  of  Great 
Britain.  So  that  if  he  should  resign  the  British  Crown, 
his  right  of  dominion  over  Hanover  would  remain,  but  not 
over  the  American  Colonies;  for  they  agreed,  with  the 
Kings  of  England  to  be  subject  to  them,  their  heirs,  and 
successors,  which  will  oblige  them  to  be  subject  to  the  King 
of  England  for  the  time  being,  so  long  as  it  may  be  sub- 
servient to  the  great  end  of  civil  Government — the  publick 
good.  The  union  of  Great  Britain  and  the  Colonies  into 
one  State  is,  from  their  situation,  impracticable,  and  every 
beneficial  purpose  may,  by  a  prudent  administration,  be 
well  answered  by  their  union  in  the  Crown,  while  they 
continue  distinct  jurisdictions  for  civil  Government. 

The  Legislature  of  each  Dominion  can  grant  the  neces- 
sary  aids  for  common  defence,  and  agree  to  laws  for  regu- 
lating trade  and  other  matters  of  general  concern,  which 
will  bind  the  people  within  their  respective  jurisdictions. 
Their  common  safety  and  interest  will  induce  them  to  agree 
to  what  may  appear  to  be  for  the  publick  good  ;  and  to 
facilitate  this  agreement  among  the  Colonies,  Delegates 
may  be  chosen  by  their  respective  Assemblies,  to  meet  in 
general  Congress,  to  agree  on  such  matters  as  shall  be  re- 
ferred to  their  consideration,  and  report  their  opinion  to  the 
several  Colony  Legislatures  for  their  final  determination. 
Thus  all  may  co-operate  for  their  common  benefit  and 
security,  while  all  enjoy  equal  privileges  and  immunities  : 
and  the  British  Empire,  by  a  due  attention  to  the  true 
principles  of  the  Constitution,  may  become  the  most  pow- 
erful, happy,  and  glorious,  of  any  in  the  world. 


NEW-YORK  COMMITTEE. 


At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee,  Monday,  12th  June, 
1775.  Present: 


Henry  Remsen, 
Oliver  Templeton, 
Cornelius  Clopper, 
AVilluim  Bedlow, 
Joseph  Bull, 
Abm.  Brinkerhoff, 
Jeremiah  Piatt, 
Evert  Banker, 
Gerardus  Duyckinck, 
Robert  Ray, 
Cornelius  P.  Low, 
Eleazer  Miller, 
Anthony  Van  Dam, 
Daniel  Dunscomb, 


John  Lasher, 
Hercules  Mulligan, 
William  W.  Gilbert, 
John  Woodward, 
Nicholas  Roosevelt, 
Benjamin  Helme, 
George  Janeway, 
John  Lamb, 
Petrus  Byvanck, 
William  Goforth, 
Edward  Fleming, 
Gabriel  H.  Ludlow, 
David  Beekman, 
Hamilton  Young, 


Nicholas  Bogart, 
Joseph  Totten, 
Francis  Bassett, 
James  Desbrosses, 
Daniel  Phenix, 
John  Imlay, 
Gabriel  W.  Ludlow, 
Aug.  Van  Home, 
William  Laight, 
William  Walton, 
Thomas  Smith, 
John  M.  Scott, 
Theophilus  Anthony. 


A  Letter,  dated  New-London,  7th  June,  1775,  from 
II.  Parsons,  enclosing  a  copy  of  a  Letter  from  Portsmouth, 
dated  May  29,  1775,  received  and  read. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Henry  Remsen  pay  unto  Mr.  Isaac 
Sears  the  sum  of  twenty-three  Pounds  five  Shillings  and 
ten  Pence,  out  of  the  money  paid  into  his  hands,  and  re- 
ceived of  Messrs.  Murrays  by  Mr.  Kissam. 

Ordered,  That  Messrs.  Bull,  Templeton,  and  Fleming 
be  a  Sub-Committee  to  attend  the  sales  of  two  packages  of 
goods  in  the  possession  of  Gray  and  Blakic,  and  also  of 
two  bales  and  a  trunk  in  the  possession  of  Benjamin  Booth. 

Ordered,  That  Messrs  Ray  and  Scott  be  a  Sub-Com- 
mittee to  wait  on  his  Worship  the  Mayor,  to  request  him 


to  give  orders  for  the  removal  of  some  soldiers'  wives  and 
children,  infected  with  the  small-pox,  out  of  this  City,  and 
to  take  measures  to  prevent  their  becoming  a  Parish 
charge. 

Ordered,  That  John  Lamb,  William  Laight,  Joseph 
Bull,  and  George  Janeway  be  a  Committee  to  wait  on 
Dr.  Betts,  to  inquire  into  the  truth  of  his  having  lately 
inoculated  for  the  small-pox. 


COMMITTEES  IN  ULSTER  COUNTY  TO  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

Newburgh,  June  12,  1775. 
Gentlemen  :  In  consequence  of  a  resolve  in  Provincial 
Congress,  passed  the  7th  instant,  where  it  is  declared  that 
whenever  doubts  should  arise  in  the  minds  of  individuals 
relative  to  the  resolutions  and  recommendations  of  either 
the  Continental  or  our  Provincial  Congresses,  it  is  the  duty 
of  such  persons  to  apply  to  your  Board  for  an  explanation 
thereof:  Therefore,  gentlemen,  willing  to  walk  in  the  path 
of  duty,  as  far  as  we  have  knowledge  of  the  same,  we,  in 
behalf  of  the  Committees  for  the  Precincts  of  New-Marl- 
borough,  Newburgh,  and  New-Windsor,  do  hereby  apply 
for  an  explanation  of  the  words  in  your  resolve  of  the 
29th  of  May  last,  which  is  as  follows:  "And  that  such 
persons  in  those  Counties  or  Districts  who  have  not  ap- 
pointed Committees,  as  shall  be  appointed  by  the  members 
of  this  Congress,  respecting  such  Counties  and  Districts 
respectively,"  kc.  As  we  cannot  ascertain  what  ideas  the 
honourable  Congress  means  to  convey  by  these  words, 
they  will  pardon  the  freedom  we  take  in  requesting  an  ex- 
planation. We  are  at  a  loss,  also,  what  is  intended  in  the 
resolve  of  the  Congress  of  the  31st  of  May  last,  where  it  is 
recommended  to  the  inhabitants  of  this  Colony  in  general 
to  provide  arms,  kc,  and  to  use  all  diligence  in  acquiring 
knowledge  in  the  military  art,  and,  if  necessary,  to  join 
themselves  into  companies  for  the  purpose  aforesaid.  With 
all  due  deference  to  the  honourable  Congress,  we  humbly 
conceive  that  the  words  "  if  necessary"  leaves  the  matter 
indifferent  whether  the  inhabitants  of  this  Colony  do  form 
themselves  into  companies  or  not ;  if  they  do  not,  we  beg 
to  be  informed  which  way  we  are  to  acquire  the  art  recom- 
mended. 

Gentlemen,  your  answer  to  our  requests  will  much 
oblige  a  number  of  your  constituents,  as  also  your  humble 
servants,  Benjamin  Carpenter, 

Chairman  of  New- Marlborough. 
Samuel  Brewster, 
Chairman  of  New- Windsor. 
Isaac  Belknap, 
Chairman  pro  tern,  for  Neivburgh. 
To  the  Honourable  Provincial  Congress  for  the  Colony  of 
New-  York,  now  convened  in  the  City  of  New-York. 


ALEXANDER  McDOUGALL  TO  MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS. 

New- York  Provincial  Congress,  June  12,  1775. 

The  President  of  your  Congress,  the  General,  and  Chair- 
man of  the  Committee  of  Supply  for  your  Province,  wrote 
to  our  Congress  a  few  days  since,  complaining  greatly  of 
the  want  of  powder,  and  earnestly  soliciting  our  assistance. 

We  had  it  not  then  in  our  power  to  give  it,  but  applied 
to  our  neighbours,  and  procured  from  them  a  small  supply, 
which,  together  with  all  we  could  purchase,  amount  to  six 
hundred  and  fifty-five  pounds. 

Our  Congress  wrote  by  this  day's  post  to  Governour 
Trumbull,  requesting  him  to  send  this  quantity  to  your 
camp  from  one  of  his  eastern  magazines,  and  that  we  would 
forward  the  above  to  replace  it,  to  any  Town  in  his  Colony. 
At  nine  o'clock  this  night  it  will  move  hence  in  a  wagon, 
accompanied  by  four  or  six  trusty  men ;  for  it  is  necessary 
that  no  parade  should  be  made  on  the  road,  to  prevent  a 
conclusion  that  this  article  is  wanted  with  you.  They  will 
be  directed  to  travel  always  at  night,  and  put  up  in  the 
day.  It  will  be  necessary  in  the  way  through  that  Colony, 
to  inquire  of  Governour  Trumbull  whether  he  can  comply 
with  our  request;  if  he  can,  to  order  what  is  on  its  way  to 
such  place  as  he  shall  think  proper.  If  not,  a  disposition 
should  be  made  to  convey  the  article  through  Connecticut 
to  your  camp.  I  shall  order  it  to  be  left  with  a  safe  Com- 
mittee in  Connecticut. 


967 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  Lc,  JUNE,  1775. 


9G8 


ALEXANDER  McDOUG ALL  TO  JOSEPH  WARREN. 

New-York,  Juno  12,  1775. 

Dear  Sir  :  Your  favour  to  our  Congress  on  the  subject 
of  powder,  filled  us  with  great  distress,  which  was  greatly 
increased  by  our  utter  inability  to  supply  you.  We,  how- 
ever, wrote  immediately  to  Jersey,  where  we  procured  a 
small  quantity,  which,  with  all  we  could  purchase  here, 
amount  to  six  hundred  and  fifty-five  pounds.  The  Con- 
gress wrote  by  this  day's  post  to  Governour  Trumbull,  to 
supply  you  with  this  quantity  out  of  one  of  his  easterly 
magazines,  and  we  would  replace. 

For  this  purpose  two  wagons  set  off  with  the  above,  or 
to  be  forwarded  to  you,  in  case  he  can't  comply  with  our 
request. 

I  am,  Sir,  in  the  utmost  haste,  your  very  humble  servant, 

Alex.  McDougall. 

To  Joseph  Warren,  Esq. 


ALEXANDER  McDOUGALL  TO  THE  COMMITTEE  FOR  GREEN- 
WICH, CONNECTICUT. 

New. York,  June  12,  1775. 
Sir:  This  accompanies  six  hundred  and  fifty-five  pounds 
of  powder,  which  you  are  requested  to  forward,  with  the 
letter  to  Mr.  Warren,  to  Hartford,  there  to  be  subject  to 
the  direction  of  your  Governour,  unless  he  should  order 
the  powder  to  be  deposited  in  some  magazine  in  your 
Colony  before  it  reaches  that  place.  Please  to  give  Mr. 
Willett  a  receipt  for  the  quantity  of  barrels,  and  the  weight. 
It  will  be  most  expedient  that  the  conveyance  be  at  night, 
for  reasons  too  obvious  to  be  mentioned,  but  which  Mr. 
JVillctt  will  explain,  if  necessary. 

I  am,  Sir,  with  great  truth  and  regard,  your  humble 
servant,  Alexander  McDougall. 

P.  S.  The  barrels  should  always  be  coopered  before 
they  are  changed  from  cart  to  cart,  and  if  they  want  coop- 
ering, it  should  be  done  with  wooden  tools. 

Greenwich,  June  13,  1775,  five  o'clock,  P.  M. 
Received  the  above,  and  forwarded  the  same  from  Com- 
mittee to  Committee  to  Hartford,  and  if  the  Governour 
thinks  best,  to  the  Army  at  Cambridge.  The  powder  is 
contained  in  two  whole  barrels,  two  half  barrels,  and  four- 
teen quarter  casks. 

We  are,  gentlemen,  your  humble  servants, 
Nehemiah  Mead, 
John  Mackay, 
Amos  Mead, 
Titus  Mead, 
To  the  Committee  at  Stamford, 


Committee. 


Stamford,  June  13,  1775,  eight  o'clock,  P.  M. 
Received  from  the  Committee  of  Greenwich  the  quan- 
tity of  powder  as  before  desired.    By  us  : 
John  Hait, 
Samuel  Broker, 
Peter  Hait, 
Samuel  Hutton, 


Committee. 


Newport,  Rhode-Island,  June  12,  1775. 

On  Monday  last  the  Honourable  General  Assembly  of 
this  Colony  met  at  East- Greenwich,  and  passed  the  follow- 
ing Act : 

"  This  Assembly,  at  the  Session  held  at  Providence  on 
the  first  Wednesday  in  May  last,  having  passed  an  Act 
prohibiting  his  Honour  the  Deputy  Governour  and  the  As- 
sistants, from  administering  the  oath  of  office  to  the  Hon- 
ourable Joseph  Wanton,  Esq.,  who  was  elected  Governour 
of  this  Colony  for  the  present  year ;  and  declaring  all  acts 
by  him  done  in  the  pretended  capacity  of  Governour,  null 
and  void,  until  he  shall  be  engaged  in  open  General  As- 
sembly, and  with  the  consent  of  the  General  Assembly, 
&tc:  and  the  said  Joseph  Wanton  having  appeared  before 
this  Assembly,  and  demanded  that  the  oath  of  office  be 
administered  to  him ;  and  this  Assembly  having  taken  the 
same  into  consideration,  do  vote  and  resolve,  and  it  is  voted 
and  resolved,  that  the  said  Joseph  Wanton  hath  not  given 
satisfaction  to  this  Assembly,  and  that  the  said  recited  Act, 
passed  at  the  last  Session,  continue  and  be  in  force  until 


the  rising  of  the  General  Assembly  at  the  next  Session  ; 
and  that  this  Act  be  immediately  published,  by  inserting  a 
copy  thereof  in  the  Newport  Mercury,  and  Providence 
Gazette." 

Colony  of  Rhode-Island,  &ic. 

The  above  is  a  true  copy  of  an  Act  passed  by  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly,  at  the  Session  held  at  East-Greenwich,  on 
the  second  Monday  in  June,  A.  D.  1175. 

Witness:  Henry  Ward,  Secretary. 


Whitehall,  London,  July  18,  1775. 

Lieutenant-General  Gage,  in  his  letters  to  the  Earl  of 
Dartmouth,  dated  June  12,  1775,  gives  an  account  that 
the  Town  of  Boston  continued  to  be  surrounded  by  a  large 
body  of  rebel  Provincials,  and  that  all  communication  with 
the  country  was  cut  off;  that  the  rebels  had  been  burning 
houses,  and  driving  sheep  off  an  island  that  has  easy  com- 
munication with  the  main  land,  which  drew  on  a  skirmish 
with  some  Marines,  who  drove  the  rebels  away ;  but  that 
an  armed  schooner,  that  had  been  sent  between  the  inland 
and  the  main  land,  having  got  on  shore  at  high  water, 
there  was  no  possibility  of  saving  her,  for  as  the  tide  fell, 
she  was  left  quite  dry,  and  burned  by  the  rebels.  Two 
men  were  killed,  and  a  few  wounded. 

The  first  embarkation  of  Troops  from  Ireland,  consisting 
of  three  Regiments  of  Infantry  and  one  of  Light  Cavalry, 
had  arrived  at  Boston;  and  General  Gage  had  published 
a  Proclamation,  offering  His  Majesty's  pardon  to  all  per- 
sons who  should  immediately  lay  down  their  arms,  (except 
Samuel  Adams  and  John  Hancock,)  declaring  all  per.-on? 
to  be  traitors  who  should  aid  and  assist,  or  hold  any  cor- 
respondence with  the  rebels ;  and  ordering  martial  law  to 
be  in  force  within  the  Province  of  Massachusetts-Bay,  so 
long  as  the  present  unhappy  occasions  shall  necessarily  re- 
quire it. 

EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  GENERAL  GAGE  TO  LORD 
DARTMOUTH. 

Boston,  June  12,  1775. 
It  has  been  mentioned  to  your  Lordship,  that  the  disaf- 
fected generally  receive  very  quick  intelligence  of  what  is 
doing  at  home,  and  that  those  who  have  committed  them- 
selves most  notoriously  in  acts  of  treason  and  rebellion,  fled 
upon  the  arrival  of  a  ship  from  England,  some  days  before 
the  Nautilus  and  Falcon  sloops  reached  this  place  with 
your  despatches.  From  what  lias  passed,  your  Lordship 
will  judge  that  a  plan  for  rebellion  has  been  long  conceived, 
and  the  people's  minds  ripened  for  it,  and  it  is  now  too 
open  and  manifest  to  need  the  opinion  of  the  law  officers. 
1  hear  that  the  rebels,  after  surprising  Ticonderoga ,  made 
incursions  and  commenced  hostilities  upon  the  frontier  of 
the  Province  of  Quebcck,  which  will  justify  General  Carh- 
ton  to  raise  bodies  of  Canadians  and  Indians  to  attack  them 
in  return  ;  and  we  need  not  be  tender  of  calling  on  the 
Savages,  as  the  rebels  have  shown  us  the  example,  by 
bringing  as  many  Indians  down  against  us  here  as  they 
could  collect.* 


PROCLAMATION  BY  GOVERNOUR  GAGE. 

By  His  Excellency  the  Honourable  Thomas  Gage,  Es- 
quire, Governour  and  Commander-in-Chief,  in  and  over 
His  Majesty's  Province  of  Massachusetts-Bay,  and 
Vice- Admiral  of  the  same  : 

A  Proclamation. 

Whereas,  the  infatuated  multitude,  who  have  long  suf- 
fered themselves  to  be  conducted  by  certain  well  known 
incendiaries  and  traitors,  in  a  fatal  progression  of  crimes 
against  the  constitutional  authority  of  the  State,  have  at 

♦It  is  a  singular  fact  that  the  first  intelligence  of  the  capture  of 
Ticonderoga  was  communicated  to  General  Gage  through  a  letter  from 
Doctor  Joseph  Warren  to  Mr.  John  Scollay,  dated  May  17th,  at  Wa- 
tertown,  just  one  month  before  he  was  slain  at  Bunker' s.llill.  A  copy 
of  the  lottor  was  procured  by  General  Gage,  and  sent  by  him  to  Lord 
Dartmouth.    The  following  is  an  extract; 

"  Thus  a  war  is  begun,  which  I  have  frequently  said  to  you  and 
others  would,  if  not  timely  prevented,  overturn  tho  liritish  Empire;  but 
I  hopo,  after  a  full  conviction  both  of  our  ability  and  resolution  to 
maintain  our  rights,  Britain  will  act  with  that  wisdom  which  is  so  ab- 
solutely necessary  for  her  preservation  ;  this  I  most  heartily  wish,  as 
I  feel  a  warm  affection  still  for  tho  Parent  State."  Sparks's  Washing, 
ton.  Vol.  3,  p.  510. 


969 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1175. 


970 


length  proceeded  to  avowed  Rebellion  ;  and  the  good  ef- 
fects which  were  expected  to  arise  from  the  patience  and 
lenity  of  the  King's  Government  have  been  often  frustra- 
ted, and  are  now  rendered  hopeless,  by  the  influence  of  the 
same  evil  counsels;  it  only  remains  for  those  who  are  in- 
vested with  supreme  rule,  as  well  for  the  punishment  of  the 
guilty,  as  the  protection  of  the  well-affected,  to  prove  they 
do  not  bear  the  sword  in  vain. 

The  infringements  which  have  been  committed  upon  the 
most  sacred  rights  of  the  Crown  and  People  of  Great  Bri- 
tain, are  too  many  to  enumerate  on  one  side,  and  are  all 
too  atrocious  to  be  paliated  on  the  other.  All  unpreju- 
diced people,  who  have  been  witnesses  of  the  late  transac- 
tions in  this  and  the  neighbouring  Provinces,  will  find,  upon 
a  transient  review,  marks  of  premeditation  and  conspiracy, 
that  would  justify  the  fulness  of  chastisement ;  and  even 
those  who  are  least  acquainted  with  facts,  cannot  fail  to 
receive  a  just  impression  of  their  enormity,  in  proportion 
as  t hey  discover  the  arts  and  assiduity  by  which  they  have 
been  falsified  or  concealed. 

The  authors  of  the  present  unnatural  revolt,  never  dar- 
ing to  trust  their  cause  or  their  actions  to  the  judgment  of 
an  impartial  publick,  or  even  to  the  dispassionate  reflec- 
tion of  their  followers,  have  uniformly  placed  their  chief 
confidence  in  the  suppression  of  truth  ;  and  while  indefati- 
gable and  shameless  pains  have  been  taken  to  obstruct 
every  appeal  to  the  real  interest  of  the  people  of  America, 
the  grossest  forgeries,  calumnies  and  absurdities  that  ever 
insulted  human  understanding,  have  been  imposed  upon 
their  credulity.  The  press,  that  distinguished  appendage 
of  publick  liberty,  and,  when  fairly  and  impartially  em- 
ployed, its  best  support,  has  been  invariably  prostituted  to 
the  most  contrary  purposes;  the  animated  language  of  an- 
cient and  virtuous  times,  calculated  to  vindicate  and  pro- 
mote the  just  rights  and  interests  of  mankind,  have  been 
applied  to  countenance  the  most  abandoned  violation  of 
those  sacred  blessings;  and  not  only  from  the  flagitious 
prints,  but  from  the  popular  harangues  of  the  times,  men 
have  been  taught  to  depend  upon  activity  in  treason,  for 
the  security  of  their  persons  and  properties ;  till,  to  com- 
plete the  horrid  profanation  of  terms  and  of  ideas,  the 
name  of  God  has  been  introduced  in  the  pulpits,  to  excite 
and  justify  devastation  and  massacre. 

The  minds  of  men  have  been  thus  gradually  prepa- 
red for  the  worst  extremities.  A  number  of  armed  per- 
sons, to  the  amount  of  many  thousands,  assembled  on  the 
19th  of  April  last,  and  from  behind  walls  and  lurking 
holes,  attacked  a  detachment  of  the  King's  Troops,  who, 
not  suspecting  so  consummate  an  act  of  frenzy,  unprepared 
for  vengeance,  and  willing  to  decline  it,  made  use  of  their 
arms  only  in  their  own  defence.  Since  that  period,  the 
rebels,  deriving  confidence  from  impunity,  have  added  insult 
to  outrage ;  have  repeatedly  fired  upon  the  King's  ships 
and  subjects,  with  cannon  and  small-arms ;  have  possessed 
the  roads,  and  other  communications  by  which  the  Town 
of  Boston  was  supplied  with  provisions;  and  with  a  pre- 
posterous parade  of  military  arrangement,  they  affected  to 
hold  the  Army  besieged  ;  while  part  of  their  body  made 
daily  and  indiscriminate  invasions  upon  private  property, 
and,  with  a  wantonness  of  cruelty  ever  incident  to  lawless 
tumult,  carry  depredation  and  distress  wherever  they  turn 
their  steps.  The  actions  of  the  19th  of  April  are  of  such 
notority  as  must  baffle  all  attempts  to  contradict  them,  and 
the  flames  of  buildings  and  other  property  from  the  islands 
and  adjacent  country,  for  some  weeks  past,  spread  a  melan- 
choly confirmation  of  the  subsequent  assertions. 

In  this  exigency  of  complicated  calamities,  I  avail  my- 
self of  the  last  effort  within  the  bounds  of  my  duty,  to 
spare  the  effusion  of  blood  ;  to  offer,  and  I  do  hereby,  in 
His  Majesty's  name,  offer  and  promise  his  most  gracious 
pardon  to  all  persons  who  shall  forthwith  lay  down  their 
arms,  and  return  to  their  duties  of  peaceable  subjects,  ex- 
cepting only  from  the  benefit  of  such  pardon,  Samuel 
Adams  and  John  Hancock,  whose  offences  are  of  too  fla- 
gitious a  nature  to  admit  of  any  other  consideration  than 
that  of  condign  punishment. 

And  to  the  end  that  no  person  within  the  limits  of  this 
offered  mercy  may  plead  ignorance  of  the  consequences 
of  refusing  it ;  I,  by  these  presents,  proclaim  not  only  the 
persons  above  named  and  excepted,  but  also  all  their  ad- 
herents, associates,  and  abetters,  (meaning  to  comprehend 


in  those  terms,  all  and  every  person  and  persons,  of  what 
class,  denomination  or  description  soever,)  who  have  ap- 
peared in  arms  against  the  King's  Government,  and  shall 
not  lay  down  the  same  as  afore-mentioned  ;  and  likewise; 
all  such  as  shall  so  take  arms  after  the  date  hereof,  or  who 
shall  in  any  wise  protect  or  conceal  such  offenders,  or  assist 
them  with  money,  provisions,  cattle,  arms,  ammunition, 
carriages,  or  any  other  necessary  for  subsistence  or  offence ; 
or  shall  hold  secret  correspondence  with  them  by  letter, 
message,  single  or  otherwise,  to  be  Rebels  and  Traitors, 
and  as  such  to  be  treated. 

And  whereas,  during  the  continuance  of  the  present  un- 
natural rebellion,  justice  cannot  be  administered  by  the 
common  law  of  the  land,  the  course  whereof  has  for  a  long 
time  past  been  violently  impeded,  and  wholly  interrupted, 
(from  whence  results  a  necessity  of  using  and  exercising  the 
Law-Martial,)  I  have  therefore  thought  fit,  by  the  autho- 
rity vested  in  me  by  the  Royal  Charter  to  this  Province, 
to  publish,  and  1  do  hereby  publish,  proclaim  and  order  the 
use  and  exercise  of  the  Law-Martial,  within  and  through- 
out this  Province  for  so  long  time  as  the  present  unhappy 
occasion  shall  necessarily  require ;  whereof  all  persons  are 
hereby  required  to  take  notice,  and  govern  themselves,  as 
well  to  maintain  order  and  regularity  among  the  peaceable 
inhabitants  of  the  Province,  as  to  resist,  encounter,  and 
subdue  the  Rebels  and  Traitors  above  described,  by  sucti 
as  shall  be  called  upon  for  those  purposes. 

To  these  inevitable,  but,  I  trust,  salutary  measures,  it  is  a 
far  more  pleasing  part  of  my  duty  to  add  the  assurance  of 
my  protection  and  support  to  all  who,  in  so  trying  a  crisis, 
shall  manifest  their  allegiance  to  the  King,  and  affection  to 
the  Parent  State;  so  that  such  persons  as  may  have  been 
intimidated  to  quit  their  homes  in  the  course  of  this  alarm, 
may  return  to  their  respective  callings  and  professions, 
and  stand  distinct  and  separate  from  the  parricides  of  the 
Constitution,  till  God  in  his  mercy  shall  restore  to  his  crea- 
tures in  this  distracted  laud  that  system  of  happiness  from 
which  they  have  been  seduced — the  religion  of  peace,  and 
liberty  founded  upon  law. 

Given  at  Boston,  this  12th  day  of  June,  in  the  fifteenth 
year  of  the  reign  of  His  Majesty  King  George  the  Third, 
by  the  grace  of  God,  of  Great-Britain,  France,  and  Ire- 
land, King,  Defender  of  the  Faith,  &,c,  Annoque  Domi- 
ni 1775.  Thomas  Gage. 
By  His  Excellency's  command: 

Thomas  Flucker,  Secretary. 
God  save  the  King. 


THE  MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS  TO  THE  CONTINENTAL 
CONGRESS. 

Watertow  n,  June  12,  1775. 

May  it  please  your  Honours  : 

The  views  of  Administration  having  been  made  evident 
by  their  conduct  for  some  years  past,  and  the  late  regula- 
tions of  civil  and  ecclesiastical  polity  of  Quebeck  having 
already  discovered  an  intention  to  make  up  of  the  Cana- 
dians or  Indians  to  reduce  the  Continent  to  slavery ;  it  has 
been  found  absolutely  necessary  for  the  preservation  of  the 
liberties  of  America  to  take  possession  of  the  important 
pass  of  Ticonderoga,  and  to  send  forward  a  sufficient  force 
to  hold  the  same  against  any  attempt  which  may  be  made 
to  retake  it,  and  to  prevent  General  Carleton  from  sending 
forces,  by  the  way  of  the  Lakes,  to  annoy  and  distress  the 
frontiers.  But  we  apprehend  there  never  has  been  any 
intention  to  give  the  least  disturbance  to  our  brethren  of 
Canada,  to  whom  we  most  sincerely  wish  the  full  and  free 
enjoyment  of  their  civil  and  religious  rights. 

We  humbly  request  that  your  Honours  would  take  sucli 
steps  to  prevent  any  false  impressions  which  our  enemies 
may  attempt  to  make  on  their  minds,  concerning  our  de- 
signs, or  to  remove  any  such  as  have  already  been  made, 
as  you  in  your  wisdom  shall  think  most  expedient;  as  we 
look  upon  it  to  be  of  the  utmost  importance  that  there 
should  be  no  jealousies  subsisting  between  them  and  the 
other  Colonies ;  and  we  have  wrote  to  our  sister  Colonies 
in  New-England  and  to  Neic-York,  requesting  they  would 
make  a  similar  application  to  you  respecting  this  matter 

We  are  your  most  obedient  humble  servants- 
To  the  Continental  Congress. 


971 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  he,  JUNE,  1775. 


972 


To  the  Honourable  Provincial  Congress  of  Massachu- 
setts, now  siding  at  Watehtown,  within  the  County 
of  Middlesex,  this  twelfth  day  of  June,  1775: 

The  Memorial  of  Henry  Howell  Williams  humbly 
she  wet h  : 

That  your  memorialist  hath,  for  eleven  years  last  past, 
dwelt  on  an  island  in  Boston  Bay,  commonly  called  Nod- 
dle's Island,  at  a  very  high  rent,  and  in  order  to  pay  the 
same  was  obliged  to  keep  a  large  stock  of  horses,  cattle, 
sheep,  he. ;  and  that  during  all  the  years  aforesaid  hath 
paid  very  large  taxes  for  said  island,  stock,  &c,  for  the 
support  of  Government;  and  hath  always  endeavoured 
faithfully  to  discharge  his  duty,  as  a  good  member  of  so- 
ciety, towards  all  men,  and  all  that  was  theirs.  That  on 
Saturday,  the  27th  day  of  May  last,  a  number  of  armed 
troops,  commonly  called  Provincials,  came  on  to  said 
island,  by  way  of  Hog  Island,  and  did  then  and  there  kill 
or  carry  away  eight  horses  and  three  cows,  part  of  the 
aforesaid  stock,  and  also  burnt  and  destroyed  one  dwelling- 
house  and  barn,  with  all  the  household  goods  therein  con- 
tained, wearing  apparel,  he.  That  on  Monday,  the  29th 
of  May,  the  same  or  another  number  of  said  armed  troops, 
came  again  on  to  said  island,  and  then  and  there  did  burn 
and  destroy  two  other  dwelling-houses,  goods,  he.,  and 
three  barns ;  and  at  the  same  time  did  take  away  and 
drive  off  from  said  island  about  five  hundred  old  sheep, 
and  about  three  hundred  and  forty  lambs,  with  between 
thirty  and  forty  head  of  horned  cattle,  the  property  of 
your  memorialist,  together  with  a  further  number  of  horses, 
hogs,  &c,  he.  And  that  on  Tuesday,  the  30th  day  of 
May  aforesaid,  they  entered  again  on  to  said  island,  and 
then  and  there  proceeded  and  burnt  your  memorialist's 
mansion  house,  with  all  the  barns,  corn-houses,  and  store 
houses,  stores,  provisions,  goods,  house  furniture,  wearing 
apparel,  liquors,  and  utensils  of  all  sorts,  to  a  very  con- 
siderable amount  and  value.  And  on  Saturday,  the  10th 
day  of  June,  instant,  entered  again,  and  burnt  and  de- 
stroyed the  warehouse,  the  last  building  on  said  island, 
by  which  means  your  poor  memorialist  is  stripped  almost 
naked,  and  destitute  of  any  place  to  lay  his  head,  with  a 
very  large  family  of  children  and  servants,  to  the  amount 
of  between  forty  and  fifty  in  number,  that  are  destitute  of 
any  business  or  supplies  but  from  your  memorialist. 

These  are  therefore  to  request  your  Honours  will  take 
his  most  distressed  circumstances  into  your  wise  considera- 
tion, and  make  such  order  thereon  as  in  your  wisdom  shall 
seem  meet,  and,  as  in  duty  bound,  will  pray. 

Henry  Howell  Williams. 


SPRINGFIELD  (MASSACHUSETTS)  COMMITTEE. 

Springfield,  June  12,  1775. 

Whereas,  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  for  this 
Town  have  signified  to  me,  that  many  suspicions  have 
been  conceived  of  me,  in  this  and  other  parts  of  the  Coun- 
try, respecting  my  disposition  and  conduct,  in  regard  to 
our  publick  affairs ;  and  have  therefore,  agreeable  to  the 
order  of  the  Provincial  Congress  of  the  8th  of  May  last, 
thought  proper  to  inquire  into  the  same,  and  have  called 
upon  me  for  the  assurance  and  satisfaction  therein  men- 
tioned :  in  conformity  to  such  request,  I  have  assured  said 
Committee,  and  beg  leave  respectfully  to  assure  the  pub- 
lick,  that  I  have  always  conceived  a  most  tender  regard  for 
the  liberty  and  privileges  of  my  Country,  and  the  greatest 
concern  at  every  prospect  of  its  injury  or  oppression  ;  that 
however  I  may,  as  very  probably  1  have,  committed  many 
errours  and  mistakes  in  the  little  part  I  have  had  in  the 
publick  affairs  of  the  Province,  yet  that  1  never  entertained 
a  sentiment,  or  did  any  thing  knowingly,  that  was  unfriend- 
ly to  its  interest,  but  always  endeavoured,  according  to  my 
ability,  with  good  conscience  to  promote  it. 

That  wherein  I  have  heretofore  in  any  of  those  matters, 
unhappily  thought  differently  from  many  of  my  brethren, 
I  humbly  apprehend  I  thought  with  modesty,  and  acted 
with  integrity,  moderation,  and  decency,  and  in  some  good 
degree  as  became  one  who  realized  the  account  he  was  to 
give  of  his  conduct.  That  as  a  private  member  of  society, 
1  have  long  since  submitted  myself  to  the  publick  sense 
and  opinion;  that  I  have  always  conformed  myself  to  the 
regulations  of  the  former  Continental  Congress  ;  that  I 
will  by  no  means  obstruct  any  measures  that  may  be  taken 


for  the  common  defence  ;  that  I  am  determined  to  conform 
myself  to  all  such  future  regulations  as  may  be  dictated  by 
the  wisdom  of  the  Continent;  and  to  join  my  countrymen, 
on  all  occasions,  according  to  my  abilities,  in  defence  of  the 
rights  and  liberties  of  America. 

John  Worthington. 

In  Committee  of  Correspondence,  Sprinpfield,  ) 
June  12,  1775.  \ 

This  Committee  having  examined  John  IVorthington, 
Esq.,  with  respect  to  his  principles  and  conduct,  agreeable 
to  the  order  of  the  Provincial  Congress  of  the  8lh  of  May 
last,  and  having  received  full  and  ample  assurance  of  his 
friendly  disposition  to  his  Country,  and  of  his  readiness 
to  join  in  defence  of  its  rights  and  liberties;  hereby  declare 
their  full  satisfaction  and  confidence  therein;  and  recom- 
mend him  to  the  favourable  opinion  of  the  publick,  and  to 
the  treatment  and  respect  due  to  a  friend  of  his  Country. 

By  order  of  the  Committee : 

Nathaniel  Brewer,  Chairman. 

N.  B.  This  Town  in  town-meeting  having  heard  him 
on  the  same  matters,  voted  themselves  also  satisfied  there- 
with. 


COMMITTEES  OF  CHELMSFORD,  ETC.,  MASSACHUSETTS. 

Chelmsford,  June  12,  1775. 

Whereas,  I,  Timothy  Brown  of  Teivksbury,  have  been 
suspected  as  an  enemy  to  the  liberties  of  America,  1  do 
hereby  acknowledge  that  I  have  in  times  past  said  some- 
thing (though  with  no  inimical  design)  that  were  taken  as 
of  an  inimical  nature.  I  am  heartily  sorry  I  said  those 
things,  and  desire  the  forgiveness  of  all  persons  that  I 
have  offended  thereby ;  and  do  declare  myself  a  friend  to 
the  Charter  privileges  of  my  Country,  and  that  I  will  use 
all  lawful  endeavours  to  maintain  and  defend  the  same. 

Timothy  Brown. 

The  above  written  acknowledgment  was  accepted  by  the 
Committee  of  Correspondence  for  the  Towns  of  Chelms- 
ford, Billerica,  and  Tcwksbury,  and  they  do  hereby  re- 
commend the  above  named  Timothy  Brown  to  the  charity 
and  friendship  of  the  good  people  through  the  Country. 

In  the  name  and  by  order  of  the  Committee  of  said 
Towns:  Simeon  Spalding,  Chairman. 


To  the  Honourable  Provincial  Congress  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts-Bay, now  sitting  at  Watertown,  in  said 
Province : 

The  Petition  of  the  Committee  of  Safety  for  and  in  be- 
half of  the  Town  of  Kittery,  humbly  shciveth  : 
That  the  Committee  of  Safety  for  this  Town  earnestly 
desire  the  favour  of  making  a  representation  to  your  Hon- 
ours of  the  distresses  and  insults  we  are  daily  subjected  to, 
from  the  hands  of  our  enemies,  being  constrained  thereto 
by  the  duty  and  regard  we  owe  to  said  Town,  our  families, 
and  the  community. 

Such  threatenings  being  sent  on  shore,  by  letters  and 
otherwise,  from  the  Captains  of  the  Scarborough  and  Can- 
ceaux  men-of-war,  as  would  disgrace  us  as  Englishmen 
and  rational  beings,  should  we  tamely  pass  over.  We  are 
told,  that  our  houses  shall  be  beat  down,  and  the  inhabi- 
tants made  prisoners  of,  whenever  it  is  in  their  power,  with 
all  the  horrours  of  bloodshed  and  butchery  laid  before  us. 
Three  cannon-shot  have  already  been  fired  upon  the  side 
opposite  to  this  Town,  among  the  houses,  but  providen- 
tially no  lives  lost.  Although  we  keep  a  regular  Watch, 
night  and  day,  we  are  in  expectation  every  moment,  on 
the  least  pretence,  of  having  our  habitations  and  effects 
demolished,  and  our  persons  seized  as  aforesaid. 

We  are  already  cut  off  from  all  provisions,  salt,  and  mo- 
lasses, by  water;  and  notwithstanding  our  being  in  some 
measure  prepared  to  defend  with  musketry,  we  are  desti- 
tute of  the  necessaries  for  the  use  of  cannon,  of  which  we 
have  two  very  good  ones,  and  a  prospect  of  obtaining  more, 
having  also  a  very  advantageous  place  for  a  battery,  under 
some  considerable  improvement,  erected  by  the  late  Sir 
William  Peppercll,  on  the  news  of  the  Chcbucta  Fleets 
appearing  on  the  Nova-Scotia  shore.  The  inhabitants  are 
willing  and  ready  to  exert  themselves  for  the  honour  of 


973 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


974 


the  Province,  as  well  as  for  the  defence  of  themselves  in 
particular. 

We  of  this  Committee,  looking  upon  the  said  Town  as 
very  unhappy  in  such  a  defenceless  situation,  apply  to 
your  Honours,  as  the  guardians  of  our  rights,  and  beg 
leave  to  ask  for  supplies  of  powder  and  balls,  for  the  use 
of  the  battery  proposed,  as  a  defence  against  the  ravages 
of  merciless  men.  If  it  should  in  your  wisdom  seem  meet 
to  grant  us  this  favour,  humbly  desire  your  advice  how 
far,  and  the  manner  in  which  we  ought  to  proceed,  as  we 
should  be  utterly  against  taking  any  steps  that  might  inter- 
rupt your  deliberations.  We  ask  not  for  this  assistance 
because  we  are  intimidated  or  dismayed,  but  that  we  may 
have  an  opportunity  to  distinguish  ourselves  in  favour  of  a 
cause  that  appears  to  us  so  just  and  reasonable  on  our 
part,  on  the  other  to  be  fraught  with  cruelty  and  oppres- 
sion beyond  our  abilities  to  set  forth.  Being  reduced  to 
this  alternative,  either  to  fight  or  perish  by  famine,  we 
choose  the  first,  if  we  can  procure  the  rational  means  for 
defence.  We  submit  the  matter  to  your  goodness  and 
wisdom,  and  doubt  not  of  your  inclination  to  relieve  us,  if 
our  request  appears  reasonable  to  you,  and  consistent  with 
the  general  plan  of  operation. 

By  order  of  the  Committee  : 

Chas.  Chauncy,  Jun.,  Chairman. 

Kittery,  June  12,  1775. 


ELISHA   PHELPS   TO   THE  MASSACHUSETTS   COMMITTEE  OF 
SAFETY. 

Lebanon,  June  12,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  When  I  left  you  I  came  to  this  Town, 
qnd  informed  his  Honour  the  Governour  the  distressing 
situation  I  was  in  concerning  the  team,  and  his  Honour 
told  me  there  was  no  difficulty ;  that  I  must  apply  to  Al- 
bany, and  they  would  pay  me,  and  he  would  not  have  me 
fetch  any  cannon  without  orders  from  the  Continental  Con- 
gress, which  advice  I  shall  take.  He  also  informed  me 
that  I  was  appointed  Commissary-General  for  the  North- 
ern forces,  so  that  you  cannot  expect  any  cannon  by  any 
of  my  assistance  at  present.  I  thought  it  my  duty  to  let 
you  know  it ;  should  be  glad  that  this  might  be  read  in 
Congress,  as  I  thought  my  fidelity  suspected.  Gentlemen, 
I  am,  with  the  greatest  esteem,  your  very  humble  ser- 
vant at  command,  Elisha  Phelps. 

EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  NEWFOUNDLAND,  DATED 
JUNE  12,  1775. 

The  necessities  of  the  people  here  for  bread  are  in- 
creasing daily  ;  the  labourers  and  fishermen  have  some  time 
been  at  short  allowance,  and  I  am  informed  that  many 
families  here  have  not  any  to  eat.  The  merchants  have 
despatched  vessels  to  England,  Ireland,  and  Quebeck,  in 
search  for  bread,  and  I  doubt  not  many  are  gone  and  going 
to  America  on  the  same  errand ;  but  this  is  conjecture, 
founded  on  the  knowledge  and  solicitations  to  undertake 
the  voyage,  of  which  I,  being  suspected  and  watched,  can 
get  no  certain  intelligence.  The  minds  of  the  merchants 
are  much  agitated.  As  I  transiently  fall  in  company  here, 
where  my  particular  sentiments  are  not  so  well  known,  I 
hear  merchants  concerting  schemes  for  their  supplies,  and 
complaining  that  they  must  discharge  their  men ;  then 
cursing  New-York,  "  the  only  place,"  say  they,  "  we  de- 
pend on  to  assist  us  in  subjugating  the  Americans ;"  then 
cursing  the  Continental  Congress,  and  proposing  the  most 
inhuman  procedure,  whenever  they  shall,  fall  into  their 
hands  ;  anon  cursing  the  Poole  Petition,  and  swearing  they 
had  no  hand  in  it ;  that  the  Poole  men  had  destroyed  them. 
"  Howe  ver,"  say  they,  "  when  General  Burgoync  arrives, 
he  will  draw  in  New-  York,  and  we  shall  yet  bring  Ame- 
rica to  terms ;  but  if  he  should  fail,  those  Light-horse  will 
soon  secure  the  Continental  Congress ;  our  Troops  will 
march  through  the  Country,  and  make  them  feel  the  ef- 
fects of  their  obstinacy;  they  have  no  Regular  Troops, 
and  what  can  they  do  with  a  few  undisciplined  men  ?  but, 
damn  them,  what  shall  we  do,  if  they  are  united;  we  shall 
never  be  able  to  do  any  thing  with  them."  This,  gentle- 
men, and  much  of  the  same  nature,  is  the  reward  you  have 
from  a  sample  of  England;  blessings  God  has  given  to 
men,  are  secured  to  them. 


EXTRACT   OF  A  LETTER  FROM  LONDON,  DATED  JUNE  13, 
1775. 

The  troubles  and  misunderstandings  between  us  and 
the  Colonies  are  very  much  felt  here.  Remittances  are 
unavoidably  very  long ;  and  this,  added  to  a  total  depriva- 
tion of  trade,  puts  us  in  a  dreadful  situation,  and  has  a 
still  worse  appearance  to  look  onwards.  The  very  people 
who  first  oppressed  the  Colonies  here,  in  full  assurance 
that  all  they  asked  must  be  complied  with,  now  say, 
"  What  can  we  do  ?  We  have  gone  too  far,  but  cannot 
recede."  But  I  hope  there  are  still  left  some  able  men, 
whose  humanity  will  lead  them  to  step  forward,  and  by 
well-timed  arguments  will  still  adjust  matters,  and  that  we 
shall  again  see  that  good  opinion  between  both  which  has 
hitherto  made  us  great  and  powerful.  This  happy  hour  I 
most  ardently  wish  for. 


GOVERNOUR  MARTIN  TO  HENRY  WHITE. 

Cape  Fear,  North-Carolina,  June  13,  1775. 

My  dear  Sir:  I  take  the  liberty  to  enclose  herewith  a 
letter  to  Mrs.  Martin,  whose  safe  arrival  I  am  most  anxious 
to  learn,  the  winds  having  been  easterly  almost  ever  since 
her  departure. 

I  shall  be  extremely  obliged  to  you  if  you  can  contrive 
to  send  me,  with  the  royal  standard  I  mentioned  to  you 
some  time  ago,  or  without  it  if  that  is  not  to  be  had,  a  good 
tent  and  markee,  of  the  size  of  the  Colonel's  tent  in  the 
Army,  with  a  tent-bed  to  fit  the  boot  of  it,  and  furniture, 
viz  :  mattress,  bolster,  and  pillows  ;  to  be  sent  by  any  ves- 
sel bound  to  Cape  Fear  River,  or  in  default  thereof  to  New- 
bern,  directed  to  the  care  of  Mr.  Cornell. 

I  should  rejoice  to  see  a  prospect  of  a  happy  termina- 
tion of  the  present  deplorable  times,  that  more  or  less 
threatens  the  happiness  of  every  man  throughout  the  Bri- 
tish Dominions. 

My  compliments  and  warmest  good  wishes  attend  you 
and  Mrs.  White  and  all  your  family;  and  I  am,  dear  Sir, 
ever  yours,  Jo.  Martin. 

The  Honourable  Henry  White,  Esq.,  New-York. 

P.  S.  I  forbear  to  give  you  your  due  additions  on  the 
outside  of  my  letter,  to  obviate  prying  curiosity. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  ONE  OF  THE  VIRGINIA  DELE- 
GATES TO  HIS  FRIEND  IN  WILLI AMSBURGH,  DATED  PHI- 
LADELPHIA, JUNE  13,  1775. 

Notwithstanding  the  many  accounts  of  the  sailing  of  the 
Troops  from  Ireland,  a  vessel  has  just  arrived  here  from 
Newry,  in  five  weeks,  the  Captain  of  which  says  that  none 
had  sailed  ;  and  that  just  as  he  was  coming  away,  orders 
were  said  to  have  come  to  them  to  hold  themselves  in  readi- 
ness to  embark  for  Gibraltar. 

Colonel  Skene  (owner  of  the  schooner  taken  on  Lake 
Champlain,  whose  son  was  also  taken  there,  and  is  now 
prisoner  in  Connecticut)  is  just  arrived  from  London  with 
a  commission  to  be  Governour  of  Ticonderoga  and  Crown 
Point,  but,  private  letters  say,  is  charged  with  a  power  from 
Administration  to  influence  the  members  of  the  Congress 
by  arguments  drawn  on  the  Treasury,  over  which  he  has 
unlimited  power ;  but  as  we  have  no  occasion  for  his  ser- 
vices at  the  forts,  and  do  not  intend  to  deal  in  his  reason- 
ings, he  remains  a  prisoner  upon  his  parole,  to  keep  within 
eight  miles  of  the  city,  between  the  two  rivers,  and  not  to 
correspond  with  any  person  on  political  subjects. 

As  to  the  two  engagements  at  the  islands  near  Boston, 
we  are  told,  but  not  with  a  degree  of  confirmation,  that  the 
last  on  Noddle's  Island  was  a  very  serious  business,  near 
fifteen  hundred  being  engaged  on  each  side,  and  that  the 
Regulars  had  two  hundred  killed  and  wounded,  the  loss  on 
the  side  of  the  Provincials  being  merely  trifling. 

I  think  we  may  finish  in  a  fortnight,  but  can  only  guess, 
without  forming  any  precise  judgment  about  it. 


CAROLINE  COUNTY  (VIRGINIA)  COMMITTEE. 

Mr.  Purdie  :  Influenced  by  the  best  motives,  and  di- 
vested of  national  prejudice,  the  Committee  of  Caroline 
request  you  to  publish  the  enclosed  extracts.    They  mean 


075 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  tc,  JUNE,  1775. 


976 


nothing  more  by  the  publication  than  to  excite  in  the  breast 
of  their  countrymen  an  honest  indignation  against  the  authors 
of  rhebr  present  calamities;  to  animate  them  to  a  manly 
opposition  against  a  ministerial  system  of  politicks  evidently- 
calculated  to  enslave  America ;  to  stimulate  them  to  that 
industry,  and  recommend  that  economy,  which  are  requisite 
to  a  discharge  of  their  just  debts;  and  to  expose  the  insidi- 
ous arts  and  designs  oi \'  British  merchants  and  factors,  who 
seem  highly  pleased  with  a  prospect  of  having  the  power 
of  seizing  in  an  instant,  with  merciless  rapacity,  the  property 
of  the  poor  and  laborious  Colonist,  by  means  of  an  estab- 
lishment of  a  more  compendious  course  of  law. 

Samuel  Hawes,  Clerk. 

Extract  of  a  Letter  from  D.  Cross,  Glasgow,  to  James 
Dunlop,  merchant,  Port-Royal,  June  8,  1775: 
1  believe  also  when  your  courts  are  opened,  you  will 
meet  with  better  and  speedier  justice  than  ever,  and  per- 
haps a  different  mode  of  having  it  administered.  That  you 
will  see  an  immediate  and  heavy  pressure,  when  this  bap- 
pens,  upon  certain  classes  of  the  debtors,  and  their  property 
brought  to  market;  for  I  believe  the  late  confusions  will 
have  given  to  most  individuals  a  character  that  is  like  a 
stamp  upon  them,  and  will,  I  believe,  occasion  what  I  have 
said  taking  place,  in  a  very  extensive  degree.  I  besides 
see  in  conversation,  an  uncommon  backwardness  still  in 
people's  trusting  their  property  in  America,  nor  can  1  help 
adopting  and  approving  the  sentiment,  when  1  consider  what 
strong  reasons  they  have  for  it. 

To  James  Dunlop  and  Patrick  Kennan,  merchants,  on 
Rappahannock,  June  13,  1775  : 

Let  your  list  of  debts,  your  books,  and  every  other  docu- 
ment and  voucher  you  send  to  us,  be  all  sworn  to  before  a 
proper  magistrate ;  take  your  assistants  and  book-keepers' 
oaths  also  in  the  same  manner,  and  study  to  make  every 
matter  as  authentick  and  firm  as  the  nature  of  the  things 
will  admit.  You  ought  to  have  done  this  with  the  last  list 
of  debts  that  you  sent ;  you  cannot  now  err  on  the  side  of 
too  much  precaution  and  care,  for  ascertaining  things  here- 
after. You  cannot  suffer  in  taking  paper  money  in  pay- 
ment, so  far  as  you  have  occasion  to  pay  it  away  again  lor 
debts  that  you  owe;  but  beware  of  taking  it  farther,  when 
you  find  the.  exchange  affected  much,  or  the  difference  be- 
tween it  and  gold  and  silver  considerable. 

Mr.  Dunlop,  in  his  letter  of  the  sixteenth  of  July,  by 
the  Jean,  in  case  the  trade  opens  again,  recommends  to  us 
to  put  the  collection  of  debts  into  other  hands  than  the  sale 
of  goods,  each  to  be  under  a  different  firm.  This  appears 
to  us  proper;  and  if  Mr.  Kennan  is  of  the  same  opinion  as 
to  his  business,  he  will  please  to  mention  it,  and  each  will 
name  the  person  he  would  choose  to  take  charge  of  the 
collection,  and  powers  will,  in  proper  time,  be  given.  We 
suppose  yourselves  would  choose  to  take  charge  of  the 
sales,  and  of  the  apparent  new  business. 

Mr.  Morris  and  Mr.  Walsh  would  be  the  proper  people 
to  devolve  the  collection  upon.  If  any  others,  let  them  be 
named. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  BALTIMORE,  JUNE  13,  1775. 

A.  gentleman  who  last  night  came  here  from  J1  illiams- 
burgh,  which  place  he  left  on  Friday  last,  June  9th,  brings 
an  account  of  Lord  Dunmorc  having  the  day  before  gone 
on  board  a  man-of-war,  at  York,  with  his  lady  and  family. 
The  Assembly  sent  a  deputation  to  invite  him  to  return, 
and  assured  him  of  protection,  but  he  refused,  and  pretends 
to  be  afraid  of  being  assassinated.  He  had  dismissed  the 
Indian  hostages,  and  desired  them  to  make  the  best  of  their 
way  to  their  own  country.  Two  of  them  have  since  sur- 
rendered themselves,  the  other  is  not  yet  found. 


NEW-YORK   CONGRESS   TO   THEIR  DELEGATES   IN  CONTI- 
NENTAL CONGRESS. 

In  Provincial  Congress,  New. York,  Juno  13,  177.1. 
Gentlemen  :  In  consequence  of  one  of  your  resolves,  we 
appointed  a  Committee  to  view  the  post  in  the  Highlands, 
whose  report,  with  a  map  thereto  annexed,  you  have  en- 
closed, which  is  all  we  have  as  yet  been  able  to  do  respect- 


ing that  matter.  As  soon  as  the  proper  measures  on  that 
head  are  concluded,  we  will  transmit  them  to  you. 

We  are,  gentlemen,  your  most  obedient  and  humble  ser- 
vants.   By  order  of  the  Congress: 

P.  V.  B.  Livingston,  President. 
To  the  New-York  Delegates  in  Continental  Congress. 


BENEDICT  ARNOLD  TO  THE  CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS. 

Crown  Point,  June  13,  1775. 
Gentlemen  :  As  commanding  officer  here,  I  think  it  my 
duty  to  acquaint  you  that  having  lately  sent  one  Mr.  Hoit, 
an  Indian  interpreter,  to  Montreal  and  Caughnanaga,  to 
consult  with  some  gentlemen  of  my  acquaintance  in  the 
former  place,  and  with  the  Indians  in  the  latter,  to  know 
their  intentions  in  the  present  dispute,  he  has  returned  witli 
the  agreeable  intelligence  that  the  Indians  are  determined 
not  to  assist  the  King's  Troops  against  us.  They  have 
made  a  law,  that  if  any  one  of  their  tribe  shall  take  up  arms 
for  that  purpose,  he  shall  immediately  be  put  to  death  ; 
this  is  confirmed  by  five  of  their  chief  men,  who  are  now 
here  with  their  wives  and  children,  and  press  very  hard  for 
our  Army  to  march  into  Canada,  being  much  disgusted  with 
the  Regulars.  The  Stockbridge  Indians,  whom  1  lately 
sent  to  them  with  a  belt  of  wampum  and  speech,  confirm 
the  above.  My  friend  in  Montreal,  a  merchant  and  gen- 
tleman of  probity,  writes  that  I  may  depend  on  the  truth  of 
the  above,  and  that  great  numbers  of  the  Canadians  haxe 
expected  a  visit  from  us  for  some  time,  and  are  very  impa- 
tient of  our  delay,  as  they  are  determined  to  join  us  whem  \  ei 
we  appear  in  the  Country  with  any  force  to  support  them. 
This  I  am  confirmed  in  by  a  party  of  the  Canadians,  hav- 
ing just  returned  from  a  short  excursion  to  the  lsle-au-Noii , 
(Nut-]sland,)  where  a  number  of  them  offer  to  join  us. 

Governour  Carleton,  by  every  artifice,  has  been  able  to 
raise  only  about  twenty  Canadians,  and  those  of  the  nobles- 
se, who  are  in  expectation  of  places  of  profit  or  honour.  He 
is  now  at  Montreal,  and  has  threatened  the  English  mer- 
chants, if  they  will  not  defend  it  in  case  of  an  attack,  he  will 
set  fire  to  the  city  and  retreat  to  Quebeck.  There  are  now 
in  Canada,  of  the  Seventh  and  Twenty-Sixth  Regiments, 
only  five  hundred  and  fifty  effective  men,  who  are  quartered 
in  the  following  manner:  At  St.  John's  and  Chamblee, 
three  hundred  ;  at  Montreal,  forty;  at  Lachine,  twelve  ;  at 
Trois  Rivieres,  forty ;  at  Qucbcck,  one  hundred  and  twenty  : 
and  some  small  parties  at  out-posts.  From  the  foregoing 
matters  of  fact,  which  you  may  rely  are  undoubted,  and 
from  my  personal  knowledge  of  the  country  and  disposi- 
tion of  the  Canadians,  I  beg  leave  to  observe,  that  if  the 
honourable  Congress  should  think  proper  to  take  possession 
of  Montreal  and  Qucbcck,\  am  positive  two  thousand  men 
might  very  easily  effect  it ;  for  which  purpose  I  beg  leave 
to  recommend  the  following  plan  of  operations: 

The  men  to  embark  at  Crown  Point  and  proceed  in  the 
sloop,  schooner,  batteaus,  &ic,  to  within  two  miles  of  iS'f. 
John's;  seventeen  hundred  men  to  form  a  grand  division, 
of  which  one  thousand  to  proceed  directly  to  Montreal  ; 
the  other  division  of  seven  hundred  to  cut  off  the  commu- 
nication between  St.  John's,  Chamblee,  and  Montreal,  and 
the  remainder  to  remain  with  the  shipping  to  secure  our 
retreat,  who  will  be  able,  by  a  diversion  in  favour  of  the 
main  body,  until  they  show  themselves  off  Montreal,  whose 
gates,  on  our  arrival  at  that  place,  will  be  opened  by  our 
friends  there,  in  consequence  of  a  plan  for  that  purpose 
already  entered  into  by  them.  Of  course  Chamblee  and 
St.  John's  must  fall  into  our  hands,  as  well  as  Qiicbcck, 
unless  a  number  of  troops  should  arrive  there  before  this 
plan  can  be  carried  into  execution,  the  utility  of  which  the 
honourable  Congress  will  be  the  best  judges.  But  1  must 
beg  to  observe,  it  appears  to  me  the  reduction  of  those 
places  would  discourage  the  enemies  of  American  liberty, 
and,  in  a  great  degree,  frustrate  their  cruel  and  unjust  plan 
of  operation,  and  be  the  means  of  iestoring  that  solid  peace 
and  harmony  between  Great  Britain  and  her  Colonies,  so 
essential  to  the  well  being  of  both  ;  at  least  it  will,  in  my 
humble  opinion,  be  more  advantageous,  and  attended  with 
less  expense,  to  reduce  Qucbeck  and  keep  possession,  where 
provisions  of  every  kind  are  plenty,  and  a  strong  fortress 
built  to  our  hand,  than  rebuilding  Ticonderoga,  as  it  will 
entirely  deprive  Great  Britainof  the  lucrative  branch,  (the 
fur  trade,)  and  be  an  inexhaustible  granary  in  case  we  are 


977 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


978 


reduced  to  want,  as  there  are  annually  shipped  from  Que- 
beclc  five  hundred  thousand  bushels  of  wheat.  I  hope  the 
exigency  of  the  times,  and  my  zeal  in  the  service  of  my 
Country,  will  apologize  for  the  liberty  of  giving  my  senti- 
ments so  freely  on  a  subject  which  the  honourable  Congress 
are  doubtless  the  best  judges  of,  but  which  they  in  their 
hurry  may  not  have  paid  that  attention  to  the  matter  requires. 
I  beg  leave  to  add,  that  if  no  person  appears  who  will  un- 
dertake to  carry  the  plan  into  execution,  (if  thought  advi- 
sable,) I  will  undertake,  and,  with  the  smiles  of  Heaven, 
answer  for  the  success  of  it,  provided  I  am  supplied  with 
men,  &tc,  to  carry  it  into  execution  without  loss  of  time. 
1  must  beg  leave  to  refer  you  to  the  bearer,  Captain  Os- 
wald, for  particulars,  who  is  entrusted  with  an  imperfect 
memorandum  of  such  articles  as  are  most  wanted. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  with  the  greatest  respect,  gen- 
tlemen, your  most  devoted  humble  servant, 

Benedict  Arnold. 

To  the  Honourable  the  Continental  Congress,  now  sitting 
at  Philadelphia. 

P.  S.  The  American  Colonies  in  general  are  equally  in 
danger  from  Ca?iada,  whether  it  remain  in  the  hands  of  Bri- 
tain, under  the  present  form  of  its  Government,  or  should 
be  restored  to  the  French,  which  many  suspect  is  intended 
by  the  Ministry  in  England.  But  should  Canada  be  placed 
under  a  free  Government,  agreeable  to  the  English  Consti- 
tution, like  the  other  Colonies,  we  should  forever  after  be 
secure  from  any  danger  that  way,  as  it  would  ever  remain 
an  English  Colony,  even  though  by  the  treachery  of  the 
British  Ministry  it  should  be  given  up  to  France;  so  that 
this  measure,  though  at  first  view  it  might  seem  like  going 
beyond  our  own  province  to  invade  the  rights  of  Great  Bri- 
tain, yet  a  due  regard  to  our  own  defence,  as  well  as  the 
advantage  of  the  inhabitants  of  that  Country,  makes  it  ne- 
cessary. B.  A. 

Memorandum. 

Propose,  in  order  to  give  satisfaction  to  the  different  Col- 
onies, that  Colonel  Hinman's  Regiment,  now  on  their  march 
from  Connecticut  to  Ticondcroga,  should  form  part  of  the 
Army — say  one  thousand  men  ;  500  do.  to  be  sent  from 
New-  York,  including  one  company  of  one  hundred  men 
of  the  train  of  artillery,  properly  equipped  ;  500  do.  B.  Ar- 
nold's Regiment,  including  seamen  and  marines  on  board 
the  vessels:  (no  Green  Mountain  Boys.)  The  men,  as  many 
as  can  be,  to  be  supplied  with  bayonets,  cartridge-boxes, 
and  powder-horns:  2  able  engineers:  2  good  armourers  and 
tools:  ]  00  tents  and  markees  :  1000  blankets,  one  Regi- 
ment being  already  provided  :  proper  camp-equipage,  ket- 
tles, cups,  Sic,  for  one  thousand  men  :  4  brass  field-pieces 
and  carriages  furnished  :  two  7  &t  8-inch  brass  mortars,  do.: 
shells  and  shot  of  every  kind  for  do.:  2000  pounds  of  gun- 
powder :  300  shovels  and  spades :  200  hoes :  200  pick- 
axes: 200  narrow  do. :  50  broad  do.:  500  hatchets:  50 
hand-saws,  sorted:  10  crosscut  do.:  10  whip  do.:  5  reams 
of  cartridge  paper:  10  pieces  of  raven's  duck  for  sails:  50 
pounds  of  sewing  twine  :  needles,  palms,  &.c:  match  stuff, 
slow  :  6  sets  of  house  and  ship  carpenter's  tools  :  6  sets  of 
harness  for  horses :  necessary  provisions  for  two  thousand 
men  for  two  months. 


COLONEL  B.  ARNOLD  TO  GOVERNOUR  TRUMBULL. 

Crown  Point,  June  13,  1775. 
Sir:  I  have  the  pleasure  to  acquaint  your  Honour,  that 
having  lately  sent  one  Hoit,  and  Indian  interpreter,  to  Mon- 
treal to  consult  with  some  gentlemen  of  my  acquaintance 
there,  and  with  the  Indians  in  Caughnawaga,  to  know 
their  intentions  in  the  present  dispute,  he  has  returned  with 
the  agreeable  intelligence  that  the  Indians  are  determined 
not  to  assist  the  King's  Troops  against  us,  and  have  passed 
a  law  that  the  first  of  their  tribe  who  takes  up  arms  against 
us  shall  be  punished  with  death.  This  advice  is  confirmed 
by  five  chief  men  of  their  tribe  who  are  now  here  with 
their  wives  and  children,  and  press  very  hard  for  our  Army 
to  march  into  Canada,  as  they  are  much  disgusted  with 
the  Regular  Troops. 

Three  Indians  of  the  Stockbridge  Nation  whom  I  lately 
sent  to  Caughnawaga,  with  a  belt  of  wampum  and  a 
speech,  confirm  the  above,  which  my  friend,  a  gentleman 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ri.  ( 


of  probity  in  Montreal,  writes  me  may  be  depended  on, 
and  that  great  numbers  of  the  Canadians  have  expected  us 
there  for  some  time,  and  are  impatient  of  our  delay,  being 
determined  to  join  us  whenever  we  appear  with  a  sulii- 
cient  force  to  support  them.  This  I  am  confirmed  in  by 
many  of  the  Canadians  themselves,  having  just  returned 
from  an  excursion  down  the  lake,  where  I  saw  numbers  of 
them,  who  offered  to  join  us.  Governour  Carleton  has  been 
able  by  every  artifice  to  raise  no  more  than  twenty  Cana- 
dians of  the  noblesse,  who  are  in  expectation  of  places  of 
profit  or  honour.  He  is  much  disgusted  with  the  merchants 
in  Montreal,  and  has  threatened  them,  if  they  will  not 
defend  the  City  in  case  of  an  attack,  he  will  set  fire  to  it, 
and  retreat  to  Quebeck.  He  has  in  Canada  only  five  hun- 
dred and  fifty  effective  men  of  the  King's  Troops,  so  that 
it  would  be  a  very  easy  matter  to  possess  ourselves  of  the 
country  if  thought  expedient. 

I  have  wrote  very  fully  on  the  subject  to  the  honourable 
Continental  Congress,  and  sketched  out  a  plan  for  taking 
possession  of  the  country  if  thought  advisable  by  them, 
which  will  not  only  deprive  Great  Britain  of  the  lucrative 
branch  of  the  fur-trade,  but  secure  to  us  an  inexhaustible 
granary,  (as  there  is  annually  shipped  at  Qucbeck,  five 
hundred  thousand  bushels  of  wheat,)  and  may  very  possi- 
bly be  a  means  of  discouraging  the  British  Ministry  in 
their  coercive  measures,  and  restoring  that  peace  and  har- 
mony between  Great  Britain  and  the  American  Colonies 
so  essential  to  the  well-being  of  both. 

I  am,  very  respectfully,  your  Honour's  most  obedient 
humble  servant,  Benedict  Arnold. 

To  the  Honourable  Jonathan  Trumbull,  Governour  of  the 

Colony  of  Connecticut. 

P.  S.  The  plan  of  our  expedition  to  Canada,  your  Hon- 
our will  please  not  to  disclose.  B.  A. 


JOSEPH  PALMER  TO  THE  MASSACHUSETTS  COMMITTEE  OF 
SAFETY. 

Cambridge,  June  13,  1775. 
Gentlemen:  There  is  very  great  distress  in  this  camp 
for  want  of  tents  or  commodious  barracks  ;  I  therefore  hum- 
bly beg  you  will  immediately  take  this  important  matter 
into  serious  consideration.  Perhaps  if  a  number  of  houses, 
contiguous  to  the  parade,  were  hired  of  the  owners  by  the 
Colony,  and  solely  appropriated  as  barracks,  the  soldiery 
might  be  well  accommodated;  this,  if  recommended  by 
Congress,  it  is  probable  might  be  effected.  The  least  delay- 
in  this  affair,  it  appears  to  me,  will  be  attended  with  very 
bad  consequences.  I  am,  gentlemen,  with  the  greatest  re- 
spect, your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

Joseph  Palmer,  Qjuartermaster  General. 
To  the  Honourable  Committee  of  Safety. 

In  Committee  of  Safety,  Cambridge,  June  13,  1775. 

This  Committee  beg  leave  earnestly  to  recommend  to 
the  Honourable  Congress,  that  the  above  representation 
from  the  Quartermaster  General  be  taken  into  immediate 
consideration,  especially  as  the  Committee,  from  their  own 
knowledge  find  the  rooms  too  much  crowded,  and  the 
healths  and  lives  of  the  soldiers  thereby  greatly  exposed; 
and  if  tents  cannot  be  immediately  furnished,  that  some  bar- 
racks be  forthwith  erected. 

Benjamin  White,  Chairman. 

N.  B.  It  is  presumed  some  lives  are  already  lost  from 
their  being  thus  crowded. 


To  the  Honourable  Provincial  Co7igress  now  sitting  in 
Watertown:  the  Petition  of  Lemuel  Trescott,  of 
Boston,  humbly  shewcth: 

That  before  he  left  Boston  he  had,  for  a  considerable 
time,  assisted  at  Faneuil  Hall  in  teaching  a  number  of 
men  the  military  art,  and  upon  his  arrival  in  the  camp  at 
Cambridge,  he  was,  by  some  gentlemen  of  the  Committee 
of  Safety  and  Council  of  War,  encouraged  to  raise  a  com- 
pany out  of  those  men,  and  to  hope  that  a  sufficient  num- 
ber of  small-arms  would  be  provided  for  them  by  the  Col- 
ony, as,  by  the  stipulation  with  General  Gage,  (which  was 
consented  to  by  the  honourable  Congress,)  their  own  were 
lodged  with  the  Selectmen  of  Boston;  that  he  has  now 


979 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  he,  JUNE,  1775. 


980 


forty  men,  including  officers,  who  have  home  their  share  of 
camp  duty  since  the  17th  of  last  month  ;  but  the  want  of 
fire-arms  not  only  prevents  their  perfecting  themselves  in 
military  exercises,  and  is  the  reason  why  the  company  is 
not  now  complete,  but  leads  those  who  are  enlisted  to  fear 
they  will  soon  be  dismissed  from  the  service :  Your  peti- 
tioner therefore  humbly  prays  the  honourable  Congress  to 
take  this  matter  into  consideration,  and  afford  such  relief  to 
a  number  of  men  whose  situation  is  peculiarly  distressing,  as 
in  your  wisdom  and  goodness  you  may  deem  meet;  at  the 
same  time  assuring  your  Honours,  that  it  will  be  their  grand 
aim  to  be  as  much  distinguished  by  their  exertions  for  the 
common  cause  of  their  Country,  as  they  have  been  by  their 
sufferings,  and  that,  as  in  duty  bound,  shall  pray,  he. 

Lemuel  Trescott,  in  behalf  of  a  Company. 

Cambridge,  June  13,  1775. 


NEW-HAMPSHIRE  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY  TO  MASSACHU- 
SETTS CONGRESS. 
In  Committee  of  Safety,  Exeter,  Juno  13,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  By  a  gentleman  of  undoubted  veracity, 
(who  left  Boston  last  Friday,  and  who  had  frequent  op- 
portunity of  conversing  with  the  principal  officers  in  Gen- 
eral Gage's  Army,)  we  are  informed  there  is  a  great  pro- 
bability there  when  the  expected  re-enforcement  arrives 
from  Europe,  that  General  Gage  will  secure  some  advan- 
tageous posts  near  Boston,  viz :  Dorchester  and  Charles- 
town.  We  are  unacquainted  with  the  importance  of  those 
posts,  but  if  this  hint  should  be  in  any  decree  useful,  it  will 
give  us  pleasure. 


COMMITTEE  OF  EXETER,  N.  H.,  TO  COMMITTEE  OF  CONWAY. 

In  Committee  of  Safety,  Exeter,  June  14,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  In  compliance  with  your  request,  we  have 
agreed  to  spare  you  twenty-five  pounds  of  powder  out  of 
our  small  stock,  which  is  all  we  can  possibly  spare  at  pre- 
sent. Have  advised  Mr.  Burbank  to  purchase  lead,  as  we 
suppose  he  will  be  able  to  procure  that  article  without  any 
difficulty.  As  to  arms,  its  out  of  power  to  supply  you,  nor 
do  we  think  they  are  to  be  had  in  the  Province.  If  the 
Indians  should  have  any  design  to  trouble  our  frontiers, 
we  flatter  ourselves  we  shall  have  such  notice  of  their  de- 
signs, as  to  be  able  to  guard  ourselves  against  them.  We 
have  determined  to  employ  three  companies  at  present  on 
the  frontier  for  the  purposes  of  observation,  which  will, 
we  suppose,  afford  you  both  necessary  information  and  se- 
curity for  the  present. 

You  may  rest  assured  that  it  was  merely  an  oversight, 
unless,  as  we  rather  suppose,  the  letter  failed,  that  your 
Town  was  not  desired  to  send  a  Delegate  to  the  Congress. 
If  you  think  proper,  we  think  it  quite  suitable  that  you 
choose  some  person  or  persons  to  represent  you  at  the 
next  meeting  of  the  Congress,  which  will  be  the  27th  of 
this  month. 

We  have  enclosed  a  copy  of  the  letter  on  which  the 
other  Towns  have  acted. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  ONE  OF  THE  VIRGINIA  DELE- 
GATES TO  HIS  FRIEND  IN  WILLIAMSBURG H,  DATED  PHI- 
LADELPHIA, JUNE  14,  1775. 

Col.  Washington  has  been  pressed  to  take  the  supreme 
command  of  the  American  Troops  encamped  at  Roxbury, 
and  I  believe  will  accept  the  appointment,  though  with 
much  reluctance,  he  being  deeply  impressed  with  the  im- 
portance of  that  honourable  trust,  and  diffident  of  his  own 
(superiour)  abilities.  We  have  determined  to  keep  ten 
thousand  men  in  Massachusetts-Bay,  and  five  thousand  in 
different  parts  of  the  New-York  Government,  at  the  ex- 
pense of  the  Continent ;  and  probably  a  larger  sum  of 
money  will  be  emitted  in  order  to  carry  on  the  war,  pre- 
parations for  which  go  on  rapidly  in  this  place. 

It  seems  likely  that  some  of  the  newly  arrived  Generals 
were  intended  for  the  Southern  Colonies,  but  no  Troops 
can  be  spared  from  Boston.  The  Provincials  talk  much 
of  storming  that  Town,  and  it  is  expected  by  many. 

The  Congress  will  sit  long.  Adjusting  the  expenses  of 
each  Colony  for  the  common  cause,  and  settling  proper 
funds  for  the  Army>  are  subjects  fruitful  of  debate,  and  of 
the  utmost  consequence.. 


TO  THE  INHABITANTS  OF  NEW-JERSEY. 

Friends  and  Fellow-Subjects  : 

How  fashionable  soever  might  have  been  the  doctrine  of 
passive  obedience  and  non-resistance  in  those  dark  times  of 
ignorance  and  barbarism,  when  the  laity  had  no  more  in- 
struction than  to  repeat  the  Lord's  prayer,  nor  the  clergy 
any  more  reading  than  would  save  them  from  hanging ;  it 
is,  in  this  lettered  and  enlightened  age,  so  generally  ex- 
ploded, that  save  a  few  Tories,  who  are  pensioned  out  of 
their  consciences,  or  a  few  gowns  and  cassocks  who  are 
looking  for  an  American  mitre,  no  man  is  fond  of  broach- 
ing so  gross  an  absurdity.  It  is  certainly  the  voice  of 
unbiased,  uncorrupted  reason,  that  whatever  one  man  has 
a  right  to  enjoy,  no  other  man  has  a  right  to  take  from 
him  ;  and  that,  consequently,  the  first  has  an  undoubted 
right  to  repel  the  invasion  of  the  latter.  And  what  does 
it  matter  whether  this  invasion  is  made  under  the  cha- 
racter of  king,  highwayman,  or  robber?  since  it  is  not  from 
the  person  of  the  invader,  but  from  the  nature  of  the  in- 
vasion itself,  that  the  injury  receives  its  complexion,  and 
on  which  the  right  of  the  resistance  is  founded.  And  as 
this  is  the  undoubted  right  of  all  mankind,  it  is,  with  respect 
to  Englishmen,  reduced  to  absolute  certainty  by  a  most 
memorable  clause  in  the  Great  Charter,  whereby  four  out 
of  twenty-five  Barons  may  show  the  King  his  miscarriage ; 
and  on  his  not  amending  it,  may,  with  the  residue  of  the 
twenty-five  and  commonalty,  redress  themselves  by  force. 
It  is  true  the  Americans  have  no  Barons  to  shew  the  King 
his  miscarriage  ;  but  the  Barons  appointed  for  that  purpose 
by  Magna  Charta  being  thereto  appointed  as  representa- 
tives of  the  people  aggrieved,  it  is  evident,  from  the  nature 
of  our  local  circumstances,  that  we  must  have  a  right  to  ap- 
point, in  the  room  of  such  Barons,  a  representation  for  the 
same  purpose ;  and  that  such  representatives  must  have 
the  same  right  to  lay  our  grievances  before  the  throne,  and 
the  aggrieved,  in  default  of  redress  by  the  Prince,  have  a 
right,  in  the  same  manner,  to  redress  themselves.  In  the 
light  of  this  representation  I  consider  the  Continental  Con- 
gress, being  expressly  chosen  to  present  our  grievances  to 
His  Majesty,  and  to  supplicate  him  to  remove  our  com- 
plaints. To  this  purpose  they  are  undoubtedly  the  Barons 
of  North- America,  on  whom  the  united  confederated  Col- 
onies depend  for  counsel  and  protection,  agreeable  to  the 
security  granted  to  the  subjects  by  the  64th  section  of 
Magna  Charta  above  referred  to,  and  which,  it  being  pro- 
bably in  few  of  your  hands,  I  choose  to  give  you  at  large : 

The  Security  for  the  Rights,  Privileges,  and  Immunities 
of  Magna  Charta. 
Section  64.  "  And  whereas  we  have  granted  all  these 
things  for  God's  sake,  and  for  the  amendment  of  our  Gov- 
ernment, and  for  the  better  compromising  the  discord  arisen 
betwixt  us  and  our  Barons,  we,  willing  that  the  same  be 
firmly  held  and  established  forever,  do  make  and  grant  our 
Barons  the  security  underwritten,  to  wit:  that  the  Barons 
shall  choose  five-and-twenty  Barons  of  the  Realm,  whom 
they  list,  who  shall,  to  their  utmost  power,  keep,  and  hold, 
and  cause  to  be  kept,  the  peace  and  liberties  which  we 
have  granted  and  confirmed  by  this  our  present  Charter ; 
insomuch  that  if  we  or  our  justice,  or  our  bailiff,  or  any  of 
our  ministers  act  contrary  to  the  same,  in  any  thing  against 
any  person,  or  offend  against  any  article  of  this  peace  and 
security,  and  such  our  miscarriage  be  shown  to  four  Barons 
of  the  said  five-and-twenty,  those  four  Barons  shall  come 
to  us,  or  to  our  justice  if  we  be  out  of  the  Realm,  and 
shew  us  our  miscarriage,  and  require  us  to  amend  the  same 
without  delay;  and  if  we  do  not  amend  it,  or  if  we  be  out 
of  the  Realm,  our  justice  do  not  amend  it  within  forty  days 
after  the  same  is  shewn  to  us,  or  to  our  justice  if  we  be 
out  of  the  Realm,  then  the  said  four  Barons  shall  report 
the  same  to  the  residue  of  the  said  five-and-twenty  Barons, 
and  then  those  five-and-twenty  Barons,  with  the  common- 
alty of  England,  may  distress  us  by  all  the  ways  they  can, 
to  wit :  by  seizing  on  our  castles,  lands,  and  possessions, 
and  by  what  other  means  they  can,  till  it  be  amended,  as 
they  shall  judge,  saving  our  own  person,  the  person  of  our 
Queen,  and  the  persons  of  our  children  ;  and  when  it  is 
amended,  they  shall  be  subject  to  us  as  before ;  and  who- 
ever of  the  Realm  will,  may  swear  that,  for  the  perform- 
ance of  these  things,  he  will  obey  the  commands  of  the 
said  five-and-twenty  Barons,  and  that  together  with  them, 


981 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


982 


he  will  distress  us  to  his  power;  and  we  will  give  publick 
and  free  leave  to  swear,  to  all  that  will  swear,  and  will 
never  hinder  any  one ;  and  for  all  persons  of  the  Realm, 
that  of  their  own  accord  will'- swear  to  the  said  five-and- 
twenty  Barons,  to  distress  us,  we  will  issue  our  presents, 
commanding  thein  to  swear  as  aforesaid." 

This,  my  countrymen,  is  the  security  granted  to  you  and 
me,  and  by  this  are  confirmed  all  the  rights  and  privileges 
of  an  English  subject,  and  which  the  present  Administra- 
tion seem  determined  to  destroy.  It  may,  indeed,  be  said, 
that  we  do  not  belong  to  the  Massachusetts-Bay,  and  that 
New- Jersey  is  not  attacked.  But  can  you  be  so  supine  as 
to  suppose  that  you  will  continue  to  enjoy  those  inestima- 
ble rights  of  Magna  Charta,  when  other  Colonies  are  bereft 
of  them  ;  and  that  the  Massachusetts  is  the  only  Colony 
to  be  punished  ?  Have  they  not  done  more  for  the  parent 
State  than  any  Colony  on  the  Continent  ?  Did  they  not 
in  the  war  before  the  last,  with  very  little  assistance,  take 
Cape-Breton,  the  Dunkirk  of  North-America,  the  giving 
up  of  which  procured  a  peace  for  the  Mother  Country  ? 
Did  they  not  the  last  war  send  seven  thousand  Troops  into 
the  field,  under  the  King's  General,  until  the  final  conquest 
of  Canada  1  Notwithstanding  all  this,  you  see  their  capi- 
tal blocked  up,  their  Charter  mutilated,  and  an  armed 
force  ready  to  execute  the  arbitrary  measures  of  the  Min- 
ister, who  covers  himself  under  a  purchased  majority  in 
Parliament.  Hostilities  being  actually  begun  in  the  Massa- 
chusetts, you  cannot  expect  to  fare  better  than  your  sister 
Colony.  Your  trade  is  already  restrained,  and  you  are 
daily  to  expect  open  violence  to  enforce  unconstitutional 
taxation.  Thus  we  have  lived  to  see  our  most  sacred 
rights  daringly  invaded ;  but  we  will  not  live  to  see  them 
destroyed.  The  wound  by  which  our  liberty  falls  ought 
first  to  reach  our  hearts  ;  and  the  rich  torrents  of  our  blood 
be  shed  as  a  libation  on  the  pile  of  expiring  freedom. 

The  power  of  the  people  can  never  be  lost  or  impaired, 
unless  they  are  wanting  to  themselves.  What  they  could 
once  do,  they  can  and  ought  to  do  now.  Let  us  therefore 
cordially  unite  under  the  Continental  Congress,  and  look  to 
them  as  the  English  formerly  did  to  their  Barons,  and  I  am 
confident  in  so  good  a  cause  we  shall  have  the  protection 
of  Heaven;  which  is  the  sincere  desire,  and  prayer  of 

June  14,  1775.  A  Jersey  Farmer. 


WILLIAM  DUER  TO  THE  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

New-York,  June  14,  1775. 
Sir  :  My  conduct  before  the  Committee  of  Albany, 
with  relation  to  the  northern  frontier  of  this  Colony,  hath, 
as  I  am  informed,  given  rise  to  sundry  insinuations  deroga- 
tory to  my  character  as  a  gentleman,  and  as  a  friend  to  the 
rights  and  liberties  of  America.  Conscious,  Sir,  that  my 
bosom  has  never  prompted  a  thought  inimical  to  this  Colo- 
ny, I  feel,  on  this  occasion,  the  warmth  of  an  innocent, 
injured  man.  By  the  report  industriously  circulated  to  my 
disadvantage,  my  person  and  property  are  deeply  endan- 
gered. At  the  same  time,  the  facts  on  which  such  tales 
are  founded  are  of  such  a  nature  that  it  would  be  improper 
to  explain  them  to  the  world. 

I  do,  therefore,  Sir,  most  humbly  entreat  of  your  hon- 
ourable House,  that  they  would  be  pleased  to  appoint  some 
gentlemen  as  a  Committee  to  examine  into  my  conduct  this 
afternoon  ;  and  that  they  will  pardon  any  seeming  improprie- 
ty in  naming  a  time  for  that  purpose  by  me,  which  I  am  con- 
fident will  readily  be  done,  when  the  House  are  informed 
that  my  presence  is  absolutely  necessary  in  the  County 
where  I  reside  on  Tuesday  next,  to  hold  a  court  there. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  Sir,  with  the  highest  respect, 
your  most  obedient  and  humble  servant, 

William  Duer. 
To  Peter  V.  B.  Livingston,  Esq.,  President  of  the  Pro- 
vincial Congress,  New-York. 


WILLIAM  GODDARD  TO  THE  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

New.York,  June  14,  1775. 
Sir:  I  beg  the  favour  of  you  to  take  an  early  opportu- 
nity to  lay  before  the  Provincial  Congress  the  enclosed 
papers,  which  are  explanatory  of  a  design  formed  by  the 
friends  of  freedom  for  annihilating  the  old  Parliamentary 


and  Ministerial  Post-Office  in  this  Country,  by  the  institu- 
tion of  a  new  one,  on  a  constitutional  basis,  or  such  of  them 
as  you  may  judge  proper ;  a  design  that,  for  obvious  rea- 
sons, hath  met  with  the  approbation  and  support  of  many 
respectable  Colonies,  Cities,  and  Towns,  both  in  New- 
England  and  the  Southern  Governments,  as  far  as  North- 
Carolina  ;  not  doubting  but  the  Representatives  of  the  free 
people  of  this  great  Province,  now  convened  in  this  City, 
will  cheerfully  co-operate  in  giving  success  to  a  measure  of 
such  capital  consequence  to  the  publick  welfare,  and  so 
indispensable  at  this  interesting  crisis. 

Being  on  my  way  to  Philadelphia  from  the  Eastern 
Colonies,  where  I  purpose  to  address  the  honourable  Con- 
tinental Congress  on  the  subject  of  the  American  Post- 
Office,  which,  I  am  persuaded,  will,  ere  long,  take  that 
matter  into  their  serious  consideration,  and  form  such  a 
general  plan  as  will  prove  extensively  beneficial  to  all 
America,  I  should  be  extremely  glad  to  obtain  the  reso- 
lutions of  the  Provincial  Congress  of  New-York  relative  to 
the  business  in  question,  previous  to  my  departure,  and  as 
expeditiously  as  possible.  To  prevent  an  imputation  of 
vanity  and  ostentation,  it  may  be  necessary  for  me  to  add, 
that  I  engaged  in  this  business  with  the  advice  and  by  the 
desire  of  many  gentlemen  of  the  first  character  on  this 
Continent,  and  am  happy  in  being  made  an  instrument, 
however  humble,  in  promoting  the  interest  of  my  native 
Country. 

I  am,  with  great  respect,  Sir,  your  very  bumble  and 
most  obedient  servant,  William  Goddard. 

To  the  Honourable  Peter  Van  Brugh  Livingston,  Esq., 

President  of  the  Provincial  Congress  of  New-  York. 

In  Provincial  Congress,  Watertown,  May  12,  1775. 

Resolved,  As  the  opinion  of  this  Congress,  that  Post- 
Riders  be  immediately  established,  to  go  from  Cambridge, 
and  to  ride  the  following  roads,  viz :  To  Georgetown,  in 
the  County  of  Lincoln ;  to  Haverhill ;  to  Providence;  to 
Woodstock,  by  Worcester;  and  from  Worcester  to  Great 
Barrington,  by  Springfield;  and  to  Falmouth,  in  the 
County  of  Barnstable. 

In  Provincial  Congress,  Watertown,  May  15,  1775. 

Resolved,  That  David  Cheevcr,  Esquire,  for  reasons  by 
him  offered,  be  excused  from  serving  in  the  business  to  which 
he  was  appointed  by  a  resolve  of  this  Congress,  passed  the 
12th  instant,  for  establishing  Post-Offices  and  Post-Riders; 
and  that  Mr.  William  Greenleaf,  Joseph  Greenleaf,  Es- 
quire, and  Mr.  John  Pitts,  be  added  to  the  Committee 
then  appointed. 

Joseph  Warren,  President  pro  tern. 

Province  of  New-Hampshire,  ) 
In  Provincial  Congress,  May  18,  1775.  \ 

Resolved,  That  a  Post-Office  be  established  in  Ports- 
mouth, and  that  Samuel  Penhallow,  Esq.,  of  said  Ports- 
mouth, be  appointed  Postmaster;  and  that  the  members  of 
this  Congress  from  Portsmouth  be  a  Committee  to  agree 
with  a  Post-Rider  or  Riders.  s 

Matthew  Thornton,  President. 

Providence,  May  30,  1775. 
The  General  Assembly  of  the  Colony  of  Connecticut 
and  the  Provincial  Congresses  of  Massachusetts-Bay  and 
New-Hampshire  having  seconded  the  wishes  and  efforts  of 
the  friends  of  freedom  in  the  Southern  Colonies,  for  abol- 
ishing that  ministerial  engine,  the  unconstitutional  Post- 
Office,  by  the  establishment  of  Posts  and  Post-Offices,  on 
constitutional  principles  ;  the  Committee  of  this  Town  have 
judged  it  highly  expedient  and  necessary,  at  this  interesting 
juncture,  to  co-operate  with  their  brethren  in  the  important 
business  in  question :  They  have  therefore  appointed  Mr. 
John  Carter  to  act  as  Postmaster  here,  and  Mr.  Peter 
Mumford  as  Post-Rider,  under  the  direction  and  control  of 
said  Committee,  until  the  legislature  of  this  Colony  or  the 
Continental  Congress  shall  be  pleased  to  make  other  regu- 
lations and  appointments.  James  Angell,  Clerk. 

Newport,  May  31,  1775. 

Whereas  the  intercourse  between  the  Colonies  hath  for 
some  time  been,  and  is  now,  interrupted  by  the  Riders 


983 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  kc,  JUNE,  1775. 


984 


being  dismissed  by  the  Postmaster-General,  and  as  there  is 
no  person  who  acts  as  Postmaster  in  this  Town  ;  therefore, 

Voted,  That  Mr.  Nathaniel  Otis  be  appointed  to  re- 
ceive and  deliver  the  Letters  brought  to,  and  to  be  sent 
from  tliis  Town,  under  the  direction  of  this  Committee, 
until  the  General  Assembly  of  this  Colony  or  this  Commit- 
tee shall  order  otherwise,  and  that  he  shall  receive  for  each 
Letter  agreeable  to  the  schedule  delivered  him  by  this 
Committee,  and  that  this  Vote  be  published  in  the  next 
Newport  Mercury. 

Signed  by  order  and  in  behalf  of  the  Committee  : 

Thomas  Bumneil,  Clerk. 

Stamford,  May  5,  1775. 
We,  the  subscribers,  do  fully  approve  of  Mr.  Goddard's 
plan  for  establishing  a  constitutional  Post-Office  in  Ame- 
rica, and  do  therefore  recommend  Mr.  Ebenezer  Wad,  of 
said  Stamford,  to  receive  and  forward  all  Letters,  until  the 
business  of  the  Post-Office  shall  be  regulated  by  the  Conti- 
nental Congress.    Signed  in  behalf  of  the  Committee  : 

John  Wait,  Jr. 

Nonvalk,  May  7,  1775. 

We,  the  subscribers,  do  fully  approve  of  Mr.  Goddard's 
plan  for  establishing  a  constitutional  Post-Office  in  Ame- 
rica, and  do  therefore  recommend  Mr.  John  Bctts,  of 
Norwalk,  to  receive  and  forward  all  Letters,  until  the  busi- 
ness of  the  Post-Office  shall  be  regulated  by  the  Conti- 
nental Congress. 

Samuel  Gruman,  ^ 
Thaddeus  Betts,         >  Committee. 
Eliphalet  Lockwood,  ) 

Middletown,  May  7,  1775. 

Sir:  I  have  seen  as  many  of  the  Committee  as  I  could 
conveniently,  and  we  have  agreed  to  nominate,  as  a  Post- 
master for  this  Town,  Mr.  Wendy  Hobby,  a  gentleman  of 
acknowledged  ability  and  integrity,  and  known  attachment 
to  the  American  cause,  and  one  that  possesses  in  a  high 
degree  the  confidence  of  the  people  of  this  Town. 

I  am,  Sir,  your  obedient  humble  servant, 

Titus  Hosmer. 
Mr.  William  Goddard,  at  Hartford ;  by  express. 

Hartford.  May  7,  1775. 

We,  the  subscribers,  do  fully  approve  of  the  plan  for 
establishing  a  constitutional  Post-Office  offered  by  Mr. 
Goddard,  and  do  recommend  Mr.  William  Ellcry,  of  this 
place,  to  receive  and  forward  all  Letters,  until  the  business 
of  the  Post-Office  shall  be  regulated  by  the  Continental 
Congress.  Samuel  Wyllys, 

Samuel  Wadsworth, 


Committee. 


New  London,  June  6,  1775. 
We,  the  subscribers,  do  fully  approve  of  the  plan  for 
establishing  a  constitutional  Post-Office  offered  by  Mr.  W. 
Goddard,  and  do  recommend  Mr.  Boswell  Saltonstall,  of 
this  Town,  to  receive  and  forward  all  Letters,  until  the  busi- 
ness of  the  Post-Office  shall  be  regulated  by  the  Continen- 
tal Congress. 

Nathaniel  Shaw,  Jr.,  )  Committee  of 
John  Deshon,  )  Correspondence. 

Elias  Bears  appointed  Postmaster  at  New-Haven,  and 
Thaddeus  Burr,  Esq.,  at  Fairfield, 


SIEW-YORK  CONGRESS  TO  THE  CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS. 

In  Provincial  Congress,  Now. York,  Juno  14,  1775. 
Sir:  We  embrace  the  opportunity  that  now  offers,  to 
acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  letters  of  the  26th  and 
31st  of  May  last,  and  of  the  1st  and  10th  of  June  instant, 
covering  several  important  resolves  of  your  respectable 
body.  We  have,  as  far  as  in  our  power,  endeavoured  to 
comply  with  these  requisitions.  Copies  of  some  of  our 
proceedings  have  already  been,  and  such  as  were  not,  are 
now  transmitted  to  our  Delegates.  Upon  the  receipt  of 
the  resolution  of  the  9th  of  June,  relative  to  the  sending 
five  thousand  barrels  of  flour  for  the  use  of  the  Continental 
Army,  we  immediately  appointed  a  Committee  to  carry  it 
into  execution,  as  will  appear  from  the  enclosed  resol  ve ; 
but  it  is  at  present  uncertain  whether  we  shall  be  able  to 


comply  with  it,  flour  being  an  article  which  hath  gene- 
rally sold  for  cash,  and  we  being  unable  to  offer  better 
security  to  the  vender  than  the  faith  of  our  own  body. 
However,  the  Congress  may  rest  assured  that  our  best  en- 
deavours shall  not  be  wanted  to  complete  the  order. 

We  find  ourselves  much  embarrassed  on  a  variety  of 
other  occasions,  for  want  of  money  ;  many  articles  neces- 
sary to  be  furnished  are  not  to  be  got  on  credit,  and  you 
must  be  sensible  that  to  embody  troops  for  the  service,  it  is 
absolutely  necessary  to  have  large  sums  in  hand.  Without 
money  we  fear  the  service  will  suffer  from  our  inability  to 
comply  with  the  resolutions  of  the  Congress.  We  have 
already  contracted  a  load  of  debts,  and  stretched  our  credit 
to  the  utmost ;  our  zeal  for  the  publick  service  therefore 
leads  us  to  wish  a  speedy  advice  on  this  important  subject. 

We  are,  Sir,  most  respectfully,  your  most  obedient  hum- 
ble servants. 

By  order  and  in  behalf  of  the  Provincial  Congress  : 

P.  V.  B.  Livingston,  President. 
To  the  Hon.  John  Hancock,  Esq.,  President  of  the  Con- 
tinental Congress,  Philadelphia. 

In  Provincial  Congress,  New-York,  } 
Die  Lunse,  4to  ho.  P.  M.,  June  12,  1775.  $ 

This  Congress  proceeded  to  the  consideration  of  ways 
and  means  to  carry  into  execution  the  resolution,  request, 
and  order  of  the  Continental  Congress  of  the  9th  instant, 
for  supplying  five  thousand  barrels  of  Flour  for  the  use  of 
the  Continental  Army,  and  forwarding  the  same  towards 
the  camp  before  Boston:  And  thereupon, 

Ordered,  That  Messrs.  Isaac  Sears,  Abraham  Walton, 
and  Joseph  Hallctt  be  a  Committee  to  purchase  the  said 
quantity  of  Flour  for  the  purpose  aforesaid,  or  so  much 
thereof  as  they  can  obtain,  and  to  ship  and  forward  the 
same,  agreeable  to  the  said  resolution. 

And  it  is  now  Resolved  and  agreed,  neminc  contradi- 
cente,  That  every  member  of  this  Congress  will  be  respon- 
sible to  Messrs.  Sears,  Walton,  and  Hallett,  for  their  re- 
spective proportions  of  all  moneys  they  may  disburse,  or 
hereafter  be  obliged  to  pay,  by  means  of  the  purchase  of 
the  said  Flour,  or  of  their  appointment  to  comply  with  the 
said  resolution  and  request  of  the  Continental  Congress. 

A  true  copy  from  the  Minutes: 

John  McKesson,  Secretary. 


NEW-YORK  CONGRESS  TO  THEIR  DELEGATES  IN  THE  CON- 
TINENTAL CONGRESS. 
[Read  in  Congress,  June  16,  1775.} 
In  Provincial  Congress,  New- York,  Juno  11,  1775. 
Gentlemen  :  Captain  Thompson  arrived  here  in  a  ship 
from  Cork  last  evening;  and  as  we  understood  he  had 
reported  that  several  regiments  had  sailed  from  thence  for 
Boston,  and  four  other  regiments  embarked  or  embarking 
for  New-York,  the  Congress  desired  him  to  attend  their 
Board  this  morning,  to  examine  him  upon  the  subject. 

Upon  his  attendance  we  took  notes  of  the  substance  of  the 
intelligence  he  gave,  and  enclose  a  copy  thereof  to  you,  in 
order  that  it  may  be  laid  before  the  Continental  Congress. 

We  also  intend  to  forward  the  intelligence  to  the  Gov- 
ernour  of  Connecticut,  that  he  may  forward  the  same  to  the 
camp  at  Cambridge. 

We  are,  gentlemen,  your  very  humble  servants. 
By  order  and  in  behalf  of  the  Provincial  Congress  : 

P.  V.  B.  Livingston,  President. 
To  the  Delegates  from  the  Colony  of  New-  York  at  Con- 
tinental Congress,  Philadelphia. 

Captain  Tlwrnpson  arrived  at  New-York,  Tuesday, 
13th  June,  1775;  left  Cove,  in  Ireland,  6th  May  last,  and 
informs  that  six  regiments  had  sailed  in  twenty-four  trans- 
ports for  Boston,  one  regiment  of  Horse  included,  which 
sailed  the  30th  April. 

Three  regiments  were  embarked,  and  the  fourth  embark- 
ing, to  sail  for  Neiu-York  first  fair  wind.  The  regiments 
all  full,  seven  hundred  men  each,  filled  by  drafts  from  the 
regiments  that  remain,  their  places  being  filled  by  new  re- 
cruits. The  general  report  was,  that  these  four  regiments 
were  coming  to  New-York,  and  that  some  Captains  and 
other  officers  belonging  to  the  Troops  told  Captain  Thomp- 


985 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


986 


$on,  in  person,  that  they  were  coming  to  New-  Yorlc.  One 
regiment  arrived  at  Cork  (from  Kilkenny)  the  day  Capt. 
Thompson  sailed,  which  was  the  last  regiment  to  embark 
for  New-York.  Saw  twelve  large  transports  destined  for 
New- York ;  he  heard  sixteen.  One  General  Officer  is  to 
come  to  New-  York. 

The  Troops  coming  to  New-York  are  to  support  peo- 
ple's property,  and  to  assist  against  mobs.  The  report  in 
Ireland  was,  that  those  Troops  had  been  wrote  for  by 
persons  here. 

The  Troops  in  general  disliked  the  service;  some  offi- 
cers had  sold  out ;  no  ships-of-war  coming  with  the  trans- 
ports ;  a  report  in  Ireland  that  nine  new  regiments  were 
to  be  raised.  Heard  that  thirty  thousand  Prussians  were 
ready,  at  a  minute's  warning.  That  the  people  of  Ireland 
in  general  are  well  affected  to  the  Americans,  and  are 
averse  to  the  Americans  being  taxed  by  the  Parliament  of 
Great  Britain. 

Captain  Mcllvaine,  who  sailed  before  Capt.  Thompson, 
for  Philadelphia,  has  the  number  of  the  regiments  coming 
to  America. 


ft.  S.  MUMFORD  TO  JONATHAN  TRUMBULL,  JR. 

New  London,  June  14,  1775. 

Dear  Sir  :  A  master  of  one  of  my  vessels  (Capt.  Ches- 
ter) is  this  instant  arrived  from  Philadelphia.  He  left  Fri- 
day last,  and  reports  the  arrival  there  of  a  ship  from  London. 
on  board  of  which  was  Major  Skc?ie,  bound  for  Quebeck ; 
that  on  the  Banks  of  Newfoundland  they  spoke  a  vessel, 
which  informed  them  we  had  taken  possession  of  Ticonde- 
roga,  which  disconcerted  them  to  that  degree,  that  the 
Captain  of  the  ship  thought  it  unsafe  to  proceed  to  Que- 
beck; therefore,  as  the  Philadclphians  are  Friends,  they 
thought  themselves  safer  there  than  in  any  of  the  Colonies. 
On  their  arrival  there  the  Major  was  put  under  guard  by 
order  of  the  Congress.  They  find  the  ship  has  on  board 
seventy  chests  of  arms,  containing  three  thousand  five  hun- 
dred, which  were  likewise  secured,  and  a  Committee  from 
the  Congress  were  examining  the  letters  found  on  the 
Major,  &.c,  though  he  had  hove  overboard  some  of  conse- 
quence. I  think  this  acquisition  of  consequence  to  us.  I 
wish  we  could  thus  secure  a  thousand  such. 

My  most  respectful  wishes  attend  his  Honour  our  Gov- 
ernour,  to  whom  please  to  communicate  this  intelligence, 
as  it  may  be  depended  on. 

I  am,  dear  Sir,  your  very  humble  servant, 

M.  S.  Mumford. 

Mr.  Jonathan  Trumbull,  Jun. 


DEPUTY  GOVEBNOUR  COOKE  TO  CAPT.  JAMES  WALLACE. 

East  Greenwich,  June  14,  1775. 
Sir  :  Long  have  the  good  people  of  this  Colony  been 
oppressed  by  your  conduct  in  interrupting  their  lawful 
trade,  and  preventing  the  importation  of  provisions  neces- 
sary for  their  subsistence.  The  acts  of  the  British  Parlia- 
ment, already  filled  with  restrictions  of  trade,  oppressive 
in  the  highest  degree,  seem  by  you  to  be  thought  too 
lenient.  Not  controlled  by  those  you  affect  to  call  your 
masters,  you  have  detained  the  persons  and  taken  away 
the  property  of  His  Majesty's  American  subjects,  without 
any  warrant  from  the  acts  of  trade,  by  which  you  have 
greatly  impeded  the  intercourse  between  this  and  the  other 
Colonies,  as  well  as  between  the  different  parts  of  this 
Colony.  The  inhabitants  expecting  the  interposition  of 
the  lawful  authority  of  the  Colony,  have  borne  these  out- 
rages with  a  patience  almost  criminal.  The  Legislature 
have  heard  their  complaints,  and,  in  consequence  of  an  act 
passed  by  the  General  Assembly  this  day,  I  demand  of 
you  the  reason  of  your  conduct  towards  the  inhabitants  of 
this  Colony,  in  stopping  and  detaining  their  vessels  ;  and  I 
also  demand  of  you  that  you  immediately  restore  the  two 
packets  belonging  to  some  inhabitants  of  the  Town  of 
Providence,  and  all  other  vessels  belonging  to  the  inhabi- 
tants of  this  Colony,  which  you  have  taken  and  unjustly 
detain.  So  long  as  you  remain  in  the  Colony,  and  demean 
yourself  as  becomes  your  office,  you  may  depend  upon  the 
protection  of  the  laws,  and  every  assistance  for  promoting 
the  publick  service  in  my  power ;  and  you  may  also  be 
assured  that  the  whole  power  of  this  Colony  will  be  exert- 
ed to  secure  the  persons  and  properties  of  the  inhabitants 


against  every  lawless  invader.  An  immediate  answer  is 
requested  to  this  letter. 

1  am,  Sir,  your  most  humble  servant, 

Nicholas  Cooke,  Deputy  Governour. 
To  James  Wallace,  Esq.,  Commander  of  His  Majesty's 

Ship  Rose,  at  Newport. 

captain  Wallace's  answer. 

His  Majesty's  Ship  Rose,  Rhode-Island,  June  14,  1775. 

Sir:  I  have  received  your  letter  of  the  12th  instant. 
Although  I  am  unacquainted  with  you,  or  what  station  you 
act  in,  suppose  you  write  in  behalf  of  some  body  of  people  ; 
therefore,  previous  to  my  giving  an  answer,  I  must  desire 
to  know  whether  or  not  you,  or  the  people  on  whose  be- 
half you  write,  are  not  in  open  rebellion  to  your  lawful 
sovereign,  and  the  acts  of  the  British  legislature? 

I  am,  Sir,  your  most  humble  servant, 

James  Wallace. 

Nicholas  Cooke,  Esquire. 


NEWPORT   (RHODE-ISLAND)  COMMITTEE  TO  EASTHAMPTON 
(NEW-YORK)  COMMITTEE. 

Newport,  Rhode-Island,  June  14,  1775. 
Sirs  :  This  day  we  received  a  letter  from  the  Committee 
of  Inspection  at  Barclay,  advising  us  that  Thomas  Gilbert, 
Eb.  Philips,  and  Joseph  Window,  some  short  time  since, 
left  that  Town,  in  order  to  proceed  from  Newport  to  Long- 
Island,  to  be  inoculated.  Mr.  Conckling,  of  Southamp- 
ton, informs  us  that  they  have  taken  the  small-pox  at  one 
of  your  hospitals.  This  is  to  request  the  favour  of  you 
to  be  very  cautious  that  neither  of  those  persons  be  suffer- 
ed to  depart  the  hospital  until  they  are  perfectly  well  and 
free  from  any  infection,  nor  to  suffer  them  to  bring  away 
any  of  their  clothing,  nor  even  a  single  hair  upon  their 
bodies,  as  they  are  all  of  them  inveterate  enemies  of  our 
Country,  and  it  is  generally  thought  have  taken  this  me- 
thod to  spread  the  small-pox,  upon  their  return,  in  the 
camp  now  before  the  Town  of  Boston.  We  rely  upon 
your  vigilance  in  this  most  important  matter,  and  are,  most 
respectfully,  Sirs,  your  obedient  humble  servants, 

Jonathan  Otis,  Chairman. 

To  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  at  Easthampton. 

P.  S.  It  is  further  requested  of  you,  that  you  keep  said 
persons  at  your  inoculation-house,  till  you  have  an  oppor- 
tunity to  send  them  to  Nciv-London  or  Stonington,  and 
desire  the  favour  of  the  Committee  of  said  place  yon  may 
send  them  to,  to  take  care  that  they  may  be  cleansed  again 
when  they  arrive  there,  and  before  they  let  them  depart 
from  thence. 


FALMOUTH  COMMITTEE  TO  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY. 

Falmouth,  June  14,  1775. 
Honoured  Sir:  These  wait  on  you  by  Colonel  Phiney, 
who  informs  us  he  has  ordered  the  men  lately  enlisted  in 
this  County,  to  guard  the  sea-coasts  and  islands  within 
said  County,  to  secure  the  cattle  and  sheep  from  the  rav- 
ages of  cruisers  from  the  Navy ;  but  as  no  provision  is 
made  for  their  sustenance,  it  cannot  be  expected  they  can 
continue  to  do  duty  without.  We  refer  you  to  Colonel 
Phiney  for  particulars.  Four  Indian  chiefs  arrived  here 
this  day,  with  Captain  Lane,  from  the  Penobscot  tribe. 
We  hope  their  expectations  will  be  answered,  which  will 
lay  a  foundation  for  the  securing  to  our  interest  the  whole 
tribe.  We  are,  honoured  Sir,  your  most  obedient  humble 
servants,  Jedediah  Preble, 

Enoch  Freeman. 
Hon.  Joseph  Warren,  Esq.,  to  be  communicated. 


INSTRUCTIONS  OF  THE  MASSACHUSETTS   CONGRESS  TO  THE 
GENTLEMEN  CHOSEN  TO  REPAIR  TO  T1CONDEROGA. 

Watertown,  June  14,  1775. 

To  Walter  Spooner,  Jedediah  Foster,  and  James 
Sullivan,  Esquires  : 

You  are  directed  to  proceed,  as  soon  as  may  be,  to  the 
posts  of  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point,  by  the  road  through 
the  new  settlements,  called  the  New-Hampshire  Grants; 


987 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  he,  JUNE,  1775. 


988 


that  you  carefully  observe  the  quality  of  the  said  road,  and 
judge  of  the  feasibleness  of  transporting  provisions  by  the 
said  road  to  the  waters  of  Lake  Champlain ;  that  you  take 
with  you  copies  of  the  commission  and  instructions  of  the 
Committee  of  Safety  to  Colonel  Benedict  Arnold,  and 
inform  yourselves,  as  fully  as  you  shall  be  able,  in  what 
manner  the  said  Colonel  Arnold  has  executed  his  said 
commission  and  instructions. 

That  you  make  and  give  to  the  said  Arnold,  and  any 
men  whom  he  shall,  by  virtue  of  the  said  commission  and 
instructions,  retain  in  the  service  of  this  Colony,  such 
orders  as  to  you  shall  seem  meet,  provided  always,  that 
vou  do  not  authorize  the  said  Arnold  to  engage  and  retain 
in  the  pay  of  this  Colony,  as  soldiers,  a  greater  number 
than  that  specified  in  his  said  commission  and  instructions, 
and  provided,  that  the  said  Arnold  and  his  men  whom  he 
has  retained,  are  free  and  willing  to  continue  at  one  or  both 
of  the  said  posts,  under  the  command  of  such  chief  officer 
as  is  or  shall  be  appointed  by  the  Government  of  Connec- 
ticut ;  and  in  case  you  shall  order  such  number  of  men  to 
be  continued  at  or  near  the  said  posts,  in  the  pay  of  this 
Colony,  as  you  shall  judge  it  necessary  there  should  be, 
that  you  appoint  a  Committee  of  one  or  more  persons,  in 
the  pay  of  this  Colony,  to  provide  supplies  for  such  men, 
and  a  Commissary  to  deal  out  such  supplies  to  them, 
which  Committee  and  Commissary  you  are  to  appoint  in 
writing  under  your  hands. 

And  you  are  to  determine  and  order  respecting  the  said 
Arnold's  continuing  in  the  commission  and  pay  of  this 
Colony,  as  to  you  shall  appear  most  for  the  general  ser- 
vice and  safety,  after  having  made  yourselves  fully  ac- 
quainted with  the  spirit,  capacity,  and  conduct  of  the  said 
Arnold. 

And  in  case  you  shall  judge  it  proper  to  discharge  the 
said  Arnold,  that  you  direct  him  to  return  to  this  Colony, 
and  render  his  account  of  the  disposition  of  the  money, 
ammunition,  and  other  things  which  he  received  at  his 
setting  out  upon  his  expedition,  and  also  of  the  charges  he 
has  incurred,  and  the  debts  which  he  has  contracted  in  be- 
half of  this  Colony,  by  virtue  of  the  commission  and  in- 
structions aforesaid.  And  in  case  you  shall  find  any  men 
at  the  said  posts,  properly  retained  and  engaged  there  in 
the  service  of  this  Colony,  that  you  cause  them  and  their 
arms  to  be  mustered,  and  that  to  such  as  shall  pass  muster 
you  pay  out  of  the  moneys  which  you  shall  receive  from 
our  Receiver-General  for  that  purpose,  the  same  advance 
pay  as  is  by  order  of  Congress  paid  to  such  men  as  are 
retained  and  mustered  to  serve  within  this  Colony;  and  in 
case  you  shall  not  find  any  men  at  the  said  posts  properly 
engaged  and  retained  in  the  service  of  this  Colony,  or  that 
the  number  which  you  shall  find  so  retained  shall  be  much 
short  of  the  number  which  said  Arnold  was  empowered 
to  enlist,  that  then  you,  if  you  shall  judge  that  the  effec- 
tual security  of  said  posts  shall  require  it,  and  if  you  shall 
also  find  a  proper  person  in  those  parts  fit  and  suitable  for 
the  command  of  four  hundred  men,  or  such  less  number 
as  together  with  such  as  you  shall  find  ordered  and  posted 
by  any  other  Colony  or  Colonies,  and  shall  also  find  that 
soldiers  can  be  raised  in  those  parts  so  seasonably  as  that 
thereby  the  effectual  maintaining  of  the  said  posts  may  be 
served  or  promoted,  you  are  to  appoint  meet  persons  to 
be  officers  and  commanders  for  such  a  number  of  men  as 
you  shall  order  to  be  enlisted,  and  give  the  necessary 
orders  for  raising,  enlisting,  and  maintaining  them  for  such 
term  as  you  shall  judge  necessary  for  defence  of  said  posts, 
and  also  appoint  some  sufficient  and  faithful  man  as  Muster- 
master  and  Paymaster  of  such  men,  and  leave  sufficient 
moneys  in  his  hands  for  that  purpose,  taking  proper  receipts 
and  his  security  that  the  money  so  left  shall  be  applied  to 
that  use. 

And  you  are  to  take  a  careful  survey  of  the  ordnance 
and  ordnance-stores  at  those  posts,  together  with  all  other 
articles  necessary  for  the  maintenance  thereof,  and  report 
the  state  thereof  to  this  Congress. 

And  if  you  shall  find  it  necessary  to  purchase  powder 
for  the  men  who  shall  be  retained  there  on  the  part  of  this 
Colony,  that  you  procure  the  same,  and  so  much  as  you 
shall  judge  needful,  in  the  best  and  most  expeditious  way 
you  can,  on  the  credit  of  this  Colony. 

And  in  general  you  are  hereby  fully  empowered  to  do 
every  thing  in  behalf  of  this  Colony  for  the  effectual  secu- 


ring and  maintaining  those  posts,  which  you  shall  judge 
necessary,  equal  to  the  importance  of  the  same. 

You  are  further  directed,  when  you  shall  have  transact- 
ed what  you  are  by  the  foregoing  instructions  authorized 
to  do  and  transact  at  the  posts  aforesaid,  by  the  very  first 
opportunity  to  advise  the  general  American  Congress 
thereof,  as  also  of  your  opinion  of  the  necessity  and  im- 
portance of  maintaining  the  said  posts  for  general  defence 
of  these  Colonies ;  and  when  you  shall  have  made  your- 
selves fully  acquainted  with  the  state  and  condition  of  the 
said  posts,  and  the  dispositions  and  establishments  which 
you  shall  find  are  made  for  maintaining  of  them,  if  you 
shall  judge  that  any  further  provisions  are  necessary  for 
securing  and  maintaining  them,  you  are  directed  fully  and 
respectfully  to  signify  your  thoughts  thereon  to  the  Gene- 
ral Congress. 

You  are  also  directed  to  advise  the  General  Convention 
of  the  Colony  of  New-York,  and  the  Governour  of  the 
Colony  of  Connecticut,  respectively,  of  what  you  shall 
order  and  transact  by  virtue  of  the  said  instructions. 


JOSIAH  JONES   AND  JONATHAN   HICKS  TO  MASSACHUSETTS 
CONGRESS. 

Concord,  June  14,  1775. 

To  the  Honourable  the  Provincial  Congress  of  the  Mas- 

sachusetts-Bay  at  Watertown  : 

Gentlemen  :  The  sentiments  of  our  hearts  are  such, 
that  we  cannot  but  hope  an  honest  declaration  of  them 
will  produce  some  alleviation  of  the  difficulties  to  which 
we  are  reduced.  We  faithfully  acknowledge  that  we  have 
heretofore  entertained  opinions  variant  from  those  of  our 
fellow-countrymen  in  general ;  not,  however,  in  consenting 
to  the  equity  of  every  ministerial  requisition  or  parliamen- 
tary claim,  but  in  supposing  it  inexpedient  and  unsafe  for 
us  to  bear  arms  against  the  power  of  Great  Britain.  If 
for  this  we  should  incur  the  imputation  of  cowardice,  yet 
by  no  means  let  us  be  deemed  traitors  and  enemies  to  our 
Country.  We  can  say  before  God  and  man,  with  perfect 
sincerity,  that  we  do  most  affectionately  wish  prosperity  to 
our  native  land,  and  to  the  inhabitants  in  general  of  these 
American  Colonies ;  and  that  we  are  ready  at  any  time 
and  at  all  times,  so  far  as  our  abilities  extend,  to  do  any 
thing  within  the  limits  of  justice  that  appears  to  us  to  be 
subservient  to  this  important  end.  With  the  strictest  regard 
to  truth  we  affirm,  that  it  was  merely  with  a  view  of  avoid- 
ing danger,  and  not  from  any  want  of  friendship  to  our 
Country's  cause  and  interest,  that  we  of  late  took  up  our 
residence  in  the  Town  of  Boston ;  and  we  are  not  conscious 
of  having  offended  our  American  brethren  in  any  other  in- 
stance of  our  conduct.  Could  we  now  have  our  liberty 
and  be  permitted  to  live  securely  in  the  country,  we  should 
be  ready  to  bind  ourselves  under  the  most  solemn  obliga- 
tions never  directly  or  indirectly  to  oppose,  or  in  any  re- 
spect knowingly  to  disserve  the  cause  in  which  the  people 
are  so  seriously  engaged.  If  we  should  be  so  unhappy  as 
not  to  discern  the  propriety  and  prudence  of  any  measures 
by  them  adopted  for  the  security  of  their  lives,  liberties, 
and  properties,  yet  we  are  ready  to  submit  to  the  united 
wisdom  of  this  whole  Continent,  and  to  acquiesce  in  the 
judgment  of  our  superiours,  so  far,  at  least,  as  in  no  degree 
to  counteract  their  resolutions. 

What  we  earnestly  request,  therefore,  is,  that  the  hon- 
ourable Congress  would  take  what  we  thus  faithfully  offer, 
under  their  candid  consideration,  and  devise  means  for  our 
liberation,  that  we  may  so  serve  our  Country  at  least  as  to 
support  ourselves,  by  our  own  industry,  without  being  a 
publick  charge.  If  we  may  not  be  wholly  released  from 
our  confinement,  it  would  be  a  favour  most  thankfully  ac- 
cepted, to  have  the  privilege  of  the  yard,  as  the  season  is 
very  warm.  Whatever  indulgences  may  be  granted  to  us 
shall  always  be  remembered  with  the  warmest  gratitude 
by,  gentlemen,  your  very  obedient  humble  servants, 

Josiah  Jones, 
Jonathan  Hicks. 


MACHIAS  COMMITTEE  TO  MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS. 

Machias,  June  14,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  We,  the  faithful  and  distressed  inhabitants 
of  Machias,  beg  leave  once  more,  in  the  most  respectful 


989 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


990 


manner,  to  approach  your  presence,  and  spread  before  you 
a  just  and  full  representation  of  our  very  critical  situation. 

On  the  2d  instant  Captain  Ichabod  Jones  arrived  in  this 
river  with  two  sloops,  accompanied  with  one  of  the  King's 
tenders.  On  the  3d  instant  a  paper  was  handed  about  for 
the  people  to  sign,  as  a  prerequisite  to  their  obtaining  any 
provisions,  of  which  we  were  in  great  want.  The  contents 
of  this  paper  required  the  signers  to  indulge  Captain  Jones 
in  carrying  lumber  to  Boston,  and  to  protect  him  and  his 
property  at  all  events ;  but,  unhappily  for  him,  if  not  for 
us,  it  soon  expired,  after  producing  effects  directly  contrary 
in  their  nature  to  those  intended.  The  next  effort,  in  order 
to  carry  these  favourite  points,  was  to  call  a  meeting,  which 
was  accordingly  done.  On  the  6th  the  people  generally 
assembled  at  the  place  appointed,  and  seemed  so  averse  to 
the  measures  proposed,  that  Captain  Jones  privately  went 
to  the  tender  and  caused  her  to  move  up  so  near  the  Town 
that  her  guns  would  reach  the  houses,  and  put  springs  upon 
her  cables.  The  people,  however,  not  knowing  what  was 
done,  and  considering  themselves  nearly  as  prisoners  of 
war  in  the  hands  of  the  common  enemy,  (which  is  our  only 
plea  for  suffering  Captain  Jones  to  carry  any  lumber  to 
Boston  since  your  Honours  conceived  it  improper,)  passed 
a  vote  that  Captain  Jones  might  proceed  in  his  business  as 
usual  without  molestation  ;  that  they  would  purchase  the 
provision  he  brought  into  the  place,  and  pay  him  accord- 
ing to  contract.  After  obtaining  this  vote,  Captain  Jones 
immediately  ordered  his  vessels  to  the  wharf,  and  distribu- 
ted his  provisions  among  those  only  who  voted  in  favour 
of  his  carrying  lumber  to  Boston.  This  gave  such  offence 
to  the  aggrieved  party,  that  they  determined  to  take  Cap- 
tain Jones,  if  possible,  and  put  a  final  stop  to  his  supply- 
ing the  King's  Troops  with  any  thing.  Accordingly,  they 
secretly  invited  the  people  of  Mispecka  and  Pleasant  River 
to  join  them ;  accordingly,  a  number  of  them  came,  and 
having  joined  our  people  in  the  woods,  near  the  settle- 
ments, on  the  11th,  they  all  agreed  to  take  Captain  Jones 
and  Stephen  Jones,  Esquire,  in  the  place  of  worship,  which 
they  attempted,  but  Captain  Jones  made  his  escape  into 
the  woods,  and  does  not  yet  appear;  Stephen  Jones,  Esq., 
only  was  taken,  and  remains  as  yet  under  guard.  The 
Captain  and  Lieutenant  of  the  tender  were  also  in  the 
meeting-house,  and  fled  to  their  vessel,  hoisted  their  flag, 
and  sent  a  message  on  shore  to  this  effect :  "  That  he  had 
express  orders  to  protect  Captain  Jones;  that  he  was  de- 
termined to  do  his  duty,  whilst  he  had  life,  and  that  if  the 
people  presumed  to  stop  Captain  Jones's  vessels,  he  would 
burn  the  Town."  Upon  this,  a  party  of  our  men  went 
directly  to  stripping  the  sloop  that  lay  at  the  wharf,  and 
another  party  went  off  to  take  possession  of  the  other  sloop 
which  lay  below,  and  brought  her  up  nigh  a  wharf,  and 
anchored  in  the  stream.  The  tender  did  not  fire,  but 
weighed  her  anchors  as  privately  as  possible,  and  in  the 
dusk  of  the  evening  fell  down,  and  came  to  within  mus- 
ket-shot of  the  sloop,  which  obliged  our  people  to  slip 
their  cable,  and  run  the  sloop  aground.  In  the  mean  time, 
a  considerable  number  of  our  people  went  down  in  boats 
and  canoes,  lined  the  shore  directly  opposite  to  the  tender, 
and  having  demanded  her  to  surrender  to  America,  re- 
ceived for  answer,  "Fire,  and  be  damn'd."  They  imme- 
diately fired  in  upon  her,  which  she  returned,  and  a  smart 
engagement  ensued.  The  tender  at  last  slipped  her  cable, 
and  fell  down  to  a  small  sloop,  commanded  by  Captain  To- 
bey,  and  lashed  herself  to  her  for  the  remainder  of  the 
night.  In  the  morning  of  the  12th  they  took  Captain 
Tobey  out  of  his  vessel  for  a  pilot,  and  made  all  the  sail 
they  could  to  get  off,  as  the  wind  and  tide  favoured;  but 
having  carried  away  her  main  boom,  and  meeting  with  a 
sloop  from  the  Bay  of  Fundy>  they  came  to,  robbed  the 
sloop  of  her  boom  and  gaft,  took  almost  all  her  provisions, 
together  with  Mr.  Robert  Avery,  of  Norwich,  in  Connec- 
ticut, and  proceeded  on  her  voyage.  Our  people  seeing 
her  go  off  in  the  morning,  determined  to  follow  her;  about 
forty  men,  armed  with  guns,  swords,  axes,  and  pitchforks, 
went  in  Captain  Jones's  sloop,  under  the  command  of 
Captain  Jeremiah  O'Brien,  and  about  twenty,  armed  in 
the  same  manner,  and  under  the  command  of  Captain 
Benjamin  Foster,  went  in  a  small  schooner.  During  the 
chase,  our  people  built  themselves  breast-works  of  pine 
boards,  and  any  thing  they  could  find  in  the  vessels  that 
would  screen  them  from  the  enemy's  fire.    The  lender, 


upon  the  first  appearance  of  our  people,  cut  her  boats  from 
the  stern,  and  made  all  the  sail  she  could  ;  but  being  a 
very  dull  sailer,  they  soon  came  up  with  her,  and  a  most 
obstinate  engagement  ensued,  both  sides  being  determined 
to  conquer  or  die.  But  the  tender  was  obliged  to  yield  ; 
her  Captain  was  wounded  in  the  breast  with  two  balls,  of 
which  wounds  he  died  next  morning.  Poor  Mr.  Avery 
was  killed,  and  one  of  the  marines,  and  five  wounded ; 
only  one  of  our  men  was  killed,  and  six  wounded,  one  of 
whom  has  since  died  of  his  wounds. 

The  battle  was  fought  at  the  entrance  of  our  harbour, 
and  lasted  for  near  the  space  of  one  hour.  We  have  in 
our  possession  four  double-forlified  three-pounders,  and 
fourteen  swivels,  and  a  number  of  small  arms,  which  we 
took  with  the  tender,  besides  a  very  small  quantity  of  am- 
munition, &c.  Thus  we  have  given  your  Jionours  as  par- 
ticular an  account  of  this  affair  as  possible ;  we  now  apply  to 
you  for  advice,  and  for  a  supply  of  ammunition  and  pro- 
visions, (the  latter  of  which  we  have  petitioned  your  Hon- 
ours for  already,)  which,  if  we  could  be  fully  supplied 
with,  we  doubt  not  but,  with  the  blessing  of  Heaven,  we 
should  be  fully  able  to  defend  ourselves.  We  purpose  to 
convey  the  prisoners  to  Penalborough  Jail,  as  soon  as  pos- 
sible, there  to  await  your  orders. 

We  are,  with  deference,  your  Honours'  most  obedient 
humble  servants.    By  order  of  the  Committee: 

Geo.  Stillman,  Clerk. 
To  the  Honourable  Congress  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay. 


TO  THE  PUBLICK. 

Cecil  County,  Maryland,  June  15,  1775. 

A  regard  to  truth  and  reputation  prompts  me  to  expose 
the  falsehood  and  iniquity  of  a  publication  in  Godclard's 
Maryland  Journal  of  the  24th  of  May.  This  account  is 
formally  ushered  into  the  world  under  the  supposed  pa- 
tronage of  the  respectable  Committee  of  Cecil  County, 
and  has  been  copied  in  other  papers  to  the  northward.  I 
declare,  however,  in  the  most  solemn  manner,  that  no  such 
summons  as  is  mentioned  in  the  above  publication,  was 
ever  served  upon  me ;  and  I  am  at  liberty  to  add,  upon 
the  authority  of  Messrs.  John  Veazey,  Junior,  Chairman, 
and  John  Veazey,  the  third,  acting  Clerk,  that  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  Committee  respecting  me  have  not  been 
faithfully  published,  and  have  neither  their  sanction  nor 
consent.  In  short,  the  father  of  the  child,  like  the  framer 
of  the  Qucbeck  Bill,  cannot  be  found,  although  he  has 
been  diligently  sought  for;  but  his  friends,  it  is  hoped,  will 
not  despair  of  his  reformation,  since  he  has  the  grace  to 
hide  his  face.  Indeed,  he  blunders  exceedingly  in  his  pre- 
sent attempts  to  rob  me  of  my  character,  for  he  makes  a 
James  Veazey  Chairman,  whereas  there  is  no  such  man  in 
the  County;  but  I  forgive  him,  and  sincerely  wish  him  a 
better  head  as  well  as  a  better  heart.  It  is  the  lot  of  men 
more  worthy  than  me  to  have  enemies ;  I  have  mine,  and 
they  have  been  industrious  to  make  every  one  think  as  ill 
of  me  as  they  do  themselves.  For  this  laudable  purpose 
they  take  advantage  of  the  distraction  of  the  times,  and 
would  fain  convince  the  world  that  I  am  an  enemy  to  lib- 
erty. Now,  although  I  candidly  own  that  my  politicks 
are  not  quite  agreeable  to  theirs,  yet  I  trust  in  the  main 
I  am  right ;  I  am  deeply  principled  against  the  assumed 
powers  of  the  British  Parliament  to  tax  these  Colonies, 
and  complain  of,  and  have  done  as  much  to  oppose  their 
late  acts,  as  many  of  those  who  make  turbulence  and 
clamour  the  test  of  patriotism.        Charles  Gordon. 

TO  THE  PRINTER  OF  THE  MARYLAND  GAZETTE. 

Please  to  inform  Mr.  Charles  Gordon,  (to  save  him  the 
trouble  of  any  farther  inquiry,)  that  the  proceedings  which 
appeared  against  him  in  Mr.  Goddard's  Journal  were  trans- 
mitted to  Baltimore  Town  by  the  Committee  of  Charles- 
town  Hundred,  to  be  printed  in  handbills,  as  the  most 
effectual  way  of  carrying  into  execution  the  intention  of  the 
County  Committee,  who  directed  that  their  resolves,  re- 
specting him,  should  be  carefully  published  in  every  Hun- 
dred through  the  County.  We  are  sorry  that  the  printer  was 
so  inaccurate  as  to  mistake  the  Chairman's  christian  name. 
We  also  find  that  the  preamble  to  the  resolve  (which,  by 
the  by,  is  not  set  forth  as  the  proceedings  of  the  Commit- 


991 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


992 


tee,)  is  worded  somewliat  different  from  that  which  stands 
upon  the  Committee's  minute-book,  occasioned  by  our  not 
taking  a  copy  of  the  preamble  or  summons,  at  the  time 
we  copied  the  affidavit  and  lesolve.  However,  to  do  Mr. 
Gordon  all  the  justice  be  can  require,  we  will  give  the  pub- 
lick  an  opportunity  of  judging  for  themselves  how  much 
he  was  injured  by  that  unfaithful  publication,  as  he  calls  it, 
and  for  that  purpose,  herewith  send  you  an  extract  and  ver- 
batim copy  of  the  proceedings  from  the  Committee  Mi- 
nutes, signed  with  the  Clerk's  own  hand,  by  which  will  also 
appear  what  credit  is  due  to  Mr.  Gordon's  assertions.  Your 
inserting  this,  together  with  the  proceedings  in  your  next 
paper,  will  much  oblige  your  humble  servants, 

Pat.  Hamilton,  ~1  ^       ...  r 

r>  Committee  for 

IN  AT.  Kamsey,  I      f^j      ,    .  J 

T        T,         '  >  Charlestown 

John  Hamilton,  [  7r  ,  , 
rn        u  Hundred. 

1  hos.  Hughes,  J 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  for  Cecil  County,  at  Elk- 
Ferry,  on  the  sixteenth  clay  of  May,  1775, 

John  Veazey,  Jun.,  Chairman: 

Whereas  great  complaints  have  this  day  been  made 
against  Charles  Gordon,  Esq.,  Attorney-at-Law,  for  that 
he  hath  infamously  reflected  on  the  members  of  this  Com- 
mittee, and  the  Deputies  of  this  County,  who  lately  at- 
tended the  Provincial  Convention:  These  are  therefore 
requiring  the  said  Charles  Gordon  that  he  appear  before  this 
Committee  at  the  house  of  Thomas  Savin,  at  Elk-Ferry, 
to-morrow,  at  two  o'clock,  P.  M.,  to  answer  unto  said  com- 
plaint ;  hereof  fail  not  at  your  peril.  Returnable  to-morrow, 
at  two  o'clock,  P.  M.  John  Veazey,  3d, 

Acting  Clerk. 

To  Charles  C7on7o?i,Esq.,  Attorney-at-Law,  near  Warwick. 
On  which  said  Summons  was  thus  endorsed, 

Cecil  County,  ss. 

On  this  seventeenth  day  of  May,  1775,  personally  came 
William  Savin  before  me,  the  subscriber,  one  of  his  Lord- 
ship's Justices  of  said  County,  and  made  oath  on  the  Holy 
Evangelist  of  Almighty  God,  that  he  served  Mr.  Gordon 
with  a  copy  of  the  within  summons  in  time  for  him  to  have 
observed  it ;  and  that  he  told  him  (this  deponent)  that  he 
would  not  meet,  and  if  the  Committee  wanted  him  they 
must  come  to  his  plantation,  but  not  inside  his  yard-gate  ; 
that  he  asked  why  they  did  not  come  or  send  some  of  their 
head  men;  that  upon  his  (this  deponent)  saying  that  he 
believed  if  he  did  not  comply  with  their  request,  that  they 
would  all  come,  he  (Mr.  Gordon)  said  he  was  ready  to  re- 
ceive them  ;  that  his  plantation  was  large  enough  to  hold 
them,  but  they  must  not  come  inside  his  gate,  or  there 
would  be  lives  lost ;  that  Mr.  Gordon  told  him, that  he  had 
said,  and  does  still  say,  that  there  are  a  parcel  of  damned 
scoundrels  of  the  Committee,  and  that  if  they  have  any 
thing  to  say  to  him,  they  must  come  to  him,  for  he  is  at  all 
their  defiances.    Sworn  before  David  Smith. 

Which  being  taken  into  consideration,  the  Committee 
came  to  the  following  determination  : 

Whereas  Chas.  Gordon,  Attorney-at-Law,  in  this  Coun- 
ty, hath  treated  this  Committee  with  great  contempt  and 
insolence  ;  and  whereas  the  general  tenour  of  his  conduct 
hath,  for  a  long  lime  past,  been  such  as,  in  their  opinions, 
declare  him  to  be  an  enemy  to  the  general  cause  of  liberty, 
for  which  they  are  now  contending ;  and  he  hath  this  day 
been  duly  summoned  to  appear  and  answer  unto  the  above 
charge,  to  which  be  hath  returned  an  impertinent  and  inso- 
lent answer,  even  menacing  this  Committee  with  destruc- 
tion, if  they  attempted  to  proceed  any  further  against  him: 

It  is  therefore  Resolved,  That  the  said  Charles  Gordon 
lie  under  the  imputation  of  being  an  enemy  to  this  Country, 
and  as  such,  we  will  have  no  dealings  or  communication 
with  him,  nor  permit  him  to  transact  business  with  us  'or 
for  us,  either  in  a  publick  or  private  capacity,  which  shall 
be  commenced  after  the  date  hereof,  until  he  appear  before 
this  Committee  and  fully  satisfy  them  with  respect  to  the 
above  charge  ;  and  we  do  earnestly  recommend  to  all  the 
good  people  of  this  County  to  observe  the  same  line  of 
conduct. 

Ordered,  That  this  be  published  in  each  Hundred. 
True  copy  from  the  Minutes  : 

John  Veazey,  3d,  Acting  Clerk. 


TO  LORD  NORTH. 

London,  June  15,  1775. 

My  Lord  :  Whilst  I  feel  the  deepest  anguish  and  sensi- 
bility for  the  loss  of  our  hapless  countrymen  who  lately  fell 
in  the  action  with  the  Americans,  near  Boston,  suffer  me 
to  entreat  you  to  stay  the  sword,  and  suspend  any  further 
operations  against  the  Colonies,  until  some  happy  concilia- 
ting means  may  be  devised,  some  fortunate  expedient  may 
be  hit  upon,  to  heal  the  bleeding  wounds  and  reunite  us 
again  with  that  unfortunate  and  distracted  Country.  It  <s, 
my  Lord,  the  sincere  wish  of  every  true  friend  of  freedom, 
who  are  too  sensibly  afflicted,  adequately  to  express  their 
feelings  on  the  above  most  melancholy  event. 

As  a  well-wisher  to  your  Lordship  and  all  mankind,  I 
entreat  you,  from  every  motive  of  humanity,  to  listen  to 
the  dictates  of  sound  reason  and  policy,  and  you  cannot 
fail  of  being  convinced  of  the  justice  and  expediency  of  a 
measure  so  essentially  requisite  to  stop  the  further  effusion 
of  the  blood  of  our  countrymen,  and  prevent  us  from  be- 
ing engaged  in  all  the  borrours  of  a  civil  and  intestine  war  ; 
the  bare  apprehension  of  which,  my  Lord,  fills  me  with  the 
most  poignant  anxiety,  and  makes  me  dread  the  impending 
consequences  with  a  torture  of  mind  utterly  impossible  to 
be  described. 

If,  by  those  extraordinary  exertions  which  have  often  pro- 
ceeded from  people  contending  for  their  liberties,  or  by  any 
of  those  accidents  which  have  frequently  decided  the  fate 
of  battles  and  of  empires,  taking  the  victory  from  the  strong 
and  the  race  from  the  swift,  we  should  be  repulsed,  to  what 
a  state  of  humiliation  should  we  be  reduced?  Such  is  the 
insuperable  absurdity  of  the  measure,  that  whether  victors 
or  vanquished,  we  are  sure  of  being  sufferers. 

With  ties  so  strong  to  bind  us  to  each  other,  is  it  not 
strange,  is  it  not  deplorable  that  we  should  differ?  Do 
they  who  talk  of  chastising  our  Colonies  and  reducing  them 
to  obedience,  consider  how  much  we  hazard  when  we  dis- 
solve those  ties  ?  What,  are  we  to  substitute  in  their  place 
force  and  fear,  which  Tacitus  wisely  tells  us  are  insecure  re- 
straints, and  always  succeeded  by  inveterate  hatred?  When 
these  consequences  follow  from  the  coercive  measures  we 
are  now  pursuing,  will  the  counsellors  who  have  impelled 
us  to  them  by  representations,  (not,  1  am  sure,  very  fair,) 
defend  us  from  their  fatal  effects  ? 

It  is  from  experience  only,  my  Lord,  that  men  learn 
wisdom;  but,  unhappily,  sometimes  the  injury  of  the  ex- 
periment is  irretrievable.  We  have  too  much  reason,  I 
think,  to  apprehend  that  this  will  be  the  event  of  our  pre- 
sent contest  with  America. 

I  acknowledge  I  admire  the  bravery  of  our  Troops.  What 
men  can  do  they  will  do;  but  in  a  Country  furnished  with 
fastnesses  and  defiles  without  number,  intimately  known  to 
the  enemy  you  are  to  combat,  where  discipline  is  unavail- 
ing or  embarrassing,  and  valour  useless,  it  requires  more 
than  human  power  to  succeed  to  any  permanent  purpose. 
Heaven  forbid  that  the  bravery  of  such  troops  as  the  En- 
glish should  be  so  vainly,  so  fatally  employed.  They  who 
remember  the  fatal  overthrow  of  Braddock  by  a  few  In- 
dians in  ambush,  an  overthrow  incurred  by  the  very  disci- 
pline in  which  he  vainly  put  his  trust,  will  be  apt  to  doubt 
the  facility  of  reducing  the  Colonies  by  military  force.  They 
who  reflect  that  the  united  aid  and  efforts  of  all  the  Colo- 
nies were  necessary  to  give  success  to  our  arms  in  the  late 
war  against  the  Canadians,  will  be  still  more  doubtful  of 
this  expedient. 

But,  my  Lord,  so  much  having  been  already  said  on  the 
subject,  I  will  not  take  up  more  of  your  valuable  moments, 
which  I  am  persuaded  must  now  be  fully  employed.  In- 
dulge me,  however,  once  more  to  entreat  your  most  serious 
attention  to  the  true  interest  and  happiness  of  this  Coun- 
try, aad  to  the  welfare  of  our  brethren  in  America  ;  so  shall 
you  be  revered  and  esteemed  by  all  good  men,  your  name 
deservedly  transferred  with  honour  to  posterity,  and  the 
tribute  of  gratitude,  affection,  and  esteem,  be  echoed  from 
every  quarter  of  this  great  and  extensive  Empire. 

Memento. 


BRITISH  SETTLEMENTS  ON  THE  MISSISSIPPI. 

New-York,  June  15,  1775. 
We  have  authority  to  communicate  to  the  publick,  from 
his  Excellency  Mont  ford  Browne,  Esq.,  Governour  and 


993 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


994 


Commander-in-Chief  of  His  Majesty's  Bahama  Islands, 
that  his  Excellency  being  possessed  of  several  very  exten- 
sive and  valuable  tracts  of  land  (as  well  by  grants  from  the 
Crown,  as  by  purchase)  situated  on  the  banks  of  the  River 
Mississippi  and  Mobile,  in  West-Florida,  to  the  amount  of 
one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  acres  and  upwards,  (ex- 
clusive of  Dauphin  Island,  whose  situation  for  trade  is  so 
well  known,)  is  desirous  of  encouraging  all  substantial  plant- 
ers or  others,  who  wish  to  become  settlers  in  those  parts. 
The  fertility  of  soil,  salubrity  of  climate,  and  most  delight- 
ful situation  of  those  tracts,  are  so  well  known,  that  they 
need  no  fuller  description  than  that  printed  by  his  Excel- 
lency for  His  Majesty,  who  has  thought  fit  to  order  the  in- 
tended capital,  on  account  of  its  rising  consequence  and 
most  convenient  situation,  to  be  removed  from  Fort  Bute 
to  Browne's  Cliffs,  nearly  opposite  to  that  most  beautiful 
and  populous  Town  called  Point- Coupee,  belonging  to  the 
Spaniards. 

For  further  particulars  his  Excellency  refers  the  publick 
to  the  printed  reasons  left  with  the  printer  hereof,  in  order 
that  those  who  are  inclined  to  remove  to  that  flourishing 
Province  may  be  well  informed,  and  may,  by  application 
to  his  Excellency,  at  New-Providence,  be  well  assured  of 
meeting  with  every  encouragement  they  can  wish  for  or 
desire. 

Governour  Browne's  Reasons,  as  presented  to  the  King, 
for  an  immediate  Civil  Government  in  the  British  Do- 
minions adjoining  to  the  River  Mississippi,  in  North- 
America. 

Whoever  is  conversant  with  the  natural  history  of  Ame- 
rica, must  be  sensible,  from  the  concurrent  testimony  of 
writers,  travellers,  and  engineers,  that  no  country  in  the 
universe  exceeds  the  neighbourhood  of  the  Mississippi  in 
fertility  of  soil,  salubrity  of  climate,  or  convenience  of  situa- 
tion.   Both  sides  of  the  river,  previous  to  the  late  peace, 
in  which  the  eastern  was  ceded  to  Great  Britain,  went 
under  the  general  name  of  Louisiana,  and  they  have  been 
long  celebrated,  no  less  for  the  prodigious  diversity  than 
the  prodigious  luxuriancy  of  their  productions.    They  fre- 
quently yield  two  annual  crops  of  Indian  corn,  as  well  as 
rice,  and,  with  a  little  cultivation,  would  furnish  grain  of 
every  kind  in  the  most  flattering  abundance.    But  their 
value  is  not  confined  to  the  fertility  of  the  meadows,  or  the 
immensity  of  the  champaign  lands ;  their  timber  is  as  fine 
as  any  in  the  world,  and  the  quantities  of  live-oak,  ash, 
mulberry,  walnut,  palm,  cypress,  and  cedar,  are  equally  as- 
tonishing.* Yet  what  is  still  more  astonishing,  above  a  mil- 
lion of  acres  are  sufficiently  clear  on  the  English  borders 
to  admit  of  instant  habitation,  and  to  answer  all  the  purposes 
of  a  Colony  long  improved.    The  advantages  which  they 
offer  are  not  remote,  they  are  immediate ;  they  do  not  call 
for  the  industry  of  years,  like  many  of  the  senior  Provinces 
in  America,  but,  on  the  first  appearance  of  the  settler, 
present  themselves  to  be  enjoyed.    The  neighbourhood 
of  the  Mississippi,  besides,  furnishes  the  richest  fruits  in 
an  infinite  variety  ;  particularly  grapes,  oranges,  lemons,  and 
olives,  in  the  highest  perfection.    It  abounds  with  silk,  cot- 
ton, sassafras,  saffron,  and  rhubarb  ;  is  particularly  adapted 
for  flax  and  hemp,  and  the  goodness  of  tobacco  even  equals 
the  Brazils;  cochineal  also,  of  the  best  quality,  is  found 
in  plenty  on  its  banks,  and  indigo  is  at  this  moment  a  sta- 
ple commodity,  which  commonly  yields  four  cuttings  to  the 
planter.    In  a  word,  whatever  is  rich  or  rare  in  the  choicest 
climates  of  Europe,  seems  natural  to  such  a  degree  on  the 
Mississippi,  that  France,  though  she  sent  few  or  no  emi- 
grants into  Louisiana  but  decayed  soldiers,  or  the  refuse  of 
her  streets,  (and  these  very  poorly  supplied  with  the  imple- 
ments of  husbandry,)  soon  began  to  dread  a  rival  in  her 
Colony,  particularly  in  the  cultivation  of  vines,  from  which 
she  prohibited  the  Colonists,  under  a  very  heavy  penalty. 
Yet  soil  and  situation  triumphed  over  all  political  restraints, 
and  the  adventurers,  at  the  end  of  the  late  war,  were  little 
inferiour  to  the  most  ancient  settlements  of  America  in  all 
the  modern  refinements  of  luxury.     From  the  success 
attending  the  French  settlers,  under  every  possible  disad- 
vantage, it  is  evident  that  an  establishment  on  the  Missis- 

*  The  Spaniards  now  cut  down  as  much  timber  as  they  think  proper 
on  the  British  side  of  the  Mississippi,  and  send  it  away  to  the  Havana, 
for  the  use  of  their  Navy,  without  interruption. 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii.  i 


sippi,  favoured  with  the  benign  influence  of  a  British  Gov- 
ernment, under  which  freedom  and  property  are  inviolably 
sacred,  would  be  productive  of  the  happiest  consequences, 
especially  as  some  arguments  may  be  urged  in  support  of 
such  a  measure,  which,  perhaps,  never  before  existed  in  a 
case  of  colonization. 

In  the  first  place,  contrary  to  the  general  principles  of 
new  establishments,  the  Mother  Country  is  neither  to  be 
drained  of  a  subject,  nor  the  Government  to  incur  the 
minutest  expense.  To  maintain  these  assertions,  it  must 
be  observed,  that  since  the  conclusion  of  the  late  war  at 
least  twenty  thousand  families  in  the  old  English  Colonies 
have  removed,  on  account  of  the  extending  population  and 
the  barrenness  of  the  soil,  to  the  back  settlements  of  their 
respective  Provinces.  Their  emigration  has  been  incon- 
ceivably injurious  to  the  places  which  they  have  deserted, 
and  must  be  equally  injurious  to  the  interest  of  this  King- 
dom ;  for  in  proportion  as  choice  or  necessity  has  detached 
these  people  from  an  intercourse  with  the  seats  of  trade, 
they  have  been  driven  into  manufactures.  Agriculture,  un- 
doubtedly, is  the  grand  mine  of  American  opulence  ;  but 
men  must  sacrifice  their  wishes  to  their  wants;  and  such 
articles  as  the  back  settler  cannot  purchase  without  much 
difficulty  or  much  loss,  he  will  naturally  attempt  to  make 
for  his  own  accommodation.  His  efforts  at  first  may  be  awk- 
ward, yet  he  will  improve  upon  practice,  and  succeed  at 
last,  where  he  only  labours  for  convenience  or  utility.  The 
consequence  is  obvious  ;  consuming  none  of  her  commodi- 
ties, he  becomes  commercially  annihilated  to  the  State  ; 
nor  does  the  evil  terminate  even  in  such  annihilation.  His 
example  incessantly  encourages  the  emigration  of  others, 
and  lays  the  foundation  of  that  independency  for  America, 
which  is  alone  to  be  dreaded  from  her  maturity  in  manufac- 
tures, and  which  is  big  with  so  many  dangers  to  the  gene- 
ral happiness  of  the  British  Empire.  Was  a  civil  Govern- 
ment, therefore,  formed  on  the  Mississippi,  great  numbers 
of  these  emigrants  would  immediately  proceed  to  a  situa- 
tion so  peculiarly  calculated  to  the  unbounded  views  of 
commerce ;  where,  from  necessitous  farmers,  they  would 
become  considerable  planters ;  where,  from  being  worse 
than  lost,  they  would  speedily  be  recovered ;  and  instead 
of  hourly  impairing,  they  would  hourly  add  to  the  true 
prosperity  of  this  Kingdom.  Yet  numerous  as  the  back 
settlers  of  the  old  English  Provinces  are  known  to  be, 
they  do  not  constitute  by  any  means  the  only  foundation 
on  which  England  may  depend  for  the  speedy  establish- 
ment of  a  flourishing  Colony  ;  on  the  contrary,  many  thou- 
sand foreign  settlers  in  Louisiana,  who  have  formed  a 
strong  interest  with  the  Indians,  will  directly  place  them- 
selves under  the  protection  of  the  British  Government  ;* 

*  Mr.  John  Durade,  late  a  settler  of  great  eminence  on  the  Missis- 
sippi, now  residing  at  Pensaeola,  wrote,  in  February,  1770,  to  Gov- 
ernour Browne,  in  the  following  terms :  "  The  cruelties  committed  by 
the  Spaniards,  and  their  tyrannical  yoke,  are  circumstances  which 
cannot  fail  of  procuring  to  the  English  possessions,  from  their  prox- 
imity, an  acquisition  of  many  industrious  families,  who  will  be  able  to 
transport  their  effects  thither  without  risk,  and  are  acquainted  with 
the  soil  and  other  circumstances.  Germans  and  Acadians  are  equally 
uneasy  under  their  new  masters ;  the  latter  are  settled  near  Manchack, 
(a  part  of  the  British  territory,)  and  would  be  the  first  to  resort 
thither." 

Mr.  Durade,  in  the  same  letter  to  Governour  Browne,  expatiates 
upon  the  fertility  of  the  country,  the  salubrity  of  the  climate,  and 
the  certain  advantages  which  the  proposed  settlement  would  pro- 
duce to  Great  Britain.  He  declared,  that  a  man,  his  wife,  and  five 
children,  with  two  negroes,  one  wench,  on  a  farm  of  eighteen  acres, 
may  not  only  subsist  very  well,  but  make  an  annual  saving,  propor. 
tioned  to  their  industry.  Hunting  affords  infinite  assistance  to  the 
inferiour  inhabitants,  wild  cattle  and  deer  abounding  beyond  belief, 
and  the  rivers  teeming  in  equal  plenty  with  the  most  excellent  fish. 
Mr.  Durade  affirms,  as  an  attested  fact,  that  twenty  negroes,  such  as 
are  usually  employed,  will  yield  a  yearly  profit  of  twenty  thousand 
French  Livres,  and  deducting  three  thousand  Livres  for  their  mainte- 
nance and  mortality,  seventeen  thousand,  or  seven  hundred  and  eighty 
Pounds  English,  is  the  very  least  which  the  planter  can  reasonably 
expect  from  their  labour,  even  if  they  are  employed  but  eight  months 
in  the  cultivation  of  Indigo.  Mr.  Durade  adds,  that  many  planters 
who  began  only  with  one  negro,  have  now  from  twenty  to  fifty  on 
their  plantations,  and  requests  Governour  Browne,  in  case  an  English 
Government  is  erected  on  the  Mississippi,  to  intercede  for  a  grant  of 
four  thousand  acres  for  him,  together  with  an  equal  grant  for  a  brother 
of  his.  "  Expedite  the  patents  (says  he)  as  soon  as  possible,  that  we 
may  immediately  establish  ourselves  ;  but  if  the  settlement  is  not  made, 
we  must  decline  the  grant,  as  it  will  become  useless." 

Besides  Mons.  Durade's  letter,  Governour  Browne  received  the  fol- 
lowing application  from  a  body  of  the  French,  which  quitted  the  west- 
ern side  of  the  Mississippi  rather  than  be  subject  to  Spain.  They  are 
now  at  Pensaeola,  waiting  with  the  utmost  impatience  for  an  opportuni- 
ty of  putting  themselves  under  the  protection  of  our  Government,  and 


995 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  be,  JUNE,  1775. 


996 


and,  added  to  tlic  certainty  of  this  valuable  increase,  various 
very  opulent  members  of  the  community  at  home  will 
undertake,  on  their  own  entire  risk,  to  collect  emigrants 
from  Germany,  from  Italy,  and  different  foreign  Slates, 
particularly  the  Greeks,  and  other  distressed  inhabitants  on 
the  Mediterranean,  to  cultivate  the  banks  of  the  English 
Mississippi,  where  the  luxuries  of  their  respective  Coun- 
tries, which  now  take  immense  sums  annually  in  specie  from 
Great  Britain,  may  be  raised  as  in  any  part  of  Europe. 

Perhaps  it  may  be  remarked,  that  our  American  coloni- 
zation is  already  sufliciently  extensive,  and  that  there  is  no 
possibility  of  erecting  new  settlements  without  an  essential 
injury  to  the  old  ones :  it  cannot  on  this  account  be  too  fre- 
quently enforced,  that  the  establishment  proposed  by  no 
means  interferes  with  the  interest  of  the  other  Provinces ; 
its  chief  excellence  consists  in  producing  what  they  are  not 
at  all  calculated  to  produce,  and  in  furnishing  those  silks, 
fruits,  wines,  and  different  delicacies  which  we  are  now 
unavoidably  compelled  to  purchase  from  strangers,  to  the 
incredible  injury  of  our  manufactures.  For  this  reason, 
while  the  luxuries  of  life  materially  constitute  the  springs 
of  commerce,  it  is  doubtless  good  policy  to  procure  them 

have  already  obtained  lands  on  the  British  borders  of  the  River,  from 
a  full  persuasion  that  we  cannot  long  continue  insensible  to  tho  advan. 
tages  of  so  valuable  a  territory. 

To  Governour  Browne  : 

Sir  :  As  you  are  at  the  eve  of  leaving  this  Province,  and  returning 
to  England,  we,  possessors  of  lands  on  the  borders  of  the  River  Missis- 
sippi, take  tho  liberty  to  make  you  our  representations,  requesting, 
Sir,  you  would  be  pleased  to  submit  them  to  the  British  Government, 
and  to  take  any  steps  in  this  affair  you  shall  think  convenient. 

The  River  Mississippi  is  now  well  known  ;  the  very  great  advan. 
tages  which  would  result  from  a  settlement  on  it  are  likewise  so.  A 
very  extensive  and  beneficial  fur  trade  would  inevitably  fall  into  our 
hands.  This  object  alone  deserves  the  highest  consideration  ;  besides 
Which  the  wholcsomencss  of  the  climate,  and  its  natural  richness, 
makes  the  planters  certain  of  reaping  a  very  great  benefit  from  their 
industry.  And  notwithstanding  all  these  advantages,  we  dare  not  un. 
dertake  any  settlement. 

The  want  of  a  civil  Government,  supported  by  the  military,  is  tho 
only  obstacle  to  this  settlement,  which  would  certainly  be  obviated  by 
the  assistance  of  a  Court  of  Justice  and  one  Regiment;  which,  if  oneo 
granted,  from  that  instant  our  unwearied  zeal  in  settling  on  the  borders 
of  the  River  would  manifest  itself.  And  this  is  certainly  an  epoch 
which  numbers  of  good  subjects  wish  for  with  impatience,  in  order  to 
come  over  to  His  British  M  ijesty's  Dominions  ;  as  well  those  who  have 
lands,  as  those  who  want  to  purchase,  of  whom  there  is  a  great  number, 
would  soon,  by  their  industry  and  labours,  render  this  a  flourishing 
Province,  and,  in  time,  of  great  importance  to  England.  The  greatest 
part  of  the  French,  Acadian,  and  German  planters  are  djtcrmincd  to 
free  themselves  from  the  Spanish  yoke  ;  this  makes  them  very  desirous 
to  aya  our  settlements  on  the  border  of  tho  River  in  a  condition  fit  for 
them  to  settle  there  with  safety,  aud  where  they  would  find  a  place  of 
refuge  to  cover  them  from  the  oppressions  and  evil  treatment  they 
daily  experience  from  their  new  masters.  Were  it  practicable  for  them 
to  remove  their  offects,  they  would  long  since  have  fled  to  Mobile  or 
I'cnsacola ;  but  their  flight  would  have  been  their  inovitablo  ruin. 
Their  taking  refuge  in  this  settlement  is  very  different,  as  thoy  can 
execute  it  without  being  perceived  or  molested  by  the  jealousy  and 
tyranny  of  the  Spaniards.  Certainly  no  like  enterprise  could  ever  moet 
with  more  favourable  circumstances  than  these  which  offer;  this  set- 
tlement could  not  possibly  be  formed  in  a  better  time.  For,  besides 
what  has  passed  between  the  French  and  Spaniards,  which  plainly 
proves  with  what  reluctance  the  former  boar  the  yoke  of  the  latter, 
which  they  endeavour  to  shake  off,  it  is  to  be  considered  that  the 
Spaniards  are  detested  by  the  savages,  who  will  always  continue  sin. 
cero  aud  faithful  allies  to  the  French,  to  whatever  place  they  retire, 
which  must  strengthen  tho  English  alliance  with  the  savages. 

To  all  these  considerations  we  shall  add  one,  which  does  not  seem 
to  deserve  less  attention.  The  settlement  in  question  once  formed,  wo 
could  erect  warehouses,  with  goods  of  English  manufactory,  not  only 
fit  for  the  uso  of  His  British  Majesty's  subjects,  but  likewise  for  that 
of  tho  Spaniards  themselves,  or  such  inhabitants  as  should  remain  un. 
der  their  subjection,  {French  ships  are  no  longer  admitted,  they  are 
forced  to  set  off  without  unloading,)  who  would  certainly  come  to  bo 
supplied  therewith.  No  dry-goods  arc  allowed  but  such  as  are  brought 
from  Spain;  this  circumstance  enhances  the  prices  about  ninety  per 
cent.    We  could  supply  them  much  cheaper. 

Your  disposition  to  oblige  and  assist  all  those  who  request  it,  joined 
to  the  personal  interest  you  have  in  common  with  us  in  this  affair,  as- 
sures us,  Sir,  that  you  will  do  all  that  lies  in  your  power  to  procure 
the  success  of  this  settlement. 

We  most  sincerely  wish  you  a  prosperous  voyage,  and  a  happy  arri- 
val at  England.  And  wo  do  assure  you  wo  should  be  rejoiced  to  seo 
you  once  more  among  us,  and  vested  with  new  honours. 

We  have  tho  honour  to  be,  &c. 

Signed — Pierre  Roitchon,  Pore,  //.  Lagautrnis,  Fils,  Geroinc  M-lu. 

lick,  Jaqurs  Parade,  Jean  Dnrade,  D'Oraioir-e,  E.  Bernard,  r  Tim. 

merman*,  P.  Koachon,  Fils,   Lagoutry,  Fils,   Bichie,  Vincent 

La  .Combe,  Dennis  Du  Faud,  B.  Boulomois,  Joseph  Milan,  Jean  Bap. 

tiste  Cornillieu,    Fourdas,  Charles  Blanchard,  Lagoutrey,  Pere, 

Monsanto,  Line,  D.  Milhet,  J.  Vincent,  Locquet  Delapommeraye,  Vi. 
cenzo  Corona,  I'.  Aoslinn,  Pere,  Baptiste  Olis,  F.  Ilochoit,  J.  Mon- 
santo, Frcres,  J.  Monsanto,  Freros. 

To  Mountfort  Browne,  Esq.,  Governour  of  West. Florida,  &c. 

To  prove  the  certainty  still  further  of  foreign  American  Bottlers  re. 
moving  to  tho  British  Dominions  on  tho  Mississippi,  tho  reader  is  pre- 


on  the  most  profitable  terms  ;  it  is  doubtless  good  policy  to 
convert  them  into  the  means  of  opulence  for  the  colonist 
abroad,  into  the  means  of  employment  for  the  artisan  at 
home.  On  such  a  principle  extravagance  itself  is  made  a 
secondary  virtue  in  the  state;  whereas,  when  we  suffer 
ready  money  to  be  taken  from  us  by  foreigners,  for  articles 
which  our  own  Dominions  are  able  to  supply,  we  sustain 
an  accumulated  loss — we  lose  not  only  the  value  of  the 
commodity  bought,  but  the  labour  of  a  subject  who  could 
raise  it ;  we  undermine  the  pillars  of  our  national  strength, 
and  build  the  greatness  of  a  rival  upon  the  ruin  of  our 
evident  prosperity. 

Rut  if  the  silk,  the  oil,  the  wines,  and  the  numberless 
other  articles  of  luxurious  consumption,  which  promise 
such  a  liberal  reward  to  the  hand  of  industry  in  Louisiana, 
are  not  sufficient  to  exalt  the  country  in  our  esteem,  let  us 
turn  to  the  growth  of  hemp,  an  object  materially  necessary 
for  the  use  of  the  British  Navy,  in  which  the  chief  strength 
of  the  British  Empire  is  universally  allowed  to  consist. 
Hemp  is  so  indispensably  requisite  for  the  purposes  of  trade 
and  navigation,  that  foreign  Powers  sell  it  to  this  Kingdom 
at  their  own  prices,  and  are  consequently  able  at  any  time, 

sented  witli  the  following  extract  of  a  Report  made  to  the  Government 
by  Engineer  Cambell,  on  the  subject  of  Louisiana  : 

EXTRACT  OF  A  REPORT  MADE  TO  GOVERNMENT  BV  ENGINEER  CAMBELL. 

I  was  treated  by  tho  French  and  Indians  of  every  denomination  with 
hospitality  and  friendship.  Their  regret  on  our  posts  being  deserted 
was  apparent  and  unanimous,  and  declared  that  were  they  at  present 
occupied,  they  would  all  remove  to  our  side ;  even  their  Priests  ex- 
pressed a  desire  of  becoming  British  subjects.  One  of  them  assured 
me  that  wore  our  settlements  re-established,  and  admitting  them  the 
privileges  of  religion,  he  would  engage  at  a  short  notice  to  remove 
three  hundred  French  families  into  the  Province  of  West-Florida,  and 
attach  the  different  tribes  of  Indians  to  us  in  the  strongest  manner.  I 
visited  Humas,  Jansaws,  and  Alabamas,  among  whom  I  distributed 
the  few  presents  tent  with  me ;  they  showed  me  every  mark  of  friend- 
ship and  distinction  in  their  power,  and  solemnly  promised  an  inviola- 
ble alliance  towards  us.  The  Indians  are  to  the  full  as  civilized  as 
our  peasants,  are  very  industrious,  and  have  been  very  useful  to  the 
French,  under  whose  direction  they  are  entirely.  Most  of  them  speak, 
good  French;  and  I  am  fully  convinced  that  their  hatred  to  the  Span- 
iards is  very  pleasing  to  the  French,  the  latter  using  their  influence  to 
heighten  it,  and  at  the  same  time  to  attach  them  to  us;  they  tell  them 
the  French  and  English  are  one  people,  friends  and  brothers.  They 
very  much  encourage  and  establish  religion  among  them,  and  tho  In- 
dians arc  in  general  very  devout.  On  their  hearing  the  arrival  of  the 
Spaniards,  they  assembled  and  waited  on  Mr.  Aubrey,  and  in  presence 
of  General  O'Reiley,  demanded  tho  reason  why  the  French  permitted 
the  Spaniards  to  possess  the  Province  of  Louisiana.  He  answered 
them  that  as  he  had  but  few  troops,  the  Spaniards  wore  too  powerful 
for  him  to  oppose  ;  whereupon  O'Rcilcy  showed  them  the  Spanish 
Troops  under  arms  ;  they  replied,  his  troops  were  of  no  consequence, 
for  that  if  the  French  chose  to  resist  or  expel,  they  would  engage  to 
supply  a  sufficient  force  for  that  purpose.  The  most  reput  able  of  the 
French,  Dutch,  and  Acadian  inhabitants  desired  to  know  if  I  could 
give  them  any  assurance  when  our  posts  could  be  re-establishod.  I 
told  them  they  might  rest  assured  that  it  would  happen  very  soon,  and 
referred  to  my  instructions  from  Government,  and  the  motive  of  my 
being  sent  up  the  River,  as  a  confirmation  of  it.  This  created  a  gene- 
ral satisfaction  among  them. 

The  establishment  of  proper  posts  would  undoubtedly  draw  away 
most  of  the  inhabitants'  of  Louisiana,  many  of  whom  are  rich,  expe- 
rienced planters  ;  and  as  to  the  few  that  would  remain,  we  should  have 
all  their  produce  on  the  most  advantageous  terms,  in  exchange  for  the 
produce  and  manufactures  of  Britain;  as  Spain  will  never  think  of 
supplying  them  on  any  other  terms  than  sho  does  her  other  American 
Colonics.  Thus,  while  we  preserve  our  right  to  a  free  navigation,  and 
give  a  necessary  protection  to  our  subjects,  it  is  impossible  to  fail  in 
carrying  off  not  only  the  produce  of  the  country,  but  also  the  money 
sent  by  Spain  to  defray  their  Government  expenses,  without  the  least 
violation  or  infringement  of  treaty  on  our  side ;  for  in  this  Province 
the  Spaniards'  necessities  compel  them  to  meet  us  more  than  halfway, 
and  run  every  risk  to  be  supplied  by  us. 

We  have  an  immense  tract  of  the  most  f<  rtile  land  on  our  side  of 
the  Mississippi,  the  produce  of  Which  does  not  interfere  with  that  of 
Great  Britain.  French  wines  have  flourished  in  as  groat  perfection 
there  as  in  any  part  of  France,  on  which  accounts  the  inhabitants  of 
Louisiana  were  restrained  under  severe  penalties  from  cultivating  vines. 
This  shows  that  vvc  might  be  supplied  with  a  sufficient  quantity  of  wino 
from  West-Florida,  the  growth  of  that  country,  in  exchange  for  our 
commodities.  I  am  likewise,  with  certainty,  assured  that  it  is  capable 
of  producing  the  best  silk  in  abundance.  These  are  advantages  well 
worthy  that  spirit  of  trade,  from  which  the  wealth  and  happiness  of 
our  State  in  general  derive  their  source.  To  expatiate  further  on  this 
matter  is  needless ;  tho  benefits  to  be  derived  from  such  an  establish, 
ment  are  too  obvious  to  bo  further  enlarged  upon. 

But  I  must  add,  that  no  other  country  produces  better  or  greater 
quantities  of  indigo,  cotton,  rice,  Indian  corn,  tobacco,  and  hemp  ; 
which,  together  with  the  fur  and  peltry  trade,  which  can  be  easily  se- 
cured to  ourselves  by  prudent  management,  are,  in  my  opinion,  advan- 
tages infinitely  superiour  to  those  of  the  Spanish  mines. 

Thus  far  Engineer  Cambell. 

Engineer  Putnam,  who  lately  visited  Louisiana,  and  published  an 
account  of  his  expedition,  coincides  entirely  with  Mr.  Cambell,  and 
naturally  onough  ascribes  the  impatience  of  the  French  under  a  Spanish 
Government,  among  other  causes,  to  the  tyranny  of  General  O'Reiley, 
who,  without  any  process  whatsoever,  ordered  six  o£  their  chief  inhabi- 
tants to  bo  cxecutod  upon  his  taking  possession  of  the  Country. 


997 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


998 


by  an  interdiction  of  the  traffick,  to  prove  very  formidable 
enemies.  The  interdiction,  indeed,  is  no  way  likely,  yet 
is  possible ;  and  a  wise  Government  should  not  depend 
upon  strangers  for  any  commodity  of  consequence,  which 
may  be  raised  in  its  own  territories,  and  by  raising  which, 
instead  of  relaxing,  as  is  the  present  case,  it  must  evidently 
invigorate  the  sinews  of  the  body  commercial.  On  the 
Mississippi,  therefore,  where  the  plenty  of  provision  ena- 
bles the  Colonist  with  his  Negroes,  to  work  as  cheap  as  in 
any  part  of  Europe,  it  would  be  highly  advisable  to  encou- 
rage the  cultivation  of  hemp.  It  cannot  be  a  question 
whether  a  trading  people  should  part  with  money  or  manu- 
factures ;  whether  they  should  employ  the  subjects  of  other 
Nations,  or  increase  the  opulence  of  their  own  ;  nor  can  it 
be  a  question  which  is  most  eligible,  a  losing  commerce 
with  our  neighbours,  or  a  gaining  one  between  themselves. 

As  this  representation  is  not  the  exaggerated  picture  of 
over-heated  visionaries,  who  colour  from  report,  but  the 
faithful  face  of  fact,  drawn  from  an  accurate  knowledge  of 
the  country,  enough  is  certainly  said  to  prove  the  advan- 
tages resulting  from  a  civil  establishment  on  the  Missis- 
sippi;  yet  justice  to  the  publick  makes  it  necessary  to  add 
some  farther  remarks  ;  and  first,  it  may  possibly  be  observed, 
that  the  British  Mississippi  is  already  erected  into  British 
Government,  and  is  at  this  moment  under  the  jurisdiction 
of  West-Florida  :  to  this  it  is  answered,  that  the  chief  bene- 
fit arising  from  the  possession  of  West-Florida,  is  the  bar- 
rier which  it  forms  for  the  British  Colonies  against  the 
incursions  of  their  neighbours.  As  an  object  of  commer- 
cial importance,  it  never  has  been,  nor  ever  can  be  thought 
of,  unless  some  plan  similar  to  the  present,  is  adopted  ; 
because  those  places  within  the  jurisdiction  of  that  Gov- 
ernment, which  are  chiefly  calculated  for  trade,  are  the 
very  places  to  which  it  is  wholly  incapable  of  yielding 
protection  ;  could  it  protect,  the  proposal  of  the  new  estab- 
lishment would  be  impertinent.  But  Pensacola  is  at  too 
great  and  disadvantageous  a  distance  for  any  settler  on 
the  Mississippi  to  consider  it  as  a  protector;  in  the  hour 
of  surprise,  he  may  as  well  look  for  assistance  from  the 
tower  of  London — he  may  be  slaughtered  long  before  the 
least  intimation  of  his  danger  can  be  communicated  to  his 
defender ;  and  of  course  few,  very  few,  will  attempt  to 
improve  a  property  so  precarious,  or  bestow  the  efforts  of 
their  industry  where  the  fruits  are  continually  liable  to  be 
torn  from  their  hands. 

Till  this  Kingdom,  therefore,  shall  think  proper  to  afford 
settlers  on  the  Mississippi  a  sufficient  protection  in  a  civil 
establishment  of  their  own,  the  finest  country,  perhaps,  in 
the  habitable  world,  will  remain  utterly  useless  to  its  real 
sovereign  ;  nay,  it  will  be  worse  than  negatively  prejudicial, 
it  will  be  positively  injurious.    It  will  furnish  the  object  of 
a  rival  state  with  endless  springs  of  wealth,  and  enable 
them  to  wrest  an  exhaustless  traffick  from  the  subjects  of 
the  lawful  proprietary.    Whereas,  by  separating  the  Mis- 
sissippi from  West-Florida  to  which,  as  an  appendage,  it 
must  be  of  eternal  inutility,  and  erecting  it  into  a  distinct 
Government,  Great  Britain  will  secure  the  golden  harvest 
for  herself ;  will  establish  a  more  effectual  barrier  against  all 
possible  encroachments  on  her  Colonies  ;  maintain  the  sanc- 
tity of  her  acknowledged  dominion  ;  and,  instead  of  fearing 
inroads  from  her  neighbours,  will  herself  be  in  a  situation 
to  command  the  repose  of  America.   With  the  settlement 
proposed,  we  shall  be  able,  in  any  future  difference  with 
Spain,  to  make  an  easy  descent  upon  the  enemy's  hitherto 
unattempted  empire  of  Mexico.    Without  it,  the  Span- 
iards will  be  able,  in  the  first  rupture,  to  take  the  Floridas 
from  us,  which  are  only  to  be  assisted  through  a  tedious 
passage  by  Jamaica;*  consequently,  if  the  sense  of  our 
trading  interest  does  not  wake  us  to  the  propriety  of  the 
measure,  we  should  be  roused  by  the  sense  of  our  apparent 
danger.    Apprehension  itself  should  operate  in  the  room 
of  policy,  and  we  should  at  least  guard  the  advantages  we 
possess,  if  we  are  even  unwilling  to  extend  the  means  of 
our  prosperity. 

It  is  universally  acknowledged,  that  the  last  war  chiefly 
resulted  from  the  influence  which  the  French  acquired 
with  the  Indians,  whom  they  spirited  up  to  continual  rava- 

•  Engineer  and  Comptroller  Mill,  who  reported  upon  the  British 
Mississippi  to  the  Commissioners  of  the  Customs  at  Boston,  declares, 
that  without  the  settlement  proposed,  the  Spaniards,  in  the  first  rupture 
with  us,  must  be  in  ample  condition  to  deprive  us  of  the  Floridas. 


ges  of  the  English  settlements.   Whatever  neighbour  pos- 
sesses this  influence  must  always  be  in  a  capacity  of  annoy- 
ing, as  well  as  interested  to  annoy  the  British  Dominions 
in  America;  and  Government,  conscious  of  the  danger, 
incurs  an  expense,  at  this  hour,  much  superiour  to  the 
charge  of  an  establishment  on  the  Mississippi,  to  keep  the 
natives  in  good  humour  by  little  presents  among  their  sev- 
eral tribes ;  a  large  present,  however,  from  another  Power 
will  make  them  instantly  enemies.    Now  the  Colony  pro- 
posed will  effectually  prevent  their  communication  with 
any  other  Power,  and  of  course  purchase  a  certain  state  of 
tranquillity  upon  terms  more  moderate  than  we  now  buy  a 
precarious  one.    This  circumstance  is  in  itself  an  object  of 
the  utmost  importance  to  those  who  are  acquainted  with 
the  horrours  of  an  Indian  war.    And  surely,  if  it  is  pru- 
dent to  bribe  the  savages  into  good  order,  it  must  be  a 
greater  degree  of  prudence  to  incapacitate  them  from  of- 
fending. If  four  thousand  pounds  a  year,  for  argument  sake, 
is  judiciously  distributed  to  keep  them  peaceable,  three 
thousand  pounds  a  year  must  be  better  distributed  to  re- 
move the  possibility  of  their  being  otherwise.    Should  the 
plan  recommended  be  pursued,  every  part  of  British  Ame- 
rica will  be  surrounded  by  a  British  force ;  and  those  In- 
dians who  are  alone  able  to  be  troublesome,  precluded  from 
a  connection  with  all  interested  tamperers.  The  effect  will 
necessarily  cease  where  the  cause  is  destroyed ;  and  instead 
of  a  temporary  calm,  we  shall  not  only  gain  an  everlasting 
security,  but  the  prospect  of  a  revenue,  which  the  people 
now  possessing  the  trade  already  find  approaching  to  half 
a  million  annually  of  our  circulation.    In  a  political  light, 
consequently,  as  well  as  in  a  commercial  view,  the  propo- 
sition must  be  deemed  highly  important,  especially  when  it 
is  known  that  three  parts  of  the  Mississippi  produce  is  in 
favour  of  the  eastern  or  English  side,  and  that  the  French, 
Acadian,  German,  and  native  inhabitants  can  be  furnished 
with  manufactures  from  Great  Britain  above  one  hundred 
per  cent,  cheaper  than  from  any  market  which  is  now  acces- 
sible to  their  intercourse.*   The  benefits  of  such  a  traffick, 
therefore,  multiply  upon  the  imagination — for  the  opulence 
of  a  rival  is  lessened  by  the  very  means  which  increases 
our  own  ;  and  the  Indians,  who  now  hang  like  the  sword  of 
Democles  over  our  heads,  become  obviously  interested  to 
support  that  Government  which  supplies  them  most  advan- 
tageously with  European  commodities.    A  reduction  in 
the  price  of  any  article  necessary  for  their  consumption, 
must  act  as  a  perpetual  gift;  must  rivet  them  eternally  to 
what  may  be  properly  called  the  giver,  and,  joined  to  the 
impossibility  of  their  communicating  with  the  subjects  of 
other  states,  render  the  perpetration  of  those  barbarities  im- 
possible which  kindled  the  late  flame  of  discord  in  Europe, 
and  marked  every  quarter  of  the  globe  with  a  lamentable 
effusion  of  blood.    Since  our  first  efforts  in  colonization, 
no  crisis  ever  offered  such  a  certainty  of  not  only  preser- 
ving the  peace  of  America  on  a  permanent  basis,  but  of 
permanently  increasing  the  commerce  of  this  Kingdom. 
Our  genius  at  this  moment  seems  peculiarly  propitious. 
Let  us  then  eagerly  improve  the  season  which  courts  us  to 
be  happy.    Empires,  as  well  as  individuals,  have  their  for- 
tunate opportunities  ;  and  perhaps  if  we  neglect  this,  now 
it  is  in  our  power,  it  may  be  utterly  irrecoverable  when  we 
wish  to  call  it  back. 

The  facility  of  navigation  on  the  Mississippi  is  suffi- 
ciently ascertained  for  all  the  purposes  of  commerce ;  and 

*  To  elucidate  this  point,  it  is  proper  to  observe,  that  the  Spaniards 
buy  all  their  goods  necessary  for  the  consumption  of  Louisiana,  at 
present,  from  the  French.  Supposing,  therefore,  that  articles  to  the 
amount  of  one  hundred  Pounds  are  bought  in  France ;  the  expense  to 
the  Mississippi  settler,  through  a  Spanish  channel,  will  be,  first : 


The  original  cost  in  France  £100    0  0 

Charges  to  Spain   12  10  0 

Duty  on  entry  of  French  Goods  in  Spain   43    0  0 

Charges  on  reshipping  in  register  ships   17  10  0 

Freight  and  other  charges  on  landing   10    0  0 

Cost  landed   183    0  0 

Profit  constantly  laid  on  all  European  Goods   80    0  0 

£263    0  0 


Expense  attending  the  same  quantity  of  Goods  from  England  :  first, 

The  original  cost  £100    0  0 

Freight  and  all  charges   7  10  0 

107  10  0 

Profit   40    0  0 

£147  10  0 


999 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  kc,  JUNE,  1775. 


1000 


the  lakes  on  the  eastern  side  render  the  navigation  still 
easier  to  the  subjects  of  this  Kingdom  than  to  those  on  the 
opposite  shore.*  It  is  unnecessary,  however,  to  dwell  upon 
the  practicability  of  trading  on  that  river,  as  the  fortunes 
acquired  by  the  French  settlers  prove  the  fact  unquestion- 
ably;  and  if  France  found  the  commerce  highly  advanta- 
geous, though  consisting  chiefly  of  articles  which  she  her- 
self produced  in  great  abundance,  must  it  not  be  more 
advantageous  to  this  Kingdom,  whose  produce  it  does  not 
rival  in  the  least,  but  to  whom,  in  exchange  for  manufac- 
tures, as  the  reader  will  remember  already  mentioned,  it 
presents  those  expensive  luxuries  of  life  which  are  not  to 
be  obtained  in  her  other  Colonies,  and  which  are  now  pur- 
chased at  an  immense  disbursement  of  absolute  specie 
from  foreigners?  When  Louisiana  was  under  the  govern- 
ment of  the  Fre?ich,  the  trade  of  the  Mississippi  was 
esteemed,  according  to  the  most  accurate  accounts,  as  worth 
three  hundred  thousand  pounds  a  year.  Twelve  ships, 
from  a  hundred  and  fifty  to  two  hundred  tons  burden,  with 
wares  and  dry-goods  from  Europe  and  St.  Domingo,  scarce- 
ly answered  the  consumption  of  the  inhabitants;  and  the 
intelligent  may  easily  imagine  that  the  estimate  is  not  over- 
rated, when  the  returns  in  peltry  only,  at  the  single  port  of 
Neiv-  Orleans,  amounted  annually  to  five  millions  of  livres. 
As,  therefore,  not  only  from  our  ability  to  undersell  every 
competitor,  but  from  the  peculiar  happiness  of  situation  in 
a  junction  with  the  lakes,  this  traffick  must  chiefly  centre 
with  the  subjects  of  England.  A  very  trifling  duty  on  a 
few  articles,  together  with  a  part  of  the  quit-rents,  will  be 
amply  sufficient  to  defray  the  charge  of  the  new  establish- 
ment. The  sole  question  then  is,  will  England,  who  has 
peopled  so  many  deserts,  protect  a  country  ready  peopled 
to  her  hands  ?  She  is  not  called  upon  for  her  citizens ; 
she  is  only  solicited  to  receive  a  nursery  for  thousands  ;  she 
is  not  besought  to  do  Florida  an  injury,  but  to  distinguish 
it  by  an  essential  obligation  ;  she  is  not  requested  to  coun- 
teract the  interest  of  her  old  Provinces,  but  to  provide  for 
their  security.  The  Mississij)jn  is  at  present  virtually 
dismembered  from  its  seat  of  Government,  and  is,  even  to 
speak  favourably,  without  any  manner  of  use.  Dismem- 
bering it  formally,  will  make  it  of  the  utmost  utility,  both 
to  that  Government  and  this  Kingdom.  The  measure 
offers  every  certainty  of  a  prodigious  gain,  without  any 
possibility  of  the  smallest  loss ;  and  nothing  is  required  of 
the  Parent  State  but  to  participate  in  the  advantages,  as  an 
incontestable  method  is  pointed  out  of  defraying  the  whole 
expense. 

A  distinct  establishment  on  the  Mississippi  in  prefer- 
ence to  any  other,  is  recommended  for  two  very  forcible 
reasons :  in  the  first  place,  a  remoteness  from  the  seat  of 
the  Provincial  Government  impedes  the  administration  of 
justice ;  and  every  difficulty  in  executing  the  laws  excites 
a  spirit  of  disorder  amongst  the  people.  The  present  in- 
surrection of  the  Regulators  on  the  back  settlements  of 
North- Carolina,  sufficiently  support  the  propriety  of  this 
remark  ;  and  perhaps  the  restoration  of  order  would  be  but 
little  advanced,  were  the  back  settlers  in  that  Colony  in- 
dulged with  a  subordinate  tribunal  for  the  speedy  decision 
of  judicial  complaints ;  because  these  subordinate  tribu- 
nals cannot,  in  any  civil  case,  determine  upon  property 
where  it  exceeds  ten  pounds ;  nor  in  any  criminal  case  in- 
flict a  capital  punishment  on  the  blackest  offender.  The 
consequence  of  so  limited  an  authority  is  apparent :  many 
people  will  rather  give  up  a  legal  right  than  contest  it, 
where  the  expenses  attending  even  the  certain  success  of 
a  suit,  at  the  great  distance  of  Pensacola  from  the  Missis- 
sippi, will  most  commonly  exceed  the  value  of  what  is  re- 
covered in  litigation.  The  evil,  however,  will  not  termi- 
nate here.  Prosecutions,  where  life  is  affected,  open  a 
source  of  continual  dispute  between  the  dependant  and  the 
principal  jurisdictions;  at  any  rate  they  delay  the  sentence 
after  a  conviction ;  and  if  judges  armod  with  sufficient 
powers  are  sent  out  from  the  latter,  to  try  on  such  occa- 
sions, the  innocent  are  liable  to  all  the  miseries  of  a  long 
imprisonment ;  for,  at  the  utmost,  the  courts  cannot  make 
above  two  circuits  in  the  year.  The  second  reason  for  a 
distinct  Government  is,  the  necessity  of  having  the  imme- 

*  Governour  Browne  declares,  that  in  his  expedition  to  the  Missis- 
sippi, he  frequently  went  up  the  River  at  the  most  disadvantageous 
seasons  of  the  current,  twenty. five  or  thirty  miles  a  day,  with  eight 
oars  only. 


diate  representative  of  the  sovereign,  to  encourage  the  ag- 
gregation of  settlers,  and  accelerate  the  attachment  of  the 
Indians,  who  are  superstitiously  influenced  by  forms,  and 
never  conceive  that  a  country  belongs  to  any  European 
prince  without  the  positive  residence  of  an  acknowledged 
substitute.  If  any  settlement  thereof  takes  place  on  the 
British  Mississippi,  it  should  be  subject  to  no  control  but 
that  of  Great  Britain  herself;  the  importance  of  the  object 
deserves  her  own  particular  attention  ;  and  the  more  sensi- 
ble she  seems  of  this  circumstance,  the  more  strongly  emi- 
grants will  be  induced  to  realize  the  truth  of  the  present 
representation. 

JOHN  HANCOCK,  PRESIDENT,  TO  THE  MASSACHUSETTS 
CONGRESS. 

Philadelphia,  June  15,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  By  order  of  the  Congress  I  transmit 
you  the  enclosed  Resolutions,  passed  by  the  Congress  this 
morning.  The  necessity  of  the  present  emergency  re- 
quires a  speedy  compliance  with  the  first,  and  I  need  not 
inform  you  that  the  nature  of  the  service  requires  it  to  be 
done  with  as  much  secrecy  as  possible. 

I  am  also  directed  by  the  Congress  to  request  you  will 
please  to  transmit  them,  as  soon  as  may  be,  an  estimate 
of  the  powder,  arms,  and  ammunition  in  your  Colony,  in- 
cluding private  as  well  as  publick  stocks.  By  Dr.  Church, 
this  morning,  I  forwarded  you  the  resolution  of  Congress 
respecting  the  mode  of  Government.  I  am  your  most 
obedient  servant,  John  Hancock,  Presideiit. 

To  the  Members  of  the  Provincial  Congress  of  the  Mas- 
sachusetts-Bay. 

P.  S.  The  enclosed  letters  for  the  Lieutenant-Governour 
of  Rhode-Island,  and  the  gentlemen  of  New-Hampshire, 
please  immediately  on  receipt  to  send  off  by  express. 
Pray  don't  fail. 

NEW-YORK  CONGRESS  TO  GENERAL  WOOSTER. 
[Read  in  Congress  June  19,  1775.] 
In  Provincial  Congress,  New.York,  June  15, 

Sir:  You  will  see  by  the  enclosed  order,  that  this  Con- 
gress think  it  expedient  to  request  you  to  march  to  this 
Colony  with  the  troops  under  your  command.  If  you  are 
not  at  liberty  to  comply  with  the  terms  of  this  order  until 
you  consult  the  Governour  and  Company  of  Connecticut 
on  this  subject,  we  beg  you  would  immediately  despatch 
this  requisition  to  them,  and  transmit  to  us  their  determina- 
tion as  soon  as  possible. 

As  we  have  at  present  but  few  tents,  we  beg  you  would 
order  such  as  you  have,  to  be  sent  to  the  place  intended 
for  their  encampment,  and  make  such  other  dispositions  for 
the  support  of  your  troops  as  are  in  your  power. 

We  are,  Sir,  your  very  humble  servants. 

By  order  and  on  behalf  of  the  Provincial  Congress : 
P.  V.  B.  Livingston,  President. 

To  Major-General  Wooster,  at  Greenwich. 

In  Provincial  Congress,  New- York,  June  15,  \ 

The  Congress  resumed  the  consideration  of  Mr.  Fos- 
ter's motion  of  yesterday;  and  whereupon, 

Ordered,  That  a  message  be  immediately  despatched 
to  Major-General  Wooster,  now  commanding  a  body  of 
Troops  in  the  southern  part  of  Connecticut,  requesting  him 
forthwith  to  march  the  said  Troops,  with  their  tents  and 
other  necessaries,  to  the  distance  of  five  miles  from  this 
City,  to  be  subject  to  the  orders  and  directions  of  the  Con- 
tinental or  this  Congress  while  the  said  Troops  shall  con- 
tinue in  this  Colony. 

And  Resolved,  That  we  will  assist  the  Commissaries  of 
the  said  forces  in  procuring  such  necessaries  for  their  ac- 
commodation as  shall  be  to  be  procured  within  this  Co- 
lony.      A  true  copy  from  the  Minutes: 

John  McKesson,  Secretary. 


ADONIJAH  STRONG  TO  THE  ALBANY  COMMITTEE. 

Albany,  June  15,  1775. 

Gentlemen  ;  I  beg  leave  to  lay  before  this  Board  my 
information  and  request  concerning  the  troops  raised  in  and 


1001 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


1002 


for  the  Colony  of  Connecticut,  for  the  special  defence  of 
the  same. 

In  the  first  place,  it  is  provided  by  the  said  Colony,  that 
each  officer  and  soldier  (among  other  things)  shall  have 
fresh  meat  two  days  in  a  week,  butter,  peas  or  beans,  rice, 
rum  when  on  fatigue,  beer,  &c,  expecting  said  troops 
would  be  required  at,  or  near  by  Boston,  where  it  would 
have  been  easy  and  convenient  for  us  to  have  supplied 
them  according  to  said  act. 

In  the  next  place,  the  ever  to  be  revered  patrons  of 
America  (the  Continental  Congress)  have  directed  one 
thousand  of  our  troops  immediately  to  repair  to  Ticonde- 
roga,  there  to  be  stationed  until  such  time  as  they  should 
be  relieved  by  forces  from  this  Province — just  at  a  time 
after  many  of  them  were  on  their  march  according  to  their 
first  destination,  Greenwich,  and  had  to  countermarch 
through  our  Colony,  and  directly  to  Ticondtroga,  and  by 
means  of  so  tedious  a  march  have  already  become  some- 
what sickly.  And  as  the  Continental  Congress  have  ad- 
vised this  Province  particularly  to  provide  for  said  forces 
at  Ticondcroga  during  their  stay,  our  Colony  have,  per- 
haps, been  the  more  remiss  in  their  provisions ;  and  it 
does  not  appear  to  me  that  there  is  sauce  sufficient,  nor 
any  fresh  meat,  butter,  rum,  beer,  &.c,  nor  have  I  had  in- 
telligence that  any  is  likely  to  be  provided  by  this  Prov- 
ince. Therefore,  I  come  before  this  Board  for  advice  in 
the  premises ;  at  the  same  time  giving  assurance  that  the 
publick  faith  of  our  Colony  must  not  be  violated,  but  it 
must  be  fulfilled  according  to  the  encouragement  given  by 
our  Colony.  Though  pledged  to  soldiers,  yet  it  is  to 
those  in  defence  of  what  we  tenaciously  hold  as  sacred, 
and  to  be  prized  above  life.  We  therefore  determine  to 
have  it  fulfilled  according  to  the  Act  of  our  Assembly — if 
not  by  this  Province,  by  our  Colony. 

I  am,  gentlemen,  with  great  esteem,  your  very  humble 
servant,  Adonijah  Strong, 

Dep.  Commissary  for  said  Troops. 

To  the  Committee  in  and  for  the  City  and  County  of  Al- 
bany. 

Albany,  June  17,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  You  have  enclosed,  by  order  of  the  Com- 
mittee, a  request  of  Adonijah  Strong,  Deputy  Commissary 
to  the  Committee  of  this  City  and  County. 

I  am,  gentlemen,  your  humble  servant, 

John  Bay,  Secretary  pro  tern. 
To  the  Provincial  Congress,  New-York. 


GENERAL  WOOSTER  TO  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

Camp  at  Greenwich,  June  15,  1775. 

Sir:  I  have  just  received  your  favour  of  the  14th  in- 
stant, with  enclosed  affidavit;  also  Angus  McDonald, 
who  shall  be  kept  in  such  a  state  of  security  as  may  effec- 
tually prevent  any  mischief  that  might  otherwise  be  ex- 
pected from  him.  Be  good  enough  to  give  my  compli- 
ments to  the  gentlemen  of  the  Congress,  and  tell  them 
that  I  am  sorry  you  are  obliged  to  send  your  prisoners  so 
far;  I  should  be  much  better  pleased  to  receive  them  with- 
in a  few  miles  of  your  City,  especially  as  you  so  soon  ex- 
pect the  arrival  of  the  four  Regiments  from  Ireland. 

I  am,  Sir,  with  great  esteem  both  for  you  and  the  gen- 
tlemen of  the  Congress,  your  most  obedient  humble  ser- 
vant, David  Wooster,  Major- General. 
To  Peter  V.  B.  Livingston,  Esquire,  President  of  the 

Congress  at  New-York. 


GENERAL  WOOSTER  TO  GOVERNOUR  TRUMBULL. 

Greenwich,  June  15,  1775. 

Sir  :  I  take  this  opportunity  to  acquaint  your  Honour 
of  the  situation  of  the  troops  under  my  immediate  com- 
mand. One  company  of  my  Regiment,  you  are  sensi- 
ble, is  ordered  to  Ticonderoga;  five  more  are  stationed 
betwixt  New-Haven  and  this  Town,  and  four  are  in  this 
place.  Colonel  Waterbury's  Regiment  are  all  in  this 
Town  and  Stamford.  The  safety  of  the  Country  may 
possibly  require  my  marching  to  New-  York  before  I  can 
have  your  orders.  I  would,  therefore,  beg  of  your  Hon- 
our to  direct  me  to  march  my  troops  to  Neiv-  York  upon 
application  made  to  me  for  that  purpose  by  their  Provin- 


cial Congress.  Your  Honour  will  perhaps  think  it  expe- 
dient, when  you  read  a  letter  which  I  have  just  received 
from  Mr.  Sears,  which  is  as  follows : 

"New-York,  June  14,  1775. 

"Dear  Sir:  The  troops  from  Cork,  destined  for  this 
City,  may  be  hourly  expected.  I  have  the  pleasure  to  in- 
form you  that  this  day  in  Congress  it  was  moved  that 
yourself  and  troops  be  requested  to  encamp  within  five 
miles  of  this  City.  The  motion  was  put  off  until  to-mor- 
row, at  the  intercession  of  the  members  for  three  Coun- 
ties, and  you  may  be  assured  it  will  be  carried  by  a  great 
majority.    I  am,  dear  Sir,  yours  affectionately, 

"  Isaac  Sears." 

I  have  also  this  day  received  a  letter  from  the  Provin- 
cial Congress  at  New-York,  acquainting  me  that  they 
hourly  expect  the  arrival  of  four  Regiments  from  Ireland ; 
they  have  also  sent  me  a  prisoner  to  be  kept  in  safety,  who 
was  employed  by  Major  Small  to  raise  troops  for  the  pur- 
pose of  opposing  the  Colonies,  and  actually  had  enlisted 
forty-three,  which  was  made  to  appear  to  the  Provincial 
Congress. 

I  would  also  acquaint  your  Honour  that  all  the  military 
stores  which  were  at  Turtle  Bay  have  fallen  into  our 
hands,  consisting  of  too  many  articles  to  be  enumerated  in 
a  letter,  among  which  there  are  about  five  hundred  good 
horse  harnesses,  a  very  considerable  number  of  thirteen 
and  ten-inch  carcasses,  cohorns,  and  stinkpots,  all  well 
charged  ;  a  very  great  plenty  of  grape-shot ;  cannon  ball, 
from  twenty-four-pounders  down  to  three,  &ic,  &.C.;  a  part 
of  which  articles  I  shall  keep  with  me,  but  the  greater  part 
I  shall  send  to  New-Haven. 

Your  Honour  cannot  be  unacquainted  that  provision?, 
stores,  &ic,  can  be  forwarded  along  the  Sound  by  water 
with  much  greater  despatch  and  vastly  less  cost  to  the 
Colony  than  by  land  ;  however,  at  present  it  is  difficult,  on 
account  of  the  tenders  and  cutters  which  are  perpetually 
about.  We  have  at  New-Haven  a  number  of  cannon;  I 
have  with  me  all  other  kinds  of  military  stores,  except 
powder,  requisite  for  a  guardacosta ;  Mr.  Colt,  of  New- 
Haven,  has  a  fine  vessel  very  proper  for  the  business.  We 
have  in  the  Army  a  very  sufficient  number  of  men  well 
acquainted  with  the  seas,  and  good  resolute  fellows,  and  it 
is  my  opinion,  that  the  additional  cost  to  the  Colony  will 
be  nothing  more  than  the  hire  of  the  vessel  and  the  pow- 
der ;  that  about  a  hundred  of  the  men  under  my  command 
cannot  be  employed  in  any  way  so  much  to  the  advantage 
of  the  Country.  I  am,  Sir,  your  Honour's  most  obedient 
humble  servant,  David  Wooster. 

To  the  Honourable  Jonathan  Trumbull,  Esq.,  Governour 

of  the  Colony  of  Connecticut. 

Answer  to  a  Speech  to  the  Caughnawagas,  or  Canadian 
Tribes  of  Indians,  near  Montreal,  sent  by  the  Stock- 
bridge  Indians — returned  \bth  June,  1775. 
Brothers  :  You  tell  me  you  open  your  eyes.    I  open 
your  ears — I  open  your  hearts ;  so  that  you  might  see, 
hear,  and  consider  what  I  am  going  to  say.    Now  I  am 
going  to  say  the  same  to  you — I  open  your  eyes,  your 
ears,  and  make  your  heart  strong,  so  that  you  might  more 
fully  consider  things.    I  also  add,  with  this  I  wipe  the  tears 
from  your  eyes  that  comes  from  the  trouble  that  has  hap- 
pened to  your  young  men. —  Three  strings  of  Wampum. 

Brothers :  You  tell  me  that  I  must  sit  still,  and  have 
nothing  to  do  with  this  quarrel.  I  am  glad  to  hear  you; 
1  shall  do  as  you  tell  me. — A  Belt. 

Brothers :  This  is  our  road ;  you  tell  me  I  clear  the 
road,  and  whenever  I  open  my  door  I  shall  see  your  door 
stand  open ;  and  when  you  shall  go  out  of  your  door,  you 
shall  see  my  door  stand  open  too.  And  you  tell  me, 
when  you  hear  any  bad  report  of  me,  don't  you  lay  it  up  ; 
put  it  aside,  and  follow  this  road,  and  come  and  tell  me  of 
it,  and  you  will  know  whether  it  is  so  or  not.  Now,  bro- 
thers, I  make  this  road  more  smooth,  so  that  no  one  might 
stumble  on  this  way;  I  now  open  my  door  wider  for  you, 
and  whenever  you  go  out  of  your  door,  you  shall  see  my 
door  stand  open  wider  for  you.  Whenever  I  hear  any 
bad  report  of  you,  I  shall  not  lay  it  up  ;  but  put  it  aside, 
and  go  and  tell  you  of  it,  and  see  whether  it  is  so  or 
not. — A  Belt. 


1003 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  he,  JUNE,  1775. 


1001 


Brothers,  I  am  glad  you  keep  in  remembrance  the 
agreement  of  friendship  that  our  fathers  have  made.  Let 
us  hold  that  fast;  let  no  one  hreak  that  so  as  to  divide  us. 
Now  I  make  it  more  strong — now  we  must  sit  down  under 
our  great  tree,  and  smoke  our  pipes,  and  give  praise  to 
the  great  God.  It  is  he  that  made  us  all ;  u^e  are  in 
another  way,  now,  from  what  we  used  to  be,  since  we 
began  to  worship  this  one  God ;  this  is  like  one  staff  that 
we  both  steady  ourselves  by.  I  shall  do  as  you  advise  me 
to  do — I  shall  sit  still — there  are  seven  brothers  of  us — 
(meaning  seven  tribes,)  we  are  all  agreed  in  this.  Now 
we  say  to  you — I  would  have  you  sit  still  too,  and  have 
nothing  to  do  with  this  quarrel ;  but  be  strong  in  your 
hearts,  and  I  intend  to  do  the  same. — A  Belt. 

A  true  copy.    Attest:  John  Sergeant. 


GENERAL  WARD  TO  WORCESTER  (MASS.)  COMMITTEE. 

Cambridge,  June  15,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  You  are  desired  to  see  that  the  enclosed 
Order  be  duly  executed.    I  am,  he. 

Artemas  Ward. 
To  the  Standing  Committee  in  the  County  of  Worcester. 

(General  Order.)  Cambridge,  June  15,  1775. 

That  Samuel  Murray  be  removed  from  the  Jail  in  Wor- 
cester to  his  father's  homestead  Farm,  in  Rutland,  the 
limits  of  which  he  is  not  to  pass  until  further  orders.  And 
all  persons  are  hereby  strictly  forbidden  to  offer  any  vio- 
lence to  said  Murray,  so  long  as  he  continues  in  the  peace 
of  God  within  those  limits. 

Joseph  Ward,  Secretary. 

P.  S.  The  above  mentioned  homestead  Farm  bounds 
northwardly  on  the  County  road ;  westvvardly,  on  Mr. 
Buckminster's  homestead ;  southwardly,  on  Doctor  John 
Frink's  homestead ;  eastwardly,  partly  on  land  of  Mr. 
Clarke,  and  partly  on  land  of  Mr.  Blake. 

Published  by  order  of  the  Committee : 

William  Young,  per  order. 


MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS  TO  NEW-HAMPSHIRE  CONGRESS. 

In  Provincial  Congress,  Watertown,  June  15,  1775. 

Gentlemen:  Considering  the  exposed  state  of  the  fron- 
tiers of  some  of  the  Colonies ;  the  danger  that  the  inhabi- 
tants of  Canada  may  possibly  have  disagreeable  apprehen- 
sions from  the  military  preparations  making  in  several  of 
the  other  Colonies ;  and  the  rumours  that  there  are  some 
appearances  of  their  getting  themselves  in  readiness  to  act 
in  a  hostile  way ;  this  Congress  have  made  application  to 
the  Continental  Congress,  desiring  them  to  take  such  mea- 
sures as  to  them  shall  appear  proper,  to  quiet  and  conci- 
liate the  minds  of  the  Canadia?is,  and  prevent  such  alarm- 
ing apprehensions.  We  also  have  had  the  most  disagree- 
able accounts  of  methods  taken  to  fill  the  minds  of  the 
Indian  Tribes  adjacent  to  these  Colonies  with  sentiments 
very  injurious  to  us ;  particularly,  we  have  been  informed 
that  Colonel  Guy  Johnson  has  taken  great  pains  with  the 
Six  Nations,  in  order  to  bring  them  into  a  belief  that  it  is 
designed  by  the  Colonies  to  fall  upon  them  and  cut  them 
off.  We  have,  therefore,  desired  the  Honourable  Conti- 
nental Congress  that  they  would,  with  all  convenient 
speed,  use  their  influence  in  guarding  against  the  evil  in- 
tended by  this  malevolent  misrepresentation,  and  we  desire 
you  to  join  with  us  in  such  application. 

Joseph  Warren,  President. 
Honourable  Provincial  Congress  of  New-Hampshire. 


WILLIAM   STODDARD  TO  CAPTAIN  JAMES  LITTLEFIELD. 

Boston,  Juno  15,  1775. 

Sir:  Your  letter  and  the  last,  dated  the  13th  instant,  by 
Mr.  Hopkins,  I  have  received.  I  waited  on  the  Admiral 
this  morning,  and  have  got  you  a  fishing  pass  for  your  boat 
and  three  men,  to  come  in  and  out  of  this  harbour,  which 
I  now  send  you.  You  will  carefully  observe  the  pass; 
you  must  observe  to  go  a  fishing  from  Salem,  before  you 
come  up  here,  and  then  you  may  come  in  and  go  out.  I 
hope  you  will  not  meet  with  any  obstruction  at  Salem ; 


not  forgetting,  if  in  your  power,  to  bring  up  veal,  green 
peas,  fresh  butter,  asparagus,  and  fresh  salmon.  Mr.  Allies 
went  away  yesterday  in  the  afternoon,  by  water,  in  order 
to  come  to  you,  and  we  suppose  he  is  with  you  before 
this.  I  hope  you  have  received  a  cloak,  with  a  bag  of 
brown  sugar,  I  sent  over  yesterday  by  Mr.  Hopkins's  son. 
I  have  paid  some  of  the  ferrymen,  and  I  shall  pay  them 
all  for  their  trouble,  when  I  have  done  with  them.  Do 
not  pay  them  any  thing ;  if  you  have,  let  me  know ;  keep 
that  to  yourself.  Captain  Hurley  is  here  with  his  schoon- 
er, from  Penobscot,  and  has  been  here  some  time.  I  was 
the  other  day  in  his  company,  and  he  asked  after  you  ;  he 
desired  to  be  remembered  to  you.  I  wish  you  would  send 
me  last  Monday's  newspaper,  and  this  day's  paper.  I 
shall  be  much  obliged  to  you,  if  you  can,  before  you  go 
for  Salem,  send  me  some  fresh  butler,  and  half  a  bushel  of 
green  peas.  I  now  send  you  two  dollars  in  this  letter, 
and  an  osnaburgh  bag,  by  Mr.  Hopkins's  son,  to  put  the 
peas  in.  What  other  charges  you  are  at  I  will  settle  with 
you  hereafter.  I  am  obliged  to  you  for  the  hint  in  coming 
out.  I  will  let  you  know  more  when  you  come  up  from 
Salem.    Let  me  hear  from  you  before  you  go  for  Salem. 

Give  my  compliments  to  Mr.  Haynes,  and  all  friends  ; 
all  your  friends  desire  to  be  remembered"  to  you  at  these 
distressing  times.  Twenty-four  sail  of  transports  have 
arrived  here  this  week  with  Light-horses  and  Troops  from 
Ireland,  and  twenty-four  more  sail  are  coming. 

Sir,  your  humble  servant,  Wm.  Stoddard. 

To  Captain  James  Littlefield,  Watertown. 


TO  THE  SOLDIERS  AND   SEAMEN   SERVING  IN  THE  BRITISH 
FLEET  AND  ARMY  IN  AMERICA. 

Salem,  June  15,  1775. 
Gentlemen:  Your  situation  is  very  unhappy,  being 
dishonoured  by  the  most  infamous  service,  and  under  the 
command  of  the  most  vile  and  miserable  wretches  that 
ever  disgraced  the  name  of  Briton.  General  Gage,  to 
his  eternal  infamy,  has  commenced  a  thief,  robber,  mur- 
derer, and  common  butcher  of  his  fellow-men ;  he  has 
violated  the  most  solemn  compacts,  and  become  an  apos- 
tate to  every  thing  that  is  honourable  or  virtuous.  You 
never  can  forget  the  barbarous  murders  which  Gage  has 
committed  upon  some  of  his  own  soldiers ;  but  we  come 
now  to  a  character  still  more  infamous,  if  possible,  than 
the  above.  Admiral  Graves  has  added  to  the  crimes  of  a 
common  pirate,  that  of  forcing  Americans,  whom  he  hath 
impressed,  to  act  against  their  own  countrymen.  Turks 
and  Indians  would  scorn  such  rascally  conduct,  and  surely 
every  British  soldier  and  seaman  must  detest  such  au 
odious  scoundrel.  Gentlemen,  the  Americans  still  enter- 
tain a  respect  for  you,  consider  you  as  their  brethren,  and 
wish  to  live  in  harmony  with  you,  and  to  make  you  free 
citizens  of  America.  May  you  soon  be  freed  from  the 
service  of  tyrants,  become  the  glorious  defenders  of  free- 
dom, and  join  with  the  victorious  Americans. 

Sydney. 


SAMUEL  LANGDON  TO  MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS. 

A  number  of  the  members  of  the  Corporation  and  Board 
of  Overseers  of  Harvard  College,  being  met  together  at  the 
President's  house,  June  15,  1775,  agreed  upon  the  follow- 
ing draught,  viz : 

"  Whereas,  in  the  present  difficult  situation  of  publick 
affairs  of  this  Colony,  it  is  impracticable  to  call  a  meeting 
of  the  Overseers  of  the  College  strictly  agreeable  to  the 
form  and  order  appointed  by  the  charter  of  said  College : 
And  whereas,  nevertheless,  the  present  circumstances  of 
that  seminary  of  learning  require  a  meeting  to  be  called 
speedily : 

"  Agreed,  That  application  be  made  to  the  honourable 
Congress  of  this  Colony,  to  know  whether  it  would  be  any 
way  displeasing  to  them  that  a  meeting  should  be  ob- 
tained of  as  many  of  the  Overseers  of  Harvard  College  as 
can  be  called  together  under  the  present  circumstances  of 
the  College  and  the  Country,  in  order  to  join  with  the  Cor- 
poration in  conferring  Academical  Degrees,  at  the  approach- 
ing season  of  the  annual  Commencement,  on  such  candi- 
dates as  may  offer  themselves  and  be  judged  qualified  for 
the  same,  and  to  transact  any  other  important  matters  rela- 


1005 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


1006 


tive  to  that  society,  and  whether  the  honourable  Congress 
would  countenance  such  a  procedure." 

At  the  same  time  the  gentlemen  present  beg  leave  to 
return  their  most  grateful  acknowledgments  to  the  honour- 
able Congress  for  the  regard  they  have  already  shewn  for 
the  interest  of  the  College,  in  directing  the  removal  of  the 
library  and  apparatus  to  a  place  of  greater  safety. 

In  the  name  of  the  gentlemen  present, 

Samuel,  Langdon,  President. 
To  the  Honourable  Congress  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay. 


To  the  Hon.  Joseph  Warren,  President  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts-Bay Congress,  in  VVatertown  :  (To  be  com- 
municated to  said  Congress :) 

Honoured  Sir:  It  appears  to  me  and  others  that  there 
are  wanted  in  this  Government  some  armed  vessels  to  ward 
off  the  distressing  piratical  blows  that,  without  doubt,  will 
be  struck  by  Admiral  Samuel  Graves's  small  men-of-war 
and  tenders,  by  taking  from  us  our  inward-bound  provi- 
sions, (molasses,  salt,  vessels,  8cc.,)  as  they  have  done,  will 
almost  bring  on  a  famine  in  our  Army  and  on  the  inhabi- 
tants ;  for  this  Government  always  was  ill  able  to  support 
itself  with  provisions,  &.c,  and  now  has  in  it  an  army  to 
feed,  which  will  soon  be  felt  and  be  distressing  to  its  in- 
habitants, and,  I  fear,  will  bring  on  discontent  and  murmur- 
ings,  which  may  be  attended  with  bad  consequences,  to  the 
disadvantage  of  our  embarkment  in  the  ever  to  be  com- 
mended common  cause.  So  hope  that  you  will  be  enabled 
to  guard  against  every  evil  that  might  otherwise  befall  us  if 
we  were  not  under  the  guardianship  of  Providence  and  your 
wise  councils. 

I  hear  that  there  is  a  ship  almost  or  quite  ready  to  launch 
at  Danvers,  of  about  three  hundred  tons ;  that  it  is  proba- 
ble she  will  be  a  good  sailer,  and,  by  strengthening  her  with 
some  hanging  knees,  building  a  round-house  and  a  top-gal- 
lant, forecastle,  Sic,  would  carry  upward  of  thirty  guns,  and 
fight  the  major  part  of  her  men  between  decks,  &.c.  By 
inquiry  there  may  be  found  good  sailing  vessels  now  hauled 
up,  that  would  in  part  answer  our  end  for  defence,  and  to 
bring  provisions  from  the  Southern  Governments  for  our 
support.  Some  of  them  might  be  employed  in  bringing 
powder  and  guns  from  some  parts  of  the  Spanish  and 
French  Kingdoms,  and  might  smuggle  some  from  other 
Powers,  and  saltpetre  from  others,  where  we  could  not  get 
it  made  into  powder,  and  make  it  here,  which  would  be  to 
our  advantage  to  have  it  manufactured. 

So  wishing  you  the  smiles  of  Heaven  in  all  your  under- 
takings in  the  defence  of  our  invaluable  liberties,  &c,  &.c, 
I  remain,  honoured  Sir,  your  most  humble  and  devoted 
servant,  S.  L. 


FALMOUTH  COMMITTEE  TO  MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS. 

Falmouth,  June  15,  1775. 

Honoured  Sir:  Mr.  Lane  is  returned  here  with  four 
of  the  Penobscot  Tribe.  We  have  furnished  them  with 
carriages  to  convey  them  to  you,  and  Mr.  Lane  with  money 
to  pay  their  expenses.  Orono,  the  chief  man,  seems  to  be 
sensible,  and  hearty  in  our  cause;  he  reserves  what  he 
has  chiefly  to  say  till  he  comes  to  the  Congress.  We  gave 
them  assurances  that  they  might  depend  upon  being  pro- 
vided for  while  there,  as  well  as  on  their  return  back  again  ; 
wished  them  a  pleasant  journey,  and  that  the  event  might 
be  happy  for  them  and  us.  We  suppose  Mr.  Lane  will 
give  an  account  of  the  expense,  therefore  we  have  sent 
none. 

Wishing  success  to  our  righteous  cause,  we  are  your 
Honours'  most  obedient  humble  servants, 

Jedediah  Preble, 
Chairman  of  the  Committee  of  Correspondence. 
Hon.  Joseph  Warren,  President. 


COL.  READ  TO  NEW-HAMPSHIRE  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY. 

Charlestown,  Massachusetts,  June  15,  1775. 
Sirs  :  I  beg  leave  to  inform  your  body  of  my  proceed- 
ings in  the  business  1  have  the  honour  to  be  entrusted  with 
in  this  difficult  day.  Gentlemen,  on  the  second  day  of  this 
instant,  June,  I  received  verbal  orders  from  General  Folsom, 
at  Exeter,  to  repair  to  the  westward  part  of  the  Province 


of  New- Hampshire,  and  to  collect  a  number  of  men  I  had 
there  enlisted  as  volunteers  for  the  defence  of  the  liberties 
of  America,  and  in  the  service  of  said  Province  and  cause, 
all  able-bodied,  effective  men,  well  equipped,  to  march  to 
Cambridge,  and  there  to  put  myself  and  men  under  the 
command  of  General  Ward  until  further  order.  In  obedi- 
ence of  which  I  immediately  pursued  my  orders,  and  noti- 
fied the  men,  and  likewise  I  notified  the  Selectmen  of  the 
Town  of  the  vote  of  Congress,  in  regard  to  furnishing  the 
men  with  blankets.  Notwithstanding  what  they  and  I 
could  do  in  that  affair,  my  officers  were  obliged  to  leave  a 
number  of  enlisted  men  behind,  as  you  will  see  by  their 
returns  herewith  enclosed.  On  the  twelfth  of  June,  I  ar- 
rived at  Cambridge  and  waited  on  General  Ward;  he  in- 
formed me  that  Cambridge  was  so  thronged  with  soldiers, 
that  he  had  given  orders  to  Captains  Spalding,  Walker,  « 
and  Crosby,  to  march  to  Medford.  Then  I  repaired  to 
Medford,  and  there  I  met  with  Captains  Hinds,  Whitcomb, 
Town,  Hutchins,  Man,  Marcey,  and  Thomas.  Whitcomb 
and  Thomas  I  took  out  of  Colonel  Stokes's  Regiment  for 
the  two  Companies  that  were  assigned  me.  Then  I  was 
informed  by  Colonel  Stark  that  Medford  was  so  full  of 
soldiers  that  it  was  necessary  for  some  to  take  other  quar- 
ters; then  1  applied  to  General  Ward  and  received  orders 
in  these  words : 

(General  Orders.)  "  Head-Quarters,  Juno  12,  1775. 

"That  Colonel  Read  quarter  his  Regiment  in  the  houses 
near  Charlestown  Neck,  and  keep  all  necessary  guards  be- 
tween his  barracks  and  the  ferry,  and  on  Bunker  Hill. 

"  J.  Ward,  Secretary." 

A  copy  per  James  Read. 

Then,  Sirs,  I  marched  my  Regiment  from  Medford  to 
Charlestown  Neck,  and,  with  the  assistance  of  Mr.  Tufts, 
one  of  the  Selectmen  of  Charlestown,  I  got  my  men  into 
good  barracks,  and  then  raised  my  guard,  consisting  of  one 
Captain,  two  subalterns,  four  sergeants,  four  corporals,  and 
forty  privates  ;  this  ended  the  thirteenth  day  of  June. 

I  beg  leave  to  inform  you  that  we  are  in  great  want  of 
an  apothecary  and  chaplain.  There  is  Doctor  Abner  Bar- 
ker with  us  taking  care  of  our  sick,  but  hath  no  medicines 
only  by  applying  to  Head-Quarters  ;  he  is  a  man  that  hath 
been  acquainted  with  the  business  of  an  apothecary,  and 
he  hath  had  the  small-pox,  and  seems  to  be  very  kind  and 
helpful,  and  is  willing  to  tarry  if  desired. 

James  Read. 

To  the  Honourable  Gentlemen  of  the  Committee  of  Safety 
at  Exeter. 

colonel  read's  letter  in  favour  of  captain  colburn. 

Fitzwilliam,  Juno  8,  1775. 

Honoured  Sir  :  I  beg  leave  to  trouble  you  with  one 
word  in  favour  of  the  bearer,  Captain  Colburn,  that  is  to 
inform  you  that  he  is  one  of  the  signers  of  the  paper  of 
agreement  to  raise  a  Regiment  under  my  command.  And, 
Sir,  as  my  Regiment  is  filled  up  without  him,  and  as  I  had 
encouragement  that  any  officer  that  had  got  men  should  be 
taken  notice  of  in  the  next  Regiment ;  and,  Sir,  as  Captain 
Colburn  hath  been  an  old  officer  in  the  last  war,  which  he 
is  able  to  give  and  account  for  himself,  1  should  take  it  as 
a  favour  if  your  Honours,  the  Committee,  would  favour  him 
in  the  next  Regiment  as  a  Major,  if  agreeable  to  your 
Honours ;  at  the  same  time  would  beg  leave  to  subscribe 
myself  your  Honours'  obliged  and  ever  humble  servant  at 
command,  James  Read. 

Service  done  by  Andrew  Colburn  in  the  last  war. 

In  the  year  1755,  I  was  at  Oswego  with  General  »S7aV- 
ly's  Regiment;  in  the  year  '56,  at  Fort  Edward;  in  the 
year  '57,  at  Fort  William  Henry  when  taken  ;  in  the  year 
'58,  at  Ticonderoga  in  the  defeat ;  in  the  year  '59,  I  sus- 
tained a  commission  in  the  Province  service,  and  was  at  the 
taking  of  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point,  with  Colonel  In- 
gersoWs  Regiment ;  in  the  year  '60,  in  Colonel  RuggelVs 
Regiment,  at  the  taking  the  several  forts  on  the  lakes  and 
Montreal.  For  the  year  '61, 1  commanded  Captain  Cow- 
dan's  Company  at  Crown  Point,  and  in  the  year  '62,  at 
Crown  Point;  and  in  the  year  1774, 1  received  a  Captain's 
commission  in  this  Government,  in  Colonei  Reuben  Rid- 
ders's  Regiment. 


1007 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


1008 


REGIMENTAL  ORDERS. 

Cliarlestown,  June  14,  1775. 

First.  That  each  Captain,  or  commanding  officer  of  each 
company,  immediately  make  a  true  return  of  all  the  men 
they  and  their  recruiting  officers  have  enlisted,  according 
to  a  form  given  them  by  the  Adjutant. 

Second.  That  officers  see  that  their  companies  are  equip- 
ped with  ten  pounds,  at  least,  of  powder  and  ball,  and  that 
their  fire-locks  are  kept  in  good  order  at  all  times,  and 
give  their  men  special  orders  not  to  fire  a  gun  on  any  ac- 
count whatever,  unless  beset  by  the  enemy. 

Third.  That  each  commander  of  a  company  embody  all 
his  company,  that  are  offfrom  duty,  twice  a  day,  to  exercise 
them  in  the  best  manner  for  learning  the  art  of  war. 

Fourth.  That  each  officer  give  special  orders  to  their  sol- 
diers that  they  do  no  damage  to  any  of  the  houses  where 
ihey  are  quartered,  or  to  any  garden  or  grass  in  any  part 
of  this  town,  on  pain  of  being  punished  according  to  the 
offence. 

Fifth.  That  no  soldier  be  allowed  to  stroll  from  his  com- 
pany, or  pass  from  this  encampment  to  Charlcstown  Ferry, 
or  to  any  other  encampment,  without  leave  from  their 
officers. 

Sixth.  That  the  commanding  officer  of  each  company 
cause  the  Rules  and  Regulations  for  the  Army  to  be  read 
at  the  head  of  their  respective  companies  forthwith,  and  it 
is  expected  that  all  officers  and  soldiers  govern  themselves 
accordingly. 

Seventh.  That  the  officers  see  that  the  men  and  barracks 
are  kept  clean. 

Eighth.  That  there  be  a  guard  paraded  this  afternoon 
at  six  o'clock,  of  the  same  number  of  officers  and  soldiers 
that  are  now  on  guard,  to  relieve  Captain  IVhitcomb  and  his 
party,  and  that  the  Adjutant  and  Orderly  Sergeants  keep 
a  good  roster,  so  that  neither  officer  nor  soldier  be  called 
upon  for  duty  out  of  their  proper  turn. 

Ninth.  That  there  be  no  noise  in  camp  after  nine  o'clock 
at  night,  but  all  repair  to  their  lodgings  or  barracks. 

Tenth.  That  Isphraim  Stone  is  appointed  Quartermas- 
ter Sergeant  until  further  orders. 

James  Read,  Colonel. 

(Regimental  Orders.)  Charlcstown,  June  15,  1775. 

The  main  guard  of  this  day  is  to  consist  of  one  Captain, 
two  subalterns,  four  sergeants,  four  corporals,  and  forty  pri- 
vates. The  captain  of  the  main  guard  is  to  keep  a  trusty 
sergeant  with  the  sentries,  in  the  street  below  the  Guard- 
House,  to  examine  all  passengers  ;  and  let  none  pass  without 
showing  proper  passes  in  the  day  time,  and  none  to  pass 
after  nine  o'clock  at  night,  without  giving  the  countersign ; 
and  no  sentry  is  to  set  down  on  his  post ;  and  when  any 
field  officers  pass  them,  to  stand  with  their  fire-locks  rested. 
No  soldier  to  swim  in  the  water  on  the  Sabbath  day,  nor 
any  other  day  to  stay  in  the  water  any  longer  than  is  neces- 
sary to  wash  themselves.  James  Read,  Colonel. 


JOSEPH  HABERSHAM  TO  PHILOTHEOS  CHIFFELLE. 

Savannah,  Juno  16,  1775. 

Dear  Sir  :  The  alarming  height  to  which  our  disputes  with 
the  Mother  Country  has  at  length  arisen,  and  the  many  de- 
testable arts  that  are  made  use  of  by  our  enemies  to  involve 
us  in  one  general  scene  of  distress,  are  motives  sufficient 
to  stimulate  every  honest  man  to  use  his  best  endeavours  to 
counteract  the  wicked  designs  of  our  enemies,  which  will 
be  a  sufficient  excuse  for  my  troubling  you  with  this,  as  it 
conveys  a  piece  of  intelligence  that  1  think  very  interesting, 
and  should,  when  thought  proper,  be  made  known  to  the 
good  people  of  your  Province  as  well  as  our  own. 

Mr.  John  Stuart,  who  is  now  at  Colonel  Mulryne's  house 
at  Thunderbolt,  desired  that  the  Colonel  would  wait  on 
some  gentlemen  who  are  in  opposition  to  Government,  as 
it  is  called  here,  and  beg  that  they  would  be  so  good  as  to 
call  on  the  Superintendent  at  his  house  yesterday,  as  he 
wanted  to  have  an  opportunity  of  clearing  himself  of  some 
aspersions,  and  likewise  to  lay  before  us  his  letters  with 
respect  to  Indian  affairs.  Accordingly  four  or  five  of  us 
malcontents  attended;  when  Mr.  Stuart  began  with  inform- 
ing us  that  he  had  received  letters  by  the  last  post  from 
Cliarlestown  which  made  him  very  uneasy,  as  a  report  had 
been  circulated  there  that  he  had  been  tampering  with  cer- 


tain Indians,  at  which  he  manifested  not  a  little  surprise. 
He  showed  us  the  letter  he  received  from  Charlestoum,  and 
his  answer  to  Colonel  Hou  arth,  whom  he  has  desired  to 
make  the  contents  publick,  and  which  he  means  a  justifi- 
cation of  his  conduct.  So  far  every  thing  appeared  to  me 
plausible ;  but,  unluckily  for  Mr.  Stuart,  he  produces  a 
number  of  his  letters  to  his  Deputy,  Mr.  Cameron,  and  the 
answers  ;  in  one  of  which  he  writes  thus :  "  I  have  received 
information  from  General  Gage  that  certain  persons  at  the 
northward  have  been  tampering  with  the  Six  Indian  Na- 
tions, and  endeavouring  to  alienate  their  affections  from 
His  Majesty.  I  mention  this  to  caution  you  against  any 
thing  of  the  kind  with  you,  and  that  you  will  use  your  in- 
fluence to  dispose  those  people  to  act  in  defence  of  His 
Majesty  and  Government,  if  found  necessary."  Mr.  Corne- 
ll's answer  was  couched  nearly  in  the  following  words,  (I 
do  not  differ,  I  am  positive,  as  to  the  substance,  though  I 
may  in  some  of  the  words :)  "  That  Mr.  Stuart'' s  interest 
with  the  Indians  was  much  greater,  and  that  he  was  more 
beloved  by  them  than  any  other  man  ;  and  that  he  (Mr. 
Cameron)  had  the  vanity  to  think  that  he  could  head  any 
number  he  thought  proper  whenever  called  upon  in  sup- 
port of  His  Majesty  and  Government." 

Now,  Sir,  I  shall  leave  you  to  make  your  own  comments 
on  the  above,  though  I  will  acquaint  you  with  what  I  said 
to  him  on  its  being  read:  that  we  were  at  no  loss  to  know 
what  was  meant  by  assisting  or  acting  in  defence  of  His 
Majesty  and  Government,  if  found  necessary  ;  for,  as  we 
were  not  at  war  with  the  French  or  Spaniards,  it  could  not 
be  against  them  that  they  were  meant  to  act.  Mr.  Came- 
ron further  tells  Mr.  Stuart  that  the  traders  must  by  some 
means  or  other  get  ammunition  among  them,  or  otherwise 
they  may  become  troublesome  to  him  for  the  want  of  it. 
I  do  not  well  know  how  far  I  am  at  liberty  to  make  this 
publick ;  but  as  Mr.  Stuart  has  wrote  to  Mr.  Howarth,  in 
order  to  justify  himself  in  the  eyes  of  the  people  of  Caro- 
lina, I  think,  as  a  farther  justification,  he  should  produce  his 
letters  to  and  from  Cameron.  Mr.  Stuarfs  letter  that  con- 
tains the  foregoing  paragraph  is  dated  about  the  middle  of 
January  last,  and  is  copied  from  among  a  number  of  others, 
in  a  large  book  bound  in  calf. 

You  may  give  the  Secret  Committee  intelligence  of  this, 
and  if  they  should  think  it  of  sufficient  importance  to  claim 
a  demand  from  Mr.  Stuart  of  these  letters,  and  he  should 
then  hesitate,  and  will  not  grant  what  they  request,  and  it 
should  further  be  thought  necessary,  I  can  find  lour  persons 
besides  myself,  to  avow  what  I  have  said  to  be  true,  as  any 
thing  of  this  kind  should  come  well  authenticated. 

We  are  going  on  here  tolerably  well  with  respect  to  our 
political  proceedings,  and  1  hope  soon  to  convince  the  world 
that  Georgia  will  not  take  advantage  of  her  sister  Colonies 
in  the  present  disputes. 

I  am,  dear  Sir,  your  most  obedient  servant, 

Joseph  Habersham. 

Philotheos  Chiffelle,  Esq. 


TO  GENERAL  burgoyne. 

Philadelphia,  June  16,  1775. 

Sir:  Your  accession  to  a  command  upon  this  side  the 
Atlantick  must  necessarily  engage  the  attention  of  Ame- 
rica. A  gay  sparkler  from  the  parade  of  St.  James's  may 
attract  the  eye  of  the  young  and  inexperienced;  but  when 
the  real  Soldier  and  the  able  Senator  appears,  these  little 
meteors  must  die  away,  whilst  a  different  class  of  men 
mark  the  latter's  conduct  with  determined  circumspection. 
If  brave,  he  is  humane;  if  worthy  the  seat  he  fills  in  the 
legislature,  he  will  not  suffer  his  idea  of  promoting  his 
Country's  welfare  to  be  circumscribed  by  any  partial,  local 
boundaries.  If  thus  brave  and  wise,  he  will  love  valour 
and  freedom,  and  endeavour  to  kindle  these  glorious  ema- 
nations of  virtue  in  every  bosom.  The  temple  of  Liberty 
fills  all  space,  and  the  great  and  good  of  every  age  have 
been  the  willing  votaries  to  sacrifice  at  her  altar. 

It  appears,  Sir,  that  you  have  considered  the  grand 
American  question  ;  "  real  and  virtual  representation,"  ex- 
ternal and  internal  taxes,  "  revenue  and  regulation,"  are 
not  with  you  novel  ideas.  I  cannot  suppose  your  "  under- 
standing confounded,"  or  your  "head  dizzy  with  these  dis- 
tinctions ;"  though  you  seem  willing  to  consider  them  as 
"  rhetorical  and  sophistical,"  while  you  view  "  the  Declara- 


1009 


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1010 


tory  Act  of  the  sixth  of  the  present  King"  as  the  solemn 
line  by  which  your  judgment  is  to  be  bounded,  and  beyond 
which  your  researches  must  not  presume  to  soar.  Have 
the  Parliament  of  England,  Sir,  never  been  mistaken  ? 
Are  they  infallible?  No,  Sir.  We  know  there  existed  laws 
for  the  punishment  of  witchcraft,  but  true  philosophy  hav- 
ing exploded  that  errour,  the  wisdom  of  succeeding  times 
repealed  those  statutes.  The  halcyon  days  of  George  the 
Second  broke  that  supposed  subjection  to  the  powers  of 
darkness.  Forbid  it,  Heaven,  that  a  more  gloomy  infatua- 
tion should  becloud  the  reign  of  George  the  Third.  You 
view  "the  Government"  of  England  as  "suspended,"  the 
Parliament  a  phantom,  the  mere  shadow  of  authority,  as- 
sembled only  to  lament  a  substance  lost,  and  to  propose 
and  subtilize  questions  of  their  own  impotency.  "  Was  this 
the  case,  1  should  agree"  with  you,  that  the  state  of  Bri- 
tain was  wretched  indeed,  and  that  she  was  about  "  revert- 
ing lo  her  primitive  insignificancy  in  the  map  of  the  world." 
But,  Sir,  can  any  Government  be  suspended,  when  every 
branch  of  authority  the  Constitution  warrants  her  to  ex- 
ercise is  acknowledged  and  obeyed — when  she  is  only 
restrained  from  putting  in  effect  what  she  has  no  right  to 
attempt  ?  Were  the  powers  granted  to  James  the  Second 
by  the  Constitution  resumed  by  that  source  from  whence 
they  sprung,  because  the  virtue  of  our  ancestors  would  not 
permit  him  to  suspend  acts  of  Parliament,  violate  Charters, 
and  introduce  Popery  ?  Had  that  deluded  man  made  the 
line  of  the  Constitution  the  path  of  his  obedience,  he  would 
not  have  had  cause  to  lament  the  substance  he  lost,  or  sat 
torpid  at  St.  Germaine's,  subtilizing  questions  of  his  own 
impotency. 

Wisdom  and  goodness  flee  every  species  of  deception. 
Suffer  not  yourself  to  be  deceived.  "  The  Congress  of 
Philadelphia"  is  not  "  the  legislature  to  dispense  the  bless- 
ings of  Empire  ;"  it  is  composed  of  gentlemen  met,  by  the 
appointment  of  the  freemen  of  America,  to  devise  the  most 
probable  schemes  for  cementing  the  Parent  State  and  all 
her  blooming  Colonies  in  the  firmest  band  of  union  :  such 
an  union  as  may  make  the  most  happy  Nation  of  the  earth, 
and  transmit  its  glory  and  freedom  to  the  latest  time. 
Their  intention  is  "  to  spare  the  blood  of  their  fellow- 
subjects  ;"  "  to  spare  the  treasures  of  the  State  ;"  and,  in 
concert  with  Britain,  to  erect  an  Empire  on  the  firm  basis 
of  the  Constitution,  that  shall  survive  until  time  shall  be  no 
more. 

In  addressing  you,  I  hope,  Sir,  nothing  has  or  may  fall 
from  my  pen  to  injure  the  sacred  cause  of  my  Country,  or 
to  disgust  yourself.  The  language  of  freedom,  as  a  mother 
tongue,  I  must  adopt,  whilst  the  walk  of  abuse  or  offensive 
personality  shall  be  entirely  unoccupied  by 

A  Pennsylvania**, 


account  of  province  stores  and  provisions  receiv- 
ed, forwarded,  issued,  and  what  remained,  at 
albany,  June  14,  1775. 

Received  at  Albany,  by  different  vessels  from  New-York 
and  Kingston,  200  barrels  flour,  400  barrels  pork,  and  20 
tierces  rice ;  bought  on  publick  credit  at  Albany,  52  bar- 
rels flour,  and  14  barrels  peas:  In  all,  252  barrels  flour, 
400  barrels  pork,  14  barrels  peas,  and  20  tierces  rice. 

Forwarded  from  Albany  to  Fort  George,  88  barrels  flour, 
136  barrels  pork,  and  12  barrels  peas:  Leaves  164  barrels 
flour,  264  barrels  pork,  2  barrels  peas,  and  20  tierces  rice. 

Issued  or  delivered  out  at  different  times,  25  barrels 
flour,  9  barrels  pork,  and  2  barrels  peas :  Remains  at  Al- 
bany, 14th  June,  1775,  139  barrels  flour,  255  barrels  pork, 
and  20  tierces  rice. 

Stores  remaining:  Five  hogsheads  rum,  one  cask  naval 
stores,  one  cask  sails  for  scows,  fourteen  barrels  pitch  and 
tar,  five  casks  oakum,  three  boxes  spades  and  shovels,  one 
box  hoes,  and  four  coil  cordage. 

N.  B.  About  twenty  wagons  are  constantly  employed 
on  the  publick  credit  of  the  Colony  between  Albany  and 
Fort  George  to  carry  stores  and  provisions  to  the  latter  as 
fast  as  possible,  and  before  I  left  Albany  I  received  intelli- 
gence that  ten  or  twelve  more  wagons  in  and  about  the 
Boght  were  preparing  to  come  to  Town  for  loads.  The  last 
company  of  Colonel  Hinmans  Regiment,  of  Connecticut, 
were  to  leave  Albany  the  15th  instant;  the  other  nine 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.h.  < 


(consisting  of  near  a  hundred  men  each,  as  the  Colonel 
informed  me)  were  mostly  arrived  at  Fort  George  on  the 
1 2th  instant,  and  some,  as  we  heard,  had  already  reached 
Ticonderoga.  Those  Companies  did  not  all  draw  provi- 
sions at  Albany,  as  they  brought  a  sufficiency  with  them 
from  Connecticut  to  last  them  to  Fort  George,  especially 
pork,  and  I  think  two  Companies  did  not  draw  any,  but 
the  others  I  have  supplied  with  flour  only,  and  about  two 
barrels  of  pork. 

Provisions  requisite  to  victual  fifteen  hundred  men  for 
three  months,  viz:  675  barrels  flour,  average  200  pounds 
nett;  367  barrels  pork,  average  210  pounds  ;  7,232  pounds 
butter;  226  barrels  peas,  average  3 \  bushels;  1,206  gallons 
rice,  or  eighteen  tierces,  average  8  bushels. 

Sent  off  to  Fort  George  fourteen  carpenters,  to  build 
batteaus.  John  N.  Bleecker. 

New-York,  June  16,  1775. 


GENERAL  WOOSTER  TO  GOVERNOUR  TRUMBULL. 

Greenwich,  June  16,  1775. 

Sir:  Your  Honour  will  receive  enclosed  a  requisition 
from  the  Provincial  Congress  at  New-York.  Captain 
Sears,  who  arrived  here  last  night  about  twelve  o'clock, 
informs  me  that  the  people  of  iSeir- York  intend  to  quarter 
the  Troops  in  the  City.  I  should  be  glad  to  be  informed 
how  far  I  shall  subject  myself  and  the  Troops  under  my 
command  to  the  direction  of  the  Continental  or  Provincial 
Congress ;  whether,  (if  I  proceed  to  New-  York.)  when 
the  Irish  Troops  arrive,  I  shall  wait  for  directions  from  the 
Continental  Congress  whether  to  oppose  them  or  not.  It 
is  my  private  opinion  that  they  ought  not  to  be  suffered  to 
land.  I  wrote  you  yesterday  for  your  direction  about  the 
expediency  of  my  marching  to  JSew-York. 

I  am,  Sir,  with  due  respect,  your  Honour's  most  obedi- 
ent humble  servant,  David  Wooster. 
To  the  Honourable  Jonathan  Trumbull,  Esq. 


letter  from  an  officer  in  boston  to  his  friend  in 
england,  dated  june  16,  1775. 
Dear  Sir  :  As  we  are  just  now  convoying  with  the 
General's  despatches  clear  off  the  coast,  I  thought  that  a 
line  or  two  to  you  by  the  same  opportunity  would  not  be 
unwelcome.  Nothing  of  consequence  has  happened  at 
Boston  since  the  19th  of  April,  except  a  skirmish  or  two 
between  the  enemy  and  some  parties  of  Troops  who  went 
a  foraging  for  hay  on  certain  islands  in  the  harbour.  The 
rebels  still  continue  the  blockade.  Their  out-sentinels  the 
other  day  called  to  ours  to  send  out  the  Light-Horse,  that 
they  might  beat  them  as  they  had  beaten  the  Grenadiers 
and  Light-Infantry ;  and  single  men  of  them  have  been  so 
impudent  as  to  fire  a  musket  at  the  King's  ships.  They 
burnt  a  house  the  other  day  belonging  to  a  Tory  within 
shot  of  the  Admiral.  They  have  taken  Ticonderoga,  in 
which  place  were  eighty  pieces  of  cannon  and  a  large  quan- 
tity of  stores.  It  is  reported  they  have  got  some  of  those 
guns  now  before  Boston.  Before  our  lines  in  camp  and 
Roxbury  the  rebels  amount  to  three  or  four  thousand  men. 
At  other  Towns  in  the  neighbourhood  it  is  said  there  are 
two-and-twenty  thousand.  All  the  Troops  from  Ireland 
are  arrived  in  good  health,  and  the  horses  in  excellent  con- 
dition. Only  sixteen  horses  died  in  the  passage,  and  they 
brought  forty  spare  ones.  Sixteen  of  the  transports  which 
were  ordered  from  England  to  New-York,  are,  by  the 
General,  ordered  to  Boston.  With  this  addition  our  army 
will  amount  to  about  ten  thousand  men,  all  in  high  spirits, 
and  terribly  exasperated  against  the  Provincials.  On  the 
12th  instant  General  Gage  published  a  Proclamation, 
offering  a  pardon,  in  the  King's  name,  to  all  rebels  who 
shall  forthwith  come  in  and  lay  down  their  arms,  excepting 
only  Hancock  and  Adams.  No  regard  is  paid  to  Lord 
North's  terms  of  accommodation.  The  word  with  the 
Sons  of  Liberty,  as  the  rebels  style  themselves,  is,  join  or 
die.  I  expect  to  hear  of  bloody  work  soon,  as  our  Troops 
are  determined  to  lay  all  the  Country  waste  as  they  go 
with  fire  and  sword.  The  prisoners  have  been  all  ex- 
changed. The  Merlin  is  at  Marblehead.  As  soon  as  we 
part  from  our  convoy  we  are  to  proceed  to  New-  York,  and 
from  thence  to  Philadelphia,  to  put  the  Restraining  Act 
in  execution.    Thank  God  I  keep  health,  &c. 


1011 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


1012 


PROCLAMATION  BY  THE  MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS. 

In  rrovincia!  Congress,  Watortown,  June  1G,  1775. 
Resolved,  Tliat  the  following  Proclamation  be  signed 
by  the  President,  printed,  and  published  throughout  this 
Colony : 

BY  THE  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS. 

The  confidence  which  our  countrymen  have  reposed  in 
us,  lays  us  under  the  strongest  obligation  to  watch  and 
guard  against  all  the  malignant  designs  of  their  inveterate 
enemies. 

That  the  British  Administration  have  formed,  and  have 
been  for  several  years  executing  a  plan  to  enslave  this  and 
the  other  American  Colonies,  is  a  proposition  so  evident, 
that  it  would  be  an  affront  to  the  understanding  of  mankind 
to  adduce  proofs  in  support  of  it.  We  shall  therefore  only 
advert  to  those  unhappy  circumstances  which  have  been 
the  immediate  causes  of  plunging  this  People  into  the  hor- 
rours  of  war  and  desolation.  When  a  Fleet  and  Army  were 
sent  forth  to  deprive  us  of  every  thing  that  man  holds  dear  ; 
when  the  Capital  of  this  Colony  became  a  garrison,  and 
fortifications  were  erected  upon  the  only  land-entrance  into 
the  Metropolis:  when  the  Commander  of  the  Army  so  far 
manifested  his  designs  against  us,  as  to  send  out  his  Soldiers 
in  the  night  to  remove  the  publick  magazines  of  the  Colo- 
ny from  their  safe  lodgment  in  the  country,  and  place  them 
under  the  command  of  a  Foreign  Army;  when  he  evi- 
denced his  enmity  to  the  liberties  of  this  Country,  by  send- 
ing a  detachment  from  that  Army  against  the  peaceahle 
inhabitants  of  one  of  our  principal  Towns,  only  because 
they  were  assembled  quietly  to  concert  measures  to  save 
themselves  from  ruin  ;  when  we  were  lately  deprived  of 
the  benefit  of  a  legislative  body;  when  the  whole  system  of 
distributive  justice  was  so  mutilated  that  there  could  be  no 
reason  to  hope  for  any  advantages  from  it ;  when  an  Act 
of  Parliament  was  passed,  which  the  General  of  the  Army 
resolves  to  execute,  by  which  our  countrymen  were  given 
up  as  a  prey  to  a  lawless  soldiery,  who  were  screened  from 
punishment  here  for  the  murders  they  might  commit ;  in 
fine,  when  the  Army  and  Navy  breathed  nothing  but  blood 
and  slaughter,  and  all  our  accounts  from  England  but  too 
strongly  proved  the  inhuman  intentions  of  those  in  power: 
it  became  us  as  men,  as  freemen,  and  Christians,  to  take 
some  steps  to  preserve  our  own  lives  and  properties,  as 
well  as  to  secure  the  inheritance,  purchased  at  no  less  a 
price  than  the  blood  of  many  thousands  of  our  brave  ances- 
tors, entire  and  undiminished  for  succeeding  generations. 
The  Congress  whom  this  people  then  chose  recommended 
it  to  them  to  provide  themselves  with  such  articles  for  their 
defence  as  the  law  of  the  land  required,  and  further  recom- 
mended it  to  them  to  appropriate  some  part  of  their  own 
property  for  the  purchasing  such  stores  to  be  laid  up  in 
publick  magazines  as  might  be  useful  for  the  general  de- 
fence, in  case  an  attack  should  be  made  upon  us  by  the 
Army.  The  recommendation  was  cheerfully  complied  with, 
and  stores  were  procured  in  the  most  peaceable  and  quiet 
manner,  and  deposited  in  magazines,  where  they  were  to 
have  continued  without  the  least  injury  or  disturbance  to 
any  one,  unless  drawn  out  by  necessity  to  save  the  Coun- 
try from  destruction.  But  the  possibility  of  our  making 
resistance  to  the  bloody  schemes  of  our  adversaries  was 
the  source  of  continual  terrour  to  the  traitors,  whose  aim 
was  to  enslave  this  Country ;  and  General  Gage,  after  many 
little  pllferings,  and  several  humiliating  disappointments  in 
his  attempt  to  rob  the  people,  at  length  determined  to  de- 
stroy the  magazines  at  Concord ;  he  sent  the  Grenadiers 
and  companies  of  Light-Infantry  of  every  regiment  (about 
one  thousand  in  number)  secretly  by  night  over  Charles 
River.  On  their  way  some  of  the  Officers  captivated  and 
otherwise  infamously  abused  several  of  the  inhabitants; 
and  when  the  body  arrived  at  Lexington  meeting-house, 
which  was  very  early  in  the  morning  of  the  ever  memora- 
ble nineteenth  of  April,  they  in  a  most  barbarous  and  infa- 
mous manner  fired  upon  a  small  number  of  the  inhabitants, 
and  cruelly  murdered  eight  men.  The  fire  was  returned 
by  some  of  the  survivors,  but  their  number  was  too  incon- 
siderable to  annoy  the  Regular  Troops,  who  proceeded  on 
their  errand;  and  upon  coming  up  to  Concord,  began  to 
destroy  by  fire  and  water  the  stores  and  magazines,  until  a 
party  of  them  again  fired  upon  and  killed  two  more  of  the 
inhabitants,    The  native  bravery  of  our  countrymen  could 


now  no  longer  be  restrained  ;  a  small  party,  consisting  ot 
about  two  or  three  hundred  men,  attacked  them  with  such 
spirit  and  resolution,  as  compelled  them  soon  to  retreat. 
At  Lc  ting  ton  they  met  a  re-en  forcement  of  Regular 
Troops,  consisting  of  about  eight  hundred,  with  two  field- 
pieces,  commanded  by  Lord  Percy.  This,  however,  did 
not  encourage  them  to  keep  their  ground,  but  they  con- 
tinued their  route  towards  Charles  town,  marking  their  way 
with  every  species  of  desolation  and  cruelty  which  their 
haste  would  permit. 

The  burning  and  robbing  of  houses,  the  abuses  and  bar- 
barities offered  to  defenceless  women  and  children,  the 
wanton  slaughter  of  the  aged  and  helpless,  will  be  a  per- 
petual memorial  of  the  base  spirit  which  actuated  the  per- 
petrators. 

Upon  their  arrival  at  Charlestown  our  countrymen  quit- 
ted the  pursuit,  and  the  next  day  suffered  them,  without 
annoyance,  to  pass  the  river  and  return  to  Boston. 

This  action  of  the  Troops  destroyed  every  hope  of 
coming  to  any  accommodation  with  them  ;  we  therefore 
were  compelled  to  raise  an  Army  to  prevent  such  bloody 
excursions  in  future.  An  Army  is  therefore  raised  and 
appointed  for  this  purpose,  and  we  are,  with  the  greatest 
reluctance,  obliged  to  declare,  that  we  have  now  nothing  to 
depend  upon  under  God.  to  preserve  America  from  slavery 
and  destruction  but  our  arms  ;  to  these  we  have  been  forced 
to  make  our  appeal,  and  by  these  we  are  determined  to 
maintain  our  rights.  And  we  are  obliged  to  declare,  and 
do  now  publickly  declare,  all  persons  who  shall  afford  any 
aid,  assistance,  or  relief,  or  hold  any  manner  of  communi- 
cation of  any  kind  whatsoever  with  General  Gage,  Admiral 
Graves,  or  the  Army  or  Navy,  or  any  one  of  those  now 
under  their  command,  who  are  stationed  in  our  Metropolis 
and  the  Harbour  of  Boston  or  elsewhere,  or  any  persons 
who  are  known  or  shall  hereafter  be  known  to  have  afford- 
ed such  aid,  or  to  have  had  such  communication  with  them 
or  either  of  them,  to  be  enemies  and  traitors  to  their  Coun- 
try, and  they  shall  be  proceeded  against  and  treated  as 
such,  excepting  only  such  of  the  unhappy  inhabitants  of 
Boston  as  have,  by  a  treacherous  and  most  infamous  breach 
offailii  in  General  Gage,  been  prevented  from  removing 
out  of  the  Town  of  Boston,  whose  peculiar  circumstances 
this  Congress  will  at  all  times  make  due  allowance  for,  so 
long  as  they  shall  avoid  doing  any  thing  to  obstruct  or 
counteract  such  steps  as  this  Congress  shall  think  fit  to 
take;  but  the  said  inhabitants  are  strictly  forbidden,  what- 
ever may  be  the  consequence  of  their  refusal,  to  be  in  any 
the  least  degree  instrumental  in  assisting  the  enemy,  or 
opposing  the  Country,  as  they  would  avoid  the  penalties 
due  to  the  enemies  thereof.  From  a  real  tenderness  to 
our  fellow-men,  we  most  sincerely  regret  the  unhappy  situa- 
tion of  the  Soldiers  and  Sailors  in  the  Army  and  Navy  now 
stationed  in  the  Town  and  Harbour  of  Boston,  and  assure 
them,  upon  that  faith  which  never  has  been,  and  we  trust 
never  will  be  violated,  that  upon  their  quitting  the  infa- 
mous service  in  which  they  are,  (as  we  must  in  charity 
suppose,)  contrary  to  their  own  inclinations  and  principles, 
engaged,  we  will  receive  them  as  brethren  and  fellow- 
subjects,  and  protect  them  against  every  attempt  that  may 
be  made  by  our  enemies  to  force  them  again  into  the  dis- 
graceful and  inhuman  service  in  which  they  now  are  em- 
ployed. 

And  that  our  earnest  desire  to  discover  our  tender  re- 
gard to  our  few  misguided  fellow-countrymen,  and  our 
readiness  to  forgive  even  those  who  have  knowingly  offend- 
ed, we  do  promise  and  engage  a  full,  free  pardon  to  all 
persons  who  have  fled  to  the  Town  of  Boston  for  refuge, 
and  to  the  other  publick  offenders  against  the  rights  and 
liberties  of  this  Country,  of  what  kind  or  denomination 
soever,  excepting  only  from  the  benefit  of  such  pardon 
Thomas  Gage,  Samuel  Graves,  and  those  Counsellors  who 
were  appointed  by  mandamus,  and  have  not  signified  their 
resignation,  viz  ;  Jonathan  Sewell,  Charles  Paxton,  Ben-> 
jamin  Hallowell,  and  all  the  natives  of  America  not  belong- 
ing to  the  Navy  or  Army  who  went  out  with  the  Troops 
on  the  19th  of  April  last,  and  were  countenancing,  aiding, 
and  assisting  them  in  the  robberies  and  murders  then  com- 
mitted, whose  offences  are  of  too  flagitious  a  nature  to 
admit  of  any  other  consideration  than  that  of  condign  pun- 
ishment :  Provided  they  take  the  benefit  hereof  by  making 
a  surrender  of  themselves  to  any  General  Officer  belong- 


1013 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1773. 


1014 


in*  to  the  Massachusetts  Army,  and  subscribe  a  declaration  America,  who  daily  fall  innocent  victims  to  lawless  power, 

or 'theft  readiness  to  comply  with,  support,  and  abide  by  Let  me  entreat  you  to  rouse  in  defence  of  your  rights  and 

all  the  resolutions  and  determinations  which  are  already  liberties,  those  rights  and  liberties  which  Heaven  gave,  and 

made  by  this  or  any  former  Congress,  or  that  shall  here-  for  which  your  fathers  bravely  fought,  and  gloriously  fell, 


Selectmen,  Committees  of  Correspodence,  Committees  of 
Safety,  and  all  other  Officers  of  every  Town  in  this  Colo- 
nv,  that  they  use  their  utmost  diligence  to  discover  and 
make  known  to  this  Congress  any  person  or  persons  who 
shall  in  any  respect  attempt  to  do  any  thing  tending  to 
render  ineffectual  their  designs  and  doings  ;  and  we  trust 
that  the  God  of  Armies,  on  whom  we  rely  for  a  blessing 
upon  our  arms,  which  we  have  taken  up  in  support  of  the 
great  and  fundamental  principles  of  natural  justice  and  the 
common  and  indefeasible  rights  of  mankind,  will  guide  and 
direct  us  in  our  designs,  and  at  last,  in  infinite  goodness 
to  this  his  injured  people,  restore  peace  and  freedom  to 
the  American  world. 


To  the  Honourable  Provincial  Congress  note  sitting  at 
Watertown  : 

The  Petition  of  Ebenezer  Smith  and  Thomas  Cook, 
Selectmen  of  Edgartown,  in  behalf  of  said  Edgar- 
town,  humbly  shoueth : 

That  whereas  the  said  Town  of  Edgartown  is  very  small 
and  poor,  the  soil  sandy,  and  not  capable  of  producing  the 
article  of  bread-corn  for  the  inhabitants  yearly  by  far; 
whereby  many  of  the  inhabitants  are  obliged  to  employ 
themselves  in  the  whaling  employ  for  their  support,  which 
at  this  time  is  rendered  useless,  by  reason  that  the  oil  ob- 
tained will  not  produce  cash:  and  also  the  staple  com- 
modity of  said  Edgartown,  which  is  the  article  of  sheep's 
wool,  cannot  be  transported  to  the  main  land  at  this  time, 
with  any  degree  of  safety,  by  reason  of  the  armed  vessels 
continually  cruising  betwixt  said  Edgartown  and  the  main 
land  ;  and  your  petitioners  are  well  assured  that  there  is 
but  very  little  cash  in  said  Town,  and  that  many  of  the 
inhabitants  are  at  this  time  in  a  considerable  degree  suffer- 
ing for  the  article  of  bread-corn,  and  are  by  no  means  at 
this  present  time  capable  of  paying  their  publick  taxes : 
we  therefore  pray,  in  behalf  of  said  Edgartown,  that  as 
your  petitioners  have  contracted  with  the  Committee  of   self-preservation  to 


let  me  therefore  beseech  you  to  oppose,  with  uplifted  hands 
and  stretched  out  arms,  the  cruel,  bloody,  and  unnatural 
tyranny  of  George  the  Third,  and  his  diabolical  tory 
minions.  Perdition,  destruction,  and  all  the  miseries  of  a 
tortured  death,  attend  the  wretch  who  calls  himself  an 
Englishman,  and  yet  can  tamely  see  his  brother,  or  fellow- 
subject,  perish  through  wanton  cruelty,  oppression,  or  the 
sword. 

No  tyrant  was  ever  more  despotick  and  cruel  than  the 
present  Sovereign,  who  disgraces  the  seat  of  royalty  in  the 
British  Empire  ;  no  Court  ever  more  corrupt  than  his  ;  and 
yet,  O  my  countrymen,  to  this  merciless  and  despotick 
tyrant,  and  to  his  wicked  and  corrupt  Ministry,  you  sacri- 
fice your  rights,  and  yield  a  peaceable  submission. 

Consider  the  gloomy,  the  dreadful  prospect  before  you. 
The  plains  of  America  are  running  with  the  blood  of  her 
inhabitants ;  the  essence  of  the  English  Constitution  de- 
stroyed, and  nothing  but  the  form,  the  mere  shadow  of  it 
remains  ;  all  the  dear-bought  liberties  purchased  and  sealed 
with  the  blood  of  your  forefathers,  wrested  from  you  by 
the  polluted  hands  of  an  abandoned  set  of  miscreants,  sup- 
ported and  defended  by  a  royal  tyrant;  and  a  dark  cloud 
of  slavery,  like  a  rising  tempest,  overspreads  the  land ;  it 
approaches  swiftly,  and  at  this  moment  threatens  our  de- 
struction :  it  is  therefore  high  time  you  should  be  roused 
and  awakened  to  a  sense  of  your  danger ;  and  by  an  appeal 
to  Heaven,  by  a  glorious  resistance,  provide  for  your  com- 
mon safety. 

This  is  the  only  way  ;  we  have  no  other  to  prevent  the 
ruin  that  threatens  us.  If  we  are  inattentive  or  inactive  at 
this  time,  our  chains  will  be  fast  riveted,  and  liberty  must 
expire.  Your  petitions  and  remonstrances  have  been  spurned 
by  the  King,  and  you  have  now  no  remedy  left  but  that  of 
entering  into  an  association  in  defence  of  your  common 
rights,  and  the  rights  of  America.  They  have  set  you  a 
noble  example,  an  example  worthy  of  Britons,  an  example 
which  you  are  bound  by  all  the  principles  of  justice  and 
follow;  he  must  be  blind  that  is  not 


Supplies  to  supply  them  with  a  number  of  yarn  stockings, 
that  the  same  may  answer  in  lieu  of  the  money,  as  far  as 
the  amount  of  said  stockings ;  as  we  conceive  it  will  be  of 
great  utility  to  said  Town,  by  reason  that  the  little  money- 
there  is  will  be  stopped  in  said  Town,  and  the  poor  kept 
at  work  in  the  manufacturing  of  the  wool.  And  your  peti- 
tioners, as  in  duty  bound,  will  ever  pray. 

Thomas  Cook,      )  c.  7  „. 
t-.  a     ■    >  selectmen. 

Ebenezer  Smith, 5 

Edgartown,  June  1C,  1775. 


convinced  of  this,  and  he  is  an  abandoned  wretch,  an 
enemy  to  mankind,  who  will  not  pursue  the  road. 

Upon  your  virtue  and  resolution  at  this  juncture,  de- 
pends the  salvation  of  England  and  America ;  it  is  now 
in  your  power  to  prevent  the  further  progress  of  despotism, 
the  butchery  of  your  fellow-countrymen,  and  yourselves 
from  slavery  and  ruin. 

When  the  humble  supplications  of  an  oppressed  People 
are  treated  with  contempt,  and  a  deaf  ear  turned  to  their 
complaints;  when  their  rights  are  daily  invaded,  their  pro- 
perty unlawfully  wrested  from  them,  and  their  blood  inhu- 
manly shed ;  it  is  incumbent  on  them,  it  is  a  duty  they  owe 
to  God  and  their  Country,  to  take  the  field  and  resist  their 
oppressors;  to  show  themselves  brave,  when  bravery  is 
required,  and  dare  to  be  resolute  in  the  hour  of  danger. 
Remember,  my  fellow-countrymen,  our  predecessors  led 
the  way ;  the  Americans  have  followed  their  noble  exam- 
ple, and  we  are  bound  to  follow  them.  Where  would  have 
been  liberty  and  property,  if  it  had  not  been  for  the  virtue, 
bravery,  and  resolution  of  our  ancestors?  They  stood  forth 
in  the  glorious  cause,  and  many  of  them  secured  it  to  pos- 
terity by  their  blood.  Shall  we  then  tamely  submit  to  have 
those  privileges,  for  which  they  fought  and  fell,  ravished 
from  us  by  a  lawless  tribe  of  men,  who  call  themselves 
Senators  or  Ministers,  and  who,  taking  advantage  of  their 
Prince,  are  laying  waste  their  country,  and  speading  deso- 
lation through  the  land  ?    Shall  it  be  said  in  after  times, 
that  the  year  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  seventy-five 
  was  less  glorious  than  that  of  sixteen  hundred  and  eighty- 
eight  ;  and  that  as  the  age  grew  more  and  more  enlight- 
to  the  people  of  England.  ene(j  jt  Decame  more  an(j  more  pusillanimous  ?    Forbid  it 
London,  June  17,  1775.  Heaven! 
Friends  and  Fellow- Countrymen :  Let  me  entreat  y0Uj  Q  Englishmen,  to  rouse  from  that 
Let  me  conjure  you,  by  all  you  hold  dear  here  and  here-    state  of  supineness  in  which  you  have  so  long  lain;  open 
after,  by  all  the  ties  of  nature  and  justice,  to  rouse  in    your  eyes  to  the  danger  that  surrounds  you,  and  stand  forth 
defence  of  your  persecuted  brethren  and  fellow-subjects  in   the  defenders  of  American  virtue  and  publick  liberty.  Havoc 


COLONEL  ISRAEL  GILMAN   TO  THE   NEW-HAMPSHIRE  COM- 
MITTEE OF  SAFETY. 

Charlestown,  June  16,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  I  take  this  opportunity  to  inform  you  of 
the  state  of  Colonel  Bead's  Regiment  now  at  Charlestou-n. 
The  Regiment  is  full  officered  ;  the  soldiery  will  appear  by 
the  return  ;  there  is  good  harmony  in  said  Regiment.  A 
chaplain,  surgeon,  and  armourer  very  much  wanting  in 
said  Regiment. 

Gentlemen,  I  am,  with  respect,  your  most  obedient,  &lc, 

Israel  Gilman. 
To  the  Honourable  the  Committee  of  Safety. 

P.  S.  It  is  still  times  with  the  Regular  Troops  at  pre- 
sent; we  expect  they  will  make  a  push  for  Bunker's  Hill 
or  Dorchester  Neck  very  soon. 


1015 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


1016 


is  now  the  cry  at  St.  James's,  and  the  dogs  of  war  are  let 
loose  to  tear  out  the  vitals  of  our  brethren.  America, 
through  the  abandoned  cruelty  of  an  accursed  Administra- 
tion and  an  unrelenting  King,  is  become  a  field  of  blood, 
overspread  with  desolation  and  slaughter.  It  is  in  your 
power  to  put  an  end  to  this  horrid  unnatural  civil  war ;  it 
must  owe  its  extinction  or  continuance  to  you.  If  you  are 
virtuous,  brave,  and  resolute,  the  lives,  liberties,  and  pro- 
perties of  your  fellow-subjects  may  be  preserved,  and  your 
Country  saved  from  destruction :  if,  on  the  contrary,  you 
should  be  irresolute  and  pusillanimous  at  this  time,  (unwor- 
thy the  name  of  Englishmen,)  thousand,  many  thousand 
lives  must  be  lost ;  the  liberties  of  England  will  be  no  more  ; 
and  your  property  taken  from  you  at  the  will  and  pleasure 
of  the  Kins  and  his  Ministers. 

It  can  only  be  from  the  virtue  and  united  efforts  of  Eng- 
land and  America,  that  the  Constitution  of  Great  Britain, 
and  all  our  invaluable  privileges,  can  be  preserved.  Should 
you  remain  quiet  spectators  of  the  present  inhuman  massa- 
cres and  destructive  measures,  you  will  deserve  the  worst 
of  slavery,  and  the  cruelest  punishment  ever  inflicted  on  a 
people. 

If  you  have  any  honour,  if  you  have  any  virtue,  or  any 
bravery,  you  will  now  stand  forth  and  resist  the  tyrants; 
you  will  demand  the  heads  of  those  men  who  advised  those 
sanguinary,  fatal,  and  ruinous  measures;  you  will  declare  to 
the  world  you  will  not  consent  to  arbitrary  invasions  of  your 
liberties  ;  arbitrary  dispensings  with  the  laws  ;  and  arbitrary 
governing  by  an  Army :  that  you  owe  no  submission  to  a 
King,  beyond  the  bounds  of  law ;  that  your  lives,  liberties, 
and  estates  shall  not  be  disposed  of  at  his  pleasure;  that  you 
are  bound  by  the  laws  of  God  and  man  to  resist  a  tyrant; 
and  that  you  will  oppose  all  unjust  violence,  and  those  who 
attempt  the  life  of  the  Constitution,  as  the  great  enemies 
of  their  Country.  This  has  been  practised  in  all  ages  ;  and 
all  Nations  determine,  that  Kings  who  invade  the  lives, 
liberties,  or  properties  of  their  subjects;  that  tear  up  the 
foundations  of  publick  freedom,  and  the  sacred  Constitu- 
tion of  their  Country ;  may  be  resisted,  either  by  calling  in 
and  joining  with  foreign  assistance,  or  by  taking  arms  in 
defence  of  the  laws  and  common  liberty.  This  is  what  was 
declared  at  the  Revolution,  and  this  is  the  foundation  upon 
which  the  people  took  arms  in  the  time  of  Charles  the 
First. 

The  axe  is  now  at  the  root  of  the  tree ;  the  overthrow 
of  the  Constitution  is  the  great  design  of  the  King  and  his 
Ministers,  the  open  and  avowed  enemies  to  the  natural 
rights  of  mankind,  who  have  already  sufficiently  proved  to 
the  world  that  they  mean  the  subversion  of  the  universal 
right  of  Christians  and  of  subjects.  Let  those,  my  coun- 
trymen, who  plead  for  tyrants,  submit  to  their  power;  but 
let  us  esteem  our  liberty,  religion,  and  property,  equally 
with  our  lives,  every  man's  birthright  by  nature ;  no  Gov- 
ernment ever  received  a  legal  authority  to  abridge  or  take 
it  away ;  nor  has  God  vested  any  single  or  confederated 
power  in  any  hands  to  destroy  it ;  and  it  is  in  defence  of 
those  glorious  privileges,  these  common  rights,  I  have  writ- 
ten this  paper ;  and  to  preserve  them  unviolated  by  the 
polluted  hands  of  lawless  tyrants,  I  would  lay  down  my 
life,  for  life  is  a  burden  in  any  other  state  than  that  of 
freedom. 

It  is  notoriously  known,  notwithstanding  all  the  Royal 
and  Ministerial  falsehoods  which  have  been,  and  are  daily 
advanced  to  our  disgrace ;  it  is  known  that  we  do  not  enjoy 
undiminished,  one  single  privilege  purchased  by  the  blood 
of  our  ancestors,  and  confirmed  to  us  by  Magna  Charta 
and  the  Bill  of  Rights.  Every  man,  then,  who  remains 
passive  at  this  time,  is  an  enemy  and  traitor  to  his  Coun- 
try. I  lose  all  kind  of  patience  when  I  reflect  upon  the 
melancholy  situation  of  England,  and  America,  and  the 
villanous  principles  of  those  men  entrusted  by  the  Sover- 
eign with  the  management  of  the  affairs  of  this  once  great, 
free,  and  powerful  Kingdom.  I  am  fired  with  a  just  indig- 
nation against  the  authors  of  our  misfortunes ;  and  if  I 
appear  too  warm,  1  hope  it  will  be  imputed  to  my  zeal 
in  the  publick  cause,  and  not  to  any  malice  or  resentment 
against  individuals,  for  I  here  declare  to  have  none.  But  I 
most  sincerely  wish  to  stop  the  further  effusion  of  human 
blood,  and  would  willingly  sacrifice  my  life,  could  I  wrest 
my  Country  from  the  hands  of  parricides  and  traitors,  and 
from  that  destruction  which  now  threatens  it. 


In  Provincial  Congress,  Charlcstown,  ) 
Saturday,  June  17,  1775.  \ 

Resolved,  That  this  Congress  shall  expire  on  the  sixth 
day  of  August  next ;  that  a  new  election  be  made  on  Mon- 
day the  7th  and  Tuesday  the  8th  days  of  August,  except 
in  Charlcstown ;  and  that  the  new  members  then  elected 
do  meet  in  General  Congress  at  Charlestoum,  on  the  first 
day  of  December  next,  or  sooner,  if  the  General  Commit- 
tee shall  think  it  expedient  to  summon  them. 

Resolved,  That  each  Parish,  or  District,  shall,  at  the 
time  of  choosing  Deputies  to  attend  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress, likewise  choose  a  convenient  number  to  form  Com- 
mittees in  the  said  Parishes  and  Districts  respectively,  in 
order  to  enforce  the  different  Resolves  of  the  Continental 
and  Provincial  Congresses.    By  order  of  Congress: 

Peter  Timothy,  Secretary. 


TO  THE  COMMITTEE  OF  THE  CITY  OF  PHILADELPHIA,  AND 
TO  ALL  OTHERS  WHOM  IT  MAY  CONCERN. 

Philadelphia,  June  17,  1775. 

Suppose  this  Major,  Colonel,  or  whatever  he  may  be, 
who  is  lately  arrived  from  the  Parliamentary  Army  at  Bos- 
ton, and  says  he  sold  out,  should  be  a  Spy  sent  from  the 
Generals  to  examine  into  the  state  of  our  affairs ;  to  fix  on 
the  ground  which  can  be  occupied  to  most  advantage  by 
an  Army,  Regiment,  or  party  of  Regulars  ;  to  see  whether 
we  are  prepared  to  oppose  their  landing,  or  to  prevent  any 
ships  from  coming  opposite  the  City,  which  by  threats  to 
fire  upon  it,  might  intimidate  the  inhabitants.  Suppose 
the  Generals  have  resolved,  if  the  landing  at  New- York 
should  prove  too  hazardous,  on  account  of  its  vicinity  to 
Connecticut,  to  send  the  Troops  here,  and  that  he  is  sent 
on  purpose  to  assist  and  direct  them  in  landing.  Suppose 
all,  or  any  of  these  to  be  the  true  supposition,  what  then  ? 
Suppose  be  and  the  paroled  Major  (for  I  hear  they  are 
much  together)  should,  by  their  united  counsels,  fix  and 
recommend  a  plan  for  introducing  a  few  Regiments  to 
Philadelphia,  what  then  ?  These  are  reasonable  suppo- 
sitions. Generals  who  could  affect  nothing  by  force,  have 
had  recourse  to  stratagem,  and  may  have  again.  I  have 
but  one  supposition  more,  the  rest  I  leave  to  your  virtue, 
wisdom,  and  prudence  :  suppose  the  general  desire  of  your 
fellow-citizens  to  be  "  dent  operam  curatores  selecti  duccsq ; 
militares  ne  quid  civitas  detrimenti  capiat" — Quid  tuml 
I  am,  &lc. 


JAMES  DUANE  TO  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

Philadelphia,  Juno  17,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  Your  favour  of  the  ....  by  express 
came  to  hand  yesterday,  and  the  papers  you  enclosed  have 
been  communicated  to  the  Congress,  who  cannot  but  ap- 
prove of  your  generous  and  spirited  conduct. 

You  have  by  this  conveyance  two  packets  from  the  Pre- 
sident of  the  Congress,  on  the  subjects  to  which  they  relate. 
I  need  make  no  remark. 

As  it  was  found  that  you  made  no  progress  in  raising 
men,  the  Congress  have  thought  fit  that  the  posts  directed 
to  be  taken  in  our  Government  should  immediately  be  oc- 
cupied by  the  Troops  of  Connecticut,  which  are  ready  for 
service,  and  unemployed.  We  enclose  you,  by  order  of 
the  Congress,  a  certified  copy  of  their  Resolution  on  that 
head. 

Your  great  complaint  of  the  want  of  money  will,  I  hope, 
be  soon  removed.  For  your  present  satisfaction,  we  have 
obtained  leave  of  the  Congress  to  inform  you  that  the 
General  Committee  of  the  whole  body  have  reported  a 
Resolution  to  emit,  in  Continental  paper  currency,  a  sum 
not  exceeding  the  value  of  two  millions  of  Spanish  dol- 
lars, for  the  redemption  of  which  all  the  Colonies  are  to  be 
pledged.  Upon  revolving  the  effect  of  this  Resolution, 
you  will  find  to  agree  in  the  main  point — the  stability  of  the 
fund,  with  your  own  judicious  system.  We  hope  soon  to 
furnish  you  with  the  particulars  of  this  important  transac- 
tion. We  are  likewise  at  liberty  to  acquaint  you  that  the 
Congress  have  agreed  to  raise,  at  the  Continental  expense, 
a  body  of  fifteen  thousand  men — ten  thousand  for  the  de- 
fence of  the  Massachusetts,  and  the  remainder  to  be  em- 
ployed in  New-York  for  keeping  open  the  communication 
between  the  Northern  and  Southern  Colonics ;  and  that 


1017 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  fee,  JUNE,  177.5. 


1018 


Colonel  George  Washington  is  appointed  Captain-General 
and  Commander-in-Chief  of  all  the  forces  raised  and  to 
be  raised  in  the  common  cause.  You  are  under  no  further 
obligation  of  secrecy  on  that  subject,  than  to  prevent  their 
being  inserted  in  any  newspaper,  from  which  it  is  appre- 
hended some  prejudices  might  arise. 

The  letters  for  Governour  Trumbull  and  General  JVoos- 
ter,  relate  to  the  removal  of  the  Connecticut  Troops  into 
our  Government,  and  are  to  be  forwarded  with  your  des- 
patches on  that  subject ;  but  they  are  only  from  their  Dele- 
gates, and  not  authoritative,  the  Congress  having  referred 
it  to  you  to  make  the  application  to  that  Government. 

I  have  retired  from  the  Congress  at  the  request  of  my 
brethren  to  send  off  these  despatches ;  for  which  reason  I 
have  done  the  honour  of  subscribing  myself,  with  the 
greatest  respect,  gentlemen,  your  most  obedient  and  very 
humble  servant,  James  Duane. 

To  the  Provincial  Congress  at  Ncxc-York. 


NEW- YORK  CONGRESS  TO  TH  FIR  DELEGATES  AT  PHILA- 
DELPHIA. 

In  Provincial  Congress,  New-York,  June  17,  1775. 

Gentlemen:  We  are  this  day  informed  by  Mr.  Jeffrey, 
of  the  Lord  Hyde  packet-boat,  that  the  Mercury  ship-of- 
war  was  cruising  off  our  coast,  and  is  now  at  Sandy-Hook, 
to  order  the  transports  from  Ireland  with  Troops  destined 
to  this  City,  to  proceed  immediately  to  Boston ;  and  did 
on  Tuesday  last,  about  thirty  leagues  to  the  southeast  of 
Sandy-Hook  deliver  those  orders  to  the  Old  Spy,  man-of- 
war,  (now  a  transport  with  a  part  of  the  Forty-Fouith 
Regiment  on  board,)  who  immediately  altered  her  course. 

Captain  Jeffery  told  us  he  had  this  information  both 
from  the  officers  of  the  troops  on  hoard  of  the  Spy,  and 
from  some  of  the  officers  of  the  Mercury  man-of-war. 

From  this  information,  we  are  induced  to  conclude  that 
some  capital  stroke  is  meditated  against  our  brethren  of  the 
Massachusetts-Bay.  We  therefore,  gentlemen,  think  it 
our  duty  to  despatch  this  information  to  you,  that  it  may  be 
known  to  the  Continental  Congress. 

We  are,  gentlemen,  your  very  humble  servant, 

P.  V.  B.  Livingston,  President. 

To  the  New-York  Delegates  in  Continental  Congress. 

P.  S.  We  enclose  you  copies  of  the  two  letters  we  have 
despatched  to  General  Wooster. 


MASSACHUSETTS   COMMITTEE  OF  SUPPLIES  TO  COMMITTEE 
OF  SAFETY. 
Chamber  of  Supplies,  Watcrtown,  June  17,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  We  have  received  your  letter  per  express, 
and  in  answer  inform  you  that  we  have  no  horses  at  present 
but  what  are  unfit  for  use,  or  wanted  for  the  expresses  of 
this  Committee.  We  are  informed  that  Colonel  Gerrish 
has  a  horse  taken  at  Noddle's  Island,  and  shall  be  glad  that 
you  will  take  the  same,  if  the  intelligence  is  true,  and  give 
us  notice.  We  have  received  but  ten  out  of  twenty-eight 
horses  ordered  by  Congress  to  be  delivered  us,  and  are  in- 
formed that  those  left  behind  are  some  of  the  best;  pray 
take  them  if  to  be  found,  unless  detained  by  the  Generals. 
We  have  sent  to  procure  four,  which  shall  be  sent  you  as 
soon  as  possible  ;  and  are,  with  respect,  gentlemen,  your 
humble  servant,  David  Cheever,  per  order. 

To  the  Honourable  the  Committee  of  Safety. 

P.  S.  We  are  sensibly  concerned  for  the  expense  of  pow- 
der, as  a  great  consumption  by  cannon  may  be  ruinous  on 
our  side.  We  think  it  proper  to  inform  you  that,  exclusive 
of  thirty-six  half  barrels  powder  received  from  the  Govern- 
our and  Council  of  Connecticut,  there  is  only  in  the  maga- 
zine twenty-seven  half  barrels,  and  can  be  no  more  draughted 
from  the  Towns,  without  exposing  them  more  than  they  will 
consent  to  be. 


MACHIAS  COMMITTEE  TO  MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS. 

Machias,  June  17,  1775. 

Gentlemen:  Since  the  express  left  this,  by  whom  we 
transmitted  an  account  of  the  taking  of  the  Margaretta, 
one  of  the  King's  tenders,  we  have  discovered,  upon 


examining  the  papers,  that  both  of  Capt.  Jones's  sloops,  of 
about  eighty  tons  each,  were  in  the  King's  service  ;  and  as 
the  people  are  now  obliged  to  provide  for  their  own  safety 
in  the  best  manner  possible,  the  Committee  of  Safety  have 
resolved,  with  the  utmost  expedition,  to  arm  one  of  said 
sloops,  and  to  act  on  the  defensive.  We  are  deeply  sensi- 
ble of  our  own  weakness  and  danger,  and  with  becoming 
deference  we  once  more  apply  to  your  Honours  for  advice 
and  support,  if  we  are  judged  worthy  of  your  notice.  Will 
not  a  commission  be  necessary  for  those  who  take  the  lead 
in  this  affair? 

We  are,  gentlemen,  very  respectfully,  Sic. 

James  Lyon,  Chairman. 

To  the  Honourable  Congress  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay. 


Account  of  an  Engagement  at  Charlestown,  beticcen 
about  three  thousand  of  the  King's  Regular  Forces,  and 
about  half  that  number  of  Provincials,  on  Saturday. 
the  llth  of  June,  1775. 

On  Friday  night,  June  the  sixteenth,  fifteen  hundred  of 
the  Provincials  went  to  Bunker's  Hill  in  order  to  intrench 
there,  and  continued  intrenching  till  Saturday  at  ten  o'clock, 
when  two  thousand  Regulars  marched  out  of  Boston,  landed 
in  Charlestown,  and,  plundering  it  of  all  its  valuable  effects, 
set  fire  to  it  in  ten  different  places  at  once ;  then  dividing 
their  Army,  one  part  of  it  marched  up  in  the  front  of  the 
Provincials'  intrenchment,  and  began  to  attack  the  Provin- 
cials at  long  shot;  the  other  part  of  the  Army  marched 
round  the  Town  of  Charlestown  under  cover  of  the  smoke 
occasioned  by  the  Town.  The  Provincial  sentries  dis- 
covered the  Regulars  marching  upon  their  left  wing.  Upon 
notice  of  this  given  by  the  sentry  to  the  Connecticut  forces 
posted  on  that  wing,  Captain  Nolton,  of  Ashford,  with  four 
hundred  of  said  forces,  immediately  repaired  to  and  pulled 
up  a  post  and  rail  fence,  and  carrying  the  posts  and  rails  to 
another  fence,  put  them  together  for  a  breastwork.  Capt. 
Nolton  gave  orders  to  the  men  not  to  fire  till  the  enemy  had 
got  within  fifteen  rods,  and  then  not  till  the  word  was  given. 
At  the  word  being  given  the  enemy  fell  surprisingly.  It 
was  thought,  by  spectators  who  stood  at  a  distance,  that 
our  men  did  great  execution.  The  action  continued  about 
two  hours,  when  the  Regulars  on  the  right  wing  were  put 
into  confusion  and  gave  way.  The  Connecticut  Troops 
closely  pursued  them,  and  were  on  the  point  of  pushing 
their  bayonets,  when  orders  were  received  from  General 
Pomeroy  for  those  who  had  been  in  action  two  hours  to 
fall  back,  and  their  places  to  be  supplied  by  fresh  forces. 
These  orders  being  mistaken  for  a  direction  to  retreat,  our 
Troops  on  the  right  wing  began  a  general  retreat,  which 
was  handed  to  the  left,  the  principal  place  of  action,  where 
Captains  Nolton,  Chester,  Clarke,  and  Putnam,  had  forced 
the  enemy  to  give  way  and  retire  before  them  for  some  con- 
siderable distance  ;  and  being  warmly  pursuing  the  enemy, 
were  with  difficulty  persuaded  to  retire  ;  but  the  right  wing, 
by  mistaking  the  orders,  having  already  retired,  the  left,  to 
avoid  being  encircled,  were  obliged  to  retreat ;  and,  with  the 
main  body,  they  retreated  with  precipitation  across  the 
causeway  to  Winter  Hill,  in  which  they  were  exposed  to 
the  fire  of  the  enemy  from  their  shipping  and  floating  bat- 
teries. 

We  sustained  our  principal  loss  in  passing  the  causeway. 
The  enemy  pursued  our  Troops  to  Jl  inter  Hill,  where  the 
Provincials,  being  re-enforced  by  General  Putnam,  renewed 
the  battle  with  great  spirit,  repulsed  the  enemy  with  great 
slaughter,  and  pursued  them  till  they  got  under  cover  of 
their  cannon  from  the  shipping,  when  the  enemy  retreated  to 
Bunker's  Hill,  and  the  Provincials  to  Jf  inter  Hill,  where, 
after  intrenching  and  erecting  batteries,  they,  on  Monday, 
began  to  fire  upon  the  Regulars  on  Bunker's  Hill,  and  on 
the  ships  and  the  floating  batteries  in  the  harbour,  when 
the  express  came  away.  The  number  of  Provincials  killed 
islDetween  forty  and  seventy  ;  one  hundred  and  forty  wound- 
ed :  of  the  Connecticut  Troops  sixteen  were  killed  ;  no 
officer  among  them  was  either  killed  or  wounded,  except 
Lieutenant  Grosvenor,  who  is  wounded  in  the  hand  ;  a 
Colonel  or  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the  New-Hampshire 
forces  among  the  dead.  It  is  also  said  that  Doctor  Warren 
is  undoubtedly  among  the  slain.  The  Provincials  lost  three 
iron  six-pounders,  some  intrenching  tools,  and  knapsacks. 

The  number  of  Regulars  that  first  attacked  the  Provin- 


1019 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  kc,  JUNE,  1775. 


1020 


cials  on  Bunker's  Hill  was  not  less  than  two  thousand. 
The  number  of  Provincials  was  only  fifteen  hundred,  who, 
it  is  supposed,  would  soon  have  gained  a  complete  victory, 
had  it  not  been  for  the  unhappy  mistake  already  mentioned. 
The  Regulars  were  afterwards  re-enforced  with  a  thousand 
men.  It  is  uncertain  how  great  a  number  of  the  enemy 
were  killed  or  wounded;  but  it  was  supposed  by  spectators 
who  saw  the  whole  action,  that  there  could  not  be  less  than 
fovir  or  five  hundred  killed.  Mr.  Gardner,  who  got  out  of 
Boston  on  Sunday  evening,  says  that  there  were  five  hun- 
dred wounded  men  brought  into  that  place  the  morning 
before  he  came  out. 

This  account  was  taken  from  Captain  Elijah  Hide,  of 
Lebanon,  who  was  a  spectator  on  Winter  Hill  during  the 
whole  action. 


GOVERNOUR  WENT  WORTH  TO  THEODORE  ATKINSON. 

Castle  William  and  Mary,  June  17,  1775. 

Dear  Sir:  Captain  Barkley  has  this  morning  seized 
the  Sloop  Kingfisher,  Jonathan  Eaton,  master,  laden  with 
thirteen  hogsheads  and  three  tierces  of  molasses,  bound 
from  Newbury  to  Piscataqua,  for  breach  of  Acts  of  Trade. 
This  sloop  run  into  Little  Harbour  and  unloaded  eight 
casks  into  a  gondola,  without  entering  or  reporting  at  the 
Custom-House.  Captain  Barklcy  sends  information  to  the 
Custom-House,  and  directions  to  have  the  vessel  forthwith 
libelled  in  the  Court  of  Vice-Admiralty.  This  is  not,  there- 
fore, any  stoppage  upon  his  general  orders  relative  to  pro- 
vision vessels,  &c,  but  would  have  taken  place  any  time 
heretofore.  1  therefore  hope  it  will  be  so  considered,  and 
occasion  no  disturbance  in  Town. 

We  shall  rejoice  exceedingly  to  see  you  in  this  our  plea- 
sant retirement,  where  we  enjoy  a  good  air,  and  have  some 
safety  from  unseasonable  attacks. 

J.  Wentworth. 
Honourable  Theodore  Atkinson,  Esq.,  Portsmouth. 


JOHN  HANCOCK,  PRESIDENT,  TO  ELBRIDGE  GERRY. 

Philadelphia,  Sunday  Morning,  June  18,  1775. 

Dear  Sir:  I  have  but  a  moment's  time  left  to  tell  you 
that  your  order  for  the  duck,  k,c,  cannot  be  complied  with, 
there  being  not  enough  here  to  make  it  worth  while  to  think 
of  sending,  and  indeed  they  are  in  want  of  the  same  arti- 
cle here.  I  cannot  inform  you  of  the  doings  of  Congress 
in  general,  being  under  an  injunction ;  but  I  am  thus  far 
indulged  to  mention,  but  by  no  means  to  be  put  in  the 
newspapers  at  present,  that  Colonel  Washington  is  appoint- 
ed Commander-in-Chief  of  the  Continental  Army.  1  shall 
sign  his  commission  to-morrow,  and  he  will  depart  in  a  few 
days.  He  is  a  fine  man.  You  will  judge  of  the  propriety 
of  the  mode  of  his  reception.  Ten  Companies  of  fine 
Riflemen  from  this  Province,  Maryland,  and  Virginia,  are 
ordered  to  proceed  immediately  to  your  Army  ;  these  are 
clever  fellows.  The  Committee  of  the  whole  Congress 
have  agreed  upon  a  report  for  the  immediate  emission  of 
two  millions  of  dollars  upon  the  faith  of  the  Continent. 
Remember  me  to  Mr.  Gill,  Pitts,  Cooper,  and  all  friends. 
Adieu  ;  I  am  almost  worn  out. 

I  am  your  real  friend,  John  Hancock. 

Mr.  Gerry,  Watertown. 


JOHN  ADAMS  TO  ELBRIDGE  GERRY. 

Philadelphia,  Juno  18,  1775. 

Dear  Sir:  I  have  at  last  obtained  liberty,  by  a  vote  of 
Congress,  to  acquaint  my  friends  with  a  few  of  the  things 
that  have  been  done. 

The  Congress  have  voted,  or  rather  a  Committee  of  the 
whole  House  have  unanimously  agreed,  that  the  sum  of  two 
million  dollars  be  issued  in  bills  of  credit,  for  the  redemp- 
tion of  which,  in  a  certain  number  of  years,  twelve  Colonies 
have  unanimously  pledged  themselves. 

The  Congress  has  likewise  resolved  that  fifteen  thousand 
men  shall  be  supported  at  the  expense  of  the  Continent, 
(ten  thousand  at  Massachusetts,  and  five  thousand  at  New- 
Fo»7c,)and  that  ten  Companies  of  Riflemen  be  sent  immedi- 
ately— six  from  Pennsylvania,  two  from  Maryland,  and  two 
from  Virginia — consisting  of  sixty-eight  privates  in  each 
company,  to  join  our  Army  at  Boston.    These  are  said  to 


be  all  exquisite  marksmen,  and  by  means  of  the  excellence 
of  their  firelocks,  as  well  as  their  skill  in  the  use  of  them, 
to  send  sure  destruction  to  great  distances. 

Gen.  Washington  is  chosen  Commander-in-Chief;  Gen. 
Ward  the  first  Major-General ;  and  General  Lee  the  second, 
(the  last  has  not  yet  accepted,)  and  Major  Gates  Adjutant- 
General.  Lee  and  Gales  are  experienced  officers.  We 
have  proceeded  no  further  as  yet. 

I  have  never,  in  all  my  lifetime,  suffered  more  anxiety 
than  in  the  conduct  of  this  business.  The  choice  of  offi- 
cers, and  their  pay,  have  given  me  great  distress.  Lee  and 
Gates  are  officers  of  such  great  experience  and  confessed 
abilities,  that  I  thought  their  advice,  in  a  council  of  officers, 
might  be  of  great  advantage  to  us;  but  the  natural  preju- 
dices, and  virtuous  attachment  of  our  countrymen  to  their 
own  officers,  made  me  apprehensive  of  difficulties.  But, 
considering  the  earnest  desire  of  General  Washington  to 
have  the  assistance  of  these  officers,  the  extreme  attach- 
ment of  many  of  our  best  friends  in  the  Southern  Colonies 
to  them,  the  reputation  they  would  give  to  our  arms  in  Eu- 
rope, and  especially  with  the  Ministerial  Generals  and  Army 
in  Boston,  as  well  as  the  real  American  merit  of  them  both, 
I  could  not  withhold  my  vote  from  either. 

The  pay  which  has  been  voted  to  all  the  officers  which 
the  Continental  Congress  intends  to  choose,  is  so  large,  that 
I  fear  our  people  will  think  it  extravagant  and  be  uneasy. 
Mr.  Adams,  Mr.  Paine,  and  myself,  used  our  utmost  en- 
deavours to  reduce  it,  but  in  vain. 

Those  ideas  of  equality,  which  are  so  agreeable  to  us 
natives  of  New-England,  are  very  disagreeable  to  many 
gentlemen  in  the  other  Colonies.  They  had  a  great  opin- 
ion of  the  high  importance  of  a  Continental  General,  and 
were  determined  to  place  him  in  an  elevated  point  of  light. 
They  think  the  Massachusetts  establishment  too  high  for 
the  privates,  and  too  low  for  the  officers,  and  they  would 
have  their  own  way. 

1  hope  the  utmost  politeness  and  respect  will  be  shown 
to  these  officers  on  their  arrival.  The  whole  Army,  I  think, 
should  be  drawn  up  upon  the  occasion,  and  all  the  pride, 
pomp,  and  circumstance  of  glorious  war  displayed  ;  no  pow- 
der burned,  however. 

There  is  something  charming  to  me  in  the  conduct  of 
Washington.  A  gentleman  of  one  of  the  first  fortunes  upon 
the  Continent,  leaving  his  delicious  retirement,  his  family 
and  friends,  sacrificing  his  ease,  and  hazarding  all  in  the 
cause  of  his  Country  !  His  views  are  noble  and  disinte- 
rested. He  declared  when  he  accepted  the  mighty  trust, 
that  he  would  lay  before  us  an  exact  account  of  his  expenses, 
and  not  accept  a  shilling  for  pay.    The  express  waits. 

Adieu.  John  Adam;-. 

Mr.  Gerry,  Watertown. 


GENERAL  WOOSTER  TO  GOVERNOUR  TRUMBULL. 

Greenwich,  June  18,  1775. 

Sir  :  I  have  just  received  a  letter  from  the  Provincial 
Congress  at  New-York,  a  copy  of  which  I  enclose  and 
send  you  by  express,  who  will  also  proceed  to  the  Provin- 
cial Camp  with  another  to  General  ff'ard.  Perhaps  your 
Honour  will  now  think  best  to  order  the  troops  under  my 
command  eastward  instead  of  westward. 

I  am,  in  haste,  your  Honour's  most  obedient  humble 
servant,  David  Wooster,  Major-General. 

To  the  Honourable  Jonathan  Trumbull,  Esquire. 

NEW-YORK  CONGRESS  TO  GENERAL  WOOSTER. 

Provincial  Congress,  New-York,  June  17,  1775. 
Sir:  Being  well  informed  that  four  Regiments,  contain- 
ing near  three  thousand  effective  men,  were  sailed  in  trans- 
ports for  this  City,  we  take  the  liberty  to  request  the  assist- 
ance of  those  brave  sons  of  freedom  who  are  under  your 
command.  We  are  this  instant  further  informed,  that  the 
Mercury,  ship-of-war,  was  cruising  upon  our  coast,  and 
is  now  at  Sandy-Hook,  to  order  those  transports  to  Bos- 
ton immediately,  and  did,  on  Tuesday  last,  thirty  leagues 
to  the  southeast  of  the  Hook,  deliver  her  orders  to  the 
Old  Spy,  man-of-war,  now  a  transport,  with  part  of  the 
Forty-Fourth  Regiment  on  board,  which  immediately 
altered  her  course.  From  hence  we  conclude  that  a  very 
capital  stroke  is  meditated  against  our  brethren  of  the 


1021 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


1022 


Massachusetts-Bay.  You  best  can  determine,  Sir,  whe- 
ther it  is  proper,  on  this  occasion,  for  the  forces  under  j  our 
command  to  march  westward.  But  we  are  led  to  believe 
that  it  is  of  more  important  consequence  to  secure  the 
several  passes,  with  which  nature  hath  bounteously  forti- 
fied the  eastern  country,  that  if  some  unexpected  chance 
of  war  should  prove  fatal  to  us  in  the  first  contest,  the 
enemy  may,  by  such  means,  receive  a  double  check  in 
his  career  of  vengeance.  We  beg  you  to  transmit  this 
intelligence  to  the  Provincial  Camp  with  the  utmost  de- 
spatch. We  are,  Sir,  your  most  humble  servants, 
By  order  of  the  Provincial  Congress  : 

Peter  V.  B.  Livingston,  President. 

To  Major-General  JVooster,  Greenwich. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  AN  OFFICER  OF  RANK  TO 
A  GENTLEMAN  IN  LONDON,  DATED  BOSTON,  JUNE  18, 
1775. 

We  left  Cork  early  in  April,  and  after  a  very  tedious 
and  disagreeable  passage  of  seven  weeks,  arrived  here  on 
the  sixteenth  day  of  this  month.  On  our  landing,  we 
found  every  thing  in  the  utmost  confusion,  partly  arising 
from  the  murmurs  of  the  soldiery;  the  difference  of  opin- 
ion among  the  superiour  officers  ;  the  want  of  fresh  provi- 
sions ;  the  general  unhealthiness  of  the  troops;  and,  above 
all,  the  misery  of  the  wretched  inhabitants,  destitute  of 
food,  raiment,  or  property.  Whether  it  was  an  aggregate 
of  all  these,  or  a  weakness  arising  from  a  sea-sickness, 
which  commenced  at  the  cove  of  Cork,  and  only  left  me 
on  my  landing,  1  will  not  pretend  to  say,  but  1  have  been 
tc tally  confined  to  my  room  since  last  Saturday.  Yester- 
day morning  the  troops  were  ordered  under  arms  at  three 
o'clock,  on  a  boat  being  sent  from  one  of  the  ships-of- 
war  to  acquaiut  us  that  the  Provincials  were  raising 
works  in  order  to  besiege  us,  and  put  us  between  cross 
fires.  Feeble  as  I  was,  I  arose  and  dressed  myself,  and 
went  down  to  the  Head-Quarters  to  offer  my  service. 
There  were  two  reasons,  however,  which  prevented  their 
acceptance ;  one  was  the  state  of  my  health,  the  other, 
that  the  Regiment  I  belonged  to  was  not  ordered  out.  The 
troops  destined  for  that  service  were  landed  on  the  Charles- 
town  side,  between  eight  and  nine  o'clock  ;  but  on  account 
of  the  number  of  the  Provincials,  the  troops  did  not  begin 
the  attack  for  a  considerable  time.  In  the  prodigious  con- 
fusion this  place  is  now  in,  all  I  can  tell  now  is,  that  the 
troops  behaved  with  the  most  unexampled  bravery  ;  and 
after  an  engagement  of  nearly  five  hours,  we  forced  the 
Provincials  from  their  posts,  redoubts,  and  intrenchments, 
one  by  one.  This  victory  has  cost  us  very  dear,  indeed, 
as  we  have  lost  some  of  the  best  officers  in  the  service, 
and  a  great  number  of  private  men.  Nor  do  I  see  that 
we  enjoy  one  solid  benefit  in  return,  or  are  likely  to  reap 
from  it  any  one  advantage  whatever.  We  have,  indeed, 
learned  one  melancholy  truth,  which  is,  that  the  Ameri- 
cans, if  they  were  equally  well  commanded,  are  full  as 
good  soldiers  as  ours ;  and  as  it  is,  are  very  little  inferiour 
to  us,  even  in  discipline  and  steadiness  of  countenance. 
This  sudden,  unexpected  affair,  has  had,  however,  one 
good  effect  upon  me,  for  I  find  myself  much  better. 

P.  S.  Since  I  wrote  the  above,  I  fell  into  a  conversation 
with  a  gentleman  who  was  present  in  both  actions,  and  who 
told  me  that  the  King's  Troops  must  have  been  totally 
destroyed  in  each,  had  the  Provincials  known  their  own 
strength,  particularly  on  the  former's  return  from  Lexing- 
ton to  Boston,  on  the  19th  of  April."* 


GENERAL  THOMAS  TO  MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS. 

Roxbury  Camp,  Jane  18,  1775. 

Sir:  For  the  well  ordering  and  regulating  a  Camp, 
there  are  some  officers  necessary  that  I  find  no  establish- 
ment for,  which,  1  suppose,  was  left  by  the  former  Con- 
gress for  an  after  consideration ;  two,  in  particular,  that  I 

*  London,  July  27,  1775. — The  event  of  the  Boston  campaign  may 
now  be  easily  guessed.  At  first,  it  seemed  to  turn  upon  the  question, 
whether  the  Colony  irregulars  would  stand  the  phalanxes  of  Regular 
Troops  ?  That  has  been  proved  too  clearly  to  be  denied.  It  is  now  a 
question,  which  side  will  soonest  be  destroyed,  and  whether  a  victory 
to  the  Regulars,  in  which  they  lost  one  thousand  men,  and  killed  two 
hundred  of  the  Provincials,  is  not  the  species  of  victory  which  will 
6oon  have  all  the  effects  of  the  severest  defeat  ? 


find  very  necessary,  viz:  an  Adjutant  and  Quartermaster- 
General,  the  latter  of  which  may  make  a  great  saving  to 
the  Province,  as  he  would  have  the  particular  charge  and 
control  of  all  the  camp  utensils,  inspection  of  quarters, 
&.c,  &tc,  which  he  would  be  accountable  for.  It  is  an 
office  of  great  importance  in  many  respects.  Upon  this 
matter  being  recommended  to  the  Honourable  Congress,  I 
make  no  doubt  they  will  be  sensible  of  the  utility  of  such 
officers.  I  am,  Sir,  with  the  greatest  esteem,  your  most 
obedient  servant,  John  Thomas. 


MASSACHUSETTS   COMMITTEE   OF   SUPPLIES  TO  COMMITTEE 
OF  SAFETY. 

Supply  Chamber,  Watertown,  Juno  18,  1775. 

Gentlemen:  We  were  handed  an  express  from  you  to 
the  several  Towns,  wherein  you  desire  them  to  raise  the  Mili- 
tia, which  was  not  directed  to  us  for  any  assistance :  but  Mr. 
Gill  desired  us  verbally,  as  by  your  order,  to  furnish  horses 
for  the  purpose,  and  despatch  orders  ;  which  was  not  in  our 
power,  as  we  have  no  horses  for  our  own  necessary  ex- 
presses;  and  as  we  apprehend  its  being  w  holly  out  of  our 
department,  it  would  not  have  that  influence  which  it  might 
have  been  expected  from  the  Committee  of  Safety,  whose 
department  only  it  will  be  considered,  if  we  had  any  spare 
horses  to  comply  with  such  desire.  We  therefore  hope,  gen- 
tlemen, you  will  not  depend  upon  us,  however  disposed  we 
may  be  to  assist  for  the  publick  safety,  as  it  is  out  of  our 
power.    Your  most  humble  servants, 

David  Cheever,  per  order. 
To  the  Committee  of  Safety. 


CIRCULAR  TO  THE  SEVERAL  TOWNS  IN  MASSACHUSETTS. 

Chamber  of  Supplies,  Watertown,  June  18,  1775. 

Gentlemen:  The  welfare  of  our  Country  again  induces 
us  to  urge  your  exertions  in  sending  to  the  magazine  in 
this  place,  what  can  be  procured  of  the  following  articles, 
viz:  salt  pork,  beans,  peas,  vinegar,  and  blankets ;  the  prices 
whereof,  as  well  as  the  carting,  shall  be  allowed  according 
to  the  custom  of  your  place,  which  we  desire  you  to  cer- 
tify. It  is  of  the  utmost  importance  that  the  Army  should 
be  supplied  agreeably  to  the  Resolve  of  the  Congress,  more 
especially  with  these  articles ;  the  four  first  of  which  are 
necessary  for  the  subsistence  as  well  as  the  health  of  the 
men,  and  the  others  for  their  comfort.  The  occasion  of 
the  deficiency  in  blankets  is  mostly  owing  to  a  number  of 
men  enlisted  from  Boston,  and  other  Towns  which  have 
been  vacated,  and  they  all  must  be  procured  immediately, 
or  our  worthy  countrymen  will  suffer. 

As  the  country  affords  every  thing  in  plenty  necessary 
to  subsist  the  Army,  and  we  cannot,  at  present,  obtain 
many  things  but  by  your  assistance,  we  assure  ourselves 
that  you  will  act  your  parts  as  worthily  as  you  have  done, 
and  hope  that  the  event  of  all  our  exertions  will  be  the 
salvation  of  our  Country.  David  Cheever, 

Per  order  of  Comm.  of  Supplies. 

To  the  Selectmen  and  Committee  of  Correspondence  of 
the  Town  of  


COLONEL  BARTLETT  TO  GENERAL  FOLSOM. 

Kingston,  June  18,  1775. 

Sir:  This  moment  one  Mr.  Moreton  has  come  express 
from  Cambridge,  and  has  brought  a  letter  from  the  Conti- 
nental to  our  Congress,  which  I  shall  send  to  the  Presi- 
dent. He  came  from  thence  last  evening ;  has  rode  all 
night,  and  informs  that  the  Regulars  came  out  of  Boston 
yesterday  to  Charlestown,  and  had  begun  an  engagement ; 
that  he  is  well  assured  that  Charlestown  is  burnt,  and  that 
our  people  were  flocking  down  all  last  night  to  the  Army. 
I  shall  send  to  the  President  to  be  at  Exeter  to-morrow 
morning.  Desire  that  the  rest  of  the  Committee  be  notified. 
Your  prudence  will  direct  you  about  marching  our  men. 
In  great  haste  I  am,  &.c.  Josiah  Bartlett. 

To  General  Folsom. 

Copy  sent  to  Doctor  Thompson,  Captain  JVhipple,  Cap- 
tain Moulton,  Colonel  McDuffee,  and  Committee  of  Safe- 
ty, Newburyport. 

Orders  sent  to  Major  Cilley,  Captain  Elkins,  Captain 


102.5 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  kc,  JUNE,  177';. 


1024 


Ttowc,  Captain  Clough,  Captain  Adams,  Captain  Tilcomb, 
Captain  Oilman,  Captain  Went  worth,  Captain  Tilton,  and 
Captain  Norriss,  to  march  their  men  without  loss  of  time 
to  Cambridge,  to  join  the  Army. 


PRINCE  EDWARD  COUNTY  (VIRGINIA)  COMMITTEE. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  for  the  County  of  Prince 
Edward,  at  the  Court-House,  June  19,  1775: 

Present :  Colonel  John  Nash,  Jun.,  Chairman  for  the 
day ;  John  Morton,  Robert  Lawson,  William  Booker, 
Francis  Watkins,  Obadiah  Woodson,  Thomas  Flournoy, 
James  Allen,  Senior,  and  Thomas  Ha  skins,  Committee- 
men. 

The  Committee,  taking  under  their  consideration  his 
Excellency  Lord  Dunmore's  conduct  in  the  removal  of 
the  Powder  from  the  publick  magazine  in  the  City  of  Jl  il- 
(iamsburgh,  after  the  most  mature  deliberation,  came  to 
the  following  Resolutions: 

1.  That,  for  ourselves  and  our  constituents,  we  do 
hereby  publickly  avow  our  unfeigned  attachment  and 
affectionate  loyalty  to  the  sacred  person  of  our  most  gra- 
cious King,  George  the  Third,  and  that  we  ardently  pray 
for  nothing  more  than  a  speedy  pacification  between  Great 
Britain  and  her  American  Colonies,  upon  permanent, 
constitutional,  and  generous  principles,  as  the  only  proba- 
ble means  of  preserving  to  us  our  inherent,  legal,  and  just 
lights  and  privileges — rights  and  privileges  which  His  Ma- 
jesty's subjects  of  Great  Britain  have  ever  laid  claim  to, 
and  have  received  the  ample  enjoyment  of;  and  deprived 
of  which  inestimable  blessings,  the  Americans  must,  of 
necessity,  cease  to  be  a  free,  happy,  and  flourishing 
people. 

2.  Under  these  sentiments,  and  when  exerting  every 
human  effort  to  effect  a  reconciliation  between  us  and  the 
Parent  State,  upon  the  grounds  aforesaid,  we  can  but  lament 
that  his  Excellency  Lord  Dunmore,  as  a  representative  of 
our  Sovereign  here,  whose  duty  it  was  to  have  given  a  fair 
and  impartial  state  to  the  Ministry  of  the  disposition  of  the 
people  committed  to  his  care  and  government,  should,  on 
the  contrary,  delight,  by  disingenuous,  illiberal,  and  vicious- 
ly subtle  representations,  to  keep  up  the  unhappy  ferment 
between  us  and  them  ;  the  truth  of  which  charge  against 
his  Lordship  appears  but  too  clearly  in  his  Letter  to  the 
Earl  of  Dartmouth,  on  the  24th  of  December  last,  as  pub- 
lished in  the  different  Gazettes  on  this  Continent;  tiie 
authority  of  which  said  Letter  his  Lordship  (as  far  as  we 
know)  has  never,  as  yet,  thought  proper  to  disavow. 

3.  That  his  Lordship's  conduct  in  the  removal  of  the 
Powder  from  the  publick  magazine  in  the  City  of  Williams- 
burgh,  under  the  cover  of  the  night,  in  the  manner  it  ap- 
pears to  have  been  done,  at  that  critical  juncture  of  affairs, 
was  as  despotick,  cruel,  and  unwarrantable,  as  his  verbal 
answer  to  the  Mayor,  Aldermen,  and  Common  Council  of 
fVilliamsburgh,  was  unmanly,  evasive,  and  affrontive;  and 
that,  in  conjunction  with  some  other  parts  of  his  conduct, 
it  was  a  clear  declaration  of  his  inimical  and  hostile  designs 
against  this  Country;  and  thereby  he  has  forfeited  all 
claim  to  the  further  confidence  and  respect  of  the  good 
people  thereof. 

4.  We,  therefore,  under  the  above  circumstances,  and 
having  before  us  the  proceedings  of  Captain  Patrick  Hen- 
ry, do  approve  of  the  same,  and  unanimously  vote  him, 
and  the  volunteers  under  his  command,  our  cordial  thanks, 
for  their  firm,  prudent,  and  spirited  conduct,  in  obtaining 
an  equivalent  for  the  Powder  so  unjustly  removed  out  of 
the  publick  magazine. 

Ordered,  That  the  Clerk  do  transmit  a  copy  hereof  to 
Messrs.  Dixon  and  Hunter,  and  entreat  them  to  publish  the 
same  in  their  Gazette.  Ben.  Lawson,  Clerk. 


FREDERICK  COUNTY  (VIRGINIA)  COMMITTEE. 

Committee  Chamber,  Frederick  County,  June  19,  1775. 
The  late  conduct  of  Patrick  Henry,  Esq.,  relative  to  his 
making  reprisals  from  the  King's  Receiver-General,  for  the 
Powder  so  clandestinely  taken  from  the  Colony  Magazine, 
being  laid  before  this  Committee,  they  took  the  same  into 
consideration  ;  when  it  was 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  an  express  be  immediately 


despatched  to  Williamsburgh ,  with  the  following  Address 
to  the  Printer: 

"Sir:  We  should  blush  to  be  thus  late  in  our  com- 
mendations of,  and  thanks  to  Patrick  Henry,  Esquire, 
for  his  patriotick  and  spirited  behaviour  in  making  repri- 
sals lor  the  powder  so  unconstitutionally  (not  to  use  a 
term  more  harsh,  which  perhaps  it  deserves)  taken  from 
the  publick  magazine,  could  we  have  entertained  a  thought 
that  any  part  of  the  Colony  would  have  condemned  a 
measure  calculated  for  the  benefit  of  the  whole;  but  as  we 
are  informed  this  is  the  case,  we  beg  leave,  through  the 
channel  of  your  paper,  to  assure  that  gentleman,  that  we 
did  from  the  first,  and  still  do,  most  cordially  approve  and 
commend  his  conduct  in  that  affair.  The  good  people  of 
this  County  will  never  fail  to  approve  and  support  him  to 
the  utmost  of  their  powers  in  every  action  derived  from  so 
rich  a  source  as  the  love  of  his  Country. 

"  We  heartily  thank  him  for  stepping  forth  to  convince 
the  tools  of  despotism  that  freeborn  men  are  not  to  be  inti- 
midated by  any  form  of  danger,  to  submit  to  the  arbitrary 
acts  of  their  rulers ;  and  hope  he  knows  us  better  than  to 
suppose  any  proclamated  distinctions,  respecting  the  pro- 
perty of  the  powder,  can  ever  make  us  condemn  actions 
so  worthily  achieved,  or  forsake  the  achievers;  and  more 
fully  to  express  our  sentiments,  we  cannot  but  wish  he  had 
proceeded  to  secure  what  arms  and  ammunition  might 
remain  after  the  plunder  of  the  magazine." 

An  Address  from  the  Council,  to  the  good  people  of  this 
Colony,  being  laid  before  the  Committee,  it  was,  after 
mature  deliberation, 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  the  following  be  transmit- 
ted to  the  publick  Printer,  in  answer  thereto : 

"  The  Committee  considering  the  very  extraordinary 
powers  assumed  and  exercised  by  the  Council  of  this  Col- 
ony, are  induced  the  more  attentively  to  investigate  their  con- 
duct on  this  alarming  crisis,  and  to  express  their  abhorrence 
and  detestation  of  having  the  generous  struggles  for  liberty 
branded  with  the  opprobrious  terms  of  licentious  and  un- 
governable. The  peace  and  good  order  of  the  community 
in  their  County  (and  they  have  been  informed  it  is  general 
through  the  Colony)  they  will  venture  to  say  has  been  pre- 
served inviolate,  and  the  people  as  governable  as  in  times 
of  the  most  profound  tranquillity,  unless  frequent  meetings 
to  perfect  themselves  in  military  exercises,  and  a  steady  re- 
solution to  oppose  to  the  last  extremity  all  invaders  of  their 
just  rights  and  liberties,  be  deemed  a  licentious  and  ungo- 
vernable spirit.  Then,  indeed,  they  must  glory  that  such  a 
spirit  has  gone  forth  ;  and  pledge  their  faith  to  their  coun- 
trymen that  nothing  but  death  shall  rob  them  of  their  part 
of  it. 

"  This  Committee  has  seriously  considered,  according  to 
the  recommendation  of  the  Council,  the  probable  conse- 
quences of  the  conduct  which  hath  been  lately  pursued  ; 
and  are  of  opinion  it  is  the  only  method  to  obtain  a  redress 
of  their  grievances.  Every  lenient  measure,  they  think,  has 
already  been  tried,  without  success,  (a  circumstance  with 
which  their  Honours  would  seem  to  be  unacquainted,)  and 
they  have  nothing  left  but  tamely  to  submit,  or  resolutely 
oppose ;  of  which  two  they  hope  the  latter  will  be  the 
choice  of  every  American. 

"  This  Committee  would  have  wished  not  to  doubt  the 
integrity  of  the  Council,  nor  to  make  any  odious  distinc- 
tion from  the  important  place  they  hold  in  the  state ;  but 
when  such  odious  epithets  as  licentious  and  ungovernable 
are  made  use  of  to  stigmatise  men  labouring  in  the  glorious 
cause  of  liberty,  they  must  say,  in  their  opinion,  the 
conduct  of  a  man  to  whom  they  hold  themselves  and  the 
whole  Colony  much  obliged  for  his  patriotick  behaviour, 
they  conceive  it  their  duty  to  speak  their  minds  without 
disguise  to  any  man,  or  set  of  men,  under  Heaven." 

A  copy  from  the  Minutes : 

William  Heth,  Clerk. 


QUEEN  ANNE  COUNTY  (MARYLAND)  COMMITTEE. 

Queen  Anne's  County,  June  19,  1775. 

Whereas,  the  business  of  this  Committee  has  been,  and 
is  likely  to  be  rendered  very  tedious  and  troublesome,  by 
inquiries  into  the  circumstances  of  goods  which  have  been, 
and  may  be  imported  into  this  County  from  other  Provinces 


1025 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


1026 


and  Counties,  as  well  with  respect  to  the  time  of  their 
importation  into  America,  as  to  the  prime  cost  thereof. 

Resolved,  That  we  will  not,  and  that  no  person  of  this 
County  ought  to  deal  with  any  merchant,  or  other  vender 
of  goods  hereafter  to  be  brought  within  this  County,  until 
the  said  merchant  or  vender  shall  have  produced  to  some 
one  or  more  of  the  Committee  of  this  County  a  certifi- 
cate from  the  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of  the  place 
from  whence  the  said  goods  shall  be  brought,  that  they 
have  been  imported  into  America  agreeable  to  the  rules  of 
the  Continental  Congress,  and  also  an  invoice  of  the  prime 
cost  of  such  goofls,  attested  by  the  Chairman  aforesaid,  or 
some  other  disinterested  member  of  that  Committee,  in 
order  that  this  Committee  may  be  enabled  to  procure  a 
conformity  to  a  resolve  of  the  Provincial  Convention  re- 
specting the  advance  on  goods. 

By  order  of  the  Committee  : 

Edward  Dowses,  Jdn.,  Clerk. 


BROOK  WATSON  TO  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

New-York,  June  19,  1775. 
Dear  Sir  :  It  is  my  intention  speedily  to  set  forward  on 
my  journey  to  Quebeck  by  the  way  of  Lakes  George  and 
Champlain,  and  to  take  with  me  Joseph  Maria  Tonnun- 
cour,  and  Louis  Perras,  two  young  Canadians  returning 
to  their  parents,  the  former  from  England,  the  latter  from 
this  City,  where  they  have  some  time  resided  for  the  bene- 
fit of  education,  also  Daniel  McKinsie  my  servant ;  hence 
I  pray  you  to  procure  for  me  such  letters  as  may  facilitate 
my  journey;  and  I  take  leave  to  assure  you,  upon  my  hon- 
our, that  I  will  not  take,  or  suffer  those  who  accompany 
me  to  take,  any  letters  but  such  as  I  know  to  be  merely 
upon  commercial  or  family  subjects,  and  which  1  will  most 
readily  submit  to  the  inspection  of  the  Provincial  Congress, 
if  it  shall  be  deemed  necessary. 

The  only  letters  in  my  possession  which  have  the  ap- 
pearance of  containing  political  matters,  are  some  addressed 
to  Lord  Pitt,  and  others  to  General  Carleton's  lady ;  the 
former  are  from  Lord  Chatham,  and  came  to  me  accom- 
panied by  the  enclosed  note  from  his  Lordship.  The  latter 
are  from  Lady  Maria  Carleton's  mother  and  sisters  on 
mere  family  concerns. 

With  great  respect  and  regard,  I  am,  Sir,  your  faithful 
humble  servant,  Brook  Watson. 

To  P.  V.  B.  Livingston,  Esq.,  President  of  the  Provin- 
cial Congress,  New-York. 


GOVERNOUR  TRUMBULL  TO  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

Lebanon,  June  19,  1775. 

Sir  :  Your  favour  of  the  29ih  May,  have  received,  and 
note  the  contents.  Am  also  favoured  with  yours  of  the  6th 
instant,  enclosing  the  resolution  of  the  Continental  Con- 
gress of  the  3 1st  May ;  with  the  lists  of  articles  ordered  to 
be  sent  to  Crown  Point  and  Ticonderoga,  and  the  persons 
employed  in  that  service.  WTe  hope  soon  to  hear  you  are 
well  supplied  with  the  necessary  article  of  powder,  and  are 
able  to  furnish  others  with  it.  As  to  the  supplies  of  our 
Troops,  the  necessary  provisions  must  be  furnished  from  us 
if  not  done  by  you.  On  application  for  fresh  provisions 
have  ordered  a  drove  of  fat  cattle  to  move  forward  to  fur- 
nish them  with  fresh  beef  for  the  present.  You  have  en- 
closed an  extract  of  our  act  of  Assembly  directing  the  sup- 
plies of  our  Troops.  Am  also  to  acknowledge  your  favour 
of  the  10th  instant,  wherein  you  mention  the  forwarding  a 
quantity  of  powder,  which  I  am  advised  is  arrived  at  Stam- 
ford. Shall,  agreeable  to  your  desire,  immediately  forward 
from  hence  the  like  quantity  (six  hundred  and  fifty-five 
weight)  to  the  camp  at  Cambridge. 

The  proceedings  of  your  Provincial  Congress  of  the 
14tli  instant,  enclosing  the  intelligence  given  them  by  Cap- 
tain Thompson,  came  safe  to  hand,  a  copy  of  which  intel- 
ligence have  forwarded  to  the  camp  at  Cambridge;  and  in 
compliance  with  your  request  to  Major-General  Wooster, 
have  ordered  seventeen  hundred  men  under  his  command 
to  march  immediately  within  five  miles  of  the  City  of 
New-York,  subjected  to  the  orders  of  the  Continental 
Congress  and  Provincial  Congress  in  New-  York. 

Have  appointed  Captain  Elisha  Phelps  commissary, 
to  receive  at  Albany  and  forward  the  supplies  of  pro- 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii.  ( 


visions  for  the  forces  on  Lake  Champlain,  agreeable  to 
a  Resolve  of  the  Continental  Congress  the  first  instant. 
This  gentleman  was  one  of  the  first  in  taking  possession  of 
those  fortresses,  and  doubt  not  he  will  conduct  with  pru- 
dence and  to  good  satisfaction  ;  have  directed  him  to  cor- 
respond with  Colonel  Hinman,  to  employ  persons  already 
engaged,  especially  George  Palmer,  Esq.,  and  in  such 
manner  as  to  give  no  uneasiness  to  our  friends  in  Albany. 

I  am,  with  great  truth  and  regard,  Sir,  your  obedient  and 
most  humble  servant,  Jonathan  Trumbull. 

To  the  Honourable  P.  V.  B.  Livingston,  Esq.,  President 
of  the  Provincial  Congress  at  New- York. 


GOVERNOUR  TRUMBULL  TO  MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS. 

Lebanon,  June  19,  1775,  7  o'clock,  A.  M. 

Sir:  Enclosed  are  copies  of  notes  taken  by  the  Provin- 
cial Congress  at  New-York,  of  the  intelligence  brought  by 
Captain  Thomson  of  the  embarkation  of  four  Regiments 
from  Ireland  for  New-  York ;  in  consequence  whereof  Major 
General  Wooster  is  requested  by  that  Congress  to  march 
immediately  within  five  miles  of  the  City ;  and  the  latter 
informs  me  that  Capt.  Sears  informed  him  that  the  people 
of  New-York  intend  to  quarter  our  Troops  in  the  City. 

The  military  stores  which  were  at  Turtle-Bay  have  fal- 
len into  the  hands  of  General  Wooster,  consisting  of  too 
many  articles  to  be  enumerated  :  among  which  is  about 
five  hundred  good  horse  harnesses ;  a  very  considerable 
number  of  thirteen  and  ten  inch  carcasses ;  stinkpots,  all 
well  charged ;  a  very  great  plenty  of  grape  shot ;  cannon 
balls,  from  twenty-four  pounders  down  to  three,  &lc,  &c. 

The  Provincial  Congress  of  New-York  forwarded  for 
the  use  of  your  camp  at  Cambridge,  six  hundred  and  six- 
ty-five pounds  of  powder,  which  came  as  far  as  Stamford. 
They  desired  the  same  quantity  might  be  forwarded  from 
our  eastern  magazine.  The  Governour  with  his  Council 
here  agreed  on  Saturday  last  to  send  from  Norwich,  im- 
mediately after  receiving  your  letter  of  Mr.  Gerry,  of  17th 
June,  seven  and  eight  o'clock  P.  M.  I  sent  to  Norwich 
direction  to  forward  the  same  night  and  day.  The  remain- 
der of  Colonel  Parsons' s  Regiment  were  ordered  to  march 
forthwith  to  join  the  rest  at  camp,  with  one  pound  of  pow- 
der, three  pounds  of  ball,  and  six  flints  each.  I  have  sent 
to  hasten  them. 

1  have  this  moment  received  advice  from  Col.  Arnold,  at 
Crown  Point,  of  13th  inst.,  that  the  Indians  of  the  Caugh- 
nawaga  Tribe  are  determined  not  to  assist  the  King's 
Troops,  and  have  passed  a  law  that  the  first  of  their  tribe 
who  takes  up  arms  against  us  shall  be  put  to  death,  which, 
he  says,  is  confirmed  by  five  chiefs  of  that  tribe.  These, 
with,  their  families,  press  hard  for  our  Army  to  march  into 
Canada,  as  they  are  much  disgusted  with  the  regular  troops. 
Three  Indians  sent  by  him  to  Canada,  it  seems,  have  been 
much  abused  by  the  regulars,  and  are  returned,  and  confirm 
that  account.  It  is  also  confirmed,  he  says,  by  a  gentleman 
of  probity  at  Montreal ;  and  that  numbers  of  the  Canadians 
have  expected  our  Army  there,  and  are  impatient  of  our 
delay,  being  determined  to  join  us  as  soon  as  sufficient  force 
appears  to  support  them ;  that  Governour  Carleton  by 
every  art  can  raise  no  more  thau  twenty  Canadians  of  the 
noblesse ;  that  he  threatens  to  burn  Montreal  if  the  mer- 
chants will  not  defend  the  City  in  case  of  an  attack ;  that 
he  has  only  five  hundred  and  fifty  effective  men,  and  thinks 
it  would  be  very  easy  to  possess  ourselves  of  the  whole 
country. 

Colonel  Hinman  writes  that  he  is  in  quiet  possession  of 
Ticonderoga,  and  does  not  find  that  there  are  any  enemies 
about  him. 

I  am,  with  great  truth  and  regard,  gentlemen,  your  obe- 
dient humble  servant,  Jonathan  Trumbull. 

To  the  Honourable  Joseph  Warren,  President  of  the  Pro- 
vincial Congress,  Watertown. 


GOVERNOUR  TRUMBULL  TO  COLONEL  BENEDICT  ARNOLD. 

Lebanon,  June  19,  1775. 

Sir  :  Yours  of  the  13th  instant  came  to  hand  this  day. 
Am  much  obliged  to  you  for  the  great  care  you  have  taken 
to  find  out  the  disposition  of  the  Canadians  and  Indian 
Tribes  relative  to  the  present  dispute  between  Great  Bri- 


1027 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  kc,  JUNE,  1775. 


1028 


tain  and  the  Colonies ;  and  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  find 
they  appear  so  friendly.  I  trust  nothing  will  he  wanting 
on  your  part  to  continue  the  same.  As  to  the  plan  pro- 
posed for  marching  forces  into  Canada,  you  say  the  same 
is  laid  before  the  Continental  Congress,  and  if  any  thing  of 
that  plan  takes  place,  it  will  be  with  great  propriety  first 
moved  by  them.  At  present  the  Army  at  Boston,  and  the 
prospect  of  one  arriving  at  New-York,  forbids  us  thinking 
of  any  expedition  to  Canada,  though  the  great  advantage 
you  propose  by  such  an  acquisition  appears  very  evident 
if  it  could  be  effected,  consistent  with  other  plans  already 
begun.    I  remain  yours  to  serve, 

Jonathan  Trumbull. 
Colonel  Benedict  Arnold,  at  Crown  Point. 


providence  (rhode-island)  town-meeting. 

At  a  meeting  held  by  adjournment,  in  Providence,  on 
the  19th  day  of  June,  1775: 

The  Hon.  Nicholas  Cooke,  Esq.,  Moderator. 

Whereas,  Mr.  Paul  Allen  has  made  up  the  town  stock 
of  powder  into  Cartridges,  agreeable  to  a  vote  of  the 
Town  on  the  15th  May  last;  and  whereas  the  Captains  of 
the  several  Companies  have  not  received  the  said  Car- 
tridges, in  order  to  deliver  the  same  to  the  inhabitants :  It 
is  now  therefore 

Voted,  That  Mr.  Paul  Allen  be  desired  to  deliver  out 
said  Cartridges  to  such  of  the  inhabitants  as  he  may  think 
will  make  a  proper  use  of  them  ;  and  that  he  take  a  receipt 
from  every  person  for  so  many  of  said  Cartridges  as  he 
shall  receive,  promising  to  return  the  same  on  demand,  (if 
not  used  in  the  Colony's  service,)  at  any  time  when  the 
Town  may  order  a  review ;  or  in  case  any  of  said  Car- 
tridges shall  be  missing  when  called  for,  to  pay  to  the 
Committee  who  may  be  appointed  to  make  said  review, 
nine  pence,  lawful  money,  for  every  Cartridge  which  shall 
be  so  missing,  unless  they  have  been  used  in  the  publick 
defence ;  the  said  forfeiture  of  nine  pence  for  every  Car- 
tridge missing,  if  any,  to  be  appropriated  to  purchase  Am- 
munition for  the  Town  ;  and  that  no  one  person  receive 
more  than  seventeen  Cartridges  to  every  fire-arm  he  may 
have  fit  for  use. 


Newport,  Rhode-Island,  June  19,  1775. 

Last  Thursday  the  15th  instant,  one  of  the  Providence 
packets,  which  had  been  arbitrarily  seized  by,  and  detained 
as  a  tender  to  the  men-of-war  in  this  harbour,  was  sent  up 
the  Bay,  it  is  supposed  to  take  a  vessel  which  it  was  report- 
ed had  gone  up  the  back  side  of  Conanicut;  but  unluck- 
ily she  met  with  two  armed  vessels  which  fired  upon  her  so 
warmly  that  she  was  obliged  to  turn  tail ;  but  not  being 
able  to  get  off,  the  people  stuck  her  ashore  on  the  north 
end  of  Conanicut,  and  left  her ;  she  was  immediately  got 
off,  and  carried  away,  most  probably  to  be  delivered  to  her 
proper  owner.    This  happened  just  before  sunset. 


proclamation  by  governour  gage. 
By  the  Governour — A  Proclamation. 

Whereas,  notwithstanding  the  repeated  assurance  of  the 
Selectmen  and  others,  that  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  Town  of 
Boston  had,  bona  fide,  delivered  their  Fire-Arms  unto  the 
persons  appointed  to  receive  them,  though  I  had  advices  at 
the  same  time  of  the  contrary  ;  and  whereas  I  have  had 
since  full  proof  that  many  have  been  perfidious  in  this  re- 
spect, and  have  secreted  great  numbers ; 

I  have  thought  fit  to  issue  this  Proclamation,  to  require 
of  those  who  have  yet  Fire- Arms  in  their  possession  imme- 
diately to  surrender  them  at  the  Court-House  to  such  per- 
sons as  shall  he  authorized  to  receive  them  ;  and  hereby  to 
declare  that  all  persons  in  whose  possession  any  Fire- Arms 
may  hereafter  be  found,  will  be  deemed  enemies  to  His  Ma- 
jesty's Government. 

Given  at  Boston,  the  nineteenth  day  of  June,  1775,  in  the 
fifteenth  year  of  the  reign  of  our  Sovereign  Lord,  George 
the  Third,  by  the  grace  of  God,  of  Great  Britain,  France, 
and  Ireland,  King,  Defender  of  the  Faith,  &tc. 

Thomas  Gage, 

J3y  his  Excellency's  command  : 

Thomas  Flucker,  Secretary. 


GENERAL  WARD  TO  MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS. 

Head-Quarters,  June  19,  1775. 
Sir:  I  must  earnestly  entreat  the  Congress  to  furnish 
the  train  of  artillery  with  a  Company  of  Artificers  imme- 
diately, as  the  Army  suffers  greatly  for  want  of  them. 
This  ought  to  have  been  one  of  the  first  establishments, 
and  I  hope  the  Congress  will  not  delay  the  matter  a  day 
longer. 

1  am,  Sir,  your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

Artemas  Ward. 
To  the  Honourable  the  President  of  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress, at  Watertown. 


JOSEPH  WARD  TO  MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS. 

Cambridge,  June  19,  1775. 
Sir:  The  honourable  Congress  are  hereby  informed,  that 
in  the  late  action  many  of  the  soldiers  lost  their  blankets 
and  clothes ;  they  are  now  in  a  very  suffering  condition  on 
that  account,  and  must,  in  order  to  fit  them  for  duty,  be  im- 
mediately supplied,  especially  with  blankets  ;  and  many  that 
were  not  in  the  action  are  destitute  of  blankets.  It  is  re- 
quested that  the  Troops  may  be  supplied  also  with  a  large 
number  of  spears  or  lances  for  defending  the  breastworks. 
In  the  late  action  spears  might  have  saved  the  intrench- 
ment.    By  order  of  the  General : 

Joseph  Ward,  Secretary. 
To  the  Hon.  President  of  the  Congress,  at  Watertown. 


COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY  TO  MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS. 

In  Committee  of  Safety,  Cambridge,  June  19,  1775. 
It  being  very  desirous  to  obtain  the  most  certain  accounts 
of  the  names  and  places  of  abode  of  the  persons  who  have 
been  killed  or  wounded  in  the  battle  of  Lexington,  so  called, 
on  the  nineteenth  of  April  past,  and  at  any  time  since  ;  and 
also  of  all  such  as  may  be  killed  or  wounded  at  any  future 
time  during  the  present  unnatural  contest  between  Great 
Britain  and  the  American  Colonies,  in  order  to  transmit  to 
future  generations  the  names  of  such  who  have  gloriously 
suffered  in  the  cause  of  liberty  and  their  Country  ;  to  effect 
which, 

Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  honourable 
Congress  to  order  that  the  Selectmen  of  the  several  Towns 
and  Districts  in  this  Colony  transmit,  from  time  to  time,  to 
this  or  some  future  Congress  or  House  of  Representatives, 
the  names  and  additions  of  all  such  persons  who  have  been, 
or  may  be  killed  or  wounded  as  above,  within  their  respec- 
tive Towns  and  Districts,  and  that  they  severally  cause  the 
same  to  be  fairly  entered  upon  their  Town  and  District 
books.  Benjamin  White,  Chairman. 

To  the  Honourable  Provincial  Congress,  Watertown. 


In  Provincial  Congress,  June  21,  1775. 

Whereas  the  British  Troops,  under  the  command  of  Gen- 
eral Gage,  did,  on  the  night  preceding  the  nineteenth  of 
April,  1775,  make  a  sudden  excursion  from  the  Town  of 
Boston  into  the  country,  with  a  design  to  plunder  and  de- 
stroy the  property  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  Colony,  and 
deprive  them  of  the  means  of  defence  ;  and  did,  very  early 
in  the  morning  of  said  day,  first  fire  upon,  kill,  and  wound 
several  persons,  who  came  suddenly  together  in  the  Town 
of  Lexington,  being  alarmed  with  the  news  of  the  approach 
of  said  Troops ;  in  consequence  of  which,  a  bloody  en- 
gagement ensued  between  the  Militia  of  several  adjacent 
Towns  and  said  Troops,  wherein  several  brave  men  fell, 
dying  gloriously  in  the  cause  of  liberty  and  our  Country, 
and  others  were  wounded; 

In  order  that  early  and  very  authentick  intelligence  may 
be  obtained  and  transmitted  to  posterity  of  the  names  and 
places  of  abode  of  all  such  persons  as  did  then,  have  since, 
or  hereafter  shall  die,  or  receive  wounds  in  their  Country's 
cause : 

Resolved,  That  the  Selectmen  of  each  Town  and  Dis- 
trict of  this  Colony  be  ordered  to  transmit,  from  time  to  time, 
to  this  or  some  future  Congress  or  House  of  Representa- 
tives, the  names  and  titles,  or  addition,  of  all  such  persons 
who  have  been  or  may  be  killed  or  wounded,  as  above, 


1029 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


1030 


belonging  to  their  respective  Towns  and  Districts  ;  and  that 
they  severally  cause  the  same  to  be  fairly  entered  upon 
their  Town  and  District  books,  having  previously  caused 
this  Resolve  to  be  recorded. 


fortable  support  of  our  men  until  I  hear  from  you,  which  I 
pray  may  be  as  soon  as  possible. 

I  am,  Sir,  with  proper  regard  to  the  Committee  of  Safety, 
your  and  their  humble  servant,       James  McGrecohe. 

To  Colonel  Thornton;  to  be  communicated. 


COLONEL  JOHN  STARK  TO  NEW- HA  MPS  HIKE  CONGRESS. 

Med  ford,  June  19,  1775. 

Sir:  I  embrace  this  opportunity,  by  Colonel  Holland, 
to  give  you  some  particular  information  of  an  engagement 
or  battle,  which  happened  on  the  seventeenth  instant,  be- 
tween the  British  Troops  and  the  Americans.  On  the  six- 
teenth instant,  at  evening,  a  detachment  of  about  twenty- 
five  hundred  men  of  the  Massachusetts  forces  marched, 
by  the  General's  order,  to  make  an  intrenchment  on  a 
hill  in  Charlcstown,  called  Charlestown  Hill,  near  Boston, 
where  they  intrenched  that  night  without  interruption,  but 
were  attacked  on  the  seventeenth,  in  the  morning,  by  the 
shipping  in  Charlestown  River  and  batteries  in  Boston, 
very  warmly.  Upon  which  I  was  required  by  the  Gene- 
ral to  send  a  party,  consisting  of  two  hundred  men,  with 
officers,  to  their  assistance;  which  order  I  readily  obeyed, 
and  appointed  and  sent  Colonel  Wyman  commander  of  the 
same ;  and  about  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  express 
orders  came  for  the  whole  of  my  Regiment  to  proceed  to 
Charlestown,  to  oppose  the  enemy,  who  were  landing  on 
Charlestown  Point.  Accordingly  we  proceeded,  and  the 
battle  soon  came  on,  in  which  a  number  of  officers  belong- 
ing to  my  Regiment  were  killed,  and  many  privates  killed 
and  wounded. 

The  officers  who  suffered  were,  Major  Mc  Clary,  by  a 
cannon-ball ;  Captain  Baldwin  and  Lieut.  Scott,  by  small- 
arms.  The  whole  number,  including  officers,  who  were 
killed  and  missing,  fifteen  ;  those  who  were  wounded,  forty- 
five  ;  killed,  wounded,  and  missing,  sixty. 

By  Colonel  Read's  desire,  I  transmit  the  account  of  the 
sufferers  in  his  Regiment  who  were  in  battle.  Killed,  three  ; 
wounded,  twenty-nine  ;  missing,  one  ;  killed,  wounded,  and 
missing,  thirty-three. 

But  we  remain  in  good  spirits  as  yet,  being  well  satisfied 
that  where  we  have  lost  one,  they  have  lost  three.  I  would 
take  it  as  a  favour  if  the  Committee  of  Safety  would  imme- 
diately recommend  to  the  several  Towns  and  Parishes  in 
the  Province  of  Neiv- Hampshire,  the  necessity  of  stopping 
and  sending  back  all  the  soldiers  belonging  to  the  New- 
Hampshire  forces  (stationed  at  Medford)  they  may  find 
there  from  the  Army,  not  having  a  furlough  from  the  com- 
manding officer. 

I  am,  Sir,  with  great  respect,  yours  and  the  Country's, 
to  serve  in  the  common  cause,  John  Stark. 


JAMES  McGREGORE  TO  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY  OF  NEW- 
HAMPSHIRE. 

Medford,  June  19,  1775. 

Sir:  I  arrived  here  this  morning  at  six  o'clock,  and  the 
commanding  officers  of  our  New-Hampshire  Regiments 
complained  that  they  had  a  great  number  of  wounded  and 
sick  men,  and  no  medicine  to  do  them  any  service.  I  im- 
mediately went  to  the  Committee  of  Supplies  at  Watertown, 
and  informed  them  of  our  distressed  situation ;  they  informed 
me  that  they  had  no  medicines  to  spare :  but  upon  such  a 
representation  as  I  had  made  to  them  being  sent,  the  Gov- 
ernment of  New-Hampshire  gave  one  of  their  own  chests 
of  medicine,  and  expect  they  will  replace  them  as  soon  as 
possible.  And  if  there  is  any  more  medicines  to  spare  in 
our  Colony  than  will  be  judged  sufficient  for  our  own  use, 
they  would  beg  you  would  let  them  have  it,  as  they  expect 
it  will  be  scarce. 

As  to  finding  provision  for  our  men,  I  spoke  with  the 
Committee  of  Supplies,  and  they  told  me  that  they  would 
not,  for  the  present,  let  our  people  suffer  for  want  of  pro- 
vision, but  would  be  glad  if  we  would  look  out  for  ourselves 
as  soon  as  possible.  1  have  not  as  yet  spoken  to  Mr. 
Trumbull,  and  I  believe  it  is  hardly  worth  while,  relative  to 
provision,  as  I  think  his  terms  are  too  high.  I  shall  tarry 
here  while  I  can  hear  from  you,  and  hope  you  will  send 
some  one  of  the  Committee  of  Supplies  with  cash  as  soon 
as  it  possibly  can  be  ready,  as  I  am  sensible  it  will  be  saving 
to  any  person  that  goes  to  Connecticut  to  have  cash  with 
them.    I  shall  do  every  thing  in  my  power  for  the  com- 


Charlestown,  South-Carolina,  June  20,  1775. 

On  Saturday  evening  last,  June  17,  his  Excellency  the 
Right  Honourable  Lord  William  Campbell,  Governour-in- 
Chief,  &.c,  of  this  Province,  with  his  lady  and  family,  ar- 
rived here  in  the  Scorpion,  man-of-war,  from  England.  His 
Lordship  was  saluted  on  his  arrival  by  the  Tamar,  man-of- 
war,  by  Fort  Johnson,  and  the  several  Forts  in  the  Town, 
and  about  one  o'clock  the  next  day  his  Lordship  landed  at 
Champnei/s  wharf,  where  he  was  received  by  several  gen- 
tlemen, as  also  by  the  Grenadier  Company  underarms  ;  the 
Regiment  of  Militia  were  likewise  under  arms.  From  the 
wharf  his  Lordship  walked  in  procession,  preceded  by  the 
Grenadier  Company,  to  the  State-House,  where  his  com- 
mission was  read  and  published  in  the  Council-Chamber  in 
presence  of  some  of  the  members  of  His  Majesty's  Council, 
&ic. ;  from  whence  he  returned  in  the  same  order  to  the 
Exchange,  where  it  was  again  read  ;  after  which  his  Lord- 
ship and  the  whole  company  repaired  to  the  State-House, 
where  a  genteel  entertainment  was  provided  on  the  occasion. 

The  General  Assembly  of  this  Province,  which  was  to 
meet  here  yesterday  agreeable  to  the  last  adjournment,  is 
prorogued  by  his  Excellency  the  Governour  to  Monday  the 
tenth  of  July  next,  as  per  Proclamation. 


COMMITTEES  OF  WILMINGTON  DISTRICT,  NORTH-C  AROLINA. 

At  a  general  meeting  of  the  several  Committees  of  the 
District  of  Wilmington,  held  at  the  Court-House  in  Wil- 
mington, Tuesday,  the  20th  June,  1775 : 

Resolved,  That  the  following  Association  stand  as  the 
Association  of  this  Committee,  and  that  it  be  recommended 
to  the  inhabitants  of  this  District  to  sign  the  same  as  speed- 
ily as  possible. 

THE  ASSOCIATION. 

The  actual  commencement  of  hostilities  against  the  Con- 
tinent by  the  British  Troops,  in  the  bloody  scene  on  the 
nineteenth  of  April  last,  near  Boston ;  the  increase  of  arbi- 
trary impositions,  from  a  wicked  and  despotick  Ministry  ; 
and  the  dread  of  instigated  insurrections  in  the  Colonies, 
are  causes  sufficient  to  drive  an  oppressed  People  to  the 
use  of  arms  :  We,  therefore,  the  subscribers  of  Cumberland 
County,  holding  ourselves  bound  by  that  most  sacred  of  all 
obligations,  the  duty  of  good  citizens  towards  an  injured 
Country,  and  thoroughly  convinced  that  under  our  dis- 
tressed circumstances  we  shall  be  justified  before  you  in 
resisting  force  by  force,  do  unite  ourselves  under  every  tie 
of  religion  and  honour,  and  associate  as  a  band  in  her  de- 
fence against  every  foe ;  hereby  solemnly  engaging,  that 
whenever  our  Continental  or  Provincial  Councils  shall  de- 
cree it  necessary,  we  will  go  forth  and  be  ready  to  sacrifice 
our  lives  and  fortunes  to  secure  her  freedom  and  safety. 
This  obligation  to  continue  in  full  force  until  a  reconcilia- 
tion shall  take  place  between  Great  Britain  and  America, 
upon  constitutional  principles,  an  event  we  most  ardently 
desire.  And  we  will  hold  all  those  persons  inimical  to  the 
liberty  of  the  Colonies  who  shall  refuse  to  subscribe  to  tlus 
Association  ;  and  we  will  in  all  things  follow  the  advice  of 
our  General  Committee,  respecting  the  purposes  aforesaid, 
the  preservation  of  peace  and  good  order,  and  the  safety  of 
individual  and  private  property. 

Robert  Rowan,  Peter  Messer,  Sara.  Hollingswortli. 

M  aurice  Nowlan,  Thomas  Cabein,  John  Glendenin, 

Theophilus  Evans,  Daniel  Douse,  William  Carver, 

Joseph  De  Lesline,  James  Dick,  James  Edmunds, 

John  Overler,  John  Stephenson,  John  Carraway, 

Micaj ah  Terrell,  William  Bathgate,  William  Herin, 

John  Wilson,  Charles  Stevens,  David  Evans, 

Thomas  Rae,  John  Parker,  James  Gee, 

James  Emmitt,  Walter  Murray,  Benjamin  Elwell, 

Aaron  Varden,  William  Gillespie,  William  White, 

Oners  West,  Philip  Herin,  Joseph  Greer, 

George  Fletcher,  Robert  Varner,  Thomas  White, 

James  Pearl,  John  Elwell,  John  Jones, 

Lewis  Barge,  David  Dunn,  Robert  Council, 

Martin  Leonard,  Simon  Bandy,  James  Giffy, 

Thomas  Moody,  Robert  Greer,  Robert  Carver, 

Arthur  Council,  Joshua  Hadley,  Samuel  Carver, 

David  Shephard,  William  Blocker,  George  Barnes. 


1031 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &ic,  JUNE,  1775. 


1032 


ACCOMACK  COUNTY  (VIRGINIA)  COMMITTEE. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  held  in  Accomack  Coun- 
ty, on  Tuesday,  the  20th  of  June,  1775: 

James  Henry,  Esq.,  Chairman. 

Whereas  the  trade  carried  on  in  small  vessels  in  any  of 
the  rivers  or  creeks  in  this  County,  or  goods  imported  by 
any  of  the  merchants  or  traders  here  from  any  port  or 
place  in  America,  may  be  productive  of  very  evil  conse- 
quences, if  not  under  proper  regulations :  For  remedy 
whereof, 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  every  master  or  owner  of 
a  vessel  having  any  goods  on  board  for  sale,  or  any  mer- 
chant or  trader  residing  here  having  imported  any  goods, 
wares,  or  merchandise,  from  any  part  of  America,  shall  not 
sell  any  goods  or  merchandise,  or  part  with  the  same  in 
exchange  for  any  commodity  whatever,  unless  they  pro- 
duce a  certificate  from  the  Committee  of  the  County  from 
whence  they  were  brought  to  this  Committee,  that  the 
same  were  imported  into  America  agreeable  to  the  terms 
of  the  Association  of  the  General  Congress. 

Ordered,  That  this  Resolution  be  published  in  the 
Virginia  Gazette.  John  Powell,  Clerk. 


GENERAL  WASHINGTON  TO  THE  OFFICERS  OF  THE  INDE- 
PENDENT COMPANIES  OF  FAIRFAX,  ETC. 

Philadelphia,  June  20,  1775. 
Gentlemen  :  1  am  now  about  to  bid  adieu  to  the  com- 
panies under  your  respective  commands,  at  least  for  a 
while.  1  have  launched  into  a  wide  and  extensive  field, 
too  boundless  for  my  abilities,  and  far,  very  far,  beyond 
my  experience.  I  am  called  by  the  unanimous  voice  of 
the  Colonies  to  the  command  of  the  Continental  Army — 
an  honour  I  did  not  aspire  to ;  an  honour  I  was  solicitous 
to  avoid,  upon  a  full  conviction  of  my  inadequacy  to  the 
importance  of  the  service.  The  partiality  of  the  Congress, 
however,  assisted  by  a  political  motive,  rendered  my  rea- 
sons unavailing,  and  I  shall  to-morrow  set  out  for  the  camp 
near  Boston. 

I  have  only  to  beg  of  you,  therefore,  before  I  go,  (espe- 
cially as  you  did  me  the  honour  to  put  your  company  under 
my  direction,  and  know  not  how  soon  you  may  be  called 
upon  in  Virginia  for  an  exertion  of  your  military  skill,) 
by  no  means  to  relax  in  the  discipline  of  your  respective 
companies.    1  have  the  honour  to  he,  &ic. 

Go.  Washington. 
To  the  Officers  of  the  Independent  Companies  of  Fairfax, 

Prince  William,  Fauquier,  and  Spottsylvania,  Va. 


GENERAL  WASHINGTON  TO  JOHN  AUGUSTINE  WASHINGTON. 

Philadelphia,  June  20,  1775. 
Dear  Brother:  I  am  now  to  bid  adieu  to  you,  and  to 
every  kind  of  domestick  ease  for  a  while.  I  am  embarked 
on  a  wide  ocean,  boundless  in  its  prospect,  and  in  which 
perhaps  no  safe  harbour  is  to  be  found.  I  have  been  call- 
ed upon  by  the  unanimous  voice  of  the  Colonies  to  take 
the  command  of  the  Continental  Army;  an  honour  I  neither 
sought  after  nor  desired,  as  I  am  thoroughly  convinced  that 
it  requires  greater  abilities  and  much  more  experience  than 
I  am  master  of,  to  conduct  a  business  so  extensive  in  its 
nature,  and  arduous  in  the  execution.  But  the  partiality 
of  the  Congress,  joined  to  a  political  motive,  really  left  me 
without  a  choice  ;  and  I  am  now  commissioned  a  General 
and  Commander-in-Chief  of  all  the  forces  now  raised,  or  to 
be  raised,  for  the  defence  of  the  United  Colonies.  That  I 
may  discharge  the  trust  to  the  satisfaction  of  my  employers, 
is  my  first  wish  ;  that  I  shall  aim  to  do  it,  there  remains 
little  doubt ;  how  far  I  may  succeed  is  another  point : 
but  this  I  am  sure  of,  that  in  the  worst  event  I  shall  have 
the  consolation  of  knowing,  if  I  act  to  the  best  of  my  judg- 
ment, that  the  blame  ought  to  lodge  upon  the  appointers, 
not  the  appointed,  as  it  was  by  no  means  a  thing  of  my 
own  seeking,  or  proceeding  from  any  hint  of  my  friends. 

I  am  at  liberty  to  inform  you  that  the  Congress,  in  Com- 
mittee, have  consented  to  a  Continental  currency,  and  have 
ordered  two  millions  of  dollars  to  be  struck  for  payment 
of  the  Troops  and  other  purposes,  and  have  voted  fifteen 
thousand  men  as  a  Continental  Army;  which  number  will 
be  augmented,  as  the  strength  of  the  British  Troops  will 


be  greater  than  was  expected  at  the  time  of  passing  that 
vote.  General  Ward,  General  Lee,  General  Schuyler, 
and  General  Putnam  are  appointed  Major  Generals  under 
me.  The  Brigadier  Generals  are  not  yet  appointed.  Major 
Gates  is  made  Adjutant-General.  I  expect  to  set  out  to- 
morrow for  Boston,  and  hope  to  be  joined  there  in  a  little 
time  by  ten  companies  of  Riflemen  from  this  Province, 
Maryland  and  Virginia.  For  other  articles  of  intelligence 
I  shall  refer  you  to  the  papers,  as  the  printers  are  diligent 
in  collecting  every  thing  that  is  stirring. 

I  shall  hope  that  my  friends  will  visit  and  endeavour  to 
keep  up  the  spirits  of  my  wife  as  much  as  they  can,  as  my 
departure  will,  I  know,  be  a  cutting  stroke  upon  her;  and 
on  this  account  alone  I  have  many  disagreeable  sensations. 
I  hope  that  you  and  my  sister,  although  the  distance  is 
great,  will  find  so  much  time  this  summer  as  to  spend  a 
little  of  it  at  Mount  Vernon. 


MEETING  OF  COMMITTEE  AT  BROAD  CREEK,  DELAWARE. 

The  new  County  proposed  in  the  Delaware  Government 
not  having  yet  obtained  Representatives  in  Assembly,  have 
elected  a  very  large  Committee  of  respectable  persons  to 
transact  all  their  affairs,  to  preserve  the  peace  and  a  con- 
stitutional regard  to  the  Sovereign,  and  to  defend  and  secure 
the  natural,  civil,  chartered,  and  sacred  rights  of  the  peo- 
ple. This  Committee,  at  a  meeting  at  Broad  Creek,  June 
20,  1775,  fifty  members  being  present,  came  to  the  follow- 
ing determinations,  among  many  others: 

Colonel  John  Dagworthy,  Chairman. 

That  this  Assembly,  taking  into  serious  consideration 
the  present  distressed  situation  and  unparalleled  hardships 
that  our  brethren  at  Boston  are  now  suffering  in  conse- 
quence of  their  determined  resolution  to  support  the  great 
cause  of  liberty,  conceive  ourselves,  and  all  American  free- 
men, to  be  bound  by  all  the  principles  of  humanity  and 
justice  to  prevent  them,  if  possible,  from  sinking  under  the 
hand  of  ministerial  oppression. 

That  though  we  had  not  a  legal  representation  in  the 
Assembly  of  the  three  lower  Counties  on  Delaware  when 
they  were  elected  to  represent  us,  yet  confiding  in  the 
known  wisdom,  prudence,  and  abilities  of  Ccesar  Rodney, 
Thomas  McKean,  and  George  Read,  Esquires,  whom  our 
brethren  of  Newcastle,  Kent,  and  Sussex,  have  appointed 
to  represent  them  in  the  honourable  Continental  Congress, 
now  sitting  at  Philadelphia,  we  hereby  do  bind  ourselves 
and  our  constituents,  by  every  thing  that  is  sacred,  col- 
lectively and  separately,  to  preserve  and  strictly  enforce 
and  carry  into  execution  whatever  measures  have  or  may 
be  recommended  by  them  for  the  relief  of  our  said  brethren, 
and  for  the  preservation  of  the  liberties  of  America,  with 
as  much  cheerfulness  and  zeal  as  though  they  had  be.rn 
appointed  by  us. 

And  we  resolve  that  any  artful  or  designing  person  or 
persons  whatsoever,  that  shall  attempt  to  defeat  the  purpose 
of  this  Association,  shall  be  faithfully  painted  in  their  pro- 
per colours,  and  be  hung  up  in  the  publick  prints,  or  be 
otherwise  stigmatized,  and  bear  that  load  of  odium  that 
such  miscreants  justly  merit. 

And  further  to  support  the  union  of  the  Colonies,  on 
which,  under  God,  our  safety  depends,  we  unanimously 
Resolve,  That  John  Dagworthy,  John  Jones,  John  Ttn- 
nant,  John  Collins,  Simon  Kollock,  William  Holland, 
Samuel  Slosse,  Joshua  Polk,  Clement  Bayley,  William 
Polk,  John  Mitchell,  Peter  Jlubbard,  and  Elijah  Cannon 
be,  and  they  are  hereby  appointed  a  Committee,  to  meet 
and  correspond  with  the  other  Committees  of  this  and  the 
other  Governments,  and  that  any  seven  of  them  may  act. 

And  whereas  disadvantageous  conclusions  may  probably 
be  drawn  from  the  conduct  of  the  people  here,  with  re* 
spect  to  their  entering  into  this  Association  at  this  late 
period,  this  Committee  does  with  pleasure  embrace  this 
opportunity  to  satisfy  our  fellow-subjects  in  general,  that 
our  backwardness  in  this  affair  has  been  totally  and  wholly 
owing  to  the  fluctuating  or  unsettled  state  of  the  lines  or 
boundaries  between  the  two  Governments  of  Pennsylva- 
nia and  Maryland,  and  not  from  the  influence  of  any 
Tories  among  us,  or  any  disregard  to  the  common  cause. 
But  as  these  lines  are  now  happily  established,  we  hope  to 
evince  to  the  world  that  we  have  as  proper  a  sense,  and  as 


1033 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  Sic,  JUNE,  1115. 


1034 


becoming  a  zeal  for  the  liberties  of  America,  as  our  fellow- 
subjects  in  the  oilier  parts  of  this  Government. 

A  true  extract  from  the  Minutes: 

Simon  Kollock,  Clerk. 

Head  of  Indian  River,  June  23,  1775. 

N.  B.  In  this  new  County  military  preparations  for 
self-defence  against  the  bloody  attacks  of  the  infatuated 
British  Ministry  are  carried  on  with  great  spirit.  It  is  ex- 
pected we  shall  soon  have  fifteen  hundred  or  more  of  a 
well  trained  militia  ;  and  the  Committee  are  endeavouring 
to  obtain  the  necessary  supplies  of  warlike  stores. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  RECEIVED  IN  LONDON  FROM  PHILA- 
DELPHIA, DATED  JUNE  20,  1775. 

We  hear  that  the  Congress  intend  to  make  two  propo- 
sals, to  the  following  effect : 

First.  That  they  will  submit  to  an  absolute  restriction 
of  their  trade  for  the  benefit  of  Great  Britain,  upon  con- 
dition that  nothing  further  shall  be  required  of  them,  it 
being  in  their  opinion  a  more  advantageous  offer  than  any 
other  they  can  make  to  the  Mother  Country;  or, 

Second.  Thai  it  shall  be  agreed  between  Great  Britain 
and  the  Colonies,  that  the  latter  shall  raise  her  full,  equal, 
and  just  proportion  of  revenue  for  the  support  of  the  whole 
Empire,  in  a  similar  manner  as  the  assessment  is  upon 
Scotland.  That  if  England  raises  twenty  thousand  Pounds 
for  every  forty  thousand  Pounds  levied  on  Scotland,  so 
America  will  bear  her  share.  On  this  system  the  Colo- 
nies cannot  be  taxed  one  farthing,  without  Great  Britain 
paying  also  a  like  proportion.  In  consideration  of  this,  all 
restraints  on  the  American  trade  to  be  taken  off. 

One  of  these  proposals  must  be  accepted,  or  arms  will 
be  the  alternative.  Colonel  Washington,  on  his  appoint- 
ment to  be  Commander-in-Chief,  refused  any  stipulated 
salary,  saying,  he  would  not  receive  one  farthing  more  than 
his  expenses.  One  thousand  Riflemen  are  raised  by  order 
of  the  Congress  ;  Pennsylvania  sends  four  hundred,  Mary- 
land two  hundred,  and  Virginia  four  hundred.  Colonel 
Ward,  of  New- England,  is  second  in  command,  and  Gates 
(formerly  a  Major  in  His  Majesty's  service)  is  Adjutant- 
General. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  TO  A  GENTLEMAN  IN  LONDON, 
DATED  PHILADELPHIA,  JUNE  20,  1775. 

However  anxious  the  Americans  are  to  preserve  their 
allegiance  sacred  and  inviolate,  they  are  also  as  solicitous 
and  determined  to  submit  to  no  infringement  on  their  con- 
stitutional rights ;  and  for  this  reason  solely,  they  have 
taken  arms  to  oppose  the  despotick  system  of  an  infamous 
Administration,  and  the  Grand  Congress  in  this  City  are 
accordingly  making  every  necessary  preparation  to  act  with 
vigour.  As  the  scene  of  action  is  at  present  far  removed 
from  hence,  it  is  thought  they  will  shortly  adjourn  to,  or 
depute  a  Council  to  sit  at  Hartford,  in  Connecticut. 

They  have  passed  a  vote  to  strike  off  two  millions  of 
dollars,  (seven  shillings  and  six  pence,  our  currency,)  to 
answer  present  exigencies.  Colonel  George  Washington, 
a  Delegate  from  Virginia,  is,  at  the  particular  request  of 
the  people  in  JSeiv- England,  and  with  the  unanimous  con- 
sent of  the  Congress,  appointed  Commander-in-Chief  of 
the  Continental  Forces,  with  a  handsome  salary  per  an- 
num. The  commission  he  received  with  pleasure,  but 
positively  refused  any  pay,  requiring  only  a  reimbursement 
of  his  actual  expenses.  Colonel  Ward  (who,  I  find,  is 
universally  esteemed,  and  well  known  to  be  a  good  officer) 
is  second  in  command,  and  Mr.  Gates  (formerly  a  Major 
in  the  King's  service)  is  Adjutant-General.  Colonel  Lee 
would  not  have  refused  a  command,  but  the  Congress  did 
not  choose  to  trust  him,  on  account  of  his  professing  a  per- 
sonal dislike  to  the  King;  but  I  think  it  is  probable,  if 
there  should  be  no  hopes  of  accommodation,  that  his  mili- 
tary knowledge  will  induce  them  -to  give  him  a  com- 
mission. 

The  Captains  are  allowed  twenty  dollars  per  month  ; 
Lieutenants  and  Ensigns,  thirteen ;  Non-Commissioned 
Officers,  eight ;  Privates,  six. 

Although  the  petition  presented  to  His  Majesty  last  fall 
was  treated  with  contempt,  nevertheless  the  Congress  have 


determined  to  try  one  more,  which  they  are  now  preparing, 
and  I  suppose  will  be  forwarded  as  soon  as  its  importance 
will  permit.  It  is  confessedly  said,  and  I  have  reason  to 
think  the  report  is  well  founded,  that  they  intend  to  make 
two  proposals  to  the  following  effect: 

First.  They  will  submit  to  a  parliamentary  restriction 
of  their  trade,  but  to  no  commercial  duties,  for  the  purpose 
of  raising  a  revenue.  In  consideration  of  which,  to  be 
totally  exempt  from  all  taxation  by  the  British  Legisla- 
ture. 

It  is  thought  by  them  that  the  absolute  control  of  their 
trade  would  prove  more  beneficial  to  Britain  than  any 
other  mode  of  contribution  ;  but  if  nothing  else  than  a  reve- 
nue will  please,  they  will, 

Secondly,  Consent  and  agree,  that  whenever  a  grant  is 
made  by  the  people  in  England  and  Scotland,  they  will 
also  give  a  full,  equal,  and  just  proportion  towards  the  sup- 
port of  the  whole  Empire,  upon  condition  of  a  free  and 
uninterrupted  trade,  as  enjoyed  by  the  subjects  in  Britain. 

One  of  these  proposals  must  be  considered  of  as  a 
groundwork  for  an  accommodation,  or  arms  will  be  the 
alternative.  It  is  generally  thought  that  the  Congress  will 
concur  with  the  act  of  Parliament,  and  stop  all  exports 
from  and  after  the  20th  of  July.  I  am  much  easier  than 
when  I  last  wrote  to  you  about  the  article  of  ammunition, 
being  now  satisfied  by  the  plan  adopted  that  we  shall  have 
full  sufficient  to  act  offensively. 

The  Congress  have  ordered  one  thousand  more  marks- 
men, or,  as  we  call  them,  Riflemen,  to  be  raised,  viz: 
four  hundred  in  Pennsylvania,  four  hundred  in  Virginia, 
and  two  hundred  in  Maryland.  These  men  are  to  be  di- 
vided in  small  parties,  and  scattered  through  the  Army, 
for  the  purpose  of  removing  the  officers,  the  good  conse- 
quences of  which  are  too  obvious  to  need  pointing  out.  A 
party  of  these  men,  at  a  late  review,  on  a  quick  advance, 
placed  their  balls  in  poles  of  seven  inches  diameter,  fixed 
up  for  the  purpose,  at  the  distance  of  two  hundred  and 
fifty  yards. 

It  is  amazing  to  see  the  spirit  of  the  Germans  among 
us.  Thousands  of  them  have  served  as  soldiers  in  their 
own  Country.  They  speak  with  infinite  pleasure  of  sa- 
crificing their  lives  and  property  for  the  preservation  of 
liberty,  which  they  know  full  well  how  to  value,  from  its 
deprivation  by  despotick  Princes. 

The  Quakers,  naturally  fond  of  their  interest,  could  not 
bear  the  thought  of  having  their  property  taken  from  them 
without  their  consent,  and  have  therefore  taken  arms,  not- 
withstanding the  Publick  Testimony,  which  was  really  the 
work  of  about  thirty  of  their  elders.  There  are  whole 
companies  of  that  Society  daily  under  arms ;  in  particular 
the  Light-Infantry  Company  of  the  first  Battalion  in  this 
City  is  composed  of  them,  in  an  uniform  of  light  blue  and 
buff. 


JOHN  HANCOCK,  PRESIDENT,  TO  THE  NEW-HAMPSHIRE 
CONGRESS. 

Philadelphia,  June  20,  1775. 
Gentlemen  :  I  am  directed  by  the  Congress  to  forward 
you  the  enclosed  Resolve,  which  passed  yesterday,  and  to 
request  an  immediate  compliance  therewith,  so  far  as  it 
relates  to  the  Troops  in  your  Colony. 

I  am,  gentlemen,  your  most  obedient  servant, 

John  Hancock. 
To  the  Provincial  Congress  or  Committee  of  Neiv-Hamp- 
shirc. 

In  Congress,  June  19,  1775. 

Resolved,  That  the  Governour  of  Connecticut  be  re- 
quested to  direct  all  the  Forces  raised  in  that  Colony,  not 
employed  at  Ticonderoga  and  Croivn  Point,  or  recom- 
mended by  this  Congress  to  be  marched  into  the  Province 
of  JVtto-  York,  to  be  immediately  sent  to  join  the  combined 
Army  before  Boston;  and  it  is  earnestly  recommended  to 
the  Colony  of  Rhode-Island,  and  the  Provincial  Conven- 
tion of  New-Hampshire,  to  send  immediately  to  the  Army 
before  Boston,  such  of  the  Forces  as  are  already  embodied, 
towards  the  quotas  of  the  Troops  agreed  to  be  raised  by 
the  New-England  Colonies. 

A  true  copy  from  the  Minutes : 

Charles  Thomson,  Secretary. 


1035 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  he,  JUNE,  1775. 


1036 


NEW- HAMPSHIRE  DELEGATES  TO  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS 
AT  EXETER. 

Philadelphia,  June  20,  1775. 

Your  favour  of  the  24th  of  May  is  now  before  us ;  in 
answer  to  which  can  only  say,  we  easily  conceive  the 
"  painful  sensation"  that  every  honest  man  must  feel  when 
he  sees  the  unnatural  conflict  between  Great  Britain  and 
these  Colonies  rising  to  such  a  height.  But  when  we  con- 
sider it  not  of  our  own  seeking,  but  drove  by  the  sons  of 
tyranny  and  oppression  to  the  sad  alternative  of  being  made 
slaves  or  appealing  to  the  sword  in  defence  of  our  just 
liberties,  cannot  but  think  we  shall  stand  justified  before 
God  and  man,  in  vigorously  seizing  the  latter. 

We  are  much  pleased  with  the  proceedings  of  New- 
Hampshire,  shewing  their  attachment  to  the  common 
cause,  by  raising  so  large  a  number  of  men  for  the  de- 
fence of  America.  We  are  very  sensible  of  the  inability 
of  our  Province  to  support  them,  and  the  necessity  of  a 
paper  currency. 

We  are  at  liberty  to  inform  you  that  the  Committee  of 
the  whole  Congress  have  agreed  to  report  a  Continental 
currency,  which,  no  doubt,  will  be  emitted  immediately, 
and  forwarded  for  the  payment  of  the  Troops. 

The  Congress  have  appointed  General  Washington  to 
the  command  of  the  American  Forces,  who  will  set  out 
for  the  camp  to-morrow  or  next  day  ;  have  also  agreed 
upon  a  Continental  Army.  The  other  proceedings  of 
Congress  are  not  yet  to  be  made  publick,  unless  what  ap- 
pears in  the  prints. 

It  is  impossible  to  conceive  of  a  greater  unanimity  in  the 
Colonies  than  that  which  at  present  subsists,  one  and  all 
being  determined  to  defend  our  rights  to  the  last.  May 
the  great  Author  of  all  things  bless  and  assist  us,  is  the 
most  ardent  prayer  of,  your  most  obedient  humble  ser- 
vants, John  Sullivan, 

if  nt     t<j      t      i7  John  Langdon. 

Matthew  lhornton,  L,sq. 

P.  S.  Enclosed  is  an  order  for  a  general  fast. 


GOVERNOUR  TRUMBULL  TO  CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS. 
[Read  bofore  Congress,  June  26,  1775.] 

Lebanon  June  20,  1775. 

Sir:  This  acknowledges  the  receipt  of  your  letter  of 
the  10th  instant,  and  enclosed  resolves.  Am  happy  in 
being  able  to  inform  you,  that  by  advice  of  my  Council, 
appointed  to  act  in  the  recess  of  the  Assembly,  convened 
on  the  7th  instant,  I  had  ordered  fifty  barrels  of  powder 
from  this  Colony,  containing  one  hundred  and  ten  pounds 
each,  to  be  sent  with  all  despatch  and  secrecy  to  the  Ame- 
rican Army  before  Boston,  which  reached  them  about  Fri- 
day last;  and  since  the  receipt  of  yours  have  ordered  ten 
barrels  more,  of  the  same  quantity  each,  which  moved  the 
19lh,  and  to  proceed  night  and  day;  and  wish  it  was  in 
our  power  to  supply  much  more  for  the  necessity  of  the 
Army,  and  in  compliance  with  the  request  of  your  wise, 
firm  and  patriotick  assembly,  on  whom,  under  God,  the  sal- 
vation of  America  greatly  depends.  It  is  an  unhappy 
truth,  that  no  supplies  of  that  article  are  to  be  obtained  in 
this  Colony.  We  have  taken  all  care  in  our  power  to  pro- 
cure much  larger  quantities  than  we  have  yet  received,  but 
daily  hope  to  expect  the  arrival  of  some,  yet  fear  it  may 
be  intercepted  by  the  vigilant  malice  of  our  enemies. 

The  New-York  Congress  informs  us  they  have  sent  six 
hundred  and  fifty-five  pounds  for  the  same  purpose,  which 
I  find  has  been  detained  at  Stamford,  for  General  Wooster's 
Regiment,  but  the  same  quantity  is  to  be  immediately  fur- 
nished from  the  eastern  part  of  the  Colony,  in  addition  to 
what  is  already  sent.  Only  eight  hundred  and  forty  pounds 
have  been  imported  into  this  Colony  since  our  Delegates 
left  it. 

I  am  not  at  present  able  to  procure  any  accurate  esti- 
mate of  powder,  arms  and  ammunition.  By  the  standing 
law,  every  Town  ought  to  have  fifty  pounds  to  every  sixty 
militia  men,  four  pounds  of  bullets,  and  twelve  flints;  and 
by  an  act  of  last  October,  a  double  quantity  of  powder  is 
ordered;  but,  I  suppose,  take  one  with  another,  we  are 
more  than  half  deficient  of  a  single  supply.  If  they  were 
full,  it  would  be  about  forty-four  thousand  seven  hundred 
pound.  As  to  lead  and  flints,  perhaps  we  have  a  tolerable 
supply. 


Have  not  yet  been  able  to  carry  into  execution  your 
resolve  of  collecting  saltpetre  and  brimstone,  and  forward- 
ing to  the  Provincial  Congress  of  New-  York,  but  shall 
pay  the  greatest  attention  to  it  as  fast  as  possible,  but 
expect  no  great  quantity  can  be  obtained. 

The  General  Assembly  of  this  Colony,  at  their  last  ses- 
sion, offered  very  large  premiums  on  saltpetre  manufac- 
tured in  and  of  materials  found  within  the  same,  for  one 
year;  and  on  sulphur  manufactured  in  this  Colony  from 
materials  found  in  any  of  them,  viz:  twenty  pounds  per 
hundred  weight  of  the  first,  and  five  for  the  second.  Pro- 
posals have  been  made  to  me  by  Mr.  De  Witt  of  Norwich, 
with  two  of  his  friends  near  New-  York,  for  speedily  making 
very  large  quantities  of  the  saltpetre,  if  they  could  be  as- 
sisted with  the  loan  of  a  sum  sufficient  to  erect  necessary 
buildings,  &c,  for  which  they  will  give  ample  security. 
This  Colony  having  given  such  bounty,  and  the  Assembly 
not  sitting,  nothing  can  be  done  here  in  that  way.  Your 
wisdom  will  direct  what  might  be  proper  for  you  to  do,  if 
application  should  be  made;  and  your  patriotism  will  cer- 
tainly incline  you  to  every  thing  your  wisdom  shall  dictate 
for  the  common  good.  If  it  is  possible  for  Philadelphia  or 
any  Southern  Colony  to  spare  any  manufactured,  or  other 
powder,  to  the  Cambridge  Army,  it  is  and  would  be  a  most 
necessary  and  acceptable  thing.  I  fear  for  their  supply, 
where  there  is  most  important  occasion. 

You  are  doubtless  possessed  of  every  intelligence  that  is 
attainable,  and  can  better  judge  whether,  notwithstanding 
every  shew  and  appearance  to  the  contrary,  the  whole  force 
of  the  enemy  will  not  be  collected,  and  their  utmost  exer- 
tions made  to  cut  off  the  head  of  the  snake  ;  if  so,  although 
our  men  are  ever  so  resolute  or  numerous,  they  can  do 
nothing  without  powder;  and  there  must  be  a  vast  con- 
sumption of  it.  A  very  great  proportion  must  have  been 
expended  in  the  several  engagements  which  have  already 
happened,  and  we  have  just  received  the  important  (but 
very  imperfect)  news  of  a  vigorous  attack  on  our  Army, 
on  Friday  night  or  Saturday  morning  last,  in  consequence 
of  their  attempting  to  take  possession  of  the  important 
posts  at  Bunker's  Hill  in  Charlestown.  Our  forces  have 
been  obliged  to  retreat,  but  on  the  whole  suppose  they 
have  suffered  far  less  than  their  enemies. 

I  am,  with  great  truth  and  regard,  Sir,  your  most  obe- 
dient humble  servant,  Jonathan  Trumbull. 

Honourable  President  of  the  Continental  Congress. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  A  GENTLEMAN  IN  PROVI- 
DENCE, RHODE-ISLAND,  TO  HIS  FRIEND  IN  NEW-YORK, 
DATED  JUNE  20,  1775. 

You  doubtless  have  been  alarmed  with  divers  accounts 
of  the  contest  which  happened  on  the  17th  instant,  betw  een 
the  King's  Troops  and  our  Army  ;  shall  give  you  a  narra- 
tive in  a  few  words,  as  the  post  now  waits. 

•  On  the  evening  of  the  16th,  Colonel  Putnam  took  pos- 
session of  Bunker's  Hill,  with  about  two  thousand  men, 
and  began  an  intrenchment,  which  they  had  made  some 
progress  in.  At  eight  in  the  morning  a  party  of  Regu- 
lars landed  at  Charlestown,  and  fired  the  Town  in  divers 
places.  Under  cover  of  the  smoke,  a  body  of  about  five 
thousand  men  marched  up  to  our  intrenchments,  and  made 
a  furious  and  sudden  attack.  They  were  driven  back  three 
times  ;  and  when  they  were  making  the  third  attack,  one  of 
our  people  imprudently  spoke  aloud  that  their  powder  was 
all  gone ;  which  being  heard  by  some  of  the  regular  offi- 
cers, they  encouraged  their  men  to  march  up  to  the  trench- 
es with  fixed  bayonets,  and  entered  them  ;  on  which  our 
people  were  ordered  to  retreat,  which  they  did  with  all 
speed,  till  they  got  out  of  musket  shot;  they  then  formed, 
but  were  not  pursued  ;  in  the  mean  time  six  men-of-war 
and  four  floating  batteries  were  brought  up,  and  kept  up  a 
continual  fire  on  the  causeway  that  leads  on  to  Charles- 
town ;  our  people  retreated  through  the  fire,  but  not  with- 
out the  loss  of  many  of  the  men. 

Our  loss  is  sixty  men  killed  and  missing,  and  about  one 
hundred  and  forty  wounded.  The  brave  Doctor  Warren 
is  among  the  former,  and  Colonel  Gardner  among  the  lat- 
ter. We  left  six  field- pieces  on  the  hill ;  our  people  are 
now  intrenched  on  Pleasant  Hill,  within  cannon  shot  of 
Bunker's  Hill.  The  loss  of  the  King's  Troops  must  be 
very  considerable ;  the  exact  number  we  cannot  tell.  If 


1037 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  Sic,  JUNE,  1775. 


1038 


our  people  had  been  supplied  with  ammunition  they  would 
have  held  possession  most  certainly.  They  have  began 
6ring  on  Roxbury  with  carcasses,  to  set  it  on  fire,  but  have 
not  yet  succeeded.  Our  people  are  in  high  spirits,  and 
are  very  earnest  to  put  this  matter  on  another  trial. 


COMMITTEE  OF  WAR  FOR  CONNECTICUT. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Governour  and  Council,  or  Com- 
mittee of  War,  called  by  his  Honour,  and  held  at  Leba- 
non, Wednesday,  7th  June,  1775 : 

Present,  his  Honour  the  Governour ;  the  Honourable 
Deputy  Governour  Griswold ;  Honourable  Jabez  Hun- 
tington, William  Williams,  Nathaniel  Wales,  Jedediah 
Elderkin,  Joshua  West,  Benjamin  Huntington,  Esquires. 

fl  illiam  Williams  was  desired  and  appointed  Clerk  of 
this  Council. 

His  Honour  laid  before  this  Committee  sundry  Letters 
newly  received  from  the  Honourable  Committee  of  War, 
the  Committee  of  Safety,  the  Committee  of  Supplies  for 
the  Colony  of  Massachusetts-Bay,  from  Brigadier  Gene- 
rals Spencer  and  Putnam  of  the  Connecticut  Troops,  at  the 
camp  near  Boston;  all  earnestly  requesting  a  quantity  of 
Powder  to  be  sent  forthwith  to  supply  their  present  neces- 
sity, and  engaging  to  pay  for  or  refund  it,  &c,  &ic. 

This  Committee  taking  the  said  requests  into  consider- 
ation, and  the  circumstances  of  the  case  being  considered, 
do  agree,  direct,  and  order,  that  fifty  whole  barrels,  contain- 
ing about  one  hundred  weight  each  of  Gunpowder,  belong- 
ing to  this  Colony,  be  forthwith  sent  and  forwarded  to  the 
said  camp,  to  the  care  and  conduct  of  said  Brigadier  Gen- 
erals Spencer  and  Putnam,  viz :  twenty  barrels  of  that 
under  the  care  of  Colonel  Jabez  Huntington  at  Norwich ; 
twenty  barrels  of  that  under  the  care  of  Captain  Jabez 
Huntington  of  Windham;  and  ten  barrels  of  that  under 
the  care  of  Colonel  William  Williams  of  Lebanon;  to  be 
sent  ten  barrels  in  a  load,  packed  into  common  barrels,  and 
the  vacant  room  to  be  filled  with  rye  or  other  grain,  and 
gave  orders  to  said  gentlemen  accordingly  to  forward  the 
same,  signed  by  the  Governour. 

It  was  then  moved  by  his  Honour  the  Governour,  that 
Colonel  Parsons' s  Regiment,  part  of  the  troops  lately  raised 
for  defence,  &£C,  now  stationed  at  New-London,  or  part  of 
them,  should  be  sent  and  ordered  to  proceed  to  the  camp 
near  Boston,  &zc. 

The  motion  was  considered  and  largely  discussed,  and  it 
was,  on  the  question, 

Voted  and  Ordered,  That  said  Colonel  Parsons,  with 
the  Company  under  his  immediate  command,  and  the  Com- 
pany under  the  command  of  Captain  Chapman,  in  said 
Regiment,  be  ordered  to  proceed  to  the  camp  aforesaid, 
and  join  the  Troops  heretofore  sent  and  stationed  there  by 
the  honourable  Assembly. 

Then,  on  motion  of  his  Honour,  Voted  and  Ordered, 
That  the  General  Officers  of  this  Colony  Troops  order 
such  quantity  of  Fish  and  Hogs-lard,  for  the  use  of  said 
Troops  at  said  camp,  as  they  shall  judge  reasonable  and 
necessary. 

And  then  the  meeting  was  dismissed,  near  sun-setting. 

William  Williams,  Clerk. 

N.  B.  Captain  Richard  Dishon,  of  New-London,  one 
of  the  Committee  appointed  by  the  Assembly  to  provide 
carriages  for  and  mount  the  Cannon  at  New-London,  kc, 
being  in  Town,  came,  and  moved  for  the  opinion  and  advice 
of  this  Committee,  whether  he  should  procure  iron  carriage- 
wheels  for  said  Cannon?  And  also,  whether  he  should 
mount  and  fix  two  small  pieces,  in  the  form  necessary 
and  proper  to  be  used  as  field-pieces,  &ic.  ?  And  on  con- 
sideration, it  was  signified  to  him,  as  the  opinion  of  said 
Committee  on  both  said  motions,  that  he  should  do  so. 

Saturday,  June  17,  1775. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  at  Lebanon,  called  by 
his  Honour  the  Governour : 

Present,  his  Honour  the  Governour ;  the  Honourable 
Deputy  Governour  Griswold ;  Jabez  Huntington,  Satn- 
uel  Huntington,  William  Williams,  Nathaniel  Wales,  Je- 
dediah Elderkin,  Joshua  West,  Benjamin  Huntington, 
Esquires, 

The  Governour  laid  before  this  Committee  sundry  Let- 


ters received  since  the  last  meeting,  from  the  President  of 
the  Continental  Congress  ;  from  our  Delegates  at  said  Con- 
gress ;  from  Generals  Spencer,  Putnam,  Sic,  ike;  request- 
ing a  further  supply  of  Powder  at  the  camp  near  Boston  , 
that  Colonel  Parsons's  Regiment  be  sent  there,  &ic. 

On  motion  by  me  for  advice  about  the  price  of  Gun- 
Locks  proposed  to  be  made  by  Uri  Hanks,  of  Mansfield, 
and  shewing  one  of  them,  &c,  for  which  he  demands 
twelve  shillings  each,  &c.  And  advised  and  Voted,  That 
if  they  cannot  be  had  for  less,  that  I  engage  them  at  that 
price,  t,  e.  fifty  proposed  to  be  made  by  the  time,  &ic. 

On  motion,  Voted  and  Ordered,  The  remaining  six 
companies  of  Colonel  Parsons's  Regiment,  now  at  New- 
London,  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Tyler, 
march  forthwith  and  join  the  camp  near  Boston,  supplied 
with  ammunition,  &.c,  as  others  have  been,  and  directed 
Mr.  Shaw  (who  was  present)  to  supply  them  accordingly 
out  of  the  Colony  Stores  in  his  hands. 

On  motion,  Voted  and  desired,  Mr.  Shaw  (present)  to 
use  his  best  endeavours  to  procure  the  quantity  of  Powder 
heretofore  ordered,  and  where  it  may  be  had,  at  the  risk 
of  the  Colony,  and  to  lay  in  his  account. 

A  motion  for  sending  more  Powder  to  the  Army  near 
Boston,  had  been  made  and  was  negatived;  was  resumed, 
and,  on  reconsideration, 

Voted  and  Ordered,  That  ten  whole  barrels  more  be 
sent  to  the  care  of  Generals  Spencer  and  Putnam  ;  and  Col. 
Jabez  Huntington  directed  to  send  it  from  Norwich. 

Many  things  discussed,  &tc,  and  it  being  near  night, 
adjourned  to  Monday  next,  nine  o'clock,  A.  M, 

Monday,  June  19,  1775,  A.  M.* 
Met  according  to  adjournment. 

On  motion,  Agreed  and  Voted,  That  Mr.  Bissell,  Com- 
missary, send  down  to  our  Army  all  the  Cloth  he  has  for 
Tents,  being  sufficient  for  forty  ;  and  that  Captain  Trumbull, 
General  Commissary,  procure  the  rest  on  the  place,  and  get 
them  all  made  by  some  of  the  poor  tent-makers  escaped 
from  Boston,  i.  e.  enough  to  supply  General  Putnam' 's  Re- 
giment. 

It  was  moved  and  represented  that  the  colour  of  blue, 
being  ordered  for  the  Standard  of  our  Second  Regiment, 
cannot  be  obtained,  &c. 

Voted,  That  the  colour  of  green  be  substituted  in  its 
stead. 

A  Letter  in  answer  to  Colonel  Wolcott  and  Mr.  Strong, 
of  Litchfield,  relating  to  supplying  Colonel  Hinman's  Re- 
giment at  Ticondcroga,  prepared  and  approved. 

A  Letter  in  answer  to  Letter  of  Colonel  Hinman,  pro- 
posed and  approved. 

And  the  same  to  Colonel  Arnold  at  Crown  Point. 

It  was  moved  and  represented  that  it  would  be  a  saving 
of  expense,  and  more  healthy  and  agreeable  to  our  Soldiers 
near  Boston,  to  be  supplied  with  more  fresh,  and  less  salt 
Provisions,  &tc,  and  on  consideration,  it  was  agreed  and 
ordered  that  they  be  furnished  with  fresh  Beef  three  days 
per  week,  instead  of  two. 

The  manner  of  furnishing  them  with  Beef  is  referred  to 
the  discretion  of  the  proper  officers. 

And  also  of  Soap,  &,c. 

Moved,  That  some  order  be  taken  concerning  a  Com- 
pany of  Soldiers  of  this  Colony  now  at  the  camp  near 
Boston,  under  the  command  of  Captain  John  Perritt, 
which  is  a  supernumerary  company,  not  raised  by,  or 
under  the  establishment  of  the  Colony. 

Whereupon  this  Council,  taking  into  consideration  the 
circumstances  of  said  Captain  and  Company  : 

Do  Resolve  and  Order,  That  said  Captain  and  Com- 
pany continue,  and  be  improved  in  the  common  service 
there,  under  such  regulations  as  shall  be  made  by  the  pro- 
per officers  of  the  Army ;  and  that  they  be  supplied  in 
the  same  manner  as  the  other  Connecticut  Troops,  until 
the  General  Assembly  of  this  Colony  shall  have  opportu- 
nity to  consider  and  give  further,  or  other  orders  concern- 
ing them.  And  that  in  the  mean  time  it  be  recommended 
that  they  be  entitled  to  receive  the  same  pay  and  allow- 
ance, as  the  other  Soldiers  of  this  Colony. 

This  order  to  take  place  unless  the  General  and  other 

*The  news  of  the  Charlestoicn  engagement  arrived  here  last  night, 
about  ten  o'clock. 


1039 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


1040 


proper  officers  of  our  Troops  sliall  judge  their  continu- 
ance in  said  service  unnecessary. 

On  motion,  of  the  difficulties  the  Army  are  and  must  be 
under  for  want  of  a  General  and  Commander-in-Chief  of 
the  whole  body  raised  by  different  Colonies,  Sic,  and  a 
due  subordination,  on  consideration,  &.C., 

Voted,  That  his  Honour  the  Governour  be  advised  to 
give  orders  to  our  Oflicers  and  Soldiers  to  be  subordinate 
and  yield  obedience  to  the  General  and  Commanding  Offi- 
cer of  the  Troops  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay,  while  they 
act  in  that  Province,  and  until  the  Governour,  with  advice, 
shall  see  fit  to  order  otherwise. 

A  Resolve  of  the  Congress  of  New- York,  requesting 
General  Wooster's  Regiment,  and  Colonel  Waterbury's,  to 
march  within  five  miles  of  the  City  of  Ncic-York,  (they 
expecting  Troops  from  Great  Britain,  ike.:) 

Voted  and  Ordered,  On  consideration  thereof,  and  of 
General  Wooster's  request  for  direction,  both  laid  before 
this  Board,  viz  :  that  said  General,  with  seven  of  his  Com- 
panies, and  all  Colonel  Waterbury's  Regiment,  march  to 
within  five  miles  of  the  City  of  New-York,  and  into  the 
City,  if  properly  requested ;  and  their  conduct  be  under 
the  direction  of  the  Continental  Congress,  and  of  the  Con- 
gress of  the  said  Province  of  New-York,  unless  and  until 
he  shall  receive  other  and  different  orders. 

Voted  and  Ordered,  That  two  Companies  of  the  said 
General  Woofer's  Regiment  march  to  New-London,  and 
be  stationed  there,  instead  of  Colonel  Parsons' s  Regiment, 
ordered  to  be  removed  from  thence. 

Adjourned  till  to-morrow  morning  at  nine  o'clock. 

Tuesday,  June  20,  1775. 

Met  according  to  adjournment. 

An  Order  subjecting  our  Officers  and  Soldiers  to  the  com- 
mand of  the  Massachusetts  Commander-in-Chief,  during 
their  continuance  in  that  Province,  or  until  further  orders, 
was  read  and  agreed  to. 

A  Letter  to  General  Ward,  informing  him  thereof,  and 
enclosing  a  copy  of  said  Order,  read  and  approved. 

A  Letter  to  Deputy  Governour  Cook,  of  Rhode-Island, 
informing  him  of  the  same,  and  moving  him  to  do  the 
same  respecting  the  Troops  of  that  Colony,  read  and  ap- 
proved. 

A  Letter  to  the  New-Hampshire  Congress  of  the  like 
tenour,  and  for  the  same  purpose,  also  read  and  approved. 

A  Letter  to  General  Spencer  enclosing  a  copy  of  said 
order  of  subordination,  &ic,  read  and  approved. 

And  another  to  the  same  purpose,  and  copy  to  General 
Putnam. 

An  order  to  General  Wooster,  to  send  two  of  his  Com- 
panies to  New-London ,  and  march  with  the  remaining 
seven,  and  all  Colonel  Waterbury's  Regiment,  to  within 
five  miles  of  New-  York,  and  be  under  the  direction  of  the 
General  and  Provincial  Congresses,  till  further  orders,  read 
and  approved. 

A  Letter  to  said  General  Wooster,  enclosing  said  orders, 
See,  prepared,  read,  and  approved. 

A  Letter  to  our  Delegates  at  Congress,  prepared,  pas- 
sed, &c. 

Voted,  That  his  Honour  be  desired  to  send  to  Hartford, 
and  order  the  Powder  which  was  coming  from  New-  York, 
and  stopped  at  Stamford,  if  not  come  forward,  to  be  sent 
for  and  forwarded  immediately  to  the  Army  near  Boston. 

And  then  adjourned  without  day. 


MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS  TO  CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS. 
[Road  in  Congress  June  27,  1775.] 
In  Provincial  Congress,  Watortown,  June  20,  1775. 

M  ay  it  please  your  Honour:  Having  been  favoured 
with  your  Resolve  respecting  the  assumption  of  Government 
in  this  Colony,  we  seize  the  earliest  opportunity  to  express 
our  grateful  sentiments  for  that  compassion,  seasonable 
exertion,  and  abundant  wisdom,  evidenced  in  your  recom- 
mendation to  this  people  on  that  head  ;  and  for  the  gene- 
rous provision  you  have  made  for  our  support  in  our  efforts 
in  defence  of  the  common  liberty  and  essential  rights  of 
the  whole  Continent.  As  we  are  plunged  into  the  accu- 
mulated distresses  of  a  domestick  war,  our  constant  atten- 
tion to  the  calls  of  our  brethren  in  the  field  will  leave  us 


but  little  time  to  contemplate  the  acts  of  ordinary  legisla- 
tion :  but  as  we  are  impressed  with  the  indispensable  neces- 
sity of  rescuing  this  people  from  the  danger  they  are  in  of 
falling  into  a  state  of  anarchy,  and  that  our  publick  resolu- 
tions may  be  taken  and  executed  with  the  greater  despatch, 
'we  shall  apply  ourselves  with  all  diligence  to  fulfil  your 
benevolent  intentions,  and  establish  the  form  of  Govern- 
ment recommended  by  your  Honours,  that  so  order  and 
Government  may  be  restored  to  this  disturbed  community. 

We  think  it  our  indispensable  duty  to  inform  you,  that 
re-enforcements  from  Ireland,  both  of  Horse  and  Foot, 
being  arrived,  (the  numbers  unknown,)  and  having  good 
intelligence  that  General  Gage  was  about  to  take  posses- 
sion of  the  advantageous  posts  in  Charlcstown  and  on  Dor- 
chester Point,  the  Committee  of  Safety  advised  that  our 
Troops  should  prepossess  them  if  possible. 

Accordingly,  on  Friday  evening  the  16th  instant,  this 
was  effected  by  about  twelve  hundred  men.  About  day- 
light on  Saturday  morning,  their  line  of  circumvallation, 
on  a  small  hill,  south  of  Bunker's  Hill,  in  Charlcstown, 
was  closed ;  at  this  time  the  Lively,  man-of-war,  began  to 
fire  upon  them.  A  number  of  our  enemy's  ships,  tenders, 
cutters,  scows  or  floating  batteries,  soon  came  up,  from  all 
which  the  fire  was  general  by  twelve  o'clock.  About  two 
the  enemy  began  to  land  at  a  point  which  leads  out  from 
Noddle's  Island,  and  immediately  marched  up  to  our  in- 
trenchments,  from  which  they  were  twice  repulsed  ;  but  in 
the  third  attack  forced  them.  Our  forces  which  were  in  the 
lines,  as  well  as  those  sent  for  their  support,  were  greatly 
annoyed  on  every  side,  by  balls  and  bombs,  from  Copp's 
Hill,  the  ships,  scows,  &c.  At  this  time  the  buildings  in 
Charlcstown  appeared  in  flames  in  almost  every  quarter, 
kindled  by  hot  balls,  and  is  since  laid  in  ashes.  Though 
this  scene  was  almost  horrible,  and  altogether  new  to  most 
of  our  men,  yet  many  stood,  and  received  wounds  by 
swords  and  bayonets  before  they  quitted  their  lines.  At 
five  o'clock  the  enemy  were  in  full  possession  of  all  the 
posts  within  the  isthmus. 

In  the  evening  and  night  following,  General  Ward  ex- 
tended his  intrenchments,  before  made  at  the  stone-house, 
over  Winter  Hill.  About  six  o'clock,  P.  M.,  of  the  same 
day,  the  enemy  began  to  cannonade  Roxbury  from  Bos- 
ton Neck  and  elsewhere,  which  they  continued  twenty-four 
hours,  with  little  spirit  and  less  efiect. 

The  number  of  killed  and  missing  on  our  side  is  not 
known,  but  supposed  by  some  to  be  about  sixty  or  seventy, 
and  by  some  considerably  above  that  number.  Our  most 
worthy  friend  and  President,  Doctor  Warren,  lately  elected 
a  Major-General,  is  among  them.  This  loss  we  feel  most 
sensibly.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Parker  and  Major  Moore  of 
this  Colony,  and  Major  Mc Clary  from  New-Hampshire, 
are  also  dead.  Three  Colonels,  and  perhaps  one  hundred 
men,  are  wounded.  The  loss  of  the  enemy  is  doubtless 
great.  By  an  anonymous  letter  from  Boston,  we  are  told 
that  they  exult  much  in  having  gained  the  ground,  though 
their  killed  and  wounded  are  owned  about  one  thousand ; 
but  this  account  exceeds  every  other  estimation.  The  num- 
ber they  had  engaged  is  supposed  to  be  between  three  and 
four  thousand.  If  any  errour  was  committed  on  our  side, 
it  was  in  taking  a  post  so  much  exposed. 

As  soon  as  an  estimate  can  be  made  of  publick  and 
private  stocks  of  gunpowder  in  this  Colony,  it  shall  be 
transmitted  without  delay,  which  we  are  well  assured  will 
be  small,  and  by  no  means  adequate  to  the  exigence  of  our 
case.  We  apprehend  that  the  scantiness  of  our  stock  of 
that  article,  cannot  fail  to  induce  your  Honours  still  to  give 
your  utmost  attention  to  ways  and  means  of  procuring  a 
full  supply  of  it.  We  feel  ourselves  infinitely  obliged  to 
you  for  your  past  care  in  this  respect. 

We  beg  leave  humbly  to  suggest,  that  if  a  Commander- 
in-Chief  of  the  Army  of  the  United  Colonies  should  be 
appointed,  it  must  be  plain  to  your  Honours,  that  no  part 
of  this  Continent  can  so  much  require  his  immediate  pre- 
sence and  exertions  as  this  Colony. 

We  are,  with  great  respect,  your  Honours'  most  obedient 

and  very  humble  servants, 

By  order  of  Congress  :  ■-.  . 

James  Warren,  President. 

Attest:  Sam'l  Freeman,  Secretary. 

To  the  Honourable  Continental  Congress  now  sitting  at 

Philadelphia. 


10  11 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


1042 


MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS  TO  GENERAL  WARD. 

Watertown,  June  20,  1775,  nine  o'clock. 
Sir  :  This  Congress,  considering  the  present  situation  of 
the  enemy,  and  that  of  the  division  of  our  Army  at  Cam- 
bridge, think  proper  to  suggest  to  your  serious  consideration 
whether  it  is  not  proper  and  expedient  that  there  should 
be  an  immediate  draft  of  a  Regiment  or  more  from  the 
Roxbury  Camp  to  that  at  Cambridge.  Your  good  sense 
will  undoubtedly  incline  you  to  consult  General  Thomas 
before  you  determine  absolutely  on  this  measure,  but  we 
conceive  the  consideration  of  this  matter  ought  not  to  be 
delayed  a  moment.  We  are,  8£c. 

To  the  Honourable  General  fVard. 


To  the  Honourable,  the  Congress  for  the  Colony  of  the 
Massachusetts-Bay  : 

The  Petition  of  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town  o/Townshend, 
humbly  sheiveth : 

That  when  the  order  of  Congress  came  to  us  for  part 
of  our  town  stock  of  powder,  but  two  of  our  Selectmen 
being  present  they  inadvertently  sent  the  whole ;  by  which 
means  we  are  almost  destitute  of  powder,  and  being  called 
upon  to  keep  in  our  horses,  and  to  be  in  readiness  for  an 
engagement,  we  know  not  what  to  do.  But  being  informed 
that  there  are  two  half  barrels  of  powder  at  the  Town  of 
Ashby,  if  we  could  obtain  an  order  of  Congress  for  Ashby 
to  deliver  a  part  of  that  to  us,  we  might  be  in  a  better  situa- 
tion ;  but  if  we  could  be  helped  any  way  we  should  think 
ourselves  much  obliged  by  your  Honours,  to  which  we  look 
upon  ourselves  in  duty  bound  to  obey. 

By  order  of  the  Selectmen : 

James  Hoslev,  Town  Clerk. 

Townshend,  June  20,  1775. 


RICHARD  DERBY,  JUN.,  TO  CAPTAIN  JAMES  KIRKWOOD. 

Salem,  June  20,  1775. 
Captain  James  Kirkwood  :  1  received  your  letter  this 
moment,  informing  me  that  you  were  in  want  of  a  certifi- 
cate from  me  that  you  had  kept  the  Light-house,  8cc, 
which  1  now  enclose  you.    Yours,  kc, 

Richard  Derby,  Jun. 

"This  may  certify,  that  Captain  James  Kirkivood  has 
had  the  sole  care  of  keeping  the  Light-house  on  Thatch- 
ers Island  ever  since  it  has  been  erected ;  that  he  applied 
to  the  General  Court,  when  sitting  here,  June,  1774,  for 
his  annual  grant,  and  the  House  then  voted  him  sixty 
Rounds  for  the  year  then  or  about  that  time  ending ; 
which  grant  came  up  to  the  Board,  but  the  sudden  dis- 
solution put  an  end  to  the  matter.  And  1  further  certify, 
that  he  has  attended  his  duty  (as  far  as  I  know)  to  general 
acceptance,  ever  since  the  care  of  the  lights  were  by  the 
Province  committed  to  the  care  of  Captain  Ewing,  Mr. 
Allen,  and  myself.  Mr.  Ewing  is  shut  up  in  Boston,  and 
Mr.  Allen  has  been  out  of  the  Province  near  a  year,  so 
that  the  burden  is  totally  on  me.  I  have  the  last  week 
sent  down  a  quantity  of  oil,  which  has  been  in  my  care  for 
some  months  past,  so  that  the  lights  are  well  supplied  for 
some  time  to  come.  If  the  lights  are  continued,  wood 
must  be  provided  soon,  as  it  can  only  be  carried  there  in 
the  course  of  the  summer.  Whatever  directions  the  Con- 
gress may  see  fit  to  give  in  this  matter,  shall  further  govern 
the  conduct  of  their  humble  servant, 

"  Richard  Derby,  Jun." 


EDWARD  BUCKNAM  AND  SETH  WALES  TO  COLONELS  BAILEY 
AND  HDRD. 

Lancaster,  June  20,  1775. 

Sirs  :  We  sent  out  a  scout  of  two  men  to  Lake  Man- 
phremagog,  in  order  to  find  two  men  that  Mr.  Benjamin 
Saivyer  said  he  had  left  at  that  lake,  but  found  them  not, 
and  they  have  returned  back  again.  They  saw  at  Lake 
Memphrcmagog  several  Indians  hunting,  one  of  whom 
was  Black  Ltwee,  by  name,  who  is  very  well  known  among 
our  people,  in  general,  to  be  the  most  trusty  and  faithful  to 
his  word  of  any  Indian  that  ever  came  among  us.  He 
tells  our  scout  that  he  set  out  to  pilot  two  regular  officers 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii.  { 


into  Lower  Coos  last  winter,  and  two  other  Indians  with 
them — but  he  was  their  chief  pilot — in  order  to  find  out  a 
good  road  from  Canada  to  Coos,  as  these  men  told  him 
their  desire  was  to  look  out  a  road  to  Coos ;  but  after  they 
had  set  out  on  their  journey,  the  regular  officers  told  the 
Indians  they  intended  to  come  through  that  way  with  an 
Army  to  take  and  destroy  the  people  in  those  Towns  on 
this  river;  and  when  Lewee  found  out  their  desire,  he 
went  back  and  left  them.    They  made  him  promise  and 
swear  he  would  not  come  in  to  us,  and  make  known  their 
desire.  He  says  there  are  near  two  thousand  Regulars  now 
in  Canada,  and  they  are  making  all  preparations  they  pos- 
sibly can  for  war,  determined  to  come  against  us  late  this 
fall,  and  bring  snow-shoes  with  them,  and  are  now  employ- 
ing the  Indians  to  make  them.    Lewee  says  they  are  con- 
tinually inviting  the  Indians  to  join  with  them  and  fight 
against  us,  and  they  will  put  them  in  officers,  and  oner 
them  money  to  take  up  arms,  but  they  utterly  refuse  it. 
The  Regulars  threaten  to  kill  them,  to  scare  them  to  take 
up  arms  against  us.    Lewee  says,  the  Indians  and  French 
wait  for  nothing  but  an  invitation  from  us  to  join  with  us, 
which  they  would  do  immediately,  and  want  us  to  send 
an  Army  to  take  Qucbcck,  and  let  them  know  when  our 
Army  will  meet  them  at  Qutbtck,  to  take  it.    He  says, 
all  Canada  will  rise  to  help  take  it.    They  determine  not 
to  take  their  old  laws  again.     If  we  will  but  join  with 
them,  they  will  join  with  us.    This  Lewee  says  their  head 
man  at  Caughnawaga  is  an  Englishman,  very  much  for 
New-England — his  name  is  John  Stacy ;  he  w  ishes  us 
to  send  them  word  if  we  want  them  to  assist  us  or  not. 
Lewee  says  he  can  raise  five  hundred  Indians  to  assist  us 
any  time.    This  John  Stacy  is  their  head  man,  and  this 
Lewee  is  next  to  him.    Lewee  says,  he  will  do  all  he  can 
to  help  us;  he  will  stay  at  this  lake  twenty  days  from  the 
time  our  scout  left  them,  and  this  is  the  fourth  day  since, 
and  then  he  and  the  other  Indians  are  going  to  Caughna- 
waga, and  if  we  desire  it,  he  will  cany  a  letter  to  their 
head  man,  who  can  read  English.     And  now  we  send 
a  man  directly  down  to  Coos,  to  let  you  know  of  these 
affairs ;  and  as  the  Indians  always  spoke  in  your  favour, 
it  would  have  more  effect  upon  them  were  you  to  write 
to  them  what  our  desire  is,  and  whether  you  will  have 
them  join  us  or  not ;  for  they  live  in  fear  of  being  destroy- 
ed by  the  Regulars,  as  there  is  but  a  handful  of  them. 
This  Lenec  sa)s  he  will  go  to  Canada  for  us,  stay  all 
summer  if  we  desire  it,  and  let  us  know  all  the  designs  of 
the  French  and  Canadians,  and  Regulars,  &,c.    He  pro- 
poses the  manner  he  will  go  in,  that  they  might  not  mis- 
trust him  to  be  a  friend  to  us;  says  he  will  take  pait  of  his 
hunt  that  he  hath  got  at  a  time,  and  go  into  Canada  and 
sell  that,  as  usual,  and  tell  them  that  he  hath  got  some 
more  moose  skins  in  the  woods,  and  must  go  and  fetch 
them,  and  so  in  like  manner,  as  long  as  we  should  like  to 
have  him  go.    We  have  got  two  men  ready  to  go  out  to 
Lewee  immediately,  if  you  think  it  best  to  send.  This 
scout  went  and  came  back  again  in  five  days,  with  a  canoe. 
If  Colonel  Bcaley  should  have  a  mind  to  go  out  himself  and 
see  these  Indians,  cur  men  can  carry  you  in  a  canoe,  and 
bring  you  back  again.    Your  seeing  them  yourself  will  be 
more  satisfaction  to  yourself  and  to  other  people  in  general, 
than  sending  by  others.    This  Indian  was  afraid  to  let  the 
other  Indians  know  what  he  told  our  men,  lest  they  should 
betray  him  in  Canada.    He  says,  now  is  the  time  to  take 
Quebcck.   The  Regulars  are  buying  up  and  storing  all  the 
provisions  they  can  in  Canada. 

In  the  mean  time,  we  remain  your  most  humble  ser- 
vants, Edward  Bucknam, 

Seth  Wales. 
To  Colonel  Bailey  and  Colonel  Hurd. 


SOUTH-CAROLINA   SECRET  COMMITTEE  TO  COL.  MOULTRIE. 

Charleetown,  Juno  21,  1775. 

Sir  :  By  direction  of  the  Committee,  I  enclose  you  two 
orders,  by  which  you  will  be  supplied  with  a  quantity  of 
ammunition,  for  the  use  of  the  two  Regiments  of  Infantry 
in  the  service  of  the  Colony  ;  not  doubting  of  your  pru- 
dence, they,  however,  think  it  their  duty  to  recommend 
that  the  greatest  care  be  taken  of  it ;  and  as,  in  a  great 
degree,  the  new  levies  are  strangers,  and  their  principle 
not  certainly  known,  they  cannot  but  intimate,  that  they 


1043 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  fee,  JUNE,  1775. 


1044 


think  it  advisable,  that  no  soldier  should  be  placed  sentry 
over,  or  have  any  thing  to  do  relative  to  the  ammunition, 
but  such  as  are  known  friends  to  the  liberties  of  America. 
I  am,  Sic.  Wm.  H.  Drayton, 

Chairman  of  the  Secret  Committee. 

To  Colonel  Moultrie. 


In  Provincial  Congress,  Charlestown,  S.C.,  June  21,  1775. 

Ordered,  That  the  Honourable  William  Henry  Dray- 
ton, the  Honourable  Captain  Barnard  Elliott,  Colonel 
Charles  Finckney,  Colonel  James  Parsons,  Colonel  Isaac 
Motte,  Colonel  Stephen  Bull,  Colonel  William  Moultrie, 
Major  Owen  Boberts,  Captain  Thomas  Savage,  Captain 
John  Huger,  Miles  Brewton,  Thomas  Ferguson,  and  Ga- 
briel Capres,  Esquires,  be  a  Deputation  to  present  to  his 
Excellency  the  Address  of  this  Congress. 

South-Carolina  : 

To  His  Excellency  the  Bight  Honourable  Lord  William 
Campbell,  Governour  and  Commander-in-Chief  in  and 
over  the  Province  aforesaid: 

The  humble  Address  and  Declaration  of  the  Provincial 
Congress  : 

We,  His  Majesty's  loyal  subjects,  the  Representatives 
of  the  people  of  this  Colony  in  Congress  assembled,  beg 
leave  to  disclose  to  your  Excellency  the  true  causes  of  our 
proceedings;  not  only  that,  upon  your  arrival  among  us, 
you  may  receive  no  unfavourable  impression  of  our  con- 
duct, but  that  we  may  stand  justified  to  the  world. 

When  the  ordinary  modes  of  application  for  redress  of 
grievances,  and  the  usual  means  of  defence  against  arbi- 
trary impositions  have  failed,  mankind  generally  have  had 
recourse  to  those  that  are  extraordinary.  Hence  the  origin 
of  the  Coatinental  Congress,  and  hence  the  present  repre- 
sentation of  the  people  in  this  Colony. 

It  is  unnecessary  to  enumerate  the  grievances  of  Ame- 
rica ;  they  have  been  so  often  represented,  that  your  Ex- 
cellency cannot  be  a  stranger  to  them.  Let  it  therefore 
suffice  to  say,  that  the  hands  of  His  Majesty's  Ministers, 
which  have  long  lain  heavy,  now  press  us  with  intolerable 
weight.  We  declare,  that  no  love  of  innovation,  no  desire 
of  altering  the  Constitution  of  Government,  no  lust  of  in- 
dependence, has  had  the  least  influence  upon  our  councils. 
But,  alarmed  and  roused  by  a  long  succession  of  arbitrary 
proceedings  by  wicked  Administrations ;  impressed  with 
the  greatest  apprehensions  of  instigated  insurrections,  and 
deeply  affected  by  the  commencement  of  hostilities  by  the 
British  Troops  against  this  Continent,  solely  for  the  pre- 
servation and  defence  of  our  lives,  liberties,  and  properties, 
we  have  been  impelled  to  associate  and  take  up  aims. 

We  sincerely  deplore  those  slanderous  informations  and 
wicked  counsels  by  which  His  Majesty  has  been  led  into 
measures  which,  if  persisted  in,  must  inevitably  involve 
America  in  all  the  calamities  of  civil  war,  and  rend  the 
British  Empire.  We  only  desire  the  secure  enjoyment 
of  our  invaluable  rights,  and  we  wish  for  nothing  more 
ardently  than  a  speedy  reconciliation  with  our  Mother 
Country,  upon  constitutional  principles. 

Conscious  of  the  justice  of  our  cause,  and  the  integrity 
of  our  views,  we  readily  profess  our  loyal,  attachment  to 
our  Sovereign,  his  Crown  and  dignity;  and  trusting  the 
event  to  Providence,  we  prefer  death  to  slavery. 

These  things  we  have  thought  it  our  duty  to  declare, 
that  your  Excellency,  and  through  you,  our  august  Sover- 
eign, our  fellow-subjects,  and  the  whole  world,  may  clearly 
understand,  that  our  taking  up  arms  is  the  result  of  dire 
necessity,  and  in  compliance  with  the  first  law  of  nature. 

We  entreat  and  trust,  that  your  Excellency  will  make 
such  a  representation  of  the  state  of  this  Colony,  and  of 
our  true  motives,  as  to  assure  His  Majesty  that,  in  the 
midst  of  all  our  complicated  distresses,  he  has  no  subjects 
in  his  wide  dominions  who  more  sincerely  desire  to  testify 
their  loyalty  and  affection,  or  who  would  be  more  willing 
to  devote  their  lives  and  fortunes  in  his  real  service. 

By  order  of  the  Provincial  Congress  at  Charlestown  : 
Henry  Laurens,  President. 

June  20,  1775. 

The  Deputation  being  returned,  the  Honourable  Mr. 
Drayton  reported,  that  they  having  delivered  the  Address 


to  the  Governour,  his  Excellency  was  pleased  to  make  the 
following  Answer : 

Gentlemen  :  I  know  of  no  Representatives  of  the 
people  of  this  Province,  except  those  constitutionally  con- 
vened in  General  Assembly,  and  am  incompetent  to  judge 
of  the  disputes  which  at  present  unhappily  subsist  between 
Great  Britain  and  the  American  Colonies. 

It  is  impossible,  during  the  short  interval  since  my  arri- 
val, that  I  should  have  acquired  such  a  knowledge  of  the 
stale  of  the  Province  as  to  be  at  present  able  to  make  any 
representation  thereupon  to  His  Majesty;  but  you  may  be 
assured,  that  no  representations  shall  ever  be  made  by  me 
but  what  shall  be  consistent  with  truth,  and  with  an  earn- 
est endeavour  to  promote  the  real  happiness  and  prosperity 
of  the  Province.  William  Campbell. 

June  21,  1775. 

In  Provincial  Congress,  Charlestown,  S.  C,  i 
Wednesday,  June  21,  1775.  £ 

Whereas,  the  inhabitants  of  Poole,  a  seaport  in  the 
English  Channel,  lost  to  all  sense  of  honour,  humanity, 
and  gratitude,  have,  by  their  late  Petition  to  Parliament, 
manifested  themselves  not  only  inimical  to  America,  but 
desirous  to  add  to  the  heavy  oppressions  under  which  the 
unfortunate  and  virtuous  inhabitants  of  the  four  New-Eng- 
land Governments  labour,  in  consequence  of  their  laudable 
conduct  in  defence  of  the  liberties  of  America,  and  of  man- 
kind :  to  testify  our  just  resentment  of  so  base  and  cruel  a 
conduct  in  the  inhabitants  of  Poole,  it  is  hereby 

Besolved,  That  this  Colony  will  not  use  or  employ  any 
shipping  belonging  to  that  Port,  or  owned  by  any  inhabi- 
tant there,  or  carry  on  any  transactions,  or  hold  any  com- 
munication with  that  people. 

Peter  Timothy,  Secretary. 


FREDERICK  COUNTY  (MARYLAND)  COMMITTEE. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Observation  of  Fre- 
derick County,  at  the  Court-House,  on  the  twenty-first 
day  of  June,  1775, 

John  Hanson,  Esq.,  Chairman  : 

Besolved,  That  the  Committee  of  Correspondence 
chosen  by  the  people  on  the  24th  day  of  January  last, 
is  the  true  and  rightful  Committee  of  Correspondence  for 
Frederick  County,  and  shall  act  as  such  until  superseded 
by  a  new  election. 

That  a  Committee  of  Correspondence,  conveniently 
situated,  may  be  chosen  for  each  District: 

Besolved,  That  Messrs.  Thomas  Sprigg  Wootten,  Bich- 
ard  Thompson,  John  Murdoch',  Samuel  William  Magru- 
der,  and  Itilliam  Bailey,  or  any  three  of  them,  shall  give 
notice  to  the  people  of  the  Lower  District  to  meet  at  Air. 
Charles  Hungcrfoi'd's,  on  the  30th  instant,  to  elect  a 
Committee  of  Correspondence  for  said  District,  to  consist 
of  five  members ;  that  Messrs.  John  Hanson,  Charles 
Beatty,  Conrad  Grosch,  William  Beatty,  and  Stephen 
Bamsburgh,  or  anyr  three  of  them,  shall  give  notice  to 
the  people  of  Frederick  Town  District  to  meet  at  the  said 
Town  on  the  3d  instant,  to  elect  a  Committee  of  Cor- 
respondence for  the  said  District,  to  consist  of  five  mem- 
bers; that  Messrs.  Samuel  Beal,  John  Steele,  Jacob  Funk, 
Charles  Swcaringen,  and  William  Beard,  or  any  three  of 
them,  shall  give  notice  to  the  people  of  Elizabeth  Town 
District  to  meet  at  said  Town,  on  the  1st  instant,  to  elect 
a  Committee  of  Correspondence  for  the  said  District,  to 
consist  of  five  members ;  that  Messrs.  Thomas  Cresap, 
Thomas  Warren,  Moses  Bowlings,  Ezekiel  Cox,  and 
Thomas  French,  or  any  three  of  them,  shall  give  notice 
to  the  people  of  Old  Town  District,  to  meet  at  the  said 
Town  on  the  8th  instant,  to  elect  a  Committee  of  Cor- 
respondence for  the  said  District,  to  consist  of  five  mem- 
bers ;  that  returns  of  such  elections  shall  be  made  at  the 
next  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Observation,  and  the 
gentlemen  so,  to  be  chosen  shall  be  members  of  the  Com-, 
inittee  of  Observation. 

A  Letter  from  the  Delegates  of  Maryland,  and  a  Re- 
solve of  the  Congress  enclosed  therein,  were  read,  requir- 
ing two  Companies  of  expert  Riflemen  to  be  furnished  by 
this  County,  to  join  the  Army  near  Boston,  to  be  there 
employed  as  Light-Infantry,  under  the  command  of  the 


1045 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


i046 


chief  officer  of  that  Army,  and  proposing  that  the  pay  of 
the  Officers  and  Soldiers  be  as  follows : 


Corporal,  per  month,  $7$ 
Drummer,  "  7£ 
Privates,       "  63 


Captain,  per  month,  $20 
Lieutenant,     "  13£ 
Sergeant,       "  8 

That  they  find  their  own  arms  and  clothes  ;  that  each 
Company  consist  of  a  Captain,  three  Lieutenants,  four  Ser- 
geants, four  Corporals,  a  Drummer,  and  sixty-eight  Pri- 
vates ;  that  the  form  of  Enlistment  be  as  follows : 

"I,  A.  B.,  have,  this  day  of  ,  voluntarily  en- 
listed myself  as  a  Soldier  in  the  American  Continental 
Army,  for  one  year,  unless  sooner  discharged.  I  do  bind 
myself  to  conform,  in  all  instances,  to  such  rules  and  regu- 
lations as  are,  or  shall  hereafter  be,  established  for  the 
government  of  the  said  Army." 

Resolved,  That,  agreeable  to  the  requisition  of  the  Con- 
gress, and  on  the  terms  by  them  proposed,  two  Companies 
of  expert  Riflemen  be  forthwith  raised,  and  officered  by 
the  following  gentlemen : 

Of  the  First  Company. — Michael  Cresap,  Captain  ; 
Thomas  Warren,  Joseph  Cresap,  Jun.,  Richard  Davis, 
Jun.,  Lieutenants. 

Of  the  Second  Company. — Thomas  Price,  Captain  ; 
Otho  Holland  Williams,  John  Ross  Key,  Lieutenants — 
another  Lieutenant  to  be  chosen  by  Captain  Price,  and 
approved  by  the  Committee. 

That  Messrs.  John  Hanson,  Conrad  Grosch,  William 
Beatiy,  George  Strieker,  John  Darnal,  Upton  Sheii- 
dan,  John  Laicrence,  Joseph  Wood,  Stephen  Ramsburgh, 
Lewis  Kemp,  Roger  Johnson,  Samuel  Beall,  and  Abra- 
ham Haaff,  or  any  seven  of  them,  be  a  Committee  to  in- 
spect and  review  the  said  Companies  when  raised,  and  to 
give  recommendatory  certificates  to  the  several  officers,  to 
be  by  them  carried  to  the  Congress. 

Resolved,  That  the  collectors  of  money  for  the  pur- 
chase of  Arms  and  Ammunition,  shall  severally  pay  to  the 
Committee  of  Correspondence  all  sums  already  received, 
and  shall  continue  to  solicit  subscriptions  till  the  third 
Tuesday  in  August  next ;  on  which  day  they  shall  pay  to 
the  said  Committee  the  several  sums  which  they  shall  have 
collected,  and  produce  fair  copies  of  their  subscription 
papers,  which  shall  be  signed  by  them,  and  set  up  on  the 
Court-House  door;  that  the  Committee  of  Correspondence 
shall  pay  to  John  Hanson,  Esq.,  who  is  hereby  appointed 
Treasurer  for  the  County,  all  sums  of  money  which  they 
have  received,  or  shall  receive  from  the  collectors  afore- 
said. 

Resolved,  That  the  collectors  of  money  to  defray  the 
expenses  of  the  Maryland  Delegates,  shall  immediately 
pay  to  the  Treasurer  all  sums  of  money  which  they  have 
already  received,  and  they  shall  continue  their  collections, 
and  make  another  payment  on  the  15th  instant,  and  the 
Treasurer  shall  then  transmit  the  whole  to  Charles  Wal- 
lace, Esq.,  of  Annapolis,  to  be  by  him  forwarded  to  the 
Delegates  at  Philadelphia. 

Resolved,  That  as  the  fourth  Resolve  that  was  resolved 
at  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  on  the  10th  of  May  last, 
is  not  complied  with,  it  shall  be  carried  into  execution,  and 
returns  made,  agreeable  to  said  Resolve,  at  the  next  meet- 
ing of  this  Committee. 

In  consequence  of  an  order  of  the  Committee,  issued 
on  the  11th  of  last  May,  the  Reverend  Mr.  Rennet  Allen 
produced  the  Sermon  that  he  preached  on  that  day. 

On  motion,  the  Sermon  was  read,  and  the  question  put, 
Whether  the  said  Sermon  be  exceptionable? 

Resolved  in  the  negative. 

Whereas,  a  Paper  Mill  is  about  being  erected  near  Fre- 
derick Toivn,  and  it  being  incumbent  on  us,  at  this  time, 
to  give  especial  encouragement  to  country  manufactories, 
it  is  recommended  to  the  people  of  this  County  that  they 
save  all  their  Linen  and  Woollen  Rags,  and  prefer  the  Paper 
made  here  to  any  foreign  manufacture  whatsoever. 

Resolved,  That  these  proceedings  be  printed  in  the 
Maryland  Gazette  and  in  the  Maryland  Journal. 

The  Committee  adjourns  till  Friday,  the  21st  day  of 
August  next. 

Signed  by  order  of  the  Committee : 

Arch.  Boyd,  Clerk. 


NEW-YORK  COMMITTEE. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee,  Wednesday,  the  21st 
of  June,  1775.    Present : 

Henry  Remsen,  John  Lamb,  David  Beekman, 

James  Desbrosses,  Oliver  Templeton,  Jacob  Van  Voorhies, 

William  Laight,  Abraham  Duryee,  Eleazor  Miller, 

William  Walton,  Joseph  Bull,  John  Broome, 

Gerardus  Duyckinck,   Frederick  Jay,  Richard  Sharpe, 

Abm.  Brinkerhoff,  Theoph.  Anthony,  John  Berrian, 

William  Bedlow,  Benjamin  Helme,  John  Lasher, 

John  White,  Thomas  Ivers,  Victor  Bicker, 

Robert  Ray,  Abm.  Walton,  William  Goforth, 

Daniel  Phenix,  Win,  W.  Gilbert,  Gabriel  W.  Ludlow; 

Lewis  Pintard,  Hercules  Mulligan,  Edward  Fleming, 

John  Imlay,  John  Anthony,  Gerret  Kettletas, 

Win.  Denning,  Daniel  Dunscomb,  George  Janeway. 

Francis  Bassett,  Nicholas  Bogart, 

Resolved,  That  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  Committee,  that 
no  Insurance  be  made  on  the  Cash  shipped  off  by  the  Sub- 
Committee  appointed  to  appropriate  the  moneys  raised  by 
subscription  in  this  City,  on  account  of  the  Colony. 

A  Letter,  dated  Philadelphia,  17th  June,  1775,  from 
Joseph  Reade,  received  and  read. 

A  Letter,  dated  St.  John's,  Neivfoundland,  30th  May, 
1775,  from  Jonathan  Parsons,  Jun.,  giving  an  account  of 
the  arrival  of  the  Ship  Sally,  Captain  Taverner,  from  this 
Port,  at  Trinity,  in  Newfoundland,  which  said  Captain 
Taverner,  before  his  sailing,  made  oath  that  he  would  proceed 
immediately  to  Falmouth,  or  some  other  port  in  England, 
and  that  he  would  by  no  means  stop  at  Newfoundland,  nor 
at  any  of  the  Fishing  Islands  on  the  coast  of  America. 

In  pursuance  of  a  recommendation  of  the  Provincial 
Congress  to  this  Committee  to  purchase  all  the  Saltpetre 
in  this  City  and  County,  and  also  to  procure  an  account  of 
all  the  Brimstone  and  Sulphur  therein,  and  to  make  a  re- 
port of  the  same  to  the  said  Congress, 

Ordered,  That  Gerardus  Duyckinck,  Jacob  Van  Voor- 
hies,  and  Eleazer  Miller,  be  a  Sub-Committee  for  the 
above  purpose. 

New- York,  June  21,  1775. 
The  General  Committee  for  the  City  and  County  of 
New-York  having  received  intelligence  that  Andrew  Ta- 
verner, master  of  the  Ship  Sally,  arrived  in  said  vessel  at 
Trinity,  in  the  Island  of  Newfoundland,  the  twenty-fourth 
ultimo,  they  accordingly  appointed  William  Walton,  Esq., 
Colonel  Fleming,  John  Lamb,  and  John  Broome,  a  Com- 
mittee to  wait  on  Theophilact  Bache,  to  whom  the  said  ship 
was  addressed,  to  inquire  of  him  the  reasons  (if  any  he 
knew)  why  the  said  Andrew  Taverner  did  not  proceed  di- 
rectly to  Falmouth,  or  some  other  port  in  Great  Britain, 
as  he  had  engaged  under  oath  to  use  his  utmost  endeavours 
to  do :  We,  the  said  Committee,  report,  that  pursuant  to 
our  appointment  we  waited  upon  Mr.  Bache,  who  produced 
sundry  vouchers,  from  which,  together  with  his  deposition 
hereunto  annexed,  we  fully  believe  the  said  Theophilact 
Bache  to  be  altogether  innocent  of  having  had  any  agency, 
directly  or  indirectly,  in  causing  the  aforesaid  vessel  to  pro- 
ceed to  Newfoundland,  as  above-mentioned. 

Wm.  Walton,    Edward  Fleming, 
John  Broome,   John  Lamb. 

City  of  New-York,  ss.: 

Theophilact  Bache,  of  the  aforesaid  City,  merchant,  of 
lawful  age,  being  duly  sworn,  deposeth  and  saith,  that  he 
had  no  agency,  either  directly  or  indirectly,  in  causing  the 
Ship  Sally  (whereof  Andreiv  Taverner  was  master  at  the 
time  of  her  departure  from  this  port)  to  proceed  to  New- 
foundland, or  any  other  place  than  Falmouth,  or  some  other 
port  in  Great  Britain,  but  verily  believed  the  said  Taver- 
ner intended  to  proceed  directly  to  Falmouth,  or  some  other 
port  in  Great  Britain  as  aforesaid.  And  further  this  de- 
ponent saith,  in  order  to  impress  upon  the  said  Andrew 
Taverner's  mind  the  necessity  of  going  straightway  to  Fal- 
mouth, or  some  other  port  in  Great  Britain,  he  (this  depo- 
nent) reminded  him  of  the  solemnity  of  the  oath  he,  the 
said  1'averner,  had  taken,  and  also  furnished  him  with  a 
copy  of  the  same,  and  was  greatly  surprised  upon  hearing  the 
General  Committee  for  this  City  and  County  had  received 
intelligence  that  the  said  Taverner  was  arrived  at  the  land. 
And  further  saith  not.  Theophilact  Bache. 

Sworn  the  twenty-third  of  June,  1775,  before  me, 

D.  Matthews. 


1047 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  fee,  JUNE,  1175. 


1048 


JOSEPH  JOHNSON  (.\  MOHEGAN  INDIAN)  TO  NEW-YORK 
CONGHESS. 

New-York,  June  21,  1775. 
To  the  Honourable  the  Provincial  Congress  of  the  Colony 
o/New-York,  the  humble  Petition  of  Joseph  Johnson, 
a  licensed  Preacher  of  the  Gospel  amongst  seven  dijfer- 
ent  Tribes  of  New-England  Indians  and  the  Oneidas, 
humbly  sheweth : 

That  your  petitioner  hath  for  several  years  been  engaged 
amongst  the  Indians — for  some  years  as  a  schoolmaster 
amongst  the  Oneidas,  and  since  that  time  in  preaching  the 
Gospel  to  several  different  Nations  of  New-England  In- 
dians, and  to  the  Oneidas,  and  in  endeavouring  to  persuade 
the  Indians  to  a  civilized  life,  and  to  embrace  the  Christian 
religion.  Also  your  petitioner  humbly  sheweth,  that  a 
number  of  Neiv-England  Indians,  of  seven  different  tribes, 
having  become  poor  and  few  in  number,  were  adopted  by 
the  Oneida  Nation,  who  gave  them  a  tract  of  land  to  settle 
on.  That  your  petitioner,  with  a  number  of  the  said  New- 
England  Indians,  removed  to  the  Oneida  country  to  set- 
tle on  the  lands  given  to  them,  and  were  very  kindly  re- 
ceived, and  had  got  corn-fields  planted  and  gardens  made: 
That  false  reports  were  lately  spread  to  the  westward  that 
your  petitioner,  and  the  New-England  Indians  who  were 
with  him,  had  removed  to  the  westward,  in  pursuance  of  a 
design  formed  by  the  people  of  New-England  to  settle  in 
that  western  country,  and  that  they  might  thereby  have  an 
opportunity  of  gaining  the  favour  of  the  Upper  Nations,  and 
bring  them  to  their  way  of  thinking:  That  the  New-Eng- 
land Indians  were  afraid  that  ill  disposed  persons,  whose 
hearts  might  be  full  of  jealousy  and  prejudice,  might  induce 
some  of  the  distant  Indian  Nations  to  credit  such  false  re- 
ports, and  set  them  at  variance  with,  and  cause  them  to  fall 
on  and  take  up  the  hatchet  against  the  new  settled  Indians : 
That  therefore  the  New-England  Indians,  with  the  con- 
sent and  advice  of  the  Oneidas,  thought  best  for  their 
safety,  and  the  peace  of  the  country,  to  return  for  the  pre- 
sent from  whence  they  came,  until  the  present  troubles 
shall  be  ended:  That  most  part  of  the  said  New-England 
Indians  are  returned,  and  that  your  petitioner,  with  three 
others  of  the  said  Indians,  are  now  on  their  way  to  the 
eastward,  intending  to  proceed  by  the  way  of  New-London, 
which  is  near  their  former  place  of  abode  :  That  your  pe- 
titioner and  his  three  companions,  sensible  of  the  present 
troubles  and  difficulties  in  every  part  of  the  country,  are 
fearful  of  travelling  without  a  passport  or  a  letter  of  safe 
conduct,  which  may  afford  them  peace  and  protection  in 
their  journey,  and  are  also  so  poor  and  destitute  that  they 
are  utterly  unable  to  pursue  their  journey  without  the  chari- 
table aid  and  relief  of  the  benevolent  and  the  humane. 
Your  petitioner  therefore  humbly  prays  that  a  passport,  or  a 
letter  of  safe  conduct  and  protection,  may  be  graciously 
given  to  him  for  James  Shattock,  John  Shesnck,  Samuel 
Tallman,  and  himself,  to  pass  to  Neiv-London,  in  Connec- 
ticut, and  also  for  such  small  sum  to  aid  them  in  their 
journey  to  New-London  aforesaid,  as  to  this  honourable 
Congress  in  their  \visdom  shall  seem  meet.  And  your  pe- 
titioner, on  behalf  of  himself  and  his  above  named  com- 
panions, as  in  duty  bound  shall  ever  pray,  &ic. 

Joseph  Johnson. 
To  the  Honourable  the  Provincial  Congress  of  New-  York. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  A  GENTLEMAN  AT  NEW-YORK 
TO  HIS  FRIEND  IN  EDINBURGH,  SCOTLAND,  DATED  JUNE 

21,  1775. 

A  worthy  young  man,  an  Indian  Preacher,  with  three 
of  his  tribe,  just  arrived  from  the  iSi'r  Nations,  were  with 
me  this  morning.  They  are  come  to  wait  upon  our  Pro- 
vincial Congress,  now  sitting  in  this  City,  with  the  news 
that  the  Indian  Nations  are  determined  not  to  act  against 
the  Colonies.  They  also  inform  me  that  even  the  Cana- 
dian Indians  are  our  friends.  The  Continental  Congress 
have  recommended  it  in  the  warmest  manner  to  all  the 
Colonies,  to  observe  the  twentieth  of  next  month  as  a  Con- 
tinental fast.  A  regular  Army  of  seventy  thousand  men  is 
to  be  immediately  raised.  All  ranks  of  people  are  in  arms. 
Seventeen  regular  companies  are  already  formed  in  this 
City,  who  have  no  pay,  and  provide  themselves  with  uni- 
forms, arms,  and  ammunition.    Should  the  unhappy  con- 


test continue  six  months  longer,  it  is  very  probable  that  we 
will  have  near  two  hundred  thousand  bold,  resolute  men, 
disciplined  to  as  great  perfection  as  any  of  His  Majesty's 
Troops.  The  Provincial  Army,  at  present  at  Boston,  con- 
sists of  twenty  thousand  men,  and  increases  daily.  Gen. 
Wooster,  the  chief  commander  of  the  Connecticut  Troops, 
is  soon  to  encamp  near  the  City  with  two  thousand  men. 
It  is  a  gross  calumny  to  say  that  we  are  aiming  at  indepen- 
dency, for  our  political  principles  are  the  same  that  raised 
the  house  of  Hanover  to  the  throne  ;  and  were  your  Minis- 
ters to  adopt  these  principles,  we  would  immediately  lay 
down  our  arms. 


ALBANY  (NEW-YORK)  COMMITTEE  TO  THE  CONTINENTAL 
CONGRESS. 
[Read  before  Congress,  June  26,  1775.] 

Albany  Committee  Chamber,  June  21,  1775. 
To  the  Members  of  the  Continental  Congress: 

Gentlemen  :  Mi1.  Dirck  Suart,  a  member  of  this  Board, 
who  is  just  returned  from  Crown  Point,  brings  the  follow  - 
ing intelligence:  that  one  Mr.  Hay,  who  lives  about  ten 
miles  up  Lake  Champlain,  came  down  to  Croivn  Point, 
who  told  Colonel  Arnold  and  others  that  he  had  been  to 
Montreal  for  some  flour;  that  Governour  Carleton  had  him 
seized  and  confined  for  several  days;  that  by  the  interposi- 
tion of  the  English  merchants  of  that  place,  he  received 
liberty  to  return  home;  and  that  the  merchants  who  pro- 
cured him  the  pass  from  the  Lieutenant-Govemour,  desired 
him  to  go  down  to  Crou-n  Point  and  Ticonderoga  with  all 
speed,  and  communicate  to  the  commander  of  those  for- 
tresses that  the  French  Caug-hnawuira  Indians  had  taken 
up  the  hatchet,  but  that  they  refused  to  go  out  upon  any 
scouts  until  nine  of  their  men,  who  were  then  out,  returned  ; 
and  that  Governour  Carleton  was  giving  them  presents 
daily. 

We  are  very  sorry  to  inform  you  that,  from  a  number  of 
corroborating  circumstances,  we  have  but  too  much  reason 
to  believe  the  above  information  to  be  true,  and  more  espe- 
cially as  the  Troops,  which  amount  to  about  six  hundred 
men,  suffer  no  persons  coming  up  the  lake  to  pass  St.  John's 
if  they  can  avoid  it,  where  they  are  building  floating  batte- 
ries and  boats.  Mr.  Swart  also  acquaints  us  that  Mr.  Hay 
said  that  Governour  Carleton  had  asked  the  English  mer- 
chants to  take  up  arms  against  the  Yankees,  to  make  use 
of  his  own  phraseology  ;  that  the  merchants  refused  ;  upon 
which  he  told  them  that  he  would  set  the  Town  on  fire; 
when  the  merchants  said  he  was  welcome  to  do  so,  and 
added,  they  would  carry  as  much  fire  as  himself.  Mr.  Hay 
also  desired  Mr.  Swart,  if  he  should  happen  to  meet  Mr. 
Pierce,  he  should  request  him  not  to  proceed,  as  the  Eng- 
lish merchants  in  Canada  conceived  it  unsafe  for  him. 

The  forces  above  named  are  in  no  proper  state  of  de- 
fence, principally  owing  to  the  scarcity  of  powder;  of  which 
article  we  have  not  yet  been  able  to  send  up  more,  with  the 
supply  we  have  received  from  New- York,  than  three  hun- 
dred and  fifty  pounds  ;  which  quantity  is  altogether  insuffi- 
cient to  answer  the  purposes  intended,  and  of  little  service 
in  case  of  an  attack.  We  can  farther  inform  you  this  City 
is  not  half  supplied  (nor  frontier  inhabitants)  with  either 
powder  or  arms,  for  which  applications  have  been,  and  daily 
are  making  to  us ;  and  as  we  have  no  prospect  of  any  far- 
ther supply  from  New-York,  w-e  beg  to  be  assisted,  if  pos- 
sible, from  the  low  er  Governments,  with  all  the  despatch 
possible. 

We  should  also  desire  that  the  command  at  the  forts 
mhdit  be  settled.  Colonel  Hinrnan,  we  understood,  would 
have  taken  the  command  ;  but  by  his  appointment  from 
Governour  Trumbull,  his  orders  are  only  to  re-enforce  the 
garrisons  and  command  his  regiment ;  upon  which  Colonel 
Arnold  refused  to  resign.  We  therefore  conceive  it  highly 
necessary  that  a  matter  of  such  importance  should  be  set- 
tled with  all  speed.  The  above  we  are  also  informed  by 
Mr.  Swart,  who  was  present  and  heard  each  read  the  other's 
instructions. 

We  thought  it  our  indispensable  duty  to  acquaint  you 
of  these  matters,  and  therefore  send  them  to  you  per 

express. 

We  are,  gentlemen,  your  very  humble  servants.  By 
order  of  the  Committee  :  Samuel  Stringer, 

Chairman  pro  tempore. 


1049 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


1050 


CAPT.  BENJAMIN  CHAPMAN,  OF  THE  ROYAL  IRISH  OR  IStH 
REGIMENT  OF  FOOT,  TO  A  FRIEND  IN  IRELAND. 

Boston,  June  21,  1775. 
I  have  further  to  inform  you  (though  I  know  you  to  be 
an  advocate  for  the  Americans)  that  their  Grand  Conti- 
nental Congress  have  resolved,  in  order  to  force  Great 
Britain  to  confirm  the  wild  claims  they  have  set  up,  that 
they  will  do  their  utmost  to  ruin  the  commerce  of  Ireland, 
and  starve  their  fellow-subjects  in  the  West-Indies,  who 
never  injured  them.  And  in  their  address  to  the  people 
of  Canada,  after  inviting  them  to  join  in  their  illegal  oppo- 
sition, they  natter  them  with  the  enjoyment  and  prosperity 
of  a  religion  which,  in  their  address  to  the  people  of  Great 
Britain,  they  themselves  say  is  fraught  with  the  most  im- 
pious and  sanguinary  tenets.  Many  of  their  Provincial 
Conventions  have  resolved  not  to  pay  their  debts  to  the  Bri- 
tish merchants,  nor  will  they  sutler  any  legal  process  to  be 
resorted  to  upon  that  account ;  thus  trampling  on  every  prin- 
ciple of  humanity,  candour,  and  common  honesty.  When 
the  unprejudiced  eye  of  posterity  shall  cast  a  retrospect 
view  on  those  dark  transactions,  how  will  they  be  amazed 
that  a  party  could  be  found  so  shameless  as  to  defend  them 
in  Parliament.  Matters  about  Boston  wear  a  truly  warlike 
aspect.  The  Army  of  the  rebels  consists  of  at  least  fifteen 
thousand  men,  and  are  daily  increasing.  They  are,  besides, 
possessed  of  a  considerable  number  of  artillery  :  and  when 
we  consider  the  enlhusiastick  disposition  of  those  infatua- 
ted people  ;  that  the  pulpits  and  publick  meetings  breathe 
nothing  but  sedition  ;  that  the  people  are  in  the  most  slavish 
subjection  to  the  priests  and  demagogues;  it  can  no  longer 
remain  a  matter  of  surprise  if  (to  use  their  own  phrase) 
they  resist  even  unto  death.  The  Continental  Congress 
has  been  sitting  since  the  tenth  of  May :  their  deliberations 
are  wonderfully  secret;  the  few  Resolves  that  have  trans- 
pired are  mostly  inflammatory  ;  their  High  Mightinesses 
now  appear  in  various  capacities;  they  have  erected  them- 
selves into  a  court  of  Star-Chamber,  and  have  already  tried 
and  passed  sentence  on  several  delinquents  who  have  dared 
to  contravene  their  inquisitorial  decrees  ;  in  short,  they  are  as 
omnipotent  in  this  quarter  of  the  globe  as  any  earthly  power 
can  be.  1  will  not  hazard  a  conjecture  on  the  steps  that 
may  be  pursued  by  Parliament  on  this  important,  this  un- 
paralleled crisis.  America  seems  determined  not  to  recede  ; 
should,  therefore,  Great  Britain  relax,  I  fear  her  laurels 
will  wither  on  her  brows,  and  that  her  sun  of  glory  will  soon 
set  to  rise  no  more.  My  knowledge  of  the  Americans  is 
founded  on  long  experience,  from  their  own  writings,  and 
from  my  intimacy  with  many  of  the  first  characters  amongst 
them  ;  rely  upon  it,  their  aim  is  independency.  My  Lords, 
the  planters  in  the  South,  have  long  plumed  themselves  on 
the  prospect  of  an  approaching  aristocracy  ;  whilst  the  level- 
lers in  the  North  already  enjoy,  by  anticipation,  their  adored 
republick.  The  honour  and  dignity  of  Great  Britain,  as 
well  as  the  securing  the  rights  of  Parliament,  call  for  an 
exertion  of  military  power.  I  cannot  fight  in  a  more  just,  a 
more  noble  cause  ;  every  other  consideration  must  give  way 
to  this  ;  nor  do  I  wish  to  quit  America  until  her  dependance 
on  the  Parent  State  is  effectually  secured,  and  my  much 
injured  Country's  rights  fixed  on  the  most  solid  basis. 


STOCKBRIDGE  INDIANS  TO  MASSACHUSETTS  CONGKESS. 

Stockbridge,  June  21,  1775. 
We,  whose  names  are  hereunto  subscribed,  being  soldiers 
enlisted  to  serve  in  the  Provincial  Army  during  summer,  beg 
leave  to  lay  this  our  request  before  you.  We,  in  our  more 
serious  hours,  reflect  with  shame  upon  our  aptness  to  drink 
spirituous  liquors  to  excess  when  we  are  under  temptation  ; 
by  which  foolish  conduct,  when  we  are  guilty  of  it.  we 
render  ourselves  unfit  for  usefulness  and  service  to  our  fel- 
low-men, and  also  disagreeable  to  those  that  have  any  thing 
to  do  with  us.  We  are  sensible  that  we  injure  ourselves 
more  than  any  one  else.  When  we  get  a  taste,  we  must 
some  of  us  with  shame  say,  that  sometimes  no  interest  of 
our  own  will  prevent  us  from  procuring  more,  till  we  get  too 
much.  We  therefore  desire  you  would,  in  your  wisdom,  do 
something,  during  our  residence  there,  that  we  may  get  so 
much  as  will  be  good  for  us,  and  no  more.  We  further  desire 
you  to  order  the  Paymaster-General  to  pay  all  our  wages, 
that  is  now  or  may  be  due  to  us  when  we  are  dismissed, 
to  Timothy  Edwards  or  Jahiel  Woodbridge,  Esquires, 


Delegates  from  the  Town  of  Stockbridge,  and  to  them 
only  or  their  order,  that  they  may  be  enabled  to  provide  for 
us  while  we  are  here  what  we  may  necessarily  want,  and 
bring  all  the  rest  home,  that  it  may  be  altogether,  and  divide 
it  among  us  as  we  like. 

JehoiaJcim  Navnuptauk, 
Abraham  Koukpoot, 
Moses  Anhhheckhurinauhoot, 
Cornelius  Paupoumham, 
William  Natauksen, 
John  Oasauwampummunk, 
Abraham  Naunaumpretaunkey, 
Benjamin  Waunnehuaumel , 
Daniel  Wauyumpskeynunnaunt , 
Jchoiakim  Astoksim, 
Samuel  Squintrop, 
Joseph  Shackheakauwoh, 
Jacob  Tusnuk, 
Thomas  Hickimmun, 
David  Naunaivnecknauck , 
Bill  Notaukscn, 
John  Shepaunerwaunkun. 
To  the  Hon.  Joseph  Warren,  President  of  Provincial  Con- 
gress sitting  at  Watertown;  to  be  communicated. 


THOMAS  TWINING  TO  THE  MASSACHUSETTS  CONGKESS. 

To  the  Honourable  Provincial  Congress  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts-Bay : 

May  it  please  your  Honours:  Deeply  impressed 
with  a  sense  of  the  weighty  task  you  have  to  perform,  in 
the  management  of  our  publick  affairs  at  this  difficult  and 
alarming  crisis,  and  how  necessary  it  is  that  many  of  your 
deliberations  and  resolves  should  be  kept  a  profound  se- 
cret from  the  enemies  of  our  common  liberties,  whether 
foreign  invaders  or  our  own  domestick  traitors ;  and  hum- 
bly apprehending  that  one  Mr.  Amos  Knowles,  Jun.,  from 
the  Town  of  East  ham,  hath  behaved  in  such  a  manner  as 
to  give  just  ground  to  suspect  his  fidelity  to  his  Country ; 
and  even  to  suppose  him  inimical  thereto,  your  petitioner, 
in  behalf  of  himself  and  of  the  Association  in  Eastham, 
thinking  it  a  duty  incumbent  on  him  so  to  do,  as  a  member 
of  society,  begs  leave  to  represent  to  your  Honours,  that 
the  said  Knowles,  who  now  hath  a  seat  in  said  Congress, 
hath  been  an  op  poser  of  the  common  cause  of  this  Coun- 
try, and  hath  frequently  exclaimed  against  Congresses  and 
the  present  mode  of  opposition,  as  may  appear  by  the  pa- 
pers herewith  presented.  And  your  petitioner,  apprehend- 
ing a  known  enemy  to  our  Country  ought  not  to  be  allowed 
a  seat  in  said  Congress,  lest  he  might  thereby  betray  its 
secret  plans  to  our  common  enemy,  humbly  prays  your 
Honours  to  take  the  matter  into  consideration,  and  expel 
him  from  said  Congress,  or  otherwise  deal  with  him  as  you 
in  your  wisdom  shall  judge  proper.  And  your  petitioner,  as 
in  duty  bound,  shall  ever  pray. 

Your  petitioner  begs  leave  further  to  represent,  that  the 
said  Knowles  was  one  whom  the  Committee  of  Corres- 
pondence of  the  Town  of  Eastham  thought  it  their  duty 
to  discriminate  and  disarm,  in  consequence  of  recommenda- 
tions from  the  late  Congress,  but  did  not  think  it  prudent 
to  attempt  it,  knowing  said  Knoivlcs  had  a  considerable 
party  of  similar  principles  and  conduct,  who  had  before 
armed  themselves  to  oppose  some  publick  measures. 

Thomas  Twining. 

To  the  Friends  of  Liberty,  to  whom  the  bearer  hereof 
shall  apply  himself: 
This  may  certify,  that  we,  the  subscribers,  do  hereby 
ask  your  advice  and  assistance  on  the  important  matters 
that  shall  be  laid  before  you  by  our  worthy  friend,  Mr. 
Thomas  Twining,  relating  to  the  great  and  intolerable 
difficulties  between  the  Whigs  and  Tories  in  this  Town. 
Although  we  are  a  minority,  our  number  of  zealous  friends 
will,  we  hope,  be  thought  sufficient  to  gain  some  notice. 
Mr.  Twining  is  one  whose  veracity  may  be  relied  on  ;  and 
if  by  ibis  messenger  we  gain  no  relief,  we  see  nothing  but 
we  must  submit  to  the  mercy  of  the  Tories  in  this  place. 

Job  Crocker,  Thomas  Gould, 

Nathaniel  Mayo,     Eliakim  Higgins, 
Thomas  Paine,         John  Davis. 
Eastham,  June  12,  1775. 


1051 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  he,  JUNE,  1775. 


1052 


Whereas  it  liatli  happened  that  many  transactions  in 
this  Town,  relating  to  our  publick  grievances  hath  been 
carried  on  much  to  the  contrary  of  the  minds  of  many  of 
the  inhabitants  of  this  Town,  by  which  it  hath  made  many 
parties  and  a  great  division  in  this  Town,  and  we  do  look 
upon  it  as  a  great  judgment  from  Heaven  upon  us  for  our 
sins ;  wherefore  it  hath  been  moved  by  some,  that  each 
party  would  meet  and  assemble  together,  to  see  if  we  could 
not  unite,  both  in  love  and  unity,  among  ourselves  with 
our  free  countrymen,  in  standing  with  them  for  our  rights, 
liberty,  and  privileges.  And  accordingly  the  two  parties 
did  agree,  met,  and  assembled  themselves  together  at  the 
South  Meeting-House  in  Eastham,  on  the  first  day  of 
December,  in  the  year  one  thousand  seven  bundled  and 
seventy-four,  and  then  both  parties  mutually  agreed  to 
choose  a  Committee  out  of  each  party,  and  accordingly 
proceeded  and  chose  two  Committees,  one  out  of  each 
party — seven  out  of  one,  and  five  out  of  the  other — in  order 
to  consult  and  draw  up  such  resolves  as  they  thought  most 
proper  and  best  for  peace  and  unity  among  ourselves  and 
free  countrymen.  Accordingly  we,  the  subscribers,  being 
two  Committees,  did  meet  at  the  dwelling  house  of  Mr. 
Thomas  Twining,  in  Eastham,  on  Tuesday,  the  sixth  day 
of  December,  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  seventy- 
four,  at  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  then  did  resolve, 
in  the  first  place,  to  pass  by  and  overlook  all  past  conduct 
among  ourselves  and  towards  our  free  countrymen,  and  for 
all  past  injuries  to  be  buried  in  oblivion  towards  all  those 
that  will  join  in  the  following  Resolves: 

In  the  first  place,  we,  the  subscribers,  do  mutually  agree 
and  resolve,  that  we  will  freely  and  willingly  unite  and  join 
with  our  free  countrymen  in  defence  of  our  sacred  rights, 
privileges,  and  liberties. 

Secondly.  We  will  unite  and  join  our  Continental,  Pro- 
vincial, and  County  Congresses,  and  with  all  others  of  our 
Congresses,  so  far  as  shall  be  agreeable  to  the  Continental 
Congress.  That  we  will  do  our  utmost  to  uphold  and 
defend  our  liberties  and  rights. 

Thirdly  and  lastly.  We  do  and  shall  look  upon  all  those 
that  will  not  stand  for  their  rights,  liberty,  property,  and 
religion,  as  enemies  to  their  Country,  and  shall  ever  deem 
them  so  till  there  be  a  reformation  found  in  them. 

Fourthly.  We  desire  that  these  our  Resolves  may  be, 
as  soon  as  possible,  published  throughout  the  whole  Con- 
tinent. JONA.  DoANE,  JoNA.  LlNNEL,  Jr. 

Edward  Knowles,  Wm.  Myrick,  Jr. 
Samuel  Doane,  Jr., 


At  a  meeting  of  the  freeholders  and  other  inhabitants  of 
the  Town  of  Eastham,  legally  warned  and  assembled,  at 
the  North  Meeting-House,  the  20th  of  February,  A.  D. 
1775:  Deacon  Edward  Knowles,  Moderator. 

The  Assembly  voted  to  dismiss  the  Committee  of 
Correspondence  chosen  at  a  meeting  held  at  the  South 
Meeting-House,  22d  February,  1774,  for  this  Town,  and 
also  voted  to  choose  another,  viz:  Mr.  Theophilus  Hop- 
kins, Capt.  Edward  Knowles,  Capt.  Amos  Knowles,  Jun., 
Major  Solomon  Pepper,  and  Mr.  John  Yates. 

Voted,  also,  the  Town's  disapprobation  and  dismission 
of  Messrs.  Thomas  Paine,  Job  Crocker,  and  Isaiah  Hig- 
gins,  from  any  business  as  a  Committee  of  Inspection, 
(who  were  chosen  by  the  County  Congress  at  their  last 
meeting  at  Barnstable,  for  a  Committee  of  Inspection  for 
this  Town,  to  see  that  the  Resolves  of  the  Congresses  and 
Association  are  observed  and  put  in  execution.) 

Also,  voted  to  choose  a  Committee  of  three  men,  viz: 
Messrs.  Amos  Knowles,  Junior,  Benjamin  Iliggins,  and 
John  Doane,  as  a  Committee  of  Inspection,  (to  join  with 
a  former  Committee  chosen  at  a  meeting  held  at  the  South 
Meeting-House,  3d  of  January,  1775,)  to  see  that  the  Re- 
solves of  the  Congresses  and  Association  are  observed  and 
put  in  execution. 

The  Town  also  voted  their  charge  to  the  abovesaid  Com- 
mittee, that  they  strictly  adhere  to  their  office,  and  see  that 
all  the  Resolves  of  the  Congresses  are  observed  and  put  in 
execution  in  this  Town  which  are  agreeable  to  the  Conti- 
nental Congress. 

And,  also,  voted  to  make  null  and  void  the  vote  which 
passed  in  this  Town,  at  a  meeting  held  at  the  South  Meet- 
ing-House, 3d  of  January,  1775,  for  the  Constables,  viz: 


Messrs.  Job  Crocker  and  Willard  Knowles,  Junior,  to  pay 
the  Province  Tax  assessed  in  their  bills  to  Henry  Gardner, 
Esquire,  of  Stow,  taking  his  receipt. 

Attest:  Gideon  Baty,  Town  Clerk. 

The  within  has  been  compared  by  the  Committee  of 
Correspondence,  and  found  to  be  a  true  copy  of  an  attest- 
ed copy  of  said  meeting. 

Isaac  Sparrow,  ^ 

Joseph  Cole,       I    Committee  of 

John  Davis,         f  Correspondence. 

Thomas  Twining,  J 

Eastham,  February  21,  1775. 

Whereas  it  appears  to  us  that  a  number  of  men  in  this 
Town  have  been,  and  still  are  using  their  influence  and 
power  in  opposition  to  the  measures  adopted  by  the  Ame- 
ricans to  recover,  preserve,  and  maintain  those  rights  and 
privileges  which  our  illustrious  ancestors  so  nobly  contend- 
ed for,  and  have  handed  down  to  us  as  a  fair  inheritance : 
Now,  in  order  to  free  ourselves  as  much  as  possible  from 
the  embarrassments  of  those  men,  and  to  convince  the 
world  that  we  are  determined  to  persevere  in  joining  our 
American  brethren  in  their  noble  efforts  to  throw  off  the 
yoke  of  tyranny,  we  think  it  highly  expedient  to  form  our- 
selves into  an  Association.  Therefore  we,  the  subscribers, 
mutually  agree  and  associate  ourselves  under  the  name  and 
title  of  Freeholders  and  Freemen  of  the  Association  of  the 
Town  of  Eastham;  and  do  hereby  pledge  our  faith  to 
each  other  that  we  will  abide  by  the  Association  resolves, 
and  recommendations  of  the  Continental,  our  Provincial, 
and  this  County  Congresses,  (so  far  as  they  are  made  pub- 
lick,)  to  the  utmost  of  our  power;  and  also,  that  we  will 
abide  by  the  regulations  and  regular  votes,  resolves,  and 
agreements  that  shall  be  hereafter  made  by  this  Associa- 
tion for  the  purposes  before  mentioned,  of  recovering,  se- 
curing, and  maintaining  our  just  rights  and  privileges. 

Witness  our  hands : 

Thomas  Linnel,  Elnathan  Snow,  Thomas  Paine, 

Elkanah  Young,  Solomon  Higgins,        Isaiah  Higgins, 

Jonathan  Twining,       Prince  Rogers,  Thomas  Twining, 

John  Cole,  John  Gould,  Edmund  Freeman, 

Oliver  Arey,  Samuel  Knowles,         Asa  Mayo, 

Jesse  Higgins,  Theophilus  Mayo,       Jonathan  Linnel, 

Barnabas  Twining,       Isaac  Young,  Thomas  Rogers, 

Jud.is  Rogers,  Isaac  Higgins,  Moses  Higgins, 

Thomas  Linnel,  3d,      Isaac  Hopkins,  Gershom  Cole, 

Stephen  Snow,  James  Rogers,  Joshua  Doane, 

Edmund  Snow,  Isaac  Sparrow,  Jr.,       Joseph  Cole, 

Nathaniel  Mayo,  John  Atwood,  Thomas  Brown, 

Elkanah  Higgins,         Zaceheus  Higgins,       Isaac  Sparrow, 
Job  Crocker,  Gideon  Freeman,         Jonathan  Linnel,  3d, 

Prince  Freeman,  Samuel  Rogers,  Heman  Linnel, 

Joshua  Cole,  Princu  Snow,  Thomas  Arey, 

Thomas  Rogers,  Jr.,     John  Linnel,  David  Higgins, 

Jesse  Kenny,  Joseph  Mayo,  Jr.,         Eleaz.  Freeman,  Jr., 

Joseph  Hopkins,  Jonathan  Snow,  Solomon  Rogers, 

Elkanah  Cole,  Joshua  Gould,  Jonathan  Rogers, 

Gideon  Higgins,  Joshua  Knowles,  Joshua  Mayo, 

Isaac  Cole,  Christian  Remick,        Josiah  Knowles, 

Elijah  Twining,  Simeon  Higgins,  Jr.,     Prince  Twining, 

Yates  Nickerson,  Eliakim  Higgins,  Joshua  Crosby, 
Philip  Young,  Reuben  Colo,  Bryan  Martin, 

Sylvanus  Higgins,       John  Davis,  Seth  Higgins, 

Freeman  Higgins,        Nathaniel  Paine,  Isaac  Paine, 

Christ.  Reruick,  Jr.,     David  Rich,  Nathaniel  Cole, 

Richard  Cook,  Joseph  Pepper,  Asa  Nickerson, 

Joseph  Hurd,  Enoch  Linnel,  Joseph  Smith,  3d, 

Theoph.  Mayo,  Jr.,      Daniel  Cole,  Jr.,  Zaceheus  Higgins.Jr. 

A  true  copy,  examined  : 

Isaac  Sparrow,  Association  Clerk. 


Eastham,  May  26,  1775. 

We,  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  for  the  Town 
and  Association  of  Eastham,  in  compliance  with  a  Resolve 
of  the  Provincial  Congress  of  the  12th  of  April,  1775, 
render  to  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  for  the  Coun- 
ty of  Barnstable  the  following,  which  is  a  true  state  of  the 
conduct  of  the  Town  of  Eastham,  with  respect  to  their 
having  executed  each  plan  recommended  by  the  Continen- 
tal and  Provincial  Congresses : 

The  Town  of  Eastham,  at  a  legal  meeting,  voted  that 
the  Constables  for  the  year  1775  might  pay  the  Province 
money  in  their  hands  to  Henry  Gardner,  Esquire,  taking 
his  receipt ;  but  soon  after,  at  a  meeting  at  the  North 
Meeting-House,  called  by  the  Selectmen  by  the  request  of 
Amos  Knowles,  Junior,  Gideon  Baty,  Theophilus  Hop- 


1053 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


1054 


tdm,  Thomas  Harding,  David  Young,  Jonathan  Doane, 
Esquire,  Amos  Knowles,  John  Taylor,  John  Doane,  Jun., 
Benjamin  Doane,  and  Samuel  Doane,  did  reconsider  the 
said  vote,  and  made  it  null  and  void ;  but  have  since,  in 
consequence  of  a  Resolve  of  the  Congress,  passed  the  31st 
of  March,  1775,  recommending  to  the  several  Towns  and 
Districts  that  they  oblige  their  several  Constables  and  Col- 
lectors to  pay  the  balances  due  from  them  to  the  Province, 
&c,  did  vote  that  Mr.  Job  Crocker  and  Mr.  Willard 
Knowles,  Junior,  late  Constables,  pay  the  Province  money 
in  their  hands  to  Henry  Gardner,  Esquire,  taking  his  re- 
ceipt, and  that  Mr.  Jonathan  Linnel,  3d,  and  Mr.  Jesse 
Cole,  Constables  for  the  year  1774,  should  pay  the  Prov- 
ince money  assessed  in  their  bills  to  Henry  Gardner,  Esq., 
taking  his  receipt  when  it  was  collected. 

Isaac  Sparrow, 
Joseph  Cole, 
Thomas  Paine, 
Committee  of  Correspondence  for  the  Town  of  Eastham. 

N.  B.  The  Resolve  for  the  above  fell  into  the  hands  of 
the  Town  Clerk,  and  never  hath  been  communicated  to 
the  publick,  and  we  were  not  able  to  obtain  it  until  this 
day  we  were  favoured  with  one  from  Colonel  JSathaniel 
Frenman,  of  Sandwich. 

Eastham,  May  26,  1775. 

The  following  is  a  true  state  of  the  transactions  of  the 
Town  of  Eastham,  since  February  22,  1774: 

The  Committee  of  Correspondence  of  the  Town  of  East- 
ham were  first  chosen  by  the  freeholders  and  other  inhabi- 
tants of  the  Town,  from  twenty-one  years  old  and  upwards, 
and  have  acted  ever  since  in  that  capacity,  without  molesta- 
tion, with  this  exception  :  At  a  meeting  of  the  inhabitants 
of  the  Town  of  Eastham,  qualified  by  law  to  vote  in  town 
meetings,  called  by  the  Selectmen,  at  the  request  of  Amos 
Knowles,  Junior,  and  others,  for  the  purposes  of  regulating 
a  vote  of  this  Town,  passed  at  a  legal  town  meeting,  di- 
recting the  Collectors  for  the  year  1774,  to  pay  the  Pro- 
vincial money  assessed  in  their  bills  to  Henry  Gardner, 
Esquire,  of  Stoiv,  taking  his  receipt ;  also,  to  dismiss  the 
Committee  of  Inspection,  viz:  Messrs.  Thomas  Paine, 
Job  Crocker,  and  Isaiah  Higgins,  appointed  by  the  Coun- 
ty Congress  to  see  that  the  resolves  and  recommendations 
of  the  several  Congresses  are  put  in  execution  in  this  Town, 
and  to  choose  others  in  their  room  ;  and  also  to  dissolve 
the  above  Committee  of  Correpondence,  and  to  choose 
another  in  their  room,  did  then  and  there  presume  to  dis- 
solve said  Committee,  and  chose  Messrs.  Theophilus  Hop- 
kins, Edward  Knowles,  Amos  Knowles,  Junior,  Solomon 
Pepper,  and  John  Yates,  a  Committee  of  Correspondence, 
who  have  never  appeared  to  act  in  that  capacity. 

The  recommendations  of  the  Provincial  Congress  for 
choosing  a  Delegate  came  to  hand  on  the  evening  of  Fri- 
day, the  19th  instant ;  and  from  the  former  conduct  of  our 
Selectmen,  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  thought  it 
best  for  them  to  call  a  meeting  for  the  purpose  of  choosing 
said  member  or  members  as  above ;  proceeded  to  notify 
said  meeting,  by  posting  up  in  the  usual  places  for  notifi- 
cations in  this  Town  an  exact  copy  of  the  recommendation 
and  resolve  of  said  Congress,  desiring  the  freeholders  and 
other  inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Eastham,  qualified  to 
vote  for  Representatives,  to  assemble  at  the  South  Meet- 
ing-House  in  said  Town,  on  Wednesday,  the  24th  of  this 
instant,  May,  at  two  o'clock,  P.  M.,  then  and  there  to  act 
as  they  shall  think  proper.  In  compliance  with  the  said 
recommendation,  the  people  met  at  the  time  and  place, 
and  chose  Captain  Isaac  Sparrow  Moderator.  The  Town 
Clerk  was  desired  to  take  his  place,  and  record  the  pro- 
ceedings of  said  meeting,  which  he  refused.  The  Town 
then  chose  Mr.  Thomas  Paine  to  record  the  proceedings 
of  said  meeting.  The  question  being  put,  whether  they 
would  choose  a  member  to  represent  them  in  said  Con- 
gress, it  passed  in  the  affirmative ;  when  Mr.  Amos 
Knowles,  Junior,  was  chosen  by  a  majority  of  two  votes, 
including  the  votes  of  twelve  persons  whom  the  Committee 
of  Correspondence  had  agreed  to  discriminate  from  those 
who  were  friendly  to  their  Country,  which  thing  was  at- 
tempted, but  could  not  be  done  by  reason  of  there  being 
so  great  a  number  of  opposers.  And  whereas  the  said 
Amos  Knowles,  Junior,  is  chosen  as  above,  who,  for  ought 


we  know,  may  obtain  a  seat  in  Congress,  we  find  ourselves 
constrained  to  mention  that  three  of  us  have  heard  him 
accuse  the  Provincial  Congress  of  acting  in  said  capacity 
from  selfish  views.  Some  other  things  of  the  like  nature 
we  might  mention,  but  for  brevity's  sake  omit  them. 

Isaac  Sparrow, 
Joseph  Cole, 
Committee  of  Correspondence  for  the  Town. 

Thomas  Twining, 
Gideon  Freeman, 
Committee  of  the  Association. 

Eastham,  June  16,  1775. 
I,  Jonathan  Linnel,  of  Eastham,  of  lawful  age,  testify 
that,  on  the  eleventh  of  April  last,  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Josiah 
Myrick,  I  heard  Amos  Knowles,  Junior,  declare  that  what 
the  Continental  Congress  had  done  was  worse  than  nothing. 
Further  saith  not.  Jonathan  Linnel. 

Barnstable,  ss.,  June  16,  1775: 

Then  Jonathan  Linnel,  after  being  carefully  examined 
and  cautioned  to  tell  the  whole  truth,  made  solemn  oath 
to  the  within  deposition,  by  him  subscribed  to,  taken  at  the 
desire  of  several  inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Eastham,  to 
be  used  in  their  behalf  at  the  Provincial  Congress  now  sit- 
ting at  Watertown ;  the  adverse  party,  Mr.  Amos  Knowles, 
Junior,  being  at  Watertown  aforesaid,  not  notified  nor  pie- 
sent  at  the  taking  of  this  deposition. 

Before  me: 

John  Greenough,  Justice  of  the  Peace. 

Samitel  Paine,  of  lawful  age,  testifieth  and  saith,  on  the 
twenty-fourth  day  of  May  last,  as  he  was  walking  with 
Amos  Knowles,  Junior,  that  said  Knoivles  said  to  me,  that 
some  measures  the  Congress  had  taken  were  as  much  tyran- 
ny as  those  at  home.  Samuel  Paine. 

Barnstable,  ss.,  June  16,  A.  D.  1775: 

Then  Samuel  Paine,  after  being  carefully  examined  and 
cautioned  to  tell  the  whole  truth,  made  solemn  oath  to  the 
truth  of  the  above  deposition,  by  him  subscribed  to,  taken 
at  the  desire  of  several  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  Town  of 
Eastham,  to  be  used  in  their  behalf  at  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress now  sitting  at  Watertown;  the  adverse  party,  Mr. 
Amos  Knowles,  Junior,  being  at  Wutertown  aforesaid,  not 
notified  nor  present  at  the  taking  this  deposition. 

Before  me : 

John  Greenough,  Justice  of  the  Peace. 

Eastham,  June  15,  1775. 
We,  Joseph  Cole  and  Isaac  Sparroiv,  both  of  Eastham, 
of  lawful  age,  testify,  that  in  January  last,  we  heard  Amos 
Knowles,  Junior,  exclaim  against  the  Resolves  of  the 
Provincial  Congress,  because  they  allowed  the  Towns  to 
send  as  many  members  to  Congress  as  they  thought  pro- 
per, because  those  Towns  near  the  Congress  could  keep 
more  members  at  the  Congress  than  those  Towns  that  were 
remote,  and  by  that  means  they  could  carry  points  in  the 
Congress  as  they  pleased,  to  serve  their  own  sinister  ends  ; 
and  further  saith  not.  Joseph  Cole, 

Isaac  Sparrow. 

Barnstable,  ss.,  June  16,  A.  D.  1775: 

Then  Joseph  Cole  and  Isaac  Sparroiv,  after  being  care- 
fully examined  and  cautioned  to  tell  the  whole  truth,  made 
solemn  oath  to  the  truth  of  the  within  deposition,  by  them 
subscribed  to,  taken  at  the  desire  of  several  inhabitants  of 
the  Town  of  Eastham,  to  be  used  in  their  behalf  at  the 
Provincial  Congress  now  sitting  at  Watertown;  the  ad- 
verse party,  Mr.  Amos  Knowles,  Junior,  being  at  Water- 
town  aforesaid,  not  notified  nor  present  at  the  taking  this 
deposition.    Before  me : 

John  Greenough,  Justice  of  the  Peace. 

Eastham,  June  15,  1775. 
I,  Jonathan  Linnel,  the  3d,  of  Eastham,  of  lawful  age, 
testify,  that  I  have,  at  divers  times,  heard  Amos  Knowles, 
Junior,  of  Eastham,  exclaim  against  Congresses,  and  in 
particular,  some  time  in  April  last,  did  hear  him  say,  if 


1055 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


1056 


this  Province  had  chosen  so  many  of  the  worst  men  in 
said  Province,  and  they  had  studied  to  do  mischief,  they 
could  not  have  done  more  mischief  than  the  Continental 
Congress  had  done,  and  that  the  Continental  Congress 
assumed  more  prerogative  power  than  the  British  Parlia- 
ment had  done.    Further  saith  not. 

Jonathan  Linnel,  3d. 

Barnstable,  ss.,  June  16,  1775: 

Then  Jonathan  Linnet,  the  3d,  after  being  carefully  ex- 
amined and  cautioned  to  tell  the  whole  truth,  made  solemn 
oath  to  the  truth  of  the  above  deposition,  by  him  subscribed 
to,  taken  at  the  desire  of  several  inhabitants  of  the  Town 
of  Eastham,  to  be  used  in  their  behalf  at  the  Provincial 
Congress  now  silting  at  IVaterfown ;  the  adverse  party, 
Mr.  Amos  Knowles,  Junior,  being  at  IVatertown  aforesaid, 
not  notified  nor  present  at  the  taking  this  deposition. 

Before  me : 

John  Greenough,  Justice  of  the  Peace. 

Report  of  a  Committee  of  the  Provincial  Congress  on  the 
Complaint  against  Amos  Knowles. 
The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  petition  of 
Thomas  Twining,  in  behalf  of  himself  and  the  Association 
of  Eastham,  praying  that  Mr.  Amos  Knowles,  Junior,  a 
member  of  this  Congress,  may  be  expelled  his  seat,  after 
flue  notice  given,  have  heard  the  parties  and  the  allega- 
tions. 

It  appears  to  this  Committee,  by  depositions,  and  by  the 
evidence  of  persons  present,  that  l\lr.  Knowles  has,  at  sun- 
dry times  and  at  divers  places,  expressed  himself  against 
the  Continental  and  Provincial  Congresses,  and  has  been 
one  of  the  heads  of  a  large  party  in  said  Eastham,  which 
party  have  been  esteemed  by  the  other  part  of  the  people 
in  that  Town,  and  by  people  in  other  Towns  in  that  Coun- 
ty, unfriendly  to  the  publick  measures  taken  by  the  people 
of  this  Congress  for  the  defence  of  their  just  rights  and 
liberties. 

Mr.  Knowles,  in  his  defence,  says,  he  has  always  been 
friendly  to  his  Country,  but  has  differed  in  sentiments  from 
the  people  in  his  Town  cf  the  other  party,  who  call  them- 
selves Whigs,  as  to  the  mode  of  redress.  That  there  has 
been  an  unhappy  party  spirit  prevailing  there  for  some 
time,  appears. 

And  Mr.  Knowles  says,  there  is  prejudice  in  the  minds 
of  his  opposers  arising  from  thence,  and  desires  he  may 
have  opportunity  of  clearing  his  character  nearer  home, 
where,  he  says,  he  can  produce  a  plenty  of  evidence  in  his 
favour. 

This  Committee  are  therefore  of  the  opinion,  that  Mr. 
KnovAes  leave  his  seat  in  this  House,  and  have  opportunity 
to  procure  the  evidence  he  desires  in  his  favour. 

And  as  it  appears  the  Town  of  Eastham  are  nearly  di- 
vided into  parties,  which  may  tend  to  the  utter  subversion 
of  peace  and  good  order  there,  unless  means  may  be  found 
for  a  happy  settlement  among  them,  this  Committee  there- 
fore are  further  of  the  opinion,  that  the  most  likely  method 
for  accomplishing  that  desired  effect  is,  that  all  the  good 
people  of  Eastham,  by  their  agents,  chosen  by  themselves 
for  each  party  respectively,  attend  the  next  meeting  of  the 
Committees  of  Correspondence  for  the  County  of  Barn- 
stable, with  such  evidence  as  they  shall  think  proper,  and 
endeavour  a  friendly  settlement ;  and  that  it  be  recom- 
mended to  the  said  Committee  of  Correspondence,  that 
they  use  their  best  endeavours  for  the  same  ;  and  that  the 
present  dispute  respecting  Mr.  Knowlts's  right  to  a  seat, 
in  the  mean  while  subside. 
(Not  accepted.) 


REV.  SAMUEL  WEBSTER  TO  THE  NEW-HAMPSHIRE  COMMIT- 
TEE OF  SAFETY. 

Temple,  June  21,  1775. 
Gentlemen:  I  mentioned  to  you  Mr.  Isaac  Howe,  of 
New-Ipswich,  as  a  person  I  imagined  suitable  to  be  ap- 
pointed Quartermaster  of  Colonel  Bead's  Regiment.  I 
have  since  seen  Mr.  lloivc,  and  find  he  is  willing  to  take 
the  place,  which  1  was  doubtful  of  when  I  found  that  the 
wages  was  only  three  pounds  per  month.  If  you  have  not 
appointed  one  before  this  reaches  you,  I  hope  you  will 


bear  him  in  mind;  he  is,  I  think,  a  person  of  very  good 
capacity  and  property,  has  been  in  the  Army,  and  has,  as 
he  tells  me,  the  approbation  of  Colonel  Bead.  He  is  of  fair 
character,  and  much  used  to  publick  business.  1  have  said 
enough  for  me,  and  I  trust  you  will  do  right.  Pray,  gen- 
tlemen, don't  forget  or  neglect  to  give  directions  to  the 
Committee  of  Supplies  to  get  ready,  as  soon  as  possible, 
five  hundred  or  one  thousand  bayonets.  It  is  barbarous  to 
let  men  be  obliged  to  oppose  bayonets  with  only  gun-barrels, 
and  perhaps  no  ammunition.  If  many  are  provided,  they 
will  suit  somewhere ;  an  armourer  will  soon  fix  the  sight. 
Enough  may  be  found  to  make  them,  if  they  are  set  to 
work.  A  man  that  was  in  the  engagement  on  Saturday, 
tells  me  they  suffered  egregiously  for  the  want  of  bayonets, 
as  well  as  powder  and  ball.  It  was  a  pretty  feint  in  the 
Regulars  to  tell  of  attacking  Dorchester,  designing  another 
course.  I  find  stories  are  spread  that  reflect  on  the  vigi- 
lance and  even  fidelity  of  those  that  led  ;  I  hope  they 
were  not  disputing  about  rank.  However  this  were,  we 
learn  that  some  brave  officers  and  men,  as  well  as  some 
few  cowards,  have  found  their  rank  by  death,  a  universal 
leveller.  I  can  scarce  forbear  being  very  serious  and  very 
long;  but  as  you  are,  or  ought  to  be,  1  am  sensible,  very 
busy,  1  have  done,  with  only  wishing  that  you  may  do  al- 
ways right,  and  that  God  will  rewaid  you,  and  pity  and 
save  our  distressed  Country.    With  respect, 

Samuel  Webster. 

To  the  Committee  of  Safety. 

P.  S.  The  drought  is  hardly  so  severe  here  as  at  Exeter, 
but  it  is  not  thought  there  will  be  half  a  crop  of  hay. 


In  Provincial  Congress,  Charlestown,  S.  C,  ) 
Thursday,  June  22,  1775.  \ 

Besolved,  That  all  Absentees  holding  estates  in  this 
Colony,  except  the  sick,  those  above  sixty,  and  those  un- 
der twenty-one  years  of  age,  ought  forthwith  to  return  to 
this  Colony. 

Besolved,  That  no  persons  holding  estates  in  this  Colo- 
ny ought  to  withdraw  from  its  service,  without  giving  good 
and  sufficient  reasons  for  so  doing  to  this  Congress,  or, 
during  its  recess,  to  the  General  Committee. 

Ordered,  That  the  two  foregoing  Resolutions  be  print- 
ed and  made  publick. 

Peter  Timothy,  Secretary. 


TO  THE  PEOPLE  OF  HENRICO  COUNTY,  VIRGINIA. 

Friends  and  Fellow- Sufferers  : 

The  threatened  force  of  ministerial  vengeance  having 
been  at  length  exerted,  the  bloody  standard  erected,  and 
the  sword  reeking  hot  with  the  blood  of  your  brethren  in 
the  Massachusetts,  threatening  you  with  the  same  fate, 
unless  you  prepare  to  repel  its  efforts ;  there  cannot  want 
any  inducement  for  your  making  the  most  vigorous  exer- 
tions for  that  purpose.  And  I  am  sure  there  needs  no  argu- 
ment to  picture  to  you  the  horrours  in  which  you  may  be 
involved,  if,  by  a  fatal  indifference,  you  should  neglect  to 
provide  against  the  machinations  of  your  enemies,  whether 
external  or  internal.  The  justice  of  the  great  and  com- 
mon cause  of  America  has  been  so  fully  and  ably  stated, 
so  universally  allowed,  and  so  feebly  denied,  that  I  cannot 
suppose  any  of  you  ignorant  thereof;  and  in  that  belief  shall 
not  now  take  up  any  time  in  observing  upon  that  head  any- 
other  than  the  natural  rights  of  all  mankind,  in  the  free  en- 
joyment of  personal  security,  personal  liberty,  and  private 
property,  together  with  the  free  disposal  of  the  last  men- 
tioned right,  which  are  totally  subverted  by  the  Assuming 
power  of  the  British  Parliament,  are  motives  sufficient  to 
justify  opposition.  I  have  for  some  time  past  observed  the 
conduct  of  a  few  among  you  ;  and  though  their  conduct  has 
not  yet  had  the  evil  tendency  of  influencing  that  of  others, 
yet  as  the  notoriety  thereof  may  probably  have  a  bad  effect 
unless  guarded  against  in  time,  this  has  been  one  induce- 
ment lor  my  addressing  you  upon  that  head,  strengthened 
by  considering  the  bad  policy  of  reposing  publick  confidence 
in  such  men.  And  it  is  to  your  indifference  upon  that  head 
that  I  would  guard  you  against,  being  sensible  you  have 
hitherto  left  nothing  undone  whereby  to  preserve  in  com- 
mon your  rights  and  liberties ;  and  it  is  to  such  men,  and 


1057 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


1058 


such  only,  whose  consciences  accuse  them  of  not  having 
taken  an  active  part  in  endeavouring  to  preserve  and  de- 
fend the  liberties  of  their  Country,  that  I  would  retort  the 
whole  force  of  my  former  arguments,  happy  that  they 
would  work  the  desired  effect.  The  good  people  of  Vir- 
ginia have  ever  been  zealously  attached  to  the  present 
royal  family ;  and  you,  gentlemen,  have  always  borne  an 
active  part,  in  conjunction  with  the  rest  of  the  Counties  in 
this  Colony,  in  avowing  and  expressing  your  attachment 
and  allegiance  upon  every  occasion.  And  notwithstanding 
the  artful  suggestions  of  all  internal  enemies,  sensible  1  am 
that  the  good  people  of  this  Colony  wish  not  any  diminution 
of  the  constitutional  authority  of  the  Crown,  or  to  break  off 
that  connexion  with  the  Mother  Country  so  essential  to  the 
interests  of  both.  Why,  then,  will  persons  pretending  the 
most  zealous  attachment  and  firmest  adherence  to  the  just 
cause  of  America,  and  putting  on  professions  foreign  from 
their  hearts,  stand  forth  and  endeavour  to  gain  the  confi- 
dence of  a  too  much  deluded  people  ?  To  what  purpose, 
other  than  that  of  exerting  their  weak  efforts  to  destroy 
that  unanimity  at  present  so  conspicuous  throughout  this 
Colony  and  America,  can  such  persons  put  on  such  ap- 
pearances? Ask  such  persons  to  enter  themselves  as 
volunteers  in  the  great  cause  of  American  freedom,  and 
they  will  tell  you  they  have  taken  the  oath  of  allegiance, 
and  cannot;  or  rather,  I  suppose,  have  taken  an  implicit 
oath  of  passive  obedience,  and  will  not.  Now  let  such 
persons  bear  in  mind  the  doctrine  avowed  by  that  very 
authority  which  is  now  endeavouring  to  enslave  us — I 
mean  the  Parliament  of  Great  Britain:  "That  an  endea- 
vour to  subvert  the  Constitution  of  the  Kingdom,  by  break- 
ing the  original  contract  between  King  and  People,  and 
violating  the  fundamental  laws,  was  sufficient  for  the  Peo- 
ple to  preserve  them  in  despite  of  any  authority  whatever." 
Still  more  apparent,  from  a  supposition  that  the  Constitu- 
tion is  founded  upon  liberty,  and  if  they  do  not  depart  from 
their  former  principles,  we  may  yet  have  the  satisfaction  of 
distinguishing  between  our  friends  and  enemies. 

Thus,  my  countrymen,  have  I,  by  a  sketch  of  the  politi- 
cal sentiments  of  this  few,  endeavoured  to  set  them  before 
you  in  the  clearest  point  of  view ;  and  I  could  heartily  wish 
that  some  able  pen  had  taken  up  the  subject  before  me, 
for  which  I  have  waited  with  great  expectation  for  some 
time  past.  But  as  it  is  of  great  concern  that  such  persons 
should  receive  every  mark  of  discountenance  and  dises- 
teem,  they  will,  I  hope,  be  carefully  observed  in  future, 
and  not  be  suffered  to  enlarge  upon  that  confidence  already 
entrusted  in  them,  or  to  deviate  from  your  own  avowed 
principles,  laid  down  for  them  to  act  by — I  mean  your  pro- 
fessed determination  of  living  and  dying  freemen. 

Being  influenced  to  this  address  by  nothing  but  an  ardent 
zeal  for  the  prosperity  of  the  common  cause,  grammatical 
errours  will  be  unnoticed  by  you,  and  nothing  regarded  but 
the  intention  of  him  who  wishes  at  all  times  to  prove  him- 
self A  Friend  to  Liberty. 


Williamsburgh,  Virginia,  June  22,  1775. 
Friends  and  Countrymen: 

The  British  Ministry,  with  unrelenting  rigour,  continue 
to  persecute  the  brave  Americans.  Every  device  that 
malevolence  could  suggest,  they  adopt  to  divide  the  Colo- 
nies, who  now  groan  under  the  rod  of  tyranny.  You  are 
not  strangers  to  the  bill  which  has  lately  obtained  the  Royal 
assent,  for  restraining  the  New-England  Fishery,  whose 
chief  support  depends  on  that  beneficial  trade  ;  nor  the  ex- 
emption of  the  Island  of  Nantucket,  which  lies  about  thirty 
miles  from  the  Massachusetts ;  an  island  extremely  well 
calculated  to  refresh  the  British  fishing  vessels,  and  there- 
by enable  them  to  rob  us  of  all  the  advantage  arising  from 
that  useful  commerce.  That  island  has  never  acceded 
to  the  grand  American  Association,  so  highly  necessary  at 
this  important  hour  for  baffling  the  insidious  projects  of 
Bute,  North,  and  Mansfield,  with  their  disgraceful  advo- 
cates, who  are  traitors  to  the  British  Constitution,  and  ini- 
mical to  the  rights  of  mankind. 

The  noble  champions  of  freedom,  the  General  Congress, 
recommend  to  all  the  friends  of  America  to  exert  the 
greatest  vigilance  to  prevent  the  people  of  Nantucket  from 
purchasing  provisions  or  necessaries  of  any  kind,  except 
from  their  neighbours,  the  people  of  the  Massachusetts, 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  n.  ( 


and  not  more  of  them  than  are  really  sufficient  for  the  in- 
habitants of  the  island.  Notwithstanding,  my  countrymen, 
the  General  Congress,  in  September  last,  resolved  we  should 
not  have  any  commercial  intercourse  with  any  American 
who  would  not  approve  of  that  General  Association,  two 
vessels  from  the  Island  of  Nantucket  have  lately  entered 
within  our  capes  to  carry  provisions  and  coal  to  those  foes 
to  American  liberty.  With  propriety,  I  conceive  they 
merit  that  appellation,  as  they  never  acceded  to  the  re- 
solves of  the  Congress.  One  is  a  large  schooner  called 
the  Diana,  of  one  hundred  tons,  commanded  by  Captain 
Forgers,  which  is  gone  up  the  Bay  of  Chesapeake  to  load 
with  Indian  corn.  The  other  is  in  James  River,  and  1 
think  a  schooner  of  fifty  tons,  named  the  Little  John, 
Joshua  Bunker,  master;  the  captain  of  which  applied  to 
one  of  our  Representatives  for  a  load  of  coal,  who  abso- 
lutely refused  to  sell  him  one  bushel,  nobly  resolving  to 
sacrifice  his  private  interest  whenever  it  clashes  with  the 
liberties  of  America.  Such  is  the  unanimity  in  this  Colo- 
ny, that  I  think  my  countrymen  will  convince  the  Island 
of  Nantucket,  and  the  venal  wretches  of  Ministry,  that 
neither  money  nor  menaces,  with  every  invention  their  tor- 
tured imagination  may  pursue,  shall  ever  induce  us  to  in- 
fringe the  resolves  of  that  august  assembly,  or  deviate  from 
the  cause  of  America. 

I  am,  with  great  sincerity,  your  friend  and  well-wisher, 

A  Virginian. 


SAMUEL  ADAMS  TO  ELBRIDGE  GERRY. 

Philadelphia,  June  22,  1775. 

Mr  dear  Sir:  Our  patriotick  General  Washington  will 
deliver  this  letter  to  you.  The  Massachusetts  Delegates 
have  jointly  given  to  him  a  list  of  the  names  of  certain 
gentlemen  in  whom  he  may  place  the  greatest  confidence. 
Among  these  you  are  one.  Major  General  Lee  and  Major 
Mifflin  accompany  the  General.  They  are  a  triumvirate 
which  will  please  the  circle  of  our  friends.  Mifflin  is  Aid- 
de-Camp  to  the  General.  I  regret  his  leaving  this  City  ; 
but  have  the  satisfaction  of  believing  that  he  will  add  great 
spirit  to  our  Army.  Time  will  not  admit  of  my  adding  at 
present  more  than  that  I  am,  your  affectionate  friend, 

Samuel  Adams. 

Elbridge  Gerry,  Esq.,  Watertotvn. 


GENERAL  CHARLES  LEE  TO  LORD  BARRINGTON. 

Philadelphia,  June  22,  1775. 

To  the  Right  Honourable  Lord  Viscount  Barrington, 
His  Majesty's  Secretary  at  War : 

My  Lord  :  Although  I  can  by  no  means  subscribe  to 
the  opinion  of  divers  people  in  the  world,  that  an  officer 
on  half  pay  is  to  be  considered  in  the  service,  yet  I  think 
it  a  point  of  delicacy  to  pay  a  deference  to  this  opinion, 
erroneous  and  absurd  as  it  is.  1  therefore  apprize  your 
Lordship  in  the  most  publick  and  solemn  manner,  that  I 
do  renounce  my  half  pay  from  the  date  hereof.  At  the 
same  time,  I  beg  leave  to  assure  your  Lordship,  that  when- 
ever it  shall  please  His  Majesty  to  call  me  forth  to  any 
honourable  service  against  the  natural  hereditary  enemies 
of  our  Country,  or  in  defence  of  his  just  rights  and  dignity, 
no  man  will  obey  the  righteous  summons  with  more  zeal 
and  alacrity  than  myself;  but  the  present  measures  seem 
to  me  so  absolutely  subversive  of  the  rights  and  liberties 
of  every  individual  subject,  so  destructive  to  the  whole 
Empire  at  large,  and  ultimately  so  ruinous  to  His  Majes- 
ty's own  person,  dignity,  and  family,  that  1  think  myself 
obliged,  in  conscience,  as  a  citizen,  Englishman,  and  sol- 
dier of  a  free  State,  to  exert  my  utmost  to  defeat  them. 
I  most  devoutly  pray  to  Almighty  God  to  direct  His  Ma- 
jesty into  measures  more  consonant  to  his  interest  and  hon- 
our, and  more  conducive  to  the  happiness  and  glory  of  his 
People. 

I  am,  my  Lord,  your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

Charles  Lee. 


HORATIO  GATES  TO  GENERAL  WASHINGTON. 

Traveller's  Rest,  June  20,  1775. 

Dear  General:  Last  night  I  was  honoured  by  the 
receipt  of  your  obliging  letter  of  17th  instant.  I  shall  obey 


1059 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


1060 


your  commands  with  all  possible  expedition,  and  hope  to 
be  in  Philadelphia  Thursday  next,  and  wish  earnestly  to 
find  you  there.  1  must  take  the  liberty  to  entreat  it  of 
you,  not  to  leave  the  Congress  until  you  are  provided,  not 
only  with  all  the  powers,  but  all  the  means  their  power 
can  bestow.  If  it  is  indispensably  necessary  you  should 
leave  Philadelphia  before  I  get  there,  I  hope  to  find  with 
Colonel  Harrison  your  positive  and  particular  commands, 
in  regard  to  any  business  you  may  leave  unsettled  behind 
you.  The  request  for  the  riflemen  was  well  received  in  this 
Province,  and  in  Maryland.  Major  Stevenson  commands 
one  of  the  companies  from  hence,  and  I  believe  Captain 
Morgan  the  other,  both  excellent  for  the  service.  Colonel 
Cresap  told  me  on  Monday  morning  that  his  son  had 
eighty  riflemen  ready  to  march  ;  those  go  for  one  of  the 
companies  from  Maryland.  Immediately  upon  the  arrival 
of  your  express,  1  despatched  your  packets  to  your  brother 
and  Colonel  Stephen.  If  their  answers  don't  come  in  half 
an  hour,  I  will  bring  them  with  me. 

My  grateful  thanks  are  most  respectfully  due  to  the  Con- 
gress, for  the  very  handsome  manner  in  which  they  con- 
ferred their  commission. 

I  will  not  intrude  more  upon  that  time  which  is  now  so 
precious  to  you,  only  to  assure  you  I  will  not  lose  a  moment 
in  paying  you  my  personal  attendance. 

With  the  greatest  respect  for  your  character,  and  the 
sincerest  attachment  to  your  person,  I  am,  dear  General, 
your  most  faithful  and  obedient  humble  servant, 

Horatio  Gates. 


To  the  President  and  Members  of  the  Provincial  Congress 

of  the  Province  of  New-York: 
The  Memorial  of  William  Elphinston,  Conductor  of 
Ordnance  Stores,  humbly  sheweth : 

That  your  memorialist  was  taken  prisoner  at  Crown 
Point,  on  the  11th  of  May  last,  by  a  detachment  of  the 
Provincial  Army.  After  which  event,  finding  that  those 
persons  who  formerly  were  very  desirous  of  purchasing 
his  bills,  refused  to  purchase  any  more,  he  obtained  a  pass 
for  coming  to  New-York.  Since  his  arrival  here,  he  finds 
that  the  Continental  Congress  have  published  a  resolve 
forbidding  any  one  to  negotiate  bills  for  the  pay  of  any 
officer  in  the  Army  or  Navy.  By  this  means  your  memo- 
rialist is  reduced  to  the  want  of  every  thing.  The  nett 
amount  of  your  memorialist's  pay  is  one  guinea  per  week. 
Therefore  your  memorialist  earnestly  entreats  you  will  be 
so  good  as  to  take  his  case  into  consideration,  and  to  allow 
him  so  much  subsistence  as  to  your  wisdom  and  goodness 
shall  appear  reasonable,  until  such  time  as  permission  is 
granted  for  negotiating  bills  in  the  usual  way.  And  your 
memorialist,  as  in  duty  bound,  shall  ever  pray,  &,c. 

William  Elphinston, 
Conductor  of  Ordnance  Stores. 

New-York,  June  22,  1775. 


ELISHA  PHELPS  TO  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

Albany,  June  22,  1775. 

May  it  please  your  Honours  :  According  to  a  resolve 
of  the  Honourable  Continental  Congress,  concerning  the 
appointment  of  Commissaries,  &ic,  his  Honour,  Jonathan 
Trumbull,  Esq.,  Governour  and  Commander-in-Chief  in 
and  over  His  Majesty's  English  Colony  of  Connecticut, 
has  appointed  me  to  be  Commissary  for  the  Northern 
Army,  and  commissionated  me  accordingly,  to  receive 
at  Albany,  and  forward  the  supplies  of  provisions  for  the 
forces  at  Lake  Champlain,  from  the  Provincial  Congress  of 
New-  York. 

Having  arrived  at  Albany  for  that  purpose,  find  Mr. 
lileecker,  commissary  of  the  stores,  (by  yourselves  already 
provided,)  absent;  and  no  supplies  for  said  Troops  (as  I 
can  understand)  are  in  this  place,  but  in  Mr.  Bleecker's 
custody  ;  and  his  deputy  refuses  to  resign  said  stores  to 
me,  as  he  has  no  direction  for  the  same.  Therefore,  it  is 
not  in  my  power  to  forward  supplies,  fee,  according  to  my 
commission,  and  the  resolve  of  the  Continental  Congress. 
Beg  leave  to  apply  to  you  for  advice  in  the  premises,  and 
as  the  necessity  of  the  case  seems  to  require  it,  hope  for  a 
speedy  answer.  Mr.  Strong,  acting  commissary  hereto- 
fore, has  purchased  about  thirty  head  of  fat  cattle  for  the 
use  of  said  Troops,  and  now  draws  on  me  for  pay.  I  have 


applied  to  the  Committee  in  this  place,  but  find  no  provi- 
sion made  for  that  purpose.  Pray  your  Honours  to  send 
money  for  the  same,  or  to  direct,  as  you  in  your  wisdom 
shall  think  proper. 

Interim  am  your  Honours'  humble  servant, 

Elisha  Phelps. 

To  the  Honourable  Provincial  Convention  for  the  Prov- 
ince of  New- York. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  WETHERSFIELD,  CONNECTI- 
CUT, TO  A  GENTLEMAN  IN  PHILADELPHIA,  DATED  JUNE 

22,  1775. 

Before  this  you  must  know,  1  conclude^  that  there  has 
been  a  battle,  in  which  fell  the  honourable,  the  noble  Doc- 
tor Warren.  For  fear  you  may  not  have  the  particulars, 
1  will  endeavour  in  part  to  relate  to  you  how  the  affair  was, 
according  to  the  best  accounts  I  can  gather  by  letters  from 
the  camp.  Last  Friday  afternoon  orders  were  issued  for 
about  eighteen  hundred  of  the  Provincial  Troops,  and  two 
hundred  of  the  Connecticut,  to  parade  themselves  at  six 
o'clock,  with  one  day's  provision,  equipped  with  packs, 
blankets,  &tc.  Their  orders  were  given  at  nine  o'clock, 
and  they  marched  with  their  teams,  trenching  tools,  Ike, 
on  Bunker's  Hill,  to  heave  up  an  intrenchment,  which 
you  are  sensible  is  near  the  water,  ships,  &.c.  They 
worked  most  surprisingly  that  night,  and  were  discovered 
at  sunrise  by  a  sailor  from  the  mast-head.  The  British 
Army  commenced  a  heavy  fire  from  Copp's  Hill,  near 
Cutler's  Church,  in  Boston,  and  from  all  the  ships  which 
could  be  brought  to  play,  which  continued  till  near  night. 

About  one  o'clock,  A.  M.,  the  Americans  at  Cambridge 
heard  that  the  Regulars  were  landing  from  their  floating 
batteries.  The  alarm  was  sounded,  and  they  were  ordered 
down  to  the  breastwork  at  Charlestown;  and  Captain 
Chester  writes  me,  that  before  it  was  possible  for  him  to 
get  there,  the  battle  had  begun  in  earnest,  and  cannon  and 
musket  balls  were  plenty  about  their  ears.  Chester  and  my 
brother  were  both  in  the  engagement.  They  re-enforced 
our  men  that  had  left  the  breastwork  in  fine  order,  though 
they  passed  through  the  cannonading  of  the  ships,  bombs, 
chain-shot,  ring-shot,  he;  but  then  their  superiour  number 
of  artillery  and  men,  (for  they  were  three  to  two,)  forced 
our  men  to  retreat,  after  a  warm  engagement  of  an  hour 
and  a  half.  Thank  Heaven,  but  few  of  our  men  fell,  con- 
sidering the  advantages  they  had  over  us,  our  men  being 
much  fatigued  with  working  at  the  intrenchments,  and  I 
believe  not  in  the  best  preparation  to  meet  an  enemy. 
The  British  Troops,  to  their  eternal  disgrace,  shame,  and 
barbarity,  set  Charlestown  on  fire  with  torches. 

My  brother  says  we  were  obliged  to  retreat  to  Prospect 
Hill,  (alias  Winter  Hill,)  where  we  made  a  stand,  and  de- 
clared we  would  all  die  before  we  would  retreat  any  farther; 
but  the  British  Troops  did  not  think  fit  to  come  out  from 
under  the  protection  of  their  shipping.  The  loss  of  Ame- 
ricans is  supposed  to  be,  of  wounded,  missing,  and  slain, 
about  one  hundred  and  twenty.  A  large,  genteel,  well- 
dressed  gentleman,  who  first  mounted  our  breastwork,  was 
overset  by  one  of  our  impudent  Americans,  who  took  so 
good  aim  as  to  prevent  his  ever  mounting  another,  as  he 
tumbled  him  into  the  intrenchment  just  as  he  cried,  "  the 
day  is  our  own." 

We  greatly  rejoice  to  hear  of  the  coming  of  the  good, 
the  brave,  and  great  General  Washington,  and  shall  receive 
him  with  open  arms. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  A  GENTLEMAN  AT  STOCK- 
BRIDGE  TO  A  GENTLEMAN  OF  THE  CONTINENTAL  CON- 
GRESS, DATED  JUNE  22,  1775. 

A  firm  foundation  now  turns  up  to  view  for  the  influence 
of  the  Stockbridgc  Indians  amongst  the  Six  Nations ;  and 
matters  stand  well  with  the  Canadian  Indians.  If  I  had 
time  I  would  relate  to  you  every  particular  of  what  befel 
the  messengers  of  our  Indians  to  the  Six  Nations  and  the 
Canadian  Indians.  To  be  short,  they  were  taken  and  bound 
hy  the  Regulars,  and  carried  into  Montreal,  where,  by  a 
Court-Martial,  they  were  condemned  to  be  hanged  for  a 
slight  suspicion  that  they  were  sent  to  engage  the  Indians 
to  fall  upon  the  Regulars.  This  event  turned  much  to  our 
advantage,  and  has  fully  fixed  the  minds  of  the  Indians  there 


1061 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


1062 


against  the  Regulars.  High  threatening  words  passed  be- 
tween the  General  and  the  Indian  Sachems,  who  were 
raised  far  and  near  on  the  occasion,  and  a  wonderful  spirit 
of  benevolence  appeared  towards  the  young  men  that  were 
taken  by  the  Indians  there.  They  told  them  in  the  strong- 
est terms,  that  they  would  take  their  place,  and  would 
die  for  them.  The  whole  story  is  very  affecting.  The 
Indian  Sachems  told  the  General :  You  have  offered  us 
money  to  fight  for  you,  but  we  would  not  take  it,  as  we 
would  have  nothing  to  do  with  your  quarrel ;  but  now  we 
shall  know  who  are  our  enemies.  If  you  think  it  best  for 
you  to  hang  these  our  brothers,  that  came  a  great  way  to 
see  us,  do  it ;  but  remember,  we  shall  not  forget  it.  Upon 
these  threaten ings  they  thought  it  best  to  let  the  prisoners 
go,  who  got  away  with  some  difficulty.  The  Canadian 
Indians  farther  told  our  Indians,  that  if  they  did  fight  at 
all,  they  would  fight  against  the  Regulars,  for  they  did  not 
like  them. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  THE  COMMITTEE  OF  CORRES- 
PONDENCE AT  PLYMOUTH,  TO  THE  COMMITTEE  OF  PRO- 
VIDENCE, RHODE-ISLAND,  DATED  JUNE  22,  1775. 

We  have  a  letter  come  to  Town  from  Saco,  giving  an 
account  of  two  vessels  with  provisions  from  Gage,  under 
the  protection  of  a  tender,  having  arrived  at  that  place  in 
order  to  exchange  said  provision  for  lumber.  The  Commit- 
tee of  that  Town  considered  of  the  propriety  of  suffering 
them  to  trade,  and  from  necessity  were  obliged  to  admit 
them ;  after  this  they  discovered  great  partiality  in  regard 
to  the  persons  with  whom  they  contracted,  which  at  once 
created  such  uneasiness  as  to  determine  the  people  to  seize 
the  two  vessels,  and  fire  the  cutter,  which,  however,  they 
failed  in.  She  hove  up  her  anchors,  proceeded  down  the 
river  some  distance  from  the  Town,  where  she  again  an- 
chored ;  but  was  soon  so  wrarmly  attacked  from  the  shore 
as  to  be  obliged  to  slip  her  cables  and  push  down  ;  in  her 
way  she  boarded  a  small  coasting  sloop,  Captain  Tobey, 
from  Sa7idwich,  and  obliged  him  to  undertake  the  pilotage 
of  the  vessel  out  of  the  river;  but  before  getting  out  they 
boarded  a  schooner,  Captain  Avery,  from  Norwich,  and 
took  him  also  on  board.  In  the  mean  time  the  people  of 
Saco  fitted  out  two  armed  vessels,  which  pursued  the  ene- 
my, and  soon  after  getting  clear  of  the  land  they  discovered 
and  made  for  each  other.  The  tender  did  not  suppose  them 
to  be  armed  till  they  approached  each  other,  when  the  mas- 
ter threatened  to  discharge  a  brace  of  balls  through  Cap- 
tain Tobey  unless  he  would  swear  to  take  up  his  gun  in 
defence  of  the  vessel ;  who  replied,  that  as  he  engaged 
only  as  a  pilot,  he  should  refuse.  The  master  then  excused 
him,  and  threatened  Avery  in  like  manner,  and  he  was 
obliged  to  comply.  The  first  volley  from  our  armed  ves- 
sel killed  poor  Avery  and  the  infernal  Captain,  which  put 
the  people  into  such  consternation  that  they  descended 
into  the  hold,  cabin,  &c,  and  were  boarded  and  carried 
into  Saco.  The  number  of  men  taken  on  board  the  tender 
is  not  mentioned ;  she  had  four  three  pounders,  twelve 
swivels,  forty  or  fifty  muskets,  as  many  cutlasses,  and  a 
number  of  pistols. 

GENERAL  WARD  TO  MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS. 

Head-Quarters,  June  22,  1775. 
Gentlemen:  I  received  your  favour  of  the  twentieth 
instant,  suggesting  to  my  serious  consideration  whether  it 
is  not  proper  and  expedient  to  order  a  regiment  or  more 
from  the  camp  at  Roxbury.  I  have  this  day,  in  company 
with  General  Putnam,  been  over  to  Roxbury,  and  con- 
sulted with  Generals  Thomas,  Spencer,  and  Heath,  who 
are  fully  in  opinion  that  they  have  no  forces  to  spare,  not- 
withstanding we  are  re-enforced  to-day  by  the  arrival  of 
Colonel  Glover's  Regiment  from  Marblehead.  But  if  the 
honourable  Congress  still  judge  that  it  is  best  one  regiment 
or  more  should  be  ordered  to  this  camp,  it  will  be  cheer- 
fully complied  with.  It  is  thought  best,  if  any  regiment 
be  removed,  it  should  be  Colonel  P arsons' s,  of  the  Con- 
necticut forces. 

1  am,  gentlemen,  with  respect,  your  most  humble  ser- 
vant, Artemas  Ward. 
To  the  Honourable  James  Warren,  President  of  the  Pro- 
vincial Congress,  sitting  at  Watertown. 


B.  GREENLEAF  TO  MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS. 

Newburyport,  June  22,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  We  understand  that  you  have  desired  our 
Selectmen  to  send  the  Town  stock  of  powder  to  Cambridge, 
saving  only  one  pound  for  each  man.  You,  perhaps,  are 
not  aware  that  we  have  lately  delivered  four  half  barrels 
to  the  order  of  Congress,  and  six  more  to  that  of  the  Com- 
mittee of  Supplies,  part  of  which  we  were  encouraged  to 
hope  should  soon  have  been  replaced.  We  have  likewise 
furnished  our  men,  who  have  joined  the  Army  and  three 
large  parties  who  were  volunterrs  on  the  several  alarms 
that  have  been  made,  with  cartridges  sufficient  for  their 
purpose,  a  considerable  part  whereof  were  never  returned. 
By  these  means  our  stock  is  so  much  reduced  as  to  occa- 
sion us  great  uneasiness,  inasmuch  as  it  must  prevent  our 
executing  some  plans  we  had  meditated  for  the  publick 
good  ;  besides,  many  of  our  inhabitants  are  apprehensive  of 
danger  from  cutters  and  other  armed  vessels,  the  Admiral 
having,  as  it  is  said,  given  out  some  threats.  We  have  been 
at  considerable  expense  in  preparing  some  light  cannon  for 
action,  and  we  are  now  about  erecting  a  small  battery  or 
breastwork,  with  three  or  four  heavier  cannon,  which  can 
be  procured,  to  defend  ourselves  against  any  attacks  by 
water.  But  all  that  we  have  yet  done,  and  are  about  to 
do,  will  be  to  no  purpose,  unless  we  can  have  a  few  barrels 
of  powder  ready  at  hand.  We  are  therefore  very  loath  to 
part  with  the  little  we  have,  unless  the  publick  cause  ren- 
ders it  absolutely  necessary,  in  which  case  we  shall  readily 
give  up  the  last  ounce,  the  destruction  of  this  Town  being 
a  trivial  matter  in  our  estimation,  compared  with  a  final  de- 
feat of  the  Army.  However,  as  it  can  at  any  time  be  con- 
veyed to  Cambridge  in  eight  or  nine  hours  from  the  time 
of  our  having  notice,  we  hope  it  may  be  agreeable  to  let  it 
remain  here  for  the  present,  that  so  we  may  have  the  privi- 
lege of  using  it  in  our  own  defence  if  there  should  be  occa- 
sion before  it  is  wanted  in  the  Army.  I  am,  gentlemen, 
your  most  obedient  servant. 

By  order  of  the  Committee  of  this  Town  : 

B.  Greenleaf. 


STEPHEN  HOOPER  TO  MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS. 

Newburyport,  June  22,  1775. 

Sir  :  In  a  letter  I  received  yesterday  from  a  Committee 
in  the  Town  of  Portsmouth,  in  New-Hampshire,  I  am  ac- 
quainted with  their  having  received  fifty  barrels  of  flour 
from  Baltimore  for  the  use  of  your  suffering  brethren  in 
Boston,  with  directions  to  deliver  the  same  to  my  order, 
and  that  the  flour  now  waits  my  pleasure.  They  also  ac- 
quaint me  of  their  inclination  to  purchase  it  for  the  use  of 
their  own  Troops.  I  should  therefore  be  glad  to  receive 
the  opinion  of  the  Congress,  relative  to  its  disposal,  as  soon 
as  may  be,  as  the  aforementioned  Committee  wait  my 
answer.    I  am,  &c.  Stephen  Hooper. 

To  the  President  of  the  Congress. 


Cambridge,  Juno  22,  1775. 
Last  Friday  night  a  detachment  from  our  Army  began 
an  inlrenchment  on  an  eminence  below  Bunker  Hill,  about 
a  mile  to  the  northward  of  the  centre  of  the  Town  of 
Charlestown.  The  enemy  appeared  to  be  much  alarmed 
on  Saturday  morning,  when  they  discovered  our  opera- 
tions, and  immediately  began  a  heavy  cannonading  from  a 
battery  on  Copp's  Hill,  Boston,  and  from  the  ships  in  the 
harbour.  Our  people,  with  little  loss,  continued  to  carry 
on  the  works  till  one  o'clock,  P.  M.,  on  Saturday,  when 
they  discovered  a  large  body  of  the  enemy  crossing  Charles 
River  from  Boston.  They  landed  on  a  point  of  land  about 
a  mile  eastward  of  our  intrenchment,  and  immediately  dis- 
posed their  Army  for  an  attack ;  previous  to  which  they 
set  fire  to  the  Town  of  Charlestown.  It  is  supposed  the 
enemy  intended  to  attack  us  under  cover  of  the  smoke 
from  the  burning  houses,  the  wind  favouring  them  in  such 
a  design  ;  while,  on  the  other  side,  their  Army  was  extended 
northward  towards  Mistick  River,  with  an  apparent  design 
of  surrounding  our  men  within  the  works,  and  of  cutting 
off  any  assistance  intended  for  their  relief.  They  were, 
however,  in  some  measure,  counteracted  in  this  design,  and 
drew  their  Army  into  close  order.  As  the  enemy  approach- 
ed, our  men  were  not  only  exposed  to  the  attack  of  a  very 


1063 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


1061 


numerous  musketry,  but  to  the  heavy  fire  of  the  battery  on 
Copp's  Hill,  four  or  five  men-of-war,  several  armed  boats 
or  floating  batteries  in  Miatick  River,  and  a  number  of 
field-pieces;  notwithstanding  which,  our  Troops  within  the 
intrenchment,  and  at  a  breastwork  without,  sustained  the 
enemy's  attacks  with  real  bravery  and  resolution,  killed  and 
wounded  great  numbers,  and  repulsed  them  several  times ; 
and  after  bearing  for  about  two  hours  as  severe  and  heavy 
a  fire  as  perhaps  ever  was  known,  and  many  having  fired 
away  all  their  ammunition,  they  were  overpowered  by  num- 
bers and  obliged  to  leave  the  intrenchment,  retreating  about 
sunset  to  a  small  distance  over  Charlestown  Neck.  Our  loss, 
from  the  best  information  we  can  obtain,  does  not  exceed 
fifty  killed,  and  about  twenty  or  thirty  taken  prisoners. 

The  Town  of  Charlestown,  supposed  to  contain  about 
three  hundred  dwelling-houses,  a  great  number  of  which 
were  large  and  elegant,  besides  one  hundred  and  fifty  or 
two  hundred  other  buildings,  are  almost  all  laid  in  ashes. 

The  enemy  yet  remain  in  possession  of  Charlestown,  and 
have  erected  works  for  their  defence  on  Bunker  Hill.  It 
is  said  they  have  brought  over  some  of  their  Light-horse 
from  Boston. 

Our  Troops  continue  in  high  spirits.  They  are  fortify- 
ing a  very  high  hill  about  a  mile  and  a  half  from  this  Town, 
and  within  cannon-shot  of  the  enemy  on  Bunker  Hill. 


GEN.  FOLSOM  TO  NEW-HAMPSHIRE  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY. 

Medford,  June  22,  1775. 

Gentlemen:  I  arrived  here  Tuesday  morning,  and  im- 
mediately waited  on  the  Captain-General,  who  chose  to 
fix  the  New-Hampshire  Troops  in  this  quarter  and  Winter 
Hill ;  yesterday  was  taken  up  in  providing  barracks  for  the 
companies  just  come  in. 

I  am  informed  our  Troops  behaved  gallantly  in  the  late 
engagement.  The  Continent  has  sustained  a  heavy  loss  in 
Doctor  Joseph  Warren,  who  is  missing,  and  it  is  said  was 
killed  in  the  trench  beyond  Bunker  Hill.  Major  McClary 
was  killed  by  an  accidental  shot  from  one  of  the  ships  some 
time  after  our  people  had  made  their  retreat.  The  whole 
loss  sustained  by  the  Provincials  is  about  seventy-five  killed 
and  taken,  and  about  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  wound- 
ed— about  twenty-five  of  them  mortally. 

I  enclose  you  an  account  of  the  loss  sustained  by  Colonel 
Read's  Regiment,  and  request  that  the  sufferers  may  be 
immediately  supplied  with  their  necessary  clothing,  &,c. 
Colonel  Stark  was  requested  to  make  a  like  return  of  his 
Regiment,  but  he  has  not  yet  done  it ;  he  tells  me  he  had 
Gfteen  men  killed,  and  forty-five  wounded.  I  shall  send  as 
many  of  Colonel  Poor's  Regiment  on  duty  to  Winter  Hill 
this  morning,  as  intrenching  tools  can  be  found  for  ;  there  is 
a  great  scarcity  of  those  things  here.  It  is  highly  necessary 
our  Troops  should  have  their  tents  as  soon  as  possible  ;  they 
have  no  shelter  from  the  rain  on  Winter  Hill.  What  tents 
are  finished,  if  but  few,  should  be  sent  forward  as  soon  as 
possible,  with  as  many  spades,  shovels,  and  pick-axes,  as 
can  be  got  in  readiness,  and  some  bullets  and  flints.  I  can 
get  no  regular  account  of  the  loss  the  King's  Troops  sus- 
tained. One  Mr.  Bradford  writes  to  Colonel  Lincoln  from 
Hingham,  the  nineteenth  instant;  he  says:  "  Yesterday  I 
came  out  of  Boston  at  two  o'clock,  A.  M.  I  heard  the  offi- 
cers and  soldiers  say  that  they  were  sure  they  had  a  thou- 
sand or  more  killed  and  wounded  ;  that  they  were  carrying 
the  wounded  men  from  four  o'clock,  Saturday,  till  I  came 
away.  General  Howe  commanded  the  Troops.  They  buried 
their  dead  at  Charlestown.  Among  their  dead  was  Major 
Pitcairn  ;  a  great  many  other  officers  are  dead.  There  were 
five  thousand  soldiers  went  from  Boston;  the  soldiers  and 
officers  exult  very  much  upon  taking  our  lines. 

A  messenger  I  sent  to  Head-Quarters  for  intrenching 
tools  is  just  returned,  and  informs  me  he  cannot  get  one; 
therefore  must  further  urge  the  necessity  of  forwarding  them 
immediately. 

I  am,  gentlemen,  your  most  obedient  servant, 

Nathaniel  Folsom. 
To  the  Committee  of  Safety  at  Exeter. 

P.  S.  According  to  your  directions  I  inquired  at  Head- 
Quarters  the  rank  of  the  General  Officers,  and  inform  you 
that  Mr.  Ward  is  Captain-General,  Mr.  Thomas  Lieut. 
General,  and  the  other  Generals  are  Major-Generals. 


CHARLES  CITI  COUNTY  (VIRGINIA)  COMMITTEE. 

June  23,  1775. 

To  the  Gentlemen  of  the  Committee  and  Freeholders  of 
Buckingham  County,  Virginia: 

Gentlemen  :  Being  fully  sensible  of  the  obligation  we 
are  under  to  you,  by  your  generosity  and  humanity  in  offer- 
ing us  an  asylum  in  the  bosom  of  your  friendship,  at  a  time 
when  all  the  evils  of  a  civil  war  are  precipitately  approach- 
ing; and  knowing  we  must  be  involved  by  our  situation  in 
much  greater  difficulties  than  you  ;  how  can  we  longer 
restrain  the  spring  of  gratitude  within  the  compass  of  out- 
own  breasts  ? 

We  observe,  gentlemen,  in  our  papers,  an  address  from 
you  to  the  people  in  the  lower  part  of  the  Country,  in- 
viting them  to  make  use  of  your  plantations  for  the  safety 
and  refuge  of  their  wives  and  little  ones,  with  all  things 
they  think  fit  to  carry  with  them  for  their  support.  Such 
an  instance  of  tender  and  brotherly  feeling  must  convey  an 
idea  of  the  noblest  disposition  and  unequalled  affection  in 
you  ;  and  such  an  example  who  would  not,  in  every  situa- 
tion of  life,  anxiously  endeavour  to  follow. 

Permit  us,  then,  gentlemen,  in  the  fulness  of  our  grati- 
tude, to  inform  you  how  much  we  are  obliged  to  you;  and 
that  if  the  unhappy  differences  between  us  and  our  Parent 
State  should  so  increase  as  to  compel  us  to  the  necessity  of 
accepting  your  offer,  we  shall,  with  the  risk  of  our  live?, 
endeavour  to  secure  your  region  from  the  tyranny  now  threat- 
ened. So  shall  yours  and  ours  enjoy  the  same  blessing — 
one  safety — till  our  gracious  Sovereign  is  again  pleased  to 
communicate  to  all  his  people  the  generous  language  of 
unity  and  peace. 

That  you  may  long  enjoy  every  blessing  this  little  life 
can  give,  and  that  the  impending  dangers  Almighty  God 
may  yet  vouchsafe  to  avert,  is  the  ardent  and  daily  prayer 
of,  gentlemen,  your  much  obliged  and  most  affectionate 
country  men. 

By  order  of  the  Committee  of  Charles  City  County. 

Win.  G.  Munford, 
Samuel  Harwood, 
John  Tyler. 

albany  committee  to  massachusetts  congress. 

Albany  Committee  Chamber,  June  23,  1775. 

Brethren:  We  have  received  a  vague  and  uncertain 
account  from  your  Colony,  of  an  engagement  which  your 
Troops  have  had  with  the  enemies  of  our  Country  at  or  near 
Charlestown.  As  we  feel  ourselves  deeply  interested  in 
every  event  affecting  the  general  weal  of  America,  it  gives 
us  great  pleasure  that  (though  with  the  loss  of  many  brave 
men)  you  have  been  able,  if  our  information  be  true,  to 
drive,  with  considerable  loss,  the  tools  of  tyranny  and  op- 
pression back  to  their  asylum.  Strongly  impressed  with 
the  warmest  disposition  to  cultivate  harmony  with  you,  and, 
if  necessary,  to  afford  you  all  the  assistance  in  our  power, 
we  have  therefore  sent  you  this  by  Mr.  Price,  in  order  to 
receive  from  you  a  circumstantial  detail  of  the  late  engage- 
ment and  its  consequences. 

May  that  God  who  has  so  often  signally  espoused  our 
cause  in  the  arduous  struggle  for  liberty  and  humanity,  still 
continue  to  you  his  gracious  guidance  and  protection. 

W e  expect  daily  an  attack  upon  Ticonderoga  from  Ca- 
nada. 

We  are  at  a  loss  to  know  what  must  be  done  with  the 
donations  collected  in  this  City  for  the  poor  of  Boston;  and 
beg  to  be  informed  by  you,  as  the  chief  of  the  contributions 
are  in  grain,  whether  we  shall  dispose  of  it  here,  and  con- 
vert it  into  cash,  or  otherwise  wait  your  directions. 
We  are,  brethren,  your  very  humble  servants. 
By  order  of  the  Committee  :       Samuel  Stringer, 

Chairman  pro  tempore. 
To  the  Provincial  Congress  of  the  Colony  of  Massachu- 
setts-Bay if  sitting,  or  otherwise  to  the  Committee  of 
War  at  Cambridge  or  elsewhere. 


Now. York,  June  23,  1775. 
Mr.  Holt  :  The  County  of  Cumberland,  in  this  Prov- 
ince, having  been  represented  as  inimical  to  the  proceed- 
ings of  the  late  Continental  Congress  at  Philadelphia, 
and  to  the  several  Provincial  Congresses  since  held  in  the 


1065 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


1066 


respective  British  Colonies  in  America,  in  defence  of  their 
just  rights  and  freedom  ;  you  are  desired  to  publish  in  the 
New-  York  Journal  the  following  Proceedings  and  Resolu- 
tions of  a  General  Committee,  consisting  of  the  Commit- 
tees of  a  number  of  Towns,  by  which  the  whole  County 
was  well  represented  at  a  meeting  in  October  last.  The 
long  delay  of  the  publication  was  occasioned  by  some  un- 
fair practices  of  a  small  but  mischievous  party,  together 
with  the  remote  situation  of  the  County  from  the  City  of 
New-  York.   

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committees  from  a  number  of 
Townships  in  the  County  of  Cumberland,  and  Province 
of  New-  York,  held  at  the  County-Hall,  at  Westminster, 
on  the  19th  and  20th  of  October,  1774,  to  consider  a  Let- 
ter very  lately  received  from  Mr.  Isaac  Low,  Chairman  of 
the  Committee  of  Correspondence  of  New-York,  dated 
May  21st,  1774,  to  consult  on  measures  proper  to  be  taken 
at  this  important  day:  present,  eighteen  Delegates  from 
twelve  Towns. 

Colonel  John  Hazeltine  chosen  Chairman. 

After  having  read  Mr.  Chairman  Low's  Letter,  and  the 
Act  of  the  British  Parliament  in  laying  a  duty  or  tax  on 
Tea,  for  the  purpose  of  raising  a  revenue  in  America,  the 
Boston  Port  Bill,  so  called,  and  divers  other  late  Acts  of 
the  British  Parliament;  sundry  debates  being  had  thereon, 

Voted,  That  John  Grout,  Esquire,  Mr.  Joshua  Webb, 
Doctor  Paul  Spooner,  Mr.  Edward,  Harris,  and  Major 
William  Williams,  be  a  Committee  to  take  into  considera- 
tion the  aforesaid  Letter,  and  divers  aforesaid  Acts,  and 
report  to  this  meeting.    Who  reported  as  follows: 

This  County  being  in  its  infant  state,  contending  with 
the  hardships  of  subduing  the  wilderness,  and  converting  it 
into  fruitful  fields,  being  situated  here  in  a  corner,  at  a 
considerable  remove  from  the  populous,  civilized  parts  of 
the  Country,  conceive  they,  by  their  own  experience,  in  a 
small  degree  feel  the  sufferings  of  their  ancestors. 

The  first  planters  in  America  endured  hunger,  cold, 
and  other  distresses,  until  they,  by  their  arduous  industry, 
found  suitable  relief  from  their  bountiful  fields  and  their 
own  expenses ;  and  as  the  people  of  this  County  were 
chiefly  born  in  some  one  or  other  of  the  New-England 
Provinces,  and  conceive  them  to  be  at  least  as  loyal  to  the 
King  as  any  subjects  he  can  boast  of,  are  surptised  to  find, 
by  the  late  Acts  of  Parliament,  that  all  Americans  are  de- 
prived of  that  great  right  of  calling  that  their  own,  which 
they  by  their  industry  have  honestly  acquired  ;  are  sur- 
prised to  find  a  power  arise  in  Britain,  which,  with  impu- 
nity say,  they  have  a  right  to  bind  the  Colonies  in  all  cases 
whatsoever,  and  attempt  to  exercise  that  authority,  by 
taking,  at  their  pleasure,  the  properties  of  the  King's  Ame- 
rican subjects  without  their  consent ;  especially  since  some 
of  the  former  Kings  of  Great  Britain  by  charter  granted 
to  their  subjects  in  New-England,  their  heirs,  and  assigns, 
and  all  others  who  should  settle  within  certain  bounda- 
ries, divided  into  Colonies,  all  the  liberties  and  privileges 
of  natural  free-born  subjects  of  England;  yet,  notwith- 
standing this,  that  such  a  power  should  arise  under  the 
mere  inspection  of  the  King,  unrebuked,  to  claim  all 
American  property,  and  actually  to  take  as  much  as  they 
please,  in  direct  breach  of  the  solemn  compact  between  a 
former  King,  on  his  part,  and  his  successors,  made  with 
the  first  planters  of  these  Colonies,  and  others  that  after 
should  be  born  among  them,  or  join  them,  or  be  born  on 
the  seas  when  going  thither;  and  we  do  not  conceive  those 
whose  rights  are  as  aforesaid  solemnly  declared,  are  more 
sacred  in  respect  of  the  security  of  their  property,  than 
the  right  of  this  and  other  Colonies  whose  rights  are  only 
natural  as  British  subjects ;  for  he  who  has  nothing  but 
what  another  has  power  at  pleasure  lawfully  to  take  away 
from  him,  has  nothing  that  he  can  call  his  own,  and  is,  in 
the  fullest  sense  of  the  word,  a  slave — a  slave  to  him  who 
has  such  power ;  and  as  no  part  of  British  America  stipu- 
lated to  settle  as  slaves,  the  privileges  of  British  subjects 
are  their  privileges,  and  whoever  endeavours  to  deprive 
them  of  their  privileges  is  guilty  of  treason  against  the 
Americans,  as  well  as  the  British  Constitution.  There- 
fore Resolved, 

i.  That  as  true  and  loyal  subjects  of  our  gracious  Sover- 
eign, King  George  the  Third  of  Great  Britain,  &c,  we 
will  spend  our  lives  and  fortunes  in  his  service. 


ii.  That  as  we  will  defend  our  King  while  he  reigns 
over  us,  his  subjects,  and  wish  his  reign  may  be  long  and 
glorious,  so  we  will  defend  our  just  rights,  as  British  sub- 
jects, against  every  power  that  shall  attempt  to  deprive  us 
of  them,  while  breath  is  in  our  nostrils,  and  blood  in  our 
veins. 

in.  That  considering  the  late  Acts  of  the  British  Par- 
liament for  blocking  up  the  Port  of  Boston,  &ic,  which  we 
view  as  arbitrary  and  unjust,  inasmuch  as  the  Parliament 
have  sentenced  them  unheard,  and  dispensed  with  all  the 
modes  of  law  and  justice  which  we  think  necessary  to  dis- 
tinguish between  lawfully  obtaining  right  for  property  in- 
jured, and  arbitrarily  enforcing  to  comply  with  their  will, 
(be  it  right  or  wrong.)  we  resolve  to  assist  the  people 
of  Boston  in  defence  of  their  liberties  to  the  utmost  of  our 
abilities. 

iv.  Sensible  that  the  strength  of  our  opposition  to  the 
late  Acts  consists  in  a  uniform,  manly,  steady,  and  deter- 
mined mode  of  procedure,  we  will  bear  testimony  against 
and  discourage  all  riotous,  tumultuous,  and  unnecessary 
mobs  which  tend  to  injure  the  persons  or  properties  of 
harmless  individuals  ;  but  endeavour  to  treat  those  persons 
whose  abominable  principles  and  actions  show  them  to  be 
enemies  to  American  liberty,  as  loathsome  animals  not  (it 
to  be  touched  or  to  have  any  society  or  connection  with. 

v.  Resolved,  That  we  choose  a  Committee  to  corres- 
pond with  the  other  Committees  of  Correspondence  of 
this  Province  and  elsewhere,  and  that  Mr.  Josfiva  Webb, 
John  Grout,  Esquire,  Deacon  John  Sessions,  Major  Wil- 
liam Williams,  and  Captain  Jacob  Hoisington,  be  a  Com- 
mittee as  aforesaid. 

vi.  Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  this  Committee  be 
given  to  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  in  the  capital 
of  this  Province,  for  the  notice  they  have  taken  of  this 
infant  County. 

vii.  Resolved,  That  Mr.  Chairman  forward  these  Re- 
solves to  Mr.  Low,  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of  Cor- 
respondence at  New-York,  and  communicate  to  him  by 
Letter  the  reasons  why  his  Letter  to  the  Supervisors  of  this 
County  was  answered  no  sooner. 

vni.  Resolved,  That  Colonel  Hazeltine,  the  Chair- 
man, have  the  thanks  of  this  Committee  for  his  good  ser- 
vices as  Chairman. 

The  above  Report  being  divers  times  read,  paragraph 
by  paragraph, 

Voted,  nemine  contradicenic,  That  the  same  be  accept- 
ed as  the  sense  of  this  meeting,  and  as  their  Resolves. 
By  order  of  the  Convention  : 

John  Hazeltine,  Chairman. 


COLONEL  ARNOLD  TO  THE  CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS. 

Ticonderoga,  June  23,  1775. 

May  it  please  your  Honours  :  The  Congress  of  the 
Colony  of  the  Massachustt/s-Bay,  on  the  fourteenth  day 
of  June  last,  appointed  Walter  Spooner,  Frederick  Foster, 
and  James  Sullivan,  a.  Committee  to  repair  to  the  fortresses 
of  Ticonderoga  and  Croivn  Point,  on  the  Lake  Champlain, 
to  inquire  into  the  importance  of  holding  those  posts,  and 
also  the  method  by  which  they  may  be  maintained  ;  to  estab- 
lish there  in  the  pay  of  said  Colony,  so  many  men  to  de- 
fend the  same  posts  as  they  should  judge  necessary,  not 
exceeding  four  hundred  :  And  the  said  Committee  were 
also  by  said  Congress  directed,  when  they  should  have 
made  themselves  fully  acquainted  with  the  situation  and  im- 
portance of  said  posts,  respectfully  to  signify  their  thoughts 
thereon  to  your  Honours. 

Wherefore,  by  order  of  said  Committee,  I  take  leave  to 
inform  you,  that  it  is  the  opinion  of  said  Committee,  such 
is  the  importance  of  these  fortresses,  that  should  they  once 
be  in  the  hands  of  the  enemies  to  America,  the  Colony 
of  New-  York,  together  with  the  Neiv-England  Colonies, 
would  be  in  continual  danger  of  having  depredations  com- 
mitted on  them  by  the  regular  forces  who  would  be  pos- 
sessed of  those  garrisons ;  and  should  the  Canadians  and 
savages,  who,  we  hope,  are  not  yet  at  enmity  with  us,  be 
inclined  to  take  part  with  the  Ministerial  Army,  the  distress 
of  the  Colonies  before  mentioned  must  be  extremely  great. 
A  garrison  at  the  south  end  of  Lake  George,  however 
tenable,  could  be  of  but  little  service  to  the  New-England 
Colonies,  because  the  most  easy  route  for  an  army  from 


1067 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


1068 


Quebeck  into  New-England  would  be  through  Lake  Cham- 
pain  to  South-Bay,  from  whence  they  might  travel  by  land 
through  the  new  settlements  of  New-  York  into  the  New- 
England  Governments,  and  destroy  the  frontier  towns  on 
their  march,  drive  the  farmers  from  their  fields,  prevent  the 
large  supplies  of  wheat  and  other  necessaries  which  may 
soon  be  expected  from  these  new  settlements,  send  distress 
and  famine  into  the  bowels  of  the  country,  and  this  all  with- 
out being  on  a  right  line  within  many  miles  of  the  south 
end  of  Lake  George. 

I  am  also  ordered  by  said  Committee  to  signify  to  your 
Honours,  that  it  is  the  opinion  of  said  Committee  that  the 
defence  of  these  fortresses  must  be  supported  by  holding 
the  command  of  Lake  Champlain,  which  they  conceive 
may  be  more  easily  done  by  having  vessels  of  various  con- 
structions, well  manned  and  armed,  floating  there  ;  for  which 
purpose  the  Committee  have  stationed  four  hundred  men 
there,  which  are  all  that  the  embarrassed  circumstances  of 
our  Colony  can  at  present  admit  of,  to  co-operate  with  near 
a  thousand  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Hinman,  who  is 
sent  to  those  posts  by  the  Government  of  Connecticut ;  but 
whether  the  forces  now  on  the  lake  are  sufficient  for  the 
purposes  aforementioned,  your  Honours'  will  judge. 

B.  Arnold. 

To  the  Honourable  the  President  and  the  Members  of  the 
American  Congress  now  sitting  at  Philadelphia. 


GOVERNOUR  TRUMBULL  TO  PRESIDENT  OF  CONGRESS. 

Lebanon,  June  23,  1775. 
Sir  :  I  am  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  yours  of  the 
seventeenth  June,  enclosing  the  Resolve  in  Congress  of  the 
sixteenth  ;  the  recommendation  of  a  fast :  and  Col.  Dyer's 
letter  of  the  sixteenth.  This  express  passing  in  haste  can 
only  inform  thereof,  and  mention  that  my  letter  of  the 
twentieth,  which  hope  you  will  receive  before  this,  will 
inform  of  what  is  already  done.  Have  enclosed  the  ad- 
dress of  the  people  of  Great  Britain  to  the  inhabitants  of 
America,  not  knowing  whether  you  have  received  it  from 
any  other  way.  This  express  brings  you  intelligence  from 
camp  near  Boston.  I  sincerely  condole  the  loss  of  the 
worthy  Doctor  Warren,  the  unhappy  burning  of  Charles- 
town,  &c.  God  grant  wisdom,  unanimity,  and  success,  to 
our  American  Councils  and  cause.  Without  time  to  en- 
large or  to  write  to  our  Delegates,  to  whom  pray  my  com- 
pliments, I  am,  with  great  truth  and  regard,  Sir,  your  most 
obedient  and  most  humble  servant, 

Jonathan  Trumbull. 
Honourable  John  Hancock,  Esq. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  AN  OFFICER  ON  BOARD  ONE 
OF  THE  KING'S  SHIPS  AT  BOSTON,  TO  HIS  FRIEND  IN 
LONDON,  DATED  JUNE  23,  1775. 

On  the  evening  of  the  sixteenth  we  were  informed  that 
the  Provincials  were  erecting  a  battery  on  the  heights  near 
Charlestown,  and  that  they  intended  from  thence  to  bom- 
bard the  Town  of  Boston.  Early  on  the  seventeenth,  we 
were  alarmed  with  an  account  that  they  had  been  at  work 
upon  it  all  night,  and  had  nearly  completed  it.  We  were 
immediately  ordered  to  land  some  battalions,  and  in  the 
mean  time  our  great  guns  were  fired  against  those  who  ap- 
peared to  be  busily  employed  at  the  battery.  Whether 
our  shot  did  not  reach  far  enough  to  create  any  confusion 
among  them,  or  it  was  owing  to  their  resolution,  I  cannot 
say;  but  certain  it  is,  that  the  moment  they  discovered  the 
landing  of  our  Troops,  they  formed  in  order  of  battle,  and 
so  far  from  retreating,  as  we  expected,  they  marched  to- 
wards us  with  the  utmost  coolness  and  regularity.  Nothing 
can  exceed  the  panick  and  apparent  dislike  of  most  of  the 
King's  Troops  to  enter  into  this  engagement;  even  at  the 
landing,  several  attempted  to  run  away,  and  five  actually 
took  to  their  heels  in  order  to  join  the  Americans,  but  were 
presently  brought  back,  and  two  of  them  were  immediately 
hung  up  in  tcrrorem  to  the  rest.  They,  for  the  most  part, 
openly  express  a  dislike  to  the  service  in  which  they  are 
engaged,  and  nothing  but  the  fear  of  military  punishment 
prevents  their  daily  deserting.  The  Generals,  perceiving 
the  strength  and  order  of  the  Provincials,  ordered  a  re- 
enforcement  to  join  the  Troops  already  landed,  but  before 


they  came  up,  the  cannonading  on  both  sides  began.  The 
Provincials  poured  down  like  a  torrent,  and  fought  like  men 
who  had  no  care  for  their  persons;  they  disputed  every 
inch  of  ground,  and  their  numbers  were  far  superiour  to 
ours.  The  King's  Troops  gave  way  several  times,  and  it 
required  the  utmost  efforts  of  the  Generals  to  rally  them. 
At  the  beginning  of  the  engagement  many  of  them  abso- 
lutely turned  their  backs,  not  expecting  so  hot  a  fire  from 
the  Americans ;  the  latter  feigned  a  retreat,  in  order,  as  we 
suppose,  to  draw  our  Troops  after  them,  and  by  that  means 
to  cut  them  in  pieces;  and  we  are  informed  that  General 
Ward  had  a  reserve  of  four  thousand  men  for  that  purpose. 
The  King's  Troops,  concluding  that  the  Americans  quitted 
the  field  through  fear,  pursued  them  under  that  apprehen- 
sion, but  did  not  proceed  far  enough  to  be  convinced,  by 
that  fatal  experience  which  was,  as  we  hear,  designed  for 
them,  of  their  mistake.  The  engagement  lasted  upwards 
of  four  hours,  and  ended  infinitely  to  our  disadvantage. 
The  flower  of  our  Army  are  killed  or  wounded.  During 
the  engagement  Charlestown  was  set  on  fire  by  the  King's 
Troops,  in  order  to  stop  the  progress  of  the  Provincials, 
who,  after  their  sham  retreat,  returned  to  attack  them ;  but 
I  think  it  was  a  wanton  act  of  the  King's  Troops,  who 
certainly,  after  they  had  joined  the  main  body  of  our  Army, 
had  no  occasion  to  take  that  method  of  retarding  the  return 
of  the  Americans,  who,  upon  perceiving  that  General  Ward 
stood  still  with  his  reserve,  laid  aside  their  intentions. 

Our  Troops  are  sickly,  and  a  great  number  are  afflicted 
with  the  scurvy,  occasioned  by  the  want  of  fresh  provisions. 
I  heartily  wish  myself  with  you  and  the  rest  of  my  friends  ; 
and  the  first  opportunity  that  offers  I  will  sell  out  and  re- 
turn, for  at  the  best  only  disgrace  can  arise  in  the  service 
of  such  a  cause  as  that  in  which  we  are  engaged.  The 
Americans  are  not  those  poltrons  1  myself  was  once  taught 
to  believe  them  to  be;  they  are  men  of  liberal  and  noble 
sentiments  ;  their  very  characteristick  is  the  love  of  liberty  ; 
and  though  I  am  an  officer  under  the  King  of  Great  Bri- 
tain, I  tacitly  admire  their  resolution  and  perseverance, 
against  the  present  oppressive  measures  of  the  British  Gov- 
ernment. 


To  the  Honourable  President  and  Members  of  the  Pro- 
vincial Congress,  now  sitting  at  Watertown  : 
The  Petition  of  the  Selectmen,  Officers  of  the  Militia, 

and  Committee  of  Correspondence  of  Manchester, 

humbly  sheweth : 

That  whereas,  this  Town  labours  under  peculiar  difficulty, 
by  reason  of  its  being  so  situated  as  greatly  exposes  us  to 
the  inroads  of  our  merciless  enemies,  and  we  are  thereby 
reduced  to  the  disagreeable  necessity  of  keeping  a  constant 
guard  in  several  parts  of  the  Town,  for  the  defence  of  life 
and  property ;  and  having  received  information  from  Head- 
Quarters  in  Cambridge,  in  which  the  necessity  of  keeping 
a  very  strict  guard  is  urged,  in  consequence  whereof  our 
guards  are  doubled,  that  the  malevolent  intentions  of  those 
who  are  indefatigable  in  their  endeavours  to  distress  us 
may,  if  possible,  be  defeated,  together  with  our  numbers 
being  considerably  lessened,  as  there  is  nigh  one  full  com- 
pany gone  from  hence  into  the  service  of  our  Country,  has 
increased  our  duty  and  made  it  more  fatiguing;  which,  of 
necessity,  calls  off  men  of  every  description,  among  others 
farmers,  whereby  our  agriculture  is  greatly  impeded,  and 
which  is  now  our  principal  dependance,  as  many  of  the 
inhabitants  are  seamen,  and  the  business  on  which  they 
entirely  depend  for  the  support  of  themselves  and  families, 
being  cut  off;  and  the  failure  of  the  fishery,  the  chief 
branch  of  business  on  which  this  Town  depended,  has 
deprived  us  of  the  usual  income  by  which  we  have  been 
in  part  enabled  to  pay  our  proportion  of  publick  charges, 
which  are  daily  increasing,  as  also  the  charges  of  the  Town, 
that  so  affects  us  as  to  reduce  us  to  great  straits  and  diffi- 
culties; and  for  this  Town,  under  its  present  circumstances, 
to  put  into  pay  a  sufficient  number  of  men  to  guard  and 
defend  it  against  the  invasions  of  our  enemies,  would  be  a 
burden  greater  than  we  are  able  to  bear: 

We,  your  petitioners,  therefore  pray,  that  you  would 
take  into  your  serious  consideration  the  difficulties  under 
which  we  now  labour,  and  grant  us  the  privilege  of  raising 
a  company  of  men,  or  part  of  one,  and  the  liberty  of 
choosing  officers  therefor,  and  quartered  in  the  Town,  for 


1069 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


1070 


its  defence  and  security  ;  which  company  to  be  on  the 
Provincial  Establishment,  and  to  appertain  to  that  Regi- 
ment which  may  be  posted  nearest  to  us. 

And  thus  having  represented  our  case  to  this  honoura- 
ble Congress,  we  have  a  prevailing  confidence  that  our  re- 
quest will  meet  with  a  favourable  reception,  and  we  receive 
the  end  of  our  petition.  The  grant  of  which,  your  peti- 
tioners, as  in  duty  bound,  shall  ever  pray. 

John  Tewxbury, 

Andrew  Woodbury, 

Eleazar  Coupt, 

John  Lee, 

Andrew  Marsters, 

Samuel  Foster, 

Eleazer  Craft, 

Jonathan  Brown, 

John  Tewxbury, 

Andrew  Marsters, 

Andrew  Woodbury, 

Joseph  Whipple. 

Manchester  June  23,  1775. 


■  Selectmen. 


Officers  of 
Militia. 


Comm.  of 
Correspond- 
ence. 


Massachusetts  congress  to  general  ward. 

In  Congress,  Watertown,  June  23,  1775. 

Sir:  As  it  appears  to  this  Congress  highly  probable  that 
the  Army  of  our  enemies  will  speedily  make  the  utmost 
efforts  to  force  our  lines  and  penetrate  into  the  country, 
they  have  judged  it  absolutely  necessary  for  the  strength- 
ening of  the  Army  before  Boston,  that  the  eight  Compa- 
nies now  posted  in  the  County  of  Plymouth,  belonging 
partly  to  General  Thomas's  Regiment,  and  partly  to  Colo- 
nel Cotton's  Regiment,  should  immediately  join  the  said 
Army.  You  are  therefore  directed,  without  delay,  to  give 
the  orders  necessarry  for  the  marching  the  said  eight  Com- 
panies to  the  said  Army,  as  soon  as  may  be. 

To  General  Ward. 


GENERAL  FOLSOM  TO  NEW-HAMPSHIRE  COMMITTEE  OF 


SAFETY. 


Mcdford,  June  23,  1775. 


Gentlemen  :  In  my  letter  to  you  yesterday  I  acquaint- 
ed you  that  on  my  arrival  here,  I  immediately  waited  on 
the  Captain-General.  He  then  ordered  me  to  make  re- 
turn to  him  of  the  two  Regiments,  viz :  Colonel  Stark's 
and  Colonel  Read's,  of  their  situation  and  circumstances. 
On  my  return  here,  I  sent  orders  to  the  two  Colonels  to 
make  return  of  their  respective  Regiments  to  me ;  Colonel 
Read  immediately  obeyed  the  order,  but  Colonel  Stark 
repeatedly,  and  at  last  absolutely  refused  to  comply.  I 
am  well  informed  by  Mr.  Stark's  best  friends,  that  he  does 
not  intend  to  be  under  any  subordination  to  any  person 
appointed  by  the  Congress  of  New-Hampshire  to  the  gen- 
eral command  of  the  New-Hampshire  Troops.  I  have 
tried  all  conciliatory  methods,  both  by  personal  conversa- 
tion and  the  mediation  of  friends,  but  without  effect ;  in 
consequence  whereof,  I  this  afternoon  again  waited  on  the 
Captain-General  at  Head-Quarters,  to  take  his  orders  on 
the  matter.  He  requested  me  to  advise  with  the  Com- 
mittee of  Safety  of  New-Hampshire  on  the  business.  As 
Colonel  Stark  has  received  no  commission  as  yet  from 
you,  he  thinks  he  does  not  properly  come  under  his  cogni- 
zance. 

Gentlemen,  it  is,  I  trust,  unnecessary  to  hint  to  you, 
that,  without  a  proper  subordination,  it  will  be  absolutely 
impossible  for  me  to  execute  the  trust  you  have  reposed  in 
me.  In  my  last  conversation  with  Stark,  he  told  me  he 
could  take  his  pack  and  return  home,  (and  meant,  I  sup- 
pose, to  lead  his  men  with  him.)  I  represented  to  him 
the  dishonourable  part  he  would  thereby  act  towards  both 
Colonies.  I  have  since  made  inquiry,  and  find  he  would 
not  be  able  to  lead  off  many  more  than  the  supernumera- 
ries of  his  Regiment,  it  still  consisting  of  thirteen  Compa- 
nies. I  think  a  Regiment  might  be  formed  of  the  men 
who  have  been  under  his  command,  without  his  being  ap- 
pointed to  the  command  of  them. 

I  must  do  the  justice  to  Lieutenant-Colonel  Wyman  to 
say, he  has  behaved  prudently,  courageously,  and  very  much 
like  a  gentleman,  and  I  think  I  could  recommend  him  for 
the  command  as  soon  as  any  person  I  know. 


I  think  I  shall  never  be  able  to  do  any  thing  with  the 
Regiment,  unless  you  make  new  regulations  in  the  field 
officers,  whom  I  would  recommend  should  be  taken  out  of 
the  Captains  of  that  Regiment,  which  1  apprehend  would 
facilitate  the  union  of  our  troops. 

I  am,  gentlemen,  your  most  obedient  servant, 

Nathaniel  Folsom. 


ADDRESS  OF  COL.  BAILEY  TO  THE  NORTHERN  INDIANS. 

Newbury,  June  23,  1775. 

The  present  war  is  only  between  the  King  and  a  part 
of  the  Lords  and  America.  The  Lords  say,  all  America 
shall  become  slaves  or  servants  to  them  ;  shall  plough  no 
more  than  they  say ;  eat  nor  drink,  nor  wear,  nor  hunt, 
only  by  their  leave ;  shall  not  kill  deer,  moose,  beaver,  or 
any  other  thing,  but  by  their  consent.  America  say  they 
will ;  and  that  the  King,  by  the  Lords'  advice,  has  sent 
red  coats  to  kill  us,  if  we  will  not  be  subject  to  what  they 
say.  And  we  have  thirty  thousand  men,  with  guns,  great 
and  small,  to  fight  in  our  defence;  we  only  want  to  live 
as  we  have  heretofore ;  we  do  not  want  to  fight,  if  they 
would  let  us  alone.  You  are  as  much  threatened  as  we ; 
they  want  you  to  kill  us,  and  then  they  will  kill  you,  if 
you  will  not  serve  them.  Dteadful  wicked  men  they 
be ;  they  do  not  think  there  is  any  God  that  will  punish 
them  by  and  by.  If  you  have  a  mind  to  join  us,  I  will 
go  with  any  number  you  shall  bring  to  our  Army,  and  you 
shall  each  have  a  good  coat  and  blanket,  &c,  and  forty 
shillings  per  month,  let  the  time  be  longer  or  shorter.  If 
you  will  go  to  Canada  and  get  what  intelligence  you  can, 
and  bring  it  to  me,  at  any  place  you  shall  set,  I  will  meet 
you  myself,  and  pay  you  well;  further,  if  you  are  any  way 
afraid  of  the  Regulars,  you  and  all  those  tribes  shall  have 
protection  here,  or  we  will  fight  for  you  in  your  own  coun- 
try, if  wanted  ;  but  if  you  or  the  French,  or  any  other  In- 
dians, fight  against  us,  we  know  your  country,  and  shall 
be  troublesome  to  you  ;  you  know  how  we  could  fight  last 
war.  But  I  know  you  will  be  friendly,  and  you  may  de- 
pend upon  us;  we  will  pawn  all  we  have  for  the  most 
strict  observance  of  any  agreement  made  with  you.  We 
are  now  all  brothers,  and  we  will  be  so  with  you  ;  for  one 
God  made  us  all,  and  all  must  meet  before  God  in  a  little 
while. 


MEETING  OF  THE  LIVERY  OF  LONDON  IN  COMMON-HALL. 

London,  Saturday,  June  24,  1775, 

This  day  came  on,  at  Guildhall,  the  election  of  Sheriffs 
for  the  City  of  London  and  County  of  Middlesex,  and 
other  officers,  for  the  year  ensuing.  At  a  quarter  past  one 
o'clock,  the  Lord  Mayor,  attended  by  the  two  Sheriffs, 
Recorder,  and  the  Aldermen  Bull,  Lewes,  Thomas, 
Newnham,  Hayley,  Esdaile,  Rawlinson,  &.C.,  ascended 
the  Hustings,  when  the  Common  Crier  opened  the  Court, 
and  the  Aldermen  below  the  Chair,  who  had  not  served 
the  office  of  Sheriff,  were  first  put  in  nomination.  The 
principal  show  of  hands  appearing  in  favour  of  Aldermen 
Hayley  and  Newnham,  the  Sheriffs  declared  the  election 
to  have  fallen  on  them. 

The  names  of  Hayley  and  Newnham  were  received 
with  the  greatest  applause,  which  was  testified  by  almost 
every  one  in  the  Hall  holding  up  their  hands.  About 
twelve  people  held  up  their  hands  for  Alderman  Rawlin- 
son, and  about  seven  for  Alderman  Thomas. 

The  Lord  Mayor  then  came  to  the  front  of  the  Hus- 
tings, and  acquainted  the  Livery,  that  in  consequence  of 
their  Resolutions  last  Common-Hall,  he  waited  on  His 
Majesty,  in  his  corporate  capacity,  with  their  Address,  &ic. 
He  then  read  the  King's  Answer,  together  with  a  Letter 
he  received  a  few  days  after  from  the  Lord  Chamberlain, 
with  his  (the  Lord  Mayor's)  Answer. 

Mr.  Saxby,  the  Chairman  from  the  Livery  at  the  Half- 
Moon  Tavern,  then  came  forward,  and  made  the  following 
motions : 

1.  That  the  Town  Clerk  do  enter  in  the  Records  of 
this  City,  the  Letter  from  the  Lord  Chamberlain  to  the 
Right  Honourable  the  Lord  Mayor,  with  his  Lordship's 
Answer. 

2.  That  the  thanks  of  this  Common-Hall  be  given  to 
the  Right  Honourable  John  Wilkes,  Lord  Mayor,  for  his 


1071 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  kc,  JUNE,  1775. 


1072 


very  able,  judicious,  and  spirited  defence  of  the  rights  and 
privileges  of  the  Livery  in  Common-Hall  assembled. 

3.  That  a  copy  of  the  said  Resolution  be  fairly  tran- 
scribed and  signed  by  the  Town  Clerk,  and  by  him  de- 
livered to  his  Lordship. 

4.  That  whoever  advised  His  Majesty  to  declare  he 
would  not  in  future  receive  on  the  Throne  any  Address, 
Remonstrance,  and  Petition,  from  the  Lord  Mayor,  Alder- 
men, and  Livery  of  London,  are  enemies  to  the  right  of 
the  subject  to  petition  the  Throne,  because  such  advice  is 
calculated  to  intercept  the  complaints  of  the  People  to 
their  Sovereign,  to  prevent  a  redress  of  grievances,  and 
alienate  the  minds  of  Englishmen  from  the  Hanoverian 
succession. 

5.  That  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  Common-Hall,  that 
unless  His  Majesty  hears  the  petitions  of  his  subjects,  the 
right  of  petitioning  is  nugatory. 

6.  That  the  thanks  of  the  Lord  Mayor,  Aldermen,  and 
Livery,  in  Common-Hall  assembled,  be  given  to  the  Right 
Honourable  the  Earl  of  Effingham,  for  having,  consistent 
with  the  principles  of  a  true  Englishman,  refused  to  draw 
that  sword  which  has  been  employed  to  the  honour  of  his 
Country,  against  the  lives  and  liberties  of  his  fellow-sub- 
jects in  America. 

I.  That  the  said  Resolution  be  fairly  transcribed  and 
signed  by  the  Town  Clerk,  and  by  him  delivered  to  the 
Right  Honourable  the  Earl  of  Effingham. 

8.  That  an  humble  Address,  Remonstrance,  and  Peti- 
tion be  presented  to  His  Majesty,  from  the  Lord  Mayor, 
Aldermen,  and  Livery  of  the  City  of  Londoii,  in  Com- 
mon-Hall assembled,  on  this  important  crisis  of  American 
affairs. 

9.  To  agree  to  the  Address,  Remonstrance,  and  Peti- 
tion now  read. 

10.  That  the  Right  Honourable  the  Lord  Mayor,  our 
Representatives  in  Parliament,  the  Court  of  Aldermen, 
the  Sheriffs  and  Livery,  in  their  Gowns,  attended  by  the 
Recorder  and  other  City  officers,  be  desired  to  present  the 
said  Address,  Remonstrance,  and  Petition,  to  His  Majesty 
sitting  on  his  Throne. 

II.  That  the  Sheriffs,  attended  by  the  Remembrancer, 
do  wait  on  His  Majesty  on  Monday  next,  to  know  his 
Royal  will  and  pleasure  when  he  will  receive  on  the 
Throne  the  humble  Address,  Remonstrance,  and  Petition 
of  the  Lord  Mayor,  Aldermen,  and  Livery,  in  Common- 
Hall  assembled. 

12.  That  the  said  Address,  Remonstrance,  and  Peti- 
tion, be  not  presented  to  His  Majesty  but  sitting  on  the 
Throne. 

The  above  motions  being  unanimously  approved  of,  the 
Hall  was  adjourned. 

London,  June  27,  1775. 
Yesterday  the  Sheriffs  went  up  to  St.  James's  to  know 
His  Majesty's  pleasure  when  he  would  be  pleased  to  per- 
mit the  Lord  Mayor,  Aldermen,  Common  Council,  and 
Livery,  to  wait  on  him  with  their  Petition,  and  Remon- 
strance. His  Majesty  being  at  Kew,  they  went  thither, 
where  they  waited  about  three-quarters  of  an  hour,  when 
His  Majesty  signified  to  them,  by  a  Lord  in  waiting,  that 
they  should  go  up  to  St.  James's  to-morrow  for  an  answer. 
They  returned  to  the  Mansion-House  at  nine  o'clock. 

London,  July  4,  1775. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Livery  of  London,  in  Common- 
Hall  assembled : 

The  Lord  Mayor  acquainted  the  Livery  that  the  Sheriffs 
waited  on  His  Majesty  at  St.  James's  on  Wednesday  last, 
and  that  Mr.  Sheriff  Plomer  addressed  His  Majesty  as  fol- 
lows : 

"  May  it  please  your  Majesty  : 

"We  are  ordered  by  the  Lord  Mayor,  Aldermen,  and 
Livery  of  the  City  of  London,  in  Common-Hall  assem- 
bled, to  wait  upon  your  Majesty,  humbly  to  know  your 
Majesty's  Royal  will  and  pleasure  when  your  Majesty  will 
be  pleased  to  receive  upon  the  Throne  their  humble  Ad- 
dress, Remonstrance,  and  Petition." 

To  which  His  Majesty  answered  : 

"  You  will  please  to  take  notice,  that  I  will  receive  their 


Address,  Remonstrance,  and  Petition,  on  Friday  next,  at 

the  levee." 

Mr.  Sheriff  Plomer  replied  : 

"  Your  Majesty  will  permit  us  to  inform  you,  that  the 
Livery,  in  Common-Hall  assembled,  have  resolved  not  to 
present  their  Address,  Remonstrance,  and  Petition,  unless 
your  Majesty  shall  be  pleased  to  receive  it  sitting  on  the 
Throne." 

To  which  His  Majesty  answered  : 
"  I  am  ever  ready  to  receive  addresses  and  petitions  ; 
but  I  am  the  judge  where." 

The  Lord  Mayor  then  declared,  that  in  consequence  of 
the  order  of  the  Livery  that  the  Address,  Remonstrance, 
and  Petition  should  not  be  presented  to  the  King  but  sit- 
ting on  his  Throne,  the  Sheriffs'  Report  to  him,  and  Lord 
Hertford's  Letter,  his  Lordship  had  not  attended  His  Ma- 
jesty with  the  said  Address. 

Ordered,  That  His  Majesty's  Answer,  now  reported, 
be  entered  in  the  books  of  the  Livery  of  this  City. 

Resolved,  That  the  King  is  bound  to  hear  the  Petitions 
of  his  People,  it  being  the  undoubted  right  of  the  subject 
to  be  heard,  and  not  a  matter  of  grace  and  favour. 

Resolved,  That  His  Majesty's  Answer  is  a  direct  denial 
of  the  right  of  this  Court  to  have  their  Petitions  heard. 

Resolved,  That  such  denial  renders  the  right  of  peti- 
tioning the  Throne,  recognized  and  established  by  the 
Revolution,  of  no  effect. 

Resolved,  That  whoever  advises  His  Majesty,  directly 
or  indirectly,  to  refuse  hearing  the  humble  Address,  Re- 
monstrance, and  Petition  of  this  Court,  on  the  Throne,  is 
equally  an  enemy  to  the  happiness  and  security  of  the 
King,  and  the  peace  and  liberties  of  the  People. 

Ordered,  That  the  Address,  Remonstrance,  and  Peti- 
tion which  His  Majesty  refused  to  hear  on  the  Throne,  be 
printed  in  the  publick  papers,  and  signed  by  the  Town 
Clerk. 

Resolved,  That  the  following  Instruction  be  given  to 
our  Representatives  in  Parliament: 

"  Gentlemen  :  You  are  instructed  by  the  Livery  in 
Common-Hall  assembled,  to  move  immediately  on  the 
next  meeting  of  Parliament,  for  an  humble  Address  from 
the  House  of  Commons  to  His  Majesty,  requesting  to 
know  who  were  the  advisers  of  those  fatal  measures  which 
have  planted  Popery  and  arbitrary  power  in  America,  and 
have  plunged  us  into  a  most  unnatural  civil  war,  to  the 
subversion  of  the  fundamental  principles  of  English  lib- 
erty, the  ruin  of  our  most  valuable  Commerce,  and  the 
destruction  of  His  Majesty's  subjects;  to  know  who 
were  the  advisers  of  a  measure  so  dangerous  to  His  Ma- 
jesty's happiness,  and  the  rights  of  his  people,  as  refusing 
to  hear  the  petitions  and  complaints  of  his  subjects.  You 
are  further  instructed,  gentlemen,  to  move  for  an  impeach- 
ment of  the  authors  and  advisers  of  those  measures ;  that, 
by  bringing  them  to  publick  justice,  evil  counsellors  may 
be  removed  from  before  the  King,  his  Throne  may  be 
established,  the  rights  of  the  people  be  vindicated,  and  the 
whole  Empire  restored  to  the  enjoyment  of  peace,  liberty, 
and  safety." 

Ordered,  That  the  said  Resolution  be  fairly  transcribed, 
and  signed  by  the  Town  Clerk,  and  by  him  delivered  to 
our  Representatives  in  Parliament. 

Ordered,  That  the  Sheriffs  do  wait  upon  His  Majesty, 
and  deliver  into  His  Majesty's  hand,  in  the  name  of  the 
Lord  Mayor,  Aldermen,  and  Livery  in  Common-Hall  as- 
sembled, a  fair  copy  of  the  Resolutions  agreed  to  on  Mid- 
summer-day and  this  day,  signed  by  the  Town  Clerk. 

Ordered,  That  the  Sheriffs,  attended  by  Mr.  Remem- 
brancer, do  to-morrow  wait  on  His  Majesty  with  the  afore- 
said Resolutions. 

Ordered,  That  the  Resolutions  of  this  day  be  printed  in 
the  publick  papers,  signed  by  the  Town  Clerk. 

Signed  by  order:  Rix. 

July  5,  1775. 

The  Sheriffs  waited  on  His  Majesty  at  St.  James's, 
when  Mr.  Sheriff  Plomer  addressed  the  King  in  the  fol- 
lowing words : 


1073 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


1074 


"  May  it  please  your  Majesty  : 

11  We  are  ordered  by  the  Mayor,  Aldermen,  and  Livery 
of  the  City  of  London,  in  Common-Hall  assembled,  to 
wait  upon  your  Majesty,  humbly  to  deliver  into  your  Ma- 
jesty's hands,  in  their  name,  their  Resolutions  agreed  to  in 
Common-Hall,  on  the  24th  day  of  June  last,  and  of  the 
4th  instant." 

Mr.  Sheriff  Plomer  then  delivered  a  copy  of  the  Reso- 
lutions only,  but  not  the  Address,  Petition,  and  Remon- 
strance, into  the  King's  hand,  which  he  received  without 
saying  a  word.  The  Address,  Petition,  and  Remonstrance 
was  ordered  by  the  Common-Hall  to  be  given  to  the  pub- 
lick  in  print. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Livery  of  London,  in  Common- 
Hall  assembled,  on  Saturday,  the  24th  of  June,  1775: 

A  motion  being  made  and  question  put,  that  an  humble 
Address,  Remonstrance,  and  Petition  be  presented  to  His 
Majesty,  from  the  Lord  Mayor,  Aldermen,  and  Livery  of 
the  City  of  London,  in  Common-Hall  assembled,  on  this 
important  crisis  of  American  affairs;  the  same  was  resolved 
in  the  affirmative. 

And  an  Address,  Remonstrance,  and  Petition  to  the 
king  being  produced,  a  motion  was  made  that  the  same 
be  read ;  and  the  question  being  put  by  Mr.  Recorder,  it 
was  resolved  in  the  affirmative;  whereupon,  the  same  was 
read,  as  follows : 

To  the  King's  Most  Excellent  Majesty  : 
The  humble  Address,  Remonstrance,  and  Petition  of  the 
Lord  Mayor,  Aldermen,  and  Livery  of  London  : 

Most  Gracious  Sovereign  : 

We,  your  Majesty's  most  faithful  subjects,  the  Lord 
Mayor,  Aldermen,  Livery,  he,  of  London,  in  Common- 
Hall  assembled,  are  compelled  again  to  disturb  your  Ma- 
jesty's repose  with  our  complaints. 

We  have  already  expressed  to  your  Majesty  our  abhor- 
rence of  the  tyrannical  measures  pursued  against  our  fel- 
low-subjects in  America,  as  well  as  of  the  men  who  secretly 
advise,  and  of  the  Ministers  who  execute  these  measures. 

We  desire  to  repeat  again,  that  the  power  contended  for 
over  the  Colonies,  under  the  specious  name  of  dignity,  is, 
to  all  intents  and  purposes,  despotism  ;  and  that  the  exer- 
cise of  despotick  power  in  any  part  of  the  Empire,  is  in- 
consistent with  the  character  and  safety  of  this  Country. 

As  we  would  not  suffer  any  man  or  body  of  men  to 
establish  arbitrary  power  over  us,  we  cannot  acquiesce  in 
any  attempt  to  force  it  upon  any  part  of  our  fellow-sub- 
jects. We  are  persuaded,  that  by  the  sacred  unalterable 
rights  of  human  nature,  as  well  as  by  every  principle  of  the 
Constitution,  the  Americans  ought  to  enjoy  peace,  liberty, 
and  safety  ;  that  whatever  power  invades  these  rights  ought 
to  be  resisted.  We  hold  such  resistance  in  vindication  of 
their  constitutional  rights,  to  be  their  indispensable  duty  to 
God,  from  whom  those  rights  are  derived  to  themselves, 
who  cannot  be  safe  and  happy  without  them ;  to  their  pos- 
terity, who  have  a  right  to  claim  this  inheritance  at  their 
bands,  unviolated  and  unimpaired. 

We  have  already  remonstrated  to  your  Majesty,  that 
these  measures  were  big  with  all  the  consequences  which 
could  alarm  a  free  and  commercial  people  ;  a  deep,  and 
perhaps  fatal,  wound  to  commerce ;  the  ruin  of  manufac- 
tures ;  the  diminution  of  the  revenue,  and  consequent  in- 
crease of  taxes ;  the  alienation  of  the  Colonies,  and  the 
blood  of  your  Majesty's  subjects. 

Unhappily,  Sire,  the  worst  of  these  apprehensions  is 
now  realized  in  all  its  horrour.  We  have  seen,  with  equal 
dread  and  concern,  a  civil  war  commenced  in  America  by 
your  Majesty's  Commander-in-Chief.  Will  your  Majesty 
be  pleased  to  consider  what  must  be  the  situation  of  your 
people  here,  who  have  nothing  now  to  expect  from  Ame- 
rica but  Gazettes  of  blood,  and  mutual  lists  of  their  slaugh- 
tered fellow-subjects. 

Every  moment's  prosecution  of  this  fatal  war  may  loosen 
irreparably  the  bonds  of  that  connection  on  which  the  glory 
and  safety  of  the  British  Empire  depend. 

It  any  thing  could  add  to  the  alarm  of  these  events,  it 
is  your  Majesty's  having  declared  your  confidence  in  the 
wisdom  of  men,  a  majority  of  whom  are  notoriously  bribed 
to  betray  their  constituents  and  their  Country.    It  is  the 
Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii.  i 


misfortune  of  your  Majesty,  it  is  the  misfortune  and  grief 
of  your  People,  to  have  a  Grand  Council  and  a  Represen- 
tative under  an  undue  and  dangerous  influence — an  influ- 
ence which,  though  procured  by  your  Ministers,  is  dan- 
gerous to  your  Majesty,  by  deceiving  you  ;  and  to  your 
People,  by  betraying  them. 

In  such  a  situation  your  petitioners  are  bound  to  declare 
to  your  Majesty,  that  they  cannot  and  will  not  sit  uncon- 
cerned ;  that  they  will  exert  themselves,  at  every  hazard, 
to  bring  those  who  have  advised  these  ruinous  measures,  to 
the  justice  of  this  Country,  and  of  the  much  injured  Colo- 
nies. 

We  have  already  signified  our  persuasion,  that  these 
evils  originate  in  the  secret  advice  of  those  who  are  equally 
enemies  to  your  Majesty's  title,  and  to  the  rights  of  your 
People.  Your  petitioners  are  now  compelled  to  say,  that 
your  Throne  is  surrounded  by  men  avowedly  inimical  to 
those  principles  on  which  your  Majesty  possesses  the 
Crown,  and  this  people  their  liberties.  At  a  time  of 
such  difficulty  and  danger,  publick  confidence  is  essential 
to  your  Majesty's  repose,  and  to  the  preservation  of  your 
People.  Such  confidence  cannot  be  obtained  by  Ministers 
and  advisers  who  want  wisdom,  and  hold  principles  incom- 
patible with  freedom  ;  nor  can  any  hope  of  relief  be  ex- 
pected from  a  Parliament  chosen  under  a  national  delusion 
insidiously  raised,  by  misrepresentations  touching  the  true 
state  of  America,  and  artfully  embraced  by  a  precipitate 
dissolution. 

Your  petitioners,  therefore,  again  pray  and  beseech 
your  Majesty  to  dismiss  your  present  Ministers  and  ad- 
visers from  your  person  and  councils  forever ;  to  dissolve  a 
Parliament  who,  by  various  acts  of  cruelty  and  injustice, 
have  manifested  a  spirit  of  persecution  against  our  brethren 
in  America,  and  given  their  sanction  to  Popery  and  arbi- 
trary power;  to  put  your  future  confidence  in  Ministers 
whose  known  and  unshaken  attachment  to  the  Constitu- 
tion, joined  to  your  wisdom  and  integrity,  may  enable  your 
Majesty  to  settle  this  alarming  dispute  upon  the  sure,  hon- 
ourable, and  lasting  foundations  of  general  liberty. 

And  a  motion  being  made,  and  question  put,  to  agree  to 
the  said  Address,  Remonstrance,  and  Petition,  the  same 
was  resolved  in  the  affirmative. 

Signed  by  order:  Rix. 


TO  GENERAL  GAGE. 

Philadelphia,  June  24,  1775. 

I  believe  you  were  not  by  nature  void  of  humanity  or 
justice.  I  have  even  the  charity  to  think,  from  what  1 
have  learned  of  your  character,  there  was  a  portion  of 
these  cardinal  qualities  mixed  up  with  your  clay.  But  I 
know  enough  of  the  human  heart  to  be  thoroughly  con- 
vincedt  hat  it  is  possible  for  a  good  man  to  be  corrupted, 
and  to  become  hardened  against  every  honest,  virtuous 
impulse. 

Interest,  that  demon  which  is  perpetually  tempting  the 
weakness  of  man,  has  prevailed  over  those  conscientious 
feelings,  and  betrayed  you  into  irreparable  guilt. 

Perhaps  you  may  have  had  the  consolatory  view,  when 
you  accepted  your  present  high  command,  of  speedily, 
and  without  bloodshed,  conciliating  this  Country  to  the 
desired  state  of  vassalage,  and  by  this  means  of  quickly 
reaping  the  rich  reward  of  your  glorious  villany.  If  this 
was  your  aim,  how  poignant  must  be  the  disappointment 
you  have  met  with,  and  how  merited  the  punishment  in 
supposing  yourself  master  of  contingencies  and  director  of 
events,  which  is  the  character  of  divinity  itself:  but  if  it 
be  with  you  as  I  have  represented,  you  are  an  instance  of 
great  cruelty  and  depravity  of  heart,  for  your  intention  was 
evidently  to  deprive  three  millions  of  people  of  their  liber- 
ties, and  to  annihilate  all  right  in  property. 

Whatever  may  have  been  your  sentiments  in  the  begin- 
ning, you  have  lately  taken  so  destructive  a  part  as  to  put 
both  your  friends  and  enemies  out  of  all  doubt  in  respect 
to  your  character. .  How  happened  it,  that  in  the  course 
of  your  letter-writing  to  Ministry,  you  never  hazarded  an 
important  conjecture  which  was  confirmed  by  any  subse- 
quent event?  That  of  one  week  was  regularly  refuted  by 
the  experience  of  the  next  ?  Was  it  the  weakness  of  your 
judgment  that  led  you  astray,  or  the  desire  of  nattering  the 


1075 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &ic,  JUNE,  1775. 


107G 


views  of  an  abandoned  Administration  ?  If  it  was  tlie  first, 
you  ought  never  to  venture  another,  but  confine  yourself  to 
past  events  and  the  facts  of  the  day;  if  the  latter,  you  must 
now  be  convinced,  by  what  has  already  happened,  of  the 
dreadful  consequences  which  may  flow  from  so  vile  a  pros- 
titution of  your  integrity. 

I  shall  now  take  leave  to  recapitulate  some  parts  of  your 
conduct,  in  order  that  it  may  he  placed  in  a  true  point  of 
light  with  the  ignorant  and  uninformed. 

On  the  nineteenth  day  of  April  you  sent  a  considerable 
part  of  your  Army  from  Boston  to  destroy  a  supposed 
magazine  at  Concord.  They  landed  early  in  the  morning, 
and  marched  into  the  Country  with  all  that  overweening 
boastful  presumption  peculiar  to  young  troops,  ignorant 
of  real  service.  Adding  insult  to  misfortune,  they  paraded 
on  their  way  to  the  sound  of  musick.  Full  of  the  idea  of 
the  fame  and  honour  to  be  acquired  in  that  memorable 
expedition,  they  treated  their  supposed  weak  and  defence- 
less enemy  with  scorn  and  derision. 

Rut  what  happened  !  According  to  your  own  relation  of 
that  woful  and  eventful  day,  this  holiday  humour  did  not 
last  long.  The  same  sun  saw  their  offence  and  punish- 
ment. Terrour  and  dismay,  inspired  by  a  few  opponents, 
seized  upon  the  invincible  host;  they  fled  with  a  lucky  and 
almost  miraculous  precipitancy  back  again  to  Boston. 

Rut  in  the  tale  you  tell  of  this  unlbrtunate  maiden  enter- 
prise, you  are  accused  of  want  of  candour,  indeed  of  mis- 
representation of  facts.  You  say,  in  your  circular  letters 
to  the  several  Governours  to  whom  you  have  written,  that 
the  people  fired  first :  if  they  did,  it  reflects  the  highest  hon- 
our on  their  courage.  They  were  but  a  handful  to  encoun- 
ter so  great  a  number.  Rut  although  I  have  the  highest 
opinion  of  their  spirit  and  resolution,  it  requires  no  uncom- 
mon share  of  faith  to  credit  this  assertion  ;  it  is  against 
probability,  it  is  in  the  face  of  the  most  specifick  and  direct 
testimony  of  a  great  variety  of  persons. 

If  the  information  I  have  received  is  well  founded,  your 
orders  were  at  that  time  the  same  as  when  you  left  Biitain — 
not  to  strike  the  first  blow.  If  this  is  the  case,  the  cause 
of  this  contrariety  in  the  evidence  of  the  Country  and  the 
Army  is  sufficiently  obvious;  for  it  is  as  essential,  perhaps, 
for  the  officer  who  commanded  the  Troops  that  fired  first 
on  the  people  to  justify  himself  to  you,  as  it  is  for  you  to 
vindicate  your  conduct  to  your  superiours.  Here  is  a  com- 
bination of  personal  and  particular  interests  to  support  the 
fact  alleged  in  your  behalf,  independent  of  general  rea- 
sons. Upon  a  fair  and  impartial  state  of  the  account,  then, 
1  cannot  perceive  that  this  motive  for  misrepresentation  has 
one  answerable  to  it  on  the  part  of  the  Country.  If  Lord 
Mansfield  himself  was  to  give  his  opinion  on  the  reason  of 
the  case,  I  think  I  could  predict  it  would  be  unfavourable 
to  you. 

Rut  the  intentional  inaccuracy  of  that  part  of  your  let- 
ters which  gives  an  account  of  the  loss  your  Troops  sus- 
tained in  the  action,  is  truly  matter  worthy  of  observation. 

Your  letter,  calculated,  as  one  would  suppose,  for  the  in- 
formation of  the  Representatives  of  the  Crown,  says,  that 
more  than  fifty  were  killed  in  the  action  ;  how  many  more, 
may  it  please  your  Excellency  ?  Fifty  more,  sixty,  or 
seventy?  Why  did  you  thus  leave  them  to  the  uncerlainty 
of  guess  and  conjecture,  when,  from  the  returns  of  your 
officers,  the  loss  must  appear  with  the  greatest  exactness? 

Rut,  Sir,  you  are  not  only  charged  with  the  meanness  of 
artifice,  but  an  open  violation  of  your  word.  The  times 
are  now  so  critically  important  as  to  require  all  the  bold- 
ness and  plainness  of  truth  ;  in  doing  you  all  the  justice 
you  merit,  I  am  under  the  necessity  of  touching  the  honour 
of  your  character. 

When  the.  miserable  inhabitants  of  that  Town  w  hich  had 
been  so  long,  and  is  to  this  day  suffering  under  the  weight 
of  ministerial  vengeance,  applied  to  you  for  permission  to 
leave  it  with  their  goods  or  effects,  you  gave  your  assent  in 
the  presence  and  hoaring  of  many  of  your  officers  and  seve- 
ral private  gentlemen,  and  formally  pledged  your  word,  too, 
for  the  faithful  performance :  and  what  was  the  result  of 
this  business?  You  not  only  shamefully  qualified  the 
Province,  by  obliging  the  poorest  fellow  that  went  out  to 
pay  his  eleemosynary  dollar  to  your  Secretary  for  a  permit, 
but  you  did  more  :  repenting  of  that  part  of  your  solemn 
engagement  which  related  to  the  transporting  of  the  goods 
or  effects  of  the  inhabitants,  you  submitted  your  Honour  on 


that  head  to  a  prostitute  lawyer,  who,  very  consistently, 
gave  it  as  his  opinion,  that  effects  meant  nothing  more  than 
wearing  apparel  and  household  furniture;  that  it  did  not 
include  moveables  in  general.  It  was  upon  this  wretched 
quibble  you  refused  to  let  the  inhabitants  carry  away  all 
their  effects  with  them. 

I  have  always  been  taught  to  believe  the  Army  is  the 
school  of  honour.  In  this  school  you  were  educated  and 
nurtured :  but  I  suspect  you  were  an  untoward  boy,  and 
that  the  principles  inculcated  upon  you  made  little  or  no 
impression  ;  otherwise  you  never  would,  as  a  gentleman, 
have  consented  to  submit  the  plain  obvious  meaning  of 
your  words  to  the  interpretation  of  a  contemptible,  paltry 
retailer  of  quirks  and  quibbles.  You  spoke  in  that  busi- 
ness as  a  gentleman  ;  and  if  you  had  need  to  explain  your- 
self in  respect  to  a  word  of  doubtful  import,  you  should 
have  consulted  Johnson's  Dictionary.  This  would  have 
been  a  ireutleman-like  authoritv. 

It  requires  a  considerable  degree  of  acuteness  and  saga- 
city in  him  who  is  about  to  do  an  unwarrantable  or  an  unjust 
act,  to  estimate  the  quantum  of  moral  turpitude  and  guilt 
contained  in  it.  For  it  is  not  only  the  portion  of  it  involved 
in  the  first  view  of  the  crime  such  an  one  has  to  consider, 
but  the  consequences  which  will  flow  from  the  act.  You 
prohibited  the  inhabitants  of  Boston  from  carrying  out  their 
effects,  in  the  manner  I  have  mentioned  ;  in  consequence 
of  which  several  families  have  been  ruined  by  the  late  fire. 
It  is  true,  you  could  not  foresee  the  accident ;  but,  never- 
theless, the  loss  sustained  by  the  owners  of  the  goods  has 
happened  in  consequence  of  the  violation  of  your  word  : 
for  if  you  had  adhered  to  it,  the  owners  of  the  merchan- 
dise would  have  removed  it,  and  thereby  have  prevented 
the  calamity  which  has  befallen  them. 

I  have  hut  a  word  or  two  more  for  you,  by  way  of  advice. 
If  you  are  still  determined  to  act  in  the  Swiss  character 
you  have  assumed,  at  least  let  your  conduct  savour  of  that 
sort  of  honour  which  even  a  Swiss  holds  high. 

Vertjs. 


JOHN  HANCOCK,  PRESIDENT,  TO  NEW-YORK  COSfiP.ESS. 

Philadelphia,  June  St,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  By  order  of  the  Congress  I  enclose  you 
certain  Resolves,  passed  yesterday,  respecting  those  who 
were  concerned  in  taking  and  garrisoning  Crown  Point  and 
Ticonderoga.  As  the  Congress  are  of  opinion  that  the 
employing  the  Green  Mountain  Roys  in  the  American 
Army  would  be  advantageous  to  the  common  cause,  as 
well  on  account  of  their  situation  as  of  their  disposition  and 
alertness,  they  are  desirous  you  should  embody  them  among 
the  Troops  you  shall  raise.  As  it  is  represented  to  the 
Congress  that  they  will  not  serve  under  any  officers  but 
such  as  they  themselves  choose,  you  are  desired  to  consult 
with  General  Schuyler,  in  whom  the  Congress  are  informed 
those  people  place  a  great  confidence,  about  the  field  offi- 
cers to  be  set  over  them. 

I  arn,  gentlemen,  your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 
John  Hancock,  President. 
To  the  Members  of  the  Provincial  Congress,  New-  York. 


FIELD    OFFICERS   APPOINTED  FOR  THE  THREE  BATTAL- 
IONS OF  THE  PHILADELPHIA  MILITIA. 

First  Rattalion  :  John  Dickenson,  Esq.,  Colonel;  John 
duvalier,  Lieutenant-Colonel;  Jacob  Morgan  and  Wil- 
liam Coals,  Majors. 

Second  Rattalion  :  Daniel  Bobcrdeau,  Esq.,  Colonel ; 
Joseph  Bccd,  Esq.,  Lieutenant-Colonel ;  Doctor  John  Cox 
and  John  Bayard,  Majors. 

Third  Rattalion :  John  Cadwallader,  Colonel ;  J<dtn 
Nivon,  Lieutenant-Colonel ;  Thomas  Mifflin  and  Samuel 
Meredith,  Esquires,  Majors. 


PHILADELPHIA  COMMITTEE. 

Committee  Chamber,  June  24,  1775. 
Upon  motion,  Besolved,  That  if  any  Pilot,  Shallop-, 
man,  or  others,  shall  be  found  assisting  in  the  conveyance 
or  introduction  of  Goods  or  Merchandise,  contrary  to  the 
Association  of  the  late  Congress,  or  in  receiving  on  shore 
or  unloading  from  any  vessel  any  goods  which  may  have 
been  ordered  out  of  the  Port,  such  persons  shall  be  deemed 


1077 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  kc,  JUNE,  1775. 


1078 


enemies  to  the  liberties  of  America,  and  will  be  held  forth 
to  the  resentment  of  the  publick.  And  if  any  person, 
privy  to  such  measures,  will  disclose  them,  they  shall  re- 
ceive the  thanks  of  the  Committee  as  real  friends  to  their 
Country.    Extract  from  the  Minutes: 

J.  B.  Smith,  Secretary. 


BURLINGTON  COUNTY  (nEW-JERSEy)  COMMITTEE. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  General  Committee  of  Observation 
for  the  County  of  Burlington,  in  the  Province  of  New- 
Jersey,  at  the  house  of  John  lmlay,  in  the  Township  of 
Mansfield,  June  24,  1775 : 

The  Deputies  appointed  for  the  County  of  Burlington 
to  attend  a  Provincial  Congress  at  Trenton,  in  May  last, 
laid  before  the  Committee  an  Association,  recommended 
by  that  body  to  the  good  people  of  this  Province  ;  as  also 
certain  Rules  for  regulating  the  new-raised  Militia,  and  a 
recommendation  to  raise  the  sum  of  Ten  Thousand  Pounds 
for  the  use  of  the  Province  at  this  very  critical  situation 
of  publick  affairs. 

The  Committee  taking  the  said  Papers  into  considera- 
tion, after  some  time  spent  thereon,  it  was,  on  motion, 

Resolved,  1st.  That  this  Committee  do  heartily  approve 
of  said  Association,  conceiving  it  to  be  of  the  utmost  im- 
portance towards  the  future  well-being  of  this  County,  that 
the  Magistrates,  and  other  civil  officers  of  Government, 
should  be  supported  in  the  due  execution  of  their  respec- 
tive offices,  agreeable  to  the  laws  of  this  Colony  ;  and  that 
the  good  people  of  this  County  do  make  use  of  every  means 
in  their  power  to  guard  against  those  disorders  and  confu- 
sions, to  which  the  peculiar  circumstances  of  the  times  may 
expose  us. 

Resolved,  2d.  That  as  unanimity  amongst  all  ranks  of 
people,  in  a  virtuous  opposition  to  the  oppressive  measures 
of  the  British  Ministry  and  Parliament,  is  the  alone  foun- 
dation whereon  we  can  hope,  under  Providence,  for  a  deli- 
verance from  our  present  grievances,  it  is  most  earnestly 
recommended  and  enjoined  by  this  Committee  to  the  good 
people  of  the  County  of  Burlington,  that  no  person  or 
persons,  on  any  pretence  whatsoever,  do  attempt  in  the 
least  degree  to  injure  or  molest  his  or  their  neighbour,  for 
any  supposed  imposition  or  misconduct  that  they  may  have 
been  guilty  of  on  account  of  the  present  calamitous  times, 
that  is  not  cognizable  by  the  laws  of  the  Province ;  but 
that  he  or  they  do  exhibit  their  complaint  against  such  per- 
son or  persons  before  some  member  of  this  Committee,  who 
is  hereby  required  to  lay  the  same  before  the  Chairman, 
and  desire  a  general  meeting  of  the  Committee,  in  order 
that  each  party  may  have  a  fair  hearing. 

Resolved,  3d.  That  any  person  or  persons  in  this  Coun- 
ty, who  shall  act  contrary  to  the  above  mode  of  proceeding, 
ought  to  be  deemed  a  violator  of  the  eleventh  article  of  the 
Continental  Association,  inimical  to  the  British  Constitu- 
tion, and  unfriendly  to  the  liberties  of  America. 

Resolved,  4th.  That  this  Committee  do  approve  of  the 
Rules  recommended  by  the  Provincial  Congress,  for  the 
good  Government  of  the  new-raised  Militia,  and  desire  that 
the  respective  military  officers  in  this  County  will  conduct 
themselves  consistent  therewith. 

Resolved,  5th.  That  this  Committee  do  approve  of  the 
recommendation  of  the  Provincial  Congress  to  raise  the 
sum  of  Ten  Thousand  Pounds  for  the  use  of  the  Province 
at  this  most  critical  and  important  moment,  recommending  it 
to  the  good  people  of  this  County  cheerfully  to  contribute 
their  apportionment  of  the  same ;  and  as  the  Provincial 
Congress  have  ordered  the  said  money  to  be  disposed  of  by 
the  respective  County  Committee,  in  such  manner  as  they 
in  their  discretion  shall  think  most  proper,  this  Committee 
doth,  in  consequence  thereof,  most  solemnly  assure  their 
constituents  that  whatever  money  may  be  lodged  in  their 
hands,  or  in  the  hands  of  the  collector,  shall  be  faithfully 
disposed  of  according  as  they  may  think  most  beneficial  for 
the  service  of  the  County,  and  purposes  intended  by  the 
Provincial  Congress  ;  and  that,  whenever  the  publick  shall 
desire  it,  they  will  cheerfully  render  a  true  and  proper  ac- 
count ol  their  proceedings  and  disbursements,  that  every 
member  of  the  community  may  know  that  his  contribution 
has  not  been  embezzled  or  wasted. 
Signed  by  order  of  the  Committee : 

Peter  Tallman,  Chairman. 


GENERAL  SCHUYLER  TO  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

New. Brunswick,  June  24,  1775. 
Sir  :  General  Washington,  with  his  retinue,  is  now  here, 
and  proposes  to  be  at  Newark  by  nine  to-morrow  morning. 
The  situation  of  the  men-of-war  at  New-  York  (we  are  in- 
formed) is  such  as  may  make  it  necessary  that  some  pre- 
caution should  be  taken  in  crossing  Hudson's  River,  and  he 
would  take  it  as  a  favour  if  some  gentlemen  of  your  body 
would  meet  him  to-morrow  at  Newark,  as  the  advice  you 
may  there  give  him  will  determine  whether  he  will  con- 
tinue his  proposed  route  or  not. 

1  am,  Sir,  your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

Philip  Schuyler. 

To  Peter  Van  Brvgh  Livingston,  Esq.,  President  of  the 
New-  York  Congress. 


JOHN  HART,  JUNIOR,  TO  DR.  CARRINGTON. 

Stamford,  June  25,  1775. 
Sir  :  I  had  the  good  fortune  this  morning  of  intercepting 
the  following  letter,  which  a  regard  to  my  Country  induced 
me  to  transcribe  for  your  Honour's  perusal ;  and  I  am,  Sir, 
yours,  John  Hart,  Jun. 

To  Doctor  Carrington. 

P.  S.  Doctor  Whiting  will  discover  how  this  letter  was 
intercepted. 

New-York,  June  19,  1775. 

Sir  :  The.  Republicans,  by  their  Oliverian,  Jesuitical, 
and  wicked  practices  and  plots,  have  at  length  brought  this 
Country  nigh  to  ruin  ;  and  his  most  gracious  Majesty's 
true  friends  are  plunged  into  a  situation  I  do  not  very  well 
like.  I  tremble  for  the  consequences  ;  it  is  what  I  never  ex- 
pected. But,  Sir,  if  I  may  use  a  vulgar  expression,  we  had 
as  good  be  hanged  for  an  old  sheep  as  a  lamb.  Many  of 
the  friends  to  Government  have  been  rewarded  with  pen- 
sions and  places,  and  doubt  not  but  that  you  will  make  one 
of  that  number  if  you  persevere  and  continue  to  be  as 
faithful  as  you  have  been.  The  insults  of  the  vulgar  I 
know  ycu  despise. 

Self-preservation  has  dictated  to  us  a  piece  of  policy 
which  it  may  be  well  for  you  to  practise.  We  at  present 
are  all  Whigs,  and  by  our  nominal  profession,  mean  to 
conceal  our  real  principles  and  intentions,  and  abate  the 
fiery  zeal  of  the  pretended  patriots  and  lovers  of  their 
Country  (as  they  falsely  style  themselves)  until  the  arrival 
of  the  King's  Troops,  which  we  hourly  expect,  and  have 
been  promised  by  our  friends  at  home,  which  will  give  us 
an  opportunity  boldly  to  throw  off  the  mask,  and  to  act 
vigorously  in  support  of  the  rightful  authority  of  His  Ma- 
jesty and  the  Parliament  of  Great  Britain  over  as  wicked 
and  vile  a  brood  of  rebels  as  ever  disgraced  any  country 
under  Heaven;  then  shall  we  enjoy  our  day  of  triumph 
and  exultation  over  the  vermin  that  have  insulted,  perse- 
cuted, and  derided  us.  Here  will  be  a  place  of  safety,  an 
asylum  for  you  to  fly  to,  and  find  safety  in  case  the  storm 
should  increase  around  and  threaten  you  with  destruction. 
Here  would  I  invite  you  with  all  your  good  friends;  for  I 
make  no  doubt  but  the  King's  Troops  will  repel  your  cow- 
ardly base  Connecticut  poltrons,  the  rebel  Army,  and  slaugh- 
ter them  by  hundreds  if  ever  they  should  be  so  imprudent 
as  to  risk  a  battle  with  disciplined,  experienced,  and  regu- 
lar troops. 

McDonald  being  seized  and  sent  to  your  army  of  saints, 
at  Greenwich,  gives  me  not  a  little  anxiety.  I  hear  he  has 
made  some  discovery,  and  I  fear  he  will  be  compelled  to 
make  more  by  the  rebels,  unless  we  rescue  him  seasonably, 
which  we  have  in  view.  The  first  of  July,  at  midnight,  is 
the  time  appointed  for  his  deliverance.  If  you  can  procure 
ten  or  twelve  of  the  lower  sort  of  those  you  know  to  be  well 
affected  to  Government,  in  such  manner  as  to  keep  yourself 
undercover,  we  will  send  about  as  many  more  to  meet  them, 
at  the  jail  in  Fairfield,  where  I  understand  he  is. 

A  word  to  the  wise  is  sufficient.  My  hand  writing  you 
know ;  I  shall  not  therefore  affix  my  name.  I  have  taken 
such  a  method  to  convey  this  that  1  think  there  is  no  dan- 
ger of  its  being  intercepted. 

I  am,  Sir,  your  humble  servant,  Incog. 

P.  S.  If  you  send  negroes,  they  will  do,  as  they  are 
well  affected  to  our  cause. 


1079 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  Sic,  JUNE,  1775. 


1080 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER   FROM  A  MERCHANT   IN  BOSTON  TO 
HIS  BROTHER  IN  SCOTLAND,  DATED  JUNE  24,  1775. 

From  the  19th  of  April  to  the  17th  of  June,  nothing 
very  material  has  happened.  On  the  12th  of  June  the 
General  issued  a  Proclamation,  offering  His  Majesty's  most 
gracious  pardon  to  all  who  would  lay  down  arms  and  return 
to  their  duty,  except  two  of  the  ringleaders;  and  likewise 
establishing  martial  law  in  this  Province  while  this  un- 
natural rebellion  exists ;  but  no  regard  was  paid  to  this. 

On  the  17th  instant,  at  daylight,  it  was  observed  by  some 
of  the  ships-of-war  that  the  rebels  had  thrown  up  an  in- 
trencliment  on  a  hill  on  the  other  side  of  the  river,  about 
one  mile  from  this  Town.  The  alarm  about  this  new  move- 
ment of  theirs  was  general ;  for  from  this,  if  they  were 
suffered  to  goon,  they  could  beat  down  or  burn  the  Town. 
At  nine  o'clock,  a  battery  on  an  eminence  in  this  Town, 
directly  opposite  to  their  works,  began  to  play  upon  them, 
but  found  they  could  not  dislodge  them. 

The  rebels  fired  a  few  shot  into  this  Town,  and  then 
desisted,  for  their  shot  did  no  execution.  Eighteen  hundred 
of  the  best  of  the  Troops  were  immediately  ordered  to  em- 
bark on  board  of  boats,  and  go  and  engage  them,  under 
the  command  of  General  Howe.  About  three  o'clock 
they  landed  on  the  other  side  about  half  a  mile  from  the 
rebels,  under  the  cover  of  five  or  six  ships-of-war,  who 
kept  a  continual  fire  on  the  ground  betwixt  the  place  of 
landing  and  the  enemy,  who  chose  to  lie  close  in  their 
breastworks  all  this  time.  As  soon  as  the  Troops  had  got 
themselves  in  order  they  began  to  advance,  cannonading 
all  the  way  till  they  came  within  gun-shot.  Charlestown, 
on  the  foot  of  the  hill,  consisting  of  about  two  hundred 
houses,  was  set  on  fire  by  the  fort  on  this  side  at  the  instant 
the  engagement  began,  whose  flames  raged  in  the  most 
rapid  manner,  being  chiefly  of  wood.  Sure  I  am  nothing 
ever  lias  or  can  be  more  dreadfully  terrible  than  what  was 
to  be  seen  and  heard  at  this  time !  The  most  incessant 
discharge  of  guns  that  ever  was  heard  with  mortal  ears, 
continued  for  three  quarters  of  an  hour,  and  then  the 
Troops  forced  their  trenches,  and  the  rebels  fled. 

The  place  where  the  battle  was  fought  is  a  peninsula  of 
a  mile  long,  and  a  half  broad,  and  the  Troops  drove  them 
over  the  neck  and  kept  the  island.  All  this  was  seen  from 
this  Town. 

A  very  small  part  of  the  enemy's  intrenchments  was 
seen  on  this  side,  it  being  only  thought  to  be  the  work  of  a 
night ;  but  their  chief  breastworks  were  on  the  other  side 
of  the  hill  ;  it  was  found  to  be  the  strongest  post  that  was 
ever  occupied  by  any  set  of  men,  and  the  prisoners  that 
were  taken,  say  they  were  nine  thousand  strong,  and  had  a 
good  artillery.  Five  cannons  were  taken.  The  spirit  and 
bravery  that  the  British  Troops  exhibited  on  this  occasion, 
I  suppose  is  not  to  be  surpassed  in  any  history  !  But  oh  ! 
the  melancholy  sight  of  killed  and  wounded  that  was  seen 
on  that  day  !  In  four  hours  after  their  landing,  not  less  than 
five  hundred  wounded  were  relanded  here,  and  one  hun- 
dred and  forty  were  left  dead  on  the  field,  amongst  whom 
was  a  large  proportion  of  brave  officers,  viz :  thirty-six 
killed  and  forty-four  wounded;  three  hundred  of  the  rebels 
were  killed,  and  thirty-six  wounded  left  on  the  field,  but 
they  carried  off  great  numbers  of  their  wounded  in  their 
retreat.  To  the  great  satisfaction  of  all  good  men,  Doctor 
Warren  was  slain,  who  was  one  of  their  first  and  greatest 
leaders. 

Early  next  morning  I  went  over  and  saw  the  field  of 
battle,  before  any  of  the  dead  were  buried,  which  was  the 
first  thing  of  the  sort  that  1  ever  saw,  and  I  pray  God  I 
may  never  have  the  opportunity  of  seeing  the  like  again. 
The  rebels  are  employed  since  that  day  fortifying  all  the 
hills  and  passes  within  four  miles,  to  prevent  the  Troops 
from  advancing  into  the  country.  We  hourly  expect  the 
Troops  to  make  a  movement  against  them,  but  they  are 
too  few  in  number,  not  less  than  twenty  thousand  being 
equal  to  the  task.  I  cannot  help  mentioning  one  thing, 
which  serves  to  show  the  hellish  disposition  of  the  accursed 
rebels :  by  parcels  of  ammunition  that  were  left  on  the  field, 
their  balls  were  all  found  to  be  poisoned. 

Thus,  brother,  I  have  ondeavourod  to  give  you  a  short 
account  of  the  desperate  state  of  matters  here  since  my 
last,  and  shall  sum  up  the  whole  with  one  single  observa- 
tion, viz:  the  delusion  that  reigns  here  is  as  universal  and 
as  deeply  rooted  as  can  be  found  in  the  annals  of  mankind  ; 


and  of  all  other  rebellions  that  ever  existed  in  the  world, 
it  is  the  most  unprovoked.    I  am,  &c. 


ORDER   FOR   A   PUBLICS   FAST  BV  THE  MASSACHUSETTS 
CONGRESS. 

In  Provincial  Congress,  Watcrtown,  June  24,  1775. 

Whereas  Almighty  God,  the  just,  good,  and  all-wise 
Governour  of  the  Universe,  hath  permitted  Great  Britain 
to  make  an  unnatural,  cruel,  and  violent  attack  upon  these 
American  Colonies,  and,  unprovoked,  to  murder,  on  the 
ever-memorable  19th  of  April  last,  many  of  the  innocent, 
brave,  and  inoffensive  inhabitants  of  this  Colony,  burning 
houses,  destroying  the  private  property,  and  carrying  ruin 
and  devastation  through  the  country  where  they  passed, 
until  they  were  obliged  to  take  shelter  in  the  Town  of 
Boston ;  since  which  the  Troops  under  General  Gage 
have  not  only  shed  the  blood  of  many  of  our  countrymen, 
who  fell  bravely  fighting  on  the  17th  instant,  but  have  acted 
the  part  of  savage  incendiaries,  by  laying  in  ashes  the  Tow  n 
of  Charlestown  in  this  Colony :  And  whereas  some  late 
oppressive  Acts  of  the  British  Parliament,  and  designed  by 
them  soon  to  be  enforced  upon  the  Americans ;  and  as 
large  re-enforcements  of  Troops  are  arrived  and  arriving  to 
join  our  enemies  in  Boston,  which  will  probably  induce 
them  to  make  another  trial  of  military  prowess  to  penetrate 
into  the  country;  and  we  being  deeply  impressed  with  a 
sense  of  our  absolute  dependance  upon  the  Lord  of  Hosts 
and  God  of  Armies  for  success  in  this  important  war,  into 
which  we  are  driven  bv  our  enemies,  renounce  all  confi- 
dence  in  our  own  strength,  well  knowing  that  the  battle  is 
not  to  the  strong;  relying  upon  the  justice  of  our  cause, 
and  the  Divine  protection  and  assistance  therein : 

Do  Resolve,  That  Thursday,  the  13th  day  of  July  next, 
be  observed  throughout  this  Colony  as  a  day  of  publick 
Fasting  and  Prayer,  not  only  to  humble  ourselves  before 
God,  on  account  of  our  many  sins ;  to  implore  his  forgive- 
ness ;  to  beg  his  blessing  upon  the  labours  of  the  field,  that 
he  would  be  pleased  to  water  the  dry  and  thirsty  earth  with 
plenteous  showers  of  rain,  that  the  poor  may  be  satisfied 
with  bread,  and  that  this  year  be  crowned  with  goodness  ; 
to  ask  his  blessing  upon  the  various  means  used  for  the  re- 
covery and  preservation  of  our  rights ;  humbly  to  request 
that  our  Congress,  those  of  the  other  Colonies,  and  espe- 
cially the  American  Congress,  be  inspired  with  all  that 
wisdom  that  is  necessary  to  direct  them  in  this  day  of  diffi- 
culty and  distress ;  to  petition  the  assistance  of  his  Spirit, 
to  make  us  to  bear  and  suffer  whatever  his  holy  and  righte- 
ous Providence  may  see  fit  to  lay  upon  us  ;  but  earnestly  to 
beseech  the  Divine  direction  and  assistance  in  our  military 
operations,  and  that  God  would  be  pleased  soon,  very 
soon,  to  bring  our  enemies  to  reasonable  terms  of  accom- 
modation, that  not  only  a  stop  may  be  put  to  the  wanton 
effusion  of  human  blood,  but  that  Great  Britain  and  these 
Colonies  may  speedily  again  rejoice  in  the  inestimable 
blessings  of  peace,  and  the  free  and  undisturbed  exercise 
of  all  those  rights,  liberties,  and  privileges,  civil  and  reli- 
gious, for  the  enjoyment  of  which  our  pious  and  venerable 
ancestors  braved  every  danger,  (by  which  they  have  ren- 
dered their  memory  dear  to  us,  their  posterity,)  and  set  an 
example  worthy  the  imitation  of  all  succeeding  generations. 
And  all  religious  societies  of  every  denomination  are  here- 
by desired  to  observe  and  keep  said  clay  in  that  solemn  and 
religious  manner  that  becomes  a  people  whose  all  is  at 
stake;  who,  while  they  are,  with  unremitting  vigilance, 
using  those  means  for  the  salvation  of  their  Country  which 
human  wisdom  point  out,  yet  feel  their  absolute  depend- 
ance upon  Him  who  superintends  all  the  affairs  of  men,  and 
will  make  the  cause  of  the  righteous  to  prevail. 


GENERAL  WARD  TO  THE  MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS. 

Cambridge,  Juno  24,  1775. 

Sir:  I  am  informed  that  Lieutenant  Francis  Cox,  of 
Captain  Richardson's  Company,  in  Colonel  Mansfield's 
Regiment,  has  deserted  and  left  the  service,  and  has  carried 
away  a  number  of  enlistments,  and  told  the  same  men  they 
might  go  home,  that  no  one  had  a  right  to  stop  them,  al- 
though they  were  mustered,  sworn,  and  paid.  Many  of  the 
men  are  gone,  and  it  is  probable  others  will  go. 

Considering  the  present  state  of  the  Army,  I  would 
humbly  suggest  whether  it  would  not  be  advisable  for  the 


1081 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


1082 


honourable  Congress  to  take  some  order  respecting  Lieute- 
nant Cov  and  the  said  men,  and  make  a  publick  example 
of  him,  if  not  of  them.  I  am  your  humble  servant,  in  great 
haste,  Artemas  Ward. 

To  Hon.  James  It'arren,  Esq. 

P.  S.  Lieutenant  Cox  lives  in  Salem. 


GEN.  FOLSOM  TO  NEW-HAMPSHIRE  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY. 

Camp  on  Winter  Hill,  June  24,  1775. 

Gentlemen:  The  New-Hampshire  Troops  being  sta- 
tioned at  a  very  important  post  on  the  outlines,  and  exposed 
to  the  enemy's  batteries,  I  yesterday  applied  to  his  Excel- 
lency General  Ward  for  heavy  artillery,  but  he  could  not 
supply  me  with  any.  I  have  this  moment  received  a  line 
from  him,  wherein  he  requests  me  to  apply  to  the  Colony 
of  New- Hampshire  for  two  twenly-four  and  two  nine- 
pounders,  to  be  forwarded  with  all  possible  despatch. 

1  therefore,  under  the  greatest  anxiety  for  the  safety  of 
our  Troops,  earnestly  entreat  you  to  send  the  above  men- 
tioned cannon  as  soon  as  possible,  fitted  with  carriages,  as 
we  hourly  expect  the  enemy  will  attempt  to  force  our  lines 
before  we  have  fully  completed  the  intrenchments,  which 
are  in  considerable  forwardness,  and  some  cf  the  embrasures 
completed,  but  have  no  cannon  to  mount  in  them.  No 
other  cannon  are  suitable  for  the  purpose. 

By  complying  with  the  above  request,  you  will,  in  all 
probability,  save  the  lives  of  many  of  your  brave  soldiers, 
who  have  gallantly  ventured  their  lives  in  the  glorious 
common  cause,  suffered  the  greatest  fatigues  and  hardships, 
and  are  now  exposed  where  it  is  expected  by  the  Engi- 
neers that  the  enemy  will  endeavour  to  force  our  lines. 

And  also  oblige  your  humble  servant, 

Nathaniel  Folsom. 
To  the  Honourable  Committee  of  Safety  for  the  Colony  of 

Ne  iv-Hampshire . 

N.  B.  If  nine-pounders  can't  be  procured,  I  should  be 
glad  to  be  supplied  with  two  double  fortified  six-pounders. 


JAMES  MiGREGORE  TO  THE  NEW-HAMPSHIRE  CONGRESS. 

Medford,  June  24,  1775. 

Gentlemen:  Enclosed  I  send  you  a  memorandum  of 
sundry  articles  that  the  General  thinks  is  very  much  want- 
ed here  for  the  use  of  the  New- Hampshire  forces ;  and 
should  be  glad,  if  you  think  best,  that  the  horses  may  be 
forwarded  here  as  soon  as  may  be,  as  there  is  scarcely  any 
such  thing  as  getting  teams  here,  and  likewise  carriages 
with  them.  Salt  provision  is  very  scarce  here,  but  we 
have  been  well  supplied  hitherto. 

Colonel  Hale  has  gone  to  Connecticut  to  forward  provi- 
sion ;  Mr.  Molton  is  to  follow  him  with  cash.  The  men 
are  very  uneasy  for  want  of  a  month's  pay  that  was  pro- 
posed to  be  given  them.  1  hope  you  will  forward  it  as 
soon  as  possible,  and  likewise  some  cash  to  me,  as  1  am 
left  here,  and  many  people  calling  on  me,  which  is  suffi- 
cient to  put  a  man  of  my  patience  almost  distracted.  I 
always  shall  obey  your  directions  with  pleasure. 

I  am,  gentlemen,  your  very  humble  servant, 

James  McGregore. 


PROPOSED    VINDICATION    AND    OFFER    TO  PARLIAMENT, 
DRAWN  UP   IN  A  COMMITTEE   OF   CONGRESS,  JUNE  25, 

1775. 

Forasmuch  as  the  enemies  of  America  in  the  Parliament 
of  Great  Britain,  to  render  us  odious  to  the  Nation,  and 
give  an  ill  impression  of  us  in  the  minds  of  other  European 
Powers,  have  represented  us  as  unjust  and  ungrateful  in 
the  highest  degree ;  asserting  on  every  occasion  that  the 
Colonies  were  settled  at  the  expense  of  Britain ;  that  they 
were,  at  the  expense  of  the  same,  protected  in  their  infan- 
cy; that  they  now  ungratefully  and  unjustly  refuse  to  con- 
tribute to  their  own  protection,  and  the  common  defence  of 
the  Nation ;  that  they  aim  at  independence ;  that  they 
intend  an  abolition  of  the  Navigation  Acts ;  and  that  they 
are  fraudulent  in  their  commercial  dealings,  and  propose  to 
cheat  their  creditors  in  Britain  by  avoiding  the  payment 
of  their  just  debts : 

And  as  by  frequent  repetition  these  groundless  asser- 
tions and  malicious  calumnies  may,  if  not  contradicted  and 


refuted,  obtain  farther  credit,  and  be  injurious  throughout 
Europe  to  the  reputation  and  interest  of  the  Confederate 
Colonies,  it  seems  proper  and  necessary  to  examine  them 
in  our  own  just  vindication. 

With  regard  to  the  first,  that  the  Colonies  were  settled 
at  the  expense  of  Britain,  it  is  a  known  fact  that  none  of 
the  twelve  United  Colonies  were  settled,  or  even  discover- 
ed, at  the  expense  of  England.  Henry  the  Seventh  indeed 
granted  a  commission  to  Sebastian  Cabot,  a  Venetian,  and 
his  sons,  to  sail  into  the  Western  Seas  for  the  discovery  of 
new  countries  ;  but  it  was  to  be  "  suis  corum  propriis  sump- 
tibus  et  evpensis,"  at  their  own  costs  and  charges.  They 
discovered,  but  soon  slighted  and  neglected,  these  North- 
ern Territories,  which  were,  after  more  than  a  hundred 
years  dereliction,  purchased  of  the  natives,  and  settled  at 
the  charge  and  by  the  labour  of  private  men  and  bodies  of 
men,  our  ancestors,  who  came  over  hither  for  that  purpose. 
But  our  adversaries  have  never  been  able  to  produce  any 
record,  that  ever  the  Pailiament  or  Government  of  Eng- 
land was  at  the  smallest  expense  on  these  accounts  ;  on  the 
contrary,  there  exists  on  the  Journals  of  Parliament  a  so- 
lemn declaration  in  1642,  (only  tw  enty-two  years  after  the 
first  settlement  of  the  Massachusetts,  when,  if  such  expense 
had  ever  been  incurred,  some  of  the  members  must  have 
known  and  remembered  it,)  "that  these  Colonies  had  been 
planted  and  established  without  any  expense  to  the  State."* 
New-York  is  the  only  Colony,  in  the  founding  of  which 
England  can  pretend  to  have  been  at  any  expense,  and 
that  was  only  the  charge  of  a  small  armament  to  take  it 
from  the  Dutch,  who  planted  it.  But  to  retain  this  Colo- 
ny at  the  peace,  another  at  that  time  full  as  valuable,  plant- 
ed by  private  countrymen  of  ours,  was  given  up  by  the 
Crown  to  the  Dutch,  in  exchange,  viz :  Surinam,  now  a 
wealthy  sugar  Colony  in  Guiana,  and  which,  but  for  that 
cession,  might  still  have  remained  in  our  possession.  Of 
late,  indeed,  Britain  has  been  at  some  expense  in  planting 
two  Colonies — Georgia  and  Nova- Scotia  ;  but  those  are 
not  in  our  confederacy,  and  the  expense  she  has  been  at 
in  their  name  has  chiefly  been  in  grants  of  sums  unneces- 
sarily large,  by  way  of  salaries  to  officers  sent  from  Eng- 
land, and  in  jobs  to  friends,  whereby  dependants  might  be 
provided  for,  those  excessive  grants  not  being  requisite  to 
the  welfare  and  good  government  of  the  Colonies  ;  which 
good  government  (as  experience  in  many  instances  of  oilier 
Colonies  has  taught  us)  may  be  much  more  frugally,  and 
full  as  effectually,  provided  for  and  supported. 

With  regard  to  the  second  assertion,  that  these  Colonies 
were  protected  in  their  infant  state  by  England,  it  is  a  no- 
torious fact,  that  in  none  of  the  many  wars  with  the  Indian 
natives,  sustained  by  our  infant  settlements  for  a  century 
after  our  first  arrival,  were  ever  any  troops  or  forces  of  any 
kind  sent  from  England  to  assist  us;  nor  were  any  forts 
built  at  her  expense  to  secure  our  seaports  from  foreign  in- 
vaders;  nor  any  ships-of-war  sent  to  protect  our  trade,  til! 
many  years  after  our  first  settlement,  when  our  commerce 
became  an  object  of  revenue,  or  of  advantage  to  British 
merchants ;  and  then  it  was  thought  necessary  to  have  a 
frigate  in  some  of  our  ports,  during  peace,  to  give  weight 
to  the  authority  of  Custom-House  Officers,  who  were  to 
restrain  that  commerce  for  the  benefit  of  England.  Our 
own  arms,  with  our  poverty,  and  the  care  of  a  kind  Provi- 
dence, were  all  this  time  our  only  protection  ;  while  we 
were  neglected  by  the  English  Government,  which  either 
thought  us  not  worth  its  care,  or,  having  no  good  will  to 
some  of  us,  on  account  of  our  different  sentiments  in  reli- 
gion and  politicks,  were  indifferent  what  became  of  us.  On 
the  other  hand,  the  Colonies  have  not  been  wanting  to  do 
what  they  could  in  every  war  for  annoying  the  enemies  of 
Britain.  They  formerly  assisted  her  in  the  conquest  of 
Nova- Scotia.  In  the  war  before  last,  they  took  Louis- 
bourgh,  and  put  it  into  her  hands.  She  made  her  peace 
with  that  strong  fortress,  by  restoring  it  to  France,  greatly 
to  their  detriment.  In  the  last  war,  it  is  true,  Britain  sent 
a  fleet  and  army,  who  acted  with  an  equal  army  of  ours, 
in  the  reduction  of  Canada;  and,  perhaps,  thereby  did 
more  for  us,  than  we,  in  the  preceding  wars,  had  done  for 

♦Veneris,  March  10,  1642. — Whereas  the  Plantations  in  New-Eng- 
land have,  by  the  blessing  of  the  Almighty,  had  good  and  prosperous 
success,  without  any  publick  charge  to  this  State,  and  are  now  likely 
to  prove  very  happy  for  the  propagation  of  the  gospel  in  those  parts, 
and  very  beneficial  and  commodious  to  this  Kingdom  and  Nation  : 
the  Commons  now  assembled  in  PuHUment,  &c,  &.O.,  &c 


1083 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  Sic,  JUNE,  1775. 


1084 


her.  Lei  it  be  remembered,  however,  that  she  rejected 
the  plan  we  formed  in  the  Congress  at  Albany,  in  1754, 
for  our  own  defence,  by  an  union  of  the  Colonies — an  union 
she  was  jealous  of,  and  therefore  chose  to  send  her  own 
forces;  otherwise,  her  aid,  to  protect  us,  was  not  wanted. 
And  from  our  first  settlement  to  that  time,  her  military 
operations  in  our  favour  were  small,  compared  with  the 
advantages  she  drew  from  her  exclusive  commerce  with 
us.  We  are,  however,  willing  to  give  full  weight  to  this 
obligation  ;  and  as  we  are  daily  growing  stronger,  and  our 
assistance  to  her  becomes  of  more  importance,  we  would, 
with  pleasure,  embrace  the  first  opportunity  of  showing 
our  gratitude,  by  returning  the  favour  in  kind.  Bui  when 
Britain  values  herself  as  affording  us  protection,  we  desire 
it  may  be  considered  that  we  have  followed  her  in  all  her 
wars,  and  joined  with  her,  at  our  own  expense,  against  all 
she  thought  fit  to  quarrel  with.  This  she  has  requited  of 
us,  and  would  never  permit  us  to  keep  peace  with  any 
Power  she  declared  her  enemy;  though,  by  separate  trea- 
ties, we  might  well  have  done  it.  Under  such  circum- 
stances, when  at  her  instance  we  made  nations  our  ene- 
mies whom  we  might  otherwise  have  retained  our  friends, 
we  submit  it  to  the  common  sense  of  mankind,  whether 
her  protection  of  us  in  these  wars  was  not  our  just  due, 
and  to  be  claimed  of  right,  instead  of  being  received  as  a 
favour  ?  And  whether,  when  all  the  parts  of  an  Empire 
exert  themselves  to  the  utmost  in  their  common  defence, 
and  in  annoying  the  common  enemy,  it  is  not  as  well  the 
parts  that  protect  the  whole,  as  the  whole  that  protects  the 
parts?  The  protection,  then,  has  been  proportionably 
mutual.  And  whenever  the  time  shall  come  that  our 
abilities  may  as  far  exceed  hers  as  hers  have  exceeded 
ours;  we  hope  we  shall  be  reasonable  enough  to  rest  satis- 
fied with  her  proportionable  exertions,  and  not  think  we 
do  too  much  for  a  part  of  the  Empire,  when  that  part  does 
as  much  as  it  can  for  the  whole. 

The  charge  against  us,  that  we  refuse  to  contribute  to 
our  own  protection,  appears  from  the  above  to  be  ground- 
less. But  we  further  declare  it  to  be  absolutely  false ;  for 
it  is  well  known,  that  we  ever  held  it  our  duty  to  grant 
aids  to  the  Crown,  upon  requisition,  towards  carrying  on 
its  wars ;  which  duty  we  have  cheerfully  complied  with, 
to  the  utmost  of  our  abilities ;  insomuch  that  frequent  and 
grateful  acknowledgments  thereof  by  King  and  Parliament 
appear  on  their  records.*  But  as  Britain  has  enjoyed  a 
most  gainful  monopoly  of  our  commerce,  the  same,  with 
our  maintaining  the  dignity  of  the  King's  representative  in 
each  Colony,  and  all  our  own  separate  establishments  of 
Government,  civil  and  military,  has  ever  hitherto  been 
deemed  an  equivalent  for  such  aids  as  might  otherwise  be 
expected  from  us  in  time  of  peace.  And  we  hereby  de- 
clare, that  on  a  reconciliation  with  Britain,  we  shall  not 
only  continue  to  grant  aids  in  lime  of  war,  as  aforesaid,  but 
whenever  she  shall  think  fit  to  abolish  her  monopoly,  and 
give  us  the  same  privileges  of  trade  as  Scotland  received 
at  the  union,  and  allow  us  a  free  commerce  with  all  the 
rest  of  the  world,  we  shall  willingly  agree  (and  we  doubt 
not  it  will  be  ratified  by  our  constituents)  to  give  and  pay 
into  the  Sinking  Fund  £100,000  sterling  per  annum,  for 
the  term  of  one  hundred  years;  which  duly,  faithfully  and 
inviolably  applied  to  that  purpose,  is  demonstrably  more 
lhan  sufficient  to  extinguish  all  her  present  national  debt, 
since  it  will  in  that  time  amount,  at  legal  British  interest, 
to  more  than  £230,000,000. 

But  if  Britain  does  not  think  fit  to  accept  this  propor- 
tion, we,  in  order  to  remove  her  groundless  jealousies  that 
we  aim  at  independence,  and  an  abolition  of  the  Naviga- 
tion Act,  (which  hath  in  truth  never  been  our  intention,) 
and  to  avoid  all  future  disputes  about  the  right  of  making 
that  and  other  acts  for  regulating  our  Commerce,  do  here- 
by declare  ourselves  ready  and  willing  to  enter  into  a  cove- 
nant with  Britain,  that  she  shall  fully  possess,  enjoy,  and 
exercise  that  right  for  a  hundred  years  to  come  ;  the  same 
being  bona  fide  used  for  the  common  benefit.  And  in  case 
of  such  agreement,  that  every  Assembly  be  advised  by  us  to 
confirm  it  solemnly  by  laws  of  their  own,  which  once  made 
cannot  be  repealed  without  the  assent  of  the  Crown. 

♦Journals  of  the  House  of  Commons,  on  tho  4th  of  April,  1718; 
38th  January,  1756;  3d  February,  1750;  16th  and  19th  of  A/ay,  1757  ; 
1st  of  June,  1758;  20th  and  30th  of  April,  1759;  26th  and' 31st  of 
March,  and  28th  of  April,  1760  ;  9th  and  80th  of  January,  1761  ;  22d 
and  26th  of  January,  1762;  and  11th  and  17th  of  March,  1763. 


The  last  charge,  that  we  are  dishonest  traders,  and  aim 
at  defrauding  our  creditors  in  Britain,  is  sufficiently  and 
authentically  refuted  by  the  solemn  declarations  of  the  Bri- 
tish merchants  to  Parliament,  (both  at  the  time  of  the 
Stamp  Act,  and  in  the  last  session,)  who  bore  ample  testi- 
mony to  the  general  good  faith  and  fair  dealing  of  the 
Americans,  and  declared  their  confidence  in  our  integrity ; 
for  which  we  refer  to  their  petitions  on  the  Journals  of 
the  House  of  Commons.  And  we  presume  we  may 
safely  call  on  the  body  of  the  British  tradesmen,  who 
have  had  experience  of  both,  to  say,  whether  they  have 
not  received  much  more  punctual  payment  from  us  than 
they  generally  have  from  the  members  of  their  own  two 
Houses  of  Parliament. 

On  the  whole  of  the  above,  it  appears  that  the  charge 
of  ingratitude  towards  the  Mother  Country,  brought  with 
so  much  confidence  against  the  Colonies,  is  totally  without 
foundation  ;  and  that  there  is  much  more  reason  for  retort- 
ing that  charge  on  Biitain,  who  not  only  never  contributes 
any  aid,  nor  affords,  by  an  exclusive  commerce,  any  ad- 
vantages to  Saxony,  her  mother  country ;  but  no  longer 
since  than  in  the  last  war,  without  the  least  provocation, 
subsidized  the  King  of  Prussia  while  he  ravaged  that 
mother  country,  and  carried  fire  and  sword  into  its  capi- 
tal, the  fine  City  of  Dresden — an  example  we  hope  no 
provocation  will  induce  us  to  imitate. 


GENERAL  WASHINGTON  TO  CONGRESS. 

New- York,  Sunday,  June  25,  1775,  } 
Five  o'clock,  P.  M.  J 

Sir:  Upon  my  arrival  here  this  afternoon,  I  was  inform- 
ed that  an  express  was  in  Town  from  the  Provincial  camp 
in  Massachusetts-Bay ;  and  having  seen,  among  other  pa- 
pers in  his  possession,  a  letter  directed  to  you  as  President 
of  the  Congress,  1  have  taken  the  liberty  to  open  it.  I 
was  induced  to  take  that  liberty  by  several  gentlemen  of 
New-York,  who  were  anxious  to  know  the  particulars  of 
the  affair  of  the  17th  instant,  and  agreeable  to  the  orders 
of  many  members  of  the  Congress,  who  judged  it  neces- 
sary that  I  should  avail  myself  of  the  best  information  in 
the  course  of  my  journey. 

You  will  find,  Sir,  by  that  letter,  a  great  want  of  powder 
in  the  Provincial  Army,  which  1  sincerely  hope  the  Con- 
gress will  supply  as  speedily  and  as  effectually  as  in  their 
power.  One  thousand  pounds  in  weight  were  sent  to  the 
camp  at  Cambridge,  three  days  ago,  from  this  City,  which 
has  left  this  place  almost  destitute  of  that  necessary  article, 
there  being  at  this  time,  from  the  best  information,  not 
more  than  four  barrels  of  powder  in  the  City  of  New-  York. 

I  purpose  to  set  off  for  the  Provincial  camp  to-morrow, 
and  will  use  all  possible  despatch  to  join  the  forces  there. 

Please  to  make  my  compliments  to  the  gentlemen  of  the 
Congress,  and  believe  me  to  be,  Sir,  your  obliged  friend 
and  obedient  servant,  Go.  Washington. 

The  Hon.  John  Hancock,  Esq.,  President  of  the  Ameri- 
can Congress. 

New-York,  June  25,  1775. 

George  Washington,  Esq.,  General  and  Commander-in- 
Chief  of  the  Army  of  the  United  American  Colonies  : 
To  Philip  Schuyler,  Esquire,  Major-Gcncral  in  the 
said  Army  : 

Sir  :  You  are  to  take  upon  you  the  command  of  all  the 
Troops  destined  for  the  Nciv-York  Department,  and  see 
that  the  orders  of  the  Continental  Congress  are  carried 
into  execution  with  as  much  precision  and  exactness  as 
possible.  For  your  better  government  therein,  you  are 
herewith  furnished  with  a  copy  of  the  instructions  given  to 
me  by  that  honourable  body.  Such  parts  thereof  as  are 
within  the  line  of  your  duty,  you  will  please  to  pay  par- 
ticular attention  to.  Delay  no  time  in  occupying  the  sev- 
eral posts  recommended  by  the  Provincial  Congress  of  this 
Colony,  and  putting  them  in  a  fit  posture  to  answer  the 
end  designed.  Neither  delay  any  time  in  securing  the 
stores  which  are  or  ought  to  have  been  removed  from  ihis 
Cily  by  order  of  the  Continental  Congress.  Keep  a 
watchful  eye  upon  Govemour  Tryon ;  and  if  you  find  him 
attempting,  directly  or  indirectly,  any  measures  inimical 
to  the  common  cause,  use  every  means  in  your  power  to 
frustrate  his  designs.    It  is  not  in  my  power  at  this  time  to 


1085 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  Sec,  JUNE,  1775. 


1086 


point  out  the  mode  by  which  this  end  is  to  be  accomplish- 
ed ;  but  if  forcible  measures  are  judged  necessary,  (respect- 
in?  the  person  of  the  Governour,)  1  should  have  no  diffi- 
culty in  ordering  them  if  the  Continental  Congress  were  not 
sitting  ;  but  as  this  is  the  case,  and  the  seizing  of  a  Governour 
quite  a  new  thing,  and  of  exceeding  great  importance,  I  must 
refer  you  to  that  body  for  direction,  in  case  the  Governour 
should  make  any  move  towards  increasing  the  strength  of 
the  Tory  party,  or  in  arming  them  against  the  cause  we  are 
embarked  in.  In  like  manner  watch  the  movements  of 
the  Indian  Agent,  (Colonel  Guy  Johnson,)  and  prevent, 
as  far  as  you  can,  the  effect  of  his  influence  to  our  preju- 
dice with  the  Indians.  Obtain  the  best  information  you 
can  of  the  temper  and  disposition  of  those  people,  and 
also  of  the  Canadians,  that  a  proper  line  may  be  marked 
out  to  conciliate  their  good  opinion,  or  facilitate  any  future 
operation. 

The  posts  on  Lake  Champlain,  inc.,  you  will  please  to 
have  properly  supplied  with  provisions  and  ammunition  ; 
and  this,  I  am  persuaded,  you  will  aim  at  doing  on  the 
best  terms,  to  prevent  our  good  cause  from  sinking  under 
a  heavy  load  of  expense. 

You  w  ill  be  pleased,  also,  to  make  regular  returns  to  me 
once  a  month,  and  to  the  Continental  Congress,  and  often- 
er,  as  occurrences  may  require,  of  the  forces  under  your 
command,  of  your  provisions,  stores,  &ic,  and  give  me  the 
earliest  advices  of  every  piece  of  intelligence  which  you 
shall  judge  of  importance  to  be  speedily  known.  Your 
own  good  sense  must  govern  in  all  matters  not  pointed  out, 
as  I  do  not  wish  to  circumscribe  you  within  narrow  limits. 

I  remain,  with  great  regard.  Sir,  your  most  obedient  ser- 
vant, Go.  Washington. 


GENERAL  W  ASHINGTON  TO  CONGRESS. 

New-York,  June  25,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  The  rain  on  Friday  afternoon  and  Sa- 
turday, the  advice  of  several  gentlemen  of  the  Jerseys 
and  this  City,  by  no  means  to  cross  Hudson's  River  at 
the  lower  ferry,  and  some  other  circumstances  too  trivial 
to  mention,  which  happened  on  the  road,  prevented  my 
arrival  at  this  place  until  the  afternoon  of  this  day. 

In  the  morning,  after  giving  General  Schuyler  such  or- 
ders as,  from  the  result  of  my  inquiry  into  matters  here, 
appear  necessary,  I  shall  set  out  on  my  journey  to  the  camp 
at  Boston,  and  shall  proceed  with  all  the  despatch  in  my 
power. 

Powder  is  so  essential  an  article,  that  I  cannot  help  again 
repeating  the  necessity  of  a  supply.  The  camp  at  Boston, 
from  the  best  account  I  can  get  from  thence,  is  but  very 
poorly  supplied.  At  this  place  they  have  scarce  any. 
How  they  are  provided  in  General  booster's  camp,  I  hav  e 
not  been  able  yet  to  learn. 

Governour  Tryon  is  arrived,  and  General  Schuyler  di- 
rected to  advise  you  of  the  line  of  conduct  he  moves  in. 
I  fear  it  will  not  be  very  favourable  to  the  American  cause. 

I  have  only  to  add,  that  I  am,  with  great  respect  and 
regard,  gentlemen,  your  most  obedient  and  obliged  hum- 
ble servant,  Go.  Washington. 

To  the  Hon.  John  Hancock,  Esq.,  and  the  Hon.  Members 
of  the  Continental  Congress. 


Ticonderoga,  June  25,  1775. 
Mr.  Holt:  The  following  erroneous  account  of  the 
reduction  of  Ticonderoga,  was  published  in  Mr.  Thomas's 
Oracle  of  Liberty,  the  24th  of  May  last ;  and  as  the  wri- 
ter of  the  account  which  follows  it  had  no  opportunity  of 
seeing  it  till  very  lately,  he  being  up  at  the  forts  ever  since 
they  were  taken,  he  could  not  contradict  it  sooner.  I  beg, 
therefore,  you  will  republish  it  in  your  next  journal,  to- 
gether with  the  account  that  follows  it,  which  may  be  de- 
pended on.    I  am,  yours,  &c« 

"Cambridge,  May  18,  1775. 

"  Yesterday  Colonel  Easton  arrived  at  the  Provincial 
Congress  in  IVatertown,  from  Ticonderoga,  and  brings  the 
glorious  news  of  the  taking  that  place  by  the  American 
forces,  without  the  loss  of  a  man,  of  which  interesting 
event  we  have  collected  the  following  particulars,  viz: 

"  Last  Tuesday  se'nnight,  about  two  hundred  and  forty 
meoj  from  Connecticut  and  this  Province,  under  Colonel 


Allen  and  Colonel  Easton,  arrived  at  the  lake  near  Ticon- 
deroga; eighty  of  them  crossed  it,  and  came  to  the  fort 
about  the  dawn  of  day.  The  sentry  was  much  surprised 
at  seeing  such  a  body  of  men,  and  snapped  his  piece  at 
them  ;  our  men,  however,  rushed  forward,  seized  and  con- 
fined the  sentry,  pushed  through  the  covered  way,  and  all 
got  safe  upon  the  parade,  while  the  garrison  were  sleeping 
in  their  beds.  They  immediately  formed  a  hollow  «quare, 
and  gave  three  huzzas,  which  brought  out  the  garrison, 
and  an  inconsiderable  skirmish  with  cutlasses  or  bayonets 
ensued,  in  which  a  small  number  of  the  enemy  received 
some  wounds.  The  commanding  officer  soon  came  forth  : 
Colonel  Easton  clapped  him  upon  the  shoulder,  told  him 
he  was  his  prisoner,  and  demanded,  in  the  name  of  Ame- 
rica, an  instant  surrender  of  the  fort,  with  all  its  contents, 
to  the  American  forces.  The  officer  was  in  great  confu- 
sion, and  expressed  himself  to  this  effect :  Damn  you, 
what — what  does  all  this  mean  ?  Colonel  Easton  again 
told  him  that  he  and  his  garrison  were  prisoners.  The  offi- 
cer said,  that  he  hoped  he  should  he  treated  with  honour. 
Colonel  Easton  replied  he  should  be  treated  with  much 
more  honour  than  our  people  had  met  with  from  the  Bri- 
tish Troops.  The  officer  then  said,  he  was  all  submission, 
and  immediately  ordered  his  soldiers  to  deliver  up  all  the 
arms,  in  number  about  one  hundred  stands.  As  they  gave 
up  their  arms,  the  prisoners  were  secured  in  the  hollow 
square. 

'•  The  American  forces  having  thus  providentially  got 
possession  of  this  important  fortress,  found  in  it  upwards 
of  one  hundred  pieces  of  cannon,  several  mortars,  and  a 
considerable  quantity  of  shot,  stores,  and  some  powder. 

"  After  this  acquisition,  a  detachment  of  our  Troops 
was  despatched  to  take  possession  of  Croicn  Point,  where 
there  is  a  considerable  number  of  cannon.  Another  de- 
tachment was  sent  to  Skentsborough,  where  they  took 
Major  Skene  and  his  family,  with  a  number  of  soldiers, 
and  several  small  pieces  of  cannon." 

As  the  above  account  of  the  reduction  of  Ticonderoga . 
which,  from  its  complexion,  I  suppose  originated  with  that 
very  modest  gentleman  (Colonel  Easton)  himself,  is  so  re- 
plete with  falsehood,  and  is  so  great  an  imposition  on  the 
publick,  that  I  think  it  my  duty,  in  order  to  undeceive  the 
publick,  and  to  do  justice  to  modest  merit,  to  give  you  a 
candid  detail  of  the  whole  matter,  for  the  truth  of  which  I 
appeal  to  every  officer  and  private  who  were  present,  which 
is  as  follows : 

Some  gentlemen  arrived  in  the  JVew- Hampshire  Grants 
from  Connecticut,  with  a  design  of  seizing  on  the  foitress 
of  Ticonderoga ;  were  there  joined  by  a  number  of  men, 
among  whom  were  Colonels  Allen  and  Easton  ;  the  for- 
mer, with  the  assistance  of  Captain  Warner,  collected 
about  one  hundred  and  fifty  men,  with  whom  they  marched 
to  Castletown,  twenty  miles  from  Ticonderoga,  where  they 
left  Colonel  Easton,  and  proceeded  ten  miles  towards 
Shorcham.  The  next  da\r  Colonel  Arnold  arrived  at  Cas- 
tletown from  Cambridge.  Having  concerted  in  a  similar 
plan,  and  being  commissioned  by  the  Massachusetts  Con- 
gress to  raise  a  regiment,  he  proceeded  on  to  the  parly 
under  the  command  of  Colonel  Allen.  When  Colonel 
Arnold  made  know  n  his  commission,  8cc,  it  was  voted  by 
the  officers  present  that  he  should  take  a  joint  command 
with  Colonel  Allen,  (Colonel  Easton  not  presuming  to 
take  any  command.)  When  the  party  had  marched  to 
Shorcham,  two  miles  on  the  lake  below  Ticonderoga, 
where  they  waited  for  batteaus  to  cross  the  lake,  until  mid- 
night, and  none  arriving,  Colonel  Arnold,  with  much  dif- 
ficulty, persuaded  about  forty  men  to  embark  with  him  in 
a  batteau  accidentally  taken  there,  and  landed  half  a  mile 
from  the  fort,  and  immediately  sent  back  the  batteau,  which, 
by  reason  of  a  violent  storm  of  wind  and  rain,  did  not  re- 
turn until  break  of  day,  with  a  small  boat,  and  near  fifty 
men  in  both.  It  was  then  proposed  by  some  gentlemen 
to  wait  open  day  and  the  arrival  of  the  remainder  of  the 
men,  which  amounted  at  that  time  to  near  one  hundred. 
This  Colonel  Arnold  strenuously  opposed,  and  urged  to 
storm  the  fort  immediately,  declaring  he  would  enter  it 
alone,  if  no  man  had  courage  enough  to  follow  him.  This 
had  the  desired  effect;  he, with  Colonel  Allen,  headed  the 
party,  and  proceeded  directly  to  the  fort.  When  they 
came  within  about  ten  yards  of  the  gate,  the  sentry  dis- 
covered them,  and  made  a  precipitate  retreat.    He  was. 


1087 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  kc,  JUNE,  1775. 


1088 


pursued  closely  by  Colonel  Arnold,  who  was  the  first  per- 
son that  entered  the  fort,  and  Colonel  Allen  about  five 
yards  behind  him.  This  I  was  an  eye-witness  of,  being 
only  a  few  yards  distant.  Colonel  Arnold  immediately 
ordered  the  men  to  secure  the  doors  of  the  barracks,  and 
went  himself,  with  Colonel  Allen,  to  the  commanding  offi- 
cer, Captain  Ddaplncc,  and  desired  him  to  deliver  up  his 
arms,  and  he  might  expect  to  be  treated  like  a  gentleman  ; 
which  he  immediately  complied  with,  as  did  the  whole  gar- 
rison. 

1  do  not  recollect  seeing  Colonel  Easlon  until  nine 
o'clock,  and  was  told  he  was  the  last  man  that  entered  the 
fort,  and  that  not  till  the  soldiers  and  their  arms  were  se- 
cured, be  having  concealed  himself  in  an  old  barrack  near 
the  redoubt,  under  the  pretence  of  wiping  and  drying  his 
gun,  which  he  said  had  got  wet  in  crossing  the  lake  ;  since 
which  I  have  often  heard  Colonel  Easton,  in  a  base  and 
cowardly  manner,  abuse  Colonel  Arnold  behind  his  back, 
though  always  very  complaisant  before  his  face.  Colonel 
Arnold  was  soon  made  acquainted  with  the  liberty  he  had 
taken  with  his  character ;  and  upon  his  refusing  to  give 
proper  satisfaction,  I  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  him  heart- 
ily kicked  by  Colonel  Arnold,  to  the  great  satisfaction  of 
a  number  of  gentlemen  present,  although  he  [Easton)  was 
armed  with  a  cutlass,  and  a  pair  of  loaded  pistols  in  his 
pocket.    I  am  your  humble  servant,  Veritas. 

Hartford,  July  28,  1775. 
Having  by  accident  seen  in  a  paper  styled  the  American 
Oracle,  of  May  24,  the  paragraph  relative  to  the  taking 
Ticonileroga  by  one  Colonel  Easton ;  and  being  the  com- 
manding officer  at  that  time,  think  I  cannot,  in  justice  to 
myself,  do  less  than  contradict  the  many  particulars  therein 
contained,  knowing  them  to  be  totally  void  of  truth.  In- 
deed, I  am  quite  at  a  loss  to  conjecture  what  could  incline 
this  same  Colonel  Easton  to  publish  a  conversation  said  to 
be  had  with  me,  except  he,  knowing  that  I  was  a  prisoner, 
and  restricted  from  giving  any  account  at  all  of  this  affair, 
took  the  advantage  of  my  situation,  in  order  to  answer  his 
own  purposes,  at  the  total  expense  of  his  veracity  ;  for  I 
solemnly  declare  1  never  saw  Colonel  Easton  at  the  time 
the  fort  was  surprised,  nor  had  he  and  I  any  conversation 
whatever  relative  thereto,  then,  or  at  any  other  time  since. 

William  Delaplace. 

to  the  printer. 

The  following  is  an  address  from  the  inhabitants  upon 
Lake  Champlain,  to  the  worthy  Colonel  Arnold,  of  New- 
Haven,  who,  in  April  last,  on  the  first  alarm  of  the  ravage 
and  bloodshed  committed  by  the  Ministerial  Troops  at 
Lexington,  fcc,  marched,  with  his  company  of  Cadets,  from 
New-Haven  to  the  assistance  of  his  bleeding  countrymen. 

On  his  march  he  concerted  a  plan  for  the  reduction  of 
the  very  important  fortresses  Ticonderoga  and  Crown 
Point,  which  he  first  communicated  to  a  member  of  the 
Committee  of  Correspondence  for  Connecticut,  afterwards 
by  letter  to  the  Governour  of  Connecticut,  and  immediately 
after  his  arrival  at  Cambridge  to  the  Provincial  Congress 
and  Committee  of  Safety.  They  approving  his  plan,  and 
confiding  in  his  judgment  and  fidelity,  commissioned  him 
to  reduce  the  same,  which,  by  his  vigilance  and  prudence, 
he  soon  effected:  and  having  also  taken  possession  of  the 
King's  sloop  and  batteaus,  which  were  at  St.  John's,  se- 
cured the  protection  of  all  our  frontiers  in  that  quarter,  and 
obtained  the  command,  without  the  loss  of  one  man,  of  an 
extent  of  country  one  hundred  and  sixty  miles  in  length, 
which,  in  the  last  war,  cost  the  British  Nation  two  millions 
of  money  and  two  campaigns,  under  the  command  of  some 
of  the  best  English  Generals,  in  which  many  thousand 
brave  heroes  fell.  While  we  regret,  and  sensibly  feel  the 
loss  of  a  Warren,  and  many  other  worthy  men,  in  the  pre- 
sent conflict,  we  have  reason  to  rejoice  that  so  many  others, 
and  among  them  an  Arnold,  are  preserved  to  us,  who  are 
equally  ready  to  risk  their  lives  in  defence  of  the  rights 
and  liberties  of  their  country. 

It  appears  that  envy  or  self-interested  views  has  created 
Colonel  Arnold  some  enemies,  who  have,  in  his  absence, 
artfully  endeavoured  to  misrepresent  his  conduct,  and  give 
a  blamable  aspect  to  actions  which,  when  fairly  exam- 
ined, will  be  found  to  merit  the  highest  approbation  of 


his  constituents  and  the  publick,  whose  judgment,  with 
respect  to  the  reports  to  his  prejudice,  it  is  hoped  will  be 
suspended,  till  he  can  have  an  opportunity  to  vindicate  bis 
character.  A.  B. 

To  Benedict  Arnold,  Esquire,  Colonel  of  a  Massa- 
chusetts Regiment,  and  Commander-in-Chief  of  an 
Expedition  to  Lake  Champlain,  for  talcing  the  For- 
tresses on  said  Lake,  and  the  armed  vessel  thereon,  into 
the  possession  and  protection  of  the  American  Army. 
We,  the  subscribers,  the  principal  inhabitants  on  the  said 
lake,  in  behalf  of  ourselves,  and  on  behalf  of  all  the  inha- 
bitants contiguous  thereto,  amounting  in  number  to  about 
six  hundred  families,  deeply  impressed  with  a  sense  of 
your  merit,  and  the  weighty  obligations  which  we  lie  under 
to  you  in  your  military  capacity,  think  it  our  duty  to  ad- 
dress you  in  this  publick  manner,  to  testify  our  gratitude 
and  thankfulness  for  the  uncommon  vigilance,  vigour,  and 
spirit,  with  which  you  have  achieved  those  important  con- 
quests, so  essentially  necessary  for  our  preservation  and 
safety  from  the  threatened  and  much  dreaded  incursions  of 
an  inveterate  enemy. 

The  humanity  and  benevolence  which  you  have  exer- 
cised towards  the  inhabitants  of  those  parts  most  imme- 
diately affected  by  the  present  convulsions,  by  supplying 
them  with  provisions  in  their  distress,  render  you  no  less 
worthy  our  admiration,  than  your  tenderness  and  polite 
treatment  of  such  prisoners  as  have  fallen  into  your  hands 
entitle  you  to  the  most  favourable  opinion  of  some  of  the 
regular  officers,  whose  grateful  sentiments  thereon  you 
have  already  received.  So  you  are  likewise,  in  a  peculiar 
manner,  entitled  to  our  warmest  thanks,  since  you  have 
thereby,  and  by  the  proofs  they  have  had  of  your  prudence 
and  valour,  been  the  means  of  keeping  our  enemy  and 
their  scouting  parties  at  a  distance  from  us,  to  which  your 
vigilance,  in  constantly  employing  such  a  number  of  boats 
on  the  north  part  of  this  lake,  hath  not  a  little  contributed. 

The  humane  and  polite  manner  with  which  you  treated 
your  prisoners,  insures  to  you  the  applause  of  all :  you  have 
thereby  shown  your  adversaries  a  bright  example  of  that 
elevation  and  generosity  of  soul,  which  nothing  less  than 
real  magnanimity  and  innate  virtue  could  inspire. 

By  your  vigilance  and  good  conduct,  we  have  been,  un- 
der Providence,  preserved  from  the  incursions  and  ravages 
of  an  enraged  enemy,  to  whose  declared  vengeance  we  lay 
entirely  exposed;  and  therefore  we  cannot  help  expressing 
our  sorrow  at  the  approaching  period  of  your  removal 
from  us. 

Convinced  of  your  competency  to  the  undertaking  of 
protecting  us,  we  cannot  help  lamenting  our  situation  on 
the  thoughts  of  losing  you,  being  ignorant  of  the  experience 
or  abilities  of  the  gentleman  appointed  to  succeed  you. 
We  sincerely  wish  you  rewards  adequate  to  your  merit, 
and  are,  with  the  utmost  gratitude,  regard,  and  esteem, 
Sir,  your  most  obliged  and  most  obedient  servants. 

[Signed  by  a  number  of  the  principal  Inhabitants,  on 
behalf  of  themselves  and  the  rest.] 

Lake  Champlain,  July  3,  1775. 

To  the  very  respectable  Inhabitants  on  Lake  Champlain  : 
Gentlemen  :  Permit  me  to  return  you  my  most  hearty 
thanks  for  the  polite  and  obliging  address  you  have  been 
pleased  to  present  me  this  day,  which,  as  it  convinces  me 
of  your  esteem  and  approbation  of  my  conduct  in  a  mili- 
tary capacity,  is  more  than  an  adequate  recompense  for  the 
poor  services  and  protection  I  have  been  happy  enough  to 
render  you,  which  both  duty  and  humanity  required  of  me. 
I  am  much  pleased  to  have  it  in  my  power,  in  this  publick 
manner,  to  return  you  my  sincere  thanks  for  your  support, 
vigilance,  and  spirited  conduct  in  the  publick  cause,  and 
cannot  help  regretting  the  necessity  I  am  under  of  leaving 
you  so  soon.  1  heartily  wish  you  the  protection  of  that 
kind  Providence  which  has  so  remarkably  interposed  in 
your  favour  heretofore,  and  beg  leave  to  assure  you  1  shall, 
at  all  times,  be  happy  in  hearing  of  the  welfare  of  all  the 
inhabitants  on  Lake  Champlain,  but  of  my  friends  in  par- 
ticular; and  am,  with  the  greatest  respect  and  esteem,  gen- 
tlemen, your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

Benedict  Arnold. 

Crown  Point,  July  4,  1775. 


1089 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


1090 


THADDEUS  BURR  TO  GENERAL  WOOSTER. 

Fairfield,  June  25,  1775  ;  12  o'clock. 
Sir  :  Captain  Jonathan  Maltbie,  who  went  express  from 
here  last  Sabbath,  lias  this  flay  returned  from  Watertown, 
which  place  he  left  last  Thursday,  at  four  o'clock,  after- 
noon, and  the  intelligence  brought  by  him  being  so  direct,  I 
thought  it  my  duty  to  forward  it  to  you,  which  is  as  fol- 
lows, viz : 

Copy  of  a  letter  from  Mr.  Isaac  Lothrop,  one  of  the 
Provincial  Congress  at  Watertown. 

"  Watertown,  June  22,  1775. 

"  Before  this  reaches  you,  you  will  doubtless  hear  of  the 
engagement  of  last  Saturday,  between  our  Troops  and 
those  of  the  Army  at  Boston;  but  lest  you  should  not  be 
well  informed,  I  will  now  undertake  to  give  you  as  regular 
an  account  as  can  at  present  be  obtained.  Last  Friday  even- 
ing a  detachment  from  the  camp  at  Cambridge  marched 
to  Charlestons,  and  there  took  possession  of  Breed's  Hill, 
about  half  a  mile  from  the  ferry  ;  their  intrenching  tools  not 
coming  up  in  season,  it  was  twelve  o'clock  before  they  be- 
gan their  works.  As  soon  as  daylight  appeared  they  were 
discovered  from  Boston,  when  the  men-ol-war  in  the  ferry, 
the  battery  from  Copp's  Hill,  and  the  floating  batteries,  kept 
up  a  continual  cannonading  and  bombarding,  which  fortu- 
nately did  but  little  execution,  although  our  intrenchments 
were  very  far  from  being  completed.  This  continued  till 
about  two  o'clock,  when  a  large  Army  of  between  four  and 
five  thousand  men,  (as  we  since  hear  from  Boston,)  under 
the  command  of  General  Howe,  landed  on  the  back  of  the 
hill,  and  marched  up  with  great  seeming  resolution  towards 
ou-  lines.  Our  men  reserved  their  fire  till  the  enemy  had 
advanced  very  near,  when  a  general  engagement  ensued. 
The  fire  from  our  lines  was  so  excessively  heavy,  and  made 
such  a  terrible  slaughter,  as  obliged  the  enemy  twice  to 
give  way,  although  many  of  their  officers  stood  in  the  rear 
with  their  swords  pointed  at  their  backs,  ready  to  run  them 
through.  Our  men  kept  up  a  continual  blaze  upon  them 
for  about  an  hour,  with  such  execution  as  is  scarce  credible. 
The  enemy  then  came  on  the  flanks,  marched  up,  and  forced 
their  way  over  the  ramparts  with  fixed  bayonets,  cutlasses, 
and  hand-grenades,  which  obliged  our  little  brave  Army, 
consisting  only  of  about  five  hundred  men  at  most,  to  retreat. 

"The  Town  of  Charlestown  was  fired  in  various  parts 
during  the  action,  and  is  now  consumed  to  a  wretched  heap 
of  rubbish.  I  kept  my  ground  at  Watertown;  but  what 
with  the  thundering  of  cannon  and  small  arms,  the  confla- 
gration of  Charlestown,  the  wagons  and  horse-litters,  with 
the  wounded  men  coming  to  the  hospital  in  this  Town,  and 
the  streaming  of  expresses  to  and  fro,  exhibited  such  an 
awful  scene  as  I  pray  God  Almighty  I  may  never  again 
behold.  The  brave  and  worthy  Doctor  Warren  was  killed, 
stripped,  and  buried  within  the  intrenchment. 

"  Our  numbers  killed  are  not  yet  known  ;  but  by  the  best 
account  I  can  obtain  it  will  not  much  exceed  fifty,  and  the 
wounded  short  of  a  hundred.  Several  credible  persons  have 
since  made  their  escape  by  water  from  Boston,  some  of 
whom  1  well  know.  The  latest  out  says,  that  upwards  of 
fourteen  hundred  of  the  enemy  were  killed  and  wounded, 
with  eighty-four  officers;  and  that  twenty-eight  of  our  men 
were  made  prisoners,  and  the  enemy  had  buried  forty-one 
of  our  dead.  All  agree  that  the  loss  of  the  enemy  in  killed 
and  wounded  is  more  than  one  thousand.  General  Howe 
says,  you  may  talk  of  your  Mindens  and  Fontenoys,  &c, 
but  he  never  saw  nor  heard  of  such  carnage  in  so  short  a 
time.  All  the  surgeons  in  the  Army,  with  what  they  could 
get  in  Boston,  were  not  sufficient  to  dress  the  wounded. 
Although  they  were  twenty-four  hours,  night  and  day,  in 
removing  them  from  Charlestown,  with  the  assistance  of 
many  of  the  inhabitants  of  Boston,  whom  they  pressed  into 
the  service,  many  died  in  the  streets  on  their  way  to  the 
hospitals. 

"  N.  B.  Doctor  Mather  had  his  whole  furniture,  with  his 
library,  plate,  &tc,  consumed  in  the  fire  at  Charlestown." 

I  have  employed  Mr.  Samuel  Fenjield  to  go  with  this; 
if  you  think  it  proper  to  forward  this  account  to  New-York, 
he  will  be  ready  to  serve  you. 

You  will  excuse  my  sending  it  open,  as  I  think  it  best 
for  every  one  to  know  with  what  bravery  our  men  have 
acted,  and  how  God  in  his  providence  seems  to  appear 
for  us. 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  u.  69 


Mr.  Penfield  will  also  hand  you  a  paper  from  Cambridge, 
which  contains  some  particulars. 

I  am,  in  the  utmost  haste,  Sir,  your  friend  and  humble 
servant,  Thaddeus  Burr. 

To  General  Wooster,  at  Greenwich. 


The  Congress  of  the  Colony  of  the  Massachusetts-Bat, 
To  Andrew  Gilman,  Gentleman  : 
We,  entertaining  a  good  opinion  of  your  prudence,  cou- 
rage, and  good  conduct,  do  appoint,  and  you,  the  said  An- 
drew Gilman.  are  hereby  appointed  to  the  honorary  title 
of  Lieutenant ;  and  you  are  to  be  considered  of  that  rank 
not  only  among  the  good  people  of  this  Province,  but  also 
among  all  our  friends  and  brethren  through  the  Continent ; 
and  we  confide  in  your  readiness  to  promote  the  common 
cause  of  America  among  our  good  brothers  the  Indians  of 
the  several  tribes  which  you  may  have  opportunity  to  be 
acquainted  with,  as  well  as  with  the  inhabitants  of  the  Prov- 
ince of  Quebcck.    By  order  of  the  Congress. 

Watertown,  June  25,  1775. 

In  Provincial  Congress,  Watertown,  June  25,  1775. 
Resolved,  That  Lieutenant  Andrew  Gilman  be  and  here- 
by is  ordered  and  instructed  to  use  his  utmost  influence  to 
cultivate  a  friendly  and  peaceable  disposition  in  the  Indians 
at  St.  Francois,  and  all  other  parts  adjoining,  and  to  give 
intelligence  of  their  temper  and  disposition  from  time  to 
time,  as  he  shall  have  opportunity,  and  as  the  importance 
of  affairs  may  require;  and  also  of  the  Canadians  at  Que- 
beclc,  and  other  adjacent  parts  of  Canada,  so  often  as  it 
may  be  in  his  power:  for  which  service  he  shall  receive  a 
proper  reward.    By  order  of  Congress. 

James  Warren,  President. 


JOHN  LANE  TO  MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS. 

Watertown,  June  25,  1775. 
John  Lane  having  been  employed  by  the  honourable 
Congress  to  go  to  Penobscot  to  treat  with  the  Indians  there, 
and  the  said  Congress,  in  consequence  of  his  services,  hav- 
ing resolved  that  he  shall  have  a  Captain's  commission, 
provided  he  enlist  a  company  of  fifty-six  effective  men  to 
join  the  Army  at  Cambridge ;  and  he  being  now  going  to 
proceed  on  that  business,  humbly  prays  that  your  Honours 
would  direct  the  Receiver-General  to  pay  him  or  his  order 
two  months  pay,  as  a  Captain  in  the  Colony  service. 

John  Lane. 

To  the  Honourable  Provincial  Congress. 


MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS  TO  GOVERNOUR  TRUMBULL. 

In  Provincial  Congress,  Watertown,  June  25,  1775. 
May  it  please  tour  Honour:  From  advices  received 
divers  ways,  we  have  the  greatest  reason  to  determine  that 
all  the  British  Troops  already  destined,  or  that  may  yet  be 
ordered  to  America  this  season,  will  come  to  Boston,  it 
being  evidently  their  design,  if  possible,  to  rout  our  Army 
before  that  place,  destroy  all  our  magazines,  and  thereby  to 
strike  terrour  and  faintness  into  the  hearts  of  all  the  friends 
to  right  and  liberty  throughout  the  Continent,  to  revive  and 
animate  their  scattered  friends,  and  break  the  union  of  the 
Colonies,  and  in  that  way  insure  final  success  to  their 
tyranny.  This  being  undoubtedly  the  plan  of  our  enemies, 
it  is  of  inexpressible  consequence  that  the  ground  which 
we  have  taken  should,  at  all  events,  be  maintained.  Your 
Honour  is  no  doubt  fully  sensible  that  our  Army,  for  the 
present,  is  unavoidably  checked  with  regard  to  offensive 
operations,  for  a  reason  of  which  you  are  not  unapprized,  but, 
however,  we  have  the  means  of  acting  on  the  defensive. 

As  Boston  is  impregnable  against  every  thing  but  great 
artillery,  very  few  Troops  are  sufficient  to  keep  it ;  and  as 
there  are  two  passes  at  least,  very  distant  from  each  other, 
by  which  the  enemy  will  probably  attempt  to  advance  into 
the  country,  it  is  thereby  necessary  that  we  should  throw  our 
Army  into  at  least  two  grand  divisions,  each  of  which  ought 
to  be  able  to  withstand  almost  the  whole  strength  of  the  ene- 
my. Your  Honour  is  acquainted  that  it  was  first  supposed 
to  be  necessary  that  thirty  thousand  men  should  be  raised 


1091  CORRESPONDENCE,  PRO( 

and  stationed  to  act.  for  tliis  season,  in  the  environs  of  Bos- 
ton. Thirteen  thousand  six  hundred  was  the  number  sup- 
posed by  our  Congress  to  be  this  Colony's  proportion  of 
such  an  Army,  and  that  number  we  have,  to  our  utmost, 
been  endeavouring  fully  to  complete  ;  but  because  there  are 
deficiencies  in  our  Regiments,  as  your  Honour  well  knows 
there  always  will  be  in  such  cases,  in  order  to  make  that 
quota  good  we  have  been  obliged  to  increase  the  number 
of  the  Regiments;  but  still  there  is  a  deficiency.  And  be- 
cause of  the  inexpressible  importance  of  having  our  Army 
effectually  strong,  we  are,  with  unremitted  efforts,  and  by 
every  device,  at  vast  expense,  labouring  to  make  that  num- 
ber fully  complete,  or  rather  to  exceed  it. 

Mai/  it  please  your  Honour:  Because  we  are  so  vastly 
apprehensive  of  the  fatal  consequences  of  a  general  defeat 
of  this  Army  to  the  whole  American  cause,  and  are  so  un- 
utterably solicitous  to  have  it  effectually  strengthened,  we 
have  called  in  every  individual  of  our  levies,  from  all  our 
out-posts,  to  join  the  Army,  although  by  that  measure  we 
expose  all  our  Towns  on  the  sea-coast  to  the  rage  and 
depredations  of  the  enemy,  and  run  the  dreadful  risk  of 
the  best  of  our  Towns  being  reduced  to  ashes,  and  taking 
the  miserable  fate  of  Charhstown. 

We  beg  leave  to  acquaint  your  Honour  that  it  is  most 
clearly  our  opinion,  and  that  we  have  the  best  grounds  to 
suppose,  that  as  soon  as  the  enemy  have  recovered  a  little 
breath  from  their  amazing  fatigues  of  the  seventeenth  of 
June,  and  the  surprising  losses  which  they  then  undoubtedly 
sustained  shall  be  made  up  by  arrivals  of  new  troops,  which 
is  almost  daily  taking  place,  they  will  direct  all  their  force 
to  some  one  point,  and  make  the  utmost  efforts  to  force 
our  lines,  destroy  our  magazines,  and  thereby  strike  general 
terrour  and  amazement  into  the  hearts  of  the  inhabitants 
of  the  whole  Continent. 

From  this  view  of  the  case  we  cannot  a  moment  longer 
forbear  addressing  your  Honour,  and  most  earnestly  sug- 
gesting to  the  immediate  consideration  of  your  General 
Assembly,  not  only  the  expediency,  but  indispensable  ne- 
cessity of  an  immediate  augmentation  of  the  Troops  from 
your  Colony,  for  the  more  effectual  strengthening  of  the 
Army.  What  the  number  of  the  augmentation  ought  to 
be,  we  most  cheerfully  submit  to  the  good  judgment  of  your 
Assembly,  not  in  the  least  doubting  but  their  wisdom  and 
justice  will  direct  and  dispose  them  to  do  all  that  is  proper 
in  so  important  a  crisis  as  we  really  consider  the  present. 

We  need  not  express  to  your  Honour  the  indispensable 
necessity  of  despatch  in  making  re-enforcements,  nor  the 
propriety  and  advantage  of  marching  any  new  levies,  which 
your  Assembly  may  order  with  all  possible  speed,  without 
the  first  raised  Companies  waiting  for  the  completion  of 
others;  inasmuch  as  your  Colony  has  here  on  the  spot  all 
the  proper  officers  to  make  the  necessary  disposition  for 
their  reception,  and  as  the  season  of  their  being  of  any 
advantage  for  the  support  of  our  Army  may  be  irrevocably 
lapsed  before  their  arrival,  if  the  least  unnecessary  delay 
should  be  indulged. 

We  have  made  a  representation  to  the  Lieutenant-Go- 
vernour  of  Rhode- Island,  similar  to  the  foregoing,  and  are 
about  to  make  a  like  representation  to  the  Congress  of  New- 
Hampshire,  and  to  send  the  same  by  special  express. 

We  suppose  the  whole  number  of  our  enemy's  land 
forces,  when  joined  with  the  four  Regiments  which  were 
ordered  to  New-YorTc,  will  amount  to  upwards  of  ten  thou- 
sand, exclusive  of  negroes  and  tories,  who  are  every  way 
provided  and  furnished  in  the  best  manner  for  action. 

We  have  the  fullest  confidence  that  your  Honour's  zeal 
and  ardour  for  the  salvation  of  our  Country,  and  the  pre- 
servation of  our  inestimable  rights,  will  render  any  impor- 
tunity unnecessary  to  induce  you  to  take  all  the  requisite 
steps  to  effect  the  proposed  augmentation  for  which  we  are 
most  solicitous. 

To  Governour  Trumbull, 


MASSACHUSETTS   COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY  TO  THE  SELECT- 
MEN OF  BRADFORD. 

Cambridge,  Juno  25,  1773. 
Gentlemen:  It  gives  us  great  concern  that  we  are 
obliged  to  address  you  on  a  subject  which  we  are  convinced 
must  be  disagreeable  ;  but  tin;  department  we  are  placed  in, 
and  the  safety  of  this  Colony,  demand  our  exertion-;,  which, 


EEDINGS,  tc,  JUNE,  1715.  1092 

with  yours,  will,  we  hope,  put  an  end  to  all  such  disorders 
as  have  taken  place  in  the  instance  to  which  we  would  now 
proceed.  We  are  informed  by  Captain  (Sage  that  a  com- 
pany of  fifty  men  were  enlisted  under  his  command  as 
Minute-men,  in  the  Town  of  Bradford,  agreeable  to  a  re- 
commendation of  the  Provincial  Congress  ;  and  we  find,  by 
said  enlistment,  they  engaged  to  serve  for  the  term  of  one 
year  from  February,  1*775.  We  are  also  informed  that 
said  men  refused  enlisting  anew,  agreeable  to  the  late  order 
of  Congress  for  establishing  an  army,  but  have,  notwith- 
standing, been  doing  duty  in  the  camp,  and  it  was  expected 
by  their  officers  and  this  Committee,  that  they  would  con- 
tinue in  the  service  agreeable  to  their  engagement;  but  to 
our  surprise  we  are  informed  that  the  whole  of  said  Com- 
pany, save  two  men,  have  scandalously  deserted  the  cause 
of  their  Country,  and  stained  their  own  honour  by  leaving 
the  camp  and  returning  home;  by  which  conduct  they  have 
forfeited  all  their  pay,  and  set  an  example  which,  if  fol- 
lowed, must  injure  the  important  cause  we  are  engaged  in. 
We  therefore  must,  in  the  strongest  terms,  urge  that  you 
use  your  influence  in  this  matter  in  such  way  as  shall  tend 
to  bring  those  persons  to  such  a  sense  of  their  bad  con- 
duct as  may  cause  them  to  return  to  their  duty  ;  for  should 
such  base  conduct  not  be  put  a  stop  to,  how  would  our 
character  in  this  Colony  appear  to  our  brethren  in  the  sis- 
ter Colonies?  We  apprehend  we  need  not  say  any  thing 
further  to  urge  you  to  exert  yourselves  in  this  affair,  but 
that  the  importance  of  putting  a  stop  to  such  proceedings 
will  be  of  sufficient  weight  with  you  to  act  such  a  part  as 
will  do  you  honour  and  your  country  service. 
We  are,  &c. 

N.  B.  Should  they  return  and  continue  in  their  duty, 
they  will  no  doubt  be  entitled  to  and  receive  pay  for  their 
whole  services. 


GEN.  FOLSOM  TO  NEW-HAMPSHIRE  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY. 

June  25,  1775. 

Gentlemen:  In  my  letter  of  the  twenty-third  instant, 
I  informed  you  that  Colonel  Stark  refused  subordination  to 
my  orders ;  but  yesterday  he  made  such  submission  as  in- 
duces me  to  desire  you  to  pass  over  said  letter,  so  far  as  it 
relates  to  him,  unnoticed.  He  has  three  supernumerary 
Companies,  one  of  which  very  lately  joined  his  Regiment: 
pray  your  orders  with  respect  to  them.  In  my  letter  of  the 
fourth  instant  I  omitted  mentioning  that  the  Captain-Gene- 
ral could  as  poorly  supply  me  matrosses  as  artillery.  'Tis 
needless  to  mention  that  a  camp  is  insecure  without  artillery- 
men in  proportion  to  the  battalion.  The  Nctv-Hampshire 
forces,  in  their  present  station,  are  in  a  great  measure  inde- 
pendent of  the  other  forces,  and,  if  occasion  requires,  the 
few  matrosses  in  our  camp  (scarcely  sufficient  to  manage  a 
few  small  field-pieces)  may  be  detached  from  us,  and  the 
camp  left  entirely  destitute.  I  therefore  pray  your  judg- 
ment whether  it  is  not  more  eligible  to  draft  out  one  half 
the  Artillery  Company  designed  to  be  raised  in  Portsmouth, 
to  join  your  forces  here,  with  a  good  Engineer,  as  soon  as 
may  be. 

If  you  cannot  procure  any  expert  gunner  in  New-Hamp- 
shire, several  persons  have  been  recommended  to  me  by 
members  of  the  Massachusetts  Congress,  who  I  believe 
may  be  procured  by  proper  encouragement. 

I  am  your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

Nathaniel  Folsom. 

To  the  Honourable  Committee  of  Safety  for  the  Colony 
of  New-Hampshire. 

extract  of  a  letter  from  an  officer  of  the  army 
in  hoston  to  his  friend  in  england,  dated  june 
25,  1775. 

When  I  left  England,  tho  service  on  which  I  am  now 
come  was  even  at  that  time  irksome  and  disagreeable,  but 
now  it  is  doubly  so.  The  cause  in  which  we  are  concerned 
is  entirely  obliterated  ;  our  disputes,  as  from  man  to  man, 
are  of  a  private  nature.  The  people  of  the  country  have, 
by  various  methods,  exasperated  and  enraged  us ;  and  to 
free  ourselves  from  a  situation  so  disagreeable  and  confined, 
there  is  not  any  thing  we  would  not  attempt.  I  confess, 
upon  the  grand  basis  of  this  business  we  all  unanimously 


1093 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


1094 


acquit  the  Colonists,  and  every  hour  of  the  day  pray  Lord 
North  to  head  us.  After  the  skirmish  of  the  seventeenth, 
we  even  commended  the  Troops  of  Putnam,  who  fought 
so  gallantly,  pro  arts  et  focis.  When  we  marched  to  the 
attack  of  their  redoubt,  they  called  out  "  Colonel  Aber- 
crombic,  are  the  Yankees  cowards  ?"  nor  did  they  discharge 
a  gun  until  we  were  within  fifteen  yards.  The  fire  on  our 
left  wing  was  so  hot  that  our  Troops  broke  ;  but  the  Gre- 
nadiers, with  uncommon  fury,  attacked  the  trenches,  and 
forced  them,  when  our  soldiers  rallied  again.  We  kept 
possession  of  the  intienchments  till  next  morning,  when 
we  marched  into  Boston;  a  sad  remains  of  those  glorious 
fellows  who  were  led  into  the  field.  Gen.  Howe  was  three 
limes  in  the  field  left  by  himself,  so  numerous  were  the 
killed  and  wounded  about  him  ;  and  alas !  I  grieve  to  tell 
you,  that  I  fear  nine  out  of  ten  of  these  gallant  fellows  will 
die  of  their  wounds.  The  loss  of  the  Provincial  Troops 
is  trifling  in  comparison  to  ours;  and  indeed  another  such 
onset  will  be  our  ruin.  A  universal  murmur  now  runs 
through  the  Army,  which  ever  most  disagreeably  invades 
the  General's  ears.  An  Irish  officer  humorously  said  on 
the  occasion,  that  indeed  we  had  gained  but  a  loss.  In 
short,  all  you  have  yet  sent  by  way  of  Troops  to  this  Con- 
tinent are  but  a  mouthful.  If  you  send  more  to  add  to  us, 
we  may  make  them  a  dinner ;  and  you  may  continue  to 
supply  them  with  a  supper,  and  then  it  will  be  a  good  night. 
Indeed,  we  may  say  with  Falstaff,  with  great  propriety,  that 
"they  make  us  here  but  food  for  gunpowder."  I  wish  all 
these  domestick  animosities  were  settled,  and  also  our  pri- 
vate ones ;  but  even  in  our  promotions,  glaring  and  unjust 
partialities  prevail.  So  very  secret  was  the  late  action  con- 
ducted, that  Generals  Clinton  and  Burgoyne  knew  not  of 
it  till  the  morning,  though  the  Town  did  in  general,  and 
Putnam  in  particular.  This  man  served  under  Prussia, 
and  does  honour  to  his  master ;  he  is  sixty-three,  and  brave 
to  the  back  bone.  I  hope  better  times,  but  these  are  really 
sad  ones.  Adieu. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  BOSTON  TO  A  GENTLEMAN  IN 
SCOTLAND,  DATED  JUNE  25,  1775. 

About  a  week  ago  the  remainder  of  the  fleet  from  Ire- 
land arrived  here  with  the  Thirty-Fifth,  Forty-Ninth,  and 
Sixty -Third  Regiments  of  Foot,  and  Seventeenth  of  Light 
Dragoons,  all  of  whom,  except  part  of  the  Forty-Ninth, 
were  landed. 

At  daylight  on  Saturday  morning,  the  seventeenth  in- 
stant, I  was  awakened  by  some  cannon  fired  from  the  Lively, 
man-of-war,  stationed  at  Charlestown  Ferry.  This  firing 
was  occasioned  by  their  seeing  a  great  number  of  the  rebels 
at  work,  raising  a  redoubt  on  that  height,  at  the  back  of 
Charlestown,  nearest  to  Boston,  known  by  the  name  of 
Bunker's  Hill,  which  they  had  begun  the  night  before, 
and,  by  the  help  of  facines,  gabions,  and  other  such  mate- 
rials, and  by  a  great  number  of  hands,  they  had  got  almost 
completed.  This  firing  from  the  Lively  was  almost  imme- 
diately put  a  flop  to  by  the  Admiral.  In  the  mean  time 
the  General  ordered  three  pieces  of  brass  cannon,  (twenty- 
four  pounders,)  to  be  mounted  on  a  battery  that  had  been 
raised  on  Copp's  Hill,  at  the  north  end,  where  he  also  sent 
some  howitzers,  and  a  large  quantity  of  ammunition  of  all 
kinds. 

At  nine  in  the  morning  this  battery  opened,  and  continued 
to  annoy  the  rebels  all  the  forenoon,  as  did  also  the  Glas- 
gow, man-of-war,  who  lay  off  the  point  at  New-Boston. 
At  twelve  o'clock  the  Light  Infantry  and  Grenadiers,  with 
the  Fifth,  Thirty-Eighth,  Forty-Third,  and  Fifty-Second 
Regiments,  embarked  on  board  the  transport  boats  at  the 
Long  Wharf  and  at  the  north  battery,  and  about  half 
past  one  landed  on  Charlestoivn  Point,  at  the  entrance  of 
Mistick  River,  covered  by  a  heavy  fire  from  the  Lively, 
and  another  man-of-war  stationed  off  the  north  battery; 
a  large  sloop  and  two  floating  batteries  at  Charlestown 
Ferry;  the  battery  from  Copp's  Hill ;  a  transport  mount- 
ing twenty  guns,  lying  a  little  higher  up,  and  the  Glasgow, 
man-of-war.  They  effected  their  landing  without  any  loss, 
and,  after  resting  the  men  a  lew  minutes,  marched  on  to 
dislodge  the  rebels  from  some  posts  they  had  taken  on  the 
back  of  the  hill. 

In  half  an  hour  after,  the  Forty-Seventh  Regiment,  part 
of  the  Thirty-Fifth,  and  a  battalion  of  Marines,  followed, 


and  landed  at  the  place  where  there  formerly  was  a  battery 
in  Charlestoivn. 

At  their  landing,  the  Town  of  Charlestown  was  set  on 
fire  by  carcasses  thrown  from  Copp's  Hill  battery,  and  the 
Troops  marched  on,  commanded  by  Generals  Howe  and 
Clinton. 

About  three  quarters  past  three,  an  excessively  hot  fire 
commenced  on  the  back  of  the  hill,  to  dislodge  a  large 
body  of  the  rebels  that  had  posted  themselves  behind  some 
fences,  which  they  had  made  ball-proof  by  bushes,  hay, 
earth,  &.c.  This  fire  lasted  about  fifty  minutes.  As  soon 
as  they  had  dislodged  this  body,  one  party  of  our  men  came 
up  on  one  side,  and  another  on  the  other  side  of  the  re- 
doubt, and  stormed  and  carried  it  in  a  few  minutes.  From 
this  they  pursued  the  rebels  to  the  hill  beyond,  and  having 
drove  them  from  that,  forced  them  over  Charlestown  Neck. 
All  this  they  accomplished  in  about  four  hours,  having 
entire  possession  of  the  Neck  by  six  o'clock.  The  whole 
body  of  Troops  engaged  was  about  fourteen  hundred. 

In  the  redoubt  the  rebels  had  sixteen  hundred  men  ;  and 
behind  it  and  the  fences,  which  they  had  fortified  from  that 
to  the  water,  about  five  thousand  ;  besides  some  thousands 
more  stationed  on  the  hill  behind,  all  of  whom  the  Troops 
forced  to  fly  over  the  Neck. 

The  loss  on  both  sides  is  supposed  to  be  nearly  equal ; 
nor  can  we  wonder  it  should  be  so,  when  we  consider  that 
this  handful  of  fourteen  hundred  men  forced  a  redoubt  de- 
fended by  sixteen  hundred,  who,  had  they  behaved  w  ith  any 
tolerable  degree  of  courage,  and  had  but  a  small  portion  of 
military  skill,  they  might  have  defended  against  three  times 
their  number.  Our  officers  have  suffered  much,  no  less 
than  eighty-six  being  killed  and  wounded.  Among  the 
killed  of  the  rebels  is  Doctor  Warren,  who  commanded  at 
the  redoubt.  The  Troops  are  now  busy  in  fortifying  the 
hill  that  commands  Charlestown  Neck ;  and  the  rebels  are 
fortifying  a  hill  about  half  way  between  that  and  Cambridge, 
from  which  I  expect  to  find  them  dislodged  in  a  few  days. 

We  hear  nothing  from  the  country,  as  this  has  put  an 
entire  stop  to  the  little  communication  we  had  before. 

Had  this  post  not  been  taken,  it  was  the  intention  of  the 
rebels  to  have  set  fire  to  Boston  that  night ;  instead  of 
which  the  whole  Town  of  Charlestown  is  in  ruins;  their 
leader  and  orator  (Doctor  Warren)  is  slain  ;  and  they  must 
now  be  convinced  that  British  Troops  are  capable  of  dri- 
ving them  from  their  strongest  holds,  though  opposed  by- 
vast  superiority  of  numbers. 


GENERAL  BURGOYNE  TO  LORD  STANLEY. 

Boston,  Juno  25,  1775. 
Boston  is  a  peninsula,  joined  to  the  main  land  only  by 
a  narrow  neck,  which,  on  the  first  troubles,  General  Gage 
fortified ;  arms  of  the  sea  and  the  harbour  surround  the 
rest  on  the  other  side.  On  one  of  these  arms,  to  the  north, 
is  Charlestoivn,  or  rather  was,  for  it  is  now  rubbish,  and 
over  it  is  a  large  hill,  which  is  also  (like  Boston)  a  penin- 
sula. To  the  south  of  the  Town  is  a  still  larger  scope  of 
ground,  containing  three  hills,  joining  also  to  the  main  by  a 
tongue  of  land,  and  called  Dorchester  Neck.  The  heights, 
as  above  described,  both  north  and  south,  (in  the  soldier's 
phrase,)  command  the  Town;  that  is,  give  an  opportunity 
of  erecting  batteries  above  any  that  you  can  make  against 
them,  and  consequently  are  much  more  advantageous.  It 
was  absolutely  necessary  we  should  make  ourselves  mas- 
ters of  these  heights,  and  we  proposed  to  begin  with  Dor- 
chester;  because,  from  the  particular  situation  of  batteries 
and  shipping,  (too  long  to  describe,  and  unintelligible  to  you 
if  I  did,)  it  would  evidently  be  effected  without  any  con- 
siderable loss.  Every  thing  was  accordingly  disposed  ;  my 
two  colleagues  and  myself,  (who,  by  the  by,  have  never 
differed  in  one  jot  of  military  sentiment,)  had,  in  concert 
with  General  Gage,  formed  the  plan.  Howe  was  to  land 
the  transports  on  the  point ;  Clinton  in  the  centre ;  and  I 
was  to  cannonade  from  the  Causeway  or  the  Neck ;  each 
to  take  advantage  of  circumstances.  The  operations  must 
have  been  very  easy;  this  was  to  have  been  executed  on 
the  18th.  On  the  17th,  at  dawn  of  day,  we  found  the 
enemy  had  pushed  intrenchments  with  great  diligence 
during  the  night,  on  the  heights  of  Charlestown,  and  we 
evidently  saw  that  every  hour  gave  them  fresh  strength ;  it 
therefore  became  necessary  to  alter  our  plan,  and  attack  on 


1095 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  he,  JUNE,  1775. 


1096 


that  side.  HoUfe,  as  second  in  command,  was  detached 
with  about  two  thousand  men,  and  landed  on  the  outward 
side  of  the  peninsula,  covered  with  shipping,  without  oppo- 
sition ;  he  was  to  advance  from  thence  up  the  hill  which 
was  over  Charlcstoitm,  where  the  strength  of  the  enemy 
lay ;  he  had  under  him  Brigadier-General  Pigot.  Clinton 
and  myself  took  our  stand  (for  we  had  not  any  fixed  post) 
in  a  large  battery  directly  opposite  to  Charlestoum,  and 
commanded  it,  and  also  reaching  the  heights  above  it,  and 
thereby  facilitating  Hoive's  attack.  Howe's  disposition 
was  exceeding  soldierlike ;  in  my  opinion  it  was  perfect. 
As  his  first  arm  advanced  up  the  hill  they  met  with  a  thou- 
sand impediments  from  strong  fences,  and  were  much  ex- 
posed. They  were  also  exceedingly  hurt  by  musketry 
from  Charlcstown,  though  Clinton  and  I  did  not  perceive 
it  until  Howe  sent  us  word  by  a  boat,  and  desired  us  to  set 
fire  to  the  Town,  which  was  immediately  done ;  we  threw 
a  parcel  of  shells,  and  the  whole  was  instantly  in  flames; 
our  battery  afterwards  kept  an  incessant  fire  on  the  heights; 
it  was  seconded  by  a  number  of  frigates,  floating  batteries, 
and  one  ship-of-the-line.  And  now  ensued  one  of  the 
greatest  scenes  of  war  that  can  be  conceived :  if  we  look 
to  the  height,  Howe's  corps  ascending  the  hill  in  the  face 
of  intrenchments,  and  in  a  very  disadvantageous  ground, 
was  much  engaged  ;  to  the  left  the  enemy  pouring  in  fresh 
troops  by  thousands,  over  the  land  ;  and  in  the  arm  of  the 
sea  our  ships  and  floating  batteries  cannonading  them ; 
straight  before  us  a  large  and  noble  Town  in  one  great 
blaze — the  church-steeples  being  timber,  were  great  pyra- 
mids of  fire  above  the  rest ;  behind  us,  the  church-steeples 
and  heights  of  our  own  camp  covered  with  spectators  of 
the  rest  of  our  Army  which  was  engaged  ;  the  hills  round 
the  country  covered  with  spectators  ;  the  enemy  all  in  anx- 
ious suspense  ;  the  roar  of  cannon,  mortars,  and  musketry ; 
the  crash  of  churches,  ships  upon  the  stocks,  and  whole 
streets  falling  together,  to  fill  the  ear;  the  storm  of  the 
redoubts,  with  the  objects  above  described,  to  fill  the  eye ; 
and  the  reflection  that,  perhaps,  a  defeat  was  a  final  loss  to 
the  British  Empire  in  America,  to  fill  the  mind  ;  made 
the  whole  a  picture,  and  a  complication  of  horrour  and 
importance  beyond  any  thing  that  ever  came  to  my  lot  to 
be  witness  to.  I  much  lament  Tom's*  absence ;  it  was  a 
sight  for  a  young  soldier  that  the  longest  service  may  not 
furnish  again;  and  had  he  been  with  me  he  would  likewise 
have  been  out  of  danger;  for,  except  two  cannon  balls  that 
went  a  hundred  yards  over  our  heads,  we  were  not  in  any 
part  of  the  direction  of  the  enemy's  shot.  A  moment  of 
the  day  was  critical :  Howe's  left  were  staggered  ;  two 
battalions  had  been  sent  to  re-enforce  them,  but  we  per- 
ceived them  on  the  beach  seeming  in  embarrassment  what 
way  to  march.  Clinton  then,  next  for  business,  took  the 
part  without  waiting  for  orders,  to  throw  himself  into  a 
boat  to  head  them  ;  he  arrived  in  time  to  be  of  service ; 
the  day  ended  with  glory,  and  the  success  was  most  im- 
portant, considering  the  ascendancy  it  gave  the  Regular 
Troops ;  but  the  loss  was  uncommon  in  officers  for  the 
numbers  engaged.  Howe  was  untouched,  but  his  Aid-de- 
Camp,  Sherwin,  was  killed ;  Jordan,  a  friend  of  Howe's, 
who  came  engage  Ic  de  cceur,  to  see  the  campaign,  (a 
shipmate  of  ours  on  beard  the  Cerberus,  and  who  acted  as 
aid-de-camp,)  is  badly  wounded.  Pigot  was  unhurt,  but 
he  behaved  like  a  hero.  You  will  see  the  list  of  the  loss. 
Poor  Colonel  Abercrombie,  who  commanded  the  Grena- 
diers, died  yesterday  of  his  wounds.  Captain  Addison, 
our  poor  old  friend,  who  arrived  but  the  day  before,  and 
was  to  have  dined  with  me  on  the  day  of  the  action,  was 
also  killed ;  his  son  was  upon  the  field  at  the  same  time. 
Major  Mitchell  is  but  very  slightly  hurt;  he  is  out  already. 
Young  Chctwynd's  wound  is  also  slight.  Lord  Percy's 
Regiment  has  suffered  the  most,  and  behaved  the  best ; 
his  Lordship  himself  was  not  in  the  action.  Lord  Rowden 
behaved  to  a  charm  ;  his  name  is  established  for  life. 


TO  GENERAL  BURGOYNE. 

Sir:  In  reading  the  newspapers  I  find  an  extract  of  a 
letter  which  it  is  said  you  wrote  a  few  days  after  the  battle 
of  Charlcstown,  to  a  noble  Lord  in  England;  and  I  take 

*  His  nephew,  the  Honour.'ihlu  Thomas  Stanley,  Esquire,  (and  bro- 
ther to  Lord  Stanley,)  who  is  gone  a  volunteor  to  Boston  in  liis  Ma- 
josty's  norvicc. 


notice  you  close  your  narration  of  that  important  day's 
work,  by  saying,  "  The  day  ended  with  glory." 

As  I  am  totally  at  a  loss  to  know  what  part  of  the  day"s 
conduct  was  crowned  with  so  much  "  glory"  on  your  part, 
permit  me,  Sir,  to  inquire,  whether  it  was  such  a  "  glori- 
ous "  achievement  for  upwards  of  two  thousand  regular 
disciplined  troops,  being  the  flower  of  the  British  Army, 
headed  by  the  most  approved  and  experienced  Generals, 
with  part  of  the  train  of  artillery,  supported  and  covered 
with  one  ship-of-the-line,  a  number  of  frigates  and  floating 
batteries,  and  a  large  battery  on  Copp'x  Hill,  in  which 
General  Clin/on  and  you  took  your  stand,  and  which  com- 
manded the  Town,  to  dislodge  a  much  inferiour  number  of 
American  Militia  from  a  slender  defence,  which  they  had 
but  four  hours  to  prepare,  for  it  was  twelve  o'clock  before 
either  spade  or  pickaxe  entered  the  ground,  and  the  Lively, 
ship-of-vvar,  fired  upon  them  at  four  next  morning,  and  soon 
after  the  battery  above  mentioned  began  to  play. 

Was  it,  indeed,  such  a  "glorious"  action,  with  all  this 
tremendous  apparatus  of  war,  and  under  all  these  advan- 
tageous circumstances,  in  the  space  of  twelve  hours  to  kill 
seventy-seven,  and  wound  two  hundred  and  seventy-eight 
Americans,  (twenty-eight  of  whom  were  captivated,)  and 
take  five  small  pieces  of  cannon,  which  they  had  not  time 
to  place?  Nor  was  all  this  effected  till  they  had  sustained 
your  fire  from  four  o'clock  in  the  morning  till  four  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon ;  being  then  quite  worn  down  with  fatigue, 
and  their  ammunition  wholly  expended,  were  obliged  to 
retreat. 

Your  representation  of  the  transactions  of  that  day  does 
the  Americans  an  honour  you  never  intended.  All  Europe 
will  revere  the  fortitude,  and  stand  surprised  at  the  firmness 
and  valour  of  this  handful  of  brave,  though  undisciplined 
men. 

Or  was  it,  indeed,  such  a  "  glorious  "  sight  to  view  the 
field  strewed  with  the  mangled  corpses  of  a  few  brave  and 
virtuous  Americans  1  Or  to  see  the  agonies  and  hear  the 
piercing  shrieks  and  dying  groans  of  Abercrombie,  Pit- 
cairn,  and  above  a  thousand  others  of  those  who  were 
brought  hither  to  crush  the  rising  liberty  of  America,  but 
who  now  lay  weltering  in  their  gore  ?  Or  to  behold  the 
inexpressible  anguish  of  the  widows  and  orphans  made  by 
that  day's  wicked  attempt  to  enslave  America? 

If  such  a  scene  as  this  is  "  glorious  "  in  your  eyes,  Ame- 
ricans are  of  opposite  sentiments  ;  they  lament  the  loss  of 
those  brave  Britons,  whose  life  and  blood  should  have  been 
reserved  for  a  cause  of  justice  against  the  natural  enemies 
of  Englishmen.  Americans  mourn  over  the  wounds  you 
compel  them  to  give,  and  heartily  sympathize  with  those 
widows  and  orphans  you  forced  them  to  make. 

But  perhaps  it  was  your  laying  Charlestown  in  ashes 
that  has  elated  your  mind,  and  led  you  to  conclude  that 
"  the  day  ended  with  glory." 

Remember,  Sir,  any  parricide,  any  assassin,  the  greatest 
of  villains,  with  proper  materials,  can  set  wooden  buildings 
on  fire,  especially  when  they  themselves  are  as  far  out  of 
danger  as  you  were  at  that  time. 

Was  it  indeed  "  glorious  "  to  see  whole  streets  falling 
together  in  flaming  ruins,  owned  by  subjects  second  to 
none  for  their  loyalty  to  the  Monarch  of  Britain,  who,  by 
the  way,  have  now  sprung  to  their  arms,  determined  to 
check  the  bloody  career  of  ministerial  vengeance,  or  perish 
in  the  attempt  ? 

Was  there  any  necessity,  from  the  exigency  of  the  day, 
for  this  wanton  waste  of  English  property,  to  the  amount 
of  one  hundred  thousand  Pounds  sterling  ?  You  yourself 
acknowledge  that  neither  Clinton  nor  you  perceived  any 
firing  from  the  Town  of  Charlcstown  on  the  troops  under 
Lord  Howe,  nor  did  any  body  else  see  any;  for  I  now 
appeal  to  his  Lordship's  candour,  whether  it  was  possible 
that  his  troops  could  have  been  annoyed  by  the  Americans 
from  any  of  the  houses  in  Charlcstown  provided  those 
houses  had  been  full  of  them  ?  The  Town  of  Charlestown 
was  always  in  your  power,  and  you  might  have  set  it  on 
fire  at  any  hour  when  you  pleased. 

Would  it  not  have  been  less  inglorious  to  have  reserved 
it  for  the  use  of  your  own  troops,  who  have  since  loaded  you 
with  many  a  curse,  while  suffering  in  cold  and  rain  for  want 
of  being  covered  in  those  very  buildings  you  destroyed  ? 

If  this  is  your  idea  of  "  glory,"  1  shall  think  that  this, 
and  the  martial  soul  you  discover  in  lamenting  the  abduct 


1097 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  Sec,  JUNE,  1775. 


1098 


of  your  nephew,  Thomas  Stayiley,  Esquire,  because  you 
were  out  of  the  direction  of  the  American  shot,  pretty 
near  of  a  piece. 

Liberty,  peace,  and  glory  to  both  Countries,  is  the  voice 
of  America. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  GENERAL  GAGE  TO  LORD 
DARTMOUTH. 

Boston,  June  25,  1775. 

The  success,  of  which  I  send  your  Lordship  an  account 
by  the  present  opportunity,  was  very  neces  ary  in  our 
present  situation,  and  1  wish  most  sincerely  that  it  had  not 
cost  us  so  dear.  The  number  of  killed  and  wounded  is 
greater  than  our  forces  can  afford  to  lose.  The  officers, 
who  were  obliged  to  exert  themselves,  have  suffered  very 
much,  and  we  have  lost  some  extremely  good  officers. 
The  trials  we  have  had  show  the  rebels  are  not  the  despi- 
cable rabble  too  many  have  supposed  them  to  be,  and  I 
find  it  owing  to  a  military  spirit,  encouraged  among  them 
for  a  few  years  past,  joined  with  an  uncommon  degree  of 
zeal  and  enthusiasm,  that  they  are  otherwise.  When  they 
find  cover,  they  m^ke  a  good  stand,  and  the  country  natu- 
rally strong,  affords  it  to  them,  and  they  are  taught  to  assist 
its  natural  strength  by  art,  for  they  intrench  and  raise  bat- 
teries. They  have  fortified  all  the  heights  and  passes 
around  this  Town,  from  Dorchester  to  Medford  or  Mistick, 
and  it  is  not  impossible  for  them  to  annoy  the  Town. 

Your  Lordship  will  perceive  that  the  conquest  of  this 
Country  is  not  easy,  and  can  be  effected  only  by  time  and 
perseverance,  and  strong  armies  attacking  it  in  various 
quarters  and  dividing  then  forces.  Confining  your  ope- 
rations on  this  side  only  is  attacking  in  the  strongest 
part,  and  you  have  to  cope  with  vast  numbers.  It  might 
naturally  be  supposed,  that  troops  of  the  nature  of  the 
rebel  Army  would  return  home  after  such  a  check  as 
they  had  got,  and  I  hear  many  wanted  to  go  off,  but  care 
has  been  taken  to  prevent  it ;  for  any  man  that  returns 
home  without  a  pass,  is  immediately  seized  and  sent  back 
to  his  Regiment.  In  all  their  wars  against  the  French 
they  never  showed  so  much  conduct,  attention,  and  perse- 
verance as  they  do  now.  I  think  it  my  duty  to  let  your 
Lordship  know  the  true  situation  of  affairs,  that  Adminis- 
tration may  take  measures  accordingly. 

The  people's  minds  are  kept  so  much  heated  and  in- 
flamed, that  they  are  always  ripe  for  every  thing  that  is 
extravagant.  Truth  is  kept  from  them,  and  they  are  too 
full  of  prejudices  to  believe  it,  if  laid  before  them  ;  and  so 
blind  and  bigoted,  that  they  cannot  see  they  have  exchang- 
ed liberty  for  tyranny.  No  people  were  ever  governed 
more  absolutely  than  those  of  the  American  Provinces  now 
are,  and  no  reason  can  be  given  for  their  submission,  but 
that  it  is  a  tyranny  they  have  erected  themselves,  as  they 
believe,  to  avoid  greater  evils. 


GENERAL  GAGE  TO  THE  EARL  OF  DARTMOUTH. 

Whitehall,  July  25,  1775. 
This  morning  arrived  Captain  Chadds,  of  His  Majesty's 
ship  Cerberus,  with  the  following  letter  from  the  Honour- 
able Lieutenaut-General  Gage  to  the  Earl  of  Dartmouth, 
one  of  His  Majesty's  principal  Secretaries  of  State: 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  the  Honourable  Lieutenant- Gen- 
eral Gage  to  the  Earl  of  Dartmouth,  dated  Boston, 
June  25,  1775. 

My  Lord  :  I  am  to  acquaint  your  Lordship  of  an  action 
that  happened  on  the  17th  instant,  between  His  Majesty's 
Troops  and  a  body  of  the  rebel  forces. 

An  alarm  was  given  at  break  of  day  on  the  17th  instant, 
by  a  firing  from  the  Lively,  ship  of  war;  and  advice  was 
soon  afterwards  received,  that  the  rebels  had  broke  ground, 
and  were  raising  a  battery  on  the  heights  of  the  peninsula 
of  Charlestown,  against  the  Town  of  Boston.  They  were 
plainly  seen  at  work,  and  in  a  few  hours  a  battery  of  six 
guns  played  upon  their  works.  Preparations  were  instantly 
made  for  landing  a  body  of  men  to  drive  them  off,  and  ten 
companies  of  Grenadiers,  ten  of  Light-Infantry,  with  the 
Fifth,  Thirty-Eighth,  Forty-Third,  and  Fifty-Second  bat- 
talions made  a  third  line.  The  rebels  upon  the  heights 
were  perceived  to  be  in  great  force,  and  strongly  posted — 
a  redoubt  thrown  up  on  the  16th  at  night,  with  other 


works,  full  of  men,  defended  with  cannon,  and  a  large 
bo/ly  posted  in  the  houses  in  Charlestown,  covered  their 
right  flank,  and  their  centre  and  left  were  covered  by  a 
breastwork,  part  of  it  cannon  proof,  which  reached  from 
the  left  of  the  redoubt  to  the  Mistick  or  Medford  river. 

This  appearance  of  the  rebels'  strength,  and  the  large 
columns  seen  pouring  in  to  their  assistance,  occasioned  an 
application  for  the  Troops  to  be  re-enforced  with  some  com- 
panies of  Light-Infantry  and  Grenadiers,  the  Forty-Seventh 
Battalion,  and  the  First  battalion  of  Marines,  the  whole,  when 
in  conjunction,  making  a  body  of  something  above  two  thou- 
sand men.  These  Troops  advanced,  formed  in  two  lines, 
and  the  attack  began  by  a  sharp  cannonade  from  our  field- 
pieces  and  howitzers;  the  lines  advancing  slowly,  and  fre- 
quently halting  to  give  time  for  the  artillery  to  fire.  The 
Light-Infantry  was  directed  to  force  the  left  point  of  the 
breastwork,  to  take  the  rebel  line  in  flank,  and  the  Grena- 
diers to  attack  in  front,  supported  by  the  Fifth  and  Fifty- 
Second  Battalions.  These  orders  were  executed  with  per- 
severance, under  a  heavy  fire  from  the  vast  numbers  ol  the 
rebels;  and  notwithstanding  various  impediments  before 
the  Troops  could  reach  the  works,  (and  though  the  left, 
under  Brigadier-General  Pigot,  who  engaged  also  with  the 
rebels  at  Charlestown,  which,  at  a  critical  moment  was  set 
on  fire,)  the  Brigadier  pursued  his  point,  and  carried  the 
redoubt.  The  rebels  were  then  forced  from  other  strong 
holds,  and  pursued  till  they  were  drove  clear  off  the  pen- 
insula, leaving  five  pieces  of  cannon  behind  them. 

The  loss  the  rebels  sustained  must  have  been  consider- 
able, from  the  great  numbers  they  carried  off  during  the 
time  of  action,  and  buried  in  holes,  since  discovered,  ex- 
clusive of  what  they  suffered  by  the  shipping  and  boats. 
Near  one  hundred  were  buried  the  next  day  after,  and  thirty 
found  wounded  in  the  field,  three  of  whom  are  since  dead. 

I  enclose  your  Lordship  a  return  of  the  killed  and 
wounded  of  His  Majesty's  Troops. 

This  action  has  shown  the  superiority  of  the  King's 
Troops,  who,  under  every  disadvantage,  attacked  and  de- 
feated above  three  times  their  number,  strongly  posted  and 
covered  by  breastworks. 

The  conduct  of  Major-General  Hotce  was  conspicuous 
on  this  occasion,  and  his  example  spirited  the  Troops,  in 
which  Major-General  Clinton  assisted,  who  followed  the 
re-enforcement.  And  in  justice  to  Brigadier-General 
Pigot,  I  am  to  add,  that  the  success  of  the  day  must,  in  a 
great  measure,  be  attributed  to  his  firmness  and  gallantry. 

Lieutenant-Colonels  Nesbit,  Abercrombie,  Clarke  :  Ma- 
jors Butler,  Williams,  Bruce,  Spendlove,  Smelt,  Mitchell, 
Pitcairn,  and  Short,  exerted  themselves  remarkably;  and 
the  valour  of  the  British  officers  and  soldiers  in  general 
was  at  no  time  more  conspicuous  than  in  this  action. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &.c,  Thomas  Gage. 

Return  of  the  Officers,  Non- Commissioned  Officers,  and 

Privates,  killed  and  wounded  of  His  Majesty's  Troops, 

at  the  attack  of  the  Redoubts  and  Intrenchments,  on  the 

Heights  of  Charlestown,  June  17,  1775. 

Royal  Regiment  Artillery — Captain  Huddlcston,  Cap- 
tain Lemoin,  Lieutenant  Shuttleworth,  one  Sergeant,  eight 
rank  and  file,  wounded. 

Fourth  Foot — Captain  Balfour,  Captain  West,  Lieu- 
tenant Barron,  Lieutenant  Brown,  wounded ;  one  Ser- 
geant, thirteen  rank  and  file,  killed  ;  one  Sergeant,  one 
drummer  and  fifer,  twenty-nine  rank  and  file,  wounded. 

Fifth — Captain  Harris,  Capt.  Jackson,  Capt.  Downes, 
Capt.  Marsden,  Lieut.  McClintock,  Lieut.  Croker,  Ensign 
Charleton.  Ensign  Ballaquire,  wounded  ;  twenty-two  rank 
and  file,  killed  ;  ten  Sergeants,  two  drummers  and  filers,  one 
hundred  and  ten  rank  and  file,  wounded. 

Tenth — Captain  Parsons,  Captain  Fitzgerald,  Lieu- 
tenant Pettigrew,  Lieutenant  Verner,  Lieutenant  Hamil- 
ton, Lieutenant  Kelly,  wounded ;  two  Sergeants,  five  rank 
and  file,  killed  ;  one  drummer  and  fifer,  thirty-nine  rank 
and  file,  wounded. 

Eighteenth — Lieutenant  Richardson,  wounded  ;  three 
rank  and  file,  killed  ;  seven  rank  and  file,  wounded. 

Twenty-Second — Lieut.  Colonel  Abercrombie,  wound- 
ed, and  since  dead. 

Twenty-Third — Captain  Blakeney,  Lieutenant  Beck- 
with,  Lieutenant  Cochrane,  Lieutenant  Lenthall,  wound- 


1099 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


1  100 


ed  ;  two  Serjeants,  one  drummer,  eleven  rank  and  file, 
killed;  two  Sergeants,  one  drummer  and  filer,  thirty-five 
rank  and  file,  wounded. 

Thirty-Fifth — Lieutenant  Baird,  killed  ;  Capt.  Drew, 
Captain  Lyon,  Lieutenant  Massay,  Lieutenant  Campbell, 
wounded  ;  eighteen  rank  and  file,  killed  ;  two  Sergeants, 
two  drummers,  forty-one  rank  and  file,  wounded. 

Thirty-Eighth — Lieutenant  Dulton,  killed  ;  Capt.  Co- 
kcr,  Captain  Boyd,  Lieutenant  Christie,  Lieutenant  House, 
Lieutenant  Myers,  Ensign  Sergeant,  Ensign  Sweney,  Quar- 
termaster Mitchell,  wounded  ;  two  Sergeants,  twenty-three 
rank  and  file,  killed :  four  Sergeants,  one  drummer  and 
fifer,  sixty-nine  rank  and  file,  wounded. 

Forty-Third — Major  Spe?idlove,  Captain  McKcnzie, 
Lieutenant  Robinson,  Lieutenant  Dalrymplt,  wounded  ; 
two  Sergeants,  twenty  rank  and  file,  killed  ;  three  Sergeants, 
two  drummers  and  fifers,  seventy-seven  rank  and  file, 
wounded. 

Forty-Seventh — Major  Smelt,  Captain  Craig,  Captain 
England,  Captain  Alcock,  Lieutenant  England,  wounded  ; 
Lieutenant  Hilliard,  Lieutenant  Gould,  wounded,  since 
dead;  one  Sergeant,  fifteen  rank  and  file,  killed;  three 
Sergeants,  forty-seven  rank  and  file,  wounded. 

Fifty-Second — Major  Williams,  wounded,  since  dead  ; 
Captain  Addison,  Captain  Smith,  Capt.  Davidson,  killed  ; 
Captain  Nelson,  Lieut.  Higgins,  Lieut.  Thompson,  Lieut. 
Crawford,  Ensign  Chetwynd,  Ensign  Grceme,  wounded  ; 
one  Sergeant,  twenty  rank  and  file,  killed;  seven  Sergeants, 
seventy-three  rank  and  file,  wounded. 

Fifty-Ninth — Lieutenant  Hayncs,  wounded  ;  six  rank 
and  file,  killed  ;  twenty-five  rank  and  file,  wounded. 

Sixty-Third — Lieutenant  Dalrymple,  killed  ;  Captain 
Folliott,  Captain  Stopford,  wounded  ;  one  Sergeant,  seven 
rank  and  file,  killed  ;  two  Sergeants,  one  drummer,  twenty- 
five  rank  and  file,  wounded. 

Sixty-Fifth — Captain  Hudson,  killed  ;  Major  Butler, 
Captain  Sinclair,  Lieutenant  Paxton,  Lieutenant  Hales, 
Lieutenant  Smith,  wounded  ;  one  Sergeant,  one  drummer, 
twenty-five  rank  and  file,  wounded. 

First  Battalion  of  Marines — Major  Pitcairn,  wounded, 
since  dead  ;  Captain  Ellis,  Lieutenant  Shea,  Lieutenant 
Finnie,  killed  ;  Captain  Averne,  Captain  Chudleigh,  Cap- 
tain Johnston,  Lieutenant  Ragg,  wounded  ;  two  Sergeants, 
fifteen  rank  and  file,  killed ;  two  Sergeants,  fifty-five  rank 
and  file,  wounded. 

Second  Battalion  Marines — Captain  Campbell,  Lieuten- 
ant Gardiner,  killed  ;  Captain  Logan,  Lieutenant  Dyer, 
Lieutenant  Brisbane,  wounded  ;  five  rank  and  file,  killed  ; 
one  Sergeant,  twenty-nine  rank  and  file,  wounded. 

Officers  attending  on  General  Howe. 
Sixty-Seventh — Capt.  Shcrivin,  Aid-de-Camp,  killed. 
Fourteenth — Lieutenant  Bruce,  killed  ;  Ensign  Hesketh, 
wounded. 

Royal  Navy — Lieutenant  Jordcn,  wounded. 

Engineer — Lieutenant  Page,  wounded. 

Volunteers,  late  Barre's — Lieutenant  Alexander  Camp- 
bell, on  half-pay,  wounded. 

Royal  Artillery — Mr.  Vance,  wounded. 

Fourth  Foot — Mr.  Dorans,  wounded. 

Thirty-Fifth— Mr.  Maden,  wounded. 

Fifty-Second — Mr.  Harrison,  wounded. 

Fifty-Ninth — Mr.  Clarke,  wounded. 

Second  Battalion  Marines — Mr.  Bowman,  wounded. 

Total — One  Lieutenant  Colonel,  two  Majors,  seven 
Captains,  nine  Lieutenants,  fifteen  Sergeants,  one  drum- 
mer, one  hundred  and  ninety-one  rank  and  file,  killed  ; 
three  Majors,  twenty-seven  Captains,  thirty-two  Lieuten- 
ants, eight  Ensigns,  twenty  Sergeants,  twelve  Drummers, 
seven  hundred  and  six  rank  and  file,  wounded. 

N.  B.  Captain  Downes,  of  the  Fifth  Regiment,  and 
Lieutenant  Higgins,  of  the  Fifty-Second,  died  of  their 
wounds  on  the  24th  instant. 

OBSERVATIONS   ON   THE   GOVEHNM ENT   ACCOUNT   OF  THE 
LATE   ACTION   NEAK  CH AHLESTOWN. 

London,  August  1,  1775. 

There  are  two  sorts  of  persons  who  always  persevere 
uniformly,  and  without  shame,  in  one  unvaried  line  of  con- 
duct, regardless  of  the  contempt  and  detestation  of  man- 


kind. The  sorts  I  mean  are  the  thorough  virtuous  and 
the  thorough  scoundrel. 

To  one  of  these  classes  most  evidently  belong  the  Min- 
isters who  settled  the  account  which  they  have  given  us  in 
last  Tuesday's  Gazette. 

The  action  near  Boston  happened  on  the  "  17th  of 
June  ;"  yet  General  Gage's  letter  is  dated  eight  days  after, 
on  the  "  25th  of  June."'' 

By  this  letter  it  appears  that  it  has  cost  one  thousand 
and  sixty-four  of  the  Troops,  killed  and  wounded,  to  de- 
stroy a  redoubt  thrown  up  only  the  overnight,  i.  c.,  on  the 
16th  of  June. 

The  loss  of  the  Provincials,  the  letter  says,  "  must  have 
been  considerable ;"  yet,  eight  days  after  the  action,  the 
General,  though  completely  victorious,  can  tell  us  only  of 
"  one  hundred"  buried,  and  "  thirty"  wounded. 

But  "  they  had  carried  off  great  numbers  during  the 
time  of  action."  Did  they  so?  That  is  no  great  sign  of 
flight,  confusion,  and  defeat. 

But  "  they  buried  them  in  holes."  Really !  Why,  are 
our  soldiers  buried  in  the  air. 

But  "  the  King's  Troops  were  under  every  disadvan- 
tage." So  truly  it  seems;  for,  in  the  same  letter  we  are 
told  "  that  they  had  a  proportion  of  field  artillery,  and 
landed  on  the  peninsula  without  opposition,  and  formed  as 
soon  as  landed,  under  the  protection  of  some  ships-of-war, 
armed  vessels,  and  boats,  by  whose  fire  the  rebels  were 
kept  within  their  works." 

But  "  this  action  has  shewn  the  superiority  of  the  King's 
Troops."  Has  it,  indeed  !  How?  Why  they  (with  a  pro- 
portion of  field  artillery,  and  with  the  assistance  of  ships, 
armed  vessels,  and  boats,  and  with  the  encouragement  of 
certain  and  speedy  re-enforcements,  if  necessary)  attacked 
and  defeated  "  above  three  times  their  own  numbers." 
What,  three  times  their  own  numbers?  Of  whom,  pray? 
Of  French  or  SjMinish  Regulars  ?  No,  of  the  Americans. 
Of  the  Americans !  What,  of  those  dastardly,  hypocritical 
cowards,  who  (Lord  Sandwich  knows)  do  not  feel  bold 
enough  to  dare  to  look  a  soldier  in  the  face  !  Of  those  un- 
disciplined and  spiritless  Yankee's,  who  were  to  be  driven 
from  one  end  of  the  Continent  to  the  other,  with  a  single 
Regiment!  What,  of  those  skulking  assassins,  who  can 
only  fire  at  a  distance,  from  behind  stone-walls  and  hedges  ! 
Good  God !  Was  it  necessary,  to  defeat  these  fellows,  that 
the  Troops  should  be  "  spirited"  by  the  example  of  Gen- 
eral Hoive,  assisted  by  General  Clinton!  And  can  it  be, 
that  Lieutenant-Colonels  Nesbit,  Abercrombie,  and  Clarke ; 
Majors  Butler,  Williams,  Bruce,  Spcndlove,  Smelt,  Mit- 
chell, Pitcairn,  and  Short,"  should  be  forced  to  exert 
themselves  remarkably  against  such  poltrons  !  Is  it  possible 
that  this  could  be  an  affair  in  which  "  the  valour  of  the 
British  officers  and  soldiers  in  general  was  as  conspicuous 
as  at  any  time  whatever  ;"  and  notwithstanding  all  this, 
that  the  success,  in  a  great  measure,  should  be  attributed 
to  the  firmness  and  gallantry  of  General  Pigot  ?" 

Good  God!  is  it  come  to  this  at  last?  Can  the  Regu- 
lars, with  all  these  exertions,  only  defeat  three  times  their 
own  number  of  undisciplined  cowards?  and  that,  too,  at 
the  expense  of  one  thousand  and  sixty-four  (that  is,  more 
than  one-half)  killed  and  wounded,  out  of  something  above 
two  thousand. 

Is  every  redoubt  which  the  Americans  can  throw  up  in 
a  short  summer  night,  to  be  demolished  at  this  expense? 
How  many  such  victories  can  we  bear? 

Alas!  when  I  read  in  the  General's  letter  the  regular 
and  formidable  preparations  for  attack  :  "  Ten  companies  of 
Grenadiers,  ten  of  Light-Infantry,  with  the  Fifth,  Thirty- 
Eighth,  Forty-Third,  and  Fifty-Second  Battalions,  with  a 
proportion  of  field  artillery,  under  the  command  of  Major- 
General  Howe  and  Brigadier-General  Pigot;"  and  these 
"  landed  on  the  peninsula  under  the  protection  of  ships-of- 
war,  armed  vessels,  and  boats,"  and  their  dreadful  fire  : 
when  1  had  read  this,  I  concluded  that  the  next  lines 
would  inform  me  of  the  immediate  and  precipitate  flight 
of  the  Yankees.  Judge,  then,  of  my  surprise,  when  I 
read  that  (instead  of  being  at  all  dismayed  or  struck  with 
the  Sandwich  panick)  "  large  columns"  of  these  cowards 
"  were  seen  pouring  in  to  their  assistance." 

Well,  but  then  comes  "  an  application  for  the  Troops  to 
be  re-enforced  with  some  companies  of  Light-Infantry  and 
Grenadiers,  the  Forty-Seventh  Battalion,  and  the  First 


1 101 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


1102 


Battalion  of  Marines."  They  will  certainly,  thought  I, 
scamper  away  now.  Alas  !  No.  They  stay  and  fight. 
And  to  complete  my  astonishment,  1  cannot  find  in  General 
Gage's  letter  where  our  Troops  were  when  he  wrote,  nor 
what  became  of  them  after  the  action  ;  whether  they  are 
returned  to  Boston,  or  have  ventured  to  encamp  without 
the  Town  ;  what  prisoners  they  have  taken  ;  what  advan- 
tages (besides  five  pieces  of  cannon)  result  from  this  bloody 
action  ;  whether  the  war  is  now  at  an  end,  or  what  the 
Troops  propose  to  do  next. 

To  be  serious,  I  am,  for  my  own  part,  convinced  that 
the  event  of  this  execrable  dragooning  is  decided  ;  and 
that  hefore  winter  there  will  not  be  a  single  soldier  of  Lord 
Bute's  and  Lord  Mansfield s  mercenary  troops  left  upon 
the  Continent  of  America. 

With  what  consolation  those  noble  Lords  will  wipe  away 
the  tears  of  the  widow  and  orphans,  (as  well  English  as 
American,)  which  these  bloody  Stuart  measures  have  oc- 
casioned, 1  cannot  tell ;  but  I  know  that  my  eyes  will  gush 
out  with  joy  when  they  see  the  authors  of  our  domestick 
miseries  receive  (what  1  believe  they  will  soon  receive) 
their  just  reward. 

FURTHER  OBSERVATIONS. 

I  have  the  highest  idea  of  General  Hoive's  military  cha- 
racter, yet  cannot  help  wondering  how  he  came  to  suffer  the 
Provincials  to  escape,  and  even  carry  off  their  dead,  when 
drove  from  their  strong  lines  ;  for  I  conceive  it  very  easy 
to  have  destroyed  the  whole  body,  after  dislodging  them  so 
suddenly  from  their  intrenchments,  if  Mr.  Gage  is  suffered 
to  tell  the  story  right:  I  can't  help  observing  also,  that  I 
never  before  heard  of  so  many  men,  in  proportion  to  the 
number,  being  killed  and  wounded  from  redoubts  made  in 
four  hours,  and  from  six  pieces  of  cannon  only  in  those 
redoubts,  to  oppose  above  one  hundred  pieces.  1  therefore 
suspect  that  the  disagreeable  scene  is  not  unfolded. 

One  or  both  of  the  following  conclusions  must  be  drawn 
from  this  narration :  The  Americans  are  either  the  cle- 
verest fellows  in  the  world  at  making  strong  lines  in  three 
or  four  hours,  or  the  most  desperate  enemy  in  defending 
them  ;  for,  by  Mr. Gage's  account,  they  killed  and  wounded 
near  half  his  army  in  marching  up  about  three  hundred 
yards  under  a  complete  train  of  artillery,  and  all  the  fire  of 
ihe  Navy  to  cover  them  ;  which,  by  this  account,  is  a  new 
instance  of  successful  defence  from  one  night's  labour. 
Hah,  Gad !  by  this  rule  the  Americans  will  put  our  whole 
Army  into  the  grave  or  hospitals  in  three  or  four  nights' 
work,  and  an  hour's  fire  in  each  morning.  I  do  not  remem- 
ber precisely,  but  am  apt  to  believe,  that  there  were  not  so 
many  officers  killed  and  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Minden, 
though  the  English  Regiments  sustained  the  force  of  the 
whole  French  Army  for  a  considerable  time.  A  six-gun 
battery,  the  production  of  a  night's  digging,  had  there  been 
ten  thousand  men  to  protect  it,  could  never  have  made 
such  havock  against  a  vast  train  of  artillery,  and  the  irre- 
sistible fire  of  our  ships,  which  would  sweep  all  before  them, 
from  every  acre  of  that  peninsula.  But  the  true  story  is 
not  told :  A  Methodist  Secretary,  and  a  Scotch  Printer, 
can  do  more  than  our  people;  they  pay  off  the  sins  of  omis- 
sion and  commission  of  the  day  by  a  long  prayer  at  night, 
and  thus  settle  accounts  between  God  and  the  People  in 
an  hour's  devotion. 

London,  August  8,  1775. 

The  account  of  the  late  action  between  the  Americans 
and  the  Troops  of  General  Gage,  is  one  of  the  most  eva- 
sive and  unsatisfactory  that  ever  yet  obtruded  on  the  pub- 
lick,  even  through  the  channel  of  a  Ministerial  paper;  and 
yet  it  is  every  way  worthy  of  the  victory  which  it  affects 
to  describe.  The  General  sent  out  "  something  above  two 
thousand  men,"  of  whom  something  above  half  (t.  c.  1053) 
are  either  killed  or  wounded.  The  General,  however, 
takes  care  not  to  mention  how  many  hours  were  employed 
in  the  prosecution  of  this  hopeful  business,  but,  neverthe- 
less, pretends  to  tell  us  that  great  numbers  of  the  enemy 
were  destroyed ;  and  seems  to  have  employed  his  soldiers 
in  digging  up  such  as  were  buried  in  holes,  that  he  might 
have  power  to  ascertain  the  value  of  his  conquest. 

With  all  the  vanity  of  a  military  man  he  praises  the 
conduct  of  the  officers  under  his  command  ;  but  prudently 
omits  to  say  whether  any  such  advantage  has  been  gained 


as  may  make  up  for  the  loss  of  one  Lieutenant-Colonel, 
two  Majors,  seven  Captains,  nine  Lieutenants,  fifteen  Ser- 
geants, one  Drummer,  one  hundred  and  ninety-one  rank 
and  file,  killed  ;  and  three  Majors,  twenty-seven  Captains, 
thirty-two  Lieutenants,  eight  Ensigns,  forty  Sergeants, 
twelve  Drummers,  and  seven  hundred  and  six  rank  and  file 
wounded,  and  unfit  for  service.  In  short,  if  every  time  the 
General  sends  out  his  brace  of  thousands,  the  one  half  of 
them  should  either  drop,  or  be  rendered  useless,  we  shall 
soon  see  an  end  to  the  war  in  America,  but  it  cannot  be 
expected  to  terminate  in  our  own  favour. 

The  Ministry  received  this  account  several  days  before 
it  was  announced,  but  were  either  unwilling  or  unable  to 
cook  it  up  for  the  publick  till  after  their  despatches  had  been 
sent  away.  The  printer  may  rely  on  this  assurance  from 
one  whose  private  letters  will  always  reach  him  unexam- 
ined and  uncastrated  by  the  spies  of  Government.  Gene- 
ral Gage  is  but  too  well  convinced  that  such  another  vic- 
tory would  oblige  him  to  re-embark  his  Troops  and  sail 
immediately  for  England,  without  attempting  any  farther 
reduction  of  the  Americans. 

The  Captain  who  brought  these  despatches  from  Boston, 
was  commanded  to  declare  he  had  great  news  of  the  defeat 
of  the  Americans,  though  he  had  assured  many  people  in 
the  Towns  through  which  he  passed  on  his  way  to  London, 
that  he  was  afraid  the  accounts  he  brought  would  throw 
the  whole  Nation  into  disorder,  and  direct  its  vengeance  on 
the  advisers  of  hostile  measures  in  America. 


Grenada,  June  28,  1775. 

On  Monday,  the  26th  instant,  his  Honour  the  Com- 
mander-in-Chief, sent  the  following  Message  to  the  Hon- 
ourable House  of  Assembly: 
Mr.  Speaker  and  Gentlemen  of  the  Assembly  : 

I  think  it  my  duty  to  require,  that  the  Address  and  Min- 
utes of  your  House,  in  favour  of  the  rebellious  subjects  in 
America,  be  rescinded.  This  I  hope  will  be  done  before 
any  other  business  is  entered  upon  by  your  House. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c.        William  Young. 

St.  George's,  June  26,  1775. 

Whereupon  it  was  Resolved  by  the  House,  That  a  Mes- 
sage be  sent  to  his  Honour,  the  Commander-in-Chief, 
acknowledging,  that  an  Address  to  His  Majesty  had  passed 
this  House,  in  consequence  of  an  unanimous  Resolution  for 
that  purpose  ;  that  such  Address  was  ordered  to  be  engross- 
ed and  delivered  to  the  late  Speaker  for  the  purpose  of 
presenting  the  same  to  the  Throne,  and  is  no  longer  consi- 
dered to  be  in  the  power  of  this  House  ;  that  such  Address 
contained  a  renewal  of  the  sentiments  of  this  House,  of 
their  attachment  to  His  Majesty's  Royal  person,  family, 
and  Government,  and  of  their  confidence  under  such  aus- 
pices, in  the  conduct  of  the  Mother  Country,  towards  this 
Colony ;  that  the  Address  also  deplored  the  mischiefs 
already  consequent  on  the  unhappy  contest  subsisting  be- 
tween Great  Britain  and  its  Provinces  on  the  Continent 
of  America,  and  pointed  out  some  of  the  many  evils  of 
which  the  continuance  of  such  disputes  were  likely  to  be 
productive  of  to  these  islands;  and  imploring  His  Majesty, 
the  father  of  all  his  People,  to  exert  that  influence  which 
he  possessed  from  the  attachment  of  his  servants,  and  the 
affection  of  his  subjects,  towards  healing  differences  between 
their  countrymen  and  friends ;  but  contained  no  principles 
or  expressions  tending  to  encourage  or  approve  rebellion, 
or  a  rebellious  disposition,  in  any  part  of  His  Majesty's 
extensive  dominions ;  and  therefore  hoping  that  his  Hon- 
our will  not  consider  such  an  Address  as  any  deviation  from 
that  loyalty  which  they  feel,  are  ready  to  manifest  on  all 
occasions  to  His  Majesty ;  and  that  his  Honour  will  please 
to  allow  the  continuance  of  the  publick  business  of  this 
Colony,  which  requires  the  immediate  attention  of  the 
Legislature. 

After  which  a  Message  was  accordingly  sent  to  his  Hon- 
our. 

The  following  Resolutions  were  proposed,  and  passed 
the  House  unanimously : 

That  this  House  are  no  less  astonished  than  alarmed,  to 
find  that  the  exercise  of  one  of  the  most  acknowledged  and 
indisputable  rights  of  the  subject,  that  of  petitioning  the 
Sovereign  for  the  redress  of  evils,  which  they  either  feel 


1103 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  he,  JUNE,  1775. 


1104 


or  may  foresee  to  be  unavoidable,  should  bave  drawn  upon 
lliem  the  displeasure  of  the  Commander-in-Chief. 

That  they  are  at  a  loss  to  comprehend  upon  what  prin- 
ciples an  Address  to  the  King,  couched  (as  they  conceive) 
in  the  most  respectful  terms,  and  breathing  but  those  real 
sentiments  of  loyalty  with  which  this  House  is  impressed, 
should  be  construed  as  encouraging  a  spirit  of  disaffection, 
or  rebellion,  in  any  part  of  His  Majesty's  dominions. 

That  the  peremptory  requisition  to  rescind  the  Minutes, 
and  a  very  loyal  and  dutiful  Address  to  their  Sovereign, 
before  the  House  proceeded  on  any  other  business,  is  a 
very  extraordinary  and  unheard-of  exertion  of  power,  de- 
structive of  the  right  of  making  the  most  decent  repre- 
sentations of  the  state  of  the  Colony  to  the  Sovereign,  and 
of  every  idea  of  freedom  of  conduct  and  debate,  which 
are  not  only  the  incontrovertible  right  of  the  House  of  Re- 
presentatives, but  essential  to  the  welfare  and  good  Govern- 
ment of  the  Colony. 

That  this  House  cannot  but  in  a  particular  manner  lament 
that  there  should  be  any  interruption  to  their  proceedings, 
at  a  lime  when,  with  the  greatest  appearance  of  harmony 
among  themselves,  and  a  hearty  concurrence  on  the  part 
of  the  other  branches  of  the  Legislature,  they  were  actually 
preparing  so  many  useful  laws  and  regulations,  which  were 
become  materially  requisite  for  the  re-establishment  of  pub- 
lick  credit,  and  for  the  preservation  of  the  Colony  from  the 
numerous  calamities  with  which  it  has  been  long  afflicted, 
and  which,  without  an  immediate  remedy,  must  speedily 
tend  to  its  total  ruin  ;  but  this  House  can  never  resolve  to 
attain  even  these  desirable  ends  (were  the  means  of  doing 
so  still  in  their  power)  by  the  sacrifice  of  so  essential  and 
inherent  a  right  as  that  of  petitioning  their  Sovereign  for 
the  redress  of  grievances,  or  prevention  of  evils,  either  felt 
or  foreseen. 

The  same  day  his  Honour  dissolved  the  Assembly. 

PROCLAMATION. 

George  the  Third,  by  the  grace  of  God  o/"Great  Bri- 
tain, France,  and  Ireland,  King,  Defender  of  the 
Faith  : 

Whereas,  it  is  expedient  and  necessary  that  the  present 
House  of  Assembly,  called  for  our  said  Island  of  Grenada 
and  the  Grenadines,  should  be  dissolved:  We  do  there- 
fore think  fit  to  issue  this  our  Royal  Proclamation,  to  pub- 
lish and  declare  to  our  loving  subjects,  that  the  said  As- 
sembly is  dissolved,  and  be  it,  and  it  is  hereby  dissolved 
accordingly. 

Witness  our  trusty  and  well  beloved  William  Young, 
Esq.,  our  Commander-in-Chief  in  and  over  our  Islands 
of  Grenada,  the  Grenadines,  St.  Vincent  and  Tobago, 
Chancellor,  Ordinary,  and  Vice-Admiral  of  the  same,  at 
Grenada,  this  26th  day  of  June,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord, 
1775,  and  the  fifteenth  of  our  reign. 

William  Young. 

Grenada,  duly  published  this  26th  June,  1775. 

John  Porteus,  Deputy  Provost  Marshal. 
God  save  the  King. 


MEETING  OF  THE  INHABITANTS  OF  SAVANNAH,  GEORGIA. 

At  a  meeting  of  sundry  gentlemen  at  Savannah,  on 
Monday,  June  26,  1775,  it  was  unanimously 

Resolved,  That  the  present  Acts  of  Parliament  tending 
to  raise  a  revenue  in  America,  are  grievances : 

Resolved,  therefore,  That  we  will  do  all  that  we  legally 
may  to  obtain  redress  of  those  grievances. 

Resolved,  That  Friday,  the  30th  instant,  June,  at  nine 
o'clock,  A.  M.,  at  the  house  of  Mrs.  Cuyler,  be  a  day  ap- 
pointed for  a  meeting,  in  order  to  consult  the  most  expe- 
dient method  to  obtain  redress. 


TALBOT  COUNTY  (MARYLAND)  COMMITTEE. 

June  26,  1775. 

The  Committee  of  Observation  for  Talbot  County  desire 
you  to  publish  the  following  piece  of  intelligence: 

On  Monday,  the  26th  of  June,  the  Ship  Johnston,  Cap- 
tain Jones,  from  and  belonging  to  Mr.  James  Gildart  of 


Liverpool,  was  spoke  within  the  Chesapeake  Bay  by  Cap- 
tain Harding,  of  the  Schooner  Endeavour;  when  Captain 
Jones  informed  Captain  Harding  that  he  was  from  Liver- 
pool, and  had  on  board  a  quantity  of  Salt.  Captain  Jones 
being  asked  whether  he  had  any  thing  more  than  Salt  on 
board,  answered,  yes,  he  had  a  few  Dry-Goods.  On  being 
asked  further,  how  Mr.  Gildart  (who  was  well  apprized  of 
the  Association)  would  venture  to  send  such  articles  to 
America,  Captain  Jones  replied,  that  three  Generals  and 
twenty  thousand  soldiers  had  been  ordered  to  America 
some  time  before  the  above  goods  were  shipped,  and  that 
it  was  not  doubted  but  all  would  be  quiet  by  the  time  he 
should  arrive. 

Captain  Jones  inquired  of  Captain  Harding  whether 
he  could  land  his  Goods  and  Salt  in  Georgia ;  but  the  next 
day  came  with  his  Ship  into  the  Eastern  Ray,  landed  some 
Servants  he  had  on  board,  and  soon  after  started  down  the 
Ray. 

The  publick  are  cautioned  to  be  under  the  watch,  and 
look  out  for  the  Ship  Johnston;  as  there  is  reason  to  sus- 
pect she  is  still  hovering  in  some  part  of  the  bay,  and  will 
attempt  to  land  her  Goods  if  she  can  find  a  convenient  op- 
portunity, notwithstanding  the  Captain's  inquiring  whether 
it  were  practicable  to  land  them  in  Georgia. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Observation  for  Talbot 
County,  on  Friday,  the  7th  of  July,  1775 : 

James  Lloyd  Chamberlaine,  in  the  Chair. 

Messrs.  Thomas  Harrison,  William  Hamilton,  Rich- 
ard Skinner,  and  Hugh  Rice,  four  of  the  gentlemen  de- 
puted to  go  on  board  the  Ship  Johnston,  and  examine  her 
papers  and  log-book,  appear  and  report :  That  on  notice 
from  Mr.  James  Rraddock,  agent  and  factor  for  Messrs. 
James  Gildart  and  John  Gawilh  and  Co.,  of  Liverpool, 
merchants,  in  the  night  of  the  27th  of  June  last,  they  did, 
in  the  morning  of  the  28th,  get  on  board  the  said  Ship 
Johnston,  then  lying  in  the  Western  Ray,  waiting  the 
return  of  her  boat  sent  for  the  said  deputation,  and  did 
examine  her  manifest,  cocket  and  log-book,  by  which  they 
found  that  she  had  on  board  Salt,  fourteen  Convicts,  two 
indented  Servants,  and  Dry-Goods,  as  in  the  annexed  sche- 
dule ;*  said  by  Mr.  Rraddock  to  be  shipped  by  Mr.  James 
Gildart,  on  account  of  the  above-mentioned  Gildart  and 
Gawith,  and  did  give  orders  for  her  immediate  return,  per- 
mitting her,  however,  to  lay  at  Hamjiton  Roads,  in  Vir- 
ginia, to  take  in  a  recruit  of  bread  and  water. 

They  further  report,  that  Mr.  Rraddock  applied  to  them 
for  leave  to  land  the  convicts  and  servants ;  to  which  they 
replied,  that  they  could  see  nothing  in  the  proceedings  of 
the  Congress  relative  to  convicts  or  servants,  and  therefore 
could  give  no  directions  with  regard  to  their  being  landed  ; 
but  told  him,  if  he  chose  to  do  it,  it  must  be  at  his  own 
risk;  on  which  Mr.  Rraddock  did  land  the  said  convicts 
and  servants,  when  they  (the  deputation)  came  on  shore, 
alleging  in  his  justification,  that  servants  had  been  a  few 
days  before  landed  at  Annapolis  and  Baltimore  Town, 
and  were  then  advertised  for  sale. 

They  further  say,  that  they  charged  Captain  Jones  of 
the  said  Ship  Johnston,  to  return  immediately  to  the  Port 
of  Liverpool,  without  breaking  bulk,  which  be,  the  said 

*  A  Schedule  of  the  Goods  on  board  the  Ship  Johnston,  Captain  Joxi*, 
taken  June  2tith,  1775. 

No.  1.  Bale,  10  pieces  of  Kendal  cottons. 
No.  2.  Do.  Do. 

No.  3.  Cask  of  nails,  forty  thousand  8^,'  ten  thousand  6d. 

No.  4.  Do.         twenty  thousand  lOd ;  ten  thousand  pump. 

No.  5.  Do.         twenty  thousand  20rf. 

No.  6.  Do.         ten  thousand  3dd. ;  ten  thousand  scupper. 

No.  7.  Cask  of  hats,  4}  dozen. 

No.  8.  Chest  containing  sixteen  pieces  of  check  linen;  half  a  dozen 
bed  hunts,  and  fourteen  dozen  check  handkerchiefs. 
No.  9.  Cask  four  pieces  of  sheeting. 
No.  10.  Bale,  six  pieces  of  oznahrigs. 
No.  11.  Do.    six  Do. 
No.  12.  Do.    six  Do. 

No.  13.  Chest,  quantity  thirty  .two  pieces  of  Irish  linen. 
No.  14.  Do.  of  Haberdashery ;  quantity,  thirty.six  pounds  of  pins, 
three  dozen  ivory  combs,  five  dozon  horn  combs,  four  pounds  of  thread. 
Fifty  crates  of  Virginia  ware. 
Four  crates  of  stone  bottles. 

No.  15.  Slops,  quantity;  jackets,  shirts,  and  trowsors. 
Twelve  thousand  four  hundred  bushels  salt. 
Fourteen  men  and  women  convicts. 

Two  indented  servants.  John  Bracco,  Clerk  pro  lem. 


1105 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1175. 


1106 


Captain,  assured  them  he  would  do;  and  when  they  left 
him,  he  stood  down  the  hay.  The  deputation  also  say, 
that  Mr.  Braddock,  in  their  hearing,  told  the  said  Captain 
he  must  proceed  immediately  on  his  return  as  aforesaid. 
One  of  the  deputation  further  saith  he  overheard  the  Cap- 
tain, in  private  conversation  with  Mr.  Braddock,  remon- 
strate that  he  could  not  land  the  Salt  at  Liverpool ;  to 
which  Mr.  Braddock  replied,  they  might  do  as  they  would 
with  it,  but  that  he  (the  Captain)  must  immediately  carry 
it  back  to  the  place  from  whence  it  came. 

It  is  the  unanimous  opinion  of  this  Committee,  that  the 
said  Messrs.  James  Gildart  and  John  Gaivith,  by  sending 
the  said  Goods  to  be  landed  in  America,  have  been  guilty 
of  a  breach  of  the  first  Resolve  of  the  American  Associa- 
tion, viz :  "  That  if  any  Merchant,  residing  in  Great  Bri- 
tain or  Ireland,  shall,  directly  or  indirectly,  ship  any  Goods, 
Wares,  or  Merchandise,  for  America,  in  order  to  break  the 
Non-Importation  Agreement,  or  in  any  manner  contravene 
the  same,  on  such  unworthy  conduct  being  well  attested,  it 
ought  to  be  made  publick ;  and  on  the  same  being  so  done, 
we  will  not  thenceforth  have  any  commercial  connexion 
with  such  Merchants." 

Resolved,  therefore,  for  ourselves  and  our  constituents, 
That  we  will  from  henceforth  break  off  all  commercial 
connection  with  the  said  Messrs.  James  Gildart  and  John 
Gawith,  and  each  of  them,  their  and  each  of  their  agents, 
factors  and  store-keepers. 

Resolved,  also,  That  agreeable  to  a  determination  of  the 
Provincial  Convention,  in  December  last,  no  Gentleman  of 
the  Law  ought  henceforward  to  bring  or  prosecute  any 
suit  whatever  for  the  said  Messrs.  James  Gildart  and  John 
Gawith,  or  for  either  of  them,  their  or  either  of  their 
agents,  factors,  managers,  or  store-keepers,  as  such. 

The  proceedings  of  the  several  Provincial  Conventions 
were  read,  and  unanimously  approved  of. 

Ordered,  That  the  proceedings  of  this  meeting  be  im- 
mediately made  publick,  and  printed  in  the  Maryland 
Gazette. 

Signed  per  order  :       John  Bracco,  Clerk  pro  tern. 


PHILADELPHIA  COMMITTEE. 

The  Committee  for  the  City  and  Liberties  of  Philadel- 
phia will  meet  this  afternoon,  at  six  o'clock,  at  the  Philo- 
sophical Society's  Hall. 

In  Committee,  June  26,  1775. 

A  quantity  of  Salt,  and  a  box  of  Wine-Glasses,  having 
been  imported  in  the  Ship  Albion,  Thomas  Crippen,  mas- 
ter, from  Liverpool,  it  was 

Resolved,  That  the  said  Ship  and  Cargo  ought  to  be 
returned  forthwith  ;  and  that  the  Captain  have  notice  there- 
of immediately. 

Ordered,  That  the  District  Committee  see  the  above 
Resolution  complied  with. 

On  motion,  Resolved,  That  Mr.  Joseph  Whittall,  one 
of  the  owners  of  the  Ship  Albion,  does  not  appear  to  have 
had  any  knowledge  of,  or  concern  in  shipping  the  Salt,  iic, 
in  said  vessel. 

Resolved,  That  Mr.  Henry  Cour,  merchant,  of  Liver- 
pool, in  Great  Britain,  half  owner  of  the  Ship  Albion, 
has  knowingly  violated  the  Association  of  the  American 
Congress,  by  shipping  the  said  Salt  to  America;  and 
that  it  is  the  duty  of  this  Committee  to  advertise  him 
accordingly. 

Resolved,  That  Nicholas  Ashton,  Esq.,  of,  or  near  Li- 
verpool, in  the  County  of  Lancaster,  in  Great  Britain. 
owner  of  the  above-mentioned  Salt,  has  wilfully  violated 
the  Association  of  the  American  Congress,  by  shipping  the 
said  Salt  to  America ;  and  that  it  is  the  duty  of  this  Com- 
mittee to  advertise  his  conduct  herein. 

Resolved  luianimously,  That  agreeable  to  the  Resolu- 
tions of  the  Grand  American  Congress,  it  is  the  duty  of 
us,  and  of  all  our  constituents,  the  inhabitants  of  the  City 
and  Liberties  of  Philadelphia,  from  henceforth  not  to  have 
any  commercial  intercourse  whatever  with  the  said  Henry 
Cour  and  JSicholas  Ashton;  and  it  is  recommended  that 
an  inviolable  regard  be  paid  to  this  Resolution. 

Extrart  from  the  Minutes  of  the  Committee  of  the  City 
and  Liberties  of  Philadelphia  : 

Jonathan  B.  Smith,  Secretary. 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii. 


J.  LAMB  AND  G.  ROORBACK  TO  NEW-YORK  C0NGRE9S. 

New-York,  June  26,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  Pursuant  to  your  order  we  immediately 
waited  on  Mr.  Evert  Bancker,  the  Barrack-master,  to  re- 
quest his  delivering  us  the  keys  of  the  Barracks,  when  he 
informed  us  that  he  had,  in  compliance  with  your  order  of 
Thursday  last,  employed  a  proper  person  to  get  the  Bar- 
racks cleansed  with  the  utmost  expedition.  But  upon  in- 
specting into  the  matter  this  morning,  we  find  there  are 
only  four  persons  employed  for  that  purpose  ;  and  as  there 
are  sixty  rooms,  all  of  which  are  extremely  dirty,  we  are 
of  opinion  that  it  will  take  them  ten  or  twelve  days  at  least 
to  get  them  effectually  and  properly  cleansed.  Besides, 
there  is  a  good  deal  of  mason's  and  carpenter's  work  neces- 
sary to  be  done,  as  they  are  much  out  of  repair. 

We  are,  with  the  greatest  respect,  gentlemen,  your  most 
humble  servants,  John  Lamb, 

Garret  Roorback. 
To  the  Provincial  Congress  for  the  Colony  of  New-York. 


JOSEPH  FRENCH  TO  ROBERT  BENSON. 

Jamaica,  Queen's  County,  June  26,  1775. 

Sir:  Yours  of  the  twenty-second  instant  came  safe  to 
hand  ;  in  answer  to  which,  I  must  acquaint  you  that  I  have 
made  it  a  rule  in  life,  never  to  accept  any  office  or  place 
of  trust,  unless  I  could  acquit  myself  with  honour. 

Some  time  ago  we  had  an  election  at  Jamaica  to  send 
members  to  Congress,  and  it  was  carried  in  the  negative. 
These  same  men  have  acquainted  me  if  I  attend  in  Con- 
gress, I  don't  represent  them,  but  the  minority.  As  for  my 
part  I  have  signed  the  Association  in  New-York,  and  expect 
to  abide  by  the  consequence. 

I  am,  Sir,  with  great  esteem,  your  very  humble  servant, 

Joseph  French. 
To  Robert  Benson,  Secretary  to  the  Provincial  Congress. 

New-  York. 


ROBERT  R.  LIVINGSTON  TO  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

Claremont,  June  26,  1775. 

Sir:  I  beg  leave,  by  your  means,  to  inform  the  gentle- 
men of  the  Provincial  Congress,  that  yesterday  I  received 
their  favour  of  the  twenty-second  instant,  and  that  my 
powder-maker,  who  has  brought  with  him  from  Philadel- 
phia one  hundred  and  eighty  pounds  of  saltpetre,  will  begin 
to  work  it  up  on  Thursday.  The  mill  consists  of  four  mor- 
tars and  twelve  pounders,  and  is  well  supplied  with  water. 

I  shall  punctually  comply  with  the  Resolutions  of  the 
Continental  Congress  transmitted  to  me,  and  will  commu- 
nicate them  to  my  powder-maker,  who  has  half  the  profits 
of  this  business. 

I  remain,  with  the  greatest  respect  to  the  gentlemen  of 
the  Provincial  Congress,  their  most  humble  servant, 

Robert  R.  Livingston. 
To  Peter  V.  B.  Livingston,  Esq.,  President  of  the  Pro- 
vincial Congress. 

GOVERNOTJR  TRUMBULL  TO  JOHN  HANCOCK. 
[Read  before  Congress,  July  5,  1775,] 

Lebanon,  June  26,  1775. 

Sir:  I  received  your  letter  of  the  twentieth  instant, 
enclosing  the  resolve  of  Congress  of  the  nineteenth  ;  the 
Governour,  and  Committee  to  assist  him  in  the  absence  of 
the  Assembly,  came  into  a  similar  resolution  the  same  day  ; 
orders  were  given,  and  your  request  answered.  The  re- 
mainder of  Colonel  Parsons's  Regiment  are  arrived  in  the 
camp  near  Boston,  and  apprehend  Major-General  Wooster. 
with  seventeen  hundred  men,  are  at  the  place  of  their  des- 
tination, near  ?seiv-  York.  The  harmony  of  our  councils 
affords  matter  of  rejoicing.  May  the  Supreme  Director  of 
all  events  give  wisdom,  stability  and  union  in  our  counsels, 
and  success,  and  convince  them  who  seek  to  deprive  us  of 
our  happy  privileges  and  just  rights,  that  all  their  attempts 
are  injurious  and  vain. 

I  am,  with  great  truth  and  sincerity,  Sir,  your  and  the 
Honourable  Congress's  most  obedient  and  most  humble 
servant,  Jonathan  Trumbull. 

The  Honourable  John  Hancock,  Esq. 
0 


U07  CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775.  H08 


GENERAL  GAGE  TO  THE  EARL  OF  DIJNMORE. 

Boston,  June  26,  1775. 

This  Town  was  alarmed  on  the  seventeenth  instant,  at 
break  of  day,  by  a  firing  from  the  Lively,  ship-of-war,  and 
a  report  immediately  spread  that  the  rebels  had  broke 
ground,  and  were  raising  a  battery  on  the  heights  of  the 
peninsula  of  Charlestown,  against  the  Town  of  Boston. 

They  were  plainly  seen,  and  in  a  few  hours  a  battery  of 
six  guns  played  upon  their  works.  Preparations  were  in- 
stantly made  for  landing  a  body  of  men,  and  some  compa- 
nies of  Grenadiers  and  Light-Infantry,  with  some  battalions 
and  field  artillery,  amounting  in  the  whole  to  two  thousand 
men,  under  the  command  of  Major-General  Hoive  and 
Brigadier-General  Pigot,  were  embarked  with  great  expe- 
dition, and  landed  on  the  peninsula  without  opposition, 
under  cover  of  some  ships-of-war  and  armed  vessels. 

The  Troops  formed  as  soon  as  landed.  The  rebels  upon 
the  heights  were  perceived  to  be  in  great  force,  and  strongly 
posted.  A  redoubt,  thrown  up  on  the  sixteenth,  at  night, 
with  other  works,  full  of  men,  defended  with  cannon,  and 
a  large  body  posted  in  the  houses  of  Cliarhstown,  covered 
their  right,  and  their  left  was  covered  by  a  breastwork, 
part  of  it  cannon-proof,  which  reached  from  the  left  of  the 
redoubt  to  the  Mistick  River. 

Besides  the  appearance  of  the  rebels'  strength,  large 
columns  were  seen  pouring  in  to  their  assistance ;  but  the 
King's  Troops  advanced.  The  attack  began  by  a  cannon- 
ade, and  notwithstanding  various  impediments  of  fences, 
walls,  &.c,  and  the  heavy  fire  they  were  exposed  to  from 
the  vast  numbers  of  rebels,  and  their  left  galled  from  the 
houses  of  Charlestown,  the  Troops  made  their  way  to  the 
redoubt,  mounted  the  works,  and  carried  it. 

The  rebels  were  then  forced  from  other  strong  holds,  and 
pursued  until  they  were  entirely  driven  off  the  peninsula, 
leaving  five  pieces  of  cannon  behind  them.  Charlestown 
was  set  on  fire  during  the  engagement,  and  most  part  of  it 
consumed.  The  loss  they  sustained  must  have  been  con- 
siderable, from  the  vast  numbers  they  were  seen  to  carry 
oft*  during  the  action,  exclusive  of  what  they  suffered  from 
the  shipping.  About  one  hundred  were  buried  the  day 
after,  and  thirty  found  on  the  field,  some  of  whom  are  since 
dead.  About  one  hundred  and  ninety  of  the  King's  Troops 
were  killed,  and  a  great  many  wounded. 

This  action  has  shown  the  bravery  of  the  King's  Troops, 
who,  under  every  disadvantage,  gained  a  complete  viclory 
over  three  times  their  number,  strongly  posted  and  covered 
by  breastworks.  But  they  fought  for  their  King,  their  laws, 
and  constitution. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  A  BRITISH   OFFICER  IN  BOS- 
TON, DATED  JUNE  26,  1775. 

Four  days  ago  I  received  an  order  to  command  three 
armed  vessels,  and  to  put  myself  under  the  command  of 
General  Gage;  as  soon  as  I  did  I  was  ordered  to  be  ready 
at  six  o'clock  next  morning,  to  cover  a  part  of  some  Troops 
which  were  to  make  an  attack  on  a  height  on  the  left  side 
of  Boston,  and  to  flank  a  breastwork  and  a  wood,  which 
was  supposed  had  a  number  of  men  in  it;  but  about  seven 
o'clock  General  Clinton  sent  to  me  not  to  proceed  till  farther 
orders  from  him.  Some  little  time  after  I  was  ordered  up 
to  General  Howe's  camp  to  lie  with  the  vessels  on  his  right, 
where  I  last  night  left  them,  having  been  relieved,  as  1  had 
not  been  in  bed  for  four  nights.  1  find,  since  I  came  down, 
the  reason  of  the  attack  not  going  on  was,  that  the  rebels 
knew  of  our  coming,  and  had  seven  or  eight  thousand  men 
ready  to  receive  us.  I  own  1  could  have  wished  it  had 
went  on,  as  I  had  placed  the  vessels  in  such  a  situation  as 
must  have  mowed  them  down,  and  done  great  execution. 

I  am,  Sic, 

GENERAL  WARD  TO  THE  MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRES3. 

Huad-Quartcrs,  Cambridge,  June  26,  1775. 
Sir:  I  have  this  day  received  by  express  a  letter  from 
the  Honourable  John  Hancock,  Esq.,  President  of  the  Con- 
tinental Congress,  from  which  I  have  made  the  following 
extract,  viz : 

Philadelphia,  June  20,  1775. 
Sir:  The  enclosed  Resolve,  which  passed  yesterday,  I 
have,  by  order  of  Congress,  forwarded  to  New- Hampshire, 


Rhode-Island,  and  Connecticut,  and  now  send  to  you  for 
your  government. 

I  am  directed  by  the  Congress  to  inform  you  of  their  de- 
sire that  none  of  the  Troops  now  before  Boston,  however 
large  their  number,  be  disbanded,  but  retained  by  you  in 
the  service  until  the  further  order  of  this  Congress,  or  orders 
from  General  Washington. 

Resolved,  That  the  Govemour  of  Connecticut  be  request- 
ed to  direct  all  the  forces  raised  in  that  Colony,  not  em- 
ployed at  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point,  or  recommended 
by  this  Congress  to  be  marched  into  the  Province  of  New- 
York,  to  be  immediately  sent  to  join  the  combined  Army 
before  Boston ;  and  it  is  earnestly  recommended  to  the  Col- 
ony of  Rhode-Island,  and  Provincial  Convention  of  New- 
Hampshire,  to  send  immediately  to  the  Army  before  Boston 
such  of  the  forces  as  are  already  embodied,  towards  their 
quotas  of  the  Troops  agreed  to  be  raised  by  the  New-Eng- 
land Colonies. 

A  true  copy  from  the  minutes : 

Charles  Thomson,  Secretary. 

As  there  are  many  that  are,  and  others  that  ought  to  be 
engaged  in  the  service,  absent  from  the  camp,  1  should  be 
very  glad  if  Congress  would  take  such  steps  as  they  in  their 
wisdom  may  judge  best,  to  influence  or  oblige  the  Towns 
to  send  back  to  camp  such  as  have  left  it  without  leave,  that 
have  received  the  Colony's  money,  and  such  as  have  not 
engaged,  but  ought  to  be.  Nearly  a  whole  company  from 
Bradford,  not  being  mustered  and  sworn,  have  left  us  with- 
out leave.    I  am,  Sir,  your  most  humble  servant, 

Artemas  Ward. 
To  the  Honourable  James  Warren,  Esquire,  President  of 

the  Provincial  Congress  sitting  at  Walertown. 


COMMITTEE  OF  NORTHFIELD   TO  MASSACHUSETTS  COMMIT- 
TEE OF  SAFETY. 

Northfield,  June  26,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  We  think  proper  to  acquaint  you  that 
there  are  two  small  cannon  belonging  to  the  Massachusetts- 
Bay  left  at  Fort  Bummer  when  that  garrison  wns  dis- 
mantled, and  one  at  Fort  Hinsdale,  above  Northfield,  each 
four  pounders.  If  it  should  be  judged  that  there  might  be 
no  occasion  for  them  on  the  Western  frontiers,  they  might 
soon  be  conveyed  to  our  Army  if  they  should  be  wanted 
there.  If  it  should  be  proper  to  remove  them  from  the 
places  where  they  now  lie,  we  shall  be  ready  at  the  first 
notice  to  assist  in  conveying  them  to  such  place  as  shall 
be  appointed  and  directed  to. 

By  order  of  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  at  North- 
field:  Samuel  Smith,  Chairman. 

To  the  Committee  of  Safety  in  Cambridge. 

P.  S.  There  is  one  double  fortified  cannon,  a  four-pounder, 
at  Fort  Dummer,  belonging  to  New- Hampshire. 


PLYMOUTH  COMMITTEE  TO  MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS. 

To  the  Honourable  Provincial  Congress  now  silting  at 
Watertown,  the  Petition  o  f  the  Committee  of  Corres- 
pondence for  the  Town  of  Plymouth  humbly  sheweth: 
That  your  petitioners  have  this  day  received  intelligence 
that  a  vote  passed  your  House  the  —  instant,  determining 
to  remove  to  Head-Quarters  that  part  of  Colonel  Cotton's 
Regiment  which  has  been,  by  order  of  your  most  respect- 
able body,  stationed  in  this  place,  for  the  security  and  pro- 
tection of  the  lives  and  property  of  this  greatly  exposed 
and  much  threatened  Town.  We,  your  petitioners,  have 
lately  received  undoubted  intelligence  by  one  of  our  towns- 
men, who  has  been  taken  by  a  tender  and  carried  into 
Boston,  that  Admiral  Graves  made  particular  inquiry  into 
the  circumstances  of  this  Town,  and  said  that  we  were  a 
rebellious  people,  and  that  in  consequence  of  our  building 
a  fort  in  opposition  to  the  King's  Troops,  it  should  not  be 
long  before  he  would  blow  the  Town  about  our  ears.  Your 
petitioners  are  very  sensible  that  should  the  Troops  be  called 
away  from  this  station,  the  Town  of  Plymouth,  as  well  as 
the  adjacent  villages,  will  lie  open  to  the  ravages  of  our 
enemies,  and  that  it  will  be  no  difficult  matter  for  them  to 
plunder  and  destroy  us.  The  poor  of  this  Town  are  al- 
ready much  distressed  by  reason  of  the  stop  put  to  the 


1  109 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


1110 


fishery,  and  can  scarcely  subsist  upon  what  they  get  out  of 
the  clam  banks  and  by  fishing  in  boats  ;  and  should  they  be 
driven  from  their  huts  into  the  barren  country  that  surrounds 
us,  they  must  (for  aught  we  see)  perish  with  hunger  and 
for  want  of  habitations,  there  not  being  houses  within  twenty 
miles  sufficient  to  receive  them.  These  poor  people  con- 
sist principally  of  women  and  children,  their  husbands  and 
parents  having  enlisted  themselves  into  the  service  of  the 
Colony.  Your  petitioners  are  very  far  from  desiring  to 
create  any  unnecessary  expense  to  the  Colony,  but,  at  the 
same  time,  think  it  necessary  that  said  Troops  remain  with 
us;  and  are  of  opinion  that,  should  they  be  withdrawn,  the 
Town  will  be  immediately  evacuated  ;  and,  for  the  above 
reasons,  your  petitioners,  as  in  duty  bound,  &tc. 

For  and  by  order  of  the  Committee  of  Correspondence 
for  the  Town  of  Plymouth  : 

Andrew  Croswell,  Clerk. 
Gamaliel  Bradford,  Jr. 
John  Gray. 

P.  S.  The  Committee  of  Correspondence  for  the  Town 
of  Duxbury  and  Kingston,  which  lie  on  Plymouth  Bay,  join 
in  the  general  prayer  of  the  above  petition. 


NEW-HAMPSHIRE   COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY  TO  GEN.  FOLSOM. 

Exeter,  June  26,  1775,  Eleven  o'clock,  P.  M. 
Tfie  Committee  of  Safety  of  the  Colony  of  New-Hamp- 
shire, to  General  Folsom,  greeting  : 

Sir  :  Previous  to  the  receipt  of  yours  of  the  twenty- 
second  instant,  we  sent  you  flints,  bullets,  &tc,  per  Mr. 
Gordon,  which  the  Company  has  received.  We  now  send 
what  intrenching  tools  we  have  prepared,  also  a  quantity  of 
blanketing.  As  to  what  you  wiite  in  yours  of  the  twenty- 
eighth  instant,  concerning  Colonel  Stark,  the  Congress  will 
meet  to-morrow  and  shall  lay  it  before  them;  shall  imme- 
diately provide  and  send  a  Surgeon  for  Read's  Regiment ; 
are  preparing  carriages  for  the  cannon  you  request  in  yours 
of  the  twenty-fourth  instant,  and,  as  soon  as  completed,  shall 
forward  them  without  delay.  The  Muster-master  will  short- 
ly be  at  Medford  to  pay  off  the  forces ;  by  him  will  send 
your  commission  ;  have  sent  ninety-two  tents,  and  shall, 
within  a  week,  forward  sixty  more. 

We  earnestly  wish  you  the  favour  and  protection  of  Hea- 
ven, and  are  yours,  &c. 

By  order  of  the  Committee: 

M.  Thornton,  Chairman. 


COMMITTEE  OF  MASON  TO  NEW-HAMPSHIRE  CONGRESS. 

To  the  Honourable  Gentlemen  of  the  Provincial  Congress 
of  New-Hampshire  : 
That  whereas,  Jason  Russell  and  John  Tarbell,  both  of 
Mason,  in  said  Province,  did,  in  a  felonious  manner,  on  or 
about  the  20th  of  May  last,  retire  to  a  pasture  in  said 
Town  belonging  to  Samuel  Dana,  of  Groton,  and  took 
from  thence  a  three  year  heifer,  and  killed  and  converted 
it  to  their  own  use  ;  whereupon,  early  notice  being  given 
to  the  Committee  for  said  Town,  they  met,  and  required  of 
the  offenders  full  satisfaction  therefor,  but  each  of  them 
peremptorily  refusing  to  comply  therewith  :  The  advice  of 
Committees  from  the  neighbouring  Towns  being  called  in, 
viz :  New-Ipswich  and  Temple,  and  the  criminals  being 
cited  to  appear  before  said  Committees,  not  only  neglected 
to  make  their  appearance  before  us,  but,  as  we  learn,  have 
fled  to  the  Army;  and  finding  ourselves  unable  to  settle 
the  unhappy  difficulty  by  reason  of  their  escape,  came 
into  the  following  Resolution,  viz: 

Resolved,  To  refer  the  matter  to  your  judicious  consider- 
ation, begging  that  you  will,  in  your  wisdom,  take  cogni- 
zance of  the  offence,  and  deal  with  them  in  this  and  in 
such  like  case  for  the  future. 

Ephraim  Adams,  Chairman. 

David  Blodgett,  Scribe. 

Mason,  June  26,  1775. 


SIR  JAMES  WRIGHT  TO  GOVERN  OUR  GAGE. 

Savannah,  in  Georgia,  June  27,  1775. 
Sir:  I  had  the  honour  to  write  to  your  Excellency,  of 
the  7th  instant,  enclosed  to  Lieutenant-Governour  Colden, 


which  I  hope  you  have  received  ;  and  last  nighl  I  received 
a  letter  from  Lord  William  Campbell,  acquainting  me  that 
he  is  going  to  send  the  Scorpion  with  letters  to  your  Ex- 
cellency, and  which  opportunity  I  now  embrace  ;  and  hope 
some  method  may  be  fallen  upon,  that  we  may  receive 
frequent  information  of  the  state  of  things  your  way,  as  it 
has  the  greatest  effect  and  influence  on  the  conduct  of  the 
people  in  these  Provinces,  and  may  contribute  much  to  his 
Majesty's  service. 

The  unhappy  affair  of  the  19th  of  April,  and  some  late 
occurrences  in  the  neighbouring  Province,  have  at  length 
drawn  and  forced  the  people  of  this  Province  into  the  same 
predicament  with  others ;  and  I  now  expect  that,  as  far 
as  they  possibly  can,  they  will  follow  the  example  of  them  ; 
and  1  see  no  probability  of  any  tolerable  quietude,  unless 
the  prudence  and  moderation  of  the  Continental  Congress 
should  lay  a  foundation  for  it. 

Your  Excellency's  order  to  Major  Furlong,  I  have  not 
yet  forwarded  ;  indeed,  1  have  neither  vessels  nor  money 
to  pay  the  expense  of  sending  for  them;  and  as  things  are 
circumstanced  at  present,  it  is  the  opinion  of  the  gentlemen 
of  the  Council,  that  such  a  number  might  only  inflame  the 
whole  Province,  and  be  liable  to  insults,  if  not  worse ;  for 
we  have  no  fort  of  defence  for  them  to  be  in,  or  retire  to ; 
and  they  could  neither  awe  or  prevent  any  attempts  against 
them.  This  number,  a  year  ago,  might  have  been  of  great 
use  ;  or,  if  things  take  a  favourable  turn,  may,  but  not  just 
nowr ;  and  it  is  our  opinion,  that  not  less  than  five  times 
that  number  could  answer  any  effectual  purpose ;  and 
therefore,  I  do  not  mean  to  forward  it  yet.  But  if  your 
Excellency  could,  for  this  length,  and  authorize  me  to 
draw  for  the  expense  of  putting  up  a  temporary  fort,  I 
think  matters  would  soon  wear  a  different  aspect  here  ;  but 
without,  neither  law  or  government  can  be  supported.  And 
I  have  neither  men  or  money.  And  the  Governours  had 
much  better  be  in  England  than  remain  in  America,  and 
have  the  mortification  to  see  their  powers  executed  by 
Committees  and  mobs.  And  I  am  really  amazed  that 
these  Southern  Provinces  should  be  left  in  the  situation 
they  are,  and  the  Governours  and  King's  Officers,  and 
friends  to  Government,  naked  and  exposed  to  the  resent- 
ment of  an  enraged  people. 

Stuart  has  been  obliged  to  take  sanctuary  in  St.  Augus- 
tine. 

1  shall  hope  for  a  full  and  clear  answer  from  your  Ex- 
cellency, that  I  may  know  better  how  to  conduct  myself; 
and  have  the  honour  to  be,  with  respect  and  esteem,  your 
Excellency's  most  obedient  and  most  humble  servant, 

James  Wright.* 

To  his  Excellency  General  Gage. 

*  The  above  letter  was  withdrawn  from  the  envelope,  and  the  follow, 
ing  was  substituted  in  its  place,  and  forwarded  by  the  Secret  Commit- 
tee at  Charlestown,  South-Carolina  : 

Savannah,  in  Georgia,  June  27,  1775. — Sir  :  The  unhappy  affair  of 
the  19th  of  April,  and  some  late  occurrences  in  Carolina,  have  occa- 
sioned this  Province  to  put  on  an  appearance,  which  I  have  the  plea- 
sure to  assure  your  Excellency  is  by  no  means  real ;  and  I  am  happy 
that  I  can,  with  equal  confidence,  assure  you  that  there  is  nothing 
really  formidable  in  the  proceedings  or  designs  of  our  neighbours  of 
South-Carolina,  notwithstanding  the  lato  address  of  their  Congress  to 
Lord  William  Campbell,  who  being  but  just  arrived,  and,  as  your  Excel- 
lency knows,  but  inexperienced  in  affairs  of  Government,  may  think 
them  very  serious,  and  express  his  apprehensions  to  you  on  the  subject. 
However  unwilling  I  write  this,  yet  the  good  of  His  Majesty's  service 
compels  me  to  make  this  intimation  to  your  Exoellency,  lest  you  should 
otherwise  be  disposed  to  believe  that  affairs  are  in  extremity  in  these 
Colonies,  and  act  accordingly. 

My  private  intercourse  is  so  extensive  in  these  Colonies,  and  I  am 
so  well  informed  of  the  private  sentiments  of  their  leading  men,  that 
I  assure  you  no  danger  is  to  be  apprehended  from  their  designs;  and 
their  measures,  I  am  convinced,  will  quickly  ohange,  provided  they  are 
left  to  do  it  in  their  own  way.  And  upon  the  best  information,  joined 
to  certain  knowledge  of  men  and  matters  in  Carolina  and  Georgia,  I 
am  fully  assured,  that  if  any  ships  or  troops  were  to  be  sent  into  these 
parts,  they  would  not  only  totally  destroy  the  present  favourable  ap- 
pearances, but  in  all  probability  would  prove  destructive  to  the  good  of 
the  service.  Upon  these  ideas  I  have  regulated  my  conduct;  and  I 
have  not,  as  yet,  even  dreamed  of  applying  to  Major  Furlong;  and  I 
firmly  believe  that  I  shall  have  no  occasion  to  do  it. 

1  sincerely  wish  your  Excellency  success  in  your  undertakings ;  and 
I  have  the  honour  to  be,  with  perfect  esteem,  your  Excellency's  most 
obedient  and  most  humble  servant,  James  Wright. 

To  his  Excellency  General  Oage. 

A  facsimile  signature  of  James  Wright  was  affixed  to  this  letter 
by  the  Secret  Committee ;  and  an  impression  of  his  seal  having  been 
taken  in  clay,  the  new  envelope  carried  the  resemblance  of  Sir  James 
Wright's  seal. — Drayton. 


1111 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


1112 


SIR  JAMES  WRIGHT  TO  ADMIRAL  GRAVES. 

Savannah,  in  Georgia,  June  27,  177"). 

Sir  :  Some  time  ago  I  had  the  honour  to  receive  a  letter 
from  the  Earl  of  Dartmouth,  dated  the  1st  of  February 
last,  wherein  he  wrote  me  that  an  order  was  gone  from  the 
Admiralty  to  you,  Sir,  to  send  me  one  of  your  cruisers, 
hut  none  is  yet  arrived,  nor  have  I  heard  any  thing  of  it 
since.  And  I  am  now  to  acquaint  you,  that  four  or  five 
boats,  from  the  South-Carolina  side  of  our  inlet,  have  been 
here  for  ten  or  twelve  days  past,  full  of  armed  men — it  is 
said  near  one  hundred.  We  expect  a  vessel  from  London 
every  day,  with  a  considerable  quantity  of  gunpowder  on 
board  ;  and  report  says  that  these  people  mean  to  take  it 
out  and  carry  it  away ;  and  it  is  not  in  my  power  to  pre- 
vent it.  And  thus  you  see,  Sir,  that  our  port  may,  and  in 
short  is,  blocked  up  by  our  neighbours,  and  that  they  have 
it  in  their  power  to  plunder  any  thing  that  arrives  here, 
and  do  just  what  they  please.  I  hope,  therefore,  that  you 
will  be  kind  enough  to  give  such  immediate  assistance  as 
may  be  in  your  power,  to  prevent  such  insults  and  attempts 
as  I  have  mentioned. 

Pardon  me,  Sir,  for  saying  that  an  armed  schooner  will 
be  of  little  use ;  or  any  thing  less  than  a  sloop-of-war  of 
some  force,  and  which,  from  Lord  Dartmouth's  letter,  I 
have  been  long  expecting,  and  impatiently  looking  out  for. 

I  doubt  not  but  the  situation  we  are  in  will  strike  you 
in  such  a  light,  that  you  will  see  the  propriety  of  immediate 
assistance. 

Another  matter  seems  to  be  also  necessary  for  His  Ma- 
jesty's service,  viz:  frequent  accounts  from  yourself  and 
General  Gage,  with  respect  to  the  state  of  affairs  your 
way,  as  I  find  it  has  the  greatest  influence  on  the  conduct 
and  proceedings  of  the  people  here ;  and  I  have  no  way 
by  which  this  can  be  done,  unless  you  are  pleased  to  send 
it  by  some  of  his  Majesty's  vessels  under  your  command. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  with  perfect  esteem,  Sir,  your 
most  obedient  and  most  humble  servant, 

James  Wright.* 

Admiral  Graves. 


EXTRACT    OF   A  LETTER  FROM   CH ARLESTOWN,  SOUTH- 
CAROLINA,   DATED   JUNE   27,  1775. 

We  enclose  you  extracts  of  letters  from  Georgia  and 
Augusta,  by  which  you  may  judge  of  our  present  state 
relative  to  Indian  affairs.  It  seems  that  General  Gage  has 
corresponded  with  the  Superintendent  here  on  that  subject, 
and  he  with  his  Deputy  in  the  Cherokee  Nation.  Mr. 
Stuart,  finding  the  matter  suspected,  left  Charlestown,  and 
went  to  Georgia  about  the  time  of  the  sitting  of  the  Con- 
gress. Matters  taking  a  turn  in  Georgia,  lie  found  himself 
obliged  to  produce  his  letters,  since  which  he  has  escaped 
to  Florida,  and  thereby  confirmed  the  suspicion  of  an  in- 

*  The  above  letter  was  withdrawn  from  the  envelope,  and  the  fol- 
lowing was  substituted  in  its  place  by  the  Secret  Committee  in  Charles- 
town,  and  forwarded : 

Savannah,  in  Georgia,  June  27,  1775. — Sir:  Some  time  ago  I  had 
the  honour  to  roceive  a  letter  from  the  Earl  of  Dartmouth,  dated  the 
1st  February  last,  wherein  ho  wrote  to  me  that  an  order  was  gone  from 
the  Admiralty  to  you,  Sir,  to  send  me  one  of  your  cruisers.  It  gives 
me  the  highest  pleasure  to  acquaint  you  that  I  now  havo  not  any 
occasion  for  any  vessel  of  war ;  and  I  am  clearly  of  opinion  that  His 
Majesty's  service  will  be  better  promoted  by  the  absence  than  the  pre- 
sence of  vessels  of  war  in  this  port.  On  this  subject  of  military  forces 
being  at  present  sent  to  this  part  of  the  Continent,  I  have  written  fully 
to  the  General,  and  I  beg  leave  to  refer  you,  Sir,  to  that  lettor,  which 
is  of  oqual  date  with  this. 

As  I  am  persuaded  it  will  \>n  for  the  benefit  of  the  service,  that  the 
Southern  Governours  should  have  early  information  of  important  trans- 
actions in  your  part  of  the  Continent,  I  doubt  not  but  that  if  you,  Sir, 
shall  be  of  the  same  opinion,  you  will  send  such  by  some  advice  boat. 
And  if  such  vessel  proceeds  to  Churlestou>n,  my  packet  may  there  be 
sent  on  shoro,  and  it  will  reach  me  by  a  secure  land  conveyance  by  ex- 
press from  the  Post-Cffjce. 

Perhaps  Captain  Tollemache  may  givo  you,  Sir,  some  little  alarm 
about  two  or  threo  canoes  from  South-Carolina,  in  this  rivor,  waiting, 
as  report  says,  to  take  some  gunpowder  from  on  board  a  vessel  daily 
expected  to  arrivo  here.  But  I  acquaint  you,  Sir,  that  they  are  sent  upon 
a  smuggling  party  of  goods  into  their  own  Colony,  by  private  direc- 
tions of  their  Committee.  They  moan  to  procure  some  gunpowder, 
and  I  shall  not  bn  displeased  if,  undor  the  uppoaranco  of  some  vio- 
lence, thoy  purchaBo  such  an  article,  as  it  is  intended  to  make  good 
the  contract  mado  by  Mr.  Stuart  and  myself  with  the  Indiana,  both 
Creeks  and  Cherolcees,  tho  latter  of  whom  will  be  moro  convenient  for 
the  Carolinians  than  the  p^opla  of  Georgia  to  supply.  I  havo  the 
honour  to  bo,  with  perfect  esteem,  Sir,  your  most  humble  and  most 
obedient  servant,  James  Wright. 

Admiral  Graves. 

A  facsimile  signature  of  James  Wright  was  affixed  to  this  lettor 
by  tau  Secrot  Committee. — Drat/ton. 


tended  Indian  war.  The  other  extract  shows  you  the 
present  state  of  the  Indian  Nation. 

Extract  of  a  Letter  from  John  Wilson,  of  Augusta,  to 
Messrs.  Campbell  and  Son,  dated  June  15,  1775. 

All  the  Cherokee  traders  have  come  down  but  two,  and 
have  the  pleasure  to  inform  you  that  they  have  overpaid 
their  full  cargoes.  There  is  at  present  but  very  indifferent 
talk  in  that  Nation.  They  have  lately  killed  two  Vir- 
ginians that  had  gone  up  there  express,  which  I  am  afraid 
will  be  the  cause  of  war.  Should  (hat  be  the  case,  I  shall 
be  badly  off,  having  little  powder  in  the  fort.  I  am  in- 
formed that  one  of  our  traders  was  stopped  by  the  Indians, 
in  order  to  bring  a  talk  down. 

Extract  of  a  Letter  from  Joh?i  Stuart  to  Mr.  Cameron. 

I  have  received  information  from  General  Gage,  that 
certain  persons  at  the  Northward  have  been  tampering  with 
the  Six  Nations,  and  endeavouring  to  alienate  their  affec- 
tions from  His  Majesty.  I  mention  this  to  caution  you 
against  any  thing  of  the  kind  with  you,  and  that  you  will 
use  your  influence  to  dispose  those  people  to  act  in  defence 
of  His  Majesty  and  Government,  if  found  necessary. 

Mr.  Cameron's  Ansivcr. 
That  Mr.  Stuart's  interest  with  the  Indians  was  much 
greater,  and  that  he  was  more  beloved  by  them  than  any 
other  man  ;  and  that  he  (Cameron)  had  the  vanity  to  think 
that  he  could  head  any  number  be  thought  proper,  when- 
ever called  upon  in  support  of  His  Majesty  and  Govern- 
ment. 

Cameron  is  Stuart's  principal  Deputy. 

ACCOMACK  COUNTY  (VIRGINIA)  COMMITTEE. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Accomack  County, 
at  the  Court-House,  the  27th  of  June,  1775 : 

Southey  Simpson,  Esquire,  in  the  Chair. 

A  complaint  having  been  made,  that  James  Arbuckle, 
a  member  of  this  Committee,  had  drawn  a  Map  of  the 
Eastern  Shore,  and  that  the  sea-coast  was  delineated  there- 
in, so  as  to  furnish  information  to  vessels  to  explore  our 
harbours  ;  and  that  the  same  had  been  delivered  to  his 
Excellency  the  Governour  for  that  purpose : 

The  said  Arbuckle  appeared  voluntarily  before  the  Com- 
mittee, and  acknowledged  that  he  had  drawn  a  draught  or 
Map  of  the  internal  part  of  the  Eastern  Shore,  but  denied 
that  he  had  illustrated  any  of  the  harbours,  or  marked  any 
of  the  soundings  or  shoals  ;  which  he  had  delivered  to  Mr. 
Andrew  Syrowle,  of  Gosport. 

Sundry  witnesses  were  then  called  in,  and  duly  sworn, 
and  by  their  testimony  it  appeared  that  the  said  Arbuckle 
had  shewn  the  said  Map  publickly  to  many  of  the  inhabit- 
ants of  this  County,  before  he  parted  with  it ;  that  he  had 
drawn  the  same  at  the  request  of  the  Custom-House  Offi- 
cers, and,  so  far  as  relates  to  this  County,  from  an  old 
draught  which  he  had  made  some  years  ago;  and  that  the 
use  the  said  officers  told  him  they  designed  to  make  of  it, 
was  to  excuse  themselves  to  his  Excellency  the  Governour 
from  a  suspicion  of  neglect  in  office.  And  it  also  appear- 
ed that  there  were  none  of  the  harbours  laid  down  with 
such  exactness  as  to  give  any  new  insight  to  any  persons  to 
come  into  them  ;  and  it  appeared  that  the  Governour  is  in 
possession  of  the  said  Map.  And  it  appearing  farther,  that 
the  said  James  Arbuckle  has,  as  well  heretofore  as  before 
this  Committee,  expressed  great  uneasiness  that  he  should 
have  been  so  imprudent  as  to  have  done  any  thing  to  alarm 
his  Country  at  this  time : 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  it  is  the  opinion  of  this 
Committee,  that  the  said  James  Arbuckle  is  not  intention- 
ally guilty  of  any  offence  against  American  liberty. 

A  complaint  having  also  been  made  against  John  Sher- 
lock, of  this  County,  that  he  has  expressed  himself  in  such 
manner  as  to  prove  him  an  enemy  to  the  liberties  of  this 
Country  ;  and  he  being  called  upon  to  attend  the  Commit- 
tee this  day,  refused,  but  wrote  them  an  abusive  and  in- 
sulting letter. 

Several  witnesses  were  then  called  upon  and  sworn,  and 
by  their  evidence,  it  appeared  that  he  had,  at  sundry  dif- 
ferent conversations,  declared,  in  substance,  "  that  such 


1113 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


1 114 


people  as  oppose  the  Ministerial  measures  with  America, 
are  rebels;  that  he  shall  be  employed  hereafter  in  hanging 
them  ;  and  that  if  no  hemp  can  be  got,  he  has  plenty  of 
flax  growing." 

It  is  therefore  unanimously  Resolved,  That  we  hold  the 
said  John  Sherlock  to  be  an  enemy  to  American  liberty  ; 
and  that  we  are  determined,  immediately,  to  break  off  all 
dealings  and  intercourse  with  him,  and  with  every  person 
who  shall  have  any  connexion  with  him,  until  lie  shall 
make  such  proper  acknowledgments,  and  show  such  genu- 
ine marks  of  repentance  and  reformation,  as  shall  be  satis- 
factory to  a  majority  of  this  Committee. 

Resolved,  That  these  proceedings  be  immediately  printed 
in  the  Virginia  Gazette.  John  Powell,  Clerk. 

Mr.  Pinkney  :  At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Ac- 
comack County,  held  at  the  Court-House,  on  Tuesday  last, 
it  was  found  necessary  to  hold  up  to  publick  contempt  a 
certain  John  Sherlock,  of  the  said  County,  for  having  ex- 
pressed himself,  at  sundry  times,  in  the  most  daring  and 
insulting  manner  against  the  good  people  who  have  proved 
themselves,  by  their  behaviour,  friends  to  American  liberty. 

Mr.  Sherlock,  instead  of  appearing  before  the  Commit- 
tee, agreeable  to  summons,  wrote  them  an  abusive,  insult- 
ing letter;  whereupon  the  day  next  after  the  Committee 
had  proceeded  against  him  agreeable  to  the  rules  of  the 
Association,  part  of  the  Independent  Company  of  this 
County  went  to  his  house,  took,  and  carried  him  to  the 
Court-House,  and,  after  a  solemn  trial,  received  from  him, 
under  the  Liberty  Pole,  his  recantation  ;  a  copy  whereof 
you  have  enclosed.  Mr.  Sherlock,  at  the  Company's  ap- 
proach, took  shelter  in  an  upper  room  of  his  house,  with 
two  loaded  guns,  but  was  prudent  enough  to  decline  making 
use  of  them. 

john  Sherlock's  recantation. 
Whereas,  I,  the  subscriber,  have  thoughtlessly  and  im- 
prudently at  sundry  times  expressed  myself  to  the  follow- 
ing purpose :  that  such  people  as  oppose  the  present  min- 
isterial measures  respecting  America  are  rebels,  and  that 
I  expect  to  be  employed  at  a  future  day  in  hanging  them  ; 
and  if  no  hemp  could  be  had  I  had  flax  enough  ;  and  that 
I  wanted  no  greater  bondage,  under  the  name  of  liberty, 
than  to  be  bound  by  the  Association  ;  and  I  have  also 
expressed  myself  very  imprudently  in  calling  the  Indepen- 
dent Company  of  this  County  an  unlawful  mob,  and  many 
other  idle  and  foolish  words :  I  do  hereby,  in  the  most 
solemn  and  serious  manner,  declare  that  at  those  times, 
when  I  have  held  such  language.  1  did  not  mean  as  much 
as  I  said  ;  and  1  do  hereby  declare  my  most  unfeigned  sor- 
row for  what  I  have  done  or  said,  and  in  the  most  humble 
manner  ask  the  pardon  of  the  said  Independent  Company, 
[which  was  accordingly  done  by  application  being  made  to 
each  member  of  the  said  company  respectively ;]  and  I 
declare  I  look  upon  the  said  company  as  a  very  respectable 
body  of  men,  and,  upon  the  most  calm  reflection,  1  declare 
my  opinion  to  be  altered.  I  most  heartily  wish  success  to 
this  my  native  Country  in  her  present  honest  struggle  for 
liberty  with  the  Mother  Country,  and  do  here  promise  to 
do  all  in  my  power  to  retrieve  my  character  with  my  coun- 
trymen. This  acknowledgment  and  confession  I  make 
freely  and  voluntarily,  and  desire  the  same  may  be  pub- 
lished in  the  publick  papers.  John  Sherlock. 


BEDFORD  COUNTY  (VIRGINIA)  COMMITTEE. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  for  the  County  of  Bed- 
ford, the  27th  day  of  June,  1775:  The  Committee  being 
apprehensive  that  the  inhabitants  of  the  lower  parts  of  this 
Colony  may  possibly  (in  the  course  of  the  present  unhappy 
dispute  between  Great  Britain  and  her  American  Colo- 
nies) be  compelled  to  quit  their  habitations,  wish  it  to  be 
known  to  them,  that  the  inhabitants  of  this  County  will 
cheerfully  give  them,  and  whatever  they  may  think  proper 
to  remove  among  us,  the  most  cordial  reception,  afford  them 
every  possible  assistance,  and  that  they  shall  freely  parti- 
cipate of  any  thing  we  possess. 

Ordered,  That  the  Clerk  of  this  Committee  do  trans- 
mit a  copy  of  this  Resolution  to  the  printer,  to  be  inserted 
in  the  Virginia  Gazette. 

Roeert  Alexander,  Clerk. 


JOHN  HANCOCK,  PRESIDENT,  TO  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

Philadelphia,  June  27,  1775. 

Gentlemen:  By  the  unanimous  vote  of  this  Congress, 
I  am  directed  to  assure  you  that  they  have  a  high  sense  of 
your  services  in  the  common  cause  of  the  United  Colonies, 
and  to  inform  you  of  the  appointment  of  the  several  Gen- 
eral Officers  to  command  the  Continental  Forces;  a  list  of 
whom  I  now  enclose  you.  The  subordinate  officers  to  be 
recommended  by  the  Provincial  Congresses  to  the  General, 
to  whom  commissions  from  this  Congress  are  sent  to  be 
filled  up  agreeable  to  such  recommendation. 

I  am,  gentlemen,  your  most  obedient  servant, 

John  Hancock,  President. 

To  the  Members  of  the  Provincial  Congress,  New-  York. 

Officers  appointed  by  the  Congress. 
George  Washington,  Esq.,  General  and  Commander-in- 
Chief  of  all  the  Forces  raised  or  to  be  raised  for  the  defence 
of  American  Liberty. 

Artemas  Ward,  Esq.,  First  Major-Gen eral. 

Charles  Lee,  Esq.,  Second  Major-General. 

Philip  Schuyler,  Esq.,  Third  Major-General. 

Israel  Putnam,  Esq.,  Fourth  Major-General. 

Seth  Pomeroy,  Esq.,  First  Brigadier  General. 

Richard  Montgomery,  Esq.,  Second  Brigadier-General. 

David  Wooster,  Esq.,  Third  Brigadier-General. 

William  Heath,  Esq.,  Fourth  Brigadier-General. 

Joseph  Spencer,  Esq.,  Fifth  Brigadier-General. 

John  Thomas,  Esq.,  Sixth  Brigadier-General. 

John  Sullivan,  Esq.,  Seventh  Brigadier-General. 

Nathaniel  Greene,  Esq.,  Eighth  Brigadier-General. 

Horatio  Gates,  Esq.,  Adjutant-General,  and  with  the 
rank  of  Brigadier-General. 


NEW-YORK  CONGRESS  TO  GOVEF.NOUR  TRUMBULL. 

New.York,  June  27,  1775,  Three  o'clock,  P.  Ml 
Sir  :  Last  evening  Captain  Hoops,  of  Trenton,  in  New- 
Jersey,  informed  me,  that  he  had  escorted  to  Elizabeth- 
town  four  wagons  with  ninety-eight  quarter  casks  of  a 
necessary  article,  packed  in  eight  hogsheads,  to  be  forward- 
ed to  Cambridge,  which  were  then  on  their  way  for  Hud- 
son's River.  This  morning  I  had  advice  by  express  that 
the  wagons  were  within  four  miles  of  Bidl's  Ferry,  which 
is  nearly  opposite  to  the  north  end  of  Neiv-  York  Island. 
In  consequence  of  which  1  despatched  a  boat  with  one  of 
the  Neiv-York  Committee,  and  twelve  armed  men,  to 
Bull's  Ferry,  to  transport  the  baggage  across  the  North- 
River  to  King's  Bridge.  Two  gentlemen  of  our  Commit- 
tee are  gone  by  land  to  King's  Bridge,  to  whose  prudence 
they  are  committed  for  conveyance  into  your  Colony. 

I  thought  it  necessary  to  give  you  this  information,  and 
submit  it  to  you  whether  it  may  not  be  proper  for  you  to 
give  the  like  orders  as  you  did  on  a  similar  occasion,  pro- 
vided your  circumstances  will  permit,  and  forward  this  in- 
telligence to  Cambridge. 

I  have  the  Honour  to  be,  Sir,  your  most  obedient  ser- 
vant, P.  V.  B.  Livingston. 
To  the  Honourable  Jonathan  Trumbull,  Esq. 


THOMAS  HICKS  TO  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

New-York,  June  27,  1775. 
Sir:  Last  Saturday  I  received  a  copy  of  a  resolve  of 
the  Provincial  Congress  of  the  22d  instant,  wherein  I  was 
requested  to  take  my  seat  in  Congress  on  this  day,  or  assign 
my  reasons  for  neglecting  to  attend.  The  latter,  Sir,  I 
shall  endeavour  to  do,  by  acquainting  the  Congress  with 
some  of  the  circumstances  of  the  election  of  Deputies  of 
Queen's  County,  and  some  subsequent  transactions. 

On  the  day  of  the  election  three  gentlemen  appeared 
who  declared  they  were  charged  with  a  message  to  the 
freeholders  assembled  for  the  purpose  of  choosing  Depu- 
ties, from  a  very  large  number  of  freeholders  of  the  Town- 
ship of  Hempstead,  who  had  assembled  a  few  days  before 
at  Hempstead ;  they  had  it  in  charge  they  said,  to  declare 
there  at  that  day,  that  the  said  freeholders  were  determined 
to  have  nothing  to  do  with  the  election  of  Deputies,  but 
that  they  were  resolved  to  wait  till  they  knew  the  effect  of 
the  Petitions  of  the  General  Assembly  of  this  Colony,  or 


1115 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


11  16 


words  to  that  effect,  as  near  as  I  can  recollect.  Upon 
which,  as  there  were  not  so  many  freeholders  convened  as 
1  expected,  I  proposed  that  the  separate  Towns  should 
elect  Deputies,  but  being  overruled,  1  proposed  that  none 
should  be  elected  for  Hempstead,  to  avoid  the  appearance 
of  obtruding  Deputies  on  them  ;  this  I  thought  was  agreed 
to  by  the  gentlemen  present.  But  after  a  little  time  a 
gentleman  (who  I  believe  was  not  in  the  room  at  the  lime 
the  last  proposal  was  made)  objected  that  in  the  latter  case 
the  County  woidd  be  partially  represented,  and  urged  the 
appointment  of  Deputies  for  Hempstead ;  this,  after  a  lit- 
tle while,  was  agreed  to  by  a  majority,  and  Captain  Thome 
and  myself  were  named  to  represent  Hempstead,  and  our 
names  were  inserted  in  the  list  accordingly. 

I  saw  myself  placed  in  a  very  disagreeable  situation,  and 
expressed  my  idea  of  it  to  the  gentlemen  present ;  they  did 
not  seem  to  see  the  embarrassment  which  I  sensibly  felt, 
and  therefore  were  not  disposed  to  dispense  with  my  ser- 
vice. The  bad  state  of  my  health,  which  obliges  me  to 
avoid  New-  York  as  much  as  possible  in  the  summer,  from 
long  experience  of  the  bad  effect  of  the  city  air  in  that 
season,  also  made  me  wish  to  be  excused  from  a  service 
which  I  was  convinced  would  very  much  impair  it. 

In  this  situation,  I  determined,  however,  to  offer  myself 
to  the  Congress  as  a  Deputy,  if  the  people  of  Hempstead 
were  silent  about  it ;  but  I  was  soon  informed  that  some  of 
the  leading  people  had  declared  they  did  not  believe  I 
would  presume  to  represent  them  in  Congress.  Upon  re- 
ceiving this  intelligence,  I  immediately  went  to  Hempstead , 
applied  to  a  gentleman  whom  I  took  to  be  a  leading  man, 
and  desired  him  to  consult  the  principal  people  of  the  Town, 
and  let  me  know  as  soon  as  might  be  whether  1  should 
represent  them  or  not.  A  very  few  days  after  I  received 
from  him  a  letter,  dated  the  30lh  May  last,  wherein  he  in- 
ibrmed  me  that  he  had  consulted  as  many  persons  in  the 
Township  of  Hempstead  as  the  shortness  of  the  time  would 
admit,  who,  lie  said,  seem  fixed  upon  their  former  resolu- 
tions not  to  appoint  any  Deputies  to  represent  the  Town 
of  Hempstead  in  Provincial  Congress ;  that  the  people 
seemed  to  be  much  inclined  to  remain  peaceable  and 
quiet ;  that  he  had  consulted  the  gentlemen  I  had  desired 
him  to  speak  to  in  particular,  who  had  desired  him  to  give 
me  this  information.  Upon  the  receipt  of  this  letter  I 
resolved  to  decline  taking  a  seat  at  the  Congress,  from  a 
persuasion  of  the  impropriety,  and  even  injustice  of  trans- 
acting business  of  so  much  consequence  for  people  who 
disavowed  my  authority. 

This  is  a  true  state  of  facts  as  near  as  my  memory  will 
serve  me,  and  I  flatter  myself,  Sir,  it  will  sufficiently  apo- 
logize to  the  Congress  for  my  conduct. 

1  am,  Sir,  your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

Thomas  Hicks. 

Peter  V.  B.  Livingston,  Esq. 


HERMAN  ZEDTWITZ  TO  NEW-YOKK  CONGRESS. 

To  the  Honourable  Members  of  the  Provincial  Congress, 

at  this  time  convened,  in  the  City  of  New-York: 
The  Petition  and  humble  Remonstrance  of  Herm an  Zedt- 

witz  of  the  same  City,  Gentleman,  most  humbly  shew- 

eth  : 

That  your  petitioner  is  a  German  by  birth,  and  hath 
heretofore  served  as  an  officer  in  the  King  of  Prussia's 
Army,  upwards  of  fourteen  years.  That  through  the  course 
of  your  petitioner's  experience  in  the  art  of  war,  lie  hath 
found  that  a  body  of  Riflemen,  properly  equipped,  to  pre- 
cede the  Grand  Army,  have  been  of  great  use  to  annoy 
and  confuse  the  enemy.  That  your  petitioner  being  well 
versed  in  the  exercise  of  such  men,  would,  with  the  appoint- 
ment and  sanction  of  this  honourable  board,  undertake  to 
raise  a  Regiment,  to  contain  six  hundred  able  bodied  men, 
from  Paxlon  and  other  parts  of  the  Province  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, many  of  them  already  provided  with  their  rifles, 
and  the  whole  number  in  a  very  short  time  might  be  com- 
plete and  ready  to  go  on  such  service  as  should  be  found 
necessary.  That  your  petitioner  hath  known  such  a  Re- 
giment in  the  time  of  action  to  be  of  more  service  than  any 
three  common  Regiments,  and  is  willing  and  desirous  per- 
sonally to  explain  to  this  honourable  Board,  at  such  time  as 
shall  be  appointed,  the  particular  services  of  such  a  body  of 


men.  That  your  petitioner  hath  very  lately  been  in  that 
part  of  Pennsylvania  before  mentioned,  and  is  well  satis- 
fied that  if  this  honourable  Board  shall  see  fit  to  appoint, 
or  cause  him  to  be  appointed  to  the  command  of  such  a 
Regiment,  he  could  in  a  very  short  time  complete  the  same, 
and  would  use  his  most  indefatigable  endeavours  at  all  times 
to  approve  himself  worthy  of  the  honour  conferred  upon 
him.  And  your  petitioner  most  humbly  requests  that  this 
honourable  Board  will  take  the  premises  into  consideration, 
and  appoint  such  time  for  hearing  him  further  therein  as 
shall  be  found  convenient,  when  he  will  most  punctually 
attend  ;  and  in  the  mean  time  remains  this  honourable 
Board's  most  dutiful  and  very  devoted  humble  servant, 

Herman  Zedtwitz. 

City  of  New.York,  June  27,  1775. 


EL1SHA  PHELPS  TO  THE  MASSACHUSETTS  COMMITTEE  Or 
SAFETY. 

Ticondoroga,  June  27,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  After  my  kind  respects  to  you  all,  when 
I  left  Cambridge,  1  went  to  his  Honour  the  Governour  of 
the  Colony  of  Connecticut ;  and  he  informed  me  he  had 
appointed  me  a  Commissary  for  the  Northern  Army,  which 
1  cheerfully  accepted,  and  thanked  his  Honour  for  the  notice 
he  took  of  me.  I  then  informed  him  of  the  orders  Colonel 
Arnold  gave  me,  concerning  the  teams.  He  told  me  I 
need  not  trouble  myself,  as  York  was  to  provide  teams, 
&c,  and  I  could  charge  teams  in  common  stock ;  and  the 
pork  you  would  pay  for  when  I  produced  an  order  from 
Colonel  Arnold.  As  for  news,  1  have  nothing  remarkable. 
We  have  had  some  mutiny  in  this  company,  but  I  hope 
now  settled.  The  gentlemen  Committee  you  sent,  were 
not  treated  with  that  esteem  by  some  as  I  wish  they  had 
been.  I  long  to  hear  the  particulars  of  the  fight  at  Boston. 
If  you  would  furnish  it  I  should  take  it  as  a  great  favour. 

Gentlemen,  I  am  with  great  esteem  your  very  humble 
servant,  at  command,  Elisha  Phelps. 

To  the  respectable  Gentlemen  of  the  Committee  of  Safety 

at  Cambridge,  for  the  Province  of  Massachusetts-Bay. 


GOVERNOUR  TRUMBULL  TO  MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS. 

Lebanon,  June  27,  1775. 

Gentlemen:  This  morning  received  your  pressing  in- 
stance for  an  immediate  augmentation  of  Troops  from  our 
Colony.  In  consequence  expresses  are  gone  forth  to  call 
our  Assembly,  to  meet  at  Hartford  on  Saturday  next. 
Generals  Washington  and  Lee  are  expected  this  day  at 
Hartford,  on  their  way  to  the  Army.  The  warriors  from 
Virginia  and  Pennsylvania  are  coming  forward.  Have 
received  this  day  a  speech  and  belt  from  the  Oneida  In- 
dians, and  have  enclosed  their  speech. 

Colonel  Hinman  at  Ticonderoga,  writes  the  19th  instant : 
"  The  enemy  are  fortifying  at  St.  Jolm's,  and  last  night 
was  informed  that  the  Caughnawaga  Indians  have  had  a 
war-dance,  being  brought  to  it  by  General  Carleton." 

Eight  or  nine  hundred  barrels  of  flour  from  the  General 
Congress  for  the  Army  are  arrived  safe  at  Norwich,  and 
more  expected.  Hope  a  report  with  us  this  morning  is 
true,  that  a  large  quantity  of  powder  is  arrived  at  New- 
York,  and  a  quantity  for  this  Colony  at  New-London. 
Every  effort  in  our  power  for  defence  of  the  rights  of  the 
Colonies  will  be  used  with  diligence  and  without  delay. 

May  the  Supreme  Director  of  all  events  give  wisdom, 
stability  and  union  in  all  our  counsels ;  inspire  our  sol- 
diery with  courage  and  fortitude ;  cover  their  heads  in  the 
day  of  battle  and  danger;  convince  our  enemies  of  their 
mistaken  measures,  and  that  all  attempts  to  deprive  us  of 
our  rights  are  injurious  and  vain. 

I  am,  with  great  esteem  and  sincerity,  gentlemen,  your 
most  obedient  humble  servant, 

Jonathan  Trumbull. 
Honourable  James  Warren,  Esq. 

A  Speech  of  the  Chiefs  and  Warriors  of  the  Oneida 
Tribe  of  Indians,  to  the  four  New-England  Provin- 
ces, directed  to  Governour  Trumbull  ;  and  by  him  to 
be  communicated  : 

As  our  younger  brothers  of  the  New-England  Indians, 
(who  have  settled  in  our  vicinity)  are  now  going  down  to 


1  1  17 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


1118 


visit  their  friends,  and  to  move  up  parts  of  their  families 
that  were  left  behind,  with  this  belt  by  them,  we  open  the 
road  wide,  clearing  it  of  all  obstacles,  that  they  may  visit 
their  friends  and  return  to  their  settlements  here  in  peace. 
We  Oneidas  are  induced  to  this  measure  on  account  of 
the  disagreeable  situation  of  affairs  that  way  ;  and  we  hope, 
by  the  help  of  God,  that  they  may  go  and  return  in  peace. 
We  earnestly  recommend  them  to  your  charity  through 
their  long  journey. 

Now  we  more  immediately  address  you,  our  brother,  the 
Governour  and  the  Chiefs  of  New-England. 

Brothers!  We  have  heard  of  the  unhappy  differences 
and  great  contention  betwixt  you  and  old  England.  We 
wonder  greatly,  and  are  troubled  in  our  minds. 

Brothers!  Possess  your  minds  in  peace  respecting  us 
Indians.  We  cannot  intermeddle  in  this  dispute  between 
two  brothers.  The  quarrel  seems  to  be  unnatural ;  you  are 
two  brothers  of  one  blood.  We  are  unwilling  to  join  on 
either  side  in  such  a  contest,  for  we  bear  an  equal  affection 
to  both  of  you,  Old  and  Ncic- En  gland.  Should  the  great 
King  of  England  apply  to  us  for  our  aid,  we  shall  deny 
him.  If  the  Colonies  apply,  we  will  refuse.  The  present 
situation  of  you  two  brothers  is  new  and  strange  to  us. 
We  Indians  cannot  find  nor  recollect  in  the  traditions  of 
our  ancestors  the  like  case  or  a  similar  instance. 

Brothers !  For  these  reasons  possess  your  minds  in  peace, 
and  take  no  umbrage  that  we  Indians  refuse  joining  in  the 
contest ;  we  are  for  peace. 

Brothers !  Was  it  an  alien,  a  foreign  Nation,  which  struck 
you,  we  should  look  into  the  matter.  We  hope,  through  the 
wise  government  and  good  pleasure  of  God,  your  distresses 
niLy  soon  be  removed,  and  the  dark  cloud  be  dispersed. 

Brothers!  As  we  have  declared  for  peace,  we  desire 
you  will  not  apply  to  our  Indian  brethren  in  Neiv-Eng- 
land  for  their  assistance.  Let  us  Indians  be  all  of  one 
mind,  and  live  in  peace  with  one  another,  and  you  white 
people  settle  your  own  disputes  betwixt  yourselves. 

Brothers!  We  have  now  declared  our  minds;  please 
write  to  us  that  we  may  know  yours. 

We,  the  sachems,  warriors,  and  female  governesses  of 
Oneida,  send  our  love  to  you,  brother  Governour,  and  all 
the  other  chiefs  in  New-England. 

Signed  by  William  Sunoghsis, 

Viklasha  Watshaleagh, 

William  Kanaghquassea, 

Peter  Thaychcase, 

G ermine  Tgayavher, 

Nickhes  Ahsechose, 

Thomas  Yoghtanawca, 

Adam  Ohonwano, 

Quedellis  Agwerondongwas, 

Handerchiko  Tcgahpreahdyen, 

Johnks  Skeanendcr, 

Thomas  Teorddeatha. 
Caughnawaga,  June  19,  1775. 

Interpreted  and  wrote  by  Samuel  Kirkland ,  Missionary. 


off  all  dealings  with  said  Cook,  and  treat  him  as  an  enemy 
to  his  Country  and  the  liberties  of  America. 
A  true  copy.        By  order  of  the  Committee: 

Wm.  Ladd,  Clerk  for  the  day. 


>  ° 


o 

?! 
TO 


TIVERTON  AND  LITTLE  COMPTON  (r.  I.)  COMMITTEE. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committees  of  Inspection  for  the 
Towns  of  Tiverton  and  Little- Compton,  held  at  the 
dwelling-house  of  Gideon  Wilcox,  Esquire,  on  Saturday, 
June  27th,  1775 : 

Nathaniel  Searle,  Jun.,  Esq.,  in  the  Chair. 

Information  being  given  to  these  Committees,  that  Abiel 
Cook,  of  Little- Compton,  had  violated  the  seventh  article 
of  the  Continental  Congress  Association,  and  was  thereby 
endeavouring  to  feed  and  support  the  enemies  of  American 
liberty,  by  selling  some  of  his  Sheep  to  go  on  board  the 
Swan,  man-of-war,  at  Newport;  the  Sheep  being  stopped 
at  Forkland-Ferry,  and  said  Cook  ordered  to  attend  the 
Committees,  he  attended  accordingly  this  day,  and  had 
the  effrontery  to  insult  the  Committees  and  his  Country, 
by  declaring,  that  he  had  sold  the  Sheep  to  go  on  board 
the  man-of-war,  and  would  do  it  again  when  any  opportu- 
nity should  offer. 

Voted,  That  the  above  Sheep  be  sent  as  a  present  to 
the  American  Army  near  Boston. 

Ordered,  That  the  above  be  printed  in  the  Newport 
Mercury,  that  all  friends  to  American  liberty  may  break 


GOVERNOUR  COOKE  TO  MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS. 

Providence,  Rhode-Island,  June  27,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  I  gave  you  a  hint  in  my  letter  of  yester- 
day of  our  fitting  out  two  armed  vessels  for  the  protection 
of  our  trade.  It  looks  very  probable  to  me  that  if  there 
were  a  few  vessels  properly  armed  and  manned  along  the 
coast,  in  different  parts,  it  would  be  a  great  means  of  pro- 
tecting our  own  trade,  and  also  of  picking  up  many  of  the 
provision  vessels  that  they  (the  men-of-war)  take  this  way, 
and  send  round  to  Boston.  Many  of  those  vessels  are 
sent  round  with  but  five  or  six  hands  in  each,  and  with 
nothing  more  than  a  small-arm  a  piece,  to  defend  them  ; 
and  further,  as  the  enemy  think  we  have  no  force  that  dare 
put  out  of  our  harbours,  some  of  their  store-ships  come 
without  convoy,  and  there  is  a  possibility  that  we  might 
pick  up  one  of  them  if  we  had  a  vessel  or  two  to  cruise  in 
their  way.  These  things  are  dropped,  gentlemen,  for  your 
consideration,  from  your  most  humble  servant, 

Nicholas  Cooke. 
To  the  Hon.  James  Warren,  President  of  the  Provincial 

Congress  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay,  Watertown. 


EXTRACTS  OF  LETTERS  RECEIVED  IN  PHILADELPHIA  FROM 
GENTLEMEN  IN  THE  ARMY,  DATED  CAMP  AT  CAMBRIDGE, 
JUNE  27,  1775. 

You  will  have  heard  of  the  battle  on  Bunker's  Hill 
before  you  receive  this,  but  the  accounts  will  be  various. 
Our  people  went  on  to  take  the  ground,  expecting  every 
day  the  enemy  would  take  it,  if  we  did  not.  They  were 
not  well  prepared  ;  however,  they  went  on ;  and  at  day- 
break, before  they  had  time  to  finish  their  work,  they  were 
attacked,  but  General  Howe  gives  them  the  praise  of  de- 
fending their  works  as  well  as  any  men  on  earth  could  do ; 
and  had  our  troops  who  were  to  march  up  to  their  support, 
behaved  as  well  in  coming  to  their  posts  as  the  others 
did  in  defending  theirs,  they  never  would  have  lost  their 
ground,  but  the  enemy  must  have  been  cut  off.  But  the 
low  ground  over  which  they  were  to  pass  was  so  conti- 
nually raked  by  a  constant  fire  from  the  ships  and  floating 
batteries,  with  every  kind  of  shot,  that  it  rendered  it  im- 
possible to  bring  a  proper  number  of  men  over  at  that  time 
to  their  support;  and  after  a  most  vigorous  defence  for  some 
hours,  our  men  being  employed  the  whole  night  before  with- 
out sleep  or  rest,  and  many  having  expended  the  ammunition 
they  had  with  them,  they  retreated,  and  left  the  ground 
and  unfinished  lines  to  the  enemy,  where  they  are  now 
encamped  and  fortifying.  Our  people  are  encamped  on 
Prospect  Hill,  at  about  a  mile  distance,  and  have  strong 
lines  thrown  up  from  Cambridge  River  to  Mistick  River, 
and  are  watching  each  other.  We  lost  in  the  engagement 
one  hundred  and  seventy-nine  men,  killed  and  wounded  : 
fifty  killed,  thirty  wounded  and  prisoners  in  Boston,  and 
the  remainder  of  the  one  hundred  and  seventy-nine 
wounded  with  us :  the  enemy  lost  one  thousand  on  the 
spot  and  dead  of  their  wounds  before  last  Wednesday, 
and  seven  hundred  then  in  the  hospitals  wounded.  Many 
such  conquests  would  totally  ruin  the  King's  Troops. 

Last  Saturday  the  enemy  cannonaded  Boxbury,  and  en- 
deavoured to  burn  the  Town,  but  failed.  Sunday  General 
Clinton  sent  a  flag  from  his  camp  to  ours  with  letters  from 
our  prisoners;  they  say  they  are  kindly  treated,  and  have 
their  choice  of  Army  or  Town  Surgeons,  or  both  ;  and 
most  of  them  are  like  to  do  well.  Mr.  P — cy  is  this  day 
arrived  here  from  London;  he  came  with  Captain  Jenkins 
to  Nantucket;  an  officer  of  the  King's  Army  was  passenger 
with  them,  and  is  secured.  Mr.  P — eysays  it  was  expected 
by  Administration  that  the  Yankees  would  not  fight ;  that 
the  Army  would  get  up  the  hill  and  down  again,  and  that 
would  settle  the  whole  controversy ;  they  will  be  much 
chagrined  when  the  account  from  here  arrives.  They  are 
like  to  have  enough  to  do  to  keep  France  and  Spain  quiet 
during  the  summer.  Russia  and  the  Porte  are  preparing 
for  war  again;  and  Prussia,  always  ready,  is  looking  on, 
and  laughing  in  his  sleeve,  and  the  States  of  Holland  are 


1119 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


i  120 


quarrelling  w  ith  England t  and  have  ordered  all  the  Eng- 
lish ships  out  of  the  Texel. 

We  have  lost  but  few  men  compared  with  the  loss  the 
enemy  sustained  ;  ours  will  fall  short  of  sixty  killed;  thirty 
are  prisoners,  and  about  one  hundred  wounded.  We  have 
the  greatest  reason  to  believe,  from  their  own  account,  as 
well  as  from  many  other  concurring  circumstances,  that 
their  loss  is  not  short  of  fifteen  hundred  killed  and  wound- 
ed ;  among  the  former  are  two  Colonels,  Majors  Pitcaim 
and  Sheriff.  The  Royal  Welsh  Fusilcers  have  but  seventy 
privates  and  one  Captain  left  alive.  The  Regulars  say 
that  the  battle  of  Mm/ten;  or  that  on  the  Plains  of  Abra- 
ham, did  not  exhibit  equal  scenes  of  blood  in  so  short  a 
lime  from  so  few  men  engaged. 

They  give  out  that  we  must  have  lost  three  thousand 
men,  as  they  conclude  our  loss  must  greatly  exceed  theirs. 


GENERAL  WARD  TO  MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS. 

Head-Quarters,  Cambridge,  June  27,  1775. 

Sir  :  1  was  lately  applied  to  by  the  honourable  Con- 
gress to  propose  or  recommend  some  person  that  would  be 
suitable  for  an  Adjutant-General;  in  consequence  Of  which, 
I  wrote  to  Colonel  William  llenshaw,  who  is  now  in  camp, 
and  will  accept,  if  the  post  is  properly  dignified.  I  flatter 
myself  he  will  do  us  eminent  service,  if  appointed.  He 
will  probably  be  at  the  Congress  this  day. 

I  am,  Sir,  your  most  humble  servant, 

Artemas  Ward. 
To  the  Honourable  James  Warren,  Esquire,  President  of 

the  Provincial  Congress  at  Watertown. 


GENERAL  THOMAS  TO  MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS. 

Roxbury  Camp,  June  27,  1775. 
Sir:  I  have  herewith  enclosed  a  request  from  a  number 
of  prisoners  now  in  Boston,  which  I  received  yesterday, 
P.  M.,  by  one  of  the  Selectmen  of  Weymouth,  to  whom  it 
was  sent  from  Mr.  Scholay,  of  Boston.  It  was  carried  to 
the  Committee  of  Safety,  and  from  them  to  General  Ward, 
who  sent  it  to  me,  but  think  it  not  proper  to  determine  this 
matter  without  advice  from  the  Congress,  whose  directions 
I  shall  comply  with. 

I  am,  Sir,  your  most  obedient  and  very  humble  servant, 

John  Thomas. 
To  the  Honourable  James  Warren,  at  Watertown. 

Boston,  June  23,  1775. 
It  is  the  desire  of  twenty-five  persons  from  the  country, 
that  were  taken  prisoners  at  Charlestown  last  Saturday, 
and  many  of  them  dangerously  wounded,  that  as  they  are 
in  great  want  of  fresh  provisions  for  their  comfort,  they 
would  have  you  go  to  Weymouth,  or  any  other  Town  in 
your  neighbourhood,  and  recommend  to  the  good  people 
there  to  send  them  some  multon  and  other  provisions  as 
may  be  suitable  for  them. 

Head-Quarters,  Cambridge,  June  26,  1775. 
General  Ward  refers  the  above  to  the  determination  of 
General  Thomas,  to  conduct  the  affair  as  he  may  think 
proper.  J.  Ward,  Secretary. 


longing  to  us  fell  into  the  enemy's  hands,  whereby  we  are 
deprived  of  some  necessary  clothing,  arms,  &ic:  As  the  loss 
is  considerable,  we  beg  that  (if  it  may  be  consistent  with 
the  honour  and  dignity  of  the  Congress,  and  the  good  of 
the  Country)  they  have  an  allowance  for  the  same  as  your 
Honours  shall  see  fit ;  and  your  petitioners,  as  in  duty 
bound,  will  ever  pray. 

Wm.  Prescott,       Isaac  Abbott, 
Ebenezer  Bridge,  Isaac  Brown, 
James  Brickett,     Jonathan  Evans, 
Henry  Woods,        Asa  Lawrence, 
Benjamin  Ames,      Abijah  Wyman, 
John  Davis,  Henry  Farwei.l. 

John  Nutting,        Peter  Coburn, 
Nathaniel  Lakin,   John  Ford, 
John  Mosher,         John  Flint. 

June  27,  1775. 

Watertown,  June  29,  1775. 
The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  within  Peti- 
tion, beg  leave  to  report  that  the  petitioners  have  leave  to 
withdraw  their  petition. 


COLONEL  DAVID  BREWER  TO   MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS. 

Camp  at  Roxbury,  June  27,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  I  have  been  informed  that  there  is  a  num- 
ber of  books  printed,  containing  the  law  martial  for  regu- 
lating the  Massachusetts  Army,  designed  for  the  use  of  said 
Army.  If  so,  you  will  please  send  by  the  bearer,  Sergeant 
Bull,  as  many  of  said  books  as  is  designed,  or  shall  be 
thought  necessary  for  my  Regiment,  as  it  is  absolutely  ne- 
cessary the  soldiers  should  know  the  law  in  order  to  keep 
the  same. 

I  am,  gentlemen,  your  obliged  friend  and  humble  ser- 
vant, David  Brewer. 


TO  THE  honourable  provincial  congress. 

The  Petition  of  Officers  belonging  to  Colonels  Prescott, 
Frye,  and  Biudges's  Regiments,  humbly  shew cth  : 
That  whereas  in  the  late  battle  at  Charlestoivn,  on  the 

seventeenth  of  this  instant,  June,  a  number  of  things  be- 


massachusetts  congress  to  continental  congress. 

In  Provincial  Congress,  June  27,  1775. 

May  it  please  your  Honours  :  Were  you  now  in  the 
Continental  Army  which  invests  Boston,  it  would  beget 
unutterable  vexation  and  torment  in  your  hearts,  to  behold 
so  large  a  body  of  so  active  brave  men  as  that  army  con- 
sists of,  insulted  by  the  fire  and  blaze  of  the  enemy's  cannon 
and  mortars  from  their  lines,  ships,  and  floating  batteries ; 
and  the  same  brave  men,  although  possessed  of  divers  good 
pieces  of  great  ordnance,  and  willing,  at  any  hazard,  to  im- 
prove them,  yet  wholly  restrained  from  returning  any  fire 
of  the  kind,  lest,  by  so  doing,  their  little  stock  of  gunpowder 
should  soon  be  exhausted,  and  they  reduced  to  the  fatal 
necessity  of  laying  down  their  arms  or  flying  into  the  woods, 
leaving  their  houses  to  be  burnt,  their  fields  wasted  ;  in 
short  to  give  up  and  abandon  the  just  claims  of  all  America, 
and  in  effect  to  resign  themselves  and  the  lives  of  all  the 
children  of  liberty  in  this  whole  Continent,  to  the  arbiirary 
pleasure  of  a  haughty  Administration,  instigated  and  influ- 
enced by  enraged  tories  of  our  own  breeding. 

Your  minds  will  be  still  more  agitated  and  alarmed,  if 
you  knew  our  supplies  of  that  article  was  so  scanty  as  really 
to  beget  doubts  in  your  minds^whether  the  Army  would  be 
able  to  sustain  so  many  attacks  as  we  have  reason  soon  to 
expect,  without  leaving  them  generally  destitute  of  that 
necessary  part  of  ammunition,  even  if  no  other  expense  of 
pow  der  should  be  made  in  the  defence  than  by  the  use  of 
small  arms.  We  cannot,  therefore,  delay  one  moment  longer 
acquainting  your  Honours  with  the  state  of  this  Army  in 
that  respect,  and  in  the  most  importunate  manner  begging 
your  immediate  attention  to  this  matter,  and  that  the  utmost 
exertions  be  instantly  made,  at  any  hazard  and  expense,  to 
procure  and  send  to  this  Army  all  the  gunpowder  which 
can  be  obtained,  either  by  manufacture,  importation,  seizures 
of  the  enemy's  ships,  or  in  any  other  way,  without  stripping 
individuals  of  their  private  stocks  for  their  own  personal 
use  ;  and  that  every  quantity  which  can  in  any  way  be  ob- 
tained, even  if  it  shall  not  amount  to  more  than  one  load  for 
one  horse  carriage,  be  sent  by  land  with  all  possible  speed 
and  safety  to  this  Army. 

We  beg  your  Honours  to  realize  that  the  force  of  all 
the  British  Troops  in  America,  or  destined  to  America,  is 
levelled  against  this  Army,  and  how  shocking  and  terrible 
the  effects  of  a  defeat  and  dispersion  of  this  Army  would 
be,  not  only  to  this  Colony,  but  to  all  the  Continent.  We 
feel  the  warmest  sentiments  of  gratitude  to  your  Honours 
for  your  great  attention  and  care  for  the  Army,  expressed 
in  your  appointment  of  able  and  experienced  Generals  to 
command  the  same ;  hut  we  beg  your  Honours  to  contem- 
plate of  what  significance  either  officers  or  soldiers  can  be 
for  the  intent  of  annoying  the  enemy  or  defending  the 
Country,  without  the  necessary  means.  Besides,  we  ask 
your  Honours'  pardon  when  we  pray  you  to  consider  how 
inexpressibly  afflictive  it  must  be  to  those  honourable  and 
worthy  gentlemen,  appointed  by  your  Honours,  to  arrive  at 
our  Army,  (which  would  be  an  honour  to  any  General  in 
Europe,  if  they  were  well  supplied,)  to  find  that  they  had 
not  the  necessary  means  of  acting  offensively,  and  the  sup- 


1121 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  he,  JUNE,  1775. 


1122 


plies  for  defence  so  very  slender,  as  to  fill  them  with  perpe- 
tual solicitude  and  even  anguish  of  spirit,  lest  by  defending, 
even  with  small  arms,  against  frequent  attacks,  their  ammu- 
nition should  be  wholly  spent,  and  they  constrained  to  turn 
their  backs  on  their  enemy  ;  when,  if  the  Army  was  well 
found  with  ammunition,  they  would  be  able,  not  merely  to 
defend  themselves  and  their  Country,  but  to  bear  down  and 
triumph  over  the  enemy. 

Your  Honours,  therefore,  will  be  most  certainly  convinced 
that  nothing  can  so  much  merit  your  immediate  and  earnest 
attention,  as  the  ways  and  means  of  supplying  this  Army, 
in  the  speediest  manner,  with  the  article  of  gunpowder. 
We  cannot  find  words  to  express  the  importance  of  this 
proposal  with  sufficient  emphasis.  Our  all  very  much  de- 
pends upon  success  in  this  particular,  and  we  cannot  forbear 
repeating  our  request,  that  whatever  quantity  your  Honours 
may  find  it  in  your  power  in  any  way  to  avail  yourselves 
of,  whether  greater  or  less,  may  be  sent  forward  with  the 
utmost  expedition. 

We  humbly  conceive  that  it  cannot  be  by  any  means 
prudent  to  venture  an  article  of  this  importance  any  part 
of  the  way  by  water,  nor  by  land,  without  a  sufficient  guard, 
as  the  same  is  in  a  manner  as  precious  as  our  very  blood. 

This  Colony  is  making  the  utmost  efforts,  running  every 
risk,  and  trying  every  experiment,  and  hesitating  at  no  ex- 
pense, to  procure  good  supplies  of  the  above-said  most  im- 
portant article  for  this  Army.  Nothing  can  be  more  remote 
from  the  temper  of  this  Colony  than  to  solicit  the  exertions 
of  the  other  parts  of  the  Continent,  with  a  view,  in  any 
degree,  to  relax  or  render  unnecessary  our  own  utmost  assi- 
duity and  endeavour ;  but  our  foregoing  importunate  appli- 
cations proceed  only  from  the  fullest  conviction  that  the 
largest  contributions  which  the  whole  Continent  is  capable 
of,  and  the  most  immediate,  vigorous,  and  unremitted  efforts 
of  every  part  of  our  Country,  will  be  little  enough,  not  to 
say  inadequate,  to  effect  such  a  supply  of  that  commodity 
as  the  exigencies  of  the  present  crisis  require. 

The  foregoing  representation  has  been,  by  order  of  Con- 
gress, considered  by  our  Committee  of  Supplies,  who  fully 
agree  that  nothing  therein  is  expressed  in  too  strong  terms, 
or  deserves  the  epithet  of  high  colouring. 

We  are,  may  it  please  your  Honours,  with  the  greatest 
esteem  and  deference,  your  most  obedient  servants, 

Joseph  Hawley, 
Elisha  Portek, 
Committee  of  Congress. 

The  foregoing  letter  is  made  by  us  as  a  Committee  of 
Congress,  without  its  having  been  read  publickly,  (for  rea- 
sons which  your  Honours  will  not  be  at  a  loss  about,)  and 
this  by  express  order  of  Congress. 


GEN.  FOLSOM  TO  NEW- HAMPSHIRE  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY. 

Camp  on  Winter  Hill,  June  27,  1775. 
Gentlemen:  Since  my  arrival  here,  the  harmony  and 
willing  obedience  of  the  New-Hampshire  Troops  gives  me 
the  most  sensible  pleasure.  I  have  got  them  into  tolerable 
regulation,  and  shall,  as  far  as  in  me  lies,  use  my  utmost 
exertion  to  get  them  into  the  greatest  good  order  and  disci- 
pline, which  is  so  indispensably  necessary  in  an  army,  and 
still  promote  and  preserve  unanimity  and  concord  amongst 
them. 

But  to  that  end  you  are  very  sensible  that  they  must 
receive  regular  supplies.  Such  brave  Troops  as  yours  are, 
deserve  the  best  of  living,  or  at  least  such  as  will  conduce 
to  the  preservation  of  their  health,  and  render  them  capable 
of  undergoing  fatigues  and  hardships.  1  would  therefore 
beg  leave  to  intimate,  that  if  part  or  the  whole  of  the  Com- 
mittee of  Supplies  were  constantly  to  attend  the  camp, 
vested  with  discretionary  power  as  to  supplies,  it  would  be 
greatly  advantageous  to  your  forces,  as  it  is  impossible  any 
set  of  men  can  so  well  ascertain  what  properly  belongs  to 
their  department  when  absent  as  when  present,  and  can 
have  their  business  carried  on  under  their  immediate  inspec- 
tion. The  foregoing  I  esteemed  myself  in  duty  bound  to 
mention  ;  and  leaving  it  to  your  well  known  wisdom  and 
prudence,  I  remain  your  very  humble  servant, 

Nathaniel  Folsom. 
To  the  Honourable  Committee  of  Safety  for  the  Colony 

of  New-Hampshire. 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii. 


PORTSMOUTH    (NEW-HAMPSHIRE)    COMMITTEE   TO  MASSA- 
CHUSETTS CONGRESS. 

Portsmouth,  June  27,  1775. 
To  the  Rev.  Samuel  Langdon,D.  D.,  to  be  communicated 
to  the  Committee  at  Cambridge. 

Honoured  Sir:  The  Committee  of  Portsmouth  having 
detected  the  enclosed  letter,  have  thought  proper  to  trans- 
mit a  copy  to  you  by  way  of  caution,  as  we  have  heard 
that  James  Henderson  has  been  travelling  about  the  country 
lately  to  gain  intelligence ;  and  lest  he  might  be  the  cause 
of  more  mischief  to  the  American  cause,  we  pray  he  may 
be  prevented. 

We  have  some  cannon,  with  good  carriages,  of  twenty- 
four  and  thirty-two  pounders  ;  if  you  need  them,  please  to 
signify,  and  we  will  send  them. 

We  are,  with  cordial  esteem,  Sir,  your  most  humble  ser- 
vants, the  Committee  of  Safety  at  Portsmouth,  per  their 
order.  George  Gaines. 

Copy  of  the  above  to  be  transmitted  to  the  Committee 
of  Supplies. 

Boston,  June  22,  1775. 

Dear  Hugh  :  I  take  this  opportunity  of  letting  you  know 
of  our  welfare.  We  had  a  good  deal  of  confusion  last 
Saturday,  but  we  have  great  reason  of  thankfulness  that  the 
Troops  got  the  better  of  the  people.  It  was  one  of  the 
boldest  attacks  almost  of  the  age,  as  they  had  it  very  strong, 
but  they  did  not  keep  it  fifteen  minutes  after  the  attack 
begun  ;  and  such  firing  I  never  heard — so  constant.  I  saw 
it  all  the  time.  There  are  a  great  many  country  people 
killed,  (amongst  them  is  Doctor  Warren,')  and  about  thirty- 
taken  prisoners  who  are  in  Town.  There  is  one  of  the  second 
fleet  come  in  last  night ;  so  I  am  in  hopes  the  Troops  will 
be  soon  enabled  to  bring  them  to  a  sense  of  their  duty. 

If  you  have  any  apprehension  of  danger,  1  think  you 
had  best  come  to  Town.    My  love  to  Hannah,  he. 

I  am  yours. 

The  above  letter  came  in  a  tender,  directed  to  Hugh 
Henderson,  and  was  stopped  by  the  Committee  at  Ports- 
mouth ;  it  is  supposed  here  to  be  wrote  by  James  Henderson, 
of  Boston. 


ANNE  ARUNDEL  COUNTY  (MARYLAND)  COMMITTEE. 

A  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Observation  for  Anne 
Arundel  County  and  City  of  Annapolis  was  requested  by 
Captain  Charles  Henzcll,  on  Wednesday,  the  twenty-eighth 
day  of  June,  1775. 

Present :  Charles  Carroll,  of  Carrollton,  Matthias  Ham- 
mond, John  Bullen,  Chas.  Wallace,  John  Davidson,  Wm. 
Wilkins,  Allen  Quy7in,  John  Brice,  and  Doctor  Richard 
Tootell. 

Mr.  Charles  Carroll  in  the  Chair. 

Captain  Henzell  having  informed  the  Committee  of  his 
arrival  from  London  with  goods  on  board  the  Adventure, 
which  was  cleared,  as  appears  by  the  cocket,  for  Maryland. 
he  being  duly  sworn,  deposed  that  the  following  goods,  and 
no  other,  were  shipped  on  board  said  vessel,  to  wit :  two  hun- 
dred dozen  Porter,  one  hundred  Pipe-Staves  in  packs,  two 
thousand  weight  of  Cheese,  and  forty-two  chaldrons  of  Coal, 
Winchester  measure,  which  was  to  be  disposed  of  at  the 
Island  of  Madeira,  but  through  contrary  winds  he  was  pre- 
vented from  landing  them  there :  and  this  deponent  also 
saith  that  he  brought  in  with  him  about  seventy  persons, 
consisting  of  passengers  and  servants. 

It  appearing  to  the  Committee,  from  letters  produced  by 
Captain  Henzell,  and  by  his  and  Joseph  Eastman's  deposi- 
tions, that  the  Cheese,  Porter,  Pipe-Staves,  and  Newcastle 
coal,  were  to  be  sold  at  Madeira,  and  the  proceeds  thereof 
to  be  laid  out  in  the  purchase  of  Madeira  Wine,  he  being 
empowered  to  draw  bills  on  London  for  so  much  as  said 
Wine  should  exceed  the  value  of  the  above  mentioned  arti- 
cles ;  and  it  also  appearing  to  the  Committee  that  Cap- 
tain Henzcll  intended  to  bring  to  Maryland  the  cargo  of 
Wine  aforesaid :  being:  interrogated  whether  he  intended 
to  sell  the  said  Wine  in  America,  he  declared  on  oath  that 
he  did  not,  but  proposed  to  carry  the  Wine  to  the  London 
market,  and  report  the  same  here  to  the  Custom-House. 
Being  asked  whether  he  did  not  know,  or  had  been  informed 
that  the  aforesaid  Wine  was  subject  to  a  duty,  imposed  by 

1 


1123 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  kc,  JUNE,  1775. 


1124 


Act  of  Parliament,  and  that  consequently  the  importation 
thereof  was  contrary  to  the  Continental  Association,  he 
answered  that  he  did  not  know,  nor  had  he  been  informed 
that  any  duty  was  to  be  paid  on  the  Wine  thus  imported, 
and  intended  to  be  exported  in  the  same  bottom  to  London. 

It  appearing  to  the  Committee  that  the  above  enumerated 
articles  of  goods  were  shipped  contrary  to  the  Continental 
Association, 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  the  said  goods  cannot  be 
landed,  but  be  sent  back  forthwith. 

The  question  being  put,  whether  Capt.  Henzcll  should  be 
permitted  to  land  his  Servants?  Resolved  in  the  affirmative. 

Captain  Henzell,  together  with  Mr.  James  Hutchings, 
Jun.,  to  whom  the  Servants  were  consigned,  then  engaged 
and  pledged  their  honour  to  the  Committee  that  the  goods 
should  be  sent  back  forthwith. 

Signed  per  order  of  the  Committee  : 

G.  Duvall,  Clerk. 


GENERAL  SCHUYLER  TO  CONGRESS. 
[Read  in  Congress,  July  3,  1775.] 

New-York,  June  28,  1775. 
Gentlemen  :  I  do  myself  the  honour  to  acquaint  you 
that  I  parted  with  General  Washington  yesterday,  at  ten 
o'clock,  at  New-Rochelle,  at  which  place  we  were  met  by 
Brigadier-General  Wooster's  and  Colonel  Waterbury's  Re- 
giments. Those  arrived  to  within  two  miles  of  this  Town, 
about  eight  this  morning,  and  got  sheltered  in  barns  and 
out-houses.  As  soon  as  the  weather  (which  is  at  present 
wet  and  stormy)  will  permit,  I  propose  to  encamp  them  on 
the  south  side  of  Sand  Hill,  which  is  nearly  two  miles  from 
hence. 

1  have  been  so  little  in  Town  since  my  first  arrival  here, 
that  I  have  not  yet  had  an  opportunity  to  inform  myself 
of  the  Provincial  Congress,  of  what  progress  has  been 
made  in  the  execution  of  the  different  orders  you  were 
pleased  to  send  them.  Individuals  of  that  body  inform  me 
there  is  very  little  powder  in  any  part  of  this  Colony;  that 
about  sixteen  hundred  barrels  of  flour  have  already  been 
sent  to  different  ports  in  the  Massachusetts-Bay ;  that  the 
remainder  will  be  despatched  with  all  possible  speed. 

I  have  prepared  a  letter,  which  I  hope  to  forward  to-day 
to  Colonel  Hinman,  requesting  a  return  of  the  Troops  un- 
der his  command  ;  their  condition  ;  the  post  they  occupy  ; 
a  minute  return  of  the  stores  of  every  kind,  which  he  is 
possessed  of;  and  I  have  pointedly  urged  the  necessity  of 
gaining  intelligence  from  Canada,  and  cultivating  a  good 
understanding  with  that  people  and  the  Indians.  Reports 
prevail  here  that  the  latter  have  accepted  the  hatchet 
offered  them  by  General  Carleton,  and  that  considerable 
bodies  of  them  have  been  seen  going  to  Montreal;  and 
that  even  the  Oneidas  made  part  of  them.  Should  this 
be  confirmed,  too  much  despatch  cannot  be  used  in  the 
appointments  of  proper  persons  to  counteract  the  meditated 
evil — an  evil  of  the  most  alarming  nature.  Some  of  those 
accounts  are  said  to  have  been  made  by  Mr.  Swift,  a 
young  gentleman  from  Philadelphia,  who  passed  through 
here  a  few  days  ago  on  his  way  from  Canada. 

Eight  transports  with  Troops  are  now  at  Sandy-Hook. 
It  is  whispered  by  some  that  they  mean  to  land.  Others 
affirm  that  they  are  going  to  Boston.  I  have  taken  mea- 
sures to  procure  intelligence  of  their  intentions,  and  shall 
take  every  possible  precaution  to  secure  this  City  against 
the  evil  consequences  that  would  attend  their  landing, 
should  they  be  able  to  effect  it. 

General  Washington,  before  we  parted,  desired  me  to 
inform  your  Honours,  that  he  thought  it  most  advisable 
that  the  commissions  for  the  officers  in  the  New-York  De- 
partment should  be  directly  sent  to  me  to  be  filled  up. 

I  foresee,  that  unless  a  Commissary-General  and  a  Quar- 
termaster-General be  appointed  for  this  Department,  that 
the  service  will  not  only  suffer,  (from  disputes  already 
rising,)  but  the  waste  of  provisions  that  will  be  occasioned 
by  the  want  of  the  first,  and  the  extra  expenses  in  having 
the  necessary  supplies  forwarded  to  the  different  armies 
through  such  a  varioty  of  hands,  for  want  of  the  last,  will 
enhance  the  expenses  far,  very  far  indeed  beyond  what 
their  appointments  will  be.  On  this  head  I  can  speak  with 
confidence,  because  I  have  had  long  experience. 

Governour  Try  on,  I  have  reason  to  believe,  will  not 


create  any  trouble  in  his  Government.  It  is  said  that  he 
laments,  and  is  sincere,  that  the  unhappy  controversy  has 
been  carried  so  far,  and  that  he  wishes  a  happy  termination 
of  it  on  principles  friendly  to  both. 

Some  of  the  German  people  in  the  County  of  Tryon, 
and  some  few  in  other  parts  of  this  Colony,  are  said  to  be 
unfriendly  to  us.  I  beg  leave  to  hint,  that  an  address  from 
their  countrymen  in  Pennsylvania,  in  their  own  language, 
distributed  amongst  them,  would,  I  think,  have  a  very  salu- 
tary effect.  I  wish  some  step  taken  to  engage  those  peo- 
ple, the  rather  as  many  of  them  live  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
Indians. 

Be  assured,  honourable  Sirs,  that  I  shall  omit  nothing  in 
my  power  faithfully  to  discharge  the  important  trust  with 
which  you  have  honoured  me.  If,  however,  I  should  be 
unfortunate,  1  hope  your  candour  will  impute  it  to  that 
want  of  abilities  which  I,  with  much  truth  and  sincerity, 
avowed  previous  to  my  appointment,  unless  you  should 
be  convinced  that  any  neglect  of  duty  proceeded  from 
wickedness  of  heart. 

I  am,  honourable  Sirs,  most  respectfully,  your  obedient 
humble  servant,  Ph.  Schuyler. 

To  the  Honourable  Continental  Congress. 


PETER  T.  CURTENIUS  TO  THE  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

New- York,  June  28,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  Pursuant  to  your  order,  I  have  purchased, 
on  the  publick  credit,  261  pieces  ravens  duck,  which  is  all 
that  is  in  Town ;  also,  26  bell-tents,  and  635  haversacks, 
of  Mr.  Levy ;  one  bell  and  one  officers'  tent,  from  Captain 
Devereux.  I  have  delivered  137  pieces  duck  to  the  tent- 
makers,  out  of  which  they  have  made  250  tents,  which  are 
finished,  and  in  my  store.  There  remain  124  pieces  duck 
in  my  hands,  which  will  make  about  227  soldiers'  tents 
more. 

I  made  an  inquiry  about  blankets,  and  find  them  very 
scarce,  and  what  there  is,  are  not  of  the  right  sort  or  size ; 
particulars  as  under.  Those  I  sent  per  Captain  Wendell, 
were  two-point  blankets,  two  of  which  sewed  together  will 
make  one  good  blanket,  and  therefore  bought  double  the 
quantity  ordered.  I  am,  gentlemen,  your  most  obedient 
servant,  Peter  T.  Curtenius. 

John  Morton,  38  one-point  blankets,  four  of  which  will 
make  one  good  blanket. 

Abraham  Brinkerhoff,  140  blankets  ;  one  bale  of  them 
are  one-point,  the  remainder  are  9  and  10-quarter  rose 
blankets,  from  18  to  25  shillings  a  pair. 

Joseph  Totten,  Lawrence  Embree,  J.  Pearsall,  Eleazer 
Miller,  and  Alexander  Robeson,  have  none  but  8  and  9-4 
rose  blankets. 


CHARLOTTE  COUNTY  COMMITTEE  TO  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

Manchester,  June  28,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  To  my  great  surprise  I  found  sundry  men 
in  our  County  of  Charlotte  about  to  form  themselves  into 
a  mob  to  stop  the  Court.  They  were  from  different  parts 
of  the  County  ;  and  we  have  heard  that  some  in  the 
County  of  Albany  were  about  to  join  them,  although  many 
were  dissuaded  from  their  proceedings ;  yet  some  were  on 
their  way  to  Fort  Edward,  to  carry  into  execution  their 
evil  design.  But  when  they  heard  that  Captain  Mott, 
from  Connecticut,  was  at  Fort  Edward,  with  his  company, 
and  Remember  Baker  and  Robert  Cochran,  with  an  intent 
to  protect  the  Court,  gave  over  their  intended  expedition. 
Those  men,  I  think,  are  mostly  debtors,  and  design  to  put 
a  period  to  common  law.  Therefore,  we  do  most  humbly 
pray  that  a  resolve  may  be  made  at  your  honourable 
Board,  that  will  encourage  and  strengthen  the  well-mind- 
ed, and  weaken  the  ill-minded,  without  which  we  fear  we 
shall  fall  into  the  utmost  confusion. 

Many  of  our  inhabitants  were  greatly  alarmed  by  the 
Congress  ordering  all  the  cannon  to  be  removed  from  Ti- 
condcroga,  which  would  have  laid  us  open  to  an  enemy 
from  the  Northward,  and  in  that  surprise,  called  the  people 
together,  and  chose  a  man  to  send  to  the  Continental  Con- 
gress, alleging  that  they  feared  that  some  designing  men 
would  make  an  ill  use  of  their  names,  relative  to  the  title 
of  our  lands. 

This  last  objection  seems  to  weigh  heavy  in  the  minds 


1125 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


1126 


Committee-men. 


of  many,  however  groundless  in  the  opinion  of  others ; 
therefore,  do  pray  your  indulgence  relative  to  the  return 
of  the  Association  till  we  can  better  unite  this  people. 
All  which  we  shall  submit  to  your  wise  deliberation.  Only 
beg  leave  to  subscribe  ourselves  your  most  obedient  and 
humble  servants, 

William  Marsh, 
Samuel  Rose, 

To  Peter  Van  Brugh  Livingston,  President  of  the  Pro- 
vincial Congress,  New-York. 

P.  S.  If  it  should  be  necessary  to  appoint  officers  for 
the  Army  in  this  part,  we  think  that  Mr.  Gideon  Brunson, 
and  Mr.  Potter,  and  Mr.  Joseph  Lockwood,  suitable  men, 
and  will  accept. 

ADDRESS  TO  THE  ONEIDAS  AND  TUSCARORAS. 

On  the  28th  of  June,  1775,  the  Oneidas  and  Tuscaroras 
assembled  at  the  German  Flats,  where  they  were  met  by 
the  inhabitants  of  that  District,  and  the  Delegates  from 
Albany.  The  inhabitants  of  the  Flats  delivered  to  them 
the  following  Speech  : 

Brothers:  We  are  glad  to  have  you  here  to  return  you 
thanks.  We  should  have  been  much  pleased  to  have 
spoken  with  you  at  the  appointed  place ;  that  is,  by  your 
Superintendent,  where  of  late  you  kept  your  council  fire ; 
but  since  his  removing  so  far  from  us,  we  do  not  think  it 
wrong  or  imprudent  to  communicate  our  sentiments  of 
peace  to  you  here.  It  is  at  this  place,  brothers,  it  has  often 
been  done,  and  here  again  we  renew  it,  and  brighten  the 
old  chain  of  peace  and  brotherly  love. 

Brothers :  We  cannot  see  the  cause  of  your  late  council 
fire,  or  Superintendent,  going  away  from  among  us.  We 
did  him  no  harm,  and  you  well  know  that  none  of  us  ever 
did,  and  you  may  depend  on  it  there  was  no  such  thing 
meant  against  him.  He  told  our  people  he  was  going  up 
to  Thompson's  (Cosby's  Manor)  to  hold  a  council  fire  with 
our  brothers,  the  Five  Nations  there.  We  helped  him  to 
provisions  to  support  you  there,  and  every  thing  we  had 
that  he  wanted.  But  he  is  going  away  from  among  us, 
and  told  some  of  our  people  that  he  would  come  back  with 
company  which  would  not  please  us ;  which,  if  true,  it  is 
certain  his  intentions  are  bad  ;  and  he  may  depend,  that 
whatever  force  he  may  or  can  bring,  we  regard  not. 

Brothers :  Our  present  meeting  does  not  arise  from  any 
unfriendly  thoughts  we  entertain  of  you,  or  from  any  fear 
of  ourselves.  It  is  purely  on  account  of  the  old  friendship 
which  has  so  long  been  kept  up  between  us ;  that  friend- 
ship we  want  to  maintain.  It  is  that  friendship  which  will 
be  an  equal  benefit  to  us.  It  is  as  much  wanted  on  your 
side  as  ours. 

Brothers :  We  cannot  too  much  express  our  satisfaction 
of  your  conduct  toward  us,  by  your  late  proceedings  with 
the  Superintendent,  at  the  carrying  place,  for  which  we 
are  also  obliged  to  you,  and  do  not  doubt  but  that  your 
conduct  will  be  blessed  with  greater  benefits  than  any  other 
of  those  who  will  hurry  themselves  into  mischief,  which 
can  never  be  of  any  other  benefit  to  them,  but  sorrow  for 
the  innocent  blood  that  may  be  shed  on  an  occasion  where- 
with they  have  no  concern.  We  look  to  you,  particularly, 
to  be  men  of  more  understanding  than  others,  by  the  bene- 
fits you  have  received  in  learning ;  wherefore  we  confide 
and  trust  the  more  freely  in  you,  that  you  can  communicate 
to  the  other  Tribes  and  Nations  the  errour  they  want  to  lead 
you  into ;  and  cannot  doubt  but  your  wisdom  and  influence 
with  the  other  Nations  will  be  attended  with  that  happy 
success  which  will  hereafter  be  a  blessing  to  you  and  your 
posterity. 

Brothers :  What  we  have  said  is  supposed  to  be  suffi- 
cient to  convince  you  that  our  meaning  is  for  our  joint 
peace  and  friendship,  in  which  we  hope  that  we  and  our 
children  may  continue  to  the  end  of  time. 


cials  will  be  disappointed  in  their  expectations  of  any  as- 
sistance from  this  quarter. 

To  his  Excellency  Guy  Carleton,  Esquire,  Governour 
and  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  Province  of  Quebeck, 

&iC,  &.C,  &.C. 

Sir  :  As  it  has  been  found  necessary  to  withdraw  His 
Majesty's  Troops  from  this  garrison,  we,  the  subscribers, 
think  it  our  duty,  in  the  present  situation  of  affairs,  to  offer 
our  service  in  protecting  the  King's  Magazines,  as  well  as 
our  own  property  in  this  place ;  and  we  do  therefore  hum- 
bly entreat  your  Excellency  to  order  the  Militia  of  Que- 
beck  to  be  embodied,  and  to  appoint  such  officers  for  the 
purpose  of  protecting  His  Majesty's  subjects  here  as  to 
you  may  seem  expedient ;  having  the  honour  to  be  His 
Majesty's  most  faithful  subjects,  and  your  Excellency's 
most  obedient  humble  servants. 


ADDRESS  OF  ENGLISH  MERCHANTS  TO  GENERAL  CARLETON. 

Quebeck,  June  28,  1775. 
The  following  is  a  copy  of  an  Address  unanimously 
agreed  to,  and  presented  by  the  English  Merchants  at 
Quebeck,  to  his  Excellency  General  Carleton;  a  similar 
one  was,  at  the  same  time,  presented  by  the  French,  as 
also  from  the  inhabitants  of  Montreal ;  so  that  the  Provin- 


GENERAL  GREENE  TO  JACOB  GREENE,  ES^. 

Rhode-Island  Camp,  June  28,  1775. 

The  hurry  I  have  been  in,  and  the  numerous  employ- 
ments I  am  called  to,  have  left  me  no  opportunity  to  write 
to  you.  I  regret  it  the  less,  as  I  am  confident  that  you 
have  heard  every  day  from  the  camp,  and  almost  every 
particular  transaction  here,  with  many  that  never  were 
transacted  here  or  any  where  else. 

The  particulars  of  the  late  battle  of  Bunker's  Hill  have 
been  differently  represented.  Sometimes  the  enemy  have 
lost  a  hundred ;  sometimes  a  thousand  ;  and  now  it  is  up 
to  fifteen  hundred.  I  believe,  from  the  best  accounts  I  can 
collect,  that  they  suffered  a  loss  nearly  equal  to  the  last 
accounts.  Many  officers  fell  in  the  action.  The  Welsh 
Fusileers,  the  finest  Regiment  in  the  English  establish- 
ment, is  ruined  ;  there  are  but  one  Captain  and  eleven  pri- 
vates left  in  the  Regiment.  It  is  said,  that  if  some  Regi- 
ments on  our  side  had  done  their  duty  as  well  as  others 
did,  the  Regulars  must  have  suffered  a  total  defeat,  and 
would  never  have  got  possession  of  the  intrenchments. 
Upon  the  whole,  I  think  we  have  little  reason  to  complain. 
There  were  but  about  fifty  killed  on  our  side,  thirty  made 
prisoners,  and  sixty  wounded.  I  wish  we  could  sell  them 
another  hill  at  the  same  price. 

The  Regulars  are  now  encamped  on  Bunker's  Hill  and 
our  people  on  Prospect  and  Winter  Hills,  both  strongly 
intrenched.  Our  people  are  in  good  spirits,  but  regularity 
and  discipline  are  much  wanted.  Our  own  Troops  are 
raw,  irregular,  and  undisciplined ;  yet,  bad  as  they  are, 
they  are  under  much  better  government  than  any  Troops 
round  about  Boston.  There  are  some  officers  in  each 
Regiment  who  exert  themselves  to  bring  the  camp  under 
regulations.  There  are  some  Captains,  and  many  subal- 
tern officers,  who  neglect  their  duty  ;  some  through  fear 
of  offending  their  soldiers,  some  through  laziness,  and 
some  through  obstinacy.  This  makes  the  task  of  the  field- 
officers  very  laborious.  I  have  warned  them  of  their  negli- 
gence many  times,  and  am  determined  to  break  every  one 
for  the  future  who  shall  lay  himself  open  to  it. 

My  task  is  hard,  and  fatigue  great.  I  go  to  bed  late, 
and  rise  early.  The  number  of  applications  you  cannot 
conceive  of,  without  being  present  to  observe  the  round  of 
business.  But,  hard  as  it  is,  if  I  can  discharge  my  duty 
to  my  own  honour,  and  my  Country's  satisfaction,  I  shall 
go  through  the  toil  with  cheerfulness.  My  own  officers 
and  soldiers  are  generally  well  satisfied;  nay,  I  have  not 
heard  one  complaint. 

The  General  Officers  of  the  neighbouring  camps  treat 
me  with  the  greatest  respect ;  much  more  than  my  station 
or  consequence  entitles  me  to.  Were  I  to  estimate  my 
value  by  the  attention  paid  to  my  opinions,  I  should  have 
great  reason  to  think  myself  some  considerable  personage. 
But  fatal  experience  teaches  me  every  day,  that  mankind 
are  apt  to  pay  deference  to  station  and  not  to  merit.  There- 
fore, when  I  find  myself  surrounded  by  their  flattering  at- 
tentions, I  consider  them  as  due  to  my  office,  and  not  to 
me.  I  shall  study  to  deserve  well,  but  cannot  but  lament 
the  great  defects  I  find  in  myself  to  discharge,  with  honour 
and  justice,  the  important  trust  committed  to  my  care. 
You  know  I  never  made  much  parade,  nor  was  ambitious 
of  raising  people's  expectation  higher  than  I  had  reason  to 
hope  my  conduct  would  be  answerable  to.    The  world,  in 


1127 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


1128 


general,  aie  loo  good  judges  not  to  learn  the  true  merits  of 
men,  after  being  furnished  with  an  opportunity  to  inspect 
them.  I  hope  God  will  preserve  me  in  the  hounds  of  mode- 
ration, and  enable  me  to  support  myself  with  proper  dignity, 
neither  rash  nor  timorous,  pursuing  a  conduct  marked  with 
manly  firmness,  but  never  bordering  on  frenzy. 


BIDDEl'ORD  COMMITTEE  TO  MASSACHUSETTS  CONORESS. 

Biddeford,  June  28,  1775. 

May  it  please  your  Honours  :  As  we  have  thought 
proper  to  forward  to  your  Honours,  under  convoy  of  the 
bearers,  Messrs.  Noah  Hooper  and  Etlgcomb  Nason,  a 
person  who  calls  himself  Thomas  Neal,  we  apprehend  it 
to  be  our  duty,  as  a  Committee  of  Inspection,  to  transmit 
you  an  exact  detail  of  our  proceedings  relative  to  him,  that 
lie  may  be  disposed  of  as  your  Honours  may  judge  expe- 
dient :  Therefore,  beg  leave  to  represent,  that  on  Saturday 
last  the  person  in  question  arrived  in  this  Town,  and  being 
a  stranger,  some  of  the  inhabitants  were  prepossessed  with 
a  suspicion  of  his  being  a  spy.  The  Committee,  in  con- 
sequence, were  immediately  applied  to.  We  attended, 
when  he  submitted  to  an  examination,  and  gave  the  follow- 
ing account  of  himself,  to  wit:  That  he  was  a  native  of 
Britain:  had  lived  several  years  in  America;  had  fre- 
quently travelled,  and  was  well  acquainted  in  most  of  the 
Southern  Colonies,  and  had,  previous  to  the  present  un- 
happy crisis  of  the  unnatural  contest  between  Great  Bri- 
tain and  her  Colonies,  acquired  the  birth  of  a  steward  on 
board  of  His  Majesty's  ship  Senegal,  Captain  Duddington, 
commander;  that  he  left  England  in  said  ship  about  ten 
weeks  since,  fully  persuaded,  from  the  representations  he 
had  then  received,  that  the  disturbance  in  America  was 
kindled  by  the  breath  of  a  faction  by  no  means  formida- 
ble ;  that  it  might  be  easily  quelled,  and  was  universally 
disapproved  by  the  cool  and  dispassionate  of  all  denomina- 
tions in  the  Colonies ;  that  the  first  American  port  they 
touched  at  was  Boston,  when  they  soon  had  orders  to  re- 
pair to  Falmouth,  in  Casco  Bay,  at  which  place  he  had 
been  two  weeks  ;  that  on  his  arrival  in  America,  found  not 
a  faction,  but  the  whole  Continent  joined  in  opposition  to 
Parliamentary  measures  ;  that,  therefore,  he  could  not,  in 
conscience,  continue  in  a  service  in  which  he  must  be 
obliged  to  draw  the  sword  against  America ;  for  that  reason 
he  had  left  the  ship,  and  proposed  going  to  Philadelphia, 
where  he  has  several  friends  and  acquaintance;  and  that 
he  should  have  applied  for  a  pass  prior  to  his  leaving  Fal- 
mouth,  but  that  he  imagined  such  application  would  be 
attended  with  danger,  as  the  ship  lay  in  the  harbour. 

In  order,  if  possible,  to  be  more  fully  ascertained  of  the 
truth  of  the  above  declaration,  we  next  day  despatched  a 
person  to  Falmouth,  to  wait  on  the  Committee  there,  who 
informed  him  that  the  Steward  had  departed  the  ship,  and 
that  the  Captain,  supposing  he  had  been  detained  by  the 
people,  sent  a  message  to  Colonel  Preble  to  demand  a 
restoration  of  him.  The  Colonel  returned  for  answer,  that 
he  knew  nothing  of  him,  but  that  he  was  seen  a  little  be- 
fore going  out  of  Town.  Colonel  Preble  likewise  informed 
the  messenger  sent  by  us,  that  he  had  had  some  conversa- 
tion with  this  person,  and  heard  him  say  he  intended  to 
leave  the  ship  for  the  reasons  above  mentioned.  He  hired 
a  horse  a  little  without  the  Town  of  Falmouth,  and  came 
publickly  to  this  place. 

The  above,  may  it  please  your  Honours,  is  a  true  ac- 
count of  what  we  have  been  able  to  collect  relative  to  the 
person  in  custody  ;  and  as  the  people  here  are  uneasy,  and 
still  apprehensive  that  he  may  be  inimical  to  the  interests 
of  America,  we  have  judged  it  most  eligible  that  he  should 
be  sent  to  the  Congress,  that  your  Honours  may  give  such 
farther  orders  concerning  him  as  your  wisdom  may  di- 
rect, Richard  Jordan, 

Benj.  Hooper, 
Thos.  Gillpatrick, 
Committee  of  Inspection  for  the  Town  of  Biddeford. 
To  the  Honourable  Provincial  Congress. 

COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY  TO  MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS. 

In  Committee  of  Safety,  Cambridge,  Juno  28,  1775. 
Whereas,  the  Honourable  Provincial  Congress  did,  on 
the  26th  instant,  pass  a  Resolve,  "  That  all  the  small-arms 


that  are  or  may  be  procured  by  the  above  order  (men- 
tioned in  said  Resolve)  be  delivered  to  the  Committee  of 
Safety  at  Cambridge,  they  to  give  their  receipt  for  the 
same  to  the  person  from  whom  they  receive  them ;  that 
the  same  be  delivered  out  to  such  officers  as  shall  produce 
orders  therefor  from  the  Hon.  General  Ward,"  &zc. 

And  whereas,  the  Honourable  General  Hard,  in  con- 
sequence of  that  part  of  the  above  quotation  which  is 
scored,  has  this  day  issued  General  Orders,  in  which  are 
the  words:  "And  the  Committee  of  Safety  are  hereby 
ordered  to  deliver  out  arms  to  such  commanding  officers 
as  make  apj>lication  to  them  for  the  same :" 

And  whereas,  this  Committee  apprehend  that  said  Re- 
solve does  not  empower  the  General  to  order  them  to 
deliver  said  aims,  but  only  to  order  his  officers  to  receive 
from  this  Committee  such  arms  as  they  are  ordered  by  the 
honourable  Congress  to  deliver  to  the  General's  orders  to 
his  officers. 

And  whereas,  the  Committee  apprehend,  that  it  is  of 
vast  importance  that  no  orders  are  issued  by  the  military, 
or  obeyed  by  the  civil  powers,  but  only  such  as  are  direct- 
ed by  the  honourable  representative  body  of  the  people, 
from  whom  all  military  and  civil  power  originates :  And 
though  this  Committee  are  satisfied  that  General  Ward  has 
misunderstood  said  Resolve,  and  does  not  mean  or  intend 
to  set  up  the  military  power  above  the  civil;  yet,  lest  this 
order  of  the  General's  should  be  adduced  as  a  precedent 
in  future,  we  think  it  our  indispensable  duty  to  protest 
asrainst  the  General's  said  order;  notwithstanding  which 

0  ....  ® 

protest,  we  also  think  it  our  indispensable  duty  to  deliver 
said  arms,  agreeable  to  the  spirit  of  said  Resolve,  and  as 
the  exigency  of  the  publick  requires,  and  submit  our  con- 
duct to  the  honourable  Congress. 

Benjamin  White,  Chairman. 
To  the  Hon.  Provincial  Congress  at  Watertown. 


JOHN  O'BRIEN  TO  THE  MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS. 

Machias,  June  28,  1775. 
The  Petition  of  John  O'Brien,  for  and  in  behalf  of  the 
Inhabitants  o/Machias,  humbly  sheweth  : 

That  the  inhabitants  of  said  Machias  are  a  thousand 
souls,  who  have  not  provision,  or  any  method  to  procure  it, 
from  the  situation  of  the  times ;  that  the  provision  already 
made  for  their  support  by  this  Congress  fills  them  with 
gratitude,  but  is  so  small  that  it  will  not  support  them  for 
any  length  of  time.  The  petitioner  therefore  prays  that 
said  inhabitants  may  be  supplied  with  some  more  provision, 
in  the  same  or  like  method  as  upon  their  former  petition, 
or  they  will  be  obliged  to  remove  from  their  habitations. 
And  your  petitioner,  as  in  duty  bound,  shall  ever  pray. 

John  O'Brien. 
To  the  Hon.  Provincial  Congress  at  Watertown. 


NEW-HAMPSHIRE   COMMITTEE   OF   SAFETY  TO  GENERAL 
FOLSOM. 

In  Committco  of  Safety,  Exeter,  June  28,  1775. 

Sir  :  Doctor  Ezra  Green  is  appointed  Surgeon  of 
Read's  Regiment,  if  he  will  accept.  We  are  informed  he 
is  now  with  the  Army.  You  will  please  to  let  him  know 
he  is  appointed.  The  cannon  are  getting  ready  with  all 
possible  despatch.  What  you  mention  of  the  Artillery 
company,  is  under  consideration  of  Congress. 

We  have  not  time  to  add,  as  the  bearer  is  waiting,  and 
in  a  great  hurry,  but  shall  write  you  fully  by  the  Paymas- 
ter, who  will  be  with  you  this  week.  Please  to  see  that 
the  enclosed  is  carefully  delivered.    We  are,  &jc 

To  General  Folsom,  Medford. 


EXTRACT  OF   A   LETTER  FROM  THE    HAGUE,  DATED  JUNE 
29,  1775. 

In  a  full  assembly  of  the  States  General  the  20th  ultimo, 
it  was  resolved,  that  orders  be  issued  from  the  Admiralty 
Board  of  their  High  Mightinesses  the  States  General,  to 
the  Sieur  Van  Stort,  Vice-Admiral  of  the  Dutch  squadron 
in  the  West-Indies,  instructing  him  to  give  orders  to  all  per- 
sons under  him,  to  their  utmost  power  to  seize  and  destroy 
all  ammunition,  stores,  and  provisions,  which  may  be  found 


i  129 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


1 1  30 


in  any  ship  or  ships  bound  from  any  of  the  Dutch  settlements 
in  that  quarter,  or  on  board  Dutch  ships  from  any  quarter, 
which  are  bound  to  any  port  in  the  English  American 
Colonies,  except  such  as  are  consigned  either  to  the  Gov- 
ernours  of  New-England ,  Philadelphia,  Neic-York,  Hali- 
fax, or  Virginia;  and  that  such  captures  shall  be  consi- 
dered as  lawful  prizes,  and  be  shared  among  the  officers  and 
crews  of  those  vessels  concerned  in  taking  them,  the  same 
as  those  who  are  enemies  to  the  States,  but  that  the  crews 
(the  captain,  his  chief  mate,  and  supercargo,  if  any,  ex- 
cepted) be  landed  on  the  nearest  Dominion  of  Great  Bri- 
tain, where  such  capture  is  made.  Resolved,  also,  that 
Sieur  Van  Stort  make  this  known  in  every  Dutch  port  or 
harbour  where  he  may  touch. 

"Ordered,  that  these  resolutions  be  made  known  to  his 
Excellency  Mr.  York,  the  British  Minister  to  the  States; 
and  also  a  copy  of  the  same  be  sent  to  the  Dutch  Resident 
at  London." 


KXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  CHARLESTOWN,  SOUTH- 
C  VKOL1NA,  TO  A  GENTLEMAN  IN  PHILADELPHIA,  DATED 
JUNE  29,  1775. 

Our  place  has  rather  the  appearance  of  a  garrison  town 
than  a  mart  for  trade;  one  company  keeps  guard  all  day, 
and  two  every  night.  In  our  situation  we  cannot  be  too 
watchful,  and  we  may  require  much  strength,  for  our 
negroes  have  all  high  notions  of  their  liberty;  and  we  lately 
learned  by  intercepted  letters,  and  otherwise,  that  there 
have  been  endeavours  to  set  the  Indians  on  us.  Mr. 
Stewart,  the  Superintendent  of  Indian  affairs,  is  accused  of 
being  the  person  who  has  forwarded  this  wicked  design,  and 
he  has  fled  for  safety. 

The  Tories  in  Georgia  are  now  no  more  ;  the  Province 
is  almost  universally  on  the  right  side,  and  are  about  to 
choose  Delegates  to  send  to  the  Congress. 


FREE  THOUGHTS  ON  THE  PRESENT  TIMES  AND  MEASURES ; 
ADDRESSED  TO  THE  PEOPLE  OF  VIRGINIA. 

My  Countrymen  :  In  popular,  mixed,  and  free  Constitu- 
tions, the  fluctuation  of  power  ought  to  be  carefully  mark- 
ed, and  diligently  attended  to,  lest  the  different  branches 
arrogate  to  themselves  rights  and  privileges  not  originally 
inherent  in  them.  To  resolve  such  Constitutions  to  their 
first  principles,  is  the  best  criterion  to  judge  of  their  purity. 
If  they  will  not  stand  this  test,  we  may  safely  pronounce 
them  defective;  and  then  our  next  inquiry  should  be, 
where  has  the  errour  begun,  or  the  violation  originated  ? 
When  this  point  is  gained,  like  a  skilful  physician,  who 
reckons  a  competent  knowledge  of  the  distemper  of  his 
patient  half  way  towards  his  cure,  we  ought  to  exert  our- 
selves to  combat  the  evil  in  its  origin,  and  eradicate  it  out 
of  the  political  body.  If  lenitives  should  fail  we  should 
have  recourse  to  corrosives;  for  the  political  as  well  as  the 
human  stale  must  sooner  or  later  sustain  a  convulsion,  if 
the  latent  or  obvious  infirmities  in  its  frame  are  not  timely 
removed.  As  prudence  will  ever  guard  against  the  one, 
so  it  will  endeavour  to  discover  and  heal  the  other.  It  is  a 
duty  of  the  first  importance,  interwoven  in  the  honest  man's 
constitution,  and  founded  in  that  love  for  his  Country 
which,  in  the  generous  breast,  supersedes  all  other  consi- 
derations ;  it  is  a  task  Virginius  has  prescribed  himself,  and 
which  he  will  constantly  execute,  let  what  may  be  the  con- 
sequence. 

In  the  present  alarming  situation  of  affairs  between  the 
American  Colonies  and  Great  Britain,  if  the  publick  at- 
tention were  not  wholly  absorbed  in  the  multiplicity  of  so 
many  more  alarming  objects,  a  late  Proclamation*  would 
scarcely  fail  of  attracting  notice ;  but  though  it  be  of  an 
inferiour  nature,  and  more  capable  perhaps  of  exciting  our 
contempt  than  indignation,  yet,  my  fellow-citizens,  I  think 
it  ought  not  to  be  suffered  to  pass  unstigmatized.  The 
person  who  manifests  an  intention  of  doing  you  an  injury  in 
your  persons  or  properties,  is  perhaps  a  degree  less  crimi- 
nal than  the  real  aggressor,  under  the  strict  letter  of  the 
law,  but  not  a  jot  so  in  foro  conscientice.  Whoever,  there- 
fore, would  dare  circumscribe  jrour  privileges,  or  abridge 
those  rights  which  the  laws  of  God,  of  nature,  and  reason, 
and  the  liberties  of  the  British  Constitution  have  given 
*  Published  the  28th  of  March  last,  by  our  Governour. 


you,  however  dignified  his  station  or  exalted  his  condition, 
ought  to  be  dragged  out  to  open  and  publick  view,  and 
held  up  to  the  indignation  of  an  injured,  incensed  people. 
Soothed  as  we  have  been  hitherto  by  the  Earl  of  Dunmore's 
vacant  indifference,  amidst  the  convulsions  of  this  distress- 
ed Country,  if  we  did  not  consider  him  as  a  friend,  we 
never  imagined  him  an  enemy.  But  time,  the  great  re- 
vealer  of  secrets,  has  at  last  convinced  us  that  we  were 
sadly  mistaken.  His  letter  to  the  Earl  of  Dartmouth,  re- 
plete with  the  most  injurious  misrepresentations  and  the 
most  notorious  falsehoods  ;  his  removal  of  the  powder  from 
the  magazine  of  the  Country,  at  a  time  that  the  minds  of 
the  people  were  alarmed  with  the  justest  apprehensions  : 
his  offers  to  our  slaves,  and  the  general  turbulence  thereby 
occasioned  all  over  the  Colony;  his  late  Proclamation, 
charging  you,  my  countrymen,  with  disaffection  to  the  pre- 
sent form  of  Government,  and  a  settled  design  of  altering 
it ;  but  above  all,  his  late  heroick  transaction  in  setting  a 
trap  in  the  magazine,  with  the  express  intention  to  murder 
our  incautious  fellow-citizens ;  all  these  circumstances  put 
together,  leave  no  doubt,  my  dear  countrymen,  1  hope,  in 
your  breasts  of  the  intentions  and  views  of  your  Gov- 
ernour. 

A  countryman  put  a  snake,  pinched  with  cold  and  ex- 
piring with  hunger,  into  his  bosom.  The  snake  no  sooner 
began  to  feel  a  genial  warmth  and  a  renovation  of  strength 
from  the  fostering  hand  of  its  protector,  than  it  displayed 
the  native  malevolence  of  its  constitution  ;  it  bit  the  coun- 
tryman, and  if  the  kind  protector  did  not  expire  of  the 
wound,  it  was  rather  owing  to  the  soundness  and  vigour  of 
his  constitution  than  to  the  leniency  of  the  adder's  tooth. 

In  whatever  light  I  behold  the  late  conduct  of  John 
Earl  of  Dunmore,  his  disingenuity  extorts  my  utmost  con- 
tempt. As  the  representative  of  the  King,  candour  and 
truth,  at  least,  we  had  some  reason  to  expect  from  him. 
But,  alas!  how  have  we  been  disappointed.  Witness  the 
above  mentioned  letter  to  the  Earl  of  Dartmouth.  As 
freemen,  I  humbly  think,  also,  we  were  entitled  to  every 
species  of  freedom  that  a  man  in  Great  Britain  claims. 
The  British  subject  claims  it  as  his  undoubted  right  to 
associate  with  his  fellow-citizens  in  a  peaceable  manner, 
deliberate  on  his  grievances,  and  he  thinks  it  no  very  ex- 
traordinary piece  of  presumption  to  petition  the  King  for  a 
redress.  This  privilege  is  denied  you  by  the  Earl  of  Dun- 
more.  Your  grievances  he  styles  pretended,  and  the  mea- 
sures you  have  concerted  to  obtain  a  redress  are  termed 
unjustifiable;  consequently,  my  countrymen,  this  pageant 
of  State,  this  machine  of  Government,  thinks  it  incumbent 
on  him  to  inhibit  you  the  exercise  of  a  right  that  the  King 
of  Great  Britain  was  never  hardy  enough  to  deny  the 
British  Nation.  If  I  behold  him  gloriously  engaged  in 
clandestinely  removing  the  powder  from  the  magazine  in 
the  night,  how  is  it  possible  to  refuse  him  the  tribute  of 
my  applause?  Aided  by  your  worthy  compeer,  Collins, 
(no  despicable  auxiliary,)  the  fame  of  that  night's  transac- 
tion will  certainly,  if  gratitude  is  not  banished  the  world  as 
well  as  virtue  and  honour,  transmit  your  name,  my  Lord, 
with  undiminished  lustre  to  future  ages.  How  will  it  sound 
in  the  annals  of  some  future  historian,  that  on  such  a  night 
the  Right  Honourable  his  Excellency  John  Earl  of  Dun- 
more,  Lieutenant-Governour  and  Commander-in-Chief  of 
Virginia  and  Vice-Admiral  of  the  same,  had  gone  pri- 
vately in  the  night,  and  burglariously  broke  open  the  pub- 
lick magazine  of  the  Country,  and  stole  thereout  about 
twenty  barrels  of  gunpowder,  lodged  therein  for  the  use 
and  exigence  of  the  Colony?  And  lest  any  part  of  this 
memorable  transaction  be  forgot,  I  hope  the  historian  will 
not  omit  to  mention  that  Captain  Henry  Collins,  com- 
mander of  one  of  the  King's  armed  vessels  (the  terrour  of 
oyster  boats  and  fishing  canoes)  in  the  Bay  of  Chesapeake, 
had  aided  and  assisted,  and  valiantly  co-operated  with  your 
Lordship  in  that  arduous  and  important  exploit;  that  when 
remonstrated  with  on  what  the  Virginians  thought  an  im- 
prudent, improper,  absurd,  disingenuous  step,  you  honour- 
ably pledged  your  word  that  you  would  return  the  powder, 
and  remove  every  cause  of  discontent,  and  that  then,  al- 
most in  a  breath,  you  basely  violated  your  word  ;  that  you 
made  use  of  such  low,  unmanly  evasions  and  subterfuges, 
to  deceive  the  people  of  Virginia,  as  no  one,  unless  totally 
dead  to  every  sense  of  shame  and  every  manly  exertion, 
would  have  recourse  to;  that  you  have  added  the  corrup- 


1131 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


1132 


tions  of  the  worst  of  hearts  to  the  blunders  of  the  worst  of 
heads ;  that  having  once  gone  wrong,  you  think  it  your 
duty  to  persist  in  the  road  of  errour;  that  as  you  have  done 
so,*  recrimination  you  think  is  your  best  asylum  ;  and  that 
to  avoid  the  importunity  of  a  free  expostulation,  (too  severe 
a  trial  to  the  self-condemned,)  your  last  retreat  is  the 
Fowey.  Tracing  you,  my  Lord,  through  all  the  mazes 
of  your  iniquity,  1  will  drop  the  ridicule,  and  seriously  ask 
you  if  you  can  wonder  that  the  people  of  this  Colony  have 
withdrawn  their  confidence  from  you?  Can  any  confidence 
be  reposed  in  a  murderer?  I  know  not  how  your  Lordship 
could  reconcile  to  your  feelings  the  idea  of  the  secret  assas- 
sin, the  dark  murderer.  But  1  believe  there  are  very  few 
who  do  not  rank  you  in  that  class.  I  care  not  whether  the 
incautious  but  brave  young  fellows  who  have  fallen  victims 
to  your  dark  plans,  have  expired  of  their  wounds  or  not; 
it  is  the  intention  of  the  agent  that  should  regulate  our 
judgment  of  any  action,  and  here  you  should  stand  self- 
convicted.  Will  you,  then,  confess  that  evil  counsellors 
and  pernicious  advisers  betrayed  you  into  that  diabolical 
project  ?  Or  that  it  was  the  machination  of  your  own  cor- 
rupt heart  ?  Deviate,  I  conjure  you,  for  once,  into  candour, 
and  make  atonement  for  the  many  injuries  you  have  done 
this  distressed  Country;  drive  from  your  presence  the  rep- 
tiles that  have  involved  you  in  your  present  difficulties  and 
embarrassment  with  a  brave  and  free  people,  who,  I  believe, 
once  esteemed  you,  and  would  doubtless  continue  to  do  so, 
had  you  continued  to  merit  their  approbation ;  candidly 
acknowledge  your  faults,  and  you  may  yet  mitigate  the  re- 
sentment of  the  Virginians,  but  you  can  never  recover 
their  esteem. 

To  what  fatality,  my  Lord,  can  it  be  imputed  that  you, 
who  have  been  hitherto  considered  as  an  inoffensive,  easy, 
good  natured  man,  should  suddenly  become  black  as  the 
Ethiop,  and  prostitute  abilities  never,  indeed,  designed  to 
shine  in  the  superiour  spheres  of  life,  but  which,  in  the  calm 
retreats  of  social  converse,  if  properly  managed,  might 
exempt  you  from  censure  ?  Is  the  paltry  emolument  of  the 
government  of  Virginia  so  intrinsically  considerable  that 
you  must  sacrifice  your  honour,  your  virtue,  your  reputa- 
tion, (if  you  ever  had  any,)  to  the  preservation  of  it  ?  Does 
it  necessarily  follow  as  an  indispensable  conclusion,  because 
you  have  accepted  an  office  from  our  most  pious  and  gra- 
cious Sovereign,  that  you  must,  chameleon-like,  alter  your 
colour,  your  complexion,  your  sentiments,  and,  in  short, 
that  you  must  become  the  very  reverse  of  what  you  were 
at  the  time  of  your  investiture?  Are  not  the  strongest 
marks  of  an  overbearing  influence  discernible  in  your  whole 
conduct?  Or  must  we  impute  the  complexion  of  your  po- 
litical manoeuvres  to  a  parity  of  sentiments  in  your  royal 
master?  These  are  questions,  my  Lord,  that  the  late 
tenour  of  your  conduct  would  require  a  solution  of.  It 
rests  with  you  to  determine  whether  it  needs  any  justifica- 
tion. I  shall  urge  you  no  further  at  present,  but  leave  you 
to  brood  in  solitude,  disappointed  and  baffled,  as  I  wish  you 
and  all  the  enemies  of  America  ever  may  be,  over  half- 
formed  schemes  of  imaginary  promotion,  despicable  as  a 
Bernard  or  a  Hutchinson,  and  with  JVoolsey's  last  consola- 
tion :  "  Had  I  as  industriously  served  my  God  as  I  have 
my  King,  he  would  not  now  have  forsaken  me  !" 

Wonderful  and  unaccountable  are,  my  dear  fellow-citi- 
zens, the  works  and  dispensation  of  Providence !  By  a 
strange  but  noble  species  of  alchymy,  we  perceive  the  great- 
est possible  good  resulting  from  the  greatest  evil.  The 
Boston  Port  Bill,  intended  by  a  most  abandoned  Ministry 
to  intimidate  and  divide,  has  joined  together  in  an  indisso- 
luble union  the  whole  American  Continent  from  the  Bay 
of  Fundi/  to  the  Gulf  of  Florida.  The  famine  bills  to  the 
Northward  were  designed  for  the  same  purpose,  as  well  as 
the  restraining  bills,  to  operate  in  these  Southern  Colonies  ; 
but  instead  of  answering  the  ends  of  their  devisers,  I  trust 
they  will  cover  their  guilty  heads  with  ruin  and  confusion. 
Tyrants  I  from  my  soul  abhor,  and  whether  individuals  or 
aggregate  bodies,  they  are  equally  the  objects  of  my  detes- 
tation. Oh  !  if  there  is  a  God,  and  that  there  is  all  nature 
cries  aloud  throughout  her  works,  he  must  delight  in  virtue, 
and  that  which  he  delights  in  must  be  happy.  Your  ex- 
ertions for  liberty,  my  countrymen,  must  be  pleasing  to  the 
great  Creator  of  the  Universe.  Your  cause,  O  Virginians, 

*  See  tlio  Govornour's  reasons  for  loaving  Williamsburg)),  to  rosido 
on  board  the  Fowey. 


is  the  cause  of  virtue,  of  justice,  and  of  truth.  Never,  then, 
relinquish  it  but  witb  your  latest  breath,  and  let  it  be  the 
last  glorious  boast  of  your  lives  that  you  have  transmitted 
the  precious  inheritance  inviolate  to  your  sons. 

VlBGINIUS. 


Chester  County,  Pennsylvania,  June  29,  1775. 
At  a  meeting  of  several  officers  of  several  companies  of 
the  Militia  in  the  County  of  Chester,  it  was  unanimously 
agreed,  for  the  better  regulation  of  the  military  order  of 
said  County,  to  have  a  general  meeting  of  all  the  officers  of 
the  several  companies,  to  be  held  at  the  house  of  Richard 
Cheney,  Inn-keeper,  in  the  Township  of  East  Cain,  on  the 
21st  of  July,  at  ten  o'clock,  A  M.,  which  will  be  the  day 
immediately  after  the  Continental  Fast,  then  and  there  to 
divide  this  County  into  the  most  proper  and  convenient  dis- 
tricts, in  order  to  form  our  several  Battalions  and  choose 
our  Field-Officers.  The  gentlemen  officers  are  therefore 
hereby  earnestly  requested  to  attend  for  the  abovesaid 
purposes. 

PHILADELPHIA  COMMITTEE. 

Committee  Chamber,  June  29,  1775. 

Whereas  several  persons,  through  a  misapprehension  of 
the  Resolves  which  have  been  entered  into  by  the  Provin- 
cial Convention,  relative  to  the  killing  of  Sheep,  have  pur- 
chased Ram  Lamb  in  the  market  of  this  City,  contrary  to 
the  intent  and  meaning  of  said  Resolve ;  the  Committee, 
in  order  to  prevent  such  mistakes  in  future,  request  the 
publick  will  take  notice  that,  agreeable  to  the  purport  of 
the  Resolve  aforesaid,  no  Sheep  of  what  denomination 
soever  may  be  killed  or  purchased  under  four  years  of  age  ; 
and  that  the  names  of  all  persons  who  shall,  after  this,  be 
discovered  to  act  in  opposition  to  said  Resolve,  will  be 
published  forthwith  to  the  world. 

Ordered,  That  notice  be  given  in  the  publick  papers  to 
all  masters  of  vessels  which  may  arrive  in  this  port,  that 
the  Committee  of  Inspection  will  meet  every  day  at  twelve 
o'clock,  at  the  Coffee-House,  to  receive  a  report  of  their 
respective  cargoes.  And  it  is  expected  that  no  Captain 
will  fail  to  attend  the  Committee  the  first  noon  after  his 
arrival ;  and  that  owners  of  vessels  and  consignees  will  di- 
rect their  Captains  accordingly. 

Ordered,  That  the  following  Report  of  the  District 
Committee,  No.  2,  concerning  the  Ship  Christopher, 
Captain  Edwards,  from  Gibraltar,  be  made  publick,  viz  : 

"  We,  the  District  Committee,  No.  2,  appointed  to  at- 
tend the  discharging  a  cargo  of  Salt  from  on  board  the  Ship 
Christopher,  do  report  to  the  General  Committee,  that  we 
have  attended  said  duty  with  care,  and  that  we  are  fully 
satisfied  that  no  British  Goods  were  imported  in  said  ship, 
nor  the  Association  of  the  Congress  in  any  wise  violated." 

Extract  from  the  Minutes  : 

J.  B.  Smith,  Secretary. 


NEW-YORK  CONGRESS  TO  CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS. 
[Read  in  Congress,  July  3,  1775.] 
In  Provincial  Congress,  New.York,  June  29,  1775. 

Gentlemen:  In  compliance  with  the  Resolve  of  Con- 
gress of  the  10th  of  June,  instant,  we  have  wrote  to  the 
proprietors  of  the  Powder  Mills  in  this  Colony,  requesting 
them  immediately  to  put  their  Mills  in  a  condition  to  manu- 
facture Powder  lor  the  use  of  the  Continent. 

Upon  inquiry  we  find  that  there  can  be  purchased  in 
this  City  sixteen  or  twenty  tons  of  Sulphur,  winch  we  con- 
ceive will  be  more  than  sufficient  for  the  Saltpetre  that 
may  be  collected  in  the  different  Colonies. 

If  the  Congress  should  be  of  this  opinion,  it  will  be  ne- 
cessary to  give  directions  to  the  other  Colonies  not  to  send 
to  this  City  any  Sulphur,  but  to  direct  their  attention  to 
the  article  of  Saltpetre  only;  of  this  article  there  are  but 
two  hundred  and  fifty  pounds  to  be  purchased  here  at 
present. 

We  submit  this  matter  to  the  consideration  of  the  Con- 
gress, and  are,  gentlemen,  your  very  humble  servants. 

By  order  of  the  Congress  : 

P.  V.  B.  Livingston,  President. 
To  the  Honourable  the  Continental  Congress. 


1133 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


1134 


GENERAL  SCHUYLER  TO  CONGRESS. 
[Read  in  Congress  July  1,  1775.] 

New-York,  June  29,  1775. 
Gentlemen  :  I  did  myself  the  honour  to  write  you 
yesterday,  since  which  I  have  received  some  intelligence 
which  I  think  it  my  duty  to  lay  before  you. 

A  gentleman,  a  member  of  the  Provincial  Congress 
here,  is  this  afternoon  arrived  from  Albany.  He  advises 
that  a  few  of  the  Oneida  Indians  are  lately  arrived  at  that 
place,  in  a  disposition  very  friendly  to  our  cause;  that  they 
have  declared  a  desire  that  the  Indians  should  be  called 
together  at  Albany,  or  in  its  neighbourhood ;  that  great 
attention  was  paid  them  by  the  Albany  Committee.  As 
so  good  an  opportunity  to  conciliate  their  affections  will,  I 
trust,  be  readily  embraced  by  your  Honours,  I  have  ven- 
tured to  advise  the  Albany  Committee  to  dismiss  them 
with  presents,  and  assurances  that  they  will  speedily  be 
requested  to  meet  persons  appointed  for  the  purpose  of 
holding  a  conference  with  them,  either  at  Albany  or  any 
other  convenient  place. 

The  troops  on  board  the  transports  at  Sandy-Hook, 
from  the  best  intelligence  I  am  able  to  procure,  are  des- 
tined for  Boston;  they  have  been  detained  to  take  in 
water,  and  I  am  well  assured  that  they  are  to  sail  to- 
morrow. 

Permit  me,  honoured  Sirs,  to  request  that  I  may  be 
favoured  with  a  copy  of  the  arrangement  of  the  General 
and  Staff-Officers  in  your  Army,  of  the  pay  allowed  them, 
and  every  other  officer  and  soldier,  and  receive  your  orders 
what  allowance  of  provisions  each  man  is  to  have  per  day, 
that  all  troops  under  my  command  may  be  equally  provided 
for,  to  prevent  uneasiness.  Enclose  a  copy  of  my  letter 
to  Colonel  Hinman,  commanding  at  Ticonderoga. 

I  am,  honoured  Sirs,  respectfully,  your  most  obedient 
and  most  humble  servant,  Ph.  Schuyler. 

To  the  Honourable  the  Continental  Congress. 

GENERAL  SCHUYLER  TO  COLONEL  HINMAN. 

New- York,  June  28,  1775. 
Sir:  The  honourable  Continental  Congress  having  been 
pleased  to  appoint  me  to  a  Major-General's  command  in 
the  American  Army,  and  being  directed  to  take  charge  of 
that  part  of  it  which  is  or  may  be  employed  in  the  Prov- 
ince of  New-York,  I  do  myself  the  pleasure  to  advise  you 
thereof. 

You  will  please  with  all  expedition  to  make  me  a  return 
of  the  troops  under  your  command  and  their  condition, 
specifying  from  which  Colony  they  are,  what  number  of 
them  are  at  Crown  Point,  what  at  Ticonderoga,  the  land- 
ing on  Lake  George,  and  the  south  end  of  said  lake,  or  at 
any  other  post  you  may  have  occupied.  And  that  the 
service  may  not  suffer  for  want  of  any  thing  necessary 
with  you,  I  beg  of  you  to  make  me  a  very  minute  return 
of  the  provision,  cannon,  ammunition,  artillery  stores,  in- 
trenching and  pioneer  tools,  at  every  of  the  above  men- 
tioned places ;  as  also  of  the  number  of  vessels  on  Lake 
George,  what  kind  they  are,  and  their  burden ;  the  same 
of  those  on  Lake  Chanvplain. 

As  it  is  of  the  highest  importance  that  good  intelligence 
of  General  Carleton's  motions  should  be  had,  let  me  en- 
treat you  to  spare  no  pains  to  procure  the  best  accounts  of 
what  he  is  about ;  of  the  disposition  of  the  Canadians  and 
Savages  towards  us;  what  posts  are  occupied  against  us; 
if  fortified,  and  how ;  the  number  of  men  with  which  they 
are  garrisoned,  whether  of  Canadians  or  Regular  Troops; 
and  from  time  to  time  transmit  me  any  intelligence  you 
may  procure.  Take  every  opportunity  of  giving  the  Ca- 
nadians and  Indians  the  strongest  assurances  of  our  friend- 
ly sentiments  towards  them  ;  and  if  they  should  unfortu- 
nately have  entertained  any  that  are  unfavourable  from 
Mr.  Allen's  excursion  into  their  country,  try  and  eradicate 
them  by  assurances  that  what  he  did  was  without  any 
orders  ;  and  although  I  am  convinced  he  meant  to  serve  the 
cause  of  America  by  what  he  did,  yet  it  may  be.  well,  if  the 
Canadians  have  taken  umbrage  at  it,  to  inform  them  that 
his  conduct  in  that  instance  was  disapproved  of. 

In  military  contests  it  behooves  every  commander  to  be 
extremely  diligent,  careful,  and  circumspect  to  watch  every 
movement  of  his  opponents ;  this  I  have  confidence  you 
will  not  by  any  means  neglect  any  more  than  that  of  put- 


ting yourself  in  the  best  posture  of  defence.  And  as  it  is 
necessary  to  prepare  against  possible  accidents,  1  would 
have  you  take  measures  to  secure  a  retreat  to  the  south 
end  of  Lake  George  or  South-Bay,  if  at  any  time  you 
should  be  unhappily  forced  to  so  disagreeable  a  step. 
1  am,  Sir,  your  most  obedient  servant, 

Ph.  Schuyler. 
To  Colonel  Hinman,  commanding  at  Ticonderoga. 


GENERAL  SCHUYLER  TO  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

New-York,  June  29,  1775. 

Sir  :  As  I  propose  that  the  troops  from  Connecticut 
should  encamp  this  morning,  permit  me  to  beg  of  you  to 
give  orders  that  tents  to  the  number  of  two  hundred  and 
fifty,  with  the  poles,  be  sent  down  as  soon  as  possible  to 
the  grounds  the  troops  are  to  occupy.  They  will  also  be 
in  immediate  want  of  fuel  for  dressing  their  victuals,  and 
for  straw  to  lie  on. 

Pray  be  so  good  as  to  let  me  know  at  what  hour  you 
think  the  tents  can  be  at  the  place  destined  for  the  en- 
campment. 1  am,  Sir,  respectfully  your  most  obedient 
humble  servant,  Ph.  Schuyler. 

To  Peter  Van  Brugh  Livingston,  Esq.,  President,  &lc. 


CHARLOTTE  COUNTY  (nEW-YORk)  COMMITTEE. 

At  a  meeting  held  at  Fort  Edward,  June  29,  1775,  to 
choose  three  Delegates  to  represent  the  County  of  Char- 
lotte at  the  Provincial  Congress  convened  at  the  City  of 
New-York,  with  Doctor  John  Williams  and  William 
Marsh,  Esq.,  before  chosen  by  a  number  of  the  inhabi- 
tants of  said  County : 

Be  it  known,  that  Doctor  George  Smyth,  David  Wat- 
kins,  and  Archibald  Campbell,  Esquires,  are  duly  elected, 
and  it  is  the  sense  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  County  afore- 
said that  the  above  named  John  Williams,  William  Marsh, 
George  Smyth,  David  Watkins,  and  Archibald  Campbell, 
they,  or  either  of  them,  shall  represent  the  said  County 
in  the  Provincial  Congress  at  New- York. 

Signed  by  order  of  the  County  Committee  : 

Archibald  Campbell,  Chairman. 


JACOB  BAYLEY  TO  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

Newbury,  June  29,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  Lately  we  received  a  desire  from  you  to 
send  a  member  or  two  to  the  Provincial  Congress  at  New- 
York.  We  met  and  chose  one,  Sir,  myself;  but  considering 
our  distance  and  the  danger  we  might  be  in  of  a  visit  from 
Canada,  thought  best  that  I  do  not  yet  attend  until  we 
were  prepared  to  meet  with  an  enemy  at  home.  I  am 
taking  what  pains  I  can  to  be  prepared  with  arms  and  am- 
munition, but  as  yet  to  but  little  purpose  ;  am  still  appre- 
hensive of  danger  from  Canada,  and  cannot  be  absent.  I 
have  had  intelligence  from  an  Indian  to  be  depended  on, 
who  informs  me  that  they  shall  be  forced  to  take  up  arms, 
if  we  do  not  help  them  by  sending  an  army  to  Canada, 
and  say  they  are  both  threatened  and  flattered  ;  says  that 
the  French  and  Indians  will  join  us,  and  make  no  doubt 
but  Quebeck  will  be  taken,  (which  is  their  desire,)  but  if 
it  is  neglected  much  longer  it  may  be  fatal  to  them  and  us. 
I  have  employed  him  to  bring  intelligence  from  Canada, 
and  must  meet  him  myself,  and  shall  transmit  to  you.  I 
should  think  that  if  orders  were  sent  to  me,  I  could  raise 
two  or  three  hundred  men  from  the  neighbouring  Govern- 
ments, which  must  be  necessary  either  for  our  defence  or 
to  proceed  to  Canada. 

If  it  is  thought  best  to  raise  men,  arms  (at  least  two 
hundred)  and  powder  and  flints  must  be  sent.  Mr.  Har- 
vy  will  inform  more,  and  take  care  of  whatever  is  sent. 
Mean  time  I  am  endeavouring  to  supply  ourselves  from 
seaports  eastward. 

We  acknowledge  with  gratitude  the  notice  taken  of  us 
by  you  ;  shall  acquiesce  in  the  measures  which  shall  be 
taken  by  you ;  shall  attend  as  soon  as  we  are  in  a  posture 
of  defence. 

Wish  prosperity  to  the  cause  of  liberty  and  truth.  Am, 
gentlemen,  your  most  humble  servant, 

Jacob  Bayley. 
To  the  Provincial  Congress  for  New-York  Colony. 


1135 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


1 13G 


New- York.  June  29,  1775. 
Ms.  Holt  I  You  are  requested  to  publish  the  enclosed 
Association,  adopted  and  signed  by  a  Dumber  of  the  inha- 
bitants of  a  Town  in  a  neighbouring  Colony,  for  the  infor- 
mation of  the  people  of  this  City  and  Province. 

Newtown,  Fairfield  County,  ? 
Colony  of  Connecticut,  April  12,  1775.  $ 

Whereas,  a  considerable  number  of  the  inhabitants  of 
this  Town  have,  in  a  publick  meeting,  passed  certain  Re- 
solves in  opposition  to  the  Resolves  of  the  Continental 
Congress,  (which  have  since  been  published  in  Mr.  Riv- 
ington's  Paper,)  we  have  thought  it  expedient  in  some 
suitable  way  to  make  known  our  minds  also  respecting 
those  matters ;  and  therefore  having  subscribed  the  follow- 
ing Resolves,  desire  they  may  be  printed,  with  the  several 
names  affixed  : 

We,  the  subscribers,  do  sincerely  profess  ourselves  to 
be  liege  subjects  of  King  George  the  Third.  But  from 
the  best  acquaintance  with  publick  affairs  that  we  have 
been  able  to  attain,  cannot  but  be  deeply  apprehensive 
that  several  Acts  passed  by  the  late  British  Parliament 
relative  to  North-America  are  of  a  very  unconstitutional 
and  oppressive  nature  in  their  tendency,  directly  subversive 
of  those  precious  rights  and  privileges  to  which  the  Colo- 
nies have  an  indubitable  claim,  which  Acts,  therefore,  are 
of  a  very  alarming  nature ;  and  not  being  able  to  conceive 
but  that  the  measures  come  into,  and  recommended  by  the 
late  Continental  Congress  at  Philadelphia,  are  very  con- 
sistent with  our  sworn  loyalty  to  our  King,  and  in  the  main 
wisely  calculated  to  obtain  redress  of  said  publick  griev- 
ances: we  do,  therefore,  hereby  signify  our  willingness  and 
purpose  to  be  compliant  in  our  several  stations  with  the 
Resolves  of  said  Congress. 


Newtown,  Fairfield  County 


Richard  Fainnan, 
John  Botsford, 
Abraham  Bennett, 
David  Judson, 
John  Qhandler, 
Amos  Botsford, 
Caleb  Baldwin,  Jun., 
Gideon  Botsford, 
Joseph  Smith,  Jun., 
Ephraim  Sherman, 
Amos  Northrop, 
Ichabod  Fairman, 
Abm.  Bennett,  Jun., 
David  Curtiss, 
Jabez  Botsford, 
Silas  Hubbcl, 
Abel  Baldwin, 
Elijah  Botsford, 
Henry  Fairman, 
Gid.  Botsford,  Jun., 
Abraham  Botsford, 
Jonathan  Northrup, 
Aaron  Gregory, 
Cloment  Botsford, 


Richard  Smith, 
Ebenezer  Smith, 
Matthew  Curtiss,  Jr., 
Benjamin  Dunning, 
PJli  Dunning, 
Abijah  Dunning, 
Piiilo  Dunning, 
Henry  Peck, 
Jared  Dunning, 
Samuel  Brown, 
Gideon  Dunning, 
James  San  ford, 
Job  Bunuel, 
David  Jackson, 
Gershom  Jackson, 
Ephraim  Jackson, 
Silas  Dunning, 
David  Jackson,  Jun., 
Rich.  Fairman,  Jun., 
Joshua  Northrup, 
Enos  Northrup, 
Daniel  Jackson, 
Thomas  Brooks, 


February  13,  1775. 
Joshua  Hatch, 
Joseph  Wheeler, 
Nathaniel  Little, 
Nathaniel  Brisco, 
Joel  Basset, 
Amos  Smith, 
Nathan  Burritt, 
Joseph  Smith, 
Thomas  Bennett, 
Eleazer  Burritt, 
Asa  Cogswell, 
James  Faircbild, 
Henry  Wood, 
George  Terril, 
Fitch  Kimbcrly, 
John  Basset, 
William  Wright, 
Josiah  Bcardslee, 
Nathaniel  Cada, 
Joseph  Gunn, 
Matthew  Baldwin, 
Silas  Faircbild, 
Amos  Burritt. 


guard  against  any  surprise  from  our  enemies;  when  it  wa3 
unanimously  agreed  (until  the  General  Convention  meets, 
who  no  doubt  will  provide  against  every  contingency)  to 
invite  down,  from  a  number  of  Counties,  to  the  amount  of 
two  bundled  and  fifty  men,  who  are  expected  in  a  very 
few  days.  Meanwhile,  until  they  arrive,  the  neighbouring 
Counties  are  kind  enough  to  lend  us  their  assistance,  the 
James  City  volunteers  having  furnished  us  with  a  guard 
on  Wednesday ;  a  party  of  the  New-Kent  volunteers  did 
duty  last  night,  and  this  day  we  expect  another  detach- 
ment from  that  County,  as  well  as  a  number  of  the  York 
volunteers. 

Early  yesterday  morning  sailed  from  York  town  His  Ma- 
jesty's Ship  Fowcy,  and  the  Magdalen  Schooner;  which 
last,  we  are  informed,  proceeded  to  England  immediately, 
with  Lady  Dunmore  and  the  rest  of  the  Govemour's  fami- 
ly, attended  by  his  Lordship's  Chaplain,  the  Reverend 
Mr.  Gwatkin. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  TO  A  GENTLEMAN  IN  HARTFORD, 
DATED  FORT  GEORGE,  NEAR  TICONDEUOG A,  JUNE  29, 
1775. 

The  reports  from  the  northward  are  various;  it  is  thought, 
from  the  best  accounts,  that  the  Canadians  will  be  very 
reluctant  to  enter  into  the  service  against  the  Colonies,  and 
it  is  pretty  certain  that  Gpneral  Carleton  has  hanged  two 
or  three  of  them  for  refusing,  and  speaking  to  discourage 
others ;  so  that  it  is  on  the  whole  believed,  that  through 
all  the  stratagems  of  tyranny,  Carleton  will  dragoon  a  num- 
ber of  the  Canadians  and  Indians  into  the  service,  and  it 
is  generally  believed  he  is  making  preparations  to  come 
against  us ;  but  some  think  otherwise,  and  that  he  is  only 
fortifying  at  St.  John's,  to  prevent  any  incursions  from  us. 
Doubtless  a  short  time  will  discover  which  of  these  is  the 
truth.  We  have  certain  intelligence  that  Guy  Johnson  is 
making  all  the  interest  possible  to  raise  the  Indians  about 
the  Lakes  and  Oswegatchic  against  us. 


Williamsburgh,  June  30,  1775. 
Last  Friday  there  was  a  very  full  meeting  of  the  in- 
habitants of  this  City  at  the  Court-House,  convened  there 
by  desire  of  our  Representative,  the  Honourable  I'eijton 
Randolph,  Esquire,  to  consider  of  the  expediency  of  sta- 
tioning a  number  of  men  here  for  the  publick  safety,  as 
well  as  to  assist  the  citizens  in  their  nightly  watches,  to 


CUMBERLAND  COUNTY  (VIRGINIA)  COMMITTEE. 

To  the  Inhabitants  of  Cumberland  County,  Virginia  : 
The  Address  of  the  Committee  of  the  said  County, 
convened  on  Friday,  the  30th  of  June,  1775. 
Dear  Countrymen  :  In  contemplation  of  securing  your 
dearest  rights  and  liberties  against  the  oppression  of  Great 
Britain,  you  some  months  ago  elected  us,  (subordinate  to 
those  august  bodies  the  Continental  Congress  and  Provin- 
cial Convention,)  by  your  free  and  unbiased  sufTrages, 
guardians  of  these  invaluable  blessings.  At  a  short  period 
after  receiving  this  honour,  we  convened  ourselves  for  the 
purpose  of  discharging  the  important  trusts  so  reposed  in 
us,  and  have,  from  time  to  time,  devised  such  means  for  a 
happy  event  of  your  weighty  contest  as  the  maturest  de- 
liberation could  suggest.  In  return,  you  have  ever  paid 
us  the  grateful  tribute  of  entire  confidence,  testified  by  the 
most  implicit  acquiescence  and  concurrence  in  whatever 
we  recommended.  We  with  pleasure  bear  in  mind  a  very 
recent  instance  of  your  confidence,  that  of  the  lale  speedy 
and  cheerful  contribution  of  moneys  requested  of  you  for 
the  purpose  of  making  military  preparations;  which,  you 
may  depend,  no  means  shall  be  untried  for  laying  out  for 
the  best  advantage.  We  find,  however,  that  you  can  still 
contribute  much  to  this  preparation,  by  applying  diligently 
to  making  Saltpetre;  this  is  an  article  much  wanted,  as  an 
ingredient  for  making  Gunpowder.  Your  tobacco-houses 
and  stable  floors  are  foundations  from  which  Saltpetre  may 
be  produced,  with  but  little  work,  in  great  abundance  and 
perfection.  We  entreat  you,  therefore,  to  apply  for  the 
most  short  and  ready  process,  and  lose  no  time  in  making 
this  necessary,  but  easily-procured,  article. 

We  have  been  attentive  to  the  movements  of  the  cursed 
instruments  of  your  troubles;  and,  had  any  prospects  of  an 
accommodation  with  the  Parent  State  come  within  our  view, 
we  should  gladly  have  laid  them  before  you  ;  but  we  must 
now  expressly  tell  you,  that  it  is  to  be  feared  no  such 
event  can  be  expected  at  all.  Your  enemies  seem  implac- 
able in  their  determination  to  ruin  American  liberty,  and, 
with  that  view,  suffer  no  engine  to  lie  still  which  can  be  put 
in  motion  by  any  manoeuvre,  however  mean,  cowardly,  and 
detestable.  For  instances,  we  need  only  refer  you  to  the 
late  conduct  of  that  mercenary  ministerial  tool,  Lord  Dun- 
more,  within  your  own  Colony;  and  be  assured,  that  many 
such  hirelings  are  employed,  and  will  be  as  long  as  means 
can  be  supplied  for  paying  them.  In  short,  we  must  tell 
you,  that  nothing  can  be  expected  for  j  our  relief  from  the 
virtue  of  a  British  Ministry  or  Parliament;  though,  true 
it  is,  there  are  some  members,  in  both  Houses  of  the  latter, 
who,  ashamed  of  the  black  deeds  of  their  body,  daily,  to 
their  lasting  honour,  hold  out  their  names  as  dissentients; 
yet,  unhappily  for  Britain,  and  America  too,  they  are  but 
few.  You  may,  indeed,  at  this  time,  consider  yourselves 
in  a  slate  of  civil  war  with  Great  Britain;  for  several 
engagements  have  been  had  between  her  troops  and  the 
brave  inhabitants  of  your  sister  Colony  of  Massachusetts- 
Ray.  We  have  long  since  considered  all  the  American 
Colonies  as  united,  in  opposing  the  oppressive  measures  of 
Great  Britain;  a  blow,  therefore,  struck  at  one,  is  a  blow 
struck  at  all.  Since  matters  have  gone  to  such  lengths 
there,  you  must  daily  look  for  the  invaders  in  your  own 
country,  which  is  equally   destined  to  destruction ;  or 


1137 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


1138 


should  the  whole  force  of  your  enemies  be  bent  on  that, 
or  any  other  Colony,  you  must  not  think  a  march  thither 
too  far.  Believe  us,  when  we  tell  you,  that  in  your  arms, 
under  Divine  assistance,  rests  your  security.  We  entreat, 
you,  therefore,  by  that  regard  you  have  for  the  safety  of 
your  persons ;  for  your  liberties,  civil  and  religious ;  for 
every  thing  which  can  render  your  being  on  earth  happy  ; 
by  what  is  of  more  weighty  consideration,  that  tender  re- 
gard you  have  for  the  happiness  of  your  posterity,  for  end- 
less ages  to  come ;  under  sanction  of  that  confidence  you 
repose  in  us :  that  you,  without  delay,  apply  to  your  arms 
as  speedily  as  possible ;  put  them  in  the  best  condition  ; 
make  yourselves  acquainted  with  military  discipline,  and 
stand  in  readiness  for  actual  service,  upon  the  shortest 
warning ;  put  down  every  animosity  from  amongst  your- 
selves; pay  obedience  to  officers  properly  appointed;  let 
no  discontents,  on  account  of  their  advancement,  prevent 
your  attention  to  them,  for  now  your  movements  must  har- 
monize. The  time  is  arrived  at  which  no  private  considera- 
tion should  interfere  with  the  safety  of  the  State  ;  observe 
the  old  maxim,  "  United  we  stand,  divided  we  fall." 

We  entreat  you,  with  like  earnestness,  to  preserve  what 
ammunition  you  have  by  you ;  do  not  expend  it  on  any 
occasion  whatever,  except  under  the  greatest  necessity,  for 
you  may  depend  that  more  will  be  wanted  for  your  defence 
than  can  shortly  be  procured.  Pay  attention  to  these  our 
entreaties,  and  fear  not. 

Your  American  brethren  are  firm ;  you  have  many  friends 
in  Great  Britain  and  Ireland ;  and,  in  the  justness  of  your 
cause,  you  may;  with  confidence,  look  up  to  Heaven  for  as- 
sistance ;  in  supplication  of  whose  interposition  to  avert  the 
approaching  scene  of  blood  and  destruction,  we  recommend 
that  you,  universally,  in  compliance  with  the  appointment 
of  the  Grand  Continental  Congress,  devote  Thursday,  the 
twentieth  day  of  July,  to  humiliation,  fasting,  and  prayer. 

George  Carrington,  Chairman. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  ONE  OF  THE  VIRGINIA  DELE- 
GATES TO  HIS  FRIEND  IN  WILLIAMSBURG H,  DATED  PHI- 
LADELPHIA, JUNE  30,  1775. 

You  will  see  that  our  enemies  had  little  to  boast  of  for 
being  able  to  force  our  Troops  from  Bunker's  Hill.  It  is 
no  wonder  they  did  so,  with  superiour  numbers,  ships-of- 
war,  floating  batteries,  and  field  artillery.  Their  loss  has 
certainly  been  very  great,  and  now  they  dare  not  go  from 
under  protection  of  their  ships'  cannon.  Our  Army  now 
before  Boston  amounts  to  about  fifteen  thousand  effective 
men,  commanded  by  Generals  Washington,  Ward,  Lee, 
Putnam,  Gates  of  Berkely,  with  several  Brigadiers.  In 
New-York,  we  have  now  about  four  thousand;  and  they 
are  to  be  increased  to  five  thousand,  under  the  immediate 
command  of  General  Schuyler.  The  Canadians  abso- 
lutely refuse  to  join  Carlelon,  and  the  Indians  assure  us 
they  will  observe  a  strict  neutrality.  Thus,  we  seem  to 
be  well  secured  in  the  north  against  ministerial  madness. 
A  faithful  observance  of  the  Association  with  us  will  surely 
rouse  the  sleeping  lion  ere  long,  and  bring  exemplary  pun- 
ishment on  the  most  abandoned  Ministry  that  ever  abused 
mankind,  and  disgraced  human  nature.  Sir  William  Mere- 
dith has  cheated  the  Liverpool  men,  and  they  are  sending 
out  goods  as  usual ;  but  all  their  ships,  yet  arrived,  have 
been  sent  back.  It  will  be  necessary,  however,  to  keep  a 
good  look  out  to  prevent  their  slipping  in  through  other 
doors  less  attentively  watched  than  this  place,  and  Charles- 
town,  in  South-Carolina. 

We  are  here  confined  to  a  constant  and  painful  attend- 
ance on  business,  from  nine  in  the  morning  to  four  and 
five,  and  sometimes  six  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  ;  and,  what 
is  more,  have  not  the  most  distant  prospect  of  rising  yet. 

We  have  sent  to  Virginia  and  Maryland  for  two  com- 
panies of  riflemen  from  each  Province,  and  six  from  this,  to 
join  the  Army  before  Boston.  Two  millions  of  dollars  are 
ordered  to  be  struck  upon  the  faith  of  the  twelve  United 
Colonies,  for  the  payment  of  the  Continental  Army. 


NEW-YORK  DELEGATES  TO  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS. 

Philadelphia,  June  30,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  We  have  received  your  letter  of  the  23d 
instant,  and  are  sorry  to  be  informed  of  your  being  retard- 
Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii. 


ed  by  any  difficulties  in  completing  your  levies.  It  would 
be  extremely  imprudent  to  suggest  the  least  hint  of  your 
objections  to  the  Congress.  Be  assured  that  the  Northern 
and  some  other  Colonies  are  ready  to  raise  men  on  al- 
most any  terms,  and  would  be  happy  of  an  opportunity 
of  furnishing  Troops  without  any  allowance  for  bounty  or 
clothes. 

Permit  us  earnestly  to  recommend  to  you  to  proceed  in 
this  business  with  alacrity  and  despatch.  The  honour  as 
well  as  the  interest  of  the  Province  is  much  concerned  in 
the  success  of  this  measure.  Your  neighbours  of  Connec- 
ticut boast  of  their  having  raised  their  men  in  ten  days' 
time ;  endeavour  not  to  be  behind  hand  with  them. 

We  have  the  pleasure  to  acquaint  you  that  a  Conti- 
nental currency  is  forming,  and  when  completed,  you  will 
be  immediately  supplied  with  a  sum  adequate  to  your 
exigences. 

If  forces  cannot  be  raised  without  bounties,  we  beg  leave 
to  submit  it  to  your  consideration,  whether  it  would  not  be 
better  to  do  it  at  the  expense  of  the  Province,  or  by  ad- 
vancing it  on  the  credit  of  their  pay,  than  lose  this  oppor- 
tunity of  signalizing  your  attachment  to  the  cause,  and 
provide  for  a  great  number  of  your  poor. 

From  the  intelligence  we  have  received  of  the  state  of 
ammunition  in  your  City  and  Province,  we  are  apprehen- 
sive that  you  are  so  destitute  of  powder  as  to  be  exposed 
to  very  imminent  danger  in  case  of  an  attack,  against  which 
we  think  it  extremely  necessary  that  provision  be  speedily 
made. 

We  fear  there  are  too  many  in  New-York  who  flatter 
themselves  with  safety  and  security  from  the  removal  of 
the  Troops.  For  our  parts  we  consider  it  as  a  mere  tem- 
porary suspension  of  danger,  and  that  this  opportunity  of 
putting  the  Country  in  a  posture  of  defence,  is  very  fortu- 
nate, and  by  all  means  to  be  improved. 

We  are,  gentlemen,  with  the  greatest  respect,  your  most 
obedient  and  humble  servants, 

Philip  Livingston,    William  Floyd, 

John  Alsop,  Robt.  Livingston,  Jun. 

John  Jay, 

To  Peter  Van  Brugh  Livingston,  Esq. 

P.  S.  Since  writing  the  above,  the  Congress  have  re- 
quested the  Committee  of  Philadelphia  immediately  to 
send  forward  fifty  quarter-casks  of  powder ;  it  set  out  this 
day  consigned  to  the  Committee  at  Elizabethtotvn,  who  will 
send  it  to  Dobb's  Ferry.  You  are  requested  to  provide  for 
its  being  immediately  taken  from  thence  and  carried  to 
Albany,  for  the  use  of  the  Troops  at  Ticonderoga  and 
Crown  Point,  &c. 


GENERAL  SCHUYLER  TO  CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS. 
[Read  July  1,  1775.] 

New. York,  June  30,  1775. 

Sir  :  I  do  myself  the  honour  to  acknowledge  the  receipt 
of  your  letter  of  the  28th  instant,  which  1  received  late  last 
night,  enclosing  the  Resolutions  of  Congress  of  the  pre- 
ceding day,  and  copy  of  a  letter  from  the  Committee  of 
Albany,  bearing  date  20th  June,  1775. 

In  obedience  to  the  Resolutions  of  Congress,  I  shall 
without  delay  repair  to  Ticonderoga.  It  will,  however,  be 
necessary,  previous  to  my  departure  from  hence,  that  I 
should  take  order  to  have  the  variety  of  articles,  necessary 
to  carry  into  execution  the  views  of  the  Congress,  sent  after 
me  with  all  expedition :  this  will  probably  detain  me  until 
Monday. 

The  success  of  the  intended  operation  will  evidently 
depend  so  much  on  despatch,  that  I  am  sorry  I  do  not  think 
myself  at  liberty  to  move  the  Troops  now  here  to  Albany 
without  the  immediate  consent  of  Congress.  At  this  place 
I  do  not  apprehend  they  can  be  wanted.  At  Albany  they 
would  greatly  facilitate  and  expedite  the  service,  as  well  as 
save  expense  by  their  assistance  in  the  transportation  of 
stores  and  provisions,  and  by  their  aid  in  building  boats, 
carriages,  &c,  &c;  and  as  they  must  ultimately  go  on  this 
service,  the  forces  at  Ticonderoga  being  vastly  inadequate 
to  the  enterprise,  I  wish  for  the  sense  of  the  Congress  with 
all  possible  despatch,  and  therefore  I  send  this  by  express. 
On  a  service  of  this  kind,  in  which  success  will  be  attended 
with  such  a  variety  of  important  and  salutary  consequen- 


1139 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  he,  JUNE,  1775. 


1140 


ces,  I  beg  leave  to  suggest  that  every  measure  ought  to  be 
pursued  that  has  a  probable  tendency  to  it;  and  therefore 
I  hint  that  on  a  service  in  which  we  shall  in  all  probability 
be  encountered  by  Indians,  a  body  of  riflemen  would  be  of 
vast  utility.  Perhaps  I  might  be  favoured  with  part  at  least 
of  those  now  levying  in  Pennsylvania. 

I  shall  immediately  despatch  a  trusty  person,  Mr.  Walter 
Livingston,  to  Governour  Trumbull,  for  the  two  important 
articles  of  money  and  ammunition,  neither  of  which  can,  at 
any  rate,  be  procured  here.  The  former  is  so  much  wanted 
here,  that  1  am  under  apprehensions  that  the  service  in 
general  may  suffer,  unless  the  Provincial  Congress  of  this 
place  can  have  a  supply  speedily. 

The  appointments  1  recommended  in  mine  of  the  28th 
are  now  become  so  pressingly  necessary  that  I  beg  leave 
again  to  recommend  them  to  the  attention  of  Congress. 

I  am,  Sir,  with  the  greatest  respect,  yours  and  the  Con- 
gress's most  obedient  and  most  humble  servant, 

Philip  Schuyler. 
To  the  Honourable  John  Hancock,  Esq.,  President,  &ic. 


GENERAL  SCHUYLER  TO  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

New-York,  June  30,  1775. 
Sir  :  I  do  myself  the  honour  to  acquaint  your  respect- 
able body,  that  late  last  evening  I  received  some  despatches 
containing  matters  of  the  first  importance.  They  were 
accompanied  by  an  order,  the  carrying  of  which  into  exe- 
cution will  require  the  aid  of  your  body.  1  therefore  wish 
to  meet  with  a  small  Committee  at  any  time  and  place,  and 
the  soonest  possible,  before  whom  I  will  lay  such  part  of 
my  orders  as  will  become  the  subject  of  your  considera- 
tion. 

I  am,  Sir,  with  sentiments  of  respect  and  esteem,  yours 
and  the  gentlemen  of  the  Congress's  most  obedient  and 
bumble  servant,  Philip  Schuyler. 

Peter  V.  B.  Livingston,  Esq.,  President  of  the  Ncxu- 

York  Provincial  Congress. 


GENERAL  SCHUYLER  TO  GOVERNOUR  TRUMBULL. 

New-York,  June  30,  1775. 
Sir:  I  enclose  your  Honour  a  copy  of  a  Resolution  of 
the  honourable  the  Continental  Congress.  I  should  have 
been  happy  if  either  of  the  important  articles  mentioned 
in  it  could  have  been  procured  here.  The  Provincial  Con- 
gress of  this  Colony  have  already  pledged  their  faith  and 
fortunes  for  a  very  considerable  debt,  accrued  on  the  pub- 
lick  account.  They  will,  however,  with  that  distinguished 
zeal  for  the  common  cause,  which  has  already  done  them 
so  much  honour,  do  every  thing  in  their  power  to  carry 
into  execution  the  important  views  of  the  Continental 
Congress,  and  furnish  me  with  such  articles  as  they  shall 
be  able  to  procure  here.  I  am,  however,  left  under  the 
necessity  of  calling  on  your  Honour  for  the  aid  of  fifteen  or 
twenty  thousand  Pounds  of  your  money,  (the  latter  sum  if 
possible,)  which  I  wish  to  have  at  Albany  as  soon  as  con- 
veniently it  may,  and  have  therefore  sent  Walter  Living- 
ston, Esq.,  a  member  of  the  Provincial  Congress  here. 
Into  this  gentleman's  hands  your  Honour  will  please  to  put 
the  money,  taking  his  receipt  for  the  same ;  and  permit  me 
to  entreat  you,  Sir,  to  give  him  an  escort  of  some  gentle- 
men, to  his  father's  (Col.  Livingston')  on  Hudson's  River. 
Ammunition,  that  indispensably  necessary  article,  cannot 
be  had  here  even  in  the  smallest  quantity;  hence  my  de- 
mand on  your  Honour  must  necessarily  be  considerable. 
I  wish  I  could  possibly  do  with  less  than  six  tons  of  pow- 
der. If  any  more  can  be  spared  you  will  doubtless  send 
it.  This  article  I  wish  to  have  forwarded  by  land  to  any 
part  of  Hudson's  River.  I  shall  immediately  despatch  a 
trusty  officer  to  Connecticut,  to  take  charge  of  it. 

I  shall  be  extremely  happy  to  receive  a  line  from  you, 
the  soonest  possible,  and  by  express,  on  the  subject  matter 
of  this  application,  directed  to  me  at  Albany,  that  I  may 
have  it  in  my  power  to  attempt  other  measures,  should  it 
be  out  of  your  power  to  comply  with  this  requisition. 

I  am,  he,  your  Honour's  most  obedient  and  humble 
servant,  Philip  Schuyler. 

The  Honourable  Jonathan  Trumbull,  Captain-General  and 
Commander-in-Chief  of  the  Colony  of  Connecticut. 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  LAMB  TO  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

New-York,  June  30,  1775. 
Sir  :  As  there  is  no  appointment  of  a  Second  Lieutenant 
in  the  arrangement  of  the  Artillery  Company  proposed  to 
be  under  my  command,  I  take  the  liberty  to  recommend 
the  bearer,  Martin  Johnson,  as  a  proper  person  to  be  ap- 
pointed to  that  station.  Captain  McDougall  will  shew 
you  the  arrangement  for  the  Artillery  Company  which  lately 
went  from  Rhode-Island  to  the  Massachusetts-Bay ;  from 
which  you  will  see  the  propriety  of  such  an  appointment. 
It  will  likewise  be  proper  to  appoint  a  Lieutenant  Fire- 
worker ;  but  I  do  not  at  present  know  a  proper  person  to 
recommend. 

I  am,  with  the  greatest  respect,  Sir,  your  most  humble 
servant,  John  Lamb. 

To  Peter  V.  B.  Livingston,  Esq. 


SAMUEL  MOTT  TO  GOVERNOUR  TRUMBULL. 

Fort  George,  June  30,  1775. 
Honoured  Sir  :  Two  days  ago  by  a  kind  hand  of  Provi- 
dence I  arrived  in  health  at  this  place,  and  am  this  day 
going  for  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point.  I  have  seen  the 
Honourable  Judge  Duer,  of  Charlotte  County,  one  of  New- 
York  Committee,  and  Colonel  Sullivan  and  two  others  of 
the  Massachusetts  Congress,  who  have  been  over  to  Ticon- 
deroga, he,  and  told  me  of  the  very  extraordinary  ill  con- 
duct of  Colonel  Arnold,  the  particulars  of  which  I  suppose 
your  Honour  will  have  from  Colonel  Hinman.  I  was  ad- 
vised by  Judge  Duer,  and  those  from  Massachusetts,  to 
write  immediately  down  for  Captain  Robert  Niles,  of  Nor- 
wich, to  come  up  and  take  command  of  one  of  the  vessels, 
as  they  are  a  very  important  part  of  our  defence,  and  as  I 
could  recommend  him  as  a  bold  and  able  sea  commander ; 
but  I  thought  your  Honour  the  only  proper  judge  of  the 
feasibility  and  propriety  of  such  a  measure,  and  also  that 
your  Honour  only  could  commission  Captain  Niles  for  that 
service,  if  judged  expedient.  I  have  nothing  in  my  depart- 
ment of  any  importance  to  report  to  your  Honour.  Our 
reports  from  the  northward  are  various.  I  had  a  verb.il 
message  from  the  Rev.  Mr.  Kirkland,  informing  me  that 
Guy  Johnson  was  doing  all  in  bis  power  to  stimulate  the 
Indian  Nations  against  us  ;  but  he  did  not  think  they  would 
in  any  measure  be  unanimous  against  us;  yet  he  did  not 
doubt  that  a  number  from  the  several  tribes  might  be  raised 
against  us.  After  I  have  viewed  Ticonderoga  and  Crown 
Point,  I  shall  report  their  state,  with  my  opinion  thereon, 
to  your  Honour;  and  meanwhile  am  your  Honour's  most 
obedient  bumble  servant,  Samuel  Mott. 

His  Honour  the  Governour. 


WORCESTER  COUNTY  (MASSACHUSETTS)  COMMITTEE. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Standing  Committee  for  the  County 
of  Worcester,  this  30th  day  of  June,  1775  : 

Voted,  That  in  the  present  critical  situation  of  our  publick 
affairs,  when  the  Province  is  about  assuming  government, 
and  many  persons,  by  undue  methods,  may  be  seeking 
offices  of  profit  and  honour,  we  would  offer  for  the  consi- 
deration of  the  respective  Towns  in  this  County,  whether  it 
would  not  be  expedient  to  instruct  their  several  members 
to  be  very  vigilant,  and  inquire  into  the  characters  of  such 
as  may  be  nominated  for  Counsellors ;  and  also  that  they 
pitch  on  proper  persons  to  recommend  as  respectable  to 
fill  up  the  respective  executive  and  military  offices,  and  that 
the  substance  of  this  vote  be  inserted  in  the  Worcester 
paper. 


GENERAL  WARD  TO  CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS. 
[Read  July  11,  1775.] 
Head-Quarters,  Cambridge,  June  30,  1775. 
Sir  :  I  have  this  day  received  your  favour  of  the  twenty- 
second  instant,  in  which  you  are  so  kind  as  to  inform  me  of 
the  General  Officers  that  the  honourable  Continental  Con- 
gress have  appointed. 

I  wish,  Sir,  the  appointments  in  this  Colony  may  not 
have  a  tendency  to  create  uneasiness  among  us,  which  we 
ought,  at  this  critical  time,  to  be  extremely  careful  to  avoid. 

I  have,  Sir,  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  the  commis- 
sion as  a  Major-General,  and  do  heartily  wish  that  the 


1141 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JUNE,  1775. 


1142 


honour  bad  been  conferred  upon  a  person  better  qualified 
to  execute  a  trust  so  important.  It  would  give  me  great 
satisfaction  if  I  thought  myself  capacitated  to  act  with  dig- 
nity, and  to  do  honour  to  that  Congress  which  has  exalted 
me  to  be  second  in  command  over  the  American  Army.  I 
hope  they  will  accept  my  sincere  desire  to  serve  them,  and 
my  most  grateful  acknowledgments  for  the  honour  conferred 
upon  me,  and  pray  they  may  not  be  wholly  disappointed  in 
their  expectations.  I  always  have  been,  and  am  still  ready 
to  devote  my  life  in  attempting  to  deliver  my  native  Coun- 
try from  insupportable  slavery. 

I  am,  Sir,  with  great  respect,  your  most  obedient  humble 
servant,  Artemas  Ward. 

To  the  Honourable  John  Hancock,  Esquire,  President  of 
Congress,  &tc. 

P.  S.  Colonel  Gardner  is  wounded,  I  hope  not  mortally. 


GENERAL  WARD  TO  JOHN  PIGEON. 

Head-Quarters,  Cambridge,  June  30,  1775. 

Sir  :  There  are  now  on  Prospect  Hill  nearly  four  thou- 
sand men,  who  at  present  are  obliged  to  come  to  the  store 
in  college,  for  all  the  provisions  they  stand  in  need  of.  If 
they  can  be  supplied  with  provisions  at  the  hill,  it  will  tend 
much  to  the  safety  of  the  lines  there,  for  a  great  number  of 
the  men  are  now  obliged  daily  to  leave  the  lines  that  they 
may  convey  provisions  to  others  upon  the  hill;  and  the 
milk  especially,  when  it  is  conveyed  from  the  store  in  col- 
lege to  the  hill,  is  unfit  for  any  person  in  camp  to  eat ; 
therefore,  if  possible,  it  must  be  altered. 

I  am,  Sir,  &.c,  Artemas  Ward. 

To  Mr.  Commissary  Pigeon. 


GEN.  THOMAS  TO  MASSACHUSETTS  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY. 

Roxbury  Camp,  June  30,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  Major  Wliite  has  procured  a  small  number 
of  fire-arms,  which  1  have  presumed  to  stop  in  the  camp  at 
Roxbury  for  your  order;  when  received  1  shall  always  com- 
ply with.  We  have  a  considerable  deficiency  of  arms  here. 
If  it  be  agreeable,  I  should  be  glad  there  may  be  directions 
for  the  delivery  of  them  here.  I  shall  submit  it  to  your 
consideration  ;  and  am  your  most  obedient  and  very  humble 
servant,  John  Thomas. 


GEN.  HEATH  TO   MASSACHUSETTS   COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY. 

Camp  at  Roxbury,  June  30,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  A  number  of  fire-arms  were  put  under  my 
care  last  winter,  which  were  afterwards  ordered  to  Worces- 
ter. The  Committee  of  Safety,  when  sitting  at  Concord, 
gave  me  assurances  that  I  should  have  a  number  of  them 
for  my  Regiment,  which  1  believe  some  of  your  Honours 
will  remember.  They  are  since  disposed  of,  as  I  am  in- 
formed, to  other  Regiments.  A  number  of  good  arms  are 
now  brought  to  camp ;  a  number  of  my  Regiment,  which 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Greaton  can  ascertain,  have  no  arms. 
I  therefore  earnestly  request  that  you  would  be  pleased  to 
give  order  for  their  being  supplied  from  those  now  brought 
to  camp. 

I  am,  gentlemen,  with  great  respect,  your  humble  ser- 
vant, W.  Heath. 
Honourable  Committee  of  Safety. 


COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY  TO  MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS. 

In  Committee  of  Safety,  Cambridge,  June  30,  1775. 
Whereas  the  honourable  Provincial  Congress  has  this 
day  passed  a  Resolve,  appointing  this  Committee  to  be  a 
Committee  to  consider  of  a  farther  emission  of  Bills  of 
Credit,  as  mentioned  in  said  resolve ;  but  this  Committee, 
feeling  themselves  unable  to  proceed  in  the  business  with- 
out a  more  perfect  know  ledge  of  the  emissions  lately  made, 
both  in  quantity  and  circumstances  of  payment,  and  also  for 
want  of  sufficient  knowledge  of  the  demands  made,  or  to 
be  made  upon  the  Colony,  do  resolve  that  Colonel  Palmer 
attend  the  honourable  Congress  to-morrow,  in  order  to  ob- 
tain all  necessary  light  in  the  premises. 

J.  Palmer,  Chairman. 
To  the  Honourable  the  Provincial  Congress  now  sitting  at 
Watertown. 


MASSACHUSETTS   COMMITTEE  OF  SUPPLIES  TO  NEW-HAMP- 
SHIRE COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY. 

Chamber  of  Supplies,  Watertown,  June  30,  1775. 

Gentlemen:  We  understand  that  you  have  signified,  in 
a  letter  to  Mr.  Langdon,  the  President  of  Harvard  Col- 
lege, that  you  had  some  cannon  mounted,  and  would  send 
them  if  wanted.  We  therefore  beg  leave  to  inform  you, 
that  orders  have  been  sent  us  from  the  camp  for  three 
twenty-four  pounders  more  than  we  have  now  ready,  and 
that  we  apprehend  it  very  important  that  they  should  be 
forwarded  as  soon  as  may  be. 

We  are  respectfully,  gentlemen,  your  most  obedient  ser- 
vants, David  Cheever,  per  order. 

Honourable  Committee  of  Safety,  New- Hampshire. 

An  Eulogium  sacred  to  the  memory  of  the  late  Major- 
General  Warren,  who  fell  June  17,  1775,  fghting 
against  the  Ministerial  Army  at  Boston. 
When  an  amiable  man,  with  a  promising  family  of  chil- 
dren, perishes  in  the  bloom  of  life,  every  friend  to  humanity 
must  share  in  the  distress  which  such  a  calamity  occasions 
in  the  circle  of  his  acquaintances.  This  distress  is  heightened 
when  we  hear  that  the  virtues  of  the  man  were  blended 
with  the  exalted  qualities  of  a  Patriot.  We  rise  in  our  ex- 
pressions of  grief  when  we  are  told  that  he  possessed  not 
only  the  zeal  of  a  patriot,  but  the  wisdom,  the  integrity,  and 
the  eloquence  of  a  Senator.  But  when  we  hear  that  these 
shining  qualities  were  crowned  with  the  patience,  the  mag- 
nanimity, and  the  intrepidity  of  a  Warrior,  we  are  led  to  con- 
template one  of  the  most  august  characters  in  human  na- 
ture. When  such  a  man  falls,  grief  is  dumb,  and  eloquence 
is  obliged  for  a  while  to  muse  eulogiums  which  it  cannot 
express. 

Such  were  our  feelings  upon  hearing  of  the  death  of  the 
illustrious  General  Warren,  who  fell  on  the  seventeenth  of 
June,  at  the  head  of  a  detachment  of  the  American  Army, 
near  Boston.  It  is  impossible  to  do  justice  to  his  full-orb'd 
character.  He  filled  each  of  the  numerous  departments  in 
life  that  were  assigned  to  him  so  well,  that  he  seemed  born 
for  no  others.  He  had  displayed,  in  the  course  of  three 
and  thirty  years,  all  the  talents  and  virtues  of  the  man,  the 
patriot,  the  senator,  and  the  hero.  He  was  unlike  the 
Spartan  General  only  in  not  expiring  in  the  arms  of  vic- 
tory. But  even  in  this  unfortunate  event  he  has  served  his 
Country,  for  he  has  taught  the  sons  of  freedom  in  America, 
that  the  laurel  may  be  engrafted  upon  the  cypress,  and  that 
true  glory  may  be  acquired  not  only  in  the  arms  of  victory, 
but  in  the  arms  of  death. 

If  our  pleasures  are  exalted  in  proportion  to  the  extent 
and  degrees  of  our  benevolence,  how  shall  we  describe  those 
pleasures  which  the  hero  feels  who  performs  the  highest  act 
of  benevolence  to  mankind,  by  dying  in  defence  of  the 
liberties  of  his  Country.  He  enjoys  a  prelibation,  the  most 
like  the  joys  of  heaven  that  mortals  can  taste  upon  earth  ; 
he  partakes  of  the  nature  and  happiness  of  God. 

Say,  illustrious  shade!  what  new  resentments  kindled  in 
thy  bosom  at  the  prospect  of  executing  vengeance  upon 
the  foes  of  liberty  ?  Say,  what  were  the  transports  of  thy 
mind  when  the  twice  repulsed  enemy  fled  before  thy  pow- 
erful arms  ? 

But  when,  alas,  borne  down  with  numbers,  thou  wast 
forced  to  retreat,  and  death  showed  his  commission  to  the 
ball  that  pierced  thy  bosom,  say  what  joy  thrilled  after  it  at 
the  prospect  of  having  thy  brows  encircled  with  the  patriot's 
crown  of  martyrdom  ?  Tell  me,  ye  brave  Americans  who 
beheld  our  hero  fall,  did  he  not,  in  his  last  moments,  pour 
forth  his  usual  expressions  of  loyalty  to  the  Crown  of  Bri- 
tain, and  his  wonted  prayers  for  the  welfare  of  his  Country  ? 
Did  he  not,  in  faltering  accents,  call  upon  his  fellow-soldiers 
to  forget  his  death,  and  to  revenge  his  Country's  wrongs 
alone  ?  Ah  !  he  breathes  his  last !  Crowd  not  too  closely 
on  his  shade,  ye  holy  ministers  of  Heaven.  Make  room 
for  yonder  spirit!  It  is  the  illustrious  Hampden  who  flies 
to  embrace  him,  and,  pointing  to  the  wound  that  deprived 
him  of  life  in  a  conflict  with  arbitrary  power  above  an  hun- 
dred years  ago,  he  claims  the  honour  of  conducting  him  to 
the  regions  of  perfect  liberty  and  happiness. 

How  ineffable  are  the  delights  of  Heaven  to  a  virtuous 
lover  of  liberty.    To  behold  the  power  of  the  Sovereign  of 


1143 


RHODE-ISLAND  ASSEMBLY,  MAY,  1775. 


1144 


the  Universe,  directed  by  unerring  wisdom,  and  limited  by 
the  eternal  laws  of  justice  !  To  see  perfection  in  Govern- 
ment, consisting  in  the  happiness  of  every  member  that 
composes  it!  To  enjoy  the  most  perfect  freedom, and  yet 
to  choose  nothing  but  such  things  as  are  agreeable  to  the 
will  of  the  Supreme  Being.  These,  blessed  shade,  now 
constitute  a  part  of  thy  enjoyments!  Oh  couldst  thou  tell 
us  what  other  pleasures  now  occupy  thy  capacious  mind! 
Dost  thou  still  direct,  by  an  invisible  influence,  the  counsels 
of  thy  native  Colony  ?  Dost  thou  still  inspire  whole  bat- 
talions of  thy  countrymen  with  courage,  and  lead  them  on 
to  danger  and  glory  ?  These  we  know  would  be  a  happi- 
ness suited  to  the  benevolence  and  activity  of  thy  spirit, 
and  we  hope  not  an  inferiour  part  of  the  happiness  of 
Heaven.  But  it  is  not  for  mortals  to  pry  too  minutely  into 
the  secrets  of  the  invisible  world. 

What  a  noble  spectacle  is  the  body  of  a  hero,  who  has 
offered  up  his  life  as  a  ransom  for  his  Country!  Come 
hither,  ye  vindictive  ministers,  and  behold  the  first  fruits  of 
your  bloody  edicts.  What  atonement  can  you  make  to  his 
children  for  the  loss  of  such  a  father,  to  the  King  for  the 
loss  of  such  a  subject,  and  to  your  Country  for  the  loss  of  such 
a  member  of  society  ?  You  may  now  recall  your  military 
executioners.  Here  you  may  satiate  your  thirst  for  arbi- 
trary power.    You  have  slain  its  most  implacable  enemy. 

Come  hither  ye  mercenary  wretches  who  are  hired  to 
commit  murder  upon  your  fellow-subjects,  and  behold  the 
victim  of  your  cruelty.  You  have  no  tears  to  shed  over  a 
brother  whom  you  have  butchered,  for  you  have  given  up 
your  title  to  humanity.  You  have  ceased  to  be  men,  and 
we  have  nothing  to  expect  from  you  but  the  vices  of  slaves. 
We  only  beseech  you  not  to  insult  the  body  of  our  departed 
hero.  Spare  the  anguish  of  an  aged  mother,  whose  affec- 
tion extends  to  the  corpse  of  her  beloved  son.  You  have 
nothing  now  to  fear  from  his  eloquence  or  his  arms.  Sheath 
your  swords.  You  have  performed  an  exploit  which  has 
filled  up  the  measure  of  your  infamy  ;  and  while  the  name 
of  liberty  is  dear  to  Americans,  the  name  of  Warren  will 
fire  our  hearts,  and  nerve  our  arms  against  the  execrable 
mischiefs  of  Standing  Armies. 

Come  hither  ye  American  Senators,  who  are  met  to  con- 
sult for  the  safety  and  liberty  of  the  United  Colonies.  Here 
contemplate  a  spectacle  that  shall  but  I  forget  the  digni- 
ty of  my  auditors  ;  let  the  wounds  of  the  breathless  hero  be- 
fore your  eyes  address  you.  Melhinks  I  hear  him  call  upon 
you  with  an  energy  that  should  be  irresistible,  never  to  listen 
to  terms  of  accommodation  with  Great  Britain  that  shall 
deprive  you  of  a  single  privilege  of  Englishmen.  Oh,  in- 
terrupt not  (methinks  1  hear  him  say)  my  present  felicity 
with  the  least  apprehension  that  I  have  sold  my  life  for  a 
country  of  slaves.  1  will  listen  with  rapture  to  your  wise 
deliberations,  but  1  will  haunt  the  midnight  hours  of  that 


traitor  w  ho  sues  for  peace  or  liberty  with  a  bayonet  at  his 
breast,  or  who  suspends  for  a  moment  the  execution  of 
vengeance  upon  the  enemies  of  our  Country. 

Come  hither  ye  military  champions  for  American  liberty 
and  glory,  come  and  behold  a  spectacle  that  shall  rouse  in 
your  bosoms  new  principles  of  courage  and  ambition.  Mark 
the  widening  lustre  of  that  path  of  glory  which  he  trod. 
But  remember  his  ghost  walks  unrevenged  among  us.  Ten 
thousand  Ministerial  Troops  cannot  atone  for  his  death.  Let 
not  the  remembrance  of  your  former  connection  with  them 
enervate  your  arms,  nor  silence  the  clamours  of  justice  in 
your  breasts.  The  enemies  of  liberty  are  no  longer  the 
brethren  of  freemen.  Whet  your  swords  once  more,  and 
let  them  never  be  returned  to  their  scabbards  till  the  mon- 
ster tyranny  is  expelled  from  the  British  Empire,  or  till  its 
bounds  are  prescribed,  and  America  remains  the  land  of 
perfect  freedom  and  happiness. 

Come  hither,  in  the  last  place,  ye  American  fathers  and 
mothers,  and  behold  the  sad  earnests  of  arbitrary  power ! 
Behold  your  friend,  your  fellow  citizen,  one  of  the  guar- 
dians of  your  liberty,  the  pride  of  your  Country,  the  pil- 
lar of  your  hopes  ;  behold  this  illustrious  hero  covered  with 
blood  and  wounds  !  But  pause  not  too  long  in  bedewing  his 
body  with  your  tears.  Fly  to  your  houses,  and  tell  your 
children  the  particulars  of  the  melancholy  sight.  Chill 
their  young  blood  with  histories  of  the  cruelty  of  tyrants, 
and  make  their  hair  to  stand  on  end  with  descriptions  of 
the  horrours  of  slavery!  Equip  them  immediately  for  the 
field.  Shew  them  the  ancient  charter  of  their  privileges. 
Point  to  the  roofs  under  which  they  drew  their  first  breath, 
and  shew  them  the  cradles  in  which  they  were  rocked. 
Call  upon  Heaven  to  prosper  their  arms,  and  charge  them 
with  your  last  adieu  to  conquer,  or,  like  Warren,  to  die  in 
the  arms  of  liberty  and  glory. 

O,  posterity,  posterity,  you  will  often  look  back  to  this 
memorable  era.  You  will  transfer  the  epithets  of  rebels 
and  traitors  from  the  loyal  people  of  America  to  their  just 
originals.  You  will  unfold  every  part  of  that  system  of 
despotism  which  has  been  contrived  for  the  British  Em- 
pire. You  will  show  pious  Kings  misled  by  arbitrary  Mi- 
nisters, and  pious  Ministers  misled  by  arbitrary  Kings.  Yen 
will  show  that  even  the  monarchs  of  Britain  have  shed 
tears  in  prevailing  upon  their  subjects  to  accept  of  their 
hateful  commissions,  and  at  the  same  time  have  exulted  in 
the  society  of  a  few  parricides  at  the  prospect  of  seeing  a 
Continent  deluged  with  the  blood  of  freemen.  O  save 
human  nature  from  the  worst  of  infamy,  by  turning  your 
eyes  to  the  American  Colonies.  Here  let  your  historians 
and  orators  kindle  with  Roman  or  ancient  British  eloquence. 
Prize  the  liberty  we  have  transmitted  to  you.  It  cost  us 
much  treasure  and  blood.  It  cost  us,  (oh,  how  high  the 
price,)  it  cost  us  a  Warren's  life  ! 


RHODE.ISLAND  ASSEMBLY. 

At  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Governour  and  Com- 
pany of  the  English  Colony  of  Rhode-Island,  and  Provi- 
dence Plantations,  in  New-England,  in  America,  begun 
and  holden  at  Providence,  within  and  for  the  said  Colony, 
on  the  first  Wednesday  in  May,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord 
one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  seventy-five,  and  fifteenth 
of  the  reign  of  His  Most  Sacred  Majesty  George  the 
Third,  by  the  grace  of  God,  King  of  Great  Britain,  and 
so  forth : 

Present:  The  Honourable  Darius  Sessions,  Esq.,  De- 
puty-Governour ;  John  Collins,  Esq. ;  David  Harris,  Esq.; 
John  Suyles,  Jan.,  Esq. ;  Thomas  WicJccs,  Esq. ;  Jona- 
than Randall,  Est). ;  William  Richmond,  Esq. ;  Assistants. 
The  Secretary. 

Deputies  from  the  several  Towns. 
Newport. — Mr.  John  Wanton  (son  of  Gideon.) 
Providence. — Stephen  Hopkins,  Esq.,  Mr.  John  Jcnckcs, 

Mr.  John  Smith,  Colonel  John  Mathewson. 
Portsmouth. — Mctcalf  Boivler,  Esq.,  Jonathan  Free- 
born, Esq.,  Mr.  Job  Durfcc. 
Warwick. — Mr.  Jacob  Greene,  Mr.  Thomas  Holden,  Mr. 

John  Low. 
Westerly. — Joshua  Babcock,  Esq. 
N  ew-Shoreh  am. — (None.) 


North-Kingstown. — John  Northup,  Esquire,  Sylvester 

Gardner,  Esq. 
South-Kingstown. — John  Potter,  Esquire,  Mr.  Carder 

Hazard. 

East-Greenwich. — Mr.  Job  Gardner,  Mr.  Allen  Johnson. 
Jamestown. — (None.) 

Smithfield. — Daniel  Moivry,  Jun.,  Esq.,  Stephen  Whip- 
ple, Esq. 

Scituate. — Ezekiel  Cornell,  Esq.,  Mr.  Rufus  Hopkins. 
Gloucester. — Silas  Williams,  Esq.,  Mr.  Daniel  Owen. 
Charlestown. — Joseph  Hoxsie,  Esq.,  Mr.  Samuel  Kin- 
yon. 

West-Greenwich. — Williain  Nichols,  Esquire,  Thomas 
Gorton,  Esq. 

Coventry. — John  Rice,  Esq.,  Mr.  NathaniclGreene,  Jun. 
Exeter. — George  Pierce,  Esq.,  Jeffrey  Wilcox,  Esq. 
Middletown. — (None.) 

Bristol. — Major-General  Simeon  Potter,  William  Brad- 
ford, Esq. 
Tiverton. — Captain  John  Cooke. 

Little-Compton. — Captain  Thomas  Brownell,  William 

Richmond,  Esq. 
Warren. — Mr.  Cromu-el  Child. 

Cumberland. — John  Dexter,  Esq.,  Jeremiah  Whipple, 
Esq. 

Richmond. — George  Webb,  Esq.,  Mr.  Richard  Bailey,  Jr. 


1115 


RHODE-ISLAND  ASSEMBLY,  MAY,  1775, 


1146 


(  k  \nston. — Captain  Richard  Searle,  Mr.  William  Field . 
Hopkinton. — Captain  Abel  Tanner,  Mr.  Thomas  Wells, 
the  3d. 

Johnston. — Mr.  Emmor  Olney,  Mr.  Ebenezer  Spragve. 
IN'orth-Providence. — Mr.  Joseph  Olney,  Major  Thomas 
Qlney. 

Barrington. — Col.  Nathan' I  Martin,  Mr.  Thomas  Allen. 

The  Honourable  Metcalf  Bowler,  Esq.,  was  chosen 
Speaker,  and  Josias  Lyndon,  Esq.,  Clerk  of  the  Lower 
House. 

The  Company  of  Light-Infantry  in  the  Town  of  New- 
port having  made  choice  of  the  following  Officers,  and 
made  return  of  them  to  the  Governour  and  Council,  to 
wit : 

Jabez  Champlin,  Captain  ;  Charles  Spooncr,  First- 
Lieutenant  ;  Philip  Moss,  Second-Lieutenant ;  Samuel 
Spooner,  Ensign  ; 

Upon  consideration  whereof, 

It  is  Voted  and  Resolved  by  the  Council,  That  the  said 
Officers  be,  and  they  are  hereby,  approved. 

It  is  Voted  and  Resolved,  That  the  General  Treasurer 
remove,  with  the  Colony's  treasure,  to  the  Town  of  Pro- 
vidence: and  that,  for  the  charge  of  his  removing,  together 
with  the  extraordinary  trouble  he  is  likely  to  have  in  doing 
the  business  of  the  said  office  during  the  present  year,  he 
be  allowed  the  sum  of  ninety  Pounds  lawful  money,  inclu- 
ding his  annual  salary. 

Whereas,  the  Secretary  hath  removed  the  Colony's  Re- 
cords and  his  office  to  the  Town  of  Providence,  and  prayed 
this  Assembly,  in  case  the  removal  be  approved,  to  order 
the  expense  thereof  to  be  paid  out  of  the  General  Trea- 
sury :  on  consideration  whereof,  It  is  Voted  and  Resolved, 
That  the  said  removal  of  the  Colony's  Records  be,  and  it 
is  hereby,  approved;  and  that  an  account  of  the  expense 
thereof  be  laid  before  this  Assembly. 

It  is  Voted  and  Resolved,  That  the  Honourable  Met- 
calf Bowler,  Esq.,  be,  and  he  is  hereby,  appointed  to  re- 
ceive the  Town  of  Portsmouth's  proportion  of  the  Colony's 
Arms,  in  the  room  of  the  Town-Treasurer,  whose  religious 
principles  will  not  admit  of  his  receiving  the  same. 

It  is  Voted  and  Resolved,  That  Colonel  James  Mitchell 
Vamum,  Colonel  Daniel  Hitchcock,  and  Colonel  John 
Mathewson,  be,  and  they  are  hereby,  appointed  a  Com- 
mittee, to  prepare  a  Bill  for  the  regulation  of  the  Army 
ordered  to  be  raised  for  the  defence  of  the  Colony ;  that 
they  also  prepare  the  form  of  a  Commission  for  the  Offi- 
cers of  the  said  Army  ;  and  that  they  lay  the  same  before 
this  Assembly. 

It  is  Voted  and,  Resolved,  That  each  of  the  gentlemen 
appointed  Delegates  to  represent  this  Colony  in  the  Conti- 
nental Congress,  to  be  holden  in  the  City  of  Philadelphia 
on  the  tenth  instant,  draw  the  sum  of  sixty  Pounds  lawful 
money  out  of  the  General  Treasury,  to  bear  their  expenses. 

An  Act  for  embodying,  supplying  and  paying,  the  Army 
of  Observation,  ordered  to  be  raised,  for  the  defence  of 
the  Colony. 

Be  it  enacted  by  this  General  Assembly,  and  by  the  au- 
thority of  the  same  it  is  enacted,  That  the  fifteen  hundred 
men  ordered  to  be  raised  by  this  Colony  be  formed  into 
one  Brigade,  under  the  command  of  a  Brigadier-General, 
and  consist  of  three  Regiments,  each  of  which  shall  be 
commanded  by  one  Colonel,  one  Lieutenant-Colonel,  and 
one  Major;  that  there  be  one  Adjutant  of  Brigade,  or  Ad- 
jutant-Major, for  such  purposes  as  appertain  to  that  office  ; 
that  there  be  one  Adjutant,  one  Surgeon,  one  Surgeon's 
Mate,  ,and  one  Quartermaster  to  each  Regiment ;  that  each 
Regiment  consist  of  eight  Companies  ;  each  Field  Officer's 
Company  to  be  commanded,  under  such  Field  Officer,  by 
one  Captain-Lieutenant,  one  Lieutenant,  and  one  Ensign ; 
and  each  of  the  other  Companies  by  one  Captain,  one  Lieu- 
tenant, and  one  Ensign :  and  that  one  of  the  Companies 
be  a  Train  of  Artillery,  and  have  the  use  of  the  Colony's 
field-pieces. 

And  be  it  further  enacted  by  the  authority  aforesaid, 
That  each  Regiment  be  placed  in  the  said  Brigade  upon 
the  flanks  and  in  the  centre  by  rotation,  so  that  a  perfect 
equality  in  rank  be  preserved.  And  that  a  similar  equality 
be  preserved  among  the  Field  Officers  of  the  different 


Regiments,  by  the  Brigadier-General,  in  all  the  duties  ol 
a  campaign. 

And  be  it  further  enacted  by  the  authority  aforesaid, 
That  each  able-bodied  effective  man,  who  shall  enlist  into 
the  service,  and  find  himself  a  Small-Arm,  Bayonet,  and 
other  Accoutrements,  shall  be  allowed  and  paid  forty  Shil- 
lings as  a  bounty  ;  and  each  able-bodied  effective  man,  not 
finding  himself  a  Small-Arm,  Bayonet,  and  other  Accou- 
trements, shall  receive  twenty-four  Shillings  as  a  bounty. 

And  be  it  further  enacted  by  the  authority  aforesaid, 
That  each  Officer  and  Soldier  shall  receive  the  following 
monthly  wages,  while  in  the  service,  to  wit:  each  Colonel 
fifteen  Pounds,  each  Lieutenant-Colonel  twelve  Pounds, 
each  Major  ten  Pounds,  the  Adjutant  of  Brigade,  or  Adju- 
tant-Major, nine  Pounds,  each  Captain  and  Captain  Lieu- 
tenant six  Pounds,  each  Lieutenant  four  Pounds,  each 
Ensign  three  Pounds,  each  Adjutant  of  a  Regiment  five 
Pounds  ten  Shillings,  each  Surgeon  seven  Pounds  ten 
Shillings,  each  Surgeon's  Mate  four  Pounds,  each  Quar- 
termaster three  Pounds,  each  Sergeant  two  Pounds  eight 
Shillings,  each  Corporal  two  Pounds  four  Shillings,  each 
Drummer  and  Fifer  two  Pounds  four  Shillings,  and  each 
private  man  forty  Shillings. 

And  be  it  further  enacted  by  the  authority  aforesaid. 
That  each  Field-Officer  be  allowed  ten  Shillings  per  week, 
and  each  other  Officer  and  Soldier  six  Shillings  per  week, 
for  billet,  while  in  this  Colony  after  enlistment,  and  before 
the  Regiments  are  embodied.  And  each  Soldier  shall  also 
have  a  Blanket  and  Knapsack  given  him  by  the  Colony. 

And  be  it  further  enacted  by  the  authority  aforesaid, 
That  each  Officer  and  Soldier  be  paid  his  wages,  and  the 
weekly  billet  that  shall  be  due,  as  soon  as  may  be ;  and 
that  one  month's  wages  be  paid  in  advance  before  the 
Troops  march  out  of  the  Colony. 

And  be  it  further  enacted  by  the  authority  aforesaid, 
That  each  Soldier  be  enlisted  by  signing  the  following  En- 
listment, to  wit:  1,  the  subscriber,  hereby  solemnly  engage 
and  enlist  myself  as  a  Soldier  in  His  Majesty's  service,  and 
in  the  pay  of  the  Colony  of  Rhode-Island,  for  the  preser- 
vation of  the  liberties  of  America,  from  the  day  of  my  en- 
listment, to  the  last  day  of  December  next,  unless  the  ser- 
vice admit  of  a  discharge  sooner,  which  shall  be  at  the 
discretion  of  the  General  Assembly  ;  and  I  hereby  promise 
to  submit  myself  to  all  the  orders  and  regulations  of  the 
Army,  and  faithfully  to  observe  and  obey  all  such  orders 
as  I  shall  receive  from  time  to  time  from  my  officers. 

And  be  it  further  enacted  by  the  authority  aforesaid. 
That  no  officer  or  soldier  be  arrested,  prosecuted,  or  de- 
tained in  jail,  for  any  debt  whatsoever  less  than  fifteen 
Pounds  lawful  money,  due  to  one  creditor ;  and  that  everv 
apprentice  who  shall  enlist  into  the  said  Army  shall  be 
entitled  to  the  whole  of  the  bounty,  and  one  half  of  his 
wages ;  his  master  receiving  the  other  half. 

And  it  is  further  enacted  by  the  authority  aforesaid, 
That  for  supplying  the  Troops  with  Arms,  Provisions,  kc, 
five  hundred  barrels  of  Flour,  three  hundred  barrels  of 
Pork,  one  hundred  barrels  of  Beef,  fifteen  hundred  Blan- 
kets and  Knapsacks,  and  fifteen  hundred  Small-Arms  and 
Bayonets,  with  suitable  Accoutrements,  be  immediately 
procured  on  the  Colony's  account. 

And  that  the  said  Troops  may  be  supplied  with  cloth- 
ing and  other  necessaries,  It  is  further  enacted  by  the  au- 
thority aforesaid,  That  a  Commissary  be  appointed,  who 
shall  go  sutler  to  the  Troops,  and  have  one  and  a  half  pet- 
cent,  upon  all  the  business  he  shall  transact.  And  such 
Commissary  is  hereby  directed  and  required  to  deliver 
unto  the  soldiers  such  things  as  the  Colony  shall  send  for 
the  use  of  the  Regiments  at  the  prime  cost,  including  all 
charges  that  may  accrue  thereon  ;  provided  that  the  said 
officer  deliver  nothing  to  any  soldier  without  an  order  from 
the  Captain  or  Commanding  Officer  of  the  company  for 
the  time  being  to  which  such  soldier  belongs.  And  the 
officers  are  hereby  restricted  and  forbid  drawing  any  order 
or  orders  on  the  Commissary,  exceeding  the  monthly 
wages  due  to  the  soldier  that  applies  for  the  same. 

And  it  is  further  enacted  by  the  authority  aforesaid, 
That  whoever  shall  be  appointed  Commissary  and  Sutler, 
shall  give  security  to  the  General  Treasurer,  in  the  penal 
sum  of  two  thousand  Pounds,  for  the  faithful  performance 
of  his  duty ;  and  shall  not  carry  with  him,  on  his  own 
account,  any  necessaries  of  the  same  kind  with  those  that 


1117 


RHODE-ISLAND  ASSEMBLY,  MAY,  1775. 


1148 


shall  be  sent  by  the  Government.  And  as  such  Commis- 
sary may  want  assistance,  he  is  hereby  authorized  to  ap- 
point a  Deputy  or  Deputies  under  him  ;  lie  being  account- 
able for  the  conduct  of  his  Deputies. 

And  for  the  purposes  aforesaid,  Be  it  further  enacted 
by  the  authority  aforesaid,  That  a  Committee  of  Safety 
be  chosen  by  this  Assembly,  one  of  whom  shall  reside  in 
each  County,  excepting  the  County  of  Providence,  which 
shall  have  two,  to  furnish  and  pay  the  officers  and  soldiers 
in  such  County  ;  and  that  each  Committee-man  shall  give 
bond  with  surety  to  the  General  Treasurer,  in  the  sum  of 
one  thousand  Pounds  lawful  money,  for  the  faithful  dis- 
charge of  his  trust. 

And  be  it  further  enacted  by  the  authority  aforesaid, 
That  the  said  Committee  provide  Arms,  Tents,  Provisions, 
and  every  other  Accoutrement  necessary  for  the  Army  ; 
and  that  they  be  allowed  one  and  a  half  per  cent,  for 
transacting  the  business. 

And  for  supplying  the  General  Treasury,  Be  it  further 
enacted  by  the  authority  aforesaid,  That  the  sum  of  Twen- 
ty Thousand  Pounds,  lawful  money  bills,  be  immediately 
printed,  and  signed  by  the  Honourable  Mctcalf  Bowler, 
Esq.,  Henry  Ward,  Joseph  Clarice,  John  Cole,  and  Tho- 
mas Greene,  Esquires;  that  all  Bills  under  five  Shillings 
be  signed  by  one  of  the  Committee,  and  all  the  other  Bills 
by  two  of  the  Committee  ;  that  the  same  shall  be  a  lawful 
tender  in  discharge  of  all  contracts,  debts,  dues  and  demands, 
whether  of  a  publick  or  private  nature ;  that  one  half  of 
the  said  Bills  shall  be  redeemed  within  two  years,  and  the 
other  half  within  five  years,  from  the  time  of  the  emission, 
together  with  the  interest  thereon  accruing,  at  the  rate  of 
two  and  a  half  per  cent,  per  annum,  by  a  general  tax  to 
be  levied  on  the  inhabitants  of  this  Colony ;  and  that  the 
Bills  shall  be  of  the  following  value,  to  wit : 

2,000  Bills  of  Forty  Shillings  each,  £4,000 
4,000  of  Thirty  Shillings,  6,000 

4,000  of  Twenty  Shillings,  4,000 

4,000  of  Ten  Shillings,  2,000 

4,000  of  Five  Shillings,  1,000 

4,000  of  Four  Shillings,  800 

4,000  of  Three  Shillings,  600 

6,000  of  Two  Shillings,  600 

10,000  of  One  Shilling,  500 

8,000  of  Nine  Pence,  300 

8,000  of  Six  Pence,  200 

£20,000 


Which  Bills  shall  be  of  the  following  form  :  "  The  pos- 
sessor of  this  Bill  shall  be  paid,  by  the  Treasurer  of  the 

Colony  of  Rhode-Island,  lawful  money,  at  the 

rate  of  six.  Shillings  and  nine  Pence  for  one  ounce  of  Sil- 
ver, within  five  years  from  the  date  hereof,  with  interest  at 
two  and  a  half  per  cent,  per  annum  until  paid. — By  order 
of  Assembly. — Providence,  the  third  day  of  May  1775." 
And  on  the  said  Bill  there  shall  he  the  same  impression 
and  motto  as  on  the  lawful  money  Bills  heretofore  emitted. 

It  is  Voted  and  Resolved,  That  the  Committee  of  Safe- 
ty be,  and  they  are  hereby,  appointed  to  receive  the  Colo- 
ny's Arms,  and  distribute  them  where  they  are  wanted, 
amongst  the  soldiers  that  shall  enlist  into  the  Army  of  Ob- 
servation ;  that  the  said  Committee,  or  any  four  of  them, 
be,  and  they  are  hereby,  appointed,  and  fully  empowered, 
during  the  recess  of  the  General  Assembly,  to  fill  up  all 
vacancies  that  shall  happen  amongst  the  officers  that  shall 
he  appointed  by  the  General  Assembly  for  the  said  Army  ; 
and  that  they  procure  all  necessaries  not  particularly  men- 
tioned in  the  Act  for  raising  said  Army. 

Both  Houses  being  joined  in  a  grand  Committee,  chose 
the  following  Officers,  to  wit: 

The  Committee  of  Safety. 

William  Richmond,  Esq.,  for  the  County  of  Newport. 

Mr.  John  Smith  and  Daniel  Tillinghast,  Esq.,  for  the 
County  of  Providence. 

John  Northup,  Esq.,  for  the  County  of  King's  County. 

William  Bradford,  Esq.,  for  the  County  of  Bristol. 

Mr.  Jacob  Greene,  for  the  County  of  Kent. 

Officers  of  the  Army  of  Observation. 

Nathaniel  Greene,  Jim.,  Esq.,  Brigadier-General. 

Peter  Phillips,  Esq.,  Commissary. 


Thomas  Church,  Esq.,  Colonel  of  the  Regiment  to  be 
raised  in  the  Counties  of  Newport  and  Bristol. 

Daniel  Hitchcock,  Esq.,  Colonel  of  the  Regiment  to 
be  raised  in  the  County  of  Providence. 

James  Mitchell  Varnum,  Esquire,  Colonel  of  the  Regi- 
ment to  be  raised  in  the  Counties  of  King's  County  and 
Kent. 

William  Turner  Miller,  Esquire,  Lieutenant  Colonel  of 
the  Regiment  to  be  raised  in  the  Counties  of  Newport  and 
Bristol. 

Ezekiel  Cornell,  Esq.,  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the  Re- 
giment of  Providence. 

James  Babcock,  Esq.,  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the  Re- 
giment of  King's  County  and  Kent. 

John  Forrester,  Esq.,  Major  of  the  Regiment  of  New- 
port and  Bristol. 

Israel  Angcll,  Esq.,  Major  of  the  Regiment  of  Provi- 
dence. 

Christopher  Greene,  Esq.,  Major  of  the  Regiment  of 
King's  County  and  Kent. 

John  Crane,  Captain,  and  Joseph  Balch,  Captain-Lieu- 
tenant of  the  Train  of  Artillery. 

William  Ladd,  Captain-Lieutenant,  Nathaniel  Church, 
Lieutenant,  and  Cornelius  Briggs,  Ensign,  of  the  Colonel's 
Company  of  the  Regiment  of  Newport  and  Bristol. 

Matthew  Allen,  Captain-Lieutenant,  James  Smith,  Lieu- 
tenant, and  James  Brown,  Jun.,  Ensign,  of  the  Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel's Company  of  the  Regiment  of  Newport  and 
Bristol. 

John  Topham,  Captain-Lieutenant,  George  Tennant, 
Lieutenant,  and  Stephen  Tripp,  Ensign,  of  the  Major's 
Company  of  the  Regiment  of  Newport  and  Bristol. 

Sioti  Martindale,  Captain,  Benjamin  Diamon,  Lieuten- 
ant, and  James  Child,  the  Second,  Ensign,  of  a  Company 
in  the  Regiment  of  Newport  and  Bristol. 

Thomas  Tew,  Captain,  Jonathan  Simmons,  Lieutenant, 
and  Christopher  Bcnnct,  Ensign,  of  a  Company  in  the  Re- 
giment of  Newport  and  Bristol. 

Jonathan  Broivnell,  Captain,  Sylvanus  Shaw,  Lieuten- 
ant, and  Godfrey  Brown,  Ensign,  of  a  Company  in  the 
Regiment  of  Newport  and  Bristol. 

Benjamin  Scabury,  Captain,  Gilbert  Manchester,  Lieu- 
tenant, and  Israel  Church,  Ensign,  of  a  Company  in  the 
Regiment  of  Newport  and  Bristol. 

Simeon  Thayer,  Captain-Lieutenant,  John  Spurr,  Lieu- 
tenant, and  William  Potter,  Ensign,  of  the  Colonel's  Com- 
pany of  the  Regiment  of  Providence. 

Stephen  Kimball,  Captain-Lieutenant,  Jonathan  Smith. 
Lieutenant,  and  George  Dorrance,  Junior,  Ensign,  of  the 
Lieutenant-Colonel's  Company  of  the  Regiment  of  Provi- 
dence. 

John  Field,  Captain-Lieutenant,  David  Richmond, 
Lieutenant,  and  Samuel  Black,  Ensign,  of  the  Major's 
Company  of  the  Regiment  of  Providence. 

Andrew  Waterman,  Captain,  William  Aldrich,  Lieu- 
tenant, and  David  Dexter,  Junior,  Ensign,  of  a  Company 
in  the  Regiment  of  Providence. 

John  Angell,  Captain,  Coggeshall  Olney,  Lieutenant, 
and  Stephen  Olney,  Ensign,  of  a  Company  in  the  Regi- 
ment of  Providence. 

Christopher  Olney,  Captain,  Ephraim  Bowen,  Junior, 
Lieutenant,  and  Cyprian  Sterry,  Ensign,  of  a  Company  in 
the  Regiment  of  Providence. 

Jeremiah  Olney,  Captain,  Levi  Tower,  Lieutenant,  and 
Nathaniel  Field,  Ensign,  of  a  Company  in  the  Regiment 
of  I'rovidence. 

Nathaniel  Blackmar,  Captain,  Samuel  Thornton,  Lieu- 
tenant, and  Abraham  Tourtcllot,  Ensign,  of  a  Company  in 
the  Regiment  of  Providence. 

Archibald  Crary,  Captain-Lieutenant,  and  John  Singer 
Dt  tier,  Lieutenant,  of  the  Colonel's  Company  of  the  Re- 
giment of  King's  County  and  Kent. 

John  Jloxsie,  Captain-Lieutenant,  Jonathan  Bates,  Ju- 
nior, Lieutenant,  and  Joseph  Holloway,  Ensign,  of  the 
Lieutenant-Colonel's  Company  of  the  Regiment  of  King's 
County  and  Kent. 

Edmund  Johnson,  Captain-Lieutenant,  John  Reynolds, 
Lieutenant,  John  Holdcn,  (Son  of  Charles,)  Ensign,  of  the 
Major's  Company  of  the  Regiment  of  King's  County  and 
Knit. 

Thomas  Ilolden,  Captain,  Joseph  Barton,  Lieutenant, 


1 149 


RHODE-ISLAND  ASSEMBLY,  MAY,  1775. 


1150 


and  Joseph  Arnold,  (son  of  Caleb,)  Ensign,  of  a  Company 
in  the  Regiment  of  King's  County  and  Kent. 

Samuel  Ward,  Junior,  Captain,  Elijah  Leivis,  Lieuten- 
ant, and  Joshua  Collins,  Ensign,  of  a  Company  in  the  Re- 
giment of  King's  County  and  Kent. 

James  Gardner,  Captain,  Thomas  Phillips,  Lieutenant, 
and  Samuel  Bisscll,  Ensign,  of  a  Company  in  the  Regi- 
ment of  King's  County  and  Kent. 

Christopher  Gardner,  Junior,  Captain,  Nathaniel  Haw- 
kins, Lieutenant,  and  William  Potter,  (son  of  Ichabod,) 
Ensign,  of  a  Company  in  the  Regiment  of  King's  County 
and  Kent. 

John  Randall,  Captain,  Oliver  Clarke,  Lieutenant,  and 
Stephen  Wells,  Ensign,  of  a  Company  in  the  Regiment  of 
King's  County  and  Kent. 

It  is  Voted  and  Resolved,  That  the  Committee  of  Safety 
in  the  several  Counties,  be,  and  they  are  hereby  appointed 
Muster-Masters  of  the  Troops  now  ordered  to  be  raised, 
for  their  respective  Counties. 

Whereas,  the  Ministry  and  Parliament  of  Great  Britain, 
sacrificing  the  glory  and  happiness  of  their  Sovereign,  and 
the  good  of  Britain  and  the  Colonies,  to  their  own  ambi- 
tious and  lucrative  views,  have  entered  into  many  arbitrary, 
illegal  Resolutions,  for  depriving  His  Majesty's  subjects  in 
America  of  every  security  for  the  enjoyment  of  life,  liberty, 
and  property  ;  and  have  sent,  and  are  still  sending,  troops 
and  ships  of  war  into  these  Colonies,  to  enforce  their  tyran- 
nical mandates,  and  have  actually  begun  to  shed  the  blood 
of  the  innocent  people  of  these  Colonies  ;  in  consequence 
whereof,  this  Assembly,  at  the  session  held  on  the  22d  day 
of  April  last,  passed  an  Act  for  raising  fifteen  hundred 
men,  as  an  Army  of  Observation,  and  to  assist  any  of  our 
sister  Colonies : 

And  whereas,  the  Honourable  Joseph  Wanton,  Esquire, 
then  Governour  of  this  Colony,  did  enter  a  protest  against 
the  said  Act,  conceived  in  such  terms  as  highly  to  reflect 
upon  the  General  Assembly,  and  upon  the  united  opposi- 
tion of  all  America,  to  the  aforesaid  tyrannical  measures: 

And  whereas,  the  said  Joseph  Wanton,  Esquire,  hath 
neglected  to  issue  a  Proclamation  for  the  due  observation 
of  Thursday,  the  11th  of  May  instant,  as  a  day  of  Fasting 
and  Prayer,  agreeable  to  an  Act  passed  at  the  said  session  : 

And  whereas,  the  said  Joseph  Wanton,  Esquire,  hath 
been  elected  to  the  office  of  Governour  of  this  Colony  for 
the  present  year,  and  been  duly  notified  thereof  by  this 
Assembly;  notwithstanding  which  he  hath  not  attended  at 
this  General  Assembly  and  taken  the  oath  required  by 
law  : 

And  whereas,  the  said  Joseph  Wanton,  Esquire,  hath 
positively  refused  to  sign  the  commissions  for  the  officers 
appointed  to  command  the  Troops  so  ordered  to  be  raised  : 
By  all  which  he  hath  manifested  his  intentions  to  defeat 
the  good  people  of  these  Colonies  in  their  present  glorious 
struggle  to  transmit  inviolate  to  posterity  those  sacred  rights 
they  have  received  from  their  ancestors : 

Be  it  therefore  enacted  by  this  General  Assembly,  and  by 
the  authority  thereof  it  is  enacted,  That  the  Deputy  Gov- 
ernour and  Assistants  be,  and  they  are  hereby  forbid  to  ad- 
minister the  oath  of  office  to  the  said  Joseph  Wanton,  Esq., 
unless  in  free  and  open  General  Assembly,  according  to  the 
unvaried  practice  in  this  Colony,  and  with  the  consent  of  such 
Assembly  :  that  until  the  said  Joseph  Wanton,  Esq.,  shall 
have  taken  the  oath  of  office  as  aforesaid,  it  shall  not  be 
lawful  for  hiin  to  act  as  Governour  of  this  Colony  in  any 
case  whatever;  and  that  every  act  done  by  him,  in  the 
pretended  capacity  of  Governour,  shall  be  null  and  void 
in  itself,  and  shall  not  operate  as  a  warrant  or  discharge  to 
any  person  acting  by  his  orders,  or  under  his  authority. 

And  be  it  further  enacted  by  the  authority  aforesaid, 
That  Henry  Ward,  Esquire,  Secretary  of  the  Colony,  be, 
and  he  is  hereby  directed,  and  fully  authorized  and  em- 
powered, to  sign  the  Commissions  for  all  officers,  civil  and 
military,  chosen  by  this  Assembly,  as  well  those  going  in 
the  service  abovesaid,  as  others,  he  receiving  therefor,  out 
of  the  General  Treasury,  two  shillings  and  eight  pence  for 
each  commission.  And  that  such  commission  so  signed, 
with  the  Colony  seal  affixed,  shall  be  as  full  and  effectual 
warrant  and  warrants  to  every  and  all  such  officer  and  offi- 
cers so  chosen,  for  the  faithful  discharge  of  his  and  their 


duty,  as  if  the  same  were  signed  by  a  Governour  of  this 
Colony,  duly  elected  and  engaged  according  to  law;  any 
law,  custom,  or  usage,  to  the  contrary  hereof  in  any  wise 
notwithstanding. 

And  be  it  further  enacted  by  the  authority  aforesaiil, 
That  his  Honour  the  Deputy  Governour  be  requested,  and 
fully  authorized  and  empowered,  to  call  the  General  As- 
sembly together  upon  any  emergency,  to  meet  at  such 
time  and  place  as  he  shall  think  most  for  the  interest  of  the 
Colony. 

Whereas,  the  Honourable  Joseph  Wanton,  Esquire,  who 
is  elected  Governour  of  this  Colony  for  the  present  year, 
hath  not  attended  this  Assembly  and  taken  the  oath  of  of- 
fice, and  cannot,  therefore,  appoint  a  Naval  Officer  until  he 
shall  be  sworn  in  before  the  General  Assembly : 

Be  it  therefore  enacted  by  this  General  Assembly,  and 
by  the  authority  thereof  it  is  enacted,  That  the  Naval  Of- 
fice be  kept  by  James  Clarke,  Esq.,  who  hath  for  some 
time  past  kept  it,  until  further  orders  from  this  Assembly  : 
and  that  he  account  to  this  Assembly. 

It  is  Voted  and  Resolved,  That  the  Committee  of  Safety 
be,  and  they  are  hereby  directed  to  make  out  the  account 
of  the  expenses  of  raising  and  equipping  the  fifteen  hun- 
dred men  ordered  to  be  raised  by  this  Colony,  as  an  Army 
of  Observation,  and  for  the  assistance  of  any  of  the  neigh- 
bouring Colonies,  as  soon  as  the  said  Troops  are  fully 
equipped,  and  transmit  the  same  to  the  Delegates  of  this 
Colony  at  the  Continental  Congress,  to  be  by  them  laid 
before  the  Congress,  that  the  Colonies  which  have  not 
been,  or  shall  not  be,  at  a  proportionate  expense  in  the  de- 
fence of  our  common  lights,  may  contribute  their  propor- 
tion towards  reimbursing  this  Colony  such  part  of  the  ex- 
penses of  raising  and  equipping  the  said  fifteen  bundled 
men,  as  shall  be  more  than  this  Colony's  proportion  towards 
the  common  defence. 

Be  it  enacted  by  this  General  Assembly,  and  by  the 
authority  thereof  it  is  enacted,  That  the  Lieutenant-Gen- 
eral,  Brigadier-General,  and  the  Committee  of  Safety,  be, 
and  they,  or  the  major  part  of  them,  are  hereby  fully  au- 
thorized and  empowered,  to  order  and  direct  when  and  in 
what  manner  the  forces,  or  any  part  thereof,  shall  march 
out  of  this  Colony  to  the  assistance  of  any  neighbouring 
Colony  in  distress. 

It  is  Voted  and  Resolved,  That  the  Brigadier-General 
draw  up  the  several  Regiments  to  be  raised  in  this  Colony, 
either  singly  or  together ;  and  that  the  Captains  of  the  sev- 
eral companies,  not  belonging  to  the  field-officers  thereof", 
shall  draw  lots  for  their  places  and  stations  in  the  Regi- 
ments aforesaid. 

It  is  Voted  and  Resolved,  That  the  form  of  a  Commis- 
sion to  a  Colonel  of  a  Regiment  in  the  Army  of  Observa- 
tion, now  laid  before  this  Assembly,  be,  and  the  same  is 
hereby  approved  ;  and  that  similar  Commissions,  tnutatis 
mutandis,  be  issued  to  the  other  officers  of  said  Army. 

It  is  Voted  and  Resolved,  That  the  Speaker  of  the 
Lower  House  be,  and  he  is  hereby  requested  to  transmit 
to  the  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Assembly  of  the  Colony 
of  Connecticut,  and  to  the  Committee  of  Inspection  for  the 
City  of  New-York,  copies  of  the  Proceedings  of  this  As- 
sembly, relative  to  the  present  disputes  between  Great 
Britain  and  the  Colonies. 

Be  it  enacted  by  this  General  Assembly,  and  by  the 
authority  thereof  it  is  enacted,  That  any  military  officer 
commissioned  to  command  any  part  of  the  Army  of  Ob- 
servation, be  removed  for  any  misbehaviour  or  neglect  of 
duty,  and  another  appointed  in  his  stead,  by  a  General 
Court  Martial  to  be  holden  for  that  purpose. 

It  is  Voted  and  Resolved,  That  Joshua  Babcock,  Esq., 
be  requested  to  carry  the  proceedings  of  this  General  As- 
sembly, respecting  the  raising  an  Army  of  Observation, 
&ic,  to  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Colony  of  Connecti- 
cut;  and  to  request  of  them  to  transmit  to  this  Assembly 
their  proceedings  and  transactions  relative  to  the  present 
alarming  crisis  of  affairs. 

It  is  Voted  and  Resolved,  That  the  following  monthly 
wages  shall  be  allowed  and  paid  unto  the  following  respec- 
tive officers  and  men  in  the  Army  of  Observation ;  that  is 
to  say  : 


1151 


RHODE-ISLAND  ASSEMBLY,  JUNE,  1775. 


1152 


To  the  Brigadier-General,    -    -    -    -  £20    0  0 
In  the  Train  of  Artillery. 

To  the  Captain,   9    0  0 

Captain-Lieutenant,    -    --    --    -  740 

First  Lieutenant,   -    --    --    --  580 

Second  Lieutenant,     -    --    --    -  3  12  0 

Lieutenant  Fire-worker,  -    --    --  3  12  0 

Two  Bombardiers,  each    -    --    --  2  14  0 

Two  Sergeants,  each  -    --    --    -  280 

Four  Gunners,  each    -    --    --    -  260 

Privates  and  Fifers,    -    --    --    -  240 


This  Assembly  do  Vote  and  Resolve,  That  an  embargo 
be  set  on  all  Provisions  going  out  of  this  Colony,  excepting 
w  hat  shall  be  necessary  for  victualling  vessels  sailing  out 
of  this  Colony,  and  for  the  use  of  the  Army  ;  and  that  this 
Act  be  in  force  immediately. 

It  is  Voted  and  Resolved,  That  all  business  lying  before 
this  Assembly  unfinished,  be,  and  the  same  is  hereby  re- 
ferred to  the  next  session  ;  that  the  Secretary  publish  the 
publick  Acts  and  Orders  made  and  passed  at  the  last  and 
present  session,  by  beat  of  drum,  in  the  Town  of  Provi- 
dence, within  ten  days  after  the  rising  of  this  Assembly, 
and  within  thirty,  send  copies  thereof  to  the  Sheriff  of  each 
County  in  the  Colony,  by  him  to  be  transmitted  to  the 
several  Town  Clerks  in  the  County  ;  and  that  this  Assem- 
bly be,  and  hereby  is  adjourned  until  the  second  Monday 
in  Jane  next,  then  to  meet  in  East- Greenwich. 

God  save  the  King. 

Published  according  to  order,  on  Wednesday,  the  17th 
day  of  May,  A.  D.  1775.  by 

Henry  Ward,  Secretary. 

At  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Governour  and  Com- 
pany of  the  English  Colony  of  Rhode-Island  and  Provi- 
dence Plantations,  in  New-England,  in  America,  begun 
and  holden,  by  adjournment,  at  East- Greenwich,  within 
and  for  the  said  Colony,  on  the  second  Monday  in  June, 
in  the  year  of  our  Lord,  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and 
seventy-five,  and  fifteenth  of  the  reign  of  His  Most  Sacred 
Majesty  George  the  Third,  by  the  grace  of  God,  King  of 
Great-Britain,  and  so  forth: 

Present :  The  Honourable  Nicholas  Cooke,  Esquire, 
Deputy-Governour  ;  Samuel  Dyre,  Esq. ;  Simeon  Potter, 
Esq. ;  Ambrose  Page,  Esq. ;  John  Saylcs,  Junior,  Esq. ; 
John  Jepson,  Esq. ;  James  Arnold,  Junior,  Esq. ;  Jona- 
than Randall,  Esq. ;  Peter  Phillips,  Esq. ;  Joseph  Haz- 
ard, Esq. ;  Thomas  Church,  Esq. ;  Assistants.  The  Se- 
cretary. 

Deputies  from  the  several  Towns. 

The  Honourable  Metcalf  Bonder,  Esquire,  Speaker. 
Newport. — Mr.  John  Wanton,  (son  of  Gideon,)  George 

Hazard,  Esq.,  Mr.  John  Tanner,  Mr.  Joseph  Anthony. 
Providence. — Mr.  John  Jenckes,  Mr.  John  Smith,  Col. 

John  Mathewson. 
Portsmouth. — Mr.  Job  Durfee. 

Warwick. —  William  Greene,  Esq.,  Mr.  Jacob  Greene, 
Captain  Thomas  Holden,  Lieut.  Col.  John  Low. 

Westerly. — Joshua  Babcock,  Esq.,  Mr.  James  Rhodes. 

New-Shoreham. — Mr.  John  Sa?ids. 

:\(>KTH-KiNGSTOWN. — John  Northup,  Esquire,  Sylvester 
Gardner,  Esquire. 

South-Kingstown. — John  Potter,  Esq.,  Carder  Haz- 
ard, Esq. 

East-Greenwich. — Mr.  Job  Gardner,  Mr.  Allen  John- 
son. 

Jamestown. — Capt.  Edward  Hull,  Capt.  Samuel  Carr. 
Smithkield. — Daniel  Mowry,  Jun.,  Esq.,  Stephen  Whip- 
ple, Esq. 
Scituate. — Rufus  Hopkins,  Esq. 

Gloucester. — Silas  Williams,  Esq.,  Mr.  Daniel  Owen. 
Charlkstown. — Joseph  lloxsie,  Esq.,  Mr.  Samuel  Kin- 
yon. 

West-Greenwich. —  William  Nichols,  Esquire,  Thomas 

Gorton,  Esq. 
Coventry. — Nathaniel  Greene,  Jun.,  Esq. 
Exeter. —  George  Pierce,  Esq.,  Jeffery  Willcox,  Esq. 
Middletown. — Mr.  James  Potter. 

Bristol. — Major-General  William  Bradford,  Benjamin 
Bosworth,  Esq. 


Tiverton. — John  Cooke,  Esq. 

Little-Compton. — Captain  Thomas  Brownell,  William 
Richmond,  Esq. 

Warren. — Mr.  Cromel  Child,  Martin  Luther,  Esq. 

Cumberland. — John  Dexter,  Jeremiah  Whipple,  Esq'rs. 

Richmond. — George  Webb,  Esq.,  Captain  Richard  Bai- 
ley, Junior. 

Cranston. — Captain  Richard  Searle,  Mr.  William  Field. 
Hopkinton. — Captain  Abel  Tanner,  Mr.  Thomas  Wells, 
the  3d. 

Johnston. — Mr.  Emmor  Olney,  Mr.  Ebenezer  Sprague. 
North-Providence. — Mr.  Joseph  Olney,  Major  Thomas 
Olney. 

Barrington. — Colonel  Nathaniel  Martin,  Mr.  Thomas 

Allen. 

Josias  Lyndon,  Esq.,  Clerk  of  the  Lower  House. 

This  Assembly,  at  the  session  held  at  Providence  on  the 
first  Wednesday  in  May  last,  having  passed  an  Act  prohibit- 
ing his  Honour  the  Deputy-Governour,  and  the  Assistants, 
from  administering  the  oath  of  office  to  the  Honourable 
Joseph  Wanton,  Esq.,  who  was  elected  Governour  of  this 
Colony  for  the  present  year,  and  declaring  all  acts  by  him 
done,  in  the  pretended  capacity  of  Governour,  null  and 
void,  until  he  shall  be  engaged  in  open  General  Assembly, 
and  with  the  consent  of  the  General  Assembly,  &c.  And 
the  said  Joseph  Wanton  having  appeared  before  this  Assem- 
bly, and  demanded  that  the  oath  of  office  be  administered 
to  him,  and  this  General  Assembly  having  taken  the  same 
into  consideration,  do  vote  and  resolve,  and  it  is  voted  and 
resolved,  that  the  said  Joseph  Wanton  hath  not  given  satis- 
faction to  this  Assembly  ;  that  the  said  recited  Act,  passed 
at  the  last  session,  continue  and  be  in  force  until  the  rising 
of  the  General  Assembly  at  the  next  session,  and  that  this 
Act  be  immediately  published,  by  inserting  a  copy  thereof 
in  the  Newport  Mercury  and  Providence  Gazette. 

It  is  Voted  and  Resolved,  That  his  Honour  the  Deputy- 
Governour  be,  and  he  is  hereby  requested  to  write  to  James 
H'allace,  Esq.,  commander  of  His  Majesty's  Ship  Rose,  now 
in  the  harbour  of  Newport,  and  demand  of  him  the  reason 
of  his  conduct  towards  the  inhabitants  of  this  Colony,  in 
stopping  and  detaining  their  vessels,  and  also  to  demand  of 
him  the  packets  which  he  detains. 

Whereas  Mr.  John  Carter  exhibited  unto  this  Assembly 
an  account,  by  him  charged  against  the  Colony,  for  print- 
ing fifty-eight  thousand  lawful  Money  Bills,  sixteen  hundred 
Enlistments  for  the  Army  of  Observation,  the  Proceedings 
of  this  Assembly  at  the  sessions  in  April  and  May  last,  &ic. 
And  the  said  account  being  duly  examined,  it  is  Voted  and 
Resolved,  That  the  same  be  and  hereby  is  allowed,  and 
that  fifty-nine  Pounds  thirteen  Shillings  and  five  Fence, 
lawful  money,  being  the  amount  thereof,  be  paid  the  said 
John  Carter  out  of  the  general  Treasury. 

It  is  Voted  and  Resolved,  That  no  Soldier  belonging  to 
the  Army  of  Observation,  raised  by  this  Colony,  be  allowed 
to  take  up  of  the  Commissary  any  more  than  one  third  part 
of  his  monthly  wages  for  his  own  use;  and  that  whatever 
more  the  Commissary  shall  supply  or  pay  to  the  Soldiers, 
shall  be  at  his  own  risk. 

li  is  Voted  and  Resolved,  That  the  allowance  to  the  Sol- 
diers in  camp  be  as  follovveth,  to  wit:  one  pound  of  bread, 
one  pound  of  beef  or  pork,  a  half-penny  for  vegetables,  half 
a  gill  of  rice,  one  pint  of  milk,  and  one  quart  of  beer  per 
day,  and  one  pint  of  molasses  per  week.  That  once  a  week, 
instead  of  meat,  they  have  a  pound  of  fish,  an  ounce  of. 
butter,  and  half  a  pint  of  vinegar:  That  if  they  have  no 
milk  they  be  allowed  a  gill  and  a  half  of  rice  per  day : 
That  if  the  half-penny  per  day  for  vegetables  be  not  suffi- 
cient, the  Brigadier-General  be  empowered  to  increase  the 
same  to  a  sufficient  allowance,  and  that  the  Commissary 
furnish  them  with  the  same  quantity  of  soap  as  is  allowed 
by  the  Colony  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay  to  their  Troops. 

It  is  Voted  and  Resolved,  That  the  following  Rules  and 
Orders  for  regulating  the  Army  of  Observation  raised  by 
this  Colony,  be  and  they  are  hereby  approved,  and  that  the 
Secretary  procure  the  same  to  be  printed,  and  supply  the 
Brigadier-General,  each  Field  Oflicer,the  Commissary,  and 
each  Commissioned  Officer,  with  a  copy  thereof. 

Whereas,  the  lust  of  power,  which  of  old  oppressed,  per- 
secuted, and  exiled  our  pious  and  virtuous  ancestors  from 


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1154 


their  fair  possessions  in  Britain,  now  pursues,  with  tenfold 
severity,  us,  their  guiltless  children,  who  are  unjustly  and 
wickedly  charged  with  licentiousness,  sedition,  treason  and 
rebellion ;  and  being  deeply  impressed  with  a  sense  of  the 
almost  incredible  fatigues  and  hardships  our  venerable  pro- 
genitors encountered,  who  fled  from  oppression  for  the  sake 
of  civil  and  religious  liberty  for  themselves  and  their  off- 
spring, and  began  a  settlement  here  on  bare  creation,  at 
their  own  expense ;  and  having  seriously  considered  the 
duty  we  owe  to  God,  to  the  memory  of  such  invincible 
worthies,  to  the  King,  to  Great  Britain,  our  Country,  our- 
selves and  posterity,  do  think  it  an  indispensable  duty,  by 
all  lawful  ways  and  means  in  our  power,  to  recover,  main- 
tain, defend,  and  preserve,  the  free  exercise  of  all  those 
civil  and  religious  rights  and  liberties,  for  which  many  of 
our  forefathers  fought,  bled,  and  died,  and  to  hand  them 
down  entire,  for  the  free  enjoyment  of  the  latest  posterity  : 
And  whereas  the  keeping  a  Standing  Army  in  any  of  these 
Colonies  in  times  of  peace,  without  the  consent  of  the  Le- 
gislature of  that  Colony  in  which  such  an  Army  is  kept,  is 
against  law :  And  whereas  such  an  Army,  with  a  large  Naval 
Force,  is  now  placed  in  the  harbour  of  Boston,  for  the 
purpose  of  subjecting  us  to  the  power  of  the  British  Par- 
liament :  And  whereas  we  are  frequently  told  by  the  tools  of 
Administration,  dupes  to  ministerial  usurpation,  that  Great 
Britain  will  not,  in  any  degree,  relax  in  her  measures,  until 
we  acknowledge  her  "right  to  make  laws  binding  upon  us 
in  all  cases  whatsoever ;"  and  that  if  we  refuse  to  be  slaves, 
if  we  persist  in  our  denial  of  her  claim,  the  dispute  must 
be  decided  by  arms,  in  which  it  is  said  by  our  enemies  "  we 
shall  have  no  chance,  being  undisciplined,  cowards,  disobe- 
dient, impatient  of  command,  and  possessed  of  that  spirit 
of  levelling  which  admits  of  no  order,  subordination,  rule,  or 
government :"  And  whereas  from  the  Ministerial  Army  and 
Fleet  now  at  Boston,  the  large  re-enforcement  of  Troops 
expected,  the  late  circular  letters  to  the  Goveinours  upon 
die  Continent,  the  general  lenour  of  intelligence  from  Great 
Britain,  and  the  hostile  preparations  making  here,  as  also 
from  the  threats  and  frequent  insults  of  our  enemies,  we 
have  reason  to  apprehend  that  the  sudden  destruction  of  this 
Colonyr  is  in  contemplation,  if  not  determined  upon  : 

And  whereas  the  great  law  of  self-preservation  hath  re- 
quired our  raising  and  keeping  an  Army  of  Observation  and 
defence,  in  order  to  prevent  or  repel  any  farther  attempts 
to  enforce  the  late  cruel  and  oppressive  Acts  of  the  British 
Parliament,  which  are  evidently  designed  to  subject  us  and 
the  whole  Continent  to  the  most  ignominious  slavery  :  And 
whereas,  in  keeping  such  an  Army,  it  will  be  necessary  that 
the  officers  and  soldiers  in  the  same  be  fully  acquainted 
with  their  duty,  and  that  the  articles,  rules,  and  regulations 
thereof  be  made  as  plain  as  possible  ;  and  having  great  con- 
fidence in  the  honour  and  publick  virtue  of  the  inhabitants 
of  this  Colony,  that  they  will  readily  obey  their  officers, 
and  will  cheerfully  do  their  duly,  when  known,  without 
any  such  severe  articles  and  rules  (except  in  capital  cases) 
and  cruel  punishments,  as  are  usually  practised  in  standing 
armies,  and  will  submit  to  all  such  rules  and  regulations  as 
are  founded  in  reason,  honour,  and  virtue: 

It  is  therefore  Resolved,  That  the  following  Articles, 
Rules  and  Regulations,  for  the  Army  raised  by  this  Colony 
for  the  defence  and  security  of  our  lives,  liberties,  and  estates, 
be,  and  hereby  are  established  and  required  to  be  strictly 
adhered  to  by  all  officers,  soldiers,  and  others  concerned,  as 
they  regard  their  own  honour  and  the  publick  good  ;  and 
upon  the  penalties  and  forfeitures  hereinafter  mentioned. 

Article  i.  All  Officers  and  Soldiers,  not  having  just 
impediment,  shall  diligently  frequent  divine  service  and 
sermon  in  the  places  appointed  for  assembling  of  the  Regi- 
ment, Troop,  or  Company,  to  which  they  belong  ;  and  such 
as  wilfully  absent,  themselves,  or  being  present,  behave  in- 
decently or  irreverently,  shall,  if  Commissioned  Officers, 
be  brought  before  a  Regimental  Court-Martial,  there  to  be 
publickly  and  severely  reprimanded  by  the  President ;  if 
Non-Commissioned  Officers  or  Soldiers,  every  person  so 
offending  shall,  for  his  first  offence,  forfeit  one  Shilling,  to 
be  deducted  out  of  his  wages ;  for  the  second  offence  he 
shall  not  only  forfeit  one  Shilling,  but  be  confined,  not  ex- 
ceeding twenty-four  hours;  and  for  every  like  offence,  shall 
suffer  and  pay  in  like  manner;  which  money  so  forfeited 
shall  be  applied  to  the  use  of  the  sick  Soldiers  of  the  Troop 
or  Company  to  which  the  offender  belongs. 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii.  7 


Art.  ii.  Whatsoever  Non-Commissioned  Officer  or  Sol- 
dier shall  use  any  unlawful  oath  or  execration,  shall  incur 
the  penalty  of  six  Pence ;  and  if  a  Commissioned  Officer 
be  thus  guilty  of  profane  cursing  and  swearing,  he  shall 
forfeit  and  pay  for  each  and  every  such  offence  the  sum  of 
nine  Pence,  lawful  money. 

Art.  hi.  Any  Officer  or  Soldier  who  shall  behave  him- 
self with  contempt  or  disrespect  towards  the  General  or 
Generals,  or  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  Rhode-Island 
Forces,  or  shall  speak  words  tending  to  his  or  their  hurt  or 
dishonour,  shall  be  punished  according  to  the  nature  of  his 
offence,  by  the  judgment  of  a  General  Court-Martial. 

Art.  iv.  Any  Officer  or  Soldier  who  shall  begin,  excite, 
cause,  or  join  in  any  mutiny  or  sedition  in  the  Regiment, 
Troop,  or  Company,  to  which  he  belongs,  or  in  any  other 
Regiment,  Troop,  or  Company  of  the  Rhode-Island  Forces, 
either  by  land  or  sea,  or  in  any  party,  post,  detachment,  or 
guard,  on  any  pretence  whatsoever,  shall  suffer  such  punish- 
ment as  by  a  General  Court-Martial  shall  be  ordered. 

Art.  v.  Any  Officer,  Non-Commissioned  Officer,  or  Sol- 
dier, who  being  present  at  any  mutiny  or  sedition,  does  not 
use  his  utmost  endeavours  to  suppress  the  same,  or  coming 
to  the  knowledge  of  any  mutiny  or  intended  mutiny,  does 
not  without  delay,  give  information  thereof  to  the  com- 
manding Officer,  shall  be  punished  by  order  of  a  General 
Court-Martial,  according  to  the  nature  of  his  offence. 

Art.  vi.  Any  Officer  or  Soldier  who  shall  strike  his 
superiour  Officer,  or  draw,  or  offer  to  draw,  or  shall  lift  up 
any  weapon,  or  offer  any  violence  against  him,  being  in  the 
execution  of  his  office,  on  any  pretence  whatsoever,  or  shall 
disobey  any  lawful  commands  of  his  superiour  Officer, 
shall  suffer  such  punishment  as  shall,  according  to  the  na- 
ture of  his  offence,  be  ordered  by  the  sentence  of  a  General 
Court-Martial. 

Art.  vii.  Any  Non-Commissioned  Officeror  Soldier  who 
shall  desert,  or  without  leave  of  his  Commanding  Officer, 
absent  himself  from  the  Troop  or  Company  to  which  he 
belongs,  or  from  any  detachment  of  the  same,  shall,  upon 
being  convicted  thereof,  be  punished  according  to  the  nature 
of  his  offence,  at  the  discretion  of  a  General  Court-Martial. 

Art.  viii.  Whatsoever  Officer  or  Soldier  shall  be  con- 
victed of  having  advised  or  persuaded  any  other  Officer  or 
Soldier  to  desert,  shall  suffer  such  punishment  as  shall  be 
ordered  by  the  sentence  of  a  General  Court-Martial. 

Art.  ix.  All  Officers,  of  what  condition  soever,  shall 
have  power  to  part  and  quell  all  quarrels,  frays,  and  dis- 
orders, though  the  persons  concerned  should  belong  to 
another  Regiment,  Troop,  or  Company,  and  either  order 
Officers  to  be  arrested,  or  Non-Commissioned  Officers  or 
Soldiers  to  be  confined  and  imprisoned,  till  their  proper  Su- 
periour Officers  shall  be  acquainted  therewith  :  and  who- 
ever shall  refuse  to  obey  such  Officer,  (though  of  an  inferiour 
rank,)  or  shall  draw  his  sword  upon  him,  shall  be  punished 
at  the  discretion  of  a  General  Court-Martial. 

Art.  x.  No  Officer  or  Soldier  shall  use  any  reproachful 
or  provoking  speeches,  or  gestures  to  another,  nor  shall 
presume  to  send  a  challenge  to  any  person  to  fight  a  duel ; 
and  whoever  shall  knowingly  and  willingly  suffer  any  per- 
son whatsoever  to  go  forth  to  fight  a  duel,  or  shall  second, 
promote,  or  carry  any  challenge,  shall  be  deemed  as  a 
principal ;  and  whatsoever  Officer  or  Soldier  shall  upbraid 
another  for  refusing  a  challenge,  shall  also  be  considered  as 
a  challenger;  and  all  such  offenders,  in  any  of  these  or 
such  like  cases,  shall  be  punished  at  the  discretion  of  a 
General  Court-?*Iartial. 

Art.  xi.  Every  Officer  commanding  in  quarters,  or  on 
a  march,  shall  keep  good  order,  and,  to  the  utmost  of  his 
power,  redress  all  such  abuses  or  disorders  which  may  be 
committed  by  anyr  Officer  or  Soldier  under  his  command  ; 
if  upon  any  complaint  made  to  him,  of  Officers  or  Soldiers 
beating,  or  otherwise  ill-treating  any  person,  or  of  commit- 
ting any  kind  of  riot,  to  the  disquieting  of  the  inhabitants  of 
this  Continent,  he,  the  said  Commander,  who  shall  refuse 
or  omit  to  see  justice  done  on  the  offender  or  offenders,  and 
reparation  made  to  the  party  or  parties  injured,  as  far  as 
the  offender's  wages  shall  enable  him  or  them,  shall,  upon 
due  proof  thereof,  be  punished  as  ordered  by  a  General 
Court-Martial,  in  such  manner  as  if  he  himself  had  com- 
mitted the  crimes  or  disorders  complained  of. 

Art.  xii.  If  any  Officer  shall  think  himself  to  be  wronged 
by  his  Colonel,  or  the  Commanding  Officer  of  the  Regi- 

3 


1 155 


RHODE-ISLAND  ASSEMBLY,  JUNE,  1775. 


115G 


ment,  and  shall,  upon  due  application  made  to  him,  be  re- 
fused to  be  redressed,  he  may  complain  to  the  General,  or 
Commander-in-Chief  of  the  Rhode- Island  Forces,  in  order 
to  obtain  justice,  who  is  hereby  required  to  examine  into 
said  complaint  and  see  that  justice  be  done. 

Art.  ziii.  If  any  inferiour  Ollicer  or  Soldier  shall  think 
himself  wronged  by  his  Captain,  or  other  Officer  command- 
ing the  Troop  or  Company  to  which  he  belongs,  he  is  to 
complain  thereof  to  the  Commanding  Officer  of  the  Regi- 
ment, who  is  hereby  required  to  summon  a  Regimental 
Court-Martial  for  the  doing  justice  to  the  complainant,  from 
which  Regimental  Court-Martial  either  party  may,  if  he 
thinks  himself  still  aggrieved,  appeal  to  a  General  Court- 
Martial;  but  if,  upon  a  second  hearing,  the  appeal  shall 
appear  to  be  vexatious  and  groundless,  the  person  so  appeal- 
ing shall  be  punished  at  the  discretion  of  the  General  Court- 
Martial. 

A rt. xiv.  Whatsoever Non-Commissioned  Officeror  Sol- 
dier shall  be  convicted  at  a  Regimental  Court-Martial  of 
having  sold,  or  designedly,  or  through  neglect,  wasted  the 
Ammunition,  Arms,  or  Provisions,  or  other  Military  Stores 
delivered  out  to  him  to  be  employed  in  the  service  of  this 
Colony,  shall,  if  an  Officer,  be  reduced  to  a  Private  Sen- 
tinel ;  and  if  a  Private  Soldier,  shall  suffer  such  punishment 
as  shall  be  ordered  by  a  Regimental  Court-Martial. 

Art.  xv.  All  Non-Commissioned  Officers  and  Soldiers 
shall  be  allowed  the  limits  of  one  mile  from  the  place  of 
encampment,  unless  the  Commander-in-Chief  shall  think 
proper  to  mark  out  shorter  limitations.  Every  Officer  or 
Soldier  found  without  those  limits,  without  leave  in  writing, 
shall  suffer  such  punishment  as  shall  be  inflicted  by  a  Regi- 
mental Court-Martial. 

Art.  xvi.  No  Officer  or  Soldier  shall  lie  out  of  his  quar- 
ters or  camp  without  leave  from  the  Commanding  Officer 
of  the  Regiment,  upon  penalty  of  being  punished  accord- 
ing to  the  nature  of  his  offence,  by  order  of  a  Regimental 
Court-Martial. 

Art.  xvii.  Every  Non-Commissioned  Officer  and  Soldier 
shall  retire  to  his  quarters  or  tent  at  the  beating  of  the  retreat : 
in  default  of  which,  he  shall  be  punished  according  to  the 
nature  of  his  offence,  by  order  of  the  Commanding  Officer. 

Art.  xviii.  No  Officer,  Non-Commissioned  Officer,  or 
Soldier,  shall  fail  of  repairing  at  the  time  fixed,  to  the  place 
of  parade,  or  exercise,  or  other  rendezvous,  appointed  by 
the  Commanding  Officer,  if  not  prevented  by  sickness,  or 
some  other  evident  necessity,  or  shall  go  from  the  said 
place  of  rendezvous,  or  from  his  guard,  without  leave  from 
his  Commanding  Officer,  before  he  shall  be  regularly  dis- 
missed or  relieved,  on  penalty  of  being  punished  according 
to  the  nature  of  his  offence,  by  the  sentence  of  a  Regi- 
mental Court-Martial. 

Art.  xix.  Whatsoever  Commissioned  Officer  shall  be 
found  drunk  on  his  guard,  party,  or  other  duty  under  arms, 
shall  be  cashiered  for  it;  any  Non-Commissioned  Officer 
or  Soldier  so  offending,  shall  suffer  such  punishment  as  shall 
be  ordered  by  the  sentence  of  a  Regimental  Court-Martial. 

Art.  xx.  Whatsoever  Sentinel  shall  be  found  sleeping 
upon  his  post,  or  shall  leave  it  before  he  shall  be  regularly 
relieved,  shall  suffer  such  punishment  as  shall  be  ordered 
by  the  sentence  of  a  General  Court-Martial. 

Art.  xxi.  Any  person  belonging  to  the  Rhode- Island 
Army,  who,  by  discharging  of  Fire- Arms,  beating  of  Drums, 
or  by  any  other  means  whatsoever,  shall  occasion  false  alarms 
m  camp  or  quarters,  shall  suffer  such  punishment  as  shall  be 
ordered  by  fhe  sentence  of  a  General  Court-Martial. 

Art.  xxn.  Any  Officer  or  Soldier  who  shall,  without 
urgent  necessity,  or  without  leave  of  his  superiour  Officer, 
quit  his  platoon  or  division,  shall  be  punished  according  to 
the  nature  of  his  offence,  by  the  sentence  of  a  Regimental 
Court-Martial. 

Art.  xxiii.  No  Officer  or  Soldier  shall  do  violence,  or 
offer  any  insult  or  abuse  to  any  person  who  shall  bring  pro- 
visions or  other  necessaries  to  the  camp  or  quarters  of  the 
Rhode-Island  Army  ;  any  Officer  or  Soldier  so  offending, 
shall,  upon  complaint  being  made  to  the  Commanding  Offi- 
cer, suffer  such  punishment  as  shall  be  ordered  by  a  Regi- 
mental Court-Martial. 

Art.  xxiv.  Whatsoever  Officer  or  Soldier  shall  shame- 
fully abandon  any  Post  committod  to  his  charge,  or  shall 
speak  words  inducing  others  to  do  the  like  in  time  of  an 
engagement,  shall  suffer  death  immediately. 


Art.  xxv.  Any  person  belonging  to  the  Rhode-Island 
Army,  who  shall  make  known  the  watchword  to  any  person 
who  is  not  entitled  to  receive  it,  according  to  the  rules  and 
discipline  of  war,  or  shall  presume  to  give  a  parole  or  watch- 
word different  from  what  he  received,  shall  suffer  death,  or 
such  other  punishment  as  shall  be  ordered  by  the  sentence 
of  a  General  Court-Martial. 

Art.  xxvi.  Whosoever,  belonging  to  the  Rhode-Island 
Army,  shall  relieve  the  enemy  with  Money,  Victuals,  or 
Ammunition,  or  shall  knowingly  harbour  or  protect  an  ene- 
my, shall  suffer  such  punishment  as  by  a  General  Court- 
Martial  shall  be  ordered. 

Art.  xxvii.  Whosoever  belonging  to  the  Rhode-Island 
Army,  shall  be  convicted  of  holding  correspondence  with, 
or  of  giving  intelligence  to  the  enemy,  either  directly  or 
indirectly,  shall  suffer  such  punishment  as  by  a  General 
Court-Martial  shall  be  ordered. 

Art.  xxviii.  All  Publick  Stores,  taken  in  the  enemy's 
camp  or  magazines,  whether  of  Artillery,  Ammunition, 
Clothing,  or  Provisions,  shall  be  secured  for  the  use  of  the 
Colony  of  Rhode-Island. 

Art.  xxix.  If  any  Officer  or  Soldier  shall  leave  his  post' 
or  colours  in  time  of  an  engagement,  to  go  in  search  of 
plunder,  he  shall,  upon  being  convicted  thereof  before  a 
General  Court-Martial,  suffer  such  punishment  as  by  said 
Court-Martial  shall  be  ordered. 

Art.  xxx.  If  any  Commander  of  any  Post,  Intrench- 
ment,  or  Fortress,  shall  be  compelled  by  the  Officers  or 
Soldiers  under  his  command,  to  give  it  up  to  the  enemy,  or 
to  abandon  it,  the  Commissioned  Officer,  Non-Commis- 
sioned Officers,  or  Soldiers,  who  shall  be  convicted  of  hav- 
ing so  offended,  shall  suffer  death,  or  such  other  punishment 
as  may  be  inflicted  upon  them  by  the  sentence  of  a  General 
Court-Martial. 

Art.  xxxi.  All  Sutlers  and  Retailers  to  a  camp,  and  all 
persons  whatsoever  serving  with  the  Rhode-Island  Armv 
in  the  field,  though  not  enlisted  Soldiers,  are  to  be  subject 
to  the  Articles,  Rules,  and  Regulations  of  the  Rhode-is/and 
Army. 

Art.  xxxii.  No  General  Court-Martial  shall  consist  of 
a  less  number  than  thirteen,  none  of  which  shall  be  tmdf  r 
the  degree  of  a  Commissioned  Officer,  and  the  President 
shall  be  a  Field-Officer ;  and  the  President  of  each  and 
every  Court-Martial,  whether  General  or  Regimental,  shall 
have  power  to  administer  an  oath  to  every  witness,  in  order 
to  the  trial  of  offenders ;  and  the  Members  of  all  Courts- 
Martial  shall  be  duly  sworn  by  the  President,  and  the  next 
in  rapk  on  the  Court-Martial  shall  administer  the  oath  to 
the  President. 

Art.  xxxiii.  The  Members  both  of  General  and  Regi- 
mental Courts-Martial  shall,  when  belonging  to  different 
Corps,  take  the  same  rank  which  they  hold  in  the  Army  : 
but  when  Courts-Martial  shall  be  composed  of  Officers  of 
one  Corps,  they  shall  take  their  ranks  according  to  their 
commissions,  by  which  they  are  mustered  in  the  said  Corps. 

Art.  xxxiv.  All  the  Members  of  a  Court-Martial  are 
to  behave  with  calmness,  decency,  and  impartiality,  and  in 
the  giving  of  their  votes,  are  to  begin  with  the  youngest  or 
lowest  in  commission. 

Art.  xxxv.  No  Field-Officer  shall  be  tried  by  any  per- 
son under  the  degree  of  a  Captain  ;  nor  shall  any  proceed- 
ings or  trials  be  carried  on  excepting  between  the  hours  of 
eight  in  the  morning  and  three  in  the  afternoon,  except  in 
cases  which  require  an  immediate  example. 

Art.  xxxvi.  The  Commissioned  Officers  of  every  Regi- 
ment may,  by  the  appointment  of  their  Colonel  or  Com- 
manding Officer,  hold  Regimental  Courts-Martial  for  the 
inquiring  into  such  disputes  or  criminal  matters  as  may  come 
before  them,  and  for  the  inflicting  corporal  punishments  for 
small  offences,  and  shall  give  judgment  by  the  majority  of 
voices ;  but  no  sentence  shall  be  executed  till  the  Com- 
manding Officer  (not  being  a  member  of  the  Court-Martial) 
shall  have  confirmed  the  same. 

Art.  xxxvi i.  No  Regimental  Court-Martial  shall  con- 
sist of  less  than  five  Officers,  excepting  in  cases  where  that 
number  cannot  be  conveniently  assembled,  when  three  may 
be  sufficient,  who  are  likewise  to  determine  upon  the  sen- 
tence by  the  majority  of  voices,  which  sentence  is  to  be 
confirmed  by  the  Commanding  Officer,  not  being  a  member 
of  the  Court-Martial. 

Art.  xxxviu.  Every  Officer  commanding  in  any  Fort, 


1157 


RHODE-ISLAND  ASSEMBLY,  JUNE,  1715. 


1158 


Castle,  or  Barrack,  or  elsewhere,  where  the  Corps  under 
his  command  consists  of  detachments  from  different  Regi- 
ments, or  of  independent  Companies,  may  assemble  Courts- 
Martial  for  the  trial  of  offenders  in  the  same  manner  as  if 
they  were  Regimental,  whose  sentence  is  not  to  be  executed 
till  it  shall  be  confirmed  by  the  said  Commanding  Officer. 

Art.  xxxix.  No  person  whatsoever  shall  use  menacing 
words,  signs,  or  gestures,  in  the  presence  of  a  Court-Martial 
then  sitting,  or  shall  cause  any  disorder  or  riot,  so  as  to  dis- 
turb their  proceedings,  on  the  penalty  of  being  punished  at 
the  discretion  of  the  said  Court-Martial. 

Art.  xl.  To  the  end  that  offenders  may  be  brought  to 
justice,  whenever  any  Officer  or  Soldier  shall  commit  a 
crime  deserving  punishment,  he  shall,  by  his  Commanding 
Officer,  if  an  Officer,  be  put  in  arrest ;  if  a  Non-Commis- 
sioned  Officer  or  Soldier,  be  imprisoned  till  he  shall  be  either 
tried  by  a  Court-Martial,  or  shall  be  lawfully  discharged  by 
proper  authority. 

Art.  xli.  No  Officer  or  Soldier  who  shall  be  put  in 
arrest  or  imprisonment,  shall  continue  in  his  confinement 
more  than  eight  days,  or  till  such  time  as  a  Court-Martial 
can  be  conveniently  assembled. 

Art.  xlii.  No  Officer  commanding  a  guard,  or  Provost- 
Marshal,  shall  refuse  to  receive  or  keep  any  prisoner  com- 
mitted to  his  charge  by  an  Officer  belonging  to  the  Rhode- 
Island  Forces :  which  Officer  shall,  at  the  same  time, 
deliver  an  account  in  writing,  signed  by  himself,  of  the 
crime  with  which  the  said  prisoner  is  charged. 

Art.  xliii.  No  Officer  commanding  a  guard, or  Provost- 
Marshal,  shall  presume  to  release  any  prisoner  committed 
to  his  charge,  without  proper  authority  for  so  doing  ;  nor 
shall  he  suffer  any  prisoner  to  escape  on  the  penalty  of 
being  punished  for  it  by  the  sentence  of  a  General  Court- 
Martial. 

Art.  xliv.  Every  Officer  or  Provost-Marshal,  to  whose 
charge  prisoners  shall  be  committed,  is  hereby  required, 
within  twenty-four  hours  after  such  commitment,  or  as  soon 
as  he  shall  be  relieved  from  his  guard,  to  give  in  writing  to 
the  Colonel  of  the  Regiment  to  whom  the  prisoner  belongs 
(where  the  prisoner  is  confined  upon  the  guard  belonging 
to  the  said  Regiment,  and  that  his  offence  only  relates  to 
the  neglect  of  duty  in  his  own  Corps)  or  to  the  Commander- 
in-Chief,  their  names,  their  crimes,  and  the  names  of  the 
Officers  who  committed  them,  on  the  penalty  of  being  pun- 
ished for  his  disobedience  or  neglect  at  the  discretion  of  a 
General  Court-Martial. 

Art.  xlv.  And  if  any  Officer  under  arrest  shall  leave 
his  confinement  before  he  is  set  at  liberty  by  the  Officer 
who  confined  him,  or  by  a  superiour  power,  he  shall  be 
cashiered  for  it. 

Art.  xlvi.  Whatsoever  Commissioned  Officer  shall  be 
convicted  before  a  General  Court-Martial  of  behaving  in  a 
scandalous,  infamous  manner,  such  as  is  unbecoming  the 
character  of  an  officer  and  a  gentleman,  shall  be  discharged 
from  the  service. 

Art.  xlvii.  All  Officers,  Conductors,  Gunners,  Ma- 
trosses,  Drivers,  or  any  other  person  whatsoever,  receiving 
pay  or  hire  in  the  service  of  the  Rhode-Island  Artillery, 
shall  be  governed  by  the  aforesaid  Rules  and  Articles,  and 
shall  be  subject  to  be  tried  by  Courts-Martial  in  like  man- 
ner with  the  Officers  and  Soldiers  of  the  Rhode-Island 
Troops. 

Art.  xxviii.  For  differences  arising  amongst  them- 
selves, or  in  matters  relating  solely  to  their  own  Corps,  the 
Courts-Martial  may  be  composed  of  their  own  Officers ; 
but  where  a  number  sufficient  of  such  Officers  cannot  be 
assembled,  or  in  matters  wherein  other  Corps  are  interested, 
the  Officers  of  Artillery  shall  sit  in  Courts-Martial  with  the 
Officers  of  the  other  Corps. 

Art.  xlix.  A"  crimes  not  capital,  and  all  disorders  and 
neglects  which  Officers  and  Soldiers  may  be  guilty  of,  to 
the  prejudice  of  good  order  and  military  discipline,  though 
not  mentioned  in  the  Articles  of  War,  are  to  be  taken 
cognizance  of  by  a  General  or  Regimental  Court-Martial, 
according  to  the  nature  and  degree  of  the  offence,  and  be 
punished  at  their  discretion. 

Art  l.  No  Courts-Martial  shall  order  any  offender  to  be 
whipped,  or  receive  more  than  thirty-nine  stripes  for  any 
one  offence. 

Art.  li.  The  Field-Officers  of  each  and  every  Regi- 
ment are  to  appoint  some  suitable  person  belonging  to  such 


Regiment  to  receive  all  such  fines  as  may  arise  within  the 
same,  for  any  breach  of  any  of  the  foregoing  Articles,  and 
shall  direct  the  same  to  be  carefully  and  properly  applied 
to  the  relief  of  such  sick,  wounded,  or  necessitous  Soldiers 
as  belong  to  such  Regiment ;  and  such  person  shall  account 
with  such  Officer  for  all  fines  received  and  the  application 
thereof. 

Art.  lii.  All  Members  sitting  in  Courts-Martial  shall 
be  sworn  by  the  President  of  said  Courts,  which  President 
shall  himself  be  sworn  by  the  Officer  in  said  Court  next  in 
rank  ;  the  Oath  to  be  administered  previous  to  their  proceed- 
ing to  the  trial  of  any  offender,  in  form  following,  to  wit : 

"  You,  A.  B.,  swear  that  you  will  well  and  truly  try,  and 
impartially  determine  the  cause  of  the  prisoner  now  to  be 
tried,  according  to  the  Rules  for  regulating  the  Rhode-Island 
Army  ;  so  help  you  God." 

Art.  liii.  All  persons  called  to  give  evidence  in  any 
case  before  a  Court-Martial,  who  shall  refuse  to  give  evi- 
dence, shall  be  punished  for  such  refusal  at  the  discretion 
of  such  Court-Martial ;  the  Oath  to  be  administered  in  the 
form  following,  to  wit: 

"You  swear  the  evidence  you  shall  give  in  the  case 
now  in  hearing,  shall  be  the  truth,  the  whole  truth,  and 
nothing  but  the  truth ;  so  help  you  God." 

It  is  Voted  and  Resolved,  That  the  Committee  of  Safety 
be,  and  they  are  hereby  directed  to  charter  two  suitable 
Vessels  for  the  use  of  the  Colony,  and  fit  out  the  same  in 
the  best  manner  to  protect  the  trade  of  this  Colony  :  That 
the  said  vessels  be  at  the  risk  of  the  Colony,  and  be 
appraised  before  they  are  chartered  by  Messieurs  Joseph 
Antony,  Rufus  Hopkins,  and  Cromel  Child,  or  any  two 
of  them,  who  are  also  to  agree  for  the  hire  of  the  said 
vessels :  That  the  largest  of  the  said  vessels  be  manned 
with  eighty  men,  exclusive  of  officers,  and  be  equipped 
with  ten  guns,  (four-pounders,)  fourteen  Swivel  Guns,  a 
sufficient  number  of  Small-Arms,  and  all  necessary  warlike 
stores :  That  the  small  vessel  be  manned  with  a  number 
not  exceeding  thirty  men  :  That  the  whole  be  included  in 
the  number  of  fifteen  hundred  men,  ordered  to  be  raised  in 
this  Colony,  and  be  kept  in  pay  until  the  first  day  of  De- 
cember next,  unless  discharged  before  by  order  of  the  Gene- 
ral Assembly  :  That  they  receive  the  same  bounty  and  pay 
as  the  Land  Forces,  excepting  that  the  First  and  Second 
Lieutenants,  and  Master,  receive  the  same  pay  as  the  First 
Lieutenant  of  the  Land  Forces,  and  the  under  or  petty 
Officers  the  same  as  Sergeants  of  the  Army  :  And  that  the 
Lieutenant-General,  Brigadier-General,  and  Committee  of 
Safety,  or  the  major  part  of  them,  have  the  power  of  di- 
recting and  ordering  said  vessels;  and  in  case  it  shall  appear 
to  them  that  the  officers  and  men  of  the  said  vessels  can  be 
more  serviceable  on  shore  than  at  sea,  to  order  them  on 
shore  to  defend  the  seaports  in  this  Colony. 

And  it  is  further  Voted  and  Resolved,  That  the  follow- 
ing Officers  be  and  are  hereby  appointed  to  command  the 
said  vessels,  to  wit:  Of  the  largest  vessel,  Abraham  Whip- 
ple, commander,  with  the  rank  and  power  of  Commodore 
of  both  vessels. 

John  Grimes,  First-Lieutenant. 

Benjamin  Seabury,  Second  Lieutenant. 

William  Bradford,  of  Providence,  Master. 

Ebenezer  Flagg,  Quartermaster,  at  the  wages  of  four 
Pounds,  lawful  money,  per  month. 

Of  the  smallest  Vessel. 
Christopher  Whipple,  Commander. 
William  Rhodes,  Lieutenant. 

Whereas,  William  Potter,  Esquire,  presented  unto  this 

Assembly  the  following  Memorial,  to  wit : 

To  the  Honourable  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Colony 
of  Rhode-Island,  at  the  session  to  be  holden  in  East- 
Greenwich,  on  the  second  Monday  in  June,  A.  D. 
1775: 

I,  William  Potter,  of  South-Kingstown,  in  the  County 
of  King's  County,  in  the  Colony  aforesaid,  humbly  shew  : 
That  at  a  Session  of  the  General  Assembly  held  at  Provi- 
dence, on  the  twenty-second  day  of  April  last,  an  Act  was 
passed  for  the  raising,  with  all  expedition  and  despatch, 
fifteen  hundred  Men,  as  an  Army  of  Observation,  to  repel 
any  insult  or  violence  that  might  be  offered  to  the  inhabi- 
tants ;  and  also,  if  necessary  for  the  safety  and  preserva- 


1159 


RHODE-ISLAND  ASSEMBLY,  JUNE,  1775. 


11  GO 


tion  of  the  Colonies,  to  march  out  of  this  Colony,  and  join 
and  co-operate  with  the  Forces  of  the  neighbouring  Colo- 
nies ;  against  which  Act  I,  as  one  of  the  Upper  House  of 
Assembly,  together  with  Joseph  Wanton,  Esquire,  the  then 
Governour,  Darius  Sessions,  Esquire,  the  then  Deputy- 
Governour,  and  Thomas  Wickes,  Esq.,  then  also  one  of 
the  same  Upper  House,  did  enter  my  Protest;  which  hath 
given  much  uneasiness  to  the  good  people  of  this  Colony. 
To  remove  which,  so  far  as  respects  myself,  and  as  far  as 
in  me  lieth,  I  beg  leave  to  observe,  that  a  rough  draught 
was  drawn  up,  and  delivered  to  a  person  to  be  corrected  ; 
which  Protest,  as  i he  same  now  stands,  appears  to  me  to 
be  of  a  different  import  from  my  meaning  at  that  time, 
and  which,  through  the  hurry  attending  the  business  before 
the  House,  was  not  so  properly  attended  to  as  it  might 
have  been,  and  in  that  haste  was  signed.  It  is  true,  I  was 
against  the  passing  of  the  said  Act  at  that  time,  as  1  con- 
ceived the  Trade,  and  particularly  the  Town  of  Newport, 
would  be  greatly  distressed,  which  a  little  longer  time 
might  prevent ;  and  because  it  was  known  that  the  very 
respectable  Assembly  of  the  Colony  of  Connecticut  would 
soon  sit,  of  whose  wise  deliberations  we  might  greatly 
avail  ourselves.  These  were  the  true  reasons  of  my  con- 
duct, however  the  contrary  may  appear  from  the  Protest 
signed.  No  man  hath  ever  been  more  deeply  impressed 
with  the  calamities  to  which  America  is  reduced,  by  a 
most  corrupt  Administration,  than  myself.  No  man  hath 
more  exerted  himself  in  private  and  publick  life  to  relieve 
ourselves  from  our  oppressions ;  and  no  man  hath  held 
himself  more  ready  to  sacrifice  his  life  and  fortune  in  the 
arduous  struggles  now  making  throughout  America  for  the 
preservation  of  our  just  rights  and  liberties;  and  in  these 
sentiments  I  am  determined  to  live  and  die.  Sorry  I  am 
if  any  of  the  good  people  of  this  Colony  should  have  con- 
ceived otherwise  of  me ;  and  I  greatly  lament  that  the 
unguarded  expressions  in  that  Protest  should  give  cause 
therefor.  Should  1  from  thence  lose  the  confidence,  just 
hopes,  and  expectations  of  my  countrymen  of  my  future 
conduct  in  the  arduous  American  struggles,  it  might  create 
an  uneasiness  of  mind  for  which  nothing  can  ever  com- 
pensate. But  should  this  publick  declaration  ease  the 
minds  of  my  friends  and  the  friends  of  liberty,  and  con- 
vince them  of  my  readiness  to  embark,  to  conflict  with 
them  in  every  difficulty,  and  against  every  opposition,  until 
our  glorious  cause  shall  be  established  upon  the  most  firm 
and  permanent  basis,  it  will  be  a  consideration  that  will 
afford  me  the  highest  satisfaction  that  human  nature  is 
capable  of  enjoying.  I  am,  your  Honours'  most  humble 
servant,  William  Potter. 

And  the  said  Memorial  being  duly  considered, 
It  is  Voted  and  Resolved,  That  the  same  be  accepted  ; 
that  it  is  satisfactory  ;  and  that  the  said  William  Potter  be, 
and  he  is  hereby,  reinstated  in  the  favour  of  this  General 
Assembly. 

Both  Houses  being  resolved  in  a  Grand  Committee,  the 
gentlemen  whose  names  are  set  down  in  the  subsequent 
list  were  chosen  to  serve  the  Colony  in  the  offices  ascribed 
to  their  names  respectively,  to  wit: 

William,  Bradford,  Esquire,  Major-General  of  the 
Forces  of  this  Colony. 

John  Malbone,  Esquire,  Colonel  of  the  Regiment  of 
Militia  in  the  County  of  Newport. 

James  Angell,  Esquire,  Colonel  of  the  First  Regiment 
of  Militia  in  the  County  of  Providence. 

Joseph  Noyes,  Esquire,  Colonel  of  the  First  Regiment 
of  Militia  in  the  County  of  King's  County. 

Nathaniel  Martin,  Esquire,  Colonel  of  the  Regiment 
of  Militia  in  the  County  of  Bristol. 

John  Waterman,  Esquire,  Colonel  of  the  First  Regi- 
ment of  Militia  in  the  County  of  Kent. 

Chad  Brovm,  Esquire,  Colonel  of  the  Second  Regi- 
ment of  Militia  in  the  County  of  Providence. 

Robert  Brown,  Esquire,  Colonel  of  the  Second  Regi- 
ment of  Militia  in  the  County  of  King's  County. 

Stephen  Potter,  Esquire,  Colonel  of  the  Second  Regi- 
ment of  Militia  in  the  County  of  Kent. 

Christopher  Lippitt,  Esquire,  Colonel  of  the  Third 
Regiment  of  Militia  in  the  County  of  Providence. 

f/eorgc  ChampKn,  Esquire,  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the 
Regiment  of  Militia  in  the  County  of  Newport. 


Jabez  Bowen,  Esquire,  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the  First 
Regiment  of  Militia  in  the  County  of  Providence. 

Jesse  Champlin,  Esquire,  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the 
First  Regiment  of  Militia  in  the  County  of  King's  County. 

Thomas  Gray,  Esquire,  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the  Re- 
giment of  Militia  in  the  County  of  Bristol. 

John  Low,  Esquire,  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the  First 
Regiment  of  Militia  in  the  County  of  Kent. 

Elisha  Moivrey,  Jun.,  Esq.,  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the 
Second  Regiment  of  Militia  in  the  County  of  Providence. 

George  Peirce,  Esq.,  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the  Second 
Regiment  of  Militia  in  the  County  of  King's  County. 

Nathaniel  Brown,  Esquire,  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the 
Second  Regiment  of  Militia  in  the  County  of  Kent. 

John  Colwell,  Jun.,  Esquire,  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the 
Third  Regiment  of  Militia  in  the  County  of  Providence. 

John  Coolie,  Esquire,  Major  of  the  Regiment  of  Mili- 
tia in  the  County  of  Newport. 

John  Innis  Clark,  Esquire,  Major  of  the  First  Regi- 
ment of  Militia  in  the  County  of  Providence. 

Jesse  Maxson,  Esquire,  Major  of  the  First  Regiment  of 
Militia  in  the  County  of  King's  County. 

Benjamin  Bcsworth,  Esquire,  Major  of  the  Regiment 
of  Militia  in  the  County  of  Bristol. 

Joseph  Fry,  Esquire,  Major  of  the  First  Regiment  ol 
Militia  in  the  County  of  Kent. 

John  Fisk,  Esquire,  Major  of  the  Second  Regiment  of 
Militia  in  the  County  of  Providence. 

Joshua  Davis,  Esquire,  Major  of  the  Second  Regiment 
of  Militia  in  the  County  of  King's  County. 

Archibald  Kasso7i,  Esquire,  Major  of  the  Second  Regi- 
ment of  Militia  in  the  County  of  Kent. 

Joseph  Knight,  Esquire,  Major  of  the  Third  Regiment 
of  Militia  in  the  County  of  Providence. 

It  is  Voted  and  Resolved,  That  this  General  Assembly 
will  join  with  the  other  Colonies  in  establishing  Post- 
Officers  and  Post-Riders,  in  order  to  preserve  an  inter- 
course between  the  different  Colonies,  w  hich  will  prove  so 
beneficial  to  the  publick  as  well  as  to  individuals:  And 
that  this  Colony  will,  for  the  present,  defray  the  expense 
of  Post-Riders  throughout  this  Colony,  upon  the  usual 
Post  Road. 

It  is  further  Voted  and  Resolved,  That  Post-Ofiices 
be,  and  hereby  are,  established  at  the  following  places,  to 
wit:  At  Newport,  Providence,  Bristol,  Warren,  Tower- 
Hill  in  South-Kingstown,  and  Westerly.  And  that  the 
following  persons  be,  and  hereby  are,  appointed  Postmas- 
ters, to  wit  : 

For  Newport,  Mr.  Nathaniel  Otis;  Providence,  Mr. 
John  Carter;  Bristol,  Mr.  Jonathan  Russell;  Warren, 
Mr.  Shubael  Burr;  Tower-Hill,  Mr.  Ray  Sands;  Wes- 
terly, Mr.  Joshua  Babcock. 

It  is  further  Voted  and  Resolved,  That  the  Rates  and 
Duties  for  Postage  of  Letters  be  as  follows,  to  wit: 

For  any  distance  not  exceeding  60  miles,  -  -  Os.  b\d. 
Upwards  of  GO  miles,  and  not  exceeding  1 00  miles,  0  8 

Upwards    100    "         "  "        200  "    0  10} 

Upwards    '200    "         "  "        300  "     1  1 

Upwards   300    "         "  "       400  «    1  4 

Upwards   400    "         "  "       500  "    J  6i 

Upwards    500    «         "  "        600  «     1  9 

Upwards  600    "        "  "       700  "    2  0 

Upwards   700    «         "  "       800  "    2  24 

Upwards   800    «         "  "       900  "    2  5 

Upwards   900    «         "  "      1000  "28 

The  above  Rates  to  be  paid  in  lawful  money  of  this 
Colony,  and  are  for  the  postage  of  a  Single  Letter.  They 
are  to  be  doubled  for  all  Double  Letters ;  trebled  for  all 
Treble  Letters;  and  for  every  ounce  weight  four  times  so 
much  is  to  be  charged  as  for  a  Single  Letter. 

It  is  further  Voted  and  Resolved,  That  Mr.  Peter  Mum- 
ford  be,  and  he  is  hereby,  appointed  the  Post-Rider  from 
Newport  to  Providence;  and  Mr.  Benjamin  Mumford  the 
Post-Rider  from  Newport  to  New-London.  And  that 
they  neither  receive  nor  deliver  any  Letters  from  any 
Post-Office  heretofore  established  in  this  Colony. 

It  is  further  Voted  and  Resolved,  That  Messrs.  Joshua 
Babcock,  John  Jenckes,  William  Bradford,  and  Joseph 
Anthony,  be,  and  they  are  hereby  appointed  a  Committee 


1161 


RHODE-ISLAND  ASSEMBLY,  JUNE,  1775. 


1162 


to  agree  with  the  Postmasters  and  Post-Riders  for  their 
service,  and  to  give  directions  for  the  setting  off  and  return 
of  the  Post-Riders  ;  and  that  the  Postmasters  account  to  the 
said  Committee  for  what  they  shall  receive. 

It  is  further  Voted  and  Resolved,  That  all  Letters  which 
the  Post-Rider,  for  the  time  being,  may  receive,  directed  for 
the  Town  of  Boston,  shall  be  first  post-paid,  and  submitted 
to  the  examination  of  the  Commander-in-Chief  of  the 
American  Forces  at  Cambridge,  or  of  a  Committee  that 
may  be  appointed  by  the  Provincial  Congress  of  the  Mas- 
sachusetts-Bay, before  they  are  permitted  to  go  into  Bos- 
ton; and  that  all  Letters  coming  out  of  Boston,  be  submit- 
ted to  the  like  examination. 

And  it  is  further  Voted  and  Resolved,  That  this  Act 
shall  continue  in  force  until  this  Assembly  shall  make  some 
further  order  relative  to  the  same. 

It  is  Voted  and  Resolved,  That  the  Letter  written  by  his 
Honour  the  Deputy-Governour,  to  James  Wallace,  Esq., 
Commander  of  His  Majesty's  Ship  Rose,  and  Captain 
Wallace's  answer,  be  published  in  the  next  Newport  Mer- 
cury, and  Providence  Gazette. 

It  is  Voted  and  Resolved,  That  Ten  Thousand  Pounds, 
in  lawful  money  Bills  of  Credit,  be  struck  off  for  the  use 
of  the  Colony ;  that  the  same  proportion  of  the  different 
Bills  be  printed  ;  that  they  be  signed  by  the  same  persons 
who  signed  the  former  emission,  and  in  the  same  manner; 
that  they  be  completed  and  lodged  in  the  General  Treasu- 
ry, as  soon  as  may  be  :  and  that  the  Committee  for  signing 
the  Bills  procure  the  paper. 

The  Return  of  the  Officers  chosen  to  command  the  Com- 
pany of  Light-Infantry,  in  the  County  of  Providence,  was 
read  in  Council,  and  is  as  follows,  to  wit : 

John  Mathewson,  Captain  ;  Jonathan  Ellis,  First  Lieu- 
tenant ;  Thomas  Truman,  Second  Lieutenant ;  Asa  Frank- 
lin, Ensign. 

Which  being  duly  considered  by  the  Council, 

It  is  Voted  and  Resolved,  That  the  said  Officers  be,  and 
hereby  are  approved. 

The  Return  of  the  Officers  chosen  to  command  the  Com- 
pany of  Light-Infantry  in  the  Town  of  Gloucester,  was 
read  in  Council,  and  is  as  follows,  to  wit: 

Timothy  Wilmarth,  Jun.,  Captain;  David  Richmond, 
First  Lieutenant ;  Enos  Smith,  Second  Lieutenant ;  Abra- 
ham Tourtellot,  Ensign. 

Which  being  duly  considered  by  the  Council, 

It  is  Voted  and  Resolved,  That  the  said  Officers  be,  and 
hereby  are  approved. 

The  Return  of  the  Officers  chosen  to  command  the  Com- 
pany of  Scituate  Hunters,  in  the  Town  of  Sciluate,  was 
read  in  Council,  and  is  as  follows,  to  wit : 

Joseph  Kimball,  Jun.,  Captain  ;  Gideon  Cornell,  First 
Lieutenant :  Jonathan  Smith,  Second  Lieutenant ;  Ber- 
tram Rounds,  Ensign. 

Which  being  duly  considered  by  the  Council, 

ft  is  Voted  and  Resolved,  That  the  said  Officers  be,  and 
hereby  are  approved. 

An  Act  to  prevent  Desertion  from  the  Army  of  Observa- 
tion. 

Whereas,  some  of  the  Soldiers  of  the  Army  ofObservation 
raised  by  this  Colony  have  shamefully  deserted  from  the 
encampment  upon  Jamaica  Plains,  in  the  Colony  of  the 
Massachusetts-Bay :  For  the  prevention  whereof  for  the 
future, 

Be  it  enacted  by  this  General  Assembly,  and  by  the  au- 
thority thereof  it  is  enacted,  That  a  reward  of  thirty  Shil- 
lings, lawful  money,  be  given  and  paid  for  the  apprehend- 
ing and  securing  any  Soldier  in  the  pay  of  this  Colony,  who 
shall  desert  from  his  place  of  encampment,  detachment,  or 
other  post  he  may  be  stationed  at ;  and  that  every  Soldier 
so  apprehended  be  sent  back  to  his  post  or  place  of  en- 
campment, and  delivered  up  to  the  Commanding  Officer, 
to  be  punished  as  the  law  for  regulating  the  said  Army 
directs. 

And  be  it  further  enacted  by  the  authority  aforesaid, 
That  in  case  any  person  shall  harbour  or  secure  any  de- 
serter or  deserters  from  the  said  Army,  or  shall  know  of 
his  or  their  haunt  or  place  of  abode,  and  shall  not  give  in- 
formation thereof  to  some  one  of  the  Committee  of  Safety, 
or  to  the  Sheriff,  his  Deputy,  or  some  other  executive  offi- 
cer, the  person  so  offending,  upon  due  proof  thereof  being 


made,  shall  forfeit  and  pay,  as  a  fine,  the  sum  of  five 
Pounds,  lawful  money,  and  costs  of  prosecution,  for  har- 
bouring or  concealing,  and  the  sum  of  three  Pounds,  lawful 
money,  and  costs  of  prosecution,  for  not  giving  information, 
to  be  recovered  by  bill,  plaint,  or  information  ;  and  that 
one  third  part  of  the  said  fines  shall  be  paid  to  the  inform- 
ers, and  the  other  two  third  parts  be  lodged  in  the  Town 
Treasury  where  such  deserter  is  an  inhabitant,  to  be  paid 
out  for  the  support  of  the  soldiers,  or  their  families,  who 
may  be  disabled  in  the  service. 

And  be  it  further  enacted  by  the  authority  aforesaid, 
That  the  Committee  of  Safety,  upon  information  being 
given  them  by  any  Officer  of  the  said  Army,  of  a  deserter 
or  deserters,  with  proper  descriptions  by  which  they  may 
be  known,  shall  forthwith  furnish  the  Sheriff,  his  Deputy, 
or  some  other  executive  officer,  with  the  name  or  names  of 
such  deserter  or  deserters,  with  his  or  their  marks  or  de- 
scriptions, who  is  hereby  commanded  to  make  diligent 
search  after  the  person  or  persons  so  deserting,  and  to  ap- 
prehend and  secure  him  or  them,  until  he  or  they  can  be 
conveyed  back  to  his  or  their  quarters. 

And  be  it  further  enacted  by  the  authority  aforesaid, 
That  the  Sheriff,  his  Deputy,  or  any  other  officer,  who  shall 
go  in  search  of  any  deserter  or  deserters,  may  take  what 
aid  and  assistance  they  shall  think  necessary  ;  that  all  the 
costs  and  charges  of  apprehending,  securing,  and  returning 
to  his  or  their  post,  any  deserter  or  deserters,  shall  be  paid 
by  such  deserter  or  deserters  ;  and  that  the  wages  of  every 
deserter  shall  stop  from  the  day  of  desertion  until  his  re- 
turn to  duty. 

And  be  it  further  enacted  by  the  authority  aforesaid. 
That  a  copy  of  this  Act  be  inserted  in  the  Neivport  Mer- 
cury,  and  Providence  Gazette. 

The  Return  of  the  Officers  chosen  to  command  the  Com- 
pany of  North- Providence  Rangers,  in  the  County  of  Pro- 
vidence, was  read  in  Council,  and  is  as  follows,  to  wit: 

Joseph  Olney,  Captain  ;  Joseph  Randall,  Lieutenant ; 
Thomas  Olney,  Junior,  Ensign. 

Which  being  duly  considered  by  the  Council, 

It  is  Voted  and  Resolved,  That  the  said  Officers  be,  and 
they  are  hereby  approved. 

Whereas,  Thursday,  the  20th  day  of  July  next,  is  re- 
commended by  the  honourable  the  Continental  Congress 
to  be  observed  as  a  day  of  Publick  Fasting  and  Prayer 
throughout  the  Colonies  :  It  is,  therefore, 

Voted  and  Resolved,  That  his  Honour  the  Deputy 
Governour  be,  and  he  is  hereby  requested  to  issue  a  Proc- 
lamation, to  be  published  in  the  Neivport  Mercury,  and 
Providence  Gazette,  earnestly  recommending  the  same  to 
be  religiously  observed  by  the  inhabitants  of  this  Colony. 

It  is  Voted  and  Resolved,  That  his  Honour  the  Deputy- 
Governour  be,  and  he  is  hereby  requested  to  write  an  an- 
swer to  the  Letter  from  the  Delegates  of  this  Colony  at 
the  Continental  Congress,  and  to  transmit  to  them  a  copy 
of  the  proceedings  of  this  Assembly.  - 

It  is  Voted  and  Resolved.  That  the  Secretary  publish 
the  Acts  and  Orders  now  made  and  passed,  by  beat  of 
drum,  in  the  Town  of  Providence,  within  ten  days  after 
the  rising  of  this  Assembly  ;  and  in  thirty,  send  copie> 
thereof  to  the  several  Sheriffs  in  this  Colony,  by  them  to 
be  transmitted  to  the  Town  Clerks  of  the  Towns  in  their 
respective  Counties;  and  that  this  Assembly  be,  and  here- 
by is  adjourned  to  the  third  Monday  in  August  next,  then 
to  meet  in  the  Town  of  Providence. 

God  save  the  King. 

Published  according  to  order,  on  Tuesday,  the  27th  day 
of  June,  A.  D.,  1775,  by 

Henry  Ward,  Secretary. 

At  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Governour  and  Com- 
pany of  the  English  Colony  of  Rhode-Island  and  Provi- 
dence Plantations,  in  New-England,  in  America,  begun 
and  holden  (in  consequence  of  Warrants  issued  by  his 
Honour  the  Deputy-Governour)  at  Providence,  within  and 
for  the  Colony  aforesaid,  on  Wednesday,  the  twenty-eighth 
day  of  June,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  seven 
hundred  and  seventy-five,  and  fifteenth  of  the  reign  of  His 
Most  Sacred  Majesty  George  the  Third,  by  the  grace  of 
God,  King  of  Great  Britain,  and  so  forth : 


1163 


RHODE-ISLAND  ASSEMBLY,  JUNE,  1775. 


11G4 


Present :  The  Honourable  Nicholas  Cooke,  Esquire,  De- 
puty-Governour ;  Ambrose  Page,  Esq. ;  John  Sayles,  Jun., 
Esq.  ;  John  Jcpson,  Esq. ;  James  Arnold,  Jun.,  Esq. ; 
Jonathan  Randall,  Esq. ;  Peter  Phillijjs,  Esq. ;  Joseph 
Hazard,  Esq. ;  Assistants.    The  Secretary. 

Deputies  from  the  several  Towns. 

The  Honourable  Metcalf  Bowler,  Esquire,  Speaker. 
Newport. — Mr.  John  Wanton,  (son  of  Gideon,)  Mr. 

Thomas  Freebody. 
Providence. — Mr.  John  Jenckes,  Mr.  John  Smith,  Col. 

John  Mathewson. 
Portsmouth. — John  Shearman,  Esquire. 
Warwick. —  William  Greene,  Esq.,  Mr.  Jacob  Greene, 

Colonel  John  Low. 
Westerly. — Joshua  Babcock,  Esq.,  Mr.  James  Rhodes. 
New-Shoreham. — (None.) 

North-Kingstown. — John  Northup,  Esq.,  Major  Syl- 
vester Gardner. 

South-Kingstown. —  Carder  Hazard,  Esquire. 

East-Greenwich. — Mr.  Allen  Johnson. 

Jamestown. — Captain  Samuel  Carr. 

Smithfield. — Daniel  Mowry,  Jun.,  Esq.,  Stephen  Whip- 
ple, Esquire. 

Scituate. — Rufus  Hopkins,  Esquire. 

Gloucester. — Silas  Williams,  Esq.,  Mr.  Daniel  Owen. 

C  harlestown. — (None.) 

West-Greenwich. —  William  Nichols,  Esquire,  Thomas 

Gorton,  Esquire. 
Coventry. — John  Rice,  Esquire. 
Exeter. — George  Peirce,  Esquire. 

MlDDLETOWN.  (None.) 

Bristol. — Major-General  William  Bradford,  Major  Ben- 
jamin Bosworth. 
Tiverton. — Major  John  Cooke. 

Little-Compton. — Captain  Thomas  Browuell,  William 

Richmond,  Esquire. 
Warken. — Mr.  Cromwel  Child. 

Cumberland. — John  Dexter,  Esq.,  Jeremiah  Whipple, 
Esquire. 

Richmond. — George  Webb,  Esq.,  Capt.  Richard  Bailey. 
Cranston. — (None.) 
Hopkinton. — (None.) 

Johnston. — Mr.  Emmor  Olney,  Mr.  Ebenezer  Sprague. 
North-Providence. — Mr.  Joseph  Olney,  Major  Thomas 
Olney. 

Barrington. — Col.  Nathaniel  Martin,  Mr.  Thomas  Allen. 
Josias  Lyndon,  Clerk  of  the  Lower  House. 

In  Council  was  read  the  Return  of  the  Officers  chosen  to 
command  the  company  of  Pawtuxet  Rangers,  in  the  Towns 
of  Warwick  and  Cranston,  which  is  as  follows,  to  wit: 

Samuel  Aborn,  Captain  ;  Benjamin  Arnold,  First  Lieu- 
tenant; Rhodes  Arnold,  Second  Lieutenant;  Stephen 
Greene,  Ensign. 

Which  being  duly  considered  by  the  Council, 

It  is  Voted  and  Resolved,  That  the  said  Officers  be,  and 
they  are  hereby,  approved. 

It  is  Voted  and  Resolved,  That  six  Companies,  consist- 
ing of  sixty  men  each,  including  officers,  be  immediately 
raised  in  this  Colony,  in  addition  to  those  already  ordered 
to  be  raised;  that  they  be  equipped  with  Arms,  Ammuni- 
tion, and  all  other  necessaries  ;  that  two  Companies  be  added 
to  each  Regiment  now  in  the  service  of  this  Colony,  and 
encamped  near  Boston;  that  as  soon  as  twenty  men  in  a 
company  shall  be  raised,  they  be  sent  forward,  under  the 
care  of  one  commissioned  officer,  and  the  whole  as  soon  as 
possible ;  that  the  same  bounty  and  wages  be  allowed  to 
them  as  to  those  already  raised;  and  that,  to  defray  the 
expense  thereof,  ten  thousand  Pounds,  in  lawful  money 
bills,  be  emitted,  and  signed  in  the  same  manner  and  pro- 
portion as  the  first  emission,  excepting  that  the  bills  now 
ordered  to  be  emitted  be  signed  in  the  following  manner, 
to  wit:  all  the  bills  of  five  Shillings,  and  upwards,  by  three 
signers ;  and  all  under,  by  two  signers. 

An  Act  to  repeal  an  Act,  intituled,  An  Act  for  regulating 
Appeals  to  His  Majesty  in  Council,  in  Great  Britain. 
Be  it  enacted  by  this  General  Assembly,  and  by  the 
authority  thereof  it  is  enacted,  That  the  Act  intituled  an 


Act  for  regulating  Appeals  to  His  Majesty  in  Council,  in 
Great  Britain,  be,  and  the  same  is  hereby,  repealed. 

It  is  Voted  and  Resolved,  That  the  Act  to  prevent  the 
Honourable  Joseph  Wanton,  Esq.,  from  acting  as  Govern- 
our  of  this  Colony,  until  the  oath  of  office  shall  be  admin- 
istered to  him  in  open  General  Assembly,  with  the  consent 
of  the  Assembly,  be,  which  was  passed  at  the  Session  held 
on  the  first  Wednesday  in  May  last,  and  continued  by  an 
Act  passed  at  the  Session  held  on  the  second  Monday  in 
June  instant,  be  continued,  and  remain  in  force,  until  the 
rising  of  this  Assembly,  at  the  next  Session :  and  that  a 
copy  of  this  Act  be  inserted  in  the  Newport  Mercury,  and 
Providence  Gazette. 

Whereas,  it  is  absolutely  necessary,  for  the  well  govern- 
ing and  exerting  the  force  of  an  Army,  that  the  same  should 
be  under  the  direction  of  a  Commander-in-Chief: 

It  is  therefore  Voted  and  Resolved,  That  the  Army  of 
Observation  raised  by  this  Colony,  during  the  operations  of 
the  present  campaign,  be  under  the  command  and  direc- 
tion of  the  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  combined  Ameri- 
can Army,  stationed  in  the  Province  of  the  Massachusetts- 
Bay  ;  and  that  the  Secretary  transmit  a  copy  of  this  Act 
to  the  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  combined  American 
Army ;  and  to  the  Brigadier-General  of  the  Rhode-Island 
Troops. 

It  is  Voted  and  Resolved ,  That  his  Honour  the  Deputy  - 
Governour  be,  and  he  is  hereby,  requested  to  write  an 
answer  to  the  Letter  from  the  Governour  of  Connecticut ; 
and  to  the  Speech  of  the  Oneida  Tribe  of  Indians  to  the 
four  New-England  Colonies. 

It  is  Voted  and  Resolved,  That  Messrs.  JabezChamplin, 
James  Angell,  Metcalf  Bowler,  John  Waterman,  James 
Rhodes,  John  Sands,  Sylvester  Gardner,  John  Hawkins, 
Allen  Johnson,  Benjamin  Underwood,  Elisha  Moxvry, 
Jun.,  Rufus  Hopkins,  Asa  Kimbal,  Joseph  Stanton,  Jun., 
Thomas  Gorton,  Stephen  Potter,  George  Peirce,  John 
Barker,  Benjamin  Bosworth,  John  Cooke,  Thomas  Brow- 
nel,  Cromcl  Child,  John  Dexter,  George  Webb,  Richard 
Searle,  Abel  Tanner,  Emmor  Olney,  Thomas  Olney,  and 
Thomas  Allen,  be,  and  they  are  hereby,  appointed  and 
directed  to  take  an  account,  as  soon  as  may  be,  of  the 
Powder,  Arms  and  Ammunition,  in  the  several  Towns  in 
this  Colony  in  which  they  respectively  dwell,  including 
private  as  well  as  publick  stock:  that  they  be,  and  hereby 
are,  directed  and  empowered  to  go  to  the  house  of  each 
person  in  their  respective  Towns,  to  take  an  account  of  the 
Powder,  Arms  and  Ammunition  ;  that  they  make  report  to 
his  Honour  the  Deputy-Governour,  that  he  may  transmit 
an  account  thereof  to  the  Continental  Congress ;  and  also 
make  report  to  this  Assembly,  at  the  next  Session  :  and 
that  in  case  any  of  the  persons  hereby  appointed  shall 
refuse  to  serve,  the  members  of  the  General  Assembly,  of 
the  Town  in  which  the  person  so  refusing  dwells,  appoint 
another  in  his  stead,  who  will  undertake. 

It  is  Voted  and  Resolved,  That  the  Committees  of  In- 
spection in  the  several  Towns  in  this  Colony  be,  and  they 
are  hereby,  appointed  to  collect  all  the  Saltpetre  and  Brim- 
stone in  the  respective  Towns  wherein  they  dwell,  at  the 
charge  of  the  Colony,  and  send  the  same  with  all  possible 
despatch  to  the  Committee  of  Inspection  for  the  Town  of 
Providence,  by  them  to  be  immediately  forwarded  to  the 
Provincial  Congress  at  New-York. 

It  is  Voted  and  Resolved,  That  Captain  Joseph  Stan- 
ton, Jun.,  be,  and  he  is  hereby,  appointed  one  of  the  Com- 
mittee of  Safety  for  the  County  of  King's  County,  in 
respect  to  the  Soldiers  now  ordered  to  be  raised  by  this 
Assembly. 

It  is  Voted  and  Resolved,  That  the  Gunner,  and  all  the 
Soldiers,  at  Fort  George,  be  immediately  discharged  ;  that 
Mr.  Thomas  Freebody  have  the  care  of  the  Buildings  on 
Goat-Island,  and  let  them  out ;  that  he  hale  up  the  Fort- 
boat,  take  particular  care  of  her,  and  preserve  her  for  the 
use  of  the  Colony  ;  that  he  procure  the  Cannon  to  he 
brought  over  from  the  Fort  to  Newport;  and  that  he  ad- 
vertise the  Guns  which  were  stolen  from  the  Fort. 

In  Council  was  read  the  Return  of  the  Officers  chosen 
to  command  the  Providence  Grenadier  Company,  and  is 
as  fblloweth,  to  wit : 

Jonathan  Arnold,  Captain;  Zcphaniah  Andreivs,  First 


1165 


RHODE-ISLAND  ASSEMBLY,  JUNE,  1775. 


1 16b 


Lieutenant;  Ezekiel  Burr,  Second  Lieutenant;  Simeon 

Thayer  Ensign  ;  John  Spurr,  Adjutant. 
Which  being  duly  considered  by  the  Council, 
It  is  Voted  and  Resolved,  That  the  said  Officers  be,  and 

hereby  are,  approved. 

Both  Houses  being  joined  in  a  Grand  Committee,  chose 
the  following  Officers,  to  wit : 

Officers  to  command  the  six  additional  Companies  to  the 
Army  of  Observation. 

Ebcnezer  Flagg,  Captain,  Joseph  Perry,  Lieutenant, 
Noel  Allen,  Ensign,  of  the  Eighth  Company,  to  be  raised 
in  the  Counties  of  Newport  and  Bristol. 

Thomas  Gray,  Captain,  Lemuel  Bailey,  Lieutenant, 
fVilliam  Southworlh,  Ensign,  of  the  Ninth  Company,  to 
be  raised  in  the  Counties  of  Newport  and  Bristol. 

Levi  Tower,  Captain,  Silas  Tulbut,  Lieutenant,  Reu- 
ben Sprague,  Ensign,  of  the  Ninth  Company,  to  be  raised 
in  the  County  of  Providence. 

Israel  Gorton,  Captain,  James  Williams,  Lieutenant, 
Joseph  Harris,  Ensign,  of  the  Tenth  Company,  to  be 
raised  in  the  County  of  Providence. 

Ethan  Clarke,  Captain,  Thomas  Cole,  Lieutenant,  John 
Woodmansie,  Ensign,  of  the  Ninth  Company,  to  be  raised 
in  the  Counties  of  King's  County  and  Kent. 

Christopher  Smith,  Captain,  Thomas  Sweet,  Lieuten- 
ant, Oliver  Tefft,  Ensign,  of  the  Tenth  Company,  to  be 
raised  in  the  Counties  of  King's  County  and  Kent. 

Officers  in  the  Trained  Bands,  or  Companies  of  Militia. 

Reuben  Ballou,  Ensign  of  the  Second  Company,  in  the 
Town  of  Cumberland,  in  room  of  Levi  Ballou,  who  refused. 

Comfort  Wheaton,  Captain,  Nehemiah  Siveet,  Lieuten- 
ant, John  Demont,  Ensign,  of  the  First  Company,  in  the 
Town  of  Providence. 

Elijah  Bacon,  Captain,  Nathaniel  Frothingham,  Lieu- 
tenant, James  Burrill,  Ensign,  of  the  Second  Company, 
in  the  Town  of  Providence. 

Robert  Potter,  Captaiu,  (in  the  room  of  Thomas  Bis- 
scll,  Jun.,  who  declined,)  Timothy  Deane,  Lieutenant, 
Samuel  Thomas,  Jun.,  Ensign,  (in  the  room  of  Robert 
Potter,  advanced,)  of  the  Third  Company,  in  the  Town 
of  North-Kingstown. 

Joseph  Jenckes  Captain,  Sylvanus  Bucklin,  Lieutenant, 
Samuel  Hills,  Ensign,  of  the  First  Company,  in  the  Town 
of  Smithfield. 

Thomas  Aldrich,  Captain,  Elijah  Arnold,  Lieutenant, 
Peleg  Arnold,  Ensign,  of  the  Second  Company,  in  the 
Town  of  Smithfield. 

Nehemiah  Smith,  Captain,  Job  Mowry,  Lieutenant, 
Jamts  Smith,  Ensign,  of  the  Third  Company,  in  the 
Town  of  Smithfield. 

Mr.  Solomon  Southwick,  Postmaster  for  Newport,  in 
the  room  of  Mr.  Nathaniel  Otis,  who  is  removed  out  of 
the  Colony. 

It  is  Voted  and  Resolved,  That  Mr.  Job  Watson  be, 
and  he  is  hereby,  appointed  a  Post  at  Tower-Hill,  to  give 
intelligence  to  the  Northern  Counties,  in  case  any  squadron 
of  Ships  shall  be  seen  off;  that  in  case  of  an  alarm,  the 
Northern  Counties  be,  and  they  are  hereby,  ordered  to 
march  to  the  Town  of  Providence ;  that  a  Proclamation 
be  immediately  issued  by  his  Honour  the  Deputy-Govern- 
our,  commanding  every  man  in  the  Colony,  able  to  bear 
arms,  to  equip  himself  completely  with  Arms  and  Ammu- 
nition, according  to  law  ;  and  that  the  Town  of  Providence 
fix  a  beacon  on  the  hill  to  the  eastward  of  the  said  Town, 
to  alarm  the  country,  in  case  of  an  invasion. 

An  Act  for  Enlisting  one  fourth  part  of  the  Militia  of 
the  Colony  as  Minute-Men. 

Be  it  enacted  by  this  General  Assembly,  and  by  the  au- 
thority thereof  it  is  enacted,  That  one  quarter  part  of  the 
Militia  of  this  Colony  be  enlisted  as  Minute-men,  to  meet 
together,  and  exercise  themselves  in  military  discipline, 
half  a  day,  once  in  every  fortnight ;  and  that  the  following 
persons  be,  and  hereby  are,  appointed  in  the  several  Towns 
to  enlist  them,  to  wit : 

Newport. — The  Captains  of  the  several  Companies  of 
Militia. 

Providence. — Messrs.  John  Demont,  and  Nathaniel  Fro- 
thingham. 


Portsmouth. — Mr.  Burrington  Anthony. 

Warwick. — Messrs.  Malachi  Hammet,  Reuben  Wight- 
man,  and  Thomas  Rice,  (son  of  Thomas.) 

Westerly. — Messrs.  George  Sheffield,  Benjamin  Hull. 
and  Joseph  Stillman. 

New-Shoreham. — The  Captain  of  the  Company  of  Mili- 
tia. 

North-Kingstown. — Messrs.  Charles  Tillinghast,  Jona- 
than Vaughan,  and  Ezekiel  Gardner,  Junior. 

South-Kingstown. — Messrs.  Peleg  Babcock,  and  John 
Wait. 

East-Greenwich. — Messrs.  Allen  Johnston,  and  William 
Arnold. 

Jamestown. — The  Captain  of  the  Company  of  Militia. 

Smithfield. — Messrs.  Andrew  Waterman,  Luke  Arnold. 
and  Peleg  Arnold. 

Gloucester. — Messrs.  John  Wells,  Gideon  Burgess,  Aa- 
ron Winsor,  and  Samuel  Mayes. 

Charlestown. — Messrs.  Augustus  Stanton,  and  Beriah 
Lewis. 

West-Greenwich. — Messrs.   Eleazer  Carr,  Jeremiah 

Austin,  and  John  Mathewson,  Junior. 
Coventry. — Messrs.  Archibald  Kasson,  Yelverton  Wait, 

Stately  Hudson,  and  Benjamite  Greene. 
Exeter. — Mr.  George  Peirce. 

Middletown. — The  Captain  of  the  Company  of  Militia. 

Bristol. — Mr.  Benjamin  Bosworth. 

Tiverton. — Messrs.  Joseph  Almy,  and  Pardon  Cooke. 

Little-Compton. — Mr.  Peres  Richmond. 

Warren. — Mr.  William  Barton. 

Cumberland. — Messrs.    Elisha    Waterman,   and  Elias 

Philbrook. 
Richmond. — Mr.  Simeon  Clarke,  Junior. 
Cranston. — Messrs.  Andrew  Harris,  William  Potter,  and 

the  Captain  of  the  Third  Company. 
Hopkinton. — Messrs.  Thomas  Wells,  (the  Third,)  and 

Oliver  Davis. 

Johnston. — Messrs.  William  Hatvkins,  and  Joseph  Wa- 
terman. 

North-Protidence. — Mr.  Job  Olney. 
Barrington. — Mr.  Luther  Martin. 

And  be  it  further  enacted  by  the  authority  aforesaid, 
That  in  case  any  of  the  persons  hereby  appointed  shall 
refuse  to  serve,  the  Deputies  of  the  several  Towns  to 
which  they  belong  be,  and  they  hereby  are,  empowered  to 
appoint  others  in  their  stead. 

And  be  it  further  enacted  by  the  authority  aforesaid, 
That  the  following  be  the  form  of  the  Enlistment  for  the 
said  Minute-men,  to  wit : 
"  Colony  of  Rhode-Island,  Sfc: 

"  We,  the  subscribers,  voluntarily  enlist  ourselves  to  serve 
as  Minute-men,  in  the  service  of  this  Colony,  to  be  under 
the  immediate  command  of  our  superiour  Officers,  and 
subject  to  the  law  of  this  Colony  for  regulating  the 
Minute-men." 

And  be  it  further  enacted  by  the  authority  aforesaid, 
That  the  persons  who  are  hereby  appointed  to  enlist  the 
said  Minute-men,  return  the  names  of  the  persons  they 
shall  so  enlist  unto  the  Deputies  who  live  within  their  re- 
spective Regiments;  that  the  said  Deputies,  or  the  major 
part  of  them,  be,  and  hereby  are,  empowered  to  form  them 
into  Companies,  each  to  consist  of  as  many  men  as  they 
shall  think  proper  and  direct,  and  also  to  appoint  Officers 
over  them  ;  and  that  they  return  the  names  of  the  Officers 
they  shall  appoint  to  his  Honour  the  Deputy-Governour. 
to  be  commissioned  by  the  Secretary,  in  the  same  manner 
that  the  other  Officers  have  been  commissioned. 

And  be  it  further  enacted  by  the  authority  aforesaid, 
That  the  said  Minute-men  march  for  the  defence  of  the 
Colony,  when  and  as  often  as  they  shall  be  called  upon  by 
the  Colonel  of  the  Regiment  to  which  they  respectively 
belong;  and  that  the  Lieutenant-General  and  Major-Gen- 
eral  of  the  Colony  be,  and  they  are  hereby,  authorized  and 
empowered  to  march  them  out  of  the  Colony,  whenever 
they,  or  either  of  them,  shall  think  it  necessary. 

And  be  it  further  enacted  by  the  authority  aforesaid, 
That  the  following  wages  be  allowed  and  paid  out  of  the 
General  Treasury  to  the  said  officers  and  men,  to  wit:  for 
every  time  they  shall  meet  and  exercise,  each  Captain 
shall  receive  two  Shillings  and  six  Pence  lawful  money  ; 


1 167 


PENNSYLVANIA  ASSEMBLY,  JUNE,  1775. 


1168 


each  Lieutenant  and  Ensign,  two  Shillings,  lawful  money ; 
and  each  other  person  one  Shilling  lawful  money  ;  and 
when  they  march  for  the  defence  of  the  Colony,  or  out  of 
the  Colony,  each  Captain  shall  receive  six  Shillings  lawful 
money  per  day;  each  Lieutenant  five  Shillings  lawful  money 
per  day  ;  each  Ensign  four  Shillings  lawful  money  per  day; 
and  each  other  person  three  Shillings  lawful  money  per  day; 
and  shall  also  be  billeted  at  the  charge  of  the  Colony:  and 
that  the  Commanding  Officer  make  his  return  once  a  month 
to  the  Committee  of  Safety,  and  draw  the  money. 

And  be  it  further  enacted  by  the  authority  aforesaid, 
That  the  several  Independent  Companies  in  this  Colony, 
or  such  of  them  as  shall  think  proper,  form  themselves 
into  Companies  of  Minute-men,  under  the  same  regula- 
tion and  command  as  above  mentioned,  and  exercise  and 
do  duty  in  the  same  manner;  and  that  they  receive  the 
same  pay  and  allowance. 

And  be  it  further  enacted  by  the  authority  aforesaid, 
That  the  Secretary,  as  soon  as  may  be,  transmit  copies  of 
this  Act  to  the  several  Sheriffs  in  the  Colony,  who  are 
hereby  directed  to  forward  them  by  the  first  safe  hands  to 
the  persons  appointed  to  enlist  the  said  Minute-men  in  their 
respective  Counties. 

It  is  Voted  and  Resolved,  That  Mr.  John  Martin  be, 
and  he  is  hereby,  appointed  a  Surgeon  to  the  Rhode-Island 
Brigade ;  that  he  do  all  the  services  in  said  Brigade  that 
Lis  capacity  will  admit  of;  and  that  he  be  allowed  for  the 
same  the  monthly  wages  of  nine  Pounds  lawful  money. 


It  is  Voted  and  Resolved,  That  Captain  John  Grimes 
be,  and  he  is  hereby,  appointed  Commander  of  the  small 
Sloop  chartered  by  the  Colony,  in  the  room  of  Captain 
Christopher  Wliipple,  who  refused ;  that  all  other  vacan 
cies,  in  either  of  the  Sloops  chartered  by  the  Colony,  be 
filled  up  by  the  Committee  of  Safety;  and  that  the  Offi- 
cers be  commissioned  by  the  Secretary  of  this  Colony. 

It  is  Voted  and  Resolved,  That  when  the  places  of  any 
commissioned  Officers  in  the  Army  of  Observation,  raised 
by  this  Colony,  shall  happen  to  be  vacant,  the  Brigadier- 
General  of  the  said  Army,  with  the  advice  of  the  Field- 
Officers  thereof,  fill  up  all  such  vacancies  with  Officers  ; 
who  shall  have  full  power  to  act  by  virtue  of  such  appoint- 
ment, until  his  Honour  the  Deputy-Governour  shall  send 
them  Commissions,  signed  by  the  Secretary. 

It  is  Voted  and  Resolved,  That  the  Secretary  publish 
the  Acts  and  Orders  now  made  and  passed  by  beat  of  drum, 
in  the  Town  of  Providence,  in  ten  days  after  the  rising  of 
this  Assembly,  and  within  thirty  send  copies  thereof  to  the 
Sheriffs  of  the  several  Counties  in  this  Colony,  by  them  to 
be  transmitted  to  the  Town-Clerks  in  their  respective  Coun- 
ties ;  and  that  this  Assembly  be,  and  hereby  is,  adjourned 
until  the  third  Monday  in  August  next,  then  to  meet  in  the 
Town  of  Providence. 

God  save  the  King. 

Published  according  to  order,  on  Monday,  the  tenth  day 
of  July,  A.  D.  1775,  by 

Henry  Ward,  Secretary. 


PENNSYLVANIA  ASSEMBLY. 

Monday,  June  19,  1775,  P.  M. 
Mr.  Speaker,  with  twenty-three  Members,  met  pursuant 
to  adjournment ;  and  a  quorum  not  appearing,  they  ad- 
journed to  three  o'clock  to-morrow  afternoon. 

Tuesday,  June  20,  1775. 

A  quorum  met,  pursuant  to  the  adjournment  of  last 
night. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Broxm  and  Mr.  Edmonds  wait  on 
the  Governour,  and  acquaint  him  that  the  House  are  met, 
pursuant  to  their  adjournment,  and  ready  to  receive  any 
business  he  may  be  pleased  to  lay  before  them. 

Wednesday,  June  21,  1775. 

The  House  met  pursuant  to  their  adjournment. 

The  Members  appointed  to  wait  on  the  Governour  with 
the  Message  of  last  night,  reported  they  had  delivered  the 
same  according  to  order ;  and  that  his  Honour  was  pleased 
to  say,  he  had  no  business  at  present  to  lay  before  the 
House. 

A  Petition  from  a  number  of  inhabitants  near  Head's 
Creek,  in  the  Townships  of  Chestnut- Hill  and  Domcncing, 
in  Northampton  County,  was  presented  to  the  House,  and 
read,  complaining  of  great  inconveniences  suffered  by  the 
petitioners,  from  a  saw-mill  dam  erected  on  the  said  creek, 
obstructing  the  navigation  thereof,  and  praying  relief. 

Ordered  to  lie  on  the  table. 

Mr.  Speaker  laid  before  the  House  a  Letter  from  Benja- 
min Franklin,  Esquire,  Agent  for  this  Province  in  London, 
dated  the  15th  of  February  last,  enclosing  a  list  of  six  Acts 
of  the  General  Assembly  of  this  Province,  presented  to 
His  Majesty  in  Council  the  14th  of  the  same  month,  re- 
spectively intituled  and  passed,  as  follows,  viz: 

No.  1.  "An  Act  for  the  relief  of  Samuel  Stveet,  a  lan- 
guishing prisoner  in  the  Gaol  of  Philadelphia  j  and  Thomas 
Bamford,  a  languishing  prisoner  in  the  Gaol  of  Lancaster 
County,  with  respect  to  the  imprisonment  of  their  per- 
sons;" passed  the  28th  of  September,  1773. 

No.  2.  "  An  Act  for  the  support  of  the  Government  of 
this  Province,  and  payment  of  the  Publick  Debts;"  passed 
the  same  day. 

No.  3.  "  An  Act  to  prevent  counterfeiting  the  Paper 
Moneys  of  other  Colonies  ;"  passed  the  same  day. 

No.  4.  "An  Act  to  continue  an  Act  intituled  '  An  Act 
to  amend  the  Act  intituled  An  Act  to  prevent  the  ex- 
portation of  Bread  and  Flour  not  merchantable  ;'  "  passed 
the  23d  of  July,  1774. 

No.  5.  '•'  An  Act  for  lending  the  sum  of  Eight  Hundred 


Pounds  to  the  several  and  respective  Counties  of  Bedford, 
Northumberland,  and  Westmoreland,  for  building  a  Court- 
House  and  Prison  in  each  of  the  said  Counties;"  passed 
the  same  day. 

No.  6.  "  An  Act  for  the  support  of  the  Government  of 
this  Province,  and  payment  of  the  Publick  Debts  ;"  passed 
the  29th  of  September,  1774. 

All  which  Acts  are  herewith  most  humbly  presented  this 
14th  day  of  February,  1775,  by  me,  Henry  Wilmot,  Agent 
for  the  Proprietaries  of  Pennsylvania. 

Upon  motion,  Ordered,  That  Mr.  Gray,  Mr.  Hillegas, 
Mr.  Rodman,  Mr.  Pearson,  Mr.  Wayne,  Mr.  Ross,  Mr. 
Swoope.  Mr.  Montgomery,  Mr.  Edmonds,  Mr.  Hunter. 
and  Mr.  Dougherty,  be  a  Committee  to  prepare  and  bring 
in  a  Bill  for  striking  the  sum  of  Twenty-Two  Thousand 
Pounds,  in  Bills  of  Credit,  to  be  sunk  by  the  excise  on 
spirituous  liquors. 

Thursday,  June  22,  1775,  P.  M. 
The  House  met,  and  adjourned  to  five  o'clock,  P.  M. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  prepare  and  bring  in  a 
Bill  for  striking  the  sum  of  Twenty-Two  Thousand  Pounds, 
in  Bills  of  Credit,  to  be  sunk  by  the  excise  on  spirituous 
liquors,  reported  an  essay  for  that  purpose,  intituled  "  An 
Act  for  the  support  of  the  Government  of  this  Province, 
and  payment  of  the  Publick  Debts ;"  which  was  read  the 
first  time,  and  ordered  to  lie  on  the  table  for  a  second 
reading. 

Friday,  Juno  23,  1775. 

The  Bill  intituled  "  An  Act  for  the  support  of  the  Gov- 
ernment of  this  Province,  and  payment  of  the  Publick 
Debts,"  being  read  the  second  time,  and  debated  by  para- 
graphs, was  ordered  to  be  transcribed  for  a  third  reading. 

A  Petition  and  Memorial  from  the  Committee  of  the 
City  and  Liberties  of  Philadelphia,  was  presented  to  the 
House,  and  read,  setting  forth,  that  the  petitioners,  reflect- 
ing upon  the  great  and  imminent  danger  to  which  the  lib- 
erties of  America  are  exposed,  by  the  open  and  declared 
determination  of  the  British  Ministry  to  enforce  certain 
cruel  and  oppressive  Acts  of  Parliament;  and  contempla- 
ting those  mournful  events  which  have  already  happened, 
as  well  as  those  which  may  happen,  during  this  important 
struggle,  have  been  induced  to  form  and  recommend  a 
Military  Association  within  this  City  and  Liberties;  that, 
in  forming  such  Association,  they  have  extended  their  views 
beyond  a  mere  parade  and  useless  show  ;  and  animated 
with  a  lively  sense  of  the  inestimable  value  of  the  bless- 
ings of  civil  liberty  themselves,  they  have  endeavoured  to 


1169 


PENNSYLVANIA  ASSEMBLY,  JUNE,  1775. 


1170 


inculcate  upon  others  the  necessity  of  defending  and  sup- 
porting them  by  actual  service,  if  the  exigency  of  publick 
affairs  should  require  it ;  that,  under  these  circumstances, 
they  find  various  difficulties,  which  require  the  aid  and  as- 
sistance of  the  honourable  House.  Reposing,  therefore, 
the  fullest  confidence  in  the  virtue  and  spirit  of  their  Re- 
presentatives, they  beg  leave  to  lay  before  them  several 
particulars,  which  seem,  in  a  peculiar  manner,  to  claim  their 
attention  and  regard,  viz: 

That,  in  the  first  place,  there  are  great  numbers  of  able- 
bodied  men,  who  have  acquired  some  skill  in  the  use  of 
arms,  and,  in  case  of  necessity,  would  proceed  to  actual 
service  ;  but  their  situation  and  circumstances  in  life  (many 
having  families,  and  others  not  sufficient  ability  to  support 
themselves)  forbid  their  entering  into  any  engagements  of 
this  nature ;  and  in  case  of  an  actual  call,  their  ardour  and 
readiness  to  devote  themselves  to  their  Country's  service 
would  be  damped,  if  not  extinguished,  by  the  alarming 
consideration  of  leaving  their  families  subject  to  want  at 
home,  and  experiencing  all  the  difficulties  of  unpaid  Troops 
while  in  the  field.  The  petitioners,  therefore,  humbly  sub- 
mit to  the  honourable  House,  that  as  there  is  the  highest 
reason  and  justice  that  all  the  members  of  the  community, 
who  are  equally  interested  in  the  preservation  and  security 
of  our  common  liberties,  should  contribute  to  the  assistance 
and  support  of  those  who  take  a  more  active,  laborious, 
and  dangerous  part,  it  would  be  highly  proper  that  a  vote 
of  credit  should  be  passed,  ascertaining  and  promising  suit- 
able pay  and  subsistence  to  such  officers  and  soldiers  as 
shall  solemnly  engage  to  go  into  actual  service,  if  required  ; 
and  who  shall,  in  case  of  necessity  and  publick  danger, 
comply  with  such  engagements,  by  meeting  at  any  rendez- 
vous appointed,  and  performing  such  military  duty  as  shall 
be  deemed  necessary,  and  may  be  demanded  of  them. 
And  that  such  provision  may  be  extended  to  camp  equi- 
page, wagons  for  transporting  baggage,  and  such  other 
necessaries  as  actual  field  duty  shall  require.  That  the 
petitioners,  on  this  subject,  would  only  add,  that  the  pro- 
vision here  requested,  is  no  more  than  that  made  by  the 
Militia-laws  in  England,  and  the  neighbouring  Provinces, 
in  case  of  invasion  or  insurrection,  and  by  all  judicious  and 
sensible  men  deemed  absolutely  necessary,  to  give  effica- 
cy, spirit,  vigour,  and  success  to  any  military  association 
whatever. 

That,  in  the  second  place,  the  petitioners  beg  leave  to 
lay  before  the  honourable  House  the  very  naked  and  de- 
fenceless state  of  this  City  and  Harbour,  now  in  its  turn 
become  the  frontier,  and  exposed  to  equal  dangers  and  dif- 
ficulties, from  which  it  has,  at  different  times,  cheerfully 
contributed  to  rescue  the  more  distant  parts  of  the  Prov- 
ince. Vain  are  all  our  military  operations ;  useless  and 
lost  the  sums  of  money  generously  given  by  this  honourable 
House  for  our  defence,  if  a  single  ship  of  war  may  proceed, 
without  any  interruption,  to  the  very  front  of  the  City,  and 
impose  such  terms  of  surrendering  our  arms,  or  contribu- 
tions of  money  and  provisions,  as  will  reduce  us  to  the 
melancholy  alternative  of  a  disgraceful  compliance,  or  ex- 
posing the  City  to  certain  destruction.  That  great  quanti- 
ties of  large  cannon  and  some  stores  lay  in  useless  heaps 
in  various  parts  of  this  City,  which  skilful  persons  have 
judged  might,  at  no  great  expense,  be  so  employed  as  to 
make  our  situation  much  more  secure  than  it  is  at  present ; 
besides  which,  there  are  many  other  devices  calculated  for 
obstructing  the  passage  of  rivers  and  harbours,  well  worthy 
of  immediate  attention,  if  some  suitable  provision  could  be 
made  for  defraying  the  expense  which  would  be  incurred 
by  so  essential  a  service. 

That,  in  the  third  place,  the  petitioners  earnestly  recom- 
mend to  the  patronage  and  assistance  of  the  honourable 
House,  a  manufacture  of  that  valuable  and  necessary  article, 
Saltpetre.  While  dependant  on  a  precarious  supply  from 
beyond  sea,  and  that  under  the  restraints  which  our  cruel 
oppressors  have  laid  or  procured,  our  situation  is  truly 
alarming ;  but  should  success  happily  attend  the  infant 
manufactory  promoted  and  formed  by  the  petitioners,  it 
may  be  extended  so  as  to  bid  defiance  to  all  the  schemes 
of  our  enemies  to  deprive  us  of  the  necessary  means  of 
defence,  and  afford  the  fairest  prospect  of  relief  from  our 
present  difficulties  and  distress. 

Besides  these  particular  objects,  which,  with  all  due 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii.  " 


respect,  the  petitioners  submit  to  the  consideration  of  the 
honourable  House,  they  beg  leave  to  add,  that  in  times  so 
critical  and  important,  when  the  fate  of  our  Country,  the 
safety  and  security  of  all  which  can  make  life  valuable  or 
desirable  to  a  free  citizen,  is  suspended  ;  when  every  day 
brings  with  it  some  event  of  a  most  interesting  nature,  par- 
ticular and  unforeseen  exigences  and  damages  arise,  which 
require  immediate  attention,  and  incur  an  immediate  ex- 
pense. That  the  petitioners,  therefore,  submit  to  the  con- 
sideration of  the  House  the  necessity  and  propriety  of 
appointing  persons  out  of  their  own  body,  or  in  conjunc- 
tion with  others,  as  a  Committee  of  Safety  and  Defence, 
with  discretionary  powers,  upon  the  credit,  and  under  the 
control  of  the  House,  to  act  on  such  emergencies ;  to  ap- 
propriate such  publick  moneys  as  may  be  already  raised, 
or  to  raise  such  further  sums  upon  credit,  or  otherwise,  as 
the  alarming  situation  of  the  Province  may  require. 

Signed  by  order,  and  in  behalf  of  the  Committee  of  the 
City  and  Liberties  of  Philadelphia. 

Joseph  Reed,  Chairman. 

Ordered  to  lie  on  the  table. 

The  House  adjourned  to  five  o'clock,  P.  M. 

The  House  resumed  the  consideration  of  the  Petition 
and  Memorial  from  the  Committee  for  the  City  and  Liber- 
ties of  Philadelphia ;  and  after  some  time  spent  therein, 
adjourned  to  ten  o'clock  to-morrow  morning. 

Saturday,  Juno  24,  1775. 

A  Member  of  this  House,  and  one  of  the  Deputies  to 
the  Continental  Congress,  read  in  his  place,  and  then  pre- 
sented at  the  table,  a  Resolve  of  the  said  Congress,  in  the 
words  following,  viz : 

"  In  Congress,  June  22,  1775. 

"  Resolved,  That  the  Colony  of  Pennsylvania  raise  two 
more  Companies  of  Riflemen,  and  that  these,  with  the  six 
Companies  before  ordered  to  be  raised  by  them,  making 
eight  Companies,  be  formed  into  a  Battalion,  under  such 
Field  and  under  officers  as  shall  be  recommended  by  the 
Assembly  or  Convention  of  the  above  Colony." 

The  House  taking  into  consideration  the  foregoing  Re- 
solve relative  to  the  manner  of  recommending  Field  and 
other  officers  for  the  Battalion  of  Riflemen  to  be  raised  in 
this  Province  by  order  of  Congress,  and  to  be  in  Continen- 
tal pay, 

Resolved,  That  the  Members  of  the  Congress  deputed 
by  this  Assembly,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  of  and  re- 
commend proper  persons  for  officers  of  the  said  Battalion. 

A  Petition  from  a  number  of  the  Officers  of  the  Associa- 
tion in  the  City  and  Liberties  of  Philadelphia,  concurring 
with,  and  recommending  to  immediate  consideration,  the 
Petition  and  Memorial  from  the  Committee  of  the  said 
City  and  Liberties,  presented  yesterday,  was  delivered  at 
the  Chair,  and  read. 

Ordered  to  lie  on  the  table. 

The  House  adjourned  to  Monday  next,  at  ten  o'clock, 
A.  M. 

Tuesday,  Juno  27,  1775. 

A  quorum  met  pursuant  to  adjournment. 

The  Governour,  by  Mr.  Secretary,  sent  down  a  verbal 
Message,  requiring  a  List  of  the  Draughts  and  Certificates 
of  Assembly  made  payable  out  of  the  Supply  Bill  before 
him  ;  and  a  List  thereof  being  drawn  at  the  table  accord- 
ingly, 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Bartholomew  and  Mr.  Wayne  wait 
on  his  Honour  and  deliver  the  same. 

The  Members  return,  and  report  they  had  waited  on 
the  Governour  and  delivered  the  said  List  according  to 
order. 

The  House  adjourned  to  three  o'clock,  P.  M. 

The  House  resumed  the  consideration  of  the  Petition 
from  the  Committee  of  the  City  and  Liberties  of  Philadel- 
phia ;  and  after  some  debate  thereon, 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Gray,  Mr.  Dickinson,  Mr.  Hille- 
gas,  Mr.  Charles  Thomson,  Mr.  Rodman,  Mr.  Pearson, 
Mr.  Wayne,  Mr.  Ross,  Mr.  Montgomery,  and  Mr.  Ed- 
monds, be  a  Committee  to  consider  of  and  report  to  the 


1171 


PENNSYLVANIA  ASSEMBLY,  JUNE,  1775. 


1172 


House  such  measures  as  may  be  expedient  for  putting  this 
City  and  Province  into  a  state  of  defence. 

Wednesday,  June  28,  1775. 
The  Governour,  by  Mr.  Secretary,  returned  the  Bill  in- 
tituled "  An  Act  for  the  support  of  the  Government  of  this 
Province,  and  payment  of  the  Publick  Debts,"  with  a  writ- 
ten Message  to  the  House,  which  was  read  by  order ;  and 
follows  in  these  words,  viz  : 

A  written  Message  from  the  Governour  to  the  House. 
Gentlemen  :  It  being  unusual  to  make  provision  for  the 
discharge  of  the  Orders  drawn  for  the  payment  of  the  pub- 
lick  debts  before  the  end  of  the  year,  at  which  time  there 
may  probably  be  a  sum  sufficient  for  the  purpose  in  the 
Treasury,  arising  from  the  funds  heretofore  provided,  I 
cannot  think  it  proper  to  give  my  consent  to  the  Bill  inti- 
tuled "  An  Act  for  the  support  of  the  Government  of  this 
Province,  and  payment  of  the  Publick  Debts." 

John  Penn. 

June  28,  1775. 

Upon  consideration  of  the  foregoing  Message, 
Ordered,  That  Mr.  Dickinson,  Mr.  Hillegas,  Mr. 

Pearson,  and  Mr.  Ross,  be  a  Committee  to  prepare  and 

bring  in  an  Answer  to  the  said  Message. 
The  House  adjourned  to  five  o'clock,  P.  M. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  take  into  consideration  and 
report  to  the  House  such  measures  as  may  be  expedient 
for  putting  this  City  and  Province  into  a  state  of  defence, 
reported  they  had  essayed  a  draught  of  some  Resolves  for 
that  purpose,  which  they  presented  to  the  Chair;  and  the 
same  being  read  by  order,  was  referred  for  further  con- 
sideration. 

The  House  adjourned  to  nine  o'clock  to-morrow  morn- 
ing. 

Thursday,  June  29,  1775. 

The  House  met  pursuant  to  adjournment. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Ferree  and  Mr.  Eiving  wait  on 
the  Governour,  and  inquire  at  what  hour  to-day  the  House 
shall  attend  him  to  enact  into  Laws  the  Bills  that  have 
been  returned  with  his  assent. 

The  Members  return,  and  report,  that  they  had  waited 
on  his  Honour,  and  delivered  their  Message  according  to 
order,  and  that  the  Governour  was  pleased  to  say,  he  should 
be  immediately  ready  to  meet  the  House  to  pass  the  seve- 
ral Bills  which  have  been  agreed  on. 

The  House  then  taking  into  consideration  the  time  of 
adjournment,  agreed  to  meet  again  on  Monday,  the  18th 
of  September  next,  with  which  the  Speaker  is  desired  to 
acquaint  his  Honour  when  the  House  shall  wait  on  him  to 
pass  the  Bills. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Hillegas  join  with  the  Members  of 
Council  appointed  by  the  Governour  to  compare  the  en- 
grossed Bill  with  its  original. 

The  Member  reported  he  had  assisted  in  collating  the 
engrossed  Bill  with  its  original,  and  found  them  to  agree. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Hillegas  and  Mr.  Parker  see  the 
Great  Seal  affixed  to  the  said  Bills  after  they  are  enacted 
into  laws,  and  deposite  the  same  in  the  Rolls  Office. 

A  Message  by  the  Secretary. 
"  Sir  :  The  Governour  is  in  the  Council  Chamber,  and 
requires  the  attendance  of  the  House,  to  enact  into  laws 
the  Bills  returned  with  his  assent." 

Mr.  Speaker  then,  with  the  whole  House,  waited  on 
the  Governour ;  and  being  returned  from  the  Council 
Chamber,  the  Speaker  resumed  the  Chair,  and  reported, 
that  the  House  had  waited  on  his  Honour,  and  presented 
three  Bills,  respectively  intituled  :  "  An  Act  to  amend  the 
Act  intituled,  'A  supplement  to  the  Act  intituled,  An  Act 
appointing  Wardens  for  the  Port  of  Philadelphia,  and  for 
other  purposes  therein  mentioned  ; '  "  "  An  Act  for  con- 
firming the  estate  of  Daniel  Andrews,  in  and  to  certain 
lands,  in  Amity  Township,  in  the  County  of  Berks;"  and, 
"  An  Act  for  confirming  the  estate  of  the  heirs  and  repre- 
sentatives of  John  Taylor,  late  of  the  County  of  Chester, 
practitioner  in  physick,  deceased,  in  a  certain  tract  of  land 
in  the  Township  of  Bradford,  in  the  said  County."  To 


which  Bills  the  Governour  had  been  pleased  to  give  his 
assent  by  enacting  the  same  into  laws. 

Mr.  Speaker  also  reported,  that  he  had  acquainted  his 
Honour  the  House  purposed  to  adjourn  to  the  18th  of 
September  next,  if  the  Governour  approved  thereof;  to 
which  he  was  pleased  to  say,  he  had  no  objection  to  the 
proposed  time  of  adjournment. 

The  Members  appointed  to  see  the  Great  Seal  affixed 
to  the  said  Bills,  and  deposite  the  same  in  the  Rolls  Office, 
reported  they  had  performed  that  service  according  to 
order. 

The  House  adjourned  to  three  o'clock,  P.  M. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  strike  the  sum  of  Twenty- 
Five  Thousand  Pounds  in  Bills  of  Credit,  directed  by  the 
Act  intituled  "  A  supplement  to  the  Act  intituled  '  An  Act 
for  erecting  a  new  Jail,  Workhouse,  and  House  of  Correc- 
tion, in  the  City  of  Philadelphia,' "  passed  the  eighteenth  of 
March  last,  produced  to  the  Chair  a  receipt  from  Joseph 
Fox,  Esquire,  one  of  the  Commissioners  of  the  County  of 
Philadelphia,  for  the  said  sum  of  Twenty-Five  Thousand 
Pounds  in  the  said  Bills  of  Credit  to  him  paid  agreeable 
to  the  directions  of  the  said  Act. 

The  said  Committee  also  produced  two  extra  sheets 
unsigned,  which  had  been  printed  to  supply  any  loss  or 
deficiency  happening  in  the  said  Bills  during  the  signing 
and  numbering  the  same ;  which  two  extra  sheets,  con- 
taining sixteen  Bills  of  five  Pounds  each,  and  sixteen 
Bills  of  fifty  Shillings  each,  were  burned  by  order  of  the 
House,  in  the  presence  of  the  Members. 

The  House  resumed  the  consideration  of  the  Resolves 
of  the  Committee  appointed  to  consider  of  such  measures 
as  may  be  expedient  for  putting  this  City  and  Province 
into  a  state  of  defence,  and  after  some  time  spent  therein, 
adjourned  to  nine  o'clock  to-morrow  morning. 

Friday,  June  30,  1775. 
The  House  met  pursuant  to  adjournment,  and  proceed- 
ed in  the  consideration  of  the  Resolves  of  the  Committee; 
which  being  put  to  the  question,  were  agreed  to  by  the 
House,  and  follow  in  these  words,  viz : 

1.  Resolved,  That  this  House  approve  the  Association 
entered  into  by  the  good  people  of  this  Province  for  the 
defence  of  their  lives,  liberty,  and  property. 

2.  Resolved,  That  if  any  invasion  or  landing  of  British 
Troops,  or  others,  shall  be  made  in  this  or  the  adjacent 
Colonies  during  the  present  controversy,  or  any  armed 
ships  or  vessels  shall  sail  up  the  River  Delaware  in  a 
hostile  manner,  and  such  circumstances  shall  render  it  ex- 
pedient in  the  judgment  of  the  Committee  hereafter  to  be 
appointed,  for  any  number  of  the  officers  and  private  men 
of  the  Association  within  this  Colony  to  enter  into  actual 
service  for  repelling  such  hostile  attempts,  this  House  will 
provide  for  the  pay  and  necessary  expenses  of  such  officers 
and  soldiers  performing  such  military  duty,  while  they  are 
in  such  actual  service. 

3.  Resolved,  That  the  Pay  of  the  officers  and  privates, 
while  in  such  actual  service,  shall  not  exceed  that  of  the 
Army  raised  by  the  Congress  of  the  United  Colonies,  for 
the  defence  of  the  liberties  of  America. 

4.  Resolved,  That  this  House  do  earnestly  recommend 
to  the  Board  of  Commissioners  of  the  City  and  County  of 
Philadelphia,  and  of  each  County  in  this  Province  that 
have  not  made  the  provision  hereinafter  mentioned,  and 
they  are  hereby  enjoined,  as  they  regard  the  freedom, 
welfare,  and  safety  of  their  Country,  immediately  to  pro- 
vide a  proper  number  of  good  new  Firelocks,  with  Bayo- 
nets fitted  to  them  ;  Cartridge-boxes,  with  twenty-three 
rounds  of  Cartridges  in  every  box;  and  Knapsacks:  not  less 
than  fifteen  hundred  of  each  article  for  the  City  and  County 
of  Philadelphia ;  three  hundred  for  the  County  of  Bucks; 
five  hundred  for  the  County  of  Chester;  six  hundred  for 
the  County  of  Lancaster ;  three  hundred  for  the  County 
of  York;  three  hundred  for  the  County  of  Cumberland; 
four  hundred  for  the  County  of  Berks;  three  hundred  for 
the  County  of  Northampton ;  one  hundred  for  the  County 
of  Bedford;  one  hundred  for  the  County  of  Northumber- 
land;  and  one  hundred  for  the  County  of  Westmorclaml : 
to  be  under  the  care  of  the  Commanding  Officers  of  the 
Battalions  of  the  said  Counties,  for  the  immediate  use  of 


1173 


PENNSYLVANIA  ASSEMBLY,  JUNE,  1775. 


1174 


such  Officers  and  Soldiers  as  shall  be  draughted  from  the 
Battalions  from  time  to  time  for  actual  service.  And  the 
said  Commissioners  and  Assessors  shall  produce  their 
accounts  for  the  furnishing  the  Arms  and  Accoutrements 
aforesaid  to  the  Committee  hereinafter  appointed,  which 
being  approved  of  by  the  said  Committee,  ihey  shall  draw 
orders  on  the  Treasurer  for  the  payment  thereof,  and  he 
is  hereby  enjoined  to  pay  the  same  out  of  the  Bills  to  be 
emitted  by  the  Resolution  of  this  House. 

5.  Resolved,  That  the  Firelocks  to  be  provided  as  afore- 
said be  of  one  size  and  bore,  with  steel  Rammers,  well  fitted 
to  the  same ;  and  that  patterns  of  the  said  Firelocks,  Ram- 
mers, and  Bayonets,  be  immediately  made  in  the  City  of 
Philadelphia,  and  sent  to  the  different  Counties. 

6.  Resolved,  That  this  House  do  recommend  to  and 
enjoin  the  Officers  and  Committees  of  each  County  in 
this  Province,  to  select  a  number  of  Minute-Men  equal  to 
the  Arms,  &,c,  provided  for  the  same,  to  be  in  readiness, 
upon  the  shortest  notice,  to  march  to  any  quarter,  in  case 
of  emergency. 

7.  Resolved,  That  provision  be  made  for  defending  this 
Province,  and  the  City  in  particular,  against  the  attacks  of 
armed  vessels  that  may  be  sent  to  annoy  them. 

And  whereas,  the  safety  of  a  Country  greatly  depends 
on  having  within  itself  the  means  of  defence,  and  it  appears 
that  sufficient  quantities  of  Saltpetre  may  be  collected,  not 
only  for  defence,  but  for  other  purposes : 

8.  Resolved,  That  the  sum  of  twenty  Pounds  be  paid 
for  every  hundred  weight  of  good  merchantable  Saltpetre 
that  shall  be  made  and  manufactured  in  this  Province,  and 
delivered  to  the  Committee  of  Safety  hereinafter  named, 
within  the  space  of  three  months  from  this  time ;  and  that 
the  sum  of  fifteen  Pounds  be  paid  for  every  hundred  weight 
of  good  merchantable  Saltpetre  that  shall  be  made  and 
manufactured  in  this  Province  and  delivered  to  the  said 
Committee  within  the  space  of  three  months  next  follow- 
ing; and  so  in  proportion  for  a  greater  or  lesser  quantity. 

9.  Resolved,  That  John  Dickinson,  George  Gray, 
Henry  Wynkoop,  Anthony  Wayne,  Benjamin  Bartholo- 
mew, George  Ross,  Michael  Swoope,  John  Montgomery, 
Edicard  Biddle,  William  Edmonds,  Bernhard  Dougherty, 
Samuel  Hunter,  William  Thompson,  Thomas  Willing, 
Benjamin  Franklin,  Daniel  Roberdeau,  John  Cadwala- 
der,  Andrew  Allen,  Owen  Biddle,  Francis  Johnston, 
Richard  Reily,  Samuel  Morris,  Junior,  Robert  Morris, 
Thomas  Wharton,  Junior,  and  Robert  White,  Gentlemen, 
be  a  Committee  of  Safety  for  calling  forth  such  and  so 
many  of  the  Associators  into  actual  service,  when  neces- 
sity requires,  as  the  said  Committee  shall  judge  proper;  for 
paying  and  supplying  them  with  necessaries  while  in  actual 
service ;  for  providing  for  the  defence  of  this  Province 
against  invasion  and  insurrection ;  and  for  encouraging  and 
promoting  the  manufacture  of  Saltpetre  ;  which  said  Com- 
mittee are  hereby  authorized  and  empowered  to  draw 
orders  on  the  Treasurer  hereinafter  appointed  for  the 
several  purposes  above  mentioned. 

10.  Resolved,  That  any  seven  or  more  of  the  said  Com- 
mittee shall  be  a  board  for  transacting  the  business  afore- 
said, or  any  part  thereof. 

And  for  carrying  the  foregoing  Resolves  into  execution, 
it  is 

11.  Resolved,  That  Bills  of  Credit  to  the  value  of 
Thirty-Five  Thousand  Pounds  shall,  on  or  before  the  first 
day  of  August  next,  be  prepared  and  printed  on  good 
strong  paper,  under  the  care  and  direction  of  George 
Gray,  Joseph  Parker,  William  Rodman,  and  Isaac  Pear- 
son, Esquires,  or  any  three  of  them,  at  the  charge  of  the 
publick,  to  be  defrayed  out  of  the  said  Bills ;  which  Bills 
shall  be  made  and  prepared  in  manner  and  form  follow- 
ing, viz : 

According  to  the  Resolves  of  the  Assembly  of  Penn- 
sylvania, made  on  the  thirtieth  day  of  June,  in  the  fifteenth 
year  of  His  Majesty  George  the  Third ;  dated  at  Phila- 
delphia, the  twentieth  day  of  July,  one  thousand  seven 
hundred  and  seventy-five. 

And  the  said  Bills  shall  have  such  escutcheons  and  de- 
vices as  the  said  George  Gray,  Joseph  Parker,  William 
Rodman,  and  Isaac  Pearson,  shall  think  proper  ;  each  of 
which  Bills  shall  be  of  the  several  and  respective  denomi- 
nations following,  and  no  other,  viz  : 


Seven  thousand  of  the  same  Bills  of  the  sum  of  forty 
Shillings. 

Seven  thousand  of  the  same  Bills  of  the  sum  of  thirty 
Shillings. 

Seven  thousand  of  the  same  Bills  of  the  sum  of  twenty 
Shillings. 

Seven  thousand  of  the  same  Bills  of  the  sum  of  ten 
Shillings. 

And  the  said  George  Gray,  Joseph  Parker,  William 
Rodman,  and  Isaac  Pearson,  shall  use  their  best  care, 
attention,  and  diligence,  during  the  printing  of  the  said 
Bills,  that  the  number  and  amount  thereof,  according  to 
their  respective  denominations  aforesaid,  be  not  exceeded, 
nor  any  clandestine  or  fraudulent  practice  used  by  the 
printer,  his  servants,  or  other  persons  concerned  therein. 

12.  Resolved,  That  the  said  George  Gray,  Joseph  Par- 
ker. William  Rodman,  and  Isaac  Pearson,  or  any  three  of 
them,  after  the  said  Bills  are  printed,  shall  deliver  them 
to  the  signers  to  be  signed  and  numbered  by  parcels,  for 
which  they  shall  take  the  receipts  of  the  signers. 

13.  Resolved,  That  Sharp  Delany,  Lambert  Cadwala- 
der,  Isaac  Howell,  James  Meas,  Adam  Hubley,  John 
Benezet,  Samuel  Cadwalader  Morris,  Thomas  Prior,  God- 
frey Twells,  John  Meas,  John  Purviance,  and  Willia7n 
Allen,  Junior,  or  any  three  of  them,  shall  be  the  signers 
of  each  and  every  of  the  said  Bills. 

14.  Resolved,  That  when  the  same  Bills  shall  be  sign- 
ed, they  shall  be  delivered  to  Michael  Hillegas,  Esquire, 
hereby  appointed  Treasurer,  who  shall  give  his  receipt  for 
the  same,  and  shall  therewith  pay  off  and  discharge  all 
such  draughts  and  certificates  as  shall  be  made  by  order  of 
Assembly,  or  the  Committee  of  Safety  aforesaid. 

15.  Resolved,  That  the  Treasurer  aforesaid  shall  give 
bond  with  two  sufficient  sureties  to  John  Morton  and 
Charles  Humphreys,  Esquires,  in  the  sum  of  ten  thou- 
sand Pounds,  for  the  faithful  discharge  of  the  trust  reposed 
in  him. 

And  for  the  more  certain  paying,  redeeming,  discharging, 
and  sinking  the  said  Bills  of  Credit  hereby  emitted : 

16.  Resolved,  That  a  Tax  on  all  estates,  real  and  per- 
sonal, within  this  Province,  shall  be  raised  and  levied  by 
the  respective  Commissioners  and  Assessors  of  the  several 
Counties  within  this  Province,  in  the  same  manner  and 
mode  as  the  Provincial  Tax,  by  the  laws  now  in  force,  is 
raised,  levied,  and  recovered,  and  shall  be  paid  to  the  Pro- 
vincial Treasurer;  which  said  Tax  first  mentioned  shall 
commence  immediately  after  the  sinking  of  the  Bills  of 
Credit  now  remaining  to  be  sunk  of  those  sums  granted  to 
the  King  during  the  course  of  the  last  war ;  which  Tax, 
for  the  purposes  aforesaid,  the  several  Commissioners  and 
Assessors  are  enjoined  and  required  to  raise,  levy,  recover, 
and  pay,  as  they  regard  the  freedom,  welfare,  and  safety 
of  their  Country. 

Upon  motion, 

Resolved,  That  the  Committee  of  Safety  draw  an  order 
on  their  Treasurer  for  fifty  Pounds,  payable  to  George 
Ross,  Esquire,  and  another  order  for  the  like  sum,  payable 
to  James  Wilson,  Esquire,  for  their  services  as  Deputies  of 
this  Province  in  the  Continental  Congress. 

The  House  taking  into  consideration  that  many  of  the 
good  people  of  this  Province  are  conscientiously  scrupu- 
lous of  bearing  Arms,  do  hereby  earnestly  recommend  to 
the  Associators  for  the  defence  of  their  Country,  and 
others,  that  they  bear  a  tender  and  brotherly  regard  to- 
wards this  class  of  their  fellow-subjects  and  countrymen  ; 
and  to  these  conscientious  people  it  is  recommended,  that 
they  cheerfully  assist,  in  proportion  to  their  abilities,  such 
Associators  as  cannot  spend  their  time  and  substance  in 
the  publick  service  without  great  injuries  to  themselves 
and  families. 

Upon  motion, 

The  Memorial  of  Samuel  Preston  Moore,  Esquire,  was 
again  read,  and  after  some  debate,  referred  to  the  Com- 
mittee of  Accounts,  to  consider  the  service  of  the  memo- 
rialist, and  report  thereon  at  the  next  meeting. 

The  House  adjourned  to  Monday,  the  18th  of  Septem- 
ber next,  at  four  o'clock,  P.  M. 


1 175 


NEW-HAMPSHIRE  HOUSE  OK  REPRESENTATIVES,  JUNE,  1775. 


1176 


NEW.HAMPSHIRE  HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES. 

Monday,  June  12,  1775. 

Met  according  to  adjournment. 

And  there  being  but  a  thin  House,  adjourned  till  to- 
morrow, nine  o'clock. 

Tuosday,  June  13,  1775. 

Met  according  to  adjournment. 

The  Deputy  Secretary  came  into  the  House,  and  in- 
formed the  House  that  Colonel  IVtare  had  taken  the  oaths, 
and  was  qualified  as  a  Member  of  this  House. 

Meshcch  IVearc,  Esq.,  having  been  chosen  Clerk  to  this 
House,  and  now  being  present,  the  oath  for  the  faithful 
discharge  of  that  office  was  administered  to  him  by  the 
Speaker. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  matter  re- 
specting the  admission  of  the  Members  called  in  from  the 
new  Towns  by  virtue  of  the  King's  writ,  made  report  as 
on  file  ;  which  being  read  and  considered,  and  after  debate 
thereon,  the  question  was  put,  Whether  the  Members  re- 
turned for  Plymouth,  Or  ford,  and  Lime,  should  be  admit- 
ted to  a  seat  in  tills  House  ? 

It  passed  clearly  in  the  negative. 

Tuesday,  June  13,  1775,  P.  M. 
The  Committee  appointed  to  prepare  an  Answer  to  the 
Governour's  Speech,  laid  before  the  House  the  following 
draught  of  an  Answer,  viz : 

May  it  phase  your  Excellency  : 

Our  grateful  acknowledgments  are  due  to  you  for  your 
kind  assurance  given  this  House  in  your  Excellency's 
speech,  that  you  will  afford  all  the  facility  in  your  power 
to  every  measure  that  may  be  conducive  to  the  publick 
good  ;  and  that  you  will  make  the  happiness  and  prosper- 
ity of  this  Government  the  object  of  your  warmest  wishes 
and  constant  pursuit.  Your  Excellency  may  be  assured, 
that  we,  in  our  department,  will  ever  consult  and  steadily 
pursue  such  measures  as  we  may  judge  will  be  most  likely 
to  promote  the  prosperity  of  this  Province.  We  desire 
the  Treasurer's  Accounts  may  be  laid  before  us  as  soon  as 
may  be,  which  we  will  immediately  proceed  to  inspect. 

It  is  with  the  most  anxious  concern  we  view  the  unhappy 
controversy  between  Great  Britain  and  her  Colonies  ra- 
pidly advancing  to  the  most  serious  issue  ;  a  matter  of  such 
a  momentous,  interesting  nature,  cannot  fail  of  engaging 
our  most  serious  attention,  while  it  fills  us  with  the  deepest 
solicitude  and  distress.  We  most  ardently  wish  it  in  our 
power  to  effect,  by  any  measures  we  could  take,  the  resto- 
ration of  publick  tranquillity,  and  the  re-establishment  of 
the  much-desired  reconciliation  with  our  Mother  Country, 
upon  a  just,  solid,  and  permanent  basis,  that  the  blessings 
of  the  British  Constitution  might  thereby  be  diffused  and 
enjoyed  through  every  part  of  this  wide  and  extended  Em- 
pire. But  we  are  apprehensive  the  settlement  of  the  pre- 
sent distressing  difficulties  is  an  object  of  such  magnitude, 
and  a  matter  of  such  general  concernment  to  all  the  Colo- 
nies, as  far  exceeds  our  circumscribed  power  and  influence. 
As  a  variety  of  methods  have  been  proposed,  and  mea- 
sures pursued,  in  order  to  effect  this  desirable  end,  all  of 
which  have  hitherto  proved  ineffectual,  we  are  entirely  at 
a  loss  to  know  what  measures  we  can  take  that  may  afford 
a  prospect  of  success.  Was  it  in  our  power  to  settle  this 
most  unnatural,  unfortunate  contest,  in  a  way  consistent 
with  the  true  interest  and  rights  of  the  whole  Nation,  our 
calamities  would  be  but  of  short  duration  ;  and  we  trust, 
had  it  been  equally  in  the  power  of  the  Colonies,  as  it 
ever  was  their  wish,  matters  would  never  have  proceeded 
to  such  extremity.  Intimately  connected  as  we  are  with 
the  Parent  State,  by  the  strongest  ties  of  kindred,  religion, 
laws,  and  interest,  it  ever  must  be  our  most  sincere  desire 
and  zealous  endeavour  to  adopt  and  constantly  pursue  such 
measures  as  may  have  the  most  likely  tendency  to  strength- 
en and  perpetuate  such  connexion,  and  to  promote  the 
general  interest  and  happiness  of  the  whole  Empire. 

With  hearts  deeply  impressed  with  the  most  affection- 
ate attachment  to,  and  concern  for,  the  interest  and  pros- 
perity of  Great  Britain,  as  inseparably  connected  with  our 
own,  we  trust  that  our  conduct  will  invariably  manifest  the 
rectitude  of  our  intention,  and  our  sincere  aim  to  restore 


and  establish  peace  and  harmony  between  Great  Britain 
and  her  Colonies,  and  to  advance  the  prosperity  of  both 
Countries. 

Voted,  That  the  foregoing  be  presented  to  his  Excel- 
lency the  Governour,  in  answer  to  his  Speech  at  the  open- 
ing of  the  present  General  Assembly. 

The  Deputy  Secretary  brought  down  the  following  Mes- 
sage from  his  Excellency,  viz  : 

Mr.  Speaker  and  Gentlemen  of  the  Assembly  : 

When  a  general  spirit  of  jealousy,  alarm,  and  apprehen- 
sion, have  either  banished  the  sober  reason,  or  blinded  the 
cool  judgment  of  men  ;  when  the  love  of  order  and  respect 
to  the  laws,  reverence  and  attachment  to  the  ancient  and 
happy  Constitution  of  this  Province,  seem  wholly  to  have 
deserted  their  seat,  and  disorder  and  confusion  introduced 
in  their  stead  ;  and  when  the  people,  as  it  were,  seem  to 
have  lost  sight  of  any  possible  alternative  but  slavery  or 
civil  war,  and  abandon  the  hope  that  there  is  yet  remaining 
of  possibility  of  reconciliation  with  the  Mother  Country,  I 
think  it  incumbent  upon  me,  in  this  most  alarming  and  dan- 
gerous situation,  to  recommend  to  your  most  serious  con- 
sideration the  Resolution  of  the  House  of  Commons  of 
the  27th  of  February  last,  which  hath  been  approved  by 
His  Majesty.  There  appears  in  this  solemn  Resolution  so 
great  an  affection,  tenderness  for  your  liberties,  and  readi- 
ness to  be  reconciled,  upon  principles  consistent  with  the 
just  rights  and  dignity  of  the  Parent  State,  and  the  privi- 
leges of  the  Colonies,  as  precludes  the  necessity  of  particu- 
lar observations  upon  it;  and  1  cannot  but  trust  that  it  will 
meet  with  the  just  and  grateful  return  from  you  that  may 
be  naturally  expected  from  the  wisdom  which  the  hour  of 
serious  reflection  will  call  forth,  and  from  the  feelings  which 
calm  consideration  will  produce  ;  and  be  finally  productive 
of  those  happy  effects  for  which  it  lays  so  fair  a  founda- 
tion. But  as  this  is  a  subject  of  a  most  weighty  nature  to 
the  good  people  of  this  Province,  the  security  of  whose 
lives  and  properties  may  rest  upon  the  moment  of  your 
decision  as  their  Representatives,  I  cannot  give  a  greater 
instance  of  my  duty  to  His  Majesty,  and  of  zeal  for  the 
true  interest  of  this  Province,  than  by  affording  you  time 
for  candid  consideration,  and  an  opportunity  to  take  the 
real,  and,  on  this  very  serious  occasion,  I  hope  dispassion- 
ate sentiments  of  your  constituents,  from  whence  my  most 
fervent  prayers  to  Heaven  are,  that  a  disposition  for  recon- 
ciliation may  spring  up.  whose  blossoms  being  mutual  affec- 
tion and  a  desire  for  peace  and  harmony,  we  may  speedily 
reap  the  blessed  fruit  of  happy  prosperity  to  this  Province, 
and  perpetual  glory  to  the  united  British  Empire. 

I  do  therefore  adjourn  the  General  Assembly,  and  it  is 
hereby  adjourned  accordingly,  to  Tuesday,  the  11th  day  of 
July  next,  then  to  meet  at  the  State-House  in  Portsmouth, 
in  order  to  proceed  to  the  consideration  of  this  and  the 
other  publick  affairs  of  the  Province. 

In  the  mean  time  I  most  earnestly  recommend  it  to  you, 
by  all  means  in  your  power,  to  discourage  and  discounte- 
nance all  acts  and  measures  tending  to  increase  our  difficul- 
ties, by  widening  the  breach  between  us  and  our  Mother 
Country,  which  unhappily  but  too  much  prevail  throughout 
the  Province,  and  to  use  your  best  endeavours  to  cultivate 
a  quiet  and  peaceable  disposition  among  your  constituents. 

J.  W ENTWORTH. 

New-Hampshire  Council  Chamber,  June  13,  1775. 


NEW.HAMPSHIRE  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY. 

In  Committee  of  Sufety,  June  15,  1775. 
Captain  Henry  Ei.kjns,  Sr  : 

You  are  hereby  directed  to  man  two  whale-boats  out  of 
your  company,  and  keep  them  constantly  cruising  off  and 
on  the  coast,  and  direct  them  to  acquaint  all  vessels  bound 
to  Piscataqua,  having  Provisions,  Salt,  or  Molasses  on 
board,  that  the  man-of-war  there  has  orders  to  seize  them  ; 
and  advise  them  to  get  into  York,  Newbury  port,  Hampton, 
or  Rye,  as  they  may  judge  expedient. 

By  order  of  the  Committee. 

The  Committee  gave  the  Receiver-General  orders  to 
deliver  to  Captain  Henry  Elkins  twenty  pounds  of  Gun- 
powder, taking  his  receipt  for  the  same,  to  be  accounted 
for. 


1 177 


.NEW-HAMPSHIRE  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY,  JUNE,  1775. 


117b 


In  Committee  of  Safety,  June  16,  1775. 

To  the  Committee  of  Supplies  : 

Gentlemen  :  You  are  desired,  without  delay,  to  pro- 
cure at  Cambridge,  of  Mr.  Trumbull,  or  any  other  person 
or  persons,  on  the  best  terms  you  can,  about  one  month's 
provision  for  two  thousand  men,  as  part  of  your  general 
orders  of  the  8th  of  June,  and  deliver  it  to  Mr.  Moses 
Emerson,  our  Commissary  at  Cambridge ;  and  also  procure 
for  him  sufficient  store-houses  there. 

By  order  of  the  Committee. 

In  Committee  of  Safety,  June  16,  1775. 

To  the  Committee  of  Supplies  : 

Gentlemen  :  We  desire  you  to  procure,  as  soon  as  you 
can,  five  dozen  of  hatchets  or  small  axes,  and  lodge  four 
dozen  of  them  with  the  Commissary  at  Cambridge,  and 
keep  the  remainder  in  safe  custody  for  the  present.  We 
also  desire  you  to  fix  a  number  of  guard-houses  for  the  ac- 
commodation of  the  soldiers  stationed  on  the  coast,  as  you 
shall  see  and  judge  needy,  not  exceeding  six  in  number. 

By  order  of  the  Committee. 

In  Committee  of  Safety,  June  17,  1775. 

Orders  given  to  Captain  Jeremiah  Clough,  to  muster  his 
Company  on  Wednesday,  the  28th  day  of  June  instant,  at 
Canterbury,  there  to  wait  further  orders. 

Ordered,  That  Nathaniel  Perkins,  of  Canterbury,  pro- 
vided he  enlist  as  a  soldier,  shall  be  Armourer  of  Colonel 
Poor's  Regiment,  and  be  allowed  the  same  wages,  including 
that  of  a  soldier,  as  is  allowed  Armourers  in  the  Massachu- 
setts service. 

Received  a  Letter  from  Colonel  Read,  dated  Charles- 
town,  June  15,  1775,  with  a  Return  of  his  Regiment,  &c, 
as  on  file. 

Received  a  Letter  from  Lieutenant-Colonel  Gilman, 
dated  Charlestown,  June  15,  1775. — Filed. 

In  Committee  of  Safety,  at  Exeter,  June  17,  1775. 
To  General  Folsom  : 

Sir  :  You  are  required  to  order  two  of  the  companies  in 
Colonel  Poor's  Regiment,  viz  :  Captain  Adams's  and  Cap- 
tain TUton's,  to  march,  by  the  middle  of  next  week,  to  join 
the  Army  at  or  near  Cambridge,  in  the  Massachusetts-Bay, 
there  to  receive  further  orders. 

Matthew  Thornton,  Chairman. 

June  18,  1775. — Upon  receiving  the  news  of  the  en- 
gagement at  Charlestown,  directed  Colonel  Poor  to  order 
all  the  companies  in  his  Regiment,  except  Captain  El- 
kins's,  to  march  immediately  to  Cambridge. 

Received  a  Letter  from  the  Continental  Congress,  dated 
June  10,  1775,  enclosing  sundry  of  their  Resolves. — Filed. 

Wrote  to  Samuel  Cults,  Esquire,  desiring  him  to  procure 
ten  reams  of  the  best  Paper  he  could  get,  and  send  it  here 
to-morrow  ;  also,  to  engage  all  the  Saltpetre  and  Brimstone 
in  Portsmouth,  and  to  send  the  Saltpetre  here  as  soon  as 
may  be  ;  to  employ  as  many  hands  as  can  be  employed  on 
the  tents,  and  to  add  eighty  to  the  number  already  ordered. 

Ordered  the  Selectmen  or  Committee  of  Slratham  to 
supply  their  men  with  Fire- Arms. 

Ordered  the  Selectmen  of  Kingston  to  deliver  Samuel 
Philb rick  six  barrels  of  Powder,  to  be  by  him  conveyed  to 
the  Army. 

June  19,  1775. — Received  a  Letter  from  the  Chamber 
of  Supplies  at  Watertoxvn,  dated  the  18th  of  June,  1775, 
by  Mr.  fVoods. — Filed. 

Answered  the  above  by  same  Messenger. — Copy  filed. 

Received  from  S.  Cxitts,  Esq.,  four  reams  and  two  quires 
of  Paper,  and  a  Letter  from  him  .by  Mr.  Young,  who  was 
sent  hence  to  him  for  the  Paper. — Letter  filed. 

June  20,  1775. — Orders  given  Capt.  Nicholas  Gilman 
to  deliver  Captain  Benjamin  Titcomb  thirty  pounds  of  Gun- 
powder for  the  use  of  his  Company,  and  to  take  his  receipt 
for  the  same. 

Orders  given  Major  Coffin  to  deliver  Captain  Titcomb 
fifteen  pounds  of  Bullets  for  the  use  of  his  Company, 
taking  his  receipt  for  it. 

Orders  given  Major  Coffin  to  deliver  Moses  Meader,  of 
Captain  Adams's  Company,  twenty  Bullets,  taking  his  re- 
ceipt for  them. 


June  21,  1775. — Memorandum  of  sundry  articles  sent 
to  Cambridge  by  Mr.  Nathaniel  Gordon : 

One  cask  Flints,  quantity,  3200 ;  five  kegs  Bullets, 
weight,  113,  1 10,  62,  123,  and  220  pounds  each  :  30  Tents 
and  poles,  and  pins  for  do. ;  10  barrels  Powder,  100  pounds 
each;  25  Tin  Buckets;  7  Milled  Blankets;  6  Oxen. 

Ordered  Mr.  Commissary  Emerson  to  proceed  directly 
to  Cambridge,  and  to  take  into  his  custody  all  Stores  there 
belonging  to  this  Colony,  and  to  issue  the  same  to  our 
Forces  in  the  same  manner  as  Stores  of  the  same  kind  are 
delivered  to  the  Massachusetts  Forces. 

Ordered  the  Receiver-General  to  pay  Commissary  Emer- 
son eleven  Pounds,  by  him  to  be  accounted  for,  (£11.) 

Ordered  the  Receiver-General  to  pay  Jedcdiah  Ro- 
binson fifteen  Pounds  six  Shillings,  for  a  yoke  of  Oxen 
purchased  of  him  for  our  Army,  (£15  6s.) 

Ordered  Receiver-General  to  pay  Nathaniel  Ordway 
fourteen  Pounds  fourteen  Shillings  for  do.  (£14  14s.) 

Ordered  Receiver-General  to  pay  General  Folsom 
twelve  Pounds  fifteen  Shillings  for  do.  (£12  15s.) 

Delivered  Commissary  Emerson  eight  quires  out  of  the 
Paper  received  of  Mr.  Cutts. 

Gave  Esquire  Rice  a  receipt  for  two  barrels  of  the  Pow- 
der sent  by  Mr.  Gordon. 

Received  a  Letter  from  Congress  at  IVatertoicn,  dated 
June  13th,  1775.— Filed. 

Received  a  Letter  from  Mr.  James  McGregore,  dated 
Mcdford,  June  19th,  1775. — Filed. 

Received  a  Letter  from  Colonel  Stark,  dated  Mcdford. 
June  19th,  1775.— Filed. 

June  23,  1775. — Received  a  Letter  from  General  Fol- 
som,  dated  Medford,  June  22d,  1775. — Filed. 

Wrote  to  the  Selectmen  of  Newmarket,  to  send  by  Ni- 
cholas Nichols  four  barrels  of  the  Provincial  Gunpowder 
now  in  their  custody,  to  be  dealt  out  as  the  publick  service 
may  require. 

June  24,  1775. — Mr.  Nichols  returned  from  Newmar- 
ket with  one  barrel  of  Gunpowder  only. 

Ordered  the  Receiver-General  to  pay  the  Committee 
of  Supplies  thirty  Pounds  lawful  money,  and  to  charge  to 
Colony  account,  (£30.) 

In  Committee  of  Safety,  June  24,  1775. 
To  the  Committee  of  Supplies: 

Gentlemen:  You  are  desired  to  send  to  Israel  Morey. 
Esq.,  at  Orford,  in  the  County  of  Grafton,  twenty  bar- 
rels of  Pork  and  twenty  barrels  of  Flour,  as  soon  as  may 
be,  for  the  use  of  the  soldiers  to  be  employed  in  the  North- 
western frontiers  of  this  Colony,  and  that  the  remainder 
you  have  purchased  that  way  be  safely  secured  till  further 
orders.    By  order  of  the  Committee  : 

Matthew  Thornton,  Chairman. 

Ordered  Nicholas  Gilman,  Esq.,  to  deliver  to  Nathan 
Goss  thirty  pounds  of  Gunpowder  for  the  use  of  the  Par- 
ish of  Rye. 

June  26,  1775. — Received  another  barrel  of  Gunpow- 
der from  Newmarket. 

Received  a  Letter  from  General  Folsom  per  Mr.  Emery. 
dated  June  23d,  1775. — Filed. 

Received  a  Letter  from  Mr.  McGregore  per  do.,  dated 
June  24th,  1775. — Filed. 

Received  a  Letter  from  General  Folsom  per  Esquire 
Tilton,  dated  June  24th,  1775. — Filed. 

Directed  Captain  Elkins  to  order  his  boatmen  to  put 
into  the  shoals,  and  bring  to  Hampton  any  Cannon-Shot 
they  may  find  there,  if  the  people  at  the  shoals  will  allow  it 
to  be  done. 

Directed  Lieutenant  Bartlett  to  pick  out  two  of  the 
largest,  strongest,  and  hest  Cannon  that  were  taken  from 
Fort  William  and  Mary  last  winter,  and  convey  them  to 
Exeter  as  soon  as  possible,  in  order  to  their  being  sent  to 
the  Army  at  Medford. 

Answered  General  Folsom's  Letter  per  Mr.  Dearing. 
who  went  with  a  horse  team  to  Medford,  with  Blanketing, 
Intrenching  Tools,  &tc. — Copy  filed. 

June  27,  1775. — Received  a  Letter  from  General  Fol- 
som, dated  June,  1775. — Filed. 


1 179 


NEW-HAMPSIIIRE  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1  180 


Received  a  Letter  from  Continental  Congress,  dated  June 
20, 1775,  with  a  Resolve  of  said  Congress  enclosed. — Filed. 

June  28,  1775. — Wrote  General  Fohom  per  Stephen 
Piper  of  Stratham. 

June  29,  1775. — Received  a  Letter  from  General  Fol- 
som,  dated  25th  of  June,  1775. — Filed. 

In  Committee  of  Safety,  Exeter,  Juno  30,  1775. 
To  the  Committee  of  Supplies  : 

Gentlemen  :  Inasmuch  as  you  may  find  many  things 
necessary  for  the  use  of  the  Army  which  do  not  come 
within  the  limits  of  any  particular  directions  from  this  Com- 
mittee, the  procuring  which  articles  may  not  admit  so  much 
delay  as  to  afford  time  for  an  application  to  the  Committee 
of  Safety  ;  you  are  therefore  desired,  according  to  your 
best  judgment,  and  with  the  strictest  attention  to  economy, 
to  procure  such  necessary  articles,  rendering  an  account  for 
allowance  to  the  Committee  of  Safety  at  least  once  in  ten 
days  of  all  articles  so  furnished. 
By  order  of  the  Committee  : 

Matthew  Thornton,  Chairman. 


NEW-HAMPSHIRE  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS. 

Tuesday,  June  27,  1775. 

Met  according  to  adjournment. 

Voted,  That  two  of  our  24-pound  Cannon,  and  two 
other  smaller  Cannon,  be  forthwith  fitted  with  carriages 
and  sent  to  our  Army  at  Med  ford;  and  that  Ezekiel  Wor- 
then  and  Joseph  Scius,  Esquire,  Captains  Gawin  and 
Wingate,  be  a  Committee  to  fit  up  the  aforesaid  Cannon 
with  proper  implements  for  their  use,  and  send  them  to  the 
Army  with  all  possible  despatch. 

Voted,  That  General  Folsom  be  desired  to  apprehend 
Messrs.  Jason  Russell  and  John  Tarbell,  of  Mason,  a  com- 
plaint being  exhibited  to  this  Congress  of  their  being  guilty 
of  theft,  and  send  them  to  the  Committee  of  Safety  in  Ma- 
son, in  order  that  they  may  be  tried,  and,  if  convicted,  pun- 
ished for  so  heinous  a  crime. 

Adjourned  to  three  o'clock. 

Wednesday,  June  28,  1775. 

Met  according  to  adjournment. 

Voted,  That  all  the  Provincial  and  County  Records 
that  are  now  kept  in  the  Town  of  Portsmouth,  be  removed 
to  some  place  of  more  safety. 

Voted,  That  the  Records  be  removed  to  Exeter,  and 
that  Messrs.  Samuel  Brooks,  John  Mc  Clary,  and  Noah 
Emery,  Esq.,  be  a  Committee  to  look  out  a  place  or  places 
in  Exeter  to  put  the  Records  in. 

Adjourned  to  eight  o'clock  to-morrow. 

Thursday,  June  29,  1775. 

Met  according  to  adjournment. 

The  Congress  heard  Colonel  Stark's  complaint,  and 
dismissed  the  same. 

Voted,  That  Joseph  Welsh  and  Samuel  Hobart,  Esqrs., 
be,  and  hereby  are  appointed  Paymasters  of  the  Troops 
now  employed  by  this  Colony  in  the  American  Army,  and 
that  they  proceed,  as  soon  as  may  be,  to  the  Army,  and 
pay  one  month's  wages  to  the  Oflicers  and  Soldiers ;  and 
previous  to  the  paying  of  the  Soldiers,  that  they  receive  of 
the  Captain,  or  the  Commanding  Officer  of  each  Company, 
a  complete  Muster-Roll  of  their  respective  Companies, 
upon  oath,  and  return  the  same  to  this  Congress,  or  to  the 
Committee  of  Safety ;  and  that  they  take  a  receipt  for  all 
the  money  paid  from  each  Officer  and  Soldier ;  and  further, 
that  they  pay  no  Officer  or  Soldiers  who  have  not  taken 
the  oaths,  and  have  been  or  shall  be  mustered  by  the  Mus- 
ter-Master as  able-bodied,  effective  men  ;  also,  that  Joseph 
Welsh,  Esquire,  assist  the  Muster-Master  in  mustering  the 
men  unmustered  at  the  Army ;  and  also,  that  they  pay  no 
more  than  ten  Companies  in  a  Regiment,  of  sixty-six  men 
in  a  Company,  including  Oflicers. 

Adjourned  till  three  o'clock,  P.  M. 

Met  according  to  adjournment. 

Voted,  That  whereas  it  is  necessary  that  the  Officers 
and  Soldiers  raised  and  to  be  raised  in  this  Colony  for  the 
preservation  and  defence  of  this  and  the  other  Colonies  in 


America  should  be  fully  acquainted  with  their  duty,  and 
that  the  Articles,  Rules,  and  Regulations  be  made  as  plain 
as  possible  ;  and  having  great  confidence  in  the  honour  and 
publick  virtue  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  Colony,  that  they 
will  readily  obey  the  Officers  chosen  and  appointed  by  this 
Congress,  and  will  cheerfully  do  their  duty  when  known, 
without  any  such  severe  articles  and  rules,  and  cruel  pun- 
ishments (excepting  in  capital  cases)  as  are  usually  prac- 
tised in  Standing  Armies,  and  will  submit  to  all  such  rules 
and  regulations  as  are  founded  in  reason,  honour,  and  vir- 
tue :  It  is,  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  the  following  Rules,  Articles,  and  Regu- 
lations, for  our  said  Forces,  be,  and  hereby  are  earnestly 
recommended  to  be  strictly  adhered  to  by  all  Officers  and 
Soldiers,  and  others  concerned,  as  they  regard  their  own 
honour  and  the  publick  good.  The  Rules  and  Articles  of 
War  voted,  are  those  voted  in  the  Massachusetts  Colony, 
from  No.  1  to  53,  inclusive,  and  now  printed. 

Voted,  That  Colonel  John  Fenton  is  not  a  friend  to  this 
Country. 

Voted,  That  the  Records  and  Files  of  the  Secretary's 
Office,  and  Clerk's  Office  of  the  Superiour  Courts,  be  kept 
at  John  Rice's,  Esq. ;  the  Register  of  Deeds'  Office  to  be 
kept  at  Deacon  Samuel  Brooks's ;  Register  of  Probates 
Office  to  be  kept  at  William  Parker's,  Jun.,  Esq. ;  Infe- 
riour  Courts  and  Quarter  Sessions  Offices,  Records,  &c, 
to  be  kept  at  Noah  Emery's,  Esquire. 

Voted,  That  Messrs.  Samuel  Brooks,  Captain  Stephen 
Evans,  Major  Weeks,  Samuel  Dudley,  Esq.,  and  Lieut. 
Thomas  Bartlett,  be  a  Committee  to  remove  the  Records 
to  the  above-mentioned  places,  as  soon  as  may  be. 

Voted,  That  the  Secretary,  the  Clerk  of  the  Superiour 
Court,  the  Register  of  Deeds,  the  Register  of  the  Court 
of  Probates,  and  the  Clerk  of  the  Inferiour  Court  and 
Quarter  Sessions,  be  requested  to  accompany  the  Commit- 
tee, with  the  several  Records,  to  Exeter,  and  to  keep  them, 
agreeable  to  a  Resolve  of  this  Congress,  until  further  direc- 
tions from  said  Congress ;  and  in  case  those  gentlemen  re- 
fuse to  go  to  Exeter  and  keep  their  respective  offices  there, 
then  the  Committee  are  empowered  to  receive  and  give 
receipt  for  the  Records. 

Adjourned  to  eight  o'clock  to-morrow. 

Friday,  June  30,  1775. 

Met  according  to  adjournment. 

Voted,  That  General  Folsom's  Commission  be  dated 
the  24th  of  May,  and  that  he  rank  as  a  Major-General. 

Whereas,  the  Committee  of  Safety  have  appointed 
Alexander  Scammel  to  be  a  Brigade-Major : 

Voted,  That  he  have  pay  accordingly,  which  is  to  be 
agreeable  to  what  is  paid  in  the  Massachusetts  Colony  to 
such  an  officer. 

Voted,  That  Mr.  Samuel  Brooks  be  of  the  Committee 
of  Supplies,  instead  of  Colonel  Nicholas  Oilman. 

Voted,  That  a  Committee  be  appointed  to  take  out  of 
the  custody  of  Colonel  John  Fenton  the  Files  and  Records 
of  the  Courts  of  Common  Pleas,  General  Sessions  of  the 
Peace,  Courts  of  Probate  for  the  County  of  Grafton ;  and 
that  the  same  be  delivered  for  safe  keeping  to  Colonel  John 
Hurd;  and  that  Colonel  Bedel.  Israel  Morey,  Esq.,  Mr. 
Abel  Webster,  Capt.  Mattheiv  Thornton,  and  Capt.  Wes- 
ton, be  a  Committee  for  the  purpose  mentioned  above. 

Voted,  That  it  be,  and  hereby  is  recommended  to  the 
Justices  of  the  several  Courts  of  Common  Pleas,  Courts 
of  Judicature,  and  Quarter  Sessions  for  the  several  Coun- 
ties in  this  Colony,  that  they  adjourn  their  respective  Courts 
by  Proclamation,  or  otherwise,  to  the  first  day  of  the  next 
term  of  each  of  the  said  Courts,  respectively,  till  further 
advice  of  this  Congress. 
Adjourned  till  three  o'clock. 

Met  according  to  adjournment. 

Voted,  That  Captain  Samuel  Langdon  have  forty-two 
pounds  of  the  Colony  Powder  for  his  Company  at  Ports- 
mouth, they  paying  for  the  same. 

Voted,  That  the  Committee  of  Safety,  and  they  only, 
shall  draw  orders  on  the  Treasurer  or  Receiver- General, 
for  all  and  any  sum  or  sums  of  money  that  shall  be  or  is 
already  voted  for  the  supplies  of  our  Forces,  and  for  the 
payment  of  any  necessary  charges,  as  the  said  Committee 


1181 


NEW-HAMPSHIRE  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JULY,  1775. 


1182 


shall  find  occasion  ;  and  the  said  Treasurer  or  Receiver- 
General  is  hereby  directed  to  pay  no  orders  but  such  as 
aforesaid  ;  and  the  said  Committee  of  Safety  are  to  be 
accountable  to  this  Congress  for  all  the  money  drawn  out 
of  the  Treasury  by  their  order. 

Adjourned  for  one  and  a  half  hour. 

Met  according  to  adjournment. 

Voted,  That  Colonel  Fenton  be  confined. 

Voted,  That  Colonel  Fenton  be  confined  in  the  jail  of 
this  Town,  till  further  orders  from  this  Congress. 

Voted,  That  Colonel  John  Fenton  be  supported  like  a 
gentleman,  at  the  expense  of  this  Colony,  till  further  orders 
from  this  Congress. 

Adjourned  till  eight  o'clock  to-morrow. 

Saturday,  July  1,  1775. 

Met  according  to  adjournment. 

Voted,  That  Colonel  John  Fenton  be  sent  to  Head- 
Quarters  of  the  New-Hampshire  Forces. 

Voted,  That  the  Proclamation  issued  by  the  Continental 
Congress,  of  the  12th  instant,  appointing  the  20th  of  July 
to  be  kept  as  a  day  of  Fasting  and  Prayer,  be  printed  and 
sent  to  all  the  Towns  in  this  Colony. 

Voted,  That  Captain  Moulton  be  desired  to  take  four 
men  out  of  Captain  Elkins's  Company,  and  an  Officer  at 
Hampton,  and  send  Colonel  Fenton  to  Head-Quarters, 
agreeable  to  the  vote  of  this  Congress,  as  soon  as  may  be. 

Voted,  That  the  Committee  of  Safety  be,  and  hereby 
are  directed  to  answer  that  part  of  General  FolsonCs  Let- 
ter relating  to  Matrosses,  and  to  make  such  orders  concern- 
ing them  as  the  said  Committee  shall  think  best. 

Voted,  That  Messrs.  Samuel  Sherburne,  Pierce  Long, 
Colonel  Nicholas  Gilman,  and  Ebenezer  Thompson,  Esq., 
be  a  Committee  to  bring  in  a  draught  for  an  emission  of  a 
further  sum  of  Paper  Notes. 

Voted,  That  Captain  Jeremiah  Folsom,  Major  Childs, 
Reverend  Mr.  Webster,  Samuel  Dudley,  Esquire,  Enoch 
Hale,  Esquire,  Antipas  Gilman,  and  Deacon  Knowles,  be 
a  Committee  to  bring  in  a  plan  in  order  to  regulate  the 
Militia  of  this  Colony. 

Voted,  That  a  Committee  be  chosen  to  confer  with  the 
Congress  in  Massachusetts ;  and  if  they  then  see  best,  with 
the  Assembly  in  Rhode- Island  and  Connecticut,  respecting 
the  information  we  have  received  of  the  situation  of  Ticon- 
deroga,  Crown  Point,  and  Canada,  and  the  frontiers  of 
Aew-  York  and  Neiv- Hampshire,  and  endeavour  to  gain 
such  further  intelligence  as  they  can  procure,  of  the  situa- 
tion of  Canada,  and  the  views  of  those  Assemblies  relative 
to  any  plan  of  operations  in  those  parts ;  and  the  above 
Committee  proceed  with  the  utmost  expedition  in  the  busi- 
ness to  which  they  are  chosen  ;  and  that  Messrs.  Jonathan 
Child  and  Oliver  Ashley  be  a  Committee  for  the  above 
purposes. 

Voted,  That  this  Congress  is  adjourned  till  three  o'clock, 
Monday,  P.  M. 

Monday,  July  3,  1775,  P.  M. 

Met  according  to  adjournment. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  wait  on  the  Honourable 
Theodore  Atkinson  and  George  Jaffrey,  Esquires,  reported 
that  they  had  received  of  the  Honourable  George  Jaffrey, 
Esq.,  the  sum  of  one  thousand  five  hundred  and  sixteen 
Pounds  four  Shillings  and  eight  Pence,  Proclamation 
money,  and  further  reported,  as  on  file. 

Voted,  That  the  Committee  aforesaid  deliver  the  money 
brought  from  Mr.  Treasurer  Jaffrey,  to  Colonel  Nicholas 
Gilman,  Receiver-General,  appointed  by  this  Congress, 
and  take  his  receipt  therefor,  and  make  report  to  this  Con- 
gress. 

Voted,  That  the  thanks  of  this  Congress  be  given  to 
the  Honourable  George  Jaffrey,  Esq.,  for  his  ready  com- 
pliance to  pay  into  the  hands  of  the  Committee  the  pub- 
lick  money. 

Voted,  That  the  thanks  of  this  Congress  be  given  to 
the  Committee  who  received  the  publick  money,  for  their 
faithful  and  able  discharge  of  the  trust  committed  to  them, 
in  demanding  and  receiving  the  Colony's  money  from  the 
Honourable  George  Jaffrey,  Esquire. 

A  Letter  from  Doctor  Wheelock,  giving  an  account  of 
the  state  of  matters  in  Canada,  laid  before  the  Congress ; 
and  after  considering  thereon, 


Voted,  That  Timothy  Bedel  and  Mr.  John  Wheelock 
immediately  proceed  to  the  Congress  of  the  Massachusetts- 
Bay  with  a  copy  of  said  Letter,  and  further  inform  them 
relative  thereto. 

Adjourned  till  to-morrow,  eight  o'clock. 

Tuesday,  July  4,  1775. 

Met  according  to  adjournment. 

Voted,  That  Noah  Emery,  Esq.,  be,  and  hereby  is  ap- 
pointed Deputy  Secretary  of  this  Congress. 

The  Complaint  and  Petition  of  Enoch  Bean,  being  read 
and  considered,  it  is  referred  to  the  Committee  of  Safety 
of  Gilmanton. 

Voted,  That  the- Reverend  Mr.  Samuel  Webster,  Israel 
Morey,  Esq.,  and  John  McClary,  Esq.,  be  a  Committee 
to  make  a  draught  of  a  Vote  for  establishing  and  encou- 
raging  sundry  Manufactures  in  this  Colony. 

Voted,  That  Captain  Matthew  Thornton  and  John 
Dudley,  Esq.,  be  added  to  the  Committee  for  bringing  in  a 
plan  for  regulating  the  Militia. 

Voted,  That  the  Committee  of  Safety  be,  and  hereby  are 
directed  to  draw  on  the  Treasurer  or  Receiver-General  for 
one  month's  pay,  to  be  paid  to  the  widows  and  legal  repre- 
sentatives of  such  Officers  and  Soldiers  as  have  been  killed 
in  the  service  of  this  Colony,  in  the  present  unhappy  war. 

Voted,  That  the  consideration  of  settling  and  officering 
the  Militia  of  this  Colony,  be  postponed  till  further  con- 
sideration of  this  Congress. 

Voted,  That  Colonel  Bartlett,  Colonel  Hurd,  and  the 
Honourable  Colonel  Weare,  be  joined  to  the  Committee 
to  bring  in  a  draught  for  an  emission  of  a  further  sum  of 
Paper  Notes. 

Voted,  That  a  publick  stock  of  Fire-Arms  shall  be  pro- 
vided for  the  use  of  this  Colony. 

Voted,  That  five  hundred  good  Fire- Arms  be  provided, 
and  that  a  Committee  of  three  Members  of  this  body  be 
chosen  to  procure  them,  as  soon  as  may  be;  and  that  Cap- 
tain Jeremiah  Folsom,  Mr.  Moses  Parsons,  and  Captain 
Stephen  Evans,  be  the  Committee  for  that  purpose ;  and 
that  they  previously  inquire  how  cheap  they  can  procure 
them,  and  make  report  as  soon  as  may  be  to  this  Congress, 
if  sitting,  or  otherwise  to  the  Committee  of  Safety,  upon 
whose  approbation  they  are  to  procure  the  same  ;  also,  that 
the  Committee  of  Safety  be,  and  hereby  are  empowered 
to  advance  out  of  the  Treasury  such  sums  as  they  shall 
think  proper,  to  the  said  Committee,  for  procuring  mate- 
rials for  the  purpose  of  making  Fire-Arms,  &ic. 

Adjourned  till  to-morrow,  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning. 

Wednesday,  July  5,  1775. 

Met  according  to  adjournment. 

A  Petition  being  read  from  the  Town  of  Monadnock,  No. 
5,  the  Congress  have  taken  the  same  under  consideration : 

Resolved,  That  it  be,  and  hereby  is  recommended  to  the 
said  Town  of  Monadnock,  No.  5,  that  they  proceed  to 
choose,  as  soon  as  may  be,  the  several  Town  Officers  which 
may  be  necessary  for  the  internal  government  of  said  Town  : 
such  as  Selectmen,  Constables,  &ic,  as  are  chosen  in  other 
Towns  in  this  Colony,  at  their  annual  Town-Meetings; 
also,  that  they  choose  a  Committee  of  Safety,  or  of  Cor- 
respondence, for  said  Town  ;  and  also,  that  the  said  Town 
(if  occasion  requires  it)  may  use  the  money  in  the  hands 
of  Mr.  James  Lewis,  for  the  purpose  of  purchasing  Fire- 
Arms  and  Ammunition  ;  and  for  which  money  said  Town 
is  to  be  accountable  to  this  Colony  or  Congress,  and 
County  of  Cheshire,  when  demanded;  and  further,  it  is 
Resolved,  That  Mr.  Jonathan  Frost  be,  and  hereby  is  ap- 
pointed by  this  Congress  the  Moderator  of  the  first  meeting 
in  said  Town  ;  and  that  Messrs.  Jonathan  Frost,  Benja- 
min Tucker,  and  Thomas  Biggs,  be,  and  hereby  are  em- 
powered to  call  said  meeting. 

Resolved,  That  the  Receiver-General  of  this  Colony, 
appointed  by  the  Congress,  be  hereby  empowered  to  give 
his  notes  of  hand  on  the  faith  of  the  Colony,  payable  to 
the  possessor,  for  the  further  sum  of  Ten  Thousand  Pounds, 
of  the  present  currency,  or  lawful  money,  to  be  paid  into  the 
Treasury  aforesaid,  by  a  tax  on  the  Polls  and  Estates  of  the 
inhabitants  of  this  Colony,  in  the  following  manner,  viz  : 

Two  thousand  Pounds  to  be  paid  by  the  20th  of  Decem- 
ber, which  will  be  in  the  year  of  our  Lord,  1776;  and  the 
sum  of  three  thousand  Pounds  by  the  20th  of  December^ 


1183 


NEW-HAMPSHIRE  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JULY,  1775. 


1184 


1777;  three  thousand  Pounds  by  the  20th  of  December, 
1 778 ;  two  thousand  Pounds  by  the  20th  of  December,  1779. 

And  the  said  Notes  shall  be  printed  off  with  printing 
types,  under  the  care  and  direction  of  the  Hon.  Meshech 
IVearc,  Esq.,  and  Captain  Pierce  Long,  being  a  Commit- 
tee appointed  by  this  Congress  for  that  purpose. 

Eight  thousand  Pounds  of  which  first  mentioned  to  carry 
interest  the  same  with  those  already  emitted,  and  to  be  of 
the  following  denominations,  viz  : 

Three  thousand  nine  hundred  and  ninety-nine  Pounds, 
to  be  in  bills  of  three  Pounds  each  ;  two  thousand  and  one 
Pounds,  in  bills  of  thirty  Shillings;  nine  hundred  and 
ninety  Pounds  fifteen  Shillings,  in  hills  of  fifteen  Shillings  ; 
six  hundred  and  sixty-seven  Pounds,  in  bills  of  ten  Shil- 
lings ;  three  hundred  and  thirty-three  Pounds  five  Shillings, 
in  bills  of  five  Shillings ;  making,  in  the  whole,  the  said 
eight  thousand  Pounds. 

The  form  of  said  Notes  to  be  in  the  following  words, 
with  such  other  devices  as  may  be  ordered  by  the  Congress 
or  Committee,  viz : 

"Colony  of  New-Hampshire,  No. — . 

"  The  possessor  of  this  Note  shall  be  entitled  to  receive, 

out  of  the  Treasury  of  this  Colony,  the  sum  of  

Shillings,  lawful  money,  on  the  20th  of  December,  177-, 
with  interest  at  the  rate  of  six  per  cent,  per  annum  ;  and 
this  Note  shall  be  received  in  all  payments  at  the  Treasury 
at  any  time  after  the  date  hereof,  for  the  principal  sum, 
without  interest,  if  paid  before  the  said  20th  day  of  De- 
cember, A.  D.  177-. 
li  E.  T.  N.  G" 

And  the  Treasurer  or  Committee  who  shall  number  the 
same,  shall  fill  the  blank  left  for  time  of  payment,  in  a 
number  of  bills  sufficient  to  complete  two  thousand  Pounds, 
with  the  figure  6 ;  and  a  number  to  complete  three  thou- 
sand, with  the  figure  7;  and  three  thousand  Pounds,  with 
the  figure  8.  The  remaining  two  thousand  Pounds  to  be 
small  bills,  of  the  following  denominations,  without  interest, 
viz  : 

One  hundred  Pounds,  in  bills  of  six  Pence ;  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  Pounds,  in  bills  of  nine  Pence ;  three  hun- 
dred Pounds,  in  bills  of  one  Shilling  and  six  Pence;  three 
hundred  and  fifty  Pounds,  in  bills  of  one  Shilling  and  nine 
Pence ;  five  hundred  Pounds,  in  bills  of  two  Shillings  and 
six  Pence;  six  hundred  Pounds,  in  bills  of  three  Shillings, 
making,  in  all,  the  said  sum  of  two  thousand  Pounds.  The 
bills  to  be  in  the  following  form  : 

"  Colony  of  New-H  unpshire,  ) 
July  25,  1775.  \ 

"  The  possessor  of  this  Note  shall  be  entitled  to  receive, 
out  of  the  Treasury  of  this  Colony,  the  sum  of  ....  , 
lawful  money,  on  the  20th  of  December,  1779;  and  this 
Note  shall  be  received  in  all  payments  at  the  Treasury  at 
any  time  after  the  date  hereof. 

"  E.  T.  N.  G." 

And  all  the  above  Notes,  when  redeemed,  shall  be  con- 
sumed to  ashes,  in  the  presence  of  the  Representatives  of 
this  Colony,  or  a  Committee  appointed  by  them  for  that 
purpose. 

Adjourned  to  three  o'clock,  afternoon. 
Met  according  to  adjournment. 

Received  a  Petition  from  a  number  of  gentlemen  at 
Portsmouth,  respecting  the  removing  of  the  several  Re- 
cords from  the  Town  of  Portsmouth  to  Exeter;  which 
being  read  and  considered, 

Voted,  That  the  Vote  be  not  reconsidered,  as  desired 
by  the  petitioners. 

Voted,  That  two  Companies,  not  exceeding  sixty-six 
men  each,  including  officers,  be  raised  of  the  inhabitants  of 
this  Colony,  to  be  commissioned  by  the  Committee  of 
Safety  ;  and  that  they  be  stationed  as  this  Congress  or 
Committee  of  Safety  shall  think  proper, 

Voted,  That  Colonel  Meshech  Heart  be  of  the  Com- 
mittee of  Safety. 

Voted,  That  the  Honourable  Meshech  Weare,  Esq.,  be 
President  pro  tempore. 

Voted,  That  the  Committee  at  JS'twburijport  have  the 
loan  of  two  24-pound,  or  32,  or  6-pound  Cannon  ;  and  the 
Reverend  Mr.  Stearns  and  Mr.  Webster  be  a  Committee 
to  acquaint  them  of  the  same. 


Voted,  That  it  be,  and  hereby  is  recommended  to  the 
Selectmen  or  Committee,  to  take  an  exact  list  of  all  the 
Fire-Arms  fit  for  use  in  their  respective  Towns  and  Parishes 
in  this  Colony  ;  also,  of  what  are  wanting  in  each  Town 
and  Parish,  and  lay  the  same  before  this  Congress  at  their 
next  meeting,  by  their  Delegates. 

Voted,  That  this  Congress  be  adjourned  to  eight  o'clock 
to-morrow. 

Thursday,  July  6,  1775. 

Met  according  to  adjournment. 

Voted,  That  the  Plate  which  was  used  in  striking  off 
the  ten  thousand  and  fifty  Pounds,  be  altered,  by  erasing 
the  date  and  disfiguring  the  devices  upon  the  plates;  and 
that  Ebenczer  Thompson  and  George  Frost,  Esquire,  be  a 
Committee  to  see  it  done,  and  then  deliver  the  said  Plates 
to  the  Receiver-General,  for  the  purpose  of  keeping  the 
same  safe. 

Voted  and  Resolved  by  this  Convention,  That  any  per- 
sons who  may  be  detected  in  counterfeiting  and  passing  any 
of  the  Treasurer's  Notes  of  this  Colony,  shall,  upon  full 
conviction  of  the  crime  before  this  or  any  future  Conven- 
tion of  this  Colony,  be  deemed  an  enemy  or  enemies  to 
their  Country,  and  punished  according  to  the  discretion  of 
the  said  Convention  before  which  he  or  they  may  be  so 
tried  and  convicted. 

Adjourned  till  three  o'clock,  P.  M. 

Met  according  to  adjournment; 

Voted,  That  the  following  Receipt  be  entered  into  this 
book's  record : 

"  Exeter,  July  4,  1775. 
"  Received  by  virtue  of  the  above  Vote  of  the  Provin- 
cial Congress,  from  the  Committee,  the  sum  of  fifteen  hun- 
dred and  eleven  Pounds  two  Shillings  and  eight  Pence, 
Proclamation  money  ;  received  into  the  Province  Treasu- 
ry." Nicholas  Gilman,  Receiver-General." 

Voted,  That  Captain  John  Parker  have  orders  to  enlist 
one  of  the  Companies  last  voted  to  be  raised  in  this  Colo- 
ny, and  that  Asa  Pattee  be  recommended  for  his  Lieu- 
tenant. 

Voted,  That  Captain  James  Osgood  have  orders  to 
enlist  the  other  of  said  Companies,  and  that  Captain  Mat- 
thew Thornton  be  recommended  for  his  Lieutenant. 

Voted,  That  Captain  Pierce  Long  be  excused  as  a 
Committee-man,  to  take  the  care  and  direction  of  printing 
off  the  Notes  ordered  by  this  Congress  to  be  printed  ;  and 
that  Samuel  Cutis,  Esquire,  be,  and  hereby  is  chosen  and 
appointed  for  that  purpose,  in  the  room  and  stead  of  said 
Captain  Long. 

Voted,  That  this  Congress  be  adjourned  till  to-morrow, 
7  o'clock,  A.  M. 

Friday,  July  7,  1775. 

Met  according  to  adjournment. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  remove  the  publick  Re- 
cords, &.c,  make  the  following  Return,  viz : 

That  they  proceeded  to  Portsmouth  the  4th  and  6th 
instant,  received  and  brought  to  Exeter,  and  deposited  in 
the  several  places  ordered  by  Congress,  all  the  Records 
and  Rolls  from  the  several  offices  (mentioned  in  their  in- 
structions which  were  shewn  to  them,  excepting  some 
books  of  Charters,  which  the  Hon.  Secretary  Atkinson  in- 
formed the  Committee  that  Governour  Wentu-orth  had  sent 
for  a  few  days  since. 

Whereas,  this  Congress  have  resolved  it  as  their  opinion, 
that  all  the  publick  Records  of  this  Colony  were,  in  time 
of  danger,  unsafe  in  the  Town  of  Portsmouth,  and  that  the 
same  should  be  removed  to  the  Town  of  Exeter ;  all  which 
Records  have,  in  consequence  thereof,  been  removed  by  a 
Committee  appointed  for  that  purpose,  as  far  as  came  to 
their  knowledge,  except  the  books  of  Charters  of  the  seve- 
ral Towns,  kept  in  this  Colony  :  Therefore,  it  is  now 

Resolved,  That  the  Honourable  Theodore  Atkinson, 
Esq.,  Secretary  of  this  Colony,  is  accountable  to  the  peo- 
ple for  said  Records,  and  that  he  ought,  without  delay,  to 
deliver  the  same  to  the  said  Committee. 

Whereas,  by  a  Vole  of  this  Congress,  of  the  28th  of 
June  last,  the  publick  Records  were  ordered  to  be  removed 
to  Exeter,  as  a  place  of  safety  ;  and  as  the  real  intent  of 
the  Vote  may  be  mistaken,  or  not  understood,  it  is  now 

Resolved,  That  it  was  the  sole  intent  and  meaning  of 


U85 


HOUSE  OF  BURGESSES  OF  VIRGINIA,  JUNE,  1775. 


1186 


this  Congress,  in  removing  the  aforesaid  Records,  that  they 
might  be  kept  in  a  place  of  more  security  than  they  ap- 
prehended Portsmouth  to  be,  and  not  to  fix  them  from 
being  removed  again  to  Portsmouth,  whenever  the  present 
difficulty  and  danger  may  subside. 

Voted,  That  Deacon  Samuel  Brooks,  Noah  Emery, 
William  Parker,  Jun.,  and  John  Rice,  Esq.,  be  desired  to 
take  care  and  keep  in  safety  the  respective  Records  lately 
left  in  their  custody,  until  the  respective  officers  take  charge 
of  them,  or  till  further  orders  of  this  Congress. 

Whereas,  by  and  in  consequence  of  a  law  of  this  Colo- 
ny, considerable  sums  of  Money  have  been  paid  by  foreign 
Vessels  entering  the  Port  of  Piscataqua,  which  was,  by  said 
law,  to  have  been  appropriated  for  purchasing  Powder  for 
the  use  of  the  Colony  :  And  whereas,  a  part  thereof  has 
been  lately  paid  by  the  executors  of  the  testament  of  the 
late  Governour  Benning  Wentworth,  to  Samuel  Livermore, 
Esq.,  Attorney  General ;  and  as  the  state  of  the  Colony 
now  greatly  needs  said  Moneys  for  providing  Powder  for 
the  defence  of  this  Colony,  according  to  the  original  inten- 
tion of  the  aforesaid  law  :  Therefore, 


Resolved,  That  John  third  and  Israel  Morey,  Esquire, 
and  Mr.  Abel  Webster,  be  a  Committee  to  call  upon  and 
receive  the  aforesaid  Moneys  of  the  said  Samuel  Liver- 
more,  Esq.,  and  in  behalf  of  this  Congress  to  give  him  a 
receipt  therefor  sufficient  to  indemnify  him  for  the  delivery 
thereof. 

Voted,  That  the  Committee  of  Safety  be  desired  to 
write  a  Letter  to  the  Continental  Congress,  and  that  the 
President  sign  the  same  in  the  name  and  behalf  of  this 
Congress,  therein  setting  forth  the  state  of  our  Forces,  and 
the  situation  of  this  Colony,  &c. 

Voted,  That  the  Committee  for  procuring  Fire-Arms  be, 
and  hereby  are  directed  to  procure  the  same  forthwith,  on 
the  best  terms  they  can. 

Voted,  That  this  Congress  be  adjourned  to  Tuesday, 
the  22d  day  of  August  next,  at  three  of  the  clock,  after- 
noon, to  meet  at  this  place ;  and  that  if  any  thing  should 
happen  in  the  mean  time  that  the  Committee  of  Safety 
shall  think  of  sufficient  consequence,  that  they  have  power 
to  convene  this  Congress  sooner. 

Adjourned  to  August  22,  1775. 


HOUSE  OF  BURGESSES  OF  VIRGINIA. 

General  Assembly  begun  and  held  at  the  Capitol  in  the 
City  of  Williamsburgh,  on  Thursday,  the  first  day  of 
June,  in  the  fifteenth  year  of  the  reign  of  our  Lord 
George  the  Third,  by  the  grace  of  God,  of  Great  Bri- 
tain, France,  and  Ireland,  King,  Defender  of  the  Faith, 
Sac,  Annoque  Domini  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and 
seventy-five. 

On  which  day,  being  the  first  day  of  the  meeting  of 
this  General  Assembly  for  the  despatch  of  publick  busi- 
ness, pursuant  to  a  Proclamation  hereunto  annexed,  and 
also  to  the  Writs  which  had  issued  for  that  purpose,  his 
Excellency  the  Right  Honourable  John  Earl  of  Dunmore, 
His  Majesty's  Lieutenant  and  Governour-General  of  the 
Colony  and  Dominion  of  Virginia,  and  Vice-Admiral  of 
the  same,  having  made  a  Commission  under  his  hand  and 
the  seal  of  the  Colony,  hereunto  also  annexed,  empower- 
ing the  Honourable  Thomas  Nelson,  Richard  Corbin,  Wil- 
liam Byrd,  John  Tayloe,  Robert  Carter,  Robert  Burwell, 
and  Ralph  Wormeley,  Esquires,  John  Camm,  Clerk,  and 
John  Page  and  Gawin  Corbin,  Esquires,  to  administer  the 
Oaths  appointed  to  be  taken  by  the  Members  returned  to 
serve  in  the  General  Assembly  before  they  go  into  the 
House  of  Burgesses,  several  of  the  said  Commissioners 
came  about  ten  of  the  clock  into  the  Council  Chamber, 
where  the  said  Oaths  are  usually  taken,  and  George  Wythe, 
Clerk  of  the  House  of  Burgesses,  attending  according  to 
his  duty,  with  a  book  containing  a  list  of  the  names  of 
such  Members  as  had  been  returned  to  serve  in  this  Gene- 
ral Assembly,  and  with  the  Writs  for  electing  them,  deli- 
vered to  him  by  the  Clerk  of  the  Secretary's  office,  the 
said  Commissioners  administered  the  said  Oaths  to  such  of 
the  said  Members  of  the  House  of  Burgesses  as  appeared  ; 
which  being  done,  the  Members  repaired  to  their  seats  in 
the  House  of  Burgesses. 

After  which,  a  Message  was  delivered  by  John  Blair, 
Esquire,  Clerk  of  the  General  Assembly: 

Gentlemen  :  The  Governour  commands  this  House  to 
attend  his  Excellency  immediately  in  the  Council  Cham- 
ber. 

Accordingly  the  House  went  up  to  attend  his  Excellen- 
cy in  the  Council  Chamber,  where  his  Excellency  was 
pleased  to  say  to  them  : 

Gentlemen  of  the  House  of  Burgesses: 

You  must  return  again  to  your  House,  and  immediately 
proceed  to  the  choice  of  a  Speaker. 

And  the  House  being  returned, 

Henry  Lee,  Esquire,  one  of  the  Members  for  the  Coun- 
ty of  Prince  William,  addressing  himself  to  the  Clerk, 
(who,  standing  up,  pointed  to  him,  and  then  sat  down,) 
moved  that  Peyton  Randolph,  Esquire,  should  take  the 
Chair  of  this  House,  as  Speaker,  which  office  he  had 
before  filled  with  such  distinguished  abilities,  steadiness, 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii. 


and  impartiality,  as  had  given  entire  satisfaction  to  the 
publick ;  and  thereupon, 

Mr.  Randolph  was  elected  without  opposition,  and  was 
taken  out  of  his  place  by  two  Members,  who  led  him  from 
thence  to  the  Chair ;  and  having  ascended  the  uppermost 
step,  and  standing  there,  Mr.  Randolph  returned  his  thanks 
to  the  House  for  placing  him  again  in  that  elevated  station, 
and  assured  them,  that  as  he  had  gained  their  favourable 
opinion,  of  which  their  unanimous  suffrages  on  this  and 
other  occasions  were  a  testimony  equally  convincing  and 
honourable,  so  he  would  studiously  endeavour  to  preserve 
it  by  a  strict  attention  to,  and  a  faithful  discharge  of,  his 
duty,  in  any  department  the  publick  should  think  him 
worthy  to  serve  them  in ;  adding,  that  he  doubted  not  the 
House  would  judge  of  his  future  conduct  with  their  wonted 
candour,  and  would  support  him  with  their  assistance,  more 
especially  necessary  at  this  critical  season. 

And  thereupon  he  sat  down  in  the  Chair;  and  then  the 
Mace  (which  before  lay  under  the  table)  was  laid  upon 
the  table. 

Ordered,  That  a  Message  be  sent  to  the  Governour,  to 
acquaint  his  Excellency  that  this  House,  in  obedience  to 
his  commands,  have  made  choice  of  a  Speaker,  and  to 
know  his  pleasure  when  they  shall  attend  to  present  him  ; 
and  that  Mr.  Henry  Lee  and  Mr.  Treasurer  do  wait  upon 
his  Excellency  with  the  said  Message. 

They  accordingly  withdrew,  and  being  returned,  Mr. 
Treasurer  reported,  that  the  Governour  was  pleased  to  say 
he  would  send  an  answer  by  a  messenger  of  his  own. 

A  Message  from  the  Governour  by  Mr.  Blair: 

Mr.  Speaker  :  The  Governour  commands  this  House 
to  attend  his  Excellency  immediately  in  the  Council  Cham- 
ber. 

Accordingly  Mr.  Speaker  elect,  with  the  House,  went 
up  to  attend  his  Excellency  in  the  Council  Chamber ;  and 
he  was  pleased  to  declare  his  approbation  of  their  choice. 

Then  Mr.  Speaker  did,  in  the  name  and  on  behalf  of 
the  House,  lay  claim  to  all  their  ancient  rights  and  privi- 
leges, particularly  a  freedom  of  speech  and  debate,  exemp- 
tion from  arrests,  and  protection  for  their  estates ;  and 
lastly,  for  himself,  requested  that  his  errours  might  not  be 
imputed  to  the  House.  » 

The  Governour  answered  that  he  should  take  care  to 
defend  them  in  all  their  just  rights  and  privileges. 

The  House  being  returned, 

Mr.  Speaker  reported,  that  the  House  had  attended  the 
Governour  in  the  Council  Chamber,  where  his  Excellency 
was  pleased  to  approve  the  choice  they  had  made  of  him 
to  be  their  Speaker,  and  to  grant  and  to  allow  to  them, 
upon  petition  of  claim  made  by  him  to  his  Excellency,  in 
the  name  and  on  the  behalf  of  the  House  of  Burgesses, 
all  their  ancient  rights  and  privileges,  particularly  a  freedom 
of  speech  and  debate,  exemption  from  arrests,  and  protec- 
tion for  their  estates. 


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1188 


Mr.  Speaker  also  reported  thai  the  Governour  was 
pleased  to  make  a  speech  to  the  Council  and  this  House, 
of  which  Mr.  Speaker  said  he  had,  to  prevent  mistake, 
obtained  a  copy  ;  which  he  read  to  the  House,  and  is  as 
followeth,  viz : 

Gentlemen  of  the  Council,  Mr.  Speaker,  and 

Gentlemen  of  the  House  of  Burgesses : 
I  have  called  you  together  to  give  you  an  opportunity 
of  taking  the  alarming  state  of  the  Colony  into  your  con- 
sideration, and  providing  remedies  against  the  evils  which 
are  increasing  therein  ;  and  I  am  induced  to  it  at  this  time 
particularly,  as  the  declaration  of  the  King  and  Parliament, 
contained  in  the  joint  Address  of  the  Lords  and  Commons, 
on  the  7th  of  February  last,  and  His  Majesty's  Answer, 
no  longer  admit  of  a  doubt  that  your  well-founded  griev- 

O  JO 

ances,  properly  represented,  will  meet  with  that  attention 
and  regard  which  are  so  justly  due  to  them  ;  so  likewise 
the  Resolution  of  the  House  of  Commons,  which  followed 
on  the  27th  of  the  same  month,  will,  1  trust,  have  the 
effect  of  removing  the  jealousy  which  has  been  the  princi- 
pal source  of  disquiet  and  uneasiness  in  the  minds  of  the 
people.  Therefore  I  entertain  the  strongest  hopes  that 
nothing  will  remain,  after  a  just  consideration  of  the  nature 
and  tendency  of  that  Resolution,  to  prevent  your  seriously 
exerting  yourselves  to  bring  the  disputes,  which  have  un- 
happily raged  between  the  Mother  Country  and  the  Colo- 
nies, to  a  good  end  ;  to  which  the  step  already  taken  by 
the  House  of  Commons  must  be  considered  as  a  benevo- 
lent, tender,  and,  I  hope,  auspicious  advance  on  the  part  of 
the  Parent  State. 

It  must  now  be  manifest  to  all  dispassionate  people,  that 
the  Parliament,  the  high  and  supreme  legislature  of  the 
Empire,  far  from  having  entertained  thoughts  so  inconsist- 
ent with  the  wisdom  and  publick  virtue  which  have  ever 
distinguished  that  august  body,  of  oppressing  the  people  of 
the  Colonies,  or  of  promoting  the  interest  of  one  at  the 
expense  of  another  part  of  their  fellow-subjects,  have  only 
been  extending  their  care,  that  the  whole,  in  consideration 
of  the  enjoyment  of  equal  rights,  privileges,  and  advan- 
tages, should  be  obliged,  according  to  their  abilities  and 
situation,  to  contribute  that  proportion  towards  the  burdens 
necessary  for  the  support  of  their  civil  Government,  and 
for  the  common  defence,  which  the  subjects  of  the  same 
State  cannot,  with  any  justice,  or  consistent  with  their  own 
welfare,  refuse  to  grant ;  the  principle  of  which  having 
never,  I  believe,  been  denied  by  the  people  of  His  Majes- 
ty's Dominion  of  Virginia,  I  hope  you  will  think  it  rea- 
sonable now  to  acknowledge  the  propriety,  and  to  engage 
to  fulfil  your  part  of  the  obligation  it  concludes. 

Mr.  Speaker  and  Gentlemen  of  the  House  of  Burgesses : 
No  specific  sum  is  demanded  of  you  for  these  purposes, 
that  (as  I  think  obviously  appears)  your  justice  and  libe- 
rality may  be  left  to  their  full  scope,  and  that  your  gift,  if 
you  should  be  induced  to  offer  any,  may  be,  in  the  corn- 
pletest  manner,  free.  The  civil  Government  of  this  Coun- 
try being  already  provided  for,  you  will  only  have  to  de- 
clare what  proportion,  and  by  what  means,  you  are  willing 
to  contribute  towards  the  publick  burdens  of  the  State, 
burdens  to  which  the  Mother  Country  hath  cheerfully  sub- 
mitted, to  secure  the  Colonies  from  the  encroachments  of 
a  dangerous  and  vigilant  enemy.  And  1  am  warranted  to 
say,  that  as  it  is  never  intended  to  require  you  to  tax  your- 
selves, without  Parliament's  taxing  the  subjects  of  Great 
Britain  on  the  same  occasion,  in  a  far  greater  proportion, 
no  prudence  which  you  shall  think  necessary  to  observe 
for  your  security  in  that  particular  can  be  disapproved  of. 

And  I  can  likewise  assure  you,  that  if  you  should  judge 
fit  to  adopt  the  principle  and  imitate  the  example  of  jus- 
tice, equity,  and  moderation  in  your  proposals,  which  actu- 
ated the  House  of  Commons  in  their  Resolution,  declaring 
at  once  what  was  ultimately  expected  of  you,  such  a  com- 
pliance on  your  part  will  be  considered  by  His  Majesty 
not  only  a  testimony  of  your  reverence  for  Parliament,  but 
also  a  mark  of  your  duty  and  attachment  to  your  Sover- 
eign, who  has  no  object  nearer  his  heart  than  the  peace 
and  prosperity  of  his  subjects  in  every  part  of  his  Do- 
minions. 

I  must  recommend  to  you  to  fall  upon  means  of  paying 
the  officers  and  private  men  employed  in  repelling  the  late 
invasion  and  incursions  of  the  Indians,  as  I  make  no  doubt 


you  will  think  their  services  on  that  occasion  deserving  of 
your  attention. 

Gentlemen  of  the  Council,  Mr.  Speaker,  and 

Gentlemen  of  the  House  of  Burgesses: 

You  may  be  assured  of  my  cheerful  concurrence  in  all 
measures,  and  ready  assent  to  all  laws  which  it  may  be 
found  expedient  to  adopt  for  the  present  peace,  tranquilli- 
ty, and  advantage  of  the  Country;  and  I  hope  you  will 
think  it  necessary  to  these  ends,  that  the  courts  of  justice 
should  forthwith  be  opened,  in  order  that  the  laws  may 
again  have  their  due  course. 

I  cannot  conclude  without  exhorting  you,  in  the  most 
earnest  manner,  to  enter  upon  the  subject-matter  now 
recommended  to  you,  with  that  patience,  calmness,  and 
impartiality,  which  its  great  importance  requires,  and  to 
reflect  upon  the  benefits  this  Country  hath  received  from 
the  support  given  to  it  by  the  Parent  State,  which  I  hope 
will  animate  your  zeal,  now  you  have  it  in  your  power,  to 
restore  that  harmony  and  mutual  confidence  which  render- 
ed both  Countries  so  flourishing,  and,  in  short,  to  pursue 
your  true  interest,  which  will  convert  our  present  gloomy 
apprehensions  into  prospects  of  peace,  happiness,  and  last- 
ing security. 

Ordered,  That  the  said  Speech  do  lie  upon  the  table,  to 
be  perused  by  the  Members  of  the  House. 

Ordered,  That  the  said  Speech  be  taken  into  consider- 
ation to-morrow. 

Friday,  June  2,  15  Geo.  Ill,  1775. 
A  Message  from  the  Governour,  by  Mr.  Blair: 
Mr.  Speaker  :  I  am  commanded  by  his  Excellency  the 
Governour  to  deliver  to  your  House  the  joint  Address  of 
the  Lords  and  Commons,  on  the  7th  of  February  last,  and 
His  Majesty's  answer;  and  also  the  Resolution  of  the 
House  of  Commons,  on  the  27th  of  the  same  month,  re- 
ferred to  in  the  Speech  of  his  Excellency  to  the  Council 
and  this  House. 

And  he  presented  the  said  Papers  at  the  bar. 
And  the  said  Papers  were  read. 

Ordered,  That  the  said  Papers  do  lie  upon  the  table, 
to  be  perused  by  the  Members  of  the  House. 

The  Order  of  the  Day  being  read, 

The  Speech  of  his  Excellency  the  Governour  to  the 
Council  and  this  House  was  again  read  by  Mr.  Speaker. 

Resolved,  That  an  Address  be  presented  to  his  Excel- 
lency the  Governour,  to  assure  his  Lordship  that  we  will 
immediately  take  into  our  most  serious  consideration  the 
several  important  matters  contained  in  his  Excellency's 
Speech  to  the  Council  and  this  House,  and  proceed  with 
that  coolness  and  deliberation  which  ought  ever  to  influence 
the  counsels  of  a  free  and  loyal  people. 

Ordered,  That  a  Committee  be  appointed  to  draw  up 
an  Address  to  be  presented  to  the  Governour  upon  the  said 
Resolution. 

And  a  Committee  was  appointed  of  Mr.  Treasurer,  Mr. 
Mercer,  Mr.  Jefferson,  Mr.  Henry  Lee,  Mr.  Munford,  Mr. 
Dandridge,  Mr.  Nelson,  Mr.  Jones,  Mr.  Cory,  Mr.  Fran- 
cis Lightfoot  Lee,  Mr.  Whitingc,  and  Mr.  Charles  Carter 
of  Stafford. 

Ordered,  That  the  Governour's  Speech  to  the  Council 
and  this  House,  and  the  Papers  therein  referred  to,  which 
were  ordered  to  lie  upon  the  table,  be  referred  to  the  said 
Committee. 

A  Journal  of  the  Proceedings  of  the  Congress  held  at 
Philadelphia,  on  the  5th  day  of  September,  1774,  was  laid 
before  the  House. 

Ordered,  That  the  said  Journal  do  lie  upon  the  table, 
to  be  perused  by  the  Members  of  the  House. 

Resolved,  That  this  House  will,  upon  Monday  next,  re- 
solve itself  into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole  House  to  con- 
sider of  the  said  Journal. 

The  Proceedings  of  the  Convention  of  Delegates  for 
the  Counties  and  Corporations  in  the  Colony  of  Virginia, 
held  at  Richmond  Town,  in  the  County  of  Henrico,  on  the 
20th  day  of  March,  1775,  were  laid  before  the  House. 

Ordered,  That  the  said  Proceedings  do  lie  upon  the 
table,  to  be  perused  by  the  Members  of  the  House. 

Resolved,  That  this  House  will,  upon  Monday  next, 


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14  90 


resolve  itself  into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole  House  to  con- 
sider of  the  said  Proceedings. 

Ordered,  That  leave  be  given  to  bring  in  a  Bill  for  ap- 
pointing Commissioners  to  settle  the  accounts  of  the  Militia 
lately  drawn  out  into  actual  service,  and  for  making  provi- 
sion to  pay  the  same  ;  and  that  Mr.  Mercer  and  Mr.  Mason 
do  prepare  and  bring  in  the  same. 

Saturday,  June  3,  15  Geo.  Ill,  1775. 

Resolved,  That  an  Address  be  presented  to  his  Excel- 
lency the  Governour,  requesting  that  his  Lordship  will  be 
pleased  to  communicate  to  this  House  the  best  information 
he  has  had  respecting  the  number  of  the  Militia  lately 
drawn  out  into  actual  service  in  defence  of  this  Colony,  by 
his  Excellency's  command,  and  the  probable  expense  at- 
tending the  same ;  and  that  his  Lordship  will  inform  this 
House  what  Militia  his  Excellency  has  ordered  on  duty 
since  the  conclusion  of  the  late  Indian  expedition,  and  for 
what  purposes. 

Ordered,  That  the  said  Address  be  presented  to  his 
Excellency  by  Mr.  Mercer  and  Mr.  Thomas  Walker. 

Monday,  June  5,  15  Geo.  Ill,  1775. 
A  Message  from  the  Governour  by  Mr.  Blair: 
Mr.  Speaker  :  I  am  commanded  by  the  Governour  to 
lay  before  this  House  his  Excellency's  written  Message  in 
answer  to  their  Address  relative  to  the  Militia  lately  drawn 
out  into  actual  service,  together  with  the  other  Papers 
which  the  Message  refers  to.  And  he  presented  the  same 
at  the  bar;  and  the  Message  was  read,  and  is  as  followeth, 
viz : 

Mr.  Speaker  and  Gentlemen  of  the  House  of  Burgesses  : 

In  answer  to  a  Resolution  of  your  House,  brought  to  me 
by  two  of  your  members,  that  an  Address  be  presented  to 
me  requesting  me  to  communicate  to  you  the  best  informa- 
tion I  have  had  respecting  the  number  of  the  Militia  lately 
drawn  out  into  actual  service  in  defence  of  this  Colony  by 
my  command,  and  the  probable  expense  attending  the 
same;  and  that  I  inform  you  what  Militia  I  have  ordered 
on  duty  since  the  conclusion  of  the  late  Indian  expedition, 
and  for  what  purposes:  I  can  only  from  recollection  (not 
having  been  furnished  with  exact  returns)  acquaint  you 
that  the  body  of  militia  which  Colonel  Andrew  Lewis  con- 
ducted, and  that  with  which  I  marched  in  person,  amounted 
together  to  about  three  thousand  men,  officers  included  ; 
but  I  refer  you  to  the  Lieutenants  of  the  Counties  from 
whence  the  Militia  were  draughted  for  that  service,  to  the 
Commanding  Officers  of  the  different  Corps,  and  to  the 
Captains  under  them,  from  the  returns  and  lists  of  whose 
respective  companies  you  will  obtain  the  information  in 
regard  of  number  and  from  that  of  expense,  which  you 
require,  in  the  best  and  most  particular  manner. 

With  respect  to  what  Militia  have  been  ordered  on  duty 
since  the  conclusion  of  the  Indian  expedition  :  it  was 
thought  requisite  to  continue  a  body  of  one  hundred  men 
at  a  temporary  fort  near  the  mouth  of  the  Great  Kenhawa, 
as  well  for  taking  care  of  the  men  who  had  been  wounded 
in  the  action  between  Colonel  Andrew  Lewis's  division 
and  the  Indians,  as  for  securing  that  part  of  the  back  coun- 
try from  the  attempts  of  straggling  parties  of  Indians,  who 
might  not  be  apprised  of  the  peace  concluded,  or  others  of 
the  tribes  which  had  not  joined  in  it.  It  was  likewise  ne- 
cessary to  keep  up  a  small  body  of  men  at  Fort  Dunmore, 
in  like  manner  for  the  security  of  the  country  on  that  side, 
and  also  for  guarding  twelve  Indian  prisoners  belonging  to 
the  Mingo  tribe,  which  had  not  surrendered  or  acceded  to 
the  peace  concluded  only  with  the  Shawanese ;  and  seven- 
ty-five men  were  employed  at  this  place  for  these  purposes. 
Twenty-five  men  were  likewise  left  at  Fort  Fincastle,  as  a 
post  of  communication  between  the  two  others ;  and  all  to- 
gether for  the  further  purpose  of  forming  a  chain  on  the  back 
of  the  settlers,  to  observe  the  Indians  until  we  should  have 
good  reason  to  believe  nothing  more  was  apprehended  from 
them  ;  which,  as  soon  as  I  received  favourable  accounts  of, 
I  ordered  the  several  posts  to  be  evacuated,  and  the  men 
to  be  discharged. 

I  have  ordered  my  letters  to  be  laid  before  you  for  your 
further  information,  which  contain  all  the  orders  I  gave  for 
the  embodying  and  drawing  out  the  Militia  upon  the  occa- 
sion of  the  Indian  disturbances  ;  and  likewise  the  substance 


of  the  peace  agreed  to  between  me  and  the  Indians,  which 
has  not  been  formally  ratified,  that  having  been  deferred  to 
a  meeting  intended  to  be  held  at  Fort  Dunmore  this  spring, 
where  all  the  Ohio  Indians,  for  the  greater  solemnity,  were 
to  be  present,  but  which  I  have  not  been  able  to  find  lime 
to  proceed  to. 

If  there  be  any  thing  further  which  the  House  shall  re- 
quire to  be  informed  of,  I  shall  be  ready  to  give  them  all 
the  satisfaction  in  my  power.  Dunmore. 

Ordered,  That  the  said  Message,  and  the  Papers  therein 
referred  to,  do  lie  upon  the  table,  to  be  perused  by  the 
Members  of  the  House. 

Mr.  Treasurer  reported  from  the  Committee  appointed 
to  draw  up  an  Address  to  be  presented  to  the  Governour, 
that  the  Committee  had  drawn  up  an  Address  accordingly, 
which  they  had  directed  him  to  report  to  the  House ;  and 
he  read  the  same  in  his  place,  and  afterwards  delivered  it 
in  at  the  Clerk's  table,  where  the  same  was  read,  and  is  as 
followeth,  viz : 

My  Lord  :  We,  His  Majesty's  most  dutiful  and  loyal 
subjects,  the  Burgesses  of  Virginia,  now  met  in  General 
Assembly,  take  this  opportunity,  which  your  Excellency 
hath  given  us,  to  express  our  great  concern  at  the  alarm- 
ing situation  of  our  Country  and  those  evils  brought  upon 
us  by  a  departure  of  His  Majesty's  Ministers  from  that 
wise  system  of  administration  under  the  influence  of  which 
the  Colonies  of  North  America  had  so  long  and  happily 
flourished. 

However  strangely  this  Country  may  have  been  mis- 
represented, we  do  solemnly  avow  the  firmest  and  most 
unshaken  attachment  to  our  most  gracious  Sovereign  and 
his  Government,  as  founded  on  the  laws  and  principles  of 
our  excellent  Constitution,  and  we  shall  think  ourselves 
happy  in  giving  His  Majesty  every  future  testimony  of  our 
loyalty  and  affection. 

We  assure  your  Lordship  that  we  will  pursue  the  most 
speedy  measures  for  defraying  the  expenses  of  the  late  mili- 
tary expedition  against  the  Indians.  That  proper  provision 
has  not  yet  been  made  for  those  gallant  officers  and  sol- 
diers who  so  nobly  exposed  their  lives  in  defence  of  this 
Country,  cannot  be  justly  imputed  to  any  delay  or  neglect 
on  our  part,  this  being  the  first  opportunity  your  Lordship 
hath  been  pleased  to  afford  us  of  paying  a  proper  attention 
to  their  signal  services  and  giving  them  their  due  reward. 

The  occlusion  of  our  Courts  of  justice  can  only  be 
ascribed  to  a  combination  of  untoward  and  distressing  inci- 
dents, which  we  have  long  and  deeply  lamented.  These 
Courts,  my  Lord,  were  established  by  different  Acts  of 
our  General  Assembly.  In  order  to  enable  the  officers  of 
justice  to  receive  such  fees  as  were  adequate  to  their  ser- 
vices, our  ancestors  judged  it  necessary  to  settle  and  limit 
them  by  an  express  act  of  their  Legislature.  This  law 
had  existed  and  been  continued  with  various  amendments, 
such  as  the  fluctuation  of  affairs  made  necessary,  through 
a  long  tract  of  time.  The  late  House  of  Burgesses,  in 
May,  1774,  finding  that  the  Fee-Bill  had  expired  just 
before  they  were  convened,  and  that  other  most  valuable 
acts  were  near  expiring,  proceeded  to  the  continuance  and 
revival  of  them  ;  but  their  endeavours  to  discharge  these 
and  other  important  duties  to  their  Country  were  arrested 
and  cut  short  by  a  sudden  and  unexpected  dissolution  of  ti  e 
Assembly.  Since  this,  my  Lord,  our  situation  has  under- 
gone a  total  change.  For  just  and  well  known  reasons, 
this  Country,  as  well  as  our  sister  Colonies,  have  been 
driven  to  the  necessity  of  suspending  their  commerce 
with  Great  Britain,  Ireland,  and  the  West-India  Islands. 
There  still,  however,  remained  within  the  line  of  former 
parliamentary  regulations,  several  other  valuable  branches 
of  export  to  different  parts  of  the  world,  which  we  well 
hoped  would  have  enabled  the  inhabitants  of  this  Coun- 
try to  discharge  their  debts  more  expeditiously  than  they 
could  have  done  by  continuing  their  usual  exports  and  ex- 
ceeding imports  to  and  from  Great  Britain,  so  that  we 
are  convinced  their  creditors  could  have  had  no  reasonable 
cause  of  complaint.  But  we  have  now,  my  Lord,  received 
information,  too  well  grounded  it  is  to  be  feared,  that  these 
resources  are  to  be  entirely  shut  up  by  an  act  of  the  Bri- 
tish  Parliament,  cutting  off  all  our  trade  with  all  other 
parts  of  the  whole  universe,  except  the  Islands  of  Great 
Britain,  Ireland,  and  the  Wat-Indiet. 


1  191 


HOUSE  OF  BURGESSES  OF  VIRGINIA,  JUNE,  1775. 


1192 


Money,  my  Lord,  is  not  a  plant  of  the  native  growth  of 
this  Country.  If  the  people  are  totally  restrained  by  the 
hand  of  power  from  sending  such  produce  of  their  estates 
as  they  choose,  and  it  is  most  for  their  general  interest  to 
make,  to  foreign  markets,  in  which  alone  it  will  command 
u  tolerable  price,  they  are  precluded  from  the  necessary 
proper  means  of  discharging  their  debts.  In  such  a  situa- 
tion we  presume  it  may  be  submitted  to  your  Lordship's 
judgment,  how  far  it  would  be  consistent  with  prudence 
and  justice,  or  even  humanity,  for  us  to  interpose  legisla- 
tive authority,  in  order  to  compel  the  Magistrates  to  open 
the  courts  of  civil  jurisdiction,  and  thereby  expose  the 
people  to  cruel  exactions ;  we  rather  think  it  will  be  better 
to  await  the  time  when  the  returning  wisdom  and  justice 
of  Great  Britain  may  put  it  in  our  power  to  restore  all 
things  to  that  channel  in  which  they  formerly  flowed  to 
her  aggrandizement,  the  prosperity  and  happiness  of  the 
whole  Empire. 

We  will,  my  Lord,  proceed  forthwith  to  consider  farther 
the  state  of  the  Country,  the  Address  of  the  Lords  and 
Common's,  and  His  Majesty's  answer,  together  with  the  Re- 
solution of  the  House  of  Commons,  which  you  have  laid 
before  us ;  this  we  will  endeavour  to  do  with  that  calmness 
and  impartiality  which  their  great  importance  may  require  ; 
and  we  sincerely  hope,  as  your  Lordship  conceives,  that  we 
may  find  the  propositions  now  made  to  us  a  benevolent, 
tender,  and  auspicious  advance  on  the  part  of  the  Parent 
State  towards  bringing  to  a  fortunate,  and  the  most  desira- 
ble issue,  all  those  disputes  and  dissensions  which  have  so 
unhappily  prevailed. 

The  said  Address  being  read  a  second  time, 

Resolved  nemine  contradicentc,  That  the  House  doth 
agree  with  the  Committee  in  the  said  Address  to  be  pre- 
sented to  the  Governour. 

Resolved,  That  the  said  Address  be  presented  to  his 
Excellency  by  the  whole  House. 

Ordered,  That  the  Gentlemen  who  drew  up  the  said 
Address  do  wait  upon  the  Governour,  to  know  his  pleasure 
when  this  House  shall  attend  his  Excellency  to  present 
their  Address. 

Resolved,  That  the  Governour's  Speech  be  taken  into 
consideration  to-morrow. 

Resolved,  That  this  House  will,  to-morrow,  resolve  itself 
into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole  House  to  take  into  consi- 
deration the  Governour's  Speech. 

Ordered,  That  a  Committee  be  appointed  to  inspect  the 
publick  Magazine  in  this  City,  and  inquire  into  the  Stores 
belonging  to  the  same,  and  make  report  thereof  to  the 
House. 

And  a  Committee  was  appointed  of  Mr.  Mercer,  Mr. 
Treasurer,  Mr.  Jefferson,  Mr.  Henry  Lee,  Mr.  Munford, 
Mr.  Dandridge,  Mr.  Nelson,  Mr.  Jones,  Mr.  Cary,  Mr. 
Francis  Lightfoot  Lee,  Mr.  Whitinge,  Mr.  Charles  Car- 
ter of  Stafford,  Mr.  Braxton,  Mr.  Zane,  Mr.  Page,  Mr. 
Carrington,  Mr.  Digges,  Mr.  Banister,  Mr.  Thomas  Wal- 
ker, Mr.  Travis  and  Mr.  Norvcll.  And  they  are  to  have 
power  to  send  for  Persons,  Papers  and  Records. 

A  Petition  of  the  Presbytery  of  Hanover,  in  behalf  of 
themselves  and  all  the  Presbyterians  in  Virginia,  and  of  all 
Protestant  dissenters  elsewhere,  was  presented  to  the  House 
and  read  ;  setting  forth,  that  in  or  about  the  year  1738 
many  thousand  Presbyterian  families,  relying  upon  the  as- 
surances of  Government  that  they  should  enjoy  the  free 
exercise  of  their  religion,  removed  from  the  Northern  Colo- 
nies and  settled  in  the  Frontiers  of  this,  forming  a  barrier 
for  the  lower  parts  thereof;  and  taking  notice  of  a  bill  for 
granting  a  toleration  to  His  Majesty's  dissenting  Protestant 
subjects,  which,  in  the  year  1772,  was  presented  to  the 
House,  and  afterwards  ordered  to  be  printed  ;  and  pointing 
out  several  objections  thereunto ;  and  praying  that  no  bill 
may  pass  into  a  law  but  such  as  will  secure  to  the  Petition- 
ers equal  liberties  and  advantages  with  their  fellow-subjects. 
Ordered,  That  the  said  Petition  do  lie  upon  the  table. 

Resolved,  That  an  Address  be  presented  to  his  Excel- 
lency the  Governour,  desiring  that  he  will  be  pleased  to 
direct  the  proper  officer  to  lay  before  this  House  the  amount 
of  the  tonnage  of  one  shilling  and  three  pence  sterling, 
imposed  on  Ships  and  Vessels  trading  to  this  Colony,  from 
the  year  1762. 


Ordered,  That  the  said  Address  be  presented  to  his 
Excellency  by  Mr.  Treasurer,  Mr.  Mercer  and  Mr.  Hen- 
ry Lee. 

The  Order  of  the  Day  being  read,  for  the  House  to 
resolve  itself  into  a  Committee  of  the  whole  House,  to 
consider  of  the  Journal  of  the  proceedings  of  the  Congress 
held  at  Philadelphia,  on  the  fifth  day  of  September,  1774, 

The  House  resolved  itself  into  the  said  Committee. 

Mr.  Speaker  left  the  chair. 

Mr.  Cary  took  the  chair  of  the  Committee. 

Mr.  Speaker  resumed  the  chair. 

Mr.  Cary  reported  from  the  Committee,  that  they  had 
come  to  several  Resolutions,  which  they  had  directed  him 
to  report  when  the  House  will  please  to  receive  the  same. 

Ordered,  That  the  Report  be  now  received. 

Mr.  Cary  accordingly  reported  from  the  said  Committee 
the  Resolutions  which  they  had  directed  him  to  report  to  the 
House  ;  which  he  read  in  his  place,  and  afterwards  delivered 
in  at  the  Clerk's  table;  where  the  same  were  read,  and  are 
as  followeth,  viz : 

Resolved,  That  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  Committee  that 
the  House  be  moved  to  come  to  the  following  Resolution  : 

Resolved,  That  this  House  doth  entirely  and  cordially 
approve  the  Proceedings  and  Resolutions  of  the  American 
Continental  Congress;  and  that  they  consider  this  whole 
Continent  as  under  the  highest  obligations  to  that  very 
respectable  body,  for  the  wisdom  of  their  counsels,  and 
their  unremitted  endeavours  to  maintain  and  preserve  invi- 
olate the  just  rights  and  liberties  of  His  Majesty's  dutiful 
and  loyal  subjects  in  America. 

Resolved,  That  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  Committee  that 
the  House  be  moved  to  come  to  the  following  Resolution  : 

Resolved,  That  the  warmest  thanks  of  this  House,  and 
all  the  inhabitants  of  this  Colony  whom  they  represent,  are 
particularly  due,  and  that  this  just  tribute  of  applause  be 
presented  to  the  Honourable  Peyton  Randolph,  Esquire, 
Richard  Henry  Lee,  George  Washington,  Patrick  Henry, 
Junior,  Richard  Bland,  Benjamin  Harrison,  and  Kdmund 
Pendleton,  Esquires,  the  worthy  Delegates  deputed  to  re- 
present this  Colony  in  General  Congress  at  Philadelphia, 
the  fifth  day  of  September  last,  for  their  cheerful  under- 
taking and  faithful  discharge  of  the  very  important  trust 
reposed  in  them. 

The  said  Resolutions  being  severally  read  a  second  time, 
were,  upon  the  question  severally  put  thereupon,  agreed  to 
by  the  House. 

Resolved  nemine  contradicentc,  That  this  House  doth 
entirely  and  cordially  approve  the  Proceedings  and  Resolu- 
tions of  the  American  Continental  Congress;  and  that  they 
consider  this  whole  Continent  as  under  the  highest  obliga- 
tions to  that  very  respectable  body  for  the  wisdom  of  their 
counsels,  and  their  unremitted  endeavours  to  maintain  and 
preserve  inviolate  the  just  rights  and  liberties  of  His  Ma- 
jesty's dutiful  and  loyal  subjects  in  America. 

Resolved  nemine  contradicentc,  That  the  warmest  thanks 
of  this  House,  and  all  the  inhabitants  of  this  Colony  whom 
they  represent,  are  particularly  due,  and  that  this  just  tri- 
bute of  applause  be  presented  to  the  Honourable  Peyton 
Randolph,  Esquire,  Richard  Henry  Lee,  George  Wash- 
ington, Patrick  Henry,  Junior,  Richard  Bland,  Benjamin 
Harrison,  and  Edmund  Pendleton,  Esquires,  the  worthy 
Delegates  deputed  to  represent  this  Colony  in  General 
Congress  at  Philadelphia,  the  fifth  day  of  September  last, 
for  their  cheerful  undertaking  and  faithful  discharge  of  the 
very  important  trust  reposed  in  them. 

The  other  Order  of  the  Day  being  read, 

The  House  resolved  itself  into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole 
House  to  consider  of  the  proceedings  of  the  Convention  of 
Delegates  for  the  Counties  and  Corporations  in  the  Colony 
of  Virginia,  held  at  Richmond  Town,  in  the  County  of 
Henrico,  on  the  twentieth  day  of  March,  1775. 

Mr.  Speaker  left  the  chair. 

Mr.  Cary  took  the  chair  of  the  Committee. 

Mr.  Speaker  resumed  the  chair. 

Mr.  Cary  reported  from  the  Committee  that  they  had 
come  to  a  Resolution,  which  they  had  directed  him  to  re- 
port when  the  House  will  please  to  receive  the  same. 

Ordered,  That  the  Report  be  now  received. 

Mr.  Cary  accordingly  reported  from  the  said  Committee, 


i  193 


HOUSE  OF  BURGESSES  OF  VIRGINIA,  JUNE,  1775. 


1194 


the  Resolution,  which  they  had  directed  him  to  report  to 
the  House  ;  which  he  read  in  his  place,  and  afterwards  de- 
livered in  at  the  Clerk's  table,  where  the  same  was  read, 
and  is  as  followeth,  viz  : 

Resolved,  That  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  Committee  that 
the  House  be  moved  to  come  to  the  following  Resolution: 

Resolved,  That  this  House  doth  entirely  approve  the 
Proceedings  and  Resolutions  of  the  Convention  of  Dele- 
gates for  the  Counties  and  Corporations  in  the  Colony  of 
Virginia,  held  at  Richmond  Town,  in  the  County  of  Hen- 
rico, on  the  twentieth  day  of  March,  1775;  and  that  it  be 
recommended  to  all  the  good  people  of  this  Colony  strictly 
to  conform  to  and  observe  the  same. 

The  said  Resolution  being  read  a  second  time,  was,  upon 
the  question  put  thereupon,  agreed  to  by  the  House. 

Resolved  nemine  contradicente,  That  this  House  do  en- 
tirely approve  the  Proceedings  and  Resolutions  of  the 
Convention  of  Delegates  for  the  Counties  and  Corporations 
in  the  Colony  of  Virginia,  held  at  Richmond  Town,  in  the 
County  of  Henrico,  on  the  twentieth  day  of  March,  1775  ; 
and  that  it  be  recommended  to  all  the  good  people  of  this 
Colony  strictly  to  conform  to,  and  observe  the  same. 

Address  of  the  Council  to  the  Governour. 
To  His  Excellency  the  Right  Honourable  John  Earl  of 

Dunmore,  His  Majesty's  Lieutenant  and  Govcrnour- 

General  of  the  Colony  and  Dominion  of  Virginia, 

and  Vice- Admiral  of  the  same  : 
The  humble  Address  of  the  Council: 

My  Lord:  We,  His  Majesty's  most  dutiful  and  loyal 
subjects,  the  Council  of  Virginia,  now  met  in  General  As- 
sembly, beg  leave,  to  present  our  humble  thanks  to  your 
Excellency  for  your  Speech  at  the  opening  of  the  Session, 
and  for  giving  us  an  opportunity  to  take  the  present  alarm- 
ing state  of  this  Colony  into  our  consideration,  and  provide 
remedies  against  the  increasing  evils  therein.  Your  doing 
this  so  seasonably,  and  as  soon  as  you  were  properly  ap- 
prised of  what  you  thought  would  lay  a  firm  foundation 
for  our  proceeding  with  success  in  so  desirable  a  work,  we 
cannot  but  regard  as  a  proof  of  your  attachment  to  the 
welfare  of  this  Dominion. 

As  this  Country  hath,  for  many  years  past,  made  ample 
provision  for  the  civil  Government  thereof,  we  have  only 
to  declare  our  willingness  to  concur  with  the  other  branch 
of  the  Legislature  in  such  proportion  and  in  such  means 
as  they  shall  be  willing  to  contribute  towards  the  publick 
burdens  of  the  Stale. 

The  peace  and  good  order  of  every  Country  depending 
on  the  regular  administration  of  justice,  we  are  desirous 
that  the  Courts  should  be  forthwith  opened,  and  that  the 
laws  may  again  have  their  due  course ;  as  such  a  step  will 
be  instrumental  in  removing  mischiefs  of  the  greatest  mag- 
nitude and  most  destructive  tendency. 

To  which  His  Excellency  was  pleased  to  return  the  fol- 
lowing Answer. 
Gentlemen:  Your  willingness  to  concur  in  measures 
which,  if  adopted,  will  entirely  compose  the  destructive 
differences  between  this  Country  and  Great  Britain,  and 
restore  the  order  and  tranquillity  of  the  Colony,  cannot 
but  give  His  Majesty  the  most  sensible  pleasure,  as  the 
opportunity  of  communicating  to  him  such  a  proof  of  the 
duty  and  loyalty  of  this  branch  of  the  Legislature  of  Vir- 
ginia affords  me  the  greatest  satisfaction. 

Tuesday,  June  6,  15  Geo.  Ill,  1775. 
A  Message  from  the  Governour  by  Mr.  Blair : 
Mr.  Speaker:  I  have  received  the  Governour's  com- 
mands to  lay  before  this  House  a  written  Message  from  his 
Excellency,  relative  to  the  publick  Magazine,  together  with 
a  paper  therein  referred  to.  And  he  presented  the  same  at 
the  bar,  and  the  Message  was  read,  and  is  as  followeth,  viz  : 

Mr.  Speaker  and  Gentlemen  of  the  House  of  Burgesses: 

1  have  received  a  Paper,  without  date  or  signature,  de- 
siring I  would  direct  the  keeper  of  the  Magazine  to  give 
access  to  some  persons,  (I  know  not  whom,  the  paper  not 
saying  who  they  are,)  appointed  by  the  House  of  Bur- 
gesses a  Committee  to  examine  into  the  state  of  the  publick 
Magazine.  I  send  the  said  paper  for  the  inspection  of  the 


House,  and  beg  to  be  informed  whether  the  persons  there 
alluded  to  are  authorized,  as  therein  alleged,  to  desire 
access  to  the  Magazine.  Dunmore. 

The  Paper  referred  to  in  the  Message : 

"  My  Lord  :  We,  being  appointed  by  the  House  of  Bur- 
gesses a  Committee  to  examine  into  the  state  of  the  pub- 
lick Magazine,  wait  upon  your  Lordship  to  desire  that  you 
will  be  pleased  to  direct  the  keeper  thereof  to  give  us  access 
thereto,  that  we  may  be  able  to  make  a  proper  and  full 
report  to  the  House. 

"  Before  this  Resolution  was  known  to  the  people,  we 
understand  that  sundry  persons,  unknown  to  us,  broke 
open  the  Magazine,  and  took  out  several  arms ;  but  we 
assure  your  Lordship,  that,  so  soon  as  this  transaction  was 
known  to  the  House,  some  of  the  members  interposed,  and 
prevailed  on  such  as  were  to  be  found,  to  return  what  they 
had  taken,  and  we  have  hopes  that  the  rest  may  yet  be 
reclaimed,  which  we  shall  not  neglect  our  endeavours  to 
effect." 

Ordered,  That  the  gentlemen  who  were  appointed  to 
inspect  the  publick  Magazine  in  this  City,  and  inquire  into 
the  Stores  belonging  to  the  same,  do  prepare  an  Answer  to 
the  said  Message,  and  that  they  withdraw  immediately. 

Ordered,  That  the  said  Message,  and  the  Paper  therein 
referred  to,  be  referred  to  the  said  Committee. 

Mr.  Mercer  reported  from  the  Committee  appointed  to 
prepare  an  answer  to  the  Governour's  Message,  that  the 
Committee  had  prepared  an  Address  accordingly,  which 
they  had  directed  him  to  report  to  the  House ;  and  he  read 
the  same  in  his  place,  and  afterwards  delivered  it  in  at  the 
Clerk's  table,  where  the  same  was  read,  and  is  as  fol- 
loweth, viz : 

My  Lord:  We,  His  Majesty's  dutiful  and  loyal  subjects, 
the  Burgesses  of  Virginia,  having  received  your  Lordship's 
written  message  respecting  the  proceedings  of  the  Com- 
mittee appointed  to  examine  the  Magazine,  have  taken  the 
same  under  our  consideration.  The  House,  yesterday,  as 
what  they  thought  a  proper  foundation  of  inquiry  into  the 
many  disturbances  which  had  arisen  in  the  Country,  ap- 
pointed Mr.  Mercer,  Mr.  Treasurer,  Mr.  Jefferson,  Mr. 
Henry  Lee,  Mr.  Munjord,  Mr.  Dandridge,  Mr.  Nelson, 
Mr.  Jones,  Mr.  Carey,  Mr.  Francis  Lighlfoot  Lee,  Mr. 
Whiting,  Mr.  Charles  Carter  of  Stafford,  Mr.  Braxton, 
Mr.  Zone,  Mr.  Page,  Mr.  Carrington,  Mr.  Digges,  Mr. 
Banister,  Mr.  Thomas  Walker,  Mr.  Travis,  and  Mr.  Nor- 
vell,  twenty-one  of  their  members,  to  inquire  into  the  state 
of  the  publick  magazine.  Upon  receipt  of  your  Excel- 
lency's message,  they  examined  the  steps  their  Committee 
had  taken,  and  received  the  following  report :  That  the 
Committee  having  convened,  and  judging  it  decent  and 
proper,  in  the  first  place,  waited  on  your  Excellency,  who 
by  law  hath  the  appointment  of  the  keeper  of  the  maga- 
zine, to  request  that  you  would  be  pleased  to  direct  him  to 
give  them  access  thereto ;  that  finding  some  irregularities 
had  been  committed,  they  also  thought  it  prudent  to  men- 
tion them  to  your  Excellency,  and  inform  you  of  their  en- 
deavours to  have  the  arms,  which  had  been  taken  out  of 
the  magazine,  immediately  restored ;  that,  to  avoid  mis- 
takes, they  judged  it  most  proper  to  reduce  the  intended 
application  to  writing;  that  they  then  in  a  body,  and  in  the 
most  respectful  manner  waited  on  your  Excellency,  and 
by  their  Chairman  delivered  their  request  verbally,  leaving 
the  written  paper  with  your  Lordship  for  your  better  in- 
formation ;  that  your  Excellency  was  pleased  to  receive  it, 
and  promised  to  furnish  them  with  the  key  of  the  maga- 
zine as  soon  as  you  could  procure  it ;  that  the  Committee 
not  hearing  from  your  Lordship,  their  Chairman  was  direct- 
ed to  wait  on  you  this  morning,  and  was  referred  for  answer 
to  a  message  you  intended  to  send  to  the  House. 

We  hope  that  your  Lordship,  upon  revising  these  pro- 
ceedings, will  change  your  present  sentiments,  and  think 
with  us,  that  there  was  no  impropriety  in  the  conduct  o! 
the  Committee.  Their  application  to  your  Excellency, 
the  House  considers  as  proper  and  decent.  The  gentle- 
men who  composed  the  Committee  must  have  been  all 
known  to  you;  and  had  you  conceived  the  least  improprie- 
ty in  their  procedure,  it  would  have  been  kind  in  your 
Lordship  to  have  pointed  it  out  to  them.  At  the  time  this 
Committee  waited  upon  your  Lordship,  another  Com- 


1195 


HOUSE  OF  BURGESSES  OF  VIRGINIA,  JUNE,  1775. 


1  196 


mittee  attended,  to  inform  you  that  this  House  had  agreed 
to  an  address  in  answer  to  your  Lordship's  speech ;  this 
message  was  delivered  by  one  Committee,  who,  we  pre- 
sume, were  not  better  known  to  your  Lordship  than  the 
members  of  the  other.  Though  there  was  not  an  express 
order  of  the  House  that  the  Committee  should  apply  to 
your  Lordship  for  the  purpose  they  did,  yet  we  conceive 
that  such  application  was  necessarily  incident  to  the  due 
execution  of  the  general  order  of  the  House  to  inquire 
into  the  state  of  the  magazine. 

We  feel  very  sensibly,  my  Lord,  the  weight  of  the  in- 
sinuation in  your  message ;  but  willing,  upon  all  occasions, 
and  especially  at  this  unhappy  juncture,  to  avoid  every  kind 
of  controversy,  we  shall  direct  that  your  Excellency  be 
waited  upon  with  the  order  of  yesterday,  before  referred 
to;  and  should  any  doubts  still  remain,  we  will  endeavour 
to  remove  them,  on  their  being  pointed  out  to  us. 
The  said  Answer  being  read  a  second  time, 
Resolved,  That  the  House  doth  agree  with  the  Com- 
mittee in  the  said  Answer. 

Resolved,  That  the  gentlemen  who  prepared  the  said 
Answer  do  wait  upon  his  Excellency  with  the  same. 
A  Message  from  the  Governour  by  Mr.  Blair : 
Mr.  Speaker:  I  have  received  the  Governour's  com- 
mands to  lay  before  this  House  a  written  Message  from 
his  Excellency,  relative  to  the  Gunpowder  which  has  been 
removed  from  the  publick  Magazine  by  his  Excellency's 
order.  And  he  presented  the  same  at  the  Bar,  and  the 
same  was  read,  and  is  as  followeth,  viz : 

Mr.  Speaker  and  Gentlemen  of  the  House  of  Burgesses : 

The  removing,  by  my  order,  of  fifteen  half-barrels  of  the 
King's  Powder,  received  from  the  Rippon,  man-of-war, 
from  the  publick  magazine,  has,  I  find,  given  great  uneasi- 
ness to  the  people.  I  was  influenced  in  this  by  the  best 
motives;  and  as  I  have  once  ventured,  and,  if  occasion 
offered,  should  again  venture  my  life  in  the  service  of  this 
Country,  I  had  hoped  the  most  favourable  construction 
would  have  been  put  upon  my  conduct.  The  magazine 
was  represented  to  me  as  a  very  insecure  depository,  and, 
from  experience,  1  find  it  so  ;*  all  the  arms  which  have 
been  kept  there  being  now  taken  away:  arms  not  pur- 
chased at  the  expense  of  this  Colony,  but  sent  here  by 
His  Majesty,  from  his  Office  of  Ordnance,  of  which  they 
bear  the  mark.  But  in  confidence  that  you  are  now  met 
to  remove  every  grievance,  and  by  your  wisdom  to  estab- 
lish the  publick  tranquillity  on  a  sure  foundation,  I  do 
promise  you,  that  as  soon  as  I  see  the  magazine  in  a  proper 
state  for  securing  the  Powder  and  other  publick  stores,  I 
will  replace  it,  and  at  all  times  be  ready,  most  willingly, 
to  do  every  thing  my  poor  abilities  are  capable  of  for  the 
benefit  of  this  Colony,  in  which  1  have  lived,  till  of  late, 
in  the  greatest  happiness.  Dunmore. 

Resolved,  That  the  said  Message  be  taken  into  con- 
sideration to-morrow. 

The  other  Order  of  the  Day  being  read  : 

Resolved,  That  this  House  will,  to-morrow,  resolve  itself 
into  a  Committee  of  the  whole  House,  to  take  into  consider- 
ation the  Governour's  Speech. 

A  Message  from  the  Council  by  Mr.  Blair  : 

Mr.  Speaker:  The  Council  have  directed  me  to  lay  be- 
fore this  House  a  copy  of  their  proceedings  upon  a  report 
which  had  prevailed,  relative  to  the  Marines  and  Sailors 
belonging  to  His  Majesty's  Ship  the  Fowey.  And  he  pre- 
sented the  same  at  the  bar. 

And  then  the  Messenger  withdrew. 

The  said  copy  of  the  Council's  Proceedings  was  read, 
and  is  as  followeth,  viz : 

It  having  been  reported  that  the  Marines  and  Sailors 

*  In  the  night  of  Saturday,  tlio  third  instant,  some  young  men  got 
into  the  puhlick  magazine  in  this  City,  intending  to  furnish  themselves 
with  arms,  but  were  presently  after  surprised  by  the  report  of  a  gun, 
which  was  so  artfully  placed  (said  to  be  contrived  by  Lord  Dunmore) 
that  upon  touching  a  string  which  was  in  thoir  way,  it  went  off,  and 
wounded  three  persons,  but  not  mortally  :  one  of  them  is  terribly  hurt 
by  sovcral  small  balls  that  entered  bis  arm  and  shoulder;  another,  by 
tho  loss  of  two  ringers  of  his  right  hand,  rendered  incapable  of  follow- 
ing his  profession  for  suhsistonco ;  tho  other  woundod  very  slightly. 
There  were  two  guns  prepared  for  this  horrible  purpose,  ono  of  which 
was  brought  out  next  morning,  and  found  to  be  double  charged.  On 
Monday  a  Committoo  was  appointed  by  tho  Honourable  House  of  Uur- 
gesses  to  examine  the  state  of  tho  magazine,  who  have  placed  a  guard 
ever  it  till  m  >asures  shall  be  concerted  for  its  bettor  security. 


belonging  to  His  Majesty's  Ship  the  Fowey,  were  expected 
to  be  at  the  Palace  this  day,  by  the  Governour's  order,  and 
that  the  people  of  the  City  of  Williamsburgh,  and  Counties 
adjoining,  were  greatly  alarmed  thereat,  and  were  deter- 
mined to  attack  the  said  Marines  and  Sailors  if  they  should 
come,  it  was  ordered  that  Richard  Corbin  and  Robert 
Carter,  Esquires,  wait  on  his  Excellency,  in  the  name  of 
the  Council,  to  desire  he  would  be  pleased  to  give  orders 
for  stopping  them,  and  thereby  prevent  the  great  calamity 
which  was  otherwise  likely  to  ensue.  Richard  Corbin, 
Esquire,  reported,  that  the  gentlemen  appointed  had,  ac- 
cording to  order,  waited  on  the  Governour,  who  appeared 
to  be  astonished  at  the  report  which  had  prevailed  ;  assured 
them  that  he  had  given  no  orders  for  the  Marines  or  Sailors, 
nor  did  he  know  of  its  being  intended  by  any  body  to  send 
them  to  the  Palace,  and  that  in  case  of  any  such  design  ho 
would  send  to  prevent  it. 

Ordered,  That  the  thanks  of  this  House  be  given  to  the 
Council,  for  laying  a  copy  of  their  Proceedings  before  the 
House  upon  the  report  relative  to  the  Marines  and  Sailors 
belonging  to  His  Majesty's  Ship  the  Fowey,  and  that  Mr. 
Cary,  and  Mr.  Charles  Carter  of  Lancaster,  do  acquaint 
the  Council  therewith. 

Ordered,  That  Captain  James  Innis,  of  the  Volunteer 
Company  of  the  City  of  Williamsburgh,  be  desired  to  em- 
ploy any  number  of  men  that  he  shall  think  sufficient,  to 
guard  the  publick  Magazine  in  this  City,  until  such  time  as 
the  House  shall  direct  the  guard  to  be  discontinued,  and 
that  Mr.  Braxton  do  acquaint  him  therewith. 

Wednesday,  Juno  7,  15  Geo.  Ill,  1775. 

The  Order  of  the  Day  being  read,  for  taking  into  con- 
sideration the  Governour's  written  Message,  relative  to  the 
Gunpowder  which  has  been  removed  from  the  publick 
Magazine  by  his  Excellency's  order, 

The  said  Message  was  again  read. 

Resolved,  That  an  Address  be  presented  to  his  Excel- 
lency the  Governour,  to  express  to  his  Lordship  our  thanks 
for  his  kind  tender  of  services  in  behalf  of  this  Colony,  and 
for  restoring  publick  tranquillity  on  a  sure  and  firm  founda- 
tion ;  to  assure  his  Lordship  that  we  have  the  highest  sense 
of  his  services  on  the  late  Indian  expedition,  and  sincerely 
lament  that  any  event  should  suspend  the  happiness  which 
his  Lordship  hath  enjoyed  among  us;  that,  wishing  a  resto- 
ration of  peace  and  harmony,  we  had  directed  an  inquiry 
into  the  causes  of  the  late  great  uneasiness  given  to  tho 
people,  which  we  shall  proceed  on  with  that  attention 
recommended  by  his  Lordship,  and  apply,  on  our  parts, 
remedies  the  best  our  abilities  can  suggest. 

Ordered,  That  a  Committee  be  appointed  to  draw  up  an 
Address,  to  be  presented  to  the  Governour  upon  the  said 
Resolution. 

And  a  Committee  was  appointed,  of  Mr.  Mercer,  Mr. 
Treasurer.  Mr.  Cary,  Mr.  Dandridge,  Mr.  Henry  Lee,  and 
Mr.  Munford. 

Ordered,  That  the  Governour's  Message  be  referred  to 
the  said  Committee. 

Ordered,  That  the  other  Order  of  the  Day,  for  the 
House  to  resolve  itself  into  a  Committee  of  the  whole 
House  to  take  into  consideration  the  Governour's  Speech, 
be  now  read. 

And  the  said  Order  being  read  accordingly, 

Ordered,  That  the  Governour's  Speech,  and  the  joint 
Address  of  the  Lords  and  Commons,  on  the  seventh  of 
February  last,  and  His  Majesty's  Answer,  and  also  the  Re- 
solution of  the  House  of  Commons  of  the  twenty-seventh 
of  the  same  month,  referred  to  in  the  said  Speech,  which, 
upon  Friday  last,  were  ordered  to  lie  on  the  table,  be  re- 
ferred to  the  said  Committee. 

Then  the  House  resolved  itself  into  the  said  Committee. 

Mr.  Speaker  left  the  chair. 

Mr.  Cary  took  the  chair  of  the  Committee. 

Mr.  Speaker  resumed  the  chair. 

Mr.  Cary  reported  from  the  Committee  that  they  had 
made  some  progress  in  the  matter  to  them  referred,  and 
that  he  was  directed  by  the  Committee  to  move  that  they 
may  have  leave  to  sit  again. 

Resolved,  That  this  House  will,  to-morrow,  resolve  itself 
into  a  Committee  of  the  whole  House,  to  take  into  their 
further  consideration  the  Governour's  Speech. 


1197 


HOUSE  OF  BURGESSES  OF  VIRGINIA,  JUNE,  1775. 


1198 


A  Message  from  the  Governour  by  Mr.  Blair  : 
Mr.  Speakek  :  I  am  commanded  by  the  Governour  to 
lay  before  this  House  his  Excellency's  written  Message  in 
answer  to  your  Address  of  this  day.  And  he  presented  the 
same  at  the  bar;  and  the  said  Message  was  read,  and  is  as 
followed),  viz : 

Mr.  Speaker  and  Gentlemen  of  the  House  of  Burgesses : 

In  answer  to  your  address  of  this  day,  I  assure  the 
House,  thai  my  message,  to  which  it  alluded,  was  intended 
for  proper  information  only,  which  I  thought  necessary  ; 
because  as  I  would  by  no  means  infringe  any  rule  of,  or 
omit  any  ceremony  due  to  your  House,  I  could  not  expect 
but  to  be  treated  with  the  same  attention ;  and  to  give  you 
a  proof  of  my  desire  to  avoid  every  kind  of  controversy, 
I  have  ordered  the  keys  of  the  Magazine  to  be  delivered 
to  the  Committee  appointed  by  your  order  of  Monday. 

DUNMORE. 

Mr.  Treasurer  reported  to  the  House  that  the  Govern- 
our having  been  waited  on,  pursuant  to  the  order  of  Mon- 
day last,  to  know  his  pleasure  when  he  would  be  attended 
by  this  House,  had  been  pleased  to  appoint  to  be  attended 
to-morrow,  at  one  of  the  clock  in  the  afternoon,  in  the  Coun- 
cil Chamber. 

Mr.  Treasurer  reported  to  the  House  that  their  Address 
to  the  Governour  of  Monday  last,  desiring  that  he  will  be 
pleased  to  direct  the  proper  officer  to  lay  before  this  House 
the  amount  of  tonnage  of  one  shilling  and  three  pence 
sterling,  imposed  on  ships  and  vessels  trading  to  this  Colony 
from  the  year  1762,  had  been  presented  to  his  Excellency, 
and  that  he  had  directed  him  to  acquaint  the  House  that  he 
would  send  an  answer  thereto  by  a  messenger. 

A  Petition  of  William  Fleming,  of  the  County  of  Bo- 
tetourt, was  presented  to  the  House  and  read,  setting  forth 
that,  in  the  year  1755,  the  petitioner  entered  into  the  ser- 
vice of  this  Colony,  and  continued  therein  until  the  end  of 
the  war,  in  1763,  when  the  Virginia  Regiment  was  dis- 
banded ;  after  which  he  supported  himself  and  his  family 
by  the  practice  of  surgery,  until  he  was  called  out  on  duty 
the  last  year,  under  the  command  of  Col.  Andrew  Lewis, 
Lieutenant  of  the  said  County,  and  marched,  with  the 
Troops  there  raised,  against  the  Indian  enemy  on  the  fron- 
tiers, where,  in  an  engagement  the  tenth  day  of  October, 
the  Petitioner  was  wounded  in  the  breast  and  left  arm,  so 
that  he  is  unable  to  exercise  his  profession  of  a  Surgeon  ; 
therefore  praying  the  House  to  take  his  case  into  consider- 
ation and  grant  him  relief. 

Ordered,  That  the  said  Petition  be  referred  to  the  con- 
sideration of  the  Committee  of  Publick  Claims,  and  that 
they  do  examine  the  matter  thereof,  and  report  the  same, 
with  their  opinion  thereupon,  to  the  House. 

Thursday,  June  8,  15  Geo.  Ill,  1775. 
Mr.  Cary  reported  from  the  Committee  of  Publick 
Claims,  to  whom  the  Petition  of  Abram  Field,  a  soldier 
wounded  in  the  late  engagement  with  the  Indians,  was  re- 
ferred, that  the  Committee  bad  examined  the  matter  of  the 
said  Petition,  and  had  come  to  a  Resolution  thereupon, 
which  they  had  directed  him  to  report  to  the  House  ;  and 
he  read  the  Report  in  his  place,  and  afterwards  delivered  it 
in  at  the  Clerk's  table,  where  the  Resolution  of  the  Com- 
mittee was  read,  and  is  as  followeth,  viz: 

Resolved,  That  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  Committee  that 
the  said  Petition  is  reasonable,  and  that  the  Petitioner  ought 
to  be  allowed  the  sum  of  Twenty  Pounds  for  his  present 
relief,  and  the  further  sum  of  Ten  Pounds  per  annum  du- 
ring his  life,  as  a  recompense  for  the  wound  lie  received  in 
the  defence  of  this  Colony. 

The  said  Resolution  being  read  a  second  time,  was,  upon 
the  question  put  thereupon,  agreed  to  by  the  House. 

Resolved,  That  the  sum  of  Twenty  Pounds  be  paid  to 
Abram  Field,  a  Soldier  wounded  in  the  late  Indian  expe- 
dition, and  that  the  sum  of  Ten  Pounds  per  annum  be  paid 
to  him  during  his  life. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Cary  do  carry  the  Resolution  to  the 
Council,  and  desire  their  concurrence. 
The  Order  of  the  Day  being  read, 
Resolved,  That  this  House  will,  to-morrow,  take  into 
their  further  consideration  the  Govemour's  Speech. 


A  Message  from  the  Council  by  Mr.  Blair  : 

Mr.  Speaker  :  1  am  commanded  by  the  Council  to  de- 
liver to  your  House  a  written  Message  from  his  Excellency 
the  Governour,  which  was  by  him  communicated  to  the 
Council,  to  be  by  them  sent  to  you  ;  and  he  presented  the 
same  at  the  bar. 

And  then  the  Messenger  withdrew. 

The  written  Message  from  his  Excellency  was  read,  and 
is  as  followeth,  viz : 

Mr.  Speaker  and  Gentlemen  of  the  House  of  Burgesses : 

Being  now  fully  persuaded  that  my  person  and  those  of 
my  family  likewise,  are  in  constant  danger  of  falling  sacri- 
fices to  the  blind  and  unmeasurable  fury  which  has  so  unac- 
countably seized  upon  the  minds  and  understanding  of  great 
numbers  of  the  people,  and  apprehending  that  at  length 
some  among  them  may  work  themselves  up  to  that  pitch 
of  daringness  and  atrociousness  as  to  fall  upon  me  in  the 
defenceless  state  in  which  they  know  I  am  in  the  City 
of  f'Villiamsburgh,  and  perpetrate  acts  that  would  plunge 
this  Country  into  the  most  horrid  calamities,  and  render  the 
breach  with  the  Mother  Country  irreparable,  I  have  thought 
it  prudent  for  myself,  and  serviceable  for  the  Country,  that 
I  remove  to  a  place  of  safely  ;  conformable  to  which  I  have 
fixed  my  residence  for  the  present  on  board  His  Majesty's 
Ship  the  Fowcy,  lying  at  York. 

It  is  not  my  intention  to  give  the  least  interruption  to  the 
sitting  of  the  Assembly,  but  I  hope  they  will  proceed  in  the 
great  business  which  they  have  before  them  with  diligence 
and  effect.  I  shall  take  care  to  make  the  access  to  me  so 
easy  and  safe,  that  the  necessary  communication  between 
me  and  the  House  may  be  attended  with  the  least  inconve- 
nience possible :  and  I  thought  it  would  be  more  agreeable 
to  the  House  to  send  to  me,  from  time  to  time,  some  of 
their  members,  as  occasion  shall  require,  than  to  put  all  to 
the  trouble  of  moving,  to  be  near  me. 

I  hope  the  House  will  see  my  proceedings  on  this  occa- 
sion as  they  were  really  meant ;  and  1  beg  them  to  be  assured 
that  I  shall  now  be  as  ready  to  attend  lo  all  the  duties  of 
my  office  as  I  was  before,  and  that  I  am  perfectly  disposed 
to  contribute  all  in  my  power,  if  opportunity  be  given  me, 
to  restore  that  harmony,  the  interruption  of  which  is  likely 
to  cost  so  dear  to  the  repose,  as  well  as  to  the  comforts  of 
every  individual.  Dunmore. 

Ordered,  That  the  said  Message  be  referred  to  the  con- 
sideration of  a  Committee  of  the  whole  House. 

Resolved,  That  this  House  will  now  resolve  itself  into  a 
Committee  of  the  whole  House,  to  consider  of  the  said 
Message. 

The  House  accordingly  resolved  itself  into  the  said  Com- 
mittee. 

Mr.  Speaker  left  the  chair. 

Mr.  Cary  took  the  chair  of  the  Committee. 

Mr.  Speaker  resumed  the  chair. 

Mr.  Cary  reported  from  the  Committee  that  they  had 
come  to  a  Resolution,  which  they  had  directed  him  to  re- 
port to  the  House  when  the  House  will  please  to  receive 
the  same. 

Ordered,  That  the  Report  be  now  received. 

Mr.  Cary  accordingly  reported  the  Resolution  which  the 
Committee  had  directed  him  to  report  to  the  House  ;  which 
he  read  in  his  place,  and  afterwards  delivered  in  at  the 
Clerk's  table,  where  the  same  was  read,  and  is  as  followeth, 
viz : 

Resolved,  That  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  Committee  that 
an  Address  be  presented  to  his  Excellency  the  Governour, 
in  answer  to  his  written  Message  of  this  day,  to  represent 
to  his  Lordship  the  probable  tendency  of  his  removal  from 
the  Palace,  and  the  propriety  of  his  return  :  to  assure  his 
Excellency  that  we  view  with  horrour  every  design  that 
may  be  meditated  against  the  person  of  his  Lordship,  his 
very  amiable  lady  or  family  ;  promising  one  cheerful  con- 
currence in  any  proper  measure  for  their  future  safety. 

The  said  Resolution  being  read  a  second  time,  was,  upon 
the  question  put  thereupon,  agreed  to  by  the  House. 

Ordered,  That  a  Committee  be  appointed  to  draw  up 
an  Address  to  be  presented  to  the  Governour  upon  the  said 
Resolution. 

And  a  Committee  was  appointed  of  Mr.  Treasurer,  Mr. 
Mercer,  Mr.  Jones,  Mr.  Munford,  Mr.  Henry  Lee,  Mr. 


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HOUSE  OF  BURGESSES  OF  VIRGINIA,  JUNE,  1775. 


1200 


Dandridgc,  Mr.  Banister,  and  Mr.  Francis  Lightfoot 
Lee,  and  they  are  to  withdraw  immediately. 

Ordered,  That  the  said  written  Message  be  referred  to 
the  said  Committee. 

Mr.  Treasurer  reported  from  the  Committee  that  they 
had  drawn  up  an  Address  accordingly,  which  they  had  di- 
rected him  to  report  to  the  House ;  and  he  read  the  same 
in  his  place,  and  afterwards  delivered  it  in  at  the  Clerk's 
table,  where  the  same  was  read,  and  is  as  followed),  viz : 

My  Loud:  We,  His  Majesty's  dutiful  and  loyal  sub- 
jects, the  Council  and  the  Burgesses  of  Virginia,  assure 
your  Excellency,  that  it  is  with  the  greatest  concern  we 
lind  that  your  Lordship,  by  your  messages  to  them,  enter- 
tains any  suspicions  of  the  personal  security  of  yourself  or 
family,  as  we  can  by  no  means  suppose  any  of  His  Ma- 
jesty's subjects  in  this  Colony  would  meditate  a  crime  so 
horrid  and  atrocious  as  your  Lordship  seems  to  apprehend. 
We  are  fearful  the  step  your  Lordship  hath  taken,  in  re- 
moving from  the  Seat  of  Government,  may  conduce  to  a 
continuance  of  great  uneasiness,  which  hath  of  late  so  un- 
happily prevailed  in  this  Country.  We  cannot  but  express 
our  concern  that  your  Lordship  did  not  think  proper  to  com- 
municate the  ground  of  your  uneasiness  to  us,  as  from  our 
zeal  and  attachment  to  the  preservation  of  order  and  good 
government,  we  should  have  judged  it  our  indispensable 
duty  to  have  endeavoured  to  remove  every  cause  of  dis- 
quietude. In  proof  of  the  great  respect  we  shall  ever  pay 
to  the  representative  of  our  most  gracious  Sovereign,  and 
to  remove,  to  the  utmost  of  our  power,  your  Lordship's 
apprehensions,  we  assure  your  Lordship  that  we  will  cheer- 
fully concur  in  any  measure  that  may  be  proposed  proper 
for  the  security  of  yourself  and  family.  It  is  with  much 
anxiety  we  consider  the  very  disagreeable  situation  of  your 
Lordship's  most  amiable  lady  and  family,  and  should  think 
ourselves  happy  in  being  able  to  restore  their  perfect  tran- 
quillity, by  removing  all  their  fears. 

We  cannot,  my  Lord,  but  approve  your  intention  of  not 
giving  the  least  interruption  to  the  important  affairs  on 
which  we  are  now  assembled;  and  it  is  with  much  pleasure 
we  receive  your  Lordship's  assurance  of  your  disposition  to 
establish  that  harmony,  so  essential  to  the  repose  and  com- 
fort of  every  individual;  but  we  must  beg  leave  to  observe 
to  your  Lordship  how  impracticable  it  will  be  to  carry  on 
the  business  of  the  session,  with  any  tolerable  degree  of 
propriety,  or  with  that  despatch  the  advanced  season  of  the 
year  requires,  whilst  your  Lordship  is  so  far  removed  from 
us,  and  so  inconveniently  situated.  We  therefore  earnestly 
entreat  your  Lordship,  that  you  will  be  pleased  to  return 
with  your  lady  and  family  to  the  Palace,  which  we  are  per- 
suaded will  give  the  greatest  satisfaction,  and  be  the  most 
likely  means  of  quieting  the  minds  of  the  people. 

The  said  Address  being  read  a  second  time, 
Resolved,  That  the  House  doth  agree  with  the  Commit- 
tee in  the  said  Address  to  be  presented  to  the  Governour. 

Ordered,  That  the  gentlemen  who  drew  up  the  said 
Address  do  go  to  the  Council,  and  acquaint  them  that  this 
House  have  agreed  to  an  Address  to  the  Governour,  to 
which  they  desire  the  concurrence  of  the  Council. 
A  Message  from  the  Council  by  Mr.  Blair: 
Mr.  Speaker  :  The  Council  have  agreed  to  join  with 
this  House  in  their  Address  to  the  Governour;  and,  in  con- 
sequence thereof,  have  made  the  necessary  amendments, 
and  have  appointed  two  of  their  Members,  to  join  with 
such  of  the  Members  of  this  House  as  may  be  appointed, 
to  present  the  same  to  his  P^xcellency. 

Ordered,  That  the  said  Address  be  presented  to  his 
Excellency  by  Mr.  Cary,  Mr.  Wood,  Mr.  Attorney  Gene- 
ral, and  Mr.  Braxton. 

Friday,  June  9,  15  Goo.  Ill,  1775. 

The  Order  of  the  Day  being  read,  for  the  House  to 
resolve  itself  into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole  House,  to  take 
into  their  further  consideration  the  Governour's  Speech, 

The  House  resolved  itself  into  the  said  Committee. 

Mr.  Speaker  left  the  chair. 

Mr.  Cary  took  the  chair  of  the  Committee. 

Mr.  Speaker  resumed  the  chair. 

Mr.  Cary  reported  from  the  Committee,  that  they  had 
made  a  further  progress  in  the  matters  referred  to  them,  and 


that  the  Committee  had  directed  him  to  move  that  they  may 
have  leave  to  sit  again.  "u~%* 

Resolved,  That  this  House  will  to-morrow  resolve  itself 
into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole  House,  to  take  into  their 
further  consideration  the  Governour's  Speech. 

Mr.  Cary  reported  that  two  of  His  Majesty's  Council 
and  the  Members  appointed  by  this  House  had,  pursuant 
to  the  order  of  yesterday,  presented  to  his  Excellency  the 
Governour,  on  board  His  Majesty's  ship  the  Fou-cy,  the 
Address  of  the  Council  and  this  House ;  and  that  he  was 
pleased  to  say  that,  as  the  subject  of  their  Address  was  of 
the  utmost  importance  to  the  Colony,  and  to  himself  and 
his  family,  he  would  take  time  to  consider  of  it,  and  would 
return  an  answer  in  writing  after  he  had  maturely  delibe- 
rated upon  its  contents. 

Saturday,  June  10,  15  Geo.  Ill,  1775. 

The  House  resolved  itself  into  a  Committee  of  the 
Whole  House,  to  take  into  their  further  consideration  the 
Governour's  Speech. 

Mr.  Speaker  left  the  chair. 

Mr.  Cary  took  the  chair  of  the  Committee. 

Mr.  Speaker  resumed  the  chair. 

Mr.  Cary  reported  from  the  Committee,  that  they  had 
gone  through  the  matter  to  them  referred,  and  had  come 
to  a  Resolution,  which  they  had  directed  him  to  report 
when  the  House  will  please  to  receive  the  same. 

Ordered,  That  the  Report  be  now  received. 

Mr.  Cary  accordingly  reported  from  the  said  Committee 
the  Resolution,  which  the  Committee  had  directed  him  to 
report  to  the  House ;  which  he  read  in  his  place,  and  after- 
wards delivered  in  at  the  Clerk's  table ;  where  the  same 
was  read,  and  is  as  followeth,  viz: 

Resolved,  That  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  Committee,  that 
an  Address  be  presented  to  his  Excellency  the  Governour, 
to  inform  him  that  we  have  taken  into  our  consideration 
the  joint  Address  of  the  two  Houses  of  Parliament,  His 
Majesty's  Answer,  and  the  Resolution  of  the  Commons, 
which  his  Lordship  has  been  pleased  to  lay  before  us. 
That  wishing  nothing  so  sincerely  as  the  perpetual  contin- 
uance of  that  brotherly  love  which  we  bear  to  our  fellow- 
subjects  of  Great  Britain,  and  still  continuing  to  hope  and 
believe  that  they  do  not  approve  the  measures  which  have 
so  long  oppressed  their  brethren  in  America,  we  were 
pleased  to  receive  his  Lordship's  notification  that  a  bene- 
volent tender  had  at  length  been  made  by  the  British 
House  of  Commons  towards  bringing  to  a  good  end  our 
unhappy  disputes  with  the  Mother  Country  ;  that  next  to 
the  possession  of  liberty,  we  should  consider  such  reconci- 
liation the  greatest  of  all  human  blessings.  With  these 
dispositions  we  entered  into  consideration  of  that  Resolu- 
tion ;  we  examined  it  minutely;  we  viewed  it  in  every 
point  of  light  in  which  we  were  able  to  place  it ;  and,  with 
pain  and  disappointment,  we  must  ultimately  declare  it  only 
changes  the  form  of  oppression,  without  lightening  its  bur- 
den. That  we  cannot  close  with  the  terms  of  that  Resolu- 
tion for  these  reasons : 

Because  the  British  Parliament  has  no  right  to  inter- 
meddle with  the  support  of  Civil  Government  in  the  Colo- 
nies. For  us,  not  for  them,  has  Government  been  institu- 
ted here.  Agreeable  to  our  ideas,  provision  has  been  made 
for  such  officers  as  we  think  necessary  for  the  administra- 
tion of  publick  affairs ;  and  we  cannot  conceive  that  any 
other  legislature  has  a  right  to  prescribe  either  the  number 
or  pecuniary  appointments  of  our  offices.  As  a  proof  that 
the  claim  of  Parliament  to  interfere  in  the  necessary  provi- 
sion for  the  support  of  civil  government  is  novel  and  of  a 
late  date,  we  take  leave  to  refer  to  an  act  of  our  Assembly, 
passed  so  long  since  as  the  thirty-second  year  of  the  reign 
of  King  Charles  the  Second,  intituled  "  An  Act  for  raising 
a  publick  revenue,  and  for  better  support  of  the  Govern- 
ment of  this  His  Majesty's  Colony  of  Virginia."  This 
act  was  brought  over  by  Lord  Culpepper,  then  Governour, 
under  the  great  seal  of  England,  and  was  enacted  in  the 
name  of  the  "  King's  most  excellent  Majesty,  by  and  with 
the  consent  of  the  General  Assembly." 

Because,  to  render  perpetual  our  exemption  from  an 
unjust  taxation,  we  must  saddle  ourselves  with  a  perpetual 
tax,  adequate  to  the  expectations,  and  subject  to  the  dis- 
posal of  Parliament  alone :  whereas,  we  have  a  right  to 


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HOUSE  OF  BURGESSES  OF  VIRGINIA,  JUNE,  1775. 


1202 


give  our  money,  as  the  Parliament  does  theirs,  without 
coercion,  from  time  to  time,  as  "  publick  exigences  may 
require."  We  conceive  that  we  alone  are  the  judges  of 
the  condition,  circumstances,  and  situation  of  our  people, 
as  the  Parliament  are  of  theirs.  It  is  not  merely  the  mode 
of  raising,  but  the  freedom  of  granting  our  money,  for 
which  we  have  contended.  Without  this  we  possess  no 
check  on  the  royal  prerogative ;  and  what  must  be  much 
lamented  by  dutiful  and  loyal  subjects,  we  should  be  stripped 
of  the  only  means,  as  well  of  recommending  this  country 
to  the  favour  of  our  most  gracious  Sovereign,  as  of  strength- 
ening those  bands  of  amity  with  our  fellow-subjects,  which 
we  would  wish  to  remain  indissoluble. 

Because,  on  our  undertaking  to  grant  money  as  is  pro- 
posed, the  Commons  only  resolve  to  forbear  levying  pecu- 
niary taxes  on  us,  still  leaving  unrepealed  their  several  acts 
passed  for  the  purposes  of  restraining  the  Trade  and  alter- 
ing the  form  of  Government  of  the  Eastern  Colonies ;  ex- 
tending the  boundaries  and  changing  the  Government  and 
Religion  of  Quebeck ;  enlarging  the  jurisdiction  of  the 
Courts  of  Admiralty,  and  taking  from  us  the  right  of  Trial 
by  Jury  ;  and  transporting  us  into  other  Countries  to  be 
tried  for  criminal  offences.  Standing  Armies,  too,  are  still 
to  be  kept  among  us ;  and  the  other  numerous  grievances 
of  which  ourselves  and  sister  Colonies,  separately  and  by 
our  Representatives  in  General  Congress,  have  so  often 
complained,  are  still  to  continue  without  redress. 

Because,  at  the  very  time  of  requiring  from  us  grants  of 
money,  they  are  making  disposition  to  invade  us  with  large 
armaments  by  sea  and  land,  which  is  a  style  of  asking  gifts 
nut  reconcilable  to  our  freedom.  They  are  also  proceed- 
ing to  a  repetition  of  injury,  by  passing  Acts  for  restraining 
the  Commerce  and  Fisheries  of  the  Provinces  of  New- 
England,  and  for  prohibiting  the  Trade  of  the  other  Colo- 
nies with  all  parts  of  the  world,  except  the  Islands  of  Great 
Britain,  Ireland,  and  the  West-Indies.  This  seems  to 
bespeak  no  intention  to  discontinue  the  exercise  of  this 
usurped  power  over  us  in  future. 

Because,  on  our  agreeing  to  contribute  our  proportion 
towards  the  common  defence,  they  do  not  propose  to  lay 
open  to  us  a  free  trade  with  all  the  world :  whereas,  to  us 
it  appears  just,  that  those  who  bear  equally  the  burdens  of 
Government,  should  equally  participate  of  its  benefits. 
Either  be  content  with  the  monopoly  of  our  trade,  which 
brings  greater  loss  to  us  and  benefit  to  them  than  the 
amount  of  our  proportional  contributions  to  the  common 
defence;  or,  if  the  latter  be  preferred,  relinquish  the  for- 
mer, and  do  not  propose,  by  holding  both,  to  exact  from 
us  double  contributions.  Yet  we  would  remind  Govern- 
ment, that  on  former  emergencies,  when  called  upon  as  a 
free  people,  however  cramped  by  this  monopoly  in  our  re- 
sources of  wealth,  we  have  liberally  contributed  to  the 
common  defence.  Be  assured,  then,  that  we  shall  be  as 
generous  in  future  as  in  past  limes,  disdaining  the  shackles 
of  proportion  when  called  to  our  free  station  in  the  general 
system  of  the  Empire. 

Because  the  proposition  now  made  to  us  involves  the 
interest  of  all  the  other  Colonies.  We  are  now  represented 
in  General  Congress  by  members  approved  by  this  House, 
where  our  former  union,  it  is  hoped,  will  be  so  strongly 
cemented,  that  no  partial  application  can  produce  the 
slightest  departure  from  the  common  cause.  We  consider 
ourselves  as  bound  in  honour,  as  well  as  interest,  to  share 
one  general  fate  with  our  sister  Colonies,  and  should  hold 
ourselves  base  deserters  of  that  union  to  which  we  have 
acceded,  were  we  to  agree  on  any  measures  distinct  and 
apart  from  them. 

To  observe  that  there  was,  indeed,  a  plan  of  accommo- 
dation offered  in  Parliament,  which,  though  not  entirely 
equal  to  the  terms  we  had  a  right  to  ask,  yet  differed  but 
in  few  points  from  what  the  General  Congress  had  held 
out.  Had  Parliament  been  disposed  sincerely,  as  we  are, 
to  bring  about  a  reconciliation,  reasonable  men  had  hoped 
that  by  meeting  us  on  this  ground,  something  might  have 
been  done.  Lord  Chatham's  bill,  on  the  one  part,  and  the 
terms  of  the  Congress  on  the  other,  would  have  formed  a 
basis  for  negotiation,  which  a  spirit  of  accommodation  on 
both  sides  might,  perhaps,  have  reconciled.  It  came  re- 
commended, too,  from  one  whose  successful  experience  in 
the  art  of  Government  should  have  insured  to  it  some 
attention  from  those  to  whom  it  was  tendered.  He  had 
Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii. 


shown  to  the  world,  that  Great  Britain,  with  her  Colonies, 
united  firmly  under  a  just  and  honest  Government,  formed 
a  power  which  might  bid  defiance  to  the  most  potent  ene- 
mies. With  a  change  of  Ministers,  however,  a  total  change 
of  measures  took  place :  the  component  parts  of  the  Em- 
pire have,  from  that  moment,  been  falling  asunder,  and  a 
total  annihilation  of  its  weight  in  the  political  scale  of  the 
world  seems  justly  to  be  apprehended. 

To  declare  that  these  are  our  sentiments  on  this  impor- 
tant subject,  which  we  offer  only  as  an  individual  part  of 
the  whole  Empire.  Final  determination  we  leave  to  the 
General  Congress  now  sitting,  before  whom  we  shall  lay 
the  papers  his  Lordship  has  communicated  to  us.  To  their 
wisdom  we  commit  the  improvement  of  this  important  ad- 
vance :  if  it  can  be  wrought  into  any  good,  we  are  assured 
they  will  do  it.  To  them,  also,  we  refer  the  discovery  of 
that  proper  method  of  representing  our  well-founded  griev- 
ances, which  his  Lordship  assures  us  will  meet  with  the 
attention  and  regard  so  justly  due  to  them.  For  ourselves, 
we  have  exhausted  every  mode  of  application  which  our 
invention  could  suggest  as  proper  and  promising.  We  have 
decently  remonstrated  with  Parliament :  they  have  added 
new  injuries  to  the  old.  We  have  wearied  our  King  with 
supplications:  he  has  not  deigned  to  answer  us.  We  have 
appealed  to  the  native  honour  and  justice  of  the  British 
Nation  :  their  efforts  in  our  favour  have  been  hitherto  inef- 
fectual. What,  then,  remains  to  be  done?  That  we  com- 
mit our  injuries  to  the  evenhanded  justice  of  that  Being 
who  doth  no  wrong,  earnestly  beseeching  him  to  illuminate 
the  counsels,  and  prosper  the  endeavours  of  those  to  whom 
America  hath  confided  her  hopes,  that  through  their  wise 
direction  we  may  again  see  reunited  the  blessings  of  lib- 
erty, property,  and  union  with  Great  Britain. 

The  said  Resolution  being  read  a  second  time,  was, 
upon  the  question  being  put  thereupon,  agreed  to  by  the 
House. 

Ordered,  That  a  Committee  be  appointed  to  draw  up 
an  Address  to  be  presented  to  the  Governour  upon  the  said 
Resolution. 

And  a  Committee  was  appointed,  of  Mr.  Cary,  Mr. 
Treasurer,  Mr.  Jefferson,  Mr.  Munford,  Mr.  Mercer,  Mr. 
Jones,  Mr.  Digges,  and  Mr.  Nelson. 

A  Message  from  the  Council,  by  Mr.  Blair: 

Mr.  Speaker:  His  Excellency  the  Governour  hath 
desired  the  President  to  communicate  to  this  House  his 
Answer  to  the  joint  Address  of  the  Council  and  the  House 
of  Burgesses,  presented  yesterday  to  his  Excellency.  And 
he  presented  the  said  Answer  at  the  bar. 

And  then  the  Messenger  withdrew. 

The  Governour's  Answer  was  read,  and  is  as  follow- 
eth,  viz  : 

Gentlemen  of  the  Council,  Air.  Speaker  and 

Gentlemen  of  the  House  of  Burgesses : 
In  answer  to  your  joint  Address,  presented  by  your  Depu- 
ties yesterday,  I  acquaint  you  that  it  appears  to  me  the 
commotions  among  the  people,  and  their  menaces  and 
threats  (an  enumeration  of  which  I  forbear  out  of  tender- 
ness) have  been  of  such  publick  notoriety,  that  you  must 
suppose  many  of  His  Majesty's  subjects  in  this  Colony, 
whether  they  meditated  or  not,  have  at  least  manifested 
such  an  inveteracy  as  justifies  my  suspicion  that  they  would 
not  hesitate  to  commit  a  crime,  which,  horrid  and  atrocious 
as  it  is,  I  had  just  ground  to  apprehend.*  And  when  the 
disposition  which  the  House  of  Burgesses  have  shown  to 
me,  the  returns  they  have  made  to  the  respect  and  civility 
which  1  have  been  forward  to  offer  them,  the  countenance 
they  have  given  to  the  violent  and  disorderly  proceedings 
of  the  people,  His  Majesty's  magazine  having  been  forced 
and  rifled  in  the  presence  of  some  of  the  members  of  the 
House  of  Burgesses,  and,  by  the  information  of  the  Com- 
mittee of  the  House  appointed  to  inspect  the  magazine,  no 
other  endeavours  have  been  used  than  to  prevail  on  the 

*  London,  August  3,  1775. — Many  persons  have  been  at  a  loss  to 
account  for  Lord  Dunmore's  late  conduct;  but  we  have  authority 
to  say,  that  the  true  reason  of  his  Lordship's  retiring  on  board  the 
Fowey,  man-of-war,  was  an  express  from  General  Oage  by  the  Otter, 
sloop-of-war,  which  was  despatched  on  the  seventh  of  June,  to  acquaint 
him  of  his  intention  of  publishing  the  Proclamation,  which  appeared  on 
the  twelfth,  that  he  might  secure  himself  from  being  soi2od  and  de- 
tained as  a  hostage  in  the  hands  of  the  Americans,  in  «aee  of  the  appre. 
hension  of  Messrs.  Adams  and  Hancock. 


1203 


HOUSE  OF  BURGESSES  OF  VIRGINIA,  JUNE,  1775. 


1204 


people  to  return  the  arms  taken  out,  but  not  to  commit  the 
persons  in  whose  possession  they  were  found,  in  order  that 
they  might  be  brought  to  the  punishment  due  to  so  heinous 
an  offence,  no  less  against  the  peace  and  good  order  of  the 
Country  than  the  dignity  and  authority  of  the  King;  when 
a  body  of  men  assembled  in  the  City  of  WUliamsburgh, 
not  only  to  the  knowledge,  but  with  the  approbation  of 
every  body,  for  the  avowed  purpose  of  attacking  a  party  of 
the  King's  forces,  which,  without  the  least  foundation,  it  was 
reported  were  marching  to  my  protection,  and  which,  if  true, 
ought  to  have  been  approved  and  aided,  not  opposed  and 
insulted,  by  all  good  and  loyal  subjects;  when,  especially, 
the  House  of  Burgesses,  or  a  Committee  of  the  House, 
(which  is  the  same,)  has  ventured  upon  a  step  fraught  with 
the  most  alarming  consequences,  in  ordering  and  appointing 
guards,  without  ever  consulting  me,  to  mount  in  the  City 
of  WUliamsburgh,  as  is  pretended,  to  protect  the  magazine, 
but  which  may  well  be  doubted,  as  there  then  remained 
nothing  therein  which  required  being  guarded  ;  but  if  other- 
wise, this  step  nevertheless  shows  a  design  to  usurp  the 
Executive  power,  which,  if  it  be  persisted  in,  subverts  the 
Constitution  :  I  say,  when  these  circumstances  are  duly 
considered,  I  may  submit  it  to  your  own  judgment  whether 
I  could  reasonably  expect  any  good  effect  from  communi- 
cating the  ground  of  my  uneasiness  to  you. 

But  as  you  are  pleased,  Gentlemen,  now  to  assure  me 
that  you  will  cheerfully  concur  in  any  measure  that  may  be 
proposed  proper  for  the  security  of  myself  and  family,  I 
leave  to  your  own  consideration  whether  that  can  be  effected 
any  otherwise  than  by  reinstating  me  in  the  full  powers  of 
my  office,  as  His  Majesty's  representative,  by  opening  the 
courts  of  justice  and  restoring  the  energy  of  the  laws,  which 
is  all  the  security  requisite  for  all  parties;  by  disarming  all 
independent  companies,  or  other  bodies  of  men,  raised  and 
acting  in  defiance  of  lawful  authority  ;  and  by  obliging  those 
who  have  taken-  any  of  His  Majesty's  publick  store  of 
arms,  to  deliver  them  up  immediately ;  and  what  is  not  less 
essential  than  any  thing,  by  your  own  example,  and  every 
means  in  your  power,  abolishing  that  spirit  of  persecution, 
which,  to  the  disgrace  of  humanity,  now  reigns,  and  pursues 
with  menaces  and  acts  of  oppression  all  persons  who  differ 
from  the  multitude  in  political  opinion,  or  are  attached  from 
principles  and  duty  to  the  service  of  their  King  and  Govern- 
ment, by  which  means  (the  deluded  people  never  hearing 
but  the  disfigured  side  of  a  story)  their  minds  are  continu- 
ally kept  in  that  ferment,  which  subjects  them  for  ever  to 
be  imposed  upon,  and  leads  to  the  commission  of  many 
desperate  acts,  and  endangers  the  general  safety.  For  the 
more  speedy  accomplishment  of  these  ends,  and  the  great 
object  and  necessary  business  of  the  sessions,  I  shall  have 
no  objection  to  your  adjourning  to  the  Town  of  York, 
where  I  will  meet  you,  and  remain  with  you  till  your  busi- 
ness be  finished. 

With  respect  to  your  entreaty  that  I  should  return  to  the 
Palace,  as  the  most  likely  means  of  quieting  the  minds  of 
the  people,  I  must  represent  to  you  that  unless  there  be 
among  you  a  sincere  and  active  desire  to  seize  this  oppor- 
tunity now  offered  to  you  by  Parliament,  of  establishing  the 
freedom  of  your  Country  upon  a  fixed  and  known  founda- 
tion, and  of  uniting  yourselves  with  your  fellow-subjects  of 
Great  Britain  in  one  common  bond  of  interest  and  mutual 
assistance,  my  return  to  WUliamsburgh  would  be  as  fruitless 
to  the  people  as,  possibly,  it  might  be  dangerous  to  myself. 
But  if  your  proceedings  manifest  that  happy  disposition, 
which  is  to  be  desired  ardently  by  every  good  friend  to  this 
as  well  as  the  Mother  Country,  1  assure  you,  in  the  warmth 
of  my  heart,  that  I  will  return  with  the  greatest  joy,  and 
shall  consider  it  as  the  most  fortunate  event  of  my  life  if 
you  give  me  an  opportunity  to  be  an  instrument  of  pro- 
moting your  happiness,  and  a  mediator  between  you  and 
the  supreme  authority,  to  obtain  for  you  every  explanation 
of  your  doubts,  and  the  fullest  conviction  of  the  sincerity 
of  their  desire  to  confirm  to  you  the  undisturbed  enjoyment 
of  your  rights  and  liberty ;  and  I  shall  be  well  pleased,  by 
bringing  my  family  back  again,  that  you  should  have  such 
a  pledge  of  my  attachment  to  this  Country,  and  of  my 
wishes  to  cultivate  a  close  and  lasting  intimacy  with  the 
inhabitants.  Dunmore. 

June  10,  1775. 

Resolved,  That  tho  said  Answer  be  taken  into  consi- 
deration on  Monday  next. 


Resolved,  That  this  House  will,  upon  Monday  next, 
resolve  itself  into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole  House,  to 
take  into  consideration  the  Governour's  Answer  to  the  joint 
Address  of  the  Council  and  this  House. 

Ordered,  That  a  Committee  be  appointed  to  inquire 
into  the  causes  of  the  late  Disturbances  and  Commotions, 
and  report  the  same  as  they  shall  appear  to  them,  to  the 
House. 

And  a  Committee  was  appointed,  of  Mr.  Cary,  Mr.  Trea- 
surer, Mr.  Mercer,  Mr.  Banister,  Mr.  Munford,  Mr. 
Jones,  Mr.  Charles  Carter  of  Lancaster,  Mr.  Digges, 
Mr.  Whitinge,  Mr.  Nelson,  Mr.  Fra7icis  Lightfoot  Lee, 
Mr.  Wood,  Mr.  William  Cabell,  Mr.  Braxton,  and  Mr. 
Zane,  and  they  are  to  have  power  to  send  for  persons, 
papers,  and  records. 

Ordered,  That  leave  be  given  to  bring  in  a  Bill  for  ap- 
pointing an  Agent ;  and  that  Mr.  Braxton  and  Mr.  Trea- 
surer do  prepare,  and  bring  in  the  same. 

Monday,  June  12,  15  Geo.  Ill,  1775. 

A  Petition  of  the  community  of  Christians,  called  Me- 
nonitcs,  was  presented  to  the  House,  and  read,  setting  forth, 
that  the  Petitioners  hold  it  to  be  contrary  to  the  holy  word 
of  God  to  swear  in  any  matter  whatsoever;  so  that  they 
cannot  become  witnesses  in  matters  of  controversy  depend- 
ing in  any  Court;  nor  can  execute  the  office  of  executor 
of  any  testament;  nor  undertake  the  administration  of  any 
intestate's  estates  ;  whereby  they  suffer  many  inconvenien- 
ces ;  and  therefore  praying,  that  they  may  have  the  same 
liberty  of  affirming  to  the  truth  of  any  matter,  as  is  indulged 
to  the  people  called  Quakers,  whose  religious  persuasion 
that  of  the  Petitioners  nearly  resembles. 

Ordered,  That  the  said  Petition  be  referred  to  the  con- 
sideration of  the  Committee  of  Religion  ;  and  that  they  do 
examine  the  matter  thereof,  and  report  the  same  with  their 
opinion  thereupon  to  the  House. 

Mr.  Cary  reported  from  the  Committee  appointed  to 
draw  up  an  Address,  to  be  presented  to  the  Covomour, 
that  the  Committee  had  drawn  up  an  Address  accordingly  ; 
which  they  had  direcled  him  to  report  to  the  House.  And 
he  read  the  same  in  his  place,  and  afterwards  delivered  in 
at  the  Clerk's  table,  where  the  same  was  read;  and  is  as 
followeth,  viz : 

My  Lord:  We,  His  Majesty's  dutiful  and  loyal  sub- 
jects, the  Burgesses  of  Virginia,  now  met  in  General  As- 
sembly, have  taken  into  our  consideration  the  joint  Address 
of  the  two  Houses  of  Parliament,  His  Majesty's  Answer, 
and  the  Resolution  of  the  Commons,  which  your  Lordship 
has  been  pleased  to  lay  before  us.  Wishing  nothing  so 
sincerely  as  the  perpetual  continuance  of  that  brotherly 
love  which  we  bear  to  our  fellow-subjects  of  Great  Britain, 
and  still  continuing  to  hope  and  believe  that  they  do  not 
approve  the  measures  which  have  so  long  oppressed  their 
brethren  in  America,  we  were  pleased  to  receive  your 
Lordship's  notification,  that  a  benevolent  tender  had  at 
length  been  made  by  the  British  House  of  Commons  to- 
wards bringing  to  a  good  end  our  unhappy  disputes  with 
the  Mother  Country.  Next  to  the  possession  of  liberty, 
my  Lord,  we  should  consider  such  a  reconciliation  as  the 
greatest  of  all  human  blessings.  With  these  dispositions 
we  entered  into  the  consideration  .of  that  Resolution  ;  we 
examined  it  minutely  ;  we  viewed  it  in  every  point  of  light 
in  which  we  were  able  to  place  it ;  and,  with  pain  and  dis- 
appointment, we  must  ultimately  declare  it  only  changes 
the  form  of  oppression,  without  lightening  its  burden.  We 
cannot,  my  Lord,  close  with  the  terms  of  that  Resolution, 
for  these  reasons : 

Because  the  British  Parliament  has  no  right  to  inter- 
meddle with  the  support  of  civil  Government  in  the  Colo- 
nies. For  us,  not  for  them,  has  Government  been  institu- 
ted here.  Agreeable  to  our  ideas,  provision  has  been  made 
for  such  officers  as  we  think  necessary  for  the  administra- 
tion of  publick  affairs ;  and  we  cannot  conceive  that  any 
other  legislature  has  a  right  to  prescribe  either  the  number 
or  pecuniary  appointments  of  our  offices.  As  a  proof  that 
the  claim  of  Parliament  to  interfere  in  the  necessary  pro- 
visions for  the  support  of  civil  Government  is  novel,  and 
of  a  late  date,  we  take  leave  to  refer  to  an  Act  of  our  As- 
sembly, passed  so  long  since  as  the  thirty-second  year  of 
the  reign  of  King  Charles  the  Second,  intituled  "  An  Act 


1205 


HOUSE  OF  BURGESSES  OF  VIRGINIA,  JUNE,  1775. 


1206 


for  raising  a  publick  revenue,  and  for  the  better  support  of 
the  Government  of  His  Majesty's  Colony  of  Virginia." 
This  act  was  brought  over  by  Lord  Culpepper,  then  Gov- 
ernour,  under  the  great  seal  of  England,  and  was  enacted 
in  the  name  of  the  "  King's  most  excellent  Majesty,  by 
and  with  the  consent  of  the  General  Assembly." 

Because,  to  render  perpetual  our  exemption  from  an  un- 
just taxation,  we  must  saddle  ourselves  with  a  perpetual 
tax,  adequate  to  the  expectations,  and  subject  to  the  dis- 
posal of  Parliament  alone :  whereas,  we  have  a  right  to 
give  our  money,  as  the  Parliament  do  theirs,  without  coer- 
cion, from  time  to  time,  as  publick  exigences  may  require. 
We  conceive  that  we  alone  are  the  judges  of  the  condition, 
circumstances,  and  situation  of  our  people,  as  the  Parlia- 
ment are  of  theirs.  It  is  not  merely  the  mode  of  raising, 
but  the  freedom  of  granting  our  money,  for  which  we  have 
contended.  Without  this,  we  possess  no  check  on  the  royal 
prerogative ;  and,  what  must  be  lamented  by  dutiful  and 
loyal  subjects,  we  should  be  stripped  of  the  only  means,  as 
well  of  recommending  this  Country  to  the  favours  of  our 
most  gracious  Sovereign,  as  of  strengthening  those  bands 
of  amity  with  our  fellow-subjects,  which  we  would  wish  to 
remain  indissoluble. 

Because,  on  our  undertaking  to  grant  money,  as  is  pro- 
posed, the  Commons  only  resolve  to  forbear  levying  pecu- 
niary taxes  on  us,  still  leaving  unrepealed  their  several  Acts 
passed  for  the  purposes  of  restraining  the  Trade,  and  alter- 
ing the  form  of  Government  of  the  Eastern  Colonies ; 
extending  the  boundaries,  and  changing  the  Government 
and  Religion  of  Quebeck ;  enlarging  the  jurisdiction  of  the 
Courts  of  Admiralty  ;  taking  from  us  the  right  of  Trial  by 
Jury,  and  transporting  us  into  other  countries  to  be  tried 
for  criminal  offences.  Standing  Armies,  too,  are  still  to  be 
kept  among  us,  and  the  other  numerous  grievances,  of 
which  ourselves  and  sister  Colonies,  separately  and  by  our 
Representatives  in  General  Congress,  have  so  often  com- 
plained, are  still  to  continue  without  redress. 

Because,  at  the  very  time  of  requiring  from  us  grants  of 
money,  they  are  making  disposition  to  invade  us  with  large 
armaments  by  sea  and  land,  which  is  a  style  of  asking  gifts 
not  reconcilable  to  our  freedom.  They  are  also  proceed- 
ing to  a  repetition  of  injury,  by  passing  Acts  for  restraining 
the  Commerce  and  Fisheries  of  the  Provinces  of  New- 
England,  and  for  prohibiting  the  Trade  of  the  other  Co- 
lonies with  all  parts  of  the  world,  except  the  Island  of 
Great  Britain,  Ireland,  and  the  West-Indies.  This  seems 
to  bespeak  no  intention  to  discontinue  the  exercise  of  this 
usurped  power  over  us  in  future. 

Because,  on  our  agreeing  to  contribute  our  proportion 
towards  the  common  defence,  they  do  not  propose  to  lay 
open  to  us  a  free  trade  with  all  the  world :  whereas,  to  us 
it  appears  just  that  those  who  bear  equally  the  burdens  of 
Government  should  equally  participate  of  its  benefits ; 
either  be  contented  with  the  monopoly  of  our  trade,  which 
brings  greater  loss  to  us  and  benefit  to  them  than  the 
amount  of  our  proportional  contributions  to  the  common 
defence ;  or,  if  the  latter  be  preferred,  relinquish  the  for- 
mer, and  do  not  propose,  by  holding  both,  to  exact  from  us 
double  contributions.  Yet  we  would  remind  Government, 
that  on  former  emergencies,  when  called  upon  as  a  free  peo- 
ple, however  cramped  by  this  monopoly  in  our  resources  of 
wealth,  we  have  liberally  contributed  to  the  common  de- 
fence. Be  assured,  then,  that  we  shall  be  as  generous  in 
future  as  in  past  times,  disclaiming  the  shackles  of  propor- 
tion when  called  to  our  free  station  in  the  general  system 
of  the  Empire. 

Because  the  proposition  now  made  to  us  involves  the 
interest  of  all  the  other  Colonies.  We  are  now  repre- 
sented in  General  Congress  by  members  approved  by  this 
House,  where  our  former  union,  it  is  hoped,  will  be  so 
strongly  cemented,  that  no  partial  applications  can  produce 
the  slightest  departure  from  the  common  cause.  We  con- 
sider ourselves  as  bound  in  honour,  as  well  as  interest,  to 
share  one  general  fate  with  our  sister  Colonies  ;  and  should 
hold  ourselves  base  deserters  of  that  union  to  which  we 
have  acceded,  were  we  to  agree  on  any  measures  distinct 
and  apart  from  them. 

There  was,  indeed,  a  plan  of  accommodation  offered  in 
Parliament,  which,  though  not  entirely  equal  to  the  terms 
we  had  a  right  to  ask,  yet  differed  but  in  few  points  from 
what  the  General  Congress  had  held  out.   Had  Parliament 


been  disposed  sincerely,  as  we  are,  to  bring  about  a  recon- 
ciliation, reasonable  men  had  hoped,  that  by  meeting  us  on 
this  ground,  something  might  have  been  done.  Lord  Chat- 
ham's Bill,  on  the  one  part,  and  the  terms  of  Congress  on 
the  other,  would  have  formed  a  basis  for  negotiation,  which 
a  spirit  of  accommodation  on  both  sides  might,  perhaps, 
have  reconciled.  It  came  recommended,  too,  from  one 
whose  successful  experience  in  the  art  of  Government 
should  have  insured  it  some  attention  from  those  to  whom 
it  was  tendered.  He  had  shown  to  the  world,  that  Great 
Britain,  with  her  Colonies  united  firmly  under  a  just  and 
honest  Government,  formed  a  power  which  might  bid  de- 
fiance to  the  most  potent  enemies.  With  a  change  of  Min- 
isters, however,  a  total  change  of  measures  took  place. 
The  component  parts  of  the  Empire  have,  from  that  mo- 
ment, been  falling  asunder,  and  a  total  annihilation  of  its 
weight  in  the  political  scale  of  the  world,  seems  justly  to 
be  apprehended. 

These,  my  Lord,  are  our  sentiments  on  this  important  sub- 
ject, which  we  offer  only  as  an  individual  part  of  the  whole 
Empire.  Final  determination  we  leave  to  the  General  Con- 
gress, now  sitting,  before  whom  we  shall  lay  the  papers  your 
Lordship  has  communicated  to  us.  To  their  wisdom  we 
commit  the  improvement  of  this  important  advance ;  if  it 
can  be  wrought  into  any  good,  we  are  assured  they  will  do 
it.  To  them,  also,  we  refer  the  discovery  of  that  proper 
method  of  representing  our  well-founded  grievances,  which 
your  Lordship  assures  us  will  meet  with  the  attention  and 
regard  so  justly  due  to  them.  For  ourselves,  we  have  ex- 
hausted every  mode  of  application  which  our  invention 
could  suggest  as  proper  and  promising.  We  have  decently 
remonstrated  with  Parliament :  they  have  added  new  inju- 
ries to  the  old.  We  have  wearied  our  King  with  applica- 
tions :  he  has  not  deigned  to  answer  us.  We  have  appeal- 
ed to  the  native  honour  and  justice  of  the  British  Nation  : 
their  efforts  in  our  favour  have  been  hitherto  ineffectual. 
What,  then,  remains  to  be  done  ?  That  we  commit  our  in- 
juries to  the  evenhanded  justice  of  the  Being  who  doth 
no  wrong,  earnestly  beseeching  him  to  illuminate  the  coun- 
sels, and  prosper  the  endeavours  of  those  to  whom  Ame- 
rica hath  confided  her  hopes,  that  through  their  wise  direc- 
tion we  may  again  see  reunited  the  blessings  of  liberty, 
property,  and  harmony  with  Great  Britain. 

The  said  Address  being  read  a  second  time, 
Besolved,  That  the  House  doth  agree  with  the  Com- 
mittee in  the  said  Address,  to  be  presented  to  the  Govern- 
our. 

Resolved,  That  the  said  Address  be  presented  to  his 
Excellency  by  Mr.  Cary,  Mr.  Munford,  Mr.  Braxton,  Mr. 
Jones,  and  Mr.  Wood. 

The  Order  of  the  Day  being  read, 

Resolved,  That  this  House  will  to-morrow  resolve  itself 
into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole  House,  to  take  into  consi- 
deration the  Governour's  Answer  to  the  joint  Address  of 
the  Council  and  this  House. 

Tuesday,  June  13,  15  Geo.  Ill,  1775. 

Mr.  Mercer  reported,  from  the  Committee  appointed  to 
inspect  the  Magazine  in  this  City  and  inquire  into  the 
Stores  belonging  to  the  same,  that  the  Committee  had  in- 
spected the  said  Magazine,  and  inquired  into  the  said  Stores 
accordingly  ;  and  had  directed  him  to  report  the  same,  as  it 
appeared  to  them,  to  the  House;  and  he  read  the  Report 
in  his  place,  and  afterwards  delivered  it  in  at  the  Clerk's 
table  ;  where  the  same  was  read,  and  is  as  followeth,  viz: 

It  appears  to  your  Committee,  from  the  deposition  of 
John  Frederick  Miller,  keeper  of  the  magazine,  that  in 
June  last  there  were  thirty  barrels  of  gunpowder,  contain- 
ing each  about  fifty  weight,  in  indifferent  order ;  that,  by 
the  Governour's  directions,  he  sifted  twenty-seven  barrels, 
out  of  which  he  made  up  twenty-six  casks  and  better ;  the 
other  three  he  left  unsifted ;  that  the  President  soon 
after  sent  the  Governour,  then  ou  the  frontiers,  eight  of 
those  he  had  sifted,  three  hundred  muskets,  bayonets, 
cartouch  boxes,  and  canteens,  which  have  never  been 
returned ;  that  one  hundred  and  sixty  of  the  said  muskets 
were  furnished  out  of  the  palace,  and  soon  after  replaced 
out  of  the  magazine  ;  that  the  said  Miller,  by  order  of  the 
President,  also  delivered  out  about  fifty  stand  of  arms  to  some 
gentlemen  of  this  City,  which  h.ave  not  been  returned. 


1207 


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1208 


That,  about  the  middle  of  April  last,  the  said  Miller 
delivered  up  the  keys  of  the  magazine  to  the  Governour, 
and  he  then  left  there  twenty  one  barrels  and  a  half  of 
powder,  including  t he  three  unsifted;  three  hundred  and 
forty-two  new  muskets,  lately  cleaned,  and  in  complete 
order;  others  that  wanted  but  small  repairs,  and  a  large 
number  of  old  muskets,  and  other  small  guns,  almost  use- 
less, and  many  other  articles,  which  he  could  not  enume- 
rate. 

It  further  appears  to  the  Committee,  from  the  deposi- 
tions of  the  said  Miller,  and  John  Dixon,  Esquire,  Mayor 
of  this  City,  that  they  were  in  the  magazine  (soon  after 
the  powder  was  said  to  be  taken  away)  with  his  Excel- 
lency, who  then  mentioned,  that  he  had  taken  away  fifteen 
barrels  of  powder.  They  then  saw  eight  barrels  which 
they  understood  was  powder;  one  being  open,  appeared  to 
be  dust  of  powder ;  and,  at  the  same  time,  they  observed 
that  the  cleaned  muskets  were  without  locks;  and  the  said 
Miller  says  his  Excellency  rebuked  him  for  not  taking 
notice  of  that  circumstance;  and  the  said  Dixon  said  he 
observed  some  persons  had  b  en  in  the  magazine  over 
night,  as  he  saw  many  arms  lying  in  the  yard  of  it ;  and 
his  Excellency  then  told  him,  he  had  ordered  the  powder 
to  be  buried  in  the  magazine  yard ;  for  though  it  was  but 
dust,  yet,  as  he  understood  some  persons  went  into  the 
magazine  for  arms  in  the  night  with  a  light,  they  might  set 
fire  to  the  powder  and  injure  the  magazine. 

Your  Committee  farther  report,  that  before  they  pro- 
ceeded to  examine  any  witnesses,  they  waited  on  his  Ex- 
cellency, to  request  that  he  would  be  pleased  to  direct  the 
keeper  of  the  magazine  to  give  them  access  thereto;  and 
having  received  the  keys  three  days  after  the  first  applica- 
tion, they  immediately  proceeded  to  inspect  the  magazine, 
and  found  therein  nineteen  halberts ;  one  hundred  and 
fifty-seven  trading  guns,  in  pretty  good  order,  but  very  in- 
different in  the  kind  ;  fifty-one  pewter  basons ;  eight  camp 
kettles  ;  one  hundred  and  eight  new  muskets  without  locks  ; 
about  five  hundred  and  twenty-seven  old  muskets,  the 
barrels  very  rusty,  and  the  locks  almost  useless  ;  twelve 
hundred  cartouch  boxes  ;  fifteeen  hundred  cutlasses  with 
scabbards;  one  hundred  and  seventy  pistol  holsters,  and 
one  hundred  and  fifty  old  pistols,  or  thereabouts,  with  and 
without  locks ;  fifty  mallets ;  two  bundles  of  match  rope ; 
two  hundred  canteens;  thirty-five  small  swords,  in  bad 
order ;  one  tent  and  ten  poles ;  one  hogshead  of  powder- 
horns  ;  one  hundred  and  twenty-seven  bayonets ;  and  one 
hundred  knapsacks  in  the  smith's  shop,  and  that  part  of 
the  magazine  called  the  armory  ;  also  one  half  barrel  of 
dust  and  rotten  powder ;  one  half  barrel  and  a  quarter  of 
unsifted  powder,  tolerably  good,  in  the  powder  room,  that 
has  no  communication  with  the  armory  ;  also,  five  half 
barrels  of  loose  powder,  buried  in  a  hole  in  the  magazine 
yard,  the  top  of  which  (in  quantity  about  two  half  barrels) 
was  totally  destroyed  by  the  late  rains,  the  rest  very  damp, 
but  quite  sound ;  this,  his  Excellency  acknowledged  to 
your  Committee,  was  buried  there  by  his  orders.  The 
deficiency,  this  Committee  suppose,  is  owing  to  the  fifteen 
half  barrels  which  Captain  Collins  moved  from  the  maga- 
zine, as  acknowledged  in  the  Governour's  message  to  this 
House. 

And  your  Committee  farther  report,  that  the  morning 
before  they  entered  upon  this  business,  some  persons  un- 
known had  broke  into  the  magazine,  and  taken  out  arms, 
part  of  which,  upon  the  application  of  some  of  the  mem- 
bers of  this  House  and  other  gentlemen,  were  restored. 
And  finding  the  respect  paid  by  the  people  to  the  members 
of  this  House,  your  Committee  thought  it  most  likely,  to 
prevent  farther  depredations,  to  request  some  gentlemen  of 
the  Town  to  guard  the  magazine  till  application  could  be 
made  to  his  Excellency  for  leave  of  access  thereto,  which 
your  Committee  immediately  did,  informing  his  Lordship 
of  the  steps  they  had  taken  therein  ;  which  he  did  not 
object  to. 

That  the  doors  and  windows  of  the  magazine  now  want 
repairs,  which,  being  done,  your  Committee  are  of  opinion 
that  it  will  be  sufficiently  secure,  it  never  having  proved 
otherwise  since  its  first  erection,  now  sixty  years  past,  until 
since  the  powder  was  taken  by  order  of  the  Governour 
aforementioned. 

Your  Committee  also  proceeded  to  inquire  what  arms 
and  ammunition  had  been,  from  time  to  time,  deposited  in 


the  magazine,  and  the  disbursements  thereof,  but  could 
obtain  no  certain  information  respecting  the  same,  the  late 
keeper  being  out  of  the  Colony,  and  his  predecessor  dead  ; 
nor  can  your  Committee  find,  although  they  have  exam- 
ined several  persons  most  likely  to  be  acquainted  with  such 
facts,  and  applied  personally  to  His  Majesty's  Receiver- 
General  for  that  purpose,  that  any  powder  had  been  lodged 
in  the  magazine  from  on  board  the  Rijrpon  man-of-war,  or 
any  of  His  Majesty's  ships. 

Ordered,  That  the  said  Report  do  lie  upon  the  table,  to 
be  perused  by  the  Members  of  the  House. 

Resolved,  That  a  Message  be  sent  to  His  Majesty's 
Council  acquainting  them,  that  since  his  Excellency  the 
Governour  hath  been  pleased  to  remove  from  the  Palace, 
the  House  are  exceedingly  apprehensive  that  the  publick 
Arms  therein  are  too  much  exposed,  and  beg  to  be  informed 
whether  in  their  opinion  some  proper  method  cannot  be 
taken  to  secure  as  well  these  Arms  as  those  in  the  publick 
Magazine. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Braxton  and  Mr.  Treasurer  do  carry 
the  said  Message  to  the  Council. 

A  Petition  of  sundry  persons  of  the  community  of  Chris- 
tians called  Baptists,  and  other  Protestant  Dissenters,  whose 
names  are  thereunto  subscribed,  was  presented  to  the  House 
and  read  ;  setting  forth,  that  the  toleration  proposed  by  the 
bill  ordered  at  a  former  session  of  General  Assembly  to  be 
printed  and  published,  not  admitting  publick  worship,  except 
in  the  day  time,  is  inconsistent  with  the  laws  of  England, 
as  well  as  with  the  practice  and  usage  of  the  primitive 
churches,  and  even  of  the  English  church  itself;  that  the 
night  season  may  sometimes  be  better  spared  by  the  Peti- 
tioners from  the  necessary  duties  of  their  callings;  and  that 
they  wish  for  no  indulgences  which  may  disturb  the  peace 
of  Government;  and  therefore  praying  the  House  to  take 
their  case  into  consideration,  and  to  grant  them  suitable 
redress. 

Ordered,  That  the  said  Petition  do  lie  upon  the  table. 

Mr.  Braxton  presented  to  the  House,  according  to  order, 
a  Bill  for  appointing  an  Agent ;  and  the  same  was  received 
and  read  the  first  time. 

Resolved,  That  the  Bill  be  read  a  second  time. 

The  other  Order  of  the  Day  being  read, 

Resolved,  That  this  House  will,  to-morrow,  resolve  itself 
into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole  House,  to  take  into  consi- 
deration the  Governour's  Answer  to  the  joint  Address  of 
the  Council  and  this  House. 

Wednesday,  June  14,  15  Geo.  Ill,  1775. 
Richard  Bland,  Esq.,  one  of  the  Delegates  from  this 
Colony  to  the  General  Congress  at  Philadelphia,  acquaint- 
ed the  House  that  a  petition  of  several  persons  in  that  part 
of  the  County  of  Augusta,  which  is  on  the  west  side  of  the 
Alleghany  Mountain,  addressed  to  the  President  and  Gen- 
tlemen of  the  Continental  Congress,  having  been  presented 
to  them,  setting  forth  that  the  petitioners  had  grievously 
suffered  by  the  devastations  of  the  Indians  in  the  late  war: 
that,  to  avoid  captivity  by  an  enemy  so  insidious,  cruel, 
and  savage,  many  of  the  petitioners  having  been  obliged  to 
desert  their  habitation  and  retire  to  Forts,  so  that  they  could 
not  till  the  ground,  now  wanted  bread,  and  supported  them- 
selves chiefly  by  the  spontaneous  productions  of  the  earth  ; 
that  the  promising  appearance  of  a  plentiful  crop  had 
encouraged  them  to  bear  these  afflictions  without  repining, 
and  to  hope  for  better  times ;  but  that  those  fair  prospects 
would  probably  be  delusive,  unless  effectual  measures  were 
pursued  to  avert  the  calamities  with  which  they  were 
threatened  ;  that  Lord  Dunmorc,  after  the  expedition 
against  the  Indians,  promised  to  meet  them  at  Pittsburgh 
in  the  spring,  and  conclude  a  peace,  and  then  restore  the 
hostages  delivered  to  him,  and  discharge  the  captives;  that 
the  Indians  had  been  uneasy  for  some  time  because  the 
treaty  was  deferred ;  that  the  Dclawares  particularly  were 
very  much  dissatisfied,  and  repented  that  they  had  not 
joined  the  Shawancsc  in  the  war,  since  they  found  the 
white  people  were  not  to  be  depended  on  ;  that  the  com- 
mandant in  that  quarter  for  Government  had  instructions, 
as  the  petitioners  were  informed,  to  assemble  the  Indians 
at  that  place  so  soon  as  he  could,  when  the  hostages  and 
prisoners  would  be  delivered  up ;  and  that  the  petitioners, 


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HOUSE  OF  BURGESSES  OF  VIRGINIA,  JUNE,  1775. 


1210 


unable  to  discover  the  design  of  Government,  apprehended 
every  evil  from  the  threats  of  it  to  enfranchise  the  slaves, 
on  condition  they  would  rebel  against  their  masters:  and 
therefore  praying  the  Congress,  to  which  application  was 
made  because  it  was  thought  the  Provincial  Assemblies 
could  not  provide  adequate  remedies  early  enough,  to  take 
the  case  of  the  petitioners  into  consideration,  and  appoint 
Commissioners  from  this  Colony  and  Pennsylvania,  to  at- 
tend the  meeting  of  the  Indians,  and  co-operate  with  Gov- 
ernment for  the  publick  good;  or,  if  the  latter  should  fail, 
to  nominate  persons  for  that  purpose,  and  proceed  without 
them  in  the  treaty,  which  is  absolutely  necessary.  The 
Congress  referred  the  said  Petition  to  the  Delegates  of  this 
Colony  and  Pennsylvania,  who  having  considered  the  same, 
and  being  of  opinion  that  the  matter  ought  to  be  commu- 
nicated to  this  House,  and  submitted  to  their  consideration, 
Mr.  Bland  was  directed  by  his  colleagues  to  lay  the  same 
before  the  House,  which  he  thus  did  with  all  convenient 
expedition. 

The  said  information  being  immediately  taken  into  con- 
sideration. 

Resolved,  That  Thomas  Walker,  James  Wood,  Andrew 
hie  wis,  John  Walker,  and  Adam  Stephen,  Esquires,  be  ap- 
pointed Commissioners  to  ratify  the  Treaty  of  Peace  be- 
tween this  Colony  and  the  Indians. 

Ordered,  That  a  Bill  be  brought  in  pursuant  to  the  said 
Resolution,  and  that  Mr.  Tieasurer  and  Mr.  Dnndridge  do 
prepare  and  bring  in  the  same. 

Ordered,  That  it  be  an  instruction  to  the  gentlemen  ap- 
pointed to  prepare  and  bring  in  the  said  Bill,  that  they  have 
power  to  receive  a  clause  or  clauses,  to  empower  the  said 
Commissioners  to  join  with  such  other  Commissioners  as 
may  be  appointed  by  the  Assembly  of  Pennsylvania,  in 
such  manner  as  shall  be  judged  most  proper  for  conciliating 
the  friendship  of  the  Indians,  and  perpetuating  the  peace 
now  subsisting  between  the  said  Indians  and  the  Colonies. 

Mr.  Cary  reported  from  the  Committee  appointed  to 
inquire  info  the  causes  of  the  late  Disturbances  and  Com- 
motions, that  the  Committee  had  inquired  accordingly,  and 
had  directed  him  to  report  the  causes  of  the  said  Distur- 
bances and  Commotions,  as  they  appeared  to  them,  to  the 
House ;  and  he  read  the  Report  in  his  place,  and  after- 
wards delivered  it  at  the  Clerk's  table,  where  the  same 
was  read,  and  is  as  followeth,  viz: 

It  appears  to  your  Committee,  by  the  testimony  of  Doc- 
tor William  Pasteur,  that  on  Friday  morning,  the  twenty- 
third  of  April  last,  there  was  a  commotion  in  the  City  of 
WilHamsburgh,  occasioned  by  the  Governour's  removing 
some  powder  from  the  publick  magazine;  that  a  common 
hall  being  assembled  he  attended  ;  an  address  was  pre- 
sented to  his  Excellency  the  Governour,  and  an  answer 
received,  as  published  in  the  Virginia  Gazette;  that  the 
people,  at  the  request  of  the  Corporation,  retired  peaceably 
to  their  habitations  ;  that,  during  the  commotion,  the  Cap- 
tains Foy,  Montague,  and  Collins,  walked  the  main  street 
unmolested  ;  that,  in  the  morning  of  the  twenty-third  of 
April,  the  said  Pasteur,  attending  a  patient  at  the  Palace, 
accidentally  met  with  his  Excellency  the  Governour,  who 
introduced  a  conversation  relative  to  what  had  passed  the 
preceding  day,  and  seemed  greatly  exasperated  at  the  peo- 
ple's having  been  under  arms;  when  the  said  Pasteur  ob- 
served, that  it  was  done  in  a  hurry  and  confusion,  and  that 
most  of  the  people  were  convinced  they  were  wrong.  His 
Lordship  then  proceeded  to  make  use  of  several  rash  ex- 
pressions, and  said  that  though  he  did  not  think  himself  in 
danger,  yet  understood  some  injury  or  insult  was  intended 
to  be  offered  to  the  Captains  Foy  and  Collins,  which  he 
should  consider  as  done  to  himself,  as  those  gentlemen 
acted  entirely  by  his  particular  directions ;  that  his  Lord- 
ship then  swore  by  the  living  God,  that  if  a  grain  of  powder 
was  burnt  at  Captain  Foy  or  Collins,  or  if  any  injury  or 
insult  was  offered  to  himself  or  either  of  them,  that  he 
would  declare  freedom  to  the  slaves,  and  reduce  the  City 
of  WilHamsburgh  to  ashes.  His  Lordship  then  mentioned 
setting  up  the  royal  standard,  but  did  not  say  that  he  would 
actually  do  it,  but  said  he  believed  if  he  did,  he  should 
have  a  majority  of  white  people,  and  all  the  slaves,  on  the 
side  of  Government ;  that  he  had  once  fought  for  the  Vir- 
ginians, and  that,  by  God,  he  would  let  them  see  that  he 
could  fight  against  them,  and  declared  that  in  a  short  time 


he  could  depopulate  the  whole  Country.  That  his  Excel- 
lency desired  the  said  Pasteur  immediately  to  communicate 
this  to  the  Speaker  and  other  gentlemen  of  the  Town,  for 
that  there  was  not  an  hour  to  spare :  adding  also,  that  if 
Finnie  and  George  Nicholas  continued  to  go  at  large,  what 
he  had  said  would,  from  some  misconduct  of  theirs,  be 
carried  into  execution.  That  the  said  Pasteur  immediately 
communicated  this  matter  to  the  Speaker  and  several  other 
gentlemen  of  the  Town,  and  it  soon  became  publickly 
known;  in  consequence  of  which  two  of  the  principal  gen- 
tlemen of  the  City  sent  their  wives  and  children  into  the 
country.  That  bis  Excellency  at  other  times,  more  than 
once,  did  say  he  should  not  carry  these  plans  into  execu- 
tion unless  he  was  attacked.  That  the  inhabitants  of  Wil- 
Hamsburgh were  soon  after  informed,  by  an  express  from 
Fredericksburgh,  that  the  people  in  that  part  of  the  country 
were  in  motion  towards  this  City.  That  the  next  morning 
after  this  report,  the  said  Pasteur,  attending  a  patient  at  the 
Palace,  again  met  accidentally  with  the  Governour,  who 
declared  to  the  said  Pasteur,  that  if  a  large  body  of  people 
came  below  Rutin's  Ferry,  (a  place  about  thirty  miles  from 
this  City,)  he  would  immediately  enlarge  his  plan  and 
carry  it  into  execution;  but  said  that  he  should  not  regard 
a  small  number  of  men,  adding,  he  then  had  two  hundred 
muskets  loaded  in  the  Palace.  The  said  Pasteur  saith, 
that,  to  the  best  of  his  knowledge,  at  the  time  Lady  Dun- 
more  and  family  removed  from  H  illiamsburgh  on  board  the 
Fowey,  man-of-war,  then  lying  at  York,  the  inhabitants  of 
this  City  were  very  peaceable. 

It  appears  to  your  Committee,  from  the  testimony  of 
Benjamin  Waller,  that  the  morning  after  the  powder  was 
removed  from  the  publick  magazine,  the  people  in  the  City 
of  WilHamsburgh  were  much  alarmed,  and  assembled,  some 
with,  and  others  without  arms ;  but  when  the  Corporation 
reported  the  Governour's  answer  to  their  Address,  they,  by 
the  persuasions  of  the  Magistrates  and  other  principal  gen- 
tlemen of  the  Town,  dispersed  and  were  quiet,  except  in 
the  evening,  when  a  report  prevailed  that  the  Marines  were 
landed,  and  intended  to  attack  the  Town  ;  they  expressed 
great  uneasiness,  and  went  with  their  arms  to  the  magazine 
to  guard  it,  but  soon  dispersed,  except  a  few,  who  acted  as 
a  patrol  that  night.  That  the  next  day  Dr.  Pasteur  came 
to  the  said  Waller's  house  and  informed  him  of  the  Govern- 
our's threatening,  that  if  himself,  his  family,  or  Captain  Col- 
lins, were  insulted,  he  would  declare  liberty  to  the  slaves, 
and  lay  the  Town  in  ashes  ;  and  that  the  Governour  had  de- 
sired him  to  communicate  this  his  declaration  to  the  Magis- 
trates of  the  City,  for  that  there  was  not  an  hour  to  lose. 
That  these  declarations  gave  the  said  Waller  and  the  other 
inhabitants  of  the  Town  great  uneasiness.  That  several 
days  afterwards  his  Excellency  came  to  the  said  Waller  s 
house  on  some  private  business,  and  in  the  course  of  con- 
versation his  Lordship  said  that  Captain  Collins  had  only- 
taken  fifteen  half  barrels  of  powder  from  the  magazine : 
that  some  was  not  good,  and  others  not  full ;  but  that  be 
believed  that  one  whole  barrel  might  be  got  out  of  three 
half  barrels ;  whereupon  the  said  Waller  took  the  liberty 
to  mention  to  his  Lordship,  that  he  was  sorry  to  tell  his 
Excellency  that  he  had  lost  the  confidence  of  the  people, 
not  so  much  for  having  taken  the  powder,  as  for  the  decla- 
ration he  made  of  raising  and  freeing  the  slaves  ;  to  which 
he  answered,  that  he  did  say  so,  and  made  no  secret  of  it. 
and  that  he  would  do  that  or  any  thing  else,  to  have  de- 
fended himself,  in  case  he  had  been  attacked.  That  his 
Lordship  farther  observed,  that  some  slaves  had  offered  him 
their  service  at  the  time  the  Hanover  men  were  coming 
down,  but  that  he  had  sent  them  away.  The  said  Ben- 
jamin Waller  farther  says,  that  several  young  gentlemen  of 
the  Town,  and  others,  had  formed  themselves  into  a  com- 
pany, (by  the  name  of  an  Independent  Company,)  to  learn 
the  military  exercise,  and  elected  the  Colonel  of  the  Mi- 
litia for  their  Captain,  and  that  they  usually  mustered  once 
a  week.  That  when  his  Excellency  returned  from  the 
Indian  expedition  last  fall,  many  of  the  said  company 
waited  upon  him  in  their  uniform,  to  congratulate  his  Lord- 
ship on  his  return  ;  but  the  said  Waller  heard  they  were 
coolly  received.  That  said  Waller  says  that  he  never 
heard  of  any  powder  being  lodged  in  the  magazine  from 
the  Rippon,  man-of-war,  until  since  the  removal  of  the 
powder,  and  then  only  from  report,  the  truth  of  which  bt 
does  not  know. 


1211 


HOUSE  OF  BURGESSES  OF  VIRGINIA,  JUNE,  1775. 


1212 


It  also  appears  to  your  Committee,  from  the  testimony 
of  John  Randolph,  Esq.,  Attorney-General,  of  the  City  of 
If  illiamsburgh,  that  the  morning  after  the  removal  of  the 
powder,  many  of  the  people  were  under  arms  at  the  Court- 
House.  That  he  does  not  recollect  he  heard  the  Governour 
expressly  say  he  would  proclaim  freedom  to  the  slaves,  but 
is  well  satisfied  such  was  his  Lordship's  intention,  if  it  had 
been  necessary  for  him  to  take  up  arms  in  defence  of  his 
person.  That  he  does  not  recollect  he  ever  saw  any  of  the 
people  under  arras  (except  on  the  removal  of  the  powder) 
but  the  volunteer  company  when  exercising ;  which  com- 
pany had  been  formed  a  considerable  time  before  the  dis- 
turbance happened.  That  he  thought  Lady  Dunmore  had 
no  reason,  but  the  timidity  of  her  sex,  to  suspect  any  injury 
would  be  done  her  or  her  family;  nor  did  he  know  that 
Lord  Dunmore  had  just  cause  to  apprehend  danger,  unless 
he  gave  credit  to  the  reports  carried  to  him,  which  were  of 
such  a  nature  as  to  justify  an  opinion  that  his  person  was 
not  safe.  That  he  is  of  opinion,  and  that  he  informed  the 
Governour  so  when  he,  with  other  gentlemen,  waited  upon 
him  with  the  address  of  the  House,  that  his  person  was 
in  no  danger.  That  his  Lordship  was  almost  every  day  at 
his,  the  said  Randolph's,  house,  distant  above  a  quarter  of 
a  mile  from  the  Palace,  and  in  particular  the  evening  of  his 
departure,  and  that  his  Lordship  received  no  insult,  as  he 
knows  of,  in  passing  to  and  from  thence.  The  said  Ran- 
dolph says  that  he  understood  from  the  Governour,  in  case 
armed  people  came  to  Williamsburgh,  he  would  fix  up  the 
royal  standard  to  distinguish  the  friends  of  Government 
from  its  foes  ;  and  that  if  negroes,  on  that  occasion,  offered 
their  services,  they  would  be  received.  That  the  Governour 
informed  him  (by  one  of  his  servants)  some  negroes  had 
offered  their  service,  but  ordered  his  servant  to  bid  them  go 
about  their  business.  That  the  morning  after  the  removal 
of  the  powder,  the  said  Randolph  saw  Captain  Collins,  Cap- 
tain Foy,  and,  he  believes,  Captain  Stretch,  pass  through 
the  people  unmolested. 

It  also  appears,  by  the  testimony  of  John  Dixon,  Esq., 
Mayor  of  the  City  of  Williamsburgh,  that,  in  the  opinion 
of  the  inhabitants,  the  Militia  of  the  City  being  on  an  in- 
different footing,  and  they  having  heard  of  an  independent 
company  established  at  Norfolk,  were  desirous  of  forming 
one  in  Williamsburgh,  That  such  company  was  accord- 
ingly formed,  and,  although  he  does  not  know  the  Gov- 
ernour was  ever  present  when  they  were  exercised,  the 
said  Dixon  never  heard  he  disapproved  of  it.  That  his 
Honour  the  President,  while  the  Governour  was  out  on 
the  Indian  expedition,  directed  the  keeper  of  the  publick 
magazine  to  furnish  the  company  with  muskets.  That  a 
Committee  was  chosen  in  the  City,  agreeable  to  the  direc- 
tions of  the  Congress,  but  not  to  act,  as  he  knew  of,  under 
the  Committee.  That  upon  the  Governour's  return  from 
the  Indian  expedition,  one  of  the  company  waited  upon 
his  Excellency,  to  inform  him  the  company  intended  to 
pay  their  compliments  to  him  the  next  morning,  before  the 
Palace,  if  agreeable  to  Lady  Dunmore,  who  was'then  in- 
disposed; but  his  Lordship  being  out  of  the  way,  the  per- 
son who  went,  left  his  compliments  of  the  above  import. 
That  the  next  morning  the  said  Dixon,  as  captain,  with 
part  of  the  company,  drew  up  in  Palace-street,  and  paid 
the  usual  compliments.  That  his  Lordship  did  not  come 
out  to  meet  them  ;  but  some  time  afterwards  there  was  a 
message  delivered  by  Mr.  Rlair,  from  his  Excellency,  that 
he  would  have  done  himself  the  pleasure  of  waiting  upon 
them,  if  they  had  staid  a  little  longer,  as  he  did  not  expect 
they  would  have  finished  their  exercise  so  soon.  That  the 
morning  after  the  powder  was  removed,  many  of  the  inha- 
bitants being  much  alarmed,  and  greatly  incensed  against 
Capt.  Foy  and  Capt.  Collins,  assembled  at  the  Court-House 
under  arms ;  but  docs  not  believe,  nor  has  he  heard  any 
injury  or  insult  was  intended  to  the  Governour.  That 
some  time  after  the  Governour's  answer  to  the  address  of 
the  Corporation  was  read,  the  people,  upon  the  interposi- 
tion of  the  Magistrates,  and  other  gentlemen,  were  satisfied, 
and  returned  home  in  quiet.  That  after  the  Governour 
had  declared  what  Captain  Collins  had  done  was  by  his 
order,  their  resentment  against  Captain  Collins  subsided. 
That  the  same  evening  the  powder  was  removed  a  report 
prevailed  that  a  number  of  armed  men  from  Captain  Col- 
linses schooner  had  landed  at  Bur  well's  Ferry,  about  four 
miles  from  Williamsburgh,  with  design,  as  was  supposed, 


to  remove  the  arms  from  the  magazine ;  whereupon  many 
of  the  inhabitants  repaired  to  the  magazine,  to  prevent 
such  design  being  executed  ;  but  by  the  advice  of  some 
gentlemen,  they  all  dispersed  except  such  as  patrolled  that 
night.  That  the  inhabitants  appeared  to  be  in  perfect  tran- 
quillity, till  a  report  was  spread  of  his  Excellency's  throw- 
ing out  some  threats  respecting  the  slaves,  when  there 
seemed  to  be  great  uneasiness  ;  but  nothing  more  was  done 
but  doubling  the  usual  patrol.  That  after  the  alarm  was 
over  the  first  day,  he  remembers  to  have  seen  Captain  Foy 
and  Captain  Montague  walk  the  streets,  and  he  believes 
without  insult ;  and  frequently  saw  them,  Captain  Collins 
and  other  officers,  do  the  same,  without  their  swords,  unmo- 
lested by  the  inhabitants. 

It  also  appears,  by  the  testimony  of  Joseph  Ilutchings, 
Colonel  of  the  Militia  of  the  Borough  of  Norfolk,  that 
some  years  ago  the  inhabitants,  judging  it  would  be  a 
means  of  their  greater  security,  proposed  raising  an  inde- 
pendent company,  that,  by  their  being  more  regularly 
trained,  they  might  be  more  capable  of  acting  upon  an 
emergency ;  that  some  time  afterwards,  his  Excellency 
Lord  Dunmore  being  at  Norfolk,  the  said  Hutchings  in- 
formed him  of  the  intention  of  the  inhabitants,  and  asked 
his  advice  how  to  act  as  to  granting  commissions,  the 
company  intending  to  choose  their  own  officers;  that  his 
Lordship  highly  commended  the  proposal,  advised  the  said 
Hutchings  to  encourage  and  grant  commissions  to  such 
officers  as  might  be  chosen,  and  expressed  his  wishes  that 
the  example  might  be  followed  throughout  the  Country. 
That  about  two  years  afterwards  his  Lordship  was  again  at 
Norfolk,  when  the  company  was  completely  formed  and 
regimented  ;  and,  having  drawn  them  up,  his  Lordship 
marched  through  the  lines  in  order  to  review  them,  and 
again  expressed  great  satisfaction. 

Your  Committee  then  proceeded  to  examine  several  gen- 
tlemen, merchants,  natives  of  Great  Britain,  who  reside 
in  different  parts  of  this  Colony,  respecting  the  disposition 
of  its  people,  and  its  internal  peace,  the  causes  of  the  late 
commotions,  and  the  progress  thereof;  and  it  appears  to 
your  Committee,  from  the  depositions  by  them  taken,  as 
follows : 

It  appears,  from  the  testimony  of  Hugh  Hamilton,  of 
the  County  of  Westmoreland ,  that  the  Courts  of  this  Colo- 
ny have  always  proceeded  in  criminal  business  as  usual, 
but  declined  trying  civil  causes  immediately  on  the  lapse 
of  the  Fee-Bill,  which,  together  with  the  Non- Exportation 
Agreement,  was,  in  his  opinion,  the  cause  of  stopping  that 
business,  rather  than  an  inclination  of  withholding  justice, 
his  acquaintances  having  the  same  inclination  to  pay  their 
debts  as  before  the  stoppage  of  the  Courts.  That  Com- 
mittees had  been  chosen  within  these  twelve  months, 
and  independent  companies  formed  in  his  and  the  neigh- 
bouring Counties  about  the  month  of  February  last,  for 
the  defence  of  the  Colony,  and  that  he  never  heard  they 
were  designed  to  .protect  the  Committee.  That,  in  his 
County,  the  gentlemen  have  been  at  proper  pains  to  pre- 
serve order;  and  it  has  been  recommended  to  the  Militia 
to  acquire  a  knowledge  of  the  military  exercise.  That  the 
people  within  his  acquaintance  have  been  very  orderly,  and 
that  he  never  saw  any  commotion  before  the  powder  was 
taken  from  the  magazine;  that  there  was  an  alarm  con- 
cerning the  slaves  prior  to  this  transaction,  which  was 
greatly  increased  by  the  report  of  the  Governour's  inten- 
tion to  declare  them  free.  That  he  never  discovered  the 
smallest  inclination  in  any  of  the  inhabitants  to  be  indepen- 
dent of  Great  Britain;  but,  on  the  contrary,  a  most  eager 
desire  for  a  connexion,  as  it  stood  prior  to  the  acts  of  Par- 
liament imposing  taxes  on  America;  and  he  is  persuaded 
a  redress  of  grievances  complained  of  would  establish  a 
perfect  tranquillity  throughout  this  Colony,  and  produce  a 
reconciliation  with  the  Parent  State. 

It  appears,  from  the  testimony  of  Thomas  Mitchell,  of 
the  County  of  Louisa,  that  the  loss  of  the  Fee-Bill  is  gene- 
rally assigned,  and,  he  believes,  was  the  immediate  cause 
of  stopping  the  civil  proceedings  in  the  courts  of  justice; 
but  apprehends  their  not  being  resumed  is  owing  to  the 
commercial  mode  of  opposition.  That  no  independent 
company  was  formed  in  the  said  County  until  the  8th  of 
May,  1775,  or  thereabouts,  nor  a  Committee  chosen  until 
some  months  after  the  Association  entered  into;  and  it  is 
his  opinion  the  said  company  was  raised  with  a  view  to  put 


HOUSE  OF  BURGESSES  OF  VIRGINIA,  JUNE,  1775. 


the  Colony  into  a  state  of  defence,  but  believes  it  would 
assist  their  Committee,  if  called  on.  That  no  commotions 
have  happened  in  the  said  County,  but  that  the  Govern- 
our's  declaration  to  give  freedom  to  the  slaves  greatly  in- 
llamed  the  minds  of  those  who  believed  it ;  but  does  not 
think  that  belief  was  general.  That  he  does  not  think  the 
Colony  wish  to  be  independent  of  Great  Britain,  and  is 
satisfied  a  redress  of  the  grievances  complained  of  would 
restore  tranquillity  and  reconciliation. 

It  appears,  from  the  testimony  of  James  Lyle  and  Robert 
Donald,  of  the  County  of  Chesterjield,  that  the  reason  as- 
signed for  slopping  the  Courts  in  civil  proceedings  was  the 
expiration  of  the  Fee-Bill ;  and  they  are  of  opinion,  that 
their  refusing  to  proceed  now  is  owing  to  the  adopted  mode 
of  commercial  opposition.  That  no  independent  company 
was  formed  in  Chesterjield  till  a  few  weeks  ago,  and  that 
they  were  intended  for  the  general  defence  of  the  Coun- 
try, and  not,  as  they  know,  designed  for  the  protection  of 
the  Committee,  or  to  be  under  their  direction  ;  but  they 
believe  they  would  protect  the  Committee,  if  required. 
That  the  inhabitants  were  quiet  and  peaceable  prior  to  the 
removal  of  the  powder,  and  were  greatly  alarmed  and  ex- 
asperated at  the  Governour's  declaration  of  giving  freedom 
to  the  slaves,  since  which  uncommon  diligence  has  been 
used  in  training  the  Independent  Company  and  the  Militia 
to  arms;  but  the  people  have  always  behaved  themselves 
orderly,  paying  the  greatest  regard  to  the  prudent  advice 
of  their  officers.  That  they  have  no  reason  to  believe  the 
people  wish  an  independence  of  Great  Britain,  and  firmly 
believe  a  redress  of  the  present  grievances  would  establish 
general  tranquillity  throughout  this  Colony,  and  a  recon- 
ciliation with  Great  Britain. 

It  appears,  from  the  testimony  of  Thomas  Hodge  and 
James  Robison,  of  King  George  County,  Charles  Yates 
and  Henry  Mitchell,  of  Spottsylrania,  and  Robert  Gil- 
christ and  Patrick  Kennan,  of  Caroline,  that  the  expiration 
of  the  Fee-Bill  was  the  immediate  cause  of  stopping  the 
Courts  in  civil  causes.  That  it  has  been  since  considered 
as  a  political  means  of  obtaining  a  redress  of  grievances, 
by  interesting  the  British  merchants,  who  have  property 
here,  in  our  behalf;  and  that,  since  it  has  been  determined 
to  discontinue  the  exports,  it  has  been  thought  necessary ; 
but  the  Courts  proceed  in  criminal  cases  as  usual.  That 
Committees  have  been  established  to  enforce  the  resolu- 
tions of  the  General  Congress,  and  independent  companies 
formed  to  learn  the  use  of  arms,  at  different  periods :  in 
Spottsylvania  some  time  last  winter,  in  Caroline  in  Febru- 
ary or  March  last,  and  in  King  George  since  the  last 
Colony  Convention  in  March.  Tiny  do  not  know  that 
they  were  established  to  protect  the  Committees,  hut  believe 
the  defence  of  the  Colony  was  the  first  and  principal  motive. 
That  some  of  the  Independent  Company  of  Spottsylvania 
bave  acted  under  the  direction  of  their  Committee,  but  the 
Caroline  company  refused  to  enlist,  unless  they  were  to 
he  solely  under  the  direction  of  officers  of  their  own  choos- 
ih i.  That  there  never  were  anv  commotions  amonc  the 
jieople  till  after  the  powder  was  removed  from  the  maga- 
zine, when,  in  consequence  of  that  transaction,  there  was 
a  great  assembly  of  armed  men  at  Fredericksbursrh,  and 
adjacent  places;  but  they  were  very  orderly  and  peaceable, 
and  upon  advice  of  a  Council  they  appointed,  and  some  of 
the  Delegates  of  this  Colony,  they  all  retired  to  their  re- 
spective homes.  That  about  this  time  they  understood  the 
Governour  had  made  a  declaration  of  freedom  to  the  slaves, 
which  was  not  generally  believed ;  but  as  far  as  it  gained 
credit,  it  tended  greatly  to  inflame  the  people.  That  they 
do  not  believe  any  part  of  this  Colony  wish  an  indepen- 
dence of  Great  Britain,  though  they  cannot  undertake  to 
judge  of  the  views  of  individuals  ;  and  they  hope  and  think, 
a  redress  of  the  present  grievances  would  restore  tran- 
quillity here,  and  produce  a  reconciliation  with  the  Parent 
State. 

It  appears,  from  the  testimony  of  Archibald  Ritchie,  of 
the  County  of  Essex,  that  the  cause  generally  assigned  for 
stopping  the  proceedings  of  the  Courts  in  civil  causes  (the 
criminal  proceedings  going  on  as  usual)  was  the  expiration 
of  the  Fee-Bill ;  but  that  he  believes  the  measure  was  politi- 
cally adopted  for  carrying  more  effectually  into  execution 
the  purposes  of  the  Association.  That  the  volunteer  com- 
pany in  the  County  of  Essex  was  formed  about  three  weeks 
ago,  not  merely  for  protecting  the  Committees ;  but  believes 


they  would  do  so,  if  required.  That  previous  to  the  seiz- 
ure of  the  powder,  the  state  of  the  Colony,  as  far  as  his 
observation  extended,  was  a  general  acquiescence  in  the 
resolves  of  the  Provincial  and  General  Congress ;  and 
that  in  consequence  thereof,  no  commotion  happened  in 
that  County.  That  he  does  not  know  of  any  one  that 
wishes  independence  of  Great  Britain;  but,  on  his  oath, 
cannot  say  there  are  none  such.  That  he  has  not  the  least 
doubt,  if  the  grievances  complained  of  were  redressed, 
perfect  tranquillity  would  be  established  between  Great 
Brituin  and  the  Colonies. 

It  appears,  from  the  testimony  of  Charles  Duncan,  of 
the  County  of  Chesterjield,  near  the  Town  of  Peter sburgh 
and  Blanford,  that  the  loss  of  the  Fee-Bill,  in  his  opinion, 
was  the  immediate  cause  of  the  stop  to  the  proceedings  in 
the  Courts  in  civil  causes,  (the  criminal  going  on  as  usual.) 
That  a  volunteer  company  in  the  said  County  was  formed 
some  time  after  the  Convention  at  Richmond,  and,  in  his 
opinion,  solely  for  putting  the  Country  into  a  posture  of 
defence,  without  any  regard  to  the  protection  of  the  Com- 
mittee. That  the  state  of  the  Colony,  before  the  removal 
of  the  powder,  was  peaceable  and  orderly  ;  and  a  strict 
compliance  with  the  resolves  of  the  Continental  and  Pro- 
vincial Congress  was,  he  thinks,  the  cause  of  maintain- 
ing that  good  order,  so  little  to  be  expected  in  a  country 
deprived  of  so  essential  a  part  of  its  laws.  That  the  removal 
of  the  powder  certainly  occasioned  the  commotions  com- 
plained of,  and  he  believes,  so  far  as  the  Governour's  de- 
clarations gained  credit,  they  contributed  to  those  disturb- 
ances :  but  there  were  none  such  in  the  neighbourhood 
where  he  lives.  That  he  never  heard  any  person  wish  an 
independence  of  Great  Britain,  and  is  clearly  of  opinion 
a  redress  of  the  present  grievances  would  immediately  pro- 
duce a  hearty  reconciliation. 

It  appears,  by  the  testimony  of  Archibald  Bryce,  of  the 
County  of  Henrico,  that  the  expiration  of  the  Fee-Bill 
was  the  reason  assigned  by  the  Court  for  stopping  the 
proceedings  in  civil  cases  (the  criminal  going  on  as  usual ;) 
and  he  believes  the  commercial  mode  of  opposition  is  the 
reason  why  the  business  of  the  Courts  is  not  resumed. 
That  the  suspension  in  civil  proceedings  took  place  in 
June,  1774;  and,  some  time  in  the  fall,  a  Committee  was 
chosen,  agreeable  to  an  article  of  the  General  Association. 
That  the  Independent  Company  of  Henrico  has  not  been 
formed  above  six  weeks,  and  he  believes  the  principal 
design  of  their  institution  was  to  put  the  Colony  into  a 
proper  state  of  defence.  That  he  knew  of  no  commotions 
in  the  Country  before  the  seizure  of  the  powder ;  and 
as  very  few  took  up  arms  upon  that  occasion,  he  was  in- 
formed that  at  the  request  of  one  of  the  representatives  of 
the  County  they  returned  to  their  habitations.  That  he 
thinks,  as  far  as  the  Governour's  declaration  gained  credit 
with  the  people,  it  served  to  irritate  their  minds,  and  might 
possibly  be  a  means  of  continuing  the  commotions  in  the 
Country.  That  he  believes  the  Colony  in  general  do  not 
wish  an  independence,  and  that  a  redress  of  grievances 
would  establish  tranquillity,  and  produce  a  reconciliation. 

It  appears,  by  the  testimony  of  Thomas  Montgomery, 
of  the  County"  of  Prince  William,  that,  previous  to  the 
powder's  being  seized,  Committees  of  Correspondence  and 
of  Observation,  to  carry  into  effect  the  resolutions  of  the 
Congress,  and  volunteer  companies,  were  formed;  military 
discipline  was  taught,  arms  and  ammunition  were  indus- 
trioujly  procured.  That  upon  the  report  of  the  Govern- 
our's having  seized  the  powder,  many  people  marched 
to  Fredericksburgh ;  where,  upon  a  meeting  of  several 
Counties,  it  was  determined,  in  consultation,  they  should 
return  to  their  respective  homes.  That  the  Court  pro- 
ceeds in  criminal  cases.  In  civil  cases,  the  proceedings 
are  stopped ;  owing,  as  he  thinks,  to  the  expiration  of 
the  Fee-Bill,  but  not  to  the  determination  against  imports 
and  exports,  which  he  thinks  did  not  necessarily  produce 
that  effect.  Having  observed  the  same  inclination  in  the 
people  to  do  justice  to  their  creditors  as  usual,  he  thinks 
the  above  steps  do  not  proceed  from  any  inclination  to 
withhold  justice.  That  no  other  commotions  or  disturb- 
ances have  happened  in  the  County  but  what  were  pro- 
duced by  the  alarm  of  seizing  the  powder;  and  these 
subsided  soon,  and  the  people  returned  to  their  own 
habitations.  That  the  political  measures  are  adopted  by 
all  classes  of  men.    That  the  Independent  Company  was 


1215 


HOUSE  OF  BURGESSES  OF  VIRGINIA,  JUNE,  1775. 


1216 


formed  in  that  County  about  September,  and  its  design  was 
io  protect  the  Colony  in  general,  and  the  County  in  par- 
ticular ;  and  that  he  has  heard  it  observed,  this  institution 
would  aid  the  execution  of  the  resolutions  of  the  Com- 
mittee. That  he  believes  few,  if  any  persons  in  the  Colo- 
ny, wish  an  independence  of  Great  Britain  ;  but,  on  the 
contrary,  is  of  opinion  that  a  redress  of  grievances  would 
establish  tranquillity  here,  and  a  perfect  reconciliation  with 
the  Mother  Country,  as  he  thinks  they  entertain  not  a 
desire  but  of  dependance  on  the  Mother  Country,  on  con- 
stitutional principles. 

It  appears  by  the  testimony  of  Archibald  Govan,  Tho- 
mas Evans,  John  Johnson,  and  George  Braikenridge,  of 
the  County  of  Hanover,  that  proceedings  in  criminal  cases 
went  on  as  usual.  That  all  civil  law  proceedings  (except 
motions  against  Sheriffs  and  other  publick  officers)  were 
stopped  in  June,  1774.  In  November,  a  Committee,  in 
conformity  to  a  regulation  of  the  Congress,  was  chosen,  to 
carry  into  execution  the  American  Association,  and  an  Inde- 
pendent Company  enlisted,  but  not  embodied.  That,  for 
the  interruption  of  suits  in  civil  cases,  they  assign  the  ex- 
piration of  the  Fee-Bill  as  the  principal  cause,  and  do  not 
attribute  that  measure  to  the  adoption  of  the  commercial 
opposition,  as  this  political  measure  took  place  some  months 
after  the  Courts  had  stopped  their  proceedings.  That  as 
to  the  commotions,  they  say  none  have  occurred,  except 
in  one  instance,  which  proceeded  from  the  Governour's 
seizing  the  powder,  which  was  heightened  and  increased 
by  his  threatening  to  enfranchise  the  slaves.  That  those 
causes  induced  the  Independent  Company  to  choose  their 
officers,  and  march  out  about  twenty  miles  towards  Wil- 
liamsburgh ;  but  how  they  conducted  themselves  on  their 
march,  they  can  give  no  information.  That  they  think  the 
independent  companies  were  formed  to  put  the  Country 
into  a  state  of  defence;  yet  they  suppose  they  would  have 
aided  the  Committee.  That  the  Colony,  in  their  opinion, 
desires  not  an  independence  of  Great  Britain;  and  that  a 
redress  of  the  present  grievances  would  re-establish  tran- 
quillity, and  produce  a  reconciliation  with  the  Parent  State. 

It  appears  to  your  Committee,  from  the  testimony  of 
Andrew  Sprowle,  Archibald  Campbell,  and  James  In- 
gram, of  the  County  of  Norfolk,  and  Samuel  Donaldson, 
of  the  County  of  Nansemond,  that  in  these  Counties  the 
Courts,  as  usual,  proceed  in  criminal  cases.  For  the  causes 
of  stopping  the  proceedings  in  civil  suits,  they  assign  the 
expiration  of  the  Fee  Bill  as  the  primary  one;  but,  as  a 
secondary  cause,  they  think  this  measure  was  adopted  to 
carry  the  purposes  of  the  Association  more  effectually  into 
execution,  which,  by  distressing  the  mercantile  part  of  the 
British  Nation,  was  intended  to  interest  them  in  favour  of 
the  Colony,  and  to  produce  in  the  end  an  accommodation. 
That  the  Town  of  Norfolk,  as  yet,  has  no  independent 
company,  but  one  formed  before  the  existence  of  Commit- 
tees, with  the  approbation  of  the  Governour,  and  under  his 
commission.  In  Nansemond  County,  an  independent  com- 
pany was  formed  in  May  last ;  not  for  the  avowed  purpose 
of  protecting  Committees,  but  in  conformity  to  the  direc- 
tion of  the  last  Convention.  That  before  the  seizure  of 
the  powder,  a  general  acquiescence  under  the  resolutions 
of  the  General  and  Provincial  Congress  marked  the  politi- 
cal character  of  this  Colony  ;  and,  in  the  above  mentioned 
Counties,  no  commotions  were  excited  by  this  conduct  of 
the  Governour,  since  in  neither  did  the  report  that  an  in- 
surrection was  intended  by  the  slaves,  produce  that  effect. 
That  they  think  it  the  universal  wish  to  have  a  constitu- 
tional dependance  on  Great  Britain ;  and  that  a  redress 
of  grievances  will  immediately  establish  tranquillity,  and  be 
productive  of  a  reconciliation  with  the  Parent  State. 

Ordered,  That  said  Report  do  lie  upon  the  table,  to  be 
perused  by  the  Members  of  this  House. 

The  Order  of  the  Day  being  read,  for  the  House  to  re- 
solve itself  into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole  House  upon 
the  Bill  for  appointing  Commissioners  to  settle  the  Accounts 
of  the  Militia  lately  drawn  out  into  actual  service,  and  for 
making  provision  for  paying  the  same : 

Resolved,  That  this  House  will  to-morrow  resolve  itself 
into  the  said  Committee. 

The  other  Order  of  the  Day  being  read, 

Resolved,  That  this  House  will  to-morrow  resolve  itself 
into  a  Committee  of  the  whole  House,  to  take  into  con- 


sideration the  Governour's  Answer  to  the  joint  Address  of 
the  Council  and  this  House. 

Thursday,  June  15,  15  Geo.  Ill,  177."). 
A  Message  from  the  Council  by  Mr.  Blair: 
Mit.  Speaker:  I  am  commanded  by  the  Council  to 
acquaint  this  House,  that  the  Council  do  desire  a  present 
free  conference  with  this  House  in  the  Conference  Cham- 
ber, on  the  subject  of  your  Message  relative  to  the  secu- 
ring the  publick  Arms. 

And  then  the  Messenger  withdrew. 

Resolved,  That  the  House  doth  agree  to  the  free  con- 
ference desired  by  the  Council. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Bland  do  go  to  the  Council,  and 
acquaint  them  that  the  House  doth  agree  to  the  conference 
desired  by  them. 

A  Message  from  the  Council  by  Mr.  Blair: 

Mr.  Speaker:  The  Council  have  appointed  three  of 
their  Members  to  manage  the  conference  desired  with  this 
House,  who  are  now  in  the  Conference  Chamber. 

And  then  the  Messenger  withdrew. 

Resolved,  That  Mr.  Bland,  Mr.  Treasurer,  Mr.  Cary, 
Mr.  Jones,  Mr.  Nelson,  and  Mr.  Digges,  do  manage  the 
conference  desired  by  the  Council. 

And  they  went  to  the  conference. 

And  being  returned, 

Mr.  Bland  reported,  that  the  Managers  had  attended 
the  conference,  and  that  it  was  managed,  on  the  part  of 
the  Council,  by  Mr.  Carter,  who  acquainted  them  that 
the  Council  are  of  opinion  the  publick  Arms  are  not 
secure,  and  think  it  would  be  proper  that  an  inventory  of 
them  be  taken  ;  and  that  an  Address  be  presented  to  the 
Governour  to  desire  that  he  will  consent  to  the  removal  of 
them  to  a  more  secure  place. 

Resolved,  That  a  free  conference  be  desired  with  the 
Council  upon  the  subject-matter  of  the  last  conference. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Bland  do  go  to  the  Council  and 
desire  the  said  conference. 

A  Message  from  the  Council  by  Mr.  Blair: 

Mr.  Speaker:  The  Council  do  agree  to  the  free  con- 
ference desired  by  this  House,  and  have  appointed  three 
of  their  Members  to  manage  the  same,  who  are  now  in 
the  Conference  Chamber. 

And  then  the  Messenger  withdrew. 

Resolved,  That  the  gentlemen  who  managed  the  last 
conference  do  manage  this  conference. 

Ordered,  That  it  be  an  instruction  to  them,  that  they 
acquaint  the  Managers  for  the  Council  that  this  House  will 
agree  to  join  with  the  Council  in  an  Address  to  be  pre- 
sented to  the  Governour,  to  desire  that  he  will  consent  to 
the  removal  of  the  publick  Arms  to  a  more  secure  place  ; 
and,  moreover,  that  they  propose  to  the  Managers  for  the 
Council  that  some  measure  may  be  taken  to  secure  the 
Arms  in  the  mean  time. 

And  the  Managers  went  to  the  conference ;  and  being 
returned, 

Mr.  Bland  reported  that  the  Managers  had  attended 
the  conference,  and  had  acquainted  the  Managers  for  the 
Council  that  this  House  would  agree  to  join  with  the 
Council  in  an  Address  to  be  presented  to  the  Governour, 
and  had  proposed  to  them  that  some  measure  may  be 
taken  to  secure  the  Arms  in  the  mean  time. 

A  Message  from  the  Council  by  Mr.  Blair : 

Mr.  Speaker  :  The  Council  desire  a  present  free  con- 
ference with  this  House  in  the  Conference  Chamber,  on 
the  subject-matter  of  the  last  conference. 

And  then  the  Messenger  withdrew. 

Resolved,  That  this  House  doth  agree  to  the  present 
free  conference  desired  by  the  Council. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Bland  do  go  to  the  Council,  and 
acquaint  them  that  the  House  doth  agree  to  the  conference 
desired  by  the  Council. 

A  Message  from  the  Council  by  Mr.  Blair: 
Mr.  Speaker  :  The  Council  have  appointed  two  of 
their  Members  to  manage  the  conference  desired  by  this 
House,  who  are  now  ready  in  the  Conference  Chamber. 

And  then  the  Messenger  withdrew. 

Resolved,  That  the  gentlemen  who  managed  the  last 
conference,  do  manage  this  conference. 


i  21 7 


HOUSE  OF  BURGESSES  OF  VIRGINIA,  JUNE,  1775. 


1218 


And  they  went  to  the  conference. 
And  being  returned, 

Mr.  Bland  reported,  that  the  Managers  for  the  Council 
acquainted  them  that  the  Council  do  agree  to  join  with 
this  House  in  an  Address  to  be  presented  to  the  Govern- 
our, to  desire  that  he  will  consent  to  the  removal  of  the 
publick  Arms  to  a  more  secure  place,  and  have  appointed 
three  of  their  Members  to  draw  up  the  said  Address,  in 
conjunction  with  such  of  this  House  as  may  be  appointed  ; 
but  that  the  Council  do  not  approve  of  any  measure  to  be 
taken,  before  such  Address  be  presented,  for  securing  the 
said  Arms. 

Ordered,  That  the  gentlemen  who  managed  the  con- 
ference be  appointed  a  Committee  to  join  with  a  Commit- 
tee of  the  Council  in  drawing  up  the  said  Address. 

The  Order  of  the  Day  being  read,  for  the  House  to  re- 
solve itself  into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole  House,  to  take 
into  consideration  the  Governour's  Answer  to  the  joint  Ad- 
dress of  the  Council  and  this  House, 

Ordered,  That  the  Report  of  the  Committee  appoint- 
ed to  inspect  the  publick  Magazine,  and  inquire  into  the 
Stores  belonging  to  the  same,  which,  on  Tuesday  last, 
was  ordered  to  lie  upon  the  table,  be  referred  to  the  said 
Committee. 

Ordered,  That  the  Report  of  the  Committee  appointed 
to  inquire  into  the  causes  of  the  late  Disturbances  and  Com- 
motions, which  was  yesterday  ordered  to  lie  upon  the  table, 
be  referred  to  the  said  Committee. 

Ordered,  That  the  extract  of  a  Letter  from  the  Earl 
of  Dunmnre  to  the  Earl  of  Dartmouth,  dated  Williams- 
burgh,  December  24,  1774,  laid  before  the  House  of  Com- 
mons, which  extract  was  this  day  presented  to  this  House, 
be  referred  to  the  said  Committee. 

Then  the  House  resolved  itself  into  the  said  Committee. 

Mr.  Speaker  left  the  chair. 

Mr.  Cary  took  the  chair  of  the  Committee. 

Mr.  Speaker  resumed  the  chair. 

Mr.  Cary  reported  from  the  Committee  that  they  had 
gone  through  the  matter  referred  to  them,  and  had  come 
to  a  Resolution,  which  they  had  directed  him  to  report 
when  the  House  will  please  to  receive  the  same. 
Ordered,  That  the  said  Report  be  now  received. 
Mr.  Cary  accordingly  reported  from  the  Committee  the 
Resolution  which  the  Committee  had  directed  him  to  re- 
port to  the  House,  which  he  read  in  his  place,  and  after- 
wards delivered  in  at  the  Clerk's  table,  where  the  same 
was  read,  and  is  as  followelh,  viz: 

Resolved,  That  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  Committee  that 
an  Address  be  presented  to  his  Excellency  the  Governour, 
in  reply  to  his  Lordship's  written  Message  in  answer  to  the 
joint  Address  of  the  Council  and  this  House,  representing 
to  his  Excellency  the  great  concern  the  House  was  under 
at  receiving  such  a  message ;  giving  to  his  Excellency  a 
true  state  of  this  Country  ;  the  dispositions  of  the  people 
towards  His  Majesty  and  his  Government ;  stating,  from  the 
evidence  now  produced  to  this  Committee,  the  real  causes 
of  the  late  unhappy  disturbances,  and  the  effects  those  dis- 
turbances have  produced  ;  representing  the  conduct  of  the 
Committee  appointed  by  the  House  to  examine  into  the 
slate  of  the  publick  Magazine  in  its  proper  light ;  explain- 
ing to  his  Excellency  the  views  of  this  House  in  offering 
to  close  with  any  proper  measures  he  might  have  recom- 
mended for  the  security  of  his  person  and  family  ;  giving 
his  Excellency  a  faithful  account  of  the  proceedings  of  the 
Convention  lately  held  at  Richmond,  and  the  reasons  for 
the  Resolutions  then  entered  into ;  observing  the  tendency 
of  his  Lordship's  representations  of  the  inhabitants  of  this 
Colony  in  his  publick  letters  to  the  Secretary  of  State  ; 
the  design  of  the  Committees  ;  the  origin  of  Independent 
and  Volunteer  Companies,  their  true  design,  and  the  effects 
they  have  produced ;  representing  how  inconvenient  and  im- 
proper it  would  be  for  the  House  to  adjourn  to  Yorktown; 
referring  his  Excellency  to  the  former  Address  of  the  House 
for  the  reasons  why  we  cannot  interpose  our  legislative  au- 
thority in  respect  to  the  Courts  of  Justice  ;  and  why  we  can- 
not approve  the  proposition  made  to  us  by  Parliament ;  again 
to  assure  him,  that  in  our  opinion  there  cannot  be  the  least 
danger  in  his  returning  to  the  Palace  with  his  family,  and 
that  we  are  still  willing  and  desirous  of  doing  every  thing 
in  our  power  for  their  most  perfect  security  ;  to  inform  his 
Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii. 


Excellency,  as  our  opinion,  that  the  best  means  of  mediating 
between  the  supreme  authority  and  this  Country  will  be  to 
make  an  impartial  representation  of  what  has  happened 
ever  since  his  arrival  in  Virginia ;  and  to  assure  him  in  the 
warmth  of  our  hearts  of  the  sincerest  disposition  on  our 
part  to  have  the  utmost  harmony  and  most  perfect  tranquil- 
lity restored. 

The  said  Resolution  being  read  a  second  time,  was,  upon 
the  question  put  thereupon,  agreed  to  by  the  House. 

Ordered,  That  a  Committee  be  appointed  to  draw  up 
an  Address  to  be  presented  to  the  Governour  upon  the  said 
Resolution. 

And  a  Committee  was  appointed,  of  Mr.  Treasurer,  Mr. 
Bland,  Mr.  Cary,  Mr.  Digges,  Mr.  Nelson,  Mr.  Jones, 
and  Mr.  Munford. 

Several  other  Members,  having  taken  the  oaths  appointed 
to  be  taken  by  Act  of  Parliament,  and  repeated  and  sub- 
scribed the  Test,  took  their  places  in  the  House. 

Ordered,  That  a  Message  be  sent  to  the  Council,  in- 
forming them  that  it  appears  to  this  House,  by  the  report 
of  their  Committee,  that  the  locks  of  upward  of  three  hun- 
dred Guns,  lately  in  complete  order  in  the  publick  Maga- 
zine, have  been  taken  off;  that  one  hundred  and  eight  of 
these  Guns  are  still  in  the  Magazine,  but  are  useless  with- 
out locks ;  that  this  House  requests  the  Council  to  join 
them  in  an  Address  to  his  Excellency  the  Governour,  de- 
siring his  Lordship  will  be  pleased  to  communicate  to  the 
Council  and  this  House,  whether  the  locks  were  taken  off 
by  his  Excellency's  command  ;  and,  if  they  were,  that  his 
Lordship  will  be  pleased  to  direct  them  to  be  returned  to 
the  Magazine,  which  will  be  in  a  fit  condition  to-morrow 
to  receive  them. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Mercer  do  carry  the  said  Message 
to  the  Council. 

Friday,  June  16,  15  Geo.  Ill,  1775. 

The  Order  of  the  Day  being  read,  for  the  House  to  re- 
solve itself  into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole  House  upon 
the  Bill  for  appointing  Commissioners  to  settle  the  Accounts 
of  the  Militia  lately  drawn  out  into  actual  service,  and  for 
making  provision  to  pay  the  same, 

Ordered,  That  the  Governour's  written  Message  to  this 
House,  and  the  Papers  therein  referred  to,  which,  upon 
Monday,  the  fifth  day  of  this  instant  June,  were  ordered 
to  lie  upon  the  table,  be  referred  to  the  said  Committee. 

Then  the  House  resolved  Itself  into  the  said  Committee. 

Mr.  Speaker  left  the  chair. 

Mr.  Bland  took  the  chair  of  the  Committee. 

Mr.  Speaker  resumed  the  chair. 

Mr.  Bland  reported  from  the  Committee,  that  they  had 
made  a  progress  in  the  Bill,  and  that  he  was  directed  by 
the  Committee  to  move  that  they  may  have  leave  to  sit 
again. 

Resolved,  That  this  House  will,  to-morrow,  resolve  itself 
into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole  House,  to  consider  further 
of  the  said  Bill. 

Mr.  Cary  reported  to  the  House  that  their  Address  of 
Monday  last  had  been  presented  to  the  Governour,  and  that 
his  Excellency  gave  him  a  written  answer  thereunto ;  and 
he  delivered  the  said  answer  in  at  the  Clerk's  table,  where 
the  same  was  read,  and  is  as  followeth,  viz: 
Gentlemen  of  the  House  of  Burgesses  : 

It  is  with  real  concern  I  can  discover  nothing  in  your 
Address  that  I  think  manifests  the  smallest  inclination  to, 
or  will  be  productive  of  a  reconciliation  with  the  mother 
Country. 

Resolved,  That  an  Address  be  presented  to  his  Excel- 
lency the  Governour,  informing  him  the  publick  Magazine 
is  now  in  fit  condition  for  the  reception  of  Arms  and  Ammu- 
nition, requesting  his  Lordship  will  be  pleased  to  order  the 
Powder,  lately  removed  from  thence  by  his  Excellency's 
command,  to  be  returned,  agreeable  to  his  promise. 

To  represent  that  it  appears  to  this  House,  by  a  report 
of  a  Committee  appointed  to  inspect  the  Magazine,  that 
there  are  no  Arms  there  fit  for  service  ;  that  in  these  criti- 
cal times  an  Indian  war  is  not  improbable,  and  an  insurrec- 
tion of  slaves  may  possibly  be  encouraged  solely  by  the 
want  of  publick  stores  of  Arms  and  Ammunition,  which  is 
now  become  a  fact  of  publick  notoriety  :  that  the  Legisla- 


1219 


HOUSE  OF  BURGESSES  OF  VIRGINIA,  JUNE,  1775. 


1220 


ture  of  this  Colony  have  long  since  established  a  very  ample 
fund  for  this  necessary  purpose,  by  granting  His  Majesty 
one  shilling  and  three  pence  sterling  upon  the  tonnage  of 
vessels,  which  appears  for  several  years  to  exceed  three 
thousand  Pounds  sterling  per  annum;  that  the  House  of 
Burgesses  heretofore,  trusting  that  Government  would  pro- 
vide moans  so  essential  for  the  preservation  of  this  Colony, 
have  not  interfered  in  this  business;  but  this  House,  finding 
that  though  lliis  want  was  known  to  Government  more  than 
twelve  months  past,  no  means  have  been  adopted  to  pro- 
vide against  it,  conceive  it  their  duty  to  remind  Government 
of  this  great  grievance,  and  to  request  that  two  thousand 
stand  of  Arms,  five  tons  of  Powder,  and  twenty  tons  of 
Lead,  at  the  least,  and  a  sufficient  quantity  of  other  articles, 
be  immediately  provided  and  lodged  in  the  publick  Maga- 
zine for  the  defence  of  this  Colony,  in  case  of  any  invasion 
or  insurrection :  assuring  his  Excellency  that  if  the  fund 
aforementioned  shall  prove  insufficient;  this  House  will 
cheerfully  make  further  provision  lor  these  purposes. 

Ordered,  That  a  Committee  be  appointed  to  draw  up 
an  Address,  to  be  presented  to  the  Govemour  upon  the 
said  Resolution. 

And  a  Committee  was  appointed,  of  Mr.  Mercer,  Mr. 
Cory,  and  Mr.  Braxton. 

Mr.  Treasurer  presented  to  the  House,  according  to  order, 
a  Bill  for  appointing  Commissioners  to  ratify  and  confirm 
the  late  Treaty  of  Peace  with  the  Ohio  Indians;  and  the 
same  was  received  and  read  the  first  time. 

Resolved,  That  the  Bill  be  read  a  second  time. 

Ordered,  That  the  Bill  be  now  read  a  second  time. 

The  Bill  was  accordingly  read  a  second  time. 

Resolved,  That  the  Bill  be  committed  to  Mr.  Treasurer, 
Mr.  Bland,  Mr.  Cary,  Mr.  Digges,  Mr.  Nelson,  Mr.  Jones, 
and  Mr.  John  Walker. 

Saturday,  June  17,  15  Geo.  Ill,  1775. 

Ordered,  That  this  House  be  called  over  upon  Monday 
next. 

The  Order  of  the  Day  being  read,  for  the  House  to  re- 
solve itself  into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole  House  to  con- 
sider further  of  the  Bill  for  appointing  Commissioners  to 
settle  the  Accounts  of  the  Militia  lately  drawn  out  into 
actual  service,  and  for  making  provision  to  pay  the  same, 

The  House  resolved  itself  into  the  said  Committee. 

Mr.  Speaker  left  the  chair. 

Mr.  Bland  took  the  chair  of  the  Committee. 

Mr.  Speaker  resumed  the  chair. 

Mr.  Bland  reported  from  the  Committee  that  they  had 
gone  through  the  Bill,  and  made  several  amendments  there- 
unto, which  they  had  directed  him  to  report  when  the 
House  will  please  to  receive  the  same. 

Ordered,  That  the  Report  be  now  received. 

Mr.  Bland  accordingly  reported  from  the  said  Committee 
the  amendments  which  the  Committee  had  made  to  the 
Bill,  and  which  they  had  directed  him  to  report  to  the 
House  ;  and  he  read  the  Report  in  his  place,  and  after- 
wards delivered  the  Bill,  with  the  amendments,  in  at  the 
Clerk's  table,  where  the  amendments  were  once  read 
throughout,  and  then  a  second  time,  one  by  one ;  and, 
upon  the  question  severally  put  thereupon,  one  of  them 
was  disagreed  to,  and  the  rest  were,  with  amendments  to 
several  of  them,  agreed  to  by  the  House;  and  several 
amendments  were  made  by  the  House  to  the  Bill. 

Ordered,  That  the  Bill,  with  the  amendments,  be  en- 
grossed. 

Mr.  Mercer  reported  from  the  Committee,  appointed  on 
Wednesday,  the  seventh  of  this  instant,  June,  to  draw  up 
an  Address  to  be  presented  to  the  Governour,  that  the  Com- 
mittee had  drawn  up  an  Address  accordingly,  which  they 
had  dirocted  him  to  report  to  the  House ;  and  he  read  the 
same  in  his  place,  and  afterwards  delivered  it  in  at  the 
Clerk's  table,  where  the  same  was  read,  and  is  as  follow- 
eth,  viz: 

My  Loro  :  We,  His  Majesty's  most  dutiful  and  loyal 
subjects,  the  Burgesses  of  Virginia,  return  your  Lordship 
our  sincere  thanks  for  your  kind  tender  of  services  expressed 
in  your  Message  to  this  House  of  the  6th  instant ;  as  also  for 
your  Lordship's  assurance  that  you  will  do  every  thing  in 
your  power  to  restore  the  publick  tranquillity,  upon  a  sure 
and  firm  foundation.   This  House,  my  Lord,  have  the  high- 


est sense  of  the  services  you  rendered  to  this  Country  on  the 
late  Indian  expedition  ;  and,  while  they  reflect  on  this  part 
of  your  Lordship's  conduct,  sincerely  lament  that  any  event 
should  disturb  the  happiness  which  your  Lordship  is  pleased 
to  say  you  have  enjoyed  among  us.  Wishing  most  ar- 
dently for  a  restoration  of  that  harmony  which  subsisted 
between  your  Lordship  and  the  People,  we  have  directed 
an  inquiry  into  the  cause  of  the  late  disturbances  and  com- 
motions which  have  arisen  in  some  parts  of  this  Colony ; 
and  we  assure  your  Lordship  that  we  will  proceed  to  inves- 
tigate this  matter  with  due  attention,  and  apply,  on  our 
parts,  remedies  the  best  our  abilities  can  suggest. 

The  said  Address  being  read  a  second  time, 

Resolved,  That  the  House  doth  agree  with  the  Com- 
mittee in  the  said  Address  to  be  presented  to  the  Governour. 

Ordered,  That  the  said  Address  be  presented  to  his  Ex- 
cellency by  Mr.  Cary,  Mr.  Braxton,  Mr.  Wood,  Mr.  Jones, 
and  Mr.  Zane. 

A  Message  from  the  Council  by  Mr.  Blair : 

Mr.  Speaker:  The  Council  do  agree  to  join  with  this 
House  in  an  Address  to  his  Excellency  the  Governour,  as 
this  House  have  desired,  concerning  the  locks  taken  off  some 
of  the  Guns  in  the  Magazine,  and  they  have  appointed  two 
of  their  Members,  to  join  the  Members  which  may  be  ap- 
pointed by  this  House,  to  prepare  the  same. 

And  then  the  Messenger  withdrew. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Mercer,  Mr.  Cary,  Mr.  Mxmford,  and 
Mr.  Jones,  do  join  the  Members  appointed  by  the  Council 
to  prepare  the  said  Address. 

Mr.  Mercer  reported  from  the  Committee  appointed 
yesterday  to  draw  up  an  Address,  upon  the  Resolution  of 
this  House,  to  be  presented  to  the  Governour,  that  the 
Committee  had  drawn  up  an  Address  accordingly,  which 
they  had  directed  him  to  report  to  the  House  ;  and  he  read 
the  same  in  his  place,  and  afterwards  delivered  it  in  at  the 
Clerk's  table,  where  the  same  was  read,  and  is  as  followeth  : 

My  Lord  :  We,  His  Majesty's  most  dutiful  and  loyal 
subjects,  the  Burgesses  of  Virginia,  beg  leave  to  inform 
your  Lordship  that  the  publick  Magazine  is  now  repaired, 
and  in  fit  condition  for  the  reception  of  arms  and  ammuni- 
tion. We  therefore  request  your  Lordship  will  be  pleased 
to  order  the  powder  lately  removed  from  thence  to  be 
returned,  agreeable  to  your  Lordship's  promise  contained 
in  your  written  message  to  this  House.  We  farther  beg 
leave  to  inform  your  Lordship,  that  it  appears  to  the  House, 
from  the  report  of  their  Committee  appointed  to  inspect 
the  publick  magazine,  that  there  are  no  arms  therein  fit  for 
service,  at  this  critical  time.  My  Lord,  when  your  Excel- 
lency assures  us  of  the  great  probability  of  an  Indian  inva- 
sion, at  a  time,  too,  when  an  insurrection  of  our  slaves 
may  be  encouraged  merely  from  a  notoriety  of  a  total  de- 
ficiency in  our  publick  stores  of  arms  and  ammunition,  it 
is  a  duty  we  owe  to  our  Country  and  ourselves,  to  remind 
your  Lordship  that  the  Legislature  of  this  Colony  have  long 
since  made  ample  provision  for  the  purchase  of  arms  and 
ammunition,  and  established  a  competent  fund  for  that  pur- 
pose, by  granting  to  His  Majesty  one  shilling  and  three 
pence  sterling  upon  the  tonnage  of  all  vessels  trading  to  this 
Country.  This  fund,  my  Lord,  has,  for  several  years  last 
past,  exceeded  three  thousand  Pounds  sterling  per  annum  ; 
and  our  predecessors,  in  former  Assemblies,  trusting  that 
Government  would  always  make  a  necessary  and  adequate 
provision  in  a  matter  so  essential  to  the  immediate  and 
future  preservation  of  this  Colony,  have  not  interfered  in 
this  business.  But,  my  Lord,  this  House,  finding  a  total  inat- 
tention in  Government  to  this  important  provision,  although 
it  must  have  appeared  essential  more  than  twelve  months 
ago,  and  still  observing  that  no  means  are  pursued  to  supply 
a  deficiency  so  alarming,  now  conceive  it  to  be  their  duty, 
not  only  to  represent  this  grievance  to  your  Lordship,  but 
also  to  request  that  you  will  be  pleased  to  order  that  two 
thousand  stand  of  arms,  five  tons  of  powder,  and  twenty  tons 
of  lead  at  least,  with  a  sufficient  quantity  of  other  military 
stores,  be  immediately  provided  for  the  defence  of  this 
Colony,  in  case  of  any  invasion  or  insurrection,  and  that  the 
same  be  lodged  in  the  publick  magazine.  In  case  the  fund 
aforementioned  shall  prove  deficient,  this  House  assure  your 
Lordship  that  they  will  make  such  further  or  other  provi- 
sion as  may  be  necessary  to  enable  your  Lordship  to  com- 
ply with  this  request. 


1221 


HOUSE  OF  BURGESSES  OF  VIRGINIA,  JUNE,  1775. 


1222 


The  said  Address  being  read  a  second  time, 
Resolved,  That  the  House  doth  agree  with  the  Com- 
mittee in  the  said  Address  to  be  presented  to  the  Gov- 
ernour. 

Ordered,  That  the  said  Address  be  presented  to  the 
Governour  by  Mr.  Vary,  Mr.  Braiton,  Mr.  livod,  Mr. 
Jones,  and  Mr.  Zane. 

A  Message  from  the  Council  by  Mr.  Blair: 

Mr.  Speaker:  The  Council  have  agreed  to  the  Ad- 
dress prepared  by  a  Committee  of  the  Council  and  of  this 
House,  and  have  appointed  two  of  their  Members  to  join 
such  Members  as  this  House  may  appoint  to  present  the 
same  to  his  Excellency. 

And  he  presented  the  said  Address  at  the  bar. 

And  then  the  Messenger  withdrew. 

The  said  Address  was  read,  and  is  as  followeth,  viz : 

Mr  Lord  :  We,  His  Majesty's  dutiful  and  loyal  sub- 
jects, the  Council  and  Burgesses  of  Virginia,  beg  leave 
to  represent  to  your  Excellency,  that  as  you  have  been 
pleased  to  leave  the  Palace,  we  are  very  apprehensive  the 
publick  Arms  therein  are  too  insecure  and  very  much  ex- 
posed, and  therefore  hope  your  Lordship  will  be  pleased 
to  order  them  to  be  removed,  during  your  Lordship's 
absence,  to  the  publick  magazine ;  which  is  now,  in  our 
opinion,  a  secure  depository. 

Resolved,  That  this  House  doth  agree  with  the  Coun- 
cil in  the  said  Address  to  be  presented  to  the  Governour. 

Ordered,  That  the  said  Address  be  presented  to  his 
Excellency  by  Mr.  Cary,  Mr.  Braxton,  Mr.  Wood,  Mr. 
Jones,  and  Mr.  Zane,  in  conjunction  with  the  Members 
appointed  by  the  Council. 

Monday,  June  19,  15  Geo.  Ill,  1775. 
The  Order  of  the  Day  being  read, 
Ordered,  That  the  call  of  the  House  be  adjourned  till 
to-morrow. 

Mr.  Bland  presented  to  the  House  copies  of  several 
Resolutions  of  the  General  Congress,  which  he  delivered 
in  at  the  Clerk's  table ;  where  the  same  were  read,  and 
are  as  followeth,  viz  : 

"  Wednesday,  May  17. — That  all  exportations  to  Qjue- 
beck,  Nova-Scotia,  the  Island  of  St.  John's,  Newfound- 
land, and  Georgia,  except  the  Parish  of  St.  John's,  and 
io  Ei.it  and  West-Florida,  immediately  cease ;  and  that  no 
Provisions  of  any  kind,  or  other  necessaries,  be  furnished 
to  the  British  Fisheries  on  the  American  coasts,  until  it 
be  otherwise  determined  by  the  Congress." 

"  Monday,  May  29. — That  no  Provisions  or  necessaries 
of  any  kind  be  exported  to  the  Island  of  Nantucket,  except 
from  the  Colony  of  Massachusetts- Bay,  the  Convention 
of  which  Colony  is  desired  to  take  measures  for  effectually 
providing  the  said  Island,  upon  their  application  to  purchase 
the  same,  with  as  much  Provision  as  shall  be  necessary  for 
its  internal  use,  and  no  more.  The  Congress  deeming  it  of 
great  importance  to  North  America  that  the  British  Fish- 
ery should  not  be  furnished  with  Provisions  from  this  Con- 
tinent through  Nantucket,  earnestly  recommend  a  vigilant 
execution  of  this  Resolve  to  all  Committees." 

"  Friday,  June  2. — That  no  Bill  of  Exchange,  Draught, 
or  Order  of  any  Officer  in  the  Army  or  Navy,  their  Agents 
or  Contractors,  be  received  or  negotiated,  or  any  Money 
be  supplied  to  them  by  any  person  in  America;  that  no 
Provisions  or  necessaries  of  any  kind,  be  furnished  or  sup- 
plied to  or  for  the  use  of  the  British  Army  or  Navy  in 
the  Colony  of  Massachusetts-Bay,  and  that  no  Vessel  em- 
ployed in  transporting  British  Troops  to  America,  or  from 
one  part  of  North  America  to  another,  or  warlike  Stores 
or  Provisions  for  said  Troops,  be  freighted  or  furnished 
with  Provisions,  or  any  necessaries,  until  further  orders 
from  this  Congress." 

The  said  Resolutions  being  read  a  second  time, 
Resolved,  That  this  House  doth  approve  of  the  same, 
aod  recommend  it  to  the  several  Committees  within  this 
Colony  for  carrying  into  execution  the  Continental  Asso- 
ciation, to  be  vigilant  in  seeing  the  said  Resolutions  strictly 
complied  with. 

Mr.  Treasurer  reported,  from  the  Committee  appointed 
on  Thursday  last  to  draw  up  an  Address  to  be  presented 


to  the  Governour,  that  the  Committee  had  drawn  up  an 
Address  accordingly;  which  they  had  directed  him  to  re- 
port to  the  House;  and  he  read  the  same  in  his  place,  and 
afterwards  delivered  it  in  at  the  Clerk's  table,  where  the 
same  was  read,  and  is  as  follow etli,  viz: 

My  Lord  :  The  House  of  Burgesses  received  your 
Lordship's  written  Message  of  the  tenth  instant,  in  an- 
swer to  the  joint  Address  of  His  Majesty's  Honourable 
Council  and  this  House,  with  equal  concern  and  amaze- 
ment. We  were  totally  unprepared  for  so  severe  and  cruel 
a  return  to  the  respectful  application  made  to  your  Lord- 
ship, solely  dictated  by  our  duty  to  His  Majesty,  and  the 
most  earnest  desire  of  contributing  every  thing  in  our 
power  towards  promoting,  as  well  your  Lordship's  own 
happiness,  as  that  of  your  lady  and  whole  family;  this 
step  we  hoped  would  have  proved  the  happy  means  of 
restoring  that  tranquillity  and  harmony  you  were  pleased 
to  flatter  us  with  your  earnest  wishes  to  have  established. 

Who  were  the  peculiar  objects  of  your  tenderness,  that 
you  so  kindly,  in  favour  to  them,  declined  a  particular  enu- 
meration, we  know  not ;  but  are  sorry  that  your  Lordship 
had  so  little  feeling  for  the  honour  and  integrity  of  this 
House.  You  have  now,  my  Lord,  driven  us  to  the  disa- 
greeable necessity  of  inquiring  minutely  into  the  causes  of 
the  late  disturbances  in  this  Country.  It  is  not  with  the 
most  distant  inclination  to  give  your  Lordship  the  slightest 
umbrage  that  we  engage  in  so  irksome  a  task,  but  purely 
to  do  justice  to  our  much  injured  Country,  that  we  recur 
to  different  and  some  distant  transactions. 

The  charges  of  disloyalty  and  disaffection  in  our  coun- 
trymen to  our  most  gracious  Sovereign  and  his  Govern- 
ment, as  insinuated  in  your  Lordship's  message,  and  some 
other  publick  acts,  are  as  grievous  as  they  are  unmerited. 
W'ords,  we  know,  are  too  often  but  empty  sounds.  We 
appeal  not  to  our  professions,  however  sincere,  but  to  facts 
of  publick  notoriety.  The  loyalty  of  this  His  Majesty's 
most  ancient  Colony,  stands  confessed,  as  recorded  by 
many  of  your  worthy  predecessors.  We  will  presume  to 
carry  your  attention  no  further  back  than  to  the  adminis- 
tration of  a  Governour  immediately  preceding  your  Lord- 
ship. Previous  to  his  coming  over  to  Virginia,  there 
had  arisen  some  unhappy  disputes  between  Great  Britain 
and  the  Colonies.  His  Majesty  was  graciously  pleased  to 
send  over  to  us,  from  his  immediate  presence,  the  truly 
noble  Lord  Botetourt,  who  told  us,  that  he  had  received 
it  in  command  from  His  Majesty  to  do  justice,  and  main- 
tain the  rights  of  all  his  subjects.  He  cheerfully  entered 
upon  the  duties  of  his  exalted  station,  in  which  he  acted 
as  a  true  representative  of  his  royal  master,  at  once  sup- 
porting the  dignity  of  his  Crown,  dispensing  the  utmost 
justice,  and  diffusing  benevolence  throughout  the  Country. 
By  his  exemplary  conduct  in  all  respects,  he  accomplished 
what  he  deemed  a  glorious  work :  he  gave  us  tranquillity 
and  happiness.  Indeed,  he  was  often  heard  to  declare, 
that  the  business  of  a  Governour  of  Virginia  was  much 
easier  than  he  could  have  conceived,  as  he  found  that  the 
Government  almost  executed  itself.  Matters  were  not  at 
that  time  carried  on  and  precipitated  with  so  high  a  hand 
on  the  other  side  of  the  water,  as  at  present.  This  proba- 
bly was  owing  to  his  minutely  examining  every  subject  to 
the  bottom  himself — taking  nothing  upon  trust;  to  his  dis- 
countenancing tale-bearers  and  malicious  informers;  and,  at 
last,  making  a  faithful  representation  of  things  as  he  found 
them.  In  a  short,  too  short  a  time,  for  the  happiness  of 
Virginia,  it  pleased  God  to  remove  him  from  us. 

When  we  received  the  account  of  your  Lordship's  ap- 
pointment, we  indulged  the  pleasing  hope  that  we  should 
again  be  made  happy  in  a  ruler ;  and  when  you  were 
pleased  to  honour  us  with  your  presence,  we  vied  with 
each  other  in  endeavouring  to  make  your  administration 
easy  and  agreeable.  Upon  the  report  that  your  lady  and 
family  were  coming  over  to  you,  every  one,  we  believe, 
who  heard  it,  was  eager  in  expectation  of  an  event  which 
was  like  to  give  addition  to  your  happiness ;  we  received 
her  Ladyship  and  your  children  with  every  expression  of 
heartfelt  joy,  and  have  considered  our  countrymen  as  ex- 
ceedingly happy  in  having  such  respectable  pledges  amongst 
them. 

Changes,  my  Lord,  seldom  happen  without  some  suffi- 
cient cause.  If,  therefore,  you  have,  or  think  you  have, 
discovered  any  alteration  in  the  sentiments  or  behaviour  of 


1223 


HOUSE  OF  BURGESSES  OF  VIRGINIA,  JUNE,  1775. 


1224 


those  you  preside  over,  it  may  be  worth  your  while,  as 
well  as  ours,  to  search  out  the  reason  of  it.  Respect,  my 
Lord,  is  not  to  be  obtained  by  force  from  a  free  people. 
If  genuine,  it  must  be  a  perfect  volunteer;  and  nothing  is 
so  likely  to  ensure  it  to  one  in  your  station  as  dignity  of 
character,  a  candid  and  exemplary  conduct.  We  decline, 
on  th is  occasion,  a  discussion  of  the  subject  unhappily  in 
dispute  between  Great  Britain  and  the  Colonies.  We 
presume  not  to  interfere  with  your  authority  in  summon- 
ing or  dissolving  Assemblies,  when,  by  advice  of  your 
Council,  you  think  there  is  proper  occasion.  What  we 
claim  as  an  act  of  justice,  is,  that  our  conduct  should  be  fairly 
and  impartially  represented  to  our  Sovereign.  We  do  not 
mean  to  insinuate  that  your  Lordship  would,  designedly, 
misrepresent  facts ;  but  it  is  much  to  be  feared  that  you 
too  easily  give  credit  to  some  designing  persons,  who,  to 
the  great  injury  of  this  community,  possess  much  too  large 
a  share  of  your  confidence. 

We  have  seen,  my  Lord,  the  copy  of  a  letter  you  were 
pleased  to  write  to  the  Earl  of  Dartmouth,  dated  the  29th 
of  May,  1774.  The  design  of  the  then  Assembly  was 
entirely  misconceived,  and  the  ill  impressions  your  Lord- 
ship's letter  may  have  made  on  the  minds  of  His  Majesty 
and  his  Ministers,  prove  how  dangerous  it  is,  and  how  very 
unjust  it  may  be,  to  attempt  penetrating  the  thoughts  of 
others,  when  they  are  not  certainly  known.  Suspicions, 
we  humbly  conceive,  can  never  justify  direct  and  positive 
accusations.  Men,  we  know,  differ  in  religious  sentiments  ; 
some  may  believe  in  the  superintendence  of  a  Providence, 
and  that  the  care,  especially  of  Nations,  is  an  object  of 
Divine  goodness  ;  whilst  others  may  think,  or  affect  to 
treat  this,  as  well  as  other  matters  which  our  religion 
teaches,  as  things  merely  chimerical.  We  have  likewise 
seen  an  authentick  copy  of  extracts  of  another  of  your 
Lordship's  letters  to  the  same  noble  Earl,  dated  the  24th 
of  December,  1774.  The  more  injurious  the  unfavour- 
able representations  contained  in  this  letter  were  likely  to 
be  to  this  Country,  the  more  careful  we  should  have  hoped 
your  Lordship  would  have  been  in  examining  the  evidences 
of  the  facts  stated.  Your  Lordship  had  been  pleased  to  rep- 
resent, in  the  first  letter,  our  House  of  Burgesses  as  fond 
of  having  it  thought  that  a  determined  resolution  to  deny 
and  oppose  the  authority  of  Parliament,  always  originates 
with  them.  Whether  this  was  intended  to  draw  down  the 
particular  resentment  of  Parliament  on  this  Country,  your 
Lordship  can  best  determine.  They  have,  indeed,  pro- 
tested against  the  power  of  Parliament,  when  they  thought 
it  extended  contrary  to  the  principles  of  the  Constitution  ; 
but  we  do  not  know  that  they  ever  affected  to  take  the 
lead  of  the  other  Colonies  in  this,  or  any  other  measure. 
The  times  of  entering  their  protestations  were  merely  acci- 
dental, as  circumstances  happened  ;  and  it  is  notorious, 
that  the  subject  of  the  present  complaint  had  been  under 
the  consideration  of  some  of  the  other  Colonies  before  the 
Virginians  took  it  up. 

It  would  seem,  from  your  Lordship's  letter  of  the  24th 
of  December,  that  the  Association  adopted  by  the  General 
Congress  was  first  recommended  from  Virginia;  whereas 
the  truth  is,  that  in  Virginia  nothing  more  was  resolved 
against,  at  first,  than  the  importation  and  use  of  East-India 
commodities.  The  General  Non-Export  and  Non-Import 
Agreement  came  first  recommended  to  us  from  several  of 
the  Northern  Colonies  ;  this,  we  own,  makes  no  difference 
now,  as  the  several  Colonies  have  united  in  the  Associa- 
tion. It  is  only  remarked,  since  this  circumstance  seems 
to  have  been  thought  material,  as  no  strong  testimony  of  a 
kind  disposition  in  your  Lordship  towards  this  Country. 
That  Committees  were  chosen,  in  the  several  Counties,  is 
admitted  :  the  design  of  them  was  to  observe  the  conduct 
of  those  who  were  inimical  to  the  interest  of  the  Country. 
They  were  required  to  publish  the  names  of  all  trans- 
gressors, that  the  Country  might  know  their  friends  from 
their  foes.  This  you  were  pleased  to  term  "  inviting  the 
vengeance  of  a  lawless  mob  to  be  exercised  upon  the 
unhappy  victims." 

You  further  represented  these  Committees  as  assuming 
an  authority  to  inspect  the  books,  invoices,  and  all  the 
secrets  of  the  trade  and  correspondence  of  merchants. 
This,  my  Lord,  was  high  colouring  of  assumed  facts ; 
which  we,  who  inhabit  different  parts  of  the  Country, 
are  strangers  to.    To  close  your  narrative  upon  this  head, 


you  were  pleased  to  inform  your  noble  correspondent,  that 
every  "  County  in  this  Colony  was  arming  a  company  of 
men,  whom  they  call  an  Independent  Company,  for  the 
avowed  purpose  of  protecting  their  Committees,  and  to  be 
employed  against  Government,  if  occasion  required  ;  and 
that  the  Committee  of  one  County  had  proceeded  so  far 
as  to  swear  the  men  of  their  independent  company  to  exe- 
cute all  orders  which  should  be  given  them  from  their  Com- 
mittee." These,  my  Lord,  are  things  entirely  without  our 
knowledge;  and  upon  the  strictest  inquiry,  we  are  con- 
vinced they  deserve  no  credit.  There  were  a  few  compa- 
nies of  gentlemen  formed,  who  were  desirous  of  perfecting 
themselves  in  military  exercise;  but  we  find  not  more  than 
six  or  seven  throughout  the  whole  Colony,  which  consists 
of  sixty-one  Counties.  This  was  done  to  distinguish  them 
from  the  militia  at  large ;  the  first  and  most  considerable 
of  these,  was  instituted  for  the  better  protection  of  the  in- 
habitants of  Norfolk  Borough,  and  afterwards  received 
your  Lordship's  approbation  so  far  that  you  expressed 
the  warmest  wishes  that  the  example  might  be  followed 
throughout  the  country,  and  gave  commissions  to  their 
officers.  That  these  companies  were  connected  with  the 
Committees,  or  that  they  were  ever  designed  to  act  against, 
or  in  any  sort  to  interfere  with,  what  you  are  pleased  to 
call  Government,  we  do  not  know,  or  believe ;  but,  on  the 
contrary,  we  are  verily  persuaded  that  they  were  alwavs 
ready  and  willing  to  exert  themselves  to  support  the 
Laws  and  His  Majesty's  Government,  to  the  utmost  of 
their  power. 

Your  Lordship's  assertion,  that  "the  power  of  Govern- 
ment was  entirely  disregarded,  if  not  w  holly  overturned, 
and  that  there  was  not  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  Virginia 
who  acted  except  as  a  Committee-man,"  we  cannot  but 
consider  as  highly  unjust,  and  extremely  injurious  to  us. 
We  have  the  greatest  reason  to  believe,  having  it  in  full 
proof,  that  the  Magistrates  throughout  the  Coiony  duly 
attended  their  respective  Courts ;  and  though,  for  the  rea- 
sons assigned  in  our  former  Address  to  your  Lordship, 
they  could  not  think  themselves  legally  authorized  to  hear 
and  determine  civil  suits,  yet  we  are  persuaded,  that  their 
former  endeavours  to  preserve  the  peace  and  good  order 
of  Government  were  not  interrupted,  but  exerted  in  the 
usual  manner.  The  original  cause  of  suspending  the  trials 
of  civil  disputes  was,  as  your  Lordship  observes,  the  want 
of  a  Fee-Bill.  This  legal  defect  was  much  lamented,  and 
not  used,  that  we  know  of,  as  a  popular  argument,  by  any 
man  of  good  sense  ;  nor  did  the  inhabitants  of  this  Country 
join  in  what  you  are  pleased  to  call  an  opprobrious  measure, 
to  engage  their  "  English  creditors  to  join  the  clamours 
of  this  Country."  Your  Lordship's  assertion,  that  "not 
a  few  did  it  to  avoid  paying  their  debts,  in  which  many 
of  the  principal  people  here  are  much  involved,"  we  can 
only  answer  for  ourselves  in  the  negative ;  and  must  con- 
sider so  indiscriminate  a  charge  as  extremely  injurious. 
We  were  so  far  from  desiring  to  do  injustice  16  creditors, 
that  it  gave  us  great  pain  to  observe  that  such  a  step  was 
thought  necessary;  and  nothing  but  the  hopes  of  being 
relieved  from  the  arbitrary  system  of  Colony  Government 
attempted  to  he  introduced,  could  have  prevailed  with  us 
to  submit  to  a  stoppage  of  our  exports.  The  merchants 
of  London,  in  their  written  message,  by  a  respectable 
member  of  their  body,  to  the  Committee  of  the  House 
of  Commons,  have  done  us  ample  justice  in  this  respect, 
by  representing,  that  they  should  have  no  uneasiness  about 
remittances  from  America,  unless  Parliament  pursued  such 
means  as  were  likely  to  prevent  them. 

The  Congress,  my  Lord,  we  consider  as  instituted  on 
principles  of  publick  necessity  ;  we  do  not  deny  our  having 
a  proper  respect  for  that  body.  We  learn,  from  good 
authority,  that  their  humble  and  dutiful  Petition  to  His 
Majesty  was  graciously  received,  though  it  is  with  concern 
we  are  told  it  has  hitherto  produced  no  good  effect.  But 
that  the  inhabitants  of  Virginia  treated  with  "  marks  of 
reverence  the  laws  of  the  Congress,  which  they  never  be- 
stowed on  their  legal  Government,  or  the  laws  proceeding 
from  it,"  is  one  of  a  great  number  of  facts  requiring  proof ; 
since  we  must  take  leave  to  say,  with  confidence,  that  His 
Majesty's  subjects  of  Virginia  have  been  second  to  none 
others,  even  to  his  dutiful  and  loyal  subjects  in  any  part  of 
his  wide  extended  Dominions,  in  all  due  respect  to  his 
Government,  Governours,  and  all  in  authority  under  him. 


1225 


HOUSE  OF  BURGESSES  OF  VIRGINIA,  JUNE,  1775. 


1226 


We  cannot  but  remind  your  Lordship  of  the  General 
Congress  held  in  America,  with  the  royal  approbation,  in 
the  last  war.  The  united  interest,  indeed,  of  Great  Bri- 
tain and  the  Colonies,  might  have  then  demanded  it.  In 
imitation  of  so  laudable  an  example,  America  resolved  on 
a  like  measure,  as  equally,  if  not  more  necessary,  at  this 
critical  juncture.  Your  Lordship's  account  of  the  effects 
the  Association  is  likely  to  produce,  considering  it  as  a 
matter  of  opinion,  we  are  little  concerned  to  interfere 
with  :  time  only  can  discover  the  consequences  of  it. 
But  your  heavy  charge  against  those  called  people  of  for- 
tune, "  that  they  supply  themselves  and  negroes  for  two 
or  three  years,  to  the  distress  of  the  middling  and  poorer 
sort,"  must  have  proceeded  from  your  giving  too  easy 
credit  to  ill-founded  reports.  Some,  but  very  few,  may 
have  supplied  themselves,  as  opportunity  offered,  for  the 
present  year ;  this,  we  believe,  is  the  most  that  has  been 
done.  And  we  are  persuaded  of  a  material  mistake  in 
another  respect,  it  being  the  general  opinion,  founded  on 
good  grounds,  that  the  middling  and  poorer  sort  will  fare 
much  better  than  those  of  fortune,  who  have  large  num- 
bers of  slaves  to  provide  for.  Engaged  on  this  topick,  we 
cannot  refrain  from  observing  how  strangely  our  views 
have  been  misrepresented.  By  the  Association  we  in- 
tend nothing  that  is  illegal.  We  are  only  resolved  to 
be  content  with  our  homespun  manufactures,  however 
mean  in  quality,  unless  things  can  be  restored  to  their 
former  channel;  the  only  security  we  desire  for  what  we 
know  our  excellent  Constitution  entitles  us  to.  What 
your  Lordship  is  pleased  to  represent  as  the  arbitrary  pro- 
ceedings of  the  Committees,  we  trust  will  produce  none 
of  those  very  dreadful  effects  you  have  painted  in  such 
alarming  colours.  The  whole  Colony,  very  few  excepted, 
is  united;  and  from  such  union  of  sentiments,  expectations 
must  be  exceedingly  sanguine,  indeed,  in  supposing  that 
discord  will  arise. 

How  the  proceedings  of  the  General  Convention,  in 
the  month  of  March  last,  may  have  been  represented,  we 
know  not ;  but,  from  the  foregoing  specimens,  it  is  to  be 
presumed  in  no  very  favourable  light.  These  meetings, 
my  Lord,  unless  it  can  be  supposed  that  a  whole  Country 
could  entirely  lose  sight  of  its  security  and  most  essential 
interests,  were  rendered  absolutely  necessary;  first,  by  the 
dissolution,  and  afterwards  by  repeated  prorogations  of  the 
General  Assembly.  Upon  inquiry  into  the  state  of  the  Co- 
lony, it  was  found  that  there  had  been  almost  a  total  inat- 
tention to  the  proper  training  and  disciplining  of  our  Militia. 
Various  subsequent  Acts  of  our  Legislature,  amendatory  of 
the  law  of  1738,  had  expired;  the  Act  providing  against 
invasions  and  insurrections  was  near  expiring,  and  it  was 
uncertain  whether  an  opportunity  would  be  given  the  Gene- 
ral Assembly  to  revive  it.  Taking  a  further  view  of  our 
situation,  it  was  found  that  our  inhabitants  were  exposed 
to  the  incursions  of  a  barbarous  and  savage  enemy.  From 
the  best  accounts  received  from  Great  Britain,  there  was 
loo  much  reason  to  be  convinced  that  His  Majesty's  Minis- 
try were  prosecuting  the  most  rigorous  and  arbitrary  mea- 
sures towards  subjugating  the  whole  Continent  of  America 
to  their  despotick  rule;  which  measures,  it  was  more  than 
probable,  had  been  suggested  from  hence,  and  the  other 
Colonies :  that  a  scheme,  the  most  diabolical,  had  been 
meditated  and  generally  recommended  by  a  person  of  great 
influence,  to  offer  freedom  to  our  slaves,  and  turn  them 
against  their  masters.  The  Convention,  to  guard  against 
these  dangers  not  clearly  seen  into  before  that  time,  recom- 
mended a  strict  attention  to  the  Militia  Law  of  1738  ;  but, 
thinking  this  defective  in  many  essential  points,  and  con- 
sidering that,  under  this  law,  the  whole  Militia  were  not 
obliged  to  exercise  so  frequently  as  might  be  necessary,  it 
was  recommended  that  volunteer  companies  should  be 
formed  in  each  County,  for  the  belter  defence  and  pro- 
tection of  the  whole  Country.  These  proceedings,  accord- 
ing to  an  usual  style,  it  is  more  than  probable,  have  been 
represented  as  designed  to  oppose  Government:  whereas, 
we  are  persuaded  that  nothing  was  farther  from  the  inten- 
tions of  the  Convention.  A  review  of  their  resolutions 
must  convince  every  unprejudiced  mind  that  the  utmost 
respect  was  paid  to  His  Majesty  aud  his  legal  Government, 
and  that  the  Convention  had  much  pleasure  in  expressing 
their  obligations  to  your  Lordship  for  your  late  services. 
The  truth  is,  my  Lord,  that  His  Majesty's  dutiful  subjects 


in  this  Colony  have  the  utmost  attachment  to  their  Sover- 
eign ;  they  admire,  they  love  the  Constitution,  and  will 
risk  every  thing  most  dear  and  valuable  in  support  of  it. 
These  are  principles  imbibed  in  their  infancy,  and  their 
constant  care  is  to  inculcate  them  upon  the  minds  of  their 
children;  they  meditate  or  design  nothing  in  the  least 
offensive ;  but,  if  it  is  expected  that  they  should  sit  down 
supinely,  and  submit  to  yokes  which  neither  they  nor  their 
forefathers  were  able  to  bear,  they  must  acknowledge  that 
they  have  the  sensibility  and  feelings  of  freemen  actuating 
them  to  a  proper  and  justifiable  defence  of  those  rights 
which  are  guarantied  by  the  laws  and  principles  of  the 
Constitution. 

We  have,  my  Lord,  made  the  strictest  and  minutest  in- 
quiry into  the  causes  of  the  late  disturbances.  We  find, 
from  the  examination  of  many  respectable  merchants, 
natives  of  Great  Britain  residing  in  different  parts  of 
this  Colony,  and  from  other  gentlemen  of  character,  that 
the  Country  was  in  a  perfect  stale  of  tranquillity  till  they 
received  an  account  of  your  Lordship's  removal  of  the 
gunpowder  from  the  publick  magazine  to  one  of  His  Ma- 
jesty's ships-of-war,  and  of  your  irritating  and  most  unjusti- 
fiable threats. 

The  inhabitants  of  this  Country,  my  Lord,  could  not  be 
strangers  to  the  many  attempts  in  the  Northern  Colonies 
to  disarm  the  people,  and  thereby  deprive  them  of  the  only 
means  of  defending  their  lives  and  property.  We  know, 
from  good  authority,  that  the  like  measures  were  gene- 
rally recommended  by  the  Ministry,  and  that  the  export  of 
powder  from  Great  Britain  had  been  prohibited.  Judge, 
then,  how  very  alarming  the  removal  of  the  small  stock 
which  remained  in  the  publick  magazine  for  the  defence  of 
the  Country,  and  the  stripping  the  guns  of  their  locks, 
must  have  been  to  any  people  who  had  the  smallest  re- 
gard for  their  security:  the  manner  and  lime  of  doing  it, 
made  no  small  addition  to  the  general  apprehension  of  your 
Lordship's  views.  The  reason  assigned  by  your  Lordship 
for  taking  this  step,  we  should  have  thought  the  most  like- 
ly, at  any  other  time,  to  have  directed  a  very  different  con- 
duct. We  should  have  supposed  that  a  well-grounded  ap- 
prehension of  an  insurrection  of  the  slaves  ought  to  have 
called  forth  the  utmost  exertions  to  suppress  it.  The  world 
will  probably  judge  your  Lordship's  method  of  doing  this 
the  least  likely  to  effect  the  necessary  purpose.  Your 
Lordship  having  represented  this  powder  as  the  King's 
peculiar  property,  supposing  it  to  have  been  brought  from 
one  of  his  ships,  we  have  made  inquiry  into  that  matter, 
and  cannot  find  that  there  ever  was  any  powder  brought 
either  from  the  Rippon  or  any  other  man-of-war ;  so  that 
we  presume  your  Lordship  must  have  been  misinformed 
as  to  this  fact  since  the  powder  was  removed,  as  it  was 
not  relied  on  in  your  answer  to  the  Address  of  the  Corpo- 
ration of  the  City  of  Williamsburgh ;  be  this,  however,  as  it 
may,  we  conceive  the  case  would  not  be  materially  altered. 
We  must  remind  your  Lordship,  that  by  a  very  ancient  law 
of  this  Country,  enacted  so  long  since  as  the  thirty-second 
year  of  the  reign  of  His  Majesty  King  Charles,  the  Se- 
cond, for  raising  a  publick  revenue,  and  for  the  better 
support  of  this  Government,  amongst  other  provisions,  an 
impost  of  one-half  pound  of  gunpowder  and  three  pounds 
of  leaden  shot,  or  one  shilling  and  three  pence  sterling, 
was  imposed  on  all  ships  or  vessels  coming  into  this  Col- 
ony. In  the  ninth  year  of  the  reign  of  Queen  Anne,  the 
impost  of  one  shilling  and  three  pence  on  the  tonnage  of 
vessels  was  continued,  for  port  duties.  It  is  evident,  my 
Lord,  that  the  original  and  chief  design  of  this  particular 
impost  was  to  provide,  from  time  to  time,  a  proper-stock 
of  munition  for  the  defence  of  the  Country.  We  have 
examined  the  produce  of  this  fund  for  thirteen  years  past, 
and  find  that  it  yielded  in  that  time  twenty-eight  thousand 
five  hundred  and  three  pounds,  three  shillings  and  nine 
pence  sterling;  which,  on  an  average,  amounted  to  two 
thousand  one  hundred  ninety-two  pounds  eleven  shillings 
sterling  per  annum ;  and  it  is  observable,  that  for  the  four 
last  years  it  yielded  considerably  more  than  three  thousand 
pounds  in  each  year.  It  may  from  hence  be  fairly  submitted, 
whether  it  was  not  incumbent  on  the  Executive  part  of 
Government  to  have  provided,  in  the  first  place,  from  so 
large  and  ample  a  fund,  a  proper  stock  of  arms  and  ammu- 
nition, which  was  so  essentially  necessary  for  the  security 
of  the  Country.    If,  my  Lord,  instead  of  applying  a  rea- 


1227 


HOUSE  OF  BURGESSES  OF  VIRGINIA,  JUNE,  1775. 


1228 


sonable  part  of  this  money  to  such  necessary  purposes, 
the  whole  has  been  applied  to  other  occasions  of  Govern- 
ment, and  powder  and  arms  had  been  procured  through 
some  other  channel,  we  should  presume  that  these,  when 
stored  in  the  publick  magazine,  built  at  the  expense  of  the 
Country,  and  appropriated  to  the  safe  keeping  of  all  mili- 
tary stores,  ought  there  to  have  remained  till  the  exigen- 
ces of  the  Country  demanded  them. 

We  find,  my  Lord,  that  the  inhabitants  of  the  City  of 
Williamsburgh,  in  the  midst  of  which  the  magazine  is  situ- 
ated, upon  discovering  that  the  powder  was  removed,  the 
time  and  manner  of  its  being  done — in  the  dead  of  the 
night,  under  an  escort  of  armed  marines,  commanded  by 
Captain  Henry  Collins,  of  the  Magdalen — were  exceeding- 
ly alarmed  ;  that  many  of  them  were  so  exasperated  that 
they  had  recourse  to  arms,  intending,  as  we  understand,  to 
compel  Captain  Collins  to  restore  the  powder;  but  we 
cannot  discover  that  the  least  insult  was  intended  to  your 
Lordship.  We  find  that  the  Corporation  of  Williamsburgh 
presented  a  decent  and  very  respectful  address  to  your 
Excellency,  desiring  that  you  would  be  pleased  to  order 
the  powder  to  be  returned  ;  and,  on  receipt  of  your  verbal 
answer,  amongst  other  things  avowing  that  it  had  been 
removed  by  your  orders,  under  which  Captain  Collins 
had  acted,  and  promising  it  should  be  returned  in  case  of 
an  insurrection,  the  people  assembled  were  soon  appeased f 
returned  quietly  to  their  respective  homes,  and  perfect 
tranquillity  was  restored  in  the  City.  That  in  the  succeed- 
ing night,  on  a  report  that  a  number  of  armed  men  had 
landed  at  a  ferry  about  four  miles  from  this  City,  the  inha- 
bitants were  again  much  alarmed  ;  but,  upon  the  interposi- 
tion of  some  gentlemen,  they  were  quieted,  and  nothing 
farther  was  done  than  strengthening  the  usual  patrol  for  the 
security  of  the  City.  We  farther  find,  that  on  the  next  day, 
when  every  thing  was  perfectly  quiet,  your  Lordship  sent 
a  message  into  the  City  by  one  of  the  Magistrates,  which 
you  delivered  with  the  most  solemn  asseverations,  that  if 
any  insult  was  offered  to  Captain  Foy  or  Captain  Collins, 
you  would  declare  freedom  to  the  slaves,  and  lay  the  Town 
in  ashes ;  and  that  you  could  easily  depopulate  the  whole 
Country.  What  could  have  provoked  your  Lordship  to 
this  we  cannot  discover,  as  both  Captain  Foy  and  Captain 
Collins-,  and  several  other  officers,  had  been  frequently 
seen  walking  pubhckly  in  the  streets,  and  no  one  offered 
either  of  them  the  least  injury;  nor  can  we  discover  any 
reason  to  believe  that  any  thing  of  the  sort  was  intended. 
The  inhabitants,  my  Lord,  could  not  but  be  exceedingly 
alarmed  at  so  cruel  a  threat ;  many  people  considered  it  as 
part  of  that  general  plan  they  had  heard  was  recommend- 
ed in  England,  and  which  was  discovered  by  your  Lord- 
ship through  accident ;  they,  however,  did  nothing  more, 
that  we  can  learn,  than  continue  their  former  patrols. 

A  report  of  these  several  matters  having  soon  circulated 
throughout  almost  the  whole  Country,  with  this  addition, 
that  the  most  valuable  guns  in  the  magazine  had  been 
stripped  of  their  locks,  and  that  the  inhabitants  of  Hil- 
liamsburgh  were  in  the  most  imminent  danger,  the  minds 
of  the  people  in  general  were  much  agitated  ;  they  assem- 
bled in  different  quarters,  and  a  number  of  expresses  were 
sent  to  inquire  and  obtain  a  true  state  of  things.  It  ap- 
pears that  during  this  general  uneasiness,  an  account  was 
received  from  the  northward  of  the  engagement  at  Con- 
cord. The  General,  it  seems,  had  sent  an  armed  force  to 
seize  a  Provincial  magazine;  this,  your  Lordship  may  sup- 
pose, increased  the  apprehensions  of  our  people,  as  it  held 
out  to  them  an  additional  proof  that  the  steps  you  had 
taken  formed  a  part  of  that  general  system  adopted  to  ren- 
der the  Colonies  defenceless.  If,  upon  such  alarms,  when 
the  minds  of  the  people  were  fretted  to  an  extreme  degree, 
some  irregularities  were  committed,  the  causes  may  be  found 
in  those  extraordinary  attempts  to  stretch  the  powers  of 
Government  so  much  beyond  their  ancient  and  constitu- 
tional limits. 

It  gave  the  greatest  concern,  my  Lord,  to  all  acquainted 
with  your  most  amiable  lady  and  her  distinguished  charac- 
ter, to  hear  she  had  removed  with  her  children  to  one  of 
the  King's  Ships.  We  have  inquired  into  the  cause  of 
this ;  and  though  we  do  not  pretend  to  prescribe  to  her 
ladyship,  yet  we  are  persuaded,  that  had  she  known  the 
sentiments  of  all  the  people  in  this  Colony,  every  uneasi- 
ness would  have  been  removed.    We  find,  my  Lord,  that 


from  the  great  pains  taken  by  the  Magistrates,  and  other 
inhabitants  of  the  City  of  Williamsburgh,  there  could  have 
been  no  real  ground  for  fear  at  the  time  of  her  ladyship's 
removal,  unless  it  was  produced  from  your  Lordship's 
threats,  which  might  have  kept  the  minds  of  some  of  the 
citizens  in  suspense.  A  few  ladies,  it  appears,  left  the 
City;  but  it  was  not  through  apprehensions  of  any  other 
danger  than  what  your  Lordship  held  over  them.  The 
inhabitants  certainly  could  have  entertained  no  suspicions 
of  injury  from  their  friends  in  the  country,  who  had  kindly 
offered  to  come  to  their  assistance ;  so  that  it  was  in  the 
power  of  your  Lordship  alone  to  have  removed  her  lady- 
ship's uneasiness. 

It  gives  us  the  greatest  pain,  my  Lord,  to  find,  in  your 
Excellency's  Message,  so  determined  a  resolution  to  pursue 
a  couise  the  most  likely  to  revive  the  uneasiness  of  the 
people,  and  prevent  that  restoration  of  harmony  so  ardent- 
ly wished  for  by  all  good  men. 

You  are  pleased  to  submit  to  our  "  judgment,  whether 
you  could  reasonably  have  expected  any  good  effect  from 
communicating  the  ground  of  your  uneasiness  to  us."  We 
give  it  as  our  opinion,  that  your  Lordship  had  the  greatest 
reason,  if  you  had  viewed  our  conduct  in  its  proper  light, 
to  have  expected  the  best  effects  from  such  communica- 
tion. As  we  met  your  Lordship  in  General  Assembly  with 
the  sincerest  disposition  to  do  every  thing  in  our  power  to 
provide  for  the  tranquillity  of  the  Country,  the  reasons 
assigned  for  your  contrary  apprehensions,  we  are  persuaded, 
must  have  been  suggested  to  your  Lordship  by  some  de- 
signing, malevolent  informer.  We  can  hardly  suppose  your 
Lordship  could  have  had  any  well-grounded  fear  of  per- 
sonal danger,  when  it  is  notorious  that  you  appeared  pub- 
lickly  as  usual ;  and  it  is  in  proof,  that  in  the  same  night 
which  you  left  t';e  Palace,  you  walked  alone  to  the  Attor- 
ney General's,  at  the  distance  of  upwards  of  a  quarter  of 
a  mile,  and  returned,  unmolested  ;  and  we  cannot  discover 
that  even  the  slightest  insult  was  offered.  If  you  judge  of 
the  disposition  of  the  House  of  Burgesses,  as  to  publick 
matters,  from  their  declining  to  accept  an  invitation  to  dine 
with  your  Lordship,  (the  instance  of  respect  and  civility 
alluded  to,  and  which  you  say  you  had  been  forward  in 
offering  to  them,)  you  have  entirely  mistaken  their  mo- 
tives. A  piece  of  civility  of  this  sort  had  formerly  its  due 
weight  with  us;  but  we  had  little  reason  to  suppose  that 
such  a  ceremony  would,  at  this  time,  be  attended,  on  your 
Lordship's  part,  with  that  cordiality  which  we  thought  we 
had  observed  on  former  occasions.  How  could  your  Lord- 
ship think  of  admitting  to  your  table  a  set  of  men  who. 
together  with  the  whole  body  of  their  constituents,  you 
had  endeavoured  to  paint  in  such  despicable  and  odious 
colours?  That  the  House  of  Burgesses  ever  countenanced 
the  violent  and  disorderly  proceedings  of  the  ueople,  \\u 
must,  in  justice  to  ourselves,  take  leave  to  deny.  As  to 
the  magazine's  being  rifled,  which  you  are  pleased  to  in- 
sinuate was  done  with  the  approbation  of  this  House,  we 
must  say,  that  in  this  also  the  greatest  injustice  is  done  to 
us.  The  House  was  sitting,  closely  engaged  in  publick 
business,  when  this  affair  happened.  Some  of  our  mem- 
bers, as  we  believe  the  truth  is,  upon  hearing  what  was 
going  forward  at  the  magazine,  went  up  in  hopes  of  pre- 
venting it.  We  are  informed  that  a  great  concourse  of 
people,  from  different  parts  of  the  country,  were  assem- 
bled, and  that  many  of  the  arms  had  been  taken  out  of  the 
magazine.  Several  of  the  members,  as  private  gentlemen, 
remonstrated  with  all  the  people  they  met  with  against 
such  proceedings,  and  prevailed  with  them  to  return  what 
they  had  taken.  When  your  Lordship  was  pleased  to  ac- 
cuse the  House  of  Burgesses  of  usurping  the  "  Executive 
power,"  from  what  happened  on  this  occasion,  we  presume 
it  would  have  been  well  to  have  considered  with  what  pro- 
priety they  could  have  interfered.  Had  they  made  an 
order  for  apprehending  the  persons  concerned,  who  were 
unknown,  it  would  have  been  fruitless,  and,  moreover,  a 
plain  departure  from  the  line  of  their  authority.  Such  a 
step  your  Lordship  might,  indeed,  have  justly  censured  as  an 
usurpation  of  the  Executive  power.  Or,  would  your  Lord- 
ship have  recommended  to  the  individual  members  to  have 
acted  as  bailiffs,  in  seizing  all  offenders  they  met  with  '. 
We  never  have,  nor  will  we  ever  give  countenance  to  such 
unjustifiable  proceedings  as  happened  that  day. 

Your  acquaintance,  my  Lord,  with  mankind,  must  sug- 


1229 


HOUSE  OF  BURGESSES  OF  VIRGINIA,  JUNE,  1775. 


12,30 


gest  to  you  the  difficulty  there  is  in  restraining  an  incensed 
multitude.  Many  people,  the  irritation  of  whose  minds 
had  but  lately  subsided,  we  understand,  had  been  again 
greatly  alarmed  at  a  late  unfortunate  accident  which  hap- 
pened to  some  inconsiderate  young  men,  in  their  unlawful 
attempt  to  furnish  themselves  with  arms  out  of  the  maga- 
zine;  an  attempt,  my  Lord,  which  we  condemn  as  highly 
as  your  Lordship  can.  But  whether  some  little  apology 
may  not  be  suggested,  from  that  universal  anxiety  which 
all  mankind  have  to  prepare  for  the  defence  of  their  lives 
and  property,  we  will  not  determine.  The  point  is  deli- 
cate, and  we  leave  the  world  to  judge  of  it.  But  the 
means  contrived,  in  pursuance  of  your  Lordship's  orders, 
by  which  an  unfortunate  culprit  might  probably  have  been 
hurried  into  eternity,  without  a  moment's  time  for  reflection, 
we  conceive  can  do  no  great  honour  to  humanity,  which, 
we  should  have  supposed,  would  have  dictated  the  neces- 
sity of  at  least  giving  publick  notice  that  spring-guns  were 
prepared  and  fixed,  which,  it  is  imagined,  would  have  an- 
swered every  purpose  of  security  to  the  magazine. 

Your  Lordship's  reflections  on  our  Committee,  and, 
through  them,  upon  this  whole  House,  we  think  might  have 
been  spared,  after  what  passed  early  in  the  session.  Had 
the  Committee  misbehaved,  we  should  not  have  been  back- 
ward in  taking  proper  notice  of  it.  When  we  received 
your  Lordship's  very  temperate  message  respecting  their 
conduct,  we  addressed  your  Excellency,  in  hopes,  by  hav- 
ing matters  properly  explained,  of  removing  all  umbrage 
you  might  have  taken.  Your  Lordship's  reply  to  this  mes- 
sage induced  us  to  believe  that  you  were  satisfied  ;  but  it 
seems  we  must  again  enter  on  the  same  subject,  or  remain 
exposed  to  the  weight  of  your  Lordship's  censure. 

Reflecting  on  what  had  happened,  the  House  judged  it 
an  indispensable  duty  they  owed  their  constituents,  to  in- 
quire into  the  state  of  the  publick  magazine;  and,  before 
they  knew  of  the  late  disturbances,  appointed  a  Committee 
for  that  purpose.  The  Committee,  previous  to  their  taking 
any  other  step,  waited  upon  your  Excellency,  and  in  the 
most  respectful  manner  desired  that  you  would  be  pleased 
to  direct  the  keeper  of  the  magazine  to  give  them  access 
thereto.  The  key  was  delivered  to  them  by  your  Lord- 
ship's orders ;  they  at  the  same  time  informed  your  Ex- 
cellency of  the  confusion  that  had  happened  ;  and  that  they 
had,  to  prevent  the  like  depredations,  requested  some  gen- 
tlemen of  the  Town  to  guard  the  magazine,  till  proper 
measures  could  be  taken  for  its  further  security,  which  your 
Lordship  did  not  make  the  least  objection  to.  There  had 
been,  by  your  Excellency's  permission,  a  considerable 
quantity  of  copper  money,  belonging  to  the  country,  lodged 
in  the  magazine.  This  was  an  additional  reason  for  the 
Committee's  taking  a  precaution  which  your  Lordship  is 
pleased  to  call  "  ordering  and  appointing  guards,  without 
consulting  you,  to  mount  in  the  City  of  Williamsbiirgh" 
and  a  design  to  usurp  the  "  Executive  power."  The  Com- 
mittee did  not  pretend  to  any  authority  to  mount  guard  ; 
and  had  your  Lordship  disliked  what  they  thought  a  pru- 
dent step  in  the  then  confused  state  of  things,  it  would 
have  been  kind  in  your  Lordship  to  have  intimated  as 
much.  Upon  the  Committee's  inquiry,  they  found,  indeed, 
that  there  was  little  worth  guarding  in  the  magazine,  the 
powder  having  been  all  removed,  except  about  five  half 
barrels,  buried,  by  your  Excellency's  order,  in  the  yard, 
for  what  purpose  we  cannot  conceive,  and  all  the  valuable 
muskets  having  been  spoiled  of  their  locks. 

Your  Lordship  speaks  of  a  body  of  men  assembled  in 
the  City  of  Williamsburgh,  not  only  to  the  "  knowledge, 
but  with  the  approbation  of  every  body,  for  the  avowed 
purpose  of  attacking  a  party  of  the  King's  forces,  which  it 
was  reported,  though  without  foundation,  was  marching  to 
your  Lordship's  protection."  We  know  of  no  men,  my 
Lord,  assembled  for  the  purpose  you  mention,  though  you 
are  pleased  to  say  it  was  done  with  the  "  knowledge  and 
approbation  of  every  body,"  in  which  number  we  suppose 
the  House  of  Burgesses  were  particularly  designed  to  be 
included.  Upon  the  best  information,  the  truth  appears 
to  be  this :  An  account  was  brought  into  the  City  in  the 
morning,  that  Captain  Collins,  of  the  Magdalen,  had  slip- 
ped his  cable,  and  was  come  up  the  river  with  a  number  of 
boats,  in  which  there  were  said  to  be  a  hundred  armed 
men  at  least,  intended  to  be  marched  into  the  City.  It 
could  not  be  conceived  what  was  proposed  by  this  manoeu- 


vre :  the  City  was  quiet,  and  we  believe  no  man  in  it  sus- 
pected that  your  Lordship  could  have  the  least  apprehen- 
sion that  your  person  was  in  danger;  nor  had  we  the 
smallest  suspicion  of  your  fears,  till  the  receipt  of  your 
former  message,  acquainting  us  of  your  removal.  The 
citizens,  however,  as  well  as  others,  were  astonished,  and 
somewhat  alarmed,  not  knowing  what  was  intended.  Your 
Lordship  may  remember,  that  His  Majesty's  Council,  from 
their  address  to  your  Excellency,  were  not  without  their 
apprehensions.  A  number  of  the  inhabitants,  and  we  sup- 
pose some  others,  but  how  many  we  know  not,  assembled 
under  arms,  that  they  might  be  prepared  to  defend  the  City 
and  its  inhabitants,  in  case  any  thing  hostile  should  be  at- 
tempted. This,  we  are  convinced,  was  their  only  view. 
Upon  their  being  made  acquainted  with  your  Lordship's 
answer  to  the  Council,  we  understood  that  they  all  imme- 
diately retired  peaceably  and  quietly,  without  any  disturb- 
ance. The  City  was  again  at  rest,  and  continued  composed 
till  they  heard  of  your  Lordship's  removal,  with  your  fami- 
ly, in  the  dead  of  night,  as  if  you  could  have  supposed  that 
any  one  would  have  attempted  to  offer  you  any  obstruc- 
tion, or  to  interfere  with  your  inclination.  This  extraordi- 
nary step,  which  none  could  account  for,  occasioned  great 
consternation  in  the  City,  and  we  believe  would  surprise 
the  whole  world,  were  they  acquainted  with  it. 

We  have  already,  my  Lord,  in  a  former  address,  of 
which,  according  to  custom,  a  copy  was  left  with  you,  and 
which  you  directed  to  have  presented  on  a  certain  day, 
long  since  passed,  without  your  giving  us  an  opportunity 
of  doing  it,  a=signed  the  reasons  why  we  could  not  inter- 
pose our  legislative  authority  respecting  the  Courts  of  Jus- 
tice. 

The  occasion  and  design  of  forming  Independent  Com- 
panies at  first,  and  the  rise  of  Volunteer  Companies  after- 
wards, we  have  already  explained,  and  cannot  see  the 
necessity  of  abolishing  them.  They  are  not  designed  to 
interfere  with  your  Lordship's  full  exercise  of  the  legal  and 
constitutional  powers  of  your  Government,  which  we  would 
wish  to  have  supported  on  all  occasions ;  and  are  of  opin- 
ion, that  the  laws  in  force  are  competent  to  that  end.  But 
if  it  is  expected  that  the  Country  should  again  be  thrown 
into  a  defenceless  state,  self-preservation,  the  first  law  of 
nature,  forbids  it.  If  your  Lordship  were  really  appre- 
hensive that  your  person  was  in  danger,  the  tender  of  the 
Council  and  this  House,  of  their  most  effectual  assistance 
to  remove  every  appearance  of  risk,  we  were  hopeful  would 
have  quieted  all  your  fears.  A  proper  guard,  at  the  pub- 
lick expense,  would  have  been  at  your  service,  had  you 
judged  it  necessary.  Your  Lordship's  declining  to  pro- 
pose such  a  measure  as  we,  consistent  with  our  own 
security,  could  accept,  and  demanding  what  you  must  have 
known  was  not  in  our  power  to  comply  with,  affords  no 
strong  evidence  of  your  inclination  to  restore  tranquillity  to 
this  Country.  Those  who  have  taken  any  of  His  Majes- 
ty's publick  store  of  arms,  are  open  to  the  law,  which  has 
its  full  operation  as  heretofore  ;  and  we  wish  not  to  inter- 
rupt its  course.  But  surely  your  Lordship  cannot  expect 
us,  by  any  new  act,  which  would  be  ex  post  facto  in  the 
most  odious  sense  of  the  words,  to  inflict  other  pains  and 
penalties  for  offences  already  committed.  This,  we  con- 
ceive, would  be  the  greatest  infringement  of  a  fundamental 
principle  of  our  excellent  Constitution.  Such  a  practice 
may,  indeed,  have  obtained  under  another  meridian,  but  it 
is  not,  my  Lord,  of  American  growth.  Whether  that  spirit 
of  persecution,  which  your  Lordship  has  been  pleased  to 
describe,  prevails  in  this  Country,  we  appeal  to  the  evi- 
dence which  appears  on  our  Journals.  Were  those,  and 
those  only,  to  be  considered  as  persecuted  men,  who,  from 
principles  and  duty,  are  attached  to  their  King  and  his  Gov- 
ernment, we  ourselves,  my  Lord,  should  fall  under  this 
predicament,  and  perhaps  may,  with  justice,  think  human- 
ity disgraced  by  such  proceedings.  That  some  few  people 
may  have  been  deluded,  we  shall  not  question.  The 
utmost  pains,  we  know,  have  been  taken,  in  different  Colo- 
nies, to  alarm  them  with  the  "  disfigured  side  of  the  Ameri- 
can" story,  and  to  render  them  deaf  and  blind  to  their  true 
interest  and  political  salvation.  So  far  as  our  example  can 
influence  the  people'  of  this  Country  in  preserving  their 
loyalty  to  His  Majesty,  a  proper  respect  to  Government, 
and  the  good  order  of  society,  your  Lordship  may  be  as- 
sured that  it  shall  be  made  as  diffusive  as  possible. 


1231 


HOUSE  OF  BURGESSES  OF  VIRGINIA,  JUNE,  1775. 


4232 


We  have,  my  Lord,  the  sinccrest  and  most  active  desire 
to  seize  every  opportunity  of  establishing  the  freedom  of 
our  Country  upon  a  fixed  "  known  foundation,"  and  of 
uniting  ourselves  with  our  fellow-subjects  of  Great  Britain 
in  one  common  bond  of  interest  and  affection  ;  but  we  have 
no  "  doubts"  of  what  such  freedom  consists  in  ;  it  is  writ- 
ten as  with  a  sun-beam  on  our  hearts.  We  are  equally 
sensible  of  those  essentials  which  alone  can  admit  us  to  the 
participation  of  a  just  proportion  of  the  common  interest ; 
but  for  the  variety  of  cogent  reasons  assigned  in  our  ad- 
dress in  answer  to  your  Lordship's  speech,  we  cannot  view 
the  proposal  of  the  House  of  Commons  in  the  same  light 
your  Lordship  seems  to  do. 

The  important  business  of  the  Assembly,  my  Lord,  has 
been  not  a  little  interrupted  by  your  Excellency's  removal 
from  the  proper  seat  of  your  Government.  As  to  your 
Lordship's  offer,  that  we  might  adjourn  to  the  Town  of 
York,  we  think  this  would  be  extremely  improper,  on  seve- 
ral accounts :  The  Town  of  York  could  not  afford  tole- 
rable accommodation  for  so  numerous  an  assembly ;  and, 
what  is  of  more  consequence,  we  humbly  conceive,  that 
this,  and  this  place  alone  is  established  by  law  for  hold- 
ing our  General  Assemblies.  If  there  are  any  hopes  left 
of  your  Excellency's  compliance,  we  must  reiterate  our 
request,  that  you  will  be  pleased  to  return,  with  your  fami- 
ly, to  the  Palace,  for  the  reasons  assigned  in  our  former 
address.  We  feel  most  sensibly  the  disagreeable  situation 
your  excellent  lady  must  be  in.  But  if,  after  all,  your 
Lordship  is  determined  to  persist  in  your  resolution  of 
absence,  we  must  endeavour  to  rest  satisfied,  conscious  that, 
whilst  we  have  been  solicitous  to  do  justice  to  our  constitu- 
ents and  ourselves,  we  have  not  been  wanting  in  the  respect 
which  is  due  to  the  representative  of  our  most  gracious 
Sovereign. 

We  cannot,  my  Lord,  but  consider  the  Representatives 
of  the  body  of  the  people,  when  convened  in  Assembly, 
as  part  of  that  great  and  general  council  which  our  Con- 
stitution hath  fixed  lor  advising  our  Governours  in  all  mat- 
ters respecting  the  publick  weal.  His  Majesty's  honourable 
Council  are  especially  appointed  for  this  purpose.  They 
are  well  acquainted  with  our  Constitution  ;  their  duty  to 
His  Majesty  will  urge  them  to  support  the  prerogative  of 
the  Crown,  at  the  same  time  that  their  justice  should  lead 
them  to  maintain  the  rights  of  the  People.  We,  therefore, 
(sincerely  regarding  your  Lordship's  tranquillity  and  hap- 
piness, as  well  as  the  important  interests  of  this  whole  com- 
munity,) think  ourselves  loudly  called  upon  to  give  it  as 
our  best  advice,  that  your  Lordship  will  be  pleased  to  ad- 
vise with  your  proper  and  constitutional  Council,  in  all 
matters  of  importance,  and  not  suffer  yourself  to  be  influ- 
enced by  designing  men  ;  but  that  you  will  banish  all  such 
Irom  your  presence,  as  the  greatest  enemies  to  your  own 
repose,  and  the  real  happiness  of  this  extensive  Country. 

The  said  Address  being  read  a  second  time, 

Resolved  nemine  contradiccntc,  That  the  House  doth 
agree  with  the  Committee  in  the  said  Address  to  be  pre- 
sented to  the  Governour. 

Ordered,  That  the  said  Address  be  presented  to  his 
Excellency  by  Mr.  Cary,  Mr.  Braxton,  Mr.  Wood,  Mr. 
Jones,  Mr.  Zane,  Mr.  Page,  and  Mr.  Berkeley. 

Mr.  Treasurer  reported  from  the  Committee,  to  whom 
the  Bill  for  appointing  Commissioners  to  ratify  and  confirm 
the  late  Treaty  of  Peace  with  the  Ohio  Indians  was  com- 
mitted, that  the  Committee  had  gone  through  the  Bill,  and 
made  several  amendments  thereto,  which  they  had  directed 
him  to  report  to  the  House ;  and  he  read  the  Report  in  his 
place,  and  afterwards  delivered  the  Bill  with  the  amend- 
ments in  at  the  Clerk's  table,  where  the  amendments  were 
once  read  throughout,  and  then  a  second  time,  one  by  one, 
and  upon  the  question  severally  put  thereupon,  were,  with 
an  amendment  to  one  of  them,  agreed  to  by  the  House. 

Ordered,  That  the  Bill,  with  the  amendments,  be  en- 
grossed. 

Mr.  Braxton  reported,  from  the  Committee  to  whom  the 
Bill  for  appointing  an  Agent  was  committed,  that  the  Com- 
mittee had  gone  through  the  Bill,  and  made  an  amendment 
thereunto,  which  they  had  directed  him  to  report  to  the 
House  ;  and  he  read  the  Report  in  his  place,  and  after- 
wards delivered  the  Bill,  with  the  amendment,  in  at  the 
Clerk's  table. 


Ordered,  That  the  said  Report  be  taken  into  considera- 
tion to-morrow. 

Tuesday,  June  20,  15  Geo.  Ill,  1775. 

The  Order  of  the  Day  being  read,  for  taking  into  consi- 
deration the  Report  which  was  made  from  the  Committee 
to  whom  the  Bill  for  appointing  an  Agent  was  committed, 

Ordered,  That  the  said  Report  be  taken  into  considera- 
tion to-morrow. 

The  other  Order  of  the  Day  being  read, 

Ordered,  That  the  call  of  the  House  be  further  ad- 
journed till  to-morrow. 

A  Message  from  the  Council  by  Mr.  Blair: 

Mr.  Speaker:  I  am  commanded  by  the  Council  to 
deliver  to  this  House  a  Paper,  which  they  have  received 
from  the  Governour,  as  his  Excellency's  answer  to  the  last 
joint  Address  of  the  Council  and  of  this  House.  And  he 
presented  the  said  Paper  at  the  bar. 

And  then  the  Messenger  withdrew. 

The  said  Paper  was  read,  and  is  as  followeth,  viz : 

Experience  having  shewn  the  insecurity  of  the  publick 
Magazine,  and  the  Palace  having  hitherto  been  respected, 
I  think  it  improper  to  give  any  other  orders  than  that  the 
arms  belonging  to  the  King,  which  have  for  so  many  years 
been  lodged,  may  still  remain  there,  and  that  they  may  on 
no  account  be  touched  without  my  express  permission. 

Mr.  Cary  reported  that  the  joint  Address  of  the  Coun- 
cil and  this  House  of  Saturday  last,  and  the  two  Addresses 
of  this  House  of  the  same  day,  and  likewise  the  Address 
of  yesterday  to  the  Governour,  had  been  severally  present- 
ed to  his  Excellency,  who  directed  him  to  acquaint  the 
House  that  he  had  sent  his  answer  to  the  first  to  the 
Council,  and  delivered  to  him  two  Papers  in  answer  to  the 
second  and  third  Addresses ;  which  Papers  he  delivered  in 
at  the  Clerk's  table,  and  which  were  read,  and  are  in  the 
words  following,  to  wit : 

This  Address,  acknowledging  the  highest  sense  of  the  ser- 
vices I  rendered  to  this  Country  on  the  late  Indian  expe- 
dition, though  late,*  will  still,  1  hope,  do  credit  to  the  justice 
of  the  House  of  Burgesses. 

As  the  care,  custody,  and  disposal  of  publick  stores  of 
ammunition,  belong  alone  to  the  King's  representative,  1 
cannot  consent  to  return  the  powder,  lately  removed  from 
the  magazine,  to  Williamsburgh,  which  experience  has  de- 
monstrated to  me  is  an  improper  place  for  the  residence  of 
the  Governour;  therefore  as  1  could  not  attend  to  its  pre- 
servation, I  could  not  consequently  depend  upon  its  being 
in  security  there.  The  powder  in  question,  besides,  you 
have  already  been  acquainted,  belonged  to  one  of  His  Ma- 
jesty's ships  ;  1  am  therefore  in  a  particular  manner  account- 
able for  it;  but,  as  I  have  before  declared,  1  shall  be  ready 
to  apply  it,  if  I  find  it  wanted,  for  the  protection  of  thu 
Colony. 

The  duty  upon  the  tonnage  of  all  vessels  trading  to  this 
Colony  has  been  applied,  as  I  conceive  the  Act  which  im- 
poses that  duty  authorizes,  towards  the  regular  and  neces- 
sary charges  of  Government ;  which,  without  this  fund, 
could  not  have  been  supported,  and  therefore  requires  it  all. 
This  Colony  has  hitherto  been  preserved  from  invasion  and 
insurrection  by  the  care  and  attention  of  Government ;  and 
you  have  a  very  late  instance  of  its  exertion,  through  the 
means  of  which  the  Country  has  been  rescued  from  the  de- 
struction it  was  threatened  with,  which,  as  it  proves  the 
contrary  of  an  inattention  to  any  matters  essential  to  the  pre- 
servation of  this  Colony,  so  it  exposes  the  injustice  of  your 
present  attempt,  if  it  does  not  induce  you  to  forbear  others, 
of  bringing  your  legal  and  constitutional  Government,  at  this 
unhappy  conjuncture,  into  discredit  among  the  people. 

As  to  your  request  that  I  order  a  certain  quantity  of  arms, 
powder,  and  other  military  stores,  to  be  provided  :  when  you 
have  complied  with  the  requisition  submitted  to  your  con- 
sideration, in  consequence  of  the  joint  address  of  the  Coun- 

*  One  cannot  help  remarking  the  injustice  of  this  insinuation,  for  thn 
Journal  of  the  House  of  Burgesses  proves  the  Resolution  for  tiie  Ad- 
dress (to  which  the  foregoing  was  intended  as  an  answer)  passed  the 
House  upon  rec(  ipt  of  his  Lordship's  Message  respecting  the  Powder, 
the  day  beforo  ha  left  the  City ;  and  the  Gazette,  published  the  day  he 
went  away,  must  have  informed  his  Lordship  of  this  generous  disposi- 
tion of  the  House.  So,  if  the  Address  was  really  late,  as  his  Lordship 
conceives,  the  reason  must  be  found  in  his  Lordship's  going  from  the 
fcSoat  of  Government  on  board  an  armed  vessel.  —  Fir.  Oaz. 


1233 


HOUSE  OF  BURGESSES  OF  VIRGINIA,  JUNE,  1775. 


1234 


oil  and  House  of  Burgesses,  offering  to  concur  in  any  mea- 
sure proper  for  my  security,  which  requisition  iias  heen 
taken  no  notice  of;  and  when  the  legal  executive  power 
of  Government  is  restored,  and  1  may  with  certainty  rely 
that  arms,  powder,  and  other  military  stores,  will  be  em- 
ployed no  otherwise  than  as  I  shall  direct,  who,  as  His  Ma- 
jesty's representative,  have  the  sole  authority  in  the  case, 
then  I  shall  be  happy,  with  the  means  you  furnish  me,  to 
provide  every  thing ;  and  I  promise  you  no  attention  shall 
be  neglected  which  may  be  requisite  for  securing  the  in- 
habitants of  Virginia  from  invasion  and  insurrection. 

Ordered,  That  the  said  Papers  in  answer  to  the  said 
Addresses,  be  taken  into  consideration  to-morrow. 

Mr.  Cary  also  reported,  that  his  Excellency  directed  him 
to  acquaint  the  House,  that  he  would  send  an  answer  to 
the  last  Address  if  he  should  find  that  it  required  one. 

Ordered,  That  the  thanks  of  this  House  be  given  to 
Captain  James  Innis,  of  the  Volunteer  Company  of  Wil- 
liamsburgh,  and  the  persons  employed  by  him  to  guard 
the  pubhek  Magazine  in  this  City,  for  the  alacrity,  fidelity, 
and  activity  with  which  they  undertook  and  performed  that 
service,  and  that  Mr.  Braxton  do  acquaint  him  therewith. 

Wednesday,  June  21,  15  Geo.  Ill,  1775. 

The  House,  according  to  order,  proceeded  to  take  into 
consideration  the  Papers  sent  by  the  Governour  in  answer 
to  the  Address  of  the  Council  and  this  House,  and  to  the 
Addresses  of  this  House. 

And  the  said  Papers  were  read. 

Resolved,  That  a  free  conference  be  desired  with  the 
Council  upon  several  important  matters  respecting  the 
state  of  this  Colony,  and  the  subject-matter  of  his  Excel- 
lency the  Governour's  Message  in  answer  to  the  joint  Ad- 
dress of  the  Council  and  this  House. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Bland  do  go  to  the  Council,  and 
desire  the  said  free  conference. 

A  Message  from  the  Council  by  Mr.  Blair : 

Mr.  Speaker:  The  Council  do  agree  to  the  free  con- 
ference desired  by  this  House,  and  have  appointed  three  of 
their  Members,  who  are  now  ready  in  the  Conference  Cham- 
ber, to  meet  the  Managers  for  this  House. 

And  then  the  Messenger  withdrew. 

Ordered,  That  a  Committee  be  appointed  to  manage 
the  said  conference. 

And  a  Committeee  was  appointed  of  Mr.  Bland,  Mr. 
Treasurer,  Mr.  Cary,  Mr.  Digges,  Mr.  Jones,  and  Mr. 
Melton. 

Ordered,  That  the  said  Managers  for  this  House  do  lay 
before  the  Managers  for  the  Council  the  several  Deposi- 
tions taken  by  order  of  this  House  upon  the  inquiry  into 
the  causes  of  the  late  disturbances,  and  that  they  commu- 
nicate to  them  the  Address  of  this  House,  requesting  his 
Lordship  to  return  the  Powder  removed  from  the  publick 
Magazine,  by  his  order,  and  that  he  would  be  pleased  to 
provide  a  proper  quantity  of  Arms  and  Ammunition  for  the 
necessary  security  and  defence  of  this  Country,  together 
with  his  Lordship's  Answer  thereto.    To  propose  to  the 
Council  to  join  this  House  in  a  proper  Address  to  his  Excel- 
lencv,  in  reply  to  his  Message  in  answer  to  their  former  joint 
Address,  and  also  on  the  subject  of  the  several  Papers  to 
be  communicated  to  them.    To  represent  to  his  Excellen- 
cy how  much  the  important  business  of  the  session  hath 
been  impeded  by  his  removal  from  the  Palace,  by  which 
the  necessary  and  free  access  to  his  Lordship,  which  we 
conceive  the  Constitution  entitles  us  to,  hath  been  cut  off  in 
a  great  measure;  that  there  are  several  bills  of  the  last  im- 
portance to  this  Country  now  ready  to  be  presented  to  his 
Excellency  for  his  assent,  and  that  though  both  Houses,  in 
hopes  of  preserving  that  harmony  which  they  wish  ever  to 
subsist  between  the  different  branches  of  the  Legislature, 
have  hitherto  submitted  to  the  great  inconvenience  of  tra- 
velling twelve  miles,  and  going  on  board  one  of  His  Majes- 
ty's ships,  to  deliver  their  several  Addresses,  yet  they  think 
it  would  be  highly  improper,  and  a  step  not  warranted  by 
any  principle  of  the  Constitution,  to  present  their  bills  in 
the  same  manner.  That  they  therefore  desire  his  Lordship 
will  be  pleased  to  meet  them  in  the  Capitol,  or,  if  he  is  de- 
termined not  to  do  this,  that  he  would  be  pleased  at  least 
to  come  on  shore,  and  they  will  wait  upon  his  Excellency 
Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii.  " 


in  Yorlctown,  upon  having  his  pleasure  signified  to  them. 
That  as  the  advanced  season  of  the  year  requires  our  speedy 
return  to  our  several  Counties,  we  hope  bis  Lordship  will 
be  pleased  to  give  us  his  ultimate  answer,  as  soon  as  prac- 
ticable. 

Then  the  names  of  the  Managers  were  called  over ;  and 
they  went  to  the  conference. 
And  being  returned, 

Mr.  Bland  reported,  that  the  Managers  had  been  at  the 
conference  with  the  Council,  and  had  laid  before  them  the 
several  depositions  taken  by  order  of  this  House  upon  the 
inquiry  into  the  causes  of  the  late  disturbances,  and  com- 
municated to  them  the  Address  of  this  House  requesting 
his  Lordship  to  return  the  Powder  removed  from  the  pub- 
lick  Magazine  by  his  order,  and  that  he  would  be  pleased 
to  provide  a  proper  quantity  of  Arms  and  Ammunition  for 
the  necessary  security  and  defence  of  this  Country,  together 
with  his  Lordship's  answer  thereto ;  and  proposed  to  the 
Council  to  join  this  House  in  a  proper  Address  to  his  Ex- 
cellency, in  reply  to  his  Message  in  answer  to  their  former 
joint  Address,  and  also  on  the  subject  of  the  several  Papers 
communicated  to  them.  And  that  the  Council  agreed  to 
join  this  House  in  the  said  Address,  and  that  the  managers 
for  this  House  had  drawn  up  a  joint  Address  accordingly, 
which  was  carried  to  the  Council  for  their  concurrence. 

A  Message  from  the  Council  by  Mr.  Blair: 
Mr.  Speaker:  The  Council  have  agreed  to  the  joint 
Address  to  be  presented  to  the  Governour,  prepared  by  the 
Committee  of  the  Council  and  of  this  House.    And  he 
presented  the  said  Address  at  the  bar. 
And  then  the  Messenger  withdrew. 

The  said  Address  was  read,  and  is  as  followed),  viz: 

To  His  Excellency  the  Right  Honourable  Earl  of  Dun- 
more,  His  Majesty's  Lieutenant- Governour,  General, 
and  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  Colony  and  Dominion 
of  Virginia,  and  Vice-Admiral  of  the  same: 

The  joint  Address  of  the  Council  and  House  of  Bur- 
gesses : 

My  Lor;)  :  We,  His  Majesty's  dutiful  and  loyal  subjects, 
the  Council  and  House  of  Burgesses  of  Virginia,  have 
received  your  Lordship's  answer  to  our  joint  Address,  by 
which  we  represented  to  your  Excellency  how  very  inse- 
cure we  thought  the  publick  arms  in  the  Palace  since  your 
Lordship's  removal  from  thence,  and  requested  that  your 
Lordship  would  be  pleased  to  order  them  to  be  stored  in 
the  publick  Magazine,  judging  this  a  repository  of  much 
greater  security. 

You  are  pleased  to  tell  us  that  experience  hath  shewn 
the  insecurity  of  the  Magazine,  and  that  as  the  Palace  hath 
hitherto  been  respected,  you  thought  it  improper  to  give 
any  other  orders ;  that  the  arms  belonging  to  the  King, 
which  have  for  so  many  years  been  lodged,  may  still  re- 
main in  the  Palace,  and  that  they  may  on  no  account  be 
touched  without  your  express  permission.  Though  these 
arms,  my  Lord,  may  be  considered  in  some  sort  as  belong- 
ing to  His  Majesty,  as  the  supreme  head  of  this  Govern- 
ment, and  that  they  are  properly  under  your  Lordship's 
direction,  yet  we  humbly  conceive  that  they  were  origi- 
nally provided,  and  have  been  preserved  for  the  use  of  the 
Country  in  case  of  emergency. 

We  would  not  wish  to  interfere  with  your  Lordship's 
authority,  (of  this  disposition  we  presume  our  former  ad- 
dress afforded  the  strongest  testimony,)  but  the  reflection 
that  these  arms  are  so  much  exposed  that  they  may  easily 
be  made  the  most  improper  and  destructive  use  of,  is  to  us 
extremely  alarming. 

The  Palace,  my  Lord,  hath  indeed  been  hitherto  much 
respected,  but  not  so  much  out  of  regard  to  the  building, 
as  the  residence  of  His  Majesty's  representative.  Had 
your  Lordship  thought  fit  to  remain  there,  we  should  have 
had  no  apprehension  of  danger ;  but,  considering  these 
arms  at  present  exposed  to  your  servants,  and  every  rude 
invader,  the  security  formerly  derived  from  your  Lord- 
ship's presence  cannot  now  be  relied  on. 

In  your  Lordship's  answer  to  an  address  of  the  House 
of  Burgesses,  you  are  pleased  to  say,  that  experience  has 
demonstrated  to  you  that  the  City  of  JVilUamsburgh  is  an 
improper  place  for  the  residence  of  our  Governour  ;  and 
give  it  as  a  reason  for  not  returning  the  powder  according 
to  your  own  voluntary  promise  made  to  the  House,  that 

8 


1235 


HOUSE  OF  BURGESSES  OF  VIRGINIA,  JUNE,  1775. 


1286 


you  could  not  attend  to  its  preservation,  nor  depend  on  its 
security  if  returned  to  the  Magazine.  We  should  suppose, 
my  Lord,  that  your  Excellency's  attention  to  the  arms 
would  be  equally  necessary  for  their  security,  as  you  know 
die  Palace  stands  on  the  edge  of  the  City,  and  we  should, 
for  this  reason,  imagine  it  more  likely  to  be  rifled  than  the 
Magazine  in  the  midst  of  it;  besides,  should  it  he  thought 
necessary,  a  proper  guard  might  be  kept  at  the  Magazine, 
which  we  did  not  think  so  decent  to  propose  for  your  Lord- 
ship's Palace.  Our  apprehensions,  my  Lord,  have  been 
not  a  little  increased  by  considering  the  several  depositions 
taken  by  order  of  the  House  of  Burgesses  ;  we  decline  com- 
menting upon  them,  but  submit  to  the  world  from  whence 
the  unhappy  disturbances  in  this  Colony  took  their  rise. 
We  must,  my  Lord,  once  more  entreat  your  Excellency 
to  order  the  arms  to  be  removed  to  the  publick  Magazine. 

We  cannot,  my  Lord,  decline  representing  to  you  that 
the  important  business  of  this  Assembly  hath  been  much 
impeded  by  your  Excellency's  removal  from  the  Palace. 
This  step  hath  deprived  us  of  the  necessary  and  free  access 
to  your  Lordship,  which  we  conceive  the  Constitution  en- 
titles us  to.  There  are  several  bills  of  the  last  importance 
to  this  Country  now  ready  to  be  presented  to  your  Excel- 
lency for  your  assent. 

We  have  hitherto,  my  Lord,  in  hopes  of  preserving  that 
harmony  which  we  wish  ever  to  subsist  between  all  the 
branches  of  our  Legislature,  submitted  to  the  great  incon- 
venience of  sending  our  members  twelve  miles  to  wait  on 
your  Excellency  on  board  one  of  His  Majesty's  ships-of- 
war,  to  present  our  several  addresses  ;  but  we  think  it  would 
be  highly  improper,  and  too  great  a  departure  from  the 
constitutional  and  accustomed  mode  of  transacting  the  busi- 
ness of  the  Assembly,  to  meet  your  Excellency  at  any 
other  place  than  the  Capitol,  to  present  such  Bills  as  have 
there  been  agreed  to  by  the  Council  and  House  of  Bur- 
gesses. We  must  therefore  beseech  your  Excellency  to 
return  to  us;  and  as  the  advanced  season  of  the  year  re- 
quires our  presence  in  our  several  Counties,  we  hope  your 
Lordship  will  be  pleased  to  favour  us  with  your  speedy 
and  ultimate  answer,  that  we  may  certainly  know  what  to 
depend  upon. 

The  said  Address  being  read  a  second  time, 
Resolved,  That  the  House  doth  agree  with  the  Council 
in  the  said  Address,  to  be  presented  to  the  Govemour. 

Ordered,  That  the  said  Address  be  presented  to  his  Ex- 
cellency by  Mr.  Cary,  Mr.  Attorney  General,  Mr.  Lewis, 
and  Mr.  Christian,  in  conjunction  with  such  of  the  Coun- 
cil as  shall  be  appointed  to  join  in  the  same. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Bland  do  go  to  the  Council,  and 
acquaint  them  that  this  House  hath  appointed  four  of  their 
Members  to  present  the  said  Address  to  the  Governour,  in 
conjunction  with  such  of  the  Council  as  shall  be  appointed 
for  that  purpose. 

A  Message  from  the  Council  by  Mr.  Blair : 
Mr.  Speaker:  The  Council  have  agreed  to  the  Bill 
intituled  "  An  Act  for  appointing  Commissioners  to  settle 
the  Accounts  of  the  Militia  lately  drawn  out  into  actual 
service,  and  for  making  provision  to  pay  the  same,"  with- 
out any  amendment. 

Ordered,  That  the  call  of  the  House  be  further  adjourned 
till  to-morrow. 

Resolved,  That  this  House  will,  to-morrow,  resolve  itself 
into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole  House  upon  the  Bill  to 
revive  an  act,  intituled  "  An  Act  for  the  better  regulating 
and  disciplining  the  Militia." 

And  then  the  House  adjourned  till  to-morrow  morning 
ten  of  the  clock. 

Thursday,  Juno  22,  15  Geo.  Ill,  1775. 
The  Orders  of  the  Day  being  read, 
Ordered,  That  the  call  of  the  House  be  further  adjourned 
till  to-morrow. 

Ordered,  That  the  Committee  of  the  Whole  House,  to 
whom  the  Bill  to  revive  an  act  for  reducing  the  several 
acts  of  Assembly  for  making  provision  against  Invasions 
and  Insurrections,  into  one  act,  was  committed,  be  dis- 
charged from  proceeding  upon  said  Bill. 

Ordered,  That  the  said  Bill  do  lie  upon  the  table. 

Ordered,  That  the  Committee  of  the  Whole  House,  to 


whom  the  Bill  to  revive  an  act  intituled  "An  Act  for  the 
better  regulating  and  disciplining  the  Militia,"  was  commit- 
ted, be  discharged  from  proceeding  upon  the  said  Bill. 

Ordered,  That  the  said  Bill  do  lie  upon  the  table. 

Ordered,  That  the  Order  for  taking  into  consideration 
the  Report  which  was  made  from  the  Committee  to  whom 
the  Bill  for  appointing  an  Agent  was  committed,  be  dis- 
charged. 

Ordered,  That  the  said  Report  do  lie  upon  the  table. 

Mr.  Cary  reported,  that  the  joint  Address  of  the  Council 
and  this  House,  of  yesterday,  to  the  Governour,  had  been 
presented  to  his  Excellency,  who  delivered  to  him  an  answer 
thereunto,  which  he  delivered  in  at  the  Clerk's  table,  and 
which  was  read,  and  is  in  the  words  following,  viz : 
Gentlemen  of  the  Council,  and  House  of  Burgesses  : 

I  have  already  declared  my  intentions  in  regard  to  the 
arms  at  the  Palace,  and  I  conceive  the  Council  and  House 
of  Burgesses  are  interfering  in  a  matter  which  does  not 
belong  to  them.  I  should  be  glad  to  be  informed  who 
they  design  by  the  terms  "rude  invaders,"  which  they  have 
made  use  of. 

The  disorders  in  Williamsburgh  and  other  parts  of  the 
Country,  drove  me  to  the  necessity  of  changing  my  place 
of  residence ;  and  if  any  inconvenience  has  arisen  to  the 
Assembly  on  that  account,  I  am  not  chargeable  with  it ; 
but  they  have  not  been  deprived  of  any  necessary  nor  free 
access  to  me.  The  Constitution  invests  me  with  an  un- 
doubted power  to  call  the  Assembly  for  the  business  of,  to 
any  place  in  the  Colony  exigency  may  require. 

Not  having  been  made  acquainted  with  the  whole  pro- 
ceedings of  the  Assembly,  I  know  of  no  bills  of  importance 
which,  if  1  were  inclined  to  risk  my  person  again  among 
the  people,  the  Assembly  have  to  present  to  ine,  nor  whe- 
ther they  be  such  as  I  could  assent  to.  Dunmore. 

Ordered,  That  a  Message  be  sent  to  the  Council,  to 
desire  them  to  acquaint  this  House  whether  they  have 
agreed  to  the  Bill  intituled  "  An  Act  for  appointing  Com- 
missioners to  ratify  and  confirm  the  late  Treaty  of  Peace 
with  the  Ohio  Indians ;"  and  that  Mr.  Mercer  do  carry  the 
said  Message. 

And  then  the  House  adjourned  till  to-morrow  morning, 
ten  of  the  clock. 

Friday,  June  23,  15  Geo.  Ill,  1775. 
The  Order  of  the  Day  being  read, 
Ordered,  That  the  call  of  the  House  be  further  adjourned 
till  to-morrow. 

Mr.  Mercer  reported,  that  he  had,  according  to  order, 
attended  the  Council,  and  desired  them  to  acquaint  this 
House  whether  they  had  agreed  to  the  Bill  intituled  "  An 
Act  for  appointing  Commissioners  to  ratify  and  confirm  the 
late  Treaty  of  Peace  with  the  Ohio  Indians ;"  and  that  the 
Council  will  send  an  answer  by  a  Messenger  of  their  own. 

A  Message  from  the  Council  by  Mr.  Blair: 

Mr.  Speaker  :  I  am  commanded  by  the  Council  to 
acquaint  this  House,  that  the  Bill,  intituled  "  An  Act  for 
appointing  Commissioners  to  ratify  and  confirm  the  late 
Treaty  of  Peace  with  the  Ohio  Indians,"  is  rejected. 

And  then  the  Messenger  withdrew. 

Resolved,  That  a  free  conference  be  desired  with  the 
Council  on  the  subject-matter  of  the  Treaty  to  be  ratified 
with  the  Indians. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Treasurer  do  go  to  the  Council  and 
desire  the  said  free  conference. 

Mr.  Treasurer  reported,  that  he  had,  according  to  order, 
been  at  the  Council,  to  desire  a  free  conference,  on  the 
subject-matter  of  the  Treaty  to  be  ratified  with  the  Indians: 
and  that  the  Council  will  send  an  answer  by  a  Messenger 
of  their  own. 

A  Message  from  the  Council  by  Mr.  Blair: 

Mr.  Speaker:  The  Council  do  agree  to  a  free  confer- 
ence with  this  House  as  desired ;  and  have  appointed  two 
of  their  Members,  who  are  now  ready  in  the  Conference 
Chamber,  to  meet  the  Managers  for  this  House. 

And  then  the  Messenger  withdrew. 

Ordered,  That  a  Committee  be  appointed  to  manage 
the  said  conference. 

And  a  Committee  was  appointed  of  Mr.  Treasurer,  Mr. 
Bland,  Mr.  Braxton,  and  Mr.  Mercer. 


1237 


HOUSE  OF  BURGESSES  OF  VIRGINIA,  JUNE,  1775. 


1238 


Ordered,  That  the  Paper  intituled  "  Substance  of  the 
Peace  agreed  to  between  the  Earl  of  Dunmorc,  Governour 
of  Virginia,  on  the  part  of  that  Colony,  and  the  Corn 
Stalk,  on  the  part  of  the  Shawanesc  Indians,  intended  to 
be  ratified  at  a  general  meeting  of  the  Ohio  Indians  at 
Fort  Dunmorc,"  referred  to  in  the  Governour's  written 
Message  to  this  House,  which,  upon  Monday,  the  fifth  day 
of  this  instant,  June,  was  ordered  to  lie  upon  the  table, 
be  communicated  to  the  Council  at  the  conference. 

Then  the  names  of  the  Managers  were  called  over,  and 
they  went  to  the  conference. 

And  being  returned, 

Mr.  Treasurer  reported  that  the  Managers  had  been  at 
the  conference  with  the  Council,  and  communicated  to 
them  the  Paper  intituled  "  Substance  of  the  Peace  agreed 
to  between  the  Earl  of  Dunmore,  Governour  of  Virginia, 
on  the  part  of  that  Colony,  and  the  Corn  Stalk  on  the 
part  of  the  Shawanese  Indians,  intended  to  be  ratified  at 
a  general  meeting  of  the  Ohio  Indians  at  Fort  Dunmore," 
and  that  the  Council  proposed  that  an  Address  should  be 
presented  to  the  Governour,  that  his  Excellency  would  ap- 
point persons  to  ratify  the  Treaty  with  the  Indians,  and 
recommended  it  to  this  House  to  vote  a  sum  of  Money,  not 
exceeding  Two  Thousand  Pounds,  for  that  business. 

Mr.  Attorney-General  reported  to  the  House  that  he  had 
shewn  the  engrossed  Bills  and  Resolves  to  the  Governour, 
and  that  his  Excellency  was  pleased  to  deliver  to  him  a 
written  Message,  which  he  read  in  his  place,  and  which  is 
in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 

Mr.  Speaker,  and  Gentlemen  of  the  House  of  Burgesses: 
The  bill  for  appointing  Commissioners  to  settle  the  ac- 
counts of  the  Militia  lately  drawn  out  into  actual  service, 
and  for  making  provision  to  pay  the  same,  inasmuch  as  it 
imposes  duties  upon  slaves  imported,  I  cannot  assent  to; 
which,  by  the  royal  disallowance  of  an  Act  of  Assembly 
for  that  purpose,  passed  in  the  tenth  year  of  his  present 
Majesty's  reign,  you  must  have  been  sensible  of;  and  as 
the  bill  has  no  suspending  clause,  though  I  made  it  my  busi- 
ness to  intimate,  by  several  of  your  members,  to  the  House, 
that,  without  such  a  clause,  I  could  not  pass  an  act  for 
emitting  paper  money,  the  miscarriage  of  a  bill  I  had  very 
much  at  heart  cannot  be  attributed  to  me.  And  if  still 
those  objections  can  be  removed,  I  should  be  happy  to 
concur  in  an  act  for  the  rewarding  of  the  brave  people 
who  are  the  particular  objects  of  it,  without  delay.  If  not, 
all  I  can  do  is  to  transmit  the  bill  to  His  Majesty,  and  to 
desire  leave  to  assent  to  it ;  though,  in  regard  to  the  duty 
upon  slaves,  I  should  not,  I  think,  obtain  it. 

I  see  no  objection  to  any  other  of  your  bills  or  resolves, 
and  I  am  therefore  ready  to  give  my  assent  to  them  when- 
ever the  House  desires.  If  you  have  any  other  bills  ready, 
I  must  desire  they  may  be  sent  in  like  manner,  that  the 
whole  may  be  passed  together;  and  I  must  beg  that  your 
Clerk  may  be  ordered  to  lay  before  me  a  copy  of  the  Jour- 
nals of  the  House,  before  the  time  fixed  for  passing  the  bills. 

Dunmore. 

Resolved,  That  an  Address  be  presented  to  the  Gov- 
ernour, in  answer  to  his  said  written  Message. 

Ordered,  That  a  Committee  be  appointed  to  draw  up 
an  Address  to  be  presented  to  the  Governour,  upon  the 
said  Resolution. 

And  a  Committee  was  appointed  of  Mr.  Treasurer,  Mr. 
Bland,  Mr.  Mercer,  Mr.  Banister,  Mr.  Digges,  and  Mr. 
Munford. 

Mr.  Treasurer  reported,  from  the  Committee  appointed 
to  draw  up  an  Address  to  be  presented  to  the  Governour, 
that  the  Committee  had  drawn  up  an  Address  accordingly, 
which  they  had  directed  him  to  report  to  the  House ;  and 
he  read  the  same  in  his  place,  and  afterwards  delivered  it 
in  at  the  Clerk's  table,  where  the  same  was  read,  and  is  as 
followetb,  viz : 

Mr  Lord  :  We,  His  Majesty's  dutiful  and  loyal  subjects, 
the  Burgesses  of  Virginia,  cannot  sufficiently  express  our 
concern  that  your  Lordship  should  be  under  any  difficulty 
in  giving  your  assent  to  the  bill  for  appointing  Commis- 
sioners to  settle  the  accounts  of  the  Militia  lately  drawn 
out  into  actual  service,  and  for  making  provision  to  pay 
the  same ;  which  hath  received  the  approbation  of  the 
other  two  branches  of  the  Legislature.    We  beg  leave  to 


remind  your  Excellency,  that  you  particularly  recommended 
those  brave  people,  who  are  the  objects  of  this  bill,  to  our 
attention.  Sensible  of  their  important  services,  we  seized 
with  much  pleasure  the  first  opportunity  afforded  us  of 
doing  justice  to  their  singular  merit.  Upon  considering 
the  most  probable  ways  and  means  of  effecting  this  desira- 
ble purpose,  we  soon  found,  from  the  extreme  scarcity  of 
cash  in  the  country,  that  there  was  no  possible  method  of 
doing  it  but  by  a  speedy  emission  of  paper  money.  The 
opinion  has  since  been  confirmed  by  transactions  during 
the  present  meeting  of  the  merchants,  which  have  evinced, 
that  the  scarcity  is  even  greater  than  we  at  first  supposed. 

We  do  not  find,  my  Lord,  any  thing  in  the  bill  which 
contravenes  any  law,  or  royal  instruction,  which  hath  ever 
been  communicated  to  us.  A  suspending  clause,  we  con- 
ceive, would  defeat  the  very  purpose  for  which  the  bill  was 
intended ;  as  it  would  withhold  that  relief  so  immediately 
necessary  to  the  comfort  and  support  of  many  of  our  poor 
inhabitants,  who  are  in  the  utmost  distress  for  want  of  it. 

In  order  to  support  the  credit  of  our  paper  currency, 
we  thought  it  incumbent  on  us  to  establish  such  funds  as 
would  effectually  secure  the  redemption  of  it.  In  aid  of 
others,  we  were  of  opinion  that  a  duty  of  ten  per  cent,  on 
slaves  would  be  the  least  burdensome  to  the  people.  We 
do  not  know  that  such  a  duty  was  ever  objected  to  by  His 
Majesty  ;  on  the  contrary,  we  understand  that  a  duly  not 
exceeding  ten  per  cent,  was  perfectly  agreeable  to  his  royal 
will  and  pleasure.  The  five  pounds  per  poll  on  slaves  im- 
ported from  the  West-Indies  was  intended  to  prevent  the 
many  tricks  which  had  been  practised  in  this  Country  to 
avoid  payment  of  all  duties  on  such  slaves,  and  amounts  to 
no  more  than  ten  per  cent.,  valuing  them  at  the  moderate 
average  of  fifty  pounds  current  money. 

We  are  pleased  to  find  your  Excellency  approves  the 
other  bills  and  resolves  submitted  to  your  inspection.  All 
others,  which  we  propose  to  trouble  your  Lordship  with, 
we  have  consented  may  undergo  the  earliest  examination, 
and  flatter  ourselves  that  they  will  meet  with  the  like  ap- 
probation. 

We  still  hope,  my  Lord,  that  upon  reconsidering  the 
matter,  you  will  see  sufficient  reasons  to  alter  your  first 
opinion  respecting  the  Militia  Bill,  which  we  have  much 
at  heart,  considering  it  of  the  last  importance. 

We  have  before,  in  conjunction  with  his  Majesty's  Coun- 
cil, intimated  to  your  Excellency  how  very  necessary  a  recess 
is  at  this  critical  season,  our  harvest  demanding  our  imme- 
diate presence  at  home.  We  must,  therefore,  entreat  your 
Excellency  to  meet  us  at  the  Capitol  to-morrow,  in  order 
to  give  your  assent  to  such  bills  and  resolves  as  are  ready 
to  be  presented.  We  hope  your  Lordship  cannot  still  en- 
tertain any  groundless  fears  that  your  person  can  be  in  the 
least  danger.  If  it  is  possible  that  you  remain  under  such 
a  strange  influence,  we  pledge  you  our  honours,  and  every 
thing  sacred,  for  your  security.  Should  your  Lordship 
decline  complying  with  this  just  request,  we  hope  you  will 
be  pleased  to  grant  your  commission  to  the  President  of  the 
Council  to  give  your  assent  to  such  bills  and  resolves  as  you 
may  approve,  and  we  may'  present  to  him. 

Since  it  hath  been  customary'  for  our  Governours  to  sig- 
nify their  pleasure  as  to  adjournments,  we  wish  not  to  take 
things  out  of  their  old  channel ;  we  therefore  hope  your 
Excellency  will  at  the  same  time  express  your  approba- 
tion that  we  adjourn  ourselves  to  some  convenient  day  in 
October  next,  when  our  convenience  will  best  admit  an 
absence  from  our  homes,  and  the  sickly  season  of  the  year 
will  be  over. 

We  do  not  wish  to  conceal  from  your  Excellency  one 
tittle  contained  in  our  Journals  ;  but  a  full  and  immediate 
transcript  of  them  would  require  more  time  than  we  can 
possibly  devote  to  the  publick  business  at  present.  We 
must  observe,  that  this  demand  of  us  is  unusual ;  how- 
ever, we  have  ordered  all  such  of  our  proceedings  as 
have  been  printed,  to  be  immediately  transmitted  to  your 
Lordship. 

The  said  Address  being  read  a  second  time, 
Resolved,  That  this  House  doth  agree  with  the  Com- 
mittee in  the  said  Address  to  be  presented  to  the  Govern- 
our. 

Ordered,  That  the  said  Address  be  presented  to  his 
Excellency  by  Mr.  Attorney-General  and  Mr.  Leuis. 


1239 


HOUSE  OF  BURGESSES  OF  VIRGINIA,  JUNE,  1775. 


1240 


And  then  the  House  adjourned  till  to-morrow  morning 
ten  of  the  clock. 

Saturday,  June  24,  15  Goo.  Ill,  1775. 
Mr.  Attorney-General  reported,  that  the  Address  of 
yesterday  had  been  presented  to  the  Governour,  residing 
on  board  the  Foivey,  one  of  His  Majesty's  ships-of-war 
riding  at  anchor  in  York  River,  and  that  his  Excellency 
was  pleased  to  deliver  to  him  a  written  Answer  thereto ; 
which  he  read  in  his  place,  and  afterwards  delivered  in  at 
the  Clerk's  table,  and  which  is  in  the  words  following,  viz: 
Mr.  Speaker  and  Gentlemen  of  the  House  of  Burgesses : 

As  you  have  encumbered  the  bill  for  the  payment  of  the 
officers  and  men  employed  upon  the  Indian  expedition 
with  an  imposition  which  you  know  I  could  not  assent  to, 
and  omitted  a  form  (in  no  wise  tending  to  defeat  the  pur- 
pose of  the  bill)  which  you  were  told  I  could  not  dispense 
with,  the  blame  of  its  not  passing  now  into  a  law  cannot 
lie  upon  me  ;  but  I  must  adhere  to  the  reasons  I  yesterday 
signified  to  you  on  this  head.  The  well-grounded  appre- 
hension I  had  for  believing  my  person  not  safe  at  Wil- 
liamsburgh,  has  increased  daily.  1  cannot  therefore  meet 
you  at  the  Capitol  as  you  entreat ;  but  this  day  being 
too  far  spent,  I  shall  be  ready  to  receive  the  House  on 
Monday,  at  twelve  of  the  clock,  at  my  present  residence, 
for  the  purpose  of  giving  my  assent  to  such  acts  as  I  shall 
approve  of. 

Although  the  convenience  of  the  members  of  the  As- 
sembly will  always  be  a  strong  motive  to  determine  me  as 
to  the  time  of  your  meeting  or  separating,  yet  it  becomes 
necessary  (from  an  expression  in  your  Address,  that  you 
wish  not  to  take  things  out  of  their  old  channel,  as  if  you 
had  such  power)  to  assert  the  right  of  the  Crown  to 
adjourn,  prorogue,  dissolve,  or  assemble  you,  as  it  is  thought 
fit  by  the  Governour  of  the  Colony.  I  do  not  mean,  how- 
ever, to  oppose  the  request  you  make  of  being  adjourned. 

Dunmore. 

The  House  proceeded  to  take  the  said  written  Answer 
into  consideration. 

Resolved,  That  the  House  do  now  resolve  itself  into  a 
Committee  of  the  Whole  House,  to  take  into  considera- 
tion the  state  of  the  Colony  and  the  Governour's  written 
Answer  to  the  Address  of  this  House  of  yesterday. 

Mr.  Speaker  left  the  chair. 

Mr.  Bland  took  the  chair  of  the  Committee. 

Mr.  Speaker  resumed  the  chair. 

Mr.  Bland  reported  from  the  Committee,  That  the 
Committee  having  taken  into  their  serious  consideration 
the  unhappy  situation  of  this  Colony,  and  considering  the 
many  obstructions  given  to  the  due  and  regular  prosecu- 
tion of  the  important  business  before  the  General  Assem- 
bly by  his  Excellency  the  Governour,  in  first  removing 
from  the  Palace  on  board  one  of  the  King's  ships,  where- 
by a  free  access  "to  him,  and  that  necessary  intercourse 
between  his  Lordship  and  the  other  two  branches  of  the 
Legislature  hath  been  in  a  great  measure  cut  oft';  con- 
sidering that  his  Lordship  hath  withstood  the  repeated 
entreaties  of  the  Council  and  Burgesses  to  return  to  the 
seat  of  his  Government ;  and  having  this  day  received  such 
an  answer  from  his  Lordship  as,  when  compared  with  his 
different  Messages  and  other  parts  of  his  conduct,  con- 
vinces them  of  his  determination  not  to  do  any  thing  that 
may  be  of  advantage  to  this  Colony,  and  particularly  to 
the  inhabitants  on  our  frontiers,  by  his  requiring  the  House 
to  attend  him  on  board  the  Fowey,  man-of-war,  in  order  to 
present  such  bills  as  are  now  ready  for  his  assent ;  thought 
it  a  duty  highly  incumbent  on  them,  for  themselves  and 
the  whole  body  of  their  constituents,  to  make  several 
Resolves,  in  maintenance  of  their  just  rights  and  privileges, 
and  in  hopes  of  removing  those  prejudices  which  have 
been  already,  and  may  be  again  attempted  to  be  excited  in 
the  breasts  of  their  most  gracious  Sovereign  and  of  their 
fellow-subjects  in  Great  Britain. 

The  said  Resolves  being  reported  to  the  House,  and 
severally  agreed  to,  are  as  follow : 

Resolved  nem.  con.  That  his  Lordship's  Message,  requir- 
ing this  House  to  attend  him  on  board  one  of  His  Majes- 
ty's ships-of-war,  is  a  high  breach  of  the  rights  and  privi- 
leges of  this  House. 

Resolved  nem.  con.  That  the  unreasonable  delays  thrown 


into  the  proceedings  of  this  House  by  the  Governour,  and 
his  evasive  answers  to  the  sincere  and  decent  Addresses  of 
the  Representatives  of  the  People,  give  us  great  reason  to 
fear  that  a  dangerous  attack  may  be  meditated  against  the 
unhappy  People  of  this  Colony.  It  is  therefore  our  opi- 
nion, that  they  prepare  for  the  preservation  of  their  proper- 
ty, and  their  inestimable  rights  and  liberties,  with  the  great- 
est care  and  attention. 

Resolved  nem.  con.  That  we  do,  and  will,  bear  faith  and 
true  allegiance  to  our  most  gracious  Sovereign  George  the 
Third,  our  only  lawful  and  rightful  King;  that  we  will,  at 
all  times,  to  the  utmost  of  our  power,  and  at  the  risk  of 
our  lives  and  property,  maintain  and  defend  his  Govern- 
ment in  this  Colony,  as  founded  on  the  established  laws 
and  principles  of  the  Constitution. 

Resolved  nem.  con.  That  it  is  our  most  earnest  desire  to 
preserve  and  strengthen  those  bands  of  amity  with  all  our 
fellow-subjects  in  Great  Britain,  which  are  so  very  essen- 
tial to  the  prosperity  and  happiness  of  both  Countries. 

Resolved  nem.  con.  That  it  is  with  the  deepest  concern 
we  find  ourselves  deprived  of  an  opportunity  of  making 
immediate  provision  for  those  gallant  officers  and  soldiers 
who  so  nobly  defended  this  Country  against  the  incursions 
of  the  Indians,  unless  we  would  sacrifice  their  own  and  the 
inestimable  rights  and  privileges  of  all  other  inhabitants  of 
this  Colony ;  that  as  we  have  already  endeavoured  to 
make  the  most  ample  provision  for  this  necessary  purpose, 
so  will  we  gladly  seize  every  opportunity  afforded  us  of 
doing  the  utmost  justice  to  those  brave  men,  and  all  other 
publick  creditors. 

Certain  information  having  been  received  of  the  great 
discontent  of  the  Ohio  Indians,  by  reason  of  the  delay  of 
the  ratification  of  the  late  Treaty  of  Peace  concluded  upon 
by  his  Excellency  the  Governour,  on  the  part  of  this  Colo- 
ny, and  the  Corn  Stalk,  on  the  part  of  the  Indians,  and 
that  the  inhabitants  on  our  frontiers  are  under  just  appre- 
hensions of  a  renewal  of  an  Indian  war;  and  no  steps 
having  been  pursued  by  his  Lordship  for  carrying  on  the 
said  Treaty,  or  delivering  up  the  Indian  hostages,  agree- 
able to  the  terms  of  the  said  Treaty  : 

Resolved,  That  the  said  Treaty  he  immediately  entered 
upon,  and  that  George  Washington,  Thomas  Walker, 
James  Wood,  Andrew  Lewis,  John  Walker,  and  Adam 
Stephen,  Esquires,  or  any  three  or  more  of  them,  be,  and 
they  are  hereby  constituted  and  appointed  Commissioners, 
on  the  part  and  behalf  of  this  Colony,  to  meet  the  Chiefs 
or  Headmen  of  the  said  Ohio  Indians,  as  soon  as  the  same 
can  be  done,  at  such  place  as  they  shall  find  most  proper, 
to  ratify  and  confirm  the  said  Treaty  on  the  part  of  this 
Colony,  and  to  demand  and  receive  of  the  said  Indians 
the  ratifications  and  full  performance  of  the  said  Treaty  on 
their  parts.  And  that  Robert  Carter  Nicholas,  Esquire, 
Treasurer,  or  the  Treasurer  for  the  time  being,  shall,  and 
he  is  hereby  directed  and  required,  to  pay  all  such  expens- 
es and  charges,  out  of  the  publick  money  in  his  hands,  as 
may  be  incurred  on  account  of  such  Treaty  ;  provided  the 
same  do  not  exceed  two  thousand  Pounds,  for  which  the 
said  Commissioners  shall  account  to  the  next  General  As- 
sembly. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Mercer  do  carry  the  Resolution  to 
the  Council,  and  desire  their  concurrence. 

A  Message  from  the  Council  by  Mr.  Blair: 

Mr.  Speaker  :  The  Council  have  agreed  to  the  Re- 
solve for  appointing  Commissioners  to  ratify  the  Treaty 
of  Peace  with  the  Ohio  Indians,  and  for  defraying  the 
expense  thereof. 

Whereas,  several  Companies  of  the  Militia  of  this  Co- 
lony have  been  drawn  out  into  actual  service  by  command 
of  his  Excellency  the  Governour,  for  the  defence  and  pro- 
tection of  the  Frontiers  against  the  incursions  and  depre- 
dations of  the  Indians,  and  there  are  now  due  several 
large  sums  of  Money,  as  well  for  the  Pay  of  such  Militia 
as  for  Provisions,  Arms,  and  other  necessaries  furnished 
them  ;  and  it  will  be  a  great  saving  to  the  Colony,  as  well 
as  case  to  the  claimants,  to  have  such  Accounts  adjusted 
by  Commissioners  in  the  country: 

Resolved,  therefore,  That  Archibald  Cary,  William 
Cabell,  William  Fleming,  John  Winn,  and  John  Nicho- 
las, Gentlemen,  or  any  three  or  more  of  them,  be,  and 
they  are  hereby,  appointed  Commissioners  for  the  Counties 


1241 


NEW-YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  MAY,  1775. 


1242 


of  Fincastle,  Botetourt,  Culpepper,  Pittsylvania,  Hali- 
fax, and  Bedford,  and  for  that  part  of  the  County  of  Au- 
gusta which  lies  to  the  eastward  of  the  Alleghany  Moun- 
tains ;  and  that  Richard  Lee,  Francis  Peyton,  Josias 
Clapham,  Henry  Lee,  and  Thomas  Blackburn,  Gentle- 
men, or  any  three  or  more  of  them,  be,  and  they  are 
hereby,  appointed  Commissioners  for  the  other  Counties, 
and  for  that  part  of  the  County  of  Augusta  which  lies  to 
the  westward  of  the  Alleghany  Mountains,  and  for  the 
Provinces  of  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania,  to  examine, 
state,  and  settle  the  Accounts  of  the  Pay  of  the  Militia, 
and  of  all  Provisions,  Arms,  Ammunition,  and  other  neces- 
saries furnished  the  said  Militia  of  the  Counties  for  which 
they  are  appointed  Commissioners,  and  report  the  same  to 
the  General  Assembly. 

And  then  the  House  adjourned  till  Thursday,  the  twelfth 
day  of  October  next,  at  ten  of  the  clock  in  the  morning. 


Thursday,  October  12,  15  Geo.  Ill,  1775. 

The  House  met  according  to  the  adjournment,  but  no 
more  than  thirty-seven  Members  appearing,  which  was 
not  a  sufficient  number  to  proceed  to  business, 

The  House  adjourned  till  the  first  Thursday  in  March 
next. 

Thursday,  March  7,  16  Geo.  HI,  1776. 

The  House  met  according  to  the  adjournment,  but  no 
more  than  thirty-two  Members  appearing,  which  was  not 
a  sufficient  number  to  proceed  to  business, 

The  House  adjourned  to  the  first  Monday  in  May  next. 

Monday,  May  6,  16  Geo.  Ill,  1776. 

Several  Members  met,  but  did  neither  proceed  to  busi- 
ness nor  adjourn,  as  a  House  of  Burgesses. 


NEW. YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS. 

City  of  New- York,  May  22,  1775. 
A  number  of  gentlemen,  Deputies  from  several  Counties 
in  this  Colony,  assembled  at  the  Exchange,  in  the  City  of 
New-York,  for  the  purpose  of  forming  a  Provincial  Con- 
gress; but  as  they  conceived  there  were  not  a  sufficient 
number  of  Members,  they  agreed  to  meet  here  at  the  Ex- 
change to-morrow,  at  ten  o'clock,  A  M. 

At  a  meeting  of  a  Provincial  Congress  for  the  Colony 
of  New-  York,  at  the  Exchange,  in  the  City  of  New-York, 
on  Tuesday,  the  twenty-third  day  of  May,  1775: 

The  Deputies  of  a  majority  of  the  Counties  appearing, 
they  proceeded  to  the  choice  of  the  following  Officers,  who 
were  unanimously  elected,  viz: 

Peter  Van  Brugh  Livingston,  Esq.,  President ;  Vol- 
kert  P.  Douw,  Esquire,  Vice-President ;  John  McKesson, 
Esq.,  and  Mr.  Robert  Benson,  Secretaries  ;  Thomas  Petit, 
Doorkeeper. 

The  Deputies  for  the  City  and  County  of  New-  York 
produced  the  Poll  List  taken  on  the  .  .  .  day  of  ...  . 
last,  in  the  several  Wards  of  the  said  City,  certified  under 
the  hands  of  the  Vestrymen  of  the  respective  Wards,  and 
others  before  whom  they  were  taken,  by  which  it  appears 
that  the  following  persons  were  elected  Deputies  for  the 
said  City  and  County,  viz : 

City  and  County  of  New-York. — Peter  Van  Brugh 
Livingston,  Isaac  Low,  Alexander  McDougall,  Leonard 
Lispenard ,  Jos.  Hallct,  David  Clarkson,  Abraham  Wal- 
ton, Tliomas  Smith,  Abraham  Brasher,  Benjamin  Kissam, 
Isaac  Roosevelt,  John  Morin  Scott,  John  He  Lancey,  John 
Van  Cortlandt,  James  Beekman,  Jacobus  Van  Zandt, 
Sam'l  Verplanck,  John  Marston,  Richard  Yates,  George 
Folliott*  and  Walter  Franklin. 

The  Deputies  for  the  City  and  County  of  Albany  pro- 
duced a  Certificate  of  the  Committees  of  the  City,  and 
nineteen  out  of  twenty  Districts  of  the  County,  by  which 
it  appears  that  the  following  persons  were  elected  Deputies 
for  the  said  City  and  County  : 

City  and  County  of  Albany. — Robert  Yates,  Walter 
Livingston,  Abraham  Yates,  Robert  Van  Rensselaer,  Vol- 
kert  P.  Douw,  Henry  Glenn,  Jacob  Cuyler,  Abraham  Ten 
Broeck,  Peter  Silvester,  Francis  Nicoll,  Dirck  Swart.* 

The  Deputies  of  the  County  of  Dutchess  produced  the 
Certificate  of  the  Judges  and  sundry  of  the  Justices,  and 
two  other  persons,  freeholders  and  inhabitants  of  the  said 
County,  whereby  it  appears  that  the  following  persons  were 
elected  Deputies  for  the  said  County  for  six  months,  viz  : 

Dutchess  County. — Dirck  Brinckerhoff,  Gilbert  Liv- 
ingston, Anthony  Hoffman*  Jona.  London*  Zephaniah 
Piatt,  Gysbert  Schenck,*  Richard  Montgomeric*  Melanc- 
ton  Smith,  Ephraim  Paine*  Nathaniel  Sackett. 

The  Deputies  for  the  County  of  Ulster  produced  the 
Certificate  of  Charles  De  Witt,  Esquire,  Chairman  of  the 
several  Committees  of  all  the  several  Towns  and  Precincts 
in  the  said  County,  whereby  it  appears  that  the  following 
persons  were  elected  Deputies  for  the  said  County,  viz : 

Ulster  County. — Col.  Johannes  Hardenbergh,  Col. 
James  Clinton,  Egbert  Dumond,  Esq.,  Christopher  Tap- 


pen,  Charles  Clinton  *  John  Nicholson,  and  Jacob  Horn- 
beck. 

The  Deputies  for  the  Precinct  of  Haverstraiv,  in  the 
County  of  Orange,  produced  a  Certificate  of  Johannes  ha 
Blauvelt,  Moderator  of  a  meeting  of  the  freeholders  and 
inhabitants  of  the  said  Precinct,  whereby  it  appears  that 
the  following  persons  were  elected  Deputies  for  the  said 
Precinct,  viz  : 

Haverstraw  in  Orange. — John  Coe  and  David  Pye. 

The  Deputies  from  Goshen  Precinct,  in  the  said  County, 
produced  the  Certificate  of  Balthazer  De  Haert,  Clerk  of 
a  meeting  of  the  freeholders  and  inhabitants  of  the  said 
Precinct,  whereby  it  appears  that  the  following  persons 
were  elected  Deputies  for  the  said  Precinct,  viz: 

Goshen. — Michael  Jackson,*  Benj.  Tusteen,*  Peter 
Clowes,  and  William  Allison. 

The  Deputies  for  the  County  of  Suffolk  produced  the  fol- 
lowing Certificates,  to  wit:  The  Certificate  of  Wm.  Smith, 
Esq.,  Chairman  of  the  Committees  of  all  the  Towns  in  the 
said  County,  except  Brookhaven  and  Islip ;  the  Certifi- 
cates of  four  Companies  of  the  Militia  of  the  said  Town 
of  Brookhaven;  and  the  Certificate  of  the  inhabitants  of 
the  said  Town  or  District  of  Islip  ;f  whereby  it  appears  that 
the  following  persons  were  elected  Deputies  for  the  said 
County  for  one  year,  to  wit : 

Suffolk  County. — Col.  Nathaniel  Wood  hull,  Ezra 
E'Hommedieu,  John  Sloss  Hobart*  Thomas  Wickham, 
Thos.  Trcdwell*  James  Haven,*  John  Foster,  and  Selah 
Strong. 

The  Deputies  for  the  County  of  Westchester  produced 
the  Certificate  of  the  Committee  of  the  said  County,  where- 
by it  appears  that  the  following  persons  were  elected  Depu- 
ties for  the  said  County,  viz: 

Westchester  County. —  Gouvcmeur  Morris,  Lewis 
Graham,  James  Van  Cortlandt,  Stephen  Ward,  Joseph 
Drake,  Philip  Van  Cortlandt,  Jas.  Holmes,  David  Day- 
ton, John  Thomas,  Junior,  Robert  Graham,*  and  William 
Paulding.* 

The  Deputies  for  the  Township  of  Brooklyn,  in  King's 
County,  produced  the  Certificate  of  Lcffert  Leffertse,  Esq.," 
chosen  Clerk  of  a  meeting  of  the  Magistrates  and  Free- 
holders of  the  said  Township,  whereby  it  appears  that  the 
following  persons  were  elected  Deputies  for  the  said  Town- 
ship, viz : 

Brooklyn  in  King's  County. — Henry  Williams,  Esq. 
Jeremiah  Remsen,  Esq. 

The  Deputies  for  the  County  of  Richmond  produced  a 
Certificate  of  Paul  Micheau,  Clerk  of  the  County  of  Rich- 
mond, whereby  it  appears  that  the  following  persons  were 
(at  a  meeting  of  the  Freeholders  of  the  said  County  for 
that  purpose)  elected  Deputies  for  the  said  County,  viz : 

Richmond  County. — Paul  Micheau,  John  Journey, 
Rich'd  Conner,  Rich'd  Laurence,*  and  Aaron  Cortelyou. 

[Those  gentlemen's  names  that  are  marked  respectively 
with  an  Asterisk,  have  not  appeared,  and  are  absent.] 

Ordered,  That  the  sense  of  this  Congress,  upon  every 
question,  be  taken  and  determined  by  a  majority  of  the 

t  The  Certificate  of  the  Town  of  Islip  was  returned  to  Col.  Wood, 
hull,  because  it  is  annexed  and  subjoined  to  their  Association. 


1243 


NEW-YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  MAY,  1775. 


1244 


votes  of  the  Counties  here  represented  ;  and  that  for  the 
present  the  votes  of  the  City  and  County  of  Neiv-  York  be 
considered  as  four;  the  City  and  County  of  Albany  as 
three ;  and  that  of  each  of  the  other  Counties  respectively 
as  two ;  but  that  this  arrangement  shall  continue  only  till 
some  other  arrangement  shall  be  made  and  agreed  on  by 
this  Congress. 

The  following  Rules  are  agreed  to,  and  resolved  to  be 
the  Rules  of  this  Congress,  viz: 

1st.  That  the  President,  and  in  his  absence  the  Vice- 
President,  and  in  the  absence  of  both  a  President  to  be 
appointed  pro  tempore,  shall  preside  at  every  meeting,  and 
keep  order  and  decorum,  and  that  it  shall  be  his  duty  to 
sign  all  letters  from  this  Congress. 

2d.  That  all  Motions  and  Addresses  be  made  to  the 
Chair,  and  standing. 

3d.  That  if  more  than  one  shall  rise  to  speak  at  the  same 
time,  the  President  shall  determine  who  shall  first  be  heard. 

4th.  That  the  substance  of  every  Motion  made  and 
seconded  shall  be  entered  on  the  Minutes. 

5th.  That  no  interruption  shall  be  suffered  while  a  Mem- 
ber is  delivering  his  sentiments. 

6th.  That  every  question  shall  be  determined  by  a  ma- 
jority of  voices,  and  alter  the  determination  of  any  measure 
or  thing,  the  same  question  shall  not  be  reassumed  but 
with  the  consent  of  a  majority  of  the  voices  of  this  Board 
at  a  subsequent  meeting  ;  and  that  notice  be  given  of  the 
motion  for  reassuniing  such  matter  at  least  one  day  before 
such  motion  be  made,  and  notice  thereof  given  to  the  Mem- 
bers representing  each  County,  who  shall  then  be  in  the 
City  of  New-  York. 

7th.  That  when  any  question  shall  be  determined  upon 
a  division,  the  names  of  the  respective  Counties  shall  be 
entered  as  they  shall  vote  on  each  side ;  but  any  Member 
for  any  County  may  be  at  liberty  to  have  his  name  and  dis- 
sent from  the  vote  of  his  County  entered  on  the  Minutes. 

8th.  That  this  Congress  shall,  from  time  to  time,  meet 
on  their  own  adjournments  for  the  present. 

9th.  That  for  the  despatch  of  business,  and  to  prevent 
interruptions,  the  doors  at  our  meetings  shall  be  shut,  and 
that  none  but  Members  be  permitted  to  take  copies  of  the 
Proceedings  of  this  Congress. 

10th.  That  no  question  shall  be  determined  on  the  day 
that  it  is  agitated,  if  three  Counties  shall  request  that  it  be 
deferred  to  the  next  day. 

11th.  That  no  Member  shall  be  at  liberty  to  speak  more 
than  twice  to  the  same  point,  without  leave  of  the  Presi- 
dent for  the  time  then  being. 

12th.  That  no  Member  shall  absent  himself  from  this 
Congress  without  leave  of  the  Congress. 

13th.  That  every  Member  of  this  Congress  shall  keep 
secret  all  such  matters,  proceedings  and  things  in  this  Con- 
gress, as  shall  be  enjoined  from  the  Chair  to  be  kept  secret. 

14th.  That  whenever  the  Proceedings  of  this  Congress 
shall  be  published  at  the  close  of  this  session,  all  the  Mi- 
nutes shall  be  published,  and  no  part  concealed  unless  such 
as  the  unanimous  voice  of  the  Counties  shall  declare  to  be 
of  a  secret  or  unimportant  nature  ;  but  that  extracts  of  the 
Proceedings  may  nevertheless  be  published  from  time  to 
time  as  the  Congress  shall  think  fit. 

The  Congress  then  adjourned  to  five  o'clock,  P.  M. 

5  ho.  P.  M.,  May  23,  1775. 
The  Congress  met  pursuant  to  adjournment.  Present  : 

For  the  City  and  County  of  New-York. — Peter  Van 
Brugh  Livingston,  Esq.,  President;  Isaac  Low,  Alex- 
ander McDougall,  Leonard  Lispenard,  Joseph  Hallett, 
Abraham  Walton,  Abraham  Brasher,  Isaac  Roosevelt, 
John  De  Lancey,  James  Beekman,  Samuel  Verplanck, 
Richard  Yates,  David  Clarkson,  Thomas  Smith,  Benja- 
min Kissam,  John  Morin  Scott,  John  Van  Cortlandt, 
Jacobus  Van  Zandt,  and  Walter  Franklin. 

For  the  City  and  County  of  Albany. — Volkert  P.  Douw, 
Esq.,  Vice-President;  Robert  Yates,  Abraham  Yates, 
Jacob  Cuyler,  Peter  Silvester,  Walter  Livingston,  Robert 
Van  Rensselaer,  Henry  Glenn,  Francis  Nicoll,and  Abra- 
ham Ten  Broeck. 

For  Dutchess  County. — Zephaniah  Piatt,  Gilbert  Living- 
ston, Jonathan  Landon,  Melancton  Smith,  and  Nathaniel 
Sackett. 


For  Ulster  County. — Col.  Johannes  Hardenbergh,  Col. 
James  Clinton,  Egbert  Uumond,  Esq.,  Christopher  Tap- 
pen,  John  Nicholson,  Esq.,  and  Jacob  Hornbeck. 

For  Orange  County. — John  Coe,  Esq.,  David  Pye,  Esq., 
William  Allison,  Esq.,  Mr.  Peter  Clowes,  Col.  Abraham 
Lent,  John  Herring,  Esq. 

For  Suffolk  County. — Colonel  Nathaniel  Woodhull,  John 
Sloss  Hobart,  Esq.,  Thos.  Tredwell,  Esq.,  John  Foster, 
Ezra  L'Hommedieu,  Esq.,  Thomas  Wickham,  and  Se- 
lah  Strong. 

For  Westchester  County. — Gouverneur  Morris,  Esquire, 
Lewis  Graham,  Esq.,  James  Van  Cortlandt,  Esq.,  Ste- 
phen Ward,  Joseph  Drake,  Col.  Philip  Van  Cortlandt, 
Col.  James  Holmes,  David  Dayton,  and  John  Thomas, 
Junior. 

For  the  Township  of  Brooklyn  in  King's  County. — Henry 

Williams,  Esq.,  Jeremiah  Remsen,  Esq. 
For  Richmond  County. — Paul  Micheau,  John  Journey, 

Aaron  Cortelyou,  and  Richard  Conner. 

The  Deputies  for  Orange  Town  produced  a  Certificate 
signed  by  Jacob  Concklin,  Esq.,  Chairman,  and  Thomas 
Outivater,  Clerk,  at  a  meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  In- 
habitants of  Orange  Town,  there  held  on  the  third  day  of 
May  instant,  whereby  it  appears  that  Colonel  Abraham 
Lent  and  John  Herring,  Esq.,  were  unanimously  chosen 
Deputies  to  represent  them  in  this  Provincial  Congress,  to 
be  held  at  the  City  of  New-  York. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Abraham  Lent  and  John  Her- 
ring, Esq.,  take  their  seats. 

Mr.  Isaac  Low  moved,  and  was  seconded  by  Mr.  Mor- 
ris, that  this  Congress  enter  into  a  Resolution  in  the  words 
following,  viz : 

Resolved,  as  the  opinion  of  this  Congress,  That  implicit 
obedience  ought  to  be  paid  to  every  recommendation  of  the 
Continental  Congress  for  the  general  regulation  of  the  As- 
sociated Colonies;  but  that  this  Congress  is  competent  to, 
and  ought  freely  to  deliberate  and  determine  on  all  matters 
relative  to  the  interna}  police  of  this  Colony. 

And  debates  arising  thereon,  Mr.  Scott,  seconded  by 
Mr.  Clarkson,  moved  for  the  Previous  Question,  to  wit: 
Whether  the  question  on  Mr.  Low's  motion  shall  be  now 
put  ?  And  the  said  Previous  Question  being  put,  was  de- 
termined in  the  following  manner,  viz: 

For  the  Previous  Question.       Against  the  Previous  Question. 
4  City  and  County  of  New. York.       2  Richmond  County. 
3  City  and  County  of  Albany.  — 
2  County  of  Dutchess.  2 
2  County  of  Ulster. 
2  County  of  Orange. 
2  County  of  Suffolk. 
2  King's  County. 
2  Westchester  County. 

19 

Resolved,  therefore,  That  the  question  on  Mr.  Low's 
motion  be  not  now  put. 

A  copy  of  a  recommendation  and  direction  from  the  Con- 
tinental Congress,  signed  by  their  Secretary,  bearing  date 
on  the  eighteenth  instant,  and  certified  by  Henry  Remsen, 
Deputy  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of  New-York,  to  be 
a  true  copy,  relating  to  the  Artillery  and  Stores  now  in 
Ticonderoga,  was  handed  to  the  President  and  read,  and 
is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 

"  In  Congress,  Thursday,  May  18,  1775. 
"  Whereas  there  is  indubitable  evidence  that  a  design  is 
formed  by  the  British  Ministry  of  making  a  cruel  invasion 
from  the  Province  of  Oucbeck  upon  these  Colonies,  for  the 
purpose  of  destroying  our  lives  and  liberties,  and  some  steps 
have  actually  been  taken  to  carry  the  said  design  into  exe- 
cution ;  and  whereas  several  inhabitants  of  the  Northern 
Colonies,  residing  in  the  vicinity  of  Ticonderoga,  immedi- 
ately exposed  to  incursions,  impelled  by  a  just  regard  for 
the  defence  and  preservation  of  themselves  and  their  coun- 
trymen from  such  imminent  danger  and  calamities,  have 
taken  possession  of  that  post,  in  which  was  lodged  a  quan- 
tity of  cannon  and  military  stores,  that  would  certainly  have 
been  used  in  the  intended  invasion  of  these  Colonies :  this 
Congress  earnestly  recommend  it  to  the  Committees  of  the 
Cities  and  Counties  of  New-  York  and  Albany,  immediately 
to  cause  the  said  cannon  and  stores  to  be  removed  from 
Ticonderoga  to  the  south  end  of  Lake  George,  and,  if 


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NEW- YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  MAY,  1775. 


1246 


necessary,  to  apply  to  the  Colonies  of  New-Hampshire, 
Massachusetts-Bay ,  and  Connecticut,  for  such  an  additional 
body  of  forces  as  will  be  sufficient  to  establish  a  strong  post 
at  that  place,  effectually  to  secure  the  said  cannon  and 
stores,  or  so  many  of  them  as  it  may  be  judged  proper  to 
keep  there ;  and  that  an  exact  inventory  be  taken  of  all 
such  cannon  and  stores,  in  order  that  they  may  be  safely 
returned  when  the  restoration  of  the  former  harmony  be- 
tween Great  Britain  and  the  Colonies,  so  ardently  wished 
for  by  the  latter,  shall  render  it  prudent  and  consistent  with 
the  overruling  law  of  self-preservation. 
"A  true  copy  from  the  Minutes: 

"  Charles  Thomson,  Secretary. 

"New-York,  May  20,  1775. — A  true  copy  : 

"  Henry  Remsen,  Deputy  Chairman." 

The  President  then  gave  some  farther  information  rela- 
ting to  the  matters  mentioned  in  the  said  recommendation 
from  the  Continental  Congress,  and  particularly  what  had 
been  done  by  the  Committee  of  the  City  and  County  of 
New-York,  and  also  enjoined  and  gave  it  in  charge  from 
the  Chair  to  the  Members  of  this  Congress,  that  the  busi- 
ness concerning  the  Artillery  and  Stores  at  Ticonderoga, 
and  every  thing  else  relating  thereto,  is  to  be  considered 
and  kept  as  matters  of  secrecy. 

The  subject  matter  of  the  said  recommendation  or  direc- 
tions from  the  Continental  Congress  was  then  taken  in  con- 
sideration and  debated  ;  and  thereupon  % 

Resolved,  That  this  Congress  will  immediately  comply 
with  the  directions  of  the  Continental  Congress  respecting 
the  Cannon  and  Stores  at  Ticonderoga,  and  the  other  mat- 
ters recommended  in  their  order  of  the  eighteenth  of  May 
instant:  and 

Ordered,  That  Messrs.  David  Clarkson,  Alexander 
McDougall,  Walter  Livingston,  Robert  Yates,  Henry 
Glenn,  Zephaniah  Piatt,  Egbert  Dumond,  Peter  Clowes, 
John  Sloss  Hobart,  Paul  Micheau,  and  Gouverneur  Mor- 
ris, be  a  Committee  to  report  to  this  Congress,  with  all 
convenient  speed,  the  method  best  adapted  to  carry  the 
above  Resolution  into  execution. 

Benjamin  Kissarn,  Esq.,  dissented  from  the  above  Reso- 
tion,  and  prayed  his  dissent  might  be  entered  on  the  Mi- 
nutes. 

Mr.  McDougall  moved,  and  was  seconded  by  Mr.  Gil- 
bert Livingston,  that  two  Members  of  this  Congress  be 
directed  to  apply  to  all  the  Ministers  in  this  City,  who  can 
pray  in  English,  and  to  request  them  to  make  such  an 
arrangement  among  themselves  as  will  enable  them  alter- 
nately to  open  the  Congress  every  morning  with  prayer; 
which  was  agreed  to  and  ordered  accordingly  ;  and 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Beekman  and  Mr.  Brasher  be  a 
Committee  for  that  purpose. 

The  following  gentlemen  dissented,  viz:  Colonel  Lispe- 
nard,  Mr.  John  Van  Cortlandt,  Mr.  Roosevelt,  Mr.  Mi- 
cheau, Mr.  Walton,  Mr.  Cortelyou,  Mr.  Conner,  Mr. 
Journey,  Mr.  Low,  Mr.  Richard  Yates,  Mr.  Gouverneur 
Morris,  Mr.  Lewis  Graham,  Colonel  Van  Cortlandt,  Mr. 
Verplanck,  Mr.  De  Lancey,  Mr.  Franklin,  Mr.  Clowes, 
Mr.  Cuyler,  Colonel  Holmes,  Mr.  Ward,  and  Mr.  Thomas. 

The  Congress  then  adjourned  to  this  place  at  nine  o'clock 
to-morrow  morning. 

Wednesday,  9  ho.  A.  M.,  May  24,  1775. 
The  Congress  met  pursuant  to  adjournment.  Present : 

For  the  City  and  County  of  New-  York. — Peter  Van 
Brugh  Livingston,  Esq.,  President;  Isaac  Low,  Alex- 
ander McDougall,  Leonard  Lispenard,  Joseph  Hallett, 
Abraham  Walton,  Abraham  Brasher,  Isaac  Roosevelt, 
John  De  Lancey,  James  Beekman,  Samuel  Verplanck, 
Richard  Yates,  David  Clarkson,  Thomas  Smith,  Benja- 
min Kissam,  John  Morin  Scott,  John  Van  Cortlandt, 
Jacobus  Van  Zandt,  and  John  Marston. 

For  the  City  and  County  of  Albany. — Volkert  P.  Douw, 
Vice-President ;  Robert  Yates,  Abraham  Yates,  Jacob 
Cuyler,  Peter  Silvester,  Walter  Livingston,  Robert  Van 
Rensselaer,  Henry  Glenn,  Col.  Abraham  Ten  Broeck, 
and  Major  Francis  Nicoll. 

For  Dutchess  County. — Anthony  Hoffman,  Zephaniah 
Piatt,  Richard  Montgomerie,  Gilbert  Livingston,  Jona- 
than Landon,  Melancton  Smith,  and  Nathaniel  Sackett. 


For  Ulster  County. — Col.  Johannes  Hardenber«h,  James 

Clinton,  Egbert  Dumond.  Christopher  Tappen,  John 

Nicholson,  and  Jacob  Hornbeck. 
For  Orange  County. — John  Coe,  David  Pye,  Peter 

Clowes,  William  Allison,  Abraham  Lent,  and  John 

Herring. 

For  Suffolk  County. — Colonel  Nathaniel  Woodhull,  John 
Sloss  Hobart,  Thomas  Tredwell,  John  Foster,  Ezra 
L'Hommedieu,  Thomas  Wickham,  and  Selah  Strong. 

For  Westchester  County. — Gouverneur  Morris,  Lewis  Gra- 
ham, James  Van  Cortlandt,  Stephen  Ward,  Joseph 
Drake,  Philip  Van  Cortlandt,  James  Holmes,  David 
Dayton,  and  John  Thomas,  Junior. 

For  the  Toivnship  of  Brooklyn  in  King's  County. — Henry 
Williams  and  Jeremiah  Remsen. 

For  Richmond.  County. — Paul  Micheau,  John  Journey, 
Aaron  Cortelyou,  and  Richard  Conner. 

John  Williams  and  William  Marsh,  from  Charlotte 
County,  appeared  in  Congress  and  produced  a  Certificate 
signed  by  fourteen  gentlemen,  the  respective  Committees 
of  White  Creek,  Camden,  Arlington,  Manchester,  Dorset, 
Rupert,  Pawlett,  and  Wells,  in  Charlotte  County,  certi- 
fying that  the  said  John  Williams  and  JVilliam  Marsh  are 
appointed  Deputies  to  attend  this  Congress.  The  same 
was  read  and  filed. 

Ordered,  That  they  take  their  seats. 

Colonel  Blackwell,  Samuel  Townshend,  Esq.,  Messrs. 
Joseph  Robinson  and  Jonathan  Lawrence,  attending  in 
Congress,  produced  a  Certificate  of  Daniel  Kissam,  Esq., 
Chairman  of  a  meeting  of  a  number  of  the  Freeholders  of 
Queen's  County,  met  at  Jamaica  pursuant  to  publick  notice, 
certifying  that  Colonel  Jacob  Blackwell,  Jonathan  Lau- 
rence, Daniel  Rapalje,  Esq.,  Zcbiilon  Williams,  Esquire, 
Samuel  Toivnshend ,  Esq.,  Joseph  French,  Esq.,  Joseph 
Robinson,  Nathaniel  Tom,  Thomas  Hicks,  Esq.,  and  Cap- 
tain Richard.  Thome,  were  unanimously  chosen  and  elected 
Deputies  for  the  said  County,  to  meet  in  Provincial  Con- 
gress with  the  Deputies  from  the  other  Counties  in  this 
Colony.    The  same  was  read  and  filed. 

Ordered,  That  the  gentlemen  appointed  Deputies  from 
Queen's  County,  as  they  respectively  attend,  do  take  their 
seats. 

Mr.  David  Clarkson,  Chairman  of  the  Committee  ap- 
pointed yesterday  to  report  the  methods  best  adapted  to 
comply  with  the  directions  of  the  Continental  Congress 
respecting  the  Cannon  and  Stores  at  Ticonderoga,  and  the 
other  matters  recommended  in  their  order  of  the  eighteenth 
instant,  delivered  in  the  Report  of  the  said  Committee, 
which  was  read.  And  the  said  Report  being  again  read 
by  paragraphs,  was  approved  of  and  ordered  to  be  entered 
on  the  Minutes,  and  is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 

We  do  report  that  we  conceive  that  it  will  be  proper 
to  appoint  persons  in  whom  this  Congress  can  confide,  to 
superintend  the  removal  of  the  Cannon  and  Stores  (men- 
tioned in  the  Minutes  of  the  Grand  Continental  Congress) 
to  the  south  end  of  Lake  George  : 

That  it  will  be  proper  to  furnish  supplies  of  Provisions 
to  the  Garrisons  now  stationed,  or  hereafter  to  be  stationed 
at  those  places : 

That  it  will  be  proper  to  appoint  a  Committee  to  esti- 
mate the  expense  of  these  services,  and  a  Committee  to 
consider  of  ways  and  means  for  providing  moneys  for  the 
purpose  of  defraying  the  same :    And  lastly, 

That  it  will  be  proper  to  write  a  Letter  to  the  Governour 
and  Company  of  the  English  Colony  of  Connecticut,  on  the 
matters  recommended  in  the  Minute  aforesaid. 

The  said  Committee  had  also  prepared,  and  then  re- 
ported a  draft  of  the  Letter  above  mentioned,  which  was 
also  read,  adopted,  and  entered  in  the  Minutes  of  the  after- 
noon. 

Benjamin  Kissam,  Esq.,  dissented  from  the  said  Report 
and  Letter,  and  desired  that  his  dissent  might  be  entered 
on  the  Minutes. 

The  Congress  then  adjourned  to  four  o'clock,  P.  M. 

4to  ho.  P.  M.,  May  24,  1775. 
The  Congress  met  pursuant  to  adjournment.  Present: 
For  the  City  and  County  of  New-  York.— Peter  Van 
Brugh  Livingston,  Esq.,  President;  Isaac  Low,  Alex- 


1247 


NEW-YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  MAY,  1775. 


1218 


ander  McDougall,  Leonard  Lispenard,  Abraham  Walton, 
Abraliam  Brasher,  Isaac  Roosevelt,  John  De  Lancey, 
James  Beekman,  Samuel  Yerplanck,  Richard  Yates, 
David  Clarkson,  Thomas  Smith,  Benjamin  Kissain,  John 
Morin  Scott,  Jacobus  Van  Zandt,  and  John  Marston. 

For  the  City  and  County  of  Albany. — Volkert  P.  Douw, 
Esq.,  Vice-President ;  Robert  Yates,  Esq.,  Abraham 
Yates,  Jacob  Cuyler,  Peter  Silvester,  Walter  Livingston, 
Robert  Van  Rensselaer,  Henry  Glenn,  Abraham  Ten 
Broeck,  and  Francis  Nicoll. 

For  Dutchess  County. — Anthony  Hoffman,  Zephaniah 
Piatt,  Richard  Montgomerie,  Gilbert  Livingston,  Jona- 
than Landon,  Melancton  Smith,  and  Nathaniel  Sackett. 

For  Ulster  County. — Col.  Johannes  Hardenbergh,  Col. 
James  Clinton,  Egbert  Dmnond,  Christopher  Tappen, 
John  Nicholson,  and  Jacob  Horn  beck. 

For  Orange  County. — John  Coe,  David  Pye,  Peter 
Clowes,  William  Allison,  Abraham  Lent,  and  John  Her- 
ring. 

For  Suffolk  County. — Colonel  Nathaniel  Woodhull,  John 
Sloss  Hobart,  Thomas  Tredwell,  John  Foster,  Ezra 
L'Hommedieu,  Thomas  Wickham,  and  Selah  Strong. 

For  Westchester  County. — Gouverneur  Morris,  Lewis  Gra- 
ham, James  Van  Cortlandt,  Stephen  Ward,  Joseph 
Drake,  Philip  Van  Cortlandt,  James  Holmes,  David 
Dayton,  John  Thomas,  Jun.,  and  William  Paulding. 

For  Brooklyn  in  King's  County. — Henry  Williams  and 
Jeremiah  Remsen,  Esq. 

For  Richmond  County. — Paul  Micheau,  John  Journey, 
Aaron  Cortelyou,  and  Richard  Conner. 

For  Queen's  County. — Col.  Jacob  Black  well,  Jonathan 
Lawrence,  Samuel  Townshend,  and  Joseph  Robinson. 

For  Charlotte  County.  —  John  Williams  and  William 
Marsh. 

The  gentlemen  who  are  Deputies  from  the  City  and 
County  of  Albany,  at  the  request  of  the  Congress,  recom- 
mended, and  the  Congress  nominated  and  appointed  John  N. 
Blecker,  Henry  J.  Bogcrt,  George  Palmer,  Dirck  Swart, 
and  Peter  Lansing,  of  the  County  of  Albany,  or  any  one 
or  more  of  them,  to  superintend  the  removal  of  the  Cannon 
and  Stores  (mentioned  in  the  Minutes  of  the  Grand  Con- 
tinental Congress)  to  the  south  end  of  Lake  George;  and 
in  case  of  the  inability  or  refusal  of  those  gentlemen,  this 
Congress  does  authorize  and  request  the  Sub-Committee  of 
the  City  and  County  of  Albany  to  appoint  proper  persons 
lo  superintend  the  removal  of  the  said  Cannon  and  Stores 
to  the  place  aforesaid. 

A  Letter  to  the  President,  subscribed  by  Nathaniel 
Wales,  Thaddeus  Burr,  and  Pierpont  Edwards,  Esquires, 
informing  the  Congress  that  they  are  a  Committee  from 
the  House  of  Representatives  of  the  Colony  of  Connecti- 
cut, appointed  to  wait  on  this  Congress  in  order  to  procure 
intelligence  of  the  measures  that  may  be  adopted  by  this 
Congress  respecting  the  common  cause  of  the  British  Co- 
lonies ;  to  communicate  a  true  stale  of  the  measures  taken 
by  that  Colony,  and  to  cultivate  the  friendship  and  harmo- 
ny which  subsists  between  this  Colony  and  the  Colony  of 
Connecticut ;  and  informing  that  they  are  attending  in  New- 
York  for  the  purposes  of  their  appointment;  was  read,  and 
filed; 

And  thereupon,  Mr.  Richard  Yates  and  Mr.  Morris 
arc  appointed  a  Committee  to  wait  on  those  gentlemen 
immediately,  and  to  introduce  them  to  this  Congress. 

Nathaniel  Wales,  Thaddeus  Burr,  and  Pierpont  Ed- 
wards, Esquires,  before  mentioned  as  a  Committee  from 
the  House  of  Representatives  of  the  Colony  of  Connecti- 
cut, being  introduced  into  this  Congress,  produced  their 
Credentials,  signed  by  the  Honourable  William  JVilliams, 
Esq.,  the  Speaker,  and  Richard  Law,  Esq.,  the  Clerk  of 
the  said  House  of  Representatives;  and  the  same  were 
read. 

Ordered.  That  Colonel  Woodhull,  Mr.  Low,  Mr.  Scott, 
Colonel  Ten  f{rocck,M\:  McDougall,  Mr.  Richard  Yates, 
and  Mr.  Morris,  be  a  Committee  to  confer  with  the  said 
Committee  from  the  House  of  Representatives  of  the  Co- 
lony of  Connecticut,  on  the  subject-matter  of  their  Letter 
to  this  Congress,  and  of  their  commission  from  the  said 
House  of  Representatives,  and  to  report  thereon  lo  this 
Congress. 

Resolved.  That  this  Congress  will,  before  they  rise,  pro- 


vide the  best  ways  and  means  in  their  power,  as  Repre- 
sentatives of  the  People,  for  the  discharge  of  such  money 
as  is  now  lent,  or  shall  be  subscribed  or  otherwise  advanced 
or  supplied  on  the  puhlick  faith,  to  defray  the  charges  that 
are  or  shall  be  incurred  in  the  present  exigences  of  the 
Colony,  or  that  shall  hereafter  be  expended  or  incurred  by 
recommendation  of  the  Continental  or  of  this  Provincial 
Congress. 

Ordered,  The  last  preceding  Resolution  be  published  in 
the  publick  Newspapers. 

The  Congress  then  took  into  consideration  that  part  of 
the  Report  of  the  Committee  concerning  the  removal  of 
the  Cannon  and  Stores,  which  relates  to  the  estimate  of  the 
expense  of  removing  the  same,  and  the  ways  and  means 
of  raising  money  to  defray  the  expense  thereof. 

Ordered,  That  Messrs.  David  Clarkson,  Alexander 
McDougall,  Walter  Livingston,  Jacob  Cuyler,  Henry 
Glenn,  Richard  Montgomerie,  Egbert  Dumond,  Peter 
Clowes,  John  Sloss  Hobart,  Paul  Micheau,  Isaac  Low. 
and  Gouverneur  Morris,  be  a  Committee  for  both  those 
purposes ;  and  that  they  make  their  reports  on  those  re- 
spective matters  with  all  convenient  speed. 

The  draught  of  the  Letter  to  the  Governour  and  Com- 
pany of  the  Colony  of  Connecticut,  being  read,  paragraph 
by  paragraph,  was  approved  of,  and  ordered  to  be  entered 
in  the  Minutes;  and  is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit: 

To  the  Honourable  the  Governour  and  Company  of  the 
English  Colony  of  Connecticut  : 

Brethren:  By  a  minute  of  the  Grand  Continental 
Congress,  of  the  eighteenth  of  May,  in  the  year  of  our 
Lord  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  seventy-five,  a  copy 
whereof  we  do  herewith  transmit  to  you,  we  are  informed 
that  Ticonderoga  hath  been  taken  by  sundry  inhabitants  of 
the  Northern  Colonies;  and  from  the  minute  aforesaid,  we 
are  assured  that  this  measure  was  for  the  common  safety  of 
the  American  Colonies.  In  pursuance  of  the  directions 
contained  in  that  minute,  we  have  given  the  necessary 
orders  for  removing  the  Cannon  and  Stores  (taken  in  that 
important  fortress)  to  the  south  end  of  Lake  George,  and 
for  securing  them  there ;  and  we  have  appointed  John  N. 
Blecker,  Henry  J.  Bogert,  Dirck  Swart.  George  Palmer, 
and  Peter  Lansing,  superintendents  of  this  business. 

There  is  no  doubt  but  that  our  brethren  in  Connecticut 
will  feel  great  reluctance  at  the  idea  of  ordering  any  of 
their  Troops  to  march  within  the  bounds  of  this  Colony, 
for  the  purpose  of  defending  the  Fort  of  Ticonderoga,  and 
the  Cannon  and  Stores  above-mentioned  at  Fort  George ; 
but  we  pray  you  to  cast  away  all  fears  of  offending  us  on 
this  occasion.  We  shall  be  happy  to  hear  that  you  have 
placed  a  part  of  your  forces  in  these  posts,  with  intent  to 
defend  them  until  they  shall  be  relieved  by  Troops  from 
this  Colon)'. 

In  further  pursuance  of  the  directions  of  the  Grand  Con- 
gress, we  have  ordered  provisions  to  be  conveyed  to  Ticon- 
deroga and  Lake  George,  and  we  shall  continue  to  furnish 
such  supplies  as  we  shall  deem  necessary. 

You  will  be  pleased,  gentlemen,  to  appoint  trusty  com- 
manders over  your  forces  destined  for  the  purposes  above 
mentioned  ;  and  we  do  assure  you  of  our  willingness  that  they 
shall  lake  the  command  at  those  places  while  garrisoned  by 
your  Troops.  We  beg  leave  to  assure  you,  that  in  this  and 
all  other  matters  we  will  pay  the  highest  attention  to  every 
recommendation  of  the  Grand  Continental  Congress;  and 
that  we  have  the  honour  to  be,  gentlemen,  your  most  obe- 
dient and  humble  servants. 

P.  S.  We  pray  you  to  use  every  effort  to  preserve  and 
improve  the  present  peaceable  dispositions  of  the  Cana- 
dians and  Indians,  for  which  purpose  we  think  it  will  he 
necessary  to  keep  up  the  strictest  vigilance  to  prevent  any 
incursions  from  being  made  into  the  Province  of  Quebcck. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  thereof  be  engrossed,  and  sign- 
ed by  the  President,  and  transmitted  with  all  convenient 

speed. 

Ordered,  That  the  gentlemen  who  are  Deputies  from 
the  City  and  County  of  Albany,  be  a  Committee  to  pre- 
pare a  draught  of  a  Letter  lo  John  N.  Blecker  and  the  other 
four  Agents  for  superintending  the  removal  of  the  Cannon 
and  Stores  from  Ticonderoga ;  and  also  a  draught  of  In- 


1249 


NEW-YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  MAY,  1775. 


1250 


structions  to  the  said  Agents ;  and  that  tliey  prepare  and 
bring  in  the  same  with  all  convenient  speed. 

The  Congress  then  adjourned  till  nine  o'clock  to-morrow 
morning. 

Thursday,  9  ho.  A.  M.,  May  25,  1775. 
The  Congress  met  pursuant  to  adjournment.   Present : 

For  the  City  and  County  of  New-York. — Peter  V.  B. 
Livingston,  Esq.,  President ;  Isaac  Low,  Alexander  Mc- 
Dougall,  Leonard  Lispenard,  Abraham  Walton,  Abra- 
ham Brasher,  Isaac  Roosevelt,  John  De  Lancey,  James 
Beekman,  Samuel  Verplanck,  David  Clarkson,  Thomas 
Smith,  Benjamin  Kissam,  John  Morin  Scott,  James  Van 
Cortlandt,  Jacobus  Van  Zandt,  John  Marston,  and 
Walter  Franklin. 

For  the  City  and  County  of  Albany. — Volkert  P.  Douw, 
Esq.,  Vice-President ;  Robert  Yates,  Abraham  Yates, 
Jacob  Cuyler,  Peter  Silvester,  Walter  Livingston,  Robert 
Van  Rensselaer,  Henry  Glenn,  Abraham  Ten  Broeck, 
and  Francis  Nicoll. 

For  Dutchess  County. — Anthony  Hoffman,  Zephaniah 
Piatt,  Richard  Montgomerie,  Gilbert  Livingston,  Jona- 
than Landon,  Melancton  Smith,  and  Nathaniel  Sackett. 

For  Ulster  County. — Colonel  Johannes  Hardenbergh,  Col. 
James  Clinton,  Egbert  Dumond,  Christopher  Tappen, 
John  Nicholson,  and  Jacob  Hornbeck. 

For  Suffolk  County. — Colonel  Nathaniel  Woodhull,  John 
Sloss  Hobart,  Thomas  Tredwell,  John  Foster,  Ezra 
L'Hommedieu,  Thomas  Wickham,  and  Selah  Strong. 

For  Orange  County. — John  Coe,  David  Pye,  Peter 
Clowes,  William  Allison,  Colonel  Abraham  Lent,  and 
John  Herring. 

For  Westchester  County. — Gouverneur  Morris,  Lewis 
Graham,  Colonel  James  Van  Cortlandt,  Stephen  Ward, 
Joseph  Drake,  Philip  Van  Cortlandt,  James  Holmes, 
David  Dayton,  John  Thomas,  Junior,  and  William 
Paulding. 

For  King's  County. — Johannes  E.  Lott,  Henry  Williams, 
Jeremiah  Remsen,  Richard  Still  well ,  Theodorus  Polhe- 
mus,  John  Leffertse,  Esquire,  Nicholas  Covenhoven,  and 
John  Vanderbilt. 

For  Richmond  County. — Paul  Micheau,  John  Journey, 
Aaron  Cortelyou,  and  Richard  Conner. 

For  Queen's  County. — Colonel  Jacob  Blackwell,  Jona- 
than Lawrence,  Samuel  Townshend,  Joseph  Robinson, 
and  Nathaniel  Tom. 

For  Charlotte  County. — John  Williams,  William  Marsh. 

The  draught  of  a  Postscript  to  the  Letter  to  be  sent  to 
the  Governour  and  Company  of  the  English  Colony  of 
Connecticut,  was  read,  and  is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 

"  We  pray  you  to  use  every  effort  to  preserve  and  im- 
prove the  present  peaceable  dispositions  of  the  Canadians 
and  Indians,  for  which  purpose  we  think  it  will  be  neces- 
sary to  keep  up  the  strictest  vigilance  to  prevent  anyr  in- 
cursions from  being  made  into  the  Province  of  Quebeck." 

And  the  same  being  approved  of  and  agreed  to, 

Ordered,  That  the  said  Postscript  be  added  to  the  said 
Letter. 

The  Committee  appointed  yesterday  for  that  purpose, 
brought  in  and  reported  a  draught  of  a  Letter,  and  also  a 
draught  of  Instructions  to  the  Agents  for  superintending 
the  removal  of  the  Cannon  and  Stores  from  Ticonderoga. 

Mr.  Low  informed  the  Congress  that  he  had  been  in- 
formed that  some  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  Northern  Coun- 
ties in  this  Colony  have  designs  of  making  incursions  into 
the  Province  of  Quebeck;  and  that  therefore  he  moved, 
(and  was  seconded  by  Abraham  Yates,  Esq.,)  that  a  Letter 
be  wrote  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  Northern  Counties,  to 
the  same  purport  as  the  Postscript  to  the  Letter  to  the 
Governour  and  Company  of  Connecticut;  and  the  same 
being  unanimously  agreed  to, 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Low,  Mr.  John  Williams,  Mr. 
Marsh,  Mr.  Robert  Yates,  and  Mr.  Morris,  be  a  Commit- 
tee to  prepare  and  report  to  the  Congress  a  draught  of  such 
Letter. 

The  Deputies  for  Ki ng's  County  produced  a  Certificate 
subscribed  by  Abraham  E.  Lott,  Clerk  of  a  meeting  of 
the  Deputies  of  the  several  Townships  in  King's  County, 
assembled  at  Flatbush,  on  the  22d  day  of  May  instant, 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii.  " 


whereby  it  appears  that  Richard  StiUweU,  Theodorus  Pol- 
hemus,  John  Leffertse,  Nicholas  Covenhoven,  Johannes  E. 
Lott,  John  Vanderbilt,  Henry  Williams,  and  Jeremiah 
Remsen,  Esquires,  or  any  three  of  them,  are  appointed 
Deputies  fully  to  represent  and  act  in  behalf  of  that  Coun- 
ty.   The  same  was  read,  and  filed. 

Ordered,  That  those  gentlemen  take  their  seats. 

A  written  Request  from  the  gentlemen  who  are  a  Com- 
mittee from  the  House  of  Representatives  of  the  Colony 
of  Connecticut,  requesting  a  conference  with  Mr.  Scott  and 
Colonel  Ten  Broeck,  was  read. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Scott  and  Colonel  Ten  Broeck  have 
leave  to  wait  on  the  said  Committee  immediately. 

Mr.  Nathaniel  Tom,  from  Queen's  County,  one  of  the 
Deputies  named  in  the  Credentials  from  that  County,  filed 
with  the  Secretaries,  appeared  in  Congress. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Tom  take  his  seat. 

The  Reverend  Doctor  Auchmuty  and  the  Reverend 
Doctor  Rodgers,  attending  at  the  door,  were  called  in  ; 
and  they  delivered  to  the  President  an  arrangement  of  the 
Clergy,  who,  in  compliance  with  the  request  of  this  Con- 
gress, have  agreed  in  the  following  order  alternately  to 
attend  at  nine  o'clock  every  morning,  to  open  this  Congress 
with  Prayer,  viz  :  Doctor  Auchmuty,  Doctor  Rodgers,  Mr. 
Gano,  Mr.  Inglis,  Dr.  Laidly,  Mr.  Mason,  Mr.  Treat, 
Dr.  Livingston,  Mr.  Bowden,  Mr.  Moore. 

Messrs.  Ten  Broeck  and  Scott,  who,  with  leave,  went 
to  confer  with  Messrs.  fVales,  Burr,  and  Edwards,  the 
Committee  of  the  House  of  Representatives  of  the  Colony 
of  Connecticut,  returned,  and  reported  from  their  memory 
to  this  Congress,  that  they  had  conferred  with  those  gen- 
tlemen, who  informed  them  that  they  had  detained  Mr. 
President's  Letter  to  their  Governour  and  Company,  rela- 
ting to  Ticonderoga,  till  this  Congress  could  be  informed 
of  the  following  facts,  to  wit : 

That  their  Assembly  is  not  now  sitting ;  that  their  recess 
was  supplied  by  a  Council  of  War,  with  limited  powers  ; 
that  the  said  Council  have  only  authority  to  direct  the 
movements  of  their  Troops,  but  not  to  appoint  any  com- 
mand ;  that  their  Assembly  had  destined  three  hundred 
men  to  be  quartered  at  Salisbury,  who  probably  would  be 
allotted  to  assist  in  maintaining  the  fortress  at  Ticonderoga, 
if  necessary ;  that  the  persons  who  had  taken  that  post 
were  not  any  part  of  their  regular  troops,  but  adventurers  ; 
that  among  these,  Colonel  Arnold,  from  Massachusetts, 
and  Captain  Douglass,  who  lives  on  the  line  between  that 
Colony  and  this,  were  present  at  the  capture  ;  that  Captain 
Douglass  was  a  principal,  and  had  great  merit  in  the  suc- 
cess of  the  enterprise ;  that  almost  all  the  rest  of  the  ad- 
venturers were  inhabitants  of  this  Colony;  that  they  were 
confident  their  Council  of  War  would  not  take  upon  them  to 
appoint  any  person  to  take  the  command  of  that  post ;  that 
besides,  they  were  apprehensive  that  the  people  now  there 
probably  would  dispute  the  delivering  up  that  Fortress  to 
any  person  appointed  by  their  Council  of  War;  that  it  was 
impossible  for  the  said  Council  of  War  to  grant  us  any 
other  assistance  than  the  three  hundred  men  above  men- 
tioned, which  they  judged  insufficient  to  maintain  that  post ; 
that  Captain  Douglass  is  guardian  of  the  Stockbridge  In- 
dians, and  has  great  influence  over,  and  almost  the  entire 
direction  of  them  ;  that  he  is  a  person  of  great  influence 
in  that  quarter ;  that  he  had  raised  for  the  enterprise  two 
hundred  men,  at  his  own  expense,  and  could,  in  ten  or 
twelve  dayrs,  augment  them  to  seven  hundred,  all  of  which, 
except  about  one  hundred,  would  be  inhabitants  of  this 
Colony ;  that  they  recommended  Captain  Douglass  as 
meriting  the  attention  of  this  Congress  ;  that  they  thought 
it  necessary  for  this  Congress  to  appoint  to  the  command 
of  the  above-mentioned  post;  and  that  in  that  case  their 
Council  of  War  would  have  it  in  their  power  to  supply  the 
above-mentioned  assistance  for  that  service. 

Which  Report  being  made,  Mr.  Scott  moved  that  the 
Letter  to  the  Governour  and  Company  of  the  English 
Colony  of  Connecticut,  be  withheld,  and  the  subject-matter 
thereof  reconsidered. 

This  motion  being  seconded,  a  debate  thereon  arose  ; 
after  which  the  question  was  put,  Whether  the  said  Letter 
should  be  withheld,  and  the  subject-matter  thereof  recon- 
sidered ? 

9 


1251 


NEW-YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  MAY,  1775. 


1252 


And  on  a  division,  the  said  question  carried  in  the  nega- 
tive. 

Dissentient. — Mr.  Scott,  Mr.  Sacked,  Mr.  Nicholson, 
Mr.  Allison,  Mr.  Silvester,  Mr.  Henry  Williams,  Mr. 
Hobart,  Mr.  Trcilwcll,  Mr.  Marsh,  Mr.  Beekman,  Mr. 
Tom,  Mr.  Van  Rensselaer,  and  Doctor  John  Williams. 

The  draught  of  a  Letter  to  the  Agents  for  superin- 
tending the  removal  of  the  Cannon  and  Stores  from  Ticon- 
deroga, was  read  and  approved  ;  and  is  in  the  words  follow- 
ing, to  wit : 

In  Provincial  Congress,  New-York,  May  25,  1775. 
Gentlemen  :  By  the  recommendation  of  the  Continen- 
tal Congress  respecting  Ticonderoga,  already  forwarded  to 
the  Committee  of  your  County,  and  by  our  Resolution 
thereon,  you  will  readily  perceive  the  expediency  of  ap- 
pointing proper  persons  to  superintend  the  business  therein 
mentioned,  who  will  undertake  it  with  cheerfulness,  dili- 
gence, and  despatch.  This  Congress  being  convinced  that 
persons  in  the  vicinage  of  Albany  would  be  most  proper  to 
put  in  execution  the  directions  of  the  Congresses,  left  it  to 
the  Deputies  of  your  County,  now  here  convened,  to  pro- 
pose some  fit  men  for  the  approbation  of  this  Congress ; 
and  you,  gentlemen,  were  accordingly  nominated  and  ap- 
pointed. We  hope,  therefore,  that  you  will  not  hesitate, 
but  enter  upon  what  is  enjoined  you  by  both  Congresses 
with  all  expedition  ;  and  in  doing  of  which,  you  will  please 
to  have  regard  to  the  enclosed  Instructions  for  your  better 
government. 

We  are,  gentlemen,  your  most  humble  servants. 
To  Messrs.  John  N.  Blceker  and  Henry  J.  Bogert,  of  the  City 
of  Albany,  and  George  Palmer  and  Dirck  Sivarl,  of  Still- 
water, and  Peter  Lansing,  of  Saratoga,  in  the  County  of 
Albany. 

N.  B.  You  will  please  to  be  as  secret  as  the  nature  of 
this  work  will  allow  you. 

The  draught  of  Instructions  to  the  said  Agents  was  also 
read  and  approved,  and  is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 

Instructions  for  John  N.  Bleeker,  Henry  J.  Bogert,  Dirck 
Swart,  George  Palmer,  and  Peter  Lansing,  Commis- 
sioners or  Agents  to  superintend  and  put  in  execution  the 
recommendation  of  the  Grand  Continental  Congress,  of 
the  18th  of  May,  1775,  relative  to  Ticonderoga,  &.c. 
1st.  You  will  immediately  endeavour  to  have  a  meeting 
together,  if  possible,  and  see  which  of  you  it  will  suit  best, 
and  can  most  conveniently,  reasonably,  and  expeditiously 
discharge  this  trust  reposed  in  you. 

2d.  After  that  is  fixed  upon  among  yourselves,  that  you 
will  then  immediately  repair  to  those  places,  either  by  your- 
selves, or  such  fit  persons  as  you  know  can  and  will  com- 
plete the  business  effectually  and  reasonably. 

3d.  It  will  be  necessary  that  you  have  an  Armourer  or 
Engineer,  whose  skill  ought  to  determine  which  of  the 
cannon  are  useless,  that  such  may  remain  where  they  be, 
and  no  expense  arise  from  them. 

4th.  One  at  least  of  you  ought  to  attend  from  time  to 
time  at  the  different  stations,  as  occasion  may  require. 

5th.  You  will  please,  whenever  you  employ  labourers, 
wagoners,  or  others  in  this  service,  that  you  engage  none, 
if  it  possibly  can  be  avoided,  but  industrious  and  sober 
men,  and  such  as  have  or  will  sign  the  Association. 

6th.  You  will  agree  with  every  man  for  the  sum  to  be 
allowed  him  for  his  wages,  and  show  the  resolution  of  this 
Congress  of  yesterday  respecting  the  mode  of  payment, 
that  no  person  may  be  ignorant  of  that  point.  You  will 
also  keep  books  of  accounts,  and  make  exact  entries,  and 
take  just  and  true  vouchers  of  all  the  expenses  and  pro- 
ceedings, so  that  you  may  be  able  to  swear  as  to  the  recti- 
tude of  your  conduct  for  the  satisfaction  of  the  publick, 
when  thereunto  required. 

7th.  You  will  endeavour,  as  much  as  in  you  lies,  to  cul- 
tivate harmony  and  friendship  between  the  New-England 
Troops  and  all  others  that  are  or  may  be  engaged  by  the 
Northern  Governments  in  those  services,  and  such  persons 
as  are  or  may  be  employed  by  this  Government. 

8th.  That  you  will  keep  exact  lists  and  inventories  of  all 
such  artillery,  ordnance,  and  stores,  likewise  their  condi- 
tion, as  you  may  find  on  your  arrival  at  those  posts,  viz: 
Ticonderoga  and  Lake  George,  of  all  such  things  as  may 
be  left  there  or  removed  from  there. 


9th.  You  will  be  also  careful  in  providing  boats  and  ma- 
terials for  water-carriage,  in  transporting  such  cannon  as 
should,  upon  examination,  be  thought  useful,  to  the  south 
end  of  Lake  George. 

10th.  It  may  be  necessary  to  inform  you  that  there  are 
lately  sent  up  from  this  City,  for  the  use  of  the  people  at 
the  garrison,  and  others  engaged  in  these  services,  one  hun- 
dred barrels  of  pork,  and  some  stores  and  materials,  of 
which  an  inventory  will  be  handed  to  you.  You  will  take 
all  these  things  under  your  care,  direction,  and  inspection, 
and  see  that  they  are  forwarded  and  properly  used  and 
applied,  according  to  the  true  intention  ;  and  also  procure 
such  other  provisions,  materials  and  things,  as  may  be 
deemed  by  you  absolutely  necessary  to  fulfil  the  design  the 
Grand  Continental  and  this  Congress  have  in  view. 

11th.  It  is  the  determination  of  this  Congress  not  to 
countenance  any  person  to  make  any  incursions  into  Can- 
ada;  and  in  order  to  prevent,  as  much  as  in  us  lies,  any 
projects  of  that  kind,  you  are  hereby  directed  to  withhold 
any  succours  or  support  from  any  person  or  persons  whom- 
soever for  such  an  expedition. 

Ordered,  That  the  said  Letter  and  Instructions  be  en- 
grossed, and  signed  by  the  President,  and  transmitted  with 
all  convenient  speed. 

Benjamin  Kissam,  Esq.,  dissented  to  the  said  Letter  and 
Instructions,  and  desired  that  his  dissent  might  be  entered 
on  the  Minutes. 

The  Congress  then  adjourned  till  five  o'clock,  P.  31. 

5  ho.  P.  M.,  May  25,  1775. 
The  Congress  met  pursuant  to  adjournment.  Present : 
For  the  City  and  County  of  New-  York. — Peter  Van  Brugh 
Livingston,  Esquire,  President;  Isaac  Low,  Alexander 
McDougall,  Abraham  Walton,  Isaac  Roosevelt,  John 
De  Lancey,  Samuel  Verplanck,  Richard  Yates,  David 
Clarkson,  Thomas  Smith,  Benjamin  Kissam,  John  Morin 
Scott,  Jacobus  Van  Zandt,  John  Marston,  and  Walter 
Franklin. 

For  the  City  and  County  of  Albany. — Volkert  P.  Douw, 
Esq.,  Vice-President ;  Robert  Yates,  Abraham  Yates, 
Jacob  Cuyler,  Peter  Silvester,  Dirck  Swart,  Walter 
Livingston,  Robert  Van  Rennselaer,  Henry  Glenn,  Abra- 
ham Ten  Broeck,  and  Francis  Nicoll. 
For  Dutchess  County. — Anthony  Hoffman,  Zephaniah 
Piatt,  Richard  Montgomerie,  Gilbert  Livingston,  Jona- 
than Landon,  Melancton  Smith,  and  Nathaniel  Sackett. 
For  Ulster  County. — Col.  Johannes  Hardenbergh,  James 
Clinton,  Egbert  Dumond,  Christopher  Tappen,  John 
Nicholson,  and  Jacob  Hornbeck. 
For  Orange   County. — John  Coe,  David  Pye,  Peter 

Clowes,  William  Allison,  and  Abraham  Lent. 
For  Suffolk  County. — Colonel  Nathaniel  Woodhull,  John 
Sloss  Hobart,  Thomas  Tredwell,  John  Foster,  Ezra 
L'Hommedieu,  Thomas  Wickham,  and  Selah  Strong. 
For   Westchester   County. — Gouverneur  Morris,  Lewis 
Graham,  Stephen  Ward,  Joseph  Drake,  Philip  Van 
Cortlandt,  James  Holmes,  David  Dayton,  John  Thomas, 
Junior,  and  William  Paulding. 
For  King's  County. — Johannes  E.  Lott,  Henry  Williams, 
Jeremiah  Remsen,  Theodorus  Polhemus,  John  Leffertse, 
Nicholas  Covenhoven,  and  John  Vanderbilt. 
For  Richmond  County. — Paul  Micheau,  John  Journey, 

Aaron  Cortelyou,  and  Richard  Conner. 
For  Queen's  County. — Colonel  Jacob  Blackwell,  Jonathan 
Lawrence,  Zebulon  Williams,  Samuel  Townshend,  Jo- 
seph Robinson,  anil  Nathaniel  Tom. 
For  Charlotte  County. — John  Williams,  William  Marsh. 

The  Committee  appointed  this  morning  to  prepare  a 
draught  of  a  Letter  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  Northern 
Counties,  to  the  same  purport  as  the  postscript  to  the  Let- 
ter to  the  Governour  and  Company  of  the  Colony  of  Con- 
necticut, reported  such  draught ;  and  the  same  being  taken 
into  consideration,  and  amended,  was  unanimously  changed 
into  a  Resolution,  in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 

Whereas,  the  enemies  of  American  liberty  are  indefati- 
gable in  their  endeavours  to  disunite  these  Colonies ;  and 
in  the  prosecuting  of  this  measure,  evil-minded  persons 
may  insinuate  that  the  Northern  Colonies  have  hostile  in- 
tentions againsl;  our  fellow-subjects  in  Canada: 


1253 


.NEW- YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  MAY,  1775. 


1254 


Resolved,  That  this  Congress  do  most  earnestly  recom- 
mend it  to  all  persons  whatsoever  not  to  commit  any  hos- 
tilities against  the  people  of  that  country  ;  and  do  hereby 
declare  to  the  world,  that  we  do  consider  every  such  step 
as  infamous,  and  highly  inimical  to  all  the  American  Colo- 
nies. 

Ordered,  That  the  above  Resolution  be  published. 

Whereas,  this  Congress  has  resolved  to  comply  with  the 
direction  of  the  Continental  Congress  respecting  the  Can- 
non and  Stores  at  Ticonderoga,  and  the  other  matters 
recommended  in  their  Order  of  the  ISth  of  May  instant, 
and  wrote  a  Letter  to  the  Governour  and  Company  of  the 
Colony  of  Connecticut,  on  that  subject : 

Resolved,  That  it  is  necessary  that  a  Letter  on  the  same 
subject  be  wrote  to  the  Colony  of  Massachusetts-Bay,  and 
a  like  Letter  to  the  Colony  of  New- Hampshire ;  and 

Ordered,  That  the  Committee  who  drew  and  reported 
the  draught  of  a  Letter  to  the  Governour  and  Company  of 
the  Colony  of  Connecticut,  be  a  Committee  to  prepare  a 
draught  of  a  Letter  to  the  Colony  of  Massachusetts-Bay, 
and  a  draught  of  a  like  Letter  to  the  Colony  of  Neic- 
Hampshire ;  and  that  they  proceed  to  prepare  and  report 
such  draughts  immediately. 

Mr.  Scott  moved,  and  was  seconded  by  Thomas  Smith, 
Esq.,  in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 

As  this  Colony  has  not  as  yet  given  that  publick  testi- 
mony of  their  entire  and  cordial  accession  to  the  confede- 
racy of  the  Colonies  on  this  Continent,  which  has  been 
given  by  the  other  Colonies  in  their  express  approbation  of 
the  proceedings  of  the  last  Continental  Congress,  I  move 
that  it  be  Resolved,  That  this  Congress  do  fully  approve  of 
the  proceedings  of  the  said  Congress. 

Debates  arose  on  the  said  motion,  and  it  was  thereupon 
deferred  for  further  consideration. 

A  Letter  to  the  President  from  the  Committee  of  the 
Precinct  of  Mamacoting,  in  Ulster  County,  signed  by  John 
loung,  their  Chairman,  informing  that  they  had  chosen  a 
Committee,  and  signed  the  Association,  and  containing 
some  matters  on  the  subject  of  Militia  Officers,  and  other 
things  local  to  them,  was  read  and  filed. 

The  Congress  adjourned  to  nine  o'clock,  to-morrow 
morning. 

Friday,  9  ho.  A.  M.,  May  26,  1775. 
The  Congress  met  pursuant  to  adjournment,  and  opened 
with  prayers  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Auchmuty.  Present : 

For  the  City  and  County  of  New-  York. — Peter  Van  Brugh 
Livingston,  Esquire,  President ;  Isaac  Low,  Alexander 
McDougall,  Leonard  Lispenard,  Joseph  Hallet,  Abra- 
ham Walton,  Abraham  Brasher,  Isaac  Roosevelt,  John 
De  Lancey,  Jas.  Beekman,  Samuel  Verplanck,  Richard 
Yates,  David  Clarkson,  Thomas  Smith,  Benjamin  Kis- 
sam,  John  Morin  Scott,  John  Van  Cortlandt,  Jacobus 
Van  Zandt,  and  John  Marston. 

For  the  City  aiid  County  of  Albany. — Volkert  P.  Douw, 
Esq.,  Vice-President ;  Robert  Yates,  Abraham  Yates, 
Jacob  Cuyler,  Peter  Silvester,  Dirck  Swart,  Walter 
Livingston,  Robert  Van  Rensselaer,  Henry  Glenn,  Abra- 
ham Ten  Broeck,  and  Francis  Nicoll. 

For  Dutchess  County. — Anthony  Hoffman,  Zephaniah 
Piatt,  Richard  Montgomerie,  Gilbert  Livingston,  Jona- 
than Landon,  Melancton  Smith,  and  Nathaniel  Sackett. 

For  Ulster  County. — Colonel  Johannes  Hardenbergh,  Col. 
James  Clinton,  Egbert  Dumond,  Christopher  Tappen, 
John  Nicholson,  and  Jacob  Hornbeck. 

-For  Orange  County. — John  Coe,  David  Pye,  Peter 
Clowes,  William  Allison,  Abraham  Lent,  and  John 
Herring. 

For  Suffolk  County. — Colonel  Nathaniel  Woodhull,  John 
Sloss  Hobart,  Thomas  Tredwell,  John  Foster,  Ezra 
L:Hommedieu,  Thomas  Wickham,  and  Selah  Strong. 

For  Westchester  County. — Gouverneur  Morris,  Lewis 
Graham,  James  Van  Cortlandt,  Stephen  Ward,  Joseph 
Drake,  Philip  Van  Cortlandt,  David  Dayton,  John 
Thomas,  Junior,  and  William  Paulding. 

For  King's  County. — Henry  Williams,  Jeremiah  Remsen, 
Theo.  Polhemus,  John  Leffertse,  and  John  Vanderbilt. 

For  Richmond  County. — Paul  Micheau,  Aaron  Cortelyou, 
and  Richard  Conner. 


For  Queen's  County. — Colonel  Jacob  Blackwell,  Jonathan 
Lawrence,  Zebulon  Williams,  Samuel  Townshend,  Jo- 
seph Robinson,  and  Nathaniel  Tom. 

For  Charlotte  County. — John  Williams,  William  Marsh. 

Captain  Asa  Douglass,  by  a  message  in  writing,  direct- 
ed and  delivered  to  the  President,  requested  to  be  admitted 
to  the  Congress,  to  communicate  a  matter  of  some  mo- 
ment. 

Ordered,  That  the  Doorkeeper  desire  Mr.  Douglass  to 
attend. 

Mr.  Abraham  Yates  moved,  and  was  seconded  by  Col. 
Woodhull,  in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 

As  hostile  measures  have  been  carried  on  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  Canada,  I  move  that  a  Committee  be  appoint- 
ed to  draw  up  a  Letter  or  Address,  in  order  to  convince 
the  Canadians  that  nothing  hostile  is  intended  against  their 
persons,  liberty,  or  property. 

And  the  same  being  unanimously  agreed  to, 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Morris,  Mr.  Scott,  Mr.  Smith,  Mr. 
Kissam,  Mr.  Hobart,  Mr.  Robert  Yates,  Mr.  McDougall, 
and  Mr.  Clarkson,  be  a  Standing  Committee  of  Corres- 
pondence ;  that  the  subject-matter  of  the  last  motion  be 
referred  to  that  Committee,  and  that  they  prepare  a  draught 
for  the  purpose  above-mentioned,  and  report  the  same  with 
all  convenient  speed. 

Captain  Asa  Douglass  attending  at  the  door,  was  called 
in  and  heard  ;  and  Messrs.  Leivis  Graham,  Walter  Living- 
ston, Joseph  Robinson,  and  Henry  Williams,  are  appointed 
a  Committee  to  receive  such  further  information  from  the 
said  Asa  Douglass  as  he  may  have  to  communicate,  and 
to  know  what  he  expects  of  this  Congress,  and  report  the 
same  to  this  Congress. 

Mr.  Clarkson,  Chairman  of  the  Committee  appointed 
yesterday  for  that  purpose,  reported  a  draught  of  a  Letter 
to  the  Committee  of  Safety  for  the  Colony  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts-Bay, and  to  the  Committee  of  Correspondence 
for  the  Colony  of  New-Hampshire ;  and  the  same  being 
read  and  approved  of,  is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit: 

In  Provincial  Congress,  New-York,  May  2G,  1775. 

Brethren  :  Having  received  a  minute  of  the  Grand 
Continental  Congress,  of  which  we  send  you  a  copy  here- 
with, we  wrote  a  letter  to  the  Governour  and  Company  of 
the  Colony  of  Connecticut,  of  which  we  also  send  you  a 
copy.  We  do  not  doubt  of  your  ready  concurrence  in  the 
measures  recommended  by  that  august  body,  in  which  we 
do  entirely  acquiesce. 

We  pray  you  to  act  on  this  occasion  with  prudence  and 
expedition,  especially  as  we  have  received  intimation  from 
our  brethren  in  Connecticut,  that  they  cannot  send  a  suffi- 
cient force  for  the  purposes  mentioned  to  them  in  our  let- 
ter ;  and  we  beg  leave  to  assure  you  that  we  are,  affection- 
ately, your  friends  and  brethren  in  the  generous  cause  of 
freedom. 

We  are,  gentlemen,  your  humble  servants. 
To  Joseph  Warren,  Esq.,  and  others,  the  Committee  of 
Safety  for  the  Colony  of  Massachusetts-Bay. 

A  copy  of  the  above  to  the  Committee  of  Correspond- 
ence for  the  Colony  of  New-Hampshire. 

Ordered,  That  two  copies  of  the  said  Letter  be  en- 
grossed, signed  by  the  President,  and  transmitted  with  all 
convenient  speed  ;  one  directed  to  Joseph  Warren,  Esq.. 
and  others,  the  Committee  of  Safety  for  the  Colony  of 
Massachusetts-Bay;  and  the  other  to  the  Committee  of 
Correspondence  for  the  Colony  of  New- Hampshire. 

Benjamin  Kissam,  Esq.,  dissented  from  the  said  Let- 
ters. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Low,  Mr.  Franklin,  Mr.  McDou- 
gall, Mr.  Morris,  Mr.  Verplanck,  Mr.  Richard  Yates, 
Colonel  Ten  Broeck,  Mr.  Tappen,  Colonel  Hoffman,  Mr. 
L'Hommcdicu,  and  Mr.  Foster,  be  a  Committee  to  take 
into  consideration  the  expediency  of  emitting  a  Continen- 
tal Paper  Currency,  and  to  make  report  thereon  with  all 
convenient  speed. 

A  Letter  to  the  Delegates  representing  this  Colony  in 
the  Grand  Continental  Congress,  was  prepared,  read,  and 
approved  of,  and  is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit ; 


1255 


NEW- YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  MAY,  1775. 


1256 


New.York,  May  26,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  Upon  considering  the  present  state  of 
these  Colonies,  it  naturally  occurred  to  this  Congress  that 
an  uncommon  levy  of  money  will  soon  be  necessary  for 
Continental  service,  and  that  therefore  an  universal  paper 
currency  may  probably  become  the  subject  of  consideration 
in  your  respectable  body.  To  this  scheme  it  may  natu- 
rally be  objected,  that  it  will  be  imprudent  in  one  Colony 
to  interpose  its  credit  for  the  others.  On  the  other  hand, 
it  is  clearly  impossible  to  raise  any  sum  adequate  to  the 
service  by  tax  ;  and  the  necessary  intercourse  of  expendi- 
tures throughout  the  Colonies  will  be  obstructed  by  sepa- 
rate emissions  on  the  respective  credits  of  the  several  Co- 
lonies, which  cannot,  in  their  nature,  gain  universal  circula- 
tion. We  have  this  important  subject  under  serious  delibe- 
ration, and  are  still  at  a  loss  for  the  best  expedient  most 
effectually  to  answer  the  purpose.  We  have,  therefore, 
appointed  a  Committee  of  our  body  to  give  it  their  closest 
attention,  and  to  report  their  opinion  to  us  with  all  possible 
despatch  ;  the  result  of  which,  and  our  final  resolution 
thereon,  we  shall  communicate  to  you  without  loss  of  time. 
In  the  mean  time,  should  this  matter  be  now  in  contempla- 
tion in  the  Continpnlal  Congress,  we  earnestly  request  that 
its  determination  may  be  so  postponed  as  to  furnish  an  op- 
portunity of  acquainting  you  with  our  more  mature  senti- 
ments on  this  important  point. 

We  beg  leave,  through  our  Delegates,  to  inform  the 
grand  representative  body  of  the  Continent,  that  we 
have,  in  the  best  manner  in  our  power,  executed  their  or- 
der to  the  Committees  of  New-  York  and  Albany,  respect- 
ing the  post  at  Ticonderoga ;  and  for  further  satisfaction, 
we  enclose  copies  of  our  proceedings  on  that  subject. 

We  are,  gentlemen,  with  the  greatest  respect,  your  most 
obedient  humble  servants. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  thereof  be  engrossed,  signed  by 
the  President,  and  transmitted  to  the  Delegates  now  repre- 
senting this  Colony  in  Continental  Congress. 

Ordered,  That  copies  of  the  Proceedings  of  this  Con- 
gress, in  pursuance  of  the  Minutes  of  the  Continental  Con- 
gress of  the  18th  May,  instant,  be  transmitted  to  the  Dele- 
gates from  this  Colony  at  the  Continental  Congress. 

Mr.  Williams,  from  the  Committee  appointed  to  confer 
with  Asa  Douglass,  returned  a  Report  in  the  words  fol- 
lowing, to  wit : 

1 .  The  purport  of  Mr.  Douglass's  desiring  to  be  heard 
by  this  Congress,  was  to  take  the  sense  of  this  Congress 
whether  they  would  choose  to  receive  the  Letter  he  brought 
from  Colonel  Allen  for  the  Continental  Congress,  or  whe- 
ther he  ought  to  proceed  with  the  Letter  to  the  Continen- 
tal Congress. 

2.  He  was  requested  by  the  Troops  who  took  Ticon- 
deroga, Crown  Point,  &ic,  to  solicit  this  Congress  would 
take  their  services  into  consideration,  and  reward  them 
with  money  or  provisions,  as  they  shall  think  meet. 

3.  He  was  desired  by  a  number  of  the  Officers  of  King's 
District,  to  apply  to  this  Congress  to  appoint  him  the  Com- 
mander of  such  forces  as  are  or  may  be  raised  in  that  Dis- 
trict. 

4.  He  begs  leave  to  inform  this  Congress  that  he  has 
expended  eighteen  Pounds,  in  advancing  money  to  the 
Troops,  and  in  defraying  the  charges  of  his  journey  in 
going  to  Ticonderoga  and  in  coming  here. 

Ordered,  That  the  said  Report  lay  on  the  table  for  the 
perusal  of  the  Members. 

At  the  request  of  the  Committee  of  the  House  of  Rep- 
resentatives of  the  Colony  of  Connecticut, 

Ordered,  That  they  be  furnished  with  a  copy  of  the 
Report  made  by  Colonel  Ten  Broeck  and  Mr.  Scott,  of 
the  conference  between  them,  and  of  the  determination  of 
this  Congress  thereon. 

And  a  copy  thereof  was  accordingly  delivered. 

The  Congress  adjourned  to  four  o'clock. 

4to  ho.  P.  M„  May  26,  1775. 
The  Congress  met  pursuant  to  adjournment.  Present : 
For  the  City  and  County  of  New-York. — Peter  Van 
Brugh  Livingston,  Esq.,  President ;  Isaac  Low,  Alex- 
ander McDougall,  Leonard  Lispenard,  Joseph  Hallett, 
Abraham  Walton,  Abraham  Brasher,  John  De  Lancey, 


Samuel  Verplanck,  Richard  Yates,  David  Clarkson, 
Thomas  Smith,  John  Van  Cortlandt,  Jacobus  Van 
Zandt,  John  Marston,  Walter  Franklin. 

For  the  City  and  County  of  Albany. — Volkert  P.  Douw, 
Esq.,  Vice-President ;  Robert  Yates,  Abraham  Yates, 
Junior,  Jacob  Cuyler,  Peter  Silvester,  Dirck  Swart, 
Walter  Livingston,  Robert  Van  Rensselaer,  Henry 
Glenn,  Abraham  Ten  Broeck,  Francis  Nieoll. 

For  Dutchess  County. — Anthony  Hoffman,  Zephaniah 
Piatt,  Richard  Montgomerie,  Gilbert  Livingston,  Jona- 
than Landon,  Melancton  Smith,  Nathaniel  Sackett. 

For  Ulster  County. — Colonel  Johannes  Hardenbergh,  Col. 
James  Clinton,  Egbert  Dumond,  Christopher  Tappen, 
John  Nicholson,  Jacob  Hombeck. 

For  Orange  County. — John  Coe,  David  Pye,  Peter 
Clowes,  William  Allison,  Abraham  Lent,  John  Her- 
ring. 

For  Suffolk  County. — Col.  Nathaniel  Woodhull,  Thomas 
Tredwell,  John  Foster,  Ezra  L'Hommedieu,  Thomas 
Wickham,  Selah  Strong. 

For  Westchester  County. — Gouverneur  Morris,  Lewis  Gra- 
ham, Colonel  James  Van  Cortlandt,  Stephen  Ward, 
Joseph  Drake,  Philip  Van  Cortlandt,  James  Holmes, 
David  Dayton,  John  Thomas,  Junior,  Robert  Graham, 
William  Paulding. 

For  King's  Comity. — Henry  Williams,  Jeremiah  Remsen, 
Theodorus  Polhemus,  John  Leffertse,  John  Vanderbilt. 

For  Richmond  County. — Paul  Micheau,  John  Journey, 
Aaron  Cortelyou,  Richard  Conner. 

For  Queen's  County. — Colonel  Jacob  Blackwell,  Jonathan 
Lawrence,  Zebulon  Williams,  Samuel  Townshend,  Jo- 
seph Robinson,  Nathaniel  Tom,  Richard  Thorne. 

For  Charlotte  County. — John  Williams,  William  Marsh. 

Mr.  Gilbert  Livingston  (seconded  by  Mr.  De  Lancey ) 
moved  that  a  Committee,  consisting  of  a  Member  from 
each  County,  be  appointed  to  draw  up  and  report  a  proper 
Resolve  of  this  Congress  recommending  to  the  different 
Counties  in  this  Colony  to  form  themselves  into  County 
Committees,  and  also  into  Sub-Committees,  for  their  re- 
spective Townships  and  Districts,  and  recommending  the 
signing  of  the  General  Association.  And  also  to  prepare 
and  report  to  this  Congress  a  draught  of  a  Letter  to  be 
sent  to  the  Committees  and  other  persons  in  the  several 
Counties  for  the  above  purposes,  and  with  copies  of  such 
Resolution  ;  which  was  unanimously  agreed  to.  And 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  De  Lancey,  Mr.  Silvester,  Colonel 
Hardenbergh,  Mr.  Gilbert  Livingston,  Mr.  Allison,  Mr. 
John  Williams,  Mr.  Tredwell,  Mr.  Zebulon  Williams,  Mr. 
Micheau,  Major  Philip  Van  Cortlandt,  Mr.  Vanderbilt, 
and  Mr.  Smith,  be,  and  are  hereby,  appointed  a  Commit- 
tee to  prepare  draughts  of  such  Resolve  and  Letter  as 
above  mentioned,  and  report  the  same  with  all  convenient 
speed. 

Mr.  Clarkson  (seconded  by  Colonel  Ten  Broeck) 
moved  that  every  Member  of  this  Congress  be  desired  to 
sign  the  General  Association  ;  which  was  agreed  to,  and 
approved  of. 

The  following  Members  had  leave  of  absence,  viz:  Mr. 
John  Thomas,  Junior,  till  next  Monday  se'night ;  Doctor 
David  Dayton  till  the  same  time ;  Stephen  Ward  and 
David  Clarkson,  Esq.,  respectively,  until  Monday  next. 

The  Congress  adjourned  to  nine  o'clock  to-morrow 
morning. 

Die  Saturnii,  9  ho.  A.  M.,  May  27,  1775. 
The  Congress  met  according  to  adjournment,  and  open- 
ed with  prayers  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Rodgers.  Present: 
For  the  City  and  County  of  New-York. — Peter  Van 
Brugh  Livingston,  Esq.,  President ;  Isaac  Low,  Alex- 
ander McDougall,  Leonard  Lispenard,  Joseph  Hallett, 
Abraham  Walton,  Abraham  Brasher,  Isaac  Roosevelt, 
John  De  Lancey,  James  Beekman,  Samuel  Verplanck, 
Richard  Yates,  Thomas  Smith,  Benjamin  Kissam,  Ja- 
cobus Van  Zandt. 
For  the  City  and  County  of  Albany. — Volkert  P.  Douw, 
Esq.,  Vice-President ;  Robert  Yates,  Abraham  Yates, 
Jacob  Cuyler,  Peter  Silvester,  Dirck  Swart,  Walter 
Livingston,  Henry  Glenn,  Abraham  Ten  Broeck,  Fran- 
cis Nicoll. 


1257 


NEW- YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  MAY,  1775. 


1258 


For  Dutchess  County. — Anthony  Hoffman,  Zepbaniah 
Piatt,  Richard  Montgomerie,  Gilbert  Livingston,  Jona- 
than Landon,  Mclancton  Smith,  Nathaniel  Sackett. 

For  Ulster  County. — Johannes  Hardenbergh,  James  Clin- 
ton, Egbert  Duinond,  Christopher  Tappen,  John  Nich- 
olson, Jacob  Hornbeck. 

For  Orange  County. — David  Pye,  Peter  Clowes,  William 
Allison,  Abraham  Lent,  John  Herring. 

For  Suffolk  County. — Nathaniel  Woodhull,  Thomas  Tred- 
well,  John  Foster,  Ezra  L'Hommedieu,  Thomas  Wick- 
ham,  Selah  Strong. 

For  Westchester  County. — Gouverneur  Morris,  Lewis  Gra- 
ham, James  Van  Cortlandt,  Joseph  Drake,  Philip  Van 
Cortlandt,  James  Holmes,  Rob.  Graham,  Win,  Paulding. 

For  King's  County. — Henry  Williams,  Jeremiah  Remsen, 
Theodorus  Polhemus,  John  Vanderbilt. 

For  Richmond  County. — Paul  Micheau,  John  Journey, 
Aaron  Corlelyou,  Richard  Conner. 

For  Queen's  County. — Jacob  Blackwell,  Jonathan  Law- 
rence, Zebulon  Williams,  Samuel  Townshend,  Joseph 
Robinson,  Nathaniel  Tom,  Richard  Thome. 

For  Charlotte  County. — John  Williams,  William  Marsh. 

The  Minutes,  as  far  as  the  proceedings  of  Thursday 
morning,  were  read. 

A  Letter  from  Abraham  Lott,  Esquire,  Contractor  for 
supplying  His  Majesty's  Ships  in  this  Port,  to  this  Con- 
gress, (covering  an  order  of  this  day  from  the  Purser  of 
the  Ship  Asia  for  Provisions.)  and  requesting  the  favour 
that  this  Congress  will  be  pleased  to  signify  their  opinion 
whether  the  order  shall  be  complied  with ;  and,  also, 
whether  he  shall  be  at  liberty  to  supply  the  said  Ship  with 
such  other  Provisions  as  she  may,  from  time  to  time,  have 
occasion  for,  for  her  own  use,  during  her  stay  in  this  Colo- 
ny, was  read. 

Ordered,  That  Abraham  Lott,  Esquire,  be  at  liberty  to 
comply  with  the  order  for  Provisions  now  laid  before  the 
Congress.  And  the  Congress  declare  that  Mr.  Lott  shall 
be  at  liberty  to  furnish  such  other  Provisions,  as  above 
mentioned,  to  the  said  Ship  Asia,  for  her  own  use,  while 
in  this  Port,  he  laying  before  this  Congress  (or  the  Gene- 
ral Committee  of  New-York  if  this  Board  should  not  be 
sitting)  a  list  of  the  Supplies  so  made  from  time  to  time. 

To  this  amendments  were  proposed,  to  wit,  to  add  the 
word  first  between  the  word  he  and  the  word  laying,  and 
to  obliterate  the  words  so  made. 

And  debates  arising  thereon,  and  the  question  being  put 
thereupon,  it  was  carried  against  the  amendment  in  the 
manner  following,  viz : 

For  the  Amendment.  Against  the  Amendment. 

2  Orange  County.  3  Albany  City  and  County. — 

2  Dutchess  County. — (Messrs.  (Messrs.  Walter  Liv- 

Hoffman  and  Piatt  ingston.  Swart,  Van 

dissented  from  their  Rensselaer,  and  Rob. 

County.)  ert  Yates,  dissented 

2  Ulster  County.  from  their  City  and 

2  Charlotte  County.  County.) 
—  2  Suffolk  County, 

ti  2  Queen's  County. 

2  Richmond  County. 

2  Westchester  County. — (Mr. 

Drake  dissented  from 
his  County.) 
2  King's  County. 
4  New- York  City  and  Coun- 
—  ty. — (Dissentients  to 

17  the  Vote  of  their  City 

and  County:  Messrs. 
Smith,  Brasher,  Mc. 
Dougall,Hallett,  and 
Beekman.) 

Therefore  this  Congress  declares  that  Mr.  Lott  shall  be 
at  liberty  to  furnish  such  other  Provisions  as  above  men- 
tioned, to  the  said  Ship  Asia,  for  her  own  use,  while  in 
this  Port,  he  laying  before  this  Congress  (or  the  General 
Committee  of  New-York,  if  this  Congress  should  not  be 
sitting)  a  list  of  the  Supplies  so  made  from  time  to  time. 

Mr.  Smith,  Chairman  of  the  Committee  appointed  for 
that  purpose,  reported  a  draught  of  a  Resolve  recommend- 
ing to  the  different  Counties  in  this  Colony  the  signing  of 
the  General  Association,  and  the  choosing  of  Committees 
and  Sub-Committees  ;  and  also  a  draught  of  a  Letter  to  be 
sent  to  the  Committees  of  each  County  for  that  purpose. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  take  into  consideration  and 
report  on  the  expediency  of  a  Continental  Paper  Curren- 


cy, delivered  in  their  Report ;  which  was  read  and  re- 
ceived ;  and, 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Morris,  (seconded  by  Mr.  Low,) 

Ordered,  That  the  subject-matter  of  the  said  Report 
be  resumed  on  next  Tuesday  morning  at  nine  o'clock ;  that 
the  doors  be  open  for  the  Merchants  and  others,  of  this 
City  and  Colony ;  and  that  the  Merchants  of  this  City  be 
desired  to  attend  at  the  bar  of  the  House  on  that  occasion. 

Mr.  Micheau  has  leave  of  absence  till  Wednesday  next ; 
Mr.  Pye  has  like  leave  till  Tuesday  morning ;  and  Mr. 
Drake  has  leave  of  absence  all  next  week. 

The  Congress  then  adjourned  till  Monday  next  at  four 
o'clock,  P.  M. 

Die  Lunaj,  4to  ho.  P.  M.,  May  29,  1775. 
The  Congress  met  pursuant  to  adjournment.    Present : 

For  the  City  and  County  of  New-  York. — Peter  Van 
Brugh  Livingston,  Esq.,  President;  Isaac  Low,  Alex- 
ander McDougall,  Leonard  Lispenard,  Joseph  Hallett, 
Abraham  Walton,  Abraham  Brasher,  Isaac  Roosevelt, 
John  De  Lancey,  James  Beekman,  Samuel  Verplanck, 
David  Clarkson,  Thomas  Smith,  John  Morin  Scott, 
John  Van  Cortlandt,  Jacobus  Van  Zandt. 

For  the  City  and  County  of  Albany. — Volkert  P.  Douw. 
Esq.,  Vice-President;  Robert  Yates,  Abraham  Yates, 
Jacob  Cuyler,  Peter  Silvester,  Dirck  Swart,  Walter 
Livingston,  Robert  Van  Rensselaer,  Henry  Glenn,  Abra- 
ham Ten  Broeck,  Francis  Nicoll. 

For  Dutchess  County. — Anthony  Hoffman,  Zepbaniah 
Piatt,  Richard  Montgomerie,  Ephraim  Payne,  Gilbert 
Livingston,  Jonathan  Landon,  Gysberl  Schenck,  Me- 
lancton  Smith,  Nathaniel  Sackett. 

For  Ulster  County. — Johannes  Hardenbergh,  James  Clin- 
ton, Egbert  Dumond,  Christopher  Tappen,  John  Nich- 
olson, Jacob  Hornbeck. 

For  Orange  County. — Peter  Clowes,  William  Allison. 

For  Suffolk  County. — Nathaniel  Woodhull,  John  Sloss 
Hobart,  Thomas  Tredwell,  John  Foster,  Ezra  L'Hom- 
medieu, Thomas  Wickham,  Selah  Strong. 

For  Westchester  County. — Gouverneur  Morris,  Lewis  Gra- 
ham, James  Van  Cortlandt,  Stephen  Ward,  Philip  Van 
Cortlandt,  James  Holmes,  Robert  Graham,  William 
Paulding. 

For  King's  County. — Henry  Williams,  Nicholas  Coven- 
hoven. 

For  Richmond  County. — John  Journey,  Aaron  Cortelyou, 
Richard  Conner. 

For  Queen's  County. — Jacob  Blackwell,  Jonathan  Law- 
rence, Samuel  Townshend,  Joseph  Robinson. 

For  Charlotte  County. — John  Williams,  William  Marsh. 
Mr.  Gysbert  Schenck  and  Ephraim  Payne,  Esquire. 

from  Dutchess  County,  appeared  in  Congress. 
Ordered,  That  they  take  their  seats. 
A  Letter  from  the  Provincial  Congress  of  New-Jersey 

to  this  Congress,  dated  at  Trenton,  on  the  26th  instant, 

was  read  and  filed,  and  is  in  the  words  following;,  to  wit : 

"In  Provincial  Congress  of  New-Jerse}',  > 
"  Trenton,  May  26,  1775.  \ 

"Gentlemen:  We,  the  Deputies  appointed  by  the 
inhabitants  of  this  Province  to  meet  in  Provincial  Con- 
gress, are  now  convened  here  for  the  purpose  of  pursuing 
such  measures  as  may  be  thought  expedient  in  the  present 
unhappy  situation  to  which  the  Colonies  are  reduced, 
and  which  the  peculiar  exigences  of  the  times  may  re- 
quire. As  nothing  can  tend  more  to  ensure  success  to 
the  steps  that  may  at  this  critical  juncture  be  adopted 
by  the  several  Provinces,  than  a  uniform  plan  of  conduct, 
we  conceived  it  necessary  to  look  up  to  the  Continental 
Congress  for  their  advice  and  direction,  which  we  have 
accordingly  applied  for,  and  hope  soon  to  receive.  We 
also  think  it  of  consequence  that  a  correspondence  should 
be  established  with  you  and  our  other  sister  Colonies,  and 
a  free  communication  be  had,  from  time  to  time,  of  such 
measures  as  may  be  judged  most  conducive  to  the  interest 
of  the  common  cause;  and  request  that  we  may  be  favour- 
ed with  such  intelligence  as  occurs  to  you  worthy  of  atten- 
tion, and  of  which  our  situation  may  probably  deprive  us. 

"  We  are,  gentlemen,  your  humble  servants, 

"  Hendrick  Fisher,  President. 
"To  the  Provincial  Congress  of  New-York." 


1259 


NEW-YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  MAY,  1775. 


1260 


Ordered,  That  the  said  Letter  be  committed  to  the 
Committee  of  Correspondence  to  prepare  and  report  a 
draught  of  an  answer  with  all  convenient  speed. 

A  Letter  from  the  Grand  Continental  Congress,  signed 
by  John  Hancock,  Esquire,  President,  directed  to  this 
Provincial  Congress,  and  hearing  date  on  the  26lh  instant, 
was  read,  and  is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 

"Philadelphia,  May  2G,  1775. 

"Sir:  I  enclose  you  the  Resolves  of  the  Continental 
Congress  respecting  the  measures  they  conceive  more  im- 
mediately necessary  for  the  defence  and  safety  of  your 
City  and  Province,  and  which,  it  is  expected,  will  be  car- 
ried into  execution  with  all  possible  despatch,  and  with  as 
much  secrecy,  as  to  the  particular  operations  intended,  as 
the  nature  of  the  service  will  possibly  admit  of. 

"  I  am,  Sir,  your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

"John  Hancock,  President. 
'■'  To  the  President  of  the  Provincial  Congress,  New-  York." 

The  said  Resolves  of  the  Continental  Congress  men- 
tioned in  the  above  Letter  were  also  read,  and  are  in  the 
words  following,  to  wit : 

"  In  Congress,  May  25,  1775. 

"  Resolved,  That  a  Post  be  immediately  taken  and  forti- 
fied at  or  near  King's  Bridge,  in  the  Colony  of  New-  York ; 
that  the  ground  be  chosen  with  a  particular  view  to  pre- 
vent the  communication  between  the  City  of  New-York 
and  the  country  from  being  interrupted  by  land. 

"  2.  Resolved,  That  a  Post  be  also  taken  in  the  High- 
lands on  each  side  of  Hudson's  River,  and  Batteries  erect- 
ed in  such  manner  as  will  most  effectually  prevent  any 
vessels  passing  that  may  be  sent  to  harass  the  inhabitants 
on  the  border  of  said  river;  and  that  experienced  persons 
be  immediately  sent  to  examine  said  river,  in  order  to  dis- 
cover where  it  will  be  most  advisable  and  proper  to  ob- 
struct the  navigation. 

"3.  That  the  Militia  of  New-York  be  armed  and  train- 
ed, and  in  constant  readiness  to  act  at  a  moment's  warning, 
and  that  a  number  of  men  be  immediately  embodied  and 
kept  in  that  City,  and  so  disposed  of  as  to  give  protection 
to  the  inhabitants  in  case  any  insult  should  be  offered  by 
the  Troops  that  may  land  there,  and  to  prevent  any  at- 
tempts that  may  be  made  to  gain  possession  of  the  City, 
and  interrupt  its  intercourse  with  the  country. 

"4.  That  it  be  left  to  the  Provincial  Congress  of  New- 
York  to  determine  the  number  of  men  sufficient  to  occupy 
the  several  Posts  above  mentioned,  and  also  that  already 
recommended  to  be  taken  at  or  near  Lake  George,  as  well 
as  to  guard  the  City,  provided  the  whole  do  not  exceed 
the  number  of  three  thousand  men,  to  be  commanded  by 
such  Officers  as  shall  be  thereunto  appointed  by  the  Pro- 
vincial Congress,  and  to  be  governed  by  such  rules  and 
regulations  as  shall  be  established  by  said  Congress,  until 
further  order  is  taken  by  this  Congress ;  provided  also, 
that  if  the  said  Provincial  Congress  should  be  of  opinion 
that  the  number  proposed  will  not  be  sufficient  for  the 
several  services  above  recommended,  that  the  said  Con- 
gress report  their  sentiments  upon  this  subject  to  this  Con- 
gress as  soon  as  may  be. 

"  5.  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  said  Provincial 
Congress,  that  in  raising  those  Forces,  they  allow  no  boun- 
ties or  clothing,  and  that  their  pay  shall  not  exceed  the 
establishment  of  the  Neic-Kngland  Colonies. 

"  6.  That  it  be  further  recommended  to  the  Provincial 
Congress  aforesaid,  that  the  Troops  he  enlisted  to  serve 
until  the  last  day  of  December  next,  unless  this  Congress 
shall  direct  that  they  be  sooner  disbanded. 

"  7.  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  Congress  aforesaid 
to  persevere  the  more  vigorously  in  preparing  for  their 
defence,  as  it  is  very  uncertain  whether  the  earnest  endea- 
vours of  the  Congress  to  accommodate  the  unhappy  dif- 
ferences between  Great  Britain  and  the  Colonies,  by  con- 
ciliatory measures,  will  be  successful. 

"A  true  copy  from  the  Minutes: 

"Charles  Thomson,  Secretary." 

A  Letter  of  the  27th  instant,  by  express,  from  the  Hon- 
ourable Jonathan  Trumbull,  Govemour  of  the  Colony  of 
Connecticut,  in  behalf  of  the  General  Assembly  of  that 
Colony,  was  read. 

The  copy  of  the  Letter  from  Colonel  Arnold,  dated 


Crown  Point,  May  23d,  1775,  enclosed  in  the  Letter 
from  Govemour  Trumbull,  was  also  read. 

The  Committee  of  Correspondence  reported  a  draught 
of  an  answer  to  the  Letter  from  the  Provincial  Congress 
of  New-Jersey ;  which  was  read  and  approved  of,  and  is 
in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 

In  Provincial  Congress,  New-York,  May  29,  1775. 

Gentlemen:  We  have  received  your  letter  of  the  26th 
instant,  informing  us  that  your  body  is  formed.  We  agree 
with  you  in  opinion  that  nothing  can  tend  more  to  ensure 
success  to  the  steps  that  may  be  taken  by  the  several  Colo- 
nies, at  this  critical  juncture,  than  a  uniform  plan  of  con- 
duct ;  and  we  are  equally  convinced,  that  to  this  end  we 
ought  to  look  up  to  the  Continental  Congress  for  advice 
and  direction.  We  are  ready  to  establish  a  correspond- 
ence with  you  and  our  other  sister  Colonies,  and  a  free 
communication  of  such  measures  as  may,  from  time  to 
time,  be  judged  most  conducive  to  the  common  cause. 
Every  intelligence  to  this  end  we  shall  most  readily  com- 
municate. At  the  same  time  permit  us  to  observe,  that 
either  the  directions  of  the  Continental  Congress  or  the 
nature  of  a  particular  measure  may  render  its  secrecy  abso- 
lutely necessary. 

We  are,  gentlemen,  your  humble  servants. 
To  the  Provincial  Congress  of  New-  Jersey ,  at  Trenton. 

Ordered,  That  the  same  be  engrossed,  signed  by  the 
President,  and  transmitted. 

A  draught  of  a  Letter  to  the  Delegates  representing 
this  Colony  in  the  Grand  Continental  Congress,  was  pie- 
pared,  read,  and  approved,  and  is  in  the  words  following, 
to  wit : 

In  Provincial  Congress,  New-York,  May  29,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  You  will  be  pleased  to  communicate  to 
the  Continental  Congress  that  we  have  received  their  let- 
ter of  the  26th  instant,  with  the  resolves  of  the  25th 
therein  enclosed,  to  which  a  proper  attention  will  be  given, 
and  the  Continental  Congress  informed  of  the  result  in 
due  time.  At  the  same  time  we  beg  leave  to  inform  you 
that  there  is  no  powder  to  be  purchased  in  this  City,  and 
scarce  any  in  the  whole  Colony ;  and  that  a  very  consider- 
able number  of  the  inhabitants  are  without  arms. 

We  beg  to  be  informed  whether  we  could  be  supplied 
with  any  powder  from  Philadelphia,  or  any  other  of  the 
associated  Colonies. 

Enclosed  is  a  copy  of  a  letter  we  received  this  after- 
noon from  Govemour  Trumbull,  of  Connecticut,  dated  the 
27th  instant ;  and  also  a  copy  of  a  letter  to  that  Govern- 
ment from  Colonel  Arnold,  dated  at  Crown  Point,  on  the 
23d  instant. 

To-morrow  morning  we  are  to  take  in  consideration  the 
expediency  of  a  Continental  Paper  Currency,  the  result  of 
which  will  be  communicated  to  you. 

We  are,  gentlemen,  your  very  humble  servants. 
To  the  New-York  Delegates  at  Philadelphia. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  thereof  be  engrossed,  signed  by 
the  President,  and  transmitted  to  the  Delegates  now  repre- 
senting this  Colony  in  Continental  Congress,  by  a  messen- 
ger for  that  purpose,  and  with  all  possible  despatch. 

The  Committee  of  Correspondence  (according  to  order) 
brought  in  and  reported  a  draught  of  a  Letter  to  the  Gov- 
emour and  General  Court  of  Connecticut,  in  answer  to  the 
Letter  from  Govemour  Trumbull  above  mentioned;  which 
was  read  and  approved. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  thereof  be  engrossed,  signed  by 
the  President,  and  transmitted  with  all  convenient  des- 
patch. 

Ordered,  That  the  Committee  to  report  the  ways  and 
means  for  removing  the  Cannon  and  Stores  from  Ticondc- 
roga  do,  without  delay,  and  as  privately  as  possible,  direct 
one  hundred  barrels  of  Pork,  two  hundred  barrels  of  Flour, 
and  twenty  barrels  of  Rum  to  be  sent  forward  to  Albany, 
towards  supplying  the  Garrisons  at  Crown  Point  and  Ti- 
condcroga. 

The  draught  of  a  Resolve  reported  by  the  Committee 
appointed  for  that  purpose,  recommending  the  choosing  of 
Committees  and  Sub-Committees,  and  signing  the  Associa- 
tion, being  read  and  amended,  was  approved,  agreed  to, 
and  resolved,  and  is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 


1261 


NEW-YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  MAY,  1775. 


1202 


Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended,  and  it  is  hereby  ac- 
cordingly recommended,  to  all  the  Counties  in  this  Colony 
(who  have  not  already  done  it)  to  appoint  County  Com- 
mittees, and  also  Sub-Comrnittees,  for  their  respective  Town- 
ships, Precincts,  and  Districts,  without  delay,  in  order  to 
carry  into  execution  the  Resolutions  of  the  Continental  and 
this  Provincial  Congress.  And  that  it  is  also  recommended 
to  every  inhabitant  of  this  Colony  who  has  hitherto  neglect- 
ed to  subscribe  the  General  Association,  to  do  it  with  all 
convenient  speed.  And  for  these  purposes,  that  the  Com- 
mittees in  the  respective  Counties  in  which  Committees 
have  been  formed  do  tender  the  said  Association  to  every 
inhabitant  within  the  several  Districts  in  each  County. 
And  that  such  persons  in  those  Counties  or  Districts  who 
have  not  appointed  Committees  as  shall  be  appointed  by 
the  Members  of  this  Congress,  representing  such  Counties 
and  Districts  respectively,  do  make  such  tender  as  afore- 
said in  such  Counties  and  Districts  respectively;  and  that 
the  said  Committees  and  persons  respectively  do  return  the 
said  Association,  and  the  names  of  those  who  shall  neglect 
or  refuse  to  sign  the  same,  to  this  Congress  by  the  fifteenth 
day  of  July  next,  or  sooner,  if  possible. 

The  draft  of  a  Letter  to  attend  the  said  Resolution,  and 
recommending  to  carry  the  measures  therein  mentioned 
into  execution,  was  also  read,  amended,  and  approved  of, 
and  is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 

New-York,  May  29,  1775. 

Gentlemen:  You  will  see  by  the  enclosed  Resolution 
of  this  Congress  that  it  is  recommended  to  such  of  the 
Counties  as  have  not  already  formed  Committees,  to  do  it 
without  delay  ;  and  that  such  of  the  inhabitants  of  this 
Colony  as  have  hitherto  neglected  to  subscribe  the  Gene- 
ral Association,  to  do  it,  so  as  to  enable  you  to  make  a 
return  within  the  time  limited  in  the  Resolution. 

As  the  execution  of  this  Resolve  is  committed  to  your 
care,  we  request  you  to  use  your  best  endeavours  to  see 
that  this  recommendation  be  complied  with.  It  may, 
nevertheless,  be  proper  to  inform  you,  that  it  is  the  sense 
of  this  Congress  that  no  coercive  steps  ought  to  be  used  to 
induce  any  person  to  sign  the  Association.  The  propriety 
of  the  measure,  the  example  of  the  other  Counties,  and  the 
necessity  of  maintaining  a  perfect  union  in  every  part  of 
this  Colony,  it  is  presumed  are  sufficient  reasons  to  induce 
the  inhabitants  of  your  County  to  comply  with  this  requisi- 
tion. 

Ordered,  That  five  hundred  copies  of  the  said  Resolve 
and  of  the  said  Letter  be  printed,  and  that  as  many  copies 
of  the  said  Letter  as  may  be  necessary  be  signed  by  the 
President,  and  delivered,  with  the  copies  of  the  said  Re- 
solve, to  the  Members  of  this  Congress,  to  be  by  them 
directed. 

The  Congress  adjourned  to  nine  o'clock  to-morrow 
morning. 

Die  Martis,  9  ho.  A.  M.,  May  30,  1775. 
The  Congress  met,  pursuant  to  adjournment,  and  open- 
ed with  prayers  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Gano.    Present : 
For  (he  City  and  County  of  New- York. — Peter  V.  B. 
Livingston,  Esquire,  President ;  Isaac  Low,  Alexander 
McDougall,  Leonard  Lispenard,  Joseph  Hallet,  Abra- 
ham Walton,  Abraham  Brasher,  Isaac  Roosevelt,  John 
De  Lancey,  Jacobus  Van  Zandt,  James  Beekman, 
Samuel  Verplanck,  Richard  Yates,  David  Clarkson, 
Thomas  Smith,  Benjamin  Kissam,  John  Morin  Scott, 
John  Van  Cortlandt,  John  Marston. 
For  the  City  and  County  of  Albany. — Volkert  P.  Douw, 
Esquire,  Vice-President;  Robert  Yates,  Abram.  Yates, 
Jacob  Cuyler,  Peter  Silvester,  Dirck  Swart,  Walter 
Livingston,  Robert  Van  Rensselaer,  Henry  Glenn,  Abra- 
ham Ten  Broeck,  Francis  Nicoll. 
For  Dutchess  County. — Dirck  Brinckerhoff,  Anthony  Hoff- 
man, Zephaniah  Piatt,  Richard  Montgomerie,  Ephraim 
Payne,  Gilbert  Livingston,  Jonathan  Landon,  Gysbert 
Schenck,  Melancton  Smith,  Nathaniel  Sackett. 
-For  Ulster  County. — Johannes  Hardenbergh,  James  Clin- 
ton, John   Nicholson,  Egbert  Dumond,  Christopher 
Tappen,  Jacob  Hornbeck. 
For  Orange  County. — David  Pye,  Peter  Clowes,  Wil- 
liam Allison,  Abraham  Lent. 


For  Suffolk  County. — Nathaniel  Woodhull,  John  Sloss 
Hobart,  Thomas  Tredwell,  John  Foster,  Ezra  L'Hom- 
medieu,  Thomas  Wickham,  Selah  Strong. 

For  Westchester  County. — Gouverneur  Morris,  Lewis 
Graham,  James  Van  Cortlandt,  Stephen  Ward,  Philip 
Van  Cortlandt,  James  Holmes,  Robert  Graham,  William 
Paulding. 

For  King's  County. — Johannes  E.  Lott,  Henry  Williams, 
Jeremiah  Remsen,  Theodorus  Polhemus,  John  Leffertes, 
Nicholas  Covenhoven,  John  Vanderbilt. 

For  Richmond  County. — John  Journey,  Aaron  Cortelyou, 
Richard  Conner. 

For  Queen's  County. — Jacob  Blackwell,  Jonathan  Lau- 
rence, Samuel  Townshend,  Joseph  Robinson,  Nathaniel 
Tom. 

For  Charlotte  County. — John  Williams,  William  Marsh. 

The  mode  of  taking  the  Votes  of  this  Congress  for  the 
present,  and  the  Rules,  were  read. 

The  Order  for  the  business  of  the  Day  being  read,  the 
Congress  took  into  consideration  the  Report  of  the  Com- 
mittee on  the  expediency  of  a  Continental  Paper  Currency: 
which  Report  is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 

Your  Committee  do  most  humbly  report,  that  baring 
made  the  best  inquiry  which  the  short  time  would  admit 
of,  they  find  that  the  proportion  of  Gold  and  Silver  in  this 
Colony,  compared  with  her  sister  Colonies,  does  vary  ac- 
cording to  the  price  of  Bills  of  Exchange  in  the  several 
Colonies,  (owing  to  the  relative  quantity  of  Paper  Money 
circulating  amongst  them,  their  several  debts,  and  the  seve- 
ral balances  of  their  trade.)  but  that  upon  the  whole  there 
is  a  smaller  proportion  of  Gold  and  Silver  in  this  Colony 
than  in  several  others.  That  as  to  the  mode  of  raising 
money  for  the  exigency  of  our  affairs,  it  will  be  impossible 
to  collect  a  sufficient  sum  without  issuing  a  Paper  Currency 
of  some  sort  or  other.  That  the  neighbouring  Colonies  of 
Connecticut  and  New-Jersey  are  indebted  to  this  Colony 
in  very  considerable  sums.  That  in  the  prosecution  of 
measures  necessary  for  our  defence,  large  sums  of  the 
money  levied  or  issued  for  that  purpose  must  undoubtedly 
centre  in  this  Colony,  as  an  exchange  for  the  necessaries 
of  life  and  other  articles  which  this  Colony  must  furnish. 
That  considering  the  two  facts  last  mentioned,  it  follows 
clearly  that  this  Colony  will  at  first  possess  a  much  greater 
proportion  of  the  general  Paper  Currency  than  her  sister 
Colonies.  That  of  consequence  it  is  necessary  that  the 
utmost  precaution  be  used  to  give  the  highest  credit  to  such 
emission,  in  order  to  prevent  the  depreciation  of  it.  That 
it  is  also  necessary7  the  Paper  Currency,  when  emitted, 
should  be  as  much  as  possible  general,  that  it  may  at  once 
answer  the  purpose  for  which  it  is  instituted,  and  with 
greater  ease  flow  from  one  Colony  to  another,  and  pre- 
serve the  commercial  equality  of  money.  That  the  emis- 
sion of  Paper  Currency  in  any  considerable  quantity  will 
necessarily  tend  to  exclude  from  commercial  circulation 
the  Gold  and  Silver  now  current,  either  by  sending  it  to 
Britain  for  payment  of  debts  there,  or  by  encouraging  pri- 
vate persons  to  secrete  it.  That  if  the  emission  be  very7 
great,  then  exchange  will  undoubtedly  rise,  and  conse- 
quently the  Paper  Money7  be  depreciated.  That  these 
considerations  will  abate  the  disposition  of  the  inhabitants 
of  America  to  receive  such  Paper  Money.  That,  there- 
fore, whether  it  be  a  currency  or  not,  will  depend  upon 
the  security  which  can  be  given  for  the  repayment  of  it. 
That  the  Gold  and  Silver  being  excluded,  as  is  above 
mentioned,  a  general  Paper  Currency7  will  naturally  supply 
the  place  of  it,  provided  it  can  obtain  a  general  credit. 

After  premising  these  things,  your  Committee  proceed 
to  observe,  that  a  Paper  Currency  being  necessary,  there 
are  but  three  modes  by  which  it  can  be  issued : 

First.  That  every  Colony  should  strike  for  itself  the 
sum  apportioned  by  the  Continental  Congress ; 

Secondly.  That  the  Continental  Congress  should  strike 
the  whole  sum  necessary,  and  each  Colony  become  bound 
to  sink  its  proportionable  part ;  or, 

Thirdly.  That  the  Continental  Congress  should  strike 
the  whole  sum,  and  apportionate  the  several  shares  to  the 
different  Colonies,  every  Colony  become  bound  to  dis- 
charge its  own  particular  part,  and  all  the  Colonies  to  dis- 
charge the  part  which  any  particular  Colony  shall  be 
unable  to  pay. 


1263 


NEW-YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  MAY,  1775. 


1264 


Your  Committee  observe,  upon  the  first  mode,  that  if  it 
be  followed,  this  Colony  may  not  perhaps  be  under  the 
same  necessity  of  receiving  the  emission  of  any  Colony 
which  may  appear  unable  to  sink  the  money  issued  by  it, 
as  in  the  other  instances ;  that  therefore  there  may  not  on 
that  account  be  the  same  danger  of  subjecting  this  Colony 
to  the  risk  of  losing  moneys  issued  by  its  neighbours,  and 
circulating  within  this  Colony.  That,  nevertheless,  it  is 
highly  probable  the  debts  due  to  this  Colony  will  be 
eventually  paid  in  the  Paper  Money  so  issued  by  the 
Colonies  of  Connecticut  and  New-Jersey,  or  that  such 
moneys  confined  within  the  bounds  of  those  Colonies  will 
be  so  depreciated,  that  the  persons  in  trade  who  are  pos- 
sessed thereof  will  be  rendered  unable  to  pay  their  debts 
in  any  other  way.  That  your  Committee  have  great  rea- 
son to  believe  that  emissions  of  those  Colonies  will  be 
depreciated  in  such  manner,  by  reason  of  the  doubts  which 
will  arise  in  men's  minds  about  the  sinking  of  them,  where- 
fore a  very  considerable  loss  will  happen  to  this  Colony 
from  receiving  such  money.  That  your  Committee,  ne- 
vertheless, are  of  opinion  that  in  order  to  answer  the  pur- 
poses of  striking  such  Paper  Money  in  these  Colonies,  it 
will  be  necessary  for  this  Colony  and  all  others  to  give  a 
general  credit  to  every  emission.  Your  Committee  do 
therefore  disapprove  of  the  first  mode,  because  they  con- 
ceive that  moneys  issued  in  that  way  will  not  have  the 
necessary  general  credit  aforesaid,  but  that  this  Colony  in 
particular  will  be  under  the  necessity  of  receiving  very  con- 
siderable sums  of  money  from  the  Colonies  of  Connecticut 
and  New-Jersey,  which  those  Colonies  may  not  be  able  to 
jepay;  and  if  so,  that  then  the  circulation  of  such  money 
in  this  Colony  will  prevent  the  future  admission  of  Gold 
and  Silver,  and  consequently  raise  the  par  of  exchange 
between  this  Colony  and  Great  Britain,  so  as  greatly  to 
distress  the  general  commerce  of  this  Colony,  besides  the 
loss  which  must  be  sustained  by  those  individuals  who  be- 
come possessed  of  such  depreciated  moneys. 

As  to  the  second  mode,  your  Committee  observe,  that  it 
will  give  much  greater  credit  and  currency  to  the  moneys 
so  issued  than  the  first,  and  consequently  will  better  an- 
swer the  ends  for  which  it  is  designed.  That  such  credit 
and  currency  will  also,  in  a  great  measure,  prevent  the  ac- 
cumulation of  it  in  this  Colony,  and  dissipate  it  through 
those  channels  of  trade  in  which  the  Gold  and  Silver  now 
flow,  so  as  to  preserve  the  commercial  equality  of  money 
above  stated.  That,  nevertheless,  your  Committee  are  of 
opinion  that  if  any  default  shall  happen  in  sinking  the  mo- 
neys issued  by  this  mode,  such  default  will  be  made  by  the 
adjacent  Colonies  of  Connecticut  and  New-Jersey,  or  one 
of  them,  and  that,  therefore,  although  there  are  greater 
advantages  attending  this  mode  than  the  former,  yet  it  is 
subject  to  all  the  same  inconveniences  with  respect  to  this 
Colony. 

Your  Committee  do  now  observe,  upon  the  last  mode, 
that  it  will  be  attended  with  the  advantage  of  higher  and 
more  universal  credit  than  either  of  the  former,  and  conse- 
quently, as  to  the  general  cause,  will  best  answer  the  great 
end  of  its  institution.  That  this  advantage  is  attended  with 
a  very  great  disadvantage  as  to  this  Colony,  because  this 
Colony  may  by  that  means  be  subjected  to  the  payment 
of  her  own  proportion,  and  also  to  a  proportion  of  the  part 
of  such  Colony  as  may  become  bankrupt  by  her  over  exer- 
tions in  this  controversy.  Your  Committee,  however,  do 
conceive,  that  if  any  Colony  or  Colonies  shall  be  deficient 
in  this  respect,  it  will  most  probably  be  those  which  are  im- 
mediately adjacent  to  this.  That  the  greater  part  of  the 
moneys  designated  for  them  to  refund  will  necessarily  cir- 
culate in  this  Colony,  and  therefore  in  it  the  deficiencies 
which  shall  so  happen  will  be  most  sensibly  felt.  That  in 
such  case,  if  the  Colonies  are  generally  pledged  for  each 
other,  and  do  severally  perform  their  engagements,  then 
this  Colony  will  be  greatly  relieved  by  sinking  a  part  there- 
of in  Pennsylvania,  Maryland,  Virginia,  &,c.  That  if 
such  engagements  are  not  performed,  this  Colony  will  not 
be  in  a  worse  situation  by  this  than  by  either  of  the  other 
modes,  but  continue  precisely  in  the  same  predicament. 

Before  your  Committee  determine  their  choice,  they  pray 
leave  to  observe,  that  there  are  only  two  obstacles  to  an 
emission  of  Paper  Money  : 

First.  To  give  it  an  immediate  and  ready  currency  ; 

Secondly.  To  provide  ways  and  means  ibr  sinking  it. 


As  to  the  first,  your  Committee  observe,  that  if  the  Con- 
tinental Congress  shall  strike  a  Paper  Currency,  they  have 
no  doubts  but  that  it  will  be  very  readily  received  through- 
out this  Continent ;  yet  they  have  very  great  doubts  whe- 
ther the  same  determination  ought  to  be  made  with  respect 
to  moneys  issued  by  a  lesser  authority. 

As  to  the  second  point,  your  Committee  observe,  that 
whenever  a  Paper  Currency  has  been  emitted,  and  obtained 
a  general  credit,  it  will  be  a  new  bond  of  union  to  the  As- 
sociated Colonies,  and  every  inhabitant  thereof  will  be 
bound  in  interest  to  endeavour  that  ways  and  means  be 
fallen  upon  for  sinking  of  it. 

Now,  therefore,  since  moneys  issued  in  the  last  of  those 
three  modes  above  mentioned  will  afford  higher  security  to 
those  who  receive  them,  and  of  consequence  obtain  a  more 
ready,  general,  and  confidential  circulation,  your  Commit- 
tee do  approve  of  that  mode.  First,  because  it  will  most 
effectually  answer  the  end  of  its  emission  ;  secondly,  be- 
cause most  probably  this  Colony  will  not  be  burdened  with 
so  great  a  proportion  of  it;  thirdly,  because  the  other 
Colonies  will  be  more  deeply  interested  in  preventing  its 
depreciation  ;  and,  fourthly,  because  the  losses  to  be  appre- 
hended by  this  Colony  will  be  alleviated  by  the  participa- 
tion of  others. 

If  this  plan  should  be  adopted,  then,  your  Committee 
are  of  opinion  that  it  will  be  necessary  the  moneys  issued 
should,  on  one  side,  have  some  general  device,  and  the 
moneys  proportioned  to  any  particular  Colony  have  the 
arms,  signature,  &ic,  of  such  Colony  on  the  other  side  ; 
and  that  the  proportion  now  established  be  stated  as  a  fixed 
proportion  to  estimate,  in  case  of  deficiency  in  one  Colony, 
the  aids  of  the  others. 

All  which  is  most  humbly  submitted. 

The  said  Report  of  the  Committee  being  fully  debated 
and  considered,  and  the  question  put  thereon,  whether  the 
Congress  does  agree  with  their  Committee  in  the  said 
Report  ? 

Resolved,  nemine  contradicente,  That  this  Congress 
does  agree  with  the  said  Committee  in  their  Report. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  of  the  said  Report  be  immedi- 
ately transmitted  to  the  Delegates  representing  this  Colony 
in  the  Continental  Congress,  and  that  the  Committee  of 
Correspondence  prepare  and  report  a  draft  of  a  Letter  to 
be  sent  to  the  said  Delegates  with  the  said  Report. 

And  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  having  reported 
a  draught  of  such  Letter  to  the  said  Delegates,  the  same 
was  read  and  approved  of,  and  is  in  the  words  following, 
to  wit : 

In  Provincial  Congress  at  New-York,  May  30,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  Enclosed  you  have  a  copy  of  the  Report 
of  our  Committee  upon  the  expediency  of  a  Paper  Cur- 
rency, and  the  approbation  of  that  Report  by  this  Con- 
gress. Upon  a  perusal  of  it  you  will  readily  perceive  the 
impropriety  of  laying  it  before  the  Continental  Congress. 
We  send  it  to  show  you  our  sense,  and  the  reasons  on  which 
it  is  founded,  out  of  which  you  will  select  such  for  use  as 
you  may  think  proper. 

We  are,  gentlemen,  your  most  obedient  humble  servants. 
To  the  Delegates  for  the  Colony  of  New-  York,  now  sit- 
ting in  Continental  Congress. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  of  the  said  Letter  be  engrossed, 
and  signed  by  the  President,  and  transmitted  with  all  con- 
venient speed. 

The  Congress  adjourned  to  five  o'clock,  P.  M. 

5  ho.  P.  M.,  May  30,  1775. 
The  Congress  met  pursuant  to  adjournment.  Present: 

For  the  City  and  County  of  New-York. — Peter  Van 
Brugh  Livingston,  Esq.,  President ;  Alexander  McDou- 
gall,  Abraham  Walton,  John  De  Lancey,  James  Beek- 
man,  Samuel  Verplanck,  David  Clarkson,  Thos.  Smith. 
Esquire,  Benjamin  Kissam,  Esquire,  John  Morin  Scott, 
Esquire,  Jacobus  Van  Zandt,  John  Marston. 

For  the  Giiy  and  County  of  Albany. — Volkcrt  P.  Douvv, 
Esq.,  Vice-President ;  Robert  Yates,  Abraham  Yates, 
Jacob  Cuyler,  Peter  Silvester,  Dirck  Swart,  Walter 
Livingston,  Robert  Van  Rensselaer,  Henry  Glenn,  Abra- 
ham Ten  Brocck,  and  Francis  Nicoll. 

For  Dutchess  County. — Anthony  Hoffman,  Zephaniah 


1265 


NEW- YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  MAY,  1775. 


1266 


Piatt,  Richard  Montgomerie,  Ephraim  Payne,  Gilbert 
Livingston,  Jonathan  Landon,  Gysbert  Schenck,  Me- 
lancton  Smith,  Nathaniel  Sackett. 

For  Ulster  County. — Col.  Johannes  Hardenbergh,  Col. 
James  Clinton,  Egbert  Dumond,  Christopher  Tappen, 
John  Nicholson,  Esquire,  Jacob  Hornbeck,  Esquire. 

For  Orange  County. — David  Pye,  Peter  Clowes,  William 
Allison,  Col.  Abraham  Lent. 

For  Suffolk  County. — Col.  Nathaniel  Woodhull,  John 
Sloss  Hobart,  Thomas  Tredvvell,  John  Foster,  Ezra 
L'Hommedieu,  Thomas  Wickham,  Selah  Strong. 

For  Westchester  County. — Gouverneur  Morris,  Lewis 
Graham,  Col.  James  Van  Cortlandt,  Stephen  Ward, 
Major  Philip  Van  Cortlandt,  Colonel  James  Holmes, 
Robert  Graham,  and  William  Paulding. 

For  King's  County. — Johannes  E.  Lott,  Henry  Williams, 
Jeremiah  Remsen,  Theodorus  Polhemus,  John  Leffertse, 
Nicholas  Covenhoven,  John  Vanderbilt. 

For  Richmond  County. — John  Journey,  Aaron  Cortelyou, 
Richard  Conner. 

For  Queen's  County. — Col.  Jacob  Blackwell,  Jonathan 
Lawrence,  Zebulon  Williams,  Joseph  Robinson,  Na- 
thaniel Tom. 

For  Charlotte  County. — John  Williams,  William  Marsh. 

Mr.  Scott  moved  that  the  subject  matter  of  the  Resolves 
of  the  Continental  Congress  on  the  25th  of  May  instant, 
and  transmitted  to  this  Congress,  be  immediately  taken 
into  consideration. 

And  that  part  of  the  said  Resolves  which  directs  the 
fortifying  a  Post  at  King's  Bridge,  was  accordingly  taken 
into  consideration. 

Ordered,  That  Captain  Montgomerie,  Mr.  Glenn,  Mr. 
Robert  Yates,  Colonel  Van  Cortlandt,  and  Col.  Holmes, 
be  a  Committee  to  view  the  ground  at  or  near  King's 
Bridge,  and  report  to  this  Congress  whether  the  ground 
near  King's  Bridge  will  admit  of  making  a  Fortification 
there  that  will  be  tenable  ;  and  at  what  particular  place  the 
grouud  will  admit  of  making  the  best  and  most  tenable 
Fortification  ;  and  that  they  call  to  their  assistance  such 
persons  as  they  shall  think  necessary,  and  make  report  to 
this  Congress  with  all  convenient  speed. 

The  Congress  then  took  into  consideration  that  part  of 
the  Resolves  of  the  Continental  Congress  which  directs 
the  erecting  of  Fortifications  in  the  Highlands  on  Hudson 
River. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Clinton  and  Mr.  Tappen  be  a 
Committee  (and  that  they  take  to  their  assistance  such 
persons  as  they  shall  think  necessary)  to  go  to  the  Highlands 
and  view  the  banks  of  the  Hudson  River  there,  and  report 
to  this  Congress  the  most  proper  place  for  erecting  one  or 
more  Fortifications ;  and  likewise  an  estimate  of  the  ex- 
pense that  will  attend  erecting  the  same. 

Mr.  Kissam  moved,  and  was  seconded  by  Mr.  Silvester, 
in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 

Forasmuch  as  a  reconciliation  between  Great  Britain 
and  these  Colonies,  on  constitutional  principles,  is  essen- 
tial to  the  well-being  of  both  Countries,  and  will  prevent 
the  honours  of  a  civil  war,  in  which  this  Continent  is  now 
about  to  be  involved,  it  is  therefore  the  indispensable  duty 
of  this  Congress  to  communicate  to  the  Delegates  of  this 
Colony  in  Continental  Congress  their  sentiments  respect- 
ing the  terms  of  such  reconciliation:  I  therefore  move,  that 
a  Committee  be  appointed  to  prepare  and  state  the  terms 
on  which  such  reconciliation  may  be  tendered  to  Great 
Britain,  consistent  with  the  just  liberties  and  freedom  of 
the  subject  in  America,  to  the  intent  that  the  same,  when 
approved  of  by  this  Congress,  may  be  laid  before  the  said 
Delegates  as  our  sense  on  this  important  subject,  to  be 
humbly  submitted  to  their  consideration. 

And  debates  arising  on  the  said  motion,  at  the  request  of 
the  Deputies  of  the  City  and  County  of  Albany,  and  the 
Counties  of  Ulster,  Suffolk,  and  Charlotte, 

Ordered,  That  the  same  be  deferred. 

Mr.  ClarJcson,  from  the  Committee  for  that  purpose, 
reported  an  estimate  of  the  expense  of  removing  the  Can- 
non and  Stores  at  Ticonderoga,  which  was  read. 

Ordered,  That  the  same  lie  on  the  table  for  the  perusal 
of  the  Members. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Dumond  be  desired  to  purchase 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii.  S 


two  hundred  barrels  of  Flour  at  Kingston,  in  Ulster  Coun- 
ty, and  have  the  same  transported  to  Albany  with  all 
possible  despatch,  and  delivered  to  the  agents  appointed 
by  this  Congress  to  superintend  the  removal  of  the  Cannon 
and  Stores  from  Ticonderoga;  and  that  Mr.  Dumond 
have  leave  of  absence  for  that  purpose. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  McDougall  be  desired  to  purchase 
one  hundred  barrels  of  Pork,  and  have  the  same  sent  to 
Albany  with  all  possible  despatch,  to  be  delivered  to  the 
same  agents ;  and  that  Mr.  Dirck  Swart  have  leave  of 
absence,  to  attend  upon  his  agency  in  superintending  the 
removal  of  the  Cannon  and  Stores  from  Ticonderoga,  and 
such  other  matters  as  are  given  in  charge  to  him  and  the 
other  agents  for  that  purpose,  by  instructions  from  this 
Provincial  Congress. 

The  Congress  adjourned  to  nine  o'clock  to-morrow 
morning. 

Die  Mercurii,  9  ho.  A.  M.,  May  31,  1775. 
The  Congress  met  pursuant  to  adjournment,  and  opened 

with  prayer  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Inglis.    Present : 

For  the  City  and  County  of  New-York. — Peter  V.  B. 
Livingston,  Esquire,  President;  Isaac  Low,  Alexander 
McDougall,  Leonard  Lispenard,  Joseph  Hallett,  Abra- 
ham Walton,  Abraham  Brasher,  Isaac  Roosevelt,  John 
De  Lancey,  James  Beekman,  Samuel  Verplanck,  David 
Clarkson,  Thomas  Smith,  Benjamin  Kissam,  John 
Marston,  Walter  Franklin. 

For  the  City  and  County  of  Albany. — Volkert  P.  Douw, 
Esquire,  Vice-President;  Abraham  Yates,  Peter  Silves- 
ter, Walter  Livingston,  Robert  Van  Rensselaer,  Abra- 
ham Ten  Broeck,  Francis  Nicoll. 

For  Dutchess  County. — Dirck  Brinckerhoff,  Anthony 
Hoffman,  Zephaniah  Piatt,  Ephraim  Payne,  Gilbert 
Livingston,  Jonathan  Landon,  Gysbert  Schenck,  Me- 
lancton  Smith,  Nathaniel  Sackett. 

For  Ulster  County. — Col.  Johannes  Hardenbergh,  Col. 
James  Clinton,  Egbert  Dumond,  Christopher  Tappen, 
John  Nicholson,  and  Jacob  Hornbeck. 

For  Orange  County. — David  Pye,  Peter  Clowes,  Wil- 
liam Allison,  Abraham  Lent. 

For  Suffolk  County. — Colonel  Nathaniel  Woodhull,  John 
Sloss  Hobart,  Thomas  Tredwell,  John  Foster,  Ezra 
L'Hommedieu,  Thomas  Wickham,  and  Selah  Strong. 

For  Westchester  County. — Gouverneur  Morris,  Lewis 
Graham,  Stephen  Ward,  Philip  Van  Cortlandt,  Robert 
Graham,  William  Paulding. 

For  King's  County. — Johannes  E.  Lott,  Henry  Williams, 
Jeremiah  Remsen,  Theodorus  Polhemus,  John  Leffertse, 
Nicholas  Covenhoven,  John  Vanderbilt. 

For  Richmond  County. — John  Journey,  Aaron  Cortelyou, 
Richard  Conner. 

For  Queen's  County. — Col.  Jacob  Blackwell,  Jonathan 
Lawrence,  Zebulon  Williams,  Samuel  Townshend,  Jo- 
seph Robinson,  and  Nathaniel  Tom. 

For  Charlotte  County. — John  Williams,  William  Marsh. 

The  Petition  of  James  Arden,  Richard  Outenbogert, 
John  West,  and  six  other  persons,  setting  forth  their  dis- 
tresses, and  praying  for  relief,  was  read. 

Ordered,  That  the  said  Petition  lie  on  the  table  for  the 
perusal  of  the  Members. 

The  Congress  then  resumed  the  consideration  of  the 
Report  of  the  Committee  to  estimate  the  expense  of  re- 
moving the  Cannon  and  Stores  at  Ticonderoga,  and  their 
Report  on  the  ways  and  means  for  that  purpose. 

And  after  some  time  spent  therein, 

Resolved,  That  as  Messrs.  David  Clarkson,  Leonard 
Lispenard,  and  Alexander  McDougall,  have  offered  to 
become  bound  to  Abraham  Lott,  Esquire,  Treasurer  of 
this  Colony,  for  all  such  money  (not  exceeding  One  Thou- 
sand Five  Hundred  Pounds)  as  may  be  advanced  to  this 
Congress  by  the  said  Treasurer  for  the  present  exigency, 
all  the  Members  of  this  Congress  do  agree  to  be  responsi- 
ble for  their  several  proportions  of  such  advance,  in  case 
those  gentlemen  should  be  called  upon  for  it.  Except  Mr. 
Henry  Williams,  who  dissents. 

The  Congress  then  resumed  the  consideration  of  the 
Resolves  of  the  Continental  Congress  of  the  25th  of  May 
instant,  and  particularly  that  part  of  the  third  Resolve 


1267  NEW-YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775.  1268 


which  directs  that  the  Militia  of  New- York  be  armed  and 
trained,  and  in  constant  readiness  to  act  at  a  moment's 
warning.    And  thereupon, 

Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  inhabitants 
of  this  Colony  in  general,  immediately  to  furnish  them- 
selves with  necessary  Arms  and  Ammunition,  to  use  all 
diligence  to  perfect  themselves  in  the  military  art,  and,  if 
necessary,  to  form  themselves  into  Companies  for  that 
purpose,  until  the  further  order  of  this  Congress. 

Ordered,  That  this  Resolve  be  printed  in  the  News- 
papers, and  that  five  hundred  copies  thereof  be  printed  in 
handbills. 

This  Congress  then  proceeded  to  the  consideration  of 
the  residue  of  the  third  Resolve  and  of  the  fourth  Resolve 
of  the  Continental  Congress.    And  thereupon, 

Resolved,  That  in  compliance  with  the  Resolution  of 
the  Continental  Congress  of  the  25th  instant,  this  Congress 
will  use  all  possible  diligence  in  embodying  men  according 
to  the  said  Resolution. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Lispenard,  Col.  Ten  Broeck, 
Colonel  Holmes,  Colonel  Lent,  Captain  Hornbeck,  Colo- 
nel Blackwell,  Colonel  Brinckerhoff,  Colonel  Woodhull, 
Mr.  Polhemus,  Mr.  Micheau,  Mr.  John  Williams,  Mr. 
Montgomerie,  Mr.  Hobart,  and  Mr.  Morris,  be  a  Com- 
mittee to  report  an  arrangement  of  the  Troops  to  be  em- 
bodied for  the  defence  of  this  Colony;  and  to  report  such 
rules  and  regulations  as  would  be  proper  to  be  established 
by  this  Congress  for  the  government  of  such  Troops. 

A  draught  of  a  Letter  to  be  directed  to  some  gentlemen 
in  Tryon  County,  was  read  and  approved. 

Ordered,  That  two  copies  thereof  be  engrossed,  and 
signed  by  the  President ;  and  that  one  be  directed  and 
sent  to  Christopher  Yates,  Esquire,  and  the  other  to  Major 
Jellis  Fonda,  in  Tryon  County. 

Ordered,  That  Letters  to  the  same  purport  be  pre- 
pared, signed  by  the  President,  and  sent  to  the  following 
gentlemen,  viz:  To  Colonel  James  Rogers,  at  Kent,  in 
Cumberland  County;  to  Jacob  Bayley,  Esquire,  at  New- 
bury, in  Gloucester  County;  and  to  John  Taplin,  Esq.,  of 
Neivbury,  in  Gloucester  County;  and  that  the  draughts  of 
such  Letters  respectively  be  filed. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Kissam's  motion  of  yesterday  be 
deferred  until  to-morrow  morning. 

The  Congress  adjourned  till  nine  o'clock  to-morrow 
morning. 

Die  Jovis,  9  ho.,  June  1,  1775. 
The  Congress  met  pursuant  to  adjournment,  and  opened 
with  prayer  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Laidley.  Present : 
For  the  City  and  County  of  New- York. — Peter  Van 
Brugb  Livingston,  Esq.,  President;  Isaac  Low,  Alex- 
ander McDougall,  Leonard  Lispenard,  Joseph  Hallett, 
Abraham  Walton,  Abraham  Brasher,  Isaac  Roosevelt, 
John  De  Lancey,  James  Beekman,  Samuel  Verplanck, 
David  Clarkson,  Thomas  Smith,  Benjamin  Kissam,  John 
Morin  Scott,  John  Van  Cortlandt,  Jacobus  Van  Zandt, 
John  Marston. 

For  the  City  and  County  of  Albany. — Volkert  P.  Douvv, 
Esq.,  Vice-President ;  Abraham  Yates,  Jacob  Cuyler, 
Peter  Silvester,  Dirck  Swart,  Walter  Livingston,  Ro- 
bert Van  Rensselaer,  Abraham  Ten  Broeck,  Francis 
Nicoll. 

For  Dutchess  County. — Dirck  Brinckerhoff,  Anthony 
Hoffman,  Zephaniah  Piatt,  Ephraim  Payne,  Gilbert 
Livingston,  Jonathan  Landon,  Gysbert  Schenck,  Me- 
lancton  Smith,  Nathaniel  Sackett. 

For  Ulster  County. — Johannes  Hardenbergh,  James  Clin- 
ton, Christopher  Tappen,  John  Nicholson,  Jacob  Horn- 
beck. 

For  Orange  County. — David  Pye,  Peter  Clowes,  Wil- 
liam Allison,  Abraham  Lent. 

For  Suffolk  County. — Nathaniel  Woodhull,  John  Sloss 
Hobart,  Thomas  Tredvvell,  John  Foster,  Ezra  L'Hom- 
medieu,  Thomas  Wickham,  Selah  Strong. 

For  Westchester  County. — Gouverneur  Morris,  Lewis 
Graham,  Stephen  Ward,  Philip  Van  Cortlandt,  Robert 
Graham,  William  Paulding. 

For  King's  County. — Johannes  E.  Lott,  Henry  Williams, 


Jeremiah  Remsen,  Theodorus  Polhemus,  John  Leffertse, 
Nicholas  Covenhoven,  John  Vanderbilt. 

For  Richmond  County. — Paul  Micheau,  John  Journey, 
Aaron  Cortelyou,  Richard  Conner,  Richard  Lawrence. 

For  Queen's  County. — Jacob  Blackwell,  Jonathan  Law- 
rence, Zebulon  Williams,  Samuel  Townshend,  Joseph 
Robinson,  Nathaniel  Tom. 

For  Charlotte  County. — John  Williams,  William  Marsh. 

Major  Richard  Lawrence,  from  Richmond  County,  ap- 
peared in  Congress. 

Ordered,  That  he  take  his  seat. 

A  Letter,  signed  Joseph  Warren,  President,  from  the 
Provincial  Congress  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay,  dated  at 
Watertown,  May  26,  1775,  to  this  Congress,  was  read. 

The  copy  of  a  Letter  from  Benedict  Arnold,  mentioned 
to  be  enclosed  in  the  above,  dated  Crown  Point,  May  ]  9, 
1775,  was  read. 

A  Letter  from  Jonathan  Trumbull,  Esquire,  on  behalf 
of  the  Governour  and  Company  of  the  Colony  of  Connec- 
ticut, dated  Hartford,  May  29,  1775,  was  read. 

A  Letter  from  the  Committee  at  the  City  of  Albany. 
dated  May  26,  1775,  covering  the  Papers  therein  mention- 
ed, was  read. 

The  several  Papers  referred  to  in  the  Letter  from  the 
said  Committee  at  Albany,  were  read.  The  particular 
numbers  and  endorsements  of  them  are  as  follows,  to  wit  : 

No.  2.  A  translation  of  a  Letter  from  the  Mohawk  In- 
dians to  the  Oneidas. 

No.  3.  A  copy  of  a  Letter  from  the  Palatine  District  to 
the  Committee  at  Albany,  dated  May  18,  1775;  and  an 
answer  thereto,  No.  3,  a. 

No.  4.  Copy  of  affidavit  of  Hcndrick  Eckler  and  four 
other  persons,  dated  May  19,  1775. 

No.  5.  Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Colonel  G.  Johnson  to 
Committee  at  Albany,  dated  May  18,  1775. 

No.  6.  A  copy  of  a  Letter  from  Colonel  G.  Johnson 
to  the  Magistrates  of  Palatine,  Canajoharie,  and  other  Dis- 
tricts, dated  May  20,  1 775. 

No.  7.  Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Colonel  G.  Johnson  to 
the  Committee  of  Schenectady,  and  the  Mayor  and  Cor- 
poration of  Albany,  without  date. 

No.  8.  A  copy  of  a  Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Al- 
bany to  Colonel  Johnson,  May  23,  1775. 

No.  9.  A  copy  of  the  Indian's  Speech  translated ;  in- 
terpreted May  20,  received  at  Albany  22d  May. 

No.  10.  A  copy  of  an  Answer  to  the  Indian's  Speech, 
dated  May  23. 

No.  11.  A  copy  of  the  Mohawk's  Reply,  dated  May 
25 ;  a  copy  of  the  Committee's  Speech  in  return  ;  and  of 
the  Mohawk's  concluding  Speech. 

No.  12.  A  copy  of  a  Letter  from  Colonel  Arnold  to  the 
Committee  of  Albany,  May  22. 

No.  13.  A  copy  of  a  Letter  from  Colonel  Arnold  to 
Captain  Noah  Lee,  dated  at  Crown  Point,  May  23. 

No.  14.  Extracts  of  sundry  Letters  from  Qiiebcck;  ex- 
tracted May  25. 

No.  15.  A  List  of  Officers  and  Men  wanted  for  the  two 
vessels  on  the  Lake. 

No.  16.  The  method  proposed  by  the  Albany  Com- 
mittee for  raising  Men. 

A  draught  of  a  Letter  to  the  Delegates  representing 
this  Colony  in  Continental  Congress  to  attend  copies  of  all 
the  despatches  this  day  received  and  before  mentioned, 
was  read  and  approved  of,  and  is  in  the  words  following, 
to  wit : 

In  Provincial  Congress  at  New- York,  June  1,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  We  this  morning  received  despatches  from 
Albany,  Watertown,  and  Hartford,  which  contain,  as  you 
will  observe,  very  important  intelligence.  We  think  it  our 
duty,  through  you,  to  lay  it  before  the  Continental  Congress, 
and  for  that  purpose  have  prepared  copies  of  the  several 
papers  which  we  received  as  aforesaid.  We  shall  make  no 
comments  on  them,  being  convinced  that  your  own  good 
understanding,  and  the  knowledge  of  the  state  of  these  Co- 
lonies, will  render  any  such  attempts  useless.  Our  business 
proceeds  with  great  heaviness  for  want  of  the  sinews  of 
war,  which  we  have  not,  neither  have  we  any  powder. 
Money  we  cannot  have  until  we  receive  the  directions  of 
your  body,  as  you  will  easily  believe.    Besides  this,  we 


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NEW- YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1270 


would  be  extremely  happy  to  know  that  your  body  had 
taken  into  their  serious  consideration  the  several  circum- 
stances of  the  associated  Colonies,  and  that  they  in  their 
wisdom  had  assigned  the  several  quotas  of  men  and  money 
to  each.  This  information  will  guide  our  deliberations  to 
a  proper  object,  for  the  want  of  which  our  present  attention 
is  distracted  by  the  uncertainty  of  what  shall  be  determined 
with  respect  to  this  Colony. 

H  e  have  the  honour  to  be,  Gentlemen,  with  great  respect, 
your  most  obedient  and  humble  servants. 
To  the  New-York  Delegates  at  the  Continental  Congress 

at  Philadelphia. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  of  this  Letter  be  engrossed  and 
signed  by  the  President,  and  transmitted  (with  copies  of  all 
the  despatches  received  this  day)  to  the  Delegates  repre- 
senting this  Colony  at  the  Continental  Congress,  by  a  mes- 
senger for  that  purpose. 

A  draught  of  a  Letter  to  the  Sub-Committee  of  the  City 
and  County  of  Albany,  was  read  and  approved  of,  and  is 
in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 

In  Provincial  Congress  at  New-York,  Juns  1,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  Agreeable  to  the  minute  of  the  Grand  Con- 
gress, we  (being  unable,  as  you  know,  to  garrison  Ticon- 
deroga,  Croivn  Point,  or  Fort  George)  made  application 
to  the  Eastern  Colonies  for  their  assistance.  In  our  letter 
to  Governour  Trumbull,  of  Connecticut,  we  desired  him  to 
order  Troops  on  that  service,  and  informed  him  that  it  is 
our  intention  that  the  commanding  officer  of  those  Troops 
should  be  the  commander  of  the  forts  by  them  garrisoned. 
We  moreover  requested  him  to  give  orders  to  such  officer 
to  use  great  diligence  to  prevent  any  inroads  into  Canada. 

This  morning  we  have  received  his  Honour's  and  the 
Assembly's  answer,  of  which  we  send  you  a  copy.  You 
will  find  that  one  thousand  men  are  already  on  their  way 
to  the  frontier  country.  Their  commanding  officer  is  Col- 
onel Hinman,  wherefore  we  beg  you  will  inform  all  persons 
in  that  part  of  the  country  of  his  appointment.  We  have 
at  present  no  powder  in  this  City,  nor  can  we  possibly  tell 
you  when  we  shall  have  any.  The  reason  of  this  uncer- 
tainty is,  that  the  British  Ministry  have  taken  measures  to 
prevent  supplies  of  powder  from  coming  to  America  from 
any  part  of  Europe.  But  you  will  easily  see  that  though 
such  attempts  may  delay,  they  cannot  prevent  us  from  get- 
ting some.  Should  the  Indians  again  mention  their  uneasi- 
ness on  the  subject  of  powder,  it  will,  as  we  conceive,  be 
proper  to  mention  to  them  the  endeavours  of  Great  Britain 
to  hinder  both  them  and  us  from  obtaining  any.  We  have 
received  your  despatches  of  the  twenty-sixth  ultimo,  and 
already  forwarded  copies  to  the  Grand  Congress. 

We  are,  Gentlemen,  your  most  obedient  humble  servants. 
To  Doctor  Samuel  Stringer,  Chairman  of  the  Sub-Com- 
mittee of  the  City  and  County  of  Albany. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  of  the  said  Letter  to  the  Sub- 
Committee  at  Albany  be  engrossed,  signed  by  the  Presi- 
dent, and  transmitted  with  all  convenient  despatch. 

Mr.  Low  delivered  a  Petition  of  Captain  Samuel  Tudor, 
on  behalf  of  himself  and  the  Independent  Company  of  Ar- 
tillery in  the  City  of  New-  York,  setting  forth  that  they  have 
not  any  Carriages  for  such  Cannon  as  they  have  pitched  on 
to  use  until  brass  Field-Pieces  be  provided,  and  that  they 
are  destitute  of  Ammunition. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Samuel  Tudor  be  desired  to  provide 
Carriages,  Rammers  and  Spunges,  and  such  other  things  as 
are  necessary7  for  four  Guns,  for  training  his  Company. 

Mr.  Eassam,  with  leave  of  the  Congress,  withdrew  his 
Motion  of  the  thirtieth  of  May  instant,  in  order  to  amend 
the  same. 

The  Congress  adjourned  to  nine  o'clock  to-morrow  morn- 
ing. '  _ 

Die  Veneris,  9  ho.  A.  M.,  June  2,  1775. 
The  Congress  met  pursuant  to  adjournment.  Opened 
with  prayers  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Mason.  Present: 
For  the  City  and  County  of  Neiv-York. — Peter  Van 
Brugh  Livingston,  Esq.,  President;  Isaac  Low,  Alex- 
ander McDougall,  Leonard  Lispenard,  Joseph  Hallett, 
Abraham  Walton,  Abraham  Brasher,  Isaac  Roosevelt, 
John  De  Lancey,  James  Beekman,  Samuel  Verplanck, 


David  Clarkson,  Thomas  Smith,  Benjamin  Kissam,  John 
Morin  Scott,  John  Van  Cortlandt,  Jacobus  Van  Zandt, 
and  John  Marston. 

For  the  City  and  County  of  Albany. — Volkert  P.  Douw, 
Esq.,  Vice-President ;  Robert  Yates,  Abraham  Yates, 
Jacob  Cuyler,  Peter  Silvester,  Dirck  Swart,  Walter  Liv- 
ingston, Robert  Van  Rensselaer,  Henry  Glenn,  Abraham 
Ten  Broeck,  Francis  Nicoll. 

For  Dutchess  County. — Dirck  Brinckerhoff,  Anthony  Hoff- 
man, Zephaniah  Piatt,  Richard  Montgomerie,  Ephraim 
Payne,  Gilbert  Livingston,  Jonathan  Landon,  Gysbert 
Schenck,  Melancton  Smith,  and  Nathaniel  Sackett. 

For  Ulster  County. — Col.  Johannes  Hardenbergh,  John 
Nicholson,  Jacob  Hornbeck. 

For  Orange  County. — David  Pye,  Peter  Clowes,  William 
Allison,  Abraham  Lent,  and  Jeremiah  Clarke. 

For  Suffolk  County. — Colonel  Nathaniel  Woodhull,  John 
Sloss  Hobart,  Thomas  Tredwell,  John  Foster,  Ezra 
L'Hommedieu,  Thomas  Wickham,  Selah  Strong. 

For  Westchester  County. — Gouverneur  Morris,  Lewis  Gra- 
ham, James  Van  Cortlandt,  Stephen  Ward,  Philip  Van 
Cortlandt,  Robert  Graham,  William  Paulding. 

For  King's  County. — Henry  Williams,  Jeremiah  Remsen, 
Theodorus  Polhemus,  Nicholas  Covenhoven,  John  Van- 
derbilt. 

For  Richmond  County. — Paul  Micheau,  John  Journey, 
Aaron  Cortelyou,  Richard  Conner,  Richard  Lawrence. 

For  Queen's  County. — Jacob  Blackwell,  Jonathan  Law- 
rence, Zebulon  Williams,  Samuel  Townshend,  Joseph 
Robinson,  Nathaniel  Tom. 

For  Charlotte  County. — John  Williams,  William  Marsh. 

Mr.  Jeremiah  Clarke,  from  Cornwall  Precinct,  Orange 
County,  produced  a  Certificate  signed  by  Jesse  Woodhull, 
Esq.,  Chairman  of  a  meeting  of  the  Freeholders  of  Corn- 
wall, in  Orange  County,  whereby  it  appears  that  Israel 
Seely,  Jesse  Wcodhxdl,  Esquire,  and  Jeremiah  Clarke,  are 
chosen  and  appointed  Deputies  for  that  Precinct,  to  repre- 
sent them  in  this  Provincial  Congress  as  part  of  the  repre- 
sentation of  the  County  of  Orange.  The  said  Certificate 
was  read  and  filed. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Clarke  take  his  seat. 

A  Letter  from  the  Delegates  representing  this  Colony  in 
the  Continental  Congress,  bearing  date  on  the  thirteenth 
day  of  May  ultimo,  was  read. 

Jacob  Shafer,  who  was  sent  a  messenger  to  Philadel- 
phia, delivered  in  an  account  of  his  disbursements,  amount- 
ing to  four  pounds  ten  shillings  four  pence. 

Ordered,  That  the  President  pay  to  the  said  Jacob  Sha- 
fer, for  his  disbursements  and  time,  six  pounds  eight  shil- 
lings. 

The  Committee  of  Correspondence,  according  to  order, 
brought  in  and  reported  a  draft  of  a  Letter  to  the  People 
of  Canada,  both  in  French  and  English,  which  drafts  were 
read  and  approved  of. 

Ordered,  That  fifteen  hundred  copies  of  the  said  Letters 
be  printed  in  French,  and  five  hundred  copies  in  English, 
with  the  name  of  the  President  printed  to  each  of  them, 
and  that  they  be  transmitted  to  be  distributed  among  the 
People  of  Canada  with  all  possible  despatch. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Clarkson  wait  upon  Abraham  Lott, 
Esq.,  Treasurer  of  this  Colony,  and  obtain  from  him,  on 
loan,  any  such  sum  of  Money  as  he  may  be  able  to  lend  out 
of  the  Colony  Treasury,  that  the  same  may  be  applied 
towards  the  present  exigences  of  the  Colony  ;  and  Mr. 
Clarkson,  for  the  present,  give  his  Note  to  the  Treasurer, 
to  be  accountable  to  him  for  such  sum  as  he  may  receive, 
until  farther  security  shall  be  given  for  the  same. 

Mr. Clarkson  returned,  and  reported  that  he  had  obtained 
Two  Hundred  Pounds  from  the  Treasurer,  upon  his  own 
Note  given  for  that  sum. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Clarkson  pay  the  said  Two  Hun- 
dred Pounds  to  Dirck  Swart,  and  take  his  receipt  for  the 
same ;  and 

Resolved,  That  all  the  Members  of  this  Congress  do 
agree  to  be  responsible  to  Mr.  David  Clarksoyi  for  then- 
several  proportions  of  the  said  Two  Hundred  Pounds,  until 
Mr.  Clarkson  shall  be  repaid  or  otherwise  secured  for  the 
same. 


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NEW- YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1272 


Mr.  Kissam  moved  (and  was  seconded)  in  the  words  fol- 
lowing, to  wit :  "  Forasmuch  as  a  reconciliation  between 
Great  Britain  and  these  Colonies,  on  constitutional  prin- 
ciples, is  essential  to  the  well  being  of  both  Countries,  and 
will  prevent  the  horrours  of  a  civil  war,  in  which  this  Con- 
tinent is  now  about  to  be  involved,  I  move  that  a  Commit- 
tee be  appointed  to  prepare  a  plan  of  such  accommodation, 
and  report  the  same  to  this  House." 

And  debates  arising  thereon,  Mr.  McDougall  (seconded 
by  Mr.  Brasher)  moved  for  the  Previous  Question. 

And  the  question  being  put,  and  the  votes  of  the  Counties 
represented  taken,  it  was  carried  against  the  Previous  Ques- 
tion in  the  manner  following,  to  wit: 

For  the  Previous  Question.  Against  the  Previous  Question. 

2  Ulster  County.  2  King's  County. 

2  Orange  County.  3  Albany  City  and  County. 

2  Suffolk  County.  2  Richmond  County. 

2  Dutchess  County. — Mr.*  2  Queen's  County — Mr.  Robinson  dis- 
—  Hoffman  dis-     2  Charlotte  County.  [senting. 

8  senting.  2  Westchester  County — Mr.  Phil.  Van 

Cortlandt  dissenting. 
4  New-York — Dissentients  :  Messrs. 
—         Scott,  McDougall,  Van  Zandt, 
17  Brasher,  Lispenard,  Beekman, 

Hallet,  John  Van  Cortlandt. 

The  question  was  then  put  on  the  said  motion,  and  it 
was  carried  for  the  motion,  in  manner  following,  to  wit : 

For  the  Motion.  Against  the  Motion. 

3  Albany  City  and  County.  2  Suffolk  County. 
2  King's  County.  2  Ulster  County. 
2  Queen's  County.  2  Orange  County. 

2  Richmond  County.  2  Dutchess  County — Mr.  Hoff. 

2  Westchester  County — Philip  —  man  dissenting. 

Van  Cortlandt  dissenting.  8 
2  Charlotte  County. 

4  New- York  City  and  County. 

17 

Colonel  Woodhull  then  moved,  and  was  seconded  by 
Mr.  Tredwctt,  that  an  amendment  be  made  to  the  said 
motion,  by  adding  thereto  the  following  words,  to  wit : 
"  That  we  may  be  ready,  if  we  shall  think  it  necessary,  to 
communicate  our  sentiments  upon  that  subject  to  our  Dele- 
gates at  Philadelphia."  Which  amendment  being  read  a 
second  time,  was  approved  of  and  agreed  lo. 

Resolved,  therefore,  That  although  we  would  by  no  means 
presume  to  dictate  to  the  General  Continental  Congress, 
yet  it  is  highly  necessary  that  this  House  be  prepared  to 
give  our  sentiments  to  our  Delegates  in  the  said  Congress 
upon  such  plan  of  accommodation  ;  and 

Resolved,  That  Mr.  Scott,  Mr.  Morris,  Mr.  Low,  Mr. 
McDougall,  Mr.  Robert  Yates,  Mr.  Kissam,  Mr.  Hobart, 
Mr.  Thomas  Smith,  Mr.  Silvester,  Mr.  Payne,  Col.  Wood- 
hull,  Mr.  John  Williams,  Mr.  Micheau,ax)d  Mr.  Tredwell, 
be  a  Committee  for  that  purpose,  and  do  make  report  with 
all  convenient  speed. 

A  Letter  from  John  Hancoclc,  Esquire,  President  of  the 
Continental  Congress,  being  received,  was  read,  and  is  in 
the  words  following : 

»  Philadelphia,  May  31,  1775. 
"  Sir  :  I  am  directed  by  the  Congress  to  transmit  to  your 
Convention  their  Resolve,  and  to  desire  an  immediate  com- 
pliance with  it,  so  far  as  it  respects  the  furnishing  batteaus, 
provisions,  stores,  he.  I  am,  Sir,  your  most  humble  ser- 
vant, John  Hancock,  President. 
"  To  the  Honourable  the  President  of  the  Provincial  Con- 
vention of  New-York." 

The  Resolve  of  the  Continental  Congress  received  en- 
closed in  the  above  Letter,  was  also  read,  and  is  in  the  words 
following,  to  wit : 

"In  Congress,  May  31,  1775. 

"Resolved,  That  the  Governour  of  Connecticut  be  re- 
quested immediately  to  send  a  strong  re-enforcement  to  the 
Garrisons  of  Crown  Point  and  Ticonderoga,  and  that  so 
many  of  the  Cannon  and  other  Stores  be  retained  as  may  be 
necessary  for  the  immediate  defence  of  those  Posts,  until 
the  further  order  of  this  Congress  ;  and  that  the  Provincial 
Convention  of  New-York  be  informed  of  this  Resolve,  and 
desired  to  furnish  those  Troops  with  Provisions  and  other 
necessary  Stores,  and  to  take  effectual  care  that  a  suffi- 
cient number  of  Batteaus  be  immediately  provided  for  the 
Lakes." 

"  A  true  copy  from  the  Minutes: 

"Charles  Thomson,  Secretary." 


The  Committee  appointed  to  view  the  ground  near  King's 
Bridge,  delivered  in  their  Report,  and  a  Map  or  Draught 
of  a  place  thereto  annexed. 

Ordered,  That  the  said  Report  lay  on  the  table  for  the 
perusal  and  information  of  the  Members. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Ten  Broeck  and  Mr.  Dirck 
Swart  wait  on  Abraham  Lott,  Esquire,  Treasurer  of  the 
Colony,  and  obtain  from  him  an  order  on  the  Loan  Offi- 
cers of  the  City  and  County  of  Albany,  for  a  sum  of  Money, 
to  be  applied  for  the  publick  exigences  of  the  Colony,  in 
such  manner  as  this  Congress  shall  direct ;  and  that  Colonel 
Ten  Broeck,  for  the  present,  give  his  Note  to  the  Trea- 
surer for  such  order,  or  the  amount  of  the  sum  to  be  therein 
mentioned,  until  farther  security  shall  be  given  for  the  same. 

Colonel  Ten  Broeck  returned  and  produced  to  this  Con- 
gress an  order  on  the  Loan  Officers  at  Albany,  for  the  sum 
of  Seven  Hundred  Pounds,  payable  to  Mr.  Dirck  Swart, 
and  informed  that  he  had  given  his  Note  to  the  Treasurer 
for  that  sum. 

.  Resolved,  That  all  the  Members  of  this  Congress  do 
agree  to  be  responsible  to  Colonel  Abraham  Ten  Broeck 
for  their  several  proportions  of  the  said  Seven  Hundred 
Pounds,  until  Colonel  Ten  Broeck  shall  be  repaid  or  other- 
wise secured  for  the  same. 

In  pursuance  of  the  engagements  made  by  this  Congress 
in  their  Letter  to  the  Governour  and  General  Court  of  Con- 
necticut of  the  twenty-ninth  ultimo,  and  of  the  Resolve  of 
the  Continental  Congress,  bearing  date  on  the  thirty-first 
May,  directing  that  this  Congress  furnish  Provisions  and 
Stores  for  the  Garrisons  at  the  Posts  of  Ticonderoga  and 
Crown  Point,  it  is  conceived  necessary  to  employ  a  Com- 
missary at  New-York,  and  Mr.  Peter  T.  Curtenius,  of  the 
City  of  New-York,  merchant,  being  mentioned  and  es- 
teemed a  proper  person  to  be  Commissary,  the  Congress 
sent  for  Mr.  Curtenius,  who  attended;  and  being  called  in 
by  order  of  the  Congress,  he  was  informed  by  the  President 
that  the  Congress  thought  it  necessary  to  have  a  Commis- 
sary to  provide  and  forward  Provisions  and  Stores  of  sundry 
kinds  to  the  Commissioners  at  Albany,  for  the  use  of  the 
Garrisons  at  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point,  and  such  other 
parts  or  places  as  may  be  necessary ;  and  also  to  provide 
and  forward  materials  for  the  building  of  Batteaus,  and  to 
provide  Artificers  and  Mariners  to  proceed  to  Lake  Cham- 
plain. 

That  if  he  would  accept  of  that  trust  he  should  purchase 
such  Provisions  and  Stores  as  the  Congress  should,  from 
time  to  time,  direct ;  and  that  he  should  be  allowed  a  com- 
mission of  one  and  a  half  per  cent.,  until  he  shall  be  sup- 
plied with  cash  to  purchase  such  Stores  and  Provisions  with ; 
and  that  after  he  is  supplied  with  cash  to  purchase  such 
Stores  and  Provisions,  and  to  pay  all  such  disbursements  as 
may  be  necessary,  that  he  shall  be  allowed  a  commission 
of  one  per  cent. 

Mr.  Peter  T.  Curtenius  agreed  to  be  Commissary,  and 
to  accept  and  perform  that  trust  and  business  for  the  com- 
mission above  mentioned:  Whereupon  it  is 

Resolved,  That  the  said  Peter  T.  Curtenius  be  and  is 
hereby  appointed  the  Commissary  to  purchase,  procure, 
and  provide  such  Provisions  and  Stores  of  every  kind,  and 
to  engage  such  Artificers  and  Mariners  as  he  shall,  from 
time  to  time,  be  directed  by  this  Congress,  and  to  forward 
the  same  to  the  said  Commissioners  at  Albany,  or  any  other 
such  place  or  places  as  he  shall  be  directed  by  this  Con- 
gress, or  by  any  Committee  they  may  appoint  for  that 
purpose. 

And  also  Resolved,  That  the  said  Peter  T.  Curtenius 
shall  have  for  his  services  the  commissions  above  mentioned, 
beside  all  his  disbursements  :  and 

Resolved,  That  this  Congress  does  agree  to  indemnify  the 
said  Peter  T.  Curtenius  for  all  his  disbursements  and  com- 
missions in  the  premises ;  and  that  all  the  Members  of  this 
Congress  do  agree  to  become  responsible  to  the  said  Peter 
T.  Curtenius  for  their  several  respective  proportions  of  all 
disbursements  that  shall  be  made  by  him,  and  of  all  moneys 
that  shall  become  due  to  him  as  a  Commissary,  and  in  the 
execution  of  the  trust  aforesaid,  until  he  shall  be  repaid  or 
otherwise  secured  and  indemnified  for  the  same. 

And  it  is  further  Resolved  and  Agreed,  That  for  any 
sums  of  money  that  shall  be  advanced  or  lent  by  the  said 


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NEW-YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1274 


Peter  T.  Curtenius  for  the  services  aforesaid,  lie  shall  be 
allowed  a  lawful  interest  until  the  same  shall  be  repaid. 

Messrs.  Clarlcson,  Colonel  Holmes,  Thomas  Smith,  and 
Colonel  Lent,  have  leave  of  absence. 

The  Congress  adjourned  till  nine  o'clock  to-morrow 
morning. 

Die  Saturnii,  9  ho.  A.  M.,  June  3,  1775. 

The  Congress  met.  Opened  with  prayer  by  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Treat.  Present : 

For  the  City  and  County  of  ]Sew-York. — Peter  Van 
Brugh  Livingston,  Esq.,  President;  Isaac  Low,  Alex- 
ander McDougall,  Joseph  Hallett,  Abraham  Walton, 
Isaac  Roosevelt,  John  De  Lancey,  James  Beekman, 
Samuel  Verplanck,  Benjamin  Kissam,  John  Van  Cort- 
landt,  and  Jacobus  Van  Zandt. 

For  the  City  and  County  of  Albany. — Volkert  P.  Douw, 
Esq.,  Vice-President ;  Robert  Yates,  Abraham  Yates, 
Jacob  Cuyler,  Peter  Silvester,  Walter  Livingston,  Robert 
Van  Rensselaer,  Henry  Glenn,  Abraham  Ten  Broeck, 
and  Francis  Nicoll. 

For  Dutchess  County. — Dirck  Brinckerhoff,  Anthony  Hoff- 
man, Zephaniah  Piatt,  Richard  Montgomerie,  Ephraim 
Payne,  Gilbert  Livingston,  Jonathan  Landon,  Gysbert 
Schenck,  Melancton  Smith,  and  Nathaniel  Sackett. 

For  Ulster  County. — Johannes  Hardenbergh,  John  Nichol- 
son, and  Jacob  Hornbeck. 

For  Orange  County. — David  Pye,  Peter  Clowes,  William 
Allison,  and  Jeremiah  Clarke. 

For  Suffolk  County. — Nathaniel  Woodhull,  John  Sloss 
Hobart,  Thomas  Tredwell,  Ezra  L'Hommedieu,  and 
Thomas  Wickham. 

For  Westchester  County. — Gouverneur  Morris,  Lewis  Gra- 
ham, James  Van  Cortlandt,  and  Stephen  Ward. 

For  King's  County. — Johannes  E.  Lott,  Henry  Williams, 
Jeremiah  Remsen,  Theodorus  Polhemus,  John  LefFertse, 
and  John  Vanderbilt. 

For  Richmond  County. — Paul  Micheau,  John  Journey, 
Aaron  Cortelyou,  Richard  Conner,  and  Richard  Law- 
rence. 

For  Queen's  County. — Jacob  Blackwell,  Jonathan  Law- 
rence, Zebulon  Williams,  Samuel  Townshend,  Joseph 
Robinson,  and  Richard  Thome. 

For  Charlotte  County. — John  Williams,  William  Marsh. 

Col.  Hardenbergh  and  Captain  Hornbeck,  from  Ulster, 
and  Mr.  Townshend,  Captain  Williams,  and  Mr.  Thome, 
have  leave  of  absence. 

Colonel  Ten  Broeck  and  three  others,  Members  for  Al- 
bany, have  leave  of  absence,  they  always  leaving  seven 
Members. 

The  Congress  ordered  the  stores,  men,  and  things  here- 
after mentioned,  to  be  provided  by  Peter  T.  Curtenius  and 
forwarded  to  Albany,  and  that  the  several  articles  for  that 
purpose,  hereinafter  mentioned,  be  provided  by  the  Com- 
missioners at  Albany,  that  the  whole  may  be  forwarded  to 
the  south  end  of  Lake  George,  viz: 

A  List  of  Men  and  articles  to  be  procured  by  Peter  T. 
Curtenius,  and  forwarded  to  the  Agents  at  Albany: 

Two  mates  for  two  vessels  :  2  gunners  :  2  carpenters  capa- 
ble of  making  carriages:  2  gunners'  mates :  2  boatswains  : 
20  seamen  :  200  barrels  of  pork:  10  barrels  of  pitch:  20 
casks  of  rice :  4  barrels  of  tar :  500  pounds  of  powder,  if 
so  much  can  be  got:  1000  pounds  of  oakum  :  100  shovels, 
50  spades,  12  crowbars,  and  50  pick-axes,  to  be  marked 
Netv-York:  3  casks  of  nails,  one  of  12d,  20d,  and  24d, 
each  :  100  camp  kettles. 

The  following  articles  to  be  procured  at  Albany  :  spikes  : 
agin:  rope:  6  grindstones :  cart  boxes:  100  American 
falling  axes,  marked  New-  York. 

The  Congress  took  into  consideration  the  Report  of  the 
Committee  who  viewed  the  ground  at  King's  Bridge,  and 
places  adjacent. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  of  the  said  Report,  with  the  Map 
annexed  thereto,  be  transmitted  to  the  New-York  Dele- 
gates at  Philadelphia,  and  that  Mr.  Morris  and  Captain 
Montgomerie  be  a  Committee  for  draughting  a  Letter  to  the 
said  Delegates  on  the  subject  matter  of  said  Report. 

Ordered,  That  the  Committee  of  Correspondence 


draught  an  answer  to  Governour  Trumbull's  Letter,  dated 
May  29,  1775. 

A  Letter  from  James  Ttivington,  Printer,  directed  to  this 
Congress,  as  also  a  copy  of  his  Address  to  the  Continental 
Congress,  and  a  copy  of  his  Letter  to  the  General  Com- 
mittee of  the  City  of  New-  York,  were  read,  and  the  subject 
matter  taken  into  consideration. 

Ordered,  That  the  same  be  deferred. 

Ordered,  That  the  Committee  of  Correspondence 
draught  an  answer  to  the  Letter  of  the  Provincial  Congress 
of  Massachusetts-Bay,  dated  Watertown,  May  26,  1775. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Christopher  Blundell  be  desired  to 
deliver  one  of  the  Gins  under  his  care  to  Abraham  P. 
Lott,  Esq.,  and  Mr.  Thomas  hers,  and  take  their  receipt 
for  the  same. 

Whereas  the  Continental  Congress,  in  their  Resolution  ot 
the  fifteenth  ultimo,  have  recommended  to  the  inhabitants 
of  this  City,  that  if  the  Troops  which  are  expected  should 
arrive  here,  this  Colony  act  on  the  defensive  so  long  as  it 
may  be  consistent  with  their  safety  and  security :  And 
whereas  the  General  Committee  of  the  City  and  County 
of  New-  York,  in  their  Address  to  the  Lieutenant-Govern- 
our  of  this  Colony,  have  requested  that  in  case  any  Troops 
from  Great  Britain  should  arrive  here,  that  he  would  en- 
deavour to  procure  orders  from  General  Gage  to  prevent 
their  landing  or  encamping  in  this  City  and  County  :  And 
this  Congress  being  informed  that  orders  have  been  received 
from  the  General  for  the  embarkation  of  the  Troops  now  in 
this  City:  We  do,  therefore,  as  well  in  conformity  to  what 
we  conceive  to  be  the  spirit  of  the  above  order  of  the  Con- 
tinental Congress,  as  the  intention  of  the  above  Address, 
earnestly  recommend  it  to  the  inhabitants  of  this  City  and 
County,  and  all  others,  not  to  obstruct  the  embarkation  of 
the  said  Troops,  but  to  permit  them  to  depart  this  City 
peaceably. 

Ordered,  That  one  thousand  of  the  above  Resolve  be 
printed  in  handbills. 

In  pursuance  of  the  Letter  from  the  Delegates  for  this 
Colony,  now  at  the  Provincial  Congress,  of  the  30th  May. 
1775,  a  draught  of  a  Letter  to  the  inhabitants  of  Tryou 
County  was  read  and  approved  of,  and  is  in  the  words  fol- 
lowing, to  wit  : 

In  Provincial  Congress,  New- York,  June  3,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  We  lately  wrote  to  a  few  individuals  oi 
your  County,  representing  the  use  and  necessity  of  your 
appointing  Deputies  to  associate  with  us  in  this  present 
Convention,  upon  a  presumption  that  you  have  already 
chosen  Committees  with  a  view  that  our  thoughts  on  the 
subject  might  be  made  known  to  the  publick,  and  the  mea- 
sure recommended  carried  into  execution  by  a  ready  and 
speedy  compliance,  at  least  of  those  who  are  friendly  to 
the  liberties  of  the  subject,  and  consequently  foes  to  tyranny 
and  oppression.  Since  those  letters  were  sent  up  to  your 
County,  we  yesterday  received  one  from  our  Delegates  in 
the  Grand  Congress  at  Philadelphia,  in  which,  among  other 
things,  there  is  a  paragraph  in  substance  following  :  "  That 
if  there  are  any  Counties  in  which  no  Committees  have 
been  chosen,  as  we  are  informed  there  are,  that  it  would 
be  proper  to  recommend  that  they  be  immediately  elected. 
We  observe  that  Tryon  County  has  not  sent  up  Deputies 
to  your  Convention,  and  would  submit  it  to  your  considera- 
tion whether  it  would  not  be  proper  to  send  them  a  mes- 
sage, suggesting  the  inconveniences  attending  such  conduct, 
and  the  necessity  it  will  lay  you  under  of  breaking  off  all 
connections  with  them.  The  day  rapidly  approaches  which 
will  determine  the  important  point  of  American  freedom  ; 
and  though  there  are  but  very  few,  comparatively  speaking, 
who  still  have  not  signified  their  union  with  their  brethren 
in  this  glorious  cause,  yet  we  would  have  every  reasonable 
effort  used  to  increase  the  numbers  of  our  friends,  as  it  will 
not  only  afford  additional  weight  to  the  controversy,  but 
probably  will  most  effectually  destroy  the  expiring  hopes 
of  our  adversaries." 

We  once  more  call  upon  you,  for  your  own  reputation's 
sake,  for  the  love  of  your  Country,  and  as  you  tender  your 
own  happiness  and  welfare,  the  prosperity  of  the  whole 
Continent,  and  of  the  millions  yet  unborn,  that  you  will 
not  separate  from  your  brethren  upon  this  momentous  occa- 
sion, who  are  embarked  and  deeply  engaged  in  this  grand 
struggle.    Permit  us  to  entreat  you  not  to  omit  or  delay 


1275 


NEW-YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1276 


ibis  essential  requisition,  but  co-operate  with  us  cheerfully, 
by  redoubled  vigilance  and  activity,  and  make  up  for  your 
long  negligence  and  backwardness.  Perhaps  this  will  be 
the  last  application  to  you,  as  the  time  is  almost  come  that 
we  should  be  able  to  distinguish  those  who  are  inimical 
among  us.  We  should  with  reluctance  be  compelled  to 
hold  your  County  up  to  the  publick  as  a  disjointed  and  dis- 
affected part  of  the  community. 

We  are,  gentlemen,  your  most  humble  servants. 
To  Messrs.  John  Fry,  Peter  Wagener,  Jacob  Clock,  An- 
thony Van  Veghten,  Christopher  Yates,  and  the  rest  of 
the  inhabitants  of  the  County  of  Try  on. 

Ordered,  That  four  copies  thereof  be  engrossed,  signed 
by  the  President,  and  transmitted. 

A  draught  of  a  Letter  to  Colonel  G.  Johnson  was  also 
read  and  approved  of,  and  is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 

In  Provincial  Congress,  New- York,  June  3,  1775. 

Sir  :  At  a  time  when  the  American  subjects  on  this 
extensive  Continent  are  almost  with  one  voice  and  united 
effort  nobly  exerting  themselves  in  the  glorious  cause  of 
liberty,  and  endeavouring  to  reconcile  the  unnatural  and 
unhappy  differences  between  the  parent  State  and  these 
Colonies  upon  permanent  and  constitutional  principles,  we 
cannot  help  lamenting  that  we  have  received  disagreeable 
accounts  from  your  quarter,  that  there  are  individuals  offi- 
ciously interrupting  the  mode  and  measures  conceived  neces- 
sary to  bring  about  these  salutary  purposes. 

On  the  one  hand,  you  may  depend  upon  it  that  we  shall 
discourage  and  discountenance  every  attempt  against  your 
person  and  property,  and  shall  use  our  utmost  endeavours 
to  render  them  safe  and  secure;  but  on  the  other  hand,  we 
expect  you  will  not  counteract  any  of  the  measures  expe- 
dient for  the  common  weal  recommended  by  the  Continen- 
tal or  Provincial  Congress,  or  by  the  Committees  formed 
or  to  be  formed.  Should  you  take  so  unfriendly  a  part,  we 
cannot  answer  for  the  consequences  of  such  a  conduct ;  on 
ihe  contrary,  if  you  and  our  Indian  brethren  under  your 
superintendence',  do  not  interfere  in  this  controversy,  you 
may  promise  yourselves  all  the  protection  that  this  House 
can  afford  you.  The  dispute  is  become  so  serious  now 
that  we  cannot  silently  suffer  our  plan  to  be  frustrated  by 
our  own  countrymen.    We  are,  &c. 

To  Colonel  Guy  Johnson,  fyc. 

Ordered,  That  the  same  be  signed  by  the  President, 
and  transmitted. 

Ordered,  That  the  Resolve  of  this  Board  of  the  26th 
of  May  ultimo,  respecting  the  People  of  Canada,  be  trans- 
lated into  French,  and  that  a  copy  thereof  in  French,  and 
the  copy  of  the  Resolve  in  English,  be  prefixed  to  the 
printed  copies  of  the  Letters  to  the  People  of  Canada. 

A  Letter  from  John  Lamb  to  this  Congress  was  read. 

Ordered,  that  the  said  Letter  be  referred  to  the  Com- 
mittee appointed  to  make  an  arrangement  of  the  Troops  to 
be  embodied  in  this  Colony. 

The  Congress  adjourned  to  next  Tuesday  morning  nine 
o'clock. 

Die  Martis,  9  ho.  A.  M.,  Juno  6,  1775. 
The  Congress  met  pursuant  to  adjournment,  and  opened 
with  prayers  by  the  Rev.  Doctor  Livingston.    Present : 
Volhert  P.  Douw,  Esq.,  Vice-President. 

For  the  City  and  County  of  New-York. — Alexander 
McDougall,  Leonard  Lispenard,  Joseph  Hallet,  Abra- 
ham Brasher,  Isaac  Roosevelt,  James  Beekman,  Samuel 
Verplanck,  Benjamin  Kissam,  John  Morin  Scott,  John 
Mars  ton. 

For  the  City  and  County  of  Albany. — Robert  Yates,  Abra- 
ham Yates,  Jacob  Cuyler,  Peter  Silvester,  Walter  Liv- 
ingston, Robert  Van  Rensselaer,  Henry  Glenn. 

For  Dutchess  County. — Anthony  Hoffman,  Richard  Mont- 
gomerie,  Ephraim  Payne,  Gilbert  Livingston,  Gysbert 
Schenck,  Nathaniel  Sackett. 

For  Ulster  County. — John  Nicholson. 

For  Orange  County. — Peter  Clowes,  William  Allison,  Jere- 
miah Clarke. 

For  Suffolk  County. — Nathaniel  Woodhull,  John  Sloss 
Hobart,  Thomas  Tredwell,  Ezra  L'Hommedieu,  Tho- 
mas Wickham. 


For  Westchester  County. — Stephen  Ward,  David  Dayton, 

John  Thomas,  Jun. 
For  King's  County. — Henry  Williams,  Jeremiah  Remsen, 

John  Vanderbilt. 
For  Richmond  County. — (None.) 

For  Queen's  County. — Joseph  Robinson,  Nathaniel  Tom. 
For  Charlotte  County. — John  Williams,  William  Marsh. 

A  Letter  from  the  Committee  at  Albany  to  this  Con- 
gress being  read,  was  in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 

"Albany  Committee  Chamber,  June  2,  1775. 

"  Gentlemen  :  In  consequence  of  a  letter  from  this 
Committee  to  Governour  Trumbull,  dated  27th  ult.,  we 
received  his  answer  of  the  30th;  whereof  you  have  a  copy 
enclosed,  and  from  which  it  appears  that  you  have  sent 
them  a  resolve,  with  a  request  to  send  up  forces  to  Ticon- 
deroga,  Sic.  In  consequence  whereof  one  thousand  of  them 
are  now  on  their  way.  You  will  therefore  be  pleased  to 
send  up,  with  all  possible  despatch,  a  sufficient  supply  of 
provisions  (except  flour,  peas  and  bread,  which  we  can 
supply  them  with)  and  other  necessaries,  for  which  pur- 
pose we  send  you  enclosed  copy  of  a  list  from  Colonel 
Arnold's  letter  to  us  of  the  29th  ult. 

"  We  have  in  the  alarm  above  raised  several  companies 
to  go  up  to  Ticonderoga,  &c,  two  of  which  are  on  their 
way  up.  This  we  did  in  consequence,  first,  of  the  resolu- 
tion of  the  Continental  Congress  of  the  18th  ult. ;  secondly 
of  the  letter  from  the  New-  York  Committee  enclosing  said 
Resolve,  dated  20th  ult.;  and  thirdly,  Colonel  Arnold's 
letter  to  us  requiring  immediate  assistance.  But  on  our 
receipt  of  the  above  letter  from  Governour  Trumbull,  we 
are  in  great  doubts  with  respect  to  our  men  already  raised 
in  this  County,  and  those  who  stand  ready  to  march  up,  as 
we  know  not  the  nature  of  the  resolve  you  have  sent  to 
Governour  Trumbull;  and  his  letter  contains  a  clause  that 
these  one  thousand  forces  are  to  continue  at  Ticonderoga, 
&lc,  until  relieved  by  troops  from  this  Colony,  &tc. 

"We  should  be  extremely  glad  to  have  plain  explicit 
instructions  from  time  to  time,  that  we  need  not  wander 
astray,  and  act  counter  to  your  intentions  and  the  general 
good  of  the  publick. 

"There  are  some  troops  (twelve  in  number)  taken  by 
the  Provincial  Forces  from  St.  John's,  who  are  now  in  this 
City,  and  who  daily  call  upon  this  Committee  for  the  com- 
mon necessaries  of  life,  but  can  give  the  Commissioners  or 
Agents  no  directions  in  the  premises,  as  their  instructions 
from  you  will  not  warrant  them  to  supply  them  with  pro- 
visions, although  they  have  been  hitherto  supplied  out  of 
the  Provincial  store.  But  we  would  be  glad  of  your  reso- 
lution on  this  matter,  and  let  us  know  whether  we  should 
supply  these  troops  any  longer,  or  leave  them  to  be  sup- 
ported from  the  provisions  here  in  the  King's  store;  and, 
upon  the  whole,  what  you  would  have  us  do  with  them, 
as  they  are  only  a  burden  to  us. 

"Please  to  take  these  matters  into  your  immediate  con- 
sideration, and  send  us  your  resolution  in  consequence 
thereof;  and  you  will  oblige,  gentlemen,  your  most  humble 
servant.    By  order  of  the  Committee : 

"  Samuel  Stringer,  Chairman  p.  t." 

The  copy  of  a  Letter  from  the  Governour  and  Company 
of  Connecticut  to  said  Committee  at  Albany ;  and  a  list  of 
men,  implements  of  war,  and  stores,  from  Colonel  B.  Ar- 
nold, wanting  at  Ticonderoga,  and  enclosed  by  the  Com- 
mittee of  Albany,  were  separately  read  and  filed. 

A  Letter  from  John  Hancock,  Esq.,  President  of  the 
Grand  Continental  Congress,  dated  Philadelphia,  June  1, 
1775,  was  read. 

The  Resolve  of  the  Grand  Continental  Congress  first 
above  mentioned  was  read,  and  is  in  the  words  following, 
to  wit : 

"In  Congress,  Thursday,  June  1,  1775. 

"  Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  Government 
of  Connecticut,  or  the  General  of  the  Forces  of  that  Colo- 
ny, to  appoint  Commissaries  to  receive  at  Albany  and 
forward  the  Supplies  of  Provisions  for  the  Forces  on  Lake 
Champlain  from  the  Provincial  Convention  of  New-  York ; 
and  that  the  said  Convention  do  their  utmost  endeavours 
in  facilitating  and  aiding  the  transportation  thereof  from 
thence  to  where  the  said  Commissaries  may  direct." 

"A  true  copy  from  the  Minutes: 

"Charles  Thomson,  Secretary." 


1277 


NEW- YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1278 


The  Resolve  to  be  transmitted  to  the  Commander  at 
Ticonderoga  was  read,  and  is  in  the  words  following : 

"  In  Congress,  June  1,  1775. 

"  As  this  Congress  has  nothing  more  in  view  than  the 
defence  of  these  Colonies,  Resolved,  That  no  expedition 
or  incursion  ought  to  be  undertaken  or  made  by  any  Colo- 
ny or  body  of  Colonists  against  or  into  Canada;  and  that 
this  Resolve  be  immediately  transmitted  to  the  Comman- 
der of  the  Forces  at  Ticonderoga. 

"  A  true  copy  from  the  Minutes : 

"Charles  Thomson,  Secretary." 

A  draught  of  an  answer  to  the  Governourand  Company 
of  Connecticut  was  read,  and  approved,  and  is  in  the  words 
following,  to  wit : 

In  Provincial  Congress,  New-York,  June  6,  1775. 
May  it  please  your  Honour  : 

We  take  leave  to  enclose  a  resolution  of  the  Grand 
Congress  of  the  thirty-first  of  May,  and  at  the  same  time 
to  present  you  our  acknowledgment  for  the  letter  which  we 
had  the  honour  to  receive  from  you,  dated  the  twenty- 
ninth.  Be  assured,  Sir,  that  we  are  most  gratefully  sensi- 
ble of  the  cheerfulness  with  which  the  Government  of 
Connecticut  has  exerted  itself  to  support  the  important 
posts  of  Crown  Point  and  Ticonderoga,  until  our  abilities 
may  enable  us  to  execute  that  trust  which  the  Continental 
Congress  has  on  that  subject  thought  proper  in  the  first 
instance  to  repose  in  us. 

We  are  sorry  to  present  you  with  the  very  disagreeable 
intelligence  that  we  have  not  a  sufficient  quantity  of  pow- 
der in  this  Colony  to  enable  us  at  present  to  contribute  in 
the  least  towards  supplying  those  posts  with  that  article,  a 
circumstance  which  is  the  more  distressing  as  we  have 
great  reason  to  believe  that  a  very  considerable  quantity 
will  be  required  for  the  defence  of  the  Northern  Frontier. 

In  compliance  with  the  requisition  made  upon  us,  we 
have  expedited  our  orders  for  the  several  things  contained 
in  the  enclosed  list,  at  the  bottom  whereof  is  an  account  of 
the  several  articles  already  sent  for  that  service,  and  the 
persons  employed  in  it. 

We  pray  your  Honour  to  believe  that  we  feel  the  utmost 
desire  of  co-operating  with  our  sister  Colonies  in  executing 
the  resolves  of  the  Congress ;  and  that  we  are,  with  great 
respect,  your  Honour's  most  obedient  and  humble  servants. 
To  the  Honourable  Jonathan  Trumbull,  Esq.,  Governour 

of  the  Colony  of  Connecticut. 

Ordered,  That  the  Powder  which  Mr.  Peter  T.  Cur- 
tenius  has  in  his  custody,  be  sent  to  the  Committee  at  Al- 
bany, to  be  by  them  retained,  and  that  Mr.  Curtenius  write 
to  the  Committee  and  acquaint  them  therewith. 

Ordered,  That  the  gentlemen  who  are  Deputies  for  the 
City  and  County  of  Albany,  and  Mr.  Richard  Laurence 
be  a  Committee  to  prepare  a  draft  of  an  answer  to  the 
Letter  this  day  received  from  the  Committee  at  Albany; 
and  that  they  make  report  with  all  convenient  speed. 

Henry  fVatkeys,  a  Gunsmith,  was  sent  for  by  order  of  the 
Congress,  and  attended  ;  after  conversing  with  him  on  the 
subject  of  making  Gun-barrels,  he  agreed  to  go  to  New- 
Windsor  to  consult  with  Mr.  Robert  Boyd  about  the  forg- 
ing of  Gun-barrels  and  making  Muskets. 

Ordered,  That  the  said  Henry  fVatkeys  proceed  to 
?\cw-JVindsor,  and  endeavour  to  fix  a  proper  plan  with 
Robert  Boyd,  for  carrying  on  Gun  and  Musket  making, 
and  on  his  return  report  to  this  Board  his  proceedings  in 
the  premises  :  and 

Resolved,  That  this  Congress  will  defray  the  expenses 
of  the  said  Henry  fVatkeys  in  his  journey  to  New- If  ind- 
sor, or  allow  him  such  daily  wages  during  that  time  as  he 
can  usually  earn  at  his  trade. 

A  Letter  from  the  Neiu-York  Delegates  in  the  Conti- 
nental Congress,  dated  Philadelphia,  June  3,  1775,  was 
received  and  read. 

Mr.  Scott  (seconded  by  Mr.  Morris)  moved  that  that 
part  of  the  Letter  of  the  New-York  Delegates  in  the  Con- 
tinental Congress,  dated  on  the  3d  instant,  which  respects 
the  recommendation  of  a  Major  and  Brigadier-General  for 
the  Continental  Army,  be  immediately  taken  into  consi- 
deration. 


And  debates  arising  thereon,  it  was  postponed  till  the 
morning  at  the  request  of  the  Deputies  of  Albany,  Suffolk, 
and  Richmond  Counties. 

Dissentients — Albany,  Col.  Van  Rensselaer,  Mr.  Cuy- 
ler;  Suffolk,  Mr.  Hoburt. 

The  Congress  adjourned  to  nine  o'clock  to-morrow  morn- 
ing. _ 

Die  Mercurii,  9  ho.  A.  M.,  June  7,  177o. 
The  Congress  met  pursuant  to  adjournment,  and  opened 
with  prayers  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Bodin.    Present : 

For  the  City  and  County  of  New-  York. — Peter  Van  Brugli 
Livingston,  Esq.,  President ;  Isaac  Low,  Alexander  Mc- 
Dougall,  Leonard  Lispenard,  Joseph  Hallett,  Abraham 
Brasher,  Isaac  Roosevelt,  John  De  Lancey,  James  Beek- 
man,  Samuel  Verplanck,  David  Clarkson,  Benjamin 
Kissam,  John  Morin  Scott,  Jacobus  Van  Zandt,  John 
Mars  ton. 

For  the  City  and  County  of  Albany. — Volkert  P.  Douw. 
Esq.,  Vice-President ;  Robert  Yates,  Abraham  Yates, 
Jacob  Cuyler,  Henry  Glenn,  Peter  Silvester,  Walter 
Livingston,  Robert  Van  Rensselaer. 

For  Dutchess  County. — Dirck  Brinckerhoff,  Anthony  Hofi- 
man,  Richard  Montgomerie,  Gysbert  Schenck,  Ephraim 
Payne,  Gilbert  Livingston,  Jonathan  Landon,  Nathaniel 
Sackett. 

For  Ulster  County. — John  Nicholson. 

For  Orange  County. — Peter  Clowes,  William  Allison,  and 
Jeremiah  Clark. 

For  Suffolk  County. — Nathaniel  Woodhull,  John  Sloss 
Hobait,  Thomas  Tredwell,  Ezra  LHommedieu,  Tho- 
mas Wickham. 

For  Westchester  County. — Gouverneur  Morris,  Lewis  Gra- 
ham, James  Van  Cortlandt,  Stephen  Ward,  Joseph 
Drake,  James  Holmes,  David  Dayton,  John  Thomas. 
Junior. 

For  King's  County. — Johannes  E.  Lott,  Henry  Williams, 
Jeremiah  Remsen,  Theodorus  Polhemus,  John  LefFertse. 

For  Richmond  County. — John  Journey,  Richard  Conner, 
Richard  Lawrence. 

For  Queen's  County. — Jacob  Blackwell,  Jonathan  Law- 
rence, Joseph  Robinson,  Nathaniel  Tom. 

For  Charlotte  County. — John  Williams,  William  Marsh. 

Mr.  Morris,  from  the  Committee  for  that  purpose,  re- 
ported a  draught  of  a  Letter  to  the  New-York  Delegates 
at  the  Continental  Congress,  on  the  subject  of  erecting  a 
Fortification  at  King's  Bridge.  The  same  was  read  and 
approved  of,  and  is  in  the  words  following: 

In  Provincial  Congress  at  New-York,  June  7,  1775. 
Gentlemen  :  Upon  receiving  the  resolutions  of  the 
Congress  which  relate  to  the  fortifying  King's  Bridge. 
&c,  we  appointed  Committees  to  view  those  places.  Our 
Committee  from  King's  Bridge  made  a  report  the  third 
instant,  of  which  we  send  you  a  copy.  We  have  only  to 
add,  that  by  reason  of  the  easiness  of  approach,  which  will 
arise  from  the  great  irregularity  of  the  ground  on  Manhat- 
tan's Island,  especially  to  the  northward,  no  fortification  can 
be  so  constructed  as  to  be  tenable  for  any  length  of  time ; 
and  even  if  such  thing  were  practicable,  yet  if  the  enemy 
are  superiour  in  the  field,  then,  as  they  must  necessarily 
command  the  rivers,  such  fortification  might  be  reduced  by 
famine,  if  not  otherwise  to  be  taken.  It  follows,  therefore, 
that  if  the  post  is  to  be  fortified,  with  a  view  to  render  it  a 
magazine  or  place  of  arms,  that  no  part  of  the  island  is 
properly  adapted  to  that  purpose. 

Considering  it  in  the  light  of  a  post  for  preserving  the 
communication  between  the  city  and  country,  upon  a 
supposition  that  the  rivers  are  occupied  by  ships-of-war. 
then  if  the  place  marked  A  were  strong  and  capable  o: 
sustaining  a  regular  siege,  still  a  body  of  forces  on  the 
island  could  as  effectually  cut  off  the  communication  in 
many  other  places.  On  the  other  hand,  if  the  enemy 
should  possess  themselves  of  the  post  A,  besides  that  it  is 
commanded  by  the  two  heights  marked  B,  particularly 
Tippett's  Hill,  yet  it  would  by  no  means  serve  to  cut 
off  the  communication,  because  it  would  be  easy  to  cross 
Harlem  River  in  boats,  with  a  body  of  forces,  in  several 
places,  where  no  vessel-of-war  could  lay  without  being  ex- 
posed to  fire  from  such  very  high  grounds  as  to  be  quite 


1279 


NEW-YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1280 


out  of  the  reach  of  her  artillery ;  and  also  because  that 
river  is  fordable  in  places  which  are  covered  from  any  fire 
which  can  be  made  from  the  said  post.  And  not  only 
would  the  enemy's  possession  be  ineffectual  for  their  pur- 
poses, it  would  also  bring  on  them  certain  destruction ;  for 
that  it  would  be  very  easy  to  cut  oft*  their  retreat  to  the 
Town,  and,  from  the  great  elevation  of  ground  above  the 
river,  to  prevent  any  relief  which  they  would  receive  from 
vessels-of-war ;  wherefore,  if  we  have  the  superiority  in 
the  field,  they  would  be  with  great  ease  driven  from  that 
post,  or  starved  in  it. 

This  place,  therefore,  (the  only  one  which  can  secure 
the  bridges,)  being  of  little  consequence  to  us,  and  of  still 
less  to  them,  we  are  of  opinion  that  it  would  be  very 
imprudent  to  fortify  it  at  present,  because  the  expense  will 
be  much  greater  than  after  we  have  troops  embodied, 
who  can  perform  much  of  the  labour,  and  also  for  a  reason 
mentioned  in  the  report  of  our  Committee. 

You  will  take  notice,  gentlemen,  that  we  have  no  am- 
munition, nor  any  Engineer — two  most  necessary  imple- 
ments of  war,  you  will  certainly  acknowledge ;  the  first  we 
hope  for  from  the  endeavours  of  our  merchants,  the  last 
you  will  take  some  care  to  procure,  if  to  be  had  amongst 
you. 

Be  assured  that  we  have  the  greatest  willingness  to  obey 
the  resolutions  of  the  Grand  Congress  ;  and  if  in  their  wis- 
dom they  shall  think  fit  to  overrule  the  reasons  which  we 
have  offered,  doubt  not  that  we  shall  use  our  utmost  efforts 
to  comply  with  their  requisitions. 

We  are,  gentlemen,  your  most  humble  servants. 
To  the  New-York  Delegates  in  Continental  Congress. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  of  this  Letter  be  engrossed,  signed 
by  the  President,  and,  together  with  a  copy  of  the  Report 
therein  mentioned,  and  a  copy  of  a  Draught  or  Plan  therein 
mentioned,  be  transmitted  by  the  first  conveyance. 

The  Report  above  mentioned  is  in  the  words  following, 
to  wit : 

We,  your  Committee  appointed  to  view  the  ground  in 
the  environs  of  King's  Bridge,  do  most  humbly  report: 

That  in  obedience  to  your  commands  we  have  examined 
the  heights  in  that  neighbourhood,  taking  such  assistance 
as  the  shortness  of  the  notice  permitted  us  to  procure,  and 
are  of  opinion  that  a  post  (capable  of  containing  three  hun- 
dred men)  erected  on  the  high  ground  adjoining  Mr.  Hyatt's 
house,  marked  A  in  the  annexed  map,  will  answer  the  pur- 
pose proposed  by  the  Continental  Congress  in  their  requi- 
sition, so  far  as  the  occupying  that  bridge  can  contribute  to 
the  keeping  up  a  communication  between  the  country  and 
this  city  ;  lor  we  beg  leave  to  observe,  that  an  enemy  may 
land  and  seize  on  several  posts  in  this  island  capable  of 
interrupting,  though  not  totally  cutting  off  that  communica- 
tion held  up  as  a  point  of  so  much  importance  by  the  Con- 
tinental Congress.  We  are  farther  of  opinion  that  this  work 
should  be  constructed  by  troops  when  embodied  and  ready 
to  occupy  it,  your  Committee  being  humbly  of  opinion  it 
would  be  the  highest  imprudence  to  erect  a  fortification 
before  we  have  the  means  of  defending  it.  By  this  mode  of 
proceeding  the  expense  will  also  be  very  much  reduced. 
We  believe  that  though  there  be  no  water  immediately  on 
the  spot  proposed  for  this  post,  yet  means  may  be  fallen  upon 
to  cover  those  who  go  to  a  well  sunk  in  the  adjoining  low 
ground,  near  Mr.  Hyatt's  house,  especially  as  we  conceive 
this  post  is  not  supposed  to  sustain  any  regular  attack,  or 
of  many  hours'  duration,  without  relief.  We  think  fas- 
cines the  cheapest  and  best  materials  to  face  this  work,  and 
that  an  abattis  or  fallen  wood  will  contribute  much  to  the 
security  of  the  post.  With  respect  to  the  particular  form 
and  dimensions,  your  Committee  dare  not  venture  (with- 
out the  assistance  of  an  Engineer)  to  recommend  any  par- 
ticular plan  to  your  consideration,  and  therefore  pray  your 
attention  to  provide  a  person  of  experience  in  this  line  of 
military  science.    All  which  is  most  humbly  submitted. 

By  order  of  the  Committee : 

James  Van  Cortlandt,  Chairman. 

The  Order  of  the  Day  being  read,  the  Congress  resumed 
the  consideration  of  the  Letter  from  the  Delegates  of  this 
Colony  at  the  Continental  Congress;  and  after  some  time 
spent  therein  the  Congress  unanimously  resolved  and  agreed 
that  Colonel  Philip  Schuyler  is  the  most  proper  person  in 


this  Colony  to  be  recommended  as  a  Major-General,  and 
Richard  Montgomerie,  Esq.,  as  a  Brigadier-General. 

And  Ordered,  That  Mr.  Scott  and  Mr.  Morris  be  a 
Committee  to  prepare  and  report  the  draft  of  a  Letter  to 
our  Delegates  at  the  Continental  Congress,  informing  them 
of  our  sentiments  on  this  subject,  and  the  reasons  of  our 
choice. 

The  Committee  appointed  for  that  purpose,  reported  a 
draft  of  a  Report  of  additional  Artificers  and  Stores  to  be 
forwarded  to  Ticondcroga.  The  same  was  read  and  agreed 
to,  and  is  in  the  words  and  figures  following,  to  wit : 

The  Committee  having  considered  the  requisition  on  this 
Colony  made  by  Colonel  B.  Arnold,  commandant  at  Ti- 
conderoga,  for  provisions  and  stores,  &.c,  transmitted  to  this 
Congress  by  the  Committee  of  Albany,  and  at  the  same 
time  compared  it  with  the  list  of  supplies  already  ordered  to 
be  sent,  do  report,  that  the  following  additional  stores,  &c, 
ought  to  be  provided  and  sent :  10  men  of  the  train  of 
artillery  :  12  ship  carpenters  and  caulkers :  2  gunsmiths :  2 
blacksmiths:  2  masons:  100  hatchets:  20  broadaxes:  50 
spades :  50  hoes :  the  iron  work  for  4  gins  and  blocks ; 
8  falls  for  do,  of  4£  inch  rope :  1  coil  2£  inch  rope,  1  coil 
2  inch  rope,  1  coil  1£  inch  rope,  100  fathoms  each :  4 
pieces  ravens  duck:  40  pounds  sewing  twine:  10  dozen 
of  sail  and  bolt  rope  needles :  1  dozen  palms :  2  seines, 
30  fathom  long,  capt  12  feet,  and  arms  6  feet  deep,  of 
coarse  twine,  meshes  1£  inch  square:  2  dozen  of  nail  ham- 
mers:  1  faggot  of  steel. 

As  to  the  oxen,  carts,  &ic,  mentioned  in  the  said  requi- 
sition, your  Committee  are  of  opinion  that  those  can  be 
procured  in  the  neighbourhood  of  that  post. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  thereof  be  made  and  delivered 
to  Peter  T.  Curtenius,  and  that  he  be  desired  to  obtain 
the  said  Artificers,  Men,  and  Stores,  and  forward  the  same 
to  Albany  with  all  possible  despatch. 

The  same  Committee  also  reported  a  draft  of  a  Letter 
to  the  Committee  of  Albany,  which  was  read  and  approved 
of,  and  is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 

New. York  Provincial  Congress,  June  7,  1775. 
Gentlemen  :  Before  this  conies  to  hand  you  will  be 
furnished  with  our  directions,  dated  1st  instant.  We  are 
convinced  of  the  necessity  of  giving  you  explicit  instruc- 
tions respecting  your  conduct ;  but  the  variety  of  business 
in  which  this  Congress  has  been  engaged,  and  the  time 
which  is  necessarily  taken  up  in  our  friendly  intercourse 
with  the  Continental  Congress  and  the  Colony  of  Connec- 
ticut, does  necessarily  occasion  at  times  an  apparent  delay 
in  our  directions  to  you. 

We  highly  approve  of  your  zeal  and  activity  in  raising 
troops,  but  request  you  not  to  proceed  in  making  farther 
levies  until  further  orders.  The  two  companies  raised  in 
your  County  and  already  on  their  march,  ypu  will  suffer 
to  proceed  to  join  the  forces  at  Ticonderoga ;  but  must 
observe  to  you,  that  by  the  direction  of  the  Continental 
Congress,  their  pay  will  stand  on  the  same  footing  with  that 
of  the  Eastern  Colonies,  without  allowing  bounties  or  cloth- 
ing to  the  men ;  and  that  they  are  to  continue  in  the  ser- 
vice until  the  last  day  of  December  next,  unless  the  Con- 
tinental Congress  shall  direct  that  they  be  sooner  disbanded. 

Those  companies  who  are  under  your  direction  formed, 
and  not  sent  up,  you  will  continue  in  pay,  if  your  engage- 
ment with  them  will  not  justify  your  discharging  them ; 
and  request  that  you  send  to  this  Congress  a  return  of  the  . 
officers  and  men  in  each  company. 

The  troops  taken  at  St.  John's  who  are  with  you,  should 
remain  at  liberty,  and  they  may  probably  be  of  service  in 
instructing  your  inhabitants  the  military  exercise.  If  they 
refuse  earning  their  bread  in  this,  or  any  other  way,  it  is 
however  the  intention  of  this  Congress  that  they  shall  re- 
ceive their  subsistence  out  of  the  Colony  provisions. 

Enclosed  we  send  you  a  copy  of  a  letter  from  the  Con- 
tinental Congress,  and  their  resolve  respecting  the  appoint- 
ment of  Commissaries  for  receiving  supplies  of  provisions 
at  Albany. 

Enclosed  is  also  a  copy  of  a  resolve  of  the  Grand 
Congress  to  discourage  any  incursions  into  Canada;  but 
this  has  in  some  measure  been  anticipated  by  a  former 
resolution  of  this  House,  already  published,  as  well  as 
your  request  respecting  our  letter  to  Governour  Trumbull 


1281 


NEW-YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1282 


a  copy  of  which  has  been  sent  you  by  Colonel  Ten 
liroeck.    We  are,  &x. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  of  the  said  Letter  to  the  Com- 
mittee of  Albany  be  engrossed,  signed  by  the  President, 
and  transmitted. 

The  gentlemen  appointed  a  Committee  for  that  purpose, 
reported  draughts  of  two  several  Letters  to  the  Delegates  of 
this  Colony  at  the  Grand  Continental  Congress,  which  were 
severally  read  and  approved,  and  are  in  the  words  follow- 
ing, to  wit : 

In  Provincial  Congres9,  New-York,  June  7,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  Your  favour  of  the  third  instant  we  have 
received,  and  are  happy  to  find  that  we  have  the  honour 
of  your  concurrence  in  our  sentiments  on  the  subject  of 
emitting  a  Paper  Currency.  We  pray  leave  to  add,  that 
unless  your  respectable  body  shall  make  some  speedy 
order  with  relation  to  the  levying  of  money,  it  will  be  im- 
possible for  us  to  comply  with  their  further  requests. 
Publick  faith  has  been  stretched  as  far  as  it  will  go,  and 
the  pledge  of  a  future  fund  to  be  hereafter  devised,  hath 
been  trusted  to  its  full  value.  We  have  engaged  ourselves 
personally,  and  further  we  cannot  proceed,  unless  every 
private  gentlemen  amongst  us  will  consent  to  sacrifice  his 
own  property  to  the  pressing  calls  made  upon  him  by  the 
publick. 

The  importance,  the  necessity  of  attention  to  Indian 
affairs,  is  deeply  impressed  on  our  minds,  because  our  pub- 
lick peace  is  more  endangered  by  the  situation  of  the  bar- 
barians to  the  westward  of  us,  than  it  can  be  by  any  inroads 
made  upon  the  sea-coast.  Britain  will  spare  the  last  for 
her  own  sake,  and  policy  will  teach  her  Ministers  to  light 
up  an  Indian  war  upon  our  frontiers,  that  we  may  be  driven 
for  protection  to  embrace  their  terms  of  slavery.  To 
obviate  such  evils  will,  we  hope,  occupy  a  considerable 
share  of  your  wise  attention.  We  do  not  presume  to  dic- 
tate any  measure  to  you,  being  confident  of  your  prudence 
and  knowledge  ;  at  the  same  time  we  submit  it  to  your  con- 
sideration whether  it  is  proper  to  leave  the  management  of 
the  numerous  tribes  of  Indians  entirely  in  the  hands  of  per- 
sons appointed  and  paid  by  the  Crown.  If  it  be  not,  then 
you  will  best  be  able  to  determine  the  proper  remedy  for 
this  evil,  and  whether  it  will  not  be  both  politick  and  just  to 
nominate  a  Continental  Superintendent  of  Indian  affairs, 
and  provide  ways  and  means  to  defray  the  expenses  of  his 
office;  or  whether  we  may  not  have  greater  cause  to  appre- 
hend danger  from  such  appointment  than  by  suffering  these 
things  to  flow  in  their  former  channel,  seeing  that  the  In- 
dians have  already  declared  their  willingness  to  preserve 
peace  unless  their  Superintendent  shall  be  molested. 

We  have  hitherto  received  no  sufficient  supply  of  pow- 
der or  other  ammunition  for  the  defence  of  our  Colony ;  and 
whilst  we  regret  our  present  inability,  we  beg  leave  to  assure 
you,  that  if  Connecticut  can  furnish  a  sufficient  store  for 
the  garrisons  of  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point,  (posts 
which  are  necessary  for  our  mutual  protection,)  as  soon  as 
it  is  in  our  power  we  shall  gladly  replace  the  expenditure. 

The  extensive  qualifications  necessary  to  form  the  Gene- 
ral, are  far  beyond  the  reach  of  our  humble  abilities,  and 
better  fitted  to  the  wisdom  of  the  Continental  Congress. 
We  feel  ourselves  under  the  deepest  obligations  to  you  for 
enabling  us  to  recommend  persons  to  the  offices  of  Major 
and  Brigadier-General.  We  are  sensible  of  the  extent  of 
this  condescension,  and  are  equally  affected  by  the  honour 
of  the  trust,  and  our  incapacity  to  execute  it. 

Courage,  prudence,  readiness  in  expedients,  nice  per- 
ception, sound  judgment  and  great  attention,  these  are  a 
few  of  the  natural  qualities  which  appear  to  us  to  be  pro- 
per. To  these  ought  to  be  added  an  extensive  acquaint- 
ance with  the  sciences,  particularly  the  various  branches  of 
mathematick  knowledge,  long  practice  in  the  military  art, 
and,  above  all,  a  knowledge  of  mankind.  On  a  General 
in  America,  fortune  also  should  bestow  her  gifts,  that  he 
may  rather  communicate  lustre  to  his  dignities  than  receive 
it.  and  that  his  country  in  his  property,  his  kindred,  and 
connexions,  may  have  sure  pledges  that  he  will  faithfully 
perform  the  duties  of  his  high  office,  and  readily  lay  down 
his  power  when  the  general  weal  shall  require  it. 

Since  we  cannot  do  all  that  we  wish,  we  will  go  as  far 
towards  it  as  we  can,  and  therefore  you  will  not  be  sur- 
prised to  hear  that  we  are  unanimous  in  the  choice  of  Colo- 

Foubth  Series. — Vol.  ii.  g 


nel  Philip  Schuyler,  and  Captain  Richard  Montgomerie, 
to  the  offices  of  Major  and  Brigadier-General.  If  we  knew 
how  to  recommend  them  to  your  notice  more  strongly 
than  by  telling  you  that,  after  considering  the  qualifications 
above  stated,  these  gentlemen  were  approved  of  without  a 
single  dissent,  our  regard  to  the  publick  service  would  cer- 
tainly lead  us  to  do  it  in  the  most  forcible  terms ;  nor  will 
we  enter  into  a  minute  detail  of  the  character  and  situa- 
tions of  two  gentlemen  with  whom  our  Delegates  cannot 
but  be  acquainted.  In  a  word  we  warmly  recommend 
them,  because  we  have  no  doubt  but  their  appointment 
will  give  general  satisfaction. 

We  beg  leave  to  assure  you,  gentlemen,  that  we  are,  &c. 

In  Provincial  Congress,  New-York,  June  7,  1775. 

Gentlemen:  The  Colonies  of  Massachusetts  and  Con- 
necticut have  formed  their  respective  armies,  and  nomi- 
nated to  the  general  command  of  them;  the  supposition 
that  in  case  a  Continental  Army  should  be  established  by 
authority  of  your  respectable  body,  their  officers  will  be 
permitted  to  preserve  their  respective  ranks,  appears  to  us 
highly  probable.  In  this  view,  we  think  it  not  improba- 
ble that  we  should  be  called  on  for  a  recommendation  to 
fill  the  offices  in  the  military  appointment  of  this  Colony. 
We  take  the  liberty  for  the  present  to  furnish  you  with  our 
sentiments  on  the  appointment  of  a  Major  and  Brigadier- 
General  ;  and  submit  them  to  your  superiour  wisdom,  either 
for  use  or  concealment.  Our  only  motive  is  to  prevent  a 
delay  that  might  otherwise  be  occasioned  by  an  opinion 
you  may  entertain  of  the  necessity  of  asking  our  senti- 
ments on  that  subject. 

Courage,  prudence,  readiness  in  expedients,  nice  percep- 
tion, sound  judgment,  and  great  attention,  these  are  a  few 
of  the  natural  qualities  which  appear  to  us  to  be  proper. 
To  these  ought  to  be  added,  an  extensive  acquaintance 
with  the  sciences,  particularly  the  various  branches  of  ma- 
thematick knowledge,  long  practice  in  the  military  art,  and, 
above  all,  a  knowledge  of  mankind.  On  a  General  in 
America,  fortune  also  should  bestow  her  gifts,  that  he  may 
rather  communicate  lustre  to  his  dignities  than  receive  it, 
and  that  his  country  in  his  property,  his  kindred,  and  con- 
nexions, may  have  sure  pledges  that  he  will  faithfully  per- 
form the  duties  of  his  high  office,  and  readily  lay  down  his 
power  when  the  general  weal  requires  it. 

Since  we  cannot  do  all  that  we  wish,  we  will  go  as  far 
towards  it  as  we  can,  and  therefore  you  will  not  be  sur- 
prised to  hear  that  we  are  unanimous  in  the  choice  of  Colo- 
nel Philip  Schuyler  and  Captain  Richard  Montgomerie 
to  the  offices  of  Major  and  Brigadier-General.  If  we 
knew  how  to  recommend  them  to  your  notice  more  strongly 
than  by  telling  you  that,  after  considering  the  qualifications 
above  stated,  these  gentlemen  were  approved  of  without 
a  single  dissent,  our  regard  to  the  pubfick  service  would 
certainly  lead  us  to  do  it  in  the  most  forcible  terms ;  nor 
will  we  enter  into  a  minute  detail  of  the  characters  and 
situations  of  two  gentlemen  with  whom  our  Delegates  can- 
not but  be  acquainted.  In  a  word,  we  warmly  recommend 
them,  because  we  have  no  doubt  but  their  appointment 
will  give  general  satisfaction. 

We  beg  leave  to  assure  you,  gentlemen,  that  we  are,  with 
the  profoundest  respect,  &c. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  of  each  of  the  said  Letters  be 
engrossed,  and  signed  by  the  President,  and  transmitted  to 
the  Delegates  from  this  Colony  in  the  Continental  Con- 
gress, by  Joseph  Stevens,  as  a  messenger  for  that  purpose  ; 
and  that  the  President  write  a  private  Letter  to  the  Dele- 
gates, to  inform  them  of  the  reason  of  sending  both  these 
Letters,  and  requesting  them  to  produce  either,  and  sup- 
press the  other,  as  they  may  see  fit. 

Resolved,  That  whensoever  doubts  shall  arise  with  re- 
spect to  the  Recommendations  or  Resolutions  of  the  Con- 
tinental Congress,  or  of  this  Board,  in  the  minds  of  private 
persons,  it  is  the  duty  of  such  persons  to  apply  to  this 
Board  for  an  explanation  thereof;  and  that  any  attempts  to 
raise  tumults,  riots,  or  mobs,  either  under  colour  of  a  du- 
bious interpretation  of  such  Recommendations  or  Resolu- 
tions, or  for  any  other  reasons  or  purposes,  is  a  high  infrac- 
tion of  the  General  Association,  and  tends  directly  to  the 
dissolution  of  this  Congress. 

Ordered,  That  this  Resolution  be  published  in  the 


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NEW-YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1T75. 


1284 


Newspapers;  and  that  two  thousand  copies  thereof  he 
printed  in  -  handbills. 

The  Congress  adjourned  to  four  o'clock,  P.  M. 

Die  Mercurii,  4to  ho.  P.  M.,  Juno  7,  1775. 
The  Congress  met  pursuant  to  adjournment.  Present : 

For  the  City  and  County  of  Neiv-  York. — Peter  Van  Brugh 
Livingston,  Esquire,  President;  Isaac  Low,  Alexander 
McDougall,  Leonard  Lispenard,  Joseph  Hallett,  Abra- 
ham Walton,  Isaac  Roosevelt,  John  De  Lancey,  James 
Beekman,  Samuel  Verplanck,  Benjamin  Kissam,  John 
Morin  Scott,  Jacobus  Van  Zandt,  and  John  Marston. 

For  the  City  and  County  of  Albany. — Volkert  P.  Douw, 
Esq.,  Vice-President;  Abraham  Yates,  Jacob  Cuyler, 
Peter  Silvester,  Walter  Livingston,  Robert  Van  Rensse- 
laer, and  Henry  Glenn. 

For  Dutchess  County. — Dirck  BrinckerhofF,  Anthony  Hoff- 
man, Richard  Montgomerie,  Ephraim  Payne,  Gilbert 
Livingston,  Jonathan  Landon,  Gysbert  Schenck,  and 
Nathaniel  Sackett. 

For  Ulster  County. — John  Nicholson. 

For  Orange  County. — Peter  Clowes  and  William  Allison. 

For  Suffolk  County. — Nathaniel  Woodhull,  John  Sloss 
Hobart,  Thomas  Tredwell,  Ezra  L'Hommedieu,  and 
Thomas  Wickham. 

For  Westchester  County. — Gouverneur  Morris,  Lewis 
Graham,  James  Van  Cortlandt,  Stephen  Ward,  Joseph 
Drake,  Philip  Van  Cortlandt,  James  Holmes,  David 
Dayton,  and  John  Thomas. 

For  King's  County. — Johannes  E.  Lott,  Henry  Williams, 
Jeremiah  Remsen,  Theodorus  Polhemus,  and  John 
Vanderbilt. 

For  Richmond  County. — John  Journey,  Richard  Conner, 
and  Richard  Lawrence. 

For  Queen's  County. — Jacob  Blackvvell,  Jonathan  Law- 
rence, Joseph  Robinson,  and  Nathaniel  Torn. 

For  Charlotte  County. — John  Williams,  William  Marsh. 

Ordered,  That  Captain  Montgomerie,  Colonel  Holmes, 
and  Mr.  Hallett,  be  a  Committee  to  examine  the  list  of 
sundry  articles  retained  by  the  Merchants  of  New-York 
at  the  request  of  the  City  Committee,  and  report  whether 
any  and  what  part  of  those  Goods  may  be  necessary  to  be 
retained  for  the  use  of  this  Colony. 

Mr.  Kissam  reported  a  draught  of  a  Letter  to  Joseph 
Warren,  Esq.,  and  others,  the  Committee  of  Safety  for  the 
Colony  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay ;  which  was  read,  and 
approved  of,  and  is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 

In  Provincial  Congress,  New-York,  June  7,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  The  multiplicity  of  business  brought  be- 
fore us  by  the  Continental  Congress,  and  a  short  adjourn- 
ment of  our  body  from  Saturday  till  Tuesday  morning, 
have  rendered  it  impossible  for  us  to  give  a  more  early  at- 
tention to  your  favour  of  the  26th  ultimo.  We  have  little 
to  say  upon  the  principal  subject  of  your  letter,  as  we  con- 
ceive that  the  Provincial  Congresses  of  both  Colonies  are 
concluded  from  any  discretionary  provision  relative  to  the 
ordnance  and  other  stores  taken  at  Crown  Point  and  Ti- 
cond.eroga,  of  which  you  must  be  fully  convinced  by  the 
acts  of  the  Continental  Congress  on  that  subject,  copies 
of  which  are  enclosed. 

We  are  fully  apprised  of  the  dangerous  consequences 
that  would  await  this  Capital  of  our  Colony,  either  from 
supineness,  or  a  confidence  in  the  honour  of  those  who, 
being  the  avowed  instruments  of  ministerial  vengeance,  we 
cannot  expect  will  hold  any  faith  with  us.  Whatever  arti- 
cles we  are  now  possessed  of  that  may  be  used  to  the  injury 
of  this  City  in  particular,  or  of  the  Continent  in  general, 
we  shall  be  studious  to  prevent,  if  possible,  from  falling  into 
the  hands  of  our  enemies. 

In  sympathizing  with  you  for  the  unhappy  Town  of 
Boston,  we  shall  do  every  thing  in  our  power  to  prevent 
this  City  from  being  reduced  to  the  same  deplorable  situa- 
tion, and  shall  watchfully  attend  to  every  means  of  defence 
which  our  present  or  future  circumstances  may  enable  us 
to  improve. 

We  arc,  gentlemen  and  brethren,  with  great  respect  and 
sincere  affection,  your  most  obedient  humble  servants. 
To  Joseph  Warren,  Esq.,  and  the  Committee  of  Safety 

for  the  Colony  of  Massachusetts-Bay,  Watertown. 


Ordered,  That  the  above  Letter  be  engrossed,  signed 
by  the  President,  and  transmitted  by  the  first  opportunity. 

Captain  Montgomerie,  from  the  Committee  appointed 
for  that  purpose,  brought  in  a  Report  of  such  parts  of  the 
Goods  retained  by  the  Merchants  of  this  City,  at  the  re- 
quest of  the  Committee  of  the  City  of  New-  York,  as  may 
be  necessary  to  be  retained  at  the  expense  of  the  Colony. 

Ordered,  That  the  said  Report  lay  on  the  table  for  the 
perusal  of  the  Members. 

Whereas,  James  Rivington,  of  this  City,  Printer,  hath 
signed  the  General  Association,  and  has  lately  published  a 
handbill  declaring  his  intention  rigidly  to  adhere  to  the  said 
Association ;  and  also  asked  the  pardon  of  the  publick, 
who  have  been  offended  by  his  ill-judged  publications : 

Resolved,  therefore,  That  the  said  James  Rivington  be 
permitted  to  return  to  his  house  and  family;  and  that  this 
Congress  doth  recommend  it  to  the  inhabitants  of  this  Colo- 
ny not  to  molest  him  in  his  person  or  property. 

The  Congress  then  took  into  consideration  the  case  of 
Robert  and  John  Murray,  which  lies  before  this  Congress 
by  a  general  reference  from  the  Continental  Congress  ;  and 
after  some  time  spent  therein,  it  was  ordered  to  be  deferred 
for  further  consideration. 

The  Congress  adjourned  till  nine  o'clock  to-morrow 
morning. 

Die  Jovis,  9  ho.  A.  M.,  June  8,  1775. 
The  Congress  met  pursuant  to  adjournment.  Opened 
with  prayers  by  the  Reverend  Mr.  Moore.    Present : 

For  the  City  and  County  of  New-York. — Peter  Van  Brugh 
Livingston,  Esquire,  President;  Isaac  Low,  Alexander 
McDougall,  Leonard  Lispenard,  Joseph  Hallett,  Isaac 
Roosevelt,  John  De  Lancey,  John  Marston,  James 
Beekman,  Samuel  Verplanck,  David  Clarkson,  Benja- 
min Kissam,  John  Morin  Scott,  John  Van  Cortlandt, 
and  Jacobus  Van  Zandt. 

For  the  City  and  County  of  Albany. — Volkert  P.  Douw, 
Esq.,  Vice-President ;  Robert  Yates,  Abraham  Yates, 
Jacob  Cuyler,  Peter  Silvester,  Walter  Livingston,  Robert 
Van  Rensselaer,  and  Henry  Glenn. 

For  Dutchess  County. — Dirck  Brinckerhoff,  Anthony  Hoff- 
man, Richard  Montgomerie,  Ephraim  Payne,  Gilbert 
Livingston,  Jonathan  Landon,  Gysbert  Schenck,  and 
Nathaniel  Sackett. 

For  Ulster  County. — John  Nicholson. 

For  Orange  County. — David  Pye,  Peter  Clowes,  William 
Allison,  and  Jeremiah  Clarke. 

For  Suffolk  County. — Nathaniel  Woodhull,  John  Sloss 
Hobart,  Thomas  Tredwell,  Ezra  L'Hommedieu,  and 
Thomas  Wickham. 

For  Westchester  County. — Gouverneur  Morris,  Le*vis 
Graham,  James  Van  Cortlandt,  Stephen  Ward,  Joseph 
Drake,  Philip  Van  Cortlandt,  James  Holmes,  David 
Dayton,  John  Thomas,  Jun.,  and  William  Paulding. 

For  King's  County. — Johannes  E.  Lott,  Henry  Williams, 
Jeremiah  Remsen,  Theodorus  Polhemus,  Nicholas  Co- 
ven hoven,  and  John  Vanderbilt. 

For  Richmond  County. — John  Journey,  Richard  Conner, 
and  Richard  Lawrence. 

For  Queen's  County. — Jacob  Blackwell,  Jonathan  Law- 
rence, Joseph  Robinson,  and  Nathaniel  Tom. 

For  Charlotte  County, — John  Williams,  William  Marsh. 

A  Letter,  dated  Cambridge,  June  4,  1775,  from  Arte- 
mas  Ward,  General  of  the  Massachusetts  Army,  Joseph 
Warren,  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of  Safety,  and  Moses 
Gill,  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of  Supplies,  was  read. 

An  answer  to  the  said  Letter  was  read,  and  approved, 
and  is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit ; 

In  Provincial  Congress,  New-York,  Juno  8,  1775. 

Brethren  and  Countrymen:  Your  letter  of  the  4th 
instant  hath  afflicted  and  astonished  us.  We  did  console 
ourselves  in  our  want  of  ammunition,  with  an  assurance 
that  you  were  possessed  of  a  very  ample  quantity  for  your 
defence.  We  expected  a  supply  with  patience,  because 
we  had  a  good  hope  that  the  absolute  necessity  would  not 
arise  before  it  was  provided  against ;  and  incautiously,  the 
whole  of  what  was  in  the  Colony  of  New-York,  hath  been 
so  disposed  of  that  there  is  not  now  one  hundred  weight 
to  be  purchased  for  any  price.    We  have  forwarded  your 


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NEW- YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1286 


letter  to  the  American  Congress,  and  hope  that  the  Colony 
of  Pennsylvania  may  be  able  to  succour  you,  though  we 
cannot.  You  have  our  warmest  wishes  in  the  great  cause 
of  American  liberty,  and  we  pray  you  to  believe  that  we 
are  firmly  resolved  to  withstand  the  encroachments  of  Min- 
isterial tyranny  to  the  utmost  of  our  abilities,  and  to  labour 
for  the  restoration  of  that  harmony  between  these  Colonies 
and  the  parent  State,  which  is  essential  to  the  peace,  the 
glory,  the  existence  of  the  whole  British  Empire. 

We  are,  gentlemen,  your  most  obedient  humble  servants, 
To  the  Hon.  Artemas  Ward,  General  of  the  Massachusetts 
Army ;  Joseph  Warren,  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of 
Safety  ;  Moses  Gill,  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of  Sup- 
plies, at  Cambridge,  Massachusetts-Bay. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  thereof  be  engrossed,  signed,  and 
transmitted. 

The  President,  with  the  leave  of  the  Congress,  left  the 
Chair,  and  went  to  Elizabethtown,  to  confer  with  the  Com- 
mittee there  on  the  above-mentioned  Letter  from  General 
Ward ;  and  the  Vice-President  took  the  Chair. 

A  draught  of  a  Letter  to  the  honourable  the  Continental 
Congress,  to  attend  a  copy  of  the  above-mentioned  Letter 
from  General  Ward  and  Messrs.  Warren  and  Gill,  was 
read  and  approved. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  thereof  be  engrossed,  signed  by 
the  Vice-President,  and  transmitted. 

Whereas,  by  an  Order  of  the  Continental  Congress  of 
the  15th  of  May  ultimo,  and  the  explanation  of  the  Con- 
tinental Delegates  of  this  Colony  accompanying  the  said 
Order,  it  appears  that  the  inhabitants  of  this  City  are  di- 
rected not  to  remove  any  Military  Stores  belonging  to  the 
Crown  :  And  whereas,  this  Congress  is  well  informed  that 
some  persons  have  lately  seized  and  removed  the  Military 
Stores  belonging  to  the  Crown  at  Turtle-Bay,  this  Con- 
gress doth  Resolve,  That  such  a  step  is  a  direct  breach  of 
the  Continental  Order,  and  tends  to  destroy  the  weight  of 
their  and  our  authority,  is  inimical  to  the  true  interest  of 
the  Colonies,  and  tends  to  involve  this  City  in  the  utmost 
confusion  and  distress  :  and  also, 

Resolved,  That  Messrs.  Isaac  Roosevelt,  John  Van 
Cortlandt,  Alexander  McDougall,  David  Clarkson,  Joseph 
Hallett,  Benjamin  Kissam,  Gouverneur  Morris,  and  Isaac 
Low,  be  a  Committee  to  repair  immediately  to  Turtle- 
Bay,  to  signify  this  Resolution  to  the  persons  that  may 
be  assembled  there  for  the  purpose  aforesaid,  and  to  order 
them  immediately  to  disperse,  and  desist  from  the  further 
execution  of  the  said  measure. 

And  Resolved  also,  That  such  of  the  said  Stores  as  may 
have  been  removed,  be  immediately  replaced. 

The  Congress  then  adjourned  till  four  o'clock,  P.  M. 

Die  Jovis,  4to  ho.  P.  M.,  June  8,  1775. 

The  Congress  met  pursuant  to  adjournment.  Present  : 
Volkert  P.  Douw,  Esq.,  Vice-President. 

For  the  City  and  County  of  New-York. — Isaac  Low, 
Alexander  McDougall,  Joseph  Hallett,  Isaac  Roosevelt, 
John  De  Lancey,  James  Beekman,  Samuel  Verplanck, 
David  Clarkson,  Benjamin  Kissam,  John  Morin  Scott, 
Jacobus  Van  Zandt,  and  John  Marston. 

For  the  City  and  County  of  Albany. — Robert  Yates,  Abra- 
ham Yates,  Jacob  Cuyler,  Peter  Silvester,  Walter  Liv- 
ingston, Robert  Van  Rensselaer,  and  Henry  Glenn. 

For  Dutchess  County. — Dirck  Brinckerhoff,  Anthony  Hoff- 
man, Ephraim  Payne,  Gilbert  Livingston,  Jonathan  Lan- 
don,  Gysbert  Schenck,  and  Nathaniel  Sackett. 

For  Ulster  County. — James  Clinton,  Christopher  Tappen, 
and  John  Nicholson. 

For  Orange  County. — David  Pye,  Peter  Clowes,  William 
Allison,  Abraham  Lent,  and  Jeremiah  Clarke. 

For  Suffolk  County. — Nathaniel  Woodhull,  John  Sloss  Ho- 
bart,  Thomas  Tredwell,  Ezra  L'Hommedieu,  and  Thos. 
Wickham. 

For  Westchester  County. — Gouverneur  Morris,  Lewis 
Graham,  James  Van  Cortlandt,  Stephen  Ward,  Philip 
Van  Cortlandt,  James  Holmes,  David  Dayton,  John 
Thomas,  Junior,  and  William  Paulding. 

For  King's  County. — Henry  Williams,  Jeremiah  Remsen, 


Theodorus  Polhemus,  Nicholas  Covenhoven,  and  John 
Vanderbilt. 

For  Richmond  County. — John  Journey,  Richard  Conner, 
and  Richard  Lawrence. 

For  Queen's  County. — Jacob  Blackwell,  Jonathan  Law- 
rence, Joseph  Robinson,  and  Nathaniel  Tom. 

For  Charlotte  County. — John  Williams,  William  Marsh. 

Mr.  Scott,  seconded  by  Mr.  McDougall,  moved  in  the 
words  following,  to  wit : 

Mr.  President,  as  1  am  of  opinion  that  it  is  absolutely 
necessary  to  dismantle  the  fort,  and  to  secure  certain  im- 
plements and  other  accommodations  for  war  in  this  City, 
to  the  end  that  they  may  not  be  hostilely  used  against  us, 
1  move  that  application  be  immediately  made  to  the  Con- 
tinental Congress,  to  authorize  this  Congress  to  exercise  a 
discretionary  power  with  respect  to  every  measure  that 
may  appear  to  us  necessary  to  prevent  the  said  fort  and 
other  fortifications,  implements,  and  accommodations  for 
war  in  this  City,  from  being  offensively  used  against  it. 

Debates  arose  on  the  said  motion,  and  the  question  being 
put  thereon,  it  was  carried  in  the  negative,  in  the  following 
manner,  to  wit : 

For  the  Motion.  Against  the  Motion. 

2  Orange  County,  2  King's  County, 

2  Ulster  County,  2  Richmond  County, 

2  Suffolk  County,  4  New-York  County, 

2  Dutchess  County,  3  Albany  County, 

2  Charlotte  County.  2  Westchester  County. 

10  13 

Mr.  McDougall,  Walter  Livingston,  Colonel  Hoffman, 
dissentients  against  the  vote  of  the  Counties  they  respect- 
ively represent. 

Mr.  Kissam,  from  the  Committee  who  went  to  Turtle- 
Bay,  reported,  that  the  Committee  went  to  Turtle-Bay, 
and  found  no  person  there  ;  that  having  been  informed  that 
sundry  persons  were  at  the  house  of  David  Devore,  the 
Committee  went  there,  and  found  some  persons  there  arm- 
ed ;  that  upon  informing  them  of  the  Resolve  of  this  Con- 
gress, in  consequence  of  which  the  said  Committee  was 
appointed,  the  persons  there  armed  acknowledged  that 
some  Military  Stores  had  been  removed  from  Turtle-Bay ; 
and  they  did  engage  that  the  said  Stores  should  be  return- 
ed, if  carts  were  sent  up  to  Turtle-Bay  for  that  purpose. 
And  Mr.  Kissam  farther  reported,  that  Mr.  Low  and  him- 
self had  sent  up  cartmen  with  carts  to  Turtle-Bay,  to  carry- 
back and  replace  the  said  Stores. 

The  Congress  took  into  consideration  the  Report  of  the 
Committee  who  were  appointed  to  examine  the  list  of  the 
Goods  retained  by  the  Merchants,  at  the  request  of  the 
Committee  of  the  City  of  New- York ;  and,  after  some 
time  spent  therein,  it  was  deferred  till  to-morrow  morning. 

Thomas  Wickham  having  the  care  of  Gardner's  Island, 
which  is  much  exposed  to  having  the  stock  taken  off  by 
armed  vessels  for  the  use  of  the  King's  Troops  at  Boston, 
or  elsewhere ;  and  the  said  Island  being  in  a  defenceless 
state,  desires  the  advice  of  this  Board,  whether  he  be  per- 
mitted to  take  pay  for  said  stock,  in  case  it  is  not  in  his 
power  to  prevent  their  taking  the  same. 

After  some  time  spent  in  consideration  thereof,  it  was 
deferred  for  further  consideration. 

The  Congress  then  adjourned  to  nine  o'clock  to-morrow 
morning. 

Die  Veneris,  9  ho.,  June  9,  1775. 
The  Congress  met  pursuant  to  adjournment.  Opened 

with  prayers  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Auchmuty.  Present : 

For  the  City  and  County  of  New-  York. — Peter  Van  Brugh 
Livingston,  Esquire,  President;  Isaac  Low,  Alexander 
McDougall,  Leonard  Lispenard,  Joseph  Hallett,  Abra- 
ham Walton,  Abraham  Brasher,  Isaac  Roosevelt,  John 
De  Lancey,  James  Beekman,  Samuel  Verplanck,  David 
Clarkson,  Thomas  Smith,  Benjamin  Kissam,  John  Morin 
Scott,  Jacobus  Van  Zandt,  John  Marston,  Isaac  Sears. 

For  the  City  and  County  of  Albany. — Volkert  P.  Douw, 
Esq.,  Vice-President ;  Robert  Yates,  Abraham  Yates, 
Jacob  Cuyler,  Peter  Silvester,  Walter  Livingston,  Robert 
Van  Rensselaer,  and  Henry  Glenn. 

For  Dutchess  County. — Dirck  Brinckerhoff,  Anthony  Hoff- 
man, Richard  Montgomerie,  Ephraim  Payne,  Gilbert 


1287 


NEW- YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  MAY,  1775. 


1288 


Livingston,  Jonathan  Landon,  Gysbert  Schenck,  and 
Nathaniel  Sackett. 

For  Ulster  County. — James  Clinton,  Christopher  Tappen, 
and  John  Nicholson. 

For  Orange  County. — David  Pye,  William  Allison,  Abra- 
ham Lent,  and  Jeremiah  Clarke. 

For  Suffolk  County. — Nathaniel  Woodhull,  John  Sloss 
Hobart,  Thomas  Tredwell,  Ezra  L'Hommedieu,  and 
Thomas  Wickham. 

For  Westchester  County. — Gouverneur  Morris,  Lewis 
Graham,  James  Van  Cortlandt,  Stephen  Ward,  Joseph 
Drake,  Philip  Van  Cortlandt,  James  Holmes,  David 
Dayton,  John  Thomas,  Jun.,  and  William  Paulding. 

For  King's  County. — Henry  Williams,  Jeremiah  Remsen, 
John  Leffertse,  and  John  Vanderbilt. 

For  Richmond  County. — John  Journey,  Richard  Conner, 
and  Richard  Lawrence. 

For  Queen's  County. — Jacob  Blackwell,  Jonathan  Law- 
rence, Joseph  Robinson,  and  Nathaniel  Tom. 

For  Charlotte  County. — John  Williams,  William  Marsh. 

Mr.  Isaac  Sears  attending  at  the  door,  was  called  in,  and 
produced  a  Certificate  from  the  General  Committee  of  As- 
sociation for  the  City  and  County  of  Neiv-York,  signed  by 
Henry  Remsen,  Deputy'  Chairman ;  which  being  read,  is 
in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 

New. York  Committee  Chamber,  June  8,  1775. 

In  pursuance  of  an  order  of  this  Committee,  at  their 
last  meeting,  a  poll  was  this  day  opened  at  the  City-Hall 
for  the  election  of  a  Deputy  to  represent  this  City  and 
County  in  Provincial  Congress,  in  the  place  of  Mr.  George 
Folliot,  who  declines  serving ;  and  by  a  return  of  the  said 
poll,  it  appears  that  Mr.  Isaac  Sears  was  elected  by  a  great 
majority  as  a  Deputy  for  the  purpose  above-mentioned. 

A  true  copy  from  the  Minutes: 

Henry  Remsen,  Dep.  Chairman. 

Ordered,  That  the  said  Certificate  be  filed,  and  that 
Mr.  Sears  take  his  seat  accordingly. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Sears,  Mr.  De  Lanccy,  and  Mr.Mc- 
Dougall,  be  a  Secret  Committee  to  examine  what  quantity 
of  Saltpetre  is  in  the  hands  of  the  Apothecaries  in  this 
City,  and  to  make  report  with  all  convenient  speed. 

The  Congress  resumed  the  consideration  of  the  Report 
of  the  Committee  appointed  to  examine  the  list  of  Goods 
retained  by  the  Merchants  of  this  City,  at  the  request  of 
the  General  Committee  ;  and  after  some  time  spent  therein, 

Ordered,  That  Captain  Montgomerie,  Colonel  Holmes, 
Mr.  Hallett,  Mr.  Brasher,  Mr.  Glenn,  and  Mr.  Cuyler,  be 
a  Committee  to  estimate  and  report  to  this  Congress  the 
quantity  of  every  article  necessary  for  equipping  three 
thousand  effective  men,  including  officers ;  and  that  they 
make  report  with  all  convenient  speed. 

The  Congress  resumed  the  case  of  Robert  and  John 
Murray;  and  after  some  time  spent  therein, 

Ordered,  That  it  be  deferred  for  further  consideration. 

Mr.  Sears  informed  this  Congress,  that  the  following 
small  quantities  of  Gunpowder,  formerly  delivered  out  of 
the  Magazines  in  this  City  for  sale,  yet  remain  unsold,  to 
wit :  one  hundred  weight  in  the  care  of  Messrs.  Woodward 
and  Kip;  one  hunched  weight  in  the  care  of  Jeremiah 
Piatt:  one  hundred  pounds  of  damaged  powder  in  the 
care  of  Comfort  Sands ;  and  fifty  pounds  do.,  in  the  care  of 
Messrs.  Berrian  and  Fish ;  about  twenty  pounds  in  the 
care  of  Thomas  Hazard. 

Ordered,  That  those  several  gentlemen  who  have  the 
care  of  the  said  Powder,  be  respectively  directed  to  keep 
the  whole  now  in  their  custody  until  the  farther  order  of 
this  Congress. 

Ordered,  That  all  the  damaged  Powder  now  in  this 
City,  and  also  the  damaged  Powder  at  Ticonderoga  and 
Crown  Point,  be  sent  to  the  Powder-Mill  near  Hudson's 
River,  in  Rhynbeck  Precinct,  to  be  remanufactured. 

And  the  following  Letter  to  the  Commander-in-Chief  at 
Ticonderoga,  and  also  the  following  Letter  to  the  Commis- 
sioners at  Albany,  appointed  to  superintend  the  removal 
of  the  Cannon  and  Stores  from  Ticonderoga  and  Croivn 
Point,  being  respectively  read,  were  approved  of. 

And  the  said  Letter  to  the  said  Commander-in-Chief  is 
in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 


In  Provincial  Congress,  New-York,  June  9,  1775. 

Sir  :  This  Congress  have  received  credible  information 
that  there  is  a  very  large  quantity  of  damaged  gunpowder 
under  your  care  at  Ticonderoga,  which  can  be  so  cured  and 
manufactured  as  to  render  it  fit  for  use.  There  is  a  mill 
erected  near  the  east  side  of  Hudson's  River,  in  Rhynbeck 
Precinct,  in  Dutchess  County,  for  the  purpose  of  making 
gunpowder.  We  have  therefore  requested  our  Commis- 
sioners at  Albany,  with  all  diligence  and  despatch,  to  send 
the  said  damaged  powder  to  that  place ;  and  we  request 
that  you  will,  on  their  application,  assist  in  forwarding  it ; 
and  that  this  matter  may  be  kept  as  secret  as  possible. 

By  order  and  in  behalf  of  the  Provincial  Congress. 

We  are,  Sir,  your  very  humble  servants. 

P.  S.  We  enclose  a  Resolve  of  the  Continental  Congress, 
certified  by  their  Secretary,  enclosed  to  us  to  be  forwarded. 

And  the  said  Letter  to  the  Commissioners  at  Albany,  is 
in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 

In  Provincial  Congress,  New-York,  June  9,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  We  are  well  informed  that  there  is  a  large 
quantity  of  damaged  gunpowder  at  Ticonderoga,  w  hich  may 
be  rendered  fit  for  use,  and  that  there  is  a  mill  erected  in 
Rhynbeck  Precinct,  near  Hudson's  River,  for  that  purpose. 
That  article  is  now  become  an  object  of  great  importance. 
This  Congress  do  therefore  request,  that  you  will,  without 
delay,  give  directions  that  all  the  damaged  powder  at  Ti- 
conderoga and  Crown  Point  be  immediately  brought  down 
to  the  said  manufactory  ;  and  that  you  acquaint  us  with  the 
quantity  which  you  shall  have  sent  to  the  said  manufactory. 

By  order  and  on  behalf  of  the  Provincial  Congress. 

We  are,  gentlemen,  your  humble  servants. 
To  Messrs.  John  N.  Bleccker,  Henry  J.  Bogert,  George 

Palmer,  Dirck  Swart,  and  Peter  Lansing,  at  Albany. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  of  each  of  the  said  Letters  be 
engrossed,  signed  by  the  President,  and  transmitted  with  all 
convenient  speed  ;  and  that  a  copy  (certified)  of  the  above 
Order  of  this  Congress  for  the  removal  of  the  said  damaged 
Powder,  be  enclosed  to  the  Commander-in-Chief  at  Ticon- 
deroga ;  and  also  that  a  certified  copy  thereof  be  sent  to 
the  said  Commissioners  at  Albany. 

Whereas,  sundry  Mills  and  other  Manufactories  for  the 
making  of  Gunpowder  and  Muskets,  are  now  erected  and 
about  to  be  erected  within  this  Colony;  and  forasmuch  as 
all  such  Manufactories  will  greatly  tend  both  to  the  imme- 
diate defence  and  the  future  wealth  of  this  Colony, 

Resolved,  therefore,  That  for  every  hundred  weight  of 
good  Gunpowder  which,  upon  due  proof,  shall  be  certified 
by  the  Committee  of  the  County  where  any  Powder-Mill 
is  or  shall  be  erected,  to  have  been  manufactured  within 
this  Colony,  and  to  have  been  delivered  to  the  said  Com- 
mittee, the  bounty  of  five  Pounds  shall  be  paid  to  the  manu- 
facturer thereof,  over  and  above  the  price  of  such  Powder ; 
and  for  every  hundred  good  Muskets,  of  proof  so  certified, 
the  bounty  of  twenty  Pounds ;  the  bounties  abovesaid  to 
continue  for  twelve  months  from  the  date  of  this  Resolve. 

Mr.  Tredwell  made  a  motion,  in  the  words  following,  to 
wit : 

As  it  may  hereafter  be  necessary  to  dismantle  the  Fort 
in  this  City,  for  the  preservation  of  the  inhabitants  from 
the  insults  of  the  soldiery,  in  case  of  the  arrival  of  Troops 
from  Great  Britain  or  Ireland;  and  as  the  Cannon  and 
other  implements  of  war  in  the  said  Fort,  and  upon  the 
Battery,  and  in  other  parts  of  this  City,  will  be  necessary 
for  the  completing  those  fortifications  which  the  Continental 
Congress  have  ordered  us  to  erect ;  and  as,  by  an  early 
order  from  that  respectable  body,  we  conceive  that  we  are 
not  at  liberty  to  take  possession  of  any  of  the  King's  muni- 
tions or  stores  of  war,  I  move  that  we  do  immediately  des- 
patch a  Letter  to  the  Continental  Congress,  praying  their 
most  speedy  advice  and  directions  in  the  premises. 

The  said  motion  being  seconded  by  Mr.  Scott,  debates 
arose  thereon  ;  and  it  was  insisted  by  those  Members  who 
opposed  the  motion,  that  it  was  the  same  in  substance  with 
a  motion  made,  voted  on,  and  carried  in  the  negative  on 
yesterday. 

And  the  question  being  put  thereon,  Whether  this  mo- 
tion is  the  same  in  substance  with  that  of  yesterday  ? 


1289 


NEW-YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1290 


It  was  carried  in  the  affirmative,  in  the  manner  follow- 


ing, viz : 

That  it  is  the  same  Motion. 

3  Albany, 
2  King's, 

2  Westchester, 

2  Richmond, 

2  Suffolk, 

4  New- York. 

15 


That  it  in  not  the  same  Motion. 
2  Dutchess, 
2  Orange, 
2  Charlotte, 
2  Ulster. 


Queen's  County  Deputies  being  equally  divided,  could 
not  vote. 

Mr.  Tredwell,  Colonel  Hoffman,  and  Mr.  Henry  Wil- 
liams, respectively,  dissented  from  the  votes  of  their  respec- 
tive Counties,  and  desired  their  dissents  to  be  entered. 

The  President  of  this  Congress,  who  went  to  Elizabeth- 
town  to  confer  with  the  Committee  there  on  the  subject- 
matter  of  the  Letter  received  yesterday  from  General 
Ward,  returned,  and  reported  to  this  Congress,  that  the 
Committee  at  Elizabet/itown  have  only  eight  quarter  casks 
of  Gunpowder,  which  they  are  ready  to  spare  for  the  Pro- 
vincial Army  of  Massachusetts-Bay ;  that  the  said  Com- 
mittee of  Elizabethtoivn  have  expectations  to  obtain  a  far- 
ther supply  of  Powder  at  Brunswick,  which,  if  obtained, 
shall  be  sent  to  New-York  for  the  use  of  the  said  Provin- 
cial Army  of  Massachusetts-Bay. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Peter  T.  Curtenius,  as  Commissary 
of  this  Congress,  give  a  receipt  for  the  said  eight  quarter 
casks  of  Powder;  and  also,  that  the  said  Commissary  give 
a  receipt  for  such  farther  quantity  of  Powder  as  may  be 
received  from  the  said  Committee  of  Elizabethtoivn,  or 
from  Brunswick,  and  put  the  same  into  the  Powder-House 
in  this  City,  until  the  farther  order  of  this  Congress. 

Mr.  Scott  moved,  that  the  motion  made  by  Mr.  Tred- 
well this  day,  as  before  entered  on  the  Minutes,  be  taken 
into  consideration  to-morrow  ;  and  the  same  being  seconded 
by  Mr.  Tredwell,  debates  arose  thereon ;  and  the  question 
being  put,  it  was  carried  in  the  affirmative,  in  manner  fol- 
lowing, viz : 

For  the  Affirmative.  For  the  Negative. 

2  Suffolk,  2  King's. — Mr.  Williams  dissenting. 
■2  Onnge,  2  Richmond. 

3  Albany,  — 
2  Charlotte,  4 

2  Westchester,  Queen's  County  Deputies  being 

2  Dutchess,  equally  divided,  could  not  vote. 
2  Ulster, 

4  New-York. 

19 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Van  Cortlandt,  Major  Van  Cort- 
landt,  and  Colonel  Van  Rensselaer,  be  added  to  the  Com- 
mittee of  Arrangement  of  the  Troops  to  be  raised  in  this 
Colony  ;  and  that  the  said  Committee  sit  this  afternoon. 

Colonel  Van  Cortlandt  and  Mr.  David  Clarkson  ob- 
tained leave  of  absence  for  to-morrow. 

The  Congress  then  adjourned  to  nine  o'clock  to-morrow 
morning. 

Die  Saturnii,  9  ho.,  June  10, 1775. 
The  Congress  met  pursuant  to  adjournment.  Opened 

with  prayers  by  the  Rev.  Doctor  Rodgers.    Present : 

For  the  City  and  Coun  ty  of  New-  York. — Peter  Van  Brugh 
Livingston,  Esquire,  President;  Isaac  Low,  Alexander 
McDougall,  Leonard  Lispenard,  Joseph  Hallett,  Abra- 
ham Walton,  Abraham  Brasher,  Isaac  Roosevelt,  John 
De  Lancey,  James  Beekman,  Sam'l  Verplanck,  Richard 
Yates,  Thomas  Smith,  Benj.  Kissam,  John  Morin  Scott, 
Jacobus  Van  Zandt,  John  Marston,  andlsaac  Sears. 

For  the  City  and  County  of  Albany. — Volkert  P.  Douw, 
Esq.,  Vice-President;  Robert  Yates,  Abraham  Yates, 
Jacob  Cuyler,  Peter  Silvester,  Walter  Livingston,  Robert 
Van  Rensselaer,  and  Henry  Glenn. 

For  Dutchess  County. — Dirck  Brinckerhoff,  Anthony  Hoff- 
man, Richard  Montgomerie,  Ephraim  Payne,  Gilbert 
Livingston,  Jonathan  Landon,  Gysbert  Schenck,  and 
Nathaniel  Sackett. 

For  Ulster  County. — James  Clinton,  Christopher  Tappen, 
and  John  Nicholson. 

For  Orange  County. — David  Pye,  Abraham  Lent,  and 
Jeremiah  Clarke. 

For  Suffolk  County. — Nathaniel  Woodhull,  Thomas  Tred- 
well, and  Thomas  Wickham. 


For  Westchester  County. — Gouverneur  Morris,  Lewis 
Graham,  Stephen  Ward,  Joseph  Drake,  Philip  Van 
Cortlandt,  James  Holmes,  David  Dayton,  John  Thomas, 
Junior,  and  William  Paulding. 

For  King's  County. — Henry  Williams,  Jeremiah  Remsen, 
Theodorus  Polhemus,  John  Leffertse,  Nicholas  Coven- 
hoven,  and  John  Vanderbilt. 

For  Richmond  County. — John  Journey,  Richard  Conner, 
and  Richard  Lawrence. 

For  Queen's  County. — Jacob  Blackwell,  Jonathan  Law- 
rence, and  Nathaniel  Tom. 

For  Charlotte  County. — John  Williams,  William  Marsh. 

The  President  informed  the  Congress  that  the  Commit- 
tee of  Elizabethtoiim  had  been  so  alert  as  to  send  the  ad- 
dition of  six  quarter  casks  and  two  half  barrels  of  Powder 
for  the  use  of  the  Massachusetts  Army  ;  and  a  Letter  from 
Abraham  Clarke,  which  attended  the  same,  was  read  and 
filed. 

Ordered,  That  the  said  Powder,  together  with  that  re- 
ceived yesterday,  be  committed  to  the  care  of  Mr.  McDou- 
gall, to  be  forwarded  ;  and  ordered  that  he  purchase  sucli 
other  quantity  as  he  can  get,  for  the  same  purpose,  and 
forward  the  whole  in  such  a  manner  as  he  shall  think  most 
safe  and  prudent. 

Colonel  Tusteen  appeared  in  Congress  as  a  Member  for 
Orange  County,  in  pursuance  of  his  election  and  return, 
as  appears  by  a  Certificate  formerly  read  and  filed. 

Ordered,  That  he  take  his  seat. 

Ordered,  That  any  Cooper  in  this  City  of  New-York 
be  at  liberty  to  go  to  Turtle-Bay,  or  any  place  adjacent 
thereto,  and  cooper  and  put  in  order  the  Crown  Stores 
which  were  lately  removed  from  thence,  in  such  a  manner 
as  Francis  Stevens,  Esq.,  shall  direct. 

The  Mayor  of  the  City  of  New-York  attending  at  the 
door,  was  called  in,  and  informed  the  Congress  that  appli- 
cation had  been  made  to  him  respecting  some  Arms  lately 
taken  out  of  the  baggage-carts  of  the  Troops  lately  em- 
barking from  this  City  ;  and  he  delivered  a  Letter  from  his 
Honour  the  Lieutenant-Governour  to  him  on  that  subject ; 
which  was  read  :  And  thereupon, 

Mr.  Morris  moved,  and  was  seconded  by  Mr.  Low,  in 
the  words  following,  to  wit : 

I  move  that  the  Arms  and  Military  Accoutrements  taken 
from  His  Majesty's  Troops  on  Tuesday  last,  be  restored  ; 
and  for  that  purpose  that  a  Resolve  of  the  Congress  be 
made,  as  follows : 

Resolved,  That  it  is  the  sense  of  this  Congress,  that 
every  inhabitant  of  this  Colony  who  is  possessed  of  any 
of  the  said  Arms  and  Accoutrements,  should  immediately 
deliver  them  to  the  Mayor  of  New-York;  and  that  a 
Committee  be  appointed  to  see  that  this  Resolve  be  com- 
plied with. 

And  debates  arising  on  the  said  motion  ;  and  the  ques- 
tion being  put  thereon,  it  was  carried  in  the  affirmative,  in 
the  manner  following,  to  wit : 

For  the  Affirmative.  For  the  Negative. 

3  Albany,                 2  Charlotte,  2  Orange. 
2  Westchester,          2  Richmond,  2  Ulster. 
2  King's,                 2  Dutchess.  — 
2  Queen's,              —  4 

4  New-York,  19 


Messrs.  Scott,  McDougall,  Lispenard,  and  Sears,  dis- 
sented from  New-York ;  Mr.  Tom  from  Queen's  County  ; 
Mr.  Tappen  from  Ulster;  and  Messrs.  Landon,  Payne, 
and  Sackett,  from  Dutchess  County. 

Resolved,  therefore,  That  it  is  the  sense  of  this  Con- 
gress, that  every  inhabitant  of  this  Colony  who  is  possessed 
of  any  of  the  said  Arms  or  Accoutrements  taken  from  His 
Majesty's  Troops  on  Tuesday  last,  should  immediately  de- 
liver them  to  the  Mayor  of  the  City  of  New-  York ;  and, 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Isaac  Roosevelt,  Mr.  John  De  Lan- 
cey, and  Mr.  John  Marston,  be  a  Committee  to  see  this 
Resolution  complied  with. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  of  this  Resolve  be  delivered  to 
the  Mayor  of  the  City  of  New-  York. 

A  draught  of  a  Letter  to  Governour  Trumbull,  of  the 
Colony  of  Connecticut,  on  the  subject  of  our  supply  of 
Powder  to  the  Colony  of  Massachusetts-Bay,  was  read,  and 
approved. 


1291 


NEW-YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1292 


Ordered,  That  a  copy  thereof  be  engrossed,  signed  by 
the  President,  and  delivered  to  Mr.  McDougall,  to  be  for- 
warded. 

This  Congress  then  resumed  the  consideration  of  the 
case  of  Robert  and  John  Murray ;  and  the  Memorial  of 
Robert  and  John  Murray,  on  the  subject  of  their  breach 
of  the  Association  of  the  late  Continental  Congress,  and 
the  several  papers  annexed  to  it,  whereby  they  pray  to  be 
restored  to  their  former  commercial  privileges,  being  read,  on 
a  reference  thereof  to  us  by  the  Continental  Congress  ;  and 
it  appearing  that  they,  the  said  Robert  and  John  Murray, 
have  published  a  printed  handbill  expressing  their  contrition 
for  their  said  offence,  and  their  resolution  for  the  future  strictly 
to  adhere  to  the  said  Association,  and  to  the  further  orders 
of  the  Continental  Congress,  the  Provincial  Congress  of  this 
Colony,  and  the  General  Committee  of  Association  for  this 
City  and  County,  with  a  saving  for  the  said  Robert,  (who 
is  one  of  the  people  called  Quakers,)  as  to  his  religious 
principles ;  and  they  having  voluntarily  paid  the  expenses 
that  accrued  for  boat-hire,  and  otherwise,  in  the  attendance 
of  the  Committee  of  Observation,  for  the  purpose  of  pre- 
venting any  goods  from  being  landed  from  on  board  the 
said  ship  Beulah;  and  they  having  also,  by  letter  under 
their  hands,  requested  the  Committee  of  Elizabethtown,  in 
New-Jersey,  to  keep  in  their  custody,  at  the  cost  and  risk 
of  them,  the  said  Robert  and  John  Murray,  the  several 
goods  by  them  landed  from  on  board  the  said  ship,  contrary 
to  the  said  Association,  until  two  vessels  shall  arrive  from 
London  with  goods  into  this  Colony,  after  a  general  im- 
portation from  Great  Britain  to  the  Colonies  shall  take 
place : 

Resolved,  therefore,  That  the  said  Robert  and  John 
Murray  shall  be,  and  they  are  hereby  fully  restored  to  their 
commercial  privileges,  and  declared  to  be  entitled  to  the 
forgiveness  of  the  publick. 

Ordered,  That  Robert  and  John  Murray  may  have  a 
copy  of  this  Resolve. 

Colonel  Clinton  and  Mr.  Tappen,  who  were  a  Commit- 
tee to  examine  the  banks  of  Hudson's  River  through  the 
Highlands,  and  report  the  most  proper  place  for  erecting 
one  or  more  fortifications,  and  an  estimate  of  the  expense 
of  erecting  the  same,  delivered  in  their  Report,  with  a  Map 
or  Plan  of  the  said  River  through  the  Highlands ;  which 
Report  was  read. 

Ordered,  That  the  said  Report  lay  for  the  perusal  and 
farther  consideration  of  the  Members  of  this  Congress  ;  and 
that  a  copy  of  the  said  Report,  and  of  the  said  Map  or 
plan  of  Hudson's  River,  together  with  a  Letter  on  that 
subject  to  accompany  the  same,  be  forwarded  to  the  Dele- 
gates from  this  Colony  at  the  Continental  Congress ;  and 
that  Colonel  Clinton  and  Mr.  Tappen  be  a  Committee  to 
prepare  and  report  a  draught  of  such  Letter. 

Mr.  Abraham  Brasher,  from  the  Committee  appointed 
to  report  an  estimate  of  articles  necessary  to  complete 
three  thousand  effective  men,  including  officers,  delivered 
in  their  Report  and  Estimate;  which  was  read. 

Ordered,  That  the  same  remain  for  farther  consideration. 

This  Congress  having  this  morning  received  intimation 
that  Provisions  were  lading  on  board  of  a  vessel,  whereof 
one  Cojjin  is  master,  for  the  use  of  the  Army  and  Navy  at 
Boston,  a  draught  of  a  Letter  to  the  Delegates  from  this 
Colony  at  the  Continental  Congress,  on  that  subject,  being 
prepared,  was  read  and  approved  of. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  thereof  be  engrossed,  signed  by 
the  President,  and  sent  by  the  first  conveyance. 

The  Congress  adjourned  to  four  o'clock  next  Monday 
afternoon. 

Die  Lunm,  4to  ho.  P.  M.,  Monday,  Juno  12,  1775. 
The  Congress  met  pursuant  to  adjournment.  Present: 

For  the  City  and  County  of  New- York. — Peter  Van 
Brugh  Living  >t^n,  Esq.,  President ;  Isaac  Low,  Alex- 
ander McDougall,  Joseph  Ilallett,  Abraham  Walton, 
Abraham  Brasher,  Isaac  Roosevelt,  James  Beekman, 
Samuel  Verplanck,  Richard  Yates,  Thomas  Smith,  John 
Morin  Scott,  Jacobus  Van  Zandt,  and  Isaac  Sears. 

For  the  City  and  County  of  Albany. — Volkerl  P.  Douw, 
Vice-President ;  Robert  Yates,  Abraham  Yates,  Jacob 
Cuylcr,  Peter  Silvester,  Walter  Livingston,  Robert  Van 
Rensselaer,  and  Henry  Glenn. 


For  Dutchess  County. — Dirck  Brinckerhoff,  Anthony  Hoff- 
man, Zephaniah  Piatt,  Ephraim  Payne,  Gilbert  Living- 
ston, Melancton  Smith,  and  Nathaniel  Sackett. 

For  Ulster  County. — James  Clinton,  Christopher  Tappen, 
and  John  Nicholson. 

For  Orange  County. — David  Pye,  Benjamin  Tusteen, 
Abraham  Lent,  and  Jeremiah  Clarke. 

For  Suffolk  County. — Thomas  Tredwell. 

For  King's  County. — Henry  Williams,  Jeremiah  Remsen, 
Theodorus  Polhemus,  and  John  Leffertse. 

For  Westchester  County. — Joseph  Drake,  James  Holmes, 
and  Robert  Graham. 

For  Richmond  County. — Paul  Micheau,  John  Journey, 
Aaron  Cortelyou,  Rich'd  Conner,  and  Rich'd  Lawrence. 

For  Queen's  County. — Samuel  Townshend  and  Joseph 
Robinson. 

For  Charlotte  County. — John  Williams,  William  Marsh. 

The  President  informed  this  Congress  that  he  had  re- 
ceived a  Letter  from  the  New-York  Delegates  at  the  Con- 
tinental Congress,  the  contents  and  subject-matter  whereof 
ought  to  be  kept  a  profound  secret.  And  the  said  Letter 
being  read,  is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 

"  Philadelphia,  June  10,  1775. 

"  Gentlemen  :  We  are  now  to  acknowledge  the  honour 
of  your  despatches  of  the  7th  instant.  We  have  long 
foreseen  the  difficulties  you  must  be  reduced  to  for  want  of 
money.  They  will  not  be  lessened  by  the  resolution  of 
the  Congress  of  yesterday,  recommending  it  to  you  to 
procure  and  forward  five  thousand  barrels  of  flour  for  the 
use  of  the  Army  at  Boston.  We  communicated  the  para- 
graph of  your  letter,  in  which  you  complain  that  unless  the 
Congress  shall  make  some  speedy  order  with  relation  to  the 
levying  of  money,  it  will  be  impossible  for  you  to  comply 
with  their  farther  requests.  They,  however,  seem  per- 
suaded that  their  vote  of  credit,  which  accompanies  the 
order  for  the  supply,  will  remove  every  obstruction ;  and 
relying  on  your  zeal  for  the  common  cause,  they  hope  you 
will  be  able  to  throw  in  this  provision,  which  we  are  ap- 
prehensive will  soon  become  highly  necessary.  We  may 
venture  to  hint  to  you,  that  the  emission  of  paper  money 
will  be  discussed  on  Monday,  and  we  expect,  in  the  course 
of  next  week,  to  be  able  to  present  you  with  a  determina- 
tion of  this  important  business,  which  will  free  us  from 
much  anxiety.  We  shall  not  fail  to  attend  to  what  you 
suggest  concerning  the  Indians.  This  is  an  object  to  our 
Colony  of  the  highest  moment,  and  we  hope,  in  due  time, 
it  will  be  considered  by  the  Congress.  We  think  the  In- 
dians will  not  be  disposed  to  engage  in  this  unhappy  quar- 
rel, unless  deceived  and  deluded  by  misrepresentations  ; 
and  this,  with  vigilance  and  care  on  our  part,  can  be  pre- 
vented ;  as  one 'step  towards  it,  which  we  much  applaud, 
are  the  assurances  you  have  given  the  Superintendent  of 
his  safety.  From  the  temper  and  customs  of  the  Indians, 
they  would  illy  brook  the  extinguishing  of  their  council 
fire;  and  had  it  been  damped  by  any  violence  to  Colonel 
Johnson's  person  or  property,  they  must  have  been  alarm- 
ed, and  very  probably  excited  to  extremities. 

"  It  is  much  to  be  lamented  that  we  are  still  destitute  of 
ammunition.  The  Government  of  Connecticut  have  been 
more  provident,  or  more  fortunate,  and  will  be  able  to  sup- 
ply the  forces  at  Ticonderoga  with  powder. 

"  We  commend  your  caution  in  addressing  two  letters 
to  us  upon  the  subject  of  General  Officers  to  command  our 
Troops.  What  we  wrote  to  you  was  in  the  character  of 
your  own  immediate  Delegates,  and  with  a  view  to  discover 
the  sense  of  our  Colony,  that  we  might,  when  this  matter 
came  to  be  debated  in  Congress,  be  fortified  with  your 
opinion  and  arguments,  which  having  obtained,  we  shall, 
to  the  utmost  of  our  power,  enforce  your  recommendations. 

"  Your  remarks  on  the  resolution  of  the  Continental 
Congress  relative  to  the  taking  post  at  King's  Bridge,  ap- 
pears to  us  to  be  conclusive.  We  shall,  however,  lay  them 
before  our  body,  as  soon  as  the  other  important  matters 
under  consideration  are  determined. 

"  We  have  the  honour  to  be,  with  the  greatest  respect, 
gentlemen,  your  most  humble  servants, 

"  Phil.  Livingston,  Wm.  Floyd, 
"  Fkancis  Lewis,  Jno.  Alsop. 

"  Jas.  Duane, 

"  To  the  Provincial  Congress  at  New-York." 


1293 


NEW-YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1294 


The  President  having  also  received  a  Letter  from  the 
Continental  Congress,  desired  that  the  contents  and  sub- 
ject-matter thereof  be  kept  a  profound  secret.  And  the 
same  was  read,  and  is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit: 

"Philadelphia,  June  10,  1775. 

"  Gentlemen  :  The  enclosed  resolution  of  this  Congress 
I  am  directed  to  transmit  you,  and  to  desire  you  will 
order  it  to  be  executed  in  as  expeditious  and  secret  a 
manner  as  possible,  referring  to  your  judgment  the  most 
suitable  places  for  landing  it,  and  where  there  will  be  the 
least  risk  of  interruption  from  the  ships-of-war.  You  will 
please  to  consign  it  to  the  Committee  of  Correspondence 
in  each  place,  with  a  direction  to  forward  the  flour  to  the 
Army  as  soon  as  possible. 

"  I  have  it  also  in  charge  to  recommend  to  you  that  the 
flour  be  transported  in  small  quantities,  as  there  may  be 
danger  of  the  enemy.    I  am,  gentlemen,  ^our  most  obe- 
dient servant,  John  Hancock,  President. 
"  To  the  Honourable  Members  of  the  Provincial  Congress 

Of  New-York.'' 

The  Resolutions  mentioned  in  the  above  Letter  from  the 
Congress  being  also  read,  are  in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 

"  In  Congress,  June  9,  1775. 
"  Resolved,  That  the  Provincial  Convention  of  New-  York 
be  requested  to  convey,  as  soon  as  possible,  to  Providence, 
in  Rhode-Island,  or  to  any  port  in  the  Government  of  Mas- 
sachusetts-Bay, five  thousand  barrels  of  Flour,  for  the  use 
of  the  Continental  Army. 

"  Resolved,  That  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  at 
Providence,  and  in  the  Government  of  Massachusetts-Bay, 
where  the  said  Flour  may  be  carried,  be  desired  to  receive 
and  forward  it  to  the  camp  before  Boston,  as  soon  as  may 
be,  and  to  lodge  such  part  thereof  as  cannot  be  immediately 
sent  thither,  in  places  of  security. 

"  Resolved,  That  this  Congress  will  make  provision  for 
defraying  any  expense  incurred  for  this  service. 

"A  true  copy  from  the  Minutes: 

"  Charles  Thomson,  Secretary." 

A  Letter  from  Robert  Boyd,  at  New-Windsor,  dated 
the  10th  instant,  on  the  subject  of  making  Muskets,  was 
read  and  filed. 

William  Ustick,  attending  at  the  door,  sent  in  a  Bill  of 
Exchange,  appearing  by  its  date  to  be  drawn  at  Boston, 
on  the  14th  ultimo,  May,  on  the  said  William  Ustick,  by 
John  Montrcson,  in  favour  of  Jonathan  Hampton,  for  thirty 
Pounds,  New-  York  currency,  endorsed  by  Jonathan  Hamp- 
ton to  Jonathan  Blake,  and  appearing  to  be  accepted  by 
the  said  William  Ustick,  on  the  3d  day  of  June  instant. 
And  the  said  William  Ustick  desired  the  sense  of  this 
Congress,  whether  he  could  pay  the  said  Bill  consistent 
with  the  Resolve  of  the  Continental  Congress  of  the  2d  of 
June  instant. 

And  the  said  Resolve  of  the  Continental  Congress  being 
read,  it  is  declared  to  be  the  sense  and  opinion  of  this 
Congress,  that  the  said  Bill  comes  within  the  intent  and 
meaning  of  the  said  Resolve. 

The  Congress  then  proceeded  to  the  consideration  of 
ways  and  means  to  carry  into  execution  the  Resolution, 
Request,  and  Order  of  the  Continental  Congress  of  the  9th 
instant,  for  supplying  five  thousand  barrels  of  Flour  for  the 
use  of  the  Continental  Army,  and  forwarding  the  same  to- 
wards the  camp  before  Boston  :  And,  thereupon, 

Ordered,  That  Messrs.  Isaac  Scars,  Abraham  Walton, 
and  Joseph  Hallett,  be  a  Committee  to  purchase  the  said 
quantity  of  Flour  for  the  purpose  aforesaid,  or  so  much 
thereof  as  they  can  obtain,  and  to  ship  and  forward  the 
same  agreeable  to  the  said  Resolution. 

And  it  is  now  Resolved  and  Agreed,  nem.  con.,  That 
every  Member  of  this  Congress  will  be  responsible  to 
Messrs.  Sears,  Walton,  and  Hallett,  for  their  respective 
proportion  of  all  moneys  that  they  may  disburse,  or  here- 
after be  obliged  to  pay,  by  means  of  the  purchase  of  the 
said  Flour,  or  of  their  appointment,  to  comply  with  the  said 
Resolution  and  Request  of  the  Continental  Congress. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Peter  T.  Curtenius,  as  Commissary 
of  this  Congress,  be  directed  to  purchase,  and  he  is  hereby 
directed  to  purchase  three  hundred  barrels  of  Pork  of  such 
persons  as  will  sell  the  same,  on  the  credit  of  this  Congress, 


and  to  forward  the  same  to  Albany,  in  parcels,  with  all 
possible  despatch. 

Mr.  Scott,  from  the  Committee  appointed  to  confer  with 
Mr.  Price,  of  Montreal,  reported  a  draught  of  a  Letter  to 
the  Merchants  of  Canada;  which  was  read  and  approved, 
and  is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 

In  Provincial  Congress,  New-York,  June  12,  1775. 

Gentlemen:  Mr.  Price, one  of  the  inhabitants  of  your 
Province,  has  signified  to  us  the  absolute  necessity  of  keep- 
ing up  a  communication  between  New-  York  and  Canada, 
by  the  establishment  of  a  regular  post.  The  friendly  sen- 
timents which  we  feel  for  our  brethren  in  the  northern  parts 
of  this  Continent,  commanded  our  ready  acquiescence  in 
those  reasons  which  that  gentleman  assigned  in  favour  of 
such  a  communication  as  the  necessary  commercial  inter- 
course between  you  and  the  rest  of  the  world  seems  evi- 
dently to  require.  You  may  easily  conceive  that  our  ability 
is  equal  to  our  wishes,  to  support  that  communication  up  to 
Crown  Point.  To  establish  that  place  or  Ticonderoga 
for  the  exchange  of  the  mails  between  your  country  and 
ours,  is  the  most  proper  expedient  to  obtain  the  end  pro- 
posed ;  and  the  means  of  communication  between  Mon- 
treal and  the  place  to  be  agreed  on  for  exchange  of  the 
mails,  rest  entirely  with  you.  Upon  the  first  information 
you  may  be  pleased  to  afford  us  of  an  establishment  in 
your  quarter,  we  shall  not  fail  in  conspiring  with  you  by 
a  similar  establishment  on  our  part. 

We  should  be  extremely  sorry  should  the  misrepresenta- 
tions of  the  enemies  of  America  impress  our  brethren  in 
Canada  with  an  opinion  that  the  Confederated  Colonies  on 
this  Continent  aim  at  independence.  Our  allegiance  to 
our  Prince,  and  our  attachment  to  the  illustrious  House  of 
Hanover,  we  rank  among  our  most  singular  blessings.  A 
due  subordination  to  Parliament,  in  matters  for  which  they 
alone  are  competent,  we  wish  firmly  to  maintain.  Our 
resistance  to  Ministerial  measures  proceeds  not  either  from 
a  desire  to  oppose  the  rightful  authority  of  our  Sovereign, 
or  the  constitutional  acts  of  the  supreme  Legislature  of  the 
British  Empire.  But  while  we  are  contented  that  Great 
Britain  should  enjoy  that  pre-eminence  alone  which  pro- 
perly belongs  to  the  parent  State,  as  individuals  we  are 
resolved  to  stand  on  the  same  secure  basis  of  liberty  with 
our  fellow-subjects  on  the  other  side  of  the  Atlantick, 
which  can  never  be  obtained  under  taxations  by  authority 
of  Parliament.  In  prosecuting  this  idea  of  freedom,  we  in- 
clude our  brethren  the  inhabitants  of  the  Province  of  Que- 
beck,  as  far  as  will  consist  with  the  utmost  of  their  wishes. 

For  a  further  evidence  of  the  sincerity  of  our  intentions, 
we  beg  leave  to  refer  you  to  Mr.  Price,  and  to  assure  you 
that  we  are,  gentlemen  and  brethren,  with  the  most  undis- 
sembled  friendship,  your  very  humble  servants. 

By  order  and  on  behalf  of  the  Congress. 
To  the  Gentlemen  Merchants  of  the  Province  of  Qjiebeck. 

Ordered,  That  two  copies  of  the  said  Letter  be  en- 
grossed, signed  by  the  President,  and  delivered  to  Mr. 
Price  unsealed,  to  be  by  him  sealed  at  such  time  and  place 
as  he  shall  think  most  prudent. 

Ordered,  That  one  half  of  the  printed  Letters  to  the 
inhabitants  of  Quebeck  be  delivered  to  Mr.  Price,  and 
that  he  be  requested  to  have  them  distributed  in  the  most 
advantageous  manner. 

The  Congress  adjourned  till  to-morrow  morning,  nine 
o'clock. 

Die  Martia,  9  ho.  A.  M.,  June  13,  1*75. 
The  Congress  met  pursuant  to  adjournment.  Opened 
with  prayers  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Gano.  Present: 

For  the  City  and  County  of  Neic-York. — Peter  Van 
Brugh  Livingston,  Esq.,  President;  Isaac  Low,  Alex- 
ander McDougall,  Leonard  Lispenard,  Joseph  Hallett, 
Abraham  Walton,  Abraham  Brasher,  Isaac  Roosevelt, 
John  De  Lancey,  James  Beekrnan,  Samuel  Verplanck, 
Richard  Yates,  David  Clarkson,  Thomas  Smith,  John 
Morin  Scott,  John  Van  Cortlandt,  and  Isaac  Sears. 

For  the  City  and  County  of  Albany. — Volkert  P.  Douw, 
Esq.,  Vice-President ;  Robert  Yates,  Abraham  Yates, 
Jacob  Cuyler,  Peter  Silvester,  Walter  Livingston,  Robert 
Van  Rensselaer,  and  Henry  Glenn. 

For  Dutchess  County. — Dirck  Brinckerhoff,  Anthony  Hoff- 


1295 


NEW-YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1296 


man,  Zephaniah  Piatt,  Richard  Montgomerie,  Ephraim 

Payne,  Gilbert  Livingston,  Gysbert  Schenck,  Melancton 

Smith,  and  Nathaniel  Sackett. 
For  Ulster  County. — James  Clinton,  Christopher  Tappen, 

and  John  Nicholson. 
For  Orange  County. — David  Pye,  Abraham  Lent,  and 

Jeremiah  Clarke. 
For  Suffolk  County. — Thomas  Tredvvell,  John  Foster, 

and  Ezra  L'Hoinmedieu. 
For  Westchester  County. — Lewis  Graham,  James  Van 

Cortlandt,  Joseph  Drake,  Philip  Van  Cortlandt,  James 

Holmes,  Robert  Graham,  and  William  Paulding. 
For  King's  County. — Jonathan  E.  Lott,  Henry  Williams, 

Jeremiah  Remsen,  Theodorus  Polhemus,  and  John  Van- 

derbilt. 

For  Richmond  County. — Paul  Micheau,  John  Journey, 
Aaron  Cortelyou,  Rich'd  Lawrence,  and  Rich'd  Conner. 

For  Oueeiis  County. — Jonathan  Lawrence,  Zebulon  Wil- 
liams, Samuel  Townshend,  and  Joseph  Robinson. 

For  Charlotte  County. — John  Williams,  William  Marsh. 

Colonel  Clinton  and  Mr.  Tappen,  a  Committee  for  that 
purpose,  reported  a  draught  of  a  Letter  to  the  New-  York 
Delegates ;  which  was  read  and  approved,  and  is  in  the 
words  following,  to  wit: 

In  Provincial  Congress,  New- York,  June  13,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  In  consequence  of  one  of  your  Resolves, 
we  appointed  a  Committee  to  view  the  Post  in  the  High- 
lands, whose  Report,  with  a  Map  thereto  annexed,  you 
have  enclosed,  which  is  all  as  yet  we  have  been  able  to  do 
respecting  that  matter.  As  soon  as  the  proper  measures 
on  that  head  are  concluded,  we  will  transmit  them  to  you. 

We  are,  gentlemen,  with  esteem,  your  most  obedient  and 
humble  servants. 

To  the  New- York  Delegates  in  the  Continental  Congress. 

The  Report  mentioned  in  the  above  Letter,  is  in  the 
words  following,  to  wit : 

Your  Committee,  in  obedience  to  your  order  of  the  10th 
ultimo,  do  most  humbly  report :  That,  taking  to  their  assist- 
ance Captain  Samuel  Bayard  and  Captain  Erasmus  Wil- 
liams, they  proceeded  to  the  Highlands,  and  made  a  survey 
of  the  ground  adjoining  to  Hudson's  River,  for  the  purpose 
mentioned  in  the  said  order,  and  do  report  it  as  their  opin- 
ion, that  a  Post,  capable  of  containing  three  hundred  men, 
erected  on  the  east  bank  of  Hudson's  River,  marked  A, 
and  another  on  the  west  side  of  said  River,  to  contain  two 
hundred  men,  marked  B,  in  the  annexed  map,  will  answer 
the  purpose  proposed  and  directed  by  the  Continental  Con- 
gress, as  it  is  not  only  the  narrowest  part  of  the  said  river, 
but  best  situated,  on  account  of  the  high  hills  contiguous  to 
it,  as  well  on  the  west  as  east  side  of  the  river  which  cover 
those  parts  ;  so  that  without  a  strong  easterly  wind,  or  the 
tide,  no  vessel  can  pass  it ;  and  the  tide  on  said  part  of  the 
river  is  generally  so  reverse,  that  a  vessel  is  usually  thrown 
on  one  side  of  the  river  or  the  other,  by  means  whereof 
such  vessel  lay  fair  and  exposed  to  the  places  your  Com- 
mittee have  fixed  on.  Your  Committee  are  further  of 
opinion,  thai  the  cheapest  and  best  materials  to  face  these 
works,  would  be  stone  and  lime,  as  there  are  plenty  of  stone 
on  the  same,  and  adjoining  to  it;  and  lime  can  be  had  from 
a  little  distance  up  the  river.  Your  Committee  beg  leave  to 
observe,  that  they  are  informed  that  by  means  of  four  or  five 
booms  chained  together  on  one  side  of  the  river,  ready  to 
be  drawn  across,  the  passage  can  be  closed  up,  to  prevent 
any  vessel  passing  or  repassing.  Your  Committee  are  fur- 
ther of  opinion,  that  if  the  last  measure  should  be  adopted, 
it  would  be  requisite  and  highly  prudent  to  place  one  or 
two  cannon  at  the  mouth  of  the  Highlands,  under  the  care 
and  inspection  of  a  faithful  man,  to  alarm  the  Troops  to  be 
embodied  at  the  places  proposed,  in  time  of  danger.  Your 
Committee  are  also  further  informed,  and  are  of  opinion, 
that  there  is  on  the  east  side  of  the  said  river,  near  the 
place  fixed  on  in  the  said  annexed  map,  marked  A,  a  good 
and  convenient  place  to  build  a  magazine  for  the  lodgment 
of  gunpowder  and  other  stores.  We  believe  that  though 
there  is  no  fresh  water  on  the  spot  proposed  for  the  east 
post,  yet  a  good  spring  is  near  it,  so  that  it  can  be  convey- 
ed thereto  with  a  very  small  expense.  We  think  it  would 
be  also  necessary  to  build  a  number  of  small  boats  for 
maintaining  a  communication  between  the  two  posts. 


Your  Committee  are  unable  to  make  a  true  estimate  of 
the  expense  that  will  attend  the  erecting  the  said  fortifica- 
tions;  but  from  the  best  computation  they  are  able  to 
make,  it  will  at  least  amount  to  one  thousand  five  hundred 
Pounds.  All  which  is  most  humbly  submitted  by  your 
Committee.  James  Clinton, 

Christ.  Tappen. 

Ordered,  That  the  foregoing  Letter  to  the  New-York 
Delegates  be  engrossed,  signed  by  the  President,  and,  to- 
gether with  a  copy  of  the  above  Report,  transmitted  by 
the  first  opportunity. 

The  Congress  took  into  consideration  the  Letter  from 
Robert  Boyd,  and  the  Proposals  of  Henry  Watkeys,  rela- 
ting to  the  making  of  Muskets  and  Bayonets ;  and  after 
some  time  spent  therein, 

Resolved,  Tha^Jihis  Congress  will  agree  with  Robert 
Boyd  and  HWfyf^atkeys,  that  they  shall  make  one  thou- 
sand good  Muskets,  with  steel  ramrods  and  Bayonets  with 
scabbards,  at  the  price  of  three  Pounds  fifteen  Shillings, 
New-York  money,  for  each  good  Musket  with  a  steel  ram- 
rod, and  Bayonet  with  a  scabbard,  including  the  bounty 
agreed  to  be  allowed  by  this  Congress ;  and 

Resolved,  That  this  Congress  will  immediately  advance 
the  sum  of  one  hundred  Pounds,  New-York  money,  to 
assist  them  in  procuring  necessary  tools  and  materials  for 
carrying  on  the  said  business ;  and 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Lispenard,  Captain  Montgome- 
rie,  and  Colonel  Clinton,  be  a  Committee  to  treat  with  the 
said  Robert  Boyd  and  Henry  Watkeys,  and  agree  with 
them  accordingly. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Lispenard  and  Mr.  McDougall 
be  a  Committee  to  agree  with  any  person  in  this  City  for 
importing,  without  delay,  any  quantity  of  Gunpowder  not 
exceeding  thirty  tons,  allowing  such  importer  one  hundred 
per  cent,  upon  the  first  cost,  lor  the  quantity  to  be  import- 
ed, he  being  at  all  charges  and  risk  ;  and  the  Powder  to  be 
delivered  in  good  and  merchantable  order. 

Ordered,  That  Doctor  Graham  and  Mr.  Verplanck  be 
a  Committee  to  confer  with  Messrs.  Van  Vleeck  and  Kip, 
on  the  subject  of  making  Saltpetre,  and  to  know  what  en- 
couragement they  would  expect  from  this  Congress,  for 
carrying  on  a  manufacture  of  Saltpetre. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  McDougall  apply  to  the  General 
Committee  of  New-  York  for  two  hundred  Pounds  of  the 
money  raised  by  subscription  ;  and  that  when  he  has  re- 
ceived that  sum,  he  pay  one  hundred  Pounds  thereof  to 
Robert  Boyd  and  Henry  Watkeys,  to  enable  them  to  earn- 
on  the  business  of  Musket  and  Bayonet  making,  after  the 
Conimitee  for  that  purpose  above-mentioned  shall  have  per- 
fected an  agreement  with  them  ;  and  that  he  pay  the  other 
one  hundred  Pounds  to  the  President  of  this  Congress,  to 
expend  in  paying  Messengers  and  other  necessary  disburse- 
ments. 

Mr.  Gilbert  Livingston  has  leave  of  absence  for  a  few 
days. 

The  Congress  then  adjourned  to  nine  o'clock  to-morrow 
morning. 

Die  Mercurii,  9  ho.,  Juno  14,  1775. 
The  Congress  met  pursuant  to  adjournment.  Opened 
with  prayers  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Inglis.  Present: 

For  the  City  and  County  of  New-York. — Peter  Van 
Brugh  Livingston,  Esq.,  President;  Isaac  Low,  Alex- 
ander McDougall,  Leonard  Lispenard,  Joseph  Hallett, 
Abraham  Walton,  Abraham  Brasher,  Isaac  Roosevelt, 
John  De  Lancey,  James  Beekman,  Samuel  Verplanck, 
Richard  Yates,  David  Clarkson,  Thomas  Smith,  Benja- 
min Kissam,  John  Morin  Scott,  Jacobus  Van  Zandt, 
John  Marston,  and  Isaac  Sears. 

For  the  City  and  County  of  Albany. — Volkert  P.  Douw, 
Esq.,  Vice-President ;  Robert  Yates,  Abraham  Yates, 
Jacob  Cuyler,  Peter  Silvester,  Walter  Livingston,  Robert 
Van  Rensselaer,  and  Henry  Glenn. 

For  Dutchess  County. — Anthony  Hoffman,  Zephaniah 
Piatt,  Richard  Montgomerie,  Ephraim  Payne,  Gilbert 
Livingston,  Jonathan  Landon,  Gysbert  Schenck,  Me- 
lancton Smith,  and  Nathaniel  Sackett. 

For  Ulster  County. — James  Clinton,  Christopher  Tappen, 
and  John  Nicholson. 


1297 


NEW- YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1298 


For  Orange  County. — David  Pye,  Benjamin  Tusteen, 
Abraham  Lent,  and  Jeremiah  Clarke. 

For  Suffolk  County. — Jarnes  Tredwell,  John  Foster,  and 
Ezra  L'Hommedieu. 

For  Westchester  County. — Gouverneur  Morris,  Lewis 
Graham,  James  Van  Cortlandt,  Joseph  Drake,  Philip 
Van  Cortlandt,  James  Holmes,  Robert  Graham,  and 
William  Paulding. 

For  King's  County. — Henry  Williams,  Theodorus  Polhe- 
mus,  and  John  Vanderbilt. 

For  Richmond  County. — Paul  Micheau,  John  Journey, 
Aaron  Cortelyou,  Richard  Conner,  Richard  Lawrence. 

For  Queen's  County. — Jacob  Blackwell,  Jonathan  Law- 
rence, Zebulon  Williams,  Samuel  Townshend,  Joseph 
Robinson,  and  Nathaniel  Tom. 

For  Charlotte  County. — John  Williams,  William  Marsh. 

Messrs.  Christopher  Miller  and  Patrick  Dennis  attend- 
ing at  the  door,  were  called  in ;  when  they  informed  this 
Congress  that  they  were  requested  by  a  number  of  the 
Members  of  the  Marine  Society  of  this  City,  to  inform  this 
Congress  that  they  were  about  to  form  themselves  into  an 
Artillery  Company,  and  they  had  nominated  Mr.  Anthony 
Rutgers,  of  this  City,  for  their  Captain  ;  and  pray  the  ap- 
probation of  this  Congress  in  the  nomination. 

The  Congress  having  taken  the  same  into  consideration, 
do  unanimously  approve  of  the  nomination  of  Mr.  Anthony 
Rutgers  to  be  Captain  of  the  said  company ;  and  recom- 
mend to  the  said  Society  to  nominate,  for  the  approbation 
of  this  Congress,  such  persons  for  their  other  officers  as 
may  be  confided  in. 

The  Congress  this  day  received  sundry  informations,  that 
one  Angus  McDonald  is  giving  a  bounty  and  enlisting  men 
to  be  employed  against  the  liberties  of  the  inhabitants  of 
this  Country  ;  and  therefore  the  Congress  does  appoint 
Mr.  McDougall  to  have  the  said  Angus  McDonald 
brought  before  this  Congress ;  and  they  direct  an  order 
to  Colonel  Lasher,  signed  by  the  President  and  counter- 
signed by  the  Secretaries,  to  be  issued  and  sent  to  Colonel 
Lasher,  in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 

Colonel  Lasher  : 

You  are  desired  to  furnish  Mr.  Alexander  McDougall 
with  a  Sergeant's  guard,  properly  appointed,  to  attend  him, 
and  in  all  things  to  obey  him,  immediately. 

By  order  of  the  Congress  : 

Peter  V.  B.  Livingston,  President. 

Done  in  Congress : 

John  McKesson, 
Robert  Benson, 

Captain  Thompson,  at  the  request  of  this  Congress,  at- 
tended at  the  door,  and  being  called  in,  gave  the  following 
information  in  substance,  to  wit : 

That  he  left  Cove,  near  Cork,  in  Ireland,  on  the  6th  of 
May  last ;  that  six  Regiments  had  sailed  in  twenty-four 
transports  for  Boston,  including  a  Regiment  of  Horse ; 
and  three  Regiments  had  embarked,  and  a  fourth  was 
embarking,  or  ready  to  embark,  for  New-York ;  that  it 
was  reported  that  the  Regiments  coming  to  New- York 
had  been  wrote  for  by  persons  here  to  support  people's 
property  and  assist  against  mobs.  And  the  other  parts  of 
the  information  given  by  Captain  Thompson  appears  in 
the  short  notes  taken  thereof  and  filed  among  the  papers 
of  this  Congress. 

Thereupon,  a  draught  of  a  Letter  to  the  New-York 
Delegates  at  Philadelphia,  was  read  and  approved. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  thereof  be  engrossed  and  signed 
by  the  President,  and,  together  with  the  notes  of  Captain 
Thompson's  information,  sent  by  the  first  conveyance. 

A  draught  of  a  Letter  to  the  Governour  of  Connecticut, 
was  read  and  approved,  and  is  in  the  words  following,  to 
wit : 

In  Provincial  Congress,  New-York,  June  14,  1775. 
Sir  :  Captain  Thompson  arrived  here  in  a  ship  from 
Cork  last  evening,  and  as  we  understood  he  had  reported 
that  several  Regiments  had  sailed  from  thence  for  Boston, 
and  four  other  Regiments  were  embarked  and  embarking 
for  New-  York,  this  Congress  desired  him  to  attend  their 
Board  this  morning,  to  examine  him  upon  the  subject. 
Upon  his  attendance  we  took  notes  of  the  intelligence  he 
gave,  and  enclose  a  copy  thereof  to  you,  and  beg  you  will 


Secretaries. 


Fourth  Series. — Vol. 


forward  the  same  to  the  Camp  at  Cambridge.  We  have 
forwarded  the  intelligence  to  the  Continental  Congress;  and 
are,  Sir,  your  very  humble  servants. 

By  order  and  on  behalf  of  the  Provincial  Congress. 

To  the  Honourable  Jonathan  Trumbull,  Esq.,  Governour 
of  the  Colony  of  Connecticut. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  thereof  be  engrossed,  signed  by 
the  President,  and,  together  with  the  notes  of  Captain 
Thompson's  information,  be  transmitted  by  the  first  con- 
veyance. 

A  draught  of  a  Letter  to  John  Hancock,  Esq.,  President 
of  the  Continental  Congress,  was  read  and  approved. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  of  the  said  Letter  be  engrossed, 
signed  by  the  President,  and,  together  with  a  copy  of  the 
Resolve  therein  mentioned,  transmitted  by  the  first  con- 
veyance. 

William  Duer,  Esq.,  sent  in  a  Letter  to  the  President 
and  Congress ;  which  was  read.  He  therein  complains 
of  sundry  insinuations  against  his  conduct,  with  relation  to 
the  Northern  Frontier  of  this  Colony ;  and  of  such  reports 
having  been  industriously  circulated  as  deeply  to  endanger 
his  person  and  property  ;  and  praying  that  a  Committee 
may  be  appointed  to  examine  into  his  conduct  this  after- 
noon. 

The  Congress,  considering  that  Mr.  Duer  must  attend 
a  Court  in  Charlotte  County,  which  is  speedily  to  sit,  and 
cannot  conveniently  be  held  without  his  attendance,  do 
therefore  appoint  Mr.  Montgomerie,  Mr.  Silvester,  Mr. 
Abraham  Yates,  Mr.  Scott,  Mr.  Morris,  Mr.  Marsh,  and 
Mr.  John  Williams,  a  Committee  to  hear  and  examine  into 
the  case  of  Mr.  Duer,  and  report  thereon  to  this  Congress. 

Mr.  McDougall  returned  into  Congress,  and  reported 
that  Angus  McDonald,  who  had  been  armed  and  made 
resistance  when  called  on  by  him,  was  in  custody  of  a  Ser- 
geant's Guard;  and  a  Letter  found  in  his  custody  from  him 
to  Alexander  McDonald,  was  read. 

The  said  Angus  McDonald  being  brought  before  the 
Congress  and  examined,  confessed  that  he  had  taken  the 
names  of  upwards  of  forty  men  who  had  promised  to  enlist 
in  a  battalion,  to  wear  Highland  dress;  and  also  confessed 
sundry  other  matters,  of  which  short  notes  are  taken  and 
filed. 

And  the  said  Angus  McDonald  having  consented  vo- 
luntarily to  make  oath  to  the  substance  of  the  informa- 
tion by  him  given  to  this  Congress,  his  affidavit  was  drawn, 
and  to  which  he  subscribed  and  was  duly  sworn,  and  which 
is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 

"  City  of  New-York,  ss. — Angus  McDonald,  of  this 
City,  being  duly  sworn  upon  the  Holy  Evangelists  of  Al- 
mighty God,  deposeth  and  saith :  That  some  time  last  fall  this 
deponent  was  at  the  Town  of  Boston,  and  had  a  conver- 
sation with  Major  John  Small  upon  the  subject  of  raising  a 
Regiment  in  America,  to  serve  against  the  inhabitants  of 
America  in  the  present  contest.  That  the  plan  laid  for 
that  purpose  was,  that  such  officers  as  are  now  on  half  pay 
in  the  several  Colonies  should  be  promoted  in  consequence 
of  enlisting  such  persons  as  had  formerly  served  as  soldiers 
in  this  Country.  That  Major  Small  informed  this  deponent 
that  the  deponent  should  be  taken  notice  of,  and  promoted, 
if  the  scheme  should  take  place,  and  mentioned  to  this  depo- 
nent the  being  sutler  to  the  regiment  so  raised.  That  this 
deponent  then  told  him  that  he  was  not  possessed  of  suffi- 
cient property  to  engage  in  that  business,  and  therefore  could 
not  accept  of  that;  whereupon  the  said  Major  told  this  de- 
ponent that  he  (deponent)  should  be  taken  notice  of  if  called 
upon ;  and  this  deponent  further  saith,  that  in  consequence 
of  the  plan  so  laid,  a  number  of  men  have  engaged  them- 
selves in  the  service ;  but  that  they  have  not  yet  received 
any  bounty  money  for  their  enlistment.  And  this  deponent 
further  saith,  that  he  verily  believes  many  half-pay  officers 
are  acquainted  with  the  aforesaid  plan.  That  the  said  plan 
cannot  take  place  without  orders  from  home ;  and  this  de- 
ponent believes  that  no  such  orders  will  be  obtained.  That 
Captain  Alexander  McDonald  is  also  concerned  in  the  said 
scheme,  and  hath  corresponded  with  Major  Small  on  that 
subject.  That  this  deponent  hath  seen  and  read  one  of 
the  said  Major  Small's  letters  to  the  said  Alexander  Mc- 
Donald, which  letter  came  by  iheAsia,  man-of-war.  That 


n. 


82 


1299 


NEW-YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1300 


one  encouragement  held  up  to  those  soldiers  who  should 
enlist  was,  that  they  should  have  each  of  them  one  hundred 
acres  of  land  when  the  troubles  in  America  should  be  over. 
That  I  he  deponent  does  not  believe  any  men  are  engaged 
in  the  County  of  Albany,  because  that  there  is  no  person 
there  to  engage  them.  That  this  deponent  is  unwilling  to 
serve  against  his  countrymen  and  fellow-subjects  in  Ame- 
rica, and  is  sorry  the  disturbances  have  risen  to  so  great  a 
height.    And  further  this  deponent  saith  not. 

"  Angus  McDonald. 
"  Sworn  this  14th  of  June,  1775,  before  me: 

"  John  McKesson,  Notary  Publick." 

It  appearing  to  this  Congress  by  a  Letter  found  in  the 
custody  of  Angus  McDonald,  and  by  the  Deposition  of 
the  said  Angus  McDonald,  and  by  the  examinations  of 
sundry  witnesses  before  this  Congress,  that  Alexander  Mc- 
Donald, now,  or  late  of  Richmond  County,  has  been  con- 
certing measures  and  employing  agents  to  enlist  men  to  be 
employed  against  the  liberties  of  America, 

Ordered,  therefore,  That  the  said  Alexander  McDonald 
be  secured  and  kept  in  safe  custody,  and  that  all  his  papers 
be  secured  and  examined ;  and  that  Messrs.  Abraham 
Brasher,  Zephaniah  Piatt,  and  Melancton  Smith,  be  a 
Committee  for  that  purpose ;  and  that  Colonel  Lasher  be 
desired  to  send  a  Sergeant's  Guard  (with  those  gentlemen) 
properly  appointed,  to  attend  them,  and  to  obey  Mr.  Brasher 
in  all  things. 

Whereas,  from  the  information  of  Captain  Thompson, 
received  this  day,  there  is  reason  to  apprehend  that  Troops 
may  soon  arrive  here  from  Ireland ;  and  from  the  evidence 
before  this  Congress,  it  appears  that  it  would  be  very  unsafe 
and  imprudent  to  permit  or  suffer  so  dangerous  a  person  as 
Angus  McDonald  to  remain  in  this  Colony,  and  enjoy 
his  liberty  at  this  juncture  : 

Ordered,  therefore,  That  the  said  Angus  McDonald 
be  sent  to  General  Wooster's  camp,  with  a  request  from 
this  Congress  that  he  may  be  put  in  such  a  state  of  security 
as  may  effectually  prevent  any  mischief  that  might  arise 
from  his  being  left  at  large. 

And  Ordered,  That  a  request  he  sent  to  Colonel  Lasher 
to  send  a  guard  of  twelve  trusty  men,  properly  equipped 
and  armed,  to  take  the  custody  and  charge  of  Angus  Mc- 
Donald, and  to  convey  him  to  General  Wooster's  camp  at 
Greenwich,  in  Connecticut.  And  that  the  whole  guard 
go  with  the  said  Angus  McDonald  to  King's  Bridge; 
that  half  of  the  guard  be  at  liberty  to  return  from  thence, 
and  that  the  other  half  of  the  said  guard  proceed  with  the 
said  Angus  McDonald,  by  the  way  of  White  Plains,  to 
General  Wooster's  camp. 

A  Letter  to  General  Wooster,  covering  a  copy  of  the 
Affidavit  of  the  said  Angus  McDonald,  was  read,  and 
approved  of;  and  is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit: 

In  Provincial  Congress,  New-York,  June  14,  1775. 

Sir:  From  the  enclosed  affidavit  you  will  be  able  to 
collect  the  design  of  sending  Angus  McDonald  to  you 
under  guard.  We  have  received  information  by  Captain 
Thompson,  who  arrived  here  last  night  from  Cork,  in  Ire- 
land, that  four  full  Regiments  have  embarked  in  Ireland 
for  this  City,  and  may  be  expected  here  every  hour;  we 
therefore  think  it  unsafe  to  suffer  so  dangerous  a  person 
to  enjoy  his  liberty  at  this  juncture  ;  and  beg  leave  to  re- 
commend it  to  you  to  put  him  in  such  a  state  of  security 
as  may  effectually  prevent  any  mischief  that  might  arise 
from  his  being  left  at  large. 

We  are,  Sir,  with  great  respect,  your  most  humble  ser- 
vants. 

To  Major-General  Wooster. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  of  the  said  Letter  to  General 
Wooster  be  engrossed,  signed  by  the  President,  and  trans- 
mitted with  the  said  Guards. 

Mr.  Foster  (seconded  by  Colonel  Clinton)  moved  in  the 
words  following,  to  wit :  1  move  that  a  message  be  imme- 
diately despatched  to  Major-General  Wooster,  commanding 
a  body  of  Troops  in  the  southern  part  of  Connecticut, 
requesting  him  forthwith  to  march  the  said  Troops  to  the 
distance  of  five  miles  of  this  City. 

Agreeable  to  the  tenth  Rule  of  this  Congress,  at  the 


request  of  the  Deputies  of  three  Counties,  to  wit:  the 
Counties  of  Albany,  Richmond,  and  Charlotte, 

Ordered,  That  this  matter  be  deferred  till  to-morrow 
morning. 

The  Congress  adjourned  till  to-morrow  at  nine  o'clock. 

Die  Jovis,  9  ho.  A.  M.,  June  15,  1775. 
The  Congress  met  pursuant  to  adjournment,  and  opened 

with  prayers  by  the  Reverend  Mr.  Mason.    Present : 

For  the  City  and  County  of  New-  York. — Peter  Van  Brugh 
Livingston,  Esquire,  President;  Isaac  Low,  Alexander 
McDougall,  Leonard  Lispenard,  Joseph  Hallett,  Abra- 
ham Walton,  Abraham  Brasher,  Isaac  Roosevelt,  John 
De  Lancey,  James  Beekman,  Samuel  Verplanck,  Rich- 
ard Yates,  David  Clarkson,  Thomas  Smith,  Benjamin 
Kissam,  Jacobus  Van  Zandt,  Isaac  Sears. 

For  the  City  and.  County  of  Albany. — Volkert  P.  Douw, 
Esq.,  Vice-President ;  Robert  Yates,  Abraham  Yates, 
Jacob  Cuyler,  Peter  Silvester,  Walter  Livingston,  Ro- 
bert Van  Rensselaer,  Henry  Glenn. 

For  Dutchess  County. — Anthony  Hoffman,  Zephaniah 
Piatt,  Richard  Montgomerie,  Ephraim  Payne,  Gilbert 
Livingston,  Jonathan  Landon,  Gysbert  Schenck,  Melanc- 
ton Smith,  Nathaniel  Sackett. 

For  Ulster  County. — James  Clinton,  Christopher  Tappen, 
John  Nicholson. 

For  Orange  County. — David  Pye,  Benjamin  Tusteen, 
Jeremiah  Clarke. 

For  Suffolk  County. — Thomas  Tredwell,  John  Foster, 
Ezra  L'Hommedieu. 

For  Westchester  County. — Gouverneur  Morris,  Lewis  Gra- 
ham, James  Van  Cortlandt,  Joseph  Drake,  Philip  Van 
Cortlandt,  James  Holmes,  Robert  Graham,  William 
Paulding. 

For  King's  County. — Henry  Williams,  Jeremiah  Remsen, 
Theodorus  Polhemus,  Nicholas  Covenhoven,  John  Van- 
derbilt. 

For  Queen's  County. — Jacob  Blackwell,  Jonathan  Law- 
rence, Zebulon  Williams,  Samuel  Townshend,  Joseph 
Robinson,  Nathaniel  Tom. 

For  Charlotte  County. — John  Williams,  William  Marsh. 

A  Letter  from  Ethan  Allen,  bearing  date  at  Crown 
Point,  June  2d,  instant,  with  a  small  addition  wrote  on  the 
cover,  was  read : 

Also  another  Letter  from  Ethan  Allen  and  James  Eas- 
ton,  which  appears  to  be  a  copy  of  a  Letter  by  them  sent 
to  the  People  of  Canada,  was  read. 

Ordered,  That  the  said  Letters  be  filed. 

Mr.  Sears  informed  the  Congress,  that  there  is  reason 
to  believe  that  there  is  Ammunition  in  a  store  near  the 
Battery,  and  delivered  in  a  certificate  of  George  Campbell, 
which  was  read. 

Ordered,  That  George  Campbell  and  his  servant  maid, 
Elizabeth  Randon,  be  sent  for. 

Mr.  Silvester,  from  the  Committee  appointed  to  examine 
into  the  case  of  William  Ducr,  delivered  in  their  Report, 
which  being  read,  is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 

Your  Committee  do  report :  That,  agreeable  to  your 
order  of  the  day,  they  have  made  a  full  inquiry  into  Mr. 
Ducr's  case,  which  they  conceive  to  be  of  a  most  delicate 
nature.  They  are  fully  of  opinion  that  insinuations  against 
his  conduct,  with  relation  to  the  Northern  Fiontier  of  this 
Colony,  have  by  some  means  been  circulated,  which  in  their 
nature  deeply  endanger  his  person  and  property.  That 
nevertheless  they  are  fully  convinced  that  those  insinua- 
tions are  entirely  groundless ;  that  they  are  altogether  satis- 
fied of  his  integrity  and  attachment  to  American  liberty  ; 
and  do  therefore  recommend  him  as  really  meriting  the 
publick  countenance  and  protection  of  this  Congress.  The 
above  are  the  sentiments  of  your  Committee,  which  is  never- 
theless submitted  to  the  better  opinion  of  the  Congress. 

By  order:  P.  Silvester,  Chairman. 

New-York,  June  14,  1775. 

The  Congress  agree  with  the  Committee  in  their  said 
Report;  and  Ordered,  That  it  be  recommended  by  this 
Congress  to  all  persons  within  this  Colony,  and  other  the 
inhabitants  of  America,  not  to  injure  William  Ducr,  Esq., 
either  in  his  person  or  property. 


1301 


NEW- YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1302 


Ordered,  That  Mr.  Clarkson  and  Mr.  Vanderbilt, 
wait  on  Mr.  Alderman  Filkin  and  desire  him  to  get  two 
Constables  and  search  a  store  near  Bowden's  house,  to  see 
whether  there  is  any  Gunpowder  lodged  there  contrary  to 
law,  and  to  report  to  this  Congress. 

The  Congress  resumed  the  consideration  of  Mr.  Fos- 
ter's motion  of  yesterday ;  and  thereupon, 

Ordered,  That  a  message  be  immediately  despatched 
to  Major-General  Jiooster,  now  commanding  a  body  of 
Troops  in  the  southern  part  of  Connecticut,  requesting  him 
forthwith  to  march  the  said  Troops,  with  their  tents  and 
other  necessaries,  to  the  distance  of  five  miles  from  this  City, 
to  be  subject  to  the  orders  and  directions  of  the  Continen- 
tal or  this  Congress,  while  the  said  Troops  shall  continue 
in  this  Colony. 

And  Resolved,  That  we  will  assist  the  Commissaries  of 
the  said  Forces  in  procuring  such  necessaries  for  their  ac- 
commodation as  shall  be  to  be  procured  within  this  Colony. 

A  draught  of  a  Letter  to  Gen.  JVooster  on  that  subject 
being  read  and  approved  of,  is  in  the  words  following: 

In  Provincial  Congress,  New-York,  June  15,  1775. 

Sir:  You  will  see  by  the  enclosed  order,  that  this  Con- 
gress think  it  expedient  to  request  you  to  march  to  this 
Colony  with  the  Troops  under  your  command.  If  you  are 
not  at  liberty  to  comply  with  the  terms  of  this  order  until 
you  consult  the  Governour  and  Company  of  Connecticut 
on  this  subject,  we  beg  you  would  immediately  despatch 
this  requisition  to  them,  and  transmit  to  us  their  determi- 
nation as  soon  as  possible. 

\s  we  have  at  present  but  few  tents,  we  beg  you  would 
direct  such  as  you  have,  to  be  sent  to  the  place  intended 
for  their  encampment,  and  make  such  other  disposition  for 
the  support  of  your  Troops  as  is  in  your  power. 

We  are,  Sir,  your  most  obedient  humble  servants. 
To  Major-General  JVooster. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  thereof  be  engrossed,  and  signed 
by  the  President,  and,  together  with  a  certified  copy  of  the 
said  order,  transmitted  by  the  first  conveyance. 

Mr.  Sears  had  leave  of  absence  for  a  few  days. 

Joseph  Stephens  delivered  to  the  President  his  account, 
amounting  to  twelve  pounds,  for.  going  a  messenger  to 
Philadelphia  at  two  different  times. 

Ordered,  That  Peter  Van  Brugh  Livingston,  Esquire, 
pay  the  said  account,  and  take  his  receipt  for  the  same. 

Messrs.  Clarkson  and  Vanderbilt  returned,  and  report- 
ed that  Alderman  Filkin,  with  a  Constable,  had  attended 
them;  that  they  had  searched  Bowden's  house  and  cellar, 
and  a  store  adjoining,  and  that  they  found  no  Powder  or 
Ammunition  there. 

Mr.  Brasher,  from  the  Committee  appointed  to  go  to 
Staten  Island,  reported,  that  they  had  executed  the  order  of 
the  Congress ;  that  they  had  searched  the  house  of  Alex- 
ander McDonald,  and  found  no  papers  relating  to  the  rais- 
ing of  Troops ;  that  they  did  not  find  Alexander  Mc- 
Donald, and  were  informed  that  he  is  gone  to  Boston. 
He  also  informed  the  Congress  that  the  expense  of  the 
boat,  and  provisions  for  the  men  who  attended  on  the  said 
Committee,  amounts  to  three  pounds  five  shillings ;  which 
was  disbursed  by  Mr.  Melanclon  Smith. 

Ordered,  That  Peter  Van  Brugh  Livingston,  Esquire, 
repay  Mr.  Smith  the  said  three  pounds  five  shillings,  and 
take  his  receipt. 

All  which  he  did  immediately. 

The  Memorial  and  Petition  of  Ebenezer  Hazard,  rela- 
ting to  a  Post-Office,  and  praying  to  be  appointed  Post- 
master, was  read. 

Also  a  Letter  from  JVilliam  Goddard  (covering  several 
large  packages  of  Papers)  on  the  same  subject,  was  read. 

Ordered,  That  Messrs.  Verplanck, Roosevelt,  and  Rich- 
ard Yates,  be  a  Committee  to  take  the  said  Petition,  Let- 
ter, and  Papers  into  consideration,  and  report  thereon  to 
this  Congress  writh  all  convenient  speed. 

Ordered,  That  no  person  whatsoever  presume  to  inocu- 
late for  the  Small-Pox  within  this  Colony  before  the  first 
day  of  December  next,  and  that  the  several  Committees 
within  their  respective  Districts  carefully  observe  that  there 
be  a  punctual  compliance  with  this  order. 


Ordered,  That  a  copy  of  this  order  be  published  in  the 
Newspapers. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Marsh  have  leave  of  absence,  and 
it  is  agreed  that  Mr.  Williams  shall  have  a  vote,  and  repre- 
sent Charlotte  County. 

Ordered,  That  two  Members  of  those  present  from  Al- 
bany County  have  leave  of  absence. 

The  Congress  adjourned  to  five  o'clock,  P.  M. 

Die  Jovis,  5  ho.  P.  M.,  June  15,  1775. 

The  Congress  met  pursuant  to  adjournment. 

Thomas  Smith,  Esq.,  obtained  leave  of  absence  during 
the  remainder  of  this  week. 

The  Congress  then  adjourned  to  meet  at  the  City-Hall 
at  nine  o'clock  to-morrow  morning. 

Die  Veneris,  9  ho.  A.  M.,  June  16,  1775. 
The  Congress  met  at  the  City-Hall  pursuant  to  adjourn- 
ment.   Opened  with  prayers  by  the  Reverend  Mr.  Treat. 
Present: 

For  the  City  and  County  of  Xeiv-  York. — Peter  Van  Brugh 
Livingston,  Esq.,  President ;  Isaac  Low,  Alexander  Mc- 
Dougall,  Leonard  Lispenard,  Abraham  Walton,  Abra- 
ham Brasher,  Isaac  Roosevelt,  John  De  Lancey,  James 
Beekman,  Samuel  Verplanck,  David  Clarkson,  John 
Morin  Scott,  John  Van  Cortlandt,  Jacobus  Van  Zandt, 
John  Marston. 

For  the  City  and  County  of  Albany. — Abraham  Yates, 
Peter  Silvester,  Walter  Livingston,  Robert  Van  Rensse- 
laer, Henry  Glenn. 

For  Dutchess  County. — Anthony  Hoffman,  Zephaniah 
Piatt,  Richard  Montgomerie,  Ephraim  Payne,  Jonathan 
Landon,  Gysbert  Schenck,  Melancton  Smith,  Nathaniel 
Sackett. 

For  Ulster  County. — James  Clinton,  Christopher  Tappen, 

John  Nicholson. 
For  Orange  County. — David  Pye,  Benjamin  Tusteen, 

John  Herring. 

For  Suffolk  County. — Thomas  Tredwell,  John  Foster, 
Ezra  L'Hommedieu. 

For  JJ7estchester  County. — Gouverneur  Morris,  Lewis  Gra- 
ham, James  Van  Cortlandt,  Joseph  Drake,  Philip  Van 
Cortlandt,  James  Holmes,  Robert  Graham,  William 
Paulding. 

For  King's  County. — Henry  Williams,  Jeremiah  Remsen, 
John  Leffertse,  Nicholas  Covenhoven,  John  Vanderbilt. 

For  Richmond  County. — Paul  Micheau,  John  Journeys 
Aaron  Cortelyou,  Richard  Conner,  Richard  Lawrence. 

For  Queen's  County. — Jacob  Blackwell,  Jonathan  Law- 
rence, Zebulon  Williams,  Samuel  Townshend,  Joseph 
Robinson,  Nathaniel  Tom. 

For  Charlotte  County. — John  Williams,  William  Marsh. 

Mr.  John  N.  Bleecker  sent  in  a  return  of  Stores  and 
Provisions  which  have  been  received  at  Albany  from  New- 
York ;  of  the  quantities  forwarded  to  Fort  George;  and 
of  such  as  yet  remain  at  Albany,  or  have  been  there  ex- 
pended.   The  said  return  was  read  and  filed. 

The  Congress  resumed  the  consideration  of  the  proposal 
of  Robert  Boyd  and  Henry  JVatkeys ;  and  after  some  time 
spent  therein,  a  draught  of  a  Letter  to  Robert  Boyd  on  the 
subject  of  making  Gun-Barrels  was  read  and  approved, 
and  is  in  the  words  following,  to  w  it : 

In  Provincial  Congress,  New- York,  June  16,  1775. 

Sir  :  It  will  be  impossible  for  us  to  give  the  due  en- 
couragement to  the  business  which  yrou  mention  in  your 
letter,  without  first  conversing  with  you  on  the  subject. 
We  beg,  therefore,  you  would  come  to  New-  York  with  the 
utmost  despatch,  and  then,  when  we  shall  have  heard 
what  are  the  expenses  of  the  undertaking,  and  what  work 
can  be  performed  in  a  given  time,  we  shall  be  able  to  con- 
tract wtih  you  for  such  number  as  will  render  the  business 
practicable.    We  are,  Sir,  your  very  humble  servants. 

By  order  and  on  behalf  of  the  Provincial  Congress. 
To  Mr.  Robert  Boyd,  New-Windsor. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  thereof  be  engrossed,  signed  by 
the  President,  and  transmitted. 


1303 


NEW-YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1304 


Ordered,  That  Mr.  Peter  T.  Curtenius,  as  Commissary 
of  this  Congress,  be  desired  to  purchase  the  following 
quantities  of  Ravens  Duck,  Ticking,  and  Bell  Tents,  of 
such  persons  as  will  sell  the  same  on  the  publick  credit,  to 
wit :  427  pieces  of  good  Ravens  Duck  ;  182  yards  of  Tick- 
ing, fit  to  make  Bell  Tents;  and  twenty-six  Bell  Tents, 
which  are  at  Uayman  Levy's,  if  they  are  of  a  proper  fash- 
ion, good,  and  of  a  cheap  or  reasonable  price. 

And  Ordered,  That  Mr.  Curtenius  examine  a  number 
of  Haversacks  which  are  at  Uayman  Levy's;  that  if  he 
find  them  of  good  quality  and  proper  shape,  and  cheap, 
that  he  purchase  them  if  to  be  sold  on  the  publick  credit. 

Ordered,  That  Captain  Montgomerie,  Mr.  Van  Zandt, 
Mr.  Beekman,  and  Mr.  Brasher,  be  a  Committee  to  get 
as  many  Tents  as  they  shall  think  necessary  made  with  all 
possible  despatch. 

Mr.  Payne  and  Mr.  Piatt  have  obtained  leave  of  absence. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Hoffman,  Mr.  Glenn,  Mr.  Mc- 
Dougall,  and  Mr.  Paulding,  be  a  Committee  to  inquire  into 
the  depth  of  water  in  Hudson's  River,  from  the  City  of 
New-  York  to  New-  Windsor. 

The  Congress  then  adjourned  to  nine  o'clock  to-morrow 
morning. 

Die  Saturnii,  9  ho.  A.  M.,  June  17,  1775. 

The  Congress  met  pursuant  to  adjournment,  and  opened 
with  prayers  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Livingston.  Present : 
For  the  City  and  County  of  New-York. — Peter  Van  Brugh 
Livingston,  Esquire,  President;  Isaac  Low,  Alexander 
McDougall,  Leonard  Lispenard,  Joseph  Hallett,  Isaac 
Roosevelt,  John  De  Lancey,  James  Beekman,  Samuel 
Verplanck,  Richard  Yates,  Benjamin  Kissam,  Jacobus 
Van  Zandt. 

For  the  City  and  County  of  Albany. — Abraham  Yates, 
Peter  Silvester,  Walter  Livingston,  Robert  Van  Rensse- 
laer, Henry  Glenn. 

For  Dutchess  County. — Anthony  Hoffman,  Zephaniah 
Piatt,  Richard  Montgomerie,  Jonathan  Landon,  Gys- 
bert  Schenck,  Melancton  Smith,  Nathaniel  Sackett. 

For  Ulster  County. — James  Clinton,  Christopher  Tappen, 
John  Nicholson. 

For  Orange  County. — David  Pye,  Benjamin  Tusteen, 
John  Herring,  Jeremiah  Clarke. 

For  Suffolk  County. — Thomas  Tredwell,  John  Foster, 
Ezra  L'Hommedieu. 

For  Westchester  County. — Gouverneur  Morris,  Lewis  Gra- 
ham, James  Van  Cortlandt,  James  Holmes,  Robert 
Graham. 

For  King's  County. — Johannes  E.  Lott,  Henry  Williams, 
John  Leffertse,  Nicholas  Covenhoven. 

For  Richmond.  County. — Paul  Micheau,  John  Journey, 
Aaron  Cortelyou,  Richard  Conner,  Richard  Lawrence. 

For  Queen's  County. — Jonathan  Lawrence,  Zebulon  Wil- 
liams, Samuel  Townshend. 

For  Charlotte  County. — John  Williams. 

The  President  mentioned  that  a  gentleman  who  is  a 
member  of  a  Committee  in  New-Jersey,  and  a  Delegate 
to  New-Jersey  Congress,  has  informed  him  that  he  con- 
ceives it  will  be  of  great  use  in  some  parts  of  the  Colony 
of  Neiv-Jersey,  to  let  him  have  a  copy  of  the  Affidavit  of 
Angus  McDonald. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  thereof  be  delivered  to  that  gen- 
tleman by  the  President. 

Mr.  Van  Zandt,  from  the  Committee  appointed  to  get 
as  many  Tents  made  as  they  shall  think  necessary,  reported, 
that  they  had  agreed  with  sundry  Upholsterers  to  make  two 
hundred  and  fifty  Tents,  and  to  furnish  all  materials  (Duck 
excepted)  for  making  the  said  Tents,  with  Tent  Poles, 
Mallets,  and  other  necessaries  for  the  said  Tents,  at  the 
rate  of  fifteen  Shillings  for  each  Tent.  That  the  said  Up- 
holsterers have  agreed  with  them  to  have  the  said  two 
hundred  and  fifty  Tents  finished  by  the  latter  end  of  next 
week ;  and  some  of  them  will  be  finished  fit  for  use  by 
next  Wednesday  or  Thursday. 

Mr.  McDougall  informed  the  President  in  publick  Con- 
gress, that,  in  pursuance  of  the  order  of  this  Congress,  of 
the  ninth  instant,  he  had  applied  to  the  Committee  of  the 
City  of  New-York;  and  received  of  the  said  Committee 


the  sum  of  Two  Hundred  Pounds ;  and  Mr.  McDougall 
immediately  paid  One  Hundred  Pounds  of  the  said  money 
to  Peter  Van  Brugh  Livingston,  Esq.,  the  President,  and 
took  his  receipt  for  the  same. 

A  Letter  received  from  Major-General  Wooster,  dated 
Camp  at  Greenwich,  June  15,  1775,  was  read  and  filed. 

Doctor  Graham  and  Mr.  Van  Vleeck  delivered  in  the 
Proposals  of  Messrs.  Van  Vleeck  and  Kip  for  undertaking 
Saltpetre  works  in  this  City. 

Ordered,  That  the  said  Proposals  lay  for  further  consi- 
deration. 

Captain  Jeffrey,  the  captain  of  the  Packet,  being  re- 
quested to  attend  this  Congress,  and  attending  at  the  door, 
was  called  in  ;  and,  in  substance,  informed  the  Congress, 
that  on  Tuesday  last,  about  thirty  leagues  to  the  southeast 
of  Sandy-Hook  he  saw  the  Spry,  man-of-war,  now  a 
transport,  with  part  of  the  Forty-Fourth  Regiment  on 
board.  That  he  was  informed  by  some  of  the  officers  of 
the  Troops  on  board  the  Spry,  that  the  Mercury,  man-of- 
war,  had  ordered  the  Spry  transport  to  Boston,  and  was 
cruising  thereabout  to  order  all  the  transports  wilh  Troops, 
which  were  destined  to  New-  York,  to  proceed  to  Boston ; 
that  he  has  also  had  the  like  information  from  some  of  the 
officers  of  the  Mercury. 

Thereupon,  a  draught  of  a  Letter  to  Major-General 
Wooster  was  read,  and  approved  of;  and  is  in  the  words 
following,  to  wit: 

In  Provincial  Congress,  New- York,  June  17,  1775. 
Sir:  Being  well  informed  that  four  Regiments,  contain- 
ing  near  three  thousand  effective  men,  were  sailed  in  trans- 
ports for  this  City,  we  took  the  liberty  to  request  the 
assistance  of  those  brave  sons  of  freedom  who  are  under 
your  command.  We  are  this  instant  further  informed  that 
the  Mercury,  ship-of-war,  was  cruising  upon  our  coast,  and 
is  now  at  Sandy-Hook,  to  order  those  transports  to  Boston 
immediately  :  and  did,  on  Tuesday  last,  thirty  leagues  to 
the  southeast  of  the  Hook,  deliver  his  orders  to  the  Old 
Spry,  man-of-war,  now  a  transport,  with  part  of  the  Forty- 
Fourth  Regiment  on  board,  which  immediately  altered  her 
course.  From  hence  we  conclude  that  a  very  capital  stroke 
is  meditated  against  our  brethren  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay. 
You  best  can  determine,  Sir,  whether  it  is  proper  on  this 
occasion  for  the  forces  under  your  command  to  march  west- 
ward ;  but  we  are  led  to  believe  that  it  is  of  more  impor- 
tant consequence  to  secure  the  several  passes  with  which 
nature  hath  bounteously  fortified  the  eastern  country  ;  that 
if  some  unexpected  chance  of  war  should  prove  fatal  to  us 
in  the  first  contest,  the  enemy  may,  by  such  means,  receive 
a  check  in  his  career  of  vengeance. 

We  beg  you  to  transmit  this  intelligence  to  the  Provin- 
cial Camp  with  the  utmost  despatch.  We  are,  Sir,  your 
most  obedient  humble  servants. 

By  order  and  on  behalf  of  the  Provincial  Congress. 
To  Major-General  Wooster. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  thereof  be  engrossed,  signed  by 
the  President,  and  transmitted  by  Jacob  Shafer  as  a  mes- 
senger for  that  purpose. 

A  draught  of  a  Letter  to  the  Delegates  from  this  Colo- 
ny at  the  Continental  Congress,  was  also  read  and  ap- 
proved. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  thereof  be  engrossed,  and  signed 
by  the  President ;  and  that  a  copy  of  the  Resolve  and  Or- 
der of  this  Congress  of  the  15th  instant,  for  introducing 
the  Connecticut  Forces,  under  the  command  of  General 
Wooster ;  a  copy  of  the  Letter  to  General  Wooster  from 
this  Congress  of  the  same  date ;  and  the  before  written 
Letter  to  General  Wooster  of  this  day,  be  enclosed  to  the 
said  Delegates ;  and  that  the  same  be  forwarded  by  the 
messenger  from  the  Massachusetts-Bay  now  on  his  way  to 
Philadelphia. 

Ordered,  That  the  Committee  appointed  to  prepare  a 
Plan  of  Accommodation  between  Great  Britain  and  the 
Colonies,  in  order  to  be  prepared  to  give  the  sentiments 
of  this  Congress  thereon  to  the  Delegates  of  this  Colony, 
bring  in  their  Report  on  Wednesday  next. 

The  Congress  then  adjourned  to  Monday  next,  at  four 
o'clock,  P.  M. 


1805 


NEW-YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1306 


Die  Lunte,  June  19,  1775,  4to  ho.  P.  M. 

The  Congress  met  pursuant  to  adjournment,  and  ad- 
journed to  nine  o'clock  to-morrow  morning. 

Die  Martis,  9  ho.  A.  M.,  June  20,  1775. 
The  Congress  met  pursuant  to  adjournment,  and  open- 
ed with  prayers  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Bowdtn.    Present : 
For  the  City  and  County  of  JSew-York. — Peter  Van 
Brugh  Livingston,  Esq.,  President;  Isaac  Low,  Alex- 
ander McDougall,  Leonard  Lispenard,  Abraham  Walton, 
Abraham  Brasher,  Isaac  Roosevelt,  John  De  Lancey, 
Jnmes  Beekman,  Samuel  Vernlanck,  Richard  Yates, 
David  Clarkson,  Thomas  Smith,  Benjamin  Kissam,  John 
Van  Cortlandt,  Jacobus  Van  Zandt,  John  Marston. 
For  the  City  and  County  of  Albany. — Abraham  Yates, 
Peter  Silvester,  Walter  Livingston,  Robert  Van  Rensse- 
laer, Henry  Glenn. 
For  Dutchess  County. — Anthony  Hoffman,  Zephaniah 
Piatt,  Richard  Montgomerie,  Jonathan  Landon,  Me- 
lancton  Smith,  Nathaniel  Sackett. 
For  Ulster  County. — James  Clinton,  Christopher  Tappen. 
For  Orange  County. — John  Cop,  David  Pye,  Benjamin 
Tusteen,  Peter  Clowes,  John  Herring,  Jeremiah  Clarke. 
For  Suffolk  County. — Colonel  Nathaniel  Woodhull,  John 
Sloss  Hobart,  Thomas  Tredwell,  John  Foster,  Ezra 
L'Hommedieu,  Thomas  Wickham. 
For  Westchester  County. — Gouverneur  Morris,  Lewis  Gra- 
ham, James  Van  Cortlandt,  Stephen  Ward,  Philip  Van 
Cortlandt,  James  Holmes,  David  Dayton,  John  Tho- 
mas, Jun. 

For  King's  County. — Henry  Williams,  Jeremiah  Remsen, 
Theodorus  Polhemus,  John  Leffertse. 

For  Richmond  County. — Aaron  Cortelyou,  Richard  Law- 
rence. 

For  Queen's  County. — Jonathan  Lawrence,  Zebulon  Wil- 
liams, Samuel  Townshend,  Joseph  Robinson. 
For  Charlotte  County. — John  Williams. 

Tryon  County. — The  Deputies  from  Tryon  County 
attending  at  the  door,  were  called  in,  and  produced  a  Cer- 
tificate signed  by  Nicholas  Herlcimer,  Chairman  pro  tem- 
pore, and  Andrew  Finck,  Junior,  Clerk  of  a  meeting  of 
the  Committee  of  Tryon  County,  held  on  the  eleventh  of 
June,  instant,  whereby  it  appears  that  Christopher  P. 
Yates  and  John  Marlett,  Esquires,  were  appointed  Depu- 
ties to  attend  this  Provincial  Congress  without  delay,  and 
to  act,  in  conjunction  with  the  Members  thereof,  upon  this 
very  alarming  and  calamitous  situation  of  British  America. 
The  said  Certificate  being  read  and  filed, 
Ordered,  That  those  gentlemen  take  their  seats. 

The  President  informed  the  Congress  that  he  had  re- 
ceived sundry  Letters  from  Philadelphia,  by  a  messenger 
returned  from  thence,  and  who  had  been  sent  there  with 
despatches  from  this  Congress  by  John  Jay,  Esquire. 

Ordered,  That  Peter  Van  Brugh  Livingston,  Esquire, 
the  President,  pay  the  said  messenger.  And  it  is  further 
ordered,  that  the  President,  for  the  future,  pay  all  messen- 
gers who  shall  be  employed  by  this  Congress,  taking  their 
respective  receipts  for  the  sums  paid  to  them. 

A  Letter  from  James  Duane,  Esquire,  on  behalf  of 
himself  and  the  other  Delegates  from  this  Colony,  dated 
Philadelphia,  June  17,  1775,  was  read  and  filed. 

The  Resolution  of  the  Continental  Congress  therein 
mentioned,  of  the  16th  instant,  was  read,  and  is  in  the 
words  following,  to  wit : 

"In  Congress,  June  16,  1775, 
''Resolved,  That  the  Provincial  Convention  of  N4.W- 
York  be  desired  immediately  to  apply  to  Governour 
Trumbull  to  order  the  Connecticut  Troops  now  stationed 
at  Greenwich,  Stamford,  and  parts  adjacent,  to  march  to- 
wards New-York ;  and  that  part  of  them  occupy  such 
Posts  upon  that  Island  as  the  said  Provincial  Convention 
shall  judge  best  adapted  to  prevent  the  communication 
between  the  town  and  country  from  being  cut  off ;  the 
remainder  of  the  Troops  to  be  employed  in  securing  the 
navigation  of  Hudson's  River,  by  erecting  Batteries  at  such 
places  as  the  said  Convention  shall  judge  the  most  proper 
to  answer  that  purpose. 

"  A  true  copy  from  the  Minutes  : 

"  Charles  Thomson,  Secretary." 


A  Letter  from  Major-General  Wooster,  dated  the  17th 
instant,  was  read  and  filed,  and  is  in  the  words  following, 
to  wit : 

"  Greenwich.  June  17,  1775. 

"  Sir:  Your  favour  of  the  loth  instant,  in  behalf  of  the 
Provincial  Congress,  with  the  enclosed  order,  I  receiv- 
ed yesterday  morning,  and  immediately  despatched  the  re- 
quisition to  the  Governour,  who,  together  with  the  Coun- 
cil of  War,  are  empowered  by  our  Assembly  to  order  the 
destination  of  the  Troops.  1  shall  hold  myself  in  readi- 
ness to  march  whenever  I  receive  the  Governour's  orders. 

"  I  am,  Sir,  your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

"  David  Wooster. 
"  To  Peter  V.  B.  Livingston,  Esquire." 

Another  Letter  from  Major-General  Wooster,  of  the 
18th  instant,  was  also  read  and  filed,  and  is  in  the  words 
following,  to  wit : 

"  Greenwich,  June  18,  1775. 

"  Sir  :  Your  favour,  in  behalf  of  your  Congress,  I  have 
just  received  ;  a  copy  of  which  1  have  transmitted  by  ex- 
press both  to  the  Camp  near  Boston,  and  to  our  Gover- 
nour. I  should  be  very  glad  to  hear  that  your  proportion 
of  men,  for  the  defence  of  the  Country,  were  raised  and 
well  equipped,  as  it  is  of  the  utmost  importance  that  a 
place  of  such  consequence  as  New-York  should  be  put  in 
the  best  posture  of  defence. 

"  I  am,  in  haste,  your  most  obedient  humble  servant. 

"  David  Wooster,  Major-General. 
"  To  Peter  V.  B.  Livingston,  Esquire." 

The  President  informed  the  Congress  that  about  thir- 
teen hundred  weight  of  Gunpowder  is  brought  to  this  City, 
and  that  the  Congress  may  have  it  to  purchase,  if  they 
think  fit. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  McDougall  agree  for  and  purchase 
the  said  Powder;  and  that  he  forward  one  thousand  v\eight 
thereof  to  the  Colony  of  Connecticut,  for  the  use  of  the 
Provincial  Army  near  Boston,  with  a  Letter  to  Governour 
Trumbull,  enclosing  a  copy  of  the  Resolve  of  the  Conti- 
nental Congress  of  the  16th  instant,  and  therein  request  of 
him  to  forward  from  their  most  easterly  magazine  the  like 
quantity  to  the  Camp  of  the  Provincial  Army  of  the  Mas- 
sachusetts-Bay. 

And  Ordered,  That  Mr.  McDougall  forward  the  re- 
maining three  hundred  weight  of  the  said  Powder  to  the 
Agents  at  Albany,  to  be  forwarded  to  Ticonderoga. 

A  draught  of  a  Letter  to  Governour  Trumbull,  on  the 
subjects  above  mentioned,  was  read,  and  is  in  the  words 
following,  to  wit : 

In  Provincial  Congress,  New- York,  June  20,  1775. 

Sir  :  We  enclose  you  a  letter  forwarded  from  the  Con- 
gress to  our  care,  a  part  of  the  contents  whereof  we  are 
made  acquainted  with.  You  will  observe,  Sir,  that  the 
resolutions  of  the  Congress,  on  the  subject  of  marching 
your  Troops  hither,  are  previous  to  the  important  intelli- 
gence communicated  to  General  Wooster  last  Saturday. 
How  the  Congress  would  have  determined  if  they  had 
known  that  the  Troops  intended  for  this  post  were  ordered 
to  Boston,  we  know  not.  But  we  desire  you,  Sir,  to  use 
your  own  good  judgment  upon  the  whole  of  the  intelli- 
gence conveyed  to  you,  and  be  confident  that  we  shall 
heartily  acquiesce.  We  have  lately  received  a  small  sup- 
ply of  gunpowder,  and  shall  very  soon  forward  to  General 
Wooster  half  a  ton  for  the  Provincial  Army  near  Boston, 
that  it  may  be  despatched  with  the  utmost  speed.  We 
pray  you  to  send  so  much  thither  from  your  easternmost 
magazine. 

We  are,  Sir,  your  most  obedient  servants. 

By  order  and  on  behalf  of  the  Congress. 
To  the  Hon.  Jonathan  Trumbull,  Esq.,  Governour  of  the 
Colony  of  Connecticut. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  thereof  be  engrossed,  signed  by 
the  President,  and,  together  with  a  copy  of  the  Resolve  of 
the  Continental  Congress  of  the  16th  instant,  to  be  there- 
in enclosed,  sent  by  Mr.  Bradford,  who  offers  his  service 
as  a  messenger  for  that  purpose. 

A  draught  of  a  Letter  to  Major-General  Wooster  was 
read  and  approved,  and  is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 


1307 


NEW-YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1308 


In  Provincial  Congress,  June  20,  1775. 

Sir:  We  have  received  your  favours  of  the  17th  and 
18th  instant,  and  beg  leave  to  testify  to  you  our  high  sense 
of  the  readiness  which  you  shew  to  assist  our  Colony. 
That  honest  zeal  which  inspirits  the  bosoms  of  our  coun- 
trymen in  Connecticut  commands  our  admiration  and  praise. 
With  the  warmest  affection  for  them,  the  most  fervent 
attention  to  the  publick  welfare,  and  the  greatest  respect, 
Sir,  for  you,  we  are  your  very  humble  servants. 

By  order  and  on  behalf  of  the  Provincial  Congress. 
To  Major-General  Wooster. 

P.  S.  We  enclose  a  letter  for  you  received  by  our  mes- 
senger from  Philadelphia. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  thereof  be  engrossed,  and  signed 
by  the  President,  and  sent  by  Mr.  Bradford. 

A  Letter  from  John  Hancock,  Esquire,  President  of 
the  Continental  Congress,  bearing  date  on  the  12th  inst., 
was  read  and  filed,  and  is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 

"  Philadelphia,  June  12,  1775. 
"  Gentlemen  :  By  order  of  the  Congress  I  forward 
you  the  enclosed  Resolves,  passed  on  the  10th  instant,  the 
importance  and  propriety  of  which  you  will  readily  per- 
ceive, as  the  safety  of  America  greatly  depends  on  our 
having  it  in  our  power  to  supply  ourselves  with  the  means 
of  defence.  I  am,  gentlemen,  your  most  obedient  humble 
servant,  John  Hancock,  President. 

"  To  the  Members  of  the  Provincial  Congress  of  New- 
York." 

The  Resolves  of  the  Continental  Congress,  received,  en- 
closed in  the  above  Letter,  were  also  read  and  filed. 

The  Mayor  of  the  City  informed  the  President  that 
without  the  aid  of  this  Congress,  Captain  Vanderput,  of 
the  Ship  Asia,  cannot  get  any  small  necessaries  for  him- 
self or  his  Ship ;  and  that  Captain  Vanderput  requests 
such  aid  of  this  Congress  as  may  give  him  relief  in  the 
premises. 

Ordered,  That  Abraham  Lott,  Esquire,  be  at  liberty  to 
supply  Captain  Vanderput  and  the  Ship  Asia  with  such 
small  necessaries  as  may  be  wanted  from  time  to  time. 

A  Letter  from  Mr.  Brook  Watson  to  the  President, 
setting  forth  that  he  is  going  into  Canada,  mentioning  his 
suite,  and  the  Letters  in  his  custody,  and  requesting  such 
Letter  from  Congress  as  may  facilitate  his  journey  ;  and 
also  a  card  from  Lord  and  Lady  Chatham,  were  read  : 

And  thereupon  a  draught  of  a  recommendatory  Passport 
for  the  said  Brook  Watson  and  his  suite,  was  prepared, 
read,  and  approved  of,  and  is  in  the  words  following,  to 
wit : 

In  Provincial  Congress,  New-York,  June  20,  1775. 

To  all  Officers  in  the  service  of  the  Colonies,  Members  of 
Committees,  and  others  of  the  friends  of  American 
liberty,  greeting  : 

Brethren  :  Take  notice  that  Mr.  Brook  Watson,  now 
about  to  depart  hence  for  the  Province  of  Quebeck,  hav- 
ing applied  to  this  Congress  for  a  passport,  we,  well  con- 
vinced that  the  said  Brook  Watson  is  a  true  friend  to  this 
Country  and  its  rights,  do  desire  you  to  give  him  every 
assistance,  and  shew  him  all  the  civilities  in  your  power, 
and  that  you  forward  him  and  his  suite,  being  Messieurs 
Joseph  Marie  Tonnencour  and  Louis  Perras,  companions 
of  the  said  Brook  Watson,  and  Daniel  McKinzie,  his 
servant.    We  are,  gentlemen,  your  humble  servants. 

By  order  and  on  behalf  of  the  Congress. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  thereof  be  engrossed,  and  signed 
by  the  President,  and  countersigned  by  the  Secretaries, 
and  delivered  to  Mr.  Brook  Watson;  and  that  Messrs. 
Morris,  Richard  Yates,  Clarkson,  and  Low,  be  a  Com- 
mittee to  wait  on  him,  and  receive  of  him  such  informa- 
tion as  he  can  give  that  may  be  useful  for  the  interest  of 
America. 

A  copy  of  a  Letter  bearing  date  at  Newport,  on  the 
14th  instant,  from  Jonathan  Otis,  Chairman  of  the  Com- 
mittee of  Inspection  there,  was  read  and  filed. 

A  draught  of  a  Letter  to  the  Committees  of  East  and 
South- Hampton,  was  read,  and  is  in  the  words  following, 
to  wit : 


In  Provincial  Congress,  New-York,  June  20,  1775. 
Gentlemen  :  A  copy  of  the  Letter  from  the  Commit- 
tee of  Newport  to  your  Committee,  concerning  certain 
persons  now  under  inoculation  in  your  Town,  being  laid 
before  us,  we  earnestly  recommend  to  you  that  you  would 
be  very  careful  that  they  be  so  secured  and  sent  off  as  not 
to  have  it  in  their  power  to  spread  the  infection.  You 
have  enclosed  the  resolution  of  this  Congress  prohibiting 
inoculation  for  the  small-pox  until  the  first  of  December 
next.       We  are,  &ic. 

To  the  Committees  of  Observation  of  the  Towns  of  East 
and  South- Hampton. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  thereof  be  engrossed,  signed  by 
the  President,  and,  with  a  copy  of  the  Resolve  of  this  Con- 
gress against  Inoculation  for  the  Small-Pox,  be  delivered 
to  Mr.  L'  Hommedieu  to  be  forwarded. 

A  Certificate  from  Jonathan  Wells,  Samuel  Wadsworth, 
and  Epaphras  Bull,  the  Committee  of  Hartford,  bearing 
date  the  13th  instant,  certifying  that  Richard  Sharpless, 
the  bearer,  is  one  of  the  soldiers  lately  taken  at  Ticonde- 
roga,  and  was  coming  to  New-York  to  collect  money  due 
to  him,  was  read ;  and  the  soldier  mentioned  in  the  said 
Certificate  attending  at  the  door,  and  being  lame, 

Ordered,  That  the  Doorkeeper  provide  Lodging  for 
him  at  the  cheapest  rate,  until  the  further  order  of  this 
Congress. 

Mr.  Verplanck  (seconded  by  Mr.  Melancion  Smith) 
moved  in  the  following  words,  to  wit : 

I  move  that  the  sum  of  £2,000,  when  we  receive  the 
Continental  Currency,  be  lent  to  Messrs.  Van  Vletck  and 
Kip,  at  five  per  cent.,  for  the  term  of  two  years,  they 
giving  security  for  the  same,  to  enable  them  to  manufac- 
ture Saltpetre ;  and  that  this  Congress  engage  to  take  from 
them  any  quantity  of  Saltpetre,  under  twenty  tons,  that 
they  may  manufacture  in  this  Colony  within  a  twelve- 
month, at  the  rale  of  2s.  6d.  per  pound. 

And  debates  arose  thereon,  and  the  question  being  put, 
it  was  carried  in  the  negative  in  the  manner  following,  to 
wit : 

For  the  Motion.  Against  the  Motion. 


County  of  Dutchess, 
County  of  Ulster, 
County  of  Suffolk, 
County  of  Orange. — 8. 


City  and  County  of  Albany, 
County  of  Richmond, 
County  of  Charlotte, 
County  of  King's, 
County  of  Westchester, 
County  of  Tryon, 
City  and  County  of  New-York, 
County  of  Queen's. — 19. 

A  Letter  from  John  Hancock,  Esquire,  President  of 
the  Continental  Congress,  bearing  date  the  15th  instant, 
was  read,  and  is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 

"  Philadelphia,  June  15,  1775. 

"  Gentlemen  :  Your  letter,  of  10th  instant,  to  the  Dele- 
gates of  New-York,  has  been  laid  before  the  Congress,  in 
consequence  of  which  I  am  directed  to  return  you  the 
thanks  of  the  Congress  for  your  vigilance  in  the  case  of 
Captain  Coffin's  vessel,  and  to  recommend  to  you  that  the 
vessel  be  unloaded,  and  the  cargo  safely  stored,  until  all 
just  suspicions  concerning  the  destination  of  it  shall  be 
removed.  I  am,  gentlemen,  your  most  obedient  humble 
servant,  John  Hancock,  President. 

"  To  the  Members  of  the  Provincial  Congress,  New-  York." 

A  Letter  from  the  Provincial  Congress  of  New-Hamp- 
shire, together  with  a  certified  copy  of  a  Resolve  of  that 
Congress,  were  read  and  filed. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Tappen  and  Mr.  Christopher  P. 
Yates  be  added  to  the  Committee  for  the  arrangement  of 
Troops  to  be  raised  in  this  Colony. 

The  Congress  adjourned  to  to-morrow  morning,  nine 
o'clock. 

Die  Mercurii,  9  ho.  A.  M.,  June  21,  1775. 
The  Congress  met  pursuant  to  adjournment,  and  opened 
with  prayers  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Moore.  Present : 
For  the  City  and  County  of  Neiv-York. — Peter  Van 
Brugh  Livingston,  Esq.,  President;  Isaac  Low,  Alex- 
ander McDougall,  Leonard  Lispenard,  Abraham  Wal- 
ton, Abraham  Brasher,  Isaac  Roosevelt,  John  De  Lan- 
cey,  James  Beekman,   Samuel  Verplanck,  Richard 


1309 


NEW-YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1310 


Yates,  David  Clarkson,  Thomas  Smith,  Benjamin  Kis- 
sam,  John  Morin  Scott,  Jacobus  Van  Zandt,  John  Mar- 
ston. 

For  the  City  and  County  of  Albany. — Abraham  Yates, 
Jun.,  Peter  Silvester,  Walter  Livingston,  Robert  Van 
Rensselaer,  Henry  Glenn. 

For  Dutchess  County. — Anthony  Hoffman,  Zephaniah 
Piatt,  Richard  Montgomerie,  Jonathan  Landon,  Gys- 
bert  Schenck,  Melancton  Smith,  Nathaniel  Sackett. 

For  Ulster  County. — Johannes  Hardenbergh,  James  Clin- 
ton, Christopher  Tappen. 

For  Orange  County. — John  Coe,  Benjamin  Tusteen,  John 
Herring. 

For  Suffolk  County. — Nathaniel  Woodbull,  John  Sloss 
Hobart,  Thomas  Wickham,  Thomas  Tredvvell,  John 
Foster. 

For  Westchester  County. — Gouverneur  Morris,  Lewis  Gra- 
ham, James  Van  Cortlandt,  Stephen  Ward,  Philip  Van 
Cortlandt,  James  Holmes,  David  Dayton,  John  Tho- 
mas, Jun.,  William  Paulding. 

For  King's  County. — Theodorus  Polhemus,  John  Lef- 
fertse,  Nicholas  Covenhoven,  John  Vanderbilt. 

For  Richmond  County. — Paul  Micheau,  Aaron  Cortelyou, 
Richard  Lawrence. 

For  Queen's  County. — Jonathan  Lawrence,  Zebulon  Wil- 
liams, Samuel  Townshend,  Joseph  Robinson. 

For  Charlotte  County. — John  Williams. 

For  Tryon  County. — Christopher  P.  Yates,  John  Marlett. 

For  Cumberland  County. — John  Hazeltine,  Paul  Spooner, 
William  Williams. 

A  Letter  from  John  Hazeltine,  Chairman  of  the  Com- 
mittee of  Cumberland  County,  was  read  and  filed. 

The  gentlemen  who  are  Deputies  from  Cumberland 
County,  produced  a  set  of  Resolves  entered  into  by  the 
Delegates  of  the  several  Towns  in  the  said  County,  con- 
vened at  the  Court-House  at  Westminster,  on  the  sixth 
instant,  signed  by  John  Hazeltine,  Chairman,  and  Sol. 
Phelps,  D.  Clerk ;  and  by  the  conclusion  of  the  sixth  and 
last  Resolve  it  appears  and  is  certified  that  Colonel  John 
Hazeltine,  Doctor  Faul  Spooner,  and  William  Williams, 
Esquire,  were  voted  and  elected  Deputies  for  that  County 
to  attend,  meet,  and  join  in  this  Congress;  the  said  Re- 
solves and  Certificate  were  read  and  filed : 

And  Ordered,  That  these  gentlemen  take  their  seats. 

The  Petition  of  Joseph  Johnson,  on  behalf  of  himself 
and  three  other  Indians  therein  named,  praying  for  a  Pass- 
port and  letter  of  safe  conduct  for  himself  and  the  said 
three  other  Indians  to  Neiv-London,  in  Connecticut,  and 
some  small  aid  in  money,  to  assist  them  in  their  journey, 
was  read  and  filed. 

Ordered,  That  a  Passport  and  letter  of  safe  conduct 
be  made  and  delivered  to  the  said  Joseph  Johnson  and 
his  three  companions,  by  name,  in  their  journey  to  Neiv- 
London,  and  that  the  President  give  him  Ten  Pounds  to 
assist  him  and  his  companions  in  their  journey. 

A  Letter  from  John  Bay,  Secretary  of  the  Committee 
of  Albany,  was  read,  and  is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit: 

"Albany,  June  16,  1775. 

"Sir:  By  order  of  the  Committee  of  this  City  and 
County,  of  the  15th  instant,  you  have  enclosed  a  copy  of 
a  letter  from  the  Reverend  Samuel  Kirkland,  Missionary 
among  the  Oneida  Indians.  I  am,  Sir,  your  humble  ser- 
vant, John  Bay,  Secretary  pro  tern. 
"To  Peter  V.  B.  Livingston,  Esquire,  President  of  the 

Provincial  Congress,  New-York." 

The  copy  of  the  Letter  from  Mr.  Kirkland,  therein  en- 
closed, was  read  and  filed,  and  is  in  the  words  following, 
to  wit : 

"  Cherry  Valley,  June  9,  1775. 
"  Gentlemen  :  This  acknowledges  the  receipt  of  your 
favour,  with  an  enclosed  paper,  the  authenticity  of  which 
1  have  no  doubt.  I  am  much  embarrassed  at  present. 
You  have  doubtless  heard  Colonel  Johnson  has  orders 
from  Government  to  remove  the  dissenting  Missionaries 
from  the  Six  Nations,  till  the  difficulties  betwixt  Great 
Britain  and  the  Colonies  are  settled.  In  consequence  of 
which  he  has  forbid  my  return  to  my  people  at  Oneida. 
He  has  since  given  encouragement  that  i  may  revisit  them 
after  the  Congress;  but,  to  be  plain,  I  have  no  dependance 


at  all  upon  his  promises  of  this  kind  in  particular.  He 
appears  unreasonably  jealous  of  me,  and  has  forbid  my 
speaking  a  word  to  the  Indians,  and  threatened  me  with 
confinement  if  I  transgress.  All  he  has  against  me  I  sup- 
pose to  be  this :  a  suspicion  that  I  have  interpreted  to  the 
Indians  the  doings  of  the  Continental  Congress,  which 
has  undeceived  and  too  much  opened  the  eyes  of  the  In- 
dians for  Colonel  Johnson's  purposes.  I  confess  to  you, 
gentlemen,  that  1  have  been  guilty  of  this,  if  it  be  any 
transgression.  The  Indians  found  out  that  I  had  received 
the  abstracts  of  said  Congress,  and  insisted  upon  knowing 
the  contents.  I  could  not  deny  them,  notwithstanding  my 
cloth,  though  in  all  other  respects  I  have  been  extremelv 
cautious  not  to  meddle  in  matters  of  a  political  nature. 

"  I  apprehend  my  interpreting  the  doings  of  the  Congress 
to  a  number  of  their  Sachems,  has  done  more  real  service 
to  the  cause  of  the  Country,  or  the  cause  of  truth  and 
justice,  than  five  hundred  pounds  in  presents  would  have 
effected.  If  you  think  proper,  you  may  acquaint  your 
Provincial  Congress  with  the  contents  of  this,  but  you 
must  be  cautious  in  exposing  my  name  ;  you  cannot  but 
be  sensible  my  situation  is  extremely  difficult.  You  may 
expect  either  to  see  or  hear  from  me  again  very  soon  : 
wishing  you  the  blessings  of  peace,  and  that  we  may  all 
be  disposed  to  acquiesce  in  the  Divine  Government. 

"  In  utmost  haste  subscribe,  gentlemen,  your  obedient 
and  very  humble  servant,  Samuel  Kirkland. 

"  To  the  Committee  of  Albany. 

"  A  true  copy:  John  Bay,  Sec'y  pro  tern." 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Abraham  Yates,  Colonel  Harden- 
bergh, Mr.  Silvester,  Mr.  Glenn,  and  Mr.  Christopher  P. 
Yates,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  of  such  directions  as 
may  be  proper  for  this  Congress  to  give,  and  such  mea- 
sures as  may  be  useful  to  be  by  them  adopted,  with  respect 
to  the  Oneidas,  and  other  Indian  Nations,  and  that  they 
report  with  all  convenient  speed. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Tusteen  and  Colonel  Hazeltine 
be  added  to  the  Committee  for  arrangement  of  the  Forces 
to  be  raised  in  this  Colony. 

A  Letter  from  the  following  gentlemen,  to  wit:  Benja- 
min Carpenter,  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of  Netv-Marl- 
borough ;  Samuel  Brewster,  Chairman  of  the  Committee 
of  New-  Windsor ;  and  Isaac  Belknap,  Chairman  pro  tern. 
of  the  Committee  of  Newburgh,  was  read  and  filed. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Thomas  Smith,  Mr.  John  Wil- 
liams, Mr.  Richard  Yates,  and  Mr.  Verplanck,  be  a  Com- 
mittee to  consider  of  the  best  methods  to  carry  into 
execution  the  Resolve  of  the  Continental  Congress  with 
relation  to  Saltpetre  and  Sulphur,  and  to  make  report  with 
all  convenient  speed. 

Mr.  McDougall  reported  a  list  of  the  persons  in  the 
City  of  New-York  who  have  got  Saltpetre,  and  of  the 
quantity  that  each  person  has  on  hand,  by  which  it  appears 
that  the  whole  quantity  of  Saltpetre  now  in  Town  amounts 
to  two  hundred  and  eighty-seven  pounds. 

A  draught  of  a  Letter  to  the  Committee  of  the  City  of 
New-York  to  attend  a  copy  of  the  Resolve  of  the  Conti- 
nental Congress  of  the  10th  instant,  was  read  and  approved, 
and  is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 

In  Provincial  Congress,  New-York,  June  21,  1775. 
Gentlemen  :  You  will  see  from  the  enclosed  order, 
that  the  Committees  of  the  respective  Counties  are  re- 
quested to  collect  all  the  Saltpetre,  Sulphur,  and  Brim- 
stone in  their  several  Towns  and  Districts,  and  to  transmit 
the  same  with  all  possible  despatch  to  this  Congress.  We 
recommend  this  matter  to  your  immediate  attention,  and 
beg  you  will  purchase  up  all  the  Saltpetre  in  this  City  and 
County,  and  communicate  to  this  Congress  the  quantity  of 
Brimstone  and  Sulphur  that  may  be  purchased  in  Town, 
that  we  may  be  able  to  carry  into  execution  the  Resolve 
of  the  Continental  Congress.  We  are,  gentlemen,  your 
very  humble  servants. 

By  order  and  on  behalf  of  the  Provincial  Congress. 
To  the  General  Committee  of  Association  for  the  City  and 

County  of  New-York. 

Ordered,  That  the  state  of  Queen's  County  be  taken 
into  consideration  to-morrow  morning. 


1311 


NEW-YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1312 


Ordered,  That  the  Committee  for  preparing  a  draught 
of  the  sentiments  of  this  Congress  on  the  terms  of  a  recon- 
ciliation with  Great  Britain,  at  their  request  be  indulged 
in  bringing  in  their  said  Report  till  to-morrow  morning. 

The  Congress  adjourned  to  nine  o'clock  to-morrow 
morning. 

Die  Jovis,  9  ho.  A.  M.,  June  22,  1775. 
The  Congress  met  pursuant  to  adjournment.  Opened 

with  prayers  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Auchmuty.    Present : 

For  the  City  and  County  of  New-  York. — Peter  Van  Brugh 
Livingston,  Esquire,  President;  Isaac  Low,  Alexander 
McDougall,  Leonard  Lispenard,  Abraham  Walton,  Abra- 
ham Brasher,  Isaac  Roosevelt,  John  De  Lancey,  James 
Beekman,  Samuel  Verplanck,  David  Clarkson,  Thomas 
Smith,  Benjamin  Kissam,  John  Van  Cortlandt,  Jacobus 
Van  Zandt,  John  Marston,  Isaac  Sears. 

For  the  City  and  County  of  Albany. — Abraham  Yates, 
Peter  Silvester,  Walter  Livingston,  Robert  Van  Rensse- 
laer, Henry  Glenn. 

For  Dutchess  County. — Anthony  Hoffman,  Zephaniah 
Piatt,  Richard  Montgomerie,  Jonathan  Landon,  Melanc- 
ton  Smith,  Nathaniel  Sackett. 

For  Ulster  County. — Johannes  Hardenbergh,  James  Clin- 
ton, Christopher  Tappen. 

For  Orange  County. — John  Coe,  Benjamin  Tusteen,  John 
Herring. 

For  Suffolk  County. — Nathaniel  Woodhull,  John  Sloss  Ho- 
bart,  John  Foster,  Thomas  Wickham,  James  Havens, 
Selah  Strong. 

For  Westchester  County. — Gouverneur  Morris,  Lewis  Gra- 
ham, James  Van  Cortlandt,  Stephen  Ward,  Philip  Van 
Cortlandt,  James  Holmes,  David  Dayton,  John  Thomas, 
Jun.,  William  Paulding. 

For  King's  County. — Johannes  E.  Lott,  Henry  Williams, 
Jeremiah  Remsen,  Theodorus  Polhemus,  John  Leffertse, 
Nicholas  Covenhoven,  John  Vanderbilt. 

For  Richmond  County. — Paul  Micheau,  Aaron  Cortelyou, 
Richard  Lawrence. 

For  Queen's  County. — Jonathan  Lawrence,  Zebulon  Wil- 
liams, Samuel  Townshend,  Joseph  Robinson. 

For  Charlotte  County. — John  Williams. 

For  Tryon  County. — Christopher  P.  Yates,  John  Marlett. 

For  Cumberland  County. — John  Hazeltine,  William  Wil- 
liams, Paul  Spooner. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Gerard  Bancker  be  requested  to 
have  all  the  Barracks  in  this  City  immediately  cleansed 
and  made  wholesome,  so  that  they  may  be  ready  to  receive 
such  Troops  as  this  Congress  shall  direct. 

A  draught  of  a  Passport  for  Mr.  Joseph  Johnson  and 
his  Indian  companions,  was  read  and  approved,  and  is  in 
the  words  following,  to  wit : 

In  Provincial  Congress,  New-York,  June  22,  1775. 
To  all  Officers  in  the  service  of  the  Colonies,  Members  of 
Committees,  and  others,  the  friends  of  American  liberty, 
greeting : 

Brethren  :  Know  ye,  that  Mr.  Joseph  Johnson,  an 
Indian  of  the  Mohegan  tribe,  and  a  licensed  Preacher  of 
the  Gospel  amongst  the  New -England  and  Oneida  In- 
dians, having  applied  to  this  Congress  for  a  passport  for 
himself  and  three  other  Indians,  his  companions,  now 
here,  on  a  journey  from  the  Oneida  Country  to  New-Lon- 
don, in  Connecticut,  we,  well  convinced  of  the  friendly 
disposition  of  the  said  Joseph  Johnson  to  the  inhabitants 
of  the  American  Colonies,  and  of  his  intentions  and  good 
ofiices  to  preserve  and  maintain  peace  and  harmony  between 
them  and  the  Indian  Nations,  do  request  and  desire  you  to 
afford  all  necessary  aid  and  protection  to  the  said  Joseph 
Johnson  and  his  three  Indian  companions,  being  James 
Shattock,  John  Skesuck  and  Samuel  Tollman,  and  to  per- 
mit them  to  pass  freely  and  safely  in  their  journey  to  New- 
London  aforesaid. 

We  do  also  hereby  request  of  the  said  Joseph  Johnson,  in 
our  names  and  on  behalf  of  the  whole  Colony  of  Ac  w-York, 
to  assure  the  Oneida  Nation,  and  all  other  our  old  friends 
and  allies  of  the  confederated  Indian  Nations,  that  we  love 
and  esteem  them  as  our  brethren  ;  that  we  desire  to  main- 
tain with  them  the  old  friendship  which  subsisted  between 
us  from  the  time  of  our  forefathers,  and  that  the  path  be- 


tween us  may  be  kept  free  and  open  at  all  times ;  and  that 
we  desire  they  do  not  give  ear  to  any  false  reports  whatso- 
ever to  the  contrary. 

By  order  and  on  behalf  of  the  Provincial  Congress. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  thereof  be  engrossed,  signed  by 
the  President,  and  countersigned  by  the  Secretaries,  and 
delivered  to  the  said  Joseph  Johnson. 

It  is  recommended  by  this  Congress  to  the  General  Com- 
mittee of  Association  of  the  City  and  County  of  New-  York, 
that  they  do  immediately  take  the  most  effectual  means  in 
their  power  to  prevent  the  Small-Pox  from  spreading  in  this 
City  or  County,  and  for  securing  the  City  as  much  as  pos- 
sible from  the  danger  of  infection  from  that  disease. 

The  Order  of  the  Day,  for  consideration  of  the  state  of 
Queen's  County,  being  read,  and  after  some  time  spent 
therein, 

Resolved,  That  Thomas  Hicks,  Joseph  French,  and 
Daniel  Rapalye,  Esquires,  who  were  elected  Deputies  to 
represent  Queen's  County  in  this  Congress,  and  have  not 
as  yet  attended,  be  requested  to  take  their  seats  in  this 
Congress,  on  Tuesday  next,  or  assign  their  reasons  for 
neglecting  to  attend. 

And  it  is  Ordered,  That  Captain  Richard  Thome,  who 
has  neglected  to  attend  this  Congress  for  some  time  past, 
be  also  requested  to  attend  on  Tuesday  next. 

Ordered,  That  the  Members  for  Queen's  County  do, 
on  Tuesday  morning  next,  report  to  this  Congress  their 
opinion  of  the  conduct  of  their  constituents  with  regard  to 
the  controversy  now  subsisting  between  Great  Britain  and 
the  American  Colonies,  and  what  steps  have  been  taken 
by  any  of  the  inhabitants  of  that  County  to  defeat  the 
measures  adopted  or  necessary  to  be  adopted  by  the  Con- 
tinental and  this  Congress  for  the  preservation  of  our  rights 
and  privileges. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  report  the  subject-matter 
of  a  proper  Plan  of  Accommodation  with  Great  Britain, 
delivered  in  their  Report,  which  was  read,  and  the  same 
being  read  a  second  time, 

Ordered,  That  the  same  be  taken  into  consideration  on 
Saturday  morning  next;  that  the  Members  of  each  County 
have  leave  to  take  one  copy  thereof,  each  copy  to  be 
numbered  by  one  of  the  Secretaries,  who  shall  take  a  me- 
morandum of  the  name  of  the  Member  who  shall  take  with 
him  such  copy,  and  the  number  of  the  copy  by  him  taken, 
that  all  the  said  copies  may  on  Saturday  next  be  returned 
to  and  filed  with  the  Secretaries.  And  all  the  Members 
are  directed  by  the  President  from  the  chair  to  take  the 
utmost  care  to  preserve  the  said  copies  secret,  and  to  keep 
secret  the  subject-matter  thereof.  And  it  is  agreed  that  no 
Member  shall  transcribe  the  said  Report,  or  take  any  copy 
from  the  copies  taken  out  of  the  House  for  the  use  of  the 
Members  of  each  County,  and  that  all  the  said  copies  shall 
on  Saturday  next  be  returned  to  the  Secretaries. 

Mr.  Thomas  Wickham  delivered  the  General  Associa- 
tion, in  a  book  signed  by  the  Freeholders  and  Inhabitants 
of  the  Town  of  East  Hampton,  with  a  certificate  thereto, 
subscribed  by  John  Chatfield,  Chairman,  certifying  that 
every  male  in  the  Town  of  East  Hampton,  capable  of 
bearing  arms,  has  signed  the  said  Association. 

Mr.  McDougall  moved  (and  was  seconded  by  Mr. 
Yates)  that  the  sense  of  this  Congress  be  taken,  whether 
the  Troops  to  be  raised  in  this  Colony  shall  be  clothed  in 
Uniform. 

Debates  arose  thereon,  and  it  was  deferred  for  farther 
consideration. 

The  Congress  then  adjourned  to  nine  o'clock  to-morrow 
morning. 

Die  Veneris,  9  ho.  A.  M.,  June  23,  1775. 
The  Congress  met  pursuant  to  adjournment.  Opened 
with  prayers  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Rodgers.  Present : 
For  the  City  and  County  of  Neiv-York. — Peter  Van  Brugh 
Livingston,  Esquire,  President ;  Isaac  Low,  Alexander 
McDougall,  Leonard  Lispenard,  Joseph  Hallett,  Abra- 
ham Walton,  Abraham  Brasher,  Isaac  Roosevelt,  John 
De  Lancey,  James  Beekman,  Samuel  Verplanck,  David 
Clarkson,  Thomas  Smith,  Benjamin  Kissam,  John  Van 
Cortlandt,  Jacobus  Van  Zandt,  Isaac  Sears. 


1313 


NEW-YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1314 


For  the  City  and  County  of  Albany. — Abraham  Yates, 
Peter  Silvester,  Walter  Livingston,  Robert  Van  Rensse- 
laer, Henry  Glenn. 

For  Dutchess  County. — Anthony  Hoffman,  Zephaniah 
Piatt,  Richard  Montgomerie,  Jonathan  Landon,  Melanc- 
ton  Smith,  Nathaniel  Sackett. 

For  Ulster  County. — Johannes  Hardenbergh,  James  Clin- 
ton, Christopher  Tappen. 

For  Orange  County. — John  Coe,  Benjamin  Tusteen,  John 
Herring. 

For  Suffolk  County. — Nathaniel  Wood  hull,  John  Sloss 
Hobart,  Thomas  Wickham,  Selah  Strong. 

For  Westchester  County. — Gouverneur  Morris,  Stephen 
Ward,  Philip  Van  Cortlandt,  James  Holmes,  David 
Dayton,  John  Thomas,  Jun.,  William  Paulding. 

For  King's  County. — Henry  Williams,  Jeremiah  Remsen. 

For  Richmond  County. — Paul  Micheau,  Aaron  Cortelyou, 
Richard  Lawrence. 

For  Queen's  County. — Jonathan  Lawrence,  Zebulon  Wil- 
liams, Samuel  Townsend,  Joseph  Robinson. 

For  Charlotte  County. — John  Williams, 

For  Tryon  County. — Christopher  P.  Yates,  John  Marlett. 

For  Cumberland  County. — John  Hazeltine,  Paul  Spooner, 
William  Williams. 

A  Memorial  of  fVilliam  Elphinston,  a  conductor  of  Ord- 
nance Stores  taken  at  Ticonderoga,  setting  forth  his  poverty 
and  want  of  subsistence,  and  praying  for  relief,  received. 

Ordered,  That  the  President  advance  twenty  shillings 
per  week  to  the  said  William  Elphinston  for  his  subsis- 
tence, until  the  further  order  of  this  Congress,  and  that  the 
said  fVilliam  Elphinston  have  leave  to  take  the  use  of  a 
room  in  the  lower  Barracks. 

Resolved,  That  the  inhabitants  of  this  Colony  ought  not 
to  kill  any  Lamb  until  the  first  day  of  November  next. 

Mr.  Morris  moved  (and  was  seconded  by  several  Mem- 
bers from  the  Northern  Counties)  that  this  Congress  enter 
into  and  publish  a  Resolution  to  restrain  the  killing  of  Sheep 
until  the  first  day  of  November  next. 

Debates  arose  thereon,  and,  according  to  a  rule  of  this 
Congress,  at  the  request  of  the  Deputies  of  Albany,  Suf- 
folk and  New-  York, 

Ordered,  That  the  same  be  postponed  till  Wednesday 
next. 

And  Ordered,  That  the  above  Resolution,  with  respect 
to  Lamb,  shall  not  be  published  until  Wednesday  next. 

Robert  Boyd,  in  pursuance  of  the  Letter  from  this  Con- 
gress of  the  sixteenth  instant,  attending  at  the  door,  was 
called  in.  He  informed  this  Congress  that  he  could  set  on 
foot  a  manufactory  of  Gun-Barrels,  Bayonets,  and  steel 
Ramrods,  and  deliver  them  at  the  price  of  thirty-five  shil- 
lings for  each  Barrel,  Ramrod,  and  Bayonet. 

Henry  Watkeys  attending  at  the  door,  was  also  called  in, 
and  offered  to  furnish  Locks  for  the  muskets,  and  to  mount, 
stock  and  finish  them  in  complete  workman-like  manner,  as 
the  sample  shewn  to  him,  at  the  rate  of  forty-five  shillings 
each. 

And  a  Sadler  attending  at  the  door,  was  called  in,  and 
informed  the  Congress  that  the  expense  of  making  Scab- 
bards for  Bayonets  would  be  two  shillings,  and  Straps  and 
Buckles  for  the  Muskets  would  be  one  shilling  and  six 
pence. 

Ordered,  That  the  former  Committee  appointed  to  agree 
with  Robert  Boyd,  to  wit :  Colonel  Lispenard,  Mr.  Mont- 
gomerie,  and  Colonel  Clinton,  together  with  Thomas  Smith, 
Esq.,  be  a  Committee  to  agree  with  the  said  Robert  Boyd 
for  all  the  Musket-Barrels,  Ramrods,  and  Bayonet  that 
he  shall  make  within  six  months.  And  that  the  same 
Committee  agree  with  Henry  Watkeys  for  such  of  the  said 
Muskets  as  he  shall  stock  and  finish  in  manner  aforesaid 
within  the  same  time. 

Mr.  Sears  has  leave  of  absence  (after  to-morrow  noon) 
to  go  to  Philadelphia. 

Mr.  John  Williams  has  the  like  leave  to  go  home. 

Mr.  McDougaU  moved  (seconded  by  Mr.  Morris)  in 
the  words  following :  "  I  move  that  this  Congress  recognize 
the  Act  of  the  Provincial  Convention  of  this  Colony, 
which  elected  Philip  Livingston,  Esquire,  and  others, 
Delegates  to  represent  the  Colony  in  the  Continental  Con- 
gress, now  sitting  in  Philadelphia." 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii.  83 


The  subject-matter  of  the  said  motion  being  unanimously 
agreed  to  and  approved  of, 

Resolved  nemine  contradicente,  That  this  Congress  does 
fully  recognize  the  act  of  the  Provincial  Convention  of  this 
Colony  which  elected  Philip  Livingston,  James  Duane, 
John  Alsop,  John  Jay,  Simon  Boerum,  William  Floyd, 
Henry  Wisner,  Philip  Schuyler,  George  Clinton,  Lewis 
Morris,  Francis  Lewis,  and  Robert  R.  Livingston,  Junior, 
Delegates  to  represent  this  Colony  in  the  Continental  Con- 
gress now  sitting  in  the  City  of  Philadelphia. 
The  Congress  adjourned  to  four  o'clock,  P.  M. 

Die  Veneris,  4to  ho.  P.  M.,  June  23,  1775. 
The  Congress  met  pursuant  to  adjournment.  Present  : 
For  the  City  and  County  of  New-York. — Peter  Van 
Brugh  Livingston,  Esquire,  President;  Alexander  Mc- 
Dougall,  Leonard  Lispenard,  Joseph  Hallett,  Isaac 
Roosevelt,  James  Beekman,  Thomas  Smith,  Benjamin 
Kissam,  John  Van  Cortlandt,  Jacobus  Van  Zandt,  Isaac 
Sears. 

For  the  City  and  County  of  Albany. — Abraham  Yates, 
Peter  Silvester,  Walter  Livingston,  Robert  Van  Rensse- 
laer, Henry  Glenn. 
For  Dutchess  County. — Anthony  Hoffman,  Zephaniah 
Piatt,  Richard  Montgomerie,  Gilbert  Livingston,  Jona- 
than Landon,  Nathaniel  Sackett. 
For  Ulster  County. — James  Clinton,  Christopher  Tappen. 
For  Orange  County. — Benjamin  Tusteen,  John  Herring. 
For  Suffolk  County. — N  athaniel  Woodhull,  John  Sloss  Ho- 
bart, John  Foster,  Thomas  Wickham,  Selah  Strong. 
For  Westchester  County. — Gouverneur  Morris,  Stephen 
Ward,  Philip  Van  Cortlandt,  James  Holmes,  David 
Dayton,  John  Thomas,  Junior,  William  Paulding. 
For  King's  County. — Henry  Williams,  Jeremiah  Remsen. 
For  Queen's  County. — Jonathan  Lawrence,  Zebulon  Wil- 
liams, Samuel  Townshend,  Joseph  Robinson. 
For  Richmond  County. — Paul  Micheau,  Aaron  Cortelyou, 

Richard  Lawrence. 
For  Charlotte  County. — John  Williams, 
For  Tryon  County. — Christopher  P.  Yates,  John  Marlett. 
For  Cumberland  County. — Paul  Spooner  and  William 
Williams. 

The  Congress  being  informed  that  General  Washington, 
Commander-in-Chief  of  all  the  Forces  raised  and  to  be 
raised  in  the  American  confederated  Colonies,  is  on  his  way 
from  Philadelphia  to  this  City,  and  expected  to  be  near  at 
hand, 

Ordered,  That  the  Doorkeeper  wait  on  Colonel  Lasher, 
and  request  him  to  attend  this  Congress  immediately. 

And  Colonel  Lasher  attending  at  the  door,  being  called 
in  by  desire  of  the  Congress,  the  President  requested  Col- 
onel Lasher  to  send  one  of  his  Field  Officers  to  meet 
General  Washington,  and  to  know  when  he  will  be  in  this 
City.  And  further  requested  Colonel  Lasher  to  make 
such  orders  as  to  have  his  Battalion  ready  to  receive  Gen. 
Washington  when  he  shall  arrive. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  make  and  report  an  arrange- 
ment of  the  Troops  to  be  raised  in  this  Colony,  delivered 
in  their  Report;  which  was  read. 

The  Congress  immediately  proceeded  to  the  considera- 
tion thereof,  and  after  some  time  spent  therein,  Ordered. 
that  the  same  be  deferred  for  further  consideration. 
Doctor  Dayton  had  leave  of  absence. 
The  Congress  then  adjourned  to  to-morrow  morning,  nine 
o'clock. 

Die  Saturnii,  9  ho.  A.  M.,  June  24,  1775. 
The  Congress  met  pursuant  to  adjournment.  Opened 
with  prayers  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Gano.   Present  : 
For  the  City  and  County  of  New-York. — Peter  V.  B. 
Livingston,  Esq.,  President ;  Isaac  Low,  Alexander  Mc- 
Dougall,  Leonard  Lispenard,  Joseph  Hallett,  Abraham 
Walton,  Abraham  Brasher,  Isaac  Roosevelt,  John  De 
Lancey,  James  Beekman,  Samuel  Verplanck,  Thomas 
Smith,  Benjamin  Kissam,  John  Morin  Scott,  Jacobus 
Van  Zandt,  Isaac  Sears. 
For  the  City  and  County  of  Albany. — Abraham  Yates, 
Peter  Silvester,  Walter  Livingston,  Henry  Glenn,  Robert 
Van  Rensselaer. 


1315 


NEW-YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1175. 


1316 


For  Dutchess  County. — Anthony  Hoffman,  Zephaniah 
Piatt,  Richard  Montgomerie,  Nathaniel  Sackett,  Gilbert 
Livingston,  Jonathan  Landon,  Melancton  Smith. 

For  Ulster  County. — Johannes  Hardenbergh,  James  Clin- 
ton, Christopher  Tappen,  John  Nicholson. 

For  Orange  County. — John  Coe,  Benjamin  Tusteen,  John 
Herring. 

For  Suffolk  County. — Nathaniel  Woodhull,  John  Sloss 
Hobart,  John  Foster,  Thomas  Wickham,  Selah  Strong. 

For  Westchester  County. — Gouverneur  Morris,  Stephen 
Ward,  Philip  Van  Cortlandt,  James  Holmes,  David 
Dayton,  John  Thomas,  Junior,  William  Paulding. 

For  King's  County. — Johannes  E.  Lott,  Henry  Williams, 
Jeremiah  Remsen,  John  Leffertse. 

For  Richmond  County. — Paul  Micheau,  Aaron  Cortelyou, 
Richard  Lawrence. 

For  Queen's  County. — Jonathan  Lawrence,  Zebulon  Wil- 
liams, Joseph  Robinson. 

For  Charlotte  County. — John  Williams. 

For  Tryon  County. — Christopher  P.  Yates,  John  Marlett. 

For  Cumberland  County. — Paul  Spooner  and  William 
Williams. 

A  Letter  from  Governour  Trumbull  to  the  President, 
dated  Lebanon,  June  19,  1775,  was  read  and  filed. 

The  extract  of  an  Act  of  the  Legislature  of  Connecticut, 
(enclosed  in  the  last  before  mentioned  Letter,)  mentioning 
the  particular  provisions  enacted  to  be  made  for  their  Troops, 
was  read  and  filed. 

The  Order  of  the  Day  being  read,  the  Congress  resumed 
the  consideration  of  the  Report  of  the  Committee  on  the 
subject-matter  of  a  Plan  of  Accommodation  with  Great 
Britain.  The  same  was  read  ;  and,  by  order,  being  again 
read,  paragraph  by  paragraph,  the  first  paragraph  is  in  the 
words  following,  to  wit :  "  That  all  the  Statutes  and  parts 
of  Statutes  of  the  British  Parliament,  which  were  held  up 
for  repeal  by  the  late  Continental  Congress  in  their  Asso- 
ciation, dated  the  twentieth  day  of  October,  1774,  and  all 
the  Statutes  of  the  British  Parliament  passed  since  that 
day,  restraining  the  Trade  and  Fishery  of  the  Colonies  on 
this  Continent,  ought  to  be  repealed." 

The  said  first  paragraph  being  read,  debates  arose  thereon  ; 
and  Mr.  Morris  moved,  and  was  seconded,  that  the  words 
following  be  substituted  instead  of  the  whole  first  paragraph, 
to  wit :  "  That  such  Acts  of  Parliament  as  the  present 
Congress  think  fatal  to  the  liberties  of  America,  ought  to 
be  repealed." 

And  debates  arising  on  the  said  amendment,  and  the 
question  being  put,  it  was  carried  against  the  amendment,  in 
manner  following,  to  wit : 

For  the  Amendment.  Against  the  Amendment. 

2  King's  County.  2  Dutchess. 

2  Richmond  County.  2  Suffolk. 

2  Weetchester  County.  2  Ulster. 

2  Orange  County.  2  Queen's. 

—  3  Albany. 

8  2  Cumberland. 

4  New-York. — Mr. DeLancey  dis- 
senting. 
2  Charlotte. 

19 

Resolved,  therefore,  That  the  said  Amendment  be  re- 
jected. 

The  said  first  paragraph  being  again  read,  and  the  ques- 
tion put,  whether  the  Congress  does  agree  to  the  said  first 
paragraph,  it  was  carried  in  the  affirmative,  in  the  manner 
following,  to  wit : 

For  the  Affirmative.  For  the  Negative, 

2  Westchester.  2  Cumberland. 

2  King's.  2  Suffolk. 
4  New-York.  — 

3  Albany.  4 

2  Tryon.  Dissentients,  Mr.  Sackett,  Col- 

2  Orange.  onel  Woodhull,  Mr.  Sears, 

2  Charlotte.  Mr.  Scott,  Mr.  Brasher,  and 

2  Dutchess.  Mr.  Beekman. 

2  Quoon's. 
2  Richmond. 

23 

Resolved,  therefore,  That  this  Congress  does  agree  with 
their  Committee  in  the  first  paragraph  of  the  said  Report. 

Then  the  second,  third,  and  fourth  paragraphs  of  the  said 
Report  being  read,  are  in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 


"That  from  the  necessity  of  the  case  Britain  ought  to 
regulate  the  Trade  of  the  whole  Empire.  And  that  from 
the  natural  right  of  property  the  powers  of  Taxation  ought 
to  be  confined  to  the  Colony  Legislatures  respectively ; 
therefore  that  the  Moneys  raised  as  duties  upon  the  regu- 
lations of  Trade  ought  to  be  paid  into  the  respective  Co- 
lony Treasuries,  and  be  subject  to  the  disposal  of  their 
Assemblies." 

Debate  arose  thereon,  and  the  question  being  put,  whether 
the  Congress  does  agree  to  the  said  second,  third,  and  fourlh 
paragraphs;  it  was  carried  in  the  affirmative,  in  the  man- 
ner following,  to  wit : 


For  the  Affirmative. 

3  Albany. 

2  Dutchess. 
2  Westchester. 
2  King's. 
2  Tryon. 
2  Richmond. 
2  Queen's. 

4  New-York. 
2  Orange. 

2  Charlotte. 

23 


For  the  Negative. 
2  Suffolk. 
2  Ulster. 
2  Cumberland. 


Dissentients,  Colonel  Woodhull, 
Mr.  Sackett,  Mr.  Sears,  Mr. 
Scott,  Mr.  Brasher,  Mr.Beek. 
man. 


Resolved,  therefore,  That  this  Congress  does  agree  w  ith 
their  Committee  in  the  second,  third,  and  fourth  paragraphs, 
of  the  said  Report. 

The  fifth  paragraph  of  the  said  Report  being  then  read, 
is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit:  "That  in  those  Colonies 
whose  Representatives  in  General  Assembly  are  now  chosen 
for  a  greater  term  than  three  years,  such  Assemblies  for  the 
future  ought  in  their  duration  not  to  exceed  that  term." 

And  the  same  being  read,  debates  arose  thereon,  and  the 
question  being  put,  whether  the  Congress  agrees  to  the 
said  fifth  paragraph,  it  was  carried  in  the  affirmative,  in  the 
manner  following,  to  wit : 

For  the  Negative. 
2  Ulster. 
2  Tryon. 
2  Cumberland. 

2  Suffolk. — Dissentient,  Col. 
Woodhull. 

3  Albany. 


For  the  Affirmative. 
4t  New-York. 
2  Charlotte. 
2  Dutchess. 
2  Richmond. 
2  Westchester. 
2  Queen's. 
2  King's. 
2  Orange. 

18 


11 


Resolved,  therefore,  That  this  Congress  does  agree  with 
their  Committee  in  the  fifth  paragraph  of  the  said  Report. 

The  sixth  paragraph  of  the  said  Report  being  then  read, 
is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit :  "  That  the  Colonists  are 
ready  and  willing  to  support  the  civil  Government  within 
the  respective  Colonies  ;  and  on  proper  requisitions,  to  assist 
in  the  general  defence  of  the  Empire,  in  as  ample  a  man- 
ner as  their  respective  abilities  will  admit  of." 

The  same  being  read,  debates  arose  thereon,  and  the 

question  being  put,  whether  the  Congress  does  agree  to  the 

said  sixth  paragraph,  it  was  carried  in  the  affirmative,  in  the 

manner  following,  to  wit: 

For  the  Affirmative.  For  the  Negative. 

2  Westchester.  2  Ulster. 

2  Charlotte.  2  Suffolk.— Colonel  WWW/, 

2  Dutchess.  dissenting. 
2  Queen's.  2  Cumberland. 

2  King's.   

2  Tryon.  fi 
2  Orange.  0 

2  Richmond. 

3  Albany. 

4  New-York. — Dissentients 
—  Messrs.  Sears,  Scott, 
23       Brasher  and  Beekman. 

Resolved,  therefore,  That  this  Congress  does  agree  with 
their  Committee  in  the  said  sixth  paragraph  of  their  Report. 

The  seventh  paragraph  of  the  said  Report  being  then 
read,  is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit :  "  The  Colonies  are 
ready  and  willing  to  assent  to  a  Continental  Congress,  de- 
puted from  the  several  Assemblies,  to  meet  with  a  President 
appointed  by  the  Crown,  for  the  purpose  of  raising  and 
apportioning  their  general  aids,  upon  application  made  by 
the  Crown,  according  to  the  advice  of  the  British  Parlia- 
ment, to  be  judged  of  by  the  said  Congress." 

On  reading  the  same,  debates  arose,  and  on  motion  of 
Mr.  Plait,  seconded  by  Messrs.  Hobart  and  Scott,  the  fol- 
lowing amendments  were  proposed  and  agreed  to,  to  wit  [ 
the  word  "from"  between  the  word  "deputed"  and  the 


1317 


NEW-YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1318 


word  "  the"  obliterated,  and  tlie  word  "  by"  there  inserted. 
And  that  the  word  "  Assemblies"  be  obliterated,  and  the 
word  "  Colonies"  inserted  in  its  stead. 

And  the  question  being  put,  whether  the  Congress  does 
agree  to  the  said  seventh  paragraph,  with  these  amend- 
ments, it  was  carried  in  the  affirmative,  in  the  manner  fol- 
lowing, to  wit : 

For  the  Affirmative.  For  the  Negative. 

2  King's.  2  Ulster. 

2  Dutchess. — Mr.  Sackett        2  Orange. 

dissenting.  2  Cumberland. 

2  Richmond.  2  Suffolk— Colonel  Woodhull 

2  Charlotte.  —  dissenting. 

2  Tryon.  8 

3  Albany. 

4  New-York. — Dissentients 

Messrs.  Sears,  Brasher, 

Scott  and  Beekman. 
2  Westchester. 
2  Queen's. 

21 

Resolved,  therefore,  That  this  Congress  does  agree  with 
their  Committee  in  the  said  seventh  paragraph  of  their 
Report,  as  now  amended. 

Mr.  Morris  (seconded  by  Colonel  Woodhull)  then  moved 
that  a  Resolution  be  entered  into  by  this  Congress,  and 
added  to  those  mentioned  in  the  said  Report  of  the  Com- 
mittee on  the  Plan  of  Accommodation  with  Great  Britain, 
to  wit : 

"  Resolved,  That  no  one  article  of  the  aforesaid  Report 
be  considered  as  preliminary  to  another,  so  as  to  preclude 
an  accommodation  without  such  article ;  and  that  no  part  of 
the  said  Report  be  deemed  binding  or  obligatory  upon  the 
Representatives  of  this  Colony  in  Continental  Congress ; 
the  same  being  merely  intended  to  testify  our  sense  of  a 
mode  by  which  the  unhappy  differences  between  Great 
Britain  and  America  may  be  finally  accommodated,  and 
of  the  propriety  of  an  overture  for  that  purpose." 

And  the  same  being  read  a  second  time,  was  unanimously 
resolved  and  agreed  to. 

The  Congress  being  informed  by  several  Members,  that 
nothing  has  as  yet  been  done  towards  cleansing  the  Bar- 
racks in  this  City, 

Therefore  Ordered,  That  Messrs.  Garret  Roorbaclc  and 
John  Lamb  be  requested  to  have  all  the  Barracks  in  this 
City  immediately  cleansed  and  made  wholesome,  so  that 
they  may  be  ready  to  receive  such  Troops  as  this  Con- 
gress shall  direct. 

Mr.  Melancton  Smith  (seconded  by  Mr.  Hobart)  then 
moved  in  the  words  following,  to  wit :  1  move  for  the  fol- 
lowing addition  to  the  Report ;  "  And  as  the  free  enjoyment 
of  the  rights  of  conscience  is  of  all  others  the  most  valua- 
ble branch  of  human  liberty,  and  the  indulgence  and  estab- 
lishment of  Popery  all  along  the  interior  confines  of  the 
old  Protestant  Colonies  tends  not  only  to  obstruct  their 
growth,  but  to  weaken  their  security,  all  concerns  of  a 
religious  and  ecclesiastical  nature,  so  far  as  they  may  be 
under  the  cognizance  and  control  of  civil  authority,  ought 
to  remain  exclusively  with  the  respective  Colony  Legisla- 
tures, as  the  most  inestimable  object  of  their  internal  police." 

The  said  motion  being  delivered  in  at  the  table,  and  read 
a  second  time,  Mr.  Thomas  Smith  moved  for  the  follow- 
ing amendment,  to  wit :  that  from  the  word  "  security"  to 
the  end  of  the  said  motion,  be  obliterated,  and  instead 
thereof  the  following  words  inserted,  to  wit:  "that  the 
Parliament  of  Great  Britain  cannot  constitutionally  or  of 
right  interfere  or  interpose  in  any  wise  howsoever  in  the 
religious  and  ecclesiastical  concerns  of  the  Colonies." 

Which  amendment  being  read,  Mr.  Morris  proposed  the 
following  additional  amendment,  which  was  read  and  agreed 
to,  to  wit :  That  between  the  words  "  that"  and  "  the,"  the 
word  "  neither"  be  inserted,  and  that  the  words  "  cannot 
constitutionally  or,"  be  obliterated  ;  and  instead  thereof  the 
words  "  nor  any  other  earthly  legislature  or  tribunal  ought 
or  can,"  be  inserted  in  their  stead. 

And  both  the  amendments  being  together  read  and  agreed 
to,nemine contradicente,  the  said  motion,  as  before  amended, 
was  again  read,  and  is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit :  "  And 
as  the  free  enjoyment  of  the  rights  of  conscience  is  of  all 
others  the  most  valuable  branch  of  human  liberty,  and  the 
indulgence  and  establishment  of  Popery  all  along  the  inte- 


riour  confines  of  the  old  Protestant  Colonies  tends  not 
only  to  obstruct  their  growth  but  to  weaken  their  security, 
that  neither  the  Parliament  of  Great  Britain,  nor  any  other 
earthly  legislature  or  tribunal,  ought  or  can  of  right  inter- 
fere or  interpose  in  any  wise  howsoever  in  the  religious  and 
ecclesiastical  concerns  of  the  Colonies." 

And  debates  arising  on  the  said  motion,  as  now  amended, 
and  the  question  being  put  thereon,  whether  the  Congress 
agrees  thereto,  and  will  order  it  to  be  added  to,  and  made 
a  part  of  their  said  Plan  of  Accommodation,  it  was  carried 
in  the  affirmative,  in  the  manner  following,  to  wit: 

Fir  the  Affirmative.  For  the  Negative. 

2  Westchester. — Dissenting,       2  King's. — Mr.  H.  Williams 

Messrs.  Morris,  Tho-  dissenting. 

mas,  and  Ward.  2  Richmond. 

2  Suffolk.  3  Albany. 

2  Tryon.  2  Cumberland. 

2  Charlotte.  — 
2  Dutchess.  9 
2  Orange. 

4  New-York.  —  Dissenting, 

Messrs.  Verplanck, 

Kissam,  Low,  De 

Lancey,  Lispenard, 
2  Ulster.  and  Walton. 

18 

Ordered,  therefore,  That  the  same  motion,  as  amended, 
and  last  read,  be  added  to  and  made  a  part  of  the  said  Plan 
of  Accommodation  ;  and  that  it  be  inserted  therein,  imme- 
diately following  that  part  of  the  said  Plan  of  Accommoda- 
tion which  was  reported  by  the  Committee,  and  preceding 
the  Resolution  last  before  made  and  entered  into. 

Mr.  McDougall  then  made  a  motion  (which  was  second- 
ed by  Mr.  Brasher)  in  the  words  following,  to  wit:  "  As 
I  conceive  it  would  be  presumptuous  in  this  Congress  to 
offer  our  sentiments  either  directly  or  indirectly  to  the  Con- 
tinental Congress,  on  a  Plan  of  Accommodation  with  Great 
Britain,  until  the  same  be  called  for  by  that  honourable 
body,  I  move  that  our  Committee's  Report  on  that  subject 
be  not  transmitted  to  our  Delegates  until  a  private  Letter  be 
wrote  to  them,  signifying  that  we  have  digested  our  senti- 
ments on  that  subject,  and  are  ready  to  furnish  them  to  those 
gentlemen,  when  called  for  by  them  or  by  the  Continental 
Congress,  or  until  we  have  received  their  answer  to  such 
Letter." 

This  Congress  being  about  to  adjourn, 

Ordered,  That  the  said  motion  be  postponed  for  further 
consideration. 

Colonel  Hoffman  obtained  leave  of  absence. 

The  Congress  then  adjourned  till  nine  o'clock,  to-mor- 
row morning. 

Die  Solis,  9  ho.  A.  M.,  June  25,  1775. 
The  Congress  met  pursuant  to  adjournment,  and  opened 
with  prayers  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Ingles.    Present  : 

Perer  Van  Brugh  Livingston,  Esq.,  President. 
List  of  the  Members  was  not  called. 
A  Letter  from  General  Schuyler,  dated  at  New-Bruns- 
wick, June  24,  1775,  informing  this  Congress  that  General 
Washington,  with  his  retinue,  would  be  at  Newark  this 
morning,  and  requesting  this  Congress  to  send  some  of  its 
Members  to  meet  him  there,  and  advise  the  most  proper 
place  for  him  to  cross  Hudson's  River  in  his  way  to  Netv- 
York, 

Ordered,  That  Messrs.  Thomas  Smith,  Hobart,  Mor- 
ris and  Montgomerie,  go  immediatelty  to  Newark,  and 
recommend  to  General  Washington  the  place  which  they 
shall  think  most  prudent  for  him  to  cross  at. 

And  information  being  received  that  Governour  Tryon  is 
at  the  Hook,  and  will  land  at  about  one  o'clock:  Colonel 
Lasher  was  called  in,  and  requested  to  send  one  company 
of  the  Militia  to  Paulus  Hook  to  meet  the  Generals ;  that 
he  have  another  company  at  the  side  of  the  ferry  for  the 
same  purpose ;  that  he  have  the  residue  of  his  Battalion 
ready  to  receive  either  the  General  or  Governour  Tryon, 
which  ever  shall  first  arrive,  and  to  wait  on  both  as  well  as 
circumstances  will  allow. 

A  Letter  from  Joseph  Warren,  President  of  the  Pro- 
vincial Congress  at  Watertown,  was  read,  and  is  in  the 
words  following : 


1319 


NEW-YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1320 


"  In  Provincial  Congress,  Watertown,  June  13,  1775. 

"Gentlemen:  Considering  the  exposed  state  of  the 
frontiers  of  some  of  the  Colonies;  the  danger  that  the 
inhabitants  of  Canada  may  possibly  have  disagreeable 
apprehensions  from  the  military  preparations  making  in 
some  of  the  other  Colonies;  and  the  rumours  that  there 
are  some  appearances  of  their  getting  themselves  in  readi- 
ness to  act  in  a  hostile  way,  this  Congress  have  made  appli- 
cation to  the  honourable  Continental  Congress,  desiring 
them  to  take  such  measures  as  to  them  shall  appear  proper, 
to  quiet  and  conciliate  the  minds  of  the  Canadians,  and  to 
prevent  such  alarming  apprehensions. 

"  We  also  have  had  the  disagreeable  accounts  of  methods 
taken  to  fill  the  minds  of  the  Indian  tribes,  adjacent  to  those 
Colonies,  with  sentiments  very  injurious  to  us  ;  particularly 
we  have  been  informed  that  Colonel  Guy  Johnson  has 
taken  great  pains  with  the  Six  Nations,  in  order  to  bring 
them  into  a  belief  that  it  is  designed  by  the  Colonies  to 
fall  upon  them  and  cut  them  off.  We  have  therefore 
desired  the  honourable  Continental  Congress,  that  they 
would,  with  all  convenient  speed,  use  their  influence  in 
guarding  against  the  evil  intended  by  this  malevolent  mis- 
representation. And  we  desire  you  to  join  with  us  in  such 
application.  Joseph  Wakren,  President. 

"  Attest :  Samuel  Freeman,  Secretary. 

"  To  the  Honourable  Delegates  of  the  Congress  of  the  Prov- 
ince of  New-York." 

A  Letter  from  the  Committee  at  Albany  was  read,  and 
is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 

"  Albany,  June  17,  1775. 
"  Gentlemen  :  You  have  enclosed,  by  order  of  the  Com- 
mittee, a  request  of  Adonijah  Strong  (Deputy  Commis- 
sary) to  the  Committee  of  this  City  and  County. 
"I  am,  gentlemen,  your  humble  servant, 

"John  Bay,  Secretary  p.  t." 

The  request  of  Adonijah  Strong,  mentioned  and  enclosed 
in  Mr.  Bay's  Letter,  being  read, 

Ordered,  That  the  same  be  put  on  file. 

A  Letter  from  the  Committee  at  Albany  was  read,  and 
is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 

"Albany  Committee  Cbamber,  June  21,  1775. 

"Gentlemen  :  Mr.  Dirck  Swart,  a  member  of  this  Board, 
who  is  just  returned  from  Crown  Point,  brings  us  the  fol- 
lowing intelligence  :  "  That  one  Mr.  Kay,  who  lives  about 
forty  miles  up  Lake  Champlain,  came  down  ioCrown  Point, 
who  told  Colonel  Benedict  Arnold,  and  others,  that  he  had 
been  at  Montreal  for  some  flour;  that  Governour  Carleton 
had  him  seized  and  confined  for  several  days ;  that  by  the 
interposition  of  the  English  merchants  of  that  place,  he 
received  liberty  to  return  home,  and  that  the  merchants 
who  procured  him  the  pass  from  the  Lieutenant-Govern- 
our,  desired  him  to  go  down  to  Crown  Point  and  Ticonde- 
roga,  with  all  speed,  and  communicate  to  the  commander 
of  those  fortresses,  that  the  French  Caughnewaga  Indians 
had  taken  up  the  hatchet,  but  that  they  refused  to  go  out 
upon  any  scouts  until  nine  of  their  men,  who  were  then 
out,  returned,  and  that  Governour  Carleton  was  giving  them 
presents  daily. 

"  We  are  very  sorry  to  inform  you  that,  from  a  number  of 
corroborating  circumstances,  we  have  but  too  much  reason 
to  believe  the  above  information  to  be  true ;  and  more  es- 
pecially as  the  Troops,  which  amount  to  about  six  hundred 
men,  suffer  no  persons  coming  up  the  lake  to  pass  St. 
John's  if  they  can  avoid  it,  where  they  are  building  float- 
ing batteries  and  boats.  Mr.  Sivart.  also  acquaints  us  that 
Mr.  Kay  said,  that  Governour  Carleton  had  asked  the  Eng- 
lish merchants  to  take  up  arms  against  the  Yankees,  (to 
make  use  of  his  own  phraseology,)  and  that  the  merchants 
refused  ;  upon  which  he  told  them  he  would  set  the  town 
on  fire,  which  the  merchants  said  he  was  welcome  to  do ; 
and  added,  that  they  could  carry  as  much  fire  as  himself. 
Mr.  Kay  also  desired  Mr.  Swart  if  ho  should  happen  to 
meet  Mr.  Price,  he  should  request  him  not  to  proceed,  as 
the  English  merchants  in  Canada  conceive  it  unsafe  for 
bim. 

"  The  forces  above  are  in  no  proper  state  of  defence,  prin- 
cipally owing  to  the  scarcity  of  powder,  of  which  article 


we  have  not  been  able  to  send  up  more  (with  the  supply 
we  have  received  from  you)  than  three  hundred  and  fifty 
pounds;  which  quantity  is  altogether  insufficient  to  answer 
the  purpose  intended,  and  of  little  service  in  case  of  an 
attack.  We  can  further  inform  you,  this  City  is  not  half 
supplied,  nor  have  the  frontier  inhabitants  either  powder  or 
arms,  for  which  application  have  been  and  daily  are  making 
to  us ;  we  must  therefore  beg  you  will  afford  us  all  the  as- 
sistance in  your  power,  and  send  us,  per  the  first  opportu- 
nity, such  an  additional  quantity  as  you  can  conveniently 
spare. 

"  We  must  also  beg  of  you  to  send  seventy-eight  blankets 
for  so  many  of  the  men  enlisted  in  this  County  who  are 
now  at  Fort  George  without  any,  as  also  some  money  to 
pay  the  companies,  as  they  are  very  uneasy,  and  threaten 
to  desert.  Two  of  their  officers  are  now  in  Town,  and 
declare  they  dare  not  return  without  some  cash  to  satisfy 
their  men. 

"  We  thought  it  our  indispensable  duty  to  inform  you  of 
these  matters,  therefore  send  them  to  you  per  express.  By 
order  of  the  Committee. 

"  We  are,  gentlemen,  your  very  humble  servants. 

"  Samuel  Stringer,  Chairman. 

"  To  the  Gentlemen  of  the  Provincial  Congress  of  the  Co- 
lony of  New-  York." 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Peter  T.Curtenius  purchase  seventy- 
eight  Blankets,  and  forward  the  same  to  the  Committee  at 
Albany  with  all  possible  despatch.  And 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Abraham  Yates  write  a  private  Let- 
ter to  the  Committee  in  answer  to  their  Letter. 

A  Petition  from  William  A.  Forbes  and  John  Hoogland 
was  received  and  read,  and  is  in  the  words  following,  to 
wit: 

"  To  the  Honourable  the  Provincial  Congress  of  the  Co- 
lony of  New- York  :  The  Petition  of  Wm.  A.  Forbes 
and  John  Hoogland,  of  the  City  of  New-York,  Sad- 
dlers, humbly  sheweth  : 

"That  your  petitioners  have  been  informed  that  the  Con- 
gress hath  in  contemplation  the  ordering  of  making  a  num- 
ber of  cartridge-boxes,  slings,  and  belts,  for  the  use  of  the 
Provincial  Troops.  That  your  petitioners  are  well  able  to 
make  the  same,  in  as  cheap  and  workmanlike  a  manner  as 
any  of  their  calling  in  this  City,  and  willing  to  do  the  same 
with  the  utmost  expedition.  Your  petitioners  therefore 
humbly  pray  this  honourable  Board  to  be  employed  in  this 
work  ;  and  your  petitioners,  as  in  duty  bound,  shall  ever 
pray.  "  William  A.  Forbes, 

"  John  Hoogland. 

■'  New-York,  June  24,  1775." 

The  Congress  then  adjourned  till  nine  o'clock  to-morrow 
morning. 

Die  Lunie,  9  ho.  A.  M.,  June  26,  1775. 
The  Congress  met  pursuant  to  adjournment,  and  opened 
with  prayers  by  the  Rev.  Doctor  Laidley.   Present : 
For  the  City  and  County  of  New-York. — Peter  V.  B. 
Livingston,  Esquire,  President;  Isaac  Low,  Alexander 
McDougall,  Leonard  Lispenard,  Joseph  Hallett,  Abra- 
ham Walton,  Abraham  Brasher,  Isaac  Roosevelt,  John 
De  Lancey,  Jas.  Beekman,  Samuel  Verplanck,  Richard 
Yates,  David  Clarkson,  Thos.  Smith,  John  Morin  Scott, 
John  Van  Cortlandt,  and  Jacobus  Van  Zandt. 
For  the  City  and  County  of  Alhany. — Abraham  Yates, 
Peter  Silvester,  Robert  Van  Rensselaer,  and  Henry 
Glenn. 

For  Dutchess  County. — Zephaniah  Piatt,  Richard  Mont- 

gomerie,  Gilbert  Livingston,  Jonathan  Laudon,  Melanc- 

ton  Smith,  and  Nathaniel  Sackett. 
For  Ulster  County. — James  Clinton,  Christopher  Tappen, 

and  John  Nicholson. 
For  Orange  County. — John  Coe  and  Benjamin  Tusteen. 
For  Suffolk  County. — Nathaniel  Woodhull,  John  Slos? 

Hobart,  John  Foster,  Thomas  Wiekham,  and  Selati 

Strong. 

For  fVestchester  County. — Gouverneur  Morris,  Stephen 
Ward,  Philip  Van  Cortlandt,  James  Holmes,  David 
Dayton,  John  Thomas,  Junior,  and  William  Paulding. 

For  King's  County. — Henry  Williams,  Jeremiah  Remsen, 


1321 


NEW-YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1322 


Theodorus  Polhemus,  Nicholas  Covenhoven,  and  John 
Vanderbilt. 

For  Richmond  County. — John  Journey  and  Richard  Con- 
ner. 

For  Queen's  County. — Jacob  Blackwell  and  Joseph  Ro- 
binson. 

For  Charlotte  County. — John  Williams. 
For  Tryon  County. — Christopher  P.  Yates  and  John 
Marlett. 

For  Cumberland   County. — Paul  Spooner  and  William 
Williams. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  contract  with  Robert  Boyd 
and  Henry  Watkeys,  reported  the  draughts  of  Contracts 
with  the  said  Robert  Boyd  and  Henry  Watkeys,  which 
were  read  and  approved  of  by  the  Congress.  Whereupon 

It  is  Resolved  and  Ordered,  That  Leonard  Lispenard, 
Richard  Montgomerie,  James  Clinton,  and  Thomas  Smith, 
Esquires,  execute  the  same  on  behalf  of  this  Congress,  and 
tliat  this  Congress  will  provide  the  money  necessary  to  dis- 
charge the  said  Contract. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  McDougall  apply  to  Mr.  Gabriel 
IV.  Ludlow  for  fifty  Pounds  of  the  Money  raised  by  the 
Committee  of  the  City  of  New-  York,  and  that  he  deliver 
the  said  fifty  Pounds  to  the  Committee  appointed  to  agree 
with  Henry  Watkeys,  for  his  use,  in  pursuance  of  the  said 
agreement. 

Mr.  McDougall  then  informed  the  Congress  that  he  had 
received  of  Gabriel  W.  Ludlow  the  said  fifty  Pounds,  and 
by  order  of  the  Congress  delivered  one  hundred  Pounds  to 
the  said  Committee,  to  be  given  to  Robert  Boyd  agreeable 
to  an  order  of  the  thirteenth  instant,  and  delivered  to  the 
said  Committee  the  said  fifty  Pounds,  for  the  use  of  Henry 
Watkeys. 

Ordered,  That  the  Letter  from  Joseph  Warren,  Esq., 
President  of  the  Provincial  Congress  at  Watertoion  of  the 
thirteenth  instant ;  also  the  Letter  from  the  Committee  at 
Albany,  of  the  twenty-first  instant,  be  referred  to  the  Com- 
mittee of  this  Congress,  appointed  for  Indian  affairs  on  the 
twenty-first  instant. 

A  draught  of  an  Address  to  his  Excellency  General 
Washington,  was  read  and  approved  of,  and  is  in  the  words 
following,  to  wit : 

To  His  Excellency  George  Washington,  Generalissimo 
of  all  the  Forces  raised  and  to  be  raised  in  the  confede- 
rated Colonies  of  America  :  The  Address  of  the  Pro- 
vincial Congress  of  the  Colony  of  New-York  : 
May  it  please  tour  Excellency  :  At  a  time  when 
the  most  loyal  of  His  Majesty's  subjects,  from  a  regard  to 
the  laws  and  constitution  by  which  he  sits  on  the  throne,  feel 
themselves  reduced  to  the  unhappy  necessity  of  taking  up 
arms  to  defend  their  dearest  rights  and  privileges,  while  we 
deplore  the  calamities  of  this  divided  Empire,  we  rejoice  in 
the  appointment  of  a  gentleman  from  whose  abilities  and 
virtue  we  are  taught  to  expect  both  security  and  peace. 
Confiding  in  you,  Sir,  and  in  the  worthy  Generals  imme- 
diately under  your  command,  we  have  the  most  flattering 
hopes  of  success  in  the  glorious  struggle  for  American 
liberty,  and  the  fullest  assurance,  that  whenever  this  impor- 
tant contest  shall  be  decided  by  (that  fondest  wish  of  each 
American  soul)  an  accommodation  with  our  Mother  Coun- 
try, you  will  cheerfully  resign  the  important  deposit  com- 
mitted into  your  hands,  and  resume  the  character  of  our 
worthiest  citizen. 
June  26,  1775. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Morris  and  Mr.  Low  be  a  Commit- 
tee to  wait  on  General  Washington,  and  know  when  he  will 
be  waited  on  by  this  Congress  with  their  Address. 

Messrs.  Morris  and  Low  returned,  and  informed  the  Con- 
gress that  General  Washington  would  be  ready  to  receive 
this  Congress,  with  their  Address,  at  half  an  hour  past  two 
this  afternoon. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  of  the  Address  be  engrossed  to 
deliver. 

The  Congress  resumed  the  consideration  of  the  Report 
of  the  Committee  of  Arrangement,  and  proceeded  to  the 
examination  of  the  three  first  columns  of  the  arrangement 
of  officers,  and  approved  of  many  gentlemen  for  officers, 
whose  names  are  marked  on  the  margins  of  the  columns. 


The  Congress  being  informed  by  sundry  Members,  that 
they  have  viewed  the  ground  about  five  miles  from  this 
City,  where  it  was  first  intended  that  General  Wooster's 
Troops  should  encamp,  and  find  that  the  ground  is  damp 
and  unfit  for  the  purpose. 

Colonel  Lispenard,  Mr.  McDougall,  and  Mr.  Beekman, 
informed  the  Congress,  that  they  have  viewed  an  orchard, 
part  of  the  estate  late  of  Elbert  Herring,  deceased,  which 
they  conceive  to  be  a  proper  place  for  an  encampment,  and 
that  the  owner  is  willing  that  General  Wooster's  Troops 
may  encamp  there. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Beekman  wait  on  General  Wooster, 
or  any  other  officer  that  he  may  appoint  for  that  purpose, 
to  shew  him  the  ground  in  the  orchard  above  mentioned. 

The  Congress  then  adjourned  to  five  o'clock,  and  went 
to  wait  on  General  Washington  with  their  Address. 

5  ho.  P.  M.,  June  26,  1775. 

The  Congress  met  pursuant  to  adjournment.  Present: 
For  the  City  and  County  of  New-  York. — Peter  Van  Brugh 
Livingston,  Esquire,  President;  Isaac  Low,  Alexander 
McDougall,  Leonard  Lispenard,  Abraham  Walton,  Isaac 
Roosevelt,  Samuel  Verplanck,  David  Clarkson,  Thomas 
Smith,  John  Morin  Scott,  John  Van  Cortlandt,  and  Ja- 
cobus Van  Zandt. 
For  the  City  and  County  of  Albany. — Abraham  Yates, 
Peter  Silvester,  Robert  Van  Rensselaer,  and  Henry 
Glenn. 

For  Dutchess  County. — Zephaniah  Piatt,  Gilbert  Living- 
ston, Jonathan  Landon,  Melancton  Smith,  and  Nathaniel 
Sackett. 

For  Ulster  County. — James  Clinton,  Christopher  Tappen, 

and  John  Nicholson. 
For  Orange  County. — John  Coe  and  Benjamin  Tusteen. 
For  Suffolk  County. — Nathaniel  Woodhull,  John  Sloss 

Hobart,  John  Foster,  Thomas  Wickham,  and  Selah 

Strong. 

For  Westchester  County. — Lewis  Graham,  Stephen  Ward, 
David  Dayton,  John  Thomas,  Jun.,  and  William  Paul- 
ding. 

For  King's  County. — Henry  Williams,  Jeremiah  Remsen, 
and  John  Vanderbilt. 

For  Richmond  County. — John  Journey,  Aaron  Cortelyou, 
and  Richard  Conner. 

For  Queen's  County. — Jacob  Blackwell,  Jonathan  Law- 
rence, and  Nathaniel  Tom. 

For  Tryon  County. — Christopher  P.  Yates. 

For  Cumberland  County. — Paul  Spooner  and  William 
Williams. 

The  President  informed  the  Congress,  that  to  prevent 
mistakes,  he  had  obtained  a  copy  of  the  answer  of  General 
Washington  to  the  Address  of  this  Congress.  The  same 
was  read  and  filed,  and  is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit: 

Gentlemen  :  At  the  same  time  that,  with  you,  I  deplore 
the  unhappy  necessity  of  such  an  appointment  as  that  with 
which  I  am  now  honoured,  I  cannot  but  feel  sentiments  of 
the  highest  gratitude  for  this  affecting  instance  of  distinction 
and  regard. 

May  your  warmest  wishes  be  realized  in  the  success  of 
America  at  this  important  and  interesting  period  ;  and  be 
assured  that  every  exertion  of  my  worthy  colleagues  and 
myself  will  be  equally  extended  to  the  re-establishment  of 
peace  and  harmony  between  the  Mother  Country  and  these 
Colonies,  as  to  the  fatal  but  necessary  operations  of  war. 
When  we  assumed  the  soldier  we  did  not  lay  aside  the 
citizen  ;  and  we  shall  most  sincerely  rejoice  with  you  in  that 
happy  hour  when  the  establishment  of  American  liberty, 
on  the  most  firm  and  solid  foundations,  shall  enable  us  to 
return  to  our  private  stations  in  the  bosom  of  a  free,  peace- 
ful, and  happy  Country.      .         Geo.  Washington. 

June  26,  1775. 

Ordered,  That  the  Address  and  Answer  be  published. 

The  Congress  then  resumed  the  consideration  of  the 
Report  of  the  Committee  of  Arrangement,  and  proceeded 
to  the  consideration  of  the  fourth  column,  and  approved 
of  such  gentlemen  as  are  marked  on  the  Report  for  that 
purpose. 

Mr.  McDougall  had  leave  to  withdraw. 


1323 


NEW-YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1324 


Ordered,  That  Mr.  Roosevelt  and  Mr.  Walton  call  on 
the  gentlemen  of  the  City  of  New-York,  who  are  named 
by  the  Committee  to  be  Captains  of  Companies,  to  know 
whether  they  will  consent  and  agree  to  accept  of  that  ser- 
vice, and  that  the  said  Committee  report  with  all  conveni- 
ent speed. 

Ordered,  That  the  Deputies  from  Albany  County  write 
to  the  Committee  of  Albany,  and  request  them  to  have  the 
Arms  belonging  to  the  Colony  cleansed  and  put  in  good 
repair,  at  the  expense  of  the  Colony,  with  all  convenient 
despatch. 

The  Congress  adjourned  till  to-morrow  morning,  nine 
o'clock. 

Die  Martis,  9  ho.  A.  M.,  June  27,  1775. 
The  Congress  met  pursuant  to  adjournment.  Opened 

with  prayers  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Livingston.    Present : 

For  the  City  and  County  of  New-  York. — Peter  Van  Brugh 
Livingston,  Esquire,  President ;  Isaac  Low,  Alexander 
McDougall,  Leonard  Lispenard,  Abraham  Walton,  Abra- 
ham Brasher,  Isaac  Roosevelt,  John  De  Lancey,  Samuel 
Verplanck,  Richard  Yates,  David  Clarkson,  Thomas 
Smith,  Benjamin  Kissam,  John  Morin  Scott,  John  Van 
Cortlandt,  and  John  Marston. 

For  the  City  and  County  of  Albany. — Abraham  Yates, 
Peter  Silvester,  Walter  Livingston,  Robert  Van  Ren- 
selaer,  and  Henry  Glenn. 

For  Dutchess  County. — Zephaniah  Piatt,  Richard  Mont- 
gomerie,  Gilbert  Livingston,  Jonathan  Landon,  Melanc- 
ton  Smith,  and  Nathaniel  Sackett. 

For  Ulster  County. — Johannes  Hardenbergh,  James  Clin- 
ton, and  John  Nicholson. 

For  Orange  County. — John  Coe  and  Benjamin  Tusteen. 

For  Suffolk  County. — Nathaniel  Woodhull,  John  Sloss 
Hobart,  John  Foster,  Thomas  Wickham,  and  Selah 
Strong. 

For  Westchester  County. — Gouverneur  Morris.  Lewis 
Graham,  Stephen  Ward,  Philip  Van  Cortlandt,  William 
Paulding,  James  Holmes,  David  Dayton,  John  Thomas, 
Junior,  and  Robert  Graham. 

For  King's  County. — Henry  Williams,  Jeremiah  Remsen, 
and  Theodorus  Polhemus. 

For  Richmond  County. — John  Journey,  Aaron  Cortelyou, 
and  Richard  Conner. 

For  Queen's  County. — Jacob  Blackvvell,  Jonathan  Law- 
rence, Joseph  Robinson,  and  Nathaniel  Tom. 

For  Charlotte  County. — (None.) 

For  Tryon  County. — Christ.  P.  Yates,  John  Marlett. 

For  Cumberland  County. — Paul  Spooner  and  William 
Williams. 

Ordered,  That  Messrs.  Montgomerie  and  McDougall  be 
a  Committee,  and  that  they  take  to  their  assistance  Messrs. 
Anthony  Rutger  and  Samuel  Tuder,  for  superintending  and 
employing  some  person  in  trying  the  experiment  of  casting 
one  brass  Field-Piece. 

A  Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Intelligence  for  Charles- 
toivn,  South- Carolina,  enclosing  a  copy  of  an  intercepted 
Letter  from  General  Gage,  dated  at  Boston,  April  12,  1775, 
directed  to  Governour  Martin  of  North- Carolina ;  also  a 
printed  copy  of  the  Association  entered  into  by  the  Pro- 
vincial Congress  of  South-Carolina,  were  read,  filed,  and 
are  in  the  words  following,  to  wit: 

"Cliarlestown,  South.Carolina,  June  6,  1775. 

"  Gentlemen  :  We  are  to  thank  you  for  your  intelli- 
gence of  the  fifth  ultimo,  and  do  most  heartily  congratulate 
you  upon  that  proper  spirit  which  now  appears  in  your 
Colony.  The  apprehension  of  a  defection  in  you,  which 
we  are  happy  to  find  was  unjustly  formed,  occasioned  in 
us,  and  must  undoubtedly  have  given  to  all  America  inex- 
pressible anxiety,  and  at  the  same  time  have  encouraged 
Ministry  to  proceed  in  their  measures.  As  a  proof  of  the 
confidence  which  our  enemies  placed  in  you,  and  as  a 
means  to  prevent  their  diabolical  purpose,  we  are  ordered 
by  Provincial  Congress,  now  sitting,  to  transmit  to  you  an 
authentick  copy  of  an  original  letter  from  General  Gage  to 
Governour  Martin,  which  has  just  fallen  into  our  hands. 
We  have  also  received  intelligence  that  the  latter,  by  his 
agents,  has  been  secretly  enlisting  a  number  of  those  men 
in  the  back  parts  of  this  Province,  formerly  called  Regu- 


lators, whose  vengeance  against  the  lower  inhabitants  may 
induce  them  to  oppose  in  return  for  past  injuries.  We  are 
not  apprehensive  that  he  will  succeed  to  any  great  degree, 
but  depend  upon  your  vigilance  to  prevent  his  getting  arms 
and  ammunition  for  them  through  your  Province,  as  in- 
tended. We  also  enclose  a  copy  of  the  Association  entered 
into  on  the  fourth  instant,  by  the  fullest  representation  of 
this  Colony  ever  known,  which  has  been  signed  by  every 
member.  We  would  hint  to  you  the  necessity  of  sending 
your  letters  by  some  paiticular  person,  and  not  trusting  them 
to  the  fate  of  common  letters  in  a  ship's  bag.  We  also 
beg  leave  to  recommend  to  you  secrecy  in  relation  to  the 
above  letter,  as  we  would  not  wish  to  put  them  upon  their 
guard  in  future. 

"  We  have  the  honour  to  be,  gentlemen,  your  very  hum- 
ble servants, 

"  Wm.  H.  Drayton,       John  Lewis  Gervais, 
"Arthur  Middleton,  Charles  C.  Pinckney, 
"  William  Tennent, 

"  Committee  of  Intelligence. 

"To  the  Grand  Committee  of  Neiv-York,  to  the  care  of 
Peter  V.  B.  Livingston,  Esq." 

The  following  is  the  copy  of  General  Gage's  Letter : 

"  Boston,  April  12,  1775. 

"  Sir  :  Your  letter  of  the  sixteenth  March  I  have  had 
the  pleasure  to  receive,  and  am  glad  to  hear  that  many  of 
the  people  in  your  Province  are  beginning  to  find  they  have 
been  misled,  and  that  they  seem  inclined  to  disengage  them- 
selves from  the  arbitrary  power  of  the  Continental  Con- 
gress and  of  their  Committees.  I  wish  I  could  say  as  much 
for  the  people  of  this  Province,  who  are  more  cool  than 
they  were,  but  their  leaders,  by  their  arts  and  artifices,  still 
keep  up  that  seditious  and  licentious  spirit  that  has  led  them 
on  all  occasions  to  oppose  Government,  and  even  to  acts  of 
rebellion.  The  late  accounts  from  England  have  embar- 
rassed their  councils  much.  They  have  applied  to  the 
Neiv-E?igland  Governments,  and  doubtless  will  to  those  to 
the  southward,  to  assist  them  ;  but  I  hope  the  madness  of 
the  latter  is  wearing  off,  and  that  they  will  get  no  encourage- 
ment from  thence.  This  Province  has  some  time  been, 
and  now  is,  in  the  new-fangled  Legislature  termed  a  Pro- 
vincial Congress,  who  seems  to  have  taken  the  Government 
into  their  hands.  What  they  intend  to  do  I  can't  pretend  to 
say,  but  they  are  much  puzzled  how  to  act.  Fear  in  some, 
and  want  of  inclination  in  others,  will  be  a  great  bar  to  their 
coming  to  extremities,  though  their  leaders  use  every  mea- 
sure to  bring  them  into  the  field.  1  am  very  sorry  it  is  not 
in  my  power  to  supply  you  with  the  number  of  arms  you 
request.  I  have  them  not  to  spare  in  the  present  conjunc- 
ture of  the  service  here.  I  may  assist  you  with  some  pow- 
der, but  can  get  no  safe  opportunity  from  this  to  send  it  to 
you.  I  shall  order  you  a  supply  by  way  of  New-  York ; 
and  whatever  may  be  in  my  power  to  assist  you,  to  keep  up 
the  present  good  disposition  of  the  loyal  part  of  your  Prov- 
ince, I  shall  be  happy  to  do,  and  am  sorry  I  cannot  at  pre- 
sent do  more. 

"  I  have  the  honour  to  be,  with  great  esteem,  Sir,  your 
most  obedient  and  most  humble  servant, 

"  Thomas  Gage. 
"  His  Excellency  Governour  Martin." 

The  above  copy  of  the  Letter  from  General  Gage  hav- 
ing been  recommended  by  the  Committee  of  Charlestons, 
South- Carolina,  as  necessary  to  be  kept  secret,  the  Presi- 
dent recommended  to  the  Members  of  this  Congress  that 
the  subject-matter  of  the  said  copy  of  the  said  Letter  be 
kept  a  profound  secret. 

Ordered,  That  copies  of  the  Letter  from  the  Charles- 
town  Committee,  and  the  Letter  from  General  Gage  to 
Governour  Martin,  be  transmitted  to  the  Continental  Con- 
gress. 

A  draught  of  a  Warrant  to  such  gentlemen  as  are  intend- 
ed to  be  Officers  of  the  Troops  to  be  raised  in  this  Colony, 
was  read  and  approved  of,  and  is  in  the  words  following, 
to  wit  : 

In  Provincial  Congress  at  New- York,  Juno  — ,  1775. 

To  ,  Gentleman,  greeting : 

Know  you,  that  the  Grand  Continental  Congress  of  the 
associated  Colonies  have  resolved  and  ordered,  that  a  certain 
number  of  Troops  should  be  embodied  in  this  Colony,  to 


1325 


NEW-YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1326 


give  protection  to  the  inhabitants,  and  to  be  employed  as 
part  of  the  American  Continental  Army.  We,  therefore, 
reposing  special  confidence  in  your  prudence,  courage,  and 
affection  to  the  liberties  of  this  Country,  do  request  and 
authorize  you  to  enlist  and  raise  a  company  of  seventy-two 
able-bodied,  sober  men,  of  good  reputation,  (including  three 
sergeants,  three  corporals,  one  drummer,  and  one  fifer,)  to 
serve  as  part  of  the  said  Troops ;  and  that  from  time  to 
lime  you  report  your  progress  in  the  premises  to  this  Con- 
gress, for  which  this  shall  be  your  warrant.   And  we  hereby 

give  you  assurance  that  you  will  be  appointed  a  

in  the  said  Troops  when  raised  and  embodied,  if  the  number 

of  men  enlisted  by  you,  (and  intended  to  be 

the  other  officers  of  one  company,)  and  received  into  the 
said  Troops  by  such  proper  officer  or  muster-master  as  shall 
be  appointed  for  that  purpose,  shall  amount  to  the  number 
above-mentioned. 

A  draught  of  Instructions  to  the  several  Officers  to  be 
employed  in  raising  Troops,  was  read  and  approved  of,  and 
is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 

Instructions  of  the  Enlisting  of  Men. 

First.  You  are  not  to  enlist  any  man  who  is  not  able- 
bodied,  healthy,  and  a  good  marcher;  but  as  men  of  good 
appearance  may  have  ruptures  and  venereal  complaints, 
which  render  them  incapable  of  soldier's  duty,  you  must 
give  attention  that  you  be  not  imposed  upon,  and  take  the 
opinion  of  a  surgeon  where  there  is  room  for  suspicion. 

Second.  You  will  have  great  regard  to  moral  character, 
sobriety  in  particular ;  let  our  manners  distinguish  us  from 
our  enemies,  as  much  as  the  cause  we  are  engaged  in. 

Third.  Those  who  engage  in  defence  of  their  Country's 
liberties,  shall  be  enlisted  till  the  last  day  of  December,  of 
the  present  year,  unless  sooner  discharged  by  the  Conti- 
nental Congress. 

Fourth.  You  shall  appoint  such  men  sergeants  and  cor- 
porals as  recommend  themselves  by  their  ability,  activity, 
and  diligence. 

Fifth.  You  will  use  all  diligence  in  completing  your 
Company,  and  report  to  the  President  of  the  Provincial 
Congress,  to  the  end  that  you  may  receive  orders  to  join 
your  Regiment. 

Sixth.  During  the  time  you  are  filling  up  your  Compa- 
ny, you  will  engage,  at  the  cheapest  rate,  for  the  provisions 
of  such  men  as  are  already  enlisted,  (if  there  be  no  pub- 
lick  magazine  of  provisions  from  whence  you  may  be  sup- 
plied,) not  exceeding  eight  shillings  per  week. 

Seventh.  You  will  lose  no  time  in  disciplining  your  men, 
so  far  as  your  situation  will  admit. 

Eighth.  You  will  take  notice  that  proper  persons  will  be 
appointed  to  inspect  your  men,  and  reject  such  as  do  not 
answer  to  your  instructions. 

Ninth.  You  will  furnish  the  subalterns  appointed  to  your 
Company  with  a  copy  of  these  instructions,  who  are  here- 
by ordered  to  put  themselves  under  your  command. 

Tenth.  You  will  observe  that  the  Troops  raised  by  this 
Colony  will  be  placed  precisely  upon  the  same  footing  as 
to  pay,  clothing,  &.C.,  with  other  the  Continental  Troops 
now  raised,  or  hereafter  to  be  raised  for  the  general  de- 
fence. 

Eleventh.  No  apprentice  or  servant  to  be  enlisted,  with- 
out the  consent  of  his  master. 

Ordered,  That  five  hundred  copies  of  the  said  Warrant, 
and  as  many  copies  of  the  said  Instructions,  be  printed. 

Colonel  Holmes  has  leave  of  absence. 

Ordered,  That  all  the  Muskets  and  Bayonets  belonging 
to  this  Colony,  which  are  in  the  different  Counties  in  this 
Colony  (except  Albany)  be  sent  to  the  Committee  of  the 
City  of  New-  York,  with  all  convenient  speed,  and  in  such 
manner  as  that  they  may  come  with  the  greatest  safety; 
and  the  Committees  of  the  respective  Counties,  where  any 
such  Muskets  and  Bayonets  now  are,  are  hereby  requested 
and  desired  to  take  all  such  Arms  into  their  care,  and  to  see 
that  this  order  be  complied  with  immediately. 

The  Congress  then  adjourned  to  four  o'clock,  P.  M. 

Die  Martis,  4to  ho.  P.  M.,  June  27,  1775. 
The  Congress  met  pursuant  to  adjournment.  Present : 
For  the  City  and  County  of  New-  York. — Peter  Van  Brugh 
Livingston,  Esquire,  President;  Isaac  Low,  Alexander 


McDougall,  Abraham  Brasher,  John  De  Lancey,  Samuel 
Verplanck,  Richard  Yates,  Thomas  Smith,  Benjamin 
Kissam,  John  Morin  Scott,  John  Van  Corllandt,  Jacobus 
Van  Zandt,  and  John  Marston. 

For  the  City  and  County  of  Albany. — Abraham  Yates, 
Peter  Silvester,  Walter  Livingston,  Robert  Van  Rensse- 
laer, and  Henry  Glenn. 

For  Dutchess  County. — Zephaniah  Piatt,  Richard  Mont- 
goinerie,  Gilbert  Livingston,  Jonathan  Landon,  Melanc- 
ton  Smith,  and  Nathaniel  Sackett. 

For  Ulster  County. — Johannes  Hardenbergh,  James  Clin- 
ton, and  John  Nicholson. 

For  Orange  County. — John  Coe  and  Benjamin  Tusteen. 

For  Suffolk  County. — Nathaniel  Woodhull,  John  Sloss 
Hobart,  John  Foster,  Thomas  Wickham,  and  Selah 
Strong. 

jFor  Westchester  County. — Gouvernenr  Morris,  Lewis 
Graham,  Stephen  Ward,  James  Holmes,  John  Thomas, 
Junior,  Robert  Graham,  and  William  Paulding. 

For  King's  County. — Henry  Williams,  Jeremiah  Remsen, 
and  Theodorus  Polhemus. 

For  Richmond  County. — John  Journey,  Aaron  Cortelyou, 
and  Richard  Conner. 

For  Queen's  County. — Jacob  Blackwell,  Jonathan  Law- 
rence, Joseph  Robinson,  Nathaniel  Tom,  and  Richard 
Thome. 

For  Charlotte  County. — (None.) 

For  Tryon  County. — Christopher  P.  Yates,  and  John 
Marlett. 

For  Cumberland  County. — Paul  Spooner  and  William 
Williams. 

The  Congress  resumed  the  consideration  of  the  Report 
of  the  Committee  on  the  subject-matter  of  a  Plan  of  Ac- 
commodation with  Great  Britain. 

The  same  was  read,  and  after  some  time  spent  therein, 
Mr.  Scott  moved,  and  was  seconded  by  Mr.  Verplanck, 
that  the  following  words  be  added  to  the  second  paragraph, 
at  the  end  thereof,  to  wit :  "  For  the  general  benefit  of  the 
whole,  and  not  for  the  separate  interest  of  any  particular 
part." 

The  same  was  unanimously  approved  of  and  agreed  to. 
Resolved  and  Ordered,  therefore,  That  this  addition  be 
made  to  the  said  second  paragraph. 

Mr.  Scott  then  moved,  and  was  seconded  by  Colonel 
Hardmbergh,  in  the  words  following,  to  wit :  I  move  that 
the  following  article  be  added  to  the  Report  of  the  Com- 
mittee upon  the  Plan  of  Accommodation  with  the  Mother 
Country,  viz:  "  That  the  Colonies,  respectively,  are  enti- 
tled to  a  free  and  exclusive  power  of  legislation  within 
themselves,  respectively,  in  all  cases  of  internal  polity 
whatsoever,  subject  only  to  the  negative  of  their  Sovereign, 
in  such  manner  as  has  been  heretofore  accustomed." 

And  the  same  was  unanimously  resolved  and  agreed  to, 
and  ordered  to  be  added  to  and  made  a  part  of  the  said 
Plan  of  Accommodation  ;  and  that  it  be  inserted  therein 
previous  to  the  Resolution  of  this  Congress  on  that  subject, 
entered  into  on  the  24th  instant,  *'  That  no  one  article 
thereof  shall  be  considered  as  preliminary  to  another." 

Mr.  McDougall,  with  the  unanimous  leave  of  the  Con- 
gress, withdrew  his  motion  of  the  24th  instant,  "  for  retain- 
ing the  copy  of  the  Plan  of  Accommodation  until  the  De- 
legates from  New-  York  can  be  written  to  and  their  answer 
received." 

The  Report  of  the  Committee,  as  amended,  with  the 
Resolution  subjoined  thereto,  are  as  follow: 

Your  Committee  appointed  to  prepare  a  Plan  of  Accom- 
modation between  Great  Britain  and  America,  do  report : 

That  all  Statutes  and  parts  of  Statutes  of  the  British 
Parliament,  which  are  held  up  for  repeal  by  the  late  Con- 
tinental Congress  in  their  Association,  dated  the  20th  day 
of  October,  1774  ;  and  all  the  Statutes  of  the  British  Par- 
liament passed  since  that  day,  restraining  the  Trade  and 
Fishery  of  the  Colonies  on  this  Continent,  ought  to  be  re- 
pealed. 

That  from  the  necessity  of  the  case,  Britain  ought  to 
regulate  the  trade  of  the  whole  Empire,  for  the  general 
benefit  of  the  whole,  and  not  for  the  separate  interest  of 
any  particular  part ;  and  that  from  the  natural  right  of  pro- 
perty, the  powers  of  taxation  ought  to  be  confined  to  the  Co- 


1327 


NEW-YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


4328 


lony  Legislatures  respectively ;  therefore,  that  the  moneys 
raised  as  duties  upon  the  regulations  of  Trade,  ought  to 
be  paid  into  the  respective  Colony  Treasuries,  and  be  sub- 
ject to  the  disposal  of  their  Deputies. 

That  in  those  Colonies  whose  Representatives  in  Gene- 
ral Assembly  are  now  chosen  for  a  greater  term  than  three 
years,  such  Assemblies  for  the  future  ought  in  their  dura- 
tion not  to  exceed  that  term. 

That  the  Colonists  are  ready  and  willing  to  support  the 
civil  Government  within  the  respective  Colonies,  and  on 
proper  requisitions,  to  assist  in  the  general  defence  of  the 
Empire,  in  as  ample  a  manner  as  their  respective  abilities 
will  admit  of. 

That  if  objections  be  made,  that  a  resort  to  a  variety  of 
Colony  Legislatures  for  general  aids  is  inconvenient,  and 
that  large  unappropriated  grants  to  the  Crown  from  Ame- 
rica would  endanger  the  liberty  of  the  Empire:  then  the 
Colonies  are  ready  and  willing  to  assent  to  a  Continental 
Congress,  deputed  from  the  several  Colonies,  to  meet  with 
a  President  appointed  by  the  Crown,  for  the  purpose  of 
raising  and  apportioning  their  general  aids,  upon  applica- 
tion made  by  the  Crown,  according  to  the  advice  of  the 
British  Parliament,  to  be  judged  of  by  the  said  Con- 
gress. 

And  as  the  free  enjoyment  of  the  rights  of  conscience 
is  of  all  others  the  most  valuable  branch  of  human  liberty, 
and  the  indulgence  and  establishment  of  Popery  all  along 
the  interiour  confines  of  the  old  Protestant  Colonies  tends 
not  only  to  obstruct  their  growth,  but  to  weaken  their  secu- 
rity, that  neither  the  Parliament  of  Great  Britain,  nor 
any  other  earthly  legislature  or  tribunal,  ought  or  can  of 
right  interfere  or  interpose  in  any  wise  howsoever  in  the 
religious  and  ecclesiastical  concerns  of  the  Colonies. 

That  the  Colonies,  respectively,  are  entitled  to  a  free 
and  exclusive  power  of  legislation  within  themselves,  re- 
spectively, in  all  cases  of  internal  polity  whatsoever,  sub- 
ject only  to  the  negative  of  their  Sovereign,  in  such  manner 
as  has  been  heretofore  accustomed. 

Resolved,  That  no  one  article  of  the  aforegoing  Report 
be  considered  preliminary  to  another,  so  as  to  preclude  an 
accommodation  without  such  article ;  and  that  no  part  of 
the  said  Report  be  deemed  binding  or  obligatory  upon  the 
Representatives  of  this  Colony  in  Continental  Congress. 

Ordered,  That  the  consideration  of  the  state  of  Queen's 
County  be  deferred  till  to-morrow  morning. 

The  Congress  adjourned  till  to-morrow  morning. 

Dio  Mercurii,  9  ho.  A.  M„  June  28,  1775. 
The  Congress  met  pursuant  to  adjournment.  Opened 

with  prayer  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Treat.   Present : 

For  the  City  and  County  of  New-York. — Peter  Van 
Brugh  Livingston,  Esq.,  President;  Isaac  Low,  Alex- 
ander McDougall,  Leonard  Lispenard,  Joseph  Hallett, 
Abraham  Walton,  Abraham  Brasher,  Isaac  Roosevelt, 
James  Beekman,  Samuel  Verplanck,  Richard  Yates, 
Thomas  Smith,  Benjamin  Kissam,  John  Van  Cortlandt, 
and  Jacobus  Van  Zandt. 

For  the  City  and  County  of  Albany. — Abraham  Yates, 
Peter  Silvester,  Walter  Livingston,  Robert  Van  Rensse- 
laer, and  Henry  Glenn. 

For  Dutchess  County. — Zephaniah  Piatt,  Richard  Mont- 
gomerie,  Gilbert  Livingston,  Jonathan  Landon,  Melanc- 
ton  Smith,  and  Nathaniel  Sackett. 

For  Ulster  County. — Johannes  Hardenbergh,  James  Clin- 
ton, and  John  Nicholson. 

For  Orange  County. — John  Coe,  Benjamin  Tusteen,  and 
Michael  Jackson. 

For  Suffolk  County. — Nathaniel  Woodhull,  John  Sloss 
Hobart,  Thomas  Wickham,  and  Selah  Strong. 

For  Westchester  County. — Gouverneur  Morris,  Lewis  Gra- 
ham, Joseph  Drake,  David  Dayton,  John  Thomas,  Jun., 
Robert  Graham,  and  William  Paulding. 

For  King's  County. — Henry  Williams  and  Theodorus  Pol- 
hemus. 

For  Richmond  County. — John  Journey,  Aaron  Cortelyou, 

and  Richard  Conner. 
For  Queen's  County. — Jonathan  Lawrence,  Samuel  Town- 

shend,  Joseph  Robinson,  Nathaniel  Tom,  Thomas  Hicks, 

and  Richard  Thome. 


For  Charlotte  County. — (None.) 

For  Tryon  County. — Christopher  P.  Yates  and  John 
Marlett. 

For  Cumberland  County. — Paul  Spooner  and  William 
Williams. 

The  Order  for  taking  into  consideration  the  state  of 
Queen's  County,  being  read,  the  Congress  took  into  con- 
sideration the  state  of  Queen's  County  ;  and  it  appearing 
that  a  great  number  of  inhabitants  of  the  said  County  are 
not  disposed  to  a  representation  at  this  Board,  and  have 
dissented  therefrom, 

Resolved,  That  inasmuch  as  the  people  of  this  Colony 
have  appointed  us  to  watch  over  their  preservation  and 
defence,  and  delegated  unto  us  the  power  necessary  for 
that  purpose,  such  dissent  ought  not  to  be  of  any  avail, 
considered  as  an  objection  to  the  exercise  of  those  powers, 
but  that  the  said  County,  as  well  as  every  other  part  of  this 
Colony,  must  necessarily  be  bound  by  the  determination  of 
this  Congress  ;  and  therefore,  inasmuch  as  the  Members 
chosen  for  the  said  County  were  elected  by  a  considerable 
part  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  same,  and  the  dissent  of 
others  is  not  to  the  persons  chosen,  but  to  the  choice  of 
any  persons, 

Ordered,  That  the  Members  do  take  and  hold  their  seats 
at  this  Board,  notwithstanding  such  dissent. 

Ordered,  That  the  Members  of  Queen's  County,  who 
have  not  attended  this  Congress,  be  served  with  a  copy  of 
the  above  Resolution  and  Order. 

Mr.  Beekman  reported,  that  in  pursuance  of  the  Order 
of  this  House  of  Monday  last,  he  had  shown  the  ground 
therein  mentioned  to  the  proper  officer  of  the  Connecticut 
Troops,  appointed  for  that  purpose ;  that  the  ground  is 
approved  of;  that  fifteen  hundred  of  the  said  Troops  are 
arrived,  and  that  he  has  procured  covering  for  them  in  barns 
and  other  out-houses  near  the  ground. 

A  Letter  from  Peter  T.  Curtcnius,  was  read  and  filed. 

Ordered,  That  the  affidavit  of  Angus  McDonald  be 
published  in  the  Newspapers. 

The  Order  of  the  Day  being  read,  for  taking  into  con- 
sideration Mr.  Morris's  motion  of  last  Friday,  to  restrain 
the  killing  of  Sheep, 

Ordered,  That  the  same  be  postponed  till  to-morrow 
morning ;  and, 

Resolved,  That  the  Congress  will  then  reconsider  the 
Resolution  made  on  Friday  last,  to  restrain  the  killing  of 
Lamb. 

Mr.  Morris  has  leave  of  absence  for  two  days. 

Mr.  Roosevelt  reported,  that  Mr.  Walton  and  himself,  by 
order  of  this  Congress,  had  called  on  the  gentlemen  in  this 
City,  mentioned  in  the  Report  of  the  Committee  of  Ar- 
rangement for  Officers  in  the  Troops  to  be  raised ;  that 
several  of  them  had  consented  to  accept  of  the  service ; 
that  Messrs.  Helme  and  Stockholm  had  declined  the  ser- 
vice ;  that  several  others  had  desired  some  time  to  consider 
of  the  proposal;  and  that  some  of  the  gentlemen  named 
for  Lieutenants  were  very  anxious  that  their  particular 
situations  as  to  the  Captains  they  were  to  serve  under 
might  be  changed. 

And  the  Congress  being  informed  that  John  Quack- 
enboss  is  a  proper  person,  and  very  anxious  to  be  in  the 
service, 

Ordered,  That  the  name  of  John  Quackcnboss  be  in- 
serted in  the  room  and  stead  of  Andrew  Stockholm  ;  and, 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Lispenard,  with  Messrs.  Roose- 
velt and  Walton,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  the  present 
arrangement  of  the  Lieutenants,  and  to  make  such  arrange- 
ments or  alterations  in  the  stations  of  the  Lieutenants  a« 
they  may  think  will  give  the  most  satisfaction  to  the  offi- 
cers ;  and  that  they  report  to  this  Congress  what  they  shall 
have  done  in  the  premises. 

The  Congress  then  resumed  the  consideration  of  the 
Committee's  Report  for  estimating  the  articles  necessary 
to  complete  three  thousand  effective  men ;  and  after  some 
time  spent  therein, 

Ordered,  That  Peter  T.  Curtenius,  as  Commissary  of 
this  Congress,  be  desired  to  purchase  on  the  publick  credit 
the  following  quantities  of  coarse  broadcloths,  viz:  coarse 


1329 


NEW- YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1330 


blue  broadcloth,  sufficient  to  make  712  short  coats,  and 
crimson  cloth  sufficient  for  cuffs  and  facings  for  the  said 
coats ;  and  that  if  blue  cloth  cannot  be  had,  that  in  such 
case  he  purchase  blue  coating  for  that  purpose  ;  light  brown 
coarse  broadcloth  sufficient  to  make  712  short  coats,  with 
blue  cloth  sufficient  for  cuffs  and  facings  ;  grey  coarse  broad- 
cloth sufficient  to  make  712  short  coats,  with  green  cloth 
sufficient  for  cuffs  and  facings;  dark  brown  coarse  broad- 
cloth sufficient  to  make  712  short  coats,  with  scarlet  cloth 
sufficient  for  cuffs  and  facings  for  the  same ;  and  that  he 
be  also  desired  to  purchase  1,000  stand  of  arms,  20,000 
oil  flints,  8,000  pounds  of  lead,  40  reams  of  cartouch  pa- 
per, 2,852  gun-worms,  2,852  screw-drivers,  ticking  or 
Russia  drilling  to  make  14  bell-tents,  169  pieces  of  ravens 
duck  as  soon  as  it  can  be  got,  and  also  520  camp  kettles, 
2,852  canteens,  2.852  haversacks,  800  small  hatchets,  400 
falling  axes,  80  pickaxes,  and  400  spades ;  and  that  he  be 
desired  to  get  all  the  ravens  duck  which  he  has  on  hand 
made  up  into  soldiers'  tents. 

A  draught  of  a  Letter  to  the  Delegates  of  this  Colony 
at  the  Continental  Congress,  to  accompany  the  Resolves 
of  this  Congress  on  the  subject  of  a  Plan  of  Accommoda- 
tion with  Great  Britain,  was  read  and  approved  of,  and  is 
in  the  words  following  : 

In  Provincial  Congress,  New. York,  June  28,  1775. 

Gentlemen:  Deeply  impressed  with  the  importance, 
the  utility,  and  necessity  of  an  accommodation  with  our 
Parent  State,  and  conscious  that  the  best  service  we  can 
render  to  the  present  and  all  future  generations,  must  con- 
sist in  promoting  it,  we  have  laboured  without  intermission 
to  point  out  such  moderate  terms  as  may  tend  to  reconcile 
the  unhappy  differences  which  threaten  the  whole  Empire 
with  destruction. 

We  now  take  the  liberty  of  enclosing  to  you  the  result 
of  our  deliberations ;  and  although  we  have  not  the  pre- 
sumption to  suppose  that  our  weak  ideas  on  this  momen- 
tous subject  will  be  entirely  approved  of  by  you,  much  less 
by  that  august  body  of  which  you  are  members ;  yet  we 
take  leave  to  observe,  that  the  breach  has  been  much 
widened  since  our  first  dispute  on  the  subject  of  taxation  ; 
and  as  this  was  the  source  of  all  our  grievances,  so  we  have 
the  hope  that  the  temptation  being  taken  away,  our  civil 
and  religious  and  political  rights  will  be  easily  adjusted  and 
confirmed. 

You  will  observe,  gentlemen,  that  by  a  resolution  of 
the  House,  subjoined  to  the  report  of  our  Committee,  we 
consider  the  whole  as  entirely  subjected  to  your  better 
judgment,  and  each  article  as  far  independent  of  each  other 
as  you  may  think  most  proper  or  convenient.  We  must 
now  repeat  to  you  the  common  and  just  observation,  that 
contests  for  liberty,  fostered  in  their  infancy  by  the  virtuous 
and  wise,  become  sources  of  power  to  wicked  and  designing 
men  ;  from  whence  it  follows,  that  such  controversies  as  we 
are  now  engaged  in  frequently  end  in  the  demolition  of 
those  rights  and  privileges  which  they  were  instituted  to 
defend.  We  pray  you,  therefore,  to  use  every  effort  for  the 
compromising  of  this  unnatural  quarrel  between  the  parent 
and  child ;  and  if  such  terms  as  you  may  think  best  shall 
not  be  complied  with,  earnestly  to  labour,  that  at  least  some 
terms  may  be  held  up,  whereby  a  treaty  shall  be  set  on 
foot  to  restore  peace  and  harmony  to  our  Country,  and 
spare  the  further  effusion  of  human  blood ;  so  that  if  even 
at  the  last  our  well-meant  endeavours  shall  fail  of  effect, 
we  may  stand  fair,  and  stand  unreproachable  by  our  own 
consciences  in  the  last  solemn  appeal  to  the  God  of  battles. 

We  are,  gentlemen,  your  most  obedient  humble  ser- 
vants. 

To  the  Delegates  for  the  Colony  of  Neic-  York  in  Conti- 
nental Congress. 

Ordered,  That  two  copies  of  the  above  Letter  be  en- 
grossed, and  signed  by  the  President ;  that  one  copy  there- 
of, together  with  a  copy  of  the  Report  of  the  Committee 
of  Accommodation,  be  sent  to-morrow  by  express  to  our 
Delegates  at  the  Continental  Congress,  and  the  other  copy 
of  the  said  Letter  and  Report  be  sent  by  Francis  Lewis, 
Esquire. 

Ordered,  That  the  Commissary  deliver  any  articles 
which  he  shall  at  any  time  have  purchased  and  have  in 
his  custody  for  the  use  of  the  Continental  Army,  to  Gen- 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii.  i 


eral  Schuyler,  on  his  request,  taking  his  receipt  for  the 
same. 

A  Letter  to  John  Alsop,  Esquire,  at  Philadelphia,  was 
read  and  approved  of,  and  is  in  the  words  following,  to 
wit : 

In  Provincial  Congress,  New- York,  June  28,  1775. 

Sir:  We  are  informed  that  you  have  engaged  the  re- 
fusal of  a  number  of  Blankets.  We  have  now  to  tell  you, 
that  for  the  three  thousand  men  we  are  desired  to  raise,  we 
shall  want  two  thousand  eight  hundred  and  fiftv-two  Blan- 
kets,  and  that  there  are  not  any  to  be  purchased  here.  We 
beg,  therefore,  that  you  will  procure  so  many,  which  may 
be  paid  for  out  of  the  publick  money  with  you. 

We  are,  Sir,  your  most  obedient  servants. 
To  John  Alsop,  Esq.,  at  Philadelphia. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  thereof  be  engrossed,  signed  by 
the  President,  and  sent  by  the  first  opportunity. 

The  Congress  adjourned  to  five  o'clock,  P.  M. 

Die  Mercurii,  5  ho.  P.  M.,  June  28,  1775. 

The  Congress  met  pursuant  to  adjournment.  Present : 
Peter  Van  Brugh  Livingston,  Esq.,  President. 

A  Letter  from  Elisha  Phetys,  Commissary  for  the  Con- 
necticut Troops  at  Ticonderoga,  &,c,  bearing  date  at 
Albany,  June  22,  1775,  was  read,  and  filed. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Peter  T.  Curtenius  be  desired  to 
purchase  fifty  firkins  of  Butter  and  ten  hogsheads  of  Mo- 
lasses, and  forward  the  same  to  Elisha  Phelps,  Commissary 
at  Albany,  by  the  first  conveyance. 

The  Warrants  for  the  purpose  of  raising  Troops  in  this 
Colony  being  prepared, 

Ordered,  That  the  President  sign  the  same  on  behalf  of 
this  Congress. 

The  Congress  adjourned  to  to-morrow  morning,  nine 
o'clock. 

Die  Jovis,  9  ho.  A.  M.,  June  29, 1775. 
The  Congress  met  pursuant  to  adjournment.  Opened 

with  prayers  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Bowden.  Present: 

For  the  City  and  County  of  New-York. — Peter  Van 
Brugh  Livingston,  Esq.,  President;  Isaac  Low,  Alex- 
ander McDougall,  Leonard  Lispenard,  Abraham  Wal- 
ton, Abraham  Brasher,  Isaac  Roosevelt,  John  De  Lan- 
cey,  James  Beekman,  John  Marston,  Samuel  Verplanck, 
Richard  Yates,  David  Clarkson,  Thomas  Smith,  Benja- 
min Kissam,  John  Morin  Scott,  John  Van  Cortlandt, 
and  Jacobus  Van  Zandt. 

For  the  City  and  County  of  Albany. — Abraham  Yates, 
Peter  Silvester,  Walter  Livingston,  Robert  Van  Rensse- 
laer, and  Henry  Glenn. 

For  Dutchess  County. — Zephaniah  Piatt,  Richard  Mont- 
gomerie,  Gilbert  Livingston,  Jonathan  Landon,  Melanc- 
ton  Smith,  and  Nathaniel  Sackett. 

For  Ulster  County. — Johannes  Hardenbergh,  James  Clin- 
ton, and  John  Nicholson. 

For  Orange  County. — Michael  Jackson  and  Benjamin 
Tusteen. 

For  Suffolk  County. — Nathaniel  Woodhull,  John  Sloss 
Hobart,  John  Foster,  Thomas  Wickham,  and  Selah 
Strong. 

For  Westchester  County. — Gouverneur  Morris,  Lewis 
Graham,  James  Van  Cortlandt,  Stephen  Ward,  Joseph 
Drake,  Robert  Graham,  and  William  Paulding. 

For  King's  County. — Johannes  E.  Lott,  Henry  Williams, 
Jeremiah  Remsen,  Theodorus  Polhemus,  John  Leffertse, 
and  John  Vanderbilt. 

For  Richmond  County. — John  Journey,  Aaron  Cortelyou, 
and  Richard  Conner. 

For  Queen's  County. — Jacob  Blackwell,  Jonathan  Law- 
rence, Samuel  Townshend,  Joseph  Robinson,  Nathaniel 
Tom,  Thomas  Hicks,  and  Richard  Thorne. 

For  Tryon  County. — Christopher  P.  Yates  and  John 
Marlett. 

For  Cumberland  County. — Paul  Spooner  and  William 
Williams. 

A  Letter  from  General  Schuyler,  dated  New-York,  June 
29,  1775,  was  read. 


1331 


NEW-YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1332 


Mr.  Mayor  attending  at  the  door,  was  called  in,  and  in- 
formed the  Congress  that  Mr.  Francis  Stephens,  the  King's 
Storekeeper  in  this  City,  had  applied  to  his  Excellency 
Governour  Tryon,  declaring  his  apprehensions  that  the 
Stores  at  Turtle-Bay  are  not  in  a  state  of  safety,  and  his 
inclination  to  remove  them.  That  the  Governour  had  ex- 
pressed to  the  Mayor  his  wish  and  inclination,  that  Mr. 
Stephens  might,  at  his  own  expense,  be  permitted  to  re- 
move those  Stores  without  tumult  or  opposition,  and  put 
them  on  board  a  vessel ;  and  that  Mr.  Mayor  now  applies 
to  this  Congress  for  their  countenancing  that  measure. 

And  thereupon,  Ordered,  That  an  offer  be  made  to  the 
Mayor,  that  this  Congress  will  (if  it  be  agreeable  to  Gov- 
ernment) request  Major  General  Schuyler  to  keep  a  suffi- 
cient command  at  Turtle-Bay  to  guard  the  King's  Stores 
which  are  now  there ;  and  that  in  case  the  said  offer  be 
accepted  of,  and  such  guard  can  be  obtained,  the  said  Stores 
be  delivered  into  their  care  by  inventory  ;  and  that  in  such 
case  this  Congress  will  be  accountable  for  the  re-delivery 
of  the  said  Stores  when  the  present  unhappy  commotions 
in  North  America  shall  be  at  an  end. 

Ordered,  That  one  of  the  Secretaries  wait  on  his  Wor- 
ship the  Mayor,  and-serve  him  with  a  copy  of  the  forego- 
ing Order. 

In  pursuance  of  the  Order  of  the  Day,  the  Congress 
resumed  the  consideration  of  Mr.  Morris's  motion  for  re- 
straining the  killing  of  Sheep,  and  the  Order  for  reconsider- 
ing the  Resolution  to  restrain  the  killing  of  Lamb. 

And  after  some  time  spent  therein,  Mr.  McDougall 
moved,  in  the  following  words :  "  I  move  that  the  killing 
of  Lamb  be  restrained  to  the  first  of  August  next,  instead 
of  the  first  of  November,  as  determined  by  a  Resolution  of 
the  Congress  on  the  23d  day  of  June  instant." 

And  the  said  motion  being  read,  Mr.  Morris  moved  that 
the  said  motion  be  amended  thus :  "  that  the  question  be 
put,  whether  it  is  the  sense  of  this  House  that  the  killing 
of  Sheep  and  Lambs  be  restrained  to  a  certain  time." 

And  the  question  being  put  on  the  said  amendment,  it 
was  carried  against  the  amendment,  in  manner  following  : 
Against  the  Amendment.  For  the  Amendment. 

3  Albany.  2  Westchester. 
2  Suffolk.                                 2  Try  on. 

2  Dutchess.  2  Orange. 

4  New- York.  2  Cumberland. 
2  King's.  — 

2  Ulster.  8 
2  Queen's. 
2  Richmond. 

19 

Ordered,  therefore,  That  the  said  amendment  be  re- 
jected. 

The  question  being  then  put  on  Mr.  McDougall 's  mo- 
tion, it  was  carried  in  the  affirmative,  in  manner  following, 
to  wit : 

For  the  Affirmative.  For  the  Negative. 

2  Suffolk.  2  Tryon. 

2  Orange.  3  Albany. 

2  Queen's.  2  Cumberland. 

2  King's.  2  Ulstor. 

2  Richmond.  2  Westchester. 

4  New. York.  2  Dutchess. 


14 


13 


Resolved,  therefore,  That  no  person  in  this  Colony  kill 
any  Lambs  until  the  first  day  of  August  next.  And 

Ordered,  That  five  hundred  copies  of  this  Resolution 
be  published  in  handbills,  and  that  it  be  also  published  in 
the  Newspapers. 

A  draught  of  a  Letter  to  the  Continental  Congress,  to 
cover  a  copy  of  the  Letter  of  the  6th  of  June,  from  the 
Committee  of  Intelligence  at  Charhstown,  in  South-  Caro- 
lina, and  a  copy  of  General  Gage's  Letter  to  Governour 
Martin,  of  the  12th  of  April  last,  was  read  and  approved 
of,  and  is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit ; 

In  Provincial  Congress,  New- York,  Juno  29,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  We  lately  received  a  Letter  from  the  Com- 
mittee of  Intelligence  at  Charlestown,  in  South- Carolina, 
covering  a  copy  of  a  letter  from  General  Gage  to  Gov- 
ernour Martin.  From  the  importance  of  the  contents  of 
those  Letters,  we  have  thought  it  our  indispensable  duty  to 
transmit  copies  of  them  to  your  respectable  body. 


We  are,  gentlemen,  most  respectfully,  your  faithful 
friends  and  humble  servants.    By  order. 
To  the  Honourable  the  Continental  Congress. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  thereof  be  engrossed  and  signed 
by  the  President,  and,  together  with  copies  of  the  Letters 
therein  mentioned,  be  sent  by  the  first  conveyance. 

A  draught  of  a  Letter  to  Elisha  Phelps  was  read  and 
approved,  and  is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit: 

In  Provincial  Congress,  New-York,  June  29,  1775. 

Sir:  Your  letter  of  the  twenty-second  instant  was  this 
day  received  in  Congress,  and  the  contents  observed.  The 
embarrassments  you  and  the  Troops  stationed  at  Lake 
Champlain  might  have  met  with,  in  respect  to  the  Provi- 
sions and  Stores  at  Albany,  we  are  persuaded  did  not  arise 
from  any  other  design  than  that  of  fulfilling  the  orders  the 
Commissaries  appointed  by  this  Provincial  Congress  re- 
ceived previous  to  your  appointment  as  Commissary,  in 
consequence  of  a  later  order  of  the  Continental  Congress. 
Your  difficulties,  if  they  are  not  already,  will  now,  we  trust, 
be  removed  ;  and  that  you  may  have  no  farther  trouble  on 
that  head,  we  have  wrote  a  letter  and  order  to  the  Commis- 
saries heretofore  appointed  by  this  Board,  to  deliver  up  all 
the  Provisions  and  Stores  in  their  custody  for  that  service 
to  you,  and  have  enclosed  to  them  a  copy  of  the  order  of 
the  Continental  Congress,  by  which  they  will  perceive  they 
are  superseded  in  that  business. 

We  also  received  a  letter,  dated  15th  instant,  from  your 
Deputy,  Adonijah  Strong,  directed  to  the  Committee  of 
Albany,  couched  in  terms  not  so  very  suitable.  However, 
for  answer  to  the  most  necessary  parts,  we  remark,  that 
two  of  the  articles  mentioned  in  it  as  wanting,  to  wit,  Rice 
and  Rum,  were  sent  up  some  time  ago.  A  sufficiency  o( 
Peas  we  suppose  can  be  procured  at  Albany;  you  will 
please,  therefore,  to  buy  there  as  much  as  is  requisite  on 
the  publick  credit  of  this  Colony.  Butter  and  fresh  meat 
we  know  to  be  scarce  commodities  at  Albany;  the  former 
we  shall  endeavour  to  send  you  a  proper  supply  of  from 
this  City,  and  the  latter  article  we  imagine  you  do  not  for 
the  present  stand  so  much  in  need  of,  as  it  appears,  by 
Governour  Trumbull's  letter  of  the  19th  instant  to  us,  that 
a  drove  of  fat  cattle  was  forwarded  up  to  you.  We  shall 
also  send  you  from  hence  ten  hogsheads  of  Molasses,  to 
brew  beer  with. 

We  are,  Sir,  your  very  humble  servants.    By  order. 
To  Mr.  Elisha  Phelps,  Commissary  of  Provisions. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  thereof  be  engrossed,  signed  by 
the  President,  and  transmitted. 

A  draught  of  a  Letter  to  John  N.  Blcecker,  and  four 
other  persons,  formerly  appointed  agents  at  Albany,  was 
read  and  approved,  and  is  in  the  words  following : 

In  Provincial  Congress,  New-York,  June  29,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  We  have  received  a  letter  from  Mr.  Eli- 
sha Phelps  of  the  22d  instant,  informing  us  that,  in  the 
absence  of  Mr.  Bleecker,  he  was  refused  the  Provisions  and 
Stores  left  in  his  custody,  and  designed  for  the  Troops  at 
Lake  Champlain,  &ic.  You  will  perceive  by  the  enclosed 
copy  of  an  order  of  the  Continental  Congress,  that  the  ap- 
pointment of  Commissary  in  that  department  is  left  to  the 
disposal  of  that  Government,  or  the  General  of  the  Forces 
of  Connecticut.  And  it  appears  to  us,  by  a  letter  from 
Governour  Trumbull,  dated  the  19th  instant,  that  Mr. 
Phelps  is  appointed  Commissary,  and  that  he  doubts  not 
he  will  conduct  with  prudence  and  good  satisfaction  ;  that 
he  had  directed  him  to  correspond  with  Colonel  Hinman, 
to  employ  persons  already  engaged,  especially  George 
Palmer,  Esq.  You  will  please,  therefore,  to  deliver  up  to 
him  or  his  order  all  the  supplies  of  Provisions  and  Stores  in 
your  hands  and  custody  for  the  said  Forces,  and  take  his 
receipt  for  every  thing  you  deliver  him  ;  and  send  us  an 
account  of  all  such  Stores  as  you  have  issued  to  the  Troops, 
or  shall  deliver  to  the  said  Commissary,  and  your  account 
of  expenses  to  this  time. 

To  the  Commissaries  at  Albany,  appointed  by  the  Provin- 
cial Congress. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  thereof  be  engrossed,  and  signed 
by  the  President,  and  transmitted. 

The  Congress  adjourned  to  five  o'clock,  P,  M, 


1333 


NEW- YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1334 


Die  Jovis,  5  ho.  P.  M.,  June  29,  1775. 
The  Congress  met  pursuant  to  adjournment.  Present: 

For  the  City  and  County  of  New-York. — Peter  Van 
Brugh  Livingston,  Esq.,  President;  Isaac  Low,  Alex- 
ander McDougall,  Leonard  Lispenard,  Isaac  Roosevelt, 
James  Beekman,  Samuel  Verplanck,  Richard  Yates, 
Thomas  Smith,  Benjamin  Kissam,  John  Morin  Scott, 
John  Van  Cortlandt,  Jacobus  Van  Zandt. 

For  the  City  and  County  of  Albany. — Abraham  Yates, 
Walter  Livingston,  Robert  Van  Rensselaer,  Francis 
Nicoll. 

For  Dutchess  County. — Zephaniah  Piatt,  Gilbert  Living- 
ston, Melancton  Smith,  Nathaniel  Sackett. 

For  Ulster  County. — Johannes  Hardenbergh,  James  Clin- 
ton, John  Nicholson. 

For  Orange  County. — John  Coe,  Michael  Jackson,  Ben- 
jamin Tusteen. 

For  Suffolk  County. — Nathaniel  Woodhull,  John  Sloss 
Hobart,  John  Foster,  Thomas  Wickham,  Selah  Strong. 

For  Westchester  County. — Lewis  Graham,  James  Van 
Cortlandt,  Robert  Graham,  William  Paulding. 

For  King's  County. — Henry  Williams,  John  Vanderbilt. 

For  Richmond  County. — John  Journey,  Aaron  Cortelyou, 
Richard  Conner. 

For  Queen's  County. — Jacob  Blackwell,  Jonathan  Law- 
rence, Samuel  Townshend,  Thomas  Hicks,  Richard 
Thorne. 

For  Tryon  County. — Christopher  P.  Yates. 
For  Cumberland  County. — Paul  Spooner,  William  Wil- 
liams. 

A  memorandum  from  Abraham  Lott,  Esquire,  of  the 
articles  by  him  supplied  to  His  Majesty's  Ship  between  the 
23d  day  of  April  and  the  16th  day  of  May  last,  was  read 
and  filed.  Mr.  Lott  also  sent  in  a  memorandum  or  list  of 
Provisions  now  wanted  for  His  Majesty's  Ship  the  King- 
fisher, to  wit :  two  thousand  pounds  of  Bread,  two  barrels 
of  Beef,  two  barrels  of  Pork,  one  barrel  of  Flour,  and  four 
barrels  of  Butter. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Lott  be  at  liberty  to  supply  the  above 
quantities  of  Provisions  to  the  said  Ship  Kingfisher . 

A  draught  of  a  Letter  to  the  Continental  Congress  on 
the  subject  of  Saltpetre  and  Sulphur,  was  read  and  ap- 
proved. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  thereof  be  engrossed,  signed  by 
the  President,  and  transmitted. 

The  Congress  then  adjourned  to  nine  o'clock  to-morrow 
morning. 

Die  Veneris,  9  ho.  A.  M.,  June  30,  1775. 
The  Congress  met  pursuant  to  adjournment,  and  opened 
with  prayers  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Moore.  Present: 
For  the  City  and  County  of  New- York. — Peter  Van 
Brugh   Livingston,   Esquire,  President;  Isaac  Low, 
Alexander  McDougall,  Leonard  Lispenard,  Abraham 
Walton,  Abraham  Brasher,  Isaac  Roosevelt,  John  De 
Lancey,  John  Van  Cortlandt,  John  Marston,  James 
Beekman,  Samuel  Verplanck,  Richard  Yates,  David 
Clarkson,  Thos.  Smith,  Benjamin  Kissam,  John  Morin 
Scott,  Jacobus  Van  Zandt. 
For  the  City  and  County  of  Albany. — Abraham  Yates, 
Peter  Silvester,  Walter  Livingston,  Robert  Van  Rensse- 
laer, Henry  Glenn,  Francis  Nicoll. 
For  Dutchess  County. — Zephaniah  Piatt,  Richard  Mont- 
goraerie,  Gilbert  Livingston,  Jonathan  Landon,  Melanc- 
ton Smith,  Nathaniel  Sackett. 
For  Ulster  County. — Johannes  Hardenbergh,  James  Clin- 
ton, John  Nicholson. 
For  Orange  County. — John  Coe,  Michael  Jackson,  Ben- 
jamin Tusteen. 
For  Suffolk  Comity. — Nathaniel  Woodhull,  John  Sloss 
Hobart,  John  Foster,  Thomas  Wickham,  Selah  Strong. 
For  Westchester  County. — Gouverneur  Morris,  Lewis  Gra- 
ham, James  Van  Cortlandt,  Stephen  Ward,  Joseph 
Drake,  Robert  Graham,  William  Paulding. 
For  King's  County. — Johannes  E.  Lott,  Henry  Williams, 
Jeremiah  Remsen,  Theodorus  Polhemus,  John  Leffertse, 
John  Vanderbilt. 
For  Richmond  County. — John  Journey,  Aaron  Cortelyou, 
Richard  Conner. 


For  Queen's  County. — Jacob  Blackwell,  Jonathan  Law- 
rence, Samuel  Townshend,  Joseph  Robinson,  Nathaniel 
Tom,  Thomas  Hicks,  Richard  Thorne. 

For  Tryon  County. — Christopher  P.  Yates. 

For  Cumberland  County. — Paul  Spooner,  Wm.  Williams. 

The  President  informed  the  Congress  that  General 
Schuyler  had  been  under  the  necessity  to  send  the  messen- 
ger (who  was  provided  yesterday)  to  Philadelphia,  and 
therefore  was  under  a  necessity  of  having  another  messen- 
ger to  go  to  Albany,  which  the  President  was  desired  to 
order  and  to  pay,  in  pursuance  of  the  former  order  of  this 
Congress. 

Mr.  Walter  Livingston  has  leave  of  absence. 

Ordered,  That  Messrs.  Verplanck,  Van  Zandt,  and 
Beekman,  be  a  Committee  for  auditing  all  accounts  that 
may  be  brought  into  this  Congress,  and  that  the  report  of 
them,  or  any  two  of  them,  on  any  account  of  the  sum  that 
ought  to  be  paid  thereon,  shall  be  a  sufficient  warrant  to 
the  President  to  pay  the  same. 

The  Congress  resumed  the  consideration  of  the  arrange- 
ment of  the  Battalions.    And  thereupon, 

Agreed  and  Ordered,  That  the  New-  York  Regiment 
be  considered  as  the  First  Regiment,  and  have  rank  ac- 
cordingly. 

Albany,  Ulster,  and  Tryon  Counties  dissented. 

The  Congress  then  unanimously  approved  of  Alexander 
McDougall  for  Colonel,  Rudolphus  Ritzma  for  Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel, and  John  Brogden  for  Adjutant  of  the  First 
Regiment. 

A  Letter  from  General  Schuyler  was  read,  requesting  a 
small  Committee  from  this  Congress  to  meet  him  as  soon 
as  possible.  Thereupon, 

Ordered,  That  General  Montgomerie,  Mr.  Hicks,  and 
Mr.  Clarkson  be  a  Committee  to  wait  on  General  Schuy- 
ler immediately,  and  bring  their  report  in  writing. 

Agreed  and  Ordered,  That  Colonel  Rooseboom's  Regi- 
ment be  the  Second  Regiment,  and  take  rank  accordingly. 

The  Congress  unanimously  agreed  and  approved  of 
Myndert  Rooseboom  for  Colonel,  Goosie  Van  Schaack, 
Lieutenant-Colonel,  Barent  T.  Ten  Eyck,  Adjutant,  and 
John  W.  Wendal,  Quartermaster  of  the  Second  Regiment. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Gabriel  W.  Ludlow  pay  into  the 
hands  of  Peter  Van  Brugh  Livingston,  Esq.,  the  balance 
of  the  money  subscribed  on  the  publick  faith,  and  by  him 
collected  ;  and  that  the  receipt  of  the  said  Peter  Van 
Brugh  Livingston  be  a  sufficient  discharge  to  Mr.  Lud- 
low for  the  same. 

Samuel  Cook,  Ebenezer  Haviland,  and  John  Williams 
were  respectively  approved  as  Surgeons,  if  they  respec- 
tively shall  be  found  properly  and  sufficiently  qualified  for 
those  stations,  and  that  they  be  examined  by  the  Doctors 
John  Jones  and  Samuel  Bard,  who  are  requested  to  make 
such  examination. 

Agreed  and  Ordered,  That  Colonel  Clinton's  Regi- 
ment be  the  Third  Regiment,  and  take  rank  accordingly. 

The  Congress  then  unanimously  approved  of  Col.  James 
Clinton  for  Colonel,  Edward  Flemming  for  Lieutenant- 
Colonel,  and  Cornelius  D.  Wynkoop  for  Major  of  the 
Third  Regiment. 

The  Committee  who  waited  on  General  Schuyler  re- 
turned, and  their  Report  was  read  and  filed,  and  is  in  the 
words  following,  to  wit  : 

Major  General  Schuyler  is  directed  by  the  Continental 
Congress  to  repair  as  soon  as  conveniently  he  can  to  the 
Posts  of  Ticonderoga  and  Croivn  Point,  to  examine  into 
the  state  thereof,  and  of  the  Troops  now  stationed  there, 
and  how  they  are  supplied  with  Provisions  and  necessary 
Stores ;  into  the  state,  also,  of  the  Sloop  and  other  navi- 
gation on  the  Lakes;  also,  to  obtain  the  best  intelligence 
he  can  of  the  disposition  of  the  Canadians  and  Indians  in 
Canada ;  and  that  he  give  orders  for  the  necessary  prepara- 
tion of  Boats  and  Stores  for  securing  the  United  Colonies 
the  command  of  those  waters  adjacent  to  Crown  Point 
and  Ticonderoga.  In  order  to  carry  this  service  into 
execution,  he  will  require  the  Stores  of  which  General 
Schuyler  will  furnish  the  Congress  with  an  estimate,  as 
soon  as  possible.    As  it  is  probable  the  Troops  which  are 


1335 


NEW- YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JULY,  1775. 


1336 


now  here  will  be  ordered  to  the  northward,  and  as  some  of 
their  arms  are  out  of  repair,  he  wishes  that  Armourers  may 
immediately  be  provided  to  put  those  arms  which  may  re- 
quire it  into  repair. 

Ordered,  That  every  Gunsmith  in  the  City  of  New- 
York  be  requested  to  repair,  with  all  possible  despatch, 
any  arms  of  the  Troops  from  the  Colony  of  Connecticut 
now  here,  which  may  be  brought  to  them  by  the  Quarter- 
master of  the  said  Troops,  or  either  of  them,  for  that  purpose. 

Agreed  and  Ordered,  That  Colonel  Holmes's  Regi- 
ment be  the  Fourth  Regiment,  and  take  rank  accordingly. 

The  Congress  then  unanimously  approved  of  James 
Holmes  for  Colonel,  Philip  Van  Cortlandt  for  Lieutenant- 
Colonel,  and  Barnabas  Tuthill  for  Major  of  the  said 
Fourth  Regiment. 

Mr.  President,  at  his  request,  has  leave  of  absence  till 
Monday  next,  and  Mr.  Lispenard  is  unanimously  chosen 
President  pro  tern.  Mr.  Thomas  Smith  has  leave  of  ab- 
sence, to  depart  to-morrow  evening.  And  Mr.  Walton  has 
leave  of  absence,  to  depart  this  evening,  and  to  return 
early  on  Monday  morning. 

Mr.  Thomas  Smith,  from  the  Committee  appointed  to 
treat  with  Robert  Boyd  and  Henry  Watkeys,  reported  the 
draught  of  an  Article  of  Agreement  in  the  following  words, 
to  wit : 

Articles  of  Agreement  made  and  concluded  this  .  .  .  . 
day  of  June,  1775,  between  Henry  Watkeys,  of  the  City 
of  New-York,  Gunsmith,  of  the  one  part,  and  Leonard 
Lispcnard ,  Richard  Montgomerie,  James  Clinton,  and 
Thomas  Smith,  Esquires,  by  order  and  on  behalf  of  the 
Provincial  Congress  of  the  Colony  of  Neiv-  York,  of  the 
other  part: 

First.  The  said  Henry  Watkeys  doth  hereby  agree  to 
and  with  the  said  Leonard  Lispenard,  Richard  Mont- 
gomerie, James  Clinton,  and  Thomas  Smith,  that  he,  the 
said  Henry  Watkeys,  shall  and  will  use  his  utmost  dili- 
gence to  finish  all  the  muskets  (the  barrels,  ramrods,  and 
bayonets  being  first  provided  by  the  Congress)  in  the  fol- 
lowing manner,  to  wit :  The  lock  to  be  made  agreeable  to 
the  lock  now  delivered  to  him,  marked  Grice,  1760;  and 
the  slock  and  mounting  to  be  finished,  and  the  musket  bar- 
rel polished,  agreeable  to  the  musket  now  delivered  to  him, 
marked  No.  20.  And  the  said  Henry  Watkeys  agrees  to 
deliver  the  said  muskets  in  small  parcels,  as  they  are  finish- 
ed, and  complete  the  whole  work  with  all  possible  des- 
patch. 

Second.  The  said  Leonard  Lispenard,  Richard  Mont- 
gomerie, James  Clinton,  and  Thomas  Smith,  in  behalf  of 
the  said  Congress,  doth  agree  to  pay  to  the  said  Henry 
Watkeys,  for  every  musket  which  he  shall  deliver,  within 
six  months,  completely  finished  in  manner  aforesaid,  the 
sum  of  two  Pounds  five  Shillings,  provided  the  number 
doth  not  exceed  one  thousand.  And  in  order  to  enable 
the  said  Henry  Watkeys  to  comply  with  this  contract,  it 
is  agreed  to  advance  to  him  the  sum  of  fifty  Pounds,  which 
sum  is  to  be  accounted  for  out  of  money  that  may  be  due 
to  him  on  the  first  parcel  of  muskets  that  shall  be  delivered 
by  him.  And  it  is  understood  by  the  parties,  that  the  said 
Henry  Watkeys  is  not  to  be  entitled  to  the  bounty  offered 
by  the  Congress  to  encourage  the  making  of  muskets  in 
this  Colony,  upon  the  muskets  to  be  delivered  by  virtue  of 
this  contract. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Clinton,  Colonel  McDougall, 
Mr.  Brasher,  Colonel  Woodhull,  Colonel  Tustcen,  Colonel 
Van  Cortlandt,  Colonel  Van  Rensselaer,  Col.  Blackwell, 
Capt.  Piatt,  Mr.  Christopher  Yates,  Col.  Cortclyou,  Mr. 
Vandcrbilt,  and  Major  Williams,  be  a  Committee  to  form 
and  determine  the  rank  of  tho  Captains  and  Inferiour  Offi- 
cers in  each  Regiment,  and  of  the  Captains  and  Inferiour 
Officers  of  the  several  Regiments. 

The  Congress  then  adjourned  to  nine  o'clock  to-morrow 
morning. 

Dio  Saturnii,  9  ho.  A.  M.,  July  1,  1775. 
The  Congress  met  pursuant  to  adjournment,  and  opened 
with  prayer  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Auchmuty.  Present: 
For  the  City  and  County  of  New- York. — Leonard  Lispe- 
nard, President  pro  ttm. ;  Isaac  Low,  Alexander  Mc- 
Dougall, Abraham  Walton,  Abraham  Brasher,  Isaac 


Roosevelt,  John  De  Lancey,  Samuel  Verplanck,  Rich- 
ard Yates,  Benjamin  Kissam,  John  Morin  Scott. 

For  the  City  and  County  of  Albany. — Abraham  Yates, 
Peter  Silvester,  Robert  Van  Rensselaer,  Francis  Nicoll. 

For  Dutchess  County. — Zephaniah  Piatt,  Richard  Mont- 
gomerie, Gilbert  Livingston,  Jonathan  Landon,  Melanc- 
ton  Smith,  Nathaniel  Sackett. 

For  Ulster  County. — Johannes  Hardenbergh,  James  Clin- 
ton, John  Nicholson. 

For  Orange  County. — Michael  Jackson,  Benj.  Tusteen. 

For  Suffolk  County. — Nathaniel  Woodhull,  John  Sloss 
Hobart,  John  Foster,  Thomas  Wickham. 

For  Westchester  County. — Lewis  Graham,  James  Van 
Cortlandt,  William  Paulding. 

For  King's  County. — Henry  Williams,  Jeremiah  Remsen, 
Theodorus  Polhemus,  John  Vandcrbilt. 

For  Richmond  County. — John  Journey,  Aaron  Cortelyou, 
Richard  Conner. 

For  Queen's  County. — Jacob  Blackwell,  Samuel  Town- 
shend,  Richard  Thome. 

For  Tryon  County. — Christ.  P.  Yates  and  John  Marlett. 

For  Cumberland  County. — Paul  Spooner,  Wm.  Williams. 

A  Letter  from  the  Honourable  John  Hancock,  Esquire, 
President  of  the  Continental  Congress,  dated  Philadelphia, 
June  24,  1775,  was  read,  and  filed. 

The  Resolves  mentioned  and  enclosed  in  the  foregoing 
Letter,  were  also  read. 

Another  Letter  from  the  President  of  the  Continental 
Congress,  dated  Philadelphia,  June  27,  1775,  was  read. 

The  List  of  Officers  mentioned  and  enclosed  in  the  above 
Letters,  was  also  read. 

A  Letter  from  Edivard  Flemming,  Esq.,  signifying  to 
this  Congress  his  reasons  for  declining  to  accept  of  a  com- 
mission appointing  him  Lieutenant-Colonel  in  the  Regi- 
ment whereof  James  Clinton,  Esq.,  is  Colonel,  and  raised 
for  the  defence  of  American  liberty. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  McDougall,  Mr.  Scott,  and 
Colonel  Clinton,  be  a  Committee  to  meet  and  confer  with 
Messrs.  Ethan  Allen  and  Seth  Warner,  and  report  the 
same  with  all  convenient  speed. 

Mr.  Glenn  has  leave  of  absence  to  go  home,  and  return 
as  soon  as  he  conveniently  can. 

The  Congress  adjourned  to  four  o'clock,  P.  M.,  on  Mon- 
day next. 

Die  Luna;,  4to  ho.  P.  M.,  July  3,  1775. 

The  Congress  met  pursuant  to  adjournment.   Present : 
Leonard  Lispenard,  Esq.,  President  pro  tempore. 

A  Letter  from  the  Nciv-York  Delegates  at  the  Continen- 
tal Congress,  dated  Philadcljjhia,  June  30, 1775,  was  read. 

Mr.  Pye  offered  to  go  to  Dobbs's  Ferry  to  take  care  of 
the  Powder  mentioned  in  the  Letter  from  the  New-York 
Delegates;  and  thereupon,  an  order  was  signed  by  the 
President  pro  tempore,  and  delivered  to  Mr.  Pye  as  the 
bearer,  directing  the  person  or  persons  who  shall  have  the 
said  Powder,  to  deliver  it  to  Mr.  Pye,  taking  his  receipt  for 
the  same ;  and  also  another  order  was  made,  signed  as 
aforesaid  and  delivered  to  Mr.  Pye,  directing  him  to  deliver 
the  said  fifty  quarter  casks  of  Powder  to  such  person  or 
master  of  a  sloop  as  may  have  an  order  from  this  Congress 
for  that  purpose. 

A  draught  of  a  Letter  to  the  Committee  of  the  City  of 
Albany,  concerning  the  said  fifty  quarter  casks  of  Powder, 
was  read  and  approved  of,  and  is  in  the  words  following, 
to  wit : 

In  Provincial  Congress,  Now. York,  July  3,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  You  will  receive  by  the  bearer  fifty  quar- 
ter casks  of  Gunpowder,  sent  from  Philadelphia  by  the 
Continental  Congress,  for  the  use  of  the  forts  at  Crown 
Point  and  Ticonderoga.  You  are  sensible  of  the  neces- 
sity of  forwarding  it  with  all  possible  despatch  and  safety, 
and  will  doubtless  duly  attend  to  a  matter  of  so  much  im- 
portance.   We  are,  gentlemen,  your  humble  servants. 

By  order  of  the  Provincial  Congress. 
To  Samuel  Stringer,  Esq.,  Chairman  of  the  Committee  at 

Albany. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  theroof  be  engrossed,  signed  by 
the  President  pro  tempore,  and  delivered  to  the  Albany 


1337 


NEW-YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JULY,  1775. 


1338 


Members,  to  be  transmitted  by  such  skipper  as  they  shall 
direct  to  stop  and  receive  the  said  Powder. 

The  Congress  then  adjourned  to  nine  o'clock  to-morrow 
morning. 

Die  Martis,  9  ho.  A.  M.,  July  4,  1775. 
The  Congress  met  pursuant  to  adjournment,  and  opened 
with  prayers  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Rodgers.    Present : 
Leonard  Lispenard,  Esq.,  President  pro  tempore. 

For  the  City  and  County  of  New-  York. — Isaac  Low,  Alex- 
ander McDougall,  Joseph  Hallett,  Abraham  Brasher, 
Isaac.  Roosevelt,  John  De  Lancey,  Samuel  Verplanck, 
Richard  Yates,  Benjamin  Kissam,  John  Morin  Scott. 

For  the  City  and  County  of  Albany. — Abraham  Yates, 
Peter  Silvester,  Francis  Nicoll. 

For  Dutchess  County. — Zephaniah  Piatt,  Richard  Mont- 
gomerie,  Gilbert  Livingston,  Jonathan  Landon,  Melanc- 
ton  Smith,  Nathaniel  Sackett. 

For  Ulster  County. — Johannes  Hardenbergh,  James  Clin- 
ton, Egbert  Dumond. 

For  Orange  County. — David  Pye  Benjamin  Tusteen. 

For  Suffolk  County. — Nathaniel  Woodhull,  John  Sloss 
Hobart,  Thomas  Wickham. 

For  Westchester  County. — Lewis  Graham,  James  Van 
Cortlandt.  Joseph  Drake,  Philip  Van  Cortlandt,  Robert 
Graham,  William  Paulding. 

For  King's  County. — Henry  Williams,  Jeremiah  Remsen, 
Theodorus  Pclhemus,  John  Vanderbilt. 

For  Richmond  County. — Paul  Micheau,  John  Journey, 
Aaron  Cortelyou. 

For  Queen's  County. — Jacob  Blackwell,  Jonathan  Law- 
rence, Zebulon  Williams,  Joseph  Robinson,  Nathaniel 
Tom,  Richard  Thome. 

For  Tryon  County. — Christopher  P.  Yates,  John  Marlett. 

For  Cumberland  County. — Paul  Spooner,  Wm.  Williams. 

A  Letter  from  General  Schuyler  was  read,  and  is  in  the 
words  following,  to  wit : 

"  New-York,  July  3,  1775. 
"  Gentlemen  :  I  do  myself  the  honour  to  enclose  you 
an  estimate  of  such  stores,  &ic,  as  at  present  appears  to  me 
necessary  to  be  forwarded  to  Albany.  The  pitch,  oakum, 
and  nails,  I  wish  to  have  sent  with  all  possible  despatch. 
I  am  very  certain  that  a  variety  of  other  articles  will  be 
wanted,  which  1  shall  be  better  able  to  ascertain  after  my 
arrival  at  Albany,  for  which  place  I  propose  setting  out  to- 
morrow. I  am  informed  that  a  considerable  quantity  of 
lead  was  found  at  Ticonderoga ;  but  if  it  should  not  equal 
my  expectations,  I  may  be  exposed  to  insurmountable  diffi- 
culties. I  therefore  wish  that  at  least  half  of  the  quantity 
which  I  have  estimated  may  be  ordered  up  without  delay, 
together  with  fifty  casks  of  powder,  which  I  am  advised 
will  be  sent  you  from  Philadelphia. 

"  As  it  is  probable,  from  the  manoeuvres  of  Governour 
Carleton,  that  I  shall  speedily  want  a  re-enforcement  of 
Troops  at  Ticonderoga ;  and  not  being  at  liberty  to  remove 
the  Connecticut  Troops  from  hence,  I  entreat  that  you  will 
be  pleased  to  forward  whatever  men  ma}'  be  levied  in  this 
Colony  immediately  to  Albany,  without  waiting  until  the 
corps  are  completed. 

"  I  hope,  gentlemen,  on  every  occasion,  to  be  favoured 
with  your  advice ;  and,  indeed,  as  the  important  charge 
conferred  on  me  by  the  Continental  Congress,  was  done  in 
deference  to  your  polite  and  honourable  (yet  altogether 
unmerited)  recommendation  of  me,  I  shall,  with  the  fullest 
confidence,  look  up  to  you  for  your  aid  and  countenance, 
at  once  to  promote  the  publick  service,  and  to  prevent  me 
from  sinking  under  the  weighty  concerns  of  my  office  ;  and 
give  me  leave  to  assure  you,  that  though  1  have  the  clearest 
conviction  that  I  shall  never  be  able  to  equal  the  hi^h  opin- 
ion you  have  induced  the  Congress  to  entertain  of  me,  yet 
no  effort  shall  be  wanting  on  my  part  to  deserve  it  as  far 
as  possible,  that  I  may  not  draw  disgrace  on  you,  my 
country,  or  myself. 

"  I  am,  gentlemen,  with  sentiments  of  the  most  profound 
respect,  your  most  obedient  and  most  humble  servant. 

"  Ph.  Schtjylek. 
"  The  Gentlemen  of  the  New-York  Provincial  Congress." 

The  Estimate  of  Stores,  &ic,  mentioned  in  the  foregoing 
Letter  of  General  Schuyler,  was  read,  and  filed. 


For  the  Negatite. 
3  Albany, 
2  Suffolk. 


Mr.  Henry  Williams  then  moved,  seconded  by  Mr.  John 
VanCortlandt,  in  the  words  following,  to  wit :  "  I  move  that 
orders  be  immediately  issued  by  this  Congress  for  making 
uniform  Coats  for  all  the  men  to  be  raised  in  this  Colony." 

And  debates  arising  on  the  said  motion,  and  the  question 
being  put  thereon,  it  was  carried  in  the  affirmative,  in  the 
following  manner,  to  wit : 

For  the  Affirmative. 

2  Dutchess,  2  Cumberland, 

2  Richmond,  2  Ulster, 
2  Westchester,         2  King's. 

4  New- York,  —  5 

2  Queen's,  20  Orange  County  equally  di- 

2  Tryon,  vided — no  vote. 

Ordered,  therefore,  That  Mr.  Peter  T.  Curtenius  get 
uniform  Coats  made  for  all  the  non-commissioned  officers 
and  men  to  be  raised  in  this  Colony  ;  that  the  Coats  of 
each  Regiment  be  made  with  different  cuffs  and  facings. 

And  Ordered,  That  Mr.  Curtenius  be  at  liberty  to  pur- 
chase any  goods  for  the  use  of  this  Colony  of  Robert  and 
John  Murray,  which  were  directed  by  this  Congress  to  be 
kept  in  store  until  the  second  ship  shall  arrive  from  Great 
Britain  with  goods,  after  the  Non-Importation  Agreement 
is  dissolved,  if  Messrs.  Murray  will  consent  to  wait  for  their 
money  until  that  time. 

Ordered,  That  Messrs.  Low,  Clarkson,  and  Kissam,  be 
a  Committee  to  wait  on  General  Schuyler,  and  confer  with 
him  on  the  subject  of  his  Letter  received  and  read  this 
day,  and  the  List  of  Stores  therein  enclosed  ;  and  inform 
him  that  it  may  be  disadvantageous  to  remove  the  new 
levied  Troops  immediately. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Peter  T.  Curtenius  send  to  Phila- 
delphia for  proper  Parchments  for  Drum-heads  ;  and  when 
he  obtains  them,  that  he  get  good  Drums  made  for  the 
Regiments  now  raising  in  this  Colony,  in  such  manner  as 
the  Field-Officers  shall  direct. 

Ordered,  also,  That  Mr.  Peter  T.  Curtenius  (for  the 
present)  provide  Provisions  for  the  men  now  enlisted  and 
raising  in  this  City,  and  deliver  the  same  in  such  quantities 
as  may  be  necessary,  to  the  Quartermaster  of  the  First 
Regiment ;  and  that  he  deliver  out  such  Tents  as  he  has 
or  may  have  ready,  to  Colonel  McDougall,  or  his  order, 
for  the  use  of  his  men. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  McDougall  have  leave  to  nomi- 
nate such  persons  to  fill  up  the  vacancies  in  his  Regiment, 
below  the  rank  of  Captain,  as  he  may  think  proper ;  and 
that  he  report  to  this  Congress  such  persons  as  he  shall 
nominate. 

A  Receipt  from  Philip  Lansing  to  Egbert  Dumond, 
Esq.,  for  two  hundred  barrels  of  Flour,  to  be  by  him  con- 
veyed to  Albany,  for  the  use  of  the  Troops  at  Ticonde- 
roga, was  read,  and  filed. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  wait  on  General  Schuyler, 
returned,  and  reported  in  substance,  that  General  Schuyler 
having  conceived  that  it  might  be  disadvantageous  to  re- 
move the  new  levied  men  immediately,  had  wrote  to  the 
Congress  on  that  subject,  and  received  positive  orders  not 
to  remove  from  hence  the  Connecticut  Troops  under  the 
command  of  General  Woostcr ;  but  that  he  will  leave  the 
new  levied  men  here  for  the  present ;  that  with  respect 
to  the  List  of  Stores  delivered  in  by  General  Schuyler, 
he  had  made  a  list  of  all  the  stores  of  the  several  kinds 
therein  mentioned,  that  he  conceived  necessary  for  the 
present,  and  that  such  quantities  of  the  several  articles 
therein  mentioned  as  are  already  sent,  are  to  be  considered 
as  part  of  the  stores  mentioned  in  the  said  List. 

The  Congress  resumed  the  consideration  of  the  Resolves 
of  the  Continental  Congress,  bearing  date  the  23d  ult.  ; 
and  after  some  time  spent  therein,  the  Congress  was  informed 
that  Ethan  Allen  was  at  the  door,  and  desired  admittance. 

Mr.  Sears  then  moved,  seconded  by  Mr.  Melancton 
Smith,  in  the  following  words  :  "  I  move  that  Ethan  Allen 
be  permitted  to  have  an  audience  at  this  Board." 

And  debates  arising  thereon,  and  the  question  being  put, 
it  was  carried  in  the  affirmative,  in  manner  following  : 

For  the  Affirmative.  For  the  Negative. 

2  Suffolk,  2  Dutchess,  3  Albany, 

2  Queen's,  2  Tryon,  2  Richmond, 

2  King's,  2  Cumberland.  4  New.York. 

2  Ulster,  —  — 

2  Orange,  18  9 
2  Westchester, 


1339 


NEW-YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JULY,  1775. 


1340 


Ordered,  therefore,  That  Ethan  Allen  be  admitted. 
He  delivered  a  List  of  Officers,  which  is  filed. 

Seth  Warner  was  also  admitted  at  the  same  time. 

Ethan  Allen  and  Seth  Warner  having  been  heard,  they 
withdrew. 

Ordered,  That  in  consequence  of  a  recommendation 
from  the  Continental  Congress,  a  body  of  Troops,  not  ex- 
ceeding five  hundred  men,  officers  included,  be  forthwith 
raised,  of  those  called  Green-Mountain  Boys ;  that  they 
elect  all  their  own  Officers,  except  Field-Officers ;  that 
Major  General  Schuyler  be  requested  to  forward  this  Order 
to  them,  and  receive  from  them  a  list  of  such  Officers  as 
they  shall  elect,  to  be  communicated  to  this  Congress  ;  and 
that  General  Schuyler  be  further  requested,  without  delay, 
to  procure  the  sense  of  those  Troops  concerning  the  per- 
sons who  will  be  most  agreeable  to  them  for  Field-Officers, 
and  to  make  other  inquiry;  and  upon  the  whole  advise  this 
Congress  what  persons  will  be  most  proper  to  be  appointed 
as  Field-Officers  to  command  those  Troops ;  that  the  said 
Troops,  when  raised,  be  considered  as  an  independent  body, 
their  Field-Officers  taking  rank  after  the  Field-Officers  of 
the  other  Troops  to  be  raised  by  this  Colony  for  the  Con- 
tinental service;  that  their  corps  of  Officers  consist  of  one 
Lieutenant-Colonel,  one  Major,  seven  Captains,  and  four- 
teen Lieutenants ;  and  that  the  General  be  furnished  with 
blank  Warrants,  to  be  filled  up  by  him  agreeable  to  such 
election,  as  above  mentioned. 

The  County  of  Albany,  and  Mr.  John  De  Lancey,  dis- 
sented to  the  above  Order  and  Resolve. 

Ordered,  That  a  certified  copy  of  the  above  be  given 
to  General  Schuyler  by  the  Secretaries. 

The  Congress  then  adjourned  to  five  o'clock,  P.  M. 

Die  Martis,  5  ho.  P.  M.,  July  4,  1775. 
The  Congress  met  pursuant  to  adjournment.  Present : 
Leonard  Lispenard,  Esq.,  President  pro  tempore. 

A  Letter  from  General  Schuyler  was  received  and  read, 
and  is  in  the  words  following : 

"  New- York,  July  4,  1775. 
"  Gentlemen  :  As  I  am  ordered  by  the  Continental  Con- 
gress to  liquidate  the  accounts  of  the  people  employed  at 
the  reduction  of  Ticonderoga,  that  they  may  be  paid  ;  and 
as  Messrs.  Allen  and  Warner  were  concerned,  there  will 
be  money  due  to  them  ;  and  as  they  are  in  want  of  some, 
I  could  wish  you  to  advance  them  thirty  Pounds,  and  to 
make  it  a  Continental  charge,  for  which  shall  debit  them 
in  their  account  with  the  publick. 

"  I  am,  gentlemen,  your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

"  Ph.  Schuyler. 
"  To  the  Gentlemen  of  the  New-York  Provincial  Con- 
gress." 

Thereupon,  an  Order  was  made  to  the  President,  in  the 
words  following,  to  wit :  Whereas,  General  Schuyler  has 
requested  that  this  Congress  would  advance  thirty  Pounds 
to  Ethan  Allen  and  Seth  Warner,  and  make  a  Continental 
charge  thereof,  for  which  he  will  debit  them  in  their  account 
with  the  publick, 

Ordered,  That  Peter  Van  Brugh  Livingston,  Esquire, 
be  requested  to  advance  thirty  Pounds  to  the  said  Ethan 
Allen  and  Seth  Warner,  and  take  their  receipt  for  the 
same. 

Ordered,  That  every  person  who  has  any  one  or  more 
of  the  Muskets,  Bayonets,  and  Accoutrements  belonging 
to  the  Corporation  of  the  City  of  Neiv-  York,  and  lately 
delivered  out  of  the  City-Hall  of  the  said  City,  bring  the 
same  to  the  house  of  Abraham  Van  Dyck,  in  the  Broad- 
way, and  deliver  them  to  Messrs.  Abraham  Walton  and 
Isaac  Sears,  or  their  order,  who  are  appointed  a  Commit- 
tee to  receive  the  same;  and  that  each  person  deliver  to 
those  gentlemen,  at  the  same  time,  an  account  of  the  ex- 
pense they  have  been  at  for  Iron  Ramrods  for  the  said 
Muskets,  that  this  Congress  may  make  provision  for  the 
payment  thereof;  and 

Ordered,  That  this  Order  be  published  in  handbills, 
and  distributed  about  this  City. 

The  Congress  adjourned  till  to-morrow  morning,  nine 
o'clock. 


Die  Mcrcurii,  9  ho.  A.  M.,  July  5,  1775. 
The  Congress  met  pursuant  to  adjournment.  Opened 
with  prayers  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Gano.  Present : 
For  the  City  and  County  of  New-  York. — Peter  Van  Brugh 
Livingston,  Esq.,  President ;  Isaac  Low,  Alexander  Mc- 
Dougall,  Leonard  Lispenard,  Joseph  Hallett,  Abraham 
Walton,  Abraham  Brasher,  Isaac  Roosevelt,  John  De 
Lancey,  James  Beekman,  Samuel  Verplanck,  Richard 
Yates,  David  Clarkson,  Benjamin  Kissam,  John  Morin 
Scott,  John  Van  Cortlandt,  John  Marston,  and  Isaac 
Sears. 

For  the  City  and  County  of  Albany. — Peter  Silvester  and 
Francis  Nicoll. 

For  Dutchess  County. — Zephaniah  Piatt,  Richard  Mont- 
gomerie,  Gilbert  Livingston,  Jonathan  Landon,  Melanc- 
ton  Smith,  and  Nathaniel  Sackett. 

For  Ulster  County. — Johannes  Hardenbergh,  James  Clin- 
ton, and  Egbert  Dumond. 

For  Orange  County. — Michael  Jackson  and  Benjamin 
Tusteen. 

For  Suffolk  County. — Nathaniel  Woodhull,  John  Sloss 
Hobart,  and  Thomas  Wickham. 

For  Westchester  County. — Lewis  Graham,  James  Van 
Cortlandt,  Joseph  Drake,  Philip  Van  Cortlandt,  Robert 
Graham,  and  William  Paulding. 

For  King's  County. — Johannes  E.  Lott,  Henry  Williams, 
Jeremiah  Remsen,  and  John  Vanderbilt. 

For  Richmond  County. — Paul  Micheau,  John  Journey, 
and  Richard  Conner. 

For  Queen's  County. — Jacob  Blackwell,  Jonathan  Law- 
rence, Zebulon  Williams,  Joseph  French,  Joseph  Robin- 
son, Nathaniel  Tom,  and  Richard  Thome. 

For  Tryon  County. — Christopher  P.  Yates  and  John 
Marlett. 

For  Cumberland  County. — Paul  Spooner  and  William 
Williams. 

Joseph  French,  Esq.,  one  of  the  members  of  Queen's 
County,  who  hitherto  has  neglected  to  attend  this  Con- 
gress, appeared  and  took  his  seat ;  and  was  charged  by  the 
President  from  the  chair,  that  sundry  matters  in  this  Con- 
gress are  to  be  kept  secret,  particularly  all  such  as  relates 
to  Ticonderoga  and  the  Northern  Posts. 

Colonel  McDougall  informed  the  Congress  that  a  num- 
ber of  men  enlisted  in  this  City,  as  part  of  the  Troops  to 
be  raised  in  this  Colony,  are  ready  to  be  encamped,  but 
that  tents  and  other  necessaries  for  the  Officers,  and  many 
articles  for  the  Soldiers,  are  yet  wanting;  that  part  of  the 
upper  Barracks  are  ready  for  use,  and  that  a  Muster-Master 
is  wanting  to  muster  the  men  now  enlisted. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Abraham  Brasher  and  Dr.  Lynn 
proceed  immediately  to  muster  the  men  who  are  enlisted ; 
and  that  such  men  as  pass  muster,  and  such  others  as  shall 
be  enlisted,  be  lodged  in  the  Barracks  in  this  City,  until 
their  tents  and  other  necessaries  are  ready,  or  until  the 
further  order  of  this  Congress. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Curtenius  wait  on  Doctor  John 
Jones  and  Doctor  Treat,  and  request  them  to  make  and 
deliver  to  him  a  list  of  such  Medicines  and  Instruments  as 
will  furnish  a  complete  Medicine-Chest  for  a  Regiment  of 
seven  hundred  and  fifty  men,  officers  included ;  and  that 
Mr.  Curtenius,  when  he  has  received  such  list,  provide  a 
Medicine-Chest  agreeable  thereto. 

Mr.  Curtenius  attending  at  the  door,  was  called  in,  and 
produced  to  the  Congress  an  order  of  General  Schuyler 
to  supply  sundry  utensils  (which  are  mentioned  in  a  list 
attending  the  said  order)  for  an  Armourer  of  the  Con- 
necticut Troops. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Curtenius  supply  the  sundry  articles 
mentioned  in  the  said  list  and  order,  to  the  said  Armourer; 
and  that  he  keep  a  separate  account  of  the  amount  of  those 
articles,  and  charge  them  as  supplied  to  the  Troops  of  the 
Colony  of  Connecticut,  that  it  may  be  placed  to  the  ac- 
count of  that  Colony  in  a  settlement  of  the  Continental 
expenses. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Curtenius  be  supplied  with  a  copy 
of  the  List  or  Inventory  of  Stores  sent  to  this  Congress  on 
the  4th  instant ;  and  that  he  be  requested  to  compare  that 
Inventory  with  the  Inventories  of  the  Provisions  and  Stores 
ahead)'  forwarded  to  Albany ;  and  that  he  purchase  on  the 


1341 


NEW- YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JULY,  1775. 


1342 


publick  credit,  and  forward  to  Albany,  such  quantities  of 
the  respective  articles,  matters  and  things,  mentioned  in  the 
said  List  or  Inventory,  as  are  not  already  purchased  and 
forwarded  to  Albany. 

This  Congress  being  informed  that  the  Corporation  of 
the  City  of  New-  York  intends  to  address  his  Excellency 
Govemour  Tryon, 

Resolved,  Though  this  Congress  entertains  the  highest 
respect  for  his  Excellency,  yet  it  will  be  altogether  im- 
proper for  the  said  Corporation,  or  any  other  body  corpo- 
rate, or  individuals,  in  this  Colony,  to  address  his  Excel- 
lency at  this  most  critical  juncture. 

Resolved,  also,  That  one  of  the  Secretaries  of  this  Con- 
gress do  forthwith  serve  his  Worship  the  Mayor  with  a 
copy  hereof. 

Mr.  De  Lancey  dissented  to  the  foregoing  Resolutions. 

A  Certificate  from  Daniel  Tillinghast,  Chairman  of  the 
Committee  of  Safety  at  Providence,  Rhode-Island,  bearing 
date  the  27th  of  June  last,  certifying  that  Asher  Coolc  had 
that  day  imported  there  in  the  Sloop  Liberty,  Henry  Pal- 
mer, Master,  one  hundred  and  sixty-eight  barrels  of  Flour 
and  forty-four  casks  of  Bread,  and  disposed  of  them  to  the 
Committee  of  Safety;  was  read,  and  hied. 

William  Tapp  was  mentioned  to  this  Congress  as  a 
proper  person  for  Quartermaster  of  the  First  Regiment  of 
the  Troops  now  raising  in  this  Colony  ;  and  the  Congress 
being  informed  that  Lieutenant-Colonel  Ritzma  recom- 
mends him  as  a  proper  person  for  that  ounce, 

Agreed,  That  he  is  approved  of,  and  that  he  be  ap- 
pointed to  the  said  office. 

John  Van  Cortlandt,  Esq.,  informed  the  Congress  that 
the  Artillery  Company  of  the  Marine  Society,  agreeable 
to  the  recommendation  of  this  Congress,  had  nominated 
their  Officers  to  serve  under  Captain  Anthony  Rutger,  to 
wit  :  Christopher  Miller,  for  their  Captain- Lieutenant ; 
Patrick  Dennis,  First  Lieutenant ;  Anthony  Griffiths, 
Second  Lieutenant ;  and  William  Ritchie,  Third  Lieuten- 
ant ;  and  request  the  approbation  of  this  Congress  in  the 
said  nominations. 

The  Congress  are  of  opinion  that  those  gentlemen  will 
be  proper  Officers,  and  do  approve  of  and  confirm  the 
choice  of  the  said  Company  in  their  Officers. 

The  Report  of  the  Committee  for  Indian  Affairs,  which 
was  brought  in  last  Saturday,  was  read ;  and  the  draught 
of  a  Speech  proposed  to  be  made  to  the  Indians,  was  also 
read,  and  in  sundry  places  amended:  And  thereupon, 

Ordered,  That  the  said  Report  of  a  Speech  to  be  made 
to  the  Indians,  be  recommitted  to  such  Members  of  the 
said  Committee  as  are  now  present,  together  with  Mr.  Scott 
and  Mr.  Hobart,  who  are  added  to  the  said  Committee  for 
that  purpose  ;  and  that  they  proceed  to  take  the  same  into 
consideration  immediately. 

Resolved,  That  no  Vessel  now  in  port,  nor  any  that  may 
hereafter  arrive,  belonging  to  any  port  in  Great  Britain  or 
Ireland,  or  the  Isles  of  Guernsey  or  Jersey,  which  sends  ves- 
sels to  the  Newfoundland  Fishery,  be  permitted  to  load  any 
Bread  or  Flour,  Beef  or  Pork,  unless  the  property  of  those 
articles  be  in  some  merchant  or  inhabitant  of  this  Colony, 
and  not  intended  for  Newfoundland,  until  it  shall  be  other- 
wise ordered  by  this  or  the  Continental  Congress. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  of  this  Resolution  be  published 
in  the  Newspapers;  and  that  the  Resolution  of  the  Com- 
mittee of  the  City  of  New-York  be  republished  at  the  same 
time,  immediately  preceding  this  Resolution. 

The  Congress  adjourned  till  to-morrow  morning,  nine 
o'clock. 

Die  Jovis,  9  ho.  A.  M.,  July  6,  1775. 

The  Congress  met  pursuant  to  adjournment.  Opened 
with  prayers  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Mason.  Present: 
For  the  City  and  County  of  Neio-York. — Peter  Van 
Brugh  Livingston,  Esq.,  President;  Isaac  Low,  Alex- 
ander MeDougall,  Leonard  Lispenard,  Joseph  Hallett, 
Abraham  Walton,  John  De  Lancey,  James  Beekman, 
Samuel  Verplanck,  Richard  Yates,  David  Clarkson, 
Benjamin  Kissam,  John  Van  Cortlandt,  Jacobus  Van 
Zandt,  and  Isaac  Sears. 
For  the  City  and  County  of  Albany. — Peter  Silvester  and 
Francis  Nicoll. 


For  Dutchess  County. — Zephaniah  Piatt,  Richard  Mont- 
gomerie,  Gilbert  Livingston,  Jonathan  Landon,  Melanc- 
ton  Smith,  and  Nathaniel  Sackett. 

For  Ulster  County. — Johannes  Hardenbergh,  James  Clin- 
ton, and  Egbert  Dumond. 

For  Orange  County. — Michael  Jackson  and  Benjamin 
Tusteen. 

For  Suffolk  County. — Nathaniel  Woodhull,  John  Sloss 
Hobart,  Thomas  Tredwell,  and  Thomas  Wickham. 

For  Westchester  County. — Gouverneur  Morris,  Lewis  Gra- 
ham, Joseph  Drake,  Philip  Van  Cortlandt,  Robert 
Graham,  and  William  Paulding. 

For  King's  County. — Henry  Williams,  Jeremiah  Remsen. 

For  Richmond  County. — Paul  Micheau,  John  Journey, 
and  Richard  Conner. 

For  Queen's  County. — Jacob  Blackwell,  Jonathan  Law- 
rence, Zebulon  Williams,  Joseph  French,  Joseph  Robin- 
son, Nathaniel  Tom,  and  Richard  Thorne. 

For  Tryon  County. — John  Marlett. 

For  Cumberland  County. — Paul  Spooner  and  William 
Williams. 

Application  having  been  made  to  the  President,  and  also 
to  the  Deputy  Chairman  of  the  General  Committee  of 
New-York,  for  the  payment  of  a  Messenger  who  was  sent 
to  Albany  by  General  Schuyler,  and  is  returned,  it  is  agreed 
that  nine  Pounds  be  a  stated  allowance  to  a  Messenger  for 
going  to  Albany ;  and  that  the  President  pay  the  said  Mes- 
senger who  has  been  to  Albany  nine  Pounds. 

Resolved,  That  the  Reverend  John  Peter  Tetard  be 
employed  as  French  Interpreter  to  General  Schuyler,  and 
as  Chaplain  for  the  Troops  of  this  Colony  ;  and  that  his 
pay  as  Interpreter  and  Chaplain  be  equal  to  a  Major's 

Messrs.  Melancton  Smith,  Gilbert  Livingston,  and 
Henry  liilliams,  dissent  from  the  appointment  of  Mr. 
Tetard  as  Chaplain. 

Mr.  MeDougall  moved  (seconded  by  Mr.  Sears)  that 
a  Committee  be  appointed  to  convene  all  the  Blacksmiths 
in  Town,  and  inquire  of  them  whether  they  can  make  Gun- 
barrels,  Bayonets,  and  Iron  Ramrods,  and  what  number 
any  of  them  can  make  in  a  given  time. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Van  Zandt,  Colonel  MeDougall, 
Colonel  Lispenard,  and  Mr.  Hallett,  be  a  Committee  for 
that  purpose,  and  that  they  report  with  all  convenient 
speed. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Van  Zandt  be  authorized,  and  he 
is  hereby  authorized  and  requested,  on  behalf  of  this  Con- 
gress to  contract  with  any  such  person  as  he  shall  think 
proper,  for  procuring  two  thousand  good  Gun-Locks,  such 
as  are  used  for  the  King's  Muskets,  to  be  procured  with  all 
possible  despatch,  not  to  exceed  the  price  of  sixteen  shil- 
lings each ;  and 

Resolved,  That  the  same  shall  be  paid  for  by  this  Con- 
gress. 

Mr.  MeDougall  moved  (was  seconded)  that  a  Com- 
mittee be  appointed  to  write  to  Great  Britain  for  four 
complete  sets  of  Lock-Smiths  to  make  Gun-Locks,  and  that 
the  same  Committee  agree  to  pay  the  passages  of  Smiths 
from  Britain  to  America. 

And  the  same  being  agreed  to, 

Ordered,  That  Col.  Lispenard,  Mr.  Hallett,  Mr.  Van 
Zandt,  and  Colonel  MeDougall,  be  a  Committee  for  that 
purpose,  and  that  they  are  hereby  authorized  and  requested 
to  write  for  four  sets  of  good  Lock-Smiths,  to  make  Gun- 
Locks,  and  to  engage  to  pay  the  expense  of  their  passages 
from  Britain  to  this  Colony. 

Resolved  and  Ordered,  That  the  Committee  of  Corres- 
pondence write  a  Letter  to  the  Continental  Congress  on  the 
subject  of  Saltpetre,  and  informing  them  of  the  proposals 
of  Messrs.  Kip  and  Van  Vleeck,  that  the  Continental  Con- 
gress may  give  such  encouragement  and  directions  in  the 
premises  as  they  in  their  wisdom  shall  think  proper. 

Resolved,  That  Ten  Shillings  shall  be  allowed  to  every 
Soldier  that  shall  enlist  in  the  Continental  Army  in  this 
Colony,  for  the  present  campaign,  who  shall  furnish  him- 
self with  a  good  Musket,  to  be  approved  of  by  the  Muster- 
Master  and  Armourer  for  each  Regiment. 

Mr.  Morris  moved,  and  was  seconded,  that  the  Congress 
reconsider  their  Resolve  of  yesterday  to  prevent  any  Ad- 


1313 


NEW- YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JULY,  1775. 


1344 


dress  being  delivered  to  his  Excellency  Goveinour  Tryon. 
Debates  arose  thereon,  and  the  question  being  put,  it  was 
carried  in  the  negative,  in  the  manner  following : 

For  the  Affirmative.  For  the  Negative. 

4  Now.York,  2  Suffolk, 

.'(  Albany,  2  Westchester, — Mr.  Morris 

2  Richmond,  2  Dutchess,  dissenting. 

2  Queen's, — Mr.  Robinson      2  Cumberland, 
—  dissenting.  2  Ulster, 

11  2  King's, 

2  Tryon, 
2  Orango. 

16 

Resolved,  therefore,  That  this  Congress  will  not  recon- 
sider their  Resolution  of  yesterday  to  prevent  any  Address 
being  delivered  to  his  Excellency  Goveinour  Tryon. 

A  Letter  from  Mr.  Scott  to  the  President,  informing  him 
of  the  distressed  state  of  his  family,  was  read,  and  praying 
that  some  person  be  put  in  his  stead  on  the  Committee  of 
Indian  Affairs. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Morris  be  added  to  that  Committee 
in  the  stead  of  Mr.  Scott. 

The  Congress  adjourned  to  four  o'clock,  P.  M. 

Die  Jovis,  4to  ho.  P.  M.,  July  6,  1775. 
The  Congress  met  pursuant  to  adjournment.  Present : 

For  the  City  and  County  of  Neiv-  Yorlc. — Peter  Van  Brugh 
Livingston,  Esquire,  President;  Alexander  McDougall, 
Abraham  Walton,  James  Beekman,  Richard  Yates, 
David  Clarkson,  Benjamin  Kissam,  Jacobus  Van  Zaudt, 
and  Isaac  Sears. 

For  the  City  and  County  of  Albany. — Peter  Silvester  and 
Francis  Nicoll. 

For  Dutchess  County. — Zephaniah  Piatt,  Gilbert  Living- 
ston, Jonathan  Landon,  Melancton  Smith,  and  Nathaniel 
Sackett. 

For  Ulster  County. — Johannes  Hardenbergh,  James  Clin- 
ton, and  Egbert  Dumond. 

For  Orange  County. — Michael  Jackson  and  Benjamin 
Tusteen. 

For  Suffolk  County. — Nathaniel  Woodhull,  John  Sloss  Ho- 
bart,  Thomas  Tredwell,  and  Thomas  Wickham. 

For  Westchester  Coxmty. — Gouverneur  Morris,  Stephen 
Ward,  Joseph  Drake,  Robert  Graham,  and  William 
Paulding. 

For  King's  County. — Henry  Williams  and  Jeremiah  Rem- 
sen. 

For  Richmond  County. — Paul  Micheau,  John  Journey, 
and  Aaron  Cortelyou. 

For  Queen's  County. — Jacob  Blackwell,  Jonathan  Law- 
rence, Zebulon  Williams,  Joseph  French,  Joseph  Robin- 
son, Nathaniel  Tom,  and  Richard  Thome. 

For  Cumberland  County. — Paul  Spooner,  Wm.  Williams. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Gerard  Rancher,  the  Barrack-Mas- 
ter, deliver  to  Colonel  McDougall  all  such  Beds,  Blankets, 
and  other  utensils  for  Soldiers,  now  in  the  custody  of  the 
said  Barrack-Master,  and  belonging  to  this  Colony,  as  Col. 
McDougall  shall  call  for,  for  the  use  of  the  Troops  now 
raising  in  this  Colony. 

A  Letter  from  John  Alsop,  Esq.,  at  Philadetyhia,  in 
answer  to  the  Letter  from  this  Congress  on  the  subject  of 
Blankets,  was  read  and  filed. 

A  Letter  from  Isaac  Thompson,  of  Islip,  covering  a  copy 
of  the  General  Association,  signed  by  the  greatest  part  of 
the  inhabitants  of  that  District,  was  read  and  filed. 

The  said  General  Association,  signed  as  aforesaid,  and 
also  a  list  of  the  names  of  such  persons  as  have  refused  to 
sign  the  same  subjoined  thereto,  was  read  and  filed. 

A  Letter  from  Charles  Thomson,  Esquire,  on  behalf  of 
the  Committee  of  the  City  of  Philadelphia,  was  read  and 
filed,  and  is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 

"Philadelphia,  July  4,  1775. 

"  Gentlemen  :  The  enclosed  was  yesterday  intercepted 
by  the  Committee  of  this  City,  and  laid  before  the  Con- 
gress, who  have  recommended  that  it  be  forwarded  to  you. 
"  I  am,  Gentlemen,  you  most  humble  servant, 

"  Charles  Thomson, 
"  In  behalf  of  the  Committee  of  Philadelphia. 
<:  Provincial  Convention  or  Congress  of  New-  York." 


A  Letter  from  Governour  Martin  (enclosed  in  the  fore- 
going Letter  from  Charles  ^Thomson)  to  Henry  White,  Esq., 
was  read,  and  is  in  the  words  following: 

"Capo  Fear,  North-Carolina,  June  13,  1775. 

"Dear  Sir:  I  take  the  liberty  to  enclose  herewith  a 
letter  to  Mrs.  Martin,  whose  safe  arrival  I  am  most  anxious 
to  learn,  the  winds  having  been  easterly  almost  ever  since 
her  departure. 

"  1  shall  be  extremely  obliged  to  you  if  you  can  contrive 
to  send  me,  with  the  royal  standard  1  mentioned  to  you  some 
time  ago,  or  without  it  if  that  is  not  to  be  had,  a  good  tent 
and  markee,  of  the  size  of  the  Colonels'  tents  in  the  Army, 
with  a  tent-bed  to  fit  the  boot  of  it,  and  furniture,  viz  :  mat- 
rass, bolster,  and  pillows,  to  be  sent  by  any  vessel  bound 
to  Cape  Fear  River,  or  in  default  thereof  to  Newbern, 
directed  to  the  care  of  Mr.  Cornell.  I  should  rejoice  to 
see  a  prospect  of  a  happy  termination  of  the  present  deplo- 
rable times,  that  more  or  less  threaten  the  happiness  of 
every  man  throughout  the  Rritish  Dominions.  My  com- 
pliments and  warmest  wishes  attend  you  and  Mrs.  White, 
and  all  your  family.    I  am,  dear  Sir,  ever  yours, 

"  Jo.  Martin. 

"  The  Honourable  Henry  White,  Esq." 

"  I  forbear  to  give  you  your  due  additions  on  the  outside 
of  my  letter,  to  obviate  prying  curiosity." 

The  Congress  then  adjourned  to  nine  o'clock  to-morrow 
morning. 

Die  Veneris,  9  ho.  A.  M.,  July  7,  1775. 
The  Congress  met  pursuant  to  adjournment.  Opened 

with  prayers  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Ingles.  Present : 

For  the  City  and  County  of  New-York. — Peter  Van 
Brugh  Livingston,  Esq.,  President;  Isaac  Low,  Alex- 
ander McDougall,  Leonard  Lispenard,  Joseph  Hallett, 
Abraham  Walton,  Abraham  Brasher,  Isaac  Roosevelt, 
John  De  Lancey,  James  Beekman,  Samuel  Verplanck, 
Richard  Yates,  David  Clarkson,  Benjamin  Kissam,  Jaco- 
bus Van  Zandt,  and  Isaac  Sears. 

For  the  City  and  County  of  Albany. — Peter  Silvester  and 
Francis  Nicoll. 

For  Dutchess  County. — Zephaniah  Piatt,  Richard  Mont- 
gomerie,  Gilbert  Livingston,  Jonathan  Landon,  Melanc- 
ton Smith,  and  Nathaniel  Sackett. 

For  Ulster  County. — Johannes  Hardenbergh,  James  Clin- 
ton, and  Egbert  Dumond. 

For  Orange  County. — Michael  Jackson. 

For  Suffolk  County. — Nathaniel  Woodhull,  John  Sloss 
Hobart,  Thomas  Tredwell,  Ezra  L'Hommedieu,  and 
Thomas  Wickham. 

For  Westchester  County.  —  Gouverneur  Morris,  Joseph 
Drake,  Lewis  Graham,  Philip  Van  Cortlandt,  Robert 
Graham,  and  William  Paulding. 

For  King's  County. — Henry  Williams  and  John  Vander- 
bilt. 

For  Richmond  County. — Paul  Micheau,  John  Journey, 
and  Richard  Conner. 

For  Ojueen's  County. — Jacob  Blackwell,  Jonathan  Law- 
rence, Zebulon  Williams,  Joseph  French,  Joseph  Robin- 
son, Nathaniel  Tom,  and  Richard  Thome. 

For  Tryon  County. — John  Marlett. 

For  Cumberland  County. — Paul  Spooner  and  William 
Williams. 

The  Letter  from  Charles  Thomson,  and  the  Letter  from 
Governour  Martin  to  Henry  White,  Esquire,  therein  men- 
tioned, were  a^ain  read,  and  thereupon 

Ordered,  That  Messrs.  Sears,  Morris,  and  Low,  be  a 
Committee  to  wait  on  Mr.  White,  and  receive  from  him 
such  intelligence  as  they  can  obtain,  and  report  to  this  Con- 
gress with  all  convenient  speed. 

Mr.  Pye  returned  from  Dobbs's  Ferry,  and  reported  to 
the  Congress  that  he  had  proceeded  to  the  said  Ferry,  and 
waited  there  until  last  evening;  that  no  Powder  is  arrived  ; 
that  the  Sloop  which  was  to  have  taken  in  the  said  Pow- 
der was  gone  to  Albany,  and  that  he  has  left  the  order  of 
this  Congress  with  Mr  and  ordered  the  Pow- 
der, when  it  arrives,  to  be  left  at  Jonathan  Laic  rente's. 

The  Congress  being  informed  that  a  quantity  of  Powder 
lately  passed  through  Hackinsack  in  wagons, 


1345 


NEW-YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JULY,  1775. 


1346 


Ordered,  That  Mr.  Pye  be  requested  to  inquire  of  some 
gentlemen  of  the  Committee  of  Elizabethtown,  now  in  New- 
York,  whether  they  can  give  any  information  of  the  said 
Powder ;  and  also,  that  Mr.  Pye,  if  he  find  it  requisite, 
go  to  Bull's  Ferry,  to  receive  and  forward  the  said  Powder 
to  Albany,  if  it  should  be  there. 

A  Letter  from  General  Wooster  was  read  and  filed,  and 
is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit: 

"  Camp  near  New.York,  July  7,  1775. 
"  Sir:  We  have  among  the  Connecticut  Troops  a  number 
of  apprentices  and  indented  servants,  who  ran  away  from 
their  masters  in  this  City,  and  have  enlisted  themselves  and 
received  their  pay  in  Connecticut.  Since  our  arrival  at  this 
place  many  of  them  have  been  detained  in  Town  by  their 
masters.  As  the  Governour  of  Connecticut  has  subjected 
me,  and  the  Troops  under  my  command,  to  the  direction 
of  the  Continental  and  this  Provincial  Congress,  I  desire 
you  to  take  the  opinion  of  your  Congress,  and  advise  me 
what  plan  of  conduct  I  shall  pursue  with  regard  to  such 
persons,  and  you  will  oblige,  Sir,  your  humble  servant, 

"  David  Wooster. 
"  To  Peter  Van  Brugh  Livingston,  Esq.,  President  of  the 

Provincial  Congress." 

The  Congress  took  the  same  into  consideration,  and  re- 
solved to  advise  General  Wooster  that  the  Masters  of  such 
Servants  or  Apprentices,  belonging  to  this  Colony,  as  are 
enlisted  in  his  Troops,  be  restored  to  their  Masters;  pro- 
vided the  Masters  pay  to  him  the  disbursements,  deducting 
theiefrom  the  pay,  if  any  be  due. 

A  draught  of  a  Letter  to  General  Wooster,  signifying  the 
sense  of  this  Congress  on  the  subject  of  Apprentices  and 
Servants,  was  read  and  approved. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  wait  on  Mr.  White  re- 
turned, and  reported  that  Henry  White,  Esquire,  informed 
them  that  he  had  received  the  former  letter  from  Govern- 
our Martin,  mentioned  in  the  letter  of  Governour  Martin 
now  before  this  Congress  ;  that  he  never  sent  the  standard 
tberein  mentioned,  and  did  not  intend  to  send  it ;  that  he 
has  at  present  mislaid  Governour  Martin's  first  letter ;  that 
he  will  send  the  letter  when  he  can  find  it  to  this  Con- 
gress ;  that  he  is  not  privy  to  Governour  Martin's  inten- 
tions as  to  the  matters  suspected  from  his  letter;  and  that 
he  will  send  in  writing  to  this  Congress  an  account  of  the 
correspondence  and  transactions  between  him  and  Govern- 
our Martin,  and  attest  it  upon  oath  if  desired. 

A  Sub-Committee  from  the  Committee  of  the  City  and 
County  of  New-  York  being  at  the  door,  were  admitted,  and 
delivered  to  the  President  a  Letter  (which  was  read)  from 
the  Committee  of  Elizabethtown,  setting  forth  that  Wil- 
liam McLeod,  an  Ensign  in  the  Fifty-Second  Regiment  of 
Foot,  now  at  Boston,  who  had  resided  at  or  near  Eliza- 
bethtoivn  for  some  time  past,  was  about  embarking  for  Bos- 
ton in  order  to  join  his  Regiment ;  that  the  said  Committee 
of  Elizabethtown  had  stopped  his  baggage,  and  that  he 
was  now  in  the  City  of  New-York  waiting  for  a  passage  to 
Boston. 

The  Congress  took  the  same  into  consideration,  and  there- 
upon 

Ordered,  That  the  Committee  of  the  City  and  County 
of  New-  York  do  take  the  body  of  William  McLeod,  En- 
sign in  the  Fifty-Second  Regiment  of  Foot  at  Boston,  and 
send  him  in  safe  custody  to  the  Committee  of  the  Town  of 
Elizabethtown.  And  it  is  recommended  to  the  Committee 
of  2s ew- York  not  to  use  unnecessary  violence,  but  to  treat 
him  with  all  possible  lenity  as  a  gentleman  and  soldier. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Morris,  Mr.  Brasher,  Mr.  McDou- 
gall,  and  Major  Williams,  be  a  Committee  to  form  a  proper 
method  for  an  arrangement  of  the  Militia  of  this  Colony, 
and  proper  instruction  for  the  Militia  of  this  Colony,  and 
that  they  report  with  all  convenient  speed. 

Major  Williams  and  Doctor  Spooner,  agreeable  to  a  no- 
tice for  that  purpose  given  yesterday,  proceeded  to  inform 
the  Congress  of  the  state  of  Cumberland  County,  which 
ihey  represent ;  and  after  some  time  spent  therein, 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Morris,  Mr.  Low,  and  Mr.  Silvester, 
be  a  Committee  to  receive  information  of  the  Members  of 
that  County,  and  of  any  other  persons,  of  the  state  of  that 
County,  and  report  thereon  to  this  Congress. 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii.  i 


Whereas  this  Congress,  on  the  fourth  day  of  July  instant, 
published  a  Resolution,  ordering  that  the  Arms  belonging 
to  the  Corporation  of  this  City  be  returned  to  Messrs.  Abra- 
ham Walton  and  Isaac  Sears,  who  were  appointed  a  Com- 
mittee to  receive  them;  and  whereas  few  of  those  Arms 
have  as  yet  been  returned,  and  it  is  essentially  necessary 
for  the  publick  service  that  a  compliance  with  that  order 
be  no  longer  delayed  : 

Resolved,  That  every  person  to  whom  such  Arms  were 
originally  delivered,  or  who  is  now  possessed  of  any  of  them, 
and  does  not  on  or  before  Friday,  the  fourteenth  instant, 
deliver  the  same  to  the  Committee  aforesaid,  or  their  order, 
at  the  Upper  Barracks,  shall  be  deemed  and  treated  as  an 
enemy  to  his  Country. 

The  Congress  adjourned  till  to-morrow  morning,  nine 
o'clock. 

Die  Saturnii,  9  ho.  A.  M.,  July  8,  1775. 
The  Congress  met  pursuant  to  adjournment.  Opened 
with  prayer  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Laidley.  Present : 

For  the  City  and  County  of  New-  York. — Peter  Van  Brugh 
Livingston,  Esquire,  President;  Isaac  Low,  Alexander 
McDougall,  Leonard  Lispenard,  Joseph  Hallett,  Abra- 
ham Walton,  Abraham  Brasher,  Isaac  Roosevelt,  John 
De  Lancey,  Samuel  Verplanck,  Richard  Yates,  David 
Clarkson,  Benjamin  Kissam,  Jacobus  Van  Zandt,  and 
Isaac  Sears. 

For  the  City  and  County  of  Albany. — Peter  Silvester  and 
Francis  Nicoll. 

For  Dutchess  County. — Zephaniah  Piatt,  Gilbert  Living- 
ston, Jonathan  Landon,  Melancton  Smith,  and  Nathaniel 
Sackett. 

For  Ulster  County. — Johannes  Hardenbergh,  James  Clin- 
ton, and  Egbert  Dumond. 

For  Orange  County. — Michael  Jackson. 

For  Suffolk  County. — Nathaniel  Woodhull,  John  Sloss 
Hobart,  Thomas  Tredwell,  Ezra  L'Hommedieu,  and 
Thomas  Wickham. 

For  Westchester  County. — Gouverneur  Morris,  Lewis 
Graham,  Joseph  Drake,  Philip  Van  Cortlandt,  Robert 
Graham,  and  William  Paulding. 

For  King's  County. — Henry  Williams,  John  Vanderbilt, 
and  Theodorus  Polhemus. 

For  Richmond  County. — Paul  Micheau,  John  Journey, 
and  Richard  Conner. 

For  Queen's  County. — Zebulon  Williams,  Joseph  French, 
Nathaniel  Tom,  and  Richard  Thorne. 

For  Cumberland  County. — Paul  Spooner  and  Wm.  Wil- 
liams. 

A  Letter  from  Henry  White,  Esq.,  was  read,  and  is  in 
the  words  following,  to  wit: 

"  Saturday,  July  8,  1775. 
"  Sir:  Three  gentlemen  of  the  Provincial  Congress  called 
upon  me  with  an  intercepted  letter  from  Governour  Martin 
of  North- Carolina,  dated  the  thirteenth  June,  to  send  him 
a  royal  standard  from  hence.  They  desired  to  know  if  I  had 
complied  with  his  request,  and  whether  I  could  inform  them 
respecting  the  measures  he  was  now  pursuing.  In  answer 
to  which  1  have  to  observe,  that  he  some  time  ago  wrote  to 
me  to  send  him  such  a  standard,  which  I  declined  to  do, 
lest  it  might  be  disagreeable  to  the  people  of  this  place; 
and  I  wrote  him  to  that  purport,  which  letter  I  apprehend 
miscarried,  or  he  must  have  received  it  before  the  thirteenth 
of  last  month.  With  regard  to  the  steps  he  is  now  taking 
in  his  Government  1  am  utterly  unacquainted ;  he  has  not 
communicated  to  me  any  particulars.  Governour  Mar- 
tin is  a  gentleman  I  am  intimately  acquainted  with,  and 
have  transacted  business  for  him  ever  since  he  has  been  at 
North- Carolina,  which  accounts  for  his  applying  to  me  for 
the  above  standard.  I  imagine  it  will  be  believed  that  I 
did  not  solicit  the  commission.  I  am,  Sir,  your  most  hum- 
ble servant,  Henry  White. 
"  To  Peter  V.  B.  Livingston,  Esq." 

A  draught  of  a  Letter  to  Charles  Thomson,  Esquire, 
in  answer  to  his  Letter  read  yesterday,  was  read,  and 
approved  of,  and  is  as  follows,  to  wit : 

In  Provincial  Congress,  New-York,  July  8,  1775. 

Sir  :  The  Congress  received  yours  enclosing  Governour 
31artin's  letter  to  Mr.  Henry  White,  and  immediately 


1347 


MASSACHUSETTS  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY,  JUNE,  1775. 


1348 


appointed  a  Committee  to  confer  with  him  on  the  subject. 
From  the  answer  he  gives  to  the  Committee,  and  a  letter 
received  from  him,  (a  copy  of  which  is  enclosed,)  the 
Congress  are  fully  satisfied  that  Mr.  White's  conduct  in 
this  matter  has  been  unexceptionable,  and  such  as  becomes 
the  character  of  a  good  citizen. 

I  am,  Sir,  your  humble  servant. 
To  Charles  Thomson,  Esquire. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  thereof  be  engrossed,  signed  by 
the  President,  and,  together  with  a  copy  of  Mr.  White's 
Letter  of  this  day,  be  transmitted  by  the  first  opportunity. 

It  being  suggested  to  the  Congress  that  Priming  Wires 
and  Brushes  are  wanting  for  the  Connecticut  Troops, 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Ourtcnius  be  requested  to  assist  the 
Quartermaster  of  the  Connecticut  Troops  to  get  Priming 
Wires  and  Brushes  for  the  said  Troops,  the  said  Quarter- 
master paying  for  the  same. 

Ordered,  That  Peter  Van  Brugh  Livingston,  Esquire, 
President  of  this  Congress,  be  Treasurer  for  this  Congress 
of  all  Money  received  or  to  be  received  in  this  Colony  for 
the  general  defence  of  America  or  the  Continental  service, 
until  some  other  Treasurer  be  appointed  by  the  Continen- 
tal Congress. 

The  Continental  Congress  having  recommended  it  to 
the  inhabitants  of  the  Colonies  to  keep  the  twentieth  day 
of  July,  instant,  as  a  Day  of  Fasting  and  Prayer,  this 
Congress  does  strictly  enjoin  all  persons  in  this  Colony 
religiously  to  observe  the  said  recommendation.  And  we 
being  taught  by  that  holy  Religion  declared  by  the  mer- 
ciful Jesus,  and  sealed  by  his  blood,  that  we  ought  to 
acknowledge  the  hand  of  God  in  all  publick  calamities, 
and  being  thoroughly  convinced  that  the  Great  Disposer 
of  events  regardeth  the  hearts  of  his  creatures,  do  most 
earnestly  recommend  it  to  all  men  to  conform  themselves 
to  the  pure  dictates  of  Christianity,  and  by  deep  repent- 
ance and  the  sincere  amendment  of  their  lives,  to  implore 
of  our  Heavenly  Father  that  favour  and  protection  which 
he  alone  can  give. 

Resolved,  That  this  Congress  will  adjourn  until  next 
Tuesday  fortnight,  and  that  a  Committee  of  Safety  be 
appointed  during  the  recess  of  this  Congress  in  manner 
following,  to  wit:  That  New-York  appoint  three  Mem- 
bers to  give  two  Votes,  and  every  other  County  each  one 
to  give  one  Vote.  And  that  such  other  Members  of  the 
several  Counties  as  shall  attend,  may  join  in  the  vote  of 
their  respective  Counties,  or  give  such  vote  in  the  absence 
of  the  Member  or  Members  so  appointed.  And  Peter 
Van  Brugh  Livingston,  Esquire,  Colonel  Lispenard,  and 
Colonel  McDougall,  being  appointed  for  the  City  and 


County  of  Netv-  York ;  Mr.  Morris  for  the  City  and 
County  of  Albany ;  Jonathan  Landon  for  Dutchess  Coun- 
ty; Egbert  Dumond  for  Ulster  County;  David  Pye  for 
Orange  County;  Abraham  Brasher  for  Suffolk  County; 
Gouvcrneur  Morris  for  Westchester  County;  Henry  Wil- 
liams for  King's  County ;  Richard  Lawrence  for  Rich- 
mond County ;  Colonel  McDougall  for  Queen's  County ; 
Peter  Van  Brugh  Livingston  for  Tryon  County;  and 
John  Morin  Scott  for  Cumberland  County  : 

Resolved,  That  all  the  said  Votes,  or  a  major  part 
thereof,  shall  constitute  such  Committee.  And  that  the 
said  Committee,  when  met,  shall  be  empowered  to  open 
all  Letters  directed  to  the  said  Congress,  and  to  answer 
the  same;  that  they  be  farther  empowered  to  take  such 
measures  as  they  shall  think  proper  to  carry  into  execution 
all  orders  of  the  Continental  Congress,  and  all  Resolutions 
and  recommendations  of  this  Congress,  and  to  comply 
with  any  requisitions  made  by  the  Generals  of  the  Conti- 
nental Army,  or  any  of  them,  as  far  as  they  shall  think 
proper.  That  they  be  authorized  to  give  directions  to 
General  Wooster,  or  the  Commander  and  Commanders, 
for  the  time  being,  of  the  Continental  Troops  stationed  in 
this  Colony,  as  from  this  Congress :  Provided,  That  such 
directions  do  not  contravene  the  orders  of  the  Continental 
Congress,  or  of  his  or  their  superiour  officers  respectively. 
And  lastly,  that  they  have  authority  to  appropriate  such 
Moneys  of  the  Continental  Congress  as  may  arrive  in  pay- 
ment of  the  debts  already  contracted  for  the  publick  ser- 
vice, and  for  the  use  of  the  said  service,  as  they  shall  think 
necessary,  the  accounts  being  first  audited  and  allowed  by 
the  Committee  of  Accounts. 

Ordered  and  Agreed,  That  Jacobus  Swartwout  be, 
and  is  appointed  by  this  Congress  Mustermaster  of  the 
Troops  which  shall  be  raised  in  defence  of  American  lib- 
erty by  the  following  Captains,  to  wit :  Lewis  Duboys, 
Andrew  Billings,  Henry  B.  Livingston,  and  Rufus  Der- 
rick. 

A  copy  of  this  Order  was  made,  and  signed  by  P.  V. 
B.  Livingston,  President. 

Ordered  and  Agreed,  That  Colonel  Phineas  Fanning, 
David.  Melford,  Esquire,  of  East-Hampton,  and  Captain 
Timothy  Earle,  be,  and  are  appointed  by  this  Congress 
Mustermasters  of  the  Troops  that  shall  be  raised  in  Suf- 
folk County  in  defence  of  American  liberty. 

The  Committee  of  Safety  agreed  to  meet  at  the  City- 
Hall  of  the  City  of  New-York,  on  Ihiesday  next,  at  nine 
o'clock,  A.  M. 

The  Congress  then  adjourned  until  next  Tuesday  fort- 
night, then  to  meet  again  at  the  City  of  New-York,  at 
nine  of  the  clock  in  the  morning  of  that  day. 


MASSACHUSETTS  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY. 

May  31,  1775. 

The  Committee  met  by  adjournment  at  Watertown, 
being  the  day  appointed  by  Charter  for  the  election  of 
Counsellors,  when  the  Congress  convened,  and  had  a  suit- 
able discourse  delivered  them  by  Mr.  President  Langdon, 
at  the  Meeting-House,  where  the  Committee  attended  in 
the  afternoon.  Afterwards  they  met,  and  adjourned  to 
meet  at  Cambridge,  Tuesday  morning,  eight  o'clock. 

June  1,  1775. 

On  a  motion  made  by  Mr.  Samuel  Whittcmore,  of  Glou- 
cester, that  the  Forces  now  raised  in  said  Town  and  Man- 
chester should  remain  there  for  the  present,  for  the  security 
of  the  Seaports : 

Voted,  That  there  be  returns  immediately  required  of 
the  number  of  men  now  in  Camp  ;  and  if  it  shall  then 
appear  that  the  safety  of  the  whole  will  permit  it,  the 
request  will  be  granted. 

June  2,  1775. 

A  Gun  taken  from  Samuel  Flagg,  of  Grafton,  for  the 
use  of  the  Colony,  was  appraised  by  a  Committee  appoint- 
ed for  that  purpose,  at  forty  Shillings,  lawful  money,  which 
Gun  was  delivered  to  Captain  Ijuke  Drury,  for  the  use  of 
his  Company,  and  a  receipt  taken  for  the  same,  in  the 
rough  minutes. 


Colonel  John  Niton  having  satisfied  this  Committee 
that  his  Regiment  is  in  good  forwardness,  he  had  a  certifi- 
cate thereof,  and  a  recommendation  to  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress that  such  Regiment  be  commissioned  accordingly. 

In  Committee  of  Safety,  Cambridge,  June  2,  1775. 
This  Committee  have  taken  into  their  most  serious  con- 
sideration the  state  of  the  New-England  Army  proposed 
to  be  raised  for  the  defence  and  security  of  the  lives, 
liberties,  and  properties  of  the  Americans,  and  find  that 
the  several  Colonies  have  not,  collectively,  raised  more 
than  24,500  men,*  whereas  30,000  were  supposed  neces- 
sary. And  said  Committee  also  find  a  considerable  number 
of  Officers  of  Minute-men  now  at  Head-Quarters,  who, 
with  their  men,  cannot  find  room  for  employment  in  the 
Army  upon  the  present  establishment  of  this  Colony.  And 
as  our  enemies  have  determined  to  distress  us  upon  our 
sea-coast,  by  taking  our  Vessels  with  Provisions,  Salt,  Mo- 
lasses, &lc,  as  well  as  by  plundering  our  islands  and  coasts 
of  Live  Stock,  which  will  require  a  greater  number  of  men 
to  guard  said  coasts  than  was  at  first  estimated;  and  as 
said  Army,  or  any  part  thereof,  may  be  disbanded  at  any 
future  time,  when  the  publick  safety  will  admit  thereof; 
and  as  the  publick  military  spirit  now  runs  high,  it  is 
therefore 

Resolved,  That  the  consideration  of  these  premises  be 
recommended  to  the  Honourable  Congress,  and  that  Col. 


1349 


MASSACHUSETTS  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY,  JUNE,  1775. 


1350 


Palmer  be  directed  to  attend  said  Congress  with  this  Re- 
solve, in  order  to  know  whether  they  will  make  any  addi- 
tion to  their  present  establishment. 

Benjamin  White,  Chairman. 

June  3,  1775. 

Voted,  That  Mr.  Devens  be  a  Committee  to  join  Col. 
Putnam,  from  the  Council  of  War,  as  a  Committee  to  wait 
upon  the  Committee  of  Supplies  for  a  conference,  and  to 
desire  their  attendance  at  Head-Quarters. 

Voted,  That  Colonel  Gridley  be  required  to  make  im- 
mediate return  of  the  Regiment  of  Artillery. 

The  honourable  the  Provincial  Congress  having,  by 
their  Committee,  inquired  of  this  Committee  what  progress 
had  been  made  in  raising  a  Regiment  for  the  Train, 

Resolved,  That  the  honourable  Congress  be  informed 
that  this  Committee  have  given  out  Enlisting  Orders  to 
raise  nine  Companies ;  that  they  will  immediately  procure 
a  return  and  forward  it  to  the  Congress. 

June  5,  1775. 

A  number  of  Officers  belonging  to  Colonel  John  Nix- 
on's Regiment  were  recommended  to  the  Congress  to  be 
commissioned,  and  a  list  of  said  Officers  ordered  to  be  put 
on  file. 

June  7,  1775. 

Colonel  Glover  having  satisfied  this  Committee  that  he 
has  about  four  hundred  and  sixty  men  in  his  Regiment,  a 
Certificate  was  given  him  to  that  purport,  and  it  was 
recommended  to  the  honourable  Congress  that  said  Regi- 
ment may  be  commissioned  accordingly. 

June  9,  1775. 

A  number  of  Officers  belonging  to  Colonel  Whitcomb's 
Regiment  were  recommended  to  the  Congress  to  be  com- 
missioned, as  per  copy  of  the  list  on  file. 

Two  Small-Arms,  taken  from  General  Brattle's  house, 
were  appraised  by  Captain  White  and  Mr.  Devens,  a  Com- 
mittee appointed  for  that  purpose,  at  one  Pound  six  Shil- 
lings and  eight  Pence ;  which  Guns  were  delivered  to 
Captain  Joseph  Stebbins,  for  the  use  of  his  Company,  and 
a  receipt  taken  for  the  same  in  the  rough  minute-book. 

Resolved,  That  the  Armourers  repair  no  Fire-Arms  for 
any  Soldier  without  a  certificate  from  his  Commanding 
Officer;  and  that  they  keep  an  exact  account  what  Arms 
they  repair,  and  the  soldiers'  names  to  whom  they  belong, 
and  what  Regiments  they  belong  to ;  and  also,  that  the 
Arms  that  first  come  be  first  repaired.  And  that  this  Vote 
be  transmitted  to  the  several  Armourers  in  the  Colony 
service. 

Captain  Hall,  of  Mistick,  having  informed  that  a  parcel 
of  Spars  were  brought  on  this  side  Mistick  Bridge, 

Voted,  That  Mr.  Hall  be  desired  to  remove  them  to 
such  a  place  of  security  as  he  shall  judge  proper,  till  the 
further  order  of  this  Committee. 

Voted,  That  Captain  Ebenezer  Winship  have  the  re- 
commendation of  this  Committee  to  the  Honourable  Con- 
gress for  his  being  commissioned  with  his  Subalterns  in 
Colonel  Nixon's  Regiment. 

In  Committee  of  Safety,  Cambridge,  June  9,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  Colonel  Paul  Dudley  Sergeant,  late  of 
New-Hampshire,  having  applied  to  this  Committee  for 
directions  respecting  four  Companies  enlisted  under  him 
in  the  service  of  this  Colony,  we  beg  leave  to  state  the 
facts  to  your  Honours. 

From  the  exigences  of  the  times,  on  the  25th  of  April 
last  past  Colonel  Sergeant  received  encouragement  from 
this  Committee  to  command  a  Regiment,  and  received 
beating  orders  for  the  raising  the  same,  on  the  following 
conditions,  viz:  Should  he  fill  said  Regiment,  and  the  Prov- 
ince of  New-Hampshire  aforesaid  would  not  take  him, 
with  his  Regiment,  into  their  service,  in  that  case  he 
should  be  established  in  the  service  of  the  Colony  of  the 
Massachusetts. 

It  appears  to  this  Committee,  by  the  account  Colonel 
Sergeant  has  given  them,  that  he  has  only  four  Companies 
at  Head-Quarters,  and  that  some  more  are  enlisted  and 
in  Hampshire;  he  therefore  desires  he  may  be  directed 
whether  to  hold  or  discharge  said  men.    This  Committee 


apprehend,  should  said  four  Companies  be  discharged  from 
the  service  of  this  Colony,  they  would  immediately  enter 
the  service  of  New-Hampshire,  and  as  we  conceive  the 
Army  of  thirteen  thousand  six  hundred  men  will  be  com- 
plete without  said  four  Companies,  are  of  opinion  it  would 
be  prudent  said  Companies  be  dismissed  from  the  service 
of  this  Colony.  The  whole  of  this  matter  we  submit  to 
your  Honours ;  you  will  act  thereon  as  to  you  in  your  wis- 
dom shall  seem  meet. 

We  are,  with  great  respect,  your  most  humble  servants, 
Benjamin  White,  Chairman. 
The  Honourable  the  Provincial  Congress  at  Watertown. 

June  10,  1775. 

Whereas,  a  return  has  been  made  by  Col.  John  Glover 
of  the  state  of  his  Regiment,  now  at  Marblehead,  and  it 
appears  to  this  Committee  to  be  for  the  safety  of  this  Co- 
lony said  Regiment  should  continue  at  present  at  Marble- 
head;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  Colonel  John  Glover  be,  and  he  here- 
by is,  directed  to  continue  said  Regiment  under  his  com- 
mand at  Marblehead  until  further  orders,  and  that  he  hold 
them  in  readiness  to  march  at  a  minute's  warning  to  any 
post  where  he  may  be  directed,  and  that  he  fill  said  Regi- 
ment as  soon  as  possible. 

Whereas,  sundry  pieces  of  mowing  land,  belonging  to 
persons  who  have  left  this  Town,  have  upon  them  con- 
siderable quantities  of  grass,  which,  if  not  cut  soon,  must 
diminish  much  in  quantity ;  and  as  Hay  will  be  wanted  for 
the  use  of  this  Colony;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  honourable 
Provincial  Congress,  that  they  appoint  a  Committee  of 
Congress  to  view  said  pieces  of  land,  and  act  thereon  as  to 
them  in  their  wisdom  shall  seem  meet. 

Voted,  That  Colonel  Learned  be  empowered  to  appoint 
one  Armourer  and  an  assistant  for  the  Army  at  Roxbury, 
provided  he  can  obtain  tools  and  accommodation  for  them. 

A  list  of  the  gentlemen  who  have  been  commissioned, 
or  that  have  received  any  encouragement  for  commission, 
was  sent  to  Congress,  a  copy  of  which  is  on  file. 

The  following  Return  was  sent  in  to  the  Provincial 
Congress : 

In  Committee  of  Safety,  Cambridge,  June  10,  1775. 

In  obedience  to  a  Resolve  of  the  honourable  Provincial 
Congress  "  to  certify  to  their  Congress  the  names  of  such 
gentlemen  as  are  candidates  for  the  command  of  a  Regi- 
ment, with  the  number  of  privates,  &ic,  that  have  been 
enlisted  under  them,  and  any  other  claims  or  pretensions 
that  any  gentleman  may  have  to  a  commission,"  this  Com- 
mittee would  now  certify,  that,  besides  twenty  gentlemen 
to  whom  they  have  given  certificates,  (viz :  Colonel  Asa 
Whitcomb,  General  Ward,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Doolittle, 
Colonel  Glover,  Colonel  Frye,  Colonel  Learned,  Colonel 
Read,  Colonel  Nixon,  Colonel  Fellows  of  General  Pome- 
roy's  Regiment,  General  Thomas,  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Bayley,  Colonel  Bridge,  Colonel  Cotton,  Colonel  Walker, 
Colonel  Prescott,  Colonel  Scammon,  Cononel  Donaldson, 
Colonel  Patterson,  Colonel  Gardner,  Colonel  Mansfield, 
Colonel  Gerrish,)  General  Heath  early  took  out  ten  sets 
of  orders,  and  raised  a  full  Regiment,  which  has  done  duty 
for  several  weeks,  as  he  has  informed  this  Committee,  but 
has  made  no  return  in  writing,  nor  applied  for  a  certificate. 
Colonel  David  Brewer,  who  received  ten  sets  of  orders, 
has  made  us  no  return,  though  we  hear  he  has  enlisted  a 
number  of  men  as  Rangers.  Colonel  Robinson  has  ap- 
plied to  this  Committee  for  a  recommendation,  in  conse- 
quence of  a  petition  signed  by  ten  Captains,  a  copy  of 
which  accompanies  this  Report.  The  Committee  pro- 
mised Colonel  Robinso7i  that  they  would  recommend  him, 
if  there  should  be  a  vacancy.  Colonel  Woodbridge  in- 
forms this  Committee,  and  it  appears  by  the  return  he  has 
made,  that  three  hundred  and  sixty  men  stand  ready  to  go 
under  him.  We  would  observe  that  Colonel  Woodbridge 
has  been  in  Camp  with  his  Minute-Men  doing  duty  ever 
since  the  battle,  but  did  not  apply  to  this  Committee  for 
enlisting  orders  until  the  Committee  had  issued  orders 
sufficient  to  complete  the  Army,  and  therefore  the  Com- 
mittee did  not  give  him  orders,  but  promised  they  would 


1351 


MASSACHUSETTS  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY,  JUNE,  1775. 


1352 


recommend  him  if  there  should  he  a  vacancy.  Colonel 
Porter  was,  in  conjunction  with  Colonel  Patterson,  and  by 
agreement  with  Colonel  Patterson,  to  have  the  chief  com- 
mand in  that  Regiment,  and  officiated  some  time  in  that 
capacity,  waiting  lor  the  men  raised  by  Colonel  Porter's 
orders  to  arrive  ;  but  they  not  arriving  so  soon  as  expected, 
and  another  officer  with  several  companies  arriving,  and 
offering  to  join  and  fill  Colonel  Pattersons  Regiment, 
Colonel  Porter  said  he  was  willing  to  resign  rather  than 
the  publick  service  should  be  hindered.  Since  this,  we  are 
informed  by  Colonel  Porter  that  the  men  raised  by  his 
orders  are  upon  their  march  to  Cambridge.  Col.  Joseph 
Henshaw  expected  to  have  the  command  of  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  in  General  Ward's  Regiment,  and  the  dispute  be- 
tween him  and  Colonel  Ward  having  been  already  laid 
before  Congress  and  acted  upon,  we  would  only  represent 
that  he  has  signified  to  this  Committee  that  a  number  of 
companies  incline  to  go  under  him,  as  will  appear  by  his 
return,  which  accompanies  this  Report. 

About  five  or  six  weeks  past  Mr.  Greenleaf  applied  to 
the  Committee  of  Safety,  desiring  that  the  men  raised  in 
and  about  Newbury  might  not  be  annexed  to  Colonel  Ger- 
rish's  Regiment,  or  any  other  where  it  would  be  disagree- 
able to  them.  He  afterwards  applied  to  this  Committee 
respecting  said  men,  and  desired  that  the  eight  companies 
enlisted  upon  orders  issued  by  this  Committee,  through 
Colonel  Gerrish's  hands,  who  have  since  petitioned  in 
favour  of  Colonel  Little's  taking  the  command  of  them, 
might  be  put  under  him  as  Colonel  of  a  Regiment.  We 
then  found  we  had  given  orders  for  as  many  Regiments 
as  would  complete  the  Establishment  made  by  this  Colony, 
and  therefore  did  not  give  said  Colonel  Little  any  orders  to 
raise  a  Regiment,  but  promised  that  if  any  vacancy  should 
happen,  he  should  have  the  preference.  We  find  said  com- 
panies were  early  in  the  field,  and  have  done  duty  ever 
since,  and  are  very  well  equipped. 

Early  after  the  19th  of  April  this  Committee  sent  ten 
sets  of  beating  orders  to  the  Honourable  General  Preble, 
desiring  him  to  give  out  said  orders  to  such  persons  as  he 
thought  suitable  for  commissions,  in  order  to  form  a  Regi- 
ment; and  Colonel  March  was  also  supplied  with  ten  sets 
of  orders,  for  the  purpose  of  raising  a  Regiment  to  be  com- 
manded by  him.  Soon  after  it  was  represented  to  us  by 
the  Committee  of  Correspondence  for  Falmouth,  that  it 
would  be  inconvenient  to  that  County,  in  their  exposed 
situation,  to  raise  men  for  the  Army,  and  the  same  was 
agreed  to  by  Colonels  Finney  and  March  in  the  Commit- 
tee ;  on  which  we  wrote  to  General  Preble,  informing  him 
of  the  same,  but  heard  nothing  further  until  about  six  days 
past,  we  received  a  return  from  Colonel  Finney  of  about 
five  hundred  men,  enlisted  in  a  Regiment  to  go  under  his 
command,  and  Colonel  March  certified  that  he  had  agreed 
to  come  in  as  his  second  ;  the  copy  of  which  letter  to  Gen- 
eral Preble  accompanies  this.  Colonel  Sergeant's  case 
having  been  represented  to  Congress,  the  copy  of  said  re- 
presentation accompanies  this  Report. 

The  Committee  beg  leave  to  represent  that  the  reason 
why  more  enlisting  orders  were  delivered  out  than  were 
sufficient  to  enlist  the  number  of  men  established  by  Con- 
gress, was  an  apprehension  that  the  Province  was  in  the 
utmost  danger  for  want  of  men,  the  Committee  not  being 
able  to  prevail  on  the  Militia  and  Minute-Men  to  tarry  in 
Camp;  and  but  very  few  men  being  at  that  time  enlisted, 
we  were  obliged  to  issue  further  orders. 

Benjamin  White,  Chairman. 
To  the  Honourable  Provincial  Congress  at  Watertown. 

June  12,  1775. 

The  Committee  not  apprehending  that  it  was  necessary 
to  detain  Eliphalet  Hill,  of  Newbury,  any  longer  as  a 
Rider  in  the  Colony  service,  he  was  dismissed  therefrom 
on  the  yesterday. 

Shubael  and  Joseph  Sever,  of  Framingham,  entered  into 
the  Colony  service  as  Armourers,  the  10th  instant. 

Captain  Lawrence,  in  Colonel  Prescott's  Regiment,  offer- 
ing to  act  as  an  Armourer  without  any  pay  for  his  labour, 
and  to  return  home  for  some  tools  which  are  necessary  to 
effect  the  repairs  of  the  Muskets,  it  was  consented  to  by  the 
Committee,  and  the  said  Lawrence  was  desired  to  procure 
his  tools  as  soon  as  may  be. 


June  13,  1775. 

Jonathan  SticJcney,  in  Colonel  Woodbridge's  Regiment, 
received  a  Small- Arm  of  one  Guillam,  a  scholar,  for  which 
he  gave  a  receipt  in  the  rough  minute  book,  to  deliver  the 
same  again  to  this  Committee  when  so  required. 

Whereas,  it  is  daily  expected  that  General  Gage  will 
attack  our  Army  now  in  the  vicinity  of  Boston,  in  order  to 
penetrate  into  the  country,  it  is  of  the  utmost  importance 
that  said  Army  be  in  every  respect  prepared  for  action  as 
soon  as  possible  ;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  the  General  be  desired  to  order  each 
Colonel  in  the  Army  to  make  immediate  return  to  him  of 
the  state  and  equipment  of  their  respective  Regiments,  set- 
ting forth  what  number  of  men  are  destitute  of  arms,  and 
what  arms  are  fit  for  immediate  service  ;  and  that  this  vote 
be  laid  before  the  Committee  as  soon  as  may  be. 

Mr.  Devens  appointed  a  Committee  to  inquire  of  the 
Committee  of  Supplies  relative  to  the  quantity  of  Powder 
in  their  possession,  and  where  the  same  is. 

On  motion  made, 

Resolved,  That  the  debates  and  determinations  of  this 
Committee  be  kept  a  profound  secret  by  its  members  and 
their  attendants,  until  further  order  of  this  Committee. 

Whereas  Daniel  Adams,  of  Boston,  a  lunatick  now  in 
Camp  at  Cambridge,  occasions  great  disorder  in  said  Camp  ; 
therefore, 

Resolved,  That  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town  of  Wo- 
burn be,  and  they  hereby  are  directed  and  empowered  to 
take  into  their  custody  and  care  the  above-mentioned  Daniel 
Adams,  and  make  such  provision  for  him,  at  the  expense 
of  this  Colony,  as  his  circumstances,  being  peculiar,  may 
require,  and  also  for  the  guards  while  there. 

Whereas,  frequent  complaints  have  been  made  to  this 
Committee  of  the  waste  and  destruction  of  the  property  of 
some  persons  who  have  left  their  habitations  in  sundry 
Towns  in  this  Colony,  and  taken  refuge  in  the  Town  of 
Boston;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  honourable 
Congress  now  sitting  at  Watertown,  that  they  take  the 
above  into  their  consideration,  and  act  thereon  as  to  them 
in  their  wisdom  shall  seem  meet. 

The  Committee  earnestly  recommend  to  the  honour- 
able Congress,  that  the  representations  from  the  Quarter- 
master-General be  taken  into  immediate  consideration, 
especially  as  the  Committee,  from  their  own  knowledge, 
find  the  rooms  too  much  crowded,  and  the  health  and  lives 
of  the  Soldiers  thereby  greatly  exposed  ;  and  if  tents  can- 
not be  immediately  furnished,  that  some  barracks  be  forth- 
with erected. 

June  14,  17  75. 

Whereas  this  Committee  are  informed  that  Dr.  Hoxc, 
of  Andover,  is  prepared  to  receive,  and  well  skilled  in  such 
disorders  as  Daniel  Adams,  of  Boston,  sent  on  the  13th 
instant  to  the  Town  of  Woburn,  is  affected  with  ;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town  of  Wo- 
burn be,  and  they  hereby  are  released  from  the  keeping 
said  Daniel  Adams  in  the  Town  of  Woburn,  and  they  are 
required  to  provide  a  horse  and  carriage,  with  provisions, 
to  forward  the  said  Adams  to  Andover,  the  expense  of 
which  will  be  paid  by  this  Colony. 

Resolved,  That  Daniel  Adams,  a  lunatick  now  at  Wo- 
burn, be  carried  to  the  Town  of  Andover,  and  committed 
to  the  care  of  Dr.  How;  and  the  said  Dr.  How  is  hereby 
desired  to  take  proper  care  of  the  said  lunatick,  at  the  ex- 
pense of  this  Colony. 

The  following  Vote  passed  this  Committee  the  4th  of 
May  last,  viz : 

Moved  arid  Voted,  That  the  vote  passed  the  2d  of 
May,  respecting  the  raising  of  two  Companies  in  Braintree, 
be  reconsidered,  and  that  the  copy  of  said  vote,  together 
with  the  two  enlisting  papers,  be  ordered  to  be  returned 
into  the  hands  of  said  Committee  of  Safety. 

And  whereas  a  petition  from  the  Town  of  Braintree, 
Weymouth,  and  Hingham,  hath  this  day  been  presented  to 
this  Committee,  setting  forth  the  exposed  situation  of  those 
Towns,  and  praying  for  such  relief  and  protection  as  may 
be  thought  proper ;  therefore, 

Voted,  That  the  Town  of  Braintree  be  hereby  empow- 
ered to  raise  one  Company,  the  Town  of  Hingham  another 


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xMASSACHUSETTS  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY,  JUNE,  1775. 


1354 


Company,  and  the  Town  of  Weymouth  half  a  Company,  for 
llie  immediate  defence  of  the  sea-coast  of  said  Town  ;  the 
said  two  Companies  and  a  half  to  he  joined  to  such  Regi- 
ment in  future  as  they  may  be  ordered  to,  should  there  be 
occasion,  or  discharged  from  service  on  the  last  day  of 
December  next,  or  sooner,  if  the  publick  safety  will  admit 
of  it ;  and  that  the  Selectmen  of  said  Towns  be  respectively 
furnished  with  a  copy  of  this  vote  and  one  set  of  beating 
orders. 

A  number  of  men  belonging  to  the  company  of  Captain 
Drury,  having  petitioned  that  they  might  be  permitted  to 
join,  some  the  Regiment  commanded  by  Colonel  Gardner, 
and  others  the  Regiment  commanded  by  Colonel  Nixon ; 
and  the  Committee  having  considered  their  several  re- 
quests, 

Voted,  As  the  opinion  of  this  Committee,  that  said 
company  be  joined  to  such  Regiment  as  it  shall  appear  the 
major  part  of  said  company  are  in  favour  of  when  called 
upon  for  that  purpose. 

Resolved,  That  Captain  White  and  Mr.  Dcvens  be  a 
Committee  to  proceed  to  the  house  of  Thomas  Ireland,  of 
Cliarlestown,  and  find  out  whether  a  certain  infamous  wo- 
man, who  calls  herself  .  .  .  Jackson,  be  there,  and  if  she 
can  be  found,  order  her  to  Head-Quarters,  they  being  sent 
furnished  with  an  order  from  the  General  for  a  file  of  men 
for  that  purpose. 

General  Heath  having  satisfied  this  Committee  that  his 
Regiment  is  near  full,  a  certificate  was  given  him  thereof, 
and  it  was  recommended  to  the  honourable  Congress  that 
his  Regiment  be  commissioned  accordingly. 

Mr.  Nathaniel  Mullikin  having  represented  to  this 
Committee,  that  on  the  19th  of  April  last  his  house  was 
plundered  and  burned  by  the  Soldiery;  at  which  time  he 
lost  a  pair  of  silver  shoe-buckles,  which,  he  says,  he  is  well 
informed  is  in  the  possession  of  a  Sergeant  of  the  Fifty- 
Second  Regiment,  now  in  Concord  jail :  It  is  the  desire 
of  this  Committee  that  the  Committee  of  Correspondence 
for  said  Town  (with  whom  they  think  it  properly  belongs) 
would  make  inquiry  into  this  matter ;  and  if  they  find  it 
to  be  as  has  been  represented,  that  they  would  use  their 
endeavours  that  the  said  Mullikin  may  have  justice  done 
him,  by  the  delivery  of  said  buckles. 

Two  Guns  taken  from  John  Boreland,  Esquire's  house 
for  the  Colony  service,  were  appraised  by  Messrs.  Dc- 
vens, Watson,  and  Ome,  at  twenty-seven  Shillings  and 
thirty-three  Shillings;  which  Guns  were  delivered  William 
Hudson  Ballard,  for  the  use  of  his  Company,  and  a  receipt 
taken  for  the  same  in  the  rough  minute  book. 

Upon  reading  a  Letter  fiom  General  Thomas,  in  favour 
of  Captain  Israel  Henrick, 

Resolved,  That  this  Committee  do  not  think  the  matter 
contained  in  said  Letter  comes  within  the  commission  of  this 
Committee,  therefore  refer  it  to  the  honourable  Congress. 

June  15,  1775. 

The  following  Resolve  respecting  the  allowance  for  Pro- 
visions for  the  Soldiers  in  the  Massachusetts  Army,  passed 
at  the  Congress,  June  10,  1775 : 

Resolved,  That  each  Soldier  in  the  Massachusetts  Army 
shall  have  the  following  allowance  per  day,  viz: 

One  pound  of  Bread  ;  half  a  pound  of  Beef,  and  half  a 
pound  of  Pork,  and  if  Pork  cannot  be  had,  one  pound  and 
a  quarter  of  Beef,  and  one  day  in  seven  they  shall  have  one 
pound  and  one  quarter  of  salt  Fish,  instead  of  one  day's 
allowance  of  Meat ;  one  pint  of  Milk,  or  if  Milk  cannot  be 
had,  one  gill  of  Rice;  one  quart  of  good  spruce  or  malt 
Beer;  one  gill  of  Beans  or  Peas,  or  other  sauce  equiva- 
lent ;  six  ounces  of  good  Butter  per  week ;  one  pound  of 
good  common  Soap  for  six  men  per  week ;  half  a  pint  of 
Vinegar  per  week  per  man,  if  it  can  be  had. 

Whereas,  the  Committee  lately  applied  to  the  honourable 
the  Congress  of  this  Colony  for  an  augmentation  of  the 
Army  now  in  the  vicinity  of  Boston,  and  as  some  circum- 
stances have  since  taken  place  which  strengthened  the 
arguments  then  used  in  favour  of  the  said  augmentation; 
particularly  that  many  of  the  then  expected  re-enforcements 
for  General  Gage's  Army  are  arrived  ;  that  General  Gage 
has  issued  a  very  extraordinary  Proclamation,  in  which  the 
inhabitants  of  Massachusetts-Bay  are  in  the  most  explicit 


manner  declared  Rebels ;  and  various  accounts  have  been 
brought  to  this  Committee  of  the  movements  of  Mr. 
Gage's  Army,  and  that  he  intends  soon  to  make  another 
attempt  to  penetrate  into  the  country.  From  the  consid- 
eration of  all  which  premises,  together  with  that  of  our 
Army, 

Resolved,  That  the  good  and  welfare  of  the  Colony 
requires  that  there  be  an  immediate  augmentation  of  said 
Army ;  that  such  soldiers  in  the  Army  as  are  destitute  of 
arms,  be  immediately  supplied  therewith ;  that  such  Regi- 
ments of  Militia  as  are  in  any  degree  destitute  of  officers, 
be  immediately  filled  up  in  such  manner  as  the  honourable 
Congress  may  direct ;  and  that  all  the  Militia  in  the  Colony 
be  ordered  to  hold  themselves  in  readiness  to  march  on 
the  shortest  notice,  completely  equipped,  having  thirty 
rounds  of  cartridges  per  man ;  all  which  is  earnestly  re- 
commended to  the  immediate  consideration  of  the  honour- 
able Congress  now  sitting  at  Watertoivn ;  to  which  the  Com- 
mittee would  beg  leave  to  add  a  general  recommendation 
to  the  people  to  go  to  meeting  armed  on  Lord's  day,  in 
order  to  prevent  being  thrown  into  confusion. 

Whereas,  it  appears  of  importance  to  the  safety  of  this 
Colony,  that  possession  of  the  hill  called  Bunker's  Hill, 
in  Charlestown,  be  securely  kept  and  defended,  and  also 
some  one  hill  or  hills  on  Dorchester  Neck  be  likewise 
secured ;  therefore 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the 
Council  of  War,  that  the  above  mentioned  Bunker's  Hill 
be  maintained  by  sufficient  force  being  posted  there ;  and 
as  the  particular  situation  of  Dorchester  Neck  is  unknown 
to  this  Committee,  they  desire  that  the  Council  of  War 
take  and  pursue  such  steps  respecting  the  same  as  to  them 
shall  appear  to  be  for  the  security  of  this  Colony. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Benjamin  White  and  Colonel 
Joseph  Palmer  be  a  Committee  to  join  with  a  Committee 
from  the  Council  of  War  to  proceed  to  Roxbury  Camp, 
there  to  consult  with  the  General  Officers  on  matters  of 
importance,  and  to  communicate  to  them  a  Resolve  this 
day  passed  in  this  Committee  respecting  Bunker's  Hilt  in 
Charlestown,  and  Dorchester  Neck. 

June  16,  1775. 

The  Committee  took  into  consideration  the  Resolves  of 
Congress  relative  to  Barracks;  whereupon, 

Voted,  That  Mr.  Watson,  Mr.  Cushing,  and  Doctor 
Holten,  be  a  Committee  to  make  inquiry  whether  any 
Houses  or  Tents  are  to  be  obtained  for  the  Troops  that 
want  cover. 

The  Commissary-General  was  directed  to  furnish  Messrs. 
Joseph  and  Thomas  Austin,  armourers  in  the  Colony  ser- 
vice, with  Provisions  as  wanted. 

Colonel  Gridley's  Captains  and  Subalterns  for  the 
Train  were  this  day  recommended  to  Congress  to  be  com- 
missioned. 

Mr.  Burbcck  was  recommended  as  Lieutenant-Colonel 
in  Colonel  Gridley's  Train  of  Artillery  ;  Mr.  Scarborough 
Gridley  as  First  Major,  and  Mr.  David  Mason  as  Second 
Major  in  said  Regiment  of  Artillery. 

June  17,  1775. 

Colonel  David  Brewer  and  Jonathan  Brewer  having 
made  returns  of  the  Field-Officers  and  the  officers  of  nine 
Companies  of  their  respective  Regiments,  it  was  recom- 
mended to  the  Provincial  Congress,  that  they  might  be 
commissioned  accordingly. 

The  following  Order  was  issued  to  the  Towns  in  the 
vicinity  of  Boston: 

"  To  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town  of  ...  . 

"  Gentlemen  :  You  are  ordered  instantly  to  send  all  the 
town-stock  of  powder  you  have  to  the  Town  of  Watertoivn, 
saving  enough  to  furnish  one  pound  to  each  soldier." 

The  following  was  voted  to  be  sent  to  Mr.  John  Badger, 
viz : 

"Sir:  As  the  safety  of  the  Colony  Army  demands  that 
any  person  or  persons  suspected  of  having  the  small-pox 
be  immediately  placed  in  such  place  as  may  prevent  its 
spreading  in  said  Army,  and  your  house  is  thought  proper 
for  that  purpose,  you  are  directed  immediately  to  quit  said 
house,  that  the  person  suspected  may  be  placed  therein." 


1355 


MASSACHUSETTS  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY,  JUNE,  1775. 


1356 


The  following  Vote  was  laid  before  the  Committee  of 
Supplies,  viz : 

"  As  in  consequence  of  our  late  movements  a  constant 
fire  is  kept  on  the  Colony  Troops,  we  think  it  necessary 
that  there  should  be  quick  intelligence  brought  to  Head- 
Quarters  from  the  scene  of  action  :  we  therefore  desire  that 
this  Committee  may  be  immediately  furnished  with  four  of 
the  riding  horses  for  the  service  aforesaid." 

The  following  was  voted  to  be  sent  Mr.  John  Badger, 
.Km.,  viz : 

"  Sir  :  As  the  safety  of  the  Colony  Army  demands  that 
any  person  or  persons  suspected  of  having  the  small-pox 
immediately  requires  their  being  placed  in  such  place  as 
may  prevent  its  spreading  in  said  Army,  and  your  house  is 
thought  proper  for  that  purpose,  you  are  directed  imme- 
diately to  quit  said  house,  that  the  person  now  suspected 
may  be  placed  therein." 

June  18,  1775. 

A  Letter  was  forwarded  to  the  Commanding  Officers  of 
the  Militia  in  the  neighbouring  Towns  for  the  march  of  their 
respective  Regiments,  as  per  copy  on  file,  which  is  as  fol- 
lows : 

"  Cambridge,  June  18,  1775. 

"  To  the  Commanding  Officer  of  the  Militia  of  the  Town 
of  

"  Sir  :  As  the  Troops  under  General  Gage  are  moving 
from  Boston  into  the  country,  you  are,  on  the  receipt  of 
this,  immediately  to  muster  the  men  under  your  command, 
see  them  properly  equipped,  and  march  them  forthwith  to 
Cambridge.    By  order  of  the  Committee  of  Safety  : 

"  Benjamin  White,  Chairman." 

A  Letter,  countermanding  the  above  orders,  was  for- 
warded to  the  several  Colonels  in  the  neighbouring  Towns, 
as  per  copy  on  file,  which  is  as  follows : 

"  It  is  thought  by  this  Committee  that  those  companies 
of  the  Militia  which  have  not  been  called  into  the  camp 
at  Cambridge,  by  written  orders,  should  remain  at  their 
respective  Towns,  and  that  those  companies  of  them  which 
have  been  so  called,  and  are  on  their  march,  should  return, 
and  hold  themselves  in  complete  readiness  to  give  us  assist- 
ance when  called  upon." 

The  Selectmen  of  the  Town  of  Waltham  were  ordered 
forthwith  to  send  all  the  town-stock  of  Powder  to  the  Town 
of  Watertown,  save  enough  for  one  pound  for  each  soldier. 

June  19,  1775. 

Resolved,  That  the  house  of  the  Reverend  Mr.  Sam- 
uel Cook,  of  Monotomy,  be  improved  as  a  Hospital  for  the 
Colony  Army ;  and  that  Mr.  William  Eustis  be  and  here- 
by is  appointed  to  the  care  of  the  sick  and  wounded  in  said 
Hospital  till  the  further  order  of  this  Committee. 

Ordered,  That  Doctor  Isaac  Foster  be  and  he  hereby 
is  directed  to  take  up  and  improve  as  Hospitals  so  many 
houses  in  Monotomy  as  he  may  find  necessary  for  the  safety 
of  the  sick  and  wounded  of  the  Colony  Army ;  and  that 
he  employ  such  person  or  persons  as  may  be  necessary,  to 
carry  such  provisions  and  other  necessaries  as  may  be  wanted 
for  the  use  of  the  aforesaid  sick  and  wounded  ;  and  further, 
that  he  take  such  precaution  respecting  the  Small-Pox  Hos- 
pital as  may  be  necessary  for  the  prevention  of  the  spread- 
ing of  that  epidemical  disorder  in  the  Camp  or  elsewhere. 

A  Letter  was  received  from  Mr.  William  Eustis,  which 
is  as  follows: 

"  Gentlemen  :  As  the  general  hospital  is  in  Mr.  Cook's 
house,  it  undoubtedly  falls  to  Doctor  Foster  to  take  the 
care  of  it.  I  think  it  my  duty  to  return  this  appointment 
immediately.  I  will  assist  to  the  utmost  of  my  ability  in 
dressing  the  wounded.  I  see  their  distress,  feel  for  them, 
and  will  relieve  them  in  every  way  in  my  power. 

"  I  am,  gentlemen,  with  great  respect,  your  very  humble 
servant,  W.  Eustis. 

"  To  the  Committee  of  Safety." 

Pursuant  to  a  Resolve  of  the  Provincial  Congress  sent 
to  this  Committee  respecting  the  nomination  of  four  Con- 
ductors, two  Clerks,  and  one  Overseer  for  a  company  of 
Artificers  in  the  regiment  of  Artillery  ;  they  beg  leave  to 


recommend  the  following  persons  to  the  office  affixed  to 
their  names,  viz :  Mr.  John  Ruddock,  Mr.  John  Austin, 
Mr.  John  Knecland,  Mr.  Thomus  Uran,  Conductors  ;  Mr. 
Nathaniel  Barber,  Jun.,  Mr.  Isaac  Peirce,  Clerks;  Joseph 
Airs,  Overseer  of  the  Artificers. 

It  being  very  desirous  to  obtain  the  most  certain  accounts 
of  the  names  and  places  of  abode  of  the  persons  who  have 
been  killed  or  wounded  in  the  Battle  of  Lexington,  so  call- 
ed, on  the  19th  of  April  past,  and  at  any  time  since  ;  and  also 
of  all  such  as  may  be  killed  or  wounded  at  any  future  time 
during  the  present  unnatural  contest  between  Great  Bri- 
tain and  the  American  Colonies,  in  order  to  transmit  to 
future  generations  the  names  of  such  who  have  gloriously 
suffered  in  the  cause  of  liberty  and  their  Country  ;  to  effect 
which, 

Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  honourable 
Congress  to  order  that  the  Selectmen  of  the  several  Towns 
and  Districts  in  this  Colony  transmit,  from  time  to  time,  to 
this  or  some  future  Congress,  or  House  of  Representatives, 
the  names  and  addition  of  all  such  persons  who  have  been 
or  may  be  killed  or  wounded  as  above,  within  their  respec- 
tive Towns  and  Districts ;  and  that  they  severally  cause 
the  same  to  be  fairly  entered  upon  the  Town  and  District 
books. 

June  20,  1775. 

The  following  was  sent  the  Provincial  Congress,  viz  : 
"  The  Committee  being  informed  that  Capt.  John  Wiley, 
who  was  recommended  as  a  proper  person  for  the  com- 
mand of  a  company  in  the  Train,  has  not  skill  for  such  a 
trust,  and  that  the  company  will  leave  the  Army  unless 
some  other  person  is  appointed  to  said  command ;  your 
Honours  will  please  take  this  matter  into  consideration, 
and  act  thereon  as  you  in  your  wisdom  shall  judge  neces- 
sary." 

Resolved,  That  no  more  of  the  Militia  of  this  Colony 
march  than  are  called  for  by  express  orders  from  this  Com- 
mittee on  any  alarm  that  may  take  place. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Abner  Graves,  who  came  down  as 
a  Minute-man  on  the  20th  of  April  to  defend  his  Country, 
be  discharged,  and  he  accordingly  is  discharged. 

Voted,  That  a  Certificate  be  given  Samuel  Pool,  of 
Boston,  to  pass  the  Guards  to  the  Town  of  Littleton. 

The  following  Receipt  was  taken  from  Benjamin  Lin- 
coln, Esq.,  viz : 

"  Received  of  the  honourable  the  Committee  of  Safety 
thirty-seven  Blankets,  which  they  received  into  their  hands 
and  gave  their  receipt  for  them  to  Mr.  William  Vance. 

'■'  Received  by  me,  Benjamin  Lincoln." 

June  21,  1775. 

The  following  Resolve  was  transmitted  to  the  Select- 
men of  Newbury,  viz : 

"  Resolved,  That  Joseph  Adams,  driver  of  the  stage  from 
Newbury,  be  and  he  hereby  is  directed  to  transport  back 
to  Neivbury,  Elizabeth  Royal  and  her  child,  who,  as  she 
says,  is  wife  to  William  Royal,  First  Sergeant  in  the  Sixty- 
Third  Regiment  of  Foot,  now  in  Boston,  and  deliver  her 
to  the  care  of  the  Selectmen  of  said  Newbury,  who  are 
hereby  directed  to  provide  for  her  and  her  child  at  the  ex- 
pense of  this  Colony." 

Voted,  That  the  Quartermaster-General  be  directed  to 
order  nine  Horses,  in  the  Colony  service,  to  be  stabled  at 
Mr.  Hastings's  barn  this  night. 

Mr.  Thomas  Williams,  on  the  Colony  service  to  Mar- 
blehead,  had  an  order  on  the  Taverners  and  Innholders  lor 
the  necessary  supply  of  Provisions  for  man  and  horse. 

Colonel  Woodbridge  having  satisfied  this  Committee 
that  eight  Companies  belonging  to  his  Regiment  were  in 
good  forwardness,  it  was  recommended  to  the  honourable 
Congress  that  they  be  commissioned  accordingly. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  James  Monroe,  an  armourer  in  the 
Province  service,  take  into  his  keeping  a  parcel  of  old  iron, 
saved  out  of  the  Cutter  burned  at  Winnisimit  Ferry,  he 
to  be  accountable  to  the  Committee  for  the  same. 

Stephen  Frost,  Ensign  in  Captain  Lock's  Company  of 
Colonel  Gardner's  Regiment,  was  recommended  to  the 
honourable  Congress  for  a  commission. 


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MASSACHUSETTS  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY,  JUNE,  1775. 


1358 


Two  half  barrels  of  Powder  were  received  from  Bille- 
rica,  for  which  Colonel  Palmer  gave  a  receipt ;  said  Pow- 
der was  delivered  Major  Barber  of  the  Train. 

Whereas,  a  great  number  of  Horses  hav  e  been  from  time 
to  time  put  into  the  stables  and  yard  at  Mr.  Hastings's,  at 
Head-Quarters,  not  belonging  to  the  Colony,  to  the  Com- 
mittee of  Safety,  or  the  General  Officers,  their  Aids-de- 
Camp,  or  Post-Riders,  to  the  great  expense  of  the  pub- 
lick  and  inconvenience  of  the  Committee,  Generals,  &ic. ; 
therefore, 

Resolved,  That  no  Horses  be  hereafter  admitted  into 
said  stables  or  yard,  or  be  taken  from  thence,  but  only  by 
order  of  said  Committee  or  General  Officers. 

As  it  is  thought  of  great  importance  that  intelligence  of 
the  state  and  situation  *of  the  Army,  or  any  part  thereof, 
should,  at  all  times,  be  known  to  the  General  Officers,  and 
that  such  orders  as  may  be  sent  by  the  Generals  may  be 
communicated  with  all  speed  ;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  honourable 
Congress,  that  they  make  such  establishment  for  Aids-de- 
Camp  to  the  Generals,  as  to  them  in  their  wisdom  shall 
seem  meet. 

June  22,  1775. 

Samuel  Patch,  in  Colonel  William  Prescott's  Regiment, 
was  recommended  to  the  honourable  Congress  to  be  com- 
missioned as  a  Captain  ;  and  Zachary  Walker  and  Joshua 
Brown  as  Lieutenants  in  said  Regiment. 

Resolved,  That  it  be  and  it  hereby  is  recommended  to 
the  Town  of  Med  ford,  that  they  immediately  supply  Major 
Hale  with  as  many  Spades  and  Shovels  as  they  can  spare, 
as  it  is  of  importance  for  the  safety  of  this  Colony  that  the 
works  begun  on  Winter  Hill  be  finished  ;  and  will  be  re- 
tarded unless  soon  supplied  with  tools  of  that  kind. 

A  number  of  Colonel  Donaldson's  Officers  were  recom- 
mended to  the  honourable  Congress  to  be  commissioned, 
as  per  copy  on  file. 

June  23,  1775. 

Agreeable  to  a  Resolve  of  the  Provincial  Congress, 
orders  were  issued  to  the  Colonels  of  the  several  Regi- 
ments that  they  forthwith  make  return  of  the  officers  in 
their  respective  Regiments,  that  those  who  are  not  commis- 
sioned may  immediately  receive  their  commissions,  and  that 
the  vacancies,  if  any  such  there  are,  may  be  filled  up. 

A  Letter  from  General  Thomas,  recommending  a  Super- 
visor for  the  Armourers  at  Roxbury,  is  referred  over  to  Con- 
gress. 

The  following  was  voted  to  be  sent  to  the  Provincial 
Congress,  viz  : 

s:  This  Committee  beg  leave  to  represent  to  the  honour- 
able the  Provincial  Congress,  that  they  apprehend  it  abso- 
lutely necessary  for  the  safety  of  the  Colony  that  two 
persons  of  ability  and  prudence  be  appointed  to  superin- 
tend the  regular  supply  of  our  two  camps ;  one  of  them 
to  be  placed  in  the  camp  near  this  place,  and  the  other  at 
Roxbury;  whose  duty  it  shall  severally  be  constantly  to 
attend  said  camps,  and  examine  into  the  supplies  of  each 
Regiment,  to  see  that  such  supplies  are  properly  delivered 
out  in  time,  quantity  and  quality,  and  timeously  to  advise 
the  Commissary-General  when,  and  what  articles  of  sup- 
plies are  wanted  at  the  respective  camps;  all  which  is 
hereby  submitted." 

Colonel  Palmer  and  Colonel  Orne  appointed  a  Com- 
mittee to  join  a  Committee  from  the  Council  of  War,  to 
view  the  encampment  on  Prospect  Hill,  and  the  works 
carrying  on  there. 

This  day  was  lodged  with  this  Committee,  by  Captain 
Cyprian  How,  thirty  Fire-Arms,  sent  by  Captain  Josiah 
Stone,  of  Framingham,  for  which  a  receipt  was  given  by 
the  Secretary  of  this  Committee. 

Voted,  That  Mr.  Joseph  Jones,  of  Lancaster,  be  sup- 
plied with  Provisions  till  the  further  orders  of  the  Com- 
mittee, he  being  well  skilled  in  the  Train. 

The  following  Fire-Arms  were  received  from  the  Town 
of  Attleborough,  viz : 

One  Gun  from  Henry  Richardson,  appraised  at  17. 16s. ; 
one  of  Jacob  Perry,  at  1/.  13s. ;  one  of  George  Stanley, 
at  2/. ;  one  of  Amos  Stanley,  at  1/.  10s. ;  one  of  Samuel 
Freeman,  Jun.,  at  21. ;  one  of  Benjamin  Allen,  at  1/.  16s. ; 


one  "of  ditto,  at  1/.  4s.;  one  of  David  Richardson,  at 
21.  2s. ;  one  of  Ebenezer  Lane,  at  1/.  7s. ;  one  of  Elisha 
Gay,  at  21.  14s. ;  one  of  Daniel  Dagget,  21.  2s.  Total, 
207.  4s. 

The  following  Fire-Arms  were  received  from  the  Town 
of  Rehoboth,  viz : 

One  Gun  from  James  Daggett,  appraised  at  2/.  8s. ;  one 
of  Benjamin  Ridge,  at  21. 14s. ;  one  of  Elisha  Carpenter, 
at  1/.  4s.;  one  of  Nathan  Rounds,  at  21. 8s.;  one  of  Richard 
Whitteker,  at  1?.  19s.;  one  of  James  Dogget,  at  21.  2s.;  one 
of  Benjamin  Ridge,  at  17.  13s. ;  one  of  John  Wheeler,  at 
17.  13s. ;  one  of  William  Cole,  at  17. 13s. ;  one  of  Stephen 
Bullock,  at  27. 8s.    Total,  207.  2s. 

June  24,  1775. 

Ordered,  That  the  Commanding  Officer  who  has  the 
charge  of  the  Hay  on  John  Vassal,  Esquire's  estate,  be 
directed  to  supply  Mr.  Seth  Brown,  who  has  the  care  of 
the  Colony  Horses,  with  as  much  Hay  as  they  may  need 
for  their  consumption. 

A  Gun,  taken  up  after  the  late  action,  was  appraised  by 
the  Committee  at  ihirty  Shillings,  and  delivered  Colonel 
Brewer,  for  the  use  of  his  Regiment ;  for  which  he  gave 
his  receipt,  to  be  accountable  to  this  Committee,  in  the 
rough  minute  book. 

A  Gun,  appraised  at  two  Pounds,  fourteen  Shillings,  was 
delivered  Elisha  Frizel,  of  Captain  Robert  Oliver's  Com- 
pany, in  Colonel  Doo/ittle's  Regiment,  he  having  had  his 
Gun  split  in  the  late  engagement ;  a  receipt  was  taken  for 
the  same  in  the  rough  minute  book. 

A  number  of  Colonel  Prescott's  officers  were  recom- 
mended to  the  honourable  Congress  to  be  commissioned,  as 
by  list  on  file. 

Captain  Badlam,  of  a  Company  in  the  Train,  and  four 
Lieutenants,  were  recommended  to  the  honourable  Congress 
to  be  commissioned,  as  by  the  Captain's  return  on  file. 

Captain  Samuel  McCobb,  of  Colonel  Nixon's  Regiment, 
had  twenty  Fire-Arms  delivered  him,  appraised  by  the 
Towns  who  sent  them  at  thirty-seven  Pounds,  twelve  Shil- 
lings, for  which  he  gave  his  receipt  in  the  rough  minute 
book,  to  be  accountable  to  this  Committee. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Brown,  the  keeper  of  the  Colony 
Horses,  do  not  admit  any  Horses  into  the  Stables  of  John 
Vassal,  Esquire,  but  such  as  are  the  property  of  this 
Colony. 

Resolved,  That  the  Overseer,  and  such  a  part  of  the 
Company  of  Artificers  under  his  direction  as  may  be  neces- 
sary, be  posted  in  Newton,  in  buildings  of  Mr.  John  Pigeon, 
for  the  purpose  of  carrying  on  their  business;  and  what  loss 
said  Pigeon  shall  sustain  in  consequence  of  said  Artificers 
being  placed  there,  this  Committee  will  use  their  influ- 
ence that  the  damage  so  sustained  be  reimbursed  by  this 
Colony. 

Resolved,  That  the  Cannon  in  this  and  the  Town  of 
Watertoivn ,  not  mounted,  and  all  other  Military  Stores  not 
wanted  for  present  use,  be  removed  forthwith  to  the  Town 
of  Newton,  where  the  Artificers  are  to  carry  on  their 
works. 

Voted,  That  Mr.  Pigeon,  the  Commissary-General,  have 
the  care  and  direction  of  removing  the  spare  Military  Stores 
to  Watertown. 

A  Gun,  said  to  have  belonged  to  James  Boynton,  was 
delivered  to  Eliphalet  Cole,  in  Captain  Parly's  Company, 
in  Colonel  Fry's  Regiment. 

A  Gun  was  delivered  to  Aaron  Cromby,  in  Captain 
Gridley's  Company  of  the  Train. 

Eighty-four  Fire-Arms,  collected  from  several  Towns, 
were  received  of  Mr.  Thomas  Cowden,  for  the  use  of  this 
Colony,  for  which  a  receipt  was  given  him  by  Mr.  Watso?i 
of  this  Committee. 

June  25,  1775. 

The  following  Letter  was  sent  to  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress : 

"In  Committee  of  Safety,  Cambridge,  June  25,  1775. 
"  Whereas,  Mr.  Pigeon,  the  Commissary-General,  has 
represented  to  this  Committee  that  the  publick  service  will 
be  promoted  by  a  faithful  person  being  appointed  as  a 


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1360 


supervisor  of  the  camp,  for  reasons  offered  :  upon  consider- 
ation of  which,  and  for  other  reasons,  this  Committee  beg 
leave  to  represent  to  the  honourable  Congress  that  they 
apprehend  it  absolutely  necessary,  for  the  safety  of  this 
Colony,  that  two  persons  of  known  ability  and  prudence 
be  appointed  to  superintend  the  regular  supply  of  our  two 
camps,  (one  of  them  to  be  placed  in  the  camp  near  this 
place,  and  the  other  at  or  near  Roxbury,)  whose  duty  it 
shall  severally  be,  constantly  to  attend  said  camps  and  ex- 
amine into  the  supplies  of  each  Regiment,  to  see  that  such 
supplies  are  properly  delivered  out  in  time,  quantity,  and 
quality,  and  timeously  to  advise  the  Commissary-General 
when  and  what  articles  of  supplies  are  wanted  at  the  respec- 
tive camps,  and  also  to  take  care  that  the  empty  casks  are 
saved  and  returned  to  the  Commissary-General's  office  for 
further  service,  and  in  general  to  do  all  the  service  to  the 
publick  which  such  appointment  requires.  All  which  is 
humbly  submitted.  Benj.  White,  Chairman. 

"  To  the  Honourable  Provincial  Congress,  Watertown." 

June  26,  1775. 

Twenty  Small-Arms  were  delivered  Capt.  Lemuel  Tres- 
cott,  of  Colonel  Jonathan  Brewer's  Regiment,  for  the  use 
of  his  Company,  for  which  he  gave  a  receipt  in  the  minute 
book,  to  be  accountable  when  called  upon  therefor. 

Sixty  Small-Arms  were  delivered  Capt.  William  Hud- 
son Ballard,  for  the  use  of  his  Company,  in  Colonel  Fry's 
Regiment,  for  which  he  gave  a  receipt,  to  be  accountable 
when  called  upon  therefor. 

Colonel  Moses  Little  having  made  return  to  this  Com- 
mittee of  a  Lieutenant-Colonel,  Major,  ten  Captains,  and 
twenty  Lieutenants,  it  was  recommended  to  the  honourable 
Congress  that  they  be  commissioned  accordingly. 

Three  Small-Arms  were  delivered  Capt.  John  Nutting, 
for  the  use  of  his  Company,  in  Colonel  Prescott's  Regi- 
ment, amounting,  by  appraisement,  to  seven  Pounds,  ten 
Shillings,  for  which  he  gave  a  receipt  in  the  minute  book, 
to  be  accountable  when  called  upon  therefor. 

Six  Small-Arms  were  delivered  Lieutenant  Whitney  for 
the  use  of  Captain  FarwelVs  Company,  in  Colonel  Pres- 
cott's  Regiment,  for  the  use  of  said  Company,  amounting 
as  by  appraisement  to  thirteen  Pounds,  twelve  Shillings, 
for  which  a  receipt  was  given  by  the  Lieutenant  in  the 
minute  book. 

Six  Small-Arms  were  delivered  Captain  Joshua  Parker, 
of  Colonel  Prescott's  Regiment,  for  the  use  of  his  Com- 
pany, amounting  as  by  appraisement  to  thirteen  Pounds, 
eight  Shillings,  lor  which  he  gave  a  receipt,  to  be  account- 
able to  the  Committee  when  called  upon  therefor. 

Ten  Small- Arms  were  delivered  Captain  Asa  Lawrence 
for  the  use  of  his  Company,  in  Colonel  Prescott's  Regi- 
ment, appraised  at  nineteen  Pounds,  three  Shillings,  for 
which  he  gave  a  receipt  to  be  accountable  to  this  Colony, 
which  receipt  is  on  file. 

Three  Small-Arms  for  the  use  of  Captain  Wy man's 
Company,  in  Colonel  Prescott's  Regiment,  was  delivered 
his  Lieutenant,  amounting  by  appraisement  to  five  Pounds, 
for  which  he  gave  a  receipt  in  the  minute  book,  to  be  ac- 
countable when  called  upon  therefor. 

Three  Small-Arms,  for  the  use  of  Captain  Oliver  Par- 
ker's Company,  in  Colonel  Prescott's  Regiment,  were  de- 
livered said  Parker,  amounting,  as  per  appraisement,  to 
four  Pounds,  nine  Shillings,  and  four  Pence,  for  which  a 
receipt  was  taken  in  the  minute  book. 

Whereas,  this  Committee  find  the  publick  Hospital  in 
this  Town  has  been  much  neglected,  to  the  great  injury  of 
the  patients  in  said  Hospital,  occasioned  for  the  want  of 
some  suitable  persons  being  placed  there  as  Surgeon  ;  there- 
fore, 

Resolved,  That  Doctor  John  Warren  be,  and  he  hereby 
is  appointed  to  the  oversight  of  said  Hospital,  and  that  be 
take  proper  care  such  provision  be  made  as  may  be  neces- 
sary for  the  comfortable  support  of  the  patients  in  said 
Hospital,  until  further  orders. 

Fifty-eight  Small-Arms,  amounting  by  appraisement  to 
one  hundred  and  nine  Pounds,  fifteen  Shillings,  were  de- 
livered Colonel  Asa  Whitcomb,  for  the  use  of  his  Regiment, 
and  a  receipt  taken  for  the  same  in  the  minute  book. 


June  27,  1775. 

Passed  upon  John  Chandler  Williams's  account,  em- 
ployed as  a  Rider  in  the  service  of  this  Colony,  amounting 
to  lour  Pounds,  four  Shillings,  and  six  Pence,  as  by  copy 
thereof  on  file. 

The  following  vote,  passed  the  seventeenth  instant,  was 
laid  before  the  Committee  of  Supplies,  viz  : 

"  As  in  consequence  of  our  late  movements  a  constant  fire 
is  kept  up  on  the  Colony  Troops,  we  think  it  necessary  that 
there  should  be  quick  intelligence  brought  to  Head-Quar- 
ters from  the  scene  of  action.  We  therefore  desire  that  this 
Committee  may  be  immediately  furnished  with  four  of  the 
best  riding  Horses  lor  the  service  aforesaid." 

It  was  recommended  to  the  honourable  the  Provincial 
Congress  that  William  Dana  be  commissioned  as  Captain- 
Lieutenant,  Mr.  Treadwell  as  First  Lieutenant,  Jonas  Si- 
mons Second  Lieutenant,  and  William  Stevens  as  Third 
Lieutenant,  in  Captain  Edward  Craft's  Company  of  the 
Train,  in  Colonel  Gridley's  Regiment. 

A  Gun  was  taken  for  the  use  of  the  Colony,  which  was 
owned  by  Aaron  Barr,  of  Merryfield,  who  died  of  the 
wounds  he  received  in  the  battle  of  Bunker's  Hill,  which 
Gun  has  been  valued  by  this  Committee  at  thirty-six  Shil- 
lings, lawful  money. 

One  hundred  and  twenty-four  Small-Arms  were  received 
of  Mr.  Abiah  Sadler,  and  ten  of  Captain  Stone,  collected 
by  them  for  the  service  of  this  Colony,  amounting  by  ap- 
praisement to  two  hundred  and  fifty-one  Pounds,  fourteen 
Shillings,  and  eight  Pence,  for  which  receipts  were  given 
by  Mr.  Watson. 

June  28,  1775. 

Two  Small- Arms  were  delivered  Colonel  Samuel  Ger- 
rish,  for  the  use  of  his  Regiment,  amounting,  as  by  ap- 
praised value,  to  three  Pounds,  three  Shillings,  for  which  a 
receipt  was  taken  in  the  minute  book. 

The  following  is  a  Resolve  of  the  Provincial  Congress 
relative  to  supplying  the  Army  with  Small- Arms,  viz: 

"  In  Provincial  Congress,  Watertown,  June  2G,  1775. 

"  Whereas,  this  Congress  has  ordered  a  number  of  Fire- 
Arms  to  be  furnished  from  several  Towns  and  Districts  in 
this  Colony,  to  be  forwarded  to  the  Army  to  supply  those 
who  are  destitute  of  Arms ;  but  no  provision  is  made  for 
delivering  them  out  and  taking  proper  receipts  for  the 
same ;  therefore 

"  Resolved,  That  all  the  Small-Arms  that  are  or  may  be 
procured  by  the  above  order,  be  delivered  to  the  Committee 
of  Safety  at  Cambridge,  they  to  give  their  receipts  for  the 
same  to  the  person  from  whom  they  receive  them ;  that  the 
same  be  delivered  out  to  such  Officers  as  shall  produce 
orders  therefor  from  the  Honourable  General  (lard,  they 
giving  receipts  for  the  same  to  the  said  Committee  of  Safety; 
to  be  returned  in  good  order,  unless  lost  in  the  service  of 
the  Colony.  And  every  Soldier  who  shall  receive  any 
such  Fire-Arms,  shall  give  his  receipt  for  the  same  to  the 
Officers  from  whom  he  shall  receive  it,  to  be  returned  as 
aforesaid,  and  the  Officer  shall  return  the  said  receipt  to 
the  Committee  of  Safety.  And  in  case  the  same  shall  not 
be  returned  at  the  close  of  the  campaign,  or  sooner,  the 
value  of  the  said  Fire-Arms  shall  be  deducted  out  of  the 
wages  of  the  person  receiving  the  same  ;  and  that  the  Com- 
mittee of  Safety  shall  appraise  all  such  Arms  as  have  not 
already  been  appraised,  and  take  an  account  of  the  whole. 

"By  order  of  Congress: 

"James  Warren,  President.'' 

The  following  was  received  from  General  Ward  in  con- 
sequence of  the  above  vote  of  Congress,  viz : 

"  [General  Orders.]      Ilend-Quarters,  Cambridge,  Juno  28,  1775. 

"That  the  commanding  officer  of  each  Regiment  make 
application  to  the  Committee  of  Safety  for  so  many  Fire- 
Anns  as  their  respective  Regiments  stand  in  need  of,  each 
commanding  officer  to  give  his  receipt  for  the  Fire- Arms 
he  may  receive  ;  and  the  Committee  of  Safety  are  hereby 
ordered  to  deliver  out  Amis  to  such  commanding  officers 
as  make  application  to  them  for  the  same.  Per  order: 
"  Samuel  Osgood,  Major  of  Brigade." 

In  consequence  of  the  above  order  of  the  Council  of 
War,  the  following  Protest  was  entered,  and  a  copy  of 
the  same,  together  with  the  other  proceedings,  were,  by  a 


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MASSACHUSETTS  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY*,  JUNE,  1775. 


1362 


vote  of  this  Committee,  laid  before  the  honourable  Con- 
gress, viz: 

Whereas,  the  Provincial  Congress  did,  on  the  twenty- 
sixth  instant,  pass  a  Resolve,  "That  all  the  Small-Anns 
that  are  or  may  be  procured  by  the  above  order  (men- 
tioned in  said  Resolve)  be  delivered  to  the  Committee  of 
Safety  at  Cambridge,  they  to  give  their  receipt  for  the  same 
to  the  person  from  whom  they  received  them,  that  the  same 
may  be  delivered  out  to  such  officers  as  shall  produce  orders 
therefor  from  the  Honourable  General  Ward,  Sic.:" 

And  whereas  the  Honourable  General  Ward,  in  conse- 
quence of  that  part  of  the  above  quotation  which  is  scored, 
this  day  issued  General  Orders,  in  which  are  these  words : 
"  And  the  Committee  of  Safety  are  hereby  ordered  to  de- 
liver out  Arms  to  such  commanding  officers  as  make  appli- 
cation to  them  for  the  same  :" 

And  whereas  this  Committee  apprehend  that  said  Re- 
solve does  not  empower  the  General  to  order  them  to  de- 
liver said  Arms,  but  only  to  order  his  officers  to  receive 
from  the  Committee  such  Arms  as  they  are  ordered  by  the 
honourable  Congress  to  deliver  to  the  General's  orders  to 
his  officers: 

And  whereas  the  Committee  apprehend  that  it  is  of  vast 
importance  that  no  orders  are  issued  by  the  military,  or 
obeyed  by  the  civil  powers,  but  only  such  as  are  directed 
by  the  honourable  Representative  Body  of  the  People, 
from  whom  all  military  and  civil  power  originates ;  and 
though  this  Committee  are  satisfied  that  General  IVard  has 
misunderstood  said  Resolve,  and  does  not  mean  or  intend 
to  set  up  the  military  power  above  the  civil ;  yet,  lest  this 
order  of  the  General's  should  be  adduced  as  a  precedent  in 
future,  we  think  it  our  indispensable  duty  to  protest  against 
the  General's  said  order.  Notwithstanding  which  protest, 
we  also  think  it  our  indispensable  duty  to  deliver  said  Arms 
agreeable  to  the  spirit  of  said  Resolve,  and  as  the  exigency 
of  the  publick  requires,  and  submit  our  conduct  to  the 
honourable  Congress. 

Forty-three  Small-Arms,  amounting  as  by  appraisement 
to  seventy-nine  Pounds,  two  Shillings,  and  four  Pence,  were 
delivered  to  Colonel  Gardner  for  the  use  of  his  Regiment, 
and  a  receipt  taken  for  the  same  in  the  minute  book  from 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Bond. 

Thirty  Small-Arms  were  delivered  Major  Brooks  for  the 
use  of  Colonel  Bridges's  Regiment,  amounting  as  by  ap- 
praisement to  fifty-five  Pounds,  nineteen  Shillings,  and  six 
Pence,  for  which  he  gave  a  receipt  to  be  accountable  to 
this  Colony,  which  receipt  is  on  the  files  of  the  Committee. 

Nine  Small-Arms  were  delivered  Colonel  William  Pres- 
cott  for  the  use  of  his  Regiment,  amounting  as  by  appraise- 
ment to  seventeen  Pounds,  nine  Shillings,  for  which  a 
receipt  was  given  in  the  minute  book. 

Twenty-five  Small-Arms  were  delivered  Colonel  Frye 
for  the  use  of  his  Regiment,  amounting  as  by  appraise- 
ment to  forty-nine  Pounds,  eight  Shillings,  and  two  Pence, 
for  which  he  gave  a  receipt  to  be  accountable  to  this  Colony, 
which  receipt  is  on  the  minute  book. 

Twenty-five  Small-Arms  were  delivered  Colonel  John 
Glover  for  the  use  of  his  Regiment,  amounting  as  by  ap- 
praisement to  forty-six  Pounds,  twelve  Shillings,  and  eight 
Pence,  for  which  he  gave  a  receipt  in  the  minute  book  to 
be  accountable  to  this  Colony. 

Received  of  Major  Barber,  Storekeeper  for  the  Trains, 
by  order  of  the  Provincial  Congress,  thirty-two  Small- 
Arms,  amounting  as  by  appraisement  to  

June  29,  1775. 

Mr.  Devens  and  Colonel  Orne,  appointed  to  draw  up  a 
Vote  relative  to  Captain  Trevet  and  Company,  reported 
the  following,  which  was  accepted,  viz: 

Whereas,  from  a  mistake  made  by  one  of  the  General 
Officers,  Capt.  Samuel  Russell  Trevet  has  been  put  under 
arrest,  which  mistake  is  set  forth  in  a  Certificate  by  order 
of  the  General ;  and  upon  examination  it  appears  that  said 
Trevet  has  approved  himself  a  good  officer,  but  said  mis- 
take has  unhappily  operated  to  the  dispersion  of  his  Com- 
pany; therefore 

Resolved,  That  said  Captain  Trevet  be  directed  to  col- 
lect his  said  Company  as  soon  as  possible,  and  then  apply 
to  this  Committee  in  order  to  be  commissioned. 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii.  1 


This  Committee  being  greatly  alarmed  at  the  danger  of 
the  Small-Pox  spreading  in  the  American  Army,  which, 
should  it  take  place,  we  fear  may  be  attended  with  very 
fatal  consequences  to  this  Colony  and  Continent ;  there- 
fore, 

Resolved,  That  it  be  earnestly  recommended  to  the  ho- 
nourable Congress  to  take  such  speedy  and  effectual  mea- 
sures to  prevent  a  communication  of  that  very  dangerous 
and  distressing  distemper  from  the  Small-Pox  Hospital  to 
the  Army,  or  to  the  inhabitants  of  this  Colony,  as  to  them 
in  their  wisdom  may  seem  meet. 

Whereas,  sundry  persons,  who  in  the  exigences  of  our 
publick  affairs  have  been  employed  in  the  service  of  this 
Colony,  are  from  time  to  time  exhibiting  their  Accounts  to 
this  Committee  in  order  for  payment ;  therefore 

Resolved,  That  said  Accounts  be  transmitted  to  the 
honourable  Congress,  that  this  matter  be  taken  into  their 
consideration,  and  that  such  order  pass  thereon  as  their 
wisdom  may  dictate. 

June  30, 1775. 

One  hundred  and  fifty-two  Small-Arms  were  received  of 
Captain  William  Gage,  collected  by  him  for  the  use  of  this 

Colony,  amounting  as  by  appraised  value  to  , 

for  which  a  receipt  was  given  him  by  Mr.  Watson. 

Mr.  Samuel  West  was  recommended  to  the  honourable 
Congress  to  be  commissioned  as  Second  Lieutenant  in  Cap- 
tain Abner  Cransoii's  Company,  in  Col.  Asa  Whitcomb's 
Regiment. 

Forty  Small- Arms  were  delivered  Colonel  John  Patter- 
son, for  the  use  of  his  Regiment,  amounting  as  by  appraise- 
ment, to  seventy-eight  Pounds,  sixteen  Shillings,  and  four 
Pence,  for  which  a  receipt  was  given  in  the  minute  book. 

Fifty-one  Small-Arms  were  delivered  Colonel  James 
Scammon,  for  the  use  of  his  Regiment,  amounting  as  by 
appraisement  to  ninety-seven  Pounds,  eighteen  Shillings, 
and  eight  Pence,  for  which  Guns  a  receipt  was  taken  in  the 
minute  book. 

Three  Small-Arms,  for  the  use  of  this  Colonyr,  were  re- 
ceived of  Colonel  Simeon  Spalding,  amounting  as  by  ap- 
praisement to  five  Pounds,  four  Shillings. 

W'hereas,  the  honourable  Provincial  Congress  has  this 
day  passed  a  Resolve  appointing  this  Committee  to  be  a 
Committee  to  consider  of  a  further  emission  of  Notes  or 
Bills  of  Credit,  as  mentioned  in  said  Resolve  ;  but  the  Com- 
mittee finding  themselves  unable  to  proceed  in  this  busi- 
ness without  a  more  perfect  knowledge  of  the  emissions 
lately  made,  both  in  quantity  and  circumstances  of  payment ; 
and  also  for  want  of  sufficient  knowledge  of  the  demands 
made,  or  to  be  made  upon  the  Colony,  do 

Resolve,  That  Colonel  Palmer  attend  the  honourable 
Congress  to-morrow,  in  order  to  obtain  all  necessary  light 
in  the  premises. 

W'hereas,  a  considerable  number  of  Whale-Boats  have 
been  procured  for  the  service  of  this  Colony,  and  many  of 
them  are  said  to  be  now  in  the  Towns  of  Braintree  and 
Weymouth,  and  unless  proper  care  be  taken  of  said  Boats 
they  will  probably  sustain  great  damage  ;  therefore 

Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  honourable 
Congress  that  such  order  be  taken  respecting  said  Boats  as 
their  wisdom  may  direct. 

This  Committee  beg  leave  to  suggest  to  the  honourable 
Congress,  wrhether  the  Magazine,  wherein  Gunpowder  is 
deposited,  ought  not  to  be  guarded  by  Electrical  Points. 
As  any  considerable  loss  in  that  article  would  deeplyr  affect 
the  publick,  this  is  humbly  submitted. 

Twenty-seven  Small-Arms,  for  the  use  of  this  Colony, 
were  received  of  Mr.  Benjamin  Ely,  for  which  a  receipt 
was  given  by  the  Secretary  of  this  Committee ;  which 
Guns  were  collected  by  order  of  Congress,  and  amount  by 
appraisement  to   

Forty-four  Small-Arms,  for  the  use  of  this  Colony,  were 
received  of  Mr.  Bliss,  for  which  a  receipt  was  given  him 
by  the  Secretary'  of  this  Committee ;  which  Guns  were 
collected  by  order  of  Congress,  and  amount  by  appraise- 
ment to  

Voted,  That  the  Commissary-General  be  directed  to 
supply  Head-Quarters  with  Provisions  as  usual,  till  the 
further  order  of  this  Committee. 


1363 


MASSACHUSETTS  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY,  JULY,  1715. 


1361 


July  1,  1775. 

Forty-nine  Small- Arms,  for  tlie  useof  tlie  Colony,  were 
received  from  the  Rev.  Mr.  Lemuel  Kellock,  for  which  a 
receipt  was  given  by  Mr.  Dcvcns;  which  Guns  were  col- 
lected by  order  of  Congress,  and  amount  by  appraisement 
to  

Fifteen  Small-Arms  were  delivered  Colonel  Buggies 
Woodbridge,  for  the  use  of  his  Regiment,  amounting  as  by 
appraisement  to  twenty-nine  Pounds,  sixteen  Shillings,  and 
eight  Pence,  for  which  Guns  a  receipt  was  taken  in  tlie 
minute  book. 

Voted,  That  two  thirds  of  the  Hay  under  the  care  of 
Mr.  David  Sanger  be  brought  to  Head-Quarters,  and  one 
third  carried  to  the  Committee  of  Supplies  at  Watertown. 

Six  Small-Arms  were  received  of  Mr.  Abmr  Ellis,  for 
the  use  of  this  Colony,  amounting  as  by  appraisement  to 
.  .  .  .,  for  which  a  receipt  was  given  by  the  Secretary  of 
this  Committee. 

Forty-four  Small-Arms  were  received  of  Benjamin  Ely, 
by  the  hands  of  Mr.  Solomon  Edwards,  for  the  use  of  this 
Colony,  for  which  a  receipt  was  given  by  the  Secretary  ; 
which  Arms  were  collected  by  order  of  Congress,  and 
amount  as  by  appraisement  to  

Eight  Small-Arms  were  received  of  Colonel  John  Dick- 
inson, by  the  hands  of  Benjamin  Scott,  Jun.,  for  the  use 

of  this  Colony,  amounting  by  receipt  to  ,  for 

which  a  receipt  was  given  by  the  Secretary. 

Captain  Jacob  Miller  was  recommended  to  the  honour- 
able Congress  as  a  Captain  in  Colonel  Doolittle's  Regi- 
ment, in  the  room  of  Captain  Leeland,  who  has  resigned. 

Seventy-one  Small-Arms  were  delivered  Colonel  David 
Brewer  for  the  use  of  his  Regiment,  amounting  as  by 
appraisement  to  one  hundred  and  thirty-eight  Pounds,  six 
Shillings,  which  Guns  he  engaged  should  be  returned  in 
good  order,  unless  lost  in  the  service  of  this  Colony,  as 
per  his  receipt  in  the  minute  book. 

Thirteen  Small-Arms  were  delivered  Colonel  Jonathan 
Brewer  for  the  use  of  his  Regiment,  amounting  as  by  ap- 
praisement to  twenty-six  Pounds,  seven  Shillings,  for  which 
a  receipt  was  taken  in  the  minute  book. 

July  2,  1775. 

One  hundred  Small- Arms  were  delivered  Col.  Glover 
for  the  use  of  his  Regiment,  amounting  as  by  appraisement 
to  one  hundred  and  ninety-two  Pounds,  eleven  Shillings ; 
which  Guns  he  engaged  should  be  returned  in  good  order, 
unless  lost  in  the  service  of  this  Colony,  as  by  his  receipt 
in  the  minute  book. 

One  hundred  and  seven  Small-Arms  were  received  of 
Daniel  Hemmingway,  by  the  hands  of  Mr.  John  Elder,  for 
the  use  of  this  Colony,  for  which  a  receipt  was  given  by 
Mr.  Abraham  Watson. 

July  3,  1775. 

Twenty-six  Small-Arms  were  delivered  Colonel  James 
Fry  for  the  use  of  his  Regiment,  amounting  by  appraise- 
ment to  fifty-five  Pounds,  four  Shillings,  for  which  a  receipt 
was  given  in  the  minute  book. 

Ten  Small-Arms  were  delivered  Colonel  Ephraim  Doo- 
Httle  for  the  use  of  his  Regiment,  amounting  as  by  appraise- 
ment to  twenty -two  Pounds,  eighteen  Shillings,  for  which  a 
receipt  was  taken  in  the  minute  book. 

One  Gun,  for  the  use  of  Colonel  Gardner's  Regiment, 
was  delivered  Lieutenant-Colonel  Bond,  amounting  by  ap- 
praisement to  two  Pounds,  fourteen  Shillings,  for  which  a 
receipt  was  taken  in  the  minute  book. 

Ten  Small-Arms  were  delivered  Colonel  Moses  Little 
for  the  use  of  his  Regiment,  amounting  by  appraisement 
to  twenty-two  Pounds,  one  Shilling,  and  four  Pence,  for 
which  a  receipt  was  given  in  the  minute  book. 

Two  Small-Arms  were  delivered  Colonel  Moses  Little, 
for  the  use  of  his  Regiment,  amounting,  as  by  appraisement, 
to  four  Pounds,  four  Shillings,  for  which  a  receipt  was  taken 
in  the  minute  book. 

Thirteen  Guns  were  received  of  Mr.  Benjamin  Ely,  by 
the  hands  of  Mr.  John  Eaton,  collected  by  order  of  Con- 
gress, for  which  a  receipt  was  given  him. 

Fifteen  Small-Arms  were  delivered  Colonel  William 


Prescott,  for  the  use  of  his  Regiment,  amounting,  by  ap- 
praisement, to  twenty-nine  Pounds  sixteen  Shillings,  for 
which  a  receipt  was  given  in  the  minute  book. 

A  number  of  officers  in  Colonel  Woodbridge 's  Regiment 
were  recommended  to  the  honourable  Congress  to  be  com- 
missioned, as  by  return  on  file. 

Whereas,  Mr.  Edmund  Quincy,  of  Stougtonhum,  repre- 
sented to  this  Committee  that  sundry  household  goods  and 
other  effects,  now  or  late  the  property  of  Thomas  Hutchin- 
son, Esq.,  and  other  persons  publickly  known  to  be  also 
enemies  to  the  rights  and  liberties  of  America,  are  hid  in 
several  places  in  and  near  Milton,  which  property  will 
probably  be  lost  or  wasted,  unless  proper  care  is  taken  of 
the  same  for  such  persons  as  may  hereafter  justly  claim  the 
same ;  therefore, 

Besolved,  That  said  Quincy  be,  and  hereby  is  empow- 
ered to  receive  and  convey  to  this  Committee,  at  Cam- 
bridge, all  such  goods  and  effects  as  aforesaid,  for  the  use 
of  such  person  or  persons  as  the  honourable  Congress,  or 
some  future  Congress  or  House  of  Representatives  of  this 
Colony  may  order ;  he  also  producing  to  this  Committee, 
the  Congress,  or  House  of  Representatives,  an  account  of 
all  the  articles  he  may  so  receive,  the  names  of  the  persons 
from  whom  he  may  receive  the  same,  and  an  account  of  the 
charges  that  may  arise  from  such  salvage  and  removal ; 
and  he  also  is  hereby  empowered  to  press,  if  necessary, 
such  teams  as  may  be  needed  for  removing  such  effects. 

Also,  Besolved,  That  this  be  immediately  transmitted 
by  the  hands  of  said  Quincy  to  the  honourable  Congress 
now  sitting  at  Watertown,  for  their  approbation  or  disap- 
probation. 

Hcnrius  Vomhavi,  an  Indian,  having  represented  to 
this  Committee,  that  he  had  taken  two  horses  at  Noddle's 
Island,  one  a  little  horse,  which  he  is  desirous  of  retaining 
as  some  recompense  for  his  fatigue  and  risk  in  that  action, 
in  which  it  is  said  he  behaved  with  great  bravery:  Tt  is 
the  opinion  of  this  Committee  that  said  Indian  should  be 
gratified  in  his  request,  which  will  be  an  encouragement  to 
others  in  the  service,  provided  the  honourable  Congress 
should  approve  thereof. 

Passed  upon  Mr.  William  White's  Account,  a  person 
employed  by  this  Committee  as  a  Rider  in  the  Colony 
service,  which  account  amounted  to  six  Pounds,  thirteen 
Shillings,  and  four  Pence,  and  a  certificate  was  given  him 
accordingly. 

Thirty-nine  Small-Arms  were  delivered  Colonel  Jona- 
than Brewer,  for  the  use  of  his  Regiment,  amounting,  by 
appraisement,  to  sixty-eight  Pounds,  eighteen  Shillings,  and 
eight  Pence,  for  which  a  receipt  was  taken  in  the  minute 
book. 

July  4,  1775. 

Mr.  George  Armstrong,  who  brought  in  a  company  of 
Minute-Men,  and  has  been  in  the  Army  since  the  first 
alarm,  having  desired  leave  of  absence  from  the  camp  for 
some  time,  leave  was  accordingly  granted  him  ;  and  an 
order  was  given  the  said  Armstrong  on  the  Taverners  and 
Innholders  on  the  road  to  Murraysjie/d,  to  supply  him  with 
the  necessary  provisions  on  his  return  home. 

Mr.  Elcazcr  Wier  was  directed  to  deliver  Benjamin 
Willing  one  dozen  and  a  half  of  Files,  for  the  use  of  the 
Armourers  now  working  at  Mr.  Gideon  Frost's  shop. 

Voted,  That  Mr.  David  Sanger  be  directed  to  fill  the 
Widow  VussaVs  barn  with  Hay. 

Nine  Small-Arms  were  delivered  Colonel  Joseph  Bead, 
for  the  use  of  his  Regiment,  amounting,  as  by  appraisement, 
to  seventeen  Pounds,  fourteen  Shillings,  for  which  Guns  a 
receipt  was  taken  in  the  minute  book. 

Four  Guns  were  delivered  Colonel  Moses  Little,  for  the 
use  of  his  Regiment,  amounting,  as  by  appraisement,  to 
nine  Pounds,  two  Shillings,  for  which  a  receipt  was  taken 
in  the  minute  book. 

July  5,  1775. 

Thirty-seven  Fire-Arms  were  received  from  Major 
Ebenezcr  White,  which  Guns  were  collected  by  order  of 
Congress,  and  amount,  as  by  appraisement,  to  eighty-five 
Pounds,  seven  Shillings. 

Thirty-seven  Small-Arms,  valued  at  eighty-five  Pounds, 


1365 


MASSACHUSETTS  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY,  JULY,  1775. 


1366 


seven  Shillings,  were  delivered  General  Thomas,  for  the 
use  of  his  Regiment,  as  by  his  receipt  on  file. 

Six  Small-Arms  were  delivered  Colonel  William  Pres- 
cott,  for  the  use  of  his  Regiment,  amounting,  by  appraise- 
ment, to  eleven  Pounds,  six  Shillings,  for  which  a  receipt 
was  taken  in  the  minute  book. 

Four  Small-Arms  were  delivered  Colonel  William 
Prescott,  for  the  use  of  his  Regiment,  amounting,  as  per 
appraisement,  to  eight  Pounds,  fourteen  Shillings,  lor  which 
a  receipt  was  taken  in  the  minute  book. 

Ten  Small- Arms  were  delivered  Colonel  Moses  Little, 
for  the  use  of  his  Regiment,  amounting,  by  appraisement, 
to  eighteen  Pounds,  seven  Shillings,  and  four  Pence,  for 
which  a  receipt  was  taken  in  the  minute  book. 

Passed  upon  John  Bulfinch  and  twelve  other  persons' 
Accounts,  who  worked  with  Jeremiah  Russell,  amounting, 
in  the  whole,  to  forty-four  Pounds,  eight  Shillings,  and 
eight  Pence,  for  which  a  certificate  was  given  them  for  the 
Committee  of  Accounts. 

Voted,  That  Joseph  Bates  have  liberty  to  cut  thirty  hun- 
dred of  Hay  on  John  Vassal,  Esquire's  estate  in  Cambridge, 
he  to  be  accountable  therefor ;  and  that  Samuel  Sanger, 
who  has  the  care  of  the  Hay,  be  directed  accordingly. 

Eight  Guns,  collected  in  Princetown,  were  received  of 
Mr.  Ephraim  Woolson,  by  the  hand  of  Sylvanus  Oak, 
amounting,  by  appraisement,  to  fourteen  Pounds,  seven 
Shillings,  for  which  a  receipt  was  given  him  by  the  Secre- 
tary. 

July  6,  1775. 

Voted,  That  Joseph  and  Parsons  Smith  be  allowed  to 
cut,  each,  one  ton  of  English  Hay  and  one  ton  of  black 
Grass,  on  the  estate  of  John  Vassal,  Esq.,  in  Cambridge, 
they  to  be  accountable  therefor ;  and  that  Mr.  David 
Sanger  be  directed  accordingly. 

A  Hand  Vice,  Screw  Plate  and  Pins,  were  purchased  of 
Mr.  Richard  Estes,  for  the  use  of  the  Armourers,  amount- 
ing, as  by  receipt  in  the  minute  book,  to  eight  Shillings. 

Mr.  Seth  Brown  was  directed  and  empowered  to  clear 
the  Widow  Vassal's  barns  for  the  reception  of  Hay  and 
Horses  in  the  Colony  service ;  and  also  to  prevent  Horses 
feeding  in  the  pastures  owned  by  said  widow. 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  Hicks  was  paid  four  Shillings  by  Mr. 
JJcvens  for  bringing  up  a  Boat  from  Charlestown,  as  by 
receipt  on  file. 

Voted,  That  Mr.  Fish,  who  has  the  care  of  Jonathan 
Sewall's  farm,  have  liberty  to  cut  on  said  farm  one  ton  of 
English  and  two  tons  of  salt  Hay;  and  that  Mr.  David 
Sanger  be  directed  accordingly. 

Voted,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  honourable  Pro- 
vincial Congress  to  pass  the  following  Resolve  : 

Whereas,  the  exigences  of  this  Colony  require  that  there 
should  be,  as  soon  as  possible,  an  emission  of  Bills  of 
Credit ;  therefore, 

Resolved,  that  there  be  immediately  issued  on  the  credit 
of  this  Colony,  and  deposited  in  the  Treasury,  a  sum  not 
exceeding  One  Hundred  Thousand  Pounds,  lawful  money, 
in  Bills  of  Credit,  of  the  following  denominations,  viz:  Of 
one  Shilling,  of  two  Shillings,  of  three  Shillings  and  six 
Pence,  of  four  Shillings,  of  five  Shillings,  of  seven  Shillings 
and  six  Pence,  of  eight  Shillings,  of  eleven  Shillings,  of 
thirteen  Shillings,  of  seventeen  Shillings,  of  nineteen  Shil- 
lings, of  thirty  Shillings,  of  forty  Shillings,  of  sixty  Shillings, 
of  eighty  Shillings,  and  of  one  hundred  Shillings ;  to  be 
five  thousand  of  each  denomination,  and  no  more,  and  to 
be  of  the  form  following,  viz  : 

"  Colony  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay  : 
"No.  109.  July  18,  1775. 

"  The  possessor  of  this  bill  shall  be  paid  by  the  Treasurer 
of  this  Colony  two  Shillings  and  six  Pence,  lawful  money, 
by  the  18th  day  of  July,  1777,  and  shall  be  received  in  all 
payments  at  the  Treasury  at  all  times. 

"  By  order  of  the  Congress  :  AD) 

B.  E.   >  Committee." 

C.  F.  ) 

Which  said  Bills  shall  be  paid  and  received  in  the  pub- 
lick  Treasury,  and  in  all  payments  in  this  Colony,  without 


any  abatement  or  discount,  upon  any  pretence  whatsoever, 
under  the  penalty  of  treble  damages  to  both  the  payer  and 
receiver,  which  penalty  shall  be  applied  to  the  discharge  of 
the  publick  debts  of  this  Colony.  And  said  bills  shall  also 
be  printed  on  the  back,  with  the  Colony  seal,  the  value  of 
the  bill,  and  its  date;  around  the  seal  these  words  :  Issued 
in  defence  of  American  liberty.  Also, 

Resolved,  That  A,  B,  and  C,  be  a  Committee  to  sign 
or  authenticate  all  said  bills  of  one  Shilling  to  eleven  Shil- 
lings inclusively;  and  that  D,  E,  F,  be  another  Committee 
to  sign  or  authenticate  all  other  the  said  bills,  which  are  of 
thirteen  Shillings  to  one  hundred  Shillings  inclusively. 
Five  thousand  bills  of     1  Shilling,  is  £  250 

Five  thousand  bills  of  2  Shillings,  is  500 
Five  thousand  bills  of  2  Shillings,  6  Pence,  is  625 
Five  thousand  bills  of  4  Shillings,  is  1,000 
Five  thousand  bills  of  5  Shillings,  is  1,250 
Five  thousand  bills  of  7  Shillings,  6  Pence,  is  1.875 
Five  thousand  hills  of  8  Shillings,  is  2,000 
Five  thousand  bills  of  11  Shillings,  is  2,750 
Five  thousand  bills  of  13  Shillings,  is  3,250 
Five  thousand  bills  of  17  Shillings,  is  4,250 
Five  thousand  bills  of  19  Shillings,  is  4,750 
Five  thousand  bills  of  30  Shillings,  is  7,500 
Five  thousand  bills  of  40  Shillings,  is  10,000 
Five  thousand  bills  of  50  Shillings,  is  15,000 
Five  thousand  bills  of  80  Shillings,  is  20,000 
Five,  thousand  bills  of  100  Shillings,  is  25,000 

£100.000 


The  following  Letter  was  sent  to  General  Washington: 
"  May  it  please  your  Excellency  : 

"  The  bearer,  Captain  Brown,  is  the  officer  who  took  the 
horses  that  came  oft"  from  Bunker's  Hill;  you  will  please 
to  direct  said  horses  being  delivered  to  his  care. 
"To  his  Excellency  General  Washington." 

This  Committee  have,  with  great  concern,  considered  the 
advantages  our  enemies  will  derive  from  General  Gage's 
misrepresentations  of  the  battle  of  Charlestown,  unless 
counteracted  by  the  truth  of  that  day's  transactions  being 
fairly  and  honestly  represented  to  our  friends  and  others  in 
Great  Britain;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  it  be  humbly  recommended  to  the  hon- 
ourable Congress  now  sitting  at  Watertown,  to  appoint  a 
Committee  to  draw  up  and  transmit  to  Great  Britain,  as 
soon  as  possible,  a  fair,  honest,  and  impartial  account  of  the 
late  battle  of  Charlestown  on  the  17th  ultimo,  so  that  our 
friends  and  others  in  that  part  of  the  world  may  not  be  in 
any  degree  imposed  upon  by  General  Gage's  misrepre- 
sentations of  that  day's  transactions,  and  that  they  also  be 
a  Standing  Committee  for  that  purpose. 

With  hearts  deeply  affected  by  the  sufferings  of  our 
friends  in  the  Town  and  Harbour  of  Boston,  now  under  the 
cruel  hand  of  tyrannick  power;  and  reflecting  upon  the 
advice  of  the  late  Continental  Congress  respecting  our 
enemy's  seizing  any  of  our  friends,  it  is 

Resolved,  By  this  Committee,  that  it  be  recommended 
to  the  honourable  Provincial  Congress  now  sitting  at  Wa- 
tertown, to  recommend  to  the  Grand  American  Congress, 
that  every  Crown  Officer  within  the  United  Colonies  be 
immediately  seized  and  held  in  safe  custody,  until  our 
friends  who  have  been  seized  by  General  Gage  are  set  at 
liberty,  and  fully  recompensed  for  their  loss  and  imprison- 
ment. 

Voted,  That  Mr.  John  Steel  and  his  two  sons  be  ap- 
pointed Armourers  for  this  Colony's  Forces. 

Eight  Small-Arms  were  delivered  to  Colonel  Ebenezer 
Bridges,  for  the  use  of  his  Regiment,  amounting,  as  bv 
appraisement,  to  seventeen  Pounds,  six  Shillings,  for  which 
a  receipt  was  taken  in  the  minute  book. 

Whereas,  the  honourable  Congress  have  made  an  estab- 
lishment for  a  company  of  Artificers,  which  consists  of 
Carpenters,  Blacksmiths,  and  Wheelwrights,  and  a  Captain 
is  appointed  for  the  Carpenters,  but  no  provision  is  made 
for  Captains  or  master  workmen  for  the  Blacksmiths  and 
Wheelwrights ;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  the  premises  be  recommended  to  the 
consideration  of  the  honourable  Congress  now  sitting  at 
Watertown. 


1367 


xMASSACHUSETTS  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY,  JULY,  1775. 


1368 


July  7,  1775. 

Two  Guns  were  received  from  Captain  Josiah  Stone, 
of  Framingham,  for  the  use  of  this  Colony,  amounting,  by 
appraisement,  to  three  Pounds,  sixteen  Shillings,  for  which 
a  receipt  was  given  by  Mr.  Devtns. 

Forty  Small-Arms  were  delivered  Colonel  Scammon, 
for  the  use  of  his  Regiment,  amounting,  by  appraisement, 
to  seventy-four  Pounds,  thirteen  Shillings,  and  four  Pence, 
for  which  a  receipt  was  taken  in  the  minute  book. 

One  Small-Arm  was  delivered  Colonel  Gridley,  for  the 
use  of  his  Regiment,  amounting,  by  appraisement,  to  two 
Pounds,  four  Shillings,  for  which  a  receipt  was  taken  in 
the  minute  book. 

Passed  upon  Mattheiv  Clarices  Account,  amounting  to 
nine  Pounds,  three  Shillings,  and  six  Pence,  and  a  cer- 
tificate was  delivered  him  for  the  Committee  on  Accounts. 

Whereas,  Mr.  Seth  Brown,  who  has  had  the  care  of  the 
Horses  for  the  Cannon,  has  resigned  that  employment,  and 
as  Thomas  Organ,  who  was  in  the  service  of  the  late 
General  Warren,  is  willing  to  undertake  the  service  ;  look- 
ing upon  him  to  be  a  person  well  qualified  for  that  trust, 
we  desire  he  may  be  appointed  accordingly. 

The  above  was  directed  to  the  gentlemen  the  Committee 
of  Supplies. 

Passed  upon  Mr.  Isaac  Bissel,  a  Post-Rider's  Account, 
amounting,  as  by  copy  on  file,  to  two  Pounds,  one  Shilling, 
and  a  certificate  was  given  him  for  the  Committee  on  Ac- 
counts. 

Whereas,  a  number  of  Soldiers  in  the  American  Army 
are  from  time  to  time  observed  to  be  much  disguised  with 
Spirituous  Liquors,  and  should  not  some  effectual  measures 
be  taken  to  put  a  stop  to  this  disorder,  not  only  the  morals 
and  health,  but  also  the  lives  and  liberties  of  this  People 
will  be  endangered  ;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  it  be,  and  it  is  hereby  recommended  to 
his  Excellency  General  Washington,  that  an  order  be 
issued  to  suppress  retailers  of  Spirituous  Liquors  within  and 
near  the  camps,  in  such  manner  as  to  him  may  seem  meet. 

Upon  application  made  to  this  Committee  by  Captain 
Rogers,  and  due  examination  into  the  matter,  the  following 
was  voted  to  be  sent  to  the  Selectmen,  &z.c,  of  the  Town 
of  Reading,  to  be  communicated  to  the  adjacent  Towns: 

Gentlemen:  Whereas,  Captain  Jacob  Rogers,  late  an 
inhabitant  of  Charlestown,  but  now,  through  the  necessity 
of  the  times,  has  been  obliged  to  quit  Charlestown,  and 
has  since  taken  up  his  residence  in  the  Town  of  Reading ; 
but  some  licentious  persons  of  the  Town  of  Stoneham,  as 
it  is  represented  to  us,  have  threatened  to  raise  a  mob  and 
drive  him  out  of  said  Reading,  to  the  great  terrour  of  his 
family,  and  this  without  any  cause  that  we  can  find,  evi- 
dence having  appeared  of  his  good  behaviour  while  in 
Charlestown ;  and  in  order  to  put  a  stop  to  such  disorderly 
conduct,  it  is 

Resolved,  That  all  the  inhabitants  of  this  Colony  are 
desired,  as  they  regard  the  peace  and  welfare  of  the  Coun- 
try, to  behave  peaceably  and  quietly  towards  the  said 
Captain  Rogers;  and  if  his  conduct  should  hereafter  be 
unworthy  a  friend  to  America7i  liberty,  he  is  then  to  be 
orderly  complained  of  to  such  authority  as  may  then  exist 
within  this  Colony,  but  by  no  means  to  be  proceeded  against 
in  any  disorderly  manner. 

Twenty-eight  Guns,  for  the  use  of  the  Colony,  collected 
by  order  of  Congress,  were  received  of  Mr.  John  Ingra- 
ham,  July  3. 

Passed  upon  Mr.  John  Barber's  Account,  amounting  to 
seven  Pounds,  thirteen  Shillings,  and  eight  Pence,  and  a 
certificate  was  given  him  for  the  Committee  on  Accounts. 

July  8,  1775. 

Two  Small-Arms  were  received  of  Colonel  Simeon 
Spalding,  for  the  use  of  this  Colony,  amounting,  by  ap- 
praisement, to  two  Pounds,  twelve  Shillings. 

Two  Small-Arms,  appraised  at  four  Pounds,  four  Shil- 
lings, were  delivered  Captain  Job  Cushing,  of  Colonel 
Ward's  Regiment,  as  per  receipt  on  file. 

Fifteen  Small- Arms  were  delivered,  for  the  use  of  Colo- 
nel Sergeant's  Regiment,  amounting,  as  by  appraisement, 


to  twenty-seven  Pounds,  three  Shillings,  for  which  a  re- 
ceipt has  been  taken  in  the  minute  book. 

The  honourable  the  Provincial  Congress  having  ac- 
quainted this  Committee  that  Mr.  James  Winthrop,  Post- 
master in  Cambridge,  had  declined  serving  any  longer  in 
that  office,  and  desired  that  another  might  be  recommend- 
ed to  them  for  that  place, 

Voted,  That  Mr.  Jonathan  Hastings,  Junior,  be  recom- 
mended to  the  honourable  Congress  as  a  suitable  person 
for  the  trust  aforesaid. 

Two  Small-Arms  were  received  of  Mr.  Seth  Stone,  of 
Cambridge,  for  the  use  of  this  Colony,  amounting,  as  by 
appraisement,  to  three  Pounds,  eighteen  Shillings,  for 
which  a  receipt  was  given  him  by  the  Secretary. 

Passed  upon  Mr.  John  Gill,  Junior,  a  Post-Rider's 
Account,  amounting  to  six  Pounds,  seventeen  Shillings,  and 
eight  Pence,  for  which  a  certificate  was  given. 

Whereas,  many  complaints  have  been  made  to  this  Com- 
mittee, that  the  Armourers  frequently  deliver  the  Arms  out 
of  their  shops  unfit  for  service,  and  delay  the  work  unne- 
cessarily; in  order  to  prevent  occasion  for  such  complaints 
in  future,  and  to  hasten  the  publick  service  in  an  orderly 
manner,  which  has  not  yet  been  provided  for,  it  is 

Resolved,  That  it  be,  and  it  hereby  is  recommended  to 
the  honourable  Congress,  to  make  an  establishment  for  at 
least  four  Master  Armourers,  each  one  of  whom  shall  work 
and  superintend  one  shop,  each  of  which  shops,  as  we  ap- 
prehend, may  well  accommodate  eight  men,  including  the 
master. 

Resolved,  That  the  instructions  to  be  given  to  the  Offi- 
cers of  the  Regiments,  be  sent  to  the  Council  of  War,  and 
if  approved  be  forwarded.    They  are  as  follow: 

Instructions  for  the  Officers  of  the  several  Regiments  of 
the  Massachusetts-Bay  Forces,  who  are  immediately  to 
go  upon  the  recruiting  service. 

You  are  not  to  enlist  any  deserter  from  the  Ministerial 
Army,  nor  any  stroller,  negro,  or  vagabond,  or  person  sus- 
pected of  being  an  enemy  to  the  liberty  of  America,  nor 
any  under  eighteen  years  of  age. 

As  the  cause  is  the  best  that  can  engage  men  of  courage 
and  principle  to  take  up  arms,  so  it  is  expected  that  none 
but  such  will  be  accepted  by  the  Recruiting  Officer;  the 
pay,  provision,  &tc,  being  so  ample,  it  is  not  doubted  but 
the  officers  sent  upon  this  service  will,  without  delay,  com- 
plete their  respective  corps,  and  march  the  men  forthwith 
to  camp. 

You  are  not  to  enlist  any  person  who  is  not  an  American 
born,  unless  such  person  has  a  wife  and  family,  and  is  a 
settled  resident  in  this  Country. 

The  persons  you  enlist  must  be  provided  with  good  and 
complete  arms. 

One  Small-Arm  was  received  of  Mr.  Samuel  Haynes, 
of  Sudbury,  for  the  use  of  this  Colony,  amounting,  by  ap- 
praisement, to  thirty  Shillings,  for  which  a  receipt  was 
given  him  by  the  Clerk. 

Whereas,  considerable  uneasiness  has  arisen  in  some  part 
of  the  Army,  from  some  of  the  Soldiers  enlisting  a  second 
time  into  other  companies  than  those  which  they  first  en- 
listed into,  and,  if  not  prevented,  will  be  attended  with  great 
inconvenience;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  honourable 
Provincial  Congress,  to  pass  such  an  order  as  may  cause 
those  Soldiers  who  haye  conducted  as  above  to  return  to 
their  respective  companies  into  which  they  were  first  en- 
listed, or  otherwise  order,  as  to  them  in  their  wisdom  shall 
seem  meet. 

Whereas,  it  is  necessary  that  the  house  of  Mr.  John 
Vassal,  ordered  by  Congress  for  the  residence  of  his  Excel- 
lency General  Washington,  should  be  immediately  put  in 
such  condition  as  may  make  it  convenient  for  that  purpose ; 

therefore, 

Resolved,  That  Mr.  Timothy  Austin  be,  and  hereby  is 
empowered  and  authorized  to  put  said  house  in  proper  or- 
der for  the  purposes  above-mentioned,  and  that  he  procure 
such  assistance  and  furniture  as  may  be  necessary  to  put 
said  house  in  proper  condition  for  the  reception  of  his  Ex- 
cellency and  his  attendants. 


1369 


MASSACHUSETTS  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY,  JULY,  1775. 


1370 


July  11,  1775. 

The  following  commission  from  the  honourable  Congress 
to  tli is  Committee  was  this  day  received  from  said  Con- 
gress, viz:  (Commission  recalled.) 

The  following  Letter  was  received  from  General  Wash- 
ington, by  his  Secretary,  Mr.  Reed: 

"July  10,  1775. 

"  Gentlemen  :  I  am  directed  by  the  General  to  put  into 
your  hands  a  Frenchman,  who  will  be  delivered  to  you 
with  this.  His  companions,  after  being  in  our  camp  some 
days,  went  off  to  the  enemy,  which  has  led  to  suspicions 
of  this  man  ;  but  there  is  no  express  charge  against  him. 
As  he  is  not  properly  charged  with  any  military  offence, 
the  General  apprehends  the  detention  of  him  will  fall  most 
properly  in  your  department,  and  if  you  should  be  of  opin- 
ion that  sending  him  into  the  country  would  be  sufficient, 
the  General  would  be  quite  satisfied.  I  am,  gentlemen,  your 
most  obedient  servant,  Jas.  Reed,  Secretary." 

His  Excellency  General  Washington  having  signified  to 
this  Committee  that  they  send  Monsieur  Viart  to  the  Town 
of  Worcester, 

Resolved,  That  a  Post  immediately  proceed  with  said 
Viart  to  Worcester ;  and  that  Mr.  Devens  provide  a  horse 
for  that  purpose. 

Resolved,  That  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  in 
the  Town  of  Worcester  are  hereby  required  and  directed 
to  take  into  their  custody  Monsieur  Viart,  a  Frenchman ; 
that  they  suffer  him  on  his  parole  to  have  the  liberty  to 
walk  for  his  health  to  a  convenient  distance  about  the 
Town,  but  to  guard  against  his  escape  till  they  shall  receive 
further  orders  on  this  subject,  either  from  the  General  or 
this  Committee. 

The  following  order  was  issued  : 

"Cambridge,  July  11,  1775. 

"  To  the  Taverners  and  Innholders  on  the  road  between 
Cambridge  and  Worcester: 
"  You  are  hereby  required  to  supply  with  necessary  pro- 
visions Mr  ,  and  a  Frenchman  with  him,  (he 

being  on  the  publick  service,)  and  charge  the  same  to  this 
Colony." 

Two  Small-Arms  were  delivered  Colonel  Mansfield,  for 
the  use  of  his  Regiment,  amounting  to  five  Pounds,  eight 
Shillings,  and  four  Pence,  for  which  a  receipt  was  taken 
in  the  minute  book. 

The  honourable  the  Congress  of  this  Colony  having 
passed  a  Resolve  that  this  Committee  be  appointed  to 
draw  up  and  transmit  to  Great  Britain  a  fair  and  impar- 
tial account  of  the  late  Battle  of  Charlestown,  as  soon  as 
possible ;  this  Committee  being  exceedingly  crowded  with 
business ;  therefore 

Resolved,  That  the  Rev.  Dr.  Cooper,  Rev.  Mr.  Gard- 
ner, and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Peter  Thatcher,  be  desired  to  draw 
up  a  true  state  of  said  action,  as  soon  as  may  be,  and  lay 
it  before  this  Committee. 

The  Committee  of  Safety  at  Marblehead  were  advised 
by  this  Committee  that  five  Ships  sailed  this  day  from  Bos- 
ton, their  destination  unknown. 

The  Taverners  and  Innholders  on  the  road  to  Marble- 
head  were  required  to  supply  Mr.  Thomas  Williams,  an 
Express  in  the  Colony  service,  with  necessary  Provisions, 
and  to  transmit  an  account  of  the  charge  thereof  to  this 
Committee. 

Whereas,  a  number  of  Horses  have  been  taken  from 
the  enemy  by  our  Soldiers,  and  a  difficulty  arises  whose 
property  the  Horses  in  justice  ought  to  be :  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  it  be,  and  it  is  hereby,  recommended  to 
the  honourable  Congress  to  take  such  order  respecting  the 
same  as  to  them  in  their  wisdom  shall  seem  meet. 

Colonel  Doolittle  had  one  set  of  Enlisting  Papers  de- 
livered him. 

The  following  Letter  was  received  from  General  Wash- 
ington's Secretary,  Mr.  Reed  : 

"July  12,  1775. 

"  Gentlemen  :  A  number  of  persons  taken  up  last 
night  upon  the  Island  near  Boston,  have  been  brought  here. 
As  the  General  is  absent,  it  is  thought  best  to  refer  them 
to  your  care.    You  will  please,  therefore,  to  do  what  is 


proper  with  them.  I  am,  gentlemen,  most  respectfully, 
your  very  humble  servant,  J.  Reed,  Secretary. 

"  To  the  Committee  of  Safety." 

Whereas,  his  Excellency  General  Washington,  by  his 
Secretary,  Mr.  Reed,  has  sent  to  this  Committee  fifteen 
persons  taken  at  Long-Island ;  this  Committee  apprehend- 
ing that  by  their  commission  they  have  no  power  to  dis- 
pose of  said  persons  :  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  the  above  fifteen  persons  be  immediate- 
ly sent  to  the  honourable  the  Congress  at  Watertown,  and 
that  Mr.  Richard  Devens  and  Colonel  Orne  be  a  Com- 
mittee to  go  to  the  Congress  with  this  Resolve. 

July  12,  1775. 

Whereas,  frequent  complaints  have  been  made  to  this 
Committee  that  many  of  the  Arms  returned  from  the  Ar- 
mourers have  not  been  sufficiently  repaired  ;  which  errour 
may  have  arisen  from  ignorant  or  careless  persons  being 
employed  as  Armourers,  or  for  want  of  a  Master  Work- 
man or  Superintendent  in  each  shop  :  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  Benjamin  Guillam,  an  Armourer  in  the 
shop  belonging  to  Gideon  Frost,  be,  and  hereby  is,  direct- 
ed to  work  as  a  Master  Armourer  in  said  shop,  and  to 
superintend  the  other  Armourers  in  that  shop:  whose  duty 
it  shall  be  to  receive  into  said  shop  such  Arms  as  may  at 
any  time  be  sent  there,  by  any  of  the  Colonels  in  that 
part  of  the  American  Colony  Army  belonging  to  this  Co- 
lony, in  order  to  be  repaired  ;  to  see  that  such  Arms  are 
properly  repaired  ;  to  deliver  the  same,  when  so  repaired, 
to  the  persons  from  whom  they  were  received  ;  to  see  that 
no  persons  who  are  employed  in  said  shops  as  Armourers, 
are  either  ignorant  of  said  business,  or  careless,  or  idle  ; 
and  if  any  such  should  be  employed  in  the  shop,  said 
Guillam  shall,  without  delay,  inform  this  Committee  there- 
of; and  that  he  suffer  no  more  than  eight  Armourers,  inclu- 
ding himself,  to  be  employed  at  any  one  time  in  said  shop. 

Captain  Samuel  Fletcher  is  permitted  to  cut  off  Mr. 
Thomas  Oliver's  Farm  three  tons  of  English  Hay,  and  all 
the  black  Grass  and  salt  Hay  growing  on  his  Farm,  and 
that  Mr.  Sanger  be  directed  accordingly. 

July  13,  1775. 

A  Resolve  relative  to  Prisoners  from  Machias,  passed,  as 
on  file. 

Mr.  Benjamin  Guillam,  an  Armourer,  had  an  order  on 
the  Committee  of  Supplies  for  two  hundred  of  Iron  and 
what  Files  and  old  Brass  he  has  occasion  for,  for  himself 
and  others  that  work  in  his  shop. 

Mr.  Monroe  recommended  Seth  Johnston,  of  Old  Rut- 
land, and  Enoch  Putnam,  of  Granby,  as  proper  persons  for 
Armourers. 

"  Received  of  the  Committee  of  Safety  one  Small-Arm 
for  the  use  of  my  Company  in  Colonel  Ward's  Regiment ; 
which  Gun  I  promise  to  return,  unless  lost  in  action,  said 
Gun  being  appraised  at  forty-two  Shillings. 

"  Seth  Washburn,  Captain." 

Received  of  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town  of  Mendon, 
by  the  hands  of  Stephen  Partridge,  six  Small-Arms,  ap- 
praised at  fifteen  Pounds. 

"  Received  of  the  Committee  of  Safety  four  Pounds 
each,  by  an  order  on  Henry  Gardner,  Esquire,  Receiver- 
General  ;  said  four  Pounds  to  be  paid  us  as  Recruiting 
Officers  in  the  late  Colonel  Gardner's  Regiment. 

"  Solomon  Bowman,  Lieutenant. 
"  Caleb  Brooks,  Lieutenant." 

His  Excellency  General  Washington  having  this  day 
ordered  to  the  direction  of  this  Committee  ten  prisoners, 
taken  some  time  past  at  Machias,  on  board  an  armed  Cut- 
ter, the  Committee,  apprehending  from  their  commission 
of  the  8th  instant  that  they  are  altogether  restricted  from 
acting  as  a  Committee  but  only  in  the  recess  of  Congress, 
except  in  conformity  to  certain  special  Resolves  of  Con- 
gress, or  for  making  provision  for  the  Poor  of  Boston  and 
Charlestown,  and  guarding  against  the  Small-Pox,  as  men- 
tioned in  said  commission,  have  resolved  that  the  said 
prisoners  be  sent  to  Congress  for  their  orders,  and  that  Dr. 
Church  be  directed  to  attend  Congress  with  this  Resolve. 


1371 


MASSACHUSETTS  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY,  JULY,  1775. 


1372 


Whereas,  Lieutenant  Ely  Stiles  has  represented  to  this 
Committee  that  he  has  been  at  considerable  expense  in 
conducting  the  prisoners  from  Machias  to  Head-Quarters, 
and  desires  to  be  repaid  ;  but  this  matter  not  being  within 
the  powers  with  which  this  Committee  is  vested,  they  beg 
leave  to  recommend  the  consideration  of  this  case  to  the 
honourable  Congress. 

—  July  14,  1775. 

Passed  upon  Mr.  Ingcrficld's  Account,  amounting  to 
one  Pound,  four  Shillings,  for  which  an  order  was  given 
him  on  the  Committee  of  Supplies. 

Whereas,  some  evil-minded  persons,  taking  advantage  of 
the  confusion  occasioned  by  the  Battles  of  Lexington  and 
Chariest  own,  have  plundered  and  carried  off  into  several 
parts  of  this  and  the  neighbouring  Colonies  sundry  Goods 
and  Household  Furniture,  belonging  to  some  of  the  un- 
happy sufferers  of  Boston  and  Charlestown  :  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  the  Selectmen  and  Committees  of  Cor- 
respondence in  the  several  Towns  and  Districts  within  this 
Colony,  and  also  the  Town  Officers  in  the  neighbouring 
Colonies,  be,  and  they  hereby  are,  severally  and  earnestly 
requested  to  inspect  their  several  Towns  and  Districts,  and 
if  they  should  discover  any  such  Goods  or  Household 
Furniture,  such  officers  are  desired  to  send  all  such  effects 
to  the  office  of  Mr.  Joseph  Peirce  Palmer,  Quartermas- 
ter-General, in  Cambridge,  for  the  benefit  of  the  true  and 
rightful  proprietors. 

Passed  upon  Edivard  Goodwin,  Jr.'s  Account,  amount- 
ing to  eleven  Pounds,  nine  Shillings,  and  four  Pence,  and 
a  certificate  was  given  him  accordingly. 

"  Received  of  the  Committee  of  Safety,  for  the  use  of 
Colonel  Doolittle's  Regiment,  one  Small-Arm,  appraised 
at  two  Pounds,  fourteen  Shillings,  for  which  I  promise  to 
account  with  the  Colony,  unless  it  should  be  lost  in  action. 

"Benj.  Holden,  Lieutenant- Colonel." 

"  Received  of  the  Committee  of  Safety,  for  the  use  of 
my  Regiment,  five  Small-Arms,  amounting,  by  appraise- 
ment, to  twelve  Pounds,  six  Shillings ;  which  Guns  I 
promise  to  account  for,  unless  lost  in  action. 

"J.  Brewer,  Colonel." 

The  Commissary-General  is  directed  to  supply  Jonathan 
Blaisdel,  Daniel  Call,  and  Obadiah  Bagor,  Armourers  in 
the  Colony  service,  with  Provisions. 

July  15,  1775. 

Mr.  Sanger  was  directed  to  put  as  much  Hay  into  the 
General's  barns  in  this  Town  as  they  will  receive ;  any 
orders  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding. 

Passed  upon  Richard  Hunnewell's  Account,  amounting, 
as  by  copy  on  file,  to  nine  Pounds,  nine  Shillings,  and  gave 
him  a  certificate  for  the  Committee  on  Accounts. 

"  Received  of  the  Committee  of  Safety,  for  the  use  of 
my  Regiment,  five  Small-Arms,  amounting,  as  by  ap- 
praisement, to  nine  Pounds,  twelve  Shillings;  which  Guns 
I  promise  to  acccount  for,  unless  lost  in  action. 

"  Moses  Little,  Colonel." 

Complaint  having  been  made  to  this  Committee  by  the 
Hon.  General  Ward,  and  other  officers  in  the  Army,  that 
several  men  were  dangerously  sick,  and  their  lives  would 
be  greatly  hazarded  except  immediate  application  of  Medi- 
cine be  made  to  them,  and  that  the  Surgeons  of  some  of 
the  Regiments  had  applied  but  could  not  obtain  any,  a 
Sub-Committee  was  therefore  chosen  to  visit  the  Hospital, 
and  to  see  the  Surgeons;  and,  upon  inquiry,  found  there 
were  no  such  Medicines  as  are  immediately  wanted:  there- 
fore, 

Resolved,  That  the  lives  of  some  part  of  the  Army  are 
in  great  danger  for  want  of  Medicines ;  and  notwithstanding 
the  commission  of  the  Committee  of  Safety  does  not  admit 
of  direction  in  this  matter,  that  Mr.  Commissary  Craigie 
be  desired  to  procure,  at  the  expense  of  the  Colony,  such 
Medicines  as  may  be  immediately  and  absolutely  necessary. 

In  consequence  of  which,  the  following  Order  was  given 
Mr.  Commissary  Ciuigic,  viz: 

"Sir:  You  are  hereby  desired  immediately  to  supply 
the  store  under  your  care  with  such  Medicines  as  are 
absolutely  necessary  for  the  present  relief  of  the  sick  in 
the  Army." 


"  Received  of  the  Committee  of  Safety,  as  Recruiting 
Officers  for  the  Massachusetts  Forces,  an  order  on  Henry 
Gardner,  Esq.,  Receiver-General,  for  four  Pounds  each, 
which,  when  paid,  we  promise  to  be  accountable  for  said 
sum,  respectively,  to  this  Colony. 

Stephen  Jewit,  Lieut,  in  Col.  Woodbridge's  R-giment. 
Robert  Hamilton,  of  Col.  Woodbrid go's  Regiment. 
M.  Pease,  Ensign  in  Col.  Woodbridge's  Regiment. 
William  Smith,  Lieut,  in  Col.  Woodbridge's  Regiment. 
Timothy  Read,  Lieut,  in  Col.  Woodbridge's  Regiment. 
Nath'l  Cusiiing,  Lieut,  in  Col.  Jona.  Brewer's  Regiment. 
Benj.  Bowne,  Capt.  in  the  late  Col.  Gardner's  Regiment. 
Josiah  Warren,  Lieut,  in  the  late  Col.  Gardner's  Rcg't. 
Zebadiah  Sabin,  Lieut,  in  Col.  Patterson's  Regiment. 
Moses  Ashley,  Lieut,  in  Col.  Patterson's  Regiment. 
Wm,  Boden,  Lieut,  in  Col.  Patterson's  Regiment. 
Elipiialet  Hastings,  Lieut,  in  Col.  Jona.  Brewer's  Reg't. 
Wm  Clark,  Lieut  in  Col.  Patterson's  Regiment. 
Bartho.  Trow,  Lieut,  of  the  late  Col.  Gardner's  Regt. 
Charles  Dibbell,  Capt.  in  Col.  Patterson's  Regiment. 
John  Wyman,  Lieut,  in  Col.  Patterson's  Regiment. 
William  Goodr:ch,  Capt.  in  Col.  Patterson's  Regiment. 
Jeiioiakim  Mtojiiksin,  Capt.  in  Col.  Patterson's  Regiment. 
David  Goodenougii,  Lieut,  of  the  late  Col.  Gardner's  Reg't. 
Moses  Harvey,  Capt.  in  Col.  Jonathan  Brewer's  Regiment. 
Joshua  L.  Woodbridge,  Lieut,  in  Col.  Woodbridge's  Rcg't. 
Benjamin  Brown,  Lieut,  of  Col.  Prescott's  Regiment. 
Thomas  Butler,  of  Col.  Scammon's  Regiment. 
James  Matthews,  Second  Lieut,  in  Col.  Mansfield's  Reg't. 

Whereas,  Mr.  Seth  Brown,  who  lately  had  the  care  of 
the  Artillery  Horses  at  Cambridge,  resigned  that  employ- 
ment, upon  which  this  Committee  recommended  to  the 
Committee  of  Supplies  to  appoint  Mr.  Thomas  Organ  to  the 
care  of  said  Horses  instead  of  said  Brown;  but  the  said 
Committee  of  Supplies  having  signified  to  this  Committee 
that  such  appointment  was  not  within  their  commission ; 
but  was,  as  they  apprehended,  within  ours,  and  accordingly 
returned  said  recommendation  with  their  reply  upon  the 
back  thereof:  And  whereas,  the  publick  safety  requires  that 
said  Horses  should  be  taken  proper  care  of,  and  always  kept 
in  readiness  for  use  upon  the  shortest  notice;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  although  said  appointment  is  not  within, 
but  even  contrary  to  the  commission  of  this  Committee, 
yet,  apprehending  that  it  is  absolutely  necessary  for  the 
publick  service  that  an  Hostler  should  be  appointed  for 
that  employment,  and  no  other  mode  of  appointment  ap- 
pearing in  this  time  of  the  recess  of  Congress ;  do,  for  the 
reasons  assigned,  appoint  said  Organ  to  the  care  of  said 
Horses,  for  the  purpose  aforesaid,  until  further  orders. 

rr,,  _  "  Cambridge,  July  15,  1775. 

"Mr.  Thomas  Organ: 

"  At  your  request,  and  confiding  in  your  fidelity  and  dili- 
gence, we  hereby  appoint  you  to  the  care  of  the  Artillery 
Horses  at  Cambridge,  until  further  orders. 

"  You  are  not  only  to  take  care  of  said  horses,  but  are  to 
hold  them  at  all  times,  by  night  as  well  as  by  day,  in  rea- 
diness for  immediate  service,  with  their  harnesses  complete, 
and  not  to  be  used  in  any  service  but  such  as  the  General 
shall  direct." 

July  1G,  1775. 

"Received  of  the  Committee  of  Safety,  as  Recruiting 
Officers  for  the  Massachusetts  Forces,  an  order  on  Henry 
Gardner,  Esq.,  Receiver-General,  for  four  Pounds  each, 
which,  when  paid,  we  promise  to  be  accountable  for  said 
sum,  respectively,  to  this  Colony. 

John  Goss,  Lieut,  in  Col.  Prescott's  Regiment. 
Chrisi  other  Grant,  Lieut,  in  Col.  Bond's  Regiment. 
Jedediah  Thayer,  Lieut,  in  Col.  Bond's  Regiment. 
John  Mayo,  Lieut,  in  Col.  Woodbridge's  Regiment. 
John  Bacon,  Lieut,  in  Col.  Patterson's  Regiment. 
Robert  Oliver,  Capt.  in  Col.  Doolittle's  Regiment. 
Jonathan  Hill,  Lieut,  in  Col.  Nixon's  Regiment. 
Joseph  Mixer,  Lieut,  in  Col.  Nixon's  Regiment. 
Charles  Smith,  Lieut,  in  Col.  Sergeant's  Regiment. 

July  17,  1775. 

The  following  Resolution  was  adopted,  and  transmitted 
to  the  Provincial  Congress : 

In  Committee  of  Safety,  Cambridge,  July  17,  1775. 
Whereas,  the  honourable  Provincial  Congress  by  a  com- 
mission issued  to  this  Committee,  bearing  date  July  8th, 
have  authorized  and  empowered  this  Committee  to  make 
such  further  provision  for  the  reception,  sustenance,  and 
support  of  the  Poor  of  Boston  and  Charlestown  as  have 
or  may  come  out  of  said  Towns,  as  shall  appear  necessary 
for  their  comfortable  support,  according  to  the  intention  of 
Congress :  this  Committee,  although  ever  ready  to  obey 


1373 


MASSACHUSETTS  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY,  JULY,  1775. 


1374 


all  the  orders  and  directions  of  the  honourable  Congress 
that  they  may  receive,  are,  notwithstanding,  of  opinion, 
that  the  above  order  respecting  the  poor  inhabitants  of  the 
Towns  of  Boston  and  Charlestown  is  of  such  importance, 
and  requires  such  attention  to  carry  it  into  execution,  that 
this  Committee  presume,  with  permission,  that  it  will  better 
answer  the  purposes  designed,  should  a  special  Committee 
for  that  purpose  be  appointed  by  the  honourable  Congress, 
the  business  already  before  this  Committee  being  such  as 
will  not  admit  of  their  attending  to  this  matter  unless  they 
should  neglect  other  business  of  importance.  The  Com- 
mittee therefore  pray  the  honourable  Congress  would  take 
this  affair  under  consideration,  and  conduct  therein  as  to 
them  in  their  wisdom  shall  seem  meet. 

Attest :  William  Cooper,  Secretary. 

To  the  Honourable  Provincial  Congress. 

July  18,  1775. 

"  Received  of  the  Committee  of  Safety,  for  the  use  of 
my  Regiment,  two  Fire-Arms,  amounting,  as  by  appraise- 
ment, to  five  Pounds,  which  I  promise  to  account  for  unless 
lost  in  battle.  John  Mansfield,  Colonel" 

July  20,  1775. 

"  Received  of  the  Committee  of  Safety,  for  the  use  of 
my  Regiment,  two  Fire-Arms,  amounting,  as  by  appraise- 
ment, to  the  sum  of  four  Pounds,  ten  Shillings,  which  I 
promise  to  account  for  to  the  Colony,  unless  lost  in  the 
service.  "  John  Mansfield,  Colonel." 

"  Received  of  the  Committee  of  Safety,  for  the  use  of 
my  Regiment,  three  Fire-Arms,  amounting,  as  by  appraise- 
ment, to  the  sum  of  six  Pounds,  eight  Shillings,  which  1 
promise  to  account  for  to  the  Colony,  unless  lost  in  the 
service.  John  Mansfield,  Colonel." 

"  Received  of  the  Committee,  for  delivering  out  Fire- 
Arms,  for  the  use  of  my  Regiment,  seven  Fire-Arms, 
amounting,  as  by  appraisement,  to  the  sum  of  twelve 
Pounds,  thirteen  Shillings,  and  four  Pence,  which  I  pro- 
mise to  account  for  to  the  Colony  unless  lost  in  the  service. 

"  John  Mansfield,  Colonel." 

July  25,  1775. 

The  following  account  of  the  late  battle  of  Charlcstown, 
prepared  in  obedience  to  a  Resolution  of  the  Provincial 
Congress,  was  presented,  accepted,  and  ordered  to  be  trans- 
mitted to  Great  Britain  : 

"  In  Provincial  Congress,  Watertown,  July  7,  1775. 
"In  compliance  with  a  Resolve  of  the  Committee  of 
Safety,  recommending  that  a  Committee  be  appointed  to 
draw  up,  and  transmit  to  Great  Britain,  a  fair  and  impar- 
tial account  of  the  late  battle  of  Charlestown,  as  soon  as 
possible, 

"  Ordered,  That  the  said  Committee  of  Safety  be  a  Com- 
mittee for  that  purpose,  and  that  they  likewise  be  a  Stand- 
ing Committee  for  that  and  like  purposes." 
"  A  true  extract  from  the  Minutes: 

"  Samuel  Freeman,  Secretary." 

In  Committee  of  Safely,  July  25,  1775. 
[n  obedience  to  the  above  order  of  Congress,  this  Com- 
mittee have  inquired  into  the  premises,  and  upon  the  best 
information  obtained,  find  that  the  commanders  of  theiVetf- 
England  Army  had,  about  the  14th  ult.,  received  advice 
that  General  Gage  had  issued  orders  for  a  party  of  the 
Troops  under  his  command  to  post  themselves  on  Bun- 
ker's Hill,  a  promontory  just  at  the  entrance  of  the  pen- 
insula of  Charlestown,  which  orders  were  soon  to  be  exe- 
cuted. Upon  which  it  was  determined,  with  the  advice 
of  this  Committee,  to  send  a  party,  who  might  erect  some 
fortifications  upon  said  hill,  and  defeat  this  design  of  our 
enemies.  Accordingly,  on  the  16th  ult.  orders  were  issued 
that  a  detachment  of  one  thousand  men  should  that  even- 
ing march  to  Charlestown,  and  intrench  upon  that  hill. 
Just  before  nine  o'clock  they  left  Cambridge,  and  proceed- 
ed to  Breed's  Hill,  situated  on  the  farther  part  of  the  pen- 
insula next  to  Boston;  for  by  some  mistake,  this  hill  was 
marked  out  for  the  intrenchment  instead  of  the  other. 
Many  things  being  necessary  to  be  done  preparatory  to 
the  intrenchments  being  thrown  up,  (which  could  not  be 
done  before  lest  the  enemy  should  discover  and  defeat  the 


design,)  it  was  nearly  twelve  o'clock  before  the  works  were 
entered  upon  ;  they  were  then  carried  on  with  the  utmost 
diligence  and  alacrity,  so  that  by  the  dawn  of  the  day  they 
had  thrown  up  a  small  redoubt,  about  eight  rods  square. 
At  this  time  a  heavy  fire  began  from  the  enemy's  ships,  a 
number  of  floating  batteries,  and  from  a  fortification  of  the 
enemy's  upon  Copp's  Hill  in  Boston,  directly  opposite  to 
our  little  redoubt.  An  incessant  shower  of  shot  and  bombs 
was  rained  by  these  upon  our  works,  by  which  only  one 
man  fell ;  the  Provincials  continued  to  labour  indefatigably 
till  they  had  thrown  up  a  small  breast  work,  extending 
from  the  east  side  of  the  redoubt  to  the  bottom  of  the  hill, 
but  were  prevented  completing  it  by  the  intolerable  fire 
of  the  enemy. 

Between  twelve  and  one  o'clock  a  number  of  boats  and 
barges,  filled  with  the  Regular  Troops  from  Boston,  were 
observed  approaching  towards  Charlestown.    These  troops 
landed  at  a  place  called  Moreton's  Point,  situated  a  little 
to  the  eastward  of  our  works.    This  Brigade  formed  upon 
their  landing,  and  stood  thus  formed  till  a  second  detach- 
ment arrived  from  Boston  to  join  them.    Having  sent  out 
large  flank  guards,  they  began  a  very  slow  march  towards, 
our  lines.    At  this  instant  smoke  and  flames  were  seen  to 
arise  from  the  Town  of  Charlcstown,  which  had  been  set 
on  fire  by  the  enemy,  that  the  smoke  might  cover  their 
attack  upon  our  lines,  and  perhaps  with  a  design  to  rout  or 
destroy  one  or  two  Regiments  of  Provincials  who  had  been 
posted  in  that  Tow  n.    If  either  of  these  was  their  design, 
they  were  disappointed,  for  the  wind  shifting  on  a  sudden, 
carried  the  smoke  another  way,  and  the  Regiments  were 
already  removed.    The  Provincials,  within  their  intrench- 
ments, impatiently  awaited  the  attack  of  the  enemy,  and 
reserved  their  fire  till  they  came  w  ithin  ten  or  twelve  rods, 
and  then  began  a  furious  discharge  of  small-arms.  This 
fire  arrested  the  enemy,  which  they  for  some  time  return- 
ed, without  advancing  a  step,  and  then  retreated  in  disorder, 
and  with  great  precipitation,  to  the  place  of  landing;  and 
some  of  them  sought  refuge  even  w  ithin  their  boats.  Here 
the  officers  were  observed  by  the  spectators  on  the  opposite 
shore,  to  run  down  to  them,  using  the  most  passionate  ges- 
tures, and  pushing  the  men  forward  with  their  swords.  At 
length  they  were  rallied,  and  marched  up  with  apparent 
reluctance  towards  the  intrenchment.     The  Americans 
again  reserved  their  fire  until  the  enemy  came  up  within 
five  or  six  rods,  and  a  second  time  put  the  Regulars  to 
flight,  who  ran  in  great  confusion  towards  their  boats.  Simi- 
lar and  superiour  exertions  were  now  necessarily  made  by 
the  officers,  which,  notwithstanding  the  men  discovered  an 
almost  insuperable  reluctance  to  fighting  in  this  cause,  w  ere 
again  successful.    They  formed  once  more,  and  having 
brought  some  cannon  to  bear  in  such  a  manner  as  to  rake 
the  inside  of  the  breastwork  from  one  end  of  it  to  the  other, 
the  Provincials  retreated  within  their  little  fort.    The  Min- 
isterial Army  now  made  a  decisive  effort ;  the  fire  from  the 
ships  and  batteries,  as  well  as  from  the  cannon  in  the  front 
of  their  Army,  was  redoubled.    The  officers  in  the  rear  of 
their  Army  were  observed  to  goad  forward  the  men  with 
renewed  exertions,  and  they  attacked  the  redoubt  on  three 
sides  at  once.    The  breastwork  on  the  outside  of  the  fort 
was  abandoned  ;  the  ammunition  of  the  Provincials  was 
expended,  and  few  of  their  arms  were  fixed  with  bayonets. 
Can  it  then  be  wondered  that  the  word  was  given  by  the 
commander  of  the  paity,  to  retreat?  But  this  he  delayed 
till  the  redoubt  was  half  filled  w  ith  Regulars,  and  the  Pro- 
vincials had  kept  the  enemy  at  bay  some  time,  confronting 
them  with  the  but-end  of  their  muskets. 

The  retreat  of  this  little  handful  of  brave  men  would 
have  been  effectually  cut  off,  had  it  not  happened  that  the 
flanking  party  of  the  enemy,  which  was  to  have  come  up  on 
the  back  of  the  redoubt,  was  checked  by  a  party  of  Pro- 
vincials, who  fought  with  the  utmost  bravery,  and  kept 
them  from  advancing  further  than  the  beach.  The  engage- 
ment of  these  two  parties  was  kept  up  with  the  utmost 
vigour;  and  it  must  be  acknowledged  that  this  party  of  the 
Ministerial  Troops  evidenced  a  courage  worthy  of  a  better 
cause.  All  their  efforts,  however,  were  insufficient  to  com- 
pel the  Provincials  to  retreat,  till  their  main  body  had  left 
the  hill.  Perceiving  this  was  done,  they  then  gave  ground, 
but  with  more  regularity  than  could  be  expected  of  troops 
who  had  no  longer  been  under  discipline,  and  many  of 
whom  never  before  saw  an  engagement. 


1375 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1376 


In  this  retreat  the  Americans  had  to  pass  over  tlie  neck, 
which  joins  the  peninsula  of  Chariest  own  to  the  main  land. 
This  neck  was  commanded  hy  the  Glasgow  man-of-war 
and  two  floating  batteries,  placed  in  such  a  manner  as  that 
their  shot  raked  every  part  of  it.  The  incessant  fire  kept 
up  across  this  neck,  had,  from  the  beginning  of  the  en- 
gagement, prevented  any  considerable  re-enforcement  from 
getting  to  the  Provincials  upon  the  hill,  and  it  was  feared 
would  cut  oft"  their  retreat,  but  they  retired  over  it  with  little 
or  no  loss. 

With  a  ridiculous  parade  of  triumph,  the  Ministerial 
Troops  again  took  possession  of  the  hill,  which  had  served 
them  as  a  retreat  in  their  flight  from  the  battle  of  Concord. 
It  was  expected  that  they  would  prosecute  the  supposed 
advantage  they  had  gained,  by  marching  immediately  to 
Cambridge,  which  was  distant  about  two  miles,  and  which 
was  not  then  in  a  state  of  defence.  This  they  failed  to 
do.  The  wonder  excited  by  such  conduct  soon  ceased, 
when,  by  the  best  accounts  from  Boston,  we  were  told  that 
of  three  thousand  men  who  marched  out  upon  this  expe- 
dition, no  less  than  fifteen  hundred,  (ninety-two  of  whom 
were  commissioned  officers,)  were  killed  or  wounded,  and 
about  twelve  hundred  of  them  either  killed  or  mortally 
wounded.  Such  a  slaughter  was  perhaps  never  before 
made  upon  British  Troops  in  the  space  of  about  an  hour, 
during  which  the  heat  of  the  engagement  lasted,  by  about 
fifteen  hundred  men,  which  were  the  most  that  were  at  any 
time  engaged  on  the  American  side. 

The  loss  of  the  Nevj-England  Army  amounted,  accord- 
ing to  an  exact  return,  to  one  hundred  and  forty-five  killed 
and  missing,  and  three  hundred  and  four  wounded.  Thirty 
of  the  first  were  wounded  and  taken  prisoners  by  the  ene- 
my. Among  the  dead  was  Major  General  Joseph  Warren, 
a  man  whose  memory  will  be  endeared  to  his  countrymen, 
and  to  the  worthy  in  every  part  and  age  of  the  world,  so 
long  as  virtue  and  valour  shall  be  esteemed  among  man- 
kind. The  heroick  Colonel  Gardner,  of  Cambridge,  has 
since  died  of  his  wounds ;  and  the  brave  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Parker,  of  Chelmsford,  who  was  wounded  and 
taken  prisoner,  perished  in  Boston  jail.  These  three,  with 
Major  Moore  and  Major  McClary,  who  nobly  struggled-  in 
the  cause  of  their  country,  were  the  only  officers  of  dis- 
tinction which  we  lost.  Some  officers  of  great  worth, 
though  inferiour  in  rank,  were  killed,  whom  we  deeply 
lament;  but  the  officers  and  soldiers  in  general  who  were 
wounded,  are  in  a  fair  way  of  recovery. 

The  Town  of  Charlestotvn,  the  buildings  of  which  were 
in  general  large  and  elegant,  and  which  contained  effects 
belonging  to  the  unhappy  sufferers  in  Boston  to  a  very 
great  amount,  was  entirely  destroyed  ;  and  its  chimneys  and 
cellars  now  present  a  prospect  to  the  Americans,  exciting 
an  indignation  in  their  bosoms  which  nothing  can  appease 
but  the  sacrifice  of  those  miscreants  who  have  introduced 
desolation  and  havock  into  these  once  happy  abodes  of 
liberty,  peace,  and  plenty. 

Though  the  officers  and  soldiers  of  the  Ministerial  Army 
meanly  exult  in  having  gained  this  ground,  yet  they  cannot 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS. 

At  a  Congress  of  Delegates  from  the  several  Towns 
and  Districts  in  the  Colony  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay, 
began  and  held  at  the  Meeting-House  in  Watcrtown,  the 
thirty-first  day  of  May,  1775: 

Mr.  Samuel  Freeman  was  unanimously  chosen  Secretary, 
and  the  Hon.  Joseph  Warren,  Esquire,  President. 

Resolved,  That  the  Congress  will  now  proceed  to  hear 
the  Returns  and  consider  the  qualifications  of  the  Members. 

The  Returns  being  read,  it  appeared  that  the  following 
gentlemen  were  elected  by  the  inhabitants  of  their  respec- 
tive Towns  to  represent  them  in  this  Congress,  viz: 

FOR  THE  COUNTY  OF  SUFFOLK. 

Boston. — The  Honourable  Thomas  Cushing,  Esq.,  Mr. 
Sa77iucl  Adams,  Hon.  John  Hancock,  Esq.,  Joseph 
Warren,  Esq.,  Mr.  John  Pitts,  Benjamin  Church,  Jun., 
Esq.,  Mr.  Oliver  Wendall. 

Roxbuiiv. — Captain  Aaron  Davis. 

Dorchester. — Colonel  Robinson,  Mr.  James  Robinson. 


but  attest  to  the  bravery  of  our  troops,  and  acknowledge 
that  the  battles  of  Fontenoy  and  Minden,  according  to  the 
numbers  engaged,  and  the  time  the  engagements  continued, 
were  not  to  be  compared  with  this  ;  and,  indeed,  the  laurels 
of  Minden  were  totally  blasted  in  the  battle  of  Charles- 
town.  The  ground  purchased,  thus  dearly  purchased  by 
the  British  Troops,  affords  them  no  advantage  against  the 
American  Army,  now  strongly  intrenched  on  a  neighbour- 
ing eminence.  The  Continental  Troops,  nobly  animated 
from  the  justice  of  their  cause,  sternly  urge  to  decide  the 
contest  by  the  sword ;  but  we  wish  for  no  farther  effusion 
of  blood,  if  the  freedom  and  peace  of  America  can  be 
secured  without  it.  But  if  it  must  be  otherwise,  we  are 
determined  to  struggle.   We  disdain  life  without  liberty. 

Oh,  Britons!  Be  wise  for  yourselves  before  it  is  too 
late,  and  secure  a  commercial  intercourse  with  the  Ameri- 
can Colonies  before  it  is  forever  lost ;  disarm  your  Minis- 
terial assassins ;  put  an  end  to  this  unrighteous  and  unna- 
tural war,  and  suffer  not  any  rapacious  despots  to  amuse 
you  with  the  unprofitable  ideas  of  your  right  to  tax  and 
officer  the  Colonies,  till  the  most  profitable  and  advanta- 
geous trade  you  have  is  irrecoverably  lost.  Be  wise  for 
yourselves,  and  the  Americans  will  contribute  to  and  re- 
joice in  your  prosperity.  J.  Palmer,  per  order. 

"  In  regard  to  what  1  know  of  the  setting  fire  to  Charles- 
town,  on  the  17th  of  June,  is :  I  was  on  Copp's  Hill  at  the 
landing  of  the  Troops  in  Charlestown ;  and  about  one  hour 
after  the  Troops  were  landed,  orders  came  down  to  set  fire 
to  the  Town,  and  soon  after  a  carcass  was  discharged  from 
the  hill,  which  set  fire  to  one  of  the  old  houses  just  above 
the  ferry  ways ;  from  that  the  meeting-house  and  several 
other  houses  were  set  on  fire  by  carcasses  ;  and  the  houses 
at  the  eastern  end  of  the  Town  were  set  on  fire  by  men 
landed  out  of  the  boats.  William  Cockran." 

"  Middlesex,  ss.,  August  16,  1775: 

"  Then  William  Cockran  personally  appeared  before  me, 
the  subscriber,  and  made  solemn  oath  to  the  truth  of  the 
within  Deposition.  James  Otis, 

A  Justice  of  the  Peace  through  the  Province  of  the 
Massachusetts-Bay,  in  New-Engla7id." 

[The  foregoing  account  of  the  battle  of  Charlestons  was 
transmitted  to  London  soon  after  the  date,  accompanied 
with  a  letter  to  Arthur  Lee,  Esq.,  of  which  the  following 
is  a  copy,  viz  :] 

"  In  Committee  of  Safety,  Wutertown,  July  25,  1775. 
"  Sir  :  The  Committee  of  Safety  of  this  Colony  having 
been  ordered  by  the  honourable  Provincial  Congress  to 
draw  up  and  transmit  to  Great  Britain  a  fair  and  impartial 
account  of  the  late  battle  of  Charlestown,  beg  leave  to 
enclose  the  same  to  you,  desiring  you  to  insert  the  same 
in  the  publick  papers,  so  that  the  European  world  may  be 
convinced  of  the  causeless  and  unexampled  cruelty  with 
which  the  British  Ministry  have  treated  the  innocent  Ame- 
rican Colonies.  We  are,  Sir,  with  great  respect,  your 
most  humble  servants,  J.  Palmer,  per  order. 

"  To  Arthur  Lee,  Esq.,  at  London." 


Milton. — Captain  Daniel  Vosc. 

Braintree. — Colonel  Joseph  Palmer. 

Weymouth. — Deacon  Nathaniel  Bailey. 

Hingham  and  Cohasset. — Benjamin  Lincoln,  Esq. 

Dedham. — Hon.  Samuel  Dexter,  Esq.,  Mr.  Abncr  Ellis. 

Medfield. — Mr.  Daniel  Perry. 

Wrentham. — Mr.  Jabcz  Fisher,  Mr.  Lemuel  Kollock. 

Brookline. — Captain  Benjamin  White. 

Stoughton. — Mr.  Thomas  Crane. 

Medway. — Captain  Jonathan  Adams,  Mr.  Moses  Adams. 

Needham. — Colonel  William  Mcintosh. 

Walpole. — Mr.  Enoch  Ellis. 

Bellingham. — Dr.  John  Corbet. 

Chelsea. — Deacon  John  Sale. 

COUNTY  OF  ESSEX. 

Salem. — Hon.  Richard  Darby,  Mr.  John  Pickering,  Jun., 

Captain  Samuel  Williams,  Mr.  Daniel  Hopkins. 
Danvers. — Dr.  Samuel  Holt  en,  Capt.  Williain  Shillaber. 
Ipswich. — Col.  Michael  Farley,  Dummcr  Jcwett,  Esq. 
Newbury. — Joseph  Gerrish,  Esquire. 


1377 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1378 


Newburyport. —  Captain  Jonathan  Greenleaf,  Mr.  Ste- 
phen Cross. 

Marblehead. — Azor  Orne,  Esq.,  Mr.  Elbridge  (Jerry, 

Captain  Jonathan  Glover,  Mr.  Joshua  Orne. 
Lynn. — Mr.  Edward  Johnson. 
Andover. — Mr.  Samuel  Phillips,  Junior. 
Beverley. — Captain  Josiah  Batchelder,  Junior. 
Rowley. — Mr.  Nathaniel  Mighill. 
Salisbury. — Major  Nathaniel  Currier. 
Haverhill. — Mr.  Jonathan  Webster,  Junior. 
Gloucester. — Col.  Peter  Coffin,  Maj.  Sam'l  Whiltemore. 
Boxford. — Captain  Asa  Perley. 
Almsbury. — Captain  Caleb  Pillsbury. 
Wenham. — Mr.  Benjamin  Fairfield. 
Topsfield. — Deacon  John  Gould. 
Methuen. — Mr.  James  Ingalls. 
Middleton. — Mr.  Archelaus  Fuller. 
Bradford. — Deacon  Thomas  Kimball.* 
Manchester. — (None.) 

COUNTY  OF  MIDDLESEX. 

Cambridce. — Mr.  Abner  Wa t son ,f  C apt.  Charles  Fuller. % 

Charlestown. — Messrs.  Richard  Devens,  David  Cheever. 

Watertown. — Captain  Jonathan  Brown. 

Woburn. — Josiah  Johnson,  Esquire. 

Concord. — Colonel  James  Barrett. 

Newton. — Abraham  Fuller,  Esquire. 

Reading. — Mr.  John  Temple. 

Marlborough. — Mr.  Peter  Bent. 

Billerica. —  William  Stickney,  Esquire. 

Framingham. — Joseph  Haven,  Esq.,  Capt.  Josiah  Stone. 

Lexington. — Deacon  Jonas  Stotie. 

Chelmsford. — Colonel  Simeon  Spaulding. 

Sudbury. — Deacon  Thomas  Plympton. 

Malden. — Captain  Ebenezer  Harnden. 

Weston. — Colonel  Braddyl  Smith. 

Medford. — Mr.  Benjamin  Hall,  Mr.  Stephen  Hall,  3d. 

Hopkinton. — Captain  John  Holmes. 

Westford. — Captain  Joseph  Read. 

Groton. — Hon.  James  Prescott,  Esquire. 

Pepperell. — Captain  Edmund  Bancroft. 

Waltham. — Mr.  Jacob  Bigelow. 

Stow. — Henry  Gardner,  Esquire. 

Sherburn. — Mr.  Daniel  Whitney. 

Littleton. — Mr.  Abel  Jewett. 

Townshend. — Mr.  Israel  Hobart. 

Stoneham. — Captain  Samuel  Sprague. 

Wilmington. — Captain  Timothy  Walker. 

Dracut. — Deacon  Amos  Bradley. 

Holliston. — Colonel  Abner  Perry. 

Acton. — Mr.  Josiah  Hay  ward. 

Tewksbury. — Mr.  Ezra  Kendall. 

Dunstable. — John  Tyng,  Esq.,  James  Tyng,  Esq.,  Mr. 

Joel  Parkhurst. 
Lincoln. — Major  Eleazer  Brooks. 

COUNTY  OF  HAMPSHIRE. 

Springfield. — Mr.  John  Hale,  Mr.  Edward  Chapin. 
West-Springfield. — Major  Benjamin  Ely,  Dr.  Chaun- 
cey  Brewer. 

Northampton. — Joseph  Hawley,  Esq.,  Mr.  Elias Lyman. 
Wilbraham. — Major  John  Bliss. 

South-Hadley  and  Granby. — Captain  Phineas  Smith, 

Mr.  Noah  Goodtnan.§ 
Hatfield. — Jno.  Dickenson,  Jno.  Hastings,  Elihu  White. 
Westfield. — Col.  John  Mosely,  Col.  Elisha  Parks. 
Greenfield. — Mr.  Samuel  Hinsdale. 
Hadley. — Colonel  Elisha  Porter. 

Sunderland  and  Montague. — Captain  Israel  Hubbart, 

Doctor  Moses  Gunn. 
Brimfield,  Monson,  and  South-Brimfield. — Colonel 

Timothy  Danielson. 
Northfield. — Mr.  Phineas  Wright. 
Blanford. — Deacon  William  Boies,  Capt.  William  Knox. 
Granville. — Timothy  Robinson,Esq., Mr.  Nathan  Barlo. 
Palmer. — Captain  David  Spear. 
New-Salem. — Lieutenant  Amos  Foster. 
Belchertown. — Captain  Nathaniel  Dwight. 

*  Col.  Daniel  Thurston. — Lincoln,  p.  5274. 
t  Mr.  Abraham  Watson. — Lincoln,  p.  274. 
t  Captain  Samuel  Thatcher. — Lincoln,  p.  274. 
6  Lincoln,  p.  275. 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  u.  ' 


Colrain. — Lieutenant  Hezekiah  Smith. 
Greenwich. — Mr.  Joseph  Hendrick. 
Amherst. — Nathaniel  Dickinson,  Junior. 
Chesterfield. — Captain  Benjamin  Bonncy. 
Shutesbury. — Mr.  John  Hamilton. 
Williamsburgh. — Mr.  Josiah  Dwight. 
Shelburne. — Deacon  Samuel  Fellows. 
Ware. — Joseph  Foster,  Esquire. 
Ludlow. — Captain  Joseph  Miller. 
Worthington. — Doctor  Moses  Morse. 
Whateley. — Mr.  Noah  Wells,  Mr.  Salmon  White. 
Warwick. — Colonel  Samuel  Williams. 

COUNTY  OF  BERKSHIRE. 

Sheffield,  Great-Barrington,  Egremont,  and  Al- 

ford. — Mr.  William  Whiting. 
Tyringham. — Major  Giles  Jackson. 
Stockbridge. — Timothy  Edwards,  Esquire,  Jerathmiel 

Woodbridge,  Esquire. 
Lenox. — Captain  Caleb  Hyde. 
Williamstown. — Mr.  Samuel  Kellogg. 
Richmond. — Captain  Elijah  Brown. 
Sandisfield. — Deacon  Samuel  Smith. 
Tyringham. — Mr.  Elijah  Warren,  John  Chadwick,  Esq. 
Leverett. — (None.) 

COUNTY  OF  WORCESTER. 

Worcester. — Mr.  David  Bancroft. 

Lancaster. — Dr.  William  Dunsmore,  Deacon  Thomas 

Fairbanks. 
Brookfield. — Jedediah  Foster,  Esquire. 
Oxford. — Edward  Davis,  Esquire. 
Sutton. — Captain  Henry  King,  Mr.  Amos  Singletary. 
Rutland. — Mr.  John  Fessenden. 
Hutchinson. — John  Caldwell,  Esquire. 
Oakham. — Captain  Isaac  Stone. 
Leicester  and  Spencer. — Deacon  Oliver  Watson. 
Paxton. — Reverend  Alexander  Thayer. 
Westborough. — Captain  Stephen  Maynard. 
Shrewsbury. — Mr.  Daniel  Heminway. 
Lunenburgh. — Doctor  John  Taylor. 
Fitchburgh. — Mr.  Joseph  Fox. 
Uxbridge. — Mr.  Abner  Rawson. 
Harvard. — Mr.  Joseph  Wheeler. 
Bolton. — Captain  Samuel  Baker. 
Sturbridge. — Captain  Timothy  Parker. 
Hardwick. — Captain  William  Page. 
Grafton. — Doctor  Joseph  Batchelder. 
New-Braintree. — Major  James  Woods. 
Dudley. — Major  William  Learned. 
Southborough. — Lieutenant  William  Collins. 
Upton. — Mr.  Abiel  Sadler. 
Leominster. — Deacon  Israel  Nichols. 
Holden. — Mr.  John  Child. 
Western. — Simeon  Dwight,  Esquire. 
Douglass. — Deacon  Jeremiah  Whiting. 
Athol. — Captain  John  Haven. 
Petersham. — Colonel  Jonathan  Grout. 
Westminster. — Deacon  Nathan  Wood. 
Templeton. — Mr.  Jonathan  Baldwin. 
Princeton. — Mr.  Moses  Gill. 
Royalston. — (None.) 

Hubbardston. — Lieutenant  William  Muzzy. 
Charlton. — Reverend  Caleb  Curtis. 
Northborough. — Mr.  Levi  Brigham. 

COUNTY  OF  PLYMOUTH. 

Plymouth. — Hon.  James  Warren,  Mr.  Isaac  Lothrop. 

Scituate. — Nathan  Cushing,  Esquire. 

Duxbury. — Mr.  George  Partridge. 

Marshfield. — Mr.  Benjamin  White. 

Bridgewater. — Colonel  Edward  Mitchell. 

Middleborough. — Captain  Joshua  White. 

Pembroke. — Mr.  John  Turner,  Mr.  Jeremiah  Hall,  Mr, 

Edward  Thomas. 
Rochester. — Major  Ebenezer  White. 
Plympton. — Captain  Seth  Cushing. 
Kingston. — Honourable  William  Sever,  Esquire,  Deacon 

Ebenezer  Washburn. 
Hanover. — Colonel  Joseph  Cushing. 
Abington. — Doctor  David  Jones. 
Halifax. — .Mr.  Ebenezer  Thompson. 


1879 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1380 


COUNTY  OF  BARNSTABLE. 

Barnstable. — Colonel  Joseph  Otis,  Daniel  Davis,  Esq. 

Yarmouth. — Captain  Elisha  Basset. 

Sandwich. — Mr.  Stephen  Nye,  Col.  Nathaniel  Freeman. 

Eastham. — Mr.  Amos  Knotvlcs. 

Wellfleet. — Colonel  Elisha  Cobb. 

Harwich. — Mr.  Joseph  Nye. 

Falmouth. — Mr.  Moses  Swift. 

Chatham. — Colonel  Joseph  Doan. 

Truro. — Mr.  Samuel  Harding. 

COUNTY  OF  BRISTOL. 

Taunton. — Robert  Treat  Paine,  Esq.,  Colonel  George 
Williams,  Captain  Simeon  Williams. 

Rehoboth. — Capt.  Thompson  Carpenter,  Mr.  Ephraim 
Starkweather. 

Swanzey. — Col.  Jerathmicl  Bowers,  Mr.  Philip  Slead. 

Dartmouth. — Hon.  Walter  Spooner,  Esquire,  and  Ben- 
jamin Aikin,  Esquire. 

Attleborough. — Captain  John  Stearns. 

Dighton. — Ezra  Richmond,  Esquire,  and  Doctor  Wil- 
liam Baylies. 

Freetown. — Mr.  Thomas  Durfee. 

Norton  and  Mansfield. — Captain  William  Holmes. 

Easton. — Mr.  Benjamin  Pettingil. 

Raynham. — Mr.  Benjamin  King. 

Berkley. — Mr.  Samuel  Tobey,  Junior. 

COUNTY  OF  YORK. 

York. — Mr.  Daniel  Bragdon. 
Kittery. — Edward  Cutt,  Esquire. 
Wells. — (None.) 

Berwick. — Major  Ichabod  Goodwin. 
Arundel. — Mr.  John  Hovey. 
Biddeford. — James  Sullivan,  Esquire. 

COUNTY  OF  CUMBERLAND. 

Falmouth  and  Cape  Elizabeth. — Mr.  Samuel  Freeman. 
Gorham. — Captain  Bryant  Morton. 
Brunswick. — Colonel  Samuel  Thompson. 
North-Yarmouth. — David  Mitchell,  Esquire. 

COUNTY  OF  LINCOLN. 

Pownalborough. — Mr.  Timothy  Langdon. 
Georgetown  and  Woolwich. — Capt.  Samuel  McCobb. 
Tops  ham. — Mr.  James  Fulton. 
Gardinerston. — Mr.  Joseph  North. 

county  of  dukes  county. 
Chilmark. — (None.) 
Tisbury. — James  Athearn,  Esquire. 
Edgarton. — Mr.  Beriah  Norton. 

county  of  nantucket. — (None.) 

Wednesday,  May  31,  1775. 

Ordered,  That  Dr.  Holten,  Mr.  Watson,  and  Colonel 
Lincoln,  be  a  Committee  to  wait  on  the  Rev.  Dr.  Lang- 
don, and  inform  him  that  this  Congress  are  now  ready  to 
attend  divine  service,  and  request  his  attendance. 

Resolved,  That  four  o'clock  this  afternoon  be  assigned 
for  the  consideration  of  the  return  of  Members  from  Hard- 
wick,  Eastham,  and  several  other  Towns. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Brown,  Dr.  Taylor,  and  Colonel 
Saycr,  be  a  Committee  to  wait  on  the  Commanding  Officer 
of  the  Militia  of  this  Town,  to  thank  him  for  his  polite 
offer  to  escort  the  Congress  to  the  Meeting-House,  and  to 
inform  him  that  as  this  Congress  are  now  sitting,  the  Con- 
gress think  it  needless  to  withdraw  for  that  purpose ;  but 
will,  with  the  Reverend  Gentlemen  of  the  Clergy,  attend 
them  to  Mrs.  Coolidge's,  if  they  please  to  escort  them 
thither,  when  the  Congress  adjourns. 

Afternoon. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Gill,  Dr.  Whiting,  Mr.  Pitts,  Mr. 
Jewett,  and  Col.  Lincoln,  be  a  Committee  to  return  the 
thanks  of  this  Congress  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Langdon  for  his 
excellent  Sermon  delivered  to  the  Congress  in  the  fore- 
noon, and  to  desire  a  copy  of  it  for  the  press. 

Ordered,  That  Dr.  Taylor,  Mr.  Pitts,  and  Mr.  Green- 
leaf,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  some  method  for  supply- 
ing the  Soldiers  immediately  with  advance  Pay,  and  also 
to  consider  a  Letter  from  General  Thomas  on  that  subject. 


Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  the  Resolve  of  the  last  Con- 
gress relative  to  providing  the  Army  with  Chaplains,  be 
laid  before  the  Reverend  Gentlemen  of  the  Clergy,  now  in 
convention  at  Watertown. 

The  Order  of  the  Day  moved  for. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Fisher,  Col.  Bowers,  Col.  Gcrrish, 
Mr.  Bayley,  and  Mr.  Slead,  be  a  Committee  to  consider 
the  two  returns  of  Members  from  Eastham. 

The  returns  of  three  Members  from  Hardwick,  who  are 
to  attend  this  Congress  severally,  (each  two  months,)  was 
approved  of. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  General  Thomas's 
Letter  reported  verbally;  the  Report  was  accepted,  and 
ordered  to  be  committed  to  writing,  and  one  copy  sent  to  the 
Camp  at  Cambridge,  and  another  to  the  Camp  at  Roxbury. 

Ordered,  That  Col.  Palmer,  Mr.  Williams,  and  Deacon 
Cheever,  be  a  Committee  to  introduce  to  this  Congress  a 
Committee  from  the  Reverend  Gentlemen  of  the  Clergy,  in 
convention  at  Watertown,  now  at  the  door. 

The  Committee  were  accordingly  introduced,  and  in- 
formed the  Congress  that  the  said  Convention  would  be 
glad  of  the  use  of  the  Meeting-House  to-morrow  morning, 
eight  o'clock.    Then  the  said  Committee  withdrew. 

Ordered,  That  Col.  Palmer,  Mr.  Williams,  and  Deacon 
Cheever,  be  a  Committee  to  inform  the  Reverend  Gentle- 
men of  the  Convention  that  this  Congress  comply  with 
their  request ;  and  that  the  Committee  lay  before  the  said 
Convention  a  copy  of  the  Resolve  of  the  last  Congress 
respecting  Chaplains. 

Resolved,  That  Mr.  Hastings,  who  attended  the  last 
Congress  as  Doorkeeper,  be  desired  to  attend  this  Con- 
gress till  further  orders. 

Ordered,  That  the  Papers  relative  to  the  Fortresses  at 
Ticonderoga,  &cc,  be  laid  before  the  Congress. 

The  Papers  being  read, 

Resolved,  That  Mr.  Phelps,  who  was  the  bearer  of  some 
of  them,  be  introduced  to  the  Congress. 

After  information  from  Mr.  Phelps, 

Ordered,  That  the  President,  Mr.  Glover,  Col.  Nich- 
olson,  Dr.  Taylor,  Mr.  Edwards,  Colonel  Dwight,  Dr. 
Wheeler,  Mr.  Hale,  and  Dr.  Whiting,  be  a  Committee  to 
take  the  said  Papers  into  consideration,  to  sit  forthwith, 
and  report  as  soon  as  may  be. 

Ordered,  That  the  Hon.  Mr.  Spooner,  Mr.  Hopkins, 
Mr.  Greenleaf  Captain  Batchelder,  and  Colonel  Otis,  be 
a  Committee  to  consider  a  Letter  from  the  Committee  of 
Correspondence  of  the  Colony  of  New-Hampshire  to  the 
Committee  of  Correspondence  of  Newburyport. 

The  Congress  then  adjourned  to  ten  o'clock  to-morrow 
morning. 

Thursday,  June  1,  1775. 

The  Commitee  appointed  to  consider  General  Thomas's 
Letter,  brought  in  the  following  Report ;  which  was  ac- 
cepted, and  a  copy  of  it  ordered  to  be  sent  to  the  Muster- 
Master  at  Cambridge,  and  another  to  the  Muster-Master 
at  Roxbury,  viz : 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  a  letter  from 
General  Thomas,  relative  to  immediately  paying  the  Army 
the  advance  pay,  have  attended  that  service,  and  beg 
leave  to  report,  that  they  have  waited  on  the  Receiver- 
General,  to  know  of  him  how  soon  he  can  furnish  the 
Muster-Masters  with  the  Notes  proposed  for  the  Army; 
and  were  informed  by  the  Receiver-General  he  now  had 
several  hundred  Notes  ready  to  deliver,  and  that  he  had 
provided  all  necessary  helps,  and  would  make  the  greatest 
despatch  possible,  and  that  he  should  be  able  to  pay  off  at 
least  one  Regiment  every  day,  and  perhaps  more ;  and 
that  he  would,  from  day  to  day,  deliver  one  half  of  said 
Notes  to  the  Muster-Master  at  Cambridge,  and  the  other 
half  to  the  Muster-Master  at  Roxbury. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  of  the  above  be  sent  to  the  Mus- 
ter-Masters. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Jones  and  Mr.  Orne  be  added 
to  the  Committee  who  were  appointed  to  consider  the  re- 
turns of  Members  from  Eastham. 

Resolved,  That  the  following  Members  be,  and  hereby 


1381 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1382 


are,  appointed  Monitors  in  the  Congress,  viz:  1.  Colonel 
Gerrish ;  -2.  Mr.  Durfee ;  3.  Col.  Farley ;  4.  Dr.  Taylor; 
and  that  the  division  of  the  House  be  as  follows,  viz: 

First  Division.  The  pews  at  the  right  hand  of  the 
pulpit,  and  all  the  pews  on  the  west  and  south  part  of  the 
meeting-house,  from  the  aisle  that  bounds  the  seats  and 
body  pews. 

Second  Division.  The  pews  on  the  left  hand  of  the 
pulpit,  and  all  the  pews  on  the  north  and  east  part  of  the 
house,  from  the  aisle  that  bounds  the  seats  and  body  pews. 

Third  Division.  All  the  body  pews  and  seats  on  the 
left  hand  of  the  broad  aisle. 

Fourth  Division.  All  the  body  pews  and  seats  on  the 
right  hand  of  the  broad  aisle. 

Resolved,  That  this  Congress  will  adopt  and  observe 
the  Rules  and  Orders  established  by  the  last  Congress. 

Ordered,  That  Col.  Prescott,  Mr.  Slead,  Col.  Barrett, 
Mr.  Thatcher,  and  Mr.  Partridge,  be  a  Committee  to 
consider  what  number  of  the  Poor  of  the  Town  of  Boston 
should  be  sent  to  the  Town  of  Ashby,  or  other  Towns,  not 
mentioned  in  the  schedule  annexed  to  a  Resolve  passed  in 
the  last  Congress. 

The  Committee  presented  the  following  Report,  which 
was  read,  and  accepted  : 

Whereas,  the  Poor  of  the  Town  of  Boston,  by  a  Re- 
solve of  Congress  passed  the  6rst  day  of  May  last,  are 
con6ned  to  a  certain  number  of  Towns  and  Districts  in 
this  Colony,  as  appears  by  a  schedule  annexed  to  said  Re- 
solve ;  and  some  of  said  Poor  having  relations  and  connex- 
ions in  other  Towns  and  Districts  than  are  mentioned  in 
said  schedule,  and  being  desirous  to  go  and  reside  in  such 
places,  it  is  therefore  Resolved,  That  the  Poor  of  Boston 
may  be  removed  into  any  other  Town  or  District  in  this 
Colony,  where  the  Selectmen  of  such  Town  or  District 
shall  see  fit  to  receive  them,  all  such  Towns  and  Districts 
observing  the  rules,  regulations,  and  directions  given  in  the 
Resolve  aforesaid,  and  shall  be  entitled  to  the  same  rewards 
and  privileges  as  mentioned  in  said  Resolve. 

Ordered,  That  Dea.  Fisher,  Mr.  Spa ul ding,  Mr.  Stick- 
ney,  Mr.  Partridge,  and  Major  Perley,  be  a  Committee  to 
consider  the  Proposal  of  the  Reverend  Gentlemen  of  the 
Clergy,  now  in  convention  at  Watertovm. 

Ordered,  That  Major  Fuller,  Colonel  Cushing,  and 
Major  Whittemore,  be  a  Committee  to  inquire  how  many 
Armourers  are  already  appointed  in  the  Massachusetts 
Army,  and  how  many  more  are  necessary. 

Ordered,  That  Major  Brooks,  Captain  Stone,  and  Mr. 
Crane,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  the  Letter  from  the 
Selectmen  of  the  Town  of  Hopkinton;  and  that  they  sit 
forthwith. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  Letter  from 
the  Committee  of  Correspondence  for  the  Colony  of  New- 
Hampshire,  reported,  verbally,  that  it  was  their  opinion  that 
it  would  be  expedient  to  forward  forthwith  a  copy  of  said 
Letter  to  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  for  the  Co- 
lony of  Rhode-Island,  and  another  to  the  Colony  of  Con- 
necticut;  and  that  the  several  Members  of  the  seaport 
Towns,  or  of  the  Towns  adjacent,  should  write  to  the 
Committee  of  such  seaport  Towns,  informing  them  of  the 
subject  of  said  Letter. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Thompson,  Colonel  Freeman, 
and  Mr.  Jewett,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  a  Letter  from 
the  Committee  of  Safety  for  the  Town  of  Salem,  and 
report. 

The  Committee  on  the  Eastham  Returns  reported,  that 
in  their  opinion  neither  of  the  Members  were  legally 
chosen.    The  Report,  after  debate,  was  not  accepted. 

Resolved,  That  this  last  vote  be  reconsidered,  and  that 
a  recommendation  be  sent  to  the  Town  of  Eastham,  to 
choose  one  or  more  Metnbers,  as  to  them  shall  seem  meet, 
to  represent  them  in  this  Congress. 

Afternoon. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  Letter  from 
the  Committee  of  Safety  of  the  Town  of  Salem,  reported  ; 
which  Report  was  accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz : 

The  Committee  appointed  by  the  honourable  Provin- 
cial Congress  to  take  into  consideration  the  letter  from  the 


Committee  of  Safety  and  Town  Clerk  of  the  Town  of 
Salem,  respecting  the  answers  of  Mr.  Stephen  Higginson 
to  questions  asked  him  before  the  House  of  Commons  of 
Great  Britain,  Sec,  beg  leave  to  report,  that  they  have 
critically  examined  that  matter,  and  are  of  opinion  that 
the  intentions  of  said  Higginson,  in  those  answers,  were 
friendly  to  the  inhabitants  of  Salem  and  Marblehead,  and 
to  the  Colonies  in  general ;  and  that  he  ought  to  be  hon- 
ourably acquitted  by  this  Congress,  and  recommended  to 
the  favour  of  the  publick. 

Ordered,  That  the  Hon.  Mr.  Dexter  be  directed  to 
inquire  of  the  Receiver-General  if  he  has  received  the 
Money  from  the  Hon.  Mr.  Russell,  agreeable  to  the  Re- 
solve of  the  last  Congress. 

Ordered,  That  Deacon  Bayley,  Captain  Holmes,  and 
Colonel  Thompson,  be  a  Committee  to  draw  up  a  Resolve 
recommending  to  the  Town  of  Eastham  to  choose  a  new 
Member  or  Members  to  represent  them  in  this  Congress. 

Ordered,  That  three  hundred  Passes,  of  the  following 
form,  be  printed,  viz : 
"  To  the  Guards  of  the  Colony  Army: 

"Pursuant  to  a  Resolve  of  the  Provincial  Congress, 

you  are  hereby  ordered  to  permit  ,  a  Member 

of  said  Congress,  to  pass  and  repass  with  such  as  may 
accompany  him,  at  all  times. 

 ,  President. 

"  June  .  .  ,  1775." 

Hon.  Mr.  Dexter  reported  to  the  Congress  that  he  had 
made  inquiry  of  Mr.  Gardner,  the  Receiver-General,  as 
directed,  and  that  the  Receiver-General  informed  him  he 
had  not  seen  Mr.  Russell  since  the  order  of  Congress  re- 
specting his  paying  the  publick  moneys  he  has  in  his  hands 
to  Mr.  Gardner. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  Letter  from 
the  Selectmen  of  Hopkinton  reported  ;  the  Report  was 
recommitted,  and  Mr.  Phillips,  Mr.  Partridge,  Colonel 
Richmond,  and  Mr.  Sawyer,  added  to  the  Committee. 

Ordered,  That  Dr.  Taylor,  Hon.  Mr.  Dexter,  and  the 
Hon.  Colonel  Bowers,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  the 
application  made  to  this  Congress  by  Colonel  Barrett,  in 
behalf  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Emerson,  for  the  use  of  one  of 
the  horses  taken  from  the  Regulars,  during  the  absence  of 
the  Hon.  Thomas  Cushing,  Esquire,  who  has  Mr.  Emer- 
so?i's  horse  now  in  the  publick  service. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  request  of 
Mr.  Emerson,  reported  ;  the  Report  was  accepted,  and  is 
as  follows,  viz : 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  request  of  the 
Rev.  William  Emerson,  of  Concord,  respecting  the  use  of 
a  horse  taken  upon  the  19th  of  April  last,  from  one  of  the 
Regulars,  by  Mr.  Isaac  Kitteridge,  of  Tewksbury,  Cap- 
tain Nathan  Barrett,  and  Henry  Flint,  of  Concord,  beg 
leave  to  report,  by  way  of  resolve  :  That  said  horse  be  de- 
livered to  said  Emerson  by  the  person  or  persons  in  whose- 
soever possession  be  may  be  found,  he,  the  said  Emerson, 
paying  a  reasonable  price  for  keeping  said  horse ;  and  Mr. 
Emerson  is  hereby  permitted  to  keep  and  use  said  horse 
till  further  order  of  this  Congress. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  Papers  rela- 
ting to  Ticonderoga,  &c,  reported  a  Letter  to  Colonel 
Arnold;  another  to  the  Hon.  William  Williams,  Esquire, 
Speaker  of  the  Assembly  of  the  Colony  of  Connecticut ; 
and  another  to  the  Provincial  Congress  of  New-Hamp- 
shire; which  were  read  and  accepted,  and  ordered  to  be 
authenticated  and  sent  forward,  and  are  as  follow,  viz : 

Letter  to  Colonel  Benedict  Arnold. 
"  Sir  :  This  Congress  have  received  yours  of  the  19th 
and  23d  of  May,  ult.,  per  Captain  Brown  and  Captain 
Phelps,  a  copy  of  which  has  been  sent  to  New-Hamp- 
shire. They  highly  approve  of,  and  take  great  satisfaction 
in  the  acquisitions  you  have  made  at  Ticonderoga,  Crown 
Point,  on  the  Lake,  &tc.  As  to  the  state  you  are  in  re- 
specting men,  provisions,  &c,  we  have  advices  from  Con- 
necticut and  New-York,  that  ample  preparation  is  making, 
with  the  greatest  despatch,  in  those  two  Colonies,  from 
whence  you  may  depend  on  being  seasonably  supplied. 
They  are  sorry  to  meet  with  repeated  requests  from  you, 
that  some  gentleman  be  sent  to  succeed  you  in  command ; 


1383 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1384 


they  assure  you,  that  they  place  the  greatest  confidence  in 
your  fidelity,  knowledge,  courage,  and  good  conduct,  and 
.they  desire  that  you  at  present  dismiss  the  thoughts  of 
quitting  your  important  command  at  Ticonderoga,  Crown 
Point,  Lake  Champlain,  k.c. ;  and  you  are  hereby  request- 
ed to  continue  your  command  over  the  forces  raised  by 
this  Colony,  posted  at  those  several  places,  at  least  until 
the  Colony  of  New-York  or  Connecticut  shall  take  on  them 
the  maintaining  and  commanding  the  same  agreeable  to  an 
order  of  the  Continental  Congress. 
"To  Colonel  Benedict  Arnold,  Ticonderoga. 

"  P.  S.  We  have  just  received  intelligence,  by  a  letter 
from  Governour  Trumbull,  that  the  General  Assembly  have 
ordered  a  thousand  men  to  march  immediately  to  re-en- 
force the  Army  now  at  Crown  Point,  Ticonderoga,  &.C., 
as  also  five  hundred  pounds  of  powder,  and  also  that  each 
soldier  is  furnished  with  one  pound  of  powder,  &tc.  The 
Congress  further  advise  that  in  case  your  present  necessity 
requires  it,  you  make  use  of  the  one  hundred  and  sixty 
Pounds  you  found  on  board  the  sloop,  for  the  service  of 
this  Colony,  you  accounting  for  the  same  to  this  or  some 
other  Congress,  or  House  of  Representatives  of  this  Co- 
lony ;  and  they  hereby  assure  you  that  this  Colony  will 
repay  it  whenever  it  shall  be  ordered  by  the  Continental 
Congress  ;  and  that  you  also  complete  the  raising  the  num- 
ber of  four  hundred  men,  in  the  pay  of  this  Colony,  if 
you  judge  it  necessary." 

To  the  House  o  f  Assembly  of  Connecticut. 

"  Gentlemen  :  We  gratefully  acknowledge  the  receipt  of 
your  favour  of  the  27th  ultimo.  We  fully  concur  in  opi- 
nion with  you,  that  maintaining  a  post  at  Ticonderoga  or 
Crown  Point,  is  of  the  utmost  importance  ;  therefore  take 
particular  satisfaction  that  you  have  on  this  subject  so  early 
and  repeatedly  expressed  your  minds  to  the  Continental 
Congress.  By  private  intelligence  of  the  29lh  ultimo, 
sent  to  Captain  Joseph  Trumbull,  we  are  informed  that 
the  Provincial  Congress  of  New-York  do  not  understand 
the  resolve  of  the  Continental  Congress,  concerning  said 
fortresses,  to  extend  so  far  as  wholly  to  dismantle  them,  but 
so  far  only  as  to  supply  any  fortification  that  may  be  built 
at  the  south  end  of  Lake  George;  which  resolve,  in  this 
sense  of  it,  they  are  with  despatch  executing.  Therefore, 
in  our  present  distressing  situation,  we  have  postponed 
sending  further  assistance  to  Captain  Arnold,  especially 
since  New-York  have  not  requested  it. 
"  To  the  Hon.  William  Williams,  Speaker  of  the  House  of 

Assembly  of  the  Colony  of  Connecticut." 

To  the  Provincial  Congress  of  New-Hampshire. 

"  Gentlemen  :  We  send  you  enclosed  a  copy  of  a  letter 
from  Colonel  Arnold,  commander  of  the  troops  at  Ticon- 
deroga and  Crown  Point,  together  with  a  copy  of  a  letter 
from  the  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives  for  the 
Colony  of  Connecticut,  by  which  you  will  be  acquainted 
with  the  present  situation  of  those  fortresses,  and  the  mea- 
sures necessary  to  be  taken  for  securing  and  defending  so 
valuable  acquisitions.  You  will  doubtless  agree  with  us 
in  sentiment,  that  it  is  a  matter  of  the  greatest  importance 
that  those  places  remain  in  our  possession,  in  order  to 
secure  our  frontiers  from  the  depredations  of  our  enemies, 
if  they  should  attempt  to  attack  us  from  that  quarter,  of 
which,  there  appears  to  be  great  danger. 

"  It  was  the  agreement  of  this  Colony,  that  four  hundred 
men,  and  one  hundred  pounds  in  money,  should  be  raised 
for  the  reduction  of  the  place ;  and  it  is  our  determination 
to  contribute  our  full  proportion  toward  securing  the  acqui- 
sition. By  the  letter  from  the  Speaker  of  the  House  of 
Representatives  for  Connecticut,  you  will  find  that  that 
Colony  have  voted  to  send  immediately  to  their  assistance 
four  companies,  and  five  hundred  pounds  weight  of  powder, 
and  we  suppose  that  the  troops  are  upon  the  march  there. 
And  we  most  earnestly  request  that  you  would  contribute 
your  endeavours  likewise  for  the  speedy  and  effectual 
security  of  the  aforementioned  places,  which,  consider- 
ing the  importance  of  the  affair,  and  the  ready  disposition 
which  you  have  discovered  for  the  defence  of  the  com- 
mon causo,  leaves  us  no  room  to  doubt  of  your  compliance 
therewith. 

"  To  the  Provincial  Congress  of  Nciv- Hampshire." 


Resolved,  That  the  Secretary  be,  and  hereby  is,  em- 
powered to  appoint  some  person  to  assist  him  in  his  office. 
Adjourned  till  to-morrow  morning,  eight  o'clock. 

Friday,  June  2,  1775. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  bring  in  a  Resolve  recom- 
mending the  Town  of  Eastham  to  choose  one  or  more 
Members  to  represent  them  in  this  Congress,  reported. 
The  Report  was  accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz : 

Whereas,  this  Congress,  upon  examination,  judge  that 
the  persons  returned  as  Delegates  for  Eastham,  in  the 
County  of  Barnstable,  were  not  legally  chosen  ;  and  that 
the  allowing  either  of  them  a  seat  in  this  House  would  be 
attended  with  many  inconveniences:  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  it  be,  and  it  is  hereby  recommended  to 
the  said  Town  of  Eastham,  that  they  forthwith  elect  and 
depute  one  or  more  persons  to  serve  for  and  represent  said 
Town  in  Provincial  Congress,  now  held  at  the  Meeting- 
House  in  Watcrtown,  (to  be  chosen  by  such  only  as  are 
qualified  to  vote  for  Representatives  in  the  General  Assem- 
bly,) and  to  be  continued  by  adjournment  as  they  shall  see 
cause,  until  the  expiration  of  six  months  from  the  first  sit- 
ting of  this  Congress,  and  no  longer ;  and  consult  and 
deliberate  and  resolve  upon  such  further  measures  as, 
under  God,  shall  be  effectual  to  save  this  people  from  im- 
pending ruin,  and  to  secure  those  inestimable  liberties 
derived  to  us  from  our  ancestors,  and  which  it  is  our  duty 
to  preserve  for  posterity. 

Resolved,  That  ten  o'clock  this  forenoon  be  assigned  for 
the  choice  of  a  Chaplain  for  this  Congress. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Fisher,  Colonel  Barrett,  Captain 
Holmes,  Colonel  Bowers,  and  Colonel  Sawyer,  be  a  Com- 
mittee to  bring  in  a  Resolve  for  making  further  provision 
for  distributing  the  Poor  of  Boston  to  such  Towns  in  the 
Colony  as  the  Committee  may  think  convenient. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Gerrish,  Mr.  Spooner,  Mr. 
Sever,  Colonel  Bowers,  and  Mr.  Fisher,  be  a  Committee 
to  take  into  consideration  the  Petition  and  Memorial  of  the 
several  Committees  of  Correspondence  for  the  County  of 
Worcester,  and  report. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  Resolve  and 
Proposals  of  the  Reverend  Gentlemen  of  the  Clergy,  re- 
ported. 

The  Report  was  accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz: 

Whereas,  it  is  of  great  importance  that  our  Colony  Army 
be  furnished  with  gentlemen  to  act  as  Chaplains,  on  whose 
virtue,  firmness,  and  patriotism,  they  can  safely  rely;  and 
whereas,  the  Reverend  Convention  of  the  Clergy  of  this 
Colony  have  most  nobly,  and  without  reward,  tendered 
their  services  in  their  Country's  cause :  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  the  General  and  Field  Officers  be,  and 
they  hereby  are  empowered  and  directed  to  choose  nine 
gentlemen  of  the  Clergy  of  this  Colony,  to  act  as  Chap- 
lains to  said  Army:  provided  that  not  more  than  two  of 
them  belong  to  any  one  County ;  and  the  General  Officers 
of  said  Army  are  hereby  empowered  to  determine  the  Re- 
giments to  which  each  Chaplain  shall  be  desired  to  officiate; 
and  also  the  Committee  of  Supplies  are  hereby  directed  to 
make  suitable  provision  for  said  Chaplains  during  their  con- 
tinuance in  camp. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Spooner,  Colonel  Richmond,  and 
Colonel  Dwight,  be  a  Committee  to  take  into  consideration 
the  expense  Captain  Phelps  has  been  at  in  supplying  the 
Massachusetts  Forces  at  Ticonderoga,  and  report. 

Ordered,  That  Doctor  Whiting  and  Doctor  Bailies  be 
added  to  the  Committee  which  was  appointed  by  the  last 
Congress  to  examine  those  persons  who  might  be  nomina- 
ted for  Surgeons  of  the  Massachusetts  Army. 

Ordered,  That  Deacon  Bayley,  Honourable  Josejih 
Gerrish,  Esq.,  Josiah  Johnson,  Esq.,  Mr.  John  Hale, 
Honourable  William  Sever,  Esq.,  Colonel  Joseph  Otis, 
Honourable  Jerathmiel  Bowers,  Col.  Cutt,  Capt.  Stephen 
Maynard,  Colonel  Thompson,  Mr.  Joseph  North,  and 
Timothy  Edwards,  Esq.,  be  a  Committee  to  take  into  con- 
sideration the  situation  and  circumstances  of  the  seaport 
Towns  and  Islands  in  this  Colony,  which  are  exposed  to 
the  incursions  and  ravages  of  the  enemy  ;  and  in  particular 
to  consider  the  Letter  of  Mr.  Stephen  Nye  to  Colonel  Free- 
man, the  Petition  from  the  Town  of  Kittcry,  the  Resolve 


1385 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1386 


of  the  last  Congress  in  relation  to  the  invasion  of  the  enemy 
on  our  sea-coasts,  &tc,  and  a  Petition  from  some  inhabi- 
tants of  Deer  Island  ;  and  sit  forthwith,  and  report  as  soon 
as  may  be. 

Order  of  the  Day  moved  for. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Jones,  Mr.  Bliss,  and  Mr.  Toby, 
be  a  Committee  to  receive,  sort,  and  count  the  Votes  for  a 
Chaplain. 

The  Committee  having  attended  that  service,  reported 
that  the  Reverend  Mr.  Gordon  was  chosen. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Davis,  Mr.  Wheeler,  and  Major 
Bliss,  be  a  Committee  to  wait  on  the  Reverend  Mr.  Gor- 
don, informing  him  that  this  Congress  have  made  choice  of 
him  to  officiate  as  their  Chaplain  during  its  session  in  this 
place. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  inquire  how  many  Armour- 
ers were  appointed,  &.c,  reported,  that  the  Committee  of 
Safety  informed  them  that  there  were  thirteen  appointed, 
and  several  others  nominated  ;  and  that  the  General  Offi- 
cers had  agreed  that  thirteen  was  a  sufficient  number,  but 
that  they  were  in  want  of  tools  and  stock. 

Aftornoon. 

Ordered,  That  Commissions  be  given  to  the  Officers  of 
Colonel  Scammon's  Regiment,  (except  such  Captains  as 
have  already  received  their  Commissions,)  agreeable  to  the 
list  by  him  exhibited. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Prescott,  Colonel  Freeman, 
Honourable  Mr.  Spooner,  Mr.  Partridge,  Colonel  Gush- 
ing, Colonel  Spaulding,  and  Colonel  Sayer,  be  a  Com- 
mittee to  consider  the  Petition  of  Captain  Jacob  Gerrish 
and  seven  other  Captains  in  the  Massachusetts  Army. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Richmond  be,  and  hereby  is 
appointed  to  countersign  the  Notes  which  were  ordered  to 
be  prepared  for  the  Soldiers'  advance  pay,  in  the  room  of 
Major  Fuller,  who  declines  serving  further  in  that  business. 

Ordered,  That  Deacon  Baker,  Major  Brooks,  Mr. 
Nichols,  and  Colonel  Grout,  be  added  to  the  Committee 
who  were  appointed  by  the  last  Congress  to  draw  up  some 
easy  and  concise  method  of  making  Saltpetre. 

Ordered,  That  the  Officers  of  Col.  Gardner's  Regiment 
be  commissioned  agreeable  to  the  list  by  him  exhibited. 

Ordered,  That  Captain  Parker,  Captain  Thatcher,  Mr. 
Jewett,  Colonel  Porter,  and  Mr.  Singletary,  be  a  Com- 
mittee to  consider  what  is  best  to  be  done  with  the  Horses 
lately  taken  from  Noddle's  Island. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  take  into  consideration  the 
Petition  of  Captain  Jacob  Gerrish,  and  others,  reported 
verbally,  that  they  think  it  expedient  that  Colonel  Gerrish 
be  notified  to  attend  said  Committee  to-morrow  morning, 
at  eight  o'clock,  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Learned,  in  Water- 
town  (if  he  sees  cause).  Thereupon, 

Ordered,  That  the  same  Committee  be  directed  to  bring 
in  a  short  Resolve  for  this  purpose. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  what  is  best  to  be 
done  with  the  Horses  taken  from  Noddle's  Island,  reported. 
The  Report  was  accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz: 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  what  shall  be 
done  with  the  horses  taken  by  our  forces  from  Noddle's 
Island,  which  belong  to  our  enemies,  beg  leave  to  report, 
that  the  same  horses  be  delivered  to  the  Committee  of 
Supplies,  to  be  by  them  used  and  improved  for  the  benefit 
of  the  Colony,  as  they  shall  think  fit,  until  further  orders 
from  this  or  some  future  Congress,  or  House  of  Represen- 
tatives. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Farley,  Deacon  Baker,  and 
Mr.  Batchelder,  be  a  Committee  to  inquire  of  the  Com- 
mittee of  Safety  what  progress  has  been  made  in  the  raising 
a  Regiment  for  the  Train. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  bring  in  a  Resolve,  whereby 
to  notify  Colonel  Gerrish  to  appear  before  said  Committee 
to-morrow  morning,  reported  the  following ;  which  was 
read  and  accepted  ;  and  Captain  Thatcher  was  desired  to 
carry  it  to  Col.  Gerrish  this  evening.   It  is  as  follows,  viz: 

To  Colonel  Samuel  Gerrish  : 

A  number  of  gentlemen  have  presented  a  Petition  to 
this  Congress,  in  behalf  of  themselves  and  the  men  they 


have  enlisted,  praying  that  Captain  Moses  Little  and  Mr. 
Isaac  Smith  may  be  appointed  and  commissioned  as  two 
of  the  Field-Officers  over  them.  Six  of  the  said  petition- 
ers are  returned  by  you  as  Captains,  as  appears  by  your 
Return  ;  and  the  Petition  has  been  committed  to  a  Com- 
mittee to  hear  the  petitioners,  and  report  to  the  Congress ; 
and  it  is,  therefore, 

Ordered,  That  the  said  Colonel  Samuel  Gerrish  be  no- 
tified, and  he  is  hereby  notified,  to  attend  the  said  Commit- 
tee at  the  house  of  Mr.  Learned,  in  Watertown,  the  third 
day  of  June  instant,  at  eight  o'clock  in  the  forenoon. 

Read,  accepted,  and  Captain  Thatcher  was  desired  to 
carry  this  Resolve  to  Colonel  Gerrish  this  evening. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  subject  of  the 
Letter  from  the  Selectmen  of  Hopkinton,  again  reported. 
The  consideration  of  the  Report  was  ordered  to  be  put  off 
till  to-morrow  morning,  eleven  o'clock. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  wait  on  the  Reverend  Mr. 
Gordon,  reported,  that  they  had  informed  Mr.  Gordon  that 
this  Congress  had  appointed  him  their  Chaplain  ;  and  that 
Mr.  Gordoii  told  them  he  would  attend  this  Congress  to- 
morrow morning. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  expense  Mr. 
Phelps  had  been  at  in  supplying  the  Massachusetts  Forces 
at  Ticonderoga,  exhibited  an  account  which  they  looked 
upon  was  not  supported  by  any  vouchers,  and  therefore 
submitted  the  matter  to  Congress. 

Ordered,  That  the  consideration  of  the  same  be  put  off 
to  to-morrow  morning. 

The  Congress  then  adjourned  to  nine  o'clock  to-morrow 
morning. 

Saturday,  June  3,  1775. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Palmer,  Colonel  Davis,  Mr. 
Glover,  Deacon  Gould,  and  Mr.  Webster,  be  a  Committee 
to  consider  a  Resolve  of  the  Committee  of  Safety  respect- 
ing a  person  in  Brookline  who  is  broke  out  with  the  Small- 
Pox  ;  and  that  they  sit  forthwith. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  situation  and 
circumstances  of  the  Islands  and  Sea-Coasts,  reported  : 

1st.  That  the  Petition  of  Colonel  Lilhgoic  be  committed 
to  the  Committee  of  Supplies. 

2d.  A  Resolve  on  the  subject  of  Mr.  Nye's  Letter; 
which  is  as  follows  : 

Whereas,  the  forces  under  the  command  of  General  Gage 
are  frequently  plundering  and  making  depredations  on  the 
islands  and  sea-coasts  of  this  Province,  particularly  on  the 
Island  of  Naushan,  and  others  adjacent,  whereby  not  only 
individuals,  but  the  publick  are  much  injured,  and  our 
enemies  strengthened  : 

Resolved,  therefore,  That  it  be  recommended  to  all 
those  persons  occupying  the  islands  or  sea-coasts  aforesaid, 
which  are  exposed  to  be  ravaged  or  plundered,  and  cannot 
be  defended  by  the  inhabitants,  to  remove  all  their  Hay, 
Cattle,  Horses,  Sheep,  &lc,  so  far  into  the  country,  or 
otherwise  dispose  of  them,  that  they  may  be  out  of  the 
way  of  our  implacable  enemies;  also,  that  it  be  recom- 
mended to  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  in  each  Town 
and  District,  or  Selectmen,  (where  no  such  Committee  is 
chosen,)  to  take  effectual  care  that  this  Resolve  be  imme- 
diately, strictly,  and  fully  executed  ;  and  that  all  persons 
who  refuse  to  comply  herewith  be  viewed  as  disposed  to 
furnish  our  enemies  with  such  unremoved  Hay  and  Stock, 
and  shall  therefore  be  held  as  inimical  to  the  liberty  and 
rights  of  this  Country. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  a  Resolve  of  the 
Committee  of  Safety,  reported  the  following  Resolution  ; 
which  was  accepted,  viz  : 

Whereas,  a  person  is  now  hroke  out  with  the  Small-Pox 
at  Brookline,  on  the  road  between  Cambridge  and  Rox- 
bury,  whereby  the  publick  in  general,  and  the  camps  in 
particular,  will  be  greatly  endangered,  if  said  person  is  suf- 
fered to  remain  in  said  house:  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  said  person  be  immediately  removed  to 
the  house  of  Ebenezer  Smith,  in  Little  Cambridge,  wherein 
the  Small-Pox  has  lately  been  ;  and  that  the  Selectmen  of 
Brookline  are  hereby  directed  to  remove  said  person  to 
said  house  in  the  most  careful  manner,  at  the  expense  of 
the  said  Town  of  Brookline ;  and  the  Selectmen  of  Cam- 


43S7 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1388 


bridge  are  hereby  directed  to  receive  said  person  into  said 
Smith's  house. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Gerry,  Honourable  Mr.  Spooner, 
Major  Bliss,  Honourable  Mr.  Sever,  Colonel  Freeman, 
Colonel  Farley,  and  Colonel  Richmond,  be  a  Committee 
to  consider  a  Resolve  of  the  Committee  of  Safety  relative 
to  a  re-enforcement  of  the  Massachusetts  Army,  for  the 
protection  of  the  sea-coasts,  &ic. ;  and  that  this  Commit- 
tee be  directed  to  confer  with  the  Committee  of  Safety  on 
the  subject  of  it ;  and  that  those  gentlemen  who  have  been 
appointed  and  commissioned  as  General  Officers  be  invited 
to  the  conference  ;  also, 

Resolved,  That  eight  o'clock,  on  Monday  morning  next, 
be  assigned  for  such  conference,  to  be  held  at  Cambridge ; 
and  that  the  Committee  of  Safety  and  the  said  General 
Officers  be  served  with  a  copy  of  this  Resolve. 

A  number  of  Papers  from  the  Committee  of  Safety, 
respecting  Col.  Jonathan  Brewer,  were  read. 

Resolved,  That  the  further  consideration  of  the  Papers 
relative  to  Colonel  Jonathan  Brewer,  be  referred  to  the 
afternoon,  three  o'clock. 

Afternoon. 

Ordered,  That  a  Commission  be  prepared  and  delivered 
to  Colonel  John  Nixo7i. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Greenleaf,  Captain  Bragdon,  and 
Mr.  Sawyer,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  the  Petition  of 
a  number  of  persons  of  the  Town  of  Dartmouth. 

The  Committee  on  the  Petition  of  Jacob  Gerrish  and 
others,  reported  verbally  ;  agreeable  to  which  Report, 

Resolved,  That  the  Petition  be  so  far  granted,  as  that 
the  petitioners  be  directed  to  apply  to  the  Committee  of 
Safety  for  a  recommendation  to  this  Congress  to  commis- 
sionate  Captain  Moses  Little  as  Colonel  of  a  Regiment  in 
the  Massachusetts  Army. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Dwight,  Honourable  Mr.  Sever, 
Colonel  Farley,  Major  Bliss,  and  Mr.  Edivards,  be  a  Com- 
mittee to  take  into  consideration  a  Letter  from  Col.  James 
Easton,  and  report. 

Order  of  the  Day  moved  for. 

The  Papers  respecting  Colonel  Brewer  were  read.  After 
debate, 

Moved,  That  the  matter  subside. 

The  question  being  put,  it  passed  in  the  negative. 

Moved,  That  the  Petitioner  be  admitted  on  the  floor. 

The  question  was  put,  and  it  passed  in  the  negative. 

Resolved,  That  Tuesday  next,  at  eight  o'clock,  A.  M., 
be  assigned  for  hearing  Colonel  Jonathan  Brewer,  on  the 
subject  of  certain  Papers  laid  before  this  Congress  by  order 
of  the  Committee  of  Safety;  and  that  the  Committee  of 
Safety,  as  also  Colonel  Brewer,  be  served  with  a  copy  of 
this  Resolve  ;  and  that  Colonel  Brewer  be  directed  to  bring 
with  him  a  return  of  the  number  of  men  enlisted  in  his 
Regiment,  distinguishing  how  many  are  present  at  Head- 
Quarters,  and  how  many  are  absent. 

Agreeable  to  an  order  of  Congress,  a  Colonel's  com- 
mission was  delivered  to  Colonel  John  Nixon. 

The  Committee  on  the  Petition  from  Dartmouth,  re- 
ported. The  Report  being  amended,  was  accepted,  and 
is  as  follows,  viz  : 

On  the  Petition  of  David  Shepherd  and  others,  from 
Dartmouth,  representing  that  uneasiness  has  arisen  on  ac- 
count of  said  petitioners  fitting  out  sundry  vessels  for  whaling 
voyages,  and  for  the  West-Indies, 

Resolved,  That  the  petitioners  be  informed  that  this 
Congress  know  of  no  objection  to  their  pursuing  the  above 
voyage  or  any  other,  where  they  are  willing  to  risk  their 
interest,  provided  that  the  owners  and  masters  of  such  ves- 
sels strictly  adhere  to  the  Resolutions  of  the  Continental 
Congress. 

Ordered,  That  a  Messenger  be  forthwith  sent  to  the 
Receiver-General,  with  the  following  Letter,  viz : 

"Sir:  The  absolute  necessity  of  paying  the  Colony 
Forces  immediately,  having  been  duly  considered  by  this 
Congress ;  and  not  being  able  to  make  necessary  pay- 
ments, to  prevent  the  Troops  from  returning  home,  without 
your  being  present,  you  are  therefore  directed,  upon  the 
receipt  of  this  order,  immediately  to  repair  to  this  place, 


and  make  the  utmost  despatch  in  completing  the  signing 
the  bills  wanted  for  the  above  purposes. 

"  P.  S.  The  Congress  is  just  informed  that  a  gentleman 
at  Salem  has  five  hundred  Pounds,  which  he  is  willing  to 
lend  the  Province,  which  would  be  of  the  greatest  impor- 
tance to  pay  immediately  to  the  Soldiers,  and  might  pre- 
vent the  greatest  mischiefs." 

Resolved,  That  Mr.  Philips  be  desired  to  repair  to 
Salem  to  Mr.  Becket,  desiring  him  to  bring  or  send  the 
Money  he  has  offered  to  lend  the  Province,  to  this  place, 
to-morrow  morning,  and  take  a  note  therefor  from  the  Re- 
ceiver-General. 

Ordered,  That  Captain  Stone  be  directed  to  apply  to 
Mr.  Revere,  desiring  him  to  attend  the  business  of  stamp- 
ing the  Notes  for  the  Soldiers,  all  the  ensuing  night,  if  he 
can,  and  to  finish  them  with  the  greatest  despatch  possible; 
and  also  to  despatch  a  messenger  to  Major  Fuller,  desiring 
him  to  attend  to  countersign  them. 

Adjourned  to  eight  o'clock  to-morrow  morning. 

Sunday,  June  4,  1775. 
Resolved,  That  Colonel  Henshaw  be  admitted  to  give 
an  account  of  his  proceedings  at  Connecticut,  where  he 
was  sent  by  the  last  Congress,  on  the  affair  of  Ticonde- 

roga. 

Resolved,  That  Colonel  Asa  Whitcomb  be  directed  to 
pay  the  advance  pay  to  those  Companies  of  Colonel  Pat- 
terson's Regiment  who  came  from  the  County  of  Berkshire, 
out  of  the  first  money  he  may  receive  from  the  Receiver- 
General. 

Resolved,  That  Colonel  Lemuel  Robinson  be  directed 
to  pay  the  advance  pay  to  the  three  Companies  of  Colonel 
Fellows's  Regiment  which  came  from  the  County  of  Berk- 
shire, out  of  the  first  money  he  may  receive  from  the  Re- 
ceiver-General. 

Ordered,  That  the  Papers  exhibited  by  Col.  Henshaw 
be  put  into  the  hands  of  the  Committee  of  Safety  and  the 
Committee  of  this  Congress,  who  are  appointed  to  confer 
with  them  to-morrow  morning. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Sullivan,  Honourable  Mr.  Spooner, 
and  Colonel  Prescott,  be  a  Committee  to  inquire  what 
number  of  Colony  Notes  are  struck  off ;  how  many  are 
signed :  whether  the  press  is  now  going ;  and  to  make  a 
thorough  inquiry  in  this  respect,  and  report  at  the  adjourn- 
ment. 

Ordered,  That  Doctor  Whiting  be  appointed  to  employ 
a  messenger  to  be  sent  to  Major  Fuller,  directing  his  at- 
tendance to  the  countersigning  the  Notes  immediately. 

Ordered,  That  Captain  Bragdon  and  Colonel  Thomp- 
son be  appointed  to  attend  Mr.  Revere  while  he  is  striking 
off  the  Notes  for  advance  pay  to  the  Soldiers,  night  and 
day,  alternately,  till  they  are  all  struck  off. 

The  Committee  on  Colonel  Easton's  Letter,  reported 
that  it  was  their  opinion  it  would  be  best  to  commit  it  to 
the  Committee  who  were  appointed  to  confer  with  the 
Committee  of  Safety  to-morrow  morning. 

It  was  accordingly  given  to  the  Hon.  Mr.  Spooner. 

Ordered,  That  the  Key  and  Billet  delivered  to  this 
Congress  from  Major  Fuller,  by  Captain  Stone,  be  put 
into  the  hands  of  the  Committee  who  were  appointed  to 
make  inquiry  concerning  the  Colony  Notes. 

Adjourned  to  twelve  o'clock. 

Met  at  twelve  o'clock. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Richmond  be  excused  from 
serving  on  the  Committee  who  were  appointed  to  confer 
with  the  Committee  of  Safety  (being  engaged  in  counter- 
signing the  Notes)  ;  and  that  Colonel  Gerrish  attend  that 
service  in  his  stead. 

Adjourned  to  four  o'clock,  afternoon. 

Met  at  four  o'clock,  and  adjourned  to  Monday  morning, 

eight  o'clock. 

Monday,  June  5,  1775. 
A  Petition  from  Truro  for  Powder,  was  read. 
Resolved,  That  the  petitioners  have  leave  to  withdraw 
their  Petition. 


1389 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1390 


Ordered,  That  Colonel  Foster  be,  and  hereby  is  ap- 
pointed to  countersign  the  Twenty  Shilling,  Fourteen  Shil- 
ling, and  Six  Shilling  Notes. 

Ordered.  That  Mr.  Pickering,  Mr.  Philips,  and  Mr. 
Goodwin,  be  appointed  to  number  the  Notes  which  are 
preparing  for  advance  pay  for  the  Soldiers  :  Mr.  Pickering 
to  number  the  sheets  struck  o£F  on  the  first  plate ;  Mr. 
Philips  those  of  the  second,  and  Mr.  Goodwin  those  of 
the  third. 

Ordered,  That  the  Letter  from  Governour  Trumbull 
just  received  and  read,  be  committed  to  the  Committee  of 
Safety  and  the  Committee  appointed  to  confer  with  them. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Foster  bring  in  a  Resolve,  ap- 
pointing some  persons  to  examine  and  inspect  the  Mineral 
Earth  brought  by  him  to  this  place. 

Colonel  Foster  brought  in  a  Resolve  accordingly  ;  which 
was  accepted,  and  is  as  follows : 

Resolved,  That  Doctor  Whiting,  Deacon  Baker,  and 
Colonel  Grout,  be  a  Committee  to  inquire  into  the  nature 
and  quality  of  the  said  Mineral  Earth  ;  and  in  such  inquiry 
to  consult  the  Honourable  Joseph  /f  arren,  Esq..  and  Mr. 
Professor  Seicall,  and  such  other  persons  as  they  may  think 
proper,  and  report  to  this  Congress  as  soon  as  may  be. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Sullivan,  Mr.  Greenleaf,  Mr.  Par- 
tridge, Colonel  Cushing,  and  Mr.  Edwards,  be  a  Com- 
mittee to  hold  a  conference  with  the  General  Officers  of 
the  American  Army,  and  to  inquire  of  them  whether  there 
is  any  thing  this  Congress  can  do  to  preserve  the  health  of 
said  Army. 

A  Petition  signed  by  Philip  Hubbard  and  others,  was 
read,  and  ordered  to  lie  on  the  table. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Sullivan,  Colonel  Cushing,  Captain 
Holmes,  Mr.  Partridge,  and  Mr.  Currier,  be  a  Committee 
to  consider  what  order  it  would  be  proper  for  this  Congress 
to  take  relative  to  any  Letters  which  have  been  or  may  be 
intercepted. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Edwards,  and  Mr.  Stone  of  Lex- 
ington, be  appointed  to  inquire  what  is  become  of  a  Letter 
said  to  be  sent  by  the  Stockbridge  Indians  to  this  Congress. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  bring  in  a  Resolve  respect- 
ing intercepted  Letters,  reported.  The  Report  was  read 
and  accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz : 

Whereas,  it  has  been  represented  to  this  Congress,  that 
several  Letters  and  packets  of  Letters,  of  publick  concern- 
ment, wrote  to  and  by  the  avowed  enemies  of  this  Coun- 
try, have  fallen  into  the  hands  of  sundry  persons  in  this 
Colony  ;  and  whereas,  it  appears  absolutely  necessary  that 
all  such  Letters  should  be  immediately  laid  before  this 
Congress  for  their  consideration :  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  all  persons  who  now  are  or  shall  here- 
after be  possessed  of  such  Letters,  shall  lay  them  as  soon 
as  may  be  before  this  or  some  future  Congress  for  their  ad- 
visement thereon. 

Afternoon. 

Resolved,  That  the  Resolve  which  passed  this  Congress 
relative  to  accommodating  the  Reverend  Mr.  Emerson  with 
one  of  the  horses  taken  from  the  Regulars,  be  so  far  recon- 
sidered as  that  it  be  recommitted  for  a  plainer  description 
of  the  horse  intended  to  be  delivered  to  him  ;  and  that 
Captain  Batchelder  and  Colonel  Dwight  be  added  to  the 
Committee,  in  the  room  of  Doctor  Taylor  and  Colonel 
Bowers,  who  are  absent. 

Ordered,  That  Commissions  be  delivered  to  the  Officers 
of  Colonel  Nixon's  Regiment,  agreeable  to  the  list  by  him 
exhibited. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Fisher,  Colonel  Barrett,  Captain 
Holmes,  Colonel  Bowers,  and  Colonel  Satcyer,  be  a  Com- 
mittee to  consider  the  proposal  of  Captain  Foster,  relative 
to  removing  the  Poor  and  the  Goods  of  the  Poor  of  the 
Town  of  Boston  into  the  country. 

Resolved,  That  the  Committee  of  Supplies  be  directed 
to  lay  before  this  Congress,  in  writing,  an  account  of  their 
proceedings  with  respect  to  the  memorandum  of  General 
Ward  for  sundry  military  stores,  committed  to  them  by  the 
last  Congress. 

Ordered,  That  Captain  Stone,  Captain  Smith,  and 
Colonel  Goodrich,  be  a  Committee  to  inquire  of  the  Com- 


mittee of  Supplies  if  they  have  sent  to  JYew-TorA-  for  any 
of  the  Powder  which  it  is  said  is  lately  arrived  there. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Fisher,  Captain  Holmes,  Mr.  Saic- 
yer,  Colonel  Grout,  and  Mr.  Webster,  be  a  Committee  to 
bring  in  a  Resolve,  in  addition  to  the  Resolve  of  the  last 
Congress,  respecting  the  Poor  of  the  Town  of  Boston, 
passed  the  first  ultimo,  which  shall  extend  to  such  of  the 
Poor  of  said  Town  (sufferers  by  the  Boston  Port  Bill) 
as  were  removed  out  of  that  Town  before  the  date  of  the 
said  Resolve. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  inquire  into  the  nature  and 
qualities  of  the  Mineral  Earth  brought  by  Colonel  Foster 
from  Brookfi.eld,  reported,  that  it  was  their  opinion,  and 
the  opinion  of  those  with  whom  they  conversed  with  there- 
on, that  it  contains  a  matter  useful  for  the  production  of 
Nitre,  but  that  there  was  too  small  a  quantity  for  an  ex- 
periment. Whereupon, 

Ordered,  That  this  Committee  be  directed  to  appoint 
some  suitable  person  to  repair  to  Brook  field  to  make  some 
experiment  with  the  Mineral  Earth  which  is  said  to  be  there 
in  large  quantities. 

Ordered,  That  the  Honourable  Mr.  Dexter,  Colonel 
Otis,  Colonel  Porter,  Captain  Stone  of  Oakham,  and 
Captain  Stone  of  Framingham,  be  a  Committee  to  bring 
in  a  Resolve  for  the  purpose  of  giving  a  currency  to  the 
Bills  of  Credit  of  all  the  Governments  on  the  Continent. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  bring  in  a  Resolve  descrip- 
tive of  the  Horse  designed  for  Mr.  Emerson,  reported. 
The  Report  was  read  and  accepted,  and  is  as  follows: 

Whereas,  in  a  Resolve  of  this  Congress  passed  on  the 
1st  instant,  the  horse  appointed  for  the  use  of  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Emerson,  of  Concord,  was  not  so  fully  described  as  that 
Thomas  Reed,  of  IVoburn,  the  keeper  of  said  horse,  could 
with  safety  deliver  him  to  said  Emerson  :  Therefore, 

Resolved,  That  said  Reed  be,  and  hereby  is  directed  to 
deliver  a  certain  Sorrel  Horse  that  was  taken  by  the  Guards 
at  Roxbury  from  an  officer  of  General  Gage's  Troops,  on 
the  20th  of  April  last,  to  said  Emerson,  he  paying  a  rea- 
sonable sum  for  the  keeping  said  horse  :  and  said  Mr. 
Emerson  is  hereby  permitted  to  keep  and  use  said  horse 
until  the  further  order  of  this  Congress. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Porter,  Captain  Stoiie  of  Oak- 
ham, Captain  Partridge,  Colonel  Otis,  and  Deacon  Baker, 
be  a  Committee  to  consider  the  Letter  from  Mr.  Gridlcy  to 
the  Committee  of  Safety,  and  to  confer  with  them  thereon  ; 
and  also  on  the  state  of  the  Artillery  in  general. 

Resolved,  That  the  four  Prisoners  brought  to  this  Con- 
gress by  Sergeant  John  Parker,  be  committed  to  the  cus- 
tody of  the  guard  which  is  appointed  to  guard  the  publick 
stores  in  Water  town,  till  the  further  order  of  this  Congress  ; 
and  that  the  Commissary  be  directed  to  provide  what  pro- 
visions they  may  stand  in  need  of  till  to-morrow  morning. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Sullivan  bring  in  a  Resolve  for  the 
purpose  of  discouraging  and  preventing  persons  from  taking 
any  Notes  or  Bills  of  Credit  of  this  or  the  other  Colonies, 
under  the  value  specified  therein. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  bring  in  a  Resolve  for 
giving  currency  to  the  Notes  of  the  other  Governments, 
reported  as  follows,  viz : 

Whereas,  the  Officers  and  Privates  of  the  Regiments 
from  the  adjoining  Colonies  have  brought  with  them  some 
of  the  Notes  and  Bills  of  Credit  of  the  respective  Colonies 
to  which  they  belong,  with  which  they  may  have  occasion 
to  purchase  articles  for  their  support  and  comfort: 

Therefore,  Resolved,  That  it  be,  and  it  hereby  is  re- 
commended to  all  the  good  people  of  this  Colony  to  give 
a  ready  currency  to  such  Notes  and  Bills  of  Credit,  as  it 
will  be  for  the  benefit  of  the  Army,  and  tend  to  a  continu- 
ance of  the  happy  union  at  present  subsisting  among  the 
Colonies  ;  and  any  person  who  shall  ask  discount  on  such 
Notes  and  Bills,  shall  be  deemed  inimical  to  his  Country. 

The  Report  was  ordered  to  lie  on  the  table  till  Mr.  Sul- 
livan had  brought  in  the  Resolve  for  which  he  was  just 
now  appointed. 

Ordered,  That  Col.  Cutt,  Captain  Parker,  Mr.  Page, 
Captain  Morton,  and  Captain  Stone  of  Oakham,  be  a  Com- 
mittee to  make  some  Establishment  for  an  allowance  of 
Provisions  for  the  Soldiers  of  the  Massachusetts  Army. 


1391 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1392 


Resolved,  That  Friday  next,  at  three  o'clock,  P.  M., 
be  assigned  for  the  consideration  of  the  Report  of  Colonel 
Thompson,  relative  to  his  proceedings  at  Kennebeck. 

Adjourned  to  eight  o'clock  to-morrow  morning. 

Tuesday,  Juno  6,  1775. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Sullivan,  Colonel  Gushing,  Mr. 
Partridge,  Mr.  (Jrcenleaf,  and  Colonel  Glover,  be  a  Com- 
mittee to  devise  some  means  whereby  the  Army  may  be 
more  regularly  supplied  with  the  necessaries  procured  for 
it  by  the  Colony. 

Order  of  the  Day  moved  for. 

Resolved,  That  those  Members  who  are  out  upon  Com- 
mittees, be  directed  to  attend. 

Resolved,  That  three  o'clock,  P.  M.,  be  assigned  for  the 
choice  of  a  Vice-President. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Thompson,  Major  Brooks,  and 
Col.  Cutt,  be  a  Committee  to  inquire  into  the  circumstances 
of  bringing  the  four  Prisoners  to  this  place  yesterday. 

Moved,  That  the  Congress  take  some  order  at  this  time 
relative  to  the  Prisoners. 

The  question  being  put,  it  passed  in  the  negative. 

The  Papers  respecting  Colonel  Breiver  were  read,  and 
Colonel  Brewer  was  then  admitted  ;  and,  on  his  request, 

Resolved,  That  Captain  Butler,  Captain  Edwards, 
Lieutenant  Tuckerman,  Colonel  Buckminstcr,  Mr.  Cud- 
worth,  Thomas  fVithington,  and  Captain  Gray,  be  admit- 
ted on  the  floor  of  this  House  as  evidence  in  the  case. 

The  complaint  of  the  Committee  being  read,  and  Col. 
Brewer  having  had  leave  of  making  his  defence,  he  was 
fully  heard  therein,  as  were  also  the  witnesses  by  him  pro- 
duced ;  the  galleries  being  first  opened  for  any  who  were 
inclined  to  hear  the  cause.  Colonel  Brewer  having  offered 
what  he  saw  fit,  withdrew  with  his  witnesses ;  and  the  gal- 
leries being  cleared, 

Resolved,  That  the  further  consideration  of  this  matter 
be  referred  to  the  afternoon. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  bring  in  a  Resolve  for 
giving  currency  to  the  Bills  of  Credit  of  the  other  Govern- 
ments, reported  as  follows : 

Whereas,  a  former  Congress  of  this  Colony,  holden  at 
Watertown,  on  the  20th  day  of  May  now  last  past,  resolved, 
"  That  for  the  payment  of  advance  pay  to  the  Massachu- 
setts Army,  there  should  be  issued  by  the  Receiver-Gene- 
ral, on  the  credit  of  this  Colony,  a  sum  not  exceeding 
Twenty-Six  Thousand  Pounds,  lawful  money,  in  notes  of 
the  following  denominations,  to  wit:  of  Twenty  Shillings, 
of  Eighteen  Shillings,  of  Sixteen  Shillings,  of  Fifteen  Shil- 
lings, of  Fourteen  Shillings,  of  Twelve  Shillings,  of  Ten 
Shillings,  of  Nine  Shillings,  and  of  Six  Shillings;  to  be 
ibur  thousand  three  hundred  and  thirty-three  of  each  de- 
nomination, and  no  more  :" 

And  whereas,  it  is  absolutely  necessary  that  the  Bills 
aforesaid  should  have  free  currency,  and  be  supported  in 
full  credit :  It  is,  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  no  person  within  this  Colony  shall  pur- 
chase or  take  in  payment  any  of  the  Bills  aforesaid  at  any 
discount,  or  for  a  less  sum  than  what  is  specified  on  the 
face  of  them  ;  and  that  every  person  so  offending,  shall  be 
deemed  an  enemy  to  his  Country,  and  shall  be  punished 
by  fine  or  imprisonment,  at  the  discretion  of  any  Congress 
of  this  Colony  before  whom  he  or  she  shall  be  convicted 
thereof. 

And  whereas  it  is  expedient,  for  divers  reasons,  that  the 
Bills  of  the  other  Colonies  on  this  Continent,  except  those 
that  have  been  or  may  be  issued  by  the  Governments  of 
Qucbeck  and  Nuva-Scotia,  should  have  full  credit  and  free 
currency  in  this  Colony :  It  is,  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  the  above  Resolution  respecting  the 
Bills  of  the  Colony,  shall  be  extended  to  have  as  full  force 
with  respect  to  the  Bills  of  the  other  Colonics  on  this  Con- 
tinent, (excepting  Quebeck  and  Nova-Scotia,)  as  to  the 
Bills  of  this  Colony;  and  it  is  also 

Resolved,  That  the  Bills  of  the  other  Colonies,  except- 
ing as  aforesaid,  shall  be  received  in  all  payments,  and  have 
equal  credit  as  those  of  this  Colony ;  and  it  is  also 

Resolved,  That  any  person  who  shall  inform  this  or  any 
future  Congress  of  this  Colony,  against  any  person  who 


shall  violate  either  of  these  Resolutions  aforesaid,  shall,  on 
conviction  of  such  person,  be  entitled  to  receive  out  of  the 
publick  Treasury  of  this  Colony,  in  reward  for  such  infor- 
mation, the  sum  of  ;  and  it  is  also 

Resolved,  That  any  person  who  shall  inform  against 
persons  violating  either  of  the  aforesaid  Resolutions  to  any 
Committee  of  Correspondence  in  this  Province,  shall,  on 
the  conviction  of  any  person  offending  as  aforesaid,  be  en- 
titled to  the  same  reward  as  if  the  said  complaint  had  been 
made  to  any  Congress  of  this  Colony ;  and  all  the  Com- 
mittees of  Safety  in  this  Colony  are  strictly  enjoined,  when 
any  such  complaint  shall  be  made  to  them,  that  they,  as 
soon  as  may  be,  send  the  same  complaint,  with  the  name  or 
names  of  the  witness  or  witnesses  of  the  fact,  to  the  Con- 
gress of  this  Colony. 

The  Report  was  ordered  to  lie  upon  the  table  till  the 
afternoon. 

Afternoon. 

Voted,  That  the  Resolve  which  passed  in  the  forenoon 
for  choosing  a  Vice-President,  be  reconsidered. 

The  Congress  resumed  the  consideration  of  the  case  of 
Mr.  Brewer ;  and  after  a  long  and  full  debate,  it  was  moved 
that  the  question  be  put,  Whether  the  President  should  be 
directed  to  deliver  a  Commission  to  Mr.  Brewer,  as  Colonel 
of  a  Regiment  in  the  Massachusetts  Army  ? 

And  it  passed  in  the  negative  ;  the  number  of  Members 
present  being  150,  and  but  70  for  the  question. 

Mr.  Cushing  informed  the  Congress,  that  Mr.  Benjamin 
Edwards,  on  hearing  at  the  door  of  this  House,  of  the  de- 
termination of  the  Congress  respecting  Mr.  Brewer,  made 
use  of  the  following  expression,  viz :  "  By  God,  if  this 
Province  is  to  be  governed  in  this  manner,  it  is  time  for  us 
to  look  out ;  and  it  is  all  owing  to  the  Committee  of  Safety, 
a  pack  of  sappy-headed  fellows;  1  know  three  of  them 
myself."  Whereupon, 

Resolved,  That  Mr.  Edtvards  be  directed  to  attend  this 
House  to  make  answer  to  the  above  charge. 

Mr.  Edwards  being  called  in,  and  having  heard  the 
charge  alleged  against  him,  it  was 

Resolved,  That  Mr.  Edwards  have  leave  to  withdraw, 
and  that  he  be  directed  to  attend  this  Congress  to-morrow 
morning,  ten  o'clock. 

The  Petition  of  Major  Baldivin  being  read  and  consi- 
dered, it  is  thereupon 

Ordered,  That  the  Reverend  President  Langdon  be 
requested  to  furnish  Major  Baldwin,  out  of  the  College 
apparatus,  with  such  instruments  as  he  stands  in  need  of 
to  perform  the  publick  services  therein  mentioned,  he  giv  ing 
his  receipt  therefor  to  return  the  same  in  good  order  as 
soon  as  the  said  services  shall  be  performed. 

A  Resolve  of  the  Committee  of  Safety,  relative  to  the 
inadmission  of  Slaves  into  the  Army,  was  read,  and  order- 
ed to  lie  on  the  table  for  further  consideration. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  bring  in  an  additional  Re- 
solve relative  to  making  provision  for  the  Poor  of  Boston, 
reported.  The  Report  was  read,  amended,  and  accepted, 
and  ordered  to  be  printed  in  the  Cambridge,  Watertown, 
and  Worcester  Papers  ;  and  is  as  follows : 

Whereas,  the  provision  already  made  for  the  removal  of 
the  Poor  of  Boston,  suffering  by  the  cruel  hand  of  arbitrary 
power,  has  not  answered  the  salutary  purposes  intended, 
and  it  becomes  necessary  that  further  provision  be  made  : 

Therefore,  Resolved,  That  such  suffering  Poor  shall  be 
allowed  to  remove  into  any  Town  or  District  in  the  Colo- 
ny, other  than  such  Towns  or  Districts  as  are  already  or- 
dered to  provide  for  and  receive  the  number  of  said  Poor 
to  them  assigned  ;  and  every  Town  and  District  in  the 
Colony  that  shall  receive  and  provide  necessary  support 
for  such  suffering  Poor,  shall  be  indemnified  in  every  re- 
spect as  fully  as  any  other  Town  or  District  in  the  Colony, 
provided  they  observe  and  comply  with  directions  already 
given  relative  to  said  Poor. 

And  whereas,  in  the  present  distressed  circumstances  and 
confusion  of  the  Town  of  Boston,  some  of  said  Poor  have 
or  may  remove  out  of  said  Town  without  a  proper  certifi- 
cate from  the  Committee  of  Donations,  and  the  Town  to 
which  such  persons  may  remove  may  refuse  to  receive  them 
for  want  of  the  same, 


1393 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1394 


Resolved,  That  it  is  recommended  to  the  Selectmen  of 
the  several  Towns  and  Districts  in  this  Colony,  to  which 
such  persons  may  remove,  that  such  provision  be  made  as 
is  necessary  to  prevent  their  suffering,  until  such  certificate 
can  be  procured  ;  and  such  Town  or  District  shall  be  in- 
demnified as  before  provided,  they  observing  the  directions 
given  in  the  Resolve  passed  by  the  last  Congress  relative 
to  said  Poor ;  and  such  persons  shall  be  considered  as  part 
of  their  assignment. 

And  whereas,  it  is  found  extremely  difficult  for  the  Com- 
mittees at  Charlcstown  and  Roxbury  to  remove  said  Poor 
to  the  several  Towns  and  Districts  to  which  they  are  des- 
tined, for  want  of  teams  to  go  such  a  distance  as  is  neces- 
sary in  many  cases,  it  is  further  recommended  to  the  Select- 
men of  each  Town  and  District  in  this  Colony,  that  they 
assist  in  removing  said  Poor  upon  every  necessary  occasion, 
when  it  is  in  their  power,  to  the  several  places  of  their 
assignment,  keeping  a  particular  account  of  their  trouble 
and  expense,  and  the  names  of  the  persons  they  assisted  ; 
and  they  shall  be  paid  in  manner  as  before  provided.  And 
the  Committees  at  Charlestons  and  Roxbury,  who  were 
appointed  by  this  Congress  to  make  provision  for  such  Poor 
as  might  come  out  of  the  Town  of  Boston,  are  desired  to 
procure  a  list  of  said  Poor  from  the  Committee  of  Dona- 
tions for  future  use ;  and  also  to  take  the  advantage  of  the 
teams  that  may  come  from  the  westward,  for  the  removal 
of  said  Poor  by  every  opportunity  in  their  power. 

Ordered,  That  the  Committee  appointed  to  inquire  into 
the  circumstances  of  bringing  four  Prisoners  from  Cam- 
bridge, be  directed  to  make  such  provision  for  them  as  is 
necessary,  till  further  orders  from  this  Congress ;  and  that 
Mr.  Robinson  be  added  to  the  Committee ;  and  that  said 
Committee  report  what  they  think  would  be  best  to  be 
done  with  them. 

Adjourned  to  Wednesday  morning,  eight  o'clock. 

Wednesday,  June  7,  1775. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Sullivan,  Colonel  Parker,  Mr. 
Webster,  Major  Fuller,  and  Colonel  Prescoit,  be  a  Com- 
mittee to  wait  on  General  Ward,  requesting  him  to  exhibit 
to  this  Congress  a  Return  of  the  number  of  men  in  the 
Massachusetts  Army ;  and  that  Mr.  Sullivan,  Dr.  Holten, 
and  Mr.  Cushing,  be  a  Committee  to  bring  in  a  Resolve 
for  this  purpose. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  what  is  best  to  be 
done  with  the  four  Prisoners  brought  from  Dartmouth  via 
Cambridge,  reported.    The  Report  was  recommitted. 

A  Petition  from  the  Inhabitants  of  Machias,  was  read, 
and  committed  to  Mr.  Batchelder,  Col.  Otis,  Mr.  Nichols, 
Mr.  Lothrop,  and  Mr.  Webster,  to  consider  thereon,  and 
report. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  inquire  what  is  become  of 
the  original  Letter  from  the  Stockbridge  Indians,  reported, 
that  they  think  it  probable,  from  what  they  have  on  inquiry 
heard,  that  it  is  still  in  the  hands  of  the  Honourable  Mr. 
Hancock. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  of  Colonel  Grid- 
ley's  Letter  to  the  Committee  of  Safety,  beg  leave  to  report 
in  part,  that  an  Ordnance  Storekeeper  be  immediately  ap- 
pointed, and  recommend  that  Major  Nathaniel  Barber  be 
appointed  to  that  employment ;  and  beg  leave  to  sit  again 
to  report  a  proper  establishment,  as  also  to  report  what  fur- 
ther steps  are  necessary  to  be  taken,  as  requested  in  Colonel 
Gridley's  Letter. 

Ordered,  That  Commissions  be  delivered  to  the  Lieu- 
tenants and  Ensigns  of  Colonel  Mansfield' s  Regiment, 
agreeable  to  the  list  by  him  exhibited. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Edivards,  Colonel  Porter,  Doctor 
Wliiting,  Mr.  Wheeler,  and  Mr.  Goodridge,  be  a  Com- 
mittee to  consider  the  Letters  from  the  Stockbridge  In- 
dians, and  report. 

A  Petition  from  Colonel  Brewer,  and  another  from  seve- 
ral nominal  Captains  under  him,  were  read,  and  ordered  to 
lie  on  the  table. 

Two  Resolves  from  the  Continental  Congress  were  read, 
and  ordered  to  be  printed  in  handbills,  and  dispersed  through- 
out the  Colony. 

Colonel  Porter,  Colonel  Tyng,  and  Mr.  Jewett,  were 

Foubth  Series. — Vol.  ii.  i 


appointed  a  Committee  to  prepare  a  Resolve  for  the  pur- 
pose of  carrying  into  execution  the  said  Resolves. 

Resolved,  That  Mr.  Edwards  be  called  in  and  admon- 
ished by  the  President ;  which  was  accordingly  done. 

Ordered,  That  Commissions  be  delivered  to  Colonel 
Fellows,  and  the  Officers  of  his  Regiment,  agreeable  to 
the  list  exhibited  by  his  Lieutenant-Colonel. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  bring  in  a  Resolve  ex- 
pressive of  the  duty  of  the  Committee  who  were  appointed 
this  day  to  wait  on  General  Ward,  reported.  The  Report 
was  read  and  accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz : 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Sidlivan,  Colonel  Parks,  Mr.  Web- 
ster, Major  Fuller,  and  Colonel  Prescott,  be  a  Committee 
to  wait  on  the  Honourable  General  Wardj  hold  a  confer- 
ence with  him  on  the  state  of  the  Army,  and  desire  him  to 
make  a  Return,  as  soon  as  may  be,  to  this  Congress,  of 
the  number  and  equipments  of  the  Troops  raised  by  this 
Colony,  and  now  in  the  camps  at  Cambridge  and  Roxbury, 
and  stationed  elsewhere,  that  due  advisement  be  had 
thereon. 

The  Honourable  Mr.  Spooner,  Honourable  Mr.  Sever, 
and  the  Hon.  Col.  Bowers,  appointed  to  consider  a  Me- 
morial from  the  Convention  at  Worcester,  being  absent, 

Ordered,  That  the  Honourable  Mr.  Dexter,  Colonel 
Dwight.  and  Captain  Stone,  be  appointed  in  their  stead. 

A  Memorial  from  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town  of  Salem, 
was  read,  and  committed  to  Colonel  Glover,  Dr.  Taylor. 
and  Mr.  Wheeler. 

The  Report  of  the  Committee  appointed  to  bring  in  a 
Resolve  for  giving  currency  to  the  Bills  of  Credit  of  the 
other  Governments,  was  read,  and  recommitted. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Orne,  Colonel  Porter,  and  Mr. 
Whittemore,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  the  Petition  of 
Benjamin  Ames,  and  seven  other  Companies  of  Colonel 
Fry's  Regiment,  and  report. 

The  Committee  on  the  Petition  of  the  Inhabitants  of 
Machias,  reported.  The  Report  was  ordered  to  lie  on  the 
table  for  further  consideration. 

Afternoon. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Warren,  Honourable  Mr.  Dex- 
ter, Colonel  Gerrish,  Colonel  Otis,  and  Colonel  Farley, 
be  a  Committee  to  confer  with  the  two  gentlemen,  Mem- 
bers of  the  Congress  of  New-Hampshire,  who  have  just 
brought  a  Letter  from  that  Congress  to  this. 

Resolved,  That  to-morrow,  four  o'clock,  P.  M.,  be  as- 
signed for  the  choice  of  two  gentlemen  to  act  as  Major- 
Generals  in  the  Massachusetts  Army. 

The  Report  of  the  Committee  on  the  Letter  from  Hop- 
kinion,  was  read.  The  consideration  of  it  was  put  off  to 
five  o'clock  this  afternoon. 

On  the  Representation  of  the  Town  Clerk  of  Lunen- 
burgh,  (by  his  Letter  to  Doctor  Taylor,)  respecting  their 
Town  stock  of  Powder,  &:c, 

Resolved,  That  that  Town  be  excused  from  delivering 
out  of  their  stock  any  more  than  one  half  barrel,  the  Re- 
solve of  the  former  Congress  directing  the  Selectmen  of 
said  Town  to  deliver  two  barrels  to  the  order  of  the  Com- 
mittee of  Supplies,  notwithstanding. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Orne  and  Mr.  Vose  be  of  the  Com- 
mittee appointed  to  collect  the  Letters  of  the  late  Govern- 
our  Hutchinson,  in  the  room  of  Doctor  Peikins  and  Mr. 
Ellis,  who  are  absent. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  inquire  into  the  circum- 
stances of  the  four  Prisoners,  reported.  The  Report  was 
amended  and  accepted,  and  is  as  follows : 

The  Committee  appointed  to  take  into  consideration  the 
circumstances  of  four  Prisoners  brought  to  this  Congress 
on  the  2d  day  of  June  instant,  said  to  be  taken  at  Dart- 
mouth since  the  19th  of  April  last,  beg  leave  to  report, 
that  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  Committee,  that  the  said  four 
prisoners,  viz  :  Richard  Luckus,  Mate  of  the  Ship  Falcon, 
John  Dunkinson,  Surgeon's  Mate,  Jonathan  Lee,  and 
Robert  Cody,  be  sent  to  Concord,  to  the  care  of  the  Se- 
lectmen of  said  Town,  to  be  by  them  secured  and  provided 
for,  agreeable  to  their  rank,  at  the  expense  of  this  Colony, 
until  'they  receive  some  further  order  from  this  or  some 


1395 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1396 


other  Congress  or  House  of  Representatives  of  this  Co- 
lony. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  confer  with  the  gentlemen 
from  the  New- Hampshire  Congress,  reported  verhally. 

Whereupon,  Ordered,  That  said  Committee  be  directed 
to  reduce  their  Report  to  writing. 

The  Report  of  the  Committee  on  the  Petition  from  the 
Inhabitants  of  Machias,  being  again  read,  was  accepted, 
and  is  as  follows,  viz : 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  Petition  of 
the  Inhabitants  of  Machias,  beg  leave  to  report,  that  it  be 
recommended  by  this  Congress  to  the  Committee  of  Cor- 
respondence of  the  Town  of  Salem,  or  to  the  like  Com- 
mittees of  any  other  Town  within  this  Province,  to  supply 
Messrs.  Gardner  and  Smith,  of  said  Machias,  for  the  pre- 
sent relief  of  the  said  inhabitants,  with  the  following  arti- 
cles, viz  :  one  hundred  bushels  of  Indian  Corn,  ten  barrels 
of  Pork  and  Beef,  one  cask  of  Molasses,  and  one  cask  of 
Rice,  and  take  in  return  for  the  same,  Wood,  or  such  other 
payment  as  the  said  Gardner  and  Smith  may  be  able  to 
make ;  and  in  case  they  or  their  constituents  (the  above- 
said  inhabitants)  shall  not  make  satisfaction  for  the  same  in 
a  reasonable  time,  it  shall  be  allowed  and  paid  out  of  the 
publick  Treasury  of  this  Province ;  and  the  said  inhabit- 
ants shall  refund  the  same  as  soon  as  may  be. 

Your  Committee  further  report,  that  a  recommendation 
go  forth  from  this  Congress  to  the  Governour  and  Company 
of  the  Colony  of  Connecticut,  to  suffer  the  inhabitants  of  the 
eastern  parts  of  this  Colony  to  purchase  and  carry  out  of 
said  Colony  of  Connecticut  such  Provisions  as  their  neces- 
sitous circumstances  may  require. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  confer  with  the  gentlemen 
from  New-Hampshire  having  reduced  their  Report  to 
writing,  the  same  was  read  and  accepted,  and  is  as  fol- 
lows, viz : 

Resolved,  That  an  application  be  made  by  this  Congress 
to  the  Continental  Congress,  desiring  them  to  take  such 
measures  as  to  them  shall  appear  proper,  to  quiet  and  con- 
ciliate the  minds  of  the  inhabitants  of  Canada,  and  the 
several  tribes  of  Indians  adjacent  to  these  Colonies,  and 
prevent  any  unfavourable  apprehensions  from  the  military 
preparations  of  the  several  Colonies  in  America ;  and  that 
the  other  three  New-England  Colonies,  with  the  Colony 
of  New-York,  be  desired  to  join  in  such  an  application. 

Resolved,  That  Letters  be  immediately  wrote  to  the 
Colonies  of  Connecticut,  Rhode-Island,  and  New-Hamp- 
ahire,  desiring  them,  severally,  to  appoint  Committees  to 
meet  a  Committee  appointed  by  this  Congress,  at  the 
Town  of  Worcester,  in  this  Colony,  on  Wednesday,  the 
28lh  day  of  June  current,  in  order  to  settle  and  determine 
the  number  of  men  to  be  raised  on  the  present  emergency 
by  each  of  the  Neiv-England  Colonies ;  and  likewise  to 
determine  where  they  shall  be  stationed  and  employed. 

Whereupon,  Ordered,  That  the  President,  Honourable 
Mr.  Sever,  and  the  Honourable  Mr.  Dexter,  be  a  Commit- 
tee to  prepare  an  application  to  the  Continental  Congress, 
and  a  Letter  to  each  of  the  Colonies  of  Connecticut,  Rhode- 
Island,  and  New- Hampshire,  and  a  Letter  to  New-York, 
agreeable  to  the  foregoing  Resolve. 

Resolved,  That  to-morrow,  five  o'clock,  P.  M.,  be  as- 
signed for  the  choice  of  three  Members  of  this  Congress 
as  a  Committee  to  meet  Committees  from  the  Colonies  of 
Connecticut,  Rhode-Island,  and  New-Hampshire,  agree- 
able to  the  foregoing  Resolve. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  confer  with  the  Committee 
of  Safety  on  the  subject  of  their  Resolve  relative  to  a  re- 
enforcement  of  the  Army,  reported  as  follows; 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  a  Resolve  of  the 
Committee  of  Safety  of  the  second  instant  relative  to  a 
re-enforcement  of  the  Massachusetts  Army,  have  attended 
that  service ;  and  having,  agreeable  to  the  order  of  Con- 
gress, conferred  with  the  Committee  of  Safety  and  General 
Officers  upon  the  subject-matter  of  the  Resolve,  beg  leave, 
upon  mature  deliberation,  to  report,  that  it  appears  to  the 
Committee  inexpedient  and  unnecessary  for  this  Colony  to 
augment  at  present  the  Forces  already  voted  by  it  to  be 
established  for  the  defence  of  this  and  the  other  American 
Colonies.  Whereupon, 

Resolved,  That  to-morrow,  nine  o'clock,  be  assigned  for 
the  consideration  of  the  said  Renort :  »nd  that  the  Com- 


mittee of  Safety,  the  Committee  of  Supplies,  and  the  seve- 
ral Committees  of  this  Congress,  be  notified  of  this  assign- 
ment, and  be  desired  to  attend  at  that  time,  if  they  can 
with  conveniency. 

Ordered,  That  the  Honourable  Colonel  Warren,  Mr. 
Pitts,  Mr.  Gerry,  the  President,  Colonel  Freeman,  Mr. 
Pickering,  Mr.  Batchelder,  Honourable  Mr.  Dexter,  and 
Mr.  Grccnleaf,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  the  expediency 
of  establishing  a  number  of  small  armed  Vessels  to  cruise 
on  our  sea-coasts  for  the  protection  of  our  trade  and  the 
annoyance  of  our  enemies;  and  that  the  Members  be  en- 
joined by  order  of  Congress  to  observe  secrecy  in  this 
matter. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Sullivan,  Colonel  Porter,  Honour- 
able Mr.  Sever,  Mr.  Greenleaf,  and  Mr.  Partridge,  be  a 
Committee  to  consider  at  large  on  some  measure  for  com- 
missionating  the  Officers  of  the  Army. 

Ordered,  That  the  Secretary  be  directed  to  serve  Gene- 
ral Ward  with  a  List  of  the  Officers  of  the  Army  commis- 
sionated  by  this  Congress. 

Adjourned  to  nine  o'clock  to-morrow  morning. 

Thursday,  June  8,  1 775. 

An  account  of  the  taking  a  Sloop  which  sailed  from 
Boston  for  Annapolis  for  Hay  and  other  stores  for  the  use 
of  the  Army  at  Boston,  from  the  Committee  of  the  Town 
of  Arundel,  was  read  ;  as  also  several  Letters  which  were 
found  on  board  said  Sloop  :  Whereupon, 

Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  this  Congress  be  given  to 
said  Committee  for  their  care  and  judicious  conduct  in  this 
affair. 

The  Order  of  the  Day  moved  for. 
Resolved,  That  this  Congress  will  resolve  itself  into  a 
Committee  of  the  Whole  House. 
Which  was  done  accordingly. 

The  Committee  of  the  Whole  House,  by  Col.  Warren, 
their  Chairman,  reported,  that  the  Committee  have  not 
sufficient  time  to  deliberate  on  a  matter  of  such  importance  ; 
and  therefore  desire  leave  to  sit  again;  which  Report  was 
accepted  by  the  Congress. 

Afternoon. 

The  Committee  of  the  Whole  House  reported,  that  it 
was  the  opinion  of  said  Committee,  that  the  Report  of  the 
Committee  who  were  appointed  to  confer  with  the  Com- 
mittee of  Safety  on  the  augmentation  of  the  Army,  be 
accepted  ;  which  Report  was  accordingly  accepted  by  this 
Congress. 

Ordered,  That  a  Commission  be  delivered  to  Thomas 
Poor,  Esq.,  as  Major  of  a  Regiment  under  the  command 
of  Colonel  Fry. 

Resolved,  That  the  choice  of  two  Major-Generals  be 
deferred  to  four  o'clock  to-morrow  afternoon. 

Ordered,  That  the  Committee  appointed  to  consider 
the  expediency  of  establishing  several  small  armed  Vessels, 
sit  forthwith. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  on  some  measures 
for  commissionating  the  Officers  of  the  Army,  reported  the 
following  Resolve;  which  was  read  and  accepted,  and  a 
hundred  of  them  ordered  to  be  printed  and  dispersed  among 
the  Army.    It  is  as  follows,  viz: 

Whereas,  it  is  necessary  to  have,  as  soon  as  may  be,  a 
Return  of  the  number  and  equipments  of  the  Forces  raised 
by  this  Colony  ;  and  whereas,  it  is  of  the  utmost  impor- 
tance that  such  Returns  should  be  consistent  with  the  strict- 
est truth  :  It  is,  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  if  any  Officer  now  commissioned  in  the 
Forces  aforesaid,  or  that  shall  hereafter  be  commissioned 
therein,  shall  wittingly  and  willingly,  after  his  being  so 
commissioned,  make  any  false  returns  of  the  numbers  or 
equipments  of  the  men  under  his  command,  and  shall  be 
thereof  convicted  before  this  or  any  future  Congress  of  this 
Colony,  or  before  a  General  Court  Martial  of  the  Army 
raised  by  this  Colony,  such  Officer  shall  be  immediately 
cashiered.  And  every  person  now  under  nomination,  or 
that  shall  hereafter  be  nominated  to  any  office  in  said 
Forces,  who  shall  wittingly  and  willingly  make  such  false 
return,  shall  be  deemed  incapable  of  holding  any  commis- 


1397 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1398 


sion  or  command  in  the  Forces  aforesaid,  until  the  last  day 
of  December  next. 

The  Petition  of  Col.  Hcnshaw  was  read,  and  committed 
to  the  Committee  who  were  appointed  to  consider  on  some 
measure  for  commissionating  the  Officers  of  the  Army. 

Resolved,  That  the  choice  of  three  Delegates  to  meet 
Delegates  from  the  other  Colonies  in  New-England,  at 
Worcester,  be  put  off  to  ten  o'clock  to-morrow  morning. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Cushing  of  Hanover,  Capt.  Stone 
of  Oakham,  and  Dummer  Jewett,  Esq.,  be  a  Committee  to 
take  into  consideration  a  Petition  from  the  Committee  of 
Correspondence  for  the  County  of  Cumberland ;  and  that 
they  sit  forthwith. 

Ordered,  That  Major  Bliss,  Major  Brooks,  and  Mr. 
Sayer,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  the  Account  of  Captain 
Phelps;  and  to  consider  what  sum  is  necessary  to  supply 
Captain  Phelps  with  for  transporting  to  Ticonderoga  the 
Pork  he  has  purchased  for  our  Forces  there,  and  bringing 
the  Cannon  from  thence. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Wheeler  be  appointed  to  number 
the  small  Colony  Notes,  in  the  room  of  Mr.  Goodwin,  who 
has  leave  to  go  home. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  Letter  from 
the  Stockbridge  Indians,  reported  the  following ;  which 
was  accepted,  and  ordered  to  be  authenticated  by  the 
Secretary,  if  the  President  is  not  in  Watertown,  and  sent 
forward : 

"  To  the  Moheakounuck  Tribe  of  Indians,  living  in  and 
about  Stockbridge  : 

"  Brothers :  We  this  day,  by  the  Delegate  from  Stock- 
bridge,  first  heard  your  friendly  answer  to  our  speech  to 
you  by  Captain  William  Goodrich ;  which  answer  we  are 
told  you  made  to  us  immediately  by  a  letter  which  we  have 
not  yet  received.   We  now  reply. 

"  Brothers  :  You  say  that  you  were  once  great,  but  that 
you  are  now  little  ;  and  that  we  once  were  little,  but  are 
now  great.  The  Supreme  Spirit  orders  these  things. 
Whether  we  are  little  or  great,  let  us  keep  the  path  of 
friendship  clear,  which  our  fathers  made,  and  in  which  we 
have  both  travelled  to  this  time. 

"The  friends  of  the  wicked  counsellors  of  our  King  fell 
upon  us  and  shed  some  blood,  soon  after  we  spake  to  you 
last  by  our  letter.  But  we  with  a  small  twig  killed  so  many, 
and  frightened  them  so  much,  that  they  have  shut  them- 
selves up  in  our  great  Town,  called  Boston,  which  they 
have  made  strong. 

"  We  have  now  made  our  hatchets  and  all  our  instruments 
of  war  sharp  and  bright.  All  the  chief  counsellors  who 
live  on  this  side  the  great  water,  are  sitting  in  the  grand 
Council-House  in  Philadelphia.  When  they  give  the 
word,  we  shall  all,  as  one  man,  fall  on  and  drive  our  ene- 
mies out  of  their  strong  fort,  and  follow  them  till  they  shall 
take  their  hands  out  of  our  pouches,  and  let  us  sit  in  our 
council-house,  as  we  used  to  do,  and  as  our  fathers  did  in 
old  times. 

"  Brothers :  Though  you  are  small,  yet  you  are  wise; 
use  your  wisdom  to  help  us.  If  you  think  it  best,  go  and 
smoke  your  pipe  with  your  Indian  brothers  towards  the 
setting  of  the  sun,  and  tell  them  all  you  hear  and  all  you 
see,  and  let  us  know  what  their  wise  men  say.  If  some 
of  your  young  men  should  have  a  mind  to  see  what  we  are 
doing  here,  let  them  come  down  and  tarry  among  our  war- 
riours.   We  will  provide  for  them  while  they  are  here. 

"  Brothers :  When  you  have  any  trouble,  come  and  tell 
it  to  us,  and  we  will  help  you. 

"  Signed  by  order  of  Congress  : 

"  Samuel  Freeman,  Secretary. 
<:  To  Captain  Solomon  TJhhaunnauwaunmut ,  Chief  Sachem 
of  the  Moheakounuck  Tribe  of  Indians  at  Stockbridge." 

Whereas,  it  appears  to  this  Congress,  that  great  benefit 
may  arise  to  the  American  cause,  should  our  friends  of  the 
Stockbridge  or  Moheakounuck  Tribe  of  Indians  send  belts 
and  messengers  to  the  several  tribes  connected  with  them ; 
and  as  the  same  may  be  attended  with  expense  :  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town  of  Stock- 
bridge,  for  the  time  being,  be  a  Committee  to  promote  the 
forwarding  such  messengers  and  belts ;  and  that  the  Com- 
mittee aforesaid  be  allowed  to  draw  out  of  the  publick 


moneys  in  the  hands  of  Stephen  Nash,  late  Collector  for 
the  Town  of  Stockbridge  aforesaid,  any  sum  or  sums,  not 
exceeding  fifteen  Pounds,  for  which  said  Committee  shall 
account  to  this  or  some  future  Congress  or  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives, and  be  allowed  all  reasonable  charges  that  have 
or  may  arise  for  promoting  and  forwarding  the  premises. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  establish  an  allowance  of 
Provisions  for  the  Soldiers,  reported.  The  further  consi- 
deration of  the  Report  was  put  off  to  nine  o'clock  to-morrow 
morning. 

A  Colonel's  commission  was  delivered  to  Colonel  John 
Fellows. 

Adjourned  to  eight  o'clock  to-morrow  morning. 

Friday,  Jane  9,  1775. 
A  Petition  from  the  Selectmen,  and  others,  of  the  Town 
of  Manchester,  was  read,  and  committed  to  the  Committee 
who  were  appointed  to  consider  the  circumstances  of  the 
Seaport  Towns. 

Col.  Bowers  and  Mr.  Fisher,  who  were  of  the  Committee 
appointed  to  consider  the  Petition  of  the  Convention  of 
Committees  of  the  County  of  Worcester,  being  absent, 

Ordered,  That  Major  Bliss  and  Doctor  Taylor  be  ap- 
pointed in  their  room. 

Colonel  Bowers,  who  w:as  on  the  Committee  appointed 
to  consider  the  situation  and  circumstances  of  the  sea- 
coasts,  being  absent, 

Ordered,  That  the  Honourable  Mr.  Spooner  be  ap- 
pointed in  his  room. 

Ordered,  That  Captain  Stone  of  Oakham,  Deacon 
Hovey,  Colonel  Prescott,  Colonel  Farley,  and  Colonel 
Grout,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  what  is  proper  to  be 
done  with  the  Prisoners  brought  to  this  place  from 
Arundel. 

Ordered,  That  Captain  Goodrich,  Mr.  Mitchell,  and 
Mr.  Johnson,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  a  Petition  from 
Abiathar  Angel,  and  report. 

A  Petition  from  the  Town  of  Berwick  was  read  and 
committed  to  the  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the 
situation  and  circumstances  of  the  sea-coasts. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  bring  in  a  Resolve  for  the 
purpose  of  enforcing  two  Resolves  of  the  Continental  Con- 
gress, reported.  The  Report  was  accepted,  and,  with  the 
said  Resolves  of  Congress,  here  follow,  viz : 

"  In  Congress,  at  Philadelphia,  May  17,  1775. 

"  Resolved,  That  all  exportations  to  Qjuebeck,  Nova- 
Scotia,  the  Island  of  St.  John's,  Newfoundland,  Georgia, 
(except  the  Parish  of  St.  John's,)  and  to  East  and  West- 
Florida,  immediately  cease  ;  and  that  no  Provisions  of  any 
kind,  or  other  necessaries,  be  furnished  to  the  British 
Fisheries  on  the  American  coasts,  until  it  be  otherwise 
determined  by  the  Congress. 

"  May  29,  1775. 

"  Resolved,  That  no  Provisions  or  necessaries  of  any  kind 
be  exported  to  the  Island  of  Nantucket,  except  from  the 
Colony  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay.  The  Convention  of  the 
Colony  is  desired  to  take  measures  for  effectually  providing 
the  said  Island,  upon  their  application  to  purchase  the 
same,  with  as  much  Provision  as  shall  be  necessary  for  its 
internal  use,  and  no  more. 

"  The  Congress  deeming  it  of  great  importance  to  North 
America  that  the  British  Fishery  should  not  be  furnished 
with  Provisions  from  this  Continent  through  Nantucket, 
earnestly  recommend  a  vigilant  execution  of  this  Resolve 
to  all  Committees. 

"  A  true  copy  from  the  Minutes  : 

"  Charles  Thomson,  Secretary." 

The  foregoing  Resolves  of  the  Continental  Congress 
being  read  and  considered, 

Resolved,  That  the  same  be  forthwith  printed  in  hand- 
bills, together  with  this  Resolve,  and  dispersed  in  the  seve- 
ral seaport  Towns  in  this  Colony,  that  due  obedience  may 
be  paid  to  the  same. 

Further  Resolved,  That  the  inhabitants  of  the  Island  of 
Nantucket  have  liberty  to  purchase  such  Provisions  as  are 
necessary  for  the  internal  use  of  the  said  Island  in  any  of 
the  New-England  Governments  :  Provided,  nevertheless, 
that  no  Provisions  or  necessaries  of  any  kind  be  exported 


1399 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1400 


to  the  said  Island  of  Nantucket,  without  a  permit  in  writing 
from  the  Committee  of  Safety  of  this  Colony,  or  such  per- 
son or  persons  as  they  shall  appoint  to  give  such  permit, 
expressing  the  quantity  so  to  be  transported,  be  first  had 
and  obtained,  and  that  the  same  be  exported  from  such  port 
only  (in  this  Colony)  as  shall  be  expressed  in  the  same 
permit. 

The  Order  of  the  Day  was  moved  for. 

The  Report  of  the  Committee  on  the  establishment  of 
an  allowance  of  Provisions  for  the  Soldiers  was  read  and 
considered,  and  after  debate  thereon,  was  recommitted. 

The  Committee  on  the  Petition  from  the  County  of 
Worcester  reported,  that  it  is  the  opinion  of  the  Committee 
that  the  Delegates  chosen  by  the  Districts  of  Paxton  and 
Charlton,  as  mentioned  in  said  Petition,  have  not  a  right 
to  seats  in  this  House. 

Moved,  That  a  commission  be  delivered  to  Col.  John 
Glover,  as  Colonel  of  a  Regiment  in  the  Massachusetts 
Army. 

Afternoon. 

The  Report  of  the  Committee  on  the  Petition  from  the 
County  of  Worcester  was  considered,  and,  after  much  de- 
bate, the  question  was  put,  whether  said  Report  be  accept- 
ed ;  and  it  passed  in  the  negative. 

Ordered,  That  the  Guard  who  has  in  custody  the  Pri- 
soners from  Arundel  be  relieved  by  a  Guard  from  the  Town 
of  Watertown. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Sayer  be  added  to  the  Committee 
who  were  appointed  to  consider  some  measures  for  com- 
missionating  the  Officers  of  the  Army,  in  the  room  of  Col. 
Porter,  who  has  leave  of  absence. 

Leave  of  absence  was  granted  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Thayer 
and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Curtis;  and  it  being  moved,  that  they  be 
directed  to  return  as  soon  as  may  be,  the  question  was  put, 
and  it  passed  in  the  negative. 

Colonel  Porter,  who  was  of  the  Committee  to  consider 
the  Letter  of  Mr.  Gridley  to  the  Committee  of  Safety 
relative  to  the  Train,  being  absent,  Mr.  Partridge  was  ap- 
pointed in  his  room. 

Resolved,  That  the  Committee  of  Safety  be  required, 
as  soon  as  may  be,  to  certify  to  this  Congress  the  names  of 
such  gentlemen  as  are  candidates  for  the  command  of  a 
Regiment,  with  the  number  of  privates  that  have  been  en- 
listed under  them,  and  any  other  claims  or  pretensions  that 
any  gentleman  may  have  to  a  commission  in  the  service. 

Ordered,  That  the  Papers  exhibited  to  this  Congress 
by  Captain  Phelps  be  returned  to  him  by  Major  Bliss. 
Adjourned  to  nine  o'clock  to-morrow  morning. 

Saturday,  June  10,  1775. 

Ordered,  That  the  Committee  of  Safety  be  directed  to 
make  return,  in  writing,  to  this  Congress,  as  soon  as  may 
be,  of  the  names  of  all  those  persons  who  claim  or  offer 
themselves  to  be  commissioned  as  Colonels  of  Regiments 
in  the  Colony  Army  and  are  not  commissioned,  with  any 
agreement  that  may  have  been  made  with  any  such  persons 
by  the  Committee  of  Safety,  as  also  a  state  of  those  Regi- 
ments which  such  persons  claim  the  command  of,  as  to 
their  numbers,  equipments,  and  the  time  they  have  been 
engaged  in  the  service. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  what  is  proper  to 
be  done  with  the  Prisoners  brought  from  Arundel,  report- 
ed as  follows,  viz : 

The  Committee  appointed  to  examine  the  persons  and 
papers  sent  to  this  Congress  by  the  Committee  of  the  Town 
of  Arundel,  have  attended  that  service,  and  after  due 
perusal  of  said  papers,  Josiah  Jones  and  Jonathan  Hicks, 
therein  referred  to,  were  brought  before  them.  Said  Jones, 
in  his  defence,  says,  he  had  no  concern  with  the  Sloop 
Polly,  otherwise  than  as  a  passenger  in  her  to  Nova-Scotia; 
notwithstanding  which  it  appears  clearly  to  this  Committee, 
by  said  papers,  as  also  by  the  evidence  of  Captain  Smith, 
master,  herewith  transmitted,  that  said  Jones  went  on  board 
said  sloop  as  supercargo,  in  the  service  of  General  Gage, 
to  bring  hay  and  other  articles  to  Boston,  to  supply  our 
enemies.    We  find  by  said  Jones's  account  of  himself,  that 


he  went  to  Boston  soon  after  the  memorable  Lexington 
battle,  on  the  19th  of  April  last,  in  company  with  John 
Ruggles,  of  Hardwick,  who  was  ordered  by  a  Committee 
to  the  said  Town  of  Hardwick;  and  that  said  Jones  was 
knowing  to  the  proceedings  of  said  Committee  against  said 
Ruggles  before  they  set  out  together  from  Weston  to  take 
refuge  in  Boston;  that  they  left  the  common  road,  and 
went  in  the  woods  and  difficult  places,  to  pass  the  Town 
of  Roxbury.  This  Committee,  upon  the  whole,  have  not 
the  least  reason  to  doubt  of  said  Jones's  being  a  notorious 
enemy  to  his  Country,  and  of  his  having  been  in  the  actual 
employment  of  our  enemies  against  the  just  liberties  of  the 
people ;  therefore  beg  leave  to  report  the  following  Order, 
viz : 

Ordered,  That  Josiah  Jones,  taken  from  the  Sloop 
Polly,  be  sent  with  a  sufficient  guard  to  the  Town  of  Con- 
cord, in  the  County  of  Middlesex,  and  committed  to  the 
common  jail,  there  to  remain  until  the  further  orders  of  the 
Congress,  or  House  of  Representatives  of  this  Colony. 

Said  Jonathan  Hicks,  in  his  defence,  says,  that  since 
the  publick  disputes  respecting  the  liberties  of  the  Country, 
he  has  not  liked  the  part  that  has  been  acted,  in  many  re- 
spects, on  either  side,  therefore  could  not  see  his  way  clear 
to  join  with  any. 

Upon  examination  the  Committee  find,  by  evidence,  that 
at  Gardinerston,  while  he  lived  there,  he  expressed  him- 
self highly  against  Committees  of  Correspondence,  Sic, 
calling  them  rebels,  and  using  other  opprobrious  language 
against  the  people  who  appeared  for  liberty,  and  endea- 
voured to  hinder  their  unity.  That  also,  while  he,  the 
said  Hicks,  lived  at  Plymouth,  he  was  esteemed  by  the 
good  people  there  inimical  to  the  liberties  of  his  Country 
by  his  general  conduct,  and  that  at  certain  times  he  ap- 
peared very  high,  and  once  drew  his  sword  or  spear  upon 
certain  persons.  Said  Hicks,  upon  the  whole,  owns  his 
general  conduct  has  been  such  as  the  people  for  liberty 
call  a  tory,  but  still  says  he  is  against  the  oppressive  acts. 

Said  Hicks  confesses  that  the  evening  after  the  battle  of 
Lexington,  aforesaid,  he  left  Plymouth  and  took  shelter 
with  the  Troops  at  Marshfield,  not  thinking  himself  safe  in 
the  country  ;  that  he  went  with  them  to  Boston,  and  there 
remained  until  he  went  on  board  the  Sloop  Polly  with 
Jones,  and  says  he  designed  for  Halifax,  there  to  tarry, 
if  he  could  find  business,  in  order  to  be  out  of  the  noise. 
Captain  Smith,  master  of  said  sloop,  can  give  no  account 
of  Hicks' s  business  on  board.  All  he  can  say  is,  he  in 
general  appeared  inimical,  calling  the  liberty  people  rebels, 
&lc.  The  Committee,  therefore,  beg  leave  to  report  the 
following  Order : 

Ordered,  That  Jonathan  Hicks,  taken  from  the  Sloop 
Polly,  be  sent  with  a  sufficient  guard  to  the  Town  of  Con~ 
cord,  in  the  County  of  Middlesex,  and  committed  to  the 
common  jail,  there  to  remain  until  the  further  orders  of  the 
Congress,  or  House  of  Representatives  of  this  Colony. 

Resolved,  That  the  Keeper  of  the  Jail  in  the  County  of 
Middlesex  be  directed  to  receive  Messrs.  Jones  and  Hicks, 
who  were  taken  prisoners  from  the  Sloop  Polly,  at  Arun- 
del, and  keep  them  in  safe  custody  till  further  order,  and 
provide  them  necessaries  for  their  subsistence  whilst  in 
jail  ;  and  that  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  for  the 
Town  of  Watertown  be  directed  to  see  that  the  Resolves 
of  Congress  respecting  the  said  Jones  and  Hicks  be  forth- 
with carried  into  execution,  and  to  take  such  guard  as  they 
think  necessary  for  that  purpose. 

Ordered,  That  the  Hon.  Mr.  Sever,  Colonel  Otis,  and 
Mr.  Davis,  be  added  to  the  Committee  who  were  appoint- 
ed to  consider  the  expediency  of  establishing  a  number  of 
armed  Vessels  for  the  protection  of  the  sea-coasts. 

Ordered,  That  Major  Hawley,  Captain  Stone  of  Fra- 
mingham,  Colonel  Parks,  Hon.  Mr.  Sever,  Mr.  Johnson, 
Hon.  Mr.  Spooner,  and  Deacon  Plympton,  be  a  Commit- 
tee to  take  into  consideration  the  Artificers  which  may  be 
necessary  for  the  Army  in  the  pay  of  this  Colony,  and  that 
they  report,  as  soon  as  may  be,  in  what  way  such  Artificers 
shall  be  established,  the  numbers  wanted  for  the  Army  at 
Cambridge  and  Roxbury,  of  each  kind,  and  the  sum  that 
is  proper  to  be  allowed  them  per  month. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Whittemore,  Captain  Dwight,  and 
Mr.  Kollock,  be  a  Committee  to  bring  in  a  Resolve  for  the 


1401 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1402 


appointment  of  a  number  of  Armourers  for  the  Massachu- 
setts Army,  and  for  the  establishment  of  their  pay. 

The  Resolve  for  establishing  an  allowance  of  Provisions 
for  the  Soldiers  was  again  read,  and  accepted,  and  ordered 
to  be  printed  in  handbills,  and  is  as  follows,  viz  : 

The  Committee  appointed  to  make  an  establishment  for 
the  allowance  for  Provisions  for  the  Soldiers  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts Army,  beg  leave  to  report  the  following  Resolve, 
viz : 

Resolved,  That  each  Soldier  in  the  Massachusetts  Army 
shall  have  the  following  allowance  per  day,  viz:  one 
pound  of  Bread  ;  half  a  pound  of  Beef  and  half  a  pound 
of  Pork,  and  if  Pork  cannot  be  had,  one  pound  and  a 
quarter  of  Beef,  and  one  day  in  seven  they  shall  have 
one  pound  and  one  quarter  of  salt  fish,  instead  of  one  day's 
allowance  of  meat ;  one  pint  of  Milk,  or  if  Milk  cannot  be 
had,  one  gill  of  Rice ;  one  quart  of  good  spruce  or  malt 
Beer ;  one  gill  of  Peas  or  Beans,  or  other  sauce  equiva- 
lent ;  six  ounces  of  good  Butler  per  week ;  one  pound  of 
good  common  Soap  for  six  men  per  week;  half  a  pint  of 
Vinegar  per  week  per  man,  if  it  can  be  had. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  inquire  into  the  state  of 
the  Army  reported,  that  in  order  to  execute  their  commis- 
sion, it  is  necessary  that  they  should  be  furnished  with  a 
copy  of  all  recommendations  for  commissions  sent  to  this 
Congress  by  the  Committee  of  Safety,  and  a  list  of  all  Offi- 
cers commissioned  by  the  Congress  ;  and  asked  leave  to  sit 
again.    The  Report  was  accepted. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Sayer,  Mr.  Edwards,  and  Major 
Fuller,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  the  proposal  of  the 
Hun.  General  Ward  respecting  furloughs  for  the  Soldiers, 
and  report. 

Afternoon. 

The  Petition  of  a  number  of  the  Freeholders  of  Wil- 
liamsburgh  was  read,  and  committed  to  Mr.  Hale,  Mr. 
Lyman,  and  Colonel  Danielson. 

The  Petition  of  Davis  and  Coverly  was  read,  and  com- 
mitted to  Mr.  Fairbarik,  Mr.  Webster,  and  Col.  Sawyer. 

Monday  next,  three  o'clock,  P.  M.,  was  assigned  to 
make  choice  of  three  Delegates,  to  meet  those  that  may  be 
sent  from  the  other  New-England  Colonies. 

The  choice  of  two  Major-Generals  referred  to  Monday, 
dve  o'clock,  P.  M. 

Hon.  Colonel  Warren,  Hon.  Mr.  Spooner,  Dr.  Taylor, 
Captain  Stone,  Mr.  Edwards,  Colonel  Cobb,  and  Colonel 
Thompson,  were  appointed  a  Committee  to  consider  the 
expediency  of  establishing  a  number  of  armed  Vessels. 

Sunday,  June  11,  1775. 

The  Congress  met  at  eight  o'clock,  and  adjourned  to 
half  past  three,  P.  M. 

Resolved,  That  the  Hon.  Major  Hawley,  Hon.  Mr. 
Spooner,  Hon.  Colonel  Warren,  and  Hon.  Colonel  Foster, 
have  leave  to  offer  for  the  consideration  of  this  Congress 
an  Address  which  they  have  prepared  to  the  Continental 
Congress. 

The  same  being  read  and  amended,  was  accepted,  and 
ordered  to  be  transcribed  and  signed  by  the  Hon.  Major 
Hawley,  as  Vice-President,  and  sent  immediately  by  ex- 
press to  Philadelphia,  and  that  the  Committee  of  Supplies 
be  desired  to  procure  some  person  to  carry  it.  It  is  as  fol- 
lows, viz : 

May  it  please  your  Honours: 

The  situation  of  any  Colony  or  People  perhaps  was 
never  before  such  as  made  it  more  necessary  for  fully  exer- 
cising the  powers  of  civil  Government,  than  the  present 
state  and  situation  of  the  Colony  of  the  Massachusetts 
Bay. 

The  embarrassments,  delays,  disappointments,  and  ob- 
structions in  executing  every  undertaking  necessary  for  the 
preservation  of  our  lives,  and  much  more  of  our  property, 
are  so  great  and  many,  as  that  they  cannot  be  represented 
or  enumerated ;  and  that  is  chiefly  to  be  attributed  to  our 
want  of  a  settled  civil  polity  or  government.  Besides, 
every  thing  necessary  for  the  abovesaid  most  important 
purposes,  which  is  in  some  degree  effected,  is  done  in  the 
most  expensive  manner;  in  short,  although  the  times  we 


are  fallen  into,  and  the  prospects  before  us,  are  such  as  re- 
quire the  utmost  economy,  yet  nothing  of  the  kind  can  be 
preserved  in  our  present  state. 

There  are  in  many  parts  of  this  Colony  alarming  symp- 
toms of  the  abatement  of  the  sense  in  the  minds  of  some 
people  of  the  sacredness  of  private  property,  which  is 
plainly  assignable  to  the  want  of  civil  government;  and 
your  Honours  must  be  fully  sensible  that  a  community  of 
goods  and  estate  will  soon  be  followed  with  the  utter  waste 
and  destruction  of  the  goods  themselves.  Besides,  the 
necessity  of  civil  government  appears  more  and  more  ap- 
parent, from  the  extreme  difficulty  of  maintaining  the  pub- 
lick  peace  without  it ;  although  we  can  truly  say  much  fewer 
enormities  and  breaches  of  the  peace  have  happened  among 
us,  than  it  was  natural  to  expect  from  the  contemplation 
of  such  a  state  as  we  have  been  cast  into. 

May  it  please  your  Honours :  The  pressing  weight  of 
our  distresses  has  necessitated  the  sending  a  special  post  to 
obtain  your  immediate  advice  upon  this  subject;  and  we 
do  most  earnestly  entreat  that  you  would  as  soon  as  possi- 
ble despatch  the  messenger  with  such  advice. 

Our  former  application  to  you  of  the  16th  of  May  last, 
has  rendered  it  unnecessary  that  we  should  further  enlarge 
upon  this  subject ;  and  to  prevent  repetition,  we  beg  leave 
to  refer  you  to  our  letter  of  that  date. 

The  Army  under  the  command  of  General  Gage  we  esti- 
mate to  amount  at  least  to  five  thousand  men,  well  appointed, 
under  the  command  of  Generals  of  character  and  experi- 
ence, and  prepared  with  every  thing  necessary  for  action, 
exclusive  of  the  additional  strength  derived  from  negroes, 
which  the  General  has  taken  into  his  service,  and  disaffect- 
ed Americans.  We  have  great  reason  to  apprehend  that  a 
re-enforcement  of  at  least  ei<j;ht  regiments  of  foot,  and  one 
of  horse,  may  be  hourly  expected.  We  enclose  a  copy  of 
an  intercepted  letter  from  Major  Sheriff,  (dated  May  29, 
1775,)  which  exhibits  to  you  one  ground  of  this  apprehen- 
sion. We  have  had  under  our  consideration  the  propriety 
and  necessity  of  augmenting  our  Army,  notwithstanding  our 
embarrassments,  and  though  we  have  not  yet  adopted  it, 
nothing  perhaps  but  the  more  ample  provision  of  the  neigh- 
bouring Colonies  will  relieve  that  necessity. 

The  depredations  and  piracies  frequently  committed  on 
our  sea-coasts,  and  the  little  trade  which  remains  to  us, 
whereby,  among  other  capital  articles,  the  importation  of 
ammunition  and  provision  is  almost  totally  obstructed  and 
threatens  our  ruin,  have  also  occasioned  our  contemplating 
steps  to  prevent  these  inconveniences,  by  fitting  out  a  num- 
ber of  armed  vessels  with  sufficient  strength  to  encounter 
their  small  though  numerous  cutters. 

We  shall  only  add,  that  as  the  seat  of  war,  with  all  its 
attendant  distresses,  have  for  the  present  taken  their  prin- 
cipal residence  here,  we  should  consider  it  as  a  happy 
event,  if  you  should  think  proper  to  adjourn  to  some  part 
of  the  Continent  not  so  far  distant,  that  the  advice  and  aid 
of  the  Continent  may  be  more  expeditiously  afforded  upon 
any  emergency. 

Adjourned  to  Monday  morning,  eight  o'clock. 

Monday,  June  12,  1775. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Wheeler,  Deacon  Baker,  and  Mr. 
Webster,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  some  measures  for 
preventing  the  violation  of  the  Sabbath,  and  to  bring  in  a 
Resolve  for  this  purpose. 

Resolved,  That  five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  be  assigned 
for  the  consideration  of  the  Report  of  the  Committee  who 
were  appointed  to  bring  in  a  Resolve  for  giving  a  free  cur- 
rency to  the  Bills  of  Credit  of  this  and  the  other  Colonies. 

Ordered,  That  the  Hon.  Mr.  Spooner,  Hon.  Colonel 
Gerrish,  and  Dr.  Whiting,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  the 
Petition  from  the  Committee  at  Charlestown,  and  report. 

Resolved,  That  the  Secretary  have  liberty  to  procure 
such  assistance  from  time  to  time  as  he  shall  think  neces- 
sary. 

Resolved,  That  two  persons  be  appointed  to  repair  to 
the  Fortress  of  Ticonderoga,  to  examine  into  the  state  of 
that  Fortress,  and  of  affairs  there,  and  to  act  in  such  a  man- 
ner as  they  shall  be  directed  by  this  Congress,  and  that 
four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  be  assigned  for  the  choice  of 
such  persons  by  ballot;  and  that  the  Hon.  Major  Hawley, 


1403 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1404 


Hon.  Colonel  Warren,  and  Mr.  Sullivan,  be  a  Committee 
to  prepare  instructions  for  such  Delegates. 

The  Committee  who  were  appointed  to  consider  the 
expediency  of  establishing  a  number  of  armed  Vessels,  re- 
ported. The  consideration  of  the  Report  was  put  off  to 
ten  o'clock  to-morrow  morning. 

Hon.  Mr.  Dexter,  one  of  the  Committee  who  were  ap- 
pointed to  prepare  Letters  to  the  Continental  Congress, 
New- York,  and  the  New-England  Governments,  being 
absent, 

Ordered,  That  the  Hon.  Mr.  Spooner  be  appointed  in 
his  room. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Sayer  be  directed  forthwith  to  fill 
up  and  deliver  commissions  to  the  Officers  of  Colonel  Whit- 
comb's  Regiment. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Holten,  Mr.  Mitchell,  and  Mr. 
Colville,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  the  Petition  of  Mr. 
Ebcnezer  Prout. 

Ordered,  That  Dr.  Whiting,  Dr.  Taylor,  and  Mr. 
Parks,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  some  method  of  sup- 
plying the  several  Surgeons  of  the  Army  with  Medicines. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  prepare  a  Letter  to  the 
Continental  Congress,  &c,  reported  the  following,  which 
was  accepted,  viz : 

May  it  please  your  Honours : 

The  views  of  Administration  having  been  made  evident, 
by  their  conduct  for  some  years  past;  and  the  late  regula- 
tions of  civil  and  ecclesiastical  polity  of  Quebeck  having 
clearly  discovered  an  intention  to  make  use  of  the  Cana- 
dians as  engines  to  reduce  this  Continent  to  slavery,  it  has 
been  found  absolutely  necessary,  for  the  preservation  of  the 
liberties  of  America,  to  take  possession  of  the  important 
pass  of  Ticonderoga,  and  to  send  forward  a  sufficient  force 
to  hold  the  same  against  any  attempt  which  may  be  made 
to  retake  it,  and  to  prevent  General  Carltton  from  send- 
ing off  forces  by  the  way  of  the  Lakes  to  annoy  and  dis- 
tress the  frontiers.  But  as  we  apprehend  there  never  has 
been  any  intention  to  give  the  least  disturbance  to  our 
brethren  of  Canada,  to  whom  we  most  sincerely  wish  the 
full  and  free  enjoyment  of  their  civil  and  religious  rights, 
we  humbly  request  that  your  Honours  would  take  such 
steps  to  prevent  any  false  impressions  which  our  enemies 
may  attempt  to  make  on  their  minds  concerning  our  de- 
signs, or  to  remove  any  such  as  have  already  been  made, 
as  you  in  your  wisdom  shall  think  most  expedient,  as  we 
look  upon  it  to  be  of  the  utmost  importance  that  there 
should  no  jealousies  subsist  between  them  and  the  other 
Colonies.  We  also  have  had  the  most  disagreeable  ac- 
counts of  methods  taken  to  fill  the  minds  of  the  Indian 
tribes  adjacent  to  these  Colonies  with  sentiments  very  in- 
jurious to  us ;  particularly,  we  have  been  informed  that 
Colonel  Guy  Johnson  has  taken  great  pains  with  the  Six 
Nations,  in  order  to  bring  them  into  a  belief  that  it  is  de- 
signed by  the  Colonies  to  fall  upon  them  and  cut  them  off. 
We  therefore  pray  you  would,  with  all  the  speed  conveni- 
ent, use  your  very  great  influence  in  guarding  against  the 
evil  intended  by  this  malevolent  misrepresentation.  And 
we  have  wrote  to  our  sister  Colonies  in  New-England  and 
to  New-York,  requesting  they  would  make  a  similar  ap- 
plication to  you  respecting  these  matters. 

We  are  your  most  obedient  humble  servants. 

Resolved,  That  the  vote  for  choosing  two  persons  to  re- 
pair to  the  Fortress  of  Ticonderoga,  be  so  far  reconsidered 
as  that  there  be  three  persons  chosen,  instead  of  two,  for 
that  service. 

Afternoon. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Farley,  Major  Brooks,  and  Mr. 
Cross,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  and  report  what  is 
proper  to  be  done  with  the  Grass  growing  on  the  estates  of 
the  Refugees  at  Cambridge,  Charlesloivn,  Roxbury,  and 
Milton.    Who  reported  as  follows: 

The  Committee  appointed  to  take  into  consideration  the 
Resolve  of  the  Committee  of  Safety  relative  to  certain 
quantities  of  Grass  growing  on  the  lands  of  the  Refugees 
in  and  about  Cambridge,  have  attended  that  service,  and 
beg  leave  to  report  by  way  of  Resolve : 

Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  Committee  of 


Safety  that  they  appoint  some  person  or  persons  in  the 
Towns  hereafter  mentioned,  viz :  Cambridge,  Charleslown, 
Roxbury,  and  Milton,  to  cut  the  Grass  and  secure  the  Hay 
growing  on  the  estates  of  the  Refugees  in  the  above  men- 
tioned Towns,  in  some  convenient  place,  for  the  benefit  of 
the  Colony,  as  to  them  shall  seem  meet. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Sullivan,  Hon.  Colonel  Warren,  and 
Colonel  Gcrrish,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  what  is  best 
to  be  done  with  respect  to  a  Vessel  said  to  be  going  from 
Salem  to  New-Providence  for  Fruit  and  Turtle  for  the  Army 
at  Boston,  and  report. 

Resolved,  That  Mr.  Gerry  have  leave  to  bring  in  a  Re- 
solve for  preventing  the  exportation  of  Fish  and  other  Pro- 
visions. 

This  Resolve  was  accordingly  read  and  accepted,  and 
ordered  to  be  printed  in  handbills,  and  sent  to  the  several 
maritime  Towns  in  this  Colony,  and  is  as  follows,  viz  : 

Whereas,  the  enemies  of  America  are  multiplying  their 
cruelties  towards  the  inhabitants  of  the  New-England  Co- 
lonies, by  seizing  Provision  Vessels,  either  the  property 
of,  or  intended  to  supply  them,  and  also  by  plundering  the 
stock  of  Cattle,  Sheep,  &c,  on  their  sea-coasts: 

Resolved,  That  it  be,  and  it  is  hereby  recommended  to 
the  inhabitants  of  the  Towns  and  Districts  in  this  Colony, 
that  they  forthwith  exert  themselves  to  prevent  the  expor- 
tation of  Fish,  and  all  other  kinds  of  provision,  excepting 
such  only  as  shall  be  intended  to  supply  the  inhabitants  of 
the  Colonies  aforesaid,  and  as  in  the  opinion  of  the  Select- 
men, and  Committees  of  Correspondence,  and  Committees 
of  Safety,  of  the  Towns  where  the  same  shall  be  stored, 
may  with  prudence  be  shipped  for  conveyance  by  water, 
for  the  purpose  aforesaid ;  and  it  is  strongly  recommended 
to  the  Selectmen,  Committees  of  Correspondence,  and  Com- 
mittees of  Safety,  throughout  the  Colony,  that  they  cause 
this  Resolve  to  be  strictly  executed. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  some  method  for 
supplying  the  Surgeons  in  the  Army  with  Medicines,  re- 
ported. The  Report  was  read  and  accepted,  and  is  as 
follows,  viz : 

The  Committee  appointed  to  take  into  consideration  a 
complaint  that  the  Surgeons  in  the  Army  are  not  properly 
furnished  with  Medicines,  have  attended  that  service  and 
beg  leave  to  report : 

Whereas,  it  appears  that  there  is  not  as  yet  a  sufficient 
number  of  Medicine  Chests  provided  to  furnish  each  Regi- 
ment with  a  distinct  Chest ;  and  whereas,  the  Committee 
of  Supplies  are  making  provision  for  the  supplying  of  each 
Regiment  with  such  Medicine  Chests  as  soon  as  possible : 
therefore 

Resolved,  That  the  Committee  of  Supplies  be,  and  here- 
by are  directed,  immediately  to  furnish  the  Surgeon  of  the 
First  Regiment  at  Cambridge,  and  also  the  Surgeon  of  the 
First  Regiment  at  Roxbury,  each  of  them,  with  a  Medicine 
Chest  for  the  present,  and  that  all  the  other  Surgeons  in 
the  Armies  at  Cambridge  and  Roxbury  have  free  recourse 
to  the  said  Chests,  and  be  supplied  from  them  from  time 
time  as  they  shall  find  occasion,  until  more  ample  provision 
shall  be  made  for  them.  All  which  is  humbly  submitted, 
and  the  Committee  beg  leave  to  sit  again. 

Wm.  Whiting,  per  order. 

Ordered,  That  the  same  Committee  be  appointed  to 
examine  into  the  Medical  Stores,  and  make  a  list  of  what 
is  necessary  for  the  supplying  each  Regiment,  that  the  same 
may  be  laid  before  the  Committee  ;  and  that  the  same  Com- 
mittee consider  what  Medicines  are  necessary,  and  bring  in 
a  list  of  what  Medicines  are  in  the  Medicinal  Store,  and 
that  they  be  directed  to  report  what  Instruments  are  neces- 
sary for  the  Surgeons  of  the  Army. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  what  is  best  to  be 
done  relative  to  a  Vessel  going  from  Salem  to  New-Provi- 
dence, reported.  The  Report  was  read  and  accepted,  and 
is  as  follows : 

Whereas,  this  Congress  has  been  informed  that  a  Schooner 
belonging  to  the  Irvings  in  Boston,  is  fitted  out  under  colour 
of  being  chartered  by  one  Thompson,  who  has  lately  fled 
from  Medford  to  Boston,  but  is  really  destined  to  Salem, 
and  from  thence  to  New- Providence,  to  get  Fruit,  Turtle, 
and  Provisions  of  other  kinds,  for  the  sustenance  and  feast- 
ing of  those  Troops  who  are,  as  pirates  and  robbers,  com- 


1405 


-MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1406 


mitting  daily  hostilities  and  depredations  on  the  good  people 
of  this  Colony  and  all  America  : 

It  is  therefore  Resolved,  That  Captain  Samuel  McCobb, 
a  Member  of  this  Congress,  be  immediately  despatched  to 
Salem  and  Marblehead ,  to  secure  said  Thompson,  and  pre- 
vent said  Vessel  from  going  said  voyage,  and  cause  the  said 
Thompson  to  be  brought  to  this  Congress.  And  the  Com- 
mittees of  Correspondence,  Safety,  and  Inspection,  of  said 
Towns,  and  all  the  good  people  of  this  Colony,  are  directed 
to  give  the  said  Capt.  McCobb  all  needed  assistance  therein. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Sullivan,  Captain  Stone,  and  Major 
Bliss,  be  a  Committee  to  count  and  sort  the  votes  for  three 
gentlemen  as  a  Committee,  to  meet  Committees  from  the 
other  Governments  of  New-England,  at  Worcester,  on  the 
twenty-eighth  of  June  current. 

The  Committee  having  attended  that  service,  reported, 
that  the  Hon.  Mr.  Dexter,  the  Hon.  Major  Hawley,  and 
the  Hon.  Mr.  Sever  were  chosen.  The  Hon.  Major  Haw- 
ley and  the  Hon.  Mr.  Sever  having  desired  to  be  excused, 
and  having  offered  their  reasons  therefor,  they  were  excused 
accordingly;  whereupon, 

Resolved,  That  ten  o'clock  to-morrow  morning  he  as- 
signed for  the  choice  of  two  persons,  in  the  room  of  Major 
Hawley  and  Mr.  Sever,  to  attend  the  said  Convention  at 
Worcester,  on  the  twenty-eighth  of  June  current. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Sullivan,  Captain  Stone,  and  Major 
Bliss,  be  a  Committee  to  count  and  sort  the  votes  for  three 
gentlemen  to  go  to  Ticontltroga. 

The  Committee  having  attended  that  service,  reported 
that  the  Hon.  Mr.  Spooner,  Hon.  Colonel  Foster,  and  Mr. 
Suilivan,  were  chosen. 

Resolved,  That  the  choice  of  two  Major-Generals  be  re- 
ferred to  to-morrow  morning,  eleven  o'clock. 

Ordered,  That  the  Petition  from  the  County  of  Cum- 
berland (laid  on  the  table  by  the  Committee  who  were 
appointed  to  consider  of  it)  be  committed  to  the  Commit- 
tee who  were  appointed  to  consider  the  circumstances  of 
the  sea-coasts. 

The  Report  of  the  Committee  of  Safety,  relative  to  the 
claims  of  those  who  stand  as  candidates  for  commissions  in 
the  Army,  &c,  was  read,  and,  with  the  papers  accompany- 
ing it,  was  committed  to  the  Hon.  Major  Hawley,  Colonel 
Farley,  Captain  Greenleaf,  Doctor  Taylor,  Captain  Stone, 
Mr.  Partridge,  and  Colonel  Sayer. 

The  Committee  on  Mr.  Prout's  Petition  reported,  that  he 
have  leave  to  withdraw  it.    The  Report  was  accepted. 

It  was  moved  and  seconded,  that  the  Resolve  for  choosing 
Committees  to  meet  Committees  from  the  other  Govern- 
ments in  l\ew-England  at  Worcester,  the  twenty-eighth 
current,  be  reconsidered  ;  and  it  was  thereupon 

Resolved,  That  the  further  consideration  of  this  motion 
be  referred  to  ten  o'clock  to-morrow  morning. 

The  Petitions  of  Colonel  Brewer  and  his  officers  being 
read,  were  committed  to  the  Committee  to  whom  were  this 
day  committed  the  Report  of  the  Committee  of  Safety, 
and  the  papers  accompanying  it. 

The  Committee  on  the  Petition  of  Davis  and  Coverly, 
reported.  The  Report  was  read  and  accepted,  and  is  as 
follows : 

Whereas,  application  has  been  made  to  this  Congress  by 
Messrs.  Davis  and  Coverly,  merchants  of  Boston,  repre- 
senting that  they  have  a  quantity  of  English  Goods  now 
in  Boston,  and  that  Henry  Barns,  of  Marlborough,  has 
a  quantity  of  English  Goods,  nearly  of  the  same  quality, 
in  said  Marlborough,  and  therefore  pray  that  they  may 
have  leave  to  make  an  exchange : 

Resolved,  That  the  prayer  of  said  Petition  be  granted, 
and  that  the  petitioners  have  leave  to  make  the  exchange 
asked  for. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  bring  in  a  Resolve  for  ap- 
pointing a  number  of  Armourers  reported.  The  Report 
being  read  and  amended,  was  accepted,  and  is  as  follows  :* 

Tuesday,  June  13,  1775. 
A  Letter  from  Governour  Trumbull  was  read,  inclosing 
a  Letter  from  Colonel  Arnold,  and  three  Resolves  of  the 

•  This  Report  has  not  been  entered  on  the  Journal,  nor  is  it  preserved 
on  the  files. — Lincoln. 


Continental  Congress ;  all  which  were  committed  to  the 
Committee  who  were  appointed  to  prepare  instructions  to 
the  Committees  that  are  to  repair  to  Ticonderoga. 

Resolved,  That  there  be  twenty -three  Regiments  com- 
missioned, exclusive  of  the  Regiment  of  Matrosses. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Webster,  Colonel  Richmond,  and 
Major  Wood,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  the  Petition  of 
Abner  Graves  and  others,  and  that  they  hear  the  peti- 
tioners, and  notify  Captain  Dexter  of  time  and  place. 

The  Order  of  the  Day  was  moved  for. 

Absent  Members  were  directed  to  attend. 

Resolved,  That  the  further  consideration  of  the  Report 
relative  to  the  establishment  of  armed  Vessels,  be  put  off 
to  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  and  that  the  Committee 
of  Safety,  and  Committee  of  Supplies,  be  notified  of  this 
Resolve. 

Ordered,  That  Col.  Otis  and  Col.  Grout  be  added  to  the 
Committee  who  were  appointed  to  deliver  out  Commissions. 

Resolved,  That  the  Resolve  for  the  appointment  of  a 
Convention  of  Committees  from  the  several  Governments, 
at  Worcester,  be  reconsidered,  as  well  as  the  vote  whereby 
a  Committee  was  appointed  by  this  Congress,  and  the  vote 
assigning  a  time  for  the  choice  of  two  Members  in  the  room 
of  two  Members  of  that  Committee  who  were  excused. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Partridge,  Mr.  Saycr,  and  Major 
Brooks,  be  a  Committee  to  receive  and  count  the  votes  for 
the  Major-Generals. 

Ordered,  That  only  one  Major-General  be  chosen  at  a 
time,  and  that  the  gentleman  first  chosen  be  the  first  Maior- 
General. 

Resolved,  That  the  Committees  who  may  at  any  time 
be  appointed  to  receive  and  count  votes  for  the  choice  of 
any  person  to  any  office  or  appointment,  be  strictly  enjoined 
to  allow  no  Member  to  shift  or  change  a  vote  after  it  is  put 
into  the  hat. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  receive  the  votes  for  the 
first  Major-General,  reported  that  Colonel  John  Whitcomb 
was  chosen. 

Resolved,  That  the  choice  of  the  second  Major-General 
be  referred  to  five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon. 

An  Account  of  Mr.  Charles  Colton  was  read,  and  com- 
mitted to  Mr.  Pickering,  Mr.  Batchelder,  and  Mr.  Dwight. 

An  Account  from  Mr.  Taylor  was  likewise  exhibited, 
and  committed  to  Colonel  Richmond,  Mr.  Singletary,  and 
Mr.  Hale,  to  examine,  consider  of,  and  report  upon. 

Two  Accounts  of  Mr.  John  Brown  were  also  read,  and 
committed  to  Mr.  Hale,  Mr.  Edwards,  Mr.  Vose,  Colonel 
Thompson,  and  Major  Bliss. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Lothrop,  Mr.  Fox,  and  Mr.  Fessen- 
den,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  the  expediency  of  appoint- 
ing Ensign  Falley  to  be  an  Armourer  in  the  Massachusetts 
Army,  in  addition  to  the  number  which  this  Congress  ha\e 
ordered  to  be  appointed,  and  to  consider  what  his  pay  shall 
be,  if  they  think  it  proper  he  should  be  appointed. 

The  Committee  on  Charles  Colton's  Account  reported  ; 
whereupon, 

Resolved,  That  the  Receiver-General  be,  and  hereby  is 
directed  to  pay  to  Mr.  Charles  Colton,  out  of  the  publick 
Treasury,  the  sum  of  thirteen  Pounds,  eighteen  Shillings, 
and  eight  Pence,  in  full,  for  his  account  this  day  exhibited 
to,  and  allowed  by  this  Congress. 

The  Committee  appointed  yesterday  to  consider  the  Re- 
port of  the  Committee  of  Safety,  reported  the  following 
Resolve,  which  was  accepted;  and  Captain  Stone,  Captain 
Dwight.  and  Mr.  Kollock,  were  ordered  to  give  due  infor- 
mation thereof  to  the  Colonels  therein  mentioned,  viz  : 

Resolved,  That  Colonels  Glover,  Heath,  David  Brewer, 
Robinson,  Woodbridge,  Henshaiv,  Little,  and  Jonathan 
Brewer,  be  directed,  by  next  Thursday  morning  at  eight 
o'clock,  to  make  a  true  return  to  the  Committee,  on  the 
claims  and  pretensions  of  the  several  gentlemen  claiming  to 
be  commissioned  as  Colonels;  of  the  number  of  Captains 
who,  with  their  respective  Companies,  do  choose  to  serve 
under  the  above  named  gentlemen  respectively  as  Colonels  ; 
and  of  the  number  of  men,  and  of  the  number  of  effective 
fire-arms  in  each  Company,  and  of  the  place  or  places  where 


1407 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1408 


said  Companies  are,  on  pain  of  forfeiting  all  pretensions  to 
a  commission  of  a  Colonel,  in  case  of  making  a  false  return. 

Afternoon. 

An  Account  of  Mrs.  Dorothy  Coolidge  was  read,  and 
committed  to  Doctor  Taylor,  Colonel  Thompson,  and  l\lr. 
Bent. 

The  Order  of  the  Day  was  moved  for. 

The  Report  of  the  Committee  on  the  expediency  of 
establishing  a  number  of  armed  Vessels  was  considered,  and, 
after  a  very  long  debate,  the  further  consideration  of  it  was 
referred  to  Friday  next,  at  eleven  o'clock,  A.  M. 

The  Committee  who  were  appointed  to  prepare  instruc- 
tions to  the  gentlemen  chosen  by  this  Congress  to  repair  to 
Ticonderoga,  reported.  The  Report  was  read  and  ac- 
cepted, and  is  as  follows,  viz: 

"  To  Walter  Spooner,  Jedediah  Foster,  and  James 
Sullivan,  Esquires. 

"  You  are  directed  to  proceed,  as  soon  as  may  be,  to 
the  posts  of  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point,  by  the  road 
through  the  new  settlements  called  the  Neiv-Hampshire 
Grants;  that  you  carefully  observe  the  quality  of  the  said 
road,  and  judge  of  the  feasibleness  of  transporting  provi- 
sions by  the  said  road  to  the  waters  of  Lake  Champlain ; 
that  you  take  with  you  copies  of  the  commission  and  in- 
structions of  the  Committee  of  Safety  to  Colonel  Benedict 
Arnold,  and  inform  yourselves  as  fully  as  you  shall  be  able, 
in  what  manner  the  said  Colonel  Arnold  has  executed  his 
said  commission  and  instructions. 

"  That  you  make  and  give  to  the  said  Arnold,  and  any 
men  whom  he  shall,  by  virtue  of  the  said  commission  and 
instructions,  retain  in  the  service  of  this  Colony,  such  orders 
as  to  you  shall  seem  meet,  provided  always  that  you  do  not 
authorize  the  said  Arnold  to  engage  and  retain  in  the  pay 
of  this  Colony,  as  soldiers,  a  greater  number  than  that  spe- 
cified in  his  said  commission  and  instructions,  and  provided 
that  the  said  Arnold,  and  the  men  whom  he  has  retained, 
are  free,  and  willing  to  remain  at  one  or  both  of  the  said 
posts,  under  the  command  of  such  chief  officer  as  is  or 
shall  be  appointed  by  the  Government  of  Cormecticut ;  and 
in  case  you  shall  order  such  number  of  men  to  be  continued 
at  or  near  the  said  posts,  in  the  pay  of  this  Colony,  as  you 
shall  judge  it  necessary  there  should  be,  that  you  appoint  a 
Committee  of  one  or  more  persons,  in  the  pay  of  this  Co- 
lony, to  provide  supplies  for  such  men,  and  a  Commissary 
to  deal  out  such  supplies  to  them;  which  Committee  and 
Commissary  you  are  to  appoint  in  writing  under  your 
hands. 

"  And  you  are  to  determine  and  order  respecting  the  said 
Arnold's  continuing  in  the  commission  and  pay  of  this 
Colony,  as  to  you  shall  appear  most  for  the  general  service 
and  safety,  after  having  made  yourselves  fully  acquainted 
with  the  spirit,  capacity,  and  conduct  of  the  said  Arnold. 

"  And  in  case  you  shall  judge  it  proper  to  discharge  the 
said  Arnold,  that  you  direct  him  to  return  to  this  Colony, 
and  render  his  account  of  the  disposition  of  the  money, 
ammunition,  and  other  things,  which  he  received  at  his 
setting  out  upon  his  expedition,  and  also  of  the  charges  he 
has  incurred,  and  the  debts  which  he  has  contracted  in 
behalf  of  this  Colony,  by  virtue  of  the  commission  and 
instructions  aforesaid. 

"  And  in  case  you  shall  find  any  men  at  the  said  posts 
properly  retained  and  engaged  there  in  the  service  of  this 
Colony,  that  you  cause  them  and  their  arms  to  be  mus- 
tered, and  that  to  such  as  shall  pass  muster,  you  pay,  out 
of  the  moneys  which  you  shall  receive  from  our  Receiver- 
General  for  that  purpose,  the  same  advance  pay  as  is,  by 
order  of  Congress,  paid  to  such  men  as  are  retained  and 
mustered  to  serve  within  this  Colony  ;  and  in  case  you  shall 
not  find  any  men  at  the  said  posts,  properly  engaged  and 
retained  in  the  service  of  this  Colony,  or  that  the  number 
which  you  shall  find  so  retained  shall  be  much  short  of  the 
number  which  said  Arnold  was  empowered  to  enlist,  that 
then  you,  if  you  shall  judge  that  the  effectual  security  of 
said  posts  shall  require  it,  and  if  you  shall  also  find  a  proper 
person  in  those  parts  fit  and  suitable  for  the  command  of 
four  hundred  men,  or  such  less  number,  as  together  with 
such  men  as  you  shall  find  ordered  and  posted  there  by  any 
other  Colony  or  Colonies,  and  shall  also  find  that  soldiers 


can  be  raised  in  those  parts  so  seasonably,  as  that  thereby 
the  effectual  maintenance  of  the  said  posts  may  be  served 
or  promoted  ;  you  are  to  appoint  meet  persons  to  be  officers 
and  commanders  for  such  a  number  of  men  as  you  shall 
order  to  be  enlisted,  and  give  the  necessary  orders  for 
raising,  enlisting,  and  maintaining  them,  for  such  term  as 
you  shall  judge  necessary  for  defence  of  said  posts,  and 
also  appoint  some  sufficient  and  faithful  man  as  Muster- 
Master  and  Paymaster  of  such  men,  and  leave  sufficient 
moneys  in  his  hands  for  that  purpose,  taking  proper  receipts 
and  his  security  that  the  money  so  left  shall  be  applied  to 
that  use. 

"  And  you  are  to  take  a  careful  survey  of  the  ordnance 
stores  and  ordnance  at  those  posts,  together  with  all  other 
articles  necessary  for  the  maintenance  thereof,  and  report 
the  state  thereof  to  this  Congress. 

"  And  if  you  shall  find  it  necessary  to  purchase  powder 
for  the  men  who  shall  be  retained  there  on  the  part  of  this 
Colony,  that  you  procure  the  same,  and  so  much  as  you 
shall  judge  needful,  in  the  best  and  most  expeditious  way 
you  can,  on  the  credit  of  this  Colony. 

"  And  in  general,  you  are  fully  empowered  to  do  every 
thing  in  behalf  of  this  Colony  for  the  effectual  securing  and 
maintaining  those  posts,  which  you  shall  judge  necessary 
equal  to  the  importance  of  the  same. 

"  You  are  further  directed,  when  you  shall  have  trans- 
acted what  you  are,  by  the  foregoing  instructions,  autho- 
rized to  do  and  transact  at  the  posts  aforesaid,  by  the  very 
first  opportunity  to  advise  the  General  American  Congress 
thereof,  as  also  of  your  opinion  of  the  necessity  and  impor- 
tance of  maintaining  the  said  posts  for  the  general  defence  of 
these  Colonies;  and  when  you  shall  have  made  yourselves 
fully  acquainted  with  the  state  and  condition  of  the  said 
posts,  and  the  dispositions  and  establishments  which  you 
shall  find  are  made  for  maintaining  of  them,  if  you  shall 
judge  that  any  further  provisions  are  necessary  for  securing 
and  maintaining  them,  you  are  directed,  fully  and  respect- 
fully, to  signify  your  thoughts  thereon  to  the  General 
Congress.  You  are  also  directed  to  advise  the  General 
Convention  of  the  Colony  of  New-York,  and  the  Govern- 
our  of  the  Colony  of  Connecticut,  respectively,  of  what  you 
shall  order  and  transact  by  virtue  of  the  said  instructions." 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  expediency  of 
appointing  Ensign  Fally  an  Armourer,  reported.  The  Re- 
port was  accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz: 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  expediency 
of  appointing  Ensign  Fally,  of  Colonel  Danielson s  Regi- 
ment, an  Armourer  in  the  Massachusetts  Army,  in  addition 
to  the  number  already  ordered,  and  to  consider  what  his 
pay  shall  be,  if  it  is  thought  proper  by  this  Congress  he 
should  be  appointed,  have  attended  that  service,  and  beg 
leave  to  report  as  follows,  viz : 

That  whereas  it  has  been  represented  to  your  Commit- 
tee that  the  Armourers  (or  many  of  them)  who  are  already 
established,  are  very  imperfect  in  the  business  they  profess, 
and  that  the  abovesaid  Fally  is  a  complete  master  of  the 
same ;  in  consideration  of  which  your  Committee  think  it 
of  the  highest  importance  that  he  (the  said  Fally)  should 
be  employed  in  said  department,  and  be  allowed  and  paid 
forty  Shillings  per  month,  in  addition  to  his  pay  as  an  En- 
sign, and  be  under  the  same  rules  and  regulations  as  the 
other  Armourers  already  appointed  or  to  be  appointed;  all 
which  is  humbly  submitted. 

Ordered,  That  the  President,  Colonel  Warren,  Colonel 
Palmer,  Mr.  Sever,  and  Doctor  Taylor,  be  a  Committee 
to  consider  the  subject-matter  of  a  late  extraordinary  Pro- 
clamation of  General  Gage. 

Resolved,  That  Mr.  Sullivan  have  liberty  to  use  the 
Horse  in  Mr.  Fowl's  pasture  in  this  Town,  which  was  taken 
lately  from  Noddle's  Island,  for  his  journey  to  Ticonderoga. 

Adjourned  till  to-morrow  morning,  eight  o'clock. 

Wednesday,  June  14,  1775. 
Resolved,  That  the  Receiver-General  be,  and  hereby  is 
directed,  to  pay  the  sum  of  four  hundred  Pounds  to  the 
Committee  who  have  been  appointed  by  this  Congress  to 
repair  to  Ticonderoga;  to  be  by  said  Committee  appropri- 
ated as  advance  pay  to  the  men  enlisted  under  Col.  Bene- 
dict Arnold,  said  Committee  to  be  accountable  therefor. 


1409 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1410 


Resolved,  That  the  Receiver-General  be,  and  hereby  is 
directed  to  advance  the  sum  of  twenty  Pounds  to  the  Com- 
mittee who  have  been  appointed  by  this  Congress  to  go  to 
Ticonderoga,  in  cash,  or  bills  of  credit,  at  the  option  of 
said  Committee,  for  their  expenses,  they  to  be  accountable 
therefor. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  Petition  of 
Abntr  Graves  and  others,  reported,  that  the  petitioners  have 
leave  to  withdraw  their  Petition.  The  Report  was  ac- 
cepted. 

Ordered,  That  Captain  Stone,  Colonel  Warren,  Colonel 
Grout,  Mr.  North,  and  Colonel  Otis,  be  a  Committee  to 
consider  the  Report  of  Colonel  Thompson,  and  the  Peti- 
tion of  Mr.  Parry,  and  report. 

Resolved,  That  the  first  Thursday  in  July  next  be  ap- 
pointed to  be  observed  as  a  Day  of  Fasting  and  Prayer 
throughout  this  Colony,  and  that  the  Hon.  Colonel  Palmer, 
Hon.  Mr.  Sever,  and  Mr.  Hopkins,  be  a  Committee  to 
bring  in  a  Resolve  for  this  purpose. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Robinson,  Mr.  Webster,  Major 
Fuller,  Captain  Holmes,  and  Mr.  Edwards,  be  a  Commit- 
tee to  consider  some  way  and  means  of  furnishing  those 
who  are  destitute  of  Arms  in  the  Massachusetts  Army. 

Ordered,  That  the  Committee  who  were  chosen  to  re- 
pair to  Ticonderoga,  be  directed  to  revise  the  papers  that 
respect  the  Fortress  there,  and  take  such  as  they  think 
they  shall  want,  and  that  this  Congress  will  not  have  occa- 
sion for. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Phillips,  Mr.  Jewett,  and  Mr.  Hop- 
kins, be  a  Committee  to  devise  some  means  for  securing 
the  Library  and  Apparatus  of  Harvard  College. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Gerrish,  Mr.  Rarker,  and  Mr. 
Caldwell,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  the  request  of  Jo- 
seph Palmer,  Quartermaster-General,  for  providing  Tents 
or  Barracks  for  the  Army  at  Cambridge. 

Ordered,  That  three  o'clock  this  afternoon  be  assigned 
for  the  choice  of  a  second  Major-General,  and  the  Com- 
mittees, who  are  now  out,  be  notified  of  the  same. 

Ordered,  That  the  consideration  of  the  Report  for  giv- 
ing a  currency  to  the  Bills  of  Credit  of  the  other  Govern- 
ments, be  referred  to  four  o'clock  this  afternoon. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Chadwick,  Mr.  Lothrop,  Colonel 
Smith,  Mr.  Stearns,  and  Captain  Ellis,  be  a  Committee  to 
consider  the  propriety  of  supplying  the  Generals  of  the 
Massachusetts  Army  at  Cambridge  and  Roxbury  with  some 
necessary  Household  Furniture. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Coffin,  Doctor  Taylor,  and  Mr. 
Pickering,  be  a  Committee  to  disperse  the  Resolves  of 
Congress  relative  to  the  embargo  laid  upon  the  exportation 
of  Fish,  &ic. 

Afternoon. 

Upon  a  motion  made,  Colonel  Prescott  was  chosen  to 
countersign  the  Notes,  instead  of  Colonel  Foster,  absent, 
who  was  appointed  for  that  purpose. 

The  Order  of  the  Day  was  moved  for. 

Mr.  Lothrop,  Captain  Cushing,  and  Captain  Dwight, 
were  chosen  a  Committee  to  count  and  sort  the  votes  for  a 
second  Major-General,  who  reported  that  Doctor  Joseph 
Warren  was  chosen. 

Resolved,  That  Colonel  Grout,  Colonel  Rerry,  and  Col- 
onel Otis,  be  a  Committee  to  wait  on  the  Hon.  John  Whit- 
comb,  Esq.,  and  inform  him  this  Congress  have  made  choice 
of  him  for  first  Major-General  of  the  Massachusetts  Army, 
and  desire  his  answer  to  this  Congress  of  his  acceptance  of 
said  trust ;  also  to  wait  on  the  Hon.  Joseph  Warren,  Esq., 
and  inform  him  this  Congress  have  made  choice  of  him  for 
second  Major-General  of  the  Massachusetts  Army,  and  de- 
sire his  answer  to  this  Congress  of  his  acceptance  of  said 
trust. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  some  measures 
for  preventing  the  violation  of  the  Sabbath,  reported.  The 
Report  was  recommitted. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  devise  some  means  for  se- 
curing the  Library  and  Apparatus  of  Harvard  College, 
reported.    The  Report  was  recommitted  for  amendment. 

Mr.  Smith,  Mr.  Lothrop,  and  Maj.  Rrooks,  were  chosen 

Foubth  Series. — Vol.  tl.  I 


on  the  Committee  appointed  to  take  into  consideration  the 
Artificers  which  may  be  necessary  for  the  Army,  in  pay  of 
this  Colony,  instead  of  Major  Hawley,  Captain  Stone  of 
Framingham,  and  Hon.  Mr.  Spooncr,  absent. 

Major  Davis  was  chosen  (instead  of  Hon.  Mr.  Spooner, 
absent)  on  the  Committee  appointed  to  consider  a  Petition 
from  Charlestown. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  bring  in  a  Resolve  for  a 
Day  of  Fasting  and  Prayer,  reported.  The  Report  was 
recommitted  for  amendment,  viz.  that  the  following  things 
might  be  mentioned :  blessing  on  the  Continental  Congress, 
unity  of  the  Colonies,  health,  fruitful  seasons,  &tc,  &ic. 

Colonel  Richmond,  per  order,  reported  the  following  Re- 
solve : 

Whereas,  it  appears  to  this  Congress  that  it  is  absolutely 
necessary  that  proper  officers  be  put  in  commission  to  com- 
mand the  Train  of  Artillery,  and  that  it  be  done  without 
delay, 

Resolved,  That  the  Committee  of  Supplies  be  directed, 
forthwith,  to  recommend  such  officers  to  this  Congress  as 
they  shall  think  proper  for  the  purpose  aforesaid. 

The  consideration  of  the  currency  of  the  Notes  for  pay- 
ment of  Soldiers,  was  assigned  to  to-morrow  morning,  nine 
o'clock. 

Mr.  Samuel  Thatcher  was  appointed  to  number  the 
Notes,  instead  of  Mr.  Samuel  Phillips,  who  is  otherwise 
engaged. 

Resolved,  That  the  Receiver-General  be,  and  hereby  is 
directed  to  supply  Colonel  Robinson,  to-morrow,  with  such 
Money  for  advance  pay  for  the  Soldiers,  as  he  was  to  have 
received  this  day. 

Thursday,  June  15,  1775. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Gridley's  Letter  respecting  officers 
of  the  Train  and  Artificers,  be  committed  to  the  Commit- 
tee who  were  appointed  the  tenth  instant  to  consider  how 
many  Artificers  were  necessary. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Rarrelt,  Captain  Dwight,  and 
Captain  Page,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  what  measures 
it  would  be  proper  to  take,  that  the  Army  may  be  supplied 
with  no  Provisions  but  what  are  good  in  kind. 

The  Resolve  relative  to  securing  the  Library  and  Appa- 
ratus of  Harvard  College  was  read  and  accepted,  and  is  as 
follows,  viz : 

Whereas,  it  is  expedient  that  those  apartments  in  Har- 
vard Hall,  under  the  immediate  charge  of  the  Professor  of 
Philosophy,  and  Librarian  of  Harvard  College,  be  evacu- 
ated : 

Resolved,  That  the  Library,  Apparatus,  and  other  valua- 
bles of  Harvard  College,  be  removed,  as  soon  as  may  be, 
to  the  Town  of  Andover ;  that  Mr.  Samuel  Phillips,  Mr. 
Daniel  Hopkins,  and  Dummer  Jewett,  Esq.,  be  a  Com- 
mittee to  consult  with  the  Reverend  the  President,  the 
Honourable  Mr.  Winthrop,  and  the  Librarian,  or  such  of 
them  as  may  be  conveniently  obtained,  and,  with  them,  to 
engage  some  suitable  person  or  persons  in  said  Town  to 
transport,  receive,  and  take  the  charge  of  the  above  men- 
tioned effects  ;  that  said  Committee  join  with  those  gentle- 
men in  employing  proper  persons  for  packing  said  Library, 
Apparatus,  and  such  other  articles  as  they  shall  judge  ex- 
pedient, and  take  all  due  care  that  it  be  done  with  the 
greatest  safety  and  despatch  ;  and  as  the  packages  shall  be 
completed,  that  they  give  notice  to  those  engaged  to  re- 
ceive them ;  the  charges  to  be  laid  before  this  or  some 
future  Congress,  or  House  of  Assembly  of  this  Province. 

Ordered,  That  the  Letters  prepared  for  the  Continental 
Congress,  Neiv-York,  and  the  several  Governments  in 
New-England,  be  authenticated  and  sent  forward  as  soon 
as  may  be.    They  are  as  follow,  viz : 

Considering  the  exposed  state  of  the  frontiers  of  some  of 
the  Colonies,  the  danger  that  the  inhabitants  of  Canada 
may  possibly  have  disagreeable  apprehensions  from  the  mili- 
tary preparations  making  in  several  of  the  other  Colonies, 
and  the  rumours  that  there  are  some  appearances  of  their 
getting  themselves  in  readiness  to  act  in  a  hostile  way!;  this 
Congress  have  made  application  to  the  honourable  Conti- 
nental Congress,  desiring  them  to  take  such  measures  as 
to  them  shall  appear  proper  to  quiet  and  conciliate  the 
minds  of  the  Canadians,  and  to  prevent  such  alarming 


1411 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1412 


apprehensions.  We  have  also  had  the  most  disagreeable 
accounts  of  methods  taken  to  fill  the  minds  of  the  Indian 
Tribes,  adjacent  to  these  Colonies,  with  sentiments  very 
injurious  to  us;  particularly,  we  have  been  informed  that 
Colonel  Guy  Johnson  has  taken  great  pains  with  the  Six 
Nations,  in  order  to  bring  them  into  a  belief  that  it  is  de- 
signed by  the  Colonies  to  fall  upon  them  and  cut  them  off. 
We  have  therefore  desired  the  honourable  Continental  Con- 
gress that  they  would,  with  all  convenient  speed,  use  their 
influence  in  guarding  against  the  evil  intended  by  this  ma- 
levolent misrepresentation,  and  we  desire  you  to  join  with 
us  in  such  application. 

To  the  Continental  Congress,  New-York,  and  the  several 
Governments  in  New-England. 

Voted,  To  accept  the  Report  for  directing  the  Commit- 
tee of  Safety  to  take  immediate  care  to  provide  Houses  for 
the  Soldiers  near  the  camp  in  Cambridge  (if  Tents  cannot 
be  had)  at  the  expense  of  the  Colony.  It  is  as  follows,  viz: 

The  Committee  appointed  to  take  under  consideration 
the  Petition  of  the  Quartermaster-General  and  Committee 
of  Safety,  have  attended  that  service,  and  report,  that  the 
Committee  of  Safety  be  directed  to  take  immediate  care  to 
provide  Houses  for  the  Soldiers  near  the  camp  in  Cam- 
bridge, (if  Tents  cannot  be  had,)  at  the  expense  of  the 
Colony. 

Ordered,  That  to-morrow,  at  three  o'clock  in  the  after- 
noon, be  assigned  for  the  choice  of  four  Brigadier-Generals, 
two  Adjutant-Generals,  and  two  Quartermaster-Generals. 

Ordered,  That  the  Petition  of  Ephraim  Perry  and  four 
others,  inhabitants  of  Fox  Island,  be  committed  to  the  Com- 
mittee appointed  to  consider  the  circumstances  of  the  sea- 
coasts. 

Voted,  To  accept  the  Report  for  advising  a  number  of 
Towns  and  Districts  (as  per  schedule  annexed  to  the  Re- 
port) who  have  Fire-Arms,  to  deposite  the  same  with  their 
respective  Town  or  District  Treasurers,  for  the  use  of  the 
Army.    It  is  as  follows,  viz : 

Whereas,  some  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  plantations  in 
this  Colony,  not  incorporated,  and  some  of  the  inhabitants 
of  the  neighbouring  Colonies,  together  with  a  number  of 
the  late  inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Boston,  have  enlisted 
into  the  Army  now  raising  in  this  Colony,  therefore  not  pro- 
vided with  Arms  by  a  resolve  of  Congress,  dated  May  9th, 
1775,  empowering  the  Selectmen  to  supply  the  inhabitants 
of  their  respective  Towns  with  Arms,  &.c. :  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  the  inhabitants  of  the  several  Towns  and 
Districts  in  the  Counties  of  Worcester,  Hampshire,  and  other 
Counties,  specified  in  a  list  hereunto  annexed,  who  may 
have  good  and  sufficient  Fire-Arms  and  Bayonets,  be  ad- 
vised hereby  immediately  to  deposite  the  same  with  the 
respective  Town  or  District  Treasurers,  to  the  number  at 
least  of  so  many  in  each  Town  or  District  as  is  specified 
in  said  list.  For  which  Arms  and  Bayonets  (or  Arms  alone, 
where  Bayonets  are  not  to  be  had)  each  owner  shall  re- 
ceive so  much  as  his  Arms  and  Bayonets  shall  be  valued 
by  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town  or  District  in  which  he 
dwells,  of  the  Treasurer  of  said  Town  or  District,  in  bills 
of  credit  of  this  Colony,  within  thirty  days  after  the  Arms 
are  delivered ;  for  which,  bills  are  to  be  taken  in  the  name 
of  this  Colony,  attested  by  the  Selectmen  aforesaid.  And 
the  amount  of  such  bills,  with  an  order  from  such  Treasu- 
rer, the  Commitee  of  Supplies  of  this  Colony  are  hereby 
directed  to  pay,  together  with  the  expense  of  transporting 
said  Arms  to  the  store  of  said  Committee  in  Watertown. 
And  further,  the  Selectmen  and  Committees  of  Correspon- 
dence, together  with  the  Treasurer  of  the  Towns  and  Dis- 
tricts aforesaid,  are  hereby  directed  to  give  their  aid  in 
collecting  and  transporting  said  Arms  with  the  greatest 
despatch 

Paxton,  6 
30  Rutland,         -       -  15 
Lancaster,  -     32  Oakham,  6 

Mendon,  24  Hubbardston,  2 

Brookfield,  31  New-Braintree,        -  10 

Oxford,  -       •      11  Southborough,         -  12 

Charlton,        -       -      11  Westborough,  -  12 

Sutton,  -       -     31  Northborough,         -  8 

Leicester,  -  -  12  Shrewsbury,  -  -  22 
Spencer,  10  Lunenburgh,    -       -  10 


County  of  Worcester. 
Worcester, 


Fitchburgh, 

Uxbridge, 

Harvard, 

Dudley, 

Hutchinson, 

Bolton, 

Upton, 

Sturbridge, 

Leominster, 

Hardwick, 

Weston, 

Holden, 

Douglass, 

Grafton, 

Petersham, 

Royalston, 

Westminster, 

Athol, 

Templeton, 

Princeton, 

Ashburnham, 

Winchendon, 


6  Belchertown,  - 
16  Colrain, 

16  Ware, 

10  Warwick, 

13  Hemardstnn,  - 
15  Murrayfield, 
6  Charlemont, 
12  Ashfield, 
12  Worthington,  - 

17  Shutesbury, 

1 1  Chesterfield, 
8  Southwick, 
7 

12 

12  Suffolk  County. 
2  Wrentham, 

10  Med  way, 
6  Bellingham, 
8  Walpole, 


Hampshire  County. 
Springfield, 
West-Springfield, 
Wilbraham, 
Northampton,  - 
Southampton,  - 
Hadley, 
South-Hadley, 
Amherst, 
Granby, 
Hatfield, 
Whateley, 
Williamsburgb, 
Westfield, 
Deerfield, 
Greenfield, 
Shelburn, 
Conway, 
Sunderland, 
Montague, 
Northfield, 
Brimfield, 
South-Brimfield, 
Monson, 
Pelham, 
Greenwich, 
Blanford, 
Palmer, 
Granville, 
New-Salem, 


3 
3 

514 

22 
23 
10 
22 
8 
9 
7 

10 
5 
11 

4 
3 
16 

12 
8 
4 
5 
7 
6 
8 

13 
8 
6 

12 


Middlesex  County. 
Marlborough,  - 
Littleton, 
Hopkinton, 
Westford, 
Stow, 
Groton, 
Shirley, 
Pepperel, 
Townshend, 
Dracut, 
Holliston, 
Acton, 
Dunstable, 


Plymouth  County. 
Bridgewater, 
Middleborough, 


8 
5 
4 
3 
4 
5 
% 
4 
2 
1 
6 

_6 
334 


25 
10 
6 

_8 
_49 

20 
10 
10 
10 
7 
8 
4 
6 
5 
7 
6 
5 
4 

102 

25 
16 

41 


Bristol  County. 
Attleborough,  - 
Rehoboth, 


14 
6 


Worcester  County, 
Hampshire  County, 
Suffolk  County, 
Middlesex  County, 
Plymouth  County, 
Bristol  County, 

In  all, 


10 
15 

25 

514 
334 
49 
102 
41 
25 

1,065 


Voted,  To  accept  the  Report  for  providing  a  Magazine 
of  Fire-Arms  for  this  Colony ;  also,  that  said  Report  be 
printed  in  the  several  Newspapers,  viz : 

Whereas,  it  is  necessary  that  this  Colony  be  provided 
with  a  Magazine  of  Arms,  which  are  good  and  sufficient ; 
therefore, 

Resolved,  That  any  person  or  persons  who  may  have 
such  to  sell,  shall  receive  so  much  for  them  as  the  Select- 
men of  the  Town  or  District  in  which  he  or  they  may 
dwell,  shall  appraise  said  Arms  at,  upon  the  delivery  of 
the  same  to  the  Committee  of  Supplies  at  Watertown,  and 
exhibiting  a  cert  ificate  of  said  appraisement,  attested  by  said 
Selectmen,  to  the  Committee  aforesaid,  provided  said  de- 
livery be  made  within  one  month  from  the  date  hereof. 

Aftornoon. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Parker,  Colonel  Thompson,  and 
Mr.  Aikin,  be  a  Committee  to  apply  to  the  Committee  of 
Supplies  and  the  Generals  of  the  Army,  and  inquire  whe- 
ther the  Army  is  sufficiently  supplied  with  Ammunition. 

Ordered,  That  Daniel  Davis,  Esq.,  be  on  the  Commit- 
tee appointed  to  take  care  of  the  Estates  of  the  Refugees, 
in  the  room  of  Mr.  Partridge,  who  is  absent. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  examine  and  consider  two 
accounts  exhibited  to  this  Congress  by  Mr.  John  Brown, 


1413 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1414 


reported.  The  report  on  each  of  them  was  accepted,  and 
is  as  follows,  viz  : 

The  Committee  appointed  to  examine  the  within  ac- 
count, beg  leave  to  report,  that  the  same  be  laid  upon  the 
table,  till  Mr.  Brown  exhibits  an  account  of  particulars, 
with  his  journal.  John  Hale,  per  order. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  examine  the  within  ac- 
count, beg  leave  to  report,  that  it  does  not  appear  to  them 
that  the  within  mentioned  services  were  rendered  in  conse- 
quence of  an  application  by  any  person  employed  by  this 
Colony.  John  Hale,  per  order. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Warren,  Mr.  Sever,  and  Colo- 
nel Otis,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  the  application  of 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Langdon,  President  of  Harvard  College, 
and  report  thereon. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  claims  and 
pretensions  of  several  Colonels  in  the  Army,  reported  ; 
which  Report  was  accepted.  Whereupon, 

Ordered,  That  Colonels  Glover,  David  Brewer,  Wood- 
bridge,  Little,  and  Jonathan  Brewer,  be  commissioned  as 
Colonels  in  the  Massachusetts  Army;  and  that  Joseph  Ha- 
ven, Esquire,  administer  the  oath  prescribed  by  Congress. 
The  Report  is  as  follows,  viz : 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  claims  and 
pretensions  of  the  several  gentlemen  hereafter  named,  who 
suppose  that  they  have  just  ground  to  expect  of  this  hon- 
ourable Congress  that  they  should  receive  commissions, 
appointing  them  severally  to  be  chief  Colonels  in  the  Mas- 
sachusetts Army,  now  raising  for  the  defence  of  the  rights 
of  this  and  the  neighbouring  Colonies,  viz:  Col.  Glover, 
General  Heath,  Colonel  David  Brewer,  Col.  Robinson, 
Colonel  Woodbridge,  Colonel  Little,  Colonel  Henshaw, 
and  Colonel  Jonathan  Brewer,  beg  leave  to  report  the  fol- 
lowing state  of  facts  to  this  Congress,  viz :  That  the  said 
Colonels  Glover,  David  Brewer,  Woodbridge,  Little, 
Henshaw,  and  Jonathan  Brewer,  have  exhibited  their 
claims  to  your  Committee  ;  and,  according  to  the  returns 
which  the  said  gentlemen  have  respectively  made  to  us, 
the  said  Colonel  Glover  has  levied  ten  companies,  making, 
in  the  whole,  five  hundred  and  five  men,  inclusive  of  offi- 
cers, and  about  three  quarters  of  the  said  number  armed 
with  effective  firelocks,  who  are  willing  and  choose  to  serve 
in  the  said  Army  under  him,  the  said  Glover,  all  now  at 
Marblehead. 

That  the  said  David  Brewer  has  levied  nine  companies, 
amounting,  inclusive  of  officers,  to  the  number  of  four  hun- 
dred and  sixty-five  men,  who  choose  to  serve  under  him 
as  their  Colonel,  and  that  three  hundred  and  seven  of  the 
said  men  are  armed  with  effective  fire-arms,  and  that  said 
companies,  excepting  thirty-four  men,  who  are  on  their  way 
to  Head-Quarters,  are  posted  at  Roxbury,  Dorchester,  and 
Watertown. 

That  the  said  Woodbridge  has  levied  eight  companies, 
amounting,  inclusive  of  officers,  to  the  number  of  three 
hundred  and  fifty-four  men,  who  choose  to  serve  under  him 
as  their  chief  Colonel,  and  that  two  hundred  and  seventy- 
three  of  the  said  men  are  armed  with  good  effective  fire- 
locks, and  that  all  the  said  men,  excepting  seven,  are  now 
in  the  Camp  in  Cambridge ;  the  said  seven  men  are  on 
the  road  hither. 

And  that  the  said  Little  has  raised  eight  companies,  (ac- 
cording to  General  Ward's  return,)  amounting,  inclusive  of 
officers,  to  the  number  of  five  hundred  and  nine  men,  who 
choose  to  serve  under  him  as  their  chief  Colonel,  and  all 
the  said  men  are  armed  with  good  effective  firelocks,  and 
three  hundred  and  eighty-two  of  them  with  good  bayonets 
fitted  to  their  firelocks,  and  that  seven  of  the  said  companies 
are  at  the  Camp  in  Cambridge,  and  one  company  at  Cape 
Ann,  by  order  of  the  Committee  of  Safety. 

And  that  the  said  Jonathan  Brewer  has  levied  eight 
companies,  amounting,  inclusive  of  officers,  to  the  number 
of  three  hundred  and  ninety-seven  men,  who  choose  to 
serve  under  him,  the  said  Jonathan,  as  their  chief  Colonel, 
and  that  three  hundred  and  two  of  the  said  men  are  armed 
with  good  firelocks,  and  that  all  the  said  men,  excepting 
twenty-seven  who  are  on  the  road  hither,  are  posted  at 
Cambridge  and  Brookline ;  and  the  said  Brewer  supposes, 
from  accounts  he  has  received,  that  one  Captain  Murray 
is  on  the  road  from  Hatfield  hither  with  a  full  company. 


And  that  the  said  Colonel  Henshaw  has  returned  to  us 
that  he  has  a  prospect  of  several  companies  arriving  shortly 
here,  who  he  supposes  would  be  inclined  to  serve  under 
him  as  their  chief  Colonel. 

And  that  General  Heath  and  Colonel  Robinson  have 
made  no  returns  to  us,  your  Committee,  of  their  levies,  or 
whether  they  are  willing  to  serve  in  the  said  Army  as 
Colonels. 

And  upon  these  facts  your  Committee  are  clearly  of 
opinion,  that  the  safety  of  the  Country,  and  the  promoting 
the  publick  service,  make  it  highly  necessary  and  expedi- 
ent that  the  said  Colonels  Glover,  David  Brewer,  Wood- 
bridge,  Little,  and  Jonathan  Brewer,  be,  without  delay, 
commissionated  as  chief  Colonels  in  the  Army  aforesaid, 
and  that  their  Field-Officers,  Captains,  and  Subalterns  be 
also  commissionated  as  soon  as  a  list  of  them  can  be  set- 
tled, inasmuch  as  your  Committee  are  fully  satisfied,  from 
good  documents,  that  all  the  men  contained  in  the  nineteen 
Regiments  already  organized,  together  with  all  the  men 
levied  by  the  said  Colonels  Glover,  David  Brewer,  Wood- 
bridge,  Little,  and  Jonathan  Brewer,  together  with  an 
allowance  of  four  hundred  and  fifty  men  which  may  have 
been  enlisted  by  General  Heath,  and  the  like  number  by 
Colonel  Robinson,  will  fall  considerably  short  of  amounting 
to  thirteen  thousand  six  hundred  men  ;  and  also  because 
your  Committee  apprehend  that  this  Congress  may,  with- 
out any  injustice  to  the  Field-Officers  already  commission- 
ated, or  any  other,  make  such  orders,  that  the  amount  of 
the  pay  of  the  whole  Army  may  not  be  unreasonably  en- 
hanced, by  a  greater  number  of  Regiments  than  by  the  last 
establishment  it  was  intended  the  Army  should  consist  of. 
All  which  is  most  humbly  submitted  by  your  Committee. 

Joseph  Hawley,  per  order. 

Adjourned  to  Friday  morning,  eight  o'clock. 

Friday,  June  16,  1775. 

Resolved,  That  this  Congress  will  take  into  considera- 
tion a  Resolve  offered  to  the  Congress  by  the  Committee 
of  Supplies,  (through  the  hands  of  Major  Fuller,)  relative 
to  supplying  the  Soldiers  with  Rum. 

The  Resolve  was  accordingly  considered  and  accepted, 
and  is  as  follows,  viz : 

Whereas,  by  a  Resolve  of  Congress,  relative  to  the  al- 
lowance of  Soldiers,  no  provision  is  made  for  the  delivery  of 
Rum  or  Spirituous  Liquors,  upon  extraordinary  occasions ; 

Resolved,  That  the  Commanding  Officer  of  the  Army, 
the  Lieutenant-General,  the  Major-Generals,  and  the 
Brigadier-Generals,  be,  and  hereby  are  respectively  em- 
powered to  draw  on  the  Commissary  for  Spirituous  Liquors 
for  such  Soldiers  as  from  time  to  time  they  may  think  ne- 
cessary to  supply  therewith,  provided  always  that  the  said 
General  Officers  shall  not  allow  any  Soldiers  Spirituous 
Liquors  as  aforesaid,  unless  upon  extraordinary  duty,  or 
otherwise  particularly  circumstanced. 

Ordered,  That  the  Hon.  Major  Hawley,  Hon.  Colonel 
Gerrish,  Hon.  Colonel  Warren,  Colonel  Prescott,  Colonel 
Farley,  Mr.  Aikin,  and  Dr.  Hall,  be  a  Committee  to  con- 
sider a  Resolve  of  the  Committee  relative  to  an  augmenta- 
tion of  the  Army,  a  supply  of  Arms  to  the  Soldiers,  &c, 
and  report  thereon. 

The  Order  of  the  Day  moved  for,  for  further  considering 
the  Report  of  the  Committee  respecting  the  expediency  of 
fitting  out  some  armed  Vessels. 

Voted,  That  there  be  a  further  assignment  thereof,  viz  : 
to  three  o'clock,  P.  M. 

Ordered,  That  John  Roiv,  Captain  ;  Mark  Pool,  Lieu- 
tenant ;  Ebcnezer  Cleaveland,  Ensign,  be  commissioned  in 
Colonel  Bridge's  Regiment. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Richmond,  Dr.  Taylor,  and 
Mr.  Partridge,  be  a  Committee  to  prepare  a  complaisant 
Letter  to  General  Whitcomb,  to  desire  a  more  explicit  an- 
swer respecting  his  acceptance  of  the  post  of  First  Major- 
General,  who  reported  the  following  : 

In  Provincial  Congress,  June  16,  1775. 
Sir  :  Your  letter,  wherein  you  express  yourself  willing 
to  continue  in  the  service  of  this  Colony  until  the  Army  is 
regulated  and  properly  encamped,  and  then  rely  on  a  dis- 
charge, was  read  with  much  concern  by  this  Congress,  who 
earnestly  hope  you  will  continue  in  office  till  the  conclusion 


1415 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1416 


of  the  campaign,  and  must  beg  your  further  and  more  ex- 
plicit answer. 

To  General  Whitcomb. 

Which  was  accepted  ;  and  the  Secretary  directed  to  sign 
the  Letter. 

Colonel  Jonathan  Brewer  was  sworn  and  commissioned. 

Colonel  David  Brcivtr  was  sworn  and  commissioned. 

Colonel  Glover  was  sworn  and  commissioned. 

The  Committee  on  Colonel  Henshaw's  Petition  for  an 
allowance  for  his  journey  to  Connecticut  reported  ;  which 
Report  was  amended  and  accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz : 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  within  ac- 
count beg  leave  to  report,  that  they  think  it  reasonable  to 
allow  Col.  Joseph  Henshaw,  for  his  expenses,  4/.  7s. ;  horse 
travel  for  him  and  servant,  1/.  5s.;  time,  21.  16s. — 81.  8s. 
Deduct  2s.  per  day  from  the  sum  charged  for  the  lime  of 
Colonel  Henshaiv  and  his  servant,  14s. — 7/.  14s. 

Receiver-General  directed  to  pay  it. 

Samuel  Harding,  Chairman. 

Dr.  Hall  and  Dr.  Jones  were  added  to  the  Committee 
to  examine  Surgeons  for  the  Army. 

Resolved,  That  any  three  of  said  Committee  shall  be  a 
quorum. 

Ordered,  That  commissions  be  delivered  to  two  Com- 
panies in  Colonel  Nixon's  Regiment,  agreeable  to  his  list 
exhibited. 

Afternoon. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Otis  and  Mr.  Johnson  be  added 
to  the  Committee  who  were  appointed  to  consider  the  late 
extraordinary  Proclamation  of  General  Gage. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Benjamin  Ely  be  appointed  to  ob- 
tain of  the  Committee  of  Safety,  as  soon  as  possible,  a  list 
of  such  gentlemen  as  they  can  recommend  to  be  commis- 
sionated  as  Officers  of  the  Train. 

Resolved,  That  the  Receiver-General  be,  and  hereby  is 
directed  to  pay  to  Colonel  Joseph  Henshaw  the  sum  of 
seven  Pounds,  fourteen  Shillings,  in  full  for  his  account, 
reported  and  accepted  by  the  Congress. 

Ordered,  That  Commissions  be  delivered  to  the  following 
officers  of  Colonel  Nixon's  Regiment,  viz :  Captain  Ebe- 
nezer  Winship,  Lieut.  William  Warren,  Ensign  Richard 
Buckminster. 

Ordered,  Tbat  Mr.  Orne,  Mr.  Glover,  and  Major 
Brooks,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  what  may  be  done 
with  respect  to  such  Vessels  as  are  now  ready  to  sail  with 
Fish  on  board,  there  being  a  Resolve  of  this  Congress 
against  the  exportation  of  Fish,  &ic. ;  and  in  particular  the 
case  of  Mr.  Ellis  Gray  and  Richard  Hinckley,  which  has 
been  laid  before  this  Congress. 

The  Committee  on  the  violation  of  the  Sabbath  report- 
ed ;  which  Report  was  accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz  : 

As  it  has  pleased  Almighty  God,  in  his  Providence,  to 
suffer  the  calamities  of  an  unnatural  war  to  take  place 
among  us,  in  consequence  of  our  sinful  declensions  from 
him,  and  our  great  abuse  of  those  invaluable  blessings  be- 
stowed upon  us  ;  and  as  we  have  reason  to  fear  that  unless 
we  become  a  penitent  and  reformed  people,  we  shall  feel 
still  severer  tokens  of  the  divine  displeasure ;  and  as  the 
most  effectual  way  to  escape  those  desolating  judgments 
which  so  evidently  hang  over  us,  and,  if  it  may  be,  obtain 
the  restoration  of  our  former  tranquillity,  will  be  that  we 
repent  and  return,  every  one  from  his  iniquities,  unto  him 
that  corrected)  us,  which,  if  we  do  in  sincerity  and  truth, 
we  have  no  reason  to  doubt  but  he  will  remove  his  judg- 
ments, cause  our  enemies  to  be  at  peace  with  us,  and 
prosper  the  work  of  our  hands  : 

And  as  among  the  prevailing  sins  of  this  day,  which 
threaten  the  destruction  of  this  land,  we  have  reason  to 
lament  the  frequent  profanations  of  the  Lord's  day  or 
Christian  Sabbath;  many  spending  their  time  in  idleness 
or  sloth,  others  in  diversions,  and  others  in  journeying,  or 
business,  which  is  not  necessary  on  that  clay  : 

And  as  we  earnestly  desire  that  a  stop  might  be  put  to 
this  great  and  prevailing  evil :  It  is,  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  by  this  Congress  to 
the  people  of  all  ranks  and  denominations  throughout  this 
Colony,  that  they  not  only  pay  a  religious  regard  to  that 


day,  and  to  the  publick  worship  of  God  thereon,  but  that 
they  also  use  their  influence  to  discountenance  and  suppress 
any  profanation  thereof  in  others. 

And  it  is  further  Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to 
the  Ministers  of  the  Gospel  to  read  this  Resolve  to  their 
several  congregations,  accompanied  with  such  exhortations 
as  they  shall  think  proper. 

And  whereas,  there  is  great  danger  that  the  profanation 
of  the  Lord's  day  will  prevail  in  the  Camp,  we  earnestly 
recommend  to  all  the  officers  not  only  to  set  a  good  exam- 
ple, but  that  they  strictly  require  of  their  soldiers  to  keep 
up  a  religious  regard  to  that  day,  and  attend  upon  the  pub- 
lick  worship  of  God  thereon,  so  far  as  may  be  consistent 
with  other  duties. 

Ordered,  That  the  foregoing  Resolve  be  printed  in 
handbills,  and  sent  to  the  several  Ministers  of  each  Town 
and  District  in  this  Colony. 

General  Heath  and  Colonel  Robinson  returned  a  list  of 
their  Companies.  And  whereas  there  are  several  of  the 
same  Companies  returned  in  each, 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Batchelder,  Mr.  Durfee,  Major 
Perley,  Major  Fuller  of  Middleton,  and  Major  Bliss,  be  a 
Committee  to  consider  of  the  same,  and  report. 

A  further  time  was  assigned  to  make  choice  of  Brigadier- 
Generals,  Quartermasters-General,  and  Adjutants-General, 
viz :  to-morrow  morning,  eleven  o'clock. 

Colonel  Coffin,  Mr.  Stephen  Hall,  and  Col.  Davis  were 
chosen  a  Committee  to  consider  the  Petition  of  James 
Kirkwood. 

The  Committee  on  the  Petition  of  Ellis  Gray  and 
Richard  Hinckley,  &c,  reported.  The  two  Reports  were 
accepted,  and  are  as  follow: 

The  Committee  appointed  to  take  under  consideration 
the  Petition  of  Messrs.  Ellis  Gray  and  Richard  Hinckley, 
relative  to  eighty  hogsheads  of  Jamaica  Cod-Fish  laden 
on  two  vessels  bound  to  the  West-Indies,  the  one  of  which 
would  have  sailed  before  the  Resolve  of  this  honourable 
Congress,  forbidding  the  exportation  of  Fish,  was  publish- 
ed, had  she  not  been  detained  by  the  elopement  of  her 
hands,  beg  leave  to  report,  that  being  fully  convinced  by 
the  accounts  given  us  by  Mr.  Gray  and  Mr.  Hinckley, 
that  the  Fish  those  two  gentlemen  were  about  to  export  is 
of  such  a  kind  (being  old  Jamaica  Fish)  as,  if  detained, 
cannot  possibly  be  of  any  advantage  to  this  Colony,  but 
must  perish,  this  Colony  being  plentifully  supplied  with 
new  Fish,  that  permission  be  given  by  this  Congress  to 
the  owners  of  said  vessels  for  their  proceeding  on  their 
voyage,  provided  there  is  no  other  kind  of  provision  on 
board,  except  what  is  for  the  ship's  use.  And  further,  that 
toleration  be  given  to  all  other  owners  of  vessels  for  their 
departure,  who  shall  convince  this  Congress,  or  a  Com- 
mittee thereof,  that  their  vessels  and  cargoes  are  in  the  same 
predicament ;  as  no  possible  advantage  can  accrue  from  their 
detention.  J.  Orne,  per  order. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  examine  the  bearer  of  a 
certificate  from  Newburyport,  setting  forth  that  Jonathan 
Titcomb  and  Stephen  Hooper,  Esquires,  of  Newburyport, 
have  shipped  on  board  two  vessels  one  hundred  and  thirty 
hogsheads  Jamaica  Fish,  which  is  said  to  be  old  Fish,  beg 
leave  to  report,  that  they  are  fully  convinced  the  Fish  above 
mentioned  is  of  such  a  kind  as  is  expressed  in  the  certifi- 
cate, and  that  the  vessels  who  have  laded  it  have  no  other 
provisions  but  a  supply  for  the  ship's  use,  and  as  such,  are 
of  opinion  that  the  owners  of  said  vessels  be  tolerated  to 
despatch  them  on  their  voyages,  agreeable  to  a  Resolve  of 
this  Congress  just  now  passed,  granting  indulgence  to  the 
owners  of  vessels  in  such  a  predicament  for  so  doing. 

J.  Orne,  per  order. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  late  extraor- 
dinary Proclamation,  signed  Thomas  Gage,  reported  as 
follows  : 

Resolved,  That  the  following  Proclamation  be  signed 
by  the  President,  printed,  and  published  throughout  this 
Colony: 

BY  THE  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS. 

The  confidence  which  our  countrymen  have  reposed  in 
us,  lays  us  under  the  strongest  obligation  to  watch  and  guard 
against  all  the  malignant  designs  of  their  inveterate  enemies. 


1417 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


141 S 


That  the  British  Administration  have  formed,  and  have 
been  for  several  years  executing  a  plan  to  enslave  this  and 
the  other  American  Colonies,  is  a  proposition  so  evident, 
that  it  would  be  an  affront  to  the  understanding  of  mankind 
to  adduce  proofs  in  support  of  it.  We  shall  therefore  only 
advert  to  those  unhappy  circumstances  which  have  been 
the  immediate  causes  of  plunging  this  People  into  the  hor- 
rors of  war  and  desolation.  When  a  Fleet  and  Army  were 
sent  forth  to  deprive  us  of  every  thing  that  man  holds  dear ; 
when  the  Capital  of  this  Colony  became  a  garrison,  and 
fortifications  were  erected  upon  the  only  land  entrance  into 
the  Metropolis;  when  the  Commander  of  the  Army  so  far 
manifested  his  designs  against  us  as  to  send  out  his  sol- 
diers in  the  night  to  remove  the  publick  magazines  of  the 
Colony  from  their  safe  lodgment  in  the  country,  and  place 
them  under  the  command  of  a  foreign  Army;  when  he 
evidenced  his  enmity  to  the  liberties  of  this  Country,  by 
sending  a  detachment  from  that  Army  against  the  peaceable 
inhabitants  of  one  of  our  principal  Towns,  only  because 
they  were  assembled  quietly  to  conceit  measures  to  save 
themselves  from  ruin ;  when  we  were  totally  deprived  of 
the  benefit  of  a  legislative  body ;  when  the  whole  system  of 
distributive  justice  was  so  mutilated  that  there  could  be  no 
reason  to  hope  for  any  advantages  from  it ;  when  an  Act 
of  Parliament  was  passed,  which  the  General  of  ti  e  Army 
resolved  to  execute,  by  which  our  countrymen  were  given 
up  as  a  prey  to  a  lawless  soldiery,  who  were  screened  from 
punishment  here  for  the  murders  they  might  commit ;  in 
fine,  when  the  Army  and  Navy  breathed  nothing  but  blood 
and  slaughter,  and  all  our  accounts  from  England  but  too 
strongly  proved  the  inhuman  intentions  of  those  in  power : 
it  became  us  as  men,  as  freemen,  and  as  Christians,  to 
take  some  steps  to  preserve  our  own  lives  and  proper- 
ties, as  well  as  to  secure  the  inheritance  purchased  at 
no  less  a  price  than  the  blood  of  many  thousand  of  our 
brave  ancestors,  entire  and  undiminished  for  succeed- 
ing generations.  The  Congress,  whom  this  people  then 
chose,  recommended  it  to  them  to  provide  themselves  with 
such  articles  for  their  defence  as  the  law  of  the  land  re- 
quired ;  and  further  recommended  it  to  them  to  appropriate 
some  part  of  their  property  for  the  purchasing  such  stores, 
to  be  laid  up  in  publick  magazines,  as  might  be  useful 
for  the  general  defence,  in  case  an  attack  should  be  made 
upon  us  by  the  Army.  The  recommendation  was  cheer- 
fully complied  with,  and  stores  were  procured  in  the  most 
peaceable  and  quiet  manner,  and  deposited  in  magazines, 
where  they  were  to  have  continued  without  the  least  injury 
or  disturbance  to  any  one,  unless  drawn  out  by  necessity 
to  save  the  Country  from  destruction.  But  the  possibility 
of  our  making  resistance  to  the  bloody  schemes  of  our  ad- 
versaries was  the  source  of  continual  terrour  to  the  traitors, 
whose  aim  was  to  enslave  this  Country;  and  General  Gage, 
after  many  little  pilferings  and  several  humiliating  disap- 
pointments in  bis  attempts  to  rob  the  people,  at  length 
determined  to  destroy  the  magazines  at  Concord ;  he  sent 
the  Grenadiers  and  detachments  of  Light-Infantry  of  every 
Regiment,  about  one  thousand  in  number,  secretly  by  night 
over  Charles  River.  On  their  way  some  of  the  officers 
captured  and  otherwise  infamously  abused  several  of  the 
inhabitants ;  and  when  the  body  arrived  at  Lexington 
meeting-house,  which  was  very  early  in  the  morning  of  the 
ever-memorable  nineteenth  of  April,  they,  in  a  most  bar- 
barous and  infamous  manner,  fired  upon  a  small  number  of 
the  inhabitants,  and  cruelly  murdered  eight  men.  The  fire 
was  returned  by  some  of  the  survivors,  but  their  number 
was  loo  inconsiderable  to  annoy  the  regular  Troops,  who 
proceeded  on  their  errand,  and,  upon  coming  up  to  Concord, 
began  to  destroy  by  fire  and  water  the  stores  and  maga- 
zines, until  a  party  of  them  again  fired  upon  and  killed  two 
more  of  the  inhabitants.  The  native  bravery  of  our  coun- 
trymen could  now  no  longer  be  restrained ;  a  small  party, 
consisting  of  about  two  or  three  hundred  men,  attacked 
tbem  with  such  spirit  and  resolution,  as  compelled  them 
soon  to  retreat.  At  Lexington  they  met  a  re-enforcement  of 
regular  Troops,  consisting  of  about  eight  hundred,  with 
two  field-pieces,  commanded  by  Lord  Percy;  this,  how- 
ever, did  not  encourage  them  to  keep  their  ground,  but 
they  continued  their  route  towards  Charlestoicn,  marking 
their  way  with  every  species  of  desolation  and  cruelty 
which  their  haste  would  permit.  The  burning  and  robbing 
of  houses,  the  abuses  and  barbarities  offered  to  defenceless 


women  and  children,  the  wanton  slaughter  of  the  aged  and 
helpless,  will  be  perpetual  memorials  of  the  base  spirit 
which  actuated  the  perpetrators.  Upon  their  arrival  at 
Charlestoicn  our  countrymen  quitted  the  pursuit,  and  the 
next  day  suffered  them,  without  annoyance,  to  cross  the 
river  and  return  to  Boston. 

This  action  of  the  Troops  destroyed  every  hope  of 
coming  to  any  accommodation  with  them  ;  we  therefore 
were  compelled  to  raise  an  Army  to  prevent  such  bloodv 
excursions  in  future.  An  Army  is  therefore  raised  and 
appointed  for  that  purpose,  and  we  are,  with  the  greatest 
reluctance,  obliged  to  declare,  that  we  have  now  nothing  to 
depend  upon,  under  God,  to  preserve  America  from  slavery 
and  destruction  but  our  own  arms.  To  these  we  have  been 
forced  to  make  our  appeal,  and  by  these  we  are  determined 
to  maintain  our  rights.  And  we  are  obliged  to  declare,  and 
do  now  publickly  declare  all  persons  who  shall  afford  any 
aid,  assistance,  or  relief,  or  hold  any  manner  of  communi- 
cation of  any  kind  whatsoever  with  General  Gage,  Admiral 
Graves,  or  the  Army,  or  Navy,  or  any  one  of  those  now 
under  their  command,  who  are  stationed  in  our  Metropolis 
and  the  harbour  of  Boston,  or  elsewhere,  or  any  persons 
who  are  known  or  shall  hereafter  be  known  to  have  afford- 
ed such  aid,  or  to  have  had  such  communication  with  them, 
or  either  of  them,  to  be  enemies  and  traitors  to  their  Coun- 
try, and  they  shall  be  proceeded  against  and  treated  as 
such  ;  excepting  only  such  of  the  unhappy  inhabitants  of 
Boston  as  have,  by  a  treacherous  and  most  infamous  breach 
of  faith  in  General  Gage,  been  prevented  from  removing 
out  of  the  Town  of  Boston,  whose  peculiar  circumstances 
this  Congress  will,  at  all  times,  make  due  allowance  for,  so 
long  as  they  shall  avoid  doing  any  thing  to  obstruct  or 
counteract  such  steps  as  this  Congress  shall  think  fit  to 
take.  But  the  said  inhabitants  are  strictly  forbidden,  what- 
ever may  be  the  consequence  of  their  refusal,  to  be  in  any 
the  least  degree  instrumental  in  assisting  the  enemy,  or  op- 
posing the  Country,  as  they  would  avoid  the  penalties  due 
to  the  enemies  thereof. 

From  a  real  tenderness  to  our  fellow-men,  we  most  sin- 
cerely regret  the  unhappy  situation  of  the  soldiery  and 
sailors  in  the  Army  and  Navy  now  stationed  in  the  Town 
and  harbour  of  Boston,  and  assure  then),  upon  that  faith 
which  never  has  been,  and  we  trust  never  will  be  violated, 
that  upon  their  quitting  the  infamous  service  in  which  they 
are  (as  we  must  in  charity  suppose,  contrary  to  their  own 
inclinations  and  principles)  engaged,  we  will  receive  them 
as  brethren  and  fellow-subjects,  and  protect  them  against 
ever)  attempt  that  may  be  made  by  our  enemies  to  force 
them  again  into  the  disgraceful  and  inhuman  service  in 
which  they  are  now  employed. 

And  that  our  earnest  desire  to  discover  our  tender  regard 
to  our  few  misguided  fellow-countrymen,  and  our  readiness 
to  forgive  even  those  who  have  knowingly  offended,  we  do 
promise  and  engage  a  full  and  free  pardon  to  all  persons 
who  have  fled  to  the  Town  of  Boston  for  refuge,  and  to 
other  publick  offenders  against  the  rights  and  liberties  of 
this  Country,  of  what  kind  or  denomination  soever;  ex- 
cepting only  from  the  benefit  of  such  pardon,  Thomas 
Gage,  Samuel  Graves ;  those  Counsellors  who  were  ap- 
pointed by  mandamus  and  have  not  signified  their  resigna- 
tion, viz :  Jonathan  Seieall,  Charles  Paxton,  Benjamin 
Halloivell ;  and  all  the  natives  of  America  not  belonging  to 
the  Navy  or  Army  who  went  out  with  the  regular  Troops 
on  the  nineteenth  of  April  last,  and  were  countenancing, 
aiding,  and  assisting  them  in  the  robberies  and  murders 
then  committed  ;  whose  offences  are  of  loo  flagitious  a 
nature  to  admit  of  any  other  consideration  than  that  of  con- 
dign punishment ;  provided  they  take  the  benefit  hereof  by 
making  a  surrender  of  themselves  to  any  General  Officer 
belonging  to  the  Massachusetts  Army,  and  subscribe  a 
declaration  of  their  readiness  to  comply  with,  support,  and 
abide  by  all  the  resolutions  and  determinations  which  are 
already  made  by  this  or  any  former  Congress,  or  that  shall 
hereafter  be  made  by  this  or  any  future  Congress  or  House 
of  Representatives  of  this  Colony,  within  thirty  days  from 
the  date  hereof.  And  it  is  earnestly  enjoined  upon  the 
Selectmen,  Committees  of  Correspondence.  Committees  of 
Safety,  and  all  other  officers  of  every  Town  in  this  Colony, 
that  they  use  their  utmost  diligence  to  discover  and  make 
known  to  this  Congress  any  person  or  persons  who  shall,  in 
any  respect,  attempt  to  do'  any  thing  tending  to  render  in- 


1419 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1420 


effectual  their  designs  and  doings.  And  we  trust  that  the 
God  of  Armies,  on  whom  we  rely  for  a  blessing  upon  our 
arms,  which  we  have  taken  up  in  support  of  the  great  and 
fundamental  principles  of  natural  justice,  and  the  com- 
mon and  indefeisible  rights  of  mankind,  will  guide  and 
direct  us  in  our  designs,  and  at  last,  in  infinite  goodness  to 
this  his  injured  people,  restore  peace  and  freedom  to  the 
American  world. 

Voted,  That  Tuesday  next,  ten  o'clock,  before  noon,  be 
assigned  for  the  further  consideration  thereof. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Lothrop,  Colonel  Grout,  and  Mr. 
Crane,  be  a  Committee  to  fill  commissions  for  the  Field- 
Officers  of  the  Regiment  of  Artillery,  as  recommended  by 
the  Committee  of  Safety. 

Resolved,  That  a  Commission  be  made  out  for  Mr.  Heath, 
as  Colonel  of  a  Regiment  of  the  Massachusetts  Army. 

Resolved,  That  Deacon  Plympton  be  appointed  to 
countersign  the  small  Notes,  instead  of  Col.  Richmond. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  application  of 
President  Langdon,  reported  ;  which  Report  was  accept- 
ed, and  is  as  follows,  viz  : 

Resolved,  That  it  be,  and  hereby  is,  recommended  to 
as  many  of  the  Overseers  of  Harvard  College  as  can  be 
called  together,  under  the  present  circumstances  of  the 
College  and  the  Country,  to  meet  and  join  with  the  Cor- 
poration of  said  College  in  conferring  Academical  Degrees 
at  the  approaching  season  of  the  Annual  Commencement 
on  such  candidates  as  may  offer  themselves  and  be  judged 
qualified  for  the  same,  and  to  transact  any  other  important 
matters  relative  to  that  Society,  in  the  same  manner  and  to 
all  intents  and  purposes  that  the  whole  body  of  the  Over- 
seers might  do,  if  present. 

Voted,  That  the  Receiver-General,  Henry  Gardner, 
Esquire,  as  also  Deacon  Plympton,  have  leave  of  absence 
from  to-morrow  afternoon  until  Monday  morning. 

Adjourned  till  eight  o'clock  to-morrow  morning. 

Saturday,  June  17,  1775. 

The  Committee,  on  the  account  of  Mrs.  Coolidge,  re- 
ported ;  the  Report  was  ordered  to  lie  on  the  table  till  the 
President  came  into  Congress. 

The  Congress  granted  leave  of  absence  to  Mr.  J.  Orne, 
being  bound  on  a  journey  to  Philadelphia. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  take  into  consideration  the 
property  of  some  persons  who  have  left  their  habitations 
in  sundry  Towns  in  this  Colony,  and  also  have  discovered 
themselves  to  be  enemies  to  the  rights  of  this  Colony  and 
the  Continent,  &ic,  reported. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Edwards,  Col.  Thompson,  and  Col. 
Glover,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  upon  the  expediency 
and  means  of  procuring  Fire-Arms  and  Powder  from  Phi- 
ladelphia and  elsewhere,  which  Committee  reported.  The 
Report  was  read  and  accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz: 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  upon  the  expedi- 
ency and  means  of  procuring  Fire-Arms  and  Powder  from 
Philadelphia  and  elsewhere,  and  to  report  in  the  form  of 
a  Resolve,  report  accordingly  : 

Resolved,  That  the  Committee  of  Supply  be  directed 
to  employ  Mr.  Joshua  Ome,  a  member  of  this  Congress, 
for  this  end,  and  that  they,  by  letter,  desire  that  the  Hon- 
ourable Continental  Congress  would  be  pleased  to  grant  to 
Mr.  Orne  their  aid  in  the  premises. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  take  into  consideration  the 
Resolve  of  the  Committee  of  Safety,  respecting  the  aug- 
mentation of  the  Army,  and  supplying  the  Army  with 
Arms,  &lc,  reported  in  part.  The  Report  was  considered 
and  accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz : 

Whereas,  the  hostile  incursions  this  Country  is  exposed 
to,  and  the  frequent  alarms  we  may  expect  from  the  mili- 
tary operations  of  our  enemies,  make  it  necessary  that  the 
good  people  of  this  Colony  be  on  their  guard  and  prepared 
at  all  times  to  resist  their  attacks,  and  to  aid  and  assist 
their  brethren : 

Therefore,  Resolved,  That  it  be,  and  hereby  is,  recom- 
mended to  the  Militia  in  all  parts  of  this  Colony  to  hold 
themselves  in  readiness  to  march  at  a  minute's  warning  to 
the  relief  of  any  place  that  may  be  attacked,  or  to  the 
support  of  our  Army,  with  at  least  twenty  cartridges  or 


rounds  of  powder  and  ball.  And  to  prevent  all  confusion 
or  delay,  it  is  further  recommended  to  the  inhabitants  of 
this  Colony  living  on  the  sea-coasts,  or  within  twenty  miles 
of  them,  that  they  carry  their  arms  and  ammunition  with 
them  to  meeting  on  the  Sabbath,  and  other  days  when  they 
meet  for  publick  worship. 

Resolved,  That  all  vacancies  occasioned  by  the  officers 
going  into  the  Army,  or  otherwise,  in  the  several  Regi- 
ments of  Militia,  be  immediately  filled  up;  and  it  is  recom- 
mended to  the  Regiments,  where  such  vacancies  are,  to 
supply  them  in  manner  and  form  as  prescribed  by  the  Re- 
solutions of  Congress. 

Ordered,  That  the  Resolve  aforementioned,  brought  in 
by  said  Committee  last  mentioned,  be  immediately  printed 
in  handbills,  and  that  the  number  be  three  hundred. 

Voted,  That  Capt.  Goodman,  Mr.  Brown,  and  Major 
Bliss,  be,  and  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  get 
said  three  hundred  handbills  printed,  and  distribute  the 
same  to  the  several  Towns  and  Districts  in  this  Colony. 

Resolved,  That  Doctor  Moses  Gunn  be,  and  hereby  is 
appointed  to  countersign  the  large  Notes,  instead  of  the 
Hon.  Joseph  Warren,  Esq. 

Colonel  Jonathan  Brewer's  list  of  Officers  in  his  Regi- 
ment was  presented. 

Ordered,  That  a  Commission  be  delivered  to  each  of 
the  said  Officers,  except  to  Joseph  Stebbins.  who  has  but 
twenty-one  men  in  his  Company. 

Colonel  David  Brewer's  list  of  Officers  in  his  Regiment 
was  presented. 

Ordered,  That  a  Commission  be  delivered  to  each  of 
said  Officers. 

Resolved,  That  Captain  Holmes,  Major  Brooks,  and 
Captain  Smith,  be  a  Committee  to  confer  with  the  Printers 
Edes,  Hall,  and  Thomas,  and  know  of  them  respectively 
upon  what  terms  they  will  print  handbills,  and  also  such 
pieces  as  may  be  desired  by  this  Congress  to  be  put  in  the 
weekly  Papers,  and  make  report  to  this  Congress,  in  wri- 
ting, with  all  convenient  speed. 

The  Petition  of  sundry  persons  from  Egamagon  Reach 
was  read,  and  committed  to  the  Committee  on  the  state 
of  the  sea-coasts. 

On  the  Petition  of  a  number  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Ega- 
magon Reach,  No.  4,  so  called,  praying  for  a  small  supply 
of  Provisions : 

Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  by  this  Congress  to 
the  Committee  of  Safety  of  the  Town  of  Salem,  or  to  the 
like  Committee  or  Committees  of  Correspondence  of  any 
other  Towns  within  this  Province,  to  supply  Messrs.  Rob- 
ert Byard  and  Alexander  Greenlatv,  of  said  Egamagon 
Reach,  No.  4,  for  the  present  relief  of  the  said  inhabi- 
tants, with  the  following  articles,  viz :  forty  bushels  of  In- 
dian Corn  and  five  barrels  of  Pork  ;  and  take  in  return  for 
the  same,  cord  Wood,  or  such  other  payment  as  the  said 
Robert  Byard  and  Alexander  Greenlaw  may  be  able  to 
make.  And  in  case  they,  the  said  Byard  and  Greenlaw, 
should  not  make  satisfaction  for  the  same  in  a  reasonable 
time,  it  shall  be  allowed  and  paid  out  of  the  publick  Trea- 
sury of  this  Province,  and  the  said  Byard  and  Greenlaw 
shall  refund  the  same  as  soon  as  may  be. 

Several  of  the  Committees  who  were  appointed  to  con- 
sider the  state  and  circumstances  of  the  sea-coasts,  viz : 
Hon.  Mr.  Sever,  Hon.  Mr.  Spooner,  Colonel  Cutt,  and 
Captain  Maynard,  being  absent, 

Ordered,  That  Major  Hall,  Mr.  Aikin,  Captain  Mor- 
ton, and  Captain  King,  be  appointed  in  their  stead. 

Resolved,  That  the  vote  for  choosing  Brigadier-Generals 
from  the  Colonels  who  have  been  commissioned  by  this 
Congress,  be  so  far  reconsidered  as  that  Colonel  Heath, 
though  he  has  not  yet  received  his  commission,  may  be 
eligible  to  that  office. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  Resolutions 
of  the  Committee  of  Safety,  reported  the  following  Re- 
solve and  Schedule,  which  were  accepted  : 

Whereas,  some  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  new  planta- 
tions in  this  Colony,  not  incorporated,  and  some  of  the 
inhabitants  of  the  neighbouring  Colonies,  together  with  a 
number  of  the  late  inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Boston, 
have  enlisted  into  the  Army  now  raising  in  this  Colony,  to 


1421 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1422 


whom  the  Resolve  of  Congress,  dated  May  9,  1775,  em-  Monson, 
powering  the  Selectmen  to  supply  the  inhabitants  of  their  Pelham, 
respective  Towns  with  Arms,  &c,  did  not  extend,  and  by  Blanford, 
that  means  many  of  such  men  are  not  provided  with  suffi-  Palmer, 
cientArms:  therefore,  Granville, 

Resolved,  That  the  inhabitants  of  the  several  Towns  New-Salem, 
and  Districts  in  the  Counties  specified  in  a  list  hereunto  Warwick, 
annexed,  who  may  have  good  and  sufficient  Firelocks,  be,  Ashfield, 
and  hereby  are,  most  earnestly  advised,  as  soon  as  possible  Southwick, 
to  provide  and  deliver  to  such  person  or  persons  as  are  to 
be  now  appointed  by  this  Congress  to  receive  the  same, 
the  full  number  of  good  effective  Firelocks  specified  in 
the  said  list  for  each  Town  and  District  to  supply:  for 
which  Firelocks  every  owner  thereof  shall  receive  such 
sum,  in  the  bills  of  credit  of  this  Colony,  as  the  person 
or  persons  now  to  be  appointed  by  this  Congress  to  receive 
such  Firelock,  and  the  owner  thereof,  shall  agree  to  be  the 
value  of  the  same,  within  forty  days  after  the  delivery  of 
such  Firelock;  for  all  which  Firelocks,  delivered  as  afore- 
said, the  person  to  be  appointed  by  this  Congress  to  re- 
ceive the  same,  shall  give  his  receipt  therefor,  in  the  form 
following : 

"  The  ....  day  of  ,  1775. 

"  Received  of  A  B  ...  .  Firelock,  to  the  use  of  the 
Colony  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay,  of  the  value  of  .  .  .  .  , 
which  sum  the  Receiver-General  of  the  said  Colony  is 
directed,  in  forty  days  after  the  date  hereof,  to  pay  to  the 
said  A  B,  or  order,  in  bills  of  credit  of  this  Colony." 

And  the  Receiver-General,  upon  such  receipt  being 
produced  to  him,  is  empowered  and  required  to  pay  out 
of  the  Treasury  of  this  Colony  the  sum  specified  in  such 
receipt,  in  the  bills  of  credit  aforesaid,  to  the  person 
named  therein,  or  his  order ;  and,  furthermore,  the  Select- 
men and  Committees  of  Correspondence  of  the  several 
Towns  and  Districts  aforesaid,  are  hereby  most  earnestly 
requested  to  afford  all  possible  aid  and  assistance  to  the 
persons  to  be  appointed  by  this  Congress  to  procure  the 
said  Firelocks,  that  so  the  said  Arms  may  be  supplied  to 
our  Army  with  the  greatest  expedition.  And  the  persons 
to  be  appointed  to  procure  said  Firelocks  are  hereby  seve- 
rally empowered  and  directed  to  employ  such  Wagoners  and 
Teamsters  as  shall  be  necessary,  with  great  despatch  to 
convey  the  same  to  the  Army,  and  to  order  the  Receiver- 
General  of  this  Colony  to  pay  out  of  the  Treasury  of  the 
same,  in  bills  of  credit  as  aforesaid,  such  sums  as  they 
shall  agree  on  and  draw  for ;  and  the  said  Receiver-Gen- 
eral is  hereby  authorized  and  directed  to  pay  the  orders  so 
drawn. 

Holden,  8 

30  Douglass,  -  -  7 
32  Grafton,  -  -  12 
24  Petersham,      -       -  12 

31  Royalston,  2 
11  Westminster,    -       -  10 

11  Athol,  6 
31  Templeton,      -       -  8 

12  Princeton,  8 
10  Ashburnham,   -       -  3 

6  Winchendon,   -       -  3 

"  55 

2        Hampshire  County. 

10  Springfield,  -  -  26 
12  West-Springfield,      -  25 

12  Wilbraham,      -       -  11 
8  Northampton,  25 

16  Southampton,  -       -  10 
6  Hadley,  -       -  11 

11  South-Hadley,         -  9 

5  Amherst,         -       -  12 

16  Granby,  7 

10  Hatfield,      -  -       -  14 

13  Westfield,  19 
15  Deerfield,        -       -  15 

6  Greenfield,  -  -  10 
22  Sunderland,  -  -  9 

12  Montague,  -  -  8 
12  Northfield,  -  -  10 

17  Brimfield,        -       -  15 

11  South-Brimfield,       -  10 


8  Acton, 

14  Dunstable, 

9  Tewksbury, 
11  Chelmsford, 
16  Billerica, 

9  Stow, 

5  Framingham, 

8  Wilmington, 

8 


5 
5 
4 
7 
7 
4 
3 
_4 
102 


<5o<l 

Plymouth  County. 

25 

Bridgevvater, 

25 

\1  id  fl  Ipbnrriiifrh  - 

IIJIUUICUUIUU^IJ, 

16 

10 

41 

6 

4 

Bristol  County. 

4 

Attleborough,  - 

10 

49 

Rehoboth, 

15 

25 

20 

6 

Worcester,  - 

514 

9 

Hampshire,  - 

334 

6 

Suffolk, 

49 

7 

Middlesex,  - 

102 

2 

Plymouth,  - 

41 

4 

Bristol, 

25 

4 
5 

Total, 

1065 

Worcester  County. 
Worcester, 
Lancaster, 
Mendon, 
Brookfield, 
Oxford, 
Charlton, 
Sutton, 
Leicester, 
Spencer, 
Paxton, 
Rutland, 
Oakham, 
Hubbardston,  - 
Nevv-Braintree, 
Southborough, 
Westborough, 
Northborough, 
Lunenburgh,  - 
Fitchburgh, 
Uxbridge, 
Northbridge,  - 
Harvard, 
Dudley, 
Hutchinson, 
Bolton, 
Upton, 
Shrewsbury, 
Sturbridge, 
Leominster, 
Hardwick, 
Western, 


Suffolk  County. 
Wrentham, 
Med  way, 
Bellingham, 
Walpole, 
Medfield, 

Middlesex  County, 
Marlborough,  - 
Littleton, 
Hopkinton, 
Westford, 
Groton, 
Shirley, 
Pepperel, 
Townshend, 
Dracut, 

Resolved,  That  four  o'clock,  P.  M.,  be  assigned  fcr 
choosing  Committees  to  receive  and  purchase  Fire-Arms, 
agreeable  to  the  foregoing  Resolve. 

Afternoon. 

A  Letter  from  the  President  of  the  Continental  Con- 
gress, and  a  Resolve  containing  several  recommendations 
to  this  and  the  other  Colonies,  and  two  Letters,  (one  to  the 
Lieutenant-Governour  of  Rhode-Island,  and  one  to  the 
Provincial  Congress  of  New-Hampshire,)  brought  express 
by  Mr.  Fessenden,  were  read  ;  whereupon, 

Ordered,  That  Captain  Morton  take  charge  of  the 
Letter  to  New-Hampshire,  and  Mr.  Slead  that  to  Rhode- 
Island,  to  deliver  them  immediately,  and  return  to  Con- 
gress as  soon  as  may  be. 

Resolved,  That  the  Hon.  Colonel  Warren,  Hon.  Major 
Hawley,  Hon.  Colonel  Gerrish,  Mr.  Gerry,  Colonel  Pres- 
cott,  Deacon  Cheever,  Captain  Brown,  Captain  Robinson, 
and  the  Secretary  of  the  Congress,  be  a  Committee  to 
notify  and  call  together  the  Members  of  this  Congress  in 
any  extraordinary  emergency,  at  any  other  time,  or  to  any 
other  place  than  that  to  which  it  mayr  stand  adjourned. 
The  Order  of  the  Day  was  moved  for. 
Whereupon,  Committees  were  chosen  to  purchase  Arms 
agreeable  to  the  Resolve  passed  in  the  forenoon.  The 
names  of  the  Committees  chosen  are  expressed  in  the  fol- 
lowing Resolve,  viz : 

For  the  County  of  Worcester. — Captain  William 
Page,  of  Hardwick;  Captain  Abitl  Sadler,  of  Upton; 
Mr.  Hcmenway,  of  Shrewsbury. 

For  the  County  of  Hampshire. — Maj.  Benjamin  S.  Ely, 
of  West- Springfield ;  Major  John  Bliss,  of  Hadley. 

For  the  County  of  Slffolk. — Captain  Lemuel  Kollock, 
of  Wrentham. 

For  the  County  of  Middlesex. — Col.  Simeon  Spauld- 
ing,  of  Chelmsford ;  Capt.  Josiah  Stone,  of  Framingham. 

For  the  County  of  Plymouth. — Major  Ebenezer  White, 
of  Rochester. 

For  the  County  of  Bristol. — Colonel  George  Wil- 
liams, of  Taunton. 

Adjourned  to  Sunday  morning,  eight  o'clock. 

Sunday,  June  18,  1775. 
Resolved,  That  the  Records  and  Papers  of  the  Provin- 
cial Congress  be  secured  and  taken  care  of,  at  the  discre- 
tion of  the  Secretary;  and  that  the  Committee  of  Supplies 
be,  and  hereby  are  directed  to  procure  a  horse  for  the 
Secretary,  that  he  may  have  one  ready  for  that  purpose  on 
any  emergency. 

A  Petition  from  the  Committee  of  Waldoborough  for 
Powder,  was  read;  whereupon, 


1423 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1424 


Resolved,  That  the  petitioners  have  leave  to  withdraw 
their  Petition. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Lothrop  appoint  some  Messenger 
to  go  to  Dr.  Church  for  the  Letters  it  is  said  he  has  brought 
from  Philadelphia. 

Ordered,  That  Major  Hau-ley,  Colonel  Warren,  Mr. 
Kolloclc,  Mr.  Edwards,  Colonel  Gerrish,  Doctor  Church, 
and  Colonel  Otis,  be  a  Committee  to  prepare  a  Letter  to 
the  Continental  Congress  on  the  late  attack  of  the  King's 
Troops  at  Bunker's  Hill,  &ic,  and  such  other  matters  as 
they  may  think  proper,  and  report  to  this  Congress.  And 
also,  that  they  take  into  consideration  a  Letter  from  the 
President  of  the  Contin'ental  Congress,  and  several  recom- 
mendations of  the  said  Continental  Congress  therein  en- 
closed, received  by  Mr.  Fcsscnden;  and  another  Letter 
from  the  said  President,  with  a  Resolve  enclosed,  relative 
to  a  mode  of  Government  for  this  Colony;  and  also  to 
inquire  of  the  Committee  of  Supplies  what  steps  they 
have  taken  to  procure  Powder  from  the  other  Governments 
of  New-England. 

Ordered,  That  the  Committee  of  Supplies  be  directed 
to  write  to  Rhode-Island  and  New-Hampshire,  touching 
the  article  of  Powder;  also  to  send  to  each  of  said  Gov- 
ernments a  copy  of  the  recommendation  of  the  Continen- 
tal Congress. 

Afternoon. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Thurston,  Colonel  Parks,  and 
Doctor  Corbet,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  a  Petition  from 
Egamagon  Reach,  and  also  a  Petition  from  Deer  Island. 

Adjourned  to  Monday  morning,  eight  o'clock. 

Monday,  June  19,  1775. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Bonney,  Mr.  Foster,  and  Colonel 
Thompson,  be  and  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to 
repair  immediately  to  Cambridge,  and  inquire  what  methods 
are  taken  to  supply  the  Army  at  the  Intrenchments  with 
Victuals  and  Drink,  and  take  effectual  care  that  they  be 
well  supplied  without  delay. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Parks,  Deacon  Fairbanks,  and 
Doctor  Whiting,  be,  and  hereby  are  appointed  a  Commit- 
tee to  take  into  consideration  a  Letter  from  General  Ward 
respecting  the  supplying  the  soldiers  with  Blankets  and 
other  articles  lost  in  battle ;  also  for  providing  Spears  for 
defence. 

Doctor  Hall,  Doctor  Jones,  and  Mr.  Bigelow,  were 
appointed  a  Committee  to  consider  the  expediency  of 
establishing  another  Hospital  for  the  sick  and  wounded  of 
the  Army,  and  ordered  to  sit  forthwith. 

Deacon  Bailey,  Captain  Goodman,  and  Mr.  Fisher, 
were  appointed  a  Committee  to  inquire  of  the  Committee 
of  Supplies  how  far  they  have  proceeded  to  supply  the 
soldiery  with  Blankets,  &ic,  and  make  report. 

Captain  Goodrich,  Mr.  Aikin,  and  Doctor  Divight, 
are  appointed  to  consider  a  Letter  from  the  Hon.  Jede- 
diah  Preble  and  Hon.  Enoch  Freeman,  respecting  Colonel 
Phinney's  Regiment  being  commissioned  for  the  defence 
of  the  sea-coasts. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  expediency  of 
establishing  certain  officers  for  taking  care  of  the  Ordnance 
Stores,  viz :  Storekeeper,  Conductors,  and  Clerks ;  also 
the  establishment  of  a  Company  of  Artificers,  &ic,  report- 
ed. The  Report  was  amended,  and  accepted,  and  is  as 
follows,  viz : 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  expediency 
of  establishing  certain  officers  for  taking  care  of  the  Ord- 
nance Stores;  also,  what  Artificers,  and  the  number  that  may 
be  necessary  for  the  Army,  and  in  what  way  they  shall  be 
established,  have  attended  that  service,  and  beg  leave  to 
report  as  follows : 

That  in  addition  to  the  Storekeeper  already  appointed 
by  this  Congress,  there  be  established  four  Conductors  of 
Stores,  and  two  Clerks,  for  the  Ordnance  Department; 
and  a  company  of  Artificers,  to  consist  of  a  Master  Car- 
penter or  Overseer,  with  forty-nine  Privates;  and  the  Com- 
mittee of  Safety  be  desired  to  recommend  to  this  Congress 
fit  persons  for  the  offices  abovenamed ;  and  if  any  such 
Privates  who  are  now  engaged  in  either  of  the  Regiments 


of  the  Massachusetts  Army,  are  inclined  to  join  the  above- 
said  company,  they  may  have  leave  so  to  do,  they  relin- 
quishing their  pay  as  Soldiers  from  the  time  they  engage 
as  Artificers,  and  be  equipped  with  fire-arms  and  Accou- 
trements; and  the  Overseer  (when  appointed)  be  ordered 
to  consult  the  Chief  Engineer  with  respect  to  the  number 
of  each  kind  of  Artificers  that  may  be  necessary,  and  that 
he  complete  his  Company,  and  make  return  thereof  to  this 
Congress,  with  all  possible  despatch.  Your  Committee, 
furthermore,  beg  leave  to  report  an  establishment  for  the 
Officers  and  Privates  abovementioned,  viz: 

The  Storekeeper,  80  shillings  per  month  ;  four  Con- 
ductors, each  48  shillings  per  month  ;  one  Master  Car- 
penter, or  Overseer,  80  shillings  per  month ;  two  Clerks, 
each  48  shillings  per  month  ;  forty-nine  Privates,  (they  to 
find  their  own  tools,)  each  50  shillings  per  month. 

All  which  is  humbly  submitted. 

Elisha  Parks,  per  order. 

Resolved,  That  three  o'clock,  P.  M.,  be  assigned  for 
the  choice  of  a  President  of  this  Congress,  in  the  room  of 
the  Hon.  Joseph  Warren,  supposed  to  be  killed  in  the  late 
battle  at  Bunker's  Hill. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  take  into  consideration  the 
Resolve  of  the  honourable  Continental  Congress,  respect- 
ing the  method  of  establishing  Civil  Government  in  this 
Colony,  reported.  The  Report  was  read,  and  debated,  and 

Resolved,  That  the  further  consideration  of  the  said 
Report  be  put  off  until  Dr.  Church,  who  was  at  Philadel- 
phia at  the  time  said  Resolve  of  the  Continental  Congress 
passed,  shall  be  present. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  take  into  consideration  a 
Letter  from  General  Ward  respecting  supplying  the  soldiers 
with  Blankets,  &ic,  lost  in  battle,  and  providing  Spears, 
he,  reported.    The  Report  was  recommitted. 

Colonel  Prescott  and  Mr.  Wheeler  were  added  to  the 
Committee  chosen  to  fill  up  Commissions  for  the  Officers 
of  the  Army. 

Afternoon. 

The  Order  of  the  Day  was  moved  for. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Prescott,  Doctor  Hall,  and 
Colonel  Otis,  be  a  Committee  to  receive,  sort,  and  count 
the  votes  for  a  President. 

The  Committee  having  attended  that  service,  reported, 
that  the  Hon.  James  Warren  was  chosen. 

Resolved,  That  nine  o'clock  to-morrow  morning  be  as- 
signed for  the  consideration  of  the  Report  of  the  Commit- 
tee on  the  establishing  armed  Vessels. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  inquire  of  the  Committee 
of  Supplies  what  they  had  done  relative  to  providing  Blan- 
kets and  Coats,  reported  verbally,  that  they  had  conformed 
to  the  Resolve  of  Congress  relative  thereto,  and  looked 
upon  it  to  be  their  duty  to  pay  such  orders  as  the  Select- 
men might  draw  on  them  for  the  Blankets  they  should 
purchase,  but  that  they  had  only  paid  one  Town  as  yet. 

Resolved,  That  the  same  Committee  report  to  this  Con- 
gress the  price  proper  to  be  given  for  Blankets  throughout 
the  whole  Colony ;  and  that  the  Committee  of  Supplies 
be  directed  to  suspend  the  payments  for  Blankets  till  some 
further  day ;  and  that  the  said  Committee  bring  in  a  Re- 
solve expressive  of  the  reason  thereof. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  expediency 
of  establishing  another  Hospital  for  the  Army,  reported, 
that  a  house  belonging  to  Doctor  Spring,  of  this  place, 
may  be  had  for  that  purpose:  Whereupon, 

Resolved,  That  said  Committee  be  directed  to  inquire 
at  what  rate  per  month  Doctor  Spring  will  let  the  same. 

Resolved,  That  the  Secretary  be  directed  to  subscribe 
the  name  of  the  late  President  to  all  the  Commissions  that 
are  to  be  delivered  out  to  the  officers  of  the  Army,  bearing 
date  the  19th  of  May. 

The  Report  of  the  Committee  appointed  to  consider 
General  Ward's  Letter  relative  to  Spears,  was  again  read 
and  accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz : 

The  Committee  appointed  to  take  into  consideration  a 
Letter  from  the  General,  informing  that  a  number  of  the 
soldiers  in  the  late  action  lost  their  clothes  and  blankets; 
and  also  proposing  that  the  Soldiers  in  the  intrenchments 


1425 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1426 


be  furnished  with  Lances  or  Spears,  have  attended  to  that 
service,  and  beg  leave  to  report  by  way  of  Resolve: 

That  the  Committee  of  Supplies  be,  and  they  are  hereby 
directed  to  furnish  those  destitute  soldiers  with  Clothes  and 
Blankets,  as  soon  as  may  be,  who  shall  produce  from  the 
Colonel  of  the  Regiment  they  belong  to  certificates  of 
their  having  lost  such  clothes  and  blankets  in  the  late  en- 
gagement ;  and  that  a  Committee  be  chosen  immediately 
to  procure  from  such  as  can  most  speedily  and  conveniently 
supply  them,  a  sufficient  number  of  good  Spears,  not  ex- 
ceeding fifteen  hundred,  either  by  purchase  or  hire  ;  and 
that  the  same  be  transmitted  to  the  Army  at  Cambridge, 
as  soon  as  possible.    All  which  is  humbly  submitted. 

Adjourned  to  eight  o'clock  to-morrow  morning. 

Tuesday,  June  20, 1775. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  request  of 
Colonel  Phinney,  reported  as  follows,  viz: 

The  Committee  appointed  to  take  into  consideration  the 
request  of  Colonel  Phinney,  with  respect  to  establishing  a 
Regiment  in  the  pay  of  this  Colony  to  guard  the  sea- 
coast  within  and  adjacent  to  the  County  of  Cumberland , 
have  attended  to  that  service,  and  beg  leave  to  report : 
That  it  appears  to  us  necessary  that  there  should  be  a  Re- 
giment, consisting  of  five  hundred  men,  stationed  there  for 
their  proper  defence,  provided  said  Regiment  can  be  fur- 
nished with  ammunition,  as  it  appears  that  those  parts  are 
greatly  exposed  to  the  ravages  of  Cutters,  &.c.  All  which 
is  humbly  submitted. 

The  Report  was  ordered  to  lie  on  the  table  till  the  mat- 
ter respecting  armed  Vessels  is  considered. 

Ordered,  That  Major  Brooks,  Colonel  Mitchell,  Mr. 
Ellis,  JVlr.  Kollock,  Deacon  Fairbanks,  Mr.  Gerry,  and 
Major  Fuller,  be  a  Committee  to  purchase  Spears,  agree- 
able to  a  Resolve  which  passed  the  Congress  yesterday  ; 
said  Committee  to  proceed  on  the  business  forthwith,  to 
consult  with  and  receive  directions  from  the  General  re- 
specting the  form,  Sic,  of  the  Spears,  and  to  engage  pay- 
ment for  the  same  in  bills  of  credit  of  this  Colony. 

The  Committee  on  the  Resolve  of  the  Continental  Con- 
gress respecting  Government,  reported  a  Letter  to  the 
several  Towns  in  the  Colony;  which  was  read  and  accept- 
ed, and  ordered  to  be  printed  in  handbills,  with  the  Resolve 
of  the  Continental  Congress  at  large  ;  and  Mr.  Whitney, 
Colonel  Freeman,  Captain  Stone,  Doctor  Church,  and 
Deacon  Cheever,  were  appointed  a  Committee  to  ascertain 
the  number  to  be  printed,  to  get  them  printed,  and  to  dis- 
perse the  same  to  the  several  Towns  and  Districts  in  this 
Colony;  and  also  to  consider  in  what  manner  the  late  in- 
habitants of  the  Towns  of  Boston  and  Charlestown  should 
choose  Members  to  represent  them. 

The  Resolve  of  the  Continental  Congress,  and  the  Let- 
ter to  the  Towns,  follow,  viz : 

"In  Congress,  Friday,  June  9,  1775. 

"  Resolved,  That  no  obedience  being  due  to  the  Act  of 
Parliament  for  altering  the  Charter  of  the  Colony  of  Mas- 
sachusetts-Bay, nor  to  a  Governour  and  Lieutenant-Gov- 
ernour  who  will  not  observe  the  directions  of,  but  endeavour 
to  subvert  that  Charter,  the  Governour  and  Lieutenant- 
Governour  are  to  be  considered  as  absent,  and  their  offices 
vacant.  And  as  there  is  no  Council  there,  and  the  incon- 
veniences arising  from  the  suspension  of  the  powers  of  Gov- 
ernment are  intolerable,  especially  at  a  time  when  General 
Gage  hath  actually  levied  war,  and  is  carrying  on  hostilities 
against  His  Majesty's  peaceable  and  loyal  subjects  of  that 
Colony :  That  in  order  to  conform  as  near  as  may  be  to  the 
spirit  and  substance  of  the  Charter,  it  be  recommended  to 
the  Provincial  Congress  to  write  Letters  to  the  inhabitants 
of  the  several  places  which  are  entitled  to  Representatives 
in  Assembly,  requesting  them  to  choose  such  Representa- 
tives ;  and  that  the  Assembly,  when  chosen,  should  elect 
Counsellors,  which  Assembly  and  Council  should  exercise 
the  powers  of  Government,  until  a  Governour  of  His  Ma- 
jesty's appointment  will  consent  to  govern  the  Colony 
according  to  its  Charter. 

"  By  order  of  the  Congress  : 

"  John  Hancock,  President. 

"  A  true  copy  from  the  Minutes  : 

"  Charles  Thomson,  Secretary ." 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii.  { 


Colony  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay. 

In  observance  of  the  foregoing  Resolve  of  the  honour- 
able Continental  Congress,  now  sitting  at  Philadelphia, 
these  are  to  request  you  forthwith  to  cause  the  Freeholders 
and  other  Inhabitants  of  your  Town  that  have  an  estate  of 
freehold  in  land  within  this  Province  or  Territory,  of  forty 
Shillings  per  annum  at  the  least,  or  other  estate  to  the  value 
of  forty  Pounds  sterling,  to  assemble  at  such  time  and  place 
as  you  shall  appoint,  then  and  there  to  elect  and  depute  one 
or  more  Freeholders,  resident  in  the  same  Town,  according 
to  the  numbers  set  and  limited  by  an  Act  of  the  General 
Assembly,  intituled  "  An  Act  for  ascertaining  the  number, 
and  regulating  the  House  of  Representatives,"  to  serve  for 
and  represent  them  in  a  Great  and  General  Court  or  Assem- 
bly, to  be  convened,  held,  and  kept  for  the  service  of  the 
said  Colony,  until  the  end  of  the  day  next  preceding  the 
last  Wednesday  of  May  next,  if  necessary,  and  no  longer, 
at  the  meeting-house  in  Watcrtown,  upon  Wednesday,  the 
19th  day  of  July  next  ensuing  the  date  hereof;  and  to  warn 
the  person  or  persons  so  elected  by  the  major  part  of  the 
electors  present  at  such  election,  to  be  timely  notified  by 
one  or  more  of  the  Constables  of  your  Town  to  attend  the 
service  of  this  Colony  in  the  said  General  Court  or  As- 
sembly, on  the  day  above  prefixed,  by  nine  o'clock  in  the 
forenoon,  and  so  from  day  to  day  during  their  session  and 
sessions.  Hereof  we  desire  you  not  to  fail ;  and  make  re- 
turn of  this  letter,  with  the  name  or  names  of  the  person 
or  persons  so  elected  or  deputed,  and  of  their  being  notified, 
unto  the  said  General  Assembly,  at  the  time  and  place 
above-mentioned  for  its  meeting.  Given  under  my  hand 
this  19th  day  of  June,  Anno  Domini  1775. 

By  order  of  the  Congress : 

 ,  President. 

Attest :   ,  Secretary. 

To  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town  of  

Resolved,  That  three  o'clock,  P.  M.,  be  assigned  for 
the  choice  of  a  Major-General,  in  the  room  of  the  late 
Doctor  Warren;  and  also  for  the  choice  of  one  Brigadier- 
General. 

Several  Letters  from  Penobscot,  viz :  from  Mr.  John 
Lane  and  others,  were  read,  and  committed  to  Captain 
Webster,  Colonel  Farley,  Captain  Holmes,  Doctor  Taylor, 
and  Major  Pcrley. 

Doctor  Gunn  was  appointed  to  report  a  Resolve  on  the 
proposal  made  by  the  Committee  of  Safety  relative  to  the 
killed  and  wounded  in  the  late  battle. 

A  Petition  from  the  District  of  Woolwich  was  presented 
and  read:  And  thereupon, 

Resolved,  That  the  petitioners  have  leave  to  withdraw 
their  Petition. 

Upon  a  motion  made,  Resolved,  That  the  House  of  Mr. 
Hunt,  at  Cambridge,  be  hired  for  a  Hospital ;  and  that  the 
Committee  appointed  to  treat  with  Doctor  Spring  be  a 
Committee  to  hire  the  same. 

Ordered,  That  Doctor  Church,  Doctor  Taylor,  and 
Doctor  Whiting,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  what  method 
is  proper  to  be  taken  to  supply  the  Hospitals  with  Sur- 
geons ;  and  that  the  same  gentlemen  be  a  Committee  to 
provide  Medicines  and  all  other  necessaries  for  the  Hospi- 
tals. 

The  Report  of  the  Committee  on  the  expediency  of 
establishing  armed  Vessels,  was  considered.  The  Report 
is  as  follows,  viz  : 

Resolved,  That  a  number  of  armed  Vessels,  not  less 
than  six,  to  mount  from  eight  to  fourteen  carriage  guns,  and 
a  proportionable  number  of  swivels,  &c,  &£c,  be  with  all 
possible  despatch  provided,  fixed,  and  properly  manned,  to 
cruise  as  the  Committee  of  Safety,  or  any  other  person  or 
persons  who  shall  be  appointed  by  this  Congress  for  that 
purpose,  shall  from  time  to  time  order  and  direct,  for  the 
protection  of  our  trade  and  sea-coasts  against  the  depre- 
dations and  piracies  of  our  enemies,  and  for  their  annoy- 
ance, capture,  or  destruction. 

After  debate,  the  matter  was  ordered  to  subside  for  the 
present. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  confer  with  Doctor  Spring 
relative  to  the  use  of  his  house  for  another  Hospital,  re- 


1427 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1428 


ported.  The  Report  was  read  and  accepted,  and  is  as 
follows,  viz : 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  of  the  expediency 
of  establishing  another  Hospital  for  the  sick  and  wounded 
of  the  Army,  have  attended  that  service,  and  beg  leave  to 
report,  that  they  judge  it  is  really  expedient  to  have  another 
established  ;  and  they  judge  that  the  house  of  Dr.  Spring, 
in  Watertown,  is  convenient  for  that  purpose ;  and  that  he 
is  willing  said  house  should  be  improved  by  the  Province 
for  that  use ;  but  that  he  cannot  at  present  ascertain  the 
damage  it  may  be  to  him,  but  is  willing  to  submit  that 
matter  to  the  judgment  of  a  Committee  to  be  hereafter 
appointed  by  this  honourable  Congress  or  House  of  As- 
sembly. 

Ordered,  That  Doctor  Church,  Doctor  Taylor,  and  Mr. 
Pickering,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  the  Petition  of  Mr. 
Pidgcon,  Commissary -General. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Wheeler,  Dr.  Whiting,  and  Captain 
Filsbury,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  a  Petition  of  Colonel 
John  Patterson ;  who  reported  as  Ibllows,  viz: 

The  Committee  appointed  to  take  into  consideration  the 
Petition  of  Colonel  Patterson,  have  attended  that  service, 
and  beg  leave  to  report  by  way  of  Resolve:  That  the 
Committee  of  Supplies  be  directed  to  give  immediate  orders 
for  supplying  said  destitute  Soldiers  with  Blankets,  agree- 
able to  the  said  Petition. 

The  Committee  on  the  Petition  of  Mr.  Pidgeon,  re- 
ported.   The  Report  was  accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz: 

Resolved,  That  Mr.  John  Pidgeon,  Commissary-Gene- 
ral, requesting  a  dismission  from  his  said  office,  being  under 
a  mistake,  have  liberty  to  withdraw  his  Petition  ;  that  the 
conduct  of  said  Commissary-General  in  his  office  has  been 
such  as  to  merit  the  approbation  of  this  Congress,  and  of 
the  publick  in  general ;  and  that  said  John  Pidgeon  be 
desired  to  attend  his  business  as  Commissary-General  in 
the  service  of  this  Province. 

At  the  request  of  Mr.  Pidgeon,  the  Commissary-Gene- 
ral, Ordered,  That  Doctor  Holten,  Mr.  Devens,  and  Col. 
Palmer,  be  a  Committee  to  consult,  and  with  their  advice 
assist  Mr.  Pidgcon  in  such  matters  as  appertain  to  his 
office. 

Resolved,  That  there  be  one  Deputy-Commissary  ap- 
pointed to  each  Regiment ;  and  that  Mr.  Pidgeon,  the 
Commissary-General,  be  desired  to  lay  before  the  Congress 
a  list  of  persons  proper  to  be  appointed  for  this  business, 
and  to  propose  an  establishment  for  their  pay. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Edwards,  Mr.  Hopkins,  Doctor 
Taylor,  Mr.  Batchelder,  and  Doctor  Church,  be  a  Com- 
mittee to  confer  with  four  Indians  this  day  arrived  from 
Penobscot,  under  the  conduct  of  Mr.  John  Lane,  and  to 
provide  proper  entertainment  for  them  while  in  this  place, 
and  for  their  return  home. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Pickering,  Mr.  Langdon,  and  Col. 
Sawyer,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  the  desire  of  Captain 
George  Dodge,  for  liberty  to  export  a  quantity  of  old  Ja- 
maica Fish. 

On  a  motion  made  in  behalf  of  Captain  Thomas  Mason 
and  Captain  George  Dodge,  that  they  might  have  liberty 
from  this  Congress  to  ship  off  for  the  West-Indies  one  hun- 
dred and  thirty  hogsheads  of  last  year's  Jamaica  Cod-Fish, 
or  a  quantity  not  exceeding  the  same, 

Resolved,  That  it  appears  to  this  Congress  that  the  de- 
tention of  said  Fish  can  be  of  little  or  no  service  to  this 
Colony,  and  that  they  be  allowed  to  export  the  same ;  and 
the  Committee  of  Safety  for  the  Town  of  Salem  is  directed 
to  see  that  this  Resolve  be  effectually  carried  into  execu- 
tion ;  and  that  no  other  Provisions,  except  for  the  vessel's 
use,  be  shipped  off  in  the  same. 

Resolved,  That  five  o'clock,  P.  M.,  be  assigned  for  the 
choice  of  some  person  to  preach  an  Election  Sermon  on  the 
]9th  of  July  next. 

Afternoon. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  a  Petition  from 
the  Committee  chosen  to  take  care  of  the  Poor  at  Charles- 
town,  reported.  The  Report  was  accepted,  and  is  as  fol- 
lows, viz : 

The  Committee  chosen  to  take  the  within  Petition  into 
consideration,  report,  that  it  is  their  opinion  that  the  Poor 


of  the  Town  of  Charlcstown  be  provided  for  by  the  Select- 
men of  the  several  Towns  to  which  they  remove,  until  the 
further  order  of  this  or  some  future  Congress  or  House  of 
Representatives. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Cushing,  Major  Perlcy,  Col. 
Prescott,  Colonel  Bairett,  and  Deacon  Fisher,  be  a  Com- 
mittee to  inquire  into  the  grounds  of  a  report  which  has 
prevailed  in  the  Army,  that  there  has  been  treachery  in 
some  of  the  Officers  ;  and  that  if  they  find  that  such  report 
is  without  foundation,  they  bring  in  a  Resolve  for  quieting 
the  minds  of  the  people  in  respect  thereof. 

Ordered,  That  the  Committee  appointed  to  consider 
the  request  of  Captain  George  Dodge,  should  likewise 
consider  a  request  made  by  Deacon  Cheever,  in  behalf  of 
Mr.  Russell,  for  a  similar  purpose. 

On  a  motion  made  in  behalf  of  Mr.  Thomas  Russell, 
merchant,  that  he  might  be  allowed  to  ship  off  from  this 
Colony  one  hundred  hogsheads  of  last  year's  Jamaica  Fish 
for  the  West- Indies, 

Resolved,  That  it  appears  to  this  Congress  that  the  de- 
tention of  said  Fish  can  be  of  little  or  no  service  to  this 
Colony,  and  that  he  be  allowed  to  export  the  same ;  and 
as  part  of  the  said  Fish  is  now  at  Salem,  and  part  at  Atu- 
buryport,  it  is  further 

Resolved,  That  the  said  Russell  be  allowed  to  send  or 
transport  the  Fish  which  is  at  Salem  to  Newburyport,  in 
order  to  be  shipped  off  as  aforesaid ;  and  the  respective 
Committees  of  Safety  of  both  said  Towns  are  directed  to 
take  care  in  their  own  departments  that  this  Resolve  be 
effectually  carried  into  execution  ;  and  that  no  other  Pro- 
visions, except  for  the  vessel's  use,  be  shipped  off  in  the 
same. 

The  Order  of  the  Day  was  moved  for. 

Ordered,  That  Captain  Webster,  Mr.  Wheeler,  and  Mr. 
Fox,  be  a  Committee  to  receive  and  count  the  votes  for  a 
Major-General. 

The  Committee  having  attended  that  service,  reported 
that  Colonel  Heath  was  chosen. 

Resolved,  That  eleven  o'clock  to-morrow  morning  be 
assigned  for  the  choice  of  four  Brigadier-Generals. 

A  Return  of  a  Member,  viz :  Mr.  Beriah  Norton,  from 
Edgartown,  was  read  and  considered ;  and  the  question 
being  put,  Whether  Mr.  Norton  be  regularly  returned  a 
Member  for  said  Town  ?  It  passed  in  the  negative. 

Ordered,  That  the  Secretary  transmit  to  General  Heath 
a  certificate  of  his  being  chosen  by  this  Congress  a  Major- 
General  in  the  Massachusetts  Army,  and  to  desire  his  ac- 
ceptance ;  and  that  he  would  attend  this  Congress  as  soon 
as  may  be,  to  receive  his  Commission. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Wheeler,  Mr.  Lothrop,  and  Mr. 
Sayer,  be  a  Committee  to  make  out  a  Commission  for 
Major-General  Heath. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Freeman,  Mr.  Webster,  and  Dr. 
Taylor,  be  a  Committee  to  prepare  the  form  of  a  Return 
to  be  printed  on  the  back  of  the  letter  to  be  sent  to  the 
several  Towns  and  Districts  for  choosing  Representatives. 

Ordered,  That  Deacon  Fisher,  Captain  Stone,  and 
Captain  Thatcher,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  a  Letter 
from  the  Committee  of  Safety,  relative  to  their  recommen- 
dation of  Mr.  John  Wiley,  as  Captain  of  a  Company  of 
the  Train  of  Artillery;  and  that  they  notify  the  said  Wiky 
to  be  heard  thereon. 

Ordered,  That  Captain  Batchelder,  Mr.  Hopkins,  and 
Major  Fuller,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  a  Petition  from 
Robert  Haskell. 

Ordered,  That  Captain  Broum  be  of  the  Committee 
in  the  room  of  Major  Hull,  to  agree  with  Mr.  Hunt  for 
his  house  in  Watertown,  to  be  used  as  a  Hospital. 

Ordered,  That  Deacon  Nichols,  Deacon  Fisher,  and 
Mr.  Hinsdale,  be  a  Committee  to  distribute  Doctor  Lang- 
don's  Sermons,  one  to  each  Minister  in  the  Colony,  and 
one  to  each  Member  of  the  Congress. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  prepare  the  form  of  a 
Return,  to  be  printed  on  the  back  of  the  letters  to  the 
Selectmen  of  the  several  Towns  and  Districts,  Sic,  re- 
ported. The  Report  was  read  and  accepted,  and  is  as 
follows,  viz : 


1429 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVIIVCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUKE,  1775. 


1430 


Pursuant  to  the  letters  within  written,  the  Freeholders 
and  other  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of.  ...  ,  qualified  as 
is  therein  directed,  upon  due  warning  given,  assembled  and 
met  together  the  ....  day  of  ....  ,  1775,  and  did 

then  elect  and  depute  to  serve  for  and  represent 

them  in  the  session  and  sessions  of  the  Great  and  General 
Court  or  Assembly,  appointed  to  be  convened,  held,  and 
kept  at  the  meeting-house  in  Watertown,  upon  Wednesday, 
the  19th  day  of  July,  1775;  the  said  person  being  chosen 
by  the  major  part  of  the  electors  present  at  said  meeting. 

Dated  at  ...  .  aforesaid,  the  ....  day  of  ....  , 
Anno  Domini  1775. 

Selectmen  of  

The  person  chosen  as  aforesaid,  notified  thereof  and  sum- 
moned to  attend  accordingly,  by  me, 

Constable  of  

The  Committee  appointed  to  prepare  a  Letter  to  the 
Continental  Congress,  reported.  The  Report  was  read, 
paragraph  by  paragraph,  and  accepted,  and  ordered  to  be 
transcribed,  authenticated,  and  sent  forward,  and  is  as  fol- 
lows : 

To  the  Honourable  the  Continental  Congress,  now  sitting 
at  Philadelphia: 

May  it  please  your  Honours  :  Having  been  favoured 
with  your  Resolve  respecting  the  assumption  of  Govern- 
ment in  this  Colony,  we  seize  the  earliest  opportunity  to 
express  our  grateful  sentiments  for  that  compassion,  sea- 
sonable exertion,  and  abundant  wisdom  evidenced  in  your 
recommendation  to  this  people  on  that  head,  and  for  the 
generous  provision  you  have  made  for  our  support  in  our 
efforts  for  the  defence  of  the  common  liberty  and  essential 
rights  of  the  whole  Continent. 

As  we  are  plunged  into  the  accumulated  distresses  of  a 
domestick  war,  our  constant  attention  to  the  calls  of  our 
brethren  in  the  field  will  leave  us  but  little  time  to  contem- 
plate the  acts  of  ordinary  legislation  ;  but  as  we  are  im- 
pressed with  the  indispensable  necessity  of  rescuing  this 
people  from  the  danger  they  are  in  of  falling  into  a  state 
of  anarchy,  and  that  our  publick  resolutions  may  be  taken 
and  executed  with  the  greater  despatch,  we  shall  apply  our- 
selves with  all  diligence  to  fulfil  your  benevolent  intentions, 
and  establish  the  form  of  Government  recommended  by 
your  Honours,  that  so  order  and  government  may  be  re- 
stored to  this  disturbed  community. 

W  e  think  it  our  indispensable  duty  to  inform  you  that 
re-enforcements  from  Ireland,  both  of  Horse  and  Foot, 
being  arrived,  (the  number  unknown,)  and  having  good 
intelligence  that  General  Gage  was  about  to  take  possession 
of  the  advantageous  posts  in  Charlestown  and  on  Dorches- 
ter Point,  the  Committee  of  Safety  advised  that  our  Troops 
should  prepossess  them,  if  possible.  Accordingly,  on  Fri- 
day evening,  the  16th  instant,  this  was  effected  by  about 
twelve  hundred  men.  About  daylight  on  Saturday  morn- 
ing, their  line  of  circumvallation,  on  a  small  hill  south  of 
Bunker's  Hill,  in  Charlestown,  was  closed.  At  this  time  the 
Lively,  man-of-war,  began  to  fire  upon  them.  A  number 
of  our  enemy's  ships,  tenders,  cutters,  and  scows  or  floating 
batteries  soon  came  up,  from  all  which  the  fire  was  general 
by  twelve  o'clock.  About  two  the  enemy  began  to  land 
at  a  point  which  leads  out  towards  Noddle's  Island,  and 
immediately  marched  up  to  our  intrenchments,  from  w  hich 
they  were  twice  repulsed,  but  in  the  third  attack  forced 
them.  Our  forces  which  were  in  the  lines,  as  well  as  those 
sent  for  their  support,  were  greatly  annoyed  on  every  side 
by  balls  and  bombs  from  Copp's  Hill,  the  ships,  scows, 
he.  At  this  time  the  buildings  in  Charlestown  appeared 
in  flames  in  almost  everyr  quarter,  kindled  by  red-hot  balls, 
and  are  since  laid  in  ashes.  Though  this  scene  was  most 
horrible,  and  altogether  new  to  most  of  our  men,  yet  many 
stood  and  received  wounds  by  swords  and  bayonets  before 
they  quitted  their  lines.  At  five  o'clock  the  enemy  were 
in  full  possession  of  all  the  posts  within  the  isthmus.  In 
the  evening  and  night  following,  Gen.  Ward  extended  his 
intrenchments  before  made  at  the  Stone-House  over  Win- 
ter Hill.  About  six  o'clock,  P.  M.,  of  the  same  day,  the 
enemy  began  to  cannonade  Boxbury  from  Boston  Neck 
and  elsewhere,  which  they  continued  twenty-four  hours, 
with  little  spirit  and  less  effect. 

The  number  of  killed  and  missing  on  our  side  is  not 


known,  but  supposed  by  some  to  be  about  sixty  or  seventy, 
and  by  some  considerably  above  that  number.  Our  most 
worthy  friend  and  President,  Doctor  Warren,  lately  elected 
a  Major-General,  is  among  them.  This  loss  we  feel  most 
sensibly.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Parker  and  Major  Moore, 
of  this  Colonyr,  and  Major  McClary,  from  New-Hamp- 
shire, are  also  dead.  Three  Colonels,  and  perhaps  one 
hundred  men,  are  wounded.  The  loss  of  the  enemy  is 
doubtless  great.  By  an  anonymous  letter  from  Boston,  we 
are  told  that  they  exult  much  in  having  gained  the  ground, 
though  their  killed  and  wounded  amount  to  about  one  thou- 
sand ;  but  this  account  exceeds  every  other  estimation. 
The  number  they  had  engaged  is  supposed  to  be  between 
three  and  four  thousand.  If  any  errour  has  been  made  on 
our  side,  it  was  in  taking  a  post  so  much  exposed. 

As  soon  as  an  estimate  can  be  made  of  publick  and  pri- 
vate stocks  of  gunpowder  in  this  Colony,  it  shall  be  trans- 
mitted without  delay,  which  we  are  well  assured  will  be 
very  small,  and  by  no  means  adequate  to  the  exigences  of 
our  case.  We  apprehend  that  the  scantiness  of  our  stock 
of  that  article,  cannot  fail  to  induce  your  Honours  still  to 
give  your  utmost  attention  to  ways  and  means  of  procuring 
full  supplies  of  it.  We  feel  ourselves  infinitely  obliged  to 
you  for  your  past  care  in  this  respect. 

We  beg  leave  humbly  to  suggest,  that  if  a  Commander- 
in-Chief  over  the  Army  of  the  United  Colonies  should 
be  appointed,  it  must  be  plain  to  your  Honours  that  no 
part  of  this  Continent  can  so  much  require  his  immediate 
presence  and  exertions  as  this  Colony. 

Ordered,  That  the  Honourable  Major  Hawley  and  Mr. 
Phillips  be  a  Committee  to  draw  up  a  Resolve  to  be  sent 
to  General  Ward,  suggesting  to  him  the  expediency  of 
drawing  part  of  the  Forces  stationed  at  Boxbury  to  the 
Camp  at  Cambridge. 

The  said  Committee  reported  the  following  Letter, 
which  was  accepted,  and  ordered  to  be  sent  by  Mr.  Thax- 
ter  to  the  Camp  at  Cambridge  immediately: 

Sir  :  This  Congress,  considering  the  present  situation  of 
the  enemy  and  that  of  the  division  of  our  Army  at  Cain- 
bridge,  think  proper  to  suggest  to  your  serious  considera- 
tion, whether  it  is  not  proper  and  expedient  that  there  should 
be  an  immediate  draught  of  a  Regiment  or  more  from  the 
Boxbury  Camp  to  that  at  Cambridge.  Your  good  sense 
will  undoubtedly  incline  you  to  consult  General  Thomas 
before  you  determine  absolutely  on  this  measure ;  but  we 
conceive  the  consideration  of  this  matter  ought  not  to  be 
delayed  a  moment. 
To  the  Hon.  General  Ward. 

Adjourned  to  Wednesday  morning,  eight  o'clock. 

Wednesday,  June  21,  1775. 

Besolved,  That  the  vote  of  this  Congress,  for  ranking 
the  Major-Generals  agreeable  to  the  order  of  their  choice, 
be  reconsidered. 

The  Commission  prepared  for  General  Heath  was  pre- 
sented to  Congress,  read  and  accepted,  and  is  as  follows: 

"  The  Congress  of  the  Colony  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay  to 
the  Honourable  William  Heath,  Esq.,  greeting: 

"  We,  reposing  especial  trust  and  confidence  in  your 
courage  and  good  conduct,  do,  by  these  presents,  consti- 
tute and  appoint  you,  the  said  William  Heath,  to  be  a 
Major-General  of  all  the  Forces  raised  by  the  Congress 
aforesaid,  for  the  defence  of  this  and  the  other  American 
Colonies.  You  are  therefore  carefully  and  diligently  to 
discharge  the  duty  of  a  Major-General,  in  leading,  order- 
ing, and  exercising  the  said  Forces  in  arms,  both  inferiour 
Officers  and  Soldiers,  and  to  keep  them  in  good  order  and 
discipline ;  and  they  are  hereby  commanded  to  obey  you 
as  their  Major-General.  And  you  are  yourself  to  observe 
and  follow  such  orders  and  instructions  as  you  shall  from 
time  to  time  receive  from  the  General  and  Commander-in- 
Chief  of  said  Forces,  or  any  other  your  superiour  Officers, 
and  to  demean  yourself  according  to  military  rules  and  dis- 
cipline established  by  said  Congress,  in  pursuance  of  the 
trust  reposed  in  you. 

"  Dated  at  Watertown,  the  21st  of  June,  1775. 

"  By  order  of  Congress  : 

»  ,  President.'" 


1431 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1432 


Ordered,  That  Colonel  Gerrish,  Major  Hau-ky,  Doctor 
Taylor,  Mr.  Durfee,  and  Mr.  Jcuett,  be  a  Committee  to 
consider  the  expediency  of  directing  General  Ward  to  call 
Colonel  Glover's  Regiment,  now  stationed  at  Murbkhcad , 
to  the  Camp  at  Cambridge,  and  report. 

The  Committee  on  the  Petition  of  Robert  Haskell,  re- 
ported.  The  Report  was  accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz: 

The  Committee  appointed  to  take  into  consideration  the 
Petition  of  Robert  Haskell,  beg  leave  to  report  by  way  of 
Resolve  : 

Resolved,  That  the  petitioner,  Robert  Haskell,  be,  and 
he  hereby  is  permitted  to  proceed  from  Beverly  to  Nova- 
Scotia,  in  a  fishing  vessel  about  seventeen  years  old,  that 
he  hath  procured  for  that  purpose ;  also,  to  carry  three  or 
four  persons  with  him,  and  the  following  Provisions,  viz: 
one  barrel  of  Pork,  two  of  Bread,  sixteen  gallons  of  Mo- 
lasses, sixteen  gallons  of  Rum,  half  a  bushel  of  Beans  or 
Peas,  and  two  bushels  of  Salt :  but  no  more  provisions  of 
any  kind  whatever.  And  that  such  proceeding  will  not  be 
contrary  to  the  Resolve  passed  by  the  Grand  American 
Congress,  the  17th  of  May  last,  or  any  other  Resolve  that 
honourable  Congress  have  yet  published. 

Resolved,  That  Colonel  Phinney  be  admitted  into  this 
House,  to  inform  the  Congress  of  the  state  of  the  Regiment 
enlisted  in  the  County  of  Cumberland. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  expediency 
of  directing  General  Ward  to  call  to  the  Camp  at  Cam- 
bridge the  Regiment  at  Marblehead,  reported.  The  Re- 
port was  accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz :  [This  Report  is 
not  to  be  found.] 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Sayer  wait  on  General  Ward 
with  it. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Sayer  draw,  in  the  form  of  a  Re- 
solve, the  Report  of  the  Committee  relative  to  the  Estates 
of  the  Refugees. 

Ordered,  That  the  President  sign  the  Resolve  relative  to 
the  violation  of  the  Sabbath,  which  passed  the  16th  instant. 

Ordered,  That  Doctor  Jones,  Capt.  Stone,  and  Capt. 
Bragdon,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  the  Petition  of 
Thomas  Twining. 

Mr.  Sayer  reported  a  Resolve  relative  to  the  Estates  of 
the  Refugees;  which  was  accepted,  and  ordered  to  be 
printed  in  the  Cambridge,  Water  town,  and  Worcester  Pa- 
pers, and  is  as  follows,*  viz : 

Whereas,  the  property  of  some  persons  who  have  left 
their  habitations  in  sundry  Towns  in  this  Colony,  and  have 
discovered  themselves  to  be  enemies  to  the  rights  of  this 
Colony,  and  the  Continent  of  A/nerica  in  general,  and  have 
taken  refuge  in  Boston  and  other  places,  under  the  protec- 
tion of  the  enemies  to  said  Colony  and  Continent: 

Therefore,  Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the 
Selectmen  and  Committees  of  Correspondence  of  the  seve- 
ral Towns  and  Districts  of  this  Colony,  where  any  property 
is  to  be  found  belonging  to  any  of  the  aforesaid  persons, 
that  they  take  the  same  into  their  care,  and  make  the  best 
improvement  thereof  in  their  power;  and  also,  that  it  be 
recommended  to  the  said  Committees  or  Selectmen,  to  use 
their  endeavours  that  no  strip  or  waste  be  made -on  such 
property,  and  to  keep  an  account  of  all  the  rents  and  profits 
arising  from  the  same,  and  to  be  accountable  for  the  same 
to  this  or  some  other  Congress  or  Assembly  of  this  Colony, 
when  thereunto  required,  they  having  a  reasonable  allow- 
ance made  for  their  trouble. 

*  The  following  is  a  copy  of  tho  Resolution,  as  printed  under  this 
order  of  the  Congress.  The  Resolution  in  the  text  is  recorded  on  tho 
manuscript  Journal : 

In  Provincial  Conchkss,  Watnrtown,  June  21,  1775. 

Whereas,  a  number  of  our  inveterate  enemies  have  taken  shelter 
under  the  protection  of  General  Oage  and  his  Troops,  and  have  left  a 
considerable  interest,  whereby  it  becomes  noccssary  that  some  provi- 
sion should  bo  made  for  tho  disposal  of  the  same  : 

Resolved,  therefore,  That  tho  Selectmen  and  Committees  of  Corres. 
pondenco  of  tho  several  Towns  and  Districts  of  this  Colony,  be  direct, 
cd  to  take  under  their  care  the  effects  and  estates  of  tho  soveral  persons 
who  have  fled  for  protection  to  ISoston  or  elsewhere,  and  to  improvo 
the  same  to  tho  best  advantage,  and  render  a  true  account  of  tho  profits 
arising  therefrom,  to  this  Congress,  or  some  future  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives of  this  Colony,  thoy  being  allowed  a  roasonablo  considera. 
tion  for  their  trouble.  Ja.  Warren,  President, 

A  truo  copy  from  tho  Minutos ; 

Altost :  Sam,  Freeman,  Secretary. 


Afternoon. 

Ordered,  That  Major  Hawlcy,  Mr.  Gerry,  and  Major 
Fuller,  be  a  Committee  to  bring  in  a  Resolve  for  the  pur- 
pose of  calling  the  General  Assembly  at  another  time  than 
that  at  which  it  is  to  be  held,  if  the  exigences  of  the  times 
shall  make  it  necessary. 

Resolved,  That  another  Major-General  be  chosen  by 
this  Congress,  in  addition  to  the  two  already  chosen,  and 
that  six  o'clock  this  afternoon  be  assigned  for  such  choice. 

Ordered,  That  Major  Fuller,  Colonel  Farley,  and  Mr. 
Wheeler,  be  a  Committee  to  inquire  how  and  where  mate- 
rials for  making  good  Paper,  proper  for  Bills  of  Credit,  may 
be  had,  if  any  such  bills  shall  be  emitted. 

Ordered,  That  Captain  Bragdon  and  Colonel  Davis 
be  a  Committee  to  apply  to  Mr.  Paul  Revere,  desiring  him 
to  take  care  that  he  does  not  leave  his  Engraving  Press 
exposed  when  he  is  absent  from  it ;  and  said  Committee 
are  directed  to  take  the  Plates  into  their  hands,  and  deliver 
them  to  this  Congress,  when  the  Notes  are  all  struck  orl*. 

The  Committee  who  were  appointed  to  confer  with  the 
Indians,  reported  as  follows,  viz  : 

The  Committee  appointed  by  the  honourable  Colony 
Congress  now  sitting,  to  treat  with  the  Indian  Chief  from 
the  Penobscot  Tribe,  after  an  introduction  on  their  part, 
received  from  the  Indian  the  following  Address,  viz: 

The  representation  he  now  makes,  and  the  engagements 
he  enters  into,  are  in  behalf  of  the  whole  Tribe  he  repre- 
sents. His  heart  is  good,  honest,  and  upright  in  all  lie  says. 
The  English  are  a  people  old  and  strong,  but  they  are 
children  and  weak.  They  have  a  large  tract  of  land  which 
they  have  a  right  to  call  their  own,  and  have  possessed 
accordingly  for  many  years.  These  lands  have  been  en- 
croached upon  by  the  English,  who  have  for  miles  on  end 
cut  much  of  their  good  timber.  They  ask  that  the  English 
would  interpose  and  prevent  such  encroachments  for  the 
future,  and  they  will  assist  us  with  all  their  power  in  the 
common  defence  of  our  country ;  and  they  hope,  if  the 
Almighty  be  on  our  side,  the  enemy  will  not  be  able  to 
deprive  us  of  our  lands.  They  request  that  Captain  Lane 
be  an  agent  for  them  to  settle  all  matters  relative  to  the 
above  difficulties  respecting  their  lands.  They  desire  a 
Commissary  may  be  sent  among  them,  of  whom  they  may 
purchase  goods.  They  desire  provisions,  powder,  &ic, 
may  be  sent  them,  which  they  will  buy  at  a  reasonable 
rate.  They  say  they  have  been  much  imposed  upon  by 
our  traders,  and  desire  such  evils  may  be  by  us  pre- 
vented. 

Ordered,  That  the  request  of  the  Indians,  as  mention- 
ed in  said  Report,  be  considered  by  the  Committee  afore- 
said. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Haven  administer  the  oaths  to 
General  Heath  as  Colonel,  and  as  Major-General  in  the 

Massachusetts  Army. 

The  President  then  delivered  General  Heath  a  Commis- 
sion as  Colonel,  and  another  as  a  Major-General  of  the  Mas- 
sachusetts Army. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Pickering,  Mr.  Lothrop,  and  Mr. 
Pitts,  be  a  Committee  to  deliver  Commissions  to  the  fol- 
lowing Officers  in  General  Heath's  Regiment,  viz  :  Jotham 
Loring,  Second  Major;  Charles  Cushing,  Captain  ;  EHat 
Whitton,  Lieutenant;  Benjamin  Beal,  Ensign. 

Ordered,  That  the  President,  Major  Hawley,  Mr.  Gerry, 
Colonel  Thompson,  Captain  Goodman,  Colonel  Lincoln, 
and  Colonel  Freeman,  be  a  Committee  to  inquire  into  the 
reason  of  the  present  want  of  discipline  in  the  Massachu- 
setts Army,  and  to  report  to  this  Congress  what  is  the  most 
proper  way  to  put  said  Army  into  a  proper  regulation. 

A  Commission  was  delivered  to  Colonel  Benjamin  Bug- 
gies Woodbridge,  as  Colonel  of  a  Regiment  in  the  Colony 
Army. 

Ordered,  That  Commissions  be  delivered  to  the  Offi- 
cers of  Colonel  Woodbridge'1 's  Regiment,  agreeable  to  a  list 
by  him  exhibited  to  the  Committee  of  Safety. 

The  Order  of  the  Day  was  moved  for. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Lincoln,  Mr.  Pitts,  and  Mr. 
Lothrop,  be  a  Committee  to  receive,  sort,  and  count  the 
votes  for  another  Major-General. 


1133  MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775.  I434 


Which  Committee  reported,  that  they  had  attended  that 
service,  and  that  Joseph  Fry,  Esq.,  was  chosen. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Phillips  he  appointed  forthwith  to 
wait  on  Colonel  Fry  10  inform  him  of  such  choice,  and  to 
know  if  he  will  accept  that  trust. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  request  of  the 
Indians  now  in  Watcrtown,  reported.  The  Report  was 
accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz: 

We,  the  Delegates  of  the  People  of  this  Province,  as- 
sembled in  Congress,  being  appointed  to  transact  the  pub- 
lick  business,  have  no  doubt  that  any  engagement  we  shall 
make  for  and  in  behalf  of  our  constituents  will,  on  their 
part,  be  faithfully  ratified  and  adhered  to.  We  do  not 
doubt  of  the  integrity  and  honest  intentions  of  our  brethren 
of  the  Penobscot  Tribe,  and  hope,  on  their  parts,  that  they 
entertain  no  jealousy  of  the  uprightness  and  fidelity  of  their 
brethren. 

The  inhabitants  of  this  Colony  disdain  to  make  use  of 
unjustifiable  force  or  artifice  to  rob  their  unsuspecting  breth- 
ren of  their  rights,  and  are  heartily  disposed  to  prevent  any 
injuries  and  encroachments  upon  their  neighbours,  and  to 
restrain  and  chastise  such  invaders  as  have  evidenced  any 
such  unjustifiable  dispositions.  And  we  hereby  strictly 
forbid  any  person  or  persons  whatsoever  from  trespassing 
or  making  waste  upon  any  of  the  lands  and  territories  or 
possessions  beginning  at  the  head  of  the  tide  on  Penobscot 
River,  extending  six  miles  on  each  side  of  said  river,  now 
claimed  by  our  brethren  the  Indians  of  the  Penobscot 
Tribe,  as  they  would  avoid  the  highest  displeasure  of  this 
Congress. 

We  thank  our  brethren  of  the  Penobscot  Tribe  for  their 
generous  offers  of  friendship  and  assistance  in  our  present 
war  with  our  brethren  in  Great  Britain,  who  are  endea- 
vouring, by  murder  and  violence,  to  rob  us  of  our  lands 
and  property,  and  hereby  engage  to  defend  their  just  claims 
against  every  invader. 

As  soon  as  we  can  take  breath  from  our  present  fight, 
we  will  take  care  that  our  brethren,  the  Penobscot  Tribe, 
shall  be  furnished  with  a  proper  Commissary,  who  shall  be 
directed  to  furnish  them  with  provisions,  ammunition,  and 
goods,  at  a  reasonable  rate  ;  and  proper  and  effectual  mea- 
sures shall  then  be  taken  to  prevent  any  dishonest  persons 
from  carrying  on  a  fraudulent  traffick  with  them. 

We  accept  of  Captain  Lane  as  an  agent  appointed  by 
our  brethren  of  the  Penobscot  Tribe,  who  is  hereby  autho- 
rized and  empowered  to  take  cognizance  and  make  report 
to  this  Congress,  or  any  future  Assembly  of  this  Colony, 
of  any  molestation  or  depredations  which  the  Indians  of  the 
Penobscot  Tribe  may  hereafter  sustain  from  any  person 
whatsoever,  so  that  seasonable  and  effectual  measures  may 
be  taken  to  afford  those  our  brethren  such  redress  as  their 
circumstances  may  require.  To  the  Fountain  of  all  Justice 
we  dare  appeal,  that  our  intentions  are  equitable  towards 
all  our  neighbours,  and  on  that  Almighty  Being  we  rely, 
that  while  we  are  struggling  against  rapine  and  tyranny,  we 
shall  be  supported  in  the  conflict,  and  our  just  endeavours 
be  finally  crowned  with  success. 

The  Committee  likewise  reported,  verbally,  that  it  is 
their  opinion,  the  said  Indians  should  have,  each  of  them, 
two  yards  of  blue  Broadcloth  and  one  piece  of  Ribbon,  and 
have  their  expenses  paid  out  and  home ;  which  Report 
was  accepted,  and  the  Committee  of  Supplies  directed  to 
furnish  said  Indians  with  the  said  Ribbon  and  Cloth. 

A  copy  of  a  Letter  from  the  President  of  the  Nciv-  York 
Congress  to  Major-General  Worcester,  at  Greenwich,  for- 
warded to  Head-Quarters  at  Cambridge,  was  read,  and 
committed  to  the  Committee  just  now  appointed  to  con- 
sider some  methods  for  regulating  the  Army  immediately. 

Ordered,  That  Commissions  for  the  several  Officers  of 
the  Train  of  Artillery,  hereafter  mentioned,  be  prepared  and 
delivered,  viz :  To  Col.  Richard  Gridley,  Colonel;  Mr. 
William  Burbeck,  Lieutenant-Colonel ;  Mr.  David  Mason, 
First  Major ;  Mr.  Scarborough  Gridley,  Second  Major. 

Resolved,  That  Commissions  be  delivered  to  the  several 
Officers  of  the  Train  of  Artillery,  agreeable  to  the  list  ex- 
hibited by  the  Committee  of  Safety,  except  to  Mr.  John 
Wiley's  Company;  and  that  the  said  Committee  be  desired 
to  recommend  some  persons  for  that  Company  anew. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Lothrop,  Mr.  Pickering,  and  Col. 


Sawyer,  be  a  Committee  to  prepare  Commissions  for  the 
several  Officers  of  the  Train,  agreeable  to  the  foregoing 
Resolve  of  Congress. 

Ordered,  That  Major  Whittemorc  wait  upon  Colonel 
Gridley,  to  desire  him  to  attend  this  Congress  to-morrow, 
to  receive  his  commission. 

Ordered,  That  Deacon  Nichols,  Mr.  Bent,  and  Dea- 
con Fisher,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  the  Petition  of 
Captain  Bryant  Morton. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Gridley's  list  of  Staff'  Officers 
be  committed  to  the  Committee  just  now  appointed  to  pre- 
pare commissions  for  the  Officers  of  the  Train. 

Adjourned  to  Thursday  morning,  nine  o'clock. 

Thursday,  June  22,  1775. 
Ordered,  That  the  Secretary,  Colonel  Cusliing,  and  Mr. 
Wheeler,  be  a  Committee  to  make  a  list  of  such  Officers  of 
the  Army  as  have  been  commissioned,  and  also  to  inquire 
who  have  not  yet  received  their  commissions. 

Ordered,  That  an  Ensign's  Commission  he  delivered  to 
Mr.  Stephen  Frost,  of  Captain  Lock's  Company  in  Colo- 
nel Gardner's  Regiment. 

Ordered,  That  the  Selectmen  of  the  Tow  n  of  Ashby 
be  directed  to  deliver  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town  of 
Townshend  one  half  barrel  of  Powder,  provided  they  have 
two  half  barrels  ;  the  Selectmen  of  Townshend  enving  a  re- 

•  I*  \  DO 

ceipt  for  the  same. 

Ordered,  That  the  Petition  of  Colonel  Paul  Dudley 
Sergeant,  be  committed  to  Colonel  Parks,  Major  Fuller 
of  Middleton,  and  Mr.  Nye. 

Ordered,  That  the  Petition  from  Penobscot  be  recom- 
mitted. 

Ordered,  That  Dr.  Francis  Kittrcdge  be  desired  to 
attend  the  Hospital  as  a  Surgeon  till  the  further  order  of 
Congress ;  and  that  Mr.  Kendall  be  desired  to  inform  Dr. 
Kittredge  of  his  appointment. 

Ordered,  That  the  Colonels  of  the  several  Regiments 
in  the  Massachusetts  Army  be  directed  to  recommend,  im- 
mediately, suitable  persons  for  Surgeons  and  Surgeons' 
Mates. 

Ordered,  That  a  recommendation  from  the  Committee 
of  Safety,  respecting  Aids-de-Camp,  be  committed  to  Col. 
Glover,  Major  Goodwin,  and  Dr.  Whiting. 

Ordered,  That  Major  Whitlemore,  Mr.  Davis,  and 
Deacon  Gould,  be  a  Committee  to  distribute  the  handbills 
respecting  the  due  observance  of  the  Lord's  Day. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Pickering  be  appointed,  in  the  room 
of  Col.  Coffin,  to  consider  the  Petition  of  Mr.  Kirkwood , 
Keeper  of  the  Light-House  on  Thatcher's  Island. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Hinsdale,  Col.  Farley,  and  Capt. 
Batchelder,  be  a  Committee  to  take  into  consideration  a 
Petition  from  George  Vincent,  of  Salem. 

Ordered,  That  Dr.  Whiting  be  appointed  to  draught  a 
Resolve,  that  application  be  made  to  the  Committee  of 
Safety  by  everv  person  that  is  to  be  appointed  a  Military 
Officer. 

Ordered,  That  the  Proclamation  fir  a  Fast  be  recom- 
mitted for  amendment,  and  that  Mr.  Webster  and  Deacon 
Fisher  be  added  to  the  Committee. 

Ordered,  That  a  Hospital  be  provided  for  the  Camp  at 
Roxbury,  and  that  Colonel  Davis,  Dr.  Taylor,  and  Dr. 
Whiting,  be  a  Committee  to  provide  one  accordingly,  and 
to  supply  the  same. 

Ordered,  That  Major  Fuller,  of  Newton,  be  appointed 
to  take  care  of  the  Plates,  until  further  order  of  this  Con- 
gress, or  some  future  House  of  Representatives  of  this 
Colony. 

Ordered,  That  Major  Hawley,  Mr.  Webster,  and  Col. 
Gerrish,  be  a  Committee  to  take  into  consideration  Col. 
Phinney's  Regiment. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Goodman  be  appointed,  in  the  room 
of  Colonel  Grout,  on  the  Petition  of  Mr.  Parry. 

Afternoon. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Paul  Revere's  Account  be  commit- 
ted to  Colonel  Farley,  Mr.  Hall,  and  Mr.  Bailey. 


1435 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1436 


Ordered,  That  Captain  Batchelder,  Major  Goodwin, 
and  Mr.  llobart,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  tlie  propriety 
of  commissioning  the  Officers  of  Colonel  Gerrish's  Regi- 
ment. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Pickering  be  appointed  to  fill  up 
commissions  for  Samuel  Patch  as  Captain,  and  Zach. 
Walker  and  Joshua  Brown  as  Lieutenants,  in  Colonel 
Jlilliam  Prescott's  Regiment. 

Ordered,  That  a  Letter  be  sent  to  General  Ward,  in 
answer  to  his  Letter,  and  that  Colonel  Lincoln  be  appoint- 
ed for  that  service. 

Voted,  That  a  particular  number  of  men  shall  be  set- 
tled, to  entitle  Colonel  Phinney  to  the  command  of  a  Regi- 
ment. 

Voted,  That  Colonel  Phinney  be  directed  to  bring  up  to 
camp  four  hundred  men  with  effective  fire-arms,  and  that  a 
time  be  limited  to  bring  up  one  hundred  more,  at  least, 
with  effective  fire-arms ;  he  in  that  case  to  be  entitled  to 
a  Colonel's  commission,  and  not  otherwise. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Pickering  be  appointed  to  make 
out  commissions  to  the  Officers  in  Colonel  Gerrish's  Regi- 
ment. 

Ordered,  That  the  Committee  of  Safety  be  directed,  as 
soon  as  possible,  to  prepare  and  transmit  to  this  Congress 
perfect  lists  of  the  names  of  such  gentlemen  as  they  judge 
fit  and  worthy  to  be  commissioned  in  the  several  Regiments 
granted  by  this  Congress,  and  for  which  the  said  Commit- 
tee have  not  already  transmitted  lists,  that  so  our  Army  may 
be  organized  as  soon  as  possible. 

On   the  Petition  of  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town  of 

Townshend, 

Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  Selectmen  of 
the  Town  of  Ashby  to  deliver  to  the  Selectmen  of  Town- 
shend one  half  barrel  of  Gunpowder  for  the  use  of  the  inha- 
bitants of  said  Townshend,  which  shall  be  replaced  in  the 
Town  of  Ashby  by  this  Congress,  or  a  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives, so  soon  as  the  state  of  our  magazines  will  admit, 
or  otherwise  said  Town  of  Ashby  shall  be  fully  paid  for 
said  Powder  out  of  the  publick  Treasury,  provided  the  said 
Town  of  Ashby  have  two  half  barrels,  as  has  been  repre- 
sented to  this  Congress. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  by  what  means 
the  Army  before  Boston  may  be  effectually  and  most  ex- 
peditiously strengthened,  beg  leave  to  report,  in  part,  that 
they  judge  it  absolutely  necessary  that  the  eight  companies 
stationed  in  the  County  of  Plymouth,  belonging  partly  to 
General  Thomas's  Regiment,  and  partly  to  Col.  Cotton's 
Regiment,  be  immediately  ordered  to  join  the  Army  as 
soon  as  possible,  and  that  directions  be  immediately  given 
to  General  Ward  for  that  purpose. 

Joseph  Hawley,  per  order. 

Resolved,  That  each  Colonel  in  the  Massachusetts  Army 
be,  and  hereby  is  directed  immediately  to  inform  the 
Committee  appointed  by  this  Congress  to  examine  the 
Surgeons  for  said  Army,  whom  they  recommend  for  the 
Surgeons  and  Surgeons'  Mates  of  their  respective  Regi- 
ments, and  send  them  to  said  Committee  for  examination, 
without  delay,  except  such  as  have  been  examined. 

Resolved,  That  George  Vincent  be,  and  he  hereby  is 
permitted  to  export  from  Salem  to  the  West-Indies  about 
forty-one  barrels  of  Alewives  ;  and  said  Vincent  is  also  per- 
mitted to  take  on  board  his  vessel  Provisions  sufficient  for 
his  voyage  to  the  said  West-Indies,  and  no  more ;  and  the 
Committee  of  Safety  of  the  Town  of  Salem  are  hereby 
directed  to  see  this  Resolve  strictly  complied  with. 

On  the  Petition  of  a  number  of  the  Inhabitants  settled 
on  Penobscot  River,  the  inhabitants  of  Belfast,  Majabigwa- 
duce,  and  Benjamin  River,  representing  the  difficulties  and 
distress  said  inhabitants  are  under  in  respect  to  the  scarcity 
of  Corn  and  Ammunition,  and  praying  for  some  relief, 

Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  by  this  Congress  to 
the  Committee  of  Safety  of  the  Town  of  Gloucester  or 
Newburyport,  or  to  the  Committees  of  Safety  or  Corres- 
pondence of  any  other  Towns  within  this  Colony  to  supply 
Captain  Jonathan  Buck,  one  of  the  petitioners,  for  the  use 
of  said  inhabitants,  for  their  present  relief,  with  two  hun- 
dred bushels  of  Indian  Corn,  or  to  that  amount  in  Corn 
and  Rye,  and  take  in  return  for  the  same  cord  Wood,  or 


such  other  payment  as  the  said  Buck  may  be  able  to  make, 
on  his  security  therefor ;  and  in  case  the  said  Buck  shall 
not  make  satisfaction  for  the  same  in  a  reasonable  time,  it 
shall  be  allowed  and  paid  out  of  the  publick  Treasury  of 
this  Colony,  and  the  said  Buck  shall  refund  the  same  as 
soon  as  may  be;  and  that  Colonel  Goldthwait  deliver  up 
all  the  publick  Arms  and  Ammunition  in  his  possession  to 
the  petitioners,  or  a  Committee  appointed  by  them  for  that 
purpose  ;  and  as  to  the  Powder,  they  shall  be  reasonably 
supplied  therewith  as  soon  as  the  stale  of  our  Magazine 
will  admit  thereof. 

Friday,  June  23,  1775. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Cushing,  Mr.  Lothrop.  Mr. 
Pickering,  Mr.  Wheeler,  and  Mr.  Langdon,  be  a  Com- 
mittee to  fill  up  Commissions,  and  that  no  one  of  said  gen- 
tlemen quit  the  House  without  leave. 

Ordered,  That  the  Officers  in  Colonel  Glover's  Regi- 
ment be  commissioned,  except  Captain  Lee  and  his  Sub- 
alterns. 

Ordered,  That  the  pay  of  the  Ensigns  be  augmented 
to  three  Pounds  ten  Shillings,  and  those  that  are  returned 
as  Ensigns,  be  commissioned  as  Second  Lieutenants. 

Ordered,  That  the  Petition  of  Bridget  Phillips  be  dis- 
missed ;  that  directions  be  given  to  General  Ward  not  to 
permit  Bridget  Phillips,  wife  to  an  officer  in  Boston,  to 
go  into  Boston,  nor  any  other  person  whatever;  and  that 
Major  Goodwin  be  directed  to  bring  in  a  Resolve  for  that 
purpose. 

Ordered,  That  a  commission  be  given  to  Col.  Gridley 
as  Chief  Engineer  and  Colonel,  with  the  rank  of  Major- 
General,  and  that  the  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the  Train  have 
the  rank  of  Colonel ;  and  that  the  Majors  have  the  rank  of 
Lieutenant-Colonels ;  and  the  Captains  the  rank  of  Majors  ; 
Captain-Lieutenants  and  First  Lieutenants  the  rank  of 
Captains;  and  that  the  rank  of  the  other  officers  be  sus- 
pended for  the  present. 

Ordered,  That  the  Report  respecting  Colonel  Phinney' 's 
Regiment  be  recommitted,  in  order  to  bring  in  a  Resolve, 
directing  Colonel  Phinney  to  bring  to  the  camp  four  hundred 
men  with  effective  fire-arms,  and  in  that  case  to  be  commis- 
sioned as  First  Colonel,  with  a  Major  under  him  ;  and  in 
case  he  brings  up  five  hundred  men,  all  the  Officers  to  he 
appointed  ;  and  in  case  he  brings  up  but  three  hundred 
men,  to  receive  a  commission  as  Lieutenant-Colonel :  also, 
that  his  men  be  brought  up  to  camp  at  the  expense  of  the 
Government. 

Ordered,  That  the  Committee  appointed  to  disperse 
the  handbills  respecting  the  due  observance  of  the  Lord's 
Day,  be  directed  to  make  a  computation  of  what  number 
are  wanted,  and  order  them  to  be  printed,  and  that  one  be 
struck  off  for  each  Parish. 

Ordered,  That  General  Fry  be  commissioned  as  a 
Major-General,  and  that  the  President  be  directed  to  ad- 
minister the  oath  to  him. 

Ordered,  That  the  oath  for  General  Officers  be  altered, 
and  that  the  words  "  or  House  of  Representatives  or  Legis- 
lative body  of  said  Colony,"  be  added. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Lane's  Account  for  bringing  up  the 
Indians  be  committed  to  Mr.  Langdon,  Captain  Goodman, 
Captain  Holmes,  Captain  Parker,  and  Captain  Carpenter, 
to  take  the  same  into  consideration,  and  report  thereon. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  provide  a  Hospital  for  the 
Camp  at  Roxbury,  reported  as  follows: 

That  they  have  appointed  the  house  belonging  to  Joshua 
Loring,  in  said  Roxbury,  for  a  Hospital,  and  for  the  use  of 
said  camp.    The  Report  was  accepted. 

Ordered,  That  the  Account  of  Captain  Kirkwood  be 
recommitted  to  the  Committee  appointed  to  take  that  mat- 
ter into  consideration,  and  that  Major  Whittcmore  and  Mr. 
Glover  be  added  to  the  Committee. 

Ordered,  That  the  consideration  of  the  appointment  of 
Quartermaster-Generals  and  Adjutant-Generals  be  defer- 
red to  four  o'clock,  P.  M.,  and  that  Mr.  llobart  be  ap- 
pointed to  wait  on  General  Ward  to  nominate  an  Adjutant- 
General. 

Ordered,  That  to-morrow,  eleven  o'clock,  A.  M.,  be 
assigned  to  come  to  the  choice  of  four  Brigadier-Generals. 


1437 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1438 


Ordered,  That  a  Committee  be  appointed  to  draw  up 
the  form  of  Warrants  for  Staff  Officers,  and  that  the  Com- 
mittees appointed  to  deliver  out  Commissions  he  appointed 
for  that  purpose. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  take  into  consideration 
Colonel  Phinney's  Regiment,  reported.  The  Report  was 
accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz: 

Resolved,  That  Colonel  Edmund  Phinney,  heretofore 
authorized  by  the  Committee  of  Safety  to  raise  a  Regi- 
ment for  the  service  of  this  Colony,  but  has  not  yet  effect- 
ed it,  be  directed  to  proceed  with  the  greatest  diligence 
and  despatch  in  that  business ;  and  in  case  he  shall,  on  or 
before  the  fifteenth  of  July  next,  join  the  Army  of  this 
Colony  now  before  Boston  with  lour  hundred  effective 
men,  each  armed  with  a  good  effective  firelock,  the  said 
Phinney  shall  be  entitled  to  be  commissionated  as  a  Colonel, 
on  the  pay  established  by  this  Congress  for  a  chief  Colonel ; 
and  that  there  shall  be  also  allowed  to  the  said  body  one 
Major,  and  no  other  Field-Officers.  And  in  case  the  said 
Phinney  shall  procure  an  addition  of  one  hundred  effective 
men,  or  upwards,  and  each  armed  with  an  effective  fire- 
lock, by  the  last  day  of  July  next,  that  in  such  case  the 
said  one  hundred  men  shall  be  joined  to  the  aforesaid  four 
hundred  men,  and  both  the  said  numbers  shall  constitute 
one  Regiment,  and  then  the  choice  of  Field-Officers  shall 
be  completed,  and  a  proper  number  of  subordinate  officers 
commissionated.  But  in  case  the  said  Phinney  shall  fail  of 
procuring  four  hundred  effective  men,  armed  as  aforesaid, 
but  shall  procure  to  be  enlisted  and  brought  to  the  said  Army 
by  the  said  fifteenth  day  of  July  next  a  number  of  effective 
men,  all  armed  as  aforesaid,  less  than  four  hundred  and  not 
less  than  three  hundred,  he  shall  be  entitled  to  be  com- 
missionated as  Lieutenant-Colonel,  and  that  allowance  shall 
hereafter  be  made  of  all  reasonable  expenses  in  marching 
said  men  to  the  said  Army.  And  that  the  said  Phinney  be 
specially  instructed  not  to  march  any  man  to  the  said  camp 
who  is  not  furnished  with  a  good  effective  firelock,  and  that 
no  man  without  a  firelock  shall  be  accounted  or  reckoned  as 
going  to  constitute  the  numbers  above  mentioned,  which 
shall  entitle  him  to  either  of  the  aforesaid  commissions  pro- 
posed for  him. 

Ordered,  That  the  Secretary  be  directed  to  make  out  a 
copy  of  the  Resolve  respecting  Colonel  Phinney's  Regi- 
ment. 

Aftsrnoon. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  take  into  consideration  the 
price  of  Blankets  to  be  given  to  the  Soldiers  reported  as 
follows,  which  was  accepted,  viz  : 

Resolved,  That  the  sum  of  twelve  Shillings,  lawful  mo- 
ney, be  the  stated  price  for  each  Blanket  allowed  to  the 
Soldiers  in  the  Massachusetts  Army;  and  such  Soldiers  as 
have  or  shall  be  supplied  with  Blankets  of  less  value,  as 
may  appear  by  the  appraisement  of  the  Selectmen,  shall 
have  the  overplus  made  up  to  them  by  those  who  supplied 
said  Soldiers,  and  the  abovesaid  twelve  Shillings  shall  be 
allowed  out  of  the  publick  Treasury  for  each  Blanket. 

Ordered,  That  nine  o'clock  to-morrow  morning  be  as- 
signed to  take  into  consideration  an  establishment  for  the 
Brigadier-Generals,  and  Quartermaster-Generals,  and  Ad- 
jutant-Generals. 

Ordered,  That  the  time  assigned  for  the  choice  of 
Quartermaster-Generals  and  Adjutant-Generals  be  referred 
till  to-morrow  morning,  at  ten  o'clock,  A.  M. 

Ordered,  That  a  Letter  from  Mr.  Hooper,  of  Newbury- 
port,  be  referred  to  the  Committee  of  Supplies,  they  to 
make  report. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Daniel  Noyes,  of  Ipswich,  be  ap- 
pointed a  Postmaster,  in  the  room  of  Mr.  James  Foster, 
who  has  resigned  that  office. 

Ordered,  That  Major  Fuller,  of  Middleton,  be  directed 
to  wait  on  General  Whitcomb,  and  desire  him  to  attend  this 
Congress  and  receive  his  commission. 

Ordered,  That  Dr.  Taylor,  Major  Fuller  of  Middle- 
ton,  and  Colonel  Thompson,  be  a  Committee  to  take  into 
consideration  the  Regiment  that  was  moved  from  Marble- 
head  to  Cambridge,  immediately,  and  that  the  Committee 
be  directed  to  go  to  Cambridge  and  inquire  into  it,  and 
make  report. 


Ordered,  That  the  Committee  appointed  to  fill  up  com- 
missions, be  directed  to  fill  up  a  commission  for  General 
Whitcomb. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Nye  be  appointed  to  number  the 
Notes  signed  by  Deacon  Plympton. 

Ordered,  That  Captain  Spraguc,  Captain  White,  and 
Dr.  Whiting,  be  a  Committee  to  take  into  consideration  a 
Petition  from  the  Town  of  Maiden. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Hopkins,  Captain  Bragdon,  and 
Mr.  Philips,  be  a  Committee  to  take  into  consideration  the 
circumstances  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Langdon,  President  of  the 
College,  and  make  report  thereon. 

Ordered,  That  a  Committee  be  appointed  to  consider 
of  proper  expedients  to  augment  the  Army,  and  in  par- 
ticular to  write  to  the  other  New-England  Governments 
on  the  subject,  and  that  they  be  directed  to  attend  the  ser- 
vice immediately. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Nye  be  excused  from  attending  the 
service  in  numbering  the  Notes  signed  by  Deacon  Plymp- 
ton, and  that  Mr.  Holmes  be  appointed  in  his  room,  and  he 
directed  to  attend  that  service  immediately. 

The  Committee  who  were  appointed  on  the  20th  instant 
to  inquire  into  the  misconduct  in  the  late  engagement,  re- 
ported as  follows,  viz: 

The  Committee  appointed  to  inquire  into  the  grounds 
of  a  report  which  has  prevailed  in  the  Army,  that  there 
has  been  treachery  in  some  of  the  Officers,  beg  leave  to 
report  facts:  Your  Committee  proceeded  to  Cambridge. 
waited  upon  the  General,  and  made  him  acquainted  with 
their  business.  He  informed  your  Committee  that  General 
Putnam  had  made  complaint  of  an  officer  in  the  Train,  but 
by  a  mistake  in  the  name,  the  wrong  officer  was  confined. 
We  applied  to  General  Putnam,  and  other  officers,  who 
were  in  the  heat  of  the  engagement,  for  further  intelligence. 
General  Putnam  informed  us,  that  in  the  iate  action,  as  he 
was  riding  up  Bunker's  Hill,  he  met  an  officer  of  the 
Train  drawing  his  cannon  down  in  great  haste  ;  he  order- 
ed the  officer  to  stop  and  go  back ;  he  replied,  he  had  no 
cartridges ;  the  General  dismounted  and  examined  his 
boxes,  and  found  a  considerable  number  of  cartridges,  upon 
which  he  ordered  him  back;  he  refused,  until  the  General 
threatened  him  with  immediate  death,  upon  which  he  re- 
turned up  the  hill  again,  but  soon  deserted  his  post  and 
left  the  cannon.  Another  officer,  who  had  the  direction 
of  another  cannon,  conducted  much  in  the  same  manner. 
The  relation  of  this  matter  from  General  Putnam  was  con- 
firmed by  several  other  officers  of  distinction,  as  to  what 
is  most  material  relative  thereto.  These  officers'  names 
are,  Captain  Gridley  and  Captain  John  Kallander.  Gen- 
eral Putnam  declared  to  your  Committee,  as  his  opinion, 
that  the  defeat  of  that  day  was  owing  to  the  ill-behaviour 
of  those  that  conducted  the  artillery,  and  that  one  of  these 
officers  ought  to  be  punished  with  death,  and  that  unless 
some  exemplary  punishment  was  inflicted,  he  would  as- 
suredly leave  the  Army.  That  upon  the  defeat  of  the 
officers  of  the  Train,  the  re-enforcements  ordered  up  the 
hill  could  not  be  prevailed  upon  to  go;  the  plea  was,  the 
Artillery  was  gone,  and  they  stood  no  chance  for  their  lives 
in  such  circumstances,  declaring  they  had  no  officers  to 
lead  them.  An  officer  of  rank  affirmed  to  your  Commit- 
tee that  he  absolutely  knew  that  some  of  the  cartridges  and 
balls  were  too  large  for  the  cannon,  and  that  it  was  neces- 
sary to  break  the  cartridges  before  they  could  be  of  use. 

Ordered,  That  the  Report  lie  on  the  table  till  they  are 
ready  to  report  in  full. 

Ordered,  That  the  Committee  of  Safety  be  directed  to 
make  out  a  new  list  for  Officers  of  the  Train  of  Artillery, 
and  that  no  person  unworthy  of  the  office  be  appointed. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  take  into  consideration 
Captain  Lane's  Account  for  bringing  up  the  Indians  from 
Penobscot,  reported  as  follows,  viz : 

The  Committee  for  examining  the  Account  of  Mr.  John 
Lane,  have  attended  that  service,  found  the  said  Lane's 
Account  well  supported,  excepting  a  few  inaccuracies  in 
casting.  They  therefore  beg  leave  to  report,  by  way  of 
Resolve,  viz: 

Resolved,  That  there  be  paid  out  of  the  publick  Trea- 
sury of  this  Colony  to  Mr.  John  Lane,  the  sum  of  forty- 


1439 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1440 


seven  Pounds,  eighteen  Shillings,  eleven  and  a  half  Pence, 
for  his  expenses  in  bringing  up  to  the  Congress  four  of  the 
Chiefs  of  the  Penobscot  Tribe  of  Indians,  with  an  Inter- 
preter; and  the  Receiver-General  of  this  Colony  is  hereby 
directed  to  pay  the  said  John  Lane,  or  order,  the  aforesaid 
sum  of  forty-seven  Pounds,  eighteen  Shillings,  eleven  and 
a  halfPence  ;  and  likewise  that  the  sum  of  nineteen  Pounds, 
ten  Shillings,  and  eight  Pence,  lawful  money,  be  paid  by 
the  Receiver-General  to  Captain  Lane,  to  defray  his  ex- 
penses in  carrying  the  Indians  back  to  Penobscot,  and  that 
Mr.  Langdon  be  appointed  to  draught  a  Resolve  for  that 
purpose. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  take  into  consideration  a 
Letter  from  Mr.  Stephen  Hooper,  of  Ncwburyport,  report- 
ed as  follows,  viz : 

Resolved,  That  those  of  the  Committee  of  Donations 
of  the  Town  of  Boston,  who  have  left  said  Town,  viz: 
Messrs.  Benjamin  Austin,  Nathaniel  Barber,  and  .  .  .  . 
Proctor,  be  advised  to  sell  the  fifty  barrels  of  Flour  sent 
from  Baltimore  for  the  use  of  the  Poor  of  Boston,  now  in 
the  hands  of  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  of  Ports- 
mouth, to  the  same  Committee,  for  the  use  of  the  New- 
Hampshire  Troops. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  by  what  means 
the  Army  before  Boston  may  be  effectually  and  most  ex- 
peditiously strengthened,  reported  as  follows,  which  was 
accepted,  viz : 

That  they  judge  it  absolutely  necessary  that  the  eight 
companies  stationed  in  the  County  of  Plymouth,  belonging 
partly  to  General  Thomas's  Regiment  and  partly  to  Col. 
Cotton's  Regiment,  be  immediately  ordered  to  join  the 
Army  as  soon  as  possible,  and  that  directions  be  immedi- 
ately given  to  General  Ward  for  that  purpose. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  take  into  consideration  the 
request  from  the  Town  of  Maiden,  reported  as  follows, 
which  was  accepted,  viz: 

The  Committee  beg  leave  to  report,  that  the  inhabitants 
of  the  Town  of  Maiden  be  directed  to  make  the  best  use 
of  their  Artillery  they  can  for  their  defence,  in  case  they 
shall  be  attacked  by  the  enemy,  and  that  they  make  their 
application  for  assistance  to  the  General  of  the  Army,  who 
doubtless  will  furnish  them  with  such  detachments  from 
the  Army  as  they  shall  judge  necessary  and  expedient. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  draught  a  Resolve  for  the 
Receiver-General  to  pay  to  Captain  Lane  nineteen  Pounds, 
ten  Shillings,  and  eight  Pence,  for  defraying  the  expense 
of  carrying  the  Indians  back  to  Penobscot,  reported  as 
lbllows,  viz : 

Resolved,  That  there  be  paid  out  of  the  publick  Trea- 
sury of  this  Colony  to  Mr.  John  Lane,  or  order,  the  sum 
of  nineteen  Pounds,  ten  Shillings,  and  eight  Pence,  to  pay 
the  expenses  of  himself,  four  Indian  Chiefs,  and  an  Inter- 
preter, from  Watertown  to  Penobscot,  and  the  Receiver- 
General  is  hereby  directed  to  pay  the  same  accordingly. 

Voted,  That  the  former  vote  respecting  the  removal  of 
the  Library,  Apparatus,  and  other  valuable  effects  of 
Harvard  College  be  reconsidered,  and  that  the  following 
Resolve  be  accepted,  viz: 

Whereas,  it  is  expedient  that  those  apartments  in  Har- 
vard Hall,  under  the  immediate  charge  of  the  Professor  of 
Philosophy,  and  Librarian  of  Harvard  College,  be  evacu- 
ated, 

Resolved,  That  the  Library,  Apparatus,  and  other  valu- 
ables of  Harvard  College,  be  removed  as  soon  as  may  be; 
that  Mr.  Samuel  Phillips,  Mr.  Daniel  Hoj'kins,  and  Hum- 
mer Jewctt,  Esquire,  be  a  Committee  to  consult  with  the 
Reverend  the  President,  the  Hon.  Mr.  Winthrop,  and  the 
Librarian,  or  such  of  them  as  may  be  conveniently  obtain- 
ed, and  with  them  to  engage  some  suitable  person  or  persons 
in  the  Town  of  Andover,  and  such  other  places  as  they  may 
think  best,  to  receive  and  take  the  charge  of  the  above 
mentioned  effects;  that  said  Committee  join  with  those 
gentlemen  in  employing  proper  persons  for  packing  said 
Library,  Apparatus,  and  such  other  articles  as  they  shall 
judge  expedient,  and  take  all  due  care  that  it  be  done  with 
the  greatest  safety  and  despatch  ;  and  as  the  packages  shall 
be  completed,  that  they  take  due  care  for  their  transporta- 
tion; the  charges  to  be  laid  before  this  or  some  future 
Congress,  or  House  of  Assembly  of  this  Province. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Hale,  Captain  Parker,  and  Capt. 


Bragdon,  be  a  Committee  to  take  Capt.  Lane's  Account 
of  his  time  into  consideration,  and  report  thereon. 

Resolved,  That  Winthrop  Sergeant,  of  Gloucester, 
merchant,  be  allowed  to  ship  off  for  the  West-Indies  a 
quantity  of  old  Jamaica  Fish,  not  exceeding  forty  hogs- 
heads, it  appearing  to  this  Congress  that  the  said  Fish,  if 
stopped,  will  be  of  little  or  no  service  to  this  Colony,  and 
the  Committee  of  Safety  for  Gloucester  are  directed  to 
cause  this  Resolve  to  be  so  carried  into  execution  as  that 
no  other  Provisions  except  for  the  vessel's  use,  be  shipped 
oft"  in  the  same. 

Voted,  That  the  Receiver-General  be  directed  to  pay 
to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Langdon,  President  of  the  College,  one 
hundred  Pounds,  lawful  money,  in  bills  of  credit  of  this 
Colony. 

Ordered,  That  the  Committee  appointed  to  consider 
by  what  means  the  Army  before  Boston  may  be  effectually 
and  most  expeditiously  strengthened,  be  directed  to  write 
a  Letter  to  General  Ward ;  who  reported  a  Letter  to  Gen- 
eral Ward,  directing  him  to  call  in  the  eight  companies 
stationed  in  the  County  of  Plymouth. 

"In  Provincial  Congress,  Watertown,  June  23,  1775. 
"Sir:  As  it  appears  to  this  Congress  highly  probable 
that  the  Army  of  our  enemies  will  speedily  make  the  ut- 
most efforts  to  force  your  lines,  and  penetrate  into  the 
country,  they  have  judged  it  absolutely  necessary,  for  the 
strengthening  the  Army  before  Boston,  that  the  eight  com- 
panies now  posted  in  the  County  of  Plymouth,  belonging 
partly  to  General  Thomas's  Regiment  and  partly  to  Col. 
Cotton's  Regiment,  should  immediately  join  the  said  Army. 
You  are  therefore  directed,  without  delay,  to  give  the  or- 
ders necessary  for  marching  the  said  eight  companies  to  the 
said  Army  as  soon  as  may  be. 

"General  Ward." 

The  Committee  appointed  to  take  into  consideration  the 
Petition  of  Robert  Haskell,  beg  leave  to  report,  by  way  of 
Resolve : 

Resolved,  That  the  Petitioner,  Robert  Haskell,  be  per- 
mitted to  proceed  from  Beverly  to  Nova-Scotia  in  a  fishing 
vessel  about  seventeen  years  old,  that  he  hath  procured  for 
that  purpose  ;  also,  to  carry  three  or  four  persons  with  him, 
and  the  following  Provisions,  viz :  one  barrel  of  Pork,  two 
hundred  pounds  of  Bread,  sixteen  gallons  of  Rum,  and  six- 
teen gallons  of  Molasses,  half  bushel  of  Beans  or  Peas, 
and  two  bushels  of  Salt,  but  no  more  Provisions  of  any 
kind  whatever ;  and  that  such  proceeding  will  not  be  con- 
trary to  the  Resolve  passed  by  the  Grand  American 
Congress  the  17th  of  May  last,  or  any  other  Resolve  that 
honourable  Congress  have  yet  published. 

Resolved,  That  the  Committee  of  Safety  be  directed  to 
make  out  a  new  list  for  Officers  of  the  Train  of  Artillery, 
that  no  person  unworthy  of  office  be  appointed. 

Saturday,  June  24,  1775. 

Ordered,  That  Dr.  Taylor,  Col.  Sawyer,  and  Captain 
Batchelder,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  some  method  for 
regulating  Trade  with  the  Indians. 

Major  Fuller,  Dr.  Bailey,  and  Captain  Goodman,  ap- 
pointed a  Committee  to  consider  the  expediency  of  part  of 
Colonel  Phinney's  Regiment  being  stationed  in  the  Counties 
of  Cumberland  and  Lincoln. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Langdon,  Colonel  Sawyer,  and 
Captain  Goodman,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  what  is 
further  necessary  to  be  done  respecting  the  Bills  of  Credit 
of  this  Colony. 

Voted,  That  there  shall  be  two  Surgeons  and  two  Mates 
appointed  for  each  Hospital,  and  commissioned  accordingly. 

Ordered,  that  the  Committee  appointed  to  examine  the 
Surgeons  be  desired  to  report  an  establishment  for  Surgeons 
of  Hospitals. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  an  establishment 
for  the  Surgeons  of  Hospitals,  reported.  The  Report  was 
accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz  : 

That  it  is  their  opinion  that  the  establishment  of  the 
chief  Surgeons  should  be  at  the  rate  of  eight  Pounds  per 
month  each,  and  each  Mate  four  Pounds,  ten  Shillings,  per 
month. 


1441 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1442 


Ordered,  That  Colonel  Freeman,  Colonel  Farley,  and 
Captain  Stone,  be  a  Committee  to  get  the  Resolve  for  a 
Fast  printed,  and  one  sent  to  each  religious  Society  in  this 
Colony. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  take  into  consideration  the 
wages  of  Captain  John  Lane  and  Mr.  Oilman,  for  their 
attendance  in  bringing  up  four  Indians  from  Penobscot, 
reported. 

Mr.  Freeman  and  Captain  Bragdon  were  added  to  the 
Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  expediency  of  sta- 
tioning part  of  Colonel  Phinney's  Regiment  in  the  County 
of  Cumberland. 

Ordered,  That  Captain  Lane  be  admitted  on  the  floor 
of  the  House,  in  order  to  answer  such  questions  as  the 
Congress  shall  propose  to  him. 

Ordered,  That  the  Committee  of  Supplies  be  directed 
to  supply  the  four  Indians,  brought  up  by  Captain  Lane, 
with  a  pair  of  shoes  each. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Mighill,  Mr.  Hobart,  Captain  Web- 
ster, and  Mr.  Lothrop,  be  added  to  the  Committee  to  con- 
sider the  Petition  of  Edward  Parry. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  take  into  consideration  the 
circumstances  of  the  Reverend  Doctor  Langdon,  President 
of  the  College,  reported  as  follows,  viz : 

Resolved,  That  there  be  allowed  and  paid  out  of  the 
publick  Treasury  of  this  Colony,  the  sum  of  one  hundred 
Pounds,  lawful  money,  in  bills  of  credit  of  this  Colony,  to 
the  Rev.  Doctor  Langdon,  President  of  Harvard  College, 
in  part  for  his  services  in  that  station  since  his  appointment 
thereto  ;  and  the  Treasurer  and  Receiver-General  is  hereby 
directed  to  pay  the  said  sum  in  bills  of  credit  accordingly. 

Ordered,  That  the  Report  of  the  Committee  to  consider 
Captain  Lane's  services,  be  recommitted. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Gerrish,  Mr.  Wheeler,  and  Col- 
onel Farley,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  and  report  what 
is  to  be  done  with  the  overplus  Bills. 

Ordered,  That  Deacon  Fisher  be  appointed  in  the  room 
of  Captain  Bragdon,  to  consider  the  services  of  Captain 
Lane,  in  bringing  up  four  Indian  Chiefs. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  take  into  consideration 
the  Petition  of  James  Kirkwood,  Keeper  of  the  Lights  on 
Thatcher  s  Island,  reported.  The  Report  was  accepted, 
and  is  as  follows,  viz : 

Resolved,  That  there  be  allowed  and  paid  out  of  the 
publick  Treasury  to  Capt.  James  Kirkwood,  sixty  Pounds, 
for  one  year's  salary  as  Keeper  of  the  Light-Houses  on 
Thatcher's  Island;  and  also  eighteen  Pounds,  thirteen  Shil- 
lings more,  being  for  his  disbursements  in  repairing  buildings 
and  other  work  done  there,  box  of  Medicines,  and  several 
other  necessaries,  as  per  his  account  herewith  exhibited. 
And  the  Receiver-General  is  accordingly  hereby  directed  to 
pay  the  said  Captain  Kirkwood  the  aforesaid  sums,  amount- 
ing to  seventy-eight  Pounds,  thirteen  Shillings,  the  same 
to  be  paid  in  bills  of  credit  of  this  Colony. 

Ordered,  That  three  o'clock,  P.  M.,  be  assigned  to  come 
to  the  choice  of  a  gentleman  to  preach  the  Election  Sermon. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  draft  a  Resolve  respecting 
Bridget  Phillips,  wife  of  an  officer  in  Gen.  Gage's  Army, 
reported.  The  Report  was  read  and  accepted,  and  is  as 
follows,  viz : 

Resolved,  That  General  Ward  do  not  suffer  or  permit 
Bridget  Phillips,  wife  to  an  officer  under  General  Gage, 
to  go  into  Boston,  (nor  any  other  person  whatsoever,)  with- 
out leave  first  obtained  of  this  Congress,  or  some  future 
House  of  Representatives  ;  and  that  an  express  be  forthwith 
sent  to  the  Committee  of  Safety  for  the  Town  of  Newbury- 
port,  to  order  them  to  take  the  most  effectual  measures  to 
prevent  the  said  Bridget  from  going  out  of  this  Province 
or  to  Boston. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  take  into  consideration  and 
report  the  form  of  a  Commission  for  Brigadier-Generals, 
Quartermaster-Generals,  and  Adjutant-Generals,  Adjutants, 
Quartermasters,  and  Surgeons,  reported  a  form,  which  was 
accepted. 

Ordered,  That  the  form  of  a  Commission  lie  on  the 
table. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  hire  a  house  of  John  Hunt, 
Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii.  { 


Esq.,  for  a  Hospital,  reported  the  following  proposal,  which 
was  accepted,  viz : 

"Gentlemen:  With  respect  to  the  hire  of  the  house 
belonging  to  John  Hunt,  Esq.,  for  a  Hospital,  the  proprie- 
tor only  expects  such  a  consideration  from  the  Colony  as 
will  be  a  satisfaction  for  the  necessary  damage  to  the  house, 
expecting  proper  care  will  be  taken  that  the  out-houses, 
&c,  be  kept  in  good  order.  W.  Hunt, 

"  In  behalf  of  the  Proprietor." 

Ordered,  That  the  Committee  appointed  to  procure 
Spears  for  the  Army,  be  directed  to  use  their  discretion  in 
procuring  Poles  for  the  handles  of  the  Spears. 

Afternoon. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  prepare  a  Letter  to  the 
Lieutenant-Governour  and  Company  of  Rhode-Island,  re- 
ported. The  Report  was  accepted,  and  similar  Letters,  so 
far  as  circumstances  will  admit,  ordered  to  be  sent  to  Con- 
necticut and  New-Hampshire. 

Ordered,  That  Major  Huivley,  Colonel  Gerrish,  and  the 
President,  be  a  Committee  to  take  into  consideration  and 
report  thereon  a  Letter  from  General  Ward,  informing  of 
the  desertion  of  Lieutenant  Cox,  of  Salem,  and  a  number 
of  men. 

Ordered,  That  Major  Hawley  and  the  President  be  ex- 
cused, and  that  Colonel  Porter  and  Doctor  Church,  be 
appointed  in  their  room. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  expediency  of 
stationing  part  of  Col.  Phinney's  Regiment  in  the  Coun- 
ties of  Cumberland  and  Lincoln,  reported.  The  Report 
was  accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz  : 

Whereas,  it  appears  to  this  Congress  to  be  necessary  that 
some  provision  should  be  made  for  the  defence  and  protec- 
tion of  the  Sea  Coasts  in  the  Counties  of  Cumberland  and 
Lincoln ;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  the  Resolve  which  passed  yesterday, 
relative  to  Colonel  Phinney's  Regiment,  be  so  far  recon- 
sidered as  that  the  remainder  of  said  Regiment  (after  four 
hundred  thereof  have  marched  to  the  camp  at  Cambridge) 
be  immediately  raised  and  stationed  in  such  places  in  the 
said  Counties,  as  shall  be  thought  best  by  General  Preble, 
Col.  Enoch  Freeman,  and  Major  Wheaton,  of  St.  George's, 
until  they  receive  further  orders  from  the  Congress,  or  a 
General  Assembly  of  this  Colony ;  and  that  after  they  are 
at  first  stationed,  they  shall  be  under  the  direction  of  Col- 
onel Enoch  Freeman,  who  is  hereby  empowered  to  order 
and  dispose  of  them,  as  in  his  opinion  will  most  conduce  to 
the  general  interest. 

And  the  Committee  of  Supplies  are  hereby  directed  to 
supply  said  Troops  with  Provisions,  agreeable  to  the  allow- 
ance as  established  by  this  Congress. 

And  it  is  recommended  to  the  Selectmen  of  the  several 
Towns  in  the  Counties  aforesaid,  to  supply  the  said  Troops 
with  Ammunition,  which  shall  be  replaced  as  soon  as  the 
Colony  Magazine  can  be  supplied,  or  paid  for  out  of  the 
publick  Treasury.  And  that  Colonel  Freeman  be  and 
hereby  is  appointed  to  muster  the  said  men,  and  to  see  that 
they  are  all  well  prepared  with  Fire-Arms  and  other  ac- 
coutrements. 

Mr.  Hubbard  was  appointed  in  the  room  of  Colonel 
Farley,  on  Mr.  Revere's  Account. 

Ordered,  That  the  Proclamation  for  a  Fast  be  suspended. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  Letter  from 
General  Ward,  reported.  The  Report  was  accepted,  and 
is  as  follows,  viz: 

Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  General  Ward, 
immediately  to  take  effectual  measures  to  apprehend  Lieut. 
Cox,  and  such  Privates  as  have  been  induced  by  the  said 
Lieut.  Cox  to  desert  their  duty,  and  forthwith  to  bring 
said  Cox,  and  such  other  deserters  as  may  be  apprehended, 
to  their  trial,  that  the  said  Lieutenant  Cox  and  his  accom- 
plices may  receive  such  condign  punishment  for  their  ag- 
gravated offences,  as  in  the  rules  and  orders  of  war  is 
provided  for ;  and  it  is  further  recommended  to  the  Com- 
mittees of  all  denominations,  and  the  Selectmen  of  any 
Town  where  said  deserters  may  be,  to  afford  all  possible 
aid  and  assistance  to  the  General  in  apprehending  them. 

Ordered,  That  the  President,  Mr.  Gerry,  Major  Haw- 


1448 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1444 


ley,  Deacon  Cheever,  Colonel  Gcrrish,  Colonel  Lincoln, 
and  Colonel  Porter,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  what  steps 
are  proper  to  be  taken  for  receiving  General  Washington 
with  proper  respect,  and  to  provide  a  house  for  him  accord- 
ingly. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  what  allowance  is 
adequate  to  the  services  of  Captain  John  Lane,  &tc,  in 
bringing  up  four  Indians  from  Penobscot,  reported.  The 
Report  was  accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz: 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  what  allowance  is 
adequate  to  the  services  of  Captain  John  Lane  and  Mr. 
Oilman,  for  their  attendance  in  bringing  up  to  this  Town 
four  Indians,  of  the  Penobscot  Tribe,  beg  leave  to  report, 
that  the  said  Mr.  Lane  proceed  to  raise  a  Company  of 
fifty-six  effective  men,  including  sergeants,  to  join  the 
Army  at  Cambridge,  agreeable  to  the  order  of  the  Com- 
mittee of  Safety;  and  upon  his  raising  said  men,  that  he 
be  entitled  not  only  to  a  Captain's  commission,  but  to  the 
pay  established  for  Captains  :  to  commence  at  the  time  he 
received  his  orders  from  the  Committee  of  Safety. 

That  Mr.  Gilman  be  allowed,  for  forty  clays  attendance 
as  an  interpreter  to  Mr.  Lane,  at  three  Shillings  per  day, 
six  Pounds ;  and  that  the  said  Mr.  Gilman  be  presented 
with  an  honorary  commission,  with  the  rank  of  Lieutenant, 
and  be  desired  to  use  his  influence  to  cultivate  a  peaceable 
disposition  in  the  Indians  at  St.  Francois  and  other  parts 
adjoining,  and  give  intelligence  of  their  temper  and  dispo- 
sitions from  time  to  time,  as  he  shall  have  opportunity,  and 
as  the  importance  of  affairs  may  require ;  and  besides  all 
necessary  charges  and  trouble  for  any  important  intelli- 
gence, he  shall  be  suitably  rewarded. 

The  Committee  for  giving  out  Commissions  were  directed 
to  make  out  an  honorary  commission  for  Mr.  Gilman,  agree- 
able to  the  foregoing  Report. 

Mr.  Pickering  appointed  to  draw  a  Resolve,  directing 
the  Treasurer  to  pay  Mr.  John  Lane  and  Andrew  Gilman1 
agreeable  to  said  Report. 

Colonel  Porter  was  appointed  to  procure  a  Scythe,  and 
carry  it  to  a  Blacksmith  to  be  fixed  for  a  Spear,  in  such  a 
manner  as  he  thinks  fit,  and  bring  it  before  this  Congress 
when  fixed. 

Mr.  Pickering  brought  in  a  Resolve  as  directed,  which 
was  accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz  : 

Resolved,  That  there  be  allowed  and  paid  out  of  the 
publick  Treasury  of  this  Colony,  to  Mr.  Andrew  Gilman, 
the  sum  of  six  Pounds,  in  bills  of  credit  of  this  Colony, 
for  forty  days  attendance  as  an  interpreter  to  four  Indians 
of  the  Penobscot  Tribe,  in  their  late  attendance  at  an  em- 
bassy to  this  Congress  ;  and  the  Receiver-General  is  hereby 
directed  to  pay  the  same  sum  of  six  Pounds  to  Mr.  Gil- 
man, in  bills  of  credit  accordingly. 

Ordered,  That  any  one  of  the  Committee  appointed  to 
procure  Spears,  be  empowered  to  order  the  Blacksmith  to 
work  on  the  Sabbath,  to  complete  the  same  as  soon  as  pos- 
sible. 

Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  our  good  brothers, 
the  Indians  of  the  Penobscot  Tribe,  immediately  to  apply 
to  General  Preble  and  Colonel  Freeman,  of  Falmouth,  for 
a  supply  of  Provisions  and  all  other  necessary  goods,  and 
would  recommend  said  gentlemen  as  the  most  suitable  per- 
sons to  supply  the  Indians,  who  will  undoubtedly  do  them 
justice.  And  it  is  hereby  recommended  to  General  Preble 
and  Colonel  Freeman,  to  supply  said  Indians  with  Provi- 
sions and  all  other  necessary  articles,  upon  the  most  equi- 
table terms,  and  to  receive  their  Furs  and  other  Skins  in 
payment ;  and  the  said  General  Preble  and  Colonel  Free- 
man  are  hereby  desired  to  supply  said  Indians  at  the  Truck 
House  at  Penobscot. 

Ordered,  That  Captain  Stone,  Colonel  Thompson,  and 
Captain  Bragdon,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  the  request 
of  Colonel  Freeman,  to  have  the  Minute  Company  of  the 
Town  of  Sandwich  stationed  at  Naushan  Island. 

Monday  morning,  nine  o'clock,  was  assigned,  agreeable 
to  a  Resolve  of  t lie  Committee  of  Safety,  to  choose  a 
proper  person  to  superintend  the  Armourers  in  the  camp, 
and  to  see  that  they  do  their  duty. 

A  Letter  from  George  Stillman  to  Colonel  Otis  was 
read,  and  committed  to  Mr.  Goodwin,  Mr.  Langdon,  and 
Doctor  Whiting. 


Mr.  Lothrop,  Mr.  Dickerson,  and  Mr.  White,  were  ap- 
pointed a  Committee  to  get  the  Proclamation  of  the  Con- 
tinental Congress  for  a  Fast  reprinted  and  dispersed,  one 
to  each  religious  Assembly  in  the  Colony. 

Mr.  Lothrop,  Deacon  Fisher,  and  Mr.  Parker,  were 
appointed  a  Committee  to  count  and  sort  the  votes  for  some 
person  to  preach  an  Election  Sermon  on  the  nineteenth  of 
July  next. 

The  Committee  reported  that  Mr.  Gordon  was  unani- 
mously chosen,  and  the  President  was  appointed  to  inform 
him  of  the  choice. 

Adjourned  to  eight  o'clock  to-morrow  morning. 

Sabbath  Day,  June  25,  1775. 

Ordered,  That  Captain  Brown,  Major  Fuller,  Mr.  Bige- 
low,  Major  Brooks,  Colonel  Smith,  and  Deacon  Stone,  be 
a  Committee  to  procure  four  hundred  Spades  and  Shovels 
for  the  use  of  the  Army,  immediately;  and  the  said  Com- 
mittee is  directed  to  make  a  list  of  such  persons  of  whom 
they  may  procure  said  Spades  and  Shovels,  with  the  number 
received  of  each  person,  and  the  value  thereof;  and  when 
procured,  that  they  immediately  forward  them  to  the  Army 
at  Cambridge. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  prepare  an  honorary  Com- 
mission for  Mr.  Gilman,  reported  a  form,  which  being 
amended,  was  accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz: 

"  The  Congress  of  the  Colony  of  the  Massachusetts- 
Bay,  to  Andrew  Gilman,  Gentleman,  greeting: 
"  We,  entertaining  a  good  opinion  of  your  prudence,  cou- 
rage, and  good  conduct,  do  appoint,  and  you,  the  said  An- 
drew Gilman,  are  hereby  appointed  to  the  honorary  title  of 
Lieutenant.  And  you  are  to  be  considered  of  that  rank, 
not  only  among  the  good  people  of  this  Province,  but  also 
among  all  our  friends  and  brethren  through  the  Continent ; 
and  we  confide  in  your  readiness  to  promote  the  common 
cause  of  America  among  our  good  brothers,  the  Indians  of 
the  several  Tribes,  which  you  may  have  opportunity  to  be 
acquainted  with,  as  well  as  with  the  inhabitants  of  the 
Province  of  Qucbeck.    By  order  of  the  Congress. 

 ,  President.^ 

The  Petition  of  John  Lane  was  read,  the  prayer  whereof 
was  granted,  and  Colonel  Lincoln  appointed  to  draw  up  a 
Resolve  thereon. 

Colonel  Lincoln  drew  up  a  Resolve  accordingly,  which 
was  accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz: 

Resolved,  That  Henry  Gardner,  Esq.,  Receiver-Gene- 
ral, be  and  he  is  hereby  directed  to  pay  unto  Captain  John 
Lane,  or  his  order,  the  sum  of  twelve  Pounds,  lawful 
money,  being  two  months'  pay  for  a  Captain  in  the  Colony 
service ;  he  the  said  Lane  to  be  accountable  for  that  sum 
to  this  or  some  future  Congress,  or  constitutional  assembly 
of  this  Colony. 

Resolved,  That  Captain  John  Lane  proceed  to  raise  a 
Company  of  fifty-six  effective  men,  including  sergeants,  to 
join  the  Army  at  Cambridge,  agreeable  to  the  order  of  the 
Committee  of  Safety;  and  upon  his  raising  said  men,  that 
he  be  entitled  not  only  to  a  Captain's  commission,  but 
to  the  pay  established  for  Captains,  to  commence  at  the 
time  he  received  his  orders  from  the  said  Committee  of 
Safety. 

Ordered.  That  Deacon  Fisher  draw,  in  form  of  a  Re- 
solve, the  Report  of  the  Committee  relative  to  Andrew 
Gilman. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Lincoln  draw  up  a  Resolve, em- 
powering Mr.  Grannis  to  employ  thirty  men  to  protect  the 
Elizabeth  Islands. 

Mr.  Fisher,  agreeable  to  order,  presented  the  following 
Resolve,  which  was  accepted,  viz: 

Resolvid,  That  Lieutenant  Andrew  Gilman  be  and  here- 
by is  ordered  and  instructed  to  use  his  utmost  influence  to 
cultivate  a  friendly  and  peaceable  disposition  in  the  Indians 
at  St.  Francois,  and  all  other  parts  adjoining,  and  to  give 
intelligence  of  their  temper  and  disposition,  from  time  to 
time,  as  he  shall  have  opportunity,  and  as  the  importance 
of  affairs  may  require  ;  and  also  of  the  Canadians  at  Que- 
beck,  and  other  adjacent  parts  of  Canada,  so  often  as  it  may 
be  in  his  power ;  for  which  service  he  shall  receive  a  proper 
reward. 


1445 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1446 


Colonel  Lincoln,  agreeable  to  order,  presented  the  fol- 
lowing Resolve,  which  was  accepted  : 

Resolved,  That  Captain  John  Gra7inis  be  and  hereby  is 
empowered  immediately  to  engage  thirty  good  able-bodied 
effective  men,  to  be  paid  by  this  Colony,  well  provided  with 
arms  and  ammunition,  and  to  cause  them  to  be  provided 
with  suitable  provisions,  to  repair  without  delay  to  the  Eli- 
zabeth Islands,  so  called,  in  the  County  of  Dukes  County, 
there  to  protect  the  stock;  and  to  impress  such  a  number 
of  boats,  &cc,  as  he  shall  want,  to  transport  the  men  to  and 
from  said  Islands  as  occasion  may  require,  from  time  to  time, 
until  the  further  order  of  this  or  some  future  Congress,  or 
constitutional  assembly  of  this  Colony. 

Ordered,  That  Commissions  for  the  Officers  of  the  Train 
be  immediately  sent  to  the  Committee  of  Safety,  and  that 
they  be  directed  to  deliver  them  to  such  Officers  to  whom 
there  is  no  exception  ;  and  that  Colonel  Porter  be  ap- 
pointed to  carry  said  Commissions  to  the  Committee  of 
Safety,  with  this  order,  immediately. 

Ordered,  That  Commissions  be  delivered  to  certain  offi- 
cers of  Col.  Prescotfs  Regiment,  agreeable  to  the  recom- 
mendation of  the  Committee  of  Safety. 

Afternoon. 

A  draught  of  a  Letter  to  Governour  Trumbull  was  pre- 
sented by  the  Committee  appointed  to  prepare  one,  and 
was  read  and  accepted  ;  and  the  Committee  of  Supplies  di- 
rected to  forward  it  by  express,  and  is  as  follows,  viz : 

"  May  it  please  your  Honour:  From  advices  received 
divers  ways,  we  have  the  greatest  reason  to  determine  that 
all  the  British  Troops  already  destined,  or  that  may  be  yet 
ordered  to  America  this  season,  will  come  to  Boston,  it 
being  evidently  their  design,  if  possible,  to  rout  our  Army 
before  that  place,  destroy  all  our  magazines,  and  thereby 
to  strike  terrour  and  faintness  into  the  hearts  of  all  the 
friends  to  right  and  liberty  throughout  the  Continent ;  to 
revive  and  animate  their  scattered  friends,  and  break  the 
union  of  the  Colonies,  and  in  that  way  insure  final  success 
to  their  tyranny.  This  being  undoubtedly  the  plan  of  our 
enemies,  it  is  of  inexpressible  consequence  that  the  ground 
which  we  have  taken  should  at  all  events  be  maintained. 
Your  Honour  is  no  doubt  fully  sensible  that  our  Army,  for 
the  present,  is  unavoidably  checked,  with  regard  to  offen- 
sive operations,  for  a  reason  of  which  you  are  not  unap- 
prized  ;  but,  however,  we  have  the  means  of  acting  on  the 
defensive. 

"  As  Boston  is  impregnable  against  every  thing  but  great 
artillery,  very  few  troops  are  sufficient  to  keep  it;  and  as 
there  are  two  passes  at  least,  very  distant  from  each  other, 
by  which  the  enemy  will  probably  attempt  to  advance  into 
the  country,  it  is  thereby  rendered  necessary  that  we 
should  throw  our  Army  into  at  least  two  grand  divisions, 
each  of  which  ought  to  be  able  to  withstand  almost  the 
whole  strength  of  the  enemy.  Your  Honour  is  acquainted 
that  it  was  at  first  supposed  to  be  necessary  that  thirty 
thousand  men  should  be  raised  and  stationed  to  act  for  this 
season  in  the  environs  of  Boston.  Thirteen  thousand  six 
hundred  was  the  number  supposed  by  our  Congress  to  be 
this  Colony's  proportion  of  such  an  Army,  and  that  num- 
ber we  have  to  our  utmost  been  endeavouring  fully  to  com- 
plete ;  but  because  there  are  deficiencies  in  our  Regiments, 
(as  your  Honour  well  knows  there  always  will  be  in  such 
cases,)  in  order  to  make  that  quota  good,  we  have  been 
obliged  to  increase  the  number  of  the  Regiments,  but  still 
there  is  a  deficiency;  and  because  of  the  inexpressible  im- 
portance of  having  our  Army  effectually  strong,  we  are,  by 
unremitted  efforts,  and  by  every  device,  at  vast  expense, 
labouring  to  make  that  number  fully  complete,  or  rather  to 
exceed  it. 

"  May  it  please  your  Honour :  Because  we  are  so  vastly 
apprehensive  of  the  fatal  consequences  of  a  general  defeat 
of  this  Army  to  the  whole  American  cause,  and  are  so 
unutterably  solicitous  to  have  it  effectually  strengthened, 
we  have  called  in  every  individual  of  our  levies,  from  all 
our  outposts,  to  join  the  Army  ;  although  by  that  measure 
we  expose  all  our  Towns  on  the  sea-coasts  to  the  rage  and 
depredations  of  the  enemy,  and  run  the  dreadful  risk  of 
the  best  of  our  Towns  being  reduced  to  ashes,  and  taking 
the  miserable  fate  of  Charlestoivn. 

,:  We  beg  leave  to  acquaint  your  Honour,  that  it  is  most 


clearly  our  opinion,  and  that  we  have  the  best  grounds  to 
suppose,  that  as  soon  as  the  enemy  have  recovered  a  little 
breath  from  their  amazing  fatigues  of  the  seventeenth  of 
June,  and  the  surprising  losses  which  they  then  undoubt- 
edly sustained  shall  be  made  up  by  arrivals  of  new  Troops, 
which  is  almost  daily  taking  place,  they  will  direct  all  their 
force  to  some  one  point,  and  make  the  utmost  efforts  to 
force  our  lines,  destroy  our  magazines,  and  thereby  strike 
general  terrour  and  amazement  into  the  hearts  of  the  in- 
habitants of  the  whole  Continent. 

"  From  this  view  of  the  case  we  cannot  a  moment  longer 
forbear  addressing  your  Honour,  and  most  earnestly  sug- 
gesting to  the  immediate  consideration  of  your  General 
Assembly,  not  only  the  expediency,  but  indispensable  ne- 
cessity of  an  immediate  augmentation  of  the  Troops  from 
your  Colony,  for  the  more  effectual  strengthening  of  the 
Army.  What  the  number  of  the  augmentation  ought  to 
be,  we  most  cheerfully  submit  to  the  good  judgment  of  your 
Assembly,  not  in  the  least  doubting  but  their  wisdom  and 
justice  will  direct  and  dispose  them  to  do  all  that  is  proper 
in  so  important  a  crisis  as  we  really  consider  the  present. 

"  W e  need  not  express  to  your  Honour  the  indispensable 
necessity  of  despatch  in  making  re-enforcements,  nor  the 
propriety  and  advantage  of  marching  any  new  levies,  which 
your  Assembly  may  order,  with  all  possible  speed,  without 
the  first  raised  companies  waiting  for  the  completing  of 
others,  inasmuch  as  your  Colony  has  here  on  the  spot  all 
the  proper  officers  to  make  the  necessary  disposition  for 
their  reception.  And  as  the  season  of  their  being  of  any 
advantage  for  the  support  of  our  Army  may  be  irrevocably 
lapsed  before  their  arrival,  if  the  least  unnecessary  delay 
should  be  indulged,  we  have  made  a  representation  to  the 
Lieutenant-Governour  of  Rhode-Island,  similar  to  the  fore- 
going, and  are  about  to  make  a  like  representation  to  the 
Congress  of  New-Hampshire,  and  to  send  the  same  by 
special  express. 

"  We  suppose  the  whole  number  of  our  enemy's  land 
forces,  when  joined  with  the  four  regiments  which  were 
ordered  to  New-  York,  will  amount  to  upwards  of  ten  thou- 
sand, exclusive  of  negroes  and  tories,  who  are  every  way 
provided  and  furnished  in  the  best  manner  for  action. 

"We  have  the  fullest  confidence  that  your  Honour's  zeal 
and  ardour  for  the  salvation  of  our  Country,  and  the  pre- 
servation of  our  inestimable  rights,  will  render  any  impor- 
tunity unnecessary  to  induce  you  to  take  all  the  requisite 
steps  to  effect  the  proposed  augmentation  for  which  we  are 
most  solicitous." 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  what  steps  are 
proper  to  be  taken  for  the  reception  of  General  flashing- 
ton,  reported.  The  Report  was  ordered  to  lie  on  the 
table. 

A  Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Machias,  dated  June 
14,  1775,  was  read,  (respecting  the  capture  of  a  King's 
Cutter,)  and  committed  to  the  Committee  which  was  yes- 
terday appointed  to  consider  a  Letter  on  the  same  subject 
to  Colonel  Otis. 

Mr.  Holmes  was  appointed  in  the  room  of  Col.  Sawyer, 
on  the  Committee  appointed  to  bring  in  a  Resolve  for 
making  the  Notes  of  this  Colony  a  currency  and  tender  for 
payment  in  all  cases. 

Mr.  Davis  was  appointed  in  the  room  of  Captain  Stone, 
on  the  Committee  who  were  appointed  to  consider  the  Pe- 
tition from  Edward  Parry. 

Adjourned  to  Monday  morning,  eight  o'clock. 

Monday,  June  26,  1775. 

Ordered,  That  the  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the 
Petition  of  Mr.  Edward  Parry,  and  the  Report  of  Colonel 
Thompson  relative  to  his  conduct  at  Kennebeck,  be  directed 
to  consider  his,  the  said  Thompson's,  conduct  at  Falmouth, 
with  respect  to  Captain  Mowatt  and  Captain  Coulson,  and 
his  laying  Mr.  Bernard  under  bonds. 

Ordered,  That  the  Committee  appointed  to  deliver  out 
Commissions,  be  directed  to  draw  a  fair  list  of  all  those 
officers  in  the  Army  who  have  been  commissioned,  which 
list  shall  be  attested  by  the  Secretary  and  transmitted  to 
General  Ward. 

A  Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Safety,  proposing  that 
the  Congress  should  appoint  two  persons  to  superintend  the 


1447 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1448 


supply  of  the  Army,  was  read,  and  committed  to  the  Com- 
mittee who  have  under  consideration  the  regulation  of  the 
Army. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Pickering,  Mr.  Nye,  and  Mr.  Fisher, 
be  a  Committee  to  inquire  into  the  state  of  the  Towns' 
stocks  of  Ammunition,  in  the  Counties  of  Worcester  and 
Hampshire,  and  that  said  Committee  sit  forthwith. 

Ordered,  That  all  the  Commissions  for  the  Officers  of 
the  Train  be  forthwith  signed  by  the  Secretary,  (except 
John  Wiley's,  Samuel  Gridley's,  and  John  Calender's,) 
and  sent  to  the  Committee  of  Safety. 

Ordered,  That  no  Handles  be  made  to  Spears  or  other 
weapons  of  war,  or  any  tools  for  the  use  of  the  Army,  of 
Chestnut,  or  any  other  brittle  wood. 

Ordered,  That  the  Committee  appointed  to  inquire  into 
the  grounds  of  a  report  which  has  prevailed,  that  there  has 
been  treachery  in  some  of  the  Officers  of  the  Army,  be  di- 
rected to  proceed  in  their  inquiries. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Porter,  Colonel  Gerrish,  and 
Captain  Thatcher,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  and  report 
to  whom  the  Arms  obtained  by  a  Committee  of  Congress 
shall  be  delivered,  and  when  distributed,  how  the  person 
receiving  them  shall  be  made  accountable. 

Resolved,  That  every  person  who  has  in  possession  any 
of  the  Precepts  lately  issued  by  this  Congress  for  calling  a 
General  Assembly,  be  desired  to  dele  the  word  "  warn" 
and  in  its  stead  insert  the  word  11  cause"  and  that  Mr.  Edes 
be  desired,  in  his  next  Paper,  to  give  notice  of  the  mistake 
made,  by  printing  the  said  word  "  warn"  instead  of  the 
word  "  cause." 

Resolved,  That  Major  Fuller  be  desired  immediately  to 
go  home  to  get  the  returns  of  the  Towns'  stocks  of  Ammu- 
nition. 

The  Report  of  the  Committee  appointed  to  consider 
what  steps  are  proper  to  be  taken  for  the  reception  of 
General  Washington,  was  again  considered,  amended,  and 
accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz: 

Resolved,  That  Doctor  Benjamin  Church  and  Mr.  Moses 
GUI,  be  a  Committee  to  repair  to  Springfield,  there  to 
receive  Generals  Washington  and  Lee,  with  every  mark  of 
respect  due  to  their  exalted  characters  and  stations  ;  to  pro- 
vide proper  escorts  for  them  from  thence  to  the  Army 
before  Boston,  and  the  house  provided  for  their  reception 
at  Cambridge,  and  to  make  suitable  provision  for  them  in 
manner  following,  viz :  by  a  number  of  gentlemen  of  this 
Colony  from  Springfield  to  Brookfield ;  and  by  another 
company,  raised  in  that  neighbourhood,  from  there  to  Wor- 
cester; and  by  another  company,  there  provided,  from  thence 
to  Marlborough ;  and  from  thence,  by  the  troop  of  Horse 
in  that  place,  to  the  Army  aforesaid  :  and  their  company  at 
the  several  stages  on  the  road,  and  to  receive  the  bills  of 
expenses  at  the  several  inns  where  it  may  be  convenient  for 
them  to  stop  for  refreshment,  to  examine  them  and  make 
report  of  the  several  sums  expended  at  each  of  them  for 
that  purpose,  that  orders  may  be  taken  by  the  Congress 
for  the  payment  of  them  ;  and  all  inn-keepers  are  hereby 
directed  to  make  provision  agreeable  to  the  requests  made 
by  the  said  Committee  ;  and  that  General  Ward  be  notified 
of  the  appointment  of  General  Washington  as  Commander- 
in-Chief  of  the  American  Forces,  and  of  the  expectation 
we  have  of  his  speedy  arrival,  with  Major-General  Lee, 
that  he,  with  the  Generals  of  the  Forces  of  the  other  Co- 
lonies, may  give  such  orders  for  their  honourable  reception 
as  may  accord  with  the  rules  and  circumstances  of  the 
Army,  and  the  respect  due  to  their  rank,  without,  how- 
ever, any  expense  of  powder,  and  without  taking  the  Troops 
off  from  the  necessary  attention  to  their  duty  at  this  crisis 
of  our  affairs. 

Resolved,  That  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  be  as- 
signed for  the  purpose  of  choosing  three  persons  as  a  Com- 
mittee to  repair  to  Springfield  to  receive  Generals  Wash- 
ington and  Lee,  agreeable  to  the  foregoing  Resolution. 

TheCommittoc  appointed  to  consider  what  preparations 
are  proper  to  be  made  for  the  reception  of  General  Wash- 
ington, reported  the  following  Resolve;  which  was  accept- 
ed, and  Capt.  Partridge,  Captain  Thatcher,  Mr.  Phillips, 
Major  Goodwin,  and  Mr.  Caldwell,  appointed  a  Committee 
lor  the  purpose  therein  mentioned  : 


Resolved,  That  the  President's  house  in  Cambridge, 
excepting  one  room  reserved  by  the  President  for  his  own 
use,  be  taken,  cleared,  prepared,  and  furnished,  for  the 
reception  of  General  Washington  and  General  Lee;  and 
that  a  Committee  be  chosen  immediately  to  carry  the  same 
into  execution. 

Mr.  Crane  was  appointed  in  the  room  of  Mr.  Hall  on 
the  Committee  chosen  to  consider  Mr.  Revcre's  Account. 

Resolved,  That  the  Committee  appointed  to  prepare 
Letters  to  the  several  Governments  in  New-England  for 
a  re-enforcement  of  men,  omit  preparing  one  for  the  Co- 
lony of  New-Hampshire. 

Ordered,  That  Doctor  Taylor,  Captain  Goodman,  and 
Mr.  Phillips,  be  a  Committee  to  bring  in  a  Resolve  for 
the  purpose  of  preventing  all  imposition  on  the  Committee 
who  have  been  heretofore  directed  to  examine  those  per- 
sons who  may  be  suspected  as  inimical  to  their  Country,  by 
any  person  whatever. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  Letter  from 
Machias  reported.  The  Report  was  accepted,  and  is  as 
follows,  viz : 

Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  this  Congress  be,  and  are 
hereby  given  to  Captain  Jeremiah  Obrian  and  Captain 
Benjamin  Foster,  and  the  other  brave  men  under  their 
command,  for  their  courage  and  good  conduct  in  taking 
one  of  the  Tenders  belonging  to  our  enemies,  and  two 
Sloops  belonging  to  Ichabod  Jones,  and  for  preventing  the 
Ministerial  Troops  being  supplied  with  Lumber;  and  that 
the  said  Tender,  Sloops,  their  appurtenances  and  cargoes, 
remain  in  the  hands  of  the  said  Captains  Obrian  and  Fos- 
ter and  the  men  under  their  command,  for  them  to  use  and 
improve  as  they  shall  think  most  for  their  and  the  publick's 
advantage,  until  the  further  order  of  this  or  some  future 
Congress,  or  House  of  Representatives.  And  that  the 
Committee  of  Safety  for  the  Western  Parish  of  Potvnal- 
borough  be  ordered  to  convey  the  prisoners  taken  by  the 
said  Obrian  and  Foster  from  Pownalborough  Jail  to  the 
Committee  of  Safety  or  Correspondence  for  the  Town  of 
Brunsivick,  and  the  Committee  for  Brunstvick  to  convey 
them  to  some  Committee  in  the  County  of  York,  and  so 
to  be  conveyed  from  County  to  County  till  they  arrive  at 
this  Congress. 

Afternoon. 

Ordered,  That  Commissions  be  delivered  to  Ezra  Bad- 
lam,  Captain  of  the  Train  of  Artillery,  in  the  room  of 
John  Wiley ;  John  Sibley,  Lieutenant ;  Samuel  Daggit, 
Second  Lieutenant;  and  John  Blanchard,  Second  Lieu- 
tenant; agreeable  to  the  recommendation  of  the  Committee 
of  Safety. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Foster,  Mr.  Fisher,  and  Cap- 
tain Goodridgc,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  a  Letter  from 
General  Ward  this  day  received. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Fisher,  Doctor  Whiting,  and  Major 
Brooks,  be  a  Committee  to  receive,  sort,  and  count  the 
votes  for  three  gentlemen  to  go  to  Springfield,  to  meet 
Generals  Washington  and  Lee. 

The  Committee  having  attended  that  service,  reported, 
that  Doctor  Church,  Mr.  Gill,  and  the  Hon.  Major  Jlau- 
ley,  were  chosen. 

The  Hon.  Major  Hawlcy  moved  that  he  might  be  i  \- 
cused  from  that  service ;  and  having  offered  his  reasons, 
the  question  was  put,  and  he  was  excused  accordingly. 

Resolved,  That  the  vote  for  choosing  three  persons  to 
go  to  Springfield,  to  meet  Generals  Washington  and  L<< 
be  reconsidered,  so  far  as  that  only  two  persons  should  be 
appointed  to  repair  thither  on  that  service. 

Resolved,  That  Captain  McKcnstcr  and  Captain  Porter, 
who  have  each  of  them  raised  a  Company  at  New-York 
and  Connecticut,  be  permitted  to  join  Colonel  Patterson  s 
Regiment,  provided  their  Companies  are  complete  and 
equipped,  and  that  Major  Goodwin  bring  in  a  Resolve  for 
this  purpose. 

Resolved,  That  General  WhitcomVs  Commission  be 
dated  the  21st  day  of  June. 

Resolved,  That  the  President  be  desired  to  administer 
to  General  Whitcomb  the  Oath  appointed  to  be  adminis- 
tered to  the  General  Officers  of  the  Army. 


1449 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


i450 


The  President  delivered  to  General  Wkitcomb  a  Com- 
mission as  a  Major-General  of  the  Massachusetts  Army. 

A  Petition  from  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  for 
the  Town  of  Plymouth*  was  read  ;  whereupon 

Resolved,  That  the  prayer  thereof  be  granted,  and  that 
General  Ward  be  directed  to  countermand  his  orders  for 
drawing  off  the  forces  stationed  at  Plymouth. 

On  a  motion  made, 

Voted,  That  this  last  Resolve  be  reconsidered,  and 

Ordered,  That  the  Petition  from  Plymouth  be  com- 
mitted to  Capt.  Parker,  Colonel  Lincoln,  Colonel  Davis, 
Mr.  Phillips,  and  Mr.  Webster. 

Ordered,  That  Commissions  be  delivered  to  the  Officers 
of  Colonel  Little's  Regiment,  agreeable  to  a  list  recom- 
mended by  the  Committee  of  Safety. 

A  list  of  the  Officers  and  Soldiers  of  Captain  Samuel 
Sprague's  Company  was  presented  to  the  Congress; 
whereupon, 

Ordered,  That  Commissions  be  delivered  to  the  said 
Officers,  viz:  Samuel  Sprague,  Captain;  Joseph  Chrcver, 
Lieutenant ;  William  Oliver,  Ensign  ;  and  that  the  Com- 
pany be  joined  to  Colonel  Ger risk's  Regiment. 

Mr.  Goodwin,  agreeable  to  order,  reported  the  following 
Resolve;  which  was  accepted,  viz: 

Whereas,  Captain  Mackinster,  of  Spencer,  and  Captain 
Porter,  of  Jiecket,  have  enlisted,  each  a  Company  of  men 
on  the  establishment  of  this  Colony,  and  not  joined  as  yet 
to  any  Regiment : 

Resolved,  That  the  said  Companies  be  joined  to  Colonel 
Jo/in  Patterson's  Regiment,  now  stationed  at  Cambridge, 
immediately:  provided  said  Companies  are  full,  or  near 
full,  and  that  each  man  is  equipped  with  a  good  and  suffi- 
cient Firelock  ;  and  that  they  join  their  Regiment  as  soon 
as  may  be. 

Ordered,  That  Commissions  be  delivered  to  Captain 
Reuben  Dow  and  Lieutenant  John  Goss,  as  officers,  agree- 
able to  the  respective  titles  affixed  to  their  names,  in  Col. 
Prescotl's  Regiment. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  and  report  to 
whom  the  Arms,  procured  by  a  Committee  of  this  Con- 
gress, should  be  delivered,  kc,  reported  the  following  Re- 
solve :  which  was  read,  and  accepted,  viz : 

Whereas,  this  Congress  have  ordered  a  number  of  Fire- 
Arms  to  be  furnished  from  several  Towns  and  Districts  in 
this  Colony,  to  be  forwarded  to  the  Army  to  supply  those 
who  are  destitute  of  Arms,  but  no  provision  is  made  for 
delivering  them  out,  and  taking  proper  receipts  for  the 
same : 

*  PETITION  FROM  THE  COMMITTEE  OF  CORRESPONDENCE  OF  PLYMOUTH. 

To  the  Honourable  Provincial  Congress,  now  sitting  at  Watertown  : 
The  Petition  of  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  for  the  Town  of 
Plymouth  humbly  sheweth  : 

That  your  petitioners  have  this  day  received  intelligence  that  a  vote 

passed  your  House  the  instant,  determining  to  remove  to 

Head-Quarters  that  part  of  Colonel  Cotton's  Regiment  which  has  been, 
by  order  of  your  most  respectable  body,  stationed  in  this  place  for  the 
security  and  protection  of  the  lives  and  property  of  this  greatly  exposed 
and  much  threatened  Town.  We,  your  petitioners,  have  lately 
received  undoubted  intelligence,  by  one  of  our  townsmen,  who  has 
been  taken  by  a  tender,  and  carried  into  Boston,  that  Admiral  Graves 
made  particular  inquiry  into  the  circumstances  of  this  Town,  and  said 
that  we  were  a  rebellious  people,  and  that,  in  consequence  of  our  build, 
ing  a  fort  in  opposition  to  the  King's  Troops,  it  should  not  be  long 
before  he  would  blow  the  Town  about  our  ears.  Your  petitioners 
are  very  sensible  that,  should  the  troops  be  called  away  from  this 
station,  the  Town  of  Plymouth,  as  well  as  the  adjacent  Villages,  will 
lie  open  to  the  ravages  of  our  enemies,  and  that  it  will  be  no  difficult 
nutter  for  them  to  plunder  and  destroy  us.  The  poor  of  this  Town 
are  already  much  distressed,  by  reason  of  the  stop  put  to  the  Fishery, 
and  can  scarcely  subsist  upon  what  they  get  out  of  the  clam  banks, 
and  by  fishing  in  boats  ;  and  should  they  be  driven  from  their  huts  into 
the  barren  country  that  surrounds  us,  they  must  (for  aught  we  see) 
perish  with  hunger  and  for  want  of  habitations,  there  not  being  houses 
within  twenty  miles  sufficient  to  receive  them.  These  poor  people 
consist  principally  of  women  and  children,  their  husbands  and  parents 
having  enlisted  themselves  into  the  service  of  the  Colony.  Your  peti- 
tioners are  very  far  from  desiring  to  create  any  unnecessary  expense 
to  the  Colony ;  but,  at  the  same  time,  think  it  necessary  that  said  troops 
remain  with  us,  and  are  of  opinion  that,  should  they  be  withdrawn, 
the  Town  will  be  immediately  evacuated.  And,  for  the  above  reasons, 
your  petitioners,  as  in  duty  bound,  &c. 

For  and  by  order  of  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  for  the  Town 
of  Plymouth:  Andrew  Croswell,  Cleric, 

Gamaliel  Bradford,  Jun., 

John  Gray. 

P.  S.  The  Committee  of  Correspondence  for  the  Towns  of  Dux. 
bury  and  Kingston,  which  lie  on  Plymouth  Bay,  join  in  the  general 
prayer  of  the  above  Petition. 


Therefore,  Resolved,  That  all  the  Small-Arms  that  are 
or  may  be  procured  by  the  above  order,  be  delivered  to 
Major  Nathaniel  Barber,  Military  Storekeeper  at  Cam- 
bridge, he  to  give  his  receipt  for  the  same  to  the  person 
or  persons  from  whom  he  receives  them  ;  that  the  same  be 
delivered  out  to  such  officers  as  shall  produce  orders  there- 
for from  the  Hon.  General  Ward,  they  giving  receipts  for 
the  same  to  the  said  Major  Barber,  to  be  returned  in  good 
order,  unless  lost  in  the  service  of  the  Colony.  And  every 
soldier  who  shall  receive  any  such  Fire-Ami,  shall  give 
his  receipt  for  the  same  to  the  officer  from  whom  he  shall 
receive  it,  to  be  returned  as  aforesaid  ;  and  in  case  the  same 
shall  not  be  returned  at  the  close  of  the  campaign,  or 
sooner,  the  value  of  the  said  Fire-Arm  shall  be  deducted 
out  of  the  wages  of  the  person  receiving  the  same;  and 
that  the  sum  of  six  shillings  shall  be  deducted  out  of  the 
wages  of  each  soldier  who  shall  receive  such  Fire-Arm. 
for  the  use  of  the  same,  in  case  he  returns  it  again  in  good 
order. 

The  Committee  on  the  Petition  of  Edward  Parry,  inc.. 
reported.  The  Report  was  read,  amended,  and  accepted, 
and  is  as  follows,  viz.* 

The  Committee  on  the  Petition  from  Plymouth,  report- 
ed.   The  Report  was  read,  but  not  accepted. 

Ordered,  That  the  Hon.  Colonel  Gerrish,  Captain 
Bragdon,  Colonel  Thompson,  Colonel  Freeman,  and  Mr. 
Lothrop,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  what  measures  are 
proper  to  be  taken  for  the  defence  and  protection  of  the 
sea-coasts. 

Ordered,  That  the  Committee  last  chosen  consider 
several  Petitions  which  were  committed  to  the  Commit- 
tee some  time  since  appointed  to  consider  the  state  of  the 
sea-coasts ;  and  that  said  Committee  first  consider  the  case 
of  the  Town  of  Plymouth,  as  represented  in  the  Petition 
from  that  Town. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  conduct  of 
Colonel  Thompson,  at  Falmouth,  with  respect  to  Captain 
Mowatt,  reported.  The  Report  was  oidered  to  subside  : 
it  was  as  follows : 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  conduct  of 
Colonel  Thompson,  at  Falmouth,  with  respect  to  Captain 
Moivatt,  &c,  and  his  laying  Mr.  Barnard  under  bond, 
are  of  opinion  that  said  Thompson's  conduct  was  friendly 
to  his  Country  and  the  cause  of  liberty,  and  that  said  Bar- 
nard's conduct  appears  to  have  been  inimical  to  both.  All 
which  we  humbly  submit  to  this  Congress. 

Adjourned  to  Tuesday  morning,  eight  o'clock. 

Tuesday,  June  27,  1775. 

A  Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Albany,  dated  June 
23,  1775,  was  read  ;  whereupon, 

Ordered,  That  Doctor  Whiting,  Mr.  Greenleaf,  and 
Mr.  Hopkins,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  the  same,  and 
prepare  an  answer  thereto. 

Resolved,  That  four  persons  be  added  to  the  Commit- 
tee of  Supplies,  and  that  eleven  o'clock  this  forenoon  be 
assigned  for  the  choice  of  them. 

The  Committee  appointed  yesterday  to  consider  General 
Ward's  Letter,  reported  a  Resolve;  which  was  accept- 
ed, and  ordered  to  be  printed  in  handbills,  and  dispersed 
throughout  the  Colony.    And  thereupon, 

Ordered,  That  Captain  Goodridge,  Mr.  Partridge. 
and  Mr.  Caldwell,  be  a  Committee  for  that  purpose. 

A  Letter  from  Isaac  Stone,  relative  to  Francis  Moore. 
a  baker,  was  read,  and  is  as  follows,  viz : 

"June  25, 1775. 

"Mr.  President:  I  am, Sir,  now  upon  my  return  to  visit 
my  family ;  have  just  been  informed  by  Mr.  Isaac  Shear- 
man, a  baker  at  Marlborough,  that  he  has  been  employed 
by  one  Francis  Moore,  of  Cambridge,  a  baker  for  our  Army; 
for  a  considerable  lime ;  that  the  said  Moore  bakes  one  or 
two  batches  of  biscuit  every  day  out  of  the  flour  belong- 
ing to  the  Colony,  to  the  value  of  twenty  shillings,  lawful 
money,  per  batch;  which  biscuit,  together  with  some  quan- 
tity of  eight-penny  loaves,  are  sold  constantly  for  private 
use  to  any  body  who  wants  to  purchase,  and  no  account  is 
kept  of  the  flour  used  for  that  purpose,  or  of  the  biscuit 

*  The  report  referred  to  in  the  text  is  neither  entered  on  the  Journal, 
nor  preserved  on  the  files  of  Congress. — Lincoln. 


1451 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1452 


or  bread  thus  sold.  He,  the  said  Shearman,  says  he 
inquired  of  Mr.  Fenno,  Moore's  foreman,  upon  what  con- 
ditions Moore  baked  for  the  Army,  and  he  told  him  the 
Colony  made  Mr.  Moore  debtor  for  the  flour  he  received 
of  them,  and  Moore  made  the  Colony  debtor  for  the  bread 
he  delivered  to  the  Army;  that  there  could  be  no  other 
way.  Shearman  says,  if  that  is  the  case,  Moore  must 
make  a  very  large  advance  ;  that  the  bread  made  with 
thirty  pounds  worth  of  flour  would  amount  to  forty 
pounds;  that  Moore  supplies  about  that  quantity  every 
day:  so  that  if  he  took  some  of  the  Colony  flour  for  pri- 
vate use,  and  is  honest  in  the  weight  of  the  bread,  he 
would  advance  ten  Pounds,  lawful  money,  per  day.  Be- 
sides, he  says  one  of  Moore's  boys  reported,  that  the 
loaves  were  not  weight,  and  the  Commissary  examined 
and  found  it  so;  that  Moore  severely  corrected  the  boy 
for  telling.  Upon  the  whole,  Shearman  supposes  Moore 
is  in  a  way  of  making  money  fast.  Shearman  says  he  is 
personally  knowing  to  these  facts,  and  they  may  be  suffi- 
ciently proved.  Thus  far,  Sir,  1  thought  it  my  duty,  as  a 
member  of  the  honourable  Congress,  to  inform,  and  hope 
every  unfaithful  servant  will  be  dismissed.  All  which  is 
humbly  submitted.    Yours,  &lc.  Isaac  Stone. 

•'  To  the  Honourable  James  Warren,  Esquire,  President 
of  Congress,  at  Watertown." 

Ordered,  That  the  said  Letter  be  immediately  trans- 
mitted to  the  Committee  of  Supplies. 

Ordered,  That  Deacon  Fisher,  Captain  Batchelder, 
Captain  Stone  of  Framingham,  join  with  Mr.  Pidgeon  in 
an  inquiry  into  the  conduct  of  said  Moore,  and  report  to 
this  Congress. 

Ordered,  That  the  Resolve  just  now  past,  in  conse- 
quence of  General  Ward's  Letter,  be  reconsidered,  and 
that  it  be  recommitted,  together  with  the  Resolve  passed 
relative  to  absconding  soldiers,  to  Mr.  Partridge,  Mr. 
Hopkins,  and  Captain  Goodrich. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Thatcher  be  appointed  to  apply  to 
the  brother  of  our  late  President  for  such  Papers  belong- 
ing to  this  Congress  as  he  may  have  in  his  possession. 

Ordered,  That  Dr.  Taylor,  Colonel  Coffin,  and  Cap- 
tain Webster,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  a  Letter  from 
General  Thomas,  respecting  a  petition  for  liberty  to  permit 
Provisions  to  be  carried  to  those  who  were  taken  prisoners 
by  Gage's  Troops,  on  the  17th  instant,  now  in  Boston. 

A  number  of  Letters  were  presented  to  the  Congress 
by  Mr.  Palfrey,  lately  arrived  from  England;  some  of 
which  were  read,  and  then  the  whole  were  committed  to 
Dr.  Taylor,  Mr.  Partridge,  and  Captain  Brown. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Bigeloiv  be  appointed  to  go  to 
Cambridge  to  inquire  if  there  are  any  blank  Commissions 
at  the  Committee  of  Safety's  room. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Webster,  Mr.  Partridge,  and  Cap- 
tain Goodman,  be  a  Committee  to  receive  and  sort  the 
votes  for  four  gentlemen  to  be  added  to  the  Committee  of 
Supplies. 

The  Committee  having  attended  that  service,  reported, 
that  Colonel  James  Prescott,  Colonel  Elisha  Porter, 
Major  Brooks,  and  Captain  Vose,  were  chosen. 

Major  Brooks  having  requested  that  he  might  be  ex- 
cused, was  excused,  and  Colonel  Barrett  was  chosen  in 
his  room. 

Ordered,  That  the  Secretary  make  out  a  proper  cer- 
tificate of  the  choice  of  the  above-named  four  gentlemen  on 
the  Committee  of  Supplies. 

The  Committee  on  the  account  of  Mr.  Paul  Revere, 
reported.    The  Report  was  recommitted. 

A  Letter  from  General  Ward  was  read,  nominating 
Colonel  William  Henshaw  to  be  an  Adjutant-General  in 
the  Massachusetts  Army;  whereupon, 

Ordered,  That  a  Commission  be  made  out  for  him 
accordingly. 

Ordered,  That  the  Hon.  Major  Hawlcy,  Mr.  Picker- 
ing, and  Col.  Porter,  be  a  Committee  to  prepare  Letters 
to  the  Continental  Congress,  requesting  their  aid  in  fur- 
nishing us  with  Gunpowder;  and  also  to  prepare  another 
Letter  to  Governour  Trumbull,  requesting  him  to  take 
some  steps  for  collecting  Powder  from  the  several  Towns 


in  the  Colony  of  Connecticut,  to  be  sent  to  Head-Quarters 

at  Cambridge,  as  this  Colony  is  now  doing. 

A  Letter  from  General  Thomas  was  read,  nominating 
Mr.  Samuel  Brewer  to  be  an  Adjutant-General  in  the 
Massachusetts  Army;  whereupon, 

Ordered,  That  a  Commission  be  made  out  for  him 
accordingly. 

Resolved,  That  Mr.  Ezekiel  Cheever  be  appointed 
Storekeeper  of  the  Ordnance,  in  the  room  of  Major  Bar- 
ber, who  has  declined  accepting  of  that  trust ;  and  that 
five  o'clock,  P.  M.,  be  assigned  for  considering  the  expe- 
diency of  augmenting  the  Pay  of  the  Storekeeper  of  the 
Ordnance. 

Ordered,  That  Captain  Holmes,  Captain  Brown,  and 
Captain  Batchelder,  be  a  Committee  to  examine  Ensign 
Robert  Campbell,  lately  arrived  from  England,  and  now 
a  prisoner  in  this  Town,  and  to  report  what  is  proper  to 
be  done  with  him. 

Afternoon. 

Ordered,  That  Captain  Farley,  Captain  Divight,  and 
Mr.  Webster  be  a  Committee  to  prepare  an  Address  to  the 
several  Towns  in  the  Colony  who  may  be  applied  to  to 
furnish  the  Army  with  Powder. 

Resolved,  That  Mr.  Edes  be  desired  to  print  three 
hundred  blank  Commissions,  agreeable  to  the  form  lately 
made  use  of  for  the  Officers  of  the  Army. 

A  Petition  from  Jonathan  Hicks  and  Josiah  Jones, 
prisoners  in  Concord  Jail,  was  read,  and  ordered  to  lie  on 
the  table. 

A  Letter  from  S.  L.  was  read,  and  ordered  to  lie  on  the 
table. 

A  Petition  from  the  Committees  of  the  several  Town- 
ships of  Goldsborough,  Narragaugus,  and  Number  Four, 
was  read,*  and  committed  to  Captain  Parker,  Colonel 
Smith,  and  Captain  Ellis,  who  are  directed  to  consider 
the  propriety  of  supplying  the  inhabitants  of  Machias  with 
some  three-pounders  and  some  swivel  balls. 

The  Committee  made  report  as  follows,  viz : 
The  Committee  appointed  to  take  into  consideration  the 
Petition  of  the  Towns  of  Goldsborough,  Narragaugus, 
and  the  Township  Number  Four,  beg  leave  to  report,  that 
it  be  recommended  to  the  Committee  of  Correspondence 
and  Committee  of  Safety,  in  the  County  of  Essex,  that 
they  supply  the  three  Towns  abovementioned  with  one 
hundred  bushels  of  Grain,  five  barrels  of  Pork,  and  one 
cask  of  Molasses,  to  each  Town ;  and  take  security  of 
William  Shaw,  Joseph  Wallis,  and  Phineas  TVhitlen,  peti- 
tioners, for  the  pay  in  Lumber,  or  such  other  things  as 
may  suit  for  pay  best;  and  if  not  paid  in  a  reasonable 
time,  it  shall  be  paid  out  of  the  publick  Treasury  of  this 
Colony. 

Ordered,  That  Captain  Shillaber  be  directed  to  bring 
in  a  Resolve  for  the  purpose  of  assuring  the  officers  and 
soldiers  that,  notwithstanding  the  date  of  the  officers'  com- 
missions, the  Pay  of  both  officers  and  soldiers  shall  com- 
mence at  the  time  of  their  enlistment. 

Ordered,  That  Commissions  be  made  out  to  the  subal- 
tern officers  of  Captain  Edward  Craft's  Company,  in  the 

*  To  the  Honourable  Gentlemen  of  the  Provincial  Congress  for  the 
Massachusetts-Bay  : 
Gentlemen:  The  humble  Petition  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Goldsho. 
rough,  Number  Four,  and  Narragaugus,  in  the  County  of  Lincoln,  in 
said  Province,  humbly  shews  :  That  the  particularly  alarming  situation 
of  this  County,  as  well  as  the  whole  Continent,  induces  us  to  address 
your  Honours,  and  particularly  to  lay  before  you  the  distressed  situa- 
tion of  said  Towns,  holding  ourselves  as  true  friends  to  the  cause  that 
all  America,  as  well  as  ourselves,  are  now  supporting.  At  present  we 
are  almost  destituto  of  all  kinds  of  provisions,  as  well  as  ammunition ; 
and  the  many  reports  we  have  that  we  may  expect  tho  Indians  on  our 
backs,  and  the  tenders  in  our  harbours  to  distress  us,  oblige  us  to  pray 
that  your  Honours  may  assist  us  in  that  way  that  you  in  your  wisdom 
may  think  best ;  for  which  we  shall  be  always  ready  to  make  you  full 
satisfaction.    And  your  petitioners,  as  in  duty  bound,  shall  ever  pray. 

William  Shaw, 
B.  Gi.ksiisher, 
Committee  of  the  Township  of  Goldsborough. 
Joseph  Wallis, 
Alexander  Campbell, 
Committee  of  the  Township  of  Narragaugus. 
John  Stevens, 
Phineas  Wiiitlen, 
Committee  of  the  Township  Number  Four. 


1453 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1454 


Train,  agreeable  to  the  recommendation  of  the  Committee 
of  Safety. 

A  Letter  from  Elisha  Phelps,  dated  June  12,  1775, 
was  read,  and  ordered  to  lie  on  the  table. 

The  Letter  from  Mr.  Isaac  Stone,  which  was  this  day 
transmitted  to  the  Committee  of  Supplies,  was,  by  that 
Committee,  returned,  and  again  read,  and  thereupon, 

Ordered,  That  Major  Fuller  be  directed  to  notify  the 
Commissary-General  to  attend  this  Congress  on  the  sub- 
ject thereof. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  in  what  way  the 
sea-coasts  should  be  protected,  reported  ;  whereupon, 

Ordered,  That  the  Committee  of  Supplies  and  all  Com- 
mittees of  the  House  now  out,  be  directed  immediately  to 
give  attendance. 

Ordered,  That  the  Committee  appointed  to  provide 
Hospitals  for  the  Army  be  directed  to  provide  another 
Hospital  to  be  appropriated  solely  for  such  of  the  Army 
as  may  be  taken  with  the  Small-Pox,  and  to  consider  what 
measures  can  be  taken  to  prevent  the  spreading  of  that 
distemper ;  and  that  Doctor  Rand  and  Doctor  Foster  be 
added  to  the  Committee. 

Resolved,  That  the  Resolve  passed  yesterday,  directing 
how  the  Fire-Arms  should  be  distributed,  be  reconsidered. 
The  same  being  amended,  was  again  accepted,  and  is  as 
follows,  viz: 

Whereas,  this  Congress  has  ordered  a  number  of  Fire- 
Arms  to  be  furnished  from  several  Towns  and  Districts  in 
this  Colony,  to  be  forwarded  to  the  Army  to  supply  those 
who  are  destitute  of  Arms,  but  no  provision  is  made  for 
delivering  them  out,  and  taking  proper  receipts  for  the 
same:  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  all  the  Small-Arms  that  are  or  may  be 
procured  by  the  above  order,  be  delivered  to  the  Com- 
mittee of  Safety  at  Cambridge,  they  to  give  their  receipt 
for  the  same  to  the  person  from  whom  they  receive  them, 
that  the  same  be  delivered  out  to  such  officers  as  shall  pro- 
duce orders  therefor  from  the  Hon.  General  Ward,  they 
giving  receipts  for  the  same  to  the  said  Committee  of 
Safety,  to  be  returned  in  good  order,  unless  lost  in  the 
service  of  the  Colony.  And  every  soldier  who  shall 
receive  any  such  fire-arm,  shall  give  his  receipt  for  the 
same  to  the  officer  from  whom  he  shall  receive  it,  to  be 
returned  as  aforesaid,  and  the  officer  shall  return  the  said 
receipts  to  the  Committee  of  Safety ;  and  in  case  the  same 
shall  not  be  relumed  at  the  close  of  the  campaign,  or 
sooner,  the  value  of  the  said  fire-arm  shall  be  deducted 
out  of  the  wages  of  the  person  receiving  the  same  ;  and 
that  the  Committee  of  Safety  shall  appraise  all  such  arms 
as  have  not  already  been  appraised,  and  take  an  account  of 
the  whole. 

Ordered,  That  Col.  William  Henshaw,  an  Adjutant- 
General,  take  the  oath  appointed  to  be  taken  by  the  Offi- 
cers and  Soldiers  of  the  Massachusetts  Army,  and  that  a 
commission  as  Adjutant-General  be  delivered  to  him. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  examine  Ensign  Robert 
Campbell,  reported  the  following  Resolve,  which  was  ac- 
cepted : 

The  Committee  appointed  to  take  into  consideration  the 
case  of  a  Prisoner  bound  to  Boston  to  join  the  Army  under 
the  command  of  General  Gage,  have  examined  said  Pri- 
soner;  and  his  account  of  himself  is,  that  his  name  is 
Robert  Campbell,  about  seventeen  years  old,  son  of  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Alexander  Campbell,  who. is  now  Lieute- 
nant-Governour  of  Fort  George,  in  Inverness,  and  is  one 
of  the  first  families  in  Scotland.  Said  Robert  Campbell 
further  says,  he  was  born  in  the  Army,  and  now  has  a 
recommendation  for  an  Ensign's  commission  in  the  Thirty- 
Fifth  Regiment. 

Resolved,  That  Robert  Campbell  be  sent  immediately 
1o  the  care  of  the  Selectmen  of  Concord,  to  be  by  them  put 
under  keepers  or  into  prison,  and  provided  for  as  their  pru- 
dence shall  direct,  until  the  further  order  of  this  Congress, 
or  some  future  House  of  Representatives,  and  that  he  be 
delivered  to  Colonel  Barrett,  to  be  conveyed  to  said  Select- 
men of  Concord. 

An  Account  of  Simeon  Fish  and  John  Toby,  of  the  ex- 
penses of  bringing  Ensign  Robert  Campbell  from  Falmouth 


to  this  Congress,  was  read,  and  committed  to  the  Commit- 
tee who  were  appointed  to  examine  said  Campbell. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  inquire  into  the  state  of  the 
several  Towns'  stocks  in  the  Counties  of  Hampshire  and 
Worcester,  reported  a  schedule,  containing  an  account  of 
the  stocks  of  the  several  Towns  in  said  Counties,  which 
was  committed  to  Mr.  Singlctary,  Mr.  Nye,  and  Mr.  Cutt, 
who  were  directed  to  consider  what  quantity  should  be 
drawn  from  each  Town  for  the  use  of  the  Army. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  Letter  of 
General  Thomas,  relative  to  the  request  of  a  number  of  our 
wounded  friends  in  captivity  in  Boston,  reported.  The 
Report  was  accepted,  and  a  copy  of  it  ordered  to  be  sent  to 
General  Thomas,  and  is  as  follows,  viz : 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  request  of  a 
number  of  our  wounded  friends  now  in  captivity  in  Boston, 
beg  leave  to  report,  that  General  Thomas  be  requested 
moderately  to  supply  said  Prisoners  with  fresh  Meat,  in 
case  he  can  convey  it  to  them,  and  them  only. 

The  Report  of  the  Committee  appointed  to  consider 
some  means  for  protecting  the  sea-coasts  was  again  read 
and  considered,  and,  after  debate,  the  further  consideration 
of  it  was  put  off  till  to-morrow  morning. 

Adjourned  to  to-morrow  morning,  eight  o'clock. 

Wednesday,  June  2S,  1775. 
The  Committee  appointed  to  prepare  an  answer  to  the 
Letter  from  Albany,  reported. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Lincoln  bring  in  a  Resolve 
making  five  of  the  Committee  of  Supplies  to  be  a  quorum, 
or  in  defect  of  five,  that  three  may  be  a  quorum,  provided 
the  Chairman  be  one  of  the  three. 

Colonel  Lincoln  reported  a  Resolve,  which  was  read, 
accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz: 

Whereas,  the  publick  interest  often  makes  it  necessary 
that  a  very  considerable  number  of  the  Committee  of  Sup- 
plies should  be  absent  on  business  of  the  Colony,  and  as  no 
orders  can  be  paid  by  the  Receiver-General  but  such  as 
are  signed  by  the  said  Committee,  or  the  major  part  of 
them,  by  reason  whereof  the  publick  service  may  be  ob- 
structed and  greatly  delayed;  for  the  prevention  of  which, 
it  is 

Resolved,  That  three  of  said  Committee  of  Supplies, 
the  Chairman,  David  Cheever,  Esquire,  being  always  one 
of  the  three,  shall,  when  there  are  less  than  five  present,  be 
considered  as  a  quorum  ;  and  all  orders,  bargains,  and  con- 
tracts by  them  made,  shall  be  held  good  to  all  intents  and 
purposes,  as  fully  as  though  the  whole  of  said  Committee 
were  present  and  assenting  to  such  orders,  bargains,  and 
contracts,  and  that  the  Receiver-General  of  this  Colony 
be,  and  hereby  is  directed  to  govern  himself  accordingly. 

The  Letter  prepared  to  be  sent  to  the  Committee  of 
Albany  was  accepted,  and  is  as  follows : 

"  Gentlemen  :  This  Congress  have  received  your  verv 
obliging  letter  by  Mr.  Price,  of  the  23d  ultimo,  and  they 
cheerfully  embrace  the  opportunity  to  forward  to  you  by 
the  same  hand,  as  particular  an  account  of  the  late  engage- 
ment with  the  enemies  of  America  as  we,  in  the  present 
hurry  of  our  publick  affairs,  are  able  to  do.  On  the  night 
of  the  16th  of  June  instant,  a  body  of  our  Troops  took  pos- 
session of  a  hill  in  Charlestown,  where  they  began  some 
intrenchments ;  but  as  soon  as  the  morning  light  appeared, 
they  were  fired  upon  by  some  of  the  ships  in  Boston  har- 
bour, and  also  from  a  battery  on  Copp's  Hill,  which  is  on 
Boston  side.  Soon  after,  several  ships  and  floating  batteries 
drew  up  as  near  as  possible  on  each  side  of  Charlestown 
Neck,  in  order,  with  their  cannon,  to  annoy  our  people,  and 
prevent  any  recruits  going  from  our  main  body  to  their 
relief.  About  two  o'clock,  P.  M.,  a  large  body  of  regular 
Troops,  consisting  of  several  thousands,  commanded  by 
Lord  Howe,  suddenly  crossed  Charles  River,  and  landed 
near  the  hill  on  which  our  people  were  posted.  They 
immediately  marched  up,  in  order  to  force  our  infant  in- 
trenchments ;  but  our  people  gave  them  so  warm  a  recep- 
tion, that  they  thought  best  to  retreat,  but  soon  renewed 
their  attempts,  but  were  repulsed  the  second  time  with 
great  slaughter;  but  on  their  third  attempt  our  people 
(being  almost  destitute  of  ammunition,  as  the  enemy's  con- 


1455 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1456 


stant  fire  from  their  ships  and  floating  batteries  had  pre- 
vented any  supplies  from  our  main  Army)  were  obliged  to 
retreat,  with  the  loss  of  about  fifty  men  killed,  and  two 
hundred  wounded,  as  near  as  has  yet  been  ascertained,  and 
about  thirty  taken  prisoners,  many  of  whom  were  wound- 
ed, and  some  are  since  dead  of  their  wounds.  The  loss 
on  the  part  of  our  enemies  is  much  greater.  Some  per- 
sons who  were  on  the  field  of  battle  soon  after  the  fight, 
affirm  that  they  saw  eight  hundred  men  dead  on  the 
ground,  and  that  there  were  as  many  more  wounded.  The 
lowest  accounts  we  have  had  is  one  thousand  killed  and 
wounded,  among  which  are  eighty  four  commissioned  offi- 
cers. On  the  same  day  the  Town  of  Charlestown,  con- 
sisting of  near  five  hundred  houses  and  other  buildings,  was, 
by  those  bloody  incendiaries,  set  on  fire  and  consumed  to 
ashes.  We  cannot,  however,  but  assure  you,  gentlemen, 
that,  notwithstanding  our  present  distressed  situation,  we 
feel  a  peculiar  satisfaction  in  finding  our  patriotick  brethren 
of  the  City  and  County  of  Albany  so  cordially  interesting 
themselves  in  our  particular  welfare,  and  so  kindly  offering 
us  their  assistance,  as  well  as  manifesting  their  zeal  for  the 
rights  and  liberties  of  America  in  general.  It  is  our  ardent 
desire  to  cultivate  harmony  and  friendship  with  all  our 
neighbouring  brethren,  and  we  hope  you  will  not  fail  to 
continue  your  favours ;  and  we  assure  you  that  we  shall 
always  take  pleasure  in  conveying  to  you  any  intelligence 
that  shall  afford  satisfaction.  As  to  the  benevolent  dona- 
tions you  mention,  which  are  collected  for  our  distressed 
brethren,  as  the  transporting  the  article  you  make  mention 
of  is  almost  impracticable,  we  think  it  had  better  be  ex- 
changed for  cash,  or  some  necessary  specie,  which  may  be 
more  easily  transported.  We  are  sorry  to  hear  there  is 
any  prospect  of  an  attack  upon  Ticonderoga,  &c,  but  we 
trust  those  important  fortresses  are  sufficiently  garrisoned, 
and  doubt  not  but  our  brave  countrymen  stationed  there 
will  be  able  to  repulse  any  force  which  can  be  sent  against 
them  from  Canada.  Finally,  brethren,  we  ardently  wish 
that  the  great  Supreme  Being,  who  governs  all  things,  may 
so  direct  all  our  military  operations,  that  they  may  speedily 
issue  in  the  full  restoration  and  peaceable  possession  of  the 
natural  and  constitutional  rights  and  liberties  of  every 
American. 

"  P.  S.  Some  make  the  number  of  our  killed  and  mis- 
sing to  be  near  a  hundred." 

The  Committee  on  the  Account  of  Messrs.  Fish  and 
Toby,  reported.  The  Report  was  accepted,  and  is  as  fol- 
lows, viz : 

Resolved,  That  Simeon  Fish  and  John  Toby  be  allow- 
ed and  paid  out  of  the  publick  Treasury  of  this  Colony, 
six  Pounds,  seven  Shillings,  for  their  time  and  expenses  in 
bringing  Robert  Cumpbcll,  a  prisoner,  from  Falmouth  to 
this  Congress,  and  also  for  their  time  and  expenses  back  to 
Falmouth  again;  and  the  Receiver-General  is  hereby  di- 
rected to  pay  the  said  sum  of  six  Pounds,  seven  Shillings, 
to  the  said  Fish  and  Toby,  in  full  discharge  of  their  ex- 
penses as  aforesaid. 

The  Committee  who  were  appointed  to  consider  the 
Resolves  of  this  Congress  relative  to  absconding  Soldiers, 
reported.    The  Report  was  recommitted. 

Mr.  Pidgeon  was  introduced,  on  the  subject  of  Captain 
Stone's  Letter  respecting  Mr.  Moore. 

Ordered,  That  Deacon  Fisher,  Captain  Batchclder, 
and  Captain  Stone  of  Framingham,  be  a  Committee  to 
join  with  Mr.  Pidgeon  in  an  inquiry  into  the  conduct  of  said 
Moore,  and  report  to  this  Congress. 

Ordered,  That  Captain  Batchelder,  Colonel  Coffin, 
and  Captain  Goodman,  be  a  Committee  to  bring  in  a  Re- 
solve for  the  purpose  of  saving  Provisions  in  the  Army. 

A  list  of  persons  recommended  as  Deputy  Commissaries 
was  read,  and  committed  to  Mr.  Greenlcaf,  Captain  Car- 
penter, and  Mr.  Johnson. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  bring  in  a  Resolve  for 
giving  a  currency  to  the  Notes  or  Bills  of  Credit  of  this 
Colony,  reported.  The  Report  was  recommitted,  for  the 
purpose  of  introducing  the  large  Notes  issued  by  this 
Colony. 

Ordered,  That  Commissions  be  delivered  to  such  Officers 
of  Col.  Gerrisfis  Regiment  as  are  not  yet  commissioned. 


A  Petition  of  John  Obrian  was  read,  and  committed 
to  Major  Perley,  Major  Fuller  of  Middleton,  and  Mr. 
Cutt. 

The  Report  of  the  Committee  appointed  to  consider 
some  measures  for  defending  the  sea-coasts,  was  again  taken 
into  consideration,  amended,  and  accepted,  and  Colonel 
Freeman,  Colonel  Gerrish,  and  Captain  Carpenter,  were 
appointed  to  fix  the  pay  of  the  Officers  in  proportion  to  that 
of  the  Soldiers,  agreeable  to  said  Report. 

The  Report  of  the  Committee  respecting  absconding 
Soldiers,  was  put  off"  to  three  o'clock,  P.  M. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  some  method  of 
saving  Provisions  in  the  Army,  reported.  The  Report  was 
accepted,  and  is  as  follows  : 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  of  the  most  effect- 
ual means  to  prevent  any  waste  of  Provisions  in  the  Army, 
beg  leave  to  report,  by  way  of  Resolve  : 

Resolved,  That  the  Commissary-General  be,  and  he 
hereby  is  directed  to  purchase  all  the  Provisions  that  any 
of  the  Soldiers  may  have  to  spare  of  their  allowance,  for 
the  use  of  the  Army,  and  pay  a  reasonable  price  for  such 
Provisions. 

Afternoon. 

The  following  gentlemen  were  appointed  a  Committee 
to  station  the  Troops  in  the  County  of  Essex,  agreeable  to 
the  Resolve  of  Congress  which  passed  in  the  forenoon,  viz : 
Lynn,  Mr.  Edward  Johnson;  Manchester,  Mr.  Andrew 
Woodbury;  Gloucester,  Colonel  Coffin;  Marblehead,  El- 
bridge  Gerry,  Esquire  ;  Salem,  Mr.  Pickering ;  Beverly, 
Captain  Batchelder ;  Ipswich ,  Colonel  Farley ;  Newbury, 
Colonel  Gerrish;  Newburyport,  Captain  Greenleaf;  Sa- 
lisbury, Captain  Nathaniel  Currier. 

And  the  following  gentlemen,  for  the  County  of  York, 
viz:  York,  Captain  Bragdon ;  Kiltery,  Edward  Cutt, 
Esquire;  Berwick,  Major  Goodwin;  W ells,  Col.  Sawyer; 
Arundel,  Deacon  Hovey ;  Biddeford,  James  Sullivan, 
Esquire. 

The  following  gentlemen  were  likewise  appointed,  agree- 
able to  said  Resolve,  to  give  out  Listing  Orders,  viz:  For 
the  County  of  Essex,  Mr.  Hopkins,  Mr.  Greenleaf,  and 
Colonel  Farley;  for  the  County  of  Plymouth,  Hon.  Colonel 
Warren,  Mr.  Lothrop,  Captain  Partridge;  for  the  Coun- 
ty of  Barnstable,  Colonel  Freeman,  Colonel  Otis,  Daniel 
Davis,  Esq. ;  for  the  County  of  Dukes  County,  Mr.  Nye  ; 
for  the  County  of  Bristol,  Mr.  Durfee,  Hon.  Mr.  Spooner, 
Captain  Holmes ;  for  the  County  of  York,  Col.  Sawyer, 
Edward  Cutt,  Esquire,  Captain  Bragdon;  for  the  County 
of  Cumberland,  Hon.  Colonel  Freeman,  Colonel  Thomp- 
son, Mr.  Mitchell;  for  the  County  of  Lincoln,  Mr.  D. 
Sewall,  Mr.  Langdon,  Mr.  E.  Witcher. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Freeman,  Mr.  Langdon,  and 
Mr.  Greenleaf,  be  a  Committee  to  get  two  hundred  of  the 
Resolves  for  stationing  Companies  on  the  sea-coast  printed. 

The  Resolves  being  completed,  are  as  follow,  viz:  The 
Committee  appointed  to  take  into  consideration,  and  report 
some  way  of  defending  and  supporting  the  Towns  upon  the 
sea-coasts  in  this  Colony,  having  considered  of  the  same, 
report  the  following  Resolves,  viz : 

Resolved,  That  there  be  immediately  raised  in  the  Coun- 
ty of  Essex  ten  Companies,  to  consist  of  fifty  men  each, 
officers  included,  to  be  stationed  upon  the  sea-coast  in  that 
County,  in  such  manner  and  proportion  as  shall  be  agreed 
upon  by  a  Joint  Committee,  consisting  of  one  member,  to 
be  appointed  by  this  Congress,  from  each  of  the  Towns  ol 
Lynn,  Manchester,  Gloucester,  Marblehead,  Salem,  lh- 
verly,  Ipswich,  Newbury,  Ncivburyport,  and  Salisbury,  in 
said  County,  and  to  be  under  the  direction  of  the  Commit- 
tees of  Correspondence  of  each  Town  where  they  may  be 
stationed.  Also,  that  there  be  raised  in  the  Counties  ol 
Plymouth  and  Barnstable  nine  Companies,  each  to  consist 
of  fifty  men,  four  of  which  Companies  to  be  stationed  in 
the  County  of  Plymouth,  according  to  the  direction  of  the 
Field-Officers  of  the  First  Regiment  of  the  County  of  Ply- 
mouth, under  whose  direction  they  shall  be  considered  ;  the 
other  five  Companies  to  be  stationed  in  the  County  of 
Barnstable,  in  such  manner  as  the  Field-Officers  of  the 
two  Regiments  there  shall  agree,  and  to  be  under  their  di- 
rection ;  and  that  the  County  of  Barnstable  shall  have  die 


1457 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1458 


liberty  of  raising  eight  of  those  Companies.  Likewise, 
that  there  be  raised  in  the  County  of  Bristol,  including  the 
Towns  of  Wareham  and  Rochester,  two  Companies,  con- 
sisting of  fifty  men  each,  to  be  stationed,  one  Company  in 
Dartmouth  and  the  other  Company  in  Wareham  and  Ro- 
chester, equally,  and  to  be  under  the  direction  of  the  Com- 
mittees of  Correspondence  of  the  respective  Towns.  Also, 
that  there  be  raised  in  the  County  of  York  four  Compa- 
nies, consisting  of  fifty  men  each,  to  be  stationed  in  that 
County,  according  to  the  agreement  of  a  Joint  Committee, 
consisting  of  one  member  from  each  of  the  Towns  upon  the 
sea-coast  in  that  County,  to  be  chosen  for  that  purpose ; 
when  stationed,  to  be  under  the  direction  of  the  Field- 
Officers  in  that  County.  Also,  that  there  be  raised  in  the 
County  of  Cumberland  five  Companies,  consisting  of  fifty 
men  each,  to  be  stationed  as  shall  be  agreed  upon  by  a 
Joint  Committee  appointed  by  each  Town  upon  the  sea- 
coast,  viz:  two  members  to  be  chosen  by  the  Town  of 
Falmouth  and  Cape  Elizabeth,  one  by  Scarborough,  one 
by  North  Yarmouth,  one  by  Brunswick,  and  one  by 
Harpswell ;  and  after  the  division  and  station  is  ordered,  to 
be  under  the  direction  of  the  Committees  of  the  respective 
Towns  where  they  shall  be  stationed.  And,  also,  that 
there  be  raised  in  the  County  of  Lincoln  three  Companies, 
consisting  of  fifty  men  each,  to  be  stationed  by  a  Commit- 
tee consisting  of  members  to  be  chosen,  one  by  each  Town 
upon  the  sea-coast  in  said  County,  as  they  shall  agree,  and 
then  to  be  under  the  direction  of  the  Committees  of  Cor- 
respondence of  the  respective  Towns  and  Plantations  where 
they  shall  be  stationed,  and  of  the  Assessors,  where  no 
such  Committees  are  appointed. 

Also,  Resolved,  That  a  Committee  of  three  persons  be 
appointed  in  each  County,  to  give  out  Enlisting  Orders  in 
their  respective  Counties  where  such  men  are  to  be  raised, 
and  to  muster  them;  and,  also,  that  Colonel  Phinney  be 
directed  to  march  the  whole  of  his  Regiment,  who  are 
equipped  with  arms,  to  the  Camp  at  Cambridge,  and  those 
who  are  not  equipped,  to  dismiss. 

Likewise,  further  Resolved,  That  the  thirty  men  ordered 
to  be  raised  from  the  Town  of  Falmouth,  and  stationed  on 
the  Elizabeth  Islands,  be  augmented  to  fifty,  officers  in- 
cluded, and  under  the  same  wages  and  subsistence  as  is 
hereafter  provided,  and  to  remain  there  for  protection  of 
the  Stocks  on  those  Islands;  and  that  each  private  soldier 
of  the  several  Companies  herein  mentioned  shall  be  en- 
titled to  the  sum  of  thirty-six  Shillings  per  month,  and 
subsistence,  as  the  other  Companies  raised  for  the  Colony 
service,  till  the  further  order  of  this  or  some  future  Con- 
gress or  House  of  Representatives  ;  and  that  the  pay  of  the 
officers  be  reduced  in  the  same  proportion  as  the  pay  of 
the  soldiers,  viz :  Captain's  pay,  five  Pounds,  eight  Shil- 
lings; First  Lieutenant,  three  Pounds,  twelve  Shillings; 
Second  Lieutenant,  three  Pounds,  three  Shillings ;  Ser- 
geants, two  Pounds,  four  Shillings ;  Corporals,  Fifers,  and 
Drummers,  two  Pounds. 

Resolved,  That  each  Soldier  who  shall  enlist,  shall  fur- 
nish himself  with  a  good  and  sufficient  firelock,  and  that  no 
man  shall  be  mustered  as  a  Soldier  who  is  not  so  furnished 
accordingly. 

Also,  Resolved,  That  each  Town  where  Soldiers  shall 
be  stationed  as  above,  shall  furnish  them  with  Ammunition 
out  of  their  stocks,  for  which  they  shall  be  paid  out  of  the 
publick  Treasury  of  this  Colony. 

A  Petition  of  Robert  Shillaber  was  read,  and  committed 
to  Captain  Batchelder,  Captain  Goodman,  and  Major 
Fuller  of  Middleborough. 

Ordered,  That  Deacon  Bayley,  Major  Goodwin,  Mr. 
Batchelder,  Colonel  Coffin,  and  Colonel  Gerrish,  be  a 
Committee  to  consider  what  method  would  be  most  expe- 
dient by  which  to  supply  the  Soldiers  to  be  raised  for  the 
defence  of  the  sea-coasts  with  Provisions. 

Ordered,  That  Dr.  Taylor,  Captain  Stearns,  and  Mr. 
Starkweather,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  the  Petition  of 
several  Officers  in  Colonel  Prescott's,  Colonel  Fry's,  and 
Colonel  Bridge's  Regiments. 

The  Report  of  the  Committee  relative  to  absconding 
Soldiers  was  again  considered,  and  accepted,  and  is  as  fol- 
lows, viz : 

Whereas,  in  consequence  of  an  application  made  to  the 
Provincial  Congress  sitting  in  this  Town  in  May  last  by 
Fourth  Series. — Vol.  if.  < 


the  Officers  of  the  Army,  that  some  effectual  method  should 
be  taken  for  the  speedy  return  of  absconding  soldiers,  or 
such  as  should  tarry  beyond  the  time  limited  by  furlough, 
it  was  then  resolved  that  it  should  be,  and  accordingly  was 
recommended  to  the  Committees  of  Correspondence  in 
the  several  Towns  and  Districts  in  this  Colony,  or  to 
the  Selectmen,  where  no  such  Committees  were  appointed, 
that  they  should  take  effectual  care  that  such  absconding 
or  delinquent  soldiers  should  be  sent  back  immediately  to 
their  respective  Regiments,  yet  it  appears  to  this  Congress 
that  the  above  resolution  has  not  in  every  instance  had  the 
desired  effect ;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  it  be  further  recommended  to  the  several 
Committees  of  Correspondence  in  each  Town  and  District 
in  this  Colony,  or  to  the  Selectmen,  where  no  such  Com- 
mittees are  appointed,  that  they  take  the  most  speedy  and 
effectual  care  that  said  Resolve  be  strictly  adhered  to  and 
punctually  executed  ;  and  it  is  also  recommended  to  the 
good  people  in  the  several  Towns  and  Districts  aforesaid, 
to  give  their  utmost  aid  and  assistance  to  said  Selectmen  or 
Committees  in  executing  said  Resolve,  as  the  existence  of 
the  Army  very  much  depends  thereon. 

And  it  is  further  Resolved,  That  all  necessary  expenses 
which  may  accrue  by  returning  said  absconding  or  delin- 
quent soldiers  to  their  respective  Regiments,  be  paid,  and 
deducted  out  of  the  wages  of  said  soldiers. 

Ordered,  That  the  foregoing  Resolves  be  printed  in  the 
Cambridge,  Watertoivn,  and  Worcester  Papers. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  what  preparations 
are  necessary  to  be  made  relative  to  making  paper  Bills  of 
Credit,  reported.  The  Report  was  ordered  to  lie  till  there 
is  a  fuller  House. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Lincoln,  Major  Fuller  of  New- 
ton, Mr.  Singletary,  Mr.  Durfee,  and  Mr.  Dexter,  be  a 
Committee  to  consider  what  method  is  best  to  be  taken  for 
providing  each  of  the  soldiers  with  a  coat. 

The  form  of  a  Warrant  for  the  Surgeons  was  read,  and 
accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz: 

"  The  Congress  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay  to  A.  B., 
greeting  : 

"Being  informed  of  your  skill  in  Surgery,  and  reposing 
especial  trust  and  confidence  in  your  ability  and  good  con- 
duct, we  do,  by  these  presents,  constitute  and  appoint  you, 
the  said  A.  B.,  to  be  Surgeon  of  the  Regiment  of  Foot, 

whereof  is  Colonel,  raised  by  the  Congress 

aforesaid  for  the  defence  of  said  Colony.  You  are  there- 
fore carefully  and  diligently  to  discharge  the  duty  of  a  Sur- 
geon to  the  said  Regiment  in  all  things  appertaining  there- 
unto, observing  such  orders  and  instructions  as  you  shall 
from  time  to  time  receive  from  the  Colonel  of  said  Regi- 
ment, according  to  military  rules  and  discipline  established 
by  said  Congress,  or  any  your  superiour  officers,  for  which 
this  shall  be  your  sufficient  warrant. 

"By  order  of  the  Congress: 

"  President. 

"  Dated  at  Watertown." 

Ordered,  That  the  Committee  appointed  to  make  out 
Commissions  for  the  Officers  of  the  Army,  be  directed  to 
make  out  Warrants  for  the  Surgeons,  agreeable  to  the  above 
form,  as  soon  as  they  have  been  examined  and  appointed. 

Ordered,  That  Deacon  Fisher,  Colonel  Thompson,  and 
Mr.  Wiswall,  be  a  Committee  to  bring  in  a  Resolve,  for 
the  purpose  of  preventing  the  unnecessary  expenditure  of 
Gunpowder. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  Petition  of 
Mr.  Obrian,  reported,  verbally,  that  the  petitioner  be 
served  with  a  copy  of  the  Report  of  this  Congress  on  the 
Petition  of  a  number  of  the  inhabitants  of  Machias.  The 
Report  was  accepted,  and  the  petitioner  had  leave  to  with- 
draw his  Petition. 

The  Report  of  the  Committee  relative  to  making  the 
Notes  and  Bills  of  Credit  of  this  and  the  other  Colonies  a 
tender,  being  amended,  was  accepted,  and  ordered  to  be 
authenticated,  and  printed  in  the  Cambridge,  Watertoivn, 
and  Worcester  Papers,  and  is  as  follows: 

Whereas,  a  former  Congress  of  this  Colony,  ordered 
their  Receiver-General  to  issue  Notes  and  Bills  upon  the 
credit  of  this  Colony,  for  the  payment  and  supply  of  their 


1459 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1460 


Army,  and  other  necessary  expenses  of  this  Colony;  and 
whereas,  divers  others  of  the  sister  Colonies  have  issued 
Notes  or  Bills,  for  the  payment  of  their  respective  Forces; 
and  it  is  necessary,  that  the  Notes  and  Bills  of  this  and  the 
sister  Colonies  should  have  free  currency  ;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  the  Notes  and  Bills  of  the  Colony  of 
Rhode- Is  land,  at  and  after  the  rate  of  six  Shillings  and  nine 
Pence  an  ounce  for  silver,  and  the  Bills  and  Notes  of  this 
and  all  the  other  Colonies  (excepting  Nova-Scotia  and 
Canada)  at  and  after  the  rate  of  six  Shillings  and  eight 
Pence  an  ounce  for  silver,  shall  be  taken  and  received,  and 
accounted  a  good  and  sufficient  tender  for  the  payment  of 
all  debts,  and  the  damages  that  may  arise  upon  the  non- 
performance of  any  promises,  and  also  be  received  into  the 
publick  Treasury  of  this  Colony,  without  any  discount  or 
allowance  whatever.  And  if  any  person  whatever  shall 
refuse  to  take  any  of  the  Notes  or  Bills  of  the  Colonies 
aforementioned  at  the  rates  before  expressed,  for  any  debt, 
or  in  satisfaction  for  the  damages  sustained  by  reason  of 
the  non-performance  of  any  promise,  or  shall  ask,  demand, 
or  receive,  any  discount,  gratuity,  or  premium,  for  receiving 
any  of  the  Bills  or  Notes  aforementioned,  he  or  she  so 
offending  shall  be  deemed  an  enemy  to  the  Country.  And 
the  several  Committees  of  Correspondence,  Inspection, 
and  Safety  in  their  respective  Towns,  are  required  to  return 
the  names  of  all  persons  who  shall  contravene  this  Resolve 
to  this  or  some  future  Congress,  or  House  of  Representa- 
tives, that  they  may  take  order  thereon  as  to  them  shall 
seem  meet. 

The  Resolve  relative  to  the  commencement  of  the  pay 
of  the  Officers  and  Soldiers,  was  considered,  and  recom- 
mitted, and  Mr.  Batchelder  and  Major  Fuller  added  to  the 
Committee. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Webster,  Major  Perley,  and  Mr. 
Mighill,  be  a  Committee  to  bring  in  a  Resolve  for  the 
purpose  of  recommending  to  the  Governour  and  Company 
of  the  Colony  of  Connecticut,  to  suffer  the  inhabitants  of 
the  eastern  parts  of  this  Colony  to  purchase  and  carry  out 
of  said  Colony  such  Provisions  as  their  necessitous  cir- 
cumstances may  require. 

Resolved,  That  the  Committee  appointed  to  prepare  a 
Letter  to  the  Continental  Congress,  be  empowered  and 
directed  to  communicate  it  to  the  Committee  of  Supplies, 
and  then  to  forward  the  same  to  the  Delegates  of  this  Colo- 
ny at  said  Congress,  without  reporting  it  to  this  Congress, 
said  Delegates  to  communicate  it  to  the  Continental  Con- 
gress, if  they  think  proper. 

The  following  Letter  was  received  from  Mr.  Pidgeon,  the 
Commissary-General : 

"Cambridge,  June  28,  1775. 
"  May  it  please  your  Honours  :  As  not  only  the  baker, 
(whose  conduct  I  detest  if  it  proves  as  mentioned  in  Cap- 
tain Stone's  letter,)  but  also  numbers  of  my  assistants  are 
accused  of  bad  conduct,  I  beg  that  a  Committee  may  be 
chosen  to  examine  all  my  conduct  and  books  ;  for  as,  in  the 
opinion  of  Major  Hawley,  (whose  judgment  I  revere,)  I 
am  responsible  for  all  those  I  appointed — although  I  can 
safely  say  I  took  as  much  pains  in  the  choice  of  those  I 
employed  as  I  could  possibly  do  in  similar  circumstances 
were  I  accountable — I  am  so  much  exposed,  if  it  be  really 
so,  I  must  beg  that  some  other  may  be  chosen  in  my  place, 
as  I  do  not  choose  to  act  on  that  footing.  I  am  perfectly 
willing  that  all  the  officers  should  be  appointed  by  the 
Congress.    Your  Honour's  obedient  humble  servant, 

"John  Pidgeon,  Commissary- General." 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Starkweather,  Captain  Partridge, 
Colonel  Dexter,  Mr.  Singlctary,  and  Colonel  Coffin,  be  a 
Committee  to  examine  into  the  conduct  and  books  of  Mr. 
John  Pidgeon,  Commissary-General,  Mr.  Pidgeon  having 
desired  that  a  Committee  be  appointed  for  that  purpose; 
and  that  said  Committee  consider  the  expediency  of  fur- 
nishing Mr.  Miller,  a  Deputy-Commissary,  with  a  Horse. 

Resolved,  That  to-morrow  morning,  ten  o'clock,  be  as- 
signed for  the  purpose  of  considering  the  proposal  of  the 
Commissary-General  for  an  allowance  of  Molasses  for  the 
Soldiers. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  bring  in  a  Resolve  rela- 
tive to  the  commencement  of  the  pay  of  the  Officers  and 
Soldiers,  reported  the  following,  which  was  accepted,  and 


ordered  to  be  published  in  the  Papers,  and  is  as  follows, 

viz : 

Resolved,  That  each  commissioned  Officer  in  the  Colo- 
ny Army  shall  draw  pay,  according  to  the  present  estab- 
lishment, from  the  time  of  engaging  in  the  publick  service 
on  receiving  beating  orders,  and  that  each  non-commissioned 
officer  and  private  draw  pay  from  the  time  of  his  enlisting 
in  said  service;  also,  that  such  of  the  Minute-men  and 
Militia  as  marched  into  the  field  on  the  19th  of  April,  and 
soon  after,  and  have  remained  there,  and  since  engaged  in 
said  Army  for  the  defence  of  the  Colony,  shall  be  paid  for 
their  service,  agreeable  to  the  present  establishment,  from 
the  time  of  their  first  marching  into  the  field. 

Ordered,  That  Doctor  Taylor,  Mr.  Hall,  Major  Brooks, 
Mr.  Partridge,  and  Deacon  Fisher,  be  a  Committee  to 
consider  the  written  proposal  of  Doctor  Whiting,  relative  to 
Saltpetre. 

Adjourned  to  eight  o'clock,  to-morrow  morning. 

Thursday,  June  29,  1775. 

A  Petition  from  Mr.  John  Calef  was  read,  and  com- 
mitted to  Major  Fuller,  Colonel  Coffin,  Mr.  Hopkins, 
Captain  Parker,  and  Mr.  Mighill. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  bring  in  a  Resolve  for  the 
purpose  of  recommending  to  the  Governour  and  Company 
of  Connecticut  to  supply  the  eastern  country  with  Provi- 
sions, reported.    The  Report  was  accepted. 

A  Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Safety,  enclosing  a  Let- 
ter from  Mr.  Samuel  Smith,  Chairman  of  the  Committee 
of  Northfield,  was  read,  and  ordered  to  be  sent  to  the 
Committee  of  Supplies. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  Petition  from 
Narragaugus  and  other  Towns  at  the  eastward,  reported. 
The  Report  was  ordered  to  subside,  and  the  Petitioners 
had  leave  to  withdraw  their  Petition. 

Ordered,  That  the  President,  Major  Hawley,  Doctor 
Whiting,  Mr.  Hopkins,  and  Mr.  Greenleaf,  be  a  Commit- 
tee to  prepare  an  Address  to  Generals  Washington  and 
Lee,  to  be  presented  to  them  on  their  arrival  here. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  Petition  of 
Officers  belonging  to  Colonel  Prescott's,  Colonel  Fry's, 
and  Bridge's  Regiments,  reported  ;  which  Report  was  ac- 
cepted. 

Ordered,  That  the  Resolve  passed  the  19th  instant, 
relative  to  Spears,  &lc,  be  recommitted  to  Major  Good- 
win for  amendment. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  a  proposal  made 
by  Doctor  Whiting,  for  sending  some  person  to  New-York, 
to  advise  with  Doctor  Graham  and  others,  and  procure 
from  them  directions  for  the  manufacture  of  Saltpetre,  re- 
ported :  which  Report  was  ordered  to  lay  on  the  table  ;  and 
Mr.  Phillips  and  Doctor  Whiting  were  appointed  to  confer 
with  Mr.  Professor  Seivall,  on  the  subject-matter  contained 
therein. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  some  methods  for 
supplying  the  Soldiers  stationed  on  the  sea-coast,  with  Pro- 
visions, reported.  The  Report  was  amended  and  accepted, 
and  is  as  follows,  viz: 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  what  method 
would  be  most  expedient  to  supply  the  Soldiers  to  be 
raised  for  the  defence  of  the  sea-coasts  with  Provisions, 
beg  leave  to  report : 

Resolved,  That  the  Selectmen  of  the  several  Towns  or 
Plantations  on  the  sea-coast,  or,  where  there  are  no  Select- 
men, the  Assessors  of  such  place  where  any  such  Soldiers 
shall  be  stationed  for  their  defence,  be,  and  they  hereby  are 
directed,  to  supply  the  Officers  and  Soldiers  with  suitable 
Provisions  for  their  support,  so  long  as  said  men  continue  in 
the  Colony  service,  and  do  their  duty  of  Soldiers  in  their 
several  stations ;  for  which  Provisions,  the  said  Selectmen 
or  Assessors  shall  be  paid  out  of  the  publick  Treasury  the 
sum  of  five  Shillings  for  each  man,  per  week,  which  shall 
be  so  supplied.  And  it  is  recommended  to  the  owners  of  the 
Elizabeth  Islands  to  supply  the  Soldiers  that  may  be  sta- 
tioned on  said  Islands,  for  which  they  shall  be  allowed,  out 
of  the  Treasury  aforesaid,  the  same  sum  per  week  which 
is  allowed  for  the  supply  of  the  Soldiers  to  be  stationed  in 
the  other  parts  of  the  sea-coasts. 


1461 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1462 


Ordered,  That  Mr.  Hobart,  Colonel  Farley,  and  Mr. 
Webster,  be  a  Committee  to  inquire  of  the  Committee  of 
Supplies,  in  what  manner  the  Military  Stores  in  Watertown 
are  guarded  ;  and  that  they  take  effectual  care  that  they  be 
properly  guarded,  and  that  there  be  not  so  large  a  quantity 
kept  together  as  there  now  is  in  one  place. 

A  Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Safety  respecting  Gen. 
Ward's  ordering  them  to  deliver  out  Small-Arms  to  such 
Officers  as  may  apply,  was  read  ;  the  consideration  whereof 
was  referred  to  nine  o'clock,  to-morrow  morning. 

The  Committee  on  the  Petition  of  Mr.  John  Calef, 
reported.  The  Report  was  accepted,  and  is  as  follows, 
viz : 

It  appearing  to  this  Congress  inconsistent  with  the  best 
interest  of  this  Colony  that  the  within  mentioned  Ship 
should  proceed  on  her  voyage,  as  requested  by  the  within 
memorialist ;  therefore,  Resolved,  That  the  said  Ship  do  not 
accordingly  proceed  on  said  voyage  till  further  order  of 
this  Congress,  or  some  future  House  of  Representatives. 

Afternoon. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Freeman,  Doctor  Taylor,  and 
Mr.  Lothrop,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  in  what  manner 
Listing  Orders  and  Commissions  shall  be  given  to  the  Offi- 
cers of  the  several  Companies  to  be  stationed  on  the  sea- 
coasts. 

Mr.  Palfrey  was  introduced  to  this  Congress,  who  brought 
with  him  a  number  of  Letters,  which  were  brought  from 
England  by  Captain  Jenkins. 

Resolved,  That  Ensign  Campbell,  now  a  prisoner  at 
Concord,  be  sent  for  to  this  Congress,  and  that  Doctor 
Taylor  and  Captain  Stone  be  directed  to  search  his  pack- 
ages, and  see  that  he  is  brought  to  this  Congress  ;  and  that 
Mr.  Partridge  be  directed  to  bring  in  a  Resolve  empow- 
ering said  gentlemen  to  perform  this  service. 

Ordered,  That  the  Letters  directed  to  gentlemen  in 
Rhode-Island,  be  sent  to  the  Officers  of  the  Rhode-Island 
Forces  ;  those  to  Connecticut,  to  the  Officers  of  the  Connec- 
ticut Forces  ;  and  those  directed  to  New-Hamjishire,  to  the 
Officers  of  the  New-Hampshire  Forces. 

Ordered,  That  Doctor  Whiting,  Mr.  Webster,  and  Col. 
Freeman,  be  a  Committee  to  take  under  consideration  a 
Resolve  of  Congress,  empowering  the  Committee  for  pro- 
curing Guns,  to  draw  on  the  Treasurer  for  the  value  of  what 
they  purchase,  and  to  report  what  alterations  are  necessary 
to  be  made  therein. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Hopkins,  Mr.  Phillips,  and  Colonel 
Farley,  be  a  Committee  to  supervise  the  Letters  brought 
to  this  Congress  by  Mr.  Palfrey. 

Resolved,  That  the  Committee  of  Supplies  be  directed 
to  furnish  the  Committee  appointed  to  go  to  Concord,  with 
Horses. 

Mr.  Partridge,  agreeable  to  order,  reported  the  follow- 
ing Resolve,  which  was  accepted  : 

Resolved,  That  Doctor  Taylor,  and  Captain  Sto?ie  of 
Framingham,  be  a  Committee,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to 
repair  to  the  Town  of  Concord,  and  make  search,  or  cause 
strict  search  to  be  made,  into  the  pockets  and  packages  of 
Ensign  Campbell,  now  a  prisoner  at  Concord,  and  is  sus- 
pected of  having  Letters  of  publick  concernment  con- 
cealed in  his  possession  ;  and  that  they  cause  said  Campbell 
to  be  brought  immediately  to  the  door  of  this  Congress,  in 
order  for  examination,  if  they  judge  it  necessary. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  prepare  an  Address  to  the 
several  Towns  in  the  Counties  of  Hampshire  and  Wor- 
cester, recommending  them  to  supply  the  Army  with 
Powder,  reported.  The  report  was  accepted,  and  is  as 
follows,  viz  : 

To  the  several  Towns  in  the  Counties  of  Hampshire  and 
Worcester  : 

This  Congress,  taking  into  their  most  serious  consi- 
deration the  great  want  of  Powder  in  our  publick  Ma- 
gazines, and  considering  how  much  depends  on  that 
important  and  most  necessary  article,  which,  under  God,  if 
provided,  may  prove  the  salvation  of  America;  and  as 
your  Towns  lie  the  least  exposed  to  the  ravages  of  our 
enemies,  therefore,  it  is  most  earnestly  recommended  by 
this  Congress  to  the  Selectmen  of  each  Town  and  District 


in  the  County  of  Worcester,  that  they  deliver  the  whole 
of  the  Towns'  stocks,  in  said  County  of  Worcester,  to  Mr. 
John  Caldwell,  Mr.  Amos  Singletary,  and  Deacon  Israel 
Nichols,  a  Committee  appointed  by  this  Congress  to 
receive  the  same.  And  it  is  likewise  recommended  to  the 
Selectmen  of  each  Town  and  District  in  the  County  of 
Hampshire,  to  deliver  their  respective  Towns'  stocks  of 
Powder  to  Captain  Noah  Goodman,  who  is  appointed  by 
this  Congress  to  receive  the  same  from  said  County  of 
Hampshire ;  except  so  much  as  is  allowed  to  be  kept  in 
each  Town,  which  will  appear  by  the  schedule  hereunto 
annexed ;  and  that  it  be  replaced,  as  soon  as  the  state  of 
the  Colony  magazines  will  admit  thereof,  or  otherwise  paid 
for  in  money. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Caldwell,  Mr.  Singletary,  and  Dea- 
con Nichols,  be  a  Committee  to  procure  Powder  from  the 
several  Towns  in  the  County  of  Worcester,  agreeable  to 
said  schedule  ;  and  Captain  Goodman,  from  the  County  of 
Hampshire. 

Ordered,  That  Captain  Brown,  Colonel  Davis,  and 
Mr.  Fairbanks,  be  a  Committee  to  inquire  where  safe  and 
convenient  Stores  may  be  had,  for  storing  what  Gunpow- 
der is,  or  may  be  procured  for  the  use  of  this  Colony  ;  and 
that  they  sit  forthwith. 

An  Account  exhibited  by  Mr.  Ichabod  Goodwin,  was 
read,  and  committed  to  Deacon  Stickney,  Captain  King,  and 
Mr.  Thompson. 

The  Report  of  the  Committee  on  the  motion  of  Doctor 
Whiting,  was  again  read,  amended,  and  accepted,  and  is  as 
follows,  viz : 

The  Committee  appointed  to  take  into  consideration  a 
motion  made  for  sending  some  proper  person  to  New-York, 
in  order  to  advise  with  Doctor  Graham  and  others,  and 
procure  from  them  directions  for  the  manufacturing  of  Salt- 
petre, have  attended  that  service,  and  beg  leave  to  report, 
by  way  of  Resolve;  that  Doctor  William  Whiting  be  a 
Committee  to  repair  to  New-York,  and  confer  with  Doc- 
tor Graham,  or  any  other  gentlemen  that  may  have  had 
experience  in  the  manufacturing  of  Saltpetre;  and  that  he 
be  directed  to  procure  from  him  or  them,  the  most  minute, 
particular,  and  intelligible  account,  relative  to  the  manufac- 
turing of  this  article  possible ;  and  that  (if  to  be  found)  he 
procure  and  engage  some  ingenious  person,  who  has  been 
used  to  work  in  the  business  of  making  Saltpetre,  to  come 
immediately  to  this  place,  who  shall  be  employed  in  said 
business ;  and  that  the  expenses  of  said  journey  to  New- 
York,  and  the  travel  of  said  workman  to  this  place,  be 
paid  out  of  the  publick  Treasury  of  this  Colony. 

The  Report  of  the  Committee  on  the  Account  of  Mr. 
Paul  Revere,  was  read,  and  is  as  follows,  viz: 

The  Committee  appointed  to  take  under  consideration 
the  Account  of  Mr.  Paul  Revere,  have  attended  that  ser- 
vice ;  and  report  by  way  of  Resolve : 

Resolved,  That  there  be  paid  out  of  the  publick  Trea- 
sury to  Mr.  Paul  Revere,  in  Colony  Notes,  sixty-eight 
Pounds,  six  Shillings,  and  eight  Pence,  in  full  for  four 
copper  plates,  and  engraving  the  same,  and  printing  four- 
teen thousand  five  hundred  impressions  for  the  use  of  the 
Colony ;  and  the  Receiver-General  is  directed  to  pay  the 
same. 

Whereupon,  Ordered,  That  to-morrow  morning,  ten 
o'clock,  be  assigned  for  the  consideration  thereof. 

The  Committee  on  the  Petition  of  Robert  Shillaber, 
reported.  The  Report  was  accepted,  and  is  as  follows, 
viz  : 

Resolved,  That  Mr.  Robert  Shillaber  be,  and  he  hereby 
is  permitted  to  export  to  the  West-Indies  eighty  hogs- 
heads of  Jamaica  Fish,  provided  that  no  other  Provisions 
be  shipped  with  the  said  Fish,  except  so  much  as  will  be 
sufficient  for  such  a  voyage  ;  and  the  Committee  of  Safety 
in  Salem  are  directed  to  see  this  Resolve  strictly  complied 
with. 

Ordered,  That  Major  Goodwin,  Colonel  Dwight,  and 
Captain  Bragdon,  be  a  Committee  to  prepare  Instructions 
to  the  Committee  who  were  appointed  to  procure  Powder 
from  the  Counties  of  Hampshire  and  Worcester,  and  that 
they  sit  forthwith. 

The  Committee  on  the  Account  of  Major  Goodwin, 
reported.  The  Report  was  accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz : 


1463 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1464 


Resolved,  That  the  Receiver-General  be,  and  lie  hereby 
is  ordered  to  pay  to  Major  lchabod  Goodwin,  £'2  17s.  8d. 
for  his  time,  horse,  and  expenses  in  going  express  to  Fal- 
mouth, by  order  of  the  Committee  of  Safety. 

Adjourned  to  Friday  morning,  eight  o'clock. 

Friday,  June  30,  1775. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Wheeler,  Major  Fuller,  and  Mr. 
Greenltaf  be  a  Committee  to  bring  in  a  Resolve  for  the 
purpose  of  appointing  some  person  to  convey  one  Green, 
a  captive,  to  Worcester  Jail,  there  to  be  confined  till  fur- 
ther order  of  this  Congress. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  what  was  best  to 
be  done  with  the  supernumerary  sheets  of  Colony  Notes, 
reported.  The  Report  was  accepted,  and  is  as  follows, 
viz : 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  what  shall  be  done 
with  the  supernumerary  sheets,  struck  off  from  the  plate 
containing  the  twenty,  fourteen,  and  six  Shilling  Bills,  have 
attended  that  service,  and  find,  upon  examination,  that  there 
are  one  hundred  and  twenty-seven  sheets  above  the  num- 
ber proposed,  which  make  the  sum  of  two  hundred  and 
fifty-four  Pounds ;  and  beg  leave  to  report,  that  it  is  our 
opinion,  that  an  order  of  Congress  be  taken  for  commit- 
ting said  sheets  to  the  care  of  the  Receiver-General,  until 
the  further  order  of  this  Congress,  or  House  of  Represent- 
atives. 

Ordered,  That  Major  Hawley  bring  in  a  Resolve,  direct- 
ing the  Committee  of  Safety  to  consider  the  expediency 
of  granting  a  further  emission  of  Bills  of  Credit. 

A  Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Safety,  enclosing  one 
from  the  Committee  of  Safety  of  Portsmouth  to  Doctor 
Langdon,  and  an  anonymous  Letter  wrote  from  Boston  to 
Portsmouth,  which  was  intercepted  by  the  said  Committee 
at  Portsmouth ;  were  read,  and 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  of  the  Letter  from  the  Commit- 
tee of  Safety  of  Portsmouth  be  transmitted  to  the  Com- 
mittee of  Supplies,  and  that  the  anonymous  Letter  lie  on 
the  table. 

Ordered,  That  such  of  the  Committee  who  were  ap- 
pointed to  deliver  out  Commissions  as  are  now  present,  be 
directed  to  attest  the  list  of  Officers  commissioned. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Wheeler  be  directed  to  deliver  the 
supernumerary  Bills  to  the  Receiver-General,  and  take  his 
receipt  for  the  same. 

A  Petition  of  Doctor  WilliamWhiting  was  read  ;  where- 
upon, 

Resolved,  That  the  Receiver-General  be,  and  he  hereby 
is  directed  to  pay  to  Doctor  Whiting  the  sum  of  eight 
Pounds,  in  Colony  notes,  towards  defraying  the  expenses 
of  the  said  Doctor  Whiting,  which  may  accrue  in  his  jour- 
ney to  New-York,  said  Whiting  to  be  accountable  for  the 
same  to  this  Congress,  or  some  future  House  of  Assembly 
of  this  Colony. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  some  measures  to 
prevent  the  spreading  of  the  Small-Pox,  were  directed  to 
sit  forthwith. 

Ordered,  That  Deacon  Fisher,  Mr.  Lothrop  and  Col. 
Richmond,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  a  Resolve  of  the 
Committee  of  Safety  relative  to  Artificer's  Accounts ;  and 
that  said  Committee  be  directed  to  consider  such  Accounts 
as  may  be  transmitted  to  this  Congress  by  the  Committee 
of  Safety,  and  to  report  thereon. 

Resolved,  That  the  Resolve  of  this  Congress  relative  to 
procuring  Powder  from  the  Counties  of  Hampshire  and 
Worcester,  be  reconsidered,  and  that  the  same,  together 
with  the  Report  of  the  Committee  appointed  to  prepare 
Instructions  to  the  Committee  appointed  to  procure  Pow- 
der from  said  Counties,  be  recommitted. 

Ordered,  That  Captain  Stone,  Mr.  Plympton,  and  Mr. 
Johnson,  be  a  Committee  to  bring  in  a  Resolve  for  the 
purpose  of  making  provision  for  the  Poor  of  the  Town  of 
Charlestown. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Co  fin,  Mr.  Lothrop,  Captain 
Nye,  Captain  Bragdon,  and  Colonel  Mitchell,  be  a  Com- 
mittee to  inquire  into  the  state  of  the  two  Light-Houses  at 
Cape  Ann,  and  the  Light-House  at  the  entrance  of  Bos- 


ton Harbour,  and  also  that  at  Plymouth,  and  consider 
whether  it  is  expedient  to  continue  the  lights  therein. 

Major  Hawley,  agreeable  to  order,  brought  in  the  fol- 
lowing Resolve  ;  which  was  accepted  : 

Resolved,  That  the  Committee  of  Safety  be  a  Com- 
mittee forthwith  to  consider  whether  the  exigences  of  this 
Colony  do  require  that  there  should  be,  as  soon  as  possible, 
a  grant  made  by  this  Congress  of  a  further  emission  of 
Notes  or  Bills  of  Credit ;  and  that  they  consider  of  what 
sum  it  is  proper  that  grant  should  consist,  and  of  what 
denominations  such  Bills  should  be,  and  whether  they 
should  bear  any  interest,  and  if  any,  what  the  rate  of  such 
interest  should  be,  and  at  what  time  such  Notes  or  Bills 
should  be  payable  or  redeemed  ;  and  whatever  other  regula- 
tions the  said  Committee  shall  judge  it  expedient  such 
Notes  or  Bills  should  be  issued  upon  ;  and  that  the  said 
Committee  report  as  soon  as  may  be. 

Ordered,  That  Deacon  Fisher  bring  in  a  Resolve,  direct- 
ing the  Receiver-General  to  pay  the  sum  of  three  Pounds, 
and  ten  Shillings,  to  the  Committee  appointed  to  procure 
Powder  from  the  County  of  Worcester,  and  two  Pounds 
ten  Shillings,  to  Captain  Goodman,  who  is  appointed  to 
procure  Powder  from  the  County  of  Hampshire. 

Afternoon. 

The  form  of  a  Warrant  for  the  Surgeons  of  the  Hospital, 
was  read  and  accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz: 
"The  Congress  of  the  Colony  of  the  Massachusetts-Bat, 
to  Greeting : 

"  Being  informed  of  your  skill  in  Surgery,  and  reposing 
especial  trust  and  confidence  in  your  ability  and  good  con- 
duct, we  do,  by  these  presents,  constitute  and  appoint  you, 
the  said  ....  to  be  a  Surgeon  of  the  hospital  established 
by  order  of  Congress,  in  ....  for  the  sick  and  wounded 
of  the  Colony  Army.  You  are,  therefore,  carefully  and 
diligently  to  discharge  the  duty  of  a  Surgeon  of  said  hos- 
pital, in  all  things  appertaining  thereto,  observing  such 
orders  and  instructions  as  you  shall,  from  time  to  time, 
receive  from  any,  your  superiour  officers,  according  to  the 
rules  and  discipline  established  by  said  Congress,  for  which 
this  shall  be  your  sufficient  warrant. 
"  By  order  of  Congress. 

"Dated  the  .  .  .  day  of  .  .  .  .  ,  A.  D.  1775." 

Ordered,  That  Warrants  be  made  out  to  the  following 
Officers,  viz :  Doctor  Lemuel  Cushing,  Surgeon ;  Doctor 
Gad  Hitchcock,  Surgeon's  Mate  ;  Adam  Bayley,  Quarter- 
master; Luther  Bayley,  Adjutant;  all  in  General  Tho- 
mas's Regiment :  Doctor  Lemuel  Howard,  Surgeon  to  the 
Roxbury  Hospital. 

Mr.  Jabez  Matthews  was  admitted  to  give  an  account 
of  his  embassy  to  Quebcck. 

Ordered,  That  commissions  be  delivered  to  sundry  Offi- 
cers in  Colonel  W'hitcomb's  Regiment,  agreeable  to  a  list 
of  this  date,  by  him  exhibited. 

Deacon  Fisher,  agreeable  to  order,  reported  the  follow- 
ing Resolves  ;  which  were  accepted  : 

Resolved,  That  the  sum  of  three  Pounds  and  ten  Shil- 
lings, be  paid  out  of  the  publick  Treasury  by  the  Receiv- 
er-General, who  is  directed  to  pay  the  same,  to  John  Cald- 
well, Esq.,  for  the  use  of  the  Committee  that  was  chosen  to 
collect  Gunpow  der  within  the  County  of  Worcester,  for  the 
use  of  the  Army,  and  that  they  be  accountable  to  this 
Congress,  or  some  future  House  of  Representatives. 

Resolved,  That  the  sum  of  two  Pounds  and  ten  Shil- 
lings, be  paid  out  of  the  publick  Treasury  by  the  Receiv- 
er-General, who  is  hereby  directed  to  pay  the  same,  unto 
Mr.  Noah  Goodman,  to  bear  his  expenses  in  collecting 
Gunpowder  within  the  County  of  Hampshire,  for  the  use 
of  the  Army,  he  to  be  accountable  for  the  same  to  this 
Congress,  or  some  future  House  of  Representatives. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  prepare  a  form  of  a  Com- 
mission, &tc,  for  the  Officers  of  those  Companies,  w  ho  are 
to  be  stationed  on  the  sea-coasts,  reported.  The  Report 
was  accepted,  and  is  as  follows: 

The  Committee  appointed  to  take  into  consideration  in 
what  manner  and  form  Commissions,  Beating  and  Enlisting 
Orders,  be  made  out  to  the  Officers  to  be  appointed  and 
raised  for  the  defence  of  the  sea-coast,  having  taken  the 


1465 

premises  into  consideration,  would  humbly  report  the  fol- 
lowing draught  of  a  blank  for  Commissions,  viz : 
"  The  Congress  of  the  Cclony  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay, 
to  ...  .  ,  gentleman,  Greeting: 

"  We,  reposing  especial  trust  and  confidence  in  your 
courage  and  good  conduct,  do,  by  these  presents,  appoint 

you,  the  said  to  be  a  .  .  .  .  ,  of  a  Company 

of  Foot,  appointed  by  said  Congress  to  be  raised  for  the 
protection  and  defence  of  the  sea-coast  in  this  Colony. 
You  are,  therefore,  carefully  and  diligently  to  discharge 
the  duty  of  a  .  .  .  .  ,  in  leading,  ordering,  and  exercising 
the  said  Company  in  arms,  both  inferiour  officers  and 
soldiers,  and  to  keep  them  in  good  order  and  discipline; 
and  they  are  hereby  commanded  to  obey  you  as  their  .  .  .  ; 
and  you  are  yourself  to  observe  and  follow  such  orders 
and  instructions  as  you  shall  from  time  to  time  receive 
from  your  superiour  officers,  or  from  those  who  are  or  may 
be  appointed  to  have  the  direction  of  the  said  Company 
or  Companies,  in  the  several  Towns  or  Counties  where  you 
may  be  stationed,  according  to  military  rules  and  discipline 
in  war,  in  pursuance  of  the  trust  reposed  in  you. 
"  By  order  of  Congress  : 

"  ,  President. 

".  .  .  the  .  .  .  day  of  .  .  .  ,  A.  D.  1775. 

"Attest:   ,  Secretary." 

Also,  your  Committee  beg  leave  to  report  the  following 
blank  or  form  for  Beating  Orders,  viz  : 

"To  

"Sir:  You  are  hereby  empowered  immediately  to  enlist 
a  Company,  to  consist  of  forty-seven  able-bodied,  effective 
men,  including  Sergeants,  Corporals,  Drummers,  &.c,  as 
soldiers  in  the  Massachusetts  service,  for  the  defence  of  the 
sea-coast  in  this  Colony  ;  and  cause  them  to  pass  muster  as 
soon  as  may  be. 

"  By  order  of  Congress: 

"  ,  President. 

"...  day  of  ....  ,  A.  D.  1775. 

"Attest:   ,  Secretary." 

Your  Committee  likewise  report  the  following  form  of 
an  Enlistment,  viz : 

"  We,  the  subscribers,  do  hereby  solemnly  engage  and 
enlist  ourselves  as  Soldiers  in  the  service  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts Colony,  for  the  defence  and  protection  of  the  sea- 
coasts  in  said  Colony,  from  the  day  of  our  enlistment  to  the 
last  day  of  December  next,  unless  the  said  service  should 
admit  of  a  discharge  of  a  part,  or  the  whole,  sooner,  which 
is  to  be  determined  by  the  Congress  or  General  Court, 
or  Assembly  of  said  Colony.  And  we  do  hereby  promise 
to  submit  ourselves  to  all  the  Orders  and  Regulations  of 
the  Army,  and  faithfully  to  observe  and  obey  all  such 
orders  as  we  shall,  from  lime  to  time,  receive  from  our 
superiour  officers." 

Your  Committee  also  beg  leave  to  report,  that  the  Com- 
mittees in  the  several  Counties,  appointed  by  this  Congress 
to  give  out  Beating  and  Enlisting  Orders,  be  directed  to 
fill  up  said  commissions  and  orders,  and  to  deliverthe  com- 
missions to  the  Officers  as  soon  as  their  Companies  are  full ; 
also,  that  a  person  be  appointed  in  each  of  those  Counties 
upon  the  sea-coast,  to  administer  the  oath  to  Officers  and 
Soldiers.  Nathaniel  Freeman,  Chairman. 

Resolved,  That  there  be  one  hundred  and  twenty  blank 
Commissions  printed,  sixty  Beating  Orders,  and  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  Enlisting  Orders. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Freeman,  Doctor  Taylor,  and 
Colonel  Farley,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  in  what  man- 
ner crimes  shall  be  punished  which  may  be  committed  by 
any  of  the  Officers  or  Soldiers  of  the  Forces  stationed  on 
the  sea-coasts. 

Resolved,  that  all  Warrants  for  Staff  Officers,  which  may 
in  future  be  delivered,  be  dated  the  day  they  are  delivered. 

Resolved,  That  all  Commissions  to  fill  up  vacancies  be 
dated  the  day  they  are  delivered. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  some  measures  for 
making  provision  for  the  Poor  of  the  Town  of  Charlestoivn, 
reported.    The  Report  was  recommitted. 

Ordered,  That  Col.  Grout  and  Mr.  Woodbridge  be  added 
to  the  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  Accounts  which 
the  Committee  of  Safety  may  transmit  to  this  Congress. 


1466 

Ordered,  That  the  Committee  appointed  to  inspect  the 
Letters  brought  by  Captain  Jenkins,  be  a  Committee  to 
consider  what  is  best  to  be  done  with  them,  and  that  Mr. 
Dickerson  be  of  that  Committee  in  the  room  of  Mr. 
Phillips. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  inquire  where  safe  and 
convenient  Stores  for  securing  Gunpowder  might  be  had, 
reported.  The  Report  was  read  and  accepted,  and  is  as 
follows : 

The  Committee  appointed  to  look  out  for  a  place  or 
places,  for  the  safe  keeping  the  Powder  that  is  or  may  be 
lodged  in  this  Town,  have  attended  that  service,  and  beg 
leave  to  report,  as  their  opinion,  that  some  part  of  the 
Powder  be  kept  in  the  Middle  School-House,  and  some 
part  in  the  East  School-House  ;  also,  some  part  in  a  building 
belonging  to  Mr.  Josiah  Capen,  near  the  Great  Bridge  ; 
also,  that  a  Building  be  erected,  as  soon  as  possible,  within 
the  limits  of  the  said  Capen 's  land,  not  far  from  the  Great 
Bridge  in  said  Watertoivn,  which  place  was  proposed  some 
time  since  to  build  a  Provincial  Magazine  at,  agreeable  to 
a  law  of  this  Colony.    All  which  is  humbly  submitted. 

Jonathan  Brown,  per  order. 

The  same  Committee  to  see  that  the  Powder  is  well 
guarded,  and  to  consider  and  report  what  sort  of  a  Building 
shall  be  erected. 

The  Committee  directed  to  prepare  Instructions  to  the 
Committee  who  were  appointed  to  procure  Powder  from 
the  Counties  of  Worcester  and  Hampshire,  reported.  The 
Report  was  accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz: 

To  the  several  Towns  in  the  County  of  Hampshire,  on 
the  easterly  side  of  Connecticut  River,  and  the  Toivns 
in  the  County  of  Worcester  : 

This  Congress,  taking  into  their  most  serious  considera- 
tion the  great  want  of  Powder  in  our  publick  magazines, 
and  considering  how  much  depends  on  that  important  and 
most  necessary  article,  which,  under  God,  if  provided,  may 
prove  the  salvation  of  America;  and  as  your  Towns  lie 
the  least  exposed  to  the  ravages  of  our  enemy  ;  therefore  it 
is  most  earnestly  recommended  by  this  Congress  to  the 
Selectmen  of  each  Town  and  District  in  the  County  of 
Worcester,  that  they  deliver  the  whole  of  the  Town  stock 
of  Powder,  in  said  County  of  Worcester,  to  John  Caldwell, 
Esq.,  Mr.  Amos  Singletary,  and  Mr.  Israel  Nichols,  or 
either  of  them,  a  Committee  appointed  by  this  Congress 
to  receive  the  same,  except  so  much  as  is  allowed  to  be 
kept  in  each  Town,  which  will  appear  by  the  Schedule 
hereunto  annexed  ;  and  that  it  be  replaced  as  soon  as  the 
state  of  the  Colony  magazines  will  admit  thereof,  or  other- 
wise will  be  paid  for  in  money. 

And  it  is  likewise  recommended  to  the  Selectmen  of 
each  Town  and  District  in  the  County  of  Hampshire, 
except  those  on  the  westerly  side  of  Connecticut  River, 
to  deliver  the  respective  Town  stocks  of  Powder  to  Mr. 
Noah  Goodman,  who  is  appointed  by  this  Congress  to  re- 
ceive the  same  from  the  County  of  Hampshire,  agreeable 
to  the  annexed  Schedule.  Therefore 

Resolved,  That  the  said  Committees  appointed  by  this 
Congress  to  collect  the  Powder  from  the  Counties  of  Wor- 
cester and  Hampshire,  be  directed  to  give  a  receipt  to  the 
Selectmen  of  such  Towns  as  they  shall  receive  Powder 
from,  in  the  form  following: 

"The  ...  .    day  of  ,  1775. 

"  Received  of  A.  B.,  Selectmen  of  the  Town  of  .  .  .  ., 
the  Town  stock  of  Powder,  containing  .  .  .  weight,  to  the 
use  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay,  which  Powder  is  to  be  re- 
placed again  as  soon  as  the  state  of  the  Colony  magazine 
will  admit  of  it,  or  paid  for  in  money." 

And  the  Committee  appointed  to  receive  the  Powder 
are  hereby  severally  empowered  and  directed  to  employ 
such  Wagoners  or  Teamsters  as  shall  be  necessary,  with 
great  despatch  to  convey  the  same  to  the  Committee  of 
Supplies  ;  for  which  service  said  Wagoners  and  Teamsters, 
when  they  have  delivered  said  Powder  to  the  Committee 
of  Supplies,  and  shall  produce  a  certificate  from  either  of 
the  Committee-men  appointed  to  collect  said  Powder,  set- 
ting forth  the  sum  agreed  for  the  conveyance  of  said  Pow- 
der, then  the  Committee  of  Supplies  shall  give  orders  to 
the  Receiver-General  of  the  Colony  for  the  sum  so  agreed 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE,  1775. 


1467 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JULY,  1775. 


1468 


for  to  be  paid  in  cash,  and  the  Receiver-General  is  hereby 
directed  to  pay  the  same  accordingly. 

The  Schedule  is  as  follows,  viz : 


Towni'  Names. 

Town's  Stock  of 
Powder. 

Supplied  already. 

To  be  left  in 
Town. 

COUNTY  OP  WORCESTER. 

Worcester,  -    -  - 

2? 

barrels, 

l 

barrel, 

z  barrel 

Lancaster,  -    -  - 

2* 

do. 

l 

do. 

i 
z 

do. 

Men  don,  - 

H 

do. 

2 

do. 

X 

2 

do. 

Brookfield,      -  - 

6 

do. 

3 

do. 

i 

z 

do. 

Oxford,      -    -  - 

3z 

do. 

l 

do. 

x 
i 

do. 

Charlton,    -    -  - 

1§ 

do. 

do. 

4 

do. 

Sutton,       -    -  - 

4z 

do. 

- 

-    -  - 

X 

2 

do. 

Leicester,  - 

2 

do. 

l 

do. 

x 

2 

do. 

Spencer,     -    -  - 

z 

do. 

- 

-  . 

x 
4 

do. 

x 

2 

do. 

1 
Z 

do. 

x 
4 

do. 

x 
4 

do. 

New-Braintiee,  - 

1 

do. 

- 

-    -  - 

x 

4 

do. 

Southborough, 

l£ 

do. 

- 

-    -  - 

x 

z 

do. 

Northborough, 

2 

do. 

l 

do. 

x 
z 

do. 

Shrewsbury,    -  - 

5 

do. 

- 

-    -  - 

x 

do. 

Lunenburgh,   -  - 

2 

do. 

- 

... 

x 

z 

do. 

x 
t 

do. 

Uxbridge,  -    -  - 

2 

do. 

- 

... 

X 
z 

00. 

Harvard,  - 

2£ 

do. 

- 

.  . 

l 
z 

do. 

1 
2 

do. 

Hutchinson,     -  - 

2 

do. 

z 

do. 

X 

z 

uu. 

Bolton,  -    -    -  - 

2 

do. 

- 

... 

l 
z 

do* 

Upton,  - 

i  a 

do. 

... 

1 

4 

do. 

Sturbridge,      -  - 

do. 

- 

... 

i 
z 

do. 

Leominster, 

l 

do. 

- 

... 

1 

z 

do. 

Hard  wick,  - 

2 

do. 

- 

... 

x 

An 

oo. 

i 

do. 

Holden,     -    -  - 

I 

do. 

... 

4 

do. 

4 

do. 

Grafton,  - 

2* 

do. 

- 

-    -  - 

Z 

do. 

Petersham, 

3 

do. 

- 

... 

z 

do. 

i 

do. 

Westminster,  - 

z 

do. 

- 

--- 

4 

do. 

4 

do. 

Templeton, 

2 

do. 

- 

-    -  - 

\ 

do. 

Princeton,  - 

1* 

do. 

- 

... 

i 

do. 

z 

do. 

i 

do. 

'Westborough,  -  - 

3 

do. 

z 

do. 

z 

do. 

i 

do. 

COUNTY  OF  HAMPSHIRE. 

Springfield,      -  - 

li 

do. 

- 

... 

1 

i 

do. 

Willbraham, 

1 

do. 

- 

.  _ 

i 

4 

do. 

Hadley,     -    -  - 

% 

do. 

- 

i 

4 

do. 

South  Hadley, 

H 

do. 

- 

.  _ 

i 

do. 

i 

do. 

Granby,     -    -  - 

z 

do. 

i 

do. 

Northfield,  -    -  - 

i 

4 

do. 

n 

do. 

i 

do. 

Brimfield,  - 

i 

do. 

i 

do. 

South-Brimfield,  - 

i 

do. 

Monson,  - 

i 

do. 

4 

do. 

4 

do. 

4 

do. 

New  Salem,    -  - 

i 

do. 

i 

do. 

Belchertown,  -  - 

i 

do. 

i 

do. 

Warwick,   -    -  - 

i 

do. 

4 

do. 

i 

do. 

Ordered,  That  Captain  Broivn  make  provision  for  the 
two  poor  women  late  of  the  Town  of  Charlestown,  now 
at  the  door,  till  to-morrow  morning. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Kollock,  Colonel  Grout,  and  Mr. 
Dickerson,  be  a  Committee  to  examine  the  Accounts  of 
Major  Barber,  agreeable  to  his  Letter. 

A  Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Inspection  of  the  Town 
of  Biddeford  was  read,  and  committed  to  Colonel  Rich- 
mond, Captain  Stone,  and  Mr.  Langdon,  who  are  directed 
to  examine  the  prisoner,  Thomas  Neat,  brought  from  Bid- 
deford, and  report. 

Adjourned  to  eight  o'clock  to-morrow  morning. 


Saturday,  July  1,  1775. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  bring  in  a  Resolve  for  the 
purpose  of  making  provision  for  the  Poor  of  the  Town  of 
Charlestown,  reported  the  following,  which  was  accepted, 
viz : 

Whereas,  the  distressed  circumstances  of  the  inhabitants 
of  the  Town  of  Charlestovm  calls  for  the  charitable  aid  of 
this  Colony  ;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  such  of  those  inhabitants  as  are  unable 
to  remove  or  support  themselves,  be  removed  to  the  several 
Towns  in  the  County  of  Worcester  mentioned  in  the  Sche- 
dule hereunto  annexed. 

And  it  is  further  recommended  to  the  Selectmen  of  the 
aforesaid  Towns  to  provide  for,  and  employ  said  inhabi- 
tants, in  the  best  and  most  prudent  manner  that  may  be, 
and  render  their  accounts  to  this  or  some  future  Con- 
gress, or  House  of  Representatives,  which  reasonable  ac- 
counts shall  be  paid  out  of  the  publick  Treasury  of  said 
Colony. 

And  it  is  further  Resolved,  That  Deacon  Cheever,  Cap- 
tain Brown,  and  Major  Fuller  of  Newton,  be  a  Committee 
to  agree  with  Teamsters,  not  exceeding  the  rate  of  nine 
pence  per  ton  per  mile,  for  transporting  such  inhabitants  as 
are  unable  to  travel  with  their  effects,  and  give  certificates 
to  such  Teamsters,  expressing  that  they  are  the  Poor  of  the 
Town  of  Charlestown,  and  the  sum  they  are  to  receive  for 
such  service  ;  and  upon  said  Teamsters  producing  such  cer- 
tificate to  the  Committee  of  Supplies,  endorsed  with  the 
test  of  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town  where  such  Poor  and 
their  effects  are  lodged,  that  said  Teamster  has  done  the 
service  agreed  for  per  said  certificate,  the  Committee  of 
Supplies  are  hereby  directed  to  draw  on  the  Receiver- 
General  of  said  Colony  for  the  payment  of  said  Teamster, 
and  the  said  Receiver-General  is  hereby  ordered  to  pay 
the  same. 

County  of  Worcester. — Lancaster,  30;  Mendon,  30; 
Brookfield,  20;  Oxford,  15;  Charlton,  10;  Sutton,  30; 
Leicester,  12;  Spencer,  10;  Paxton,  7;  Rutland,  15;  Oak- 
ham, 6;  Hutchinson,  20;  New-Braintree,  15 ;  Southbo- 
rough, 6;  Westborough,  20 ;  Northborough,  10;  Shrews- 
bury, 10;  Fitchburgh,  10;  Uxbridge,  10. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  what  methods 
would  be  proper  to  try  and  punish  crimes  which  may  be 
committed  by  the  Soldiers  stationed  on  the  sea-coasts,  re- 
ported. The  Report  was  recommitted,  and  Major  Hawley 
and  Mr.  Greenleaf  added  to  the  Committee. 

Two  Letters  from  the  Rev.  John  Murray  were  read,  and 
committed  to  Colonel  Grout,  Major  Fuller  of  Newton,  and 
Major  Goodwin. 

An  Account  ofJabez  Matthews  was  read,  and  committed 
to  Major  Fuller,  Colonel  Mitchell,  and  Mr.  Ingalls. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Lothrop,  Mr.  Dickenson,  and  Mr. 
Nye,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  a  Resolve  of  the  Com- 
mittee of  Safety,  respecting  Whale-boats. 

A  Resolve  of  the  Committee  of  Safety,  proposing  that 
Electrical  Points  should  be  erected  over  the  Powder  Maga- 
zine, was  read,  and  committed  to  the  Committee  who  were 
appointed  to  build  a  Store  for  depositing  Gunpowder  therein, 
and  seeing  that  it  is  well  guarded. 

A  Petition  from  eighteen  Stockbridgc  Indians  was  read, 
and  committed  to  Mr.  Kollock,  Mr.  Crane,  and  Major 
White. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  examine  Thomas  Neat,  re- 
ported.   The  Report  was  accepted,  and  is  as  follows: 

The  Committee  appointed  to  examine  Thomas  Neat, 
have  attended  that  service,  and  are  humbly  of  opinion  that 
he  ought  to  be  discharged  and  set  at  liberty,  and  do  recom- 
mend him  for  a  pass,  to  be  signed  by  the  Secretary,  to  go 
to  New-York,  there  to  apply  for  a  further  pass,  as  he  pro- 
poses to  go  to  Virginia.    Submitted  : 

Ezra  Richmond,  per  order. 

Resolved,  That  the  following  persons  be  appointed  De- 
puty Commissaries  in  the  Massachusetts  Army,  being  one 
to  each  Regiment. 

List  of  Deputy  Commissaries. 
Mr.  Samuel  Norton,  recommended  by  Col.  Lincoln. 
Captain  Ebenezer  Craft,  of  Sturbridge,  recommended  by 

Colonel  Learned,  Rev.  Mr.  Faine,  &.c. 


1469 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JULY,  1775. 


1470 


Mr.  Jedediah  Easterbrooks,  Lunenburgh,  recommended 

by  Mr.  Gill  and  Doctor  Taylor. 
Mr.  Ezekiel  Cheever,  Boston,  recommended  by  Colonel 

Pidgeon. 

Mr.  Samuel  Russell  Gerry,  Marblthead,  recommended 
by  do. 

Mr.  Ebenezer  Warren,  Boston,  recommended  by  the  ho- 
nourable Committee  of  Supplies. 

Mr.  John  Fenno,  Boston,  recommended  by  Mr.  Secretary 
Ward. 

Mr.  Alexander  Sheppard,  Neuton,  recommended  by  Col. 
Pidgeon. 

Mr.  Ephraim  Russell,  Stow,  recommended  by  Col.  Boo- 
little  and  the  Paymaster-General. 

Mr.  Baniel  Bell,  Boston,  recommended  by  Mr.  Pitt. 

Mr.  William  Molineaux,  Boston,  recommended  by  do. 

Mr.  Baniel  Henshaw,  Jr.,  Boston,  recommended  by  Dr. 
Church. 

Mr.  John  Checkley,  Boston,  recommended  by  Dr.  Church 
and  others. 

Mr.  Jabez  Brown,  Stow,  recommended  by  the  Paymaster- 
General. 

Mr.  Joseph  Clark,  Boston,  recommended  by  Gen.  War- 
ren, Doctor  Church,  &c. 

Mr.  Gilliam  Taylor,  Boston,  recommended  by  General 
Warren  and  others. 

Mr.  Andrew  Newell,  Charlestown,  recommended  by  Mr. 
Cheever. 

Captain  James  Liltlefield,  JVtlls,  recommended  by  Colonel 
Scammon  and  others. 

Mr.  Waterman  Thomas,  Marshjield,  recommended  by 
General  Thomas. 

Mr.  Peter  Clark,  Newfoundland,  recommended  by  Colonel 
Palmer  and  Son. 

Mr.  Timothy  Newell,  Sturbridge,  recommended  by  Cap- 
tain Timothy  Parker. 

Mr.  John  Story,  Ipswich,  recommended  by  Col.  Farley. 

Mr.  Eliakim  Atherton,  Bolton,  recommended  by  Colonel 
Whit  comb. 

Mr.  Abraham  Tuckerman,  Boston,  recommended  by  Col- 
onel Palmer  and  Colonel  Brewer. 

Mr.  William  Holmes,  Boston,  recommended  by  his  father. 

31  r.  Enoch  Woodbridge,  Stockbridge,  recommended  by 
Colonel  Porter  and  Colonel  Patterson. 
Resolved,  That  the  Commissary-General  be  directed  to 

see  that  a  sufficient  number  of  Deputy  Commissaries  be 

placed  at  or  near  Prospect  Hill,  for  the  more  convenient 

supply  of  the  Forces  stationed  there. 

The  President,  by  leave  of  Congress,  brought  in  a  Re- 
solve, directing  General  Ward  to  order  two  Companies  to 
Plymouth,  which  was  accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz: 

Whereas,  the  Town  of  Plymouth  appears  to  be  in  danger 
of  being  attacked  by  the  enemy ;  therefore 

Resolved,  That  General  Ward  be  and  hereby  is  directed 
immediately  to  issue  his  orders  that  two  full  Companies 
from  Colonel  Cotton's  Regiment,  under  proper  officers, 
march  without  delay  to  Plymouth,and  there  remain  for  the 
guard  and  defence  of  the  inhabitants,  till  they  can  be  re- 
lieved by  such  Companies  as  are  to  be  raised  for  the  de- 
fence and  protection  of  the  sea-coasts,  and  to  be  stationed 
there  for  that  purpose. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Palmer  bring  in  a  Resolve  di- 
recting that  the  Rules  and  Regulations  of  the  Army  be 
frequently  read  to  the  Soldiers. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  some  method  of 
trying  criminals  on  the  sea-coasts,  reported  again.  The 
Report  was  accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz: 

Resolved,  That  all  offences  committed  by  any  of  the 
Forces  raised  for  the  defence  of  the  sea  coast,  shall  be  tried 
by  a  Court-Martial  consisting  of  the  Field-Officers  of  the 
Regiment  of  Militia  within  which  that  Company  to  which 
the  offender  belongs  is  stationed,  together  with  the  Com- 
missioned Officers  of  that  Company,  according  to  the  Rules 
and  Regulations  for  the  Massachusetts  Army  agreed  upon 
by  a  former  Congress,  excepting  those  offences  and  causes 
which  are  punishable  with  death,  which  are  to  be  tried  agree- 
able to  the  laws  of  the  land  by  the  civil  authorities.  Also, 

Resolved,  That  in  case  any  of  the  Soldiers  shall  lose, 
destroy,  or  unnecessarily  fire  away  any  of  his  Powder, 
Ammunition,  or  Cartridge,  without  giving  reasonable  satis- 


faction to  his  commanding  officer  therefor,  the  Captain  shall 
deduct  four  double  the  value  thereof  out  of  his  wages,  to 
be  applied  as  is  directed  in  the  first  article  of  the  Rules 
and  Regulations  above  mentioned.  Also, 

Resolved,  That  each  of  the  officers  of  which  these 
Courts-Martial  shall  consist,  be  supplied  with  a  pamphlet, 
containing  said  Rules  and  Regulations,  with  these  Resolves 
annexed  thereto,  which  shall  be  read  once  a  week  by  the 
Captain,  or  commanding  officer  of  each  Company,  to  their 
respective  Companies. 

By  order  of  Congress :   ,  President. 

Attest:   ,  Secretary. 

Ordered,  That  the  Committee  who  brought  in  the  fore- 
going Resolves,  get  a  number  of  them  printed,  and  that  they 
also  procure  as  many  Pamphlets,  containing  the  Rules  and 
Regulations  of  the  Army,  as  they  think  proper. 

A  Petition  from  James  Fry,  requesting  that  his  son 
might  be  appointed  a  Deputy  Commissary,  was  read  : 
whereupon, 

Ordered,  That  the  petitioner  have  leave  to  withdraw  his 
Petition. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  KoUock,  Mr.  Ellis,  and  Mr.  For, 
be  a  Committee  to  consider  a  Petition  and  Account  of  Mr. 
Josiah  Stearns. 

A  Petition  from  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  for 
the  Town  of  Sandwich  was  read,  and  committed  to  Colonel 
Richmond,  Colonel  Grout,  and  Colonel  Mitchell. 

A  number  more  of  Letters  from  London  were  laid  upon 
the  table,  and  committed  to  the  Secretary,  Mr.  Langdon, 
and  Colonel  Richmond. 

The  Committee  to  whom  were  committed  a  number  of 
Letters,  reported,  that  in  a  Letter  directed  to  John  Roice, 
Esq.,  was  enclosed  a  number  of  blank  Bills  of  Exchange, 
designed  for  the  use  of  the  Army  at  Boston  ;  whereupon, 

Ordered,  That  said  Committee  draw  up  a  true  state  of 
this  matter,  and  keep  the  blank  bills  as  vouchers  thereof. 

Colonel  Palmer,  agreeable  to  order,  reported  the  follow- 
ing Resolve,  which  was  accepted,  viz: 

Whereas,  certain  Rules  and  Regulations  for  the  Massa- 
chusetts Army  were  resolved  and  agreed  upon  by  a  former 
Congress  of  this  Colony,  but  no  provision  was  therein  made 
for  the  regular  reading  the  same  to  the  several  Corps  in 
said  Army ;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  said  Rules  and  Regulations  be  read  at 
least  once  every  month,  at  the  head  of  each  Regiment  or 
other  Corps  in  said  Army,  and  that  the  General  be  directed 
to  order  his  officers  to  see  that  this  Resolve  be  duly  ob- 
served. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  prepare  a  Letter  to  the 
Governour  and  Company  of  Connecticut,  reported.  The 
Report  was  accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz: 

"  May  it  please  tour  Honours  :  The  distressed  situa- 
tion of  the  eastern  parts  of  this  Province  calling  for  the 
serious  attention  of  the  humane,  this  Congress  beg  leave 
to  address  you  in  their  behalf.  By  reason  of  a  number  of 
our  friends  removing  from  the  seaports  into  the  interiour 
Towns,  and  a  large  Army  before  Boston  to  support  the 
rights  of  the  Colonies,  this  Colony  is  unable  to  spare  the 
necessary  supplies  of  grain  and  provisions  to  our  friends  in 
the  Province  of  Maine,  by  which  means,  and  an  embargo 
laid  upon  grain  and  provisions  in  your  Colony,  they  are 
reduced  to  the  alternative  of  starving,  or  supplying  the 
ministerial  Troops  with  lumber,  either  of  which  they  dep- 
recate. 

We  would  therefore  suggest  to  your  Honours  the  expe- 
diency of  taking  off  the  embargo,  so  far  as  to  permit  the 
inhabitants  of  the  eastern  parts  of  this  Province  to  purchase 
grain  and  provisions  for  themselves,  they  producing  a  cer- 
tificate from  any  of  the  Committees  mentioned  in  the  en- 
closed list,  and  giving  bonds  to  your  officers  that  they  will 
deliver  it  to  such  Committee. 

We  are,  with  the  greatest  sincerity,  your  Honours'  most 
obedient,  humble  servants,  &tc. 

To  the  Honourable  the  Governour  and  Company  of  the 
Colony  of  Connecticut. 

Accepted,  and  ordered  to  be  authenticated  and  sent  for- 
ward as  soon  as  may  be. 


1471 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JULY,  1775. 


1472 


List  enclosed  in  the  foregoing  Letter : 

Machias. — James  Lyon,  Chairman;  George  Stillman, 
Clerk;  Jeremiah  Obrien,  Benjamin  Foster,  Samuel 
Scott,  Man  waring  Beal,  Nathaniel  Sinclair. 

Number  Four. — John  Stevens,  P /tineas  Whitten. 

Golds  borough. — Benjamin  (Hasher,  William  Shaw. 

Narragaugus. — Joseph  Hallis,  Alexander  Campbell. 

St.  George's. — (Blank.) 

Penobscot. — (Blank.) 

Bristol. — (Blank.) 

Boothbay. — David  Reed,  Emerson. 

Pown alb o rough. —  Timothy  Langdon,  Chairman  ;  Ebe- 
nezer  Whittier,  Clerk ;  John  Getchcll,  John  Hitse, 
Timothy  Parsons. 

Georgetown. — Dummer  Scwall,  John  Wood. 

Brunswick. — Aaron  Hinckley,  Esq.,  Benjamin  Stone. 

North  Yarmouth. — Samuel  Stanwood. 

Falmouth,  Casco  Bay. — Hon.  Jcdediah  Preble,  Esquire, 
Hon.  Enoch  Freeman,  Esquire,  Mr.  Richard  Codman, 
Capt.  John  Waite,  Mr.  John  Butler,  Mr.  Samuel  Free- 
man, Mr.  Benjamin  Winslow. 

Berwick,  in  the  County  of  York. — Hon.  Benja.  Chad- 
bourn,  Esq.,  Mr.  John  Hill,  Mr.  Robert  Furness. 

The  Committee  on  the  Account  of  Mr.  Jabez  Matthews, 
reported.   The  Report  was  accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz: 

Resolved,  That  the  Receiver-General  be,  and  he  is  here- 
by directed  to  pay  Mr.  Jabez  Mattheivs,  or  order,  the  sum 
of  thirty  Pounds,  nine  Shillings,  and  eleven  Pence,  lawful 
money,  in  Colony  notes  or  bills  of  credit  of  this  or  the 
other  Governments,  which  are,  by  a  Resolve  of  this  Con- 
gress, made  payable  on  the  said  Treasury,  in  discharge  of 
an  Account  exhibited  by  him  to  this  Congress,  for  the  time 
and  expense  of  himself  and  three  persons  on  an  embassy 
to  Canada.  And  the  Committee  of  Supplies  are  hereby 
ordered  to  furnish  Mr.  Jabez  Matthews  with  four  pounds 
of  Powder  for  himself  and  associates. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  Resolve  of 
the  Committee  of  Safety  relative  to  Whale-boats,  reported. 
The  Report  was  recommitted. 

Afternoon. 

Mr.  Kollock  was  appointed  in  the  room  of  Major  Good- 
win, on  the  Committee  for  making  provision  for  the  recep- 
tion of  Generals  Washington  and  Lee. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Mitchell  deliver  the  two  hundred 
and  fifteen  Spears,  which  he  has  procured  for  the  use  of  the 
Army,  to  General  Thomas  at  Roxbury. 

Ordered,  That  Dr.  Taylor,  Mr.  Fox,  and  Capt.  Brag- 
don,  be  a  Committee  to  bring  in  a  Resolve,  directing  how 
the  sick  and  wounded  shall  be  removed  to  the  Hospitals. 

Thomas  Rice,  Esq.,  was  appointed  to  swear  the  Soldiers 
in  the  County  of  Lincoln,  in  the  room  of  David  Fales, 
Esquire. 

John  Lee,  Esq.,  was  appointed  to  swear  the  Soldiers  in 
the  County  of  Essex,  and  Rushworth  Jordan  for  the  County 
of  York,  in  addition  to  those  already  appointed. 

A  Petition  from  the  Selectmen  of  Men  don  read,  and  the 
Petitioners  had  leave  to  withdraw  their  Petition. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  how  the  Soldiers 
shall  he  supplied  with  Coats,  reported  ;  and  Tuesday  next, 
at  nine  o'clock,  A.  M.,  was  assigned  to  consider  the  Re- 
port. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  take  into  consideration  the 
Memorial  from  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  of  the 
Town  of  Sandwich,  reported.  The  Committee  were  di- 
rected to  bring  in  a  Resolve  to  recommend  the  parties  in 
said  Petition  mentioned,  to  leave  the  matters  in  dispute  to 
arbitration. 

Major  Hawlcy,  by  leave  of  Congress,  brought  in  a  Re- 
solve directing  the  Receiver-General  to  pay  out  of  the 
Treasury  the  Bills  of  Credit  of  the  other  Colonies.  The 
Resolve  was  accepted,  and  is  as  follows: 

Resolved,  That  the  Receiver-General  of  this  Colony  be, 
and  hereby  is  directed,  as  far  as  shall  be  in  his  power,  to 
pay  and  satisfy  any  drafts  and  orders  of  this  Congress,  or 
of  any  person  or  persons  who  are  or  shall  be  empowered 
by  this  Congress  to  draw  on  him  for  any  sum  or  sums 
whatsoever,  in  such  Notes  or  Bills  of  Credit  of  any  of  the 


American  Colonies,  which,  by  a  Resolution  of  this  Con- 
gress, passed  on  the  28th  day  of  June  last,  are  made  pay- 
able into  the  Treasury  of  this  Colony,  where  such  orders 
do  not  expressly  direct  the  payment  of  either  silver  or 
gold. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  devise  means  for  the  better 
accommodation  of  the  sick  and  wounded  of  the  Colony 
Army,  reported.  The  Report  was  accepted,  and  is  as  fol- 
lows, viz : 

In  order  that  all  the  sick  and  wounded  in  the  Army  may 
be  provided  for  and  taken  care  of  in  the  best  way  and 
manner  possible, 

Resolved,  and  it  is  hereby  Ordered,  That  when  any  per- 
son in  the  Army  is  so  ill,  either  by  a  wound  or  otherwise, 
that  the  Surgeon  of  the  Regiment  to  which  the  sick  or 
wounded  person  belongs  finds  that  the  sick  or  wounded  as 
abovesaid  cannot  be  properly  taken  care  of  in  the  Regi- 
ment to  which  he  belongs,  said  Surgeon  shall  send  the  sick 
or  wounded  as  abovesaid  to  the  hospital  provided  for  the 
use  of  the  camps  to  which  they  belong,  and  a  certificate  of 
the  man's  name,  and  the  Company  and  Regiment  to  which 
he  belongs ;  and  in  that  case  the  Surgeon  of  the  said  hos- 
pital shall  receive  said  sick  or  wounded  under  his  care ; 
and  in  case  said  hospital  shall  become  too  full,  in  that  case 
the  Surgeon  of  said  hospital  shall  send  such  of  his  patients 
as  may  with  safety  be  removed  to  the  hospital  in  Water- 
town,  and  a  certificate  setting  forth  the  man's  name,  and 
what  Company  and  Regiment  each  of  them  belong  to;  and 
in  that  case  the  Surgeon  of  the  Watertown  hospital  shall 
receive  said  sick  or  wounded  under  his  care. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  of  the  last-mentioned  Resolve 
be  sent  to  Generals  Ward  and  Thomas. 

The  Report  of  the  Committee  upon  the  Account  of  Mr. 
Paul  Revere,  was  considered,  and  not  accepted. 

Ordered,  That  Major  Hawley,  Mr.  Dexter,  and  Mr. 
Pickering,  be  a  Committee  to  draw  up  a  Resolve  to  be 
prefixed  to  the  Addresses  to  Generals  Washington  and 
Lee.    [Resolve  not  recorded.] 

"  To  his  Excellency  George  Washington,  Esq.,  General 
and  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  Continental  Army: 

"  May  it  please  your  Excellency:  The  Congress  of 
the  Massachusetts  Colony,  impressed  with  every  sentiment 
of  gratitude  and  respect,  beg  leave  to  congratulate  you  on 
your  safe  arrival,  and  to  wish  you  all  imaginable  happiness 
and  success  in  the  execution  of  your  elevated  station. 

"  While  we  applaud  that  attention  to  the  publick  good 
manifested  in  your  appointment,  we  equally  admire  that 
disinterested  virtue  and  distinguished  patriotism  which  alone 
could  call  you  from  those  enjoyments  of  domestick  life, 
which  a  sublime  and  manly  taste,  joined  with  a  most  afflu- 
ent fortune,  can  afford,  to  hazard  your  life,  and  endure  the 
fatigues  of  war  in  the  defence  of  the  rights  of  mankind 
and  the  good  of  your  Country. 

"  The  laudable  zeal  for  the  common  cause  of  America, 
and  compassion  for  the  distresses  of  this  Colony,  exhibited 
by  the  great  despatch  made  in  your  journey  hither,  fully 
justify  the  universal  satisfaction  we  have  with  pleasure  ob- 
served on  this  occasion,  and  are  promising  presages  that  the 
great  expectations  formed  from  your  personal  character  and 
military  abilities,  are  well  founded. 

"  We  wish  you  may  have  found  such  regularity  and  dis- 
cipline already  established  in  the  Army,  as  may  be  agree- 
able to  your  expectaiions.  The  hurry  with  which  it  was 
necessarily  collected,  and  the  many  disadvantages  arisng 
from  a  suspension  of  Government,  under  which  we  have 
raised  and  endeavoured  to  regulate  the  Forces  of  this  Co- 
lony, have  rendered  it  a  work  of  time;  and  though  in  a 
great  measure  effected,  the  completion  of  so  difficult,  and 
at  the  same  time  so  necessary  a  task,  is  reserved  to  your 
Excellency ;  and  we  doubt  not  will  be  properly  considered 
and  attended  to. 

"  We  would  not  presume  to  prescribe  to  your  Excellency, 
but  supposing  you  would  choose  to  be  informed  of  the  gene- 
ral character  of  the  soldiers  who  compose  the  Army,  beg 
leave  to  represent,  that  the  greatest  part  of  them  have  not 
before  seen  service;  and  although  naturally  brave  and  of 
good  understanding,  yet,  for  want  of  experience  in  military 
life,  have  but  little  knowledge  of  divers  things  most  essen- 
tial to  the  preservation  of  health,  and  even  life.  The 


4473 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JULY,  1775. 


4474 


youth  of  the  Army  are  not  possessed  of  the  absolute  ne- 
cessity of  cleanliness  in  their  dress  and  lodging,  continual 
exercise,  and  strict  temperance,  to  preserve  them  from  dis- 
eases frequently  prevailing  in  camps,  especially  among 
those  who,  from  their  childhood,  have  been  used  to  a  labo- 
rious life. 

"  We  beg  leave  to  assure  you  that  this  Congress  will,  at 
all  times,  be  ready  to  attend  to  such  requisitions  as  you 
may  have  occasion  to  make  to  us,  and  to  contribute  all  the 
aid  in  our  power  to  the  cause  of  America,  and  your  happi- 
ness and  ease  in  the  discharge  of  the  duties  of  your  exalted 
office. 

"  We  most  fervently  implore  Almighty  God,  that  the 
blessings  of  Divine  Providence  may  rest  on  you  ;  that 
your  head  may  be  covered  in  the  day  of  battle  ;  that  every 
necessary  assistance  may  be  afforded ;  and  that  you  may 
be  long  continued  in  life  and  health,  a  blessing  to  man- 
kind." 

His  Excellency's  Answer. 

"  Gentlemen  :  Your  kind  congratulations  on  my  ap- 
pointment and  arrival,  demand  my  warmest  acknowledg- 
ments, and  will  ever  be  retained  in  grateful  remembrance. 

"  In  exchanging  the  enjoyments  of  domestick  life  for  the 
duties  of  my  present  honourable  but  arduous  station,  I  only 
emulate  the  virtue  and  publick  spirit  of  the  whole  Province 
of  the  Massachusetts-Bay,  which,  with  afirmnessand  patriot- 
ism without  example  in  modern  history,  have  sacrificed  all 
the  comforts  of  social  and  political  life,  in  support  of  the 
rights  of  mankind  and  the  welfare  of  our  common  Country. 
My  highest  ambition  is  to  be  the  happy  instrument  of  vin- 
dicating those  rights,  and  to  see  this  devoted  Province 
again  restored  to  peace,  liberty,  and  safety. 

"  The  short  space  of  time  which  has  elapsed  since  my 
arrival,  does  not  permit  me  to  decide  upon  the  state  of  the 
Army.  The  course  of  human  affairs  forbids  an  expectation 
that  troops  formed  under  such  circumstances,  should  at 
once  possess  the  order,  regularity,  and  discipline  of  vete- 
rans. Whatever  deficiencies  there  may  be,  will,  I  doubt 
not,  soon  be  made  up  by  the  activity  and  zeal  of  the  offi- 
cers, and  the  docility  and  obedience  of  the  men.  These 
qualities,  united  with  their  native  bravery  and  spirit,  will 
afford  a  happy  presage  of  success,  and  put  a  final  period  to 
those  distresses  which  now  overwhelm  this  once  happy 
country. 

"  I  most  sincerely  thank  you,  gentlemen,  for  your  decla- 
ration of  readiness  at  all  times  to  assist  me  in  the  discharge 
of  the  duties  of  my  station  ;  they  are  so  complicated  and 
extended,  that  I  shall  need  the  assistance  of  every  good 
man  and  lover  of  his  Country.  I  therefore  repose  the  ut- 
most confidence  in  your  aids. 

"  In  return  for  your  affectionate  wishes  to  myself,  permit 
me  to  say  that  1  earnestly  implore  that  Divine  Being,  in 
whose  hands  are  all  human  events,  to  make  you  and  your 
constituents  as  distinguished  in  publick  and  private  happi- 
ness, as  you  have  been  by  Ministerial  oppression  and  pri- 
vate and  publick  distress.         George  Washington." 

"  To  the  Honourable  Charles  Lee,  Esq.,  Major- General 
of  the  Continental  Army: 

"  Sir  :  The  Congress  of  the  Massachusetts  Colony,  pos- 
sessed of  the  fullest  evidence  of  your  attachment  to  the 
rights  of  mankind,  and  regard  to  the  distresses  which  Ame- 
rica in  general,  and  this  Colony  in  particular,  are  involved, 
by  the  impolitick,  wicked,  and  tyrannick  system  adopted 
by  Administration,  and  pursued  with  relentless  and  savage 
fury,  do  with  pleasure  embrace  this  opportunity  to  express 
the  great  satisfaction  and  gratitude  they  feel  on  your  ap- 
pointment as  a  Major-General  in  the  American  Army.  We 
sincerely  congratulate  you  on  your  safe  arrival  here,  and 
wish  you  all  possible  happiness  and  success  in  the  execu- 
tion of  so  important  a  trust. 

"  We  admire  and  respect  the  character  of  a  man  who, 
disregarding  the  allurements  of  profit  and  distinction  his 
merit  might  procure,  engages  in  the  cause  of  mankind,  in 
defence  of  the  injured,  and  relief  of  the  oppressed.  From 
your  character,  from  your  great  abilities  and  military  expe- 
rience, united  with  those  of  the  Commander-in-Chief,  un- 
der the  smiles  of  Providence,  we  flatter  ourselves  with  the 
prospect  of  discipline  and  order,  success  and  victory. 

"  Be  assured,  Sir,  that  it  will  give  us  great  pleasure  to 
be  able  to  contribute  to  your  happiness.    May  the  favours 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii.  9 


and  blessings  of  Heaven  attend  you.  May  Divine  Provi- 
dence guard  and  protect  you,  conduct  you  in  the  paths  of 
honour  and  virtue,  grant  you  the  reward  of  the  brave  and 
virtuous  here,  the  applauses  of  mankind,  and  the  approba- 
tion of  your  own  conscience,  and  eternal  happiness  here- 
after." 

His  Honour's  Answer. 
"  To  the  Gentlemen  of  the  Provincial  Congress  of  the 
Massachusetts  : 
"  Gentlemen  :  Nothing  can  be  so  flattering  to  me  as 
the  good  opinion  and  approbation  of  the  Delegates  of  a 
free  and  uncorrupt  people.  1  was  educated  in  the  highest 
reverence  for  the  rights  of  mankind,  and  have  acquired,  by 
a  long  acquaintance,  a  most  particular  regard  for  the  people 
of  America. 

"  You  may  depend,  therefore,  gentlemen,  on  my  zeal 
and  integrity.  I  can  promise  you  nothing  from  my  abili- 
ties. God  Almighty  grant  us  success  equal  to  the  right- 
eousness of  the  cause. 

"  I  thank  you,  gentlemen,  for  an  address  which  does  me 
so  much  honour,  and  shall  labour  to  deserve  it." 

Ordered,  That  the  sum  of  fifty  Pounds  be  paid  to  Mr. 
Paul  Revere,  in  full  for  engraving  four  Plates  and  printing 
14,500  impressions  ;  and  that  Mr.  Langdon  bring  in  a  Re- 
solve for  that  purpose. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Phillips,  Colonel  Grout,  and  Mr. 
Crane,  be  a  Committee  to  devise  means  for  supporting  the 
Poor  of  the  Towns  of  Boston  and  Charlestown,  to  the 
places  of  their  destination. 

Ordered,  That  the  Committee  for  procuring  and  fur- 
nishing a  house  for  Generals  Washington  and  Lee,  be  di- 
rected to  purchase  what  things  are  necessary  that  they 
cannot  hire. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Goodwin  and  Colonel  Richmond 
be  added  to  the  Committee  last  mentioned. 

Ordered,  That  the  last-mentioned  Committee  be  direct- 
ed to  procure  some  refreshments  for  the  Generals  Wash- 
ington and  Lee. 

Mr.  Langdon,  agreeable  to  order,  brought  in  the  follow- 
ing Resolve;  which  was  accepted,  viz: 

Resolved,  That  there  be  paid  out  of  the  publick  Trea- 
sury of  this  Colony,  to  Mr.  Paul  Revere,  or  order,  the  sum 
of  fifty  Pounds,  in  full  for  procuring  and  engraving  four 
Plates  and  printing  14,500  impressions  of  Colony  Notes; 
and  the  Receiver-General  is  hereby  directed  to  pay  the 
same  sum  accordingly. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  of  means  for  se- 
curing sundry  Whale-Boats  procured  for  the  use  of  this 
Colony,  and  now  lying  at  Weymouth  and  Braintree,  beg 
leave  to  report,  that  Captain  Edmund  Soper,  of  Braintree, 
be  empowered  to  take  charge  of  the  same,  and  with  the 
assistance  of  Captain  Seth  Turner's  and  Captain  Vinton's 
Companies,  (now  posted  in  Braintree,)  convey  and  secure 
them  in  some  safe  and  convenient  place,  where  they  will 
not  be  exposed  either  to  the  enemy  or  the  weather;  and 
there  to  remain  until  the  further  order  of  this  or  some  fu- 
ture Congress,  or  House  of  Representatives. 

Adjourned  till  eight  o'clock  to-morrow  morning. 

Subbath  Day,  July  2,  1775. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Bliss  and  Mr.  Cutt  be  of  the  Com- 
mittee for  devising  means  for  the  support  of  the  Poor  of  the 
Towns  of  Boston  and  Charlestown,  to  the  places  of  their 
destination,  in  the  room  of  Mr.  Phillips  and  Mr.  Crane. 

The  Report  of  the  Committee  for  securing  the  Lamps 
of  the  Light-Houses,  was  read  and  accepted,  and  is  as  fol- 
lows, viz : 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  expediency 
of  removing  and  securing  the  Lamps,  with  the  Oil,  &ic, 
from  the  several  Light-Houses  within  this  Colony,  have 
attended  that  service,  and  beg  leave  to  report  as  follows, 
viz :  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  Committee  of  Corres- 
pondence, or  Selectmen  of  the  Town  of  Chelsea,  to  remove 
and  secure  (if  practicable)  the  Lamps  and  Oil  from  the 
Light-House  at  the  entrance  of  Boston  Harbour,  with  all 
the  appurtenances  thereunto  belonging ;  also,  that  it  be  re- 
commended to  the  Committee  of  Safety  of  the  Town  of 
Gloucester,  that  the  same  measures  be  taken  with  respect 


1475 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JULY,  1775. 


1476 


to  the  Light-Houses  on  Thatcher's  Island,  so  called  ;  and 
that  the  keeper  of  said  Lights,  with  the  several  Boats, 
Cattle,  &lc,  be  also  removed  from  thence.  Furthermore, 
that  it  be  recommended  to  the  Committee  of  Correspond- 
ence for  the  Town  of  Plymouth,  to  remove  and  secure  the 
Lamps,  Oil,  &tc,  from  the  Light-House  at  the  Gurnet,  so 
called,  with  all  the  appurtenances  thereunto  belonging ; 
and  that  the  keepers  of  the  several  Light-Houses  as  above 
specified,  be  discharged  from  the  service  of  this  Colony, 
till  the  further  order  of  this  or  some  future  Congress  or 
House  of  Representatives. 

Ordered,  That  three  copies  of  the  last  mentioned  Report 
be  sent  to  the  places  in  said  Report  mentioned  ;  and  that 
the  Committee  who  drew  the  Report  forward  the  copies. 

Ordered,  That  Doctor  Taylor,  Mr.  Pickering,  and  Mr. 
Greenleaf,  be  a  Committee  to  write  to  Mr.  Russell,  desi- 
ring him  to  pay  the  money  due  from  him  to  the  Treasury 
immediately. 

The  Petition  of  Joseph  Barrett,  for  himself  and  others, 
was  read,  and  ordered  to  be  filed.  The  Petition  is  as  fol- 
lows, viz : 

"  To  the  Honourable  Provincial  Congress,  now  sitting  at 
Watertown  : 

"  The  Petition  of  Joseph  Barrell,  late  of  Boston,  hum- 
bly sheweth  : 

"  That  in  the  fire  in  Boston,  which  began  in  the  soldiers' 
Barracks  on  the  evening  of  the  17th  of  May  last,*  his  store, 
together  with  his  effects,  to  a  very  considerable  amount, 
were  consumed. 

"  Your  petitioner  humbly  apprehends  that  this  loss  is 
entirely  owing  to  the  present  unhappy  times,  occasioned 
by  the  cruel  oppression  of  the  British  Administration  ; 
as,  at  the  general  desire  of  the  friends  of  the  Country,  he 
removed  with  his  family  from  Boston,  that  scene  of  dis- 
tress, and  by  the  chicanery  of  General  Gage,  was  pre- 
vented from  carrying  his  effects  with  him,  as  he,  with  his 
distressed  townsmen,  were  shamefully  deceived  by  the  fair- 
est promises  of  a  speedy  removal,  with  their  effects,  with- 
out molestation,  until  the  end  of  the  capitulation  on  the  side 
of  the  General  was  fully  answered ;  and  then  they  were 
insulted  by  the  most  cruel  perversion  of  that  comprehen- 
sive plain  English  word,  effects,  confining  it  to  a  few  trifles, 
which,  when  suffered  to  depart,  were  clogged  with  such 
restrictions  as  will  forever  disgrace  him.  But  notwithstand- 
ing all  this,  still  your  petitioner  had  been  safe,  in  all  proba- 
bility, had  not  the  General,  by  an  order  as  extraordinary  as 
new,  secured  from  the  inhabitants  the  fire-engines,  and 
given  the  use  of  them  to  his  Troops,  whereby,  as  your 
petitioner  is  informed,  it  was  a  very  considerable  time  be- 
fore they  were  in  use  at  all,  and  then  conducted  with  such 
consummate  ignorance  as  to  be  of  no  service,  in  which 
time  the  flames  raged  to  that  degree  that  no  human  help 
could  prevent  them.  And  your  petitioner  is  further  in- 
formed, that  some  of  his  effects  saved  from  the  fire  by  his 
friends,  were  afterwards  destroyed  by  the  savage  order  of 
the  Officers  of  the  Army. 

"  Whereupon,  your  petitioner  humbly  hopes  that  his  case, 
together  with  the  case  of  his  fellow-sufferers,  may,  by  this 
honourable  Congress,  be  represented  to  the  Grand  Conti- 
nental Congress,  that  they,  in  their  great  wisdom,  may  take 

*  The  following  is  an  account  of  the  late  fire  which  begun  in  the 
Barrack,  under  the  arch  formerly  improved  by  Benjamin  and  Edward 
Davis,  about  half  past  eight  o'clock  of  the  evening  of  the  17th  of  May. 
Tho  soldiers  were  receiving  some  cartridges,  by  which  means  one  took 
fire  and  communic  ited  to  many  more,  which  immediately  set  fire  to 
the  room.    List  of  Stores  burned  : 

John  Hancock,  store  and  shed  ;  Thomas  Fayerweather,  do. ;  Benja- 
min Andrews,  2  do.,  one  of  his  was  improved  by  B.  and  W.  Foster; 
Edward  Gray,  1  do.,  Town  Dock,  south  side  ;  Joseph  Barrell,  1  do. ; 
John  Head,  1  do. ;  Jonathan  Williams,  1  do.,  with  50  barrels  of  flour, 
(donation);  Kylson  and  Barton,  1  do.;  Andrew  Black,  ldo.;  Nathan, 
iel  Carey,  1  do.  and  shed ;  Alexander  Hill,  1  do.  and  shed ;  James 
Russell,  Impost  Office  ;  John  Soley,  1  store ;  John  Swatzer,  1  do.,  3 
do.,  at  the  end  of  Town  Dock  ;  ti  stores  and  u  cooper's  shop,  owned  by 
Eliakim  Hutchinson,  joining  tho  Town  Dock,  improved  as  barracks; 
1  storo  between,  formerly  improved  by  Mr.  Elias  Thomas,  sail.maker  ;  2 
stores  loading  down  to  the  Barracks,  improved  by  Grant  and  Webster 
and  William  Blair;  Thomas  Brattle's  shed  bawled  down  to  stop  tho 
firo ;  1  store  opposite  Swing  Bridge,  ownod  by  Thomas  Fai/erweather, 
and  are  the  next  to  Mr.  Hancock's  not  burned ;  1  storo,  improved  by 
Ellis  Gray,  which  makes  the  corner  joining  to  Mr.  Hancock's  not 
burnod.  Ti  e  stores  on  the  Town  Dock  were  chiefly  owned  by  those 
gentlemen  who  kept  thorn. 

N.  B.  Instead  of  ringing  the  bells  as  usual,  the  soldiers  boat  to  arms, 
by  which  moans  our  people  wore  in  great  confusion,  not  boing  used  to 
such  signals  in  time  of  firo. 


such  measures  as  to  them  shall  seem  fit  to  alleviate  their 
sufferings ;  and  that  what  is  thus  destroyed  in  the  general 
cause,  may  not  fall  so  very  heavy  on  any  individual.  And 
your  petitioner,  as  in  duty  bound,  shall  ever  pray,  &ic. 

"Joseph  Barrell." 

"  June,  177a." 

The  Letter  of  Mr.  Alexander  Shepard,  Junior,  to  the 
Committee  of  Safety,  was  read,  and  is  as  follows,  viz : 

July  2,  1775. 

"  To  Mr.  Edward  Durant,  one  of  the  Committee  of 
Safety,  Cambridge: 
"  Sir  :  I  was  engaged  by  His  Majesty's  Surveyor-Gene- 
ral to  make  out  an  accurate  draught  of  the  late  Province 
in  Maine,  and  return  the  same  to  him  in  New-Jersey  as 
soon  as  finished  ;  which  plan  I  completed  in  March  last, 
and  should  have  sent  it  to  him,  and  beyond  doubt  have  re- 
ceived his  return  before  this  day.  But  realizing  the  distress 
into  which  my  country  is  involved,  by  the  giganlick  strides 
of  a  (worse  than  Nero)  tyrant,  feared  that  I  might,  per- 
haps inadvertently,  render  service  by  my  draught  to  the 
enemies  of  mankind,  delayed  my  transmitting  the  same  as 
at  first  proposed.  But  if  it  should  be  thought  that  giving 
it  up  would  not  be  attended  with  any  ill  consequences,  1 
shall  be  extremely  glad  to  be  permitted,  as  thereby  I  may 
be  put  into  possession  of  what  perhaps  1  may  never  recover 
hereafter. 

"  Sir,  as  you  are  one  of  the  Committee  of  Safety,  in  whose 
department  it  is  to  determine,  I  heg  you,  at  some  time  when 
the  leisure  of  the  honourable  Committee  will  admit,  to 
move  for  a  consideration  of  the  premises,  which,  Sir,  is  a 
matter  of  weight  with,  Sir,  your  very  humble  and  most 
obedient  servant,  Alex.  Shepard,  Jun." 

"  N.  B.  The  purport  is  to  know  the  Committee's  mind, 
whether  he  shall  send  the  old  original  draught  of  Holland, 
and  his,  said  Shepard' s  draught,  to  said  Holland,  (who  is 
a  tory,)  or  whether  he  shall  not.  Said  Holland  is  a  Coun- 
sellor of  Quebeck,  hut  now  resident  in  the  Jerseys." 

[The  Committee  of  Safety  desired  me  to  report,  that 
they  think  it  not  prudent  to  send  forward  the  papers;  but 
think  the  affair  so  important  as  to  deserve  to  be  laid  before 
Congress.  E.  Durant.] 

The  Report  of  the  Committee  for  devising  means  for 
the  support  of  the  Poor  of  Boston  and  Charlesiown,  to  the 
places  of  their  destination,  was  read  and  accepted,  and  is 
as  follows : 

Whereas,  it  is  necessary  that  further  provision  be  made 
for  the  suffering  Poor  of  the  Towns  of  Boston  and  Charles- 
town  ;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  such  person  or  persons  as  shall  produce 
a  certificate  from  any  or  either  of  the  Selectmen  or  Over- 
seers of  the  Poor  of  the  said  Towns,  that  they  are  of  the 
Poor  of  the  Town  to  which  the  said  Selectmen  or  Over- 
seers do  or  did  in  March  last  belong,  that  then  the  Commis- 
saries in  the  Towns  of  Watertown  and  Roxbury  are  hereby 
directed  to  deliver  out  of  the  Province  stores  to  them  a 
sufficiency  of  provisions  to  carry  them  to  the  place  of  their 
destination,  the  Commissary  to  take  a  receipt  from  such 
Selectmen  or  Overseers  therefor.  And  it  is  recommended  to 
the  inhabitants  of  this  Province,  to  treat  such  Poor  with 
humanity,  by  affording  them  shelter  in  their  houses  from 
the  weather;  and,  if  desired,  to  exchange  such  provisions 
with  them  as  said  Poor  may  have  occasion  for  on  their  way. 

Ordered,  That  the  foregoing  Resolve  be  published  in 
the  Watertown,  Cambridge,  and  Worcester  Newspapers. 

Adjourned  to  four  o'clock,  P.  M. 

At  four  o'clock,  P.  M.,  the  Congress  met,  and  adjourn- 
ed to  Monday  morning,  eight  o'clock. 

»  Monday,  July  3,  1775. 

Ordered,  That  the  Committee  of  Safety,  who  were  ap- 
pointed a  Committee  to  take  into  consideration  the  expe- 
diency of  a  new  emission  of  Notes  or  Bills  of  Credit,  be 
directed  to  sit  and  report  as  soon  as  possible. 

Resolved,  That  the  Resolve  of  the  1st  instant,  ordering 
the  Rules  and  Regulations  of  the  Army  to  be  read  monthly, 
be  reconsidered. 

Resolved,  That  the  Receiver-General  be  directed  to  pay 


1477 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JULY,  1775. 


1478 


to  Mr.  Josiah  Stevens  the  sum  of  two  Pounds,  in  Colony 
Notes  or  Bills  of  Credit,  (payable  to  said  Receiver,)  for 
his  services  in  bringing  a  number  of  Letters  to  this  Congress 
taken  out  of  a  vessel  from  London. 

Afternoon. 

A  Vote  of  the  Congress  of  New-Hampshire  was  read ; 
and  Messrs.  Child  and  Ashley,  the  bearers  thereof,  were 
admitted  on  the  floor.  They  produced  a  Letter  from 
Messrs.  Buckman  and  Wales,  to  Colonel  Bayley,  of  New- 
Hampshire,  and  his  answer. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Dexter,  Colonel  Lincoln,  Doctor 
Church,  Mr.  Pitts,  and  Captain  Bragdon,  be  a  Committee 
to  confer  with  Messrs.  Child  and  Ashley,  from  the  Prov- 
ince of  New- Hampshire. 

Ordered,  That  the  addition  of  the  words  "Overseers  of 
the  Poor"  be  added  to  the  Resolve  of  yesterday,  respecting 
the  Poor  of  the  Towns  of  Boston  and  Charlestown. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Cutt,  Colonel  Farley,  and  Colonel 
Dwight,  be  a  Committee  to  take  into  consideration  the 
Petition  of  Thomas  Morton. 

Ordered,  That  a  Letter  for  Thomas  Irving,  Esquire, 
be  opened,  and  ordered  to  be  committed  to  the  Committee 
who  were  to  take  under  consideration  what  should  be  done 
with  the  Letters  from  London. 

The  Petition  of  the  Selectmen  of  Abington  was  read, 
and  committed  to  Colonel  Mitchell,  Mr.  Lotkrop,  and  Mr. 
Ellis.    The  Petition  is  as  follows,  viz : 

"  To  the  Honourable  Provincial  Congress  now  sitting  at 
Watertown  : 
"  The  Petition  of  us,  the  subscribers,  humbly  sheweth, 
that  there  are  now  forty  persons  got  into  the  Town  of 
Abington,  who  were  partakers  of  the  donations  while  they 
resided  in  the  Town  of  Boston,  and  are  in  want  of  support. 
Bread  corn  is  an  article  that  is  very  scarce  and  dear  among 
us ;  and  as  your  petitioners  are  credibly  informed  there  is 
a  large  quantity  of  corn,  bread,  flour,  &c,  sent  to  the  Town 
of  Dartmouth,  and  there  stored,  being  a  donation  for  the 
poor  of  Boston,  your  petitioners  therefore  humbly  pray  this 
honourable  Congress  would  please  to  give  orders  that  we 
thaw  our  proportion  out  of  said  donation,  according  to  the 
number  of  persons  we  have  to  support,  which  shall  be 
faithfully  dealt  out  to  them  according  to  their  respective 
wants  and  necessities.  This  your  petitioners,  as  in  duty 
bound,  shall  every  pray. 

"  Joshua  Howe,  )  Selectmen  of 
"  Benj.  Bates,  Jr.,  y  Abington. 

"Abington,  July  3,  1775." 

Major  Goodwin,  who  was  appointed  to  bring  in  a  Re- 
solve for  directing  the  Committee  of  Supplies  to  furnish 
the  Non-Commissioned  Officers  who  lost  their  clothes  and 
blankets  in  the  late  engagement,  with  clothes  and  blankets, 
reported.    The  Report  was  accepted,  and  is  as  follows: 

Whereas,  in  consequence  of  a  Letter  from  General 
Ward,  provision  was  made  by  a  Resolve  of  this  Congress 
for  Private  Soldiers  who  had  lost  their  clothes  and  blankets 
in  a  late  engagement,  but  no  provision  was  made  for  Non- 
commissioned Officers  in  similar  circumstances  ;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  the  Committee  of  Supplies  be,  and  they 
hereby  are  directed  to  furnish  said  Non-Commissioned  Offi- 
cers with  Clothes  and  Blankets,  in  such  manner  and  form  as 
they  were  directed  by  said  Resolve  to  supply  said  Privates. 

Adjourned  to  Tuesday  morning,  eight  o'clock. 

Tuesday,  July  4,  1775. 

Ordered,  That  the  Honourable  the  President,  Honour- 
able Major  Hawley,  and  Mr.  Greenleaf,  be  a  Committee 
to  prepare  a  Letter  to  Governour  Trumbull,  desiring  him 
to  forward  to  this  Colony,  as  soon  as  may  be,  whatever 
Flour  may  arrive  at  Connecticut,  for  the  use  of  the  Army. 

A  Letter  from  Colonel  Gridley  was  read,  and  ordered 
to  lie  on  the  table.    The  Letter  is  as  follows,  viz : 

"  Cambridge,  July  3,  1775. 

"  Gentlemen  :  Some  time  since  you  desired  me  to 
make  a  return  of  proper  persons  for  field-officers  for  the 
Regiment  of  Artillery.  Accordingly,  after  mature  consi- 
deration, I  made  a  return,  which  I  thought  if  complied  with 
would  be  the  most  likely  means  to  serve  the  country  in  the 


best  manner.  But  I  find,  gentlemen,  my  judgment  in  these 
matters  is  of  little  weight  with  you  ;  it  seems  not  necessary 
to  consult  me  in  it.  Though  I  must  have  the  trouble  of 
teaching  every  one  under  me  the  knowledge  necessary  for 
the  service,  you  have  been  pleased  to  revise  the  plan  I 
gave  you  ;  that,  no  doubt,  you  have  a  right  to  do.  But  be 
assured,  gentlemen,  if  I  must  have  no  judgment,  and  am 
not  to  be  consulted  in  these  matters,  but  must  have  persons 
transposed  and  imposed  upon  me  without  consulting  me, 
I  am  determined  I  will  withdraw  myself  from  the  Army, 
and  will  have  nothing  farther  to  do  with  it. 
"  I  am,  gentlemen,  your  most  humble  servant, 

"  Richard  Gridley. 
"  To  the  Honourable  Provincial  Congress." 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Pickering,  Mr.  Partridge,  and  Mr. 
Goodwin,  be  a  Committee  to  prepare  a  Letter  to  General 
Washington,  informing  him  of  the  provision  this  Congress 
has  made  for  the  sick  and  wounded  of  the  Army. 

An  Account  of  Ephraim  Fenno  was  read,  and  commit- 
ted to  Mr.  Wheeler,  Mr.  Jewett,  and  Colonel  Dwight. 

Ordered,  That  Asa  Barns  and  other  Officers  of  Col. 
Woodbridge's  Regiment,  recommended  by  the  Committee 
of  Safety,  be  commissioned,  agreeable  to  the  recommenda- 
tion of  said  Committee. 

The  Committee  on  the  Petition  of  the  Selectmen  of 
Abington,  reported  verbally,  that  the  matter  respecting  the 
Donations  for  the  Poor  of  Boston,  be  considered  at  large. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Mitchell,  Captain  Stone,  Mr. 
Kollock,  Colonel  Jones,  and  Mr.  Crane,  be  a  Committee 
for  that  purpose. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Johnson,  Mr.  Fairfield,  and  Mr. 
Crane,  be  a  Committee  to  examine  the  Accounts  of  those 
persons  who  were  empowered  to  procure  Arms  for  the  use 
of  the  Colony  Army. 

The  Committee  on  the  Petition  of  Thomas  Morton,  re- 
ported. The  Report  was  ordered  to  lie  on  the  table  for 
the  present. 

A  Resolve  of  the  Committee  relative  to  the  Goods  of 
Thomas  Hutchinson,  Esq.,  and  others,  hid  in  and  about 
Milton,  was  read,  and  committed  to  Major  Bliss,  Colonel 
Grout,  and  Mr.  Crane. 

Resolved,  That  three  o'clock,  P.  M.,  be  assigned  for 
the  choice  of  some  gentleman  to  serve  on  the  Committee  of 
Supplies,  in  the  room  of  Mr.  Vose,  who  declines  serving. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Jewett,  Mr.  Lothrop,  Captain 
Thatcher,  Colonel  Jones,  Mr.  Wheeler,  Colonel  Farley, 
and  Mr.  Cross,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  the  expediency 
of  making  a  Draw-Bridge  of  the  bridge  at  Cambridge, 
agreeable  to  the  request  of  General  Washington ;  and  that 
said  Committee  be  directed  to  sit  forthwith. 

At  the  request  of  General  Washington,  communicated 
by  Mr.  Gill, 

Resolved,  That  no  more  commissions  for  the  present  be 
delivered  to  any  Officers  of  the  Colony  Army,  those  em- 
ployed more  particularly  for  the  protection  of  the  sea- 
coasts,  excepted. 

The  Resolve  relative  to  furnishing  the  Soldiers  with 
Coats,  was  considered,  and  recommitted  for  amendment. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Partridge,  Mr.  Pickering,  and  Dr. 
Taylor,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  in  what  manner  the 
late  inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Boston  may  choose  Mem- 
bers to  represent  that  Town  in  the  next  General  Assembly 
of  this  Colony. 

Resolved,  That  the  Committee  of  Supplies  be,  and 
hereby  are  directed  to  supply  the  Rev.  Mr.  Gordon  with 
a  good  Horse,  to  use  during  his  service  as  a  Chaplain  to 
this  Congress-. 

Ordered,  That  Doctor  Taylor,  Doctor  Church,  and  Mr. 
Johnson,  be  a  Committee  to  bring  in  a  Resolve  appointing 
Doctor  Andrew  Craigie  a  Commissary  of  Medical  Stores  ; 
and  that  said  Committee  be  directed  to  consider  what  is  a 
proper  establishment  for  his  pay. 

Afternoon. 

A  recommendation  from  the  Committee  of  Safety  rela- 
tive to  an  Indian's  having  a  Horse,  read,  and  committed  to 
Doctor  Taylor,  Mr.  Partridge,  and  Mr.  Glover. 


1479 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JULY,  1775. 


1480 


Ordered,  That  Captain  Brown,  Captain  Parker,  and 
Mr.  Richmond,  be  a  Committee  to  sort  and  count  the  votes 
for  a  Member  of  the  Committee  of  Supplies,  in  the  room 
of  Major  Vose ;  and  Captain  Partridge  was  chosen  in  the 
room  of  Major  Vose. 

Ordered,  That  the  Committee  for  making  out  Commis- 
sions be  directed  to  make  out  a  Commission  for  Samuel 
Brewer,  as  Adjutant-General,  and  date  it  the  day  of  his 
appointment. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  write  a  Letter  to  Govern- 
our  Trumbull,  reported.  The  Report  was  read,  and  or- 
dered to  be  recommitted  for  additions  and  amendments. 

Ordered,  That  any  three  of  the  Committee  of  Supplies, 
of  which  Mr.  Gill  to  be  one,  in  the  absence  of  Mr.  Cheever, 
be  a  quorum  to  do  business. 

The  Committee  upon  the  Letter  relative  to  the  Indian's 
having  a  Horse,  reported.  The  Report  was  accepted,  and 
is  as  follows,  viz  : 

Resolved,  That  a  small  Horse,  taken  by  Henries  Vom- 
havi  from  Noddle's  Island,  be  granted  to  the  said  Henries 
for  his  own  use,  to  encourage  his  further  brave  conduct  and 
good  behaviour  in  camp. 

Ordered,  That  Col.  Spaulding,  Mr.  Woodbridge,  and 
Mr.  Johnson,  be  a  Committee  to  take  under  consideration 
the  sufferings  of  Abraham  Nimham. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Glover,  Doctor  Taylor,  and  Col. 
Grout,  be  on  the  Committee  of  Conference  with  the  Mem- 
bers from  New-Hampshire,  in  the  room  of  Mr.  Pitts,  Col. 
Lincoln,  and  Captain  Bragdon. 

Ordered.  That  Mr.  Bent  be  on  the  Committee  for  the 
Abington  Petition,  in  the  room  of  Doctor  Jones. 

Ordered,  That  the  President,  Mr.  Langdon,  and  Major 
Bliss,  be  a  Committee  to  take  into  consideration  the  con- 
duct of  the  people  of  Nantucket,  and  report  what  is  expe- 
dient to  be  done  with  respect  to  them. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Wheelock,  with  Letters  from  the 
Congress  of  New-Hampshire,  be  admitted  upon  the  floor. 

Ordered,  That  Doctor  Church,  Mr.  Hopkins,  and  Major 
Bliss,  be  a  Committee  to  introduce  Mr.  Wheelock ;  and  also 
to  deliver  a  copy  of  the  Letter  from  New-Hampshire  to  his 
Excellency  Gen.  Washington;  and  also  to  draw  an  Answer 
to  the  Letter  from  New-Hampshire,  which  is  as  follows  : 

"  Exeter,  July  3,  1775. 

"Gentlemen:  We  take  the  earliest  opportunity  to 
communicate  to  you  some  intelligence  we  have  just  re- 
ceived from  Canada,  by  the  way  of  Mr.  Dean,  a  Mission- 
ary, lately  come  from  that  country.  We  enclose  copies  of 
two  letters  from  Doctor  Wheelock,  and  a  Committee  in 
Hanover.  Mr.  Wheelock  and  Colonel  Beetle,  who  will 
take  charge  of  this,  will  be  able  to  give  you,  perhaps,  some 
further  particulars. 

"  We  wish  to  have,  as  soon  as  possible,  your  judgment 
on  the  matter,  and  shall  probably  defer  acting  until  we  hear 
from  you.  If  any  plan  of  operation  towards,  or  in  Canada, 
is  suitable,  we  wish  to  act  in  concert  with  you  and  the  other 
Colonies  in  the  neighbourhood. 

«  \ye  trust  we  shall  not  be  backward  in  exerting  our- 
selves in  the  common  defence ;  but  would  act  with  caution 
in  a  matter  of  importance. 

"  We  are,  with  respect,  gentlemen,  your  friends  and 
brothers  in  the  common  cause. 

"  In  the  name  and  by  order  of  the  Congress : 

"  Matthew  Thornton,  President. 

"  To  the  Honourable  Congress  of  the  Colony  of  Massa- 
chusetts-Bay." 

The  Report  of  the  Committee  upon  the  Account  of  Mr. 
White,  was  accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz: 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  Accounts  trans- 
mitted to  this  Congress  by  the  Committee  of  Safety,  beg 
leave  to  report  by  way  of  Resolve,  that  William  White  be 
paid  the  sum  of  six  Pounds,  lawful  money,  for  service 
done  by  said  William  White  by  order  of  the  Committee  of 
Safety;  and  that  the  Receiver-General  be  directed  to  pay 
said  sum  to  the  said  William  While. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  write  to  Governour  Trum- 
bull, reported.  The  Report  was  read  and  accepted,  and 
is  as  follows,  viz : 


M  ay  it  please  your  Honour:  Your  favour  of  the  27th 
June  we  received,  and  heartily  thank  you  for  the  informa- 
tion therein  given  us.  The  arrival  of  the  flour  from  Ntw- 
York  to  Norwich,  gives  us  great  pleasure,  as  we  stand  in 
need  of  large  supplies  of  that  commodity.  We  request 
your  Honour  to  give  orders  that  the  same  may  be  forward- 
ed as  soon  as  possible  to  our  Committee  of  Supplies  at 
Watertown;  and  any  further  quantities  that  may  arrive 
hereafter,  we  desire  may  be  sent  immediately  upon  its  arri- 
val, to  the  same  Committee ;  almost  all  the  grain  in  this 
Colony  being  already  brought  in,  and  our  stock  not  equal 
to  the  demands  for  bread. 

We  have  the  pleasure  to  be  able  to  acquaint  your  Hon- 
our, that  Generals  Washington  and  Lee,  with  Mr.  MiJJIin, 
Aid-de-Camp  to  General  Washington,  arrived  at  Cambridge 
last  Sabbath,  in  good  health,  a  little  after  twelve  o'clock  at 
noon,  and  have  great  reason  to  expect,  from  their  known 
characters,  and  their  activity  and  vigilance  already  discover- 
ed, that  their  presence  in  the  Army  will  be  attended  with 
most  happy  consequences. 

Our  camps  at  Cambridge  and  Roxbury  are  daily  putting 
on  a  more  defensible  appearance.  The  health  of  our  army 
is  as  general  as  we  could  expect.  Several  privates  in  the 
Cambridge  Camp  were  last  week  taken  down  with  the 
small-pox,  but  we  have  great  reason  to  hope  that  the  pre- 
cautions taken  on  this  occurrence  will,  by  the  Divine  bless- 
ing, prevent  the  spreading  of  that  distemper  in  the  camp. 

We  are,  with  the  greatest  respect,  your  Honour's  most 
obedient  humble  servants. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Grout,  Mr.  Langdon,  and  Dr. 
Taylor,  be  a  Committee  to  take  into  consideration  the  Let- 
ter from  Mr.  Shepard,  relative  to  the  Eastern  Plans  of 
the  Sea-Coasts. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  bring  in  a  Resolve  for  ap- 
pointing Mr.  Craigie  Medical  Commissary,  reported.  It 
was  read,  and  is  as  follows,  viz: 

Resolved,  That  Mr.  Andrew  Craigie  be,  and  he  is  here- 
by appointed  a  Medical  Commissary  and  Apothecary  for 
the  Massachusetts  Army ;  and  that  said  Craigie  be  allowed 
five  Pounds  per  month  for  his  services  as  abovesaid. 

Ordered,  That  the  Committee  for  making  out  Commis- 
sions, make  out  a  Warrant  for  Mr.  Craigie,  Medical  Com- 
missary. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  take  into  consideration  the 
loss  of  Indian  Nimham,  reported.  The  Report  was  read 
and  accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz : 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  losses  of 
Abraham  Nimham,  in  his  journey  to  Caughnawaga,  in 
carrying  a  message  to  the  Indians,  beg  leave  to  report  by 
way  of  Rpsolve,  that  the  said  Abraham  Nimham  be  paid 
the  sum  of  thirty-six  Shillings,  lawful  money;  and  that 
the  Receiver-General  be  directed  to  pay  the  said  sum  to 
Jahleel  Woodbridge,  Esquire,  and  he  to  account  with  the 
said  Abraham  Nimham. 

Resolved,  That  this  Congress  will  attend  to  matters  of 
the  greatest  importance,  that  they  may  finish  the  business, 
and  dissolve  some  time  before  the  sitting  of  the  General 
Court. 

Ordered,  That  the  matter  contained  in  a  Resolve  ol 
the  Committee  of  Safety,  relating  to  the  effects  of  Refu- 
gees, being  before  provided  for  by  this  Congress,  subside. 

Adjourned  to  Wednesday  morning,  eight  o'clock. 

Wednesday,  July  5,  1775. 

A  Letter  from  Jlilliam  Tollman,  of  Dartmouth,  was 
read,  and  committed  to  the  Committee  appointed  to  con- 
sider at  large  of  the  Donations  for  the  Poor  of  Boston. 

The  Report  of  the  Committee  on  the  Petition  of  Tho- 
mas Morton  was  read,  and  accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz: 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  Memorial  of 
Thomas  Morton,  beg  leave  to  report,  by  way  of  Resolve : 

Resolved,  That  the  prayer  of  the  Memorial  be  granted, 
and  that  William  Powell,  Esquire,  late  of  Boston,  have 
leave  to  export  one  thousand  quintals  of  Jamaica  old  Cod- 
Fish  to  the  West-Indies,  and  that  the  Committee  of  Cor- 
respondence in  Newburyport  see  that  the  said  Htlliam 
Powell,  Esquire,  strictly  complies  with  the  Resolutions  ol 
the  Continental  and  Provincial  Congresses. 


1481 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JULY,  1775. 


1482 


Ordered,  That  Mr.  Greenleaf  Colonel  Richmond,  Dr. 
Tat/lor,  Mr.  Glover,  and  Captain  Holmes,  be  a  Committee 
to  wait  upon  General  Washington,  to  inform  him  that  this 
Congress  have  it  in  contemplation  to  rise  this  week,  and  to 
know  if  he  has  any  matter  to  lay  before  the  Congress. 

A  list  of  Surgeons  and  Mates  who  have  been  examined 
and  approved  of  by  a  Committee  of  this  Congress,  was  laid 
before  the  Congress,  and  read,  and  is  as  follows: 
Dr.  David  Jones,  Surgeon  of  Col.  Gerrish's  Regiment; 
Samuel  Blanchard,  Mate  to  Dr.  Jones; 
Dr.  Aaron  Putnam,  Male  in  Colonel  Fry's  Regiment; 
Dr.  Joseph  Hunt,  Mate  to  Dr.  Joseph  Foster,  in  the  Cam- 

bridge  Hospital ; 
Dr.  Jacob  Bacon,  as  Mate  in  Col.  Scammon's  Regiment ; 
Dr.  Harris  Clary  Fridges,  as  Mate ; 
Dr.  Edward  Durant,  Surgeon  in  Col.  Mansfield's  Reg't ; 
Josiah  Harvey,  as  Mate  in  Colonel  Fellows' s  Regiment ; 
Dr.  Abraham  Watson,  Surgeon  of  Col.  Gardner's  Reg't; 
Dr.  William  Vinal,  as  Mate  in  Col.  Gardner's  Regiment ; 
Dr.  John  Georges,  as  Mate  in  Gen.  Heath's  Regiment; 
Dr.  Isaac  Spafford,  Surgeon  in  Col.  Nixon's  Regiment  ; 
Dr.  Jnhn  Crooker,  Surgeon  in  Col.  Scammon's  Regiment ; 
Dr.  Walter  Hastings,  Surgeon  in  Col.  Bridge's  Regiment ; 
Dr.  Timothy  Child,  Surgeon  of  Col.  Patterson's  Reg't; 
Dr.  Levi  Willard,  Surgeon  of  Col.  Reed's  Kegimeni; 
Dr.  Daniel  Parker,  Surgeon  of  Col.  Walker's  Regiment ; 
Dr.  Thomas  Kittcridge,  Surgeon  of  Col.  Fry's  Regiment. 

Thereupon,  Ordered,  That  Warrants  be  made  out  for 
them,  agreeable  thereto. 

Resolved,  That  the  Order  of  Congress  relative  to  the 
date  of  the  Warrants  of  the  Staff  Officers  be  so  far  recon- 
sidered, as  that  the  Warrants  for  the  Surgeons  be  dated 
the  28lh  of  June,  ultimo. 

Ordered,  That  the  Committee  who  were  appointed  to 
deliver  out  Commissions  to  the  Officers  of  the  Army,  be  a 
Committee  to  prepare  and  lay  before  this  Congress  a  list  of 
such  as  have  been  commissioned. 

A  form  of  a  Warrant  for  a  Medical  Commissary  was 
read,  and  accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz: 

"  The  Congress  of  the  Colony  of  the  Massachusetts- 
Bay  to  greeting: 

"  We,  being  informed  of  your  skill  in  Medicine,  and  re- 
posing especial  trust  and  confidence  in  your  ability  and 
good  conduct,  do,  by  these  presents,  constitute  and  appoint 

you,  the  said  ,  to  be  Medical  Commissary  and 

Apothecary  to  the  Army  raised  by  this  Congress  for  the 
defence  of  this  Colony.  You  are  therefore  carefully  and 
diligently  to  discharge  the  duty  of  a  Medical  Commissary 
and  Apothecary  in  all  things  appertaining  thereto,  observing 
such  orders  and  instructions  as  you  shall  from  time  to  time 
receive  from  any  your  superiour  officers,  according  to  the 
rules  and  discipline  established  by  said  Congress,  for  which 
this  shall  be  your  sufficient  warrant. 

"  By  order  of  the  Congress : 

"  President." 

Ordered,  That  Col.  Smith,  Mr.  Plympton,  Mr.  Ellis, 
Mr.  Bigeloiv,  Deacon  Stone,  Captain  Brown,  Major 
Fuller,  and  Captain  Stone,  be  a  Committee  to  procure 
two  hundred  Axes,  with  helves,  immediately,  for  the  use 
of  the  Army,  and  when  procured  to  forward  them  immedi- 
ately to  General  Washington,  or  his  order,  and  lay  before 
the  Congress  a  list  of  the  persons  of  whom  they  shall  be 
procured,  with  the  price  agreed  on  ;  and  that  the  Commit- 
tee assure  the  persons  of  whom  they  may  procure  said 
Axes,  that  they  shall  be  paid  for  as  soon  as  the  Congress 
can  make  provision  therefor. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  in  what  manner 
the  late  inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Boston  should  choose 
Representatives,  reported.  The  Report  was  accepted, 
and  is  as  follows,  and  was  ordered  to  be  sent  immediately 
to  M  r.  William  Cooper,  viz : 

As  it  appears  to  this  Congress  fit  and  reasonable  that  the 
good  people  of  the  Town  of  Boston,  though  at  present  in 
a  dispersed  state,  should  have  a  just  and  equal  representa- 
tion in  the  great  and  General  Assembly  of  this  Colony, 
and  as  the  choice  of  Representatives  for  that  purpose  in 
legal  town  meeting,  convened  in  the  common  and  ordinary 
way,  is  at  present  utterly  impracticable ;  therefore, 


Resolved,  That  Mr.  William  Cooper,  Town  Clerk  of 
Boston,  be,  and  he  hereby  is  empowered  and  directed,  by 
notifications  under  his  hand  in  the  several  Newspapers,  im- 
mediately to  notify  and  give  warning  to  the  Freeholders  and 
others,  who  were  inhabitants  of  the  said  Town  of  Boston, 
and  were  qualified,  according  to  law,  to  vote  for  Representa- 
tives in  May,  1774,  and  are  now  dispersed,  to  assemble  and 
meet  at  the  Meeting-House  in  Concord,  on  Tuesday,  the 
18th  day  of  July  instant,  at  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon, 
then  and  there  to  elect  and  depute  one  or  more  Freehold- 
ers in  said  Town,  according  to  the  numbers  limited  by  a 
law  of  this  Colony,  to  serve  for,  and  represent  them  in  a 
great  and  General  Court  or  Assembly,  to  be  convened, 
held,  and  kept  for  the  service  of  said  Colony,  until  the  day 
next  preceding  the  last  Wednesday  of  May  next,  if  neces- 
sary, and  no  longer,  at  the  Meeting-House  in  Watertown, 
upon  Wednesday,  the  19th  instant,  by  nine  o'clock  in  the 
forenoon,  and  so  from  day  to  day  during  their  session  or 
sessions.  Hereof  he  is  desired  not  to  fail,  and  make  return 
of  this  Resolve,  with  the  name  or  names  of  the  person  and 
persons  elected  or  deputed  by  a  major  part  of  the  electors 
present  unto  the  great  and  General  Assembly,  at  the  time 
and  place  above  mentioned  for  its  meeting. 

The  Committee  appointed  the  second  instant  to  prepare 
a  Letter  to  the  Hon.  James  Russell,  Esq.,  reported.  The 
draught  prepared  was  accepted,  ordered  to  be  signed  by  the 
President,  and  forwarded,  and  is  as  follows,  viz: 

"  Sir:  The  present  necessity  for  cash  is  such,  that  it  is 
necessary  for  this  Congress  to  direct  you  to  pay  in  to  Henry 
Gardner,  Esquire,  Receiver-General  of  this  Colony,  all  the 
publick  moneys  in  your  hands  or  care,  belonging  to  said 
Colony,  without  further  delay.    By  order  of  Congress: 

"  ,  President. 

"  To  the  Hon.  James  Russell,  Esq.,  of  Dunstable." 

Ordered,  That  Captain  Holmes,  Captain  Carpenter, 
Mr.  Glover,  Mr.  Jewett,  and  Mr.  Parker,  be  a  Commit- 
tee to  consider  some  method  to  prevent  conveying  intelli- 
gence to  our  enemies,  and  also  to  put  a  stop  to  supplying 
them  with  Provisions. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  request  of 
General  Washington,  relative  to  making  a  Draw-Bridge  of 
the  Bridge  at  Cambridge,  reported.  The  Report  was  ac- 
cepted, and  is  as  follows,  viz  : 

The  Committee  appointed  to  wait  on  his  Excellency 
General  Washington,  relative  to  making  the  Bridge  near 
Charles  River,  in  Cambridge,  a  Draw-Bridge,  have  at- 
tended that  service,  and  beg  leave  to  report,  that  his 
Excellency  suggested  that  he  apprehends  it  to  be  of  great 
importance  that  this  business  be  immediately  entered 
upon  ;  also,  he  mentioned,  that  he  did  not  intend  the  pass- 
ing and  repassing  should  be  impeded.  His  Excellency 
recommends  to  the  Congress  the  doing  it,  as  they  are  the 
best  judges  of  proper  persons  to  be  employed.  His  Ex- 
cellency hinted  that  it  would  be  agreeable  to  him  to  be 
consulted  as  to  the  manner  of  its  being  done. 

Dummer  Jewett,  per  order. 

The  same  Committee  being  directed  to  bring  in  a  Resolve 
relative  to  said  Bridge,  reported  the  following,  which  was 
accepted,  viz : 

Whereas,  his  Excellency  General  Washington  has  sig- 
nified to  this  Congress  his  desire  that  the  Bridge  over 
Charles  River,  in  Cambridge,  should  be  made  a  Draw- 
Bridge,  and  that  the  Congress  would  see  to  the  doing  of  it 
immediately ;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  Captain  Thatcher,  Mr.  Whittcmore,  Mr. 
Temple,  Mr.  Cross,  and  Captain  Parker,  be  a  Committee 
to  procure  materials,  and  employ  a  suitable  number  of 
artificers  for  accomplishing  the  aforementioned  business, 
agreeable  to  the  direction  of  his  Excellency  General  Wash- 
ington, the  same  to  be  done  at  the  immediate  expense  of 
this  Colony,  and  that  the  Committee  render  to  this  Con- 
gress, or  some  future  House  of  Representatives,  their  ac- 
count of  said  expense. 

Resolved,  That  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  be  assign- 
ed for  the  choice  of  some  person  to  serve  on  the  Commit- 
tee of  Supplies,  in  the  room  of  Mr.  Partridge,  who,  at  his 
request,  has  been  excused,  and  that  in  such  choice  the 
Members  of  the  Congress  may  have  liberty  to  vote  for  any 
person  who  may  not  belong  to  the  Congress. 


1483 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JULY,  1775. 


1484 


The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  of  the  Donations 
for  the  Poor  of  Boston,  reported.  The  Report  was  re- 
committed. 

A  Petition  of  Jonathan  Brewer  was  read,  and  committed 
to  Deacon  Stickney,  Doctor  Taylor,  and  Col.  Spaulding. 
The  Petition  is  as  follows,  viz: 

"Cambridge,  July  4,  1775. 

"  Gentlemen  :  Whereas,  a  number  of  men  that  enlisted 
in  different  Companies  in  my  Regiment  have,  through  the 
low  artifice  and  cunning  of  several  recruiting  officers  of 
different  Regiments,  re-enlisted  into  other  Companies, 
being  over-persuaded  by  such  arguments  as,  that  Colonel 
Brewer  would  not  be  commissioned,  and  that  if  they  did 
not  immediately  join  some  other  Regiment,  they  would  be 
turned  out  of  the  service ;  others  were  tempted  with  a  pro- 
mise to  have  a  dollar  each  to  drink  the  recruiting  officer's 
health  ;  others  by  intoxication  of  strong  liquor ;  by  which 
means  a  considerable  number  have  deserted  my  Regiment, 
as  will  be  made  to  appear  by  the  returns  therefrom,  as  also 
the  different  Companies  and  Regiments  they  are  re-enlist- 
ed into.  In  consequence  of  which  my  Regiment  is,  to  the 
detriment  of  the  service,  considerably  weakened  ;  therefore 
your  petitioner  humbly  prays  that  the  honourable  Congress 
will  take  this  matter  into  consideration,  and  either  order  the 
re-enlisted  men  to  the  several  officers  they  first  enlisted 
under,  or  be  pleased  to  direct  to  some  method  of  filling  up 
the  Regiment,  as  the  honourable  Congress  in  their  wisdom 
may  see  fit.  And  your  petitioner,  as  in  duty  bound,  will 
ever  pray.  Jonathan  Bjreweu. 

"  To  the  Honourable  Congress." 

Ordered,  That  Dr.  Taylor,  Mr.  Lothrop,  and  Mr. 
Jewett,  be  a  Committee  to  distribute  the  Pamphlets  which 
contain  the  Depositions  relative  to  the  battle  of  Lexington. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Glover  be  of  the  Committee  for 
stationing  the  Soldiers  in  the  County  of  Essex,  in  the  room 
of  Mr.  Gerry,  excused. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  examine  the  Accounts  of 
the  Committee  appointed  to  procure  Fire-Arms,  reported. 
The  Report  was  accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz: 

Whereas,  Messrs.  John  Bliss,  William  Page,  Abiel 
Sadler,  and  Lemuel  Kollock,  were  appointed  by  this  Con- 
gress to  collect  a  number  of  Fire-Arms  for  the  use  of  the 
Colony,  and  have  delivered  said  Arms  to  the  Committee 
of  Safety  at  Cambridge,  as  appears  by  receipts  from  said 
Committee,  and  have  exhibited  their  accounts  for  said  ser- 
vice, which  accounts  appear  to  be  reasonable  ;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  there  be  paid  by  the  Receiver-General, 
to  the  several  persons  aforesaid,  the  following  sums,  viz: 
to  Captain  John  Bliss,  the  sum  of  five  Pounds,  eleven 
Shillings;  to  William  Page,  six  Pounds,  seventeen  Shil- 
lings ;  to  Abiel  Sadler,  five  Pounds,  ten  Shillings ;  to 
Lemuel  Kollock,  three  Pounds,  ten  Shillings,  and  eight 
Pence;  being  in  full  of  the  aforesaid  Account. 

Ordered,  That  the  list  of  persons  of  whom  the  Arms 
were  procured,  be  lodged  with  the  Receiver-General. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Partridge,  Colonel  Bowers,  and 
Mr.  Jewett,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  a  Letter  from 
General  Ward. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  Petition  of 
the  eighteen  Stockbridge  Indians,  reported.  The  Report 
was  accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz  : 

Whereas,  it  appears  to  this  Congress,  by  a  Petition  from 
the  Stockbridge  Indians  enlisted  in  the  American  Army, 
that  they  in  their  more  serious  hours,  being  sensible  of  their 
want  of  prudence  in  disposing  of  their  money,  are  desirous 
that  this  Congress  in  their  wisdom  would  devise  some 
method  to  prevent  their  getting  too  much  strong  drink  ;  and 
they  also  request  that  all  their  wages  that  are  now  due,  or 
shall  hereafter  be  due  to  them  for  their  services,  be  paid  to 
Timothy  Edwards  and  Jahleel  Woodbridge,  Esquires,  or 
to  their  order ;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  Timothy  Edwards  or  Jahleel  Wood- 
bridge,  Esquires,  be,  and  hereby  are  empowered  to  draw 
the  wages  of  the  aforesaid  Indians,  and  deal  out  the  same  as 
they  shall  find  said  Indians  have  need  thereof,  according  to 
any  order  or  orders  of  the  Congress  that  have  been,  or  shall 
hereafter  be  made  for  paying  all  or  any  part  of  the  wages 
due  to  the  soldiers,  and  render  an  account  of  their  doings  to 
this  or  some  future  Congress  or  House  of  Representatives, 


when  required ;  and  the  Receiver-General  is  accordingly 
directed  to  pay  the  same  to  the  said  Timothy  Edwards  or 
Jahleel  Woodbridge,  Esquires,  as  aforesaid,  and  take  their 
receipt  therefor;  and  it  is  also  recommended  and  enjoined 
by  this  Congress,  that  all  persons  who  sell  Spirituous  Li- 
quors, be  particularly  careful  not  to  let  said  Indians  have 
too  much  strong  drink,  as  that  wholly  unfits  them  for  any 
service. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  a  Letter  of  Mr. 
Alexander  Shepard,  reported.  The  Report  was  accept- 
ed, and  is  as  follows,  viz : 

The  Committee  appointed  to  take  under  consideration 
the  Letter  from  Mr.  Shepard,  beg  leave  to  report,  by  way 
of  Resolve,  as  follows,  viz : 

Resolved,  That  it  be,  and  it  hereby  is  recommended  to 
Mr.  Alexander  Shepard,  Jun.,  that  he  retain  in  his  hands 
all  the  Plans  he  hath  of  the  Province  of  Maine,  and  that 
he  do  not  suffer  them  to  go  out  of  his  possession  to  any 
person,  upon  any  consideration,  until  the  further  order  of 
this  or  some  future  Congress  or  House  of  Representa- 
tives. 

Ordered,  That  part  of  the  Resolve,  relative  to  the  Light- 
Houses,  which  empowered  the  Selectmen  and  Committees 
of  Correspondence  to  remove  and  secure  the  Lamps  and  Oil 
from  the  Light-House  at  the  entrance  of  Boston  Harbour, 
be  reconsidered,  and  that  Mr.  Crane,  Captain  Holmes,  and 
Deacon  Washburn,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  at  large  on 
some  measures  for  removing  and  securing  the  Lamps  and 
Oil  aforesaid. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Bancroft,  Mr.  Fox,  and  Mr.  Lo- 
throp, be  a  Committee  to  consider  a  Letter  from  Mr. 
James  Lyon,  dated  Machias,  June  17,  1775. 

Afternoon. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  state  of  the 
Donations  for  the  Poor  of  Boston,  reported.  The  Report 
was  recommitted,  and  Mr.  Batchelder  added  to  the  Com- 
mittee, in  the  room  of  Captain  Stone,  absent. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  bring  in  a  Resolve,  for  the 
purpose  of  calling  the  General  Assembly  together  at  any 
time  sooner  than  the  nineteenth  instant,  if  occasion  should 
require,  reported.  The  Report  was  accepted,  and  is  as 
follows,  viz : 

Whereas,  this  Congress,  pursuant  to  the  recommenda- 
tion of  the  General  Congress  of  this  Continent,  have  sent 
out  their  Letters  to  the  several  Towns  in  this  Colony,  de- 
siring that  Representatives  might  be  elected,  and  returned 
by  them,  to  serve  in  a  great  or  General  Court  or  Assembly, 
to  be  convened,  held,  and  kept  for  the  service  of  this 
Colony  at  Watertown,  on  the  19th  day  of  July  current : 
And  whereas,  such  unforeseen  events  may  take  place  be- 
tween this  time  and  the  said  19th  day  of  July,  as  may 
render  the  convening  of  such  General  Court  or  Assembly 
at  Watertoivn  aforesaid,  at  the  time  aforesaid,  very  impro- 
per and  unsafe ;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  Henry  Gardner,  Esquire,  Mr.  Gill, 
Deacon  Cheever,  Mr.  White  of  Brookline,  and  Captain 
Thatcher,  be  a  Committee  (in  case  they  or  the  major  part 
of  them  should  judge  it  improper  or  unsafe  that  such  Gen- 
eral Assembly  should  be  convened  at  the  said  Watertown 
at  the  time  aforesaid)  to  agree  upon  and  determine  at  what 
other  place  in  this  Colony  the  said  General  Assembly 
should  be  convened  ;  and  the  said  Committee,  or  the  major 
part  of  them  are  hereby  fully  empowered  to  determine  at 
what  place  it  shall  be  most  expedient  that  the  said  General 
Assembly  should  be  convened,  and  to  give  notice  thereof 
to  the  several  persons  who  have  been,  or  may  be  chosen 
to  serve  in  such  Assembly,  in  such  way  and  manner  as 
they  shall  judge  most  expeditious  and  effectual. 

Ordered,  That  Dr.  Church,  Colonel  Bowers,  and  Mr. 
Bftylcy,  be  a  Committee  to  confer  with  General  Washing- 
ton on  the  subject  of  furnishing  his  table,  and  know  what 
he  expects  relative  thereto,  and  that  they  sit  forthwith. 

Ordered,  That  the  Committee  appointed  to  procure 
necessary  Furniture  for  the  house  provided  for  General 
Washington,  complete  the  business  of  their  commission,  by 
purchase,  or  by  borrowing. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Wheeler,  Colonel  Grout,  and  Mr. 


1485 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JULY,  1775. 


1486 


Durfee,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  a  Letter  from  Mr. 
James  Winlhrop.    The  Letter  is  as  follows,  viz : 

"Cambridge,  July  5,  1775. 

"Sir:  When  the  Congress  did  me  the  honour  to  ap- 
point me  Postmaster  for  this  Town,  I  was  in  hopes  it  would 
have  enabled  me  to  tarry  here.  But  as  the  office  will  not 
furnish  me  the  single  article  of  victuals,  as  the  establishment 
is  at  present,  I  shall  be  constrained  to  quit  the  place  of 
business,  and  seek  for  a  subsistence  somewhere  else.  All 
the  money  I  have  received  since  the  oath  was  administered 
to  me  on  the  25th  of  May,  amounts  to  only  seven  Pounds, 
seven  Shillings,  and  ten  Pence.  Fifteen  per  cent,  of  it  is 
my  pay,  for  six  weeks;  that  is,  at  six  and  a  quarter  Pence 
per  day,  nearly.  Judge,  then,  Sir,  whether  this  be  suffi- 
cient to  furnish  one,  who  has  no  other  support,  with  a  sub- 
sistence, or,  indeed,  whether  the  office  is  worth  keeping  up 
on  this  plan  ;  for  it  is  vain  that  we  expect  it  to  grow  better, 
during  times  of  confusion  and  a  suspension  of  trade.  But 
I  will  not  take  up  your  attention  any  longer  than  to  ob- 
serve, that  it  is  with  reluctance  I  quit  Cambridge,  and  that 
I  shall  be  glad  of  any  opportunity  to  promote  the  common 
cause,  as  far  as  shall  come  within  my  small  sphere  of  action. 
Unless  the  Congress  think  fit  to  alter  the  establishment,  I 
must  beg  the  favour  of  them  to  consider  this  letter  as  a  re- 
signation, and  grant  an  order  for  paying  the  money  which  1 
have  received  to  the  Treasurer,  after  a  deduction  of  my 
fifteen  per  cent.,  and  that  the  bond  may  be  forthwith  deli- 
vered up.  The  letters  which  remain  1  shall  be  ready  to 
deliver  to  any  new  Postmaster  whom  the  Congress  shall 
appoint.  And  remain,  with  great  respect,  Sir.  your  most 
obedient  servant,  Jamks  Winthrop. 

"  The  Honourable  James  Warren,  Esquire,  President  of 

the  Massachusetts  Congress,  Watertown." 

A  Letter  from  Benj.  Greenleaf,  Esq.,  of  Newburyport, 
was  read,  accompanying  sundry  Letters  brought  by  Captain 
Folger  from  London,  a  Jacket  enclosed  to  Major  Sill,  of 
the  Sixty-Third  Regiment,  also  three  Maps  enclosed  to 
said  Major  Sill,  viz:  one  of  New-England,  one  of  Virgi- 
nia and  Maryland,  and  one  of  New-  York.  Whereupon, 

Ordered,  That  the  Jacket  be  committed  to  the  care  of 
the  Secretary,  till  further  orders  of  Congress,  and  that  the 
Maps  be  put  into  the  hands  of  the  Committee  of  Supplies, 
and  they  are  directed  to  get  them  framed,  for  the  use  of  the 
Colony. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  prepare  a  Letter  to  Gen- 
eral Washington,  enclosing  a  Resolution  of  Congress  rela- 
tive to  the  sick  and  wounded,  reported.  The  Report  was 
accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz : 

In  Provincial  Congress,  July  5,  1775. 

This  Congress  ordered  the  enclosed  Resolution  to  be 
prepared,  and  sent  to  Generals  Ward  and  Thomas ;  but  by 
the  agreeable  event  of  your  Excellency's  appointment  to 
the  chief  command  of  the  American  Army,  and  arrival  at 
camp,  the  propriety  of  that  step  ceases.  We  mean  not  to 
dictate  to  your  Excellency,  but  presume  that  to  secure  the 
health  of  the  Army,  and  to  afford  relief  for  the  sick,  will 
naturally  engage  your  attention.  Every  thing  in  the  power 
of  this  Congress,  to  enable  you  to  discharge  with  ease,  the 
duties  of  your  exalted  and  important  station,  will  be  by  us 
attended  to  with  the  greatest  alacrity.  If  the  enclosed 
Resolution  has  that  tendency,  we  attain  the  end  intended 
by  transmitting  to  you  the  same ;  and  are,  with  respect, 
Your  Excellency's  most  humble  servants. 

To  General  Washington. 

Ordered,  That  Doctor  Taylor,  Mr.  Pitts,  and  Mr.  Lo- 
throp,  be  a  Committee  to  count  and  sort  the  votes  for  a 
Member  of  the  Committee  of  Supplies,  in  the  room  of  Mr. 
Partridge. 

The  Committee  having  attended  that  service,  reported, 
that  Mr.  Lothrop  was  chosen. 

Resolved,  That  the  Resolve,  directing  the  Committee 
of  Supplies  to  get  the  three  Maps  framed,  be  reconsidered, 
and  that  the  Secretary  be  directed  to  take  care  of  them 
as  they  are,  for  the  use  of  the  Colony. 

The  Report  of  the  Committee  appointed  to  consider 
how  the  Soldiers  should  be  provided  with  Coats,  was  again 
read,  and  accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz  : 

Resolved,  That  thirteen  thousand  Coats  be  provided, 


as  soon  as  may  be,  and  one  thereof  given  to  each  non- 
commissioned Officer  and  Soldier  in  the  Massachusetts 
Forces,  agreeable  to  the  Resolve  of  the  Congress,  on  the 
23d  day  of  April  last:  and  in  order  to  facilitate  their  being 
procured, 

Resolved,  That  the  said  thirteen  thousand  Coats  be  pro- 
portioned immediately  on  all  the  Towns  and  Districts  in 
this  Colony,  except  the  Towns  of  Boston  and  Charlestown, 
in  proportion  as  they  paid  to  the  last  Provincial  tax ;  which 
Towns  and  Districts  are  desired  to  cause  them  to  be  made 
of  good  plain  cloth,  (preference  to  be  given  to  the  manufac- 
tures of  this  Country,)  and  to  be  delivered  to  the  Committee 
of  Supplies,  without  buttons,  on  or  before  the  first  day  of 
October  next,  and  sooner  if  possible.  That  for  every  yard 
of  such  cloth  of  seven-eighths  of  a  yard  wide,  they  shall  be 
allowed  and  paid  the  sum  of  five  Shillings  and  four  Pence, 
and  in  that  proportion  for  cloth  of  a  greater  or  less  width  ; 
and  the  sum  of  four  Shillings  for  making  each  and  every 
coat ;  and  the  Selectmen  of  each  Town  and  District,  re- 
spectively, are  directed  to  lay  their  accounts  before  the 
Committee  of  Supplies,  who  are  ordered  to  draw  on  the 
Receiver-General  lor  the  payment  thereof. 

Resolved,  That  each  Coat  be  faced  with  the  same  kind 
of  cloth  of  which  it  is  made;  that  the  Coats  be  made  in 
the  common  plain  way,  without  lappels,  short,  and  with 
small  folds,  and  that  the  Selectmen  cause  a  certificate  to 
be  sewed  to  the  inside  of  each  Coat,  purporting  from  what 
Town  it  came,  and  by  whom  the  Coat  was  made,  and  if 
the  cloth  was  manufactured  in  this  Country,  by  whom  it 
was  manufactured. 

Resolved,  That  the  Committee  of  Supplies  be,  and  they 
are  hereby  directed,  immediately,  to  proportion  the  Coats 
on  the  several  Towns  and  Districts  as  aforesaid,  inform 
them  of  their  proportion,  and  assure  them  that  the  Coats 
they  supply  shall  be  delivered  to  the  men  of  their  Town 
respectively,  so  far  as  circumstances  will  admit,  and  inclose 
to  them  a  sample  of  the  goodness  of  the  cloth  of  which 
the  Coats  are  to  be  made,  with  a  copy  of  this  and  the  fore- 
going Resolves,  and  to  desire  those  Towns  and  Districts 
who  cannot  supply  the  whole  of  their  proportion  of  the 
Coats  as  aforesaid,  and  also  those  who  can  supply  more 
than  their  proportion,  to  give  them  information  what  number 
they  can  supply,  on,  or  before  the  tenth  day  of  August  next. 

Resolved,  That  the  Committee  of  Supplies  be,  and 
they  are  hereby  directed  to  provide  all  the  Coats  propor- 
tioned on  such  Towns  and  Districts  as  give  information  to 
them  as  aforesaid  that  they  cannot  supply  them,  and  they 
are  to  cause  all  the  Coats  to  be  buttoned  with  pewter  but- 
tons, and  that  the  Coats  for  each  Regiment,  respectively, 
have  buttons  of  the  same  number  stamped  on  the  face  of 
them. 

The  Committee  reported  the  following  Schedule  of  the 


apportionment  of  Coats,  which  was  accepted  :* 

Suffolk  County.          Newbury,  -  -  117 

Roxbury,         -       -  182  Newburyport,  -  -  184 

Dorchester,      -       -      96  Marblehead,  -  -  265 

Milton,                         56  Lynn,     ...  93 

Braintree,        -       -  108  Andover,  -  -  189 

Weymouth,      -       -      66  Beverly,  -  -  112 

Hingham,        -       -      88  Rowley,  89 

Dedham,         -       -  104  Salisbury,  -  -  77 

Medfield,        -       -     42  Haverhill,  -  -  113 

Wrentham,      -       -  105  Gloucester,  -  -  163 

Brookline,       -       -      43  Topsfield,  -  -  43 

Needham,       -             43  Boxford,  -  54 

Stoughton,       -       -      82  Almsbury,  -  -  69 

Stoughtonbam,         -     37  Bradford,  -  -  63 

Medway,         -       -      43  Wenham,  -  -  41 

Bellingham,     -       -      29  Middleton,  -  -  34 

Hull,                           21  Manchester,  -  -  33 

Walpole,  33  Methuen,  -  -  54 
Chelsea,         -       -     31        Middlesex  County. 

Cohasset,        -       -     30  Cambridge,  -  -  118 

Essex  County.           Watertown,  -  49 

Salem,    -       -       -  380  Woburn,  81 

Dan  vers,         -        -  116  Concord,  -  73 

Ipswich,  ...  204  Newton,  66 


*  The  Schedule  of  apportionment  omitted  in  the  Journal,  was  printed 
in  connexion  with  the  Resolves,  in  handbills,  and  is  copied  from  the 
publication  made  at  the  time  of  its  acceptance. — Lincoln. 


1487 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JULY,  1775. 


1488 


Reading, 

77 

Middleborough, 

160 

Marlborough,  - 

89 

Rochester, 

86 

Billerica, 

61 

Plympton, 
Pembroke, 

56 

Framingham,  - 

71 

66 

Lexington, 
Chelmsford, 

49 

Kingston, 

38 

55 

Hanover, 

37 

Sherburne, 

36 

A  bin  "'ton. 

46 

Sudbury, 

95 

Halifax, 
Wareham, 

24 

Maiden,  - 

45 

30 

Weston, 

45 

Barnstable  County. 

Med  ford, 

60 

Barnstable, 

94 

Littleton, 

44 

Sandwich, 

74 

Hopkinton, 

45 

Yarmouth, 

66 

West  ford, 

51 

Eastham, 
Harwich, 

49 

Waltham, 

44 

60 

Stow,      -       -  - 

41 

Wellfleet, 

38 

Groton,  - 

69 

Chatham, 

26 

Shirley,  - 

25 

Truro,  - 

33 

Pepperell, 

37 

Falmouth, 

53 

Townshend, 

30 

Bristol  County. 

Ashby,  - 

12 

Taunton, 
Relioboth, 

105 

Stoneham, 

16 

147 

Natick,  - 

23 

Swanzey  with  Shawa- 

Dracut,  - 

39 

met,    -       -  - 

67 

Bedford, 

31 

Dartmouth, 

244 

Holliston, 

38 

Norton,  - 
Mansfield, 

55 

Tewksbury, 

31 

35 

Acton,    -       -  - 
Dunstable, 

37 

AttleborouKh,  - 

88 

33 

Dighton, 

49 

Lincoln,  - 

33 

Freetown, 

58 

Wilmington, 

Humvshire  County. 

29 

Raynham, 

37 

Easton, 

41 

Springfield, 

71 

Berkley, 

29 

Wilbraham, 

36 

York  County. 

Northampton,  - 
Southampton,  - 

81 

York,  - 

114 

29 

Kitlery,  - 

125 

Hadley,  - 

33 

Wells,  - 

Berwick,         -  -- 

89 

South- Hadley,  - 

25 

134 

Amherst, 

38 

Arundel, 
Biddeford, 

41 

Granby,  -       -  - 

17 

46 

Hatfield,  - 

37 

Pepperellborough, 

34 

Whately, 

13 

Lebanon, 

9 

Williamsburgh, 

9 

Sanford,  - 

10 

Westfield, 

57 

Buxton,  -       -  - 
Dukes  County. 

10 

Deerfield, 

41 

Greenfield, 

26 

Edgartown, 

36 

Sherburne, 

16 

Chilmark, 

44 

Conway, 

17 

Tisbury, 

Nantucket  County. 

32 

Sunderland, 

25 

Montague, 
Noithfield, 

20 

Sherburne, 

174 

30 

Worcester  County. 

Brimfield, 
South-Brimfield, 

48 

Worcester. 

93 

30 

Lancaster, 

116 

Monson, 

26 

Mendon, 

88 

Pelham,  - 
Greenwich, 

27 

Brookfield, 

112 

27 

Oxford,  - 

41 

Blanford, 

20 

Charlton, 

41 

Leverett, 

5 

Sutton,    -       -  - 

111 

Palmer,  -       -  - 

28 

Leicester, 

41 

Granville, 
New-Salem, 

47 

Spencer, 

37 

25 

Paxton,  -       -  - 

24 

Belchertown,  - 

31 

Rutland, 

53 

Colrain,  - 

17 

Oakham, 

16 

Ware,  - 

14 

Rutland  District, 

46 

Warwick, 

12 

Hubbardston,  - 

8 

Bernardston, 
Murrayfield, 

16 

New-Braintree, 

37 

17 

Southborough,  * 

54 

Charlemont, 

12 

Westborough,  - 

43 

Ashfield, 

14 

Northborough, 

30 

Worthington,  - 
Shutesbury, 

7 

Shrewsbury, 

79 

16 

Lunenburgh, 

57 

Chesterfield, 

26 

Fitchburgh, 

13 

Southwick, 

23 

Uxbridge, 

55 

West-Sprinirficld, 

72 

Harvard, 

56 

Ludlow  District, 

23 

Dudley,  -       -  - 

37 

Plymouth  County. 

Bolton,  - 

55 

Plymouth, 

100 

Upton,  - 

23 

Scituate, 

125 

Sturbridge, 

51 

Duxbury, 

44 

Leominster, 

43 

Marshfield, 

54 

Hardwick, 

61 

Bridgewater,  - 

188 

Holden,  - 

30 

Western, 

Douglass, 

Grafton, 

Petersham, 

Royalston, 

Westminster,  - 

Athol,  - 

Templeton, 

Princeton, 

Ashburnham,  - 

Winchendon,  - 

Cumberland  County. 
Falmouth, 
Cape  Elizabeth, 
North- Yarmouth, 
Scarborough,  - 
Brunswick, 
Harpswell, 
Gorham, 
Windham, 
Piersontown,  - 
New-Boston,  - 
New-Gloucester, 

Lincoln  County. 
Pownalborough, 
Georgetown, 
Woolwich, 
New-Castle, 
Topsham, 
Booth-Bay, 
Bristol,  - 
Bowdoinham,  - 
Medumcook,  - 
Hallowell, 
Broad-Bay, 
Vassalborough, 
St.  George's,  - 
Winthrop, 


38  Winslow, 

24  Gardinerston,  - 

42  Berkshire  County 

43  Sheffield, 

9  Great-Barrington, 
37  Stockbridge, 

23  Pittsfield, 

28  New-Marlborough,  - 

24  Egremont, 
12  Richmond, 
10  Lenox,  - 

Tyringham, 
146  Lanesborough, 

53  Sandisfield, 

54  Williamstown,  - 
52  Becket,  - 

27  Gageboroujjh,  - 

26  Partridgefield,  • 

27  East-Hoosuck, 
10  Jericho,  - 

5  Plantation,  No.  5,  - 
Plantation,  No.  7,  - 

Suffolk, 

Essex, 

Middlesex,  - 
Hampshire,  - 
Plymouth,  - 
Barnstable,  -  - 
Bristol, 
York, 

Dukes  County, 
Nantucket,  - 
Worcester,  - 
Cumberland, 
Lincoln, 
Berkshire,  - 
Total, 


3 
20 


25 
50 
15 
13 
13 
14 
20 
3 
3 
4 
10 
3 
10 
3 


3 
7 

61 
37 
29 
37 
34 
14 
26 
16 
14 
37 
26 
23 
10 
12 
7 
11 
5 
7 
7 

1189 
2553 
1778 
1204 
1054 
493 
953 
612 
112 
174 
1846 
423 
196 
413 


13,000 


Resolved,  That  Mrs.  Dorothy  Coolidgc  be  allowed  and 
paid  out  of  the  publick  Treasury  of  this  Colony,  the  sum 
of  seven  Pounds,  fifteen  Shillings,  and  eight  Pence,  in  full 
of  her  account ;  and  the  Receiver-General  of  this  Colony  is 
hereby  ordered  to  pay  the  aforesaid  sum  of  seven  Pounds, 
fifteen  Shillings  and  eight  Pence,  to  the  said  Dorothy  Coo- 
lidge,  or  order,  accordingly. 

Adjourned  to  eight  o'clock  to-morrow  morning. 

Thursday,  July  G,  1775. 
Ordered,  That  Mr.  Johnson  and  Doctor  Jones,  be  of 
the  Committee  to  answer  the  Letter  from  the  Congre.-s  of 
New-Hampshire,  in  the  room  of  Doctor  Church  and  Mr. 
Hopkins. 

Ordered,  That  the  Committee  of  Safety  be  directed  to 
supply  General  Washington  with  some  faithful,  expeditious 
person,  to  go  on  express  to  Philadelphia. 

Ordered,  That  the  Committee  of  Safety  be  a  Commit- 
tee to  desire  General  Washington  to  let  them  know  if  there 
is  any  house  at  Cambridge,  that  would  be  more  agreeable 
to  him  and  General  Lee  than  that  in  which  they  now  are; 
and  in  that  case,  the  said  Committee  are  directed  to  pro- 
cure such  house,  and  put  it  in  proper  order  for  their  recep- 
tion. 

The  Committee  of  Safety,  by  Colonel  Palmer,  reported 
a  Resolve,  relative  to  a  new  emission  of  Bills  of  Credit, 
the  consideration  whereof  was  referred  to  three  o'clock, 
P.  M. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Farley,  Mr.  Durfee,  and  Cap- 
tain Holmes,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  a  Letter  from  Mr. 
Joseph  Hallett,  dated  New-York,  June  26,  1775,  relative 
to  a  quantity  of  Flour  forwarded  to  Norwich,  &c,  for  the 
Army. 

Resolved,  That  the  Committee  of  Supplies  be,  and 
hereby  are  empowered  and  directed,  to  impress,  for  the 
service  of  the  Colony,  the  saw-mill  at  Watertown,  belong- 
ing to  Mr.  John  Cook,  or  any  other  mill  which  they  have 
occasion  for,  for  the  publick  service. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Tyng  and  Mr.  Fox,  be  added 
to  the  Committee  who  were  appointed  to  consider  the  Ac- 
counts that  might  be  transmitted  to  Congress  by  the  Coin- 


1489 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JULY,  1775. 


1490 


mittee  of  Safety,  in  the  room  of  Mr.  Lothroj)  and  Deacon 
Fisher. 

Ordered,  That  the  Committee  of  Supplies  be  directed 
tu  forward  to  JSewport  the  Letter  to  Lieutenant-Govern- 
our  Cook,  received  by  this  Congress  in  a  Letter  from  the 
Continental  Congress. 

A  Letter  from  Mr.  John  Fenton,  Esq.,  was  read,  and 
ordered  to  subside.    The  Letter  is  as  follows : 

"To  the  Honourable  James  Warren,  Esquire,  President 
of  the  Congress  at  Watertown  : 

"  Sir:  As  I  presume  you  and  the  gentlemen  of  the  Con- 
gress are  not  entirely  unacquainted  with  me,  and  that  I  am 
now  a  prisoner  at  the  head-quarters  of  the  New-Hamp- 
shire Troops,  I  most  earnestly  request,  through  your  kind 
interposition,  I  may  be  removed  from  where  I  now  am  to 
head-quarters  at  Cambridge  or  Watcrtoirn,  that  I  may  be 
either  acquitted  or  condemned  as  you  may  think  expe- 
dient, my  present  situation  being  now  very  critical  indeed. 
I  beg  leave  to  presume  that  my  request  will  not  be  looked 
upon  as  improper,  having  more  property  in  this  Govern- 
ment than  that  of  New-Hampshire. 

"  I  am,  with  respect,  Sir,  your  most  obedient  and  very 
humble  servant,  John  Fenton. 

"  Medford,  July  5,  1775." 

Ordered,  That  Major  Hawley,  Doctor  Taylor,  and  Col. 
Grout,  be  a  Committee  to  prepare  a  vote  of  thanks  to 
the  Committee  of  this  Congress  this  day  returned  from 
their  embassy  to  Ticondcroga. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Barker  be  added  to  the  Commit- 
tee to  examine  Major  Barber's  Account. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Tyng,  Doctor  Taylor,  and 
]\Ir.  Bliss,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  an  Account  exhi- 
bited by  Doctor  Church  and  Mr.  Gill,  of  the  expense  of 
entertaining  and  escorting  Generals  Washington  and  Lee 
from  Springfield  to  Head-Quarters. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Langdon,  Major  Bliss,  and  Mr. 
Jewett,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  the  Report  of  the 
Committee  this  day  returned  from  Ticonderoga,  and  the 
Papers  accompanying  it,  and  also  the  Rolls  made  up  by 
Captain  Noble  and  Captain  Herrick. 

Afternoon. 

A  Letter  from  General  Green  was  read,  and  committed 
to  Colonel  Davis,  Colonel  Tyng,  and  Mr.  Reed. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Davis,  Mr.  Fessenden,  and  Cap- 
tain Page,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  a  Petition  of  Josiah 
Capen. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Whittemore,  Major  Bliss,  and  Col. 
Dwight,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  the  Account  of  Mr. 
Alexander  Gray,  and  report. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Gill,  Mr.  Wheeler,  and  Mr.  Sulli- 
van, be  a  Committee  to  consider  the  services  of  the  Secre- 
tary, and  report  what  grant  they  think  is  adequate  thereto. 

Ordered,  That  the  Honourable  Major  Hawley,  Mr. 
Sullivan,  and  Doctor  Taylor,  be  a  Committee  to  bring  in 
a  Resolve  explanatory  of  the  sense  of  Congress  expressed 
in  a  Resohe  of  the  31st  ultimo,  relative  to  the  Estates  of 
Refugees. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  Account  of 
Doctor  Church  and  Mr.  Gill,  reported,  verbally,  that  they 
had  examined  the  Account,  found  it  well  vouched,  and 
thought  it  ought  to  be  allowed. 

Thereupon,  Resolved,  That  the  Receiver-General  be, 
and  he  hereby  is  directed  to  pay  Doctor  Benjamin  Church 
and  Mr.  Moses  Gill,  or  their  order,  the  sum  of  twenty- 
eight  Pounds,  five  Shillings,  and  ten  Pence,  lawful  money, 
in  discharge  of  an  Account  by  them  exhibited,  of  the  ex- 
penses of  escorting  and  entertaining  Generals  Washington 
and  Lee  from  Springfield  to  the  Camp  at  Cambridge. 

Resolved,  That  the  Committee  appointed  by  a  Resolve 
of  this  Congress,  of  the  first  instant,  to  agree  with  such 
Teamsters  as  they  may  employ  to  convey  the  Poor  of  the 
Town  of  Charlestown  to  certain  Towns  in  the  County  of 
Worcester,  be  directed  to  pay  them  a  sum  not  exceeding 
one  Shilling  per  ton  per  mile  for  such  service,  instead  of 
nine  Pence,  the  price  fixed  in  said  Resolve ;  and  that  said 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii.  j 


Committee  be  likewise  directed  and  empowered  to  remove 
the  inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Boston  in  like  manner. 

The  Report  of  the  Committee  of  Safety,  relative  to  a 
new  emission  of  Bills  of  Credit,  was  taken  into  considera- 
tion, and  recommitted  to  Mr.  Spooner,  Major  Hawley, 
Doctor  Taylor,  Captain  Stone,  and  Mr.  Wheeler,  who  are 
directed  to  consider  the  sum  of  the  Bills  already  impressed, 
and  the  propriety  of  striking  oft' more  from  the  same  plates. 

Resolved,  That  the  Committee  of  Supplies  be  directed 
to  pay  the  Selectmen  of  the  several  Towns  and  Districts  in 
the  Colony  for  the  Blankets  they  have  respectively  fur- 
nished the  Soldiers  with,  any  Resolve  of  Congress  to  the 
contrary  notwithstanding. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  Report  of  the 
Committee  sent  to  Ticonderoga,  reported.  The  Report  was 
recommitted,  and  the  last  mentioned  Committee  are  di- 
rected to  lay  before  the  Committee  first  mentioned,  a  state 
of  their  account,  debt  and  credit. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  prepare  a  vote  of  thanks 
to  the  Committee  who  have  been  on  an  embassy  to  Ticon- 
deroga, reported.  The  Report  was  accepted,  and  is  as 
follows,  viz : 

Whereas,  Walter  Spooner,  Jcdediah  Foster,  and  James 
Sullivan,  Esquires,  a  Committee  of  this  Congress,  lately 
ordered  on  a  commission  to  the  important  posts  of  Ticon- 
deroga and  Crown  Point,  for  divers  purposes  expressed 
in  their  instructions,  have  this  day  returned,  and  made 
their  report  in  writing;  and  it  appearing  upon  full  consi- 
deration thereof,  that  the  said  Committee  have  executed  the 
various  branches  of  their  instructions  with  ability,  fidelity, 
and  despatch,  and  that  their  services  had  been  attended 
with  much  fatigue  and  danger ;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  the  services  of  the  said  Committee  do 
merit  the  express  approbation  and  thanks  of  Congress,  and 
they  do  hereby  testify  and  render  the  same  to  them,  and 
each  of  them. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Hemenway,  Mr.  Whittemore,  and 
Capt.  Parker,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  what  allowance 
is  proper  to  be  made  to  Mr.  Edmund  Fowle,  for  the  use 
of  his  house  by  the  Committees  of  this  and  the  former 
Congress. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  Accounts 
transmitted  to  Congress  by  the  Committee  of  Safety,  re- 
ported on  the  Account  of  Ebenezer  White,  and  others. 
The  Report  was  accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz : 

Whereas,  Messrs.  Ebenezer  White,  Daniel  Hemenway, 
Col.  Simeon  Spaulding,  and  Benjamin  Ely,  were  appoint- 
to  collect  a  number  of  Fire- Arms  for  the  use  of  this  Co- 
lony, and  have  delivered  said  Arms,  as  appears  by  receipt 
from  the  Committee  of  Safety,  or  Clerk  of  the  Ordnance 
Stores,  and  have  exhibited  their  Accounts  to  Congress ; 
which  Accounts  appear  to  be  reasonable :  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  there  be  paid  out  of  the  publick  Trea- 
sury to  the  several  persons  employed  in  collecting  Arms 
as  aforesaid,  the  following  sums,  and  the  Receiver-General 
is  accordingly  ordered  to  pay  the  said  sums,  viz  :  to  Ebe- 
nezer White,  the  sum  of  £1  19s.;  to  Daniel  Hemenway, 
£4  8s. ;  to  Colonel  Simeon  Spaulding,  £4  7s.;  to  Ben- 
jamin Ely,  £13  10s.  lid.— £24  4s.  lid. 

Ordered,  That  Captain  Holmes  be  added  to  the  Com- 
mittee last  mentioned. 

Adjourned  to  eight  o'clock,  to-morrow  morning. 

Friday,  July  7,  1175. 

Captain  Stone,  of  Framingham,  was  appointed  in  the 
room  of  Major  Bliss,  on  the  Committee  which  was  chosen 
to  prepare  an  Answer  to  the  Letter  from  the  Congress  of 
New-Hampshire. 

Resolved,  That  Mr.  Shillaber  have  leave  to  bring  in  a 
Resolve  recommending  to  the  Committee  of  the  City  of 
Philadelphia  to  permit  him  to  export  from  thence  a  quan- 
tity of  Flour. 

Ordered,  That  Deacon  Bayley,  Major  Brooks,  Mr. 
Baker,  Col.  Grout,  and  Dr.  Taylor,  be  a  Committee  to 
consider  a  Resolve  of  the  Committee  of  Safety,  recom- 
mending; to  this  Congress  the  seizing  the  Crown  Officers. 

In  compliance  with  a  Resolve  of  the  Committee  of 
Safety,  recommending  that  a  Committee  be  appointed  to 


1491 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JULY,  1775. 


1492 


draw  up  and  transmit  to  Great  Britain  a  fair  and  impartial 
account  of  the  late  Battle  at  Charlestoxvn,  as  soon  as  pos- 
sible, 

Ordered,  That  the  said  Committee  of  Safety  be  a  Com- 
mittee for  that  purpose,  and  that  they  likewise  be  a  Stand- 
ing Committee  for  that  and  the  like  purposes. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Wheeler,  Captain  Batchelder,  and 
Doctor  Taylor,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  the  Petition 
of  Mr.  Daniel  Murray,  and  a  Letter  from  Mr.  Joseph 
Reed,  Secretary  to  General  Washington,  on  the  subject 
thereof.    The  Letter  from  Mr.  Reed  is  as  follows : 

"  Head-Quarters,  July  6,  1775,  6  o'clock,  P.  M. 

"  Gentlemen  :  1  am  directed  by  his  Excellency  to 
acquaint  you  that  Daniel  Murray  has  applied  to  him  for 
a  pass  to  go  into  Boston,  with  a  part  of  his  father's  family. 
As  the  General  is  wholly  unacquainted  with  the  circum- 
stances of  the  case,  and  the  propriety  of  granting  or  refu- 
sing the  request,  he  refers  himself  to  your  advice,  and  would 
be  glad  of  your  opinion  on  the  subject  as  early  as  conve- 
nient. I  am,  gentlemen,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient 
humble  servant,  Jos.  Reed,  Secretary. 

•'■'-To  the  Hon.  Committee  of  Safety  at  Watertown." 

Ordered,  That  Deacon  Nichols,  Mr.  Glover,  and  Col. 
Mitchell,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  a  Resolve  of  the 
Committee  of  Safety  relative  to  the  appointment  of  a  Mas- 
ter Workman  for  the  Blacksmiths. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  services  of  the 
Secretary,  reported.  The  Report  was  recommitted,  and 
the  Committee  directed  to  consider  in  particular  his  extra 
services  to  this  time,  and  the  expense  of  his  Clerks;  and 
the  said  Secretary  is  directed  to  lay  before  this  Congress, 
or  some  future  Assembly  of  this  Colony,  an  account  of  his 
future  services. 

Ordered,  That  a  Warrant  be  made  out  for  Doctor  Isaac 
Foster,  as  Surgeon  of  the  Hospital  at  Cambridge,  and 
another  to  Doctor  Isaac  Rand,  as  Surgeon  of  the  Hospital 
at  Roxbury. 

Mr.  Shillaber,  agreeable  to  order,  presented  the  follow- 
ing Resolve  ;  which  was  accepted,  viz  : 

Mr.  William  Shillaber,  of  Danvers,  a  memher  of  this 
Congress,  having  represented  to  this  Congress,  that  he  has 
a  vessel  now  at  Philadelphia,  (having  there  disposed  of 
her  cargo,)  a  Schooner,  called  the  William,  commanded 
by  Samuel  Tucker,  and  that  he  apprehends,  from  such 
instructions  as  he  has  and  will  give  the  said  Master,  that 
the  vessel,  if  laden  with  Flour,  or  partly  so,  might  arrive 
safe  at  some  port  in  this  Colony,  and  having  applied  for 
the  approbation  of  Congress,  and  set  forth  that  he  is  willing 
to  risk  the  same  ;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  this  Congress  do  approve  thereof,  and 
it  is  hereby  recommended  to  the  Committee  of  Inspection 
at  Philadelphia,  that  they  permit  the  said  Captain  Tucker 
to  lade  his  vessel  as  above  desired,  and  sail  from  that  port; 
provided  the  same  be  not  against  the  Resolution  of  the  Ame- 
rican Congress,  or  any  Resolution  formed  in  that  Colony. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  Resolve  of 
the  Committee  of  Safety  relative  to  a  new  emission  of  Bills 
of  Credit,  reported.  The  Report  was  accepted,  and  is  as 
follows : 

Whereas,  several  persons  have  been  employed  in  the 
service  of  this  Colony,  and  several  have  supplied  small 
articles,  whose  Accounts  amount  severally  to  small  sums 
only:  and  it  appearing  to  this  Congress  that  the  Plates 
engraved  for  impressing  or  striking  off  the  Bills  for  the 
payment  of  the  Soldiers  in  the  service  of  this  Colony  are 
still  sufficient  for  the  striking  off  a  number  of  impressions 
on  each  plate  ;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  there  be  impressed  or  struck  off  on  the 
plate  containing  the  engraving  for  Notes  of  ten  Shillings, 
eighteen  Shillings,  and  twelve  Shillings,  six  hundred  and 
sixty-seven  sheets,  and  no  more;  and  that  there  be  im- 
pressed, or  struck  off,  on  the  plate  for  notes  of  sixteen 
Shillings,  fifteen  Shillings,  and  nine  Shillings,  six  hundred 
and  sixty-seven  sheets,  and  no  more  ;  and  also  on  the  plate 
for  twenty  Shillings,  fourteen  Shillings,  and  six  Shillings, 
that  there  be  impressed  or  struck  off  five  hundred  and  forty 
sheets,  and  no  more  ;  which  last  number,  together  with 
one  hundred  and  twenty-seven  sheets  or  impressions  already 
struck  off  on  that  plate  and  not  signed,  make  the  like  num- 


ber of  six  hundred  and  sixty-seven  sheets  or  impressions; 
which,  together,  amount  to  two  thousand  and  one  sheets  or 
impressions;  each  shoot  containing  forty  Shillings,  amounts 
to  the  sum  of  £4,002;  which,  together  with  the  nun  of 
£25,998,  already  perfected  of  those  Notes,  make  the  sum 
of  £30,000.  We  also  report,  that  a  Committee  be  ap- 
pointed to  agree  with  Mr.  Revere,  or  some  other  suitable 
person,  for  the  striking  off  the  above  number  of  sheets; 
also,  that  a  Committee  be  appointed  to  authenticate  said 
sheets  when  they  are  struck  off. 

Ordered,  That  Deacon  Mitchell,  Captain  Holmes,  and 
Captain  Stone,  of  Framingham,  be  a  Committee  to  agree 
with  some  persons  to  strike  off  the  Bills  agreeable  to  the 
foregoing  Report. 

Ordered,  That  the  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of  Sup- 
plies be  directed  to  attend  this  Congress  with  a  copy  of 
such  Resolves  as  constitute  their  commission. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  Petition  of 
Daniel  Murray,  &ic,  reported.  The  Report  was  accept- 
ed, and  is  as  follows  : 

The  Committee  appointed  to  take  into  consideration  tlie 
Letter  from  his  Excellency  General  Washington  to  the 
Committee  of  Safety  respecting  the  Petition  of  Daniel 
Murray,  of  Rutland,  who  has  requested  leave  for  his  sister 
and  two  of  his  brothers  to  go  into  Boston,  which  Petition 
the  Committee  of  Safety  have  referred  to  the  consideration 
of  this  Congress,  beg  leave  to  report,  that  it  is  their  opinion 
that  the  aforementioned  Petition  ought  not  to  be  granted. 
That  the  Committee  of  Safety  be  directed  to  acquaint  his 
Excellency  the  General  of  the  Resolution  of  this  House 
of  the  24th  of  June  last,  respecting  the  permitting  of  per- 
sons to  go  into  Boston,  and  that  it  is  their  opinion  that 
said  Resolution  ought  not  to  be  receded  from  in  the  present 
case. 

Walter  Spooner,  Esquire,  was  appointed,  in  addition  to 
Colonel  Richmond,  to  swear  the  soldiers  to  be  stationed  in 
the  County  of  Bristol. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  Report  of  the 
Committee  who  have  been  on  an  embassy  to  Ticonderoga, 
reported.  The  Report  was  accepted,  and  is  as  follows, 
viz : 

The  Committee  appointed  to  take  under  consideration 
the  Report  of  the  Committee  from  Crown  Point,  &ic,  beg 
leave  to  report,  by  way  of  Resolve,  as  follows,  viz : 

Whereas,  it  appears  to  this  Congress  that  the  sum  of 
four  hundred  Pounds,  received  by  Walter  Spooner,  Jede- 
diah  Foster,  and  James  Sullivan,  Esquires,  of  the  Re- 
ceiver-General, the  14th  of  June  last,  for  the  use  of  this 
Colony,  has  been  expended  by  them  for  the  purpose  for 
which  it  was  designed  by  this  Congress  ;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  the  said  Walter  Spooner,  Jedediah  Fos- 
ter, and  James  Sullivan,  Esquires,  be,  and  they  hereby 
are  discharged  from  all  demands  the  Colony  at  any  time 
had  upon  them  for  the  same,  and  that  the  receipts  pro- 
duced by  them  be  filed  in  the  Treasurer's  Office. 

Resolved,  That  there  be  paid  out  of  the  publick  Trea- 
sury of  this  Colony  to  Walter  Spooner,  Jedediah  Foster, 
and  James  Sullivan,  Esquires,  the  sum  of  twenty-six 
Pounds,  three  Shillings,  and  nine  Pence,  for  the  balance 
due  to  them  from  this  Colony  for  their  time  and  expenses 
to  Croivn  Point,  &,c. ;  and  the  Receiver-General  is  hereby 
directed  to  pay  the  same  sum  accordingly. 

Resolved,  That  there  be  paid  out  of  the  publick  Trea- 
sury of  this  Colony,  to  Mr.  Abijah  Merril,  the  sum  of 
four  hundred  Pounds,  to  be  by  him  delivered  to  Colonel 
Easton,  for  advance  pay  to  two  hundred  men  at  Crown 
Point  and  Ticonderoga,  and  the  said  Merril  to  take  a 
receipt  of  said  Easton  therefor ;  and  the  Receiver- Gene- 
ral is  hereby  directed  to  pay  the  same  sum  accordingly. 

Resolved,  That  there  be  paid  out  of  the  publick  Trea- 
sury of  this  Colony,  the  sum  of  two  hundred  and  fifty-two 
Pounds,  eleven  Shillings,  and  one  Penny  half-penny,  to 
Lieutenant  William  Satterlcc,  or  order,  being  the  balance 
of  the  Pay-Roll  of  Captain  Derrick's  Company,  from  the 
3d  of  May  to  the  25th  of  June  last ;  and  the  Receiver- 
General  is  hereby  directed  to  pay  the  same  sum  accord- 
ingly. And  the  said  Derrick  and  Satterlcc  are  hereby 
discharged  from  all  demands  which  Colonel  Arnold  or  this 
Province  had  for  the  sum  of  twenty-three  Pounds  twelve 


1493 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JULY,  1775. 


1494 


Shillings,  received  by  said  Herrick  and  Satterlee  of  said 
Arnold,  for  the  use  of  the  Company  of  said  Herrick. 

Col.  Grout  was  appointed  to  accompany  Mr.  Merril  to 
the  Receiver-General  to  know  of  him  if  he  can  pay  him  the 
four  hundred  Pounds,  agreeable  to  the  above  Resolve. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Shillaber,  Captain  White,  and  Mr. 
Cra/ie  be  a  Committee  to  consider  the  Account  of  Mr. 
Edward  Mitchell,  and  any  other  Accounts  that  may  be 
rendered  of  the  expense  of  procuring  Spears  for  the  Army. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Robinson,  Major  Rrooks,  and 
Deacon  Bayley,  be  a  Committee  to  procure  a  Steward  for 
his  Excellency  General  Washington. 

Afternoon. 

Leave  of  absence  was  granted  to  the  Receiver-General 
till  the  beginning  of  next  week. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  Letter  of  Mr. 
Joseph  Hallett,  dated  New-  York,  26th  June,  1775,  re- 
ported verbally,  that  the  same  be  referred  to  the  Committee 
of  Supplies.    The  Report  was  accepted. 

Mr.  Batchelder  was  appointed  in  the  room  of  Mr.  Sul- 
livan to  consider  what  grant  was  proper  to  be  made  for  the 
services  of  the  Secretary. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Johnson,  Major  Perley,  and  Mr. 
Hemenway,  be  a  Committee  to  procure  Stores  for  de- 
positing the  Fish  which  the  Committee  of  Supplies  may 
purchase  for  the  use  of  the  Colony,  either  by  hire  or  by 
building  new  Stores,  as  they  may  think  best. 

The  following  Letter  was  received  from  the  Secretary  of 
Geueral  Ward: 

"Camp  at  Cambridge,  July  7,  1775. 
"  Sir  :  I  must  inform  you  that  great  numbers  in  the 
Army  are  almost  naked  for  want  of  shirts,  breeches,  stock- 
ings, shoes,  and  other  clothing:  and  unless  they  can  be 
immediately  supplied,  inconceivable  difficulties  and  distress 
will  accrue  to  the  Army.  I  am,  Sir,  your  most  obedient 
and  most  humble  servant,  Joseph  Ward. 

"  To  the  President  of  the  honourable  Congress  at  Water- 
town." 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Phillips,  Mr.  Kollock,  and  Deacon 
Gould,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  the  subject  of  a  Letter 
this  day  received  from  General  Ward,  and  to  inquire  of  the 
Committee  of  Supplies  what  provision  is  made  for  supply- 
ing the  Army  with  the  articles  therein  mentioned. 

The  Committee  made  the  following  Report ;  which  was 
read,  and  accepted  : 

The  Committee  appointed  to  make  inquiry  of  the 
Committee  of  Supplies  what  provision  they  have  made  for 
the  articles  of  Shirts,  Breeches,  Stockings,  and  Shoes,  and 
consider  whether  it  is  requisite  to  take  any  further  care  to 
procure  those  articles,  have  attended  that  service,  and  beg 
leave  to  recommend,  that  persons  be  immediately  despatch- 
ed to  the  neighbouring  Counties  to  collect  such  a  propor- 
tion of  the  afore-mentioned  articles  from  the  several  Towns 
in  said  Counties  as  may  be  judged  proper. 

Samuel  Phillips,  Jun.,  per  order. 

Col.  Grout  informed  the  Congress  that  he  had  accom- 
panied Mr.  Merril  to  the  Receiver-General's  Office,  and 
that  the  Receiver-General  informed  them  that  there  was  not 
money  in  the  Treasury  sufficient  to  pay  said  Merril  the 
sum  which  the  Congress  have  directed  the  said  Receiver- 
General  to  pay  him. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Dwight,  Colonel  Robinson, 
and  Deacon  Williams,  be  a  Committee  to  prepare  a  Letter 
to  Colonel  Easton,  informing  him  that  the  state  of  the 
Treasury  is  such  that  Mr.  Merril  cannot  at  present  be 
supplied  with  the  sum  of  four  hundred  Pounds,  which  this 
Congress  has  this  day  directed  the  Receiver-General  to 
pay  him. 

Ordered,  That  Captain  Holmes  be  directed  to  inquire 
of  Mr.  Revere  how  many  sheets  of  Notes,  or  Bills  of  Credit, 
can  be  struck  off  from  the  plates  he  now  has  by  him  more 
than  six  hundred  and  sixty-seven,  which  were  directed 
to  be  struck  off  by  a  Resolve  of  this  Congress  this  day 
passed. 

Resolved,  That  to-morrow  morning,  eight  o'clock,  be 
assigned  for  the  consideration  of  a  request  made  by  Colonel 


Danielson,  in  behalf  of  the  Officers  of  the  Army,  that  they 
might  have  a  month's  pay  advanced. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  Letter  from 
General  Greene,  reported.  The  Report  was  recommitted, 
and  Mr.  Robinson  added  to  the  Committee. 

Leave  of  absence  was  granted  to  Mr.  Langdon. 

Ordered,  That  the  Committee  appointed  to  procure  a 
Steward  for  General  Washington,  be  directed  to  procure 
him  likewise  two  or  three  women  for  Cooks. 

Ordered,  That  the  Committee  appointed  to  inquire  how 
General  Washington1  s  table  should  be  furnished,  be  a 
Committee  to  bring  in  a  Resolve  for  the  purpose  of  com- 
plying with  the  requisition  of  General  Washington  relative 
thereto;  and  that  Mr.  Hopkins  be  added  to  this  Commit- 
tee, in  the  room  of  Colonel  Bowers. 

Ordered,  That  the  Hon.  Major  Hawley.  Colonel  Grout, 
and  Colonel  Robinson,  be  a  Committee  to  wait  upon  Gen- 
eral Lee,  to  know  of  him  what  provision  he  expects  should 
be  made  by  this  Congress  for  the  furnishing  his  table. 

The  Committee  who  were  appointed  to  consider  what 
sum  should  be  granted  the  Secretary  for  his  services,  again 
reported.  The  Report  was  accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz  : 

The  Committee  appointed  to  take  into  consideration  the 
allowance  that  ought  to  be  made  Mr.  Samuel  Freeman, 
for  his  services  as  Secretary-  of  the  Congress,  to  the  present 
time,  beg  leave  to  report,  that  they  find  there  has  been 
much  business  done  by  the  said  Freeman,  in  the  service 
of  the  Colony ;  and  the  said  Freeman  has  been  obliged  to 
employ  several  Clerks  to  assist  him,  which  he  agrees  to 
pay.  He  has  also  been  at  considerable  expense  to  be 
furnished  with  books,  paper,  ink,  quills,  and  house  to  hold 
his  office  in  as  Secretary  ;  for  all  which  they  beg  leave  to 
report  the  following  Resolution,  viz  : 

Resolved,  That  the  Receiver-General  of  this  Colony 
be,  and  he  hereby  is  directed  to  pay  Mr.  Samuel  Freeman, 
out  of  the  publick  money  of  said  Colony,  the  sum  of  thirty 
Pounds,  eight  Shillings,  and  six  Pence,  for  his  services 
as  Secretary  to  the  Congress,  and  that  those  further  ser- 
vices which  he  may  have  to  perform  in  recording  the  pro- 
ceedings of  this  Congress,  when  performed,  be  exhibited 
to  some  future  House  of  Representatives  of  this  Province, 
for  their  consideration  and  allowance. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  prepare  a  Letter  to  Col. 
Easton,  reported  the  following;  which  was  accepted,  viz: 

"  Sir  :  The  Committee  appointed  by  the  Congress  to 
settle  matters  at  Ticonderoga,  having  given  you  encour- 
agement, that  they  would  send  by  the  first  opportunity,  the 
four  hundred  Pounds  due  from  this  Colony,  on  advance 
pay,  to  the  men  under  your  command,  it  gives  us  pain 
that  we  are  obliged  to  say,  we  have  not  the  whole  of  the 
money  in  the  Treasury;  but  you  may  depend,  Sir,  that  as 
soon  as  the  notes  can  be  struck  off  and  properly  authen- 
ticated, the  same  will  be  immediately  remitted  to  you. 
The  embarrassments  under  which  the  Province  labors  will 
apologize  for  our  not  being  ready  by  the  first  opportunity. 
We  rely  upon  you,  Sir,  that  you  will  do  all  in  your  power 
to  make  the  Troops  under  your  command  easy,  as  the  good 
of  the  Colony  so  much  depends  thereon. 

"  To  Colonel  Easton,  at  Ticonderoga." 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  some  method  to 
prevent  supplying  our  enemies  with  Provisions,  &cc,  re- 
ported. The  Report  was  accepted,  and  ordered  to  be 
printed  in  the  newspapers,  and  is  as  follows,  viz: 

Whereas,  complaints  have  been  made  to  this  Congress, 
of  the  inhabitants  of  some  of  the  seaport  Towns  frequently 
supplying  our  enemies  with  Butter  and  Cheese,  fresh  Pro- 
visions, &cc. ;  also,  suspected,  that  intelligence  has  been 
given  them:  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  it  be,  and  hereby  is  recommended  to 
the  Committees  of  Safety,  Correspondence,  and  Inspec- 
tion, and  where  there  are  no  such  Committees,  to  the  Se- 
lectmen, of  the  seaport  Towns  and  Districts  in  this  Co- 
lony, that  they  forthwith  exert  themselves  to  prevent  any 
person  or  persons  from  supplying  our  enemies  with  any 
kind  of  provisions  whatsoever,  or  intelligence.  And  it  is 
further  recommended  to  the  Committees  or  Selectmen  as 
aforesaid,  of  each  Town  and  District,  not  to  suffer  any 
vessel  or  boat,  of  any  kind,  to  go  from  the  shore  on  board 


1495 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JULY,  1775. 


119G 


any  vessel  or  vessels  of  any  size  whatsoever,  in  the  service 
of  our  enemies,  without  first  obtaining  a  permit,  in  writing, 
of  the  Committees  or  Selectmen  aforementioned,  for  that 
purpose ;  and  that  no  boats  be  suffered  to  land  from  men- 
of-war,  tenders,  or  any  other  vessels  employed  to  distress 
the  sea-coasts  and  trade  of  this  Country,  without  a  permit 
obtained  as  aforesaid. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  Account  of 
Colonel  Mitchell,  relative  to  the  expense  of  providing 
Spears,  reported.  The  Report  was  ordered  to  lie  on  the 
table,  till  Colonel  Michell  produced  a  receipt  from  General 
Thomas,  or  the  Committee  of  Safety,  for  the  delivery  of 
them. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  inquire  of  the  Committee 
of  Supplies  what  provision  they  had  made  for  Shirts, 
Breeches,  &c,  reported.  The  Report  was  accepted,  and 
is  as  follows,  viz : 

The  Committee  appointed  to  make  inquiry  of  the  Com- 
mittee of  Supplies  what  provision  they  have  made  for  the 
articles  of  Shirts,  Breeches,  Stockings,  and  Shoes,  and  con- 
sider whether  it  is  requisite  to  take  any  further  care  to  pro- 
cure those  articles,  have  attended  the  service,  and  beg  leave 
to  recommend  that  persons  be  immediately  despatched  to 
the  neighbouring  Counties,  to  collect  such  a  proportion  of 
the  above-mentioned  articles  from  the  several  Towns  in 
said  Counties  as  may  be  judged  proper. 

Ordered,  That  the  Committee  who  brought  in  the  above 
Report  be  a  Committee  to  bring  in  a  list  of  those  Towns 
from  whence  the  articles  above  mentioned  ought  to  be  pro- 
cured, and  the  proportion  each  Town  shall  supply. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  take  into  consideration  the 
conduct  of  the  People  of  Nantucket,  reported.  The  Re- 
port was  accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz: 

Whereas,  by  the  Act  of  Parliament,  called  the  Restrain- 
ing Act,  the  inhabitants  of  the  Island  of  Nantucket  are 
exempted  from  the  restrictions  in  said  Act  mentioned ; 
and  whereas,  the  Continental  Congress,  on  the  seven- 
teenth of  May  last,  took  the  matter  under  consideration, 
and  thought  it  expedient,  to  prevent  the  Neicfoundland 
Fishery  from  being  supplied  with  Provisions  through  Nan- 
tucket, to  prohibit  the  exportation  of  Provisions  from  any 
of  the  Colonies  to  that  Island  excepting  from  this ;  and 
whereas  the  inhabitants  of  Nantucket  have  by  them  large 
quantities  of  Provisions  in  their  stores,  and  are  fitting  out  a 
huge  fleet  of  Whaling- Vessels,  whereby  they  intend  to  avail 
themselves  of  the  act  aforementioned,  and  the  Provisions 
they  have  by  them  may  be  unnecessarily  expended  in 
foreign  and  not  domestick  consumption:  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  no  Provisions  or  necessaries  of  any  kind 
be  exported  from  any  part  of  this  Colony  to  the  Island  of 
Nantucket,  until  the  inhabitants  of  said  Island  shall  have 
given  full  and  sufficient  satisfaction  to  this  Congress, or  some 
future  House  of  Representatives,  that  the  Provisions  they 
bave  now  by  them  have  not  been,  and  shall  not  he  expended 
in  foreign,  but  for  domestick  consumption.  And  the  several 
Committees  of  Correspondence,  Inspection,  and  Safety,  in 
their  respective  Towns,  are  required  to  see  that  this  Re- 
solve be  not  contravened. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  take  into  consideration  a 
Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Safety  for  the  Town  of  Ma- 
chias, (dated  June  17,  1775,)  relative  to  fitting  an  armed 
Sloop  to  act  on  the  defensive,  and  to  report  thereon,  do 
report  in  manner  following,  viz : 

Resolved,  That  when  and  so  soon  as  the  Committee  of 
Safety  of  said  Town  of  Machias  shall  have  fitted  and  armed 
a  Sloop  for  their  defence  and  security,  and  have  procured 
a  sufficient  number  of  hands  to  man,  and  a  proper  person 
to  command  said  Sloop,  and  shall  send  the  name  of  such 
person  to  this  Congress,  then  this  Congress  will  commission 
such  a  person  to  take  command  of  said  Sloop,  and  to  act 
on  the  defensive  for  the  security  and  defence  of  said  Town 
of  Machias. 

Adjourned  to  eight  o'clock,  to-morrow  morning. 

Saturday,  July  8,  1775. 
A  list  of  Surgeons,  examined  by  a  Committee  appointed 
for  that  purpose,  was  exhibited  to  Congress,  and  Warrants 
ordered  to  be  made  out  agreeable  thereto. 


Ordered,  That  Major  Hawley,  Major  Bliss,  and  Colonel 
Gerrish,  be  a  Committee  to  inspect  the  Commissions  of  the 
Committee  of  Safety  and  the  Committee  of  Supplies,  and 
report  to  this  Congress  what  is  expedient  to  be  done  rela- 
tive thereto,  more  especially  in  the  recess  of  this  Con- 
gress. 

Ordered,  That  Captain  Stone  be  appointed  in  the  room 
of  Mr.  Sullivan,  on  the  Committee  who  were  directed  to 
bring  in  a  Resolve  explanatory  to  the  Resolve  of  Congress 
relative  to  the  Refugees. 

A  Petition  of  several  Field-Officers  in  the  Army  was 
read,  relative  to  the  appointment  of  Commissaries  for  the 
Regiment  from  the  County  of  Essex. 

Ordered,  That  the  petitioners  have  leave  to  withdraw 
their  Petition. 

Ordered,  That  Captain  Holmes,  Mr.  Fox,  and  Mr.  l'er- 
ry,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  a  Petition  from  a  number 
of  the  inhabitants  of  Frenchman's  Bay. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Fessenden,  Mr.  Walker,  and  Cap- 
tain White,  be  a  Committee  to  examine  and  consider  all 
Accounts  that  may  be  rendered  to  this  Congress,  relative 
to  the  expenses  of  procuring  Axes  and  Shovels  for  the  use 
of  the  Army. 

A  Committee  of  this  Congress,  agreeable  to  their  ap- 
pointment, reported  the  following  Resolve  ;*  which  was 
accepted,  and  ordered  to  be  printed  in  the  several  news- 
papers. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Hayward  repair  to  the  Receiver- 
General  at  Stow,  and  direct  him  to  attend  this  Congress 
immediately. 

Ordered,  That  Captain  Carpenter  be  and  hereby  is 
appointed  to  desire  Colonel  Timothy  Walker  to  pay  what 
publick  moneys  he  has  in  his  hands  into  the  Treasury 
immediately,  and  the  Committee  of  Supplies  are  directed 
to  employ  some  person  to  be  sent  express  to  Col.  Walker 
for  this  purpose. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Woodbridgc,  Colonel  Robinson,  and 
Deacon  Nicholls,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  a  proposal  of 
exempting  the  Soldiers  in  the  Army  from  paying  the  post- 
age of  Letters,  and  to  report  thereon. 

Ordered,  That  Doctor  Taylor,  Major  Brooks,  and  Mr. 
Hall,  be  a  Committee  to  examine  and  consider  an  Account 
of  Major  Bliss,  and  also  an  Account  of  Doctor  Church. 

Ordered,  That  Major  Fuller,  Mr.  Hall,  and  Col.  Robin- 
son, be  a  Committee  to  countersign  and  number  the  new 
emission  of  Bills,  who  are  likewise  empowered  and  directed 
to  superintend  the  impression  of  said  Bills. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  bring  in  a  Resolve  for 
the  purpose  of  complying  with  the  requisitions  of  General 
Washington,  reported  the  following  order,  which  was  ac- 
cepted, viz : 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Robinson,  Major  Brooks,  and 
Deacon  Bailey,  be  a  Committee  to  make  inquiry  forthwith 
for  some  ingenious,  active,  faithful  man,  to  be  recommended 
to  General  Washington  as  a  Steward ;  likewise  to  procure 
and  recommend  to  him  some  capable  woman,  suitable  to 
act  in  the  place  of  a  Housekeeper,  and  one  or  more  good 
female  servants. 

The  Report  of  the  Committee  on  the  Account  of  .Mr. 
Daniel  Taylor  was  read,  and  ordered  to  lie  upon  the  table. 
The  Report  is  as  follows,  viz: 

The  Committee  appointed  to  examine  the  Account  of 
Daniel  Taylor  have  attended  that  service,  and  find  the 
Account  right  cast,  and  well  avouched,  and  are  of  the 
opinion,  that  the  Receiver-General  be  directed  to  pay  the 
sum  of  ten  Pounds,  nine  Shillings,  and  three  Pence,  to  the 
said  Daniel  Taylor,  in  full  of  his  Account.  All  which  is 
humbly  submitted.  Ezra  Richmond,  per  order. 

The  Committee  on  the  Petition  of  Colonel  Jonathan 
Brewer  reported.    The  Report  was  accepted,  and  is  as 

follows,  viz : 

Resolved,  That  the  prayer  of  Colonel  Brewer's  Petition 
be  so  far  granted,  that  said  Colonel  Brewer  be  allowed  to 
recruit  men  sufficient  to  complete  his  Regiment,  or  so  far 
as  he  can  complete  bis  said  Regiment,  in  twenty  days;  he 

*  This  Resolve  is  not  recorded  on  the  Journal. 


1497 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JULY,  1775. 


1498 


not  to  enlist  any  person  as  a  Soldier  who  sliall  not  furnish 
himself  with  a  good  and  sufficient  fiire-arm. 

Resolved,  That  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  be  assigned 
lo  consider  the  expediency  of  appointing  a  Surgeon-General 
for  the  Massachusetts  Forces. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  Artificers'  Ac- 
counts, reported  the  following  Resolve  on  Mr.  Clark's 
Account : 

Resolved,  That  the  Receiver-General  be,  and  he  hereby 
is  directed  to  pay  Mr.  Matthew  Clark,  or  order,  the  sum 
of  nine  Pounds,  six  Shillings,  and  six  Pence,  in  full  dis- 
charge of  his  Account,  for  time  and  materials  in  repairing 
Boats  for  the  use  of  this  Colon)'. 

The  Order  of  the  Day  was  moved  for. 

Ordered,  That  Major  Hawley  bring  in  a  Resolve  for 
the  payment  of  a  month's  pay  to  the  Officers  of  the  Army, 
as  soon  as  provision  can  be  made  therefor. 

The  Committee  on  the  Account  of  Major  Bliss  reported. 
The  Report  was  accepted, and  is  as  follows,  viz: 

Resolved,  That  Major  John  Bliss  be  allowed  and  paid 
out  of  the  publick  Treasury  of  this  Colony,  the  sum  of 
five  Pounds,  seven  Shillings,  in  full  discharge  of  the  above 
account,  and  t he  Receiver-General  of  this  Colony  is  hereby 
ordered  to  pay  the  aforesaid  sum  of  five  Pounds,  seven  Shil- 
lings, to  the  said  John  Bliss,  or  order,  accordingly. 

Major  Fuller,  agreeable  to  order,  brought  in  the  follow- 
ing Resolve,  viz: 

Resolved,  That  there  be  paid  out  of  the  publick  Treasury 
the  sum  of  twelve  Shillings,  to  Mr.  John  Cook,  for  the  use 
that  Mr.  Paul  Revere  made  of  his  house  whilst  he  was 
striking  off  the  Colony  Notes  therein. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  a  proposal  for 
exempting  the  Soldiers  in  the  Army  from  the  postage  of 
Letters,  reported  as  follows: 

Whereas,  it  appears  to  this  Congress  necessary  and 
expedient  that  all  Letters  directed  to,  or  going  from  any 
persons  belonging  to  the  Continental  Army  stationed  in 
the  Massachusetts  Colony,  be  delivered  free  of  postage 
hereafter : 

Resolved,  That  all  Letters  directed  to  any  person,  or 
sent  from  any  person  belonging  lo  the  Continental  Army 
now  stationed  in  the  Massachusetts  Colony,  be  delivered 
to  the  person  to  whom  they  belong,  free  of  postage,  until 
the  further  order  of  this  Congress,  or  some  future  House  of 
Representatives. 

The  Report  was  ordered  to  subside. 

Major  Fuller  brought  in  a  Resolve  directing  what  Notes 
each  of  the  Committee  should  sign,  which  was  accepted, 
and  is  as  follows,  viz : 

Resolved,  That  Abraham  Fuller,  Mr.  Stephen  Hall,  Jr., 
and  Colonel  Robinson,  the  Committee  appointed  to  coun- 
tersign the  Colony  Notes  now  ordered  to  be  struck  off, 
countersign  and  number  said  Notes  of  the  following  de- 
nominations, viz :  said  Abraham  Fuller  countersign  and 
number  the  Notes  of  eighteen,  twelve,  and  ten  Shillings; 
said  S.  Hall  countersign  and  number  the  Notes  of  sixteen, 
fifteen,  and  nine  Shillings ;  said  Colonel  Robinson  coun- 
tersign and  number  the  Notes  of  twenty,  fourteen,  and  six 
Shillings. 

Afternoon. 

The  Report  of  the  Committee  on  the  Letter  of  General 
Green  was  read,  and  recommitted  to  Colonel  Robinson, 
Major  Brooks,  and  Colonel  Gcrrish. 

Major  Hawley,  agreeable  to  appointment,  reported  the 
following  Resolve,  relative  to  advance  pay  to  the  Officers 
of  the  Army,  which  was  accepted  : 

Whereas,  application  has  been  made  lately  to  this  Con- 
gress in  behalf  of  the  Commissioned  Officers  of  that  part  of 
the  Continental  Army  before  Boston  raised  by  this  Colony, 
that  for  the  relief  of  the  present  necessities  of  the  said 
officers  there  might  be  immediately  advanced  and  paid  to 
them  one  full  month's  pay,  according  to  the  establishment 
lately  made  by  Congress  for  the  Army  :  And  the  Congress 
having  taken  the  said  application  into  due  consideration,  do 
resolve,  that  it  is  expedient  and  proper  that  there  should  be 
advanced  and  paid  unto  the  said  Commissioned  Officers  one 
month's  pay,  in  notes  or  bills  of  credit  of  this  Colony,  as 


soon  as  provision  can  be  made  therefor,  by  a  further  emis- 
sion of  notes  or  bills  of  credit,  than  has  been  already  ordered 
by  Congress. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  how  Stores  may 
be  procured  for  the  reception  of  Fish,  reported  as  follows: 

Whereas,  a  large  quantity  of  Fish  has  been  purchased 
by  the  Committee  of  Supplies  for  the  use  of  this  Colony, 
and  the  Stores  already  provided  by  said  Committee  are  not 
sufficient  for  the  reception  or  preservation  of  the  same ; 
therefore, 

Resolved,  That  the  said  Committee  be  and  hereby  are 
empowered  and  directed  to  hire  or  to  build  a  suitable  Store 
for  that  purpose,  and  to  agree  with  some  person  for  a  con- 
venient spot  of  ground  whereon  to  erect  the  same,  reserving 
liberty  to  remove  such  Store  as  some  future  Assembly  of 
this  Colony  shall  think  proper. 

The  Report  was  ordered  to  subside. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  agree  with  Mr.  Paul  Re- 
vere, for  striking  off  a  new  emission  of  Colony  Notes, 
reported.  The  Report  was  accepted,  and  is  as  follows, 
viz : 

Resolved,  That  there  be  eighteen  hundred  and  seventy- 
four  sheets  impressed  and  struck  off,  according  to  the  Re- 
solve of  this  Congress  passed  the  seventh  instant ;  and  that 
Mr.  Paul  Revere  be  employed  to  do  said  service,  at  the 
rate  of  six  Shillings  for  each  hundred  sheets  so  struck  off; 
provided  said  Revere  find  ink,  and  house-room,  and  procure 
suitable  paper,  the  Colony  paying  only  the  prime  cost  of 
said  paper. 

Committee  instructed  to  direct  Mr.  Revere  to  alter  the 
date  of  the  Notes  to  July  8th,  if  it  can  be  done. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Hall,  Captain  Baichclder,  and  Mr. 
Ellis,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  a  Resolve  of  the  Com- 
mittee of  Safety,  recommending  to  this  Congress  to  make 
an  establishment  for  four  Master  Armourers. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Samuel  Sanger,  Mr.  Johnson,  and 
Deacon  Wyman,  be  added  to  the  Committee  who  were 
appointed  to  give  Passes  for  removing  the  Poor  of  Boston 
and  Charlestown  to  the  Towns  in  the  County  of  Worces- 
ter, and  that  Major  Fuller  be  excused  from  serving  on  said 
Committee. 

Ordered,  That  Captain  Stone,  Captain  Brown,  and 
Colonel  Smith,  be  a  Committee  to  revise  the  Resolves  of 
Congress  relative  to  the  Poor  of  Boston  and  Charlestown, 
and  report  what  they  think  proper  to  be  done  thereon. 

Agreeable  to  the  recommendation  of  the  Committee  of 
Safety, 

Resolved,  That  Mr.  Jonathan  Hastings  be  and  hereby 
is  appointed  Postmaster  for  the  Town  of  Cambridge,  in  the 
room  of  Mr.  James  Winthrop. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  examine  several  accounts 
of  the  expense  of  procuring  Axes  and  Shovels,  reported. 
The  Report  was  accepted,  and  Mr.  Woodbridge  was  ap- 
pointed to  bring  in  a  proper  Resolve  for  the  paying  of  the 
several  accounts  agreeable  thereto. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  prepare  an  answer  to  the 
Letters  from  the  New-Hampshire  Congress,  reported  the 
following,  which  was  accepted,  and  ordered  to  be  tran- 
scribed, authenticated,  and  sent  forward,  viz: 

"  Gentlemen  :  We  received  your  favour  of  the  third 
instant,  by  Mr.  Whtclock  and  Colonel  Beetle,  and  much 
rejoice  to  find  that  the  honourable  Congress  of  New-Hamp- 
shire, and  the  good  people  of  your  Government  in  general, 
are  so  warmly  attached  to  the  common  cause. 

"We  highly  approve  of  Mr.  Dean's  being  sent  to  the  Con- 
tinental Congress,  more  especially  as  he  is  so  well  acquaint- 
ed in  Canada,  and  lately  came  from  thence;  and  we  think  it 
is  a  matter  of  great  importance  to  New-York,  and  all  the 
New-England  Colonies  in  particular,  and  to  America  in 
general,  to  satisfy  our  friends  in  Canada  that  we  are  truly 
friendly  to  them,  and  also  effectually  to  prevent  our  invete- 
rate enemies  there  from  making  depredations  on  our  fron- 
tiers. And  as  we  have  the  greatest  confidence  in  the 
wisdom  and  vigilance  of  that  honourable  body,  therefore 
we  think  it  most  advisable  to  wait  their  determination. 

"  We  are,  with  great  respect,  gentlemen,  your  friends  in 
the  common  cause. 

"  Hon.  the  Congress  of  the  Colony  of  New-Hampshire.'" 


1-199 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JULY,  1775. 


1500 


The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  subject  of  a 
Letter  from  General  Green,  reported.  The  Report  was 
accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz  : 

The  Congress  having  taken  into  consideration  the  diffi- 
culties and  troubles  which  have,  and  daily  are  arising  in 
our  camps,  by  reason  of  divers  evil-minded  persons  selling 
Spirituous  Liquors,  by  which  means  it  is  not  in  the  power 
of  the  officers,  although  a  constant  exertion  has  been  hither- 
to made,  to  prevent  the  same,  in  order  to  keep  that  steady 
government  in  camp  so  absolutely  necessary  ;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  if  any  licensed  person  shall,  after  the 
fifteenth  instant,  presume  to  sell  any  Spirituous  Liquors  to 
any  soldier,  without  a  permit  from  the  Captain,  or  com- 
manding officer  of  the  Company  he  belongs  to,  specifying 
the  quantity,  shall,  for  the  first  offence,  forfeit  his  license, 
and  for  the  second,  suffer  such  punishment  as  shall  be  in- 
flicted on  him  or  her  by  a  Court-Martial ;  and  any  person 
who  is  not  a  licensed  person,  or  whose  license  is  without 
the  limits  of  said  camp,  who  shall  presume  to  retail  any 
Spirituous  Liquor  to  any  of  the  Troops,  shall  suffer  for  the 
first  offence  the  penalties  inflicted  by  a  Court-Martial : 
this  Resolve  not  to  extend  to  any  person  who  shall  have 
a  license  or  permit  from  the  General,  or  commanding 
officer. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  bring  in  a  list  of  such 
Towns  as  might  supply  the  Army  with  Shirts,  Breeches, 
kc,  reported.  The  Report  was  recommitted  for  intro- 
ducing the  form  of  a  receipt. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  Petition  of 
the  inhabitants  of  Frenchman's  Bay,  reported.  The  Re- 
port was  accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz: 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  Petition  of 
Thomas  Donnell  and  others,  of  Frenchman's  Bay,  have 
attended  that  service,  and  beg  leave  to  report  by  way  of 
Resolve : 

Whereas,  Mr.  Philip  Hodgkins  lias  applied  to  this 
Congress  for  a  supply  of  Provisions  for  the  inhabitants  of 
Frenchman's  Bay,  and  being  at  a  great  distance  from  the 
Committee  of  Correspondence  of  that  place;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended,  and  it  is  by  this 
Congress  accordingly  recommended  to  the  Governour  and 
Company  of  the  Colony  of  Connecticut,  that  they  suffer 
the  inhabitants  of  Frenchman's  Bay  to  purchase  such  Pro- 
visions in  said  Colony  as  they  stand  in  need  of. 

Major  Hawley,  who  was  appointed  to  bring  in  a  Resolve 
explanatory  of  the  Resolve  of  this  Congress  relative  to  the 
Refugees,  reported.  The  Report  was  accepted,  and  is  as 
follows,  viz : 

Whereas,  a  certain  Resolve  was  made  and  passed  on  the 
twenty-first  day  of  June  last,  respecting  the  improvement  of 
the  estates  of  several  persons  who  have  fled  to  Gen.  Gage, 
in  manner  as  is  expressed  in  the  said  Resolve  ;  and  it  being 
made  to  appear  to  this  Congress  that  the  said  Resolve  is 
taken  in  such  a  sense  in  divers  parts  of  this  Colony  as  to 
make  it  necessary  that  some  explanation  of  the  said  Resolve 
should  be  made  by  this  Congress;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  henceforward  the  said  Resolve  ought 
not  to  be  construed  to  extend  to  any  estates  of  such  per- 
sons, excepting  such  estates  as  are  left  unimproved,  and 
void  of  any  occupant  or  possessor,  and  that  no  other  estate 
of  such  persons  ought  to  be  treated  in  the  manner  pre- 
scribed in  the  said  Resolve,  until  they  shall  be  regularly 
indicted  and  tried  for  their  supposed  offences. 

Ordered  to  be  printed  in  the  several  Papers. 

Resolved,  That  eight  o'clock  to-morrow  morning  be  as- 
signed for  the  consideration  of  the  expediency  of  appoint- 
ing a  Surgeon-General  of  the  Massachusetts  Army. 

Ordered,  That  the  Account  Books  of  Major  Barber  be 
committed  to  the  care  of  the  Committee  of  Supplies. 

Adjourned  to  Sunday  morning,  eight  o'clock. 

Sunday,  July  9,  1775. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  a  Resolve  relative 
to  seizing  the  Crown  Officers,  reported,  by  way  of  Re- 
solve, as  follows : 

Reflecting  with  the  greatest  concern  on  the  miseries  of 
our  friends  and  brethren  in  the  Town  and  Harbour  of  Bos- 
ton, who  are  now  suffering  under  the  cruel  hand  of  tyranny, 
and  can  think  of  no  other  method  to  release  them  than  to 


take  into  safe  custody  all  the  Crown  Officers  in  the  United 
Colonies ;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  it  be,  and  is  hereby  humbly  suggested 
to  the  most  serious  consideration  of  the  honourable  Conti- 
nental Congress  now  sitting  at  Philadelphia,  whether  it 
would  not  be  proper  to  seize  immediately,  and  take  into 
custody  every  Crown  Officer  in  said  Colonies,  and  them 
safely  keep,  until  our  suffering  brethren  are  liberated  and 
fully  compensated  for  their  loss  and  sufferings.  All  *\\  Inch 
is  humbly  submitted. 

The  Report  was  recommitted,  and  the  Secretary  was 
added  to  the  Committee,  and  the  Committee  directed  to 
report,  by  way  of  Letter,  and  to  insert  a  clause  relative  to 
the  desire  of  this  Congress  that  the  Continental  Congress 
would  adjourn  nearer  the  seat  of  action. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  a  Resolve  of  the 
Committee  of  Safety  recommending  the  appointment  of 
four  Master  Armourers,  reported.  The  Report  was  order- 
ed to  lie  on  the  table,  till  the  Committee,  for  revising  the 
commision  of  the  Committee  of  Safety  and  the  commis- 
sion of  the  Committee  of  Supplies,  reported. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Gill,  Mr.  Pickering,  and  Mr. 
Woodbridge,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  a  Letter  from 
Mr.  John  Scollay,  relative  to  the  Poor  of  the  Town  of 
Boston.    The  Letter  is  as  follows,  viz : 

"  Boston,  July  8,  1775. 

"Sir:  His  Excellency  the  Governour  having,  by  Mi. 
Secretary  Flucker,  sent  a  message  to  the  Selectmen,  Over- 
seers of  the  Poor,  and  Committee  of  Donations,  respect- 
ing the  removal  of  the  poor,  and  other  inhabitants  of  the 
Town  of  Boston,  they  attended  the  same,  and  after  deli- 
berating on  the  matter,  presented  to  Mr.  Secretary  their 
doings  thereon,  a  copy  of  which  is  here  enclosed,  to  which 
his  Excellency  has  been  pleased  to  accede. 

"  As  there  has  of  late  been  an  interruption  of  the  inha 
bitants,  with  their  effects,  passing  out  of  the  Town  into  the 
Country,  perhaps  the  matter  may  have  dropped  with  you, 
and  proper  accommodations  may  not  have  been  provided 
for  the  reception  of  any  more  of  the  Poor  of  the  Town 
than  have  already  left  it ;  and  as  the  state  of  the  inhabi- 
tants is  really  distressing,  we  shall  be  glad  an  immediate 
attention  be  given  to  the  above,  and  that  we,  as  soon  as 
may  be,  know  your  resolutions  thereon.  As  many  of  these 
poor  unhappy  people  are  not  in  a  condition  to  be  removed 
by  land  carriage,  therefore,  we  should  think,  that  the  place 
of  their  destination  might  be  as  near  water  carriage  as  may 
be  convenient.  If  it  would  not  be  thought  assuming,  we 
would  beg  leave  to  suggest  the  Towns  of  Salem  or  Mar- 
blehead,  as  proper  places  for  the  above  purpose. 

"  His  Excellency  does  expect,  that  whatever  vessels  or 
other  carriages  may  be  employed  in  this  business,  ample 
security  be  given  that  they  shall  be  safe  from  any  detention, 
and  that  they,  and  the  persons  that  occupy  them,  be  per- 
mitted to  return  without  hindrance  or  molestation. 

"  1  am,  in  behalf  of  the  Committee,  your  most  humble 
servant,  John  Scollay,  Chairman. 

"  To  James  Warren,  Esquire." 

"The  Selectmen,  Overseers  of  the  Poor,  and  Commit- 
tee of  Donations,  having  received  a  message  from  his  Ex- 
cellency the  Governour,  by  Mr.  Secretary  Flucker,  re- 
specting the  removal  of  the  poor,  and  other  inhabitants  of 
the  Town,  and  attended  the  same,  with  all  proper  deference 
and  respect,  beg  leave  to  represent ;  that  the  number  of 
the  poor  in  the  Alms-house,  amounts  to  about  two  hun- 
dred, of  which  they  suppose  that  one  hundred  and  sixty  or 
one  hundred  and  seventy  may  be  removed,  for  which  the 
Selectmen,  Overseers,  and  Committee  aforesaid,  will  make 
all  proper  provision,  his  Excellency  providing  boats  and 
carriages  for  transportation  by  water  or  land,  as  may  be 
thought  best,  and  allowing  such  quantities  of  provisions, 
bedding,  clothing,  and  medicine,  as  may  be  necessary 
and  proper.  The  few  unhappy  persons  that  may  be  una- 
ble to  be  removed,  must  be  left,  and  are  earnestly  recom- 
mended to  his  Excellency's  well-known  humanity. 

"As  to  the  poor,  and  other  inhabitants  of  the  Town, 
who  if  not  already,  will  soon  be  reduced  to  the  greatest 
distress,  the  Selectmen,  Overseers,  and  Committee  appre- 
hend, that  by  far  the  greatest  part,  if  not  the  whole,  would 
immediately  remove  themselves,  with  the  small  assistance 


1501 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JULY,  1775. 


1502 


they  might  receive  from  the  Committee  of  Donations,  pro- 
vided they  could  obtain  his  Excellency's  permission. 

<;  The  Selectmen,  Overseers,  and  Committee,  previous 
to  their  removal,  beg  for  leave  to  write  to  such  persons  in 
the  country  a3  may  be  empowered  to  take  care  of,  and 
provide  for  the  puor,  that  theso  <J®cti»nte  persons  may  find 
such  assistance  and  relief  as  their  particular  ewoutastances 
may  require." 

Ordered,  That  the  Secretary,  Dr.  Taylor,  and  Major 
Brooks,  be  a  Committee  to  confer  with  Mr.  John  Lane  on 
the  difficulties  which  attend  the  supplying  the  Indians  at 
Falmouth,  Casco  Bay.* 

Resolved.  That  the  Hon.  Jedediah  Preble  and  the  Hon. 
Enoch  Freeman,  Esquire,  be,  and  hereby  are  empowered 
to  supply  the  Indians  of  the  Penobscot  Tribe  with  any 
quantity  of  Goods,  not  exceeding  the  value  of  three  hun- 
dred Pounds,  and  to  draw  on  the  Receiver-General  for  the 
same,  who  is  hereby  directed  to  pay  such  draughts  in  three 
months  after  the  date  of  this  Resolve,  and  to  take  Furs  and 
Skins  of  the  said  Indians  in  exchange,  on  the  account  of 
this  Colony,  they  to  be  accountable  for  their  proceedings. 

Ordered,  That  Deacon  Cheevcr  be  a  Committee  to 
bring  in  a  Resolve,  empowering  the  Committee  of  Sup- 
plies to  furnish  General  Washington  with  such  articles  of 
household  Furniture  as  he  has  wrote  to  said  Committee 
for. 

Afternoon. 

Resolved,  That  the  consideration  of  the  allowance  pro- 
per to  be  made  to  Mr.  Fowle,  for  the  use  of  his  house  by 
several  Committees  of  this  Congress,  be  referred  to  the 
General  Assembly. 

The  Committee  on  the  Letter  of  Mr.  John  Scollay,  of 
Boston,  reported  as  follows: 

The  Committee  to  whom  was  referred  the  Letter  from 
John  Scollay,  Esquire,  in  the  name  of  the  Selectmen,  &,c, 
of  Boston,  have  attended  the  service  assigned  them,  and 
are  of  opinion,  that  the  letter,  and  paper  accompanying 
the  same,  be  referred  to  the  Committee  of  Safety  of  this 
Colony;  and  that  said  Committee,  if  they  see  fit,  on  being 
satisfied  that  said  poor,  and  other  inhabitants,  may  leave 
Boston  with  such  quantities  of  provisions,  bedding,  &c, 
as  mentioned  in  the  paper  purporting  to  be  an  agreement 
with  General  Gage,  provide  such  conveyances  for  trans- 
porting into  the  country  such  of  said  poor  as  are  able 
to  bear  the  same,  to  be  ready  at  such  time  and  place 
as  may  be  agreed  upon ;  and  that  notice  be  given  to 
Salem,  Marblehead,  or  any  other  seaports,  to  receive  such 
of  said  poor  as  will  not  bear  being  removed  otherwise  than 
by  water ;  and  that  all  expenses  for  removing  and  support- 
ing said  poor  be  paid  by  the  Colony. 

The  Report  was  ordered  to  lie  for  further  consideration. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  prepare  a  list  of  such 
Towns  as  it  would  be  expedient  to  apply  to  for  Shirts, 
Breeches,  &tc,  again  reported.  The  Report  was  accept- 
ed, and  is  as  follows,  viz : 

Whereas,  there  is  a  very  pressing  demand  for  some  articles 
of  clothing,  more  especially  of  Shirts,  Breeches,  Stockings, 
and  Shoes,  in  the  Army  raised  by  the  Colony  of  the  Mas- 
sachusetts-Bay, and  there  is  danger  of  very  mischievous 
consequences  from  a  delay  of  supplying  the  same : 

Resolved,  That  the  inhabitants  of  the  respective  Towns 
and  Districts  in  the  Counties  specified  in  a  list  hereunto 
annexed,  be  most  earnestly  desired,  as  soon  as  possible,  to 
procure  such  a  number  of  each  of  the  articles  of  Shirts, 
Breeches,  and  Stockings,  as  are  affixed  to  their  said  Towns 
and  Districts,  respectively,  of  a  serviceable  quality,  and  as 
many  good  Shoes  as  they  can  obtain,  and  deliver  the  same 

*  LETTBR  FROM  THE  FOUR  INDIAN  CHIEFS  TO  ANDREW  GILMAN. 

Falmouth,  July  4,  1775. 

Sir  :  We  have  been  here  five  days,  and  did  expect  to  go  home  with 
the  supplies  for  our  tribe  in  a  sloop.  But  as  we  are  told  Captain  John 
Lane  must  return  to  Watertown  before  our  supply  can  be  sent,  we 
have  agreed  to  go  home  in  our  canons,  though  we  should  rather  go  in 
said  sloop.  We  beg  leave  to  let  you  know  it  is  our  desire  that  Captain 
Lane  may  be  appointed  truckmaster,  with  full  power  to  redress  any 
insults  we  may  receive  from  the  white  people  when  we  come  in  to 
trade.    You  may  depend  on  our  friendship,  and  assistance,  if  required. 

We  are  your  humble  servants, 

Olexaii,  Joseph, 
Messiiall,  Pooler. 

Andrew  Oilman,  Interpreter, 


to  the  person  or  persons  now  to  be  appointed  by  this  Con- 
gress to  collect  them,  who  are  directed  to  give  receipts  to 
the  owners,  at  the  prices  for  which  they  shall  mutually 
agree,  (keeping  an  account  thereof,)  in  the  form  follow- 
ing, viz : 

"  The    day  of  ,  1775.     Received  of   . 

—  shirts,  at  —  ;  —  pair  of  Breeches,  at  —  ;  pair  of  Stock- 
ings, at  -  ;  —  pair  of  Shoes,  at  —  :  amounting  to  the  sum 
of  ,  for  the  service  of  the  Colony  of  the  Massachusetts- 
Bay  ;  which  the  Receiver-General  is  directed,  in  forty  days 

after  the  date  hereof,  to  pay  to  the  said  ,  or  order,  in 

notes  or  bills  of  credit  of  this  Colony." 

And  the  Receiver-General  is  hereby  required  to  pay  the 
same  accordingly.  And  that  this  business  may  be  effected 
with  the  greatest  expedition,  the  Selectmen  and  Commit- 
tees of  Correspondence  in  the  several  Towns  and  Districts 
before  mentioned,  are  hereby  most  earnestly  reqested  to 
afford  the  utmost  aid  in  their  power  to  the  person  or  per- 
sons appointed  as  aforesaid,  in  collecting  said  articles. 
And  those  persons  are  further  directed  to  take  such  mea- 
sures as  will  enable  them  to  ascertain  the  price  of  each 
article  on  its  arrival,  and  to  contract  at  a  reasonable  rate 
with  suitable  wagoners  and  teamsters,  to  transport  the 
effects,  when  procured,  with  great  despatch,  to  the  Com- 
mittee of  Supplies  at  Watertown,  giving  them  a  certificate 
of  the  sums  to  be  paid  for  such  service  ;  for  which  sum  said 
Committee  are  hereby  directed  to  draw  on  the  publick 
Treasury,  in  favour  of  any  thus  contracted  with,  or  their 
orders ;  and  the  Receiver-General  is  accordingly  directed 
to  pay  the  same. 

Committee. — Suffolk  :  Mr.  Daniel  Vose,  Milton  ;  Mr. 
Abner  Ellis,  Dcdham;  Deacon  Jabez  Fisher,  Wrentham. 

Essex:  Major  Asa  Perley,  B  oxford ;  Colonel  Daniel 
Thurston,  Bradford;  Major  A.  Fuller,  Middlcton. 

Middlesex:  Mr.  Peter  Bent,  Marlborough:  Captain 
Timothy  Walker,  Wilmington;  Mr.  Israel  Hobart,  Toicu- 
shend ;  Mr.  Samuel  Sprague,  Stoneham. 

Plymouth:  Mr.  Ebenezer  Thompson,  Halifax ;  Col. 
Joseph  Cushing,  Hanover ;  Mr.  George  Partridge,  Dux- 
bury. 

Bristol:  Mr.  Thomas  Durfee,  Freetown  ;  Capt.  Ben- 
jamin King,  Raynham;  Benjamin  Aikin,  Esquire,  Dart- 
mouth. 

Worcester:  Mr.  David  Bancroft,  Worcester;  Mr.  Jo- 
seph Wheeler,  Harvard;  Col.  Jonathan  Grout,  Petersham. 

Barnstable:  Colonel  Joseph  Otis,  Barnstable;  Col. 
N.  Freeman,  Sandwich;  Col.  Elisha  Cobb,  Wellfleet. 

Dukes  County  :  James  Athorne,  Esquire. 

Resolved,  That  the  Receiver-General  be,  and  he  here- 
by is  directed  to  pay  Doctor  Benjamin  Church,  Junior,  or 
order,  the  sum  of  thirty-four  Pounds,  five  Shillings,  and 
two  Pence,  in  full  discharge  of  his  account  of  expenses 
for  himself  and  servant,  on  a  journey  to  Philadelphia,  in 
May  last. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Gill,  Mr.  Phillips,  and  Dr.  Taylor, 
be  a  Committee  to  provide  a  Dinner,  on  the  19th  instant, 
for  themselves  and  the  Clergy. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Kolloclc,  Dr.  Taylor,  and  Deacon 
Nichols,  be  a  Committee  to  get  the  Resolves  relative  to 
procuring  Shirts,  Breeches,  &,c,  printed  and  dispersed,  one 
to  each  Town  mentioned  in  the  schedule,  and  one  to  each 
of  the  Committee. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  bring  in  an  additional  Re- 
solve relative  to  the  Poor  of  Boston,  reported.  The  Re- 
port was  accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz: 

Whereas,  it  appears  that  some  Towns  in  this  Colony 
have  a  larger  number  of  the  Poor  of  the  Towns  of  Boston 
and  Charlestown  than  has  been  heretofore  assigned  them, 
and  more  than  they  are  willing  to  retain : 

Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  Selectmen  of 
those  Towns  to  cause  such  Poor  to  be  removed  to  some 
Town  that  shall  not  have  the  proportion  heretofore  assign- 
ed, or  shall  be  willing  to  receive  them,  (and  if  convenient 
to  those  of  such  Towns  that  said  Poor  may  choose,)  pro- 
vided said  Poor  are  possessed  of  a  certificate  from  either 
of  the  Selectmen  or  Overseers  of  the  Poor  of  the  Towns 
of  Boston  or  Charlcstoum,  showing  that  they  were  inha- 
bitants of  either  of  those  Towns  on  the  1st  of  March  last. 
And  the  Selectmen  or  Overseers  of  the  Poor  of  the  Towns 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JULY,  1775.  1504 


1503 

qualified  as  aforesaid,  to  which  die  before-mentioned  Poor 
may  be  conveyed,  with  a  certificate  as  above  prescribed, 
are  requested  to  receive  and  make  provision  for  the  same, 
as  has  been  before  directed  ;  all  reasonable  charges  attend- 
ing such  removal  to  be  paid  by  this  Colony. 

The  Committee  directed  to  prepare  a  Letter  to  the 
Continental  Congress,  reported.  The  Report  was  accept- 
ed, and  is  as  follows,  viz  : 

In  Provincial  Congress,  Watertown,  July  9,  1775. 

May  it  please  your  Honours:  With  hearts  deeply 
affected  by  the  sufferings  of  our  friends  in  the  Town  and 
Harbour  of  Boston,  under  the  cruel  hand  of  tyrannick 
power,  we  think  it  incumbent  on  us  to  take  every  measure 
which  may  tend  to  their  release.  To  that  end  we  now 
beg  leave  humbly  to  suggest  to  your  Honours,  whether  it 
would  not  be  expedient  immediately  to  seize  every  Crown 
Officer  within  the  United  Colonies,  and  them  in  safe  cus- 
tody retain,  until  this  purpose  be  effected,  and  full  com- 
pensation have  been  made  them  for  the  unjust  and  perfi- 
dious treatment  they  have  received  from  General  Gage. 

We  have  only  once  more  to  express  our  wishes,  that  if 
the  general  service  will  permit,  you  might  adjourn  to  some 
convenient  place  nearer  the  seat  of  action,  that  we  might 
more  speedily  obtain  the  aid  and  advice  of  the  Grand 
Council  of  the  Continent  in  these  important  matters, 
which,  though  of  general  concern,  do  more  immediately 
affect  us. 

Ordered,  That  it  be  fairly  drawn,  authenticated,  and 
sent  forward. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Kollock,  Mr.  Batchclder,  and 
Deacon  Plympton,  be  a  Committee  to  bring  in  a  Resolve 
for  the  purpose  of  supplying  the  Penobscot  Indians  with  a 
small  quantity  of  Gunpowder. 

The  Committee  made  a  Report;  which  was  accepted, 
and  is  as  follows,  viz  : 

Whereas,  application  has  been  made  to  this  Congress  by 
Captain  John  Lane,  Agent  for  the  Penobscot  Tribe  of 
Indians,  for  a  small  quantity  of  Powder  for  supplying  said 
In  dia  ns ;  t  h  e  re  fo  re , 

Resolved,  That  the  Committee  of  Supplies  is  hereby 
directed  to  deliver  out  of  the  publick  stores  of  this  Colony, 
to  the  said  John  Lane,  twenty-five  pounds  of  Powder  for 
the  use  aforesaid,  taking  said  Lane's  receipt  therefor,  to 
deliver  the  same  to  General  Preble  and  Colonel  Enoch 
Freeman,  on  account  of  this  Colony;  and  said  Committee 
are  hereby  directed  to  replace  the  same  again  as  soon  as 
may  be,  from  some  Town  in  this  Colony,  (if  they  judge  it 
necessary,)  that  can  best  spare  the  same. 

Resolved,  That  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town  of  Water- 
town  be,  and  hereby  are  empowered  and  directed  to  take 
into  their  custody  one  Daniel  Green,  now  in  tin's  Town, 
who  was  wounded  and  taken  a  prisoner  on  the  19th  of  April 
last,  and  convey  him  to  the  jail  in  Concord,  there  to  be 
confined  till  the  further  order  of  this  Congress,  or  some 
future  House  of  Assembly  of  this  Colony. 

Adjourned  to  Monday  morning,  eight  o'clock. 

Monday,  July  10,  1775. 
Ordered,  That  the  Warrants  for  Surgeons,  Adjutant- 
Generals,  and  Quartermaster-Generals,  be  committed  to 
the  Committee  of  Safety  to  be  delivered. 

Ordered,  That  Deacon  Baker  bring  in  a  Resolve  di- 
recting the  Receiver-General  to  pay  Mr.  Hastings  for  his 
services  as  Doorkeeper. 

Ordered,  That  the  Letter  from  John  Scollay,  Esq.,  of 
Boston,  and  the  Paper  accompanying  it,  be  put  into  the 
hands  of  the  Committee  of  Safety. 

Ordered,  That  the  President,  Doctor  Church,  and  Mr. 
Gerry,  be  a  Committee  to  prepare  an  answer  to  a  Letter 
this  day  received  from  General  Lee;  and  that  eleven 
o'clock  be  assigned  for  the  choice  of  some  person  to  attend 
General  Lee,  on  an  interview  with  General  Burgoyne. 

Letter  from  General  Lee. 

"  Houd-Quartcrs,  July  10,  1775. 

"  General  Lee  presents  his  respects  to  the  President  and 
gentlemen  of  the  Provincial  Congress  of  Massachusetts, 
and  submits  to  their  perusal  a  letter  which  he  yesterday 


received  from  General  Burgoyne,  in  answer  to  one  which 
was  read  and  approved  of  by  the  Delegates  of  this  Prov- 
ince, and  other  Members  of  the  Continental  Congress.  He 
begs  leave  to  receive  their  commands  with  respect  to  the 
proposed  interview.  If  they  approve  of  it,  l'«  shall  bo 
glad  to  accept  of  it;  <f  ii>oy  disapprove,  he  shall  reject  it. 
Bui  if  the;  approve  of  it,  he  must  request  that  they  will 
depute  some  one  gentleman  of  their  body  to  accompany 
General  Lee,  and  be  witness  of  the  conversation.  He  de- 
sires their  answer  immediately,  as  he  has  engaged  to  inform 
General  Burgoyne  by  four  o'clock  this  afternoon,  whether 
the  interview  is  to  take  place.  He  shall  likewise  be  much 
obliged  to  the  gentlemen  if  they  will  return  the  letter  ;  but 
if  they  choose  to  take  a  copy  of  it,  he  can  have  no  objec- 
tion. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Pickering,  Mr.  Spear,  and  Mr. 
Phillips,  be  a  Committee  to  examine  a  number  of  Letters 
this  day  laid  before  the  Congress,  brought  from  London  by 
Captain  Folgcr. 

Resolved,  That  it  be,  and  it  hereby  is  ordered,  that  the 
Committee  of  Supplies  immediately  furnish  General  Wash- 
ington with  ten  good  Horses,  with  saddles  and  bridles,  for 
the  publick  use. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Batchclder  count  and  sort  the  votes 
for  a  person  to  attend  General  Lee,  on  an  interview  with 
General  Burgoyne. 

Mr.  Batchclder  having  attended  that  service,  reported 
that  Mr.  Elbridge  Gerry  was  chosen. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Porter,  Doctor  Taylor,  and 
Major  Brooks,  be  a  Committee,  whose  business  it  shall  be, 
in  conjunction  with  the  Committee  of  Safety,  to  make 
thorough  inquiry  into  the  subject-matter  of  a  Letter  this 
day  received  from  General  Washington ;  and  that  the 
Committee  be  directed  to  confer  with  General  Washington 
on  the  subject  of  his  Letter,  and  particularly  to  inform  him 
of  the  number  of  men  we  had  generally  estimated  in  the 
Massachusetts  Forces,  from  the  return  of  the  General  Offi- 
cers ;  from  the  money  paid  out  of  the  Treasury  for  a 
month's  advance  pay  to  the  soldiers ;  and  from  the  provi- 
sion fnade  for  billeting  the  said  Forces. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  prepare  a  Letter  to  Gene- 
ral Lee,  reported.  The  Report  was  accepted,  and  ordered 
to  be  authenticated  and  sent  forward  to  General  Lee  by 
Doctor  Church,  Doctor  Taylor,  and  Mr.  Gerry,  a  Com- 
mittee for  that  purpose. 

Sir  :  The  Congress  have  perused  the  Letter  from  Gene- 
ral Burgoyne,  which  you  was  kind  enough  to  submit  to 
their  inspection.  They  can  have  no  objection  to  the  pro- 
posed interview,  from  a  want  of  the  highest  confidence  in 
the  wisdom,  discretion,  and  integrity  of  General  Lee  :  but 
beg  leave  to  suggest,  that  as  the  confidence  of  the  people 
in  their  General  is  so  essentially  necessary  to  the  well-con- 
ducting the  enterprize  in  which  we  are  engaged  ;  and  as  a 
people  contending  for  their  liberties  are  naturally  disposed 
to  jealousy,  and  not  inclined  to  make  the  most  favourable 
construction  of  the  motives  of  conduct  which  they  are  not 
fully  acquainted  with,  whether  such  an  interview  might  not 
have  a  tendency  to  lessen  the  influence  which  the  Congress 
would  wish  to  extend  to  the  utmost  of  their  power  to  facili- 
tate and  succeed  the  operations  of  war. 

The  Congress,  agreeable  to  your  request,  have,  to  pre- 
vent as  far  as  we  are  able,  any  disagreeable  consequences 
which  may  arise  from  the  jealousy  of  the  people  on  such 
an  occasion,  appointed  Mr.  Elbridge  Gerry  to  attend  you 
at  the  proposed  interview,  if  you  shall  think  proper  to  pro- 
ceed in  it;  and  as  they  do  not  think  themselves  authorized 
to  counteract  the  General's  inclination,  they  would  submit 
it  to  his  opinion,  whether  the  advice  of  the  Council  of  War 
might  not  be  taken  in  a  matter  of  such  apparent  delicacy. 

To  the  Honourable  General  Lee. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Mitchell,  Captain  Batchclder. 
and  Deacon  Nichols,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  the  cir- 
cumstances of  the  Town  of  Hull,  and  report  what  is  best 
to  be  done. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Phillips,  Deacon  Nichols,  and 
Captain  Stone,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  the  situation 
of  the  publick  stock  of  Powder,  and  report  what  shall  be 
done  with  it. 


1505 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JULY,  1775. 


1506 


Afternoon. 

Resolved,  That  the  Resolve  which  passed  yesterday, 
relative  to  Daniel  Green,  be  reconsidered  ;  and  that  Capt. 
Stotie  be  appointed  to  bring  in  a  Resolve  with  regard  to  him. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Baker,  Mr.  Kollock,  and  Captain 
Parker,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  an  Account  of  Mr. 
John  GUI. 

Ordered,  That  Captain  Vose,  Mr.  Jewett,  and  Mr. 
Bigelow,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  an  Account  of  Mr. 
Moses  Lammon,  for  a  gun  sold  Barnabas  Evans. 

Ordered,  That  the  Committee  for  signing  the  Bills, 
&:c,  be  directed  to  sit  and  despatch  the  business,  that  the 
soldiers  may  be  paid  off  according  to  order  of  Congress. 

Ordered,  That  Captain  Stone,  Mr.  Bigelow,  and  Capt. 
Harnden,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  the  Account  of  Mr. 
Isaac  Bissell. 

Resolved,  That  the  Committee  of  Supplies  be  directed 
to  write  to  the  Selectmen  of  Charlestown  and  Walpole,  in 
the  Government  of  New-Hampshire,  and  desire  them  to 
inform  them  what  Cannon  there  are  in  those  Towns  be- 
longing to  this  Colony ;  and  the  said  Committee  are  to  take 
into  their  custody  such  as  they  shall  find  to  be  the  property 
of  this  Colony. 

Resolved,  That  Mr.  Stephen  Hall  be  on  the  Committee 
in  the  room  of  Doctor  Gunn,  to  sign  the  Colony  Notes. 
Mr.  Israel  Nichols's  Account  was  passed  upon;  and, 
Ordered,  That  the  Receiver-General  be,  and  he  is 
hereby  directed  to  pay  to  Mr.  Israel  Nichols  the  sum  of 
eighteen  Shillings,  in  full  of  his  Account. 

Capt.  Stone,  agreeable  to  order,  brought  in  the  following 
Resolve  respecting  Daniel  Green;  which  was  accepted: 

Resolved,  That  the  Selectmen  of  Watertown  be,  and 
hereby  are  directed  to  take  Daniel  Green,  a  prisoner  taken 
in  the  late  battle  on  the  19th  of  April  last,  who  is  now  in 
this  Town,  and  safely  convey  him  to  Mr.  Jones,  prison- 
keeper  at  Concord ;  and  said  prison-keeper  is  hereby  di- 
rected safely  to  keep,  and  properly  support,  the  said  Green, 
until  further  order  of  the  Congress,  or  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives. 

The  Committee  on  Captain  Lane's  Account,  reported. 
The  Report  was  accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz: 

Resolved,  That  the  Receiver-General  be,  and  he  is 
hereby  directed  to  pay  Capt.  John  Lane  the  sum  of  three 
Pounds,  six  Shillings,  for  horse-hire  and  expenses  from 
Falmouth  to  Watertown,  and  back  again,  in  behalf  of  the 
Penobscot  Tribe  of  Indians. 

Resolved,  That  the  Receiver-General  be,  and  he  is 
hereby  directed  to  pay  to  Mr.  Simon  Hastings  the  sum  of 
eight  Pounds,  four  shillings,  for  attending  this  Congress  as 
a  Doorkeeper,  for  forty-one  days,  the  present  session. 

Adjourned  to  Tuesday  morning,  eight  o'clock. 

Tuesday,  July  11,  1775. 

A  Letter  from  ,  of  New-York,  to  the 

Committee  of  Donations  for  the  Town  of  Boston,  was 
read.  Upon  which  the  Congress  assumed  the  consideration 
of  a  Report  relative  to  such  Donations  ;  which  was  accept- 
ed, and  ordered  to  be  printed  in  the  Newspapers,  and  is  as 
follows,  viz : 

W  hereas,  the  Poor  of  Boston  and  Charlestown,  who  have 
been  assigned  to  the  several  Towns  in  this  Colony,  have 
been  and  still  are  supported  at  the  publick  expense,  for 
reasons  that  are  obvious  ;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  the  Money,  Grain,  Flour,  kc,  that  have 
or  shall  be  generously  given  for  the  support  of  said  Poor, 
and  lodged  within  this  Colony,  ought  to  be  considered  as 
belonging  to  the  publick  stock  of  this  Colony,  for  the  use 
aforesaid ;  and  the  Committee  of  Supplies  are  hereby  di- 
rected to  take  care  of  such  Donations  accordingly,  till  the 
further  order  of  this  Congress,  or  House  of  Representa- 
tives. And  when  any  Town  shall,  by  order  of  said  Com- 
mittee, or  otherwise,  receive  or  make  use  of  such  Dona- 
tions, or  any  part  thereof,  the  Selectmen  of  such  Town  are 
hereby  ordered  to  exhibit  an  exact  account  thereof  to  this 
Congress,  or  some  future  House  of  Representatives,  as 
credit  to  their  accounts  of  charges  for  the  support  of  the 
Poor  abovesaid. 


A  Resolve  of  the  Committee  of  Safety,  relative  to  Sol- 
diers who  had  enlisted  a  second  time,  was  read,  and  com- 
mitted to  the  Committee  who  were  yesterday  appointed  to 
inquire  into  the  subject  of  General  Washington's  Letter. 

Resolved,  That  if  this  Committee  is  not  ready  to  report 
to  the  Congress  at  its  present  session,  that  they  be  directed 
to  report  to  the  next  General  Assembly,  or  House  of  Re- 
presentatives. 

Ordered,  That  Doctor  Church,  Captain  Stone,  and  Mr. 
Woodbridge,  be  a  Committee  to  inquire  into  the  subject 
of  a  Resolve  of  the  Committee  of  Safety  relative  to  Mr. 
Winslow's  employing  one  William  Lightly  to  carry  a  load 
of  Molasses  from  Connecticut  to  New-York. 

Resolved,  That  this  Congress  has  no  objection  to  Mrs. 
Mary  Greenwood  having  a  permit  to  go  into  Boston. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  circumstances 
of  the  Town  of  Hull,  reported.  The  Report  was  accept- 
ed, and  is  as  follows,  viz: 

The  Committee  appointed  by  this  Congress  to  consider 
of  a  request  of  a  Committee  from  the  Town  of  Hull,  set- 
ting forth  that  they  are  now  invested  by  an  armed  vessel, 
and  expect  that  the  communication  between  them  and  their 
neighbours  will  soon  be  cut  off,  beg  leave  to  report  the  fol- 
lowing Resolve,  viz : 

Resolved,  That  it  be,  and  it  is  hereby  accordingly  re- 
commended to  the  Selectmen  and  Committee  of  Corres- 
pondence of  the  Town  of  Hingham.  and  District  of  Cohas- 
set,  that  they  cause  all  convenient  assistance  to  be  given  to 
the  inhabitants  of  Hull,  in  removing  their  effects  from  that 
place,  and  securing  and  removing  the  crops  of  grain  and 
other  produce  from  said  Town,  to  some  secure  place,  for 
the  use  of  the  present  proprietors  of  the  same. 

Mr.  Pickering,  by  leave  of  Congress,  presented  the  fol- 
lowing Resolve  in  behalf  of  Captain  Samuel  Williams; 
which  was  accepted  : 

On  an  application  made  to  this  Congress,  setting  forth 
that  a  number  of  gentlemen  at  Salem,  in  this  Colony,  have 
employed  Captain  Samuel  Williams,  of  that  Town,  to  pro- 
cure for  them,  at  their  cost,  a  number  of  barrels  of  Powder 
at  New-York,  or  elsewhere  to  the  southward : 

Resolved,  That  the  intention  of  those  gentlemen  is 
agreeable  to  this  Congress  ;  and  that  Captain  Samuel  Wil- 
liams appears  to  be  a  friend  to  his  country,  and  possesses 
the  confidence  of  his  Townsmen ;  and  that  if  he  executes 
his  commission,  it  will  be  of  great  service  to  this  and  the 
other  Colonies. 

Resolved,  That  the  persons  employed  in  cutting  the 
grass  on  the  land  of  the  Refugees,  be  allowed  half  a  pint  of 
Rum  each  per  day. 

Afternoon. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Gerry,  Mr.  Phillips,  and  Colonel 
Porter,  be  a  Committee  to  repair  immediately  to  General 
Washington,  and  know  of  him  what  number  of  men  he 
would  have  this  Congress  raise  for  a  temporary  re-enforce- 
ment of  the  Army;  and  to  inform  the  General  of  the  pow- 
ers vested  by  this  Congress  in  the  Committee  of  Safety, 
and  to  confer  with  the  General  at  large  on  the  state  of  the 
Army,  and  in  particular  with  respect  to  some  soldiers  of  the 
Army  who  have  enlisted  twice.* 

*  The  following  Resolution  is  filed  with  the  papers  of  this  Congress  : 
In  Provincial  Congress,  Watertown,  July  11,  1775. 

Resolved,  That  the  Committee  of  Safety  be  directed  to  wait  on 
General  Washington,  and  inform  him  of  the  powers  with  which  the 
Congress  have  vested  them  ;  and  that  the  Committee  of  Supplies  remain 
possessed  of  all  those  powers  they  have  heretofore  had ;  and  to  confer 
with  the  General  with  regard  to  the  circumstances  of  the  Army,  and 
to  desire  him  to  call  in  all  that  are  out  on  furlough,  and  direct  that 
all  recruits  be  ordered  to  the  camp  as  soon  as  made  ;  and  the  said  Com- 
mittee are  further  directed  to  issue  their  order  for  calling  in  such  a 
number  of  the  Militia  from  the  several  parts  of  this  Colony  as  the 
General  shall  request,  not  exceeding  three  thousand  men,  to  remain  in 
camp,  subject  to  the  regulations  of  the  Army,  till  the  several  Regi- 
ments shall  be  recruited  or  filled  up,  or  till  the  Congress,  or  some  fu- 
ture General  Assembly  shall  judge  it  safe  to  dismiss  them  ;  and  the 
Non-Commissioned  Officers  and  Soldiers  of  the  Militia,  so  called,  must 
bring  in  with  them  a  good  Firelock  and  a  Blanket ;  and  the  Officers 
of  the  soldiers  so  called  in,  shall  be  paid  for  their  services  agreeable  to 
the  establishment  already  made  for  the  Army ;  and  each  soldier  and 
non-commissioned  officer  who  shall  be  detained  in  said  service  more 

than  days,  shall  each  of  them  so  detained,  be  paid  out  of  the 

publick  Treasury  twelve  Shillings,  over  and  above  the  established  pay, 
in  the  room  of  a  blanket. 


Fourth  Series. — Vol.  n. 


95 


1507 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JULY,  1775. 


1508 


Ordered,  That  the  President,  Col.  Palmer,  Mr.  Jewett, 
Captain  Stone,  and  Col.  Farley,  be  a  Committee  to  devise 
some  means  of  raising  speedily  a  temporary  re-enforcement 
of  the  Army,  and  to  bring  in  an  Establishment. 

Ordered,  That  Captain  Brown,  Mr.  Glover,  and  Major 
Fidler,  be  a  Committee  to  procure  three  Couriers,  by  ten 
o'clock  to-morrow  morning. 

Resolved,  That  the  Receiver-General  be  empowered 
and  directed  to  employ  some  person  to  number  the  Colony 
Notes. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Fox  and  Mr.  Bigeloiv  be  added  to 
the  Committee  who  were  appointed  to  consider  what  was 
proper  to  be  done  with  the  publick  stock  of  Powder. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Lincoln  bring  in  a  Resolve  de- 
termining what  is  best  to  be  done  with  the  Whale-Boats. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Shillaber,  Mr.  Johnson,  and  Mr. 
Brown,  be  a  Committee  to  see  that  the  Fish  procured  by 
the  Committee  of  Supplies  for  the  use  of  this  Colony,  be 
properly  taken  care  of. 

A  Memorial  of  William  Hunt  was  read,  and  ordered  to 
lie  on  the  table.    The  Memorial  is  as  follows,  viz  : 

"  To  the  Honourable  (he  Members  of  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress now  sitting  at  Watertown  : 
"  William  Hunt,  of  Watertown,  in  the  County  of 
Middlesex,  Gentleman,  humbly  shews: 

That  an  order  of  the  Congress  some  time  since  issued 
respecting  the  disposal  of  sundry  articles,  the  property 
of  Lady  Frankland,  which  directed  that  the  same  should 
be  delivered  to  the  custody  and  safe  keeping  of  such 
person  as  she  should  appoint.  Agreeable  to  which  direc- 
tion she  requested  the  same  should  be  delivered  to  the 
care  of  your  memorialist ;  notwithstanding  which  order,  the 
Selectmen  of  the  Town  of  Watertown  have  taken  the  same 
into  their  hands,  and  will  not  deliver  the  same  agreeable  to 
said  order :  Wherefore,  your  memorialist  prays  a  Commit- 
tee may  be  appointed,  to  put  the  aforesaid  order  of  Con- 
gress into  complete  execution.  And,  as  in  duty  bound,  will 
ever  pray.  W.  Hunt. 

"  Watertown,  July  10,  1775." 

Major  Barber's  Account  was  allowed,  and  the  Receiver- 
General  directed  to  pay  it. 

Colonel  Lincoln,  agreeable  to  appointment,  brought  in 
the  following  Resolve  relative  to  Whale-Boats,  which  was 
accepted : 

Whereas,  the  Congress  some  time  past  directed  and  em- 
powered, in  the  absence  of  Captain  Joshua  Davis,  Captain 
Edmund  Soper  to  take  care  of  a  number  of  Whale-Boats, 
then  lying  in  the  River  at  Braintree,  purchased  by  said 
Davis  for  the  use  of  the  Colony ;  and  as  he  hath  procured 
and  brought  there  a  very  considerable  number  more,  which 
require  his  care  and  inspection,  and  as  one  person  is  suffi- 
cient to  have  the  care  of  the  whole  of  them  ;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  as  Capt.  Davis  is  now  returned,  Capt. 
Edmund  Soper  be  excused  from  any  care  of  said  Boats, 
until  further  orders  ;  that  he  give  information  to  said  Davis 
where  they  are  lodged ;  and  if  he  hath  delivered  any  of  them 
to  the  order  of  the  officers  in  the  Army,  to  whom  they  were 
delivered,  in  order  to  his  receiving  them  into  his  possession, 
as  soon  as  the  publick  service  will  admit  of  it. 

Adjourned  to  eight  o'clock  to-morrow  morning. 

Wednesday,  July  12,  1775. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  a  Resolve  of  the 
Committee  of  Safety,  relative  to  Mr.  Winslow's  employing 
one  William  Lightly  to  carry  a  load  of  Molasses  to  New- 
York,  fee,  reported  the  following  Letter  to  Governour 
Trumbull,  which  was  accepted,  and  ordered  to  be  authen- 
ticated, and  sent  forward : 

"  May  it  please  your  Honour : 

"  The  Brigantine  Nancy,  now  in  the  harbour  of  Stoning- 
ton,  in  Connecticut,  being  laden  with  molasses,  the  proper- 
ty of  the  late  Joshua  Winslow,  of  Boston,  a  noted  and 
active  friend  to  Administration,  which,  as  we  are  well  in- 
formed, is  now  directed  to  be  conveyed  to  New-York,  and 
from  thence,  as  we  conjecture  from  sundry  suspicious  cir- 
cumstances, to  be  sent  to  Boston;  the  master  who  has 
undertaken  this  business,  being  now  in  custody,  having 


given  the  information  before  mentioned :  the  Congress 
of  the  Massachusetts-Bay  beg  leave  to  observe  to  your 
Honour,  whether  prudence  and  good  policy  do  not  suggest 
to  detain  said  ship  and  cargo,  or  such  part  of  it  as  belongs 
to  said  Winslow,  for  the  use  of  the  Colonies,  rather  than  to 
suffer  them  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  General  Gage,  where 
they  will  be  improved  to  the  support  of  our  enemies,  and 
to  augment  the  distress  of  these  Colonies. 

"  We  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 
"  To  the  Honourable  Governour  Trumbull." 

Resolved,  That  said  William  Lightly  be  confined  in 
Concord  Jail,  and  that  Mr.  Davis  be  dismissed;  and  that 
Mr.  Woodbridge  bring  in  a  Resolve  for  this  purpose. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Crane  and  Mr.  Fox  make  out 
Warrants  for  several  Surgeons  and  Surgeons'  Mates,  agree- 
able to  a  list  this  day  exhibited  by  Dr.  Taylor,  and  that 
such  Warrants,  when  made  out,  be  transmitted  to  the 
Committee  of  Safety. 

Mr.  Glover,  by  leave  of  Congress,  brought  in  a  Resolve, 
recommending  to  such  able-bodied  men  as  have  left  their 
seaport  Towns,  to  return ;  which  Resolve  was  accepted, 
and  is  as  follows,  viz : 

Whereas,  many  able-bodied  men  who  were  inhabitants 
of  the  seaport  Towns  of  the  Colony  have  removed  their 
families  into  the  country,  and  have  themselves  left  said 
Towns,  and  carried  with  them  their  Arms  and  Ammuni- 
tion ;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  this  Congress  do  approve  of  the  conduct 
of  such  persons,  so  far  as  respects  the  removing  the  women 
and  children,  and  valuable  effects.  It  is  recommended  to 
the  male  inhabitants  fit  to  bear  arms,  that  they  return  to 
their  respective  Towns,  and  there  continue,  with  that  dig- 
nity and  firmness  which  ought  ever  to  distinguish  an  Ame- 
rican, and  to  defend  them  from  the  ravages  of  the  enemy, 
until  it  shall  be  judged  by  the  inhabitants  of  such  Towns,  at 
a  meeting  for  that  purpose,  expedient  to  vacate  the  same. 

Ordered,  That  Dr.  Taylor,  Captain  Stone,  and  Colo- 
nel Mosely,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  the  subject  of  a 
Letter  from  Captain  Noble,  dated  Pittsfield,  July  3,  1775, 
and  report.    The  Letter  is  as  follows,  viz: 

"  Pittsfield,  July  3,  1775. 

"  Gentlemen  :  Agreeable  to  your  directions  have  trans- 
mitted to  you  the  pay-roll  of  my  Company  when  in  the 
service  of  this  Colony  under  Colonel  Benedict  Arnold,  at 
the  posts  of  l\conderoga  and  Crown  Point ;  and  as  they 
are  destitute  of  real  necessaries,  they  must  have  their  pay. 
Have  also  transmitted  you  my  account  of  moneys  disbursed 
out  of  pocket,  which  am  in  the  greatest  want  of. 

"  Pray  the  honourable  Committee  to  use  their  influence 
that  the  bills  be  passed,  and  money  transmitted  me  by  the 
bearer,  Mr.  William  Barber,  whom  you  may  confide  in. 

"  I  have  received  of  Colonel  Arnold,  for  which  I  gave 
him  my  receipt,  twenty-seven  Pounds,  seven  Shillings,  and 
one  Penny.  This  money  I  delivered  to  my  soldiers,  in 
part  of  their  bounty. 

"  I  am,  gentlemen,  your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

"  James  Noble. 
"  To  the  Honourable  Walter  Spooner,  Esq." 

<:  Roll  of  Captain  Noble's  Company. — James  Noble, 
Captain;  Joel  Dickerson,  Lieutenant;  Benjamin  Coy, 
Ensign ;  Nathaniel  Hail,  Sergeant ;  Rufus  Gun,  Sergeant ; 
J.  Hitchcock,  Sergeant;  James  Brattle,  Sergeant;  Jere- 
miah Silvers,  Corporal ;  Daniel  Jones,  Corporal;  James 
Mills,  Corporal;  Benjamin  Gleason,  Corporal;  Askball 
Stail,  Drummer;  William  Pilean,  Isaac  Stearns,  Peter 
Fayns,  Sol.  Bartholomy,  Nicholas  Powers,  Daniel  Olds, 
William  Little,  Mark  Noble,  Shubael  Demick,  David 
Stough,  Daniel  Jass,  Samuel  Peacock,  William  Osborn, 
Moses  Bartlett,  Jacob  Lathbone,  Samuel  Gittra,  Noah 
Pangborn,  Timothy  Baker,  John  Grissell,  John  Briant, 
John  Beclair,  John  Wood,  David  Gray,  Gideon  Sprague, 
Cornelius  Mather,  M.  McGhaarson,  Josiah  Stail,  Michael 
Holbrook,  John  Noble,  Noah  Pangborn,  Jr.,  Jonathan 
Squire,  Samuel  Pangborn,  Benjamin  Grissell,  Jr.,  Jacob 
Stockwell,  John  French,  F.  McCreatre,  John  Ward, 
Joseph  Ketchell,  David  Ketchell." 

Mr.  Woodbridge,  agreeable  to  appointment,  brought  in 
the  following  Resolves,  which  were  accepted: 


1509 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JULY,  1775. 


1510 


Resolved,  That  the  Receiver-General  be,  and  hereby 
is  directed  to  pay  to  Mr.  Jacob  Bigelow  the  sum  of  thir- 
teen Pounds,  for  sundry  Axes,  Shovels,  and  Spades,  and 
for  procuring  and  carting  the  same  for  the  use  of  the  Army, 
agreeable  to  the  directions  of  this  Congress. 

Resolved,  That  the  Receiver-General  be,  and  he  is 
hereby  directed  to  pay  Jonathan  Brown  the  sum  of  five 
Pounds,  two  Shillings,  for  sundry  Axes,  and  for  collecting 
the  same,  for  the  use  of  the  Army,  agreeable  to  the  direc- 
tion of  this  Congress. 

Resolved,  That  the  Receiver-General  be,  and  he  is 
hereby  directed  to  pay  Major  A.  Fuller  seven  Pounds, 
two  Shillings,  and  eight  Pence,  for  Axes,  8cc,  as  above. 

Resolved,  That  the  Receiver-General  be,  and  he  is 
hereby  directed  to  pay  Deacon  Jonas  Stone  the  sum  of 
eighteen  Pounds,  twelve  Shillings,  and  eight  Pence,  for 
Axes,  &c,  as  above. 

Resolved,  That  the  Receiver-General  be,  and  he  is 
hereby  directed  to  pay  Mr.  Enoch  Ellis  the  sum  of  eight 
Pounds,  three  Shillings,  and  seven  Pence,  for  Axes,  &ic, 
as  above. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  confer  with  the  General 
relative  to  the  number  of  men  necessary  to  be  raised  for  a 
temporary  re-enforcement,  reported  a  Letter  from  him,* 
which  was  committed  to  the  Committee  appointed  to  de- 
vise means  of  raising  such  re-enforcement,  to  which  Com- 
mittee Colonel  Porter,  Mr.  Glover,  and  Captain  Parker, 
were  added. 

Resolved,  That  Dr.  Church,  Dr.  Taylor,  and  Dr. 
Whiting,  be  a  Committee  to  take  into  their  custody  all  the 
Medicines,  Medical  Stores  and  Instruments  which  are  or 
may  be  provided  for  the  use  of  the  Army  of  this  Colony, 
and  to  dispense  them  at  their  best  discretion,  so  that  no 
peculation  or  needless  waste  be  made  of  the  Medicinal 
Stores  belonging  to  the  publick. 

Resolved,  That  the  President  have  leave  to  go  home 
in  the  afternoon. 

Adjourned  to  three  o'clock,  P.  M. 

Afternoon. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  situation  of 
the  publick  stock  of  Powder,  reported.  The  Report 
being  amended,  was  drawn  anew,  accepted,  and  is  as 
follows,  viz: 

This  Congress  taking  into  consideration  the  situation  of 
the  publick  stock  of  Powder  that  is  now  in  Watertown, 

Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  Committee  of 
Supplies  to  make  a  division  of  said  Powder  into  two  or 
more  parcels,  as  they  shall  judge  requisite ;  that  they  de- 
posite  one  part  in  this  Town,  and  the  remainder  in  such 
other  Town  or  Towns  as  they  shall  think  most  expedient. 

Ordered,  That  Col.  Lincoln,  Mr.  Gill,  and  Captain 
Stone,  be  a  Committee  to  examine  fifteen  persons  taken 
prisoners  at  Long-Island,  and  sent  to  this  Congress,  by 
the  Committee  of  Safety. 

Ordered,  That  Dr.  Taylor,  Mr.  Phillips,  and  Major 
Fuller,  be  a  Committee  to  enlarge  the  commission  of  the 
Committee  of  Safety. 

A  Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Safety,  requesting  this 
Congress  to  appoint  a  Special  Committee  to  make  provision 
for  the  Poor  of  Boston  and  Charlestown,  was  read.  The 
matter,  after  debate,  was  ordered  to  subside. 

The  Report  of  the  Committee,  for  devising  means  of 
raising  a  temporary  re-enforcement,  was  taken  into  con- 
sideration, and  after  much  debate,  was  recommitted,  and 
Colonel  Palmer  and  Mr.  Phillips  were  added  to  the  Com- 
mittee. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  examine  the  fifteen  Pri- 

*  Head-Qcartebs,  Cambridge,  July  12,  1775. 

Sir  :  Upon  a  conference  with  the  other  Generals,  respecting  the 
Militia,  it  has  been  concluded  that  one  thousand  men,  to  be  stationed 
in  and  about  Medford,  will  be  sufficient  for  the  present  service. 

His  Excellency  has  also  directed  me  to  request  of  the  Congress  in 
his  name,  that  they  would  urge  the  Committees  in  the  several  Towns 
to  forward  and  promote  the  new  levies  as  much  as  possible,  and  that 
they  would  exert  themselves  to  send  to  the  camp  such  soldiers  as  have 
staid  beyond  their  furloughs,  or  have  left  the  service,  and  may  be 
returned  to  their  former  homes. 

I  am,  Sir,  with  much  respect,  your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

Joseph  Reed,  Secretary. 


soners  sent  to  the  Congress  by  the  Committee  of  Safety, 
reported,  verbally,  facts  as  they  found  them.  Where- 
upon, 

Ordered,  That  Jonathan  Winship  and  Jacob  Whipple, 
two  of  the  prisoners,  be  discharged  immediately;  that  Ja- 
cob Davis,  another  of  the  prisoners,  be  sent  to  the  main 
guard  at  Cambridge,  the  Congress  having  great  reason  to 
suspect  that  he  enlisted  in,  and  deserted  from  the  Army 
raised  by  this  Colony,  and  that  the  officers  of  the  guard  be 
certified  in  writing  of  what  crime  the  said  Jacob  now  stands 
charged ;  that  John  Freeman,  a  negro  man,  said  to  be  the 
servant  of  Mr.  Joseph  Howett,  of  Newburyport,  be  sent  to 
the  Jail  at  Cambridge,  there  to  continue  till  further  orders ; 
that  the  other  prisoners,  with  the  said  Jacob  and  John,  be 
committed  to  Captain  Crafts,  to  be  kept  under  guard  until 
further  orders. 

Ordered,  That  Captain  Brown  cause  suitable  provision 
to  be  made  for  the  said  prisoners. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Learned  be  directed  to  charge  the 
expenses  of  keeping  Mr.  Likely,  and  the  guard  that  attend 
him,  to  this  Colony. 

Ordered,  That  Major  Fuller,  Mr.  Kollock,  and  Mr. 
Crane,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  what  is  a  proper  estab- 
lishment of  Salt  for  the  Army,  and  report. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  a  Letter  from 
Captain  James  Noble  to  Walter  Spooner,  Esq.,  reported 
a  Resolve  and  a  Letter,  which  were  accepted,  and  are  as 
follow : 

Resolved,  That  Henry  Gardner,  Esq.,  Receiver-Gen- 
eral, be,  and  hereby  is  ordered  to  pay  to  Captain  James 
JSoble,  or  order,  one  hundred  Pounds,  as  part  of  his  pay- 
roll as  Captain  in  Colonel  Benedict  Arnold's  Regiment,  in 
the  late  expedition  against  the  posts  of  Ticonderoga  and 
Crown  Point,  for  the  use  of  said  Company. 

Sir:  We  received  yours  of  the  3d  instant,  by  Mr.  Wil- 
liam Barber,  together  with  your  account  of  expenses,  and 
a  muster-roll  of  your  Company,  whilst  in  the  service  of 
this  Colony  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Benedict  Ar- 
nold; but  before  your  account  can  be  passed  with  propriety, 
it  must  be  examined  and  adjusted  by  indifferent  persons. 
Therefore,  it  is  ordered  that  the  Committee  of  Corres- 
pondence for  the  Town  of  Pittsjield  be  a  Committee  for 
that  purpose;  and  it  is  further  ordered,  that  you  make  oath 
to  the  truth  and  justice  of  your  muster-roll,  and  see  that 
the  same  be  right  cast ;  then  charge  yourself  with  the 
£27  Is.  Id.  which  you  received  of  Colonel  Arnold,  as 
advance  pay  for  your  Company;  also,  with  the  one  hundred 
Pounds  now  sent  you  by  Mr.  Barber,  agreeable  to  your 
order ;  then  return  said  roll  and  account ;  and  when  you 
comply  with  the  above,  you  will  receive  the  balance  due. 

To  Captain  James  Noble. 

Lieutenant  Zachariah  Gurney  having  conducted  fifteen 
persons,  who  were  taken  at  I^ong-Island,  to  this  Congress, 
and  the  Congress  having  ordered  eleven  of  them  under  a 
guard  of  this  Town,  and  dismissed  the  other  two,  the  said 
Gurney  is  discharged  from  further  attendance. 

The  Report  of  the  Committee  on  Mr.  John  GiWs  Ac- 
count was  taken  up,  and  accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz: 

The  Committee  on  the  Account  of  John  Gill  beg  leave 
to  report,  by  way  of  Resolve,  as  follows : 

Resolved,  That  the  Receiver-General  be,  and  hereby  is 
directed  to  pay  to  the  within-named  John  Gill,  the  sum  of 
six  Pounds,  seventeen  Shillings,  and  eight  Pence,  in  full  of 
his  services  on  several  journeys,  horse-hire,  expenses,  Sic. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  devise  means  for  raising  a 
temporary  re-enforcement,  again  reported.  The  Report 
was  amended,  accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz : 

In  Provincial  Congress,  Watebtown,  July  12,  1775. 

Whereas  the  great  accession  of  strength  to  our  enemies,  by  the  re- 
enforcement  lately  arrived,  the  extent  of  the  ground  we  are  obliged  to 
defend  against  them,  and  the  expectation  we  have  of  another  attack, 
makes  it  absolutely  necessary  for  the  safety  of  this  Country,  that  our 
own  Army  should  be  immediately  re-enforced  in  a  more  expeditious 
manner  than  by  filling  up  the  Regiments  already  in  the  field  by  recruits 
in  the  common  way  of  enlistments  ;  therefore, 

Resohed,  That  there  be  immediately  called  from  the  Militia  in  the 
several  Counties  of  Suffolk,  Essex,  Middlesex,  Hampshire,  Plymouth, 
Worcester,  Barnstable,  and  Bristol,  one  thousand  Men,  to  serve  as  a 
temporary  re-enforcement,  so  long  only  as  the  General  Assembly  of  this 
Colony  shall  judge  the  publick  safety  shall  require  them,  in  the  follow, 
ing  proportion,  viz  :  Suffolk  75;  Essex  75  ;  Middlesex  175  ;  Hampshire 


1511 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JULY,  1775. 


1512 


175;  Plymouth  75;  Worcester  225 ;  Barnstable  75;  Bristol  125.— One 
thousand. 

Resolved,  That  there  be  a  Committee  appointed  to  go  into  each  of 
the  aforesaid  Counties,  and  there  call  together  and  confer  with  the 
commanding  officers  of  the  several  Regiments,  and  settle  the  propor- 
tion allotted  to  each  County,  that  shall  be  raised  from  each  Regiment, 
in  said  County;  and  dctcrmino  in  what  manner  they  shall  be  formed 
into  regular  Companies,  and  officered  by  some  of  the  officers  of  the 
standing  Militia,  having,  in  settling  the  proportion,  proper  regard  to 
the  situation  of  said  Regiment ;  that  very  few  if  any  men  be  taken  from 
the  soa-coast,  or  very  near  it,  which  is  exposed  to  the  ravages  of  the 
enemy ;  and  that  the  Colonel,  or  commanding  officer  of  each  Regi- 
ment, immediately  use  his  utmost  endeavours  to  cause  his  proportion 
of  men,  so  allotted  to  them,  to  bo  raised  and  marched  into  the  camp 
without  delay,  there  to  be  subject  to  the  orders  and  directions  of  the 
Coinmandcr-in-Chief  of  tho  Army,  and  the  rules  and  regulations  there- 
of, until  they  shall  be  discharged  by  the  General,  or  the  Assembly  of 
this  Colony. 

Resolved,  That  the  Companies  consist  of  fifty  men,  including  one 
Captain,  two  Lieutenants,  two  Sergeants,  two  Corporals,  one  Drum- 
mer, one  Fifer ;  and  that  they  be  paid  according  to  the  following  es- 
tablishment, for  each  montli  (consisting  of  thirty  days)  they  shall  remain 
in  said  service,  and  so  in  proportion  for  a  less  time  than  a  month,  viz  : 
each  Captain  £6  10s. ;  each  First  Lieutenant  £4  10s. ;  each  Second 
Lieutenant  £4 ;  each  Sergeant  £3  5s. ;  each  Corporal  £2  19s. ;  each 
Drummer  and  Fifer  jC2  19s. ;  each  Private  £'2  14s. 

Resolved,  That  for  the  future  there  shall  be  no  distinction  between 
Minute-Men  and  the  Militia  in  general,  aud  that  the  Colonels  of  the 
several  Regiments  of  Militia  have  the  direction  of  the  whole  within 
the  limits  of  their  respective  Regiments,  as  well  those  formerly  inhabit- 
ants of  some  of  the  seaport  Towns,  and  now  residing  in  the  Regiments 
aforesaid,  as  the  other  inhabitants. 

Resolved,  That  the  Field-Officers  of  each  Regiment  in  this  Colony 
return  their  names,  and  the  Regiment  they  command,  to  the  Secretary's 
office  of  this  Colony,  as  soon  as  a  Secretary  shall  be  appointed.* 

Resolved,  That  the  following  Letter  be  sent  to  the  seve- 
ral Towns  : 

"  To  the  Military  Officers,  Selectmen,  and  Committee  of 
Correspondence  in  the  Town  of  

"  Gentlemen  :  You  are  hereby  most  earnestly  request- 
ed to  procure  the  execution  of  the  subsequent  Resolve, 
with  the  greatest  possible  expedition. 

"  In  Provincial  Congress,  Watertown,  July  12,  1775. 

"  Whereas,  a  very  speedy  augmentation  of  the  Army  is 
indispensably  necessary,  and  has  been  requested  by  his 
Excellency  General  Washington,  to  serve  as  a  temporary 
re-en forcement  until  the  new  levies  now  raising  to  fill  up 
the  Regiments  in  the  field  may  be  completed ;  therefore, 

"  Resolved,  That  it  be,  and  it  is  hereby  most  earnestly 
recommended  to  the  commanding  officer  of  every  Company 
in  the  Town  of  ....  ,  that  they  immediately  raise  and 

send  to  the  camp  at  Cambridge  able-bodied 

men,f  each  provided  with  a  good  firelock,  ammunition,  and 
blanket ;  who  shall  be  detained  not  longer  than  one  month, 
at  furthest,  from  the  beginning  of  their  march,  and  be  paid 
honourably  for  their  service,  all  due  regard  in  the  pay 
being  had  to  the  difficulty  of  complying  with  this  requisition 
in  the  present  urgency  of  the  business  of  husbandry. 

*I  have  omitted  the  fragment  whicli  was  copied  on  tho  Journal  from 
an  imperfect  Report  on  file,  and  have  inserted  in  place  of  it  the  above 
Resolutions,  which  are  also  on  filo. — F. 

tApportionment  of  tho  twenty  Companies  among  the  Towns  in  tho 
several  Counties : 

Dedham,  22;  Medfield,  6;  Wrentham,  22.— Total  50. 

Ncedham,  8;  Stoughton,  17  ;  Stoughtonham,  6 ;  Medway,  8 ;  Bcl- 
lingham,  5;  Walpole,  6. — Total  50. 

Dan  vers,  11 ;  Topsficld,  8  ;  Boxford,  11 ;  Bradford,  13 ;  Middlctown, 
6.— Total  49. 

Audovcr,  30;  Haverhill,  18;  Methuen,  10.— Total  58. 

Woburn,  17;  Reading,  17;  Stoneham,  3;  Wilmington,  4;  Lexing- 
ton, 6;  Bedford,  4;  Dracut,  5.— Total  51. 

Concord,  17  ;  Billerica,  13  ;  Chelmsford,  9  ;  Tewksbury,  4  ;  Stow, 
5  ;  Acton,  4.— Total  57. 

Newton,  13;  Natick,  4;  Shorburn,  5 ;  Weston,  5 ;  Wallham,  8; 
Framingham,  13  ;  Lincoln,  4. — Total  52. 

Marlborough,  20;  Sudbury,  18;  Hopkinton,  8;  Holliston,  5  Total  51. 

Littleton,  G;  Westford,  8;  Groton,  13;  Shirley,  3;  Pepperell,  6;  Town, 
shend,  6 ;  Ashby,  2  ;  Dunstable,  5.— Total  49. 

Bridgewater,  33;  Pembroke,  13. — Total  4G. 

Middleborough,  30 ;  Hanover,  9;  Abington,  11. — Total  50. 

Taunton,  17;  Easton,  8 ;  Norton,  9;  Dighton,  9;  Mansfield,  5. — 
Total  48. 

Rchoboth,27;  Attleborough,  15;  Rainham,  6;  Berkley,  5.— Total  53. 

Worcester,  17  ;  Leicester,  8  ;  Shrewsbury,  13;  Paxton,  5  ;  North- 
bridge,  2;  Spencer,  6 J  Upton,  4. — Total  55. 

Grafton,  8  ;  Oxford,  8  ;  Sutton,  17  ;  Charlton,  8  ;  Sturbridge,  10  ; 
Dudley,  6.— Total  57. 

Lancaster,  22;  Harvard,  11;  Hubbardston,  2;  Leominster,  6;  Bol- 
ton, 10.— Total  51. 

Brookfield,  22 ;  Weston,  7  ;  Brimficld,  9 ;  South-Brimfield,  6 ;  Mon- 
son,  5  ;  Palmer,  5. — Total  54. 

Hardwich,  12;  Greenwich,  5;  Holdon,  5  ;  Now-Salem,  5;  Potorsham, 
7  ;  Athol,  4  ;  New-Braintrec,  8  ;  Rutland  District,  10.— Total  56. 

Sunbur.Vi  Hi  Fitchburgh,  4;  Westminster,  6;  Ashburnham,  2;  Win. 
chendon,  2  ;  Templeton,  G ;  Royalston,  2  ;  Princeton,  4;  Rutland,  11: 
Oakham,  4.— Total  52. 

Soutliborougb,  8;  Westborough,  8  ;  Northborough,  5  ;  Mcndon,  17; 
Uxbridge,  18—  Total  50. 


"  Those  who  are  required  from  .  .  .  .  ,  together  with 
others  who  are  called  from  ,  will  form  one  Com- 
pany, under  the  command  of  such  officers  as  the  Field- 
Officers  of  that  Regiment  from  which  the  greatest  number 
of  said  Company  is  taken,  shall  appoint.  And  the  Field- 
Officers  above  mentioned,  or  the  major  part  of  them,  are 
desired  accordingly,  without  delay,  to  appoint  one  Captain 
and  two  Lieutenants,  of  persons  who  now  are  or  have 
been  in  command,  well  calculated  to  serve  the  publick  in 
these  departments.    By  order  of  Congress: 

"  A  true  copy,  Attest." 

Resolved,  That  the  Resolve  passed  this  forenoon,  recom- 
mending to  able-bodied  men,  who  have  left  their  seaport 
Towns,  to  return,  be  reconsidered. 

Adjourned  to  eight  o'clock  to-morrow  morning. 

Thursday,  July  13,  177.-). 
A  Letter  from  General  Washington's  Secretary,  dated 
nine  o'clock,  P.  M.,  July  12,  1775,  was  read,  and  is  as 
follows : 

Head-Quarters,  Cambridge,  July  12, 1775,  9  o'clock,  P.  M. 

Gentlemen  :  By  some  late  intelligence  from  Roston, 
received  this  day,  of  the  state  and  situation  of  the  enemy  in 
and  about  Roston,  his  Excellency  the  General  is  of  opinion 
that  the  re-enforcement  of  Militia  proposed  to  the  Congress 
may  be  dispensed  with  at  present,  without  any  injury  to 
the  publick  service.  The  time  of  harvest,  the  expected 
Troops  from  the  Southward,  and  the  repeated  calls  which 
have  been  made  of  the  like  nature  from  this  Province,  are 
strong  reasons  to  postpone  this  measure,  if  consistent  with 
safety.  And  as  these  advices  are  so  authentick  as  to  de- 
serve confidence,  the  General  hopes  his  determination  will 
be  agreeable  to  the  Congress.  You  will  therefore,  Sir,  be 
pleased  to  communicate  this  to  them,  in  order  that  the  most 
early  countermand  may  be  given  to  orders,  if  already  issued, 
or  prevent  them  if  they  have  not. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  Sir,  your  most  obedient  hum- 
ble servant, 

By  his  Excellency's  command  : 

Joseph  Reed,  Secretary. 
To  the  Honourable  James  Warren,  Esq.,  President  of  the 

Honourable  Provincial  Congress,  Watertown. 

In  case  of  Mr.  Warren's  absence,  or  the  dissolution  of 
the  Congress,  this  letter  to  be  opened  by  the  Committee 
of  Safety.  Joseph  Reed,  Secretary. 

Whereupon,  Resolved,  That  the  Resolves  passed  yes- 
terday, for  raising  a  temporary  re-enforcement,  be  reconsi- 
dered. 

Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  Committees 
of  Correspondence,  and  Selectmen  in  the  several  Towns, 
to  forward  and  promote  the  new  levies  as  much  as  possi- 
ble; and  that  they  exert  themselves  to  send  to  the  Camp, 
immediately,  such  soldiers  as  have  staid  beyond  their  fur- 
lough, or  have  left  the  service  without  being  discharged. 

A  Petition  from  the  Selectmen  and  Committee  of  Harps- 
well  was  read,  and  committed  to  Mr.  Johnson,  Mr.  Perry, 
and  Deacon  Baker. 

The  following  Instructions,  reported  to  be  given  Captain 
Davis,  were  considered: 
Cat)tain  Davis: 

Sir:  You  are  hereby  desired  to  repair  to  Stoning- 
ton,  in  Connecticut,  and  take  charge  of  the  Brig  Nancy 
and  cargo,  lying  in  said  harbour,  upon  receiving  the  con- 
sent of  his  Honour  Govemour  Trumbull ;  to  take  account 
of  said  cargo,  and  make  sale  of  such  part  or  parts  thereof, 
as  shall  be  sufficient  to  discharge  the  poriage  bill,  and  such 
other  incidental  charges  as  may  necessarily  arise.  You  are 
then  directed  to  secure  the  remaining  part  of  said  cargo 
in  good  and  sufficient  stores,  at  the  place  above  mentioned, 
and  to  make  a  return  of  your  doings  to  this  Congress,  or 
House  of  Representatives  to  be  convened.  Which  cargo 
is  to  be  appropriated  to  the  use  of  this  Colony,  and  to  be 
draughted  at  the  discretion  of  the  Committee  of  Supplies. 

By  order  of  Congress. 

After  debate,  the  Report  was  ordered  to  be  dismissed. 

Ordered,  That  Captain  Stone,  Captain  Baker,  and  Mr. 
Learned,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  to  what  Towns  (he  ten 
Prisoners  now  under  guard  in  this  Town,  shall  be  sent. 


1513 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JULY,  1775. 


1514 


Ordered,  That  Michael  Edwards,  now  under  guard  in 
this  Town,  be  immediately  discharged. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Phillips,  Colonel  Farley,  and  Mr. 
Kollock,  be  a  Committee  to  examine  and  consider  an  Ac- 
count of  Mr.  Solomon  Lolhrop. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Lincoln,  Colonel  Porter,  and 
Mr.  Perry,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  some  method  of 
supplying  the  recruiting  officers  with  money  for  the  pur- 
pose. 

The  Committee  reported  the  following  Resolve,  which 
was  accepted,  viz : 

Resolved,  That  the  Committee  of  Safety  be,  and  they 
hereby  are  empowered  and  directed  to  give  orders  on  the 
Receiver-General  in  favour  of  such  officer  or  officers  as 
are  or  shall  be  appointed  as  recruiting  officers,  not  exceed- 
ing the  sum  of  four  Pounds  to  any  one  of  them,  and  take 
their  receipts  for  the  sum  they  shall  order  to  them  respec- 
tively, which  sum  is  to  be  deducted  from  their  wages  on  the 
rolls  being  made  up,  unless  otherwise  ordered  by  a  House  of 
Representatives  of  this  Colony ;  and  the  Receiver-General 
is  hereby  directed  to  pay  said  orders  accordingly. 

Resolved,  That  the  Resolve  passed  yesterday,  direct- 
ing the  Receiver-General  to  pay  Captain  James  Noble,  or 
order,  the  sum  of  one  hundred  Pounds,  be  reconsidered, 
and  that  a  Resolve  be  drawn  by  Captain  Stone,  directing 
the  said  Receiver-General  to  pay  Mr.  William  Barber  the 
said  sum  of  one  hundred  Pounds,  for  the  use  of  Captain 
Noble. 

Resolved,  That  Captain  Stone  be  appointed  to  the  office 
of  President  of  this  Congress,  in  the  absence  of  Colonel 
Warren. 

Captain  Stone,  agreeable  to  his  request,  being  excused 
from  the  office  of  President, 

Resolved,  That  Colonel  Benjamin  Lincoln  be  appointed 
to  officiate  as  President  of  this  Congress,  in  the  absence  of 
the  Hon.  James  Warren,  Esq. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  Petition  of 
the  Selectmen  and  Committee  of  Safety  of  the  District  of 
Harpswcll,  reported,  that  the  consideration  of  said  Petition 
be  referred  to  the  General  Assembly.  The  Report  was 
accepted. 

Resolved^  That  Lieutenant  Zachariah  Gurney  be,  and 
he  hereby  is  directed  to  take  into  his  custody  John  Davis 
and  John  Freeman,  (a  negro  man,)  and  convey  them  to 
Cambridge,  and  deliver  them  according  to  the  Resolves  of 
this  Congress  respecting  them,  copies  of  which  are  to  be 
delivered  him,  together  with  this  Resolve. 

Captain  Stone,  agreeable  to  the  direction  this  day  of 
Congress,  brought  in  the  following  Resolve,  which  was 
accepted : 

Resolved,  That  Henry  Gardner,  Esq.,  Receiver-Gen- 
eral, be,  and  he  is  hereby  ordered  to  pay  to  Mr.  William 
Barber,  for  the  use  of  Captain  James  Noble,  one  hundred 
Pounds,  as  part  of  said  Noble's  pay-roll  as  CaptainMn  Col. 
Benedict  Arnold's  Regiment  in  the  late  expedition  against 
the  posts  of  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point,  for  the  use  of 
said  Noble's  Company. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  an  Account  of 
Mr.  Solomon  Lothrop,  reported.  The  Report  was  ac- 
cepted, and  is  as  follows,  viz  : 

Resolved,  That  the  Receiver-General  be,  and  hereby  is 
directed  to  pay  Mr.  Solomon  Lothrop  the  sum  of  twenty- 
four  Pounds,  six  Shillings,  and  nine  Pence,  in  full  of  his 
account  exhibited  this  day,  for  entertainment  provided  for 
General  Washington. 

Resolved,  That  the  Resolve  parsed  yesterday,  directing 
the  Receiver-General  to  pay  Mr.  John  Gill  six  Pounds, 
seventeen  Shillings,  and  eight  Pence,  be  reconsidered. 

Resolved,  That  John  Davis,  one  of  the  persons  taken 
from  Long-Island  and  brought  under  guard  to  this  Con- 
gress, be  remanded  to  the  Commander-in-Chief  of  the 
American  Forces  at  Cambridge,  being  suspected  to  have 
deserted  from  Captain  Foster's  Company  in  the  Artillery, 
and  engaged  in  the  service  of  our  enemies ;  that  he  be 
delivered,  together  with  a  copy  of  this  Resolve,  to  such 
officer  as  the  General  shall  appoint. 

Resolved,  That  John  Freeman,  (a  negro  man,)  one  of 
the  persons  taken  from  Long-Island  and  brought  under 


guard  to  this  Congress,  be  committed  to  the  Jail  in  Cam- 
bridge, there  to  remain  until  he  be  discharged  by  order  of 
this  Congress,  or  some  future  House  of  Representatives, 
or  by  order  of  the  Committee  of  Safety  in  case  there  is  no 
Congress  or  House  of  Representatives  then  sitting;  and 
the  Jail  Keeper  is  hereby  directed  to  receive,  detain,  and 
provide  for  the  said  John  accordingly. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Crane,  Major  Fuller,  and  Mr. 
Jewett,  be  a  Committee  to  consider  a  Resolve  of  the  Com- 
mittee relative  to  Horses  this  day  presented  to  Congress. 

The  Resolve  of  the  Committee  of  Safety,  relative  to 
such  Soldiers  as  have  enlisted  twice,  was  read,  and  again 
recommitted  to  Colonel  Porter,  Colonel  Mosely,  and  Cap- 
tain Stone. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Phillips,  Mr.  Kollock,  and  Mr. 
Robinson,  be  a  Committee  to  bring  in  a  Resolve,  recom- 
mending to  the  inhabitants  of  this  Colony  not  to  kill  any 
more  Sheep  till  the  General  Assembly  shall  take  some 
order  hereon. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  make  an  establishment  of 
Salt  for  the  soldiers,  reported.  The  Report  was  accepted, 
and  is  as  follows,  viz : 

Whereas,  complaints  have  been  made  to  this  Congress, 
that  there  is  now  great  want  of  Salt  in  the  camps ;  there- 
fore, 

Resolved,  That  the  Commissary  be,  and  hereby  is  di- 
rected, when  application  is  made  by  any  of  the  officers  for 
the  abovesaid  article,  to  deal  out  one  gill  per  week  to  each 
person  for  which  said  application  is  made,  and  no  more. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  a  Resolve  of  the 
Committee  of  Safety,  relative  to  several  Horses  taken  from 
the  enemy,  reported.  The  Report  was  accepted,  and  is 
as  follows,  viz : 

Whereas,  four  Horses  were  taken  by  Captain  Broun, 
of  Salem,  and  a  party  with  him,  at  or  near  Charlestown 
Neck,  and  some  disputes  having  arisen  whose  property 
said  Horses  should  be ;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  the  said  Horses  be  delivered  into  the 
hands  of  Captain  Brown  aforesaid,  until  the  further  order 
of  this  Congress,  or  some  future  House  of  Representatives 
of  this  Colony,  to  whom  he  is  to  be  accountable  for  the 
same. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  bring  in  a  Resolve,  recom- 
mending to  the  inhabitants  of  this  Colony  not  to  kill  any 
more  Sheep,  &.c,  reported.  The  Report  was  accepted, 
and  ordered  to  he  printed  in  the  Newspapers,  and  in  hand- 
bills to  be  issued  for  procuring  Coats,  &c. 

Whereas,  there  is  the  highest  probability  of  a  very  large 
demand  for  the  article  of  Wool,  and  inconceivable  mis- 
chief may  ensue  from  delaying  a  speedy  provision  for  its 
increase ;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  it  be  earnestly  recommended  to  the  in- 
habitants of  this  Colony,  that  they  refrain  from  killing  any 
Sheep  or  Lambs,  excepting  in  cases  of  absolute  necessity, 
till  the  further  order  of  this  Congress,  or  some  future  As- 
sembly of  this  Colony;  and  it  is  expected  of  every  person 
who  regards  the  advice  of  this  body,  the  decisions  of  the 
Continental  Congress,  or  the  welfare  of  this  people,  that 
they  grant  a  strict  compliance  herewith. 

A  Resolve  was  brought  in  on  the  Account  of  Alexander 
Gray,  and  accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz: 

Resolved,  That  the  Receiver-General  be,  and  hereby 
is  directed  to  pay  Mr.  Alexander  Gray,  or  order,  two 
Pounds,  seven  Shillings,  and  eight  Pence,  in  full  for  the 
balance  of  his  account  of  time  and  expenses  on  a  journey  to 
Philadelphia,  as  an  express  to  the  Continental  Congress. 

A  Resolve  for  payment  of  Mr.  Nathaniel  Barber's  Ac- 
count was  brought  in,  accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz: 

Resolved,  That  the  Receiver-General  be,  and  hereby 
is  directed  to  pay  Mr.  Nathaniel  Barber,  or  order,  four 
Pounds,  fourteen  Shillings,  and  four  Pence,  in  full  for  one 
month's  service  as  Storekeeper  of  the  Ordnance,  and  ex- 
penses of  horse  hire,  &c,  agreeable  to  an  account  exhibited 
to  this  Congress  by  said  Barber. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  a  Resolve  of  the 
Committee  of  Safety,  relative  to  Soldiers  who  have  enlisted 
twice,  reported.  The  Report  was  accepted,  and  is  as  fol- 
lows, viz : 


1515 


MASSACHUSETTS  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JULY,  1775. 


1516 


Whereas,  many  inconveniences  have  arisen,  by  reason  of 
divers  soldiers  of  the  forces  raised  by  this  Colony  enlisting 
a  second  time  into  other  Companies  than  those  which  they 
first  enlisted  into,  which  ought  to  be  remedied ;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  every  soldier  who,  before  the  second 
day  of  July  instant,  has  enlisted  into  other  Companies  than 
those  with  whom  he  at  first  enlisted,  (unless  the  second 
enlistment  was  made  with  the  consent  of  the  officer  with 
whom  he  at  first  enlisted,  or  by  consent  of  the  Committee 
of  Safety,  or  order  of  Congress,  in  either  of  which  cases 
the  first  enlistment  shall  be  void,)  shall  return  to  the  Com- 
pany with  whom  he  Gist  enlisted,  if  requested  by  the  com- 
manding officer  of  such  Company,  otherwise  to  remain  in 
the  Company  he  next  enlisted  into ;  and  in  case  any  dis- 
pute shall  arise  whether  any  such  second  enlistment  was 
made  by  consent  or  order  as  above  expressed,  the  Commit- 
tee of  Safety  are  hereby  empowered  and  directed  fully  and 
finally  to  settle  and  determine  the  same. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  what  Towns  the 
ten  Prisoners  shall  be  sent  to,  reported.  The  Report  was 
accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz : 

Resolved,  That  the  ten  persons  taken  from  Long-Island 
be  sent  to  the  Towns  in  the  County  of  Worcester,  hereafter 
named,  viz  :  John  Hayes  and  Thomas  Bibby  to  the  Town 
of  Lunenburgh,  James  Griffin  and  John  Reef  to  Rutland, 
Perez  Merren  and  Michael  Malony  to  Shrewsbury,  Pa- 
trick Hickcy  and  Richard  Nash  to  Brookjield,  Michael 
Mellows  and  John  Fleming  to  Sutton ;  to  be  received,  em- 
ployed, and  provided  for  by  the  Selectmen  of  those  respec- 
tive Towns,  in  the  best  way  and  manner  they  can,  till 
further  order  of  this  Colony. 

And  it  is  further  Resolved,  That  the  Piisoners  shall  not 
be  at  liberty  to  pass  over  the  line  of  the  Town  where  they 
ate  respectively  stationed,  without  a  pass  from  the  Select- 
men of  such  Town,  after  they  have  arrived  therein. 

Further  Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  the  foregoing,  so  far 
as  relates  to  each  Town,  be  by  them  carried  to  the  Select- 
men of  such  Towns :  and  that  each  of  the  above  men- 
tioned persons  be  informed,  that  any  attempt  to  make  an 
escape,  or  evade  the  execution  of  the  above  Resolve,  shall 
be  deemed  full  evidence  of  his  being  engaged  in  the  ser- 
vice  of  the  enemies  of  this  Country,  and  that  he  shall  be 
treated  as  such. 

Further  Resolved,  That  each  of  the  said  persons  be  fur- 
nished with  two  days'  provisions,  to  enable  them  to  repair 
to  the  several  places  of  their  destination,  which  provisions 
shall  be  delivered  to  them  by  Captain  Brown  out  of  the 
Colony  stores  in  this  place. 

Ordered,  That  the  President,  Mr.  Phillips,  and  Colonel 
Porter,  Mr.  Gerry,  and  Captain  Stone,  be  a  Committee 
to  revise  and  explain  the  commission  of  the  Committee  of 
Safety. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  revise  the  commission  of 
the  Committee  of  Safety,  reported.  The  Report  was  ac- 
cepted, and  is  as  follows,  viz : 

Resolved,  That  the  Hon.  John  Hancock,  Esquire,  Dr. 
Benjamin  Church,  Captain  Benjamin  White,  Col.  Joseph 
Palmer,  Mr.  Richard  Devens,  Mr.  Abraham  Watson,  Col. 
Azor  Orne,  Hon.  Benjamin  Greenleaf,  Esquire,  Nathan 
Cushing,  Esquire,  Dr.  Samuel  Holten,  and  Hon.  Enoch 
Freeman,  Esquire,  be,  and  hereby  are  appointed  a  Com- 
mittee of  Safety  for  this  Colony,  with  the  powers  and  au- 
thorities hereafter  expressed,  and  no  other;  that  is  to  say, 
that  the  said  Committee  shall  have  full  power,  at  any  time 
during  the  recess  of  this  Congress,  if  they  shall  judge  it 
necessary,  in  the  shortest  and  most  effectual  manner,  to 
summon  and  cause  to  come  together  a  quorum  of  this  Con- 
gress, forty  at  the  least  to  be  accounted  a  quorum,  at  such 
place  as  the  said  Committee  shall  judge  most  proper;  and 
in  assembling  such  quorum,  the  said  Committee  are  hereby 
strictly  enjoined  to  notify  such  Members  as  may  be  most 
expeditiously  assembled.  Also,  that  the  said  Committee 
be,  and  they  hereby  are  invested  with  full  power,  until  the 
30th  day  of  July  instant,  or  until  their  commission  shall  bo 
abrogated  by  the  representative  body  of  the  inhabitants  of 
this  Colony,  upon  application  made  to  them  therefor  by  the 
General  and  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  Continental  Army 
in  this  Colony  for  the  time  being,  or  whenever  the  said  Com- 
mittee, without  such  application,  shall  judge  the  safety  of 


the  lives  and  property  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  Colony,  or  of 
any  of  them,  shall  absolutely  require  it,  to  warn  and  cause 
to  be  assembled  such  and  so  many  of  the  Militia  thereof  as 
they  shall  judge  necessary,  at  such  place  or  places  within  the 
Colony  as  they  shall  judge  proper,  and  such  Militia  to  re- 
tain and  discharge  as  to  the  said  Committee  shall  seem  meet. 
Also,  that  the  said  Committee  are  hereby  empowered, 
during  the  time  last  mentioned,  to  procure  and  employ  for 
that  part  of  the  said  Continental  Army  raised  by  this  Colo- 
ny all  such  Armourers  and  other  tradesmen  and  artificers 
as  they  shall  suppose  and  judge  to  be  needed  to  further 
and  promote  the  operations  of  the  said  Army  and  them,  as 
also  all  such  tradesmen  and  artificers  as  are  now  retained 
and  employed  for  that  part  of  the  said  Army  to  regulate, 
arrange,  remove,  dismiss,  and  discharge  for  unskilfulness, 
unfaithfulness,  or  whenever  the  service  may  not  require  the 
further  retaining  them,  or  any  of  them.  And  the  said 
Committee  are  hereby  desired  to  be  attentive  to  the  beha- 
viour and  performances  of  such  tradesmen  and  artificers  as 
are  now  or  shall  be  in  the  service  and  employ  of  this 
Colony  in  the  said  Army,  that  the  Colony  be  not  defraud- 
ed by  unfaithful  and  incompetent  persons.  And  the  said 
Committee  are  hereby  authorized  to  execute  all  the  com- 
missions, and  perform  all  the  services  which  have  been 
given  them,  and  to  which  they  have  been  appointed  in  and 
by  any  special  Resolves  of  this  Congress,  made  and  passed 
at  this  session,  which  they  have  not  yet  executed  and  per- 
formed. And,  furthermore,  the  said  Committee  are  hereby 
empowered  to  make  such  further  provision  for  the  recep- 
tion, sustenance,  and  support  of  the  Poor  of  Boston  and 
Charlestown,  as  have  or  may  come  out  of  said  Towns,  as 
may  appear  to  be  necessary  for  their  comfortable  subsist- 
ence, according  to  the  intention  of  Congress,  taking  all  im- 
aginable care  to  guard  against  the  infection  of  the  small- 
pox by  persons  coming  out  of  the  Town  of  Boston,  and 
any  other  means  whatever. 

And  it  is  hereby  Resolved  and  Ordered,  That  any  five 
of  said  Committee,  if  a  majority  are  not  present,  be  a  quo- 
rum, with  full  powers  to  act  in  the  same  manner  as  if  the 
whole  were  present ;  and  the  whole  of  said  Committee  are 
desired,  notwithstanding,  to  give  their  punctual  and  con- 
stant attendance  on  said  Committee. 

Resolved,  That  the  said  Committee  be,  and  they  hereby 
are  fully  empowered,  until  the  30th  of  July  instant,  or 
until  their  commission  shall  be  abrogated  by  the  repre- 
sentative body  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  Colony,  to  receive, 
examine,  and  discharge,  or  cause  to  be  confined,  according 
to  their  wisdom,  any  person  or  persons  taken  captive,  that 
may  properly  come  under  the  cognizance  of  the  repre- 
sentative body  of  this  people,  and  to  receive  and  duly 
secure  any  interests  or  effects,  the  conduct  whereof  is  not 
already  provided  for,  that  shall  be  at  the  disposal  of  this 
Colony.  And  all  the  powers  with  which  the  Committee  of 
Safety  were  vested,  by  the  Resolve  of  the  18th  of  May 
last,  except  such  as  are  contained  in  the  above  Resolves, 
are  hereby  revoked,  and  declared  null  and  void. 

Afternoon. 

Ordered,  That  Major  Fuller  of  Newton,  Col.  Farley, 
Mr.  Crane,  Captain  Stone,  and  Major  Fuller,  be  a  Com- 
mittee to  examine  the  Pi  isoners  brought  from  Machias, 
and  report  what  is  best  to  be  done  with  them. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Moscly,  Mr.  Woodbridge,  and 
Mr.  Kollock,  he  a  Committee  to  consider  Lieutenant  Ely 
Styles's  Account  of  the  expense  of  bringing  ten  Prisoners 
from  Machias. 

The  Committee  last  mentioned  having  attended  the  ser- 
vice to  which  they  were  appointed,  reported  the  following 
Resolve,  which  was  accepted,  viz: 

Resolved,  That  the  Receiver-General  be,  and  he  is 
hereby  directed  to  pay  Lieutenant  Ely  Styles  the  sum  of 
six  Pounds,  twelve  Shillings,  in  full  discharge  of  the  money 
he  expended  in  bringing  a  number  of  Prisoners  from  Ma- 
chias to  Waterlown. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  what  is  best  to' be 
done  with  the  ten  Prisoners  brought  from  Machias,  report- 
ed. Whereupon, 

Resolved,  That  the  Commanding  Officer  of  the  Town 
of  Walertown  be  desired  to  appoint  some  officer,  with  a 
guard  of  not  more  than  eight  men,  to  conduct  the  said  Pri- 


1517 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  fee,  JULY,  1775. 


1518 


soners  to  the  Jail  in  Worcester  to-morrow  morning ;  that 
Captain  Crafts  be  desired  to  take  care  of  the  said  Prisoners 
till  that  time,  and  that  the  officer  who  may  be  appointed 
to  conduct  said  Prisoners  to  Worcester,  be  empowered  to 
draw  on  Captain  Brown,  the  Commissary  in  this  Town, 
for  so  much  Provisions  as  may  be  necessary  for  their 
support  to  Worcester,  and  Captain  Brown  is  directed  to 
supply  them  accordingly. 

The  Report  above  mentioned  was  reconsidered,  amend- 
ed, and  accepted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz  : 

Resolved,  That  Thomas  Skinner,  a  seaman,  William 
J\urse,  a  marine,  John  Barrows,  a  seaman,  Nicholas  Dur- 
ham, a  marine,  Peter  Lurcher,  a  sailor,  Thomas  Crispo, 
Joseph  Temple,  sailors,  William  Bishop,  a  sailor,  and  John 
Pardoa,  a  marine,  Prisoners,  all  taken  aboard  the  armed 
schooner  called  the  Margaretta,  commanded  by  Matthew 
Moor,  near  Machias,  be  all  sent,  under  a  proper  guard,  to 
the  common  Jail  in  the  County  of  Worcester ;  and  the  Jail 
Keeper  is  hereby  directed  to  receive  them  therein,  and 
provide  for  them,  and  detain  them  there  till  the  further 
order  of  this  Congress,  or  the  House  of  Representatives  of 
this  Colony. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Phillips  be  appointed  to  acquaint 
General  Washington  with  the  proceedings  of  this  Congress, 
with  regard  to  Daniel  Green,  lately  conveyed  to  Concord 
Jail,  and  the  reasons  thereof,  and  desire  his  Excellency  to 
take  such  further  order  concerning  him  as  his  wisdom  may 
direct. 

Ordered,  That  the  President,  Mr.  Gill,  and  Mr.  Gerry, 
be  a  Committee  to  return  the  thanks  of  this  Congress  to 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Gordon,  for  his  attendance  and  acceptable 
services  to  this  Congress  as  their  Chaplain. 

Ordered,  That  the  President,  Mr.  Gill,  and  Mr.  Gerry, 
be  a  Committee  to  return  the  thanks  of  this  Congress  to 
the  Proprietors  of  the  Meeting-House,  for  the  use  of  it 
during  the  session  of  this  Congress. 

Ordered,  That  the  present  President,  (Col.  Lincoln,) 


Mr.  Gill,  and  Mr.  Gerry,  be  a  Committee  to  return  the 
thanks  of  this  Congress  to  the  Hon.  James  Warren,  Esq., 
for  his  faithful  services  as  President  of  the  Congress. 

Resolved,  That  the  Committee  of  Supplies  be,  and 
hereby  are  directed,  on  application  made  by  any  of  the 
inhabitants  of  the  Eastern  parts  of  the  Colony,  to  grant 
them  such  relief  out  of  the  publick  Stores  as  they  may 
think  proper,  consistent  with  the  general  interest,  during 
the  recess  of  the  Congress. 

Whereas,  the  Hon.  Jedediah  Preble  and  the  Hon. 
Enoch  Freeman,  Esquires,  have  employed  some  persons 
to  build  a  number  of  Whale-Boats  for  the  service  of  the 
publick ;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  the  Committee  of  Supplies  be,  and 
hereby  are  directed  to  deliver  to  Captain  Briant  Morton, 
or  order,  to  be  by  said  Morton  delivered  to  said  Preble 
and  Freeman,  such  a  quantity  of  Nails  and  Provisions,  as 
they  think  will  be  necessary  to  complete  the  building  said 
Boats. 

The  Congress  then  adjourned  to  Wednesday  next,  at 
eight  o'clock,  A.  M. 

Wednesday,  July  19,  1775. 

Colonel  Easton  being  admitted,  requested  that  a  Com- 
mittee be  appointed  to  consider  the  necessity  of  drawing 
on  the  Treasury  for  the  sum  of  twelve  hundred  Pounds, 
said  to  be  due  to  his  Regiment  at  Ticonderoga. 

On  a  motion  made,  Ordered,  That  Deacon  Fisher,  Dr. 
Taylor,  and  Mr.  Gill,  be  a  Committee  for  that  purpose, 
and  that  they  be  directed,  in  case  they  cannot  report  to 
this  Congress,  to  make  report  to  the  next  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives. 

On  a  motion  made  and  seconded,  that  the  Congress  be 
dissolved,  the  question  was  put,  and  it  passed  in  the  affirma- 
tive. 

The  Congress  was  accordingly  dissolved. 

Samuel  Freeman,  Secretary. 


LORD  DARTMOUTH  TO  GENERAL  GAGE. 

London,  July  1,  1775. 

I  am  to  presume  that  the  measure  of  sending  out  a 
detachment  of  your  troops  to  destroy  the  magazines  at 
Concord  was  taken  after  the  fullest  consideration  of  the 
advantages  on  the  one  hand,  and  hazards  on  the  other,  of 
such  an  enterprise,  and  of  all  the  probable  consequences 
that  were  to  result  from  it.  It  is  impossible  for  me  to  re- 
flect upon  this  transaction,  and  upon  all  its  consequences, 
without  feelings  which,  although  I  do  not  wish  to  conceal 
them,  it  is  not  necessary  for  me  to  express ;  but  I  believe 
every  man  of  candour  will  agree  with  me  in  opinion,  that, 
let  the  event  be  what  it  may,  the  rashness  and  rebellious 
conduct  of  the  Provincials  on  this  occasion  evince  the  ne- 
cessity, and  will  manifest  to  all  the  world  the  justice  of  the 
measures  which  the  King  has  adopted  for  supporting  the 
Constitution,  and  in  which  His  Majesty  will  firmly  perse- 
vere. 

From  the  moment  the  blow  was  struck,  and  the  Town 
of  Boston  invested  by  the  rebels,  there  was  no  longer  any 
reason  to  doubt  of  the  intention  of  the  people  of  Massachu- 
setts-Bay to  commit  themselves  in  open  rebellion.  The 
other  three  New-England  Provinces  have  taken  the  same 
part,  and  in  fact  all  America  (Quebeck,  Nova- Scotia,  and 
the  Floridas  excepted)  is  in  arms  against  Great  Britain, 
and  the  people  involved  in  the  guilt  of  levying  a  war  against 
the  King  in  every  sense  of  the  expression.  In  this  situa- 
tion every  effort  must  be  made,  both  by  sea  and  land,  to 
subdue  the  rebellion. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM   A  GENTLEMAN  IN  LONDON, 
TO  HIS  FRIEND  IN  VIRGINIA,  DATED  JULY  1,  1775. 

The  present  disturbances  in  America  are,  as  you  may 
easily  imagine,  the  topick  of  every  conversation  among  all 
ranks  and  degrees  of  people.  The  measures  of  Adminis- 
tration are  censured  or  approved,  as  they  think  well  or  ill 
of  the  present  Ministry.    The  friends,  the  real  friends  to 


America,  wish  they  had  acted  in  some  instances  with  more 
temper,  and  less  violence.  The  King  is  much  to  be 
pitied ;  he  has  an  honest  heart,  and  nothing  would  please 
him  more  than  to  see  all  his  people  easy  and  happy.  He 
has  warmly  recommended  conciliatory  measures,  and  such, 
I  am  well  assured,  will  be  adopted  ;  but  whether  they  will 
be  sufficient  to  allay  the  ferment  on  your  side  the  water, 
time  only  will  show.  Thus  much  I  can  venture  to  assure 
you :  No  more  troops  will  be  sent  over ;  more  ships-of- 
war  will  be  sent,  to  confine  your  trade  to  Great  Britain, 
Ireland,  and  the  West-Indies ;  but  as  soon  as  you  allow  a 
free  export  and  import,  all  restraints  will  be  removed,  and 
business  will  run  in  the  old  channel.  Taxing  America  will 
forever  cease,  and  the  King  will  be  empowered  to  suspend 
the  acts  complained  of.  When  he  is  once  vested  with  this 
power,  America  (if  the  Fates  have  not  otherwise  deter- 
mined) will  be  happy. 

EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM   LONDON   TO   A  GENTLEMAN 
IN  PHILADELPHIA,  DATED  JULY  1,  1775. 

The  spirit  displayed  by  the  conduct  of  all  the  Colonies, 
you  may  believe,  gives  great  satisfaction  to  all  the  friends  of 
America.  To  those  who  are  acquainted  with  the  genius 
and  disposition  of  that  people,  it  is  no  more  than  what  was 
expected;  but  to  the  people  of  this  Country  w-ho,  from 
their  cradles,  have  been  taught  to  believe  (by  almost  every 
occurrence  that  has  happened  within  their  own  observa- 
tion) that  publick  virtue  does  not  exist,  it  still  appears  like 
a  romance,  which  they  cannot  yet  bring  themselves  to  be- 
lieve. The  Ministry,  however,  have  been  stunned,  and  are 
not  yet  recovered  from  the  blow.  One  time  they  propo- 
sed sending  more  troops,  and  embodying  the  militia,  in  order 
to  supply  their  place  at  home  ;  at  another  time  it  was  pro- 
posed sending  mercenaries  from  Hanover,  but  that  idea 
seems  to  have  subsided ;  now  they  talk  of  sending  more 
ships-of-war,  and  sundry  are  actually  ordered  to  be  got  in 
readiness,  but  whether  they  will  sail  or  not  I  suspect  will 
depend  upon  future  deliberations.    In  the  mean  time,  give 


1519 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  kc,  JULY,  1775. 


1520 


me  leave  to  relate  the  substance  of  a  conversation  a  fiiend 
of  mine  had  with  Lord  North  a  few  days  ago. 

His  Lordship  asked  him  what  effect  he  thought  his  mo- 
tion would  have,  when  it  came  to  be  considered  by  the 
Congress  ?  He  told  him  he  did  not  think  it  would  have 
any;  it  was  not  calculated  for  them;  it  seemed  rather  de- 
signed for  the  different  Assemblies,  with  a  view,  as  he 
apprehended,  of  disjoining — the  reverse  of  uniting  them 
under  one  general  head  as  in  Congress.  His  Lordship 
disclaimed  the  idea  of  their  having  any  intention  to  divide. 
He  said  he  had  no  objection  to  their  meeting  in  Congress ; 
they  had  a  right  to  meet  together,  and  to  consult,  if  they 
chose  it,  and  it  was  impossible  to  prevent  it.  What  he 
wished  was,  that  they  would  take  it  under  consideration, 
and  recommend  such  things  to  the  different  Assemblies 
as  might  be  attended  with  conciliatory  effects.  My  Lord, 
says  the  gentleman,  I  cannot  see  that  the  motion  itself  con- 
tains any  matter  that  can  serve  as  a  ground-work  to  go 
upon.  It  is  no  act  of  the  Legislature;  it  contains  no  pro- 
mise ;  it  is  not  even  the  promise  of  a  Minister,  who  to-day 
is,  and  to-morrow  may  be  succeeded  by  one  who  may 
not  think  himself  at  all  bound  by  the  promise  of  his  prede- 
cessor ;  it  is  not  even  a  resolution  of  the  House  of  Com- 
mons ;  it  is  no  more  than  an  opinion  of  a  Committee  of 
that  House  upon  a  future  contingency;  and  your  Lordship 
will  pardon  me  when  I  observe,  that  the  people  of  that 
Country  have  learnt  to  entertain  such  an  idea  of  the  dispo- 
sition of  the  servants  of  the  Crown  to  encroach  upon  the 
liberties  of  the  subject — your  Lordship  will  excuse  me  ; 
I  do  not  mean  your  Lordship  in  particular — but  they  dare 
not  trust  them.  He  declared  he  never  entertained  an  idea 
of  subduing  America,  properly  speaking ;  if  he  had,  lie 
said,  he  should  have  sent  a  much  greater  force.  What  was 
sent  was  only  what  was  thought  sufficient  to  protect  the 
friends  of  Government.  But  if  the  Colonies  are  deter- 
mined to  go  on,  let  them.  Let  them  apply  to  France  or 
Spain ;  (these  he  seemed  to  think  the  only  Powers  who 
would  afford  them  any  protection;)  let  them  see  if  they 
will  treat  them  any  better  than  we  have  done.  We  have 
it  still  in  our  power  to  distress  their  trade,  which  we  most 
assuredly  will  do  till  they  have  made  ample  compensation 
for  the  expense  and  loss  we  have  sustained  on  their  ac- 
count. 

It  would  be  easy  to  make  a  number  of  observations  on 
the  above  discourse,  the  wheedling,  cajoling,  contemptible 
nature  of  which  I  think  must  strike  you  in  the  first  instance. 
His  Lordship  dined  yesterday,  according  to  annual  custom, 
with  the  West-India  merchants,  upon  which  occasions  he 
generally  affects  to  be  joyous,  but  it  was  remarked  that  he 
was  unusually  dull.  Lord  Dartmouth  the  other  day,  with 
seeming  great  satisfaction,  told  a  gentleman  that  there  was 
a  report  in  town  that  the  Congress  had  taken  Lord  North's 
motion  under  consideration,  which  he  hoped  was  true  ;  but 
upon  the  gentleman's  assuring  him  that  the  Assembly  of 
Pennsylvania  were  actually  voting  money  as  their  quota 
towards  paying  an  American  Army,  which  might  be  con- 
sidered as  a  prelude  to  all  the  other  Provinces  doing  the 
same,  he  seemed  not  a  little  disconcerted. 


SOUTH-CAROLINA  DELEGATES  IN  THE  CONTINENTAL  CON- 
GRESS, TO  THE  SECRET  COMMITTEE,  CHARLESTOWN. 

Philadelphia,  July  1,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  By  directions  of  the  Continental  Con- 
gress, we  have  sent  the  vessel  by  which  this  goes,  to  pro- 
cure from  you  a  quantity  of  gunpowder  for  the  use  of  the 
armies  actually  in  the  field  for  the  service  of  America. 
The  frequent  severe  skirmishes  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
Boston,  have  so  exhausted  their  magazines,  that  an  imme- 
diate supply  is  absolutely  necessary.  We  entreat  you  to 
purchase  all  that  can  be  bought  in  Town,  and  to  despatch 
this  vessel  with  it  for  this  place,  as  soon  as  possible,  to- 
gether with  as  much  as  can  be  spared  out  of  the  publick 
stock,  without  danger  to  your  own  safety.  Should  there 
be  any  damaged  powder  on  hand,  please  send  it  also,  as  it 
may  be  recovered  here. 

By  one  of  the  resolutions  enclosed  to  the  General  Com- 
mittee, you  will  see  that  it  is  recommended  to  the  Southern 
Colonies  to  secure  all  the  saltpetre  that  can  be  got,  as  well 
from  the  stores  as  from  private  persons,  which,  as  you  have 
no  powder-mills  erected,  or  persons  skilful  in  making  gun- 


powder, we  would  advise  may  be  sent  to  be  manufactured 
here.  Should  you  be  able  to  send  more  than  four  thou- 
sand weight  of  powder,  we  would  wish  the  overplus  might 
be  sent  by  some  other  opportunity. 

In  order  to  prevent  suspicion,  we  have  sent  

bushels  of  Indian  corn  in  this  vessel,  which  may  be  ex- 
changed for  rice,  in  which  the  casks  of  powder  may  be 
concealed  so,  perhaps,  as  to  prevent  suspicion,  should  she 
unhappily  be  unable  to  avoid  being  overtaken  by  a  cruiser. 
The  utmost  secrecy  and  despatch  are  absolutely  necessary. 

As  large  quantities  of  powder  will  be  wanted,  we 
strongly  recommend  that  you  continue  to  import  all  that 
you  can,  and  think  it  probable  that  large  quantities  might 
be  got  from  the  Government  of  the  Havana,  as  we  can 
find  no  application  there  from  any  of  these  Colonies. 

We  are,  gentlemen,  your  most  obedient  servants, 

Henry  Middleton,  J.  Rutledge, 
Tho.  Lynch,  E.  Rutledge. 

Christ.  Gadsden, 
To  Wm.  Henry  Drayton,  Arthur  Middleton,  and  Charles 

Cotesworth  Pinckney,  Esquires,  Members  of  the  Secret 

Committee  at  Charlestown. 


Address  delivered  to  the  Inhabitants  of  a  County  in  Vir- 
ginia, assembled  for  the  purpose  of  choosing  Deputies 
to  represent  them  in  Colony  Convention, 
friends  and  Countrymen : 

It  is  impossible  that  any  People  impressed  with  the  least 
sense  of  constitutional  liberty,  should  ever  patiently  submit 
to  the  enormous  grievances  under  which  we  have  already, 
in  some  respects,  fallen,  and  with  which  we  are  likely  to 
be  much  more  oppressed ;  and  accordingly  we  find  our 
brethren  and  fellow-subjects  in  all  the  Colonies  are  pursu- 
ing such  measures  as  are  thought  to  be  most  likely  to  re- 
cover and  secure  our  lost  rights  and  privileges.  Shall  the 
people  of  this  Colony,  heretofore  active,  particularly  in  the 
time  of  the  detestable  Stamp  Act,  to  oppose  all  attempts 
to  deprive  them  of  their  personal  security  and  private  pro- 
perty, be  now  inactive  and  silent?  Forbid  it  liberty  !  Hu- 
manity forbid  it ! 

The  several  acts  of  Parliament  made  for  ten  years  last 
past,  relating  to  the  British  Colonies  in  North  America, 
and  their  operation  upon  the  property,  liberty,  and  lives  of 
the  people  in  this  country,  and  America  in  general,  are  too 
well  known  to  many  of  you  to  require  any  enumeration  or 
explanation  ;  but  many  of  you  also  have  not  the  knowledge 
of  these  things,  and  are  therefore  ignorant  of  the  danger 
in  which  you  stand.  To  inform  you  of  your  unhappy 
situation,  and  to  open  your  minds  to  a  just  sense  of  the 
dangers  which  threaten  you,  is,  principally,  the  design  of 
this  address. 

From  the  first  settlement  of  the  Colonies  till  about  the 
year  1763,  we  had  but  little  reason  to  complain  of  the  in- 
justice of  our  fellow-subjects  in  Great  Britain.  There 
were  two  or  three  instances,  indeed,  in  which  the  Colonies 
were  oppressed,  under  the  notion  of  right  to  regulate  our 
trade,  and  make  us  serviceable  in  commerce  to  Great  Bri- 
tain. Amongst  these  was  an  act  of  Parliament  declaring 
that  we  should  not  erect  any  slitting-mills  for  the  purpose 
of  making  nails  in  these  Colonies ;  and  we  were  forbidden 
to  manufacture  hats,  to  be  sold  amongst  ourselves,  under 
severe  penalties.  At  that  time,  my  friends,  we  only  com- 
plained of  the  hardship  and  injustice  of  such  an  act ;  and, 
wanting  the  protection  of  Britain,  looking  upon  our  fellow- 
subjects  there  as  friends  and  allies,  we  did  not  erect  any 
more  slitting-mills  for  making  nails ;  and  hats  were  manu- 
factured only  by  a  few  individuals,  to  a  very  small  extent, 
and  sold  within  the  respective  Colonies.  Thus  did  they 
attempt  to  restrain  our  manufactures  in  the  only  instances 
wherein  they  thought  us  at  that  time  likely  to  succeed  to 
the  injury  of  the  British  manufacturer,  intending  thereby 
to  compel  us,  through  necessity,  to  apply  to  them  for  even 
the  necessaries  of  life,  and  to  pay  them,  by  our  labour, 
the  prices  they  might  think  proper  to  lay  on  them. 

Another  instance  of  oppression  was  that  of  establishing 
a  Post-Office  in  these  Colonies,  and  thereby  seizing,  in 
effect,  the  private  property  of  individuals  here  who  had 
engaged  in  that  business.  By  that  act,  all  letters  coming 
from  Great  Britain,  or  otherwise  circulating  through  these 
Colonies,  are  liable  to  be  seized  by  the  Postmaster  ap- 


1521 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JULY,  1775. 


1522 


pointed  to  that  office,  and  subjected  to  a  tax  to  be  paid 
before  the  delivery  of  them  ;  and  part  of  the  money  arising 
from  this  tax  is  applied  towards  the  support  of  the  office, 
and  the  balance  sent  to  Britain  to  be  disposed  of  by 
Government  there. 

Although  the  effects  of  that  act  are  not  universally  felt 
amongst  you,  yet  it  is  an  instance  of  oppression  which  all 
are  more  or  less  subject  to  who  are  concerned  in  trade,  or 
have  any  intercourse  with  men  at  a  distance  from  them. 
And  I  mention  this  to  show  you,  that  if  you  are  not  op- 
pressed by  this  law,  it  is  because  your  circumstances  in  life 
are  such  that  you  have  but  little  to  do  with  letters,  and  the 
officers  are  not  generally  so  strict  in  the  performance  of 
their  duty  as  the  law  requires  them  to  be.  But  surely, 
my  friends,  you  cannot  but  be  sensible,  that  if,  as  in  this 
instance,  the  British  Parliament  have  a  right  to  make  a 
law  to  seize  your  effects,  and  keep  them  from  you  until 
you  pay  a  tax  to  redeem  them,  you  must  be  in  a  wretched 
condition  whenever  Parliament  shall  think  it  proper  to  ex- 
tend this  authority  to  things  which  may  more  essentially 
and  more  immediately  affect  all  ranks  and  degrees  of  people 
in  these  Colonies.  That  act  has  hitherto  been  suffered  to 
be  executed,  because  the  people  who  are  most  affected  by 
it  are  traders  in  some  respects,  and  often  receive  an  advan- 
tage in  having  speedy  and  regular  intelligence  from  their 
various  correspondents  in  different  parts  of  the  world  ;  and 
they  were  unwilling  to  differ  with  their  fellow-subjects  in 
Britain  concerning  a  thing  which  seemed  to  be  intended 
for  the  benefit  of  both.  The  great  inconvenience,  there- 
fore, of  that  act,  is  principally  this,  that  it  has  taken  out  of 
the  hands  of  people  in  these  Colonies  a  business  they 
were  engaged  in,  and  which  might  be  carried  on  with  the 
same  advantages  to  commerce,  whilst  the  money  arising 
from  that  tax  would  be  the  property  of  people  here,  and 
not  be  applied  to  the  purposes  of  Government  in  Britain; 
and  farther,  that  it  is  declaratory  in  its  consequences,  of  a 
right  to  take  our  property  from  us  whenever  the  people  of 
Britain  shall  be  inclined  to  do  so. 

And  let  us,  my  fellow-subjects,  consider  the  consequences 
which  followed  our  submission  to  those  acts,  even  in  the 
manner  above-mentioned.  Not  satisfied  with  the  advan- 
tages they  received  from  their  trade  with  the  American 
Colonies — a  trade  so  circumscribed,  that  it  was  morally 
impossible  for  us  to  procure  more  than  the  mere  necessa- 
ries of  life  by  the  produce  of  our  labour  exported  to  Bri- 
tain— they  no  sooner  found  us  in  a  condition  to  export  a 
large  proportion  of  grain  and  other  commodities,  not  requi- 
site for  the  British  markets,  to  foreign  countries,  (which, 
if  permitted,  might  be  of  advantage  to  Britain,  by  enabling 
us  to  pay  for,  and  consequently  to  consume  more  of  their 
manufactures,)  than  they  indulged  us  with  the  liberty  of 
carrying  our  grain,  and  some  other  articles,  to  particular 
markets,  but  with  this  restriction,  that  we  should  not  im- 
port such  goods  as  were  to  be  had  from  Britain,  and  that 
we  should  carry  whatever  articles  they  did  permit  us  to  re- 
ceive, into  Britain  first,  and  pay  a  duty  there.  However, 
as  this  regulation  amounted  almost  to  a  prohibition  of  such 
articles,  and  they  were  likely  not  to  receive  such  advan- 
tages as  they  at  first  expected,  we  were  at  length  allowed 
to  bring  them  immediately  into  these  Colonies,  on  paying 
to  the  officers  of  the  Customs  here  a  very  high  duty,  to  be 
disposed  of  by  Government  in  Britain ;  hence  proceed  the 
duties  we  pay  at  this  day  on  wines,  coffee,  molasses,  &c, 
he. ;  all  which  duties  are  not  applied  to  the  support  of 
Government  in  these  Colonies,  but  increase  the  revenue  of 
Great  Britain,  and  enable  them  to  maintain  standing 
armies  in  America,  to  secure  the  execution  of  their  laws, 
under  the  denomination  of  guards  and  garrisons  to  protect 
us  and  our  property. 

Another  instance  of  oppression  is  the  extending  the  ju- 
risdiction of  the  Courts  of  Admiralty,  with  pains  and  penal- 
ties heretofore  unknown.  In  this  Court  we  are  deprived 
of  our  trial  by  jury,  and  must  submit  to  the  decision  of  a 
dependant  party  judge,  whose  emoluments  of  office  arise 
from  his  condemnations  ;  and  although  we  may  be  released 
from  the  prosecution,  we  must  still  suffer  the  injury  and 
oppression  brought  upon  us  by  the  iniquitous  prosecutor, 
who  is  exempted  from  the  damages  we  sustain  by  means 
of  an  unjust  prosecution. 

The  suspending  the  legislative  power  of  New-York,  until 
their  House  of  Burgesses  rescinded  or  blotted  out  a  vote 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  h.  ! 


they  had  passed  declaring  their  right  to  the  same  freedom 
which  the  people  of  Great  Britain  enjoy,  and  complied 
with  an  arbitrary  requisition  to  provide  for  troops,  is  another 
capital  instance  of  the  tyrannical  disposition  of  the  British 
Parliament  towards  America. 

All  these  things  and  many  more  have  we  known,  to  con- 
vince us  that  the  British  Parliament  have  not  viewed  us 
with  the  eye  of  brotherly  love  and  affection,  but  with  a 
determination  to  make  us  subservient  to  our  fellow-subjects 
in  Britain,  in  all  cases  whatever,  and  our  condition  as 
wretched  as  that  of  slaves. 

The  detestable  Stamp  Act  furnishes  us  with  another 
memorable  proof  of  the  injustice  and  tyranny  they  bad 
prepared  for  us ;  and  I  thank  the  God  of  heaven  and 
earth,  who  permits  the  wicked  sometimes  to  provide  tor- 
ments for  themselves,  that  of  his  gracious  mercy  to  us  he 
suffered  that  act  to  be  passed,  which  opened  our  eyes,  and 
made  us  behold  the  slavery  intended  for  three  millions  of 
people.  Let  us  return  thanks  to  Him,  my  countrymen,  for 
his  great  mercy;  and  let  us  look  up  to  Him  for  protection 
in  the  day  of  our  distress. 

The  consequences  that  would  have  attended  a  submis- 
sion to  that  act,  you  are  better  acquainted  with  than  with 
those  which  have  arisen  from  all  the  other  acts  I  have  men- 
tioned. The  reason  is  plain.  You  were  told  by  Parliament 
that  you  must  pay  a  tax  on  every  instrument  of  writing 
used  in  these  Colonies ;  that  you  must  pay  a  tax  on  pain- 
ters' colours,  oil,  glass,  and  paper,  which  you  were  obliged 
to  import  from  Great  Britain.  This  was  a  doctrine  none 
of  us  could  misunderstand.  By  this  all  were  affected,  and 
so  sensibly  too,  that  it  was  like  drawing  the  vital  blood  from 
our  veins.  By  that  act  our  money  was  demanded,  and  we 
were  reduced  to  the  necessity  of  paying  or  resisting.  We 
resisted.  The  happy  effects  of  our  opposition  you  cannot 
have  forgotten,  and  our  method  of  resistance  must  still  be 
fresh  in  your  memories.  We  shut  up  our  Courts  ;  we  asso- 
ciated ;  we  refused  to  buy  their  goods :  they  took  off  the 
taxes.  Were  the  Parliament  actuated  in  this  respect  by 
principles  of  justice  and  regard  to  us?  No,  my  country- 
men, they  were  not.  They  saw  the  impropriety  of  their 
conduct,  not  in  having  taxed  us,  but  in  the  mode  of  taxing 
us.  They  perceived  their  inability  at  that  time  to  enforce 
submission  to  a  law  against  which  they  had  not  expected 
any  opposition.  They  had  attacked  all  ranks  and  degrees 
of  men  in  these  Colonies,  and  had  met  with  a  sudden,  un- 
expected, and  violent  opposition.  The  clamours  of  their 
merchants,  tradesmen,  and  manufacturers,  contributed  also 
to  the  repeal  of  those  duties,  as  they  were  immediately 
affected  by  the  opposition.  But  let  us  examine  this  repeal 
a  little  farther.  Did  they  take  off  all  the  duties  upon  Bri- 
tish merchandise  imported  into  these  Colonies?  Did  they 
relinquish  the  right  of  taxing  us?  No.  We  find  that  they 
reserved  a  duty  on  the  article  of  tea,  trifling  indeed  as  to 
the  sum,  but  fatal  in  its  consequences  to  our  liberty  and 
property.  We  find  at  this  time,  also,  they  passed  another 
act  declaring  their  right  to  tax  us  ;  to  regulate  our  trade  ; 
to  prevent  our  manufacturing,  or,  in  their  own  words,  "  to 
bind  us  in  all  cases  whatsoever."  What !  shall  we  then  re- 
ceive our  laws  from  people  at  three  thousand  miles  distance 
from  us,  ignorant  of  our  situation  and  circumstances  in  life, 
and  not  bound  by  the  same  laws  ?  Shall  we,  like  poor,  ab- 
ject slaves,  tamely  give  up  our  liberty,  which  our  forefathers 
handed  down  to  us,  and  suffer  our  property  to  be  taken 
from  us  at  the  will  and  direction  of  a  British  Parliament  ? 
Shall  we  subject  ourselves  and  our  posterity  to  be  driven 
by  our  masters  to  such  employments  as  they  shall  allot  for 
us?  To  have  our  looms,  our  spinning-wheels  destroyed, 
whenever  they  shall  think  we  manufacture  too  much  cloth  ? 
I  wait  your  answer.  But  methinks  I  see  the  blood  of  true 
Britons  swelling  your  veins,  and  hear  you  cry,  with  one 
voice,  we  will  be  free. 

Let  us  consider,  then,  my  countrymen,  what  it  is  we  are 
to  do.  You  are  told  that  the  present  dispute  between 
Great  Britain  and  the  Colonies,  is  concerning  the  duty  on 
tea.  It  is  so.  Perhaps  some  of  you  may  now  tell  me  it 
is  a  dispute  with  which  you  have  nothing  to  do,  as  you  do 
not  make  use  of  that  commodity,  and  the  duty  cannot 
affect  you.  But  you  will  go  farther,  perhaps,  and  tell  me 
that  the  high-minded  gentlemen  are  the  occasion  of  the 
present  confusion,  and  are  bringing  you  into  difficulties  to 
support  their  extravagance  and  ambition.    Let  me  entreat 


1523 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JULY,  1775. 


1524 


you,  my  fellow-subjects,  to  reflect  a  moment  on  your  situa- 
tion. Is  it  possible  you  can  be  so  blind  to  your  real  in- 
terests as  not  to  perceive  tbe  oppression  daily  coming  upon 
you  from  Britain!  Can  you  suppose  the  gentlemen  of  all 
America  would  be  so  mad  as  to  risk  their  lives  and  fortunes 
merely  to  save  the  trifling  duty  of  three  pence  per  pound 
on  tea  ?  Are  not  the  gentlemen  made  of  the  same  mate- 
rials as  the  lowest  and  poorest  amongst  you  ?  And  do  you 
suppose  they  cannot,  they  would  not  refrain  from  the  use 
of  that  article,  if  that  would  procure  the  safety  of  these 
Colonies?  Have  you  found,  in  the  course  of  your  observa- 
tions, that  the  gentlemen  (as  they  are  styled)  are  so  very 
frugal  and  saving  of  their  money,  as  to  bring  themselves 
into  the  smallest  difficulty  for  so  small  an  advantage?  No, 
my  countrymen,  you  have  not.  Deceive  not  yourselves, 
then,  nor  let  others  deceive  you.  Listen  to  no  doctrines 
which  may  tend  to  divide  us,  but  let  us  go  hand  in  hand  as 
brothers,  as  fellow-sufferers  in  the  same  cause,  firmly  united 
to  defend  our  rights  and  liberty,  and  to  preserve  freedom 
to  our  posterity.  Fortunes  we  may  not  leave  them,  but 
we  shall  be  despicable  indeed,  if  we  tamely  suffer  them  to 
become  slaves. 

But  let  us  reflect  again  on  the  nature  of  this  dispute. 
The  British  Parliament,  when  they  repealed  the  Stamp 
Act,  did  not  give  up  the  right  of  taxing  us;  they  reserved 
the  duty  on  tea,  and  declared  by  an  act  that  they  had  a 
right  to  bind  us  "  in  all  cases  whatsoever."  The  plain 
meaning  of  this  declaration  is,  that  we  must  either  submit 
to  such  impositions  as  they  may  hereafter  think  proper  to 
burden  us  with,  or  they  will  not  suffer  us  to  make  use  of 
our  property.  In  this  situation  we  have  been  unmindful  of 
the  necessary  means  of  defence,  whilst  they  have  been 
preparing  to  execute  their  laws  upon  us. 

Having  reserved  the  duty  on  tea,  the  consumption  of  that 
article  has  been  lessened  near  two-thirds,  to  the  great  injury 
of  the  East-India  Company  of  Merchants  in  Great  Bri- 
tain. As  Parliament  had  been  the  cause  of  this  injury, 
the  Minister  was  determined  not  only  to  redress  them,  but 
at  the  same  time  to  carry  the  favourite  plan  of  taxing  Ame- 
rica into  execution.  An  advantage  is  then  offered  to  the 
East-India  Company,  which  by  law  they  had  not  been 
entitled  to,  of  sending  their  tea  immediately  to  America. 
This  measure  being  adopted  by  them,  the  Minister  vainly 
hoped  to  find  us  submitting  openly  to  this  tax  ;  as,  notwith- 
standing the  duty,  we  should  receive  the  tea  on  cheaper 
terms.  If  this  measure  should  not  succeed,  he  was  then 
prepared  to  carry  the  declaration  of  Parliament  into  force, 
and  procure  such  other  oppressive  laws  to  be  made,  as 
might  lay  us  in  the  deepest  distress,  and  compel  us  to 
submit. 

In  this  manner,  my  countrymen,  were  the  distresses  of 
the  people  of  Boston  brought  upon  them.  The  East-India 
Company  sent  ships  loaded  with  tea  to  different  parts  of 
America.  They  sent  tea  to  Boston.  In  all  other  parts 
they  suffered  it  to  be  landed  and  stored,  or  it  was  agreed 
to  carry  it  back  to  Britain.  At  Boston  they  refused  to 
carry  it  back,  and  the  people  would  not  suffer  it  to  be  land- 
ed, well  knowing  that  if  it  was,  the  duty  would  be  paid  by 
the  Company's  agents,  and  the  tea  sold,  if  not  in  New- 
England,  to  the  other  Colonies  in  America.  They  remon- 
strated against  the  landing  of  the  tea ;  they  waited  many 
days  patiently  for  a  satisfactory  determination  ;  the  officers 
of  the  Customs  refused  to  suffer  the  ship  to  return  ;  the 
men-of-war  determined  it  should  not  pass ;  and  by  these 
circumstances  were  they  reduced  to  the  necessity  of  throw- 
ing the  tea  into  the  water,  as  they  attempted  to  land  it. 

Although  the  law  of  nature  and  self-defence  in  all  such 
cases,  does  justify  their  conduct,  yet  the  dispute  is  not  now 
about  the  price  of  the  tea,  but  the  duty  on  that  tea.  It  is 
not  the  sum  of  ten  thousand  Pounds,  which  was  the  value 
of  the  lea,  that  the  people  of  Boston  and  all  North  Ame- 
rica are  contending  with  Britain  for,  but  it  is  our  right  to 
freedom  to  dispose  of  our  property  when  we  have  acquired 
it.  If  paying  for  the  tea  was  the  condition  on  which  our 
rights  should  be  restored,  and  on  which  our  property  might 
remain  secure,  all  America  would  not  engage  in  this  dis- 
pute. But  this  is  not  the  case.  Parliament  will  not  be 
satisfied  with  that,  but  have  determined  that  we  shall  sub- 
mit to  their  laws  and  to  their  taxes. 

And  let  us  now  inquire  what  methods  they  have  taken 
to  oblige  us  to  submit.    Punishments  should  always  be 


proportioned  to  crimes,  and  where  the  laws  direct  the  pun- 
ishment, no  power  can  go  beyond  it.  This  is  the  security 
we  boast  of  under  our  free  constitution  of  Government ;  and 
it  is  our  invaluable  privilege  to  make  these  laws.  The 
power  that  deprives  us  of  this  privilege  makes  us  slaves. 
What,  then,  is  the  conduct  of  Parliament  towards  us? 
They  will  not  be  satisfied  with  payment  for  the  tea,  but 
farther  insist  that  we  shall  submit  to  whatever  laws  they 
make.  To  compel  us  to  do  this  they  dissolve  our  Assem- 
blies ;  suspend  our  Legislatures;  block  up  the  Town  of 
Boston  ;  deprive  upwards  of  thirty  thousand  inhabitants  of 
the  means  of  subsistence  ;  seize  their  wharves,  &ic,  to  the 
amount  of  two  hundred  thousand  Pounds,  which,  by  the 
act,  are  never  to  be  restored  to  them,  although  they  should 
submit  to  all  that  is  required  by  that  law.  They  have 
altered  the  Charter  of  Massachusetts-Bay,  which  is  an 
agreement  between  the  people  of  that  Province  and  the 
King,  in  writing,  under  his  seal ;  and  have  passed  an  act 
empowering  the  Governour  to  seize  the  persons  of  such  as 
do  not  conform  to  all  things  required  by  their  laws,  and  to 
send  them  where  he  shall  think  proper,  (even  to  Britain.) 
to  be  tried  for  their  supposed  offences,  where,  destitute  of 
friends  and  money,  they  will  fall  unhappy  victims  to  the 
avarice  of  corrupted  judges,  and  the  rapaciousness  of  mer- 
ciless tyrants.  Many  more  things  of  like  tendency  are 
they  now  preparing  for  all  North  America. 

To  you,  then,  my  countrymen,  to  all  of  us,  does  it  be- 
long to  take  such  measures  as  shall  prevent  their  wicked 
designs,  and  secure  our  lives,  our  liberty,  and  property. 
On  the  virtue  and  courage  of  the  people  of  these  Colonies 
does  it  depend  whether  we  shall  be  happy  or  miserable  in 
this  world,  and  enjoy  in  peace  and  quietness  the  fruits  of 
our  labour.  Your  Representatives  in  General  Congress 
have  planned  the  measures  of  resistance ;  on  your  cour.ige 
and  virtue  do  they  rely  for  support  in  the  execution  of 
them.  Let  us,  then,  my  countrymen,  go  hand  in  hand; 
let  us  have  one  voice ;  let  us  convince  mankind  that  we 
are,  as  one  man,  actuated  by  one  soul;  and  that  if  we  are 
not,  we  still  deserve  to  be  free. 

The  mode  of  opposition  recommended  to  us  is  an  union 
and  association  of  the  Colonies,  to  break  off  all  commer- 
cial intercourse  with  Great  Britain,  unless  our  grievances 
shall  be  redressed.  And  why  is  this  plan  recommended  to 
us?  Surely  because  it  is,  of  all  others,  the  most  safe,  spee- 
dy, and  effectual  we  can  embrace,  to  restore  that  harmony 
to  Britain  and  the  Colonies  we  profess  to  desire.  Rash- 
ness and  violence  can  never  avail  us  in  the  execution  of 
this  plan,  and  therefore  we  should  avoid  every  conduct 
tending  to  so  destructive  an  end  ;  for  how  can  this  Asso- 
ciation be  observed,  unless  we  establish  arts  and  manufac- 
tures? How  is  it  possible  these  should  succeed,  without 
peace,  order,  and  the  security  of  our  property  ?  And  how 
can  these  be  preserved,  unless  we  discourage  every  kind  of 
violence,  by  promoting  a  due  respect  for  the  laws  of  our 
country,  as  far  as  our  unhappy  circumstances  will  admit  of 
it.  The  principles  of  the  ever-glorious  Revolution  will 
always  justify  a  suspension  of  the  laws  under  like  circum- 
stances, but  we  should  never  enforce  these  principles,  un- 
less compelled  thereto  by  extreme  necessity'.  Prudence 
and  moderation  will  give  weight  to  our  measures,  whilst  a 
contrary  conduct  will  oidy  serve  to  disunite  us.  and  conse- 
quently to  involve  us  in  confusion.  This  is  a  doctrine 
which  every  friend  to  liberty  and  his  country  will  inculcate, 
and  on  this  will  the  success  of  our  present  undertaking 
chiefly  depend.  But  whilst  I  recommend  to  you  a  tem- 
perate conduct,  I  would  not  have  you  to  neglect  that  pro- 
vision for  your  safety  which  the  urgency  of  the  case 
requires.  On  the  contrary,  I  would  advise  you  to  look 
forward  to  every  contingency,  and  be  prepared  lor  "  mourn- 
ful events." 


COMMITTEE  OF  YORKTOWN  (PA.)  TO  PENNSYLVANIA  DELE- 
GATES IN  CONGRESS. 

Yorktown,  July  1,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  We  had  the  honour  of  receiving  your 
favour  of  the  15th  ultimo,  enclosing  a  resolve  of  the  hon- 
ourable Continental  Congress  of  the  14th  ultimo.  We 
immediately  summoned  the  Committee  of  this  County, 
and  laid  before  them  your  letter,  &c.  The  Committee 
proceeded  to  the  choice  of  officers  fit  to  he  recommended 


1525 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JULY,  1775. 


1526 


to  the  Congress,  to  command  the  company  of  riflemen  to 
be  raised,  and  appointed  six  Commissioners  to  provide 
necessaries  for  them.  Every  resolve  passed  in  Committee 
with  the  greatest  unanimity,  and  the  gentlemen  of  York- 
town,  after  the  meeting,  dispersed  themselves  through  the 
County,  and  assisted  the  officers  in  recruiting. 

The  spirit  of  the  people  on  this  occasion  gave  the  Com- 
mittee infinite  pleasure.  The  men  seemed  actuated  with  the 
greatest  zeal,  and  thought  themselves  honoured  in  having 
their  names  enrolled  among  the  Sons  of  Liberty,  who  are  to 
fight  for  their  Country,  and  in  defence  of  their  dearest  rights 
and  privileges.  The  only  uneasiness  they  feel  is,  that  they 
are  not  at  this  moment  at  the  scene  of  action.  From  the 
spirit  of  the  soldiers,  we  entertain  the  most  flattering  hopes 
that  they  will  prove  serviceable  to  the  cause  of  liberty,  and 
reflect  honour  on  this  Country. 

The  principal  people  here  have  caught  the  spirit  of  the 
honourable  Congress,  and  in  their  small  circle  have  done 
every  thing  in  their  power  to  animate  their  neighbours  to 
stand  forth  in  this  day  of  despotism,  and  resist  the  arbi- 
trary and  unjust  measures  of  Parliament  with  all  the  power 
which  Heaven  has  given  them.  And  we  have  the  plea- 
sure to  inform  you  that  their  labours  have  not  been  in  vain, 
and  that  the  County  is  ready  to  strain  every  nerve  to  put 
into  execution  any  measures  which  the  Congress  may  judge 
necessary  to  our  common  defence. 

The  officers  we  take  the  liberty  to  recommend  to  you 
are,  Captain  Michael  Dowdle,  Lieutenants  Henry  Miller, 
John  Dill,  and  John  Watson.  They  are  men  whose 
courage  we  have  the  highest  opinion  of.  The  company, 
including  officers  and  soldiers,  are  beyond  the  number  fixed 
for  this  County,  and  as  General  Gates  thought  it  improper 
to  discharge  any,  we  have  sent  them  all. 

We  request  the  favour  of  you  that  proper  care  be  taken 
that  none  are  draughted  out  of  their  company  into  another. 
This  is  the  request  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  County,  many 
of  them  having  their  dearest  friends  engaged  in  the  service, 
and  would  not  by  any  means  have  them  taken  from  their 
present  officers. 

We  hope  no  alteration  will  be  made  in  the  officers.  The 
Captain  has  behaved  very  well  on  this  occasion,  and  has 
done  all  in  his  power,  by  advancing  money,  &tc,  to  for- 
ward the  important  common  cause. 

Mr.  Miller  is  known  to  some  of  you,  gentlemen.  The 
other  officers  are  men  of  worth  and  property ;  they  have 
all  wives  and  families,  and  are  entitled  to  the  warmest 
thanks  of  their  Country. 

The  Commissioners  appointed  to  provide  necessaries  for 
the  men,  will  forward  their  accounts  as  soon  as  they  possi- 
bly can. 

We  are,  gentlemen,  your  most  humble  servants, 

James  Smith,    Joseph  Donaldson, 
George  Irvin,  Thomas  Hartley, 
John  Kean,      Michael  Hahn. 
To  the  Pennsylvania  Delegates  in  Congress. 

P.  S.  The  company  began  their  march  the  nearest  road 
to  Boston  this  day. 


GENERAL  SCHUYLER  TO  GENERAL  WASHINGTON. 

New- York,  Saturday,  July  1,  1775. 

Sir:  I  do  myself  the  honour  to  advise  your  Excellency 
that  the  Connecticut  Troops  that  arrived  in  this  Colony, 
under  the  command  of  Brigadier  Wooster,  are  encamped 
within  two  miles  of  this  Town.  I  have  not  yet  had  a 
return  of  their  numbers  ;  as  soon  as  my  order  for  that  pur- 
pose is  complied  with,  I  shall  transmit  it. 

I  enclose  you,  Sir,  a  copy  of  the  resolutions  of  the 
honourable  the  Continental  Congress,  of  the  27th  ultimo. 
I  shall  prepare,  with  all  possible  despatch,  to  carry  into 
execution  their  views,  and  propose  leaving  this  for  Albany, 
in  my  way  to  Ticondcroga,  on  Monday  next. 

Eight  transports  with  troops,  that  have  been  at  Sandy 
Hook  since  Thursday  last,  are  to  sail  from  thence  to-day. 
Reports  prevail  that  the  men  on  board  have  mutinied  ; 
that  they  refused  to  go  to  Boston.  Of  this,  however,  I 
have  not  been  able  to  get  any  certainty.  Handbills  have 
been  introduced  amongst  them  to  encourage  them  to  quit, 
on  the  first  favourable  opportunity,  a  service  which  must 
render  them  odious  to  all  honest  men. 


Governour  Tryon's  conduct  has  hitherto  been  unexcep- 
tionable, and  from  the  information  I  have  been  able  to  pro- 
cure, (some  of  which  I  put  great  confidence  in,)  I  have 
reason  to  believe  that  the  line  he  has  chalked  out  for  him- 
self is  such  as  we  could  wish  he  should  hold. 

I  believe  the  commissions  for  this  department  were 
already  forwarded  to  you  before  my  letter  (in  obedience 
to  your  order)  to  the  Congress  on  that  subject  arrived.  If 
they  are  to  be  sent  back,  I  beg  of  you  to  order  them  to 
be  directed  to  the  President  of  the  Provincial  Convention 
here. 

No  preparation  has  as  yet  been  made  to  occupy  a  post 
in  the  Highlands.  By  what  I  can  learn,  the  Provincial 
Convention  have  doubts  about  the  propriety,  (which  they 
have  or  mean  to  state  to  Congress,)  arising  from  the  want 
of  ammunition  to  maintain  the  post  after  it  shall  have  been 
completed. 

A  ship  from  London,  in  five  weeks,  advises  that  the 
Remonstrance  sent  by  the  Assembly  of  this  Colony  to  the 
House  of  Commons  has  been  rejected  by  them,  as  con- 
taining sentiments  derogatory  to  the  rights  of  Parliament. 
This  manoeuvre  has  already  had  salutary  effects;  many 
whose  sentiments  are  friendly  to  America,  but  who  differ- 
ed as  to  the  mode  of  procuring  redress,  now  publickly  de- 
clare that  they  will  no  longer  sit  idle  spectators  of  their 
Country's  wrongs.  That  success  and  happiness,  equal  to 
the  merits  and  virtues  of  my  General,  may  crown  all  his 
operations,  is  the  wish  of  every  honest  American,  and  by 
none  more  sincerely  than  me. 

I  am,  your  Excellency's  most  obedient  and  most  humble 
servant,  Ph.  Schuyler. 

His  Excellency  George  Washington,  Esquire,  General 

and  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  Army  of  the  United 

Colonies. 


EDWARD  FLEMING  TO  PRESIDENT  OF  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

New. York,  July  1,  1775. 

Sir  :  I  was  yesterday  congratulated  by  a  member  of 
your  body  on  being  appointed  a  Lieutenant-Colonel  to 
Colonel  Clinton's  battalion,  for  Ulster  County.  I  beg, 
Sir,  to  return  my  thanks  to  the  Congress  for  the  notice 
they  have  been  pleased  to  take  of  me ;  but  as  I  have  a 
family  resident  in  Town,  and  as  all  my  property  (which  is 
by  no  means  inconsiderable)  lies  in  this  City  and  County, 
I  conceive  that  my  presence  is  absolutely  necessary  for 
their  preservation  and  safety,  and  that  it  would  be  ex- 
tremely imprudent  in  me  to  leave  them,  and  go  to  Ulster 
County,  for  the  purpose  of  superintending  the  raising  and 
disciplining  troops,  &,c,  for  Colonel  Clinton's  Regiment. 
These,  with  other  considerations,  Sir,  induce  me  to  decline 
the  acceptance  of  the  appointment.  When  the  day  of 
trial  comes,  and  that  I  have  secured  my  family  in  some 
place  of  safety,  I  shall  not  be  slack  in  proving  myself  a 
man,  and  good  citizen,  and  be  ready  to  go  wherever  the 
exigency  of  affairs  may  require,  for  the  preservation  of  our 
common  rights  and  privileges.  In  the  mean  time,  shall 
not  be  wanting  to  the  publick  in  rendering  such  services 
as  my  small  abilities  will  afford. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  with  great  respect,  Sir,  yours 
and  the  Congress's  most  obedient  and  very  humble  ser- 
vant, Edward  Fleming. 
To  Peter  V.  B.  Livingston,  Esquire. 


S.  SP.  SKINNER  TO  THE  RIGHT  HONOURABLE  LORD  

New.York,  July  1,  1775. 

My  Lord  :  From  a  real  principle  of  loyalty,  benevo- 
lence, and  love  toward  Great  Britain  and  America,  and 
through  the  confusion  and  criticalness  of  the  times,  am 
induced  to  trouble  your  Lordship  with  the  following  ex- 
tract of  a  letter.  The  sending  of  additional  troops  to 
America,  and  the  new  acts  of  restraint,  manifestly  appears 
compulsive,  and,  for  the  present,  1  am  afraid,  have  discon- 
certed and  unhinged  a  conciliatory  proposition  respecting  a 
revenue ;  but  independency  and  rebellion  are  disclaimed ; 
self-defence  not.  Plundering  and  burning  of  houses  and 
Towns  is  infamous,  and  certainly  must  very  much  obstruct 
the  granting  an  American  revenue  to  the  King. 

In  all  probability  both  Countries  (and  the  West-Indies ) 
will  be  ruined ;  Great  Britain,  especially,  and  her  troops 


1527 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  kc,  JULY,  1775. 


1528 


worsted  and  disgraced  in  America.  I  know  the  value  of 
British  disciplined  troops,  but  a  thousand  American  gun- 
men, on  their  own  intricate,  advantageous  ground,  it  is 
likely,  at  any  time,  will  defeat  a  large  number  of  any  Eu- 
ropean Troops. 

Your  Lordship  will  find  that  I  speak  from  actual  expe- 
rience, having  travelled  for  observation  and  information 
through  all  the  Provinces,  nearly,  and  carefully  noted  the 
militia  and  people.  They  make  the  most  useful  guns  in 
America,  and  upon  a  moderate  computation,  have  now 
ahout  four  hundred  thousand  British  and  American  made 
guns  of  the  common  size,  including  a  large  quantity  of 
rifled  barrels,  much  cannon  and  ammunition,  and  can,  with 
amazing  expedition,  if  forced  thereto,  embody  fifty  thou- 
sand disciplined  troops,  mostly  used  to  the  woods  and 
hunting,  with  thirty  thousand  irregulars  to  assist  occasion- 
ally, and  who  will  do  surprising  execution.  Americans 
cannot  want  men,  or  paper  money,  ever  in  human  ap- 
pearance, and  are  an  active,  prudent  people — moderate, 
but  with  astonishing  resolution  and  courage,  and  expert 
gun-men  from  their  youth,  and  whose  women  breed  them 
plenty  of  soldiers  in  this  climate. 

No  respectable  body  of  people,  my  Lord,  of  either 
Catholicks,  Churchmen,  or  Dissenters,  in  America,  will 
ever  agree  to  any  measures  but  either  requisition,  or  a  free 
voluntary  revenue.  All  the  Colonies  are  fixed  in  una- 
nimity, and  unanimous  in  those  points.  Americans  will 
cleave  together  undivided ;  those  that  tell  otherwise  are 
deceivers  (intentionally)  that  would  absolutely  ruin  Go- 
vernment, and  are  not  to  be  credited  in  the  smallest  degree. 
The  most  eligible  plan  is,  to  try  their  free,  voluntary  gene- 
rosity. May  God  interpose.  Suspending  the  restrain- 
ing acts,  and  withdrawing  the  extra  men-of-war  and  extra 
troops  immediately,  in  time,  before  desertion,  sickness,  and 
winter  advances — that  is,  excepting  only  the  customary 
number  of  regiments  in  usual  places,  for  it  evidently  ap- 
pears that  they  can  act  only  to  disadvantage  in  this  Coun- 
try, consequently  must  (if  God  permit)  end  in  disappoint- 
ment and  disgrace  to  Britons;  Americans  to  have  their 
Continental  Congress  annually,  or  as  occasion  may  require; 
and  to  proportion  their  revenue  themselves,  for  no  other 
people  can  possibly  measure,  or  truly  judge  of  their  abi- 
lity ;  Britain  to  repeal  all  the  American  Acts,  except 
those  existing  at  the  conclusion  of  the  last  war.  All  affairs 
then,  and  not  till  then,  will  be  peaceable,  happy,  and  well 
for  the  civil  and  religious  constitutional  rights  and  liberties 
of  Great  Britain,  and  her  Empire  in  America. 

I  am,  my  Lord,  your  Lordship's  most  obedient  humble 
servant,  S.  Sp.  Skinner. 

"  The  extract,  dated  New-York,  June  8,  1775. — My 
field  of  view  never  extended  beyond  the  line  of  endea- 
vouring to  prevent  an  arbitrary  unconstitutional  mode  of 
raising  a  revenue;  an  unconstitutional  tax  or  duty,  or  a 
compulsive  revenue,  I  certainly  will  reprobate  to  the  hour 
of  my  death,  but  a  free  voluntary  revenue  toward  support 
of  Government  at  large,  I  shall  think  it  my  duty  to  pro- 
mote ;  for,  as  it  is  a  well  known  truth,  that  a  people  who 
are  taxed  without  their  consent,  can  have  no  property 
which  they  can  properly  call  their  own  ;  so,  in  the  contra- 
ry scale,  and  by  a  parity  of  experimental  reasoning,  it  is 
equally  true,  that  without  Government  is  steadily  fixed  on 
a  broad  substantial  bottom,  we  can  then,  in  either  case, 
have  no  property  which  we  can  safely  call  our  own. 

"  The  ministerial  proposition  for  a  reconciliation  (as  it 
now  stands)  is  compulsive,  and  in  part  inadmissible,  but  it 
doth  not  appear  prudent  or  polite  to  reject  the  whole  of  it; 
yet  it  ought  immediately  to  be  stripped  of  its  abstruse  and 
complicated  drapery — the  proposition  ought  to  be  rendered 
plain,  and  modelled  exactly  to  the  Constitution.  There 
doth  not  appear  the  least  doubt  but  the  rough  plan  may  be 
polished  ;  I  think  it  might  be  fashioned  and  improved  so 
as  to  give  quietness  and  full  satisfaction  to  every  reasonable 
person  in  Great  Britain  and  America ;  but  it  doth  not 
seem  advisable,  or  useful,  for  any  Assembly  to  take  up  the 
proposition  disjunctively,  but  by  the  honourable  Continen- 
tal Congress,  who,  no  doubt,  will  return  proposition  conci- 
liatory, for  proposition  received. 

"  America's  favourite  plan  of  requisition  is  a  very  good 
one,  provided  a  difference  of  times  and  circumstances  doth 
not  alter  the  case.  The  good  old  King  George  the  Second 


was  constrained  to  conform  to  the  fashion  of  those  times, 
and  to  renew  his  civil  list  annually  by  requisition  from  his 
Parliament ;  but  his  present  Majesty,  in  that  point,  is  fur- 
nished out  with  more  consequence,  and  not  in  the  same  pre- 
dicament ;  the  King  hath  his  civil  list  of  eight  hundred  thou- 
sand pounds  per  annum,  established  by  Parliament  during 
life,  with  an  addenda  in  course  of  two  or  three  hundred  thou- 
sand pounds  more,  which  leaveth  less  room  for  requisition  ; 
so  that  notwithstanding  it  was  eligible,  and  a  very  proper 
mode  for  America  with  George  the  Second,  it  is  now 
rather  ineligible  and  out  of  fashion  with  George  the  Third. 

"  In  lieu  of  requisition,  suppose  we  should  copy  the  Bri- 
tish Parliament,  and  (waiving  punctilios)  do,  ourselves,  hon- 
ourably propose  a  moderate  voluntary  revenue,  suitable  to 
our  circumstances,  to  be  forwarded  in  country  produce  (as 
we  have  but  little  or  no  hard  cash)  as  a  free  gift  from  all 
the  Provinces  in  America  conjunctively;  and  presented 
annually  to  the  Crown  for  life,  in  addition  to  His  Majesty's 
civil  list  establishment,  provided  the  extra  Troops  are  with- 
drawn immediately,  and  the  damage  made  good  to  Boston, 
kc. ;  and  the  tea  act,  and  all  the  accursed  acts  that  sprung 
from  its  root  are  previously  repealed  ;  and  all  our  oppres- 
sive acts  to  be  repealed.  Even  ail  the  acts,  excepting  those 
of  navigation,  and  a  very  few  others,  may  conveniently  and 
reputably  be  laid  aside,  in  consequence  of  our  politically 
offering,  and  rightly  timing  for  greasing  the  wheels  of 
Government,  or  granting  a  free  voluntary  revenue,  in  pro- 
portion to  our  small  ability,  and  also  in  further  considera- 
tion of  extra  expenses  in  supporting  more  of  our  own  civil 
establishments. 

"  This  mode  of  procedure,  or  something  analogous,  I 
apprehend  would  preserve  entire  (and  in  no  degree  violate) 
the  true  constitutional  liberty  of  America,  by  steering  clear 
as  possible  of  the  inconveniency  of  the  British  Parlia- 
ment; it  would  give  additional  consequence  to  His  Majes- 
ty, and,  at  the  same  time,  would  have  a  strong  tendency 
to  quiet  our  enemies  at  home,  as  it  would  exhibit  to  the 
deluded  Britons  a  striking  specimen  of  American  polite- 
ness and  generosity.  It  is  really  true  policy,  and  would 
ease  those  our  industrious  brethren  (who  labour  hard  and 
die  poor)  a  small  proportion  in  their  excessively  burden- 
some duties  and  taxes;  for  they  are  annually  obliged,  every 
session  of  Parliament,  to  make  provision  for  some  material 
deficiency  in  the  civil  list  establishment. 

"  As  it  appears  possible,  and  very  probable,  that  the 
main  substantial  end  can  be  accomplished,  and  that  com- 
pletely at  this  juncture,  with  great  honour,  and  without 
any  further  accumulated  destruction  of  blood  and  property, 
let  me  most  earnestly  entreat  that  we  may  warily  regard 
the  important  matter  immediately,  agree  to  a  cessation  of 
hostilities,  and  by  every  possible,  honourable  means,  nego- 
tiate to  evade  involving  and  continuing  the  destructive  con- 
test, respecting  any  particular  construction  of  words,  or 
singular  mode  to  accommodate  and  finish  the  perplexed 
subject  in  dispute.  Let  us  negotiate,  and  meet  the  Bri- 
tish Ministry  at  the  threshold  of  their  opened  door,  and 
return  a  proposition  conciliatory  for  their  proposition  ;  but 
let  us  cleave  together  to  the  Constitution  for  ever;  and 
when  our  lives,  &tc,  are  villanously  attacked,  we  are  un- 
doubtedly in  every  respect  justifiable  in  effectual  resistance 
and  self-defence.  And  may  it  please  God  to  grant  happi- 
ness, and  constant  success  to  us  in  the  event  thereof. 

"  S.  Sp.  Skinner. 

"  N.  B.  Altercation  may  ensue ;  but  your  Lordship's 
good  sense  will  easily  discriminate  truth  and  honesty  from 
sophistry  and  falsehood." 


DECLARATION  OF  JAMES  BALL. 

Warwick,  July  1,  1775. 
Whereas  I,  the  subscriber,  an  inhabitant  of  the  Town  of 
Warwick,  hereby  humbly  acknowledge  that  I  have  given 
great  offence  to  the  Committee  of  Correspondence,  and 
other  leading  men,  and  all  the  inhabitants  of  said  Warwick, 
by  my  past  misconduct,  in  casting  reflections  on  the  Con- 
gresses, and  not  giving  or  even  trying  to  give  satisfaction  to 
the  Committee  of  Correspondence  of  said  Warwick,  when 
requested  agreeable  to  the  Congress;  for  which  I  am  heartily 
sorry,  and  humbly  ask  forgiveness.  I  hereby  heartily  agree 
to  abide  by  all  the  doings  and  resolutions  of  the  Continen- 
tal and  Provincial  Congresses,  as  long  as  the  major  part  of 


1529 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JULY,  1775. 


1530 


the  people  on  the  Continent,  and  the  inhabitants  of  this 
Province,  choose  members  to  attend  on  sucli  Congresses 
respectively,  and  to  aid  and  assist  the  people  of  this  Pro- 
vince in  defence  of  our  rights  against  a  tyrannical  system  of 
the  British  Administration,  and  to  resist  the  King's  Troops, 
and  defend  the  rights  of  America  now  in  contest,  even  to 
life  and  fortune.  James  Ball. 


GEN.  FOLSOM  TO  NEW-HAMPSHIRE  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY. 

Camp  on  Winter  Hill,  July  1,  1775. 

Gentlemen:  Being  obliged,  for  want  of  proper  tents, 
to  quarter  Colonel  Poor's  Regiment  in  Barracks  at  Med- 
forcl,  which  has  created  me  much  trouble  and  difficulty, 
they  being  a  mile  and  a  half  distant  from  camp,  last 
evening  eighteen  men,  under  the  command  of  Captain 
Jtowe,  deserted  ;  which  might  have  been  prevented,  had 
they  been  regularly  encamped.  The  reason,  I  understand, 
which  they  assigned  to  their  Captain,  before  they  deserted, 
(he  not  giving  me  or  his  Colonel  the  least  notice  thereof 
till  six  o'clock  this  morning)  was,  that  they  did  not  intend, 
when  they  enlisted,  to  join  the  Army,  but  to  be  stationed 
at  Hampton.  Colonel  Poor  has  sent  after  them,  but  if  he 
cannot  get  them  back,  hope  you  will  take  some  effectual 
method  to  send  them  as  soon  as  possible,  and  to  prevent 
and  discourage  future  desertions;  for  otherwise,  if  they  are 
passed  over  with  impunity,  their  example  will  induce 
others,  and,  by  that  means,  cause  such  a  defection  of  the 
Troops,  as  will  weaken,  if  not  entirely  break  up  your 
whole  Battalion. 

Wednesday  last,  the  whole  of  the  IS ew- Hampshire 
Troops,  fit  for  duty,  were  ordered  to  their  alarm  posts ; 
when  formed  we  were  not  able  to  line  our  breastwork  more 
than  two  deep,  our  lines  being  necessarily  extensive,  on 
account  of  the  situation  of  our  camp  ;  therefore  desire  that 
the  two  remaining  companies,  now  stationed  at  Portsmouth 
and  Hampton,  may  be  sent,  if  you  can  possibly  spare  them, 
there  being  not  one  quarter  part  of  the  Troops  in  ours  as 
in  the  other  lines  at  Cambridge,  Roxbury,  and  on  Pros- 
pect Hill.  In  a  few  days  the  breastwork  will  be  completed, 
by  which  time  the  cannon  I  wrote  for,  1  hope,  will  arrive, 
so  that  we  may  be  prepared  to  give  the  ministerial  Troops 
a  proper  reception  should  they  attempt  to  force  our  lines. 

Nothing  remarkable  has  transpired  since  my  last.  The 
enemy  are  fortifying  themselves  as  strongly  as  possible,  on 
Bunker's  Hill,  and  when  they  have  completed  their  works, 
it  is  probable  they  will  land  somewhere  near  where  the 
New-Hampshire  Troops  are  encamped,  it  being  very  con- 
venient for  them  to  bring  up  their  floating  batteries  upon 
our  left  wing ;  however,  hope  to  give  a  good  account  of 
part  of  them  at  least  whenever  they  come. 

Your  obedient  servant,  Nathaniel  Folsom. 

To  the  Honourable  Committee  of  Safety  for  the  Colony 

of  Neio-Hampshire. 


new-hampshire  committee  of  safety  to  gen.  folsom. 

In  Committee  of  Safety,  Exeter,  July  1,  1775. 

It  gives  us  great  pleasure  to  find,  by  yours  of  the  26th 
last  month,  that  a  reconciliation  had  taken  place  between 
you  and  Colonel  Stark.  We  doubt  not  you  will  use  your 
utmost  endeavours  to  keep  up  a  good  harmony  among  the 
Troops.  In  order  thereto,  we  agree  with  you,  that  a  due 
subordination  must  be  observed.  Major  Hobart,  who  is 
appointed  paymaster,  will  have  commissions  for  Stark's 
and  Reed's  Regiments,  and  is  to  consult  you  on  filling  up 
the  vacancies. 

Two  twenty-four,  and  two  double  fortified  six-pounders 
are  to  be  sent  off  to-morrow  morning  from  Hampton.  The 
artillery  company  is  not  raised,  nor  have  we  been  able  to 
get  suitable  officers  for  that  service.  We  think  it  advisable 
that  you  should  inquire  if  a  good  man  for  that  business 
can  be  engaged,  and  what  encouragement  he  will  expect. 
When  we  can  be  informed  of  this,  we  shall  lay  it  before 
the  Congress.  We  suppose  if  good  officers  can  be  ob- 
tained, men  may  be  enlisted  out  of  the  battalions  more  suit- 
able for  that  purpose  than  elsewhere.  We  enclose  your 
commission,  and  hope  that  the  appointment  of  any  other 
General  Officer  will  not  be  expected.  We  are  your  friends, 
and  humble  servants.    By  order  of  the  Committee. 

To  General  Folsom. 


NEW- HAMPSHIRE  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY  TO  COL.  REED. 

Ill  Committee  of  Safety,  Exeter,  July  1,  1775. 

Sir  :  The  Committee,  without  knowing  that  you  had  in 
actual  service,  or  in  your  eye,  any  person  as  Adjutant  of  your 
Regiment,  have  commissioned  Mr.  McGregore,  a  young 
man,  we  imagine,  very  suitable  for  that  place.  If  any 
person  you  judge  suitable,  is  disposed  to  act  as  volunteer, 
without  pay,  in  that  capacity,  we  have  no  objections,  unless 
it  should  plainly  appear  to  us  that  he  would  not  answer 
the  end.  But  you  will  easily  perceive  the  unsuitableness 
of  recalling  the  commission  from  Mr.  McGregore,  for  no 
reason  on  his  part,  and  commissioning  and  paying  a  person 
of  whom,  till  another  was  appointed,  we  had  not  so  much 
as  a  recommendation. 

You  may  assure  yourself,  that  so  far  as  the  publick  ser- 
vice will  allow,  we  shall  take  pleasure  in  gratifying  you  or 
the  Regiment,  or  any  individual.  But  although  we  should 
be  willing  to  make  use  of  any  and  the  best  information,  we 
must  insist  upon  it,  that  our  appointments  should  take  place, 
as  the  contrary  must  be  attended  with  boundless  difficul- 
ties. By  order  of  the  Committee. 
To  Colonel  Reed,  of  the  3d  New-Hampshire  Regiment. 


GENERAL  SCHUYLER  TO  PRESIDENT  OF  CONGRESS. 

New-York,  July  2,  1775. 
[Read  July  5,  1775.] 

Sir  :  Your  letter  of  the  24th  June,  enclosing  the  resolu- 
tions of  Congress,  relative  to  the  persons  employed  in  taking 
possession  of  Crown  Point,  came  to  hand  on  Friday  last. 
I  shall  procure  the  returns  agreeable  to  the  orders,  and 
liquidate  the  sum  to  be  paid  them  as  soon  after  my  arrival 
at  Ticonderoga  as  affairs  of  more  importance  will  admit. 

Yesterday  I  had  a  conference  with  the  Provincial  Con- 
vention here  on  the  subject-matter  of  employing  the  Gretn 
Mountain  Boys,  after  which  a  Committee  was  appointed 
to  take  it  into  further  consideration  ;  the  result,  I  appre- 
hend, will  be  to  employ  five  hundred  of  them,  which  is  full 
as  many  as  they  can  raise,  and  to  appoint  a  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  and  Major  to  the  command  of  them. 

Doubts  seemed  to  arise  whether  your  intentions  were 
that  these  men  should  be  incorporated  into  those  Regi- 
ments, for  the  raising  of  which  they  had  already  issued 
warrants  and  nominated  the  officers,  or  to  make  them  a 
separate  corps.  My  opinion  was  that  Congress  intended 
the  latter,  and,  as  such,  they  will  be  formed. 

You  will  receive  from  the  Convention  here  some  accounts 
of  Colonel  Guy  Johnson's  conduct,  too  much  of  which  I 
fear  is  true ;  and  the  inhabitants  in  the  western  quarter  of 
this  Colony,  of  New-Jersey,  and  the  northern  parts  of 
Pennsylvania,  will  probably  be  exposed  to  some  insults 
from  the  savages  in  their  vicinity.  I  beg  leave,  therefore,  to 
suggest,  that  if  two  Regiments  more,  of  seven  hundred  and 
fifty  men  each,  were  raised  by  this  Colony,  and  stationed, 
one  on  the  southern  part  of  its  western  frontiers,  adjacent 
to  Jersey  and  Pennsylvania,  the  other  towards  the  Oneida 
carrying  place,  it  would  strike  so  much  awe  into  the  Indians, 
as  probably  to  prevent  their  making  incursions  upon  us. 

I  fear  Governour  Trumbull  will  not  have  it  in  his  power 
to  furnish  me  with  the  necessary  quantity  of  powder.  Is 
it  not  possible  to  procure  some  from  Pennsylvania  1  I 
shall  be  greatly  distressed  for  want  of  a  few  field- pieces. 
I  wish  to  see  those  in  the  State-House  yard,  Philadelphia, 
tried  in  actual  service. 

Governour  Tryon  continues  a  prudent  conduct.  I  can- 
not learn  that  he  has  taken  any  step  that  will  give  umbrage. 
The  rejection  of  the  New-York  Assembly's  Remonstrance 
by  the  House  of  Commons,  has  had  the  good  effect  to 
make  those  in  this  city  hearty  in  the  cause  of  America, 
whose  sentiments,  though  friendly,  differed  as  to  the  mode 
of  procuring  redress. 

Congress  has  not  provided  for  a  deputy  Adjutant-Gene- 
ral in  this  department.  The  necessity  of  such  an  appoint- 
ment would  be  superseded  if  another  Brigade-Major  was 
allowed,  which  seems  more  immediately  necessary,  as  we 
have  two  Brigadiers. 

Whoever  sees  the  Connecticut  Troops  admires  their 
strength,  stature,  youth,  and  agility;  but  every  one  laments 
their  want  of  regimentals. 

I  am  informed  that  seven  or  eight  youths  of  the  Caugh- 
nawaga  tribe  are  at  Mr.  Wheelock's  school,  in  New-Hamp- 


1531 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  k.,  JULY,  1775. 


1532 


shire.  What  sentiments  that  gentleman  entertains  in  this 
unhappy  controversy  1  am  ignorant  of.  If  friendly,  might 
he  not  be  serviceable  ? 

I  should  be  culpable  in  my  own  opinion,  and  unjust  to 
the  Provincial  Convention  of  this  Colony,  if  I  passed  over, 
in  silence,  the  distinguished  zeal  with  which  they  second 
your  views.  Without  immediately  knowing  for  what  pur- 
pose the  supplies  1  have  asked  were  wanting,  they  with 
alacrity  have  begun  to  procure  them,  judging,  with  proprie- 
ty, that  many  military  operations  are  of  such  a  nature  as 
do  not,  consistent  with  prudence,  permit  their  being  known 
to  too  many. 

I  am,  Sir,  with  sentiments  of  the  most  profound  respect, 
yours  and  the  Congress's  most  obedient  servant, 

Philip  Schuyler. 

To  the  Honourable  John  Hancock,  President  of  the  Con- 
tinental Congress. 


GENERAL  GATES  TO  GENERAL  WASHINGTON. 

New- York,  July  2,  1775. 

Sir:  I  have  the  honour  to  acquaint  you  I  arrived  here 
last  night.  This  morning  proving  very  rainy,  and  my 
horses  much  fatigued,  I  have  halted  for  a  few  hours, 
which  I  shall  employ  in  providing  some  articles  I  h  ive 
had  no  leisure  to  procure  since  I  left  Virginia.  From 
hence  I  shall  proceed  with  all  speed  to  Cambridge.  This 
morning  I  waited  upon  the  Generals  Worcester,  Schuyler, 
and  Montgomery.  General  Schuyler  mentioned  in  pri- 
vacy, his  having  recommended  to  the  Congress,  the  ap- 
pointment of  another  Brigade-Major  in  this  department, 
as  there  was  no  Deputy  Adjutant-General  allowed.  This, 
Sir,  my  experience  tells  me,  is  an  officer,  if  properly  cho- 
sen, that  will  be  very  necessary  to  add  to  the  Army  in  this 
district,  especially  as  there  are  two  Brigades,  and  two 
Brigadier-Generals. 

You  will  pardon  the  liberty  I  take,  and  believe  it  to  pro- 
ceed from  the  zeal  with  which  I  wish  to  approve  myself, 
your  most  faithful,  and  obedient  humble  servant, 

Horatio  Gates. 


BALTIMORE  (MARYLAND)  COMMITTEE. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Inspection  for  Bal- 
timore County,  held  in  Baltimore  Town,  on  the  3d  of  July, 
1775,  a  Letter  from  Henry  Lloyd,  agent  for  the  Contrac- 
tors for  supplying  the  Troops  at  Boston,  to  Doctor  John 
Stephenson,  being  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the  Committee, 
was  read,  and  is  as  follows  : 

"  Boston,  May  17,  1775. 
"Sir:  The  stoppage  of  provisions  from  the  Southern 
Governments  for  the  use  of  His  Majesty's  Troops,  makes 
it  necessary  to  endeavour  to  get  a  supply,  by  concealing 
from  the  publick  eye  the  destination  of  provisions  shipped 
for  that  purpose.  I  shall  therefore  propose  for  your  consi- 
deration the  following  method  of  doing  it:  Cannot  a  ves- 
sel be  freighted  with  flour  for  the  West-Indies  ?  you  may 
take  up  a  vessel  as  large  as  two  hundred  tons  and  give  her 
a  full  freight.  I  should  send  you  bills  on  them  for  the 
amount  of  what  you  may  ship  to  me  in  this  way;  but  the 
negotiation  of  such  bills  might  discover  your  plan,  and  defeat 
it,  so  that  1  should  be  glad  you  would  advise  me  of  some 
friend  of  yours.  When  I  am  made  acquainted  with  his 
name,  and  the  sum  you  shall  draw  for,  will  send  to  him  from 
hence  my  bills  on  the  contractors  for  the  amount  you  advise 
me  of.  You  will  please  likewise  to  give  the  contractors  time- 
ly advice,  that  they  may  insure  their  interest,  if  they  think 
proper,  and  inform  me  the  name  of  the  vessel  and  master 
you  engage,  that  I  may  lodge  a  permit  at  the  light-house 
in  this  harbour  for  admission  to  come  up  to  Town,  and  dis- 
charge her  cargo  here.  Pray  let  the  flour  you  purchase 
be  such  as  will  keep  over  the  summer,  and  let  the  casks 
be  good,  well  hooped,  and  the  heads  well  secured  with 
lining  hoops.  You  will  be  careful  to  write  me  by  a  con- 
veyance that  your  letter  may  not  fall  into  the  hands  of 
the  Provincials. 

"  1  am,  Sir,  your  most  humble  servant, 

"  Henry  Lloyd. 

"  To  Doctor  John  Stephenson," 

The  Committee  sent  for  Mr.  Stephenson,  and  having 
shown  him  the  Letter,  he  made  the  declaration  following  : 


"  I  believe  the  within  writing  to  be  Mr.  Henry  Lloyd's 
writing,  and  1  declare  that  I  have  never  received  any  copy 
of  it,  or  any  other  letter  to  that  purport;  and  I  further 
declare,  that  if  the  letter  had  come  to  my  hands,  1  would 
not  have  executed  the  order,  nor  will  1  execute  any  order 
of  the  kind  from  any  person  whatsoever,  contrary  to  the 
resolves  of  the  Continental  Congress,  or  Provincial  Con- 
vention. John  Stevenson." 

On  motion,  Resolved,  That  Henry  Lloyd,  of  Boston, 
has  knowingly  and  wilfully  violated  the  Association  of  the 
American  Congress,  by  endeavouring  to  supply  the  ene- 
mies of  this  Country  with  Provisions ;  and  that  agieeable 
to  the  Resolutions  of  the  said  Congress,  it  is  the  duty  of  us 
and  all  our  constituents  from  henceforth  not  to  have  any 
commercial  intercourse  with  him ;  and  it  is  recommended, 
that  an  inviolable  regard  be  paid  to  this  Resolution. 


DORCHESTER  COUNTY  (MARYLAND)  COMMITTEE. 

Cambridge,  July  3,  1775. 

Whereas,  divers  persons  trading  in  small  vessels  up  and 
down  the  several  rivers  of  this  Province,  have,  of  late,  fre- 
quently come  into  the  rivers  of  this  County  with  Dry 
Goods,  Coffee,  Molasses,  and  other  articles  which  are  pro- 
hibited from  being  imported  into  this  Country  since  the 
first  day  of  December  last,  and  which,  they  say,  were  pur- 
chased by  them  at  Baltimore,  Philadelphia,  and  other 
places  in  the  Country,  without  proper  certificates  from  the 
merchants  they  respectively  purchased  of,  that  the  said 
Goods  and  Merchandises  were  imported  before  the  said  first 
day  of  December ;  which  has  put  the  Committee  of  this 
County  to  great  trouble  and  inconvenience,  in  taking  pos- 
session of  and  storing  such  Goods  till  proper  certificates 
were  obtained  respecting  the  same ;  and  has  occasioned 
frequent  murmurs  of  those  persons  who  were  thus  pre- 
vented, by  their  own  negligence,  from  disposing  of  their 
Merchandise,  under  pretence  that  they  did  not  think  such 
certificates  would  be  required  for  Goods  which  were  pur- 
chased in  the  Country  :  the  Committee  of  the  said  County, 
desirous  to  prevent  any  person  in  future  from  falling  into 
the  same  disagreeable  predicament  of  having  their  Goods 
detained  till  such  time  as  they  produce  satisfactory  vouch- 
ers of  their  Merchandise  being  imported  within  the  time 
limited  by  the  Continental  Congress,  do  hereby  give  notice 
to  all  persons  whatsoever,  that  they  will  not  permit  or 
suffer  any  one  to  sell  or  dispose  of  any  Goods  or  Mer- 
chandises which  may  be  brought  into  the  said  County,  un- 
less the  person  or  persons  to  whom  the  same  belong,  can 
produce  a  certificate  from  the  Committee  of  the  place 
where  they  purchased  such  Goods,  that  the  same  were 
imported  within  the  lime  limited  as  aforesaid. 

Signed  per  order:  Henry  Hale,  Clerk. 


JOHN  ALSOP  TO  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

Philadelphia,  July  3,  1775. 
Gentlemen  :  Your  favour  of  28th  ultimo  I  received, 
respecting  some  blankets.  In  answer,  a  friend  of  mine  has 
a  quantity  at  Maryland,  with  some  strouds,  and  other  In- 
dian goods,  which  he  chooses  to  sell  all  together.  They 
are  ordered  here;  as  soon  as  they  arrive,  he  will  give  the 
invoice,  which  I  shall  lay  before  the  Congress,  as  1  suppose 
they  will  purchase  the  whole.  Shall  inform  them  of  the 
number  of  blankets  wanted  by  you,  but  I  fear  there  is  not 
so  many  as  you  stand  in  need  of.  I  am,  with  respect, 
gentlemen,  your  very  humble  servant,      John  Alsop. 


CAPT.  JOHN  LANGDON  TO  NEW-HAMPSHIRE  CONGRESS. 

Philadelphia,  July  3,  1775. 

Sir:  No  doubt  before  this  comes  to  hand,  General  Sul- 
livan, who  set  out  for  home  last  l\iesday,  will  have  waited 
on  you,  or  the  Committee  of  the  Province,  to  whom  I  beg 
leave  to  refer  for  particulars. 

Since  his  departure,  we  hear  that  several  companies  of 
expert  riflemen  have  marched  from  Virginia  and  Mary- 
land. Six  companies  from  this  Province  will  march  this 
week  to  join  the  Army  before  Boston.  I  have  also  the 
pleasure  to  inform  you  that  the  powder  mills  are  going  on 
fast,  having  been  supplied  with  several  tons  of  saltpetre ; 
the  manufacturing  of  which  article  is  likely  to  meet  with 


1533 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JULY,  1775. 


1534 


great  success  here,  as  also  in  Virginia,  and  without  doubt, 
in  two  or  three  months,  will  be  able  to  furnish  large  quan- 
tities. We  hear  from  South- Carolina  that  a  considerable 
quantity  of  powder  was  arrived  there,  some  of  which  will 
immediately  be  forwarded  to  Boston;  this  may  be  depend- 
ed on.  There  has  been,  within  a  few  days,  a  considerable 
quantity  sent  from  this  place  to  our  Armies  before  Boston 
and  Ticonderoga.  Every  method  has  been  taken,  and 
will  continue  to  be  taken,  for  the  importation  of  large 
supplies  of  that  necessary  article,  powder;  some  of  which 
hope  will  arrive  soon.  It  is  not  likely  that  1  shall  be  able 
to  get  powder  to  send  to  our  Province,  as  the  whole  will 
be  in  the  hands  of  the  Committee,  to  be  sent  from  time  to 
time  to  our  Army ;  therefore,  if  any  should  be  wanting  for 
the  common  cause,  no  doubt  it  may  be  had  from  them. 

I  would  here  beg  leave  to  suggest,  that  we  should  not, 
by  any  means,  at  present  make  use  of  cannon,  if  it  is  pos- 
sible to  avoid  it,  until  we  are  better  supplied.  The  Assem- 
bly of  this  Province  have  voted  to  raise  four  thousand  five 
hundred  Minute-men.  Every  measure  seems  to  be  taking  to 
defend  our  just  rights  to  the  last  extremity.  The  general 
voice  of  the  people  here  is,  that  our  cause  is  just  and 
righteous,  and  that  God  is  on  our  side,  as  has  most  evi- 
dently appeared.  The  low,  base,  and  wanton  cruelty  of 
the  ministerial  sons  of  tyranny,  in  burning  the  once  plea- 
sant and  populous  Town  of  Charlestoun,  beggars  all  de- 
scription. This  does  not  look  like  the  fight  of  those  who 
have  so  long  been  friends,  and  would  hope  to  be  friends 
again,  but  rather  of  a  most  cruel  enemy.  But  we  shall 
not  wonder,  when  we  reflect,  that  it  is  the  infernal  hand  of 
tyranny,  which  always  has  and  ever  will  deluge  that  part 
of  the  world  which  it  lays  hold  of  in  blood. 

I  am  in  some  hopes  that  the  Congress  will  rise  in  about 
a  fortnight,  but  this  is  mere  conjecture,  as  it  will  depend 
on  what  news  we  receive  from  our  Army,  and  some  other 
matters.  I  am  very  sorry  to  be  alone  in  so  great  and  im- 
portant a  business  as  that  of  representing  a  whole  Colony, 
which  no  one  man  is  equal  to ;  but  how  to  avoid  it,  I  know 
not.  Whether  it  will  be  thought  worth  while,  at  this  un- 
certainty, to  send  me  any  assistance,  our  honourable  Con- 
vention will  be  judges.  I  shall  endeavour,  as  far  as  my 
poor  abilities  will  admit  of,  to  render  every  service  to  my 
Country  in  my  power.  I  am,  with  great  respect,  your 
most  obedient  servant,  John  Langdon. 

To  Matthew  Thornton,  Esquire. 


PHILADELPHIA  COMMITTEE. 

Committee  Chamber,  July  3,  1775. 

The  Committee  of  the  City  and  Liberties  of  Philadel- 
phia having  undertaken  to  erect  a  Saltpetre  Manufactory, 
and  having  appointed  Messrs.  Owen  Biddle,  George  Cly- 
mer,  John  Allen,  James  Mease,  Lambert  Cadwalader,  and 
Doctor  Benjamin  Rush,  to  superintend  the  same,  they  do 
earnestly  request  the  inhabitants  of  this  Province  in  gene- 
ral, and  of  this  City  and  Liberties  in  particular,  to  furnish 
them  with  all  such  materials  and  assistance  as  they  may 
require,  to  enable  them  to  carry  the  said  important  and 
necessary  Manufactory  into  execution  with  as  much  expe- 
dition as  possible.       By  order  of  the  Committee: 

John  Benezet,  Assistant  Secretary. 


By  His  Excellency  William  Tryon,  Esquire,  Captain- 
General  and  Governour-in- Chief  in  and  over  the  Pro- 
vince of  New-York,  and  the  Territories  depending 
thereon,  in  America,  Chancellor  and  Vice-Admiral  of 
the  same : 

a  proclamation. 
Whereas,  the  General  Assembly  of  this  Province  stands 
prorogued  to  the  fifth  day  of  July,  instant,  I  have  thought 
fit,  for  His  Majesty's  service,  to  prorogue,  and  I  do  by  and 
with  the  advice  of  His  Majesty's  Council,  further  prorogue 
the  said  General  Assembly  to  the  ninth  day  of  August 
next;  of  which  all  His  Majesty's  subjects  concerned  there- 
in are  required  to  take  notice  and  govern  themselves  ac- 
cordingly. 

Given  under  my  hand  and  seal  at  arms  at  Fort  George, 
in  the  City  of  New- York,  the  third  day  of  July,  one  thou- 
sand seven  hundred  and  seventy-five,  in  the  fifteenth  year 
of  the  reign  of  our  Sovereign  Lord  George  the  Third,  by 


the  grace  of  God,  of  Great  Britain,  France,  and  Ireland, 
King,  Defender  of  the  Faith,  and  so  forth. 

William  Tryon. 

By  his  Honour's  command  : 

Saml.  Bayard,  Jdn.,  Sec'y. 
God  save  the  King. 


ADDRESS  OF  THE  CORPORATION  OF  NEW-YORK  TO  GOVERN- 
OUR  TRYON. 

Address  left  with  his  Excellency  Governour  Tryon,  the 
third  day  of  July,  1775,  by  the  Worshipful  Whitehead 
Hicks,  Esquire,  Mayor  of  the  City  of  New-York : 
To  His  Excellency  William  Tryon,  Esquire,  Captain- 
General  and  Governour-in- Chief  of  the  Province  of 
New-York,  and  the  Territories  thereon  depending,  in 
America,  and  Vice-Admiral  and  Chancellor  of  the 
same : 

The  humble  Address  of  the  Mayor,  Aldermen,  and  Com- 
monalty of  the  City  of  New- York  : 
May  it  please  your  Excellency : 

We  wait  upon  you,  Sir,  to  congratulate  you  on  the  bet- 
ter establishment  of  your  health,  and  to  bid  you  welcome 
to  a  people  who,  from  the  rectitude  of  your  administra- 
tion, could  not  part  with  you  without  the  deepest  regret, 
and  who  must  therefore  receive  you  again  with  all  the  con- 
fidence of  safety  and  protection  which  the  experience  of 
your  virtues  and  abilities  can  inspire. 

Would  to  Heaven  that  an  event  so  honourable  to  you 
as  this  fresh  mark  of  the  King's  approbation  really  is,  and 
which  is  so  acceptable  to  us,  had  found  us  in  a  condition 
more  propitious  to  your  felicity ;  for  even  amidst  the  com- 
plicated distresses  of  this  melancholy  hour,  we  feel  an  addi- 
tion to  our  grief,  from  the  aspect  of  the  times  upon  the 
happiness  we  sincerely  wish  you  to  enjoy. 

To  whatever  causes  the  suspension  of  the  harmony  once 
subsisting  between  the  Parent  State  and  her  Colonies  may 
be  imputed,  be  assured,  Sir,  that  we  sigh  with  the  utmost 
ardour  for  the  re-establishment  of  the  common  tranquillity, 
upon  that  ancient  system  of  Government  and  intercourse 
which  has  been  such  a  fruitful  source  of  general  prosperity 
and  opulence. 

It  is  with  affliction  we  behold  a  Nation,  as  renowned  for 
wisdom  as  for  valour,  involved  in  a  civil  war,  in  which  dis- 
loyalty in  His  Majesty's  American  subjects  to  their  Prince, 
or  want  of  affection  to  their  Mother  Country,  constitute  no 
part  of  the  unnatural  controversy.  And  we  trust,  under 
a  merciful  God,  in  the  aid  of  your  intercession  with  His 
Majesty,  for  a  speedy  termination  of  these  hostile  animosi- 
ties of  his  contending  subjects,  which  undermine  the  power 
and  threaten  the  destruction  of  the  Empire. 

The  Governors  Answer  to  the  Address  of  the  Mayor, 
Aldermen,  and  Commonalty  of  the  City  of  New- York, 
delivered  to  the  Mayor  to  be  laid  before  the  Corpora- 
lion. 

Gentlemen:  I  receive  with  satisfaction  your  congratu- 
lations on  my  return  to  this  Country,  and  obliging  assu- 
rances of  your  affectionate  regard  from  my  former  residence 
amongst  you,  and  of  your  continued  confidence  in  me  at 
this  melancholy  crisis  of  publick  affairs,  already  carried  to 
an  extreme  much  to  be  lamented  by  every  good  man  and 
well-wisher  of  his  King  and  Country. 

I  confess  my  disappointment  at  the  change  of  circum- 
stances in  this  Government,  and  feel  the  weightiest  distress 
at  the  present  unfriendly  aspect  of  the  times.  Long  resi- 
dence in  the  Colonies,  and  a  happy  experience  of  repeated 
friendships,  have,  as  it  were,  naturalized  me  to  America, 
and  bound  me,  while  1  remained  in  England,  faithfully  to 
represent  the  loyalty,  sentiments,  and  situation  of  the  in- 
habitants of  this  Province,  and  to  support  their  interest 
with  my  best  endeavours.  At  the  same  time,  my  breast 
glowing  with  an  ardent  zeal  for  the  honour  of  my  Sover- 
eign, and  affection  for  my  native  Country,  I  was  induced 
to  embark  again  for  this  Government,  cherishing  the  pleas- 
ing hope  of  being  able  to  contribute,  in  some  small  degree, 
the  hastening  the  general  wish  of  tbe  Nation  for  a  speedy 
and  happy  reconciliation  between  Great  Britain  and  her 
Colonies.  If  there  can  be  a  time  when  it  would  be  wis- 
dom and  humanity  to  listen  to  the  calm  and  dispassionate 


1535 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  kc,  JULY,  1775. 


1536 


voice  of  reason  and  moderation,  it  surely  must  be  the  pre- 
sent. 1  wis!)  to  embrace  the  idea,  that  neither  disloyalty 
in  His  Majesty's  American  subjects,  or  disaffection  to  the 
Mother  Country,  constitute  any  part  of  the  present  unna- 
tural controversy ;  but  that  the  contention  Hows  from  a 
mere  misconception  of  constitutional  principles.  The  Par- 
liament, in  their  Resolution  of  the  27lh  of  February,  hav- 
ing made  the  first  advance  to  a  measure  of  accommoda- 
tion, it  would  surely  be  glorious  in  the  Americans  to  avail 
themselves  of  so  important  an  opportunity  in  so  noble  a 
cause.  In  the  present  moment,  were  America  to  liberate 
the  restraints  she  has  laid  on  her  commerce  and  constitu- 
tional authority,  and  through  her  Provincial  Assemblies 
grant,  suitable  to  the  ease  of  their  circumstances,  supplies 
to  the  Mother  Country  for  the  protection  of  the  whole 
British  State,  1  am  confident  in  my  own  mind  the  contro- 
versy would  fall  to  the  ground,  and  that  many  acts  of  con- 
ciliatory grace  would  be  extended  to  America  by  Great 
Britain,  which  national  honour  cannot  suffer  to  have  torn 
from  her  by  violence. 

I  am  acquainted,  in  a  despatch  from  the  Earl  of  Dart- 
mouth, that  the  Memorial  and  Representation  of  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly  of  this  Province,  were  unfortunately  blended 
with  expressions  containing  claims,  which  made  it  impos- 
sible for  Parliament,  consistent  with  its  justice  and  dignity, 
to  receive  it ;  yet  the  Petition  to  the  King  has  been  present- 
ed to  His  Majesty,  who  was  pleased  to  receive  it  with  the 
most  gracious  expressions  of  regard  and  attention  to  the 
humble  requests  of  his  faithful  subjects  in  New-York',  and 
I  am  authorized  to  say,  that  nothing  can  give  greater  satis- 
faction to  the  royal  breast,  than  to  see  us  again  a  happy 
and  united  people.  William  Tryon. 

New-York,  July  7,  1775. 


GENERAL  SCHUYLER  TO  CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS. 
[Read  July  5,  1775.] 

New. York,  July  3,  1775. 

Sir  :  Your  letter  of  Saturday  last,  with  the  resolution  of 
Congress  of  the  same  day,  and  copy  of  the  military  arrange- 
ments enclosed,  was  delivered  me  at  five  this  morning. 

Permit  me,  Sir,  to  observe,  that  the  resolution  seems  to 
be  founded  on  a  supposition  that  the  inhabitants  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  Ticondcroga  are  a  people  distinct  from 
those  called  Green  Mountain  Boys,  and  that  they  are 
numerous;  whereas  the  fact  is,  that  most  of  the  inhabitants 
in  the  north-eastern  part  of  the  County  of  Albany,  and  in 
the  County  of  Charlotte,  and  who  reside  on  what  are  com- 
monly called  the  New-Hampshire  Grants,  are  distinguished 
by  the  appellation  of  Green  Mountain  Boys;  and  although 
they  are  settled  in  an  extent  of  country  upwards  of  one 
hundred  and  thirty  miles  in  length,  from  nearly  as  far  south 
as  Albany  to  forty  or  fifty  miles  north  of  Crown  Point, 
yet  so  lately  has  that  country  begun  to  settle,  that  it  will 
be  difficult  (as  Colonel  Allen  observes)  to  raise  five  hun- 
dred men  in  it,  although  there  are  more  inhabitants,  but 
necessarily  occupied  in  procuring  subsistence  for  their 
families.  Such  of  them  as  assisted  in  the  reduction  of 
Ticondcroga,  and  afterwards  garrisoned  it,  are  already 
returned  to  their  respective  habitations  Hence,  Sir,  you 
will  perceive  that  the  troops  in  that  quarter  cannot  be 
re-enforced,  at  any  rate,  by  more  than  five  hundred  men, 
to  be  procured  there,  and  those  still  to  be  levied. 

From  what  information  I  have  been  able  to  procure,  I 
suppose  that  the  forces  under  Colonel  Hinman's  command 
do  not  exceed  thirteen  hundred  men,  including  those  that 
occupy  Fort  George,  the  landing  at  the  north  end  of  Lake 
George,  and  the  post  at  the  Saw-mills,  and  such  as  are 
necessarily  employed  in  transporting  provisions,  &.C.,  from 
Albany,  which  will  probably  reduce  them  to  eleven  hun- 
dred and  under ;  and  if  of  these  1  leave  two  hundred  to 
garrison  Crown  Point  and  Ticondcroga,  the  remainder  will 
then  exceed  General  Carleton's  regular  Troops  by  about 
three  hundred  men  only,  a  force  very  inadequate  barely  to 
attempt  destroying  his  floating  batteries,  boats,  and  vessels, 
without  hazarding  the  loss,  not  only  of  the  command  of 
the  lakes,  but  of  the  fortresses  in  our  possession  on  its 
banks.  These  observations  1  have  taken  the  liberty  to 
make,  that  Congress,  by  being  more  truly  possessed  of 
facts,  may  make  a  probable  guess  of  the  consequences 
that  will  follow  an  attempt  which  I  conceive  myself  not  at 


liberty  to  desist  from  making,  without  orders  to  the  con- 
trary. I  shall  leave  this  to-day,  and  order  Brigadier  Mont- 
gomery to  follow  as  soon  as  possible. 

Preparations  are  making  here  to  fortify  the  pass  in  the 
Highlands.  I  had  proposed  that  part  of  General  Wooster's 
corps  should  have  gone  on  that  service.  If  Congress  in- 
tends that  any  of  them  shall  be  employed  in  that  way, 
they  will  please  to  signify  it,  as  they  cannot  otherwise,  since 
the  last  order,  be  moved  from  New-York. 

I  am,  Sir,  most  respectfully  and  very  sincerely,  your 
obedient  and  humble  servant,         Philip  Schuyler. 
To  the  Honourable  John  Huncoclc,  President  of  the  Con- 
tinental Congress. 


GENERAL  SCHUYLER  TO  CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS. 
[Read  July  7,  1775.] 

New-York,  July  3,  1775. 

Sir  :  I  did  myself  the  honour  to  write  you  a  few  hours 
ago  ;  since  which  I  have  conversed  with  Mr.  Kirkland,  one 
of  the  Indian  Missionaries.  The  information  he  gives  me 
of  the  temper  of  the  Indians  of  the  Six  Nations;  of  Colonel 
Johnson's  nefarious  designs  ;  of  the  conduct  of  some  Roman 
Catholick  Highlanders,  resident  in  the  County  of  Tryon, 
is  so  interesting,  that  I  have  taken  the  liberty  to  request  him 
to  repair  to  Congress  with  all  despatch. 

His  influence  with  the  Indians  renders  him  capable,  and 
I  believe  there  is  no  doubt  of  his  willingness,  to  serve  his 
Country  in  this  critical  hour. 

I  am,  Sir,  most  respectfully,  your  obedient  and  humble 
servant,  Philip  Schuyler. 

To  the  Honourable  John  Hancoclc,  Esquire. 


GENERAL  SCHUYLER  TO  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

New-York,  July  3,  1775. 
Gentlemen  :  I  do  myself  the  honour  to  enclose  you  an 
estimate  of  such  stores,  &c,  as  at  present  appear  to  me 
necessary  to  be  forwarded  to  Albany ;  the  pitch,  oakum, 
and  nails,  1  wish  to  have  sent  with  all  possible  despatch. 
I  am  very  certain  that  a  variety  of  other  articles  will  be 
wanted,  which  I  shall  be  better  able  to  ascertain  after  my 
arrival  at  Albany,  for  which  place  I  propose  setting  out 
to-morrow. 

I  am  informed  that  a  considerable  quantity  of  lead  was 
found  at  Ticonderoga;  but  if  it  should  not  equal  my  expec- 
tations, I  may  be  exposed  to  insurmountable  difficulties. 
I  therefore  wish  that  at  least  half  of  the  quantity  which  1 
have  estimated,  may  be  ordered  up  without  delay,  together 
with  fifty  casks  of  powder,  which  1  am  advised  will  be  sent 
you  from  Philadelphia. 

As  it  is  probable,  from  the  manoeuvres  of  Governour 
Carleton,  that  I  shall  speedily  want  a  re-enforcement  of 
Troops  at  Ticonderoga,  and  not  being  at  liberty  to  remove 
the  Connecticut  Troops  from  hence,  1  entreat  you  will  be 
pleased  to  forward  whatever  men  may  be  levied  in  this 
Colony,  immediately  to  Albany,  without  waiting  until  the 
corps  are  completed. 

I  hope,  gentlemen,  on  every  occasion,  to  be  favoured 
with  your  advice.  And,  indeed,  as  the  important  charge 
conferred  on  me  by  the  Continental  Congress  was  done  in 
deference  to  your  polite  and  honourable  (yet  altogether 
unmerited)  recommendation  of  me,  1  shall,  with  the  fullest 
confidence,  look  up  to  you  for  your  aid  and  countenance, 
at  once  to  promote  the  publick  service,  and  to  prevent  me 
from  sinking  under  the  weighty  concerns  of  my  office. 
And  give  me  leave  to  assure  you,  that  though  I  have  the 
clearest  conviction  that  I  shall  never  be  able  to  equal  the 
high  opinion  you  have  induced  the  Congress  to  entertain 
of°me,  yet  no  effort  shall  be  wanting  on  my  part  to  deserve 
it  as  far  as  possible,  that  I  may  not  draw  disgrace  on  you, 
my  Country,  or  myself. 

I  am,  gentlemen,  with  sentiments  of  the  most  profound 
respect,  your  most  obedient  and  most  humble  servant, 

Philip  Schuyler. 

The  Gentlemen  of  the  New-York  Provincial  Congress. 

An  estimate  of  Military  Stores,  Provisions,  fyc,  to  be  sent 
to  Albany. 

Fifty  swivel  guns  :  2  ton  musket  ball  or  lead  :  what  pow- 
der can  be  spared  :  2  dozen  bullet-moulds  :  soldiers'  tents 


1537 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JULY,  1775. 


1538 


for  thirty -five  hundred  men,  six  men  to  a  tent:  a  propor- 
tionable number  of  bell  tents :  officers'  tents :  tents  for  two 
General  Officers  and  their  suits:  15  casks  of  twenty-four 
penny  nails:  10  casks  of  twenty  penny  :  15  casks  of  ten 
penny  :  1000  weight  of  spike  nails  :  1  ton  of  oakum  :  30 
barrels  of  pitch :  300  felling  axes,  exclusive  of  those  for 
the  camp  use  of  the  soldiers:  200  bill  hooks:  200  spades: 
200  shovels :  150  pick-axes  :  20  crowbars :  20  mason's 
trowels :  20  mason's  hammers :  2  ton  of  bar  iron :  500 
weight  of  steel :  100  set  of  men's  harness — I  believe  there 
is  some  in  Connecticut :  3  set  of  gunsmith's  tools,  exclu- 
sive of  those  for  the  regimental  armourer :  3  set  of  black- 
smith's tools :  50  broad-axes :  20  whip-saws  :  20  cross- 
cut saws :  4  sets  of  block  and  tackles,  strong :  50  weight 
of  twine  :  4  fishing  nets  with  ropes  :  1 0  bolts  of  sail  cloth  : 
50  oil  cloths,  well  painted :  1500  oars,  twelve,  fourteen, 
and  sixteen  feet  long :  500  fathom  of  tarred  rope  for  pain- 
ters, for  boats :  £  ton  of  tarred  rope,  sorted :  4  chests  of 
carpenter's  tools:  28  mill  saws  for  Dutch  mills:  7  mill 
saws  for  English  mills :  5  dozen  mill  saw  files :  an  assort- 
ment of  articles  in  the  artillery  way  :  paper :  shot  can- 
nisters :  fusees :  one  dozen  lime  sieves :  50  small  truck 
carriages,  if  they  are  ready  made  here  :  10  carriages  for 
field-pieces,  if  they  are  ready  made  here:  necessaries  for 
a  hospital :  three  months'  provisions  for  four  thousand 
men — much  of  the  meat  kind  to  be  fresh,  as  it  may  be  drove 
to  the  Army,  and  save  the  heavy  expense  of  transportation : 
whatever  arms  can  be  spared  :  20  grass  scythes  :  flints. 


COMMITTEE  OF  SECRECY  (nEW-YORk)  TO  MASSACHUSETTS 
CONGRESS. 

New. York,  July  3,  1775. 
Gentlemen:  We  think  it  necessary  to  inform  you, that 
by  a  vessel  lately  arrived  from  Greenock,  in  Scotland,  we 
have  an  extract  from  a  letter  from  a  gentleman  there,  in- 
forming his  correspondents  here  that  a  considerable  quantity 
of  goods  was  shipped  in  the  Glasgow  Packet,  Captain  Por- 
ter field,  who  sailed  from  that  port  in  April  last,  bound  for 
Salem.  As  the  vessel  in  all  probability  must  be  arrived, 
we  hope  that  the  Committee  of  that  place  have  been  at- 
tentive to  their  duty ;  but  as  they  are  marked  for  the  use 
of  the  Army,  we  fear  they  may  have  passed  unnoticed, 
notwithstanding  the  greatest  vigilance. 

We  are,  Gentlemen,  your  most  obedient  servants, 

John  Imlay, 
Daniel  Phenix, 
Members  of  the  Committee  of  Secrecy  and  Inspection. 


PETER  T.   CURTENIUS   (COMMISSARY)   TO  NEW-YORK 
CONGRESS. 

New. York,  July  3,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  I  have  made  an  inquiry  about  the  articles 
the  Congress  gave  me  an  order  for,  and  find  that  1  can  get 
coarse  cloth,  of  different  colours  like  the  patterns,  for  two 
battalions,  at  seven  [shillings  and  six  pence,  to  eight  shil- 
lings per  yard,  and  a  few  of  them  from  eleven  to  thirteen 
shillings  per  yard,  which  last  will  do  for  sergeants'  coats ; 
if  you  think  the  colours  differ  too  much,  they  can  be  dyed 
a  dark  brown  at  one  shilling  and  six  pence  per  yard.  Mr. 
Pey,  one  of  your  members,  can  inform  you  whether  it  is 
too  much.  As  to  blue  cloth,  I  can  get  enough  for  two 
battalions  more,  that  is,  if  the  Congress  will  permit  Robert 
and  John  Murray  to  take  fifteen  or  sixteen  pieces  blue 
slrouds  out  of  their  store  at  Elizabethtown. 

Muskets  that  are  good  I  find  very  scarce  ;  not  fifty  ready 
made  that  are  good  for  any  thing.  I  might  get  about  one 
hundred  made  in  a  month,  at  eighty  or  eighty-two  shillings 
a  piece. 

Raven's  duck,  none  to  be  had  as  yet ;  but  I  can  get  about 
seventy  pieces  drilling,  at  two  shillings  and  four  pence  per 
yard,  which  is  eight  pence  higher  than  I  gave  for  duck ; 
and  ten  pieces  Russia  sheeting,  very  stout,  at  five  pounds, 
ten  shillings  per  piece,  which  is  about  three  shillings  per 
yard,  but  then  it  is  a  quarter  of  a  yard  wider  than  duck  or 
drilling. 

Canteens  I  can  get  ready  made,  about  twenty-five  hun- 
dred, of  Mr.  Levy,  at  one  shilling  a  piece,  but  I  would  not 
venture  to  buy  them,  as  they  are  something  tarnished,  until 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii.  £ 


the  Sub-Committee  view  them  first ;  new  ones  will  cost 
one  shilling  and  six  pence. 

English  spades,  none  to  be  had ;  socket  spades  can  be 
made  by  our  blacksmiths,  which  are  better  than  English 
ones. 

Lead  in  bars,  none  to  be  had.  Shot  I  can  get  at  forty- 
four  shillings  per  hundred  weight ;  but  I  can  get  bullets 
cast  to  any  size  that  shall  be  wanted,  at  fifty  shillings  per 
hundred  weight,  which  is  cheaper  than  shot  at  forty-four 
shillings,  because  it  wastes  fourteen  pounds  per  hundred 
weight. 

Flints,  cartouch  paper,  gun-worms,  screw-drivers,  camp 
kettles,  haversacks,  hatchets,  felling  axes,  and  pick-axes, 
1  can  get  the  whole  quantity. 

I  am,  Gentlemen,  your  most  obedient  servant, 

Peter  T.  Curtenius. 

S.  PATRICK  TO  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

Orange  Furnace,  July  3,  1775. 

Honoured  Sirs  :  The  subscriber  having  a  furnaee  in 
New- York  Province,  now  in  blast,  would  engage  to  make 
and  deliver  iron  ball,  of  any  given  dimensions,  any  where 
on  the  North  River  where  he  can  with  safety  land  them, 
at  fifteen  Pounds  per  ton  ;  and  as  the  furnace  is  in  blast, 
he  would  execute  any  order  he  might  be  favoured  with 
expeditiously  ;  and  is,  Gentlemen,  your  humble  servant, 

S.  Patrick. 

The  Honourable  the  Provincial  Congress,  assembled  at 
New-  York. 


COLONEL  HINMAN  TO  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

Ticonderoga,  July  3,  1775. 

I  would  inform  you  that  Lieutenant-Colonel  Samuel 
Mott,  who  is  appointed  Engineer  by  the  Colony  of  Con- 
necticut, arrived  here  yesterday.  He  has  taken  a  survey 
of  the  fortresses  at  Fort  George  and  this  place,  and  is  of 
the  opinion  that  they  are  altogether  indefensible,  should  an 
attempt  be  made  with  artillery.  Should  a  number  of  troops 
arrive  from  Canada  sufficient  to  keep  the  field,  (a  thing  not 
improbable,)  these  posts  must  of  consequence  fall  into  their 
hands.  You  will  therefore  see  the  necessity  of  an  augmen- 
tation of  troops  being  immediately  sent,  as  well  as  a  supply 
of  gunpowder,  of  which  we  are  almost  destitute.  The 
importance  of  maintaining  these  posts  for  the  benefit  of 
your  Province  in  particular,  and  of  the  united  Colonies  in 
general,  is  such,  that  no  arguments  need  be  used  to  enforce 
the  speedy  execution  of  some  wise  and  spirited  measures 
for  their  defence. 

It  is  my  opinion  that  a  sufficient  number  of  troops  should 
be  stationed  at  Fort  George,  with  a  constant  scouting  party, 
in  order  to  prevent  any  sudden  attack  from  the  enemy,  and 
to  keep  open  a  safe  communication  with  Albany.  I  pur- 
pose forthwith  to  throw  up  an  intrenchment  around  the 
redoubt  at  Crown  Point,  in  order  to  render  the  place  more 
defensible. 

My  men  are  daily  on  fatigue,  in  repairing  bridges,  mend- 
ing highways,  removing  the  cannon,  and  other  necessary 
employments,  so  that  you  will  readily  see  how  inadequate 
my  numbers  are  to  the  performance  of  all  these  duties, 
with  that  speed  and  safety  the  necessity  of  the  case  requires. 

I  think  it  is  absolutely  necessary  that  a  Captain's  com- 
pany, of  those  intended  for  this  department,  with  suitable 
implements,  be  immediately  directed  to  repair  the  roads 
and  bridges  in  their  way  to  Fort  George,  since  it  will  be 
impracticable  for  the  wagons  to  pass  much  longer,  in  the 
wretched  condition  they  are  in  at  present,  especially  that 
part  between  the  Half-Moon  and  Fort  George. 

The  troops  to  be  forwarded  should  be  furnished  with 
tents,  a  thing  of  absolute  necessity,  inasmuch  as  the  bar- 
racks are  more  crowded  already  than  is  either  for  the  con- 
venience or  health  of  the  soldiery.  Sundry  gentlemen,  of 
late,  have  made  application  to  pass  these  posts.-with  letters 
of  recommendation  from  the  several  Congresses.  I  should 
therefore  think  it  proper  that  the  letters  theyi/Dring  with 
them  should  be  certified,  as  to  their  number,  and  to  whom 
directed,  in  order  to  prevent  the  communication  of  any  in- 
telligence which  might  disserve  the  interest  of  the  united 
Colonies. 

Captain  Edward  Mott,  who  will  wait  on  you  with  this, 


1539 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  kc,  JULY,  1775. 


1540 


will  give  you  farther  information  to  whatever  questions  you 
will  think  proper  to  ask,  as  to  the  state  and  condition  of 
these  fortresses,  and  will  forward  any  commands  you  will 
think  proper  to  send. 

I  am,  Sir,  with  respect,  your  very  humble  servant, 

Benjamin  Hinman,  Colonel. 

To  Peter  V.  B.  Livingston,  President  of  the  Provincial 
Congress,  New-  York. 


WALTER  SPOONER  TO  THE  CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS. 

Springfield,  July  3,  1775. 

May  it  please  your  Honours  :  The  Congress  of  the 
Colony  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay,  on  the  14th  day  of  June 
last,  appointed  Walter  Spooner,  Jedediah  Foster,  and 
James  Sullivan,  a  Committee  to  repair  to  the  Fortresses 
of  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point,  on  the  Lake  Champlain, 
to  inquire  into  the  importance  of  holding  those  posts,  and 
the  method  by  which  they  may  be  maintained  ;  to  establish, 
in  the  pay  of  said  Colony,  so  many  men  to  defend  the  same 
posts  as  they  should  judge  necessary,  not  exceeding  four 
hundred.  And  the  said  Committee  were  also  by  the  said 
Congress  directed,  when  they  should  have  made  themselves 
fully  acquainted  with  the  situation  and  importance  of  said 
posts,  respectfully  to  signify  their  thoughts  thereon  to  your 
Honours. 

Wherefore,  by  order  of  said  Committee,  I  take  leave  to 
inform  you,  that  it  is  the  opinion  of  said  Committee,  that 
such  is  the  importance  of  those  fortresses,  that  should  they 
once  be  in  the  hands  of  the  enemies  to  America,  the  Co- 
lony of  New-York,  together  with  the  New- England  Colo- 
nies, would  be  in  continual  danger  of  having  depredations 
committed  on  them  by  the  regular  forces  who  would  be 
possessed  of  those  garrisons ;  and  should  the  Canadians 
and  savages  (who  we  hope  are  not  yet  at  enmity  with  us) 
be  inclined  to  take  part  with  the  Ministerial  Army,  the  dis- 
tress of  the  Colonies  before-mentioned  must  be  extremely 
great. 

A  garrison  at  the  south  end  of  Lake  George,  however 
tenable,  could  be  of  but  little  service  to  the  New-England 
Colonies  ;  because  the  most  easy  route  for  an  army  from 
Quebeck  into  New-England,  would  be  through  Lake 
Champlain  to  South-Bay,  from  whence  they  might  travel 
by  land  through  the  new  settlements  of  New-York  into 
the  New-England  Governments,  and  destroy  the  frontier 
Towns  on  their  march  ;  drive  the  farmers  from  their  fields  ; 
prevent  the  large  supplies  of  wheat  and  other  necessaries, 
which  may  soon  be  expected  from  those  new  settlements ; 
send  distress  and  famine  into  the  bowels  of  the  country ; 
and  all  this  without  being  on  a  right  line  within  many  miles 
of  the  south  end  of  Lake  George. 

I  am  also  ordered  by  said  Committee  to  signify  to  your 
Honours,  that  it  is  the  opinion  of  said  Committee  that  the 
defence  of  those  fortresses  must  be  supported  by  holding 
the  command  of  Lake  Champlain,  which  they  conceive 
may  be  more  easily  done  by  having  vessels  of  various  con- 
structions, well  manned,  armed,  and  floating  there ;  for 
which  purpose  the  Committee  have  stationed  four  hundred 
men  there,  which  are  all  that  the  embarrassed  circumstances 
of  our  Colony  can  at  present  admit  of,  to  co-operate  with 
near  a  thousand  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Hinman, 
who  is  sent  to  those  posts  by  the  Government  of  Con- 
necticut. But  whether  the  forces  now  on  the  lake  are  suf- 
ficient for  the  purposes  aforementioned,  your  Honours  will 
judge. 

I  am,  with  due  respect,  in  behalf  of  said  Committee, 
your  Honours'  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

Walter  Spooner. 
To  the  Hon.  President  and  Members  of  the  American  Con- 
gress now  sitting  at  Philadelphia. 


WALTER  SPOONER  TO  THE  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

Springfield,  July  3,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  Notwithstanding  the  many  calamities  that 
the  Colony  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay  now  struggles  under, 
the  Congress  there  are  resolutely  determined  to  leave 
nothing  within  their  power  undone  which  may  have  a 
probable  tendency  to  preserve  the  rights  and  property  of 
the  American  Colonies.  In  pursuance  of  this  resolution, 
they,  on  the  14th  day  of  June  last,  appointed  a  Commit- 


tee, whereof  I  have  the  honour  to  be  chairman,  to  proceed 
to  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point,  to  inquire  into  the  im- 
portance of  holding  these  posts ;  and  among  other  things, 
beg  leave  to  signify  to  you  their  thoughts  on  the  subject. 
The  Committee  have  made  those  inquiries,  as  they  were 
directed,  and  have  ordered  me  to  take  leave  to  inform  you 
that  it  is  their  opinion,  that  should  the  fortresses  on  Luke 
Champlain  fall  into  the  hands  of  our  enemies,  the  Colony 
of  Neiv-  York,  with  the  New-England  Colonies,  must  be 
in  the  utmost  insecurity;  for  the  enemy  might  land  at  the 
southern  end  of  a  part  of  the  waters  of  Lake  Champlain, 
called  South-Bay,  from  whence,  as  Fort  Edward  is  razed 
to  the  foundation,  there  is  nothing  to  check  them,  or  pre- 
vent them  spreading  fire  and  devastation  down  to  Albany, 
and  over  all  the  frontier  Towns  eastward,  in  Neio-York 
and  the  Neiv-England  Colonies. 

Wherefore,  it  is  the  opinion  of  the  Committee,  that  all 
possible  care  ought  to  be  taken  to  keep  the  command  of 
Lake  Champlain,  which,  perhaps,  may  be  more  easily 
effected  by  armed  vessels  of  various  constructions,  than 
otherwise. 

The  Committee  have  established  on  the  lakes,  in  the  pay 
of  the  Massachusetts  Colony,  four  hundred  effective  men, 
with  proper  officers,  which  are  all  that  the  distressed  state 
of  the  Colony  can  at  present  admit  of;  which  Regiment, 
from  the  peculiar  embarrassment  which  that  Colony  is  now 
labouring  under,  must  look  for  present  supplies  of  provisions 
to  the  Colony  of  New-  York. 

While  the  Committee  were  at  the  posts  above  mentioned, 
there  was  a  dangerous  mutiny  set  on  foot  by  some  persons 
employed  by  Colonel  Arnold,  an  officer  of  our  Colony, 
who  appeared  to  have  their  own  interest  more  at  heart  than 
the  publick  good,  which,  had  it  not  been  for  the  influence 
and  well-timed  exertions  of  Judge  Duer,  a  gentleman  of 
the  County  of  Charlotte,  in  your  Colony,  and  the  principal 
officers  of  the  Connecticut  Forces,  might  have  been  attend- 
ed with  fatal  consequences.  As  the  Committee  suppose 
the  Colony  they  serve  to  be  under  great  obligations  to  that 
worthy  gentleman,  they  cannot  but  inform  his  own  Govern- 
ment of  his  zealous  exertions  for  the  publick  good. 

1  am,  with  due  respect,  in  behalf  of  the  Committee,  your 
most  obedient  humble  servant, 

Walter  Spooner. 
To  the  Hon.  President  and  Members  of  the  Convention  of 
the  Colony  of  New-  York. 


WALTER  SPOONER  TO  GOVERNOUR  TRUMBULL. 

Springfield,  July  3,  1775. 

May  it  please  your  Honour:  When  the  Congress  of 
the  Colony  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay  were  informed  that 
your  Government  had  sent  Colonel  Hinman  to  Lake 
Champlain,  with  a  thousand  men,  to  defend  the  important 
posts  there,  it  was  with  the  deepest  concern  that  they  saw 
lie  was  not  commander-in-chief  of  those  fortresses  and 
their  appendages,  and  immediately  despatched  a  Commit- 
tee, whereof  I  have  the  honour  to  be  chairman,  to  let  the 
commander  of  their  forces  know,  that  it  was  the  expecta- 
tion of  our  Congress,  that  the  Commander-in-Chief  of  the 
Connecticut  Forces  should  be  over  our  officers  and  privates. 
The  Committee  was  also  ordered  respectfully  to  signify  to 
your  Honour  their  opinion  of  the  necessity  of  holding  those 
fortresses,  as  also  of  the  most  expedient  method  to  do  it. 

Whereupon,  they  proceeded,  and  at  Crown  Point  let 
Colonel  Arnold  know  that  it  was  expected  he  should  give 
up  the  command  of  the  garrisons,  &lc,  to  Colonel  Hinman, 
and  be  under  him  as  his  chief  officer  there ;  but  he  de- 
clined it,  and  declared  that  he  would  not  be  second  to  any 
man,  disbanded  his  forces,  and  resigned  his  commission.  A 
majority  of  his  men  engaged  anew  under  Colonel  James 
Easton,  who  the  Committee  appointed,  under  the  Com- 
mander of  the  forces  of  your  Government  on  the  lakes 
to  be  regulated  by  your  martial  law.  And  the  Committee 
left  the  garrisons  and  appendages  in  peace,  with  much 
satisfaction,  commanded  by  Colonel  Hinman,  who,  they  are 
confident,  is  fully  equal  to  the  appointment. 

The  Committee  also  order  me  to  inform  your  Honour, 
that  it  is  their  opinion,  that  the  abandoning  the  posts  on 
Lake  Champlain  would  probably  prove  the  utter  ruin  of 
the  New-England  Governments  ;  and  that  they  apprehend 
armed  vessels,  floating  batteries,  &c,  will  be  the  surest 


1541 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JULY,  1775. 


1542 


means  of  commanding  the  lakes.  The  Committee  would 
write  your  Honour  more  fully  on  this  subject,  but  they  are 
convinced,  from  the  letters  you  have  favoured  our  Congress 
with,  that  you  are  fully  possessed  of  the  importance  of 
holding  those  fortresses. 

Justice  compels  the  Committee  to  let  your  Honour  know, 
that  on  Colonel  Arnold's  refusing  to  serve  under  Colonel 
Hinman,  a  mutiny  arose  amongst  some  of  Arnold's  men, 
who  would  not  engage  anew  in  our  service,  which  seemed 
to  be  attended  with  dangerous  symptoms  ;  but  by  the  noble 
exertions  of  the  officers  of  your  Government,  with  those 
of  Judge  Duer,  of  Charlotte  County,  in  the  Colony  of 
New-York,  and  the  ample  support  by  them  rendered  to 
the  Committee  in  the  most  difficult  situation,  it  was  happily 
quelled.  The  particulars  of  it  are  too  tedious  and  disagree- 
able for  your  Honour's  attention,  while  you  have  constantly 
business  of  the  last  importance  before  you.  But  this  much 
the  Committee  order  me  to  take  leave  to  say,  that  from 
the  polite,  generous,  and  manly  disposition  of  Colonel 
Hinman,  and  the  officers  in  the  Connecticut  Forces  under 
him,  we  may  gather  the  most  happy  prospects  of  a  cam- 
paign at  the  Northward  replete  with  honour  and  interest 
to  the  Colonies. 

I  am,  in  behalf  of  the  Committee,  your  Honour's  most 
obedient  humble  servant,  Walter  Spooner. 

Honourable  Jonathan  Trumbull,  Esq. 


GOVERNOUR  WE  NT  WORTH  TO  SECRETARY  ATKINSON. 

Castle  William  and  Mary,  July  3,  1775. 

Dear  Sir  :  I  have  occasion  to  inspect  the  books  of 
Charters  in  the  Secretary's  Office,  and  to  make  some  min- 
utes out  of  them.  I  desire  you  will  deliver  them  to  the 
bearer  for  that  purpose,  and  I  will  be  responsible  for  their 
safety  and  return  into  the  Secretary's  Office.  I  am,  dear 
Sir,  yours,  he,  J.  Wentworth. 

Honourable  Theodore  Atkinson,  Esq. 


CONGRESS  OF  NEW-HAMPSHIRE  TO  THE  MASSACHUSETTS 
CONGRESS. 

Exeter,  July  3,  1775. 

Gentlemen:  We  take  the  earliest  opportunity  to  con- 
vey to  you  some  intelligence  we  have  just  received  from 
Canada,  by  the  way  of  Mr.  Dean,  a  Missionary,  lately 
come  from  that  country.  We  enclose  copies  of  two  letters 
from  Doctor  TVheelock,  and  from  a  Committee  in  Hanover. 
Mr.  Wheelock  and  Colonel  Bedel,  who  will  take  the  charge 
of  this,  will  be  able  to  give  you,  perhaps,  some  further  par- 
ticulars. We  wish  to  have,  as  soon  as  possible,  your  judg- 
ment on  the  matter,  and  shall  probably  defer  acting  until 
we  hear  from  you.  If  any  plan  of  operation  towards,  or 
in  Canada,  is  suitable,  we  wish  to  act  in  concert  with  you 
and  the  other  Colonies  in  the  neighbourhood.  We  trust 
we  shall  not  be  backward  in  exerting  ourselves  in  the  com- 
mon defence ;  but  would  act  with  caution  in  a  matter  of 
importance. 

We  are,  with  respect,  gentlemen,  your  friends  and 
brethren  in  the  common  cause. 

In  the  name  and  by  order  of  the  Congress : 

Matthew  Thornton,  President. 

REVEREND  DOCTOR  WHEELOCK  TO  THE  NEW-HAMPSHIRE 
CONGRESS. 

Dartmouth  College,  June  28,  1775. 
Much  respected  Gentlemen  :  Yesterday  Mr.  Dean 
returned  from  his  tour  to  Canada,  on  which  I  sent  him  in 
the  capacity  of  a  Missionary,  last  March,  with  a  view  to 
strengthen  and  perpetuate  the  friendship  which  has  lately 
commenced  between  the  Indian  tribes  in  that  quarter  and 
the  Seminary,  to  attach  them  to  these  Colonies,  and  secure 
these  frontiers  from  an  invasion  from  that  quarter.  And 
on  hearing  his  narrative,  the  intelligence  appeared  so  inte- 
resting, and  the  authority  so  good,  that  I  thought  best  to 
send  him  forward  immediately  to  the  honourable  Conti- 
nental Congress,  whose  determination  I  thought  would  pro- 
bably be  governed  in  some  important  respects  by  his  ac- 
counts. 

The  Tribes  of  Indians  near  Montreal  and  Quebeck  are 
doubtless  well  affected  towards  these  Colonies  and  the 
cause  we  are  engaged  in.    But  about  forty  savages  from  a 


great  distance,  came  into  Montreal,  with  a  profession  of 
coming  to  a  Congress  or  treaty,  we  understand,  at  the  de- 
sire of  the  Governour,  who  ordered  the  Commissary  to 
make  provision  for  the  entertainment  of  three  hundred 
more,  by  which  he  supposed  the  number  was  expected 
soon.  The  neighbouring  tribes  will  none  of  them  join  with 
the  savages,  excepting  that  the  Caughnawagas,  to  save 
themselves  from  being  distressed,  have  engaged  to  assist  in 
defending  him  at  Montreal,  but  to  go  no  further,  and  gave 
the  fullest  evidence  that  this  concession  was  only  for  self- 
preservation  ;  and  Mr.  Dean  is  confident  that  the  Governour 
cannot  persuade  an  Indian  there  so  much  as  to  conduct 
those  foreigners  through  the  roads  to  our  settlements.  He 
further  informs,  that  the  inhabitants  of  Canada  were  much 
alarmed  at  our  people's  taking  the  forts  on  the  lake ;  and 
that  upon  it,  they  (the  Regulars)  exerted  themselves  much 
in  preparing  themselves  for  an  attack  from  our  soldiers; 
and  that  this  appeared  to  be  their  grand  object  when  he 
left  the  place.  But  my  son,  who  comes  on  purpose,  can 
give  you  a  more  full  and  particular  account  of  this  and  of 
the  present  state  of  Oswego,  &.c.  And  I  would  humbly 
propose  to  your  consideration,  gentlemen,  whether  it  be 
not  expedient,  and  of  the  first  and  greatest  importance  to 
the  safety  of  the  whole,  that  all  these  frontier  Towns  be 
well  and  speedily  supplied  with  arms  and  ammunition,  and 
as  much  as  they  can,  to  put  themselves  into  a  posture  of 
defence  ;  and  that  in  order  hereto,  some  method  to  procure 
such  stores  be  pointed  out  to  them  by  the  honourable  Con- 
gress ;  and  also  some  means  be  provided  to  make  it  prac- 
ticable by  such  as  are  poor  and  unable  to  purchase  for 
themselves. 

I  most  heartily  pray  the  Father  of  lights  to  direct  you  in 
your  consultations  and  determinations  on  this  most  interest- 
ing affair;  and  am,  much  respected  gentlemen,  your  most 
obedient  and  very  humble  servant, 

Eleazer  Wheelock. 
To  the  Honourable  Provincial  Congress  now  sitting  at 

Exeter. 

P.  S.  My  son  can  inform  you  of  the  measures  used  by 
the  Canadian  Indians  to  engage  all  their  allies  not  to  join 
against  us. 

Since  I  wrote  the  foregoing  letter,  I  have  seen  a  man 
direct  from  Albany,  and  late  from  Mount  Johnson,  who 
informs  me  that  Colonel  G.  Johnson  has  lately  received 
presents  to  the  amount  of  three  thousand  Pounds,  from  the 
King,  to  be  disposed  of  to  engage  the  Indians  within  his 
jurisdiction  against  the  Colonies ;  and  that  all  his  endea- 
vours for  that  purpose  have  been  fruitless.  Not  one  of  the 
Indians  would  go  to  receive  the  presents.  That  said  Su- 
perintendent has  withdrawn,  with  his  family  and  presents, 
by  the  way  of  Oswego;  but  where  he  is  going  is  not 
known.  That  the  Mohawks  and  Oneidas  are  firm  for  the 
Colonies  ;  which  also  agrees  with  other  accounts. 

COMMITTEES   OF   HANOVER   AND   LEBANON   TO   THE  NEW- 
HAMPSHIRE  CONGRESS. 

Hanover,  June  27,  1775. 
Sir  :  Mr.  Dean  having  yesterday  returned  from  Canada, 
with  intelligence  which  we  apprehend  of  importance,  we 
think  it  our  duty  forthwith  to  communicate  it  to  the  Pro- 
vincial Congress ;  and  as  sundry  Members  of  the  Conti- 
nental Congress  have  desired  Mr.  Dean's  attendance  at 
Philadelphia,  as  soon  as  he  returned  from  his  mission,  for 
which  place  he  sets  out  to-morrow,  we  have  desired  Mr. 
John  Wheelock  to  take  the  journey  to  Exeter,  to  commu- 
nicate the  intelligence  to  your  honourable  House,  with  as 
much  speed  and  accuracy  as  possible,  not  doubting  your 
approbation  of  our  procedure  therein. 

We  are,  Sir,  your  most  obedient  and  most  humble  ser- 
vants, Edmund  Freeman,      Jona.  Freeman, 
Beza  Woodward,       Israel  Curtis, 
John  Wright, 
Committee  of  Inspection  and  Correspondence  for  Hanover. 

John  Griswold,     S.  Waterman, 
John  Williams,     Jedediah  Hubbard, 
Committee  of  Inspection  and  Correspondence  for  Lebanon. 

To  Colonel  M.  Thornton,  President  of  the  Provincial 
Congress  in  New- Hampshire. 


1543 


GEORGIA  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JULY,  1775. 


1544 


PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS  OF  GEORGIA. 

At  a  Provincial  Congress  held  agreeable  to  appointment, 
at  Tondee's  Long  Room,  at  Savannah,  on  the  4th  day  of 
July,  1775,  and  continued  from  day  to  day,  the  following 
persons  were  returned  duly  elected,  viz: 
Town  and  District  of  Savannah. — Archibald  Bullock, 
Noble  Wimberly  Jones,  Joseph  Habersham,  Jonathan 
Bryan,  Ambrose  Wright,  William  Young,  John  Glen, 
Samuel  Elbert,  John  Houstoun,  Oliver  Bowen,  John 
McCluer,  Edward  Telfair,  Thomas  Lee,  George  Hous- 
toun, Joseph  Reynolds,  John  Smith,  William  Ewen, 
John  Martin,  Doctor  Zubly,  Willia7n  Bryan,  Philip 
Box,  Philip  Allman,  William  O'Bryan,  Joseph  Clay, 
Seth  John  Cuthbert. 
District  of  Vernonbubgh. — Joseph  Butler*  Andrew 

Elton  Wells,  Matthew  Hoche,  Junior. 
District  of  Acton. — David  Zubly,  Basil  Cowper,  Wil- 
liam Gibbons. 

Sea-Island  Distbict. — Colonel  Deveaux,  Colonel  De 
Le  Gall,  James  Bulloch,  John  Morel,  John  Bohun 
Gerreadicu,  John  Barnard,  Robert  Gibson. 

District  of  Little  Ogechee. — Francis  Henry  Harris, 
Joseph  Gibbons,  James  Robertson.* 

Parish  of  St.  Matthew. — John  Stirk,  John  Adam 
Treutlen,  George  Walton,  Edward  Jones,  Jacob  Wald- 
hauer,  Philip  Howell,  Isaac  Young,  Jenkin  Davis, 
John  Morel,  John  Fieri,  Charles  McKay,  Christopher 
Cramer. 

Parish  of  St.  Philip. — Colonel  Butler,  William  Le 
Conte,  William  Maxwell,  Stephen  Drayton,  Adam 
Fowler  Brisbane,  Luke  Mann,  Hugh  Bryan. 

Parish  of  St.  George. — Henry  Jones,  John  Green, 
Thomas  Burton,  William  Lord,  David  Lewis,  Benja- 
min Lewis,  James  Pugh,  John  Fulton. 

Parish  of  St.  Andrew. — Jonathan  Cochran,  William 
Jones,  Peter  Tarlin,  Lachlan  Mcintosh,  William  Mc- 
intosh, George  Threadcraft,  John  Wereat,  Roderick 
Mcintosh,  John  Witherspoon,  George  Mcintosh,  Allan 
Stuart,  John  Mcintosh,  Raymond  Demere. 

Parish  of  St.  David. — Seth  John  Cuthbert,  William 
Williams,  Senior. 

Parish  of  St.  Mart. — Daniel  Ryan. 

Parish  of  St.  Thomas. — John  Roberts. 

Parish  of  St.  Paul. — John  Walton,  Joseph  Maddock* 
Andrew  Burns,  Robert  Rae,  James  Rae,  Andrew 
Moore,  Andrew  Barney,  Leonard  Marbury. 

Parish  of  St.  John. — James  Screven,  Nathan  Brotvnson, 
Daniel  Roberts,  John  Baker,  Sen.,  John  Bacon,  Sen., 
James  Maxwell,  Edward  Ball,  William  Baker,  Sen., 
William  Bacon,  Jr.,  John  Stevens,  John  Winn,  Sen. 

Those  marked  *  declined  taking  their  seats. 

Archibald  Bullock,  Esq.,  being  proposed  as  President, 
was  unanimously  elected  ;  and  George  Walton,  Esq.,  being 
proposed  as  Secretary,  was  also  unanimously  elected. 

The  Congress  then  adjourned  to  the  Meeting-House  of 
the  Reverend  Doctor  Zubly,  where  he  preached  a  sermon 
on  the  alarming  state  of  American  affairs. 

The  Congress  being  returned,  a  motion  was  made  and 
seconded,  that  the  thanks  of  this  Congress  be  given  to  the 
Rev.  Doctor  Zubly,  for  the  excellent  Sermon  he  preached 
this  day  to  the  Members  ;  which  being  unanimously  agreed 
to,  it  was  Ordered,  That  Basil  Cowper,  Joseph  Clay, 
John  Houstoun,  John  Glen,  and  George  Houstoun,  Esqrs., 
be  a  Committee  for  that  purpose. 

Wednesday,  July  5,  1775. 

A  motion  was  made  and  seconded,  that  this  Congress 
apply  to  his  Excellency  the  Governour,  by  message,  re- 
questing him  to  appoint  a  day  of  Fasting  and  Prayer 
throughout  this  Province,  on  account  of  the  disputes  sub- 
sisting between  America  and  the  Parent  State ;  which 
being  unanimously  passed  in  the  affirmative,  it  was 

Ordered,  That  Doctor  Zubly,  William  Young,  Joseph 
Clay,  Stephen  Drayton,  and  William  Maxivell,  be  a  Com- 
mittee for  that  purpose. 

Copy  of  the  Message. 
May  it  please  tour  Excellency:  The  Provincial 
Congress,  deeply  concerned  at  the  present  alarming  state 


of  affairs,  and  the  distresses  of  America,  humbly  request 
that  your  Excellency  would  appoint  a  day  of  Fasting  and 
Prayer,  to  be  observed  throughout  this  Province,  that  a 
happy  reconciliation  may  soon  take  place  between  America 
and  the  Parent  State,  and  that,  under  the  auspicious  reign 
of  His  Majesty  and  his  descendants,  both  Countries  may 
remain  united,  virtuous,  free,  and  happy,  till  time  shall  he 
no  more. 

By  order  of  the  Congress  : 

Archibald  Bulloch,  President. 

The  President  being  informed  by  the  Messenger,  that 
John  Jamicson  and  John  Simpson,  Esquires,  were  in  wait- 
ing, and  desired  to  be  admitted ;  which  being  agreed  to, 
they  were  desired  to  walk  in.  They  then  produced  and 
delivered  in  to  the  President  a  Paper  containing  several 
Resolutions  entered  into  by  a  number  of  persons,  inhabi- 
tants of  the  Town  of  Savannah  ;  which  was  ordered  to  be 
read,  and  is  as  follows,  viz: 

"  At  a  meeting  of  several  of  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Town 
of  Savannah,  at  Mrs.  Cuyler's,  on  Friday,  the  13th  of 
June,  1775,  John  Mullryne,  Esq.,  in  the  chai^ ;  Joseph 
Clay,  James  Mossman,  Rev.  Mr.  J.  J.  Zubly,  John  Simp- 
son, Noble  Wimberly  Jones,  John  Jamieson,  William 
Moss,  John  Glen,  Josiah  Tattnall,  John  Graham,  Lewis 
Johnston,  William  Young,  Richard  Wylly,  Andrew  Mc- 
Lean, Basil  Cowper,  Philip  Moore,  George  Houstoun, 
Joseph  Butler,  James  Read,  Thomas  Ricd,  William  Pan- 
tori,  James  Edward  Powell,  William  Strut  hers,  Alexander 
McGowen,  John  C.  Lucena,  Thomas  Sherman,  J.  N. 
Faming,  Levi  Sheftall,  Charles  Hamilton,  George  Spen- 
cer, William  Brown,  Junior,  Francis  Courvoizie,  James 
Anderson. 

"  Whereas,  publick  confusions  and  grievances  are  much 
increased  by  private  dissensions  and  animosities : 

"Resolved,  therefore,  nem.  con.,  That  we  will  use  our 
utmost  endeavours  to  preserve  the  peace  and  good  order 
of  this  Province :  and  that  no  person  behaving  himself 
peaceably  and  inoffensively,  shall  be  molested  in  his  per- 
son or  property,  or  even  in  his  private  sentiments,  while 
he  expresses  them  with  decency,  and  without  any  illiberal 
reflections  upon  others. 

"  Whereas,  the  acts  for  raising  a  perpetual  revenue  in 
America,  and  all  the  measures  used  to  enforce  these  acts, 
are  not  partial  but  general  grievances,  and  it  is  more  likely 
that  redress  will  be  obtained  by  the  joint  endeavours  of  all 
who  may  think  these  acts  unconstitutional  or  oppressive, 
than  by  any  measure  that  might  be  taken  singly  by  indi- 
viduals ;  therefore, 

"  Resolved,  That  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  meeting,  (as  a 
proper  measure  to  be  pursued,  because  the  General  Assem- 
bly is  not  now  sitting,  from  whom  an  application  to  the 
Throne  must  be  very  proper,  and  as  no  time  should  be 
lost,)  that  a  humble,  dutiful,  and  decent  Petition  be  ad- 
dressed to  His  Majesty,  expressive  of  the  sense,  appre- 
hensions, and  feelings  of  all  such  as  may  choose  to  sub- 
scribe such  a  Petition,  which  it  is  hoped  will  be  done  by 
every  man  in  the  Province  ;  and  it  is  therefore  the  wish  of 
this  meeting,  that  such  a  measure  be  adopted  by  the  Pro- 
vincial Congress,  intended  to  be  held  on  Tuesday  next, 
the  fourth  of  July. 

"  Resolved,  That  the  interest  of  this  Province  is  insepa- 
rable from  the  Mother  Country,  and  all  the  sister  Colonies  ; 
and  that  to  separate  themselves  from  the  latter  would  only 
be  throwing  difficulties  in  the  way  of  its  own  relief,  and 
that  of  the  other  Colonies,  and  justly  incurring  the  resent- 
ment of  all  those  to  whose  distress  our  disunion  might  cause 
an  addition. 

"  Resolved,  That  this  Province  ought,  and  it  is  hoped  will 
forthwith  join  the  other  Provinces  in  every  just  and  legal 
measure  to  secure  and  restore  the  liberties  of  all  America, 
and  for  healing  the  unhappy  divisions  now  subsisting  be- 
tween Great  Britain  and  her  Colonies. 

"  Resolved,  That  the  proceedings  of  this  meeting  be  laid 
before  the  Provincial  Congress  on  Tuesday,  the  fourth  day 
of  July  next,  and  that  Mr.  Jamicson  and  Mr.  Simpson  do 
wait  upon  them  with  the  same,  as  recommended  to  them 
by  this  meeting.    By  order  of  the  meeting  : 

"  John  Mullryne." 

A  motion  was  made  and  seconded,  that  the  Paper  above 
mentioned  do  lie  upon  the  table  for  the  perusal  of  the 


1545 


GEORGIA  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JULY,  1775. 


1546 


members ;  which  being  carried,  the  same  was  ordered  to 
lie  upon  the  table  accordingly. 

A  motion  was  made  and  seconded,  that  this  Congress  do 
put  this  Province  upon  the  same  footing  with  our  sister 
Colonies;  which  being  put,  it  was  ordered  that  it  be  taken 
into  consideration  to-morrow  morning. 

Thursday,  July  6,  1775. 

The  Order  of  the  Day  being  read,  the  same  was  taken 
into  consideration,  and,  after  some  deliberation,  it  was 
unanimously 

1.  Resolved,  That  this  Province  will  adopt  and  cany  into 
execution  all  and  singular  the  measures  and  recommenda- 
tions of  the  late  Continental  Congress. 

2.  Resolved,  In  particular,  that  we,  in  behalf  of  our- 
selves and  our  constituents,  do  adopt  and  approve  of  the 
American  Declaration  or  Bill  of  Rights,  published  by  the 
late  Continental  Congress,  and  also  of  their  several  resolves 
made  in  consequence  of  some  infractions  thereof. 

3.  That  from  and  after  this  day  we  will  not  receive  into 
this  Province  any  Goods,  Wares,  or  Merchandise,  shipped 
from  Great  Britain  or  Ireland;  or  from  any  other  place, 
any  such  Goods,  Wares,  or  Merchandises  as  shall  have 
been  exported  from  Great  Britain  or  Ireland;  nor  will 
we  import  any  East-India  Tea  from  any  part  of  the  world, 
nor  any  Molasses,  Syrups,  Paneles,  Coffee,  or  Pimento, 
from  the  British  Plantations,  or  from  Dominica;  nor 
Wines  from  Madeira  or  the  Western  Islands,  nor  foreign 
Indigo. 

4.  That  we  will  neither  import  or  purchase  any  Slave 
imported  from  Africa,  or  elsewhere,  after  this  day. 

5.  As  a  Non-Consumption  Agreement,  strictly  adhered 
to,  will  be  an  effectual  security  for  the  observation  of  the 
Non-Importation,  we,  as  above,  solemnly  agree  and  asso- 
ciate, that,  from  this  day,  we  will  not  purchase  or  use  any 
Tea  imported  on  account  of  the  East-India  Company,  or 
any  on  which  a  duty  hath  or  shall  be  paid  ;  and  we  will 
not  purchase  or  use  any  East-India  Tea  whatever,  nor  will 
we,  nor  shall  any  person  for  or  under  us,  purchase  any  of 
these  Goods,  Wares,  or  Merchandises  we  have  agreed  not 
to  import,  which  we  shall  know,  or  have  cause  to  suspect 
were  imported  after  this  day. 

6.  The  earnest  desire  we  have  not  to  injure  our  fellow- 
subjects  in  Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  and  the  West- 
Indies,  induces  us  to  suspend  a  Non-Exportation  until  the 
tenth  day  of  September,  1775,  at  which  time,  if  the  acts 
and  parts  of  acts  of  the  British  Parliament  hereinafter 
mentioned  are  not  repealed,  we  will  not,  directly  or  indi- 
rectly, export  any  Merchandise  or  commodity  whatsoever 
to  Great  Britain  or  Ireland,  or  the  West-Indies,  except 
Rice  to  Europe. 

7.  Such  as  are  merchants,  and  use  the  British  and 
Irish  trade,  will  give  orders  as  soon  as  possible  to  their 
factors,  agents,  and  correspondents  in  Great  Britain  and 
Ireland,  not  to  ship  any  Goods  to  them,  on  any  pretence 
whatever,  as  they  cannot  be  received  in  this  Province  ;  and 
if  any  merchant  residing  in  Great  Britain  or  Ireland  shall, 
directly  or  indirectly,  ship  any  Goods,  Wares,  or  Merchan- 
dise for  America,  in  order  to  break  the  said  Non-Importa- 
tion Agreement,  or  in  any  manner  contravene  the  same, 
on  such  unworthy  conduct  being  well  attested,  it  ought  to 
be  made  publick,  and  on  the  same  being  so  done,  we  will 
not,  from  thenceforth,  have  any  commercial  connexions 
with  such  merchant. 

8.  That  such  as  are  owners  of  vessels  will  give  positive 
orders  to  their  Captains  or  masters  not  to  receive  on  board 
their  vessels  any  Goods  prohibited  by  the  said  Non-Im- 
portation Agreement,  on  pain  of  immediate  dismission  from 
their  service. 

9.  We  will  use  our  utmost  endeavours  to  improve  the 
breed  of  Sheep,  and  increase  their  numbers  to  the  greatest 
extent ;  and  to  that  end  we  will  kill  them  as  sparingly  as 
may  be,  especially  those  of  the  most  profitable  kind,  nor 
will  export  any  to  the  West-Indies  or  elsewhere;  and  those 
of  us  who  are  or  may  become  overstocked  with,  or  can 
conveniently  spare  any  Sheep,  will  dispose  of  them  to  our 
neighbours,  especially  to  the  poorer  sort,  on  moderate 
terms. 

10.  That  we  will,  in  our  several  stations,  encourage  fru- 
gality, economy,  and  industry,  and  promote  agriculture, 
arts,  and  the  manufactures  of  British  America,  especially 


that  of  Wool;  and  will  discountenance  and  discourage 
every  species  of  extravagance  and  dissipation,  especially 
horse-racing,  and  every  kind  of  gaming,  cock-fighting,  ex- 
hibition of  shows,  plays,  and  other  expensive  diversions  and 
entertainments;  and  on  the  death  of  any  relation  or  friend, 
none  of  us,  or  any  of  our  families,  will  go  into  any  farther 
mourning  dress  than  a  black  crape  or  ribbon  on  the  arm  or 
hat  for  gentlemen,  and  a  black  ribbon  and  necklace  for 
ladies ;  and  we  will  discontinue  the  giving  of  gloves  and 
scarfs  at  funerals. 

11.  That  such  as  are  venders  of  Goods  or  Merchandise 
will  not  take  advantage  of  the  scarcity  of  Goods  that  may 
be  occasioned  by  this  Association,  but  will  sell  the  same  at 
the  rates  we  have  been  respectively  accustomed  to  do  for 
twelve  months  last  past;  and  if  any  vender  of  Goods  or 
Merchandise  shall  sell  any  such  Goods  or  Merchandise  on 
higher  terms,  or  shall  in  any  manner,  or  by  any  device 
whatsoever,  violate  or  depart  from  this  agreement,  no  per- 
son ought,  nor  will  any  of  us  deal  with  any  such  person, 
or  his  or  her  factor  or  agent,  at  any  time  thereafter  for  any 
commodity  whatever. 

12.  In  case  any  merchant,  trader,  or  other  persons  shall 
attempt  to  import  any  Goods  or  Merchandise  into  this 
Province  after  this  day,  the  same  shall  be  forthwith  sent 
back  again,  without  breaking  any  of  the  packages  thereof. 

13.  That  a  Committee  be  chosen  in  every  Town,  Dis- 
trict, and  Parish  within  this  Province,  by  those  who  pay 
towards  the  general  tax,  whose  business  it  shall  be  atten- 
tively to  observe  the  conduct  of  all  persons  touching  this 
Association ;  and  when  it  shall  be  made  appear,  to  the 
satisfaction  of  a  majority  of  any  such  Committee,  that  any 
person  within  the  limits  of  their  appointment  has  violated 
this  Association,  that  such  majority  do  forthwith  cause  the 
truth  of  the  case  to  be  published  in  the  Gazette,  to  the  end 
that  all  such  foes  to  the  rights  of  British  America  may  be 
publickly  known  and  universally  contemned  as  the  ene- 
mies of  American  liberty,  and  thenceforth  we  will  break 
off  all  connexion  with  him  or  her. 

14.  That  a  Committee  of  Correspondence  to  this  Prov- 
ince do  frequently  inspect  the  entries  of  the  Custom-House, 
and  inform  the  Committees  of  the  other  Colonies  which 
have  acceded  to  the  Continental  Association,  from  time  to 
time  of  the  true  state  thereof,  and  of  every  other  material 
circumstance  that  may  occur  relative  to  this  Association. 

15.  That  all  manufactures  of  this  Province  be  sold  at 
reasonable  prices,  so  that  no  undue  advantage  be  taken  of 
a  future  scarcity  of  Goods. 

16.  And  we  do  further  agree  and  resolve,  that  we  will 
have  no  trade,  commerce,  dealings,  or  intercourse  whatso- 
ever with  any  Colony  or  Province  in  North  America  which 
shall  not  accede  to,  or  which  shall  hereafter  violate  this 
Association,  but  will  hold  them  as  unworthy  of  the  rights  of 
freemen,  and  as  inimical  to  the  liberties  of  their  Country. 

And  we  do  solemnly  bind  ourselves  and  our  constituents, 
under  the  ties  of  virtue,  honour,  and  love  of  our  Country, 
to  adhere  to  this  Association,  until  such  parts  of  the  seve- 
ral acts  of  Parliament,  passed  since  the  close  of  the  last 
war,  as  impose  or  continue  duties  upon  Tea,  Wines,  Mo- 
lasses, Syrups,  Paneles,  Coffee,  Sugar,  Pimento,  Indigo, 
foreign  Paper,  Glass,  and  Painters'  Colours,  imported  into 
America ;  and  extend  the  powers  of  the  Admiralty  Courts 
beyond  their  ancient  limits,  deprive  American  subjects  of 
trial  by  Jury,  authorize  the  Judge's  certificate  to  indemnify 
the  prosecutor  from  damages  that  he  might  otherwise  be 
liable  to  from  a  trial  by  his  peers,  require  oppressive  se- 
curity from  claimants  of  Ships  or  Goods  seized  before  he 
is  allowed  to  defend  his  property,  are  repealed  ;  and  until 
that  part  of  the  Act  of  12  George  3,  ch.  24,  entitled  "  An 
Act  for  the  better  securing  His  Majesty's  Dock-Yards, 
Magazines,  Ships,  Ammunition,  and  Stores,"  by  which  any 
person  charged  with  committing  any  of  the  offences  therein 
described  in  America  may  be  tried  within  any  Shire  or 
County  within  the  Realm,  is  repealed  ;  and  until  the  four 
acts  passed  in  the  last  session  of  Parliament,  viz :  that  for 
stopping  the  Port  and  blocking  up  the  Harbour  of  Boston, 
that  for  altering  the  Charter  and  Government  of  the  Mas- 
sachusetts-Bay, and  that  which  is  entitled  "  An  Act  for 
the  better  administration,  &c.,"  and  that  for  extending  the 
limits  of  Quebeck,  fee,  are  repealed  ;  and  until  the  two 
acts  passed  in  the  present  session  of  Parliament,  the  one 
entitled  "  A  Bill  to  restrain  the  Trade  and  Commerce  of 


1547 


GEORGIA  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JULY,  1775. 


1548 


the  Colonies  of  New-Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  Maryland, 
Virginia,  and  South-  Carolina,  to  Great  Britain,  Ireland, 
and  the  British  Islands  in  the  West-Indies,  under  certain 
conditions  and  limitations  ;"  and  the  other,  "  An  Act  com- 
monly called  the  Fishery  Bill." 

Friday,  July  7,  1775. 

The  following  is  his  Excellency's  Answer  to  the  Mes- 
sage of  this  Congress : 

Savannah,  July  7,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  I  have  taken  the  opinion  of  His  Majesty's 

Council  relative  to  the  request  made  by  the  gentlemen  who 

have  assembled  together  by  the  name  of  a  Provincial 

Congress,  and  must  premise,  that  I  cannot  consider  that 

meeting  as  constitutional;  but  as  the  request  is  expressed 

in  such  loyal  and  dutiful  terms,  and  the  ends  proposed 

being  such  as  every  good  man  must  most  ardently  wish 

for,  I  will  certainly  appoint  a  day  of  Fasting  and  Prayer  to 

be  observed  throughout  this  Province.     T  w 

°  Jas.  Wright. 

To  Stephen  Drayton,  Esq.,  and  the  other  Gentlemen  who 
wraited  on  the  Governour. 

A  motion  was  made  and  seconded,  that  the  thanks  of 
this  Congress  be  given  to  his  Excellency  the  Governour, 
for  his  Answer  to  the  Message  of  this  Congress,  and  his 
ready  compliance  with  their  request;  which,  being  put, 
unanimously  passed  in  the  affirmative. 

Ordered,  That  Dr.  Zubly,  John  Smith,  and  Joseph 
Clay,  be  a  Committee  for  that  purpose. 

A  motion  was  made  and  seconded,  that  five  persons  be 
chosen  to  represent  this  Province  in  the  Continental  Con- 
gress appointed  to  be  held  at  the  City  of  Philadelphia  on 
the  10th  of  May  last ;  and  the  question  being  put,  it  passed 
unanimously  in  the  affirmative. 

The  Congress  then  proceeded  to  the  choice,  when  John 
Houstoun  and  Archibald  Bullock,  Esquires,  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Zubly,  Noble  Wimberly  Jones,  and  Lyman  Hall,  Esq's, 
were  duly  elected. 

Dr.  Zubly  expressed  his  surprise  at  being  chosen,  and 
said  that  he  thought  himself,  for  many  reasons,  a  very  im- 
proper person;  but  the  choice  was  insisted  upon,  and  the 
Doctor  declared  he  would  by  no  means  go  unless  he  had 
the  approbation  of  his  congregation;  whereupon,  Noble 
Wimberly  Jones  and  John  Houstoun,  Esquires,  were  ap- 
pointed to  request  their  consent. 

A  motion  was  made  and  seconded,  that  a  Secret  Com- 
mittee be  appointed,  which  being  agreed  to,  it  was 

Resolved,  That  the  President  do  nominate  seven  per- 
sons to  be  that  Committee,  whose  business  it  shall  be  to 
be  vigilant  and  active  in  the  discovery  of  all  matters  which 
may  affect  the  publick ;  and  that  they  shall  have  right  to 
lay  all  such  intelligence  and  information  before  the  Presi- 
dent of  this  Congress  while  sitting,  and  in  its  recess  before 
the  President  of  the  Council  of  Safety,  in  order  that  the 
evil  designs  of  wicked  men  may  be  early  frustrated. 

A  motion  was  made  and  seconded,  that  the  Congress  do 
petition  the  King  upon  the  present  unhappy  situation  of 
affairs ;  which  being  agreed  to,  it  was  ordered  that  Dr. 
Zubly  do  prepare  and  bring  in  the  same. 

A  motion  was  made  and  seconded,  that  a  Letter  be  forth- 
with wrote  to  the  President  of  the  Continental  Congress, 
giving  him  an  account  of  the  proceedings  of  this  Congress  ; 
which  being  agreed  to,  it  was  ordered  that  Dr.  Zubly,  John 
Smith,  William  Young,  William  Le  Contc,  and  William 
Gibbons,  Esquires,  be  a  Committee  for  that  purpose. 

John  Walton,  Esquire,  who  was  elected  as  well  for 
Wrightsborough  Township  as  for  the  Town  and  District  of 
Augusta,  came  in  and  took  his  seat  for  the  former. 

A  motion  was  made  and  seconded,  that  an  Address  be 
presented  to  his  Excellency  the  Governour  by  this  Con- 
gress ;  which  being  agreed  to,  it  was  ordered  that  Dr. 
Zubly,  Basil  Cowpcr,  John  Walton,  Joseph  Clay,  and 
Edward  Telfair,  be  a  Committee  to  draw  up  the  same. 

Saturday,  July  8,  1775. 
Resolved,  That  this  Congress  are  of  opinion  that  the 
Paper  delivered  into  this  Congress  on  the  second  day  of 
its  meeting,  ought  not  to  have  been  entitled  or  dressed 


in  the  form  of  Resolves,  but  rather  as  recommendations, 
or  in  nature  of  a  Petition  or  Address  to  this  Congress. 

Resolved,  nevertheless,  from  the  desire  this  Congress 
hath  to  promote  union  and  concord  among  ourselves,  and 
as  it  does  not  appear  that  the  said  Paper  was  intended  to 
be  considered  as  coming  from  a  distinct  or  independent 
body,  that  therefore  the  matter  contained  in  the  same  (be- 
ing such  as  is  in  the  general  agreeable  to  us)  shall  be  duly- 
considered  and  attended  to. 

A  motion  was  made  and  seconded,  that  a  sum,  not  ex- 
ceeding Ten  Thousand  Pounds  sterling,  be  provided  to 
defray  the  necessary  services  of  this  Province  in  the  pre- 
sent alarming  and  distracted  state  of  affairs,  which  passed 
unanimously  in  the  affirmative. 

A  motion  was  then  made  and  seconded,  that  the  Con- 
gress resolve  itself  into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole,  to  con- 
sider ways  and  means  for  raising  and  sinking  the  said  sum 
of  Ten  Thousand  Pounds  sterling  ;  which  being  agreed  to, 
the  Congress  resolved  itself  into  a  Committee  accordingly. 

The  President  having  resumed  the  Chair,  Mr.  Clay, 
from  the  Committee  of  the  Whole  Congress,  reported,  that 
they  had  entered  upon  the  consideration  of  ways  and 
means,  had  made  some  progress  therein,  and  desired  leave 
to  sit  again. 

The  President  reported  to  the  Congress  that  he  had,  in 
obedience  to  the  resolution  of  yesterday,  nominated  seven 
persons  to  be  a  Secret  Committee. 

Doctor  Zubly,  who  was  ordered  to  prepare  and  bring 
in  a  Petition  to  His  Majesty,  reported  that  he  had  done  so, 
and  produced  a  Paper  containing  the  same,  which  he  de- 
livered in  to  the  President;  and  the  said  Paper  being  read, 
and  approved  of,  it  was  Resolved  that  the  President  do 
sign  the  same. 

A  motion  was  made  and  seconded,  that  a  Committee  of 
Intelligence  be  appointed;  which  being  agreed  to,  it  was 

Ordered,  That  William  Young,  David  Zubly,  Ste- 
phen Drayton,  Daniel  Roberts,  John  Glen,  Edward  Tel- 
fair, William  Ewen,  Joseph  Clay,  and  George  Walton, 
Esquires,  be  that  Committee. 

William  Young,  Esquire,  of  the  Committee  appointed 
to  write  a  Letter  to  the  President  of  the  Continental  Con- 
gress, reported,  that  they  had  done  so,  and  delivered  a 
Paper  in  to  the  President  containing  the  same  ;  which 
being  read,  and  approved  of,  it  was 

Resolved,  That  the  President  do  sign  the  same,  and 
that  it  be  forthwith  sent. 

Monday,  July  10,  1 775. 

The  following  Resolves  were  unanimously  entered  into  : 

Whereas,  by  the  unrelenting  fury  of  a  despotick  Minis- 
try, with  a  view  to  enforce  the  most  oppressive  Acts  of  a 
venal  and  corrupted  Parliament,  an  army  of  mercenaries, 
under  an  unfeeling  commander,  has  actually  begun  a  civil 
war  in  Americn:  and  whereas,  the  apparent  iniquity  and 
cruelty  of  these  destructive  measures  have,  however,  had 
this  good  effect,  to  unite  men  of  all  ranks  in  the  common 
cause :  and  whereas,  to  consult  on  means  of  safety,  and 
the  method  of  obtaining  redress,  the  good  people  of  this 
Province  of  Georgia  have  thought  proper  to  appoint  a 
Provincial  Congress,  the  Delegates  met  at  the  said  Con- 
gress, now  assembled  from  every  part  of  the  Province, 
besides  adopting  the  Resolutions  of  the  late  Continental 
Congress,  find  it  prudent  to  enter  into  such  other  Resolu- 
tions as  may  best  express  their  own  sense  and  the  sense 
of  their  constituents,  on  the  present  unhappy  situation  of 
things,  and  therefore  thought  fit  and  necessary  to  resolve 
as  follows,  viz : 

Resolved,  That  we  were  born  free,  have  all  the  feelings 
of  men,  and  are  entitled  to  all  the  natural  rights  of  mankind. 

Resolved,  That  by  birth  or  incorporation  we  are  all  Bri- 
tons, and  whatever  Britons  may  claim  as  their  birthrights 
is  also  ours. 

Resolved,  That  in  the  British  Empire,  to  which  we 
belong,  the  Constitution  is  superiour  to  every  man  or  set 
of  men  whatever,  and  that  it  is  a  crime  of  the  deepest 
dye,  in  any  instance,  to  impair  or  take  it  away,  or  deprive 
the  meanest  subject  of  its  benefits. 

Resolved,  That  that  part  of  the  American  Continent 
which  we  inhabit  was  originally  granted  by  the  Crowu, 


1549 


GEORGIA  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JULY,  1T75. 


1550 


and  the  Charter  from  Charles  the  Second  expressly  makes 
its  constitutional  dependance  on  the  Crown  only. 

Resolved,  That  those  who  would  now  subject  all  Ame- 
rica, or  this  Province,  to  dependancy  on  the  Crown  and 
Parliament,  are  guilty  of  a  very  dangerous  innovation, 
which  in  time  will  appear  as  injurious  to  the  Crown  as  it 
is  inconsistent  with  the  liberty  of  the  American  subject. 

Resolved,  That  by  the  law  of  nature,  and  the  British 
Constitution,  no  man  can  legally  be  deprived  of  his  pro- 
perty without  his  consent,  given  by  himself  or  his  repre- 
sentatives. 

Resolved,  That  the  Acts  of  the  British  Parliament  for 
raising  a  perpetual  revenue  on  the  Americans,  by  laving  a 
tax  on  them  without  their  consent,  and  contrary  to  their 
protestations,  are  diametrically  opposite  to  every  idea  of 
property,  to  the  spirit  of  the  Constitution,  and  at  one 
stroke  deprive  this  vast  Continent  of  all  liberty  and  pro- 
perty, and  as  such,  must  be  detested  by  every  well-wisher 
to  Great  Britain  and  America. 

Resolved,  That  the  subsequent  laws,  made  with  a  view 
to  enforce  these  Acts,  viz  :  The  Boston  Port  Bill ;  the 
alteration  of  their  Charter  ;  the  Act  to  carry  beyond  sea 
for  trial ;  and  (what  refines  upon  every  species  of  cruelty) 
the  Fishery  Bill ;  are  of  such  a  complexion  that  we  can 
say  nothing  about  them  for  want  of  words  to  express  our 
abhorrence  and  detestation. 

Resolved,  That  the  loyalty,  patience,  and  prudence  of 
the  inhabitants  of  New-England,  under  their  unparalleled 
pressures,  having  been  construed  into  a  timidity  and  a  dread 
of  Regular  Troops,  a  civil  war,  in  support  of  acts  ex- 
tremely oppressive  in  themselves,  hath  actually  been  be- 
gun, and  that  there  is  too  much  reason  to  believe  that 
plans  have  been  in  agitation  big  with  every  thing  horrible 
to  other  Provinces ;  plans  as  rash,  barbarous,  and  destruc- 
tive, as  the  cause  which  they  were  intended  to  serve. 

Resolved,  That  in  these  times  of  extreme  danger,  our 
Assembly  not  being  permitted  to  sit,  we  must  either  have 
been  a  people  without  all  thought  or  counsel,  or  have 
assembled  as  we  now  are  in  Provincial  Congress,  to  con- 
sult upon  measures  which,  under  God,  may  prove  the 
means  of  a  perpetual  union  with  the  Mother  Country,  and 
tend  to  the  honour,  freedom,  and  safety  of  both. 

Resolved,  That  the  Province  bears  all  true  allegiance 
to  our  own  rightful  Sovereign,  King  George  the  Third,  and 
always  will,  and  ought  to  bear  it,  agreeable  to  the  Consti- 
tution of  Great  Britain,  by  virtue  of  which  only  the  King 
is  now  our  Sovereign,  and  which  equally  binds  Majesty 
and  Subjects. 

Resolved,  That  we  are  truly  sensible  how  much  our 
safety  and  happiness  depend  on  a  constitutional  connection 
with  Great  Britain;  and  that  nothing  but  the  being  de- 
prived of  the  privileges  and  natural  rights  of  Britons  could 
ever  make  the  thought  of  a  separation  otherwise  than  in- 
tolerable. 

Resolved,  That  in  case  His  Majesty,  or  his  successors, 
shall,  at  any  time  hereafter,  make  any  requisition  to  the 
good  people  of  this  Province,  by  his  representative,  it  will 
be  just  and  right  that  such  sums  should  be  granted  as  the 
nature  of  the  service  may  require,  and  the  ability  and  situ- 
ation of  this  Province  will  admit  of. 

Resolved,  That  this  Province  join  with  all  the  Provinces 
in  America,  now  met  by  Delegates  in  Continental  Con- 
gress, and  that  John  Houstoun  and  Archibald  Bullock, 
Esquires,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Zubly,  Lyman  Hall,  and  Noble 
IVimberly  Jones,  Esquires,  be  the  Delegates  from  this 
Province,  and  that  any  three  constitute  a  quorum  for  that 
purpose. 

Resolved,  That  a  Committee  be  appointed,  whose  duty 
it  shall  be  to  see  that  the  Resolutions  of  the  Continental 
and  Provincial  Congresses  be  duly  observed,  and  that 
every  person  who  shall  act  in  opposition  thereto,  have  his 
name  transmitted  to  the  Continental  Congress,  and  his  mis- 
deeds be  published  in  every  American  paper. 

Resolved,  That  with  all  such  persons,  except  the  indis- 
pensable duties  that  we  owe  all  mankind,  (bad  men  and 
enemies  are  not  excepted.)  we  will  have  no  dealings  nor 
connection  ;  and  we  extena  this  our  Resolution  also  to  all 
such  persons  or  corporations  in  Great  Britain  who  have 
shown  themselves  enemies  to  America. 

Resolved,  That  we  will  do  what  in  us  lies  to  preserve 
and  promote  the  peace  and  good  order  of  this  Province  ; 


and  should  any  person  become  an  innocent  sufferer  on 
account  of  these  grievances,  we  will  do  whatever  we  justly 
may  for  his  relief  and  assistance. 

Resolved,  That  in  such  calamitous  times  as  the  present 
every  possible  indulgence  ought  to  be  given  to  honest 
debtors;  that  it  would  be  ungenerous,  unless  there  appear 
intention  of  fraud,  in  any  gentleman  of  the  law  to  sue  with- 
out previous  notice :  and  any  person  so  sued  may  apply 
to  the  Committee,  and  should  it  appear  to  them  that  the 
creditor  is  in  no  danger  of  losing  his  money,  or  can  be 
properly  secured,  they  shall  interpose  their  friendly  offices 
to  persuade  him  to  drop  the  prosecution ;  and  every  prose- 
cutor that  shall  appear  to  take  advantage  of  the  confusion 
of  the  times  to  distress  his  debtor,  ought  to  be  publickly 
pointed  out  and  held  in  abhorrence. 

Resolved,  That  notwithstanding,  in  a  late  bill  for  restrain- 
ing the  trade  of  several  Provinces  in  America,  this  Prov- 
ince is  excepted,  we  declare  that  we  look  upon  this  excep- 
tion rather  as  an  insult  than  a  favour;  as  being  meant  to 
break  the  union  of  the  Provinces,  and  as  being  grounded 
on  the  supposition  that  the  inhabitants  of  such  excepted 
Province  can  be  base  enough  to  turn  the  oppression  of 
America  into  a  mean  advantage. 

Tuesday,  July  11,  1775. 
John  Houstoun  and  Noble  Wimber/y  Jones,  Esquires, 
appointed  to  request  the  consent  of  Doctor  Zubly's  con- 
gregation for  their  permission  for  him  to  go  to  Philadel- 
phia, reported,  that  they  had  done  so,  and  that  the  said 
congregation  had  voted  that  they  were  willing  to  spare 
their  Minister  for  a  time  for  the  good  of  the  common  cause. 
Doctor  Zubly  then  declared  that  he  was  willing  to  go,  and 
thanked  the  Congress  for  so  signal  a  mark  of  honour  and 
confidence. 

Mr.  Clay,  from  the  Committee  appointed  to  draw  up  an. 
Address  to  his  Excellency  the  Governour,  from  this  Con- 
gress, reported,  that  they  had  done  so,  and  delivered  it  in 
to  the  President ;  which  was  ordered  to  be  read,  and  is  as 
follows,  viz : 

To  His  Excellency  Sir  James  Wright,  Baronet,  Cap- 
tain-General and  Governour-in-  Chief  in  and  over  His 
Majesty's  Province  of  Georgia,  Chancellor  and  Vice- 
Admiral  of  the  same  : 
May  it  please  your  Excellency  : 

We,  his  Majesty's  dutiful  and  loyal  subjects,  the  Dele- 
gates of  this  Province,  in  Provincial  Congress  met,  beg 
leave  to  address  your  Excellency. 

In  these  very  critical  and  alarming  times  the  good  people 
of  this  Province  find  themselves  under  an  absolute  neces- 
sity to  take  some  measures  for  the  security  and  preserva- 
tion of  their  liberties,  and  every  thing  that  is  near  and 
dear  to  them ;  and  they  have  accordingly  chosen  a  large 
number  of  persons  to  meet  together  at  Savannah,  to  con- 
sult on  the  means  to  obtain  redress  under  our  many  and 
very  heavy  grievances.  These  being  accordingly  met,  (to 
be  distinguished  from  the  usual  representation,)  have  styled 
themselves  a  Provincial  Congress ;  and  from  the  number 
and  character  of  the  names,  which  your  Excellency  may 
see  in  our  last  Gazette,  your  Excellency  will  be  convinced 
the  Province  was  never  more  fully  represented  in  any  As- 
sembly ;  though  possibly  this  measure  never  would  have 
taken  place,  had  we  not,  from  several  successive  proroga- 
tions or  adjournments,  but  too  much  reason  to  fear  your 
Excellency  had  received  very  strong  instructions  not  to 
suffer  the  Assembly  to  enter  into  any  measures  to  secure 
the  rights  of  America,  or  even  to  petition  for  relief,  unless 
in  terms  which  would  have  been  giving  up  the  rights,  and 
fixing  lasting  disgrace  on  the  petitioners. 

Although  there  is  no  doubt  but  a  great  majority  of  the 
inhabitants  of  this  Province  always  looked  upon  the  claim 
of  Parliament  to  take  away  the  property  of  Americans  as 
illegal  and  oppressive,  yet,  from  a  variety  of  causes,  not 
unknown  to  your  Excellency,  this  Province,  in  the  Ame- 
rican chain,  has  hitherto  been  the  defaulting  link.  We 
have  now  joined  with  the  other  Provinces  in  the  Conti- 
nental Congress,  and  have  sent  a  Petition  to  His  Majesty, 
appointed  Delegates  to  the  American  Congress,  and  enter- 
ed into  such  Resolutions,  which  we  mean  inviolably  to  ad- 
here to,  as  will  convince  the  friends  and  foes  of  America 
that  we  would  not  live  unworthy  of  the  name  of  Britons, 


1551 


GEORGIA  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JULY,  1775. 


1552 


or  labour  under  the  suspicion  of  being  unconcerned  for  the 
rights  and  freedom  of  America. 

Extracts  of  some  letters  which  are  inserted  in  Parlia- 
mentary proceedings,  widely  differ  from  what  must  appear 
to  every  unprejudiced  person  the  real  state  of  this  Prov- 
ince. We  are  not  acquainted  with  an  individual  in  Geor- 
gia that  looks  upon  the  claims  of  Parliament  as  just ;  and 
all  men  speak  with  abhorrence  of  the  measures  made  use 
of  to  enforce  them.  Our  fellow-subjects  who  formerly 
entered  a  dissent,  which  we  find  was  transmitted  to  the 
Minister  iu  terms  that  bespeak  the  great  pleasure  it  gave 
the  transmitter,  now  generally  say,  they  never  differed 
with  America  as  to  the  reality  of  grievances,  but  only  in 
the  mode  of  obtaining  redress. 

Though  candour  may  allow  these  mutilated  extracts,  laid 
before  Parliament,  were  probably  rather  designed  by  the 
Minister  to  screen  himself,  and  justify  his  own  measures, 
than  to  give  a  just  and  true  account  of  what  information 
he  might  have  received,  yet  we  cannot  help  observing  the 
general  purport  of  these  letters  seem  to  have  a  much 
greater  regard  to  the  designs  of  the  Minister,  than  to  give 
an  impartial  account  of  the  real  state  of  things.  Other 
Provinces,  no  doubt,  if  they  find  themselves  mentioned  in 
any  part  of  them,  will  view  them  in  what  light  they  may 
think  fit ;  but  as  to  any  prejudicial  informations  they  may 
contain  against  many  persons  in  this  Province,  while  it  is 
not  to  be  expected  they  will  give  up  their  feelings  as  pri- 
vate men,  your  Excellency  may  be  assured  we  shall  always 
pay  due  respect  to  His  Majesty's  representative,  and 
shall  with  great  pleasure  acknowledge  every  service  your 
Excellency  may  hereafter  render  to  Great  Britain  and 
America,  whose  interest  we  know,  and  whose  connection 
we  wish  to  be  forever  inseparable. 

Your  Excellency  may  be  assured  these  are  objects  which 
we  have  greatly  at  heart,  and  shall  ever  do  what  in  us  lies 
towards  a  reconciliation  with  our  Parent  State  on  constitu- 
tional principles,  as  well  as  endeavour  to  preserve  the 
peace  and  good  order  of  this  Province. 

Resolved,  That  the  foregoing  Address  be  signed  by  the 
President,  and  be  presented  to  his  Excellency  the  Govern- 
our;  and  that  Stephen  Drayton,  Edward  Telfair,  William 
Le  Conte,  John  Walton,  George  Houstoun,  and  Philip 
Box,  be  a  Committee  to  present  the  same. 

Wednesday,  July  12,  1775. 
The  Congress  resolved  itself  into  a  Committee  of  the 
Whole,  to  take  into  consideration  ways  and  means  to  raise 
and  sink  Ten  Thousand  Pounds  sterling ;  and,  after  some 
time  spent  therein,  the  President  resumed  the  Chair. 

Resolved,  That  the  Congress  being  a  full  representation 
of  the  whole  Province,  the  members  of  the  same,  their 
constituents,  and  all  others  resident  or  holding  property 
within  the  same,  are  bound  to  contribute,  by  an  equal  and 
general  tax,  towards  the  sinking  the  Ten  Thousand  Pounds 
sterling. 

Resolved,  That  the  Congress  while  sitting,  and  the 
Council  of  Safety  in  its  recess,  have  power  to  issue  Cer- 
tificates from  time  to  time,  as  occasion  shall  require,  to  the 
amount  of  Ten  Thousand  Pounds  sterling,  and  that  all  such 
Certificates  shall  be  signed  by  the  Treasurers,  and  at  least 
three  of  the  Members  of  the  Council  of  Safety. 

Resolved,  That  any  person  who  shall  not  receive  any 
such  Certificate  in  payment  will  be  guilty  of  a  breach  of 
the  publick  faith,  and  ought  to  be  considered  as  an  enemy 
to  the  Province,  and  treated  accordingly. 

Resolved,  That  the  said  Certificate  be  sunk  in  three 
years  after  a  reconciliation  shall  take  place  between  Great 
Britain  and  the  Colonies. 

Thursday,  July  13,  1775. 
Resolved,  That  this  Congress  do  approve  of,  and  adopt 
the  Association  entered  into  at  Savannah,  on  the  fifth  day 
of  June  last  past,  viz  : 

Association  unanimously  entered  into  by  the  Provincial 
Congress,  at  Savannah,  in  Georgia,  on  Thursday, 
the  thirteenth  of  July,  1775. 

GEORGIA. 

Being  persuaded  that  the  salvation  of  the  rights  and 
liberties  of  America  depend,  under  God,  on  the  firm  union 


of  the  inhabitants  in  its  vigorous  prosecution  of  the  mea- 
sures necessary  for  its  safety ;  and  convinced  of  the  neces- 
sity of  preventing  the  anarchy  and  confusion  which  attend 
the  dissolution  of  the  powers  of  Government,  we,  the  free- 
men, freeholders,  and  inhabitants  of  the  Province  of  Geor- 
gia, being  greatly  alarmed  at  the  avowed  design  of  the 
Ministry  to  raise  a  revenue  in  America,  and  shocked  by  the 
bloody  scene  now  acting  in  the  Massachusetts-Bay,  do,  in 
the  most  solemn  manner,  resolve  never  to  become  slaves; 
and  do  associate,  under  all  the  ties  of  religion,  honour,  and 
love  to  our  Country,  to  adopt,  and  endeavour  to  carry  into 
execution,  whatever  may  be  recommended  by  the  Conti- 
nental Congress,  or  resolved  upon  by  our  Provincial  Con- 
vention, appointed  for  the  purpose  of  preserving  our 
Constitution,  and  opposing  the  execution  of  the  several 
arbitrary  and  oppressive  Acts  of  the  British  Parliament, 
until  a  reconciliation  between  Great  Britain  and  America, 
on  constitutional  principles,  which  we  most  ardently  desire, 
can  be  obtained  ;  and  that  we  will  in  all  things  follow  the 
advice  of  our  General  Committee,  appointed  respecting  the 
purposes  aforesaid,  the  preservation  of  peace  and  good 
order,  and  the  safety  of  individuals  and  private  property. 

Resolved,  That  John  Smith,  Basil  Cowper,  George 
Houstoun,  Joseph  Clay,  William  Young,  Philip  Box, 
Seth  John  Cuthbert,  William  O'Bryan,  George  Walton, 
William  Le  Conte,  William  Gibbons,  Samuel  Elbert,  Ed- 
ward Telfair,  and  Oliver  Bowen,  be  a  Committee  to  pre- 
sent the  Association  to  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  Town  and 
District  of  Savannah,  to  be  signed  ;  in  doing  which,  expe- 
dition is  particularly  recommended,  and  an  account  of  all 
who  decline  sisminE:  shall  be  returned  to  the  General  Com- 
m  it  tee. 

Friday,  July  14,  1775. 

A  motion  was  made  and  seconded,  that  a  Committee  be 
appointed,  to  report  their  opinion  who  shall  be  qualified  to 
vote  for  Delegates  to  sit  in  future  Congresses,  and  the  most 
equal  method  of  representation  ;  and  the  same  being  agreed 
to,  a  Committee  was  appointed  accordingly. 

Committee :  Stephen  Drayton,  John  Glen,  and  Joseph 
Clay,  Esquires. 

Resolved,  That  in  every  case  where  a  summons  shall  be 
applied  for,  the  Magistrate  to  whom  such  application  shall 
be  made,  do  in  the  first  place,  and  before  the  issuing  of 
such  summons,  give  notice  thereof,  either  by  personal  infor- 
mation, message,  or  letter,  to  the  party  defendant,  and  also 
use  his  best  endeavour  to  compromise  and  settle  the  matter, 
and,  unless  the  defendant  has  discovered  circumstances  of 
fraud  or  delay,  and  is  ready  and  willing  to  give  security  for 
the  debt,  and  shall  actually  offer  to  do  so,  payable  in  a  rea- 
sonable time,  no  such  summons  ought  to  be  issued.  And 
in  case  a  warrant  in  a  civil  case  shall  be  applied  for,  the 
same  ought  not  to  be  granted,  unless  there  appears  to  the 
satisfaction  of  the  Magistrate,  that  there  are  good  and  suffi- 
cient grounds,  besides  the  plaintiff's  oath,  to  apprehend  the 
defendant  means  to  abscond ;  but  the  same  method  ought 
to  be  observed  as  is  recommended  respecting  summonses. 

Mr.  Drayton,  from  the  Committee  appointed  to  report 
their  opinion  who  shall  be  qualified  to  vote  for  Delegates 
to  sit  in  future  Congresses,  &c,  reported,  as  the  opinion  of 
that  Committee,  that  every  man  contributing  towards  the 
general  tax  shall  be  qualified  to  vote  for  Delegates  to  sit 
in  future  Congresses,  and  that  the  following  proportion 
will  be  the  most  equal  representation,  viz :  the  Town  and 
District  of  Savannah  shall  have  seventeen  members  ;  Dis- 
trict of  Little  Ogechee,  three  ;  Vernonburgh,  two ;  Acton, 
two;  Sea  Islands,  three;  Goshen  and  Abercorn,  two;  Pa- 
rish of  St.  Matthew,  seven  ;  St.  George,  nine  ;  St.  Paul, 
nine  ;  St.  Philip,  seven  ;  St.  John,  twelve  ;  St.  Andrew, 
nine ;  St.  David,  three ;  St.  Patrick,  two ;  St.  Thomas, 
two ;  St.  Mary,  two ;  St.  James,  two ;  Ceded  Lands, 
three:  and  that  the  President  and  thirty-four  members  do 
constitute  a  Congress  to  proceed  upon  business. 

Resolved,  That  the  foregoing  Report  be  approved  of, 
and  that  Delegates  be  elected  by  the  persons,  and  in  the 
proportion  therein  mentioned. 

Resolved,  That  the  following  form  of  Delegation  be  re- 
commended to  the  inhabitants  of  the  several  Parishes  and 
Districts  throughout  the  Provinces,  to  prevent  clashing  and 


1553 


GEORGIA  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JULY,  1775. 


1554 


unequal  powers  being  given  by  different  Parishes  and  Dis- 
tricts, viz  : 

GEORGIA. 

The  affairs  of  the  Continent  of  America  being  now 
brought  to  a  truly  alarming  and  critical  situation,  and  there 
being  no  other  method  left  but  that  the  whole  body  of  the 
people  unite  as  one,  in  opposing  such  acts  as  tend  utterly 
to  destroy  the  liberty,  property,  and  birthright  of  America; 
and  it  having  been  thought  necessary  and  convenient,  in 
order  to  consult  on  proper  ways  and  means  for  our  mutual 
security,  to  assemble  and  convene  the  people  in  each 
Colony  and  Province,  by  their  representatives,  into  one 
body  or  Council,  styled  a  Provincial  Congress,  who  shall 
act  in  all  cases  whatsoever  for  the  good  of  the  common 
cause.  Now,  therefore,  be  it  known,  that  we,  the  inhabi- 
tants of  Parish,  (or  District,)  being  met  together  in 

order  to  choose  such  men  as  are  capable  of  the  important 
trust,  do  choose  A,  B,  C,  D,  &c,  being  the  number  de- 
termined on  in  the  Provincial  Congress,  held  at  Savannah, 
4th  July,  1775,  to  represent  us  in  the  Provincial  Congress 
to  be  held  at  said  Town  of  Savannah  on  the  fourth  De- 
cember next.  And  we  do  require  you,  the  said  A,  B,  &tc, 
to  do,  transact,  join,  and  concur  with  the  other  Delegates 
of  this  Province,  so  sitting  as  above  recited,  in  all  things  as 
shall  appear  eligible  and  fit  at  this  alarming  time,  for  the 
preservation  and  defence  of  our  rights  and  liberties;  and 
we  further  empower  you  to  choose  other  Delegates,  if  in 
your  wisdom  you  think  proper,  or  if  any  requisition  in  that 
case  should  be  made  by  the  Grand  Continental  Congress, 
in  order  to  join  or  succeed  the  Delegates  in  that  Congress, 
now  chosen  by  the  people  of  this  Province.  And  we  do 
bind  ourselves  solemnly,  under  the  sacred  ties  of  religion, 
virtue,  honour,  and  love  of  our  Country,  to  abide  by,  en- 
force, and  carry  into  execution,  or  endeavour  so  to  do,  at 
the  risk  and  peril  of  our  lives  and  fortunes,  whatsoever  you, 
with  the  other  Delegates,  shall  resolve  and  agree  upon  to 
be  necessary  for  the  well-doing  and  preservation  of  the  vio- 
lated rights  of  this  Province,  and  the  Continent  in  general. 

Signed  by  us  this  .  .  .  day  of  ,  1775. 

Saturday,  July  15,  1775. 

A  motion  was  made  and  seconded,  that  a  Committee  be 
appointed  to  report  their  opinion  with  respect  to  the  better 
governing  the  Militia  of  this  Province  ;  which  being  agreed 
to,  a  Committee  was  appointed  accordingly,  to  wit :  Ste- 
phen Drayton,  Samuel  Elbert,  Dr.  Brownson,  and  Peter 
Tarlin. 

A  motion  was  made  and  seconded,  that  a  Committee  be 
appointed  to  communicate  to  the  inhabitants  of  this  Pro- 
vince, an  account  of  the  disputes  subsisting  between  Great 
Britain  and  the  Colonies,  aud  also  the  proceedings  of  this 
Congress ;  and  the  same  being  agreed  to,  it  was 

Ordered,  That  the  Rev.  Dr.  Zubly,  Noble  Wimberly 
Jones,  William  Young,  and  George  Walton,  be  a  Com- 
mittee for  that  purpose. 

Resolved,  That  the  Congress  shall  expire  on  the  twen- 
tieth day  of  August  next;  that  a  new  election  be  made  at 
such  times  between  the  said  twentieth  day  of  August  and 
first  of  September,  as  the  inhabitants  of  the  several  Parishes 
aud  Districts  (except  the  Town  and  District  of  Savannah) 
shall  think  fit,  respectively,  and  that  the  members  so  elected, 
with  those  who  shall  afterwards  be  chosen  for  the  Town  and 
District  of  Savannah,  do  meet  in  General  Congress  at  Savan- 
nah, on  the  fourth  day  of  December  next,  or  sooner,  if  the 
Council  of  Safety  shall  think  it  expedient  to  summon  them. 

Resolved,  That  the  Members  of  this  Congress  use  every 
endeavour  to  give  as  publick  notice  of  elections  as  possible  ; 
and  that  each  Parish  and  District  shall,  at  the  time  of  such 
elections,  likewise  choose  a  sufficient  number  as  a  Parochial 
or  District  Committee,  to  enforce  the  different  Resolves  of 
the  Continental  and  Provincial  Congresses. 

Resolved,  That  the  inhabitants  of  the  Town  and  District 
of  Savannah  do  meet  at  Savannah  on  Friday,  the  fifteenth 
day  of  September  next,  to  choose  seventeen  Delegates  to 
represent  them  in  Provincial  Congress. 

Resolved,  That  the  several  Delegates  for  the  Town  and 
District  of  Savannah,  or  a  majority  of  them,  together  with 
all  other  Delegates  who  shall  happen  to  be  in  Town,  shall 
be  a  General  Committee  for  the  Province  ;  that  they  shall 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii.  i 


have  power  to  superintend,  direct,  and  advise  all  the  Pa- 
rochial or  District  Committees,  and,  in  case  of  difficulty,  to 
inform  them  of  their  duty.  And  any  person  who  shall 
apprehend  himself  aggrieved  by  the  decision  of  any  of  the 
Parochial  or  District  Committees,  may  appeal  to  the  said 
General  Committee,  who  shall  hear  his  case,  and  do  justice 
according  to  the  spirit  and  intention  of  this  Congress.  And 
in  case  such  appellant  shall  still  be  dissatisfied,  he  may  lay 
his  case  before  the  next  Congress,  provided  there  be  no 
delay  occasioned  by  any  such  appeal,  but  the  sentence  of 
each  Committee  shall  take  effect  immediately  after  being 
pronounced. 

Monday,  July  17,  1775. 

Resolved,  That  the  Reverend  Mr.  Haddon  Smith,  by 
twice  refusing  to  comply  with  the  request  of  this  Congress, 
and  to  join  on  a  day  of  Fasting  and  Prayer,  appointed  by 
the  Continental  Congress  to  be  observed  throughout  all 
America,  besides  the  day  appointed  by  his  Excellency  the 
Governour,  at  the  request  of  this  Congress,  has  given  too 
much  reason  to  believe  he  does  not  wish  that  the  happy 
event,  mentioned  in  the  American  Proclamation,  may  take 
place,  and  that  the  said  Mr.  Haddon  Smith  has  thereby 
incurred  the  censure  of  this  Congress,  and  ought  to  be  con- 
sidered as  unfriendly  to  America. 

Resolved  nemine  contradicente,  That  the  Delegates  ap- 
pointed by  this  Congress  to  go  to  Philadelphia,  do  apply 
to  the  Continental  Congress  to  incorporate  this  Province 
with  the  other  united  Provinces  of  North  America,  and  that 
they  pledge  the  faith  of  us  and  our  constituents,  to  contri- 
bute an  adequate  part  of  the  expenses  which  have  or  may 
accrue,  in  the  defence  of  the  violated  rights  of  America. 

Resolved,  That  the  Council  of  Safety  have  full  power, 
upon  every  emergency,  during  the  recess  of  Congress,  to 
give  such  information  and  propose  such  measures,  by  way 
of  advice  to  our  Continental  Delegates,  as  the  circumstances 
of  the  case  may  require,  and  they  shall  think  conducive  to 
the  publick  good. 

Resolved,  That  it  be  strongly  recommended  to  the  friends 
of  America  in  this  Province,  that  they  use  their  utmost 
endeavours  to  preserve  peace  and  good  order,  and  to  culti- 
vate harmony  with  one  another,  and  always  to  avoid  national 
reflections,  which  can  only  tend  to  produce  divisions  and 
jealousies  among  the  inhabitants. 

Resolved,  That  this  Congress  do  adjourn  to  the  nine- 
teenth day  of  August  next,  and  that  the  General  Commit- 
tee have  power  to  call  it  to  sit  at  Savaiinah  sooner,  if  they, 
upon  any  emergency,  shall  deem  it  expedient  for  the  good 
of  the  Province.    By  order  of  the  Congress. 

A  true  copy  from  the  Minutes : 

George  Walton,  Secretary. 


Savannah,  July  25,  1775. 
To  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Province  of  Georgia: 

Fellow-Countrymen  :  We  are  directed  to  transmit  to 
you  an  account  of  the  present  state  of  American  affairs, 
as  well  as  the  proceedings  of  the  late  Provincial  Congress. 

It  is  with  great  sorrow  we  are  to  acquaint  you,  that 
what  our  fears  suggested,  but  our  reason  thought  impossible, 
is  actually  come  to  pass.  A  civil  war  in  America  is  begun. 
Several  engagements  have  already  happened.  The  friends 
and  foes  of  America  have  been  equally  disappointed.  The 
friends  of  America  were  in  hopes  British  Troops  could 
never  be  induced  to  slay  their  brethren.  It  is,  however, 
done,  and  the  circumstances  are  such  as  must  be  an  ever- 
lasting blot  on  their  character  for  humanity  and  generosity. 
An  unfeeling  commander  has  found  means  to  inspire  his 
troops  with  the  same  evil  spirit  that  possesseth  himself. 
After  the  starving,  helpless,  innocent  inhabitants  of  Boston 
delivered  up  their  arms,  and  received  his  promise  that  they 
might  leave  that  virtuous  devoted  Town,  he  is  said  to  have 
broke  his  word,  and  the  wretched  inhabitants  are  still  kept, 
to  fall  a  prey  to  disease,  famine,  and  confinement.  If  there 
are  powers  that  abhor  injustice  and  oppression,  it  may  be 
hoped  such  perfidy  cannot  go  long  unpunished.  But  the 
enemies  of  America  have  been  no  less  disappointed.  No- 
thing so  contemptible  in  their  eyes  like  the  rabble  of  an 
American  Militia,  nothing  more  improbable  than  that  they 
would  dare  to  look  Regulars  in  the  face,  or  stand  a  single 
fire.    By  this  time  they  must  have  felt  how  much  they 


1555  GEORGIA  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JULY,  1775.  1556 


were  mistaken.  In  every  engagement  the  Americans  ap- 
peared with  a  bravery  worthy  of  men  that  fight  for  the 
liberties  of  their  oppressed  Country  ;  their  success  has  been 
remarkable ;  the  number  of  the  slain  and  wounded  on  every 
occasion  vastly  exceeds  theirs;  and  the  advantages  they 
gained  are  the  more  honourable,  because,  with  a  patience 
that  scarce  has  an  example,  they  bore  every  act  of  injus- 
tice and  insult  till  their  lives  were  attacked,  and  then  gave 
the  fullest  proof  that  the  man  of  calmness  and  moderation 
in  council,  is  usually  also  the  most  intrepid  and  courageous 
in  battle. 

You  will  doubtless  lament  with  us  the  hundreds  that 
died  in  their  Country's  cause  ;  but  does  it  not  call  for  greater 
sorrow  that  thousands  of  British  soldiers  fought  and  found 
their  deaths,  when  they  were  active  to  enslave  their  breth- 
ren and  their  Country  ? 

However  irritating  all  those  proceedings,  yet  so  unnatu- 
ral is  this  quarrel,  that  every  good  man  must  wish  and  pray 
that  it  may  soon  cease,  that  the  injured  rights  of  America 
may  be  vindicated  by  milder  means,  and  that  no  more  blood 
may  be  shed,  unless  it  be  of  those  who  fomented,  and  mean 
to  make  an  advantage  of  those  unhappy  divisions. 

From  the  proceedings  of  the  Congress,  a  copy  of  which 
accompanies  the  present,  you  will  be  convinced  that  a  re- 
conciliation, on  honourable  principles,  is  an  object  which 
your  Delegates  never  lost  sight  of.  We  have  sent  an 
bumble  and  manly  Petition  to  His  Majesty;  addressed  his 
representative,  our  Governour;  provided,  as  far  as  in  our 
power,  for  internal  quiet  and  safety;  and  Delegates  will  soon 
attend  the  General  Congress,  to  assist  and  co-operate  in 
every  measure  that  shall  be  thought  necessary  for  the  saving 
of  America. 

His  Excellency,  at  our  request,  having  appointed  the 
nineteenth  instant  as  a  day  of  humiliation,  and  news  being 
afterwards  received  that  the  Continental  Congress  had  re- 
commended the  twentieth  instant  to  be  observed  as  such, 
both  days  have  been  observed  with  a  becoming  solemnity, 
and  we  humbly  hope  many  earnest  prayers  have  been  pre- 
sented to  the  Father  of  Mercies  on  that  day,  through  this 
extensive  Continent,  and  that  he  has  heard  the  cries  of  the 
destitute,  and  will  not  despise  their  prayers. 

You  will  permit  us  most  earnestly  to  recommend  to  you 
a  steady  perseverance  in  the  cause  of  liberty,  and  that 
you  will  use  all  possible  caution  not  to  say  or  do  any  thing 
unworthy  of  so  glorious  a  cause ;  to  promote  frugality, 
peace,  and  good  order;  and,  in  the  practice  of  every  social 
and  religious  duty,  patiently  to  wait  for  the  return  of  that 
happy  day  when  we  may  sit  quietly  under  our  vine  and 
fig-tree,  and  no  man  make  us  afraid. 

J.  J.  ZlJBLY, 

N.  W.  Jones, 
George  Walton. 
The  following  are  copies  of  a  Petition  from  the  Inhabi- 
tants of  Georgia,  which  was  presented  to  the  King  on  Fri- 
day, October  twenty-eighth,  by  Governour  Johnstone,  and 
of  Letters  which  accompanied  it : 

Savannah,  July  14,  1775. 

To  George  Johnstone,  Esquire: 

Sir:  It  is  with  a  singular  pleasure  I  am  desired  to 
transmit  the  accompanying  papers  to  you,  sensible  that  in 
a  cause  where  the  essential  rights  of  so  many  millions  are 
concerned,  no  endeavours  on  your  part  will  be  wanting  to 
give  them  their  full  effect. 

The  many  proofs  which  the  people  of  this  Province  had 
of  your  magnanimity,  justice,  and  disinterested  integrity, 
in  establishing  the  neighbouring  Colony  of  West-Florida, 
have  rendered  your  name  respected  throughout  America; 
and  your  subsequent  conduct  has  endeared  you  still  further 
to  every  lover  of  mankind  in  the  eastern  and  western  world. 
These  motives  have  determined  the  Congress  in  the  appli- 
cation they  now  make. 

I  am  sensible  if  the  same  Councils  prevail,  the  task  of 
conveying  such  disagreeable  truths  to  the  Throne  must 
prove  very  painful;  but  we  believe  there  is  no  person  who 
would  undertake  the  office  with  less  reluctance,  or  execute 
it  with  more  becoming  duty  and  respect  to  His  Majesty. 

I  am,  &ic. 

Savannah,  Georgia,  July  14,  1775. 
Sir:  When  turbulent  and  wicked  minds  are  employed 
solely  to  raise  commotions  in  the  State,  and  disturb  the 


tranquillity  of  the  subject ;  when,  by  their  baneful  influ- 
ence, life,  property,  and  freedom,  are  inhumanly  invaded, 
and  the  innocence  and  loyalty  of  thousands  are  unjustly 
questioned ;  we,  the  inhabitants  of  Georgia,  by  a  just 
delegation  from  the  different  Parishes,  being  now  convened 
in  Congress  in  this  Town,  have  resolved  to  address  His 
Majesty  in  a  dutiful  petition,  setting  forth  our  grievances, 
and  the  bad  tendency  of  the  many  wicked  and  treacherous 
proceedings  against  this  Continent,  that  have  passed  since 
the  year  1763. 

Although  we  know  the  fate  of  all  other  petitions  on  this 
head,  and  cannot  flatter  ourselves  that  we  should  meet  with 
one  different ;  yet,  as  the  right  of  petitioning  is  the  sub- 
ject's, we  beg  leave  to  enclose  this  our  prayer  and  remon- 
strance to  you,  hoping  and  trusting  on  the  noble  sentiments 
you  entertain  and  support,  in  favour  of  us  much  injured 
Americans,  that,  countenanced  by  one  of  your  great  abili- 
ties, it  may  approach  the  Throne. 

We  assure  you,  Sir,  we  are,  and  always  were,  firmly 
attached  to  His  Majesty's  family ;  nor  can  any  thing  sh;ike 
our  integrity.  But  when,  by  evil  and  wicked  Minister*, 
our  birthright  as  Englishmen  shall  be  violated,  that  in- 
tegrity must  urge  us  to  hand  down  to  our  children  a  right 
so  invaluable. 

We  conceive  our  immediate  dependance  on  the  Crown 
can  by  no  means  hinder  our  doing  that  indispensable  duty 
in  joining  with  the  rest  of  America  against  acts  that  tend  to 
enslave  a  people  whose  loyalty  and  faith  were  never  even 
suspected,  until  the  actions  of  the  times  wanted  an  excuse. 

We  have  the  honour  to  be,  Sir,  your  most  obedient  and 
very  humble  servants, 

William  Young,         Edw.  Telfair, 
John  Glen,  Daniel  Roberts, 

David  Zubly,  Jun.,     William  Irven, 
Step.  Drayton, 

A  Committee  of  Intelligence. 
To  George  Johnstone,  Esquire. 

To  the  King's  Most  Excellent  Majesty: 
The  humble  Address  and  Representation  of  his  loyal  sub- 
jects, the  Delegates  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Georgia,  now 
met  in  Provincial  Congress: 

May  it  please  your  Majesty:  Though  we  bring  up 
the  rear  of  American  petitioners,  and,  from  the  fate  of  so 
many  petitions  presented  to  your  Majesty  from  America, 
your  great  City  of  London,  and  others  of  your  European 
subjects,  have  a  most  melancholy  prospect,  we  still  hope 
He,  by  whom  Kings  rule,  and  to  whom  Monarchs  are  ac- 
countable, will  incline  you  to  pay  some  regard  to  our  most 
humble  and  faithful  representation. 

In  times  like  these,  when  the  edge  of  present  feeling  is 
blunted  by  the  expectation  of  calamities  still  greater,  we 
must  take  the  liberty  to  speak  before  we  die.  We  would 
acquaint  our  Sovereign  with  things  which  greatly  affect  his 
interest;  we  would  endeavour  to  awaken  the  feeling  and 
pity  of  our  common  father. 

Your  Majesty  is  the  rightful  sovereign  of  the  most  im- 
portant empire  in  the  universe.  The  blessings  of  Provi- 
dence on  your  arms  has  put  a  country  in  America  under 
you  of  greater  importance  and  extent  than  several  king- 
doms in  Europe.  In  this  large  extent  of  territory,  by  some 
late  acts,  Popery  is  not  only  tolerated,  (which  we  conceive 
would  have  been  but  an  act  of  justice,)  but  an  indulgence 
has  been  granted,  little  short  of  a  full  establishment,  to  a 
religion  which  is  equally  injurious  to  the  rights  of  sover- 
eigns and  of  mankind.  French  and  arbitrary  laws  have 
there,  by  authority,  taken  place  of  the  just  and  mild  Bri- 
tish Constitution  ;  and  all  this  has  been  done  w  ith  a  pro- 
fessed and  avowed  design  to  overawe  your  Majesty's  ancient 
Protestant  and  loyal  subjects,  some  of  whom  had  no  small 
share  in  the  merit  of  that  conquest.  Acts  to  raise  a  per- 
petual revenue  on  the  Americans,  without  their  consent, 
have  been  enacted,  which  at  one  stroke  turn  all  your  Ame- 
rican subjects  into  slaves,  and  deprive  them  of  that  right 
which  the  most  oppressive  task-master  does  not  deny  to  the 
servant  bought  with  his  money.  Experience  must  now  have 
shown,  as  it  will  clearer,  should  these  acts  be  enforced,  that 
instead  of  increasing  the  revenue,  or  lessening  the  burden 
of  your  European  subjects,  they  can  only  serve  to  increase 
their  taxation. 


1557  GEORGIA  PROVINCIAL 

Laws  wliich  we  conceive  fraught  with  so  much  injustice, 
have  been  attempted  to  be  enforced  by  equal  cruelty;  and 
whenever  we  thought  ourselves  at  the  height  of  our  trou- 
bles, your  Majesty's  Ministers  have  stretched  their  unhappy 
ingenuity  to  find  out  new  methods  of  distress ;  and  it  is 
believed  methods  have  been  more  than  thought  of,  too 
shocking  to  human  nature  to  be  even  named  in  the  list  of 
grievances  suffered  under  a  British  King. 

The  goodness  of  God  hath  made  your  Majesty  the  father 
of  a  very  numerous  issue,  on  whom  we  place  the  pleasing 
hopes  of  a  Protestant  succession  ;  but  your  Majesty's  arms 
in  America  now  every  day  make  mothers  childless,  and 
children  fatherless.  The  blood  of  your  subjects  has  been 
shed  with  pleasure,  rather  than  with  pity.  For  an  act 
which  amounted  to  no  more,  even  under  the  worst  -con- 
struction, than  an  irregular  zeal  for  constitutional  liberty, 
and  without  any  step  taken  to  find  out  the  supposed  guilty 
persons,  the  capital  of  your  American  Dominions  has  been 
blocked  up,  deprived  of  its  trade,  and  its  poor  of  subsist- 
ence. Thousands,  confessedly  innocent,  have  been  starved, 
ruined,  driven  from,  or  kept  like  prisoners  in  their  own 
habitations;  their  cries  and  blood,  innocently  shed,  have 
undoubtedly,  and  daily  do  reach  His  ears  who  hateth  injus- 
tice and  oppression. 

Believe  us,  great  Sir,  America  is  not  divided :  all  men 
(Crown  officers  not  excepted)  speak  of  these  acts  and 
measures  with  disapprobation  ;  and  if  there  has  been  some 
difference  of  opinion  as  to  the  mode  of  relief,  the  rigorous 
experiments  which  your  Ministry  thought  fit  to  try  on  the 
Americans,  have  been  the  most  effectual  means  to  con- 
vince these  of  the  iniquitous  designs  of  your  Ministry,  and 
to  unite  them  all  as  in  a  common  cause. 

Your  Majesty's  Ministers,  after  introducing  the  demon 
of  discord  into  your  Empire,  and  driving  America  to  the 
brink  of  despair,  place  all  their  dignity  in  measures  obsti- 
nately pursued,  because  they  were  once  wantonly  taken. 
They  hearkened  to  no  information,  but  what  represented 
Americans  as  rebels  or  cowards.  Time  will  every  day  make 
it  clearer  how  much  they  were  infatuated  and  mistaken. 

Too  long,  we  must  lament,  have  these  men  imposed  on 
your  paternal  affection.  Deign  now,  most  gracious  Prince, 
in  their  room,  to  hearken  to  the  cries  of  your  loyal  and 
affectionate  subjects  of  this  extensive  Continent ;  let  the 
goodness  of  your  own  heart  interpose  between  weak  or 
wicked  Ministers  and  millions  of  loyal  and  affectionate  sub- 
jects ;  no  longer  let  the  sword  be  stained  with  the  blood  of 
your  own  children  ;  recall  your  troops  and  fleets  ;  and  if 
any  misunderstanding  remains,  let  the  Americans  be  heard, 
and  justice  and  equity  lake  place ;  let  us  be  ruled  accord- 
ing to  the  known  principles  of  our  excellent  Constitution, 
and  command  the  last  shilling  of  our  property,  and  the  last 
drop  of  our  blood  in  your  service. 

I  ncertain  as  to  the  event  of  this  our  humble  representa- 
tion, it  affords  us  a  relief  that  we  may,  unrestrained,  apply 
to  the  great  and  merciful  Sovereign  of  the  whole  earth, 
who  will  not  despise  the  prayer  of  the  oppressed  ;  and  to 
him  we  most  ardently  pray,  that  the  wicked  being  removed 
from  before  the  King,  the  King's  Throne  may  be  establish- 
ed in  righteousness. 

By  order  of  the  Congress  at  Savannah,  this  14th  day  of 
July.  Arch.  Bullock,  President. 

THE  LAW  OF  LIBERTY  :  A  SERMON  ON  AMERICAN"  AFFAIRS, 
PREACHED  AT  THE  OPENING  OF  THE  PROVINCIAL  CON- 
GRESS OF  GEORGIA,  BY  JOHN  J.  ZUBLY,  D.  D. 

James  ii.  12. — So  speak  ye,  and  so  do,  as  they  that  shall  be  judged 
by  the  law  of  liberty. 

There  was  a  time  when  there  was  no  King  in  Israel, 
and  every  man  did  what  was  good  in  his  own  eyes.  The 
consequence  was  a  civil  war  in  the  nation,  issuing  in  the 
ruin  of  one  of  the  tribes,  and  a  considerable  loss  to  all  the 
rest. 

And  there  was  a  time  when  there  was  a  King  in  Israel, 
and  he  also  did  what  was  right  in  his  own  eyes,  a  foolish 
son  of  a  wise  father ;  his  own  imprudence,  the  rashness  of 
his  young  counsellors,  his  unwillingness  to  redress  the 
grievances  of  the  nation,  and  the  harsh  treatment  he  gave 
to  those  who  applied  for  relief,  also  brought  on  a  civil  war, 
and  issued  in  the  separation  of  the  ten  tribes  from  the  house 
of  David.    He  sent  his  treasurer  to  gather  an  odious  duty 


CONGRESS.  JULY,  1775.  1558 

or  tribute,  but  the  children  of  Israel  stoned  him  that  he  died. 
And  when  he  gathered  one  hundred  and  fourscore  thousand 
men,  that  he  might  bring  again  the  kingdom  unto  Rehoboam, 
God  sent  him  a  message,  "  Ye  shall  not  go  up,  nor  fight 
against  your  brethren  ;  return  every  man  to  his  house,  for 
this  thing  is  done  of  me."  God  disapprov  ed  of  the  oppres- 
sive measures  and  ministry  of  Rehoboam,  and  that  Kin"'s 
army  appears  more  ready  to  obey  the  command  of  their 
God,  than  slay  their  brethren  by  orders  of  a  tyrant.  "  They 
obeyed  the  voice  of  the  Lord,  and  returned  from  going 
against  Jeroboam." — 2  Chron.  x.  IS.  xi.  4. 

The  things  that  happened  before  are  written  for  our 
learning.  By  comparing  past  times  and  proceedings  with 
these  that  are  present,  prudence  will  point  out  many  salu- 
tary and  religious  lessons.  The  conduct  of  Rehoboam  veri- 
fies the  lamentation  of  his  father,  "  Woe  to  thee,  O  land, 
when  thy  king  is  a  child." — Eccles.  x.  16.  A  very  small 
degree  of  justice  and  moderation  might  have  preserved  his 
kingdom,  but  he  thought  weapons  of  war  better  than  wis- 
dom. He  hearkened  not,  neither  to  the  people,  nor  to  some 
of  his  more  faithful  counsellors ;  and  the  consequence  was, 
that  instead  of  enslaving  the  ten  tribes  who  stood  up  for 
their  liberty,  God  gave  Judah  to  be  servants  to  the  Kine  of 
Egypt,  that  they  might  learn  the  difference  between  his 
service  and  the  service  of  the  kingdoms  of  the  nations.  A 
people  that  claim  no  more  than  their  natural  rights,  in  so 
doing,  do  nothing  displeasing  unto  God ;  and  the  most 
powerful  monarch  that  would  deprive  his  subject  of  the 
liberties  of  man,  whatever  may  be  his  success,  he  must  not 
expect  the  approbation  of  God,  and  in  due  time  will  be  the 
abhorrence  of  all  men. 

In  a  time  of  publick  and  general  uneasiness,  it  behooves 
both  superiours  and  inferiours  to  consider.  It  is  easy  to 
extinguish  a  spark ;  it  is  folly  to  blow  up  discontent  into  a 
blaze.  The  beginning  of  strife  is  like  the  letting  out  of 
waters,  and  no  man  may  know  where  it  will  end.  There 
is  a  rule  given  to  magistrates  and  subjects,  which,  if  care- 
fully attended  to,  would  secure  the  dignity  and  safety  of 
both,  but  which,  if  not  duly  regarded,  is  usually  attended 
with  the  worst  consequences.  The  present,  my  hearers, 
will  easily  be  allowed,  is  a  day  of  trouble,  and  surely  in 
this  day  of  adversity  we  ought  to  consider.  When  a  people 
think  themselves  oppressed  and  in  danger,  nothing  can  be 
more  natural  than  that  they  should  inquire  into  the  real 
state  of  things,  trace  their  grievances  to  their  source,  and 
endeavour  to  apply  the  remedies  which  are  most  likely  to 
procure  relief;  this  I  take  to  be  the  design  of  the  present 
meeting  of  persons  deputed  from  every  part  of  the  country. 
And  as  they  have  thought  proper  to  open  and  begin  their 
deliberations  with  a  solemn  address  unto  God,  and  the  con- 
sideration of  his  holy  word,  I  most  cheerfully  comply  with 
their  request  to  officiate  on  this  occasion,  and  shall  en- 
deavour, as  I  may  be  enabled,  to  point  out  such  directions 
from  the  holy  scriptures  as  may  make  us  wise  in  the  know- 
ledge of  time,  and  direct  us  how  to  carry  ourselves  worthy 
of  the  character  of  good  subjects  and  Christians.  What- 
ever may  be  necessary  for  this  purpose,  I  take  to  be  com- 
prehended in  the  apostolical  rule,  which  I  have  laid  down 
as  the  subject  of  this  discourse;  "  So  speak,  and  so  do,  as 
they  that  shall  be  judged  by  the  law  of  liberty." 

There  are  two  things  which  properly  come  before  us,  viz : 

First.  That  "we  are  to  be  judged  by  the  law  of  liberty; 
and 

Second.  The  exhortation  to  act  worthy,  and  under  the 
influence  of  this  important  truth  on  every  occasion. 

A  law  is  a  rule  of  behaviour,  made  under  proper  authority, 
and  with  penalties  annexed  suitable  to  deter  the  transgres- 
sions. As  all  laws  suppose  man  to  be  in  a  social  state,  so 
all  laws  ought  to  be  made  for  the  good  of  man.  A  law 
that  is  not  made  by  such  as  have  authority  for  so  doing,  is 
of  no  force ;  and  if  authority  makes  laws  destructive  in 
themselves,  no  authority  can  prevent  things  from  finally 
taking  their  natural  course. 

Wherever  there  is  society  there  must  also  be  law ;  it  is 
impossible  that  society  should  subsist  without  it.  The  will, 
minds,  tempers,  dispositions,  views,  and  interests  of  men 
are  so  very  different,  and  sometimes  so  opposite,  that  with- 
out law,  which  cements  and  binds  all,  every  thing  would 
be  in  endless  disorder  and  confusion.  All  laws  usually 
wear  the  complexion  of  those  by  whom  they  wrere  made ; 
but  it  cannot  be  denied  that  some  bad  men,  from  a  sense 


1559 


GEORGIA  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JULY,  1775. 


1560 


of  necessity,  have  made  good  laws,  and  that  some  good 
men,  from  mistake  or  other  weaknesses,  have  enacted  laws 
bad  in  themselves,  and  pernicious  in  their  consequences. 

All  human  laws  partake  of  human  imperfection.  It  is 
not  so  with  the  laws  of  God;  he  is  perfect,  and  so  are  all 
his  works  and  ways.  "The  law  of  the  Lord  is  perfect, 
converting  the  soul.  The  testimony  of  the  Lord  is  sure, 
making  wise  the  simple.  The  statutes  of  the  Lord  are 
right,  rejoicing  the  heart.  The  commandment  of  the  Lord 
is  pure,  enlightening  the  eyes.  All  his  judgments  are  truth, 
and  righteousness  altogether." — Psalm  xix. 

Among  men  every  society  and  country  has  its  own  laws 
and  form  of  government,  which  may  be  very  different,  and 
cannot  operate  beyond  their  limits  ;  but  those  laws  and  that 
form  of  government  are  undoubtedly  best,  which  have  the 
greatest  tendency  to  make  all  those  that  live  under  them 
secure  and  happy.  As  soon  as  we  consider  man  as  formed 
into  society,  it  is  evident  that  the  safety*  of  the  whole  must 
be  the  grand  law  which  must  influence  and  direct  every 
other.  Men  did  not  pass  from  a  state  of  nature  into  a 
state  of  society,  to  render  their  situation  more  miserable 
and  their  rights  more  precarious.  That  government  and 
tyranny  is  the  hereditary  right  of  some,  and  that  slavery 
and  oppression  is  the  original  doom  of  others,  is  a  doctrine 
that  would  reflect  dishonour  upon  God.  It  is  treason 
against  all  mankind  ;  it  is  indeed  an  enormous  faith  that 
millions  were  made  for  one.  Transubstantiation  is  but  a 
harmless  absurdity,  compared  with  the  notion  of  a  divine 
right  to  govern  wrong,  or  of  making  laws  which  are  con- 
trary to  every  idea  of  liberty,  property,  and  justice. 

The  law  which  the  Apostle  speaks  of  in  our  text,  is  not 
a  law  of  man,  but  of  Him  who  is  the  only  lawgiver,  that 
can  save  and  condemn,  to  whom  all  owe  obedience,  and 
whose  laws  none  can  transgress  with  impunity. 

Though  all  the  laws  that  God  ever  gave  unto  man  are 
worthy  of  God,  and  tend  to  promote  the  happiness  of  those 
to  whom  they  were  given,  yet  we  may  observe  a  very 
striking  variety  in  the  different  laws  which  he  gave  at  diffe- 
rent times  and  to  different  people.  "  He  shewed  his  word 
unto  Jacob,  his  statutes  and  his  judgments  unto  Israel;  he 
has  not  dealt  so  with  any  other  nation."  Ps.  cxlvii.18,  19. 

To  the  generality  of  mankind  he  gave  no  written  law, 
but  yet  left  not  himself  without  a  witness  among  them;  the 
words  of  the  law  were  written  in  their  hearts,  their  con- 
science also  bearing  witness,  and  their  thoughts  the  mean 
while  excusing  or  else  accusing  one  another.  It  cannot  be 
said  they  were  without  law,  whilst  what  they  were  to  do, 
and  what  they  were  to  forbear,  was  written  in  their  hearts. 

To  Israel  God  came  with  a  fiery  law  in  his  hands  ;  it  was 
given  with  the  most  awful  solemnity  upon  Mount  Sinai. 
And  as  the  sum  and  substance  of  all  their  ceremonial,  po- 
litical and  moral  law  centered  in  the  ten  commandments, 
so  the  sum  and  substance  of  these  are  comprehended  in 
love  to  God  and  love  to  man,  which,  as  our  Lord  himself 
informs  us,  contain  all  the  law  and  all  the  prophets. 

All  manifestations  of  the  will  of  God  have  been  gradual ; 
and  it  is  probable  the  means  of  knowing  God  will  be  pro- 
gressive through  different  ages,  till  eternity  gives  the  good 
man  a  full  sight  of  God  in  his  immediate  presence.  Du- 
ring the  dispensation  of  the  old  testament  and  the  ceremo- 
nial law,  a  spirit  of  bondage  obtained  unto  fear,  the  law 
was  a  schoolmaster  to  bring  us  unto  Christ  ;  neither  did  the 
law  make  any  thing  perfect  but  the  bringing  in  of  a  better 
hope.  Grace  and  truth  were  brought  to  light  by  Jesus 
Christ;  and  hence  the  dispensation  of  the  gospel  under 
which  we  live,  is  called  the  law  of  liberty. 

Though  there  is  a  manifest  distinction  between  law  and 
gospel,  and  sometimes  these  two  things  are  even  opposed 
to  one  another,  yet  the  doctrine  of  the  gospel  is  also  called 
"The  law  of  faith,"  Rom.  iii.  17. ;  partly  because  it  was 
usual  with  the  Jewish  writers  to  call  every  doctrine  a  law, 
and  partly  also  because  the  doctrine  of  the  gospel  presents 
us  with  a  rule  of  life,  which  all  its  professors  are  bound  to 
obey  ;  hence  they  are  said  to  be  "  not  without  law,  but 
under  the  law  of  Christ,"  1  Cor.  ix.  11.;  and  hence  our 
apostle  speaks  of  a  royal  law,  which,  though  we  cannot 
obey  in  perfection,  nor  derive  any  merit  from  our  imper- 
fect obedience,  we  cannot  neglect  without  danger,  nor  dis- 
oboy  without  shewing  our  disregard  to  the  doctrine  of  the 
gospel  in  general. 

*  Solus  populi  suprema  lex. 


It  deserves  very  particular  attention  that  the  doctrine  of 
the  gospel  is  called  a  law  of  liberty.  Liberty  and  law  are 
perfectly  consistent.  Liberty  does  not  consist  in  living 
without  all  restraint ;  for  were  all  men  to  live  without  re- 
straint, as  they  please,  there  would  soon  be  no  liberty  at 
all.  The  strongest  would  be  master,  the  weakest  go  to  the 
wall  ;  right,  justice,  and  property,  must  give  way  to  power, 
and,  instead  of  its  being  a  blessing,  a  more  unhappy  situa- 
tion could  not  easily  be  devised  unto  mankind,  than  that 
every  man  should  have  it  in  his  power  to  do  what  is  right 
in  his  own  eyes.  Well  regulated  liberty  of  individuals  is 
the  natural  offspring  of  laws,  which  prudenlially  regulate 
the  rights  of  whole  communities;  and  as  laws  which  take 
away  the  natural  rights  of  men  are  unjust  and  oppressive, 
so  all  liberty  which  is  not  regulated  by  law  is  a  delusive 
phantom,  and  unworthy  of  the  glorious  name. 

The  gospel  is  called  a  law  of  liberty,  because  it  bears  a 
most  friendly  aspect  to  the  liberty  of  man.  It  is  a  known 
rule,  Evangelium  non  tollit  politias,  the  gospel  makes  no 
alteration  in  the  civil  state;  it  by  no  means  renders  man's 
natural  and  social  condition  worse  than  it  would  be  without 
the  knowledge  of  the  gospel.  When  the  Jews  boasted  of 
their  freedom,  and  that  they  never  were  in  bondage,  our 
Lord  does  not  reprove  them  for  it,  but  only  observes,  that 
national  freedom  still  admits  of  improvement:  "  If  the  Son 
shall  make  you  free,  then  are  you  free  indeed."  John  viii. 
16.  This  leads  me  to  observe  that  the  gospel  is  a  law  of 
liberty  in  a  much  higher  sense.  By  whomsoever  a  man  is 
overcome,  of  the  same  he  is  brought  into  bondage ;  but  no 
external  enemy  can  so  completely  tyrannize  over  a  con- 
quered enemy,  as  sin  does  over  all  those  who  yield  them- 
selves its  servants.  Vicious  habits,  when  once  they  have 
gained  the  ascendant  in  the  soul,  bring  man  to  that  unhappy 
pass,  that  he  knows  better  things  and  does  worse.  Sin, 
like  a  torrent,  carries  him  away  against  knowledge  and  con- 
viction, while  conscience  fully  convinced)  him  that  he  travels 
the  road  of  death,  and  must  expect,  if  he  so  continues,  to 
take  up  his  abode  in  hell ;  though  his  decaying  body  clearly 
tells  him  sin  breaks  his  constitution,  as  well  as  wastes  his 
substance;  though  he  feels  the  loss  of  credit  and  wealth, 
still  sin  has  too  strong  a  hold  of  him  to  be  forsaken;  though 
he  faintly  resolves  to  break  off,  yet,  till  the  grace  of  God 
brings  salvation,  when  he  would  do  good,  evil  is  present 
with  him.  In  short,  instead  of  being  under  a  law  of  liberty, 
he  is  under  the  law  of  sin  and  death ;  but  whenever  he 
feels  the  happy  influence  of  the  grace  of  the  gospel,  then 
this  "law  of  liberty  makes  him  free  from  the  law  of  sin 
and  death,"  Rom.  viii.  2.  It  furnisheth  him  not  only  with 
motives  to  resist,  but  with  power  also  to  subdue  sin  ;  sin 
reigns  no  longer  in  his  mortal  body,  because  he  is  not  under 
the  law  but  under  grace.  By  this  law  of  liberty  he  is 
made  free  from  sin,  and  has  his  fruit  unto  holiness,  and  the 
end  of  it  eternal  life.  There  is  another  reason  why  the 
gospel  is  called  a  law  of  liberty,  which  is  to  distinguish  it 
from  the  ceremonial  law  under  the  Mosaick  dispensation  ; 
a  yoke,  of  which  an  Apostle  saith,  neither  they  nor  their 
fathers  were  able  to  bear.  It  was  superadded  on  account 
of  their  transgressions,  and  suited  to  the  character  of  a 
gross  and  stubborn  nation,  to  whom  it  was  originally  given. 
They  were  so  prone  to  idolatry,  and  so  apt  to  forget  their 
God,  their  notions  were  so  gross  and  carnal,  that  a  number 
of  external  rites  and  ceremonies  became  necessary  to  put 
them  in  mind  of  him,  and  to  attach  them  to  some  degree 
of  his  worship  and  service.  This,  however  necessary,  was 
a  heavy  burden  ;  it  bid  them  "  touch  not,  taste  not,  handle 
not."  It  required  of  them  expensive  sacrifices,  and  a  costly 
and  painful  service.  It  was  attended  with  the  most  fearful 
threatenings.  If  any  man  brake  Moses'  law,  he  died  under 
two  or  three  witnesses  ;  and  the  very  spirit  they  then  re- 
ceived, was  a  spirit  of  bondage  unto  fear :  whereas  the 
gospel  dispensation  breatheth  a  spirit  of  confidence,  and 
under  the  law  of  liberty  we  call  upon  God,  as  Abba,  Fa- 
ther. By  this  law  of  liberty  the  professors  of  the  gospel 
will  be  judged. 

Every  man  is  a  rational,  and  therefore  accountable,  crea- 
ture. As  a  creature  he  must  needs  depend  on  his  Creator; 
and  as  a  rational  creature  he  must  certainly  be  accountable 
for  all  his  actions.  Nothing  is  more  evident  than  that  man 
is  not  of  himself ;  and  if  once  we  admit  that  he  holds  his 
existence,  his  faculties  and  favours  from  God  that  made 
him,  it  becomes  a  very  obvious  conclusion  that  his  Maker 


1561 


GEORGIA  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JULY,  1775. 


1562 


must  have  had  some  view  in  giving  him  existence,  and  more 
understanding  than  to  the  beasts  of  the  field,  neither  can  it 
be  a  matter  of  inditference  to  him  whether  man  acts  agree- 
ably or  contrary  to  Lis  designs.  The  Creator  of  the  natural 
world  is  also  its  moral  ruler ;  and  if  he  is  now  the  proprie- 
tor and  ruler  of  intelligent  beings,  at  some  time  or  other  he 
must  also  be  their  judge. 

If  God  had  not  made  his  will  known  unto  man,  there 
could  have  been  neither  transgression  nor  judgment.  If  it 
should  be  said  that  God  has  not  manifested  himself  alike 
unto  all  men,  and  that  some  have  much  smaller  opportuni- 
ties to  know  his  will  and  their  duty  than  others,  it  is  enough 
to  observe,  that  no  man  will  be  judged  by  a  rule  of  which 
it  was  impossible  he  should  have  any  knowledge.  Every 
work  and  every  man  will  be  brought  into  judgment,  and  the 
judgment  of  God  will  never  be  otherwise  than  according  to 
truth  ;  but  those  that  never  had  the  law  of  liberty  will  not 
be  judged  by  that  law ;  and  those  that  have  been  favoured 
with  the  revelation  of  the  gospel,  will  be  more  inexcusable 
than  any  others  if  they  neglect  the  day  of  their  visitation. 

As  many  as  have  sinned  without  law,  shall  also  perish 
without  law ;  and  as  many  as  have  sinned  in  the  law,  shall 
be  judged  by  the  law."  Rom.  ii.  12.  All  men  are  under 
some  law;  they  feel,  they  are  conscious,  that  they  are  so; 
the  thoughts  which  already  excuse  or  condemn  one  ano- 
ther, are  an  anticipation  of  a  final  and  decisive  judgment, 
when  every  man's  reward  will  be  according  to  his  works. 

That  all  those  who  heard  and  professed  to  believe  the 
gospel  will  be  finally  judged  by  that,  we  have  the  fullest 
assurance.  God  will  judge  the  secrets  of  men  by  Jesus 
Christ,  according  to  his  gospel.  "  The  word  that  1  have 
spoken,"  saith  Christ,  "  the  same  will  judge  them  that  heard 
it  on  the  last  day."  John  xii.  48.  It  greatly  interests  us 
clearly  to  know  what  is  the  import  and  consequence  of 
being  judged  by  the  gospel  as  a  law  of  liberty,  and  it  con- 
tains the  following  things: 

The  general  character,  all  the  thoughts,  words,  and  ac- 
tions, together  with  the  general  conduct  of  all  those  who 
professed  the  gospel,  will  be  brought  to  the  test,  and  tried 
by  this  rule.  Mail's  own  opinion  of  himself,  the  good 
opinion  of  others,  will  here  stand  him  in  no  stead  ;  his 
character  will  not  be  determined  by  his  external  appear- 
ance, but  by  his  inward  reality.  "  Man  looketh  on  the 
outward  appearance,  but  the  Lord  looketh  on  the  heart." 
1  Sam.  xvii.  7.  The  self-righteous  pharisee  will  be  re- 
jected, notwithstanding  his  fair  appearance  and  boasting ; 
the  penitent  publican  will  be  received,  though  he  has  no- 
thing to  plead,  but  Lord  have  mercy  on  me  a  sinner.  The 
law  is  spiritual,  and  no  law  more  so  than  the  law  of  the 
gospel ;  it  requires  not  merely  an  external  obedience,  but 
an  internal  conformity  to  the  will  of  God;  it  demands 
truth  in  the  inward  part ;  it  looks  not  only  to  the  actions 
that  are  done,  but  to  the  principle  from  which  they  flow; 
we  must  judge  of  man's  inward  disposition  by  his  visible 
action  ;  but  God  judges  of  the  actions  of  men  according  to 
their  invisible  spring;  thoughts  are  out  of  the  reach  of 
human  cognizance,  but  they  are  the  first  object  of  divine 
notice :  there  is  not  a  word  that  drops  from  our  tongue  but 
what  our  judge  hears ;  whatever  we  do,  or  whatever  we 
neglect,  is  all  under  his  immediate  eye ;  and  he  not  only 
attends  to  our  general  character,  but  also  to  every  thought, 
word,  or  action,  and  the  prevailing  complexion  of  all  these 
taken  together  form  our  true  and  real  character. 

In  the  judgment,  according  to  this  law,  our  character, 
words,  thoughts,  and  actions  will  be  brought  to  the  test  of 
this  rule  ;  our  conduct  will  be  compared  with  these  precepts; 
this  is  the  balance  of  the  sanctuary  in  which  the  professors 
of  the  gospel  shall  be  weighed,  and  as  they  shall  be  found 
approved  or  deficient,  their  case  must  be  determined. 
Those  whose  temper  and  actions  shall  be  found  conform- 
able to  the  law  of  liberty,  will  be  acquitted,  graciously  ac- 
cepted, and  made  ever  happy  ;  and  those  who  turned  the 
grace  of  God  into  wantonness,  and  made  the  liberty  of  the 
gospel  a  cloak  for  their  sins,  will  be  finally  rejected.  The 
gospel  informs  us,  that  a  day  is  already  appointed  for  that 
purpose  ;  it  acquaints  us  with  the  person  of  our  judge,  and 
every  circumstance,  as  well  as  the  rule,  according  to  which 
he  will  proceed  in  judgment.  Perhaps  on  that  day,  when 
all  nations  shall  appear  before  the  judge,  and  he  will  divide 
them  as  a  shepherd  divideth  the  sheep  from  the  goats,  dis- 
tinct places  will  also  be  allotted  to  those  who  are  to  be 


judged  by  natural  conscience  and  the  law  of  nature,  and 
those  who  have  been  favoured  with  a  divine  revelation, 
and  especially  with  the  light  of  the  gospel :  the  people  of 
Nineveh  will  arise  against  empty  professors  of  the  gospel, 
and  will  condemn  them.  Those  who  have  been  exalted 
above  others  in  means  and  privileges,  will  sit  proportionablv 
lower  than  those  who  have  made  a  better  improvement  of 
lesser  means ;  and,  notwithstanding  the  fondest  hope  and 
finest  profession,  it  is  a  determined  rule  of  the  law  of  liber- 
ty, that  "  except  our  righteousness  shall  exceed  that  of  the 
Scribes  and  Pharisees,  we  shall  in  no  case  enter  into  the 
kingdom  of  heaven." 

It  deserves  our  peculiar  attention,  that  the  Apostle  con- 
siders the  gospel  as  a  law  of  liberty,  at  the  same  time  when 
he  sets  it  before  us  as  the  rule  by  which  we  are  to  be  judged. 
We  are  not  to  imagine  because  the  gospel  is  a  law  of  li- 
berty, therefore  men  will  not  be  judged;  on  the  contrary, 
judgment  will  be  the  more  severe  against  all  who  have 
heard  and  professed  the  gospel,  and  yet  walked  contrary 
to  its  precepts  and  doctrine.  As  the  transgression  of  a  law 
of  liberty  must  be  more  inexcusable  than  the  transgression 
of  a  law  unjust  or  oppressive  in  itself,  or  even  the  ceremo- 
nial law,  which  was  given  only  for  a  certain  period,  and  to 
answer  temporary  purposes,  so  their  judgment  and  doom 
must  be  proportionably  heavier,  who  have  sinned  against 
love  and  liberty,  as  well  as  against  power  and  justice. 

According  to  this  law  the  fate  of  men  will  not  only  be 
determined,  but  sentence  will  also  be  put  into  execution. 
God  sitteth  on  the  throne  of  judgment  every  day,  and 
judgeth  righteously ;  but  he  hath  moreover  appointed  a 
particular  day  when  he  will  manifest  his  power  and  justice 
before  the  whole  creation  ;  when  the  dead,  both  small  and 
great,  will  stand  before  God;  when  those  that  acted  agree- 
able to  the  law  of  liberty,  will  attain  the  fulness  of  glory  of 
the  freedom  of  the  sons  of  God,  and  when  he  will  also  take 
vengeance  on  all  that  have  not  known  God,  and  have  not 
obeyed  his  holy  gospel.  This  naturally  leads  to  the  second 
thing  proposed,  to  take  a  nearer  view  of  the  importance  of 
the  exhortation,  "  So  speak,  and  so  do,  as  they  that  shall 
be  judged  by  the  law  of  liberty." 

It  seems  as  though  the  Apostle  had  an  eye  to  some  par- 
ticular branch  of  the  law  of  liberty,  i.  e.  the  love  which 
we  owe  unto  our  neighbour,  and  that  his  design  is  to 
obviate  the  mistake  as  though  men  might  be  considered  as 
fulfilling  the  law  of  Christ,  in  paying  respect  to  some  of 
its  commands  and  prohibitions,  at  the  same  time  that  they 
were  entirely  regardless  of  the  rest.  He  assures  them,  that 
"  whosoever  shall  keep  the  whole  law,  but  shall  transgress 
in  one  point"  (e.  g.  having  respect  of  persons)  "  is  guilty  of 
all."  On  this  principle  the  Apostle  builds  the  general  ex- 
hortation, "  So  speak,  and  so  do,  as  they  that  shall  be  judged 
by  the  law  of  liberty."    This  implies, 

1.  Be  thoroughly  convinced  of  the  certainty  of  a  judg- 
ment to  come,  and  that  it  extends  to  you,  to  all  your 
thoughts,  words,  and  actions.  There  is  not  any  truth  of 
greater  moment,  nor  perhaps  more  easily  forgotten.  The 
belief  or  unbelief  of  this  important  doctrine  must  have 
the  most  sensible  effects.  All  the  Apostles  frequently  put 
their  hearers  in  mind  of  a  judgment  to  come ;  and  there  is 
not  any  truth  more  necessary  to  be  frequently  inculcated 
and  daily  thought  on  ;  and  wherever  this  truth  is  really  be- 
lieved and  felt,  it  will  have  a  constant  and  natural  influence 
on  the  behaviour  of  those  who  truly  believe  it. 

2.  See  to  it  that  in  judgment  you  may  stand.  All  men 
will  be  brought  into  judgment,  but  few  will  be  able  to  stand ; 
none  will  be  excused,  or  be  able  to  withdraw,  and  only 
those  who  have  acted  worthily  will  meet  with  the  divine 
acceptance.  The  difference  will  be  amazing  and  beyond 
all  conception  :  an  eternity  of  happiness,  which  eye  has 
not  seen,  ear  has  not  heard,  and  which  never  entered  into 
the  heart  of  any  man,  lies  on  the  one  side ;  and  despair, 
misery,  and  torment  on  the  other.  Those  that  are  able  to 
stand,  will  meet  with  the  smiles  and  approbation  of  their 
judge  ;  and  to  all  the  rest  the  King  will  say,  "  These  mine 
enemies  that  would  not  have  me  to  bear  rule  over  them, 
bring  them  here,  and  slay  them  before  mine  eyes."  Those 
that  believe  and  are  convinced  of  this  awful  alternative, 
should  certainly  make  it  their  care  that  they  may  be  able 
to  stand  in  judgment ;  neither  should  the  persuasion  of  this 
only  influence  their  conduct  in  general,  but  these  words 
ought  to  be  considered  as  a  rule,  which  we  ought  to  have 


1563 


GEORGIA  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JULY,  L775. 


1564 


constantly  before  our  eyes  in  all  our  discourses  and  every 
undertaking;  we  should  ever  "so  speak,  and  so  act,  as 
they  that  shall  be  judged  by  the  law  of  liberty." 

I  shall  draw  a  "few  inferences,  before  I  conclude  with  a 
more  particular  addiess  to  the  worthy  gentlemen  at  whose 
request  I  preach  on  this  occasion. 

1 .  The  gospel  is  a  law  of  liberty. 

A  late  writer*  asserts,  "  every  religion  countenances  des- 
potism, but  none  so  much  as  the  Christian. "  This  is  a 
very  heavy  charge  against  religion  in  general,  but  bears 
hardest  on  the  Christian.  Whether  it  proceeds  from  malice, 
ignorance,  or  misapprehension,  it  is  needless  to  determine: 
but  if  Christianity  he  a  law  of  liberty,  it  must  be  obvious 
how  ill-grounded  is  such  a  charge  against  it.  It  cannot  be 
denied  but  some  Christian  writers  have  wrote  against  the 
rights  of  mankind.  All  those  who  stand  up  for  unlimited 
passive  obedience  and  non-resistance,  may  have  given  but 
too  much  cause  for  such  surmises  and  suspicions  ;  but  the 
truth  is,  that  both  those  which  make  this  charge,  and  those 
who  gave  occasion  lor  it,  were  alike  ignorant  ol  the  spirit 
and  temper  of  Christianity;  and  it  may  well  be  doubted 
whether  the  venders  of  such  odious  doctrines,  who  foisted 
tenets,  so  abominable  and  injurious  to  mankind,  into  the 
system  of  Christian  religion,  have  not  done  that  holy  reli- 
gion greater  hurt,  under  the  pretence  of  friendship  and 
defence,  than  its  most  barefaced  enemies  by  all  their  most 
violent  attacks.  Some  Christian  divines  have  taught  the 
enormous  faith,  that  millions  were  made  for  one  ;  they  have 
ascribed  a  divine  right  to  Kings  to  govern  wrong:  but  what 
then  ?  Are  such  abominable  doctrines  any  part  of  Chris- 
tianity, because  these  men  say  so  ?  Does  the  gospel  cease 
to  be  a  law  of  liberty,  because  some  of  its  professors  pervert 
it  into  an  engine  of  tyranny,  oppression,  and  injustice? 

The  assertion,  that  all  religion  countenances  despotism, 
and  Christianity  more  than  any  other,  is  diametrically  op- 
posite to  fact.  Survey  the  globe,  and  you  will  find  that 
liberty  has  taken  its  seat  only  in  Christendom,  and  that  the 
highest  degree  of  freedom  is  pleaded  for  and  enjoyed  by 
such  as  make  profession  of  the  gospel. 

There  are  but  two  religions  which  are  concerned  in  this 
charge ;  the  Jewish  and  the  Christian.  Natural  religion, 
writers  of  this  kind,  I  suppose,  would  not  include  in  their 
charge  ;  if  they  do,  they  set  all  religion  at  variance  with 
the  rights  of  mankind,  contrary  to  the  sense  of  all  nations, 
who  are  generally  agreed,  that,  abstractly  of  a  world  to 
come,  religion  is  of  real  service  and  necessity  to  mankind, 
for  their  better  government  and  order. 

As  to  the  Jewish  religion,  it  seems  really  strange  that 
any  should  charge  it  with  favouring  despotism,  when  by 
one  of  its  express  rites,  at  certain  times,  it  proclaimed 
"  Liberty  throughout  the  land,  to  the  inhabitants  thereof." 
Levit.  xxv.  10.  It  required  their  Kings  "  not  to  be  lifted 
up  in  their  hearts  above  their  brethren."  Ueut.  xvii.  20. 
And  the  whole  system  of  that  religion  is  so  replete  with 
laws  against  injustice  and  oppression,  it  pays  such  an 
extraordinary  regard  to  property,  and  gives  such  a  strict 
charge  to  rule  in  justice  and  the  fear  of  God,  and  to  con- 
sider those  over  whom  they  judge  as  their  brethren,  even 
when  dispensing  punishments,  and  forbids  all  excess  in 
them,  that  it  is  really  surprising  any  one  acquainted  with 
its  precepts  should  declare  it  favorable  to  despotism  or 
oppression. 

The  Christian  religion,  while  it  commands  due  respect 
and  obedience  to  superiors,  no  where  requires  a  blind  and 
unlimited  obedience  on  the  part  of  the  subjects ;  nor  does 
it  vest  any  absolute  and  arbitrary  power  in  the  rulers.  It 
is  an  institution  for  the  benefit,  and  not  for  the  distress  of 
mankind.  It  preachcth  not  only  "glory  to  God  on  high," 
but  also  "  peace  on  earth,  and  good  will  among  men." 

The  gospel  gives  no  higher  authority  to  magistrates  than 
to  be  "  the  ministers  of  God,  for  the  good  of  the  subject." 
Horn.  xiii.  From  whence  it  must  surely  follow,  that  their 
power  is  to  edify,  and  not  to  destroy:  when  they  abuse 
their  authority,  to  distress  and  destroy  their  subjects,  they 
deserve  not  to  be  thought  ministers  of  God  for  good  ;  nor 
is  it  to  be  supposed,  when  they  act  so  contrary  to  the  na- 
ture of  their  office,  that  they  act  agreeable  to  the  will  of 
God,  or  in  conformity  to  the  doctrine  of  the  gospel. 

The  gospel  recommends  unto  masters  to  forbear  threat- 
enings,  and  to  remember  that  they  also  have  a  master  in 

*  See  a  tract,  intituled,  "  Chains  of  Slavery,"  Printed,  London,  1775. 


heaven  ;  it  assures  them  that  the  eye  of  God  is  equally 
upon  the  servant  and  the  master,  and  that  with  God  there 
is  no  respect  of  persons:  it  commands  masters,  from  the 
most  solemn  considerations,  to  give  unto  servants  that 
which  is  just  and  equal:  it  sailh  to  the  meanest  slave, 
"Art  thou  called,  being  a  servant,  care  not  for  it,  but  if 
thou  mayest  be  made  free,  use  it  rather."    1  Cor.  vii.  '21. 

The  doctrine  of  the  gospel  has  that  regard  to  property, 
that  it  commands  even  soldiers:  "Do  violence  to  no  man, 
and  be  content  with  your  wages."  Luke  iii.  14.  That 
a  Paul  sent  back  a  runaway  slave,  though  now  converted, 
and  belonging  to  his  intimate  friend,  and  at  a  time  when 
he  seems  to  have  stood  in  real  need  of  his  services,  from 
a  delicacy  that  he  would  do  nothing  without  the  owner's 
mind,  lest  his  benefit  should  appear  as  if  it  were  of  neces- 
sity, and  not  willingly.  Philem.  xiv.  From  the  same 
spirit  of  justice,  a  Zaccheus,  after  his  conversion,  restored 
fourfold  what  before  he  had  taken  from  any  by  false  accu- 
sation; surely,  then,  the  spirit  of  the  gospel  is  very  friendly 
to  the  rights  and  property  of  men. 

The  gospel  sets  conscience  above  all  human  authority 
in  matters  of  faith,  and  bids  us  to  "stand  fast  in  that  liberty 
wherewith  the  Son  of  God  has  made  us  free."  Gal.  v.  1. 
Freedom  is  the  very  spirit  and  temper  of  the  gospel : 
"  He  that  is  called  in  the  Lord,  being  a  servant,  is  the 
Lord^s  freeman.  Ye  are  bought  with  a  price,  be  ye  not 
the  servants  of  men."  1  Cor.  vii.  22,  23.  At  the  same 
time  that  it  commands  us  to  submit  to  every  ordinance  of 
men,  it  also  directs  us  to  act  "as  free,  and  not  using  liberty 
as  a  cloak  of  maliciousness,  but  as  the  servants  of  God." 
1  Pet.  iii.  13-18. 

Those,  therefore,  that  would  support  arbitrary  power, 
and  require  an  unlimited  obedience,  in  vain  look  for  pre- 
cedents or  precepts  for  such  things  in  the  gospel,  an  insti- 
tution equally  tending  to  make  men  just,  free,  and  happy 
here,  and  perfectly  holy  and  happy  hereafter. 

2.  Tlie  main  design  of  the  gospel  is  not  to  direct  us  in 
our  external  and  civil  affairs,  but  how  we  may  at  last 
stand  with  comfort  before  God,  the  judge  of  all. 

Human  prudence  is  to  be  our  guide  in  the  concerns  of 
time  ;  the  gospel  makes  us  wise  unto  salvation,  and  points 
out  the  means  to  be  pursued,  that  it  may  be  well  with  us 
in  the  world  to  come.  As  rational  creatures,  we  are  to 
make  use  of  our  reason ;  as  Christians,  we  are  to  repent 
and  believe  the  gospel.  Motives  of  a  worldly  nature  may 
very  properly  influence  us  in  our  worldly  concerns ;  we 
are  created  not  only  for  eternity,  but  also  for  time:  it  is 
not  at  all  improper  for  us  to  have  a  due  regard  for  both. 
The  gospel  will  regulate  our  desires  and  restrain  our  pas- 
sions as  to  earthly  things,  and  will  raise  us  at  the  same  time 
above  time  and  sense,  to  objects  of  a  nature  more  worthy 
of  ourselves.  A  due  regard  for,  and  a  frequent  meditation 
on,  a  judgment  to  come,  will  greatly  assist  us  in  all  our 
concerns;  and  this  very  consideration  the  gospel  holds  out 
to  us  in  the  clearest  manner.  It  not  only  affirms,  as  a 
truth,  what  reason  and  conscience  might  consider  only  as 
probable,  but  it  takes  away,  as  it  were,  the  veil  from  be- 
tween us  and  things  to  come  ;  it  gives  us  a  present  view  of 
the  future  bliss  of  saints,  and  the  terrours  and  despair  of 
sinners:  rather  an  historical  account  than  a  prophetiek 
description  of  all  the  proceedings  of  the  dreadful  pleasing 
day;  it  clearly  points  out  the  road  to  destruction,  anil  the 
way  to  escape  ;  it  affords  us  a  plain  and  general  rule  to 
obtain  safety  and  comfort,  when  it  bids  us,  "So  speak,  and 
so  do,  as  they  (hat  shall  be  judged  by  the  law  of  liberty." 

This  general  rule  may  also  be  of  considerable  service  in 
extraordinary  and  particular  cases.  It  is  impossible  to  pro- 
vide express  directions  for  every  particular  case;  and  in 
the  course  of  things  circumstances  may  happen  when  a 
good  man  may  be  at  a  loss  to  know  his  duty,  and  find  it 
difficult  so  to  act  as  to  obtain  his  own  approbation.  There 
may  be  danger  of  going  beyond,  and  danger  in  not  coming 
up  to,  the  mark.  To  act  worthy  of  God,  who  has  called 
us,  is  the  general  rule  of  the  Christian  at  all  times,  and 
upon  every  occasion  ;  and  did  we  but  always  follow  this 
ride,  what  manner  of  persons  should  we  then  be!  But  in 
cases  of  intricacy,  we  may  still  be  in  doubt  what  may  be 
most  for  the  glory  of  God,  and  most  consistent  with  our 
duty.  Sometimes,  also,  our  relative  duties  may  seem  to 
come  in  competition  with  one  another,  and  we  may  hesi- 
tate in  our  own  mind  which  for  the  present  has  the  strong- 


1565 


GEORGIA  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JULY,  1775. 


1566 


est  call.  We  would  Tain  obey  our  superiors,  and  yet  we 
cannot  think  of  giving  up  our  natural,  our  civil  and  reli- 
gious rights,  nor  acquiesce  in  or  contribute  to  render  our 
fellow-creatures  or  fellow-citizens  slaves  and  miserable. 
We  would  willingly  follow  peace  with  all  men,  and  yet 
would  be  very  unwilling  that  others  should  take  the  ad- 
vantage of  a  pacifick  disposition  to  injure  us  in  hopes  of 
doing  it  with  impunity.  We  would  express  duty,  respect, 
and  obedience  to  the  king,  as  supreme,  and  yet  we  would 
not  wish  to  strengthen  the  hands  of  tyranny,  nor  call  op- 
pression lawful :  in  such  a  delicate  situation  it  is  a  golden 
rule,  "  So  to  speak,  and  so  to  do,  as  they  that  shall  be 
judged  by  the  law  of  liberty."  Nothing  has  a  greater 
tendency  to  make  men  act  wrong  than  the  disbelief  of  a 
future  judgment;  and  nothing  will  more  effectually  restrain 
and  direct  them  than  the  full  persuasion  that  such  an  event 
will  certainly  take  place;  nothing  would  have  a  happier 
tendency  to  make  us  act  with  prudence,  justice,  and  mode- 
ration, than  the  firm  persuasion  that  God  will  bring  every 
work  into  judgment,  and  every  secret  thing,  whether  it  be 
good  or  bad. 

Neither  could  I  think  on  any  direction  more  applicable 
to  the  design  of  our  present  meeting,  or  which  I  might 
more  properly  recommend  to  the  respectable  gentlemen 
now  met  together  to  consult  on  the  recovery  and  preserva- 
tion of  the  liberties  of  America,  and  who  chose  to  begin 
their  deliberations  with  a  solemn  act  of  worship  to  Al- 
mighty God,  who  has  established  government  as  his  ordi- 
nance, and  equally  abhors  licentiousness  and  oppression  ; 
whose  singular  blessing  it  is  if  subjects  enjoy  a  righteous 
Government,  and  under  such  a  Government  lead  a  quiet 
and  peaceable  life  in  all  godliness  and  honesty. 

You  are  met,  gentlemen,  in  a  most  critical  time,  and  on 
a  most  alarming  occasion,  not  in  a  legislative  capacity,  but 
(while  the  sitting  of  the  usual  representation  is  not  thought 
ibr  the  King's  service,  or  necessary  for  the  good  of  this 
Province)  you  are  chosen  by  the  general  voice  of  this  Pro- 
vince to  meet  on  their  behalf,  to  consult  on  such  measures 
as,  in  our  local  circumstances,  may  be  most  to  the  real  ad- 
vantage, and  tend  to  the  honour  of  our  Sovereign,  as  well 
as  the  good  and  safety  of  this  Province,  and  of  all  this 
great  Continent.  For  the  sake  of  the  auditory,  I  shall 
briefly  state  the  immediate  causes  that  have  given  rise  to 
this  Provincial  and  a  General  American  Congress,  and 
then  offer  such  humble  advice  as  appears  to  me  most  suit- 
able to  our  circumstances. 

To  enforce  some  acts  for  laying  on  a  duty  to  raise  a 
perpetual  revenue  in  America,  which  the  Americans  think 
unjust  and  unconstitutional,  which  all  America  complains 
of,  and  some  Provinces  have  in  some  measure  opposed,* 
a  fleet  and  army  has  been  sent  to  New-England,  and  after 
a  long  series  of  hardships  by  that  Province  patiently  en- 
dured, it  is  now  out  of  all  question  that  hostilities  have 
been  commenced  against  them  ;  blood  has  been  shed,  and 
many  lives  have  been  taken  away ;  thousands,  never  so 
much  as  suspected  of  having  any  hand  in  the  action  which 
is  made  the  pretence  of  all  the  severity  now  used  against 
that  Province,  have  been  and  still  are  reduced  to  the  great- 
est distress.  From  this  other  Provinces  have  taken  the 
alarm:  an  apprehension  of  nearer  foes,  not  unlikely  to 
appear  as  auxiliaries  in  an  unjust  cause,  has  thrown  our 
neighbours  into  arms;  how  far  and  wide  the  flame  so  wan- 
tonly kindled  may  be  permitted  to  spread,  none  can  tell ; 
but  in  these  alarming  circumstances  the  liberty  of  this  Con- 
tinent, of  which  we  are  a  part,  the  safety  and  domestick 
peace  of  this  Province,  will  naturally  become  a  subject  of 
your  deliberations;  and  here  I  may  well  adapt  the  language 
of  old,  "There  was  no  such  deed  done  nor  seen  from  the 
day  that  America  was  first  settled  unto  this  day;  consider 
of  it,  take  advice,  and  speak  your  minds."  Judges  xix. 
30.  I  mean  not  to  anticipate  and  direct  your  counsels ; 
but  from  your  desire  I  should  speak  on  this  occasion,  I 
take  it  for  granted  you  will  permit  me  to  offer  such  hints 
as  may  appear  suitable  to  the  place  and  design  of  our  pre- 
sent meeting. 

In  the  first  place,  as  there  is  no  evil  in  a  city  in  which 
the  hand  of  God  may  not  be  seen,  so  in  vain  is  salvation 

*  This  opposition  in  some  Provinces  consisted  in  sending  the  tea,  on 
which  this  duty  was  to  be  paid,  back  to  England,  not  suffering  it  to  be 
sold  or  landed  in  others ;  and  in  Boston,  when  they  were  prevented 
from  sending  it  back,  it  was  entirely  destroyed,  but  no  person  hurt,  nor 
any  blood  shed. 


looked  for  from  the  hills  and  from  the  mountains,  but  can 
come  from  Him  only  who  has  made  heaven  and  earth. 
This  undoubtedly  is  a  day  of  trouble,  but  God  saith  to 
his  people,  "Call  upon  me  in  a  day  of  trouble,  and  I  will 
deliver  thee."  Ps.  1.  15.  "What  nation  has  God  so 
nigh  unto  them,  as  the  Lord  our  God  is  in  all  things  that 
we  call  upon  him  for?"  Deut.  iv.  7.  If  this  be  our  first 
step,  if  first  of  all  we  look  unto  him  from  whom  our  help 
cometh,  we  may  hope  all  will  be  well  at  last.  Let  us  be 
thoroughly  convinced  of  this,  we  must  stand  well  with  God, 
else  it  can  never  be  well  with  us  at  all ;  without  him  and 
his  help  we  can  never  prosper.  The  Lord  is  with  you,  if 
you  are  with  him  :  "  If  you  seek  him,  you  will  find  him  ; 
but  if  you  forsake  him,  you  will  be  forsaken  by  him."  2 
Chron.  xv.  2.  If  God  be  for  us,  who  can  be  against  us  ? 
if  he  be  against  us,  who  can  be  for  us?  Before  we  think 
on,  or  look  any  where  else,  may  our  eyes  be  unto  God, 
that  he  may  be  gracious  unto  us.  Let  us  humbly  confess 
and  speedily  turn  from  our  sins,  deprecate  his  judgment, 
and  secure  his  favour.  "Rend  your  hearts,  and  not  your 
garments,  and  turn  unto  the  Lord  your  God,  for  he  is  gra- 
cious and  merciful,  slow  to  anger,  and  of  great  kindness, 
and  repenteth  him  of  the  evil ;  who  knoweth  if  he  will 
return  and  repent,  and  leave  a  blessing  behind  him,  even 
a  meat-offering  and  a  drink-offering  unto  the  Lord  your 
God,"    Joel  ii.  13,  14. 

Let  it  be  a  standing  rule  with  every  one  that  is  to  sit  in 
council  upon  this  occasion,  "  so  to  speak,  and  so  to  do,  as 
one  that  is  to  be  judged  by  the  law  of  liberty."  Let  us 
most  carefully  avoid  every  thing  that  might  make  us  incur 
the  displeasure  of  God,  and  wound  our  own  consciences. 
The  effects  of  your  deliberation  may  become  very  serious 
and  extensive,  and  the  consequences  extremely  important: 
think  therefore  before  you  speak,  deliberate  before  you 
execute,  and  let  the  law  of  liberty,  by  which  you  are  here- 
after to  be  judged,  be  the  constant  rule  of  all  your  words 
and  actions.  Far  be  it  from  us  to  be  reduced  under  laws 
inconsistent  with  liberty,  and  as  far  to  wish  for  liberty  with- 
out law  ;  let  the  one  be  so  tempered  with  the  other,  that 
when  we  come  to  give  our  account  to  the  supreme  Law- 
giver, who  is  the  great  judge  of  all,  it  may  appear  we  had  a 
due  regard  to  both,  and  may  meet  with  his  approbation. 

Such  always  hath  been,  and  such  is  still  the  attachment  of 
America  to  the  illustrious  house  of  Hanover,  that  I  need 
not  put  you  in  mind  of  our  duty  to  the  King  as  supreme. 
By  our  law  the  King  can  do  no  wrong ;  but  of  his  present 
Majesty,  who  is  universally  known  to  be  adorned  with  many 
social  virtues,  may  we  not  justly  conclude  that  he  would 
not  do  any  wrong,  even  though  he  could  ?  May  we  not 
hope,  that  to  the  greatness  of  a  monarch  he  will  superadd 
the  feelings  of  the  man,  the  tenderness  of  a  father?  May 
we  not  hope,  that  when  the  truth  of  things,  the  tears  of 
his  suffering  subjects,  the  distresses  caused  by  acts  extreme- 
ly ill  advised,  once  reach  his  notice,  a  generous  pity  will 
force  his  heart,  and  that  pity,  when  he  feels  it,  will  com- 
mand redress  ?  "  The  heart  of  the  .King  is  in  the  hand  of 
tbe  Lord,  as  the  rivers  of  water,  and  he  turneth  it  as  he 
pleaseth."  Prov.  xxi.  1.  Most  earnestly  therefore  let  us 
pray,  that  in  this  great  and  most  important  matter  also  God 
may  give  unto  the  King  an  understanding  heart,  that  power 
may  be  governed  by  wisdom,  and  the  wheels  of  Govern- 
ment roll  on  with  justice  and  moderation. 

Should  you  think  that  all  our  present  distress  is  owing  to 
evil  counsellors,  nothing  need  to  hinder  you  from  praying 
that  God  would  turn  their  counsels  into  foolishness:  you 
may  make  it  your  earnest  request,  both  in  publick  and  in 
private,  that  the  wicked  being  removed  from  before  the 
King,  his  throne  may  be  established  in  righteousness ;  that 
the  rod  of  the  oppressor  may  be  broken,  and  justice  and 
equity  take  place  of  tyranny  and  oppression. 

It  may  be  owing  to  nothing  but  the  firm  attachment  to 
the  reigning  family,  that  so  many  Americans  look  upon  the 
present  measures  as  a  deep  laid  plan  to  bring  in  the  Pre- 
tender. Perhaps  this  jealousy  may  be  very  groundless  ; 
but  so  much  is  certain,  that  none  but  Great  Britain's  ene- 
mies can  be  gainers  in  this  unnatural  contest*. 

Never  let  us  lose  out  of  sight  that  our  interest  lies  in  a 

*  Were  it  designed  to  give  the  Pretender  an  opportunity  to  raise  di. 
visions  in  Great  Britain,  starve  the  manufacturers,  send  away  troops 
from  Ireland  and  Scotland,  and  breed  civil  war  in  America,  must  all 
be  circumstances  too  favourable,  and,  I  may  say,  very  tempting  to  pro. 
mote  such  a  project. 


1567 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &tc,  JULY,  1775. 


1568 


perpetual  connection  with  our  Mother  Country.  Notwith- 
standing the  present  unwise  and  harsh  measures,  there  are 
thousands  in  Great  Britain  that  think  will)  us,  and  wish  well 
to  the  American  cause,  and  make  it  their  own  :  let  us  con- 
vince our  enemies,  that  the  struggles  of  America  have  not 
their  rise  in  a  desire  of  independency,  hut  from  a  warm 
regard  to  our  common  Constitution;  that  we  esteem  the 
name  of  Britons,  as  heing  the  same  with  freemen:  let 
every  step  we  take  afford  proof  how  greatly  we  esteem  our 
Mother  Country,  and  that,  to  the  wish  of  a  perpetual  con- 
nection, we  prefer  this  only  consideration,  that  we  may  be 
virtuous  and  free.* 

Let  me  entreat  you,  gentlemen,  think  coolly,  and  act 
deliberately  :  rash  counsels  are  seldom  good  ones:  Ministe- 
rial rashness  and  American  rashness  can  only  be  pro- 
ductive of  untoward  compounds :  inconsiderate  measures, 
framed  on  the  other  side  of  the  AtlanticJc,  are  the  cause 
of  all  our  mischiefs ;  and  it  is  not  in  the  least  probable 
that  inconsiderate  measures  in  America  can  be  productive 
of  any  good.  Let  nothing  be  done  through  strife  and  vain 
glory  ;  let  no  private  resentment  nor  party  zeal  disgrace 
your  honest  warmth  for  your  country's  welfare:  measures 
determined  on  by  integrity  and  prudence,  are  most  likely  to 
be  carried  into  execution  by  steadiness  and  moderation. 
Let  neither  the  frowns  of  tyranny,  nor  the  pleasure  of  po- 
pularity, sway  you  from  what  you  clearly  apprehend  just 
and  right,  and  to  be  your  duty.  Consider  how  much  lies 
at  stake;  how  greatly  your  religion,  your  liberty,  your  pro- 
perty, your  posterity,  is  interested.  Endeavour  to  act  like 
freeman,  like  loyal  subjects,  like  real  Christians,  and  you 
will  "so  speak,  and  so  act,  as  they  that  shall  be  judged  by 
the  law  of  liberty."  Act  conscientiously,  and  with  a  view 
to  God,  then  commit  your  ways  to  him  ;  leave  the  event 
with  God,  and  you  will  have  great  reason  to  hope  that  the 
event  will  be  just,  honourable,  and  happy. 

And  now,  gentlemen,  you  have  the  wishes  and  prayers 
of  every  thoughtful  person,  that  your  deliberations  may  be 
carried  on  with  candour,  unanimity,  and  prudence  ;  may  be 
blessed  to  preserve  the  quietness  of  this  province,  and  co- 
operate in  restoring  the  rights  and  tranquillity  of  all  Ameri- 
ca, as  well  as  promote  the  prosperity  of  the  whole  British 
empire.  This  will  afford  you  a  heartfelt  satisfaction,  and 
transmit  your  name  to  posterity  with  honour,  when  all 
those  who  had  opposite  views,  and  sought  their  greatness 
in  the  ruin  of  others,  will  be  held  in  abhorrence  and  detes- 
tation. 

I  have  but  a  few  hints  to  give  to  my  hearers  in  gene- 
ral. 

*  The  idea  of  a  separation  between  America  and  Great  Britain  is  big 
with  so  many  and  such  horrid  evils,  that  every  friend  to  both  must 
shudder  at  the  thought,  livery  man  that  gives  the  most  distant  hint 
of  sucli  a  wish,  ought  instantly  to  be  suspected  as  a  common  enemy ; 
nothing  would  more  effectually  serve  the  cause  of  our  enemies,  than 
any  proposal  of  this  kind  ;  all  wise  men  and  all  good  men  would  im- 
mediately speak,  write,  and  act  against  it:  such  a  proposal,  whenever 
it  should  be  made,  would  be  an  inlet  to  greater  evils  than  any  we  have 
yet  suffered.  But  what  America  detests  as  the  greatest  evil,  a  British 
Ministry  has  taken  the  greatest  pains  to  effect ;  has  wasted  British 
blood  and  treasure  to  alienate  America  and  Great  Britain ;  the  breach 
is  growing  wider  and  wider,  it  is  become  like  a  great  sea;  every  moment 
i*  a  loss  that  is  not  improved  towards  bringing  about  a  reconciliation. 


The  times  are  evil;  this  is  a  day  of  adversity;  and  in  a 
time  of  adversity  we  ought  to  consider.  It  may,  perhaps, 
soon  become  impossible,  even  to  the  most  indolent,  to  con- 
tinue unconcerned ;  and  those  that  wish  no  more  than  to 
hide  themselves  in  quiet  obscurity,  may  not  always  have  it 
in  their  power  to  remain  neuter:  to  know  the  signs  of  the 
lime,  is  a  considerable  part  of  human  prudence  ;  and  it  is 
a  still  greater  to  walk  circumspectly,  and  redeem  the  time, 
because  the  days  are  evil.  Whatever  part  you  may  think 
yourselves  obliged  to  take,  "so  speak,  and  so  do,  as  they 
that  shall  be  judged  hereafter,  and  judged  by  the  law  of 
liberty." 

In  these  times  of  confusion  I  would  press  on  my  hearers 
a  most  conscientious  regard  to  the  common  laws  of  the 
land.  Let  our  conduct  shew  that  we  are  not  lawless ;  by 
well-doing  let  us  put  to  silence  the  reproaches  of  our  ad- 
versaries. Let  us  convince  them  that  we  do  not  complain 
of  law,  but  of  oppression  ;  that  we  do  not  abhor  these  acts 
because  we  are  impatient  to  be  under  government,  but  being 
destructive  of  liberty  and  property,  we  think  them  destruc- 
tive also  of  all  law.  Let  us  act  "  as  free,  and  yet  not  make 
liberty  a  cloak  of  maliciousness,  but  as  the  servants  of  God." 

While  it  is  yet  peace  and  quietness  with  us,  let  us  not 
think  ourselves  inaccessible  to  the  evils  which  are  already 
come  upon  others;  there  are  some  evils  which  we  would 
rather  deprecate  in  private  than  speak  of  in  publick ;  against 
which,  being  fore-warned,  we  should  be  fore-armed  ;  every 
trifling  report  should  not  alarm  us,  but  it  would  be  folly 
still  greater  not  to  be  on  our  guard  against  sudden  dan- 
gers. 

Remember  them  that  suffer  adversity,  as  being  your- 
selves also  in  the  body.  Think  on  those  who  are  driven 
from  their  habitations  and  all  their  conveniences  of  life,  or 
confined  in  their  own  houses  by  an  enraged  soldiery,  to 
starve  in  their  own  country  in  the  midst  of  property  and 
plenty,  not  permitted  to  enjoy  their  own,  and  distressed  in 
every  connexion,  and  this  without  any  cause  alleged  against 
numbers  of  them,  without  complaint,  suspicion,  or  a  legal 
trial :  the  like  was  never  heard  since  the  cruel  siege  of  Lon- 
donderry, and  is  a  species  of  cruelty  at  which  even  that 
hardhearted  bigot  James  the  Second,  relented. 

Above  all,  let  every  one  earnestly  pray,  that  He  that  is 
higher  than  the  highest  would  soon  make  a  righteous  end 
of  all  their  confusion  ;  that  he  would  incline  the  King  to 
hear  the  cries  of  his  subjects,  and  that  no  more  innocent 
blood  may  be  shed  in  America. 

One  thing  more:  consider  the  extreme  absurdity  of  strug- 
gling for  civil  liberty,  and  yet  to  continue  slaves  to  sin  and 
lust.  "Know  ye  not  to  whom  ye  yield  yourselves  ser- 
vants to  obey  ?  his  servants  ye  are  to  whom  ye  obey,  whe- 
ther of  sin  unto  death,  or  of  obedience  unto  righteousness." 
Rom.  vi.  16.  Cease  from  evil,  and  do  good  ;  seek  peace, 
and  pursue  it:  who  will  hurt  you  while  you  follow  that 
which  is  good?  become  the  willing  servants  of  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  hearken  to  and  obey  the  voice  of  his  gospel, 
for  "where  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  is,  there  is  liberty;"  and 
"if  the  Son  makes  you  free,"  then,  and  not  till  then,  "shall 
you  be  free  indeed." 


COMMITTEE  OF  INTELLIGENCE  OF  CHARLESTOWN  TO  THE 
SOUTH-CAROLINA  DELEGATES  IN  THE  CONTINENTAL 
CONGRESS. 

Charlestown,  July  4,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  The  enclosed  are  a  copy  and  extracts  of 
letters  which  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Secret  Committee, 
who  laid  them  before  the  Council  of  Safety.  They  are 
thought  to  be  of  so  great  importance,  that  the  Council  have 
desired  the  Committee  of  Intelligence  to  transmit  them  to 
you,  not  only  by  sea,  but  through  Committee  conveyance, 
by  land.  They  seem  to  give  some  light  into  the  real  in- 
tentions of  Administration  ;  and  thereby  you  may,  in  some 
degree,  be  enabled  to  guard  against  their  machinations. 
We  have  also  transmitted  proper  copies  of  them  to  North- 
Carolina  and  Georgia;  and  we  have  desired  the  former 
Colony  to  forward  to  you  our  duplicate  of  this  packet. 
We  also  enclose  to  you  some  copies  of  our  circular  letter 
to  the  Committees  of  this  Colony. 

This  day  the  Provincial  Congress  of  Georgia  is  to  sit 
in  Savannah.    It  is  thought  that  they  will  make  ample 


amends  for  their  past  conduct;  indeed,  we  think  there  is 
no  room  to  doubt  of  it. 

Our  own  affairs  continue  in  a  good  posture.  The  Regi- 
ment of  Horse  is  nearly  completed  ;  and  the  Regiments  of 
Infantry  are  in  great  forwardness.  At  present,  between  two 
and  three  hundred  garrison  the  barracks,  and  we  mean  im- 
mediately to  establish  a  fortified  post  at  Dorchester.  The 
Council  of  Safety,  on  Thursday,  will  go  there  to  reconnoi- 
tre the  situation.  This  letter  comes  forwarded  by  Com- 
mittee conveyance  from  North-Carolina,  and  is  a  dupli- 
cate of  the  original,  which  we  have  sent  by  a  pilot-boat. 

COMMITTEE  OF  INTELLIGENCE  OF  CHARLESTOWN  TO  THE 
COMMITTEE  AT  NEWBERN,  NORTH -CAROLINA. 

Charlestown,  July  4,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  The  enclosed  are  a  copy  and  extracts  of 
letters,  which,  falling  into  the  hands  of  our  Secret  Com- 
mittee, were  laid  before  the  Council  of  Safety.  By  desire 
of  the  Council,  we  transmit  them  to  you  ;  as  well  to  enable 


1569 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JULY,  1715. 


1570 


you  to  counteract  your  Govemour,  as  to  manifest  how  dan- 
gerous lie  is  to  the  liberties  of  America.  You  see  he 
means,  and  is  ordered,  to  arm  one  part  of  your  people 
against  the  other.  We  trust  that  you  will,  on  this  occa- 
sion, act  with  due  vigour  and  policy,  in  your  endeavours  to 
defeat  so  diabolical  a  design. 

The  Council  of  Safety  most  seriously  recommend,  that 
you  so  manage  the  communication  of  this  important  letter, 
as  to  confine  it,  if  possible,  only  among  the  friends  of  Ame- 
rican rights,  as  it  might  be  of  the  most  pernicious  conse- 
quence if  your  Governour,  or  his  emissaries,  or  the  dis- 
affected Counties,  or  people  at  large,  should  obtain  any 
particular  knowledge  of  it. 

We  transmit  to  you  copies  of  our  circular  letter,  which, 
if  you  think  proper,  may  be  reprinted  ;  and  we  also  trans- 
mit to  you  a  letter  to  our  Delegates  at  Philadelphia,  which 
we  beg  you  will  forward  to  them  from  one  Committee  to 
another. 

COMMITTEE  OF  INTELLIGENCE  OF  CHARLESTOWN  TO  THE 
COMMITTEE  AT  SAVANNAH,  GEORGIA. 

Charlestown,  July  4,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  The  enclosed  are  extracts  of  letters,  and 
an  original,  which,  having  fallen  into  the  hands  of  our  Se- 
cret Committee,  and  being  by  them  laid  before  the  Council 
of  Safety,  the  Council  have  desired  the  Committee  of  In- 
telligence to  transmit  them  to  you.  Your  Chief  Justice 
seems  to  hold  a  very  criminal  correspondence,  and  to  show 
a  disposition  no  less  inimical  to  the  liberties  of  America. 

We  also  recommend,  in  the  most  pressing  manner,  that 
you  keep  a  watchful  eye  upon  every  motion  that  your  Gov- 
ernour can  make.  We  enclose  to  you  copies  of  our  circular 
letter;  and  we  hope  this  despatch  will  arrive  in  due  time 
to  be  laid  before  your  Provincial  Congress,  of  whose  pro- 
ceedings we  have  the  highest  expectation.* 


SOMERSET  COUNTY  (MARYLAND)  COMMITTEE. 

Princess  Anne,  July  4,  1775. 

It  having  this  day  been  made  appear,  by  Doctor  John 
Odel  Hart,  to  this  Committee,  that  on  Friday  last  a  Ped- 
lar, calling  himself  James  Dooe,  and  lately  from  Scotland, 
was  exposing  Goods  to  sale  at  Salisbury  Town,  in  this 
County;  that  he  then  and  there  was  called  upon  by  several 
members  of  this  Committee  for  certificates,  or  some  other 
evidence  of  the  said  Goods  having  not  been  imported  con- 
trary to  the  Association  of  the  honourable  Continental 
Congress  ;  which  not  being  able  to  produce,  he  was  advised 

*  The  Swallow  Packet  being  just  arrived  from  England,  William 
Henry  Drayton,  Chairman  of  the  Secret  Committee,  resolved  to  seize 
the  mail,  and,  on  his  way  to  the  Post-Office,  on  the  2d  day  of  July,  he 
met  John  Neufeille  and  Thomas  Corbet,  two  members  of  the  Commit- 
tee of  Intelligence,  who  were  proceeding  thither  on  the  same  errand. 
On  their  arriving  at  the  Post-Office,  then  kept  by  Jervis  Henry  Ste. 
vens,  on  the  Bay,  at  the  corner  of  Longitude-Alley,  as  Secretary  to 
George  Ronpell,  the  Deputy  Postmaster,  they  demanded  the  mail  which 
had  just  arrived  in  the  Packet;  to  which  a  peremptory  refusal  was 
given.  They  then  informed  Stevens  they  would  take  it  by  force,  if 
riot  speedily  delivered  ;  to  which  he  answered  he  should  not  deliver  it. 
They  then  took  possession  of  it,  and  carried  the  publick  letters  to  the 
State-House,  where  the  Secret  Committee  were  immediately  summoned 
to  meet;  and  upon  examining  them,  they  found  the  despatches  which 
had  been  for  Lord  William  Campbell,  Governour  of  South-Carolina, 
and  John  Stuart,  Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs,  had  been  already 
forwarded  to  them ;  but  their  enterprise  was  rewarded,  by  obtaining 
despatches  from  the  Ministry  to  the  Southern  Governours,  regulating 
their  conduct  upon  Lord  North's  conciliatory  motion,  and  to  Governour 
Martin,  of  North-Carolina,  encouraging  his  plans  of  raising  the  people 
of  the  four  Counties  of  Guilford,  Dobbs,  Rowan,  and  Surry,  whom  he 
had  reported  to  "breathe  a  spirit  of  loyalty  to  the  King,  and  attach- 
ment to  the  authority  of  Great  Britain."  All  these  letters  were  signed 
by  Lord  Dartmouth,  five  of  which  were  for  James  Wright,  Governour 
of  Georgia;  one  for  the  Lieutenant-Governour  of  South-Carolina ; 
and  one  for  Governour  Martin,  of  North-Carolina.  The  Resolution 
of  Parliament,  also,  upon  Lord  North's  conciliatory  motion,  was  for- 
warded to  the  Governours  by  Lord  Dartmouth,  in  the  same  Packet. 

These  despatches  were  deemed  of  so  much  consequence,  that  copies 
of  them  were  immediately  forwarded  to  our  Delegates  in  the  Conti- 
nental Congress,  and  to  the  Committees  at  Newbern,  in  North-Carolina, 
tad  Savannah,  in  Georgia;  but  the  originals  were  never  sent  to  the 
Continental  Congress,  as  the  publick  has  been  led  to  believe ;  for  they 
are  now  in  the  possession  of  the  author  of  these  Memoirs,  having  been 
in  that  of  his  family  ever  since  his  father,  William  Henry  Drayton,  left 
South-Carolina,  in  March,  1778,  as  a  Delegate  to  the  Continental  Con- 
gress, then  fitting  at  Little.Yorktown,  in  the  State  of  Pennsylvania. 

About  the  same  time  the  mail  was  seized,  the  Secret  Committee  were 
also  fortunate  in  intercepting  two  letters  from  Sir  James  Wright,  Gov- 
ernour of  Georgia,  each  of  them  dated  27th  of  June,  1775;  one  of 
them  directed  to  Admiral  Graves,  and  the  other  to  General  Gage. — 
Drayton. 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii.  ! 


by  the  said  members  to  attend  the  weekly  meeting  of  this 
Committee  on  this  day  and  place,  and  abide  their  determi- 
nation thereon,  and,  in  the  mean  time,  to  forbear  offering 
any  of  his  Goods  for  sale ;  all  which  the  said  Dooe  faith- 
fully engaged  to  perform  ;  but  the  said  Dooe  not  havin" 
appeared,  and  this  Committee  being  informed  that  he  did 
afterwards  offer  his  said  Goods  for  sale :  on  full  considera- 
tion of  the  above  information, 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  the  said  Dooe,  from  his 
conduct  aforesaid,  has  given  great  reason  to  suspect  that  he 
is  not  only  inimical  to  the  liberties  of  America,  but  that  the 
said  Goods,  or  some  of  them,  have  been  imported  in  viola- 
tion of  the  Continental  Association  ;  therefore, 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  we  will  not,  and  that  the 
inhabitants  in  this  County  ought  not,  to  have  any  inter- 
course or  connexion  whatever  with  the  said  Dooe,  until  he 
shall  appear  before  this  Committee  and  give  proper  satis- 
faction for  his  conduct  above-mentioned ;  and  it  is  recom- 
mended that  an  inviolable  regard  be  paid  to  this  Resolu- 
tion.   By  order  of  the  Committee  : 

Henry  Jackson,  Clerk. 


A  List  of  the  Field-Officers,  Captains,  and  -part  of  the 

Lieutenants  of  the  Regiment  o/Green-Mountain  Boys, 

consisting  of  seven  Companies. 

Field-Officers. — Ethan  Allen,  Seth  Warner. 

Captains. — Remember  Baker,  Robert  Cochran,  Michael 
Veal,  Peleg  Sutherling,  Gideon  Warren,  Wait  Hopkins, 
Heman  Allen. 

First  Lieutenants. — Ira  Allen,  John  Grant,  Ebenezer 
Allen,  David  Ives,  Jesse  Sawyer. 

Adjutant,  Levi  Allen ;  Commissary,  Elijah  Babcock  ; 
Doctor  and  Surgeon,  Jonas  Fay. 


JOHN  N.  BLEECKER  TO  THE  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

Albany,  July  4,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  I  received  your  letter  of  the  29th  ultimo, 
and  have,  agreeable  to  your  directions,  delivered  up  all  the 
stores  and  provisions  in  my  care,  an  account  whereof  you 
have  enclosed.  I  cannot  omit  observing,  that  the  person  in 
whose  care  I  had  left  the  stores,  &c,  during  my  absence,  did 
not  think  himself  justified  to  deliver  them  without  an  order 
from  you,  especially  as  it  appears  by  Mr.  Phelps's  warrant 
that  he  is  only  appointed  for  one  regiment,  a  copy  of  which 
is  enclosed.  A  number  of  different  accounts  for  provisions 
and  necessaries,  purchased  as  well  by  me  as  in  my  absence, 
have  not  yet  been  delivered,  which  prevents  my  transmit- 
ting an  account  at  present  of  the  expenses  which  we  have 
been  at ;  but  I  shall  not  fail  to  render  an  account  in  a  few 
days.  Five  barrels  of  damaged  powder  from  Ticonderoga 
is  sent  to  Judge  Livingston's  mill.  The  garrisons  will  be 
in  want  of  flour  very  soon,  and  none  to  be  had  here  before 
1  delivered  up  the  stores. 

I  am,  gentlemen,  your  most  obedient  and  most  humble 
servant,  John  N.  Bleecker. 

To  P.  V.  B.  Livingston,  Esquire. 

Account  of  Stores  and  Provisions  delivered  over  by  John 
N.  Bleecker  to  Elisha  Phelps,  at  Albany,  July  3. 
1775  : 

Seven  barrels  of  flour,  32  barrels  of  pork,  1  tierce  of  peas, 
10  tierces  of  rice,  86  hatchets,  38  pair  two-point  blankets, 
12  pair  one-point  blankets,  2J  hogsheads  of  rum,  40  camp 
kettles.  John  N.  Bleecker. 

Colony  of  Connecticut  : 

Jonathan  Trumbull,  Esq.,  Governour  and  Commander- 
in-Chief  in  and  over  His  Majesty's  English  Colony 
of  Connecticut,  in  New-England,  in  America: 
To  Elisha  Phelps,  Gentleman,  greeting: 

I  do,  by  these  presents,  reposing  especial  trust  and  con- 
fidence in  your  loyalty,  fidelity,  and  good  conduct,  consti- 
tute you,  the  said  Elisha  Phelps,  to  be  Commissary  in 
Albany,  and  places  adjacent  above,  for  the  provisions  sup- 
plied from  the  Provincial  Convention  of  Neiv-York,  and 
for  the  Fourth  Regiment  of  the  inhabitants  enlisted  and 
assembled  for  the  special  defence  and  safety  of  his  Majes- 
ty's said  Colony,  stationed  at  Ticonderoga,  and  places  ad- 


1571 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  Sic,  JULY,  1775. 


1572 


jacent,  agreeable  to  a  Resolve  of  the  honourable  Continen- 
tal Congress.  I  do  authorize  and  empower  you  to  exercise 
your  said  office  in  a  due  performance  of  the  duties  thereof, 
in  and  for  the  Regiment  aforesaid;  keep  proper  accounts, 
and  the  same  render  on  oath,  when  required,  according  to 
the  trust  reposed  in  you  ;  for  which  this  is  a  sufficient  war- 
rant. Given  under  my  hand  and  seal  at  arms,  in  Lebanon, 
this  8th  day  of  June,  in  the  fifteenth  year  of  His  Majesty's 
reign,  Annoquc  Domini  1775.    Jonathan  Trumbull. 


WILLIAM  SCHUYLER,  ETC.,  TO  JOHN  MARLETT. 

Warrensburgh,  July  4,  1775. 
These  may  inform  you  that  I  received  your  letter  from 
New-  York  on  the  2d  instant.  1  also  received  a  letter  from 
Mr.  Daniel  Lane,  on  the  28th  of  June,  but  could  not  do 
any  thing  in  it  at  that  time,  by  reason  of  the  port  being  so 
near  shut. 

As  to  the  people  who  have  signed  where  I  live,  there  is 
only  one,  to  wit :  John  Snuke.  Those  that  have  not  sign- 
ed, who  have  been  asked,  are,  the  Reverend  John  Stuart 
and  Henry  Hare.  We  also  hear  from  the  Oneida,  that  the 
Indians  will  not  join  with  Colonel  Guy  Johnson,  nor  have 
any  thing  to  do  with  him  ;  also,  that  Abraham  C.  Cuyler, 
Mayor  of  Albany,  has  gone  up  to  Oswego,  under  pretence 
of  collecting  some  debts  ;  but  we  did  not  put  so  much  trust 
in  him,  as  he  had  two  loaded  batteaus  with  him  ;  and  sent 
word  immediately  to  John  Fry,  Esq.,  that  we  apprehend- 
ed that  he  had  some  stores  for  the  enemy  against  America; 
which  John  Fry,  Esq.,  sent  word  back  that  their  Commit- 
tee should  meet  the  next  day  at  Van  Alsten,s,  for  business. 
From  your  most  obedient  and  humble  servants, 

Wm.  Schuyler, 
John  Blevin,  Clerk, 
James  McMaster. 
To  John  Marlett,  Esq.,  now  at  New-  York. 

N.  B.  After  the  above  was  wrote,  we  received  a  letter 
informing  us,  that  yesterday,  at  Abraham  Hodges's,  there 
were  a  company  of  men  met  together,  and  in  talking  about 
the  troublesome  times,  Esquire  Peter  Meetin  being  present 
amongst  them,  in  cool  blood  told  them  that  he  had  the 
King's  Proclamation  from  Governour  Gage,  to  offer  any 
person  or  persons  who  would  recant  from  the  Association 
and  sign  the  King's  Proclamation,  should  be  pardoned  ; 
and  he  expected  soon  to  have  all  their  estates  to  handle. 

This  may  also  inform  you,  that  Peter  Bowen,  on  Tripe's 
Hill,  refuses  to  sign  the  Association,  and  Nicholas  Ross. 


BROOK  WATSON  TO  THE  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

Lako  Champlain,  near  St.  John's,  July  4,  1775. 

By  the  general  assistance  which  your  letter  to  the  offi- 
cers in  the  service  of  the  Colonies  procured  me,  I  am  now 
so  near  Montreal  that  I  expect  to  get  there  this  evening, 
therefore,  embrace  the  opportunity  of  the  returning  boat, 
to  make  you  my  thanks  for  your  kind  attention  to  me  and 
my  friends;  and  I  pray  you,  Sir,  to  make  my  warmest  ac- 
knowledgment to  your  Provincial  Congress,  for  the  obliging 
letter  they  kindly  favoured  me  with,  and  for  the  pleasing 
expressions  in  my  regard  which  it  contained.  A  sincere 
friend  to  America  and  its  rights  I  truly  am,  and  as  such 
cannot  help  expressing  my  uneasiness  at  the  general  spirit 
which  I  have  observed  amongst  the  Colonies'  Troops  quar- 
tered at  Fort  George,  Ticondcroga,  and  Crown  Point. 
They  talk  and  act  as  if  it  was  fully  determined  they  should 
soon  march  into  the  Province  of  Quebeck.  Surely  this, 
my  good  Sir,  cannot  be  the  intention  of  the  General  Con- 
gress. If  it  is  not,  immediate  pains  should  be  taken  to 
suppress  the  dangerous  idea,  or  it  may  soon  produce  the 
most  dangerous  consequences.  Should  the  Colonies  send 
their  troops  into  that  Province,  or  should  they  go  without 
orders,  the  Canadians  and  the  Indians,  their  friends,  will 
naturally  fall  upon  your  back  settlements  with  fire  and 
sword.  Then  the  King's  Troops  on  one  side,  and  the  Ca- 
nadians and  Indians  on  the  other,  what  are  the  Colonists 
to  expect  but  slaughter.  For  God's  sake  exert  every 
faculty  to  prevent  so  great  an  evil. 

I  know  the  body  of  gentlemen  who  have  so  properly 
chose  you  for  their  President  are  greatly  alarmed  at  the 
deplorable  situation  of  affairs  between  Great  Britain  and 


her  Colonies.  America  must  look  forward  with  the  great- 
est anxiety,  and  rejoice  in  any  prudent  plan  for  the  resto- 
ring of  harmony  and  the  security  of  property.  I  would  to 
God  I  had  a  head  to  contrive,  and  a  pen  to  persuade  what 
might  produce  so  desirable  an  event ;  for  the  credit  and 
comfort  of  all  their  future  movements  depend  upon  it.  But 
while  liberty  and  slavery,  in  their  greatest  extreme,  is  the 
alternative  held  out  by  the  violent  and  designing  on  this 
side  the  waters,  and  submission  or  destruction  the  language 
of  the  others,  what  hopes  have  the  people  but  in  the  mo- 
deration, wisdom,  and  justice  of  the  General  Congress.  In 
their  address  to  His  Majesty  of  last  year,  they  wisely  de- 
clared that  they  "asked  but  for  peace,  liberty,  and  safety; 
that  they  wished  not  a  diminution  of  the  prerogative;  nor 
did  they  solicit  any  new  rights  in  their  favour ;  that  his 
royal  authority  over  them,  and  their  connexion  with  Great 
Britain,  they  would  carefully  and  zealously  endeavour  to 
support  and  maintain."  This  declaration  breathed  the 
spirit  of  good  subjects,  valuing  their  just  rights  too  much 
to  abuse  them  ;  but  these  sentiments  were  not  constitution- 
ally conveyed  to  the  royal  ear. 

That  Government  is  ready  to  receive  any  fair  propo- 
sitions which  may  be  constitutionally  offered,  cannot  be 
doubted,  after  we  consider  the  Minister's  declaration  in  Par- 
liament, "that  if  the  dispute  in  which  the  Americans  are 
engaged  goes  to  the  whole  of  their  authority,  they  can 
enter  into  no  negotiation  ;  they  can  meet  no  compromise  : 
but  if  it  be  only  as  to  the  suspension  of  the  exercise  of 
their  rights  ;  or  as  to  the  mode  of  laying  and  levying  taxes 
for  a  contribution  towards  the  common  defence,  it  might 
be  just  as  wise  to  meet  any  fair  proposition  which  might 
come  from  any  Province  or  Colony." 

This  declaration,  I  humbly  conceive,  clearly  points  out 
the  line  of  conduct  which  the  General  Congress  ought  to 
pursue,  as  it  cannot  be  the  wish  of  that  Assembly  to  carry 
matters  to  an  extreme,  by  which  the  whole  Empire  must 
suffer,  and  America  drove  to  the  last  distress.  Would  they 
state  their  real  grievances  with  temper  and  wisdom  ;  their 
desires  with  moderation  and  justice,  in  a  dutiful  memorial 
to  the  King,  to  be  transmitted  by  the  Provincial  Assemblies 
to  their  respective  agents  in  London;  such  application  could 
not  fail  to  produce  the  most  desirable  effects.  But  if,  on 
the  other  hand,  the  Congress  should  order  or  suffer  the 
people  to  proceed  to  extremes,  which  I  now  much  fear, 
nothing  but  the  sword  can  determine  the  unnatural  contest ; 
and  they  would  soon  discover  the  fatal  truth  of  what  hath 
been  so  emphatically  expressed  by  the  judicious  Mr.  Glover, 
"  that  high  sounding  words  produce  no  food  for  the  hungry, 
no  raiment  for  the  naked." 

I  am,  Sir,  your  obliged  humble  servant, 

Brook  Watson. 
P.  V.  B.  Livingston,  President  of  the  Provincial  Congress 

of  Neiv-  York. 

P.  S.  I  have  received  the  kindest  treatment  from  Cap- 
tain Fisher,  Colonel  Hinman,  and  Major  Elmer. 


GOVERNOUR  OF  RHODE-ISLAND   TO  THE  CONTINENTAL 
CONGRESS. 
[Read  July  11,  1775.] 

Providence,  July  4,  1775. 

Sir  :  Your  letter  of  the  10th  of  June  last  came  duly  to 
hand.  I  wrote  immediately  to  the  Delegates  from  this 
Colony  upon  the  contents  of  it,  to  whom  I  beg  leave  to 
refer  you. 

I  have  now  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  yours  of  the 
20th  of  the  same  month.  Immediately  after  the  late  battle 
upon  Bunker's  Hill,  the  remaining  forces  from  the  Colony 
joined  the  Army  near  Boston;  and  it  appears  by  a  return 
from  the  Brigadier-General,  that  the  Army  of  this  Colony 
consists  of  thirteen  hundred  and  ninety  effective  men.  We 
are  also  equipping  two  armed  vessels,  to  carry  one  hundred 
men,  exclusive  of  officers. 

Upon  a  most  urgent  application  from  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress of  the  Massachusetts-Bay ,  the  General  Assembly 
ordered  six  companies,  of  sixty  men  each,  to  be  raised  to 
join  the  Regiments  in  the  service  of  this  Colony,  and  have 
ordered  one-fourth  part  of  the  Militia  to  be  enlisted  as 
Minute-men.  They  have  also  passed  an  act  putting  the 
Troops  of  this  Colony  under  the  command  of  the  General 


1573 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JULY,  1775. 


1574 


of  the  combined  Army.  I  will  only  add,  that  on  this  most 
important  occasion,  this  Colony  will  exert  itself  in  un re- 
mitting efforts  for  the  common  defence  and  safety. 

I  am,  with  great  esteem  and  regard,  Sir,  your  most  obe- 
dient humble  servant,  Nicholas  Cooke. 
To  the  Hon.  John  Hancock,  Esquire. 


P.  S.  After  folding  up  my  letter  we  received  an  ac- 
count, from  an  undoubted  hand,  that  the  mortality  among 
the  wounded  regulars  has  been  so  great,  that  the  killed  on 
the  spot,  and  those  who  have  died  of  their  wounds,  make 
up  one  thousand.  The  reason  of  this  is,  that  they  have 
been  long  confined  to  salt  provisions,  having  not  so  much 
as  a  vegetable,  a  drop  of  milk,  or  even  any  fresh  meat. 


JAMES  WARREN  TO  GENERAL  WASHINGTON. 

Watertown,  July  4,  1775. 

Sir  :  As  Pomroy  is  now  absent,  and  at  the  distance  of 
a  hundred  miles  from  the  Army,  if  it  can  be  consistent 
with  your  Excellency's  instructions  and  the  service  to  re- 
tain his  commission  until  you  shall  receive  advice  from  the 
Continental  Congress,  and  we  shall  be  able  to  prevail  with 
Heath  to  make  a  concession  honourable  to  himself  and  ad- 
vantageous to  the  publick,  we  humbly  conceive  the  way 
would  be  open  to  do  justice  to  Thomas. 

We  have  the  honour  to  be  your  Excellency's  most  obe- 
dient humble  servants,  Jas.  Warren, 

Joseph  Hawley. 
To  his  Excellency  General  Washington. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  ONE  OF  THE  VIRGINIA  DELE- 
GATES TO  A  GENTLEMAN  IN  WILLI AMSBURGH,  DATED 
PHILADELPHIA,  JULY  5,  1775. 

The  battle  of  Charlestown  I  expect  you  have  heard,  but 
perhaps  not  so  as  you  may  depend  on.  The  Provincials 
sustained  two  attacks  in  their  trenches,  and  twice  repulsed 
the  ministerial  forces  with  immense  slaughter.  The  third 
attack,  however,  being  made  with  fixed  bayonets,  the  Pro- 
vincials gave  ground,  retired  a  little  way,  and  rallied  ready 
for  their  enemy ;  but  they  having  been  pretty  roughly  han- 
dled, did  not  choose  to  pursue.  We  lost  between  sixty 
and  seventy  killed,  and  about  one  hundred  and  fifty 
wounded.  The  enemy  had  fourteen  hundred  killed  and 
wounded,  of  whom  were  about  five  hundred  killed.  Major 
Pitcairn  was  among  the  slain,  an  event  at  which  every 
one  rejoices,  as  he  was  the  commanding  officer  at  Lexing- 
ton, first  fired  his  own  piece,  and  gave  command  to  fire. 
On  our  side  Dr.  Warren  fell,  a  man  immensely  valued  to 
the  north.  The  Xeiv-Englanders  are  fitting  out  privateers, 
with  which  they  expect  to  be  able  to  scour  the  seas  and 
bays  of  every  thing  below  ships-of-war,  and  may  probably 
go  to  the  European  coasts,  to  distress  the  British  trade 
there.  The  enterprising  genius  and  intrepidity  of  these 
people  are  amazing.  They  are  now  intent  on  burning 
Boston,  in  order  to  oust  the  regulars;  and  none  are  more 
eager  for  it  than  those  who  have  escaped  out,  and  who  have 
left  their  whole  property  in  it ;  so  that  their  rage  has  got 
the  better  of  every  interested  principle. 

Nobody  now  entertains  a  doubt  but  that  we  are  able  to 
cope  with  the  whole  force  of  Great  Britain,  if  we  are  but 
willing  to  exert  ourselves.  It  will  indeed  be  expensive, 
extremely  expensive ;  but  people  must  lay  aside  views  of 
building  up  fortunes  during  these  troubles,  and  set  apart  a 
good  proportion  of  their  income  to  secure  the  rest.  As  our 
enemies  have  found  we  can  reason  like  men,  so  now  let  us 
show  them  we  can  fight  like  men  also.  The  Government 
of  Pennsylvania  have  raised  thirty-five  thousand  Pounds 
to  put  their  Country  in  a  posture  of  defence.  There  ap- 
pear to  be  as  many  soldiers  here  as  men.  Powder  is  the 
great  want,  and  towards  having  plenty  of  that  nothing  is 
wanting  but  saltpetre. 

The  Congress  have  directed  twenty  thousand  men  to  be 
raised  immediately,  the  greater  part  of  which  is  already 
raised.  Two  millions  of  dollars  also  are  voted.  This  is 
all  I  am  at  liberty  to  tell  of  their  proceedings.  As  to  the 
time  of  their  rising,  it  is  totally  beyond  conjecture ;  ex- 
presses after  expresses  daily  coming  from  the  northward, 
and  the  machinations  of  the  people  in  ofBce  on  other  parts 
of  the  Continent,  keep  us  from  making  any  progress  in  the 
main  business.  At  the  same  time  such  an  impatience  for 
home  seems  to  possess  us  all,  that  nothing  keeps  the  Con- 
gress together  but  the  visible  certainty  that  till  our  military 
proceedings  are  got  into  a  good  train,  their  separation  would 
endanger  the  common  cause  greatly.  If  things  cannot  be 
got  into  such  a  state  soon  as  they  may  be  left,  we  must 
petition  to  be  exchanged  for  fresh  hands,  that  we  may 
return  to  our  families. 


NEW-YORK  SECRET  COMMITTEE. 

Committee  of  Secrecy  and  Inspection, 
New-York,  July  5,  1775. 

The  Committee  of  Secrecy  and  Inspection  do  report, 
that  being  called  upon  by  Messrs.  Buchannans  to  attend 
the  landing  of  a  number  of  passengers  from  on  board  the 
snow  Christy,  Hugh  Biley,  master,  from  Greenock,  in 
Scotland,  bound  to  Georgia,  they  carefully  inspected  the 
chests  and  baggage  of  the  said  passengers  ;  that  they  found 
in  the  chest  of  Alexander  McDonald,  of  St.  George's 
Parish,  in  Maryland,  a  parcel  of  cloths  in  patterns,  and 
several  other  packages  of  goods,  amounting  to  (by  the  in- 
formation of  the  said  McDonald)  three  hundred  Pounds 
sterling,  and  upwards ;  which  goods,  with  the  owner,  were 
sent  down  on  board  the  said  vessel  to  proceed  to  the  place 
of  her  destination.  They  further  report,  that  the  brig 
Three  Sisters,  Captain  Neck,  departed  from  this  port  on 
Monday  afternoon,  with  the  goods  which  she  brought  into 
port.  John  Imlay, 

Daniel  Phenix, 
William  Bedlow. 

Ordered,  That  the  said  McDonald  be  held  up  in  the 
publick  Papers  as  a  violator  of  the  Association  of  the  Con- 
tinental Congress.  Isaac  Low,  Chairman. 


NEW-YORK  COMMITTEE. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee,  Wednesday,  July  5, 
1775.    Present : 

Isaac  Low,  William  W.  Ludlow,  Jacobus  Lefferls, 

Isaac  Roosevelt,  Petrus  Byvank,  John  Van  Cortlandt, 

P.  V.  B.  Livingston,  Edward  Fleming,  Abram.  Brinkerhoff, 

Lewis  Pintard,  Nicholas  Hoffman,  Gerardus  Duyckinck, 

John  Berrian,  John  Imlay,  Robert  Ray, 

Hercules  Mulligan,  Richard  Sharpe,  Joseph  Totten, 

Nicholas  Bogart,  Oliver  Templeton,  John  B.  Moore, 

John  Lamb,  William  Bedlow,  William  Walton, 

Victor  Bicker,  Aug.  Van  Home,  David  Beekman, 

John  Morton,  Richard  Yates,  Alex.  McDougall, 

Thomas  Ivers,  Abraham  Walton,  Daniel  Phenix, 

John  Anthony,  Cornelius  P.  Low,  Abraham  Duryee, 

Daniel  Dunscomb,  Robert  Benson,  Gabriel  W.  Ludlow, 

Gerret  Kettletas,  Joseph  Hallett,  Thomas  Buchannan, 

Jacob  Van  Voorhies,  Henry  Remsen,  George  Janeway. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Cornelius  P.  Low  and  Mr.  Abra- 
ham Duryee  be  a  Sub-Committee  to  wait  on  Dr.  Treat, 
and  desire  him  to  accompany  them  to  the  house  of  Mr. 
Hopper,  who  has  a  negro  infected  with  the  Small-Pox ; 
and  to  devise  such  ways  and  means  to  prevent  the  infection 
from  spreading,  as  they  may  judge  expedient. 

Besolved,  That  all  Masters  of  Vessels  arriving  in  this 
Port  from  Great  Britain  or  Ireland,  are  hereby  requested, 
as  soon  as  they  conveniently  can,  or  within  twenty-four 
hours  after  their  arrival,  to  make  application  to  the  Chair- 
man or  Deputy  Chairman  of  this  Committee,  or  to  Mr. 
John  Imlay,  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of  Inspection, 
and  give  proper  satisfaction  that  there  are  not  now,  nor 
have  been  in  his  Vessel  this  present  voyage  any  Goods  or 
Merchandise  contrary  to  the  General  Association  of  the 
Continental  Congress.  And  it  is  hereby  recommended  to 
all  owners  of  Vessels,  or  those  to  whom  they  may  be  ad- 
dressed, to  inform  their  Masters  of  the  above  Resolve  ; 
and  that  no  Master  do  presume  to  discharge  or  suffer  any 
thing  to  be  taken  out  of  his  Vessel  until  such  satisfaction 
has  been  given,  and  leave  obtained  from  the  Chairman  or 
Deputy  Chairman  aforesaid. 

And  as  attempts  may  be  made  to  land  Goods  before  the 
Vessels  come  into  this  Harbour,  as  well  as  out  of  those 
who  may  be  ordered  to  depart  this  Port : 

Besolved,  That  if  any  Pilot,  Boatman,  or  others,  shall 
be  found  assisting  in  the  conveyance  or  introduction  of 
Goods  or  Merchandise,  contrary  to  the  Association  of  the 
late  Congress,  or  in  receiving  on  shore,  or  unloading  from 
any  Vessel  any  Goods  which  may  have  been  ordered  out 
of  the  Port,  such  persons  will  be  deemed  enemies  to  the 


1575 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  fcc,  JULY,  1775. 


157G 


liberties  of  America,  and  will  be  held  forth  to  the  resent- 
ment of  the  publick;  and  if  any  persons  privy  to  such 
measures  will  disclose  them,  they  shall  receive  the  thanks 
of  the  Committee  as  real  friends  to  their  Country. 

Ordered,  That  William  W.  Ludlow,  HerciUes  Mulli- 
gan, Oliver  Templcton,  and  Anthony  Van  Dam,  be  added 
to  the  Committee  of  Inspection ;  and  that  the  names  of 
the  said  Committee  be  published  under  the  Resolves  of 
this  day,  and  in  handbills,  to  be  given  to  the  Pilots. 

Ordered,  That  the  stated  days  of  meeting  be  altered 
from  every  Monday  to  Tuesday. 

Dr.  The  General  Committee  of  Association  of  New- 
York,  in  account  with  Lewis  Pintard,  Jacobus 
Lefferts,  Henry  Remsen,  Thomas  Marston,  and 
Gabriel  W.  Ludlow. 

1775. 

June  2,  To  1,000  half  Johanneses,  shipped  per  Captain 
A.  Lawrence,  per  bill  lading,         -       £3,205    5  9 
June  3,  To  Cash  paid  William  Vandrill,  per 

receipt,       -       -       -       -       -       -40  196 

June  17,  To  Cash  paid  do.  -     41  12  8 

To  Cash  paid  Mr.  McDougall,     -    200  00  0 
24,  To  Cash  paid  do.  -     50  00  0 

July   4,  To  Cash  paid  P.  V.  B.  Livingston,    66  16  1 

£3,604  14  0 

Cr.  The  General  Committee  of  Association  of  New- 
York,  in  account  with  Lewis  Pintard,  Jacobus 
Lefferts,  Henry  Remsen,  Thomas  Marston,  and 
Gabriel  W.  Ludlow. 

1775.  By  Cash  received  of  sundry  persons  by  Thomas 
Marston,  viz : 

May  22,  of  Nathaniel  Marston,         -       -     £300  00 

"      of  James  Jauncey,       ...  200  00 

"      of  Robert  Ray,           ...  50  00 

"      of  Isaac  Roosevelt,      ...  50  00 

"       of  Ennis  Graham,        -       -       -  50  00 

May  25,  of  Robert  G.  Livingston,      -       -  50  00 

"      of  Tucker  and  Barton,         -       -  200  00 

"      of  Peter  Vandervoost,          -       -  50  00 

"      of  Henry  Remsen,       -       -       -  50  00 

"      of  David  Van  Home,  ...  100  00 

May  27,  of  William  Walton,      -  50  00 

of  Richard  Yates,        ...  100  00 

"      of  John  Woodward,     ...  50  00 

"      of  Daniel  Ludlow,       ...  50  00 

"      of  Christian  Smith,      ...  50  00 

May  29,  of  Samuel  Broome  &  Co.,    -       -  100  00 

"      of  Peter  Clopper,        ...  75  00 

"      of  Alexander  Robertson  &,  Co.,     -  100  00 

"      of  Dirck  Lefferts,        ...  50  00 

May  30,  of  David  Provoosts,  100  00 

June   2,  of  Augustus  Van  Cortlandt,  -       -  100  00 

£1,925  00 

By  Cash  received  of  sundry  persons,  by  L. 

Pintard,  viz : 
May  26,  of  Samuel  Verplanck,  - 
May  30,  of  William  Cockroft,  - 
June    1,  of  Peter  T.  Curtenius, 
"      of  William  Neilson, 


£100  00 
30  00 
25  00 
25  00 

£180  00 


By  Cash  received  by  TV.  Hoffman  of  sundry 

persons,  viz: 
May  27,  of  Theodorus  Van  Wyck, 

"       of  Abraham  Brinkerhoff, 

"       of  John  Outhout,  ... 

"      of  Garret  Abeel,  ... 

"       of  John  Crugar,  -  - 

"      of  Ludlow  and  Shaw,  - 

"      of  Peter  Mesier,         —      -  . 

"      of  Leonard  Kipp,  ... 

"      of  Thomas  Ten  Eyck, 

"      of  Evert  By  vanck,  Jr., 

"      of  Andrew  Hammersley, 

"      of  Edmund  Seaman  - 


£25 

00 

25 

00 

100 

00 

25 

00 

30 

00 

30 

00 

25 

00 

25 

00 

25 

00 

25 

00 

25 

00 

25 

00 

£385 

00 

By  Cash  received  by  J.  Lefferts,  of  sundry 

persons,  viz: 
May  23,  of  Eleazer  Miller,  - 

"      of  Hugh  Gaine,  - 

"       of  John  Stites,  ........ 

"       of  Comfort  Sands,  ... 


By  Cash  received  by  W.  W.  Gilbert  of  sundry 

persons,  viz : 
June  15,  of  Abraham  Van  Dyke, 
"      of  Manassa  Salter,  - 


By  Cash  received  by  C.  P.  Low,  of  sundry 

persons,  viz: 
June  1,  of  Cornelius  Tiebout,  - 

"      of  Humphrey  Jones,  - 

"      of  Nicholas  Jones,  ... 


By  Cash  received  by  Gilbert  W.  Ludlow  of 
sundry  persons,  viz : 


£30  00 
30  00 
30  00 
50  00 

£140  00 


£100  00 
25  00 

£125  00 


£34  17 
34  17 
30  00 

£99  14 


of  Leonard  Lispenard, 

-    £100  00 

of  Peter  V.  B.  Livingston,  - 

50  00 

of  John  Broome, 

50  00 

of  Richard  Sharpe, 

50  00 

of  James  Beekman, 

50  00 

of  Gerardus  Duyckinck, 

50  00 

of  Gerardus  G.  Beekman, 

50  00 

of  Samuel  Judah, 

50  00 

of  Peter  Kettletas, 

50  00 

£500  00 

By  Cash  received  of  sundry  persons,  by  Petrus 

Byvanclc,  viz  : 
June  2,  of  Lawrence  Kortright, 

"      of  Richard  Seaman,  ... 

"      of  James  Cromeline,  - 


June  15,  By  Cash  received  by  Frederick  Jay 
from  David  Clarkson,  - 


Total, 


£50  00 
50  00 
50  00 

£150  00 


£100  00 
£3,604  14 


The  Committee  met,  Friday,  July  7,  1775.  Present 


Henry  Remsen, 
Gabriel  W.  Ludlow, 
Frederick  Jay, 
D.iniel  Phenix, 
Gerardus  Duyckinck, 
Evert  Banker, 
Robert  Ray, 
Jobn  White, 
Joseph  Totten, 
William  W.  Ludlow, 
Abraham  P.  Lott, 
Gabriel  H.  Ludlow, 
Francis  Bassett, 
Anthony  Van  Dam, 


George  Janeway, 
Nicholas  Roosevelt, 
Cornelius  P.  Low, 
Edward  Fleming, 
William  Denning, 
William  Bedlow, 
Hercules  Mulligan, 
Daniel  Dunscomb, 
Nicholas  Bogart, 
John  Morton, 
John  Anthony, 
Abraham  Duryee, 
Comfort  Sands, 


Victor  Bicker, 
John  Lasher, 
John  Woodward, 
Lewis  Pintard, 
Nicholas  Hoffman, 
Richard  Sharpe, 
Jeremiah  Piatt, 
Eleazer  Miller, 
John  Berrian, 
Theophilus  Anthony, 
John  Reede, 
Joseph  Bull, 
Thomas  Ivers. 


A  Letter  dated  Elizabethtown,  July  6th,  1775,  from 
Jonathan  Hampton,  received  and  read,  setting  forth,  Mr. 
McLcod,  a  native  of  this  Province,  set  out  yesterday  from 
thence  to  join  his  Regiment  at  Boston. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  C.  P.  Low,  Mr.  Fleming,  and  Mr. 
Bedlow.  wait  on  the  Provincial  Congress  with  the  above 
Letter,  for  their  opinion  thereon. 

The  Committee  returned  with  the  following  order,  viz : 

"  In  Provincial  Congress,  July  7,  1775. 

"  Ordered,  That  the  Committee  of  the  City  and  Coun- 
ty of  New-York  do  take  the  body  of  William  McLeod, 
Ensign  of  the  Fifty-Second  Regiment  of  Foot  at  Boston, 
and  send  him  in  safe  custody  to  the  Committee  of  Eliza  - 
bethtown.  And  it  is  recommended  to  the  Committee  of 
New-  York  not  to  use  unnecessary  violence,  but  to  treat 
him  with  all  possible  lenity,  as  a  gentleman  and  a  sol- 
dier." 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Henry  Remsen  pay  unto  Mr.  John 
Lamb  the  sum  of  eleven  Pounds,  seven  Shillings,  and  six 
Pence,  for  his  expenses  to  Philadelphia  on  the  business  of 
this  Committee. 


1577 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JULY,  1775. 


1578 


BURNET  MILLER  TO  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

Southampton,  July  5,  1775. 
Gentlemen:  The  Committees  of  East  and  Southamp- 
ton taking  into  their  serious  consideration  the  remote  situa- 
tion from  the  head-quarters  at  New-York,  and  much  ex- 
posed to  the  ravages  of  our  unnatural  enemy  at  this  day, 
with  regard  to  our  stock  in  our  common  field,  at  the  point  of 
Montauk.  it  being  remote  from  the  inhabitants,  where  any 
number  may  land  at  pleasure,  take  away  our  stock,  which 
is  large,  not  less  than  two  thousand  neat  cattle,  and  three  or 
four  thousand  sheep,  which,  if  taken  away,  would  greatly 
distress  us,  and  give  them  support,  which  would  by  no 
means  do. 

Now,  considering  our  situation,  we  request  your  honour- 
able House  to  petition  General  Schuyler  that  a  number 
of  troops  be  stationed  at  Montauk,  and  that  the  company 
now  raising  here  may  be  a  part,  until  a  matter  of  more  im- 
portance shall  call  them  away.  We  are  of  the  opinion  that 
our  inhabitants  would  do  what  in  them  lies  to  give  assist- 
ance, in  case  any  attempt  should  be  made  to  take  off  the 
stock,  but  the  distance  of  the  inhabitants  is  eighteen  or 
twenty  miles.  And  as  Gardiner's  Island  lies  adjacent, 
and  is  much  exposed,  also  Shelter  Island,  Plum  Island, 
and  Oyster  Pond  Point,  we  think  a  number  of  whale-boats 
would  be  proper  to  employ,  that  assistance  may  be  given 
from  one  part  to  the  other.  We  have  a  number  of  boats 
that  are  of  no  use  in  this  season  that  might  be  got  for  the 
design,  if  the  General  should  think  proper  to  order  troops 
at  this  part  of  the  Island,  which  we  hereby  petition  may  be 
done.    I  am,  gentlemen,  &c. 

By  order  of  the  Committee  : 

BtiRNET  Miller,  Chairman. 
To  the  Provincial  Congress  sitting  at  New-  York. 


JOSEPH  JOHNSON  (a  MOHEGAN  INDIAN')  TO  THE  NEW-YORK 
CONGRESS. 

Hartford,  July  5,  A.  D.  1775. 
Honourable  Gentlemen:  With  a  due  sense  of  my 
unworthiness  as  an  Indian,  and  with  a  high  and  proper 
esteem  of  your  very  worthy  persons,  I  humbly  write  the 
following,  and  with  a  sense  of  my  indebtedness  to  your 
Honours  and  the  benevolent  inhabitants  of  the  City  of 
New-York,  for  favours  past.  Honourable  gentlemen, 
since  my  arrival  to  my  own  native  place,  1  have  been  in- 
formed that  some  of  my  New-England  brethren  have  been 
very  busy  in  spreading  false  reports,  or  in  representing 
things  in  a  very  wrong  light,  not  only  to  my  disadvantage, 
but  even  to  the  hazard  of  my  life  ;  by  which  false  represen- 
tations I  have  been  almost  discouraged  of  undertaking  to 
go  to  visit  my  western  brethren,  of  which  visit,  if  I  am  hin- 
dered, may  be  damage  to  my  dear  friends,  the  Americans. 
But  duly  considering  the  consequences  of  my  not  going, 
and  very  well  sensible  that  the  Oneidas,  my  western 
brethren,  are  in  daily  expectation  of  my  return,  I  feel  a 
disposition  still  to  go  the  intended  journey,  let  the  conse- 
quences be  what  they  will.  My  love  to  the  country  in 
which  I  was  born  and  educated,  and  my  regard  for  my 
brethren  westward,  animates  me  to  step  forward,  though 
at  the  expense  of  my  very  life. 

Honourable  gentlemen,  it  has  been  represented  to  my 
Connecticut  friends,  the  English,  by  some  of  the  Indians 
that  have  been  westward  with  me,  that  I  have  been  a  grand 
enemy  to  my  country;  or,  in  other  words,  that  I  have  turned 
a  high  tory,  the  which  they  cannot  possibly  prove.  All 
that  they  can  allege  or  bring  in  proof  is,  that  I  was  long 
with  Colonel  Johnson,  some  times  under  arms,  w  hich,  if  I 
had  time,  1  could  answer  for  to  the  satisfaction  of  all  un- 
prejudiced persons.  But  they  cannot  possibly  say  that 
they  ever  heard  three  words  during  the  whole  of  the  time 
that  we  were  together  in  that  westward  country,  that  I 
said  any  thing  against  my  country  or  the  Americans, 
whereby  I  discovered  any  disaffection  to  the  noble,  spirited 
Americans,  either  in  any  private  or  publick  conversation. 
No,  honourable  gentlemen,  but  quite  the  contrary.  I  have 
ever  spoken,  both  in  publick  and  private,  the  sentiments  of 
my  heart  to  my  New-England  brethren ;  and  they  are 
witnesses  themselves  with  what  warmth  of  heart,  in  our 
private  and  publick  conversations,  and  in  which  conversa- 
tions I  have  expressed  my  love  and  regard  for  Americans, 
and  they  know  how  I  have  often  said  I  was  willing  to 


suffer  and  bleed,  yea,  even  die,  with  the  injured  Ameri- 
cans. And,  honourable  gentlemen,  my  mind  is  the  same 
as  ever;  and  I  can  boldly  say  this  for  the  truth,  that  I 
firmly  believe  that  there  has  not  been  a  truer  friend  to  this 
North  America  than  myself,  of  all  the  New-England  In- 
dians that  went  up  to  the  western  country  in  order  to  settle. 
1  have  embraced  every  opportunity  to  compose  the  minds 
of  the  western  Indians,  and  I  have  repeatedly  exhorted 
them  to  be  peaceable.  And  I  have  had  very  good  oppor- 
tunity to  converse  with  the  western  Indians  from  time  to 
time,  and  I  rejoice  that  I  can  discourse  with  them  in  their 
own  language,  and  feel  encouraged  when  I  reflect  how 
much  they  attended  to  the  things  that  I  laid  before  them 
from  time  to  time  ;  and  I  am  sensible  of  their  growing 
affection  towards  me,  notwithstanding  there  have  been  many 
that  have  vainly  and  unlawfully  endeavoured  to  render  me 
despicable  in  their  eyes. 

Honourable  gentlemen,  I  perceive  that  I  have  many 
very  inveterate  enemies  of  my  own  Indian  acquaintances, 
more  especially  some  that  have  been  up  with  me.  They 
envy  me,  as  Joseph  of  old  was  envied,  and  they  have  al- 
ready laid  a  snare  for  my  life.  They  envy  me  for  the 
respect  that  1  receive  from  the  white  people  every  where, 
and  more  especially  they  envy  me  that  1  have  so  much  in- 
fluence among  my  western  brethren.  These  persons,  not 
considering  the  overruling  hand  of  Providence,  which 
makes  high  and  makes  low,  which  exalts  and  debases  ac- 
cording to  his  divine  pleasure,  make  known  their  folly  by 
venting  their  rage  against  a  poor,  frail,  and  short-coming 
creature  like  myself.  I  acknowledge  that  I  am  a  poor  im- 
perfect creature  as  to  things  of  religion,  and  that  in  many 
things  I  fall  short ;  yet  the  resolution  of  my  heart  is  to 
press  forward  in  the  ways  of  piety  and  duty.  And,  hon- 
ourable gentlemen,  I  rejoice  greatly  that  we  are  not  to  be 
saved  by  works ;  no,  but  we  are  directed  by  the  divine 
revelation  to  put  all  our  hopes  and  ground  our  confidence 
on  Jesus  Christ  alone  for  salvation.  So  his  complete 
righteousness  I  plead  before  my  offended  God,  when  I 
find  myself  overtaken  with  some  surprising  sin. 

The  above  I  wrote,  knowing  that  the  persons  will  make 
use  of  every  failure  that  they  can  possibly  find  or  discern, 
in  order  to  render  me  despicable  both  at  home  and  abroad, 
and  so  render  me  useless  both  to  my  country  and  to  my 
poor  sinking  nation ;  for  the  prosperity  of  both,  my  soul 
seems  truly  to  be  engaged  in.  But  as  to  the  affairs  of  this 
world,  I  believe  I  am  as  faithful  as  any  one,  and  would  not 
give  the  right  hand  to  any  Indian  of  my  acquaintance  to  do 
business  amongst  the  back  nations,  being  very  well  ac- 
quainted with  their  manners  and  customs,  and  can  speak 
their  language  considerable  well. 

Honourable  gentlemen,  I  cannot  see  with  what  face 
these  malicious  persons  can  falsely  say  that  I  was  an  enemy 
to  the  country,  when  they  consider  that  I  have  a  compa- 
nion here  in  Connecticut,  whom  I  value  as  dear  as  my  own 
life,  and  a  young  babe  dear  to  me  as  nature  can  make  it. 
Can  they,  with  any  expectation  of  success,  go  on  their 
infernal  design  of  ensnaring  my  life,  when  persons  know 
that  all  my  dearest  connexions  in  life  are  and  have  been 
amongst  the  people  in  New-England,  during  the  time  that 
I  was  in  the  western  country  ?  I  flatter  myself  that  they 
will  not  succeed. 

Honourable  gentlemen,  I  would  just  inform  you  that 
yesterday  the  honourable  Assembly  was  graciously  pleased 
to  appoint  a  Committee  to  hear  what  one  of  my  enemies 
had  to  say  or  allege  against  me.  The  Indian's  name  is 
Elijah  JVeampy,  of  Farmington,  a  subtle,  crafty  person. 
And  this  very  same  person  had  spoke,  in  our  private  con- 
versation, very  improper  and  unkind  words  against  the 
New-England  people  with  indignation  ;  with  which  he  w?as 
charged  yesterday,  and  denied  not,  before  evidence ;  two 
of  the  Indians  that  was  up  to  Oneida  with  us,  being  Sam- 
uel Adams  and  John  Sock,  who  heard  him  more  than 
once.  It  is  very  likely  that  your  Honours  will  scon  see 
the  judgment  formed  concerning  the  matter  by  the  hon- 
ourable Assembly  of  this  Colony,  as  it  is  requested  that  it 
might  be  made  as  publick  as  the  report  concerning  myself 
has  been  ;  likely  it  will  be  in  the  next  papers.  I  hope  to 
have  the  honour  of  being  more  closely  examined  by  your 
Honours  when  I  shall  return  from  the  Oneida  country, 
by  which  time  I  humbly  hope  I  may  have  the  pleasure  of 
giving  your  Honours  general  satisfaction.    And  I  humbly 


1579 


CONNECTICUT  ASSEMBLY,  JULY,  1775. 


1580 


hope  that  no  stones  may  hinder  your  Honours  from  send- 
ing the  message  to  the  back  nations,  which  your  Honours 
proposed  when  I  was  at  New-York.  And  your  Honours 
may  he  assured  that  I  am,  have  been,  and  still  will  be  a 
true  friend  to  the  American  Colonies  ;  and  I  hope  that  your 
Honours  and  all  that  know  me  may  soon  be  convinced  of 
my  love  to  my  Country,  and  of  my  real  friendship  to  the 
Colonies.    1  am  yours,  to  serve, 

Joseph  Johnson. 

To  the  Honourable  Provincial  Congress  of  New-  York. 

P.  S.  I  would  just  inform  your  Honours  that  I  purpose, 
by  divine  leave,  to  set  off  from  Mohegan,  my  native  place, 
the  twelfth  of  this  instant,  or  before ;  so  I  humbly  hope 


that  your  Honours  would  send  ample  directions  to  Albany 
for  me  as  soon  as  possible.  Although  I  leave  my  com- 
panion as  my  own  self,  and  seemly  more,  and  the  pleasure 
in  being  among  friends  and  acquaintances,  yet  duty  obli- 
gates me,  methinks,  to  take  this  one  journey  more,  hoping 
1  may  be  a  means,  by  the  blessing  of  our  gracious  Lord,  of 
preventing  much  blood  being  spilt.  So  1  go  cheerfully, 
though  1  should  never  return. 

I  am,  with  great  esteem,  yours  to  serve, 

Joseph  Johnson. 

N.  B.  Should  I  be  deprived  of  my  life,  and  never  re- 
turn, 1  humbly  recommend  to  your  mercy  my  beloved 
companion.    I  am,  ut  ante. 


CONNECTICUT  ASSEMBLY. 

Anno  Regni  Regis  Georgii  tertii  15to,  1775. 

At  a  General  Assembly  of  the  Governour  and  Company 
of  the  English  Colony  of  Connecticut  in  Neiv-England, 
in  America,  holden  at  Hartford,  by  special  order  of  the 
Governour  of  said  Colony,  on  Saturday,  the  first  day  of 
July,  Annoq.  Domini  1775.    Present : 

The  Honourable  Jonathan  Trumbull,  Esquire,  Govern- 
our; the  Honourable  Matthew  Griswold,  Esquire,  Deputy- 
Governour;  Jabez  Hamlin,  Elisha  Sheldon,  Jabez  Hunt- 
ington, William  Pitkin,  Abraham  Davenport,  William 
Samuel  Johnson,  Oliver  Wolcott,  and  Samuel  Hunting- 
ton, Esquires,  Assistants. 

Representatives  or  Deputies  of  the  Freemen  of  the 
several  Towns  are  as  follow,  viz : 
Hartford. — Col.  John  Pitkin,  Col.  Samuel  Wyllys. 
Weathersfield. — Colonel  Thomas  Belding. 
East-Windsor. — Mr.  William  Wolcott,  Colonel  Erastus 

Wolcott. 

Symsrury. — Capt.  Judah  Holcomb,  Mr.  Asahel  Holcomb. 
Windsor. — Captain  Henry  Allyn,  Captain  John  Phelps. 
Farmington. — Colonel  Isaac  Lee,  Mr.  Jonathan  Root. 
Sukfield. — Mr.  Alexander  King,  Captain  John  Lcavitt. 
East-Haddam. — Mr.  Daniel  Brainard,  Mr.  Jabez  Chap- 
man. 

Stafford. — Mr.  Isaac  Pinney,  Captain  Samuel  Davis. 
Haddam. — Captain  Joseph  Brooks,  Mr.  Joseph  Smith. 
Colchester. — Colonel  Henry  Champion,  Doctor  John 
Watrous. 

Somers. — Mr.  Reuben  Sikes,  Captain  Emery  Pease. 
Hebron. — Captain  Benjamin  Buell,  Captain  Obadiuh 
Hosford. 

Glastenbury. — Captain  Jonathan  Wells,  Mr.  Ebenezer 
Plummer. 

Middletown. — Col.  Matthew  Talcott,  Mr.  Titus  Hos- 
mer. 

Bolton. — Mr.  Benjamin  Trumbull. 
Tolland. — Colonel  Samuel  Chapman. 
Willington. — Major  Elijah  Fenion,  Captain  Timothy 
Pearl. 

Enfield. — Maj.  Nathaniel  Terry,  Mr.  Nathaniel  Chapin. 
Chatham. — Mr.  David  Sage,  Mr.  Ebenezer  White. 
New-Haven. — Mr.  Samuel  Bishop,  Capt.  Jonathan  Fitch. 
Durham. — Colonel  James  Wadsworth,  Mr.  Daniel  Hall. 
Guilford. — Mr.  John  Burgess. 
Derby. — Captain  John  Holbrook,  Mr.  Joseph  Hull. 
Waterbury. — Mr.  Joseph  Hopkins,  Col.  John  Baldwin. 
Milford. — Mr.  Ephraim  Strong. 
Branford. — Capt.  Edward  Russell,  Mr.  Daniel  Page. 
Wallingford. — Mr.  Samuel  Beach,  Captain  Thaddeus 
Cook. 

New-London. — Mr.  Richard  Law,  Mr.  William  Hil- 
house. 

Norwich. — Mr.  Benjamin  Huntington. 

Stonington. — Mr.  Nathaniel  Minor. 

Killingworth. — Captain   Elnathan   Stevens,  Captain 

John  Pierson. 
Groton. — Mr.  Thomas  Mumford,  Mr.  Nathan  Gallop. 
Preston. — Captain  Roger  Sterry. 
Lyme. — Mr.  Marshficld  Parsons,  Mr.  Ezra  Seldcn. 
Saybrook. — Captain  Benjamin  Williams. 
Fairfield. — Mr.  Jonathan  Sturgess,  Captain  Samuel 

Squier. 


Stratford. — Captain  Robert  Fairchild,  Colonel  Ichabod 
Lewis. 

Stamford. — Colonel  Charles  Webb. 
Ridgefield. — Captain  Lemuel  Morehouse. 
Redding. — Mr.  William  Hawley. 
Norwalk. — Colonel  Thomas  Fitch. 
New-Fairfield. — Mr.  Ephraim  Hubbell. 
Greenwich. — Colonel  John  Mead. 
Newtown. — Mr.  John  Beach. 

Windham. — Colonel  Jedediah  Elderkin,  Mr.  Ebenezer 
Devotion. 

Lebanon. — Col.  William  Williams,  Mr.  Jonathan  Trum- 
bull, Jun. 

Mansfield. — Mr.  Nathaniel  Atwood. 
Woodstock. — Captain  Elisha  Child,  Captain  Samuel  Mc- 
Clellen. 

Coventry. — Captain  Ebenezer  Kingsbury,  Mr.  Jeremiah 
Ripley. 

Canterbury. — Mr.  David  Pain,  Mr.  Eliashib  Adams. 
Killingly. — Mr.  Stephen  Crosby,  Captain  Eleazer  War- 
ner. 

Pomfret. — Mr.  Elisha  Lord. 

Ashford. — Captain  Benjamin  Sumner,  Captain  Ichabod 
Ward. 

Plainfield. — Captain  James  Bradford,  Mr.  William 
Robinson. 

Voluntown. — Major  James  Gordon,  Mr.  Robert  Hunter. 

Litchfield. — Mr.  Jedediah  Strong. 

Woodbury. — Mr.  Daniel  Sherman,  Captain  Increase 

Moseley. 

Salisbury. — Col.  Joshua  Porter,  Capt.  Abiel  Camp. 
Kent. — Mr.  Ephraim  Hubbell,  Jun.,  Captain  Eliphalet 
Whittlesey. 

Canaan. — Mr.  Asahel  Bebee,  Captain  Samuel  Forbes. 

Sharon. — Major  Ebenezer  Gay,  Mr.  James  Pardy. 

New-Milford. — Major  Samuel  Canfield,  Captain  Sher- 
man Boardman. 

Goshen. — Col.  Ebenezer  Norton,  Capt.  Samuel  Nash. 

New-Hartford. — Major  Abel  Merrill,  Mr.  Zebulon 
Merrill. 

Cornwall. — Mr.  Heman  Swift,  Capt.  Thomas  Porter. 
Torrington. — Major  Ephraim  Shelden. 
Harwinton. — Mr.  Jonah  Phelps,  Mr.  Mark  Prindle. 

William  Williams,  Esquire,  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Rep- 
resentatives ;  Richard  Law,  Esquire,  Clerk. 

An  Act  in  addition  to  an  Act  entitled  An  Act  for  Assem- 
bling, Equipping,  SfC,  a  number  of  the  Inhabitants  of 
this  Colony,  for  the  special  defence  and  safety  thereof, 
passed  at  the  General  Assembly  held  at  Hartford,  by 
special  order  of  the  Governour,  on  Wednesday,  the 
26th  day  of  April,  1775. 

Be  it  enacted  by  the  Governour,  Council,  and  Repre- 
sentatives in  General  Court  assembled,  and  by  the  author- 
ity of  the  same,  That  in  addition  to,  and  re-enforcement  oi 
the  inhabitants  in  and  by  said  Act  directed  to  be  assem- 
bled, &lc,  a  further  body  of  fourteen  hundred  Men,  ex- 
clusive of  commissioned  Officers,  be  forthwith  enlisted, 
equipped,  accoutred,  and  assembled,  for  the  special  de- 
fence and  safety  of  this  Colony,  to  serve  during  the  plea- 
sure of  this  Assembly,  not  exceeding  five  months,  and  to 
be  led  and  conducted  as  the  General  Assembly  shall  order; 
that  the  inhabitants  so  to  be  enlisted  and  assembled  shall 


1581 


CONNECTICUT  ASSEMBLY,  JULY,  1775. 


1582 


be  formed  into  two  Regiments  of  ten  Companies  each,  and 
each  Company  consist  of  seventy  non-commissioned  Offi- 
cers and  Privates,  besides  commissioned  Officers,  with  the 
same  number  of  Field,  Commissioned,  and  Staff  Officers, 
as  in  the  Regiments  already  raised  and  assembled  for  the 
defence  of  this  Colony,  by  the  Act  aforesaid ;  and  that 
the  said  Troops,  both  Officers  and  Soldiers,  shall  receive 
the  same  Bounty,  Pay,  allowance  for  Arms,  Blankets, 
Knapsacks,  Accoutrements,  and  Provisions  ;  be  furnished 
with  the  same  quantity  of  Ammunition,  and  in  every  re- 
spect be  under  the  same  regulations  as  in  and  by  said  Act 
is  already  provided  and  directed  for  the  Troops  assembled 
for  the  defence  of  this  Colony. 

This  Assembly  do  appoint  the  persons  hereafter  named 
to  the  respective  offices  hereinafter  mentioned,  to  take  com- 
mand of  the  inhabitants  to  be  enlisted  for  the  special  de- 
fence and  safety  of  this  Colony,  in  addition  to  the  six  Regi- 
ments heretofore  raised  for  the  same  purpose,  to  lead  and 
conduct  them  as  the  General  Assembly  shall  order ;  and 
his  Honour  the  Governour  is  desired,  and  he  is  hereby  au- 
thorized and  empowered  to  give  Commissions,  according  to 
the  form  provided  and  ordered,  for  each  respective  Officer, 
according  to  his  office  and  rank,  and  Warrants  to  such  as 
are  on  the  Staff,  viz  : 

Seventh  Regiment. 
First  Company. — This  Assembly  do  appoint  Charles 
Webb,  Esquire,  Colonel  of  the  Seventh  Regiment,  and 
Captain;  Ebenezer  Hill,  Captain- Lieutenant ;  Stephen 
Bell,  Jun.,  Second  Lieutenant ;  Sylvanus  Mead,  En- 
sign. 

Second  Company. — Street  Hall,  Esq.,  Lieutenant-Colonel 
of  the  Seventh  Regiment,  and  Captain  ;  William  Hull, 
First  Lieutenant ;  Stephen  Potter,  Second  Lieutenant ; 
Titus  Moss,  Ensign. 

Third  Company. — Jonathan  Lattimer,  Jun.,  Esq.,  Major 
and  Captain  ;  Nathan  Hale,  First  Lieutenant ;  John 
Belsher,  Second  Lieutenant ;  Joseph  Hilliard,  Ensign. 

Fourth  Company. — Joseph  Hoit,  Captain  ;  Joseph  Alden 
Wright,  First  Lieutenant ;  Gamaliel  Northrup,  Junior, 
Second  Lieutenant ;  John  Odell,  Ensign. 

Fifth  Company. — Nathaniel  Tuttle,  Captain ;  John  Wat- 
kins,  First  Lieutenant ;  Samuel  Gibbs,  Second  Lieuten- 
ant; Samuel  Hurlburt,  Ensign. 

Sixth  Company. — Edward  Shipman,  Captain ;  Aaron 
Stevens,  First  Lieutenant;  Lemuel  Nichols,  Second 
Lieutenant;  John  Shumway,  Ensign. 

Seventh  Company. — Isaac  Bostwick,  Captain ;  Jesse  Kim- 
ball, First  Lieutenant;  Peter  Mills,  Second  Lieutenant; 
Daniel  Brinsmaid,  Ensign. 

Eighth  Company. —  William  Gaylord  HubbeU,  Captain; 
John  Trowbridge,  First  Lieutenant ;  Jesse  Cook,  Se- 
cond Lieutenant ;  David  Lilly,  Ensign. 

Ninth  Company. — Peter  Perrit,  Captain ;  John  Yates, 
First  Lieutenant ;  Henry  Firman,  Second  Lieutenant ; 
Charles  Pond,  Ensign. 

Tenth  Company. — Eli  Leavenworth,  Captain;  William 
Rossiter,  First  Lieutenant ;  Peter  Johnson,  Second 
Lieutenant;  Robert  Lewis,  Ensign. 

Reverend  Samuel  Bird,  Chaplain  of  the  Seventh  Regi- 
ment. 

Francis  Forgue,  Surgeon ;  Ebenezer  Beardslee,  Isaac 
Swift,  Surgeon's  Mates  of  the  Seventh  Regiment. 

Eighth  Regiment. 

First  Company. — Jedediah  Huntington,  Esq.,  Colonel  of 
the  Eighth  Regiment,  and  Captain  ;  Asa  Kingsbury, 
Captain  Lieutenant:  Jonathan  Brewster,  Second  Lieu- 
tenant ;  Phineas  L.  Tracy,  Ensign. 

Second  Company. — John  Douglass,  Esquire,  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  and  Captain  ;  Elezur  Hubbard,  First  Lieuten- 
ant; Moses  Campbell,  Second  Lieutenant;  Nathaniel 
Bingham,  Ensign. 

Third  Company. — Joel  Clark,  Esq.,  Major  and  Captain  ; 
Abiel  Pease,  First  Lieutenant  ;  Epaphras  Andrus,  Se- 
cond Lieutenant ;  Abraham  Wright,  Ensign. 

Fourth  Company. — -Elihu  Humphrey,  Captain  ;  Ebenezer 
F.  Bissell,  First  Lieutenant ;  Timothy  Cossett,  Second 
Lieutenant;  Jonathan  Filley,  Ensign. 

Fifth  Company. —  Charles  Ellsworth,  Jr.,  Captain  ;  Moses 
Hall,  First  Lieutenant ;  Samuel  Bancroft,  Second  Lieu- 
tenant ;  Barzillai  Markham,  Ensign. 


Sixth  Company. —  Abijah  Rowley,  Captain;  Zebediah 

Farnum,  First  Lieutenant ;   Epaphras  Bull,  Second 

Lieutenant;  Joseph  Tucker,  Ensign. 
Seventh  Company. — Daniel  Lyon, Captain  ;  Elijah  Sharp, 

First  Lieutenant ;  Joseph  Burgess,  Second  Lieutenant ; 

John  Sumner,  Ensign. 
Eighth  Company. — Joseph  Jewett,  Captain  ;  Jabez  Fitch, 

Jun.,  First  Lieutenant ;  Nathaniel  Gove,  Second  Lieu- 
tenant ;  Elisha  Lefjingwell,  Ensign. 
Ninth  Company. —  Abraham  Tyler,  Captain  ;  Timothy 

Percival,  First  Lieutenant ;   Solomon  Orcut,  Second 

Lieutenant ;  Aaron  Hale,  Ensign. 
Tenth  Company. — John  Ripley,  Captain  ;  Thomas  Tyrrel, 

First  Lieutenant;  Joel  Chamberlin,  Second  Lieutenant; 

John  Vaughan,  Ensign. 
Reverend  John  Ellis,  Chaplain  of  the  Eighth  Regiment. 
Philip  Turner,  Surgeon  ;  Albigens  Waldo,  Silas  Holmes. 

Surgeon's  Mates  of  the  Eighth  Regiment. 

Resolved  by  this  Assembly,  That  the  Commissions  and 
Warrants  for  the  Officers  in  the  Troops  now  to  be  raised 
for  the  defence  of  this  Colony,  be  of  the  same  tenour  with 
those  given  to  the  officers  already  in  the  service,  and  shall 
bear  date  the  sixth  day  of  July  instant. 

And  it  is  further  Resolved,  That  in  case  any  of  the  Offi- 
cers now  appointed  by  this  Assembly  shall  decline  the 
service,  his  Honour  the  Governour  be,  and  he  is  hereby- 
directed  and  empowered  to  supply  such  vacancies. 

Resolved  by  this  Assembly,  That  there  be  provided  forty- 
eight  Markee  or  Officers'  Tents,  and  two  hundred  and 
thirty-three  Tents  for  Private  Soldiers ;  two  hundred  and 
eighty-one  Iron  Pots,  that  will  contain  about  ten  quarts 
each,  or  Tin  Kettles  ;  fourteen  Brass  Kettles,  that  will  con- 
tain from  eight  to  twelve  gallons  each,  for  the  use  of  each 
Regiment ;  six  hundred  Wooden  Bowls,  three  Frying  Pans 
for  the  use  of  each  Company,  fourteen  hundred  quart  Can- 
teens, twenty  Drums  and  forty  Fifes,  all  for  the  use  of  the 
Troops ;  one  Standard  for  each  Regiment,  distinguished 
by  their  colour  as  follows,  viz:  for  the  Seventh,  Blue;  for 
the  Eighth,  Orange;  a  Medicine  Chest  and  Apparatus,  to 
the  value  of  thirty  Pounds,  under  the  direction  of  the  re- 
spective Surgeons,  and  that  whatever  of  Medicine  or  Ap- 
paratus shall  be  left  or  not  used,  be  returned  for  the  use  of 
the  Colony ;  about  fifteen  Books  in  quarto,  consisting  of 
one  quire  of  paper,  and  covered  with  cartridge  paper  ;  half 
a  ream  of  WT riling  Paper;  also  three  reams  of  Paper  for 
forming  Cartridges,  and  also  one  Cart  or  Wagon  for  each 
Company. 

And  it  is  further  Resolved  by  this  Assembly,  That  the 
allowance  of  Provisions  for  said  Troops  be  as  the  allowance 
already  made  to  the  Troops  ordered  to  be  raised  by  this 
Assembly  in  April  last,  and  that  they  be  provided  with 
Arms  and  Ammunition,  in  the  same  manner  and  proportion 
as  the  Troops  already  raised. 

An  Act  for  supplying  the  Troops,  ordered  to  be  raised  for 
the  special  defence  and  safety  of  this  Colony,  with  neces- 
sary Fire- Arms. 

Be  it  enacted  by  the  Governour,  Council,  and  Represent- 
atives in  General  Court  assembled,  and  by  axithority  of  the 
same,  That  each  inhabitant  who  shall  enlist  into  the  Seventh 
and  Eighth  Regiments,  now  to  be  raised  for  the  defence  of 
this  Colony,  shall  be  furnished  with  good  and  sufficient 
Fire-Arms  ;  that  each  enlisted  inhabitant  that  shall  pro- 
vide Arms  for  himself,  well  fixed  with  a  good  Bayonet  and 
Cartouch  Box,  shall  be  paid  a  premium  of  ten  shillings  ; 
and  in  case  such  Arms  are  lost  by  inevitable  casualty,  such 
inhabitant,  providing  himself  as  aforesaid,  shall  be  allowed 
and  paid  the  just  value  of  said  Arms  and  Implements  so 
lost,  deducting  only  said  sum  of  ten  shillings  allowed  as 
aforesaid,  said  premium  of  ten  shillings  to  be  paid  as  soon 
as  such  inhabitants  shall  provide  such  Arms  as  aforesaid  ; 
and  in  case  any  householder  or  other  person  shall  volun- 
tarily furnish  any  enlisted  inhabitant,  not  able  to  furnish 
Arms  for  himself,  with  a  good  Gun,  well  fixed  with  a 
Bayonet  and  Cartouch  Box,  he  shall  have  and  receive  a 
premium  of  ten  shillings,  and  in  case  of  loss  shall  receive 
the  value  thereof,  deducting  said  ten  shillings  as  aforesaid ; 
that  where  the  aforesaid  provision  fails,  sufficient  Arms 
shall  be  purchased  to  supply  said  inhabitants  that  shall 
enlist  as  aforesaid  by  the  Selectmen  of  that  Town  in  which 
they  dwell,  or  either  of  them,  which  Selectmen  shall  de- 


1583 


CONNECTICUT  ASSEMBLY,  JULY,  1775. 


1584 


liver  the  Anns  tliey  shall  purchase  to  (he  Captain  of  the 
Company  to  which  such  person,  for  whose  use  the  same  is 
purchased,  shall  belong,  taking  his  receipt  therefor;  and  the 
said  Selectmen  shall  lodge  the  receipt  they  shall  so  take 
with  the  Committee  of  the  Pay-Table,  and  shall  likewise 
exhibit  to  said  Committee  their  account  of  the  cost  of  such 
Arms  which  shall  be  allowed  by  said  Committee,  who  shall 
thereupon  draw  their  order  on  the  Treasurer  in  favour  of 
such  Selectmen,  for  the  amount  of  their  accounts  of  the 
cost  of  purchasing  such  Arms  accordingly.  And  if  it  shall 
so  happen  that  a  sufficient  supply  of  Arms  cannot  be  pro- 
cured in  the  several  methods  before  directed,  then  sufficient 
Arms,  to  make  good  the  deficiency,  shall  be  impressed, 
completely  to  arm  and  equip  said  inhabitants  that  shall 
so  enlist  as  aforesaid,  the  said  impress  to  be  limited  only 
to  the  Arms  belonging  to  the  householders  and  other  per- 
sons not  on  the  military  roll  ;  and  that,  every  person  from 
whom  any  Gun  shall  be  impressed  as  aforesaid,  shall  be 
paid  for  the  use  of  such  Gun  the  sum  of  four  shillings,  and 
in  case  of  loss  shall  be  paid  the  just  value  of  said  Gun, 
deducting  the  sum  of  four  shillings  aforesaid. 

And  be  it  further  enacted,  That  a  particular  account 
shall  be  taken  by  the  Captain,  or  chief  officer  of  every  Com- 
pany, of  the  Arms  that  may  be  used,  distinguishing  such 
as  the  Soldiers  may  provide  for  themselves,  such  as  are 
lent  by  householders  and  others,  such  as  are  purchased  by 
the  Selectmen,  and  such  as  are  impressed  by  virtue  of  this 
Act ;  who  shall  cause  the  same  to  be  appraised  by  indiffe- 
rent judges,  and  transmit  such  account,  with  the  appraise- 
ment, to  the  Committee  of  the  Pay -Table.  And  that  if  any 
enlisted  Soldier,  through  negligence,  shall  lose  or  damage 
the  Arms  found  for  him  as  aforesaid,  such  loss  or  damage 
shall  be  deducted  as  aforesaid.  And  it  shall  be  the  duty 
of  the  Captain,  or  chief  officer  of  every  Company,  when 
the  said  enlisted  inhabitants  shall  be  discharged  from  the 
service  for  which  they  are  assembled,  to  receive  from  them 
and  secure  the  Arms  borrowed,  purchased,  or  impressed  by 
virtue  of  this  Act,  that  the  same  may  be  returned  to  their 
proper  owner,  or  secured  for  the  use  of  this  Colony. 

Resolved  by  this  Assembly,  That  the  Committee  ap- 
pointed by  Act  of  Assembly  of  May  last,  to  procure  Fire- 
Arms  for  the  use  of  this  Colony,  be  authorized,  and  they 
are  hereby  fully  authorized  and  empowered  to  contract  for 
and  purchase  such  numbers  (of  Arms  of  such  construction 
as  are  ordered  in  said  Act)  as  are  directed  therein,  and  that 
they  be  fully  authorized  and  empowered  to  draw  on  the 
Treasurer  for  payment  for  the  same;  and  the  Treasurer  is 
hereby  ordered  to  pay  the  same  accordingly. 

Resolved  by  this  Assembly,  That  his  Honour  the  Govern- 
our,  and  the  Council  appointed  to  assist  him  in  the  recess 
of  the  Assembly,  be,  and  they  are  hereby  authorized  and 
empowered  to  direct  and  order  the  marches  and  stations  of 
the  inhabitants  now  to  be  enlisted  and  assembled,  and  that 
have  or  shall  be  enlisted  or  assembled  for  the  special  de- 
fence of  the  Colony,  or  any  part  or  parts  of  them  as  they 
shall  judge  necessary  for  the  publick  service,  and  give  all 
necessary  orders  and  directions,  from  time  to  time,  for  the 
purchasing,  supplying,  and  arming  said  inhabitants,  or  that 
may  be  enlisted,  in  every  respect  and  to  every  purpose  that 
may  be  needful,  to  render  the  defence  of  the  Colony  ef- 
fectual. 

Resolved  by  this  Assembly,  That  Jabez  Hamlin,  Mat- 
thew Talcott,  and  Titus  Hosmer,  Esquires,  the  Committee 
appointed  by  this  Assembly  in  May  last  to  work  the  Lead 
Mine  in  Middletoivn,  and  refine  the  Ore  for  the  use  of  the 
Colony,  be,  and  they  are  hereby  ordered  and  directed  to 
proceed  in  the  business  and  matters  as  directed  by  said  Act ; 
and,  to  enable  them  to  carry  the  same  into  execution,  that 
they  receive  out  of  the  Colony  Treasury  such  sum  or  sums 
of  money  as  may  be  necessary  to  enable  them  to  carry  the 
same  into  execution,  and  thereof  to  render  their  account  to 
this  Assembly;  and  the  Committee  of  the  Pay -Table  are 
hereby  directed  to  draw  on  the  Treasurer  for  such  sums  as 
said  Committee,  for  managing  said  Mine,  shall  find  neces- 
sary for  the  purpose  aforesaid. 

Resolved  by  this  Assembly,  That  two  Vessels  of  a  suit- 
able burden  be  immediately  fitted  out,  and  armed  with  a 
proper  number  of  Cannon,  Swivel  Guns  and  Small-Arms, 
and  furnished  with  necessary  warlike  stores,  and  well  offi- 
cered and  manned,  for  the  defence  of  the  Sea-Coasts  in  this 


Colony,  under  the  care  and  direction  of  his  Honour  the 
Governour,  and  Committee  of  Council  appointed  to  assist 
him  in  the  recess  of  the  General  Assembly,  who  are  hereby 
authorized  and  directed  to  procure,  furnish,  and  employ 
the  same  accordingly. 

Resolved  by  this  Assembly,  That  his  Honour  the  Go- 
vernour be  directed  and  empowered  to  draw  out  of  the 
Colony  Treasury,  and  deliver  to  Walter  Livingston,  Esq., 
as  soon  as  may  be,  the  sum  of  fifteen  thousand  Pounds,  in 
bills  of  credit  of  this  Colony,  and  take  his  receipt  for  the 
same,  agreeable  to  the  request  of  General  Philip  Schuyler; 
and  also  that  the  Governour  and  Council  be  directed  and 
empowered  to  furnish  said  General  Schuyler  with  such 
quantity  of  Ammunition  as  they  shall  judge  proper  and 
safe,  considering  the  state  and  circumstances  of  this  Colony. 

Resolved  by  this  Assembly,  That  his  Honour  the  Go- 
vernour be,  and  he  is  hereby  directed  to  make  a  kind  and 
friendly  answer  to  the  Speech  sent  by  the  Oneida  Indians, 
and  that  a  Belt  of  Wampum  be  procured  and  sent  to  them, 
and  that  the  sum  of  twelve  Pounds,  for  the  expense  and 
cost  of  transmitting  the  same,  be  paid  out  of  the  publick 
Treasury  of  this  Colony,  and  that  his  Honour  the  Govern- 
our be  also  desired  to  direct  Colonel  Hinman  to  assure  the 
Indians  of  the  peaceable  disposition  of  the  people  of  this 
Colony  towards  then). 

This  Assembly  do  appoint,  authorize,  and  direct  the 
Honourable  Jabez  Hamlin,  Esq.,  to  collect  and  receive  the 
Saltpetre  and  Sulphur  that  may  be  found  in  the  several 
Towns  in  this  Colony,  and  to  send  the  same,  with  all  con- 
venient despatch,  to  the  Powder-Mills  in  Dutchess  County, 
in  the  Province  of  New-York,  to  be  made  into  Powder, 
and  that  he  apply  to  the  Pay-Table  for  the  money  that 
may  be  necessary  for  the  service  aforesaid,  and  account  at 
that  office  for  the  expenditure  thereof. 

Resolved  by  this  Assembly,  That  his  Honour  the  Go- 
vernour be,  and  he  is  hereby  authorized  and  empowered  to 
grant  permits  for  the  exportation  out  of  this  Colony  by 
water,  of  live  Cattle  and  Provisions,  in  such  cases  and  to 
such  ports  and  places  as  he  shall  judge  necessary  and  expe- 
dient for  the  publick  service. 

Whereas,  a  sum  of  Money  is  necessary  for  payment  of 
Interest,  the  charges  of  Government : 

Be  it  enacted  by  the  Governour,  Council,  and  Represent- 
atives in  General  Court  assembled,  and  by  the  authority 
of  the  same,  That  there  be  forthwith  imprinted  the  sum  of 
fifty  thousand  Pounds,  Bills  of  Credit  on  this  Colony,  equal 
to  lawful  money,  of  suitable  denominations  as  the  Commit- 
tee herein  appointed  shall  direct,  and  of  the  same  tenour 
with  the  late  emissions  of  Bills  of  Credit  of  this  Colony, 
without  interest,  payable  at  or  before  the  last  clay  of  De- 
cember,  Anno  Domini  1779,  dated  the  first  day  of  July, 
Anno  Domini  1775;  and  Jabez  Hamlin,  William  Pitkin, 
George  Wyllys,  Elisha  Williams,  Benjamin  Payne,  Tho- 
mas Seymour,  and  Jesse  Root,  Esquires,  or  any  three  of 
them,  are  appointed  a  Committee  for  the  purpose  aforesaid, 
to  take  care  said  bills  be  imprinted  with  all  convenient 
speed,  and  to  sign  and  deliver  the  same  to  the  Treasurer 
of  this  Colony,  taking  his  receipt  therefor.  And  the  said 
Committee  shall  be  sworn  to  a  faithful  discharge  of  their 
trust;  and  the  Treasurer  is  hereby  directed  to  pay  out  said 
bills  according  to  the  orders  of  Assembly. 

And  for  providing  an  ample  and  sufficient  fund,  to  call 
in,  sink,  and  discharge  the  aforesaid  sum,  to  be  emitted  as 
aforesaid, 

Be  it  enacted  by  the  authority  aforesaid,  That  a  Tax  of 
seven  Pence  on  the  Pound  be  and  is  hereby  granted  and 
ordered  to  be  levied  on  all  the  Polls  and  rateable  Estate 
in  this  Colony,  according  to  the  list  thereof  to  be  brought 
into  this  Assembly  in  October,  1777,  with  the  additions, 
which  Taxes  shall  be  collected  and  paid  into  the  Treasury 
of  this  Colony  by  the  last  day  of  December,  Anno  Domini 
1779;  which  Tax  may  be  discharged  by  paying  the  bills  of 
this  Colony  of  this  emission,  or  lawful  money  ;  and  the 
Treasurer  of  this  Colony  is  hereby  ordered  and  directed 
to  send  forth  his  warrants  for  collecting  the  same  accord- 
ingly. 

Upon  the  Memorial  of  Captain  Delaplace,  Brigade- 
Major  Andrew  P.  Skene,  and  Ensign  Jos.  Moland,  pra\  - 
ins  that  they  may  be  kept  together  and  not  separated,  as 


1585 


CONNECTICUT  ASSEMBLY,  JULY,  1775. 


1586 


they  apprehend  to  be  intended;  as  per  Memorial  on  file, 
dated  July  6th,  1775  : 

Resolved  by  this  Assembly,  That  the  memorialists  afore- 
said be  not  at  present  separated.  And  it  is  further  Resolved, 
That  said  memorialists  be  removed  from  the  Town  of  Hart- 
ford, and  kept  and  provided  for  in  some  other  convenient 
Town  or  place,  at  the  discretion  of  the  Committee  already 
appointed  for  that  purpose.  And  it  is  further  Resolved, 
That  on  the  arrival  of  Major  Skene  the  elder,  who  is  ordered 
here  by  the  Continental  Congress,  said  Committee  be  and 
they  are  directed  to  provide  him  suitable  lodgings  and  enter- 
tainment in  some  remote  part  of  the  Town  of  Hartford, 
and  at  their  discretion  may  permit  said  Major  Skene  the 
younger  to  reside  with  his  father,  said  Major  Skene  the 
elder. 

"  Roxbury,  July  5,  1775. 
"  Gentlemen  :  The  exemplary  life,  good  conduct,  pru- 
dence, and  courage  of  General  Speticer,  has  endeared 
him  to  the  officers  and  soldiers  under  his  command.  He 
came  here  the  first  in  command  of  the  Connecticut  Forces, 
and  has  continued  so,  much  to  our  satisfaction.  The  Con- 
tinental Congress,  as  we  hear,  hath,  by  their  appointments, 
degraded  him  from  the  rank  he  held  as  first  in  command  of 
the  Connecticut  Troops  on  this  destination.  We  therefore 
desire  you  to  use  your  influence  and  best  discretion  with 
the  members  of  our  General  Assembly,  that  the  arrange- 
ment made  by  the  Continental  Congress  may  be  altered 
so  as  to  continue  General  Spencer  in  command  as  before. 
You  are  sensible  it  will  be  with  great  reluctance  our  Troops 
at  Roxbury  could  see  their  General  superseded  by  an  offi- 
cer in  previous  lower  command.  We  have  no  objection  to 
the  appointment  of  Generals  Washington  and  Lee,  and  shall 
endeavour  to  preserve  the  good  order  and  submission  to 
their  government  as  hath  before  distinguished  this  part 
of  the  Connecticut  Troops  whilst  under  General  Spencer's 
command  ;  but  the  late  arrangement  so  far  removes  General 
Spencer  from  his  former  command,  that  he  cannot  and  will 
not  continue  in  the  service  under  this  arrangement.  We 
would  have  you  signify  to  the  Assembly  that  we  apprehend 
the  morals  and  good  order  and  discipline  of  our  Troops 
will  be  greatly  endangered  under  the  present  arrangement. 
We  trust  to  your  prudence,  care,  and  good  conduct,  in  pro- 
curing the  proposed  alteration. 

Samuel  H.  Parsons,  J  imes  Eldridge, 
Josiah  Baldwin, 
Richard  Hewit, 
John  Raymond, 
Isaac  Galpin, 
Oliver  Babcock, 
Elisha  Lee, 
Martin  Kirtland, 
David  Kevins, 
George  Litimer, 
Nathaniel  Morgan, 


John  Tyler, 
IS  imuel  Prentice, 
Return  Jona.  Meigs 
<  Miver  Harchet, 
J  imes  Chapman, 
■Waterman  Clift, 
Samuel  Gall, 
John  Ely, 
Abel  Squires, 
David  J.  Sill, 
Ebenezer  Sumner, 
S  imuel  Wright, 
Abijah  Savage, 
William  Edmond, 
Christopher  Darraw,  Roger  Enos, 
Robert  Warner, 


Noadiah  Hooker, 
Samuel  Cooper, 
Marcus  Cole, 
John  McGregor, 
Daniel  Halts, 
Ab'm  Waterhouse, 
Ozias  Bissell, 
David  Johnson, 
Silvanus  Martin, 
Solomon  Willis, 
Jonathan  Parker, 


Ezekiel  Scott,  William  Latham,  Jr., 

Hozeki  ih  Haldridge,  Henry  Champion,  Jr., 
James  Ransom,  Samuel  Palmer, 

Edward  Paine,  Levi  Welles, 

Daniel  Cane,  Jr. 


In  the  Lower  House,  Mr.  Hosmer,  Mr.  Wolcott,  Colonel 
Wyllys,  Colonel  Porter,  and  Colonel  Lee,  are  appointed  a 
Committee  to  join  a  Committee  from  the  honourable  Upper 
Board,  to  take  into  consideration  the  subject  of  the  foregoing 
representation  with  regard  to  the  arrangement  of  the  Gene- 
ral Officers,  &ic,  and  report  make.  Test: 

Richard  Law,  Clerk. 

In  the  Upper  House,  the  Honourable  Matthew  Griswold, 
Esq.,  and  Abraham  Davenport,  Esq.,  are  appointed  to  join 
the  Committee  of  the  Lower  House  in  the  affair  above 
mentioned.    Test:  George  Wyllys,  Secretary. 

Your  Honours'  Committee  appointed  to  take  into  con- 
sideration the  subject  of  the  representation  of  the  Officers 
of  our  Army  at  Roxbury,  in  regard  to  the  arrangement  of 
General  Officers,  &c,  beg  leave  to  report : 

To  obviate  the  inconveniences  that  may  be  apprehended 
from  the  alteration  made  by  the  Continental  Congress  in 
the  rank  and  station  of  Generals  Wooster,  Spencer,  and 
Putnam,  which  gives  so  great  uneasiness  to  General  Spen- 
cer and  the  officers  more  immediately  under  his  command, 
that  his  Honour  the  Governour  be  requested,  in  behalf  of 
the  Assembly,  to  write  to  the  honourable  Continental  Con- 
gress, and  acquaint  them  with  the  estimation  in  which 
General  Wooster  and  General  Spe?wer  are  held  by  this 


gress, 


Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii. 


Assembly,  and  the  Officers  and  Troops  under  their  com- 
mand ;  of  their  concern  that  they  have  been  so  far  over- 
looked in  the  appointment  of  General  Officers  bv  them, 
and  of  the  probable  inconveniences  that  may  ensue;  at  the 
same  time  testifying  their  sense  of  the  singular  merit  of 
Gen.  Putnam,  and  requesting  them,  if  practicable,  to  devise 
some  method  of  obviating  the  difficulties  apprehended. 
That  his  Honour  the  Governour  be  desired  to  write  to 
General  Spencer,  and  acquaint  him  with  the  said  appli- 
cation to  the  Continental  Congress  in  his  behalf,  and  con- 
jure him,  by  the  love  to  his  Country,  to  call  to  mind  the 
constant  and  signal  affection  of  his  Country  to  him  so  often 
and  so  lately  testified,  and  request  him  not  to  precipitate  a 
resolution  to  resign  his  command,  and  which  will  distress 
his  Troops,  attached  to  him  by  the  warmest  affection  and 
duty,  and  give  great  anxiety  and  dissatisfaction  to  his  Coun- 
try, which  has  placed,  and  continues  to  place  high  confi- 
dence in  his  wisdom,  prudence,  integrity,  and  military  skill. 
Which  is  submitted  by  your  Honours'  most  obedient  hum- 
ble servants,  Matthew  Griswold,  per  order. 

In  the  Lower  House  the  foregoing  Report  is  accepted, 
with  this  alteration  :  that  his  Honour  the  Governour  be 
desired  to  write  to  our  Delegates  at  the  Continental  Con- 
and  not  to  the  Continental  Congress. 
Test :  Richard  Law,  Clerk. 

Concurred  in  in  the  Upper  House : 

Test :  George  Wvllys,  Secretary. 

"  To  the  Honourable  Jabez  Hamlin,  Matthew  Talcott, 
and  Titus  Hosmer,  Esquires: 

"Gentlemen:  Being  appointed  by  you  to  go  to  New- 
York,  or  elsewhere,  in  quest  of  a  suitable  Smelter  or  Re- 
finer of  Lead  Ore,  with  orders  to  make  report  to  you  on 
my  return,  now  beg  leave  to  report,  that  on  Wednesday, 
the  seventh  day  of  June,  instant,  I  set  off  with  Mr.  Hud- 
son, and  proceeded  to  New- York,  by  way  of  Hudson's 
River,  to  a  place  called  Sing-Sing,  where  are  erected  very 
large  refining  works,  plans  of  which  Mr.  Hudson  took, 
and  we  treated  largely  with  Mr.  Stout,  the  Refiner,  on  the 
subject  of  his  undertaking  the  business  at  the  lead  mines 
at  Middlctown,  but  he  could  not  be  released.  We  then 
proceeded  to  New-York,  and  viewed  the  large  iron  air 
furnace  belonging  to  Mr.  Peter  Curtenius,  and  made  in- 
quiry after  his  cinders  for  fluxing,  according  to  directions, 
of  which  we  found  plenty,  and  to  be  had  on  reasonable 
terms ;  but  were  at  the  same  time  informed  they  were  not 
necessary,  as  those  of  blacksmiths  at  home  would  do. 
After  this  Mr.  Hudson  went  off  for  home;  and  hearing  of 
two  skilful  Refiners,  named  Mosengill  and  Ramsamen,  at 
a  place  called  Boundbrook,  in  the  Jerseys,  about  forty 
miles  from  Ntiv-York,  I  repaired  thither,  and  spent  a  day 
treating  with  the  latter,  of  whose  skill  and  ability  in  the 
premises  I  was  well  satisfied,  but  his  demand  appearing  so 
exorbitant,  I  thought  not  prudent  to  agree ;  but  proceeded 
to  Philadelphia,  where  I  heard  of  a  very  skilful  Refiner, 
named  Fedaband,  who  I  found,  by  the  best  information  I 
could  get,  to  be  the  most  skilful  in  America,  but  was  a 
High  German,  and  could  not  talk  English ;  I  found,  by 
an  interpreter,  he  was  under  some  oath  to  the  King  not  to 
refine  metals  in  America  but  for  the  King,  and  the  present 
dispute  between  the  Parliament  and  the  Colonies  terrified 
him  with  an  apprehension,  that  if  he  was  taken  in  New- 
England  he  should  be  sacrificed  immediately ;  he  could 
not  be  prevailed  on  to  come.  When  I  had  got  his  final 
answer,  I  returned  by  way  of  Boundbrook,  to  see  if  Mr. 
Ramsamen  would  not  lower  his  price,  and  found  that  two 
hundred  and  fifty  pounds  sterling  was  the  lowest  he  would 
take  for  overseeing  and  instructing  one  or  more;  I  left  him. 
and  came  to  New-York,  where  I  treated  with  Mr.  Otto 
Parasien  and  Mr.  Myer  Myers,  with  both  of  whom  I  had 
had  some  conversation  before  I  left  New-York,  and  find 
Mr.  Parasien  will  come  and  oversee  the  works  at  one 
hundred  and  fifty  pounds,  York  currency,  per  annum,  and 
Mr.  Myers  for  two  hundred  pounds,  York  currency,  per 
annum,  and  their  charges  paid  up  here.  I  also  find  that 
white  sand  and  clay,  for  the  bottom  of  the  furnace,  may 
be  had  at  Amboy,  in  the  Jerseys.  The  characters  of  the 
two  last  mentioned  gentlemen  are,  that  they  are  honest 
and  skilful  in  their  profession  of  gold  and  silversmiths,  but 
Mr.  Myers  has  much  the  preference  in  regard  to  refining 


100 


1587 


CONNECTICUT  ASSEMBLY,  JULY,  1775. 


1588 


metals,  and  by  some  gentlemen  is  much  preferred  even  to 
Mr.  Stout,  the  refiner  employed  by  Colonel  James. 

1  made  all  the  inquiry  I  could  with  regard  to  setting  up 
the  works,  and  fitting  for  operations,  and  believe  the  cost 
to  begin  will  not  much  exceed  two  hundred  and  fifty 
Pounds ;  and  1  am  encouraged  to  believe,  that  lead  may 
then  soon  be  produced  to  answer  all  such  cost  as  will  be 
necessarily  expended  in  carrying  on  the  same ;  and  the 
cost,  after  the  works  are  thus  erected,  though  it  cannot  be 
certainly  ascertained,  cannot  be  very  great.  I  conversed 
with  Doctor  John  Sebastian  Stcphaney,  one  of  the  pro- 
prietors of  the  lead  mines  in  Middletown,  who  is  willing 
the  Colony  should  take  his  part  upon  the  terms  proposed 
by  them.  I  could  not  see  Mr.  Simpson,  as  he  was  out  of 
Town;  but  Mr.  Myers  conversed  with  him  while  I  was 
gone  to  Philadelphia,  and  informs  me  Mr.  Simpson  will 
have  no  objection  to  the  Assembly's  proposal.  All  which 
is  humbly  submitted  by,  gentlemen,  your  humble  servant, 

"  Benjamin  Henshaw. 

"  Middletown,  June  30,  1775." 

To  the  Honourable  General  Assembly  of  the  Colony  of 
Connecticut,  now  sitting  in  Hartford,  by  special 
order  of  his  Honour  the  Governour : 

Your  Honours'  Committee  appointed  in  your  sessions,  in 
May  last,  to  procure  lead  for  the  use  of  this  Colony,  and 
to  take  or  purchase  the  ore  of  lead  from  the  lead  mine  in 
Middletown,  and  separate  the  lead  therefrom,  and  erect 
buildings  and  works  for  that  purpose,  having  taken  some 
measures  and  gained  some  information,  beg  leave  to  report 
the  same  to  your  Honours,  as  follows,  to  wit : 

Your  Committee,  immediately  after  the  rising  of  said 
Assembly,  in  May  last,  employed  Mr.  Benjamin  Henshaw 
to  go  to  New-York  with  one  Hudson,  an  ingenious  mason, 
and  examine  Colonel  James's  Refinery  there,  and  procure 
draughts  of  the  necessary  works,  and  procure  a  skilful  re- 
finer, and  gain  information  of  every  thing  necessary  to  set 
up  a  refinery  and  carry  it  on  to  the  best  advantage;  and  if 
no  refiner  could  be  had  there,  to  inquire  where  one  might 
be  found,  and  procure  and  treat  with  and  engage  him  in 
the  service  of  the  Colony,  if  practicable  ;  who  accordingly 
proceeded,  and  said  Hudson  soon  after  returned  and  in- 
formed us,  that  he  had  viewed  said  refinery,  taken  draughts 
of  all  parts  of  the  works,  and  that  he  supposed  he  could 
erect  the  works  without  difficulty,  and  with  exactness.  Mr. 
Henshaw  not  being  able  to  procure  a  refiner  at  New-  York, 
proceeded  into  New-Jersey,  and  to  Philadelphia,  and  is 
since  returned,  and  hath  given  us  an  account,  in  writing, 
of  his  transactions,  which  we  herewith  submit  to  your  Hon- 
ours, and  beg  leave  to  refer  to.  As  Mr.  Henshaw  is  but 
just  returned,  your  Committee  have  not  proceeded  to  any 
further  steps,  but  are  informed,  that  besides  the  expenses 
mentioned  in  Mr.  Henshaw's  report,  when  works  are 
erected,  a  supply  of  charcoal  will  be  constantly  neces- 
sary to  keep  the  furnace  in  blast,  and  nine  or  ten  work- 
men will  be  necessary  to  be  kept  in  constant  employment 
in  digging  and  raising  ore,  besides  necessary  workmen  to 
assist  the  refiners  at  the  furnace ;  all  which  workmen  will 
expect  to  be  frequently  paid,  as  they  must  depend  on  their 
labour  for  present  subsistence.  Your  Honours  will  readily 
perceive  that  considerable  expense  will  be  incurred  before 
any  large  quantity  of  lead  can  be  obtained,  the  amount  of 
which  cannot  be  precisely  ascertained  ;  and  whether  the 
lead  that  may  be  obtained  will  not  in  event  come  to  the 
Colony  at  a  dearer  rate  than  lead  has  usually  been  afford- 
ed, is  very  uncertain.  Under  these  circumstances,  your 
Committee  think  it  their  duty  to  lay  the  same  before  your 
Honours,  and  pray  your  advice  and  direction  whether  they 
shall  proceed  to  erect  works  and  employ  workmen,  and 
make  experiment  how  lead  can  be  procured  in  this  way. 
In  case  your  Honours  shall  think  it  best  that  we  proceed, 
we  would  inform  your  Honours  there  is  now  a  refiner  at 
Middletown  ready  to  undertake  the  oversight  of  a  furnace, 
and  that  Doctor  Stcphaney,  who  is  owner  of  part  or  the 
whole  of  said  mines  and  ore,  already  is  waiting  to  treat 
with  us  for  the  sale  of  the  same.  All  which  is  humbly 
submitted  by  your  Honours'  most  obedient  humble  ser- 

vants«  Jabez  Hamlin,  ^ 

Matthew  Talcott,  >  Committee. 
Titus  Hosmek,  j 


In  the  Lower  House,  upon  the  aforesaid  Report, 
Resolved,  That  the  Committee  be  directed  to  proceed 
in  said  business,  agreeable  to  said  Act  of  Assembly,  and 
that  they  receive  of  the  Colony  Treasury  money  sufficient 
for  that  purpose,  and  account  to  render  therefor. 

Test:  Richard  Law,  Clerk. 

In  the  Upper  House,  the  consideration  of  this  Report  is 
referred  to  the  next  General  Assembly,  and  one  or  more 
of  said  Committee,  together  with  Daniel  Sherman  and 
Saml.  Canfield,  Esqs.,  are  hereby  directed  to  examine  into 
the  circumstances  and  state  of  the  Lead  Mines  in  Wood- 
bury, and  the  buildings  and  preparations  there  erected  and 
made  for  smelting  and  refining  the  ore,  and  consider  at 
which  of  said  mines,  whether  of  Middletown  or  Woodbury, 
it  may  be  most  advisable  and  least  expensive  for  the  Co- 
lony to  attempt  the  raising  and  refining  lead  ore,  and  make 
report,  he. 

Test:  George  Wyllvs,  Secretary. 

In  the  Lower  House,  the  question  was  put,  whether  this 
House  would  concur  with  the  honourable  Upper  House  in 
said  vote ;  and  resolved  in  the  negative. 

Test:  Richard  Law,  Clerk. 

In  the  Upper  House,  on  reconsideration,  &c,  concurred 
with  the  vote  of  the  Lower  House  on  this  Report. 

Test :  George  Wyllys,  Secretary. 

Resolved  by  this  Assembly,  That  Jabez  Hamlin,  Mat- 
thew Talcott,  and  Titus  Hosmer,  Esquires,  the  Committee 
appointed  by  this  Assembly  in  May  last  to  work  the  Lead 
Mine  in  Middletown,  and  refine  the  ore  for  the  use  of  this 
Colony,  be  and  they  are  hereby  ordered  and  directed  to 
proceed  in  the  business  and  matters  as  directed  by  said 
Act.  And  to  enable  them  to  carry  the  same  into  execution, 
that  they  receive  out  of  the  Colony  Treasury  such  sum 
or  sums  of  money  as  may  be  sufficient  to  enable  them  to 
carry  the  same  into  effect,  and  thereof  to  render  their 
account  to  this  Assembly;  and  the  Committee  of  the  Pay- 
Table  are  hereby  directed  to  draw  on  the  Treasurer  for 
such  sums  as  said  Committee  for  managing  said  mine  shall 
find  necessary  ibr  the  purpose  aforesaid. 

Passed  in  Lower  House. 

Test:  Richard  Law,  Clerk. 

Concurred  in  in  the  Upper  House. 

Test :  George  Wyllys,  Secretary. 

Your  Honours'  Committee  appointed  to  take  into  con- 
sideration the  affairs  of  the  Indians  in  this  and  the  neigh- 
bouring Governments,  beg  leave  to  report : 

That  an  accusation  being  made  against  Joseph  Johnson, 
one  of  the  Mohegan  Indians,  respecting  some  of  his  con- 
duct, which  gave  suspicion  that  he  is  unfriendly  to  Ameri- 
can liberty,  upon  which  we  carefully  examined  into  the 
grounds  of  that  accusation,  and  apprehend,  that  his  conduct 
upon  the  representation  made,  gave  reason  to  suspect  an  un- 
due correspondence  with  some  of  the  supposed  enemies  to 
American  liberty.  But  upon  hearing  his  defence,  the  Com- 
mittee apprehend,  that  the  instances  in  which  his  conduct 
was  objected  to,  may  be  so  far  imputed  to  fear,  as  leaves 
no  just  reason  to  conclude  that  he  then  had  any  ill  inten- 
tions, or  that  he  is  now  unfriendly  to  the  cause  of  Ameri- 
can liberty.  In  regard  to  the  speech  of  the  Oneida  In- 
dians, the  Committee  are  of  the  opinion,  it  is  expedient 
that  his  Honour  the  Governour  be  desired  to  make  a  kind 
and  friendly  answer  thereto,  and  that  a  belt  of  wampum  be 
procured  and  sent  to  them  with  the  Governour's  answer; 
and  that  the  expense  of  such  belt,  with  the  cost  of  trans- 
mitting the  same,  be  paid  out  of  the  publick  Treasury  of 
this  Colony  ;  and  that  the  Indians  be  advised  that  the  way 
is  open  to  them  to  enlist  into  the  service  of  this  Colony, 
for  the  defence  of  the  same,  upon  such  encouragement  and 
wages  as  are  allowed  to  the  other  inhabitants  of  this  Co- 
lony, till  the  levies  are  full ;  and  that  his  Honour  the  Go- 
vernour be  desired  to  direct  Colonel  Hinman  to  assure 
the  Indians  of  the  peaceable  disposition  of  this  Colony 
towards  them  ;  and  that  a  proper  speech  be  prepared  and 
sent  to  the  Caughnawaga  Indians. 

Signed  per  order:  Matthew  Griswold. 

General  Assembly,  Hartford,  July,  1775. 


1589 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  kc,  JULY,  1775. 


1590 


In  the  Lower  House  the  within  Report  is  accepted  and 
approved. 

Test :  Richard  Law,  Clerk. 

Concurred  in  in  the  Upper  House: 

Test:  George  Wyllys,  Secretary. 

Resolved  by  this  Assembly,  That  his  Honour  the  Go- 
vernour  be  and  he  is  hereby  desired  to  make  a  kind  and 
friendly  Answer  to  the  Speech  sent  by  the  Oneida  In- 
dians; and  that  a  Belt  of  Wampum  be  procured  and  sent 


to  them  ;  and  that  the  sum  of  twelve  Pounds,  for  the 
expense  and  cost  of  transmitting  the  same,  be  paid  out  of 
the  publick  Treasury  of  this  Colony;  and  that  his  Honour 
the  Governour  be  also  desired  to  direct  Colonel  Hinman 
to  assure  the  Indians  of  the  peaceable  disposition  of  the 
people  of  this  Colony  towards  them. 

Passed  in  the  Upper  House : 

Test:  George  Wyllys,  Secretary. 

Concurred  in  in  the  Lower  House: 

Test :  Richard  Law,  Clerk. 


JOSEPH  HAWLEY  TO  GENERAL  WASHINGTON. 

Watertown,  July  5,  1775. 

Sir  :  You  were  pleased  the  other  day  to  mention  to 
Colonel  Warren  and  me,  as  your  opinion,  that  it  was  high- 
ly probable  Gage's  Troops  would  very  shortly  attack  our 
Army  in  some  part  or  other.  I  believe  your  opinion  is  not 
ill-founded  ;  and  I  am  sure  your  Excellency  will  be  pleased 
with  every  intimation  that  may,  in  any  degree,  aid  you  in 
the  choice  of  measures  tending  to  success  and  victory. 
Therefore,  that  I  may  not  be  tedious,  I  ask  your  pardon 
when  I  suggest,  that  although  in  the  Massachusetts  part  of 
the  Army  there  are  divers  brave  and  intrepid  officers,  yet 
there  are  too  many,  and  even  several  Colonels,  whose  char- 
acters, to  say  the  least,  are  very  equivocal  with  respect  to 
courage.  There  is  much  more  cause  to  fear  that  the  officers 
will  fail  in  a  day  of  trial,  than  the  privates.  I  may  venture 
to  say,  that  if  the  officers  will  do  their  duty,  there  is  no  fear 
of  the  soldiery.  I  therefore  most  humbly  propose  to  your 
consideration  the  propriety  and  advantage  of  your  making 
immediately  a  most  solemn  and  peremptory  declaration  to 
all  the  officers  of  the  Army,  in  general  orders,  or  other- 
wise, as  your  wisdom  shall  direct,  assuring  them  that  every 
officer  who,  in  the  day  of  battle,  shall  fully  do  his  duty, 
shall  not  fail  of  your  kindest  notices  and  highest  marks  of 
your  favour;  but,  on  the  other  hand,  that  every  officer 
who,  on  such  a  day,  shall  act  the  poltron,  dishonour  his 
General,  and  by  failing  of  his  duty,  betray  his  Country, 
shall  infallibly  meet  his  deserts,  whatever  his  rank,  connex- 
ions, or  interest  may  be ;  and  that  no  intercessions  on  his 
behalf  will  be  likely  to  be  of  any  avail  for  his  pardon. 

I  know  that  your  Excellency  is  able  to  form  a  declara- 
tion of  the  kind,  conceived  in  such  a  style,  and  replete  with 
such  determined  sentiments  and  spirit,  as  cannot  fail  of  be- 
getting a  full  belief  and  persuasion  in  the  hearts  of  such  to 
whom  it  shall  be  addressed,  that  the  same  will  be  infallibly 
executed.  I  am  almost  certain  the  measure  will  have  the 
happiest  tendency.  Sed  sapitnti  verbum  sat  est.  Pray 
pardon  my  prolixity;  I  never  was  happy  enough  to  be 
concise. 

I  am,  with  the  greatest  respect  and  deference,  your  Ex- 
cellency's most  obedient  humble  servant, 

#  Joseph  Hawley. 

To  General  Washington. 

dukes  county  (Massachusetts)  committee. 

July  5,  1775. 

The  Committee  for  the  County  of  Dukes  County,  ap- 
pointed by  the  late  Provincial  Congress,  on  the  12th  of 
April  last,  beg  leave  to  report,  that  said  Committee,  ac- 
cording to  the  first  order  of  the  Congress,  met  the  first 
Wednesday  of  May  last;  but  not  having  then  had  an  op- 
portunity to  receive  a  state  of  the  conduct  of  the  several 
Towns,  made  no  report ;  and  as  the  order  of  the  Congress 
for  postponing  the  first  meeting  of  the  Committees  of  the 
several  Counties  in  this  Colony  to  the  fourth  Wednesday 
of  May,  was  not  received  by  him  to  whom  it  was  directed, 
till  the  evening  immediately  preceding  said  fourth  Wednes- 
day, the  Committee  for  said  County  did  not  meet.  But 
being  now  on  this  first  Wednesday  of  July,  1775,  met,  ac- 
cording to  the  order  of  the  Congress,  we  have  received  no 
state  of  the  conduct,  either  of  the  Towns  of  Edgarton  or 
Chdmark,  the  former  of  which  Towns  having,  as  we  per- 
ceive, no  Committee  of  Correspondence.  But  as  to  the 
only  other  Town  in  this  County,  viz :  Tisbury,  the  Com- 
mittee of  Correspondence  of  that  Town  have  reported,  that 
said  Town  was  endeavouring  that  their  outstanding  Pro- 
vincial rates  be  speedily  paid,  according  to  the  direction  of 


the  Congress ;  but  they  were  under  great  difficulty  with 
respect  to  raising  money  for  that  purpose,  as  they  have 
great  occasion  for  money  to  procure  a  necessary  supply  of 
bread  corn ;  and  money  was  very  scarce  amongst  them, 
through  the  failing  of  their  whale  voyages  last  year,  and 
through  their  having  no  market  for  the  oil  they  have  since 
obtained  ;  but  since  the  date  of  the  above  Report,  we 
have  had  certain  information,  that  the  said  Town  of  Tis- 
bury have  sent  a  considerable  part  of  their  Province  dues 
to  the  Receiver  appointed  by  the  Congress.  And  the 
said  Committee  of  Correspondence  for  Tisbury  do  also  re- 
port, that  their  Town  is  nearly,  though  not  fully,  according 
to  law,  furnished  with  arms  and  ammunition,  and  are  en- 
deavouring in  this  and  all  other  respects  to  conform  to  the 
recommendations  of  the  Continental  and  Provincial  Con- 
gresses. 

And  with  respect  to  the  two  Towns  first  mentioned,  of 
whose  conduct  we  have  had  no  information,  in  the  way 
pointed  out  by  the  Congress,  we  beg  leave  to  report  in 
brief,  from  information  which  we  have  otherwise  had,  that 
with  regard  to  paying  their  outstanding  Provincial  taxes, 
and  their  furnishing  themselves  with  arms  and  ammunition, 
they  are  endeavouring  to  conform,  as  soon  as  possible,  to 
the  recommendation  of  the  Congress,  and  in  other  respects 
do  conduct  themselves  agreeably  thereto. 

In  the  name  and  by  order  of  the  Committee: 

Joseph  Mayhew,  Chairman. 


ADDRESS  OF  THE   QUAKERS  OF  PENNSYLVANIA  AND  NEW- 
JERSEY. 

To  our  Friends  and  Brethren  of  the  several  Meetings  in 
Pennsylvania  and  New-Jersey: 
Dear  Friends  :  The  afflictions  and  distresses  attend- 
ing the  inhabitants  of  the  Massachusetts  and  other  parts  of 
New-England,  have  often  engaged  our  pity  and  commise- 
ration, with  a  desire  to  be  instrumental  for  their  relief,  as 
favourable  opportunities  should  offer.  And  having  received 
more  particular  information,  since  the  yearly  meeting  held 
last  month  at  Rhode-Island,  than  we  had  before,  of  the 
situation  of  our  brethren  and  others  in  those  parts,  since 
which  the  desolations  of  war  have  greatly  increased,  we 
are  incited  by  a  spirit  of  sympathy  and  Christian  tenderness 
to  recommend  to  your  serious  and  benevolent  consideration 
the  sorrowful  calamities  now  prevailing  among  these  peo- 
ple, earnestly  desiring  that  we  may  encourage  each  other 
freely  to  contribute  to  the  relief  of  the  necessitous  of  every 
religious  denomination ;  to  promote  which  we  have  agreed 
upon,  and  herewith  send  you  printed  subscription  papers, 
requesting  that  some  suitable  active  Friends  may  be  ap- 
pointed in  each  of  your  monthly  and  preparative  meetings, 
to  apply  for  the  donations  of  Friends  for  this  charitable 
purpose,  and  that  the  money  subscribed  may  be  collected, 
and  with  all  convenient  speed  paid  into  the  hands  of  John 
Reynell,  of  Philadelphia,  or  Samuel  Smith,  of  Burlington, 
Treasurers  of  our  Yearly  Meeting. 

The  Yearly  Meeting  at  Rhode-Island,  before  mentioned, 
have  appointed  a  Committee  of  twenty-six  Friends,  from 
the  several  quarterly  meetings  in  New-England,  who  are 
to  meet  together  at  least  once  a  month,  in  order  to  assist 
each  other  in  inspecting  and  considering  the  state  of  those 
who  are  distressed,  and  they  appear  to  us  the  most  suitable 
persons  to  receive  our  contributions  for  their  relief.  With 
this  Committee  we  propose  to  keep  up  a  correspondence, 
and  to  unite  our  endeavours  with  theirs,  that  the  benefac- 
tions raised  may  be  distributed  in  the  most  seasonable  and 
effectual  manner,  for  the  benefit  of  those  who  are  or  may 


1591 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JULY,  1775. 


159  2 


he  reduced  to  necessitous  circumstances  in  this  time  of  pub- 
lick  calamity.  We  therefore  desire  that  Friends  may  be 
liberal,  according  to  their  circumstances,  and  speedy  in  their 
contributions;  and  are  your  loving  friends. 

Signed  in  and  on  behalf  of  our  meeting  for  sufferings, 
held  in  Philadelphia,  for  Pennsylvania  and  New-Jersey, 
the  sixth  day  of  the  seventh  month,  1775. 

John  Pemberton,  Clerk. 

NEW-YORK  DELEGATES  TO  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

Philadelphia,  July  6,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  We  have  the  honour  of  your  favour  of  the 
twenty-ninth  June,  accompanying  your  plan  and  proceed- 
ings respecting  an  accommodation  with  the  Parent  State. 
Nothing  could  be  more  interesting  or  acceptable  to  us,  than 
a  communication  of  the  sentiments  and  wishes  of  our  worthy 
constituents  on  this  most  important  subject;  and  while  we 
applaud  the  wisdom  of  your  decisions,  we  beg  you  to  be 
assured  that  they  shall  command  our  most  earnest  and 
respectful  attention. 

Deeply  sensible  of  the  calamities  of  a  civil  war,  we  have 
nothing  more  at  heart  than  to  be  instrumental  in  compro- 
mising this  unnatural  quarrel  between  the  two  Countries, 
on  the  solid  basis  of  mutual  justice  and  constitutional  li- 
berty ;  and  the  most  strenuous  efforts,  on  our  part,  shall  be 
exerted  with  unremitting  ardour,  to  accomplish  this  salu- 
tary purpose. 

We  acknowledge,  with  the  utmost  gratitude,  the  defe- 
rence you  are  pleased  to  pay  to  our  judgment,  and  your 
delicacy  in  leaving  us  unrestrained,  in  a  point  of  all  others 
the  most  essential  to  yourselves  and  your  posterity,  to  the 
Continent  of  America,  and  the  whole  British  Empire  ;  and 
happy  shall  we  esteem  ourselves  if,  in  the  discharge  of  this 
difficult  and  arduous  trust,  we  shall  merit  your  approbation 
and  the  confidence  of  our  Country. 

We  have  the  honour  to  be,  with  the  greatest  respect, 
gentlemen,  your  most  obedient  humble  servants, 

Henry  Wisner,     Philip  Livingston, 
Wm.  Floyd,         James  Duane, 
John  Jay,  Rob't  R.  Livingston. 

John  Alsop, 
Provincial  Congress  of  New-York. 

P.  S.  We  have  unanimously  agreed  to  be  silent  on  that 
article  in  the  Plan  of  Accommodation  which  asserts,  "  That 
no  earthly  legislature  or  tribunal  ought,  or  can  of  right 
interfere  or  interpose,  in  any  ivise  howsoever,  in  the  reli- 
gious and  ecclesiastical  concerns  of  the  Colonies."  As  the 
inhabitants  of  the  Continent  are  happily  united  in  a  political 
creed,  we  are  of  opinion  that  it  would  be  highly  imprudent 
to  run  the  risk  of  dividing  them  by  the  introduction  of  dis- 
putes foreign  to  the  present  controversy,  especially  as  the 
discussion  of  them  can  be  attended  with  no  one  single  ad- 
vantage. They  are  points  about  which  mankind  will  for- 
ever differ,  and  therefore  should  always,  and  at  least  in 
times  like  these,  be  kept  out  of  sight.  We  are  the  more 
confirmed  in  these  sentiments  by  this  circumstance,  that 
both  this  and  the  former  Congress  have  cautiously  avoided 
the  least  hint  on  subjects  of  this  kind,  ail  the  members  con- 
curring in  a  desire  of  burying  all  disputes  on  ecclesiastical 
points,  which  have  for  ages  had  no  other  tendency  than 
that  of  banishing  peace  and  charity  from  the  world. 

Lewis  Morris,    Philip  Livingston, 
James  Duane,     Rob't  R.  Livingston,  Jr., 
John  Ar.sop,       John  Jay, 
Francis  Lewis,  William  Floyd. 
Henry  Wisner, 
N.  B.  The  other  Delegates  are  absent. 


elizabethtown  (new-jersey)  committee  to  committee 
of  new-york. 

Committee  Chamber,  Elizabethtown,  July  6,  1775. 
Sir:  We  have  just  received  information  that  one  Wil- 
liam McLcod,  son  of  Captain  McLeod  of  this  place,  lately 
appointed  an  Ensign  in  the  Fifty-Second  Regiment  at  Bos- 
ton, left  this  Town  early  this  morning  and  went  to  New- 
York,  in  order  to  take  passage  from  thence  to  join  bis 
Regiment.  We  have  thought  fit  to  give  you  this  intelli- 
gence that  you  may  do  what  you  think  proper  on  the 


occasion.  As  soon  as  we  got  notice  of  his  departure  for 
such  a  purpose,  his  baggage  was  detained.  By  order  of  the 
Committee:  Jona.  Hampton,  Chairman. 

To  the  General  Committee  of  New-  York. 

New.Yo:k,  July  G,  177."). 

The  following  gentlemen,  appointed  Captains  by  the 
Provincial  Congress  for  the  enlistment  of  volunteers  to  enter 
into  the  service  for  the  defence  of  the  liberties  of  America, 
in  the  first  battalion,  to  be  raised  for  the  City  of  New-  York, 
under  the  command  of  Colonels  McDougall  and  Rilzemu, 
have  thought  proper  to  make  publick  the  following  places 
of  rendezvous,  and  the  encouragement  to  volunteers. 

Captain  John  Weisscnvelt  and  Captain  Gershom  Mott, 
at  Mr.  Foster  Lewis's,  innholder,  near  Beekman's  Slip; 
Captain  Willet,  at  Mr.  Abraham  Van  Dyck's,  innholder, 
in  the  Broadway ;  Captain  Jacob  Checsman,  at  Mr.  John 
Rutter's,  in  Cherry-street;  Captain  Samu-el  Broome,  at  Mr. 
Foster  Lewis's;  Captain  John  Quackenbos,  at  Mr.  Abra- 
ham Van  Dyck's,  Mr.  Edward  Bardin's,  Chapel-street, 
innholder,  and  Mr.  Foster  Lewis's;  Captain  John  John- 
son, at  Mr.  Edivard  Bardin's;  Captain  William  Goforth, 
at  Mr.  Abraham  Van  Dyck's;  Captain-Lieutenant  John 
Copp,  acting  in  the  absence  of  Captain  Richard  Varick, 
private  Secretary  to  General  Schuyler,  at  Captain  Josiah 
Banks's,  in  Little  Dock-street,  near  the  Ecchange,  and  at 
Mr.  Wm.  Mariner's,  in  Horse  and  Cart-street,  innholders  ; 
Captain  Van  Wyck,  at  Mr.  Abraham  Van  Dyck's. 

Volunteers,  from  the  time  of  their  enlistment,  to  enter 
into  immediate  pay,  at  one  shilling  and  eleven  pence  per 
day ;  and  also  to  receive  one  dollar  per  week  until  they 
are  encamped,  in  order  to  enable  them  to  support  them- 
selves in  the  intermediate  time.  And  they  are  likewise  to 
be  provided  with  a  suit  of  regimental  clothes,  a  fire-lock, 
ammunition,  accoutrements,  and  every  other  article  neces- 
sary for  the  equipment  of  American  soldiers. 

God  save  the  Congresses. 


EDWARD  MOTT  TO  GO VERNOUR  TRUMBULL. 

Albany,  July  6,  1775. 

Honoured  Sir:  I  arrived  here  last  night,  ten  o'clock, 
from  Ticonderoga ;  am  sent  express  by  Colonel  Hinman 
to  acquaint  the  Committee  at  this  place,  and  also  the  Pro- 
vincial Congress  at  New-York,  with  the  condition  of  the 
troops  and  garrisons  at  Ticonderoga,  Crown  Point,  and 
Fort  George;  expect  to  set  out  from  hence  for  New-York 
to-morrow  ;  have  not  as  yet  waited  on  the  Committee  here, 
but  write  these  lines  by  Captain  Stevens,  who  will  not  tarry, 
but  sets  out  for  home  this  morning.  When  I  arrived  at 
Ticonderoga,  Colonel  Hinman  had  no  command  there,  as 
Colonel  Arnold  refused  to  let  him  command  either  of  the 
garrisons,  but  had  given  the  command  of  Ticonderoga  to 
Captain  Herrick,  from  whom  Colonel  Hinman's  men  were 
obliged  to  take  their  orders,  or  were  not  suffered  to 
pass  to  and  from  the  garrison.  The  same  day  a  Commit- 
tee of  three  gentlemen  from  the  Massachusetts,  viz:  Mr. 
Spooner,  Colonel  Foster,  and  Colonel  Sullivan,  returned 
to  Ticonderoga  from  Crown  Point,  and  informed  us  that 
they  had  been  to  Colonel  Arnold,  with  orders  from  the 
Congress  requiring  him  to  resign  the  command  to  Colonel 
Hinman,  and  that  he,  with  his  regiment,  should  come  under 
the  command  of  said  Hinman;  which  said  Arnold  posi- 
tively refused  ;  on  which  said  Committee  discharged  Col- 
onel Arnold  from  their  service,  and  desired  the  privilege  to 
speak  with  the  people  who  had  engaged  under  Arnold,  but 
were  refused.  They  further  informed  that  Colonel  Arnold 
and  some  of  his  people  were  gone  on  board  the  vessels; 
that  they  understood  they  threatened  to  go  to  St.  John's 
and  deliver  the  vessels  to  the  Regulars,  and  that  Arnold 
had  disbanded  all  his  troops  but  those  that  were  on  board 
said  vessels;  that  they  were  treated  very  ill  and  threatened, 
and  after  they  came  away  in  a  batteau,  they  were  fired 
upon  with  swivel-guns  and  small-arms  by  Arnold's  people ; 
and  that  Colonel  Arnold  and  his  men  had  got  both  the 
vessels  and  were  drawn  off  into  the  lake.  On  which  I  de- 
sired Colonel  Hinman  to  let  me,  with  Lieutenant  Halscy 
and  Mr.  Duer,  (who  was  Judge  of  the  Court  for  the  County 
of  Charlotte,  in  this  Colony,)  with  some  men  to  row,  have 
a  batteau  and  proceed  up  the  lake,  and  go  on  board  the 
vessels.    We  obtained  liberty,  and  Colonel  Sidlivan  con- 


1593 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  he,  JULY,  1775. 


1594 


sented  to  go  with  us.  We  got  on  board  the  vessels  about 
eleven  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  lie  confined  three  of  us 
on  board  each  vessel ;  men  sat  over  us  with  fixed  bayonets  ; 
and  so  kept  us  till  sometime  in  the  evening,  when  we  were 
dismissed  and  suffered  to  return.  We  reasoned  with  the 
people  on  board  the  vessels  all  the  while  we  were  there, 
and  convinced  some  of  them  of  their  errour,  who  declared 
they  had  been  deceived  by  Colonel  Arnold.  After  we  re- 
turned to  the  fort,  called  up  Colonel  Hinman,  who  ordered 
Lieutenant  Hahey,  with  twenty-rive  men,  to  return  again 
to  the  vessels  and  get  what  people  he  could  on  board  to 
join  him,  and  bring  one  or  both  vessels  to  the  fort,  which 
was  all  settled  the  next  day.  Colonel  Sullivan  was  much 
insulted  while  we  were  on  board  the  vessels,  chiefly  by  Mr. 
Brown,  one  of  Colonel  Arnold's  Captains.  Captain  Ste- 
vens, who  is  wailing  while  I  write  these  lines,  will  not  wait 
longer,  or  you  should  hear  more  particulars.  1  expect  you 
will  have  a  full  account  from  the  gentlemen  Committee 
after  they  have  laid  it  before  their  Congress.  Captain  Eli- 
jah Babcock  can  give  a  full  account  of  those  matters;  he 
tells  me  he  shall  be  at  Hartford  in  a  few  days.  Shall  give 
further  accounts  from  Neiv-York. 

I  am,  Sir,  at  command,  your  Honour's  most  obedient  and 
humble  servant,  Edward  Mott. 

To  the  Hon.  Jonathan  Trumbull,  Esq.,  Governour. 


ETHAN"  ALLEN  TO  GOVERNOUR  TRUMBULL. 

July  6,  1775. 

Honoured  Sir:  Your  letter  of  the  eighth  ultimo  gave 
me  to  understand  that  my  painful  services,  in  behalf  of  my 
Country,  were  noticed  by  your  Honour  ;  my  letters  having 
received  your  patronage,  were  received  by  the  honourable 
Continental  Congress  with  that  additional  lustre  they  needed. 

The  notice  your  Honour,  as  well  as  Grand  Continental 
Congress,  I  may  add  the  Provincial  Congress  of  New-  York, 
bath  taken  of  my  zeal  in  the  common  cause,  hath  more  con- 
firmedly  and  authoritatively  determined  me  to  hazard  my 
life  in  the  same,  and  exert  the  small  abilities  with  which  I 
am  endowed,  to  the  utmost,  as  I  have  received  assurances 
from  both  Congresses  of  shortly  being  admitted  to  an  ho- 
nourable preferment  in  the  Army.  I  am  now  on  my  pas- 
sage between  New-  York  and  Albany  from  those  Congresses, 
in  company  with  Mr.  Seth  Warner,  my  companion,  with 
directions  to  form  a  battalion  of  seven  companies  of  Green 
Mountain  Boys;  they  are  expert  in  the  use  of  fire-arms. 

As  to  our  past  services,  it  is  recommended  by  the  Grand 
Continental  Congress  that  the  Government  of  New-  York 
pay  the  same  as  to  gratuities,  mentioned  in  your  Honour's 
letter;  a  little  of  that  from  Connecticut  would  be  thank- 
fully received,  as  we  served  equally  in  the  night  as  in  the 
day,  in  making  a  conquest  of  Lake  Champlain;  for  which 
extreme  service  we  are  to  be  paid  the  same  as  the  honour- 
able General  Assembly  of  Connecticut  have  established 
relative  to  their  soldiery,  and  that  none  of  our  officers  in 
that  service  be  considered  in  a  higher  rank  than  Captain. 

Your  Honour's  inviolable  attachment,  and  unshaken  and 
religious  perseverance  in  support  of  the  liberties  of  Ame- 
rica, manifested  from  the  era  of  the  detestable  Stamp  Act, 
hath  not  only  entitled,  but  gained  you  the  love  and  esteem 
of  every  friend  to  this  Country,  of  whatever  rank  or  de- 
nomination. 

That  your  Honour  may  long  live  and  sway  that  respect- 
able Coiony  in  the  way  of  virtue  and  liberty,  and  after  this 
transitory  life  receive  the  unspeakable  reward  of  social 
virtue,  is  the  sincere  desire  of  him  who  is,  with  the  greatest 
respect,  your  Honour's  devoted,  most  obedient  and  humble 
servant,  Ethan  Allen. 

To  the  Honourable  Jonathan  Trumbull,  Esq.,  Governour 

of  the  Colony  of  Connecticut. 


CAPTAIN  ANGUS  McDONALD  TO  COLONEL  ALEXANDER 
McDOUGALL. 

Fairfcld  Jail,  July  6,  1775. 

Sir  :  I  wrote  you  a  few  days  ago  concerning  my  close 
confinement,  which  I  think  very  hard  and  contrary  to  pro- 
mise, as  I  expected  to  be  treated  more  like  a  gentleman 
than  a  highwayman,  for  it  really  never  was  my  intent  to 
offer  to  make  my  escape  from  my  confinement,  till  such 
times  as  I  should  be  properly  released ;  or  if  I  am  not  re- 


leased, I  must  only  make  my  application  to  be  exchanged. 
But  at  the  same  time  I  hope  Colonel  McDougall  will  be 
good  enough  to  speak  to  the  gentlemen  of  the  Congress  in 
regard  to  my  having  the  liberty  of  the  yard  ;  to  have  the 
air  is  all  I  desire,  and  if  I  break  through  my  liberty  I  will 
suffer  death,  or  such  other  punishment  as  1  shall  deserve. 
This  day  my  wife  is  come  here,  if  she  will  be  permitted  to 
stay  with  me,  as  General  Wooster  told  me  to  send  for  her, 
and  that  1  should  have  the  more  liberty  while  she  staid  with 
me.  And  your  goodness  in  this  point  1  much  depend  on  in 
this  case,  for  1  know  one  word  from  Colonel  McDougall 
will  be  sufficient  for  my  request ;  and  in  so  doing  I  shall 
forever  remain  your  ever  humble  and  obedient  servant, 

Angus  McDonald. 
To  Colonel  Alexander  McDougall. 


GOVERNOUR  TRUMBULL  TO  GENERAL  SCHUYLER. 

Hartford,  July  6,  1775. 

Sir:  I  received  your  favour  of  the  thirtieth  of  June, 
enclosing  a  copy  of  the  resolution  of  the  honourable  Con- 
tinental Congress,  and  immediately  laid  them  before  the 
General  Assembly  of  the  Colony.  They  would  have  been 
happy  to  have  found  themselves  in  a  situation  to  have  com- 
plied fully  with  the  request  you  were  charged  with  to  them  ; 
but  such  is  the  exhausted  state  of  our  Treasury,  in  conse- 
quence of  the  very  vigorous  efforts  they  have  made,  and  are 
daily  making  in  the  common  cause,  that  it  was  impossible 
for  them,  consistent  to  their  previous  engagements,  to  fur- 
nish you  with  more  than  fifteen  thousand  ;  and  even  this 
sum  cannot  be  spared  immediately,  but  shall  be  got  ready 
and  forwarded,  as  you  shall  direct,  with  all  possible  despatch, 
and  I  hope  will  be  at  Mr.  Livingston's  within  ....  days 
at  farthest.  Our  inability,  with  concurrence  acknowledge, 
with  respect  to  the  other  most  important  article  is  still 
greater.  All  that  we  can  do  is  to  deliver  to  Captain  Doug- 
lass forty  half-barrels,  which  he  will  immediately  proceed 
with  agreeable  to  your  order.  Our  Engineer  (Col.  Mott) 
at  Ticonderoga,  has  requested  that  a  commander  for  one 
of  the  armed  vessels  upon  Lake  George,  may  be  sent  up 
from  this  Colony — a  Captain  Nilcs,  with  whom  he  is  ac- 
quainted, and  who  is  probably  well  qualified  for  the  office. 
But  as  you  can  best  judge  of  the  nature  of  this  service, 
and  the  necessity  of  sending  up  this  person,  you  will  give 
me  leave  to  expect  your  directions  upon  this  project,  which 
I  shall  very  readily  conform  to.  I  enclose  you  copy  of  a 
paper  of  intelligence  I  have  received  from  Mr.  Dcanc, 
which  may  perhaps  be  of  some  use  to  you. 

I  am,  fee.  Jonathan  Trumbull. 

N.  B.  Mr.  Deane  requests  that  this  intelligence  may 
not  be  made  publick. 

Evtract  o  f  a  Narrative  and  Remarks  made  by  a  Gentleman 
who  left  Canada  on  the  fourteenth  June  last:  enclosed  in 
Governour  Trumbull's  Letter  to  General  Schuyler, 
dated  July  6,  1775. 

The  Indians  in  Canada  had  heard  of  the  present  un- 
happy disputes  subsisting  between  Great  Britain  and  the 
Colonies,  and  took  the  opportunity  of  my  being  among 
them  to  inquire  into  the  origin  and  reasons  of  the  same. 

I  gladly  improved  all  such  opportunities  to  inform  them 
of  the  ground  of  the  present  controversy,  and  carefully- 
inculcated  upon  them  that  they  themselves  were  nearly 
interested  in  the  event  of  our  present  glorious  struggles  for 
liberty  and  freedom.  The  Indians,  by  what  1  could  then 
learn,  pretty  generally  determined  to  take  no  part  in  the 
quarrel.  Things  remained  in  this  situation  with  regard  to 
the  Indians,  when  the  Provincial  Troops  reduced  the  for- 
tresses of  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point,  and  took  the 
King's  sloop  at  St.  John's.  The  Indians  at  Caughnawaga 
were  then  sent  to,  by  the  Commander-in-Chief  at  Mon- 
treal, and  desired  to  march  a  number  of  their  men  in  com- 
pany of  the  Regular  Troops,  to  oppose  the  Colonists,  who, 
it  was  reported,  were  on  their  way  from  St.  John's  to  be- 
siege Montreal.  The  Indians  refused  to  join  them,  or  in 
any  manner  intermeddle  in  the  affair.  The  chief  warriour 
came  directly  to  inform  me  that  he  had  refused  to  join  the 
Regular  Troops,  and  that  they  had  determined  in  Council, 
that  if  any  of  their  young  warriours  should  take  up  the 
hatchet  against  their  brethren  of  the  Provinces,  they  would 


1595 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JULY,  1775. 


1596 


banish  them  forever.  This  was  the  full  determination  of 
the  Indians  when  his  Excellency  Governour  Carlcton  ar- 
rived at  Montreal.  He  directly  solicited  the  Indians  for 
their  assistance ;  but  on  their  refusal,  declared  that  since 
they  would  not  assist  him,  he  would  dispossess  them,  and 
give  their  lands  to  those  who  would.  The  Sachems  had 
Council  after  Council,  to  determine  what  was  to  be  done 
in  that  critical  juncture  of  affairs.  In  short,  they  were  under 
so  great  apprehensions  of  danger  from  the  Regular  Troops, 
that  once,  in  particular,  they  lay  under  arms  all  night,  set 
out  sentries  in  all  parts  of  their  Town,  and  even  sent  for 
assistance  to  some  of  the  upper  Towns;  but  being  situated 
within  about  nine  miles  of  Montreal,  and  so  immediately 
exposed  to  the  Governour's  resentment,  they  found  them- 
selves reduced  to  the  disagreeable  necessity  either  of  re- 
linquishing every  thing  they  held  dear  in  life,  or  complying 
in  some  measure  with  the  Governour's  demands.  Princi- 
ples of  self-preservation  induced  them  to  prefer  the  latter. 
They  therefore  waited  on  the  Governour,  and  in  two 
speeches,  one  by  the  Sachems  of  the  Castle,  the  other 
delivered  by  the  Chief  Warriour,  promised  to  espouse  the 
ministerial  cause  so  far  as  to  defend  the  Governour,  to  the 
utmost  of  their  power,  should  he  be  besieged  in  Montreal 
by  the  Provincial  Troops.  The  Indians  were  dismissed 
with  presents  of  provision  and  ammunition.  Shortly  after, 
his  Excellency  sent  to  the  Sachems,  desiring  them  to  send 
a  number  of  their  men  to  St.  John's  to  continue  some  time 
with  the  Regulars.  The  Sachems  refused  it.  He  then 
desired  them  to  send  a  small  party,  should  it  be  only  three  ; 
but  they  persisting  in  their  refusal,  he  requested  them  to 
send  a  few,  should  they  only  carry  their  tobacco  pouches ; 
which  request  they  also  absolutely  refused.  Upon  my 
leaving  Canada,  the  Indians  of  Caughnawaga  desired  me 
to  assure  the  commander  at  Crown  Point,  that  if  any  In- 
dians were  known  to  commit  hostilities  upon  the  English 
frontiers,  he  might  determine  they  were  none  of  their  peo- 
ple. When  I  left  Montreal,  the  14th  of  June,  I  met  with  a 
number  of  the  principal  Sachems  belonging  to  St.  Francois, 
some  of  whom  had  their  children  then  at  Dartmouth  Col- 
lege; they  gave  me  all  the  assurances  of  their  friendship  I 
could  desire,  and  informed  me  they  were  going  to  Caugh- 
nawaga to  attend  on  a  Grand  Council,  which  was  then 
summoned  to  meet  from  the  several  adjacent  Towns.  The 
Indians  also  informed  me  that  the  design  of  the  Council 
then  to  meet  was,  that  the  people  of  their  several  Towns 
might  then  jointly  determine  to  act  in  the  approaching  war 
only  on  the  defensive,  and  that  when  they  had  concluded 
on  that,  they  should  send  two  men  from  each  of  their  Towns 
to  the  Seven  United  Nations,  and  use  their  utmost  interest 
with  them  to  do  the  same.  Their  influence  upon  these 
united  Nations  is  considerable,  for  it  is  well  known  that  the 
greater  part  of  them  originally  belonged  to  the  Seven  United 
Nations.  This,  by  the  best  information  I  could  obtain, 
seems  to  be  the  present  disposition  of  the  Indians  in  Ca- 
nada ;  but  how  far  the  force  of  menaces  may  drive,  or 
large  promises  allure  them,  the  event  only  can  manifest. 
But  as  the  fickle  disposition  of  the  Indians  is  so  well  known, 
it  will  doubtless  be  judged  a  prudent  measure  to  provide 
against  the  worst.  Some  time  before  I  left  Canada,  the 
Commissary  at  Montreal  received  orders  to  make  provision 
for  three  hundred  Indians,  who  were  soon  expected  from 
the  remote  tribes ;  and  as  I  left  the  City,  I  observed  a 
number  of  Indians,  (should  judge  about  forty,)  whom  I  sup- 
posed to  be  an  advanced  party  of  the  three  hundred.  It  is 
said  they  are  coming  down  to  a  Congress,  and  conjectured 
by  our  friends  that  the  Governour  designs  to  arm  them 
against  our  frontiers.  As  to  the  state  of  the  Army  and 
Fortresses  at  Canada,  it  is  well  known  that  the  number  of 
regular  troops  is  very  inconsiderable,  the  greatest  part  of 
whom  are  now  drawn  together  at  St.  John's,  who  don't 
make  up  a  body  of  more  than  three  hundred,  or  three  hun- 
dred and  fifty  men.  At  St.  John's,  which  is  a  level  plain, 
they  are  fortifying  to  the  best  advantage  which  the  nature 
of  the  place  and  their  time  will  admit.  Chamblee,  a  fort 
which  the  French  built  a  few  miles  down  the  same  river, 
is  by  account  strong,  both  by  nature  and  art,  and  is  de- 
fended at  present  only  by  a  small  garrison.  The  fortifica- 
tions at  Montreal,  which  were  originally  designed  only  for 
defence  against  small-arms,  are  much  out  of  repair.  The 
citadel,  which  is  situated  on  an  eminence  at  the  north  end 
of  the  City,  though  weak,  seems  to  be  the  place  of  the 


greatest  strength.  As  to  the  fort  up  the  River  St.  Law- 
rence, I  can  speak  only  from  information,  never  having 
travelled  into  those  parts,  but  have  endeavoured  to  avail 
myself  of  their  situation,  present  state,  and  importance,  by 
conversing  with  gentlemen  well  acquainted  in  that  country. 
Am  informed  there  are  four  garrisoned  forts  to  the  west- 
ward of  Montreal,  viz :  Oswego,  Niagara,  Detroit,  and 
Michilimackinack,  two  or  more  of  which  1  understand  are 
stockaded  forts,  and  defended  by  a  small  garrison  for  the 
purpose  of  protecting  the  fur  trade.  Whoever  considers 
the  almost  numberless  and  very  extensive  connexions  of 
the  River  St.  Lawrence,  the  great  facility  with  which  a 
plentiful  supply  of  arms  and  all  kinds  of  military  stores 
may  be  sent  from  Canada  to  almost  the  western  confines 
of  our  Continent,  together  with  the  extensive  fur  trade, 
which  for  several  years  has  been  carried  on  in  that  country 
to  the  great  emolument  of  Britain ;  but  especially  whoever 
considers  the  many  avenues  which  this  river,  with  its  several 
dependants,  affords  into  almost  every  English  Colony  upon 
the  Continent,  can't  but  see  it  to  be  matter  of  very  great 
importance  to  the  Colonies,  immediately  to  make  them- 
selves masters  of  those  remote  forts,  which  command,  as  it 
were,  the  whole  western  world  of  Indians.  By  which  step 
they  would  not  only  secure  to  themselves  and  after  gene- 
rations all  those  advantages  which  are  to  be  derived  from 
their  being  in  possession  of  a  very  fine  extensive  country, 
but  more  effectually  secure  their  frontiers,  than  otherwise 
can  be  done  even  by  many  thousands  of  men. 


REPORT  OF  THE  CROWN  POINT   COMMITTEE   TO  THE  MAS- 
SACHUSETTS CONGRESS. 

Cambridge,  July  6,  1775. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  proceed  to  the  posts  of 
Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point,  &,c,  beg  leave  to  report, 
that  they  proceeded  through  the  new  settlements,  called 
the  New- Hampshire  Grants,  and  carefully  observed  the 
road  through  the  same,  and  find  that  there  is  a  good  road 
from  Williarnstown  to  the  place  where  the  road  crosseth 
the  river  called  Paulet  River,  which  is  about  fifteen  miles 
from  Skenesborough ;  from  thence  to  the  falls  of  Wood 
Creek,  near  Major  Skene's  house,  the  road  is  not  feasible, 
and  unfit  for  carriages,  but  cattle  may  be  drove  that  way 
very  well. 

Your  Committee  having  taken  with  them  the  copies  of 
the  commission  and  instruction  from  the  Committee  of 
Safety  to  Colonel  Benedict  Arnold,  and  informed  them- 
selves as  fully  as  they  were  able  in  what  manner  he  had 
executed  his  said  commission  and  instructions,  and  find  that 
he  was  with  Colonel  Allen  and  others  at  the  time  the  fort 
was  reduced,  but  do  not  find  that  he  had  any  men  under  his 
command  at  the  time  of  the  reduction  of  those  fortresses; 
but  find  that  he  did  afterwards  possess  himself  of  the  sloop 
on  the  lake  at  St.  John's.  We  found  the  said  Arnold 
claiming  the  command  of  said  sloop  and  a  schooner,  which 
is  said  to  be  the  property  of  Major  Skene,  and  also  all  the 
posts  and  fortresses  at  the  south  end  of  Lake  Champlatn 
and  Lake  George,  although  Colonel  Hinman  was  at  Ti- 
conderoga with  near  a  thousand  men  under  his  command 
at  the  several  posts. 

Your  Committee  informed  the  said  Arnold  of  their 
commission,  and,  at  his  request,  gave  him  a  copy  of  their 
instructions  ;  upon  reading  of  which  he  seemed  greatly  dis- 
concerted, and  declared  he  would  not  be  second  in  com- 
mand to  any  person  whomsoever ;  and  after  some  time 
contemplating  upon  the  matter,  resigned  his  post,  and  gave 
your  Committee  his  resignation  under  his  hand,  dated  the 
24th  of  June,  1775,  which  is  herewith  submitted,  and  at 
the  same  time  he  ordered  his  men  to  be  disbanded,  which, 
he  said,  was  between  two  and  three  hundred.  Your  Com- 
mittee not  finding  any  men  regularly  under  said  Arnold, 
by  reason  of  his  so  disbanding  them,  appointed  Colonel 
Easton,  who  was  at  Ticonderoga,  to  take  the  command, 
under  Colonel  Hinman,  who  was  the  principal  command- 
ing officer  at  those  posts  of  the  Connecticut  forces,  and  en- 
deavoured to  give  the  officers  and  men  who  had  served 
under  said  Arnold  an  opportunity  to  re-engage,  of  which 
numbers  enlisted,  and  several  of  the  officers  agreed  to  hold 
their  command  under  the  new  appointment. 

Your  Committee  having  taken  a  critical  survey  of  the 
garrison  and  posts  of  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point, 


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1598 


found  them  in  a  very  defenceless  state ;  and,  consulting 
with  Colonel  Hinman,  were  of  opinion,  upon  the  whole, 
that  it  is  necessary  to  retain  in  the  service  of  this  Colony, 
for  the  present,  the  number  of  four  hundred  men. 

As  the  Committee  were  informed,  from  intelligence  from 
Canada,  that  preparations  were  making,  and  all  endea- 
vours used  to  bring  over  the  Canadians  and  savages  to  be 
inimical  to  these  Colonies,  your  Committee  having  found 
Captain  Noble  at  the  Point,  with  a  number  of  men  who 
had  been  under  said  Arnold,  willing  to  engage  in  the  ser- 
vice, we  paid  to  said  Noble  one  hundred  Pounds,  to  be 
delivered  to  the  men  as  advance  pay,  and  appointed  Mr. 
William  Satterlee,  a  worthy  man,  to  muster  them  and  their 
arms,  and  took  Captain  Noble's  and  Satterlee's  receipt  for 
the  same,  and  their  promise  to  apply  it  for  that  purpose, 
which  is  herewith  submitted. 

Your  Committee  returning  to  Ticonderoga,  and  Colonel 
Easton  being  there,  they  paid  into  his  hands  the  sum  of 
two  hundred  and  eighty  Pounds,  to  be  applied  for  the  pur- 
pose aforesaid,  and  took  his  receipt  and  promise  so  to  do, 
and  appointed  Mr.  Jonas  Fay,  a  respectable  person,  to 
muster  the  men  and  their  arms,  all  except  Captain  No- 
ble's Company.  We  also  paid  into  the  hands  of  one 
Remember  Baker,  said  to  be  a  good  officer,  who  engaged 
a  certain  number  of  men  under  Colonel  Easton,  the  sum 
of  twenty  Pounds,  and  took  his  receipt  and  promise  to  ap- 
ply said  money  as  advance  pay  to  said  men,  which  com- 
pletes the  whole  of  the  money  delivered  to  said  Commit- 
tee for  the  purposes  aforesaid. 

Your  Committee  have  engaged  to  Colonel  Easton  that 
the  remaining  part  of  the  advance  pay  should  be  immedi- 
ately sent  to  him. 

Your  Committee  found  that  as  soon  as  Colonel  Arnold 
had  disbanded  his  men,  some  of  them  became  dissatisfied 
and  mutinous,  and  many  of  them  signified  to  the  Commit- 
tee that  they  had  been  informed  that  they  were  to  be  de- 
frauded out  of  the  pay  for  past  services.  The  Committee, 
in  order  to  quiet  them,  engaged  under  their  hands,  in  be- 
half of  the  Colony  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay,  that  as  soon 
as  the  rolls  should  be  made  up  and  properly  authenticated, 
they  should  be  paid  for  their  past  services,  and  all  those 
who  should  engage  anew  should  have  the  same  bounty  and 
wages  as  is  promised  to  those  men  who  serve  within  said 
Colony. 

Your  Committee  inquired  of  Mr.  Henry  Bleeclcer,  of 
Albany,  how  the  men  at  those  posts  were  supplied  with 
provisions,  who  informed  that  he  acted  under  his  brother, 
who  was  a  Commissioner  of  Supplies  from  New-York; 
that  all  the  men  at  those  stations,  of  whatsoever  Colony, 
were  supplied  by  him  without  distinction,  and  that  he 
should  continue  so  to  do  until  otherwise  directed. 

Your  Committee  appointed  Timothy  Edwards  and  Sam- 
uel Brown,  Esquires,  a  Committee  to  supply  the  men  un- 
der Colonel  Easton's  command  with  such  necessaries  as 
should  not  be  supplied  from  New-York,  and  appointed 
Captain  EJisha  Phelps  to  act  as  Commissary  under  them, 
to  deal  out  to  the  men  whatsoever  should  be  supplied  by 
the  said  Edwards  and  Brown. 

Your  Committee  being  of  the  opinion  that  a  Major 
should  be  appointed  under  Colonel  Easton,  and  one  Sur- 
geon to  the  battalion,  and  having  inquired  into  the  dispo- 
sition of  the  officers  and  men  who  have  engaged,  have 
appointed  John  Brown,  Esquire,  as  Major,  and  Mr.  Jonas 
Fay  as  Surgeon. 

Your  Committee,  when  they  had  received  Colonel  Ar- 
nold's resignation,  directed  him  to  return  to  Congress,  and 
render  an  account  of  his  proceedings,  agreeable  to  their  in- 
structions, a  copy  of  which  order  is  herewith  submitted. 

Your  Committee  made  an  examination  of  the  military 
stores  at  those  posts,  a  schedule  whereof  is  herewith  de- 
livered, excepting  some  leaden  and  iron  ball  and  old  chains, 
which  have  been  dug  out  of  the  ruins  of  Croivn  Point  fort. 

Your  Committee  finding  that  the  men  at  those  stations 
had  not  a  sufficiency  of  gunpowder  to  defend  the  posts, 
and  upon  a  careful  inquiry  could  not  find  any  at  Albany, 
have  directed  said  Committee  of  Supplies  to  supply  them 
with  two  hundred  weight  from  some  of  the  town  stocks  in 
the  County  of  Berkshire,  on  the  credit  of  the  Colony. 

Your  Committee  are  of  opinion  that  the  maintaining  of 
those  posts  is  of  the  utmost  importance  to  the  security  of 
the  Colony  of  New-York  and  the  New-England  Colonies, 


which  was  a  sufficient  inducement  to  the  Committee  to  con- 
tinue in  the  pay  of  this  Colony  the  number  of  men  before 
mentioned.  The  fortress  not  being  at  present  tenable, 
there  must  be  a  sufficient  number  of  men  to  command  the 
lake,  and  prevent  the  enemy  from  landing. 

Your  Committee  are  of  opinion  that  the  best  security  of 
those  posts  in  their  present  state  is,  by  armed  vessels  of 
various  constructions  to  be  kept  constantly  cruising  on  the 
lake,  and  small  boats  with  swivel  guns  to  act  as  scouts,  which 
will  effectually  prevent  the  army  from  sudden  surprise. 

Your  Committee  have,  agreeable  to  their  instructions, 
advised  the  honourable  American  Congress,  the  honour- 
able Convention  of  the  Colony  of  New-York,  and  the 
Governour  of  Connecticut,  by  respectfully  signifying  to 
them  their  opinion  of  the  importance  of  the  maintaining 
those  posts,  and  the  measures  for  effectuating  the  same. 
All  which  is  humbly  submitted. 

Walter  Spooner,  by  order. 

Copy  of  the  Warrant  to  Brown  and  Edwards. 

The  Committee  appointed  by  the  Congress  of  the  Colo- 
ny of  the  Massachusetts-Bay  to  appoint  a  Committee  to 
supply  the  troops  stationed  by  said  Colony  at  Ticonderoga 
and  Croivn  Point  with  provisions,  &tc,  do  hereby  appoint 
you,  the  said  Edwards  and  Brown,  to  supply  said  troops, 
on  the  credit  of  the  said  Colony,  with  blankets,  if  they 
should  require  them,  according  to  the  establishment  for  the 
Colony's  Army,  and  with  such  provisions  not  supplied  by 
the  Colony  of  New-  York  as  shall  be  necessary,  according 
to  the  establishment  of  the  Government  of  Connecticut  for 
their  forces  at  those  posts;  and  you  are  hereby  directed  to 
send  such  provisions  as  you  shall  make  for  the  said  Colo- 
ny's troops  to  ,  who  is  appointed  a  Com- 
missary there  to  receive  the  same,  and  deal  them  out  to 
the  said  troops.  And  for  all  which  this  shall  be  your 
sufficient  warrant,  until  some  future  Congress  or  House  of 
Representatives  shall  otherwise  order. 

Order  of  the  Committee  to  Colonel  Arnold. 

Crown  Point,  June  23,  1775. 

Sir  :  You  having  signified  to  the  Committee  who  are 
appointed  and  directed  by  the  Provincial  Congress  of  the 
Massachusetts-Bay  to  inquire  into  the  state  of  the  fortresses 
at  Crown  Point,  Ticonderoga,  &lc,  and  the  appendages 
thereof,  your  resolution  to  resign  all  your  command  of  the 
said  fortresses,  and  the  vessels  and  stores  thereunto  be- 
longing, for  reasons  under  your  hand  expressed : 

This  is  to  inform  you,  that  it  is  the  expectation  of  the 
Provincial  Congress  aforesaid,  that  the  chief  officer  of  the 
Connecticut  forces  at  those  stations  will  command  the  same 
for  the  present;  and  the  Committee  accordingly  expect  that 
you  conform  yourself  to  the  directions  of  said  Congress  in 
that  behalf,  and  deliver  the  same  to  such  chief  officer  of  the 
Connecticut  forces,  or  his  order,  for  which  this  shall  be 
your  authority.  The  Committee  expect  that  you  will,  as 
soon  as  may  be,  lay  an  account  of  your  disbursements  be- 
fore the  Provincial  Congress,  agreeable  to  our  instructions, 
a  copy  whereof  is  lodged  with  you. 

By  order  of  the  Committee. 

Colonel  Benedict  Arnold. 

Colonel  Arnold's  refusal  to  serve  any  longer. 

Crown  Point,  June  24,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  Your  instructions  of  the  14th  instant  from 
the  Provincial  Congress  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay,  in 
regard  to  my  conduct  here,  being  now  before  me,  I  will 
answer  in  course. 

In  the  first  place,  I  observe  you  are  appointed  to  examine 
my  conduct,  and  in  what  manner  I  have  executed  my  com- 
mission. 1  look  on  this  instruction  at  this  juncture  as  un- 
precedented, and  a  very  plain  intimation  that  the  Congress 
are  dubious  of  my  rectitude  or  abilities,  which  is  a  sufficient 
inducement  for  me  to  decline  serving  them  longer. 

Secondly,  the  Congress  have  authorized  you  to  judge  of 
my  spirit,  capacity,  and  conduct,  and  determine  whether  I 
shall  continue  in  commission,  and  if  so,  that  I  shall  be  un- 
der the  command  of  a  person  appointed  by  the  Colony  of 
Connecticut.  In  answer  to  the  first  part,  it  appears  to  me 
very  extraordinary  that  the  Congress  should  first  appoint  an 


1599 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  fcc,  JULY,  1775. 


1600 


officer,  and  afterwards,  when  he  had  executed  his  commis- 
sion, to  appoint  a  Committee  to  examine  if  he  was  fit  for 
his  post.  I  think  the  examination  should  have  been  prior 
to  the  commission,  and  that  after  executing  that  commis- 
sion they  should  order  a  younger  oflicer  of  the  same  rank 
to  take  the  command  of  the  fortresses,  vessels,  &.C.,  con- 
quered, plainly  indicates  the  loss  of  their  confidence,  and  is 
a  most  disgraceful  reflection  on  him  and  the  body  of  troops 
he  commands,  which  is  a  sufficient  inducement  to  resign, 
not  to  mention  the  very  great  hardship  on  the  private  men, 
who,  having  served  well  near  two  months,  are  now  to  be 
mustered,  and  if,  by  sickness  or  hard  lahour,  they  are  re- 
duced and  not  fit  for  service,  and  of  course  do  not  pass 
muster,  they  are  to  lose  their  former  time  and  service,  and 
reduced  to  the  distress  of  begging  their  bread  until  they  can 
get  home  to  their  friends. 

The  last  objection  I  have  to  make  is,  that  I  have  so  far 
lost  the  confidence  of  the  Congress,  that  they  have  declined 
sending  me  money,  as  was  promised  by  Captain  Droivn, 
to  discharge  the  small  and  unavoidable  debts  I  have  con- 
tracted for  necessaries  for  the  use  of  the  Army,  for  which 
my  own  credit  is  at  stake,  and  I  am  reduced  to  the  neces- 
sity of  leaving  the  place  with  dishonour,  or  waiting  until  I 
can  send  home  and  discharge  those  debts  out  of  my  private 
purse.  The  latter  of  which  I  am  determined  to  do,  though 
I  have  already  advanced  one  hundred  Pounds,  lawful  mo- 
ney, out  of  rny  private  purse.  All  which  reasons  1  believe 
will  be  thought  a  sufficient  inducement  for  me  to  decline 
holding  my  commission  longer. 

I  am,  Gentlemen,  your  most  humble  servant, 

Benedict  Arnold. 
Messrs.  Spooner,  Foster,  and  Sullivan,  present. 

Ticonderoga,  June  28,  1775. 

Honourable  Gentlemen  :  Agreeable  to  your  motion 
and  encouragement  when  present  at  this  place,  together 
with  a  view  of  quickening  the  minds  of  the  soldiers  of  my 
Company,  I  herewith  present  you  with  an  account  of  the 
several  proportions  of  time  each  person  named  in  the  pay- 
roll have  actually  served  in  my  Company  in  the  present 
northern  expedition,  together  with  the  several  capacities  in 
which  they  have  severally  served,  and  have  endeavoured, 
to  the  utmost  of  iny  ability,  to  exhibit  it  with  impartiality 
and  exactness.  And  if  any  mistake  is  found  in  exhibiting 
the  particular  sum  of  the  different  capacity  in  which  either 
has  served,  1  hope  it  will  be  imputed  solely  to  inadvertence, 
as  I  have  not  a  form  of  the  establishment  of  the  Massachu- 
setts-Bay at  command ;  therefore,  should  you  find,  on  ex- 
amination, any  mistake  of  the  kind,  beg  the  favour  you 
would  please  to  make  such  additions  to,  or  substractions 
from,  as  is  equitable,  agreeable  to  the  form  as  established 
for  that  Province. 

I  have  received  seven  Pounds  and  four  Shillings,  and 
my  Lieutenant,  Mr.  Satterlee,  sixteen  Pounds  and  eight 
Shillings,  amounting,  in  the  whole,  to  twenty-three  Pounds 
and  twelve  Shillings,  lawful  money,  from  Colonel  Arnold, 
for  the  use  of  the  soldiers  in  my  Company,  which  you  will 
either  please  to  deduct  from  the  foot  of  the  pay-bill,  and 
discharge  me  for  the  same  from  him,  or  send  the  whole 
contents,  with  directions  to  me  to  repay  him,  which  1  shall 
readily  comply  with,  which  I  humbly  submit  to  your  wis- 
dom. 

I  have  sent  no  account  in  the  pay-bill  for  extra  expense 
in  enlisting  a  Company,  for  billeting,  and  otherwise  sup- 
plying my  soldiers  in  a  forced  march,  foe,  nor  included 
any  allowance  therein  for  good  Mr.  Satterlce's  extra  fa- 
tigue and  faithfulness  as  Adjutant  of  the  Regiment;  but 
leave  it  to  some  future  period,  not  doubting  such  ample 
reward  will  be  made  as  is  provided  for  others  in  like  capa- 
city in  your  Government. 

Your  paying  the  amount  of  the  pay-bill  to  Lieutenant 
William  Satterlee,  the  bearer,  with  his  receipt  on  the  back 
therefor,  shall  be  your  suflicient  discharge  for  so  much  re- 
ceived for  the  use  of  my  Company,  and  the  favours  shall 
be  ever  gratefully  acknowledged  by,  gentlemen,  your  most 

obedient  and  very  humble  servant,  ,  T, 

'  Jonas  t  ay, 

By  order  and  in  behulf  of  Samuel  Derrick,  Captain. 
Honourable  Walter  Spooner,  Jedediah  Foster,  and  Janus 
Sullivan,  Esquires,  Committee,  &ic,  for  the  Province 
of  Massachusetts-Bay. 


Ordnance  Stores  at  Crown  Point,  June  23,  1775. 

Seven  punches  for  vents  of  guns,  14  wooden  setters,  3 
scoops  for  shells,  1  pair  brass  scales,  14  mallets  for  dri- 
ving fuzes,  1  set  of  measures  for  powder,  310  pounds  of 
slow  match,  118  pounds  shot,  5!r'0  twelve-pound  shot,  580 
nine-pound  shot,  580  six-pound  shot,  1,430  grape  shot, 
68  shells  for  an  eight-inch  howitzer,  370  shells,  6  sponges 
with  ramrods,  6  wagon  bodies,  906  wheels  of  all  sorts.  22 
wadhooks  with  ramrods,  1  cross-cut  saw,  1  mill  vvhipsaw. 

At  Ticonderoga. — Three  guns  and  triangle,  1  repar- 
able and  3  useless,  6  gages  for  shot  for  twelve-pounders, 
3  copper  hoops,  6  copper  ladles,  12  iron  ladles,  shells, 
shot,  &lc,  in  vast  quantities. 

Colonel  Arnold  informs  that  he  has  just  bought  four 
oxen  for  use,  price  twenty-eight  Pounds;  six  cows,  at  four 
Pounds  per  head,  and  twenty  sheep ;  which  he  will  turn 
over  to  the  Connecticut  forces,  if  the  Commander-in-Chief 
will  receive  them. 

Also,  further  informs  he  has  engaged  twenty  seamen, 
two  armourers,  and  two  gunners. 


THEODORE  ATKINSON  TO  NEW-HAMPSHIRE  CONGRESS.* 
Portsmouth,  New-Hampshire,  July  C,  1775. 
Gentlemen  :  In  answer  to  your  request  touching  my 
delivery  of  the  records  and  files  belonging  to,  and  now  in 
the  Secretary's  office  of  this  Province,  1  beg  leave  to  ac- 
quaint you  that  1  am,  by  His  Majesty's  special  commission, 
appointed  Secretary  of  this  Province  during  His  Majesty's 
pleasure  and  my  residence  in  this  Province  ;  and  agreeable 
thereto  I  was  admitted  and  sworn  into  that  office,  and  had 
the  keeping  the  archives  belonging  thereto  delivered  to 
me,  and  put  under  my  direction  and  in  my  keeping.  You 
cannot  but  see  my  honour  and  my  oath  forbids  my  consent 

*  COPY  OF  A   LETTER  PREPARED  FOR  THE   CONGRESS  AT  EXETER  BY  MR. 
ATKINSON,  BUT  NOT  FORWARDED. 

Gentlemen  :  I  have  seen  your  appointment  and  directions  from  the 
Provincial  Congress  to  receive  from  me  the  records  and  files  of  the 
Secretary's  office.  This  delivery  by  me  would  bo  a  transaction  that  I 
dare,  not  be  a  volunteer  in.  My  appointment  is  by  His  Majesty's  spe- 
cial commission  to  be  Secretary  of  this  Province,  and  to  hold  the  same 
during  His  Mnjesty's  pleasure  and  my  residence  in  the  same  ;  by  which 
appointment  I  execute  that  office  in  the  different  branches  of  duty, 
viz  :  as  recording  the  transactions  of  the  General  Assembly,  and  of  the 
Governour  and  Council  when  they  meet  on  any  other  or  special  occa- 
sion ;  also,  when  they  sit  as  a  Court  of  Appeals  from  the  Courts  of 
the  Common  Law  in  this  Province,  or  from  sentences  of  the  Courts  of 
Probate  of  Wills,  &.C.  I  am  also  to  give  every  vessel  a  certificate  and 
passport  that  she  is  regularly  cleared  outwards.  These  are  all  separate 
branches  of  the  Secretary's  office,  and  I  am  under  oath  to  keep  the 
same  agreeable  to  the  directions  of  the  law  in  all  things  whereunto 
that  office  hath  relation ;  and  thus  the  records,  &c.,  are  committed  to 
my  care  and  trust,  &-c. 

Now,  gentlemen,  consider  my  situation.  If  I  am  active,  and  volun- 
tarily deliver  these  archives  so  committed  to  my  cure  without  proper 
authority,  am  I  not  criminal  ?  In  this  Province  I  know  there  is  not 
above  one  single  precedent  of  this  nature,  and  that  not  a  parallel. 
This  happened  in  (iovcrnour  Cranfield's  time,  or  soon  after  he  abdi- 
cated the  chair  of  government  of  this  Province.  A  number  of  men 
armed  attacked  the  Secretary's  office,  (one  Chamberlain  then  Secreta- 
ry,)  and  forced  fiom  him  all  the  records  and  files  thereof,  not  only 
what  is  now  esteemed  the  Secretary's  office,  but  also  what  is  now  call", 
cd  the  Recorder's,  such  as  deeds  and  conveyances  of  freehold  estates; 
also,  those  of  the  Court  of  Probate  of  W' ills,  &c.,  and  the  several  Courts 
of  Common  Law,  General  Sessions  of  the  Peace,  &c,  &c.  What  confu- 
sion  this  transaction  occasioned  is  not  to  be  conceived.  All  the  archives 
of  the  Province  thus  held  in  the  hands  of  the  multitude,  and  which 
so  remained  till  the  glorious  revolution  in  King  William  and  Queen 
Mary's  time,  when  a  general  amnesty  took  place,  &,c,  &c.  Notwith- 
standing, those  records  and  files  have  never,  to  this  day,  found  the  way 
to  their  respective  offices,  but  still  remain  (what  is  left  of  thcin)  in  that 
confused  condition  to  this  time ;  and  doubtless  many  widows  and  or- 
phans, as  well  as  others,  have  met  great  disadvantages,  and  suffered 
much  loss.  If  you  turn  your  thoughts  to  the  present  distressing  situa- 
tion of  North  America — two  armies  of  twelve  or  fifteen  thousand  men 
each,  and  both  His  Majesty's  subjects,  now  encamped  within  cannon 
shot  of  each  other,  alternately  spilling  the  blood  and  spreading  the  car- 
nage  of  their  i\  How. subjects — these,  I  think,  call  for  all  our  thoughts 
and  endeavours  how  to  extricate  us  without  haling  into  action  any 
affair  not  likely  to  contribute  to  the  first  and  grand  affair  of  poace  and 
harmony  between  Great  Britain  and  America.  If  you  examine  the 
transactions  of  the  neighbouring  Province  for  precedents,  your  search, 
1  imagine,  will  be  fruitless.  Genoral  Gage  has  been  personally  at 
Salem,  and  though  he  disapproved  the  transaction  of  the  town  meet- 
ings, he  never  pretended  to  intermeddle  with  the  records;  Cambridge, 
whose  situation  is  in  the  midst  of  the  dispute,  nor  Concord,  though 
that  town  has  been  plundered,  yet  the  County  or  Town  records  re- 
main unaffected. 

For  these  reasons  I  cannot  think  any  such  power  as  taking  the  re- 
cords  from  the  usual  places,  &e.,  was  delegated  to  you  in  your  appoint 
merit.  I  have  been  thus  prolix  in  giving  the  reasons  why,  if  the  records 
of  the  Secretary's  office  are  taken  out  of  my  possession  by  you,  they 
will  be  taken  without  my  consent  or  approbation. 

1  am,  Gontlomen,  yours. 


1G01 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JULY,  1775. 


1602 


or  even  my  connivance  in  such  a  delivery,  unless  accom- 
panied with  His  Majesty's  supersedeas,  or  my  not  being 
resident  in  this  Province. 

Gentlemen,  the  difficulties,  I  may  say  the  distresses  in 
the  Province,  and  indeed  of  the  whole  Continent,  are  such 
that  every  additional  cause  of  perplexity  should  be  avoided. 
I  have,  gentlemen,  no  thoughts  of  attempting  to  maintain 
the  security  of  the  records  in  my  custody  by  force.  This  I 
know  would  have  no  good  effect.  My  aim  is  only  to  re- 
move any  grounds  of  complaint  that  may  be  against  me  for 
either  neglect  or  malepractice  in  the  execution  of  my  said 
office. 

I  am,  Gentlemen,  with  proper  regard,  your  humble  ser- 
vant, Theodore  Atkinson. 

To  Major  William  Weeks,  and  the  rest  of  the  Committee. 


SECRETARY  ATKINSON  TO  GOVERNOUR  WENTWORTH. 

Portsmouth,  New-Hampshire,  July  7,  1775. 

Sir:  Your  Excellency  will  give  me  leave  to  acquaint 
you,  that  on  the  fourth  instant  I  had,  as  Secretary,  a  visit 
from  a  Committee  appointed  by  the  Provincial  Congress  of 
this  Colony  held  at  Exeter.  They  showed  me  their  appoint- 
ment, and  requested  the  delivery  of  all  the  records  and 
files  in  the  Secretary's  office.  I  told  them  it  would  be 
against  my  honour  and  my  oath  of  office  to  be  a  volunteer 
in  such  delivery.  After  an  hour's  moderate  conversation, 
and  without  any  heat,  the  Committee  left  me,  and  I  was 
in  hopes  1  should  not  have  any  farther  visit  from  them  :  but 
on  the  sixth  instant  they  came  again  and  urged  the  de- 
livery. 1  still  refused  as  before,  and  told  them  they  well 
knew  it  was  not  in  my  power  to  defend  the  office  by  force 
of  arms ;  if  they  took  the  records,  &.c,  or  any  of  them, 
they  must  be  answerable.  They  then  entered  the  office 
and  took  all  the  files  and  records  belonging  to  the  Secreta- 
ry's office,  except  those  books  in  which  were  recorded  the 
several  charter  grants  of  land,  which  were  with  your  Excel- 
lency to  take  some  minutes  from.  The  Committee  offer- 
ed me  their  receipt,  agreeable  to  their  orders  from  the 
Congress,  but  I  refused,  being  no  otherwise  concerned  than 
barely  as  a  spectator.  They  then  cleared  the  offices  of 
all  the  books  and  papers,  and  transported  them  to  Exeter, 
where  they  are  (I  am  informed)  to  remain  till  further  order. 
Thus  I  have  stated  the  facts  as  they  occurred ;  and  I  am, 
may  it  please  your  Excellency,  your  Excellency's  most 
obedient  humble  servant, 

Theodore  Atkinson. 

Governour  Wentworth. 


SECRETARY  ATKINSON  TO  GOVERNOUR  WENTWORTH. 

In  Provincial  Congress,  Exeter,  July  7,  1775. 

Whereas  this  Congress  have  resolved  it  as  their  opinion, 
that  all  the  pubfick  Records  of  the  Colony  were  at  this 
time  unsafe  in  the  Town  of  Portsmouth,  and  that  the  same 
should  be  removed  to  the  Town  of  Exeter,  all  which  Re- 
cords have  in  consequence  thereof  been  removed  by  a 
Committee  appointed  for  that  purpose  as  far  as  came  to 
their  knowledge,  except  the  books  of  Charters  of  the  sev- 
eral Townships  in  this  Colony :  Therefore,  it  is  now  Re- 
solved, That  the  Honourable  Theodore  Atkinson,  Esquire, 
Secretary  of  the  Colony,  is  accountable  to  the  people  for 
said  Records,  and  that  he  ought  without  delay  to  deliver  the 
same  to  the  Committee. 

Extract  from  the  Minutes  : 

Attest :  Noah  Emery,  Deputy  Secretary. 

Monday,  July  10,  1775. 

Sir  :  The  above  is  a  copy  of  what  I  received  from  Major 
Weeks  of  the  Committee  that  required  the  Records,  &ic, 
the  other  day.  I  made  the  same  answer  to  him  that  I  did 
to  the  Committee  the  other  day,  viz:  that  I  could  make 
no  delivery :  if  they  took  them,  they  must  be  answerable. 
Major  Weeks  seemed  sorrowful  that  lie  was  appointed,  &c. 

To  his  Excellency  the  Governour. 

COURT  OF  COMMON  COUNCIL,  LONDON. 

Friday,  July  7,  1775. 

A  Court  of  Common  Council  was  held  this  day  at  Guild- 
hall, when  the  Court  re-assumed  the  consideration  of  the 
Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii.  ] 


letter  from  the  Committee  of  New-York,  addressed  to  the 
Lord  Mayor,  Aldermen,  and  Common  Council  of  London; 
when  a  motion  was  made  by  Mr.  Stavcly,  that  an  humble 
Address,  Remonstrance,  and  Petition,  relative  to  the  dis- 
tressed situation  of  the  American  Colonies,  should  be  pre- 
sented by  the  City,  in  their  corporate  capacity,  to  His  Ma- 
jesty. This  caused  warm  debates,  it  being  strongly  opposed 
by  several  of  the  members.  Mr.  Hunt  then  made  the 
following  motion : 

"  That  an  humble  Address  and  Petition  be  presented  to 
His  Majesty,  praying  that  he  will  be  pleased  to  cause  hos- 
tilities to  cease  between  Great  Britain  and  America,  and 
to  adopt  such  measures  as  will  restore  union,  confidence, 
and  peace  over  the  British  Empire." 

This  motion,  (leaving  out  the  word  "  Remonstrance," 
after  several  debates,  was  carried  in  the  affirmative. 

The  number  for  the  motion  were :  six  Aldermen,  sixty- 
six  Commoners,  and  two  Tellers. — Total  74. 

Against  the  motion  :  six  Aldermen,  fifty-one  Common- 
ers, and  two  Tellers. — Total  59. 

Majority  for  the  motion  15. 

Mr.  Hunt  then  moved,  that  a  Committee  of  six  Alder- 
men and  twelve  Commoners  might  be  directly  appointed 
to  draw  up  the  Petition  and  Address,  which  passed  in  the 
affirmative.  The  Committee  withdrew,  and  in  a  short  time 
returned  with  a  most  respectful  Petition  and  Address,  which 
met  the  approbation  of  the  whole  Court,  except  one  dis- 
senting Alderman. 

The  Sheriffs  are  directed  to  attend  His  Majesty  at  St. 
James's  next  Wednesday,  in  order  to  know  when  he  will 
be  pleased  to  receive  the  above  Address,  which  will  be 
presented  by  the  Lord  Mayor,  Aldermen,  and  Common 
Council,  in  their  gowns. 

On  Wednesday,  July  12th,  the  two  Sheriffs  and  City 
Remembrancer,  waited  on  His  Majesty  at  St.  James's  to 
know  when  he  would  be  graciously  pleased  to  receive  the 
City  Petition  and  Address ;  when  he  was  pleased  to  appoint 
Friday  at  two  o'clock. 

On  Friday,  July  14th,  the  following  humble  Address 
and  Petition  was  presented  to  the  King,  by  the  Lord  Mayor, 
the  Recorder,  the  Aldermen  Bull,  Lewes,  Hayley,  Lee, 
Plomer,  Hart,  and  several  of  the  Common  Council : 

To  the  King's  most  Excellent  Majesty. 
The  humble  Address  and  Petition  of  the  Lord  Mayor, 

Aldermen  and  Commons  of  the  City  of  London,  in 

Common  Council  assembled : 
Most  gracious  Sovereign : 

Your  Majesty's  most  loyal  and  dutiful  subjects,  the  Lord 
Mayor,  Aldermen,  and  Commons  of  the  City  of  London, 
in  Common  Council  assembled,  with  all  humility  beg  leave 
to  lay  themselves  at  your  Royal  feet,  humbly  imploring 
your  benign  attention  towards  the  grievous  distraction  of 
their  fellow-subjects  in  America. 

The  characteristick  of  the  people,  Sire,  over  whom  you 
reign  has  ever  been  equally  remarked  for  an  unparalleled 
loyalty  to  their  Sovereign,  whilst  the  principles  of  the  Con- 
stitution have  been  the  rule  of  his  Government ;  as  well  as 
a  firm  opposition,  whenever  their  rights  have  been  invaded. 

Your  American  subjects,  Royal  Sire,  descended  from  the 
same  ancestors  with  ourselves,  appear  equally  jealous  of 
their  prerogatives  of  freemen,  without  which  they  cannot 
deem  themselves  happy. 

Their  cheerful  and  unasked-for  contributions,  as  well  as 
willing  services  to  the  Mother  Country,  whilst  they  remained 
free  from  the  clog  of  compulsory  laws,  will,  we  are  sure, 
plead  powerfully  with  the  humanity  of  your  disposition,  for 
graciously  granting  them  every  reasonable  opportunity  of 
giving,  as  freemen,  what  they  seem  resolutely  determined 
to  refuse,  under  the  injunction  of  laws  made  independent 
of  their  own  consent. 

The  abhorrence  we  entertain  of  civil  bloodshed  and  con- 
fusion will,  we  trust,  Sire,  if  not  wholly  exculpate  us  in 
your  Royal  mind,  yet  plead  powerfully  in  our  favour  for 
the  warmth  with  which  we  lament  those  measures  whose 
destructive  principles  have  driven  our  American  brethren 
to  acts  of  desperation. 

Convinced  of  the  earnest  disposition  of  the  Colonists  to 
remain  firm  in  all  duteous  obedience  to  the  constitutional 


1603 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  kc,  JULY,  1775. 


1604 


authority  of  this  Kingdom,  permit  us,  most  gracious  Sover- 
eign, to  beseech  you,  that  those  operations  of  force,  which  at 
present  distract  them  with  the  most  dreadful  apprehensions, 
may  be  suspended  ;  and  that,  uncontrolled  by  a  restraint 
incompatible  with  a  free  Government,  they  may  possess  an 
opportunity  of  tendering  such  terms  of  accommodation  as 
we  doubt  not  will  approve  them  worthy  of  a  distinguished 
rank  amongst  the  firmest  friends  of  this  Country. 

His  Majesty's  Answer. 
I  am  always  ready  to  listen  to  the  dutiful  Petitions  of  my 
subjects,  and  ever  happy  to  comply  with  their  reasonable 
requests  ;  but  while  the  constitutional  authority  of  this  King- 
dom is  resisted  by  part  of  my  American  subjects,  I  owe  it 
to  the  rest  of  my  people,  of  whose  zeal  and  fidelity  I  have 
had  such  constant  proofs,  to  continue  and  enforce  those 
measures  by  which  alone  their  rights  and  interests  can  be 
asserted  and  maintained. 

London,  July  22,  1775. 
Yesterday  was  held  a  Court  of  Common  Council,  when 
a  motion  was  made  by  Mr.  Harford,  and  seconded  by  Mr. 
Harrison,  that  this  Court  do  order  a  letter,  signed  by  the 
Town  Clerk,  to  be  sent  to  Isaac  Low,  Esq.,  Chairman  of 
the  New-York  Committee,  in  order  to  be  by  him  laid 
before  the  Committee,  acknowledging  the  receipt  of  the 
Committee's  letter  to  this  Court,  enclosing  a  copy  of  this 
Court's  late  Petition  and  Address  to  His  Majesty,  and  His 
Majesty's  Answer;  upon  which  a  previous  question  was 
moved  by  Mr.  Deputy  Leeky;  the  main  question  being 
read,  the  question  was  whether  that  be  now  put ;  for  which 
there  were  two  Aldermen,  forty-seven  Commoners,  and 
two  Tellers  ;  total  fifty-one.  Against  the  question  being  put, 
six  Aldermen,  fifty-six  Commoners,  and  two  Tellers;  total 
sixty-four.  Majority  against  putting  the  main  question, 
thirteen. 


DR.  FRANKLIN  TO  DR.  JOSEPH  PRIESTLEY,  IN  ENGLAND. 

Philadelphia,  July  7,  1775. 

Dear  Friend  :  The  Congress  met  at  a  time  when  all 
minds  were  so  exasperated  by  the  perfidy  of  General  Gage, 
and  his  attack  on  the  country  people,  that  propositions  for 
attempting  an  accommodation  were  not  much  relished  ;  and 
it  has  been  with  difficulty  that  we  have  carried  another 
humble  Petition  to  the  Crown,  to  give  Britain  one  more 
chance,  one  opportunity  more  of  recovering  the  friendship 
of  the  Colonies  ;  which,  however,  1  think  she  has  not  sense 
enough  to  embrace,  and  so  I  conclude  she  has  lost  them  for 
ever. 

She  has  begun  to  burn  our  seaport  Towns ;  secure,  1 
suppose,  we  shall  never  be  able  to  return  the  outrage  in 
kind.  She  may  doubtless  destroy  them  all ;  but  if  she 
wishes  to  recover  our  commerce,  are  these  the  probable 
means?  She  must  certainly  be  distracted;  for  no  trades- 
man out  of  Bedlam  ever  thought  of  increasing  the  num- 
ber  of  his  customers  by  knocking  them  on  the  head  ;  or  of 
enabling  them  to  pay  their  debts  by  burning  their  houses. 

If  she  wishes  to  have  us  subjects,  and  that  we  should 
submit  to  her  as  our  compound  sovereign,  she  is  now  giv- 
ing us  such  miserable  specimens  of  her  government,  that 
we  shall  ever  detest  and  avoid  it,  as  a  complication  of  rob- 
bery, murder,  famine,  fire,  and  pestilence. 

You  will  have  heard,  before  this  reaches  you,  of  the 
treacherous  conduct  of  General  Gage  to  the  remaining  peo- 
ple in  Boston,  in  detaining  their  goods,  after  stipulating  to 
let  them  go  out  with  their  effects,  on  pretence  that  mer- 
chants' goods  were  not  effects ;  the  defeat  of  a  great  body 
of  his  troops  by  the  country  people  at  Lexington ;  some 
other  small  advantages  gained  in  skirmishes  with  their 
troops ;  and  the  action  at  Bunker's  Hill,  in  which  they 
were  twice  repulsed,  and  the  third  time  gained  a  dear  vic- 
tory. Enough  has  happened,  one  would  think,  to  convince 
your  Ministers  that  the  Americans  will  fight,  and  that  this 
is  a  harder  nut  to  crack  than  they  imagined. 

We  have  not  yet  applied  to  any  foreign  Power  for  assist- 
ance, nor  offered  our  commerce  for  their  friendship.  Per- 
haps we  never  may  :  yet  it  is  natural  to  think  of  it,  if  we 
are  pressed. 

We  have  now  an  Army  on  the  establishment,  which  still 
holds  yours  besieged. 

My  time  was  never  more  fully  employed.   In  the  morn- 


ing, at  six,  I  am  at  the  Committee  of  Safety,  appointed  by 
the  Assembly  to  put  the  Province  in  a  state  of  defence ; 
which  Committee  holds  till  near  nine,  when  I  am  at  the 
Congress,  and  that  sits  till  after  four  in  the  afternoon.  Both 
these  bodies  proceed  with  the  greatest  unanimity,  and  their 
meetings  are  well  attended.  It  will  scarce  be  credited  in 
Britain,  that  men  can  be  as  diligent  with  us  from  zeal  for 
the  publick  good,  as  with  you  for  thousands  per  annum. 
Such  is  the  difference  between  uncorrupted  new  Slates,  and 
corrupted  old  ones. 

Great  frugality  and  great  industry  are  now  become  fash- 
ionable here  ;  gentlemen,  who  used  to  entertain  with  two 
or  three  courses,  pride  themselves  now  in  treating  with 
simple  beef  and  pudding.  By  these  means,  and  the  stop- 
page of  our  consumptive  trade  with  Britain,  we  shall  be 
better  able  to  pay  our  voluntary  taxes  for  the  support  of 
our  Troops.  Our  savings  in  the  article  of  trade  amount  to 
near  five  million  sterling  per  annum. 

I  shall  communicate  your  letter  to  Mr.  Winthrop,  but 
the  camp  is  at  Cambridge,  and  he  has  as  little  leisure  for 
philosophy  as  myself.  Believe  me  ever,  with  sincere  es- 
teem, my  dear  friend,  yours  most  affectionately. 

B.  Franklin. 


JOHN  DICKINSON  TO  ARTHUR  LEE. 

Fairhill,  July  7,  1775. 

Dear  Sir:  Before"  this  comes  to  hand,  you  will  have 
received,  I  presume,  the  Petition  to  the  King.  You  will 
perhaps  at  first  be  surprised  that  we  make  no  claim,  and 
mention  no  right.  But  I  hope,  on  considering  all  circum- 
stances, you  will  be  of  opinion  that  this  humility,  in  an 
address  to  the  Throne,  is  at  present  proper. 

Our  rights  have  been  already  stated,  our  claims  made; 
war  is  actually  begun,  and  we  are  carrying  it  on  vigorously. 
This  conduct,  and  our  other  publications,  will  show  that  our 
spirits  are  not  lowered.  If  Administration  be  desirous  of 
stopping  the  effusion  of  British  blood,  the  opportunity  is 
now  offered  to  them  by  an  unexceptionable  Petition,  pray- 
ing for  an  accommodation.  If  they  reject  this  application 
with  contempt,  the  more  humble  it  is  the  more  such  treat- 
ment will  confirm  the  minds  of  our  countrymen  to  endure 
all  the  misfortunes  that  may  attend  the  contest. 

I  do  not  know  what  is  thought  in  London  of  the  several 
engagements  near  Boston ;  but  this  you  may  be  assured 
of,  that  every  one  of  them  has  been  favourable  to  us,  and 
particularly  that  of  Bunker's  Hill,  on  the  17th  of  last 
month,  when  a  mere  carnage  was  made  of  the  Royalists, 
though  they  gained  the  intrenchments. 

I  am,  dear  Sir,  your  very  affectionate  humble  servant, 

John  Dickinson. 


GENERAL  WOOSTER  TO  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

Camp  near  New. York,  July  7,  1775. 

Sir  :  We  have  among  the  Connecticut  Troops  a  num- 
ber of  apprentices,  and  indented  servants  who  ran  away 
from  their  masters  in  this  City,  and  have  enlisted  them- 
selves, and  received  their  pay  in  Connecticut.  Since  our 
arrival  in  this  place,  many  of  them  have  been  detained  in 
town  by  their  masters.  As  the  Governour  of  Connecticut 
has  subjected  me  and  the  Troops  under  my  command  to 
the  direction  of  the  Continental  and  this  Provincial  Con- 
gress, I  desire  you,  Sir,  to  take  the  opinion  of  your  Con- 
gress, and  advise  me  what  plan  of  conduct  I  shall  pursue 
with  regard  to  such  persons,  and  you  will  oblige,  Sir,  your 
humble  servant,  David  Wooster. 

To  Peter  V.  B.  Livingston,  Esq.,  President  of  the  Pro- 
vincial Congress. 


WESTCHESTER  COMMITTEE  TO  NEW- YORK  CONGRESS. 

White  Plains,  July  7,  1775. 
Sir  :  The  Committee  of  Westchester  County,  sensible 
of  the  great  consequence,  in  our  present  struggle  for  liber- 
ty, of  having  officers  of  the  Militia,  who  are  sincere  friends 
of  the  Country:  and  also  that  many,  if  not  a  majority  of 
the  Militia  officers  in  this  County,  upon  account  of  their 
oath  of  allegiance,  or  from  sinister  motives,  endeavour  to 
counteract  the  present  measures,  as  far  as  possible ;  do  re- 
quest the  Provincial  Congress  to  take  the  same  into  consi- 


1605 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JULY,  1775. 


1606 


deration,  and  do  what  they  shall  think  proper  in  so  im- 
portant a  matter.   We  are,  Sir,  your  most  humble  servants. 

By  order  of  the  Committee  : 

Gilbert  Drake,  Chairman. 
To  Peter  Van  Brugh  Livingston,  Esq.,  President  of  the 

Provincial  Congress. 


KINGSTON  COMMITTEE  TO  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

Kingston,  July  7,  1775. 
Gentlemen  :  We  received  with  great  pleasure  the  re- 
solves of  your  honourable  Board  respecting  the  Militia  of 
this  Colony,  being  well  persuaded  that  the  putting  it  under 
due  regulations  and  discipline  will  afford  the  Colony  the 
greatest  security  in  this  time  of  publick  calamity.  We  are 
sensible  of  the  necessity,  therefore,  of  complying  with  the 
measures  recommended  in  your  resolve,  while  we  are  ex- 
tremely sorry  that  for  want  of  being  a  little  more  particu- 
lar and  explicit,  people  differ  in  their  sentiments  about  the 
mode  they  are  to  pursue,  which  has  already  occasioned 
much  warmth,  and  we  fear,  unless  prevented  by  an  expla- 
natory resolve  by  your  honourable  body,  may  create  still 
greater  confusion  and  trouble,  to  the  injury  of  the  common 
cause.  In  order  that  you  may  understand  wherein  we  differ 
in  the  construction  of  your  said  resolve,  we  beg  leave  to 
propose  the  following  queries,  the  solving  of  which  we 
would  fain  hope  will  give  general  satisfaction,  and  restore 
us  to  our  former  harmony,  to  wit : 

1.  Is  it  intended  by  the  advice  to  the  inhabitants  to  form 
themselves  into  companies  if  necessary,  that  they  should 
elect  their  officers,  or  continue  to  serve  under  the  officers 
appointed  by  Government,  if  they  are  well  affected  to  the 
common  cause  ? 

2.  If  the  inhabitants  are  to  elect  their  officers  up  to  a 
Captain,  how  are  the  Field-Officers  to  be  appointed — at 
the  election  of  the  companies  at  large,  or  by  the  subaltern 
officers  ? 

We  are,  gentlemen,  your  most  obedient  servants. 
By  order  of  the  Committee  of  the  Town  of  Kingston  : 
Johannes  Sleght,  Chairman. 
To  Peter  Van  Brugh  Livingston,  Esq.,  President  of  the 
Provincial  Congress. 


ELISHA  PHELPS  TO  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

Albany,  July  7,  1775. 

Honoured  Sir:  Received  your  favour,  dated  June  29, 
1775,  on  the  6th  day  of  July  instant.  I  also  received  the 
stores  of  provisions  in  place  of  Mr.  Bleecker,  who  I  was 
in  hopes  might  have  been  ordered  to  purchase  provisions, 
and  deliver  to  me  to  forward.  Sir,  flour  is  very  scarce  in 
this  City,  or  cannot  be  purchased  without  money.  I  have 
been  through  the  City  with  the  assistance  of  Esquire  Pal- 
mer, and  could  not  get  but  twenty  barrels ;  also,  have  been 
to  Schenectady,  and  could  not  get  but  ten  barrels  there. 
I  am  much  afraid  the  Troops  will  suffer  if  they  cannot  be 
immediately  supplied.  I  wrote  by  the  post  to  one  of  the 
gentlemen  Committee  for  two  or  three  hundred  barrels  of 
flour.  Should  be  glad  your  Honour  would  see  and  order 
as  you  think  proper.  Colonel  Hinman  has  wrote  orders  to 
me  for  hospital  stores,  and  they  cannot  all  be  got  in  this 
City.  Captain  Molt  will  inform  you  more  particularly. 
Sir,  should  be  glad  to  know  who  in  particular  to  write  to 
for  provisions,  k.c,  at  New-York,  that  is  and  will  be 
wanted. 

I  am,  with  esteem,  Sir,  your  most  humble  servant  at 
command,  Elisha  Phelps. 

To  his  Honour  P.  V.  B.  Livingston,  President  of  the 

Provincial  Congress,  New-  York. 


COLONEL  HINMAN  TO  GENERAL  SCHUYLER. 

Ticonderoga,  July  7,  1775. 

Sir  :  Yours  of  29th  June  I  have  received,  by  which  I 
have  the  pleasure  of  being  informed  of  your  appointment 
to  the  command  of  the  troops  in  this  quarter.  Agreeable 
to  your  request,  I  have  made  as  minute  a  return  of  the 
forces,  guns,  ammunition,  and  stores,  as  I  am  capable  of 
under  our  present  unsettled  circumstances. 

As  to  Governour  Carleton's  motions,  I  can  say  but  little 


with  regard  to  them.  It  is  said  that  there  are  at  St.  John's 
about  three  hundred  and  fifty  Regulars,  a  few  Canadians, 
and  a  small  number  of  Indians  at  the  other  posts.  By  what 
intelligence  I  can  get,  there  are  about  two  hundred  and  fifty 
of  the  King's  Troops,  or  thereabout,  at  St.  John's;  they 
are  fortifying  and  building  some  water  craft,  by  what  I  can 
learn,  but  with  what  intent  we  cannot  yet  determine.  You 
may  be  assured  of  my  taking  every  opportunity  of  inform- 
ing the  Canadians  of  our  friendly  intentions  towards  them ; 
but  they  are  so  very  cautious,  and  the  passes  are  so  guard- 
ed, that  it  is  almost  impossible  to  get  any  information  to 
them.  I  have  lately  sent  a  Committee  to  Skenesborough 
to  inquire  into  the  state  of  affairs  there,  and  find  they  want 
to  be  put  under  some  new  regulations.  The  place  at  pre- 
sent is  kept  by  some  men  who  Mr.  Arnold  put  there.  But 
as  I  expected  you  would  be  up  in  a  short  time,  I  have  not 
given  any  orders  respecting  the  management  of  things 
there  ;  but  shall  wait  for  your  orders  relative  thereto. 
I  am,  Sir,  your  most  humble  servant, 

Benjamin  Hinman. 

To  Major-General  Schuyler. 

P.  S.  I  wait,  Sir,  with  impatience  for  your  arrival,  as  1 
find  myself  very  unable  to  steer  in  this  stormy  situation. 
Sometimes  we  have  no  flour,  and  a  constant  cry  for  rum, 
and  want  of  molasses  for  beer,  which  was  engaged  to  our 
people;  the  failure  of  those  who  provide  give  great  unea- 
siness to  the  men  ;  hope  for  better  times  on  your  arrival. 


GOVERNOUR  TRUMBULL  TO  JOHN  HANCOCK,  PRESIDENT. 
[Read  July  17,  1775.] 

Hartford,  July  7,  1775. 
Honoured  Sir:  I  have  the  honour  of  your  favour  of 
the  27th  of  June,  acquainting  me  with  the  requisition  made 
by  the  Congress  upon  this  Colony  in  favour  of  General 
Schuyler,  which  I  immediately  laid  before  the  General 
Assembly,  and  am  directed  to  acquaint  you,  that  it  would 
have  given  them  great  pleasure  to  have  found  themselves 
able  to  have  complied  fully  with  the  demand ;  but  such  is 
the  exhausted  state  of  our  Treasury,  in  consequence  of  the 
very  vigorous  efforts  the  Colony  have  made  and  are  still 
making  in  the  common  cause,  that  we  could  only  furnish 
fifteen  thousand  Pounds,  which  is  preparing  with  all  pos- 
sible despatch,  and  will  be  forwarded  in  a  few  days  to  the 
General  at  Albany.  With  respect  to  the  other  most  im- 
portant article,  it  is  with  much  concern  that  we  acknow- 
ledge that  we  could  do  but  little,  having  already  much 
exhausted  our  stock  by  the  supplies  furnished  to  the  camp 
at  Cambridge.  However,  all  that  we  could  do  we  have 
done,  and  sent  forward  to  the  General  forty  half-barrels; 
which  we  hope  he  will  receive  in  a  few  days.  We  doubt 
not  proper  care  will  be  taken  as  speedily  as  possible  to 
reimburse  the  Colony  these  expenses,  that  we  may  be 
enabled  to  continue  our  exertions  in  the  common  cause  of 
American  liberty.  I  am  also  to  inform  you,  that  the  As- 
sembly have  come  to  a  resolution,  at  the  earnest  request  of 
the  Provincial  Congress  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay,  to  aug- 
ment our  troops  in  the  publick  service  with  two  Regiments 
of  seven  hundred  men  each,  exclusive  of  commissioned 
officers.  We  should  have  been  happy,  if  possible,  to  have 
received  the  directions  of  the  honourable  Congress  before 
we  adopted  this  measure ;  but  such  appeared  to  us  to  be 
the  critical  situation  of  our  affairs,  great  part  of  our  troops 
being  employed  in  the  Province  of  New-York  under  the 
orders  of  the  Congress,  that  it  would  not  be  prudent  to 
delay  it  so  long  a  time  as  would  be  necessary  to  obtain 
their  directions  upon  the  subject.  We  hope,  nevertheless, 
it  will  meet  with  their  approbation,  and  that  the  Continen- 
tal currency  may  be  in  such  forwardness  as  to  be  applied 
to  the  equipping  and  furnishing  of  these  regiments ;  which 
will  be  raised  with  all  possible  despatch,  and  the  sooner 
we  are  supplied  with  the  Continental  bills  the  better. 

With  respect  to  Major  Skene,  we  could  have  wished 
that  he  might  still  have  been  continued  at  Philadelphia ; 
and  if  he  is  not  actually  set  out  for  Hartford,  we  beg  his 
destination  may  be  changed  ;  however,  if  he  arrives  here 
we  shall  do  the  best  we  can  with  him. 

I  am,  with  great  truth  and  regard,  in  behalf  of  the  Go- 
vernour and  Company,  Sir,  your  most  obedient  and  most 
humble  servant.  Jonathan  Trumbull. 


1607 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c„  JULY,  1775. 


1608 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  TO  A  GENTLEMAN  IN  PHILADEL- 
PHIA, DATED  LONDON,  JULY  8,  1775. 

I  am  happy  that  you  are  settled  in  Philadelphia,  a  city 
that  is  and  shall  be  blest.  The  great  founder,  Penn,  was 
inspired  with  true  wisdom,  and  God  gave  him  a  heart  to 
form  a  City  and  Colony  for  a  refuge  to  the  persecuted 
asserters  of  the  rights  of  human  nature  at  this  day,  when 
it  is  the  determination  of  Administration,  at  least  part  of 
them,  with  the  King,  to  destroy  such  Towns  as  lay  on  the 
sea.  But  don't  be  frightened  or  deceived  ;  they  cannot 
accomplish  their  horrid  schemes.  Your  securing  Ticon- 
deroga  and  Crown  Point  has  overthrown  their  designs,  and 
now  in  revenge  they  say  we  will  destroy  their  Towns.  You 
see  by  this  what  you  are  to  expect.  The  heart  of  Pha- 
raoh is  hardened,  and  the  chariot  will  be  driven  so  fast  that 
the  wheels  will  fly  off  in  a  sea  of  blood. 

Our  worthy  Lord  Mayor  has  exerted  himself  abundantly. 
He  has  called  a  Common-Hall  of  the  Livery,  and  held  a 
Common  Council  at  three  different  times,  and  sent  up  a 
Petition  and  Remonstrance ;  and  this  day  the  proceedings 
of  the  City  are  in  the  press,  to  be  published  to  all  the 
Counties  in  England;  and  our  patriots,  with  an  American 
bravery,  are  determined  to  protest  against  the  doings  of  the 
Parliament,  and  enter  into  an  Association.  They  have 
drawn  up  very  spirited  resolves.  But  as  yet  you  must 
have  patience ;  great  bodies  move  slow.  The  people  of 
England  have  long  been  inured  to  oppression,  and  are  not 
so  quick  in  their  feelings  as  the  Americans.  They  are, 
indeed,  more  moderate,  but  have  already  discovered  their 
abhorrence  to  the  plans  of  the  tyrants  in  such  a  manner  as 
to  make  them  repent  they  laid  them ;  and  in  a  few  months, 
should  there  be  no  submission  on  your  side,  (which  God 
grant  there  may  not,)  they  will  call  home  Gage,  and  let 
you  alone  awhile,  as  they  cannot  get  men  to  go  on  so  hor- 
rid an  errand.  The  officers  hear  that  the  riflemen  intend 
killing  them  only,  which  is  most  excellent  news,  as  it  not 
only  discourages  the  officers,  but  makes  the  soldiers  think 
well  of  the  Americana,  as  they  hate  their  officers,  and  will 
certainly  desert,  if  they  have  opportunity.  It  is  not  Eng- 
land, but  only  eight  Ministers  of  State,  with  the  King  and 
his  tools  in  Parliament,  that  are  fighting  against  you,  and 
use  every  unfair  means  to  deceive  the  people  of  England. 
I  understand  Fort  Ticonderoga  is  to  be  retaken  by  Carle- 
tan,  who  has  one  thousand  Scots  Highlanders  sent  over 
to  him,  commanded  by  Col.  Murray,  with  one  thousand 
nine  hundred  more,  who  are  now  enlisting  in  Scotland ; 
this  you  may  depend  on. 

Our  wise  Ministry,  in  order  to  deceive  the  people,  circu- 
late false  reports  in  the  papers  and  otherwise  every  day, 
both  for  and  against  the  Americans,  that  men's  minds  may 
be  so  confounded  they  will  not  know  what  to  depend  upon; 
but  you  may  depend  upon  it,  that  should  it  cost  all  the 
blood  and  treasure  of  Old  England,,  they  would  prose- 
cute their  efforts  to  subdue  you.  Even  the  officers  who 
are  to  execute  their  plans  are  ignorant  of  their  ultimate 
designs. 

They  now  give  out  that  Lord  Chatham  is  to  be  called 
in  to  head  a  new  Administration,  and  that  a  new  system  of 
politicks  is  to  take  place ;  but  nothing  can  be  further  from 
their  intentions.  Lord  Chatham  never  can  come  into  their 
views,  and  those  views  being  the  possession  of  place,  power, 
and  treasure,  they  will  never  give  them  up  as  long  as  they 
can  possibly  hold  them.  They  have  brought  the  King  so 
far  into  their  measures  that  he  cannot  recede;  so  that  they 
are  now  together  in  the  place  where  they  will  remain  till 
your  wisdom  and  bravery  shew  the  people  of  England 
that  tyrants  are  to  be  got  at  by  very  simple  means. 

No  statute  can  be  made  to  put  arms  into  the  hands  of 
Roman  Catholicks,  and  in  consequence,  if  you  could  pro- 
cure proof  that  General  Carleton  has  done  this,  and  convey 
that  evidence  to  this  City,  you  would  find  the  great  cause 
brought  to  issue  here  in  a  few  months,  sat  verbum!  Your 
salvation  depends  on  your  firmness  and  assiduity.  If  you 
submit,  sixty  of  you  are  to  be  hanged  in  Philadelphia, 
and  the  same  number  in  New- York;  five  hundred  Pounds 
is  offered  for  Captain  Sears's  head  in  particular — a  secret 
order.* 

*  Mr.  Holt,  the  printer  of  the  New-York  Journal,  has  also  had 
repeated  notices  from  persons  of  eminence  in  England,  that  he  is 
among  the  number  of  the  proscribed  who  aro  ordered  to  be  sent  to 
England 


INDEPENDENT  COMPANY  OF  ALEXANDRIA  TO  GENERAL 
WASHINGTON. 

Alexandria,  July  8,  1775. 

May  it  please  your  Excellency:  Your  favour  of 
the  20th  ultimo,  notifying  your  intended  departure  for  the 
camp,  we  received,  and  after  transmitting  copies  to  the 
different  officers  to  whom  it  was  directed,  we  laid  it  before 
a  full  meeting  of  your  company  this  day.  At  the  same 
time  that  they  deplore  the  unfortunate  occasion  that  calls 
you,  their  patron,  friend,  and  worthy  citizen,  from  them, 
and  your  more  tender  connexions,  they  beg  your  accept- 
ance of  their  most  hearty  congratulations  upon  your  appoint- 
ment to  the  supreme  military  command  of  the  American 
confederated  forces. 

Firmly  convinced,  Sir,  of  your  zealous  attachment  to 
the  rights  of  your  Country  and  those  of  mankind,  and  of 
your  earnest  desire  that  harmony  and  good  will  should 
again  take  place  between  us  and  our  Parent  State,  we  well 
know  that  your  every  exertion  will  be  invariably  employed 
to  preserve  the  one  and  effect  the  other. 

Your  kind  recommendation,  that  a  strict  attention  be 
had  to  disciplining  the  company,  shall  be  complied  with, 
and  every  possible  method  used  for  procuring  arms  and 
ammunition. 

We  are  to  inform  you,  Sir,  by  desire  of  the  company, 
that  if  at  any  time  you  shall  judge  it  expedient  for  them 
to  join  the  troops  at  Cambridge,  or  to  march  elsewhere, 
they  will  cheerfully  do  it. 

As  the  success  of  our  arms,  during  the  unhappy  contest 
for  our  liberties,  will  ever  afford  us  the  highest  satisfaction, 
and  as  reports  heretofore  have  been  various  and  unauthen- 
tick,  we  entreat  your  Excellency,  should  there  be  any 
future  engagement,  and  your  leisure  permit,  to  favour  us 
with  an  account.  Let  our  concerns  for  the  cause  we  are 
embarked  in  claim  your  excuse  for  this  freedom. 

We  now  recommend  you  to  the  favour  of  Him  by  whom 
Kings  reign  and  Princes  decree  justice;  and  wishing  all 
your  counsels  and  operations  to  be  directed  by  his  gracious 
providence  to  a  happy  and  lasting  union  between  us  and 
Great  Britain,  we  are,  with  great  regard,  for  selves  and 
the  company,  your  Excellency's  most  obedient  and  hum- 
ble servants,  James  Hendricks, 

George  Gilpin, 
Rob.  H.  Harrison. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  MESSRS.  BRADFORDS,  OF  PHI- 
LADELPHIA, TO  THE  PRINTER  OF  A  PUBLICK  PAPER  IN 
LONDON,  DATED  PHILADELPHIA,  JULY  8,  1775. 

By  the  papers  you  will  find  that  we  are  forced  into  a 
war  with  our  brethren  of  Great  Britain ;  you  will  also 
find  that  an  overruling  Providence  covered  our  heads  at 
the  Lexington,  Noddle  Island,  and  Bunker's  Hill  actions. 
Our  people  have  not  in  those  three  battles  lost  more  than 
one  hundred  killed,  and  about  two  hundred  wounded ; 
whereas,  the  Ministerial  Troops  have  at  least  lost  fifteen 
hundred  killed,  and  one  thousand  wounded. 

In  the  affair  at  Bunker's  Hill,  it  is  asserted  by  many 
respectable  people,  who  have,  since  the  action,  got  out  of 
Boston,  that  the  Welsh  Fusileers  have  only  one  Captain 
and  ninety  men  left  out  of  the  whole  Regiment ;  and  that 
Gage  has  lost  four  Colonels  and  three  Majors,  among 
whom  are  Colonel  Nesbit,  Majors  Pitcairne  and  Sheriff. 
However  the  ministerial  account  may  gloss  over  matters, 
their  loss  has  been  such  that  a  few  more  such  victories 
would  leave  Gage  but  a  few  men,  and  we  should  joyfully 
put  up  with  the  disgrace  of  a  retreat  every  day  for  a  month 
upon  the  same  terms.  Tell  Lord  Sandivich  that  Lord 
Howe  says,  the  rebels  fought  more  like  devils  than  men, 
and  that  if  our  re-enforcement  had  come  up  in  time  he 
must  have  been  totally  defeated. 

Our  Congress  are  still  sitting,  and  likely  to  sit  for  some 
time.  Seeing  they  were  involved,  they  have  taken  all  the 
necessary  steps ;  they  have  an  army  of  eighteen  thousand 
or  twenty  thousand,  headed  by  General  Washington,  around 
Boston,  who  are  well  armed,  and  have  magazines  sufficient 
for  two  years,  notwithstanding  the  steps  taken  to  keep 
warlike  stores  from  cowards  and  poltrons,  who  had  only 
broomsticks  and  rusty  guns. 

You  may  likewise  tell  his  Lordship,  that  our  Army  is 
able  to  cope  with  thirty  thousand  such  troops  as  Gage  now 


1609 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JULY,  1775. 


1610 


commands,  and  that  we  should  be  glad  to  see  his  Lordship 
at  the  head  of  them. 

No  power  ever  armed  so  many  men  in  so  short  a  time 
as  has  been  done  in  this  Country ;  it  is  computed  that  we 
have  now  above  three  hundred  thousand  men  well  armed, 
two-thirds  of  whom  will  fight  from  principle. 

This  Province  has  raised  one  thousand  riflemen,  the 
worst  of  whom  will  put  a  ball  into  a  man's  head  at  the 
distance  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  or  two  hundred  yards ; 
therefore,  advise  your  officers  who  shall  hereafter  come  out 
to  America  to  settle  their  affairs  in  England  before  their 
departure. 

We  are  well  assured  that  the  ministerial  tools  in  this 
Country  have  been  templing  the  Indians  to  fall  on  our 
frontiers,  and  in  one  Province  it  has  been  proved  that  they 
have  endeavoured  to  set  the  negroes  on  their  masters.  Such 
hellish  designs  are  carrying  on  by  those  wretches  as  must 
make  any  thing  but  the  Devil,  or  Lord  North  and  his  tools, 
hide  their  heads. 

We  are,  Sir,  yours,  &cc,         W.  &,  T.  Bradford. 


NORTH-CAROLINA  DELEGATES  TO  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

Philadelphia,  July  8,  1775. 

Sir:  The  Committee  of  this  City,  a  few  days  ago, 
transmitted  to  you  an  original  letter  from  Governour  Mar- 
tin to  Henry  White,  Esquire,  from  the  contents  of  which 
it  is  very  obvious  that  Governour  Martin  has  formed 
designs  very  inimical  to  the  friends  of  America.  From 
authentick  information  we  learn,  that  he  is  to  receive  a 
supply  of  gunpowder  from  General  Gage  via  New- York, 
and  that  he  has  sent  from  North-Carolina  a  cutter  armed 
to  receive  it.  She  is  a  small  boat,  rigged  like  a  schooner, 
mounts  a  few  swivels,  and  is  commanded  by  a  Mr.  .  .  .  , 
the  Lieutenant  of  the  Famous,  man-of-war;  the  vessel 
was  formerly  purchased  in  New-York  by  Captain  Collet. 
We  in  particular  desire,  in  case  she  should  arrive  in  your 
port,  to  know  what  steps  you  may  think  prudent  to  secure 
her  and  her  cargo.  She  is  probably  to  receive  the  gun- 
powder from  the  Asia,  or  the  other  men-of-war  lying  in 
your  harbour.  We  are,  Sir,  with  great  respect,  your  most 
obedient  servants,  William  Hooper, 

Joseph  Hewes. 


NEW-YORK  CONGRESS  TO  CHARLES  THOMSON. 

In  Provincial  Congress,  New.York,  July  8,  1775. 

Sir:  The  Congress  received  yours  of  July  4,  enclosing 
Governour  Martin's  letter  to  Mr.  Henry  White,  dated 
June  13th,  and  immediately  appointed  a  Committee  to 
confer  with  him  on  the  subject.  From  the  answers  he 
gave  to  the  Committee,  and  a  letter  received  from  him,  (a 
copy  of  which  is  enclosed,)  the  Congress  are  fully  satisfied 
that  Mr.  White's  conduct  in  this  matter  has  been  unex- 
ceptionable, and  such  as  becomes  the  character  of  a  good 
citizen.    I  am,  Sir,  &£C. 

By  order :  P.  V.  B.  Livingston,  President. 

To  Charles  Thomson,  Esquire. 

Saturday,  July  8,  1775. 

Sir  :  Three  gentlemen  of  the  Provincial  Congress  called 
upon  me  with  an  intercepted  letter  from  Governour  Mar- 
tin, of  North-Carolina,  dated  the  13th  June,  to  send  him 
a  royal  standard  from  hence.  They  desired  to  know  if  I 
had  complied  with  his  request,  and  whether  I  could  inform 
them  respecting  the  measures  he  was  now  pursuing;  in 
answer  to  which  I  have  to  observe,  that  he  some  time  ago 
wrote  to  me  to  send  him  such  a  standard,  which  I  declined 
to  do,  lest  it  might  be  disagreeable  to  the  people  of  this 
place,  and  wrote  him  to  that  purpose ;  which  letter  I  ap- 
prehend miscarried,  or  he  must  have  received  it  before  the 
thirteenth  of  last  month.  With  regard  to  the  steps  he 
has  now  taken  in  his  Government,  1  am  utterly  unacquaint- 
ed with  ;  he  has  not  communicated  to  me  any  particulars. 
Governour  Martin  is  a  gentleman  I  am  intimately  acquaint- 
ed with,  and  have  transacted  business  for  him  ever  since 
he  has  been  at  North- Carolina ;  which  accounts  for  his 
applying  to  me  for  the  above  standard.  I  imagine  it  will 
be  believed  I  did  not  solicit  the  commission. 

I  am,  Sir,  &tc,  Henry  White. 

To  Peier  V.  B.  Livingston,  Esquire. 


MEND  HAM  (NEW-JERSEY)  COMMITTEE. 

July  8,  1775. 

Whereas,  the  Committee  of  Observation  for  the  Town- 
ship of  Mendham,  in  the  County  of  Morris,  having  legally 
notified  Ezekial  Beach  to  appear  before  us,  to  answer 
sundry  charges  exhibited  against  him  touching  his  un- 
friendly conversation  and  conduct  towards  the  Continental 
Association :  said  Beach  not  appearing,  we  do  agree  for 
ourselves,  and  recommend  it  to  all  others,  to  break  off  all 
dealings  or  connection  with  him,  agreeable  to  the  Eleventh 
Article  of  the  Continental  Association.  Signed  by  order  of 
the  Committee.  David  Thompson,  Chairman. 


GENERAL  RURGOYNE  TO  GENERAL  LEE. 

Boston,  July  8,  1775. 

Dear  Sir  :  When  we  were  last  together  in  service  I 
should  not  have  thought  it  within  the  vicissitudes  of  human 
affairs  that  we  should  meet  at  any  time,  or  in  any  sense,  as 
foes.  The  letter  you  have  honoured  me  with,  and  my  own 
feelings,  continue  to  prove  we  are  still  far  from  being  per- 
sonally such. 

I  claim  no  merit  from  the  attentions  you  so  kindly  re- 
member in  the  early  periods  of  our  acquaintance,  but  as 
they  manifest  how  much  it  was  my  pride  to  be  known  to 
be  your  friend  ;  nor  have  1  departed  from  the  duties  of  that 
character,  when,  1  will  not  scruple  to  say,  it  has  been  almost 
general  ofFence  to  maintain  it :  1  mean  since  the  violent 
part  you  have  taken  in  the  commotions  of  the  Colonies. 

It  would  exceed  the  limits  and  the  propriety  of  our 
present  correspondence  to  argue  at  full  the  great  cause  in 
which  we  are  engaged.  But  anxious  to  preserve  a  con- 
sistent and  ingenuous  character,  and  jealous,  I  confess,  of 
having  the  part  I  sustain  imputed  to  such  motives  as  you 
intimate,  I  will  state  to  you,  as  concisely  as  I  can,  the  prin- 
ciples upon  which,  not  voluntarily,  but  most  conscientiously, 
I  undertook  it. 

I  have,  like  you,  entertained  from  infancy  a  veneration 
of  publick  liberty.  I  have  likewise  regarded  the  British 
Constitution  as  the  best  safeguard  of  that  blessing  to  be 
found  in  the  history  of  mankind. 

The  vital  principle  of  the  Constitution,  in  which  it  moves 
and  has  its  being,  is  the  supremacy  of  the  King  and  Par- 
liament ;  a  compound,  indefinite,  indefeasible  power,  co-evil 
with  the  origin  of  the  Empire,  and  co-extensive  over  all 
its  parts. 

I  am  no  stranger  to  the  doctrines  of  Mr.  Locke,  and 
other  of  the  best  advocates  for  the  rights  of  mankind,  upon 
the  compacts  always  implied  between  the  governing  and 
the  governed,  and  the  right  of  resistance  in  the  latter,  when 
the  compact  shall  be  so  violated  as  to  leave  no  other  means  of 
redress.  I  look  with  reverence,  almost  amounting  to  idola- 
try, upon  those  immortal  Whigs  who  adopted  and  applied 
such  doctrine  during  part  of  the  reign  of  Charles  the  First, 
and  in  that  of  James  the  Second. 

Should  corruption  pervade  the  three  estates  of  the  Realm, 
so  as  to  pervert  the  great  ends  for  which  they  were  insti- 
tuted, and  make  the  power  vested  in  them  for  the  good  of 
the  whole  people  operate,  like  an  abuse  of  the  prerogative 
of  the  Crown,  to  general  oppression,  I  am  ready  to  acknow- 
ledge that  the  same  doctrine  of  resistance  applies  as  forcibly 
against  the  abuses  of  the  collective  body  of  power,  as 
against  those  of  the  Crown,  or  either  of  the  other  compo- 
nent branches  separately :  still  always  understood  that  no 
other  means  of  redress  can  be  obtained  ;  a  case,  I  contend, 
much  more  difficult  to  suppose  when  it  relates  to  the  whole, 
than  when  it  relates  to  parts. 

But  in  all  cases  that  have  existed  or  can  be  conceived, 
I  hold  that  resistance,  to  be  justifiable,  must  be  directed 
against  the  usurpation  or  undue  exercise  of  power,  and  that 
it  is  most  criminal  when  directed  against  any  power  itself 
inherent  in  the  Constitution. 

And  here  you  will  immediately  discern  why  I  drew  a 
line  in  the  allusion  I  made  above  to  the  reign  of  Charles 
the  First.  Towards  the  close  of  it  the  true  principle  of 
resistance  was  changed,  and  a  new  system  of  Government 
projected  accordingly.  The  Patriots,  previous  to  the  long 
Parliament,  and  during  great  part  of  it,  as  well  as  the  glo- 
rious Revolutionists  of  1688,  resisted  to  vindicate  and  re- 
store the  Constitution  ;  the  Republicans  resisted  to  sub- 
vert it. 


1611 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  kc.  JULY,  1775. 


1612 


Now,  Sir,  lay  your  hand  upon  your  heart,  as  you  have 
enjoined  me  to  do  on  mine,  and  tell  me,  to  which  of  these 
purposes  do  the  proceedings  of  America  tend  ? 

Is  it  the  weight  of  taxes  imposed,  and  the  impossibility 
of  relief  after  a  due  representation  of  her  burden,  that  has 
induced  her  to  take  arms  ?  or  is  it  a  denial  of  the  rights  of 
British  legislation  to  impose  them,  and  consequently  a 
struggle  for  total  independency  ?  For  the  idea  of  power 
that  can  tax  externally  and  not  internally,  and  all  the 
sophistry  that  attends  it,  though  it  may  catch  the  weak- 
ness and  the  prejudice  of  the  multitude  in  a  speech  or 
pamphlet,  it  is  too  preposterous  to  weigh  seriously  with  a 
man  of  your  understanding ;  and  1  am  confident  you  will 
admit  the  case  to  be  fairly  put.  Is  it  then  from  a  relief  of 
taxes,  or  from  the  control  of  Parliament,  "  in  all  cases 
whatsoever,"  we  are  in  war?  If  for  the  former,  the  quarrel 
is  at  an  end  ;  there  is  not  a  man  of  sense  and  information 
in  America,  who  doss  not  know  it  is  in  the  power  of 
the  Colonies  to  put  an  end  to  the  exercise  of  taxation 
immediately  and  forever.  I  boldly  assert  it,  because  sense 
and  information  will  also  suggest  to  every  man,  that  it  can 
never  be  the  interest  of  Britain,  after  her  late  experience, 
to  make  another  trial. 

But  if  the  other  ground  is  taken,  and  it  is  intended  to 
wrest  from  Great  Britain  a  link  of  that  substantial,  and, 
I  hope,  perpelual  chain,  by  which  the  Empire  holds,  think 
it  not  a  ministerial  mandate  ;  think  it  not  a  mere  profes- 
sional ardour ;  think  it  not  a  prejudice  against  a  part  of  our 
fellow-subjects,  that  induces  men  of  integrity,  (and  among 
such  you  have  done  me  the  honour  to  class  me,)  to  act  with 
vigour ;  but  be  assured  it  is  a  conviction  that  the  whole  of 
our  political  system  depends  upon  the  preservation  of  its 
great  and  essential  parts  distinctly,  and  no  part  is  so  great 
and  essential  as  supremacy  of  legislation.  It  is  a  convic- 
tion, that  as  a  King  of  England  never  appears  in  so  glorious 
a  light  as  when  he  employs  the  executive  powers  of  the 
state  to  maintain  the  laws,  so,  in  the  present  exertions  of 
that  power,  His  Majesty  is  particularly  entitled  to  our  zeal 
and  grateful  obedience,  not  only  as  soldiers  but  as  citizens. 

These  principles,  depend  upon  it,  actuate  the  Army  and 
Fleet  throughout.  And  let  me  at  the  same  time  add,  there 
are  few,  if  any,  gentlemen  among  us  who  would  have  drawn 
his  sword  in  the  cause  of  slavery. 

But  why  do  I  bind  myself  to  the  Navy  and  Army  ?  The 
sentiments  I  have  touched  are  those  of  the  great  bulk  of 
the  Nation.  I  appeal  to  the  landed  men  who  have  so 
long  borne  burdens  for  America;  I  appeal  to  those  trading 
Towns  who  are  sufferers  by  the  dispute,  and  the  City  of 
London  at  the  head  of  them,  notwithstanding  the  petitions 
and  remonstrances  which  the  arts  of  party  and  faction  have 
extorted  from  some  individuals;  and  last,  because  least  in 
your  favour,  I  appeal  to  the  majorities  in  the  Houses  of 
Parliament  upon  American  questions  this  session.  The 
most  licentious  news-writers  want  assurance  to  call  these 
majorities  Ministerial,  much  less  will  you  give  them  that 
name  when  you  impartially  examine  the  characters  that 
compose  them  ;  men  of  the  most  independent  principles 
and  fortunes,  and  many  of  them  professedly  in  opposition 
to  the  Court  in  the  general  line  of  their  conduct. 

Among  other  supporters  of  British  rights  against  Ame- 
rican claims,  I  will  not  speak  positively,  but  I  firmly  be- 
lieve I  may  name  the  man  of  whose  integrity  you  have 
the  highest  opinion,  and  whose  friendship  is  nearest  your 
heart — I  mean  Lord  Thanet,  from  whom  my  Aid-de-Camp 
has  a  letter  for  you,  and  also  one  from  Sir  Charles  Davers. 
I  do  not  enclose  them,  because  the  writers,  little  imagining 
how  difficult  your  conduct  would  render  our  intercourse, 
desired  they  might  be  delivered  to  your  own  hands. 

For  this  purpose,  as  well  as  to  renew  "  the  rights  of  fel- 
lowship," I  wish  to  see  you  ;  and,  above  all,  I  should  find 
an  interview  happy  if  it  should  induce  such  explanation  as 
might  tend  in  their  consequences  to  peace.  I  feel,  in  com- 
mon with  all  around  me,  for  the  unhappy  bulk  of  this 
Country ;  they  foresee  not  the  distress  that  is  impending 
over  them.  I  know  Great  Britain  is  ready  to  open  her 
arms  upon  the  first  overture  of  accommodation  ;  1  know- 
she  is  equally  resolute  to  maintain  her  original  rights ;  and 
if  the  war  proceeds,  your  one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand 
men  will  not  be  a  match  for  her  power. 

The  place  I  would  propose  for  our  meeting  is  the  house 
upon  Boston  Neck,  just  within  our  advanced  sentries,  called 


Brown's  house.  I  will  obtain  authority  to  give  my  parole 
of  honour  for  your  safe  return.  I  shall  expect  the  same 
on  your  part,  that  no  insult  be  offered  to  me.  If  this  plan 
is  agreeable  to  you,  name  your  day  and  hour.  At  all  events, 
accept  a  sincere  return  of  the  assurances  with  which  you 
honour  me,  and  believe  me,  in  all  personal  considerations, 
affectionately  yours. 

P.  S.  I  obeyed  your  commands  to  General  Howe  and 
Clinton.  I  also  communicated  your  letter  and  my  answer 
to  Lord  Percy.  They  all  join  me  in  compliments,  and 
authorize  me  to  assure  you  they  do  the  same  in  principle. 


To  the  Honourable  the  Provincial  Congress  of  Massachc- 

setts-Bay,  convened  at  Watertown,  July  8,  1775. 
The  Petition  of  the  Selectmen  and  Committee  of  Safety, 
at  the  desire  and  in  behalf  of  the  Inhabitants  of  the 
District  of  Harpswell,  humbly  sheweth  : 
That  your  petitioners  have  at  all  times  exerted  them- 
selves in  prosecuting  those  measures  recommended  by  the 
Continental  and  Provincial  Congresses ;  that  it  is  their 
fixed  determination  to  continue  thus  to  do ;  that  some  of 
said  inhabitants  cheerfully  enlisted  for  the  publick  safety, 
and  so  ward  off  that  despotick  and  arbitrary  power  with 
which  Administration  is  aiming  to  govern  the  Colonies. 

That  said  District,  on  the  account  of  the  situation,  being 
an  isthmus,  or  neck  of  land,  about  ten  miles  in  length, 
(with  many  adjacent  islands,)  navigable  on  each  side  up- 
wards of  seven  miles,  for  ships  of  the  Navy,  and  abound- 
ing with  cattle,  sheep,  kc,  is  peculiarly  exposed  to  the 
ravages  of  the  British  Troops.  That  the  inhabitants  of 
said  District  did,  at  their  own  cost,  station  guards  every  night 
at  sundry  places  most  exposed,  lest  the  Troops  should 
not  be  benefited  by  their  provisions.  That  the  enlisted 
men  were,  upon  the  twentieth  of  June  last,  put  upon  duty 
by  order  of  their  superiour  officers,  to  guard  said  District 
from  the  plundering  of  Troops  which  were  daily  expected 
with  cutters,  kc.  That  the  inhabitants  of  said  District  are 
in  low  circumstances,  and  are  unable  to  enlist  any  more 
men  unless  their  husbandry  employment  greatly  suffers, 
which  must  be  an  additional  distress  to  that  which  they 
already  feel.  That  should  the  men  already  enlisted  be 
called  away  to  join  the  Army,  said  District  is  liable  to  fttll 
an  easy  prey  to  the  ravages  of  Troops  which  may  attack 
it  for  fresh  provisions.  Your  petitioners  therefore  humbly 
pray  that  this  honourable  Congress,  in  their  great  wisdom, 
would  allow  said  District  the  number  of  men  already  en- 
listed, with  such  an  additional  number  as  the  Congress  may 
judge  proper;  and  your  petitioners,  as  in  duty  bound, shall 
ever  pray.  John  Rodick, 

Wm.  Sylvester, 
Selectmen  of  said  District. 
Paul  Randall, 
Wm.  Sylvester, 
Committee  of  Safety  for  said  District. 
Harpswell,  July  8,  1775. 


NEW- HAMPSHIRE  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY  TO  DR.  LANGDON. 

In  Committee  of  Safety,  Exeter,  July  8,  1775. 

Reverend  Sir  :  We  have  sent  several  letters  to  the 
Committee  to  be  forwarded  to  the  Continental  Congress ; 
but  as  we  have  had  no  account  from  the  Congress  nor  our 
Delegates  of  their  being  received,  we  fear,  by  some  means 
or  other,  they  have  been  neglected.  The  enclosed  letter 
is  of  great  consequence  to  us  ;  we  therefore  beg  the  favour 
of  you  to  forward  it  by  the  first  safe  conveyance.  By  your 
connection  with  the  General,  it  is  probable  you  will  know 
of  every  opportunity,  which  we  hope  will  be  a  sufficient 
apology  for  troubling  you. 

I  am,  in  behalf  of  said  Committee, 

William  Whipple. 

Reverend  Doctor  Langdon. 

NEW-HAMPSHIRE  committee  of  safety  to  their  dele- 
gates AT  THE  CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS. 

Gentlemen  :  The  Congress  of  this  Colony  adjourned 
yesterday  to  the  twenty-second  of  next  month,  having  dele- 
gated their  power  to  this  Committee  during  their  recess,  to 
provide  for  the  publick  safety. 


1613 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JULY,  1775. 


1614 


In  a  former  letter  the  Congress  informed  you  that  this 
Colony  chose  Deputies,  who  met  the  seventeenth  of  May 
last  in  Convention  Congress  at  Exeter,  and  voted  to  raise 
two  thousand  men  for  the  common  defence  of  the  Colonies, 
which  men  are  now,  and  have  been  some  time  raised  and 
put  under  the  care  of  Nathaniel  Folsom,  Esq.,  who  was 
appointed  a  Major-General  under  the  Commander-in-Chief 
of  the  American  Forces,  and  have  joined  the  Army  before 
Boston,  except  two  companies  for  the  guard  of  our  sea- 
coast.  At  present  the  news  from  Canada,  of  their  hostile 
preparations,  (an  account  of  which  from  Connecticut,  and 
by  Mr.  Deane,  Missionary  from  Canada,  we  expect  will 
reach  you  before  this,)  have  so  alarmed  the  inland  frontiers, 
that  the  Congress  have  ordered  three  companies,  of  sixty- 
six  men  each,  to  be  raised  and  posted  for  their  defence. 
The  cost  of  raising  so  many  men  you  will  readily  see  to 
be  a  difficult  task  for  so  small  a  Colony,  without  any  money 
to  begin  with.  We  have  wrote  to  you  and  to  the  Congress 
on  the  situation  of  our  affairs  several  times,  but  not  receiv- 
ing any  directions,  we  have  emitted  ten  thousand  Pounds 
in  notes  of  hand,  on  the  credit  of  this  Colony,  payable 
with  six  per  cent,  interest,  and  have  ordered  ten  thousand 
Pounds  more  to  be  forthwith  emitted,  for  supplying  the 
present  exigences  of  the  Colony.  Some  conceive  some 
resolves  of  the  American  Congress,  giving  such  notes  a 
currency,  would  be  of  great  service.  We  are  greatly  con- 
cerned for  gunpowder,  as  we  have  scarce  any  except  what 
was  taken  out  of  the  fort  last  winter,  a  considerable  part  of 
which  we  have  sent  to  the  Army  before  Boston,  and  some 
to  our  western  frontiers.  We  hope  some  plan  is  laid  for 
bringing  it  into  the  Southern  Colonies,  as  New-England 
is  so  watched  and  guarded  that  there  is  but  a  little  hope  of 
getting  in  here.  The  ships-of-war  and  cutters,  previous  to 
the  first  of  this  month,  seized  all  vessels  laden  with  pro- 
visions, salt,  or  molasses,  which  have  much  distressed  the 
eastern  parts,  but  not  discouraged  them.  They  have  de- 
stroyed Fort  William  and  Mary,  and  carried  off  the  cannon 
to  Boston,  except  eight  large  pieces  taken  from  Jersey's 
Point  some  time  ago  secured,  and  some  of  them  are  now 
pointed  against  Boston.  We  are  anxious  to  know  the  re- 
sult of  your  determinations,  in  order  to  conduct  the  affairs 
of  this  Colony,  which  at  this  time  is  in  some  confusion,  the 
people  not  suffering  things  to  proceed  in  their  former  man- 
ner. The  General  Court  has  twice  met,  but  has  not,  and, 
we  believe,  will  not  proceed  to  the  publick  business. 

We  desire  you,  as  often  as  opportunity  will  permit,  to 
write  to  this  Congress,  or  the  Committee  of  Safety  at  Exe- 
ter, and  to  inform  us,  from  time  to  time,  as  much  of  the 
affairs  of  the  publick  as  is  permitted ;  in  particular,  the  di- 
rections of  the  Congress  concerning  providing  for  and  pay- 
ing the  Army  raised  for  the  common  defence.  On  the 
twelfth  of  June  last,  Colonel  John  Fenton,  who  was  chosen 
a  member  of  the  General  Court  by  virtue  of  the  King's, 
or  rather  the  Govemour's  writ,  without  the  consent  of  the 
Assembly,  made  his  appearance  in  the  House,  though  he 
had  for  some  time  before  kept  on  board  the  man-of-war  in 
the  harbour.  The  House  took  into  consideration  his  elec- 
tion, and  vacated  his  seat.  Soon  after,  the  people  of  the 
Town,  greatly  exasperated  at  his  conduct,  obliged  him  to 
surrender,  though  he  had  taken  shelter  in  the  Governour's 
house;  and  our  Congress  have  since  confined  him.  The 
Governour  and  his  family  went  off  that  evening  to  Captain 
Cochran's,  under  the  protection  of  the  man-of-war,  where 
they  still  remain.  The  publick  records  being  thought  un- 
safe in  the  Town  of  Portsmouth,  have  all,  by  order  of 
Congress,  been  removed  to  Exeter,  except  the  books  of 
charters,  which  the  Secretary  says  the  Governour  has  at 
present  in  his  possession.  A  Committee  from  this  body  has 
demanded  and  received  from  George  Jaffrey,  Esq.,  fifteen 
hundred  Pounds,  part  of  the  publick  money  in  his  hands. 


CONGRESS  OF  NEW-HAMPSHIRE  TO  THE  CONTINENTAL 
CONGRESS. 

Exeter,  July  8,  1775. 
Gentlemen  :  As  the  state  of  American  affairs  daily  ap- 
pears more  critical,  and  we  are  exerting  ourselves  in  every 
way  we  conceive  expedient  to  aid  the  common  cause,  we 
think  it  our  duty  to  give  you  the  earliest  account  of  our 
transactions,  that  thereby  you  may  be  enabled  to  direct  our 
future  conduct. 


We  wrote  you  some  time  since  an  account  of  our  being 
formed  into  a  Congress  on  the  seventeenth  May  last,  and 
resolved  to  raise  two  thousand  men,  tec.,  which  we  hope 
you  have  received. 

Twenty-eight  of  our  companies,  of  sixty-six  men  each, 
including  officers,  are  posted  in  the  vicinity  of  Boston.  We 
have  appointed  Nathaniel  Folsom,  Esq.,  a  Major-General, 
to  take  the  charge  of  them,  under  the  command  of  the 
General  of  the  united  American  Forces,  and  two  compa- 
nies of  the  like  number  each  are  posted  as  a  guard  on  our 
sea-coasts  ;  since  which  we  have  raised  three  companies,  of 
the  same  number  each,  for  a  guard  against  the  incursions  of 
the  Canadians  into  the  frontiers  of  this  and  the  adjoining 
Colonies,  (w  ho  are  greatly  alarmed  at  the  repeated  accounts 
of  preparations  making  against  them  in  Canada,)  many  of 
the  inhabitants  w  hereof  are  within  two  days  march  of  the 
French  and  Indian  settlements. 

We  have  but  very  little  gunpowder  in  the  Colony,  nor 
have  any  prospect  of  a  supply  at  present,  as  our  sea-coast 
is  strictly  watched  by  men-of-war  and  cutters,  but  hope  soon 
to  have  a  sufficient  number  of  fire-arms,  of  our  own  manu- 
facturing, to  make  up  our  present  deficiency,  though  we 
find  great  difficulty  in  procuring  steel  for  that  purpose. 

The  Colony  is  at  present  wholly  governed  by  this  Con- 
gress and  the  Committees  of  the  respective  Towns.  But  we 
greatly  desire  some  other  regulations,  as  our  present  situa- 
tion is  attended  with  many  difficulties;  but  we  shall  not 
attempt  any  thing  of  that  kind  without  your  direction. 
There  is  great  unanimity  among  us  in  what  concerns  the 
common  cause ;  those  who  do  not  join  with  us  are  silent, 
and  dare  not  openly  attempt  to  obstruct  our  measures. 

The  Restraining  Bill  is  strictly  enforced  on  our  sea-coast 
by  armed  vessels,  and  some  seizures  have  been  made  by 
virtue  thereof. 

We  understand  Mr.  Deane,  a  Missionary  among  the 
Canada  Indians,  lately  from  thence,  is  now  on  his  journey 
to  Philadelphia,  and  will  give  you  an  account  of  the  state 
of  affairs  there;  from  which  you  will,  we  hope,  be  able  to 
concert  some  plan  to  frustrate  the  designs  forming  against 
us  in  that  quarter,  in  which,  if  required,  we  shall  be  ready- 
to  assist  to  the  utmost  of  our  ability. 

We  are,  gentlemen,  with  the  utmost  respect,  your  most 
obedient  humble  servants.  By  order  of  the  Congress  of 
the  Colony  of  Neiv-Hampshirc. 

Meshech  Weare,  President  pro  tempore. 

Honourable  Members  of  the  Continental  Congress,  Phila- 
delphia. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  LONDON,  JULY  9,  1775. 

Our  dependance  on  New- York,  and  (under  God)  the 
preservation  of  that  City  and  Colony  from  a  very  shameful 
defection,  which  has  been  fatal  to  the  cause  of  freedom, 
has  been  greatly  owing  to  the  abilities,  zeal,  and  assiduity 
of  the  worthy  Mr.  Holt.  What  pleasure  is  it  for  those 
whose  chief  enjoyment  consists  in  the  happiness  and  se- 
curity of  their  fellow-creatures,  to  witness  such  exertions 
to  save  our  Country,  to  annoy  its  insidious  enemies,  and 
carry  into  every  corner  of  it  the  discoveries  and  advice  of 
its  friends. 

The  business  is  now  to  develop  the  schemes  laying  to 
deceive  and  divide  the  New-  Yorkers,  finding  mere  force 
like  to  answer  no  valuable  end.  They  now  talk  of  blocking 
up  the  ports,  and  thus  distressing  the  trade,  to  make  people 
quarrel  with  each  other,  which  quarrels  some  are  employed 
to  foment.  They  have  given  out  word  that  they  will  call 
Lord  Chatham  into  office,  but  it  is  false;  Chatham  is  old 
and  very  feeble,  not  able  to  bear  the  fatigues  of  business. 
Besides,  he  will  not  accept  it  without  a  total  change  of  the 
Ministry,  a  dissolution  of  the  present  Parliament,  and  the 
calling  of  a  new  one  by  the  free  choice  of  the  people. 

The  true  state  of  the  matter  is,  that  the  Ministry  still 
intend  to  drive  on,  in  hopes  that  you  will  in  time  submit, 
and  all  will  be  theirs.  They  use  every  means  in  their 
power  to  deceive  the  people,  both  here  and  in  America, 
that  they  may  get  their  plan  established  of  keeping  up  a 
Standing  Army  in  the  Colonies,  increased  by  degrees  till 
they  become  masters  of  the  Colonists  and  all  their  property, 
as  they  have  done  here. 

The  Lord  Mayor  is  assiduous  to  the  last.  The  Livery 
of  London  are  now  all  alarmed,  and  have  sent  petitions 


1615 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  kc,  JULY,  1775. 


1616 


and  remonstrances  one  after  another.  They  have  taken  up 
the  affair  in  such  good  earnest  as  will  very  probably  excite 
a  civil  war  in  England.  The  ferment  in  the  City  is  cer- 
tainly prodigious.  The  land-holders  also  begin  to  be  moved 
and  aid  the  merchants,  and  the  common  people  are  all 
entering  into  associations,  and  consulting  what  is  best  to  be 
done. 


RECEPTION  OF  GENERAL  SCHUYLER  AT  ALBANY. 

Albany,  Sunday,  July  9,  1775. 
About  one  o'clock,  P.  M.,  Major-General  Schuyler  ar- 
rived here  from  New-York.  He  was  received,  upon  his 
landing,  by  the  members  of  the  General  Committee  for  the 
City  and  County,  and  by  the  City  Troops  of  Horse,  under 
the  command  of  Captain  Ten  BroecJc,  and  the  Association 
Company,  commanded  by  Captain  Bleecker,  and  by  the 
principal  inhabitants  of  the  City.  After  paying  the  General 
the  honours  due  to  his  rank,  they  escorted  him  and  the 
gentlemen  of  the  Committee  to  the  City-Hall,  where  the 
Committee  presented  an  Address,  and  received  a  polite 
answer  from  the  General.  They  afterwards  proceeded  to 
the  King's-Arms  Tavern,  where  an  elegant  entertainment 
was  provided. 

"  The  Address  of  the  Committee  of  Safety,  Correspond- 
ence, and  Protection, of  the  City  and  County  of  Albany, 
to  Philip  Schuyler,  Esq.,  Major-General  and  Com- 
mander of  the  Forces  in  the  Colony  of  New-York: 

"  Permit  us,  Sir,  to  express  our  fullest  approbation  upon 
the  appointment  by  which  your  Country  has  raised  you  to 
the  chief  military  command  in  this  Colony.  While  we  de- 
plore, as  the  greatest  misfortune,  the  necessity  of  such  an 
appointment,  we  have  the  utmost  confidence  that  you  have 
accepted  of  power  for  the  glorious  purpose  of  exercising  it 
for  the  re-establishment  of  the  liberties  of  America,  at 
present  unnaturally  invaded  by  a  deluded  and  despotick 
Ministry. 

"  Born  and  educated  amongst  us,  in  a  Country  which 
freedom  has  raised  to  a  state  of  opulence  and  envy,  you, 
whose  principles  are  known,  whose  sentiments  have  been 
invariably  opposed  to  power,  afford  us  the  pleasing  pros- 
pect of  the  unremitted  exertion  of  your  knowledge,  pru- 
dence, and  experience,  for  the  restoration  of  harmony  and 
peace  upon  constitutional  principles.  When  the  sword 
shall  be  rendered  useless,  except  against  our  natural  ene- 
mies ;  when  we  shall  see  you  restored  to  the  peaceful  state 
of  a  private  citizen  ;  when  this  happy  period  shall  arrive, 
then,  and  not  till  then,  will  Americans  enjoy  the  glorious 
blessings  of  freedom. 

"By  order  of  the  Committee. 

'•'Samuel  Stringer,  Chairman  pro  tempore." 

The  General's  Answer. 

"  Gentlemen  :  I  feel  myself  so  sensibly  affected  by  this 
publick  and  friendly  address,  that  whilst  my  heart  overflows 
with  sentiments  of  gratitude,  I  want  words  properly  to  con- 
vey my  thanks. 

"  The  honour  you  do  me  in  the  approbation  which  you 
are  pleased  to  express  of  my  appointment  to  a  military  com- 
mand, confirms  me  in  the  pleasing  reflection,  that  I  shall 
experience  your  assistance  in  a  continuance  of  those  gene- 
rous exertions,  by  which  you  have  already  so  conspicuously 
manifested  your  love  for  your  Country,  and  your  zeal  for 
its  cause. 

"  1  most  sincerely  and  unfeignedly  deplore  with  you  the 
unhappy  occasion  which  has  forced  America  to  have  re- 
course to  arms  for  her  safety  and  defence.  Ambitious  only 
to  aid  in  restoring  her  violated  rights,  1  shall  most  cheerfully 
return  my  sword  to  the  scabbard,  and,  with  alacrity,  resume 
the  employment  of  civil  life,  whenever  my  constituents 
shall  direct,  or  whenever  a  happy  reconciliation  with  the 
Parent  State  shall  take  place. 

"  That  indulgent  Heaven  may  guide  us  through  this 
tempestuous  scene,  and  speedily  restore  peace,  harmony, 
and  mutual  confidence  to  every  part  of  the  British  Empire, 
is  the  warmest  wish  of  my  heart. 

"Philip  Schuyler. 

"Albany,  July  9,  1775." 


CONGRESS  OF  MASSACHUSETTS  TO  CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS. 
[Read  July  20,  1775  ] 
In  Provincial  Congress,  Watertown,  July  9,  1775. 

May  it  please  your  Honours  :  With  hearts  deeply 
affected  by  the  sufferings  of  our  friends  in  the  Town  and 
harbour  of  Boston  under  the  cruel  hand  of  tyrannick  power, 
we  think  it  incumbent  on  us  to  take  every  measure  which 
may  tend  to  their  release.  To  that  end  we  now  beg  leave 
humbly  to  suggest  to  your  Honours,  whether  it  would  not 
be  expedient  immediately  to  seize  every  Crown  Officer 
within  the  united  Colonies,  and  them  in  safe  custody  retain, 
until  this  purpose  be  effected,  and  full  compensation  made 
them  for  the  insult  and  perfidious  treatment  they  have  re- 
ceived from  General  Gage. 

We  have  only  once  more  to  express  our  wishes,  that  if 
the  general  service  will  permit,  you  might  adjourn  to  some 
convenient  place  nearer  the  seat  of  action,  that  we  might 
more  speedily  obtain  the  aid  and  advice  of  the  Grand 
Council  of  the  Continent  in  those  important  matters  which, 
though  of  general  concern,  do  more  immediately  affect  us. 

We  are,  with  great  respect,  your  Honours'  most  obedi- 
ent humble  servant.    In  behalf  and  by  order  of  Congress. 

James  Warren,  President. 

To  the  Honourable  John  Hancock,  Esquire. 


EXTRACT   OF  A  LETTER  TO   A  GENTLEMAN   IN  PHILADEL- 
PHIA, FROM  THE  CAMP   AT  CAMBRIDGE,  DATED  JULY  9, 

1775. 

Yesterday  morning,  at  half  past  two  o'clock,  we  were 
called  up,  and  were  informed  the  enemy  had  attacked  our 
lines  at  Roxbury  Neck,  and  soon  discovered  a  great  fire  in 
that  quarter ;  but  two  hours  elapsed  before  we  knew  the 
cause,  which  was  as  follows: 

Two  hundred  volunteers,  from  the  Rhode-Island  and 
Massachusetts  forces,  undertook  to  burn  a  guard-house  of 
the  Regulars,  on  the  neck,  within  three  hundred  yards  of 
the  enemy's  principal  works.  They  detached  six  men, 
about  ten  o'clock  in  the  evening,  with  orders  to  cross  on 
a  marsh  up  to  the  rear  of  the  guard-house,  and  there  to 
watch  an  opportunity  to  fire  it.  The  remainder  of  the  vo- 
lunteers secreted  themselves  in  the  marsh,  on  each  side  of 
the  neck,  about  two  hundred  yards  from  the  house.  Two 
pieces  of  brass  artillery  were  drawn  softly  on  the  marsh, 
within  three  hundred  yards,  and,  upon  a  signal  from  the 
advanced  party  of  six  men,  two  rounds  of  cannon  shot 
were  fired  through  the  guard-house  ;  immediately  the  Regu- 
lars, who  formed  a  guard  of  forty-five  or  fifty  men,  quit- 
ted the  house,  and  were  then  fired  upon  by  the  musketry, 
who  drove  them  with  precipitation  into  their  lines;  the  six 
men  posted  near  the  house  set  fire  to  it,  and  burnt  it  to 
the  ground  ;  after  this  they  burnt  another  house  nearer  the 
enemy,  without  losing  a  man.  They  took  two  muskets 
and  accoutrements,  a  halbert,  &tc,  all  of  which  were 
bloody,  and  shewed  evident  marks  of  loss  on  the  part  of 
the  Regulars  as  an  advanced  post,  and  gave  them  an  op- 
portunity of  discovering  our  operations  at  Roxbury. 

Yesterday  afternoon  some  barges  were  sounding  the  river 
of  Cambridge,  near  its  mouth,  but  were  soon  obliged  to  row 
off  by  our  Indians,  (fifty  in  number,)  who  are  encamped 
near  that  place. 

The  enemy  lost  a  great  number  of  officers  and  soldiers 
in  the  affair  of  the  19th  of  June.  From  several  persons 
who  are  to  be  credited,  it  exceeds  nine  hundred  killed  and 
mortally  wounded,  besides  a  great  number  disabled  from 
future  service.  It  is  said  almost  all  the  officers  of  the 
Army,  as  well  as  sergeants  and  corporals,  were  in  the  en- 
gagement, leading  and  forcing  the  soldiers  to  mount  the  hill. 
This  may  account  for  so  many  officers  being  killed  as  nine- 
ty-two. Some  accounts  mention  a  general  destruction  of 
sergeants  and  corporals.  We  have  frequent  interviews 
with  the  regulars  officers  in  a  valley  between  the  two  for- 
tified hills. 

Our  sentries  are  not  more  than  one  hundred  yards  off 
each  other.  Both  sides  are  still  busy  in  securing  them- 
selves. There  is  scarcely  a  house  in  the  lower  part  of 
Roxbury  that  is  not  much  injured  by  shot  and  bombs ;  our 
people  have  lost  only  one  man  by  them,  which  is  very  re- 
markable, as  one  hundred  at  least  were  fired  into  Roxbury 
last  week. 


1617 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JULY,  1775. 


1618 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  A  GENTLEMAN  IN  LONDON  TO 
HIS  FRIEND  IN  NEW-YORK,  DATED  JULY  10,  1775. 

The  present  struggle  between  this  Country  and  North 
America,  I  have  heard  old  people,  fifty  years  ago,  predict. 
It  is  in  the  nature  of  things  that  the  greater  will  not  longer 
obey  the  lesser  than  when  an  opportunity  presents  to  exert 
itself,  which  period  seems  now  to  be  come.  I  have  always 
been  of  opinion,  that  the  measures  pursued  here  since  1763, 
were  mistaken  and  unjust.  This  Country  should  have  been 
content  to  take  the  wealth  of  America  by  trade,  and  not  by 
revenue  acts  imposed  on  a  people  unrepresented.  The 
Assemblies  of  the  Colonies  only  have  a  right  to  give  and 
grant  when  they  think  proper  to  the  Crown,  and  not  an 
assembly  of  people  here.  This  reasoning,  1  think,  is  in 
the  law  of  nature  and  this  Constitution  ;  and  so  says  Mr. 
Locke. 

But  the  last  reasoning  of  Kings  has  now  taken  place,  and 
the  Americans  have  appealed  to  Heaven,  that  is,  their  sword. 
1  hope  you  will  do  your  duty  to  your  Country,  and  always 
remember  your  allegiance  and  constitutional  duty  to  your 
King ;  no  other  can  or  ought  to  be  required. 

The  men  that  1  think  are  the  evil  counsellors  in  the  pre- 
sent mistaken  measures  are,  Lords  Bute,  Mansfield,  Roch- 
ford,  Sandwich,  North,  and  many  of  inferiour  rank.  The 
greatest  part  of  the  Nation  wish  well  to  America,  and  de- 
test the  present  politicks  ;  so  that  it  is  a  war  of  Adminis- 
tration only.  As  to  Parliament,  that  House  is  very  civil 
and  polite  to  the  Minister;  a  very  few  members  there 
sometimes  oppose  him,  only  because  they  are  out  of  place,  or 
have  no  pension;  but  when  a  question  is  put,  he  carries  it  as 
he  pleases,  and  often  ten  or  twenty  to  one.  However,  the 
Ministry,  I  think,  are  sick  of  the  war  in  America;  yet  I  see 
not  the  least  trace  of  their  relaxing,  except  that  I  hear  of 
no  preparation  to  send  more  Troops,  but  probably  they 
will  cover  the  coast  with  ships-of-vvar,  and  suffer  no  trade  ; 
and  truly  I  think  that  would  be  a  blessing  to  America  in- 
stead of  a  curse. 

The  eyes  of  Government  are  fixed  on  the  Congress  and 
their  resolutions,  and  perhaps  on  their  proposals  ;  for  it  is 
said  that  Administration  cannot  yield,  as  being  contrary  to 
the  dignity  of  the  Crown.  I  answer,  then  change  the  Min- 
isters ;  another  set  could  with  a  good  grace  withdraw  the 
present  measures.  But,  in  short,  I  think  the  rupture  will 
be  much  greater  before  the  wound  is  healed.  Some  more 
blood  must  be  drawn,  and  then  they,  when  cooled,  will 
hear,  and  perhaps  agree  for  some  time ;  but  whenever  set- 
tled, 1  imagine  America  will  carry  some  points  towards  the 
establishment  of  their  liberties. 


EXTRACT   OF  A  LETTER  FROM  LONDON   TO  A  GENTLEMAN 
IN  MARYLAND,  DATED  JULY  10,  1775. 

I  need  not  tell  you  that  the  account  of  the  Lexington 
skirmish  alarmed  the  people  on  this  side  the  water  extreme- 
ly. They  did  not  imagine  the  Provincials  would  fight,  and 
they  had  certainly  entertained  a  notion,  that  a  handful  of 
Regulars  might  overcome  the  whole  Country,  and  frighten 
the  Americans  into  compliance.  They  have  been  most  mis- 
erably mistaken  ;  and  the  authors  of  this  mischief  are  now 
execrated  by  every  friend  to  his  Country.  On  the  other 
hand,  the  bravery,  moderation,  as  well  as  determined  firm- 
ness of  the  Americans,  have  gained  them  many  friends 
here,  even  among  those  who  were  originally  their  enemies. 
I  believe  the  Ministry  wish  they  were  well  rid  of  this 
business;  however,  it  is  not  certainly  known  what  they 
intend  to  do. 


SOUTH-CAROLINA  ASSEMBLY. 

Tlie  Speech  of  his  Excellency  the  Right  Honourable  Lord 
William  Campbell,  Captain-General,  Governour-in- 
Chief  Sfc,  ty"C,  in  and  over  his  Majesty's  Province 
of  South-Carolina,  to  the  General  Assembly  of  the 
said  Province,  at  Charlestown,  on  Monday,  July 
10,  1775. 

Honourable  Gentlemen  of  his  Majesty's  Council, 

Mr.  Speaker  and  Gentlemen  of  the  Assembly  : 
His  Majesty's  instructions,  my  own  inclination,  and  the 
very  alarming  and  critical  situation  of  the  Province,  have 
induced  me  to  meet  you  in  General  Assembly,  as  soon  as 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  II.  1 


was  consistent  with  that  attention  necessary  to  be  paid  to 
your  own  private  affairs  at  this  season. 

My  appointment  to  the  Government  of  this  Province, 
entitled,  on  every  account,  to  my  warmest  wishes  and  en- 
deavours for  its  welfare  and  happiness,  was  to  me  a  most 
pleasing  mark  of  his  Majesty's  favour,  as  I  flattered  my- 
self that,  with  your  assistance  and  advice,  I  should  have 
been  able  to  prosecute  such  schemes,  and  concur  in  sucli 
measures,  as  would  have  contributed  to  increase  that  pros- 
perity to  which  1  saw  it  so  rapidly  advancing  when  1  was 
last  in  the  Province. 

Filled  with  these  sentiments,  and  elated  by  these  hopes, 
it  is  not  easy  to  conceive  my  grief  and  disappointment  at 
finding  the  Province  in  the  distracted  state  it  is  now  in : 
the  legal  administration  of  justice  obstructed  ;  Government 
in  a  manner  annihilated ;  the  most  dangerous  measures 
adopted ;  and  acts  of  the  most  outrageous  and  illegal  na- 
ture committed  publickly  with  impunity. 

It  is  by  no  means  either  my  duty  or  inclination  to  enter 
into  a  discussion  of  the  disputes  that  at  present  unhappily 
subsist  between  Great  Britain  and  her  Colonies  in  Ame- 
rica; but  I  think  myself  indispensably  bound  to  warn  you 
of  the  danger  you  are  in,  and  inform  you  that  if  there  are  any 
grievances  that  you  apprehend  the  people  of  this  Province 
now  labour  under,  the  measures  at  present  adopted  are  by 
no  means  calculated  to  remove  them  ;  but,  on  the  contrary, 
cannot  fail  of  drawing  down  inevitable  ruin  on  this  flourish- 
ing Colony.  Let  me,  therefore,  gentlemen,  most  earnest- 
ly entreat  you,  as  the  only  legal  representatives  of  the  peo- 
ple in  this  Province,  the  only  constitutional  guardians  of 
its  welfare,  and  who  are  so  deeply  interested  in  the  event 
of  the  measures  now  carrying  on,  to  deliberate  and  resolve 
with  that  coolness,  temper,  and  moderation,  the  important 
instant  demands ;  and  to  reflect  that  the  happiness  or 
misery  of  generations  yet  unborn,  will  depend  on  your 
determinations. 

These  sentiments  flow  from  a  heart  filled  with  a  fervent 
zeal  for  the  real  interest  and  happiness  of  this  Province. 
You  may  be  assured,  if  ever  it  is  in  my  power  to  be  in  any 
degree  instrumental  to  restoring  that  harmony,  cordiality, 
confidence,  and  affection,  which  ought  to  subsist  between 
Great  Britain  and  her  Colonies,  I  shall  esteem  those 
moments  the  happiest  and  most  fortunate  of  my  life. 

William  Campbell. 

Council  Chamber,  July  10,  1775. 

Address  of  the  Upper  House  of  Assembly  to  his  Excel- 
lency the  Right  Honourable  Lord  William  Campbell, 
Captain- General,  Governour  and  Commander-in-Chief 
in  and  over  his  Majesty's  Province  of  South-Caro- 
lina : 

The  humble  Address  of  the  Upper  House  of  Assembly: 
May  it  please  your  Excellency: 

We,  his  Majesty's  most  dutiful  and  loyal  subjects,  the 
Council  of  this  Province,  met  in  general  Assembly,  beg  leave 
humbly  to  address  your  Excellency,  and  most  cordially  to 
congratulate  you  on  your  safe  arrival  in  this  Colony. 

Satisfied  that  this  Province  is  entitled  to  your  Excellen- 
cy's warmest  wishes  and  endeavours  for  its  welfare  and  hap- 
piness, we  felt  the  sincerest  pleasure  on  your  appointment 
to  the  government  of  it. 

Strongly  attached  to  the  interests  of  this  Country,  and 
filled  with  the  warmest  wishes  for  its  prosperity  and  happi- 
ness, we  most  heartily  join  with  your  Excellency  in  lament- 
ing the  distracted  and  unhappy  state  in  which  you  now 
find  it. 

Your  Excellency  having,  as  we  conceive,  with  great  pro- 
priety declined  entering  into  a  discussion  of  the  disputes 
that  at  present  unhappily  subsist  between  Great  Britain  and 
her  Colonies,  it  would  be  highly  unbecoming  us  to  take  up 
a  subject  of  so  delicate  a  nature;  but  we  entirely  coincide 
with  your  Excellency  in  opinion,  that  the  violent  measures 
at  present  adopted  do  not  seem  well  calculated  to  remove 
any  real  grievances,  but  may,  we  fear,  produce  contrary 
effects. 

We,  however,  have  the  happiness  to  reflect,  that  this 
House  had  no  share  in  the  measures  your  Excellency  so 
pathetically  describes:  and  we  beg  leave  to  assure  your 
Excellency,  that  with  hearts  overflowing  with  loyalty  and 
duty  to  the  King,  and  perfectly  devoted  to  the  interests 


1619 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c  ,  JULY,  1775. 


lGviO 


of  this  Province,  we  will  deliberate  and  resolve  upon 
every  measure  that  may  come  before  us,  with  that  temper, 
coolness,  and  moderation,  which  the  important  instant  de- 
mands. 

With  pleasure  we  acknowledge  our  gratitude  to  your 
Excellency  for  the  generous  sentiments  you  express  for  the 
peace  and  prosperity  of  this  Colony ;  and  your  Excellency 
may  rest  assured,  that  the  utmost  efforts  of  this  House  shall 
upon  every  occasion  be  exerted  to  second  your  Excellen- 
cy's humane  endeavours  to  restore  that  harmony,  cordiality, 
confidence,  and  affection,  which  ought  to  subsist  between 
Great  Britain  and  her  Colonies. 

By  order  of  the  House : 

Thomas  Knox  Gordon. 

In  the  Upper  House  of  Assembly,  July  11,  1775. 

His  Excellency's  Answer. 
Gentlemen  :  I  thank  you  most  sincerely  for  this  very 
kind  and  affectionate  address.  Your  warm  declarations  of 
loyalty  and  duty  to  His  Majesty  on  the  present  trying  oc- 
casion, cannot  fail  of  being  particularly  agreeable  to  me, 
as  it  is  a  convincing  proof  of  your  regard  for  the  real  in- 
terests of  this  Province.  William  Cambpell. 
July  12,  1775. 

To  his  Excellency  the  Right  Honourable  Lord  William 
Campbell,  Captain-General,  Govcrnour,and  Comman- 
der-in-Chief in  and  over  his  Majesty's  Colony  of  South- 
Carolina: 

The  humble  Address  of  the  Commons  House  of  Assem- 
bly of  the  said  Colony  : 

May  it  please  your  Excellency : 

We,  His  Majesty's  loyal  subjects,  the  Representatives  of 
the  inhabitants  of  this  Colony,  met  in  General  Assembly 
at  this  very  alarming  and  critical  period,  beg  leave  to  as- 
sure your  Excellency  that  we  are  willing  to  postpone  the 
consideration  of  our  private  affairs  whenever  the  publick 
exigences  demand  our  attention  ;  fully  convinced  that  the 
safety  of  private  property  entirely  depends  upon  the  secu- 
rity of  publick  rights. 

We  most  sincerely  lament  that  His  Majesty's  Councils, 
and  the  conduct  of  his  Ministers,  have  incapacitated  us 
from  meeting  your  Excellency,  whose  zealous  endeavours 
in  Great  Britain  for  the  welfare  of  this  Colony  claim  our 
grateful  acknowledgements,  with  those  effects  of  joyful 
congratulation,  the  effects  of  real  sentiments  upon  your 
arrival  and  assumption  of  the  reins  of  Government,  with 
which,  in  happier  times,  we  have  ever  been  accustomed  to 
meet  His  Majesty's  Representatives ;  but  the  calamities 
of  America,  our  present  dangerous  and  dreadful  situation, 
occupy  all  our  thoughts,  and  banish  from  us  every  idea  of 
joy  and  pleasure. 

Although  we  will  not  doubt  the  fervent  zeal  of  your  Ex- 
cellency's heart  for  the  real  interest  and  happiness  of  this 
Colony,  nor  the  sincerity  of  your  Excellency's  professions 
to  be  instrumental  in  restoring  that  harmony,  cordiality, 
confidence,  and  affection,  which  ought  to  subsist  between 
Great  Britain  and  her  Colonies ;  yet  we  cannot  but  ex- 
press our  surprise  at  the  severe  censures  which  your  Ex- 
cellency has  thought  proper  to  pass  on  "measures"  which 
have  been  "adopted"  by  the  good  people  of  this  Colony, 
in  confederacy  with  all  the  Colonies  on  this  Continent, 
from  Nova-Scotia  to  Georgia,  for  their  own  safety,  and  for 
the  preservation  of  their  liberties,  and  the  liberties  of  gene- 
rations yet  unborn. 

In  times  when  (he  spirit  of  the  Constitution  has  full  ope- 
ration, and,  animating  all  the  members  of  the  State,  gives 
security  to  civil  liberty,  then  we  claim  to  be  "  the  only 
legal  Representatives  of  the  People  in  this  Province,  the 
only  constitutional  guardians  of  its  welfare  ;"  but  in  the 
present  unhappy  situation  of  affairs,  though  our  constituents 
might  have  thought  us  competent,  yet  as  our  meeting  de- 
pended upon  the  pleasure  of  the  Crown,  they  would  not 
trust  to  so  precarious  a  contingency,  but  wisely  appointed 
another  representative  body,  for  necessary,  for  special,  and 
important  purposes. 

We  want  words  to  give  an  idea  of  our  feelings  at  your 
Excellency's  expression,  "  If  there  are  any  grievances  that 
we  apprehend  the  people  of  this  Province  labour  under," 
as  if  you  doubted  their  existence.  The  world  resounds  with 


a  catalogue  of  them.  Your  Excellency  surely  cannot  be 
unacquainted  with  them.  We  should  have  esteemed  it  a 
high  obligation,  if  your  Excellency  had  pointed  out  to  us 
what  effectual  mode  for  the  redress  of  those  grievances 
could  have  been  pursued,  or  what  steps  we  have  omit- 
ted which  we  ought  to  have  taken,  in  order  to  avert  the 
inevitable  ruin  of  this  once  flourishing  Colony.  Every 
pacifick  measure  which  human  wisdom  could  devise  has 
been  used  ;  the  most  humble  and  dutiful  Petitions  to  the 
Throne,  Petitions  to  the  House  of  Lords  and  House  of  Com- 
mons of  Great  Britain,  have  been  repeatedly  presented, 
and  as  often  treated,  not  only  with  slight,  but  with  rigour 
and  resentment :  we,  therefore,  with  all  due  deference  to 
your  Excellency's  judgment,  beg  leave  to  observe,  that 
the  present  are  the  only  measures  which  seem  best  calcula- 
ted for  our  preservation,  and  the  removal  of  our  intolerable 
grievances.  However,  not  confiding  in  them  alone,  we 
wait  the  event,  and  leave  the  justice  of  our  cause  to  the 
great  Sovereign  of  the  Universe,  upon  whom  the  fate  of 
Kingdoms  and  Empires  depends. 
By  order  of  the  House : 

Rawlins  Lowndes,  Speaker. 
Iu  the  Commons  House  of  Assembly,  July  12,  1775. 

His  Excellency's  Answer. 
Mr.  Speaker  and  Gentlemen : 

Immediately  after  my  arrival  in  this  Province,  it  was  in- 
timated to  me  by  your  Speaker,  and  some  others  of  your 
Members,  that  it  would  be  convenient  for  your  private 
affairs,  if  I  delayed  meeting  the  General  Assembly  for  about 
three  weeks  :  on  that  account  alone  I  consented  to  it,  and 
therefore  little  expected  the  tacit  reflection  contained  in 
the  beginning  of  your  Address. 

As  1  have  already  declined  entering  into  any  discussion 
of  the  present  unhappy  disputes,  I  shall  not  undertake  the 
disagreeable  task  of  replying  particularly  to  your  Address. 
It  was  my  duty  to  lay  before  you  the  fatal  consequences  that 
I  apprehended  must  ensue  from  the  measures  lately  adopt- 
ed, and  I  have  faithfully  and  conscientiously  discharged  it ; 
but  as  they  appear  to  you  in  so  very  different  a  point  of 
view,  as  even  to  meet  with  your  disapprobation,  I  most 
sincerely  lament  that  I  cannot  prevent  the  ruin  I  foresee, 
and  shall  only  add  my  fervent  wishes,  that  the  great  Sover- 
eign of  the  Universe,  to  whom  you  appeal,  will  in  his  good- 
ness avert  those  evils  with  which  this  Country  is  so  immi- 
nently threatened.  William  Campbell. 

July  12,  1775. 

A  Message  from  the  Commons  House  to  his  Excellency 
the  Goveinour. 

May  it  please  your  Excellency  : 

We  beg  leave  to  assure  your  Excellency  that  this  House, 
in  their  Address,  was  far  from  intending  any,  the  least, 
reflection  on  your  Excellency's  conduct,  iu  not  meeting 
us  sooner  in  General  Assembly,  and  are  sorry  your  Excel- 
lency should  view  it  in  that  light.  All  we  meant  was,  to 
assure  you  how  ready  we  shall  ever  be  to  sacrifice  our 
private  interest  to  the  publick  service ;  at  the  same  ac- 
knowledging your  Excellency's  goodness  in  so  readily  con- 
senting, on  the  application  of  our  Speaker,  to  postpone  the 
calling  of  the  General  Assembly  to  the  time  you  fixed  for 
their  meeting,  of  which  this  House  had  been  duly  informed 
by  their  Speaker. 

By  order  of  the  House : 

Rawlins  Lowndes,  Speaker. 

In  the  Commons  House  of  Assembly,  July  12,  1775. 


fincastle  county  (virginia)  committee. 
At  a  Committee  held  for  Fincastle  County,  July  10, 
1775. 

William  Christian,  Esq.,  Chairman. 

The  Committee,  taking  into  their  consideration  the  clan- 
destine removal  of  the  Gunpowder  from  the  Magazine  of 
this  Colony  by  order  of  our  Governour,  are  clearly  and 
unanimously  of  opinion,  that  his  Lordship's  conduct  reflects 
much  dishonour  on  himself,  and  that  he  very  justly  deserves 
the  censure  so  universally  bestowed  on  him. 

Resolved,  That  the  spirited  and  meritorious  conduct  of 
Patrick  Ucnry,  Esquire,  and  the  rest  of  the  gentlemen 


1621 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JULY,  1775. 


1622 


volunteers  attending  him  on  the  occasion  of  the  removal  of 
the  Powder  out  of  the  Magazine  in  U  illiamsburgh,  very 
justly  merits  the  hearty  approbation  of  this  Committee; 
for  which  we  return  them  our  thanks,  with  an  assurance, 
that  we  will,  at  the  risk  of  our  lives  and  fortunes,  support 
and  justify  them  with  regard  to  the  reprisal  they  made. 

Resolved,  That  the  Council  of  this  Colony,  in  advising 
and  co-operating  with  Lord  Dunmorc  in  issuing  a  Procla- 
mation of  the  3d  of  May  last,  charging  the  people  of  this 
Colony  with  an  ungovernable  spirit,  and  licentious  practices, 
is  contrary  to  many  known  matters  of  fact,  and  but  too 
justly  intimates  to  us  that  those  who  ought  to  be  mediators 
and  guardians  of  our  liberties,  are  become  the  abject  tools 
of  a  detested  Administration. 

Resolved,  That  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  Committee, 
that  the  late  sanguinary  attempt  and  preparations  of  the 
King's  Troops  in  the  Colony  of  the  Massachusetts- Bay  is 
truly  alarming  and  irritating,  and  loudly  calls  upon  all, 
even  the  most  distant  and  interiour  parts  of  the  Colonies, 
to  prepare  and  be  ready  for  the  extreme  event,  by  a  fixed 
resolution,  and  a  firm  and  manly  opposition,  to  avert 
Ministerial  cruelty,  in  defence  of  our  just  and  reasonable 
rights  and  liberties. 


EXTRACT  OF   A   LETTER   FROM   PHILADELPHIA  TO  A  GEN- 
TLEMAN* IN  ENGLAND,  DATED  JULY  10,  1775. 

Travel  through  whatever  part  of  this  Country  you  will, 
you  see  the  inhabitants  training,  making  firelocks,  casting 
mortars,  shells  and  shot,  and  making  saltpetre,  in  order  to 
keep  the  gunpowder  mills  at  work  during  the  next  autumn 
and  winter.  Nothing,  indeed,  is  attended  to  but  prepar- 
ing to  make  a  defence  that  will  astonish  the  whole  world, 
and  hurl  destruction  on  those  who,  to  preserve  themselves 
in  office,  have  advised  measures  so  fatal  both  to  Britain 
and  America.  At  least  two  hundred  thousand  men  are 
now  in  arms,  and  well  trained,  ready  to  march  whenever 
wanted  for  the  support  of  American  freedom  and  property. 
In  short,  a  spirit  of  enthusiasm  for  war  is  gone  forth,  that 
has  driven  away  the  fear  of  death  ;  and  magazines  of 
provisions  and  ammunition,  by  order  of  the  States  Gene- 
ral of  America,  (or  the  twelve  United  Colonies,)  are  di- 
rected to  be  made  in  all  proper  places,  against  the  next 
campaign. 


roga  relative  to  Colonel  MotVs  request.  Mr.  Deane  may 
be  sure  that  his  will  be  complied  with. 

I  am,  with  much  respect,  your  Honour's  most  obedient 
and  most  humble  servant,  Philip  Schuyler. 

To  the  Honourable  Jonathan  Trumbull,  he.,  Sec. 


To  the  Honourable  the  Provincial  Congress  of  the  Pro- 
vince of  New-York  : 
The  humble  Petition  of  Samuel  Falkenhan  and  David 

Wolhaupter,  Instrument  Makers,  of  the  City  o/"New- 

York,  humbly  shewcth : 

That  whereas  the  honourable  Congress  in  their  wisdom 
have  thought  it  expedient  to  raise  a  number  of  Troops,  in 
the  just  defence  of  the  rights  and  liberties  of  the  American 
subjects  ;  and  as  those  Troops  may  want  a  number  of  drums 
and  fifes,  your  petitioners  most  humbly  offer  their  best  ser- 
vices in  furnishing  said  Troops  with  said  drums  and  fifes, 
on  the  most  reasonable  terms ;  of  which  they  now  have 
fifty  of  the  best  sort  already  by  them  made  in  this  City. 
Your  petitioners  humbly  pray  that  they  may  have  the  hon- 
our of  supplying  said  Troops  with  said  drums  and  fifes,  or 
such  part  as  to  the  honourable  Congress  shall  seem  meet. 
And  your  petitioners,  as  in  duty  bound,  shall  ever  pray. 

Samuel  Falkenhan, 

New-York,  July  10,  1775.  DaVID  WoLHAUPTER. 


GENERAL  SCHUYLER  TO  GOVERNOUR  TRUMBULL. 

Albany,  July  10,  1775. 

Sir  :  I  do  myself  the  honour  to  acknowledge  the  receipt 
of  your  favour  of  the  6th  instant,  with  the  paper  enclosed. 
I  am  happy  to  learn  I  shall  soon  be  furnished  with  that 
necessary  article,  without  which  every  kind  of  business 
goes  on  not  only  tardily,  but  disadvantageously. 

I  lament  it  was  not  in  your  power  to  afford  me  a  larger 
supply  of  the  still  more  necessary  article  in  military  opera- 
tions. I  am  confident  the  Colony  of  Connecticut,  which 
has  so  conspicuously  exerted  itself  in  this  unhappy  contest, 
has  sent  all  it  can  spare. 

I  shall  do  myself  the  honour  to  write  you  from  Ticonde- 


CONNECTICUT  BILLS  OF  CREDIT. 

New- York,  July  10,  1775. 

We,  the  subscribers,  sensible  of  the  advantages  derived 
from  the  trade  of  the  Province  of  Connecticut,  and  desir- 
ous of  giving  their  Bills  of  Credit  a  currency  equal  to  those 
of  the  other  neighbouring  Colonies,  do  promise  and  oblige 
ourselves  to  receive  the  same  in  all  payments  whatsoever. 

Daniel  Phenix,  Charles  MeEvers  &  James  Beekman, 

Samuel  Broome,  Co.  Perry,  Hays,  &.  Sher- 

John  &  Win.  Imlay,  Mercer  &,  Schenck,  brook, 

Woodward  &  Kip,  William  Pagan,  N.  De  Peyster, 

Alexander  Robertson,  Templeton  &  Stew-  Isaac  Kip, 

&  Co.  art,  Lewis  Pintard, 

Thomas  Crabb,  Robert  Erskin,  Geo.  &.  J.  A.  Remsen, 

Murray,  Sansom,&Co.  Cornelius  P.  Low,  Peter  Elting, 

Van  Kleck  &  Kip,  Dennis  &  Dawson,  Garret  Abeel, 

Berrian  &  Fish,  Samuel  Judah,  Robert  Ray, 

Isaac  Moses,  Theopbilact  Bache,  Geo.  &  Wm.  Ludlow, 

Thomas  Galbreath,  David  Seabury,  Isaac  Low, 

James  Martin,  John  Hunt,  Smith  Ramage, 

James  Parsons,  Thos.  &  Wm.  Moore,  John  Broome, 

Mott  &  Brown,  Noel  &  Hazard,  Gerard  Wm.  Bcek- 

J.  Desbrosses,  Jun.,  Anthony  L.  Bleecker,  man, 

Shotwell,  Bowne,  &  Hendrick  Oudenard,  V.  Pearse  Ashfield, 

Co.  Cornelius  Clopper,  Abraham  Livingston, 

Anthony  Van  Dam,  Henry  Willmot,  Henry  W'hite, 

Thomas  Pearsall,  Daniel  McCormick,  Richard  Sharpe, 

Edw.  &  Wm.  Laight,  Hallet,  Hazard,  &  John  Schuyler, 

Haydock  &,  Bowne,         Blackwell,  William  Lowther, 

Samuel  Bowne,  John  Sebring,  William  Stewart, 

Thomas  Dobson,  Curson  &  Seaton,  William  &  James 

Rob.  &.  Jas.  Totten,  John  Morton,  Douglass, 

Thomas  Franklin,  Thomas  Burling,  Stephen  Rapalje, 

Jacob  Watson,  Wickham  &  Sickles,  James  Bowne, 

Haviland  &  Farring.  James  Van  Dycke,  Walter  Seaman, 

ton,  Peter  Musier,  John  Pell. 

Henry  Franklin,  Abrm.  BrinckerhofF,  Thos.  Pearsall,  Jun., 

Samuel  Franklin,  Thos.  B.  Atwood,  William  Ustick, 

Peter  Vandervoort,  Othout  &  Dumont,  Pl'ilip  Rinelander, 

Eb.  &  Thomas  Havi-  Thos.Dougherty,  Jr.,  Joseph  Lawrence, 

land,  Nicholas  C.  Bogart,  George  Spofford, 

John  Lawrence,  G.  Duyckinck,  George  Franklin, 

Quenby  &  Pell,  G.  &  W.  Kettletas,  Elijah  Cook, 

Tiddeman  Hull,  Henry  Van  Kleck  &.  Guert  Sp.  Dewint, 

Thomas  Hazard,  Son,  Philip  Brasher, 

Peter  T.  Curtenius,  Thomas  Gardiner,  William  De  Peyster, 

Tucker  &  Bartow,  George  BaD,  John  Stites, 

Stockholm,  Dickson,  Grove  Bend,  John  Duryee, 

&l  Staple,  William  Denning,  Harrison  Palmer, 

Duryee  &  Moore,  Peter  Kettletas,  Comfort  Sands, 

Anthony  &  Jac.  Abraham  Brasher,  Obadiah  Seaman, 

Abramse,  James  Byers,  Peter  Ricker, 

Abraham  E.  Lott,  William  Bedlow,  John  B.  Moore, 

Thos.  &  Jas.  Arden,  Richard  &  Samuel  John  Post, 

Remsen  &  Peters,  Ray,  White  Matlack, 

Christopher  Smith,  John  Reade,  John  Lockhart, 

Van  Zandt  &  Kettle.  Nicholas  Hoffman,  Cornelius  Van  Ranst. 

tas,  John  Blagge,  John  Byvanck, 

Eleazer  Miller,  Jun.,  Jacob  Van  Voorhies,  Samuel  Sackett, 

Archibald  Currie,  Daniel  Dunscomb,  Nicholas  Roosevelt, 

Richard  Deane,  Nicholas  Bogart,  Andrew  D.  Barclay, 

Dennis  McReady,  Hercules  Mulligan,  Joseph  Bull, 

Abraham  P.  Lott,  John  Smith,  Frederick  Bassett, 

Thomas  Randall,  Abraham  Duryee,  Mercer  &  Ramsay, 

Shaw  &  Long,  Samuel  Schuyler,  Joseph  Totten, 

William  Neilson,  Walter    &   Thomas  Patrick  McDavitt, 

Isaac  Roosevelt,  Buchannan  &  Co.  Hugh  Gaine, 

Jacobus  Van  Zandt,  Francis  Lewis  &Son,  James  Rivington. 

Committee  Chamber,  July  11,  1775. 
Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  inhabitants  of 
this  City  and  County,  to  take  the  paper  Bills  of  Credit  of 
the  Colony  of  Connecticut  in  payments,  and  to  give  it  the 
same  degree  of  circulation  and  credit,  as  is  now  given  to 
the  Bills  of  Credit  of  the  neighbouring  Colonies. 
By  order  of  the  Committee : 

Henry  Remsen,  D.  Chairman. 

The  following  denomination  of  Bills  in  New-  York  cur- 
rency : 

£2   Od.  Os.  lawful,    is    £2  13d.  4s.  York. 
1  10    0  «  2   0   0  " 

10    0  «  16   8  " 

0  10    0  "  0  13   4  " 

0   6    0  "  0   8   0  " 

0  5    0  "  0  6  8  " 

0   2    6  "  0   3   4  " 

The  difference  is  one-third,  being  emitted  at  6s.  a  dollar. 


1623 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JULY,  1775. 


1624 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  MONTREAL  TO  A  GENTLEMAN 
IN  ENGLAND,  DATED  JULY  10,  1775. 

The  martial  law  is  now  in  force ;  the  Canadians  are 
enrolled  as  militia,  and  officers  appointed  them  by  the  Gov- 
ernour.  The  merchants  here  have  formed  themselves  into  a 
company,  commanded  by  Major  Roberston,  Captain  Por- 
teus  Gray,  and  Lieutenant  Todd.  The  Canadians  are  in 
general  averse  to  be  commanded  by  their  nobles  ;  but  say, 
give  them  British  officers,  and  they  will  go  any  where. 
This  Town  has  been  full  of  Indians  for  some  time  past, 
who  are  come  to  offer  service  to  the  Governour. 


GENERAL  WASHINGTON  TO  THE  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  MASSA- 
CHUSETTS CONGRESS. 

Head-Quarters,  Cambridge,  July  10,  1775. 

Sir:  After  much  difficulty  and  delay,  I  have  procured 
such  returns  of  the  state  of  the  Army  as  will  enable  us  to 
form  a  judgment  of  its  strength.  It  is  with  great  concern 
I  find  it  far  inadequate  to  our  general  expectations,  and  the 
duties  which  may  be  required  of  it.  The  number  of  men 
fit  for  duty  in  the  forces  raised  in  this  Province,  including 
all  the  outposts  and  artillery,  does  not  amount  to  nine  thou- 
sand. The  Troops  raised  in  the  other  Colonies  are  more 
complete,  but  yet  fall  short  of  their  establishment ;  so  that, 
upon  the  whole,  I  cannot  estimate  the  present  Army  at 
more  than  fourteen  thousand  five  hundred  men  capable  of 
duty. 

I  have  the  satisfaction  to  find  the  Troops,  both  in  camp 
and  in  quarters,  very  healthy;  so  that  the  deficiency  must 
arise  from  the  Regiments  never  having  been  filled  up  to 
the  establishment,  and  the  number  of  men  on  furlough. 
But  the  former  is  much  the  most  considerable.  LTnder  all 
these  circumstances,  I  yesterday  called  a  council  of  war, 
and  enclosed  I  send  you  an  extract  of  our  determinations, 
so  far  as  they  respect  the  Province  of  Massachusetts-Bay. 
Your  own  prudence  will  suggest  the  necessity  of  secrecy  on 
this  subject,  as  we  have  the  utmost  reason  to  believe  the 
enemy  suppose  our  numbers  much  greater  than  they  are; 
an  errour  which  it  is  not  our  interest  to  remove. 

The  great  extent  of  our  lines,  and  the  uncertainty  which 
may  be  the  point  of  attack,  added  to  the  necessity  of  im- 
mediate support,  have  induced  me  to  order  that  horses, 
ready  saddled,  should  be  kept  at  several  posts,  in  order  to 
bring  the  most  speedy  intelligence  of  any  movement  of  the 
enemy.  For  this  purpose  I  should  he  glad  that  ten  horses 
might  be  provided  as  soon  as  possible. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  Sir,  your  most  obedient  and 
very  humble  servant,  Go.  Washington. 

To  the  Honourable  James  Warren,  President  of  the  Pro- 
vincial Congress. 

P.  S.  I  am  informed  the  Congress  proposes  to  rise  im- 
mediately. I  should  be  glad  to  know  what  Committees 
are  left,  or  upon  whom  the  executive  business  devolves. 

G.  W. 


GENERAL  WASHINGTON  TO  GENERAL  SCHUYLER. 

Cambridge,  July  10,  1775. 

Sir  :  I  received  your  favour  of  the  1st  instant,  by  ex- 
press, from  New-York;  but  as  I  am  exceedingly  hurried 
in  making  out  my  despatches  for  the  honourable  Congress 
at  Philadelphia,  it  is  not  in  my  power  to  answer  it  in  so 
full  a  manner  as  I  wish. 

Notwithstanding  Governour  Tryon's  plausible  behaviour, 
1  recommend  it  to  you  to  watch  him  narrowly.  And  as  any 
unlucky  change  of  affairs  on  our  part  may  produce  a  change 
in  him  of  his  present  unexceptionable  conduct,  I  expect 
you  will,  on  the  first  appearance  of  such  a  change,  pursue 
the  advice  given  in  my  last  letter.  The  like  advice  I  give 
you  respecting  General  Haldimand,  who  is  supposed  by 
some  to  have  gone  to  New-  York  with  a  design  to  counter- 
act us  in  that  Province. 

The  commissions  which  have  been  forwarded  to  me  are 
not  sufficient  to  answer  the  demand  I  have  for  them,  there 
being  at  least  one  thousand  officers  in  this  department,  and 
not  more  than  five  hundred  commissions  in  my  possession. 
As  you  are  so  much  nearer  to  Philadelphia  than  I  am,  I 
request  you  to  apply  to  Congress  for  as  many  as  you  are 
like  to  want. 


The  dispersing  handbills  amongst  the  Troops  at  New- 
York  has  my  most  hearty  approbation,  and  may  have  a 
good  effect  here.  Our  enemies  have  attempted  nothing 
against  us  since  my  arrival  here.  They  are  strongly  posted 
on  Bunker's  Hill,  and  are  still  busy  in  throwing  up  addi- 
tional works.  We  have  thrown  up  several  lines  and  redoubts 
between  Mislick  River  and  Dorchester  Point,  to  prevent 
their  making  way  into  the  country,  and  in  a  few  days  shall 
be  well  prepared  to  receive  them  in  case  a  sortie  is  at- 
tempted. 

I  sincerely  thank  you  for  your  attention  to  the  directions 
of  Congress,  and  for  your  kind  wishes,  and  am,  with  much 
regard,  Sir,  your  most  obedient  friend,  and  very  humble 
servant,  Go.  Washington. 

Major-Genera!  Schuyler. 

P.  S.  I  herewith  enclose  a  report  this  minute  received 
from  the  camp  at  Dorchester.  The  design  of  this  manoeuvre 
I  am  at  a  loss  to  know,  but  suppose  it  may  be  intended  as 
a  diversion  to  our  forces  here.  It,  however,  behooves  you 
to  keep  a  good  look  out,  to  prevent  any  surprise  your  way. 


GENERAL  WASHINGTON  TO  THE  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  CONTI- 
NENTAL CONGRESS. 

[Read  July  19,  1775.] 

Camp  at  Cambridge,  July  10,  1775. 

Sir:  I  arrived  safe  at  this  place  on  the  3d  instant,  after 
a  journey  attended  with  a  good  deal  of  fatigue,  and  retard- 
ed by  necessary  attentions  to  the  successive  civilities  which 
accompanied  me  on  my  whole  route.  Upon  my  arrival,  1 
immediately  visited  the  several  posts  occupied  byourTroops, 
and  as  soon  as  the  weather  permitted,  reconnoitred  those  of 
the  enemy.  I  found  the  latter  strongly  intrenched  on  Bun- 
ker's Hill,  about  a  mile  from  Charlestoivn,  and  advanced 
about  half  a  mile  from  the  place  of  the  late  action,  with 
their  sentries  extended  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards 
on  this  side  of  the  narrowest  part  of  the  neck  leading  from 
this  place  to  Charlestown.  Three  floating  batteries  lay  in 
Mistick  River,  near  their  camp,  and  one  twenty-gun  ship 
below  the  ferry  place,  between  Boston  and  Charlestoivn. 
They  have  also  a  battery  on  Copps's  Hill,  on  the  Boston 
side,  which  much  annoyed  our  Troops  in  the  late  attack. 
Upon  the  neck  they  are  also  deeply  intrenched  and 
strongly  fortified.  Their  advanced  guards,  till  last  Satur- 
day morning,  occupied  Brown's  houses,  about  a  mile  from 
Roxbury  meeting-house,  and  twenty  rods  from  their  lines ; 
but  at  that  time  a  party  from  General  Thomas's  camp  sur- 
prised the  guard,  drove  them  in,  and  burnt  the  houses. 

The  bulk  of  their  Army,  commanded  by  General  Howe, 
lays  on  Bunker's  Hill,  and  the  remainder  on  Roxbury 
Neck,  except  the  Light-horse,  and  a  few  men  in  the  Town 
of  Boston. 

On  our  side,  we  have  thrown  up  intrenchments  on  Win- 
ter and  Prospect  Hills,  the  enemy's  camp  in  full  view  at 
the  distance  of  little  more  than  a  mile.  Such  intermediate 
points  as  would  admit  a  landing,  I  have  since  my  arrival 
taken  care  to  strengthen,  down  to  Sewall's  farm,  where  a 
strong  intrenchment  has  been  thrown  up.  At  Roxbury 
General  Thomas  has  thrown  up  a  strong  work  on  the  hill, 
about  two  hundred  yards  above  the  meeting-house,  which, 
with  the  brokenness  of  the  ground,  and  great  number  of 
rocks,  has  made  that  pass  very  secure.  The  Troops  raised 
in  New -Hampshire,  with  a  Regiment  from  Rhode-Island, 
occupy  H'inter  Hill.  A  part  of  those  from  Connecticut, 
under  General  Putnam,  are  on  Prospect  Hill.  The  Troops 
in  this  Town  are  entirely  of  the  Massachusetts ;  the  re- 
mainder of  the  Rhode-Island  men  are  at  Sewall's  farm. 
Two  Regiments  of  Connecticut,  and  nine  of  the  Massachu- 
setts, are  at  Roxbury.  The  residue  of  the  Army,  to  the 
number  of  about  seven  hundred,  are  posted  in  several  small 
Towns  along  the  coast,  to  prevent  the  depredations  of  the 
enemy. 

Upon  the  whole,  I  think  myself  authorized  to  say,  that, 
considering  the  great  extent  of  line,  and  the  nature  of  the 
ground,  we  are  as  well  secured  as  could  be  expected  in  so 
short  a  time,  and  under  the  disadvantages  we  labour ;  these 
consist  in  a  want  of  Engineers  to  construct  proper  works 
and  direct  the  men,  a  want  of  tools,  and  a  sufficient  num- 
ber of  men  to  man  the  works  in  case  of  an  attack. 


1625 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  kc,  JULY,  1775. 


1626 


You  will  observe,  by  the  proceedings  of  the  council-of- 
war  which  1  have  the  honour  to  enclose,  that  it  is  our 
unanimous  opinion  to  hold  and  defend  these  works  as  long 
as  possible.  The  discouragement  it  would  give  the  men, 
and  its  contrary  effects  on  the  Ministerial  Troops,  thus  to 
abandon  our  encampment  in  their  face,  formed  with  so  much 
labour,  added  to  the  certain  destruction  of  a  considerable 
and  valuable  extent  of  country,  and  our  uncertainty  of 
finding  a  place  in  all  respects  so  capable  of  making  a 
stand,  are  leading  reasons  for  this  determination ;  at  the 
same  time  we  are  very  sensible  of  the  difficulties  which 
attend  the  defence  of  lines  of  so  great  extent,  and  the 
dangers  which  may  ensue  from  such  a  division  of  the 
Army. 

My  earnest  wishes  to  comply  with  the  instructions  of  the 
Congress,  in  making  an  early  and  complete  return  of  the 
state  of  the  Army,  has  led  into  an  involuntary  delay  of 
addressing  you,  which  has  given  me  much  concern.  Hav- 
ing given  orders  for  this  purpose  immediately  on  my  arri- 
val, and  unapprized  of  the  imperfect  obedience  which  had 
been  paid  to  those  of  the  like  nature  from  General  Ward, 
I  was  led  from  day  to  day  to  expect  they  would  come  in, 
and  therefore  detained  the  messenger.  They  are  not  now 
so  complete  as  I  could  wish,  but  much  allowance  is  to  be 
made  for  inexperience  in  forms,  and  a  liberty  which  had 
been  taken  (not  given)  on  this  subject.  These  reasons,  I 
flatter  myself,  will  no  longer  exist,  and  of  consequence 
more  regularity  and  exactness  in  future  prevail ;  this,  with 
a  necessary  attention  to  the  lines,  the  movements  of  the 
Ministerial  Troops,  and  our  immediate  security,  must  be  my 
apology,  which  1  beg  you  to  lay  before  the  Congress  with 
the  utmost  duty  and  respect. 

We  labour  under  great  disadvantages  for  want  of  tents  ; 
for  though  we  have  been  helped  out  by  a  collection  of  now 
useless  sails,  from  the  seaport  Towns,  the  number  is  far 
short  of  our  necessities.  The  colleges  and  houses  of  this 
Town  are  necessarily  occupied  by  the  Troops,  which  af- 
ford another  reason  for  keeping  our  present  situation.  But 
I  most  sincerely  wish  the  whole  Army  was  properly  pro- 
vided to  take  the  field,  as  I  am  well  assured,  that  besides 
greater  expedition  and  activity  in  case  of  alarm,  it  would 
highly  conduce  to  health  and  discipline.  As  materials  are 
not  to  be  had  here,  I  would  beg  leave  to  recommend  the 
procuring  a  farther  supply  from  Philadelphia  as  soon  as 
possible. 

I  should  be  extremely  deficient  in  gratitude,  as  well  as 
justice,  if  I  did  not  take  the  first  opportunity  to  acknow- 
ledge the  readiness  and  attention  which  the  Provincial 
Congress,  and  different  Committees,  have  shewn  to  make 
every  thing  as  convenient  and  agreeable  as  possible ;  but 
there  is  a  vital  and  inherent  principle  of  delay,  incompati- 
ble with  military  service,  in  transacting  business  through 
such  numerous  and  different  channels.  I  esteem  it,  there- 
fore, my  duty  to  represent  the  inconvenience  which  must 
unavoidably  ensue  from  a  dependance  on  a  number  of  per- 
sons for  supplies,  and  submit  it  to  the  consideration  of  the 
Congress,  whether  the  publick  service  will  not  be  best  pro- 
moted by  appointing  a  Commissary-General  for  these  pur- 
poses. We  have  a  striking  instance  of  the  preference  of 
such  a  mode  in  the  establishment  of  Connecticut,  as  their 
Troops  are  extremely  well  furnished  under  the  direction  of 
Mr.  Trumbull,  and  he  has  at  different  times  assisted  others 
with  various  articles.  Should  my  sentiments  happily  co- 
incide with  those  of  your  Honours  on  this  subject,  I  beg 
leave  to  recommend  Mr.  Trumbull  as  a  very  proper  person 
for  this  department. 

In  the  arrangement  of  Troops  collected  under  such  cir- 
cumstances, and  upon  the  spur  of  immediate  necessity, 
several  appointments  are  omitted,  which  appear  to  be 
indispensably  necessary  for  the  good  government  of  the 
Army,  particularly  a  Quartermaster-General,  a  Commissary 
of  Musters,  and  a  Commissary  of  Artillery.  These  I  must 
earnestly  recommend  to  the  notice  and  provision  of  the 
Congress. 

I  find  myself  already  much  embarrassed  for  want  of  a 
military  chest.  These  embarrassments  will  increase  every 
day.  I  must,  therefore,  request  that  money  may  be  for- 
warded as  soon  as  possible.  The  want  of  this  most  neces- 
sary article  will,  I  fear,  produce  great  inconveniences,  if  not 
prevented  by  an  early  attention. 


I  find  the  Army  in  general,  and  the  Troops  raised  in 
Massachusetts  in  particular,  very  deficient  in  necessary 
clothing.  Upon  inquiry,  there  appears  no  probability  of 
obtaining  any  supplies  in  this  quarter.  And  on  the  best 
consideration  of  this  matter  I  am  able  to  form,  1  am  of 
opinion  that  a  number  of  hunting  shirts,  not  less  than  ten 
thousand,  would  in  a  great  degree  remove  this  difficulty  in 
the  cheapest  and  quickest  manner.  1  know  nothing,  in  a 
speculative  view,  more  trivial ;  yet,  if  put  in  practice,  would 
have  a  happier  tendency  to  unite  the  men,  and  abolish 
those  provincial  distinctions  which  lead  to  jealousy  and  dis- 
satisfaction. 

In  a  former  part  of  this  letter  I  mentioned  the  want  of 
Engineers  ;  I  can  hardly  express  the  disappointment  I  have 
experienced  on  this  subject,  the  skill  of  those  we  have 
being  very  imperfect,  and  confined  to  the  mere  manual 
exercise  of  cannon  ;  whereas,  the  war  in  which  we  are  en- 
gaged requires  a  knowledge  comprehending  the  duties  ot 
the  field  and  fortification.  If  any  persons  thus  qualified 
are  to  be  found  in  the  Southern  Colonies,  it  would  be  of 
great  publick  service  to  forward  them  with  all  expedition. 

Upon  the  article  of  ammunition  I  must  re-echo  the  for- 
mer complaints  on  this  subject.  We  are  so  exceedingly 
destitute,  that  our  artillery  will  be  of  little  use,  without  a 
supply  both  large  and  seasonable.  What  we  have  must  be 
reserved  for  the  small-arms,  and  that  managed  with  the 
utmost  frugality. 

I  am  sorry  to  observe  that  the  appointments  of  the  Gene- 
ral Officers  in  the  Province  of  Massachusetts-Bay  have 
by  no  means  corresponded  with  the  judgment  and  wishes 
of  either  the  civil  or  military.  The  great  dissatisfaction 
expressed  on  this  subject,  and  the  apparent  danger  of 
throwing  the  Army  into  the  utmost  disorder,  together  with 
the  strong  representations  of  the  Provincial  Congress,  have 
induced  me  to  retain  the  commissions  in  my  hands,  until 
the  pleasure  of  the  Congress  should  be  further  known, 
except  General  Putnam's,  which  was  given  the  day  I  came 
into  camp,  and  before  I  was  apprized  of  these  uneasinesses. 
In  such  a  step,  I  must  beg  the  Congress  will  do  me  the 
justice  to  believe,  that  I  have  been  actuated  solely  by  a 
regard  to  the  publick  good.  1  have  not,  nor  could  have 
any  private  attachments;  every  gentleman  in  appointment 
was  an  entire  stranger  to  me,  but  from  character ;  I  must, 
therefore,  rely  upon  the  candour  of  the  Congiess  for  their 
favourable  construction  of  my  conduct  in  this  particular. 
General  Spencer  was  so  much  disgusted  at  the  preference 
given  to  General  Putnam,  that  he  left  the  Army  without 
visiting  me,  or  making  known  his  intentions  in  any  respect. 
General  Pomeroy  had  also  retired  before  my  arrival,  occa- 
sioned, as  is  said,  by  some  disappointment  from  the  Pro- 
vincial Congress.  General  Thomas  is  much  esteemed,  and 
earnestly  desired  to  continue  in  the  service  ;  and  as  far  as 
my  opportunities  have  enabled  me  to  judge,  I  must  join  in 
the  general  opinion  that  he  is  an  able,  good  officer,  and  his 
resignation  would  be  a  publick  loss.  The  postponing  him 
to  Pomeroy  and  Heath,  whom  he  has  commanded,  would 
make  his  continuance  very  difficult,  and  probably  operate 
on  his  mind,  as  the  like  circumstance  has  done  on  that  of 
Spencer. 

The  state  of  the  Army  you  will  find  ascertained  with 
tolerable  precision  in  the  returns  which  accompany  this 
letter.  Upon  finding  the  number  of  men  to  fall  so  far 
short  of  the  establishment,  and  below  all  expectation,  I  im- 
mediately called  a  council  of  the  General  Officers,  whose 
opinion  as  to  the  mode  of  filling  up  the  Regiments,  and 
providing  for  the  present  exigency,  I  have  the  honour  of 
enclosing,  together  with  the  best  judgment  we  are  able  to 
form  of  the  Ministerial  Troops.  From  the  number  of  boys, 
deserters,  and  negroes  which  have  been  listed  in  the  Troops 
of  this  Province,  1  entertain  some  doubts  whether  the  num- 
ber required  can  be  raised  here ;  and  all  the  General  Offi- 
cers agree  that  no  dependance  can  be  put  in  the  Militia  for 
a  continuance  in  camp,  or  regularity  and  discipline  during 
the  short  time  they  may  stay.  This  unhappy  and  devoted 
Province  has  been  so  long  in  a  state  of  anarchy,  and  the 
yoke  of  Ministerial  oppression  been  laid  so  heavily  on  it, 
that  great  allowances  are  to  be  made  for  troops  raised  under 
such  circumstances.  The  deficiency  of  numbers,  discipline, 
and  stores,  can  only  lead  to  this  conclusion,  that  their  spirit 
has  exceeded  their  strength.  But  at  the  same  time,  1  would 


1627 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JULY,  1775. 


162S 


humbly  submit  lo  the  consideration  of  the  Congress,  the 
propriety  of  making  some  farther  provision  of  men  from 
the  other  Colonies.  If  these  Regiments  should  be  com- 
pleted to  their  establishment,  ihe  dismission  of  those  unfit 
for  duty,  on  account  of  their  age  and  character,  would  occa- 
sion a  considerable  reduction,  and  at  all  events  they  have 
been  enlisted  upon  such  terms  that  they  may  be  disband- 
ed when  other  Troops  arrive.  But  should  my  apprehen- 
sions be  realized,  and  the  Regiments  here  not  filled  up,  the 
publick  cause  would  suffer  by  an  absolute  dependance  upon 
so  doubtful  an  event,  unless  some  provision  is  made  against 
such  a  disappointment.  It  requires  no  military  skill  to  judge 
of  the  difficulty  of  introducing  proper  discipline  and  subor- 
dination into  an  Army  while  we  have  the  enemy  in  view, 
and  are  in  daily  expectation  of  an  attack,  but  it  is  of  so 
much  importance  that  every  effort  will  be  made  which  time 
and  circumstance  will  admit.  In  the  mean  time  I  have  a 
sincere  pleasure  in  observing,  that  there  are  materials  for  a 
good  Army — a  great  number  of  able-bodied  men,  active, 
zealous  in  the  cause,  and  of  unquestionable  courage. 

I  am  now,  Sir,  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  favour 
of  the  28th  ultimo,  enclosing  the  resolutions  of  the  Con- 
gress of  the  27th  ultimo,  and  a  copy  of  a  letter  from 
the  Committee  of  Albany;  to  all  which  I  shall  pay  due 
attention. 

Generals  Gates  and  Sullivan  have  both  arrived  in  good 
health.  My  best  abilities  are  at  all  times  devoted  to  the 
service  of  my  Country;  but  I  feel  the  weight,  importance, 
and  variety  of  my  present  duties  too  sensibly  not  to  wish  a 
more  immediate  and  frequent  communication  with  the  Con- 
gress. I  fear  it  may  often  happen  in  the  course  of  our  pre- 
sent operations,  that  I  shall  need  that  assistance  and  direc- 
tion from  them,  which  time  and  distance  will  not  allow  me 
to  receive. 

Since  writing  the  above,  I  have  also  to  acknowledge 
your  favour  of  the  4th  instant,  by  Fessenden,  and  the  re- 
ceipt of  the  commissions  and  articles  of  war.  The  former 
are  yet  eight  hundred  short  of  the  number  required.  This 
deficiency  you  will  please  to  supply  as  soon  as  you  conve- 
niently can. 

Among  the  other  returns,  I  have  also  sent  one,  of  our 
killed,  wounded  and  missing  in  the  late  action  ;  but  have 
been  able  to  procure  no  certain  account  of  the  loss  of  the 
Ministerial  Troops.  My  best  intelligence  fixes  it  at  about 
five  hundred  killed,  and  six  or  seven  hundred  wounded  ;  but 
it  is  no  more  than  conjecture,  the  utmost  pains  being  taken 
on  their  side  to  conceal  it. 

1  have  the  honour  to  be,  with  the  most  respectful  regard, 
Sir,  your  obedient  humble  servant, 

Go.  Washington. 
To  the  Honourable  John  Hancock,  President,  &c. 

P.  S.  Having  ordered  the  commanding  officer  to  give 
me  the  earliest  intelligence  of  every  motion  of  the  enemy, 
by  land  or  water,  discernable  from  the  heights  of  his  camp, 
I  this  instant,  as  I  was  closing  my  letter,  received  the 
enclosed  from  the  Brigade-Major.  The  design  of  this 
manoeuvre  I  know  not;  perhaps  it  may  be  to  make  a 
descent  some  where  along  the  coast,  it  may  be  for  New- 
York,  or  it  may  be  practised  as  a  deception  on  us.  I 
thought  it  not  improper,  however,  to  mention  the  matter  to 
you ;  I  have  done  the  same  to  the  commanding  officer  at 
New-  York;  and  I  shall  let  it  be  known  to  the  Committee 
of  Safety  here,  so  that  intelligence  may  be  communicated 
as  they  shall  think  best  along  the  sea-coast  of  this  Gov- 
ernment. G.  W. 

Copy  of  a  Report  this  moment  received  from  the  Camp  at 
Roxbuky,  two  o'clock,  P.  TV/.,  July  11,  1775. 

Camp  at  Roxbury,  July  11,  1775. 

Sir:  Since  I  sent  the  report  by  the  Adjutant  this  morn- 
ing, five  large  ships  have  sailed  from  Boston;  we  are  not 
able  to  determine  how  many  of  them  are  men-of-war,  or 
how  many  were  transports,  as  they  were  behind  Dorches- 
ter Hill.  There  appeared  to  be  a  number  of  people  on 
board.    I  am,  Sir,  your  humble  servant. 

By  order  of  General  Thomas  : 

Thos.  Chase,  Major  of  Brigade. 
To  Horatio  Gates,  Esq.,  Adjutant-General. 


The  number  of  those  Killed,  Wounded,  and  Missing,  in 
the  Engagement  on  Bunker  Hill. 
Colonel  Frye's  Regiment,  10  killed,  38  wounded,  4 
missing;  Colonel  Little's  Regiment,  7  killed,  23  wound- 
ed ;  Colonel  Brewer's  Regiment,  12  killed,  22  wounded ; 
Colonel  Gridley's  Regiment,  4  wounded ;  Colonel  Stark's 
Regiment,  15  killed,  45  wounded;  Colonel  Woodbridge's 
Regiment,  5  wounded  ;  Colonel  Scammon's  Regiment,  2 
wounded;  Colonel  Bridge's  Regiment,  17  killed,  25 
wounded ;  Colonel  Whit  comb's  Regiment,  5  killed,  8 
wounded,  2  missing ;  General  Ward's  Regiment,  1  killed, 
6  wounded ;  Colonel  Gerrish's  Regiment,  3  killed,  5 
wounded  ;  Colonel  Reed's  Regiment,  3  killed,  29  wound- 
ed, 1  missing  ;  Colonel  Prescott's  Regiment,  43  killed 
and  missing,  46  wounded ;  Colonel  Doolittle's  Regiment, 
6  killed  and  missing,  9  wounded;  Colonel  Gardner's  Regi- 
ment, 7  wounded;  Col.  Patterson's  Regiment,  1  wound- 
ed ;  Colonel  Nixon's  Regiment,  3  killed  and  missing ; 
Connecticut,  13  killed,  26  wounded. — Total,  145  killed 
and  missing,  304  wounded. 

At  a  Council  of  War  held  at  Head-Quarters,  Cambridge, 
July  9,  1 775.    Present  : 

His  Excellency  General  Washington ;  Generals  Ward, 
Lee,  Putnam,  Thomas,  Heath,  Greene,  and  Gates. 

The  General  laid  before  the  Council  a  Letter  from  Mr. 
Warren,  President  of  the  Congress  of  Massachusetts-Bay, 
enclosing  a  Letter  from  Mr.  Gerry,  at  Marblehead,  dated 
July  8,  1775. 

1.  A  question  was  then  proposed  and  considered,  viz: 
What  is  the  supposed  number  of  the  enemy  near  and 

in  Boston,  including  the  Troops  formerly  and  lately  arrived, 
and  those  expected  hourly,  the  forces  who  may  take  arms, 
the  sailors  who  may  be  spared  from  the  fleet,  and  the 
negroes  ? 

Upon  which  it  was  agreed,  that  from  the  best  intelli- 
gence, the  force  on  the  side  of  the  enemy  now  amounts  to 
eleven  thousand  five  hundred  men. 

2.  It  was  then  proposed  and  considered,  whether  it  is 
expedient  to  keep  and  defend  the  posts  at  present  occu- 
pied, or  to  retire  farther  back  in  the  country? 

Upon  which  it  was  unanimously  determined,  that  the 
publick  service  requires  the  defence  of  the  present  posts. 

3.  His  Excellency  then  proposed  to  the  consideration  of 
the  Council,  what  number  of  troops  may  be  necessary  for 
the  present  service  in  and  near  Boston,  to  defend  the 
posts  already  occupied  against  the  force  supposed  to  be 
employed  against  us? 

Upon  which  it  was  agreed,  that  the  Army  for  the  above 
purpose  ought  to  consist  of  at  least  twenty-two  thousand 
men. 

4.  As  it  appears  by  the  returns  now  made  that  the  num- 
ber of  effective  men  is  far  short  of  the  above  estimate,  a 
question  was  proposed,  viz: 

In  what  manner  this  deficiency  should  be  supplied  ? 

And  it  was  unanimously  agreed,  that  it  ought  to  be  done 
by  sending  an  officer  from  each  company  in  the  forces 
raised  in  the  Massachusetts-Bay  to  recruit  the  Regiments  to 
which  they  respectively  belong  to  the  establishment  fixed 
by  the  Provincial  Congress,  (the  Colonics  of  Rhode-Island 
and  Connecticut  being  already  engaged  in  recruiting.)  And 
that  in  the  mean  time  his  Excellency  the  General  do  apply- 
to  the  Provincial  Congress  of  this  Province  for  their  assist- 
ance in  procuring  a  temporary  re-enforcement,  subject  to 
the  same  military  rules  as  the  Army  now  raised,  inasmuch 
as  the  present  extent  of  lines,  and  the  great  probability  of 
an  early  attack,  renders  such  re-enforcement  indispensably 
necessary. 

5.  As  the  events  of  war  are  uncertain,  and  a  want  of  a 
proper  rendezvous  might,  in  case  of  any  misfortune,  occa- 
sion a  dissolution  of  the  Army,  it  was  proposed  to  appoint 
a  proper  place  for  this  purpose,  in  case  our  present  situa- 
tion should  not  be  tenable. 

N.  C.  agreed,  That  the  Welsh  Mountains,  near  Cam- 
bridge, and  in  the  rear  of  Roxbury  lines,  was  a  suitable 
place. 

6.  A  question  was  proposed,  whether  it  is  expedient  to 
take  possession  of  Dorchester  Point,  or  to  oppose  the 
enemy,  if  they  should  attempt  to  possess  it? 

Unanimously  agreed  in  the  negative  as  to  both. 


1629 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JULY,  1775. 


1630 


General  Return  of  the  Army  of  the  United  Colonies,  commanded  by  his  Excellency  George  Washington,  Esquire, 
General  and  Commander-in-Chief,  Head-Quarters  at  Cambridge,  July,  1775. 


Present,  Commissioned 

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2 

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1 

26 

10 

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24 

22 

14 

366 

14 

10 

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23.  Colonel  Glover's, 

1 

7 

18 

34 

12 

419 

8 

7 

20 

454 

6 

8 

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24.  Colonel  Little's, 

1 

10 

20 

1 

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20 

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12 

34 

16 

5 

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2 

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25.  Colonel  Gerrish's. 

1 

10 

19 

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18 

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18 

11 

33 

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26.  Colonel  Phinney's, 
4  Independ't  Compan's, 

1 

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14 

27 

15 

309 

9 

1 

319 

13 

5 

181 

239 

239 

Connecticut  Regiments, 

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3 

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26 

3 

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2 

3 

5 

121 

53 

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212 

2 

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367 

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26 

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20 

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3 

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32 

32 

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46 

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24 

18 

2 

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1 

1 

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290 

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B3 

1133 

33134 

33 

1192 

570 

13743 

1108 

490 

1376 

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Il76i  90 

2354 

Colonel  Sergeant  not  having  completed  his  Regiment,  is 
Artillery  is  sent  separately  with  this  Return. 


not 


included  in  the  above  Return.    The  Return  of  the 
Horatio  Gates,  Adjutant-General. 


Head-Quarters,  Cambridge,  July  20,  1775. 
Return  of  the  Regiment  of  Artillery  in  the  service  of  the 
United  Colonies,  commanded  by  Colonel  R.  Gridley. 


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469 

Richard  Gridley. 

Return  of  Major  Crane's  Company  of  the  Train  of  Ar- 
tillery of  the  Rhode-Island  Forces,  July  21,  1775. 


Present  on  parade, 
Sick  in  quarters, 
Sick,  absent, 
On  guard, 
On  command, 
Officers'  waiters, 

Total, 


2  2 


4  4 


2  2 


74  96 


Horatio  Gates,  Adjutant-General. 


Instructions  for  the  Officers  of  the  several  Regiments  of 

the  Massachusetts-Bay  Forces,  who  are  immediately 

to  go  upon  the  Recruiting  Service. 

You  are  not  to  enlist  any  deserter  from  the  Ministerial 
Army,  nor  any  stroller,  negro,  or  vagabond,  or  person  sus- 
pected of  being  an  enemy  to  the  liberty  of  America,  nor 
any  under  eighteen  years  of  age. 

As  the  cause  is  the  best  that  can  engage  men  of  courage 
and  principle  to  take  up  arms,  so  it  is  expected  that  none 
but  such  will  be  accepted  by  the  recruiting  officers.  The 
pay,  provisions,  &.c,  being  so  ample,  it  is  not  doubted  but 
the  officers  sent  upon  this  service  will,  without  delay,  com- 
plete their  respective  corps,  and  march  the  men  forthwith 
to  camp. 

You  are  not  to  enlist  any  person  who  is  not  an  American 
born,  unless  such  person  has  a  wife  and  family,  and  is  a 
settled  resident  in  this  Country. 

The  persons  you  enlist  must  be  provided  with  good  and 
complete  arms. 

Given  at  the  Head-Quarters  at  Cambridge,  this  10th  day 
of  July,  1775.  Horatio  Gates,  Adj.  Gen. 


ORDERS  HY  GENERAL  WASHINGTON. 

Head-Quarters,  Cambridge,  July  3,  1775. 
(Parole,  Lookout.)  (Countersign,  Sharp.) 

The  Colonels  or  commanding  officers  of  each  Regiment 
are  ordered  forthwith  to  make  two  returns  of  the  number 
of  men  in  their  respective  Regiments,  distinguishing  such 
as  are  sick,  wounded,  or  absent  on  furlough,  and  also  the 
quantity  of  ammunition  each  Regiment  now  has. 

It  appearing  by  the  report  of  Henry  Woods,  the  officer 
of  the  main  guard,  that  one  William  Alfred  is  confined  for 


1G31 

taking;  two  liorses  belonging  to  some  persons  in  Connecti- 
cut, but  that  lie  lias  made  satisfaction  to  llie  injured  parties, 
who  request  that  they  may  not  longer  be  detained  as  wit- 
nesses, it  is  ordered  that  he  be  discharged,  and,  after 
receiving  a  severe  reprimand,  be  turned  out  of  Camp. 

(After  Orders.)  Four  o'clock,  P.  M. 

It  is  ordered,  that  Colonel  Glover's  Regiment  be  ready 
this  evening,  with  all  their  accoutrements,  to  march  at  a 
minute's  warning  to  support  General  Folsom,  of  the  New- 
Hampshire  forces,  in  case  his  line  should  be  attacked. 

It  is  also  ordered,  that  Colonel  Prescott's  Regiment 
equip  themselves,  march  this  evening,  and  take  possession 
of  the  woods  leading  to  Lechmcre's  Point,  and  in  case  of 
an  attack,  then  Colonel  Glover's  Regiment  to  march  im- 
mediately to  their  support. 

Head-Quarters,  Cambridge,  July  4,  1775. 

(Carole,  AOinglon.)  (Countersign,  Bidford.J 

Exact  returns  to  be  made  by  the  proper  officers  of  all 
Provisions,  Ordnance,  Ordnance  Stores,  Powder,  Lead, 
working  tools  of  all  kinds,  Tents,  Camp  Kettles,  and  all 
other  Stores  under  their  respective  care,  belonging  to  the 
Armies  at  Roxbury  and  Cambridge.  The  Commanding 
Officer  of  each  Regiment  to  make  a  return  of  the  number 
of  Blankets  wanted  to  complete  every  man  with  one  at 
least. 

The  Hon.  Artcmas  Ward,  Charles  Lee,  Philip  Schuy- 
ler, and  Israel  Putnam,  Esquires,  are  appointed  Major- 
Generals  of  the  American  Army,  and  due  obedience  is  to 
be  paid  to  them  as  such.  The  Continental  Congress  not 
having  completed  the  appointments  of  the  other  officers  in 
said  Army,  nor  had  sufficient  time  to  prepare  and  forward 
their  commissions,  every  officer  is  to  continue  to  do  duty 
in  the  rank  and  station  he  at  present  holds,  until  further 
orders. 

Thomas  Mifflin,  Esquire,  is  appointed  by  the  General 
one  of  his  Aids-de-Camp ;  Joseph  Reed,  Esquire,  is  in 
like  manner  appointed  Secretary  to  the  General;  and  they 
are  in  future  to  be  considered  and  regarded  as  such. 

The  Continental  Congress  having  now  taken  all  the 
Troops  of  the  several  Colonies  which  have  been  raised,  or 
which  may  hereafter  be  raised,  for  the  support  and  defence 
of  the  liberties  of  America,  into  their  pay  and  service,  they 
are  now  the  Troops  of  the  United  Provinces  of  North 
America ;  and  it  is  hoped  that  all  distinctions  of  Colonies 
will  be  laid  aside,  so  that  one  and  the  same  spirit  may 
animate  the  whole,  and  the  only  contest  be,  who  shall  ren- 
der, on  this  great  and  trying  occasion,  the  most  essential 
service  to  the  great  and  common  cause  in  which  we  are 
all  engaged. 

It  is  required  and  expected  that  exact  discipline  be  ob- 
served, and  due  subordination  prevail  through  the  whole 
Army,  as  a  failure  in  these  most  essential  points  must 
necessarily  produce  extreme  hazard,  disorder,  and  confu- 
sion, and  end  in  shameful  disappointment  and  disgrace. 

The  General  most  earnestly  requires  and  expects  a  due 
observance  of  those  Articles  of  War,  established  for  the 
government  of  the  Army,  which  forbid  profane  cursing, 
swearing,  and  drunkenness;  and  in  like  manner  requires 
and  expects  of  all  officers  and  soldiers,  not  engaged  on 
actual  duty,  a  punctual  attendance  on  divine  service,  to 
implore  the  blessings  of  Heaven  upon  the  means  used  for 
our  safety  and  defence. 

All  officers  are  required  and  expected  to  pay  diligent 
attention  to  keep  their  men  neat  and  clean,  to  visit  them 
often  at  their  quarters,  and  inculcate  upon  them  the  neces- 
sity of  cleanliness,  as  essential  to  their  health  and  service. 
They  are  particularly  to  see  that  they  have  straw  to  lay  on, 
if  to  be  bad,  and  to  make  it  known,  if  they  are  destitute 
of  this  article  ;  they  are  also  to  take  care  that  necessaries 
be  provided  in  the  camps,  and  frequently  filled  up,  to  pre- 
vent their  being  offensive  and  unhealthy.  Proper  notice 
will  be  taken  of  such  officers  and  men  as  distinguish  them- 
selves by  their  attention  to  these  necessary  duties. 

The  Commanding  Officer  of  each  Regiment  is  to  take 
particular  care  that  not  more  than  two  men  of  a  Company 
be  absent  on  furlough  at  the  same  time,  unless  in  very 
extraordinary  cases. 

Colonel  Gardner  is  to  be  buried  to-morrow  at  three 


1632 

o'clock,  P.  M.,  with  the  military  honours  due  to  so  brave 
and  gallant  an  officer,  who  fought,  bled,  and  died  in  the 
cause  of  his  Country  and  mankind.  His  own  Regiment, 
except  the  Company  at  Maiden,  to  attend  on  this  mourn- 
ful occasion.  The  places  of  those  Companies,  in  the  lines, 
on  Prospect  Hill,  to  be  supplied  by  Colonel  Glover's  Regi- 
ment, till  the  funeral  is  over. 

No  person  is  to  be  allowed  to  go  to  Freshwater  Pond 
a-fishing,  or  on  any  other  occasion,  as  there  may  be  danger 
of  introducing  the  small-pox  in  the  Army. 

It  is  strictly  required  and  commanded,  that  there  be  no 
firing  of  cannon  or  small-arms  from  any  of  the  lines,  or 
elsewhere,  except  in  case  of  necessary  immediate  defence, 
or  special  order  given  for  that  purpose. 

All  prisoners  taken,  deserters  coming  in,  persons  coming 
out  of  Boston  who  can  give  any  intelligence,  any  captures 
of  any  kind  from  the  enemy,  are  to  be  immediately  report- 
ed and  brought  up  to  Head-Quarters,  in  Cambridge. 

Captain  Griffin  is  appointed  Aid-de-Camp  to  General 
Lee,  and  to  be  regarded  as  such. 

The  guard  for  the  security  of  the  stores  at  Watertown 
is  to  be  increased  to  thirty  men  immediately. 

A  Sergeant  and  six  men  to  be  set  as  a  Guard  to  the 
Hospital,  and  are  to  apply  to  Doctor  Rand. 

Complaint  having  been  made  against  John  White,  Quar- 
termaster of  Colonel  Nixon's  Regiment,  for  misdemean- 
ours, in  drawing  out  provisions  for  more  men  than  the 
Regiment  consisted  of :  a  Court-Martial,  consisting  of  one 
Captain  and  four  Subalterns,  is  ordered  to  be  held  on  said 
White,  who  are  to  inquire,  determine,  and  report. 

(After  Orders.)  Ten  o'clock. 

The  General  desires  that  some  Carpenters  be  imme- 
diately set  to  work  at  Brattle's  Stables,  to  fix  up  Stalls  for 
eight  horses,  and  more,  if  the  room  will  admit,  with  suit- 
able racks,  mangers,  &c. 

Head-Quarters,  Cambridge,  July  5,  1775. 
(Parole,  Bedford.)  (Countersign,  Cambridge  ) 

The  Adjutant  of  each  Regiment  is  required  to  take  spe- 
cial care  that  all  General  Orders  are  communicated  as 
well  to  the  private  men  as  to  the  officers,  that  there  may 
be  no  plea  of  ignorance.  They  will  be  deemed  answerable 
for  all  the  consequences  which  may  follow  a  neglect  of  this 
order. 

A  General  Court-Martial  is  ordered  to  sit  to-morrow,  at 
ten  o'clock,  A.  M.,  for  the  trial  of  William  Patten,  charged 
with  "  leaving  his  post  on  guard ;"  David  Wells  and  Gi- 
deon Cole,  for  "  sleeping  on  their  posts  as  sentinels ;" 
John  Scott,  for  "  insulting  the  sentry,  and  attempting  to  pass 
the  guard  at  Boston ;"  and  James  Foshe,  for  "theft;"  when 
the  witnesses  are  to  attend,  and  the  parties  charged  are  to 
have  notice  this  day,  that  they  may  be  prepared  for  their 
trials. 

The  General  most  earnestly  recommends  and  requires 
of  all  the  officers  that  they  be  exceeding  diligent  and  strict 
in  preventing  all  invasions  and  abuse  of  private  property 
in  their  quarters,  or  elsewhere ;  he  hopes  and  indeed  flat- 
ters himself  that  every  private  soldier  will  detest  and  abhor 
such  practices,  when  he  considers  that  it  is  for  the  preser- 
vation of  his  own  rights,  liberty,  and  property,  and  those 
of  his  fellow-countrymen,  that  he  is  now  called  into  service; 
that  it  is  unmanly,  and  sullies  the  dignity  of  the  great  cause 
in  which  we  are  all  engaged,  to  violate  that  property  he  is 
called  to  protect,  and  especially,  that  it  is  most  cruel  and 
inconsistent  thus  to  add  to  the  distresses  of  those  of  their 
countrymen  who  are  suffering  under  the  iron  hand  of  op- 
pression. 

The  General  again  urges  a  speedy  and  exact  return  of 
the  forces,  stores,  provisions,  Stc,  as  desired  in  the  orders 
already  issued,  and  for  the  future  these  returns  to  be  made 
once  a  week,  on  Saturday  morning,  regularly.  The  Gen- 
eral is  much  pleased  with  the  expedition  and  care  which 
some  officers  have  already  shewn  in  their  obedience  to  this 
order. 

The  Colonel  or  commanding  officer  of  each  Regiment 
is  to  direct  an  officer  of  each  Company  to  call  over  the  rolls 
of  their  men,  at  six  o'clock  every  morning,  and  to  make 
proper  inquiries  after  the  absentees. 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JULY,  1775. 


1633 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JULY,  1775. 


1634 


Head-Quarters,  Cambridge,  July  6,  1775. 
(Parole,  Cum'terlaml.)  (Countenign,  Derby  ) 

A  General  Court-Martial  is  ordered  to  sit  to-morrow, 
at  ten  o'clock,  A.  M.,  for  the  trial  of  John  Semsy,  John 
Batcheler,  and  William  Crostin,  all  of  Colonel  Gridley's 
Regiment,  charged  with  "  desertion  and  theft."  At  the 
same  time  they  are  to  hear  and  determine  the  case  of  Ed- 
ward Dunlcy,  a  stroller,  accused  of  "  theft."  Notice  to  be 
given  to  the  prisoners  to-day. 

Captain  Leonard,  of  Colonel  Woodbridge's  Regiment, 
and  the  remainder  of  his  Company,  are  ordered  to  join 
the  Guard  at  Watertown. 

The  Clothing  provided  by  the  Massachusetts  Committee 
of  Supplies  for  those  men  of  their  Government  who  lost 
their  clothes  in  the  late  action  on  Bunker's  Hill,  to  be  dis- 
tributed to  the  most  needy  and  necessitous  men  of  each 
Regiment,  and  an  account  to  be  kept  thereof  by  the  Com- 
manding Officer  of  each  Regiment. 

Head-Quarters,  Cambridge,  July  7,  1775. 
(Parole,  Dorchetter.)  (Countenign,  Exeter.) 

It  is  with  inexpressible  concern  that  the  General,  upon 
his  first  arrival  in  the  Army,  should  find  an  officer  sen- 
tenced by  a  General  Court-Martial  to  be  cashiered  for 
cowardice — a  crime  of  all  others  the  most  infamous  in  a 
soldier,  the  most  injurious  to  au  Army,  and  the  last  to  be 
forgiven  ;  inasmuch  as  it  may,  and  often  does  happen,  that 
the  cowardice  of  a  single  officer  may  prove  a  destruction 
of  the  whole  Army;  the  General,  therefore,  (though  with 
great  concern,  and  more  especially  as  the  transaction  hap- 
pened before  he  had  the  command  of  the  Troops,)  thinks 
himself  obliged,  for  the  good  of  the  service,  to  approve 
the  judgment  of  the  Court-Martial,  with  respect  to  Cap- 
tain John  Callender,  who  is  hereby  sentenced  to  be  cash- 
iered. Captain  John  Callender  is  accordingly  cashiered, 
and  dismissed  from  all  further  service  in  the  Continental 
Army  as  an  officer. 

The  General  having  made  all  due  inquiries  and  mature- 
ly considered  this  matter,  is  led  to  the  above  determina- 
tion, not  only  from  the  particular  guilt  of  Captain  Callen- 
der, but  the  fatal  consequences  of  such  conduct  to  the 
Army  and  to  the  cause  of  America. 

He  now,  therefore,  most  earnestly  exhorts  officers  of  all 
ranks  to  shew  an  example  of  bravery  and  courage  to  their 
men,  assuring  them,  that  such  as  do  their  duty  in  the  day 
of  battle,  as  brave  and  good  officers,  shall  be  honoured 
with  every  mark  of  distinction  and  regard,  their  names  and 
merits  made  known  to  the  General  Congress,  and  all  Ame- 
rica; while,  on  the  other  hand,  he  positively  declares,  that 
every  officer,  be  his  rank  what  it  may,  who  shall  betray 
his  Country,  dishonour  the  Army  and  his  General,  by 
basely  keeping  back  and  shrinking  from  his  duty  in  any 
engagement,  shall  be  held  up  as  an  infamous  coward,  and 
punished  as  such  with  the  utmost  martial  severity;  and  no 
connections,  interest,  or  intercessions,  in  his  behalf,  will 
avail  to  prevent  the  strict  execution  of  justice. 

Captain  Scott's  and  Captain  Stylcr's  Companies,  from 
yew-Hampshire,  are  to  be  incorporated,  or  added  to  Col. 
Sargeant's  Regiment,  agreeable  to  the  application  made  for 
that  purpose.  No  officer  or  soldier,  posted  in  the  lines  for 
the  defence  of  them,  on  Prospect  Hill,  or  Winter  Hill, 
or  elsewhere,  are,  upon  any  account,  to  sleep  out  of  their 
encampment,  or  leave  it  at  night.  The  Troops  from  New- 
Hampshire  are  particularly  required  to  attend  to  this  order, 
from  their  particular  circumstances  of  situation. 

No  soldier  belonging  to  these  posts,  or  elsewhere,  to 
be  suffered  to  straggle  at  a  distance  from  their  respective 
parade,  on  any  pretence,  without  leave  from  his  officers,  as 
an  unguarded  hour  may  prove  fatal  to  the  whole  Army, 
and  to  the  noble  cause  in  which  we  are  engaged  ;  the  im- 
portance of  which,  to  every  man  of  common  understand- 
ing, must  inspire  every  good  officer  and  soldier  with  the 
noblest  ardour  and  strictest  attention,  lest  he  should  prove 
the  fatal  instrument  of  our  ruin. 

The  Adjutant-General  is  required  to  make  a  Return  as 
quick  as  possible  of  the  Troops  in  Cambridge,  their  num- 
ber, and  the  duly  they  do. 

Complaints  having  been  made  with  respect  to  the  bread, 
as  being  sour  and  unwholesome,  the  Quartermaster-Gene- 
ral is  hereby  directed  to  inquire  into  the  matter,  and  report 
upon  it ;  at  the  same  time  to  inform  the  bakers,  that  if  any 


complaints  are  made,  and  they  shall  be  found  just,  they 
will  be  most  severely  punished. 

The  guards  on  the  roads  leading  to  Bunker's  Hill,  are 
ordered  not  to  suffer  any  person  to  pass  them,  unless  an 
officer  is  sent  down  from  the  lines  to  order  it,  or  they  will 
be  severely  punished. 

The  General  has  great  reason,  and  is  highly  displeased 
with  the  negligence  and  inattention  of  those  officers  who 
have  placed  as  sentries  at  the  outposts  men  with  whose 
characters  they  are  not  acquainted.  He  therefore  orders, 
that  for  the  future  no  man  shall  be  appointed  to  those  im- 
portant stations  who  is  not  a  native  of  this  Country,  or  has 
a  wife  or  family  in  it,  to  whom  he  is  known  to  be  attached. 
This  order  is  to  be  considered  as  a  standing  one,  and  the 
officers  are  to  pay  obedience  to  it,  at  their  peril. 

A  complaint  of  the  most  extraordinary  kind  having  been 
made  to  the  General,  that  soldiers  enlisted  in  one  Regi- 
ment have  been  seduced  to  re-enlist  into  others,  by  agents 
employed  for  that  purpose,  under  the  specious  promises  of 
money,  or  leave  of  absence  from  the  Army.  A  procedure 
so  subversive  of  all  order,  discipline,  and  of  the  very  exist- 
ence of  the  Army,  cannot  be  forgiven  ;  the  strictest  orders 
are  therefore  given  against  such  practices;  and  the  General 
most  earnestly  declares,  that  if  any  agent  or  soldier  shall 
hereafter  be  found  so  offending,  he  will  punish  them  with 
the  utmost  severity. 

A  General  Court-Martial  having  sat  upon  William  Pat- 
tin,  and  reported,  that  no  evidence  appeared  against  him  to 
support  the  charge,  the  General  defers  his  decision  upon 
the  report  until  farther  consideration.  In  the  mean  time 
the  Adjutant-General  is  ordered  to  wait  on  Col.  Ward,  by 
whom  the  prisoner  wras  confined,  and  learn  from  him  upon 
whose  complaint,  and  what  witnesses  there  are  to  sup- 
port it. 

A  Regimental  Court-Martial  is  ordered  to  sit  to-morrow, 
ten  o'clock,  on  Samuel  Bartlett,  of  the  Company  late  Cap- 
tain Callender' s,  and  Colonel  Gridley's  Regiment,  confined 
for  "abusive  behaviour." 

A  General  Court-Martial  to  sit  to-morrow,  ten  o'clock, 
A.  M.,  for  the  trial  of  Thomas  Daniely,  charged  with 
"  stealing."  Each  of  the  above  prisoners  to  have  notice 
to-day,  and  the  witnesses  in  like  manner  ordered  to  attend. 

In  order  that  all  the  sick  and  wounded  in  the  Army 
may  be  provided  for,  and  taken  care  of,  in  the  best  way 
and  manner  possible,  it  is  ordered,  that  when  any  officer 
or  soldier  is  so  ill,  either  by  a  wound  or  otherwise,  that 
the  Surgeon  of  the  Regiment,  to  which  he  belongs,  finds 
he  cannot  be  properly  taken  care  of  in  such  Regiment, 
such  Surgeon  shall  send  him  to  the  Camp  Hospital  to 
which  they  belong,  with  a  certificate  of  the  man's  name, 
and  the  Company  to  which  he  belongs,  and  in  that  case  the 
Surgeon  of  the  Hospital  shall  receive  said  sick  and  wound- 
ed ;  and  in  case  such  Hospital  shall  be  too  full,  in  that  case 
the  Surgeon  of  said  Hospital  shall  send  such  of  his  pa- 
tients as  may  be  removed  with  safety  to  the  Hospital  at 
Watertown,  with  the  like  certificate  as  above,  on  which 
the  Surgeon  of  Watertoivn  Hospital  is  to  receive  and  take 
care  of  him. 

Head-Quarters,  Cambridge,  July  8,  1775. 
(Parole,  Euex.)  (Countersign,  Falkland.) 

Ordered,  that  the  main  guard,  on  no  account  whatever, 
be  without  a  drum,  which  is  to  beat  to  arms  on  any  alarm, 
and  be  followed  by  all  the  drums  in  the  Camp ;  on  wThich 
every  officer  and  soldier  is  immediately  to  repair  to  the 
alarm  post. 

The  Commanding  Officer  of  each  Regiment  or  Corps 
in  Cambridge,  as  soon  as  the  men  are  paraded  after  an 
alarm,  to  send  an  officer  to  Head-Quarters  for  orders. 

The  Commanding  Officers  at  Roxbury,  Prospect  Hill, 
Winter  Hill,  and  Sewall's  Point,  to  send  expresses  in 
case  of  alarm  to  Head-Quarters,  with  an  account  of  the 
situation  and  the  movements  of  the  enemy.  If  they  are 
not  each  provided  with  a  horse  for  that  purpose,  the  Adju- 
tant-General to  apply  to  the  Committee  of  Supplies. 

Colonel  Gridley,  of  the  Artillery,  or  the  next  in  com- 
mand, to  give  in  a  return  of  his  men,  stores,  and  ammuni- 
tion, agreeable  to  the  order  of  the  fourth  instant,  and  to 
distinguish  the  posts  to  which  his  Regiment  is  assigned,  in 
case  of  alarm.  The  same  order  as  to  a  return  of  the  men, 
ammunition,  and  blankets,  is  given  to  the  commanding 


Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii. 


103 


1635 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JULY,  1775. 


163G 


officers  of  the  Regiments  late  Colonel  Gardner's,  Colonel 
Glover's,  and  Colonel  Gerrish's,  who  have  omitted  com- 
plying with  the  above  orders  hitherto. 

The  commanding  officers  at  Winter  Hill,  Prospect  Hill, 
and  Roxbury,  are  to  make  particular  inquiry  into  the  ammu- 
nition of  the  men  in  those  lines,  and  if  there  is  any  deficiency, 
immediately  to  report  it  to  the  General  at  Head-Quarters. 

A  General  Court-Martial  is  ordered  to  sit  on  Monday 
next,  ten  o'clock,  A.  M.,  for  the  trial  of  Lieutenant  Brig- 
ham,  charged  with  "  rescuing  a  prisoner  when  in  lawful 
custody." 

Head-Quarters,  Cambridge,  July  9,  1775. 

(Parole,  Effingham.)  (Countersign,  IValertmvn.) 

The  Continental  Congress  having  been  pleased  to  ap- 
point Horatio  Gates,  Esq.,  Brigadier-General  and  Adju- 
tant-General of  the  Army,  he  is  to  be  obeyed  as  such,  and 
all  orders  transmitted  through  him  from  the  Commander- 
in-Chief,  whether  written  or  verbal,  are  to  be  punctually 
and  immediately  obeyed. 

All  soldiers,  more  than  two  to  a  company,  who  are  at 
present  absent  on  furlough,  and  all  officers,  non-commis- 
sioned officers,  and  soldiers,  who  have  not  joined  their 
respective  corps,  to  be  ordered  forthwith  to  -camp.  The 
commanding  officers  of  corps  to  be  answerable  to  the  Gen- 
eral for  an  immediate  obedience  to  this  order. 

The  General,  or  in  his  absence,  the  commanding  offi- 
cer at  Roxbury,  to  send  a  report  every  day,  in  writing, 
sealed  up,  to  the  Commander-in-Chief,  at  Head-Quarters, 
in  Cambridge,  of  all  the  material  occurrences  of  the  pre- 
ceding day,  mentioning  particularly  all  arrivals  of  ships 
and  vessels  in  the  bay,  and  what  changes  and  alterations 
are  made  in  the  stations  of  the  men-of-war,  transports,  and 
floating  batteries,  he. 

Head-Quarters,  Cambridge,  July  10,  1775. 

(Parole,  Frederick.)  (Countersign,  Gloucester.) 

The  General  Court-Martial,  of  which  Colonel  William 
Prescott  was  President,  baving  tried  William  Pattin,  of 
Colonel  Gridley's  Regiment,  and  found  him  guilty  of 
"  threatening  and  abusing  a  number  of  persons,  when  pri- 
soner in  the  quarter-guard,"  the  Court  sentence  the  prison- 
er to  ride  the  wooden  horse  fifteen  minutes. 

The  General  approves  the  sentence,  and  orders  it  to  be 
put  in  execution  at  the  head  of  the  Regiment. 

David  Wells,  soldier  in  Col.  Gridley's  Regiment,  tried  by 
the  above-mentioned  General  Court-Martial,  for  "  sleeping 
upon  his  post  when  sentry,"  is  acquitted  by  the  Court. 

No  non-commissioned  officer  or  soldier,  but  such  as  are 
guilty  of  capital  offences,  to  be  confined  in  the  main  guard; 
all  those  guilty  of  crimes  triable  by  a  Regimental  Court- 
Martial,  to  be  sent  to  the  quarter-guards  of  their  respective 
corps,  to  be  tried  by  Regimental  Court-Martial. 

The  General  Court-Martial,  whereof  Col.  William  Pres- 
cott is  President,  to  sit  again  this  day,  at  the  usual  hour. 
All  evidences,  and  persons  concerned,  to  attend  the  Court. 
Whenever  a  General  Court-Martial  is  ordered,  it  is  expect- 
ed that  the  evidences  and  persons  by  whom  the  prisoners 
are  confined,  do  punctually  attend  to  support  the  accusa- 
tion, as  they  will  answer  the  contrary  at  their  peril. 

The  Colonels  of  the  Massachusetts  Regiments  to  order 
one  Subaltern  from  each  Company  in  their  respective 
Corps  forthwith  upon  the  recruiting  service.  Proper  in- 
structions will  be  given  by  the  Adjutant-General  to  the 
officers  ordered  upon  that  service ;  they  will,  therefore, 
call  at  Head-Qnarteis  as  soon  as  possible,  to  receive  their 
instructions.  The  General  recommends  it  to  the  Colonels 
to  send  active  and  vigilant  officers  upon  this  service,  and 
those  who  are  most  in  esteem  with  people  in  the  District 
they  are  sent  to  recruit  in. 


GENERAL  WASHINGTON  TO  RICHARD  HENRY  LEE,  ESQ. 

Camp  at  Cambridge,  July  10,  1775. 
Dear  Sir  :  I  was  exceeding  glad  to  receive  a  letter  from 
you,  as  I  always  shall  be  whenever  it  is  convenient,  though 
perhaps  my  hurry,  till  such  time  as  matters  are  drawn  a 
little  out  of  the  chaos  they  appear  in  at  present,  will  not 
suffer  me  to  write  you  such  full  and  satisfactory  answers, 
or  give  such  clear  and  precise  accounts  of  our  situation  and 
views  as  1  could  wish,  or  you  might  expect.    After  a 


journey  a  good  deal  retarded,  principally  by  the  desire  of 
the  different  townships  through  which  1  travelled,  of  show- 
ing respect  to  the  General  of  your  Armies,  1  arrived  here 
on  this  day  week;  since  which  1  have  been  labouring  with 
as  much  assiduity,  by  fair  and  threatening  means,  to  obtain 
returns  of  our  strength  in  this  camp  and  Roxbury,  and  their 
dependencies,  as  a  man  could  do,  and  never  have  been  able 
to  accomplish  the  matter  till  this  day;  now,  I  will  not 
answer  for  the  correctness  of  them,  although  I  have  sent 
several  of  the  regimental  returns  back  more  than  once,  to 
have  mistakes  rectified.  I  do  not  doubt  but  the  Congress 
will  think  me  very  remiss  in  not  writing  to  them  sooner, 
but  you  may  rely  on  it  yourself,  and  I  beg  you  to  assure 
them  that  it  has  never  been  in  my  power  till  this  day  to 
comply  with  their  orders.  Could  1  have  conceived,  that 
that  which  ought,  and  in  a  regular  army,  which  would  have 
been  done  in  an  hour,  would  employ  eight  days,  I  should 
have  sent  an  express  on  the  second  morning  after  1  arrived, 
with  a  general  account  of  things ;  but  expecting  in  the 
morning  to  receive  the  returns  in  the  evening,  and  in  the 
evening  surely  to  find  them  in  the  morning,  (and  at  last 
getting  them  full  of  imperfections,)  1  have  been  drilled  on, 
from  day  to  day,  till  1  am  ashamed  to  It  ok  back  at  the  time 
which  has  elapsed  since  my  arrival  here.  You  will  per- 
ceive, by  the  returns,  that  we  have  but  about  sixteen  thou- 
sand effective  men  in  all  this  department,  whereas,  by  the 
accounts  which  I  received  from  even  the  first  officers  in 
command,  1  had  no  doubt  of  finding  between  eighteen  and 
twenty  thousand  ;  out  of  these  there  are  only  fourteen  thou- 
sand fit  for  duty.  So  soon  as  I  was  able  to  get  this  state 
of  the  Army,  and  came  to  the  knowledge  of  our  weakness, 
I  immediately  summoned  a  council  of  war,  the  result  of 
which  you  will  see,  as  it  is  enclosed  to  the  Congress. 
Between  you  and  me,  I  think  we  are  in  an  exceeding  dan- 
gerous situation,  as  our  numbers  are  not  much  larger  than 
we  suppose,  from  the  best  accounts  we  are  able  to  get,  those 
of  the  enemy  to  be;  theirs  situated  in  such  a  manner  as  to 
be  drawn  to  any  point  of  attack,  without  our  having  an 
hour's  previous  notice  of  it.  (if  the  General  will  keep  his 
own  counsel.)  whereas  we  are  obliged  to  be  guarded  at  all 
points,  and  know  not  where,  with  precision,  to  look  for 
them.  I  should  not,  I  think,  have  made  choice  of  the 
present  posts  in  the  first  instance,  although  I  believe  the 
communication  between  the  town  and  country  could  not 
have  been  so  well  cut  off  without;  but  as  much  labour  has 
been  bestowed  in  throwing  up  lines,  making  redoubts,  &c; 
as  Cambridge,  Roxbury,  and  Water  town,  must  be  imme- 
diately exposed  to  the  mercy  of  the  enemy,  were  we  to 
retreat  a  little  further  in  the  country ;  as  it  would  give  a 
general  dissatisfaction  to  this  Colony,  dispirit  our  own  peo- 
ple, and  encourage  the  enemy  to  remove  at  this  time  to 
another  place,  we  have,  for  these  reasons,  resolved  in  council 
to  maintain  our  ground  if  we  can.  Our  lines  on  Winter 
and  Prospect  Hills,  and  those  of  the  enemy  on  Bunker 
Hill,  are  in  full  view  of  each  other,  a  mile  distant,  our 
advance  guards  much  nearer,  and  the  sentries  almost  near 
enough  to  converse ;  at  Roxbury  and  Boston  Neck  it  is  the 
same.  Between  these  we  are  obliged  to  guard  several  of 
the  places  at  which  the  enemy  may  land.  The  enemy 
have  strongly  fortified,  or  will  in  a  few  days,  their  camps 
and  Bunker  Hill;  after  which,  and  when  their  new-landed 
troops  have  got  a  little  refreshed,  we  shall  look  for  a  visit, 
if  they  mean,  as  we  are  told  they  do,  to  come  out  of  their 
lines.  Their  great  command  of  artillery,  and  adequate 
stores  of  powder,  &,c,  give  them  advantages  which  we 
have  only  to  lament  the  want  of.  The  abuses  in  this  Army, 
I  fear,  are  considerable,  and  the  new  modelling  of  it,  in  the 
face  of  an  enemy,  from  whom  we  every  hour  expect  an 
attack,  exceedingly  difficult  and  dangerous.  If  things, 
therefore,  should  not  turn  out  as  the  Congress  would  wish, 
1  hope  they  will  make  proper  allowances.  I  can  only 
promise  and  assure  them,  that  my  whole  time  is  devoted 
to  their  service,  and  that,  as  far  as  my  judgment  goes,  they 
shall  have  no  cause  to  complain.  I  need  not  tell  you  that 
this  letter  is  written  in  much  haste;  the  fact  will  sufficiently 
appear  from  the  face  of  it.  I  thought  a  hasty  letter  would 
please  you  better  than  no  letter,  and  therefore  I  shall  offer 
no  further  apology,  but  assure  you  that,  with  sincere  regard 
for  my  fellow-labourers  with  you,  Doctor  Shippen's  family, 
&ic,  I  am,  dear  Sir,  your  most  affectionate  servant, 

George  Washington. 


1637 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JULY,  1775. 


163S 


P.  S.  We  want  an  hospital,  upon  a  proper  establishment, 
much,  and  a  proper  director,  with  good  surgeons,  to  take 
Care  and  charge  of  it.  I  cannot  learn  that  these  are  to  be 
provided  here  ;  it  therefore  rests  with  the  Congress  to  con- 
sider of  this  matter.  A  Mr.  Bass,  of  Philadelphia,  who, 
I  am  told,  was  in  this  way  last  war,  can  give  you  the  proper 
establishment  of  one.  I  would  not  wish  to  see  an  expen- 
sive one  set  on  foot,  and  I  have  no  doubt  of  Doctor  Ship- 
pen's  recommending  such  gentlemen  for  surgeons  as  he 
can  answer  for  the  abilities  of.  Whether  there  is  no  news 
stirring,  or  whether  we  live  out  of  the  way  of  receiving  it, 
I  cannot  tell,  but  so  it  is,  that  1  have  heard  nothing  of 
what  the  Parliament  or  Ministry  are  about  since  I  left 
Philadelphia. 

I  am,  as  before,  your  servant,  G.  W. 


GENERAL  THOMAS  TO  GENERAL  WASHINGTON. 

Roxbury  Camp,  July  10,  1775. 

Sir:  I  have  arrested  a  master  of  a  vessel  that  came  out 
of  Boston  (Saturday  night)  in  order  to  take  charge  of  a 
vessel  at  Stoninglon,  in  Connecticut,  loaded  with  molasses, 
to  proceed  to  New- York  as  he  saith.  His  acquaintance 
in  the  country  inform  that  he  has  been  a  suspected  person, 
and  I  think  it  my  duty  to  forward  him  to  your  Excellency 
for  your  examination. 

I  am,  Sir,  with  respect,  your  most  obedient  humble  ser- 
vant, John  Thomas. 

To  his  Excellency  Gen.  George  Washington,  Cambridge. 


Watertown,  July  10,  1775. 
In  compliance  with  an  order  of  the  honourable  the  Pro- 
vincial Congress,  passed  the  fifth  of  July  instant,  the  Free- 
holders and  others,  who  were  inhabitants  of  the  Town  of 
Boston,  and  were  qualified,  according  to  law,  to  vote  for 
Representatives  in  May,  1774,  and  are  now  dispersed,  are 
hereby  notified  and  warned  to  assemble  at  the  Meeting- 
House  in  Concord,  on  Tuesday,  the  eighteenth  of  July 
instant,  at  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  then  and  there  to 
elect  and  depute  one  or  more  freeholders  in  said  Town, 
according  to  the  numbers  limited  by  a  law  of  this  Colony, 
to  serve  for  and  represent  them  in  a  Great  and  General 
Court  or  Assembly,  to  be  convened,  held,  and  kept  for  the 
service  of  said  Colony,  until  the  day  next  preceding  the 
last  Wednesday  of  May  next,  if  necessary,  and  no  longer, 
at  the  Meeting-House  in  Watertown,  upon  Wednesday,  the 
nineteenth  instant,  nine  o'clock  in  the  forenoon,  and  so 
from  day  to  day  during  their  session  or  sessions. 

William  Cooper,  Town  Clerk  of  Boston. 


extract  of  a  letter  from  the  camp  at  cambridge, 
july  10,  1775. 
The  General's  express,  that  ought  to  have  left  this  four 
days  ago,  is  not  yet  gone.  I  therefore  sit  down  to  give  you 
some  description  of  our  situation  here,  and  that  of  the 
enemy. 

The  enemy  are  situated  on  Bunker  and  Breed's  Hills, 
both  on  the  peninsula  where  the  late  Town  of  Charlestown 
stood,  and  within  reach,  and  under  the  cover  of  the  guns 
from  the  batteries  in  the  Town  of  Boston,  and  the  ships  in 
the  harbour,  and  of  a  number  of  floating  batteries  which 
they  have  built,  that  carry  two  guns  in  their  bows,  two  in 
their  sterns,  and  one  on  each  side.  Our  people  are  situ- 
ated from  Charles  River,  about  two  hundred  rods  below  the 
college,  where  we  have  a  redoubt,  which  begins  the  line ; 
then  about  sixty  rods  from  that  another  redoubt,  and  lines 
continued  near  a  hundred  rods ;  then  at  Charlestoivn  road, 
on  the  west  side  of  the  road,  at  the  foot  of  Prospect  Hill, 
another  redoubt  and  strong  fortification  ;  then  on  Prospect 
Hill  is  Putnam's  Post,  a  very  strong  fortification;  then, 
between  that  and  Winter  Hill,  a  strong  citadel  and  lines 
over  Charlestown  road  to  Mistick ;  then  in  Mr.  Temple's 
pasture,  a  strong  redoubt  that  commands  to  Mistick  River ; 
so  that  we  have  a  complete  line  of  circumvallation  from 
Charles  River  to  Mistick  River.  Our  main  fortress  on 
Prospect  Hill,  and  the  enemy's  main  fortress  on  Bunker's 
Hill,  are  within  cannon  shot  of  each  other.  A  hill  between 
these  two  posts,  a  little  to  the  eastward  of  Prospect  Hill, 
called  Cobble  Hill,  I  expect  will  soon  cost  us  a  squabble 


who  shall  have  it,  our  people  or  theirs;  nor  do  I  expect 
it  will  be  many  days  before  the  contest  begins,  which  will 
probably  bring  on  a  general  engagement.  If  they  let  us 
alone  four  or  five  days  more,  we  shall  be  well  prepared, 
and  shan't  care  how  soon  they  come,  the  sooner  the  better. 
On  Roxbury  side  the  enemy  have  dug  across  the  neck  and 
let  the  water  through ;  and  our  people  in  turn  have  in- 
trenched across  the  outer  end  of  the  neck,  and  are  strongly 
fortified  there,  and  on  the  hill  by  the  meeting-house,  so 
strong,  that  I  believe  every  man  in  Boston,  and  at  Bun- 
ker's Hill  and  Breed's  Hill,  must  fall  before  they  could 
force  a  passage  that  way  into  the  country. 

General  Burgoyne  sent  a  trumpeter  yesterday  with  a 
letter  to  General  Lee,  wishing  a  composition  of  the  unhappy 
differences,  &ic,  and  says  the  Parliament  will  certainly  give 
up  all  right  or  pretence  of  taxation,  if  that  will  do,  and 
wishes  a  conference.  This  letter  is  sent  to  the  Congress 
for  their  opinion,  and  for  them  to  appoint  a  person  whom 
they  can  confide  in,  to  attend  the  conference,  and  hear  what 
passes,  if  they  judge  it  best  to  have  a  conference.  Major 
Gates  is  arrived,  and  we  are  getting  into  order  and  regu- 
larity very  fast.  Last  night  our  people  at  Roxbury  fired 
the  remainder  of  Brown's  buildings  on  Boston  Neck,  and 
have  drove  the  enemy's  guards  back  to  their  lines. 


GENERAL  LEE  TO  MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS. 

Head-Quarters,  July  10,  1775. 

General  Lee  presents  his  respects  to  the  President  and 
Gentlemen  of  the  Provincial  Congress  of  Massachusetts, 
and  submits  to  their  perusal  a  letter  which  he  yesterday 
received  from  General  Burgoyne,  in  answer  to  one  which 
was  read  and  approved  of  by  the  Delegates  of  this  Pro- 
vince, and  other  members  of  the  Continental  Congress.  He 
begs  leave  to  request  their  commands  with  respect  to  the 
proposed  interview.  If  they  approve  of  it,  he  shall  be 
glad  to  accept  of  it;  if  they  disapprove,  he  shall  reject  it; 
but  if  they  approve  of  it,  he  must  request  that  they  will 
depute  some  one  gentleman  of  their  body  to  accompany 
General  Lee,  and  be  witness  of  the  conversation.  He  de- 
sires their  answer  immediately,  as  he  has  engaged  to  inform 
General  Burgoyne  by  four  o'clock  this  afternoon,  whether 
the  interview  is  to  take  place.  He  shall  likewise  be  much 
obliged  to  the  gentlemen  if  they  will  return  the  letter ;  but 
if  they  choose  to  take  a  copy,  he  can  have  no  objection. 

MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS  TO  GENERAL  LEE. 

In  Provincial  Congress,  Watertown,  July  10,  1775. 

Sir  :  Congress  have  perused  the  letter  from  General 
Burgoyne,  which  you  was  kind  enough  to  submit  to  their 
inspection.  They  can  have  no  objection  to  the  proposed 
interview  from  a  want  of  the  highest  confidence  in  the 
wisdom,  discretion,  and  integrity  of  General  Lee,  but  would 
beg  leave  to  suggest,  that  as  the  confidence  of  the  people 
in  their  General  is  so  essentially  necessary  to  the  well  con- 
ducting the  enterprise  in  which  we  are  engaged,  and  as  a 
people  contending  for  their  liberties  are  naturally  disposed 
to  jealousy,  and  not  inclined  to  make  the  most  favourable 
constructions  of  the  motives  of  conduct  which  they  are  not 
fully  acquainted  w  ith,  whether  such  an  interview  might  not 
have  a  tendency  to  lessen  the  influence  which  the  Con- 
gress would  wish  to  extend  to  the  utmost  of  their  power, 
to  facilitate  and  succeed  the  operations  of  war. 

To  prevent,  as  far  as  we  are  able,  any  disagreeable  con- 
sequences which  may  arise  from  the  jealousy  of  the  people 
on  such  an  occasion,  the  Congress,  agreeable  to  your  re- 
quest, have  appointed  Mr.  Elbridge  Gerry  to  attend  you 
at  the  proposed  interview,  if  you  shall  think  proper  to  pro- 
ceed in  it;  and  as  they  do  not  think  themselves  authorized 
to  counteract  the  General's  inclination,  they  would  submit 
it  to  his  opinion  whether  the  advice  of  the  council  of  war 
might  not  be  taken  in  a  matter  of  such  apparent  delicacy. 

To  the  Honourable  General  Lee. 

GENERAL  LEE's  LETTER  DECLINING  THE  INTERVIEW  PRO- 
POSED BY  GENERAL  BURGOYNE. 

Head.Quarters,  Cambridge,  July  11,  1775. 
Gen.  Lee's  compliments  to  Gen.  Burgoyne.   Would  be 
extremely  happy  in  the  interview  he  so  kindly  proposed  ; 


1639 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JULY,  1775. 


1640 


but  as  lie  perceives  that  General  Burgoyne  has  already 
made  up  his  mind  on  this  great  subject,  and  as  it  is  impos- 
sible that  he  (General  Lee)  should  ever  alter  his  opinion, 
he  is  apprehensive  that  the  interview  might  create  those 
jealousies  and  suspicions  so  natural  to  a  people  struggling 
in  the  dearest  of  all  causes,  that  of  their  liberty,  property, 
wives,  children,  and  their  future  generation.  He  must, 
therefore,  defer  the  happiness  of  embracing  a  man  whom 
lie  most  sincerely  loves,  until  the  subversion  of  the  present 
tyrannical  Ministry  and  system,  which  he  is  persuaded  must 
be  in  a  few  months,  as  he  knows  Great  Britain  cannot 
stand  the  contest.  He  begs  General  Burgoyne  will  send 
the  letters  which  his  Aid-de-Camp  has  for  him.  If  Gar- 
diner is  his  Aid-de-Camp,  he  desires  his  love  to  him. 


REMARKS   ON   THE   LETTER   FROM   GENERAL   BURGOYNE  TO 
GENERAL  LEE. 

As  General  Burgoyne's  letter,  dated  the  eighth  of  July, 
1775,  in  answer  to  one  from  General  Lee,  is  permitted  to 
be  published,  it  becomes  of  course  a  subject  of  general 
speculation. 

General  Lee,  by  taking  no  further  notice  of  the  letter 
than  to  decline  the  proposed  interview  with  General  Bur- 
goyne, plainly  intimates  that  the  sword,  and  not  the  quill, 
is  now  to  decide  the  controversy.  But  as  the  bulk  of  man- 
kind are  apt  to  be  deluded  by  sounds,  without  examining 
whether  they  are  derived  from  good  sense,  or  only  the  ap- 
pearance of  it,  there  is  reason  to  fear  many  weak  minds 
have  been  artfully  misled  to  believe,  from  General  Lee's 
returning  only  a  card,  and  not  a  formal  answer,  that  the 
letter  carries  to  him  conviction,  and  is  therefore  unanswer- 
able. Indeed,  was  the  force  of  the  General's  arguments 
as  irresistible  as  the  politeness  of  his  style  is  engaging,  we 
should  have  more  reason  to  tremble  at  the  pointof  his  pen, 
than  at  the  point  of  his  sword.  But  as  the  patriot  and  hero 
to  whom  he  addresses  himself,  will  doubtless  prevent  the 
latter  from  doing  any  harm,  if  he  pleases,  it  shall  be  the 
object  of  our  present  inquiry,  whether  we  are  in  any  danger 
from  the  former. 

General  Burgoyne  introduces  the  vindication  of  his  con- 
duct by  saying,  that  "  the  vital  principle  of  the  Constitution, 
in  which  it  moves  and  has  its  being,  is  the  supremacy  of 
the  King  in  Parliament."  Now,  if  he  means  that  the 
power  of  the  King  in  Parliament  is  absolute,  or  that  the 
two  Houses  of  Parliament,  with  his  concurrence,  can  make 
him  so,  over  all  or  any  part  of  his  dominions,  (for  the  sen- 
tence under  review  involves  that  conclusion,)  as  well  ac- 
quainted as  he  is  "with  the  doctrines  of  Mr.  Locke,  and 
other  of  the  advocates  for  the  rights  of  mankind,"  he  can 
find  nothing  in  their  writings  to  support  such  an  unlimited 
power  in  the  Crown.  Or  if  he  means  that  the  Parliament, 
as  the  supreme  legislative,  "  have,  and  ought  to  have  a 
power  to  make  laws  binding  upon  the  King's  American 
subjects  "  in  all  cases  whatsoever,"  he  will  find  it  equally 
difficult  to  produce  any  authority  for  such  an  absolute  power, 
till  it  can  be  proved  that  America  is  within  the  realm  of 
England,  or  that  the  Americans  have  consented  to  the 
laws  by  which  it  is  expected  they  should  be  bound.  If, 
therefore,  America  is  not  within  the  limits  of  the  realm ; 
if  there  are  acts  of  Parliament  grievous  and  oppressively 
binding  upon  Americans,  to  which  they  have  never  con- 
sented, or  even  acquiesced  in,  and  no  authority  can  be  pro- 
duced from  the  labours  of  those  great  advocates  for  the 
rights  of  mankind,  which  the  General  appeals  to,  for  such 
an  uncontrollable  power  over  three  millions  of  his  unrep- 
resented fellow-subjects,  it  follows,  upon  his  own  principles, 
that  he  must  either  sheathe  his  sword,  or  own  that  "he 
draws  it  in  the  cause  of  slavery."  If  the  General  should 
require  further  evidence  that  no  such  unlimited  power  is 
vested  by  the  Constitution  in  the  King  and  Parliament,  I 
beg  leave  to  recommend  to  his  perusal  the  masterly  pro- 
ductions of  Novanglus,  and  a  writer  from  the  County  of 
Hampshire.  In  them  he  will  find  the  subject  treated  at 
large,  and  our  right  of  exemption  placed  beyond  the  reach 
of  cavil. 

The  General  goes  on  to  say,  « that  towards  the  close  of 
the  reign  of  Charles  the  First,  the  true  principle  of  resist- 
ance was  changed,  and  a  new  system  of  Government  pro- 
jected accordingly.  The  Patriots  previous  to  the  long 
Parliament,  and  during  great  part  of  it,  as  well  as  the  glo- 


rious Revolution  of  1638,  resisted  to  vindicate  and  restore 
the  Constitution  ;  the  Republicans  resisted  to  subvert  it." 
He  then  says,  "  now,  Sir,  lay  your  hand  upon  your  heart, 
as  you  have  enjoined  nie  to  do  on  mine,  and  tell  me  to 
which  of  these  purposes  do  the  proceedings  of  America 
tend." 

As  General  Lee  is  silent,  I  beg  leave  to  answer :  that 
their  proceedings  do  not  tend  to  the  subversion  of  the  Con- 
stitution, but  the  preservation  of  it.  It  is  for  the  recovery 
of  that  "  liberty,  peace,  and  safety"  which  we  and  our 
forefathers  have  dearly  purchased  and  uninterruptedly  en- 
joyed "  till  within  these  ten  years  past,  that  we  are  con- 
tending." Since  that  period,  we  have  been,  and  still 
are  suffering  unparalleled  injuries,  and  more  than  savage 
cruelty,  from  the  Parent  State,  under  colour  of  law  !  And 
although  we  have  humbly  and  repeatedly  implored  our 
Sovereign  to  extend  his  protection  ;  to  interpose  in  our 
behalf,  and  redress  our  grievances  ;  our  petitions  have  been 
treated  with  contempt,  and  our  burdens  increased  :  it  is 
not,  therefore,  as  the  General  suggests,  a  struggle  "  for 
total  independency,"  but  the  weight  of  taxes  imposed,  and 
to  be  imposed  to  an  unlimited  amount,  and  an  impossibility 
of  procuring  relief  "  in  any  other  way,"  that  has  induced 
America  to  take  up  arms. 

We  have  ever  cheerfully  submitted  to  the  control  of 
Parliament,  in  all  cases  whatsoever,  relative  to  our  com- 
merce;  not  from  a  consciousness  of  the  Parliament's  right, 
but  as  a  limited  power,  exercised  for  the  mutual  benefit  of 
both  Countries. 

In  no  case  whatsoever  have  we  been,  or  shall  we  be 
willing  to  submit  to  the  control  of  Parliament  relative  to 
our  taxes,  or  internal  police;  because,  it  is  an  unlimited 
power,  which  extends  to  all  we  have  ;  and  therefore  can- 
not be  consented  to  without  incurring  perpetual  bondage. 
What,  then,  does  the  General  mean  by  saying,  "  it  is  in  the 
power  of  the  Colonies  to  put  an  end  to  the  exercise  of 
taxation  immediately  and  for  ever?"  If  he  means,  that  the 
right  of  Parliament  should  remain,  but  never  be  exercised, 
it  is  an  instance  of  chicanery  beneath  the  dignity  of  his 
exalted  station :  for  a  right  to  exercise  a  power,  which 
implies  the  exertion  of  it,  and  yet  is  never  to  be  exercised, 
is  a  solecism  in  common  sense;  and,  indeed,  is  no  power. 
If  Great  Britain,  therefore,  "  is  ready  to  open  her  arms 
to  an  accommodation,"  let  her  cease  hostilities,  recall  her 
forces,  and  renounce  her  claim  of  right  to  tax  us  ;  since  "  it 
can  never  be  her  interest,  (as  the  General  boldly  asserts,) 
after  her  late  experience,  to  make  another  trial;"  and 
especially,  since  these  are  preliminaries,  which,  whilst  un- 
granted,  renders  any  other  overture  inadmissible. 

The  history  of  mankind  will  support  me  when  I  affirm, 
there  never  was  a  state  which  employed  a  Standing  Army 
as  an  executive  power  to  maintain  its  laws,  which  did  not 
sooner  or  later  become  the  sole  legislative  power  of  that 
state,  and  ultimately  the  destruction  of  civil  liberty. 

The  General,  therefore,  may  be  as  sanguine  as  he  pleases 
about  "  the  principles  which  actuate  the  Fleet  and  Army 
throughout."  No  principles  but  such  as  are  founded  in 
despotism,  can  justify  their  inhuman  treatment  of  their  in- 
nocent American  fellow-subjects  ;  no,  not  the  mandate  of 
their  Sovereign,  much  less  of  a  profligate  Ministry. 

I  have  Lord  Chatham's  authority  to  affirm,  that  "  the 
value  of  the  landed  estates  in  England  has  doubled  within 
these  fifty  years  in  consequence  of  their  exclusive  com- 
merce with  America ;  that  the  profits  arising  from  it  car- 
ried the  Nation  triumphantly  through  the  last  war:"  it  is 
therefore  false  to  say,  as  the  General  does,  that  "  the  land- 
ed men  have  long  borne  burdens  for  America :"  we,  and 
not  they,  have  borne  the  burden;  and  the  time  is  now 
come  when,  I  trust  in  God,  we  shall  be  exonerated. 

But  the  General  says,  "Great  Britain  is  resolute  to 
maintain  her  rights  ;  and  if  the  war  proceeds,  one  hundred 
and  fifty  thousand  men  will  not  be  a  match  for  her  power." 

It  ill  becomes  a  brave  and  generous  soldier  to  be  the 
echo  of  such  a  shameful  Ministerial  puff! 

In  the  name  of  wonder !  what  was  the  power  of  Great 
Britain  before  her  connection  with  America  1  What  will  it 
be  when  fraud,  oppression,  and  every  species  of  injustice 
shall  force  Americans  to  an  everlasting  separation? 

Is  there  the  least  probability  arising  from  the  progress  of 
her  arms  hitherto,  of  their  becoming  victorious?  It  is  true, 
General  Gage,  by  an  infamous  breach  of  faith,  has  made 


1641 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JULY,  1775. 


1642 


some  unhappy  people  in  Boston  his  prisoners,  and  their 
property  his  spoil ;  the  Troops  under  his  command  have 
committed  many  robberies,  burnt  many  houses,  and  mur- 
dered some  of  the  inhabitants  ;  but  it  is  equally  true,  they 
have  paid  excessively  dear  for  all  they  have  got,  and  every 
inch  of  ground  they  possess. 

What  say  you,  my  countrymen  !  Does  Colonel  Les- 
lie's disappointment,  the  retreat  from  Lexington,  the  de- 
struction of  the  King's  Troops  there  and  at  Charlestoivn, 
and  the  other  trials  of  our  skill  at  arms  excite  any  fearful 
apprehensions  that  we  shall  finally  be  vanquished?  Are 
not  all  of  them  proofs  of  valour  and  intrepidity  sufficient 
to  convince  our  enemies  that  we  are  invincible? 

May  we  not,  therefore,  with  approbation,  conclude,  that 
whilst  we  admit  General  Burgoyne  to  be  an  elegant  writer, 
we  cannot  help  considering  him  as  a  very  bad  reasoner  ? 
God  grant  that  his  sword  may  prove  as  harmless  as  his 
pen.  An  Old  Man. 

From  my  Cottage  near  Boston,  August,  1775. 


TO  GENERAL  BURGOYNE. 

Although  the  intercourse  between  yourself  and  General 
Lee  is  closed,  you  will  permit  an  American,  who  is  a  stran- 
ger to  you  both,  and  has  never  seen  either  of  the  Armies 
in  which  you  command,  to  address  you,  Sir,  on  the  inter- 
esting subject  of  your  late  correspondence. 

From  the  time  of  the  conquest  to  the  Revolution,  the 
history  of  England  affords  innumerable  instances  of  the 
People  struggling  for  their  rights,  and  the  Sovereigns  tena- 
cious of  assumed  prerogatives ;  but  the  power  of  taxing  them- 
selves was  the  privilege  of  which  our  common  ancestors 
were  particularly  jealous. 

The  present  controversy  between  Great  Britain  and  the 
Colonies  originated  from  the  question,  whether  the  British 
Commons  have  a  right  to  give  and  grant  our  moneys  with- 
out our  consent.  For  the  question,  you  have  urged  as  a 
principle  of  the  Constitution,  the  supremacy  of  the  King 
in  Parliament.  Against  it,  the  Colonies  have  adduced  ano- 
ther principle,  which,  in  the  words  of  Sir  Edward  Coke,  is 
this:  "It  is  against  the  franchises  of  the  land,  for  freemen 
to  be  taxed  but  by  their  own  consent."  Modern  Parlia- 
ments, with  a  kingly  fondness  for  prerogative,  have  winked 
the  latter  principle  out  of  sight,  though  their  predecessors, 
the  Commons  of  England,  resolutely  contended  for  it  in 
the  beginning  of  the  reign  of  Charles  the  First,  when,  as 
you  allow,  they  resisted  to  vindicate  and  restore  the  Con- 
stitution. In  opposition  to  the  unjust  claim  of  the  Crown 
to  impose  taxes,  the  House  of  Commons,  in  the  third  year 
of  that  Prince,  voted,  "  that  every  freeman  has,  by  ancient 
and  indubitable  right,  the  absolute  and  entire  property  of 
his  own  estate  ;"  and  both  Houses,  by  the  Petition  of  Right 
presented  to  His  Majesty  in  the  same  year,  "  pray  that  no 
man  hereafter  be  compelled  to  make  it  yield  any  gift,  loan, 
benevolence,  tax,  or  such  like  charge,  without  common 
consent  by  act  of  Parliament." 

These  immortal  Whigs,  as  you  call  them,  thought  the 
consent  of  those  who  were  to  pay  the  money  indispensa- 
bly necessary  to  a  legal  tax;  and  upon  this  principle,  the 
speeches  of  their  leaders,  and  the  petition  itself,  prove  they 
grounded  their  demand. 

In  the  first  year  of  the  long  Parliament  (at  which  time 
you  extol  their  patriotism  and  resistance)  the  Commons, 
Mr.  Hume  informs  us,  revived  the  pretensions  with  regard 
to  tonnage  and  poundage;  and  adds,  "the  levying  these 
duties,  as  formerly,  without  consent  of  Parliament,  and 
even  increasing  them  at  pleasure,  was  such  an  incongruity 
in  a  free  Constitution,  when  the  people,  by  their  fundamen- 
tal privileges,  cannot  be  taxed  but  by  their  own  consent, 
as  could  no  longer  be  endured  by  these  jealous  patrons  of 
liberty."  If  their  resistance  was  justifiable  and  virtuous, 
is  not  ours  so  ?  Are  the  claims  of  the  British  Parliament 
less  dangerous  to  the  Americans  than  those  of  Charles  I. 
were  to  the  people  of  England  ?  He  was  under  no  temp- 
tation to  lay  heavier  burdens  on  one  part  of  his  subjects 
than  another;  you  have  self-interest  held  up  as  a  motive 
to  oppress  us. 

But  we  are  denied  the  right  of  resistance  if  other  means 
of  redress  can  be  obtained.  We  have  often  presented  pe- 
titions, which  (because  they  called  in  question  the  right  of 


Parliament  to  tax  us)  were  styled  undutifui,  and  were  reject- 
ed, or  if  received  were  treated  with  neglect.  If  you  can 
tell  of  any  other  peaceable  means  of  redress,  in  the  name 
of  humanity  let  us  know  it.  Certainly  you  cannot  wish  us  to 
apply  to  Parliament,  and  say,  We  indeed  have  no  voice  in 
your  appointment,  and  no  influence  in  your  counsels,  never- 
theless you  have  a  right  to  dispose  of  us  and  all  we  have 
at  pleasure,  but  we  implore  your  mercy  to  continue  to  us 
the  enjoyments  of  life.  This,  Sir,  is  not  the  language  of 
freemen,  and  the  Americans,  therefore,  have  never  learnt 
to  speak  it.  Could  we  be  base  enough  to  act  so  slavish  a 
part,  your  resentment  might  cease,  but  must  be  succeed- 
ed by  contempt. 

The  landed  men  in  England,  who  have  long  borne  bur- 
dens for  America,  you  say,  are  against  us.  The  last  war 
indeed  began  on  this  Continent ;  but  are  we  on  that  account 
to  bear  any  more  than  our  proportion  of  its  expense?  As 
well  might  the  logwood  cutters  in  the  Bay  of  Campeachy 
be  charged  with  the  burdens  of  the  war  before  it,  because 
a  dispute  between  those  logwood  cutters  and  the  Spanish 
guarda  costas  gave  birth  to  that  war. 

Before  the  last  rupture  with  the  French,  the  conduct  of 
that  people,  both  in  the  East-Indies  and  America,  evinced 
their  design  to  disturb  the  trade  of  Britain.  Their  line  of 
forts  from  Canada  to  the  Mississippi  was  calculated  to  mo- 
nopolize the  fur  trade.  Your  interest  was  struck  at.  The 
views  of  both  Crowns  were  the  extension  and  security  of 
their  Fishery  and  Commerce.  Great  Britain  prevailed, 
and  then  recognized,  in  the  most  honourable  terms,  the  zeal 
and  efforts  of  the  Colonies,  however  mean-spirited  she  may 
think  them  now.  She  had  not  then  in  contemplation  the 
design  to  protect  our  property  from  the  French,  that  she 
might  afterwards  seize  it  herself,  without  our  consent.  Such 
a  design  would  have  been  inconsistent  with  the  spirit  of 
magnanimity  which  inspired  her  councils,  and  repugnant  to 
every  principle  of  honour  and  justice. 

You  say  we  deny  the  right  of  British  legislation  to  im- 
pose taxes,  and  consequently  struggle  for  total  independency. 
This  argument  is  unkind  and  fallacious ;  unkind,  as  every 
Assembly  and  Congress  on  the  Continent  has  disavowed  the 
intention  ;  and  fallacious,  because  the  proposition  is  parti- 
cular, and  the  consequence  general.  May  not  one  person 
or  community  be  dependant  on  another  without  being  total- 
ly dependant  ?  If  in  Great  Britain  the  Constitution  is  free 
and  limited,  and  the  Colonies  are  entitled  to  equal  freedom, 
is  it  not  impossible  that  their  dependance  ought  to  be  abso- 
lute and  without  limitation.  Ireland  has  long  felt  her  depen- 
dance without  owning  the  power  in  question,  and  the  Ame- 
ricans have  been  affectionate  and  loyal  in  such  a  situation, 
more  than  one  hundred  and  thirty  years.  When  you  first 
made  and  they  opposed  your  claim  of  right  to  taxation, 
they  thought  no  more  of  independence  than  the  Parlia- 
ment in  1628  thought  of  beheading  King  Charles ;  they 
would  now  esteem  it  a  most  unfortunate  event ;  and  nothing 
but  a  settled  habit  of  cruelty  in  the  mother  can  make  the 
child  forget  its  filial  duty. 

King  Charles  at  first  denied  to  the  people  their  ancient 
rights ;  the  high  sense  he  entertained  of  his  own  dignity 
would  not  readily  permit  him  to  correct  mistakes.  The 
passions  of  the  people  were  inflamed.  They  afterwards 
denied  to  him  his  just  prerogatives,  and  even  abolished  the 
regal  power.  In  civil  contests  there  is  a  keenness  of  ani- 
mosity unfelt  in  foreign  wars.  The  voice  of  reason  is  less 
regarded,  and  the  tenderest  feelings  of  the  soul  change  to 
envenomed  hate. 

That  some  attempt  to  bring  about  an  accommodation  of 
the  present  dispute,  may  be  attended  with  success  equal  to 
the  benevolence  of  the  design,  is  the  most  ardent  wish  of 

A  Countryman. 


DECLARATION  OF  ADAM  McCULLOCH. 

Arundel,  July  10,  1775 
Whereas  I,  the  subscriber,  have,  by  some  inadvertences, 
been  so  unhappy  as  to  fall  under  the  displeasure  of  the 
good  people  of  this  place;  and  many  things  have  been  laid 
to  my  charge  of  an  inimical  nature  to  the  just  rights  and 
liberties  of  the  good  people  of  this  Country,  some  of  which 
I  am  not  guilty  of.  I  do  now  publickly  declare,  that  so 
far  as  I  have  been  guilty,  either  in  words  or  actions,  of 
offending  the  same,  in  matters  of  a  civil  nature,  more  espe- 


1643 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JULY,  1775. 


1644 


cially  in  regard  to  the  unhappy  contest  now  prevailing  be- 
tween Great  Britain  and  these  Colonies,  that  1  am  heartily 
sorry,  and  do  now  humbly  ask  the  forgiveness  of  all  the 
friends  of  America  for  the  same ;  and  do  promise  that  I 
will  not  offend  in  like  manner  again,  but  will  do  all  that 
lays  in  power  for  the  defence  of  the  rights  and  privileges 
of  this  Country;  and  shall  ever  esteem  it  my  greatest  hap- 
piness of  a  temporal  nature  to  enjoy  the  favour  and  friend- 
ship of  the  people  with  whom  1  now  dwell;  and  will  for 
the  future  pay  due  obedience  to  the  lawful  authority  and 
advices  of  this  Province,  and  determine  to  stand  or  fall  with 
the  fate  of  the  same ;  heartily  wishing  that  every  resolution 
and  determination  for  the  good  of  the  publick  may  have 
us  desired  effect.  Adam  McCulloch. 


TO  THE  PEOPLE. 

London,  July  11,  1775. 

Awake,  my  countrymen!  appeal  to  your  own  understand- 
ings, and  value,  as  you  ought,  your  excellent  form  of  Gov- 
ernment. What  man  amongst  us,  when  his  private  rights 
are  invaded,  does  not  immediately  seek  redress  for  the  in- 
jury he  has  sustained?  What  wretch  is  there,  then,  so 
shamefully  degenerated,  as  to  be  an  unconcerned  spectator 
of  his  Country's  ruin  ?  As  Government  was  instituted  for 
our  good,  we  are  to  know  whether  our  governours  have  our 
interest  at  heart.  Actions  must  speak  for  themselves ;  we 
are  not  to  be  deluded  by  empty  professions.  It  is  our  duty 
to  prolong  the  life  of  liberty,  and  not  to  let  the  shackles  of 
slavery  be  imposed  upon  this,  or  any  future  generation. 
While  our  Country  remains,  all  good  men,  I  am  sure,  will 
unite  in  this  purpose,  to  deem  nothing  too  hard  to  be  en- 
dured or  done  for  its  interest,  provided  it  be  consistent  with 
the  laws  of  that  more  ancient  and  sacred  association  of  man- 
kind, of  which  God  is  the  parent  and  governour.  Let  us 
look  back  to  the  beginning  of  the  present  reign,  and  see  in 
what  manner  our  most  sacred  rights  and  liberties  have  been 
infringed,  and  daringly  violated.  We  patiently,  to  our  great 
shame,  endure  innumerable  oppressions,  when  our  noble 
ancestors,  at  the  expense  of  their  lives,  would  have  had 
ample  redress  for  a  single  grievance. 

The  first  stride  of  despotism  and  arbitrary  power,  was 
in  arresting  English  subjects,  and  even  a  member  of  the 
British  Legislature,  by  virtue  of  a  general  warrant,  issued 
by  a  Secretary  of  State,  contrary  to  the  laws  of  the  land. 

We  have  seen  their  houses  lifled  and  plundered,  their 
papers  seized,  and  used  as  evidence  upon  trial. 

Their  bodies  committed  to  close  imprisonment. 

The  Habeas  Corpus  eluded. 

Trial  by  Jury  discountenanced,  and  the  first  law  officer 
of  the  Crown  publickly  insinuating  that  Juries  are  not  to 
be  trusted. 

Printers  punished  by  the  Ministry  in  the  Supreme  Court, 
without  a  trial  by  their  equals — without  any  trial  at  all. 

The  remedy  of  the  law  for  false  imprisonment  barred 
and  defeated. 

The  plaintiff  and  his  attorney,  for  their  appeal  to  the 
law  of  the  land,  punished  by  expenses  and  imprisonment, 
and  made,  by  forced  engagement,  to  desist  from  their  legal 
claim. 

A  writing  determined  to  be  a  libel  by  a  Court,  where  it 
was  not  cognizable  in  the  first  instance,  contrary  to  law, 
because  all  appeal  is  thereby  cut  off;  and  inferiour  Courts 
and  Juries  influenced  by  such  predetermination. 

A  person  condemned  in  the  said  Court,  as  the  author 
of  the  supposed  libel,  unheard,  without  defence  or  trial. 

Unjust  treatment  of  Petitions,  in  selecting  parts  to  crimi- 
nate the  petitioner,  and  refusing  to  hear  those  which  might 
procure  him  redress. 

Perpetual  imprisonment  of  an  Englishman  without  trial, 
conviction,  or  sentence,  by  the  same  mode  of  attachment, 
wherein  the  same  person  is  at  once  party,  accuser,  judge, 
and  jury. 

Instead  of  the  ancient  legal  civil  police,  the  military  in- 
troduced at  every  opportunity,  unnecessarily  and  unlawfully 
patrolling  the  streets,  to  the  alarm  and  terrour  of  the  inhabi- 
tants. 

The  lives  of  many  of  our  fellow  subjects  destroyed  by 
military  execution. 

Such  military  execution  solemnly  adjudged  to  be  legal. 
Murder  abetted,  encouraged,  and  rewarded. 


A  large  Standing  Army  kept  in  times  of  profound  peace, 
contrary  to  an  express  article  of  the  Bill  of  Rights. 

The  Civil  Magistracy  rendered  contemptible,  by  the  ap- 
pointment of  improper  persons. 

Civil  Magistrates  tampered  with  by  Administration,  and 
neglecting  and  refusing  to  do  their  duty. 

Mobs  and  rioters  hired  and  raised  by  the  Ministry,  to 
justify  and  recommend  their  illegal  proceedings. 

The  freedom  of  Election  violated  by  corrupt  and  undue 
influence,  by  unpunished  violence  and  murder. 

The  verdicts  of  Juries  and  opinion  of  Judges  overruled, 
and  determinations  of  law  set  aside  by  new,  unprecedent- 
ed, and  dangerous  means,  thereby  leaving  the  guilty  with- 
out restraint,  and  the  innocent  without  redress,  and  the  lives 
of  fellow-subjects  at  the  mercy  of  every  ruffian  protected 
by  Administration. 

Obsolete  and  vexatious  claims  of  the  Crown  set  on  foot, 
for  partial  and  election  purposes. 

Partial  attacks  on  the  liberty  of  the  Press;  pernicious 
libels  against  the  Constitution  allowed  to  pass  unnoticed, , 
when  the  slightest  libel  against  a  Minister  is  punished  with 
the  utmost  rigour. 

Wicked  attempts  to  increase  and  establish  an  enormous 
Standing  Army,  by  endeavouring  to  vest  in  the  Crown  an 
unlimited  power  over  the  Militia. 

Resolutions  of  one  branch  of  the  Legislature  set  up  as 
the  law  of  the  land. 

Publick  Money  shamefully  squandered  and  unaccount- 
ed for;  all  inquiry  into  the  Civil  List  prevented. 

Inquiry  into  a  Paymaster's  publick  accounts  stopped, 
though  the  sums  unaccounted  for  amount  to  above  forty 
millions  sterling. 

Publick  loans  perverted  to  private  Ministerial  purposes. 

Prostitution  of  publick  honours  and  rewards  to  men 
who  can  neither  plead  publick  virtue  nor  services. 

Irreligion  and  immorality  encouraged  by  Administration, 
both  by  example  and  precept. 

Rjght  of  taxation  assumed  without  any  representation, 
in  direct  violation  of  the  law  of  the  land. 

Our  fellow  subjects  in  America  plundered  and  butchered 
by  an  Army,  their  complaints  unheard,  and  their  oppression 
hourly  increasing. 

Lastly,  our  right  of  Petition  denied,  contrary  to  an  ex- 
press article  of  Magna  Charta. 

These,  with  many  other  infringements  of  our  rights,  de- 
mand our  earliest  exertions  in  the  true  cause  of  liberty  and 
our  Country.  Our  children  are  dear  to  us,  so  are  our  wives, 
our  parents,  our  kinsmen,  our  friends  and  acquaintance. 
But  our  Country  contains  within  it  all  those  objects  of  en- 
dearment ;  and  therefore  it  is  the  duty  of  every  good  man 
to  be  ready  to  lay  down  his  life  for  it,  if  he  can  thus  do  it  ser- 
vice. Rouse  up,  for  shame !  and  revenge  your  wrongs. 
A  voice  from  our  fellow  subjects  on  the  Continent,  anima- 
ted with  a  true  love  of  liberty,  calls  aloud  to  action.  Great 
Sidney's  shade  complains  that  we  are  slow,  and  Allen's 
ghost  stalks  unrevenged  amongst  us.  Brutus. 


JOHN  GRENNELL  TO  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

Huntington,  Long-Island,  July  11,  1775. 

Sir  :  Agreeable  to  instructions  received  from  the  respect- 
able the  Provincial  Congress  for  enlisting  men,  I  now  report 
my  proceedings  therein  to  you.  Have  served  the  subalterns 
with  their  instructions,  and  received  their  answer,  that  it  is  in- 
convenient for  them  to  accept,  by  reason  of  business,  which 
alone  prevents  their  serving  the  Country  at  this  time.  In 
consequence  thereof,  I  now  enclose  their  warrants,  and  hum- 
bly crave  the  liberty  to  recommend  to  the  notice  of  the 
Committee  of  Safety  two  other  gentlemen,  who  will  serve, 
and  be  acceptable  to  the  people  that  I  expect  to  enlist. 

The  refusal  of  those  gentlemen  has  prevented  my  pro- 
gress in  that  matter,  as  other  officers  in  their  stead  may 
perhaps  be  appointed  under  whom  they  would  not  so  rea- 
dily serve,  and  therefore  postpone  the  business  until  it  is 
known.  The  gentlemen  I  have  in  view  are,  Mr.  Samuel 
Smith,  of  Smithtown,  first  Lieutenant,  and  Mr.  Alexander 
Ketchum,  of  this  place,  second  Lieutenant.  Harvesting, 
which  is  at  the  height,  has  greatly  impeded  the  enlisting. 
Some  have  offered,  but  I  thought  prudent  not  to  enroll  them 
until  that  business  was  over,  when  a  prospect  appears  of 
filling  up  the  company  at  once,  which  will  be  a  saving 


1645 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JULY,  1775. 


1640 


of  expenses  for  the  intermediate  time.  Some  who  stand 
ready  to  enlist  have  arms,  ammunition,  and  blankets.  Shall 
be  obliged  by  orders  how  to  act  in  that  case,  and  what 
encouragement  1  should  give  them  for  such  necessaries. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  Sir,  your  obedient,  humble  ser- 
vant, John  Grennell. 

To  Peter  V.  Brugh  Livingston,  Esq,  to  the  care  of  Col. 
Alexander  McDougall,  Xew-York. 


GENERAL  WOOSTER  TO  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

Camp  near  New. York,  July  11,  1775. 

Sir  :  Peter  Herring,  the  man  who  last  night  assisted  in 
conveying  on  board  the  Asia,  man-of-war,  one  of  the  pri- 
soners sent  here  by  the  Continental  Congress,  is  now  under 
guard  at  our  camp.  I  would  beg  the  immediate  advice  of 
the  Committee  of  Safety  concerning  what  is  best  to  be  done 
with  him.  His  brother  is  willing,  and  desirous  that  he 
should  be  sent  away  some  where,  that  he  may  be  out  of 
the  way  of  the  enraged  people.  Some  have  proposed  that 
he  be  sent  on  board  the  Asia ;  others  think  it  best  to  have 
him  sent  to  Connecticut,  with  Governour  Skene,  who  will 
go  off  as  soon  as  this  matter  can  be  determined.  I  hope, 
therefore,  to  be  assisted  with  your  advice  as  speedily  as  pos- 
sible ;  and  am,  Sir,  your  humble  servant, 

David  Wooster. 

To  Peter  V.  B.  Livingston. 


NEW-YORK  COMMITTEE. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee,  Tuesday,  July  11th, 
1775.  Present: 


Henry  Remsen, 
Daniel  Phenix, 
Thomas  Randall, 
John  Reade, 
William  Bedlow, 
Evert  Banker, 
Edward  Fleming, 


William  Denning,  Gerret  Kcttletas, 

Abrm.  BrinkerhofF,  Lancaster  Burling, 

Daniel  Dunscomb,  Peter  T.  Curtenius, 

John  Berrian,  Jacob  Van  Voorhies, 

Eleazer  Miller,  William  Walton, 

Lewis  Pintard,  John  Morton, 

Victor  Bicker,  Gabriel  H.  Ludlow, 

Cornelius  Clopper,       John  Lasher,  Abraham  P.  Lott, 

Robert  Ray,  Oliver  Templeton,  William  W.  Ludlow, 

Cornelius  P.  Low,        Nicholas  Bogart,  Nicholas  Hoffman, 

James  D.-sbrosses,        Hercules  Mulligan,  John  Woodward, 

John  Imlay,  Francis  Bassctt,  Alex.  McDougall. 

A  Letter,  dated  Elizabethtoivn,  July  7,  1775,  from  Jona- 
than Hampton,  received  and  read. 

A  Letter,  dated  Fairfield,  July  19,  1775,  from  Thad- 
deus  Burr,  received  and  read. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Bull,  Mr.  Templeton,  Mr.  Bedlow, 
Mr.  Miller,  Mr.  Woodward,  and  Mr.  Fleming,  be  a  Sub- 
Committee,  to  attend  the  sales  of  two  bales  and  two  trunks 
of  Goods,  the  property  of  Benjamin  Booth,  imported  in 
the  Ship  Lady  Gage,  Captain  Mesnard,  from  London,  in 
December  last ;  also,  to  attend  the  sales  of  Boxes  and  Goods, 
the  property  of  Gray  and  Blakie. 

Mr.  Burling  desires  his  dissent  to  be  entered  to  the  al- 
lowing the  above  Goods  to  be  sold. 


GENERAL  SCHUYLER  TO  THE  CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS. 
[Read  July  17,  1775.] 

Albany,  July  11,  1775. 

Sir  :  I  have  the  honour  to  advise  you  that  I  arrived 
here  on  Sunday  at  noon  ;  since  which  time  I  have  been 
closely  employed  in  the  duties  of  my  office. 

It  is  with  pleasure  I  remark,  that  intelligence  from  vari- 
ous quarters  indicate  a  friendly  disposition  in  the  Indians 
towards  us.  No  efforts  are,  however,  wanting  on  the  part 
of  our  enemies  to  change  these  sentiments  in  the  savages 
to  resentment  and  hostility,  an  evil  highly  incumbent  on 
us  to  guard  against,  and  of  which  the  Committee  of  this 
place  have  so  just  a  sense  that  they  pay  it  the  closest  at- 
tention, whilst  they  look  up  to  that  respectable  body  which 
represents  the  Continent  of  America  for  the  line  of  their 
future  conduct  in  this  delicate  and  important  matter. 

The  unhappy  controversy  which  has  subsisted  between 
the  officers  at  Ticonderoga,  relative  to  the  command,  has, 
1  am  informed,  thrown  every  thing  into  vast  confusion. 
Troops  have  been  dismissed,  others  refuse  to  serve,  if  this 
or  that  man  commands.  The  sloop  is  without  either  cap- 
tain or  pilot,  both  of  which  are  dismissed  or  come  away : 
I  shall  hurry  up  there  much  sooner  than  the  necessary  pre- 
parations here  would  otherwise  permit,  that  I  may  attempt 


to  introduce  some  kind  of  order  and  discipline  amongst 
them. 

1  am  this  moment  favoured  with  a  letter  from  Col.  Hin- 
man,  and  sundry  returns,  copies  of  which  enclose.  You  will 
perceive  by  the  return  No.  1,  that  on  the  7th  instant  they 
had  only  one  barrel  of  flour  at  Ticonderoga,  twenty  at 
Crown  Point,  and  twenty  at  Fort  George.  By  No.  2 
and  3,  it  appears  that  about  four  hundred  and  seventy- 
seven  barrels  of  flour  have  been  sent  up,  amounting  to 
about  ninety-five  thousand  four  hundred  rations,  and  that 
about  twenty  thousand  remain  ;  so  that  seventy-five  thou- 
sand are  expended.  From  the  same  returns  it  appears, 
that  about  sixty-five  thousand  rations  of  pork  have  been 
also  expended,  exclusive  of  thirty-five  fat  oxen ;  hence  a 
very  considerable  waste  or  embezzlement  has  taken  place. 

Permit  me  here,  Sir,  to  urge  the  necessity  of  the  appoint- 
ments I  recommended  in  my  letter  of  the  28th  June,  as  in- 
dispensably necessary  to  carry  on  the  service  with  proprie- 
ty, economy,  and  certainty,  to  which  I  must  add  another, 
that  of  a  Muster-Master  and  Deputies  ;  without  which  such 
a  scene  of  confusion  and  controversy  must  unavoidably  take 
place  in  the  payment  of  the  Troops,  as  will  be  beyond  the 
power  of  the  most  able  accountant  to  rectify.  These  offices 
are  so  necessary,  that  I  should  not  have  hesitated  one  mo- 
ment to  have  made  the  appointments,  had  I  not  received 
your  orders  to  the  contrary. 

Give  me  leave,  Sir,  to  request  a  copy  of  such  Articles  ol 
War  as  the  Congress  may  have  adopted.  The  scandalous 
want  of  subordination,  and  the  low  treatment  which  I  am 
informed  some  officers  give,  and  others  receive,  merit  exem- 
plary punishments,  as  they  are  ruinous  to  the  Army,  destruc- 
tive to  the  service,  and  disgraceful  to  those  in  command. 

Governour  Trumbull  has  honored  me  with  a  letter,  in 
which  lie  advises  me,  that  no  more  than  forty  half  barrels 
of  powder  can  be  sent  me  from  the  Colony  of  Connecticut. 
That  from  Pennsylvania  is  not  yet  arrived,  and  you  will 
perceive  that  there  is  very  little  with  the  Troops.  Should 
Governour  Carleton  know  our  true  situation,  with  respect 
to  this  article,  it  would  be  very  easy  for  him  to  use  it  to 
our  disadvantage.  Governour  Trumbull  will  send  me  fifteen 
thousand  Pounds  in  money,  which  is  so  much  wanted  here 
that  the  spiritedjCommittee  of  this  place  have  been  under 
the  necessity  of*  emitting  one  thousand  Pounds  in  small 
bills,  as  a  circulating  medium,  to  pay  troops  and  others  em- 
ployed in  the  service;  which,  although  it  passes  as  current- 
ly as  bank  bills  in  the  best  of  times,  1  shall  order  it  to  be 
called  in  as  soon  as  I  am  enabled  to  do  it,  lest  it  should 
open  a  door  to  fraud  and  confusion. 

As  the  transportation  of  salted  meat  is  attended  with 
the  very  heavy  expense  of  a  sixty-five  mile  land  carriage 
to  Fort  George,  before  1  left  Neic-York  I  ordered  one 
hundred  head  of  fat  cattle  to  be  purchased  in  Connecticut 
and  to  be  drove  up  to  Ticonderoga,  where  there  is  a  suffi- 
ciency of  pasture  for  them. 

Enclose  you,  Sir,  an  extract  of  a  paper  received  from 
Governour  Trumbull,  relative  to  the  temper  of  the  Caugh- 
ncnvaga  Indians,  marked  No.  4. 

The  paper  No.  5,  will  show  you  how  very  weak  we 
are  with  respect  to  vessels  for  transporting  troops  across 
the  lake,  or  even  with  those  necessary  to  keep  the  com- 
mand of  the  lake,  in  case  Mr.  Carleton  should  provide 
himself  with  a  naval  force.  I  hope,  however,  soon  after  my 
arrival  at  Ticonderoga  to  be  in  a  better  condition  for  main- 
taining the  advantage  we  have  acquired. 

I  hope  to  be  at  Ticonderoga  on  Friday  or  Saturday, 
from  whence  I  shall  do  myself  the  honour  to  transmit  you  a 
full  account  of  the  state  of  the  troops,  and  of  every  other 
matter  which  may  be  necessary  for  your  information. 

I  am,  Sir,  respectfully,  your  most  obedient,  and  most 
humble  servant,  Philip  Schuyler. 

To  the  Honourable  John  Hancock,  Esq..  Sic.,  &c. 


COLONEL  BENEDICT  ARNOLD    TO   CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS- 
[Read  July  17,  1775.] 

Albany,  July  11,  1775. 
Gentlemen  :  General  Schuyler  has  desired  me  to  ac- 
quaint you  of  the  state  and  situation  of  the  Army  in  the 
Northern  Department.   Six  days  since,  when  1  left  Crown 
Point,  there  were  at  that  post  near  three  hundred  men, 


1647 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  kc,  JULY,  1775. 


1648 


without  employ,  having  received  no  orders  to  fortify;  at 
Ticonderoga  about  six  hundred,  in  the  same  state;  at  Fort 
George,  upwards  of  three  hundred  men  ;  some  few  employ- 
ed in  building  batteaus,  and  on  scouting  parties.  Very  little 
provision  at  any  of  the  places ;  none  made  for  the  sick, 
which  arc  daily  increasing ;  only  five  hundred  weight  of 
gunpowder  at  all  the  places,  and  no  Engineer  or  Gunner  at 
either.  Great  want  of  discipline  and  regularity  among  the 
troops.  On  the  other  hand,  the  enemy  at  St.  John's  in- 
defatigable in  fortifying,  and  collecting  timber  (supposed) 
for  building  a  vessel.  The  disposition  of  the  Canadians 
and  Indians,  from  the  latest  accounts,  very  favourable.  A 
promise  has,  however,  been  extorted  from  the  latter  to 
defend  Governour  Carleton  if  attacked,  in  Montreal;  this  of 
course. 

By  giving  up  the  command,  I  have  been  prevented  re- 
ceiving regular  intelligence  as  heretofore ;  the  latest  near 
twenty  days  since. 

1  have  received  no  answer  to  my  letter  of  the  13th  June, 
by  Captain  Oswald.  Can  only  add,  1  am,  with  the  greatest 
respect,  gentlemen,  your  most  obedient  and  very  humble 
servant,  Benedict  Arnold. 

To  the  Honourable  Continental  Congress. 

P.  S.  I  had  forgot  to  inform  you  my  Regiment  is  dis- 
banded. 


GENERAL  SCHUYLER  TO  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

Albany,  July  11,  1775. 

Sir:  The  person  that  commanded  the  sloop  on  Lake 
Champlain  has  left  her.  It  is  more  than  probable  that  I 
shall  not  be  able  to  procure  at  Ticonderoga  such  a  person 
as  I  should  wish  to  command  her.  I  entreat  you,  there- 
fore, to  send  me  with  all  possible  despatch,  a  person  fit  to 
confer  such  an  important  command  upon.  You  will  please  to 
transmit  me  an  account  of  the  agreement  you  may  enter 
into  with  him. 

You  will  please  to  observe  that  I  have  ordered  one  hun- 
dred fat  cattle  from  Connecticut,  and  five  hundred  barrels 
of  flour  to  be  purchased  here,  as  part  of  the  estimate  I  gave 
in  to  you  at  New-  York. 

The  powder  from  Pennsylvania  is  not  yet  arrived  :  please 
to  forward  it  by  the  first  opportunity.  I  am,  Sir,  your  most 
humble,  obedient  servant,  Philip  Schuyler. 

To  Peter  V.  B.  Livingston,  Esquire,  President  of  the 

New-  York  Provincial  Congress. 

P.  S.  Please  to  forward  the  packet  that  will  be  delivered 
you  to  Mr.  Hancock,  by  a  safe  hand. 


ELISHA  PHELPS  TO  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

Albany,  July  11,  1775. 

Honoured  Gentlemen:  Before  your  favour  of  the  29th 
June  last  came  to  hand,  1  was  possessed  of  the  little  stores 
Mr.  Bleecker  had  on  hand,  which  was  pork  principally  ; 
and  as  it  did  not  in  any  wise  answer,  agreeable  to  the  act  of 
our  Assembly  I  thought  it  my  duty  to  apply  immediately  to 
the  Committee  here.  They  informed  they  had  no  orders 
to  purchase,  though  some  of  the  gentlemen  gave  it  as  their 
private  opinion  that  I  should  provide  agreeable  to  act  of  As- 
sembly ;  whose  advice  1  have  followed  as  far  as  lay  in  my 
power,  as  I  was  informed  the  Army  suffered  to  that  degree 
as  threatened  mutiny,  if  flour,  kc,  could  not  be  forwarded. 
It  was  with  difficulty  I  procured  ten  barrels  at  that  time,  and 
ten  more  at  Schenectady.  I  have  forwarded  with  all  possible 
despatch  all  the  provisions  1  could  obtain. 

Since  my  return  to  the  General,  of  the  10th  instant,  I 
have  sent  forward  sixty-two  barrels  flour,  and  Mr.  French 
about  thirty  barrels  more.  The  General  has,  to  my  great 
satisfaction,  ordered  the  Committee  to  purchase  flour  for 
me. 

I  am  desired  by  Colonel  Hinman  to  send  up  rum  and 
hospital  stores,  agreeable  to  act  of  our  Assembly  ;  but  these 
articles  are  not  to  be  had  here,  and  the  Army  thinks  me  in 
the  fault,  and  I  cannot  conceive  that  I  am  authorized  by  my 
commission  to  purchase  stores,  though  I  have  presumed  it 
on  myself  on  this  emergency,  as  I  am  expressly  ordered 
to  receive  and  forward,  &z.c,  from  the  Provincial  Conven- 
tion of  New-  York  to  the  Fourth  Regiment,  &ic. 

I  have  likewise,  a  few  days  ago,  received  a  commission, 


as  Commissary  for  the  Boston  forces  on  this  station,  to 
receive  and  forward  kc,  kc  I  hope  you,  gentlemen,  in 
your  wisdom,  will  point  out  ways  and  means  that  those 
necessaries  may  be  purchased  and  forwarded  agreeable  to 
what  those  soldiers  may  reasonably  expect  from  the  acts  of 
the  New-England  Provinces ;  and  you  may  rely  on  my 
doing  my  utmost  in  the  execution  of  my  office  and  trust ; 
while  I  am,  gentlemen,  with  the  greatest  esteem,  your  most 
obedient,  and  very  humble  servant,  Elisha  Phelps. 
To  the  Hon.  Provincial  Convention  at  New-York. 

N.  B.  I  have  thought  proper  to  transmit  a  copy  of  the 
above  to  his  Honour  the  Governor  of  Connecticut. 


COMMITTEE  OF  CORRESPONDENCE  OF  BRADFORD  TO  MASSA- 
CHUSETTS COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY. 
In  Committee  of  Correspondence,  Bradford,  July  4,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  Agreeable  to  your  address  to  us  directed, 
respecting  Captain  Gages's  Company  deserting  the  cause 
of  their  Country,  which  has  given  us  and  the  Town  great 
uneasiness,  and  before  we  received  your  letter,  as  well 
as  since,  we  have  exerted  ourselves  to  the  utmost  of  our 
power  to  make  them  that  you  call  deserters  return  to 
their  duty;  and  can  assure  your  Honours,  that  almost  all 
those  persons  have  re-enlisted  themselves,  or  provided  per- 
sons that  have  enlisted  in  their  room;  for,  upon  our  receipt 
of  your  letter,  we  called  the  Town  together,  and  proposed 
to  them,  according  to  the  nota  bene  in  your  letter,  that 
they  would  undoubtedly  be  entitled  to  and  receive  pay  for 
their  whole  services;  they  were  encouraged,  and  we  expect 
they  will  march  to  join  the  Army,  if  the  weather  permits, 
to-morrow,  the  fifth  instant.  Many  are  the  reasons  the 
men  give  for  their  coming  home ;  but  the  greatest  is,  that 
the  field-officers  of  the  Regiment  kept  them  in  ignorance 
with  respect  to  the  validity  of  the  old  enlistments ;  and 
being  informed  they  were  not  valid,  they  left  on  a  sudden, 
without  consideration  of  what  effect  it  might  have  on  the 
grand  cause  we  are  engaged  in.  But,  gentlemen,  they  are 
almost  all  returning  to  their  duty,  except  a  few  who  were 
disaffected  with  the  service,  and  were  the  chief  instruments 
of  their  coming  away,  preferring  their  own  interest  to  that 
of  the  publick,  (which  we  will  endeavour  they  shall  be 
made  a  publick  example  of,)  and  as  the  others  are  return- 
ing to  their  duty,  and  we  doubt  not  will  do  it  cheerfully, 
we  hope  you  will  receive  them  into  favour,  as  if  this  had 
never  happened. 

We  are,  gentlemen,  with  great  respect,  your  very  hum- 
ble servants,  Thomas  Kimball,  Chairman. 
To  the  Committee  of  Safety  in  Cambridge. 


EDMUND  BRIDGE  TO  MASSACHUSETTS  CONGRESS. 

Watcrtown,  July  11,  1775. 

Honoured  Gentlemen  :  Plunged  into  the  deepest 
distress,  and  in  danger  of  perishing  by  famine  from  the 
want  of  provisions,  we  cannot  support  the  clamours  of  our 
wives  and  children  for  bread.  To  you,  gentlemen,  next 
to  Heaven,  we  address  our  prayers  for  support.  The  in- 
habitants of  Pownalborough,  in  the  midst  of  calamity, 
have  been  applied  to  by  General  Gage;  he  offers  to  supply 
us  with  provisions,  if  we  will  send  his  troops  a  supply  of 
fuel.  We  cannot  comply  with  his  demands;  we  would 
not  contribute  to  the  support  of  the  enemies  of  our  Coun- 
try. Pray  direct  us  what  course  to  pursue;  give  us  bread, 
and  we  will  cheerfully  sacrifice  our  lives,  our  all,  in  the 
common  cause.  And  your  petitioners,  as  in  duty  bound, 
shall  ever  pray.  -      Edmund  Bridge. 

To  the  Honourable  the  Provincial  Congress  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts-Bay. 


PHILADELPHIA  MILITARY  ASSOCIATION. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Officers  of  the  Military  Association 
for  the  City  and  Liberties  of  Philadelphia,  held  at  Car- 
penter's Hall,  July  12,  1775: 

Resolved,  That  this  body  invite  the  Committees  of  the 
City  and  Liberties  and  County  of  Philadelphia,  and  the 
Officers  of  the  several  Battalions  in  the  said  County,  to 
meet  together,  with  this  body,  at  the  College-Hall  in  this 
City,  on  next  Saturday  week,  at  nine  o'clock  in  the  morn- 


1649 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JULY,  1775. 


1650 


ing,  to  take  under  consideration  the  late  Resolves  of  the 
honourable  House  of  Assembly  of  this  Province,  relative 
to  the  appointment  of  Minute-men.  And  that  the  Secre- 
tary be  directed  to  publish  this  Resolve  in  the  English  and 
German  newspapers.    Published  by  order: 

Richard  Peters,  Secretary. 

Philadelphia,  July  13,  1775. 

GENERAL  SCHUYLER  TO  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

Albany,  July  12,  1775. 
Dear  Sir:  The  troops  to  the  northward  are  so  few  and 
under  so  little  discipline,  that  1  begin  to  be  apprehensive 
of  consequences  should  Governour  Carlelon  make  an  at- 
tempt. 1  must,  therefore,  entreat  you  to  send  up  all  such 
as  may  be  raised  in  this  Colony,  without  delay,  with  such 
camp  equipages  as  may  be  ready;  the  remainder  must  fol- 
low. If  the  intrenching  and  other  tools,  which  I  desired 
might  be  sent  up,  have  not  yet  left  New-York,  pray  let 
them  be  forwarded  by  the  very  first  opportunity,  as  we 
stand  in  great  need  of  them.  I  am,  Sir,  your  most  hum- 
ble servant,  Ph.  Schuyler. 
To  Peter  V.  B.  Livingston,  Esq.,  President  of  the  New- 
York  Provincial  Congress. 


ETHAN  ALLEN  TO  GOVERNOUR  TRUMBULL. 

Bennington,  July  12,  1775. 

May  it  please  your  Honour  :  The  notice  your  Hon- 
our hath  taken  of  the  letters  I  have  already  sent  to  you 
emboldens  me  to  trouble  your  Honour  with  this ;  more 
especially  on  account  of  the  intelligence  which  Mr.  Ben- 
net,  the  post,  hath  this  day  communicated  to  me:  he  will 
communicate  the  same  to  your  Honour.  This  intelligence 
corresponds  with  the  predictions  of  which  I  have  formerly 
wrote  you.  1  was  apprised  of  the  necessary  consequences 
that  are  about  to  take  place,  except  we  support  our  friends 
in  Canada.  I  lay  my  honour  on  it,  that  the  Indians  in 
general,  (I  might  almost  have  said  the  same  of  the  Cana- 
dians,) are  disposed  to  be  either  neuter  or  assistants  to  the 
United  Colonies;  my  former  letters  have  given  the  rea- 
sons, and  also  the  reasons  why  they  will  be  necessitated  to 
join  against  us,  except  we  advance  an  army  into  Canada: 
shall,  therefore,  not  enlarge  here. 

Were  it  not  that  the  Grand  Continental  Congress  had 
lately  incorporated  the  Green  Mountain  Boys  into  a  batta- 
lion, under  certain  regulations  and  command,  I  would  forth- 
with advance  them  into  Canada,  and  invest  Montreal,  exclu- 
sive of  any  help  from  the  Colonies;  though,  under  present 
circumstances,  I  would  not,  for  my  right  arm,  act  without  or 
contrary  to  order.  If  my  fond  zeal  for  reducing  the  King's 
fortresses,  and  destroying  or  imprisoning  his  troops  in  Ca- 
nada, be  the  result  of  enthusiasm,  1  hope  and  expect  the 
wisdom  of  the  Continent  will  treat  it  as  such ;  and,  on  the 
other  hand,  if  it  proceed  from  sound  policy,  that  the  plan 
will  be  adopted. 

Provided  the  enterprise  be  attempted,  (inasmuch  as  in 
our  Northern  Department  we  are  scarce  of  the  article  of 
powder,  and  as  the  Regulars  are  well  intrenched  at  St. 
John's,  with  a  good  artillery,)  it  will  be  requisite  to  land 
and  march  out  of  shot  of  their  intrenchments  to  Montreal, 
which  may  easily  be  done.  Commanding  the  country  de- 
feats the  grand  purpose  of  the  enemy's  fortifications.  'Tis 
a  pity  such  a  handful  of  Regulars  should  command  Canada, 
in  spite  of  the  United  Colonies,  and  against  the  will  of  the 
Canadians  and  Indians. 

I  am,  Sir,  with  the  greatest  respect,  your  Honour's  most 
devoted,  most  obedient,  and  most  humble  servant, 

Ethan  Allen. 

To  Governour  Trumbull. 


GOVERNOUR  COOKE  TO  GENERAL  WASHINGTON. 

Providence,  July  12,  1775. 

Sir  :  I  beg  leave  to  congratulate  your  Excellency  upon 
your  being  appointed  General  of  the  United  Colonies,  which 
hath  given  sincere  pleasure  to  every  friend  to  America,  and 
will,  1  hope,  prove  glorious  to  yourself,  and  be  attended 
with  essential  advantages  to  your  Country. 

The  General  Assembly  of  this  Colony  have  the  deep- 
est sense  of  the  necessity  of  a  strict  union,  and  the  most 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii.  ] 


vigorous  efforts  cf  the  Colonies  to  preserve  them  from  un- 
limited servitude  ;  and  their  utmost  exertions  in  the  com- 
mon cause  may  be  depended  upon. 

I  also  assure  your  Excellency,  that  I  shall  give  you 
every  assistance  in  my  power,  and  that  I  arn,  with  very 
great  regard,  Sir,  your  Excellency's  most  obedient  humble 
servant,  Nicholas  Cooke. 

To  his  Excellency  General  Washington. 


By  the  Honourable  Nicholas  Cooke,  Esquire,  Deputy- 
Governour  and  Lieutenant-General  oj  and  over  the 
English  Colony  of  Rhode-Island  and  Providence 
Plantations  in  New-England,  in  America: 

a  proclamation. 
Whereas,  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Colony  afore- 
said, at  their  session  held  at  Providence,  on  Wednesday, 
the  28th  of  June  last,  taking  into  consideration  the  present 
alarming  situation  of  the  Colonies,  and  the  necessity  of 
putting  this  Colony  into  a  posture  of  defence,  passed  an 
Act  requesting  me  to  issue  a  Proclamation,  commanding 
every  man  in  the  Colony,  able  to  bear  arms,  to  equip  him- 
self with  Arms  and  Ammunition,  according  to  law:  1  have, 
therefore,  thought  fit  to  issue  this  Proclamation,  hereby 
commanding  every  man  in  the  Colony,  able  to  bear  arms, 
immediately  to  equip  himself  with  Arms  and  Ammunition, 
according  to  law,  upon  the  penalties  of  the  law  in  such 
cases  provided. 

Given  under  my  hand  and  the  seal  of  the  Colony,  at 
Providence,  the  twelfth  day  of  July,  in  the  year  of  our 
Lord  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  seventy-five,  and 
fifteenth  of  the  reign  of  His  Majesty  George  the  Third, 
by  the  grace  of  God,  King  of  Great  Britain,  &.c. 

Nicholas  Cooke. 

By  his  Honour's  command  : 

Henry  Ward,  Secretary. 
God  save  the  King. 


EXTRACT   OF   A  LETTER   FROM    CAMBRIDGE,   DATED  JULY 

12,  1775. 

The  day  before  yesterday  we  went  to  Chelsea,  famous 
for  the  battle  of  Noddle  Island  near  to  it.  While  we  were 
on  Powderhorn  Hill,  back  of  Chelsea,  we  saw  a  skirmish 
between  a  party  of  our  people,  (one  hundred  and  ten  in 
number,)  who  went  in  whale  boats  to  an  island  about 
twelve  miles  from  Boston,  and  burnt  a  large  quantity  of 
hay,  which  was  put  up  into  bundles  by  the  Regulars,  and 
intended  to  be  sent  to  Boston  for  their  horses.  A  great 
number  of  Marines,  in  schooners,  men-of-war  boats,  and 
two  ships-of-war,  kept  up  a  constant  fire  on  our  men,  while 
they  remained  on  the  island ;  but  this  did  not  prevent  them 
from  destroying  the  hay.  The  schooners  and  boats  endea- 
voured to  cut  oft'  their  retreat,  which  brought  on  a  very 
warm  engagement,  in  which  we  had  one  killed  and  one 
wounded.  The  loss  of  the  Regulars  is  not  known,  but 
supposed  to  be  considerable,  as  they  were  drove  off  several 
times,  and  finally  obliged  to  retire :  which  would  not  have 
been  the  case,  if  they  had  not  lost  some  men. 

Yesterday  we  spent  in  Roxbury ;  while  there  we  were 
amused  with  a  heavy  fire  of  cannon  and  mortars  from  the 
lines  of  the  Regulars  on  the  neck,  and  from  one  of  their 
floating  batteries,  against  two  hundred  of  our  men,  who 
were  throwing  up  a  breastwork  in  front  of  the  George 
Tavern,  on  the  same  neck,  and  within  a  few  rods  of  the 
Regulars'  advanced  guard;  our  people  kept  on  their  work, 
and  never  returned  a  shot.  Three  bombs  burst  near  our 
men,  without  injuring  one  of  them  ;  most  of  the  cannon- 
shot  were  taken  up  and  brought  to  the  General.  It  is 
diverting  to  see  our  people  contending  for  the  balls  as  they 
roll  along. 

One  circumstance,  much  to  their  reputation,  I  must  men- 
tion :  During  a  severe  cannonade  at  Roxbury  last  week,  a 
bomb,  thirteen  inches  in  diameter,  fell  within  our  line,  and 
burnt  furiously;  four  of  our  artillery-men  ran  up,  and  one 
kicked  out  the  fuse  and  saved  the  bomb,  and  probably  some 
lives — a  stroke  of  heroism  worthy  of  record.  I  heard  the 
man's  name  yesterday,  but  now  forget  it.  The  Regulars 
have  so  hardened  our  people  with  their  repeated  firing, 
that  a  cannonading  is  just  as  much  minded  there  as  a  com- 

04 


1651 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JULY,  1775. 


1652 


mon  thunder  shower.  All  things  look  well ;  we  are  now 
strongly  posted,  so  are  the  Regulars.  I  believe  neither 
side  are  willing  to  attack  each  other  in  their  lines. 

We  have  just  got  overland  from  Cape  Cod  a  large  fleet 
of  whale-boats ;  in  a  day  or  two  we  shall  man  them  in  Cam- 
bridge and  Mistick  Rivers,  and  try  to  keep  our  enemy's 
boats  from  insulting  us.  The  Regulars  do  not  seem  willing 
to  come  out,  but  our  people  are  perpetually  provoking 
them. 

A  gentleman  who  got  out  of  Boston  Monday,  July  10, 
says,  that  the  inhabitants  were  numbered,  and  amounted 
to  6,573  ;  the  soldiers  numbered,  women  and  children,  to 
13,600.  Three  hundred  Tories  are  chosen  to  patrole  the 
streets,  forty-nine  of  a  night.  Very  sickly;  from  ten  to 
thirty  die  in  a  day,  and  no  bells  allowed  to  toll.  Master 
Lovell  taken  up  and  put  in  jail,  which  is  in  consequence 
of  some  letters  found  in  Dr.  Warren's  pocket;  and  Master 
Leech  also.  Released  out  of  jail  four.  Mr.  Hunt  saying, 
that  he  wished  the  Americans  might  kill  them  all,  was 
confined  in  jail.  Eleven  dead  of  the  wounded  prisoners 
at  Chadestown ;  Colonel  Parker  dead,  he  having  declared, 
at  his  last  hour,  if  he  got  well  he  would  do  the  same. 

The  officers  say,  damn  the  rebels,  that  they  would  not 
flinch.  A  great  number  of  floating  batteries  are  building, 
and  five  transports  and  three  sloops  are  sailed  for  hay  and 
wood  to  the  eastward. 

This  gentleman  also  says,  that  the  officers  and  soldiers 
triumph  very  much  at  the  death  of  Doctor  Warren,  saying 
it  is  better  to  them  than  five  hundred  men. 


GENERAL  GATES  TO  GENERAL  LEE. 

Head-Quarters,  Cambridge,  July  12,  1775. 

Sir  :  1  am  commanded  by  the  General-in-Chief  to  ac- 
quaint you,  that  he  is  exceedingly  desirous  to  draw  the 
body  of  the  troops  posted  at  Roxbury  as  near  and  as  com- 
pletely together,  for  the  defence  of  the  several  works,  as 
the  nature  of  the  ground  and  the  conveniency  of  covering 
them  will  admit ;  and  to  that  end,  the  General  wishes  you 
would  inform  him  what  tents,  sails,  or  boards,  may  be  want- 
ed to  cover  the  men,  and  they  shall  be  forthwith  supplied 
from  hence.  I  have  it  also  in  command  from  the  General 
to  recommend  it  to  you  to  have  the  houses  removed  out  of 
the  street  at  Roxbury,  as  they  may  cover  and  facilitate  the 
approach  of  the  enemy.  The  General  further  directs  me 
to  desire  that  you  will  exert  your  utmost  vigilance  to 
get  your  several  works  finished  and  completed,  your  lines 
closed,  and  particularly  the  abattis,  and  the  platforms  imme- 
diately laid.  As  we  are  much  in  want  of  boats  for  Mistick 
and  Cambridge  Rivers,  you  will,  as  soon  as  possible,  send 
two  for  each  of  these  rivers  to  the  Head-Quarters  at  Cam- 
bridge. 

With  great  regard,  Sir,  I  am,  your  most  humble  ser- 
vant, Horatio  Gates. 
To  General  Lee. 


COMMITTEE  OF  SUPPLIES  TO  NEW-HAMPSHIRE  CONGRESS. 

Chamber  of  Supplies,  Watertown,  July  12,  1775. 
Gentlemen:  General  Washington  has  sent  a  memoran- 
dum for  four  hundred  rounds  of  thirty-two  pound  shot,  and 
we  have  ordered  the  same  from  the  furnace  which  we  em- 
ploy. But  lest  we  should  be  disappointed  in  point  of  time, 
we  think  it  necessary  to  apply  for  the  same  to  be  sent  from 
Portsmouth,  if  to  be  procured. 

We  are,  truly,  gentlemen,  your  very  humble  servants, 
David  Cheever,  per  order. 


francestown  (new-hampshire)  committee. 
Whereas,  it  has  been  falsely  reported  that  the  Committee 
of  Safety  for  Francestown  were  not  fairly  and  legally  chosen, 
and  by  reason  of  said  report  the  publick  were  dissatis- 
fied with  the  proceedings  of  said  Committee:  whereupon, 
we,  the  Selectmen  of  said  Francestown,  judged  it  our  duty 
to  call  in  some  disinterested  persons  to  determine  the  mat- 
ter, and  thereupon  sent  to  the  Committees  of  Safety  for 
two  neighbouring  Towns,  who,  when  convened,  unanimous- 
ly voted  and  agreed  that  said  Committee  were  fairly  and 
legally  chosen,  and  had  good  right  to  act  in  all  cases  for  the 
safety  of  said  Francestown,  and  that  their  proceedings  and 
determinations  are  and  ought  to  be  as  valid  as  the  proceed- 


ings and  determinations  of  any  Committee  of  Safety  in  any 
Town  whatsoever. 

Signed  by  order  of  the  Selectmen: 

William  McM aster,  Town  Clerk. 

Francestown,  July  12,  1775. 


HILLSBOROUGH  (nEW-HAMPSHIRe)  COMMITTEE. 

Amherst,  July  13,  1775. 
Whereas,  the  Delegates  for  the  County  of  Hillsborough, 
in  the  Province  of  New-Hampshire,  in  Congress,  appoint- 
ed a  Committee  from  several  Towns  to  hear,  examine,  and 
try  John  Quigly,  Esq.,  a  person  lately  confined  in  the  Jail 
at  Amherst,  on  suspicion  of  being  an  enemy  to  the  liberties 
of  America,  and  lately  liberated  from  said  Jail,  but  still 
behaves  as  an  open  and  avowed  enemy  to  the  liberties  of 
America :  Said  Quigly  being  notified  of  time  and  place  of 
trial  did  not  appear.  Ordered,  That  his  contempt  be  re- 
corded. And  upon  a  full  and  fair  examination  of  sundry 
evidences,  we  find  him  guilty  of  the  several  crimes  laid  to 
his  charge,  and  we  look  upon  him  as  a  dangerous  person  to 
be  suffered  to  go  at  large :  and  we  do  hereby  caution  all 
persons  from  all  connections  with  him. 

David  Badger,  per  order  of  Committee. 

In  Committee  of  Safety,  Exeter,  July  19,  1775. 

Sir:  The  bearer  hereof,  John  Quigly,  Esq.,  has  met 
with  difficulty,  and  thinks  it  unsafe  for  him  to  tarry  at  the 
place  of  his  usual  abode,  by  reason  of  a  disaffection  in  some 
persons  against  him.  We  would  recommend  it  to  you,  to 
take  him  into  your  company  in  the  common  service. 

Captain  Timothy  Bedel,  Esq. 

john  ojuigly's  declaration. 

Whereas,  there  has  been  wickedly  and  maliciously  raised 
and  propagated  against  me,  the  subscriber,  certain  scanda- 
lous falsehoods,  with  an  intent,  as  must  be  supposed,  to  cause 
the  publick  to  view  me  in  the  odious  light  of  an  enemy 
to  my  Country;  whereupon  I  declare  that  I  never  said  or 
did  any  thing  with  an  intent  to  destroy  the  liberties  of  Ame- 
rica, or  to  hurt  the  publick  good,  and  am  now  ready  to  risk 
my  life  and  fortune  in  the  defence  of  my  Country's  just 
rights,  when  properly  called,  as  it  always  has  been  and  still 
is  my  sincere  wish  to  live  in  peace  and  harmony  with  my 
Country,  and  serious  determination  to  promote  to  the  utmost 
of  my  power  the  publick  weal  and  tranquillity  of  the  same, 
whose  glory  I  view  as  closely  connected  with  my  own  in- 
terest; and  I  hope  my  future  conduct  will  fully  prove  the 
sincerity  of  my  present  declaration.        John  Quigly. 

Francestown,  July  26,  1775. 

In  Committee  of  Safety,  Francestown,  July  26,  1775. 

Resolved,  That  the  foregoing  declaration  of  JohnQuigly, 
Esq.,  now  laid  before  the  Committee,  is  fully  satisfactory  to 
us,  and  we  hope  will  remove  any  ill  impressions  that  may 
have  been  made  on  the  minds  of  the  good  people  of  this 
Continent,  in  consequence  of  his  being  committed  to  jail, 
or  confined  there;  as  we  put  up  an  advertisement,  desiring 
all  persons  that  had  any  thing  to  offer  against  said  Quigly 
to  bring  it  in  to  us,  and  no  proper  evidence  appearing  to 
oppose  the  said  Qjdgly,  and  it  appearing  to  us  that  many 
false  reports  has  been  made  and  spread  against  said  Quigly, 
and  this  being  the  second  trial,  we,  upon  examination,  not 
finding  just  cause  to  deem  him  an  enemy  to  this  Country: 
therefore,  it  is  our  opinion  that  the  said  Quigly  ought  to  be 
received  and  treated  as  a  friend  to  his  Country. 

Signed  by  order  of  the  Committee: 

William  McMaster,  Clerk. 


BALTIMORE  (MARYLAND)  COMMITTEE. 

At  a  special  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Baltimore 
Town,  held  on  Thursday  the  13th  July,  1775,  at  4  o'clock, 
P.  M.  Present:  Mr.  William  Smith,  Chairman,  and  twen- 
ty-eight Members. 

A  Letter  from  James  Christie,  Jun.,  Merchant  of  this 
Town,  directed  to  Lieutenant-Colonel  Gabriel  Christie,  of 
His  Majesty's  Sixtieth  Regiment,  at  Antigua,  having  been 
intercepted,  was  laid  before  the  Committee,  and  ordered  to 


1653 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JULY,  1775. 


1654 


be  read,  which  was  accordingly  done,  and  the  following 
paragraphs  are  part  of  the  contents : 

"Baltimore,  February  22,  1775. 

"  We  are  in  such  terrible  confusion  here  with  our  politicks, 
there  is  no  depending  on  any  thing  ;  and  that,  added  to  other 
things,  makes  me  wish  myself  out  of  the  Province.  We 
are  little  behind  the  JSew-Englanders — mustering,  purchas- 
ing arms,  ammunition,  Sic.  We  have  some  violent  fanati- 
cal spirits  among  us,  who  do  every  thing  in  their  power 
to  run  things  to  the  utmost  extremity,  and  they  are  gone 
so  far,  that  we  moderate  people  are  under  the  necessity  of 
uniting  for  our  own  defence,  after  being  threatened  with 
expulsion,  loss  of  life,  &,c,  for  not  acceding  to  what  we 
deem  treason  and  rebellion.  The  Provost  and  family  are 
very  well ;  our  publick  affairs  vex  him,  and  he  wishes  him- 
self away,  but  I  know  not  when  or  if  ever  that  will  hap- 
pen. A  part  of  yours,  or  any  other  Regiment,  I  believe, 
would  keep  us  very  quiet." 

The  Committee  then  summoned  Mr.  Christie  to  attend 
them,  but  being  confined  to  his  bed  he  was  unable  to  do  it; 
they  then  sent  Messrs.  James  Calhoun,  William  Buchan- 
nan,  Thomas  Harrison,  Thomas  Jones,  William  Goodwin, 
and  Isaac  Vanbibber,  to  wait  on  him  at  his  house,  and  to 
inquire  whether  the  said  Letter  was  wrote  by  him. 

The  gentlemen  returned,  and  report,  that  Mr.  Christie  had 
been  shown  the  Letter,  and  acknowledged  that  it  was  wrote 
by  him  ;  but  requested  that  any  further  proceedings  thereon 
might  be  postponed  until  his  health  would  permit  his  per- 
sonal attendance.  The  Committee  not  thinking  it  proper 
to  comply  with  his  request,  as  Mr.  Christie  had  confessed 
he  wrote  the  Letter,  immediately  gave  him  notice  thereof; 
upon  which  Mr.  Robert  Christie  attended  on  his  behalf ;  but 
it  growing  late,  and  many  of  the  members  being  withdrawn, 
the  Committee  directed  a  guard  of  nine  men,  under  the 
command  of  an  officer,  to  be  placed  round  Mr.  Christie's 
house,  and  then  adjourned  till  to-morrow  morning,  at  nine 
o'clock. 

Friday,  July  14,  1775. 

The  Committee  met  according  to  adjournment.  Present : 
Mr.  William  Smith,  Chairman,  and  thirty-three  Members. 

They  resumed  the  business  of  yesterday.  Mr.  Robert 
Christie  attended,  and  declared,  that  Mr.  James  Christie 
was  very  sorry  for  the  Letter  he  had  wrote  Lieut.  Colonel 
Christie ;  that  he  did  not  mean  any  harm  by  it,  and  that 
he  was  very  willing  to  acquiesce  in  the  determination  of  the 
Committee. 

On  motion,  Resolved,  That  Doctor  John  Boyd,  and  Mr. 
John  McLure,  members  of  this  Committee,  do  wait  on  Mr. 
James  Christie,  and  inquire  of  him  who  those  moderate 
people  were,  that  united  for  their  defence,  as  mentioned  in 
his  Letter,  and  that  they  take  his  answer  in  writing. 

The  gentlemen  returned,  and  report:  that  Mr.  Christie 
declared  there  never  was  any  association  between  him  and 
his  friends  for  the  purpose  alluded  to,  or  for  any  other  pur- 
pose ;  and  all  that  he  remembers  to  have  passed  on  the  occa- 
sion was,  that  some  time  last  winter  he  was  informed,  that 
he,  with  some  of  his  friends,  were  to  be  made  a  publick 
example  of,  for  not  uniting  with  the  Town  in  the  present 
opposition,  and  this  being  spoken  of  accidentally  among 
two  or  three  of  his  friends,  it  was  proposed,  whether  an 
association  for  mutual  defence  would  be  advisable  ;  but  no 
determination  being  then  made,  and  they  soon  after  being 
convinced  that  no  threats  worth  notice  had  been  thrown 
out  against  them,  the  matter  dropped,  and  was  never  af- 
terwards thought  of,  or  attempted  ;  and  that  it  was  at  this 
time  of  doubt  and  apprehension,  that  he  had  wrote  the 
letter  in  question,  which  accounts  for  that  part  of  it  alluded 
to  in  this  inquiry. 

The  Committee  proceeded  to  take  Mr.  Christie's  con- 
duct with  respect  to  said  Letter  into  further  and  deliberate 
consideration,  and  were  unanimously  of  opinion,  that  by 
representing  in  said  Letter  the  people  of  this  Town  to  be 
concerned  in  treasonable  and  rebellious  practices,  and  that 
a  number  of  soldiers  would  keep  them  quiet,  he  has  mani- 
fested a  spirit  and  principle  altogether  inimical  to  the  rights, 
privileges,  and  liberties  of  America:  they  do,  therefore,  think 
it  their  duty  to  advertise  the  said  Jmnes  Christie,  Jun.,  as 
an  enemy  to  this  Country,  and  all  persons  are  desired  to 
break  off  all  connection  and  intercourse  with  him. 

The  Committee  do  further  resolve,  that  as  the  crime  of 
which  the  said  James  Christie  is  guilty,  is  of  so  dangerous 


and  atrocious  a  nature,  they  will  lay  the  same  before  their 
Delegates  at  the  Continental  Congress  for  their  advice; 
and  in  the  mean  time  it  is  ordered,  that  as  Mr.  Christie  is 
confined  to  his  bed,  and  cannot  be  removed  with  safety  to 
a  place  of  security,  the  same  guard  be  continued  at  his 
house  to  prevent  any  escape  attempted  either  by  himself 
or  the  assistance  of  his  friends,  and  that  Mr.  Christie  pay 
each  man  five  shillings  for  each  twenty-four  hours,  and  the 
officers  seven  shillings  and  six  pence. 

A  report  having  been  circulated  that  a  number  of  Arms 
and  a  quantity  of  Ammunition  were  secretly  lodged  in  the 
house  of  Mr.  James  Christie,  and  the  same  being  men- 
tioned in  the  Committee,  they  directed  two  of  their  mem- 
bers (Captain  Clopper  and  Mr.  James  Cox)  to  go  imme- 
diately and  search  Mr.  Christie's  house;  which  they  accord- 
ingly did,  and  reported  that  they  had  examined  the  house 
attentively  in  every  part,  attended  by  Mr.  Robert  Christie, 
Jun.,  and  that  they  only  found  two  Guns  and  a  pair  of  Pis- 
tols, and  no  Ammunition,  and  were  convinced  no  others 
were  in  the  house. 

Extract  from  the  Minutes  of  the  14th  July: 

William  Lux,  Secretary. 

Resolved,  That  these  proceedings  be  published  in  the 
Maryland  Papers. 

Copy  from  the  Minutes  of  the  proceedings : 

William  Lux,  Secretary. 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  Mr.  Christie's  Letter : 

Baltimore,  February  22,  1775. 

Dear  Sir:  I  duly  received  your  favours  of  the  13th 
and  22d  November,  and  should  probably  have  wrote  you 
before  now,  had  I  not  met  with  the  greatest  misfortune  in 
the  power  of  fate  to  inflict  on  me,  in  the  loss  of  the  wife  of 
my  soul,  on  the  15th  December  last,  that  has  almost  put 
it  out  of  my  power  to  mind  any  thing  for  some  time  past, 
and  all  my  fortitude  is  scarce  sufficient  to  bear  me  up ; 
however,  I  must  submit.  She  had  been  brought  to  bed  of  a 
girl  about  twenty  days  ;  the  dear  little  infant  died  a  few  days 
after  its  mother. 

I  some  time  since  remitted  twenty-two  pounds  and  eight 
shillings  sterling,  to  be  paid  your  mother  for  the  boy  's  pas- 
sage, (being  twenty  pounds  and  interest  on  it  at  six  per  cent, 
since  I  received  the  money,)  and  which,  on  the  whole,  leaves 
them  about  seven  pounds  currency  in  my  debt,  which  I 
shall  soon  receive  for  rent.  Charles's  expense  for  clothing, 
schooling,  &ic,  when  ashore  runs  high.  But  I  think  he  may 
now  pay  for  it  himself.  Gabriel  hath  been  with  me  three 
or  four  months,  and  so  far  hath  behaved  to  my  satisfaction  ; 
and  I  would  flatter  myself  he  may  easily  be  broke  of  the  idle, 
indolent  habit  he  had  been  acquiring  ;  he  applies  well  to  any 
thing  1  put  him  to,  and  after  a  while  I  hope  may  do. 

As  your  brother's  correspondence  and  mine  has  been  sus- 
pended since  a  letter  I  wrote  him  about  the  boys,  soon  after 
the  receipt  of  yours,  I  wrote  my  sister  about  John  Grceme's 
mandamus,  and  to  get  me  the  preference  of  it.  I  have 
thought  nothing  more  about  it,  and  am  yet  quite  undeter- 
mined. At  present  I  think  of  going  to  Britain,  so  soon 
as  my  affairs  will  admit  of  it,  and  leave  my  little  boy  at 
Stirling ;  and  if  things  turn  out  to  my  liking,  perhaps  I 
may  remain,  and  set  myself  down  either  in  London  or 
Glasgow.  When  I  may  get  away  is  wholly  uncertain — I 
would  hope  some  time  next  fall.  We  are  in  such  terrible 
confusion  with  our  politicks,  there  is  no  depending  on  any 
thing ;  and  that,  added  to  other  things,  makes  me  wish  myself 
out  of  the  Province.  We  are  little  behind  the  New-Eng- 
landers — mustering,  purchasing  arms,  ammunition,  he.  We 
have  some  violent  fanatical  spirits  among  us,  who  do  every 
thing  in  their  power  to  run  things  to  the  utmost  extremity, 
and  they  are  gone  so  far,  that  we  moderate  people  are  under 
a  necessity  of  uniting  for  our  defence,  after  being  threat- 
ened with  expulsion,  loss  of  life,  Stc,  for  not  acceding  to 
what  we  deem  treason  and  rebellion. 

The  Provost  and  family  are  very  well ;  I  believe  he  has 
nothing  lately  from  James.  He  has  made  inquiry  about  ne- 
gotiating bills  on  him  in  Bengal,  and  finds  it  may  be  done 
at  a  disadvantage  of  twenty  per  cent.,  and  thirty  per  cent, 
more,  if  the  bills  are  protested  ;  on  the  whole,  fifty  per  cent, 
in  case  of  protest.  Whether  he  will  attempt  it  or  not,  I 
know  not.  Our  publick  affairs  vex  him,  and  he  wishes 
himself  away,  but  1  know  not  when,  or  if  ever  that  will 


1655 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JULY,  1775. 


16  56 


happen.  A  part  of  your  or  any  otlier  Regiment  1  believe 
would  keep  us  very  quiet.  Do  you  expect  to  remain  long 
in  the  West- Indies?  I  shall  hope  to  hear  from  you  soon, 
and  am,  very  truly,  dear  Sir,  yours, 

James  Christie,  Jun. 

Lieut.  Col.  Gab.  Christie,  of  the  60th  Reg't,  Antigua. 


A  CALM  ADDRESS  TO  THE  PEOPLE  OF  NEW-YORK. 

New-York,  July  13,  1775. 

Human  nature  never  affords  a  more  disagreeable  specta- 
cle, than  during  those  political  ferments  and  convulsions 
which  are  incident  to  civil  society,  sometimes  from  the  am- 
bitious and  encroaching  spirit  of  those  in  authority,  some- 
times from  the  factious  and  turbulent  disposition  of  subjects, 
and  sometimes  from  a  complication  of  both.  These  occa- 
sions set  all  the  various  and  secret  springs  of  the  human 
mind  in  motion  ;  and  by  throwing  men  off  their  guard,  dis- 
close their  real  temper  and  characters,  divested  of  that  dis- 
guise of  which  they  are  susceptible  in  the  calms  of  life. 
The  native  deformity  of  the  heart  is  exposed  to  full  view, 
heightened  by  all  the  incitements  of  ambition,  interest,  fac- 
tion, and  resentment.  While  contending  parties  scruple 
not  to  practise  any  arts,  however  unjustifiable,  to  attain 
their  respective  ends,  we  behold  one  continual  scene  of 
treachery,  falsehood,  dissimulation,  calumny,  injustice,  vio- 
lence, and  every  other  vice  that  is  disgraceful  and  perni- 
cious. The  zeal  of  each,  isflarned  by  opposition,  blazes 
into  extravagance,  begets  the  most  unreasonable  animosi- 
ties, and  leads  at  last  into  the  most  fatal  extremes.  All 
regard  to  candour  and  decency  is  laid  aside ;  every  oppor- 
tunity is  seized  with  the  utmost  avidity,  to  misrepresent 
the  designs  of  opponents,  and  every  step  they  take,  how- 
ever well-meant  and  innoxious,  is  decried  as  totally  in- 
sidious and  destructive.  It  seems  to  be  far  less  the  aim  of 
either  to  arrive  at  truth  and  promote  the  interests  of  society, 
than  to  contradict,  vilify,  and  supplant  each  other,  so  that 
we  generally  find,  when  publick  disputes  draw  towards  a 
crisis,  the  opposite  factions  are  at  a  much  greater  distance 
than  at  their  commencement.  One  side  has  made  new 
advances  in  a  favourite  track,  and  has  embraced  opinions 
which  it  did  not  think  of  at  first ;  and  the  other  has  receded 
from  that  post  which  it  once  held  in  common  with  its  ad- 
versaries, and  has  abandoned  those  tenets  which  were,  in 
the  beginning,  judged  essential  by  itself. 

Pride,  and  a  latent  belief  of  the  infallibility  of  our  own 
judgments,  are  both  extremely  natural.  These  render  us 
obstinately  attached  to  our  own  opinions,  and  impatient  of 
the  least  contradiction  or  control ;  and  by  these,  we  are 
brought  to  suspect  every  man  of  ignorance,  hypocrisy,  or 
dishonesty,  who  is  so  unfortunate,  or  so  presumptuous,  as  to 
differ  from  us  in  sentiment.  We  cannot  admit  the  suppo- 
sition of  ourselves  being  in  an  errour;  nor  can  we  entertain 
any  ingenuous  charitable  indulgence  for  the  frailties  of  others. 
We  do  not  consider  the  delicate  texture  of  the  human  un- 
derstanding, and  how  liable  it  is  to  be  warped  by  prejudice 
and  passion ;  but,  intoxicated  as  we  are  with  fond  notions 
of  our  own  sagacity  and  penetration,  and,  perhaps,  at  the 
same  time,  conscious  of  the  integrity  and  goodness  of  our 
own  intentions,  we  cannot  forbear  wondering  how  any  can 
be  so  blind  and  stupid  as  not  to  discern  the  reality  of  those 
truths,  which  to  us  appear  incontestable  ;  or  so  base  and 
devoid  of  every  large,  noble,  and  liberal  sentiment,  as,  from 
further  motives,  to  shut  their  eyes  to  conviction,  and  to  act 
in  opposition  to  self-evidence  and  demonstration.  Hence 
proceed  disgust,  aversion,  antipathy  ;  and  from  these,  de- 
famation, insult,  persecution;  which,  instead  of  remedying 
the  evil,  only  tend  to  radicate  and  make  it  incurable. 

The  same  pride  and  sell-conceit  that  operate  in  this 
manner,  are  also  frequently  productive  of  other  effects,  if 
possible,  still  more  culpable  and  prejudicial.  Incidents, 
new  and  unlooked-for,  oft-times  fall  out  in  the  course  of 
controversies,  which  place  them  upon  a  foundation  different 
from  that  on  which  they  began  ;  and,  by  ascertaining  some 
standard  in  which  there  is,  or  has  been,  a  common  agree- 
ment, seem  naturally  to  require  a  cessation  of  hostilities 
between  the  parties,  and  a  cordial  coalition  and  reconcilia- 
tion. But  as  this  seldom  happens  without  giving  some 
advantage,  real  or  apparent,  to  one  party  over  the  other, 
we  too  often  find  the  fever  of  opposition  still  unabated,  to 
the  great  detriment  and  perhaps  irretrievable  injury  of  the 


community.  On  the  one  hand,  we  perceive  a  reluctance  to 
submit  to  the  humiliating  task  of  acknowledging  an  errour, 
and  an  aversion  to  concurring  in  the  measures  of  those 
against  whom  the  most  violent  enmities  have  been  con- 
tracted ;  and,  on  the  other  hand,  a  preposterous  spirit  of 
triumph  and  exultation,  which  breaks  out  upon  every  oc- 
casion, accompanied  with  inevitable  jealousies  and  suspi- 
cions of  the  friendly  pretensions  of  those  who  were  formerly 
antagonists. 

This  summary  delineation  of  the  usual  operations  and 
progress  of  party  spirit,  is  intended  to  inspire  sentiments  of 
moderation  in  the  different  parties,  which  have  divided  this 
Province  during  the  present  contest  with  Great  Britain  ; 
and,  by  warning  against  excesses,  to  cherish  and  increase 
that  disposition  towards  a  united  exertion,  in  defence  of 
our  common  rights,  which  begins  to  prevail  among  all  orders 
of  men.  Nothing  can  be  more  desirable  in  itself,  or  more 
necessary  towards  our  mutual  security,  than  universal  har- 
mony and  good-will,  which  can  only  be  effected  by  abolish- 
ing all  odious  party  distinctions,  by  indulging  no  recollections 
of  past  feuds  and  animosities,  by  making  the  most  candid 
allowances  for  each  other's  failings,  and  by  entertaining  the 
most  favourable  opinions  of  each  other's  designs.  Could 
we  once  be  persuaded  mutually  to  discard  the  lofty  ideas 
we  have  of  our  own  self  sufficiency,  it  would  be  easy  to 
bring  both  sides  to  a  compromise  and  accommodation  ;  by 
showing  that  neither  has  been  entirely  in  the  right ;  that 
both  have  erred  in  some  particular;  that  the  whole  quantum 
of  praise  or  blame  is  not  due  to  either;  and  that  the  dis- 
pute with  Britain,  though  fundamentally  the  same,  has 
been  attended  with  some  new  and  important  circumstances, 
which  remove  all  the  considerations,  and  obviate  all  the 
objections  that  have  heretofore  supported  the  opposition  of 
one  side  to  the  proceedings  of  the  other. 

It  is  an  ungrateful,  and,  for  the  most  part,  an  unsuccessful 
attempt,  to  convince  men  of  their  errours  and  misconduct; 
neither  is  the  present  temper  of  the  times,  overheated  by 
passion,  and  blinded  by  prejudice,  at  all  suited  to  such  an 
undertaking.  The  remedies  that  may  be  drawn  from  the 
fountain  of  cool  and  dispassionate  reasoning,  by  being  ill- 
timed,  instead  of  effectuating  a  cure,  may  only  serve  to 
irritate  and  augment  the  disease,  and,  on  that  account,  it  is 
most  prudent  to  defer  the  discussion  to  some  future  period  ; 
when  the  causes  which  now  inflame  the  passions  having 
ceased,  they  will,  of  course,  grow  more  calm  and  serene, 
and  truth  will  find  an  easier  access  to  the  tribunal  of  reason 
and  judgment.  I  shall  close  these  reflections  with  a  few 
observations,  in  order  to  show  that  a  change  of  conduct  is 
incumbent  upon  those  who  have  formerly  dissented  from 
the  general  measures  of  the  Continent. 

The  only  sources  of  opposition  avowed  by  them  have 
been  these  :  They  conceived  that  the  subject  of  dispute 
did  not  properly  relate  to  the  right  of  taxation,  of  which 
they  always  professed  an  absolute  disavowal,  but  to  the 
right  of  regulating  trade,  which  we  all  acknowledge  to  re- 
side in  Parliament.  The  duty  upon  tea  (said  they)  is  an 
external  regulation  of  commerce,  not  an  internal  tax.  The 
tea  of  itself  is  an  article  of  luxury,  confessed  on  all  hands 
to  be  extremely  pernicious  to  health  ;  if  we  disapprove  of 
the  imposition  laid  upon  it,  we  ought  to  evade  it,  by  ceas- 
ing to  use  the  obnoxious  herb,  and  not  for  so  inconsiderable 
an  object  combine  in  a  violent  and  furious  resistance  to  that 
country,  from  whence  we  derive  our  origin  ;  by  whose 
maternal  hand  we  have  been  gently  led  on  from  helpless 
infancy  to  a  state  of  maturity  and  robust  manhood  ;  under 
whose  fostering  protection  we  have  enjoyed  such  a  rich 
variety  of  blessings,  and  from  whose  vindictive  frowns  we 
have  reason  to  apprehend  the  most  desolating  mischiefs.  If 
we  are  aggrieved,  it  is  our  duty  and  interest  to  make  a  fair 
experiment  in  the  regular  legal  mode  of  obtaining  redress, 
before  we  proceed  to  those  extraordinary  expedients  which 
are  without  the  bounds  of  the  law,  and  which  ought  not  to 
be  employed  but  in  cases  of  necessity.  We  have  reason 
to  hope  that  our  reasonable  complaints  will  meet  with  due 
attention,  and  the  causes  of  them  be  removed ;  some  con- 
stitutional arrangement  take  place,  and  our  privileges  be 
established  upon  a  solid  unprecarious  basis  :  such  as  by 
fixing  proper  and  known  boundaries  to  the  claims  of  either, 
will  serve  to  prevent  all  future  altercations,  and  secure  us 
from  those  inconveniences  which  are  ever  attendant  upon 
disputed  claims. 


1657 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  Sic,  JULY,  1775. 


1658 


These  views  were  moderate  and  plausible.  It  is  a  pity 
they  were  not  better  founded  than  the  event  has  clearly 
manifested. 

Without  a  gross  departure  from  their  own  principles, 
these  advocates  for  moderation  and  regularity  must  now 
heartily  unite  with  the  rest  of  their  countrymen,  in  the 
most  strenuous  opposition  to  Parliament.  The  controversy 
has  put  on  a  different  aspect,  and  is  now  come  to  an  issue 
that  must  either  induce  them  to  relinquish  their  former 
scruples,  or  to  renounce  all  pretensions  to  consistency,  fidel- 
ity, or  patriotism.  Lord  North  lias  openly  declared  in  the 
House  of  Commons,  that  the  dispute  is  no  longer  about  a 
mere  phantom,  or  point  of  honour,  but  about  a  solid  sub- 
stantial benefit  to  the  state — an  American  revenue.  His 
conciliatory  proposition  is  conformable  to  this  declaration. 
We  are  required  to  contribute  our  proportion  towards  the 
support  of  Government,  in  a  manner  that  destroys  all  free- 
dom of  contribution.  The  Parliament  is  ultimately  to  de- 
termine concerning  the  sufficiency  of  our  offers,  which  is 
obviously  the  same  as  if  it  were  at  first  to  fix  the  sums  it 
might  expect  us  to  pay  ;  and  withal,  this  requisition  is  en- 
forced by  every  compulsory  method  that  could  be  devised  ; 
oppressive  restrictions  on  our  trade  ;  a  menacing  Navy  in 
our  ports ;  and  a  formidable  Army  carrying  on  a  bloody 
war  in  our  country.  Here  is  taxation  in  its  most  unequivo- 
cal sense,  and  clothed  in  its  most  hateful  tyrannical  form. 

The  decent  constitutional  Remonstrance  of  our  Assembly 
has  been  rejected,  without  the  least  ceremony  or  regard 
even  to  appearances,  as  being  highly  derogatory  to  the 
rights  of  Parliament,  because  it  contained  a  denial  of  the 
right  of  taxation.  This  incident  must  carry  a  mournful 
conviction  to  the  breast  of  every  honest  man,  that  Adminis- 
uation  is  resolute  to  persist  in  all  its  exorbitant  claims,  and 
to  prosecute  them  to  the  most  deplorable  extremity.  Had 
it  entertained  the  least  inclination  to  come  to  a  composition 
of  the  differences  subsisting  between  us,  an  honourable 
ground  was  here  presented  ;  for  though  we  should  suppose 
tiie  Remonstrance  to  have  exhibited  claims  rather  too  ex- 
tensive, it  at  least  opened  an  unexceptionable  door  for 
negotiation,  and  by  that  means  an  amicable  termination  of 
the  unhappy  contest  might  have  ensued.  These  considera- 
tions loudly  call  upon  every  American,  of  whatsoever 
party,  cheerfully  to  consign  over  all  past  animosities  to  ob- 
livion, and  to  join,  with  heart  and  hand,  in  the  defence  of 
his  country  and  freedom. 


ELISHA  PHELPS  TO  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

Albany,  July  13,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  If  you  have  any  provisions  or  hospital 
stores,  beg  you  will  take  this  safe  and  convenient  opportu- 
nity to  forward  them  by  Mr.  Benjamin  French's  sloop,  as 
these  articles  are  much  wanted. 

I  am,  gentlemen,  your  most  obedient  and  humble  ser- 
vant, Elisha  Phelps. 
To  the  Provincial  Convention  at  New-York. 


EGBERT   BENSON  TO   NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

Dutchess  Couuty,  July  13,  1775. 

Sir  :  Having  been  informed  that  the  Congress  was  ad- 
journed, and  not  knowing  whether  any  of  the  gentlemen 
from  this  County  would  be  in  New-  York  during  the  re- 
cess, I  have  taken  the  liberty  of  transmitting  to  you  the 
enclosed  warrants. 

Mr.  Adriance  and  Mr.  Wilcox  have  both  declined,  and 
our  County  Committee  have,  agreeable  to  the  directions 
of  the  Congress,  recommended,  in  the  stead  of  the  former, 
Mr.  James  Betls,  and  of  the  latter,  Mr.  Isaac  Paddock. 

If  the  Congress  should  think  proper  to  appoint  these 
gentlemen,  you  will  please  to  direct  new  warrants  to  be 
issued,  and  sent  up  immediately. 

We  have  some  reason  to  suppose  other  persons  have 
already  applied  for  the  commission  of  Mr.  Adriance ; 
should  that  be  the  case,  the  Committee  do  not  expect  their 
recommendation  will  interfere  with  a  prior  application. 

I  remain  (by  order  of  the  Committee)  with  the  utmost 
respect,  your  very  humble  servant, 

Egbert  Benson,  Chairman. 
Peter  V.  B.  Livingston,  Esq. 


Albany  Committee  Chambe  r,  July  13,  1775. 
The  Committee  of  this  City  and  County  having  here- 
tofore appointed  Messrs.  Abraham  Yates,  Junior,  Robert 
Yates,  Abraham  Ten  Broick,  Jacob  Cuyler,  Henry  Glen, 
Francis  Nicoll,  Peter  Silvester,  Dirck  Swart,  Walter 
Livingston,  Volkert  P.  Douw,  and  Robert  Van  Rensse- 
laer, the  Deputies  of  this  City  and  County,  to  attend  the 
Provincial  Congress,  with  general  powers  to  represent  this 
City  and  County;  but  by  reason  of  the  inconvenience  at- 
tending the  attendance  of  all  the  Deputies  in  the  said  Pro- 
vincial Congress, 

It  is  therefore  Resolved,  That  for  the  future  the  said 
Deputies  attend  the  said  Congress,  or  any  four  or  more  of 
their  number,  for  the  purposes  aforesaid,  with  the  same 
power  and  authority  as  if  all  the  said  Deputies  were  present. 

Abraham  Yates,  Jr.,  Chairman. 

John  Bay,  Secretary  pro  tern. 


COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY  FOR  CONNECTICUT. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Governour  and  Council,  &ic,  Thurs- 
day, 13th  July,  1775.  Present : 

His  Honour  the  Governour;  Jabez  Huntington,  Esq., 
Samuel  Huntington,  William  Williams,  Nathaniel  Wales, 
Jedediah  Elderkin,  Joshua  West,  and  Benjamin  Hun- 
tington, Esquires. 

The  Governour  laid  before  the  Council,  &lc,  sundry 
Letters  and  papers.  Also  a  Letter  he  had  prepared  to  Gen- 
eral Washington,  congratulating  him  on  his  appointment, 
&c;  and  another  to  the  same  gentleman,  hinting  at  General 
Spencer's  uneasiness,  &lc,  at  being  overlooked,  &ic,  and 
that  it  was  beside  our  expectations,  &ic,  and  proposing,  &c, 
that  said  General  Spencer  may  remain  stationed  at  Rox- 
bury  with  the  body  of  Connecticut  Troops  now  there,  &c; 
which  are  approved,  though  a  small  alteration  was  made  in 
the  Letter  to  gratify  Gen.  Spencer  after  he  came  in,  Sic. 

Samuel  Huntington  and  William  Williams  were  desired 
to  wait  on  General  Spencer,  at  Gray's,  the  tavern  where 
he  was  just  arrived,  and  confer  with  him  on  the  subject- 
matter  of  his  dissatisfaction,  Sic,  and  endeavour  to  remove, 
Sic,  and  reconcile  him  cheerfully  to  pursue  the  service ; 
which  they  did  accordingly.    And  having  adjourned,  Sic 

P.  M.  Met  again  at  the  Govemour's,  where  General 
Spencer  attended,  and  had  a  long  conference  with  him 
on  the  subject-matter  of  his  being  superseded  by  the  Gen- 
eral Congress,  in  putting  General  Putnam  above  him,  Sic, 
which  he  thinks  very  hard  of  and  resents,  Sic,  and  is  at 
length  persuaded  to  return  to  the  Army,  and  not  at  present 
quit  the  service  as  he  proposed.  And  General  Spencer 
set  out  on  his  return  to  camp  with  the  Letters  to  General 
Washington. 

Indian  Cognahue,  who  brought  despatches  from  the  In- 
dian country  to  the  Governour,  and  desirous  to  return  with 
answer,  the  Governour  had  sent  for  Captain  Jer.  Mason, 
who  came,  to  inquire  of  him  the  character  of  said  Cogna- 
hue, Sic. 

On  Mr.  Potter,  from  Norwich  in  Cohoss,  with  a  written 
request  from  his  Town  earnestly  moving  for  Powder,  on 
consideration,  this  Committee  think  they  cannot  furnish  him 
with  any. 

On  motion,  ordered  the  two  Companies  of  General 
Wooster's  Regiment,  who  were  stationed  at  New-London, 
(though  one  is  yet  at  New-Haven,)  to  inarch  directly  to 
camp  near  Boston;  and  the  Governour  gave  orders  accord- 
ingly. 

Doctor  Turner,  principal  Surgeon  to  the  Eighth  Regi- 
ment now  raising,  moves  to  be  resolved,  whether  the  Me- 
dicine Chests,  as  ordered  by  the  General  Assembly,  to 
amount  to  the  value  of  thirty  Pounds,  i.  e.  whether  the 
Instruments  are  to  be  included  in  that  sum  ;  and  it  is  the 
opinion  of  the  Committee  that  said  sum  is  exclusive  of  the 
necessary  Instruments. 

Adjourned  to  Monday,  the  twenty-fourth  July  instant, 
at  nine  o'clock,  A.  M.,  then  to  consider  relating  to  the 
armed  Vessels,  Sic,  ordered  by  the  General  Assembly,  Sic. 


GOVERNOUR  TRUMBULL  TO  GENERAL  WASHINGTON. 

Lebanon,  July  13,  1775. 
Sir:  Suffer  me  to  join  in  congratulating  you  on  your 
appointment  to  be  General  and  Commander-in-Chief  of  the 


1659 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  he,  JULY,  1775. 


1660 


Troops  raised,  or  to  be  raised,  for  the  defence  of  American 
liberty. 

Men  who  have  tasted  of  freedom,  and  who  have  felt  their 
personal  rights,  are  not  easily  taught  to  bear  with  encroach- 
ments on  either,  or  brought  to  submit  to  oppression.  Virtue 
ought  always  to  be  made  the  object  of  government ;  justice 
is  firm  and  permanent. 

His  Majesty's  Ministers  have  artfully  induced  the  Par- 
liament to  join  in  their  measures,  to  prosecute  the  dangerous 
and  increasing  differences  between  Great  Britain  and  these 
Colonies  with  rigour  and  military  force,  whereby  the  latter 
are  driven  to  an  absolute  necessity  to  defend  their  rights 
and  properties  by  raising  forces  for  their  security. 

The  honourable  Congress  have  proclaimed  a  Fast  to  be 
observed  by  the  inhabitants  of  all  the  English  Colonies  on 
this  Continent,  to  stand  before  the  Lord  in  one  day  with 
publick  humiliation,  fasting,  and  prayer,  to  deplore  our 
many  sins,  to  offer  up  our  joint  supplications  to  God  for 
forgiveness,  and  for  his  merciful  interposition  for  us  in  this 
day  of  unnatural  darkness  and  distress. 

They  have  with  one  united  voice  appointed  you  to  the 
high  station  you  possess.  The  Supreme  Director  of  all 
events  hath  caused  a  wonderful  union  of  hearts  and  counsels 
to  subsist  amongst  us.  Now,  therefore,  be  strong  and  very 
courageous.  May  the  God  of  the  Armies  of  Israel  shower 
down  the  blessing  of  his  divine  providence  on  you  ;  give 
you  wisdom  and  fortitude ;  cover  your  head  in  the  day  of 
battle  and  danger;  add  success;  convince  our  enemies  of 
their  mistaken  measures;  and  that  all  their  attempts  to  de- 
prive these  Colonies  of  their  inestimable  constitutional  rights 
and  liberties  are  injurious  and  vain. 

I  am,  with  great  esteem  and  regard,  Sir,  your  most  obe- 
dient humble  servant,  Jonathan  Trumbull. 
His  Excellency  George  Washington,  Esquire. 


Newburgh,  Ulster  County,  New. York,  July  14,  1775. 

Whereas  we,  the  subscribers,  have  refused  to  sign  the 
Association  within  the  time  limited  by  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress; and  whereas  our  troubles  with  the  Mother  Country 
continue  to  increase,  and  we  are  now  convinced  that  we 
have  no  other  alternative  left  but  to  repel  force  by  force,  or 
submit  to  be  slaves :  Sensible  that  this  is  our  deplorable 
situation,  and  in  order  to  continue  to  link  our  chain  of  friend- 
ship still  more  firm,  and  to  convince  our  friends  and  the 
friends  of  American  liberty  in  general,  we  do  hereby 
solemnly  and  sincerely  swear  on  the  holy  evangelists,  that 
we  will,  from  henceforth,  heartily  agree  and  consent  to  what- 
soever our  Continental  and  Provincial  Congresses  have,  or 
may  do,  direct,  ordain,  and  appoint,  for  the  preservation 
of  our  constitutional  liberties;  and  that  we  will,  as  much 
as  in  us  lies,  discourage  the  spirit  of  opposition  that  has 
too  unhappily  prevailed  in  some  parts  of  this  Country. 
That  we  will,  from  time  to  time,  bear  and  pay  our  quota  of 
all  expenses  with  the  rest  of  our  brethren  in  America,  that 
has  already  or  hereafter  may  accrue,  in  defending  our  liber- 
ties aforesaid.  And  we  do  hereby  further  swear,  that  we 
make  this  declaration  and  oath  of  our  own  free  will  and 
voluntary  consent ;  and  in  testimony  whereof,  we  have 
hereunto  set  our  hands  this  14th  day  of  July,  Anno  Do- 
mini, 1775. 

James  Leonard,       Samuel  Fowler, 
George  Harding,     Jonas  Totten, 
John  Truesdill,     Daniel  Denton, 
Daniel  Gedney,      James  Denton, 
Stephen  Wood,       Gilbert  Purdy, 
Thomas  Ireland,     George  Merrit, 
Daniel  Hains,         John  Flewwelling, 
Daniel  Reynolds,   John  Wiggins, 
Samuel  Dewine,      Abel  Flewwelling, 
Isaac  Barton,         Anthony  Bectel  Brunt. 
Gabriel  Traverse,  >4  his  mark. 


GENERAL  WASHINGTON  TO  CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS. 

Camp  Cambridge,  July  14,  1775. 
Sir:  Since  I  did  myself  the  honour  of  addressing  you 
on  the  tenth  instant,  nothing  material  has  happened  in  the 
camp.  From  some  authentick  and  later  advices  of  the 
state  of  the  Ministerial  Troops,  and  the  great  inconvenience 
of  calling  in  the  Militia  in  the  midst  of  harvest,  I  have  been 
induced,  for  the  present,  to  waive  it ;  but  in  the  mean  time 


recruiting  parties  have  been  sent  throughout  this  Province, 
to  fill  up  the  Regiments  to  the  establishment  of  the  Pro- 
vincial Congress.  At  the  same  time  that  I  received  these 
advices,  I  also  obtained  a  list  of  the  officers  of  the  enemy 
killed  and  wounded  in  the  late  battle  at  Charlestown,  which 
I  take  this  opportunity  to  enclose.  The  great  scarcity  of 
fresh  provisions  in  their  Army,  has  led  me  to  take  every 
precaution  to  prevent  a  supply;  for  this  purpose  I  have 
ordered  all  the  cattle  and  sheep  to  be  drove  from  the  low 
grounds  and  farms  within  their  reach.  A  detachment  from 
General  Thomas's  camp  on  Wednesday  night  went  over  to 
Long-hland,  and  brought  from  thence  twenty  cattle  and  a 
number  of  sheep,  with  about  fifteen  labourers,  who  had 
been  put  on  by  a  Mr.  Ray  Thomas  to  cut  the  hay,  fkc. 
By  some  accident  they  omitted  burning  the  hay,  and  re- 
turned the  next  day  at  noon  to  complete  it ;  which  they 
effected,  amidst  the  firing  of  the  shipping,  with  the  loss  of 
one  man  killed  and  another  wounded. 

Last  evening  also  a  party  of  the  Connecticut  men  strolled 
down  on  the  marsh  at  Roxbury  and  fired  upon  a  sentry, 
which  drew  on  a  heavy  fire  from  the  enemy's  lines  and  float- 
ing batteries,  but  attended  with  no  other  effect  than  the  loss 
of  one  killed  by  a  shot  from  the  enemy's  lines.  In  the 
mean  time  we  are  on  both  sides  continuing  our  works,  but 
there  has  been  no  other  movement  than  what  I  have  noticed 
above.  I  shall  endeavour  to  give  a  regular  and  particular 
account  of  all  transactions  as  they  occur,  which  you  will 
please  to  lay  before  the  honourable  Congress. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  Sir,  your  most  obedient  and 
very  humble  servant,  Go.  Washington. 

The  Hon.  John  Hancock,  Esq.,  President  of  Congress. 

A  true  Account  of  the  Officers  of  the  Ministerial  Troops 
killed  and  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Charlestown,  June 
17,  1775. 

Fourth  Regiment. — Captain  Balfour,  Captain  West, 
Lieutenant  Barn,  and  Lieutenant  Brown,  wounded. 

Fifth  Regiment. — Major  Mitchell,  wounded ;  Captain 
Downes,  killed  ;  Captain  Jackson,  Captain  Manden,  Lieu- 
tenant Crocker,  Lieutenant  Clintock,  Ensign  Charlton,  and 
Ensign  Balaquire,  wounded. 

Tenth  Regiment. — Captain  Fitzgerald,  Captain  Par- 
sons, Lieutenant  Pettigru,  and  Lieut.  Hamilton,  wounded; 
Lieutenant  Verner,  wounded,  since  dead. 

Fourteenth  Regiment. — Lieutenant  Bruce,  killed  ;  En- 
sign Haskett,  wounded. 

Eighteenth  Regiment. — Ensign  Richardson,  wounded  ; 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Abercrombie,  killed;  Capt.  Blackney, 
Lieutenant  Cochran,  Lieutenant  Beckwith,  and  Lieutenant 
Lenthall,  wounded. 

Thirty-Fifth  Regiment. — Captain  Lyon,  killed  ;  Cap- 
tain Drew,  wounded,  since  dead  ;  Lieutenant  Campbell, 
wounded  ;  Lieutenant  Bard,  killed  ;  Lieutenant  Messey, 
wounded. 

Thirty-Eighth  Regiment. — Major  Bruce,  Capt.  Boyd, 
and  Captain  Cocker,  wounded  ;  Lieutenant  Dutton,  killed  ; 
Lieutenant  Christie,  Captain  House,  Lieutenant  Myers, 
and  Lieutenant  Letvney,  wounded  ;  Major  Stork,  wounded, 
since  dead  ;  Quartermaster  Mitchell  and  Ensign  Mitchell, 
wounded. 

Forty-Third  Regiment. — Major  Spendlove  and  Captain 
McKenzie,  killed ;  Lieutenant  Robbertain,  Lieutenant  Dal- 
rymple,  wounded. 

Forty-Seventh  Regiment. — Major  Smith,  Captain  Eng- 
land, Captain  Craiger,  Captain  Alcock,  and  Lieut.  Gold, 
wounded ;  Lieutenant  Wellard,  killed  ;  Lieutenant  Eng- 
land, wounded  ;  Lieutenant  Heyler,  killed. 

Fifty-Second  Regiment. —  Major  Williams,  Captain- 
Major  Maddison,  and  Captain  Smith,  killed  ;  Captain  Wil- 
son, Lieutenant  Thompson,  Lieutenant  Crawford,  Lieuten- 
ant Iliggins,  and  Ensign  Chetwind,  wounded ;  Ensign 
Grannis,  wounded,  since  dead. 

Fifty-Ninth  Regiment. — Lieutenant  Haynes,  wounded. 

Sixty-Second  Regiment. — Captain  Ilorsford,  Captain 
Follier,  wounded  ;  Lieutenant  Dalrymplc,  killed. 

Sixty-Fifth  Regiment. — Captain  Hudgeon,  killed ;  Cap- 
tain Sinclair,  Lieutenant  Paxton,  Lieutenant  Smith,  and 
Lieutenant  Haler,  wounded. 

Sixty-Seventh  Regiment. — Captain  Shamoin,  Aid-de- 
Camp  to  Genera]  Howe,  killed. 


16C1 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JULY,  1775. 


1662 


Marines. — Major  Pilcairn,  Captain  Campbell,  and  Cap- 
tain Ellis,  killed  ;  Captain  Logan,  Capt.  Chudbigh,  Capt. 
Johnson,  and  Lieutenant  Pitcairn,  wounded  ;  Lieutenant 
Fenneg,  Lieutenant  Gardner,  and  Lieutenant  Shea,  killed  ; 
Lieutenant  Brisbain,  Lieutenant  Avennie,  Lieut.  Rag, 
and  Lieutenant  Dyer,  wounded. 

Artillery. — Captain  Lcomine,  Capt.  Huddleston,  Lieu- 
tenant Shuttlesworth,  and  Lieutenant  Campbell,  wounded. 

Killed  and  wounded,  ninety-two. 

Most  of  those  officers  are  mortally  wounded.  In  the 
whole,  of  the  Field-Officers,  three  killed  and  four  wounded; 
Captains,  eight  killed  and  twenty-five  wounded.  Lieuten- 
ant Jordan,  of  the  Navy,  died  of  his  wounds. 


Head-Quarters,  Cambridge,  July  11,  1775. 
(Parole,  Guilford.)  (Countersign,  Hartford) 

The  Court-Martial,  of  which  Colonel  Prescott  was  Pre- 
sident, is  dissolved.  A  General  Court-Martial  to  be  assem- 
bled at  Cambridge  as  soon  as  possible,  to  try  such  prisoners 
as  shall  be  brought  before  them.  All  evidences  and  persons 
concerned  to  attend  the  Court. 

The  General  understanding  there  is  a  bad  custom  pre- 
vailing, of  the  non-commissioned  officers  and  soldiers  ab- 
senting themselves  from  guard,  under  pretence  of  going  for 
provisions ;  it  is  therefore  ordered,  that  all  officers  and  sol- 
diers bring  their  provision  to  the  guard  they  mount,  and  on 
no  pretence  quit  their  guard  until  it  is  regularly  dismissed. 

Notwithstanding  the  orders  of  the  Provincial  Congress, 
some  persons  are  so  daring  as  to  supply  the  soldiers  with 
immoderate  quantities  of  rum,  and  other  spirituous  liquors: 
any  sutler,  tavern-keeper,  or  licensed  innholder,  who  shall 
presume,  after  the  date  of  this  order,  to  sell  any  non-com- 
missioned officer  or  soldier  any  spirituous  liquor  whatsoever, 
without  an  order  in  writing  from  the  Captain  of  the  com- 
pany to  which  such  non-commissioned  officer  and  soldier 
belongs,  he  or  they  so  offending,  may  expect  to  be  severely 
punished. 

Lieut.  Colonel  Ward,  President  of  the  Court-Martial. 

Head. Quarters,  Cambridge,  July  12,  1775. 
(Parole,  Falmouth.)  (Countersign,  Worcester.) 

The  Adjutant-General  will  deliver,  at  orderly  time,  a 
certain  number  of  printed  returns  to  the  Adjutant  of  each 
Regiment,  so  that  no  excuse  for  the  future  can  be  ad- 
mitted for  not  making  regular  and  exact  returns  when 
demanded,  as  it  is  only  filling  up  the  blanks  with  the  num- 
bers proper  to  be  placed  in  them.  The  Commander-in- 
Chief  will  not,  for  the  future,  admit  of  any  palliative  for 
making  a  false  return,  and  is  resolved  to  bring  any  officer, 
of  what  rank  soever,  to  a  Court-Martial,  who  is  found  de- 
linquent. 

When  any  trumpeter  or  flag  of  truce  is  sent  from  Boston, 
or  any  post  occupied  by  the  enemy,  they  are  to  be  stopped 
by  the  first  sentry  they  are  permitted  to  approach,  who  is 
to  call  for  the  sergeant  of  the  guard,  who  will  conduct  them 
to  the  officer  of  his  guard,  and  such  trumpeter  or  flag  of 
truce  is  not  to  be  allowed  to  stir  one  step  beyond  that  guard. 
The  officer  commanding  the  guard  will  send  any  letters  or 
messages,  brought  from  the  enemy,  immediately  to  the 
comrnander-in-chief,  and  no  other  person. 

A  General  Court-Martial  of  the  line  to  sit  at  Head-Quar- 
ters, in  Cambridge,  to-morrow  morning  at  nine  o'clock,  to 
try  Colonel  Scammon,  of  the  Massachusetts  Forces,  accused 
of  "  backwardness  in  the  execution  of  his  duty  in  the  late 
action  upon  Bunker's  Hill."  The  Adjutant  of  Col.  Scam- 
mon,s  Regiment  to  warn  all  evidences  and  persons  con- 
cerned to  attend  the  Court. 

Colonel  Nixon,  President  of  above  Court. 

Head-Quarters,  Cambridge,  July  13,  1775. 
(Parole,  Georgia.)  (Countersign,  Huntingdon.) 

As  the  Army  will  be  forthwith  formed  into  brigades,  the 
Adjutant-General  will,  at  orderly  time  this  day,  deliver  to 
the  Adjutant  of  each  Regiment  a  number  of  printed  re- 
turns, one  of  which  must  be  immediately  filled  up  and 
signed  by  the  commanding  officer  of  each  Regiment,  and 
sent  as  soon  as  possible  to  the  Adjutant-General,  by  the 
Adjutant  of  each  Regiment ;  on  the  back  of  the  return  it 
will  be  necessary  to  mention  where  and  in  what  manner 
the  Regiment  is  at  present  posted. 


The  commanding  officer  at  Chelsea  is,  as  soon  as  possi- 
ble after  the  receipt  of  this  order,  to  direct  all  the  cattle 
upon  Pullein  Point,  Shirley  Point,  and  the  intermediate 
space  between  Powderhorn  Hill  and  the  sea,  to  be  driven 
off ;  and  it  is  recommended  to  the  Commissary-General  to 
endeavour  to  agree  with  the  owners  of  the  said  cattle,  and 
to  purchase  them  for  the  use  of  the  Army. 

Head-Quarters,  Cambridge,  July  14,  1775. 
(Parole,  Halifax.)  (Counteisign,  Inverness.) 

As  the  health  of  an  Army  principally  depends  upon  clean- 
liness, it  is  recommended  in  the  strongest  manner  to  the 
commanding  officer  of  corps,  posts,  and  detachments,  to  be 
strictly  diligent  in  ordering  the  necessaries  to  be  filled  up 
once  a  week,  and  new  ones  dug  ;  the  streets  of  the  encamp- 
ments and  lines  to  be  swept  daily,  and  all  offal  and  carrion, 
near  the  camp,  to  be  immediately  buried.  The  officers 
commanding  in  barracks  or  quarters  to  be  answerable  that 
they  are  swept  every  morning,  and  all  filth  and  dirt  re- 
moved from  about  the  houses.  Next  to  cleanliness,  nothing 
is  more  conducive  to  a  soldier's  health  than  dressing  his 
provisions  in  a  decent  and  proper  manner.  The  officers 
commanding  companies  should  therefore  daily  inspect  the 
camp  kitchens,  and  see  the  men  dress  their  food  in  a  whole- 
some way. 

The  commanding  officers  in  those  parts  of  the  lines  and 
redoubts  where  the  pikes  are  placed,  will  order  the  Quarter- 
masters of  corps  to  see  the  pikes  greased  twice  a  week  ; 
they  are  to  be  answerable  also  that  the  pikes  are  kept  clean, 
and  always  ready  and  fit  for  service. 

The  General,  observing  great  remissness  and  neglect  in 
the  several  guards  in  and  about  the  camp,  orders  the  officer 
commanding  any  guard,  to  turn  out  his  guard  immediately 
upon  the  near  approach  of  the  Commander-in-Chief,  or  any 
of  the  General  Officers;  and,  upon  passing  the  guard,  the 
Commander-in-Chief  is  to  be  received  with  rested  arms,  the 
officer  to  salute,  and  the  drums  to  beat  a  march ;  the 
Majors-General  with  rested  arms,  the  officer  to  salute,  and 
the  drums  to  beat  two  ruffles  ;  the  Brigadiers-General  with 
rested  arms,  the  officer  to  salute,  and  the  drums  to  beat 
one  ruffle.  There  being  something  awkward  as  well  as  im- 
proper in  the  General  Officers  being  stopped  at  the  out- 
posts, asked  for  passes  by  the  sentries,  and  obliged  often  to 
send  for  the  officer  of  the  guard  (who  it  sometimes  happens 
is  as  much  unacquainted  with  the  persons  of  the  Generals 
as  the  private  men)  before  they  can  pass  in  or  out,  it  is 
recommended  to  both  officers  and  men,  to  make  themselves 
acquainted  with  the  persons  of  all  the  officers  in  general 
command ;  and  in  the  mean  time,  to  prevent  mistakes,  the 
General  Officers  and  their  Aids-de-Camp  will  be  distin- 
guished in  the  following  manner:  the  Commander-in-Chief 
by  a  light  blue  ribband,  worn  across  his  breast,  between  his 
coat  and  waistcoat ;  the  Majors  and  Brigadiers-General  by 
a  pink  ribband,  worn  in  like  manner;  the  Aids-de-Camp 
by  a  green  ribband. 

The  Court-Martial,  of  which  Col.  Ward  is  President, 
is  dissolved. 

Daniel  Carmile,  soldier  in  Colonel  Patterson's  Regiment, 
tried  for  "  disobedience  of  orders,  for  re-enlisting  and  taking 
advance  money  twice  over,  and  for  drunkenness,"  is  found 
guilty  of  the  several  charges,  and  ordered  to  be  whipt  on 
the  bare  back  with  thirty-nine  lashes,  and  discharged  from 
the  Army.  The  General  approves  the  sentence,  and  orders 
it  to  be  executed  to-morrow  morning,  at  the  head  of  the 
Regiment  he  belongs  to. 


GENERAL  COURT-MARTIAL  ON  COLONEL  JAMES  SCAMMONS. 

General  Court-Martial  held  July  13,  1775,  Col.  Nixon, 
President ;  with  one  Lieutenant-Colonel,  one  Major,  and  ten 
Captains.    William  Tudor,  Judge  Advocate. 

The  Court  being  duly  sworn,  proceeded  to  the  trial  of 
Colonel  Scammons  of  the  Massachusetts  Forces,  who  was 
brought  before  the  Court,  and  accused  of  disobedience  to 
orders,  and  backwardness  in  the  execution  of  his  duty,  in 
the  late  action  on  Bunker's  Hill  at  Charlestown,  on  the 
17th  of  June  last.  The  prisoner  being  arraigned  on  the 
above  complaint,  pleads  not  guilty.  The  Court  postponed 
the  examination  of  the  witnesses  to  Friday,  14th  of  July, 
at  eight  of  the  o'clock,  to  which  time  the  Court  was  ad- 
journed. 


1G63 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &ic,  JULY,  1775. 


16G4 


Friday,  July  14,  1775. 

The  Court  being  met  according  to  adjournment ;  present 
all  the  members  as  yesterday.  Lieutenant  James  JJouncll 
deposed  :  about  noon  we  marched  to  Lechmere's  Point, 
where  we  remained  one  quarter  of  an  hour.  Going  from 
the  point,  Chariestown  was  set  on  lire.  Whilst  at  the 
point,  General  Whitcomb  ordered  Colonel  Scammons  to 
march  to  the  bill.  The  deponent  understood  the  hill  meant 
was  Bunker's  Hill.  Colonel  Scammons  then  inarched  to 
a  small  bill,  about  a  mile  distant  from  Bunker's  Hill.  Col. 
Scammons  sent  two  Sergeants  to  Bunker's  Hill,  to  know 
if  bis  Regiment  was  wanted.  We  remained  on  the  small 
hill  three-quarters  of  an  hour,  during  all  which  time  there 
was  a  smart  fire  on  Bunker's  Hill,  from  small-arms  and 
cannon.  After  three  quarters  of  an  hour  we  marched  to 
the  hither  edge  of  Bunker's  Hill,  where  the  shot  flew 
very  thick.  Before  we  got  to  the  top  of  the  hill,  Colonel 
Scammons  ordered  a  retreat ;  immediately  there  was  a  gen- 
eral retreat  of  our  Regiment.  Every  one  made  the  best 
of  bis  way  off.  We  were  no  time  that  day  near  enough  to 
engage  the  enemy.  The  witness  does  not  know  any  dis- 
tinction between  Bunker's  and  Brewer's  Hill. 

Ensign  Joshua  Trafton  deposed  :  about  two  of  the  clock 
in  the  afternoon  we  marched  from  Cambridge  to  Lechmere's 
Point,  where  we  found  General  Whitcomb,  who  expressed 
much  surprise  at  finding  Colonel  Scammons  take  post  there. 
We  remained  on  the  point  fifteen  minutes,  and  then  marched 
to  a  small  hill  below  Prospect  Hill.  We  continued  on  the 
small  bill  about  half  an  hour  or  more;  during  which  time 
Colonel  Scammons  sent  two  Sergeants  to  Bunker's  Hid, 
to  know  if  his  Regiment  was  wanted.  We  took  the  near- 
est road  to  Bunker's  Hill,  as  I  suppose,  and  before  we  got 
to  the  top  of  the  hill,  the  Colonel  ordered  a  retreat.  I  cannot 
say  whether  the  breastwork  was  forced  or  not  at  this  time. 
We  saw  many  men  retreating  down  the  bill,  who  said  they 
bad  spent  all  their  ammunition  ;  some  told  us  that  the  ene- 
my had  retreated,  and  begged  us  to  push  on.  As  we  turned 
off  the  small  bill,  a  Regiment  marched  up  towards  Bun- 
ker's Hill.  As  we  marched  from  Cambridge  we  beard 
the  Regulars  were  landing  at  Lechmere's  Point,  and  at 
Chariestown.  Colonel  Scammons  made  the  greatest  dis- 
patch from  the  small  hill  to  Bunker's  Hill.  I  saw  no  other 
instance  of  backwardness  in  Colonel  Scammons,  except  his 
long  stay  at  the  small  hill,  which  appeared  to  me  unneces- 
sary. As  we  retreated,  a  number  of  men  advanced  up  in 
an  irregular  manner. 

Ensign  Nathan  Lord  deposed  :  we  were  one  quarter  of 
an  hour  near  Lechmere's  Point;  we  then  marched  to  a 
small  hill  below  Prospect  Hill,  where  we  tarried  a  quarter 
of  an  hour,  then  marched  to  Bunker's  Hill  the  nearest  way, 
and  with  as  much  despatch  as  we  could  go.  We  stayed 
twenty  minutes  on  the  small  bill,  whilst  the  fire  continued 
on  the  further  part  of  Bunker's  Hill;  we  got  to  the  top  of 
Bunker's  Hill;  after  which  General  Putnam  came  up,  and 
ordered  the  Regiment  to  advance  within  hearing  of  Colonel 
Scammons ;  part  of  the  Regiment  then  advanced,  but  the 
deponent  does  not  know  if  Colonel  Scammons  was  with 
them.  I  heard  several  persons,  whom  I  took  to  be  officers, 
order  a  retreat  before  Colonel  Scammons  did.  After  we 
got  over  Chariestown  Neck,  going  up  Bunker's  Hill,  Col. 
Scammons  cried,  Come,  my  Yorkshire  lads,  now  let  us  shew 
our  bravery.  The  deponent  does  not  know  a  distinction  be- 
tween Bunker's  Hill  and  Brewer's  Hill. 

Major  Daniel  Wood  deposed  :  we  marched  from  near 
Lechmere's  Point,  to  a  small  hill,  nearly  opposite  to  Pros- 
pect Hill,  where  we  remained  near  three-quarters  of  an 
hour;  during  most  of  the  time  we  were  on  that  bill,  there 
was  a  smart  fire  on  what  I  take  to  be  the  easterly  part  of 
Bunker's  Hill. 

Captain  Ebenezer  Sullivan  deposed  and  said  :  we  con- 
tinued on  the  small  bill  half  an  hour ;  some  considerable 
part  of  the  time  we  were  there  there  was  a  very  heavy 
fire  from  the  further  part  of  the  hill  in  Chariestown.  After 
we  retreated,  Colonel  Scammons  encouraged  the  men  to 
advance.  The  Regiment  was  not  near  enough  to  engage 
the  enemy. 

Captain  Philip  Hubbard  deposed:  the  reason  of  our 
going  to  Lechmere's  Point  was,  because  we  met  expresses, 
who  told  us  the  Regulars  were  landing  at  that  place ;  when 
we  got  to  Lechmere's  Point,  General  Whitcomb  told  Col. 
Scammons  be  had  better  go  and  watch  the  floating  batte- 


ries, and  then  marched  to  the  small  bill,  where  we  stayed 
hall  an  hour.  As  soon  as  Colonel  Scammons  discovered 
Chariestown  meeting-house  on  fire,  be  marched  the  Regi- 
ment, with  all  possible  despatch,  towards  Bunker's  Hill. 
We  met  great  numbers  retreating  down.  The  confusion  was 
so  great  before  we  got  to  the  top  of  the  hill,  it  was  impossi- 
ble to  force.  I  saw  nothing  of  irresolution  or  backward- 
ness in  Colonel  Scammons  any  time  of  the  day. 

Lieutenant  Cuzons  deposed :  that  at  Lechmere's  Point, 
General  Whitcomb  told  Colonel  Scammons  he  had  better 
go  to  that  bill,  meaning,  as  the  deponent  took  it,  the  small 
bill  which  they  marched  to,  and  watch  the  motions  of  the 
floating  batteries.  As  soon  as  Colonel  Scammons  heard 
the  firing  of  the  small-arms  at  the  bill  in  Chariestown,  he 
said  he  would  stay  there  no  longer,  and  ordered  the  Regi- 
ment to  march  for  Bunker's  Hill,  which  he  did.  1  know 
nothing  of  Colonel  Scammons's  behaviour  at  Bunker's  Hill. 

Lieutenant  Morgan  Lewis  deposed  and  said  :  I  saw 
nothing  of  cowardice  or  backwardness  in  Colonel  Scam- 
mons that  day. 

Lieutenant  Thomas  Cults  in  substance  as  Lieut.  Lewis. 
Sergeant  Amaziah  Goodwin  agrees  with  Lieut.  Cutts. 

Sergeant  Samuel  Goodale  deposed:  that  General  Wliit- 
comb  ordered  Colonel  Scammons  from  Lechmere's  Point,  to 
take  possession  of  the  small  bill,  and  watch  the  motions  of 
the  floating  batteries.  I  was  sent  by  Colonel  Scammons  to 
General  Putnam,  to  know  if  his  Regiment  was  wanted ; 
and  before  1  got  back,  Colonel  Scammons  was  upon  bis 
march  towards  Bunker's  Hill.  I  saw  Colonel  Scammons 
two  thirds  of  the  way  up  the  hill,  but  know  nothing  of  his 
conduct  there. 

John  Littlefield  deposed  :  that  as  we  marched  down,  we 
heard  the  Regulars  were  landing  at  Lechmere's  Point.  1 
know  nothing  of  Colonel  Scammons's  behaviour. 

Jonathan  Love  deposed  and  said  :  when  we  were  upon 
Bunker's  Hill,  an  officer  ordered  us  to  retreat,  as  the  ene- 
my had  forced  the  intrenchment ;  after  which  Colonel  Scam- 
mons ordered  us  to  retreat. 

Joseph  Parson,  drummer,  deposed  and  said :  we  were 
three-quarters  of  an  hour  on  the  little  round  bill,  and  the 
firing  of  the  small-arms  lasted  half  an  hour,  when  we 
marched  off  towards  Bunker's  Hill.  I  know  nothing  of 
Colonel  Scammons's  behaviour  at  Bunker's  Hill. 

The  Court  then  called  on  Colonel  Scammons  to  make 
his  defence ;  upon  which  the  following  evidence  was  pro- 
duced : 

Captain  Jeremiah  Hill  deposed  and  said  :  that  down  by 
the  bridge  near  Lechmeie's  Point,  we  met  General  It/m- 
comb,  who  told  Colonel  Scammons  that  he  was  sufficient 
to  guard  that  point,  and  told  Col.  Scammons  he  had  better 
go  round  to  the  little  hill  and  watch  their  motions  there. 
We  accordingly  went  and  stayed  there  hall  an  hour. 

Colonel  John  Whitcomb,  who  is  styled  by  the  foregoing 
deponents  General,  deposed  and  said  :  1  met  Colonel  Scam- 
mons with  his  Regiment  about  fifty  rods  from  Lechmere's 
Point;  I  asked  him  what  brought  him  there;  he  replied 
by  asking  me  where  he  should  go ;  I  told  him  where  he 
could  do  the  most  service.  I  am  positive  1  never  ordered 
him  to  the  little  hill,  if  my  memory  serves  me,  because  men 
could  be  of  no  service  at  such  a  place  except  in  the  night. 

The  Court  then  adjourned  till  Saturday  morning,  eight 
o'clock. 

Saturday,  July  15,  A.  M. 

The  Court  met  according  to  adjournment.  Col.  Scam- 
mons begged  liberty  to  produce  the  four  next  witnesses,  who 
were  admitted  and  sworn  accordingly. 

Henry  Fess,  drummer,  deposed :  that  as  we  marched 
down  Cambridge  road,  we  met  two  men  on  horseback,  who 
told  us  the  Regulars  were  landing  at  Lechmere's  Point. 
We  then  marched  very  fast  towards  the  point,  where  we 
met  General  Whitcomb,  who  told  Colonel  Scammons  to  go 
round  to  the  bill,  wbicbthill  1  understood  to  mean  the  little 
round  bill  we  marched  to.  1  was  within  ten  feet  of  General 
Whitcomb,  when  these  orders  were  given. 

Jchabod  Smith  deposed  and  said :  1  was  about  ten  feet 
from  General  Whitcomb,  at  Lechmere's  Point,  when  I 
heard  him  desire  Colonel  Scammons  to  march  round,  and 
observe  the  motion  of  the  floating  batteries  which  lay  near 
the  little  bill.  We  marched  to  the  little  bill  and  con- 
tinued there  about  twenty  minutes.  As  soon  as  Colonel 
Scammons  found  out  where  the  firing  of  the  small-arms  was 


1665 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JULY,  1775. 


1666 


he  immediately  marched  the  Regiment  towards  Bunker's 
Hill,  with  the  utmost  despatch. 

Samuel  Hubbard  deposed  and  said  :  1  was  within  ten  feet 
of  Genera]  H'hitcomb,  and  heard  him  order  Colonel  Scam- 
mons  to  go  to  the  hill.  But  the  deponent  does  not  know 
what  hilL  I  heard  Colonel  Scammons  ask  the  General  if 
he  could  go  across  the  marsh,  which  was  the  nearest  way 
to  the  littte  hill.  General  H'hitcomb  replied,  that  he  could 
not,  but  must  go  up  and  round  by  the  road.  Frethy  Spen- 
cer agreed  with  Hubbard  exactly,  being  close  to  him  during 
the  conversation  between  General  H'hitcomb  and  Colonel 
Scammons. 

Adjutant  Marsden  was  sworn  at  the  desire  of  the  com- 
plainants, and  deposed,  that  we  were  three-quarters  of  an 
hour  on  the  little  hill,  and  continued  about  twenty  minutes 
after  we  heard  of  this  firing  on  the  hill  in  Charlcstown.  I 
went  halfway  up  Bunker's  Hill  with  Colonel  Scammo7is, 
when  1  left  him  and  went  to  the  breastwork,  where  1  got 
before  the  enemy  forced  it ;  the  confusion  was  so  great 
when  we  got  to  Bunker's  Hill  we  could  not  form  the  Re- 
giment. 

The  prisoner  then  made  a  few  remarks  on  the  evidence, 
and  withdrew.  The  Court  being  cleared,  entered  upon  the 
examination  of  the  evidence  collectively,  and  after  debate 
adjourned  to  Monday,  17th  of  July,  eight  o'clock,  A.  M. 

July  17,  1775. 

The  Court  being  met  according  to  adjournment,  and  re- 
sumed the  consideration  of  the  case  of  Colonel  Scammons, 
and  having  duly  weighed  the  allegations  and  proofs  brought 
against  the  prisoner,  with  his  defence  and  evidence,  are  of 
the  opinion,  that  the  said  Colonel  Scammoris  is  not  guilty 
of  the  charge  brought  against  him. 
A  true  copy  of  the  Proceedings  : 

John  Nixon,  President. 
Attest:  William  Tudor,  Judge  Advocate. 


GENERAL  WOOSTER  TO  NEW-YORK   COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY. 

Camp  near  New- York,  July  15,  1775. 

Sir  :  Having  found  by  experience  that  the  Troops  under 
my  command,  from  the  situation  of  their  encampment,  are 
subjected  to  many  difficulties,  which  render  it  next  to  im- 
possible to  maintain  that  good  order  and  discipline  which  is 
entirely  necessary  in  the  regulation  of  an  Army,  my  officers 
agree  with  me  in  sentiment,  that  it  will  be  much  for  the 
benefit  of  the  service  to  remove  the  Troops  to  a  further 
distance  from  the  Town.  1  have  viewed  a  plat  of  ground 
belonging  to  Mr.  Sickles,  of  Harlem,  which  I  think  very 
proper  for  an  encampment,  and  which  he  is  willing  should 
be  made  use  of  for  that  purpose.  I  therefore  desire  you 
to  take  the  opinion  and  advice  of  the  Committee  of  Safety, 
and  if  they  think  proper,  I  shall  be  obliged  to  them  if  they 
appoint  somebody  to  contract  with  Mr.  Sickles  for  the  place, 
and  assist  us  with  the  wagons,  carts,  &c,  that  we  may 
remove  next  Monday. 

I  am,  Sir,  with  the  greatest  esteem,  your  very  humble 
servant,  David  Wooster,  Major-General. 

To  the  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of  Safety,  New-York. 


GENERAL  SCHUYLER  TO  CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS. 

[Read  July  20,  1775.] 

Saratoga,  July  15,  1775. 
Sir:  Late  last  night  I  received  two  letters,  of  which 
the  enclosed  are  copies.  The  information  contained  in  that 
marked  No.  1.  is  so  truly  alarming,  that  although  I  should 
have  been  ^.iTiconderoga  to-morrow,  I  think  it  more  advi- 
sable to  remain  a  day  here,  in  which  I  may  probably  re- 
ceive some  farther  accounts  that  will  determine  whether  my 
presence  may  not  be  more  necessary  in  Tryon  County  than 
at  Ticonderoga,  although  it  is  much,  very  much  wanted  at 
the  latter  place.  I  lament  that  it  is  not  in  my  power  to  give 
such  aid  as  the  unhappy  people  in  Tryon  County,  who  are 
friends  to  the  cause  of  America,  stand  in  need  of.    All  I 
am  able  to  do,  and  which  I  have  done,  is  to  order  Captain 
Van  Dyck's  company,  which  is  at  Schenectady,  and  consists 
of  about  fifty  new  levied  men,  to  march  to  the  relief  of  these 
people;  to  furnish  him  and  the  inhabitants  with  the  trifling 
quantity  of  three  hundred  pounds  of  powder,  my  whole  stock 
at  Albany;  and  to  recommend  to  the  Militia  of  Albany  and 
Fourth  Series. — Vol.  it.  1 


Schenectady  to  march  up,  though  I  fear  they  have  little  or 
no  ammunition.  The  powder  ordered  from  Philadelphia 
is  not  yet  arrived,  nor  that  for  which  1  despatched  an  offi- 
cer from  New-York  to  Connecticut.  In  this  defenceless 
condition,  should  eight  hundred  Indians,  or  half  the  num- 
ber, come  down,  and  be  joined  by  the  Highlanders  and 
others  that  are  disaffected  in  Tryon  County,  they  may  with 
impunity  not  only  march  where  they  please  through  that 
oi  ibis  County,  but  so  effectually  cut  off  all  supplies  from 
the  Troops  to  the  northward,  that  they  must  disperse  or 
starve. 

You  will  perceive,  Sir,  by  the  enclosed  Return,  what  our 
strength  is  at  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point,  without  lines 
to  defend  themselves  against  an  attack,  for  I  cannot  learn 
that  the  least  shelter  has  been  made  by  the  Troops. 

In  such  a  distressing  situation,  it  is  extremely  natural  to 
wish  that  I  had  more  men  and  ammunition,  not  only  to 
oppose  this  threatened  invasion,  but  to  carry  into  execution 
your  former  orders.  Perhaps  the  necessity  which  induced 
your  order  to  let  the  Connecticut  Troops  remain  in  New- 
York  no  longer  exists  ;  if  so,  I  could  wish  they  were  directed 
to  join  me  without  delay.  You  may  be  assured,  Sir,  that  I 
shall  exert  every  nerve  to  counteract  the  schemes  meditated 
by  the  enemy,  happy  if  I  shall  be  able  to  give  you  a  favour- 
able account  of  our  operations. 

I  am,  Sir,  with  the  most  profound  respect,  your  most 
obedient  humble  servant,  Philip  Schuyler. 

To  the  Honourable  John  Hancock,  President  of  the  Con- 
tinental Congress. 

ALBANY  COMMITTEE  TO  GENERAL  PHILIP  SCHUYLER. 

Albany  Committee  Chamber,  July  14,  1775. 
Sir  :  You  have  enclosd  copy  of  a  letter  from  the  Com- 
mittee of  Tryon  County  to  the  Committees  of  Schenectady 
and  Albany;  the  contents  whereof  are  very  alarming,  and 
the  more  so  as  the  people  of  that  County  are  not  provi- 
ded with  ammunition  to  defend  themselves.  We  shall  for- 
ward the  letter  to  the  Provincial  Congress,  and  would  beg 
leave  to  suggest  to  you,  whether  it  will  not  be  advisable  to 
let  the  company  of  Captain  Van  Dyck  (which  we  find  you 
have  ordered  up  to  Lake  George)  march  up  the  Mohawk 
River,  towards  their  relief.  And  as  that  company  has  no 
ammunition,  and  we  have  here  about  three  hundred  weight, 
whether  you  will  think  it  proper  to  furnish  them  from  the 
store  here,  and  whether  you  will  not  think  it  necessary  to 
send  up  some  of  the  remainder  to  furnish  the  inhabitants. 

As  it  is  not  possible  to  know  how  far  this  may  be  a  fact, 
we  would  think  it  advisable  to  take  some  steps  so  as  to  keep 
up  the  spirits  of  the  people  of  Tryon  County. 

In  answer  to  your  letter  of  yesterday  we  inform  you,  that 
we  shall  endeavour  to  get  the  carpenters  as  soon  as  possi- 
ble.   We  are,  Sir,  your  very  humble  servants. 

By  order  of  the  Committee  : 

Abraham  Yates,  Jun. 

tryon  county  committee  to  the  committees  of  sche- 
nectady and  albany. 

Canajoharie,  July  13,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  Mr.  Ebenezer  Cox  informed  this  Board 
that  Mr.  Peter  S.  Deygert  told  this  informant  that  he  was 
informed  by  a  person  who  we  have  reason  to  think  has  it 
from  good  authority,  that  Col.  Johnson  was  ready  with 
eight  or  nine  hundred  Indians  to  make  an  invasion  of  this 
County  ;  that  the  same  Indians  were  to  be  under  the  com- 
mand of  Joseph  Brandt  and  Walter  Butler ;  and  that  they 
were  to  fall  on  the  inhabitants  below  the  Little  Falls,  in 
order  to  divide  the  people  in  two  parts ;  and  were  to  march 
yesterday  or  the  day  before. 

Captain  Jacob  Klock  informed  this  Board,  that  this  morn- 
ing about  an  hour  before  day,  three  Indians  of  Fort  Hun- 
ter came  to  his  house  from  Oswego,  in  their  way  home ; 
that  he  was  informed  by  a  free  negro  man,  a  servant  of 
him,  that  they  each  had  a  bag  of  powder  on  their  horses; 
that  they  stayed  about  an  hour,  and  then  went  off  in  great 
haste.  From  these  and  other  concomitant  circumstances, 
we  have  but  too  much  reason  to  think  it  is  true,  and  that 
all  our  enemies  in  this  country  will  appear  in  arms  against 
us,  as  soon  as  the  Indians  are  nigh  to  us,  which,  from  the 
above  information,  we  must  expect  in  a  few  days. 


1667 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  kc,  JULY,  1775. 


1668 


We  have  sent  off  a  party  of  people  by  way  of  a  scout, 
to  find  out,  if  possible,  the  route  of  the  Indians,  and  to 
give  us  early  intelligence. 

Our  ammunition  is  so  scant,  that  we  cannot  furnish  three 
hundred  men  so  as  to  be  able  to  make  a  stand  against  so 
great  a  number.  In  these  deplorable  circumstances,  we 
look  up  to  you  for  assistance,  both  in  men  and  ammunition, 
to  save  this  country  from  slaughter  and  desolation,  which 
we  beg  you  will  not  be  backward  to  afford  us  as  soon  as 
possible. 

We  have  ordered  some  of  our  companies  up  towards  the 
Little  Falls,  who  are  to  keep  scouting  parties  out,  and  we 
intend  to  keep  sitting  until  such  time  as  we  can  be  con- 
vinced of  our  safety. 

This  is  the  more  alarming  to  us,  as  we  shall  be  obliged 
in  a  few  days  to  begin  with  our  harvests ;  men  are  there- 
fore absolutely  necessary. 

We  beg  of  you  to  forward  this  by  express  to  Albany, 
and  copies  from  there  to  the  Provincial  Congress  and  to 
General  Schuyler.  Mr.  Deygert  was  obliged  to  promise 
not  to  disclose  the  person's  name  who  informed  him  of  the 
above  ;  but  be  assured  that  the  person  is  well  acquainted 
with  the  Indians,  and  therefore,  if  found  out,  is  in  great 
danger. 

We  are,  gentlemen,  your  most  obedient  and  very  hum- 
ble servants.    By  order,       Christopher  P.  Yates. 


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6VaJr. — 1  Major-General,  2  Brigadier-Generals,  1  Bri- 
gade Major,  2  Aids-de-Camp,  1  Secretary,  1  Chaplain, 
1  Surgeon,  2  Surgeon's  Mates. 

Brigadier-Generals,    Richard    Montgomery,  David 

Wooster.    Brigade  Major   Aids-de-Camp, 

John  McPherson,  James  Van  Rensselaer.  Secretary, 
Richard  Varrick. 

July  1,  1775. — A  true  Return,  made  from  the  Returns 
of  the  Officers  commanding  the  several  Corps  above  men- 
tioned. Philip  Schuyler. 


GENERAL  SCHUYLER  TO  GENERAL  WASHINGTON. 

Saratoga,  July  15,  1775. 
Dear  Sir:  Since  I  did  myself  the  honour  to  write  your 
Excellency  from  New-York,  nothing  very  material  occur- 
red until  yesterday,  when  I  received  the  enclosed  letters. 
The  accounts  contained  in  that  marked  No.  1,  are  truly 
alarming,  in  the  present  defenceless  state  of  the  Counties 
of  Tryon  and  Albany,  and  especially  as  the  assistance  I 
can  afford  them,  either  of  men  or  money,  is  next  to  nothing, 
the  few  troops  at  Ticonderoga,  kc,  being  at  too  great  a 
distance,  and  not  more  than  sufficient  to  guard  the  posts 
they  occupy.  I  should  have  been  at  Ticonderoga  this 
day,  had  not  the  information  from  Tryon  County  arrived, 
which  may  make  my  presence  there  absolutely  necessary 
if  it  should  be  confirmed.  I  therefore  propose  remaining 
here  until  to-morrow,  when  I  hope  to  be  farther  informed. 
I  wish  I  may  be  able  to  proceed  to  Ticonderoga,  as  1  am 
very  much  wanted  there,  the  greatest  confusion  having 
taken  place  in  the  controversy  between  the  officers  claim- 
ing command  in  that  quarter.  Some  have  taken  the  liberty 
to  disband  troops  ;  others  refused  to  serve  unless  this  or 
that  particular  person  commanded  ;  the  sloop  is  left  with- 
out either  captain  or  pilot,  both  of  which  are  dismissed  or 
come  away  ;  much  provision  wasted  or  embezzled,  and 
on  the  7th  instant  only  one  barrel  of  flour  at  Ticonderoga. 
I  shall  have  an  Augean  stable  to  cleanse  there. 

I  do  myself  the  honour  to  enclose  a  return  of  the  forces 
in  the  Colony.  It  is  doubtless  imperfect,  as  I  have  been 
under  a  necessity  of  forming  it  out  of  returns  which  were 
evidently  so.  1  hope  soon  to  send  you  a  more  complete 
one. 

Be  assured,  my  General,  that  I  shall  use  my  best  en- 
deavours to  establish  order  and  discipline  in  the  troops  un- 
der my  command.  I  wish  I  could  add  that  I  had  a  prospect 
of  much  success  in  that  way.  It  is  extremely  difficult  to 
introduce  a  proper  subordination  amongst  a  people  where 
so  little  distinction  is  kept  up. 

Our  accounts  of  the  disposition  of  the  Canadians  and 
Canada  Indians  continue  to  be  favourable,  though  the  in- 
telligence is  not  very  authentick. 

I  am  your  Excellency's  most  obedient  and  most  humble 
servant,  Philip  Schuyler. 

To  His  Excellency  General  Washington,  kc.  kc.  &tc. 


TRYON  COUNTY  COMMITTEE  TO  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

Tryon  County,  July  15,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  The  persons  appointed  by  your  Congress 
to  be  officers  to  a  company  to  be  raised  in  this  County, 
having  declined,  and  returned  their  warrants  to  this  Com- 
mittee, we  beg  leave  to  recommend  Christopher  P.  Yates 
to  be  Captain,  Andrew  Finck,  Jr.,  and  John  Keyser.  Jr., 
to  be  Lieutenants  of  the  said  company,  who  have  accepted 
of  the  same,  and  by  the  request  of  this  Committee  have 
begun  to  enlist  their  men.  Permit  us  to  observe,  that  they 
are  well  affected  to  American  liberty,  and  are  competent 
to  the  task.  We  therefore  beg  that  you  will  approve  of 
them,  and  send  them  new  warrants. 

Your  very  humble  servants.  By  order  of  the  Com- 
mittee, Nicholas  Herkimer, 

Chairman  pro  tempore. 
To  the  Provincial  Congress  of  New-  York. 


NEWBURY,  GLOUCESTER  COUNTY,  COMMITTEE  TO  NEW-YORK 
CONGRESS. 
Newbury,  New-York  Province,  July  15,  1775. 

Sir:  Your  letter  of  the  31st  of  May  I  did  not  receive 
until  the  14th  instant,  which  was  broke  open  and  the  Gene- 
ral Association  taken  out.  We  have  formed  a  County 
Committee,  as  also  one  in  each  Town  and  Precinct ;  also, 
we  have  chose  Colonel  Bayley  to  represent  us  in  the  Con- 
gress. The  County  seems  to  be  very  well  united,  and  firm 
to  one  another,  and  also  in  the  cause  of  liberty  ;  and  I 
make  no  doubt  but  they  will  cheerfully  join  in  whatever 
measures  and  directions  the  honourable  Congress  may  point 
out  from  time  to  time. 

I  am,  Sir,  your  most  obedient  and  humble  servant, 

John  Taplin. 
To  Peter  V.  B.  Livingston,  Esq.,  President  of  the  Pro- 
vincial Congress,  at  the  City  of  New- York. 


1669 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  kc,  JULY,  1775. 


1670 


GENERAL  SCHUYLER  TO  CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS. 
[Read  September  13,  1775.] 

Saratoga,  July  16,  1775. 
Sir  :  At  three  o'clock  this  morning  1  was  favoured  with 
a  letter  from  the  Committee  at  Albany,  of  which  the  en- 
closed is  a  copy ;  as  also  with  two  other  papers,  copies  of 
which  I  do  myself  the  honour  herewith  to  send  you,  and 
which  have  in  some  measure  removed  my  apprehensions 
for  the  people  of  Tryon  County.  It  would,  however,  be 
imprudent  to  rely  with  too  much  confidence  either  on  Co- 
lonel Johnson's  declarations  or  those  of  the  Indians,  and 
have  therefore  recommended  that  scouts  should  be  continu- 
ally kept  out  to  prevent  a  surprise,  and  that  early  intelli- 
gence may  be  given  to  such  places  from  whence  they  may 
receive  relief. 

I  shall  set  out  in  a  few  minutes  for  Ticonderoga,  from 
whence  I  shall  do  myself  the  honour  to  write  you,  and 
make  the  returns  agreeable  to  the  resolutions  of  Congress. 

I  am,  Sir,  your  most  obedient  and  most  humble  servant, 

Philip  Schutler. 
To  the  Honourable  John  Hancock,  Esq. 

ALBANY  COMMITTEE  TO   GENERAL  SCHUYLER. 

Albany  Committee  Chamber,  July  15,  1775. 

Sir:  We  received  yours  dated  last  night  at  three  quar- 
ters after  eleven  o'clock,  with  the  orders  to  Captain  Van 
Dyck  enclosed. 

We  this  morning  examined  Mr.  Garret  Roseboom,  who 
lately  left  Montreal  and  came  round  by  Oswego,  where 
Colonel  Guy  Johnson  gave  a  letter  to  Nicholas  Stevens, 
(from  Schenectady,  who  came  in  company  with  him,)  di- 
rected to  the  President  of  the  Provincial  Congress,  and 
told  him  the  Committee  of  Albany  might  open  it  if  they 
pleased  ;  which  we  have  presumed  to  do,  copy  whereof  we 
enclose  you,  together  with  a  copy  of  Mr.  Roseboom's  ex- 
amination. We  dow  judge  from  the  whole  that  it  will  be 
most  advisable  not  to  send  Van  Dyck's  company  forward, 
until  we  have  further  information,  as  we  would  not  choose 
(if  we  can  avoid  it)  to  give  any  cause  of  jealousy  to  the 
Indians,  as  they  have  signified  their  desire  that  we  should 
not  send  troops  up.  We  have  therefore  desired  the  Com- 
mittee of  Schenectady  to  keep  that  company  in  readiness 
on  a  minute's  warning  ;  and  we  have  sent  one  quarter  cask 
of  powder  to  be  distributed  among  that  company.  We 
have  also  sent  up  six  quarter  casks  more  to  the  Committee 
of  Tryon  County.  We  should  have  sent  the  remainder, 
one  hundred  and  twenty-five  pounds,  but  for  the  hint  in  the 
examination  of  Roseboom. 

We  are,  Sir,  your  very  humble  servants.  By  order  of 
the  Committee,        Abraham  Yates,  Jr.,  Chairman. 

COLONEL  GUY  JOHNSON  TO  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

Ontario,  July  8,  1775. 

Sir  :  Though  I  received  your  letter  from  the  Provincial 
Congress  several  days  ago,  1  had  not  a  good  opportunity  to 
answer  it  till  now.  I  suppose,  however,  this  will  reach 
you  safe,  notwithstanding  all  the  rest  of  my  correspondence 
is  interrupted  by  ignorant  impertinents. 

As  to  the  endeavour  you  speak  of,  to  reconcile  the  un- 
happy differences  between  the  Parent  State  and  these  Co- 
lonies, be  assured  J  ardently  wish  to  see  them.  As  yet,  I 
am  sorry  to  say,  I  have  not  been  able  to  discover  any 
attempt  of  that  kind,  but  that  of  the  Assembly's,  the  only 
true  legal  representatives  of  the  people ;  and  as  to  the  in- 
dividuals who  you  say  officiously  interrupt,  in  my  quarter,  the 
mode  and  measures  you  think  necessary  for  these  salutary 
purposes,  lam  really  a  stranger  to  them.  If  you  mean  my- 
self, you  must  have  been  grossly  imposed  on.  I  once,  in- 
deed, went  with  reluctance,  at  the  request  of  several  of  the 
principal  inhabitants,  to  one  of  the  people's  meetings,  which 
I  found  had  been  called  by  an  itinerant  New-England 
leather-dresser,  and  conducted  by  others,  if  possible,  more 
contemptible.  I  had,  therefore,  little  inclination  to  revisit 
such  men,  or  attend  to  their  absurdities.  And  although  I 
did  not  incline  to  think  that  your  gentlemen  had  formed 
any  designs  against  me,  yet  it  is  most  certain  that  such 
designs  were  formed.  Of  this,  I  received  a  clear  account 
by  express  from  a  friend  near  Albany,  which  was  soon  cor- 


roborated by  letters  from  other  quarters,  particularly  one 
from  a  gentleman  of  the  Committee  at  Philadelphia,  a 
Captain  in  your  service,  who  was  pretty  circumstantial ; 
and  since,  I  have  had  the  like  from  many  others.  I  have 
likewise  found  that  mean  instruments  were  officially  em- 
ployed to  disturb  the  minds  of  the  Indians ;  to  interrupt 
the  ordinary  discharge  of  my  duties  ;  and  prevent  their  re- 
ceiving messages  they  had  long  since  expected  from  me. 

To  enter  into  a  minute  detail  of  all  the  falsehoods  pro- 
pagated, and  all  the  obstructions  I  met  with,  though  it 
could  not  fail  astonishing  any  gentleman  disposed  to  dis- 
countenance them,  would  far  exceed  the  limits  of  a  letter, 
or  the  time  I  have  to  spare,  as  1  am  now  finishing  my 
Congress  entirely  to  my  satisfaction,  with  1,348  warriours, 
who  came  hither  to  the  only  place  where  they  can  transact 
business  or  receive  favours  without  interruption,  and  who 
are  much  dissatisfied  at  finding  that  the  goods,  which  I  was 
necessitated  to  send  for  to  Montreal,  were  obliged  to  be  or- 
dered back  by  the  merchant,  to  prevent  his  being  insulted 
or  his  property  invaded  by  the  mistaken  populace ;  that 
their  ammunition  was  stopped  at  Albany;  the  persons 
on  this  communication  employed  in  purchasing  provisions 
for  the  Congress  insulted ;  and  all  my  letters,  as  well  as 
even  some  trifling  articles  for  the  use  of  my  own  table, 
stopped.  And  this  moment  the  Mayor  of  Albany  assured 
me,  that  he  was  the  other  day  aroused  out  of  his  bed  at  a 
certain  Mr.  Thompson's,  above  the  German  Flats,  by  one 
Hirkema  and  fifteen  others,  who  pursued  him  to  search 
for  any  things  he  might  have  for  me. 

You  may  be  assured,  Sir,  that  this  is  far  from  being  agree- 
able to  the  Indians ;  that  it  might  have  produced  very 
disagreeable  consequences  long  since,  had  not  compassion 
for  a  deluded  people  taken  place  of  every  other  considera- 
tion ;  and  that  the  impotant  endeavours  of  a  Missionary 
(who  has  forfeited  his  honour  pledged  to  me)  with  part  of 
one  of  the  tribes,  is  a  circumstance  that,  however  trifling, 
increased  their  resentment.  I  should  be  much  obliged  by 
your  promises  of  discountenancing  any  attempts  against 
myself,  &c,  did  they  not  appear  to  be  made  on  conditions 
of  compliance  with  Continental  or  Provincial  Congresses, 
or  even  Committees  formed,  or  to  be  formed,  many  of 
whose  resolves  may  neither  consist  with  my  conscience, 
duty,  or  loyalty. 

1  trust  I  shall  always  manifest  more  humanity  than  to 
promote  the  destruction  of  the  innocent  inhabitants  of  a 
Colony  to  which  I  have  been  always  warmly  attached,  a 
declaration  that  must  appear  perfectly  suitable  to  the  cha- 
racter of  a  man  of  honour  and  principle,  who  can  on  no 
account  neglect  those  duties  that  are  consistent  therewith, 
however  they  may  differ  from  sentiments  now  adopted  in 
so  many  parts  of  America. 

I  sincerely  wish  a  speedy  termination  to  the  present 
troubles  ;  and  1  am,  Sir,  your  most  obedient  and  humble 
servant,  G.  Johnson. 

P.  S.  I  shall  have  occasion  to  meet  the  Indians  of  my 
Department  in  different  quarters  this  season. 

The  Examination  of  Garret  Roseboom,  of  the  City  of 
Albany,  before  the  Sub-Committee  of  the  said  City 
and  County  of  Albany,  the  15th  day  of  July,  1775. 

Says  that  he  left  Montreal  on  or  about  the  26th  June 
last.  That  in  Canada  the  utmost  means  were  used  to  in- 
duce the  Indians  to  side  with  the  Regulars,  especially  by 
Mr.  St.  Luke  Le  Come ;  but  that  amongst  the  Indians 
where  this  examinant  has  been,  particularly  Canusadaga, 
Esqusasua,  Oswegatie,  and  Caughnawagas,  they  decline 
taking  up  the  hatchet  against  the  Bostonians,  (a  term  by 
which  the  general  opposition  is  distinguished.) 

That  the  Caughnawagas  particularly,  are  active  in  pre- 
venting the  incursions  of  the  other  Indian  nations,  for 
which  purpose  they  have  stationed  about  a  dozen  of  their 
tribe  at  St.  John's  with  horses,  with  directions  that  if  their 
endeavours  should  prove  ineffectual,  to  give  immediate 
notice  to  the  tribe,  who  in  that  case  are  resolved  to  prevent 
them  by  force. 

That  while  this  examinant  was  at  Montreal,  he  saw 
about  twenty-two  Indians  of  the  Messesagoes  tribe,  who 
were  in  their  war-dress  and  accoutrements,  set  off  to  St. 
John's  on  a  scalping  party  towards  the  forts  on  the  Lakes 


1671 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JULY,  1775. 


1672 


in  our  possession ;  but  that  this  examinant  believes  they 
will  be  stopped  by  the  means  above  mentioned. 

That  this  examinant  on  his  arrival  at  Osivego,  about 
eight  days  ago,  found  Colonel  Guy  Johnson  there,  who 
had  with  him  about  three  hundred  Indians,  and  about  Gve 
hundred  squaws  and  children. 

That  this  examinant  was  present  at  a  Congress  he  held 
with  the  Indians,  but  does  not  know  the  subject  of  their 
deliberations  ;  but  that  he  afterwards  understood  from  those 
Indians,  that  the  communication  on  the  Mohawk  River 
was  to  remain  open.  That  on  the  day  when  this  exami- 
nant left  Oswego,  the  Indians  were  to  receive  his  presents, 
except  the  rum,  which  was  to  be  delivered  them  the  next 
day  at  the  Oswego  Falls,  to  each  nation  or  tribe  one  bar- 
rel. That  from  there  Guy  Johnson  was  to  proceed  to 
Oswegatie.  Some  of  them  were  to  go  with  him  from 
each  tribe,  and  the  rest  to  return  home.  That  this  exami- 
nant heard  before  he  came  to  Oswego,  that  there  was  to 
be  a  General  Congress  at  Oswegatie,  with  the  Canadian 
Indians. 

That  the  Indians  at  Oswego  assured  this  examinant, 
that  they  did  not  intend  to  fight  against  us ;  but  that,  con- 
sidering the  fickleness  of  their  disposition,  and  probably 
the  over  persuasion  of  our  enemies,  no  great  dependance 
can  be  made  on  their  assurances. 

That  endeavours  were  used  in  Canada,  to  enlist  men  in 
the  service  of  the  Crown  ;  but  that  the  Canadians  were 
extremely  averse  to  enter  into  the  service.  That  a  report 
prevailed  there  that  Governour  Carleton  had  threatened 
to  fire  the  City,  in  case  the  merchants  and  others  did  not 
join. 

That  he  has  seen  a  few  stragglers,  and  of  the  lowest 
class  of  the  people,  who  were  enlisted.  That  Monsieur 
St.  Luke  has  proposed  as  an  expedient  to  the  Governour 
to  hang  half  a  dozen,  which  would  intimidate  the  survivors 
into  a  compliance.  That  he  had  been  informed  there,  that 
they  were  busy  in  building  batteaus  at  St.  John's,  for  the 
purpose  of  transporting  troops  across  the  Lake,  to  attack 
the  possessions  at  Crown  Point  and  Ticonderoga. 

A  true  copy  from  the  minutes : 

John  Bay,  Secretary. 


GENERAL  SCHUYLER  TO  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

Saratoga,  July  16,  1775. 

I  did  myself  the  honour  to  write  you  from  Albany  on 
the  12th,  urging  the  sending  the  troops  to  join  me  with  all 
despatch.  Every  intelligence  I  receive,  evinces  the  ne- 
cessity of  strengthening  the  garrisons  of  Ticonderoga  and 
Crown  Point.  The  fatal  consequences  that  would  follow, 
should  we  be  obliged  to  abandon  those  places,  are  too 
glaringly  evident  to  need  illustration.  Let  me,  therefore, 
again  entreat  you  to  issue  orders  to  every  corps  of  your 
troops,  in  whatever  part  of  the  Colony  they  may  be,  to 
march  without  delay ;  and  be  pleased,  Sir,  to  forward  the 
tents  for  those  already  at  the  forts.  I  again  beg  leave  to 
remind  you,  that  the  powder  from  Philadelphia  is  not  yet 
come  to  hand. 

I  am,  Sir,  most  respectfully,  your  obedient  and  humble 
servant,  Philip  Schuyler. 

Please  to  forward  the  enclosed. 

To  Peter  V.  B.  Livingston,  Esq.,  President  of  the  New- 
York  Congress. 

EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  BKAINTREE,  MASSACHUSETTS- 
BAY,  DATED  JULY  16,  1775. 

I  am  much  surprised  that  you  have  not  been  more  ac- 
curately informed  of  what  passes  in  the  camps.  As  to  in- 
telligence from  Boston,  it  is  but  seldom  that  we  are  able  to 
collect  any  that  may  be  relied  on,  and  to  repeat  the  vague 
flying  rumours  would  be  endless.  I  heard  yesterday,  by 
one  Mr.  Rolston,  a  goldsmith,  who  got  out  from  Boston  in 
a  fishing  schooner,  that  their  distress  increases  upon  them 
fast;  their  beef  is  spent,  their  malt  and  cider  all  gone;  all 
the  fresh  provisions  they  can  procure  they  are  obliged  to 
give  to  the  sick  and  wounded;  that  thirteen  of  our  men, 
who  were  in  jail  and  wounded  at  Charlestown,  are  dead ; 
that  no  man  dared  to  be  seen  talking  to  his  friend  in  the 
street;  that  they  are  obliged  to  be  within  every  evening  at 
ten  o'clock,  according  to  martial  law,  nor  can  any  inhabi- 


tant walk  the  street  after  that  time  without  a  pass  from 
General  Gage;  that  General  Gage  has  ordered  all  the 
molasses  to  be  distilled  into  rum  for  the  soldiers;  that  he 
has  taken  away  all  licenses  for  selling  of  liquors,  and  given 
them  to  his  creatures;  that  he  has  issued  an  order  that  no 
one  else  shall  sell  under  a  penalty  often  Pounds;  that  the 
spirit  which  prevails  among  the  soldiers  is  that  of  malice 
and  revenge;  that  there  is  no  true  courage  to  be  observed 
among  them ;  that  their  duty  is  hard,  always  holding  them- 
selves in  readiness  for  an  attack,  which  they  are  continually 
in  fear  of;  that  Doctor  Elliot  was  not  on  board  of  a  man-of- 
war,  as  was  reported  ;  that  Mr.  Lovell  and  Mr.  Leach,  with 
many  others,  are  certainly  in  jail;  that  last  week  a  poor 
milch  cow  was  killed  in  Town  and  sold  for  a  shilling  ster- 
ling a  pound  ;  that  the  transports  from  Ireland  and  New- 
Yo>  ■k  arrived  last  week,  but  every  additional  man  adds  to 
their  distress. 


MEETING  OF  GUILD  OF  MERCHANTS,  DUBLIN. 

At  Guildhall,  Dublin,  Ireland,  the  17th  of  July,  1775, 
being  Quarter-Day  of  the  Guild  of  Merchants  of  the  said 
City,  the  following  Resolutions  were  agreed  to,  viz: 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  the  sincere  thanks  of  this 
Guild  be  presented  to  the  Right  Honourable  the  Earl  of 
Effingham,  in  testimony  of  our  approbation  of  his  publick 
conduct,  particularly  exemplified  in  his  refusing  to  draw 
that  sword  which  has  been  employed  to  the  honour  of  his 
Country,  against  the  lives  and  liberties  of  his  fellow-sub- 
jects in  America,  and  honestly  and  spiritedly  resigning  a 
commission  which  he  could  no  longer  hold  consistent  with 
the  principles  of  a  true  Englishman,  or  of  a  real  friend  to 
the  interest  of  Britain. 

Resolved,  That  the  sincere  thanks  of  the  Guild  be  pre- 
sented to  the  Right  Honourable  John  ffilkes,  Lord  Mayor 
of  the  City  of  London,  for  the  essential  services  he  has 
rendered  his  King  and  Country,  by  his  strenuous  efforts  in 
the  cause  of  freedom,  and  for  his  able,  spirited,  and  judi- 
cious defence  of  the  right  of  the  People  to  petition  the 
Throne. 

There  was  to  the  last  Resolution  a  single  negative,  given 
by  a  Scotchman  who  has  an  employment  in  our  Stamp 
Office. 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  an  address  of  thanks  from 
the  Guild  be  presented  to  the  several  Peers  who  (in  sup- 
port of  our  Constitution,  and  in  opposition  to  a  weak  and 
wicked  Administration)  protested  against  the  American 
Restraining  Bills. 

And  the  following  gentlemen  were  appointed,  with  the 
Master  and  Wardens,  a  Committee  to  prepare  the  same, 
viz :  J.  Napper  Tandy,  Henry  Howison,  Sir  E.  Newcn- 
ham,  John  Peree,  Samuel  Gamble,  Samuel  Stephens,  Hugh 
Crothers. 

Who  prepared  the  following: 

We,  the  Masters,  Wardens,  and  Brethren  of  the  Guild 
of  Merchants  of  the  City  of  Dublin,  in  Common-Hall 
assembled,  with  the  most  unfeigned  respect,  beg  leave  to 
offer  your  Lordships  the  just  tribute  of  our  thanks  for  your 
noble  and  spirited,  though  hitherto  ineffectual  exertions  in 
the  cause  of  liberty  and  of  your  Country,  fully  evinced  in 
your  opposition  to  the  oppressive  and  unconstitutional  pro- 
ceedings of  a  corrupt  Administration. 

With  equal  grief  and  indignation  we  have  for  years  be- 
held repeated  innovations  on  the  free  Constitution  of  these 
Realms,  and  daily  invasions  of  the  dearest  rights  and  im- 
munities of  the  subject.  We  have  seen  with  astonishment 
Popery  established  by  law  in  one,  and  encouraged  in  every 
part  of  the  Empire,  in  the  reign  of  a  Protestant  Prince, 
and  despotism  and  arbitrary  power  promoted  by  every  insi- 
dious machination  and  open  violence  by  the  servants  of  the 
Crown,  in  the  reign  of  a  Monarch  who,  from  the  Throne, 
declared,  he  gloried  in  being  a  Briton  born,  and  whose 
family  was  called  to  the  Throne  of  these  Kingdoms  to  pro- 
tect the  Protestant  Religion,  and  preserve  that  Constitution 
inviolate  for  which  our  ancestors  so  freely  bled,  and  for  the 
invading  of  which  a  tyant  was  expelled  the  Throne. 

But  while  we  contemplate  with  horrour  the  universal 
ruin  and  devastation  in  which  the  Empire  is  nearly  in- 
volved by  the  wicked  devices  of  evil  men,  we  with  plea- 
sure survey  the  steady,  incorruptible,  and  patriotick  virtues 


1673 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JULY,  1775. 


1674 


which  adorn  you  and  shield  us ;  while  we  boast  of  such  a 
noble  band  of  patriots,  while  we  see  united  in  the  cause  of 
freedom  such  a  number  of  the  true  hereditary  guardians 
of  liberty,  and  of  the  principles  of  the  glorious  Revolution, 
we  cannot,  we  will  not  despair  of  seeing  once  more  the 
valuable  Constitution  of  these  Countries  restored  to  its 
primitive  purity. 

Permit  us,  therefore,  to  offer  your  Lordship  our  warm- 
est, our  most  grateful  acknowledgments,  as  Protestants,  for 
your  steady  opposition  to  the  establishment  of  Popery  and 
slavery  in  Canada;  as  freemen,  for  your  manly  and  spirited 
opposition  to  the  several  Restraining  Bills,  and  your  noble 
efforts  in  the  support  of  American  liberty,  and  in  the  cause 
of  our  suffering  and  much  oppressed  brethren  and  fellow- 
subjects  there ;  and  we  have  the  fullest  reliance  on  your 
steady  perseverance  in  the  same  principles  which  have  so 
strongly  endeared  you,  not  only  to  us,  but  to  every  real 
friend  of  the  British  Empire  and  its  constituents. 

In  testimony  whereof,  we  have  caused  the  seal  of  our 
Corporation  to  be  hereunto  affixed,  this  17th  day  of  July, 
in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and 
6eventy-five.  [l.  s.] 

Midsummer  Assembly,  July  21,  1775. 

Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  the  Sheriffs  and  Commons 
be  presented  to  Lord  Effingham,  for  having  chosen  glo- 
riously to  resign  his  commission  rather  than  imbrue  his 
hands  in  the  blood  of  his  innocent  and  oppressed  fellow- 
subjects. 

Which  being  enclosed  to  his  Lordship  by  the  proper 
officer,  the  following  answer  was  received : 

"  Sir  :  I  have  been  favoured  with  your  letter  of  the  21st 
of  July  last,  enclosing  a  copy  of  a  resolution  of  the  Sheriffs 
and  Commons  of  the  City  of  Dublin. 

"  Next  to  the  testimony  of  a  man's  own  conscience,  is, 
in  my  opinion,  his  greatest  happiness  to  have  the  approba- 
tion of  the  wise  and  honest  among  his  fellow-subjects. 

"The  former  of  these  can,  1  think,  be  no  other  way 
enjoyed,  than  by  a  strict  adherence  to  those  principles 
which,  at  the  Revolution,  achieved  our  civil  and  religious 
liberties ;  and  it  is  easy,  Sir,  for  you  to  conceive,  but  be- 
yond my  abilities  to  express,  what  I  felt  at  my  conduct's 
being  judged  by  so  independent  and  respectable  an  assem- 
bly as  the  Sheriffs  and  Commons  of  the  City  of  Dublin 
deserving  of  the  latter. 

"  I  am,  with  truth  and  respect,  Sir,  your  most  obedient 
humble  servant,  Effingham. 

"The  Holmes,  August  14,  1775. 

"  To  Alfred  Howard,  Esquire,  Dublin." 

CHARLES  COUNTY  (MARYLAND)  COMMITTEE. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Charles  County,  on 
Monday,  the  17th  of  July,  1775,  in  Port-Tobacco,  Cap- 
tain George  Dent,  Chairman,  and  J.  Gwinn,  Clerk: 

Resolved,  That  this  Committee  will  admit  no  Certificates 
respecting  any  Goods  which  may  hereafter  be  imported  into 
any  part  of  this  County,  unless  the  same  are  attested  under 
the  hands,  at  least,  of  five  of  the  Committee  of  the  neigh- 
bourhood or  place  from  whence  they  are  immediately  ex- 
ported, and  that  this  Resolve  be  immediately  published  in 
the  Maryland  Gazette. 

Signed  by  order:  J.  Gwinn,  Cleric. 

JOHN  HANCOCK,  PRESIDENT,  TO  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

Philadelphia,  July  17,  1775. 

Sir:  Major-General  Schuyler  having  represented  to  the 
Congress  the  necessity  of  appointing  a  Deputy  Adjutant- 
General,  or  a  Brigade-Major,  for  the  troops  under  his  com- 
mand, 1  am  ordered  to  send  you  the  following  Resolve 
passed  this  day.  I  am,  Sir,  your  obedient  humble  servant, 
John  Hancock,  President. 

P.  S.  I  enclose  you  an  authenticated  commission  to  be  fill- 
ed up  with  the  name  of  the  gentleman  appointed  by  your 
Congress.  You  will  please  to  make  a  return  to  me  of 
the  person  so  appointed.  The  enclosed  letter  to  General 
Schuyler  I  beg  you  will  immediately  forward  to  him  by 
express. 


"  In  Congress,  July  17,  1775. 
"Resolved,  That  the  Convention  of  New- York  be  de- 
sired to  recommend  a  proper  person  for  a  Deputy  Adju- 
tant-General, or  a  Brigade-Major,  for  the  Army  in  the 
New-York  Department. 

"A  true  copy  from  the  Minutes  : 

"  Charles  Thomson,  Secretary." 

Please  to  forward  by  the  express  to  General  Schuyler  a 
number  of  the  Articles  of  War.  I  forwarded  them  to  Ncw- 
York,  directed  to  General  Schuyler,  but  apprehend  they 
did  not  meet  him  there,  as  he  has  wrote  me  for  them  from 
Albany.  The  commission  referred  to  is  sent  by  Mr. 
Lewis. 

Hon.  P.  V.  D.  Livingston,  Esq. 


NEW-YORK  DELEGATES  TO  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS. 

Philadelphia,  July  17,  1775. 

Sir:  As  the  appointment  of  a  Brigade-Major  to  the 
Army  under  Major-General  Schuyler's  command  is,  by 
the  Continental  Congress,  recommended  to  your  choice, 
we  beg  leave  to  introduce  Mr.  Morgan  Lewis  to  your 
favour  for  that  appointment,  being  informed  it  would  be 
agreeable  to  General  Schuyler,  who  has  promised  him  that 
office,  with  the  approbation  of  your  Convention. 

We  have  the  honour  to  be,  Sir,  your  very  humble  ser- 
vants, Ph.  Livingston,    Henry  Wisner, 
John  Alsop,         Lewis  Morris, 
William  Floyd,    John  Jay. 
To  Peter  V.  B.  Livingston,  Esq.,  President  of  the  Pro- 
vincial Convention  at  New-  York. 

ELIZABETH  TOWN  (NEW-JERSEY)  COMMITTEE  TO  NEW-YORK 
COMMITTEE. 

Elizabethtovvn,  Monday,  July  17,  1775. 
Gentlemen  :  We  have  this  moment  received  from  the 
Committee  of  Philadelphia  four  hogsheads,  said  to  contain 
fifty-two  quarter-casks  of  powder,  which  they  direct  to  be 
conveyed  to  Dobbs's  Ferry,  there  to  be  delivered  to  the 
order  of  your  Committee.  We  are  sorry  to  say,  that  this 
powder  has  been  coming  from  Philadelphia  since  the  first 
instant ;  this  accidental  delay  makes  the  utmost  despatch 
necessary,  which  we  doubt  not  you  will  promote  as  far  as 
is  in  your  power.  We  are,  Gentlemen,  your  most  humble 
servants,  Jona.  Hampton,  Chairman. 

To  the  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of  the  City  of  New* 
York. 

P.  S.  The  powder  will  be  at  Dobbs's  Ferry  by  nine 
o'clock  to-morrow  morning. 


elizabethtown  (new-jersey)  committee. 

Committee  Chamber,  Elizabethtown,  July  17,  1775. 

Resolved,  That  this  Committee,  for  every  hundred  weight 
of  Saltpetre  made  within  this  Town  for  the  first  three 
months  after  this  day,  will  pay  the  sum  of  twenty  Pounds, 
proclamation  money  of  New- Jersey,  on  the  delivery  there- 
of to  this  Committee,  and  fifteen  Pounds,  of  same  currency, 
for  the  like  quantity  of  Saltpetre,  made  and  delivered  as 
aforesaid,  within  the  next  three  months  thereafter. 

The  Chairman  of  this  Committee  having  received  a 
letter  from  Mr.  Richard  Lawrence,  a  Delegate  of  Rich- 
mond County  for  the  Provincial  Congress  of  the  Colony 
of  New-  York,  informing  that  the  inhabitants  of  said  County 
had,  in  general,  signed  the  Association  recommended  by 
the  Committee  of  New-  York,  this  Committee  are  there- 
fore of  opinion  that  the  inhabitants  of  said  County  be  re- 
stored to  their  commercial  privileges  with  the  inhabitants 
of  this  Town.    By  order  of  the  Committee : 

Jonathan  Hampton,  Chairman. 

CIRCULAR  TO  COLONELS  OF  NEW-YORK  REGIMENTS. 

Committee  of  Safety  for  the  Colony  of  New- York,  i 
during  the  recess  of  the  Provincial  Congress,  > 
New.York,  July  17,  1775.  > 

Sir:  You  are  requested  to  prepare  and  lay  before  the 
Congress  of  this  Colony,  at  New-York,  a  state  of  your 
Regiment,  and  of  the  number  of  men  ready  and  fit  for 


1675 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &ic,  JULY,  1775. 


1676 


service  in  each  company,  with  all  possible  despatch.  You 
will  also  be  pleased  to  inform  the  Congress  when  you  ex- 
pect your  Regiment  will  be  complete,  and  ready  to  take  the 
field.  We  pray  you  to  give  all  possible  despatch  in  this 
business ;  the  present  circumstances  admit  of  no  delay. 
The  sooner  your  answer  and  return  can  be  received,  the 
more  acceptable  it  will  be. 

We  are,  Sir,  your  very  humble  servants.  By  order  of 
the  Committee. 


JOHN  LAMB  TO  NEW-YORK  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY. 

New-York,  July  17,  1775. 
Gentlemen  :  As  several  inconveniences  will  arise  from 
the  present  arrangement  respecting  the  artillery  company 
which  1  am  appointed  to  command,  I  must  beg  leave  to 
point  out  the  most  material  of  them  for  your  consideration, 
in  order  that  they  may  be  removed,  if  possible,  as  they  will 
inevitably  impede  the  publick  service.  Artillery  compa- 
nies, in  every  country,  are  always  looked  upon  in  a  supe- 
riour  light  to  other  foot  companies ;  for  which  reason  men 
of  reputation,  and  such  as  are  qualified  for  that  department, 
do  not  incline  to  enlist  in  the  battalions,  from  an  apprehen- 
sion (which  I  have  not  been  able  to  remove  by  all  the  argu- 
ments in  my  power)  that  they  will  not  be  draughted  into 
the  artillery,  and  consequently  will  be  obliged  to  serve  under 
the  command  of  the  captain  with  whom  they  have  enlisted ; 
besides  they  think  it  a  disgrace  to  appear  in  the  ranks  with 
such  men  as  too  often  compose  the  companies  of  foot.  If 
the  artillery  company  is  to  be  draughted  from  the  battalions 
in  the  manner  proposed,  I  must  be  constrained  to  choose 
them  solely  for  their  appearance  and  bodily  strength,  with- 
out having  the  least  opportunity  of  knowing  either  their 
characters  or  principles,  or  whether  they  are  qualified  for 
the  department  in  which  they  are  to  serve ;  although  it  is 
essentially  necessary  that  I  should  have  some  knowledge  of 
those  circumstances  previous  to  their  joining  the  company. 
Another  great  inconveniency  1  conceive  will  arise,  in  regard 
to  their  clothing,  if  they  are  not  to  be  draughted  before  the 
battalions  are  complete,  as  I  must  consequently  have  a 
number  of  men  in  different  uniforms,  it  being  more  than 
probable  that  they  will  be  draughted  out  of  different  bat- 
talions. 

As  there  is  no  artillery  companies  iu  the  service  of  Con- 
necticut, it  is  the  more  necessary  that  ours  should  be  imme- 
diately formed,  in  order  that  the  men  may  be  instructed  in 
the  several  parts  of  their  duty,  and  the  necessary  stores  be 
prepared,  that  we  may  be  ready  to  act,  when  and  where 
the  publick  service  may  require. 

For  these  reasons,  and  to  obviate  the  inconveniences 
which  I  have  pointed  out,  (especially  as  none  of  the  bat- 
talions are  near  being  completed,)  I  have  thought  proper  to 
submit  it  to  your  better  judgment,  whether  such  an  altera- 
tion in  the  arrangement  should  not  be  immediately  made 
as  will  give  me  an  opportunity  of  enlisting  my  own  men, 
and  forming  the  company  as  soon  as  possible.  And  as  there 
is  a  distinction  always  held  up  between  the  artillery  and 
companies  of  foot,  I  must  beg  leave  to  request  that  the 
clothing  for  the  men  may  be  better  than  that  of  the  other 
companies,  and  that  it  may  be  blue  with  buff  facings. 

I  am,  with  the  greatest  respect,  gentlemen,  your  most 
humble  servant,  John  Lamb. 

To  the  Honourable  Committee  of  Safety  for  the  Province 
of  New-  York. 

ALBANY  COMMITTEE  TO  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

Albany  Committee  Chamber,  July  17,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  Enclosed  you  have  four  letters,  three  from 
Captain  Edmunston  to  different  persons  in  Europe,  which 
we  had  appointed  a  Committee  to  peruse,  who  report  that 
they  judge  it  proper  they  should  be  sent  open  to  the  Pro- 
vincial Congress  for  their  inspection.  The  other  is  a  letter 
from  Colonel  Guy  Johnson,  which  we  received  with  a 
verbal  license  to  open  it,  which  we  have  presumed  to  do, 
and  have  even  taken  upon  us  to  give  General  Schuyler  a 
copy  thereof,  which  we  hope  you  will  put  the  best  con- 
struction upon. 

We  are,  Gentlemen,  your  very  humble  servants.  By 
order  of  the  Committee,  Abraham  Yates,  Jr. 

To  the  Gentlemen  of  the  Provincial  Congress. 


GOVERNOUR  TRUMBULL  TO  GENERAL  WASHINGTON. 

Lebanon,  July  17,  1775. 

Sir:  On  the  first  instant  1  met  the  honourable  Assembly 
of  this  Colony,  to  deliberate  on  the  request  and  pressing 
reasons  sent  us  from  the  Massachusetts,  for  an  immediate 
augmentation  of  the  troops  from  this  Colony.  Our  Assem- 
bly agreed  to  augment  with  two  Regiments,  of  seven  hun- 
dred men  each,  who  are  now  raising  to  join  the  Continental 
Army.  It  was  wished  that  we  could  have  had  the  advice 
and  direction  of  the  Congress,  or  your  Excellency,  before 
we  took  this  step,  but  thought  the  present  critical  situation 
of  our  affairs  would  not  admit  the  delay  of  obtaining  it. 
Since  your  arrival  at  the  camp  before  Boston,  view  and  con- 
sideration of  their  situation  and  circumstances,  shall  gladly 
be  advised,  and  shall  attend  your  request  for  hastening  and 
marching  the  men. 

There  are  thirteen  hundred  and  ninety-one  barrels  of 
flour  come  to  the  care  of  Colonel  Frederick  Huntington, 
at  Norwich,  for  the  use  of  the  Army,  which  I  have  ordered 
forward.  The  busy  season  with  the  farmers  renders  its 
transportation  difficult.  Please  to  advise  of  the  need  of 
the  hurry,  and  where  it  shall  be  ordered  to  be  delivered. 

Our  Assembly  supplied  Major-Gen.  Schuyler  with  fifteen 
thousand  Pounds  in  cash,  and  forty  half  barrels  of  another 
necessary  article.  Accounts  from  the  northward  are  favour- 
able. The  Brig  Nancy  Thomas,  Davis  master,  which 
arrived  at  Stonington  with  molasses,  is  removed  to  Nor- 
wich; she  hath  on  board  eighteen  or  nineteen  thousand 
gallons.  The  Committee  of  Inspection  and  Correspon- 
dence I  trust  will  take  proper  care  respecting  both  vessel 
and  cargo. 

The  road  by  my  door  being  the  nearest  for  post-riding 
from  Cambridge  to  Philadelphia,  shall  be  obliged,  when- 
ever your  Excellency  has  occasion  to  send  to  that  City,  if 
the  rider  may  be  directed  this  way,  and  to  call  on  me  for 
the  convenience  of  my  despatches  I  may  have  occasion  to 
forward  by  him.  Fessenden  has  passed  this  way  more  than 
once. 

I  am,  with  great  esteem  and  regard,  Sir,  your  most  obe- 
dient humble  servant,  Jonathan  Trumbull. 
To  His  Excellency  General  Washington. 


GOVERNOUR  TRUMBULL  TO  GENERAL  SCHUYLER. 

Lebanon,  July  17,  1775. 

Sir:  I  have  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  favour 
of  the  tenth  instant,  which  came  per  Bennet.  Per  same 
hand  I  received  a  letter  from  Colonel  Hinman,  at  Ticonde- 
roga,  in  which  he  says,  "  There  are  many  things  which  the 
Act  of  Assembly  provides  for  the  soldiers,  which  they  never 
have  as  yet  received,  which  occasions  murmurings  and  dis- 
content among  them,  and  much  weakens  my  authority." 
Copy  of  the  Act  of  our  Assembly  has  been  forwarded  some 
time  ago  to  the  Provincial  Convention  of  New- York;  our 
Commissary,  Mr.  Elisha  Phelps,  has  also  a  copy.  If  New- 
York  does  not  supply  our  Troops,  as  they  have  a  right  to 
expect,  this  Colony  must  fulfil  their  engagements  them- 
selves ;  pray  your  interposition  in  this  matter. 

I  have  received  from  Colonel  Hinman  and  others,  very 
favourable  accounts  of  the  disposition  of  the  Canadians 
towards  the  general  cause,  and  their  desire  that  our  Army 
might  penetrate  into  their  Province.  Suppose  you  are 
fully  acquainted  with  this  intelligence,  shall  therefore  only 
trouble  you  with  some  information  1  have  received  from 
Captain  John  Bigelotv,  a  gentleman  of  Hartford,  who  was 
lately  sent  by  our  Assembly  into  Canada,  as  an  escort  to 
some  ladies  taken  at  Skenesborough,  whom  we  thought 
proper  to  return  to  their  friends  in  that  Province.  He  is 
returned,  and  informs  there  are  about  three  hundred  and 
fifty  of  the  King's  Troops  at  St.  John's,  one  hundred  at 
Montreal,  and  forty  at  Chambly.  Those  at  St.  John's 
keep  a  good  look  out ;  have  picketed  in  an  acre  or  two 
of  ground,  in  which  they  have  some  field-pieces  not  yet 
mounted.  He  understands  there  were  a  number  of  batteaus, 
and  two  floating  batteries,  building  just  below  St.  John's. 
The  officers  boasted  to  him  the  number  of  Canadians  and 
Indians  they  were  able  to  raise,  but  he  says  it  is  certain 
they  are  not  sure  of  one  man.  Wheat  is  six  and  six  pence, 
sterling  money,  per  bushel,  and  is  almost  all  purchased  for 
the  King's  Troops  at  Boston  and  Canada.    Was  informed 


1677 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  Sic,  JULY,  1775. 


1678 


that  the  Canadians,  almost  to  a  man,  were  praying  for  our 
people  to  come  into  their  country,  or  they  must  be  obliged, 
for  their  own  safety,  to  join  the  King's  Troops,  &.c.  He 
did  not  see  more  than  six  or  seven  Indians  at  St.  John's. 
Nothing  of  importance  has  lately  occurred  at  our  camps 
near  Boston.    I  am,  8tc,  J.  Trumbull. 

To  Major-General  Schuyler. 

Newport,  Rhode-Island,  July  20,  1775. 
On  Monday  night,  the  seventeenth  of  July,  two  men  be- 
longing to  the  Swan,  Captain  Ayscough,  being  on  shore, 
saw  fit  to  attempt  an  escape  from  their  old  and  detested 
habitation  ;  their  design,  by  the  bye,  was  communicated  to 
no  individual  of  the  Town.  The  next  day,  viz.  the  eigh- 
teenth, A.  M.,  two  or  three  of  the  ferry-boats  which  pass 
between  Newport  and  Connecticut,  were  fired  upon  and 
brought  to,  an  event  so  singular  that  two  respectable  mem- 
bers of  the  Committee  waited  upon  Captain  Ayscough  to 
know  the  reason.  He  told  them  that  two  of  his  men,  the 
night  before,  were  sent  on  shore  upon  some  errand  and  had 
not  returned ;  added  that  he  was  confident  the  inhabitants 
knew  where  they  were,  and  that  they  were  detained  by 
them  purposely.  The  two  gentlemen  declared  themselves 
ignorant  of  the  matter,  and  believed  the  whole  Town  to 
be ;  however,  to  pacify  Captain  Ayscough,  they  assured 
him  that  they  would  summon  the  Committee  together, 
inquire  into  the  affair,  he,  withal,  desiring  Captain  Ays- 
cough to  write  a  letter  to  the  Committee,  stating  his  griev- 
ance; this  he  did,  and  they  promised  to  wait  on  him  with 
an  answer  in  the  afternoon.  As  the  Captain's  letter  was 
rather  in  the  threatening  style,  the  Committee  could  not 
help  inquiring  what  he  meant  thereby,  and  assured  him  in 
their  reply,  that  they  were  not  to  be  intimidated,  and  did 
not  think  themselves,  by  any  means,  accountable  for  the 
desertion  of  any  of  his  men.  Captain  Ayscough  read  the 
letter  with  considerable  composure,  folded  it  up,  and  then 
gave  it  to  Wallace,  Captain  of  the  Rose,  Ayscough  at  this 
time  being  on  board  Wallace's  ship.  Captain  Wallace  im- 
mediately flew  into  a  most  terrible  passion,  threw  the  letter 
down  in  a  violent  fit  of  rage,  damned  the  Committee,  the 
Congress,  &c,  swore  at  Ayscough  for  writing  to  such  a 
damned  parcel  of  rebels,  and  declared  that  if  he  knew  the 
two  gentlemen,  who  were  then  present,  to  be  of  the  Com- 
mittee, they  never  should  go  ashore  again.  They  endea- 
voured to  pacify  him,  but  in  vain  ;  he  swore  repeatedly, 
that  if  there  was  a  God  in  Heaven,  the  Town  should  be 
destroyed  before  morning ;  that  he  was  a  King's  officer  and 
would  not  be  insulted,  &tc.  Hereupon  the  two  gentlemen 
left  the  ship.  A  signal  gun  was  instantly  discharged,  and 
the  three  pirates  in  the  harbour,  and  their  tender,  immedi- 
ately weighed  anchor  and  came  close  in  with  the  Town ; 
their  tomkins  were  taken  out,  the  marines  on  board  beat  up 
to  arms,  and  all  the  hostile  preparations  imaginable  going 
forward  against  a  defenceless  seaport,  consisting  (exclusive 
of  the  men)  of  not  less  than  six  thousand  women  and  chil- 
dren. About  half  past  nine  in  the  evening,  a  cannon  was 
discharged  from  the  Rose,  when  many  really  thought  the 
firing  on  the  Town  was  begun.  Between  the  hours  often 
and  eleven,  the  same  night,  a  packet  arrived  from  Provi- 
dence with  seven  or  eight  passengers ;  she  was  stopt,  and 
a  place  appointed  for  her  to  near  the  Swan.  The  passen- 
gers were  seized,  made  to  tell  all  their  names,  and  confined 
as  prisoners,  repeatedly  styled  rebels,  with  the  most  horrid 
oaths  annexed  ;  a  guard  with  drawn  swords  kept  over  them 
during  the  night;  the  late  infamous  Proclamation  of  a  truce- 
breaking  Gage,  was  hung  close  by  them,  which  they  were 
fearful  they  would  be  compelled  to  sign,  or  else  abide  the 
consequence  therein  denounced.  It  is  worthy  of  obser- 
vation, that  during  this  period  the  three  Captains  were 
together  on  board  the  Rose,  playing  cards,  drinking,  ca- 
rousing, &ic.  About  one  or  two  o'clock  next  morning,  viz. 
Wednesday,  one  of  the  Swan's  men  returned,  and  in  order, 
it  is  supposed,  to  save  himself  from  a  flogging,  as  it  was 
necessary  for  him  to  give  some  account  of  himself,  he 
invented  the  following  lie,  and  swore  to  it  upon  the  holy 
evangelists,  namely :  "That  the  Rhode-Island  rebels  had 
taken  him  and  his  companion,  and  wanted  that  they  should 
enlist  among  them  to  fight  against  the  King,  but  that  they 
refused  ;  and  because  they  did  that,  the  rebels  gagged  them, 
and  then  carried  them  to  Providence  jail,  but  that  he  broke 


away,  and  travelled  thirty  miles  to  go  on  board  again." 
The  Captains  of  the  pirates  either  believed  this  gross  and 
inconsistent  falsehood,  or  fain  would  make  the  inhabitants 
think  so ;  accordingly  it  was  taken  down  in  writing,  sent  on 
shore,  and  satisfaction  demanded,  or  the  Town  should  cer- 
tainly be  laid  in  ashes  that  very  day.  Another  cannon  was 
now  discharged,  four  ferry-boats  and  two  wood  sloops  seized, 
quantities  of  tar,  and  other  inflammatory  combustible  matter 
put  into  the  same,  in  order  to  set  on  fire,  and  send  into  the 
wharves,  as  a  more  expeditious  way  of  destroying  the 
Town  than  by  cannon  only;  the  cannon,  at  the  same  time, 
were  to  be  fired  on  every  part  of  the  Town  ;  the  Court- 
House,  Doctor  Stiles's  Meeting-House,  and  the  Printing 
Office,  were  first  of  all  to  feel  the  effects  of  this  horrid  plot. 
The  most  terrible  parade  was  kept  up  by  those  low  minis- 
terial tools  till  near  two  o'clock,  P.  M.,  when  two  persons 
of  undoubted  veracity  (farmers,  within  two  or  three  miles 
of  the  Town,)  went  on  board  the  Swan.  One  of  these 
gentlemen  assured  the  Captains  of  the  three  ships,  that  he 
saw  the  stragglers,  for  whose  desertion  such  terrible  confu- 
sion had  ensued,  in  his  corn-field  on  Tuesday  morning,  and 
described  them  ;  the  other  gentleman  declared  that  he  saw 
them  on  Tuesday  afternoon,  where  he  was  making  hay, 
and  likewise  described  them,  for  they  told  these  gentlemen 
how  they  had  made  their  escape  from  the  Swan,  and  were 
determined  not  to  go  back  again.  After  fully  proving  that 
they  knew  the  men,  by  pointing  out  the  one  who  had  re- 
turned, notwithstanding  four  others  were  first  produced,  in 
order  to  deceive  them,  they  (viz.  the  two  gentlemen,)  came 
on  shore,  when  all  at  once  the  boats  and  prisoners  were 
dismissed,  the  ships  weighed  anchor,  and  stood  up  the  river. 

Let  every  honest  American  rise  up  in  opposition  to  such 
inhuman,  and,  must  we  add,  when  speaking  of  Britons  too, 
worse  than  savage  cruelty.  To  prepare,  after  so  hostile  a 
manner,  to  destroy  thousands  of  lives,  and  ruin  vast  estates, 
merely  because  two  drunken  wretches  had  fled  from  a  ship 
under  the  command  of  a  petty  tyrant,  is  what  will  make  a 
considerable  figure  in  some  future  page,  when  our  many 
trials  are  handed  down  to  posterity  by  some  able  historian. 

LANCASTER  (MASSACHUSETTS)  COMMITTEE. 

Lancaster,  Worcester  County,  July  17,  1775. 

Whereas,  Nahum  Houghton  being  complained  of  as  be- 
ing an  enemy  to  his  Country,  by  officiating  as  an  unwearied 
pedlar  of  that  baneful  herb,  Tea,  and  otherwise  rendering 
himself  odious  to  the  inhabitants  of  this  Town ;  and  not- 
withstanding being  warned,  he  did  not  appear  before  the 
Committee  that  his  political  principles  might  be  known: 
This,  therefore,  agreeable  to  a  vote  of  said  Town,  is  to 
caution  all  friends  to  the  community  to  entirely  shun  his 
company,  and  have  no  manner  of  dealings  or  connections 
with  him,  except  acts  of  common  humanity. 

John  Prescott,  Chairman. 

NEW-HAMPSHIRE  ASSEMBLY. 

Friday,  July  14,  1775. 
The  Deputy  Secretary  brought  down  a  written  Message 
from  his  Excellency,  as  follows,  viz : 

Mr.  Speaker  and  Gentlemen  of  the  Assembly  : 

I  find  by  your  votes  of  the  13th  of  last  month,  that  you 
have  taken  upon  you  to  exclude  three  returned  members, 
called  by  the  King's  writ,  from  sitting  and  voting  in  the 
House  of  Assembly,  thereby  depriving  the  electors  of  their 
privilege,  and  a  whole  County  of  any  representation  in  the 
Legislature.  You  must  be  sensible  that  I  cannot,  consistent 
with  my  duty,  pass  by  a  measure  so  essentially  infringing  on 
His  Majesty's  prerogative  and  the  rights  of  the  people  ; 
and  I  do,  therefore,  recommend  to  you  to  rescind  the  vote 
for  excluding  the  said  three  members  from  the  House,  that 
they  may  be  entirely  free  to  take  their  seats  without  inter- 
ruption, according  to  the  constant  usage  heretofore  prac- 
tised. J.  Wentworth. 
Fort  William  and  Mary,  New.Hampshire,  July  14,  1775, 

Voted,  That  Captain  Langdon,  Colonel  Bartlett,  Doc- 
tor Thompson,  and  Meshech  Weare,  Esq.,  be  a  Committee 
to  prepare  an  answer  to  his  Excellency's  Speech  of  this 
day. 

The  House  adjourned  to  three  o'clock,  P.  M. 


1679 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JULY,  1775. 


1680 


Met  according  to  adjournment. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  prepare  an  Answer  to  his 
Excellency's  Message  of  this  day,  reported,  that  they  had 
prepared  one ;  which  was  read,  and  is  as  follows,  viz  : 

May  it  jdcase  your  Excellency  : 

In  answer  to  your  Excellency's  Message  of  this  day, 
wherein  you  desire  that  this  House  would  rescind  their  vote 
of  the  13th  of  last  month,  respecting  their  dismission  of 
the  three  members  for  the  County  of  Grafton,  who  were 
called  by  the  King's  writ  only,  without  an  act  of  Govern- 
ment for  that  purpose ;  we  are  sorry  to  find  that  your 
Excellency  should  intimate  that  our  dismissing  said  mem- 
bers was  depriving  the  electors  of  their  privileges,  as  we 
did  not  apprehend  that  any  one  person  in  the  English 
Empire  could  have  had  such  an  idea ;  and  trust  that  the 
good  people  of  the  County  of  Grafton  will  not  think  that 
we  have  deprived  them  of  any  part  of  their  rights  or  pri- 
vileges, by  our  dismissing  the  said  members  ;  as  it  is  very 
notorious  that  this  and  former  Houses  of  Assembly  have 
long  wished  that  this  Province  might  be  more  generally 
represented  in  a  constitutional  way,  and  have  long  endea- 
voured that  an  act  of  Government  might  be  passed  ena- 
bling the  Govemour  to  issue  writs  to  such  Towns  to  send 
members  as  might  be  provided  for  in  said  act,  (as  is  the 
case  in  the  other  Governments  on  this  Continent,)  but  have 
not  been  able  to  have  such  an  act  established,  for  what 
reasons  your  Excellency  may  know  better  than  we  do.  As 
the  Council  are  appointed  for  this  Province  by  the  Crown, 
we  think  it  not  only  a  cruel,  but  an  arbitrary  stretch  of 
prerogative,  for  your  Excellency  to  issue  writs  to  such 
Towns  as  you  think  proper,  to  send  Representatives  with- 
out the  concurrence  of  the  other  branches  of  the  Legisla- 
ture therein  ;  for  by  that  means  the  Representatives,  as  well 
as  the  Council,  would  in  effect  be  chosen  by  the  Crown. 
We  cannot  think  that  such  an  attempt  was  ever  made  in 
any  other  Government  within  the  English  Dominions. 
Upon  the  whole,  this  House  have  determined  unanimously, 
as  they  look  upon  it  as  their  undoubted  right  and  privilege 
to  regulate  themselves,  not  to  rescind  their  said  vote. 

We  would  also  inform  your  Excellency  that  we  have 
been  expecting  that  you  would  order  the  Treasurer's  ac- 
counts to  be  laid  before  the  House,  agreeable  to  your  pro- 
mise, that  we  might  be  thereby  enabled  to  proceed  in  the 
ordinary  business  of  the  Government ;  but  are  sorry  to 
find  that  your  Excellency  has  ordered  the  Treasurer  not  to 
lay  them  before  the  House,  as  he  informs  us.  We  hope 
that  you  will  direct  that  we  may  be  furnished  therewith  as 
soon  as  possible,  as  you  must  be  sensible  that  it  is  not  only 
very  expensive,  but  very  disagreeable  to  us  to  be  from  our 
respective  places  of  abode  at  this  season  of  the  year. 

Which  report  of  the  Committee  being  considered, 

Voted,  That  it  be  presented  to  his  Excellency  in  answer 
to  his  Message  to  the  House  of  this  day. 

Monday,  July  17,  1775. 
Some  of  the  Members  met,  according  to  adjournment. 
The  Deputy  Secretary,  by  his  Excellency's  direction, 
adjourned  the  General  Assembly  till  to-morrow  ten  o'clock. 

Tuesday,  July  18,  1775. 
Some  of  the  Members  being  met,  the  Deputy  Secretary 
brought  down  the  following  Message  from  his  Excellency, 
viz : 

Mr.  Speaker  and 

Gentlemen  of  the  House  of  Representatives : 

In  reply  to  your  answer  to  my  Message  of  yesterday, 
concerning  your  vote  for  excluding  the  three  members  re- 
turned for  three  Towns  in  the  County  of  Grafton,  by  vir- 
tue of  the  King's  writ,  I  would  observe,  that  in  the  early 
state  of  New-Hampshire,  when  the  Massachusetts- Bay 
exercised  jurisdiction  over  the  inhabitants,  a  commission 
was  issued  by  King  Charles  the  Second,  appointing  a  Pre- 
sident and  Council  to  govern  the  Province,  according  to 
the  methods  and  regulations  specified  in  the  said  commis- 
sion. This  laid  the  foundation  of  the  Constitution  by 
which  the  Province  hath  since  been  governed ;  and  the 
people,  by  their  acceptance  and  acquiescence  in  the  frame 
of  Government  then  given  them,  bound  themselves  to 
maintain  the  same. 


Among  other  things,  the  President  and  Council  were 
authorized  to  issue  writs  for  calling  a  General  Assembly. 
It  hath  ever  since  been  the  invariable  practice,  as  circum- 
stances made  it  reasonable  to  extend  representation  in  the 
Province,  to  call  the  members  by  the  King's  writ ;  it  is  a 
part  of  the  Constitution  first  established  by  the  aforesaid 
commission,  and  ever  since  preserved  unaltered  ;  and  you 
all  came  by  your  seats  in  the  House  in  the  same  constitu- 
tional way ;  and  the  laws  of  the  Province  rest  upon  this 
foundation.  It  is  true  that  some  contention  was  heretofore 
made  by  a  former  House,  on  this  point,  but  after  a  long 
and  fruitless  controversy,  the  House  thought  it  advisable 
at  length  to  proceed  to  business  with  the  new  members  in 
the  established  course. 

Since  my  administration,  three  new  members  have  been 
called  from  three  Towns  in  the  County  of  Cheshire,  and  they 
took  their  seats  without  interruption.  Upon  petitions  to  the 
Governour  and  Council  from  the  inhabitants  of  the  County 
of  Grafton,  it  seemed  equally  reasonable  to  extend  to  them 
the  same  privilege,  expressly  given  by  President  Cutt's 
commission,  and  secured  by  constant  usage  since,  which 
was  done  in  the  usual  form  with  advice  of  Council.  It  does 
not  now  appear,  either  by  a  general  view  of  this  practice, 
or  any  particular  instance,  that  it  hath  not  been  exercised 
for  the  advantage  of  the  people ;  and  as  there  is  no  reason 
at  present  to  apprehend  danger  from  the  influence  of  the 
Crown,  the  argument  you  make  use  of  to  support  or  justify 
your  refusal  of  the  new  members,  has,  in  itself,  in  reality, 
very  little  weight,  more  especially  as  provision  is  established 
by  law  for  regulating  the  election  of  Assembly-men,  and 
their  qualifications. 

In  short,  a  Constitution  has  been  given  to  this  Province, 
which  the  people  have  accepted,  and  lived  happily  and 
prospered  under,  and  I  apprehend  their  interest  will  be 
much  better  consulted  by  adhering  to  that  Constitution, 
than  by  any  innovations  or  attempts  to  alter  or  subvert  it, 
especially  in  a  point  of  inherent  right  and  prerogative  of 
His  Majesty,  which  cannot  be  suffered  to  be  violated  or  ir> 
fringed. 

The  Treasurer's  accounts  are  prepared,  and  1  should 
have  ordered  them  to  be  laid  before  the  House,  but  my 
duty  calls  upon  me  to  take  care  that  no  members,  constitu- 
tionally returned  to  the  Assembly,  should  be  excluded  from 
their  privilege  of  acting  freely  in  all  matters  of  business 
that  may  come  before  the  General  Assembly.  No  incon- 
venience can  as  yet  be  occasioned  by  these  accounts,  as  a 
sufficient  number  of  members  to  make  a  House  did  not 
attend  till  yesterday,  and  then  (as  I  understand)  but  a  very 
thin  House. 

I  am  sorry  to  observe,  that  it  appears  to  me  from  the 
determination  not  to  rescind  the  vote  for  excluding  the 
three  members  for  Plymouth,  Lyme,  and  Orford,  that  the 
House  did  not  meet  with  a  disposition  to  proceed  upon  the 
affairs  of  the  Province.  In  hopes,  however,  that  this  busi- 
ness may  acquire  a  more  favourable  consideration  in  a  fuller 
House  of  Assembly,  on  a  future  day,  I  think  it  my  duty 
to  adjourn  the  General  Assembly,  and  it  is  hereby  adjourned 
accordingly,  to  Tuesday,  the  28th  of  September  next,  at 
ten  o'clock  in  the  morning,  then  to  meet  at  the  State- 
House  in  Portsmouth.  J.  Wentwoeth. 
Fort  William  and  Mary,  New.Hampshire,  July  15,  1775. 

London,  July  18,  1775. 
Yesterday  se'nnight  arrived  at  Whitehaven,  the  Molly, 
Captain  Mitchinson,  in  twenty-six  days  from  Norfolk,  in 
Virginia.  She  was  not  suffered  to  land  her  cargo  in  Nor- 
folk. The  Committee  was  called  and  expresses  sent  to 
Alexandria,  where  a  Congress  was  sitting.  The  Captain 
was  seized,  and  with  much  difficulty  and  solicitation  escaped 
tar  and  feathers.  One  of  the  merchants  who  resides  at 
Norfolk,  requested  that  the  vessel  might  proceed  with  her 
cargo  to  Quebeck,  which  was  refused ;  nor  would  the  Com- 
mittee suffer  it  to  be  transhipped  into  another  vessel  be- 
longing to  the  company,  then  loading  for  Whitehaven ;  nor 
allow  the  Molly  to  take  in  the  tobacco  which  was  prepared 
for  her,  but  compelled  the  merchant  to  send  the  cargo  back 
in  the  same  bottom,  without  diminution  or  addition,  to  be 
landed  at  Whitehaven ;  for  the  performance  of  which  they 
obliged  him  to  give  a  bond  of  three  thousand  Pounds. 


16S1 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JULY,  1775. 


1682 


JOHN  STUART,   SUPERINTENDENT  OF   INDIAN   AFFAIRS,  TO 
COMMITTEE  OF  INTELLIGENCE,  CHARLESTOWN,  S.  C. 

St.  Augustine,  July  18,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  I  am  now  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of 
your  letters  of  21st  and  29th  June,  by  express.  In  the 
former,  you  are  pleased  to  acquaint,  by  order  of  the  Provin- 
cial Congress,  that  I  stand  in  a  very  unfavourable  light 
with  the  publick ;  but  you  have  not  thought  proper  to  ac- 
quaint me  of  what  I  am  accused,  and  upon  what  evidence 
the  publick  has  conceived  an  unfavourable  opinion  of  me. 
You  must  be  conscious  of  the  impropriety  of  desiring  me 
to  answer  in  my  own  vindication  to  a  charge  which  is  not 
stated.  And  here  I  must  beg  permission  to  say,  that  my 
services  to  your  Province  have  merited  very  different  sen- 
timents than  you  tell  me  they  entertain  of  me,  and  much 
better  treatment  than  I  have  received. 

1  am  sorry  that  it  is  not  in  my  power  to  comply  with 
your  requisition,  of  sending  you  copies  of  all  my  corres- 
pondence on  Indian  affairs  with  Administration,  the  Com- 
mander-in-Chief of  his  Majesty's  Forces,  and  my  Deputies. 
But  I  hope  it  will  be  sufficient  to  assure  you,  most  faith- 
fully, that  1  have  always  considered  myself  to  be  most 
effectually  discharging  my  duty  to  the  King,  and  fulfilling 
his  intentions,  when  employed  in  securing  the  friendship 
and  affection  of  the  Indian  Nations  to  his  Majesty's  Pro- 
vinces ;  and  in  preventing,  as  far  as  in  my  power,  jealousies 
arising  from  encroachments  and  mutual  violences.  And  the 
long  uninterrupted  tranquillity  which  your  frontiers  have 
4  enjoyed,  without  any  expense  to  the  Province,  during  the 
past  thirteen  years  of  my  superintendency,  evinces  that  my 
endeavours  have  not  been  unavailing.  And  this  will  appear 
in  a  clearer  point  of  view,  if  you  will  contrast  the  state  of 
Indian  affairs,  and  the  expense  to  the  Province,  during  the 
above  period,  with  that  of  the  thirteen  preceding  years. 
I  never  have  received  any  orders  from  my  superiours  which, 
by  the  most  tortured  construction,  could  be  interpreted  to 
spirit  up,  or  employ  the  Indians  to  fall  upon  the  frontier 
inhabitants;  or  to  take  any  part  in  the  disputes  between 
Great  Britain  and  her  Colonies.  And  I  do  not  know 
that  any  part  of  my  conduct,  through  all  the  various  scenes 
of  my  life,  can  fix  upon  me  the  imputation  of  cruelty  or 
inhumanity,  or  induce  a  belief  that  I  could  wantonly  use 
any  influence  with  Indians  to  make  them  fall  upon  inno- 
cent people. 

Yet  such  an  opinion  has  been  most  industriously  pro- 
pagated ;  although  it  is  absolutely  impossible  that  it  could, 
or  can  be  supported  by  any  evidence  of  the  least  credibili- 
ty. And  I  will  venture  to  say,  that  every  one,  and  all  of  you 
do,  in  your  consciences,  believe  the  charge  to  be  false.  I 
therefore  think  1  have  a  right  to  call  upon  you,  as  men  of 
honour,  to  efface  the  impression  it  has  made  on  the  minds  of 
the  people. 

With  respect  to  the  warm  expressions  in  my  letter  to 
Colonel  Hoivarth,  I  cannot  help  thinking  them  in  some 
measure  justified,  by  your  being  authorized  by  the  Con- 
gress to  tell  me  that  I  stand  in  a  very  unfavourable  light 
with  the  publick.  What  can  have  placed  me  in  such  an 
unfavourable  light,  but  calumnious  falsehoods,  which  endan- 
gered my  life  and  property  ?  I  know  not  the  authors,  and 
shall  not  repeat  illiberal  epithets;  you  know  what  are  suit- 
able to  such  characters. 

You  are  pleased  to  say,  that  my  estate  is  a  security  for 
the  good  behaviour  of  the  Indians  in  the  Southern  Depart- 
ment. It  is  disagreeable  that  my  all  should  be  held  by  so 
precarious  a  tenure  as  their  behaviour;  which,  in  a  great 
measure,  will  depend  upon  the  conduct  of  the  inhabitants  of 
the  Provinces:  yet  you  must  allow,  that  holding  my  per- 
sonal safety  and  life  itself  on  such  terms,  would  be  more  so. 
His  Majesty's  service  will  necessarily  detain  me  here  some 
months  longer. 

My  little  estate  in  your  Province  was  purchased  under 
the  protection  of  the  laws  of  my  Country.  1  have  always 
considered  both  life  and  fortune  as  pledged  for  my  dutiful 
obedience  to  the  King,  and  the  laws.  As  I  am  not  con- 
scious of  having  transgressed,  I  hope  for  that  security  to 
my  property,  which  is  inseparable  from  the  idea  of  a  vir- 
tuous and  well-policed  community  ;  and  as  power  is  now  in 
your  hands,  I  doubt  not  but  I  shall  find  this  security  from 
your  justice. 

Your  letter  of  the  29th  renders  it  necessary  for  me  to 


tell  you,  that  some  time  before  I  left  Charlestown  I  had 
received  information  of  a  design  to  seize  my  person;  and 
in  order  to  give  a  colour  to  such  a  step,  a  report  was  in- 
dustriously propagated  of  my  having  sent  to  call  down  the 
Indians.  Immediately  after  my  removal  from  Charles- 
town  to  my  plantation  on  Lady's  Island,  it  was  reported, 
that  in  consequence  of  my  orders,  thirty-four  families  on 
the  frontiers  had  been  murdered  by  the  Chcrokets.  When 
I  was  at  Georgia,  I  had  information  that  Captain  Joyner 
and  Mr.  Barnwell,  two  members  of  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress, had  returned  to  Beaufort  ;  where,  by  most  defamato- 
ry reports  and  insinuations,  they  endeavoured  to  blacken  my 
character,  and  render  me  obnoxious  to  the  people;  giving 
out  that  my  having  called  down  the  Indians  was  proven 
before  the  Congress  ;  that  great  quantities  of  arms  and 
ammunition  were  shipped  for  me  to  arm  the  Negroes  and 
Indians;  and  that  it  was  now  discovered  that  I  had  sold  Fort 
London,  and  was  the  instrument  of  getting  the  garrison 
massacred  ;  and  Captain  Joyner  showed  at  the  publick  mus- 
ter-field, in  St.  Helena,  printed  bills,  containing  the  above, 
and  other  false  accusations. 

From  thence  they  went  to  Savannah,  and  in  the  night 
had  a  meeting  with  the  Committee,  of  which  Sir  James 
Ji'right  gave  me  notice  early  next  morning,  and  advised 
me  to  take  steps  for  the  security  of  my  person.  I  according- 
ly prevailed  upon  Captain  Grant,  of  the  St.  John,  armed 
schooner,  to  land  me  at  St.  Augustine,  where  the  business 
of  my  department  called  me.  But  before  I  embarked,  I 
saw  some  of  the  members  of  the  Committee,  and  read  to 
them  some  part  of  my  correspondence  with  my  Deputies, 
which  they  communicated  to  you.  They  candidly  told 
me  that  the  people  were  much  enraged;  and  they  could 
not  answer  for  the  safety  of  my  person.  1  then  thought  it 
high  time  to  provide  for  my  safety ;  and  went  on  board 
the  St.  John,  armed  schooner,  at  Cockspur. 

I  have  since  been  informed,  that  two  boats  were  sent 
down  the  river  in  pursuit  of  me ;  and  from  the  schooner  I 
saw  several  armed  canoes,  said  to  be  commanded  by  Cap- 
tain Joyner  and  Mr.  Barnwell,  who,  before  they  left 
Beaufort,  gave  out  they  were  to  receive  and  conduct  me 
back  to  Charlestoivn.  The  armed  schooner,  however,  pro- 
ceeded the  next  day  for  this  place,  where  1  landed  in  a 
very  weak  condition;  and  this,  gentlemen,  you  are  pleased 
to  call  a  precipitate  departure,  though  I  shall  ever  consider 
it  as  a  most  fortunate  escape. 

I  am,  Gentlemen,  your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

John  Stuart. 
To  William  Henry  Drayton,  James  Parsons,  John  Lewis 

Gervais,  Arthur  Middleton,   William  Tennent,  and 

Thomas  Hey  ward,  Jun.,  Esquires. 


SUSSEX  COUNTY'  (DELAWARE)  COMMITTEE. 

Dagsberry,  July  18,  1775. 

To  the  Publick. 

Notwithstanding  the  many  rumours  and  intimations  that 
have  been  frequently  spread,  that  Thomas  Robinson,  Esq., 
of  Sussex  on  Delaware,  was  counteracting  the  wise,  prudent, 
and  manly  measures  recommended  by  the  honourable  Con- 
tinental Congress,  to  put  a  stop  to  the  calamities  of  Ame- 
rica, and,  if  possible,  avert  Ministerial  vengeance,  which, 
like  a  torrent  with  increasing  violence,  is  rushing  down  on 
our  heads,  yet  the  Committee,  out  of  tenderness  to  his 
character,  (as  no  vouchers  appeared,)  considered  those 
vague  reports  as  not  worthy  tbeir  notice,  and  therefore 
declined  making  inquiry  into  them.  But  Mr.  Robinson, 
weakly  imagining  that  this  tenderness  and  lenity  proceeded 
from  fear,  began  to  vaunt  and  exult,  and  with  an  effrontery 
ever  the  companion  of  ignorance,  proceeded  more  openly 
and  boldly  to  stamp  his  vile  and  slavish  Ministerial  prin- 
ciples upon  the  weak  and  unwary,  over  too  many  of  whom, 
in  the  forests  of  Sussex  and  Maryland,  by  means  of  his 
office  and  store,  he  has  indeed  too  much  influence. 

Since  which  time  the  Sub-Committee  met  at  Dagsberry, 
the  18th  July,  1775;  and  receiving  information,  clothed 
w  ith  better  circumstances,  ordered  the  authors  immediate- 
ly to  be  brought  before  them  ;  who  deposed  as  follow  : 

Peter  Watson,  being  duly  sworn  upon  the  Holy  Evange- 
lists of  Almighty  God,  deposeth  and  saith  :  that  on  Mon- 


Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii. 


106 


1683 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  be,  JULY,  1775. 


16S4 


day,  the  10th  of  this  instant,  July,  being  at  Robinson's 
store,  on  the  head  of  Indian  River,  he  saw  John  Gozlin, 
clerk  to  said  Robinson,  weigh  and  sell  two  small  parcels  of 
Bohea  Tea,  one  of  which  lie  delivered  to  a  girl,  the  other 
to  Lcalherberry  Barker's  wife;  which  aforesaid  Tea  he 
took  out  of  a  large  canister,  that  he  judged  would  hold  about 
twelve  or  fifteen  pounds.    And  further  saidi  not. 

Peter  Watson. 

Sworn  to  and  subscribed  this  18th  day  of  July,  1775: 
before  John  Dagworthy. 

True  copy  :  Simon  Kollock,  Clerk. 

Robert  Butcher,  being  duly  sworn  on  the  Holy  Evange- 
list of  Almighty  God,  deposeth  and  saith  :  that  being  in 
company  with  Thomas  Robinson,  Esq.,  the  said  Robinson 
asked  him  what  those  Committees  were  doing  ;  he  told  him 
they  were  advising  the  people  to  muster,  in  order  to  defend 
their  liberties.  Robinson  replied,  that  they  were  a  pack 
of  fools,  for  it  was  taking  up  arms  against  the  King  ;  and 
that  our  Charters  were  not  annihilated,  changed,  or  altered 
by  the  late  Acts  of  Parliament,  and  therefore  we  ought  to 
obey  the  King,  and  those  that  were  put  in  authority  under 
him  ;  and  that  the  great  people  were  only  leading  the  poor 
into  a  premunire,  and  after  they  had  done  it,  they  would 
not  help  them  out  of  it.    And  further  saith  not. 

Robert  Butcher. 

Sworn  to  and  subscribed  this  18th  day  of  July,  1775; 
before  John  Dagworthy. 

True  copy  :  Simon  Kollock,  Clerk. 

Nathaniel  Mitchell,  being  duly  sworn  on  the  Holy 
Evangelist  of  Almighty  God,  deposeth  and  saith  :  that 
being  in  company  with  Thomas  Robinson,  Esq.,  and  talk- 
ing of  some  publick  matters,  the  said  Robinson  declared, 
that  the  present  Congress  were  an  unconstitutional  body  of 
men  ;  and  also,  that  the  great  men  were  pushing  on  the 
common  people  between  them  and  all  danger.  And  further 
saith  not.  Nathaniel  Mitchell. 

Sworn  to  and  subscribed  this  18th  day  of  July,  1775  ; 
before  John  Dagworthv. 

True  copy  :  Simon  Kollock,  Clerk. 

Mr.  Robinson's  conduct  thus  palpably  appearing,  and 
leaving  no  further  doubt  with  respect  to  the  measure  he 
was  industriously  pursuing,  the  Clerk  was  ordered  to  sum- 
mon him  to  appear  at  the  house  of  William  Nexvbold,  on 
Saturday,  the  22d  of  July ;  which  citation  is  as  follows: 

"  Sir:  In  consequence  of  repeated  suggestions  and  infor- 
mations lodged  against  you,  the  Committee  of  Inspection 
for  the  proposed  new  County,  met  at  Dagsberry,  the  19th 
of  July,  1775  ;  Colonel  John  Dagworthy  in  the  Chair  : 
and  after  maturely  and  dispassionately  considering  the  seve- 
ral charges  exhibited  against  you,  were  unanimously  of 
opinion,  that  you  ought  to  be  cited  to  attend  the  General 
Committee  at  the  house  of  William  Newbold,  on  Satur- 
day next,  the  22d  of  this  instant,  in  order  to  satisfy  them 
with  respect  to  the  many  heavy  charges  alleged  against 
you. 

"  In  strict  obedience  to  which  resolution,  I  do  hereby 
send  you  this  notification,  that  you  do  attend  at  the  house 
of  William  Newbold,  on  Saturday,  the  22d  of  this  instant, 
July,  at  ten  o'clock.  A.  M. 

"  John  Jones,  Clerk  pro  tern. 

"  William  Newbold's,  July  22,  1775." 

The  General  Committee  met  according  to  adjournment. 
Eighty  members  present.  Colonel  John  Dagworthy  in 
the  Chair. 

When  Elisha  Cottingham  appeared,  and  being  duly 
sworn  on  the  Holy  Evangelist  of  Almighty  God,  deposeth 
and  saith  :  that  on  the  21st  of  this  instant,  he  delivered  the 
above  citation  to  Thomas  Robinson,  Esq.,  who  desired  him 
to  give  his  compliments  to  the  gentlemen  of  the  Commit- 
tee, and  acquaint  them  that  ho  did  not,  nor  could  not,  think 
of  coming  before  them,  unless  he  could  bring  forty  or  fifty 
armed  men  with  him.    And  further  saith  not. 

Elisha  Cottingham. 

Sworn  to  and  subscribed  this  22d  day  of  July,  1775; 
before  John  Dagwokthy. 

True  copy  :  Simon  Kollock,  Clerk. 


The  above  Report,  after  being  well  weighed  and  con- 
sidered, was  unanimously  voted  to  be  insulting  and  inju- 
rious. 

And  therefore,  unanimously  Resolved,  That  Thomas 
Robinson,  Esq.,  be  immediately  held  forth  to  the  publick 
as  an  enemy  to  his  Country,  and  a  contumacious  opposer 
of  liberty  and  the  natural  rights  of  mankind  ;  wherefore, 
all  persons  are  hereby  enjoined  to  break  oft"  all  dealings 
and  commercial  connections  with  the  said  Robinson. 

By  order  of  the  Chairman  : 

Simon  Kollock,  Clerk. 

N.  B.  The  above  'Squire  Robinson,  while  he  attends 
the  patriotick  Assembly  at  New- Castle,  never  fails  to  vote 
with  them,  as  we  learn  from  other  members,  while  for  many 
years  he  raises  a  party  here  against  the  same  measures. 


new-york  delegates  to  committee  of  safety. 

Philadelphia,  July  18,  17  75. 

Gentlemen:  We  are  honoured  with  your  despatches 
of  the  12th  and  15th  instant,  and  detained  the  express  till 
after  the  rising  of  the  Congress  this  day,  in  expectation  of 
giving  you  the  establishment  of  the  Army,  which  is  report- 
ed, but  not  fully  confirmed  and  perfected  ;  but  to  our  great 
concern,  such  was  the  state  of  the  business  before  the  House, 
that  we  were  disappointed.  We  shall,  however,  seize  the 
first  opportunity  to  draw  this  important  point  to  a  conclu- 
sion. In  the  mean  time,  as  your  Troops  are  sure  of  being 
placed  on  an  equal  footing  with  their  neighbours,  it  is  hoped 
the  difficulty  will  not  be  insurmountable.  This  is  all  the 
satisfaction  which  we  can  at  present  give  you  on  that  head. 

From  a  want  of  proper  directions  from  those  who  had 
the  charge  of  transporting  the  powder  for  the  use  of  Major- 
General  Schuyler's  department,  from  this  City  to  Eliza- 
bethtown,  it  has  unfortunately  been  delayed  on  the  road. 
We  could  do  no  more  than  complain.  The  fault  will  be 
repaired,  and  you  may  expect  it  soon. 

We  are  not  insensible  to  the  distress  to  which  you  must 
be  reduced,  for  the  want  of  money,  arms,  and  powder. 
With  the  first,  you  will  soon  be  supplied.  The  difficulties 
attending  an  emission  so  uncommon,  of  which  the  necessary 
guards  against  counterfeits  is  not  the  least,  has  rendered  its 
progress  very  tedious.  We  can  give  you  no  assurances  of 
a  supply  of  arms  and  ammunition  from  this  quarter.  Every 
scheme  which  could  be  devised  to  procure  them  from 
abroad,  has  been  pursued,  and  on  their  success,  and  the 
efforts  of  the  different  Colonies,  we  must  depend ;  for  in 
the  Southern  Provinces  there  is  very  little,  and  none  to  be 
spared.  Some  blankets  are  to  be  had  in  this  City,  which 
will  be  purchased  as  soon  as  the  money  is  issued. 

We  are,  Gentlemen,  your  most  obedient  servants, 

Lewis  Morkis,    Philip  Livingston. 
James  Duane,      Hknry  Wisner. 
Committee  of  Safety,  New-York. 


DOCTOR  J.  MALLETT  TO  WILLIAM  ALLMON. 

Ship  Asia,  New-York,  July  18,  1775. 

Sir:  Relying  on  your  discretion  and  prudence,  I  have 
to  request  your  assistance  in  an  affair  that  I  imagine  will 
require  some  dexterity  to  manage  properly.  1  want  to 
have  a  few  articles  out  of  the  medicine  store  put  on  board 
Captain  Vandeput's  Ship,  to  be  sent  here,  if  you  think  it 
can  be  done  so  as  not  to  be  observed.  You  must  con- 
sult with  Bowden  about  it,  who  has  the  care  of  them ; 
and  I  hope  will  meet  with  no  difficulty  in  putting  into 
the  man-of-war  boat  at  Blundcll's  house,  at  noon  day,  to 
avoid  suspicion,  a  box  of  lint,  the  two  boxes  pulv.  Peru- 
vian, one  do.  Sal  Glaub.  The  pot  of  camphire,  and  what 
opium  there  is  packed  in  another  small  box.  If  you  can't 
easily  send  all  these  articles,  the  box  of  lint,  which  is 
most  wanted,  may  he  easily  carried  under  the  arm  ;  as 
also  the  camphire  and  opium.  Scrape  off  the  marks,  and 
after  it  is  on  board,  direct  it  for  me  at  this  place.  Be 
cautious  how  you  open  the  front  part  of  the  store.  1 
believe  you  will  find  the  key  at  Mrs.  Rcid's;  as  Mrs. 
jVa/lett  tells  me  she  left  all  the  keys  with  her ;  you  will 
leave  them  there  again  when  you  have  got  out  the  above 
articles.  I  hope  Boicdcn  will  take  all  the  care  he  can 
both  of  the  medicines  and  bedding  store,  and  give  cue 


I 


///£dr/£<?   iU^^/SZ^J^  <^JlZ)  /Z-c^/&^1^{?£ 


^^^^^^^^^^  ^^^^^  /^n^/ 


1685 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  kc,  JULY,  1775. 


1686 


immediate  notice  if  any  one  offers  to  meddle  with  them  ; 
and  tell  them  from  me,  that  I  will  take  care  he  shall  be 
satisfied  lor  his  trouble.  If  the  key  should  not  be  there, 
I  must  get  you  to  write  to  Mrs.  Mallett,  or  to  go  up,  if 
necessary,  to  know  where  it  is  put.  I  left  them  all  in  a 
drawer  of  my  desk,  and  I  dare  say  you  will  find  them  at 
Mrs.  Reid's,  as  I  know  that  of  the  bedding  store  is  there. 
I  should  be  glad  of  a  bale  or  two  of  old  sheets,  but  am 
afraid  it  will  be  difficult  to  get  them.  Don't  risk  any  thing, 
but  first  let  me  know  if  it  is  practicable  to  get  them,  and 
several  other  articles  I  want,  out  of  the  medicine  store  on 
some  future  occasion.  Captain  Kingston,  who  brings  you 
this,  has  directions  to  find  you  or  Boivden,  and  give  you  all 
the  assistance  he  can,  and  will  take  care  of  whatever  you 
give  into  his  charge.  There  are  some  lancets,  needles, 
scalpels,  and  pocket  instruments,  in  one  of  my  drawers 
also  ;  if  they  could  be  got  at,  I  should  be  glad  they  were 
sent  here,  but  1  fear  Mrs.  Mallett  has  the  keys  in  the  coun- 
try. Mr.  Bruce  will  write  to  you  on  this  subject,  to  enjoin 
your  transacting  this  business  with  all  imaginable  precau- 
tion;  and  be  assured  you  will,  in  return,  meet  with  every 
thing  to  serve  you  in  the  power  of  your  assured  friend, 

J.  Mallett. 

To  Mr.  William  Allmon,  at  Dr.  Bruce  s,  New- York,  per 
favour  of  Captain  Kingston 


GENERAL  SCHUYLER  TO  GOVERNOUR  TRUMBULL. 

Ticonderoga,  July  18,  17T5. 

Sir  :  Your  favour  of  the  first  July  I  only  had  the  honour 
to  receive  on  the  fifteenth,  on  my  way  to  this  place,  where 
1  arrived  this  day.  Be  assured,  Sir,  that  every  recommen- 
dation of  yours  will  claim  my  particular  attention.  1  left 
Captain  Elisha  Phelps  to  forward  the  stores  from  Al- 
bany, where  he  will  remain,  unless  the  necessity  of  the 
service  should  oblige  me  to  call  him  elsewhere.  If  any 
opportunity  offers  in  which  1  can  employ  Captain  Noah 
Fhelps,  I  shall  embrace  it  with  alacrity.  1  find  the  Troops 
from  your  Colony,  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Hinman, 
destitute  of  tents,  an  article  they  much  stand  in  need  of, 
being  now  crowded  into  bad  barracks,  which  I  fear  will  be 
productive  of  disease.  Should  it  be  impossible  to  procure 
the  materials  for  making  tents  in  your  Colony,  they  may 
possibly  be  furnished  by  the  Neiv-  York  Congress,  which 
can  make  no  material  difference,  as  it  will  probably  be  a 
Continental  charge.  Colonel  Hinman  informs  me  that  fat 
cattle  were  expected  up  from  Connecticut  for  the  Troops 
here.  I  had  ordered  Mr.  Walter  Livingston  to  purchase 
a  hundred  head.  Should  your  Honour  learn  that  he  has 
succeeded,  it  will  supersede  the  necessity  of  sending  any 
until  a  future  requisition. 

Permit  me,  Sir,  to  assure  you  of  my  respect  and  esteem, 
and  that  I  am  your  Honour's  most  obedient  and  very  bum- 
ble servant,  Philip  Schuyler. 
The  Honourable  Jonathan  Trumbull,  Esq. 

P.  S.  Colonel  Hinman  begs  his  respects.  Be  pleased 
to  forward  the  letters  for  General  Washington  by  the  next 
post. 


GENERAL  SCHUYLER  TO  GENERAL  WASHINGTON. 

Ticonderoga,  July  18,  1775. 

Dear  Sir:  I  do  myself  the  honour  to  inform  jour  Ex- 
cellency of  my  arrival  at  this  place  early  this  morning,  and 
as  a  person  is  just  going  to  Hartford,  1  sit  down  to  give 
you  the  little  information  1  have  procured. 

A  Canadian,  who  twelve  days  ago  left  St.  John's,  ad- 
vises me  that  General  Carleton  has  about  four  hundred  men 
at  that  place ;  that  he  has  thrown  up  a  strong  intrench- 
ment,  covered  with  chevaux-de-frise,  picketed  the  ditch, 
and  secured  it  with  an  abattis  ;  that  he  has  an  advanced  post 
of  fifty  men  intrenched  a  league  on  this  side;  that  there 
are  many  Indians  in  Canada,  but  believes  that  neither  they 
nor  the  Canadians  will  join  him;  the  latter  he  is  sure  will 
not,  unless  compelled  by  force. 

You  will  expect  that  I  should  say  something  about  this 
place  and  the  troops  here.  Not  one  earthly  thing  for  offence 
or  defence  has  been  done ;  the  commanding  officer  had  no 
orders,  he  only  came  to  re-en  force  the  garrison,  and  he 
expected  the  General!    But  this,  my  dear  General,  as  well 


as  what  follows  in  this  paragraph,  I  pray  may  be  entre 
nous,  for  reasons  I  need  not  suggest.  About  ten  o'clock 
last  night  I  arrived  at  the  landing  place,  the  north  end  of 
Lake  George,  a  post  occupied  by  a  captain  and  one  hun- 
dred men.  A  sentinel,  on  being  informed  I  was  in  the 
boat,  quitted  his  post  to  go  and  awake  the  guard,  consisting 
of  three  men,  in  which  he  had  no  success.  I  walked  up 
and  came  to  another,  a  sergeant's  guard.  Here  the  sentinel 
challenged,  but  suffered  me  to  come  up  to  him,  the  whole 
guard,  like  the  first,  in  the  soundest  sleep.  With  a  pen- 
knife only  I  could  have  cut  off  both  guards,  and  then  have 
set  fire  to  the  block-house,  destroyed  the  stores,  and  starved 
the  people  here.  At  this  post  I  have  pointedly  recom- 
mended vigilance  and  care,  as  all  the  stores  from  Fort 
George  must  necessarily  be  landed  there.  But  I  hope  to 
get  the  better  of  this  inattention.  The  officers  and  men 
are  all  good  looking  people,  and  decent  in  their  deport- 
ment, and  I  really  believe  will  make  good  soldiers  as 
soon  as  I  can  get  the  better  of  this  nonchalance  of  theirs. 
Bravery,  1  believe,  they  are  far  from  wanting.  As  soon  as  1 
am  a  little  settled,  I  shall  do  myself  the  honour  to  send 
you  a  return  of  my  strength  both  on  land  and  water. 

I  enclose  your  Excellency  a  copy  of  a  letter  from  Col- 
onel Johnson,  with  a  copy  of  an  examination  of  a  person 
lately  from  Canada,  contradictory  of  the  accounts  I  gave 
you  in  my  last  from  Saratoga.  You  will  perceive  that  he 
is  gone  to  Canada.  I  hope  Carleton,  if  he  should  be  able 
to  procure  a  body  of  Indians,  will  not  be  in  a  hurry  to  pay 
us  a  visit.  I  wish  to  be  a  little  more  decently  prepared  to 
receive  him;  in  doing  which,  be  assured  1  shall  lose  no 
time. 

I  have  no  way  of  sending  you  any  letters,  with  a  proba- 
ble hope  of  their  coming  to  hand,  unless  by  express,  or  by 
the  circuitous  route  of  Hartford;  by  which  only,  I  can  ex- 
pect to  be  favoured  with  a  line  from  you. 

Generals  Lee  and  Gates  share  with  you  in  my  warmest 
wishes.  I  shall  devote  the  first  hour  I  can  call  my  own, 
to  do  myself  the  honour  to  write  them. 

I  am,  most  sincerely,  your  Excellency's  obedient  and 
humble  servant,  Philip  Schuyler. 

P.  S.  Permit  me,  Sir,  through  you,  to  inquire  the  health 
of  Colonel  Reed,  Major  Mifflin,  and  Mr.  Griff n. 


GENERAL  WASHINGTON  TO  GOVERNOUR  TRUMBULL. 

Cambridge,  July  18,  1775. 

Sir:  Allow  me  to  return  you  my  sincere  thanks  for  the 
kind  wishes  and  favourable  sentiments  expressed  in  yours 
of  the  thirteenth  instant.  As  the  cause  of  our  common 
Country  calls  us  both  to  an  active  and  dangerous  duty,  I 
trust  that  Divine  Providence,  which  wisely  orders  the  affairs 
of  men,  will  enable  us  to  discharge  it  with  fidelity  and  suc- 
cess. The  uncorrupted  choice  of  a  brave  and  free  people 
has  raised  you  to  deserved  eminence. 

That  the  blessings  of  health,  and  the  still  greater  bless- 
ing of  long  continuing  to  govern  such  a  people,  may  be 
yours,  is  the  sincere  wish  of,  Sir,  your,  &.c. 


GENERAL  WASHINGTON  TO  GOVERNOUR  TRUMBULL. 

Camp,  July  18,  1775. 

Sir:  It  is  with  no  small  concern  that  I  find  the  arrange- 
ment of  General  Officers  made  by  the  honourable  Conti- 
nental Congress  has  produced  dissatisfaction.  As  the  Army 
is  upon  a  general  establishment,  their  right  to  supersede  and 
contract  a  Provincial  one  must  be  unquestionable,  and  in 
such  a  cause  I  should  hope  every  post  would  be  deemed 
honourable  which  gave  a  man  opportunity  to  serve  his 
Country. 

A  representation  from  the  Congress  of  this  Province, 
with  such  remarks  as  occurred  to  me  on  this  subject,  is  now 
before  the  Continental  Congress.  In  the  mean  time,  I  beg 
leave  to  assure  you  that,  unbiased  by  any  private  attach- 
ments, I  shall  studiously  endeavour  to  reconcile  their  pre- 
tensions to  their  duty,  and  so  dispose  them  as  to  prevent, 
as  far  as  possible,  any  inconvenience  to  the  publick  service 
from  this  competition.   I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

Go.  Washington. 

To  Governour  Trumbull. 


1687 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  fcc,  JULY,  1775. 


168S 


Cambriilgo,  July  21,  1775. 
Last  Saturday,  July  15th,  the  several  Regiments  quar- 
tered in  this  Town  being  assembled  upon  the  parade,  the 
Reverend  Doctor  Langdon,  President  of  the  College,  read 
to  them  "A  Declaration  by  the  Representatives  of  the 
United  Colonies  of  North  America,  now  met  in  General 
Congress  at  Philadelphia,  setting  forth  the  causes  and 
necessity  of  their  taking  up  arms."  It  was  received  with 
great  applause,  and  the  approbation  of  the  Army,  with  that 
of  a  great  number  of  other  people,  was  immediately  an- 
nounced by  three  huzzas.  His  Excellency  the  General, 
with  several  other  General  Officers,  Sic,  were  present  on 
the  occasion. 

Last  Tuesday  morning,  July  18th,  according  to  orders 
issued  the  day  before  by  Major-General  Putnam,  all  the 
Continental  Troops  under  his  immediate  command  assem- 
bled at  Prospect  Hill,  when  the  Declaration  of  the  Conti- 
nental Congress  was  read ;  after  which  an  animated  and 
pathetick  address  to  the  Army  was  made  by  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Leonard,  Chaplain  to  General  Putnam's  Regiment,  and 
succeeded  by  a  pertinent  prayer,  when  General  Putnam 
gave  the  signal,  and  the  whole  Army  shouted  their  loud 
amen  by  three  cheers,  immediately  upon  which  a  cannon 
was  fired  from  the  fort,  and  the  standard  lately  sent  to  Gen- 
eral Putnam  was  exhibited  flourishing  in  the  air,  bearing 
on  one  side  this  motto,  "An  appeal  to  Heaven,"  and  on  the 
other  side,  "Qui  transiulit  sustinet."  The  whole  was  con- 
ducted with  the  utmost  decency,  good  order,  and  regular- 
ity, and  the  universal  acceptance  of  all  present ;  and  the 
Philistines  on  Bunker's  Hill  "  heard  the  shout  of  the 
Israelites,  and,  being  very  fearful,  paraded  themselves  in 
battle  array." 


INSTRUCTIONS  OF  GEN.  GAGE  TO  CAPT.  CAMPBELL. 

By  his  Excellency  the  Honourable  Thomas  Gage,  Gen- 
eral and  Commander-in-Chief  of  all  His  Majesty's 
Forces  in  North  America,  Sfc,  fyc,  ty-c. 

To  Captain  Duncan  Campbell  and  Lieutenant  Symes: 

You  are  hereby  directed  to  embark  on  board  the  Re- 
becca and  Frances,  transport,  George  Hastings,  master, 
and  proceed  as  fast  as  possible  to  New-  York,  where  you 
are  to  receive  on  board  your  ship  such  men  as  may  be 
inclined  to  serve  His  Majesty;  and  you  are  particularly  to 
attend  to  the  arrival  of  ships  expected  from  Scotland,  and 
to  procure  as  many  men  out  of  them  as  you  possibly  can  ; 
and  you  are  to  do  your  endeavour  not  to  suffer  any  of  those 
emigrants  to  join  the  rebels  on  shore,  and  to  give  every 
encouragement  to  all  the  Scotch  and  other  nations  that 
will  join  you.  Captain  Vandepul,  of  His  Majesty's  Ship 
Asia,  will  give  you  all  the  assistance  in  his  power,  and 
with  whom  you  will  confer  when  there  may  be  occasion  ; 
you  will  continue  at  New-York  as  long  as  the  service  you 
are  upon  may  require,  when  you  are  to  return  to  this  place 
with  all  expedition,  bringing  as  many  volunteers  with  you 
as  you  can  procure. 

Given  under  my  hand  at  Head-Quarters  at  Boston,  this 
eighteenth  day  of  July,  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and 
seventy-five.  Thomas  Gage. 

By  his  Excellency's  command: 

Samuel  Kemble. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  A  GENTLEMAN  IN  FREDE- 
RICKTOWN,  MARYLAND,  TO  HIS  FRIEND  IN  BALTIMORE, 
DATED  JULY  19,  1775. 

On  Monday  last  Captain  Morgan,  from  Virginia,  with 
his  company  of  riflemen,  (all  chosen,)  marched  through 
this  place,  on  their  way  to  Boston.  Their  appearance 
was  truly  martial ;  their  spirits  amazingly  elated,  breathing 
nothing  but  a  desire  to  join  the  American  Army,  and  to 
engage  the  enemies  of  American  liberty.  They  were  met 
about  a  mile  out  of  Town  by  three  companies,  viz:  Cap- 
tain Price's  company  of  riflemen,  Captain  Grosh's  and 
Captain  Beatty's  companies  of  militia,  and  escorted  a  few 
miles  out  of  Town,  amidst  the  acclamations  of  all  the 
inhabitants  who  attended  them ;  and  yesterday  Captain 
Price,  with  his  company,  also  marched.  And  surely  never 
were  two  finer  companies  raised  in  any  Country,  more  de- 
termined to  conquer  or  die,  than  those  two  companies  are. 


Capt.  Cresap  also,  with  his  brave  company,  have  marched. 
1  need  not  say  any  thing  of  Captain  Cresaj)'s  undaunted 
courage;  not  an  American  but  knows  him  to  be  an  intrepid 
warriour,  and  of  course  he  knows  his  men,  and  has  culled 
them  from  the  many.  We  are  also  in  hourly  expectation 
of  Captain  Stinson,  with  his  brave  company,  in  this  Town, 
on  his  way  to  Boston.  God.  grant  them  a  speedy  and 
happy  arrival  there.  So  many  offered  to  join  the  above 
companies,  that  not  one  of  them  but  might  have  had  one 
hundred  men  at  least. 


PISCATAWAY   AND   BLADENSBURGH    (MARYLAND)  COM- 
MITTEE. 

Prince  George's  County,  July  19,  1775. 
The  Committee  of  Inspection  for  Piscataicay  and  Bla- 
densburgh  having  had  information  that  Goods  had  been 
sold  and  landed  by  some  persons  belonging  to  ships  lying 
in  the  Eastern  Branch  of  Potomack  River,  met  this  clay 
at  Kerbey's  Landing,  and  chose  Colonel  Joshua  Beall, 
Chairman  : 

When  Robert  Miller,  Master  of  the  Ship  Diana,  was 
called  before  the  Committee,  and  being  asked  if  he  had 
not  sold  or  delivered  to  Mr.  Henry  Bradford  a  barrel  of 
Porter,  who,  after  some  evasive  answer,  acknowledged  he 
had  made  Mr.  Bradford  a  present  of  a  barrel  of  Porter, 
in  consideration  of  sundry  services  he  had  doue  him  last 
voyage,  and  others  he  expected  this  present  voyage. 

Mr.  Bradford  being  then  examined,  acknowledged,  that 
at  the  repeated  and  pressing  requests  of  Captain  Miller, 
he  had  accepted  of  a  barrel,  which  he  believed  was  Porter, 
though  he  had  not  tasted  it  since  he  received  it  from  him  ; 
that  at  that  time  he  did  not  think  he  was  doing  wrong,  as 
he  did  not  purchase  it,  and  was  sorry  to  find  he  had  erred 
in  accepting  it,  and  was  ready  and  willing  to  deliver  it  up 
to  the  Committee  in  the  order  he  had  received  it. 

Captain  Benjamin  King  being  examined  by  said  Com- 
mittee, declared  he  heard  Captain  Miller  say,  on  the  Ex- 
change of  London,  before  he  came  out  this  voyage,  that 
he  would  bring  to  America  any  Goods  he  pleased. 

The  Committee  then  examined  James  McKinsey,  car- 
penter, and  Samuel  Pool,  boatswain  of  the  Ship  Eolus, 
Captain  Rankins.  They  acknowledged  they  had  sold 
sev  en  pair  of  Shoes  to  different  persons,  and  also  part  of  a 
piece  of  Linen  to  the  Skipper  of  a  Schooner  down  the 
river,  his  name  unknown  to  them  ;  they  declared  they  did 
not  know  they  were  breaking  the  rules  of  the  Continental 
Congress,  and  agreed  to  give  up  the  money  they  had  sold 
the  Shoes  for  to  the  Bladensburgh  Committee,  to  be  dis- 
posed of  by  them  as  they  should  think  proper. 

Luke  Jefferson,  Robert  St.  Clair,  and  Baptist  Kirbcy, 
being  examined,  acknowledged  they  had  bought  Shoes  of 
the  above-named  persons,  viz:  Luke  Jefferson  three  pair, 
Robert  St.  Clair  three  pair,  and  Baptist  Kirbey  two 
pair ;  which  they  agreed  to  give  up  to  the  Bladensburgh 
Committee. 

Captain  Rankins  being  examined,  declared  he  did  not 
know  that  his  people  brought  any  thing  for  sale,  and  that 
he  had,  before  they  sailed,  told  them  not,  as  he  had  re- 
ceived orders  from  his  owners  not  to  suffer  any  Goods  to 
come  out  in  the  ship ;  that  as  soon  as  he  had  information 
that  his  people  had  been  selling  Shoes,  he  made  a  search 
in  the  ship,  and  could  not  find  any  thing  his  people  had 
but  what  was  necessary  for  the  voyage. 

Resolved  by  the  Committee  aforesaid,  That  the  Porter 
and  Shoes  be  destroyed  in  a  publick  manner,  and  the 
money  for  which  the  Shoes  were  sold  to  be  applied  to  the 
relief  of  the  poor  ot  Boston ;  and  it  is  the  opinion  of  this 
Committee,  that  the  several  persons  concerned  in  import- 
ing, vending,  purchasing,  and  receiving  the  said  Goods, 
have  been  guilty  of  violating  the  Association  of  the  Conti- 
nental Congress. 

Bladensburgh,  July  22,  1775. 
Then  Mr.  Henry  Bradford  produced  the  cask  of  Por- 
ter to  the  Committee  of  this  Town,  the  head  of  which  was 
staved  in,  and  the  liquor  thrown  out  on  the  ground,  the 
staves  and  heading  burnt,  with  six  pair  of  the  Shoes,  two 
pair  of  those  purchased  by  Robert  St.  Clair  not  being  pro- 
duced to  the  Committee  according  to  promise;  the  eight 
dollars,  for  which  the  Shoes  were  sold,  were  this  day  paid 
into  the  hands  of  the  Chairman. 


1689 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JULY,  1775. 


1690 


JOHN"  HANCOCK  TO  GENERAL  WASHINGTON. 

Philadelphia,  July  19,  1775. 

Sir:  The  earnest  desire  of  several  members  of  Con- 
gress, joined  to  a  hearty  wish  of  rendering  service  to  the 
gentlemen,  induce  me  to  take  the  freedom  to  introduce  to 
your  notice  Mr.  Ogden  and  Mr.  Burr,  of  the  Jerseys,  by 
whom  this  will  be  handed  you.  They  are  gentlemen  of 
reputation,  and  visit  the  camp  not  as  spectators,  but  with 
a  view  of  joining  the  Army,  and  being  active  during  the 
campaign ;  I  beg  you  will  please  to  place  them  in  such  a 
department  as  you  shall  judge  suitable.  Your  notice  of 
these  gentlemen  I  shall  esteem  a  particular  favour. 

Your  despatches  reached  me  last  evening ;  I  shall  for- 
ward you  the  papers  immediately.  The  result  of  Congress 
you  shall  know  as  early  as  possible. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  Sir,  your  most  obedient  humble 
servant,  John  Hancock. 

To  his  Excellency  General  Washington. 


JOHN  HANCOCK,  PRESIDENT,  TO  NEW-YORK  COMMITTEE  OF 
SAFETY. 

Congress  Chamber,  July  19,  1775. 

Gentlemen:  By  advice  from  the  Army  before  Boston, 
a  supply  of  gunpowder  would  be  very  acceptable,  and 
greatly  contribute  to  promote  the  common  cause.  I  am 
therefore  desired  by  the  Congress,  who  have  had  an  inti- 
mation that  a  quantity  of  that  article  was  lately  imported 
into  your  Citv,  to  apply  to  you  and  request  you  to  send 
forward,  as  speedily  and  safely  as  possible,  what  you  can 
spare,  to  the  camp  before  Boston.  1  am,  gentlemen,  your 
most  obedient  humble  servant,  John  Hancock. 

To  Committee  of  Safety,  Ncw-Yorlc. 


ADDRESS  OF  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY  OF  HILLSBOROUGH  TO 
GENERAL  SULLIVAN. 

To  the  Honourable  John  Sullivan,  Esquire,  Brigadier- 
General  of  the  Continental  Army : 

Sir:  The  Committee  of  Safety  for  the  County  of  Hills- 
borough, in  the  Colony  of  New-Hampshire,  having  in  con- 
templation the  great  services  you  lately  rendered  the  Coun- 
ty in  your  civil  capacity,  and  the  great  abilities  you  then 
exerted  at  the  bar  in  their  defence,  at  a  time  when  the 
people  were  most  cruelly  oppressed  by  the  tools  of  Govern- 
ment, pray  leave  to  address  and  congratulate  you  on  your 
appointment  to  the  rank  of  Brigadier-General — an  appoint- 
ment which,  as  it  distinguishes  your  merit,  so  at  the  same 
time  it  reflects  honour  upon,  and  shews  the  penetrating  dis- 
cernment of  those  truly  eminent  patriots  from  whom  you 
received  it,  and  of  whom  are  composed  the  Continental 
Congress.  Nor  are  we  less  sanguine  in  our  expectations 
of  the  high  advantages  which  must  result  (under  God)  to 
the  publick,  by  your  military  skill  and  courage,  as  you 
have  been  indefatigable  in  attaining  the  first,  and  have 
given  a  recent  instance  of  the  latter,  to  your  great  honour 
and  reputation,  in  depriving  our  enemies  of  the  means  of 
annoying  us  at  Castle  Jf  illiam  and  Mary,  and  at  the  same 
time  furnishing  us  with  materials  to  defend  our  invaluable 
rights  and  privileges. 

This,  Sir,  must  be  ever  had  in  remembrance,  and 
(amongst  the  actions  of  others,  our  heroes  of  1775)  hand- 
ed down  to  the  latest  posterity.  That  the  Almighty  may 
direct  vour  counsels,  be  with  you  in  the  day  of  battle,  and 
that  you  may  be  preserved  as  a  pattern  to  this  people  for 
many  years  to  come,  is  our  fervent  prayer. 

Per  order:  Matthew  Pattin,  Chairman. 

July  19,  1775. 

General  Sullivan's  Answer. 

To  the  Honourable  the  Committee  of  Safety  for  the 
County  of  Hillsborough  : 

Gentlemen:  Your  polite  congratulatory  Address  upon 
my  appointment  to  the  rank  of  Brigadier-General  in  the 
American  Army,  demands  my  most  sincere  and  cordial 
thanks.  Your  approbation  of  my  conduct  while  at  the  bar, 
acting  in  defence  of  an  injured  people  against  the  arbitrary 
tools  of  Government,  gives  me  the  highest  satisfaction. 

The  favourable  opinion  which  you  have  formed  of  my 
courage  and  military  skill,  must  alone  be  a  sufficient  in- 


ducement for  me  to  exert  myself  at  this  important  dav, 
and,  if  possible,  prevent  you  from  being  disappointed  'in 
your  expectations.  It  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  find  that 
so  respectable  a  number  of  the  worthy  sons  of  freedom, 
in  the  Colony  to  which  J  belong,  have  so  publickly  given 
their  approbation  of  my  conduct  in  assisting  to  secure  the 
warlike  stores  at  Fort  William  and  Mary,  and  thereby  pre- 
venting those  evils  which  must  have  resulted  from  our  ene- 
mies having  the  possession  of  them.  That  the  important 
office  you  sustain  may  be  ever  held  by  such  worthy  patriots, 
who,  while  they  so  nobly  exert  themselves  in  defence  of 
our  common  liberties,  are  endeavouring  to  strengthen  the 
hands  of  others,  is,  gentlemen,  the  earnest  prayer  of  your 
most  obedient  servant,  John  Sullivan. 

Camp  at  Winter  Hill,  August  10,  1775. 


GENERAL   SULLIVAN   TO   THE  NEW-HAMPSHIRE  COMMITTEE 
OF  SAFETY. 

Medford,  July  19,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  As  we  have  no  matters  regulated  in  manner 
ordered  by  the  Congress  as  yet,  I  can  give  no  exact  account 
of  the  state  of  our  affairs  till  that  time.  We  are  in  great 
want  of  bayonets  for  our  men  ;  I  would  entreat  you  to  send 
some  of  different  sizes,  and  a  person  who  understands  fix- 
ing them  to  the  guns.  I  am  sorry  to  inform  you,  that  the 
New-Hampshire  forces  are  without  a  Chaplain,  when  the 
Continental  Congress  have  voted  pay  for  a  Chaplain  in 
each  regiment.  Our  men  are  obliged  to  attend  prayers 
with  the  Rhode-Lland  Regiment,  and  when  they  assem- 
ble, the  concourse  is  so  great  that  few  of  them  can  hear  a 
word  that  is  said.  It  being  essentially  necessary  in  an  army 
to  keep  up  divine  worship,  I  doubt  not  you  will  send  us 
a  Chaplain  to  each  Regiment. 

I  must  remind  you  that  it  is  absolutely  necessary  for  us 
to  have  some  beds  for  our  sick  men,  many  having  died 
already  for  the  want  of  comfortable  beds  to  lie  upon.  I 
therefore  entreat  that  you  would  buy  up  and  send  us  beds, 
with  some  stuff  to  make  cots  and  hammocks. 

We  also  are  in  great  need  of  guns  and  blankets,  several 
having  been  lost  in  the  late  engagement,  and  several  others 
not  fit  for  service. 

Gentlemen,  1  am,  with  respect,  your  most  obedient  ser- 
vant, John  Sullivan. 
Committee  of  Safety. 


COLONEL  REID  TO  NEW-HAMPSHIRE  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY. 

Camp  at  Winter  Hill,  July  19,  1775. 

Gentlemen:  1  received  yours  of  the  1st  instant,  and 
note  the  contents.  You  say,  without  knowing  I  had  in 
actual  service  or  in  my  eye,  any  person  as  Adjutant  of  my 
Regiment,  have  commissioned  Mr.  McGregore,  a  suitable 
person,  &ic.  I  doubt  not  but  Mr.  McGregore  is  a  worth v 
and  suitable  gentleman  for  an  Adjutant,  and  is  agreeable 
to  me,  and  I  wish  he  had  been  so  to  the  Regiment ;  but,  to 
my  surprise,  when  he  ordered  the  Guards  to  be  paraded,  I 
soon  learnt  they  refused  to  appear.  I  was  under  the  neces- 
sity to  order  the  Captain  to  parade  them,  and  they  imme- 
diately obeyed.  You  may  be  assured  1  should  have  done 
every  thing  in  my  power  to  have  made  Mr.  McGregore's 
duty  agreeable,  but  this  happened  at  a  time  when  no  officer 
was  in  commission,  nor  the  soldiers  sworn.  It  was  not  a 
time  to  enter  into  a  dispute ;  the  difficulties  are  better  known 
than  expressed.  I  must  beg  leave  to  inform  you,  that  not 
a  single  day's  duty  in  a  regiment  can  be  done  with  pro- 
priety without  an  Adjutant  ;  and  if  ever  the  duty  of  an 
Adjutant  was  necessary,  it  was  before  the  late  action,  as 
well  as  soon  after.  How  could  you  imagine  that  I  could  do 
one  day  without  both  Adjutant  and  Quartermaster;  be- 
sides, you  gave  me  the  liberty  of  appointing  both.  You 
say,  if  any  person  I  judge  suitable  is  disposed  to  act  as  a 
volunteer  in  that  capacity,  without  pay,  you  have  no  ob- 
jection, unless  it  should  plainly  appear  to  you  that  he  would 
not  answer  the  end.  To  which  1  answer,  I  hope  in  time 
my  conduct  will  convince  you  that  I  have  the  service  more 
at  heart  than  to  be  partial  in  the  matter.  I  do  easily  per- 
ceive, that  it  must  be  very  disagreeable  to  the  honourable 
Committee  and  the  worthy  gentleman,  Mr.  McGregore,  to 
be  disappointed  ;  but  hope  you  will  provide  for  him  some 
other  way.    I  heartily  thank  the  honourable  Committee 


1691 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JULY,  1775. 


1692 


for  their  friendly  paragraph,  in  which  you  say,  you  may 
assure  yourself,  that  so  far  as  the  publick  service  will  al- 
low, you  shall  take  pleasure  in  gratifying  me  or  the  Regi- 
ment, or  any  individual.  This  is  the  sole  reason  why  Mr. 
Peabody  is  continued  as  Adjutant ;  and  1  presume  the 
voice  of  the  Regiment  will  make  this  manifest,  which  is 
the  hest  information  the  nature  of  the  thing  will  admit  of. 

Permit  me,  gentlemen,  to  remind  you  of  your  promise 
that  I  should  have  a  Chaplain,  for  the  want  of  which  the 
service  greatly  suffers,  as  we  have  to  borrow  from  other 
regiments,  which  is  a  thing  I  cannot  repay. 

Beg  leave,  at  the  same  time,  to  subscribe,  gentlemen,  my- 
self your  obliged  and  ever  humble  servant  at  command, 

James  Rkid. 


WILMINGTON  (nORTH-CAROLINa)  COMMITTEE. 

On  the  20th  July,  at  a  monthly  meeting  of  the  Commit- 
tee for  the  Town  of  Wilmington,  and  the  County  of  New- 
Hanover,  at  which  were  occasionally  present  a  number  of 
gentlemen,  members  of  the  different  Committees  in  Wil- 
mington District,  the  Committee,  upon  taking  the  Restrain- 
ing Act  into  consideration, 

"  Resolved  unanimously,  That  the  exception  of  that 
Colony,  and  some  others,  out  of  the  said  act,  is  a  base  and 
mean  artifice,  to  seduce  them  into  a  desertion  of  the  com- 
mon cause  of  America ;"  and  that  "  they  will  not  accept 
of  the  advantages  insidiously  thrown  out  by  the  said  act ; 
but  will  adhere  strictly  to  such  plans  as  have  been,  and 
shall  be,  entered  into  by  the  honourable  Continental  Con- 
gress, so  as  to  keep  up  a  perfect  unanimity  with  their  sister 
Colonies." 

They  also  "  unanimously  Resolved,  not  to  freight,  or  in 
any  manner  employ,  any  shipping  belonging  to  Poole,  and 
that  they  will  not  carry  on  any  commercial  intercourse  or 
communication  with  the  selfish  people  of  that  Town." 

The  Committee,  likewise,  after  premising  that  it  appear- 
ed upon  inconlestible  evidence  that  John  Collett,  Com- 
mander of  Fort  Johnston,  was  preparing  the  said  Fort  for 
the  reception  of  a  promised  re-enforcement,  and  had  been 
also  guilty  of  various  malepractices,  inform  the  publick,  that 
they,  "  having  taken  these  things  into  their  consideration, 
judged  it  might  be  of  the  most  pernicious  consequences  to 
the  people  at  large,  if  the  said  John  Collett  should  be  suf- 
fered to  remain  in  the  Fort,  as  he  might  thereby  have  op- 
portunities of  carrying  his  iniquitous  schemes  into  execu- 
tion." 

This  opinion  having  been  communicated  to  the  officers, 
and  the  Committees  of  some  neighbouring  Counties,  a  great 
many  volunteers  were  immediately  collected,  a  party  of 
whom  reached  Brunswick,  when  accounts  were  received 
that  the  said  Commander  had  carried  off  all  the  small  arms, 
ammunition,  and  part  of  the  artillery,  (the  property  of  that 
Province,)  together  with  his  furniture,  on  board  a  transport 
hired  for  that  purpose,  there  to  remain  until  the  re-enforce- 
ment should  arrive,  and  then  again  to  take  possession  of 
the  Fort.  The  original  design  being  thus  frustrated,  but 
the  different  detachments  having  met  at  Brunswick,  about 
five  hundred  men  inarched  to  the  Fort,  and  burnt  and  de- 
stroyed all  the  houses,  &.C.,  in  and  about  the  same;  demo- 
lished as  far  as  they  then  could  the  back  parts  of  the  forti- 
fication, and  effectually  dislodged  that  atrocious  freebooter. 


VIRGINIA   VOLUNTEERS   TO   NORFOLK  COMMITTEE. 

On  Thursday,  July  20th,  1775,  one  of  the  Dinwiddle 
volunteers  was  despatched  to  Norfolk  with  the  following 
Letter,  from  the  officers  of  the  several  Volunteer  Companies 
in  Williamsburgh,  to  the  Committee  of  that  Borough  : 

Gentlemen  :  We  judge  you  are  sensible  it  requires  no 
extraordinary  genius  to  divide,  and  true  wisdom  despises 
the  infamous  task.  You  have,  hitherto,  shown  the  diffu- 
sive spirit  of  benevolence  to  our  cause,  in  your  strictures  on 
Lord  Dunmore's  letters.  We  are,  therefore,  the  more 
truly  alarmed  at  a  report,  which  gives  us  too  much  grounds 
to  fear  you  are,  some  of  you,  deserting  the  glorious  cause  ; 
being  informed  that  there  are  volunteers  recruiting  in  oppo- 
sition to  the  Continental  plan.  Our  desire  is,  that  you  in- 
form us  of  the  verity  of  this  report,  that  we  may  assist  the 
proper  side  with  all  our  force,  as  soon  as  we  obtain  authority 


from  the  Convention,  which  is  at  present  silting,  before 
whom  we  shall  not  tail  to  lay  the  whole  state  of  the  case. 

We  are,  Ike. 

On  Saturday  he  returned  with  the  following  Answer  frcm 
the  Committee : 

To  the  Officers  of  the  Volunteer  Companies  in  Willi  ams- 

BLKGH. 

Gentlemen  :  We  are  happy  in  every  expression  of  your 
attachment  to  the  common  interest  of  your  Country,  and 
are  glad  we  can  inform  you  there  is  not  the  least  foundation 
for  the  fears  you  have  declared  for  our  safety,  upon  an  ill- 
grounded  report,  that  any  among  us  are  deserting  the  cause 
of  their  Country,  and  enlisting  against  it.  It  is  a  report, 
we  can  assure  you,  that  is  totally  devoid  of  truth.  You 
may  depend,  we  would  not  sit  still  as  indifferent  spectators 
of  such  hostile  measures.  The  time  may  come,  when  we 
may  stand  in  need  of  your  assistance,  surrounded  as  we 
are  by  armed  vessels  and  some  suspected  inhabitants ;  we 
trust  we  shall  then  receive  it;  and  should  the  Convention, 
hereafter,  think  it  necessary  to  quarter  any  of  you  among 
us.  you  may  rest  assured  we  shall  welcome  you  w  ith  w  illing 
hearts  and  open  arms. 

We  are,  Gentlemen,  your  humble  servants.  By  order 
of  the  Committee  :  William  Davies,  Secretary. 


CAPTAIN  MONTAGUE  TO  CAPTAIN  SQUIRE,  OF  H!S  MAJESTY'S 
SHIP  OTTER. 

Fowey,  Hampton  Roads,  July  20,  1775. 

Sir  :  Joseph  Harris*  the  bearer  of  this  letter,  has  ap- 
plied to  me  for  protection,  as  the  people  of  Hampton  and 
some  other  places  have  threatened  his  destruction,  as  they 
have  found  him  to  have  given  intelligence  concerning  a 
smuggling  schooner,  which  was  seized  in  Cherry-Stone 
Creek.  As  the  Fowey  will  soon  leave  the  Province,  1 
think  him  too  useful  to  His  Majesty's  service  to  take  away, 
he  being  well  acquainted  with  many  creeks  on  the  Eastern 
Shore,  at  York,  James  River,  and  Nansemond,  and  many 
ethers,  and  of  course  a  very  useful  person,  especially  in 
tenders,  as  he  is  not  acquainted  with  the  duties  of  a  sea- 
man, but  accustomed  to  pilot,  as  he  had  a  boat  for  that  use, 
which  is  now  detained  by  violence  in  Hampton  harbour. 
He  has  always  appeared  very  sober  and  prudent,  is  a  free- 
man, and  I  could  wish  strongly  to  recommend  him  to  such 
indulgence  as  his  endeavours  may  merit.  Agreeable  to  my 
Lord  Dunmore's  application,  I  have  sent  up  the  Arundel, 
and  Mr.  Atkinson  her  officer,  and  will  send  Mr.  Ruth  in 
the  Liberty.  I  have  taken  such  stores  and  hawser  out  of 
the  Arundel  as  belonged  to  the  Crown  when  with  me 
employed  on  His  Majesty's  service,  and  have  fitted  her 
with  her  real  private  property. 

I  am,  dear  Sir,  your  very  humble  servant, 

George  Montague. 


Pastoral  Letter  from  the  Synod  o/New-York  and  Phi- 
ladelphia, to  the  Congregations  raider  their  care ; 
delivered  from  the  Pulpit  on  the  20th  of  July,  1775, 
being  the  day  appointed  by  the  Honourable  Congress 
for  a  General  Past. 

Very  dear  Brethren  :  The  Synod  of  New-  York  and 
Philadelphia  being  met,  at  a  time  when  publick  affairs 
wear  so  threatening  an  aspect,  and  when  (unless  God  in 
his  sovereign  providence  speedily  prevent  it)  all  the  hor- 
rours  of  a  civil  war  throughout  this  great  Continent  are  to 
be  apprehended,  were  of  opinion,  that  they  could  not  dis- 
charge their  duty  to  the  numerous  Congregations  under 
their  care,  without  addressing  them  at  this  important  crisis. 
As  the  firm  belief,  and  habitual  recollection  of  the  power 
and  presence  of  the  living  God  ought  at  all  times  to  pos- 
sess the  minds  of  real  Christians;  so  in  seasons  of  publick 
calamity,  when  the  Lord  is  known  by  the  judgments  which 
heexecuteth,  it  would  be  an  ignorance  or  indifference  high- 
ly criminal,  not  to  look  up  to  him  with  reverence,  to  im- 
plore his  mercy  by  humble  and  fervent  prayer,  and,  if  pos- 
sible, to  prevent  his  vengeance  by  unfeigned  repentance. 

We  do,  therefore,  brethren,  beseech  you,  in  the  most 
earnest  maimer,  to  look  beyond  the  immediate  authors 

*  A  Runaway  mulatto  slave,  belonging  to  Mr.  Henry  King,  of 
Hampton. 


1693 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c  ,  JULY,  177.3. 


1G94 


either  of  your  sufferings  or  fears,  and  to  acknowledge  the 
holiness  and  justice  of  the  Almighty  in  the  present  visita- 
tion. He  is  righteous  in  all  his  ways,  and  holy  in  all  his 
works.  Affliction  springeth  not  out  of  the  dust.  He  doth 
not  afflict  willingly,  nor  grieve  the  children  of  men ;  and, 
therefore,  it  beconieth  every  person,  family,  City,  and  Pro- 
vince, to  humble  themselves  before  his  throne,  to  confess 
their  sins,  by  which  they  have  provoked  his  indignation, 
and  entreat  him  to  pour  out  upon  all  ranks  a  spirit  of  re- 
pentance and  of  prayer.  Fly,  also,  for  forgiveness,  to  the 
atoning  blood  of  the  Great  Redeemer — the  blood  of  sprink- 
ling, which  speaketh  better  things  than  that  of  Abel.  Re- 
member and  confess,  not  only  your  sins  in  general,  but 
those  prevalent  national  offences  which  may  justly  be  con- 
sidered as  the  procuring  causes  of  publick  judgments — par- 
ticularly profaneness  and  contempt  of  God,  his  name, 
Sabbath,  and  sanctuary  ;  pride,  luxury,  uncleanuess,  and 
neglect  of  family  religion  and  government,  with  the  deplo- 
rable ignorance  and  security  which  certainly  ought  to  be 
imputed  to  this  as  their  principal  cause.  All  these  are 
among  us,  highly  aggravated  by  the  inestimable  privileges 
which  we  have  hitherto  enjoyed  without  interruption,  since 
the  first  settlement  of  this  Country.  If  in  the  present  day 
of  distress  we  expect  that  God  will  hear  our  supplications, 
a;id  interpose  for  our  protection  or  deliverance,  let  us  re- 
member what  he  himself  requires  of  us  is  that  our  prayers 
should  be  attended  with  a  sincere  purpose  and  thorough 
endeavour  after  personal  and  family  reformation.  "  If  thou 
prepare  thine  heart,  and  siretch  out  thine  hand  towards 
him :  if  iniquity  be  in  thine  hand,  put  it  far  away  ;  and 
let  not  wickedness  dwell  in  thy  tabernacles."  Job  xi,  13 
and  14. 

The  Synod  cannot  help  thinking,  that  this  is  a  proper 
time  for  pressing  all  of  every  rank  seriously  to  consider 
the  things  that  belong  to  their  eternal  peace.  Hostilities, 
long  feared,  have  now  taken  place ;  the  sword  has  been 
drawn  in  one  Province,  and  the  whole  Continent,  with 
hardly  any  exception,  seem  determined  to  defend  their 
rights  by  force  of  arms.  If,  at  the  same  time,  the  British 
Ministry  shall  continue  to  enforce  their  claims  by  violence, 
a  lasting  and  bloody  contest  must  be  expected.  Surely, 
then,  it  becomes  those  who  have  taken  up  arms,  and  pro- 
fess a  willingness  to  hazard  their  lives  in  the  cause  of  lib- 
erty, to  be  prepared  for  death,  which  to  many  must  be  the 
certain,  and  to  every  one  is  a  possible  or  probable  event. 

We  have  long  seen,  with  concern,  the  circumstances 
which  occasioned,  and  the  gradual  increase  of  this  unhappy 
difference.  As  Ministers  of  the  Gospel  of  peace,  we  have 
ardently  wished  that  it  could,  and  often  hoped  that  it  would, 
have  been  more  early  accommodated.  It  is  well  known 
to  you,  (otherwise  it  would  be  imprudent,  indeed,  thus  pub- 
lickly  to  profess,)  that  we  have  not  been  instrumental  in 
inflaming  the  minds  of  the  people,  or  urging  them  to  acts 
of  violence  and  disorder.  Perhaps  no  instance  can  be 
given  on  so  interesting  a  subject,  in  which  political  senti- 
ments have  been  so  long  and  so  fully  kept  from  the  pul- 
pit ;  and  even  malice  itself  has  not  charged  us  with  labour- 
ing from  the  press.  But  things  are  now  come  to  such  a 
state,  that  we  do  not  wish  to  conceal  our  opinions  as  men 
and  citizens  ;  so  the  relation  we  stand  in  to  you  seemed 
to  make  the  present  improvement  of  it  to  your  spiritual 
benefit  our  indispensable  duly.  Suffer  us,  then,  to  lay 
hold  of  your  present  temper  of  mind,  and  to  exhort,  espe- 
cially the  young  and  vigorous,  by  assuring  them,  that  there 
is  no  soldier  so  undaunted  as  the  pious  man  ;  no  army  so 
formidable  as  those  who  are  superiour  to  the  fear  of  death. 
There  is  nothing  more  awful  to  think  of,  than  that  those 
whose  trade  is  war  should  be  despisers  of  the  name  of  the 
Lord  of  Hosts,  and  that  they  should  expose  themselves  to 
the  imminent  danger  of  being  immediately  sent  from  curs- 
ing and  cruelty  on  earth,  to  the  blaspheming  rage  and  des- 
pairing horrour  of  the  infernal  pit.  Let,  therefore,  every 
one  who,  from  generosity  of  spirit  or  benevolence  of  heart, 
offers  himself  as  a  champion  in  his  Country's  cause,  be 
persuaded  to  reverence  the  name,  and  walk  in  the  fear  of 
the  Prince  of  the  Kings  of  the  earth ;  and  then  he  may, 
with  the  most  unshaken  firmness,  expect  the  issue  either  in 
victory  or  death. 

Let  it  not  be  forgotten,  that  though,  for  the  wise  ends  of 
his  providence,  it  may  please  God  for  a  season  to  suffer 
Lis  people  to  lie  under  unmerited  oppression  ;  yet,  in  gene- 


ral, we  may  expect,  that  those  who  fear  and  serve  him  in 
sincerity  and  truth  will  be  favoured  with  his  countenance 
and  strength.  It  is  both  the  character  and  the  privilege  of 
the  children  of  God,  that  they  call  upon  him  in  the  day  of 
trouble,  and  he,  who  keepeth  covenant  and  truth  forever, 
has  said,  that  his  ears  are  always  open  to  their  cry.  We 
need  not  mention  to  you  in  how  many  instances  the  event 
in  battles,  and  success  in  war,  have  turned  upon  circum- 
stances which  were  inconsiderable  in  themselves,  as  well 
as  out  of  the  power  of  human  prudence  to  foresee  or 
direct ;  because  we  suppose  you  firmly  believe,  that  after 
all  the  counsels  of  men,  and  the  most  probable  and  pro- 
mising means,  the  Lord  will  do  that  which  seemeth  him 
good.  Nor  hath  his  promise  ever  failed  of  its  full  ac- 
complishment. a  The  Lord  is  with  you  while  ye  be  with 
him  ;  and  if  ye  seek  him,  he  will  be  found  of  you :  but  if 
ye  forsake  him,  he  will  forsake  jou."  2  Chron.  xv.  2. 

After  this  exhortation,  w  hich  w  e  thought  ourselves  called 
upon  to  give  you  at  this  time  on  your  great  interest — the 
one  thing  needful — we  shall  take  the  liberty  to  offer  a  few 
advices  to  the  Societies  under  our  charge,  as  to  their  publick 
and  general  conduct.  And  first,  in  carrying  on  this  impor- 
tant struggle,  let  every  opportunity  be  taken  to  express  your 
attachment  and  respect  to  our  Sovereign  King  George,  and 
to  the  Revolution  principles  by  which  his  august  family  was 
seated  on  the  British  throne.  We  recommend,  indeed, 
not  only  allegiance  to  him  from  duty  and  principle,  as  the 
first  magistrate  of  the  empire,  but  esteem  and  reverence 
for  the  person  of  the  Prince,  who  has  merited  well  of  his 
subjects  on  many  accounts ;  and  w  ho  has  probably  been 
misled  into  the  late  and  present  measures  by  those  about 
him.  Neither  have  we  any  doubt  that  they  themselves 
have  been,  in  a  great  degree,  deceived  by  false  information 
from  interested  persons  residing  in  America.  It  gives  us 
the  greatest  pleasure  to  say,  from  our  own  certain  know- 
ledge of  all  belonging  to  our  communion,  and  from  the  best 
means  of  information  of  the  far  greatest  part  of  all  denomi- 
nations in  this  Country,  that  the  present  opposition  to  the 
measures  of  Administration  does  not  in  the  least  arise  from 
disaffection  to  the  King,  or  a  desire  of  separation  from  the 
Parent  State.  We  are  happy  in  being  able  with  truth  to 
affirm,  that  no  part  of  America  would  either  have  approved 
or  permitted  such  insults  as  have  been  offered  to  the  Sover- 
eign in  Great  Britain.  We  exhort  you,  therefore,  to  con- 
tinue in  the  same  disposition,  and  not  to  suffer  oppression  cr 
injury  itself  easily  to  provoke  you  to  any  thing  which  may 
seem  to  betray  contrary  sentiments.  Let  it  ever  appear, 
that  you  only  desire  the  preservation  and  security  of  those 
rights  which  belong  to  you  as  freemen  and  Britons,  and  that 
reconciliation  upon  these  terms  is  your  most  ardent  clesiie. 

Secondly:  Be  careful  to  maintain  the  union  which  at 
present  subsists  through  all  the  Colonies.  Nothing  can  be 
more  manifest,  than  that  the  success  of  every  measure  de- 
pends on  its  being  inviolably  preserved  ;  and  therefore,  we 
hope  that  you  will  leave  nothing  undone  which  can  pro- 
mote that  end.  In  particular,  as  the  Continental  Congress, 
now  sitting  at  Philadelphia,  consists  of  Delegates  chosen 
in  the  most  free  and  unbiased  manner  by  the  body  of  the 
people,  let  them  not  only  be  treated  with  respect,  but  en- 
couraged in  their  difficult  service;  not  only  let  your  prayers 
be  offered  up  to  God  for  his  direction  in  their  proceedings, 
but  adhere  firmly  to  their  resolutions ;  and  let  it  be  seen 
that  they  are  able  to  bring  out  the  whole  strength  of  this 
vast  Country  to  carry  them  into  execution.  We  would 
also  advise,  for  the  same  purpose,  that  a  spirit  of  can- 
dour, charily,  and  mutual  esteem  be  preserved  and  pro- 
moted towards  those  of  different  religious  denominations. 
Persons  of  probity  and  principle,  of  every  profession,  should 
be  united  together  as  servants  of  the  same  Master  ;  and  the 
experience  of  our  happy  concord  hitherto  in  a  state  ol 
liberty,  should  engage  all  to  unite  together  in  support  of 
the  common  interest;  for  there  is  no  example  in  history 
in  which  civil  liberty  was  destroyed,  and  the  rights  of  con- 
science preserved  entire. 

Thirdly  :  We  do  earnestly  exhort  and  beseech  the  So- 
cieties under  our  care,  to  be  strict  and  vigilant  in  their  pri- 
vate government,  and  to  watch  over  the  morals  of  their 
several  members.  It  is  with  the  utmost  pleasure  we  re- 
mind you,  that  the  last  Continental  Congress  determin- 
ed to  discourage  luxury  in  living,  publick  diversions,  and 
«amin"  of  all  kinds,  which  have  so  fatal  an  influence  on  the 


1695 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &:c.,  JULY,  1775. 


1696 


morals  of  tlie  people.  If  it  is  undeniable  that  universal 
profligacy  makes  a  nation  ripe  for  divine  judgments,  and  is 
the  natural  mean  of  bringing  them  to  ruin,  reformation  of 
manners  is  of  the  utmost  necessity  in  our  present  distress. 
At  the  same  time,  as  it  has  been  observed  by  many  eminent 
writers,  that  the  censorial  power,  which  had  for  its  object 
the  manners  of  the  publick  in  the  ancient  free  States,  was 
absolutely  necessary  to  their  continuance,  we  cannot  help 
being  of  opinion,  that  the  only  thing  which  we  have  now 
to  supply  the  place  of  this,  is  the  religious  discipline  of  the 
several  sects  with  respect  to  their  own  members ;  so  that 
the  denomination  or  profession  which  shall  take  the  most 
effectual  care  of  the  instruction  of  its  members,  and  main- 
tain its  discipline  in  the  fullest  vigour,  will  do  the  most 
essential  service  to  the  whole  body.  For  the  very  same 
reason,  the  greatest  service  which  magistrates  or  persons  in 
authority  can  do  with  respect  to  the  religion  or  morals  of  the 
people,  is  to  defend  and  secure  the  rights  of  conscience  in 
the  most  equal  and  impartial  manner. 

Fourthly :  We  cannot  but  recommend,  and  urge  in  the 
warmest  manner,  a  regard  to  order  and  publick  peace  ;  and 
as  in  many  places,  during  the  confusions  that  prevail,  legal 
proceedings  have  become  difficult,  it  is  hoped  that  all  per- 
sons will  conscientiously  pay  their  just  debts,  and  to  the 
utmost  of  their  power  serve  one  another,  so  that  the  evils 
inseparable  from  a  civil  war,  may  not  be  augmented  by 
wantonness  and  irregularity. 

Fifthly  :  We  think  it  of  importance  at  this  time,  to  re- 
commend to  all  of  every  rank,  but  especially  to  those  who 
may  be  called  to  action,  a  spirit  of  humanity  and  mercy. 
"  Every  battle  of  the  warriour  is  with  confused  noise,  and 
garments  rolled  in  blood."  It  is  impossible  to  appeal  to  the 
sword  without  being  exposed  to  many  scenes  of  cruelty 
and  slaughter;  but  it  is  often  observed,  that  civil  wars  are 
carried  on  with  a  rancour  and  spirit  of  revenge,  much  greater 
than  those  between  independent  states.  The  injuries  re- 
ceived or  supposed  in  civil  wars,  wound  more  deeply  than 
those  of  foreign  enemies ;  it  is,  therefore,  the  more  neces- 
sary to  guard  against  this  abuse,  and  recommend  that  meek- 
ness and  gentleness  of  spirit,  which  is  the  noblest  attendant 
on  true  valour.  That  man  will  fight  most  bravely  who 
never  fights  until  it  is  necessary,  and  who  ceases  to  fight 
as  soon  as  the  necessity  is  over. 

Lastly  :  We  would  recommend  to  all  the  Societies  under 
our  care,  not  to  content  themselves  with  attending  devoutly 
on  general  fasts,  but  to  continue  habitually  in  the  exercise 
of  prayer,  and  to  have  frequent  occasional  voluntary  meet- 
ings for  solemn  intercession  with  God  on  the  important 
trial.  Those  who  are  immediately  exposed  to  danger,  need 
your  sympathy  ;  and  we  learn  from  the  Scriptures,  that  fer- 
vency and  importunity  are  the  very  characters  of  that  prayer 
of  the  righteous  man  which  availeth  much. 

We  conclude  with  our  most  earnest  prayer,  that  the  God 
of  Heaven  may  bless  you  in  your  temporal  and  spiritual 
concerns,  and  that  the  present  unnatural  dispute  may  be 
speedily  terminated  by  an  equitable  and  lasting  settlement 
on  constitutional  principles. 

Signed  in  the  name,  presence,  and  by  appointment  of  the 
Synod  :  Benjamin  Hait,  Moderator. 

New- York,  May  12,  1775. 


ETHAN  ALLEN  TO  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

Ticonderoga,  July  20,  1775. 

Respectable  Gentlemen  :  When  I  reflect  on  the  un- 
happy controversy  which  hath  many  years  subsisted  be- 
tween the  Government  of  New-  York  and  the  settlers  on 
the  New-Hamjjshire  Grants,  and  also  contemplate  on  the 
friendship  and  union  that  hath  lately  taken  place  between 
the  Government  and  those  its  former  discontented  sub- 
jects, in  making  a  united  resistance  against  ministerial  ven- 
geance and  slavery,  I  cannot  but  indulge  fond  hopes  of 
reconciliation.  To  promote  this  salutary  end  I  shall  con- 
tribute my  influence,  assuring  your  Honours,  that  your  re- 
spectful treatment,  not  only  to  Mr.  Warner  and  myself,  but 
to  the  Green  Mountain  Boys  in  general,  in  forming  them 
into  a  battalion,  are  by  them  duly  regarded,  and  I  will  be 
responsible  that  they  will  retaliate  this  favour  by  boldly 
hazarding  their  lives,  if  need  be,  in  the  common  cause  of 
America. 

1  hope  no  gentleman  in  the  Congress  will  retain  any 


preconceived  prejudices  against  me,  as,  on  my  part,  I  shall 
not  against  any  of  them ;  but  as  soon  as  opportunity  may 
permit  and  the  publick  cause  not  suffer  thereby ,  shall  hold 
myself  in  readiness  to  settle  all  former  disputes  and  griev- 
ances on  honourable  terms. 

I  am,  Gentlemen,  with  the  greatest  respect,  your  devoted, 
most  obedient  humble  servant,  Ethan  Allen. 

To  the  Honourable  Provincial  Congress,  New-York. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER   FROM  WATE RTOWN  TO  A  GENTLE- 
MAN IN  PHILADELPHIA,  DATED  JULY  20,  1775. 

Our  new  Assembly  met  yesterday,  and  only  chose  a 
Speaker  and  a  Clerk.  I  shall  now  endeavour  to  inform 
you  what  has  happened  in  the  military  way  since  my  last. 
The  attempt  on  Long-Island,  the  taking  off  all  the  stock, 
and  afterwards  returning  to  burn  the  buildings,  inc.,  (which 
you  will  have  in  the  papers,)  was  certainly  a  bold  intrepid  ma- 
noeuvre, and  as  such,  astonished  our  enemies.  The  barges 
full  of  armed  men  were  afraid  to  attack  our  whale-boats  at 
a  proper  distance,  and  the  armed  vessels,  either  agitated  by 
fear,  or  destitute  of  judgment,  did  it  without  execution. 
The  next  thing  that  took  place  was,  the  possessing  and 
fortifying  a  post  by  Brown's  house,  on  the  neck,  near  their 
lines  ;  this  has  been  effected  with  the  loss  of  only  one  man, 
and  he  not  employed  there,  though  they  worked  in  open 
sight  of  them,  and  exposed  to  an  incessant  fire  from  their 
cannon,  which  our  people  treated  with  the  extremest  con- 
tempt, not  so  much  as  leaving  their  work  or  firing  a  shot. 
No  general  movement  has  taken  place.  There  was  an 
appearance  of  one  the  day  before  yesterday,  on  the  Rox- 
bury  side,  but  they  disappointed  General  Thomas,  who  com- 
mands there,  and  made  an  excellent  disposition  to  receive 
them.  Roxbury  is  amazingly  strong.  I  believe  it  would 
puzzle  ten  thousand  troops  to  go  through  it,  I  mean  of  the 
best  in  the  world.  I  am  just  told  that  our  boats  have  this 
day  been  at  the  Light-House,  and  burnt  it,  in  spite  of  the 
firing  from  the  men-of-war  and  a  number  of  boats.  1  hear 
it  was  executed  by  three  hundred  Rhode-Islanders,  with- 
out any  loss.  It  is  said  they  are  more  afraid  of  our  w  hale- 
boats  than  we  are  of  their  men-of-war;  and  a  few  aimed 
vessels,  I  am  well  convinced,  would  produce  great  conse- 
quences. Captain  Derby,  who  went  to  England  with  the 
account  of  the  battle  of  the  nineteenth  of  April,  returned 
two  dayrs  ago.  He  was  there  eight  days,  and  came  away 
before  General  Gage's  packet  arrived.  He  says  trade  and 
stocks  were  amazingly  affected  in  that  short  time.  Lord 
Dartmouth  sent  for  him  three  times,  but  he  refused  to  go; 
and  when  he  threatened  him,  he  decamped,  got  on  board, 
and  came  off  without  clearing  or  entering.  By  a  letter  from 
London  by  him,  I  fancy  General  Gage  is  to  expect  no 
re-enforcement  this  fall.  The  troops  are  very  sickly  in 
Boston,  and  greatly  reduced. 


TO  ALL  SEAFARING  PEOPLE. 

Preston,  at  Boston,  July  20,  1775. 

This  is  to  give  notice,  that  the  Light-House  on  Thatch- 
ers Island,  (commonly  called  Cape  Anne  Lights)  and  the 
Light-House  at  the  entrance  of  Boston  Harbour,  are  burnt 
and  destroyed  by  the  Rebels. 

And  further  notice  is  given,  that  all  seafaring  people  be 
careful  that  they  are  not  deceived  by  false  lights,  which  the 
Rebels  threaten  to  hang  out,  in  order  to  decoy  vessels  into 
destruction.    By  command  of  the  Admiral : 

G.  Gefferina. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  TO  A  GENTLEMAN  IN  LONDON,  DATED 
SALEM,  JULY  20,  1775. 

I  have  just  time  to  acquaint  you,  that  within  these  few- 
days  we  have  had  offers  from  some  maritime  Powers,  secretly 
conveyed  to  us,  that  if  we  wanted  assistance  from  either  of 
them,  in  money  or  men-of-war,  we  shall  be  supplied,  upon 
condition  that  when  peace  is  restored  to  these  unhappy 
Colonies,  we  open  a  trade  with  them,  and  exclude  our 
Mother  Country  from  any  share  of  it.  Their  offers  are  at 
present  rejected.  The  Spaniards  have  now  in  the  West- 
Indies  a  fleet  of  men-of-war  of  great  force,  and  the  Spa- 
nish Islands  are  full  of  soldiers,  w  aiting  in  expectation  that 
we  shall  embrace  their  offers.  But  1  hope  Government 
will  find  out  some  means  to  bring  about  a  reconciliation  ; 


1697 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JULY,  1775. 


1698 


for  we  are  so  loyal,  that  nothing  but  depredation  can  make 
us  submit  to  go  under  the  Spanish  yoke.  All  things  have 
remained  quiet  since  the  seventeenth  of  last  month,  except 
some  small  skirmishes.  I  send  this  by  our  post  to  New- 
York,  so  that  1  hope  it  will  come  safe  to  hand. 

Newbern,  North-Carolina,  July  21,  1775. 
Agreeable  to  an  order  of  the  honourable  the  Continen- 
tal Congress,  yesterday,  the  twentieth  instant,  was  observed 
here  as  a  day  of  fasting,  humiliation,  and  prayer,  to  humble 
ourselves  before  God,  and  to  deprecate  his  impending  judg- 
ments now  held  over  this  land  for  our  sins  and  offences. 
Divine  service  was  performed  in  the  church,  and  a  very 
Rnimating  and  spirited  discourse,  suitable  to  the  occasion, 
was  read  by  a  member  of  the  Committee,  to  a  very  crowded 
audience,  who  were  assembled  on  the  occasion.  A  depu- 
tation from  the  Committee  had  been  ordered,  previous  to 
the  day,  to  wait  on  the  Reverend  Mr.  James  Reed,  Minister 
of  the  Parish,  to  request  and  entreat  him  to  perform  divine 
service  in  his  church  on  the  fast  day,  and  deliver  a  sermon ; 
but  their  entreaties  were  vain,  he  giving  as  a  substantial 
reason,  that  as  he  was  one  of  the  missionaries  of  the  honour- 
able Society  for  Propagating  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts, 
he  should  render  himself  obnoxious  to  the  Ministry,  and  of 
course  lose  his  mission. 

Committee  Chamber,  July  21,  1775. 
The  Committee  taking  into  consideration  the  unaccount- 
able behaviour  and  conduct  of  Mr.  Reed,  in  deserting  his 
congregation  yesterday,  when  almost  all  ranks  and  denomina- 
tions of  Christians  among  us  were  assembled  at  the  church, 
by  order  of  the  Continental  Congress,  to  humiliate  ourselves 
before  God,  by  fasting  and  prayer,  to  avert  from  us  his 
heavy  judgments  now  hanging  over  us;  have  resolved, 
that  the  vestry  of  this  Parish  be  earnestly  requested  to 
suspend  the  said  James  Reed  from  his  ministerial  function 
in  the  said  Parish,  and  that  they  immediately  direct  their 
church-wardens  to  stop  payment  of  the  said  Mr.  Reed's 
salary  as  Minister  of  the  said  Parish. 

In  General  Committee,  July  23,  1775. 
The  Select  Committee  having  passed  a  vote  of  censure 
on  the  Reverend  Mr.  James  Reed,  for  refusing  to  perform 
divine  service  in  his  church  on  the  day  set  apart  by  the 
Continental  Congress  for  a  fast,  a  motion  was  made  that 
the  said  suspension  be  agreed  to;  whereupon  it  was  re- 
solved unanimously,  that  the  said  suspension  be  confirmed. 


BENJAMIN  HARRISON  TO  GENERAL  WASHINGTON. 

Philadelphia,  July  21,  1775. 
Dear  General:  I  received  your  very  acceptable  favour 
of  the  tenth  instant,  by  express.  Your  fatigue  and  various 
kinds  of  trouble,  1  dare  say  are  great ;  but  they  are  not  more 
than  I  expected,  knowing  the  people  you  have  to  deal  with 
bv  the  sample  we  have  here.  The  Congress  have  taken 
the  two  regiments,  now  raising  in  Connecticut,  into  service, 
which,  with  riflemen  and  recruits  to  your  regiments,  will,  I 
hope,  make  up  the  number  voted  by  your  Council  of  War. 
I  wish,  with  all  my  heart,  your  troops  were  better,  and  your 
stores  more  complete ;  every  thing  that  we  can  do  here, 
to  put  you  in  the  best  posture  possible,  I  think  you  may 
depend  will  be  done.  I  trust  you  will  have  a  supply  soon 
of  ammunition  ;  without  an  accident  you  may  depend  on 
it.  The  want  of  Engineers,  I  fear,  is  not  to  be  supplied  in 
America.  Some  folks  here  seemed  much  displeased  at  your 
report  on  that  head.  They  affirm  there  are  two  very  good 
ones  with  you — a  Colonel  Gridhy,  I  think,  is  one.  1  took 
the  liberty  to  say  that  they  must  be  mistaken  ;  they  were 
certainly  either  not  in  camp,  or  could  not  have  the  skill 
they  were  pleased  to  say  they  had.  This,  in  my  soft  way, 
put  a  stop  to  any  thing  more  on  the  subject.  Indeed,  my 
friend,  I  do  not  know  what  to  think  of  some  of  these  men  ; 
they  seem  to  be  exceeding  hearty  in  the  cause,  but  still 
wish  to  keep  every  thing  amongst  themselves.  Our  Pre- 
sident is  quite  of  a  different  cast — noble,  disinterested,  and 
generous,  to  a  very  great  degree.  The  Congress  have 
given  you  the  appointment  of  three  Brigade  Majors.  Mr. 
Trumbull  has  the  office  you  proposed  for  him.  The  ap- 
pointment of  the  Commissary  of  Artillery,  ditto  of  Mus- 
Fourth  Series. — Vol.  n.  1 


ters,  and  Quartermaster-General,  are  also  left  to  your  dis- 
posal. Nothing  is  yet  done  as  to  the  hospital,  but  I  will 
bring  it  on  very  soon.  Your  brothers  in  the  Delegation 
have  recommended  it  to  our  Convention  to  send  some 
Virginians  to  the  camp,  at  the  expense  of  our  Colony,  to 
learn  the  military  art ;  and  1  hope  you  will  see  them  soon. 
We  have  given  the  commission  of  First  Brigadier  to  Mr. 
Thomas.  As  Put?iam,s  commission  was  delivered,  it  would, 
perhaps,  have  offended  the  old  gentleman  to  have  super- 
seded him ;  the  other,  I  hope,  will  still  act.  The  Con- 
gress have,  from  your  account,  a  high  opinion  of  him,  and 
I  dare  say  will  grant  any  thing  in  their  power  that  he  may 
hereafter  require.  Your  hint  for  a  remove  of  the  Congress 
to  some  place  nearer  to  you,  will  come  on  to-morrow.  I 
think  it  will  not  answer  your  expectations  if  we  should  re- 
move ;  you  shall  have  the  result  in  the  close  of  this.  The 
military  chest,  I  hope,  will  be  supplied  soon  ;  they  begin 
to  strike  the  bills  this  day,  so  that  1  hope  some  may  be 
forwarded  to  you  next  week ;  what  has  occasioned  the 
delay  in  this  article  1  know  not,  without  an  imitaton  of  the 
Congress,  in  its  slowness,  is  become  fashionable.  1  have 
had  no  further  account  from  our  country  about  the  Govern- 
our,  except  that  he  is  still  at  Yorktown,  with  three  men- 
of-war.  He,  Montague,  and  Foye,  went  the  other  day  by 
water  to  his  farm,  and  were  within  three  or  four  minutes 
of  being  all  taken  by  Captain  Meredith,  with  seventy 
men  from  Hanover,  who  are,  with  about  one  hundred 
and  fifty  from  other  counties,  guarding  fl illiamsburgh  from 
any  attempts  that  he  may  make  with  his  boiled  crabs. 
Meredith  says  his  intentions  were  to  carry  his  Lordship  to 
Williamsburgh,  to  put  him  into  the  Palace,  and  promise 
him  protection,  to  convince  him  and  the  world  that  no 
injury  was  intended  him  ;  however,  as  he  missed  his  stroke, 
I  dare  say  he  will  be  charged  with  intending  to  murder 
him.  We  think  the  season  too  far  advanced  to  send  you 
any  more  men  from  the  southward,  but  it  seems  to  be  the 
general  opinion  to  send  some  thousands  early  in  the  spring. 
Should  this  be  the  case,  if  I  have  the  honour  of  being  here, 
you  may  depend  on  my  care  of  Mr.  Johnston.  We  have 
an  imperfect  account  of  an  attack  on  Neiv-York  by  some 
of  the  over-lake  Indians.  I  hope  it  is  not  true ;  indeed, 
(betwixt  you  and  I,)  I  give  very  little  credit  to  any  thing 
from  that  quarter,  and  wish  I  could  say  I  had  no  reason  to 
be  suspicious  of  those  people.  We  yesterday  received 
despatches  from  Georgia;  they  have  come  into  the  Union, 
and  have  appointed  Delegates  to  the  Congress.  They  have 
even  done  more  ;  they,  with  the  South-Carolinians,  armed 
a  vessel,  and  have  taken  a  ship  with  one  hundred  and  forty 
barrels  of  the  King's  powder,  which  they  have  divided 
betwixt  them. 

Twenty-third. — The  debate  about  our  remove  was  taken 
up  yesterday,  and  determined  in  the  negative. .  I  proposed 
a  Committee,  but  could  not  carry  it.  I  think  the  last 
method  would  have  answered  your  purpose  best,  but  the 
gentlemen  could  not  think  of  parting  with  the  least  particle 
of  their  power.  Pendleton  left  us  yesterday;  all  Mary- 
land are  gone  off  this  day,  and  we  intend  to  follow  them 
next  Sunday,  if  nothing  material  happens  betwixt  this  and 
then.  Our  going,  [  expect,  will  break  up  the  Congress; 
indeed  I  think  it  is  high  lime  there  was  an  end  of  it :  we 
have  been  too  long  together. 

Edmund  Randolph  is  here,  and  has  the  greatest  desire 
to  he  with  you.  He  has  begged  of  me  to  say  something 
in  his  favour,  and  that  if  you  can  with  propriety,  you  will 
keep  one  of  the  places  now  in  your  gift  for  him  ;  he  is 
not  able  to  support  himself,  or  he  would  not  ask  this  of  you. 
You  know  him  as  well  as  I  do ;  he  is  one  of  the  cleverest 
young  men  in  America,  and  if  Mr.  Reed  should  leave  you, 
his  place  of  Secretary  can't  be  better  supplied.  He  will 
set  off  for  JStw-  York  in  a  few  days,  and  1  beg  it  as  a  favour 
of  you  to  write  a  line  to  him,  to  be  left  at  the  post-office 
there  till  called  for.  This  deserving  young  man  was  in 
high  repute  in  Virginia,  and  he  fears  his  father's  conduct 
may  tend  to  lessen  him  in  the  esteem  of  his  countrymen. 
He  has  taken  this  method  without  the  advice  of  his  friends, 
to  raise  hirn  into  favour.  As  he  is  determined  on  the 
thing  I  am  sure  our  good  old  Speaker  will  be  much  obliged 
for  any  favour  you  show  him.  Applications  of  this  sort,  1 
fear,  will  be  too  frequent.  I  shall  avoid  them  as  much  as 
possible  ;  but  I  could  not  refuse  it  on  this  occasion,  well 
knowing  that  a  most  valuable  young  man,  and  one  that  I 

7 


1699 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  he,  JULY,  1775. 


1700 


love,  without  some  step  of  this  sort,  may,  from  the  miscon- 
duct of  his  parent,  be  lost  to  his  Country,  which  now  stands 
much  in  need  of  men  of  his  abilities.  We  have  a  report 
that  Bob  McKenzie  was  killed  at  Bunker's  Hill.  Is  it  true? 
I  had  a  great  friendship  for  him  formerly,  but  can't  help 
saying  I  shall  he  glad  to  hear  the  news  confirmed. 

Ttventy-fourth. — Nothing  new  in  Congress,  or  from  Vir- 
ginia to-day.  I  should  therefore  have  closed  this,  without 
saying  more,  had  not  an  application  been  made  to  me  to 
introduce  to  you  Captain  Thomas  Price,  of  a  Company  of 
Riflemen  from  Maryland.  He  comes  with  a  high  character 
from  thence,  and  is  looked  on  as  most  firmly  attached  to 
the  cause  of  America.  He  has  a  large  family,  which  he 
has  left  merely  to  forward  the  service.  The  Deputies  from 
that  country  are  gone  home.  I  have  seen  a  letter  in  his 
favour  to  Mr.  Tilghman,  highly  commending  him;  and  as 
he  could  not,  through  that  channel,  get  a  recommendation, 
1  have  been  prevailed  on  to  introduce  him,  which  liberty  I 
hope  you  will  excuse.    I  am,  my  dear  Sir,  yours,  &ic. 

Benjamin  Harrison. 


bucks  county  (Pennsylvania)  committee. 

In  Committee,  Bucks  County,  July  21,  1775. 

Complaints  being  made  by  several  officers  of  the  Associa- 
ted Companies,  that  sundry  persons  from  various  causes  had 
attempted  to  raise  second  Companies  in  their  Townships, 
whereby  those  already  associated  were  weakened,  and  in 
some  instances  had  been  greatly  insulted : 

The  Committee  having  considered  the  same,  are  of  opin- 
ion, that  as  harmony  and  unanimity  are  essentially  neces- 
sary in  prosecuting  the  present  unhappy  contest,  and  as 
Field-Officers  are  now  appointed  for  the  respective  Batta- 
lions of  the  County,  no  second  Companies  ought  to  be  raised 
in  any  Township,  without  leave  being  first  obtained  from 
them  for  that  purpose. 

Whereas,  several  persons  who  were  chosen  members  of 
this  Committee  in  December  last,  have  hitherto  neglected 
to  attend  the  same,  and  others  who  have  attended,  have, 
from  scruples  of  conscience,  made  application  to  be  dis- 
charged, the  Committee  therefore  request  all  those  who  do 
not  purpose  attending  for  the  future  to  advertise  their  re- 
spective Townships  with  their  determination,  at  the  same 
time  appointing  some  convenient  time  and  place  for  the  in- 
habitants to  meet,  and  choose  other  suitable  persons  in  their 
room,  who  are  desired  to  meet  the  Committee  on  Monday, 
the  21st  of  August,  at  the  house  of  John  Bogart,  in  Buck- 
ingham Township. 

By  order  of  the  Committee  : 

Henry  Wynkoop,  Clerk. 


HUNTINGTON  (nEW-YORk)  COMMITTEE. 

Committee  Chamber,  Huntington,  July  21,  1775. 

Mr.  Hobart  laid  before  the  Committee  a  Letter  from  the 
Committee  of  Safety  for  the  Colony  of  New-  York  in  the 
recess  of  the  Provincial  Congress,  dated  New-York,  July 
14,  1775,  directed  to  him,  containing  information  that 
George  Youngs  and  his  son,  John  Brush,  and  one  Conk- 
ling,  were  concerned  in  Provisions  in  such  manner  as  they 
must  inevitably  serve  to  supply  General  Gage's  Fleet  and 
Army  at  Boston;  and  inclosing  notes  taken  from  two  wit- 
nesses on  that  subject,  which  were  read.  Messrs.  Youngs, 
Brush,  and  Conkling  being  present,  acknowledged  that 
they  had  sent  two  Sloops  loaded  with  Provisions  to  the 
eastward,  but  it  was  in  consequence  of  an  agreement  with 
the  inhabitants  of  Portsmouth,  in  New-Hampshire ;  that 
upon  their  arrival  in  the  harbour  of  Portsmouth,  they  were 
taken  by  two  English  men-of-war;  and  though  Governour 
Wenlworlh  and  the  Committee  of  the  Town  claimed  the 
Provisions  as  theirs  by  contract,  they  were  sent,  very  much 
against  their  inclination,  to  Boston,  where  they  were  obliged 
to  sell  their  Provisions  under  great  disadvantages,  and  at 
great  loss;  since  which  they  have  discontinued  their  trade 
to  the  eastward,  nor  have  they  at  present  any  thoughts  of 
resuming  it.  In  confirmation  of  all  which,  they  produced 
Timothy  Titus,  who  was  mate  of  one  of  the  sloops,  who 
deposed  as  follows,  viz : 

Timothy  Titus  deposed] :  that  he  was  mate  of  the  Sloop 
Elizabeth,  whereof  Cornelius  Conkling  was  master,  for  the 
two  voyages  she  lately  made  to  Portsmouth,  in  New-Hamp- 


shire ;  that  about  the  latter  end  of  April  last,  being  at  Ports- 
mouth aforesaid,  when  John  Conkling,  in  a  sloop  loaded 
by  John  Brush  of  Huntington,  was  there,  he  was  know- 
ing to  a  contract  made  by  the  said  Cornelius  Conkling  and 
John  Conkling,  with  the  inhabitants  of  Portsmouth,  to  de- 
liver two  cargoes  of  Provisions  there,  with  all  convenient 
speed,  provided  they  could  clear  out  from  New-York ;  that 
on  the  1  St h  of  May  following,  said  two  sloops  sailed  from 
the  east  end  of  Long-Island,  and  on  the  21st  they  arrived 
within  a  few  hours  of  each  other  in  Portsmouth  harbour, 
where  they  were  taken  by  the  Canceaux  and  Scarborough 
men-of-war;  and  notwithstanding  the  application  of  Gov- 
ernour Wentworlh  and  the  Committee  of  Portsmouth,  they 
were  sent  to  Boston  under  convoy  of  the  Sphynx,  sloop-ol- 
war,  where  they  were  obliged  to  sell  their  cargoes  at  the 
price  the  agents  were  pleased  to  give ;  after  which  they 
were  permitted  to  come  away.  And  this  deponent  further 
saith,  he  has  never  heard  any  persons  concerned  in  the 
aforesaid  voyage  propose  to  send  their  sloops  upon  another 
voyage  to  the  eastward.  Timothy  Titus. 

Sworn  the  21st  July,  1775. 

Before  me,  John  Sloss  Hobart, 

Justice  of  the  Peace. 

The  Committee  taking  the  premises  into  consideration, 
came  to  the  following  Resolution,  viz: 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  the  said  Youngs  and  his 
son,  Brush,  and  Conkling,  in  this  matter  have  not  contra- 
vened the  Association,  nor  in  any  wise  disobeyed  the  recom- 
mendations of  the  Continental  or  Provincial  Congresses. 

Whereas,  it  appears  that  great  uneasiness  prevails  in  the 
minds  of  many  people  upon  this  subject,  arising  from  a 
laudable  zeal  to  prevent  any  Provisions  being  sent  to  the 
instruments  of  tyranny  and  oppression  at  Boston, 

Ordered,  That  the  parties  concerned  be  allowed  a  copy 
of  the  Minutes  for  publication. 

Thomas  Wickes,  Chairman. 


COL.  JAMES  CLINTON  TO  NEW-YORK  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY. 

Little-Britain,  July  21,  1775. 

I  have  just  now  received  your  letter  dated  July  17th, 
requesting  me  to  prepare  and  lay  before  the  Congress  of 
this  Colony  at  New-  York,  a  state  of  my  Regiment,  and  of 
the  number  of  men  ready  and  fit  for  service  in  each  com- 
pany, and  likewise  requesting  me  to  inform  the  Congress 
when  the  Regiment  will  be  complete  and  ready  to  take  the 
field,  with  all  possible  despatch. 

I  can  only  acquaint  you  that  I  have  mustered  Captain 
Nicholson's  company,  and  Captain  Denton's;  Nicholson's  is 
complete,  Denton's  wants  but  four  men.  Captains  Brown 
and  Hasbrouck.  at  Kingston,  have  made  but  small  progress, 
as  they  have  but  lately  begun  to  enlist ;  but  I  make  no  doubt 
they  will  soon  get  their  men.  1  have  seen  Captain  Bil- 
lings at  Poughkeepsie,  who  says  his  company  is  complete, 
and  I  suppose  Captain  Dubois's  is  by  this  time.  I  ordered 
him  to  apply  to  Captain  Swartwout  to  muster  the  two  last 
companies,  as  he  was  appointed  for  that  purpose. 

I  have  had  no  account  from  Captain  Johnston,  ^Orange- 
town,  nor  the  three  Captains  on  Long-Island ;  but  I  suppose 
they  have  made  a  return  to  the  Congress  agreeable  to  the 
directions  given  them  in  their  warrant.  As  the  companies 
appointed  to  my  Regiment  are  at  so  great  a  distance  from 
each  other,  it  is  almost  impossible  for  me  to  make  a  return 
of  the  Regiment  till  I  meet  the  Congress  in  New-York 
next  Tuesday,  which  I  intend  to  do  as  near  the  time  as 
possible.    1  am,  Sir,  your  humble  servant, 

James  Clinton. 
To  Henry  Williams,  Esq.,  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of 

Safety  for  the  City  of  New-  York. 

P.  S.  I  find  arms  a  scarce  article  amongst  the  men,  they 
not  having  a  sufficient  quantity  to  exercise  them. 


ELISHA  PHELPS  TO  CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS. 

Albany,  July  21,  A.  D.  1775. 
May  it  please  your  Honours  :  Being  appointed  by 
his  Honour  the  Governour  of  Connecticut,  according  to 
your  resolve,  to  be  Commissary,  to  receive  at  Albany  pro- 
visions, he,  from  the  Provincial  Convention  of  Netv-  York, 
when  I  received  the  small  stores  of  Mr.  Bleecker,  the  Com- 


1701 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  he,  JULY,  1775. 


1702 


missary  in  Albany,  found  them  very  deficient,  according  to 
the  act  of  the  Colony  of  Connecticut ;  on  which  I  imme- 
diately applied  to  the  Committee,  who  told  me  they  had  no 
orders  to  purchase  ;  but  some  of  them  gave  me,  as  their 
private  advice,  to  purchase  according  to  act  of  said  Colony, 
whose  advice  I  followed,  and  have  purchased  about  three 
hundred  barrels  of  flour,  thirty  barrels  of  molasses,  some 
rum,  sugar,  vinegar,  inc.,  and  some  hospital  stores ;  which 
1  have  done  on  the  credit  of  the  United  Colonies  of  North 
America;  would  therefore  take  it  as  a  great  favour,  if  I 
could  have  from  your  Honours  a  sum  of  money  sufficient 
to  discharge  said  debts,  and  also  to  supply  the  Army  with 
other  necessaries,  and  pay  wagoners,  &ic,  as  they  complain 
much  for  want  of  money,  which  I  suppose  would  be  much 
for  the  advantage  of  the  cause  we  are  embarked  in,  and  to 
the  honour  of  your  humble  servant ;  which  business  you 
may  depend  will  be  done  with  as  much  spirit  and  despatch 
as  possible. 

I  have  thought  proper,  as  a  part  of  my  duty,  to  make 
return  of  the  provision  received  and  forwarded,  as  I  have 
done  to  his  Honour  the  Governour  of  Connecticut,  and  to 
the  Provincial  Congress  of  New-  York  and  Massachusetts- 
Bay.  Whilst,  honoured  gentlemen,  I  think  I  am  doing 
my  duty  in  the  cause  of  my  country,  I  am,  with  the  great- 
est respect,  your  humble  servant,  at  command, 

Elisha  Phelps. 
To  the  Honourable  Continental  Congress. 

Return  of  Provisions,  SfC,  forwarded  to  the  Northern 
Army  by  Elisha  Phelps,  Commissary,  from  the  3d  day 
of  July,  1775,  to  the  20th  of  July,  1775,  inclusive : 
Received,  32  barrels  of  pork:  507  barrels  of  flour:  49 
bushels  of  Indian  meal:  10  tierces  of  rice:  7  tierces  and 
15  barrels  of  peas  :  260  gallons  of  rum  :  50  ferkins  of  but- 
ter :  3  barrels  of  sugar :  56^  barrels  of  molasses :  3  barrels 
of  vinegar:  150  weight  of  chocolate:  40  camp  kettles: 
6  brass  kettles  :  12  iron  pots  and  kettles  :  86  hatchets  :  50 
Indian  blankets:  1  box  of  pick-axes:  14  quires  of  paper: 

4  saddles  and  bridles  :  12  barrels  of  salt :  21  casks  of  nails  : 
20  barrels  of  pitch :  2  tons  of  bar  iron. 

Forwarded,  24  barrels  of  pork:  371  barrels  of  flour:  9 
bushels  of  Indian  meal :  10  tierces  of  rice  :  7  tierces  and 
15  barrels  of  peas  :  260  gallons  of  rum  :  50  ferkins  of  but- 
ter: 3  barrels  of  sugar:  56£  barrels  of  molasses:  3  barrels 
of  vinegar:  150  weight  of  chocolate:  40  camp  kettles: 
6  brass  kettles:  12  iron  pots  and  kettles:  86  hatchets:  50 
Indian  blankets :  1  box  of  pick-axes  :  14  quires  of  paper  : 
3  saddles  and  bridles  :  11  barrels  of  salt :  5  casks  of  nails  : 

5  barrels  of  pitch. 

On  hand,  8  barrels  of  pork :  40  bushels  of  Indian  meal : 
1  saddle  and  bridle :  1  barrel  of  salt :  16  casks  of  nails : 
15  barrels  of  pitch  :  2  tons  of  bar  iron. 

Errours  excepted  :       Elisha  Phelps.  Commissary. 

Albany,  July  21,  1775. 


JOHN  N.  BLEECKER  TO  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

Albany,  July  21,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  Although  I  intimated  in  mine  of  the  3d 
instant,  that  1  would  soon  transmit  accounts  of  the  expenses 
in  my  department  here,  yet  it  is  not  in  my  power  at  present 
to  give  such  an  exact  state  of  the  charges  as  I  could  wish, 
as  several  accounts  have  not  yet  been  delivered  in  for  pro- 
visions, &ic,  supplied  for  the  Provincial  service.  But  being 
desirous  to  render  accounts,  under  these  circumstances  I 
enclose  you  general  accounts  of  stores  and  provisions  re- 
ceived, purchased  on  credit,  forwarded,  issued,  &c.  You 
have  also  enclosed  an  account  of  expenses,  so  far  as  have 
come  to  my  hands,  by  which  a  balance  of  £1,225  remains 
due,  which  I  have  in  some  measure  engaged  would  be 
soon  paid ;  and  as  those  with  whom  the  debts  are  contract- 
ed make  daily  application  to  me  for  money,  in  particular 
die  wagoners,  who  have  been  employed,  and  intimate,  that 
unless  their  demands  are  satisfied  very  soon  they  must  de- 
cline riding,  since  they  have  not  wherewith  to  purchase  hard 
fodder  for  their  horses,  1  therefore  hope  you  will  be  pleased 
to  put  it  in  my  power  to  fulfil  my  promises,  by  furnishing 
me  with  a  sufficient  sum  of  money  to  discharge  the  above- 
mentioned  balance  ;  and  all  publick  moneys  which  have  or 
may  be  delivered  into  my  hands,  I  shall  account  for  in  a 


future  settlement,  by  producing  such  vouchers  for  disburse- 
ments as  1  doubt  not  will  meet  your  approbation. 

I  am,  gentlemen,  your  most  obedient,  and  most  humble 
servant,  John  N.  Bleecker. 

P.  V.  B.  Livingston,  Esq.,  President  of  the  Provincial 

Congress. 


GENERAL  SCHUYLER  TO  THE  CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS. 
[Read  September  13,  1775.] 

Ticonderoga,  July  21.  1775. 

Sir:  I  arrived  here  early  on  Tuesday  morning,  the  18th 
instant,  having  been  detained  at  Fort  George  and  the  Land- 
ing in  giving  directions  and  making  preparations  to  keep 
up  the  communication,  that  the  provision  and  stores  for  the 
Army  may  be  forwarded  without  interruption,  whenever 
they  shall  be  sent. 

1  cannot  find  that  any  intelligence  has  been  received 
from  Canada,  on  which  any  great  dependance  can  be 
made ;  yet  accounts  from  all  quarters  agree  that  the  Cana- 
dians are  friendly  to  us ;  that  they  refuse  to  assist  General 
Carleton;  and  that  the  Indians  will  remain  neuter.  1  have 
great  reason  to  believe  it  is  so. 

A  Canadian,  who  left  Canada  thirteen  days  ago,  informs 
me  that  a  large  body  of  Indians  had  come  there ;  that 
Governour  Carleton  attempted  to  engage  them  to  fight 
against  us;  that  he  believed  he  would  have  little  success; 
that  some  of  the  young  men  inclined  to  take  up  the  hatchet, 
but  that  the  elderly  men  opposed  it ;  that  the  Canadians 
will  not  act  against  us,  some  of  the  noblesse  and  very  lower 
kind  excepted  ;  that  timber  was  preparing  on  the  north 
side  of  the  St.  John's  to  construct  some  craft ;  that  he  saw 
nothing  of  a  floating  battery;  that  they  have  thrown  up 
lines  strengthened  with  a  chevaux-de-frise,  a  picketed  ditch 
and  abattis  ;  that  about  a  league  on  this  side  they  have  an 
advanced  guard  of  fifty  men,  covered  by  a  small  intrench- 
ment. 

This,  then,  is  the  time  to  gain  intelligence  with  certainty 
by  going  to  St.  John's  with  a  respectable  body,  giving  the 
Canadians  to  understand,  when  we  arrive  there,  that  we 
mean  nothing  more  than  to  prevent  the  regular  Troops 
from  getting  a  naval  strength,  and  interrupting  the  friendly 
intercourse  that  has  subsisted  between  us  and  them.  But, 
unfortunately,  not  one  earthly  thing  has  been  done  here  to 
enable  me  to  move  hence;  1  have  neither  boats  sufficient, 
nor  any  materials  prepared  for  building  them.  The  stores 
I  ordered  from  Neiv-YorJc  are  not  yet  arrived.  I  have 
therefore  not  a  nail,  no  pitch,  no  oakum,  and  want  a  varie- 
ty of  articles  indispensably  necessary,  which  I  estimated 
and  delivered  to  the  New-York  Congress  on  the  3d  inst. 
An  almost  equal  scarcity  of  ammunition  subsists,  no  pow- 
der having  yet  come  to  hand ;  not  a  gun-carriage  for  the 
few  proper  guns  we  have ;  and  as  yet  very  little  provision ; 
two  hundred  Troops  less  than  by  my  last  return,  these 
badly,  very  badly  armed  indeed  ;  and  one  poor  armourer 
to  repair  their  guns. 

Armourers  and  armourers'  tools,  I  had  also  ordered  up, 
but  not  yet  arrived.  However,  I  believe  the  New-York 
Congress  have  sent  off  the  articles  I  requested  of  them  ; 
if  so,  I  shall  probably  soon  have  them  here.  I  shall  not 
delay  a  moment  in  making  the  necessary  preparations  to 
move,  agreeably  to  the  orders  you  have  been  pleased  to  give 
me.  Since  my  arrival  I  have  repaired  one  saw  mill,  and 
given  directions  to  do  the  same  with  another.  The  first 
will  begin  to  work  on  Sunday,  the  other  can  only  begin 
when  the  saws  arrive,  which  are  amongst  the  other  things 
1  have  ordered  from  New-York. 

Until  the  stores  from  New- York  arrive,  I  shall  employ 
my  carpenters  (about  thirty  in  number,  exclusive  of  what 
I  may  get  out  of  the  Troops)  in  procuring  timber  and  plank 
for  the  boats,  &c,  &c. 

Although  I  made  not  a  moment's  delay  in  issuing  the 
necessary  orders,  agreeably  to  your  resolutions,  and  those 
of  the  New-York  Congress,  for  levying  five  hundred  of 
the  Green  Mountain  Boys,  yet  nothing  has  been  done  by 
that  people,  occasioned  by  disputes  and  jealousies  among 
themselves,  on  the  appointment  of  officers.  Messrs.  Allen 
and  Warner  have  both  been  here,  and  left  this  only  yes- 
terday. They  wish  to  appoint  the  officers  themselves,  and 
have  applied  to  me  for  that  purpose ;  but  your  orders  are 
positive,  and  the  people  averse  to  it. 


1703 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  fcc,  JULY,  1715. 


1704 


1  now  find  that  my  conjectures,  given  you  in  a  former 
letter,  as  to  their  numbers,  were  well  founded,  for  both 
Allen  and  Warner  declare  that  they  will  be  obliged  to 
recruit  in  New- England  to  complete  the  five  hundred  men 
to  be  raised  ;  so  that  this  intended  corps  will  in  all  proba- 
bility not  join  me,  if  at  all,  until  September. 

At  Crown  Point  an  intrenchment  was  begun  to  shelter 
the  Troops,  before  my  arrival,  but  nothing  has  been  done 
at  this  place,  and  we  are  in  a  perfectly  defenceless  state. 
1  have,  however,  this  day  begun  lines,  on  which  I  propose 
to  employ  as  many  men  as  I  can  spare,  that  1  may  be  able 
to  make  some  defence,  and  preserve  the  post  in  case  of  an 
attack,  which  General  Carleton  must  have  attempted  had 
he  been  informed  of  our  real  situation.  A  few  Troops 
without  any  shelter,  with  little  ammunition,  less  discipline, 
lulled  in  perfect  security,  might  have  fallen  an  easy  prey 
to  an  enterprising  man.  I  hope,  however,  soon  to  be  in 
a  situation  to  receive  him  properly  should  he  venture  to 
come  aided  by  Canadians  and  Indians. 

The  Connecticut  Troops  here  are  destitute  of  tents. 
They  are  now  crowded  in  very  bad  barracks,  which  1  fear 
will  be  introductory  of  disease.  I  have  written  to  Govern- 
our  Trumbull  on  this  head. 

Enclose  you  a  copy  of  a  letter  dated  the  17th  instant,  I 
have  just  received  from  Governour  Trumbull.  I  am  very 
sorry  that  the  Colony  of  Connecticut  has  made  such  large 
allowance  for  the  daily  subsistence  of  their  men.  It  is 
difficult  and  expensive  to  procure  the  things  they  are  to 
have  agreeable  to  the  law  of  their  Colony  here,  and  what 
is  worse,  other  Troops  that  may  join  will  certainly  expect 
the  like  allowance,  and  a  discrimination  cannot  be  made  in 
favour  of  the  Troops  of  any  particular  Colony.  A  resolve 
of  Congress  what  shall  be  the  Continental  allowance,  and 
that  no  Colony  should  send  their  Troops  any  thing  more 
than  what  shall  be  so  prescribed,  would  settle  the  matter 
and  prevent  that  jealousy  which  will  otherwise  take  place. 

I  have  sent  for  a  man,  the  only  one  to  be  depended 
upon,  to  carry  a  letter  into  Canada,  and  to  return  with  in- 
formation. I  momently  expect  him,  and  shall  despatch 
him  immediately  after  his  arrival. 

The  measures  I  took  before  I  left  New-York  and  Albany, 
have  relieved  me  from  much  anxiety  on  the  score  of  pro- 
visions, with  which  I  now  hope  the  Troops  will  be  better 
supplied.  Exclusive  of  the  extraordinary  expenditures  of 
provision,  it  has  been  so  scandalously  neglected  at  the  sev- 
eral posts  on  its  way  up,  that  I  shall  sustain  a  considerable 
loss  in  the  article  of  pork.  Suspecting  this,  I  ordered  salt 
up  before  I  left  Saratoga,  to  save  all  that  can  be. 

Mr.  Mott  of  Connecticut  has  been  appointed  an  Engineer 
by  that  Colony,  with  the  rank  of  Colonel.  What  his  abili- 
ties are  in  that  way  I  know  not,  having  as  yet  seen  none 
of  his  works.  I  beg  to  know  if  his  appointment  is  to  be 
confirmed  by  Congress. 

The  only  Troops  from  this  Colony  that  have  yet  joined 
the  Army,  are  those  mentioned  in  the  return  I  had  the 
honour  to  send  you,  which  were  enlisted  by  order  of  the 
Albany  Committee  previous  to  the  order  of  Congress  for 
raising  Troops  in  it. 

The  person  I  sent  for  to  go  to  Canada  is  so  lame  that 
he  cannot  stir.  I  shall  venture  a  letter  with  the  French- 
man who  brought  me  the  intelligence  I  have  given  you, 
and  despatch  him  to  day. 

There  are  such  a  variety  of  persons  employed  in  provi- 
ding these  Troops,  that  they  involve  me  in  great  difficulties. 
No  less  than  fifty  milch  cows  are  sent  up  for  the  use  of 
Colonel  Hinman's  Regiment,  (our  working  cattle  and  the 
fat  cattle  have  hardly  any  feed,  occasioned  by  the  severest 
drought  ever  known  in  this  country;)  I  have  ordered  them 
back  to  New-England  as  useless  to  the  men,  distressing  to 
the  service,  and  as  what  would  be  another  source  of  unea- 
siness, if  we  should  be  joined  by  other  Troops. 

A  set  of  people  in  this  country,  calling  themselves  a 
Committee-ol-War,  by  what  authority  I  know  not,  have 
taken  Colonel  Skene's  forge  and  farm  into  possession,  under 
pretence  of  working  it  for  the  publick  ;  but  as  it  has  turned 
out,  to  embezzle  every  thing.  I  have  given  orders  for  them 
to  quit  it,  and  to  restore  it  to  Colonel  Skene's  agent,  or 
overseer,  that  no  disgrace  may  be  brought  on  our  cause  by 
such  lawless  proceedings. 

Since  the  return  I  had  the  honour  of  sending  to  you, 
eight  batteaus,  built  on  Lake  George,  have  been  brought 


here,  each  capable  of  carrying  twenty  men  and  twenty 
days'  provisions. 

I  am,  Sir,  with  the  most  sincere  respect,  your  most  obe- 
dient and  most  humble  servant,       Philip  Schuyler. 
To  the  Honourable  John  Hancock,  Esq. 

GENERAL  SCHUYLER  TO  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

Ticonderoga,  July  21,  1775. 
Sir  :  I  am  just  favoured  with  a  line  from  Governour 
Trumbull ;  the  enclosed  is  part  of  what  he  writes  me,  and 
of  what  I  have  said  on  that  subject  to  the  Continental  Con- 
gress. 

It  is  not  easy  to  conceive  the  difficulties  I  labour  under 
for  want  of  many  of  the  articles  contained  in  the  estimate 
which  I  had  the  honour  to  deliver  you  on  the  3d  instant, 
especially  for  the  intrenching  tools  and  materials  for  build- 
ing. 

The  swivel  guns  and  the  lead  I  find  a  sufficiency  of  here, 
you  will  therefore  please  to  order  these,  if  not  already 
sent,  to  be  stopped ;  instead  thereof  to  add  one  ton  of 
oakum,  twenty  barrels  of  pitch,  ten  lanterns,  and  two 
pair  of  fort  colours.  The  truck  carriages  were  to  he  sent 
provided  they  were  ready  made ;  as  they  are  not,  you  will 
please  to  take  no  farther  notice  of  them. 

By  a  letter  from  Mr.  Curtenius,  of  the  10th,  I  find  he 
has  delayed  sending  the  oars,  on  account  of  the  heavy  ex- 
pense of  carriage;  but  even  in  that  case  they  will  come 
cheaper  than  to  make  them  here  by  the  workmen  from 
New-  York. 

I  am  very  anxious  to  have  the  New-York  Troops  with 
me.  Their  arrival  will,  therefore,  afford  me  great  satisfac- 
tion. I  hope  some  are  on  their  way  up.  I  have  appointed 
a  very  good  man  as  a  sutler  to  supply  them  here,  who  is 
now  preparing  for  their  reception.  Too  many  of  them  are 
very  disadvantageous  to  the  soldiers,  and  destructive  to  the 
service. 

Intelligence  which  I  have  received  from  Canada  advises 
that  a  numerous  body  of  Indians  are  there  ;  that  Governour 
Carleton  attempted  to  engage  them  against  us;  that  he  be- 
lieved he  would  have  little  success  ;  that  some  of  the  young 
men  inclined  to  take  up  the  hatchet,  but  that  the  elderly 
opposed  it ;  that  the  Canadians  are  averse  to  enter  into  the 
controversy,  the  noblesse  and  very  lower  order  excepted. 

I  am,  Sir,  with  great  respect,  your  most  obedient  hum- 
ble servant,  Philip  Schuyler. 
Peter  V.  Brugh  Livingston,  Esq. 


GENERAL  SCHUYLER  TO  GOVERNOUR  TRUMBULL. 

Ticoiideroga,  July  21,  1775. 

Sir:  Your  Honour's  letter  of  the  17th  instant  was  de- 
livered this  morning.  I  shall  immediately  write  on  the 
subject  of  providing  for  the  Troops  to  the  New-York  Con- 
gress, and  enclose  so  much  of  your  letter  as  relates  to  that 
subject.  It  gave  me  pain  to  learn  that  not  less  than  fifty 
cows  were  driving  up  here,  for  the  use  of  Colonel  Hin- 
man's Regiment.  Our  working  cattle  are  in  a  starving 
condition,  the  country  being  parched  up  by  the  excessive 
droughts,  and  such  an  additional  number  of  cattle  would 
destroy  the  little  feed  we  have  left,  and  be  of  very  little 
use  to  the  Troops.  These  would  be  sufficient  reasons  to 
order  them  back;  but  if  grass  was  plenty  here  I  would  not 
wish  to  have  them  ;  troops  from  New-  York  are  coining 
up,  and  such  a  discrimination  in  the  allowance  would 
create  me  much  trouble.  1  am  happy  to  find  Colonel 
Hitman  and  several  of  his  officers  quite  agree  in  sentiment 
with  me.  I  am  informed  the  cows  are  in  good  order,  and 
that  they  may  be  soon  made  beef;  1  have,  therefore,  direct- 
ed Major  Sheldon,  who,  I  understand,  has  charge  of  them, 
to  put  them  into  pasture  wherever  he  can  get  it,  until  he 
shall  receive  your  Honour's  direction  how  to  dispose  of 
them. 

It  is  much  to  be  lamented  that  we  are  so  totally  unpre- 
pared to  avail  ourselves  of  the  favourable  disposition  of  the 
Canadians.  I  was  in  hopes  to  have  found  something  done 
to  enable  the  Troops  to  move,  but  every  thing  is  wanted  ; 
1  am  destitute  of  every  material  for  making  the  necessary 
preparations.  I  hope,  however,  in  a  little  while,  to  make 
all  obstacles  vanish ;  much  may  be  done  when  people  set 


1705 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JULY,  1775. 


1706 


to  business  with  hand  and  heart.  I  am,  Sir,  with  senti- 
ments of  respect  and  esteem,  your  Honour's  most  obedient 
and  most  humble  servant,  Ph.  Schuyler. 

To  Hon.  Jonathan  Trumbull,  Esq.,  &ic,  &.c. 


GENERAL  WASHINGTON  TO  THE  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  CONTI- 
NENTAL CONGRESS. 

Camp  at  Cambridge,  July  21,  1775. 

Sm:  Since  I  did  myself  the  honour  of  addressing  you 
the  fourteenth  instant,  I  have  received  advice  from  Govern- 
our  Trumbull  that  the  Assembly  of  Connecticut  had  voted, 
and  that  they  are  now  raising  two  Regiments,  of  seven  hun- 
dred men  each,  in  consequence  of  an  application  from  the 
Provincial  Congress  of  Massachusetts-Bay.  The  Rhode- 
Island  Assembly  has  also  made  an  augmentation  for  this 
purpose.  These  re-enforcements,  with  the  riflemen  who 
are  daily  expected,  and  such  recruits  as  may  come  in  to  fill 
up  the  Regiments  here,  will,  I  apprehend,  compose  an 
army  sufficiently  strong  to  oppose  any  force  which  may  be 
brought  against  us  at  present.  1  am  very  sensible,  that  the 
heavy  expense  necessarily  attendant  upon  this  campaign, 
will  call  for  the  utmost  frugality  and  care,  and  would  there- 
fore, if  possible,  avoid  enlisting  one  unnecessary  man.  As 
this  is  the  first  certain  account  of  the  destination  of  these 
new  raised  troops,  1  thought  proper  to  communicate  my 
sentiments  as  early  as  possible,  lest  the  Congress  should 
act  upon  my  letter  of  the  tenth,  and  raise  troops  in  the 
Southern  Colonies ;  which,  in  my  present  judgment,  may 
be  dispensed  with. 

For  these  eight  days  past  there  have  been  no  move- 
ments in  either  camp  of  any  consequence.  On  our  side,  we 
have  continued  the  works  without  any  intermission,  and 
they  are  now  so  far  advanced  as  to  leave  us  little  to  appre- 
hend on  that  score.  On  the  side  of  the  enemy,  they  have 
also  been  very  industrious  in  finishing  their  lines,  both  on 
Bunker's  Hill  and  Roxbury  Neck.  In  this  interval,  also, 
their  transports  have  arrived  from  New-York,  and  they 
have  been  employed  in  landing  and  stationing  their  men. 
1  have  been  able  to  collect  no  certain  account  of  the  num- 
bers arrived,  but  the  enclosed  letter,  wrote  (though  not 
signed)  by  Mr.  Sheriff  Lee,  and  delivered  me  by  Captain 
Darby,  (who  went  express  with  an  account  of  the  Lexing- 
ton battle,)  will  enable  us  to  form  a  pretty  accurate  judg- 
ment. The  increase  of  tents  and  men  in  the  Town  of 
Boston  is  very  obvious,  but  all  my  accounts  from  thence 
agree  that  there  is  a  great'mortality,  occasioned  by  the  want 
of  vegetables  and  fresh  meat,  and  that  their  loss  in  the  late 
battle  at  Charlestons,  from  the  few  recoveries  of  their 
wounded,  is  greater  than  at  first  supposed.  The  condi- 
tion of  the  inhabitants  detained  in  Boston  is  very  distress- 
ing ;  they  are  equally  destitute  of  the  comfort  of  fresh 
provisions,  and  many  of  them  are  so  reduced  in  their  cir- 
cumstances as  to  be  unable  to  supply  themselves  with  salt; 
such  fish  as  the  soldiery  leave  is  their  principal  support. 
Added  to  all  this,  such  suspicion  and  jealousy  prevails, 
that  they  can  scarcely  speak,  or  even  look,  without  expos- 
ing themselves  to  some  species  of  military  execution. 

I  have  not  been  able,  from  any  intelligence  I  have  re- 
ceived, to  form  any  certain  judgment  of  the  future  opera- 
tions of  the  enemy.  Sometimes  I  have  suspected  an  in- 
tention of  detaching  a  part  of  their  Army  to  some  part  of 
the  coast,  as  they  have  been  building  a  number  of  flat-bot- 
tomed boats,  capable  of  holding  two  hundred  men  each. 
But  from  their  works,  and  the  language  held  at  Boston, 
there  is  reason  to  think  they  expect  the  attack  from  us, 
and  are  principally  engaged  in  preparing  themselves  against 
it.  I  have  ordered  ail  the  whale  boats  along  the  coast  to 
be  collected,  and  some  of  them  are  employed  every  night 
to  watch  the  motions  of  the  enemy  by  water,  so  as  to  guard 
as  much  as  possible  against  any  surprise. 

Upon  my  arrival  and  since,  some  complaints  have  been 
preferred  against  officers  for  cowardice  in  the  late  action  on 
Bunker's  Hill.  Though  there  were  several  strong  circum- 
stances and  a  very  general  opinion  against  them,  none  have 
been  condemned,  except  a  Captain  Callender,  of  the  artil- 
lery, who  was  immediately  cashiered.  1  have  been  sorry 
to  find  it  an  uncontradicted  fact,  that  the  principal  failure 
of  duty  that  day  was  in  the  officers,  though  many  of  them 
distinguished  themselves  by  their  gallant  behaviour.  The 
soldiers  generally  shewed  great  spirit  and  resolution. 


Next  to  the  more  immediate  and  pressing  duties  of  put- 
ting our  lines  in  as  secure  a  state  as  possible,  attending  to 
the  movements  of  the  enemy,  and  gaining  intelligence,  my 
great  concern  is  to  establish  order,  regularity  and  discipline ; 
without  which,  our  numbers  would  embarrass  us,  and  in 
case  of  action,  general  confusion  must  infallibly  ensue.  Iq 
order  to  this,  1  propose  to  divide  the  Army  into  three  divi- 
sions, at  the  head  of  each  will  be  a  General  Officer;  these 
divisions  to  be  again  subdivided  into  Brigades,  under  their 
respective  Brigadiers.  But  the  difficulty  arising  from  the 
arrangement  of  the  General  Officers,  and  waiting  the  far- 
ther proceedings  of  the  Congress  on  this  subject,  has 
much  retarded  my  progress  in  this  most  necessary  work. 
1  should  be  very  happy  to  receive  their  final  commands, 
as  any  determination  would  enable  me  to  proceed  in  my 
plan. 

General  Spencer  returned  to  the  carnp  two  days  ago, 
and  has  consented  to  serve  under  Putnam,  rather  than 
leave  the  Army  entirely.  I  have  heard  nothing  from  Gen- 
eral Pomeroy;  should  he  wholly  retire,  I  apprehend  it  will 
be  necessary  to  supply  his  place  as  soon  as  possible.  Gen- 
eral Folsom  proposes  also  to  retire. 

In  addition  to  the  officers  mentioned  in  mine  of  the 
tenth  instant,  I  would  humbly  propose  that  some  provision 
should  be  made  for  a  Judge  Advocate  and  Provost  Mar- 
shal ;  the  necessity  of  the  first  appointment  was  so  great, 
thai  I  was  obliged  to  nominate  a  Mr.  Tudor,  who  was  well 
recommended  to  me,  and  now  executes  the  office,  under 
an  expectation  of  receiving  Captain's  pay — an  allowance, 
in  my  opinion,  scarcely  adequate  to  the  service  in  new 
raised  troops,  where  there  are  Courts-Marlial  every  day. 
However,  as  that  is  the  proportion  in  the  regular  Army,  and 
he  is  contented,  there  will  be  no  necessity  of  an  addition. 

I  must  also  renew  my  request  as  to  money,  and  the  ap- 
pointment of  a  Paymaster.  I  have  forbore  urging  matters 
of  this  nature,  from  my  knowledge  of  t lie  many  important 
concerns  which  engage  the  attention  of  the  Congress;  but 
as  I  find  my  difficulties  thicken  every  day,  1  make  no  doubc 
suitable  regard  will  be  paid  to  a  necessity  of  this  kind. 
The  inconvenience  of  borrowing  such  sums  as  are  constant- 
ly requisite  must  be  too  plain  lor  me  to  enlarge  upon,  and 
is  a  situation  from  which  1  should  be  very  happy  to  be  re- 
lieved. 

Upon  the  experience  I  have  had,  and  the  best  consider- 
ation of  the  appointment  of  the  several  offices  of  Com- 
missary-General, Mustermaster-General,  Quartermaster- 
General,  Paymaster-General,  and  Commissary  of  Artillery, 
I  am  clearly  of  opinion,  that  they  not  only  conduce  to 
order,  despatch,  and  discipline,  but  that  it  is  a  measure  of 
economy.  The  delay,  the  waste,  and  the  unpunishable 
neglect  of  duty,  arising  from  these  offices  being  in  commis- 
sion in  several  hands,  evidently  shew  that  the  publick  ex- 
pense must  be  finally  enhanced.  I  have  experienced  the 
want  of  these  officers  in  completing  the  returns  of  men, 
ammunition,  and  stores;  the  latter  are  yet  imperfect,  from 
the  number  of  hands  in  which  they  are  dispersed.  I  have 
enclosed  the  last  weekly  return,  which  is  more  accurate 
than  the  former,  and  hope  in  a  little  time  we  shall  be  per- 
fectly regular  in  this,  as  well  as  several  other  necessary 
branches  of  duty. 

I  have  made  inquiry  into  the  establishment  of  the  Hos- 
pital, and  find  it  in  a  very  unsettled  condition.  There 
is  no  principal  Director,  or  any  subordination  among  the 
Surgeons  ;  of  consequence,  disputes  and  contention  have 
arisen,  and  must  continue,  until  it  is  reduced  to  some  sys- 
tem. I  couid  wish  it  were  immediately  taken  into  consi- 
deration, as  the  lives  and  health  of  both  officers  and  men 
so  much  depend  upon  a  due  regulation  of  this  department. 
I  have  been  particularly  attentive  to  the  least  symptoms  of 
the  small-pox,  and  hitherto  we  have  been  so  fortunate  as 
to  have  every  person  removed  so  soon  as  not  only  to  pre- 
vent any  communication,  but  any  alarm  or  apprehension  it 
might  give  in  the  camp.  We  shall  continue  the  utmost 
vigilance  against  this  most  dangerous  enemy. 

In  an  army  properly  organized  there  are  sundry  offices 
of  an  inferiour  kind,  such  as  Wagon-master,  Master-Car- 
penter, he;  but  I  doubt  whether  my  powers  are  sufficient- 
ly extensive  for  such  appointments.  If  it  is  thought  proper 
to  repose  such  a  trust  in  me,  I  shall  be  governed  in  the 
discharge  of  it  by  a  strict  regard  to  economy  and  the  pub- 
lick  interest. 


1707 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JULY,  1775. 


1708 


My  instructions  from  the  honourable  Congress  direct, 
that  no  Troops  are  to  be  disbanded  without  their  express 
direction,  nor  to  be  recruited  to  more  than  double  the  num- 
ber of  the  enemy.  Upon  this  subject  1  beg  leave  to  repre- 
sent, that  unless  the  Regiments  in  this  Province  are  more 
successful  in  recruiting  than  1  have  reason  to  expect,  a  re- 
duction of  some  of  them  will  be  highly  necessary,  as  the 
publick  are  put  to  the  whole  expense  of  an  establishment 
of  officers,  while  the  real  strength  of  the  Regiment,  which 
consists  in  the  rank  and  file,  is  defective.  In  case  of  such 
a  reduction,  doubtless  some  of  the  privates,  and  all  the 
officers,  would  return  home;  but  many  of  the  former  would 
go  into  the  remaining  Regiments,  and,  having  had  some 
experience,  would  fill  them  up  with  useful  men.  I  so 
plainly  perceive  the  expense  of  this  campaign  will  exceed 
any  calculation  hitherto  made,  that  I  am  particularly  anxious 
to  strike  off  every  unnecessary  charge.  You  will  therefore, 
Sir,  be  pleased  to  favour  me  with  explicit  directions  from 
the  Congress  on  the  mode  of  this  reduction,  if  it  shall  ap- 
pear necessary,  that  no  time  may  be  lost  when  such  neces- 
sity appears. 

Yesterday  we  had  an  account  that  the  light-house  was 
on  fire,  by  whom,  and  under  what  orders,  I  have  not  yet 
learned ;  but  we  have  reason  to  believe  it  has  been  done 
by  some  of  our  irregulars. 

You  will  please  to  present  me  to  the  Congress  with  the 
utmost  duty  and  respect ;  and  believe  me  to  be,  Sir,  your 
most  obedient  and  very  humble  servant, 

Go.  Washington. 

P.  S.  Captain  Darby' 's  stay  in  England  was  so  short 
that  he  brings  no  other  information  than  what  the  enclosed 
letter,  and  the  newspapers  which  will  accompany  this,  con- 
tain. General  Gage's  despatches  had  not  arrived,  and  the 
Ministry  affected  to  disbelieve  the  whole  account,  treating 
it  as  a  fiction,  or,  at  most,  an  affair  of  little  consequence. 
The  fall  of  Stocks  was  very  inconsiderable. 


GENERAL  WASHINGTON  TO  PRESIDENT  OF  CONTINENTAL 
CONGRESS. 

Cambridge  Camp,  July  21,  1775,  Five  o'clock,  P.  M. 
Sir:  Since  closing  the  letters  which  accompany  this,  I 
have  received  an  account  of  the  destruction  of  the  Light- 
house, a  copy  of  which  I  have  the  honour  to  enclose,  and 
of  again  assuring  you  that  I  am,  with  great  respect,  Sir, 
your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

Go.  Washington. 

P.  S.  I  have  also  received  a  more  authentick  account 
of  the  loss  of  the  enemy  in  the  late  battle,  than  any  yet 
received.  Doctor  ffmshij),  who  lodged  in  the  same  house 
with  an  officer  of  the  Marines,  assures  me  they  had  exactly 
one  thousand  and  forty-three  killed  and  wounded,  of  whom 
three  hundred  fell  on  the  field,  or  died  within  a  few  hours; 
many  of  the  wounded  are  since  dead.  G.  W, 


ORDERS  BY  GENERAL  WASHINGTON. 

Head-Quarters,  Cambridge,  July  15,  1775. 
(Parole,  Virginia.)  (Countersign,  Maryland.) 

The  Commanding  Officers  of  each  Regiment  to  report 
the  names  of  such  men,  in  their  respective  corps,  as  are 
most  expert  in  the  management  of  whale-boats. 

When  any  commissioned  or  non-commissioned  officer  is 
sent  upon  any  detachment  or  duty  of  honour  or  fatigue, 
or  to  see  the  execution  of  any  particular  work,  he  is,  so 
soon  as  the  service  is  performed,  to  make  a  report  thereof 
to  his  commanding  officer. 

It  being  found  advantageous  to  the  publick  service  to 
remove  sundry  horned  cattle  and  sheep  from  the  ground 
upon  which  they  were  grazing  near  Chelsea,  (to  prevent 
their  falling  into  the  enemy's  hands,)  it  is  earnestly  recom- 
mended to  the  several  Commissaries,  to  purchase  such  of 
them  as  are  fit  for  slaughter,  of  the  owners,  in  order  that 
they  may  suffer  the  least  loss  possible  from  the  unavoid- 
able necessity  of  removing  them  from  the  rapacious  claws 
of  our  enemies. 

Colonel  Gridlty,  Chief  Engineer,  is  desired  to  report 
what  chevaux-de-frise  are  made,  and  what  forwardness 
those  are  in  that  are  now  making.  It  is  necessary  those 
upon  hand  be  completed  without  delay. 


Notwithstanding  the  orders  already  given,  the  General 
hears  with  astonishment  that  not  only  soldiers,  but  officers 
unauthorized,  are  continually  conversing  with  the  officers 
and  sentries  of  the  enemy.  Any  officer,  non-commission- 
ed officer,  or  soldier,  or  any  person  whatsoever,  who  is  de- 
tected holding  any  conversation,  or  carrying  on  any  corres- 
pondence with  any  of  the  officers  or  sentries  of  the  ad- 
vanced posts  of  the  enemy,  will  be  immediately  brought 
before  a  General  Court-Martial,  and  punished  with  the 
utmost  severity.  The  General  is  alone  to  judge  of  the 
propriety  of  any  intercourse  with  the  enemy,  and  no  one 
else  is  to  presume  to  interfere. 

The  Chief  Engineer,  Colonel  Gridley,  to  order  an  En- 
gineer and  a  Field-Officer  of  Artillery  to  go  round  the 
lines  and  redoubts  to  examine  if  the  guns  are  placed  pro- 
perly in  the  embrasures,  and  if  the  embrasures  are  properly 
made,  and  properly  sloped  towards  the  country.  The  En- 
gineer and  Artillery  Officer  to  report  to  the  Commander- 
in-Chief  as  soon  as  they  have  obeyed  this  order. 

Head-Quarters,  Cambridge,  July  16,  1775. 

(Parole,  Carolina.)  (Countenign,  Springfield. ) 

The  Continental  Congress  having  earnestly  recommend- 
ed, that  "  Thursday  next,  the  20th  instant,  be  observed  by 
the  inhabitants  of  all  the  English  Colonies  upon  this  Con- 
tinent as  a  day  of  publick  humiliation,  fasting,  and  prayer, 
that  they  may  with  united  hearts  and  voice  unfeignedly 
confess  their  sins  before  God,  and  supplicate  the  all-wise 
and  merciful  disposer  of  events  to  avert  the  desolatiou  and 
calamities  of  an  unnatural  war,"  the  General  orders  that 
day  to  be  religiously  observed  by  the  forces  under  his  com- 
mand, exactly  in  manner  directed  by  the  Proclamation  of 
the  Continental  Congress.  It  is  therefore  strictly  enjoined 
on  all  officers  and  soldiers  (not  upon  duty)  to  attend  divine 
service,  at  the  accustomed  places  of  worship,  as  well  in  the 
lines  as  the  encampments  and  quarters;  and  it  is  expected, 
that  all  those  who  go  to  worship  do  take  their  arms,  am- 
munition, and  accoutrements,  and  are  prepared  for  imme- 
diate action,  if  called  upon.  If,  in  the  judgment  of  the 
officers,  the  works  should  appear  to  be  in  such  forwardness 
as  the  utmost  security  of  the  camp  requires,  they  will  com- 
mand their  men  to  abstain  from  all  labour  upon  that  solemn 
day. 

It  was  with  much  surprise  and  concern  that  the  Gene- 
ral, in  passing  along  the  New-Hampshire  lines  yesterday, 
observed  a  most  wanton,  mischievous,  and  unprofitable 
abuse  of  property,  in  the  destruction  of  many  valuable 
trees,  which  were  standing  along  the  side  of  the  road,  out 
of  the  way  of  our  works  or  guns  ;  he  therefore  orders,  that 
an  effective  stop  be  put  to  such  practices  for  the  future,  or 
severe  punishment  will  fall  upon  the  transgressors  of  this 
order. 

William  Palfrey,  Esquire,  is  appointed  Aid-de-Camp 
to  Major-General  Lee;  all  orders,  whether  written  or  ver- 
bal, coming  from  General  Lee,  and  delivered  by  Captain 
Palfrey,  are  to  be  punctually  obeyed. 

A  particular  Return,  to  be  delivered  to  the  Adjutant - 
General  to-morrow  at  orderly  time,  of  the  Regiment  of 
Artillery,  distinguishing  how  every  man  and  officer  in  that 
corps  is  at  present  employed,  and  where  posted. 

Head-Quarters,  July  17,  1775. 

(Parole,  Boston.)  (Countersign,  Salem.) 

There  is  reason  to  apprehend,  that  the  General  Orders 
are  not  regularly  published  to  the  non-commissioned  officers 
and  soldiers  of  the  Army.  As  pleading  ignorance  of  orders 
will  not  for  the  future  be  admitted  in  excuse  of  any  delin- 
quency, it  is  once  more  ordered,  that  the  Adjutants  of 
the  several  corps  will  be  exact  in  seeing  the  orders  read 
every  evening  to  the  men  off  duty,  of  their  respective 
corps,  as  they  may  depend  upon  answering  before  a  Court- 
Martial  for  any  neglect  in  obeying  this  order. 

The  General  Court-Martial,  whereof  Col.  John  Nixon  is 
President,  to  sit  again  to-morrow  morning  at  eight  o'clock, 
to  try  such  prisoners  as  shall  be  brought  before  them  ;  all 
evidences  and  persons  concerned  to  attend  the  Court. 

There  being  a  great  neglect  in  sending  in  the  Returns 
to  the  Adjutant-General,  as  directed  by  the  General  Orders 
of  Friday  last,  (especially  from  the  Regiments  posted  in 
and  near  Roxbury,)  the  General  assures  Commanding 


1709 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JULY,  1775. 


1710 


Officers  of  corps  from  whom  the  Returns  are  expected, 
that  he  will  not  for  the  future  pass  over  the  slightest  neg- 
lect in  sending  Returns  to  Head-Quarters  at  the  time  di- 
rected by  the  General  Orders.  If  there  is  any  remissness  in 
the  Adjutants,  the  Colonels  will  confine  the  transgressors. 

After  Orders. 
Captain  Benjamin  Perkins,  of  Colonel  Little's  Regi- 
ment, confined  by  Colonel  Doolittle  for  assisting  and 
abetting  soldiers  to  mutiny,  in  rescuing  a  prisoner  from 
the  quarter-guard  of  Colonel  Doolitlle's  Regiment,  is  to 
be  tried  to-morrow  morning  by  the  Court-Martial  where- 
of Colonel  Nixon  is  President ;  all  evidences  and  persons 
concerned  to  attend  the  Court. 


Head-Quarters  before  Boston,  July  18,  1775. 
(Parole,  mimingfon.)  (Countersign,  Chester.) 

As  the  chevaux-de-frise  are  not  in  readiness,  the  offi- 
cers commanding  the  different  lines  and  redoubts  are,  as 
speedily  as  possible,  to  provide  a  sufficient  number  of  ga- 
bions, which  are  to  lay  empty  at  the  entrances  of  their 
respective  posts,  in  order  to  be  filled  up  as  occasion  may 
require.  General  Putnam  will  forthwith  order  his  post  to 
be  furnished  with  a  large  quantity  of  fascines. 

The  officers  commanding  the  different  posts  to  send  an 
exact  Return  to  Head-Quarters  this  afternoon  of  all  the 
intrenching  tools  in  their  possession,  viz:  Spades,  Pick- 
axes, Wheelbarrows,  Handbarrows,  Axes,  and  Crowbars, 
and  to  mention  the  number  and  quality  of  any  of  these  im- 
plements that  are  still  wanting  to  carry  on  their  respective 
works. 

Six  Captains,  twelve  Subalterns,  twelve  Sergeants,  and 
three  hundred  rank  and  file,  to  parade  to-morrow  morning, 
immediately  after  divine  service,  from  the  Regiments  now 
stationed  in  Cambridge,  as  a  working  party,  to  assist  in 
raising  the  New-Hampshire  lines. 

Colonel  James  Scammons,  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay 
forces,  tried  by  the  General  Court-Martial  of  which  Col. 
John  Niron  was  President,  for  "  disobedience  of  orders, 
and  backwardness  in  the  execution  of  his  duty;"  the 
Court,  after  duly  examining  the  evidence  for  and  against 
the  prisoner,  together  with  what  the  prisoner  had  to  say  in 
his  defence,  are  of  opinion,  that  Colonel  Scammons  is  not 
guilty  of  the  crimes  wherewith  he  was  accused,  and  there- 
fore do  acquit  the  prisoner.  Colonel  Scammons  to  be  im- 
mediately released  from  his  arrest. 

If,  after  what  has  happened,  the  enemy,  in  revenge  of 
their  late  loss,  should  dare  to  attempt  forcing  our  lines,  the 
Army  may  be  assured,  that  nothing  but  their  own  indolence 
and  remissness  can  give  the  least  hope  of  success  to  so  rash 
an  enterprise.  It  is  therefore  strongly  recommended  to 
the  commanding  officers  of  corps,  guards,  and  detach- 
ments, that  they  be  assiduously  alert  in  parading  their 
men,  at  their  several  posts,  half  an  hour  before  daybreak, 
and  remain  there  until  the  commanding  officers  think  pro- 
per to  dismiss  them. 

The  General  hears  with  astonishment  the  very  frequent 
applications  that  are  made  to  him,  as  well  by  officers  as 
soldiers,  for  furloughs.  Brave  men,  who  are  engaged  in 
the  noble  cause  of  liberty,  should  never  think  of  removing 
from  their  camp  while  the  enemy  is  in  sight,  and  anxious 
to  take  every  advantage  any  indiscretion  on  our  side  may 
give  them.  The  General  doubts  not  but  the  commanding 
officers  of  corps  will  anticipate  his  wishes,  and  discourage 
those  under  them  from  disgracefully  desiring  to  go  home, 
until  the  campaign  is  ended. 

Head-Quarters,  Cambridge,  July  20,  1775. 
(Parole,  Albany.)  (Countersign,  Ticonderoga.) 

Certain  drums  in  and  near  Cambridge  very  improperly 
beat  the  reveille  this  morning  before  day.  Although  the 
Troops  are  ordered  to  be  under  arms  half  an  hour  before 
day-light,  it  does  not  follow  the  drums  are  to  beat  at  that 
time.  The  reveille  is  to  beat  when  a  sentry  can  see  clearly 
one  thousand  yards  around  him,  and  not  before. 

All  Aids-de-Camp  and  Majors  of  Brigade  are  to  keep 
regularly  entered  in  a  book  all  the  General  Orders  of  the 
Army,  as  well  as  those  of  the  Brigades  they  belong  to,  as 
the  General-in-Chief  will  not,  for  the  future,  admit,  as  an 


excuse  for  the  breach  of  orders,  the  plea  of  not  knowing 
them. 

Samuel  Osgood  and  Joseph  Ward,  Esquires,  being  ap- 
pointed Aids-de-Camp  to  Major-General  Ward,  they  are 
to  be  obeyed  as  such ;  and  all  orders  coming  from  Aids-de- 
Camp,  are  to  be  considered  as  the  orders  of  their  respective 
Generals,  and  whether  written  or  verbal,  to  be  forthwith 
obeyed.  It  may  be  necessary  once  more  to  repeat  to  the 
Army,  that  every  Aid-de-Camp,  and  Major  of  Brigade,  will 
be  distinguished  by  a  green  ribband. 

Certain  corps  having  been  dilatory  in  delivering  last 
Saturday  their  weekly  Returns,  as  positively  directed  by 
former  orders,  the  General  is  determined,  for  the  future,  not 
to  excuse  any  neglect  in  sending  the  Returns  every  Satur- 
day to  the  Adjutant-General.  As  the  commanding  officers 
of  Regiments  are  to  be  answerable  for  the  due  observance 
of  this  order,  it  is  expected  they  are  exact  in  obliging  their 
respective  Adjutants  to  fulfil  their  duty. 


GENERAL  WASHINGTON  TO  JOHN  HANCOCK. 

Cambridge,  July  21,  1775. 

Dear  Sir  :  I  am  particularly  to  acknowledge  that  part 
of  your  favour  of  the  tenth  instant,  wherein  you  do  me  the 
honour  of  determining  to  join  the  Army  under  my  com- 
mand. I  need  certainly  make  no  professions  of  the  plea- 
sure I  shall  have  in  seeing  you ;  at  the  same  time  1  have 
to  regret  that  so  little  is  in  my  power  to  offer  equal  to  Col- 
onel Hancock's  merits,  and  worthy  of  his  acceptance.  I 
shall  be  happy,  in  every  opportunity,  to  show  the  regard 
and  esteem  with  which  I  am,  Sir,  your  most  obedient  and 
very  humble  servant. 

To  Colonel  John  Hancock. 

GENERAL  WASHINGTON  TO  GOVERNOUR  TRUMBULL. 

Cambridge,  July  21,  1775. 

Sir:  lam  to  acknowledge  your  favour  of  the  seven- 
teenth instant,  informing  me  of  the  destination  of  the  Troops 
raising  in  your  Colony.  As  the  season  is  now  advanced, 
and  the  enemy  considerably  re-enforced,  we  have  the  ut- 
most reason  to  expect  any  attack  that  may  be  made  will 
not  be  much  longer  delayed.  I  should  therefore  think  it 
highly  necessary  the  new  raised  Troops  should  join  the 
Army  with  all  possible  expedition.  Upon  inquiry  with 
respect  to  the  flour,  I  do  not  find  our  necessities  to  be  such 
as  to  require  an  immediate  transportation  during  the  har- 
vest;  but  as  soon  as  it  can  be  sent  with  convenience,  you 
will  please  to  give  directions  for  that  purpose.  Colonel 
Trumbull  will  advise  you  to  what  place  it  is  to  be  addressed, 
and  to  whose  care. 

Agreeable  to  your  intimation  I  have  ordered  the  express 
to  wait  on  you,  and  shall  do  so  in  future.  We  have  had 
no  occurrence  in  the  camp  of  any  material  consequence. 
On  both  sides  we  are  strengthening  our  lines  in  full  view 
of  each  other. 

I  am,  Sir,  with  esteem,  &ic,  your  most  obedient  servant. 

Go.  Washington. 
To  the  Honourable  Governour  Trumbull. 


GOVERNOUR  WENT  WORTH  TO  SECRETARY  ATKINSON. 

Fort  William  and  Mary,  July  21,  1775. 

Sir  :  Captain  Barklcy  (at  noon)  gave  me  the  enclosed 
paper,  which  I  hope  may  effect  a  continuance  of  the  boat 
fishery.  You  are  sensible  that  I  have  not  any  powers  to 
alter  or  direct  in  this  matter,  the  execution  of  the  Restrain- 
ing Act  being  committed  to  the  Navy  and  Custom-House. 

I  am,  with  due  regard  and  respect,  Sir,  your  most  obe- 
dient servant,  J.  Wentworth. 
The  Honourable  Theodore  Atkinson,  Esq. 

Scarborough,  July  21,  1775. 

Captain  Barkley  will  suffer  the  open  boats  of  the  Town 
of  Portsmouth,  and  the  country,  to  go  a-fishing  for  fresh 
fish  only,  first  having  a  permit  from  him  for  that  purpose, 
provided  the  Town  of  Portsmouth  will  let  His  Majesty's 
ship,  under  his  command,  be  supplied  with  fresh  beef  as 
usual,  at  the  common  market  price,  and  our  boats  to  pass 
and  repass  without  molestation. 


1711 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  kc,  JULY,  1775. 


1712 


JOHN  HANCOCK,  PRESIDENT,  TO  THE  NEW-HAMPSHIRE 

CONGRESS. 

Congress  Chamber,  July  22,  1775. 
Gentlemen:  By  return  of  the  Army,  transmitted  by 
the  General  to  Congress,  it  appears  there  is  a  great  defi- 
ciency in  many  Regiments;  upon  which  the  Congress  came 
to  the  enclosed  resolutions,  which  I  am  ordered  to  transmit 
to  you. 

I  am,  Gentlemen,  your  obedient  humble  servant, 

John  Hancock,  President. 
Convention  of  New- Hampshire. 

P.  S.  I  enclose  you  a  publick  paper,  in  which  you  will  see 
the  resolutions  of  Congress  respecting  the  Militia  through 
the  Continent. 


general  wooster  to  continental  congress. 

Camp  at  Harlem,  July  22,  1775. 
Sir:  I  received  your  order  of  the  seventeenth  instant, 
and  immediately  contracted  for  vessels  to  carry  the  Troops 
to  Albany.  The  first  division,  under  the  command  of 
Colonel  Waterbury,  will  march  on  Monday  next,  and  the 
remainder  will  march  as  soon  as  I  can  possibly  get  the 
vessels  ready  to  take  them,  which  wont  exceed  Wednesday. 
And  indeed,  Sir,  you  may  depend  upon  my  utmost  exer- 
tion and  assiduity  for  carrying  into  execution  every  order 
within  my  department,  for  the  good  of  the  common  cause, 
notwithstanding  some  discouragements  that  I  have  met  with, 
after  a  series  of  thirty-four  years  in  the  service  of  my  King 
and  Country. 

Since  General  Schuyler  went  to  Ticondcroga,  a  letter 
came  from  General  Washington,  addressed  to  him  or  the 
officer  commanding  at  or  near  New-York,  in  which  was 
the  following  paragraph,  viz:  "The  commissions  which 
have  been  forwarded  to  me  are  not  sufficient  to  answer  the 
demand  I  have  for  them,  there  being  at  least  one  thousand 
officers  in  this  department,  and  not  more  than  five  hundred 
commissions  in  my  possession.  As  you  are  so  much  nearer 
to  Philadelphia  than  I  am,  I  request  you  to  apply  to  Con- 
gress for  as  many  as  you  are  likely  to  want." 

The  forces  under  my  command  are  in  general  good 
health  and  high  spirits,  and  rejoice  to  have  it  in  their  power 
to  go  where  they  may  have  an  opportunity  to  do  their 
Country  some  service. 

I  am,  Sir,  with  the  greatest  esteem,  your  obliged  humble 
servant,  David  Wooster. 

The  Honourable  John  Hancock,  President  of  the  Conti- 
nental Congress. 


GENERAL  SCHUYLER  TO  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

Ticondcroga,  July  22,  1775. 
Sir  :  I  am  just  favoured  with  your  letter  of  the  thirteenth 
instant,  enclosing  a  copy  of  Colonel  Hinman's  to  the  Con- 
gress. Every  consideration  induces  me  to  take  all  the  pre- 
cautions possible,  more  especially  as  I  have  four  important 
posts  to  maintain,  with  a  small  number  of  troops,  and  those 
very  ill  armed  and  with  little  ammunition.  In  this  disa- 
greeable situation,  I  feel  very  sensibly  the  exceeding  slow- 
ness with  which  the  levies  are  made  in  every  part  of  our 
Colony.  Captain  Mott  informs  me  that  I  need  not  expect 
a  re-enforcement  in  less  than  a  month.  Should  General 
Burgoyne  (as  is  reported)  be  gone  with  a  body  of  troops 
to  Canada,  and  make  an  attack  in  this  quarter,  in  our  pre- 
sent weak  and  defenceless  situation,  what  the  consequences 
would  be  to  the  Country  are  easier  conceived  than  de- 
scribed. I  hope  such  as  are  raised,  although  the  Regiments 
may  not  be  complete,  will  be  ordered  up  without  delay 
with  camp  equipage.    I  am,  Sir,  your  most  humble  servant, 

Philip  Schuyler. 
Henry  Williams,  Esquire,  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of 
New-York  Congress. 

NEW-IPSWICH  (NEW-HAMPSHIRE)  COMMITTEE. 

New-Ipswich,  July  22,  1775. 
In  February  last,  the  Committee  of  Inspection  for  the 
Town  of  New-Ipswich,  in  New-Hampshire,  finding  that 
Mr.  David  Hills,  a  trader  in  said  Town,  had  raised  the 
price  of  some  articles  of  his  Merchandise,  whereupon  said 


Committee  called  him  to  an  account,  and  after  some  de- 
bate, said  Hills  promised  to  adhere  strictly  to  the  Asso- 
ciation ;  so  said  Committee  received  him  again.  In  the 
beginning  of  March  then  next,  the  said  Hills  violated  the 
Association  again  in  the  same  manner  as  before,  whereupon 
said  Committee  called  him  to  an  account  again  ;  then  lie 
said  he  did  not  understand  the  Association  nor  the  promise, 
as  we  did,  but  for  the  future  he  would  adhere  to  the  Asso- 
ciation and  the  promise,  as  we  understood  them  ;  so  was 
again  received.  Now  he  has  violated  the  Association  in 
like  manner  the  third  time,  notwithstanding  his  promise;  so 
we  again  examined  him.  and  he  owned  he  had  raised  his 
price  on  some  articles,  viz.  Salt,  Fish,  and  Rum,  and  says 
it  is  no  violation  of  the  Association,  so  refuses  to  make  satis- 
faction. Now  we,  the  Committee,  advise  all  good  people 
to  break  off  all  dealings  with  him,  as  the  Association  binds 
all  to  do.    By  order  of  the  Committee. 

Joseph  Bates,  Chairman  of  said  Committee. 

DAVID  HILLS  TO  THE  PUBLICK. 

New-Ipswich,  August  30,  1775. 
The  publication  in  the  Essex  Gazette,  printed  the  24th 
instant,  signed  "Joseph  Bates,  Chairman  of  said  Commit- 
tee," requires  this  piece  of  justice  to  the  publick,  and  to  my 
character,  that  some  of  the  facts  therein  mentioned  be 
rightly  stated.  The  customary  price  of  salt  was  four  shil- 
lings per  bushel  till  July  last,  when  the  price  of  carting  was 
necessarily  raised  five  or  six  pence,  for  want  of  loading  to 
carry  down,  and  nearly  all  the  salt  I  have  had  on  hand  ever 
since  has  cost  three  shillings,  seven  pence,  one-fifth,  per 
bushel,  delivered  here,  and  the  price  complained  of  is  four 
shillings,  three  pence,  one-fifth ;  so  that  the  advance  is  eight 
pence,  making  no  allowance  for  the  casks  to  contain  it, 
waste,  kc.  I  have  had  license  to  retail  rum  only  since 
November  last.  My  price  has  been  two  shillings,  six  pence, 
two-fifths  per  gallon,  till  July  last,  when  I  raised  it  to  two 
shillings  eight  pence,  which  has  been  the  customary  price 
here  for  several  years,  the  excise  on  it  being  tw:o  pence. 
The  customary  price  of  common  fish  is  two  pence  and  three 
pence  per  pound;  this  of  mine  is  spring  merchantable  fish, 
equal  in  quality  to  what  the  Army  is  supplied  with  at 
nineteen  shillings  per  quintal,  and  my  price  for  it  is  three 
pence  per  pound.  As  for  what  passed  in  February  and 
March  last,  see  a  vote  of  the  Town  at  the  annual  meeting, 
March  13,  viz :  "  Voted  to  accept  of  the  Committee  of 
Inspection's  Report,  with  respect  to  the  two  shop-keepers, 
and  that  the  Town  is  satisfied  with  said  shop-keepers." 
This  I  can  fully  prove  is  the  true  state  of  the  case,  and  I 
hereby  challenge  this  Committee,  and  the  whole  world,  to 
produce  any  evidence  to  the  contrary.  Their  publication, 
however  absurd,  is  less  strange,  since  it  appears  that  two, 
the  most  leading  men  of  the  Committee,  have  declared 
against  the  present  proceedings  of  the  united  American 
Colonies,  as  being  imprudent,  and  that  we  had  better  have 
complied  with  the  requisitions  of  the  British  Parliament. 
Upon  principles,  it  seems,  not  unlike  this,  the  Committee 
have  proceeded  in  the  most  arbitrary  and  obstinate  manner 
to  publish  the  said  piece,  utterly  refusing,  after  repeated 
entreaties,  to  submit  to  a  hearing  of  the  case  before  any 
other  Committee.  Now  I  desire  all  people,  both  "good" 
and  bad,  to  treat  this  Committee  and  their  publications  as 
they  deserve.  David  Hills. 

STATEMENT  OF  COMMITTEE. 

New-Ipswich,  September  13,  1775. 
The  piece  published  in  the  Essex  Gazette,  the  seventh 
instant,  signed  by  David  Hills,  which  says,  "  the  publica- 
tion in  the  Essex  Gazette,  printed  the  twenty-fourth  instant, 
signed  by  Joseph  Bates,  Chairman,  requires  that  piece  of 
justice  to  the  publick  and  his  character,"  I  observe  is  such 
a  piece  of  justice  as  the  Tory  party  have  practised  to  pub- 
lish, mostly  false  and  scandalous,  representing  things  in  a 
false  light.  When  he  says  the  carting  was  necessarily  raised, 
he  hired  some  teams  to  carry  and  fetch  a  load  at  eight  shil- 
lings, lawful  money,  a  journey  cheaper  than  the  usual  price; 
the  salt  he  mentions,  he  bought  at  twelve  shillings  per 
hogshead;  the  fish,  which  he  says  is  equal  in  quality  to  what 
the  Army  is  supplied  with  at  nineteen  shillings  per  quintal, 
he  bought  at  ten  shillings  per  quintal,  as  appears  by  his  bill 
from  his  merchant ;  the  rum  he  bought  a  large  store  of,  at 


1713 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  kc,  JULY,  1775. 


1714 


one  shilling  eight  pence  per  gallon,  except  one  load  at  one 
shilling  nine  pence ;  and  as  the  affairs  of  the  Province  are 
regulated  by  the  Congress,  it  is  supposed  there  will  be  no 
excise.  It  appears  said  Hills  got  his  goods  or  merchan- 
dise as  cheap  as  usual ;  if  so,  I  see  no  reason  win  he  should 
raise  his  price.  I  should  think  it  soon  enough  to  raise  when 
bis  goods  cost  more.  The  report  of  the  Committee  he 
refers  to  was,  that  the  said  Hills  had  promised  to  make 
restitution  to  those  he  had  sold  to  at  a  higher  price  than  the 
usual  custom,  and  that  he  would  adhere  to  the  Association 
as  the  Committee  understood  it.  The  said  Hills  and  his 
adherents  said  the  Ninth  Article  of  the  Association  means 
that  the  vender  of  goods  shall  sell  at  their  usual  profits. 
The  Committee  said  it  means  that  they  should  sell  at  their 
usual  prices;  so  he  complied  and  made  said  promise.  Upon 
said  promise  the  Town  voted,  satisfied  with  said  Hills,  or 
shop-keeper.  These  things,  I  think,  may  easily  be  proved, 
notwithstanding  his  bold  challenge.  On  the  twenty-ninth 
of  August  last,  we  had  a  full  Town-meeting,  which  was 
requested  by  the  said  Hills  and  his  adherents,  and  the 
Town  heard  said  Hills' s  complaints  against  the  Committee 
of  Inspection;  (see  the  votes  of  the  Town  thereon.*)  I 
further  observe,  that  the  said  Hills  is  the  man  that  had  a 
quantity  of  goods  burnt  at  Neu--York,  by  the  good  people 
of  that  City,  for  none  of  his  good  conduct,  in  the  time  of 
the  Stamp  Act.  After  the  people  of  this  Town  had  unani- 
mously agreed  not  to  use  any  Tea,  said  Hills  brings  a  quan- 
tity into  Town  to  sell ;  thus  it  appears  he  (the  said  Hills) 
has  proved  himself  guilty  of  perfidy,  and  that  no  solemn 
ties  are  sufficient  to  hold  him.  Considering  these  things,  it 
is  not  strange  that  he  has  published  his  false  piece,  say- 
ins,  "  that  two  of  the  most  leading  men  of  the  Committee 
have  declared  against  the  present  proceedings  of  the  united 
American  Colonies  as  being  imprudent,  and  that  we  had 
better  have  complied  with  the  requisitions  of  the  British 
Parliament."  Can  any  one  suppose  that  any  person  can 
declare  as  above  said,  and  take  pains  to  bring  people  to  an 
adherence  to  the  Association.  As  for  the  Committee's  re- 
fusing a  hearing  before  some  other  Committee,  said  Hills 
never  asked  it  till  after  the  paper  was  sent  to  the  printers, 
and  then  he  claimed  it  as  his  right  given  him  by  the  Associa- 
tion. Now  if  the  Committee's  dealing  with  said  Hills  as  the 
Association  directs,  alter  he  has  violated  the  Association 
the  third  time,  besides  his  bringing  Tea,  w  hen  he  refuses 
to  reform,  is  arbitrary,  I  know  not  what  is  arbitrary. 

Joseph  Bates. 

*  Voted,  to  hear  the  complaints  of  Mr.  Datid  Hills  against  the  Com- 
mittee of  Inspection. 

Voted,  that  the  Committee  of  Inspection  have  gone  according  to  the 
Association.    A  true  copy  from  the  minutes. 

Attest :  Isaac  How,  Totcn-Clerk. 


DR.  BENJAMIN  CHl'RCII  TO  MR.  KANE,  MAJOR  OF  BRIGADE, 
IN  BOSTON.* 

Cambridge,  July  23,  1775. 

I  hope  this  will  reach  you.  Three  attempts  have  I 
made  without  success.  In  effecting  the  last,  the  man  was 
discovered  in  attempting  his  escape;  but  fortunately  my 
letter  was  sewed  in  the  waistband  of  his  breeches.  He 
was  confined  for  a  few  days,  during  which  you  may  guess 
my  feelings;  but  a  little  art  and  a  little  money  settled 
the  matter.  It  is  a  month  since  my  return  from  Phila- 
delphia. I  went  by  the  way  of  Providence  to  visit  my 
mother.  The  Committee  for  warlike  stores  made  me  a 
formal  tender  of  twelve  cannon,  eighteen  and  twenty-four 
pounders,  they  having  taken  a  previous  resolution  to  make 
the  offer  to  General  H  ard.  To  make  a  merit  of  my  services, 
I  sent  them  down  ;  and  when  they  received  them  they  sent 
them  to  Stoughton  to  be  out  of  danger,  even  though  they 

•  The  following  letter  is  a  very  intelligent  and  particular  account  of 
the  strength  and  disposition  of  the  Colonies,  written  by  Doctor  Church, 
who  had  the  best  means  of  knowing  the  true  state  of  matters.  It  was 
obviously  intended  only  for  the  private  information  of  the  General, 
and  therefore  must  be  considered  a  much  more  impartial  and  candid 
account  than  we  commonly  receive  from  either  party,  which  accounts 
are  usually  drawn  up  for  the  very  purpose  of  magnifying  or  diminish- 
ing objects.  Doctor  Church's  residence  was  in  Boston;  he  was  taken 
into  the  Government's  pay  about  the  middle  of  April.  On  the  19th, 
General  Gage  having  retracted  his  promise  to  the  Bostonians,  after 
they  had  delivered  up  their  arms,  by  detaining  them  in  Town,  Doctor 
Church  made  his  pretended  escape  from  Boston.  From  that  day  till 
the  fatal  time  of  writing  the  letter,  he  seems  to  have  been  very  diligent 
and  pretty  successful  in  his  employment. — Rtmembrancer. 

Foctbh  Series. — Vol.  u.  1< 


had  formed  the  resolution,  as  before  hinted,  of  fortifying 
Bunker's  Hill,  which,  together  with  the  cowardice  of  the 
clumsy  Gerrish  and  Colonel  Scammons,  was  the  lucky 
occasion  of  their  defeat.  The  affair  happened  before  my 
return  from  Philadelphia.  We  lost  one  hundred  and  six- 
ty-five killed  then,  and  since  dead  of  their  wounds;  one 
hundred  and  twenty  more  lie  wounded  ;  they  will  chiefly 
recover.  They  boast  that  you  have  fourteen  hundred 
killed  and  wounded  in  the  action.  You  say  the  rebels  lost 
fifteen  hundred  ;  I  suppose  with  equal  truth.  The  people 
of  Connecticut  are  raving  in  the  cause  of  liberty.  A  num- 
ber of  their  Colony,  from  the  Town  of  Stamford,  robbed 
the  King's  stores  near  Ne iv-  York,  with  some  small  assist- 
ance which  the  New-Yorkers  lent  them.  These  were 
growing  turbulent.  I  counted  two  hundred  and  eighty  pieces 
of  cannon,  from  thirteen  to  twenty-four  pounders,  at  King's 
Bridge,  which  the  Committee  had  secured  for  the  use  of 
the  Colonies.  The  Jerseys  are  not  a  whit  behind  Connec- 
ticut in  zeal.  The  Philadelphians  exceed  them  both;  I 
saw  two  thousand  men  reviewed  there  by  General  Lee, 
consisting  of  Quakers  and  other  inhabitants  in  uniform, 
with  one  thousand  riflemen  and  forty  horse,  who,  together, 
made  a  most  warlike  appearance.  I  mingled  freely  and 
frequently  w  ith  the  members  of  the  Continental  Congress ; 
they  were  united  and  determined  in  opposition,  and  appeared 
assured  of  success.  Now,  to  come  home,  the  opposition 
is  become  formidable.  Eighteen  thousand  brave  and  de- 
termined men,  with  ff'ashington  and  Lee  at  their  head, 
are  no  contemptible  enemy.  Adjutant  General  Gates  is 
indefatigable  in  arraying  the  Army.  Provisions  are  very 
plentiful ;  clothes  are  manufactured  in  almost  every  Town 
for  the  soldiers.  Twenty  tons  of  gunpowder  have  lately 
arrived  at  Philadelphia,  Connecticut,  and  Providence ;  and 
upwards  of  twenty  tons  are  now  in  camp.  Saltpetre  is 
made  in  every  Colony.  Powder-mills  have  been  erected, 
and  are  consequently  employed  at  Philadelphia  and  iVete- 
York.  Volunteers  of  the  first  fortunes  daily  flock  to  the 
camp.  One  thousand  riflemen  will  arrive  in  two  or  three 
days.  Recruits  are  now  levying  to  augment  the  Army  to 
twenty-two  thousand  ;  besides,  ten  thousand  militia  of  this 
Government  are  appointed  to  appear  on  the  first  summons. 
The  bills  of  all  the  Colonies  circulate  freely,  and  are  rea- 
dily exchanged  for  cash.  Add  to  this,  unless  some  plan 
of  accommodation  takes  place  immediately,  their  harbours 
will  swarm  with  privateers.  An  Army  will  be  raised,  how- 
ever, in  the  Middle  Colonies  to  take  possession  of  Canada. 
For  the  sake  of  the  miserable  convulsed  Empire,  solicit 
peace,  repeal  the  acts,  or  Britain  is  undone.  This  advice 
is  the  result  of  a  warm  affection  for  my  King  and  Realm. 
Remember,  1  never  deceived  you ;  every  article  here  sent 
you  is  sacredly  true. 

The  papers  will  acquaint  you  that  I  am  a  member  again 
for  Boston.    You  will  there  see  our  motley  Council. 

A  general  arrangement  of  officers  will  take  place,  except 
the  chief,  which  will  be  suspended  but  for  a  little  while,  to 
see  what  part  Britain  takes  in  consequence  of  the  late 
Continental  Petition. 

A  view  to  independence  appears  to  be  more  and  more 
general.  Should  Britain  declare  war  against  the  Colonies, 
they  would  be  lost  forever.  Should  Spain  declare  war 
against  England,  the  Colonies  would  declare  a  neutrality, 
which  would  doubtless  produce  a  league  offensive  and 
defensive  between  them.  For  God's  sake,  prevent  it  by 
a  speedy  accommodation ! 

Writing  this  has  employed  me  for  a  day.  I  have  been 
to  Salem  to  reconnoitre,  but  could  not  escape  the  geese  in 
the  capital.  To-morrow  I  set  out  for  Newport,  purposely 
to  send  you  this.  I  write  you  fully,  it  being  scarcely  prac- 
ticable to  prevent  discovery.  I  am  out  of  place  here  by 
choice,  and  therefore  out  of  pay;  and  am  determined  to 
be  so,  unless  something  be  offered  in  my  way. 

I  wish  you  could  contrive  to  write  to  me  largely,  in 
cyphers,  by  way  of  Newport,  addressed  to  Tom  Richards, 
merchant,  enclosed  under  cover  to  me,  intimating  that  I  am 
a  perfect  stranger  to  you  ;  but  that  being  recommended  to 
you  as  a  gentlemen  of  honour  you  took  the  liberty  to 
enclose  it,  entreating  me  to  deliver  it  as  directed  to  the 
person  living,  as  you  are  informed,  in  Cambridge.  Sign 
some  fictitious  name,  and  send  it  to  some  confidant  friend  at 
Newport,  to  be  delivered  to  me  at  Watertown. 

Make  use  of  every  precaution,  or  I  perish. 


1715 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  kc,  JULY,  1775. 


1716 


SOUTH-CAROLINA  COUNCIL  OF  SAFETY. 

Charlostown,  Saturday,  July  23,  1775. 
Present:  Colonel  Henry  Laurens,  President;  Mr.  Fer- 
guson, Mr.  Middlelon,  Honourable  Mr.  Lowndes,  Hon- 
ourable Mr.  Drayton,  Colonel  Pinckney,  Mr.  Brcwton, 
Mr.  Bee,  Captain  Benjamin  Elliot,  Mr.  Hey  ward,  Col. 
Parsons. 

On  motion,  Resolved,  That  the  Hon.  William  Henry 
Drayton,  and  the  Reverend  William  Tennent,  be  the  two 
gentlemen  to  make  a  progress  into  the  back  country,  to 
explain  to  the  People  the  causes  of  the  present  disputes 
between  Great  Britain  and  the  American  Colonies. 

Resolved,  That  the  following  commissions  and  powers, 
be  given  to  the  Honourable  William  Henry  Drayton  and 
Reverend  William  Tennent  : 

SOUTH-CAROLINA  : 

In  the  Council  of  Safety,  July  23,  1775. 

The  Council  of  Safety,  elected  and  chosen  by  the  Pro- 
vincial Congress,  begun  to  be  holden  the  first  day  of  June 
last,  by  these  presents  testify,  that  they  have  nominated, 
appointed,  and  commissioned  the  Honourable  William  Hen- 
ry Drayton,  and  the  Reverend  William  Tennent,  to  go 
into  the  interiour  parts  of  this  Colony,  at  the  publick  ex- 
pense ;  there  to  explain  to  the  people  at  large  the  nature 
of  the  unhappy  publick  disputes  between  Great  Britain 
and  the  American  Colonies  ;  to  endeavour  to  settle  all 
political  disputes  between  the  people  ;  to  quiet  their  minds, 
and  to  enforce  the  necessity  of  a  general  union,  in  order  to 
preserve  themselves  and  their  children  from  slavery.*  And 
that  the  said  William  Henry  Drayton,  and  William  Tennent 
may  proceed  in  this  business  with  safety  and  advantage  to 
the  publick,  all  the  friends  of  the  liberties  of  America  are 
hereby  requested  to  afford  them  every  necessary  aid,  assist- 
ance, and  protection.  By  order  of  the  Council  of  Safety  : 
Henry  Laurens,  President. 

SOUTH- CAROLINA  : 
In  the  Council  of  Safety,  Charlestown,  July  23,  1775. 
Gentlemen  :  In  order  to  give  you  every  necessary  and 
proper  support  and  protection  in  your  progress  into  the 
country,  in  execution  of  our  commission  of  this  date,  you 

*On  the  14th  of  July,  Major  Mayson  arrived  at  Ninety-Six  Court. 
House,  with  a  portion  of  the  gunpowder  and  lead,  which  he  had  taken 
in  Fort  Charlotte.  At  this  time,  Colonel  Thomas  Fletchall  was  holding 
the  general  muster  of  his  Militia  Regiment  at  Ford's,  on  the  Enoree 
River.  And  Captain  Moses  Kirkland,  who  had  accompanied  Major 
Mayson  with  his  troop  of  Rangers  to  Ninety-Six  Court-Houso,  and 
who  had  thought  himself  overlooked  hy  the  Provincial  Congress  in  the 
military  appointments ;  and  besides,  having  an  old  grudge  against 
Major  Mayson,  his  superiour  officer,  both  of  whom  were  rivals  for  mili. 
tary  rank  and  back-country  influence  ;  knowing  that  Colonel  Fletchall 
had  assembled  a  number  of  men,  and  supposing  the  whole  back-coun. 
try  disaffected,  resolved  to  change  sides.  Under  this  impression,  he 
despatched  Major  Terry,  of  the  militia,  who  was  with  him  in  opinion, 
to  Colonel  Fletchall;  ardently  requesting,  that  he  would  send  a  force, 
and  recover  the  powder  and  lead,  which  had  been  taken  from  the  King's 
fort ;  and  was  then  at  Ninety-Six.  He,  at  the  same  time,  assured 
Fletchall,  that  the  force  sent  by  him  to  retake  the  ammunition  should 
not  be  opposed ;  and  that  the  Rangers  meant  to  force  him,  and  every 
other  person  in  the  back-country,  to  sign  the  Association.  Having 
expedited  these  advices,  he  proceeded  to  fulfil  his  part  of  the  proffered 
agreement,  and  commenced  inducing  his  Troop  to  desert ;  in  which  he 
was  so  successful,  that  in  a  few  hours  they  withdrew  to  a  man. 

In  the  mean  time,  Terry  having  arrived  at  Colonel  FletchaWs  mus- 
ter-field at  Ford's,  at  the  fork  of  Cedar  Creek  and  Enoree  River,  where 
he  continued  the  assemblage  of  his  men  for  three  days,  and  seeing 
Fletchall  about  to  tender  the  Association  of  the  Congress  for  the  sig- 
natures of  the  individuals  of  his  Regiment,  he  concealed  his  business, 
until  he  saw  what  turn  that  affair  should  tako.  And  accompanying 
Fletchall  through  the  companies,  the  Association  was  tendered  under 
such  discouraging  expressions,  as  gavo  the  people  to  understand  Fletch- 
aWs mind  on  the  subject,  not  a  man  signing  the  same.  And  passing 
from  one  extreme  to  another,  Fletchall  having  previously  caused  Major 
Robinson  to  prepare  another  Association  more  suitable  to  his  opinions, 
and  the  part  he  intended  to  act  in  favour  of  the  King,  it  was  offered  to 
the  men  for  signature,  and  the  peoplo  very  generally  subscribed  it. 
Terry  seeing  the  multitude  in  this  disposition,  now  communicated  his 
mission  from  Kirkland  to  Fletchall,  in  presence  of  Major  Robinson  and 
the  Cunninghams ;  when  Fletchall  declined  to  appear  publickly  in 
the  affair :  but  the  three  others  declared  they  would  go,  and  seizo  the 
powder  and  lead.  At  this,  Fletchall  showed  no  disposition  to  prevent 
them ;  and  they  immediately  rodo  off  the  field,  with  two  hundred  men 
on  horseback.  They  arrived  at  Ninety. Six  Court-House  on  the  17th 
July,  about  noon  ;  and  had  little  troublo  in  possessing  themselves  of 
the  ammunition,  as  Major  Mayson  had  only  an  officor  or  two  left  with 
him,  beside  Captain  Kirkland.  Robinson  and  his  party  then  oommit. 
ted  the  Major  to  the  District  jail ;  where,  having  continued  some  hours, 
tln;y  admitted  him  to  bail,  to  answer  at  the  ensuing  Sessions,  for  hav. 
ing,  as  they  charged,  robbed  the  King's  fort.  In  a  few  days  afterwards, 
Captain  Kirkland  put  tho  seal  to  his  treachery,  in  joining  FletchaWs 
party  openly :  in  addition  to  which  act  of  perfidy,  he  also  induced 


are  hereby  authorized  to  call  upon  all  and  every  officer  of 
the  militia  and  rangers,  for  assistance,  support,  and  protec- 
tion ;  and  they  and  each  of  them  are  hereby  ordered  to  fur- 
nish such  assistance,  support,  and  protection,  as  you  shall 
deem  necessary.    By  order  of  the  Council  of  Safety  : 

Henry  Laurens,  President. 
To  the  Honourable  W.  H.  Drayton,  Reverend  William 
Tennent,  Commissioners,  &.c. 


prince  george's  county  (.Maryland)  committee. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Observation  for 
Prince  George's  County,  at  the  house  of  Richard  Carnes, 
in  Piscataway,  on  Monday  the  24th  of  July,  1775,  were 
present:  Josias  Bcall,  Chairman  ;  William  Diggs,  Enoch 
Magruder,  Thomas  Dent,  William  Disrgs,  Jr.,  William 
Beanes,  Jr.,  Nathaniel  Newton,  Richard  Carnes,  Ed- 
ward Edelin,  Jonathan  Binlc,  Thomas  Clagett,  Hezekiah 
Wheeler,  and  James  Hawkins.  In  consequence  of  infor- 
mation being  lodged  with  the  Committee,  that  Josias  Lan- 
ham  and  John  Lindsey  had  purchased  Shoes  imported 
contrary  to  the  American  Association,  they  proceeded  to 
inquire  into  the  charge,  and  find,  that  Wm.  McCraight 
and  William  Blair,  Mariners,  on  board  the  Ship  Janney, 
Captain  Cochran,  from  Glasgow,  had  sold  to  the  said 
Josias  Lanham  and  John  Lindsay,  four  pair  of  Shoes,  im- 
ported into  this  Province  since  the  first  day  of  February 
last,  for  the  sum  of  thirty-four  shillings  and  six  pence, 
current  money.  The  parties  were  summoned  to  attend 
the  Committee;  whereupon  the  said  Lanham  and  Lind- 
say appeared,  and  confessed  the  charge,  and  produced  the 
above-mentioned  pairs  of  Shoes.  The  aforesaid  McCraight 
and  Blair  likewise  appeared,  with  the  money  received  for 
the  said  Shoes. 

The  Committee,  on  considering  the  premises,  unani- 
mously resolve  such  proceedings  a  violation  of  the  Con- 
tinental Association.  The  said  McCraight  and  Blair  de- 
clared they  made  sale  of  the  Shoes  inadvertently,  and  are 
sorry  they  should  have  acted  so  as  to  give  offence  ;  that 
they  will  for  the  future  pay  strict  regard  to  what  they  are 
now  informed  to  be  the  General  Association  as  to  goods 
imported  ;  and  they  cheerfully  give  up  the  money  received 

Captain  Purvis  and  his  Troop  of  the  same  Regiment,  to  quit  the 

service. 

The  number  of  men  collected  at  FletchaWs  muster-field,  amounting 
to  fifteen  hundred  at  least — the  spirit  they  displayed,  the  seizure  of  the 
powder  and  lead,  the  treatment  of  Major  Mayson,  and  the  desertion  of 
Kirkland  and  Purvis,  encouraged  and  increased  the  disaffection  of  the 
people,  from  Broad  to  Savannah  Rivers.  The  million  voted  by  the 
Provincial  Congress  was  an  endless  theme  to  harangue  upon,  for  tho 
purpose  of  stating,  that  the  Congress  would  ruin  them  ;  and  the  paper 
money  was  cried  down  as  of  no  value.  But,  above  all,  their  spirits 
and  cabals  were  kept  up,  by  correspondences  with  Lord  William  Camp, 
bell,  the  Governour,  in  Charlestown ;  who,  through  Colonel  Fletchall, 
commended  the  loyalty  of  Robinson  and  the  Cunninghams :  promising 
them  rewards  for  perseverance  in  duty.  This  being  circulated,  gave 
these  men  real  consequence  among  the  disaffected ;  tied  them  fast  to 
the  Royal  interest,  and  threw  out  a  lure  of  recompense  to  every  leader 
of  the  party.  From  this  state  of  things,  the  most  fatal  consequences 
were  apprehended ;  and  it  was  then  supposed,  that  if  Lord  William 
Campbell  had  gone  up  among  the  disaffected,  had  collected  Fletchall 
and  his  men  around  him,  and  had  conducted  himself  with  promptness 
and  efficiency,  the  whole  proceedings  of  the  Provincial  Congress 
would  have  been  overthrown.  However,  for  wiser  purposes,  Provi- 
dence had  not  so  directed  his  actions ;  but  left  him  in  Charlestown,  to 
experience  the  daily  loss  of  his  executive  powers ;  and  the  little  con. 
sideration  in  which  he  was  holden,  as  well  by  the  publick  authorities 
as  by  the  citizens  at  large. 

Accounts  of  these  circumstances  frequently  arriving  in  Charlestown ; 
and  through  Lord  William's  plots,  affairs  becoming  more  critical  every 
day  in  the  back  parts  of  tho  Colony,  the  Council  of  Safety  took  into 
consideration  the  urgency  of  tho  case,  and  the  necessity  which  exist- 
ed, of  reconciling  the  peoplo  to  tho  publick  measures ;  but  it  was 
opposed.  However,  on  tho  23d  day  of  July,  1775,  it  was  resolved, 
"  that  the  Honourable  William  Henry  Drayton,  and  the  Reverend  Wil- 
liam Tennent,  be  the  two  gentlemen  to  make  a  progress  into  the  back- 
country,  to  explain  to  the  people  the  causes  of  the  present  disputes 
between  Great  Britain  and  the  American  Colonies ;  and  they  were 
accordingly  commissioned  on  tho  same  day  for  that  purpose  :  "  to  go 
into  the  iuteriour  parts  of  this  Colony  at  the  publick  expense,  there  to 
explain  to  tho  people  at  large  the  nature  of  the  unhappy  publick  dis- 
putes between  Great  Britain  and  the  American  Colonies  ;  to  endeavour 
to  settle  all  political  disputos  between  the  people  ;  to  quiet  their  minds, 
and  to  enforce  the  necessity  of  a  goneral  union,  in  order  to  preserve 
themselves  and  their  children  from  slavery."  Beside  this,  they  were 
privately  armed  with  authority  "  to  call  upon  all  and  every  officer  of 
the  Militia  and  Rangors,  for  assistance,  support,  and  protection,"  to  act 
"  as  you  shall  deem  necessary."  Colonel  Richard  Richardson,  Joseph 
Kershaw,  and  the  Reverend  Mr.  Hart,  wore  desired  to  accompany  them ; 
and  to  complete  the  arrangement,  the  wholo  Militia  were  ordered  to  be 
classed  in  three  divisions ;  and  to  hold  themselves  ready  by  turns,  to 
march  at  twelve  hours  notice. — Drayton. 


1717 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JULY,  1775. 


1718 


for  the  said  Shoes  into  the  hands  of  the  Committee,  for 
publick  purposes.  The  said  Josias  Lanham  and  John 
Lindsay  declare  their  concern  for  the  part  they  have  acted 
in  violation  of  the  Association,  and  promise  their  paying 
due  regard  thereto  for  the  future ;  and  also  declare  their 
willingness  to  destroy  the  said  Shoes  ;  which  were  accord- 
ingly burnt  by  the  said  Lanham  and  Lindsay,  in  the  pre- 
sence of  the  Committee. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  of  these  proceedings  be  sent  to 
be  published  in  the  Maryland  Gazette. 

True  copy,  signed  by  order  of  the  Committee  : 

Thomas  Clagett,  Cleric. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  RECEIVED  IN  LONDON  FROM  AN 
OFFICER  ON  BOARD  HIS  MAJESTY'S  SLOOP  SWAN,  STA- 
TIONED AT  RHODE-ISLAND,  DATED  AUGUST  14,  1775. 

Two  gentlemen  crossing  a  ferry  at  Rhode-Island  in  their 
way  from  Philadelphia  to  the  eastward,  were  stopped  by 
Captain  Ayscough,  who  found  several  letters  in  their  pos- 
session, which  were  transmitted  to  Admiral  Graves;  but  I 
found  an  opportunity  of  copying  two  of  them,  and  here- 
with send  the  copies  to  you,  that  you  may  see  the  real 
intentions  of  those  miscreants  who  have  misled  His  Majes- 
ty's subjects  in  North  America  to  commit  themselves  in 
acts  of  open  rebellion;  and  that  you  may  be  no  longer 
deceived  by  the  artful  publications  of  those  traitors,  or  give 
credit  to  their  professions  of  wishing  for  accommodation. 
There  is  undoubted  proof  that  both  these  letters  are  from 
Mr.  John  Adams,  a  lawyer  of  Boston,  and  one  of  the  Dele- 
gates in  the  Continental  Congress. 

Philadelphia,  July  24,  1775. 

Mr  Dear:  It  is  now  almost  three  months  since  I  left 
you,  in  every  part  of  which  my  anxiety  about  you  and  the 
children,  as  well  as  our  country,  has  been  extreme. 

The  business  I  have  had  upon  my  mind  has  been  as 
great  and  important  as  can  be  intrusted  to  one  man,  and 
the  difficulty  and  intricacy  of  it  is  prodigious.  When  fifty 
or  sixty  men  have  a  constitution  to  form  for  a  great  em- 
pire, at  the  same  time  that  they  have  a  country  of  fifteen 
hundred  miles  extent  to  fortify ;  millions  to  arm  and  train  ; 
a  naval  power  to  an  extensive  commerce  to  regulate ; 
numerous  tribes  of  Indians  to  negotiate  with;  a  standing 
army  of  twenty-seven  thousand  men  to  raise,  pay,  victual, 
and  officer ;  1  really  shall  pity  those  fifty  and  sixty  men. 

I  must  see  you  ere  long.  Rice  has  wrote  me  a  very 
good  letter,  so  has  Thatcher,  for  which  I  thank  them  both. 
Love  to  the  children.  J.  A. 

P.  S.  I  wish  I  had  given  you  a  complete  history,  from 
the  beginning  to  the  end  of  the  journey,  of  the  behaviour 
of  my  compatriots.  No  mortal  tale  could  equal  it.  I  will 
tell  you  in  future,  but  you  shall  keep  it  a  secret — the  fidgets, 
the  whims,  the  caprice,  the  vanity,  the  superstition,  the 
irritability  of  some  of  us  is  

Mrs.  Abigail  Adams,  Brain-tree ;  to  the  care  of  Colonel 
Warren;  favoured  by  Mr.  Hitchborne. 

Philadelphia,  July  24,  1775. 
Sir:  In  confidence  I  am  determined  to  write  freely  to 
you  this  time.  A  certain*  great  fortune  and  piddling  ge- 
nius, whose  fame  has  been  trumpeted  so  loudly,  has  given  a 
silly  cast  to  our  whole  doings.  We  are  between  hawk  and 
buzzard.  We  ought  to  have  had  in  our  hands  a  month  ago 
the  whole  legislative,  executive,  and  judicial  power  of  the 
whole  Continent,  and  have  completely  modelled  a  Consti- 
tution;  to  have  raised  a  naval  power;  opened  all  our  ports 
wide;  to  have  arrested  every  friend  to  Government  on  the 
Continent,  and  held  them  as  hostages  for  the  poor  victims  in 
Boston ;  and  then  opened  the  door  as  wide  as  possible  for 
peace  and  reconciliation.  After  this  they  might  have  peti- 
tioned, and  negotiated,  and  addressed,  &c,  if  they  would. 
Is  all  this  extravagant?  Is  it  wild?  Is  it  not  the  soundest 
policy  ? 

One  piece  of  news :  Seven  thousand  weight  of  powder 
arrived  here  last  night.  We  shall  send  along  some  as  soon 
as  we  can  ;  but  you  must  be  patient  and  frugal. 

We  are  lost  in  the  extensiveness  of  our  field  of  business. 
We  have  a  Continental  Treasury  to  establish ;  a  Paymas- 

*  We  can  assure  the  publick  that  these  letters  are  not  copied  from 
the  originals. — Mass.  Spy. 


ter  to  choose ;  and  a  Committee  of  Correspondence,  or 
Safety,  or  Accounts,  or  something,  I  know  not  what,  that 
has  confounded  us  all  day. 

Shall  I  hail  you  Speaker  of  the  House,  or  Counsellor, 
or  what  ?  What  kind  of  an  election  had  you  ?  What  sort 
of  magistrates  do  you  intend  to  make?  Will  your  new 
legislative  and  executive,  feel  bold  or  irresolute  ?  Will  your 
judicial  hang  and  whip,  and  fine  and  imprison,  without 
scruple  ?  I  want  to  see  our  distressful  country  once  more  ; 
yet  1  dread  the  sight  of  devastation. 

You  observe  in  your  letter  the  oddity  of  a  great  man. 
He  is  a  queer  creature ;  but  you  must  love  his  dogs  if  you 
love  him,  and  forgive  a  thousand  whims,  for  the  sake  of  the 
soldier  and  the  scholar.  Yours. 

To  the  Honourable  James  IVarren,  Esq.,  Watertown, 
favoured  by  Mr.  Ilichborne. 

Note. — This  letter  was  anonymous,  but  wrote  in  the 
same  hand  with  that  addressed  to  Abigail  Adams. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  GENERAL  GAGE  TO  THE  EARL 
OF  DARTMOUTH,  DATED  BOSTON,  AUGUST  26,  1775. 

The  designs  of  the  leaders  of  the  rebellion  are  plain,  and 
every  day  confirms  the  truth  of  what  was  asserted  years 
ago  by  intelligent  people,  that  a  plan  was  laid  in  this  Pro- 
vince, and  adjusted  with  some  of  the  same  stamp  in  others, 
for  a  total  independence ;  whilst  they  amused  people  in 
England,  called  the  friends  of  America,  as  well  as  many 
in  this  Country,  with  feigned  professions  of  affection  and 
attachment  to  the  Parent  State,  and  pretended  to  be  ag- 
grieved and  discontented  only  on  account  of  taxation ;  that 
they  have  designedly  irritated  Government  by  every  in- 
sult, whilst  they  artfully  poisoned  the  minds  of  the  people, 
and  ripened  them  for  insurrection.  They  would  still  de- 
ceive and  lull  the  Mother  Country  into  a  belief  that  nothing 
is  meant  against  the  Nation,  and  that  their  quarrel  is  only 
with  the  Ministers.  But  it  is  hoped  that  the  Nation  will 
see  through  this  falsehood  and  deceit.  It  matters  not  who 
hold  the  helm  of  the  state;  the  stroke  is  levelled  at  the 
British  Nation,  on  whose  ruins  they  hope  to  build  their 
so  much  vaunted  American  Empire,  and  to  rise,  like  the 
Phoenix,  out  of  the  ashes  of  the  Mother  Country. 

TO   MR.  PURDIE. 
Williamsburgh,  Virginia,  November  10,  1775. 

Sir  :  The  Tories  lay  great  stress  on  certain  intercepted 
letters  from  a  Delegate,  as  containing  a  full  proof  that  the 
Congress  are  aiming  at  independence;  but  let  any  impar- 
tial person  read  their  Resolves  and  Petitions,  and  judge 
whether  they  had  any  such  views,  and  whether,  if  they  had 
at  the  time  of  writing  such  letters,  it  was  not  on  a  sup- 
position that  their  humble  Petition  would  be  rejected,  and 
that  there  was  no  alternative  left  but  slavery  or  indepen- 
dence. If  we  entertain  a  wish  to  be  unconnected  with 
Great  Britain,  it  is  because  we  have  been  cruelly  and 
inhumanly  treated  by  her.  Could  any  nation  be  more  com- 
pletely dependant  on  another,  and  retain  even  a  shadow  of 
freedom,  than  America  was,  and  still  consents  to  be  on 
Great  Britain}  Was  Britain  satisfied  with  this  in  the  year 
1763  ?  She  was.  Does  America  ask  for  any  immunities 
she  did  not  then  enjoy?  She  does  not.  Even  Lord  North 
himself  must  answer  these  questions  in  the  same  manner. 
What,  then,  is  the  new  claim  that  they  charge  us  with  de- 
manding, and  for  which  they  are  endeavouring  to  butcher 
our  people,  and  lay  waste  our  coasts  ?  The  truth  is,  the 
Ministry  and  Parliament  have  made  a  new  demand  neces- 
sary, by  new  oppressions,  by  repeated  and  aggravated  in- 
sults, and  by  unheard-of  cruelties.  It  is  high  time  to  look 
to  ourselves,  to  take  care  of  our  extended  coasts,  "  to  form 
a  connexion  with  some  other  Power,"  since  Great  Britain 
insultingly,  wantonly,  and  cruelly,  has  spurned  us  from  her, 
"  and  to  think  of  laying  the  foundation  of  a  great  Empire." 
This  is  what  the  Delegate  said  he  had  in  contemplation, 
and  this  is  what  the  British  Ministry  have  made  neces- 
sary; and  this  it  must  be  the  duty  of  the  Congress  to  do,  if 
the  King  refuses  to  hear  their  Petition,  and  to  redress  our 
grievances.  We  still  love  our  fellow-subjects  in  Britain ; 
we  still  wish  to  be  connected  with  them.  Although  our 
King  has  hitherto  refused  us  relief,  and  suffers  us  to  be  in- 
humanly treated,  we  have  not,  and  wish  not  to  withdraw 


1719 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  he,  JULY,  1775. 


1720 


our  allegiance  from  him,  and  are  willing  to  attribute  all  tlie 
cruel  oppressions  under  which  we  labour  to  the  baleful  in- 
fluence of  certain  men,  who,  unhappily,  have  gained  the 
confidence  of  their  Prince,  and  who  are  deadly  enemies  to 
his  family,  and  would  wish  to  see  him  driven  from  his 
throne.  But  whatever  may  be  their  design,  and  however 
basely  we  may  be  misrepresented  by  our  enemies,  we  call 
God  to  witness  for  the  purity  of  our  intentions,  look  up  to 
him  as  the  all  powerful  protector  of  injured  innocence, 
and  firmly  rely  on  him  as  a  shield  in  the  day  of  battle. 

A  Virginian. 

NEW-YORK  COMMITTEE   OF   SAFETY  TO   THE  CONTINENTAL 
CONGRESS. 

[Read  July  28,  1775.] 

In  Committee  of  Safety  for  the  Colony  of  New- York,  i 

July  24,  1775.  \ 

Sir  :  We  have  been  honoured  with  your  letter  of  the 
19th  instant,  which  informs  us  that  you  have  an  intimation 
that  a  quantity  of  gunpowder  bad  lately  arrived  here.  We 
are  sorry  to  say,  it  is  without  foundation. 

You  may  be  assured,  Sir,  that  should  a  quantity  arrive, 
we  shall  be  attentive  to  the  wants  of  our  brethren  to  the 
Eastward,  and  forward  as  much  as  possible  that  way. 

We  are,  with  great  respect,  Sir,  your  most  obedient  ser- 
vants.   By  order  of  the  Committee : 

Ab.  Brasher,  Chairman  pro  tern. 

To  the  Honourable  John  Hancock,  Esq.,  Philadelphia. 


COL.  VAN  SCHAICK  TO  NEW-YORK  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY. 

Albany,  July  24,  1775. 
Gentlemen:  I  yesterday  received  yours  of  the  17th 
instant,  and  agreeable  to  your  request,  have  made  out  a  re- 
turn, as  near  as  1  could,  which  you  have  on  the  other  side. 

The  five  first  companies  on  this  return,  are  those  raised 
by  the  Committee  of  this  City  and  County,  who  are  now 
in  actual  service  at  Lake  George,  and  the  posts  adjacent, 
from  whence  General  Schuyler  has  ordered  an  officer  out 
of  each  company  down  the  country  to  complete  the  levies 
of  those  companies.  The  officers  of  the  last  five  companies 
on  this  return  have  but  lately  received  their  warrants,  and 
are  now  raising  men  in  this  and  the  neighbouring  Counties. 

I  have  sent  orders  to  the  recruiting  officers,  to  send  to 
me  without  delay,  returns  of  the  number  of  men  they  have 
enlisted;  and  shall,  on  receipt  thereof,  lay  before  the  Con- 
gress a  return  of  the  state  of  my  Regiment. 

You  will  please  to  observe,  that  several  of  the  officers 
appointed  by  the  Provincial  Congress  refused  to  accept 
their  warrants ;  in  lieu  of  whom,  the  Committee  of  this 
City  and  County,  at  the  request  of  General  Schuyler, 
have  appointed  others,  as  the  General  conceived  that  wait- 
ing for  the  appointment  of  others  by  the  Congress  would 
create  such  a  delay  in  the  levying  of  the  companies,  as  might 
be  productive  of  ruinous  consequences ;  so  that  the  return 
consists  of  those  who  have  accepted  their  warrants  from 
the  Provincial  Congress,  and  those  appointed  by  the  Com- 
mittee in  the  room  of  those  that  declined  serving. 

It  is  impossible  for  me  at  present  to  say  when  my  Re- 
giment will  be  ready  to  take  the  field,  as  I  cannot  deter- 
mine with  what  success  the  recruiting  officers  will  meet. 

You  may  depend  upon  it,  that  nothing  will  be  wanting 
on  my  part  to  expedite  the  completing  of  the  Regiment, 
as  1  am  convinced  that  the  circumstances  of  the  Country 
admit  of  no  delay. 

1  am,  gentlemen,  your  most  obedient  and  very  humble 
servant,  Goose  Van  Schaick. 

To  the  Committee  of  Safety  for  the  Colony  of  New-  York, 
during  the  recess  of  the  Provincial  Congress. 

A  Return  of  the  Second  Provincial  Regiment  in  the  Co- 
lony of  New-York,  whereof  Goose  Van  Schaick  is 
Colonel.    Albany,  24th  July,  1775. 

One  Colonel,  one  Lieutenant-Colonel,  one  Major. 

Captain  John  Visscher's  Company  :  one  Captain,  two  Lieu- 
tenants, three  Sergeants,  fifty-nine  rank  and  file. 

Captain  Cornelius  Van  Dyck's  Company:  one  Captain, 
two  Lieutenants,  three  Sergeants,  fifty-one  rank  and  file. 


Captain  Heztkiah  Holding's  Company  :  one  Captain,  two 
Lieutenants,  three  Sergeants,  thirty-two  rank  and  file. 

Captain  Joel  Pratt's  Company  :  one  Captain,  two  Lieu- 
tenants, three  Sergeants,  forty-three  rank  and  file. 

Captain  George  White's  Company :  one  Captain,  two 
Lieutenants,  three  Sergeants,  forty-eight  rank  and  file. 

Captain  Darent  J.  Ten  Eyck's  Company  :  one  Captain, 
two  Lieutenants. 

Captain  John  Fryer's  Company  :  one  Captain,  two  Lieu- 
tenants. 

Captain  Elisha  Benedict's  Company:  one  Captain,  two 
Lieutenants. 

Captain  Joseph  McKracken's  Company  :  one  Captain, 

two  Lieutenants. 
Captain  John  Graham's  Company :   one  Captain,  two 

Lieutenants. 

Total :  one  Colonel,  one  Lieutenant-Colonel,  one  Major, 
ten  Captains,  twenty  Lieutenants,  fifteen  Sergeants,  two 
hundred  and  thirty-three  rank  and  file. 

Goose  Van  Schaick,  Colonel. 


committee  of  safety  for  connectici.t. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Governour,  he,  Monday,  July 
24,  1775,  by  adjournment.  Present: 

His  Honour  the  Governour  ;  the  Hon.  M.  Griswold, 
Esq.,  Jabez  Hu}itington,F.sq.,  Samuel  Huntington,  Esq., 
William  Williams,  Nathaniel  Wales,  Jedediah  Elderkin, 
Joshua  Hest,  and  Benjamin  Huntington,  Esq. 

His  Honour  the  Governour  laid  before  us  a  large  num- 
ber of  Letters  received  from  various  quarters,  relating  to 
the  great  subject  matter  of  the  unnatural  civil  war,  &ic.  A 
Post  (Judd )  also,  now  came  in  with  a  Letter  from  General 
Schuyler  at  Ticonderoga,  among  other  things  informing 
that  our  Troops  there  were  destitute  of  Tents,  he,  and  that 
they  may  be  had  at  New-  York. 

On  consideration  thereof,  and  that  they  cannot  be  fur- 
nished without  great  difficulty  and  delay  in  this  Colony, 
advised  that  his  Honour  the  Governour  be  desired  lo  write 
the  Congress  at  New-York,  to  provide  and  send  a  suitable 
number  of  Tents  for  Colonel  Hinman's  Regiment,  and 
send  them  forward  to  Ticonderoga. 

On  motion,  that  there  is  about  two  thousand  barrels 
of  Flour  at  Norwich,  sent  by  the  Continental  Congress  for 
the  use  of  the  Army  near  Boston,  for  which  the  freight  has 
been  paid  by  Colonel  Jedediah  Huntington,  he,  and  is 
desired  by  General  Washington  to  be  sent  forward  for  the 
use  of  said  Army,  &tc, 

Voted,  That  the  expense  of  the  freight  and  transporta- 
tion of  said  Flour,  be  paid  and  advanced  out  of  the  Colony 
Treasury  ;  and  that  the  Committee  of  the  Pay  Table  be 
ordered  to  draw  on  the  Treasurer  in  favour  of  such  persons, 
and  for  such  sums  as  shall  be  ordered  by  his  Honour  the 
Governour  for  the  purposes  aforesaid ;  keeping  a  proper 
account  thereof. 

The  affair  of  the  two  armed  Vessels,  (being  a  principal 
occasion  of  this  meeting,)  was  taken  up  and  largely  dis- 
cussed. Letters  received  from  a  number  of  gentlemen,  from 
New-Haven,  Middletown,  Wethersjield,  he,  relating  to  it, 
read,  &ic.  Captain  Dcshon,  Mr.  Shaw,  and  Captain  Giles 
Hall  were  present  on  that  account,  and  discoursed  with, 
he,  and  they  retired.  And  on  further  consideration,  he, 
this  Council  are  of  opinion  and  do  resolve,  that  William 
Williams  and  Nathaniel  Hales,  Esqrs.,  together  with  Cap- 
tain Deshon  and  Captain  Hall,  be  a  Committee  to  Nor- 
wich, New- London,  and  by  the  sea-coast  to  New-Haven, 
and  to  Middletown,  Hartford,  he,  to  inquire  after  and 
find  out  proper  and  suitable  Vessels  for  the  purpose ;  the 
terms  on  which  they  may  be  had ;  the  proper  manning  of 
them ;  the  terms  on  which  officers  and  men  may  be  bad, 
&.c. ;  and  give  proper  directions  for  preparing  Carriages  for 
the  Cannon  at  New-Haven,  which  may  be  wanted,  and 
what  may  be  proper  and  necessary,  &.c. ;  and  thereof  to 
make  report  to  this  Council  on  Wednesday  the  2d  of  August 
next,  to  which  time  this  Council  is  to  be  adjourned. 

On  a  request  from  General  Washington,  signified  by  his 
Letters,  he, 

Voted,  That  his  Honour  the  Governour  be  desired  and 
advised  to  give  orders  to  the  Colonels  of  the  Seventh  and 
Eighth  Regiments,  to  march  their  Troops  as  soon  as  they 


1721 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JULY,  1775. 


1722 


possibly  enn  be  prepared,  either  in  whole  or  in  part  com- 
panies, at  their  discretion,  with  necessary  officers,  to  the 
Camp  near  Boston,  to  be  under  the  proper  regulation  of 
the  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  Continental  Army. 

And  adjourned  to  Wednesday,  2d  of  August  next,  at  9 
o'clock,  A.  M. 

COVERNOUR  TRUMBULL  TO  GENERAL  SCHUYLER. 

Lebanon,  July  24,  1775. 

Sir:  Your  favour  of  the  18th  July  I  have  this  moment 
received,  and  observe  the  contents.  I  shall  send  an  ex- 
press to  New-York  to  move  their  Congress  to  supply  Col- 
onel Hinnian's  Regiment  with  tents,  as  1  apprehend  this 
Colony  is  so  far  exhausted  of  the  materials  for  making 
tents,  that  it  will  be  difficult  to  have  them  in  season.  I 
take  the  liberty  to  insert  some  queries,  ike,  which  1  for- 
warded yesterday  to  our  Delegates  of  the  honourable  Gene- 
ral Congress  at  Philadelphia,  viz :  "  Is  it  not  high  time  to 
proceed  into,  and  even  to  hasten  forward  to  secure  the  Go- 
vernment of  Quebeck,  and  thereby  the  whole  Indian  strength 
in  our  interest  and  favour  ?  Is  there  any  thing  to  expect 
from  the  present  Administration  that  is  favourable  or  kind  ? 
If  needful,  may  not  Colonel  Waterbwy  v/\th  his  Regiment 
be  spared  to  the  Northward  ?"  "  We  are  near  the  grand 
scene  of  action ;  are  anxious  for  the  safety  of  our  friends, 
the  security  of  our  rights,  and  to  convince  our  enemies  that 
we  are  in  earnest,  and  that  the  object  in  view  is  American 
Liberty ;  the  barrier  of  Virtue  to  be  defended  and  main- 
tained even  at  the  sacrifice  of  life  ;"  which  went  express. 
Captain  Derby,  who  went  to  England  with  the  Provincial 
account  of  the  Lexington  fight,  is  returned.  He  informs  he 
had  twenty-seven  days  passage  ;  tarried  eight  days  in  Eng- 
land, and  when  he  came  away,  General  Gage's  express, 
which  sailed  four  days  before  him,  had  not  arrived.  Our 
friends  published  the  account  of  the  fight ;  Lord  North  was 
thunderstruck  with  the  news,  the  people  uneasy,  the  mer- 
chants distressed  for  their  property  in  America,  the  stocks 
fell,  and  every  thing  in  a  ferment  when  he  came  away. 
The  Administration  published  that  they  had  not  received 
any  accounts  from  Boston :  that  they  did  not  believe  the 
storv  ;  were  sure  the  New-  Yorkers  would  fall  off,  and  there- 
by the  union  of  the  Colonies  be  broken  and  the  opposition 
be  at  an  end.  What  turn  matters  will  take  when  General 
Gage's  account  arrives,  is  uncertain.  Captain  Derby's 
Schooner  never  went  into  port,  but  plied  on  and  off  while 
he  tarried.  He  never  appeared  in  publick,  kept  with  our 
friends,  the  Lord-Mayor,  Doctor  Lee,  &c.  Lord  Dart- 
mouth sent  for  him,  but  our  friends  advised  him  not  to  put 
himself  in  his  power.  1  am,  &c.  J.Trumbull. 
Major-General  Schuyler. 


GENERAL  LEE   TO  GENERAL  SULLIVAN. 

Cambridge,  July  24,  1775,  Two  o'clock,  P.  M. 

General  Lee  begs  General  Sullivan  will  get  as  much 
work  as  possible  out  of  the  men  this  day.  If  they  cannot 
all  work  on  the  face  of  the  citadel,  let  them  deepen  and 
widen  the  ditch  of  the  flank  and  rear  faces,  and  heighten 
the  parapet  all  round. 
To  General  Sullivan. 

P.  S.  For  God's  sake  finish  and  strengthen  the  abattis. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  THE   CAMP  AT  CAMBRIDGE, 
DATED  JULY  24,  1775. 

On  Thursday  last,  the  universal  fast  day,  a  party  of  our 
troops,  in  whale-boats,  landed  on  JSantasket  Point  before 
day,  and  set  fire  to  the  Light-house.  At  day-light  the  men- 
of-war  discovered  them  and  fired  upon  them.  I  was  at 
Little  Cambridge  when  the  guns  wakened  me.  I  ascend- 
ed an  eminence  at  a  distance,  and  saw  the  flames  of  the 
Light-house  ascending  up  to  Heaven  like  grateful  incense, 
and  the  ships  wasting  their  powder.  Our  men  proceeded 
from  thence  to  Point  Shirley,  in  order  to  drive  off  some 
young  colts  which  were  there.  A  party  of  Regulars  at- 
tacked them,  but  were  repulsed  and  drove  into  their  boats, 
without  the  loss  of  a  man  on  our  side,  either  killed  or 
wounded ;  what  loss  the  Regulars  have  sustained  1  have 
not  yet  heard.    The  party  set  fire  to  all  the  fishing-houses 


and  hay  that  were  on  the  place,  and  brought  off  four  Tory 
fishermen,  who  are  now  prisoners  at  the  General's,  together 
with  one  Whiting,  a  Sheriff  of  yew-Hampshire  Govern- 
ment, who  has  been  detected  in  some  illicit  practices  inimi- 
cal to  this  Country.  The  troops  here  are  increasing  daily; 
a  Regiment  is  arrived  from  the  Province  of  Connecticut, 
and  the  riflemen  are  expected  hourly.  The  strictest  dis- 
cipline begins  to  be  practised  in  the  camp,  and  nothing  but 
a  due  subordination  is  required  to  make  this  Army  as  com- 
plete as  any  troops  in  the  word.  Wednesday  evening 
Colonel  Reed  of  your  City  delivered  a  copy  of  the  Decla- 
ration and  Address  from  the  Congress,  to  the  advanced 
guards  of  the  enemy,  for  General  Gage  ;  and  our  sentinels 
have  dispersed  several  hundred  of  those  papers  called  "An 
Address  to  the  Soldiers,"  amongst  the  Regular  Troops, 
which,  it  is  to  be  hoped,  will  be  of  good  effect.  We  are 
now  in  perfect  tranquillity,  being  well  secured  by  intrench- 
ments  on  all  sides,  and  General  Lee  thinks  they  will  not 
come  out  soon  against  us. 


EXTRACT  OF   A  LETTER  FROM  THE   CAMP  AT  CAMBRIDGE, 
DATED  JULY  24,  1775. 

Within  a  day  or  two  we  have  had  five  deserters  from  the 
advanced  posts  of  the  enemy;  two  of  them  are  sensible, 
honest-looking  fellows,  the  one  that  came  in  this  morning 
particularly  so.  They  have  a  return  of  the  enemy's  killed 
and  wounded,  amounting  to  one  thousand  and  fifty-two  ; 
most  of  the  wounded  are  in  a  dangerous  way.  They  have 
had  no  fresh  provisions  since  the  affair  of  Noddle's  Island, 
and  are  not  like  to  have  any  without  fighting  for  it.  One 
of  the  deserters  went  off  last  night,  with  leave,  to  Phi- 
ladelphia ;  he  is  a  Grenadier  of  the  Royal  L'ish.  The 
deserters  say,  that  yesterday  morning  General  Gage  sur- 
rendered, in  the  orders  of  the  day,  his  command  of  the 
Army  to  General  Howe,  and  now  acts  only  as  a  civil 
Governour;  that  he  is  lampooned  and  despised  by  the 
whole  Army.  That  Howe  is  much  censured  for  his  mode 
of  attack  on  our  lines  last  month.  That  their  artillery  was 
wretchedly  served,  and,  what  is  more  strange,  that  all  their 
spare  cartridges  which  they  brought  out  were  twelve-poun- 
ders, and  they  took  out  only  nine-poundeis  cannon;  so 
that  when  our  people  were  obliged  to  quit  their  lines, 
the  enemy  had  not  one  round  of  artillery  cartridges  left. 
That  young  Richardson  was  the  first  person  that  mounted 
our  parapet ;  you  know  him  well,  he  is  of  the  Eighteenth 
or  Royal  Irish  ;  he  is  dangerously  wounded.  That  their 
number  of  effective  men  is  four  thousand  in  Boston,  and 
two  thousand  two  hundred  on  Bunker's  Hill;  that  they 
despair  of  forcing  our  lines,  but  talk  of  getting  round  us  if 
they  can.  That  eight  sail  of  transports,  and  one  frigate, 
are  gone  to  Fisher's  Island,  and  other  places  in  the  sound, 
marauding,  with  one  hundred  men.  That  they  have  erected 
a  large  bomb  battery  on  Bunker's  Hill,  and  amongst  others, 
two  eighteen-inch  French  mortars.  That  our  morning  gun, 
yesterday,  threw  an  eighteen-pound  shot  into  their  encamp- 
ment on  the  top  of  Bunker's  Hill.  That  the  Grenadiers 
of  the  Royal  Welch  Fusileers  amounted  to  forty  at  the  at- 
tack last  month,  and  are  now  reduced  to  eight  men ;  that 
the  Fifty-Second  Regiment  had  twenty-two  Grenadiers 
killed  out  of  thirty-nine.  That  the  inhabitants  of  Boston 
are  ill-used  and  miserably  fed  ;  that  they  will  be  soon  re- 
leased, because  provisions  begin  to  be  scarce.  That  the 
Army  begin  to  clamour  for  their  pay  ;  there  is  no  cash,  and 
bills  will  not  sell  under  fifty  per  cent,  discount.  The  reso- 
lution of  the  Congress  against  Government  Bills  was  wise, 
and  has  distressed  the  enemy  exceedingly.  The  Reading 
Company  of  Riflemen  came  in  on  Tuesday;  the  rest  are 
hourly  expected  and  much  wanted.  We  have  frequently 
thrown  into  their  lines,  on  the  wings  of  the  wind  at  night, 
hand-bills,  and  propose  to  send  in  a  few  to-night.  These 
bills  are  blown  into  their  camp,  and  get  into  the  hands  of 
their  soldiers,  without  the  officers  being  able  to  prevent  it. 
Major  Bruce  complained,  at  an  interview  the  other  day, 
of  such  usage.  We  retorted  his  decoying  our  sentries  from 
their  posts,  two  rascals  having  left  us  a  day  or  two  before, 
by  his  or  some  other  officer's  means. 

We  expect  they  will  begin  to  bombard  us  in  a  day  or 
two  ;  they  cannot  hurt  but  benefit  us.  They  will,  by  such 
means,  harden  our  men,  and  discourage  their  own.  This 
we  have  experienced  by  their  bombaiding  of  Roxbury. 


1723 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  he,  JULY,  1775. 


1724 


GENERAL  GAGE  TO  LORD  DARTMOUTH. 

Boston,  July  24,  1775. 
A  pamphlet,  published  by  the  Continental  Congress, called 
a  "  Declaration  of  the  United  Colonies,"  has  been  sent  in 
from  the  rebel  camp,  copies  of  which  will  no  doubt  be  sent 
to  England  from  Philadelphia.  They  pay  little  regard  to 
facts,  for  the  contents  of  it  are  as  replete  with  deceit  and 
falsehood  as  most  of  their  publications.  The  rebellion 
being  general,  1  know  of  no  better  plan  to  quell  it  than 
that  1  mentioned  to  your  Lordship  in  a  former  letter.  This 
Province  began  it,  1  might  say  this  Town,  for  here  the  arch- 
rebels  formed  their  scheme  long  ago.  This  circumstance 
brought  the  troops  first  here,  which  is  the  most  disadvan- 
tageous place  for  all  operations,  particularly  where  there  is 
no  diversion  of  the  rebel  forces,  but  all  are  collected  into 
one  point.  Was  this  Army  in  New-York,  that  Province 
might,  to  all  appearance,  be  more  easily  reduced,  and  the 
friends  of  Government  be  able  to  raise  forces  to  join  the 
troops. 


TO  THE  INHABITANTS  OF  PENNSYLVANIA  AND  VIRGINIA,  ON 
THE  WEST  SIDE  OF  LAUREL  HILL. 

Philadelphia,  July  25,  1775. 

Friends  and  Countrymen  : 

It  gives  us  much  concern  to  find  that  disturbances  have 
arisen,  and  still  continue  among  you,  concerning  the  boun- 
daries of  our  Colonies.  In  the  character  in  which  we  now 
address  you,  it  is  unnecessary  to  inquire  into  the  origin  of 
those  unhappy  disputes,  and  it  would  be  improper  for  us 
to  express  our  approbation  or  censure  on  either  side,  but  as 
representatives  of  two  of  the  Colonies,  united  among  many 
others  for  the  defence  of  the  liberties  of  America,  we  think 
it  our  duty  to  remove,  as  far  as  lies  in  our  power,  every 
obstacle  that  may  prevent  her  sons  from  co-operating,  as 
vigorously  as  they  would  wish  to  do,  towards  the  attainment 
of  this  great  and  important  end.  Influenced  solely  by  this 
motive,  our  joint  and  earnest  request  to  you  is,  that  all 
animosities  which  have  heretofore  subsisted  among  you  as 
inhabitants  of  distinct  Colonies,  may  now  give  place  to 
generous  and  concurring  efforts  for  the  preservation  of  every 
thing  that  can  make  our  common  Country  dear  to  us. 

We  are  fully  persuaded  that  you,  as  well  as  we,  wish  to 
see  your  differences  terminate  in  this  happy  issue.  For 
this  desirable  purpose  we  recommend  it  to  you  that  all 
bodies  of  armed  men,  kept  under  either  Province,  be  dis- 
missed ;  that  all  those  on  either  side,  who  are  in  con- 
finement, or  under  bail,  for  taking  a  part  in  the  contest,  be 
discharged,  and  that  until  the  dispute  be  decided,  every 
person  be  permitted  to  retain  his  possessions  unmolested. 

By  observing  these  directions,  the  publick  tranquillity 
will  be  secured  without  injury  to  the  titles  on  either  side. 
The  period,  we  flatter  ourselves,  will  soon  arrive,  when  this 
unfortunate  dispute,  which  has  produced  much  mischief, 
and,  as  far  as  we  can  learn,  no  good,  will  be  peaceably  and 
constitutionally  determined. 

We  are  your  friends  and  countrymen, 

Patrick  Henry,  John  Dickinson, 

Benjamin  Harrison,     Benjamin  Franklin, 
Richard  Henry  Lee,  Charles  Humphreys, 
Thomas  Jefferson,      George  Ross, 
James  Wilson. 


SOUTH-CAROLINA  COUNCIL  OF  SAFETY. 

Thursday,  July  25,  1775. 

The  Council  met.   Present : 

Colonel  Henry  Laurens,  President ;  Colonel  Pinckney, 
Honourable  Mr.  Drayton,  Mr.  Middleton,  Mr.  Brewton, 
Mr.  Benjamin  Elliot,  Colonel  Parsons,  Mr.  Ferguson, 
Mr.  Bee,  Mr.  Williamson,  Mr.  Heyward,  Honourable  Mr. 
Lowndes. 

Resolved,  That  the  following  Orders  and  Commission 
be  given  to  Captain  Lempriere  : 

In  the  Council  of  Safety,  Charlestown,  South-Carolina,  ) 

July  25,  1775.  ] 

The  Council  of  Safety,  elected  and  chosen  by  the  Pro- 
vincial Congress,  begun  to  be  holden  on  the  1st  day  of 
June  last,  by  these  presents  testify,  that  Clement  Lem- 
priere, Esquire,  has  been,  and  is  hereby  appointed  and 
commissioned  to  command  in  the  sloop  Commerce,  belong- 


ing to  New-York,  and  over  all  and  every  person  and  per- 
sons engaged  to  embark  on  board  the  said  sloop  on  the 
intended  voyage,  under  the  authority  of  the  said  Council 
of  Safety.  And  the  said  Clement  Lempriere  is  hereby 
ordered  to  proceed  forthwith,  with  all  convenient  despatch, 
to  the  Island  of  Nciv-Providence ;  on  that  island  to  seize, 
and  from  that  island  to  embark  on  board  the  said  sloop,  all 
such  quantity  of  gunpowder  as  he  shall  find,  and  be  able 
to  take  on  board  from  the  said  island  ;  and  then  forthwith 
to  return  to  this  Colony  and  put  into  Tucker's  Creek, 
Tucker's  Island,  North- Edisto :  and  from  thence  to  give 
notice  to  the  said  Council  of  Safety  of  his  arrival,  with  all 
possible  despatch.  And  if  the  said  Clement  Lempriere 
shall  not  be  able  to  seize  any  considerable  quantity  of  gun- 
powder in  the  Island  of  New-Providence  aforesaid,  he  shall 
then  proceed  to  such  places,  and  take  such  measures  to 
procure  gunpowder,  as  he  shall  think  most  proper,  and  then 
to  proceed  to  Tuber's  Creek  aforesaid,  and  thence  to  give 
due  notice  as  aforesaid.  And  for  so  doing  this  is  your 
Warrant.    By  order  of  the  Council  of  Safety: 

Henry  Laurens,  President. 
To  Clement  Lempriere,  Esq. 

In  the  Council  of  Safety,  Charlestown,  South-Carolina,  ) 

July  24,  1775.  I 

The  Council  of  Safety,  elected  and  chosen  by  the  Pro- 
vincial Congress,  begun  to  be  holden  on  the  1st  day  of 
June  last,  by  these  presents  testify,  that  Clement  Lem- 
priere, Esquire,  has  been,  and  is  hereby  appointed  and 
commissioned  to  command  the  Sloop  Commerce,  belonging 
to  New-  York,  and  over  all  and  every  person  and  persons 
engaged  to  embark  on  board  the  said  sloop,  under  the  au- 
thority of  the  said  Council  of  Safety.  And  the  said  Clem- 
ent Lempriere  is  hereby  ordered  to  proceed  to  such  places, 
and  to  take  such  measures  as  he  shall  think  most  proper,  to 
procure  gunpowder  for  the  publick  of  this  Colony,  which, 
when  he  shall  have  procured,  he  is  ordered  to  convey  to 
this  Colony,  with  all  possible  despatch. 

It  is  also  hereby  declared,  that  if  any  commander  or 
officer  under  the  King's  authority,  in  any  degree  ill  treat 
the  said  Clement  Lempriere,  or  any  of  his  company,  the 
King's  officers  now  in  our  power  shall  be  treated  with  equal 
severity;  of  which  all  persons  are  required  to  take  due 
notice.  Given  under  the  authority,  and  by  order  of  the 
Council  of  Safety: 

Henry  Laurens,  President. 
To  Clement  Lempriere,  Esq. 

Ordered,  That  the  foregoing  Commission  be  engrossed, 
sealed,  dated,  and  signed  by  the  President,  and  by  him  de- 
livered, sealed  up,  to  Captain  Lempriere,  with  orders  not 
to  be  opened  until  he  shall  be  arrived  in  sight  of  the  Island 
of  New-Providence. 

Captain  Hatter's  Report  to  the  Council  of  Safety,  oj 
the  occurrences  ivhich  took  place  on  board  of  the  Sloop 
Commerce,  Clement  Lempriere,  Esq.,  Commander, 
in  taking  the  Poivder  from  Captain  Lofthouse,  off 
Augustine  Bar;  and  of  the  return  voyage  to  Charles- 
town with  the  Powder. 

1775.  July  24. — Our  voyage  towards  New-Orleans 
commenced. 

July  25. — Took  on  board  our  stores  of  provisions,  he. 

July  26. — Sailed  over  the  bar,  with  the  wind  at  N.  E. 
and  rain.    At  6  P.  M.  anchored  at  South-Edisto. 

July  27. — Fresh  gales,  with  thunder  squalls,  and  a  great 
deal  of  lightning ;  weighed,  and  sailed  up  Port-Royal 
Creek,  where  we  anchored. 

July  28. —  It  continued  to  blow  hard,  with  rain.  We 
got  through  Port-Royal  Creek,  and  came  to  at  the  Town, 
and  landed  our  stores,  in  order  to  clean. 

July  29. — We  hauled  on  shore,  and  cleaned,  and  in  the 
evening  hauled  her  off  again. 

July  30. — Took  on  board  our  stores,  and  got  ready  to 
sail ;  fell  down  the  river  a  little. 

July  31. — Sailed  from  Port-Royal,  with  the  wind  at 
south,  and  turned  down  to  Jenkms's  Landing. 

August  1. — Got  under  way,  and  turned  through  Skull 
CreeTc,  and  came  to  at  Callaboge. 

August  2. — Sailed  out  of  Tybee,  with  the  wind  at  south ; 


1725 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JULY,  1775. 


1726 


turned  to  windward  ;  at  meridian  observed  in  latitude  31° 
45'. 

August  3. — Still  plying  to  windward,  with  the  wind  at 
south  ;  latitude  observed  31°  28'. 

August  4. — Fine  settled  weather,  wind  southerly,  beat- 
ing to  windward;  latitude  observed  31°  09'. 

August  5. — Fresh  breeze  and  thunder  squalls,  wind 
southerly  ;  latitude  observed  30°  51'. 

August  6. — Fine  settled  weather,  with  fresh  gales  ;  lati- 
tude observed  29°  55'. 

August  7. — Made  the  Matanzas  at  night;  came  to 
under  the  fort,  in  seven  fathoms  water,  and  rode  all  night. 
At  6  A.  M.  got  under  way,  and  run  down  towards  the  bar 
of  Augustine,  where  we  saw  a  sail  at  anchor  off  the  bar. 
We  ran  down  to  her,  and  hailed  her,  and  found  her  to  be 
the  Brigantine  Betsy,  commanded  by  Captain  Ahere  Loft- 
house,  from  London.  We  boarded  her  with  our  sloop,  and 
upon  strict  search  found  on  board  of  her  a  large  quantity  of 
gunpowder,  of  which  we  took  one  hundred  and  eleven  bar- 
rels, one  half  barrel,  and  thirty  small  kegs.  Said  vessel 
had  on  board  of  her  twelve  soldiers  from  the  shore,  eight 
seamen,  the  Captain,  two  mates,  and  steward,  which  was 
in  number  twenty-three  men  ;  and  our  number  w  as  twenty- 
one  whites  and  five  blacks.  Our  situation  was  such  on  this 
occasion,  that  we  thought  it  most  prudent  to  bribe  the  men, 
which  we  did  with  one  hundred  Pounds  currency;  and  the 
Captain  accepted  a  draft  for  one  thousand  Pounds  sterling, 
for  the  powder,  drawn  on  Mr.  John  Edwards,  of  Charles- 
town;  and  at  half  past  11  A.  M.,  after  spiking  up  two 
pieces  of  cannon  that  were  mounted  on  board  said  brigan- 
tine,  we  re-embarked  our  men,  and  made  sail  with  a  light 
eir  at  E.  N.  E.  The  wind  veered  to  the  northward.  At 
4  P.  M.  we  passed  the  River  St.  John's,  and  passed  a 
small  boat  stretching  to  the  southward. 

August  8. — Turning  to  the  windward,  with  the  wind  at 
N.  E.,  squally,  with  rain  ;  latitude  observed  31°  26'. 

August  9. — Fresh  gales  at  N.  E.,  plying  to  windward 
with  all  sail  set,  and  a  growing  sea ;  latitude  observed 
31°  50/ 

August  10. — Light  breezes  of  wind  ;  set  squaresail  and 
topsail,  and  made  Tybee  Tower,  and  we  steered  in  at  it 
through  Skull  Creek,  and  came  to  in  Port-Royal  Creek; 
latitude  observed  31°  50'.  Got  under  sail,  and  at  10  A. 
M.,  came  to  at  Port-Royal,  and  despatched  away  an  ex- 
press to  Charlestown;  and  at  3  P.  M.,  we  landed  the 
powder. 

August  11. — Fine  settled  weather,  with  the  wind  to  the 
westward. 

August  12. — Showery,  and  thunder  squalls.  At  anchor 
at  Port-Royal. 

August  13. — Showery  weather. 
August  14. — Do.  do. 

August  15. — Showery  and  thunder  squalls.  An  express 
from  Charlestown  arrived,  with  an  account  of  the  Govern- 
our's  sloop  being  in  pursuit  of  us. 

August  16. — Squally  weather,  with  a  great  deal  of  rain. 
Sundry  companies  of  Militia  and  Light-Infantry  came  to 
Town  from  the  different  islands,  to  guard  the  gunpowder. 

August  17. — Squally  weather.  Our  express  arrived 
from  Charlestown,  and  brought  with  him  a  detachment  of 
Artillery,  in  older  to  escort  the  gunpowder  to  Charles- 
town. 

August  18. — Received  on  board  of  the  Success  ninety- 
one  barrels  of  powder,  and  got  in  readiness  to  sail.  At  10 
A.  M.  Captain  Cattell  arrived  in  Town  with  sixty  men  of 
the  Provincials,  and  offered  to  join  us  to  protect  the  gun- 
powder, which  we  accepted  of. 

August  19. — Got  all  in  readiness  to  sail,  and  at  meridian 
we  weighed  anchor  and  sailed  through  Port-Royal  Creek, 
and  run  down  as  low  as  Morgan's  Island,  when  we  came 
to  with  our  small  squadron,  consisting  of  nine  sail,  and  rode 
all  night. 

August  20. — At  6  A.  M.  we  got  under  way,  and  sailed 
down  towards  Otter  Island,  and  fell  down  to  Soulh-Edisto 
Inlet,  to  wait  the  flood.  At  11  A.  M.  we  weighed,  and 
towed  up  towards  Fenwick's  Bluff,  when  we  came  to  to 
wait  the  tide  and  water  the  vessel,  in  company  with  the 
different  detachments.  At  midnight  got  under  way  again, 
and  towed  up. 

August  21. — Towed  up  to  Block  Island,  and  down  to 
Slan's  Bluff,  where  we  waited  the  tide,  and  cooked  pro- 


visions. At  4  P.  M.  we  run  down  to  White  Point,  and 
came  to  to  wait  tide  to  New-Cut. 

August  22. — Got  under  way,  and  towed  up  and  through 
New-Cut,  and  down  to  Wappoo,  and  there  waited  tide  to 
come  through.  At  4  P.  M.  we  got  under  way,  and  run 
into  the  Cut  and  towed  through,  and  came  to  anchor  in 
Ashley  River,  and  lay  all  the  night. 

August  23. — Got  under  way,  and  towed  up  Cummings's 
Creek,  and  at  6  A.  M.  we  came  to  the  Bluff,  where  we 
landed  ninety-one  barrels  of  gunpowder. 

John  Hatter. 


ELI ZABETHTOWN  (NE W-JERSEy)  COMMITTEE  TO  NEW-YORK 
CONGRESS. 

Elizabethtown,  July  25,  1775. 
Sir  :  Under  the  conduct  of  Sergeant  Faulker,  with  a 
file  of  men,  I  have,  by  an  order  of  our  Committee,  sent 
three  persons  as  prisoners,  who  were  apprehended  here  on 
this  day  on  suspicion  of  being  deserters  from  Gen.  Woos- 
ter's  camp.  We  have  not  been  able  to  draw  any  confes- 
sion out  of  them  to  the  purpose;  they  differ  widely  in  their 
stories,  which  renders  them  so  suspicious  that  we  have 
thought  proper  to  send  them  to  your  Committee  for  fur- 
ther examination  and  inquiry. 
By  order  of  the  Sub-Committee  : 

Jona.  Hampton,  Chairman. 
P.  S.  The  prisoners  all  agree  that  they  came  from  New- 
Haven  together,  but  differ  as  to  the  time;  and  one  of  them 
was  lately  seen  by  one  of  our  members  in  the  camp,  which 
gives  us  strong  suspicion  of  their  being  deserters  from 
Waterbury's  Regiment,  now  under  marching  orders. 


CHRISTOPHER  P.  YATES  TO  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

Palatine,  Tryon  County,  July  25,  1775. 

Sir  :  Having  been  recommended  by  the  Committee  of 
this  County  to  be  Captain  of  a  Company  in  Colonel  Van 
Schaick's  Battalion,  to  be  raised  in  this  County,  permit 
me  to  acquaint  you  that,  on  their  request,  1  did  begin  to 
enlist  men  immediately,  in  which  1  have  been  very  success- 
ful, having  already  engaged  fifty-one  soldiers,  for  whom  I 
have  provided  according  to  the  instructions  of  your  Con- 
gress, and  make  no  doubt  but  1  shall  have  the  company' 
full  in  ten  days  hence,  of  which  I  shall  give  you  the  earliest 
notice.  I  have  wrote  an  account  of  the  above  to  Major- 
General  Schuyler,  to  the  end  that  I  may  have  orders  to 
join  the  Regiment. 

I  am,  Sir,  with  the  greatest  respect,  your  very  humble 
servant,  Christopher  P.  Yvtes. 

To  Peter  V.  B.  Livingston,  Esquire.  i 


SIR  JOHN  JOHNSON  TO  MR.  ALEXANDER  WHITE. 

Johnson  Hall,  July  25,  1775. 
Dear  Sir:  The  bearers  will  deliver  you  some  provi- 
sions and  clothes,  and  Mr.  Clement  will  give  you  a  paper 
containing  a  ten  Pound  note,  which  I  received  from  Mrs. 
White  this  morning.  The  Indians  having  desired  some 
cash  from  me  to  expend  when  they  came  among  the  inha- 
bitants of  Canada,  which  1  have  not  to  give  them,  1  must 
beg  you  to  supply  them,  and  charge  it  to  Colonel  John- 
son. If  you  have  forgot  any  thing,  and  I  can  be  of  service 
to  you,  I  beg  you'll  mention  it.  God  bless  you. 
Yours,  &ic.  J.  Johnson. 


GOVERNOUR  TRUMBULL  TO  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

Lebanon,  July  25,  1775. 

Sir:  Yesterday  I  received,  per  express,  a  letter  from 
General  Schuyler,  dated  Ticonderoga,  18th  July,  a  copy 
of  part  of  which  I  herewith  send  you.  "I  find  the  troops 
from  your  Colony,  under  the  command  of  Col.  Hinman, 
destitute  of  tents,  an  article  they  much  stand  in  need  of, 
being  now  crowded  into  bad  barracks,  which  I  fear  will  be 
productive  of  disease.  Should  it  be  impossible  to  procure 
the  materials  for  making  tents  in  your  Colony,  they  may 
possibly  be  furnished  by  the  New-York  Congress,  which 
can  make  no  material  difference,  as  it  will  probably  be 
a  Continental  expense." 

On  consideration  that  this  Colony  is  so  far  exhausted  of 
materials  for  making  tents,  that  it  will  be  very  difficult,  if 


1727 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  he,  JULY,  1775. 


1728 


not  impossible,  to  furnish  them  in  any  tolerable  season, 
and  considering  the  much  greater  convenience,  in  point  of 
conveyance,  with  which  they  may  be  had  from  New-York, 
1  have  thought  proper  to  desire  that  your  Province  will 
furnish  our  troops,  under  command  of  Colonel  JJinman, 
with  such  number  of  tents  as  will  be  necessary  for  their 
use.  The  complement  of  men  to  his  said  Regiment  is 
one  thousand,  including  oiiicers. 

You  will  please  to  inform  me,  per  return  of  this  express, 
whether  mv  request  may  be  complied  with,  as,  on  failure, 
we  shall  endeavour  to  exert  ourselves  in  the  best  manner 
we  can.  1  am,  with  great  truth  and  esteem,  Sir,  your  most 
obedient  humble  servant,  Jona.  Trumijull. 

Hon.  Peter  V.  B.  Livingston,  Esquire. 


GENERAL  THOMAS  TO  GENERAL  WASHINGTON. 

Roxbury  Camp,  July  25,  1775. 

Sir:  There  was  information  forwarded  to  Head-Quar- 
ters yesterday,  P.  M.,  of  the  sailing  of  thirteen  ships  from 
Boston.  I  sent  one  Captain  Davis  down  the  harbour  to 
watch  their  motions,  and  he  reports,  on  his  return,  that 
they  put  to  sea,  and  stood  their  course  about  east-south- 
east, which  appears  as  if  they  were  bound  to  the  south- 
ward; that  course  would  lead  them  out  by  Cape  Cod,  and 
to  the  chops  of  the  South  Channel. 

I  am,  Sir,  with  great  respect,  your  most  obedient  hum- 
ble servant,  John  Thomas. 
To  his  Excellency  General  Washington. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  TO  A  GENTLEMAN  IN  LONDON,  FROM 
AN  OFFICER  IN  BOSTON,   DATED  JULY  25,  1775. 

As  far  as  1  can  guess  from  a  matter  not  perfectly  known, 
we  at  present  are  worse  off  than  the  rebels.  In  point  of 
numbers  they  so  surpass  us,  that  we  are  like  a  few  children 
in  the  midst  of  a  large  crowd.  Trusting  to  this  superiori- 
ty, they  grow  daily  more  and  more  bold,  menacing  us  most 
insolently,  and  we  fear,  when  the  days  shorten,  and  dark 
nights  come  on,  they  will  put  some  of  their  threats  in  exe- 
cution, unless  other  re-enforcements,  and  a  fleet  of  men-of- 
war  arrive  soon.  They  know  our  situation  as  well  as  we 
do  ourselves,  from  the  villains  that  are  left  in  Town,  who 
acquaint  them  with  all  our  proceedings,  making  signals 
by  night  with  gunpowder,  and  at  day  out  of  the  church 
steeples.  About  three  weeks  ago  three  fellows  were  taken 
out  of  one  of  the  latter,  who  confess  they  had  been  so 
employed  for  seven  days.  Another  was  caught  last  week 
swimming  over  to  the  rebels,  with  one  of  their  General's 
passes  in  his  pocket ;  he  will  be  hanged  in  a  day  or  two. 

Since  we  have  been  here,  we  have  been  re-enforced  by 
four  Regiments ;  but  many  of  the  men  are  very  ill  with 
fluxes,  occasioned  by  the  bad  water  which  they  got  on  land- 
ing, and  the  want  of  fresh  provisions.  No  action  has  hap- 
pened since  the  17th  of  June.  A  few  shot  have  been 
exchanged  by  scouting  parties ;  one  morning  they  beat  in 
our  advanced  guard,  and  burnt  the  guard-house ;  and  on 
the  19th  instant  they  set  fire  to  the  Light-house,  and  one  of 
our  men-of-war  lying  but  a  mile  from  it.  As  it  was  calm  we 
could  not  get  at  them,  their  whale-boats,  in  which  they 
made  their  escape,  outrowing  any  of  our  boats,  and  a  small 
island  lying  between  them  and  the  ship,  prevented  her 
firing  on  them.  They  took  from  the  Light-house  a  six 
pounder  and  a  swivel. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  A  GENTLEMAN  IN  LONDON  TO 
HIS  FRIEND  IN  NEW-YORK,  DATED  JULY  26,  1775. 

I  have  seen  the  Ministry,  and  conversed  with  the  first 
personages  near  our  Sovereign,  and  with  confidence  can 
assure  you  that  I  have  not  heard  one  word  fall  from  the  lips 
of  those  people  that  had  the  least  tendency  to  enslave  the 
Colonists.  1  find  the  language  of  humanity  breathes  forth; 
their  bosoms  seem  to  heave  with  compassion  for  a  people 
under  an  unhappy  delusion  ;  observe,  I  use  the  common 
phrase  here.  Lord  North's  motion,  as  explained  to  me,  and 
generally  understood  in  England,  was  certainly  the  ground- 
work for  a  conciliatory  superstructure,  if  not  an  ample 
compliance  with  the  demands  of  America.  Its  implica- 
tion 1  shall  confine  within  the  compass  of  a  few  word,  viz  : 
Great  Britain  to  recede  from  external  and  internal  taxa- 


tion on  each  Colony  giving,  by  way  of  requisition,  money 
towards  defraying  that  expense  necessary  lor  the  defence 
ol  the  Empire.  Relieve  me  the  quantum,  as  I  am  informed, 
is  not  the  object ;  but  an  acknowledgment  of  that  super- 
intending power  always  exercised  by  Great  Britain  over 
its  external  Dominions — a  superintending  power  absolute- 
ly necessary  for  promoting  the  happiness  of  Colonies  so 
widely  differing  in  commercial  interests.  It  is  true  Great 
Britain  reserves  a  power  to  lay  duties  on  such  articles  of 
commerce  as  interferes  with  its  own  manufactures;  but  the 
revenue  arising  from  such  duties,  to  be  carried  to  account 
of  the  Colony  where  they  are  laid.  It  likewise  reserves 
a  power  to  compel  any  refractory  Colony  to  fulfil  its  engage- 
ments. In  our  memory,  good  Sir,  when  some  Colonies 
refused  to  contribute  their  quotas  when  the  service  of  Ame- 
rica required  its  united  force,  even  some  of  the  Assem- 
blies and  Continental  Conventions  complained  of  it,  and 
declared  that  Parliament  should  interfere  to  compel  the  de- 
linquent Colonies  to  do  what  was  necessary. 

1  am  informed  here  that  Parliament  has,  by  its  Constitu- 
tion, certain  inherent  rights,  which  it  cannot  divest  itself 
of;  that  of  a  supreme  legislative  power  over  the  extended 
dominions  is  one.  It  may,  and  in  this  case  I  am  very  well 
informed  certainly  will,  give  the  Colonies  such  securities 
that  it  will  not  exercise  it,  except  in  the  cases  above  men- 
tioned. The  inexpediency  of  exercising  this  power  over 
the  Colonies  in  all  cases  is  manifest,  that  is,  after  the  con- 
troverted points  are  settled.  Viewing  the  dispute  in  the 
light  I  have  here  pointed  it  out,  why  will  not  America  meet 
England  on  friendly  and  equitable  ground,  and  settle  the 
dispute  by  negotiation,  rather  than  let  the  horrours  of 
civil  war  carry  devastation  through  your  once  happy  peace- 
ful land.  Painful  reflection.  This  dispute  must  have  an 
end.  If  it  is  settled  by  the  longest  sword,  the  cause  of 
quarrel  will  be  forgot,  and  the  terms  of  peace  adequate  to 
the  success  of  the  victorious.  Why  will  the  demands  of 
America  be  left  in  so  precarious  a  situation  ?  The  events 
of  war  are  uncertain ;  the  battle  is  not  always  in  favour  of 
the  strong.  Every  thing  that  I  see  round  me,  indicates 
vigorous  measures  on  the  part  of  England.  It  is  in  peace 
with  its  neighbouring  states  ;  trade  flourishing  at  home  and 
tranquillity  in  every  County  ;  the  Parliament  at  all  events 
determined  to  support  its  authority  ;  and  I  believe  as  willing 
to  give  generous  terms  to  the  Colonies. 

I  have  but  too  great  reason  to  believe  America  has  had 
many  false  friends  on  this  side  the  Atlantic};,  I  mean  those 
who  convey  from  hence  wrong  accounts  of  the  situation  of 
affairs  here,  which  made  the  Americans  view  them  through 
a  false  medium.  Local  politicks  influenced  some,  others 
oppose  Government  on  any  principles,  and  care  not  if  Ame- 
rica was  deluged  in  blood,  if  their  private  purposes  were 
answered.  Why  will  not  the  friends  of  peace  now  stand 
forth,  and  endeavour  to  heal  the  wound  before  it  becomes 
incurable?  The  spirit  of  England  beats  high.  The  most 
vigorous  measures  you  may  depend  on  will  he  pursued.  If 
success  attends  the  King's  troops,  you  can  easily  foresee 
the  consequences:  a  flourishing  and  once  happy  country 
reduced  to  the  greatest  distress ;  commerce,  that  souce  of 
wealth,  banished  the  coast;  civil  discord  diffused  through 
all  ranks  of  people ;  the  bands  of  civil  society  dissolved ;  and 
anarchy,  with  all  its  baneful  attendants,  substituted  in  the 
place  of  good  order.  On  the  other  hand,  if  the  Provincials 
succeed,  it  must  be  in  the  course  of  many  hard-fought  bat- 
tles. And  pray,  will  success  on  their  side  be  an  equivalent 
for  the  loss  they  must  sustain  in  the  pursuit  of  it  ?  It  will 
not.  The  American  trade  must  suffer ;  the  farmer,  the 
merchant,  and  the  wealthy  inhabitants  who,  by  many  years 
industry,  have  purchased  a  peaceful  retirement  from  the 
busy  world,  must  be  reduced  to  the  lowest  ebb  of  distress. 
And  for  what?  In  pursuit  of  an  object  which  could  be  ob- 
tained on  easy  and  honourable  terms. 

Exert  yourself,  my  dear  friend,  in  your  Country's  cause. 
Promote,  as  far  as  you  can,  a  reconciliation  between  the 
parent  and  her  children.  I  wish  not  to  see  America  lose 
a  particle  of  its  right:  but  I  wish  to  see  that  right  obtained 
in  a  manner  consistent  with  the  dignity  of  Britons  and  of 
Christians.  It  has  been  said  American  Petitions  have  not 
been  received.  Let  not  this  opinion  prevent  another  appli- 
cation in  this  mode.  If  it  is  done  in  time,  and  constitu- 
tionally, believe  me,  success  will  attend  it.  I  love  America; 
I  have  chosen  it  voluntarily  for  my  residence ;  and  I  hope 


1729 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JULY,  1775. 


1730 


to  spend  the  evening  of  my  life  in  your  western  world. 
This  is  the  impulsive  cause  of  my  writing  so  freely  to  you. 
I  am  convinced  the  language  I  use  would  not  be  accept- 
able to  many  on  your  Continent.  It  is  the  language  of  a 
real  friend  to  America.  Be  not  any  longer  duped  by  a 
discontented,  disappointed  faction  on  this  side  the  Atlan- 
tick ;  nor  the  local  politicks  of  false  friends  in  America. 
May  kind  Providence  dissipate  the  impending  clouds  that 
threaten  your  ruin ;  and  may  the  Olive  once  more  extend 
its  branches  over  your  Western  world,  is  my  sincere  and 
constant  wish. 

Salute,  with  great  truth,  for  me  the  partner  of  your  hap- 
piness, and  those  tender  branches  you  cherish  with  so  much 
care  and  parental  affection. 

You  have  my  sentiments  fully  on  American  affairs.  I  say 
nothing  but  what  lean  support;  I  never  did,  nor  ever  will. 


MARINUS  WILLETT  AND  OTHERS  TO  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

New. York,  July  26,  1775. 

Gentlemen:  Having  freely  accepted  of  the  honourable 
appointment  which  you  have  conferred  upon  us,  as  officers 
to  serve  in  defending  the  rights  and  liberties  of  our  injured 
and  oppressed  Country,  permit  us  to  lay  before  you  the 
great  inconvenience  which  we  must  unavoidably  suffer  from 
the  necessity  we  are  under  of  providing  ourselves  with 
clothing,  arms,  &.c,  if  there  is  not  some  adequate  provision 
made  to  enable  us  to  take  the  field.  Were  we  possessed 
of  fortunes  sufficient  to  support  ourselves,  we  should  be  far 
from  troubling  you  with  our  solicitations  upon  this  score, 
and  should  esteem  ourselves  extremely  happy  in  having  the 
opportunity  of  sacrificing  both  that  and  our  lives  in  so  glo- 
rious a  cause ;  but  as  that  is  not  the  case,  we  are  constrain- 
ed to  solicit  your  bounty,  not  doubting  but  you  will  consi- 
der the  peculiarity  of  our  situation,  and  grant  us  such  relief 
as  in  your  wisdom  shall  seem  meet. 

We  are,  gentlemen,  in  behalf  and  by  order  of  the  offi- 
cers of  our  Regiment,  your  very  humble  servants, 

Marinus  Willett,  James  M.  Hughes, 
John  Beekman,        William  Goforth. 

To  the  Honourable  Provincial  Congress  for  the  Province 
of  _iVeu>-  York. 


GENERAL  SCHUYLER  TO  CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS. 
[Read  September  14,  1775.] 

Ticonderoga,  July  26,  1775. 

Sir:  I  do  myself  the  honour  to  acknowledge  the  receipt 
of  your  despatches  of  the  18th  instant,  (which  were  de- 
livered to  me  last  evening,)  enclosing  a  copy  of  a  speech 
intended  to  be  made  to  the  Six  Nations,  the  Declaration 
of  Congress,  and  a  newspaper  containing  the  Articles  of 
War.  It  gives  me  great  satisfaction  to  learn,  that  a  thou- 
sand of  the  troops  raised  in  the  Colony  of  Connecticut  are 
ordered  to  Albany. 

You  will  perceive,  Sir,  by  the  enclosed,  that  I  am  not 
likely  to  have  any  other  in  time  to  act  offensively,  and 
the  necessity  of  such  an  operation  becomes  daily  more 
evident  to  me.  It  cannot  be  surprising,  then,  that  I  am 
chagrined  that  I  have  not  yet  any  of  the  stores  here  (nor  do 
I  learn  that  they  are  arrived  at  Albany)  for  building  craft  to 
carry  me  across  this  lake,  nor  any  of  the  intrenching  tools. 
I  have  increased  my  carpenters,  and  they  are  constantly 
employed  in  procuring  the  materials  for  building  boats ; 
the  moment  I  have  sufficient  craft  and  carriages  for  a  few 
guns,  I  will  pick  my  men  and  give  them  the  best  of  the 
arms,  and  proceed  to  St.  John's.  Major  Brown  left  Crown 
Point  early  on  Monday  morning,  and  as  the  winds  have 
been  favourable  to  carry  him  to  the  north  end  of  the  lake, 
1  hope  he  is  now  near  Caughnawaga.  He  is  accompanied 
by  a  Canadian  and  three  people  from  hence,  and  I  trust 
that  he  will  bring  me  more  certain  intelligence  of  the  state 
of  things  in  Canada  than  any  we  have  yet  had. 

I  am  very  happy  that  a  Commissary-General  and  the 
other  appointments  have  taken  place ;  we  really  stood  in 
great  need  of  them.  Mr.  Livingston  is  at  Albany,  and  I 
shall  immediately  give  him  directions  for  supplying  the 
Army,  that  we  may  not  be  retarded  in  that  department. 
I  am  very  sorry  to  find  so  little  pork  in  the  Colony  as  is 
mentioned  in  the  enclosed  letter,  and  for  the  want  of  the 
arrival  of  fat  cattle  here,  I  am  under  the  disagreeable  ne- 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii.  ] 


cessity  of  expending  part  of  the  little  stock  of  pork  I  have 
at  this  place  and  Crown  Point. 

I  have  not  yet  been  able  to  execute  your  order  relative 
to  the  men  employed  in  taking  and  garrisoning  these  for- 
tresses. I  find  it  will  be  extremely  difficult  to  ascertain 
their  number  with  any  degree  of  precision. 

As  an  immediate  Convention  of  the  Indians  at  Albany  is 
indispensably  necessary,  I  shall  take  the  liberty  to  desire  Mr. 
Douw,  and  the  Committee  of  Albany,  to  despatch  the  pro- 
per messengers  to  invite  them  down  ;  and,  as  1  cannot  fix 
on  a  day  for  the  meeting,  shall  leave  it  to  them,  and  re- 
quest them  to  give  notice  to  the  other  Commissioners,  that 
they  may  attend  ;  and  as,  in  all  probability,  I  will  not  be 
present,  I  shall  send  the  speech  to  Mr.  Douw,  to  be  de- 
livered to  his  colleagues  when  they  arrive  at  Albany.  Mr. 
Francis  cannot  be  too  early  at  Albany;  that  gentleman 
might  promote  the  business  much,  especially  among  the 
Mohawk  Tribe. 

A  fracas  has  happened  in  Tryon  County,  between  the 
well-affected  and  the  Sheriff  of  the  County.  I  enclose 
the  account  I  have  received  of  it.  It  is  a  very  alarming 
circumstance,  that  four  hundred  men  in  that  County,  inim- 
ical to  our  cause,  should  be  possessed  of  arms.  I  should 
be  at  no  loss  what  measures  to  take,  were  it  not  on  ac- 
count of  the  delicate  situation  we  are  in  with  respect  to 
the  Indians.  Perhaps  these  people  might  be  induced  to 
give  up  their  arms  (of  which  we  are  in  great  want)  on 
assurances  that  they  will  be  protected  from  insult. 

I  shall  leave  great  part  of  the  troops  ordered  from  New- 
York  at  Albany,  until  I  receive  the  necessaries  for  build- 
ing, &.c,  to  prevent  the  expense  of  feeding  them  at  this 
place,  unless  any  intelligence  from  Canada  should  make  it 
necessary  to  have  them  here  sooner. 

The  artificers  that  I  am  under  a  necessity  of  taking  out 
of  the  troops  here,  will  not  work  unless  they  are  paid ;  I 
promised  them  the  same  that  was  allowed  last  war,  only 
until  the  determination  of  Congress. 

I  feel  very  sensibly  the  attention  of  Congress  in  the  ap- 
pointments I  recommended,  and  in  their  assurances  to  give 
me  every  support  to  enable  me  to  do  my  duty;  in  the  dis- 
charge of  which,  I  shall  arduously  strive  to  merit  a  contin- 
uance of  their  countenance. 

I  have  ventured  on  the  measure  of  calling  the  Indians, 
as  they  cannot  be  collected  sooner  than  the  first  of  Sep- 
tember, if  so  soon,  and  in  that  time  I  supposed  every  ne- 
cessary might  be  prepared  for  them. 

I  am,  Sir,  with  the  greatest  respect,  your  most  obedient 
and  most  humble  servant,  Ph.  Schuyler. 

To  the  Hon.  John  Hancock,  Esq.,  &tc. 

NEW-YORK  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY  TO  GEN.  SCHUYLER. 
[Read  in  Congress  September  14,  1775.] 
Committee  of  Safety  for  the  Colony  of  New-York,  ) 

July  15,  1775.  $ 

Sir  :  We  have  received  your  letters,  and  written  to  the 
Continental  Congress  on  these  subjects.  We  shall,  with 
all  despatch,  send  the  officer  you  mention.  We  have 
already  ordered  to  Albany  tents  for  one  Regiment.  Our 
troops  can  be  of  no  service  to  you ;  they  have  no  arms, 
clothes,  blankets,  or  ammunition ;  the  officers  no  commis- 
sions ;  our  treasury  no  money;  ourselves  in  debt.  It  is  in 
vain  to  complain  ;  we  will  remove  difficulties  as  fast  as  we 
can,  and  send  you  soldiers,  whenever  the  men  we  have 
raised  are  entitled  to  that  name.  The  intrenching  tools 
shall  be  sent  soon — some  immediately — and  all  the  pork  that 
can  be  had,  about  one  hundred  barrels.  Use,  we  pray  you, 
the  troops  at  Ticonderoga  as  well  as  you  can. 

We  are,  very  sincerely,  your  countrymen  and  friends. 
By  order:  Henry  Williams,  Chairman. 

P.  S.  General  Burgoyne  has  not  been  seen  at  Boston 
since  the  17th  ultimo ;  and  it  is  currently  reported  and  be- 
lieved that  he  is  gone  to  Quebeck. 


SCHENECTADY  (nEW-YORk)  COMMITTEE  TO  GENERAL 
SCHUYLER. 
[Read  in  Congress  September  14,  1775.] 

Schenectady  Committee-Chamber,  July  23,  1775. 

Honoured  Sir  :  By  an  express  just  arrived  from  Caugh- 
nawaga, we  beg  leave  to  acquaint  you  that  there  has  been 


1731 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JULY,  1775. 


1732 


a  great  alarm  on  the  Mohawk  River,  with  the  Sheriff, 
Alexander  White,  who  has  repeatedly  insulted  the  inhabi- 
tants, and  at  last  brought  it  to  such  a  height,  by  heaping 
one  crime  on  the  top  of  another,  that  the  people  assembled 
together  in  order  to  take  him  prisoner.  He  took  shelter 
under  the  protection  of  Sir  John  Johnson,  who  has  about 
four  hundred  men  assembled  for  that  purpose.  Sir  John 
Johnson  hath  given  his  word  of  honour  that  the  Sheriff  is 
gone  off ;  and  by  all  accounts  he  is  gone  by  way  of  Sacan- 
dago,  and  so  try  to  make  his  escape  that  way  to  Canada. 
He  doubtless  is  possessed  of  letters  of  consequence.  We 
therefore  think  proper  to  give  you  the  earliest  notice,  as 
your  people  may  perhaps  fall  in  with  him,  if  they  keep  a 
watchful  eye.  His  pilots  are  two  Indians.  There  is  a 
Sub-Committee  from  this  Board,  jointly  with  one  from  Al- 
bany, gone  up  to  Caughnawaga  to  see  how  matters  stand. 
We  have  the  honour  to  be  your  very  humble  servants. 
By  order  of  the  Committee  : 

Christ.  Yates,  Chairman. 

To  General  Schuyler. 


GENERAL   SCHUYLER  TO  THE   NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

Ticonderoga,  July  26,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  I  have  just  received  a  letter  from  Mr. 
Williams,  as  Chairman  of  your  Committee  of  Safety,  in 
the  recess  of  the  Congress.  The  difficulties  you  labour 
under  with  respect  to  equipping  the  troops  for  the  field,  are 
really  very  distressing.  But  yet  I  should  hope  that  at  least 
some  part  of  the  troops  might  be  furnished  with  arms, 
clothing,  and  blankets,  and  such  might  be  sent  up.  Would 
it  not  be  proper  that  those  raising  at  Albany  should  have 
clothing  sent  to  them,  if  you  have  any  at  New-York  be- 
yond what  will  clothe  such  as  have  arms  ? 

For  want  of  a  variety  of  the  articles  which  I  begged 
might  be  sent  up,  I  cannot  by  any  means  prosecute  the  in- 
tentions of  the  Continental  Congress.  If,  therefore,  they 
are  not  yet  sent,  pray  let  no  delay  be  made,  lest  we  should 
lose  an  opportunity  of  doing  a  service  very  essential  to  the 
Colonies — to  this  in  particular,  and  in  which  delay  will  be 
fatal. 

I  am  informed  by  the  Honourable  John  Hancock,  Esq., 
that  the  Congress  has  recommended  to  you  the  appoint- 
ment of  an  Adjutant-General  or  Brigade-Major  for  this 
Department.  An  active  man  and  a  good  disciplinarian  is 
much,  very  much  wanted  indeed,  to  fill  the  first  mentioned 
office.  I  beg  that  whoever  you  may  appoint,  you  will 
order  hirn  without  delay  to  join  me.  I  stand  in  great  need 
of  his  services. 

Could  not  a  gentleman  be  got  to  accept  of  a  commission 
as  commander  of  the  Artillery?  Perhaps  if  rank  was 
given,  it  would  induce  some  good  man  to  undertake  it. 
Such  an  officer  is  so  evidently  necessary,  that  I  hope  this 
recommendation  will  claim  your  attention. 

I  am  very  sensible  of  your  spirited  exertions  in  this  criti- 
cal day;  and  if  I  press  you  for  farther  assistance  with  a 
seeming  importunity,  it  is  because  the  force  of  necessity 
obliges  me  to  it;  it  is  because  I  wish  to  see  my  country- 
men about  me,  that  I  may  have  their  testimony  of  my 
conduct. 

I  am,  gentlemen,  with  the  greatest  respect  and  with  the 
best  wishes,  your  most  obedient  and  most  humble  servant, 

Ph.  Schuyler. 
The  Provincial  Congress  of  New-  York. 


COLONEL  JOSEPH  REED  TO  GENERAL  WOOSTER. 

Cambridge,  July  2G,  1775. 

Sir:  I  am  directed  by  his  Excellency  General  Wash- 
ington to  inform  you,  that  yesterday  afternoon  three  men- 
of-war,  with  a  number  of  transports,  sailed  from  Boston. 
They  steered  E.  S.  E.  after  they  got  out,  but  we  cannot 
yet  learn  their  destination,  or  whether  they  have  taken  off 
any  part  of  the  troops  of  the  enemy.  As  their  designs 
are  so  much  unknown  to  us,  and  it  is  possible  they  may 
move  to  New-York,  the  General  thought  proper  to  apprize 
you  of  it,  that  you  may  be  prepared  for  such  an  event. 
This  he  would  have  done  with  his  own  hand,  but  he  has 
been  much  indisposed  for  some  days  past. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  Sir,  your  most  humble  servant, 
Jusej'H  Reed,  Secretary. 


JAMES  CHRISTIE,  JUN.,  TO  THE  PUBLICK. 

Baltimore,  July  27,  1775. 

However  disagreeable  it  is  to  every  one  to  have  their 
private  and  confidential  letters  exposed  to  publick  view, 
yet  I  am  in  some  measure  compelled,  by  the  necessity 
of  my  situation,  to  publish  the  following  letter,  written 
by  me  on  the  22d  of  February  last,  to  my  friend  and  rela- 
tion, Colonel  Christie,  at  Antigua.  I  confess  the  whole 
of  the  proceeding  respecting  this  unfortunate  affair  has 
been  published  very  candidly  by  the  Committee ;  yet  it  is 
to  be  observed,  that  only  that  part  of  my  letter  is  publish- 
ed where  I  gave  my  opinion  of  politicks.  My  letter,  there- 
fore, has  been  considered  by  many  as  a  letter  on  publick 
affairs  only.  Many  representations,  too,  have  been  propa- 
gated to  our  disadvantage. 

The  most  superficial  reader  must  perceive,  from  the  date 
of  the  letter,  that  it  was  written  at  a  time  when  we  had 
heard  nothing  of  their  determinations  in  England  on  our  pub- 
lick affairs  ;  and  this  letter  was  intercepted  at  a  time  when, 
perhaps,  the  affairs  of  this  country  did  not  necessarily  re- 
quire such  a  breach  of  trust,  and  such  an  invasion  of  pri- 
vate rights. 

The  most  superficial  reader  will  easily  observe,  that  this 
is  by  no  means  a  letter  of  politicks,  or  on  publick  affairs, 
but  merely  on  my  private  business,  on  the  affairs  of  our 
family,  and  those  of  our  relations.  In  times  like  these,  it 
is  almost  impossible  to  avoid  mentioning  politicks  amidst 
the  most  private  concerns;  but  I  submit  it  to  the  candid, 
whether  the  opinions  I  have  mentioned  did  not  arise  natu- 
rally and  of  course  from  the  subject.  As  to  the  sentiments 
themselves,  I  can  only  say,  that  though  mentioned  to  an 
officer,  yet  it  was  in  confidence,  to  a  relation  and  a  friend, 
without  any  expectation  that  they  would  ever  give  offence 
to  any,  or  even  be  productive  of  any  publick  measures 
whatever. 

I  have  only  to  regret,  that  in  expressing  my  opinion  of 
measures  which  I  then  could  not  approve,  because  I  did 
not  then  think  them  promotive  of  the  interest  or  happiness 
of  this  country,  I  should  have  used  expressions  which  have 
give  offence.  With  the  humane,  perhaps,  my  situation  at 
that  time  will  plead  my  excuse. 

James  Christie,  Jun. 
james  christie,  jun.,  to  lieut.  gabriel  christie. 

Baltimore,  February  2,  1775. 

Dear  Sir:  I  duly  received  your  favours  of  the  13th 
and  22d  November,  and  should  probably  have  wrote  you 
before  now,  had  I  not  met  with  the  greatest  misfortune  in 
the  power  of  fate  to  inflict  on  me,  in  the  loss  of  the  wife 
of  my  soul,  on  the  15th  of  December  last,  that  has  almost 
put  it  out  of  my  power  to  mind  any  thing  for  some  time 
past ;  and  all  my  fortitude  is  scarce  sufficient  to  bear  me 
up ;  however,  I  must  submit.  She  had  been  brought  to 
bed  of  a  girl  about  twenty  days ;  the  dear  little  infant  died 
a  few  days  after  its  mother. 

I  some  time  since  remitted  twenty-two  pounds  eight 
shillings  sterling,  to  be  paid  your  mother  for  the  boy's  pas- 
sage, (being  twenty  pounds,  and  interest  on  it  at  six  per 
cent,  since  1  received  the  money,)  and  which,  on  the  whole, 
leaves  them  about  seven  pounds  currency  in  my  debt,  which 
I  shall  soon  receive  for  rent.  Charles's  expense  for  cloth- 
ing, schooling,  &c,  when  ashore,  runs  high,  but  I  think  he 
may  now  pay  for  himself.  Gabriel  has  been  with  me  three 
or  four  months,  and  so  far  has  behaved  to  my  satisfaction ; 
and  I  would  flatter  myself  he  may  easily  be  broke  of  the 
idle,  indolent  habit  he  has  been  acquiring.  He  applies 
well  to  any  thing  I  put  him  to,  and  after  a  while  1  hope 
may  do. 

As  your  brother's  correspondence  and  mine  has  been 
suspended  since  a  letter  I  wrote  him  about  the  boys,  soon 
after  receipt  of  yours,  I  wrote  my  sister  about  John 
Grreme's  mandamus,  and  to  get  me  the  preference  of  it. 
I  have  thought  nothing  more  about  it,  and  am  now  quite 
undetermined.  At  present  I  think  of  going  to  Britain,  so 
soon  as  my  affairs  will  admit  of  it,  and  leave  my  little  boy 
at  Stirling;  and,  if  things  turn  out  to  my  liking,  perhaps 
I  may  remain,  and  set  myself  down  either  in  London  or 
Glasgoiv.  When  I  may  get  away  is  wholly  uncertain — I 
would  hope  some  time  next  fall.    We  are  in  such  terrible 


1733 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JULY,  1775. 


1734 


confusion  with  our  politicks,  there  is  no  depending  on  any 
thing ;  and  that,  added  to  other  things,  makes  me  wish 
myself  out  of  the  Province.  We  are  little  behind  the 
New-Englanders,  mustering,  purchasing  arms,  ammuni- 
tion, &tc.  We  have  some  violent  fanatical  spirits  among 
us,  who  do  every  thing  in  their  power  to  run  things  to  the 
utmost  extremity;  and  they  are  gone  so  far,  that  we  mode- 
rate people  are  under  the  necessity  of  uniting  for  our  own 
defence,  after  being  threatened  with  expulsion,  loss  of  life, 
&.c,  for  not  acceding  to  what  we  deem  treason  and  rebel- 
lion. 

The  Provost  and  family  are  all  well.  I  believe  he  has 
nothing  lately  from  James.  He  has  made  inquiry  about 
negotiating  bills  on  him  in  Bengal,  and  finds  it  may  be 
done  at  a  disadvantage  of  twenty  per  cent.,  and  thirty  per 
cent,  more,  if  the  bills  are  protested  ;  on  the  whole,  fifty 
per  cent.,  in  case  of  protest.  Whether  he  will  attempt  it 
or  not  I  know  not.  Our  publick  affairs  vex  him,  and  he 
wishes  himself  away;  but  I  know  not  when,  or  if  ever  that 
will  happen.  A  part  of  your  or  any  other  Regiment,  I 
believe,  would  keep  us  very  quiet.  Do  you  expect  to  re- 
main long  in  the  West-Indies?  I  shall  hope  to  hear  from 
you  soon,  and  am,  very  truly,  dear  Sir,  yours, 

James  Christie,  Jun. 

Lieut.  Gabriel  Christie,  of  the  60th  Regiment,  Antigua. 

PHILADELPHIA  MILITARY  ASSOCIATION. 

Philadelphia  July  27,  1775. 

Whereas,  tiie  Officers  of  the  Military  Association  for  the 
City  and  Liberties  of  Philadelphia  have  settled  the  Pay 
of  the  following  persons  employed  by  them,  at  the  rates 
hereafter  mentioned : 

An  Adjutant  to  receive  seven  Shillings  and  six  Pence 
per  day;  a  Sergeant-Major  thirty  Shillings  per  week ;  a 
Drummer  twenty  Shillings  per  week  ;  a  Fife-Major  twen- 
ty-five Shillings  ;  and  a  Fifer  twenty  Shillings  per  week : 

And  as  extravagant  demands  have  been  made  by  some 
of  the  persons  employed  in  the  forementioned  capacities, 
and  threats  made  use  of  in  case  of  non-compliance  with 
their  demands,  that  they  would  leave  their  present  employ 
and  go  into  the  service  of  other  Associators  in  this  or  the 
neighbouring  Provinces,  the  foregoing  Regulation  is  pub- 
lished, for  the  information  of  officers  who  are  not  of  this 
Corps.  And  it  is  earnestly  requested  that  no  officers  em- 
ploy any  of  the  persons  acting  in  the  foregoing  capacities 
in  this  City  and  Liberties,  without  their  producing  a  dis- 
charge from  the  officer  or  officers  under  whom  they  now 
do  duty.    Published  by  order : 

Richard  Peters,  Secretary. 

NEW-BRUNSWICK  (NEW-JERSEY)  COMMITTEE  TO  NEW-YORK 
COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY. 

City  of  New.Brunswick,  July  27,  1775. 
Gentlemen  :  Your  favour  of  the  2lst  instant  came  safe 
to  hand ;  the  contents  of  which  was  duly  observed. 

Application  was  immediately  made  to  Mr.  Merrill,  who 
says,  about  three  weeks  past  a  person  coming  from  Egg- 
Harbour,  when  within  the  Hook,  saw  a  boat  standing 
down  our  bay,  that  he  thought  was  loaded  with  flour,  which 
boat,  he  believes,  went  along  side  the  man-of-war.  This 
is  all  he  ever  heard  or  knows  of  the  matter.  Every  other 
inquiry  in  our  power  has  been  made,  but  can  make  no  fur- 
ther discovery. 

All  intelligences  and  discoveries  of  every  action  inimical 
to  American  liberty,  and  every  matter  of  instruction  for  our 
better  preservation  and  protection,  will  be  paid  due  regard 
to  and  cheerfully  received  from  you  by  the  Committee  of 
this  City. 

Assure  yourselves,  gentlemen,  that  this  Committee  has 
and  ever  will  be  ready  to  render  to  their  country  every  ser- 
vice in  their  power,  and  will  continue  to  give  a  strict  atten- 
tion to,  and  duly  observe  all  resolutions  formed  by  the 
Continental  Congress. 

We  are,  with  esteem,  gentlemen,  your  obedient  humble 
servants.  John  Dennis,  Chairman. 

To  Mr.  Henry  Williams,  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of 

Safety,  New- York. 


NEW-YORK  CONGRESS  TO  THE  CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS. 

In  Provincial  Congress,  New-York,  July  27,  1775. 

Sir  :  In  compliance  with  the  request  of  Congress,  which 
you  did  us  the  honour  to  mention  in  your  letters  of  the 
17th  and  19th  of  July  instant,  we  have  appointed  William 
Duer,  Esquire,  Deputy  Adjutant-General,  and  taken  the 
liberty  to  give  him,  in  his  commission,  which  we  received 
yesterday,  the  rank  of  Colonel. 

We  beg  leave  to  submit  to  the  wisdom  of  Congress, 
whether  or  not  it  will  be  proper  to  have  a  Major  of  Brigade 
appointed  also;  and  should  it  be  deemed  necessary,  we 
would  readily  decline  the  honour  of  nominating  a  person  to 
fill  that  office,  having  full  confidence  in  the  wisdom  and 
integrity  of  our  Delegates,  and  being  well  convinced  that 
they  will  recommend  no  man  who  is  not  endued  with 
every  qualification  necessary  to  discharge  any  trust  which 
you  may  think  proper  to  repose  in  him. 

We  are,  with  great  respect,  Sir,  your  countrymen  and 
servants.    By  order: 

P.  V.  B.  Livingston,  President. 
To  the  Hon.  John  Hancock,  Esq.,  President  of  the  Con- 
tinental Congress. 


GENERAL  SCHUYLER  TO  THE  CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS. 

[Road  September  14,  1775.] 

Ticonderoga,  July  27,  1775. 

Sir  :  Since  my  last  of  yesterday,  Captain  Halsey,  who 
has  commanded  the  sloop  since  she  was  left  by  her  former 
commander,  arrived  at  this  post.  He  reports  that  the 
Schooner  Liberty  is  returned  from  her  cruise  towards  the 
north  end  of  Lake  Champlain ;  that  about  Isle-la-Motte 
she  fell  in  with  two  canoes,  containing  three  Frenchmen 
and  as  many  Indians;  that  they  informed  the  Captain  that 
Governour  Carleton  had  in  vain  attempted  to  prevail  upon 
the  savages  to  act  against  us  ;  that  the  Canadians  would  be 
neuter,  perhaps  act  in  our  favour ;  that  a  picket  fort,  sur- 
rounded with  a  ditch,  is  erected  at  St.  John's ;  that  prepa- 
rations were  making  for  mounting  cannon  ;  that  the  Regular 
Troops  at  that  place  consisted  of  about  four  hundred  and 
fifty  men  ;  that  two  men  from  Crown  Point,  who  were  car- 
rying an  Indian  boy,  on  his  return  from  Mr.  Wheelock's 
school,  into  Canada,  had  been  made  prisoners  and  detain- 
ed ;  and  that  a  scouting  party  of  Regular  Troops  has  been 
almost  as  far  south  as  Mr.  Gilleland's,  about  thirty-five 
miles  from  hence. 

Captain  Baker,  who  left  Crown  Point  with  the  party 
to  carry  the  Indian  boy,  but  separated  from  them,  fell  in 
with  some  Indians  at  Missisque.  Their  information  con- 
firms the  above.    His  is  enclosed. 

In  this  situation  of  affairs,  no  manoeuvre  appears  to  me 
more  necessary  than  an  immediate  movement  to  St.  John's, 
which  will  determine  what  we  are  to  expect  from  the  Cana- 
dians ;  and  this  known,  any  future  military  operations  in  this 
quarter  may  be  regulated  by  it.  But  how  to  get  there  ? 
All  the  craft  I  am  possessed  of  (and  I  have  already  bought 
or  engaged  all  the  pettiaugers  belonging  to  the  inhabitants 
here)  will  not  carry  at  the  most  more  than  five  hundred  and 
fifty  men ;  nor  are  any  of  the  stores  mentioned  in  a  former 
letter  of  mine,  as  yet  arrived  here.  It  is  probable,  from 
the  letter  which  I  yesterday  transmitted  to  you,  that  they 
have  not  yet  left  New-York,  and  without  them  1  cannot 
proceed,  even  if  I  had  boats ;  for  as  my  whole  stock  of 
powder  will  be  less  than  three  tons  when  that  from  Phila- 
delphia arrives,  I  must  necessarily  not  fire  a  gun  without 
certain  execution,  and  therefore  want  the  intrenching  tools, 
which  are  part  of  the  articles,  to  make  the  approaches  up 
to  their  very  ditch  ;  and  that  cannot  be  done  with  the  few 
tools  I  have  here. 

Although  you  will  perceive  by  the  enclosed  return,  that 
my  stock  of  provisions  is  very  scant,  yet  I  shall  not  be 
detained  on  that  account,  as  it  may  follow  me.  I  shall 
make  all  the  despatch  1  possibly  can,  and  move  the  mo- 
ment I  am  in  a  condition  for  it. 

It  appears  to  me  highly  necessary  that  more  powder 
should  be  sent  up  ;  for  if  even  I  should  be  fortunate  enough 
to  succeed  against  St.  John's  with  the  little  I  have,  it  can- 
not be  expected  that  much  would  be  left.  But  if  I  should 
be  under  the  disagreeable  necessity  of  retreating,  the  want 


* 


1735 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  he,  JULY,  1775. 


1736 


of  it  might  be  followed  with  the  loss  of  this  fortress  and 
command  of  the  lake. 

I  am,  Sir,  your  most  obedient  and  most  humble  servant, 

Ph.  Schuyler. 
To  the  Honourable  John  Hancock,  Esq. 

An  Account  of  the  voyage  of  Captain  Remember  Baker, 
begun  the  13th  day  of  July,  and  ended  July  25,  1775, 
on  Lake  Champlain. 

On  the  16th  instant  an  Indian  trader  informed  him  that 
general  orders  were  given  out  by  Governour  Carleton  not 
to  fire  on  our  people,  nor  to  pass  the  line,  nor  even  to  fire 
on  our  parties,  if  they  were  even  to  come  to  St.  John's, 
but  to  take  them,  if  possible  ;  but  that  it  proved  to  be  false. 
This  information  he  received  from  Esquire  Metcalf  and  one 
Sear. 

On  the  same  day  he  sent  two  lads  with  an  Indian  boy 
over  the  line  ;  that  they  did  not  return,  but  has  been  since 
informed  by  Frenchmen  and  Indians,  that  they  were  taken. 

Messrs.  Sear  and  Metcalf  informed  him  that  the  Regu- 
lars were  intrenched  at  St.  John's,  with  twelve  cannon 
mounted,  and  four  hundred  and  fifty  men ;  that  they  keep 
scouts  out  in  a  large  birch  canoe. 

That  he  was  in  company  with  Indians  of  two  Nations, 
St.  Francois  and  Conesadaga,  and  was  treated  with  great 
civility,  and  was  supplied  with  provisions  by  them.  They 
informed  him  that  seven  Nations  had  agreed  not  to  fight  the 
Yankees,  and  have  sent  three  men  to  Boston  to  confirm  it 
with  the  Congress.  The  Towns  are  Lolet,  Conesadaga, 
Panomscut,  Caughnawaga,  St.  Francois,  Wesunkanaugh, 
and  Wolenuck ;  that  each  Town  had  appointed  one  cap- 
tain and  one  governour,  who  had  convened  and  made  a 
governour  over  the  whole.  Remember  Baker. 

Ticonderoga,  July  26,  1775. 


GENERAL  SCHUYLER  TO  THE  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

Ticonderoga,  July  27,  1775. 
Gentlemen  :  Since  my  letter  of  yesterday  I  have  re- 
ceived such  intelligence  as  makes  it  indispensably  neces- 
sary that  not  one  moment's  delay  should  be  made  in  for- 
warding me  the  stores  mentioned  in  the  estimate  I  delivered 
you  on  the  3d  of  July.  I  have  a  number  of  carpenters, 
and  no  materials  to  employ  them.  A  thousand  of  the  Con- 
necticut Troops  are  ordered  to  join  me  ;  and  1  do  most,  most 
earnestly  entreat  that  such  of  the  men  raised  in  this  Colony 
as  are  furnished  with  arms,  may  be  sent  to  Albany  without 
any  delay.  General  Montgomery  is  there  to  forward  them 
to  me. 

I  am,  gentlemen,  with  great  esteem  and  respect,  your 
most  obedient  humble  servant,  Ph.  Schuyler. 

The  New-York  Provincial  Congress. 


GEN.  WASHINGTON  TO  JOHN  AUGUSTINE  WASHINGTON. 

Camp  at  Cambridge,  July  27,  1775. 

Dear  Brother:  On  the  2d  instant  I  arrived  at  this 
place,  after  passing  through  a  great  deal  of  delightful  coun- 
try, covered  with  grass,  (although  the  season  has  been  dry,) 
in  a  manner  very  different  from  our  lands  in  Virginia. 

I  found  a  mixed  multitude  of  people  here,  under  very 
little  discipline,  order,  or  government ;  the  enemy  in  pos- 
session of  a  place  called  Bunker's  Hill,  on  Charlestons 
Neck,  strongly  intrenched,  and  fortifying  themselves ;  part 
of  our  own  Army  on  two  hills,  called  Winter  and  Prospect 
Hills,  about  a  mile  and  a  quarter  from  the  enemy  on 
Bunker's  Hill,  in  a  very  insecure  state;  another  part  at 
this  village;  and  a  third  part  at  Roxbury,  guarding  the 
entrance  in  and  out  of  Boston.  My  whole  time  since  I 
came  here,  has  been  employed  in  throwing  up  lines  of 
defence  at  these  three  several  places,  to  secure,  in  the  first 
instance,  our  own  Troops  from  any  attempts  of  the  enemy; 
and,  in  the  next  place,  to  cut  off  all  communication  between 
their  Troops  and  the  country.  To  do  this,  and  to  prevent 
them  from  penetrating  into  the  country  with  fire  and  sword, 
and  to  harass  them  if  they  do,  is  all  that  is  expected  of  me. 
If  effected,  it  must  totally  overthrow  the  designs  of  Admin- 
istration, as  the  whole  force  of  Great  Brituin  in  the  Town 
and  Harbour  of  Boston,  can  answer  no  other  end  than  to 
sink  her  under  the  disgrace  and  weight  of  the  expense. 
The  enemy's  strength,  including  marine  forces,  is  com- 


puted, from  the  best  accounts  I  can  get,  at  about  twelve 
thousand  men ;  ours,  including  sick  and  absent,  at  about 
sixteen  thousand ;  but  then  we  have  to  guard  a  semicircle 
of  eight  or  nine  miles,  to  every  part  of  which  we  are 
obliged  to  be  equally  attentive;  whilst  they,  situated  as  it 
were  in  the  centre  of  the  semicircle,  and  having  the  entire 
command  of  the  water,  can  bend  their  whole  force  against 
any  one  part  of  it  with  equal  facility.  This  renders  our 
situation  not  very  agreeable,  though  necessary.  However, 
by  incessant  labour,  Sundays  not  excepted,  we  are  in  a 
much  better  posture  of  defence  now  than  when  I  first 
came.  The  enclosed,  though  rough,  will  give  you  some 
small  idea  of  Boston  and  the  bay  on  this  side,  as  also  of  the 
post  they  have  taken  on  Charlestown  Neck  at  Bunker's 
Hill,  and  of  our  posts. 

The  enemy  are  sickly,  and  in  want  of  fresh  provisions. 
Beef,  which  is  chiefly  got  by  slaughtering  their  milch  cows 
in  Boston,  sells  from  one  shilling  to  eighteen  pence  sterling 
per  pound  ;  and  that  it  may  not  become  cheaper,  or  more 
plenty,  I  have  driven  all  the  stock  within  a  considerable 
distance  of  this  place,  back  into  the  country,  out  of  the 
way  of  the  men-of-war's  boats.  In  short,  I  have  done, 
and  shall  continue  to  do,  every  thing  in  my  power  to  dis- 
tress them.  The  transports  have  all  arrived,  and  their 
whole  re-enforcement  is  landed,  so  that  I  can  see  no  rea- 
son why  they  should  not,  if  they  ever  attempt  it,  come 
boldly  out,  and  put  the  matter  to  issue  at  once.  If  they 
think  themselves  not  strong  enough  to  do  this,  they  surely 
will  carry  their  arms  (having  ships-of-war  and  transports 
ready)  to  some  other  part  of  the  Continent,  or  relinquish 
the  dispute;  the  last  of  which,  the  Ministry,  unless  com- 
pelled, will  never  agree  to  do.  Our  works  and  those  of 
the  enemy  are  so  near,  and  the  space  between  us  so  open, 
that  each  sees  every  thing  the  other  is  doing. 

I  recollect  nothing  more  worth  mentioning.  I  shall 
therefore  conclude,  with  my  best  wishes  and  love  to  my 
sister  and  the  family,  and  compliments  to  any  inquiring 
friends.    Your  most  affectionate  brother, 

Go.  Washington. 


GENERAL  WASHINGTON  TO  GENERAL  SCHUYLER. 

Cambridge  Camp,  July  27,  1775. 

Sir  :  Yesterday  a  deputation  from  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress of  New- Hampshire  attended  me,  with  a  request  that 
three  companies  raised  in  their  Province,  and  now  posted 
on  Connecticut  River,  at  and  between  the  two  Colonies, 
commanded  by  Captain  Timothy  Bedell,  James  Osgood, 
and  John  Parker,  might  be  continued  for  the  security  of 
the  frontiers  of  that  Province  on  the  Continental  establish- 
ment. As  it  did  not  appear  to  me  that  their  request  could 
be  complied  with,  and  as  1  apprehend  you  may  have  more 
immediate  occasion  for  them  than  I  have,  1  thought  it  proper 
to  give  you  the  earliest  notice  where  they  are,  that  if  you 
think  proper  you  may  order  them  to  join  the  Troops  under 
your  command ;  in  which  case  you  will  please  to  write  to 
Matthew  Thornton,  Esq.,  President  of  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress. Each  company  consists  of  sixty-five  men,  including 
officers,  and  are  reported  to  me  as  able-bodied,  stout,  active 
fellows,  used  to  the  woods,  capable  of  any  duty,  and  hav- 
ing an  acquaintance  with  Canada.  But  you  will  please  to 
remember  that  they  must  continue  under  their  own  officers, 
to  whom  they  are  attached,  and  subject  only  to  superiour 
command.  We  have  had  no  transaction  of  any  conse- 
quence since  I  wrote  you  last.  Our  Army  is  in  good  health 
and  spirits,  well  supplied  with  all  kinds  of  provisions.  The 
situation  of  the  enemy  is  directly  the  reverse,  and  we  have 
reason  to  think  desertions  will  be  very  great ;  four  have 
come  out  within  the  last  twenty-four  hours. 

I  am,  Sir,  with  much  esteem,  your  most  obedient  servant, 

Go.  Washington. 

To  Philip  Schuyler,  Esq.,  Major-General,  Ticonderoga. 

GENERAL  WASHINGTON  TO  CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS. 

Camp  at  Cambridge,  July  27,  1775. 
Sir  :  Nothing  material  has  occurred  in  either  camp  since 
I  had  the  honour  of  addressing  you  on  the  twenty-first  in- 
stant by  express.  But  on  Tuesday,  three  men-of-war  and 
nine  transports  sailed  out  of  Boston  Harbour,  and  stood  a 
course  about  east-south-east, 


1737 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  fcc,  JULY,  1775. 


1738 


One  Groves,  who  came  out  of  Boston  the  same  evening, 
informed  the  officer  at  one  of  the  out-posts,  that  the  trans- 
ports had  on  board  six  hundred  men,  and  were  bound  to 
Block-Island,  Fisher's- Island,  and  Long-Island,  to  plunder 
them  and  bring  off  what  cattle  they  may  find.  The  fellow 
returned  again  into  Boston,  under  such  suspicious  circum- 
stances, that  it  has  led  me  to  doubt  the  truth  of  his  intelli- 
gence. A  deserter,  who  came  in  afterwards,  informs  me 
that  it  was  given  out  in  their  camp  that  they  were  either 
gone  for  Indians  or  fresh  provisions,  and  that  each  transport 
had  but  twenty  men  on  board.  Upon  this  intelligence  I 
immediately  wrote  to  Governour  Cooke,  of  Rhode-Island, 
and  to  General  Woostcr,  that  they  might  use  proper  pre- 
cautions for  removing  the  cattle  off  those  islands  and  the 
coasts,  and  to  prevent  any  surprise.  As  we  are  confirmed 
by  every  account  in  the  scarcity  of  fresh  provisions  in  the 
enemy's  camp,  and  particularly  by  this  deserter,  who  says 
they  have  had  none  since  the  battle  of  Ledngton,  it  is  very 
probable  this  voyage  may  be  only  intended  for  a  supply; 
but  as  it  may  possibly  be  otherwise,  I  thought  it  best  to 
transmit  the  intelligence  to  the  honourable  Congress,  that 
they  may  forward  it  to  the  southward,  or  take  such  other 
step  as  they  may  judge  proper. 

Since  writing  the  above,  three  men  (deserters)  have  come 
out,  which  make  four  in  twenty-four  hours.  Their  accounts 
correspond  with  those  of  the  first  who  came  out,  and  which 
I  have  related  above. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  Sir,  your  most  obedient  and 
very  humble  servant,  Go.  Washington. 


GENERAL  HEATH  TO  GENERAL  WASHINGTON. 

Camp  at  Roxbury,  July  21,  1775. 

Sir  :  I  have  the  pleasure  to  inform  your  Excellency  that 
Major  Vose,  of  my  own  Regiment,  besides  securing  the 
barley  on  Nantasket,  yesterday  morning  landed  on  the 
Light-House  Island  with  six  or  seven  boats ;  the  Light- 
House  was  set  on  fire  and  the  wood-work  burnt.  The  party 
brought  off  three  casks  of  oil,  all  the  furniture  of  the  Light- 
House,  about  fifty  pounds  of  gunpowder,  a  quantity  of  cor- 
dage, &,c,  an  inventory  of  which  will  be  forwarded  to  your 
Excellency.  Some  of  the  brave  men  who  effected  this 
with  their  lives  in  their  hands,  have  just  now  applied  to 
me,  to  know  whether  it  was  to  be  considered  as  plunder  or 
otherwise.  I  was  not  able  to  determine  this  matter,  but 
told  them  that  I  would  lay  the  matter  before  your  Excel- 
lency. I  would  beg  leave  to  add,  that  these  brave  men 
were,  some  of  them,  at  Grape-Island,  Deer-Island,  and  at 
Long-Island,  when  each  of  those  islands  were  stripped  of 
their  stock,  &ic. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be  your  Excellency's  most  obedi- 
ent and  very  humble  servant,  W.  Heath. 

To  his  Excellency  General  Washington. 


ORDERS  BY  GENERAL  WASHINGTON. 

Head-Quarters,  Cambridge,  July  22,  1775. 
(Parole,  Nantasket.)  (Countersign,  Mississippi.) 

A  Court  of  Inquiry  to  sit  forthwith  ;  President,  Doctor 
Foster;  Doctor  Warren  and  Doctor  Eustace,  members;  to 
examine  into  a  complaint  exhibited  by  Mr.  John  Spalding, 
Surgeon  to  Gen.  Putnam's  Regiment,  against  Mr.  Penuel 
Chiney,  Surgeon's-mate  of  the  said  Regiment;  all  evi- 
dences to  attend  the  Court. 

Captain  Israel  Putnam,  and  Lieutenant  Samuel  Webb, 
being  appointed  Aids-de-Camp  to  Major-General  Putnam, 
they  are  to  be  obeyed  as  such. 

Regularity  and  due  subordination  being  so  essentially 
necessary  to  the  good  order  and  government  of  an  army, 
and  without  it  the  whole  must  soon  become  a  scene  of  dis- 
order and  confusion,  the  General  finds  it  indispensably 
necessary,  without  wailing  any  longer  for  despatches  from 
the  General  Continental  Congress,  immediately  to  form  the 
Army  into  three  grand  divisions,  and  of  dividing  each  of 
those  grand  divisions  into  two  Brigades.  He  therefore 
orders  that  the  following  Regiments,  viz  :  General  Ward's, 
Gen.  Thomas's,  Colonel  Felloivs's,  Colonel  Cotton's,  Col- 
onel Danielson's,  and  Colonel  D.  Brewer's,  compose  one 
brigade,  and  be  under  the  command  of  Brigadier-Gene- 
ral Thomas;  that  General  Spencer's,  Colonel  Parsons' s, 


Colonel  Learned's,  Colonel  Walker's,  Colonel  J.  Read's, 
Independents,  compose  another  brigade,  to  be  commanded 
by  Brigadier-General  Spencer.  That  these  two  brigades 
compose  the  right  wing  or  division  of  the  Army,  and  be 
under  the  command  of  Major-General  Ward,  and  remain 
at  Roxbury  and  its  southern  dependancies.  That  Colonel 
Stark's,  Colonel  Poor's,  Colonel  Reid's,  of  New- Hamp- 
shire, and  Colonel  Nixon's,  Colonel  Mansfield's,  Colonel 
Doolittle's,  of  Massachusetts,  be  formed  into  another  bri- 
gade, under  the  command  of  Brigadier-General  Sullivan, 
and  posted  on  Winter  Hill.  That  Colonel  Varnum's,  Col- 
onel Hitchcock's,  Colonel  Church's,  of  Rhode-Island,  and 
Colonel  Whitcomb's,  Colonel  Gardner's,  Colonel  J.  Brew- 
er's, Col.  Little's,  of  Massachusetts,  be  formed  into  another 
brigade,  and  commanded  by  Brigadier-General  Green,  and 
posted  upon  Prospect  Hill,  and  these  two  brigades  compose 
the  left  wing,  or  second  division  of  the  Army,  under  the 
command  of  Major-General  Lee.  That  General  Putnam's, 
Colonel  Glover's,  Colonel  Frye's,  Colonel  Bridge's,  Col. 
Woodbridge's,  Colonel  Sergeant's,  be  formed  into  another 
brigade,  under  the  command  of  the  senior  officer  therein, 
and  until  the  pleasure  of  the  Continental  Congress  be 
known,  these  two  brigades  to  be  under  the  command  of 
Major-General  Putnam;  also  a  corps-de-reserve  for  the 
defence  of  the  several  posts  north  of  Roxbury,  not  already 
named. 

The  arrangement  now  ordered  to  take  place  is  to  be 
made  as  speedily  as  possible,  and  the  Majors- General  are 
to  see  it  done  accordingly;  some  inconveniences  may  arise 
to  certain  individuals  by  this  change,  but  as  the  good  of  the 
service  requires  it  to  be  made,  an  alert  and  ready  compli- 
ance is  expected. 

All  applications  from  henceforward,  by  officers  or  sol- 
diers, for  leave  of  absence,  are  to  be  made  to  the  Major- 
General  commanding  each  division,  who  is  to  judge  of  the 
propriety  of  the  application,  and  grant  furloughs  where  they 
see  cause,  without  applying  to  the  Commander-in-Chief, 
provided  it  be  not  contrary  to  General  Orders. 

General  Heath's  Regiment  is  to  take  post  at  No.  2,  in 
lieu  of  General  Ward's;  Colonel  Pattersons  remains  at 
No.  3 ;  Colonel  Scammons's  to  occupy  No.  1,  and  the  re- 
doubt between  that  and  No.  2 ;  Colonel  Prescolt's  Regi- 
ment to  take  post  at  the  redoubt  upon  Sewell's  Point;  Col. 
Gerrish's  Regiment  to  furnish  the  Companies  for  Chelsea, 
Maiden,  and  Medford. 

Head-Quarters,  Cambridge,  July  23,  1775. 
(Parole,  Brunswick.)  (Countersign,  Princeton.) 

As  the  Continental  Army  have  unfortunately  no  uniforms, 
and  consequently  many  inconveniences  must  arise  from  not 
being  able  always  to  distinguish  the  commissioned  officers 
from  the  non-commissioned,  and  the  non-commissioned  from 
the  privates,  it  is  desired  that  some  badges  of  distinction 
may  be  immediately  provided  ;  for  instance,  the  Field-Offi- 
cers may  have  red  or  pink  coloured  cockades  in  their  hats, 
the  Captains  yellow  or  buff,  and  the  Subalterns  green  ;  they 
are  to  furnish  themselves  accordingly.  The  Sergeants  may 
be  distinguished  by  an  epaulette,  or  stripe  of  red  cloth 
sewed  upon  the  right  shoulder,  the  Corporals  by  one  of 
green. 

The  people  employed  to  make  spears,  are  desired  by 
the  General  to  make  four  dozen  of  them  immediately,  thir- 
teen feet  in  length,  and  the  wood  part  a  good  deal  more  sub- 
stantial than  those  already  made  ;  those,  particularly,  in  the 
New-Hampshire  lines,  are  ridiculously  short  and  light  and 
can  answer  no  sort  of  purpose ;  no  more  are  therefore  to 
be  made  on  the  same  model. 

The  commanding  officers  of  the  different  works  and  posts 
are  once  more  enjoined  to  furnish  themselves  with  a  suffi- 
cient number  of  gabions  and  fascines,  which  are  to  stop  up 
the  entrances  of  their  respective  redoubts  and  lines,  and  to 
repair  their  works,  which  may  either  be  damaged  by  the 
weather  or  the  fire  of  the  enemy.  It  is  observed  that 
several  of  the  entrances  of  the  redoubts  are  still  left  open 
without  any  sort  of  defence,  the  commanding  officers  of 
each  redoubt  are  therefore  ordered  to  cut  a  wide  deep  ditch 
at  the  entrances,  and  throw  a  bridge  of  strong  plank  across ; 
this  is  to  be  done  without  delay. 

John  Davis,  of  Captain  Foster's  Company,  in  Colonel 
Gridley's  Regiment  of  Artillery,  tried  for  "  desertion  and 


1739 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  Sic,  JULY,  1775. 


1740 


suspicion  of  intending  to  go  to  the  enemy,"  is  acquitted  by 
the  General  Court-Martial. 

Ensign  Trafton,  accused  by  Colonel  Scammons  of  "  abu- 
sive language  to  the  said  Colonel  Scammons  while  under 
arrest,"  tried  by  a  General  Court-Martial,  of  which  Col- 
onel Nixon  was  President.  The  Court  are  unanimously 
of  opinion  that  the  prisoner  is  not  guilty,  and  do  therefore 
acquit  him  with  honour. 

Lieutenant  Trafton  to  be  forthwith  released  from  his 
arrest. 

Michael  Bury,  of  Captain  Parker's  Company,  and  Col. 
Prescotl's  Regiment,  tried  by  the  same  General  Court- 
Martial  for  "  refusing  his  duty  and  enlisting  in  another 
Company."  The  Court  condemn  the  prisoner,  and  order 
him  to  receive  thirty-nine  lashes.  The  General  orders  the 
sentence  to  be  put  in  execution  at  the  head  of  the  Regi- 
ment the  delinquent  belongs  to. 

Head-Quartors,  Cambridge,  July  24,  1775. 
(Parole,  Salisbury.)  (Countersign,  Cumberland.) 

It  being  thought  proper  to  distinguish  the  Majors  from 
the  Brigadiers-General  by  some  particular  mark,  for  the 
future  the  Majors-General  will  wear  a  broad  purple  ribband. 

Notwithstanding  the  General  Orders  marking  the  distinc- 
tions  of  General  Officers,  Aids-de-Camp,  Sic,  the  Gene- 
rals are  frequently  stopped  by  the  sentinels,  which  can  only 
happen  from  the  Captains  having  neglected  to  read  the 
orders  to  their  respective  Companies.  If  any  General  Offi- 
cer, Aid-de-Camp,  or  Major  of  Brigade,  is  again  stopped 
through  the  ignorance  of  the  sentinels,  the  Captains  will 
be  responsible. 

As  any  attempt  the  enemy,  from  their  late  disappoint- 
ments, may  have  the  rashness  or  the  hardiness  to  make, 
will  be  violent  and  sudden,  the  General  expects  the  officers 
and  soldiers  will  be  not  only  resolute  but  alert  to  defeat; 
and  in  a  particular  manner  he  enforces  his  orders  to  every 
field-officer,  upon  no  account  (duty  excepted)  to  lay  out  of 
camp,  but  upon  every  occasion  to  shew  by  their  example 
that  activity  and  steady  courage  so  necessary  to  defeat  an 
enterprising  enemy. 

Notwithstanding  the  orders  of  the  eleventh  instant,  ex- 
pressly forbidding  all  officers  and  soldiers  from  quitting  their 
guard  before  they  are  regularly  relieved  and  dismissed,  the 
General  is  informed  such  unsoldierlike  practices  are  still 
committed  ;  he  therefore  admonishes  all  officers  and  non- 
commissioned officers,  not  to  suffer  any  person  to  quit  their 
guard  upon  any  pretence,  care  to  be  taken  the  men  are 
properly  supplied  with  provisions  before  they  mount  guard. 

Report  being  this  morning  made  to  the  General,  that  the 
main  guard  room  is  kept  abominably  filthy  and  dirty ;  for 
the  future,  one  commanding  officer  is  not  to  relieve  another 
upon  that  guard,  until  he  is  assured  that  the  officers  and 
men's  apartments  are  clean  and  in  decent  order. 

The  Surgeon  of  every  Regiment  in  the  lines,  redoubts, 
or  in  or  near  Cambridge,  to  deliver  to-morrow,  at  twelve  at 
noon,  to  the  Adjutant-General  at  Head-Quarters,  an  exact 
return  of  the  sick  in  the  Regiments  they  respectively  be- 
long to ;  the  names,  rank,  and  disorder  of  each  officer, 
non-commissioned  officer,  and  soldier,  to  be  mentioned  in 
the  return.  The  returns  of  the  Surgeons  of  the  corps  sta- 
toned  in  and  near  Roxbury,  to  be  made  to  the  command- 
ing General  at  Roxbury,  Tuesday  noon,  in  the  manner  and 
form  directed  by  the  above  order,  and  the  General  com- 
manding at  Roxbury  will  transmit  them  to  Head-Quarters 
at  orderly  time,  Wednesday. 

Head-Quarters,  Cambridge,  July  25,  1775. 
(Parole,  Halifax.)  (Countersign,  Turk.) 

Continual  complaints  being  made  that  soldiers  of  regi- 
ments and  companies,  after  enlisting  in  one  company  and 
regiment,  have  gone  and  enlisted  in  another,  insomuch  that 
it  would  engross  the  General's  whole  time  to  hear  the  dis- 
putes upon  this  subject ;  for  the  future,  any  officers  who 
have  any  dispute  in  regard  to  the  men  re-enlisted,  are  to 
apply  to  the  Brigadier  commanding  their  Brigade,  who  will 
order  a  Court-Martial  of  the  Brigade  to  hear  and  determine 
the  matter. 

The  General  Court-Martial,  of  which  Colonel  Nixon  was 
President,  to  be  dissolved  this  evening,  and  another  Gene- 
ral Court-Martial  of  the  line  to  sit  to-morrow  morning  at 
the  usual  time  and  place,  to  try  such  prisoners  as  shall  be 


brought  before  them.  All  evidences  and  persons  concerned 
to  attend  the  Court. 

Head. Quarters,  Cambridge,  July  26,  1775. 
(Puole,  Amsterdam.)  (Counlenign,  Amboy.) 

It  is  recommended  to  the  commanding  officers  of  corps, 
that  all  coverings  made  of  boards  be  built  in  the  form  of 
barracks,  and  in  the  most  advantageous  manner,  at  the  same 
time  so  contrived  as  to  be  warm  and  comfortable  in  cold 
weather. 

All  passes  to  be  discontinued  for  the  future,  and  no  per- 
son to  be  admitted  into  the  lines  unless  introduced  by  an 
officer  who  can  vouch  for  him,  or  by  order  of  the  officer 
commanding  in  the  lines. 

It  being  represented  that  the  present  hospital  is  not  large 
enough  to  contain  the  sick,  Lieutenant-Governour  Oliver's 
house  is  to  be  cleared  for  that  purpose,  and  care  to  be  taken 
that  no  injury  is  done  to  it. 

Notwithstanding  the  strict  and  repeated  orders  that  have 
been  given  against  firing  small-arms,  it  is  hourly  practised. 
All  officers  commanding  guards,  posts,  and  detachments,  to 
be  alert  in  apprehending  all  future  transgressors. 

Captain  Clarke,  of  General  Putnam's  Regiment,  con- 
fined in  arrest  for  "  neglect  of  duty  when  upon  guard," 
tried  by  a  late  General  Court-Martial,  is  acquitted,  and  is 
immediately  to  be  released  from  his  arrest. 

Levi  Woods,  soldier  in  Captain  Nutting's  Company,  in 
Colonel  Prescott's  Regiment,  confined  for  "  absenting  him- 
self without  leave,  and  refusing  to  take  the  oath,  and  threat- 
ening to  leave  the  Army."  The  Court-Martial,  upon  the 
prisoner's  pleading  guilty,  and  promising  to  behave  obedi- 
ently for  the  future,  recommended  him  to  the  General's 
mercy ;  who  is  pleased  to  pardon  the  prisoner. 

Head-Quarters,  Cambridge,  July  27,  1775. 
(Parole,  Bedford.)  (Countersign,  Guilford.) 

John  Trumbull,  Esq.,  being  appointed  Aid-de-Camp  to 
his  Excellency  the  Commander-io-Chief,  he  is  to  be  obeyed 
as  such. 

A  Court  of  Inquiry  to  sit  to-morrow  morning  at  eight 
o'clock  in  the  tutor's  chamber,  (Mr.  Hall,)  to  examine  into 
a  complaint,  exhibited  upon  oath  in  the  publick  newspa- 
pers, against  Mr.  Benjamin  Whiting,  now  a  prisoner  in  the 
college.  All  evidences,  and  persons  concerned,  to  attend 
the  Court. 

For  the  future,  when  any  deserters  come  to  any  of  the 
out  guards,  they  are,  with  the  least  delay,  to  be  sent  by  a 
corporal's  guard  to  the  next  guard  in  the  lines,  who  is  im- 
mediately to  escort  them  in  the  same  manner  to  the  Major- 
General  commanding  that  division  of  the  Army,  who,  as 
soon  as  he  has  examined  them,  will  forthwith  send  them 
under  a  proper  escort  from  his  guard  to  the  Head-Quarters. 
Some  deserters  being  made  drunk,  who  came  last  night  from 
the  enemy,  before  they  reached  Head-Quarters,  it  will  be 
considered  as  a  breach  of  orders  in  any  person  who  gives  rum 
to  deserters,  before  they  are  examined  by  the  General. 

A  subaltern  officer's  guard  to  be  mounted  to-morrow 
morning  at  eight  o'clock,  at  a  certain  distance  from  the 
Small-Pox  Hospital ;  the  officer  to  come  this  evening  at 
six  o'clock  to  the  Adjutant-General  for  orders. 


COLONEL  HURD  TO  NEW-HAMPSHIRE  CONGRESS. 

Haverhill,  Cohoos,  July  27,  1775. 
Sir  :  Though  I  am  not  of  any  Committee  of  Correspon- 
dence, yet,  as  a  member  of  the  Provincial  Congress,  I  take 
this  opportunity  to  acquaint  you  that  the  bearer,  Colonel 
Bayley,  goes  down  to  Exeter  and  Cambridge  (and  will  call 
on  you  in  his  way)  expressly  on  purpose  to  accompany  an 
Indian,  by  name  Louis,  of  the  Caughnawaga  Tribe,  who  is 
just  come  in  here  from  Montreal  by  way  of  the  Lake  Mem- 
phremagog  and  Upper  Cohoos ;  the  same  who  sent  us  these 
advices  in  the  letter  which  1  carried  down  and  communi- 
cated to  the  Congress  at  the  last  session.  He  has  all  along 
appeared  friendly  to  the  New-England  people,  is  very  in- 
telligent, and  has  the  character  among  the  Indian  traders  of 
an  honest  fellow,  who  has  always  stood  by  and  made  good 
his  word. 

Though  no  very  remarkable  occurrence  has  taken  place 
in  Canada  that  he  informs  of,  yet  the  account  he  gives  of 
the  present  disposition  of  the  Indians  and  Canadians,  and 
the  situation  of  the  Regular  Troops  there,  seems  so  inte- 


1741 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JULY,  1775. 


1742 


resting,  we  have  thought  his  information  might  be  of  service 
to  the  American  cause.  That  your  Committee  of  Safety, 
as  well  as  the  gentlemen  of  the  Massachusetts  and  the 
Generals  at  Cambridge,  would  not  be  displeased  with  an 
opportunity  to  converse  with  him,  for  which  reason  we  have 
persuaded  Louis  (having  given  a  few  small  presents,  and 
engaging  some  pay  for  his  time)  to  make  a  journey  down 
the  country,  paying  a  visit  first  to  you,  or  your  Committee 
at  Exeter,  and  thence  to  the  Army  at  Cambridge;  and 
Colonel  Bayley  is  so  good  as  to  undertake  conducting  him, 
having  formerly  some  acquaintance  with  him.  His  time  is 
short ;  he  says  he  could  not  leave  Montreal  without  a  pass 
from  the  Governour,  and  a  promise  to  return  in  about  twenty 
days,  as  if  going  out  upon  a  hunt.  He  speaks  very  good 
French,  and  English  tolerably  well,  so  as  to  be  easily  un- 
derstood. By  what  we  have  learnt  from  him,  our  people 
are  much  easier  in  their  settlements  on  these  frontiers  than 
they  have  been  heretofore.  For  further  particulars  I  must 
refer  to  Colonel  Bayley.  My  best  respects  attend  you  and 
the  gentlemen  of  the  Committee ;  and  am,  Sir,  your  most 
humble  obedient  servant,  John  Hurd. 

The  Honourable  Matthew  Thornton,  Esq. 

P.  S.  Captain  Bedell  has  mustered  his  Company  and 
paid  them  their  month's  advance  ;  he  would  have  readily 
attended  on  this  Indian  to  wait  upon  your  Committee,  had 
not  Colonel  Bayley  offered. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  TO  A  GENTLEMAN  IN  PHILADEL- 
PHIA, DATED  LONDON,  JULY  28,  1775. 

I  am  grieved  to  the  soul  at  seeing  our  political  disputes 
arrive  to  so  terrible  a  crisis.  The  25th  instant  we  received 
the  account  of  the  battle  of  Charlestoivn,  near  Boston;  we 
have  only  the  Government  account,  none  from  the  Provin- 
cials. However,  General  Gage  makes  out  two  hundred 
and  twenty-six  killed,  and  eight  hundred  and  twenty-eight 
wounded,  of  the  Regulars.  It  is  schocking  to  humanity 
to  think  that  so  much  blood  should  be  spilt  through  the 
obstinacy  of  a  few  men,  who  now  plainly  see  they  are  ex- 
hausting the  blood  and  treasure  of  this  Kingdom  to  no  pur- 
pose. We  are  anxious  here  to  have  some  certain  account 
from  the  Provincials  of  that  battle.  The  Ministry  do  not 
now  scruple  to  say,  these  bloody  measures  originate  from 
the  King  himself,  who  absolutely  persists  in  the  plan  of 
reducing  the  Americans  at  all  events.  It  is  generally 
thought  that  Lord  North  was  against  sending  out  Troops, 
but  as  to  the  others,  1  fancy  they  see  the  improbability  of 
executing  their  plan,  and  therefore  prudently  (but  basely) 
endeavour  to  throw  the  whole  odium  on  their  Royal  Mas- 
ter's head. 

People  here  are  very  anxious  to  hear  the  resolves  of  the 
Congress ;  and  those  who  a  week  ago  thought  General 
Gage  had  Troops  enough  to  march  through  America,  now 
alter  their  tone,  on  finding  the  dispute  for  a  mile  of  ground 
cost  him  one  thousand  and  fifty-four  men  wounded  and 
slain  ;  they  begin  to  think  Gage  must  be  content  to  keep 
possession  of  Boston,  and  that  the  New-Englanders  are 
men  of  more  courage  than  they  dreamed  of.  We  have 
received  accounts  from  Georgia,  that  the  people  of  that 
Province  have  acceded  to  the  resolves  of  the  Continental 
Congress.  I  wish  it  may  be  true,  as  the  Tories  here  promi- 
sed their  cause  great  support  from  that  Province  keeping 
their  ports  open.  It  is  said  a  Regiment  of  Highlanders  is 
to  be  sent  out,  and  ten  thousand  Hanoverians — I  don't 
know  how  true;  but  this  you  may  depend  on,  that  several 
more  ships  are  put  into  commission,  and  are  intended  for 
America ;  also  I  know  it  as  a  fact,  that  a  great  deal  of 
ammunition  and  warlike  stores  were  lately  sent  to  Boston, 
from  which  you  may  judge  of  the  disposition  of  our  rulers. 

P.  S.  I  was  this  day  in  company  with  a  boat-builder, 
who  informed  me  that  Government  has  contracted  for  a 
considerable  number  of  flat-bottomed  boats  to  be  finished 
in  the  three  weeks,  and  that  he  has  engaged  to  build  twelve 
by  that  time. 

EXTRACT  OF  ANOTHER  LETTER  FROM  LONDON,  DATED  JULY 

29,  1775. 

As  in  all  probability  the  means  of  communication  between 
us  will  soon  be  stopped,  I  am  constrained  to  write  even 
when  I  have  nothing  of  importance  to  communicate.  We 


have  at  length  got  an  account  from  Government  of  the 
battle  of  the  17th  of  June,  for  which,  garbled  as  it  is,  we 
are  indebted  to  the  ingenuity  of  some,  who,  suspecting  that 
they  had  been  in  possession  of  the  news  some  days,  sat 
down  and  wrote  an  account  of  a  battle,  such  as  they  thought 
likely  to  be  fought,  and  sent  it  to  the  papers ;  which  was 
published  the  next  morning.  As  it  defeated  the  Regulars 
with  great  slaughter,  and  as  it  was  wrote  with  great  sem- 
blance of  truth,  it  threw  Administration  into  confusion. 
They  huddled  up  an  account  immediately,  and  sent  it  to 
the  Gazette,  which  in  course  was  to  be  published  about 
eight  o'clock  that  evening;  but  by  the  time  the  impres- 
sion was  thrown  off,  they  found  themselves  so  much  dissa- 
tisfied even  with  the  account  of  their  own  making,  that 
they  sent  and  had  it  destroyed,  and  prepared  that  which 
they  have  now  given  us ;  by  which  means  the  Town  was 
kept  waiting  till  two  o'clock  in  the  morning,  before  the 
Gazette  was  published.  This  account,  favourable  as  it  no 
doubt  is,  compared  with  the  truth,  (for  we  as  yet  have  had 
none  from  the  Provincials,)  has  had  a  wonderful  effect. 
The  minds  of  people  on  the  side  of  Government,  even  of 
those  that  were  most  sanguine,  begin  to  be  soured.  Those 
who  made  no  doubt  of  the  success  of  the  Troops,  cannot 
help  expressing  their  discontent ;  and  they  who  used  to 
speak  most  contemptuously  of  the  Provincials,  complain 
now  that  Administration  should  send  such  a  handful  of  men 
to  be  devoured  by  such  multitudes.  What  will  be  done 
next  is  somewhat  problematical.  'Tis  said  orders  are 
despatched  to  General  Gage  not  to  hazard  another  battle 
till  he  is  re-enforced.  Query,  Will  the  Provincials  let  him 
alone  ?  Government  has  sent  many  thousand  stand  of  arms 
to  Quebeck,  in  hopes  of  getting  the  Canadians  to  take  up 
arms  against  you  ;  and  they  talk  of  sending  a  Highlarul 
Regiment  of  one  thousand  men  complete.  This,  and  many 
other  things  they  talk  of,  together  with  the  men-of-war, 
must  create  a  deal  of  expense;  and  whether  Lord  North 
will  be  hardy  enough  to  meet  Parliament  with  a  requisi- 
tion of  so  much  money,  and  whether  Parliament  will  grant 
it,  is  another  question.  Parliament  is  prorogued  to  the 
14th  of  September,  and  it  is  not  improbable  they  may  not 
choose  to  meet  it  till  some  time  in  November,  as  usual.  In 
the  meantime,  your  Provincials  have  gained  immortal  hon- 
our. I  should  have  told  you  that  it  has  been  advised  to 
order  General  Gage  to  relinquish  Boston,  after  burning  it, 
and  to  fortify  himself  on  Rhode-Island ;  whence,  by  means 
of  his  ships  and  men,  to  make  descents  upon  your  coast, 
laying  waste  where  you  are  least  prepared  to  oppose  him. 
God  give  you  wisdom,  fortitude,  and  success. 


TO  THE  PRINTER  OF  THE  MORNING  CHRONICLE. 

London,  July  28,  1775. 
Our  present  disputes  with  the  Colonies  in  America  have 
engaged  the  attention  of  all  ranks  of  people  in  this  Coun- 
try;  from  the  Senate  to  the  cellar,  all  have  given  their 
opinions  thereon,  and  they  have  been  as  different  as  the 
several  stations  they  hold  in  life,  or  the  colours  of  their 
complexions. 

It  is  an  argument  made  use  of  by  the  friends  to  Ame- 
rica, that  Britain  has,  ever  since  her  first  settlement  there, 
ruled  her  with  an  arbitrary  curb  of  power,  and  imposed 
shackles  on  her  trade  and  commerce  unfitting  the  sons  of 
Englishmen  to  bear.  The  present  spirit  which  appears 
amongst  them  to  redress  their  grievances,  is  no  way  won- 
derful, they  say,  but  that  it  is  matter  of  astonishment  that 
they  have  borne  their  ill-treatment  thus  long.  The  parti- 
sans of  Government,  one  and  all,  cry  out,  that  the  liberty 
granted  hitherto  to  the  Americans  has  most  assuredly 
caused  the  present  disturbances,  and  if  they  had  been  kept 
all  along  under  due  subjection,  and  not  indulged  in  that 
unlimited  power  they  have  very  improperly  been  indulged 
in,  things  would  not  have  worn  the  face  they  now  do,  and 
that  Government  may  thank  themselves  for  having  such 
disagreeable  work  cutout  for  them,  and  which  might  easily 
have  been  prevented,  in  crushing  that  power  in  the  begin- 
ning which  the  people  of  America  have  for  some  time  past 
assumed. 

'Tis  a  principle  in  politicks  with  the  Ministerial  party, 
that  power  ought  not  to  be  given  to  the  people.  An  opin- 
ion like  this  could  never  be  propagated  by  any  man  who 
was  not  more  than  suspected  of  being  corrupt.    Such  doc- 


1743 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JULY,  1775. 


1744 


trine,  I  think,  cannot  be  too  often  exposed,  nor  do  I  think 
an  Englishman  can  spend  his  time  better  at  this  juncture, 
than  to  inquire  into  the  nature  of  power,  and  impartially 
consider  in  whose  hands  it  may  prove  most  dangerous,  and 
where  it  may  be  most  effectual  for  the  security  of  that  in- 
valuable blessing,  liberty. 

Many  states,  I  think,  may  be  named  where  the  govern- 
ing and  ministerial  part  have,  by  force  or  fraud,  at  some 
time  or  other,  overturned  the  liberties  of  the  people,  and 
set  up  absolute  dominion  :  but  1  believe  it  will  be  very 
difficult  to  shew  where  liberty,  and  fulness  of  power  in  the 
people,  have  encouraged  them  to  disturb  the  peace  of  their 
Country.  Some  may,  perhaps,  mention  the  United  Pro- 
vinces ;  but  they  cannot  be  produced  as  a  proof,  for  it  was 
oppression  that  made  them  revolt.  If  we  look  at  home,  I 
hope  I  may  be  allowed  to  say,  (without  incurring  the  name 
of  disaffected,)  that  the  exaction  of  ship  money,  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  Star  Chamber,  and  the  imprisonment  of 
members,  are  very  evident  proofs,  that  it  was  not  an  over- 
flow of  liberty,  or  too  great  power  in  the  people,  that  ex- 
cited them  to  rebel. 

Should  we  look  into  the  Governments  of  antiquity,  we 
shall  find  many  proofs  in  favour  of  the  people.  In  the 
great  state  of  Rome  1  believe  we  shall  find,  upon  the  most 
exact  scrutiny,  that  every  popular  commotion  was  preceded 
by  some  act  of  oppression  from  the  Senate,  and  that  the 
power  of  the  people  was  always  obstructed  in  its  legal 
operation  before  they  appealed  to  arms.  It  was  therefore 
the  spirit  of  liberty  to  regain  their  power,  not  a  wan- 
tonness in  the  people,  that  occasioned  such  an  appeal. 
The  case  was  the  same  in  the  Revolution  of  England. 
King  James  usurped  the  power  of  the  people,  and  invaded 
their  liberties,  which  made  it  necessary  for  them  to  apply 
to  foreign  assistance;  and  this  necessity  proves  it  was  not 
the  power  of  the  people  which  brought  about  that  happy 
event ;  for  had  it  been  the  power  of  the  people,  it  would 
have  operated  sooner,  and  prevented  King  James  from  car- 
rying on  his  injurious  proceedings,  which  not  having  power 
enough  to  do,  rather  than  acquiesce  under  them,  they  chose 
to  submit  their  lives  and  fortunes  to  the  uncertain  chance 
of  war.  It  was  therefore  a  want  of  power  in  the  people 
which  made  the  Revolution  necessary,  not  a  fulness  of  their 
power  which  accomplished  it.  It  was  the  act  of  a  distress- 
ed people,  not  a  free  people ;  for  surely  a  state  cannot  be 
free  if  the  people  have  not  the  means  of  making  themselves 
so  without  committing  hostilities.  Liberty,  therefore,  can- 
not be  established  by  the  grace  and  promises  of  a  Prince, 
since  assurances  given  from  one  person  to  another,  can  only 
give  a  claim,  which  I  presume  nobody  will  call  possession. 

From  hence  it  is  evident,  that  liberty  cannot  be  estab- 
lished upon  any  power  lodged  in  the  Crown :  on  the  con- 
trary, experience,  as  well  as  reason,  shews,  that  liberty  can 
never  be  secured  without  lodging  a  power  in  the  people 
sufficient  in  time  of  need  to  restrain  and  limit  the  acts  of 
the  Crown.  The  power  must  be  free,  independent,  and 
uncorrupt ;  not  subject  by  any  force  or  fraud  to  be  with- 
drawn from  the  service  and  protection  of  those  for  whom 
it  was  formed.  For  this  power  did  our  ancestors  fight,  and 
for  the  establishment  of  it  was  the  Revolution  effected  ;  not 
a  right  only  to  assert  one  liberty  (for  that  the  law  of  nature 
gives  to  all  mankind)  but  a  means  to  secure  them,  which 
the  people  of  England  are  in  possession  of;  and  this  power, 
by  the  Constitution,  is  lodged  with  their  Delegates,  by 
whom  alone  they  can  act.  'Tis  plain,  therefore,  that  'tis 
not  the  possession  of  power,  but  the  want  of  it,  that  has 
caused  the  present  disturbances  in  America.  'Tis  for  a 
proper  portion  of  that  power  that  they  are  contending;  a 
power  that  may  be  able  to  make  head  against  any  oppres- 
sive or  arbitrary  acts  of  the  Crown.  And  surely,  without 
meriting  the  name  of  malecontent,  we  may  heartily  wish 
that  their  efforts  may  be  crowned  with  success. 

An  Englishman. 


YORK  COUNTY  (PENNSYLVANIA)  COMMITTEE. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  and  the  Officers  of  the 
Militia  Companies  of  York  County,  at  York,  the  28th  and 
29th  days  of  July.  1775  : 

Present,  forty-five  County  Committee-men,  besides  the 
said  Officers,  James  Smith,  Esq.,  in  the  Chair. 


The  Committee  and  Officers  divided  the  County  into 
five  Districts,  or  Divisions,  and  formed  five  Battalions.  The 
Committee  then,  with  the  Officers  of  the  Militia  Compa- 
nies of  the  respective  Districts  and  Battalions,  appointed 
Judges,  and  proceeded  to  vote  by  ballot  for  Field-Officers 
to  be  commissioned;  when  James  Smith,  Esq.,  was  chosen 
Colonel:  Thomas  Hartley,  Esq.,  Lieutenant-Colonel ;  and 
Joseph  Donaldson  and  Michael  Swoope,  Esqs.,  were  chosen 
Majors  of  the  First  Battalion  :  Robert  McPhcrson,  Esq., 
Colonel ;  David  Kennedy,  Lieutenant-Colonel ;  Moses  Mc- 
Clean  and  Hugh  Dunwoodie,  were  chosen  Majors  of  the 
Second  Battalion  :  Richard  McCallister,  Esq.,  Colonel ; 
Henry  Slegel,  Esq.,  Lieutenant-Colonel ;  and  John  An- 
drews and  Joseph  Jefferies,  were  chosen  Majors  of  the 
Third  Battalion  :  William  Smith,  Esq.,  Colonel ;  Francis 
Holton,  Lieutenant-Colonel ;  and  Jacob  Gibson  and  John 
Finley,  were  chosen  Majors  of  the  Fourth  Battalion  :  and 
Matthew  Dill,  Esq.,  Colonel ;  William  Rankin,  Esquire, 
Lieutenant-Colonel ;  and  Robert  Stevenson  and  Gerhard 
Gress,  Majors  of  the  Fifth  Battalion. 

The  Committee,  and  the  Officers  of  the  said  Militia  Com- 
panies, thereupon  proceeded  to  vote  for  Field-Officers  for 
the  Battalion  of  Minute-men  for  York  County,  proper  to  be 
commissioned ;  when 

Richard  McCallister,  Esquire,  was  chosen  Colonel ; 

Thomas  Hartley,  Esquire,  was  chosen  Lieutenant-Colo- 
nel ;  and 

David  Grier,  Esquire,  was  chosen  Major,  of  said  Bat- 
talion. 

The  Committee  then  proceeded  as  follows : 

Resolved,  That  in  conformity  to  the  direction  of  the 
Assembly  of  this  Province,  and  with  a  regard  to  the  regu- 
lations of  the  Continental  Congress,  we  do  direct  that  five 
Companies  of  Minute-men  be  formed  out  of  the  several 
Districts  of  this  County,  that  is  to  say,  one  Company  in 
each  Division  by  draughts  or  Volunteers  from  the  several 
Militia  Companies,  each  Company  to  consist  of  a  Captain, 
two  Lieutenants,  and  an  Ensign,  four  Sergeants,  four  Cor- 
porals, a  Drummer  and  Fifer,  and  sixty-eight  or  more  Pri- 
vates ;  and  it  is  expected,  that  if  there  be  a  defect  of  Arms 
for  these  men,  when  there  is  a  necessity  of  going  into  ser- 
vice, that  the  respective  Battalions  to  which  they  belong 
will  furnish  them  with  the  necessary  Arms. 

That  if  the  County  Committee-men  and  Assistant  Com- 
mittee-men, or  a  majority  of  them  in  any  District,  are  at 
any  time  of  opinion  that  an  additional  Company  or  Com- 
panies of  Minute-men  can  be  raised  in  their  District,  they 
may  order  the  same  to  be  done,  which  Company'  or  Com- 
panies are  to  be  under  the  same  Field-Officers,  orders, 
rules,  and  regulations,  with  the  said  other  Companies  of 
Minute-men.  The  whole  Battalion  of  each  Division  or 
District  are  directed  to  meet  some  time  in  the  next  week, 
or  in  the  week  following,  and  draught  the  Volunteers  or 
proper  persons  as  Minute-men  for  the  respective  Compa- 
nies, who  are  to  sign  an  attestation  similar  to  that  mentioned 
in  the  proceedings  of  this  Committee.  The  subscribers 
are  then  to  proceed  to  choose  the  Officers  of  the  respect- 
ive Companies,  and  make  return  of  their  names  to  the 
Field-Officers  of  the  said  Battalion  of  Minute-men,  in 
order  that  they  may  be  commissioned. 

Resolved,  That  in  order  to  prevent  confusion  and  dis- 
order, that  no  new  Companies  of  Militia  be  formed  in  any 
Township,  without  the  consent  of  the  Committee-men  of 
the  Township,  and  three  or  more  of  the  County  Commit- 
tee-men. 

N.  B.  The  Companies  of  Yorktown,  Manchester,  Wind- 
sor, Codorus,  York,  and  Hellam  Townships,  form  the  First 
Battalion  ;  the  Companies  of  Cumberland,  Hamilton' sRaun, 
Strabane,  Menallen,  Mount-Joy,  and  Tyrone  Townships 
form  the  Second  Battalion  ;  the  Companies  of  Heidlebcrgh. 
Berwick,  Paradise,  Mount-Pleasant,  Manheim,  and  Ger- 
many Townships  the  Third  Battalion  ;  Chanceford,  Shrews- 
bury, Fawn,  and  Hopewell  Townships  the  Fourth  Batta- 
lion ;  and  the  Companies  of  Dover,  Newberry,  Monaughan, 
Warrington,  Huntington,  and  Reading  Townships  the 
Fifth  Battalion. 

A  true  copy : 
George  Lewis  Lefler,  Clerk  for  the  Committee. 


1745 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  Sic,  JULY,  1775. 


1746 


MEETING   OF   THE   FREEHOLDERS  OF    SOMERSET  COUNTY, 
NEW-JERSEY. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Freeholders  of  the  County  of  So- 
merset, in  the  Province  of  ^sew- Jersey,  assembled  at  the 
Court-House  in  said  County,  on  Friday,  the  28th  day  of 
July,  1775,  pursuant  to  advertisements  of  the  late  Com- 
mittee of  Correspondence,  Hendrick  Fisher,  Esq.,  Chair- 
man, John  Leferty,  Secretary. 

The  said  Freeholders  being  informed  that  the  late  Com- 
mittee of  Correspondence  for  this  County  expired  the  15th 
day  of  July  instant,  and  being  convinced  of  the  necessity 
of  choosing  a  new  Committee  of  Correspondence  for  the 
County,  do  Resolve,  That  a  new  Committee  of  Corres- 
pondence, to  consist  of  seventeen  persons,  be  chosen  for 
this  County  by  ballot. 

Adjourned  for  an  hour. 

Met  according  to  adjournment ;  when  the  following  gen- 
tlemen were  elected  a  Committee  of  Correspondence  for 
this  County,  viz :  The  Rev.  Dr.  John  Witherspoon,  Jacob 
Bogart,  John  Gaston,  Gisbart  Bogart,  Gabriel  Ogden, 
Garret  Voorhees,  Cornelius  Van  Muliner,  Thomas  Berry , 
Stephen  Hunt,  Rowland  Chambers,  Mattheiv  Ten  Eyck, 
William  Annin,  Ruloff  Van  Dicke,  Jacob  Bergen,  Hen- 
drick  Van  Middlesuorth,  Lucas  Voorhees,  and  Ebenezer 
Tingley. 

Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended,  and  it  is  hereby  re- 
commended to  every  Township  in  this  County,  to  assemble 
as  soon  as  possible,  and  choose  for  their  respective  Town- 
ships nine  persons,  to  be  a  Committee  of  Inspection,  to  take 
cognizance  of  all  violations  of  the  measures  recommended 
by  the  Representatives  of  the  people  in  their  District.  And 
this  County  do  further  recommend,  that  every  Township 
Committee  do  choose  from  among  themselves  three  per- 
sons, who  shall  meet  when  called  upon,  with  an  equal  num- 
ber of  persons  from  every  Township  Committee,  and  form 
a  General  Committee  of  Inspection  for  the  County,  in  case 
of  an  appeal,  or  when  matters  of  importance  require  the 
sense  of  the  County,  or  when  a  Township  Committee 
choose  not  to  decide  on  a  case  by  themselves. 

Resolved,  That  the  Chairman  of  the  late  Committee  of 
Inspection  for  each  Township  do  notify  a  meeting  of  the 
inhabitants  of  their  Township,  for  the  purpose  of  choosing 
the  aforesaid  Committee  of  Inspection. 

Resolved,  That  the  County  do  earnestly  recommend  to, 
and  they  do  hereby  instruct  their  Committee  of  Inspection, 
to  be  vigilant  and  active  in  the  discharge  of  their  duty,  in 
taking  cognizance  of  every  person  of  whatsoever  rank  or 
condition,  who  shall,  either  by  word  or  deed,  endeavour  to 
destroy  our  unanimity  in  opposing  the  arbitrary  and  cruel 
measures  of  the  British  Ministry;  and  so  deal  with  him  or 
them  as  to  the  particular  Committee  of  Inspection  where 
the  offender  resides,  or  to  the  General  Committee  of  Inspec- 
tion, (if  an  appeal  or  other  reason  require  the  same  to  be 
called,)  shall  seem  most  conducive  to  prevent  any  injury  to 
the  glorious  cause  of  American  freedom. 

Resolved,  That  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  above 
chosen,  and  the  Committees  of  Inspection  to  be  chosen  for 
the  different  Townships  of  this  County,  do  continue  until 
the  first  Monday  in  May  next ;  after  which,  the  Chairman 
of  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  shall  within  three 
weeks  call  a  meeting  of  the  County.  And  in  all  cases  when 
it  shall  be  thought  necessary  to  have  the  County  assem- 
bled, the  Secretary  is  hereby  authorized  and  directed  to 
give  as  publick  notice  thereof  as  possible;  and  this  County 
do  agree  to  defray  the  expenses  thence  arising. 

Ordered,  That  the  foregoing  Resolves  and  Proceedings 
be  published  in  one  of  the  New-  York  newspapers. 

A  true  copy  from  the  minutes: 

John  Leferty,  Secretary. 

GENERAL  SCHUYLER  TO  CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS. 
[Read  September  14,  1775.] 

Ticonderoga,  July  28,  1775. 
Sir:  I  am  happy  to  enclose  you  copies  of  two  papers 
that  corroborate  the  accounts  we  have  had  of  the  friendly 
sentiments  of  the  Indians.  Every  instruction  I  have  given 
to  people  who  were  likely  to  fall  in  with  any  of  them,  enjoins 
an  attention  to  that  capital  point. 

Your  favour  of  the  21st  instant,  enclosing  a  resolution  of 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  li.  1 


Congress  of  the  preceding  day,  is  duly  come  to  hand.  My 
last  letter  will  evince  that  I  keep  in  view  the  object  which 
was  the  subject  of  your  orders  of  the  29th  ult.,  and  which, 
I  hope,  notwithstanding  the  difficulties  I  have  to  struggle 
with,  to  carry  into  the  wished-for  execution. 

The  fourth  paragraph  of  the  letter  from  the  Committee 
of  Albany  may  need  an  explanation.  On  my  arrival  at 
Albany,  I  found  that  a  great  number  of  the  gentlemen  who 
had  warrants  sent  them  from  the  Neiv-  York  Congress  to 
entitle  them  to  commissions  in  the  troops  to  be  raised,  re- 
fused to  accept  them.  I  therefore  advised  that  the  Albany 
Committee  should  endorse  on  those  warrants  the  refusal, 
and  nominate  such  other  gentlemen  as  they  thought  proper, 
which  I  hoped  would  be  satisfactory  to  the  New-  York  Con- 
gress, as  ultimately  the  officers  must  be  recommended  by 
the  Deputies  from  Albany. 

It  would  tend  to  facilitate  matters  and  promote  the  ser- 
vice, if  some  honourable  mention  was  made  of  the  Albany 
Committee  in  the  instructions  to  the  Commissioners  of  In- 
dian Affairs.  I  mention  this  merely  on  account  of  their 
assiduity  to  promote  the  publick  weal. 

The  Troops  here  begin  to  be  sickly,  occasioned  by  their 
being  crowded  too  close  in  barracks.  I  wish  their  tents 
were  come  up. 

I  am,  Sir,  most  respectfully,  your  obedient  and  very  hum- 
ble servant,  Philip  Schuyler. 
To  the  Honourable  John  Hancock,  Esq. 

P.  S.  I  have  taken  the  liberty  to  desire  some  of  the 
Caughnawaga  Indians  to  meet  me  at  this  place.  Thomp- 
son's, mentioned  in  the  speech  sent  me  by  the  Albany  Com- 
mittee, is  about  thirty  miles  below  where  Fort  Stanwix  was 
erected. 

ALBANY  COMMITTEE  TO  GENERAL  SCHUYLER. 
[Read  before  Congress  September  14,  1775.] 

Albany  Committee  Chamber,  July  26,  1775. 

Sir:  We  have  just  received  yours  of  the  22d  instant, 
enclosing  a  packet  to  the  President  of  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress ;  and  be  assured  that  we  shall  implicitly  follow  your 
directions  in  forwarding  it. 

Your  information  of  the  intention  of  the  Canadian  In- 
dians is  corroborated  by  the  intelligence  we  yesterday  re- 
ceived from  two  Sachems  of  the  Oneida  nations,  with  whom 
we  had  a  short  conference,  (copy  of  which  proceedings  you 
have  here  enclosed,)  which  was  concluded  by  some  pre- 
sents in  token  of  our  friendship. 

You  may  rest  assured,  that  nothing  will  be  wanting  on 
our  parts  to  encourage  the  levies  of  the  companies  to  be 
raised  in  our  County;  as  nothing  could  (at  this  time)  afford 
us  more  real  happiness  than  to  see  our  Regiment  in  com- 
plete order. 

We  have,  agreeably  to  your  request,  filled  up  the  arrange- 
ment of  officers,  and  transmitted  it  down  to  the  Provincial 
Congress  by  our  Deputies,  who  are  gone  to  attend  the 
same. 

We  have  the  pleasure  to  inform  you  that  the  apprehen- 
sions of  the  inhabitants  of  Tryon  County,  respecting  the 
Indians,  is  entirely  removed  ;  and  the  unhappy  dispute  be- 
tween the  inhabitants  of  the  upper  part  of  the  County  with 
Sir  John  Johnson  and  the  Sheriff  of  that  County,  amicably 
accommodated  upon  the  two  following  points : 

First :  The  Sheriff  is  to  leave  the  County,  and  not  to  re- 
turn to  it  again.  And 

Secondly :  Sir  John  Johnson  is  not  to  take  any  active 
part  against  the  people,  in  the  disputes  at  present  subsisting 
between  Great  Britain  and  the  American  Colonies. 

We  last  Sunday  received  the  powder  which  has  been 
so  long  expected  from  the  Continental  Congress,  which 
we  have  stored,  and  shall  be  forwarded  to  you  as  soon  as  a 
guard  can  be  obtained  to  accompany  it  to  Lake  George. 

We  are,  Sir,  your  very  humble  servants.  By  order  of 
the  Committee  :       Abraham  Yates,  Jr.,  Chairman. 

The  Speech  of  Oneynyoagat  and  Thuegweyndack,  two 
Oneida  Indians. 
[Read  in  Congress  September  14,  1775.] 
Brothers  :  We  were  not  sent  down  as  messengers  this 
way,  but  were  sent  to  the  German  Flats  to  undeceive  the 
people  in  a  report  that  prevailed  among  the  inhabitants  of 
10 


1747 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JULY,  1775. 


1748 


the  German  Flats,  thM  the  Five  Nations  were  coming  down 
to  cut  them  off,  and  to  assure  them  that  they  were  peace- 
able ;  and  that  the  people  of  the  German  Flats  had  sent  men 
to  the  Oneida  nation,  to  inquire  concerning  the  truth  of  the 
news  they  had  heard  upon  which  they  were  sent  down. 
When  they  came  down  to  Thompson's,  they  found  it  was 
true  that  the  Germans  had  fled,  and  were  busy  making  a 
Fort  at  the  German  Flats. 

They  told  the  Germans,  Have  we  not  lately  had  a  Coun- 
cil fire  at  the  German  Flats  1  therefore  they  should  not  give 
ear  to  any  false  reports,  for  they  would  always  give  notice 
of  any  bad  news ;  and  assured  them  that  there  was  now  no 
bad  news,  and  the  Five  Nations  were  friendly,  and  that  the 
head  men  were  now  gathered  at  a  Council  at  Onondaga. 
They  advised  the  people  strongly  not  to  credit  any  false 
reports,  and  that  the  people  at  the  German  Flats  advised 
them  to  come  down  to  this  place  and  acquaint  the  great 
men  here. 

A  true  copy  from  the  minutes : 

John  Bay,  Secretary. 
Albany  Committee  Chamber,  July  25,  1775. 


GOVERNOUR  TRUMBULL  TO   GENERAL  SCHUYLER. 

Lebanon,  July  28,  1775. 

Sir:  Your  letter  of  the  21st  is  duly  received.  1  am 
myself  surprised  at  the  information  you  give  respecting  the 
cows.  On  consideration  of  the  circumstances  you  mention, 
1  have  wrote  to  Major  Sheldon  to  stop  their  proceeding, 
and  directed  him  to  dispose  of  them  in  the  best  manner  lie 
can.  When  the  provision  of  milk  was  ordered  by  this 
Colony  for  the  use  of  its  soldiers,  our  ideas  extended  no 
farther  than  their  being  employed  near  Boston.  In  a  country 
like  that,  abounding  with  every  necessary  for  diet,  it  was 
thought  milk  might  be  as  easily  procured  as  any  other  ar- 
ticle, and  might  be  for  the  health  and  benefit  of  the  Troops. 
When  the  necessity  of  this  case,  with  the  particular  circum- 
stances attending  it,  is  duly  considered,  I  hope  the  want  of 
this  article  among  soldiers,  who  are  each  man  contending 
for  every  thing  that  is  dear  and  sacred  to  every  individual, 
will  occasion  no  murmuring  or  uneasiness. 

I  am  unhappy  to  hear  you  are  so  unprepared  to  take 
benefit  from  any  favourable  dispositions  of  your  Canadian 
neighbours;  but  I  please  myself  with  the  confidence  I  have 
in  your  zeal,  vigour,  and  activity,  and  with  a  hope  that  all 
obstacles  will  speedily  be  removed,  and  that  a  happy  issue 
may  soon  attend  your  meditated  enterprise. 

I  am,  Sir,  &ic.  Jonathan  Trumbull. 

Major-General  Schuyler. 


GENERAL  WASHINGTON   TO   GENERAL  SCHUYLER. 

Cambridge,  July  28,  1775. 

Dear  Sir:  I  wrote  you  yesterday  by  way  of  Nciv-  York, 
and  in  two  hours  afterwards  was  favoured  with  yours  of  the 
15th  and  18th  instant,  with  their  respective  enclosures.  I 
was  extremely  glad  to  find  your  first  apprehensions  of  an 
incursion  by  the  Indians  in  some  degree  removed  by  the 
later  advices;  at  the  same  time,  I  think  it  is  evident  from 
the  spirit  and  tenour  of  Colonel  .Johnson's  letter,  that  no  art 
or  influence  will  be  left  untried  by  him  to  engage  them  in 
such  an  enterprise.  Should  he  once  prevail  upon  them 
to  dip  their  hands  in  blood,  mutual  hostilities  will  most  pro- 
bably ensue,  and  they  may  be  led  to  take  a  more  decisive 
part.  All  accounts,  I  think,  agree,  that  the  Canadians  are 
not  very  active  to  engage  in  this  unnatural  contest;  but  I  am 
persuaded  you  will  not  abate  in  the  least  your  vigilance  to 
expedite  every  movement  in  that  quarter,  notwithstanding 
their  present  pacifick  appearances.  1  am  much  easier  with 
respect  to  the  publick  interest  since  your  arrival  at  Ticon- 
deroga;  as  I  am  persuaded  those  abilities  and  that  zeal  for 
the  common  welfare,  which  have  led  yourCountry  to  repose 
such  confidence  in  you,  will  be  fully  exerted.  From  my 
own  experience,  I  can  easily  judge  of  your  difficulties  to 
introduce  order  and  discipline  into  troops  who  have,  from 
their  infancy,  imbibed  ideas  of  the  most  contrary  kind.  It 
would  be  far  beyond  the  compass  of  a  letter  for  me  to  de- 
scribe the  situation  of  things  here  on  my  arrival;  perhaps 
you  will  be  only  able  to  judge  of  it  from  my  assuring  you, 
that  mine  must  be  a  portrait  at  full  length  of  what  you  have 
had  in  miniature.  Confusion  and  disorder  reigned  in  every 


department,  which  in  a  little  time  must  have  ended  either 
in  the  separation  of  the  Army,  or  fatal  contests  with  one 
another.  The  better  genius  of  America  has  prevailed,  and 
most  happily,  the  Ministerial  Troops  have  not  availed  them- 
selves of  these  advantages,  till  1  trust  the  opportunity  is  in 
a  great  measure  past  over.  The  arrangement  of  the  Gene- 
ral Officers  in  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut,  has  been  very 
unpopular — indeed,  I  may  say,  injudicious;  it  is  returned 
to  Congress  for  farther  consideration,  and  has  much  retarded 
my  plan  of  discipline.  However,  we  mend  every  day,  and 
1  flatter  myself  that  in  a  little  time  we  shall  work  up  these 
raw  materials  into  good  stuff.  I  must  recommend  to  you 
what  I  endeavour  to  practise  myself — patience  and  perse- 
verance. As  to  your  operations,  my  dear  Sir.  I  can  sug- 
gest nothing  which  your  own  good  judgment  will  not  either 
anticipate  or  control  from  your  own  immediate  view  of 
things,  and  the  instructions  of  the  Continental  Congress. 

The  express  from  hence  to  England,  with  the  account 
of  the  commencement  of  hostilities  at  Lexington,  has  re- 
turned. It  was  far  from  making  the  impression  generally 
expected  here.  Stocks  fell  but  one-and-a-half  per  cent. 
General  Gage's  accounts  had  not  arrived,  and  the  Ministry 
affected  to  treat  it  as  a  fiction.  Parliament  had  been  pro- 
rogued two  days,  but  it  was  expected  it  would  be  imme- 
diately recalled.  Our  enemy  continues  strongly  posted  about 
a  mile  from  us,  both  at  Bunker's  Hill  and  Roxbury ;  but 
we  are  not  able  to  get  any  information  of  their  future  in- 
tentions. Part  of  the  Riflemen  are  come  in,  and  the  rest 
daily  expected. 

I  did  not  expect  your  Returns  would  be  very  complete  at 
first,  but  I  must  beg  your  attention  to  reforming  them  as 
soon  as  possible.  And  I  beg  leave  to  add,  that  I  would 
have  you  scrutinize  with  exactness  into  the  application  of 
provisions  and  stores.  I  have  the  utmost  reason  to  suspect 
irregularities  and  impositions  here;  you  will  be  fortunate  if 
the  contagion  does  not  reach  you. 

General  Lee  has  removed  about  four  miles  from  me; 
but  I  shall  take  the  first  opportunity  to  make  your  kind 
wishes  known  to  him.  Colonel  Reed  and  Major  Mijlin 
join  me  in  their  best  wishes  for  your  health  and  success. 

I  am,  dear  Sir,  yours,  Sic.  Go.  Washington. 

To  General  Schuyler,  Ticonderoga. 

Enclosed  is  a  copy  of  mine  of  yesterday,  referred  to  in 
this. 


COL.  JOSEPH  REED  TO  COLONEL  BALDWIN,  AT  CHELSEA, 
ENCLOSING  A  LETTER  FROM  DR.  CHURCH. 

Hoad. Quarters,  July  28,  1775. 

Sir  :  In  full  confidence  of  your  prudence  and  secrecy 
as  a  soldier,  a  man  of  honour,  and  a  friend  to  your  Coun- 
try, the  General  has  directed  me  to  communicate  to  you  a 
scheme  he  is  about  to  put  in  execution  to  obtain  constant 
and  authentick  intelligence  from  Boston.  The  plan  is  this: 
the  enclosed  letter  will  be  delivered  by  you  to  one  Deivks- 
Oury,  who  lives  about  four  miles  from  you  towards  Chcsly 
Point ;  he  will  deliver  it  to  a  waterman,  whom  he  can  de- 
pend on,  who  will  convey  it  to  one  John  Carnes,  a  grocer, 
in  the  south  part  of  Boston.  The  answers,  and  such  intel- 
ligence as  he  can  procure,  will  be  forwarded  to  you  through 
the  same  channel,  which  you  are  to  transmit  to  his  Excel- 
lency by  express  immediately.  As  the  success  of  the  pro- 
ject, and  the  life  of  the  man  in  Boston,  may  depend  upon 
your  conduct,  let  it  not  escape  you  to  the  nearest  friend  on 
earth ;  and,  for  fear  of  accident,  destroy  this  letter  as  soon 
as  you  are  sufficiently  master  of  its  contents.  When  you 
see  Deivksbury  give  him  the  above  caution  in  the  strongest 
terms,  and  so  to  pass  from  him  to  the  other.  Your  good 
conduct  and  discretion  in  this  matter  will  not  fail  to  be  duly 
noticed.    I  am,  Sir,  your  most  obedient  servant, 

J.  Reed,  Secretary. 

To  Colonel  Baldwin. 

LOAMMI  BALDWIN  TO  GENERAL  WASHINGTON. 

Chelsea,  July  28,  1775,  half  aftor  4  o'clock. 

May  it  please  your  Excellency  :  Agreeable  to  your 
order,  I  send  the  following  observation  taken  by  the  sentry 
posted  upon  Powderhorn  Hill,  from  about  seven  o'clock, 
A.  M.,  to  two  o'clock,  P.  M. :  One  ship  gone  out,  three 
ships  and  two  tenders  coming  in;  about  twelve  boats  from 


1749 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  he.,  JULY,  1775. 


1750 


Boston  to  Charlestotcn,  light  loaded  or  almost  empty;  three 
boats  passed  from  Charlestons  to  Boston  very  heavily 
loaded  with  men. 

I  would  beg  leave  to  ask  your  Excellency  whether  it 
was  the  intent  and  meaning  of  your  orders  to  send  an  ex- 
press to  Head-Quarters  every  day  when  there  is  nothing 
more  occurs  than  has  for  two  days  past. 

These  from  your  Excellency's  most  ohedient  servant, 
Loammi  Baldwin,  Lieut.  Col. 


MASSACHUSETTS  COUNCIL  TO  GENERAL  GATES. 

Council  Chamber,  Watertown,  July  28,  1775. 
Sir:  Your  letter  of  the  21st  instant  to  the  Speaker  o( 
the  honourahle  House  of  Representatives,  was  by  them 
referred  to  this  Board,  who  are  of  opinion,  that  the  jails  of 
Worcester,  Springfield,  and  Northampton,  are  the  most 
suitable  places  for  securing  the  prisoners,  and  therefore 
recommend  that  they  be  sent  to  one  or  more  of  those 
places.    I  am,  Sir,  your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 
Perez  Morton,  Sec' y  pro  tern. 
Horatio  Gates,  Esq.,  Adjutant-General  in  the  American 
Army. 

orders  to  capt.  baker  for  the  removal  of  prisoners. 

\ou  are  to  proceed  with  the  detachment  under  your 
command  to  Worcester,  taking  under  your  care  two  Ser- 
geants, two  Corporals,  twenty-one  private  Soldiers  of  the 
Ministerial  Army,  and  twelve  Tories,  who  have  been  aid- 
ing and  abetting  General  Gage  and  his  adherents;  you  are 
to  deliver  them  to  the  Chairman  of  the  Committee  at  Wor- 
cester, who  is  hereby  enjoined  to  order  a  detachment  from 
the  Militia  of  that  Town  to  escort  them  to  Springfield, 
and  deliver  them  to  the  Committee  there,  where  they  are 
to  be  secured,  so  as  to  be  forthcoming  whenever  exchange 
of  prisoners,  or  a  happy  reconciliation  between  Great  Bri- 
tain and  her  Colonies,  shall  take  place. 

Given  at  Head-Quarters  at  Cambridge,  this  first  day  of 
August,  1775.  Horatio  Gates,  Adj.  Gen. 

N.  B.  One  of  the  Marines  left  wounded  at  Cambridge, 
which  reduces  the  number  to  twenty  Privates. 

Worcester,  August  3,  A.  D.  1775. 
Received  of  Joseph  Baker,  Jun.,  Commander  of  the 
detachment  who  escorted  the  prisoners  (lately  taken  at  the 
Light-House)  to  Worcester,  two  Sergeants,  two  Corporals, 
eighteen  Privates,  and  twelve  Tories. 

William  Young, 
Chairman  of  Comm.  of  Correspondence. 
N.  B.  There  appears  to  be  a  mistake  of  two  Privates 
in  the  number  given  in  the  General  Orders. 

Received  this  seventh  day  of  August,  Anno  Domini 
1775,  of  Mr.  William  Young,  Chairman  of  the  Commit- 
tee of  Correspondence  for  the  Town  of  Worcester,  two 
Sergeants,  two  Corporals,  eighteen  Privates,  and  eleven 
Tories,  which  were  ordered  to  be  delivered  to  the  Com- 
mittee of  Correspondence  for  the  Town  of  Springfield  by 
Horatio  Gates,  Adjutant-General. 

Nathaniel  Brewer, 
Chairman  of  Springfield  Committee. 

N.  B.  The  Tories  in  number  were  twelve,  one  of  whom 
was  left  sick  at  Worcester,  as  the  Chairman  of  Worcester 
Committee  informs. 


CAPT.  BEDELL  TO  NEW-HAMPSHIRE  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY. 

Haverhill,  July  23,  1775. 
Sir:  When  I  was  with  the  Committee,  and  received  my 
order  for  this  department,  I  was  willing  to  serve  as  a  Cap- 
tain, though  I  had  the  command  of  three  companies ;  but 
I  have  this  day  received  certain  account  from  Crown  Point, 
that  an  army  was  forming  for  an  expedition  against  the  Re- 
gular Troops  in  Canada,  and  orders  sent  to  raise  men  under 
Colonel  Allen  on  this  river.  I  do  expect  the  orders  will 
be  sent  to  me  to  march  that  way:  at  the  same  time  shall 
expect  to  have  a  Regiment,  except  some  old  experienced 
officer  should  offer;  otherwise  shall  decline,  as  I  never 


meant  to  enter  the  service  as  a  Captain  to  serve  out  of  the 
Government.  We  can  raise  a  Regiment  in  this  part  of 
the  country.  Colonel  Bayley,  who  attends  service,  will 
inform  as  to  news.  As  there  is  no  person  appointed  as  a 
Committee  of  Supplies  here,  it  is  necessary  we  should  have 
some  money;  and  I  desire  it  may  be  sent  by  Col.  Bayley, 
and  what  is  sent  by  him  I  will  be  accountable  for,  taking 
his  receipt  for  what  is  sent.  1  imagine  that  one  hundred 
Pounds  is  as  little  as  will  answer.  These  from  yours  at 
command,  Tim.  Bedlel. 

To  the  Hon.  Mattheiv  Thornton,  Esq.,  Chairman  of  the 
Committee  of  Safety. 


TO  THE  MEMBERS  OF  THE  CONVENTION  OF  VIRGINIA. 

Williamoburgh,  July  29,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  I  am  a  man  who  has  spent  some  part  of 
my  life  between  the  barracks  and  camp,  therefore  have 
contracted  a  natural  love  for  military  parade.    To  indulge 
my  foible.  I  went  the  other  day  to  see  one  of  your  inde- 
pendent companies  go  through  the  Prussian  exercise,  as 
they  called  it:  when,  behold,  all  that  1  saw  was  their  form- 
ing six  deep,  by  the  rear  half  files  facing  to  the  right  about, 
and  marching  eighteen  paces  to  the  rear.    This,  with  rest, 
order,  open  your  files  to  the  right  and  left,  with  the  slow 
parade  motions  of  prime  and  load,  was  (as  I  understood) 
to  constitute  the  whole;  and  you  may  call  it  Prussian  exer- 
cise, if  you  please,  but  if  1  have  any  judgment,  it  is  mere 
burlesque  on  all  exercise.    LTpon  inquiry  why  the  regular 
Prussian  discipline  was  not  adopted,  I  was  told  by  the  man 
that  was  to  teach  them,  that  he  could  not  tell  off  a  Batta- 
lion ;  that  is,  he  could  not  put  them  through  their  firings. 
If  this  be  the  case,  as  I  have  great  reason  to  believe  it  is, 
(not  only  so  with  that  company,  but  many  others  in  the 
Colony,)  that  many  who  pretend  to  teach  the  Prussian 
exercise  never  saw  a  Battalion  told  off  in  their  lives,  ac- 
cording to  the  Prussian  method  of  firing,  and  if  they  did, 
their  low  stations  in  the  ranks  rendered  it  impossible  for 
them  ever  to  know  any  thing  but  what  belonged  to  their 
own  sub  or  grand  division.    If  so,  what  must  those  com- 
panies propose  to  themselves  by  the  mode  of  exercise  they 
have  adopted,  in  case  of  emergency?    Each  company 
might  be  formed  into  a  battalion,  and  to  lead  a  body  of 
brave  men,  with  such  counterfeit  discipline,  to  face  a  dis- 
ciplined enemy,  would,  in  my  opinion,  be  downright  mur- 
der.   Let  us  not  plume  ourselves  with  this  conceit,  that 
we  shall  always  have  the  bush  to  fight  behind ;  for,  in  the 
different  services  of  war  in  this  Country,  there  will  be 
passes  to  be  guarded  or  forced ;  bridges  to  be  crossed  or 
defended ;  trenches  to  be  guarded  or  formed ;  streets  to  be 
cleared;  and  sometimes  squares  to  be  formed  :  in  all  which 
cases,  bushing  it  would  be  of  little  or  no  use ;  and  to  send 
undisciplined  Troops  on  such  service  would  be  absurd  in- 
deed.   The  native  courage  of  the  Americans,  and  their 
knowledge  of  the  woods,  with  an  early  use  of  fire-arms, 
has  rendered  them  superiour  in  the  woods  to  any  Troops 
in  Europe,  and,  if  under  regular  discipline,  might  be  as 
famous  in  the  field.    But  it  may  be  observed  and  said,  we 
want  men  of  knowledge  in  such  cases  to  instruct  us.  First, 
clear  yourselves  of  those  caterpillars  that  poison  the  mili- 
tary blossoms  of  your  first  endeavours,  and  leave  only  a 
smoky  webful  of  excrements  behind.    Next,  advise  those 
bookish  theorists  to  lay  by  their  Christ- Cross-Boic ;  for 
he  who  learns  the  trade  of  war  by  book,  will  find  him- 
self to  seek  when  on  actual  service.    Then  give  proper 
encouragement  to  men  of  abilities,  (for  such  there  are 
amongst  ye,)  who  may  lay  a  foundation  for  ye  that  may 
make  ye  one  day  or  other  become  as  great  in  arms  as 
Borne  of  old.    Knowing  I  must  rise  or  fall  with  this  Coun- 
try in  the  general  struggle  for  liberty,  were  I  to  lie  dormant 
on  the  occasion,  I  should  count  myself  highly  culpable,  for 
the  gracious  acceptance  of  the  poor  widow's  offering  em- 
boldens me  to  cast  in  my  mite.    My  station,  when  in  the 
Army  in  Europe  last  war,  rendered  it  necessary  for  me  to 
be  thoroughly  acquainted  with  all  parts  of  the  Prussian 
infantry  and  artillery  exercise  ;  I  therefore  freely  offer  my 
poor  service  to  the  publick.   Those  gentlemen  who  choose 
to  employ  me,  may  hear  of  me  by  directing  a  line  to  the 
care  of  Mr.  Edmund  Day,  of  Southampton,  or  Mr.  Elisha 
Cop eland,  of  Xansemond  County  for,  the  publick's  hum- 
ble servant,  Robert  Washington. 


1751 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  he,  JULY,  1775. 


1752 


PENNSYLVANIA  COUNCIL. 

At  a  Council  held  at  Philadelphia,  on  Saturday,  29th 
July,  1775.  Present: 

The  Honourable  John  Ptnn,  Esquire,  Governour;  Wil- 
liam Logan,  Benjamin  Chew,  James  Tilghman,  Andrew 
Allen,  and  Edward  Shippen,  Jun.,  Esquires. 

The  Governour  laid  before  the  Board  a  Petition  from 
Mons.  Dominique  Du  Casse,  Commander  of  the  Schooner 
Mary,  belonging  to  the  inhabitants  of  Martinico,  which 
was  read,  and  follows  in  these  words  viz: 
"  To  the  Honourable  John  Penn,  Esquire,  Lieutenant- 
Governour  and  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  Province 
of  Pennsylvania,  and  three  lower  Counties  of  New- 
Castle,  Kent,  and  Sussex,  on  Delaware  : 
"  The  Petition  of  Dominique  Du  Casse,  Master  of  the 
Schooner  Mary,  belonging  to  Martinico,  now  in  the 
Port  of  Philadelphia,  humbly  sheweth: 
"  That  on  or  about  the  sixteenth  day  of  June  last,  your 
petitioner  sailed  from  the  Island  of  Martinico,  bound  on  a 
voyage  to  Miguilan;  that  in  prosecution  of  the  said  voy- 
age he  met  with  many  hard  and  severe  gales  of  wind,  at- 
tended with  very  great  and  heavy  seas,  in  which  the  said 
Schooner,  through  violent  straining,  was  rendered  very 
leaky,  and  made  it  impossible  for  him  to  proceed  on  the 
said  voyage  ;  and  your  petitioner  was  under  the  necessity 
of  coming  into  this  Port  of  Philadelphia,  in  order  to  repair 
his  said  vessel;  the  particulars  of  all  which  appears  by  your 
petitioner's  protest,  duly  made  since  his  arrival  here,  here- 
with exhibited  to  your  Honour.    He  therefore  prays  your 
Honour  to  permit  him  to  repair  the  said  Schooner,  and  sail 
from  this  Port  of  Philadelphia,  in  prosecution  of  his  said 
intended  voyage.    And  your  petitioner,  as  in  duty  bound, 
will  ever  pray,  he.  Dominique  Du  Casse. 

"  Philadelphia,  July  12,  1775." 

At  the  same  time  was  laid  before  the  Board  the  Cap- 
tain's Protest  referred  to  in  the  above  Petition.  And  the 
Board  taking  the  said  Petition  and  Protest  into  considera- 
tion, and  finding,  upon  due  examination  and  inquiry,  that 
the  facts  set  forth  in  them  are  true :  It  is  ordered,  that 
the  said  Schooner  be  examined,  and  the  necessary  repairs 
made  on  her,  and  that  she  be  then  permitted  to  prosecute 
her  intended  voyage,  provided  that  she  takes  on  board  no 
Goods,  Wares,  or  Merchandise,  whatever. 

Messrs.  Meredith  and  Clymer  are  appointed  to  inspect 
the  repairing  of  the  said  Schooner,  and  to  transact  the 
business  relating  to  her,  as  factors  or  agents  for  the  Master, 
during  his  continuance  in  this  Port. 


JOHN  ADAMS  TO  JOSIAH  O.CINCY,  BRAINTREE,  MASS. 

Philadelphia,  July  29,  1775. 

Dear  Sir  :  1  had  yesterday  the  honour  of  your  letter 
of  July  the  eleventh,  and  I  feel  myself  much  obliged  by 
your  kind  attention  to  me  and  my  family,  but  much  more 
by  your  care  for  the  publick  safety,  and  the  judicious  and 
important  observations  you  have  made.  Your  letters,  Sir, 
so  far  from  being  "a  burden,"  I  consider  as  an  honour  to 
me,  besides  the  pleasure  and  instruction  they  afford  me. 
Believe  me,  Sir,  nothing  is  of  more  importance  to  me,  in 
my  present  most  arduous  and  laborious  employment,  than 
a  constant  correspondence  with  gentlemen  of  experience, 
whose  characters  are  known.  The  minutest  fact,  the  most 
trivial  event,  that  is  connected  with  the  great  American 
cause,  becomes  important  in  the  present  critical  situation  of 
affairs,  when  a  revolution  seems  to  be  in  the  designs  of 
Providence,  as  important  as  any  that  ever  happened  in  the 
affairs  of  mankind. 

We  jointly  lament  the  loss  of  a  Quincy  and  a  Warren; 
two  characters  as  great  in  proportion  to  their  age,  as  any 
that  I  have  ever  known  in  America.  Our  Country  mourns 
the  loss  of  both,  and  sincerely  sympathizes  with  the  feel- 
ings of  the  mother  of  the  one,  and  the  father  of  the  other. 
They  were  both  my  intimate  friends,  with  whom  I  lived 
and  conversed  with  pleasure  and  advantage.  1  was  ani- 
mated by  them  in  the  painful  dangerous  course  of  opposi- 
tion to  the  oppressions  brought  upon  our  Country,  and  the 
loss  of  them  has  wounded  me  too  deeply  to  be  easily 
healed.  Duke  et  decorum  est  pro  patria  mori.  The  ways 
of  Heaven  its  dark  and  intricate,  but  you  may  remem- 
ber the  words  which,  many  years  ago,  you  and  1  fondly 


admired,  and  which,  upon  many  occasions,  I  have  found 
advantage  in  recollecting: 

"  Why  should  I  grieve,  when  grieving  I  must  bear. 
And  take  with  guilt,  what  guiltless  1  might  share  V 

I  have  a  great  opinion  of  your  knowledge  and  judgment 
from  long  experience,  concerning  the  channels  and  islands 
in  Boston  harbour ;  but  I  confess  your  opinion  that  the 
harbour  might  be  blocked  up,  and  seamen  and  soldiers 
made  prisoners  at  discretion,  was  too  bold  and  enterprising 
for  me,  who  am  not  very  apt  to  startle  at  a  daring  propo- 
sal ;  but  I  believe  I  may  safely  promise  you  powder  enough, 
in  a  little  time,  for  any  purpose  whatever.  We  are  assured, 
in  the  strongest  manner,  of  saltpetre  and  powder  in  sufficient 
plenty  another  year  of  our  own  make.  That  both  are  made 
in  this  city,  you  may  report  with  confidence,  for  I  have  seen 
both,  and  I  have  seen  a  set  of  very  large  powder  works, 
and  another  of  saltpetre. 

I  hope,  Sir,  we  shall  never  see  a  total  stagnation  of  com- 
merce for  any  length  of  time.  Necessity  will  force  open 
our  ports ;  trade,  if  I  mistake  not,  will  be  more  free  than 
usual.  Your  friend,  Dr.  Franklin,  to  whom  I  read  your 
letter,  and  who  desires  his  kind  compliments  to  you,  has 
been  employed  in  directing  the  construction  of  row-gallies 
for  this  city.  The  Committee  of  Safety  for  this  Province 
have  ordered  twenty  of  them  to  be  built;  some  of  them 
are  finished.  I  have  seen  one  of  them  ;  it  has  twelve  oars 
on  each  side.  They  rowed  up  the  river  the  first  time,  four 
miles  in  an  hour,  against  a  tide  which  ran  down  four  miles 
an  hour.  The  Congress  have  recommended  to  the  Colo- 
nies, to  make  provision  for  the  defence  of  their  navigation,  in 
their  harbours,  rivets,  and  on  their  sea-coasts.  Of  a  floating 
battery  I  have  no  idea — am  glad  you  are  contriving  one. 

You  tell  me,  Sir,  that  General  Lee  complained  that  "he 
did  not  find  things  as  the  Massachusetts  Delegates  had  rep- 
resented them."  What  General  Lee  could  mean  by  this, 
Sir,  I  know  not.  What  particular  he  found  different  from 
the  representation,  I  do  not  know;  nor  do  1  know  which 
Delegate  from  the  Massachusetts  he  received  a  mistaken 
representation  from.  I  think  he  should  have  been  particu- 
lar, that  he  might  not  have  run  the  risk  of  doing  an  injury. 
If  General  Lee  should  do  injustice  to  two  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts Delegates,  he  would  commit  ingratitude  at  the 
same  time ;  for  to  two  of  them  he  certainly  owes  his  pro- 
motion in  the  American  Army,  how  great  a  hazard  soever 
they  ran  in  agreeing  to  it.  I  know  him  very  thoroughly,  I 
think,  and  that  he  will  do  great  service  in  our  Amry,  at  the 
beginning  of  things,  by  forming  it  to  order,  skill,  and  dis- 
cipline.   But  we  shall  soon  have  officers  enough. 

Your  friend  and  humble  servant,         John  Adams. 


NEW-YORK  DELEGATES  TO  THE  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS. 

Philadelphia,  July  29,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  We  have  received  your  letters  of  the  18th 
and  22d  instant,  and  though  sensible  of  the  inconveniences 
arising  from  a  scarcity  of  arms,  are  much  at  a  loss  respect- 
ing the  best  measures  for  a  supply.  As  we  have  good 
reason  to  believe  that  an  application  to  the  Congress  to 
recommend  a  loan  of  the  Jersey  arms  would  not  succeed, 
we  have  agreed  not  to  make  it.  No  Colony  has  as  yet 
given  the  Congress  any  trouble  on  that  head,  and  we  are 
unwilling  that  New-York  should  be  the  first.  We  advise, 
however,  that  accurate  accounts  of  disbursements  for  arms 
be  kept,  so  that,  should  any  charges  of  that  kind  be  made 
against  the  Continent,  our  Colony  may  be  prepared  to  sup- 
port their  claim.  Besides,  it  is  easy  to  foresee  that  New- 
Jersey,  under  the  present  circumstances  of  publick  affairs, 
would  very  reluctantly  part  with  their  arms,  and  be  dis- 
pleased with  any  recommendation  for  that  purpose. 

Permit  us  to  recommend  to  your  most  serious  attention 
the  necessity  of  laying  your  hands  on  all  the  powder  that 
is  or  may  be  imported  into  the  Colony.  We  think  none 
should  be  permitted  to  go  out  of  the  Province,  but  by  the 
express  direction  of  the  Congress,  or  your  Committee,  and 
that  magazines  of  that  article  should  be  formed  in  different 
parts  of  the  Province,  and  not  that  the  whole  be  risked  in 
one  place. 

We  hope  our  Province  will  depend  for  defence  ou  their 
own  exertions,  and  without  delay  put  the  Militia  on  the 
footing  recommended  by  the  Congress. 

The  Delegates  of  New-Jersey  are  charged  with  the 


1753 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  fcc,  JULY,  1775. 


1754 


transportation  of  two  ton?  and  a  half  of  powder  to  Dobbs's 
Ferry,  where  the  Congress  desire  you  to  have  a  boat  ready 
to  receive  and  forward  it  to  General  Schuyler. 

As  to  a  treaty  or  conference  w  ith  the  Five  Nations,  the 
Congress  has  already  provided  for  it,  and  consequently  it 
would  be  improper  to  lay  the  papers  you  sent  us  on  that 
subject  before  the  Congress. 

We  are,  Gentlemen,  with  the  greatest  respect,  your  most 
obedient  and  humble  servants, 

Phil.  Livingston,     John  Jat, 
Lewis  Morris,  Jas.  Duane. 

Geo.  Clinton, 
To  the  Committee  of  Safety  of  the  Colony  of  New-York. 

P.  S.  We  recommend  to  collect  all  your  accounts  against 
the  Continent,  with  all  convenient  speed.  It  is  probable 
that  a  Committee  will  be  appointed  to  examine  them.  Mr. 
Hazard  is  appointed  Deputy  Postmaster  for  New-York. 
The  Continental  money  is  signing,  and  will  be  ready  next 
week. 


ALBANY  COMMITTEE  TO  THE  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

Committee  Chamber,  City  of  Albany,  July  29,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  Mr.  George  Sullivan  was  brought  before 
this  Committee  by  Colonel  Waterbury,  of  the  Connecticut 
Troops  lately  arrived  here  from  New-  York,  in  consequence 
of  a  ietter  from  General  Woostcr,  a  copy  whereof  we  en- 
close you.  We  have  examined  Mr.  Stillivan  and  the  circum- 
stances of  his  case,  and  from  the  proofs  before  us  we  cannot 
find  any  grounds  to  warrant  the  accusation  ;  and  having 
finished  his  intended  business,  as  he  says,  designs  to  em- 
bark in  the  first  sloop  for  your  city,  when  a  re-examination 
may  be  made,  if  you  see  cause. 

We  are,  Gentlemen,  your  most  humble  servants, 

Abraham  Yates,  Jun.,  Chairman. 


WALTER  LIVINGSTON  TO  THE  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

Albany,  July  29,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  I  lately  received  a  commission  from  the 
Continental  Congress,  a  copy  of  which  I  shall  enclose  you, 
appointing  me  Deputy  Commissary-General  for  this  Pro- 
vince. I  must  therefore  request  you  to  order  all  the  stores 
which  are  purchased  by  order  of  Congress  for  the  Army 
in  this  Colony,  to  be  consigned  to  me  or  my  assistant  De- 
puty at  Albany;  and  also,  that  I  be  furnished  with  an  ac- 
count of  all  stores  and  provisions  which  are  now  ordered 
to  be  purchased. 

I  was  at  Ticonderoga  last  week.  The  fortress  there  is 
in  a  most  ruinous  situation.  For  want  of  many  officers, 
such  as  Quartermaster,  Muster-master,  Surgeon,  &c,  the 
General  is  under  the  necessity  of  acting  in  all  those  depart- 
ments. I  dread  the  consequence,  should  he  be  attacked 
by  any  considerable  army;  and  if  he  is  defeated,  the  garri- 
son must  all  fall  victims,  for  retreat  they  cannot,  for  want 
of  batteaus.  He  had  neither  carpenters  to  build  boats,  nor 
materials  to  make  them  of.  Two  saw-mills  are  now  cutting 
boards,  with  one  saw  each.  I  yesterday,  by  request  of 
General  Schuyler,  sent  up  twenty  carpenters,  and  shall 
from  time  to  time  furnish  him  with  such  articles  as  he  shall 
order  and  I  can  procure,  although  they  should  not  belong 
to  my  department,  until  proper  officers  are  appointed. 

I  remain,  Gentlemen,  with  the  greatest  respect,  your  most 
obedient  humble  servant, 

Walter  Livingston,  Dep.  Com.  Gen. 

To  the  Provincial  Congress  of  New-York. 


DIRCK  G.  BRINCKERHOFF  TO  THE  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS. 

July  29,  1775. 

Sir:  Agreeable  to  the  Resolve  of  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress, of  the  29th  of  May  last,  a  Committee  has  been 
chosen  for  the  Precinct  of  Rombouts,  and  have  met  and 
appointed  persons  out  of  said  Committee  to  tender  the  As- 
sociation, who  have  done  their  endeavours  to  tender  the 
same  to  the  inhabitants  of  this  Precinct.  But  as  the  short- 
ness of  the  time  since  we  received  the  Resolve  of  the 
Congress  has  rendered  it  almost  impossible  to  tender  the 
same  to  every  inhabitant  of  this  Precinct  personally;  and 
as  a  number  of  persons  to  whom  it  has  already  been  ten- 
dered are  not  convinced  about  signing  the  same,  and  have 


desired  further  time  to  consider  of  it ;  and  others  are  daily 
more  and  more  convinced  of  the  propriety  of  signing  the 
same,  and  are  ready  to  sign,  but  for  want  of  an  opportu- 
nity cannot :  the  Committee  have  taken  it  into  their  con- 
sideration, and  humbly  desire  further  time  till  the  1 5th  of 
August  next,  when  an  actual  return  will  be  made  to  the 
Committee  of  the  persons  who  have  signed  the  same,  and 
a  list  of  the  names  of  the  persons  refusing,  and  will  be  im- 
mediately transmitted  to  the  honourable  Provincial  Congress 
at  New-  York.    By  order  of  the  Committee  : 

Dirck  G.  Brinckerhoff,  Cliairman. 
To  P.  V.  B.  Livingston,  Esq. 

GENERAL  WASHINGTON  TO  JAMES  WARREN. 

Cambridge,  July  29,  1775. 
Sir:  I  have  this  instant  received  a  letter  from  Chelsea, 
of  which  the  enclosed  is  an  extract.  As  the  inhabitants  are 
coming  out  in  a  different  manner  than  proposed  by  your 
Assembly  to  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town  of  Boston,  I  have 
not  delayed  a  moment's  time  in  giving  you  the  earliest  in- 
formation of  it,  and  request  that  you  may  take  the  matter 
into  consideration,  and  determine  what  is  proper  to  be  done 
on  the  occasion.  If  you  think  it  proper  to  receive  them 
in  this  manner,  query  whether  it  may  not  be  proper  to  ap- 
point some  person  to  attend  the  movement. 

I  am,  in  haste,  with  great  respect,  Sir,  your  most  obedient 
humble  servant,  Go.  Washington. 

Honourable  James  Warren,  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Rep- 
resentatives of  Massachusetts. 

LOAMMI  BALDWIN  TO  GENERAL  WASHINGTON. 

Chelsea,  July  29,  1775,  Two  o'clock,  P.  M. 

May  it  please  your  Excellency:  About  twelve 
o'clock  this  day  we  were  all  alarmed  by  the  approach  of  a 
boat  to  Winnisimit  Ferry,  and  by  a  signal  soon  found 
them  to  be  friends,  who  landed  with  their  household  goods. 
There  were  several  of  my  intimate  acquaintance.  1  have 
taken  the  names  of  all  the  passengers,  and  stopped  the  let- 
ters, which  I  now  send  for  your  inspection,  and  beg  your 
Excellency  would  send  them  back  to  me  again  as  soon  as 
possible,  as  the  bearers  are  some  of  them  in  waiting,  and 
others  are  to  call  again  to-morrow  for  theirs.  Please  to 
keep  the  enclosed  letters  in  their  respective  covers. 

I  would  beg  your  Excellency  would  send  me  some  assist- 
ance, as  the  boats  are  to  continue  passing,  (that  is,  if  we  can 
believe  Genera]  Gage,)  and  something  may  escape  for  want 
of  proper  assistance,  that  may  turn  to  our  disadvantage. 

Our  officers  are  very  sick  here.  I  have  much  upon  my 
hands  and  mind,  since  I  received  Mr.  Reed's  letter  last 
night.  I  hope  and  earnestly  expect  some  assistance,  and 
your  Excellency's  orders,  as  soon  as  the  necessity  of  the 
matter  requires. 

In  great  haste,  I  am,  Sir,  your  Excellency's  most  obedient 
humble  servant,  Loammi  Baldwin,  Lieut.  Col. 

P.  S.  Should  be  much  obliged  to  your  Excellency  if  you 
would  send  down  a  few  sheets  of  paper  and  wafers,  as  I 
cannot  procure  any  about  here,  and  am  out.  Pray,  Sir, 
excuse  the  imperfections  in  this  letter. 


GOVERNOUR  COOKE  TO  GENERAL  WASHINGTON. 

Providence,  July  31,  1775. 

Sir  :  1  am  favoured  with  your  Excellency's  letter  of  the 
26th  instant.  Having,  just  before  the  receipt  of  it,  had 
accounts  by  a  private  hand  of  the  sailing  of  a  number  of 
men-of-war  and  transports  from  Boston,  which  I  conjec- 
tured were  designed  to  supply  the  enemy  with  fresh  pro- 
visions, I  immediately  sent  the  intelligence  to  Block  Island, 
together  with  a  quantity  of  powder,  ball,  and  flints,  to  en- 
able them  to  defend  their  property,  and  gave  them  assu- 
rances of  further  assistance,  if  necessary. 

We  have  no  accounts  of  this  fleet  from  any  part  of  our 
coast,  so  that  I  think  it  probable  they  were  destined  to  the 
eastward. 

I  desire  your  Excellency  to  oblige  me  with  a  return  of 
the  Army;  and  when  any  thing  important  occurs,  I  shall 
esteem  an  early  communication  of  it  a  favour. 

I  am,  with  great  truth  and  regard,  Sir,  your  Excellency's 
most  humble  obedient  servant,         Nicholas  Cooke. 
His  Excellency  General  Washington. 


1755 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  Sic,  JULY,  1775. 


175G 


GEN.  SULLIVAN  TO  NEW-HAMPSHIRE  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY. 

Camp  on  Winter  Hill,  July  29,  1775. 
Gentlemen  :  It  gives  me  pain  to  think  that  I  have  so 
long  delayed  the  gentleman  you  sent  to  me ;  but  I  must 
refer  you  to  him  for  an  excuse  on  that  head.  I  shall  only 
hint  that  he  came  on  Saturday  morning,  when  I  was 
preparing  to  take  possession  of  Ploughed  Hill,  near  the 
enemy's  encampment  at  Charlestoivn.  This  was  done  on 
Saturday  night,  and  on  Sunday  morning  a  heavy  cannon- 
ading ensued,  which  lasted  through  the  whole  day.  The 
floating  batteries  and  an  armed  vessel  attempting  to  come 
up  and  enfilade  us  as  1  expected,  I  opened  a  battery  which 
I  had  prepared  on  purpose ;  cut  away  the  sloop's  foresail ; 
made  her  shear  off;  wounded  one  floating  battery,  and 
sunk  another  yesterday.  They  sent  round  a  man-of-war 
to  Mistick  River,  drew  their  forces  from  Boston,  formed 
a  long  column,  and  prepared  to  come  out;  but  finding  our 
readiness  to  receive  them,  declined  the  combat.  Last 
evening  they  began  to  throw  bombs,  but  have  as  yet  done 
no  damage.  Their  cannon  has  been  more  successful,  hav- 
ing killed  three  or  four.  The  command  of  our  forces  was 
assigned  to  me,  which  I  hope  will  apologize  for  my  delay- 
ing Captain  Hohb.  I  have  shown  him  those  cannon  which 
we  last  mounted,  and  given  him  the  best  advice  in  my 
power. 

The  powder  you  write  for,  gentlemen,  it  is  impossible  to 
obtain  at  present.  We  have  had  but  six  tons  from  the 
southward,  which  is  but  half  a  pound  per  man  for  our 
army,  and  what  we  had  before  was  a  shocking  store.  We 
hope  for  some  every  day,  and  as  soon  as  possible  after  its 
arrival,  you  shall  be  supplied  by  your  very  humble  servant, 

John  Sullivan. 
To  the  Honourable  Committee  of  Safety. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  LAID  BEFORE  THE  CONTINENTAL 
CONGRESS,  DATED  LONDON,  JULY  31,  1775. 

I  have  lately  heard  a  person  intimately  connected  with 
Administration  lament  that  twenty  thousand  men  had  not 
been  at  first  sent  to  America,  one  half  to  have  remained 
with  Genera]  Gage  at  Boston,  five  thousand  to  have  kept 
possession  of  New-  York,  and  cut  off  all  assistance  from  the 
Southern  Colonies,  and  five  thousand  to  have  been  employ- 
ed under  Burgoyne  or  Howe,  in  making  descents  in  differ- 
ent parts  of  New-England,  and  ravaging  and  burning  the 
Towns.  And  I  have  good  information  that  it  is  yet  in- 
tended to  endeavour  to  recover  possession  of  New-York, 
Albany,  Sic,  so  as  to  open  a  communication  with  Canada, 
and  prevent  the  New-England  ers  from  receiving  any  suc- 
cour from  the  southward.  There  is  a  talk  that  more  of  the 
train  of  Artillery,  and  some  Regiments  of  Foot,  are  going 
to  New-York. 

EXTRACT  OF  ANOTHER  LETTER,   LAID   BEFORE  THE  CON- 
GRESS, DATED  LONDON,  JULY  31,  1775. 

It  is  fit  I  should  convey  to  you  a  more  particular  detail 
of  what  I  have  collected,  more  especially  as  it  is  from 
unquestionable  authority.  The  British  American  Gene- 
rals differ,  I  am  informed,  as  to  the  number  of  men  which 
they  now  think  it  will  require  to  subdue  the  rebels  of  the 
Massachusetts.  Gage  says  fifteen  thousand  more  than  he 
already  has,  and  Burgoyne  says  twenty  thousand  more. 
But  all  the  Generals,  however,  agree  in  desiring  a  large 
re-enforcement  of  artillery;  and  therefore,  orders  were  yes- 
terday sent  to  Woolwich  for  four  companies,  to  embark  im- 
mediately for  North  America,  with  a  large  train  of  field- 
pieces,  Sic. ;  and  a  further  supply  of  clothing,  more  than 
I  mentioned  in  my  letter  of  the  15th,  for  the  Canadians, 
which  Government  is  assured  by  General  Carleton  he  shall 
raise  in  the  Province  of  Quebeck.  Parliament  is  prorogued 
till  September,  and  then  will  be  farther  prorogued  to  meet 
the  beginning  of  November.  In  the  mean  time  Lord  North 
thinks  he  possesses  power  and  credit  sufficient  to  order 
more  forces  to  America,  and  push  matters  to  the  greatest 
extremity  before  the  winter  sets  in.  I  have  been  well  as- 
sured, that  if  the  Spanish  Armada  should  not  visit  Gibral- 
tar, which,  from  the  repulse  it  is  said  they  have  met  with, 
will  be  the  case,  Government  propose  composing  that  gar- 
rison of  three-fourths  Hanoverians,  and  one-fourth  British 
Troops,  in  order  that  they  may  send  the  remainder  of  the 
latter,  now  there,  to  America.   But  the  secret  (as  they  im- 


agine) plan  of  operation  they  have  at  present  in  agitation, 
or  which,  perhaps,  1  might  properly  say,  actually  deter- 
mined on  and  transmitted  to  Jioston,  is  as  follows: 

With  the  assistance  of  Governour  Tryon,  who  is  much 
relied  on  for  the  purpose,  to  get  immediate  possession  of 
New-York  and  Albany;  to  fill  both  of  these  Cities  with 
very  strong  garrisons  ;  to  declare  all  rebels  who  do  not  join 
the  King's  Forces ;  to  command  the  Hudson  and  East 
Rivers  with  a  number  of  small  men-of-war  and  cutters, 
stationed  in  different  parts  of  it,  so  as  wholly  to  cut  off  all 
communication  by  water  between  New-  York  and  the  Pro- 
vinces to  the  northward  of  it,  and  between  New-  York  and 
Albany,  except  for  the  King's  service ;  and  to  prevent, 
also,  all  communication  between  the  City  of  New-  York 
and  the  Provinces  of  New-Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  and  those 
to  the  southward  of  them.  By  this  means,  Administration 
and  their  friends  fancy  that  they  shall  soon  either  starve- 
out,  or  retake  the  garrisons  of  Crown  Point  and  Ticondero- 
ga,  and  open  and  maintain  a  safe  intercourse  and  corres- 
pondence between  Quebeck,  Albany,  and  New-York,  and 
thereby  afford  the  fairest  opportunity  to  their  soldiery  and  the 
Canadians,  in  conjunction  with  the  Indians  to  be  procured 
by  Guy  Johnson,  to  make  continual  irruptions  into  New- 
Hampshire,  Massachusetts,  and  Connecticut,  and  so  distract 
and  divide  the  Continental  Forces  as  to  render  it  easy  for 
the  British  Army  at  Boston  to  defeat  them  ;  break  the 
spirits  of  the  Massachusetts  people,  depopulate  their 
country,  and  compel  an  absolute  subjection  to  Great  Bri~ 
tain.  Another  good  effect  to  be  deduced  from  this  exten- 
sive plan,  as  Government  apprehend,  is,  that  as  New-York 
will,  by  this  method,  be  prevented  from  supplying  the  Mas- 
sachusetts Army  near  Boston  with  flour,  Sic,  as  they 
hitherto  have  done,  through  the  medium  of  Connecticut ; 
and  the  New-Jersey  and  Pennsylvania  people  will  not  be 
able  to  transport  provisions  across  the  country;  and  as  tho 
Colony  of  Connecticut  does  not  raise  corn  sufficient  for  the 
supply  of  herself  and  the  Massachusetts-Bay;  the  inhabi- 
tants and  troops  of  this  Province  must  inevitably  of  course 
be  in  a  short  time  destroyed  by  disease  and  famine.  And 
to  this  train  of  facts  let  me  add,  that  in  consequence  of 
Gen.  Gage's  desire,  brought  by  Capt.  Chadd,  one  hundred 
flat-bottomed  boats  are  at  present  building  at  Deptford, 
Sic,  in  order  to  be  immediately  sent  to  America,  but  for 
what  particular  purpose  I  have  not  yet  been  able  to  learn. 
Many  American  gentlemen,  however,  have  been  lately  asked 
by  a  Lord  high  in  the  American  Department,  what  sized 
vessels  can  go  loaded  from  hence  to  Albany!  What  is  the 
depth  of  water  at  the  Overslaugh  ?  (I  think  that  is  the 
name  of  the  shallowest  place  in  the  North  River.)  Whether 
the  ship  belonging  to  Albany,  in  the  London  trade,  is  al- 
ways obliged  to  unload  part  of  her  cargo  before  she  can  get 
to  Albany!  and  what  proportion  of  it  ?  Whether,  if  bat- 
teries were  erected  at  the  Highlands,  they  would  not  pre- 
vent vessels  going  up  and  down  the  North  River?  And 
where  would  be  the  best  place  on  that  river  to  hinder  the 
New-Jersey  people,  Sic,  from  sending  flour,  Sic,  in  the 
winter,  through  Connecticut,  to  the  Massachusetts  Army? 


LORD  SHELBURNE  TO  ARTHUR  LEE. 

Bow-Wood  Park,  July  31,  1775. 

Dear  Sir:  I  am  to  thank  you  for  your  obliging  letters, 
the  last  received  this  morning.  I  never  imagined  that  pub- 
lick  affairs  would  have  affected  me  as  much  as  they  have 
done  since  the  affair  at  Lexington.  A  man  of  common 
attention  cannot  avoid  feeling  every  passion  agitated  and 
distracted.  I  am  very  clear,  from  General  Gage's  letter, 
that  the  Troops  have  suffered  a  signal  defeat,  and  that  the 
arms  of  England  have  lost  a  lustre,  which  I  see  no  proba- 
bility of  their  regaining  during  the  present  contest.  There 
is,  besides,  a  cloud  which  hangs  upon  the  General's  ac- 
count, and  betrays  a  most  alarming  situation  of  things  ; 
while  the  conduct  of  the  Provincials,  through  all  the  mist, 
under  the  command,  it  would  seem,  of  nobody,  manifested 
a  decisive  superiority  in  every  point  of  military  judgment. 

In  my  life  I  was  never  more  pleased  with  a  state  paper 
than  I  have  been  this  morning  with  the  Assembly  of  Vir- 
ginia's discussion  of  Lord  North's  proposition.  It  is  mas- 
terly. 

By  the  papers,  as  well  as  the  run  of  private  accounts,  I 
see  very  plainly  that  whoever  governs  us  is  determined  to 


1757 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  Sic,  JULY,  1775. 


1758 


proceed;  and  that  as  long  as  the  stockholders  keep  from  Joseph  Penrose,  First  Major;  Mr.  Joseph  McJlvane,  Se- 
rum, the  Nation  is  to  run  every  risk  to  keep  the  rewards  of  cond  Major;  Francis  Murray,  Esq.,  Standard  Bearer. 
Sir  R.  Walpole  and  Mr.  Fox  upon  Mr.  Jenkinson.  How  For  the  Second  Division  :  Doctor  John  Deatty,  Colonel; 
long  this  torpor  will  continue,  it  is  impossible  to  say;  nor  Mr.  Robert  Shewcll,  Lieutenant-Colonel ;  Mr.  James  Mc- 
do  1  consider  with  any  pleasure  upon  whom  the  storm  will  Masters,  First  Major;  Mr.  Win.  Roberts,  Second  Major; 
or  ought  to  burst ;  but  what  I  (bar  is,  that  the  evil  is  ine-  Mr.  John  Lacey,  Standard  Bearer. 

trievable.    Union  itself  will  be  too  late.  For  the  Third  Division:  George  Taylor,  Esq.,  Colonel ; 

I  set  out  for  Ireland  on  Thursday,  and  private  business  Mr.  Robert  Robinson,  Lieutenant-Colonel ;  Mr.  John  Tcn- 

obliges  me  to  return  early  in  October.   As  to  publick  busi-  brook,  First  Major;  Mr.  John  Heany,  Second  Major;  Mr. 

ness,  I  despond.    Personal  jealousy  and  disunion  infect  and  John  Keller,  Standard  Bearer. 

destroy  the  weight  of  both  individuals  and  bodies  of  men.  The  officers  of  the  respective  companies  of  the  Middle 
The  only  uncorrupt  body  of  men  remaining  in  the  City  of  Battalion  of  the  County  of  Bucks,  are  earnestly  requested 
London,  I  see  daily  losing  its  weight,  for  want  of  proper  to  meet  at  the  house  of  Mr.  John  Bogart,  on  Monday  next, 
direction  and  joint  effort.  at  three  o'clock,  to  give  their  voice  in  matters  of  impor- 
I  am,  with  great  truth  and  regard,  dear  Sir,  your  most  tance.  Their  non-attendance  will  be  looked  upon  as  con- 
obedient  servant,  Shelburne.  senting  to  the  business  of  the  day. 
To  Arthur  Lee,  London.   


LETTER  FROM  A  GENTLEMAN  IN  NORTH-CAROLINA,  AND  ONE 
OF  THE  DELEGATES  OF  THE  CONGRESS,  TO  A  PRINCIPAL 
HOUSE  IN  EDINBURGH. 

Edenton,  July  31,  1775. 
Gentlemen  :  We  wrote  to  you  the  seventeenth  instant, 
since  which  we  have  not  been  honoured  with  any  of  your 
favours.  With  this  you  will  receive  a  bill  of  lading  for 
the  cargo  of  the  Brigantine  Charming  Betsey,  John  Boyle 
master,  (by  whom  this  goes,)  which  you  will  please  to  dis- 
pose of  to  the  best  advantage  for  our  interest,  and  place 
the  nett  proceeds  to  our  credit  with  you.  You  will  observe 
the  brig  has  only  six  lay  days,  and  beg  the  favour  you  will 
have  her  discharged,  so  as  we  may  not  be  subjected  to 
damage. 

We  expect  to  send  you  another  vessel,  with  such  another 
cargo,  before  the  exportation  is  stopped,  which  will  be  the 
tenth  of  next  September;  but  we  shall  write  you  more  at 
large  by  a  ship  to  sail  from  hence  to  London  in  about  two 
weeks.  All  our  remittances  must  hereafter  be  by  bills;  we 
have  laid  ourselves  out  to  remit  you  in  that  way,  as  all 
other  is  now  in  a  fair  way  of  being  entirely  shut  up.  We 
are  in  a  terrible  situation  indeed ;  all  trade  here  is  now  at 
an  end,  and  when  it  will  again  be  revived  God  only  knows. 
Every  American,  to  a  man,  is  determined  to  die  or  be  free. 
We  are  convinced  nothing  can  restore  peace  to  this  un- 
happy Country,  and  render  the  liberties  of  yours  secure, 
but  a  total  change  of  the  present  Ministry,  who  are  con- 
sidered in  this  Country  as  enemies  to  the  freedom  of  the 
human  race,  like  so  many  master  devils  in  the  infernal  re- 
gions, sending  out  their  servants,  furies,  to  torment  wherever 
they  choose  their  infernal  vengeance  should  fall. 

Permit  us,  dear  Sirs,  as  you  have  exerted  yourselves,  to 
try  another  effort  to  save  from  destruction  the  once,  and 
but  lately,  most  nourishing  Empire  in  the  world. 

We  do  not  want  to  be  independent ;  we  want  no  revo- 
lution, unless  a  change  of  Ministry  and  measures  would  be 
deemed  such.  We  are  loyal  subjects  to  our  present  most 
gracious  Sovereign,  in  support  of  whose  crown  and  dignity 
we  would  sacrifice  our  lives,  and  willingly  launch  out  every 
shilling  of  our  property,  he  only  defending  our  liberties. 
This  Country,  without  some  step  is  taken,  and  that  soon,  will 
be  inevitably  lost  to  the  Mother  Country.  We  say  again,  for 
the  love  of  Heaven,  for  the  love  of  liberty,  the  interest  of 
posterity,  we  conjure  you  to  exert  yourselves.  Petition 
again  ;  the  eyes  of  our  most  gracious  Sovereign  may  yet 
be  opened,  and  he  may  see  what  things  are  for  his  real 
interest,  before  they  are  eternally  hid  from  his  eyes.  We 
can  vouch  for  the  loyalty  of  every  one  in  this  part  of  the 
Province.  We  beg  your  pardon  for  troubling  you  on  the 
subject  of  politicks  so  much  as  we  have  done ;  but  we 
hope  you  will  excuse  us,  when  we  tell  you  our  all  depends 
on  the  determination  of  Parliament. 

We  have  the  honour  to  be,  Gentlemen,  your  most  obliged 
humble  servants. 

BUCKS  COUNTY  (PENNSYLVANIA)  MEETING. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Officers  of  the  County  of  Bucks,  the 
County  was  divided  into  three  Battalions,  and  the  following 
gentlemen  were  chosen  Field  Officers : 

For  the  First  Division :  Joseph  Kirkbride,  Esq.,  Col- 
onel ;  Mr.  Alexander  Anderson,  Lieutenant-Colonel ;  Mr. 


By  His  Excellency  William  Tryon,  Esquire,  Captain- 
General  and  Governour-in-  Chief  in  and  over  the  Pro- 
vince of  New- York,  and  the  Territories  depending 
thereon,  in  America,  Chancellor  and  Vice-Admiral  of 
the  same  : 

A  Proclamation. 
Whereas,  the  General  Assembly  of  this  Province  stands 
prorogued  to  the  ninth  day  of  August  next ;  I  have  thought 
fit  for  His  Majesty's  service  to  prorogue,  and  I  do,  by  and 
with  the  advice  of  His  Majesty's  Council,  farther  prorogue 
the  said  General  Assembly  to  the  sixth  clay  of  September 
next,  of  which  all  His  Majesty's  subjects  concerned  there- 
in are  required  to  take  notice,  and  govern  themselves  ac- 
cordingly. 

Given  under  my  hand  and  seal  at  arms,  at  Fort  George, 
in  the  City  of  New-  York ,  the  thirty-first  day  of  July,  one 
thousand  seven  hundred  and  seventy-five,  in  the  fifteenth 
year  of  the  reign  of  our  Sovereign  Lord  George  the  Third, 
by  the  grace  of  God,  of  Great  Britain,  France,  and  Ire- 
land, King,  Defender  of  the  Faith,  Sic. 

William  Tryon. 

By  his  Excellency's  command  : 

Samuel  Bayard,  Jun.,  Dep.  Secretary. 
God  save  the  King. 


FRANCIS  STEPHENS  TO  GENERAL  GAGE. 

Office  of  Ordnance,  New-York,  July  31,  1775. 

Honourable  Sir  :  In  my  letter  of  the  twenty-fourth 
June,  I  acquainted  your  Excellency  with  the  depredations 
committed  on  such  of  His  Majesty's  property  as  remained 
at  Turtle  Bay;  and  occurrences  of  the  like  nature  having 
since  happened  at  this  place,  I  now  beg  leave  to  transmit 
you  the  following  particular  account  of  the  same,  viz: 

On  Wednesday,  the  twelfth  instant,  between  the  hours 
of  nine  and  ten  o'clock  at  night,  I  being  then  at  the  house 
of  Mr.  Banyor,  in  the  neighbourhood,  the  clerk  of  stores 
came  and  acquainted  me  that  a  number  of  men  with  side- 
arms,  Sic,  had  just  then  got  over  the  fence  of  the  shot 
yard,  and  were  breaking  open  the  several  doors  of  the 
armoury,  store-house,  and  those  of  the  artificers'  shops; 
whereupon  1  immediately  repaired  to  the  front  doors  of  the 
two  first  mentioned  places,  and  on  hearing  a  most  violent 
noise  proceeding  from  their  ransacking  the  premises,  I 
immediately  called  on  Mr.  Alderman  Brewerton,  acquaint- 
ing him  therewith,  and  requested  his  interposition  ;  but  he 
replied,  as  an  individual  he  could  byr  no  means  render  me 
any  assistance,  and  advised  me,  in  that  case,  to  call  on  the 
Mayor,  which  I  accordingly  did,  but  he  was  not  in  Town. 
1  then,  in  my  way  to  the  Governour's,  met  with  Captain 
Thomas  William  Moore,  who  had  the  command  of  the 
guard  appointed  to  preserve  the  peace  of  the  City,  to  whom 
I  communicated  the  foregoing,  and  entreated  his  assistance, 
in  order  to  put  a  stop  to  the  felonious  proceedings  of  a 
number  of  armed  men  who  were  carrying  off  His  Majesty's 
stores,  as  also  some  of  my  own  private  property,  and  which 
I  conceived  it  was  his  duty  to  protect.  Soon  after,  Mr. 
Moore  came  down  to  the  store-houses,  and  brought  with 
him  a  party  of  armed  men,  who,  with  myself,  went  in 
amongst  the  people  that  were  committing  the  depredations, 
demanding  by  what  authority  they  presumed  to  carry  off 
the  King's  stores;  when  some  of  them  replied  to  Mr. 


1759 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  kc  ,  JULY,  1775. 


1760 


Moore,  that  it  was  by  order  of  tlieir  Colonel  Ritzema  they 
came  there  for  that  purpose.  Upon  which  they  were  told, 
that  no  person  whatever  had  a  right  to  order  them  to  be- 
have in  the  manner  they  had  done,  and  therefore  advised 
them  to  disperse ;  which  they  soon  afier  accordingly  did, 
taking  with  them  several  drums,  a  considerable  quantity  of 
iron  ramrods,  and  sundry  other  articles  of  His  Majesty's 
property.  Two  hours  after  they  were  gone,  viz.  about  two 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  a  great  party  of  the  Connecticut 
Troops,  supposed  to  be  upwards  of  a  hundred,  came  from 
their  encampment,  in  the  environs  of  the  City,  to  the  store- 
houses aforementioned,  where  they  continued  until  nigh 
day-light,  rummaging  and  ransacking  every  place,  and  car- 
ried away  such  articles  as  they  thought  proper. 

Thursday  the  thirteenth,  about  eight  o'clock  in  the  even- 
ing, Francis  Staples,  the  person  who  has  the  care  of  Tur- 
tle Bay,  came  to  town  and  informed  me  of  the  following 
particulars,  viz :  that  about  three  o'clock  this  afternoon,  the 
same  sloop  which  carried  off  the  stores  from  thence  on  the 
night  of  the  twelfth  ultimo,  came  again  to  that  place,  and 
was  met  by  a  party  of  the  Connecticut  Troops,  supposed  to 
be  about  fifty  men,  who  put  on  board  the  said  sioop  (as 
near  as  he  could  well  guess)  about  five  hundred  twenty- 
four  pound  round-shot,  fifty  ten-inch,  and  the  like  number 
of  cohorn  shells  ;  they  likewise  broke  open  the  store-house, 
took  out  the  major  part  of  what  remained  there,  such  as 
old  sand-bags,  empty  boxes,  &z,c,  and  then  went  off. 

The  same  night,  about  half  past  nine  o'clock,  a  com- 
pany of  armed  men  came  to  my  dwelling-house  and  de- 
manded admittance,  pretending  that  they  had  received 
certain  intelligence  of  a  number  of  small-arms  being  con- 
cealed in  the  upper  apartment  of  said  house,  and  as  such 
were  determined  to  be  satisfied  by  searching  it,  &tc;  which 
was  accordingly  done  to  their  great  disappointment.  They 
then  requested  of  me  the  keys  of  another  store-house,  which 
they  said  had  not  as  yet  been  examined  into,  observing 
that  the  arms  must  of  course  certainly  be  there  ;  and  not- 
withstanding my  utmost  endeavours  to  dissuade  them  to 
the  contrary,  they  violently  broke  open  the  doors  of  the 
same,  and  robbed  it  of  the  following  articles,  viz  :  two  brass 
petards,  some  tents,  mostly  unserviceable,  a  few  powder- 
horns,  nails,  baskets,  and  other  things,  which  at  present  is 
not  in  my  power  to  particularize.  In  consequence  of  the 
above  facts  having  been  represented  to  the  civil  magistrates, 
a  deputation  from  their  body  waited  on  their  Committee  of 
Safety  for  the  Colony  of  New-  York,  who  sit  during  the 
recess  of  the  Provincial  Congress.  The  latter,  on  hearing 
what  had  happened,  gave  immediate  orders  for  printing  and 
publishing  handbills  to  the  following  purport,  which  were 
soon  after  distributed  throughout  the  City. 

"  Whereas,  information  hath  been  given  to  this  Com- 
mittee, by  the  Civil  Magistrates  of  the  City  of  New-York, 
that  an  attack  was  made,  without  provocation,  upon  a  boat 
belonging  to  His  Majesty's  Ship.(4sirt,and  the  boat  wantonly 
destroyed  ;  and  also,  that  the  house  and  stores  of  Mr.  Fran- 
cis Stephens  were  violently  broken  open,  and  robbed  of 
private  property,  and  military  stores  taken  from  thence ; 
and  whereas  the  said  Magistrates  have  requested  the  advice 
of  the  Committee  on  the  premises : 

"Ordered,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  Civil  Magis- 
trates to  examine  strictly  into  the  several  matters  and  things 
above  mentioned,  and  to  punish  all  persons  who  are  guilty 
of  perpetrating  the  same,  as  the  law  directs  ;  and  that  it  be, 
and  hereby  is  recommended  to  all  the  citizens  and  others, 
to  aid  and  assist  the  Magistrates  in  the  execution  of  their 
offices. 

A  true  copy  from  the  minutes : 

"  Robert  Benson,  Secretary. 

"July  13,  1775." 

The  Mayor  and  Court  of  Aldermen,  agreeable  to  what 
is  recommended  to  them  in  the  above,  proceeded  to  take 
the  depositions  of  several  persons  who  were  by  at  the  time 
the  depredations  were  committed,  and  issued  their  warrants 
for  apprehending  those  who  were  reported  to  be  guilty. 
But  the  Grand  Jury,  who  were  sitting  at  the  time,  and  had 
the  complaints  with  many  affidavits  laid  before  them,  never- 
theless thought  proper  to  decline  doing  any  thing  further 
in  the  affair ;  nor  does  there  appear  the  smallest  shadow 
of  a  probability  that  I  shall  be  able  to  obtain  any  redress, 


so  very  much  are  the  insulters  and  robbers  of  Government 
property  at  present  befriended  in  this  place. 

1  am,  with  the  greatest  respect,  Sir,  your  Excellency's 
most  obedient  and  most  humble  servant, 

Francis  Stephens. 

His  Excellency  the  Honourable  General  Gage. 


GENERAL  SCHUYLER  TO  CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS. 

Ticondcroga,  July  31,  1775. 

Sir:  Yesterday  the  enclosed  letter  and  papers  were  de- 
livered me.  The  warrants  for  the  Captains  and  Lieutenants 
to  enlist  the  men,  have  not  yet  been  sent  up ;  but  that  no 
delay  might  thereby  be  occasioned,  1  have  directed  them 
to  proceed  to  make  the  levies,  and  have  given  them  assu- 
rances that  they  should  have  the  commissions.  A  contro- 
versy has  arisen  between  Allen  and  Warner;  the  former, 
you  will  perceive,  has  been  left  out  altogether  by  the  Green 
Mountain  Boys.  What  the  consequences  will  be  I  cannot 
pretend  to  say. 

I  have  a  boat  on  stocks,  sixty  feet  in  length,  which  I 
hope  to  finish  by  this  day  week.  I  suppose  she  will  carry 
between  two  and  three  hundred  men.  Another  of  the  same 
size  is  to  be  put  up  to-day,  so  that  I  hope  soon  to  have 
vessels  enough  to  move  on.  If  any  more  powder  can  be 
got,  1  hope  it  will  be  sent,  as  not  above  a  ton  will  be  left, 
if  so  much,  when  the  Troops  are  completed,  to  a  pound 
a  man. 

Enclose  you  copies  of  two  letters;  one  from  Commissary 
Phelps,  and  the  other  from  Commissary  Strong.  The 
former,  Mr.  Livingston  acquaints  me,  refuses  to  resign  the 
department  into  his  hands.  I  have  sent  orders  to  him  re- 
quiring his  compliance.  I  doubt  whether  they  will  be 
obeyed.  If  not,  it  is  more  than  probable  that  the  service 
will  essentially  suffer. 

I  have  written  to  Mr.  Strong,  that  Mr.  Livingston  will 
take  the  pork,  flour,  and  cattle,  he  mentions  ;  his  letter  is 
not  the  most  decent,  and  as  such  I  have  treated  it  in  my 
answer  to  him. 

As  I  did  not  wish  that  Mr.  Livingston  should  dismiss 
any  person  that  had  been  employed  by  the  Colony  of  Con- 
necticut, I  wrote  him  as  soon  as  I  was  informed  of  his  ap- 
pointment. Mr.  Phelps  must  continue  in  employment,  and 
I  think  you  had  best  send  him  to  Fort  George,  to  take 
charge  of  your  branch  there. 

I  should  not  have  troubled  you  with  these  letters,  but 
that  you  may  from  them  see  the  necessity  of  some  general 
resolution  of  Congress,  to  cure  all  this  jarring. 

I  am,  Sir,  your  Honour's  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

Philip  Schuyler. 

Honourable  John  Hancock,  President,  &c. 


GENERAL  SCHUYLER  TO  NEW-YORK  CONGRESS 

Ticonderoga,  July  31,  1775, 

Gentlemen  :  I  do  myself  the  honour  to  enclose  you  a 
copy  of  a  letter  and  paper  I  have  received  from  the  people 
called  Green  Mountain  Boys,  together  with  a  copy  of  my 
letter  in  answer.  I  am  apprehensive  that  the  controversy 
which  has  arisen  amongst  them,  relative  to  the  Field-Offi- 
cers,  will  cause  delay  in  the  levies.  Whilst  at  New-  York, 
and  even  after  my  arrival  here,  on  conversing  with  Allen 
and  Warner,  1  did  not  conceive  there  could  have  been  any 
contest  between  them,  or  that  a  third  person  would  have 
been  recommended  by  the  people  as  a  Field-Officer.  On 
that  supposition,  and  believing  the  people  unanimous  in 
their  favour,  I  should  not  have  hesitated  to  have  recom- 
mended them. 

You  will  please  to  send  up  the  warrants  for  the  Captains 
and  Lieutenants  without  being  filled  up,  lest  any  that  are 
nominated  should  decline  the  service.  The  warrants  com- 
pleted for  such  Field-Officers  as  you  may  appoint,  you  will 
also  please  to  furnish  me  with. 

I  have  got  some  New-England  men  to  make  oars  in 
this  quarter.  If,  therefore,  you  order  me  six  hundred,  it 
will  be  sufficient ;  these  I  wish  up  as  soon  as  possible. 
Some  of  the  stores  are  arrived,  and  I  hope  the  remainder 
will  soon  be  here. 

1  beg  leave  to  remind  you,  that  the  proper  officers  and 


1761 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JULY,  1775. 


1762 


necessaries  for  a  hospital  will  be  most  indispensably  ne- 
cessary. The  Troops  already  here  begin  severely  to  feel 
the  want  of  them. 

Please  to  order  all  the  powder  that  is  made  at  Judge 
Livingston's  powder-mill  to  Albany,  with  as  much  des- 
patch as  possible,  directed  to  the  care  of  the  Deputy  Com- 
missary-General, Walter  Livingston,  Esquire. 

The  clothing  and  tents  for  the  Green  Mountain  Boys,  I 
wish  you  to  forward  as  soon  as  possible. 

1  am,  Gentlemen,  with  great  respect,  your  most  obedient 
humble  servant,  Ph.  Schuyler. 

To  Peter  Van  Brugh  Livingston,  Esq.,  he. 

NATHAN  CLARK  TO   GENERAL  SCHUYLER. 

Dorset,  July  28,  1775. 
May  it  please  your  Honour:  In  compliance  to  the 
orders  of  Congress,  as  well  as  your  recommendation,  I  en- 
close the  proceedings  of  our  Committee  meeting  on  the 
New-Hampshire  Grants  upon  due  notice  to  the  Towns  in 
general,  all  which  is  humbly  submitted  to  your  wisdom, 
not  doubting  but  the  warrants  will  issue  agreeable  to  our 
wishes.  We  are  your  most  obedient. 
In  behalf  of  the  Committee  : 

Nathan  Clark,  Chairman. 
To  the  Honourable  General  Schuyler. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committees  of  the  several  Town- 
ships on  the  New-Hampshire  Grants,  west  of  the  Range 
of  Green-Mountains,  convened  at  the  house  of  Mr. Cephas 
Kents,  Innholder  in  the  Township  of  Dorset,  July  27th, 
1775.    Voted  as  follows,  viz  : 

First.    Chose  Mr.  Nathan  Clark  Chairman. 

Secondly.    Chose  John  Fassett  Clerk. 

Thirdly.  The  motion  being  made  and  seconded,  whether 
tbis Convention  shall  prosecute  in  choosing  Field  and  other 
officers  according  to  the  Provincial  Congress's  and  your 
Honour's  directions  ? 

Passed  in  the  affirmative. 

Then  proceeded  as  follows : 

Fourthly.  Chose  Mr.  Seth  Warner  Lieutenant-Colonel 
for  the  Regiment  of  Green  Mountain  Boys,  by  a  majority 
of  forty-one  to  five. 

Fifthly.  Chose  Mr.  Samuel  Safford  Major  for  said  Re- 
giment, by  a  majority  of  twenty-eight  to  seventeen. 

Then  proceeded  and  chose  seven  Captains,  and  fourteen 
Lieutenants,  by  a  great  majority,  namely: 

Captains :  Weight  Hopkins,  Oliver  Potter,  John  Grant, 
William  Fitch,  Gideon  Brownson,  Micah  Vail,  Heman 
Allen. 

First  Lieutenants:  John  Fassett,  Ebenezer  Allen,  Bar- 
nabas Barnam,  Jille  Bleaksley,  Ira  Allen,  Gideon  War- 
ren, David  Galusha. 

Second  Lieutenants :  Johan  Noble,  James  Claghorn, 

John  Chipman,  Nathan  Smith,  Jesse  Sawyer,  Joshua 

Stanton,  Philo  Hard.       m  r,  n,  . 

'  Nathan  Clark,  Chairman. 

GENERAL   SCHUYLER  TO   NATHAN  CLARK. 

Head-Quarters,  Ticonderoga,  July  31,  1775. 

Sir:  Your  letter,  dated  Dorset,  28th  July,  1775,  has 
been  delivered  me  by  Captain  Fitch,  together  witb  the 
votes  that  were  enclosed. 

The  choice  of  the  Captains  and  Lieutenants  being  left 
unconditional  to  the  people,  those  chosen  will  receive  the 
warrants  as  soon  as  they  come  to  my  hands,  and  the  levy- 
ing of  the  men  may  not  be  retarded.  You  will  signify  to 
them  that  I  hereby  empower  them  immediately  to  proceed 
to  that  business,  without  waiting  for  the  warrants. 

And  in  order  to  prevent  any  confusion  that  may  take 
place,  the  Captains  and  Lieutenants  must  immediately  sig- 
nify to  me  in  writing,  that  they  accept,  or  decline  the  offices 
to  which  they  have  been  elected. 

The  votes  I  shall  immediately  transmit  to  Congress,  that 
they  may  approve  of  the  Field  Officers,  or  appoint  others 
out  of  your  body,  as  they  may  think  proper. 

I  am,  Sir,  your  humble  servant, 

Philip  Schuyler. 
To  Mr.  Nathan  Clark,  Chairman,  he. 


GENERAL  SCHUYLER  TO  GOVERNOUR  TRUMBULL. 

Ticonderoga,  July  31,  1775. 
Sir  :  At  ten  this  morning  was  honoured  with  your 
favour  of  twenty-fourth  instant.  Any  person  acquainted 
witli  the  situation  of  this  Country,  the  importance  of  having 
the  command  of  Canada,  the  salutary  consequences  that 
must  necessarily  flow  from  having  it  in  our  power  to  com- 
mand respect  from  the  savages,  must,  without  hesitation, 
agree,  that  no  time  ought  to  be  lost  in  attempting  to  gain 
possession  of  the  Province  of  Quebeck;  and  although  hith- 
erto we  have  had  every  prospect  that  could  promise  success 
to  the  enterprise,  yet  such  is  unfortunately  our  situation, 
that  we  are  not  in  a  capacity  to  move.  We  have  neither 
craft  to  transport  a  body  of  men,  nor  provisions.  The 
former  I  hope  soon  to  be  supplied  with,  as  I  have  a  num- 
ber of  carpenters  at  work  in  building  boats.  The  latter 
must  be  sent  me  from  Albany;  but  comes  so  amazingly 
slow,  that  we  have  not  above  ten  days'  flour  for  the  few 
Troops  here.  This  scarcity  has  obliged  me  to  order  the 
men  arrived  at  Albany  from  New-York  to  encamp  there, 
to  prevent  their  starving  here. 

I  find  by  the  returns  of  the  Commissaries,  that  twenty 
thousand  rations  were  expended  so  early  as  the  seventh 
instant,  beyond  the  allowance.  I  hope,  however,  that  we 
shall  get  ready  in  time  to  effect  so  good  a  work,  if  the  dis- 
position of  the  Canadians  continues  friendly  to  us.  The 
Troops  here  sicken  very  fast  for  want  of  proper  hospitals. 
We  are  under  the  disagreeable  necessity  of  leaving  the 
sick  with  the  well. 

If  the  Lexington  affair  caused  so  much  emotion  in  Eng- 
land, 1  hope  the  last  battle  will  increase  them,  so  as  to  bring 
about  a  revolution  of  some  kind  in  our  favour;  and  the 
Minister's  confidence  in  the  defection  of  New-York  van- 
ishing, they  may  be  induced  to  give  up  their  odious  claims, 
and  pursue  measures  tending  to  a  reconciliation,  instead  of 
the  nefarious  and  hostile  ones  they  had  adopted. 

I  am,  Sir,  your  Honour's  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

Ph.  Schuyler. 

Hon.  Jonathan  Trumbull. 

GENERAL  SCHUYLER  TO  GENERAL  WASHINGTON. 

Ticonderoga,  July  31,  1775. 
Dear  General:  Since  my  last  I  have  been  most  assidu- 
ously employed  in  preparing  materials  for  building  boats  to 
convey  me  across  the  lake.  The  progress  has  hitherto 
been  slow,  as  with  few  hands  I  had  all  the  timber  to  cut, 
mills  to  repair  to  saw  the  plank,  and  my  draught  cattle  ex- 
tremely weak  for  want  of  feed,  the  drought  having  scorched 
up  every  kind  of  herbage.  I  have  now  one  boat  on  the 
stocks  which  I  hope  will  carry  near  three  hundred  men  ; 
another  is  putting  up  to-day.  Provisions  of  the  bread  kind 
are  scarce  with  me,  and  therefore  I  have  not  dared  to  order 
up  a  thousand  men  that  are  at  Albany,  lest  we  should 
starve  here. 

I  have  had  no  intelligence  from  Canada  since  my  last  to 
you.  Major  Brown  has  been  gone  nine  days,  and  I  ex- 
pect him  back,  if  all  is  well,  by  Saturday  next,  August  2. 

I  have  not  had  a  return  from  General  Wooster  since  my 
arrival.  I  am  therefore  under  the  necessity  of  making  you 
a  return  of  the  Troops  here  only. 

Enclose  your  Excellency  a  copy  of  two  affidavits  made 
by  persons  from  Canada.  I  have  transmitted  other  copies 
to  the  Congress. 

I  am  extremely  anxious  to  hear  from  your  part  of  the 
world.  Reports  prevail  that  a  body  of  Troops  have  left 
Boston,  and  are  gone  to  Canada.  If  so,  I  fear  we  shall 
not  be  able  to  penetrate  into  Canada,  or  even  attack  St. 
John's  with  success,  though  at  all  events  I  am  ordered  to 
go  there. 

I  am  your  Excellency's  most  obedient  and  most  humble 
servant,  Philip  Schuyler. 

To  His  Excellency  General  Washington,  he.  he. 

P.  S.  I  wish  I  could  make  you  a  regular  return  even  of 
the  Troops  at  this  place  and  Crown  Point,  but  I  have  not 
yet  got  the  people  to  be  regular  in  any  thing,  and  there- 
fore beg  you  to  dispense  with  the  following  statement:  Fit 
for  duty,  1  Colonel,  3  Majors,  9  Captains,  1  Captain- 
Lieutenant,  21  Subalterns,  34  Sergeants,  18  Drums  and 


Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii. 


Ill 


1763 


CORRESPONDENCE,  PROCEEDINGS,  &c,  JULY,  1775. 


1764 


Fifes,  933  rank  and  file,  I  Chaplain,  2  Adjutants,  1  Quar- 
termaster, 1  Surgeon,  and  2  Mates.  Sick :  1  Lieutenant, 
4  Sergeants,  2  Drums,  103  rank  and  file. 

GOVERNOUR  TRUMBULL  TO  GENERAL  WASHINGTON. 

Lebanon,  July  31,  1775. 

Sir:  By  the  Resolve  in  Congress  of  the  19th  instant, 
it  is  recommended  to  the  New-England  Colonies  to  com- 
plete the  deficiencies  in  the  Regiments  belonging  to  them 
respectively.  I  have  not  been  informed  of  any  deficiency 
in  the  number  of  Troops  sent  from  Connecticut. 

It  is  recommended,  also,  to  this  Colony,  to  complete  and 
send  forward  to  the  camp  before  Boston,  as  soon  as  pos- 
sible, the  fourteen  hundred  men  lately  voted  by  our  Assem- 
bly. The  25th  instant  I  sent  orders  to  the  Colonels  of  the 
last  raised  Regiments  to  march  forthwith  to  the  camp  be- 
fore Boston  by  subdivisions,  if  all  were  not  in  readiness. 
Expect  many  of  the  companies  will  begin  their  march  this 
day,  and  that  the  whole  will  move  forward  very  soon. 

The  honourable  President  Hancock,  in  his  favour  of  the 
22d  instant,  informs,  that  you  had  recommended,  and  the 
Congress  have  appointed  Mr.  Joseph  Trumbull  Commis- 
sary-General of  the  American  Army.  I  am  also  informed 
that  you  have  taken  Mr.  John  Trumbull  into  your  service 
and  family.  These  instances  of  kindness  shewn  them  justly 
claim  my  most  grateful  acknowledgments.  A  performance 
of  their  duty  answerable  to  your  expectation,  will  meet 
your  approbation  and  continuance  of  regard,  and  afford  me 
peculiar  satisfaction  and  pleasure. 

The  Rose,  Swan,  and  Kingfisher,  ships-of-war,  with  a 
small  tender,  the  26th  instant  came  into  the  harbour  at 
New-London.  On  the  27th  instant  some  men  landed 
near  the  Light-house,  broke  off  the  trunnions  and  plugged 
up  with  old  files  three  or  four  cannon.  They  sailed  out 
again  on  Friday  last.  It  is  reported  Mr.  Collector  Stuart 
is  packing  up  his  effects,  in  order  to  leave  that  port. 

I  am,  Sir,  with  great  truth  and  regard,  your  Excellency's 
most  obedient  and  humble  servant,    Joiu  Trumbdll> 

His  Excellency  General  Washington. 


TOWN-MEETING,  PROVIDENCE,  RHODE-ISLAND. 

At  a  Town-meeting  called  by  warrant  and  holden  in 
Providence,  on  the  thirty-first  day  of  July,  A.  D.  1775, 
the  Hon.  Nicholas  Cooke,  Esquire,  Moderator: 

Voted,  That  there  be  an  Intrenchment  and  Breastwork 
hove  up  between  Field's  Point  and  Sassafras  Point,  suffi- 
cient to  cover  such  a  body  of  men  as  may  be  ordered  there 
on  emergency;  that  there  be  a  Battery  of  six  eighteen- 
pounders  erected  at  Fox  Hill;  that  there  be  four  cannon 
mounted  as  field-pieces  by  the  Committee  hereinafter- 
named  ;  that  the  same  Committee  draw  up  Rules  for  regu- 
lating the  Battery;  that  Captain  Nicholas  Power  be  ap- 
pointed to  build  the  Battery  and  Breastwork  aforesaid,  and 
that  he  advise  and  consult  with  Captain  Errick  Hopkins, 
Ambrose  Page,  Esquire,  Captain  John  Updike,  Mr.  Sa- 
muel Nightingale,  Jun.,  Captain  William  Earle,  and  Cap- 
tain Simon  Smith,  who  are  appointed  a  Committee  for  that 
purpose,  on  the  manner  of  building  the  aforesaid  works, 
and  that  he  proceed  on  the  same  immediately;  that  there 
be  a  foot  Bridge  built  over  the  Creek  that  leads  to  Fox 
Point ;  that  the  Committee  aforesaid  apply  to  the  propri- 
etors of  the  lands  to  get  liberty  to  build  the  Batteries  at 
Fox  Hill,  he. ;  that  Captain  Poiver  draw  on  the  Town 
Treasury  for  defraying  the  expense  of  the  aforesaid  works, 
until  the  same  shall  be  reimbursed  by  the  Continental  Con- 
gress, and  if  there  is  not  money  sufficient  in  the  Treasury 
to  answer  Captain  Power's  orders,  he  shall  be  allowed  in- 
terest for  the  same  till  paid ;  that  his  Honour  the  Deputy- 
Governour  be  requested  to  represent  the  whole  of  this 
matter  to  the  Continental  Congress  requesting  that  they 
would  be  pleased  to  reimburse  the  Town  the  expenses 
they  may  be  at  in  erecting  those  temporary  though  neces- 
sary works  of  defence. 

Voted,  That  the  Committee  appointed  at  the  last  meet- 
ing to  erect  a  Beacon,  be  also  requested  to  build  a  House 
for  the  materials  for  the  Beacon. 

Voted,  That  this  meeting  be  adjourned  to  Saturday 
next,  at  four  o'clock,  P.  M. 


GENERAL  WASHINGTON  TO  THE  SPEAKER  OF  THE  GENERAL 
ASSEMBLY  OF  MASSACHUSETTS-BAY. 

Camp  at  Cambridge,  July  31,  1775. 

Sir  :  I  have  considered  the  application  made  to  me  yes- 
terday from  the  General  Court,  with  all  the  attention  due  to 
the  situation  of  the  people  in  whose  behalf  it  is  made,  and 
the  respect  due  to  such  a  recommendation.  Upon  refer- 
ring to  my  instructions,  and  consulting  with  those  members 
of  Congress  who  are  present,  as  well  as  the  General  Offi- 
cers, they  all  agree,  that  it  would  not  be  consistent  with  my 
duty  to  detach  any  part  of  the  Army  now  here  on  any  par- 
ticular Provincial  service.  It  has  been  debated  in  Congress 
and  settled,  that  the  Militia,  or  other  internal  strength  of 
each  Province,  is  to  be  applied  for  defence  against  those 
small  and  particular  depredations  which  were  to  be  expect- 
ed, and  to  which  they  were  supposed  to  be  competent. 
This  will  appear  the  more  proper,  when  it  is  considered, 
that  every  town,  and  indeed  every  part  of  our  sea-coast 
which  is  exposed  to  these  depredations,  would  have  an 
equal  claim  upon  this  Army. 

It  is  the  misfortune  of  our  situation,  which  exposes  us  to 
these  ravages,  and  against  which,  in  my  judgment,  no 
such  temporary  relief  could  possibly  secure  us.  The  great 
advantage  the  enemy  have  of  transporting  troops  by  being 
masters  of  the  sea,  will  enable  them  to  harass  us  by  diver- 
sions of  this  kind  ;  and  should  we  be  tempted  to  pursue 
them  upon  every  alarm,  the  Army  must  either  be  so  weak- 
ened as  to  expose  it  to  destruction,  or  a  great  part  of  the 
coast  be  still  left  unprotected.  Nor,  indeed,  does  it  appear 
to  me,  that  such  a  pursuit  would  be  attended  with  the  least 
effect.  The  first  notice  of  such  an  excursion  would  be  its 
actual  execution ;  and  long  before  any  troops  could  reach 
the  scene  of  action,  the  enemy  would  have  an  opportunity 
to  accomplish  their  purpose,  and  retire.  It  would  give  me 
great  pleasure  to  have  it  in  my  power  to  extend  protection 
and  safety  to  every  individual ;  but  the  wisdom  of  the  Gene- 
ral Court  will  anticipate  me  in  the  necessity  of  conducting 
our  operations  on  a  general  and  impartial  scale,  so  as  to  ex- 
clude any  just  cause  of  complaint  and  jealousy. 

I  beg,  Sir,  you  will  do  me  the  honour  to  communicate 
these  sentiments  to  the  General  Court,  and  to  apologize  for 
my  involuntary  delay,  as  we  were  alarmed  this  morning  by 
the  enemy,  and  my  time  was  taken  up  in  giving  the  neces- 
sary directions. 

I  shall  be  happy  in  every  opportunity  of  showing  my 
very  great  respect  and  regard  for  the  General  Court  of 
Massachusetts-Bay ;  and  am,  Sir,  &c. 

Go.  Washington. 


EXTRACT    OF    A    LETTER    RECEIVED    IN  PHILADELPHIA, 
DATED  CAMBRIDGE,  JULY  31,  1775. 

Last  Friday  we  were  informed  by  our  out  sentries  at 
the  foot  of  Bunker's  Hill,  that  the  enemy  had  cut  down 
several  large  trees,  and  were  busy  all  night  in  throwing  up 
a  line  and  abattis  in  front  of  it.  In  the  evening  orders 
were  given  to  the  York  County  Rifle  Company,  to  march 
down  to  our  advanced  post  on  Charlcstown  Neck,  to  en- 
deavour to  surround  the  enemy's  advanced  guard,  and  to 
bring  off  some  prisoners;  from  whom  we  expected  to  learn 
the  enemy's  design  in  throwing  up  the  abattis  on  the  neck. 
The  Rifle  Company  divided,  and  executed  their  plan  in 
the  following  manner:  Captain  Dowdle,  with  thirty-nine 
men,  filed  off  to  the  right  of  Bunker's  Hill,  and,  creeping 
on  their  hands  and  knees,  got  into  the  rear  of  the  enemy's 
sentries,  without  being  discovered.  The  other  division,  of 
forty  men.  under  Lieutenant  Miller,  were  equally  success- 
ful in  getting  behind  the  sentries  on  the  left,  and  were 
within  a  few  yards  of  joining  the  division  on  the  right, 
when  a  party  of  Regulars  came  down  the  hill  to  relieve 
their  guard,  and  crossed  our  Riflemen  under  Captain  Dow- 
dle, as  they  were  lying  on  the  ground  in  an  Indian  file. 
The  Regulars  were  within  twenty  yards  of  our  Riflemen 
before  they  saw  them,  and  immediately  fired.  The  Rifle- 
men returned  the  salute,  killed  several,  and  brought  off 
two  prisoners  and  their  muskets,  with  the  loss  of  Coporal 
Crouse,  who  is  supposed  to  be  killed,  as  he  has  not  been 
heard  of  since  the  affair. 

In  return  for  this,  the  enemy  alarmed  us  last  night  in 
their  turn.  At  one  o'clock  this  morning  a  heavy  firing  of 
small-arras  and  cannon  occasioned  our  drums  to  beat  to 


1765 


NEW-HAMPSHIRE  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY,  JULY,  1775. 


1766 


arms.  The  Army  was  immediately  ordered  under  arms 
to  their  posts.  The  firing  continued  in  three  different 
quarters — Roxbury,  Sewall's  Point,  at  the  mouth  of  Cam- 
bridge River,  and  at  the  advanced  posts  at  Charlestoivn 
Neck.  Some  hours  elapsed  before  we  knew  the  design  of 
the  enemy,  which  was  this:  we  had  surrounded  some  of 
their  out  guards  the  night  before,  which  induced  them  to 
serve  our  sentries  in  the  same  manner.  They  sent  two  flat- 
bottomed  boats  to  Sewall's  Point  to  attack  our  redoubt  there; 
sallied  out  at  Roxbury,  and  set  fire  to  the  George  Tavern, 
our  advanced  guard  house.  Our  people  attacked,  beat  them 
in,  and  took  one  prisoner,  who  is  expected  here  every 
minute.  The  flat-bottomed  boats,  after  a  useless  fire  of 
many  hours,  returned.  The  picket  guard  of  the  enemy  on 
Charlestoivn  Seek  attacked  and  drove  in  our  advanced 
guard  of  sixty  men,  who,  being  re-enforced  by  General  Lee's 
orders,  recovered  their  ground,  and  beat  off  the  enemy, 
killed  several,  and  brought  off  seven  muskets,  without  losing 
a  man,  although  our  men  engaged  them  under  their  guns, 
within  point  blank  shot  of  their  lines.  We  are  just  inform- 
ed that  two  hundred  and  fifty  of  the  Marblehead  sailors 
have  formed  on  Plowed  Hill,  and  have  drove  in  all  the 
out  guards  of  the  enemy.  The  enemy  do  not  appear  to  be 
very  fond  of  coming  out.  We  shall  harass  them  continual- 
ly, and  for  this  reason  want  the  aid  of  the  Riflemen,  as 
only  one  company  is  as  yet  came  in. 


Worcester,  Massachusetts,  August  2,  1775. 

On  Monday  last,  July  31st,  we  learn  that  a  detachment 
of  three  hundred  men  from  our  Army,  under  the  command 
of  Major  Tupper,  were  sent  to  Light-House  Island,  on  in- 
formation being  received  that  the  King's  Troops  were  re- 
building it.  The  enemy  perceiving  our  people  coming,  pre- 
pared to  receive  them.  Our  Troops  were  ordered  not  to 
fire  until  they  landed,  which  they  did,  and  went  boldly  up 
to  the  enemy,  killed  ten  or  twelve  on  the  spot,  among 
whom  was  the  commanding  officer,  and  took  the  remain- 
der, about  thirty-five  in  number,  demolished  the  enemy's 
works,  and  were  preparing  to  embark;  but  the  tide  leaving 
them,  they  were  obliged  to  tarry  till  its  return;  meantime  a 
large  number  of  boats  from  the  men-of-war  came  up  in 
order  to  re-enforce  the  enemy  on  the  island,  and  a  smart 
firing  from  both  parties  commenced ;  our  Troops,  however, 


got  safe  back  with  their  prisoners,  with  the  loss  of  one  man 
killed,  and  two  or  three  wounded. 


To  the  Committee  of  Cherry  Valley.  To  be  communi- 
cated to  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Butternuts. 

A  Speech  of  the  Chiefs  of  the  Oneidas,  respecting  the 
late  Murder  committed  in  the  plantation  of  the  Butter- 
nuts. 

Brethren  :  We  have  heard  of  your  alarming  and  dis- 
tracting situation,  by  the  unnatural  and  very  inhuman  mur- 
der of  one  in  your  place.  We  are  very  much  surprised  at 
the  account,  and  feel  for  you  in  this  your  distress.  Both 
you  and  we  shall  likely  soon  discover  the  murderer.  You 
white  people  have  some  malicious  evil-minded  persons 
amongst  you,  and  we  Indians  have  likewise  the  same.  We 
have  long  resided  hard  by  our  brethren  on  Mohawk  River. 
and  never  knew  such  an  instance  as  has  happened  in  your 
place — a  man  found  dead,  and  murdered  in  such  a  manner! 
Brethren,  quiet  your  minds,  and  indulge  no  fears  nor 
jealousies  respecting  our  friendship ;  don't  leave  your  plan- 
tations; continue  where  you  are,  and  follow  your  work. 
We  don't  think  you  would  have  suspected  any  of  us  Onei- 
das to  have  done  such  a  thing,  were  it  not  for  the  troubles 
and  confusions  that  prevail  in  the  eastward,  (meaning  New- 
England.)  We  Oneidas  have  made  search,  and  can  find 
no  person  of  our  Nation  that  has  been  so  lately  hunting 
in  the  woods;  nor  any  of  the  Onohoggwahes.  We  there- 
fore entreat  you  to  quiet  your  minds,  and  by  no  means  in- 
dulge any  fears  respecting  us;  and  whenever  we  meet 
again,  let  it  be  in  great  friendship  and  brotherly  love;  or 
if  any  of  our  people  should  pass  that  way,  treat  them  with 
your  usual  kindness,  that  peace  may  always  continue  and 
be  maintained  between  us.  We  have  only  farther  to 
remark,  that  had  there  been  on  our  part  any  design  of 
mischief,  or  beginning  a  quarrel  with  the  white  people,  and 
had  an  Indian  committed  the  inhuman  murder,  he  would 
never  have  come  off  and  left  the  man  unscalped;  for  which 
reason,  and  some  other  circumstances,  we  are  of  opinion 
that  some  other  person,  and  not  an  Indian,  has  been  guilty 
of  the  murder  We  hope  you  may  never  know  the  like 
again,  but  continue  in  peace  and  prosper. 

Present,  four  of  the  Onohoggwahes.  Interpreted  and 
wrote  by  Samuel  Kirkland,  Missionary. 


NEW-HAMPSHIRE  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY. 

June  30,  1775. — Ordered  the  Receiver-General  to  pay 
to  the  Committee  of  Supplies  six  hundred  Pounds,  lawful 
money,  to  be  by  them  accounted  for. 

Ordered  the  Receiver-General  to  pay  to  Samuel  Hobart, 
Esq.,  Paymaster  of  the  Forces  of  this  Colony,  four  thou- 
sand five  hundred  Pounds,  lawful  money. 

Ordered  the  Receiver-General  to  deliver  Lieutenant 

 ,  forty-two  pounds  of  Gunpowder  for  the  use  of 

Captain  Langdon's  Company,  at  Portsmouth,  and  to  take 
his  receipt  to  be  accountable  for  it. 

July  1,  1775. — Ordered  the  Receiver-General  to  pay 
to  the  Committee  of  Supplies  five  hundred  Pounds. 

Wrote  to  General  Folsom  by  Major  Hobart. — Copy 
filed. 

Wrote  to  Colonel  Reid  by  Major  Hobart. — Copy  filed. 

In  consequence  of  Messrs.  Child  and  Ashley  being  ap- 
pointed a  Committee  to  wait  upon  the  Congress  of  the 
Massachusetts,  and  the  Assemblies  of  Rhode-Island  and 
Connecticut,  as  per  vote  of  Congress,  ordered  the  Receiv- 
er-General to  pay  the  said  Child  six  Pounds,  lawful  money, 
to  be  by  him  accounted  for. 

July  4,  1775. — Ordered  the  Receiver-General  to  pay 
Jonathan  Robinson  forty  Shillings,  being  his  month's  pay 
as  a  Soldier  in  Captain  Samuel  Gilman's  Company,  he 
being  at  home  on  furlough. 

Ordered  the  Receiver-General  to  pay  Amos  Dakin  forty 
Shillings,  being  a  month's  pay  for  the  account  of  the  Widow 
of  one  Joseph  Blood,  who  was  killed  in  the  Army,  to  be 
by  said  Dakin  accounted  for. 

July  5,  1775. — Ordered  the  Receiver-General  to  pay 


Samuel  Calley  four  Pounds  sixteen  Shillings,  for  a  Wagon 
by  him  made  for  the  use  of  this  Colony. 

Ordered  the  Receiver-General  to  pay  the  Committee 
of  Supplies  one  thousand  Pounds,  lawful  money,  to  be 
by  them  accounted  for. 

Appointed  Captain  Josiah  Moult  on  Paymaster  of  Cap- 
tain Elkins's  Company,  for  first  month's  wages. 

Ordered  Receiver-General  to  pay  Captain  Josiah  Moul- 
ton  one  hundred  and  thirty-nine  Pounds  sixteen  Shillings, 
lawful  money,  for  the  first  month's  pay  of  Captain  Elkins's 
Company. 

Appointed  Israel  Morey,  Esq.,  Paymaster  of  the  first 
month's  wages  of  Captain  Bedell's  Company. 

July  6,  1775. — Ordered  the  Receiver-General  to  pay 
Israel  Morey,  Esq.,  one  hundred  and  thirty-nine  Pounds 
sixteen  Shillings,  lawful  money,  being  for  the  first  month's 
pay  of  Captain  Bedell's  Company. 

Honourable  Meshech  Weare  was  added  to  the  Commit- 
tee of  Safety. 

Ordered  the  Receiver-General  to  pay  Ebenezer  Thomp- 
son, Esq.,  thirty-one  Pounds  four  Shillings,  being  the  ex- 
pense of  making  the  £10,050  lately  emitted  by  order  of 
the  Congress  of  this  Colony. 

Previous  to  the  drawing  the  orders  of  this  day's  date, 
Captain  William  Whipple  was  chosen  Chairman  of  this 
Committee  pro  tern. 

July  7,  1775. — Ordered  Samuel  Hobart,  Esq.,  to  pay 
the  surplus  of  the  money  left  in  his  hands,  after  paying  the 
Troops  according  to  directions,  to  those  of  the  Committee 
of  Supplies  at  Head-Quarters,  Medford. 

Ordered  the  Receiver-General  to  pay  Mr.  John  Whee- 
lock  forty-two  Shillings  and  three  Pence  half-penny,  being 


1767 


NEW-HAMPSHIRE  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY,  JULY,  1775. 


1768 


the  amount  of  bis  account  of  expenses,  time,  and  horse,  in 
a  journey  to  Watertown  by  order  of  Congress. 

Gave  James  Osgood  orders  to  enlist  twenty  effective 
Soldiers. 

Appointed  Captain  David  Page  to  muster  the  men  that 
shall  be  enlisted  by  James  Osgood. 

Gave  John  Parker  orders  to  enlist  sixty-three  men  for 
Soldiers. 

Made  out  Commission  for  Colonel  Bedell  as  Captain  ; 
Abraham  Palmer  as  Lieutenant ;  Richard  Nelson  as  En- 
sign, of  the  first  Company  of  Rangers,  in  the  service  of 
this  Colony,  dated  23d  of  June,  1775,  the  day  they  were 
mustered. 

Gave  Captain  Bedell  the  following  orders : 
Sir  :  You  are  directed  to  proceed  immediately  to  Nor- 
thumberland or  Lancaster,  with  your  company,  or  such 
part  thereof  as  you  think  proper,  and  there,  in  conjunction 
with  the  inhabitants,  erect  a  garrison  in  such  a  place  as  you, 
with  their  advice,  shall  judge  most  suitable,  sufficient  for 
defence  against  small-arms;  and  when  that  is  completed, 
to  assist  in  building  garrisons  in  such  other  places  on  the 
frontiers  as  you,  with  the  advice  of  the  inhabitants,  shall 
judge  most  necessary;  sending  out  such  scouts  from  time 
to  time  for  intelligence  as  you  shall  think  expedient;  and 
also  to  take  charge  of  all  such  provisions  as  may  be  sent 
you,  and  cause  the  same  properly  to  be  delivered  to  the 
soldiers  of  your  and  other  companies  that  may  be  posted 
by  the  Congress  or  this  Committee  on  Connecticut  River, 
and  purchase  beef  and  bread,  &c,  as  may  be  requisite, 
and  return  your  accounts  to  this  Committee  for  their  allow- 
ance and  payment ;  and  also  to  use  your  utmost  endeavours 
to  gain  and  keep  the  friendship  of  the  Indians,  by  small 
donations,  &tc. ;  and  if  any  thing  of  importance  should 
occur,  to  send  information  thereof  to  this  Committee  by 
immediate  expresses;  and  to  take  up  and  examine  any 
person  you  may  suspect  of  attempting  to  cross  the  coun- 
try to  Canada  with  a  design  to  hurt  the  cause  of  America; 
and  if,  after  examination,  you  are  satisfied  of  such  design, 
that  you  secure  him  or  them,  and  send  them  down  here  for 
trial ;  and  to  use  your  discretion  with  regard  to  any  others 
who  evidently  appear  to  be  inimical  to  the  liberties  of  Ame- 
rica. In  case  of  any  attack  upon  any  of  the  inhabitants  in 
those  parts  to  whom  you  can  possibly  afford  assistance, 
you  are  to  do  it  without  delay. 
By  order  of  the  Committee  : 

Wm.  Whipple,  Chairman  pro  tern. 

Gave  Matthew  Thornton  orders  to  enlist  forty-three  able- 
bodied  men  as  Soldiers. 

Gave  Seth  Wheeler  the  following  Orders  to  enlist  ten  able- 
bodied  men  as  Soldiers  : 

In  Committee  of  Safety,  Exeter,  July  7,  1775. 

To  Seth  Wheeler,  Greeting: 

Sir:  You  are  hereby  empowered  immediately  to  enlist 
ten  able-bodied  and  effective  men,  well  accoutred,  as  sol- 
diers in  the  New-Hampshire  service,  for  the  preservation 
of  American  liberty,  and  cause  them  to  pass  muster  as  soon 
as  possible. 

By  order  of  the  Committee : 

Wm.  Whipple,  Chairman  pro  tern. 

In  Committee  of  Safety,  Exeter,  July  7,  1775. 

To  Seth  Wheeler: 

Sir  :  Whereas,  you  this  day  received  orders  for  enlisting 
ten  men  as  soldiers  in  the  Neiv-Hampshire  service,  for  the 
preservation  of  American  liberty  :  you  are  hereby  acquaint- 
ed that  the  commission  of  an  Ensign  in  said  service  shall 
be  made  out  for  you  as  soon  as  your  enlistment  is  com- 
pleted, and  the  men  have  passed  muster.  You  and  the 
said  men  to  be  enlisted  are  to  be  under  the  command  of 
Captain  John  Parker,  of  Litchfield,  in  the  County  of 
Hillsborough. 

By  order  of  said  Committee  : 

Wm.  Whipple,  Chairman  pro  tern. 

July  8,  1775. — Upon  application  of  Selectmen  of  New- 
town, informing  that  they  had  been  opposed  in  endeavour- 
ing to  apprehend  a  deserter  from  the  Army,  in  order  to 
send  him  back,  and  requesting  advisement  thereon,  wrote 
to  inhabitants  of  said  Town,  as  follows: 


In  Committoo  of  Safety,  Exeter,  July  8,  1775. 

Whereas,  the  Provincial  Congress  have  recommended 
to  the  several  and  respective  Committees  in  the  several 
Towns,  Parishes,  and  Precincts  in  this  Colony,  to  take  up 
and  secure  deserters  from  the  American  Army,  and  cause 
them  to  be  conveyed  safely  to  their  proper  Officers  at  Head- 
Quarters  ;  and  this  measure  must  appear  to  every  one  to 
be  of  great  importance  to  the  American  cause  ;  and  as 
we  are  informed  the  Town  of  Newtown,  having  no  such 
Committee,  the  Selectmen  laudably  therefore  endeavoured 
to  answer  the  design  of  the  Congress  in  sending  back  a 
deserter,  but  not  without  opposition  in  accomplishing  the 
same:  We  therefore  recommend  it  to  the  inhabitants  of 
Newtown  (whose  zeal  and  disposition  to  serve  the  common 
cause,  we  cannot  doubt)  that  they  exert  themselves  in  endea- 
vouring to  have  such  deserters  apprehended  and  returned 
to  their  respective  Companies,  and  in  supporting  the  Select- 
men and  others  in  doing  the  same ;  and  that  all  such  per- 
sons as  shall  endeavour  by  any  means  to  obstruct  or  hinder 
them  herein  be  taken  proper  notice  of,  according  to  the 
nature  of  their  offence,  and  if  need  be  put  under  guard. 
And  also  that  the  Town,  as  soon  as  may  be,  proceed  to 
choose  a  Committee,  as  recommended  by  the  Congress. 

Ordered  Committee  of  Supplies  to  send  two  barrels  of 
Gunpowder,  eight  hundred  pounds  of  Lead  or  Bullets,  six 
hundred  Flints  and  Blankets,  for  forty  Soldiers,  and  all 
other  necessaries  for  the  use  of  the  Troops,  on  the  Western 
Frontiers  of  this  Colony  to  Coos. 

Ordered  Receiver-General  to  pay  Samuel  Folsom  forty 
Pounds  fourteen  Shillings,  and  a  Penny,  being  for  the  board, 
horsekeeping,  and  expenses  of  Committee  to  this  day. 

Ordered  Receiver-General  to  pay  Timothy  Bedell,  Esq., 
forty-five  Shillings  and  six  Pence,  the  amount  of  his  account 
of  expenses,  &,c,  in  a  journey  to  Watertown  by  order  of 
Congress. 

Wrote  John  Hancock,  Esq.,  President  of  Continental 

Congress. 

Wrote  to  New-Hampshire  Delegates  at  Continental  Con- 
gress, and  to  Doctor  Langdon  at  Cambridge,  enclosing  two 
former  Letters. 

July  13.  1775. — Ordered  Committee  of  Supplies  to  for- 
ward to  Head-Quarters  fourteen  barrels  of  Gunpowder, 
and  a  quantity  of  Bullets. 

July  14,  1775. — Ordered  Receiver-General  to  pay  Wil- 
liam Parker,  Jun.,  one  hundred  and  fifty  Pounds,  first 
month's  wages  of  Captain  Shortridge's  Company. 

Appointed  William  Whipple,  Esquire,  Paymaster  of  first 
month's  wages  of  Captain  Shortridge's  Company,  and  Eli- 
phalet  Daniel  to  muster  them. 

July  19, 1775. — Ordered  Receiver-General  to  pay  Messrs. 
Folsom,  Parsons,  and  Evans,  (Committee  to  procure  five 
hundred  Fire-Arms  to  be  made,)  thirty  Pounds,  to  be  by 
them  accounted  for. 

Ordered  Receiver-General  to  pay  James  Proctor  nine 
Pounds,  for  sixty  shod  Shovels  by  him  supplied. 

Ordered  Receiver-General  to  pay  Jonathan  Perkins  ten 
Shillings,  amount  of  his  account,  for  keeping  door  of  Con- 
gress, &iC. 

Ordered  Receiver-General  to  pay  Moses  Parsons  three 
Pounds  ten  Shillings,  amount  of  his  account  for  expenses 
in  journeying  after  Gunsmiths. 

Ordered  Receiver-General  to  pay  Captain  Josiah  Moul- 
ton  three  Pounds  sixteen  Shillings,  being  the  sum  he  had 
advanced  for  his  board,  and  expenses  as  one  of  the  Com- 
mittee of  Safety. 

Ordered  Receiver-General  to  pay  Ebenezcr  Thompson, 
Esq.,  thirty  Pounds,  to  be  by  him  accounted  for. 

July  24, 1775. — Ordered  Receiver-General  to  pay  Com- 
mittee of  Supplies  six  hundred  Pounds,  to  be  by  them  ac- 
counted for. 

Ordered  Receiver-General  to  pay  General  Sullivan  thirty 
Pounds,  to  be  by  him  accounted  for. 

Appointed  W.  Parker,  Jun.,  to  muster  Captain  Parker's 
Company,  and  to  pay  them  first  month's  wages. 

July  31,  1775. — Ordered  Receiver-General  to  pay  W. 
Parker,  Jun.,  one  hundred  and  twenty  Pounds,  first  month's 
wages  of  part  of  Captain  Jonathan  Parker's  Company. 


1769 


PENNSYLVANIA  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY,  JULY,  1775. 


1770 


MINUTES  OF  THE  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY  OF  PENN- 
SYLVANIA. 

In  Assombly,  June  30,  1775. 

Philadelphia,  ss. 

1.  Resolved,  That  this  House  approves  the  Association 
entered  into  by  the  good  people  of  this  Colony,  for  the  de- 
fence of  their  lives,  liberties,  and  property. 

2.  Resolved,  That  if  any  invasion  or  landing  of  British 
Troops,  or  others,  shall  be  made  in  this  or  the  adjacent  Co- 
lonies, during  the  present  controversy,  or  any  armed  Ships 
or  Vessels  shall  sail  up  the  River  Delaware  in  a  hostile 
manner,  and  such  circumstances  shall  render  it  expedient 
in  the  judgment  of  the  Committee  hereafter  to  be  appoint- 
ed, for  any  number  of  the  Officers  and  private  men  of  the 
Association  within  this  Colony  to  enter  into  actual  service 
for  repelling  such  hostile  attempts,  this  House  will  provide 
for  the  pay  and  necessary  expenses  of  such  Officers  and 
Soldiers,  performing  such  military  duty  while  in  such  actual 
service. 

3.  Resolved.  That  the  pay  of  the  Officers  and  Privates, 
while  in  such  actual  service,  shall  not  exceed  that  of  the 
Army  raised  by  the  Congress  of  the  United  Colonies  for 
the  defence  of  the  liberties  of  America. 

4.  Resolved,  That  this  House  do  earnestly  recommend 
to  the  Board  of  Commiscioners  and  Assessors  of  the  City 
and  County  of  Philadelphia,  and  of  each  County  in  this 
Province  that  have  not  already  made  the  provision  here- 
inafter mentioned,  and  they  are  hereby  enjoined,  as  they 
regard  the  freedom,  welfare,  and  safety  of  their  Country, 
immediately  to  provide  a  proper  number  of  good  new  Fire- 
locks, with  Bayonets  fitted  to  them ;  Cartridge-boxes  with 
twenty-three  rounds  of  Cartridge  in  every  box  ;  and  Knap- 
sacks, not  less  than  fifteen  hundred  of  each  article  for  the 
City  and  County  of  Philadelphia ;  three  hundred  for  the 
County  of  Bucks ;  five  hundred  for  the  County  of  Ches- 
ter;  six  hundred  for  the  County  of  Lancaster;  three  hun- 
dred for  the  County  of  York;  three  hundred  for  the  County 
of  Cumberland;  four  hundred  for  the  County  of  Berks ; 
three  hundred  for  the  County  of  Northampton ;  one  hun- 
dred for  the  County  of  Bedford;  one  hundred  for  the 
County  of  JSorthumberland ;  and  one  hundred  for  the  Coun- 
ty of  W  estmoreland ;  to  be  under  the  care  of  the  Command- 
ing Officers  of  the  Battalions  of  the  said  Counties,  for  the 
immediate  use  of  such  Officers  and  Soldiers  as  shall  be 
drafted  from  the  Battalions  from  time  to  time  for  actual 
service.  And  the  said  Commissioners  and  Assessors  shall 
produce  their  Accounts  for  furnishing  the  Arms  and  Ac- 
coutrements aforesaid,  to  the  Committee  hereinafter  ap- 
pointed, which  being  approved  of  by  the  said  Committee, 
they  shall  draw  orders  on  the  Treasurer  for  the  payment 
thereof,  and  he  is  hereby  enjoined  to  pay  the  same  out  of 
the  Bills  of  Credit  to  be  emitted  by  the  Resolution  of  this 
House. 

5.  Resolved,  That  this  House  do  earnestly  recommend 
to,  and  enjoin  the  Officers  and  Committees  of  each  County 
in  this  Province,  to  select  a  number  of  Minute-Men  equal 
to  the  Arms,  Sic,  provided  for  the  same,  to  be  in  readiness 
upon  the  shortest  notice  to  march  to  any  quarter  in  case  of 
emergency. 

6.  Resolved,  That  the  Firelocks  to  be  provided  as  afore- 
said, be  of  one  bore,  with  steel  Rammers  well  fitted  to  the 
same ;  and  that  patterns  of  the  said  Firelocks,  Rammers, 
and  Bayonets,  be  immediately  made  in  the  City  of  Phila- 
delphia, and  sent  to  the  different  Counties. 

7.  Resolved,  That  provision  be  made  for  defending  this 
Province,  and  the  City  in  particular,  against  the  attacks 
of  armed  Vessels  that  may  be  sent  to  annoy  them. 

And  whereas,  the  safety  of  a  Country  greatly  depends  on 
having  within  itself  the  means  of  defence,  and  it  appears  that 
sufficient  quantities  of  Saltpetre  may  be  collected  not  only 
for  defence,  but  for  other  purposes : 

8.  Resolved,  That  the  sum  of  twenty  Pounds  be  paid 
for  every  hundred  weight  of  good  merchantable  Saltpetre, 
that  shall  be  made  and  manufactured  within  this  Province, 
and  delivered  to  the  Committee  hereinafter  named,  within 
the  space  of  three  months  from  this  time;  and  that  the 
sum  of  fifteen  Pounds  be  paid  for  every  hundred  weight 
of  good  merchantable  Saltpetre,  that  shall  be  made  and 
manufactured  within  this  Province,  and  delivered  to  the  said 
Committee  within  three  months  next  following ;  and  so  on 
in  proportion  for  any  greater  or  lesser  quantity. 


9.  Resolved,  That  John  Dickinson,  George  Gray, 
Henry  Wynkoop,  Anthony  Wayne,  Benjamin  Bartholo- 
mew, George  Ross,  Michael  Swoope,  John  Montgomery, 
Edward  Biddle,  William  Edmonds,  Bernard  Dougherty, 
Samuel  Hunter,  William  Thompson,  Thomas  Willings, 
Benjamin  Franklin,  Daniel  Roberdcau,  John  Cadwalader, 
Andrew  Allen,  Owen  Biddle,  Francis  Johnson,  Richard 
Reiley,  Samuel  Morris,  Jr.,  Robert  Morris,  Thomas  Whar- 
ton, Jr.,  and  Robert  White,  Gentlemen,  be  a  Committee  of 
Safety  for  calling  forth  such  and  so  many  of  the  Associalors 
into  actual  service,  when  necessity  requires,  as  the  said 
Committee  shall  judge  proper;  for  paying  and  supplying 
them  with  necessaries  while  in  actual  service ;  for  provid- 
ing for  the  defence  of  this  Province  against  insurrection  and 
invasion,  and  for  encouraging  and  promoting  the  manufac- 
ture of  Saltpetre  ;  which  said  Committee  are  hereby  autho- 
rized and  empowered  to  draw  orders  on  the  Treasurer 
hereinafter  appointed,  for  the  several  purposes  above  men- 
tioned. 

10.  Resolved,  That  any  seven  or  more  of  the  said  Com- 
mitlee  shall  be  a  Board  for  transacting  the  business  afore- 
said, or  any  part  thereof. 

And  for  carrying  the  foregoing  Resolutions  into  execu- 
tion, it  is 

11.  Resolved,  That  Bills  of  Credit  to  the  value  of  Thirty- 
five  Thousand  Pounds,  shall,  on  or  before  the  first  day  of 
August  next,  be  prepared  and  printed  upon  good  strong 
paper,  under  the  care  and  direction  of  George  Gray,  Wil- 
liam Rodman,  Jose2>h  Parker,  and  Isaac  Pearson,  Esqrs., 
or  any  three  of  them,  at  the  charge  of  the  publick,  to  be 
defrayed  out  of  the  said  Bills ;  which  Bills  shall  be  made 
and  prepared  in  manner  and  form  following,  to  wit: 

"  According  to  the  Resolves  of  the  Assembly  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, made  on  the  30th  day  of  June,  in  the  fifteenth  year 
of  the  Reign  of  His  Majesty  George  the  Third.  Dated  at 
Philadelphia,  the  20th  day  of  July,  1775." 

And  the  same  Bills  shall  have  such  like  escutcheons 
and  devices  as  the  said  George  Gray,  Joseph  Parker, 
William  Rodman,  and  Isaac  Pearson  shall  think  fit;  each 
of  which  Bills  shall  be  of  the  several  respective  denomina- 
tions following,  and  no  other,  viz : 

Seven  thousand  of  the  same  Bills  the  sum  of  forty 
Shillings  in  each  of  them. 

Seven  thousand  of  the  same  Bills  the  sum  of  thirty 
Shillings  in  each  of  them. 

Seven  thousand  of  the  same  Bills  the  sum  of  twenty 
Shillings  in  each  of  them. 

And  seven  thousand  of  the  same  Bills  the  sum  of  ten 
Shillings  in  each  of  them. 

And  the  said  George  Gray,  Joseph  Parker,  William 
Rodman,  and  Isaac  Pearson,  shall  use  their  best  care,  at- 
tention, and  diligence,  during  the  printing  the  said  Bills, 
that  the  number  and  amount  thereof,  according  to  their  re- 
spective denominations  aforesaid,  be  not  exceeded,  nor  any 
clandestine  or  fraudulent  practice  be  used  by  the  Printer, 
his  servants,  or  other  persons  concerned  therein. 

Resolved,  That  the  said  George  Gray,  Joseph  Parker, 
William  Rodman,  and  Isaac  Pearson,  or  any  three  of  them, 
after  the  said  Bills  are  printed,  shall  deliver  them  to  the 
Signers,  to  be  signed  and  numbered  by  parcels,  for  which 
they  shall  take  receipts. 

Resolved,  That  Sharp  Dulany,  Lambert  Cadwalader, 
Isaac  Howell,  James  Meas,  Adam  Hubley,  John  Benezet, 
Samuel  Cadualader  Morris,  Thomas  Prior,  Godfrey 
Twells,  John  Meas,  John  Purviance,  and  William  Allen, 
Jr.,  or  any  three  of  them,  shall  be  the  signers  of  the  said 
Bills. 

Resolved,  That  when  the  said  Bills  shall  be  signed  and 
numbered,  they  shall  be  delivered  to  Michael  Hillegas, 
Esq.,  hereby  appointed  Treasurer,  who  shall  give  his  re- 
ceipt for  the  same,  and  therewith  pay  off  and  discharge  all 
such  Drafts  and  Certificates  as  shall  be  made  by  order  of 
Assembly  or  the  Committee  aforesaid. 

Resolved,  That  the  said  Treasurer  shall  give  bond  with 
two  sufficient  securities,  to  John  Morton  and  Charles  Hum- 
phreys, Esqrs.,  in  the  sum  of  ten  thousand  Pounds,  for 
the  faithful  discharge  of  the  trust  reposed  in  him. 

And  for  the  more  certain  paying,  redeeming,  discharg- 
ing, and  sinking  the  said  Bills  of  Credit  hereby  emitted, 

Resolved,  That  a  Tax  on  all  estates,  real  and  personal, 
within  this  Province,  shall  be  raised  and  levied  by  the  re- 


1771 


PENNSYLVANIA  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY,  JULY,  1775. 


1772 


spective  Commissioners  and  Assessors  of  the  several  Coun- 
ties in  the  Province,  in  same  manner  and  mode  as  the 
Provincial  Tax  by  the  laws  now  in  force  is  raised,  levied, 
and  recovered,  and  shall  be  paid  to  the  Provincial  Trea- 
surer; which  said  Tax  first  mentioned  shall  commence 
immediately  after  the  sinking  of  the  Bills  of  Credit  now 
remaining  to  be  sunk  of  those  sums  granted  to  the  King 
during  the  course  of  the  last  war  ;  which  Tax,  for  the  pur- 
poses aforesaid,  the  several  Commissioners  and  Assessors 
are  enjoined  and  required  to  raise,  levy,  recover,  and  pay, 
as  they  regard  the  freedom,  welfare,  and  safety  of  their 
Country.    [Extract  from  the  Journal:] 

Charles  Moore,  Clerk  of  Assembly. 

Monday,  July  3,  1775. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Safety  appointed  by 
the  Resolves  of  the  Assembly  of  Pennsylvania  at  Phila- 
delphia.   Present : 

Benjamin  Franklin,  Esq.,  Owen  Biddle,  Robert  Mor- 
ris, Robert  White,  Samuel  Morris,  Jr.,  Andrew  Allen, 
John  Cadwalader,  Thomas  Wharton,  Jr.,  George  Ross: 

On  motion,  1.  Resolved  unanimously,  That  Benjamin 
Franklin,  Esq.,  be  chosen  President. 

2.  Resolved,  That  William  Govett  be  Clerk,  and  that 
he  engage  not  to  disclose  the  Proceedings  of  this  Commit- 
tee without  leave. 

3.  Resolved,  That  Colonel  John  Cadwalader  and  Mr. 
Samuel  Morris,  Jr.,  do  provide  patterns  of  Muskets,  Bayo- 
nets, Cartridge  Boxes,  and  Knapsacks,  to  be  sent  to  the 
different  Counties. 

4.  Resolved,  That  the  barrels  of  the  Muskets  be  three 
feet  eight  inches  in  length,  well  fortified,  the  bore  of  suffi- 
cient size  to  carry  seventeen  Balls  to  the  pound  ;  the  Bayo- 
nets sixteen  inches  long. 

5.  Resolved,  That  Messrs.  Robert  Morris,  Robert 
White,  and  Thomas  Wharton,  Jr.,  do  with  the  utmost  ex- 
pedition procure  any  quantity  of  Powder  and  Saltpetre  in 
their  power. 

Tuesday,  July  4,  1775. 
At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Safety.    Present : 
Benjamin  Franklin,  Robert  White,  Andrew  Allen, 
Daniel  Roberdeau,  John  Dickinson,  George  Ross,  Robert 
Morris,  Thomas  Wharton,  Jr.,  Samuel  Morris,  Jr.,  John 
Cadwalader,  Owen  Biddle  : 

1.  Resolved,  That  the  Committee  go  to  Red  Bank  to- 
morrow, to  take  a  view  of  the  River  and  Islands,  and  that 
the  following  gentlemen  be  requested  to  attend,  viz :  Luke 
Morris,  Oswell  Eve,  John  Wharton,  Thomas  Penrose, 
Major  Nicholas,  Thomas  Hanson,  Peter  Reeve. 

2.  Resolved,  That  Mr.  Owen  Biddle  wait  on  the  Com- 
missioners and  Assessors  of  this  County,  and  desire  that 
this  Committee  may  have  a  Conference  with  them  on 
Thursday  morning  next  at  6  o'clock. 

3.  Resolved,  That  this  Committee  meet  every  day  at 
six  o'clock,  A.  M.,  Sundays  excepted. 

4.  Resolved,  That  if  any  Member  shall  think  it  neces- 
sary to  call  an  Extraordinary  Meeting,  that  he  do  it  by 
giving  the  Clerk  directions  to  give  the  Members  proper 
notice. 

5.  Resolved,  That  the  Committee  for  providing  Powder 
and  Saltpetre,  do  procure  at  the  same  time  two  thousand 
stand  of  good  Fire-Arms. 

6.  Resolved,  That  Doctor  Franklin  be  requested  to 
procure  a  model  of  a  Pike,  to  be  produced  to  the  Com- 
mittee at  their  next  meeting. 

Thursday,  July  6,  1775. 
At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Safety.  Present: 
Benjamin  Franklin,  George  Ross,  Robert  Morris,  Tho- 
mas Wharton,  Jr.,  Daniel  Roberdeau,  Owen  Biddle,George 
Gray,  Robert  White,  Samuel  Morris,  Jr.,  John  Cadwala- 
der: 

The  Committee,  agreeable  to  the  first  Resolve  of  the 
4th  instant,  went  to  Red  Bank,  Mud  or  Fort  Island,  and 
viewed  them  and  several  parts  of  the  River,  and  find  the 
Channel  from  the  Fort  to  the  Bar  to  be  one  hundred  and 
fifty  fathoms,  or  thereabouts;  and  report  that  it  is  at  present 
impracticable  to  lay  a  Boom  across  that  part  of  the  River. 

1.  Resolved,  That  Messrs.  Robert  White  and  Owen 
Biddle,  be  a  Committee  for  the  construction  of  Boats  and 


Machines  for  the  defence  of  the  River;  and  it  is  recom- 
mended to  them  to  employ  John  Wharton,  Joseph  Marsh, 
Emanuel  Eyres,  Jacob  Miller,  Thomas  Davis,  and  Joseph 
Govett. 

2.  Resolved,  That  Colonel  Dickinson,  Colonel  Rober- 
deau, Colonel  Cadwalader,  and  Colonel  Ross,  be  a  Com- 
mittee for  inspecting  into  the  Ordnance  and  Military  Stores, 
and  make  such  repairs  and  supply  such  deficiencies  as  may 
be  thought  necessary,  and  that  they  report  to  the  Board  a 
proper  person  as  an  Assistant  Commissary  of  Stores  ;  and 
that  the  said  Committee  provide  a  model  of  a  Pike  or  Spear. 

3.  Resolved,  That  Mr.  Owen  Biddle  return  the  thanks 
of  this  Board  to  the  author  of  the  written  proposals  for 
raising  and  employing  a  Regiment  of  Soldiers,  and  for 
other  matters  therein  contained. 

The  Gentlemen  that  were  to  provide  patterns  of  Car- 
touch-boxes  and  Knapsacks,  produced  the  same  to  this 
Board,  and  are  approved  of. 

Friday,  July  7,  1775. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Safety.  Present: 
Benjamin  Franklin,  Samuel  Morris,  Jr.,  Capt.  Robert 
White,  Andrew  Allen,  Daniel  Roberdeau,  Thomas  Whar- 
ton,  Jr.,  JohnCadwalader ,Owen  Biddle,  George  Gray : 

1.  Resolved,  That  Mr.  John  Wharton  immediately  pro- 
cure materials,  and  make  preparations  for  building  a  Boat 
or  Calevat,  and  that  he  exhibit  a  model  of  one  to-morrow 
morning,  when  he  will  have  further  instructions  for  the  con- 
struction of  one. 

2.  Resolved,  That  Mr.  Owen  Biddle  give  the  thanks 
of  this  Board  to  Mr.  Louis  Nicholas,  for  his  plan  delivered 
the  Committee  this  day. 

Saturday,  July  8,  1775. 
At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Safety.    Present : 
Benjamin  Franklin,  Thomas  Wharton,  Jr.,  Andrew  Al- 
len, Daniel  Roberdeau,  George  Gray,  Robert  White,  Sam- 
uel Morris,  Jr.,  Owen  Biddle: 

A  model  of  a  Pike-staff  was  produced,  and  one  ordered 
to  be  made. 

1.  Resolved,  That  Mr.  John  Wharton  immediately  build 
a  Boat  or  Calevat  of  forty-seven  or  fifty  feet  keel,  thirteen 
feet  broad,  and  four  and  a  half  feet  deep. 

2.  Resolved,  That  Mr.  Owen  Biddle  apply  to  Stephen 
Paschall,  and  give  him  directions  to  make  a  Pike  agreeable 
to  the  pattern  produced  by  Doctor  Franklin. 

Monday,  July  10,  1775. 
At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Safety.  Present: 
Benjamin  Franklin,  Francis  Johnson,  Anthony  Wayne, 
Robert  Morris,  Robert  White,  Daniel  Roberdeau,  John 
Cadwalader,  Samuel  Morris,  Jr.,  George  Gray: 

On  application  being  made  by  Colonel  Roberdeau  and 
Colonel  Cadwalader,  that  this  Board  would  take  under 
consideration  the  expenses  incurred  by  the  Officers  of  the 
Association  ;  and  the  Board  not  finding  themselves  suffi- 
ciently empowered, 

1.  Resolved,  That  the  same  be  earnestly  recommended 
to  the  consideration  of  the  Commissioners  and  Assessors  of 
the  several  Counties  of  this  Province. 

2.  Resolved,  That  Emanuel  Eyres  immediately  build  a 
Boat  agreeable  to  the  model  produced  by  him  this  day. 

Tuesday,  July  11,  1775. 
At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Safety.    Present : 
Benjamin  Franklin,  Francis  Johnson,  George  Ross, 
Robert  Morris,  Robert  White,  Oiven  Biddle,  George 
Gray,  John  Cadwalader,  Thomas  Wharton,  Jr.,  Samuel 
Morris,  Jr.,  Anthony  Wayne  : 

1.  Resolved,  That  Messrs.  Robert  White  and  Owen 
Biddle  do  provide  a  Sail  for  one  of  the  Boats  now  building 
under  their  direction. 

The  Committee  appointed  for  the  building  Boats  and 
constructing  Machines  for  the  defence  of  the  River,  report 
that  they  have  been  viewing  a  number  of  Pine  Logs,  which 
they  think  will  be  proper  for  the  service. 

2.  Resolved,  That  the  said  Committee  do  purchase  the 
above  mentioned  Logs. 

The  President  delivered  to  Messrs.  Robert  White  and 
Owen  Biddle  his  order  on  Capt.  Loxley,  for  such  Guns 
and  Military  Stores  as  they  may  have  occasion  for. 


1773 


PENNSYLVANIA  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY,  JULY,  1775. 


1774 


Wednesday,  July  12,  1775. 
At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Safety.    Present : 
Benjamin  Franklin,  Thomas  Wharton,  Jr.,  Daniel  Ro- 
berdeau, John  Cadwalader,  Samuel  Morris,  Jr.,  George 
Ross,  George  Gray: 

George  Ross,  Esq.,  produced  a  motion  from  the  Assem- 
bly of  the  30th  of  June,  resolving  that  the  Committee  of 
Safety  draw  an  order  on  their  Treasurer  in  favour  of  him- 
self and  James  JVitson,  Esq.,  for  the  sum  of  fifty  Pounds 
each,  being  for  their  services  in  attending  the  Continental 
Congress ;  which  was  accordingly  done  and  delivered  to 
Mr.  Ross,  being  the  President's  Draft  of  this  date  on  Mi- 
chael Hillegas. 

Thursday,  July  13,  1775. 
At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Safety.  Present: 
Benjamin  Franklin,  Daniel  Roberdeau,  Robert  White, 
Owen  Biddle,  Thomas  Wharton,  John  Cadwalader,  Sam- 
uel Morris,  Jun.,  Robert  Morris: 

I.  Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  this  Board  be  given  to 
Mr.  Ebenezer  Robinson,  for  his  plan  for  stopping  the  chan- 
nel of  the  River  Delaware. 

Friday,  July  14,  1775. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Safety.   Present : 
Benjamin  Franklin,  Daniel  Roberdeau,  Robert  White, 
Robert  Morris,  Thomas  Wharton,  Junior,  Owen  Biddle, 
Samuel  Morris,  Jun.,  John  Cadwalader,  George  Gray: 

1 .  Resolved,  That  the  Board  will  go  down  this  morning 
and  view  the  ground  on  which  it  is  proposed  to  raise  a 
Battery. 

2.  Resolved,  That  Mr.  Robert  Morris,  Messrs.  George 
Gray,  Samuel  Morris,  Jun.,  and  Thomas,  Wharton,  Jun., 
be  a  Committee  to  wait  on  the  Provincial  Treasurer,  and 
know  if  a  sum  of  money  can  be  borrowed  of  him  until  the 
money  of  this  Board  is  emitted. 

3.  Resolved,  That  Owen  Biddle  be  directed  to  procure 
four  tons  of  Grape-Shot. 

Saturday,  July  15,  1775. 
At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Safety.   Present : 
Benjamin  Franklin,  Daniel  Roberdeau,  Thomas  Whar- 
ton, Jun.,  Robert  White,  Robert  Morris,  John  Cadwalader, 
George  Gray,  Samuel  Morris,  Junior : 

1.  Resolved,  That  the  Committee  appointed  for  build- 
ing Boats  and  Machines  for  the  defence  of  the  River,  do 
immediately  employ  all  the  Carpenters  and  other  workmen 
that  they  think  necessary,  for  collecting  materials  for  build- 
ing twelve  Boats  (including  the  two  already  ordered)  and 
as  many  Machines  as  may  be  thought  sufficient  for  the  in- 
terruption of  the  navigation. 

2.  Resolved,  That  Colonel  Roberdeau,  Colonel  Cad- 
walader, and  Mr.  Samuel  Morris,  Jun.,  be  requested  to  go 
to  New-Jersey  and  converse  with  such  principal  inhabitants 
as  they  think  proper,  and  to  know  if  the  inhabitants  would 
assist  this  Province  in  the  defence  of  the  River,  and  in  what 
manner. 

3.  Resolved,  That  a  Guard  be  appointed  to  take  proper 
care  of  the  Artillery  and  other  Military  Stores  deposited  in 
the  State-House  and  yard. 

Monday,  July  17,  1775. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Safety.   Present : 

Benjamin  Franklin,  Anthony  Wayne,  Daniel  Rober- 
deau, Robert  White,  Owen  Biddle,  Samuel  Morris,  Jun., 
Robert  Morris,  George  Gray,  John  Cadivalader  : 

1.  Resolved,  That  Captain  Henry  Dougherty  be  ap- 
pointed to  the  command  of  one  of  the  Boats  now  building, 
and  that  Captain  John  Rice  be  appointed  to  the  command 
of  one  other  of  the  Boats  now  building. 

Colonel  Daniel  Roberdeau  reports  to  the  Board,  that 
there  are  proper  guards  appointed,  agreeable  to  the  third 
Resolve  of  the  15th  instant. 

The  Committee  appointed  by  the  second  Resolve  of  the 
15th  instant,  report,  that  they  went  to  the  Jerseys,  and 
conversed  with  many  of  the  inhabitants,  who  seem  willing 
to  give  every  assistance  in  their  power ;  that  they  will  im- 
mediately furnish  some  Logs  for  building  the  Machines  for 
the  obstruction  of  the  navigation  ;  and  that  they  propose  to 
man  one  or  two  of  the  Boats  for  the  defence  of  die  River; 
and  that  some  of  the  gentlemen  will,  in  a  few  days,  attend 
this  Board. 


Captain  Tench  Francis  and  Captain-Lieut.  Bache  made 
application  to  this  Board  for  thirty  or  forty  rifle-barrel  Guns, 
for  a  number  of  men  in  their  Company  who  have  not  Rifles, 
neither  can  they  afford  to  purchase  them. 

2.  Resolved,  That  Mr.  Robert  Morris  be  requested  to 
apply  to  Captain  Tench  Francis  and  Captain-Lieutenant 
Bache,  to  assist  him  in  providing  eighty  good  Rifles,  for 
the  use  of  the  Boats  now  building,  a  part  of  which  are  to 
be  put  into  the  hands  of  such  men  as  Captain  Francis,  for 
this  County,  and  Colonel  Wayne,  of  Chester  County,  may 
engage  to  go  as  Minute-men  on  board  the  Boats,  when  re- 
quired. 

Tuesday,  July  18,  1775. 
At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Safety.  Present: 
Benjamin  Franklin,  Francis  Johnson,  Daniel  Rober- 
deau, Owen  Biddle,  Anthony  Wayne,  John  Cadwalader, 
Robert  Morris,  Samuel  Morris,  Jun.,  George  Gray: 

1 .  Resolved,  That  Colonel  Roberdeau  be  requested  to 
wait  on  the  Physicians  of  the  Hospital,  and  desire  they 
would  inform  this  Board  what  Medicines  and  necessaries 
there  may  be  occasion  for  for  the  six  hundred  men  that  are 
to  be  employed  on  board  the  Boats ;  and  that  they  be  de- 
sired further  to  inform  this  Board  if  it  would  be  necessary  to 
procure  from  abroad  a  supply  of  any  Medicines  that  may  pos- 
sibly be  wanted  in  the  service  on  land  for  the  Associators. 

2.  Resolved,  That  Colonel  Cadwalader  and  Owen  Bid- 
dle be  desired  to  apply  to  the  City  Committee,  and  ac- 
quaint them  that  this  Board  is  willing  to  take  into  their 
care  such  Gunpowder  as  said  Committee  may  now  have  in 
their  possession  ;  and  that  this  Committee  will  repay  them 
for  the  purchase  of  the  same. 

3.  Resolved,  That  Thomas  Savage  be  employed  to  take 
care  of  the  Cannon  and  Military  Stores  in  the  daytime,  or 
until  he  is  relieved  by  the  guard  to  be  placed  for  that  pur- 
pose. 

Wednesday,  July  19,  1775. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Safety.  Present : 

Benjamin  Franklin,  Daniel  Roberdeau,  Thomas  Whar- 
ton, Jun.,  Richard  Reily,  Samuel  Morris,  Jun.,  Francis 
Johnson,  John  Cadwalader,  Owen  Biddle,  Robert  White, 
George  Gray,  Anthony  Wayne  : 

Captain  Robert  White  reported,  that  he  sent  a  person 
to  the  Jerseys  to  know  what  number  of  Logs  the  inhabi- 
tants would  supply  this  Board  with,  who  brought  with  him 
a  list  of  the  following  gentlemen,  who  generously  gave  the 
number  of  Logs  mentioned  opposite  their  names,  viz : 

Benjamin  Whitwill,  55  logs  :  John  Wood,  20  :  Nathan 
Kinsey,  10:  Richard  Johns,  50,  or  more:  David  Paul, 
20:  Joseph  Low,  30:  James  Brown,  10:  Joseph  Ward, 
10:  Joshua  Hopper,  15:  Isaac  Hopper,  10:  Levi  Hop- 
per, 15 :  James  Wood,  10 :  Joseph  Tatem,  1 :  Charles 
West,  40.— 296  logs. 

1.  Resolved,  That  the  Boat  to  be  launched  by  Mr. 
John  Wharton,  be  called  the  Experiment. 

Friday,  July  21,  1775. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Safely.  Present : 
George  Gray,  President  for  the  day;  Robert  White, 

Samuel  Morris,  Jun.,  Richard  Reily,  Thomas  Wharton, 

Jun.,  Daniel  Roberdeau,  Oiven  Biddle: 

1.  Resolved,  That  Messrs.  Thomas  Wharton,  Jun.,  and 
Samuel  Morris,  Jun.,  be  appointed  a  Committee  to  inquire 
after  a  quantity  of  Saltpetre  and  damaged  Gunpowder,  said 
to  be  in  the  hands  of  the  family  of  the  late  Simon  Boerum, 
of  Long  Island;  and  should  they  have  any  quantity  of 
either  article,  the  said  Committee  are  desired  to  procure  it. 

As  it  is  necessary  immediately  to  procure  such  workmen 
as  may  forward  the  completing  the  Fire- Arms  that  may  be 
wanted : 

2.  Resolved,  That  Thomas  Wharton,  Junior,  Samuel 
Morris,  Jun.,  and  George  Gray,  be  a  Committee  for  that 

purpose  ;  and  that  they  apply  to  James  Pearson,  

Tomlinson,  and  ....  Wiley,  and  know  if  they  can  be 
engaged  to  advantage ;  and  that  they  acquaint  them  that 
this  Board  will  give  them  proper  encouragement. 

3.  Resolved,  That  this  Committee  furnish  the  inhabi- 
tants of  Gloucester  County  with  two  Teams,  to  assist  them 
in  bringing  Logs  down  to  the  different  landing  places,  for 
the  use  of  this  Committee ;  and  that  Mr.  Samuel  Morris 
be  desired  to  procure  and  send  them  over  immediately. 


1775 


PENNSYLVANIA  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY,  JULY,  1775. 


1776 


Saturday,  July  22,  1775. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Safety.    Present : 
Benjamin  Franklin,  Daniel  Roberdeau,  Robert  Morris, 
Robert  White,  John  Cadwalader,  Samuel  Morris,  Junior, 
George  Ross,  George  Gray,  Owen  Riddle  : 

Resolved,  That  a  Messenger  be  sent  to  Joel  Ferree,  of 
Lancaster  County,  with  a  Letter  from  this  Committee,  re- 
questing him  immediately  to  complete  the  Guns  wrote  for 
as  patterns ;  and  to  know  how  many  he  can  furnish  of  the 
same  kind,  and  at  what  price. 

Monday,  July  24,  1775. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Safety.   Present : 
Benjamin  Franklin,  Daniel  Roberdeau,  Thomas  Whar- 
ton, Jun.,  Samuel  Morris,  Jun.,  Owen  Biddle,  John  Cad- 
walader, Robert  White,  Robert  Morris,  George  Gray: 

1.  Resolved,  That  the  Boat  to  be  launched  by  Emanuel 
Eyres,  at  Kensington,  be  called  the  Bull-Dog. 

Mr.  Robert  Smith,  carpenter,  appeared  at  this  Board 
with  a  model  of  a  Machine  for  obstructing  the  navigation 
of  the  River  Delaware,  and  explained  the  construction  of 
it ;  which  was  approved  of.  At  the  same  time  he  made  an 
offer  of  his  service  in  attending  and  overlooking  the  work- 
men in  building  the  same,  gratis,  for  which  this  Board 
thanked  him,  and  accepted  the  offer  of  his  services. 

2.  Resolved,  That  Capt.  Charles  Alexander  be  appoint- 
ed to  the  command  of  the  boat  called  the  Bull-Dog. 

3.  Resolved,  That  this  Board  meet  at  Kensington  to- 
morrow morning,  at  eleven  o'clock,  to  attend  the  launch  of 
the  Boat  built  by  Emanuel  Eyres ;  and  that  they  go  from 
thence  in  said  boat  to  Gloucester,  and  there  hold  a  Board. 

Wednesday,  July  26,  1775. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Safety,  at  Kensing- 
ton.   Present : 

Benjamin  Franklin,  Owen  Biddle,  Robert  White,  Dan- 
iel Roberdeau,  Thomas  Wharton,  Jun.,  Samuel  Morris, 
Jun.,  George  Ross,  William  Thompson,  Anthony  Wayne, 
Francis  Johnston,  John  Cadwalader,  George  Gray,  Robert 
Morris. 

Emanuel  Eyres,  the  builder  of  the  Boat  called  the  Bull- 
Dog,  not  being  able  to  launch  her  yesterday,  she  was  this 
day  launched;  and  the  Members  of  the  Committee  of 
Safety  there  present  embarked  on  board  said  boat,  and 
went  to  Gloucester,  but  found  it  inconvenient  to  hold  a 
Board  there. 

Thursday,  July  27,  1775. 
At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Safety.   Present : 
Benjamin  Franklin,  Francis  Johnston,  Anthony  Wayne, 
Owen  Biddle,  Robert  White,  Daniel  Roberdeau,  John 
Cadwalader,  Thomas  Wharton,  Junior,  Samuel  Morris, 
Jr,.  Robert  Morris,  George  Gray. 

Upon  application  of  James  Pearson  and  Wiley,  the 
Committee  consent  to  advance  them  the  sum  of  two  hun- 
dred Pounds,  they  giving  good  security  for  the  repayment 
of  said  sum  in  good  Gun-Barrels,  of  their  own  manufac- 
tory. 

The  Committee  appointed  by  the  first  Resolve  of  the 
21st  of  July,  report,  that  there  is  no  Gunpowder  in  the 
hands  of  the  family  of  the  late  Simon  Boerum,  and  but 
little  Saltpetre,  which  they  purpose  manufacturing  them- 
selves. 

Mr.  Nathaniel  Irish  presented  a  Boat  or  Gondola  for 
the  inspection  of  this  Committee. 

Resolved,  That  Mr.  Thomas  Wharton  return  him  the 
thanks  of  this  Board,  much  commending  his  ingenuity  and 
attention  to  the  publick  safety. 

Friday,  July  28,  1775. 
At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Safety.    Present : 
Benjamin  Franklin,  Owen  Biddle,  Andrew  Allen, 

Robert  Morris,  Anthony  Wayne,  JohnCadwalader,  George 

Gray: 

Agreeable  to  the  first  Resolve  of  the  18th  of  July,  Col. 
Roberdeau  delivered  to  this  Board  two  lists  of  Medicines 
received  from  the  Physicians  of  the  Hospital ;  upon  which 
it  is 

1.  Resolved,  That  Mr.  Robert  Morris  wait  on  Mr. 
Robert  Bass  with  said  lists,  and  request  that  he  would 


point  out  what  Medicines  may  be  best  imported  from  Hol- 
land and  Cadiz,  and  what  may  be  purchased  with  conve- 
niency  in  this  City;  and  that  Mr.  Robert  Morris  undertake 
to  import  such  Medicines  as  may  be  pointed  out  to  be  im- 
ported from  Holland  and  Cadiz,  in  the  most  expeditious 
manner. 

Doctor  Franklin  delivered  to  this  Board  a  Letter  from 
Captain  John  MacPherson,  offering  his  services  for  the 
defence  of  this  Country,  for  which  Doctor  Franklin  is  de- 
sired to  return  the  thanks  of  this  Board  to  Captain  Mac- 
Pherson. 

2.  Resolved,  That  the  Resolves  of  the  Continental  Con- 
gress, of  the  18th  of  July  instant,  be  entered  on  the  Min- 
utes of  this  Board  ;  which  are  the  following : 

"  In  Congress,  July  18,  1775. 

"  Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  inhabitants 
of  all  the  United  English  Colonies  in  North  America,  that 
all  able-bodied  effective  men,  between  sixteen  and  sixty 
years  of  age,  in  each  Colony,  immediately  form  themselves 
into  regular  companies  of  Militia,  to  consist  of  one  Captain, 
two  Lieutenants,  one  Ensign,  four  Sergeants,  four  Corpo- 
rals, one  Clerk,  one  Drummer,  one  Fifer,  and  about  sixty- 
eight  Privates. 

"  That  the  Officers  of  each  Company  be  chosen  by  the 
respective  Companies. 

"  That  each  Soldier  be  furnished  with  a  good  Musket 
that  will  carry  an  ounce  ball,  with  a  bayonet,  steel  ramrod, 
worm,  priming-wire,  and  brush  fitted  thereto;  a  cutting- 
sword,  or  tomahawk;  a  cartridge-box  that  will  contain 
twenty-three  rounds  of  cartridges,  and  twelve  flints ;  and  a 
knapsack. 

"  That  the  Companies  be  formed  into  Regiments  or 
Battalions,  officered  with  a  Colonel,  Lieutenant-Colonel, 
two  Majors,  an  Adjutant  or  Quartermaster. 

"  That  all  Officers  above  the  rank  of  a  Captain  be  ap- 
pointed by  their  respective  Provincial  Assemblies  or  Con- 
ventions, or,  in  their  recess,  by  the  Committees  of  Safety 
appointed  by  said  Assemblies  or  Conventions. 

"  That  all  Officers  be  commissioned  by  the  Provincial 
Assemblies  or  Conventions,  or,  in  their  recess,  by  the  Com- 
mittees of  Safety  appointed  by  said  Assemblies  or  Conven- 
tions. 

"  That  all  the  Militia  take  proper  care  to  acquire  mili- 
tary skill,  and  be  well  prepared  for  defence,  by  being  each 
man  provided  with  one  pound  of  good  Gunpowder,  and 
four  pounds  of  Ball  fitted  to  his  gun. 

"  That  one-fourth  part  of  the  Militia  in  every  Colony 
be  selected  for  Minute-men,  of  such  persons  who  are  wil- 
ling to  enter  into  this  necessary  service,  formed  into  Com- 
panies or  Battalions,  and  their  Officers  chosen  and  commis- 
sioned as  aforesaid,  to  be  ready  on  the  shortest  notice  to 
march  to  any  place  where  their  assistance  ma)'  be  required 
for  the  defence  of  their  own  or  a  neighbouring  Colony. 
And  as  these  Minute-men  may  eventually  be  called  to  ac- 
tion before  the  whole  body  of  the  Militia  are  sufficiently 
trained,  it  is  recommended  that  a  more  particular  and  dili- 
gent attention  be  paid  to  their  instruction  in  military  dis- 
cipline. 

"  That  such  of  the  Minute-men  as  desire  it  be  relieved 
by  new  draughts  as  aforesaid,  from  the  whole  body  of  the 
Militia,  once  in  four  months. 

"  As  there  are  some  people  who,  from  religious  princi- 
ples, cannot  bear  arms  in  any  case,  this  Congress  intend  no 
violence  to  their  consciences,  but  earnestly  recommend  it 
to  them  to  contribute  liberally,  in  this  time  of  universal 
calamity,  to  the  relief  of  their  distressed  brethren  in  the 
several  Colonies,  and  to  do  all  other  services  to  their  op- 
pressed Country  which  they  can,  consistently  with  their 
religious  principles. 

"  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  Assemblies  or  Conven- 
tions in  the  respective  Colonies,  to  provide,  as  soon  as  pos- 
sible, sufficient  stores  of  Ammunition  for  their  Colonies ; 
also,  that  they  devise  proper  means  for  furnishing  with  Arms 
such  effective  men  as  are  poor  and  unable  to  furnish  them- 
selves. 

"  That  it  be  recommended  to  each  Colony  to  appoint  a 
Committee  of  Safety  to  superintend  and  direct  all  matters 
necessary  for  the  security  and  defence  of  their  respec- 
tive Colonies,  in  the  recess  of  their  Assemblies  or  Con- 
ventions. 


1777 


NEW- YORK  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY,  JULY,  1775. 


1778 


"  That  each  Colony,  at  their  own  expense,  make  such 
provision,  by  anned  vessels  or  otherwise,  as  their  respective 
Assemblies,  Conventions,  or  Committees  of  Safety  shall 
judge  expedient  and  suitable  to  their  circumstances  and 
situations,  for  the  protection  of  their  harbours  and  navi- 
gation on  their  sea-coasts  against  all  unlawful  invasions, 
attacks,  and  depredations  from  cutters  and  ships-of-war. 

"  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  makers  of  Arms  for 
the  use  of  the  Militia,  that  they  make  good  substantial 
Muskets,  with  barrels  three  feet  and  a  half  in  length,  that 
will  carry  an  ounce  ball,  and  fitted  with  a  bayonet  and  steel 
ramrod  ;  and  that  the  making  such  Arms  be  encouraged  in 
these  United  Colonies. 

"  Where  in  any  Colony  a  Militia  is  already  formed,  un- 
der regulations  approved  of  by  the  Convention  of  such 
Colony,  or  by  such  Assemblies  as  are  annually  elective, 
we  refer  to  the  discretion  of  such  Assembly  or  Convention 
either  to  adopt  the  foregoing  Regulations,  in  the  whole  or 
in  part,  or  to  continue  their  former,  as  they,  on  considera- 
tion of  all  circumstances,  shall  think  best. 

"  A  true  copy  from  the  Minutes  : 

"  Charles  Thomson,  Secretary." 

Resolved,  That  the  following  Advertisement  be  publish- 
ed in  the  different  Newspapers  in  this  City: 

Committee  of  Safety,  Philadelphia,  July  28,  1775. 

Whereas,  the  Continental  Congress  have,  by  their  Re- 
solves of  the  10th  instant,  recommended  that  all  Officers 
above  the  rank  of  a  Captain  be  appointed  by  their  respec- 
tive Provincial  Assemblies  or  Conventions,  or,  in  their 
recess,  by  the  Committees  of  Safety  appointed  by  said 
Assemblies  or  Conventions : 

The  Committee  of  Safety  appointed  by  the  Assembly  of 
Pennsylvania,  do  therefore  request  the  Committees  of  the 
City  and  Liberties  of  Philadelphia,  and  of  the  several 
Counties  of  this  Province,  to  make  a  return  to  the  Com- 
mittee of  Safety  at  Philadelphia,  of  all  the  Officers  of 
the  Military  Association,  in  order  that  Commissions  may 
be  made  out  for  them,  agreeable  to  the  above  Resolves  of 
the  Continental  Congress.  And  the  several  Committees 
are  further  requested  to  make  a  return  to  the  Committee  of 
Safety  of  the  number  of  the  Associators,  and  also  of  the 
Non-Associators  within  their  respective  Districts. 

By  order  of  the  Committee  : 

B.  Franklin,  President. 

Saturday,  July  29,  1775. 
At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Safety.   Present : 
Benjamin  Franklin,  Samuel  Morris,  Junior,  Andrew 

Allen,  Thomas  Wharton,  Jun.,  Daniel  Robcrdeau,  John 

Cadwalader,  Robert  White,  Owen  Biddle  : 
The  gentlemen  of  this  Committee  who  went  to  view 

the  River  with  some  of  the  Committee  of  Gloucester 

County,  report,  that  the  Committee  of  said  County  were 


entirely  satisfied  with  the  propriety  of  fixing  the  frames 
opposite  the  upper  end  of  Hog  Island,  in  preference  to 
Billingsport. 

Monday,  July  31,  1775. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Safety.   Present : 

Benjamin  Franklin,  Samuel  Morris,  Junior,  Thomas 
Wharton,  Junior,  Robert  Morris,  Andrew  Allen,  Robert 
White,  Owen  Biddle. 

Mr.  William  Bigland  waited  on  the  Board  with  a  draught 
of  a  Rowing-Wheel,  which  he  proposed  to  have  fixed  to 
the  Provincial  Row-Boats. 

Colonel  Roberdeau  is  desired  to  return  him  the  thanks 
of  this  Board  for  his  communication. 

Messrs.  Robert  Morris,  Robert  White,  and  Thomas 
Wharton,  Junior,  are  desired  to  borrow  of  the  Wardens  of 
the  Port  such  a  sum  of  Money  as  the  Wardens  can  lend 
them,  for  the  use  of  this  Committee ;  and  the  Board  will 
give  them  sufficient  security  for  the  repayment  of  it. 

The  form  of  a  Commission  for  the  Officers  of  the  Mili- 
tary Association,  was  produced  and  approved,  being  as 
follows : 

In  Committee  of  Safety. 

To  

The  honourable  Continental  Congress  having  recom- 
mended, in  their  Resolves  of  the  18th  of  July,  1775,  that, 
in  the  recess  of  the  Provincial  Conventions  or  Assemblies, 
the  Officers  of  the  Military  Associations  for  the  defence  of 
American  liberty  should  receive  their  commissions  from  the 
respective  Committees  of  Safety  appointed  by  the  said 
Assemblies  or  Conventions  :  In  pursuance  thereof,  we, 
reposing  especial  trust  and  confidence  in  your  patriotism, 
valour,  conduct,  and  fidelity,  do,  by  these  presents,  consti- 
tute and  appoint  you  to  be  of  the  Bat- 
talion, in  the  County  of  ,  associated  for  the 

defence  of  the  liberties  of  America,  and  for  repelling  any 
hostile  invasion  thereof.    You  are  therefore  carefully  and 

diligently  to  discharge  the  duty  of  ,  by  doing  and 

performing  all  manner  of  things  thereunto  belonging.  And 
we  do  earnestly  recommend  to  all  officers  and  soldiers  un- 
der your  command,  to  be  obedient  to  your  orders  as  .  .  .  . 
And  you  are  to  observe  and  follow  such  orders  and  direc- 
tions as  you  shall  receive  from  the  Assembly  or  Provincial 
Conventions  during  their  sessions,  or  from  this  or  a  future 
Committee  of  Safety  for  this  Province,  or  any  other  your 
superiour  Officers,  according  to  the  rules  and  discipline  of 
war,  in  pursuance  of  the  trust  reposed  in  you.  This  Com- 
mission to  continue  in  force  until  revoked  by  the  Assembly 
or  Provincial  Convention,  or  by  this  or  any  succeeding 
Committee  of  Safety. 

By  order  of  the  Committee. 

Mr.  Hulings  sent  a  model  of  a  Boat;  which  was  ap- 
proved of;  and  Captain  White  is  desired  to  return  the 
thanks  of  this  Board  to  Mr.  Hulings  for  the  same. 


NEW.YORK  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY. 
At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Safety  at  the  City- 
Hall  of  the  City  of  New-  York,  on  Tuesday,  the  eleventh 
day  of  July,  1775,  at  nine  o'clock,  A.  M.,  Present: 
For  the  City  and  County  of  New- York,  Peter  Van 
Brugh  Livingston,  Colonel  McDougall,  Colonel 
Lispenard,  Abraham  Brasher. 
For  Ulster  County,  Egbert  Dumond,  Christopher 
Tappen. 

For  Dutchess  County,  Jonathan  London,  Ephraim 
Payne. 

For  Orange  County,  David  Pye. 
For  Suffolk  County,  Abraham  Brasher. 
For  King's  County,  Henry  Williams. 
For  Richmond  County,  Richard  Lawrence. 
For  Queen's  County,  Colonel  McDougall. 
For  Tryon  County,  Peter  V.  B.  Livingston,  John 
Marlett. 

The  Committee  unanimously  elected  Henry  Williams, 
Esquire,  Chairman. 

A  Letter  from  General  Wooster  was  read,  and  is  in  the 
words  following,  viz : 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii.  1 


"Camp  near  New-York,  July  11,  1775. 

"  Sir:  Peter  Herring,  the  man  who  last  night  assisted  in 
conveying  on  board  the  Asia,  man-of-war,  one  of  the  pri- 
soners sent  here  by  the  Continental  Congress,  is  now  under 
guard  at  our  camp.  I  would  beg  the  immediate  advice  of 
the  Committee  of  Safety  concerning  what  is  best  to  be 
done  with  him.  His  brother  is  willing  and  desirous  that 
he  should  be  sent  away  somewhere,  that  he  may  be  out  of 
the  way  of  the  enraged  people.  Some  have  proposed 
that  he  be  sent  on  board  of  the  Asia;  others  think  it  best 
to  have  him  sent  to  Connecticut  with  Governour  Ske7ie, 
who  will  go  off  as  soon  as  this  matter  can  be  determined. 
I  hope,  therefore,  to  be  assisted  with  your  advice  as  speed- 
ily as  possible,  and  am,  Sir,  your  humble  servant, 

"  David  Wooster. 
"  Peter  V.  B.  Livingston,  Esquire."  * 

Thereupon,  an  Order  to  General  Wooster  was  made  in 
the  words  following,  to  wit : 

Sir:  Immediately  on  the  receipt  of  this  you  are  required 
to  send  the  body  of  Peter  Herring,  under  safe  and  secure 
guard,  before  the  Committee  of  Safety,  at  the  City-Hall 
of  the  City  of  New-  York,  for  which  this  shall  be  a  suffi- 
cient warrant.    By  order  of  the  Committee  of  Safety. 

12 


1779 


NEW-YORK  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY,  JULY,  1775. 


1780 


An  Answer  to  General  Woostcr's  Letter  was  read  and 
approved,  and  is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit: 

In  Committee  of  Safety,  New-Vork,  July  11,  1775. 

Sir:  We  this  instant  received  your  favour,  and  look  the 
same  into  consideration.  We  think  it  highly  necessary 
that  Mr.  Herring  should  be  brought  before  us,  in  order  to 
be  examined  touching  his  accomplices,  for  which  purpose 
we  have  enclosed  an  Order  of  this  Board.  We  are,  Sir, 
your  humble  servants. 
To  General  David  Wooster,  at  the  Camp. 

P.  S.  If  there  are  any  witnesses,  please  to  send  them  also. 

Ordered.  That  a  copy  of  said  Letter  and  Order  be 
signed  by  the  Chairman,  and  sent  immediately. 

A  Letter  from  Guysbert  Schenck  and  Dirck  Brinker- 
hoff,  Esquires,  of  Dutchess  County,  two  of  the  members 
of  the  Provincial  Congress,  bearing  date  the  5th  instant,  and 
also  a  recommendation  from  many  others  of  the  respecta- 
ble freeholders  of  Dutchess  County,  of  which  Cornelius 
Adriance  is  one,  recommending  Andreiv  Teller  Lawrence 
for  Second  Lieutenant,  in  the  stead  of  the  said  Cornelius 
Adriance,  who  declines  the  service,  were  read,  and  filed. 

Agreed,  That  the  said  Andrew  Teller  Lawrence  is  ap- 
proved of  as  Second  Lieutenant  in  the  Company  of  Troops 
to  be  under  the  command  of  Captain  Lewis  Dubois,  and 
that  a  Warrant  for  that  purpose  shall  be  made  as  soon  as 
the  Warrant  granted  to  the  said  Cornelius  Adriance,  on 
the  28th  of  June  last,  is  returned  to  this  Committee,  or  the 
Provincial  Congress. 

A  Letter  from  William  Duer,  Esquire,  to  the  Provincial 
Congress,  dated  Fort  Miller,  June  5,  1775,  was  read. 

An  Answer  to  the  Letter  of  William  Duer,  Esq.,  was 
read,  and  approved,  and  is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit: 

Committee  of  Safety  for  the  Colony  of  New.York,  ) 

July  11,  1775.  \ 

Sir:  We  are  favoured  with  your  letter  of  the  5th  June, 
and  are  to  inform  you,  that  our  Provincial  Congress,  after 
having  appointed  a  Committee  of  Safety,  adjourned  for  a 
fortnight  from  this  day.  When  it  convenes  we  doubt  not 
they  will  take  into  their  most  mature  consideration  the 
matters  contained  in  your  letter,  which  we  shall  lay  before 
them.  In  the  mean  time  we  beg  leave  to  assure  you,  that 
we  highly  esteem  and  approve  of  your  care  and  vigilance 
in  keeping  open  and  protecting  the  last  Court  in  your 
County.  We  conceive  it  to  be  of  the  utmost  importance 
that  good  order  be  supported,  as  internal  divisions  must 
prove  injurious  to  the  common  cause.  We  are,  with  much 
respect,  Sir,  your  most  humble  servants. 
To  William  Duer,  Esq.,  one  of  the  Judges  of  Charlotte. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  thereof  be  engrossed,  signed  by 
the  Chairman,  and  transmitted. 

A  Letter  from  William  Marsh,  and  Samuel  Rose,  Esqs., 
the  Committee  of  Manchester,  in  Charlotte  County,  to  the 
Provincial  Congress,  dated  Manchester,  June  28,  1775, 
was  read. 

An  Answer  to  the  Letter  of  William  Marsh  and  Samuel 
Rose  was  read,  and  approved,  and  is  in  the  words  follow- 
ing, to  wit : 

Committee  of  Safety,  New-York,  July  11,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  The  Congress  having  adjourned  for  a  fort- 
night, and  appointed  us  during  their  recess  a  Committee  of 
Safety,  we  have  to  acknowledge  your  letter  of  the  28th 
June,  which  advises  us  of  the  measures  that  had  been 
pursued  in  order  to  prevent  the  holding  the  courts  of  jus- 
tice in  your  County.  We  are  happy  to  find  they  have 
proved  ineffectual,  and  can  assure  you,  that  it  is  the  inten- 
tion of  the  Congress  to  assist  the  Civil  Magistrate  in  the 
exercise  of  his  ollice  and  the  support  of  Government,  as 
far  as  may  be  practicable  in  our  present  critical  situation. 
We  have  no  doubt  but  that  the  Congress  will,  immediately 
upon  their  meeting,  enter  into  a  resolution  for  effecting 
these  salutary  purposes.  We  are,  Gentlemen,  &tc. 
To  Messrs.  William  Marsh  and  Samuel  Rose. 

A  Letter  from  Abraham  Lott,  Esquire,  Agent  for  His 
Majesty's  Ships  in  this  Port,  was  read,  and  is  in  the  words 
following,  to  wit : 

"  Gentlemen  :  Having  received  a  demand  from  John 
Collins,  Esquire,  Commander  of  His  Majesty's  Ship  iVau- 


tilus,  now  at  Sandy- Hook,  for  4000  pounds  bread,  300 
pounds  beef,  500  pounds  pork,  12  bushels  pease,  200 
pounds  butter,  200  pounds  cheese,  and  200  gallons  rum, 
you  will  be  pleased  to  signify  your  opinion,  whether  or  not 
I  shall  supply  the  Provisions,  &,c,  pursuant  to  the  demand. 
I  am  authorized  to  assure  the  honourable  Committee  that 
the  Nautilus  is  not  going  to  Boston,  but  to  the  southward. 

"  I  am,  Gentlemen,  your  most  humble  servant, 

"Abraham  Lott. 
"To  the  Honourable  the  Committee  of  the  New-York 

Provincial  Congress." 

Ordered,  That  Abraham  Lott,  Esquire,  be  at  liberty 
to  supply  the  quantities  of  Provisions  and  Rum  above- 
mentioned  to  the  Ship  Nautilus,  for  the  use  of  the  said 
Ship's  company. 

Colonel  McDougall,  on  behalf  of  New-York,  and  as 
Commissioner  for  Queen's  County,  dissents;  Mr.  Brasher, 
on  behalf  of  New-York,  and  as  Commissioner  for  Suffolk 
County,  dissents. 

A  Letter  from  William  Hooper  and  Joseph  Hewes, 
Esquires,  was  read,  and  is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit: 

"  Philadelphia,  June  8,  1775. 

"Sir:  The  Committee  of  the  City,  a  few  days  ago, 
transmitted  to  you  an  original  letter  from  Governour  Mar- 
tin to  Henry  White,  Esquire,  from  the  contents  of  which 
it  is  very  obvious  that  Governour  Martin  has  formed  de- 
signs highly  inimical  to  the  friends  of  America.  From 
authentick  information  we  learn,  that  he  is  to  receive  a 
supply  of  powder  from  General  Gage  via  New-York,  and 
that  he  has  sent  from  North-Carolina  a  cutter  well  armed 
to  receive  it.  She  is  a  small  boat,  rigged  like  a  schooner, 
mounts  a  few  swivels,  and  is  commanded  by  a  Mr.  Bridges, 
the  Lieutenant  of  the  Tarnar,  man-of-war ;  the  vessel,  we 
believe,  was  formerly  purchased  in  New-York,  by  a  Cap- 
tain Vollet.  We  beg  your  particular  care,  in  case  she 
should  arrive  in  your  Port,  to  take  the  steps  you  may  think 
prudent  to  secure  her  and  her  cargo.  She  is  probably  to 
receive  the  gunpowder  from  the  Asia,  or  some  other  man- 
of-war  lying  in  your  harbour. 

"  We  are,  Sir,  with  great  respect,  your  most  obedient 

humble  servants,  /m  u 

"William  Hooper, 

"Joseph  Hewes." 

An  Answer  to  the  Letter  of  William  Hooper  and  Jo- 
seph Hewes,  Esquires,  was  read,  and  approved,  and  is  in 
the  words  following,  to  wit : 

Committee  of  Safety,  New.York,  July  11,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  We  have  received  your  favour  of  the  8th 
of  the  last  month,  which  came  to  our  hands  last  night. 
Our  Congress  have  adjourned  for  a  fortnight  from  this  day, 
and  appointed  us  a  Committee  of  Safety  to  act  during  the 
recess.  We  beg  leave  to  assure  you,  that  we  will  do  every 
thing  in  our  power  relative  to  the  schooner  which  you  have 
described.  We  are,  with  much  respect,  Gentlemen,  your 
obedient  humble  servants. 

To  William  Hooper  and  Joseph  Hewes,  Esquires,  Phila- 
delphia. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  be  signed  by  the  Chairman,  and 
transmitted. 

A  Letter  from  the  Delegates  of  this  Colony  at  the  Con- 
tinental Congress  to  the  Provincial  Congress,  dated  Phila- 
delphia, July  6,  1775,  was  read. 

A  draught  of  an  Answer  to  the  Letter  of  the  New-York 
Delegates  at  the  Continental  Congress  was  read,  and  ap- 
proved, and  is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 

In  Committee  of  Safety  for  the  Colony  of  New.York,  ) 

July  11,  1775.  I 

Gentlemen:  The  Congress  having  adjourned  for  a 
fortnight,  and  appointed  us  during  their  recess  a  Commit- 
tee of  Safety,  we  have  the  honour  of  acknowledging  the 
receipt  of  your  letter  of  the  6th  instant.  It  gives  us  much 
pleasure  to  find  that  our  plan  of  accommodation  has  been 
favoured  with  your  approbation. 

We  are  sorry  to  inform  you,  that  a  supply  of  the  article 
which,  according  to  your  advice  of  the  31st  June,  was  to 
have  been  sent  to  the  Committee  of  Fdizabethtown,  has 
not  yet  been  received,  and  that  the  want  of  it  prevents  our 
answering  some  very  pressing  demands  from  the  place  for 
which  it  was  ordered  to  be  forwarded. 


1781 


NEW-YORK  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY,  JULY,  1775. 


1782 


We  meet  with  many  difficulties  in  carrying  into  execu- 
tion the  Resolutions  of  your  honourable  body,  from  the 
want  of  money,  an  inconveniency  we  hope  now  soon  to  be 
relieved  from.    We  are,  Gentlemen,  yours,  &c. 
To  the  New-York  Delegates  in  Continental  Congress. 

A  Letter  from  Governour  Trumbull  was  read,  and  is  in 
the  words  following,  to  wit: 

"  Hartford,  July  7,  1773. 
"  Sib  :  I  received  your  letter  of  the  27th  of  June  last, 
respecting  a  quantity  of  a  necessary  article  which  was  for- 
warded by  you.  1  immediately  took  care  to  make  the 
necessary  provision  for  its  being  sent  on  the  way  to  the 
place  of  its  destination,  where  no  doubt  it  has  safe  arrived 
before  this. 

"  Mr.  James  Dean,  the  bearer  of  this,  is  a  young  gen- 
tleman who  has  lately  returned  from  a  mission  among  the 
Tribes  of  Indians  in  Canada.  He  appears  to  have  made 
some  careful  observations  of  the  state  of  that  Country,  and 
is  able  to  give  some  important  intelligence.  1  take  the 
liberty  to  recommend  him  to  your  notice,  that  he  may 
communicate  his  information  for  your  use. 

"  I  am,  with  great  truth^and  regard,  Sir,  your  most  obe- 
dient humble  servant,  Jona.  Trumbull. 
"  Hon.  P.  V.  B.  Livingston." 

An  account  of  the  men  who  went  from  Manchester  to 
Ticonderoga,  and  of  the  money  expended  by  Lieutenant 
Joseph  Lockwood ,  was  read,  and  filed,  and  is  in  the  words 
following,  to  wit : 

"A  list  of  the  Men  who  went  from  Manchester  to  Ti- 
condeboga,  under  the  command  of  Mr.  Joseph  Lock- 
wood  : 

"  Nathan  Smith  Sergeant,  Christopher  Roberts,  Josiah 
Brotton,  John  Roberts,  Garmand  Bulley,  Lemuel  Bishop, 
Potter  Roberts,  Thomas  Hyneman,  Abel  Sawyer,  Haynes 
Jerry  Beamer,  Benjamin  Bears,  Dan  Allen,  Willia/n 
Dye,  Solomon  Soaper — for  fifteen  days'  service  each  man. 
For  Cash  paid  out  for  expenses  the  sum  of  £4  10s.  lOd. 
Commanded  by  me, 

"Joseph  Lockwood,  Lieutenant. 
"  Manchester,  June  10,  1775." 

A  Letter  from  Colonel  Hinman  to  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress, dated  Ticonderoga,  July  3,  1775,  was  read. 

A  Letter  from  Elisha  Phelps,  Commissary  at  Albany 
for  the  Connecticut  Troops,  to  the  Provincial  Congress, 
dated  Albany,  July  7,  1775,  was  read. 

A  Letter  from  John  N.  Bleecker  at  Albany,  dated  July 
4,  1775,  was  received,  and  read. 

The  account  of  Provisions  and  Stores,  and  also  the  ap- 
pointment of  Elisha  Phelps,  mentioned  in  Mr.  Bleecker's 
Letter,  were  also  read,  and  filed. 

A  Letter  from  Burnet  Miller,  Chairman  of  the  Com- 
mittee of  Southampton,  was  read,  and  is  in  the  words  fol- 
lowing, to  wit: 

"  Southampton,  July  5,  1775. 

"Gentlemen:  The  Committee  of  East  and  Southamp- 
ton, taking  into  their  serious  consideration  the  remote  situ- 
ation from  Head-Quarters  at  New-York,  and  much  ex- 
posed to  the  ravages  of  our  unnatural  enemy  at  this  day, 
with  regard  to  our  stock  in  our  common  field,  at  the  Point 
of  Montauck,  it  being  remote  from  the  inhabitants,  where 
any  number  may  land,  and  at  pleasure  take  away  our  stock, 
which  is  large,  (not  less  than  two  thousand  neat  cattle,  and 
three  or  four  thousand  sheep,)  which,  if  taken  away,  would 
greatly  distress  us,  and  give  them  support,  which  we  could 
by  no  means  do : 

"  Now,  considering  our  situation,  we  request  your  hon- 
ourable House  to  petition  General  Schuyler  that  a  number 
of  Troops  be  stationed  at  Montauck,  and  that  the  compa- 
ny now  raising  here  may  be  a  part,  until  a  matter  of  more 
importance  shall  call  them  away.  We  are  of  the  opinion, 
that  our  inhabitants  would  do  what  in  them  lies  to  give 
assistance,  in  case  any  attempt  should  be  made  to  take  off 
the  stock ;  but  the  distance  of  the  inhabitants  is  eighteen 
or  twenty  miles ;  and  as  Gardner's  Island  lies  adjacent  and 
is  much  exposed,  also  Shelter  Island,  Plumb  Island,  and 
Oyster  Pond  Point,  we  think  a  number  of  whale-boats 
would  be  proper  to  employ,  that  assistance  may  be  given 
from  one  part  to  the  other.    We  have  a  number  of  boats 


that  are  of  no  use  in  this  season,  that  might  be  got  for  the 
design,  if  the  General  should  think  proper  to  order  Troops 
to  this  part  of  the  island,  which  we  humbly  petition  may 
be  done,  &ic.    1  am,  Gentlemen,  &ic. 

"  By  order  of  the  Committee: 

"Bubnet  Milleb,  Chairman. 
"To  the  Provincial  Congress  now  sitting  at  New- York." 

A  Letter  from  Joseph  Johnson,  an  Indian  Preacher  to 
the  Mohegan  Tribe,  bearing  date  the  fifth  day  of  July, 
instant,  was  read,  and  filed. 

A  Petition  of  Samuel  Faulkenham  and  David  Wool- 
haupter,  praying  to  be  employed  in  making  Drums  and 
Fifes,  was  read,  and  filed. 

Peter  Herring  being  brought  before  the  Committee, 
General  Wooster  charged  and  accused  him  of  being  aiding 
and  assisting  to  one  Lundin  yesterday  evening,  in  making 
his  escape  from  the  confinement  he  was  under  by  order  of 
the  Continental  Congress;  several  witnesses  were  examined 
as  to  the  charge,  in  the  presence  of  the  said  Peter  Her- 
ring. 

Resolved,  That  it  fully  appears  to  this  Committee,  by 
the  testimony  of  sundry  witnesses,  as  also  by  the  examina- 
tion and  confession  of  Peter  Herring,  of  the  City  of  New- 
York,  that  he,  the  said  Peter  Herring,  was  aiding  and 
assisting  to  one  Lundin  yesterday  evening,  in  making  his 
escape  from  the  confinement  he  was  in  by  order  of  the 
Continental  Congress ;  and  the  said  Peter  Herring  assisted 
him  to  get  on  board  the  Asia,  man-of-war,  and  was  the 
means  of  getting  him  on  board  of  the  said  Ship: 

Resolved  and  Ordered,  therefore,  That  the  said  Peter 
Herring  be  sent,  under  such  guard  as  General  Wooster 
shall  appoint,  to  Connecticut,  to  be  there  confined  in  close 
jail  at  the  Continental  charge,  until  he  shall  be  thence  dis- 
charged by  the  Continental  Congress. 

A  Letter  from  Henry  B.  Livingston,  Esq.,  informing 
that  he  accepts  of  the  warrant  sent  him  for  the  commission 
of  a  Captain,  and  has  begun  to  enlist  his  men,  was  read 
and  filed. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Safety,  on  Wednesday, 
the  twelfth  day  of  July,  1775.  Present : 

For  King's  County,  Henry  Williams,  Esquire,  Chair- 
man and  Representative. 

For  the  City  and  County  of  New-York,  Peter  Van 
Brugh  Livingston,  Colonel  McDougall,  and  Colonel 
Lispenard. 

For  Dutchess  County,  Jonathan  London. 

For  Ulsteb  County,  Egbert  Dumond  and  Christo- 
pher Tappen. 

For  Orange  County.  David  Pye. 

For  Suffolk  County,  Abraham  Brasher. 

For  Richmond  County,  Richard  Laurence. 

For  Queen's  County,  Colonel  McDougall. 

For  Tryon  County,  Peter  Van  Brugh  Livingston. 

A  Letter  from  Capt.  Andrew  Billings,  at  Poughkeepsie, 
setting  forth  his  having  enlisted  seventy-two  men,  and  that 
he  waits  for  directions  how  to  proceed  : 

Ordered,  That  a  Letter  be  wrote  and  forwarded  to  Cap- 
tain Billings,  directing  him  to  inform  Colonel  Clinton  of 
the  progress  he  has  made,  and  to  put  himself  and  his  Com- 
pany under  his  command,  and  follow  his  directions. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  McDougall  have  such  Arms  as 
are  or  may  be  provided  for  his  Regiment,  reduced  to  the 
length  of  the  King's  Muskets,  and  that  he  have  Steel  Ram- 
rods made  for  such  of  them  as  have  not  already  Steel 
Ramrods;  and 

Ordered,  That  every  Gunsmith  in  the  City  of  Neiv- 
York,  on  application  to  him  made  for  that  purpose,  do  im- 
mediately make  such  alterations,  repairs,  and  Ramrods  for 
the  said  Muskets  as  shall  be  directed  by  Colonel  McDou- 
gall or  bis  order,  in  preference  to  any  other  work  or  busi- 
ness whatsoever. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Brasher  wait  on  his  Worship  the 
Mayor  of  the  City  of  New-York,  and  request  him  to  get 
a  just  estimate  made  of  the  value  of  the  Muskets  and 
Bayonets,  the  arms  of  the  Corporation  of  the  City  of  New- 
York,  and  to  have  the  same  delivered  to  this  Committee, 
or  the  Provincial  Congress,  in  order  that  so  many  of  them 
as  may  be  appropriated  for  the  use  of  the  Continental 


1783 


NEW-YORK  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY,  JULY,  1775. 


1784 


Army  may  hereafter  be  restored,  or  the  value  of  them  ac- 
counted for  to  the  Corporation. 

Resolved  and  Ordered,  That  Mr.  Peter  T.  Curtenius 
be  requested  to  purchase  Russia  Drilling  sufficient  to  make 
one  thousand  five  hundred  Waistcoats,  and  as  many  pair  of 
Breeches,  and  have  them  made  up;  and  that  he  also  pur- 
chase as  much  low-priced  Linen  as  will  make  three  thou- 
sand Shirts,  and  get  that  number  of  Shirts  made.  That  he 
purchase  one  thousand  five  hundred  Hats,  one  thousand 
five  hundred  pair  of  Shoes,  and  three  thousand  pair  of 
coarse  woollen  humespun  knit  Hose.  That  he  also  pur- 
chase a  cheap  and  proper  Linen,  or  other  material,  suffi- 
cient to  make  three  thousand  Cravats. 

Ordered,  That  Egbert  Dumond,  Esq.,  wait  on  Abra- 
ham Lott,  Esq.,  Treasurer  of  this  Colony,  and  obtain  from 
him  an  order  on  the  Loan  Officers  of  the  County  of  Ulster, 
for  a  sum  of  money  now  in  their  hands,  to  be  applied  for 
the  publick  exigences  of  the  Colony,  and  that  Mr.  Du- 
mond., for  the  present,  give  his  note  or  obligation  to  the 
Treasurer  for  such  order,  or  the  amount  of  the  sum  to  be 
therein  mentioned,  until  the  same  shall  be  repaid,  or  farther 
security  given  for  the  same  ;  and 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Dumond,  when  he  has  received  such 
money  from  the  Loan  Officers,  pay  for  the  Flour  which  he 
formerly  purchased  and  sent  to  Albany,  and  the  expenses 
attending  the  same,  and  that  he  expend  the  residue  of  the 
said  money  in  Flour,  and  forward  the  same  to  Albany ;  and 
that  Mr.  Dumond  return  an  account  to  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress of  the  sum  he  shall  have  so  received,  and  of  his  ex- 
penditures thereof,  that  the  same  may  be  repaid  when  the 
Continental  money  shall  come  to  hand. 

The  Committee  adjourned  to  five  o'clock,  P.  M. 

5to  ho.  P.  M.,  Wednesday,  July  12,  1775. 
The  Committee  met  pursuant  to  adjournment.  Present : 

For  the  City  and  County  of  New- York,  P.  V.  B. 

Livingston,  Col.  McDougall,  Abraham  Brasher. 
For  Dutchess  County,  Jonathan  London. 
For  Ulster  County,  Egbert  Dumond. 
For  Orange  County,  David  Pye. 
For  Suffolk  County,  Abraham  Brasher. 
For  Richmond  County,  Richard  Lawrence. 
For  Queen's  County,  Colonel  McDougall. 
For  Tryon  County,  Peter  Van  Brugh  Livingston. 
Mr.  Henry  Williams  being  absent,  David  Pye,  Esquire, 
was  unanimously  elected  Chairman  pro  tempore. 

An  answer  to  the  Letter  of  Colonel  Hinman  of  the  third 
instant,  was  read  and  approved,  and  is  as  follows : 

Committee  of  Safety  for  the  Colony  of  New- York,  ) 

July  12,  1775.  \ 
Sir:  We  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  favour  of  the 
third  of  July  instant.  In  answer  thereto,  we  beg  leave  to 
inform  you  that  General  Schuyler  has  proceeded  to  the 
northward.  We  shall  forward  a  copy  of  your  letter  to  him 
without  delay,  and  we  have  the  highest  confidence,  that  on 
your  application  to  him  he  will  make  every  arrangement 
in  stationing  the  Troops  at  the  different  posts  you  mention, 
that  will  be  for  the  general  defence  of  the  United  Colonies. 

The  Troops  of  this  Colony  to  be  forwarded  will  be  fur- 
nished with  tents.  We  shall  pay  a  particular  attention  to 
what  you  mention,  as  to  the  letters  in  custody  of  any  gen- 
tleman who  may  hereafter  obtain  a  pass  from  this  Congress. 

By  order:  David  Pye,  Chairman  pro  tempore. 

Colonel  Hinman. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  thereof  be  engrossed  and  signed 
by  the  Chairman  pro  tempore,  and  sent  by  Mr.  Mott. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Curtenius  purchase  and  send  to  Al- 
bany, to  the  care  of  Elisha  Phelps,  Commissary  at  Albany 
for  the  Connecticut  Troops,  the  following  necessaries  as 
Hospital  Stores,  to  wit:  three  quarter  casks  of  Madeira 
Wine,  three  quarter  casks  of  Claret,  three  casks  of  Raisins, 
to  be  cased  in  tight  casks,  twelve  kegs  of  Oat-Meal,  and 
six  kegs  of  Pearl  Barley. 

An  answer  to  the  Letter  of  Elisha  Phelps,  of  the  seventh 
instant,  was  read  and  approved,  and  is  as  follows : 

Committoe  of  Safety  for  the  Colony  of  New-York,  i 

July  12  1775.  \ 
Sir:  We  have  before  us  your  favour  of  the  seventh 
instant,  and  are  to  inform  you,  that  a  quantity  of  flour 


has  been  ordered  up  to  Albany  in  different  parcels,  which 
we  doubt  not  will  come  to  your  hands  in  due  time.  We 
will  give  the  proper  orders  about  the  hospital  stores,  which 
you  inform  us  are  not  to  be  obtained  in  Albany,  and  have 
them  forwarded. 

We  are,  Sir,  your  humble  servants.    By  order. 
Mr.  Elisha  Phelps,  Commissary  at  Albany. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  thereof  be  signed  by  the  Chair- 
man pro  tempore,  and  sent  by  Mr.  Mott. 

A  draught  of  a  Letter  to  the  Delegates  from  this  Colony 
at  the  Continental  Congress,  was  read  and  approved  of, 
and  is  in  the  words  following : 

Committee  of  Safety  for  the  Colony  of  New- York,  ) 

July  12,  1775.  \ 

Gentlemen  :  We  beg  leave,  for  your  information,  to 
enclose  you  a  copy  of  the  instructions  and  warrant  which 
we  have  given  to  the  officers  employed  in  raising  our  troops. 
We  have  formed  an  arrangement  of  the  three  thousand 
men  (exclusive  of  the  Green  Mountain  Boys)  which  the 
Continental  Congress  have  ordered  us  to  raise  into  four 
battalions,  of  seven  hundred  and  fifty  men  each,  including 
their  officers,  and  would  be  glad  to  be  informed  what  their 
pay  is  to  be.  We  are  at  a  loss  about  this  matter,  because 
the  accounts  we  have  of  the  pay  of  the  Colonies  of  Massa- 
chusetts, Connecticut,  and  Rhode-Island,  differ,  so  as  to 
reduce  us  to  an  uncertainty,  which  we  could  wish  to  have 
removed.  We  think,  with  submission,  it  would  have  a 
tendency  to  promote  the  service  if  our  levies  could  be 
informed  of  the  quantum  of  their  pay.  We  have  reason 
to  believe  that  the  four  battalions  will  be  completed  soon, 
but  are  sorry  to  inform  you  that  we  have  no  powder  for 
them  when  raised.    We  are  yours,  &c. 

To  the  New-  York  Delegates  at  the  Continental  Congress. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  be  signed  by  the  Chairman,  and 
transmitted  by  the  first  opportunity. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Curtenius  be  requested,  from  time 
to  time,  to  purchase  such  quantities  of  Straw  for  the  use 
of  the  Troops  of  Colonel  McDougall' s  Regiment,  as  Col. 
McDougall  may  think  necessary. 

A  draught  of  an  answer  to  the  Letter  of  Burnet  Miller, 
Chairman  of  the  Committee  of  East  and  Southampton, 
was  read  and  approved  of,  and  is  in  the  words  following, 
to  wit: 

Committee  of  Safety  for  the  Colony  of  New- York,  ? 

July  12,  1775.  \ 

Gentlemen  :  We  are  favoured  with  your  letter  dated 
Southampton  the  fifth  instant,  signed  by  Mr.  Miller,  Chair- 
man of  the  Committee  of  East  and  Southampton,  and  are 
to  inform  you  that  we  will  forward  a  copy  of  the  same  to 
Major-General  Schuyler,  to  whose  consideration  we  must 
refer  your  request. 

We  are,  with  much  respect,  gentlemen,  your  most  obe- 
dient humble  servants.    By  order. 

To  the  Committee  of  East  and  Southampton. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  thereof  be  signed  by  the  Chair- 
man and  transmitted. 

The  Committee  adjourned  to  nine  o'clock  to-morrow 
moining,  Thursday. 

Thursday,  9  ho.  A.M.,  July  13,  1775. 
The  Committee  met  pursuant  to  adjournment.  Present: 
For  King's  County,  Henry  Williams,  Esq.,  Chairman 

and  Commissioner. 
For  the  City  and  County  of  New-York,  Peter  Van 

Brugh  Livingston,  Colonel  McDougall,  Abraham 

Brasher,  and  Isaac  Low,  Joseph  Hallett,  Jacobus 
Van  Zandt,  James  Beckman,  Sa?nuel  Verplanck,  and 

John  Van  Cortlandt. 
For  the  City  and  County  of  Albany,  Gouverneur 

Morris. 

For  Ulster  County,  Egbert  Dumond. 

For  Dutchess  County,  Jonathan  London. 

For  Orange  County,  David  Pye. 

For  Suffolk  County,  Abraham  Brasher. 

For  Westchester  County,  Gouverneur  Morris. 

For  Richmond  County,  Richard  Lawrence. 

For  Queen's  County,  Colonel  McDougall. 

For  Tryon  County,  Peter  Van  Brugh  Livingston. 


1785 


NEW- YORK  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY,  JULY,  1775. 


1786 


A  Letter  from  Stephen  Ward  and  Joseph  Drake,  inform- 
ing that  Nehemiah  Marshall,  nominated  a  Second  Lieuten- 
ant in  Westchester  County,  had  declined  the  service,  and 
recommending  Samuel  Tredwell  Pell  in  his  stead,  was  read 
and  filed,  with  the  Warrant  formerly  issued. 

Ordered,  That  a  Warrant  he  made  out  for  the  said  Sam- 
uel Tredwell  Pell,  in  the  place  and  stead  of  the  said  A'e- 
hemiah  Marshall. 

Colonel  McDougall  applied  to  the  Committee  for  an 
order  to  Mr.  Curtcnius  to  furnish  the  following  articles  for 
the  Armourers  of  the  First  Regiment,  viz :  one  hundred 
and  fifty  Steel  Rods ;  one  hundred  and  fifty  Bell  Pipes  ; 
twelve  pound  of  Sheet  Brass ;  one  pound  of  Borax  ;  four 
dozen  of  different  sorts  of  Files ;  six  Rasps ;  four  pound 
of  Emory ;  six  pound  of  Glue  ;  twenty-five  pound  of  Steel ; 
two  pound  of  Binding  Wire ;  twenty-five  pound  of  Iron  ; 
two  pound  of  Spelter  Solder ;  one  Glue  Pot ;  one  Grind- 
stone and  one  Oil-stone;  two  small  Hand- Vices ;  six  pound 
of  coarse  Wire;  one  small  Screwplate  and  Taps. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Peter  T.  Curtenius  purchase  the 
before-mentioned  articles,  anil  furnish  or  deliver  them  to 
Colonel  McDougall  or  his  order. 

A  Letter  from  Hezekiah  Howell,  Chairman  of  the  Com- 
mittee of  Cornwall  Precinct,  giving  information  that  *SVe- 
phen  Howell,  of  that  Precinct,  who  was  appointed  a  Second 
Lieutenant,  had  declined  the  serv  ice,  was  read  ;  and  a  Let- 
ter from  the  said  Stephen  Howell,  declaring  his  resignation 
of  his  Warrant,  was  also  read  and  filed.  And  the  said 
Committee  of  Cornwall  Precinct,  by  their  Letter,  having 
warmly  recommended  Jonas  Bellows  to  be  a  Second  Lieu- 
tenant in  the  place  of  the  said  Stephen  Howell, 

Resolved  and  Agreed,  That  a  Warrant  be  signed  by  the 
President  of  this  Congress  and  delivered  to  the  said  Jonas 
Bellows,  for  his  use,  as  soon  as  the  Warrant  to  Stephen 
Howell  is  returned. 

A  Letter  from  Walter  Spooner,  Chairman  of  a  Com- 
mittee at  Springfield,  Massachusetts-Bay,  dated  Spring- 
field,  July  3,  1775,  was  read. 

A  draft  of  a  Letter  to  Major-General  Schuyler,  to  cover 
a  copy  of  Colonel  Hinman's  Letter,  was  read  and  ap- 
proved ;  and  is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 

Committee  of  Safety  for  the  Colonv  of  New. York,  ) 

July  13,  1775.  \ 

Sir  :  We  beg  leave  to  enclose  you  a  copy  of  a  letter 
from  Colonel  Hinman,  which  was  received  yesterday.  We 
have,  in  substance,  by  our  answer,  informed  him  that  we 
would  forward  a  copy  of  his  letter  to  you,  and  that  we 
have  the  highest  confidence  that,  on  his  application,  you 
will  make  every  arrangement  in  stationing  the  Troops  at 
the  different  posts  mentioned  in  his  letter,  that  would  be 
for  the  general  defence  of  the  United  Colonies. 

We  are,  Sir,  your  obedient  servants.    By  order,  &ic. 
To  Major  General  Schuyler. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  thereof  be  signed  by  the  Chair- 
man, and,  together  with  a  copy  of  Colonel  Hinman's  Let- 
ter, be  transmitted  by  the  first  conveyance. 

Alderman  Matthews  and  Alderman  Brewerton  applied 
to  the  Committee,  and  delivered  a  Letter  from  Captain 
Vandeput,  of  His  Majesty's  Ship  Asia,  to  Governour 
Tryon,  complaining  that  one  of  his  Boats  is  brought  on 
shore,  and  the  crew  detained  prisoners;  and  the  Committee 
being  informed  that  the  boat's  crew  are  prisoners  in  Gen. 
Wooster's  camp,  and  also  that  His  Majesty's  Store  near 
Hudson's  River  was  broken  open  during  last  night,  and 
divers  effects  carried  away  from  thence  by  violence, 

Ordered,  That  Samuel  Verplanclc,  Isaac  Low,  and 
Gouverneur  Morris,  Esquires,  be  a  Sub-Committee  from 
this  Committee  to  wait  on  Gen.  Wooster,  in  order  to  make 
inquiry,  and  to  receive  information  on  those  subjects ;  and 
also  to  give  such  directions  therein  as  they  shall  think  pro- 
per, that  right  may  be  done  without  delay. 

Thereupon  a  draught  of  a  Letter  to  General  Wooster 
was  read,  and  approved,  and  is  as  follows: 

Committee  of  Safety  for  the  Colony  of  New-York,  ) 
July  13,  1775.  \ 

Sir  :  Complaint  has  been  made  to  our  Board  that  a  boat 
belonging  to  His  Majesty's  Ship  Asia,  has  been  drawn  on 
shore,  and  the  boat's  crew  detained  as  prisoners  at  your 
camp;  and  also  that  His  Majesty's  store-house  near  Hud- 


son's River  was,  during  last  night,  broke  open  and  divers 
effects  carried  away  from  thence  by  violence ;  it  is  alleged 
that  some  of  the  troops  under  your  command  have  been 
concerned  in  both  those  acts.  We  have  therefore  appoint- 
ed Samuel  Verplanck,  Isaac  Low,  and  Gouverneur  Mor- 
ris, Esqrs.,  a  Committee  from  our  Board,  to  wait  on  you, 
in  order  to  make  inquiry,  and  receive  information  on  those 
subjects,  and  also  to  give  such  directions  therein  as  they 
shall  think  proper,  that  right  may  be  done  without  delay. 

We  are,  Sir,  your  humble  servants.  By  order  of  the 
Committee. 

To  Major  General  Wooster. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  thereof  be  signed  by  the  Chair- 
man, and  delivered  to  the  Sub-Committee. 

Doctor  Samuel  Bard,  at  his  request,  was  admitted,  and 
informed  the  Committee  that  he  had  received  some  dis- 
agreeable language  from  some  of  his  fellow-citizens  for 
receiving  and  attending  the  sick  Mariners  from  His  Majes- 
ty's Ships,  and  requested  to  know  whether  it  is  the  sense 
of  this  Committee  that  his  acting  as  Physician  for  the  sick 
Mariners  is  inconsistent  with  the  conduct  and  duty  of  a 
good  citizen  under  the  present  circumstances  of  this  Co- 
lony. Doctor  Bard  further  declared,  that  he  had  been  par- 
ticularly careful  not  to  receive  any  patients  from  the  Ships 
with  any  infectious  disorders.  But  that  if  it  is  the  sense 
of  this  Committee  that  he  ought  not  to  attend  such  sick 
Mariners,  he  is  ready  to  resign  his  office. 

Resolved,  That  Dr.  Bard's  conduct  is  fully  consistent  with 
the  conduct  and  duty  of  a  good  citizen  ;  and  he  is  requested 
not  to  suffer  any  patient  to  be  brought  into  his  Hospital  with 
any  infectious  disorders,  particularly  the  small-pox. 

Mr.  Low,  from  the  Committee  who  waited  on  General 
Wooster,  reported,  that  General  Wooster  informed  them 
that  the  matter  of  complaint  relating  to  the  boat  and  boat's 
crew  belonging  to  the  Ship  Asia,  had  arose  through  some 
mistake  of  the  master  of  the  Connecticut  armed  Schooner. 
That  he  had  ordered  the  Boat  to  be  restored,  and  sent  a 
party  to  put  her  in  the  water,  and  that  the  boat's  crew  he 
had  discharged  as  soon  as  he  heard  of  their  being  detained. 
That  as  to  the  effects  brought  to  his  camp  last  night,  he 
had  ordered  them  to  be  taken  care  of,  and  that  they  are 
preserved  under  a  guard ;  that  they  were  brought  there  by 
some  persons  without  his  knowledge  or  directions  ;  that  one 
Brasher  informed  him  that  Col.  Ritztma  had  desired  him 
to  receive  and  protect  those  effects ;  and  therefore  he  had 
set  a  guard  over  them,  and  they  were  ready  to  be  delivered 
to  the  owner,  or  to  the  order  of  this  Committee. 

The  Recorder  and  Aldermen  Brewerton  and  Mattheivs, 
were  called  in,  and  they  informed  the  Committee  that  the 
Boat  belonging  to  the  Asia,  man-of-war,  is  burnt. 

Whereupon  the  Committee  made  the  following  Order: 

Whereas,  information  hath  been  given  to  this  Committee 
by  some  of  the  Civil  Magistrates  of  the  City  of  New-  York, 
that  an  attack  was  made  without  provocation  upon  a  Boat 
belonging  to  His  Majesty's  Ship  Asia,  and  the  Boat  wan- 
tonly destroyed  ;  and  also  that  the  house  and  store  of  Mr. 
Francis  Stephens  have  been  violently  broken  open  and 
robbed  of  private  property,  and  military  stores  taken  from 
thence ;  and  whereas,  the  said  Magistrates  have  requested 
the  advice  of  this  Committee  in  the  premises, 

Ordered,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  Civil  Magistrates 
to  examine  strictly  into  the  several  matters  and  things  above 
mentioned,  and  to  punish  all  persons  who  are  guilty  of  per- 
petrating the  same,  as  the  law  directs;  and  that  it  be  and 
hereby  is  recommended  to  all  the  citizens  and  others  to  aid 
and  assist  the  Magistrates  in  the  execution  of  their  offices. 

Ordered,  That  the  foregoing  Order  be  published  in  hand- 
bills, and  distributed. 

The  Committee  adjourned  to  to-morrow  morning,  nine 
o'clock. 

Die  Veneris,  9  ho.  A.  M.,  July  14,  1775. 

The  Committee  met  pursuant  to  adjournment.  Present : 

For  King's  County,  Henry  Williams,  Esq.,  Chair- 
man and  Commissioner. 

For  New- York  City  and  County,  Peter  Van  B. 
Livingston,  Esquire,  Col.  Lispenard,  Col.  McDou- 
gall, Jacobus  Van  Zandt,  Abraham  Brasher. 

For  Albany  City  and  County,  Gouverneur  Morris. 


1787 


NEW-YORK  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY,  JULY,  1775. 


1788 


For  Dutchess  County,  Jonathan  London. 

For  Ulster  County,  Egbert  Dumond. 

For  Orange  County,  David  Pye. 

For  Suffolk  County,  Abraham  Brasher. 

For  Westchester  County,  Gouverneur  Morris. 

For  Richmond  County,  Richard  Lawrence. 

For  Queen's  County,  Colonel  McDougaU. 

For  Tryon  County,  Peter  Van  Brugh  Livingston. 

Stephen  Seaman  and  Obadiah  Seaman  attending  at  the 
door,  were  called  in,  and  gave  the  Committee  such  informa- 
tion as  affords  great  reason  to  suspect  that  George  Youngs 
and  his  son,  and  Captain  Brush,  and  one  Conklin,  all  of 
Huntington,  are  concerned  in  shipping  Provisions  to  sup- 
ply General  Gage's  Fleet  and  Army;  and  notes  of  their 
examination  were  taken  and  filed. 

Thereupon  a  draft  of  a  Letter  to  John  Sloss  Hobart, 
Esq.,  was  read  and  approved  of,  and  is  in  the  words  fol- 
lowing, to  wit : 

Committee  of  Safety  for  the  Colony  of  New-York,  ) 

July  14,  1775.  \ 

Sir:  We  have  received  such  information  as  gives  us 
great  reason  to  suspect  that  one  George  Youngs  and  his 
son,  and  one  Captain  Brush,  and  one  Conklin,  all  of  or  near 
Huntington,  are  concerned  in  shipping  provisions  in  such 
manner  as  that  they  must  inevitably  serve  to  supply  Gene- 
ral Gage's  Fleet  and  Army  at  Boston.  We  enclose  you 
notes  taken  from  two  witnesses  on  that  subject.  We 
need  not  suggest  to  you  that  it  is  incumbent  on  those 
people  to  show  where  they  have  unloaded  their  former 
cargoes,  and  where  they  are  now  going,  and  that  they  have 
complied  with  the  Association  without  fraud.  We  have 
the  highest  confidence  that  your  Committee  will  exert 
themselves  on  this  occasion. 

We  are,  respectfully,  Sir,  your  humble  servants. 
By  order. 
To  John  Sloss  Hobart,  Esq., 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  thereof  be  engrossed,  signed  by 
the  Chairman,  and,  together  with  a  copy  of  the  examina- 
tion of  Obadiah  and  Stephen  Seaman,  be  transmitted  by 
the  first  conveyance. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Peter  T.  Curtenius  be  desired  to 
purchase  three  hundred  barrels  of  Pork,  and  forward  the 
same  to  Albany ;  and  that  he  forward  a  complete  set  of 
Tents  to  Colonel  Rooseboom,  at  Albany,  sufficient  for  one 
Regiment,  and  inform  this  Committee  when  those  Tents 
are  ready  and  forwarded. 

A  Memorial  of  John  Sparding,  bearing  date  at  Ticonde- 
roga  Landing  on  the  first  of  June,  was  read  and  filed. 

The  Memorialist  sets  forth  the  great  trouble  and  pains 
he  had  taken  to  forward  the  service  there  with  Boats  and 
Teams,  and  his  ability  to  perform  the  same.  Also  sets 
forth,  that  seventeen  Pounds  are  due  him  for  his  services ; 
that  the  Agents  now  refuse  to  employ  his  Teams;  that  he 
is  likely  to  be  a  great  sufferer;  and  prays  the  same  may  be 
taken  into  consideration. 

A  Letter  to  the  said  John  Sparding  was  thereupon  read 
and  approved  of,  and  is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 

In  Committee  of  Safety  for  the  Colony  of  New. York,  ) 

July  14,  1775.  £ 

Sir  :  This  morning  Mr.  Peter  T.  Curtenius  presented 
your  Memorial,  which  was  immediately  read  and  taken  into 
consideration.  General  Schuyler,  who  has  the  command  of 
the  Northern  Posts  is  now  there  ;  to  him  we  must  refer  you, 
and  doubt  not  but  that  he  will  redress  your  grievances,  and 
such  accounts  as  he  shall  recommend  for  payment,  we  pre- 
sume will  be  honoured  by  the  Provincial  Congress. 

We  are,  Sir,  your  friends  and  humble  servants.  By  order. 
To  Mr.  John  Sparding  at  Ticonderoga  Landing. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  thereof  be  engrossed  and  signed 
by  the  Chairman,  and  transmitted. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  McDougaU,  Captain  Anthony 
Rutgers,  and  Mr.  Samuel  Tudor,  be  authorized  to  pur- 
chase old  Copper,  Brass,  and  other  materials  for  casting  a 
Brass  Field-Piece,  at  such  prices  as  they  can  obtain  the 
said  materials. 

A  Letter  from  John  Grennell  of  Huntington,  was  read, 
and  filed. 

Mr.  Grennell  by  his  Letter  informs  that  William  Phil- 


lipse  and  Philip  Conklin,  who  were  nominated  his  Sub- 
alterns, from  their  particular  circumstances  decline  that 
service.  He  recommends  Mr.  Samuel  Smith  of  Smith- 
town,  for  First  Lieutenant,  and  Alexander  Ketchum  of  Hun- 
tington, for  Second  Lieutenant.  He  also  further  informs  that 
several  stand  ready  to  enlist,  and  have  arms,  ammunition, 
and  blankets. 

Agreed  and  Ordered,  That  Warrants  be  issued  for  Sam- 
uel Smith  and  Alexander  Ketchum,  as  Subalterns  under 
John  Grennell. 

Mr.  Abraham  Van  Wyck  having  declined  serving  in  the 
Troops  as  a  Captain,  and  two  days  ago  returned  his  War- 
rant, and  Mr.  David  Lyon  of  Elizabethtown,  in  New- Jer- 
sey, having  offered  his  services  with  a  complete  company 
of  men  by  him  enlisted, 

Ordered,  That  the  said  David  Lyon  be  taken  into  ser- 
vice as  a  Captain  in  the  First  Regiment  in  the  stead  of  the 
said  Abraham  Van  Wyck,  and  that  a  Warrant  be  issued  to 
him  accordingly. 

A  draught  of  a  Letter  to  Mr.  John  Grennell,  was  read 

and  approved  of,  and  is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 

Committee  of  Safety  for  the  Colony  of  New-York,  ) 

July  14,  1775.  $ 

Sir:  Your  favour  of  the  11th  instant  is  now  before  us. 
We  have  attentively  perused  it,  and  from  the  great  confi- 
dence we  place  in  you,  Sir,  and  a  firm  reliance  that  you 
have  recommended  gentlemen  fit  for  the  trust  reposed  in 
them,  we  have  enclosed  warrants  for  them.  We  recom- 
mend to  you,  Sir,  to  make  all  possible  despatch  in  enlisting 
your  men.  and  to  pay  a  particular  attention  to  their  health, 
strength  and  abilities.  By  a  resolve  of  our  Congress  the 
men  you  enlist  will  be  allowed  for  the  use  of  their  arms,  if 
they  are  approved  of  by  the  Mustermaster,  Armourer,  and 
Field-Officers  of  the  Regiment,  as  good  and  fit  for  service. 
As  to  the  blankets  and  other  matters  you  mention,  we  are 
not  at  present  in  a  condition  to  advise. 

We  are,  Sir,  your  very  humble  servants. 
By  order  of  the  Committee. 
To  Captain  John  Grennell,  at  Huntington. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  thereof  be  engrossed,  and  signed 
by  the  Chairman,  and  transmitted,  with  the  Warrants  there- 
in mentioned  enclosed. 

The  Committee  adjourned  to  nine  o'clock,  to-morrow 
morning. 

Die  Sabbati,  9  ho.  A.  M.,  July  15,  1775. 

The  Committee  met  pursuant  to  adjournment.  Present : 

For  King's  County,  Henry  Williams,  Esq.,  Chair- 
man and  Commissioner. 

For  New- York,  Peter  V.  B.  Livingston,  Col.  Lispen- 
ard,  Colonel  McDougaU,  and  Abraham  Brasher. 

For  the  City  and  County  of  Albany,  Gouverneur 
Morris. 

For  Dutchess  County,  Jonathan  Landon. 

For  Ulster  County,  Egbert  Dumond. 

For  Orange  County,  David  Pye. 

For  Suffolk  County,  Abraham  Brasher. 

For  Westchester  County,  Gouverneur  Morris. 

For  Richmond  County,  Richard  Lawrence. 

For  Queen's  County,  Colonel  McDougaU. 

For  Tryon  County,  Peter  V.  B.  Livingston. 

A  Letter  from  General  Schuyler,  of  the  11th  of  July 
instant,  was  read,  and  filed. 

A  Letter  from  General  Schuyler,  of  the  12th  day  of  July 
instant,  was  read,  and  filed. 

Ordered,  That  Peter  Van  Brugh  Livingston,  Esq., 
Treasurer  of  the  Provincial  Congress  of  New-York,  pay 
into  the  hands  of  Colonel  McDougaU  the  sum  of  three 
hundred  Pounds  out  of  the  moneys  he  shall  receive  from 
the  General  Committee  of  Association  for  the  City  and 
County  of  New-York. 

A  draught  of  a  Letter  to  the  New-  York  Delegates  at 
Philadelphia,  to  accompany  copies  of  two  Letters  received 
this  day  from  General  Schuyler,  was  read  and  approved  of, 
and  is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 

Committee  of  Safety  for  tho  Colony  of  New. York,  ) 

July  15,  1775.  $ 

Gentlemen  :  We  enclose  you  the  copies  of  two  letters 
from  General  Schuyler.    In  addition  we  must  observe  to 


1789 


NEW- YORK  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY,  JULY,  1775. 


1790 


you,  our  enlisted  men  grow  uneasy  for  want  of  money, 
wh  ich  prevents  the  enlistment  of  others.  We  have  no  arms, 
we  have  no  powder,  we  have  no  blankets.  For  God's  sake 
send  us  money,  send  us  arms,  send  us  ammunition.  Bur- 
goyne,  we  learn,  has  gone  to  Quebeck.  If  Ticonderoga  is 
taken  from  us,  fear,  which  made  the  savages  our  friends, 
will  render  them  our  enemies.  Ravages  on  our  own  fron- 
tiers will  foster  dissensions  among  us  ruinous  to  the  cause. 
Be  prudent,  be  expeditious. 

We  are,  Gentlemen,  yours,  &ic. 

P.  S.  You  will  observe,  gentlemen,  that  Peter  Van 
Brugh  Livingston  is  our  Treasurer  until  an  appointment 
by  your  Board.  We  hear  from  good  authority  that  Colonel 
Guy  Johnson  is  at  Oswego,  with  one  thousand  or  twelve 
hundred  Indians,  (men,  women,  and  children,)  and  that 
they  have  plenty  of  provisions.  We  should  be  glad  to 
have  the  blank  commissions  for  the  officers  sent  forward 
to  us. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy,  signed  by  the  Chairman,  be 
transmitted,  together  with  copies  of  General  Schuyler's  Let- 
ters, by  Joseph  Stevens,  a  messenger. 

A  draught  of  a  Letter  to  Major-General  Schuyler,  in 
answer  to  his  two  Letters  received  this  day,  was  read  and 
approved,  and  is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 

Committee  of  Safety  for  the  Colony  of  New-York,  ) 

July  15,  1775.  $ 

Sir:  We  have  received  your  letters,  and  written  to  the 
Continental  Congress  on  those  subjects.  We  shall  with  all 
despatch  send  the  officer  you  mention.  We  have  already 
ordered  to  Albany  tents  for  our  Regiment.  Our  Troops 
can  be  of  ho  use  to  you  ;  they  have  no  arms,  clothes,  blan- 
kets, or  ammunition ;  the  officers  no  commissions :  our  Trea- 
sury no  money ;  ourselves  in  debt.  It  is  in  vain  to  com- 
plain ;  we  will  remove  difficulties  as  fast  as  we  can,  and 
send  you  soldiers,  whenever  the  men  we  have  raised  are 
entitled  to  the  name.  The  intrenching  tools  shall  be  sent 
soon,  some  immediately,  and  all  the  pork  that  can  be  had, 
about  one  hundred  barrels.  Use,  we  pray  you,  the  bad 
Troops  at  Ticonderoga,  as  well  as  you  can. 

We  are,  very  sincerely,  your  countrymen  and  friends. 
To  Major-General  Schuyler. 

P.  S.  General  Burgoyne  has  not  been  seen  in  Boston 
since  the  17th  ult.,  and  it  is  currently  reported  and  believed 
that  he  has  gone  to  Quebeck. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  thereof  be  signed  by  the  Chair- 
man, and  transmitted. 

Ordered,  That  William  Elphinstone,  Esq.,  have  liberty 
to  use  two  rooms  in  the  lower  Barracks. 

A  Letter  from  General  Wooster,  dated  Camp  near  New- 
Yurk,  July  15,  1775,  was  read. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  James  Beekman  be  appointed  Com- 
missioner to  agree  with  Mr.  John  Sickles  for  his  Field  at 
Harlem,  for  the  use  of  the  Troops  under  the  command  of 
General  Wooster,  to  encamp  on. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Van  Zandt  be  appointed  Commis- 
sioner, to  agree  with  and  employ  as  many  Carmen  as  may 
be  necessary  for  transporting  the  Camp-equipage  of  Gen. 
Wooster's  Troops  to  Harlem. 

Thereupon  a  Letter  to  General  Wooster,  was  read  and 
approved,  and  is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 

Committee  of  Safety  for  the  Colony  of  New- York,  } 

July  15,  1775.  \ 

Sir:  Mr.  James  Beekman  is  appointed  Commissioner 
to  treat  with  John  Sickles  for  his  ground,  at  such  rate  and 
time  as  he  shall  think  proper.  Be  pleased  to  furnish  him 
with  the  dimensions  of  the  spot,  and  the  use  to  which  it  is 
to  be  applied  in  intrenching,  &tc. 

Mr.  Jacobus  Van  Zandt  is  Commissioner  to  provide 
carriages  for  your  tents,  baggage,  &ic.  Be  pleased  to  in- 
form him  how  many  carts  are  necessary. 

We  have  thought  proper  to  defer  your  march  until 
Tuesday  morning,  inasmuch  as  the  time  would  not  other- 
wise have  permitted  our  Commissioners  to  make  the  neces- 
sary arrangements.  ' 

We  are,  Sir,  your  most  obedient  humble  servants. 

To  General  Wooster. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  thereof  be  engrossed,  signed  by 


the  Chairman,  and  sent  by  General  Wooster's  officer  now 
in  waiting. 

General  Schuyler,  having  by  his  Letter  of  the  eleventh 
instant,  requested  this  Committee  to  appoint  a  proper  per- 
son to  command  the  Sloop  on  Lake  Champlain,  and  send 
him  up  with  all  convenient  speed,  and  Captain  Patrick 
Dennis  being  sent  for  to  confer  with  on  the  subject,  recom- 
mended Captain  James  Stnith  for  the  above  service. 

Captain  James  Smith  attended,  and  expressed  his  great 
willingness  and  cheerfulness  to  undertake  that  service,  and 
is  thought  by  this  Committee  to  be  a  very  proper  person : 
Thereupon  a  draught  of  a  Warrant  to  the  said  James  Smith 
was  made  and  approved,  and  is  in  the  words  following, 
to  wit: 

Committee  of  Safety  for  the  Colony  of  New- York,  ) 

July  15,  1775.  $ 

Mr.  James  Smith  : 

You  are  hereby  appointed  Captain  of  an  armed  vessel 
in  the  Continental  service.  You  will  receive  the  pay  of 
a  Major  in  the  service  of  the  Continental  Forces,  and  to 
take  your  orders  from  Major-General  Schuyler,  or  other 
commanding  officers  of  the  Continental  Troops  for  the  time 
being.  The  General  will  designate  the  vessel  you  are  to 
command,  and  you  will  receive  a  commission  from  the 
Continental  Congress. 

By  order  of  the  Committee. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  thereof  be  engrossed,  and  signed 
by  the  Chairman,  to  be  delivered  to  the  said  James  Smith. 

A  draught  of  a  Letter  to  General  Schuyler,  to  be  deli- 
vered by  the  said  James  Smith,  was  read  and  approved  of, 
and  is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit: 

Committee  of  Safety  for  the  Colony  of  New- York,  ) 

July  15,  1775.  ^ 

Sir  :  The  bearer  of  this  letter  is  James  Smith,  a  gen- 
tleman of  excellent  character  as  a  sea  officer,  who  willingly 
undertook  the  command,  refusing  a  ship  he  was  offered, 
and  left  it  to  us  to  settle  his  pay,  he.  We  agree  to  a 
Major's  pay,  and  at  the  same  time  we  submit  it  to  you 
whether  he  will  not  be  entitled  to  that  rank  in  the  Con- 
tinental service. 

We  are,  Sir,  your  very  humble  servants. 

To  Major-General  Schuyler. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  thereof  be  signed  by  the  Chair- 
man, and  transmitted  by  the  said  James  Smith. 

Agreed  and  Ordered,  That  Herman  Zedwitz  shall  be 
Major,  and  is  hereby  appointed  Major  of  the  First  Regi- 
ment of  the  Troops  now  raising  in  this  Colony. 

The  Committee  adjourned  till  nine  o'clock,  to-morrow 
morning. 

Die  Solis,  9  ho.  A.  M.,  July  16,  1775. 
The  Committee  met  pursuant  to  adjournment,  but  not 
having  any  business  absolutely  necessary  to  be  done  this 
day,  they  adjourned  to  nine  o'clock,  to-morrow  morning. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Safety  for  the  Colony 
of  New-  York,  Monday,  July  17th,  1775,  nine  o'clock, 
A.  M.    Present : 

For  King's  County,  Henry  Williavis,  Chairman  and 
Commissioner. 

For  New- York,  Peter  V.  B.  Livingston,  Colonel 
Lispenard,  Colonel  McDougall,  Abraham  Brasher. 

For  Albany,  Gouverneur  Morris. 

For  Ulster,  Egbert  Dumond. 

For  Orange,  David  Pye. 

For  Suffolk,  Abraham  Brasher. 

For  Westchester,  Gouverneur  Morris. 

For  Queen's,  Colonel  McDougall. 

For  Tryon,  Peter  V.  B.  Livingston. 

Mr.  Samuel  Broome  having  declined  the  Commission  of 
a  Captain  in  the  First  Battalion  of  the  Troops  now  raising 
in  this  Colony  ;  Ordered  and  Agreed,  That  Benjamin 
Ledyard  be  appointed  Captain  in  the  stead  and  place  of 
the  said  Samuel  Broome. 

A  draught  of  Articles  of  Agreement  between  the  Com- 
mittee appointed  to  procure  Locksmiths  to  make  Gun- 
locks,  of  the  first  part,  and  Thomas  Blockley  of  the  second 


1791 


NEW-YORK  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY,  JULY,  1775. 


1792 


part,  for  the  importation  of  Artificers,  was  read  and  approved 
of,  and  is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 
Articles  of  Agreement  made  and  concluded  this  seventeenth 
day  of  July,  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  seventy- 
five,  between  Leonard  Lispenard,  Joseph  Hallett,  Jaco- 
bus Van  Zandt,  and  Alexander  McDougall,  of  the  City 
of  New- York,  Esquires,  on  behalf  of  the  Provincial 
Congress  of  the  Colony  of  New-  York,  of  the  first  part, 
and  Tfiomas  Blockley,  now  in  New-  York,  and  intending 
speedily  to  go  to  Britain,  of  the  second  part. 
First,  The  said  Leonard  Lispenard,  Joseph  Hallett, 
Jacobus  Van  Zandt,  and  Alexander  McDougall,  on  behalf 
of  the  Provincial  Congress  of  the  Colony  of  New-  York, 
do  authorize  and  request  the  said  Thomas  Blockley  to  pro- 
cure ten  good  Artificers,  in  the  Gunsmiths  and  Locksmiths 
business,  to  wit :  Locksmiths,  good  workmen  in  the  trade 
and  business  of  musket  or  gun-locks  ;  and  other  good  work- 
men at  the  trade  and  business  of  forging,  welding,  and 
making;  gun-barrels :  and  other  good  workmen  in  the  trade 
and  business  of  boring  gun-barrels ;  in  the  whole,  ten  arti- 
ficers in  number,  to  come  to  the  Colony  of  New-  York  to 
dwell  and  reside,  and  there  to  carry  on  their  respective 
trades  and  occupations.    And  the  said  parties  of  the  first 
part,  do  request  and  authorize  the  said  Thomas  Blockley 
to  advance  to  each  of  the  said  workmen  two  guineas,  to 
defray  the  expense  of  their  removal  from  their  respective 
places  of  abode  on  board  of  the  ship  in  which  they  shall 
come  as  passengers. 

And  the  said  parties  of  the  first  part  do  covenant  and  agree 
to  and  with  the  said  Thomas  Blockley,  to  repay  to  him  or 
his  order  such  sums  of  money  as  shall  be  so  by  him  ad- 
vanced to  the  said  workmen,  not  exceeding  two  guineas 
each ;  and  also  to  pay  and  discharge  the  passages  of  such 
workmen  to  the  City  of  New-  York,  at  the  rate  and  price 
of  steerage  passengers  in  any  ship  or  vessel  in  which  they 
shall  arrive ;  provided  that  each  of  the  said  artificers  at  the 
time  of,  or  immediately  before  the  payment  of  their  respec- 
tive passages,  do  enter  in  bond  to  the  said  parties  of  the 
first  part,  in  double  the  sum  so  advanced  and  paid  for 
each  of  them,  with  a  condition  to  repay  the  money  so 
advanced  for  each  of  them  respectively,  if  the  obligor  shall 
not  set  up  and  carry  on  his  trade,  occupation,  and  business 
in  the  Colony  of  New-  York,  or  shall  remove  to  dwell  and 
reside  in  any  place  not  within  the  said  Colony.  And  it  is 
recommended  to  the  said  Thomas  Blockley  to  engage  and 
send  out  sober  prudent  men  in  their  respective  occupations, 
and  such  as  will  bring  with  them  the  usual  and  necessary 
tools  of  their  respective  occupations  that  may  be  put  into 
small  room  or  compass.  And  that  as  many  of  them  as 
may  conveniently  be  had,  be  single  men. 

A  Letter  from  John  Lamb,  dated  this  day,  setting  forth 
many  inconveniences  that  will  attend  draughting  the  men 
for  an  Artillery  Company  to  be  by  him  commanded,  and 
praying  that  he  may  have  leave  to  enlist  his  own  men  ;  and 
that  their  clothing  may  be  blue  with  buff  cuffs  and  facings, 

Ordered,  That  Captain  John  Lamb  raise  a  Company  of 
one  hundred  men,  including  Officers,  to  serve  in  the  Conti- 
nental Army  as  an  Artillery  Company  ;  that  their  clothing 
be  blue,  faced  with  buff ;  and  that  they  have  such  pay  as 
shall  be  determined  by  the  Continental  Congress. 

A  Letter  from  Angus  McDonald  complaining  of  his 
confinement. 

Thereupon,  a  Letter  to  the  Committee  of  Fairfield  was 
read  and  approved,  and  is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit: 

Committee  of  Safety  for  the  Colony  of  New-York,  ) 

July  17,  1775.  \ 

Gentlemen  :  A?igus  McDonald  having  presented  a 
petition  to  this  Board,  praying  a  relaxation  of  his  confine- 
ment, we  shall  esteem  it  a  favour  if  you  will  grant  him  as 
much  indulgence  in  the  premises  as  you  think  consistent 
with  the  publick  safety. 

By  order  of  the  Committee. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  thereof  be  signed  by  the  Chair- 
man, and  transmitted. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Peter  T.  Curtenius  be  requested  to 
procure  Duck,  and  get  as  many  Tents  made  as  will  supply 
the  number  now  lent  to  General  Wooster. 

And  Ordered,  That  Mr.  Curtenius  purchase  so  many 
Blankets  or  some  other  substitute  as,  with  those  already 
purchased,  and  those  now  in  the  hands  of  the  Barrack- 


Master,  will  furnish  the  four  Regiments  of  this  Colony  with 
Blankets. 

A  draught  of  a  Circular  Letter  to  the  respective  Colonels 
of  the  Regiments  of  Troops  now  raising  in  this  Colony,  was 
read  and  approved,  and  is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 

Committee  of  Safety  for  the  Colony  of  New-York,  ) 
July  17,  1775.  $ 

Sir  :  You  are  requested  to  prepare  and  lay  before  the 
Congress  of  this  Colony  at  New-York,  a  state  of  your 
Regiment,  and  of  the  number  of  men  ready  and  fit  for  ser- 
vice in  each  company,  with  all  possible  despatch.  You 
will  also  be  pleased  to  inform  the  Congress  when  you  ex- 
pect your  Regiment  will  be  complete  and  ready  to  take  the 
field.  We  pray  you  to  give  all  possible  despatch  in  this 
business — the  present  circumstances  admit  of  no  delay. 
The  sooner  your  answer  and  return  can  be  received,  the 
more  acceptable  it  will  be. 

We  are,  Sir,  your  humble  servants. 

Ordered,  That  copies  thereof  be  signed  by  the  Chair- 
man, and  sent  to  the  respective  Colonels  of  the  different 
Regiments. 

The  Committee  adjourned  to  nine  o'clock,  to-morrow 
morning. 

Die  Martis,  9  ho.  A.  M.,  July  18,  1775. 

The  Committee  met  pursuant  to  adjournment.   Present : 

For  King's  County,  Henry  Williams,  Esq.,  Chairman 
and  Commissioner. 

For  New-York,  Peter  V.  B.  Livingston,  Esq.,  Col. 
McDougall,  Abraham  Brasher. 

For  City  and  County  of  Albany,  Gouverneur  Morris. 

For  Dutchess  County,  Jonathan  London. 

For  Ulster  County,  Egbert  Dumond. 

For  Orange  County,  David  Pye. 

For  Suffolk  County,  Abraham  Brasher. 

For  Westchester  County,  Gouverneur  Morris. 

For  Richmond  County,  Aaron  Cortelyou. 

For  Queen's  County,  Colonel  McDougall. 

For  Tryon  County,  Peter  V.  B.  Livingston. 

Mr.  David  Watkins  attending  at  the  door,  was  called 
in;  he  produced  a  Certificate  signed  by  Archibald  Camp- 
bell, Esq.,  Chairman  of  a  meeting  of  the  Inhabitants  of 
Charlotte  County,  held  at  Fort  Edward  on  the  29th  day 
of  June  last,  whereby  it  appears  that  Doctor  George 
Smyth,  the  said  David  Watkins,  and  Archibald  Campbell, 
Esq.,  were  duly  elected  to  represent  that  County  in  Pro- 
vincial Congress,  together  with  John  Williams  and  William 
Marsh,  Esqrs.;  and  that  they,  or  either  of  them,  represent 
the  said  County  in  Provincial  Congress  at  New-  York.  The 
said  Certificate  was  read  and  filed. 

Ordered,  That  David  Watkins  take  his  seat. 

The  Mayor  of  the  City  of  New-York  attending  in  the 
next  room,  informed  some  of  the  members,  that  the  Magis- 
trates had  applied  to  a  Carpenter  to  build  a  Boat  for  the 
Ship  Asia,  to  replace  that  lately  burnt  belonging  to  the 
said  Ship  Asia;  that  the  Carpenter  desires  an  order  or 
protection  from  this  Board  for  that  purpose,  to  convince 
any  of  his  fellow-citizens  (who  might  inquire)  that  he  is 
doing  that  work  with  the  approbation  of  the  Committee. 

Thereupon,  an  Order  was  made  in  the  words  following, 
to  wit : 

This  Committee  do  hereby  signify  their  approbation  of 
the  conduct  of  the  Civil  Magistrates,  in  ordering  the  build- 
ing of  a  boat  to  replace  that  lately  burnt  in  this  City,  be- 
longing to  his  Majesty's  Ship^lsia;  and  require  the  car- 
penter which  they  have  or  shall  employ  for  that  purpose, 
to  perform  the  same. 

Ordered,  That  two  copies  of  this  Order  be  engrossed, 
and  signed  by  one  of  the  Secretaries,  and  delivered  to  Mr. 
Mayor. 

A  Letter  from  the  Chairman  of  the  Committees  of  New- 
burgh  and  New- Windsor  Precincts,  was  read  and  filed, 
and  is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 
To  the  Honourable  Provincial  Congress  for  the  Colony  of 
New-York,  now  convened  in  the  City  o/New-York  : 
Gentlemen  :  We  are  extremely  sorry  to  be  under  the 
disagreeable  necessity  of  troubling  you  on  this  occasion. 
Nothing  but  dire  necessity  could  have  induced  us  to  take 
any  steps  which  may  be  construed  by  this  honourable 


1793 


IVEW-YORK  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY,  JULY,  1775. 


1794 


Congress  to  be  aside  from  the  path  of  duty.  We  here- 
with send  you  three  persons,  who  not  only  possess  principles 
very  inimical  to  the  grand  cause  in  which  we  are  embarked, 
but  whose  conduct,  ever  since  the  first  of  these  unhappy 
times,  have  been  such  as  to  disturb  the  publick  tranquillity 
and  destroy  that  unanimity  so  necessary  for  the  preserva- 
tion of  our  liberties.  Their  names  are  John  Morrell,  Adam 
Patrick,  and  Isaiah  Purdy.  Herewith,  you,  gentlemen,  will 
also  receive  several  depositions,  taken  before  John  iSicoll, 
Esq.,  relative  to  the  matter,  which  is  all  we  have  time  to  take 
at  present ;  these  we  submit  to  the  judgment  of  the  honour- 
able Congress,  whether  either  or  all  of  these  persons  accused 
be  worthy  of  confinement  or  not.  On  the  supposition  that 
the  Congress  shall  judge  it  expedient  that  either  or  all  of 
them  should  be  liberated,  in  that  case  we  humbly  conceive 
it  to  be  necessary  that  such  security  be  taken  of  them  as 
shall  render  those  easy  in  their  minds  who  are  afraid  of  their 
persons  and  property.  We  would  only  add,  gentlemen,  that 
as  we  are  contending  for  liberty,  it  is  with  the  greatest  re- 
luctance that  we  would  offer  to  deprive  the  meanest  of  our 
brethren  of  that  inestimable  blessing  in  the  least  degree ; 
but  in  this  instance,  the  safety  of  our  Country,  and  that  first 
and  strongest  of  laws,  self-preservation,  calls  us  to  this  act 
of  disagreeable  duty. 

We  are,  Gentlemen,  in  behalf  of  the  Committees  for  the 
Precincts  of  Newburgh  and  New- Windsor,  your  most  obe- 
dient humble  servants. 

Wolvekt  Ecker,  Chairman. 
Samuel  Brewster,  Chairman. 

Sundry  Affidavits  in  writing,  taken  before  John  Nicoll, 
Esq.,  of  the  threatenings  and  ill  conduct  of  John  Morrell, 
Adam  Patrick,  and  Isuiah  Purdy,  in  opposition  to  the 
liberties  of  the  American  Colonies,  were  read  and  filed ;  and 
the  said  three  persons  being  brought  in  the  custody  of  an 
officer  and  a  guard  of  armed  men,  were  examined,  and  con- 
fessed many  of  the  matters  wherewith  they  were  charged 
by  the  said  affidavits  to  be  true.  Thereupon, 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  McDougall  receive  the  bodies 
of  John  Morrell,  Adam  Patrick,  and  Isaiah  Purdy,  at  the 
Barracks,  and  keep  them  in  safe  custody  until  the  further 
order  of  the  Committee. 

And  Ordered,  That  a  copy  of  this  order  be  delivered  to 
Colonel  McDougall. 

A  Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Elizabcthlown  to  the 
Chairman  of  the  Committee  of  New-York,  acquainting 
him  of  the  arrival  of  Gunpowder  from  Philadelphia,  and 
that  it  would  be  at  Dobbs's  Ferry  by  nine  o'clock  this  morn- 
ing, was  read  and  filed. 

Mr.  Pye  offered  to  go  up  Hudson's  River,  and  get  the 
said  Gunpowder  put  on  board  of  a  Sloop  for  Albany ;  and 
thereupon,  a  draught  of  a  Letter  to  the  Committee  of 
Albany  was  read,  and  is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit: 

Committee  of  Safety,  New-York,  July  18,  1775. 

Sir:  With  this  you  will  receive  four  hogsheads,  said  to 
contain  fifty-two  quarter-casks  of  Gunpowder;  it  is  sent 
by  the  Continental  Congress  to  go  to  Ticonderoga.  Pray 
inform  General  Schuyler  of  it,  and  forward  it  to  Ticonde- 
roga with  all  possible  despatch. 

We  are,  Sir,  your  humble  servants. 

To  Samuel  Stringer,  Esq.,  Albany. 

Mr.  Beekman  came  into  Committee,  and  reported,  that 
he  had  been  with  Gen.  Wooster  and  his  first  Field  Officer 
to  Harlem;  that  John  Sickles  demanded  such  an  exorbi- 
tant price  for  his  ground,  that  they  could  not  agree  with 
him ;  but  that  they  had  agreed  with  Arent  Bussing  for  a 
proper  Field  for  an  Encampment,  at  the  rate  of  four 
Pounds  per  month ;  and  that  General  Wooster,  with  his 
Troops,  are  all  removed. 

John  Morin  Scott,  Esq.,  came  into  the  Committee  of 
Safety,  and  brought  in  the  Report  of  the  Committee  on 
Indian  Affairs  ;  and  also  the  proposed  draught  of  a  Speech 
to  the  Indians ;  which  were  read. 

Thereupon,  a  draught  of  a  Letter  to  the  Delegates  of  this 
Colony  was  read  and  approved  of,  and  is  in  the  words  fol- 
lowing, to  wit : 

Committee  of  Safety  for  the  Colony  of  New. York,  ) 

July  18,  1775.  $ 

Gentlemen  :  We  have  had  a  Congress  with  the  Five 

Nations  in  contemplation.    A  Committee  was  appointed 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  u.  1 


to  prepare  the  necessary  papers  to  be  laid  before  your 
body ;  but  the  necessities  of  the  season  required  an  ad- 
journment of  the  Congress  till  next  Tuesday,  and  we  now 
sit  only  in  a  Committee  of  Safety.   The  proceedingson  the 
subject  we  send  you,  imperfect  as  they  are  in  draught,  that 
if  the  Continental  Congress  think  they  may  be  of  any  use, 
they  may  have  the  materials  in  their  possession. 
We  are,  Gentlemen,  your  very  humble  servants. 
By  order  of  the  Committee  of  Safety. 
To  the  Delegates  of  the  Colony  of  New-York  at  Conti- 
nental Congress,  Philadelphia. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  thereof  be  engrossed  and  signed 
by  the  Chairman,  and  transmitted  to  the  Delegates  of  this 
Colony  at  Continental  Congress,  together  with  the  draughts 
therein  mentioned. 

The  Committee  then  adjourned  to  nine  o'clock,  to-mor- 
row morning. 

Die  Mercurii,  9  ho.  A.  M.,  July  19,  1775. 
The  Committee  met  pursuant  to  adjournment.  Present : 
For  King's  County,  Henry  Williams,  Esq.,  Chairman 

and  Commissioner. 
For  New- York  City  and  County,  Peter  Van  Brugh 

Livingston,  Colonel  Lispenard,  Colonel  McDougall, 

Joseph  Hallett,  Abraham  Brasher. 
For  Albany  City  and  County,  Gouvemeur  Morris. 
For  Dutchess  Countt,  Jonathan  London. 
For  Ulster  County,  Egbert  Dumond. 
For  Orange  County,  David  Pye. 
For  Suffolk  County,  Abraham  Brasher. 
For  Westchester  County,  Gouvemeur  Morris. 
For  Richmond  County,  Aaron  Cortelyou. 
For  Queen's  County,  Col.  McDougall. 
For  Tryon  County,  Peter  V.  B.  Livingston. 
For  Charlotte  County,  David  Watkins. 

A  Letter  from  Jacob  Bayley,  Esq.,  at  Newbury,  in 
Gloucester  County,  dated  June  29, 1775,  was  read  and  filed. 

A  draught  of  a  Letter  to  JacobBayley,  Esq.,  at  Newbury, 
Gloucester  County,  in  answer  to  his  of  the  29th  of  June 
ult.,  was  read  and  approved,  and  is  in  the  words  following, 
to  wit  : 

Committee  of  Safety  for  the  Colony  of  New.York,  > 

July  19,  1775.  \ 

Sir  :  It  gives  us  great  pleasure  to  hear  of  your  appoint- 
ment to  represent  the  County  of  Gloucester.  The  raising 
of  troops  in  your  County  to  serve  in  the  Continental  pay, 
is  what  we  cannot  authorize,  nor  indeed  would  it  be  at  all 
useful  to  yourselves,  but  rather  the  coutrary,  inasmuch  as 
they  might  be  ordered  at  a  distance  from  you  on  other  ser- 
vice, and  thereby  weaken  your  security.  For  these  rea- 
sons, we  think  it  would  be  much  more  expedient  to  arrange 
your  able-bodied  men  into  a  respectable  militia,  and  let  one 
or  two  hundred  of  them  be  embodied  by  turns  weekly, 
whereby  you  will  always  have  a  body  of  men  ready  to  repel 
injuries ;  and  at  the  same  time,  by  assembling  your  County 
at  large,  return  any  insults  you  may  receive  in  kind. 

We  cannot  express  our  concern  to  you,  at  being  obliged 
to  inform  you,  that  at  present  neither  arms  nor  ammunition 
can  be  expected  from  us,  as  we  have  not  so  many  as  to 
serve  the  Troops  raised  by  our  Colony,  and  intended  for 
the  defence  of  our  Northern  and  Eastern  frontier.  But  we 
have  done  every  thing  men  could  do :  we  have  advanced 
money  for  and  established  a  manufactory  of  arms,  and  con- 
tracted for  a  considerable  number ;  we  have  contracted 
with  merchants  for  a  great  number  of  them ;  we  have 
taken  measures  to  procure  manufacturers;  and  we  have 
written  to  Philadelphia  for  as  many  as  are  necessary  for 
our  Troops.  Similar  measures  we  have  taken  to  procure 
powder ;  and  depend,  Sir,  that  for  your  sakes,  as  well  as  our 
own,  we  shall  use  every  precaution  to  enable  you  to  pro- 
vide the  means  of  defence;  and  at  the  same  time,  to  pre- 
vent you  the  necessity  of  using  those  means. 

We  are,  Sir,  your  very  humble  servants.    By  order. 
To  Jacob  Bayley,  Esq.,  at  Newbury,  Gloucester  County. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  thereof  be  engrossed,  signed  by 
the  Chairman,  and  transmitted  by  Mr.  Harvey. 

A  Letter  from  Egbert  Benson,  Esq.,  Chairman  of  the 
Committee  of  Dutchess  County,  covering  the  returned 


1795 


NEW-YORK  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY,  JULY,  1775. 


1796 


Warrants  of  Rosivell  Wikocks  and  Cornelius  Adriance, 
who  decline  serving  in  the  Troops,  and  recommending 
Isaac  Paddock  in  the  place  of  Wikocks,  and  James  Belts 
in  the  place  of  Adriance,  was  read  and  filed. 

The  vacancy  occasioned  by  the  resignation  of  Cornelius 
Adriance  being  already  supplied, 

Ordered,  That  a  Warrant  be  made  for  Isaac  Paddock, 
in  the  place  of  Roswell  Wikocks,  and  enclosed  to  the 
Chairman  of  the  Committee. 

Thereupon,  a  draught  of  a  Letter  to  the  Chairman  of 
the  Committee  of  Dutchess,  was  read  and  approved  of,  and 
is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit  \ 

Committee  of  Safety,  &c.,  July  19,  1775. 

Sir:  We  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  favour  of  the 
13th  instant.  Agreeable  to  the  recommendation  of  your 
Committee,  we  have  enclosed  a  warrant  for  Mr.  Isaac 
Paddock.  On  the  11th  instant,  Mr.  Adriance's  resigna- 
tion was  produced  to  this  Committee,  together  with  a 
recommendation  of  Mr.  Andrew  Teller  Lawrence,  in 
his  stead.  As  Mr.  Lawrence  was  recommended  by  two 
Members  of  the  Provincial  Congress,  and  a  number  of 
other  freeholders  of  your  County,  we  gave  him  a  certifi- 
cate from  the  Committee  of  Safety,  that  he  was  approved 
of,  and  that  a  warrant  should  be  made  for  him,  as  the 
warrant  to  Mr.  Adriance  was  returned. 

We  are,  Sir,  your  very  humble  servants.    By  order. 

To  Egbert  Benson,  Esq.,  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of 
Dutchess  County. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  thereof  be  engrossed,  and  signed 
by  the  Chairman  of  this  Committee  of  Safety,  and  trans- 
mitted. 

The  Committee  having  heard  Alexander  Ellis  at  their 
Board,  on  the  subject  of  a  certain  Boat  by  him  furnished 
to  Lieutenant  Parks,  to  transport  him.  with  his  baggage,  to 
Niagara,  do  declare  it  as  their  sentiment,  that  the  said 
Alexander  Ellis  appears  to  them  guiltless  with  relation  to 
that  transaction. 

Ordered,  That  a  certified  copy  of  this  Declaration  be 
delivered  to  the  said  Alexander  Ellis. 

A  Letter  from  John  Nicholson,  Esq.,  of  Ulster  County, 
was  read  and  filed,  and  is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 

New.Windsor,  July  13,  1775. 
Sir  :  Agreeable  to  my  warrant  and  instructions  from 
the  Provincial  Congress  of  New-  York,  I  have  enlisted  a 
company  of  seventy-two  men,  to  serve  in  the  Continental 
Army;  and  now  wait  for  the  further  directions  of  the  Con- 
gress.   I  am  your  most  obedient  servant, 

John  Nicholson. 
To  Peter  Van  Brugh  Livingston,  President  of  the  Pro- 
vincial Congress,  New-York. 

Thereupon,  a  draught  of  an  answer  to  the  Letter  of  John 
Nicholson,  Esquire,  was  read  and  approved  of,  and  is  in 
the  words  following,  to  wit : 

Committee  of  Safety  for  the  Colony  of  New. York,  } 

July  19,  1775.  i 

Sir:  We  are  favoured  with  your  letter  of  the  13th  in- 
stant. We  are  happy  to  be  informed  that  you  have  been 
so  industrious  and  successful  in  enlisting  your  men.  Please 
to  make  a  return  of  your  company  to  Colonel  Clinton,  who 
will  take  to  his  assistance  a  Surgeon,  or  such  other  person 
as  he  will  think  proper,  and  muster  your  men,  and  receive 
and  approve  of  such  of  them  as  are  fit  for  service.  You 
will  then  keep  your  men  in  training  and  learning  discipline 
with  all  possible  care,  and  hold  yourself,  with  your  compa- 
ny, in  readiness  to  follow  such  directions  as  you  may  receive 
from  Colonel  Clinton. 

We  are,  Sir,  your  very  humble  servants. 
By  order  of  the  Committee. 
To  John  Nicholson,  Esq.,  New-  Windsor. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  thereof  be  engrossed,  and  signed 
by  the  Chairman,  and  delivered  to  Robert  Boyd. 

Committee  adjourned  to  Friday  morning,  at  nine  o'clock. 

Die  Voneris,  9  ho.  A.  M.,  July  21,  1775. 

The  Committee  met  pursuant  to  adjournment.  Present : 
For  King's  County,  Henry  Williams,  Esq.,  Chairman 
and  Commissioner. 


For  the  City  and  County  of  New-York,  Peter  Van 
Brugh  Livingston,  Esq.,  Colonel  McDougall,  Mr. 
Van  Zandt,  Colonel  Lisptnard,  Mr.  Brasher. 

For  the  City  and  County  of  Albany,  Gouvemeur 
Morris. 

For  Ulster  County,  Egbert  Dumond. 

For  Orange  County,  David  Pye. 

For  Suffolk  County,  Abraham  Brasher. 

For  Westchester  County,  Gouvemeur  Morris. 

For  Richmond  County,  Aaron  Cortelyou. 

For  Queen's  County,  Colonel  McDougall. 

For  Tryon  County,  Peter  V.  B.  Livingston. 

For  Charlotte  County,  David  Watkins. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Cortelyou  and  Mr.  Beekman  be  a 
Committee,  in  conjunction  with  two  Officers  of  the  Con- 
necticut Troops,  which  shall  be  appointed  by  General 
Wooster,  to  examine  and  estimate  what  damage  hath  been 
done  to  the  ground  and  fencing  of  Mr.  Herring,  on  which 
the  said  Troops  were  lately  encamped  ;  and  that  they  get 
the  same  certified  by  the  said  Officers  which  shall  be  ap- 
pointed by  General  Wooster,  and  report  the  same  with  all 
convenient  speed. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  McDougall  be  at  liberty  to  take 
as  much  of  the  Wood  now  in  the  Barrack  yards,  for  the  use 
of  his  Troops,  as  they  may  want  or  have  occasion  for  ;  and 
that  he  keep  and  render  an  account  of  the  quantity  thereof 
which  shall  be  used,  to  the  Provincial  Congress. 

A  Letter  from  John  Hancock,  dated  Philadelphia,  July 
17,  1775,  enclosing  a  Resolution  of  the  Continental  Con- 
gress of  the  same  day,  was  received,  and  read. 

A  draught  of  a  Letter  to  General  Schuyler  was  read  and 
approved  of,  and  is  in  the  words  following : 

Committee  of  Safety,  New-York,  July  21,  1775. 
Sir  :  The  enclosed  paper  from  the  Continental  Congress 
was  received  last  evening  by  the  return  of  our  express  from 
Philadelphia.    We  forward  them  by  express. 

We  are  yours,  he. 
Major  General  Schiyler. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  be  engrossed,  signed  by  the 
Chairman,  and  transmitted  (with  all  the  Papers  received 
for  General  Schuyler)  by  Sampson  Dyckman. 

A  Letter  from  the  Delegates  of  this  Colony  at  the  Con- 
tinental Congress,  dated  Philadelphia,  July  18, 1775,  was 
read  and  filed. 

A  Letter  from  Elisha  Benedict  was  read  and  filed,  and 
is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit: 

Albany,  July  14,  1775. 
Sir  :  According  to  your  instructions,  I  went  into  Cum- 
berland County  to  deliver  a  copy  to  the  Lieutenant,  Samuel 
Fletcher,  who  was  appointed  First  Lieutenant.  I  found 
he  was  in  the  Army  at  Cambridge.  I  took  advice  of  the 
leading  men  there,  and  they  nominated  William  McCune 
in  his  place,  and  he  is  enlisting  of  men.  Alexander  Brink, 
the  Second  Lieutenant,  lives  at  the  upper  part  of  the  Coun- 
ty. I  sent  a  man  with  his  instructions.  I  have  enlisted 
forty  men  ;  and  if  I  had  the  money  to  pay  the  men  a  small 
matter,  my  company  would  be  full  in  two  or  three  days 
time.    I  am  your  humble  servant, 

Elisha  Benedict. 
To  P.  V.  B.  Livingston,  Esq.,  President  of  the  Provincial 
Congress,  New-York. 

N.  B.  Sir,  I  should  be  glad  if  Mr.  McCune  might  be  the 
First  Lieutenant  in  the  place  of  Mr.  Fletcher.     E.  B. 

An  Answer  to  the  Letter  of  Elisha  Benedict,  was  read 
and  approved  of,  and  is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit  : 

Committee  of  Safety,  New-York,  July  21,  1775. 

Sir  :  This  morning  we  are  favoured  with  yours  of  the 
14th  instant.  The  Committee  of  Safety  have  approved  of 
Mr.  William  McCune  for  your  First  Lieutenant,  in  the 
place  of  Samuel  Fletcher.  A  warrant  shall  be  sent  to  you 
for  William  McCune  as  First  Lieutenant,  as  soon  as  you 
return  to  us  or  the  Provincial  Congress  the  warrant  that 
was  sent  to  you  for  Fletcher. 

We  shall  have  money  about  ten  days  hence.  As  soon 
as  the  money  is  ready,  money  will  be  sent  to  Albany,  and 
you  will  receive  cash  for  your  men. 


1797 


NEW-YORK  COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY,  JULY,  1775. 


1798 


Please  to  complete  your  company  as  soon  as  possible, 
and  make  return  thereof  to  the  Colonel  or  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  of  your  Regiment,  who  will  muster  your  men,  or 
cause  them  to  be  mustered,  and  give  you  directions  how  to 
proceed.    We  are,  Sir,  your  very  humble  servants. 

By  order  of  the  Committee. 
To  Captain  Elisha  Btnedict,  Albany. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  thereof  be  engrossed,  and  signed 
by  the  Chairman,  and  sent  by  Sampson  Dyckman. 

Two  Letters  from  Elisha  Phelps,  dated  at  Albany,  July 
11  and  13,  1775,  were  read  and  filed. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  McDougall  take  possession  of 
the  Town  Barracks  for  such  of  the  Troops  now  under  his 
command  as  he  shall  think  proper  to  place  there  ;  and  that 
Mr.  Curtcnius  be  desired  to  furnish  provisions  for  such  men 
as  Colonel  McDougall  shall  place  there. 

The  Petition  of  Philip  Henning,  setting  forth  his  know- 
ledge in  Physick  and  Surgery,  to  be  admitted  and  appoint- 
ed Surgeon's  Mate,  was  read. 

Ordered,  That  Philip  Henning  wait  on  Doctor  John 
Jones  and  Doctor  Bard,  to  be  examined  as  to  his  know- 
ledge in  Physick  and  Surgery,  and  his  knowledge  of  the 
practice  thereof. 

A  Certificate  of  Doctor  John  Jones  and  Samuel  Bard, 
bearing  date  on  the  18th  instant,  was  read.  Those  gentle- 
men certify,  that  they  thereby  have  examined  Mr.  Hun- 
lock  Woodruff,  respecting  his  knowledge  in  Physick  and 
Surgery,  and  that  they  find  him  qualified  to  act  in  the  capa- 
city of  Surgeon's  Mate. 

Agreed  and  Ordered,  That  the  said  Hunlock  Wood- 
ruff be  appointed  Surgeon's  Mate  to  the  First  Regiment  of 
Troops  now  raising  in  this  Colony  ;  and 

Ordered,  That  a  certified  copy  of  the  above  Minutes 
be  delivered  to  the  said  Hunlock  Woodruff. 

A  draught  of  a  Letter  to  the  Committee  at  Brunswick, 
in  yeiv- Jersey,  was  read  and  approved,  and  is  in  the  words 
following,  to  wit : 

Committee  of  Safety  for  the  Colony  of  New-York,  ) 

July  21,  1775.  \ 

Gentlemen  :  We  have  had  intelligence  that  boats  have 
sundry  times  loaded  flour  at  or  about  your  City,  and  have 
run  down  to  the  west  bank,  and  there  met  boats  to  take  it 
from  them  for  the  use  of  the  men-of-war  and  the  Army  at 
Boston.  As  this  is  contrary  to  the  resolution  of  the  Con- 
tinental Congress,  it  is  a  matter  that  requires  your  strictest 
inspection  to  prevent  such  traders  from  pursuing  a  business 
inimical  to  the  cause  of  liberty  in  the  United  Colonies. 

We  have  been  informed  that  Mr.  Merrill,  opposite  to  or 
near  Brunswick,  can  give  you  farther  information  on  this 
subject.   We  are,  respectfully,  gentlemen,  your  very  hum- 
ble servants.    Per  order  of  the  Committee. 
To  the  Committee  at  JSew-Brunswick. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  thereof  be  engrossed,  and  signed 
by  the  President,  and  transmitted. 

The  Committee  adjourned  to  nine  o'clock,  to-morrow 
morning. 

Die  Sabbati,  9  ho.  A.  M.,  July  22,  1775. 
The  Committee  met  pursuant  to  adjournment.  Present : 
For  King's  County,  Henry  Williams,  Esq.,  Chairman, 

and  Jeremiah  Remsen. 
For  the  City  and  County  of  New-York,  Peter  Van 

Brugh  Livingston,  Colonel  Lispenard,  Abraham 

Brasher. 

For  Dutchess  County,  Jonathan  London. 

For  Ulster  County,  Egbert  Dumond. 

For  Orange  County,  David  Pye. 

For  Suffolk  County,  Abraham  Brasher. 

For  Richmond  County,  Aaron  Cortelyou. 

For  Tryon  County,  Peter  Van  Brugh  Livingston. 

For  Charlotte  County,  David  Watkins. 

A  draught  of  a  Letter  to  the  Delegates  of  the  Colony  of 

New-York  at  the  Continental  Congress,  was  read  and 

approved,  and  is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit: 

Committee  of  Safety  for  the  Colony  of  New. York,  ) 
July  22,  1775.  \ 

Gentlemen  :  We  expect  that  our  Troops  will  soon  be 
all  enlisted ;  but  we  labour  under  great  difficulties  on  ac- 


count of  arms,  and  have  not,  by  any  means  we  could  devise, 
been  able  to  procure  near  so  many  as  are  necessary  for 
them.   The  arms  we  have  procured  are  of  the  best  sort. 

We  have  thought  of  the  following  expedient,  which  we 
beg  leave  to  suggest  to  you.  The  Colony  of  New-Jersey 
has  a  very  considerable  number  of  muskets  and  bayonets, 
which  we  are  informed  are  good.  They  are  deposited  at 
the  respective  Court-Houses,  or  some  other  particular 
places  in  each  County,  as  Hackensack,  Elizabethtown,  Sic. 
If  the  Continental  Congress  would  please  to  direct  those 
arms  to  be  cleaned  and  valued,  and  put  up  in  boxes,  and 
sent  to  convenient  places  on  Hudson's  River,  that  they 
might  be  put  into  the  hands  of  such  of  our  Troops  as  can- 
not at  present  be  otherwise  properly  furnished,  we  conceive 
it  would  be  of  general  benefit  to  the  Continental  service. 
Those  arms  may  either  be  at  the  Continental  charge,  or 
replaced  some  months  hence  with  others  of  equal  quality, 
from  those  which  we  shall  have  made  in  this  Colony.  The 
Jersey  Congress  is  to  meet  next  week,  and  by  that  means 
the  arms  may  easily  be  collected  and  ordered,  as  above 
mentioned. 

If  you  approve  of  this  measure,  we  pray  you  to  use 
your  best  influence  in  Congress  to  have  it  carried  into  ex- 
ecution. We  are,  Gentlemen,  your  most  obedient  humble 
servants.  By  order  of  the  Committee. 
To  the  Delegates  of  the  Colony  of  New- York  at  the  Con- 
tinental Congress,  Philadelphia. 

P.  S.  Gentlemen  :  We  beg  leave  to  inform  you,  that  as 
soon  as  we  began  to  purchase  provisions,  &.c,  we  employed 
Mr.  Peter  T.  Curtenius  as  our  Commissary  at  New-York. 
He  purchased  provisions,  stores,  tents,  intrenching  tools, 
&c.  &ic.  &.c.  He  has  been  indefatigable  in  the  publick 
service;  run  every  risk  that  was  requested  of  him ;  dis- 
bursed his  own  cash,  and  succeeded  beyond  our  most  san- 
guine expectations.  We  think  him  one  of  the  most  proper 
persons  among  us  for  that  business,  and  would  earnestly 
wish  he  might  be  continued,  in  such  manner  as  will  not  be 
disagreeable  to  the  Continental  Congress. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  thereof  be  engrossed,  and  signed 
by  the  Chairman,  and  sent  with  all  possible  despatch. 

A  draught  of  a  Letter  to  John  Peter  Tetard,  was  read 
and  approved,  and  is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit: 

Committee  of  Safety,  &c,  July  22,  1775. 

Sir  :  You  will  observe  by  the  enclosed  order  of  our  Pro- 
vincial Congress,  their  intention  of  employing  you  as  Inter- 
preter to  General  Schuyler,  and  a  Chaplain  to  the  Troops 
of  this  Colony.  If  you  are  determined  to  engage  in  the 
service  in  those  characters,  and  on  the  terms  mentioned  in 
the  said  order,  it  is  expected  that  you  will  repair  to  Albany, 
and  from  thence  to  General  Schuyler,  with  all  possible 
speed.    We  are,  Sir,  your  very  humble  servants. 

By  order. 
Rev.  John  Peter  Tetard. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  thereof  be  engrossed,  and  signed 
by  the  Chairman,  and  transmitted  by  the  first  conveyance. 

The  Committee  adjourned  to  nine  o'clock,  on  Monday 
morning. 

Die  LuntE,  9  ho.  A.  M.,  July  24,  1775. 

The  Committee  met  pursuant  to  adjournment.  Present  : 

For  the  City  and  County  of  New-York,  Peter  Van 
Brugh  Livingston,  Colonel  McDougall,  John  Morin 
Scott,  Colonel  Lispenard,  Abraham  Brasher. 

For  Ulster  County,  Egbert  Dumond. 

For  Queen's  County,  Colonel  McDougall. 

For  Cumberland  County,  John  Morin  Scott. 

For  Suffolk  County,  Abraham  Brasher. 

For  Tryon  County,  Peter  Van  Brugh  Livingston. 

For  Charlotte  County,  David  Watkins. 

Henry  Williams,  Esq.,  being  very  much  indisposed,  was 
obliged  to  withdraw,  and  Mr.  Brasher  was  chosen  Chair- 
man pro  tempore. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Lasher,  at  the  review  of  his 
Regiment  this  afternoon,  or  at  the  first  review  that  may 
happen,  when  his  Troops  have  grounded  their  arms,  cause 
a  strict  search  to  be  made  for  any  of  the  Muskets  belong- 
ing to  the  Corporation  of  New-  York,  which  may  be  among 


7199 


NEW-YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JULY,  1775. 


1800 


the  said  arms  ;  and  cause  every  such  Musket  to  be  deliver- 
ed to  Colonel  McDougall,  or  his  order,  for  the  use  of  bis 
Regiment. 

A  Letter  from  the  Honourable  John  Hancock,  President 
of  the  Congress,  dated  Philadelphia,  July  19,  1775,  was 
received  and  read. 

A  draught  of  an  Answer  to  the  above  Letter  of  the 
Honourable  John  Hancock,  Esq.,  was  read,  and  is  in  the 
words  following,  to  wit : 

Committee  of  Safety  for  the  Colony  of  New- York,  ) 

July  24,  1775.  $ 

Sir  :  We  have  been  honoured  with  your  letter  of  the 
19th  instant,  which  informs  us  that  you  have  an  intimation 
that  a  quantity  of  gunpowder  had  lately  arrived  here.  We 
are  sorry  to  say  it  is  without  foundation.  You  may  be 
assured,  Sir,  that  should  a  quantity  arrive,  we  shall  be  at- 
tentive to  the  wants  of  our  brethren  to  the  Eastward,  and 
forward  as  much  as  possible  that  way. 

We  are,  with  great  respect,  your  most  obedient  servants. 

To  the  Hon.  John  Hancock,  Esq.,  Philadelphia. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  thereof  be  engrossed,  and  signed 
by  the  Chairman  pro  tempore,  and  transmitted  by  George 
Clinton,  Esquire. 

Die  Martis,  9  ho.  A.  M.,  July  25,  1775. 

The  President  and  several  Members  met  pursuant  to 
adjournment,  but  the  numbers  not  being  sufficient  to  form 
the  Congress,  the  Members  present  proceeded  to  business 
as  a  Committee  of  Safety,  and  agreed  to  meet  again  to- 
morrow morning. 

Henry  Williams,  Esquire,  being  indisposed  and  absent, 
Peter  Van  Brugh  Livingston  was  appointed  Chairman. 
Present : 

For  the  City  and  County  of  New-York,  Colonel 
Lispenard,  Thomas  Smith,  Jacobus  Van  Zandt,  Col. 
McDougall,  Isaac  Roosevelt,  Richard  Yates,  Isaac 
Sears. 

For  King's  County,  Jeremiah  Remsen,  Theodorus 
Polhemus. 

For  Westchester  County,  Col.  P.  Van  Cortlandt. 

For  Queen's  County,  Joseph  French,  Col.  Blackwell. 

For  Dutchess  County,  Colonel  Hoffman,  Jonathan 
Langdon,  Gilbert  Livingston,  Meluncton  Smith,  Na- 
thaniel Sackett. 

For  Ulster  County,  Christopher  Tappen,  Egbert 
Dumond. 

For  Orange  County,  William  Allison,  John  Herring. 

For  Suffolk  County,  Mr.  Tredwell. 

For  Charlotte  County,  David  Watkins. 

For  Tryon  County,  John  Marlett. 

The  Committee  having  advice  that  four  hogsheads  of 
Continental  Gunpowder  is  gone  from  Elizabethtown ,  to  be 
forwarded  to  Albany,  under  the  direction  of  this  Commit- 
tee, Mr.  Herring  was  sent  to  take  care  of  it,  and  an  order 
given  to  him,  in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 

Ordered,  That  Daniel  Lawrence,  of  Orange  County, 
or  any  other  person  or  persons  having  received  the  four 
hogsheads  of  Powder  from  Elizabethtmun ,  to  be  forwarded 
to  Albany,  deliver  the  same  to  John  Herring,  Esq.,  or  his 
order,  if  it  is  not  already  forwarded  to  Albany. 

P.  V.  B.  Livingston. 

A  Letter  from  Colonel  James  Clinton,  dated  Little  Bri- 
tain, July  21,  1775,  was  read  and  filed. 

The  Petition  of  George  Cook,  of  the  City  of  New-  York, 
was  read  and  filed.  He  therein  prays  he  may  be  employed 
in  making  Pouches  and  Belts. 

A  Letter  from  Ebenezer  Hazard,  dated  New-York, 
July  25,  1775,  was  read  and  filed. 

Ordered,  That  the  Saddlers  who  contracted  with  the 
Committee  to  make  Pouches,  Belts,  and  Slings,  deliver  to 
Colonel  McDougall,  or  his  order,  720  Pouches,  720  Belts, 
and  720  Slings  for  Muskets,  and  take  receipts  for  the  same. 

The  Petition  of  Jacob  Bamper  was  read  and  filed.  He 
prays  to  be  appointed  to  some  office  in  the  Regiments 
raising  for  the  defence  of  the  liberties  of  America. 

The  Committee  adjourned  to  meet  in  Convention  to- 
morrow morning,  at  nine  o'clock. 


PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS. 

At  a  meeting  of  a  Provincial  Congress  held  for  the 
Colony  of  New- York,  in  the  City  of  New-York,  on  the 
twenty-sixth  day  of  July,  1775.  Opened  with  prayers 
by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Auchmaty.  Present: 

Peter  Van  Brugh  Livingston,  President. 
For  the  City  and  County  of  New-York:  Isaac  Low, 
Samuel  Verplanck,  Alex.  McDougall,  Richard  Yates, 
Leonard  Lispenard,  David  Clarkson,  Abraham  Brash- 
er, Thomas  Smith,  Isaac  Roosevelt,  Benjamin  Kissam, 
John  De  Lancey,  John  Marston,  James  Bcekman,  Isaac 
Sears. 

For  Dutchess  County:  Anthony  Hoffman,  Melancton 
Smith,  Gilbert  Livingston,  Nathaniel  Sackett,  Jona- 
than Land  on. 

For  Ulster  County:  Egbert  Dumond,  Christopher  Tap- 
pen. 

For  Suffolk  County:  Thomas  Tredwell,  Ezra  L'Hom- 
medieu,  John  Foster. 

For  Westchester  County:  Gouverneur  Morris,  Philip 
Cortlandt,  Lewis  Graham,  James  Holmes,  James  Van 
Cortlandt,  John  Thomas,  Jun.,  Joseph  Drake. 

For  King's  County:  Johannes  E.  Lott,  John  Leffertse, 
Henry  Williams,  Nicholas  Covenhoven,  Jeremiah  Rem- 
sen, John  Vanderbilt,  Theodorus  Polhemus. 

For  Richmond  County:  Paul  Micheau,  Aaron  Cortel- 
you,  John  Journey. 

For  Queen's  County:  Jacob  Blackwell,  Joseph  French, 
Jonathan  Lawrence,  Joseph  Robinson,  Zebulon  Wil- 
liams, Richard  Thome,  Samuel  Townshend. 

For  Charlotte  County  :  David  Watkins. 

For  Tryon  County  :  John  Marlett. 

A  Certificate  of  Archibald  Campbell,  Esquire,  Chair- 
man of  a  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  Charlotte  County, 
held  at  Fort  Edward,  on  the  twenty-ninth  day  of  June 
last,  was  read,  whereby  it  appears  that  Doctor  George 
Smith,  David  H;atkins,  and  the  said  Archibald  Campbell 
Esquire,  were  duly  elected  to  represent  that  County  in 
Provincial  Congress,  together  with  John  Williams,  and 
William  Marsh,  Esquires,  and  that  they,  or  either  of  them, 
represent  the  said  County  in  Provincial  Congress  at  New- 
York.  The  said  Certificate  is  filed  among  the  Papers  of 
the  Committee  of  Safety. 

Ordered,  That  the  said  David  Watkins  take  his  seat. 

James  Alexander,  a  messenger  from  Philadelphia  to 
Cambridge,  applied  with  an  order  from  the  Hon.  John 
Hancock,  Esquire,  President  of  the  Continental  Congress, 
directing  all  persons  to  assist  him.  The  President  gave 
an  order  for  any  person  to  assist  him,  and  call  on  him  for 
payment. 

A  Letter  from  the  Committee  at  Elizabethtown,  which 
accompanied  three  persons  sent  from  thence  under  guard 
as  deserters  from  Colonel  Waterbury's  Regiment,  was  read. 
The  Return  of  the  Officer  of  the  City  Military  Watch  last 
night,  was  also  read;  whereby  it  appears  that  the  said  three 
persons  are  under  guard  at  the  upper  Barracks.  There- 
upon, 

Ordered,  That  a  Letter  be  wrote  to  General  Wooster, 
informing  him  of  the  said  three  Prisoners,  and  requesting 
him  to  send  one  of  his  officers  to  the  Barracks,  in  order  to 
make  the  proper  inquiry  respecting  them. 

A  Letter  from  Daniel  Lawrence,  of  the  24th  instant, 
was  read,  and  filed  ;  whereby  he  informs,  that  the  four 
hogsheads  of  Stores  (being  the  Gunpowder  sent  from  Phi- 
ladelphia )  were,  on  the  18th  instant,  received  by  him,  and 
forwarded  on  board  of  Captain  Cornelius  Swit's  vessel  to 
Albany. 

A  Letter  from  Marinus  Willett  and  others  of  the  Offi- 
cers of  the  Troops  now  raising  in  this  Colony,  soliciting 
for  some  allowance  for  Clothing,  was  read  and  filed. 

A  Letter  from  Captain  Rufus  Herrick,  of  Dutchess 
County,  dated  the  21st  instant,  informing  that  his  Com- 
pany is  ready,  and  that  he  waits  for  further  orders,  was 
read,  and  filed. 

A  Letter  from  Daniel  Everitt  and  others  of  the  Com- 
mittee of  Goshen,  bearing  date  on  the  18th  instant,  and  a 
Certificate  of  Colonel  Clinton  recommending  Mr.  George 


1801 


NEW- YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JULY,  1775. 


1802 


Hamilton  Jackson  as  a  Second  Lieutenant  in  Daniel  Den- 
ton's Company,  was  read,  and  filed. 

The  Congress  approves  of  the  recommendation  of 
George  Hamilton  Jackson  as  a  Second  Lieutenant. 

Ordered,  That  a  Warrant  be  made  for  him  as  soon  as 
the  other  Warrant  issued  for  the  gentleman  who  has  re- 
signed is  returned  to  the  Secretaries. 

A  Letter  from  John  Hancock,  Esquire,  received  this 
day,  was  read,  and  is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit: 

"  Philadelphia,  July  19,  1775. 

"Sir:  Enclosed  is  the  commission  to  be  filled  up  with 
the  name  of  the  gentleman  whom  your  Congress  shall 
please  to  appoint  to  the  department  of  Deputy  Adjutant- 
General  or  Brigade-Major,  referred  to  in  mine  of  yester- 
day. I  beg  you  to  forward  by  express  the  letter  I  yester- 
day enclosed  for  General  Schuyler.  I  am,  Sir,  your  most 
obedient  servant,  John  Hancock,  President. 

"Hon.  Peter  V.  B.  Livingston." 

The  Letter  from  John  Hancock,  Esquire,  of  the  17th 
instant,  received  by  the  Committee  of  Safety,  was  also 
read,  and  the  blank  Commission  contained  in  Mr.  Han- 
cock's Letter  of  the  19lh  instant,  was  also  read. 

A  Letter  from  the  New-York  Delegates  at  Philadel- 
phia, was  read. 

After  some  time  spent  in  deliberating  of  a  proper  per- 
son to  be  appointed  Deputy  Adjutant-General  or  Brigade- 
Major,  the  Congress  agreed  to  defer  the  appointment  for 
further  consideration. 

The  Committee  of  Safety  for  the  Colony  of  New-  York, 
during  the  recess  of  this  Congress,  delivered  in  a  Report 
of  their  proceedings.  The  Congress  proceeded  to  hear  a 
part  of  the  said  Report  and  the  proceedings  of  the  said 
Committee  on  the  11th  July.  The  Congress  ordered  that 
the  respective  Letters  of  William  Duer,  Esquire,  and  of 
William  Marsh  and  Joseph  Rose,  received  by  the  Com- 
mittee of  Safety  on  the  11th  July,  lie  on  the  table  for  the 
perusal  of  the  members  of  this  Congress. 

The  Congress  then  adjourned  to  five  o'clock,  P.  M. 

Five  o'clock,  P.  M.,  July  26,  1775. 
Congress  met  pursuant  to  adjournment.    Present : 
Peter  Van  Brugh  Livingston,  Esq.,  President. 
For  the  City  and  County  of  New-Yokk  :  Isaac  Low, 
Alex.  McDougall,  Joseph  Hallett,  Abraham  Brasher, 
James  Beekman,  Richard  Yates,  David  Clarkson,  Ben- 
jamin Kissam,  John  Marston,  Isaac  Sears,  Samuel  Ver- 
planck. 

For  Dutchess  County:  Anthony  Hoffman,  Gilbert  Liv- 
ingston, Melancton  Smith,  Nathaniel  Sackett,  Jonathan 
Land  on. 

For  Ulster  County:  Egbert  Dumond,  Christ.  Tappen. 
For  Suffolk  County:  Thomas  Tredwell,  Ezra  L'Hom- 

medieu,  John  Foster. 
For  Westchester  County:  Gouverneur  Morris,  Lewis 

Graham,  James  Van  Cortlandt,  Philip  Cortlandt,  James 

Holmes,  John  Thomas,  Joseph  Drake. 
For  King's  County:  Theodorus  Polhemus,  John  Vander- 

bilt. 

For  Richmond  County:  Paul  Micheau,  Aaron  Cortel- 
you,  John  Journey. 

For  Queen's  County:  Jacob  Blackwell,  Jonathan  Law- 
rence, Zebulon  Williams,  Samuel  Townshend,  Joseph 
French,  Joseph  Robinson,  Nathaniel  Tom,  Richard 
Thorne. 

For  Charlotte  County:  David  Watkins. 
For  Tryon  County:  John  Marlett. 

The  Petition  of  John  Fisher,  Saddler,  was  read,  and  filed. 

The  Certificate  of  Doctor  John  Jones  and  Dr.  Samuel 
Bard,  bearing  date  yesterday,  certifying  that  they  have 
examined  Philip  Henning  respecting  his  qualifications 
to  practise  Physick  and  Surgery,  and  that  they  find  him 
very  deficient  in  his  knowledge  of  them  both,  was  read  and 
filed. 

A  Certificate  of  Brigadier-General  Montgomerie,  certi- 
fying that  Samuel  Dyckman  had  delivered  to  him  at  Al- 
bany the  despatches  for  Major-General  Schuyler,  on  the 
23d  instant,  was  read,  and  delivered  to  the  President. 


A  Return  from  Lieutenant  David  Palmer,  bearing  date 
this  day,  was  read  and  filed ;  whereby  it  appears  that  he 
has  enlisted  twenty-three  Volunteers,  and  waits  for  further 
orders. 

The  Congress  took  into  consideration  the  Report  of  the 
Committee  on  the  subject  of  the  Post-Office,  which  was 
read. 

The  Memorial  of  Ebenezer  Hazard,  of  the  13ih  of 
June,  ultimo;  two  Letters  from  Gurdon  Saltonstall,  one 
bearing  date  the  22d  of  June,  and  the  other  the  3d  of  July; 
the  Letter  of  Ebenezer  Hazard  of  the  25th  instant ;  and 
the  Memorial  of  John  Holt,  of  the  16th  of  June,  ultimo, 
were  severally  read  and  considered.  Thereupon  a  question 
arose,  whether  this  Congress  will  recommend  any  person 
to  the  office  of  Postmaster  at  New-  York,  or  submit  the 
appointment  of  the  person  to  the  Continental  Congress 
without  such  recommendation ;  and  the  question  being  put, 
it  was  carried  in  the  affirmative,  (to  wit,  this  Congress  will 
recommend,)  in  manner  following,  to  wit: 

For  the  Affirmative.  For  the  Negative. 

2  Westchester,  2  Queen's, 

2  Dutchess,  2  Charlotte, 

2  Richmond,  2  Suffolk. 

2  Tryon.  — 
—  6 
8 

The  Members  for  the  City  and  County  of  Albany,  and 
County  of  Cumberland,  are  not  yet  arrived;  several  Mem- 
bers of  the  County  of  Ulster  being  absent  on  business  by 
order  of  this  Congress,  and  the  City  and  County  of  New- 
York,  and  Counties  of  Orange  and  King's,  not  having  a 
majority  of  their  Members  now  present,  were  respectively 
unable  to  vote  on  the  above  question. 

The  question  was  then  put,  whether  Mr.  Ebenezer  Haz- 
ard, of  the  City  of  New-  York,  Bookseller,  or  Mr.  John 
Holt,  of  the  said  City,  Printer,  should  be  the  person  to  be 
recommended  for  Postmaster  at  New-York;  and  it  was 
carried  in  favour  of  Mr.  Ebenezer  Hazard,  in  the  manner 
following,  to  wit ; 

For  recommending  Mr.  Hazard.  For  Mr.  Holt. 
2  Dutchess,  2  Charlotte. 

2  Suffolk,  2  Queen's, 

4  New- York,  2  Westchester. 

2  Richmond,  — 
2  Tryon.  6 

12 

Resolved,  therefore,  That  Mr.  Ebenezer  Hazard  be 
recommended  as  a  most  fit  and  proper  person  to  be  Post- 
master and  keep  the  Post-Office  at  the  City  of  New-  York; 
and  ordered  that  a  Letter  for  that  purpose  be  wrote  to  the 
Delegates  of  this  Colony  at  the  Continental  Congress,  and 
transmitted  immediately,  with  the  original  Papers  on  that 
subject  now  before  this  Congress,  and  copies  of  our  votes 
on  this  subject. 

The  City  and  County  of  Albany,  and  the  Counties  of 
Cumberland,  Ulster,  Orange,  and  King's,  could  not  vote 
on  the  last  question,  for  the  reasons  respectively  assigned 
for  their  not  voting  on  the  next  preceding  question. 

A  draught  of  a  Letter  to  the  New-York  Delegates  on 
the  subject  of  a  Post-Office,  was  read,  and  approved  of, 
and  is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 

In  Provincial  Congress,  New-York,  July  26,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  We  enclose  you  the  Report  of  our  Com- 
mittee on  the  subject  of  the  Post-Office,  with  the  sundry 
papers  which  remained  before  us,  and  the  votes  of  our 
House  this  evening  on  that  subject. 

We  are  sorry  that,  by  occasion  of  our  late  adjournment, 
and  of  sundry  matters  more  immediately  pressing  before 
the  adjournment,  this  matter  has  been  so  long  delayed 
with  us. 

We  beg  leave  to  recommend  Mr.  Ebenezer  Hazard  as 
a  most  careful,  fit,  and  proper  person  to  be  Postmaster  at 
New-York,  and  hope  the  Continental  Congress  may  ap- 
point him. 

We  conceive  our  present  Eastern  Riders  proceed  too 
far  to  the  eastward.  General  Schuyler  some  time  ago 
mentioned  to  us  the  necessity  of  having  Couriers  from 
hence  to  Albany  or  Ticonderoga.  We  are  frequently 
obliged  to  send  messengers  to  Albany,  which  a  regular 
post  to  the  northward  would  often  prevent.  We  submit 
the  necessity  and  utility  of  Northern  Post  Riders  or  Cou- 


1803 


NEW-YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JULY,  1775. 


1804 


riers  to  the  wisdom  of  the  Continental  Congress;  and  are, 
most  respectfully,  Gentlemen,  your  most  obedient  humble 
servants. 

To  the  New-York  Delegates  at  Continental  Congress. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  thereof  be  engrossed,  signed  by 
the  President,  and  transmitted. 

The  Congress  then  adjourned  till  to-morrow  morning, 
nine  o'clock. 

Die  Jovis,  9  ho.  A.  M.,  July  27,  1775. 
The  Congress  met  pursuant  to  adjournment.  Opened 
with  prayer  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Rogers.    Present : 

Peter  Van  Brugh  Livingston,  Esq.,  President. 
For  the  City  and  County  of  New-York:  Isaac  Low, 
Alex.  McDougall,  Leonard  Lispenard,  Joseph  Hnllett, 
Abraham  Brasher,  Isaac  Roosevelt,  John  De  Lancey, 
John  Marston,  James  Beekman,  Samuel  Verplanck, 
Richard  Yates,  David  Clarkson,  Thomas  Smith,  Ben- 
jamin Kissam,  John  Morin  Scott,  Isaac  Sears. 
For  Dutchess  Coi'nty:  Anthony  Hoffman,  Gilbert 
Livingston,  Melancton  Smith,  Nathaniel  Sackett,  Jona- 
than London. 

For  Ulster  County:  Egbert  Dumond,  Christ.  Tappen. 

For  Suffolk  County:  Thomas  Tredwell,  Ezra  L'Hom- 
medieu,  John  Foster. 

For  Westchester  County:  Gouverneur  Morris,  Lewis 
Graham,  Joseph  Drake,  Philip  Cortlandt,  John  Tho- 
mas, Junior,  James  Van  Cortlandt,  Robert  Graham, 
William  Paulding,  James  Holmes. 

For  King's  County  :  Henry  Williams,  Theodorus  Pol- 
hemus,  Nicholas  Covenhoven,  John  Vandcrbilt. 

For  Richmond  County:  Paul  Micheau,  John  Journey, 
Aaron  Cortelyou,  Richard  Conner. 

For  Queen's  County:  Jacob  Blackwell,  Jonathan  Law- 
rence, Nathaniel  Tom,  Samuel  Townshend,  Joseph 
French,  Joseph  Robinson,  Zebulon  Williams,  Richard 
Thome. 

For  Charlotte  County  :  David  Watkins. 
For  Tryon  County  :  John  Marlett. 

The  Congress  took  into  consideration  the  appointment 
of  a  Deputy  Adjutant-General  or  a  Brigade-Major,  and 
the  several  Letters  from  the  Continental  Congress,  and  the 
Letter  from  the  Neiv-  York  Delegates  on  that  subject ;  and 
thereupon, 

Agreed,  unanimously,  That  this  Congress  will  appoint 
a  Deputy  Adjutant-General,  as  being  the  superiour  officer. 
And  after  considering  the  merits  of  different  gentlemen 
who  were  mentioned,  it  is 

Unanimously  agreed,  That  William  Duer,  Esquire,  is 
a  proper  person  for  a  Deputy  Adjutant-General ;  and 

Ordered,  That  the  blank  Commission  for  that  office, 
received  from  the  Continental  Congress,  be  immediately 
filled  up  for  that  gentleman  ;  which  was  accordingly  done. 

An  Account  of  Sampson  Dyckman,  for  Horse  Hire  and 
Stabling,  was  delivered  in,  and  handed  to  the  Committee 
of  Accounts. 

A  draught  of  a  Letter  to  the  Honourable  John  Hancock, 
Esquire,  was  read  and  approved,  and  is  in  the  words  follow- 
ing, to  wit : 

In  Provincial  Congress,  New-York,  July  27,  1775. 

Sir:  In  compliance  with  the  request  of  the  Congress, 
of  which  you  did  us  the  honour  to  mention  in  your  letters 
of  the  seventeenth  and  nineteenth  instant,  we  have  ap- 
pointed William  Duer,  Esquire,  Deputy  Adjutant-General, 
and  taken  the  liberty  to  give  him,  in  his  commission  which 
we  received  yesterday,  the  rank  of  Colonel.  We  beg  leave 
to  submit  to  the  wisdom  of  the  Congress,  whether  or  not 
it  will  be  proper  to  have  a  Major  of  Brigade  appointed 
also  ;  and  should  it  be  deemed  necessary,  we  would  readily 
decline  the  honour  of  nominating  a  person  to  fill  that  office, 
having  full  confidence  in  the  wisdom  and  integrity  of  our 
Delegates,  and  being  well  convinced  that  they  will  recom- 
mend no  man  who  is  not  endued  with  every  qualification 
necessary  to  discharge  any  trust  which  you  may  think 
proper  to  repose  in  him. 

We  are,  with  great  respect,  Sir,  your  countrymen  and 
servants.    By  order. 
To  John  Hancock,  Esq.,  President,  &:c. 


Ordered,  That  a  copy  thereof  be  signed  by  the  Presi- 
dent, and  transmitted. 

A  draught  of  a  Letter  to  the  New-York  Delegates  at 
the  Continental  Congress  was  read  and  approved,  and  is  in 
the  words  following,  to  wit: 

In  Provincial  Congress,  New-York,  July  27,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  You  will  readily  recollect  your  former 
recommendation  of  Mr.  Duer,  to  some  members  of  our 
board,  for  a  colonelcy,  and  therefore  will  not  be  surprised 
that  we  have  seized  the  opportunity  of  appointing  him 
Deputy  Adjutant-General,  with  the  rank  of  Colonel ;  and 
we  trust  you  will  not  consider  this  as  any  disrespect  to  your 
late  recommendation  of  Mr.  Lewis.  We  have  submitted 
it  to  your  body,  in  our  letter  to  the  President,  whether  the 
appointment  of  a  Major  of  Brigade  will  not  be  proper,  and 
at  the  same  time  submitted  the  person  to  your  nomination. 
You  will  therefore  have  an  opportunity  of  filling  up  the 
commission  with  such  person  as  you  think  most  capable  of 
performing  the  duties  of  his  office. 

We  are,  Gentlemen,  your  most  obedient  humble  servants. 
By  order. 

To  the  New-York  Delegates  in  Continental  Congress. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  thereof  be  signed  by  the  Presi- 
dent, and  transmitted. 

A  Muster-Roll  of  Captain  Daniel  Griffin's  Company, 
raised  in  Suffolk  County,  signed  by  Phineas  Fanning  and 
Thomas  Conkling,  Muster-Masters,  bearing  date  on  the 
twenty-fifth  instant,  was  read  and  filed. 

A  Return  from  Captain  Ambrose  Horton,  dated  at  the 
White  Plains  on  the  twenty-sixth  instant,  informing  that  he 
has  enlisted  fifty-six  able-bodied  men,  was  read  and  filed. 

A  Letter  from  the  Committee  of  the  County  of  West- 
chester was  read  and  filed. 

Resolved,  That  this  Congress  will,  on  Thursday  next,  take 
into  consideration  the  state  of  the  Militia  of  this  Colony. 

Ordered,  That  Lieutenant  David  Palmer,  of  Richmond 
County,  bring  the  men  he  has  enlisted  to  the  City  of  New- 
York,  with  all  convenient  speed,  and  place  them  in  the 
Lower  Barracks,  and  apply  to  Mr.  Peter  T.  Curtenius  for 
Provisions  and  necessaries,  who  is  hereby  requested  to  fur- 
nish him  therewith. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Lispenard,  Colonel  McDougall, 
Colonel  Holmes,  Colonel  Hoffman,  and  Mr.  Graham,  be 
a  Military  Committee,  for  fourteen  days  from  this  day,  with 
full  power  during  that  time  to  order  and  dispose  of  all  things 
whatsoever  relating  to,  or  concerning  the  Troops  raised  or 
to  be  raised  in  this  Colony. 

A  Letter  from  Samuel  Cannon  to  Colonel  Cortlandt, 
informing  that  he  had  not  influence  sufficient  to  raise  a 
Company,  and  therefore  resigning  his  Warrant  as  a  Cap- 
tain, was  read  and  filed.  Colonel  Cortlandt  returned  the 
said  Warrant,  and  Colonel  Holmes  and  Colonel  Cortlandt 
recommended  Joseph  Benedict  as  a  proper  person  in  his 
stead.  Thereupon, 

Ordered,  That  a  Warrant  be  issued  for  the  said  Joseph 
Benedict,  as  a  Captain,  and  delivered  to  Colonel  Holmes. 

The  Congress  then  proceeded  to  hear  the  Report  of  the 
proceedings  of  the  Committee  of  Safety  on  the  twelfth, 
thirteenth,  fourteenth,  fifteenth,  and  sixteenth  of  July  inst. 

The  Congress  adjourned  till  nine  o'clock  to-morrow 
morning. 

Die  Veneris,  9  ho.  A.  M.,  July  28,  1775. 

The  Congress  met  pursuant  to  adjournment.  Opened 
with  prayer  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Gano.    Present : 

For  the  City  and  County  of  New-York  :  Peter  Van 
Brugh  Livingston,  Esquire,  President ;  Isaac  Low, 
Alexander  McDougall,  Leonard  Lispenard,  Joseph 
Hallett,  Abraham  Brasher,  Isaac  Roosevelt,  John  De 
Lancey,  James  Beekman,  Sam'l  Verplanck,  Richard 
Yates,  David  Clarkson,  Thomas  Smith,  Benjamin 
Kissam,  Isaac  Sears. 

For  Dutchess  County:  Anthony  Hoffman,  Gilbert 
Livingston,  Melancton  S7>iith,  Natha7tiel  Sackett, 
Jonathan  London. 

For  Ulster  County  :  James  Clinton,  Egbert  Dumond, 
Christopher  Tappen,  John  Nicholson. 

For  Orange  County  :  John  Herring. 


1S05 


NEW-YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JULY,  1775. 


1806 


For  Suffolk  County  :  Thos.  Tredwell,  Ezra  L'Hom- 
medieu,  John  Foster. 

For  Westchester  County  :  Gouverneur  Morris,  James 
Van  Cortlandt,  Joseph  Drake,  James  Holmes,  John 
Thomas,  Jun.,  William  Paulding,  Philip  Cortlandt. 

For  King's  County  :  Henry  Williams,  Jeremiah  Rem- 
sen,  Nicholas  Covenhoven,  John  Vanderbilt,  Thco- 
dorus  Polhemus. 

For  Richmond  County:  Paul  Micheau,  Aaron  Cortel- 
you,  John  Journey,  Richard  Connor. 

For  Queen's  County:  Jacob  Blackivell,  Jonathan  Law- 
rence, Sam'l  Townshend,  Joseph  Robinson,  Nathaniel 
Tom,  Richard  Thorne,  Joseph  French. 

For  Chaklotte  County:  David  Watkins. 

For  Tryon  County  :  John  Marlett. 

A  Letter  from  the  Honourable  Jonathan  Trumbull  was 
read  and  filed. 

A  draught  of  a  Letter  to  the  Delegates  of  this  Colony 
at  the  Continental  Congress,  on  the  subject  of  Tea,  was 
read  and  approved,  and  is  as  follows1,  to  wit  : 

In  Provincial  Congress,  New- York,  July  28,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  You  must  be  sensible  that  our  exertions 
in  the  publick  cause  have  subjected  us  to  a  very  large  ex- 
pense, (of  which  certainly  the  greatest  part  is  justly  pay- 
able by  the  Continent,)  and  at  the  same  time  you  cannot 
but  perceive  that  a  large  sum  of  money  is  and  will  be  ex- 
pended in  articles  purely  at  the  cost  of  our  Colony.  These 
considerations  show  us  the  necessity  of  laying  a  tax  on  our 
Colony;  but  prudence  or  policy  will  impress  as  strongly  on 
your  minds  as  on  our  own,  the  propriety  of  doing  this  in 
the  manner  least  liable  to  popular  disgust,  or  perhaps  oppo- 
sition. These  observations  will,  we  hope,  introduce  to  you 
in  a  favourable  light,  some  things  which  we  now  proceed 
to  mention. 

Sundry  of  our  merchants  have  on  hand  a  considerable 
quantity  of  tea  imported  from  Holland,  which  cannot  be 
sold  for  reasons  which  we  need  not  repeat.  The  conse- 
quence of  the  situation  is,  that  our  Dutch  Traders  are 
deprived  of  the  means  of  introducing  into  our  Colony  sail- 
duck,  Russia  drillings,  osnaburghs,  arms  and  ammunition, 
all  of  them  highly  necessary  for  us,  and  easily  to  be  ob- 
tained from  Holland,  notwithstanding  the  late  placart  of 
the  States-General. 

Should  the  retail  price  of  Bohea  tea  be  fixed  at  six  shil- 
lings per  pound,  from  six  pounds  and  upwards,  and  six  and 
sixpence  by  the  single  pound,  and  the  wholesale  price  at 
five  and  sixpence,  with  a  tax  of  one  shilling  on  the  pound, 
payable  by  the  vendor,  and  similar  regulations  for  green 
tea,  we  might  raise  a  considerable  sum  from  the  obstinate 
consumers  of  this  article,  and  at  the  same  time,  the  pre- 
cautions taken  by  us  in  giving  permission  to  merchants  to 
sell  under  certain  restrictions,  will  prevent  a  trade  which,  as 
to  the  recommendations  of  the  Continental  Congress,  may 
well  be  called  illicit,  and  which  does  now  most  undoubtedly 
obtain,  as  will  readily  be  acknowledged  by  those  who  per- 
ceive the  general  consumption  of  it  throughout  the  Colony. 

We  have  already  furnished  to  Connecticut  almost  all  the 
tents  which  we  had  provided  for  our  own  troops,  and  we 
have  not  now  any  materials  to  make  more;  and  we  further 
precaution  you  that  we  do  not  mean  to  encourage  the  future 
introduction  of  tea  into  the  Colony.  Should  you,  gentle- 
men, and  the  Congress,  perceive  force  in  what  we  have 
just  now  hinted  to  you,  we  humbly  conceive  it  would  be 
proper  for  the  Congress  to  refer  our  determination  in  gene- 
ral terms  to  certain  petitions  which  have,  as  we  are  informed, 
been  presented  to  them  by  those  who  have  quantities  of 
tea  in  their  possession. 

The  prudence,  the  reason,  the  policy  of  making  provi- 
sion which  will  prevent  those  gentlemen  from  being  in- 
fluenced by  the  strong  temptation  to  a  clandestine  sale,  with 
many  other  considerations  to  the  same  effect,  which  will 
naturally  arise  in  your  minds,  we  modestly  forbear  to  men- 
tion, but  beg  leave  to  assure  you,  gentlemen,  that  with  the 
highest  deference  to  the  superiour  judgment  of  the  Conti- 
nental Congress,  we  are  your  most  obedient  humble  ser- 
vants.   By  order. 

To  the  New-York  Delegates  in  the  Continental  Congress. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  thereof  be  signed  by  the  Presi- 
dent, and  transmitted. 


A  draught  of  a  Letter  to  the  Delegates  of  this  Colony 
at  the  Continental  Congress,  on  the  subject  of  Flaxseed, 
was  read  and  approved  of,  and  is  in  the  words  following, 
to  wit : 

In  Provincial  Congress,  New.York,  July  28,  1775. 

Gentlemen:  As  considerable  quantities  of  Flaxseed 
will,  in  all  probability,  be  ready  for  shipping  long  before 
the  tenth  of  September  next,  we  submit  it  to  the  Congress 
whether  it  will  not  be  proper  to  inhibit  the  exportation  of 
that  article  immediately. 

We  are,  Gentlemen,  respectfully,  your  most  obedient 
humble  servants. 

To  the  New-York  Delegates  in  Continental  Congress. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  thereof  be  signed  by  the  Presi- 
dent and  transmitted. 

A  draught  of  a  Letter  to  the  Hon.  Jonathan  Trumbull, 
in  answer  to  his  Letter  of  the  twenty-fifth  instant,  received 
this  day,  was  read  and  approved,  and  is  in  the  words 
following,  to  wit : 

In  Provincial  Congress,  New- York,  July  28,  1775. 

Sir:  We  have  received  your  letter  of  the  twenty-fifth 
instant,  requesting  that  this  Congress  will  furnish  Colonel 
Hinman's  Troops  at  Ticonderoga  with  tents.  Convinced 
of  the  absolute  necessity  of  such  supply,  and  of  the  ina- 
bility of  your  Colony  to  furnish  it,  although  our  own  Troops 
will  soon  want  them,  and  we  are  in  doubt  whether  we  shall 
be  able  to  get  materials  to  make  others,  yet  we  shall  take 
care  to  send  up  the  tents  with  all  possible  despatch,  ex- 
pecting that,  as  they  are  taken  on  account  of  your  Colony, 
you  will  remit  us  the  money  to  pay  for  them,  and  some 
other  expenses  incurred  for  your  Colony,  of  which  we  shall 
send  you  an  account. 

We  are,  Sir,  your  very  humble  servants. 

To  the  Honourable  Jonathan  Trumbull,  Governour  of  the 
Colony  of  Connecticut. 

P.  S.  We  supplied  General  Wooster  with  upwards  of 
two  hundred  tents,  made  of  the  very  best  materials. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  thereof  be  signed  by  the  Presi- 
dent, and  transmitted. 

The  Petition  of  John  Morr ell,  Adam  Patrick,  and  Isaiah 
Purdy,  praying  to  be  discharged  from  confinement,  was 
read. 

Ordered,  That  John  Morrell,  Adam  Patrick,  and  Isaiah 
Purdy,  be  brought  to  the  Bar  of  this  Congress. 

A  draught  of  a  Letter  to  Wolvert  Acker  and  Samuel 
Brewster,  Chairmen  of  the  Committees  of  Neivburgh  and 
New- Windsor,  was  read  and  approved  of,  and  is  in  the 
words  following,  to  wit : 

In  Provincial  Congress,  New. York,  July  28,  1775. 
Gentlemen  :  John  Morrell,  Adam  Patrick,  and  Isaiah 
Purdy,  are  liberated  from  their  confinement  upon  their  con- 
trition and  promises  of  amendment.  You  will  therefore 
endeavour  to  prevent  any  injuries  to  their  persons  or  pro- 
perty, and  at  the  same  time,  if  you  think  it  necessary,  we 
recommend  it  to  you  to  take  security  for  their  keeping  of 
the  peace,  which  may  be  done  according  to  the  common 
course  of  the  law;  at  the  same  time,  if  you  shall  be  of 
opinion  that  the  peace  and  safety  of  the  country  cannot 
otherwise  be  preserved,  you  will  take  from  them  all  arms 
of  offence.  But  this,  as  it  is  a  punishment  in  its  nature, 
ought  to  be  inflicted  only  with  the  utmost  caution,  and 
therefore  we  recommend  to  you  the  utmost  deliberation  and 
tenderness  on  this  occasion. 

We  are,  Gentlemen,  your  humble  servants.  By  order. 
To  Messrs.  Wolvert  Acker  and  Samuel  Brewster,  Chair- 
men of  the  Committees  of  Newburgh  and  New- Windsor 
Precincts. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  thereof  be  signed  by  the  Presi- 
dent, and  transmitted. 

John  Morrell,  Adam  Patrick,  and  Isaiah  Purdy,  being 
brought  to  the  Bar  of  this  Congress,  were  informed  that 
the  Congress  had  wrote  a  Letter  to  the  Committees  of 
Newburgh  and  New- Windsor,  to  take  securities  of  the 
peace  of  them,  and  to  disarm  them  if  they  thought  proper, 
and  that  the  Letter  should  be  sent  by  Mr.  Robert  Boyd. 
They  were  then  admonished  by  the  President  of  their  past 


1S07 


NEW- YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  JULY,  1775. 


1808 


imprudent  conduct,  of  the  evils  thereof  to  society,  and  the 
dangers  they  had  run,  and  charged  to  behave  in  such  man- 
ner for  the  future,  as  to  give  no  offence  or  uneasiness  to 
their  neighbours  or  any  others,  and  were  then  discharged. 
The  Congress  adjourned  to  five  o'clock  this  afternoon. 

Die  Veneris,  5  ho.  P.M.,  July  28,  1775. 

The  Congress  met  pursuant  to  adjournment.  Present: 

For  the  City  and  County  of  New- York  :  Peter  Van 
Brugh  Livingston,  President ;  Isaac  Low,  Alexander 
McDougall,  Abraham  Brasher,  John  De  Lancey, 
James  Beekman,  Samuel  Verplanck,  Richard  Yates, 
Thomas  Smith,  Benjamin  Kissam,  Isaac  Sears. 

For  Dutchess  County:  Anthony  Hoffman,  Gilbert 
Livingston,  Melancton  Smith,  Nathaniel  Sackett. 

For  Ulster  County  :  James  Clinton,  Egbert  Dumond, 
Christopher  Tappen,  John  Nicholson. 

For  Orange  County:  John  Herring. 

For  Suffolk  County:  Thos.  Tredwell,  Ezra  L'Hom- 
medieu,  John  Foster. 

For  Westchester  County  :  Gouverneur  Morris,  James 
Van  Cortlandt,  Philip  Cortlandt,  Jas.  Holmes,  John 
Thomas,  William  Paulding. 

For  King's  County  :  Jeremiah  Remsen,  Nidiolas  Co- 
venhoven,  Theodorus  Polhemus. 

For  Richmond  County  :  Paul  Micheau,  John  Journey, 
Aaron  Cortelyou,  Richard  Conner. 

For  Queen's  County:  Jonathan  Lawrence,  Samuel 
Townshend,  Joseph  French,  Joseph  Robinson,  Na- 
thaniel Tom,  Richard  Thome. 

For  Tryon  County  :  John  Marlett. 

The  Congress  proceeded  to  hear  the  Report  of  the  resi- 
due of  the  Committee  of  Safety  read.  The  same  being 
fully  and  completely  read  and  heard, 

Resolved,  That  this  Congress  do  heartily  approve  of  the 
conduct  of  the  Committee  of  Safety  during  our  late  recess, 
and  that  the  thanks  of  this  Congress  be  rendered  to  them 
for  their  faithful  services. 

Ordered,  That  Perer  T.  Curtenius,  as  Commissary  of 
this  Congress,  have  Soldiers'  Tents  made  of  English  Duck, 
sufficient  for  one  thousand  men,  and  forward  the  same  to 
the  Commissary  of  the  Connecticut  Troops  at  Albany,  with 
directions  to  him  to  forward  them  to  Colonel  Hinman  at 
Ticonderoga. 

Mr.  Beekman  and  Mr.  Cortelyou  reported,  that  in  obe- 
dience to  the  order  of  the  Committee  of  Safety,  they  had 
been  with  Andrew  Ward,  Jun.,  Lieutenant-Colonel,  and 
Captain  James  Arnold,  two  officers  appointed  by  General 
Wooster  for  that  purpose,  to  view  and  estimate  what  dama- 
ges had  been  done  to  the  ground  and  fencing,  &c,  of  Mr. 
Nicholas  Herring,  on  which  the  Connecticut  Troops  were 
lately  encamped.  That  they  estimate  the  damages  which 
the  said  Nicholas  Herring  has  sustained  in  his  land,  fences, 
orchard,  &,c,  by  the  said  Troops,  together  with  the  use  of 
the  said  land,  at  eighty  Pounds ;  and  that  the  said  Lieu- 
tenant Colonel  Andrew  Ward,  and  Captain  James  Arnold, 
had  signed  a  certificate  and  estimate  of  the  said  damages, 
and  agreed  to  allow  the  same  ;  which  certificate  and  allow- 
ance being  read  and  filed,  is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit: 

"  We,  the  underwritten,  do  agree  to  allow  Mr.  Herring 
eighty  Pounds,  for  the  damages  which  he  has  sustained  on 
his  land,  fences,  and  orchard,  by  the  late  encampment  of 
General  Wooster's  Troops,  together  with  the  use  of  said 
land.  "  Andrew  Ward,  Jun.,  Lieut.  Colonel. 

"James  Arnold,  Captain. 

"  Now-York,  July  27,  1775." 

The  Congress  adjourned  to  ten  o'clock,  on  Monday 
morning. 

Die  Lunae,  10  ho.  A.  M.,  July  31,  1775. 
Present :  Peter  Van  Brugh  Livingston,  Esquire,  Pre- 
sident, &ic. 

The  Deputies  for  the  City  and  County  of  Albany  pro- 
duced new  Credentials,  which  were  read  and  filed,  and  are 
in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 

"Albany  Committee  Chamber,  July  13,  1775. 

"  The  Committee  of  this  City  and  County  having  here- 
tofore appointed  Messrs.  Abraham  Yates,  Junior,  Robert 


Yates,  Abraham  Ten  Broeck,  Jacob  Cuyler,  Henry  Glenn, 
Francis  Nicoll,  Peter  Silvester,  Dirck  Swart,  Walter  Liv- 
ingston, Volkert  P.  Douw,  and  Robert  Van  Rensselaer, 
the  Deputies  of  this  City  and  County,  to  attend  the  Pro- 
vincial Congress,  with  general  powers  to  represent  this  City 
and  County,  but  by  reason  of  the  inconvenience  attending 
the  attendance  of  all  the  Deputies  in  the  said  Provincial 
Congress, 

"It  is  therefore  Resolved,  That,  for  the  future,  the  said 
Deputies  attend  the  said  Congress,  or  any  four  or  more  of 
their  number,  for  the  purposes  aforesaid,  with  the  same 
power  and  authority  as  if  all  the  said  Deputies  were  present. 

"Abraham  Yates,  Jr.,  Chairman. 
"John  Bay,  Secretary  pro  tempore." 

Colonel  McDougall  informed  the  Congress  that  the  men 
raised  for  his  Regiment  were  very  pressing  for  money,  and 
that  unless  he  be  provided  with  some  more  money  many  of 
them  will  leave  the  service. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  McDougall  have  leave  to  bor- 
row as  much  money  on  the  credit  of  this  Congress  (and 
give  his  obligation  for  the  same)  as  will  enable  him  to 
pay  the  men  enlisted  for  his  Regiment,  to  the  first  day  of 
August. 

A  draught  of  a  Letter  to  the  New-  York  Delegates  at 
Congress,  on  the  subject  of  Money,  was  read  and  approved, 
and  is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 

A  Letter  from  General  Schuyler  at  Saratoga,  on  the 
sixteenth  instant,  was  read  and  filed. 

Ordered,  That  Doctor  John  Jones,  and  Doctor  Treat, 
be  requested  to  examine  all  the  Medicines  purchased  or 
put  up  for  the  use  of  the  Regiments  raised  in  this  Colony, 
and  to  designate  and  reject  any  such  as  are  not  of  a  proper 
quality  for  that  use,  and  that  they  be  requested  to  send  to 
the  Congress  a  report  of  such  their  examination. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Peter  T.  Curtenius  be  requested, 
without  delay,  to  send  to  Albany,  for  the  use  of  the  Second 
Regiment,  seven  hundred  and  twenty  Pouches  and  Belts, 
seven  hundred  and  twenty  Bayonet  Belts,  seven  hundred 
and  twenty  Brushes  and  Wires,  forty-three  hundred  and 
twenty  Flints,  one  hundred  and  twenty  Camp-Kettles, 
seven  hundred  and  twenty  Canteens,  seven  hundred  and 
twenty  Haversacks,  and  the  Clothing  for  the  said  Regi- 
ment, and  Medicine  Chest,  examined  by  Doctor  John  Jones 
and  Doctor  Treat,  and  completed  agreeable  to  their  appro- 
bation and  direction. 

A  Letter  from  Colonel  Guy  Johnson,  dated  Ontario,  on 
the  eighth  instant,  was  read  and  filed. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  thereof  be  made  and  enclosed  to 
the  New-York  Delegates  at  Philadelphia. 

A  Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Albany  was  read  and 
filed. 

A  Letter  from  John  N.  Bleeckcr  at  Albany,  with  the 
Accounts  enclosed,  were  read  and  filed. 

Mr.  Robert  Yates,  of  Albany,  delivered  in  to  Congress 
sundry  Papers  relating  to  Indian  Affairs,  which  were  read, 
and  are  marked  and  numbered  as  follows,  to  wit : 

No.  1.  A  Speech  of  four  Oneida  Chiefs  to  the  Com- 
mittee of  Albany,  dated  at  the  Committee  Chamber,  at 
Albany,  June  24,  1775. 

No.  2.  A  Speech  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Albany  County, 
drawn  up  by  the  Committee  of  Albany,  spoken  at  the 
German  Flats  to  the  Oneida  Indians. 

No.  3.  A  Speech  to  the  Inhabitants  of  Albany,  being 
the  answer  of  the  Oneidas  and  Tuscaroras  at  the  German 
Flats,  dated  July  1st,  1775. 

No.  5.  A  Speech  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Tryon  County 
to  the  Oneidas  and  Tuscaroras,  in  a  meeting  at  the  Ger- 
man Flats,  29th  June,  1775. 

No.  6.  A  Speech  from  the  Oneida  Indians,  dated  24th 
June,  1775,  in  answer  to  the  Speech  delivered  by  the  Inha- 
bitants of  Tryon  County. 

No.  7.  A  History  of  an  Embassy  of  the  Stockbridge 
Indians  with  the  Caughnawagas. 

No.  8.  A  Conference  between  the  Stockbridge  and 
Caughnawaga  Indians. 

Ordered,  That  the  abovementioned  copies  of  Speeches 
and  Papers  relating  to  Indian  Affairs,  be  enclosed  to  the 
New-  York  Delegates  at  the  Continental  Congress. 


1809 


NEW-YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  AUGUST,  1775. 


1810 


Copy  of  a  Letter,  appearing  to  have  been  written  from 
Joseph  Reed,  Esquire,  Secretary  to  General  Washington, 
was  read,  giving  advice  of  the  sailing  of  three  Men-of- 
W'ar,  &ic,  from  Boston. 

A  draught  of  a  Letter  to  the  Committee  of  Correspon- 
dence for  East-Hampton  and  Southold,  was  read  and 
approved ;  and  is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 

In  Provincial  Congress,  New. York,  July  31,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  By  the  enclosed  copy  of  a  letter  from 
General  Washington  to  General  Wooster,  we  think  not 
unlikely  the  designs  of  these  ships  may  be  to  take  provisions 
from  different  parts.  As  Montauk  and  other  parts  of  the 
east  of  Long-Island  are  much  exposed,  we  judged  it  proper 
to  give  this  intelligence,  that  you  might  take  such  methods 
for  securing  the  stock  there  as  you  shall  judge  necessary. 
Hulbert  and  GriJ/ing's  companies  can  be  employed  for 
that  purpose  till  otherwise  ordered.    I  am,  &ic. 

To  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  for  East-Hampton 
and  Southold. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  be  engrossed,  and  signed  by  the 
President,  and  transmitted. 

The  Congress  adjourned  to  nine  o'clock,  to-morrow 
morning. 

Die  Martis,  9  ho.  A.  M.t  August  1,  1775. 

The  Congress  met  pursuant  to  adjournment.  Opened 
with  prayers  by  the  Reverend  Mr.  Inglis.    Present : 
Feter  V.  B.  Livingston,  Esq.,  President. 

A  Letter  from  John  Taplin,  Esq.,  of  Newbury,  one  of 
the  Judges  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  in  Gloucester 
County,  was  read  and  Gled. 

A  Letter  from  John  Burger  to  Peter  T.  Curtenius, 
bearing  date  at  Ticonderoga  Landing,  the  19th  July,  ult., 
was  read  and  filed. 

A  Return  of  Provisions  from  Elisha  Phelps,  Commis- 
sary at  Albany,  dated  the  21st  of  July,  ultimo,  was  read 
and  filed. 

A  Letter  from  David  Pye  was  read  and  filed,  and  is  in 
the  words  following,  to  wit : 

Clarkstown,  July  31,  1775. 

Sir  :  The  bearer  hereof,  Captain  Robert  Johnston,  has 
his  company  now  full ;  and  as  he  is  a  sum  of  money  out, 
by  this  I  take  the  liberty  to  recommend  him  to  you  for 
direction  where  he  may  have  the  necessary  supplies  for  the 
company. 

I  am,  Sir,  your  humble  servant,  David  Pye. 

To  Perer  V.  B.  Livingston,  Esq. 

A  Letter  from  Elisha  Benedict,  of  the  24th  ultimo,  was 
read  and  filed  ;  he  thereby  informed  that  his  company  is  full, 
and  that  he  has  some  men  to  spare.  Encloses  a  Warrant 
to  Samuel  Fletcher,  now  returned  agreeable  to  the  order 
of  the  Committee  of  Safety,  and  requests  a  Warrant  to 
William  McCune,  of  Cumberland  County,  as  First  Lieu- 
tenant in  his  stead. 

Ordered,  That  a  Warrant  issue  to  the  said  William  31c- 
Cune  accordingly. 

A  Letter  from  General  Schuyler,  of  the  21st  ult.,  was 
read  and  filed. 

The  extracts  of  the  Letters  therein  enclosed,  were  read 
and  filed,  and  are  in  the  words  following,  to  wit: 

Extract  of  a  Letter,  dated  Lebanon,  17r7i  July,  1775, 
from  the  Honourable  Governour  Trumbull  to  Major- 
General  Schuyler. 

"  I  have  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  favour  of 
the  10th  instant,  which  came  by  Benet.  Per  same  hand 
I  received  a  letter  from  Colonel  Hinman,  at  Ticonderoga, 
in  which  he  says,  '  there  are  many  things  which  the  act  of 
Assembly  provides  for  the  soldiers  which  they  never  have 
as  yet  received,  which  occasions  murmurings  and  discon- 
tents, and  much  weakens  my  authority  among  them  '  Copy 
of  the  act  of  Assembly  has  been  forwarded  some  time  ago 
to  the  Provincial  Convention  of  New-York.  Our  Com- 
missary, Mr.  Elisha  Phelps,  has  also  a  copy.  If  New- 
York  does  not  supply  our  Troops,  as  they  have  a  right  to 
expect,  this  Colony  must  fulfil  their  engagements  them- 
selves. 

"  I  pray  your  interpos  ition  in  this  matter." 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  it.  1 


Extract  of  a  Letter,  dated  Ticonderoga.  July  21, 1775, 
from  Major- General  Schuyler  to  the  Continental  Con- 
gress. 

"  I  enclose  you  a  copy  of  a  letter  I  have  just  received 
from  Governour  Trumbull.  I  am  very  sorry  that  the  Colo- 
ny of  Connecticut  has  made  such  large  allowance  for  the 
daily  subsistence  of  the  men.  It  is  difficult  and  expensive 
to  procure  the  things  here  which  they  are  to  have  agree- 
able to  the  law  of  their  Colony,  and,  what  is  worse,  other 
Troops  that  may  join  will  certainly  expect  the  like  allow- 
ance, and  a  discrimination  cannot  be  made  in  favour  of  the 
Troops  of  any  particular  Colony. 

"  A  resolve  of  Congress  what  shall  be  the  Continental 
allowance,  and  that  no  Colony  shall  send  their  Troops  any 
thing  more  than  what  shall  be  prescribed,  would  settle  the 
matter,  and  prevent  that  jealousy  which  will  otherwise  take 
place." 

A  Letter  from  General  Schuyler,  of  the  22d  day  of  July, 
was  read  and  filed. 

The  Warrant  of  Morris  Hazard  was  returned,  and  Mr. 
John  Lawrence,  of  Newtotcn,  being  recommended  in  his 
stead,  is  approved  of. 

Ordered,  That  a  Warrant  be  issued  to  the  said  John 
Lawrence,  in  the  stead  and  place  of  the  said  Morris  Ha- 
zard. 

Ordered,  That  Jacob  Cuyler  be  added  to  the  Military 
Committee,  which  was  appointed  on  the  27th  ultimo. 

Resolved,  That  every  officer  who  has  already  enlisted, 
or  who  shall  hereafter  enlist  a  soldier  in  the  Regiments  now 
raising  in  this  Colony,  shall  be  entitled  to  a  dollar  for  each 
such  soldier  who  shall  pass  muster,  and  be  received  into 
the  service,  the  officer  paying  the  expense  of  such  enlist- 
ment. 

A  copy  of  a  Conference  between  two  Oneidas  and  the 
Albany  Committee,  on  the  25th  ult.,  was  read. 

Ordered,  That  this  copy  of  a  Conference  be  sent  to 
the  New-York  Delegates  at  Congress  by  the  first  con- 
veyance. 

A  Letter  from  Goose  Van  Schaick,  Colonel  of  the  Se- 
cond Regiment,  bearing  date  on  the  24th  instant,  with  a 
Return  of  the  present  state  of  his  Regiment,  as  far  as 
known  to  him,  were  read  and  filed. 

The  Petition  of  Sampson  Dyckman  was  read  :  he  there- 
in sets  forth  that  he  had  suffered  great  damages  by  one 
Hesington,  a  messenger  from  Massachusetts  to  Philadel- 
phia, greatly  injuring  his  horse  in  a  journey  to  Philadel- 
phia. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Thome  and  Mr.  Paulding  be  a 
Committee  to  inquire  into  the  damages  Sampson  Dyck- 
man has  sustained  by  occasion  of  the  premises  mentioned 
in  his  Petition,  and  to  make  a  report  thereon  to  this  Con- 
gress. 

Ordered,  That  Captain  Peter  Lent  and  Mr.  Gilbert 
Cooper,  of  Orange  County,  be  appointed,  and  are  hereby 
appointed  Mustermasters  for  Captain  Robert  Johnson's 
Company  of  soldiers,  now  enlisted  in  the  Continental  ser- 
vice, and  that  they,  or  either  of  them  carefully  muster  the 
men,  and  pass  none  but  such  as  they  deem  useful,  active, 
sprightly  men,  and  fit  for  service. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Holmes  and  Colonel  Philip 
Cortlandt,  or  either  of  them,  be  appointed,  and  are  hereby 
appointed  to  muster  any  soldiers  raised  or  to  be  raised  for 
Colonel  Holmes's  Regiment,  and  who  shall  not  have  been 
mustered  by  some  other  person  appointed  by  this  Con- 
gress. 

And  Ordered,  That  Colonel  Clinton  be  in  like  manner 
appointed  to  muster  the  Regiment. 

A  Letter  from  General  Schuyler,  of  the  26th  July,  ult., 
was  read  and  filed. 

A  second  Letter  from  General  Schuyler,  of  the  27th  of 
July,  was  read  and  filed. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Ten  Broeck  be  added  to  the 
Committee  of  Rank,  in  the  place  of  Colonel  Van  Rensse- 
laer, who  is  absent. 

The  President  informed  the  Congress  that  the  Recorder 
had  waited  on  him  at  the  door,  and  informed  him  that  the 
Boat  which  had  been  building  by  order  of  the  Committee 
of  Safety  was  sawed  to  pieces  and  entirely  destroyed. 

4 


1811 


NEW-YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  AUGUST,  1715. 


1812 


Ordered,  Tliat  this  matter  be  taken  into  consideration 
to-inorrovv  morning. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  McDnugall  be  at  liberty  to  set- 
tle with  such  of  his  Officers  who  are  going  on  service,  for 
two  months  pay. 

The  Congress  then  adjourned  to  nine  o'clock  to-morrow 
morning. 

Die  Morcurii,  9  ho.  A.  M.,  August  2,  1775. 
Congress  met  pursuant  to  adjournment.    Opened  with 
prayers  by  the  Reverend  Mr.  Mason.   Present : 

Peter  V.  B.  Livingston,  Esq.,  President,  &tc. 
A  Letter  from  John  Lamb,  recommending  Isaiah  Wool 
a;  Lieutenant  Fire-worker  of  his  Company,  was  read  and 
filed.  The  said  Isaiah  is  approved  of. 

Ordered,  That  he  be  appointed  Lieutenant  Fire-worker 
of  Captain  Lamb's  Company. 

As  there  is  not  any  Ravens  Duck  or  Osnaburghs  to  be 
purchased  in  the  City  of  New-York,  and  Mr.  Peter  T. 
Curtenius  informed  this  Congress  that  without  Osnaburghs 
and  Ravens  Duck  he  cannot  complete  Tents  for  the  Troops, 
and  that  none  can  be  obtained  but  what  is  in  the  hands 
')f  Robert  and  John  Murray;  and  as  the  service  would 
otherwise  suffer  greatly,  and  the  necessity  of  the  cause 
i  enders  it  absolutely  necessary  ;  therefore, 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Peter  T.  Curtenius  purchase  as 
much  Ravens  Duck  and  Osnaburghs  of  Messrs.  Robert  and 
John  Murray  as  he  may  want  for  the  publick  service,  on 
the  terms  they  offered  them  to  him. 

A  Letter  of  General  Schuyler  to  the  Albany  Commit- 
tee, advising  them  from  the  necessity  of  the  case,  and  to 
save  time,  to  fill  up  the  vacancies  of  such  Officers  in  the 
Second  Regiment  as  had  declined  the  service,  was  read. 
Also  a  list  of  the  Officers  of  the  Second  Regiment,  as  now 
fixed,  with  the  changes  that  had  been  made  therein  by  the 
Albany  Committee  was  read. 

Ordered,  That  the  said  List  be  delivered  to  the  Com- 
mittee of  Rank,  and  that  the  following  gentlemen  be  added 
to  the  said  Committee  of  Rank,  to  wit :  Mr.  John  Sloss 
Hobart  in  the  stead  of  Colonel  Wood  hull ;  Mr.  Herring 
in  the  place  of  Colonel  Tusteen ;  Mr.  Marlett  in  the  place 
of  Christopher  P.  Yates;  and  David  Watkins  in  the  stead 
of  Major  Williams. 

A  Letter  from  John  Dennis,  Chairman  of  the  Commit- 
tee of  New-Brunswick,  in  answer  to  the  Letter  of  the  Com- 
mittee of  Safety,  of  the  21st  ult.,  was  read,  and  is  in  the 
words  following,  to  wit : 

City  of  New-Brunswick,  July  27,  1775. 

Gentlemen  :  Your  favour  of  the  21st  instant  came  safe 
to  hand,  the  contents  of  which  was  duly  observed.  Appli- 
cation was  immediately  made  to  Mr.  Merrill,  who  says 
about  three  weeks  past,  a  person  coming  from  Egg-Har- 
bour, when  within  the  Hook,  he  saw  a  boat  standing  down 
our  bay  that  he  thought  was  loaded  with  flour,  which  boat 
he  believes  went  along  side  the  man-of-war;  this  is  all  he 
ever  heard  or  knows  of  the  matter.  Every  other  inquiry 
in  our  power  has  been  made,  but  can  make  no  further  dis- 
covery. All  intelligences  or  discoveries  of  every  action 
inimical  to  American  liberty,  and  every  matter  of  instruc- 
tion for  our  better  preservation,  will  ever  be  paid  a  due 
regard  to,  and  cheerfully  received  by  the  Committee  of  this 
City. 

Assure  yourselves,  gentlemen,  that  this  Committee  has, 
and  ever  will  be  ready  to  render  to  their  Country  every 
service  in  their  power,  and  will  continue  to  give  a  strict 
attention  to  and  duly  observe  all  resolutions  formed  by  the 
Continental  Congress. 

We  are,  with  esteem,  gentlemen,  your  obedient  humble 
servants,  John  Dennis,  Chairman. 

To  Mr.  Henry  Williams. 

Ordered,  That  the  Committee  formerly  appointed  to 
contract  for  Pouches,  Belts,  and  Slings,  do  contract  for 
eight  hundred  and  eighty  Pouches  and  Belts,  and  eight 
hundred  and  eighty  Bayonet-belts,  and  eight  hundred  and 
eighty  Slings  for  muskets,  besides  the  quantity  of  two  thou- 
sand each  of  those  articles  contracted  for.    And  that  the 


said  Committee  get  the  said  articles  made  with  all  possible 
speed. 

Mr.  Low  moved  that  this  Congress  make  a  Resolution 
in  the  words  following,  to  wit  : 

In  Provincial  Congress,  August  2,  1775. 

Whereas,  it  appeared  to  the  Committee  of  Safety,  ap- 
pointed by  this  Congress  during  their  late  recess,  that  a 
Barge  belonging  to  His  Majesty's  ship  Asia,  was,  without 
any  provocation,  attacked,  and  most  wantonly  destroyed: 
And  whereas,  the  Corporation  of  this  City  had,  under  the 
sanction  of  the  said  Committee,  ordered  another  Barge  to 
be  built,  in  order  to  replace  the  Barge  so  destroyed  as 
aforesaid  :  And  whereas,  this  Congress  had  approved  of 
that  and  the  other  conduct  of  their  said  Committee,  and 
voted  them  their  thanks  for  their  faithful  services:  And 
whereas,  notwithstanding,  some  disorderly  and  evil  dis- 
posed persons  did,  in  the  night,  destroy  and  render  useless 
the  said  Barge,  so  ordered  to  be  built  as  aforesaid,  by  saw- 
ing it  in  pieces :  And  whereas,  the  Corporation  have  since 
formally  applied  to  this  Congress  for  their  direction  in  the 
premises : 

Resolved,  That  the  perpetrators  of  the  said  act  are  guilty 
of  a  high  offence  and  insult  against  this  Congress,  and  the 
Colony  they  represent,  as  endeavouring  to  contravene  the 
true  intent  and  meaning  of  their  appointment.  That  they 
are  base  violators  of  the  Association  subscribed  by  this 
Congress,  and  by  them  recommended  to  the  adoption  of 
their  constituents. 

In  order,  therefore,  that  the  sense  of  this  Congress  may 
be  fully  known  relative  to  such  outrageous  acts, 

Ordered,  That  this  Resolution  be  immediately  made 
publick,  not  doubting  but  that  the  good  inhabitants  of  this 
Colony  will  duly  assist  and  support  this  Congress  in  detect- 
ing, convicting,  and  bringing  to  condign  punishment  all  such 
factious  offenders,  as  disturbers  of  the  publick  peace,  and 
enemies  of  their  Country. 

Mr.  Low's  motion  was  seconded  by  Mr.  Walton.  After 
some  time  spent  in  consideration  thereof, 

Ordered,  That  the  further  consideration  thereof  be 
postponed  till  Friday  morning  next. 

A  Letter  from  the  New-York  Delegates  at  Continental 

Congress,  was  read. 

Ordered,  That  John  Herring,  Esquire,  go  up  to  Dobbs's 
Ferry,  and  see  the  Powder  forwarded,  and  that  Mr.  Jacob 
Cuyler  appoint  an  Albany  Sloop  to  stop  at  Dobbs's  Ferry, 
and  that  he  write  a  private  Letter  to  the  Committee  of 
Albany,  informing  them  of  the  said  Powder,  and  desiring 
them  to  forward  the  same. 

Ordered,  That  Cornelius  D.  Wynkoop  be  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  in  the  Third  Regiment,  and  ordered  that  he  mus- 
ter Captain  Hasbrouck's  and  Captain  Brown's  Companies. 

A  Committee  of  the  Officers  of  the  First  Regiment 
(inferior  to  Field  Officers)  attending  at  the  door,  were  admit- 
ted, and,  by  Captain  Goforth,  delivered  in  writing  to  the 
President  three  Questions,  in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 
Whether  the  Congress  will  favour  this  Committee  with  an 
answer  to  the  Memorial  presented  some  days  ago  from  the 
Officers  of  the  First  Regiment  ?  We  shall  be  glad  to  be 
informed  what  our  Pay  is  to  be  from  the  Captains  down  to 
the  Privates,  the  Adjutants  and  the  Quartermasters  in- 
cluded? And  whether  the  Officers  are  to  receive  their 
Commissions  betore  they  embark  ? 

The  said  Committee  of  Officers  being  withdrawn,  the 
Congress  took  their  Queries  into  consideration,  and  deli- 
vered them  an  answer  in  the  words  following,  to  wit: 

To  the  Queries  of  the  Committee  of  Officers  of  the 
First  Regiment,  the  Congress  gives  the  following  answers, 
to  wit : 

1st.  That  they  are  not  at  liberty  to  make  any  allowance 
for  the  Clothing  and  Arms  mentioned  in  their  Letter  of  the 
26th  ultimo. 

2d.  That  the  Pay  of  the  Troops  raised  in  the  Colony 
will  be  ascertained  by  the  Continental  Congress,  but  we 
have  received  assurances  that  it  will  not  be  less  than  the 
pay  of  the  Connecticut  Troops. 

3d.  That  the  Warrants  given  to  the  Officers  are  to  re- 
main with  them  instead  of  Commiissions  until  their  Com- 
missions arrive  from  the  General. 


1813 


NEW-YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  AUGUST,  1775. 


1814 


Die  Mercurii,  4to  ho.  P.  M.,  August  2,  1775. 

The  Congress  met  pursuant  to  adjournment.  Present: 
Peter  V.  B.  Livingston,  Esquire,  President. 

Jesse  JVoodhull,  Esq.,  of  Cornwall  Precinct  in  Orange 
County,  appointed  in  Congress.  The  Minutes  of  the  Re- 
turn of  Deputies  were  read,  whereby  it  appears  that  Israel 
Scely,  Jesse  Woodhull,  and  Jeremiah  Clarke,  were  appoints 
ed  Deputies  for  that  Precinct  to  represent  them  in  this 
Provincial  Congress  as  part  of  the  representation  of  Orange 
County. 

Ordered,  That  Jesse  Woodhull,  Esq.,  take  his  seat. 

A  majority  in  the  Third  Regiment  being  now  vacant, 
the  following  question  was  put,  to  wit :  Who  shall  be  Major 
of  the  Third  Regiment  ?  and  the  votes  of  the  Counties 
present  being  taken,  were  delivered  in  the  manner  follow- 
ing, to  wit  : 

For  Henry  Livingston,  Jr.  For  Robert  G.  Livingston. 

8  Dutchess,       2  Charlotte,  3  Albany. 

2  King's,  2  Tryon, 

2  Suffolk,  2  Westchester, 

2  Queen's,        2  Richmond, 
4  New. York,     2  Ulster, 

22 

Ordered  therefore,  That  Henry  Livingston,  Junr.,  be 
appointed  Major  of  the  Third  Regiment  of  Troops  now 
raising  in  this  Colony,  as  a  part  of  the  Army  of  the  United 
Colonies  raised  for  the  defence  of  American  liberty,  and 
for  repelling  every  hostile  invasion  thereof. 

Ordered,  That  Warrants  be  made  out  in  Capt.  Nichol- 
son's Company  :  First  Lieutenant,  David  Dubois :  Second 
Lieutenant,  James  Grigg.  And  for  Capt.  Jacobus  Bruyn, 
First  Lieutenant,  Thomas  De  Witt;  Second  Lieutenant, 
Albert  Pawling.  In  Captain  Daniel  Denton's  Company, 
for  Second  Lieutenant,  George  Hamilton  Jackson.  In 
Captain  Elias  Hasbrouck's  Company,  for  First  Lieutenant, 
Cornelius  T.  Jansen ;  Second  Lieutenant,  Petrus  Roggin. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Job  Mulford,  Gentleman,  be  ap- 
pointed Adjutant  of  the  Fourth  Regiment  of  Troops  now 
raising  in  this  Colony. 

Ordered,  That  Captain  John  Lamb  proceed  with  his 
Artillery  Company  to  Ticonderoga,  and  join  the  Army 
under  the  command  of  General  Schuyler,  with  all  possible 
despatch. 

Die  Jovis,  9  ho.  A.  M.,  August  3,  1775. 

The  Congress  met  pursuant  to  adjournment.  Opened 
with  a  prayer  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Livingston.    Present : 
Peter  V.  B.  Livingston,  Esq.,  President. 

Ordered,  That  the  Chairman,  or  Deputy  Chairman  of 
the  General  Committee  of  Association  of  the  City  of  Neio- 
York,  be  requested  immediately  to  summon  the  Commit- 
tee, in  order  to  take  into  consideration  the  papers  relating 
to  George  Coffin's  Vessel  and  cargo,  now  delivered  to  him, 
in  order  to  make  report  thereon  to  this  Congress.  And  that 
if  a  sufficient  number  of  the  members  of  that  Committee  to 
make  a  quorum  cannot  be  convened,  that  such  number  as 
can  be  immediately  convened,  do  make  such  report  with  all 
possible  despatch. 

A  Letter  from  Walter  Livingston,  Esq.,  was  read  and 
filed. 

A  copy  of  the  Commission  of  Walter  Livingston  was 
read  and  filed. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Clinton  be  authorized  to  receive 
from  Peter  T.  Curtenius  for  his  Regiment,  seven  hundred 
and  twenty  Pouches  and  Belts ;  seven  hundred  and  twenty 
Bayonet-belts ;  seven  hundred  and  twenty  Brushes  and 
Wires;  seven  hundred  and  twenty  Gun-worms;  and  seven 
hundred  and  twenty  Screw-drivers;  four  thousand  three 
hundred  and  twenty  Flints  ;  one  hundred  any  forty  Camp- 
kettles  ;  seven  hundred  and  twenty  Canteens ;  seven  hun- 
dred and  twenty  Haversacks,  and  the  Clothing  for  the 
Third  Regiment;  and  a  Medicine  Chest  and  Instruments, 
when  examined  and  approved  of  by  Dr.  John  Jones  and 
Dr.  Treat. 

And  Ordered,  That  Colonel  Holmes  be  authorized  to 
get  the  like  articles  for  his  Regiment. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Israel  Evans  be  appointed,  and  is 
hereby  appointed  Chaplain  of  the  First  Regiment  of  the 
Troops  now  raising  in  this  Colony. 


A  Letter  from  Peter  T.  Curtenius,  of  this  day,  was  read 
and  61ed,  and  is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 

"  August  3,  1775. 

"Gentlemen:  The  enclosed  is  a  note  I  received  from 
Captain  Lamb ;  should  be  glad  to  have  an  order  from  Con- 
gress about  this  matter.  I  have  waited  on  Messrs.  Mur- 
rays  about  the  twenty  pieces  and  sixty  pieces  of  osnaburghs ; 
they  request  an  order  from  the  Congress  to  the  Committee 
of  Elizabethtown.  I  have  made  an  inquiry  about  oars, 
and  can't  find  above  one  hundred  and  fifty  in  Town,  ninety- 
seven  of  which  I  sent  up  yesterday;  for  the  remainder,  I 
have  contracted  with  Captain  Bradley,  of  New-Haven,  to 
deliver  them  in  ten  or  twelve  days. 

"  I  am,  Gentlemen,  your  most  obedient  servant, 

"  Peter  T.  Curtenius." 

A  Letter  from  Captain  John  Lamb  therein  enclosed, 
was  read  and  filed. 

A  draught  of  a  Letter  to  the  Committee  of  Elizabeth- 
town,  was  read  and  filed,  and  is  in  the  words  following,  to 
wit: 

In  Provincial  Congress  at  New. York,  August  3,  1775. 

Gentlemen:  We  have  spared  a  great  number  of  our 
tents  to  the  Connecticut  Troops,  and  cannot  now  procure 
osnaburghs  and  duck  sufficient  to  make  tents  for  the  Troops 
of  this  Colony  in  the  Continental  service,  without  taking 
that  which  was  imported  by  Robert  and  John  Murray. 
Necessity  has,  therefore,  obliged  us  to  agree  to  purchase 
those  goods,  that  the  service  of  the  United  Colonies  may 
not  be  delayed.  We  therefore  request  you,  gentlemen, 
to  permit  the  said  osnaburghs  and  ravens  duck,  of  Robert 
and  John  Murray,  to  be  delivered  out  of  your  store  to  Mr. 
Peter  T.  Curtenius,  or  his  order,  for  the  uses  aforesaid. 

We  are,  Gentlemen,  your  very  humble  servants. 
To  the  Committee  of  Elizabethtown. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  thereof  be  engrossed,  and  signed 
by  the  President,  and  transmitted. 

A  draught  of  a  Letter  to  General  Washington,  requesting 
blank  Commissions  to  be  sent  to  the  Officers  of  the  New- 
York  Regiments,  was  read  and  approved,  and  is  in  the 
words  following : 

In  Provincial  Congress,  New-York,  August  3,  1775. 

Sir:  We  are  informed,  in  a  letter  from  the  Continental 
Congress,  that  the  General  would  make  out  the  commis- 
sions for  our  Regiments  to  such  persons  as  this  Congress 
should  command,  but  are  at  a  loss  to  know  whether  you  or 
General  Schuyler  are  to  issue  the  commissions.  We  un- 
derstand, however,  that  they  have  been  transmitted  to  you  ; 
if  this  should  be  the  case,  and  the  commissions  are  to  be 
filled  up  by  General  Schuyler,  we  beg  you  will  send  them 
to  him,  or  us,  without  delay.  If  they  are  to  be  filled  up 
by  your  Excellency,  we  submit  it,  whether,  to  prevent  de- 
lay, it  would  not  be  proper  to  send  them  in  blank  to  Gene- 
ral Schuyler,  or  to  us,  that  the  names  may  be  filled  up 
agreeable  to  the  arrangements  made  by  this  Congress. 
The  number  of  commissions  wanted  will  be  about  two 
hundred. 

We  are,  with  the  greatest  respect,  your  Excellency's 
most  obedient  humble  servants.    By  order. 
His  Excellency  General  Washington. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  thereof  be  engrossed,  and  signed 
by  the  President,  and  transmitted. 

Col.  Holmes  has  leave  of  absence.  Volkert  P.  Douw, 
Esq.,  has  leave  of  absence  on  account  of  his  being  one  of 
the  Commissioners  for  Indian  Affairs. 

A  Warrant  to  Isaac  Van  Waert  as  Second  Lieutenant, 
ordered  and  issued  this  day. 

Ordered,  That  a  Warrant  be  made  out  to  Jacobus  Rose- 
kraus  as  Captain  ;  a  Warrant  to  Samuel  Van  Vechten  as 
First  Lieutenant,  and  a  Warrant  to  Thomas  Lee  as  Second 
Lieutenant. 

The  Congress  adjourned  to  five  o'clock,  P.  M. 

Five  ho.  P.  M. 

The  Congress  met  pursuant  to  adjournment. 

The  Congress  being  informed  that  Captain  Patrick  Sin- 
clair is  appointed  Lieutenant-Governour  and  Superinten- 
dent at  Missilimacana ;  the  said  Patrick  Sinclair  being 


1815 


NEW-YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  AUGUST,  1775. 


1816 


sent  for,  attended,  and  acknowledged  that  lie  was  informed 
by  authority  from  his  Majesty,  that  lie  was  so  appointed, 
and  that  he  did  expect  to  receive  his  commission  and  in- 
structions for  that  purpose.  And  it  being  highly  imprudent 
at  this  critical  juncture,  to  permit  any  gentleman  under 
the  influence  of  the  British  Ministry  to  proceed  to  that 
post  to  exercise  those  offices,  who  might  prejudice  the  In- 
dians against  the  inhabitants  of  the  United  Colonies, 

Resolved,  That  the  said  Captain  Patrick  Sinclair  shall 
not  be  at  present  permitted  to  proceed  to  Missilimacana. 

And  Ordered,  That  the  said  Patrick  Sinclair  go  to 
any  part  of  Suffolk  County,  on  Nassau  Island,  and  reside 
there,  on  his  giving  his  promise  parole  on  his  honour  that  he 
will  not  take  any  part  in  the  present  unhappy  controversy 
between  Great  Britain  and  the  United  Colonies  ;  and  that 
he  will  not  depart  from,  or  go  out  of  such  part  of  the  said 
County  of  Suffolk,  without  permission  of  the  Continental 
Congress,  or  of  this  or  some  future  Provincial  Congress, 
until  the  present  unhappy  controversy  between  Great 
Britain  and  the  Colonies  shall  be  determined. 

Captain  Patrick  Sinclair  declared  on  his  honour,  that 
he  will  not  take  any  part  in  the  present  controversy  be- 
tween Great  Britain  and  the  Colonies,  and  that  he  will 
not  depart  the  limits  above  mentioned,  without  such  per- 
mission as  above  mentioned. 

Ordered,  That  the  consideration  of  the  state  of  the  Mili- 
tia of  the  Colony,  be  postponed  until  Monday  next. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  Philip  Cortland t  have  leave  to 
borrow  as  much  money  on  the  credit  of  this  Congress,  (and 
give  his  obligation  for  the  same,)  as  will  enable  him  to  pay 
two  Companies  of  the  men  enlisted  in  the  Fourth  Regi- 
ment, until  the  first  day  of  August  next. 

The  Congress  adjourned  to  nine  o'clock,  to-morrow 
morning. 

Die  Veneris,  9  ho.  A.  M.,  August  4,  1775. 
The  Congress  met  pursuant  to  adjournment.  Opened 
with  prayer  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Botvden. 

Mr.  Harper, of  Harpersjield,  near  CherryValley,  having 
represented  the  defenceless  state  of  that  part  of  the  County 
of  Tryon,  for  want  of  a  small  quantity  of  Gunpowder,  and 
requested  that  he  may  be  permitted  to  purchase  one  hun- 
dred weight  of  Powder  at  the  Powder-Mill  of  the  Honour- 
able Robert  R.  Livingston,  Esq.,  on  his  paying  the  money 
for  the  same, 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Harper  have  leave  to  purchase  one 
hundred  weight  of  Gunpowder  accordingly,  for  the  use  of 
the  inhabitants  of  that  part  of  Tryon  County ;  and  the 
gentleman  who  has  direction  of  the  said  Powder-Mill  is 
requested  to  sell  one  hundred  weight  of  Gunpowder  to  the 
said  Mr.  Harper,  on  his  paying  the  cash  for  the  same. 

Mr.  Walton  came  into  Congress,  and  informed  the  Con- 
gress that  Captain  Patrick  Sinclair  alleges,  that  Lord 
Dartmouth's  card  does  not  warrant  the  inserting  the  words 
"  of  Indian  Affairs"  in  the  state  of  his  appointment  as  it 
stands  on  the  Minutes  of  this  Congress ;  and  the  same  being 
compared  with  the  copy  of  Lord  Dartmouth's  card,  as  it 
appears  in  the  Letter  of  Sir  Charles  Thompson  to  Captain 
Sinclair,  is  found  not  to  be  warranted  thereby, 

Ordered ,  therefore,  That  the  words  "of  Indian  Affairs," 
be  struck  out  of  the  Minutes  in  the  recital  of  his  appoint- 
ment, and  also  in  the  certified  copies  thereof,  and  that  the 
said  certified  copies  be  redelivered  to  Mr.  Walton. 

Mr.  Walton  soon  after  came  into  Congress,  and  informed 
that  he  had  shown  the  amended  copy  of  the  Minutes  to 
Captain  Patrick  Sinclair,  and  informed  him  that  the  Mi- 
nutes were  amended  accordingly.  That  Captain  Sinclair 
declared  that  he  could  not  consent  to  the  general  tenour  of 
that  part  of  the  Minutes  concerning  him  which  related  to 
Indian  Affairs,  and  could  not  sign  it,  and  that  the  Congress 
may  do  as  they  please  with  him. 

Mr.  Walton  being  asked  whether  he  had  desired  Cap- 
tain Sinclair  to  sign  one  of  those  copies,  declared  on  his 
honour  that  he  had  not  asked  or  desired  him  to  sign  it. 

Thereupon,  Ordered,  That  Colonel  McDougall  send  a 
Guard  to  take  the  said  Patrick  Sinclair  into  custody. 

Captain  Patrick  Sinclair  being  taken  into  custody,  and 
brought  into  Congress,  declared  he  never  had  solicited  to 
be  Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs. 


Ordered,  That  he  withdraw  unto  the  next  room,  and 
remain  there  under  guard. 

Mr.  Sears  (seconded  by  Mr.  Beekman)  moved  in  the 
words  following,  to  wit:  That  the  Order  of  yesterday  for 
sending  Captain  Sinclair  to  Suffolk,  be  reconsidered. 

The  same  being  agreed  to  nemine  con., 

Ordered,  That  the  said  Order  of  yesterday  for  sending 
Captain  Sinclair  to  Suffolk  County,  be  reconsidered. 

Mr.  Sears  then  moved  and  was  seconded,  that  the  Order 
of  yesterday  relating  to  Capt.  Patrick  Sinclair,  be  amend- 
ed, by  obliterating  therein  the  words  "  any  part  of  Suffolk 
County,  on  Nassau  Island,"  and  inserting  instead  thereof  the 
words  "Hartford,  in  Connecticut ;"  and  debates  arising 
thereon,  it  was  carried  against  the  amendment  in  the  man- 
ner following,  to  wit : 


For  the  Amendment. 
2  Dutchess, 
2  Ulster, 
2  Orange, 
2  Suffolk, 
2  Tryon, 
2  Charlotte. 

12 


Against  the  Amendment. 

3  Albany, 
2  King's. 

2  Richmond, 

4  New.York, 
2  Queen's. 

13 


Dissentients  from  the  vote  of  Neic-York :  Messrs.  Sears, 
Beekman,  Hallett,  Smith,  Scott,  and  McDougall. 

Ordered,  therefore,  That  the  proposed  Amendment  be 
rejected. 

Captain  Patrick  Sinclair,  at  his  request,  being  then  ad- 
mitted into  Congress,  alleged  that  he  had  misapprehended 
part  of  the  order  of  this  Congress  of  yesterday;  and  having 
received  a  certified  copy  thereof,  and  perused  and  exam- 
ined the  same,  he,  on  his  honour,  in  publick  Congress, 
declared  that  he  would  comply  with  and  strictly  obey  the 
injunctions  therein  contained. 

A  Letter  from  Philip  Livingston  and  George  Clinton, 
Esquires,  was  read  and  filed,  and  is  in  the  words  following, 
to  w  it  : 

"Philadelphia,  August 2,  1775. 
"  Sir  :  We  received  your  letter  by  express  this  morning, 
in  answer  to  which  we  beg  leave  to  inform  you  that  we 
have  obtained  an  order  of  Congress  on  the  Continental 
Treasury,  in  your  favour,  for  one  hundred  and  seventy-five 
thousand  Dollars  ;  but  as  there  is  not  yet  a  sufficient  num- 
ber of  the  bills  signed  to  answer  the  most  pressing  occasions, 
we  imagine  your  draft  cannot  be  answered  before  the  latter 
end  of  the  next  week.  We  have,  however,  been  able  to 
borrow  about  eight  thousand  Pounds  for  you,  which  we  will 
bring  with  us,  expecting  to  set  out  for  Neiv-York  this 
afternoon,  the  Congress  having  adjourned  this  morning  till 
the  5th  of  September  next. 

"  We  are,  Sir,  your  most  obedient  servants, 

"  Phil.  Livingston, 
"  Geohoe  Clinton. 
"  To  Peter  Van  Brugh  Livingston,  Esq." 

A  Letter  from  John  Hulbert,  of  the  27th  ultimo,  was 
read  and  filed,  and  is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 

"  Southampton,  July  27,  1775. 

"  Gentlemen  :  I  wrote  to  you  the  20th  inst.,  informing 
you  that  I  had  enlisted  forty-nine  men.  I  would  now  ac- 
quaint you  that  I  have  added  to  that  number,  so  that  this 
day  sixty-eight  have  passed  muster.  In  a  day  or  two  I 
hope  to  make  return  of  the  whole.  1  am,  Gentlemen,  your 
humble  servant,  John  Hulbert. 

"  To  the  Provincial  Congress  at  New-York." 

A  Letter  from  Abraham  Yates,  Jun.,  Esq.,  Chairman 
of  the  Committee  of  Albany,  relative  to  George  Sullivan, 
and  covering  a  copy  of  a  letter  from  General  Wooster  to 
Colonel  Waterbury,  relating  to  the  same  person,  was  read 
and  filed.  The  copy  of  General  Woostcr's  letter  was  also 
read  and  filed. 

Whereas,  those  Counties  which  are  now  represented  in 
this  Congress  by  a  majority  of  the  Delegates  sent  hither  for 
that  purpose,  may  be  deprived  of  their  weight  of  representa- 
tion, by  the  absence  of  Members  upon  the  publick  service  : 

Resolved,  therefore,  That  all  Members  who  are  absent 
by  the  order  of  this  House,  or  of  the  Continental  Congress, 
shall  be  counted  with  those  who  actually  appear,  and  when 
a  majority  shall  appear  upon  such  counting,  then  those 
Members  actually  present  shall  give  their  vote  for  the  said 
County,  as  if  a  real  majority  were  personally  at  this  Board. 


1817 


NEW-YORK  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS,  AUGUST,  1775. 


1818 


Mr.  John  De  Lancey  having  insulted  Mr.  Scott,  a  Mem- 
ber in  tli is  House,  while  the  Congress  was  sitting,  by  calling 
him  a  scoundrel,  and  attempting  to  run  his  fist  in  his  face, 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  John  De  Lancey  be  reprimanded  by 
the  President  for  his  conduct,  and  that  he  ask  the  pardon  of 
this  Congress  for  his  offence. 

Mr.  Low  then  moved,  and  was  seconded  by  Mr.  Foster, 
that  the  Congress  also  make  and  enter  on  their  Minutes  an 
Order,  in  the  words  following,  to  wit :  "  Ordered,  that  they 
be  enjoined  to  let  the  dispute  stop  here,  and  that  they  pro- 
ceed no  farther  in  it." 

And  debates  arising  thereon,  and  the  question  being  put, 
Whether  the  House  will  agree  to  such  Order?  it  was  carried 
in  the  affirmative,  in  the  manner  following,  to  wit: 

For  the  Affirmative.  For  the  Negative. 

2  Dutchess,         2  Tryon,  2  Westchester, 

3  Albany,           2  Charlotte,  2  Orange. 
2  King's,            2  Suffolk,  — 

2  Richmond,       2  Ulster,  4 
2  Queen's,  4  New-York. 

23 

Messrs.  Sears,  Smith,  and  Beekman,  dissent  from  the 
vote  of  Sew-  York. 

Ordered,  therefore,  That  Mr.  Scott  and  Mr.  De  Lancey 
be  enjoined  to  let  the  dispute  stop  here,  and  that  they  pro- 
ceed no  further  in  it. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Scott  and  Mr.  De  Lancey  be  each 
of  them  served  with  a  certified  copy  of  the  said  Orders  by 
one  of  the  Secretaries. 

Ordered,  That  Captain  John  Lamb  be  authorized  to 
get  the  Clothes  of  his  Company  from  Mr.  Peter  T.  Curte- 
nius,  when  they  are  made. 

A  Certificate  of  Doctor  John  Jones  and  Doctor  Bard, 
bearing  date  on  this  day,  was  read  and  filed.  Those  gen- 
tlemen thereby  certify,  that  they  have  examined  Doctor 
Ebtnezer  Haviland,  respecting  his  knowledge  in  Physick 
and  Surgery,  and  that  they  find  him  very  competently 
qualified  to  act  as  Surgeon  of  a  Regiment. 

Agreed  and  Ordered,  That  the  said  Ebenezer  Haviland 
be  appointed  Surgeon  to  the  Fourth  Regiment  of  the 
Troops  raised  in  this  Colony. 

Ordered,  That  the  consideration  of  the  Resolutions 
moved  by  Mr.  Low  on  IVednesday,  the  2d  instant,  with 
respect  to  the  insult  offered  to  this  Congress,  by  destroying 
the  Boat  ordered  to  be  built  for  the  use  of  His  Majesty's 
Ship  Asia,  and  which  was  appointed  for  this  day,  be  taken 
into  consideration  to-morrow  morning. 

Die  Sabbati,  9  ho.  A.  M.,  August  5,  1775. 

The  Congress  met  pursuant  to  adjournment,  without 
prayers.    Present  : 

Peter  V.  B.  Livingston,  Esq.,  President,  Sec. 

A  Letter  from  Dirck  G.  Brinckerhoff,  Chairman  of  the 
Committee  of  Rombouts  Precinct,  in  Dutchess  County, 
requesting  longer  time  to  get  the  Association  signed,  was 
read  and  filed. 

Ordered,  That  Gilbert  Livingston,  Esq.,  write  a  private 
Letter  to  the  Committee,  informing  them  that  the  Congress 
agrees  to  their  request. 

Mr.  Low  moved,  and  was  seconded  by  Mr.  Henry  Wil- 
liams,  in  the  words  following,  to  wit :  I  move  that  a  Com- 
mittee be  appointed  to  consider  of  and  report,  as  soon  as 
possible,  the  ways  and  means  best  adapted  to  discharge  the 
Debts  already  contracted,  and  which  hereafter  may  be  con- 
tracted by  this  Congress  for  the  exigences  of  this  Colony 
in  its  present  critical  and  alarming  situation. 

The  same  being  unanimously  agreed  to,  the  following 
gentlemen  were  appointed  a  Committee  for  that  purpose, 
to  wit:  Mr.  Robert  Yates,  Mr.  Tapjpen,  Captain  Piatt, 
Mr.  Gouverneur  Morris,  Mr.  Lefferts,  Mr.  Low,  Mr.  Ver- 
flanck,  Mr.  Thomas  Smith,  Mr.  L'  Hommedieu,  Mr.  Jack- 
son, Mr.  French,  Mr.  Micheau,  Mr.  Marlett,  and  Mr. 
Watkins;  and 

Ordered,  That  the  said  Committee  report  with  all  con- 
venient speed. 

Mr.  John  Foster  informed  the  Congress  that  the  Com- 
mittees of  the  several  Towns  in  Suffolk  County  have  re- 
solved not  to  permit  any  Cattle  or  Live-Stock  to  be  shipped 
off  from  Suffolk  County.   And  further  informed  the  Con- 


gress, that  if  he  may  be  permitted  to  send  a  cargo  of  Live- 
stock to  the  West-Indies,  he  does  engage  to  bring  back  in 
return  Military  Stores,  for  the  benefit  of  this  Colony,  if  the 
same  can  be  obtained  at  the  Port  or  Ports  to  which  the 
vessel  shall  touch,  and  give  the  first  offer  of  the  sale  thereof 
to  this  Provincial  Congress,  or  such  other  Provincial  Con- 
gress of  this  Colony  as  shall  then  be  sitting. 

Mr.  Foster's  proposal  being  agreed  to  by  the  Congress, 
Ordered,  That  Mr.  Foster  be  permitted  to  ship  a  cargo 
of  Live-Stock  to  the  West- Indies,  that  he  may  be  thereby 
enabled  to  procure  Military  Stores. 

Resolved,  That  the  Troops  enlisted  by  this  Colony  shall 
be  allowed  fifty-three  Shillings  and  four  Pence  per  month, 
in  such  manner  as  the  Troops  of  Connecticut  and  Massa- 
chusetts-Bay  receive  their  pay;  that  they  be  allowed  one 
Blanket  and  one  Regimental  Coat ;  that  they  be  allowed 
ten  Shillings  for  the  use  of  their  Arms  ;  and  that  those  who 
have  no  Arms  shall  have  Arms  purchased  for  them  by  the 
Colony,  and  that  such  Arms  shall  be  returned  at  the  end 
of  the  campaign,  in  good  order,  and  if  not  returned,  shall 
be  paid  for  by  such  Soldiers  as  shall  be  in  default  on  that 
account. 

The  President  produced  a  Warrant  of  the  Continental 
Congress,  bearing  date  on  the  1st  day  of  August  instant, 
for  the  payment  of  One  Hundred  and  Seventy-Five  Thou- 
sad  Dollars  to  this  Congress  ;  which  was  read,  and  is  in  the 
words  following,  to  wit : 

"In  Congress,  August  1,  1775. 

"  Resolved,  That  a  sum  not  exceeding  One  Hundred 
and  Seventy-Five  Thousand  Dollars  be  paid  to  the  Pro- 
vincial Convention  of  New- York,  to  be  applied  towards 
the  discharge  of  the  Moneys  advanced,  and  the  Debts  con- 
tracted for  the  publick  service  by  the  said  Provincial  Con- 
vention and  the  Committee  of  Albany,  in  pursuance  of  the 
directions  of  this  Congress.  And  that  the  said  Provincial 
Convention  account  to  this  Congress  at  their  next  meeting 
for  the  application  of  the  said  Money. 

"  John  Hancock,  President." 

The  Order  of  the  Day  being  read,  the  Congress  resumed 
the  consideration  of  the  Resolutions  moved  for  by  Mr.  Low 
on  the  2d  instant.  The  same  were  read ;  and  being  again 
read  paragraph  by  paragraph,  on  reading  the  second  Re- 
solution, to  wit,  the  last  paragraph,  Mr.  McDougall  moved 
that  the  word  base  be  obliterated,  and  the  word  insolent 
inserted  in  its  stead. 

And  the  same  being  unanimously  agreed  to, 

Ordered,  That  the  said  Amendment  be  made. 

The  last  paragraph  being  read,  Mr.  McDougall  then 
moved  that  the  words  "  and  enemies  to  their  Country"  be 
obliterated. 

And  debates  arising  thereon,  and  the  question  being  put, 
it  was  carried  in  the  affirmative  in  the  manner  following, 
to  wit : 


For  the  Affirmative. 

2  Ulster, 
2  Dutchess, 

2  Crange, 

3  Albany, 

2  Westchester,  (Morris  dissenting,) 

4  New. York,  (Mnrston  and  Low  dis. 

senting,) 

2  Tryon, 
2  Suffolk. 


19 


For  the  Negative. 
2  Richmond. 


King's  County  equally  divided;  Queen's  County  has 
not  a  quorum  ;  Charlotte  County  did  not  vote. 

Ordered,  therefore,  That  the  words  "  and  enemies  to  their 
Country,"  be  obliterated. 

Mr.  Gilbert  Livingston  then  moved,  and  was  seconded 
by  Mr.  Melancton  Smith,  that  the  said  motion  and  Reso- 
lutions be  wholly  rejected. 

And  the  question  being  put  thereon,  it  passed  in  the 
negative  in  manner  following,  to  wit : 

For  the  Resolutions.  Against  the  Resolutions. 

2  King's,  2  Suffolk, 
4  New.York,  2  Orange, 

3  Albany,  2  Ulster, 
2  Westchester,  (Morris  dissenting,)  2  Tryon. 
2  Charlotte,  — 

2  Richmond.  8 

15 


1819 


CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS,  MAY  11,  1775. 


1820 


Resolved  and  Ordered,  therefore,  That  the  said  Reso- 
lutions, with  their  preambulary  recitals  or  introductions,  as 
amended  and  agreed  to,  be  entered  on  the  Journals  as  part 
of  the  proceedings  of  this  Congress  ;  and  that  the  same  be 
published  in  the  Newspapers ;  which  said  Resolutions,  as 
amended,  with  their  recitals,  are  in  the  words  follow- 
ing, viz : 

Whereas,  it  appeared  to  the  Committee  of  Safety,  ap- 
pointed by  this  Congress  during  their  late  recess,  that  a 
Barge  belonging  to  His  Majesty's  Ship  Asia,  was,  without 
any  provocation,  attacked,  and  most  wantonly  destroyed  : 
And  whereas,  the  Corporation  of  the  City  had,  under  the 
sanction  of  the  said  Committee,  ordered  another  Barge  to 
be  built,  in  order  to  replace  the  Barge  so  destroyed  as 
aforesaid :  And  whereas,  this  Congress  had  approved  of 
that  and  the  other  conduct  of  their  said  Committee,  and 
voted  them  their  thanks  for  their  faithful  services :  And 
whereas,  notwithstanding,  some  disorderly  and  evil-disposed 
persons  did,  in  the  night,  destroy  and  render  useless  said 
Barge,  so  ordered  to  be  built  as  aforesaid,  by  sawing  it  in 
pieces :  And  whereas,  the  Corporation  have  since  formally 
applied  to  this  Congress  for  their  directions  in  the  pre- 
mises : 

Resolved,  That  the  perpetrators  of  the  said  act  are 
guilty  of  a  high  offence  and  insult  against  this  Congress, 
and  the  Colony  they  represent,  as  endeavouring  to  contra- 
vene the  true  intent  and  meaning  of  their  appointment. 
That  they  are  insolent  violators  of  the  Association  sub- 
scribed by  this  Congress,  and  by  them  recommended  to 
the  adoption  of  their  constituents. 

In  order,  therefore,  that  the  sense  of  this  Congress  may 
be  fully  known  relative  to  such  outrageous  acts, 

Ordered,  That  this  Resolution  be  immediately  made 


publick,  not  doubting  but  that  the  good  inhabitants  of  this 
Colony  will  duly  assist  and  support  this  Congress  in  de- 
tecting, convicting,  and  bringing  to  condign  punishment  all 
such  factious  offenders,  as  disturbers  of  the  publick  peace. 

Ordered,  That  the  Committee  of  the  City  of  New* 
York  be  requested  to  send  for  any  such  persons  to  appear 
before  them  as  they  shall  think  proper  to  examine ;  and 
that  they  take  examinations  and  every  other  such  measure 
as  they  shall  devise  or  think  proper,  to  discover  the  per- 
sons who  sawed  and  destroyed  the  Boat  lately  ordered  to 
be  built  for  the  use  of  His  Majesty's  Ship  Asia ;  and  that 
they  report  their  proceedings  and  discoveries  therein  to 
this  Congress,  with  all  convenient  speed. 

Three  of  the  Delegates  of  this  Colony  in  Continental 
Congress  informed  this  Congress  that  they  have  received 
a  sum  of  Money  from  a  particular  friend,  which  they  will 
lend  to  this  Congress  for  a  few  days,  on  receiving  security 
for  the  same. 

Ordered,  That  Peter  Van  Brugh  Livingston,  Esquire, 
the  President  of  this  Congress,  receive  from  the  said  Dele- 
gates such  sum  as  they  can  lend,  and  give  his  note  or  obli- 
gation for  the  same  ;  and 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Livingston  pay  Four  Thousand 
Pounds  of  that  money  to  the  Colonels  of  the  respective 
Regiments,  or  for  their  use,  in  such  proportion  as  he  shall 
think  expedient ;  and  that  he  pay  the  residue  thereof  to 
Mr.  Joseph  HaUett. 

Ordered,  That  one  of  the  Secretaries  write  a  Letter  to 
Charles  Thomson,  Esquire,  Secretary  of  the  Continental 
Congress,  requesting  of  him  a  certified  copy  of  the  rates  of 
the  pay  of  the  Troops  in  the  Continental  Army,  from  a 
Colonel  downwards. 


CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS. 

Philadelphia,  Wednesday,  May  10,  1775. 

A  number  of  Delegates  from  the  Colonies  of  Neiv- 
Hampshire,  Massachusetts,  Connecticut,  New-York,  New- 
Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  Delaware,  Maryland,  Virginia, 
North- Carolina,  and  South- Carolina,  agreeable  to  their 
appointment,  and  the  orders  received  from  their  respective 
Colonies,  met  at  Philadelphia,  viz: 

From  New-Hampshire. — Mr.  John  Sullivan,  Mr.  John 
Langdon. 

From  Massachusetts-Bay. — Messrs.  John  Hancock, 
Thomas  Cushing,  Samuel  Adams,  John  Adams,  Robert 
Treat  Paine. 

From  Connecticut. — Mr.  Eliphalet  Dyer,  Mr.  Roger 
Sherman,  Mr.  Silas  Deane. 

From  New- York. — Mr.  Philip  Livingston,  Mr.  James 
Duane,  Mr.  John  Alsop. 

From  New-Jersey. — Mr.  James  Kinsey,  Mr.  Stephen 
Crane,  Mr.  William  Livingston,  Mr.  John  De  Hart, 
Mr.  Richard  Smith. 

From  Pennsylvania. — Mr.  Edward  Riddle,  Mr.  John 
Dickinson,  Mr.  Thomas  Mifflin,  Mr.  Charles  Hum- 
phreys, Mr.  John  Morton,  Mr.  George  Ross,  Mr.  Ben- 
jamin Franklin,  Mr.  Thomas  Willing, 

From  Delaware  Counties. — Mr.  Casar  Rodney,  Mr. 
Thomas  McKean,  Mr.  George  Read. 

From  Maryland. — Mr.  Matthew  Tilghman,  Mr.  Thomas 
Johnson,  Mr.  William  Paca,  Mr.  Samuel  Chase,  Mr. 
John  Hall. 

From  Virginia. — Mr.  Peyton  Randolph,  Mr.  George 
Washington,  Mr.  Richard  Henry  Lee,  Mr.  Edmund 
Pendleton,  Mr.  Benjamin  Harrison,  Mr.  Richard 
Bland. 

From  North-Carolina. — .Mr.  William  Hooper,  Mr.  Jo- 
seph Hewes,  Mr.  Richard  Caswell. 

From  South-Carolina. — Mr.  Henry  Middleton,  Mr. 
Thomas  Lynch,  Mr.  Christopher  Gadsden,  Mr.  John 
Rutledge,  Mr.  Edward  Rutledge. 

Being  convened  in  the  State-House,  proceeded  to  the 
choice  of  a  President;  when, 

Upon  motion,  The  Honourable  Peyton  Randolph  was 
unanimously  chosen  President. 

After  the  President  was  seated, 

Mr.  Charles  Thomson  was  unanimously  chosen  Secretary. 


Andrew  McNeare  was  also  chosen  Doorkeeper,  and 
William  Shed  Messenger. 

Ordered,  That  the  Rev.  Mr.  Duche  be  requested  to 
open  the  Congress  with  prayers  to-morrow  morning ;  and 
that  Mr.  Willing,  Mr.  Sullivan,  and  Mr.  Bland,  be  a 
Committee  to  wait  on  Mr.  Duche,  and  acquaint  him  with 
the  request  of  the  Congress. 

Adjourned  till  to-morrow  morning,  at  eleven  o'clock. 

Thursday,  May  11,  1775,  A.  M. 

Agreeable  to  the  order  of  yesterday,  the  Congress  was 
opened  with  prayers  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Duche.  After 
prayers,  the  Congress,  according  to  adjournment,  proceed- 
ed to  business. 

The  Delegates  from  the  several  Colonies  produced  their 
Credentials,  which  were  read,  and  approved,  as  follow : 

For  the  Province  of  New-Hampshire. 

At  the  Convention  of  Deputies,  appointed  by  the  seve- 
ral Towns  in  the  Province  aforesaid,  held  at  Exeter,  on  the 
twenty-fifth  day  of  January,  1775 : 

The  Hon.  John  Wentworth,  Esq.,  in  the  Chair. 

Voted,  That  John  Sullivan  and  John  Langdon,  Esqrs., 
be  delegated  to  represent  this  Province  in  the  Continental 
Congress  proposed  to  be  held  at  Philadelphia,  on  the 
tenth  day  of  May  next,  and  that  they  and  each  of  them, 
in  the  absence  of  the  other,  have  full  and  ample  power,  in 
behalf  of  this  Province,  to  consent  and  agree  to  all  mea- 
sures which  said  Congress  shall  deem  necessary,  to  obtain 
redress  of  American  grievances. 

True  copy  attested : 

Meshech  Weare,  Clerk  to  the  Convention. 

For  the  Province  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay. 

In  Provincial  Congress,  Cambridge,  Dec.  5,  1774. 
Resolved,  That  the  Proceedings  of  the  American  Con- 
tinental Congress,  held  at  Philadelphia,  on  the  fifth  day 
of  September  last,  and  reported  by  the  honourable  Dele- 
gates from  this  Colony,  have,  with  the  deliberation  due  to 
their  high  importance,  been  considered  by  us ;  and  the  Ame- 
rican Bill  of  Rights,  therein  contained,  appears  to  be  formed 
with  the  greatest  ability  and  judgment,  to  be  founded  on 
the  immutable  laws  of  nature  and  reason,  the  principles  of 
the  English  Constitution,  and  the  respective  Charters  and 


1821 


CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS,  MAY  11,  1775. 


1822 


Constitutions  of  the  Colonies,  and  to  be  worthy  of  their 
most  vigorous  support,  as  essentially  necessary  to  liberty; 
likewise  the  ruinous  and  iniquitous  measures,  which,  in 
violation  of  these  rights,  at  present  convulse  and  threaten 
destruction  to  America,  appear  to  be  clearly  pointed  out, 
and  judicious  plans  adopted  for  defeating  them. 

Resolved,  That  the  most  grateful  acknowledgments  are 
due  to  the  truly  honourable  and  patriotick  Members  of  the 
Continental  Congress,  for  their  wise  and  able  exertions  in 
the  cause  of  American  liberty;  and  this  Congress,  in  their 
own  names,  and  in  behalf  of  this  Colony,  do  hereby,  with 
the  utmost  sincerity,  express  the  same. 

Resolved,  That  the  Hon.  John  Hancock,  the  Hon. 
Thomas  Gushing,  Esquires,  Mr.  Samuel  Adams,  John 
Adams,  and  Robert  Treat  Paine,  Esquires,  or  any  three 
of  them,  be,  and  they  are  hereby  appointed  and  authorized 
to  represent  this  Colony,  on  the  tenth  of  May  next,  or 
sooner  if  necessary,  at  the  American  Congress,  to  be  held 
at  Philadelphia,  with  full  power,  with  the  Delegates  from 
the  other  American  Colonies,  to  concert,  agree  upon,  direct 
and  order  such  further  measures  as  shall  to  them  appear 
to  be  best  calculated  for  the  recovery  and  establishment  of 
American  rights  and  liberties,  and  for  restoring  harmony 
between  Great  Britain  and  the  Colonies. 

A  true  copy  of  record:         Benj.  Lincoln,  Secy. 

In  Provincial  Congress,  Cambridge,  Feb.  6,  1775. 

Resolved,  That  the  Hon.  John  Hancock,  the  Hon. 
Thomas  Cushing,  Esquires,  Mr.  Samuel  Adams,  John 
Adams,  and  Robert  Treat  Paine,  Esquires,  appointed  by 
the  last  Provincial  Congress  to  represent  this  Colony,  on 
the  tenth  of  May  next,  or  sooner  if  necessary,  at  the  Ame- 
rican Congress,  to  be  held  at  Philadelphia,  be,  and  they 
are  hereby  authorized  and  empowered,  with  the  Delegates 
from  the  other  American  Colonies,  to  adjourn  from  time  to 
time,  and  place  to  place,  as  shall  be  judged  necessary,  and 
to  continue  in  being,  as  Delegates  for  this  Colony,  until  the 
thirty-first  day  of  December  next  ensuing,  and  no  longer. 

A  true  copy  of  record:  Benj.  Lincoln,  Sec'y. 

For  Connecticut. 
In  the  House  of  Representatives  of  the  Colony  of  Con- 
necticut, November  3,  A.  D.  1774. 
This  House  proceeded  to  nominate,  choose,  and  appoint 
Delegates  to  attend  the  General  Congress,  to  be  hoiden  at 
Philadelphia,  on  the  tenth  day  of  May  next,  and  made 
choice  of  the  Hon.  Eliphalet  Dyer,  Hon.  Roger  Sherman, 
Silas  Deane,  *  Titus  Hosmer,  and  *  Jonathan  Slurgess, 
Esquires,  to  be  their  Delegates,  any  three  of  w  hom  are 
authorized  and  empowered  to  attend  said  Congress,  in  be- 
half of  this  Colony,  to  join,  consult,  and  advise  with  the 
Delegates  of  the  other  Colonies  in  British  America,  on 
proper  measures  for  advancing  the  best  good  of  the  Colo- 
nies. William  Williams,  Speaker. 

A  true  copy,  extracted  from  the  Journals  of  the  House. 
Attested  :  Richard  Law,  Clerk. 

For  New- York. 

At  a  Provincial  Convention,  formed  of  Deputies  from 
the  City  and  County  of  New-York,  the  City  and  County 
of  Albany,  and  the  Counties  of  Dutchess,  Ulster,  Orange, 
Westchester,  King's,  and  Suffolk,  held  at  the  City  of 
New-York,  the  twenty-second  day  of  April,  1775,  for  the 
purpose  of  appointing  Delegates  to  represent  the  Colony 
of  New-  York  in  the  next  Continental  Congress,  to  be  held 
at  Philadelphia,  on  the  tenth  of  May  next,  Philip  Liv- 
ingston, James  Duane,  John  Alsop,  *John  Jay,  Simon 
Boerum,  William  Floyd,  *Henry  Wisner,  *Philip  Schuy- 
ler, *George  Clinton,  Lewis  Morris,  *Francis  Leivis,  and 
*Robert  R.  Livingston,  Jun.,  Esquires,  were  unanimously 
elected  Delegates  to  represent  this  Colony  at  such  Con- 
gress, with  full  power  to  them,  or  any  five  of  them,  to  meet 
the  Delegates  from  the  other  Colonies,  and  to  concert  and 
determine  upon  such  measures  as  shall  be  judged  most 
effectual  for  the  preservation  and  re-establishment  of  Ame- 
rican rights  and  privileges,  and  for  the  restoration  of  har- 
mony between  Great  Britain  and  the  Colonies. 

Signed,  Leonard  Lispenard,  Isaac  Roosevelt,  Abraham 
Walton,  Alexander  McDougall,  and  twenty-four  others. 

Note. — All  the  Members  attended  except  those  marked  thus  * 


We,  the  subscribers,  do,  in  behalf  of  ourselves  and 
those  freeholders  of  Queen's  County,  at  whose  request  we 
attended  the  Convention,  signify  our  assent  to,  and  appro- 
bation of,  the  above  Delegation. 

Signed,  John  Fulman,  Zebulon  Williams,  Jacob  Black- 
well,  Joseph  Robinson. 

For  New-Jersey. 
In  Assembly,  Perth-Amboy,  Tuesday,  Jan.  24,  1775. 

Resolved,  unanimously,  That  James  Kinsey,  Stephen 
Crane,  William  Livingston,  John  De  Hart,  and  Richard 
Smith,  Esquires,  or  any  three  of  them,  be,  and  they  are 
hereby  appointed  to  attend  the  Continental  Congress  of 
the  Colonies,  intended  to  be  held  at  the  City  of  Philadel- 
phia, in  May  next,  or  at  any  other  time  and  place ;  and 
that  they  report  their  proceedings  to  the  next  session  of 
General  Assembly. 

A  true  copy  from  the  Journals. 

Richard  Smith,  Clerk  of  the  Assembly. 

For  Pennsylvania. 
In  Assembly,  December  15,  1774,  A.  M. 
Upon  motion, 

Resolved,  nemine  contradicente,  That  the  Hon.  Edward 
Biddle,  John  Dickinson,  Thomas  Mifflin,  Charles  Hum- 
phreys, John  Morton,  and  George  Ross,  Esquires,  be,  and 
they  are  hereby  appointed  Deputies  on  the  part  of  this 
Province  to  attend  the  General  Congress,  proposed  to  be 
held  at  the  City  of  Philadelphia,  on  the  tenth  day  of  May 
next;  and  that  they,  or  any  four  of  them,  do  meet  the 
said  Congress  accordingly,  unless  the  present  grievances 
of  the  American  Colonies  shall  before  that  time  be  re- 
dressed. 

Extract  from  the  Journals : 

Charles  Moore,  Clerk  of  the  Assembly. 

In  Assembly,  May  6,  1775,  A.  M. 

Resolved,  nemine  contradicente,  That  Benjamin  Frank- 
lin, the  Hon.  Thomas  Willing,  and  *James  Wilson,  Esq., 
be,  and  they  are  hereby  added  to  the  Deputies  appointed 
by  this  House  to  attend  the  Continental  Congress,  expect- 
ed to  meet  the  tenth  instant,  in  this  City. 

Extract  from  the  Journals : 

Charles  Moore,  Clerk  of  the  Assembly. 

For  the  Lower  Counties  on  Delaware. 
Li  Assembly,  Thursday,  March  16,  1775,  A.  M. 
On  motion, 

Resolved,  nemine  contradicente,  That  the  Hon.  Ccesar 
Rodney,  Thomas  McKcan,  and  George  Read,  Esquires, 
be,  and  they  are  hereby  appointed  and  authorized  to  repre- 
sent this  Government  at  the  American  Congress,  proposed 
to  be  held  at  the  City  of  Philadelphia,  on  the  tenth  day 
of  May  next,  or  at  any  other  time  or  place,  with  full  pow  er 
to  them,  or  any  two  of  them,  together  with  the  Delegates 
from  the  other  American  Colonies,  to  concert  and  agree 
upon  such  farther  measures  as  shall  appear  to  them  best 
calculated  for  the  accommodation  of  the  unhappy  differ- 
ences between  Great  Britain  and  the  Colonies,  on  a  con- 
stitutional foundation,  which  the  House  most  ardently  wish 
for,  and  that  they  report  their  proceedings  to  the  next  ses- 
sions of  Genera]  Assembly. 

True  copy  of  Minutes  of  Assembly: 

David  Thomson,  Clerk  to  the  Assembly. 

For  Maryland. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Deputies  appointed  by  the  several 
Counties  of  the  Province  of  Maryland,  at  the  City  of  An- 
napolis, by  adjournment,  on  the  eighth  of  December,  1774, 
and  continued  till  the  twelfth  day  of  the  same  month  ; 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  the  Honourable  Matthew 
Tilghman,  Thomas  Johnson,  Jun.,* Robert  Goldsborough, 
William  Paca,  Samuel  Chase,  John  Hall,  and  *Thomas 
Stone,  Esquires,  or  any  three  or  more  of  them,  be  Dele- 
gates to  represent  this  Province  in  the  next  Continental 
Congress,  and  that  they,  or  any  three  or  more  of  them, 
have  full  and  ample  power  to  consent  and  agree  to  all 
measures  which  such  Congress  shall  deem  necessary  and 


1823 


CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS,  MAY  11,  1775. 


1824 


effectual  to  obtain  a  redress  of  American  grievances ;  and 
this  Province  bind  themselves  to  execute,  to  the  utmost  of 
their  power,  all  resolutions  which  the  said  Congress  mar 
adopt.  And  further,  if  the  said  Congress  shall  think  neces- 
sary to  adjourn,  we  do  authorize  our  said  Delegates  to  rep- 
resent and  act  for  this  Province  in  any  one  Congress,  to  be 
held  by  virtue  of  such  adjournment. 

Signed  by  order,  John  Ducket,  Clerk. 

For  Virginia. 
At  a  Convention  of  Delegates  for  the  Counties  and  Cor- 
porations in  the  Colony  of  Virginia,  at  the  Town  of  Rich- 
mond, in  the  County  of  Henrico,  on  Monday,  the  twentieth 
of  March,  1775: 

The  Convention  proceeded  to  the  election  of  Delegates 
by  ballot,  to  represent  this  Colony  in  General  Congress,  to 
be  held  at  the  City  of  Philadelphia  on  the  tenth  day  of 
May  next,  when  the  Hon.  Peyton  Randolph,  George 
Washington,  *Patrick  Henry,  Richard  Henry  Lee,  Ed- 
mund Pendleton,  Benjamin  Harrison,  and  Richard  Bland, 
Esquires,  were  chosen  for  that  purpose. 

Peyton  Randolph,  President. 

John  Tazewell,  Clerk  of  the  Convention. 

For  North-Carolina. 
At  a  general  meeting  of  Delegates  of  the  Inhabitants  of 
this  Province,  in  convention  at  Newbern,  the  fifth  day  of 
April,  1775: 

Present:  the  Honourable  John  Harvey,  Esq.,  Modera- 
tor, and  sixty-eight  members.    On  motion, 

Resolved,  That  William  Hooper,  Joseph  Hemes,  and 
Richard  Caswell,  Esquires,  be,  and  they  are  hereby  ap- 
pointed Delegates  to  attend  the  General  Congress,  to  be 
held  at  Philadelphia  on  the  tenth  day  of  May  next,  or  at 
any  other  time  and  place  that  shall  be  appointed  for  that 
purpose;  and  they  are  hereby  invested  with' such  powers  as 
may  make  any  acts  done  by  them,  or  any  of  them,  or  con- 
sent given  in  behalf  of  this  Province,  obligatory,  in  honour, 
upon  every  inhabitant  thereof. 

A  true  copy  from  the  minutes : 

John  Harvey,  Moderator. 

Attested  by  Andrew  Knox,  Clerk. 

In  the  Assembly,  1th  of  April,  1775. 
Resolved,  That  the  House  do  highly  approve  of  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  Continental  Congress,  lately  held  at  Phi- 
ladelphia, and  that  they  are  determined,  as  members  of  the 
community  in  general,  that  they  will  strictly  adhere  to  the 
said  Resolutions,  and  will  use  what  influence  they  have  to 
induce  the  same  observance  in  every  individual  of  this  Pro- 
vince. 

This  House  having  received  information  that  William 
Hooper,  Joseph  Hemes,  and  Richard  Caswell,  Esquires, 
were  appointed  by  the  Convention,  held  at  Nembern,  as 
Delegates  to  attend  the  meeting  of  the  Continental  Con- 
gress, soon  to  be  held  at  Philadelphia  : 

Resolved,  That  the  House  approve  of  the  choice  made 
by  the  said  Convention. 

A  true  copy  from  the  Journal  of  the  House  of  Assembly: 
James  Green,  Jr.,  Clerk. 

For  South-Carolina. 

In  the  Commons  House  of  Assembly,  Friday,  Feb- 
ruary, 3,  1775. 

Whereas,  the  Continental  Congress,  held  at  the  City  of 
Philadelphia  in  September  last,  amongst  other  things,  re- 
commended to  the  several  Colonies  in  North-America  to 
choose  Deputies  as  soon  as  possible,  to  hold  another  Con- 
gress at  the  same  place,  on  the  tenth  day  of  May  next;  and 
this  House  being  fully  satisfied  with  the  conduct  and  fidelity 
of  their  late  Deputies  at  the  Congress,  do  hereby  nominate 
and  appoint  the  Honourable  Henry  Middleton,  Esquire, 
Thomas  Lynch,  Christopher  Gadsden,  John  Rutledge,  and 
Edmard  Rutledge,  Esquires,  Deputies  for  and  in  behalf  of 
this  Colony,  to  meet  the  Deputies  appointed,  or  to  be  ap- 
pointed on  the  part  and  behalf  of  the  other  Colonies,  at 
the  City  of  Philadelphia,  or  any  other  place  that  shall  be 
agreed  on  by  the  said  Deputies  in  General  Congress,  with 
full  power  and  authority  to  concert,  agree  to,  and  effectually 
prosecute  such  measures  as,  in  the  opinion  of  the  said  Depu- 


ties, and  the  Deputies  to  be  assembled,  shall  be  most  likely 
to  obtain  a  redress  of  American  grievances. 

Resolved,  That  the  Deputies  hereby  appointed  on  the 
part  and  behalf  of  this  Colony,  are  authorized  and  em- 
powered to  agree  that  the  Continental  Congress  may 
meet  at  any  luture  time,  and  at  such  place  as  shall  be 
agreed  on,  and  to  adjourn  from  time  to  time,  provided  it 
do  not  exceed  nine  months  from  the  dale  of  their  meeting 
in  May  next. 

Attested  :  Thomas  Farr,  Jr.,  Clerk. 

Extract  from  the  Journals  of  the  Provincial  Congress  oj 
South-Carolina,  published  by  order  of  the  Congress, 
the  llth  of  January,  1775. 

Resolved,  That  the  Honourable  Henry  Middleton,  Esq., 
Thomas  Lynch,  Christopher  Gadsden,  John  Rutledge,  and 
Edward  Rutledge,  Esquires,  or  any  three  of  them,  be,  and 
they  are  hereby  appointed  and  authorized  to  represent  this 
Colony  on  the  tenth  day  of  May  next,  or  sooner  if  neces- 
sary, at  the  American  Congress,  to  be  held  at  Philadelphia 
or  elsewhere,  with  full  power  to  concert,  agree  upon,  direct, 
and  order  such  further  measures  as,  in  the  opinion  of  the 
said  Deputies,  and  the  Delegates  of  the  other  American 
Colonies  to  be  assembled,  shall  appear  to  be  necessary  for 
the  recovery  and  establishment  of  American  rights  and 
liberties,  and  for  restoring  harmony  between  Great  Britain 
and  her  Colonies. 

Upon  motion,  Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  the  Con- 
gress be  given  to  the  Reverend  Mr.  Duche,  for  performing 
Divine  Service,  agreeable  to  the  desire  of  the  Congress,  and 
for  his  excellent  Prayer,  so  well  adapted  to  the  present 
occasion. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Bland,  Mr.  Willing,  and  Mr.  Sul- 
livan,  be  a  Committee  to  wait  upon  Mr.  Duche,  and  re- 
turn the  thanks  of  the  Congress  agreeable  to  the  above 
Resolution. 

Upon  motion, 

Resolved,  That  the  Doors  be  kept  shut  during  the  time 
of  business,  and  that  the  Members  consider  themselves 
under  the  strongest  obligations  of  honour  to  keep  the  Pro- 
ceedings secret,  until  the  majority  shall  direct  them  to  be 
made  publick. 

A  Circular  Letter  from  the  Agents,  William  Bollan,  B. 
Franklin,  and  Arthur  Lee,  Esquires,  directed  to  the 
Speakers  of  the  several  Assemblies,  with  sundry  papers 
therein  referred  to,  were  laid  before  the  Congress  and  read  ; 
the  Letter  is  as  follows : 

"  London,  February  5,  HTo. 

"Sir:  Our  last  letter  informed  you  that  the  King  had 
declared  his  intentions  of  laying  the  Petition  before  his  two 
Houses  of  Parliament.  It  has  accordingly  been  laid  before 
each  House,  but  undistinguished  among  a  variety  of  letters 
and  other  papers  from  America. 

"  A  motion  made  by  Lord  Chatham,  to  withdraw  the 
Troops  from  Boston,  as  the  first  step  towards  a  conciliating 
plan,  was  rejected  ;  and  the  Ministry  have  declared  in  both 
Houses  the  determination  to  enforce  obedience  to  all  the 
late  laws.  For  this  purpose,  we  understand,  that  three 
regiments  of  foot,  one  of  dragoons,  seven  hundred  marines, 
six  sloops  of  war,  and  two  frigates,  are  now  under  orders 
for  America. 

"  We  think  it  proper  to  inform  you,  that  your  cause  was 
well  defended  by  a  considerable  number  of  good  and  wise 
men  in  both  Houses  of  Parliament,  though  far  from  being 
a  majority ;  and  that  many  of  the  commercial  and  manu- 
facturing parts  of  the  nation,  concerned  in  the  American 
trade,  have  presented,  or,  as  we  understand,  are  preparing 
to  present,  petitions  to  Parliament,  declaring  their  great 
concern  for  the  present  unhappy  controversies  with  Ame- 
rica, and  praying  expressly,  or  in  effect,  for  healing  mea- 
sures, as  the  proper  means  of  preserving  their  commerce, 
now  greatly  suffering  or  endangered.  But  the  treatment 
the  petitions,  already  presented,  have  hitherto  received,  is 
such  as,  in  our  opinion,  can  afford  you  no  reliance  on  pre- 
sent relief  through  their  means. 

"  As  soon  as  we  learnt  that  the  petition  of  the  Congress 
was  before  the  House  of  Commons,  we  thought  it  our  duty 
to  support  it,  if  we  might  be  permitted  so  to  do,  as  there  was 
no  other  opportunity  for  the  numerous  inhabitants  of  the 
Colonies  to  be  heard  in  defence  of  their  rights:  accordingly 


1825 


CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS,  MAY  11,  1775. 


1826 


we  joined  in  a  petition  for  that  purpose.  Sir  George  Savile 
kindly  undertook  to  present  it;  but,  on  previously  opening 
the  purport  of  it,  as  the  order  is,  a  debate  arose  on  the  pro- 
priety of  receiving  it,  and  on  a  division,  it  was  rejected  by 
a  great  majority. 

"  The  following  extract  of  a  letter  from  General  Gage 
to  Lord  Dartmouth,  as  laid  before  Parliament,  we  think  it 
our  duty  to  transmit,  viz: 

"  'December  15,  1774. — Your  Lordship's  idea  of  disarm- 
ing certain  Provinces,  would  doubtless  be  consistent  with 
prudence  and  safety,  but  it  neither  is,  nor  has  been  prac- 
ticable, without  having  recourse  to  force,  and  being  masters 
of  the  Country.' 

"  It  was  thrown  out  in  debate  by  a  principal  member  of 
Administration,  that  it  would  be  proper  to  alter  the  Charters 
of  Connecticut  and  Rhode-Island. 

"  Enclosed,  we  send  you  a  copy  of  the  Resolutions  passed 
in  a  Committee  of  the  whole  House,  on  Thursday  last, 
which  are  to  be  reported  on  Monday.  It  it  said  that  these 
Resolutions  are  to  be  the  foundation  of  several  bills  to  be 
brought  in,  but  the  purport  of  those  bills  we  have  not  yet 
learnt  with  sufficient  certainty. 

"  We  send  you,  likewise,  a  copy  of  Lord  Chatham's 
first  motion  in  the  House  of  Lords,  and  of  his  plan  of  a  bill 
for  settling  the  troubles  between  Great  Britain  and  the 
Colonies  ;  both  of  which  were  rejected  on  the  first  reading. 

"  With  great  respect,  we  are,  Sir,  your  most  obedient 
humble  servants,  "  William  Bollan, 

(Signed)  "  Benjamin  Franklin, 

"  Arthur  Lee."* 

[*  PAPERS  ACCOMPANYING  THE  LETTER  OP  THE   AGENTS,   DATED  LONDON, 
FEBRUARY  5,  1775,  SUBMITTED  TO  CONGRESS  THIS  DAY.] 

Circular  Letter  from  the  Secretary  of  State  for  the  Colonies  to  the 
Governours  of  the  several  British  Colonies  in  America. 

Whitehall,  January  5,  1775. 

Sir:  Certain  persons  styling  themselves  Delegates  of  His  Majesty's 
Colonies  in  America,  having  presumed,  without  His  Majesty's  authori. 
ty  or  consent,  to  assemble  together  at  Philadelphia,  in  the  months  of 
September  and  October  last,  and  having  thought  fit,  among  other 
unwarrantable  proceedings,  to  resolve  that  it  will  be  necessary  that 
another  Congress  should  be  held  in  the  same  place,  on  the  10th  of 
May  next,  unless  redress  for  certain  pretended  grievances  be  obtained 
before  that  time,  and  to  recommend  that  all  the  Colonies  in  North  Ame- 
rica should  choose  Deputies  to  attend  such  Congress ;  I  am  com- 
manded by  the  King  to  signify  to  you  His  Majesty's  pleasure,  that  you 
do  use  your  utmost  endeavours  to  prevent  any  such  appointment  of 
Deputies  within  the  Colony  under  your  government ;  and  that  you  do 
exhort  all  persons  to  desist  from  such  unwarrantable  proceedings, 
which  cannot  but  be  highly  displeasing  to  the  King. 

I  am,  Sir,  &c.  Dartmouth. 
Lord  Chatham's  Motion,  January  20,  1775. 

That  an  humble  Address  be  presented  to  His  Majesty,  most  hum. 
bly  to  advise  and  beseech  His  Majesty,  that  in  order  to  open  the  way 
towards  a  happy  settlement  of  the  dangerous  troubles  in  America,  by 
beginning  to  allay  ferments  and  soften  animosities  there ;  and  above 
all,  for  preventing  in  the  meantime  any  sudden  and  fatal  catastrophe 
at  Boston,  now  suffering  under  daily  irritation  of  an  Army  before  their 
eyes,  posted  in  their  Town  ;  it  may  graciously  please  His  Majesty,  that 
immediate  orders  may  be  despatched  to  General  Gage,  for  removing  His 
Majesty's  forces  from  the  Town  of  Boston,  as  soon  as  the  rigour  of  the 
season  and  other  circumstances,  indispensable  to  the  safety  and  accom- 
modation of  the  said  Troops,  may  render  the  same  practicable. 

Resolution  of  a  Committee  of  the  Whole  House  (of  Commons.) 
February  2,  1775. — To  be  reported  the  Monday  following: 
That  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  Committee,  that  an  humble  Address  be 
presented  to  His  Majesty,  to  return  His  Majesty  our  most  humble 
thanks  for  having  been  graciously  pleased  to  communicate  to  this 
House  the  several  papers  relating  to  the  present  state  of  the  British 
Colonies  in  America,  which,  by  His  Majesty's  command,  have  been  laid 
before  this  House ;  [and  from  which,  after  taking  them  into  our  most 
serious  consideration,  we  find,  that  a  part  of  His  Majesty's  subjects  in 
the  Province  of  Massachusetts-Bay  have  proceeded  so  far  to  resist  the 
authority  of  the  supreme  Legislature,  that  a  rebellion  at  this  time 
actually  exists  within  the  said  Province ;  and  we  see  with  the  utmost 
concern  that  they  have  been  countenanced  and  encouraged  by  unlaw- 
ful combinations  and  engagements,  entered  into  by  His  Majesty's  sub- 
jects in  several  of  the  other  Colonies,  to  the  injury  and  oppression  of 
many  of  their  innocent  fellow-subjects,  resident  within  the  Kingdom  of 
Great  Britain,  and  the  rest  of  His  Majesty's  dominions.  This  conduct 
on  their  part  appears  to  us  the  more  inexcusable,  when  we  consider  with 
how  much  temper  His  Majesty  and  the  two  Houses  of  Parliament 
have  acted  in  support  of  the  Laws  and  Constitution  of  Great  Britain, 
to  declare  that  we  can  never  so  far  desert  the  trust  reposed  in  us,  as  to 
relinquish  any  part  of  the  sovereign  authority  over  all  His  Majesty's 
dominions,  which  by  law  is  vested  in  His  Majesty  and  the  two  Houses 
of  Parliament ;  and  that  the  conduct  of  many  persons  in  several  of  the 
Colonies,  during  the  late  disturbances,  is  alone  sufficient  to  convince  us 
how  necessary  this  power  is,  for  the  protection  of  the  lives  and  fortunes  of 
all  His  Majesty's  subjects  ;  that  we  ever  have  been,  and  always  shall  be 
ready  to  pay  attention  and  regard  to  any  real  grievances  of  any  of  His 
Majesty's  subjects  which  shall  in  a  dutiful  and  constitutional  manner 
be  laid  before  us ;  and  whenever  any  of  the  Colonies  shall  make  a  pro- 
per application  to  us,  we  shall  be  ready  to  afford  them  every  just  and 
reasonable  indulgence.  But  that  at  the  same  time  we  consider  it  as  our 
indispensable  duty  humbly  to  beseech  His  Majesty,  that  His  Majesty 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii.  1 


Mr.  J.  Hancock  laid  before  the  Congress  a  Letter  from 
the  Provincial  Congress  of  Massachusetts-Bay,  together 
with  certain  Resolutions  formed  by  said  Consress,  and  a 
copy  of  a  Letter  sent  by  said  Congress  to  their  Agent  in 
England,  and  an  Address  to  the  Inhabitants  of  Great 
Britain  on  the  late  engagement  between  the  Troops  under 
Gen.  Gage  and  the  inhabitants  of  Massachusetts- Bay;  also, 
a  number  of  Depositions,  duly  attested,  relative  to  the  com- 
mencement of  hostilities;  all  of  which  were  read,  and  are  as 
follow : 

"  In  Provincial  Congress,  Watertown,  May  3,  1775. 

"  To  the  Honourable  American  Continental  Congress,  to 
be.  convened  at  Philadelphia  on  the  10th  of  May 
instant. 

"  May  it  please  your  Honours  :  The  Congress  of  this 
Colony,  impressed  with  the  deepest  concern  for  their  Coun- 
try, under  the  present  critical  and  alarming  state  of  its  pub- 
lick  affairs,  beg  leave,  with  the  utmost  submission,  whilst 
acting  in  support  of  the  cause  of  America,  to  request  the 
direction  and  assistance  of  your  respectable  Assembly. 

"The  enclosed  packet,  containing  copies  of  the  depositions 
which  we  have  despatched  for  London,-\  also  an  address  to 
the  inhabitants  of  Great  Britain,%  and  a  letter  to  our  Co- 
lony agent,  Benjamin  Franklin,  Esq.,<§>  are  humbly  sub- 
mitted to  your  consideration. 

"  The  sanguinary  zeal  of  the  Ministerial  Army  to  ruin  and 
destroy  the  inhabitants  of  this  Colony,  in  the  opinion  of 
this  Congress  hath  rendered  the  establishment  of  an  Army 
indispensably  necessary  ;  we  have  accordingly  passed  an 
unanimous  resolve  for  thirteen  thousand  six  hundred  men 

will  take  the  most  effectual  measures  to  enforce  due  obedience  to  the  laws 
and  authority  of  the  supreme  Legislature  ;  and  that  we  beg  leave  in  the 
most  solemn  manner  to  assure  His  Majesty  that  it  is  our  fixed  resolution, 
at  the  hazard  of  our  lives  and  properties,  to  stand  by  His  Majesty  against 
all  rebellious  attempts  in  the  maintenance  of  the  just  rights  of  His  Ma- 
jesty and  the  two  Houses  of  Parliament.]   Ayes  296,  noes  106. 

Amendment  proposed,  to  leave  out  from  the  first  [and]  to  the  end  of 
the  question,  and  insert,  "  to  assure  His  Majesty,  that  in  order  to  fix  the 
true  dignity  of  his  Crown  and  the  authority  of  Parliament  on  a  sure 
foundation,  we  shall  endeavour  to  recover  the  hearts  of  his  subjects  in 
America,  too  many  of  whom  are  unhappily  alienated  from  their  usual 
affection  to  their  Mother  Country,  by  endeavouring  to  remove  all  those 
causes  of  jealousy  and  apprehension  which  have  arisen  from  an  unfor- 
tunate management  of  His  Majesty's  affairs,  and  from  acts  of  the  last 
Parliament  made  without  sufficient  information  of  the  true  state  of 
America." 

Question  put,  that  the  words  proposed  to  be  left  out,  stand  part  of 
this  question:  ayes  304,  noes  105. 

Whereas,  by  an  Act  6  George  III.  it  is  declared  that  Parliament  has 
full  power  and  authority  to  make  Laws  and  Statutes  to  bind  the  people 
of  the  Colonies  in  all  cases  whatsoever : 

And  whereas,  reiterated  complaints,  and  most  dangerous  disorders 
have  grown,  touching  the  right  of  Taxation,  claimed  and  exercised  over 
America,  to  the  disturbance  of  peace  and  good  order  there,  and  to  the 
actual  interruption  of  the  due  intercourse  from  Great  Britain  and  Ire- 
land to  the  Colonies,  deeply  affecting  the  navigation,  trade,  and  manu- 
factures of  this  Kingdom  and  of  Ireland,  and  announcing  further  an 
interruption  of  all  exports  from  the  said  Colonies  to  Great  Britain, 
Ireland,  and  the  British  Islands  in  America  : 

Now,  for  the  prevention  of  these  ruinous  mischiefs,  and  in  order  to 
an  equitable,  honourable  and  lasting  settlement  of  claims  not  suffi. 
ciently  ascertained  and  circumscribed,  may  it  please  your  most  excel- 
lent Majesty  that  it  may  be  declared,  and  be  it  declared  by  the  King's 
most  excellent  Majesty,  by  and  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the 
Lords  Spiritual  and  Temporal,  and  Commons  in  this  present  Parlia- 
ment assembled,  and  by  the  authority  of  the  same,  that  the  Colonies 
of  America  have  been,  are,  and  of  right  ought  to  be  dependant  upon 
the  imperial  Crown  of  Great  Britain,  and  subordinate  unto  the  British 
Parliament ;  and  that  the  King's  most  excellent  Majesty,  by  and  with 
the  advice  and  consent  of  the  Lords  Spiritual  and  Temporal,  and  Com- 
mons in  Parliament  assembled,  had,  hath,  and  of  right  ought  to  have, 
full  power  and  authority  to  make  laws  and  statutes  of  sufficient  force 
and  validity  to  bind  the  people  of  the  British  Colonies  in  America,  in 
all  matters  touching  the  general  weal  of  the  whole  dominion  of  the 
imperial  Crown  of  Great  Britain,  and  beyond  the  competency  of  the 
local  representative  of  a  distinct  Colony ;  and  most  especially  an  indu- 
bitable and  indispensable  right  to  make  and  ordain  laws  for  regulating 
Navigation  and  Trade  throughout  the  complicated  system  of  British 
Commerce ;  the  deep  policy  of  such  prudent  acts,  upholding  the  guar- 
dian Navy  of  the  whole  British  Empire  ;  and  that  all  subjects  in  the  Colo- 
nies are  bound  in  duty  and  allegiance,  duly  to  recognise  and  obey  (and 
they  are  hereby  required  so  to  do)  the  supreme  legislative  authority  and 
superintending  power  of  the  Parliament  of  Great  Britain  as  aforesaid. 

And  whereas,  in  a  Petition  from  America  to  His  Majesty  it  has  been 
represented  that  the  keeping  a  Standing  Army  within  any  of  the  Colo- 
nies, in  time  of  peace,  without  the  consent  of  the  respective  Provincial 
Assembly  there,  is  against  law  :  Be  it  declared  by  the  King's  most  excel- 
lent Majesty,  by  and  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  Lords  Spiritual 
and  Temporal,  and  Commons,  in  this  present  Parliament  assembled, 
that  the  Declaration  of  Rights,  at  the  ever-glorious  Revolution,  namely, 
"  that  the  raising  and  keeping  a  Standing  Army  within  the  Kingdom,  in 
time  of  peace,  unless  it  be  by  consent  of  Parliament,  is  against  law," 
having  reference  only  to  the  consent  of  the  Parliament  of  Great  Britain, 
the  legal,  constitutional,  and  hitherto  unquestioned  prerogative  of  the 
Crown,  to  send  any  part  of  such  Army,  so  lawfully  kept,  to  any  of  the 


t  See  folio  489,  501. 


1  See  folio  487. 


§  See  folio  488. 


15 


1827 


CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS,  MAY  11,  1775. 


18  28 


to  be  forthwith  raised  by  this  Colony ;  and  proposals  are 
made  by  us  to  the  Congress  of  New-llampshi>e,  and  Gov- 
ernments of  Rhode-Island  and  Connecticut  Colonies,  for 
furnishing  men  in  the  same  proportion. 

"The  sudden  exigency  of  our  publick  affairs  precluded 
the  possibility  of  waiting  for  your  direction  in  these  impor- 
tant measures;  more  especially  as  a  considerable  re-enforce- 
ment from  Great  Britain  is  daily  expected  in  this  Colony, 
and  we  are  now  reduced  to  the  sad  alternative  of  defending 
ourselves  by  arms,  or  submitting  to  be  slaughtered. 

"  With  the  greatest  deference,  we  beg  leave  to  suggest, 
that  a  powerful  Army,  on  the  side  of  America,  hath  been 
sconsidered  by  this  Congress  as  the  only  means  left  to  stem 
the  rapid  progress  of  a  tyrannical  Ministry.  Without  a 
force  superiour  to  our  enemies,  we  must  reasonably  expect 
to  become  the  victims  of  their  relentless  fury.  With  such 
a  force,  we  may  still  have  hopes  of  seeing  an  immediate 
end  put  to  the  inhuman  ravages  of  mercenary  troops  in 
America,  and  the  wicked  authors  of  our  miseries  brought 
to  condign  punishment,  by  the  just  indignation  of  our  breth- 
ren in  Great  Britain. 

"  We  hope  that  this  Colony  will  at  all  times  be  ready  to 
spend  and  be  spent  in  the  cause  of  America.  It  is,  never- 
theless, a  misfortune  greatly  operating  to  its  disadvantage, 
that  it  has  a  great  number  of  seaport  Towns,  exposed  to 
the  approach  of  the  enemy  by  sea;  from  many  of  which 
the  inhabitants  have  removed,  and  are  removing  their  fami- 
lies and  effects,  to  avoid  destruction  from  ships  of  war. 
These,  we  apprehend,  will  be  generally  distressed  from 
want  of  subsistence,  and  disabled  from  contributing  aid  for 

British  dominions  and  possessions,  whether  in  America  or  elsewhere, 
as  His  Majesty,  in  the  due  care  of  his  subjects,  may  judge  necessary 
for  the  security  and  protection  of  the  same,  cannot  be  rendered  depen. 
dant  upon  the  consent  of  a  Provincial  Assembly  in  the  Colonies,  with- 
out a  most  dangerous  innovation,  and  derogation  from  the  dignity  of 
the  imperial  Crown  of  Great  Britain.  Nevertheless,  in  order  to  quiet 
and  dispel  groundless  jealousies  and  fears,  be  it  hereby  declared,  that 
no  military  force,  however  raised  and  kept  according  to  law,  can  ever  be 
lawfully  employed  to  violate  and  destroy  the  just  rights  of  the  people. 

Moreover,  in  order  to  remove  for  ever  all  causes  of  pernicious  dis- 
cords, and  in  due  contemplation  of  the  vast  increase  of  possessions  and 
population  in  the  Colonies,  and  having  at  heart  to  render  the  condition 
of  so  great  a  body  of  industrious  subjects  there  more  and  more  happy, 
by  the  sacredness  of  property  and  of  personal  liberty ;  and  of  more 
extensive  and  lasting  utility  to  the  parent  Kingdom,  by  indissoluble 
ties  of  mutual  affection,  confidence,  trado,  and  reciprocal  benefits ;  be 
it  declared  and  enacted  by  the  King's  most  excellent  Majesty,  by  and 
with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  Lords  Spiritual  and  Temporal,  and 
Commons  in  this  present  Parliament  assembled,  and  it  is  hereby  declared 
and  enacted  by  the  authority  of  the  same,  that  no  tallage,  tax,  or  other 
charge  for  His  Majesty's  revenue  shall  be  commanded  or  levied  from 
British  freemen  in  America,  without  common  consent,  by  act  of  Pro- 
vincial Assembly  there,  duly  convened  for  that  purpose. 

And  it  is  hereby  further  declared  and  enacted  by  the  King's  most 
excellent  Majesty,  by  and  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  Lords 
Spiritual  and  Temporal,  and  Commons,  in  this  present  Parliament 
assembled,  and  by  the  authority  of  the  same,  That  it  shall  and  may  be 
lawful  for  Delegates  from  the  respective  Provinces,  lately  assembled  at 
Philadelphia,  to  meet  in  General  Congress  at  the  said  Philadelphia,  on 
the  ninth  day  of  May  next,  ensuing,  in  order  then  and  there  to  take 
into  consideration  the  making  due  recognition  of  the  supreme  legis- 
lative authority  and  superintending  power  of  Parliament  over  the  Colo- 
nies, as  aforesaid. 

And  moreover,  may  it  please  your  most  excellent  Majesty,  that  the 
said  Delegates  to  be  in  Congress  assembled,  in  manner  aforesaid,  may 
bo  required,  and  the  same  are  hereby  required,  by  the  King's  Majesty, 
sitting  in  his  Parliament,  to  take  into  consideration  (over  and  above  the 
usual  charge  for  support  of  civil  Government  in  the  respective  Colonies) 
the  making  a  free  grant  to  the  King,  his  heirs  and  successors,  of  a  cer- 
tain perpetual  revenue,  subject  to  the  disposition  of  the  British  Parlia- 
ment, to  be  by  them  appropriated  as  they  in  their  wisdom  shall  judge 
fit,  to  the  alleviation  of  the  national  debt.  No  doubt  being  had,  but 
this  just,  free  aid,  will  be  in  such  honourable  proportion  as  may  seem 
meet  and  becoming  from  great  and  flourishing  Colonies  towards  a  Pa- 
rent Country  labouring  under  the  heaviest  burdens,  which  (in  no  incon. 
siderable  part)  have  been  willingly  taken  upon  ourselves  and  posterity, 
for  the  defence,  extension,  and  prosperity  of  the  Colonies. 

And  to  this  groat  end,  be  it  further  hereby  declared  and  enacted, 
that  the  General  Congress  (to  meet  at  Philadelphia  as  aforesaid)  shall 
be,  and  is  hereby  authorized  and  empowered  (the.  Delegates  composing 
the  same  being  first  sufficiently  furnished  with  powers  from  their 
respective  Provinces  for  this  purpose)  to  adjust  and  fix  these  partitions 
and  quotas  of  the  several  charges  to  be  borne  by  each  Province  respect- 
ively towards  the  general  contributory  supply;  and  this  in  such  fair 
and  equitable  measure  as  may  best  suit  the  abilities  and  duo  conve- 
nience of  all.  Provided  always,  that  the  powers  for  fixing  the  said  quo- 
tas, hereby  given  to  the  Delegates  from  the  old  Provinces  composing 
the  Congress,  shall  not  extend  to  the  new  Provinces  of  East  aud  West 
Florida,  Georgia,  Nova-Scotia,  St.  John's,  and  Canada;  the  circum- 
stances and  abilities  of  tho  said  Provinces  being  referred  to  the  wisdom 
of  Parliament  in  their  due  time. 

And  in  order  to  afford  nocessary  time  for  mature  deliberation  in  Ame. 
rica,  be  it  horcby  declared,  that  the  provisions  for  ascertaining  and  fix- 
ing the  exercise  of  tho  right  of  taxation  in  the  Colonies,  as  agreed  and 
expressed  by  this  present  act,  shall  not  bo  in  forco,  or  have  any  operation, 
until  the  Delegates  to  bo  in  Congress  assembled,  sufficiently  authorized 
and  empowered  by  their  respective  Provinces  to  this  end,  shall,  aa  an 


supporting  the  forces  of  the  Colony ;  but  we  have  the 
greatest  confidence  in  the  wisdom  and  ability  of  the  Con- 
tinent to  support  us,  so  far  as  it  shall  appear  necessary  for 
supporting  the  common  cause  of  the  American  Colonies. 

"  We  also  enclose  several  Resolves  for  empowering  and 
directing  our  Receiver-General  to  borrow  the  sum  of  one 
hundred  thousand  Pounds,  lawful  money,  and  to  issue  his 
notes  for  the  same ;  it  being  the  only  measure  which  we 
could  have  recourse  to,  for  supporting  our  forces.  And  we 
request  your  assistance  in  rendering  our  measures  effectual, 
by  giving  our  notes  a  currency  through  the  Continent. 

"Joseph  Warren,  President  pro  tern." 

The  Papers  enclosed  and  referred  to  in  the  above,  are 
as  follow : 

"In  Provincial  Congress,  Watertown,  May  3,  1775. 

"Resolved,  That  the  Receiver-General  be,  and  hereby  is 
empowered  to  borrow  the  sum  of  One  Hundred  Thousand 
Pounds,  lawful  money,  and  issue  Colony  security  for  the 
same,  payable,  with  annual  interest  at  six  per  cent.,  June 
1,  1777,  and  that  the  Continental  Congress  be  desired  to 
recommend  to  the  several  Colonies  to  give  a  currency  to 
such  securities. 

"  A  true  extract  from  the  minutes : 

"  Samuel  Freeman,  Secretary  pro  tern." 

"  In  Provincial  Congress,  Watertown,  May  3,  1775. 
"Resolved,  That  the  Securities  given  by  the  Receiver- 
General  for  the  Moneys  borrowed  by  him,  in  pursuance  of 
the  aforegoing  Resolve,  be  in  the  form  following,  viz: 

indispensable  condition,  have  duly  recognized  the  supreme  legislative 
authority  and  superintending  power  of  the  Parliament  of  Great  Britain, 
over  the  Colonies  as  aforesaid.  Always  understood,  that  the  free  grant 
of  an  aid,  as  herobefore  required  and  expected  from  the  Colonies,  is 
not  to  be  considered  as  a  condition  of  redress,  but  as  a  just  testimony 
of  their  affection. 

And  whereas,  divers  acts  of  Parliament  have  been  humbly  repre. 
sented  in  a  Petition  to  His  Majesty  from  America,  to  have  been  found 
grievous,  in  whole  or  in  part,  to  the  subjects  of  the  Colonies,  be  it 
hereby  declared  by  the  King's  most,  &lc,  &lq..,  that  the  powers  of  Ad- 
miralty and  Vice-Admiralty  Courts  in  America  shall  be  restrained  with* 
in  their  ancient  limits,  and  the  trial  by  jury  in  all  civil  cases,  where 
the  same  may  have  been  abolished,  restored;  and  that  no  subject  in 
America  shall,  in  capital  cases,  be  liable  to  be  indicted  and  tried  for  the 
same  in  any  place  out  of  the  Province  wherein  such  offence  shall  be 
alleged  to  have  been  committed ;  nor  be  deprived  of  a  trial  by  his  peers 
of  the  vicinage.  Nor  shall  it  be  lawful  to  send  persons  indicted  for 
murder  in  any  Province  of  America,  to  another  Colony,  or  to  Great 
Britain  for  trial. 

And  it  it  hereby  declared  and  enacted,  by  the  authority  aforesaid,  that 
all  and  every  the  said  acts,  or  so  much  thereof  as  are  represented  to  have 
been  found  grievous,  namely,  the  several  Acts  of  the  4  Geo.  III.  ch.  15 
and  ch.  34:  5  Geo.  III.  ch.  25:  6  Geo.  III.  ch.  52:  7  Geo.  III.  ch.  41 
and  ch.  46  :  8  Geo.  III.  ch.  22  :  12  Geo.  III.  ch.  24 — with  the  three  Acts 
for  stopping  the  Port  and  blocking  up  the  Harbour  of  Boston  ;  for  altering 
the  Charter  and  Government  of  Massachusetts-Bay ;  and  that  intituled 
An  Act  for  the  Better  Administration  of  Justice,  ate.;  also  the  Act  for 
regulating  the  Government  of  Quebeck,  and  the  act  passod  in  the  same 
session  relating  to  the  quartering  of  Soldiers,  shall  bo  and  are  hereby  sus- 
pended, and  not  to  have  effect  or  execution  from  the  date  of  this  act.  And 
be  it  moreover  hereby  declared  and  enacted  by  the  authority  aforesaid, 
that  all  and  every  tho  before  recited  acts,  or  the  parts  thereof  com- 
plained of,  shall  be,  and  are  in  virtue  of  this  present  act,  finally  repealed 
and  annulled,  from  the  day  that  the  due  recognition  of  the  supremo 
legislative  authority  and  superintending  power  of  Parliament  over  the 
Colonies  shall  have  been  made  on  the  part  of  the  said  Colonies. 

And  for  the  better  securing  the  duo  and  impartial  administration  of 
justice  in  the  Colonies,  be  it  declared  and  enacted  by  the  King's  most, 
&.C.,  &c,  that  His  Majesty's  Judges  in  Courts  of  Law  in  the  Colonies 
in  America,  to  be  appointed  with  salaries  by  the  Crown,  shall  hold 
their  offices  and  salaries  as  His  Majesty's  Judges  in  England,  quamdiu 
se  bene  gesserit. 

And  it  is  hereby  further  declared  by  the  authority  aforesaid,  that  tho 
Colonics  in  America  are  justly  entitled  to  the  privileges,  franchises, 
and  immunities  granted  by  their  several  Charters  or  Constitutions  ;  and 
that  the  said  Charters  or  Constitutions  ought  not  to  be  invaded  or  re. 
suined  unless  for  misuser,  or  soino  logal  ground  of  forfeiture.  So  shall 
true  reconcilement  avert  impending  calamities,  and  this  most  solemn 
national  accord  between  Great  Britain  and  her  Colonies  stand  an  ever- 
lasting monument  of  clemency  and  magnanimity  in  the  benignant  Father 
of  his  People,  of  wisdom  and  moderation  in  this  great  Nation,  tamed 
for  humanity  as  for  valour,  and  of  fidelity  and  grateful  affection  from 
brave  and  loyal  Colonies  to  their  Parent  Kingdom,  which  will  ever 
protect  and  cherish  them. 

The  above  Plan  was  offered  by  tho  Earl  of  Chatham  to  tho  House  of 
Lords,  on  Wednesday,  February  I,  1775,  under  tho  title  of  "A  Provi- 
sional Act  for  settling  the  Troubles  of  America,  and  for  asserting  the 
supreme  legislative  authority  and  superintending  power  0f  Great  Bri- 
tain over  the  Colonies :"  but  being  opposed  by  the  Ministry,  was  rejected 
by  a  great  majority ;  the  numbers  boing  for  rejecting  61,  for  retaining 
32 ;  so  it  was  not  suffered  to  lie  on  the  table  for  further  consideration. 
Vet  when  it  is  considered  that  in  the  majority  were  all  the  Ministerial 
Lords,  with  all  tho  Scottish  Lords,  and  the  Bishops,  who  usually  vote 
as  the  Minister  bids  them,  the  sense  of  that  House,  that  is,  tho  inde- 
pendent part  of  it,  doos  not  seem  to  have  been  greatly  against  the  bill. 


1S29 


CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS,  MAY  13,  1775. 


1830 


"  COLONY  OF  THE  MASSACHUSETTS-BAT. 

"No  the  day  of  

A.  D.  177    ,  borrowed  and  received  of  A.  B. 

 the  sum  of  lawful  money,  for 

the  use  and  service  of  the  Colony  of  the  Massachusetts- 
Bat/,  and  in  behalf  of  said  Colony.  I  do  hereby  promise 
and  oblige  myself,  and  successors  in  the  office  of  Treasurer, 

or  Receiver-General,  to  repay  to  the  said  

or  to  his  order,  the  first  day  o  f  June,  1777,  the  aforesaid  sum 

of  lawful  money,  in  Spanish  milled  dollars,  at 

six  shillings  each,  or  in  the  several  species  of  coined  silver 
and  gold  enumerated  in  an  Act  made  and  passed  in  the 
twenty-third  year  of  his  late  Majesty  King  George  the 
Second,  intituled  "An  Act  for  ascertaining  the  rates  at 
which  coined  silver  and  gold,  English  half-pence  and  far- 
things, may  pass  within  this  Government:"  and  according 
to  the  rates  therein  mentioned,  with  interest  to  be  paid 
annually  at  six  per  cent.    Witness  my  hand 

a:  b. 

C.  D. 
E.  F. 

"  And  whereas,  inconveniences  may  arise,  by  the  Re- 
ceiver-General's issuing  notes  for  small  sums;  therefore, 

"Resolved,  That  the  Receiver-General  be,  and  he  hereby 
is  directed,  not  to  issue  any  notes  for  a  less  sum  than  four 
Pounds  lawful  money. 

"  A  true  extract  from  the  minutes : 

"  Samuel  Freeman,  Secretary  pro  tern." 

Ordered,  That  the  Secretary  have  the  above  Deposi- 
tions, and  the  Address  to  the  Inhabitants  of  Great  Britain, 
published. 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  the  Congress  will,  on  Mon- 
day next,  resolve  itself  into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole, 
to  take  into  consideration  the  state  of  America. 

Ordered,  That  the  Letter  from  the  Provincial  Congress 
of  Massachusetts- Bay  be  referred  to  that  Committee. 

Adjourned  till  to-morrow  at  ten  o'clock. 

Friday,  May  12,  1775. 

The  Congress  met,  and  adjourned  till  to-morrow  at  ten 
o'clock. 

Saturday,  May  13,  1775,  A.  M. 

The  Congress  met  according  to  adjournment.  Present 
the  same  as  yesterday,  and  also  Mr.  J.  Jay,  from  ^Sen- 
York,  and  Thomas  Stone,  from  Maryland. 

The  Congress  being  informed  that  Doctor  Lyman  Hall 
attended  at  the  door  as  a  Delegate  from  the  Parish  of  St. 
John's,  in  the  Colony  of  Georgia,  and  desired  to  know 
whether,  as  such,  he  may  be  admitted  to  this  Congress; 

Agreed  unanimously,  That  he  be  admitted  as  a  Dele- 
gate from  the  Parish  of  St.  John's,  in  the  Colony  of  Geor- 
gia, subject  to  such  regulations  as  the  Congress  shall 
determine  relative  to  his  voting. 

Mr.  Lyman  Hall  being  accordingly  admitted,  produced 
his  Credentials,  which  were  read  and  approved,  and  are  as 
follow : 

"  To  the  Honourable  Gentlemen  of  the  Congress  designed 

to  be  held  at  Philadelphia,  on  Mat,  A.  D.  1775 : 
"The  Address  of  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Parish  of  St. 
John's,  in  the  Province  of  Georgia. 
"  Gentlemen  :  To  give  a  particular  detail  of  our  many 
struggles  in  the  cause  of  liberty,  the  many  meetings  thereby 
occasioned  and  held  in  this  Parish,  the  endeavours  we  have 
used  to  induce  the  rest  of  this  Province  to  concur  with  us, 
the  attendance  of  our  Committee  on  the  Provincial  Con- 
ventions, held  at  Savannah,  in  this  Province,  and  particu- 
larly that  of  the  eighteenth  of  January  last,  with  their 
proceedings,  and  the  reasons  of  our  dissent  from  them,  we 
think  would  be  tedious  to  you,  and  therefore  send  a  sum- 
mary abstract,  which,  with  the  account  that  may  be  given 
by  Lyman  Hall,  Esq.,  appointed  a  Delegate  to  represent 
and  act  for  this  Parish  in  the  General  Continental  Con- 
gress, to  be  held  in  May  next,  and  the  testimonies  of  the 
honourable  Delegates  from  South- Carolina,  we  hope  will 
be  satisfactory. 

"  Immediately  upon  our  being  honoured  with  an  answer 
to  the  representation  of  our  case  transmitted  to  the  honour- 


able Congress  which  sat  at  Philadelphia  last  year,  with  a 
copy  of  the  Association  there  entered  into,  we  had  a  meet- 
ing, and  our  proceedings  then  and  since  that  time  will  in 
brief  appear,  from  the  following  abstracts  of  an  Address 
from  this  Parish  to  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  in 
Charlestown,  South-Carolina,  which  are  as  follow  : 

"  St.  John's,  February  9,  1775. 

"  Gentlemen  :  Herewith  will  be  communicated  to  you 
the  several  steps  taken  by  this  Parish  in  their  endeavours 
to  conform,  as  near  as  possible,  to  the  resolutions  entered 
into  by  the  other  Colonies,  and  the  particular  measures  now 
adopted  for  carrying  into  execution  the  Continental  Asso- 
ciation, which  we  embraced  the  earliest  opportunity  of 
acceding  to,  by  subscribing  it,  on  condition  that  trade  and 
commerce  with  the  other  Colonies  be  continued  to  us  the 
subscribers :  and  thereupon  should  have  immediately  sent 
to  you  for  your  approbation  and  indulgence,  but  were  de- 
layed by  a  summons  to  attend  a  Provincial  Congress  in 
Savannah,  on  the  eighteenth  of  January  last,  for  the  pur- 
pose, as  we  understood,  of  a  general  association  with  the 
other  Colonies,  and  choosing  Delegates  ;  at  which  time  and 
place  we  attended,  and  acquainted  the  other  Parishes, 
assembled  on  that  occasion,  that  we  had  already  acceded 
to  the  General  Association,  on  condition  as  above  men- 
tioned, and  earnestly  requested  them  to  do  the  same. 
Had  they  acceded  fully  to  the  General  Association,  we 
should  have  had  no  occasion  to  trouble  you  with  this  ad- 
dress; but  as  they  did  not,  we  now  apply  to  you  to  admit 
us,  the  subscribers,  to  an  alliance  with  you,  requesting  that 
you  will  allow  trade  and  commerce  to  be  continued  to  us, 
the  same  to  be  conducted  under  such  regulations  and  re- 
strictions as  shall  be  consistent  with  the  Continental  Asso- 
ciation, and  which,  on  our  part,  we  engage  with  all  possible 
care  to  keep  inviolate.  As  we  of  this  Parish  are  a  body 
detached  from  the  rest  (*.  e.  of  this  Province)  by  our  reso- 
lutions, and  sufficiently  distinct  by  local  situation,  large 
enough  for  particular  notice,  adjoining  a  particular  port, 
and  in  that  respect  capable  of  conforming  to  the  General 
Association,  if  connected  with  you,  with  the  same  fidelity 
as  a  distant  Parish  of  your  own  Province,  we  must  be  con- 
sidered as  comprehended  within  the  spirit  and  equitable 
meaning  of  the  Continental  Association,  and  hope  you  will 
not  condemn  the  innocent  with  the  guilty,  especially  when 
a  due  separation  is  made  between  them. 

"  Give  us  leave  to  add  only,  that  we  wait  your  answer, 
shall  be  glad  of  your  advice,  and  are,  with  esteem,  Gentle- 
men, yours,  Sic." 

"To  which  we  received  the  following  answer: 

"Gentlemen:  Your  letter,  accompanying  sundry  pa- 
pers, having  been  laid  before  a  very  full  Committee  of  this 
Colony,  and  undergone  the  most  mature  deliberation,  I  am, 
by  their  desire,  to  acquaint  you  that  they  have  the  highest 
sense  of  your  arduous  struggles  in  favour  of  the  common 
cause  of  America,  and  most  sincerely  lament  your  present 
unhappy  situation,  but  would  recommend  a  continuance  of 
your  laudable  exertions,  and  the  laying  a  state  of  your  case 
before  the  ensuing  Continental  Congress,  as  the  only  means 
of  obtaining  relief,  and  to  put  you  in  the  situation  you  wish, 
w  hich  this  Committee  apprehend  to  be  entirely  out  of  their 
power  to  do,  as  it  is  their  opinion  that  the  Parish  of  iSf, 
John,  being  a  part  of  the  Colony  of  Georgia,  which  (by 
not  acceding  to,  has  violated  the  Continental  Association) 
falls  under  the  fourteenth  Article  of  the  said  Associa- 
tion, no  part  of  which  any  Committee  can  presume  to  do 
away,  &ic." 

"  Upon  the  receipt  of  this  answer,  it  was  seriously  con- 
sidered in  what  manner  to  conduct  in  the  present  situation, 
and  proposed  whether  we  should  immediately  break  off  all 
connexion  and  commerce  with  Savannah,  and  all  other  in- 
habitants of  this  Province,  who  have  not  fully  acceded  to 
the  Continental  Association. 

"  It  was  considered,  that  as  we  were  denied  commerce 
with  any  other  Colony,  and  but  one  merchant  among  us 
considerable  for  dry  goods  had  signed  our  Association,  and 
he  insufficient  for  a  present  supply,  and  we  utterly  unable 
at  present  to  procure  materials  or  manufactures  for  clothing 
among  ourselves,  we  must,  by  such  a  resolution,  become 
extremely  miserable ;  it  was  therefore  concluded,  that  till 
we  could  obtain  trade  and  commerce  with  some  other 
Colony,  it  is  absolutely  necessary  to  continue  it  in  some 


1831 


CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS,  MAY  16,  1775. 


1832 


respects  with  our  own,  and  determined  that  it  be  carried 
on  under  the  following  regulations : 

"1.  That  none  of  us  shall,  directly  or  indirectly,  purchase 
any  slave  imported  at  Savannah,  (large  numbers  of  which 
we  understand  are  there  expected,)  till  the  sense  of  the 
Congress  shall  be  made  known  to  us. 

"2.  That  we  will  not  trade  at  all  with  any  merchant  at 
Savannah,  or  elsewhere,  that  will  not  join  in  our  associating 
agreement,  otherwise  than  under  the  inspection  of  a  Com- 
mittee, for  that  purpose  appointed,  and  for  such  things  only 
as  they  shall  judge  necessary,  and  when  they  shall  think 
there  are  necessary  reasons  for  so  doing. 

"  A  Committee  was  then  nominated  and  appointed  to 
sit  weekly  on  Thursdays,  for  the  purposes  aforesaid. 

"  It  was  then  resolved,  that  a  Delegate  be  sent  from  this 
Parish  to  the  Congress,  to  be  held  at  Philadelphia  in  May 
next,  and  that  Tuesday,  the  twenty-first  of  March,  be  ap- 
pointed for  choosing  one. 

"On  the  said  twenty-first  of  March,  at  a  full  meeting, 
Lyman  Hall,  Esq.,  was  unanimously  chosen  to  represent 
and  act  for  the  inhabitants  of  this  Parish  as  a  Delegate  at 
the  General  Congress,  to  be  held  in  Philadelphia  in  May 
next,  who  are  determined  faithfully  to  adhere  to,  and  abide 
by  the  determination  of  him  and  the  other  honourable  mem- 
bers of  the  same. 

"  Signed  by  order  of  the  Inhabitants,  by  Daniel  Roberts 
and  twenty  others,  members  of  the  Committee." 

"  Midway,  St.  John's  Parish, 

In  the  Province  of  Geoigia,  April  13,  A.  D.  1775." 

A  Petition  from  the  County  of  Frederick,  in  Virginia, 
addressed  to  the  Congress,  was  presented  and  read. 

Agreed,  That  it  be  referred  to  the  Committee  of  the 
Whole,  which  is  to  sit  on  Monday. 

Monday,  May  15,  1775. 

The  Congress  met  according  to  adjournment. 

Mr.  Wisner,  Mr.  Schuyler,  Mr.  Clinton,  Mr.  L.  Morris, 
and  Mr.  R.  R.  Livingston,  from  New-York;  Mr.  James 
Wilson,  from  Pennsylvania,  Mr.  R.  Goldshorough,  from 
Maryland,  appeared,  and  took  their  places  as  Members  of 
the  Congress.    Upon  motion, 

Agreed,  That  the  Secretary  be  allowed  to  employ  Timo- 
thy Matlack  as  a  Clerk,  he  having  first  taken  an  oath  or 
affirmation  to  keep  secret  the  transactions  of  the  Congress 
that  may  be  entrusted  to  him,  or  may  come  to  his  know- 
ledg. 

The  President  informed  the  Congress  that  he  had  put 
into  his  hands  this  morning  a  Letter  from  Robert  and  John 
Murray,  containing  a  number  of  papers,  which  he  was  de- 
sired to  lay  before  the  Congress ;  the  purport  of  them  he 
did  not  know,  as  he  had  not  had  an  opportunity  of  reading 
them. 

Ordered,  That  the  President  look  them  over  before  they 
are  laid  before  the  Congress. 

The  Order  of  the  Day  was  then  read.  After  some  debate, 

Resolved,  That  the  Order  of  the  Day  be  postponed. 

Resolved  nemine  contradicente,  That  the  Congress  will, 
to-morrow,  resolve  itself  into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole, 
to  take  into  consideration  the  state  of  America. 

The  City  and  County  of  New-York  having,  through  the 
Delegates  of  that  Colony,  applied  to  Congress  for  advice 
how  to  conduct  themselves  with  regard  to  the  Troops  ex- 
pected there,  the  Congress  took  the  matter  into  their  con- 
sideration. During  their  deliberations,  it  became  necessary 
to  take  the  opinion  of  the  Congress  by  Colonies ;  upon 
which  a  question  arose,  whether  the  Delegate  from  the 
Parish  of  St.  John's,  in  the  Colony  of  Georgia,  could  be 
admitted  to  vote.  After  some  debate  on  this  question,  the 
Delegate  from  that  Parish  arose,  and  after  observing  that 
the  present  distressful  situation  of  American  affairs  had  in- 
duced a  necessity  of  this  Congress,  which  was  composed 
of  Delegates  representing  whole  Colonies ;  that  as  he  did 
not  represent  a  Colony,  but  only  a  part,  he  did  not  insist 
on  giving  a  vote  as  a  Colony,  but  was  contented  to  hear 
and  assist  in  the  debates,  and  to  give  his  vote  in  all  cases, 
except  when  the  sentiments  of  the  Congress  were  taken 
by  Colonies. 

The  Congress  then  resumed  the  consideration  of  the 
matter  first  under  debate.  During  the  debate,  Sam'l  Ward, 


Esq.,  one  of  the  Delegates  from  Rhode-Island,  appeared, 
and  produced  his  Credentials,  which  being  read,  were  ap- 
proved, and  are  as  follow  : 

"By  the  Honourable  the  General  Assembly  of  the  English 
Colony  of  Rhode-Island  and  Providence  Planta- 
tions, in  New-England,  in  America. 
"To  the  Honourable  Stephen  Hopkins,  Esq.,  and  th« 
Honourable  Samuel  Ward,  Esq.,  Greeting: 
"  Whereas,  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Colony  afore- 
said, have  nominated  and  appointed  you,  the  said  Stephen 
Hopkins  and  Samuel  Ward,  to  represent  the  people  of  this 
Colony  in  a  General  Congress  of  Representatives,  from 
this  and  the  other  Colonies,  to  be  holden  in  the  City  of 
Philadelphia  on  the  tenth  May  instant :  You  are  there- 
fore hereby  authorized  to  repair  to  the  said  City  of  Phila- 
delphia, and  there,  in  behalf  of  this  Colony,  to  meet  and 
join  with  the  Commissioners  or  Delegates  from  the  other 
Colonies,  in  consulting  upon  proper  measures  to  obtain  a 
repeal  of  the  several  Acts  of  the  British  Parliament,  for 
levying  taxes  upon  His  Majesty's  subjects  in  America  with- 
out their  consent,  and,  upon  proper  measures,  to  establish 
the  rights  and  liberties  of  the  Colonies  upon  a  just  and 
solid  foundation,  agreeable  to  the  instructions  given  you  by 
the  General  Assembly. 

"  By  virtue  of  an  Act  of  the  General  Assembly,  I,  Henry 
Ward,  Esq.,  Secretary  of  the  said  Colony,  have  hereunto  set 
my  hand  and  affixed  the  seal  of  the  said  Colony,  this  seventh 
day  of  May,  A.  D.  1775,  and  in  the  fifteenth  year  of  the 
reign  of  his  most  sacred  Majesty  George  the  Third,  by  the 
grace  of  God  King  of  Great  Britain,  &tc. 

"  Henry  Ward." 

The  matter  under  consideration  being  resumed,  the 
Congress 

Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended,  for  the  present,  to 
the  inhabitants  of  New-  York,  that  if  the  Troops,  which  are 
expected,  should  arrive,  the  said  Colony  act  on  the  defen- 
sive, so  long  as  may  be  consistent  with  their  safety  and 
security;  that  the  Troops  be  permitted  to  remain  in  the 
Barracks  so  long  as  they  behave  peaceably  and  quietly,  but 
that  they  be  not  suffered  to  erect  fortifications,  or  take  any 
steps  for  cutting  off  the  communication  between  the  town 
and  country,  and  that  if  they  commit  hostilities,  or  invade 
private  property,  the  inhabitants  should  defend  themselves 
and  their  property,  and  repel  force  by  force  ;  that  the  war- 
like stores  be  removed  from  the  town ;  that  places  of  re- 
treat, in  case  of  necessity,  be  provided  for  the  women  and 
children  of  New- York ;  and  that  a  sufficient  number  of 
men  be  embodied,  and  kept  in  constant  readiness,  for  pro- 
tecting the  inhabitants  from  insult  and  injury. 

Two  Memorials,  one  from  Samuel  Shoemaker,  the  other 
from  James  and  Drinker,  merchants  of  this  City,  respect- 
ing some  cargoes  purchased  by  them,  and  intended  for 
Newfoundland,  but  which  are  stopped  by  the  Committee 
of  this  City,  were  laid  before  the  Congress  and  read,  and 
ordered  to  lie  on  the  table. 

Resolved,  That  a  Committee  be  appointed  to  consider 
what  Posts  are  necessary  to  be  occupied  in  the  Colony  of 
New-  York,  and  by  what  number  of  Troops  it  will  be  neces- 
sary they  should  be  guarded. 

Upon  motion,  Resolved,  That  Mr.  Washington,  Mr. 
Lynch,  Mr.  S.  Adams,  and  the  Delegates  from  New- 
York,  be  the  Committee  for  the  above  service,  and  that 
they  be  desired  to  report  as  speedily  as  possible. 

Resolved,  That  this  Congress  will,  to-morrow,  resolve 
itself  into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole,  to  take  into  consi- 
deration the  state  of  America. 

Adjourned  to  nine  o'clock  to-morrow. 

Tuesday,  May  16,  1775. 
The  Congress  met  according  to  adjournment. 
A  Memorial  from  Robert  and  John  Murray,  of  New- 
York,  was  laid  before  the  Congress,  and  read. 
Ordered,  To  lie  on  the  table. 

Agreeable  to  the  Order  of  the  Day,  the  Congress  re- 
solved itself  into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole,  to  take  into 
consideration  the  state  of  America.  After  some  time  spent 
therein,  the  President  resumed  the  chair,  and  Mr.  Tilgh- 
man  reported  from  the  Committee,  that  they  had  taken 


1833 


CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS,  MAY  23,  1775. 


1834 


the  matter  referred  to  them  into  their  consideration,  and 
debated  upon  it ;  but  not  having  come  to  any  resolution, 
desired  him  to  move  for  leave  to  sit  again  ;  whereupon, 

Resolved,  That  the  Congress  will,  to-morrow,  resolve 
itself  into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole,  to  take  into  consi- 
deration the  state  of  America. 

Adjourned  till  to-morrow,  at  twelve  o'clock. 

Wednesday,  May  17,  1775. 

The  Congress  met  according  to  adjournment;  and  the 
Order  of  the  Day,  upon  motion,  being  postponed  till  to- 
morrow, 

Resolved  unanimously,  That  all  exportations  to  Que- 
beck,  Nova-Scotia,  the  Island  of  St.  John's.  Newfound- 
land, Georgia,  except  the  Parish  of  St.  John's,  and  to 
East  and  West-Florida,  immediately  cease,  and  that  no 
Provision  of  any  kind,  or  other  necessaries,  be  furnished 
to  the  British  Fisheries  on  the  American  Coasts,  until  it 
be  otherwise  determined  by  the  Congress. 

Ordered,  That  this  be  published  immediately. 

Adjourned  till  to-morrow,  at  nine  o'clock. 

Thursday,  May  18,  1775. 

The  Congress  met  according  to  adjournment. 

The  Hon.  Stephen  Hopkins,  from  Rhode-Island,  and 
Patrick  Henry,  Esqrs.,  from  Virginia,  attended  and  took 
their  seats  in  Congress. 

Upon  motion, 

Resolved,  That  the  Rules  of  Conduct,  to  be  observed 
in  debating  and  determining  questions,  laid  down  by  the 
last  Congress,  be  adopted  and  observed  by  the  present 
Congress. 

The  President  laid  before  the  Congress  some  important 
intelligence  he  received  last  night,  by  express,  from  New- 
York,  relative  to  the  surprising  and  taking  of  Ticonderoga 
by  a  detachment  from  Massachusetts-Bay  and  Connecticut. 
which  was  read. 

Upon  motion,  Agreed,  That  Mr.  Brown,  who  brought 
the  express,  be  called  in  to  give  an  account  of  the  dispo- 
sition of  the  Canadians,  the  taking  of  Ticonderoga,  and 
the  importance  of  that  Post ;  whereupon,  he  was  called 
in,  and  having  given  the  necessary  information,  he  with- 
drew. The  Congress  taking  the  matter  into  consideration, 
came  to  the  following  Resolution : 

Resolved,  Whereas,  there  is  indubitable  evidence  that  a 
design  is  formed  by  the  British  Ministry  of  making  a  cruel 
invasion  from  the  Province  of  Quebeck  upon  these  Colo- 
nies, for  the  purpose  of  destroying  our  lives  and  liberties, 
and  some  steps  have  actually  been  taken  to  carry  the  said 
design  into  execution  :  and  whereas,  several  inhabitants  of 
the  Northern  Colonies,  residing  in  the  vicinity  of  Ticonde- 
roga, and  immediately  exposed  to  incursions,  impelled  by 
a  just  regard  for  the  defence  and  preservation  of  themselves 
and  their  Countrymen  from  such  imminent  dangers  and 
calamities,  have  taken  possession  of  that  post,  in  which 
was  lodged  a  quantity  of  Cannon  and  Military  Stores  that 
would  certainly  have  been  used  in  the  intended  invasion 
of  these  Colonies;  this  Congress  earnestly  recommend  it  to 
the  Committees  of  the  Cities  and  Counties  of  New-York 
and  Albany,  immediately  to  cause  the  said  Cannon  and 
Stores  to  be  removed  from  Ticonderoga  to  the  south  end 
of  Lake  George ;  and,  if  necessary,  to  apply  to  the  Colo- 
nies of  New-Hampshire,  Massachusetts-Bay,  and  Connec- 
ticut, for  such  an  additional  body  of  forces  as  will  be  suffi- 
cient to  establish  a  strong  post  at  that  place,  and  effectually 
to  secure  the  said  Cannon  and  Stores,  or  so  many  of  them 
as  it  may  be  judged  proper  to  keep  there ;  and  that  an 
exact  inventory  be  taken  of  all  such  Cannon  and  Stores, 
in  order  that  they  may  be  safely  returned,  when  the  resto- 
ration of  the  former  harmony  between  Great  Britain  and 
these  Colonies,  so  ardently  wished  for  by  the  latter,  shall 
render  it  prudent  and  consistent  with  the  overruling  law  of 
self-preservation. 
Upon  motion, 

Resolved,  That  the  Congress  will,  to-morrow,  again 
resolve  itself  into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole,  to  take  into 
consideration  the  state  of  America. 

Adjourned  till  to-morrow,  at  nine  o'clock. 


Friday,  May  19,  1775.* 

The  Congress  met  according  to  adjournment. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  what  Posts  are 
necessary  to  be  occupied  in  the  Colony  of  New-York,  and 
by  what  number  of  Troops  it  will  be  proper  they  should 
be  guarded,  brought  in  their  Report;  which,  being  read, 
was  referred  to  the  Committee  of  the  Whole. 

The  Congress  then,  agreeable  to  the  Order  of  yester- 
day, resolved  itself  into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole,  to 
take  into  consideration  the  state  of  America.  After  some 
time  spent  therein,  the  President  resumed  the  chair,  and 
Mr.  Ward,  from  the  Committee,  reported,  that  they  had 
takeji  the  matter  into  consideration,  but  not  having  come 
to  any  resolution,  they  had  desired  him  to  move  for  leave 
to  sit  again  to-morrow. 

Resolved,  That  this  Congress  will,  to-morrow,  again  re- 
solve itself  into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole,  to  take  into 
consideration  the  state  of  America. 

Adjourned  til)  to-morrow,  at  nine  o'clock. 

Saturday,  May  20,  1775. 

The  Congress  met  according  to  adjournment,  and,  agree- 
able to  the  Order  of  the  Day,  again  resolved  itself  into  a 
Committee  of  the  Whole,  to  take  into  consideration  the 
state  of  America ;  and  after  some  time  spent  therein,  the 
President  resumed  the  chair,  and  Mr.  Ward,  from  the 
Committee,  reported,  that  they  had  taken  the  matter  into 
consideration,  but  not  having  come  to  any  resolution,  de- 
sired him  to  move  for  leave  to  sit  again  on  Monday  next. 

Resolved,  That  this  Congress  will,  on  Monday  next, 
again  resolve  itself  into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole,  to  take 
into  consideration  the  state  of  America. 

Adjourned  till  Monday,  at  nine  o'clock. 

Monday,  May  22,  1775. 
The  Congress  met  according  to  adjournment,  and,  agree- 
able to  the  Order  of  the  Day,  again  resolved  itself  into  a 
Committee  of  the  Whole,  to  take  into  consideration  the 
state  of  America ;  and  after  some  time  spent  therein,  the 
President  resumed  the  chair,  and  Mr.  Ward,  from  the 
Committee,  reported,  that  they  had  proceeded  in  the  busi- 
ness, but  not  having  completed  it,  desired  him  to  move  for 
leave  to  sit  again. 

Resolved,  That  this  Congress  will,  to-morrow,  again 
resolve  itself  into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole,  to  take  into 
their  farther  consideration  the  state  of  America. 

Adjourned  till  to-morrow,  at  nine  o'clock. 

Tuesday,  May  23,  1775. 
The  Congress  met  according  to  adjournment,  and,  agree- 
able to  the  Order  of  the  Day,  resolved  itself  into  a  Com- 
mittee of  the  Whole,  to  take  into  their  farther  consideration 
the  state  of  America ;  and  after  some  time  spent  therein, 
the  President  resumed  the  chair,  and  Mr.  Ward  reported 

•Philadelphia,  Mat  19,  1775. —  The  following  Gentlemen,  Delegates 
to  the  Honourable  the  Continental  Congress,  are  novo  in  this  City, 
viz  : 

For  New -Hampshire. — John  Sullivan,  John  Langdon,  Esquires. 

For  Massachusetts-Bay. — Hon.  John  Hancock,  Hon.  Thomas  Cush- 
ing,  Samuel  Adams,  John  Adams,  Robert  Treat  Paine,  Esquires. 

For  Rhode-Island. — Hon.  Stephen  Hopkins,  Hon.  Samuel  Ward, 
Esquires. 

For  Connecticut. — Hon.  Eliphalet  Dyer,  Hon.  Roger  Sherman,  Silas 
Deane,  Esquires. 

For  New-York. — Philip  Livingston,  James  Duane,  John  Alsop,  John 
Jay,  Simon  Boerum,  William  Floyd,  Henry  Wisner,  Philip  Schuyler, 
George  Clinton,  Lewis  Morris,  Francis  Lewis,  Robert  R.  Livingston, 
Jun.,  Esquires. 

For  New-Jersey.—  James  Kinsey,  Stephen  Crane,  William  Living, 
ston,  John  De  Hart,  Richard  Smith,  Esquires. 

For  Pennsylvania. — John  Dickinson,  Thomas  Mifflin,  Charles  Hum. 
phreys,  Hon.  John  Morton,  George  Ross,  Benjamin  Franklin,  Hon. 
Thomas  Willing,  James  Wilson,  Esquires. 

For  New-Castle,  &c. — Hon.  Caesar  Rodney,  Thomas  McKean, 
George  Read,  Esquires. 

For  Maryland. — Hon.  Matthew  Tilghman,  Thomas  Johnson,  Robert 
Goldsborough,  William  Paca,  Samuel  Chase,  John  Hall,  Thomas 
Stone,  Esquires. 

For  Virginia. — Hon.  Peyton  Randolph,  George  Washington,  Rich, 
ard  Henry  Lee,  Edmund  Pendleton,  Benjamin  Harrison,  Richard 
Bland,  Patrick  Henry,  Esquires. 

For  North-Carolina. — William  Hooper,  Joseph  Hewes,  Richard  Cas. 
well,  Esquires. 

For  South-Carolina. — Hon.   Henry  Middleton,   Thomas  Lynch, 
Christopher  Gadsden,  John  Rutledge,  Edward  Rutledge,  Esquires. 
For  the  Parish  of  St.  John's,  in  Georgia. — Mr.  Lyman  Hall. 


1S35 


CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS,  MAY  26,  1775. 


1836 


from  the  Committee,  that  they  had  proceeded  in  the  busi- 
ness, but  not  having  completed  it,  desired  him  to  move  for 
leave  to  sit  again. 

Resolved,  That  this  Congress  will  again  resolve  itself 
into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole,  to  take  into  further  consi- 
deration the  state  of  America. 

Adjourned  till  to-morrow,  at  nine  o'clock. 

Wednesday,  May  24,  1775. 

The  Congress  met  according  to  adjournment,  but  the 
Hon.  Peyton  Randolph,  President,  being  under  a  neces- 
sity of  returning  home,  and  having  set  out  this  morning 
early,  the  chair  was  vacant ;  wherefore, 

On  motion,  the  Hon.  John  Hancock  was  unanimously 
chosen  President. 

The  President  having  assumed  the  chair,  the  Congress, 
agreeable  to  the  Order  of  the  Day,  again  resolved  itself 
into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole,  to  take  into  their  further 
consideration  the  state  of  America ;  and  after  some  time 
spent  therein,  the  President  resumed  the  chair,  and  Mr. 
Hard  reported  from  the  Committee,  that  they  had  pro- 
ceeded in  the  business,  but  not  having  come  to  a  conclu- 
sion, desired  him  to  move  for  leave  to  sit  again. 

Resolved,  That  this  Congress  will,  to-morrow,  again 
resolve  itself  into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole,  to  take  into 
their  farther  consideration  the  state  of  America. 

Adjourned  till  to-morrow,  at  nine  o'clock. 

Thursday,  May  25,  1775. 
The  Congress  met  according  to  adjournment,  and,  agree- 
able to  the  Order  of  the  Day,  again  resolved  itself  into  a 
Committee  of  the  Whole,  to  take  into  their  farther  consi- 
deration the  state  of  America •  ;  and  after  some  time  spent 
therein,  the  President  resumed  the  chair,  and  Mr.  Ward 
reported  from  the  Committee,  that  they  had  come  to  cer- 
tain Resolutions  respecting  New-  York,  which  he  was 
desired  to  report;  but  for  the  rest  of  the  business  referred  to 
them,  the  Committee  desired  him  to  move  for  leave  to  sit 
again.  The  Resolutions  being  severally  read,  and  agreed 
to,  are  as  follow,  viz : 

T.  Resolved,  That  a  Post  be  immediately  taken  and 
fortified  at  or  near  King' s- Bridge,  in  the  Colony  of  New- 
York,  and  that  the  ground  be  chosen  with  a  particular  view 
to  prevent  the  communication  between  the  City  of  New- 
York  and  the  country  from  being  interrupted  by  land. 

2.  Resolved,  That  a  Post  be  also  taken  in  the  High- 
lands on  each  side  of  Hudson's  River,  and  Batteries  erect- 
ed in  such  manner  as  will  most  effectually  prevent  any 
Vessels  passing  that  may  be  sent  to  harass  the  inhabitants 
on  the  borders  of  said  River;  and  that  experienced  persons 
be  immediately  sent  to  examine  said  River,  in  order  to 
discover  where  it  will  be  most  advisable  and  proper  to 
obstruct  the  navigation. 

3.  Resolved,  That  the  Militia  of  ^New-York  be  armed 
and  trained,  and  in  constant  readiness  to  act  at  a  moment's 
warning ;  and  that  a  number  of  Men  be  immediately  em- 
bodied, and  kept  in  that  City,  and  so  disposed  of  as  to  give 
protection  to  the  inhabitants,  in  case  any  insult  should  be 
offered  by  the  Troops  that  may  land  there,  and  to  prevent 
any  attempts  that  may  be  made  to  gain  possession  of  the 
City,  and  interrupt  its  intercourse  with  the  country. 

4.  That  it  be  left  to  the  Provincial  Congress  of  New- 
York  to  determine  the  number  of  men  sufficient  to  occupy 
the  several  Posts  above-mentioned,  and  also  that  already 
recommended  to  be  taken  at  or  near  Lake  George,  as  well 
as  to  guard  the  City,  provided  the  whole  do  not  exceed 
the  number  of  three  thousand  men,  to  be  commanded  by 
such  officers  as  shall  be  thereunto  appointed  by  said  Pro- 
vincial Congress,  and  to  be  governed  by  such  rules  and 
regulations  as  shall  be  established  by  said  Congress,  until 
farther  order  is  taken  by  this  Congress;  provided  also,  that 
if  the  said  Provincial  Congress  should  be  of  opinion  that 
the  number  proposed  will  not  be  sufficient  for  the  several 
services  above  recommended,  that  the  said  Congress  report 
their  sentiments  upon  this  subject  to  this  Congress,  as  soon 
as  may  be. 

5.  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  said  Provincial  Con- 
gress, that  in  raising  those  Forces,  they  allow  no  Bounties 
or  Clothing,  and  that  their  Pay  shall  not  exceed  the  estab- 
lishment of  the  New-England  Colonies. 


6.  That  it  be  further  recommended  to  the  Provincial 
Congress  aforesaid,  that  the  Troops  be  enlisted  to  serve 
until  the  last  day  of  December  next,  unless  this  Congress 
shall  direct  that  they  be  sooner  disbanded. 

A  motion  being  made  for  an  addition  to  the  foregoing 
Resolutions,  after  some  debate,  the  same  was  referred  till 
to-morrow,  to  which  time  the  Congress  adjourned, 

Friday,  May  26,  1775. 
The  Congress  met  according  to  adjournment.  A  Dele- 
gate from  New-Jersey  laid  before  them  a  Minute  from  the 
Journals  of  the  Assembly  of  that  Province,  together  with 
a  Resolution  of  the  Commons  of  Great  Britain;  which 
were  read,  and  are  as  follow,  viz : 

"New-Jersey  House  of  Assembly,  May  20,  1775. 

"His  Excellency  having  laid  before  the  House  a  copy 
of  the  Resolution  of  the  honourable  House  of  Commons 
of  Great  Britain,  of  the  twentieth  of  February,  1775, 
containing  a  Plan  formed  for  the  accommodation  of  the 
unhappy  differences  between  our  Parent  State  and  the 
Colonies ;  which  plan,  under  the  present  circumstances, 
this  House  could  not  comply  with  and  adopt,  and  yet  this 
House  being  desirous  of  making  use  of  all  proper  means 
to  effect  a  reconciliation,  do  recommend  it  to  their  Dele- 
gates to  lay  the  same  plan  before  the  Continental  Con- 
gress, for  their  consideration. 

"  A  true  copy  from  the  Journals : 

"  Richard  Smith,  Clerk  of  Assembly." 

Copy  of  a  Resolution  of  the  House  of  Commons,  Febru- 
ary 20,  1775. 
"  Resolved,  That  when  the  Governour,  Council,  and 
Assembly,  or  General  Court,  of  any  of  His  Majesty's 
Provinces  or  Colonies  in  America,  shall  propose  to  make 
provision,  according  to  the  condition,  circumstances,  and 
situations  of  such  Province  or  Colony,  for  contributing 
their  proportion  for  the  common  defence,  (such  proportion 
to  be  raised  under  the  authority  of  the  General  Court,  or 
General  Assembly  of  such  Province  or  Colony,  and  dis- 
posable by  Parliament,)  and  shall  engage  to  make  provi- 
sion also  for  the  support  of  the  Civil  Government,  and  the 
administration  of  justice  in  such  Province  or  Colony,  it 
will  be  proper,  if  such  proposal  shall  be  approved  by  His 
Majesty  and  the  two  Houses  of  Parliament,  and  for  so  long 
as  such  provision  shall  be  made  accordingly,  to  forbear,  in 
respect  of  such  Province  or  Colony,  to  levy  any  duty, 
tax,  or  assessment,  or  to  impose  any  further  duty,  tax,  or 
assessment,  except  only  such  duties  as  it  may  be  expedient 
to  continue  to  levy,  or  to  impose,  for  the  regulation  of 
Commerce,  the  nett  produce  of  the  duties  last  mentioned 
to  be  carried  to  the  account  of  such  Province  or  Colony, 
respectively." 

Ordered,  That  the  above  be  referred  to  the  Committee 
for  taking  into  consideration  the  state  of  America. 

The  Congress  resuming  the  consideration  of  the  addition 
proposed  yesterday,  resolved  that  the  following  addition  be 
made : 

Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  Congress 
aforesaid,  to  persevere  the  more  vigorously  in  preparing 
for  their  defence,  as  it  is  very  uncertain  whether  the  earn- 
est endeavours  of  the  Congress  to  accommodate  the 
unhappy  differences  between  Great  Britain  and  the  Colo- 
nies by  conciliatory  measures,  will  be  successful. 

Ordered,  That  the  above  Resolves,  respecting  New- 
York,  be  transmitted  by  the  President  in  a  Letter  to  the 
Provincial  Congress  of  New-  York,  and  that  it  be  particu- 
larly recommended  to  said  Congress  by  the  President,  not 
to  publish  the  foregoing  Resolves,  but  to  keep  them  as 
secret  as  the  nature  of  the  case  requires. 

Upon  motion,  Agreed,  That  Mr.  Jay,  Mr.  S.  Adams, 
and  Mr.  Deane,  be  a  Committee  to  prepare  and  bring  in  a 
Letter  to  the  People  of  Canada. 

The  Congress  then  resolved  themselves  into  a  Commit- 
tee of  the  Whole,  to  take  into  consideration  the  state  of 
America.  After  some  time  spent  therein,  the  President 
resumed  the  chair,  and  Mr.  Ward  reported  from  the  Com- 
mittee, that  they  had  come  to  some  Resolutions  respecting 
the  state  of  America,  which  he  was  desired  to  report,  but 
not  having  finished  the  business  referred  to  them,  they  de- 
sired him  to  move  for  leave  to  sit  again. 


1S37 


CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS,  MAY  29,  1775. 


1838 


The  Report  from  the  Committee  being  read,  the  Con- 
gress came  into  the  follow  Resolutions : 

L  Unanimously  Resolved,  That  His  Majesty's  most  faith- 
ful subjects  in  these  Colonies,  are  reduced  to  a  dangerous 
and  critical  situation,  by  the  attempts  of  the  British  Minis- 
try to  carry  into  execution  by  force  of  arms,  several  uncon- 
stitutional and  oppressive  Acts  of  the  British  Parliament 
for  laying  Taxes  in  America;  to  enforce  the  collection  of 
those  Taxes,  and  for  altering  and  changing  the  Constitution 
and  Internal  Police  of  some  of  these  Colonies,  in  violation 
of  the  natural  and  civil  rights  of  the  Colonists. 

2.  Unanimously,  Hostilities  being  actually  commenced 
in  the  Massachusetts-Bay,  by  the  British  Troops  under 
the  command  of  General  Gage,  and  the  lives  of  a  number 
of  the  inhabitants  of  that  Colony  destroyed,  the  Town 
of  Boston  having  not  only  been  long  occupied  as  a  gar- 
risoned Town  in  an  enemy's  country,  but  the  inhabitants 
thereof  treated  with  a  severity  and  cruelty  not  to  be  justified 
even  towards  declared  enemies ;  large  re-enforcements,  too, 
being  ordered,  and  soon  expected,  for  the  declaied  purpose 
of  compelling  these  Colonies  to  submit  to  the  operation  of 
the  said  Acts ;  therefore,  Resolved,  That  for  the  purpose 
of  securing  and  defending  these  Colonies,  and  preserving 
them  in  safety  against  all  attempts  to  carry  the  said  Acts 
into  execution,  by  force  of  arms,  these  Colonies  be  imme- 
diately put  into  a  state  of  defence. 

3.  Unanimously,  But,  as  we  most  aidently  wish  for  a 
restoration  of  the  harmony  formerly  subsisting  between  our 
Mother  Country  and  these  Colonies,  the  interruption  of 
which  must,  at  all  events,  be  exceedingly  injurious  to  both 
Countries,  Resolved,  That  with  a  sincere  design  of  con- 
tributing by  all  the  means  in  our  power,  not  incompatible 
with  a  just  regard  for  the  undoubted  rights  and  true  interests 
of  these  Colonies,  to  the  promotion  of  this  most  desirable 
reconciliation,  an  humble  and  dutiful  Petition  be  presented 
to  His  Majesty. 

4.  Resolved,  That  measures  be  entered  into  for  opening 
a  negotiation,  in  order  to  accommodate  the  unhappy  dis- 
putes subsisting  between  Great  Britain  and  these  Colonies, 
and  that  this  be  made  a  part  of  the  Petition  to  the  King. 

The  Congress  agree  that  the  Resolutions  respecting 
^civ-York  be  entered  unanimously,  and  inserted  after  the 
above. 

The  Congress  then  resolved  itself  into  a  Committee  of 
the  Whole,  to  take  into  their  further  consideration  the  state 
of  America ;  and  after  some  time  spent  therein,  the  Presi- 
dent resumed  the  chair,  and  Mr.  Ward  reported  from  the 
Committee,  that  they  had  proceeded  farther  in  the  business, 
but  not  having  come  to  a  conclusion,  desired  him  to  move 
for  leave  to  sit  again. 

Resolved,  That  this  Congress  will,  to-morrow,  again 
resolve  itself  into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole,  to  take  into 
farther  consideration  the  state  of  America. 

Adjourned  till  to-morrow,  at  nine  o'clock. 

Saturday,  May  27,  1775. 

The  Congress  met  according  to  adjournment. 

The  President  laid  before  the  Congress  a  Letter  from 
the  Convention  of  Neiv-  Jersey,  which  was  read,  and  refer- 
red to  the  Committee  of  the  YVhole. 

Information  being  given,  that  there  is  a  gentleman  in 
Town  who  could  give  the  Congress  a  full  and  just  account 
of  the  state  of  affairs  in  Canada, 

Ordered,  That  he  be  introduced  ;  and  he  was  accordingly 
introduced.  After  he  withdrew,  the  Congress,  agreeable  to 
the  Order  of  the  Day,  resolved  itself  into  a  Committee  of 
the  Whole,  and  after  some  time  spent  therein, 

The  Committee  appointed  to  draught  a  Letter  to  the 
Inhabitants  of  Canada,  informed  the  Committee  that  they 
had  performed  that  service,  and  as  there  was  an  opportu- 
nity of  sending  it  by  a  safe  conveyance  in  a  few  days,  they 
desired  to  have  an  opportunity  of  reporting  the  Letter; 
whereupon  the  President  resumed  the  chair,  and  the  Com- 
mittee reported  their  Letter,  which  was  read.  After  some 
debate,  recommitted. 

Upon  motion,  Agreed,  That  Mr.  Washington,  Mr.  Schvy- 
ler,  Mr.  Mifflin,  Mr.  Deane,  Mr.  Morris  and  Mr.  S.  Adams, 
be  a  Committee  to  consider  on  ways  and  means  to  supply 
these  Colonies  with  Ammunition  and  Military  Stores,  and 
to  report  immediately. 


Upon  motion,  The  Memorial  of  Robert  Murray  and 
John  Murray,  "  desiring  to  be  restored  to  their  former 
situation  with  respect  to  their  commercial  privileges,"  was 
taken  into  consideration,  and  after  some  time  spent  therein, 

Resolved,  That  where  any  person  hath  been  or  shall  be 
adjudged  by  a  Committee  to  have  violated  the  Continen- 
tal Association,  and  such  offender  shall  satisfy  the  Conven- 
tion of  the  Colony,  where  the  offence  was  or  shall  be 
committed,  or  the  Committee  of  the  Parish  of  St.  John's, 
in  the  Colony  of  Georgia,  if  the  offence  be  committed 
there,  of  his  contrition  for  his  offence,  and  sincere  resolu- 
tion to  conform  to  the  Association  for  the  future,  the  said 
Convention,  or  Committee  of  the  Parish  of  St.  John's 
aforesaid,  may  settle  the  terms  upon  which  he  may  be  re- 
stored to  the  favour  and  forgiveness  of  the  publick,  and 
that  the  terms  be  published. 

Ordered,  That  this  be  made  publick. 

Resolved,  That  the  Order  of  the  Day  be  postponed  till 
Monday. 

Adjourned  till  Monday,  at  nine  o'clock. 

Monday,  Mny  29,  1775. 

The  Congress  met  according  to  adjournment. 

The  Committee  to  whom  the  Letter  to  the  Inhabitants 
of  Canada  was  recommitted,  brought  in  a  draught,  which 
was  read,  and  approved,  and  is  as  follows : 

"  To  the  Oppressed  Inhabitants  of  Canada. 

"Friends  and  Countrymen:  Alarmed  by  the  designs 
of  an  arbitrary  Ministry  to  extirpate  the  rights  and  liber- 
ties of  all  America,  a  sense  of  common  danger  conspired  with 
the  dictates  of  humanity  in  urging  its  to  call  your  atten- 
tion, by  our  late  address,  to  this  very  important  object. 

V  Since  the  conclusion  of  the  late  war,  we  have  been 
happy  in  considering  you  as  fellow-subjects;  and  from  the 
commencement  of  the  present  plan  for  subjugating  the 
Continent,  we  have  viewed  you  as  fellow-suffeiers  w  ith  us. 
As  we  were  both  entitled  by  the  bounty  of  an  indulgent 
Creator  to  freedom,  and  being  both  devoted  by  the  cruel 
edicts  of  a  despotick  Administration,  to  common  ruin,  we 
perceived  the  fate  of  the  Protestant  and  Catholick  Colo- 
nies to  be  strongly  linked  together,  and  therefore  invited 
you  to  join  with  us  in  resolving  to  be  free,  and  in  rejecting, 
with  disdain,  the  fetters  of  slavery,  however  artfully  polished. 

"  We  most  sincerely  condole  with  you  on  the  arrival  of 
that  day,  in  the  course  of  which  the  sun  could  not  shine 
on  a  single  freeman  in  all  your  extensive  dominion.  Be 
assured,  that  your  unmerited  degradation  has  engaged  the 
most  unfeigned  pity  of  your  sister  Colonies;  and  we  flat- 
ter ourselves  you  will  not,  by  tamely  bearing  the  yoke, 
suffer  that  pity  to  be  supplanted  by  contempt. 

"When  hardy  attempts  are  made  to  deprive  men  of  rights 
bestowed  by  the  Almighty,  when  avenues  are  cut  through 
the  most  solemn  compacts  for  the  admission  of  despotism, 
when  the  plighted  faith  of  Government  ceases  to  give  se- 
curity to  dutiful  subjects,  and  when  the  insidious  stratagems 
and  manoeuvres  of  peace  become  more  terrible  than  the 
sanguinary  operations  of  war,  it  is  high  time  for  them  to 
assert  those  rights,  and,  with  honest  indignation,  oppose  the 
torrent  of  oppression  rushing  in  upon  them. 

"  By  the  introduction  of  your  present  form  of  Govern- 
ment, or  rather  present  form  of  tyranny,  you  and  your 
wives  and  your  children  are  made  slaves.  You  have 
nothing  that  you  can  call  your  own,  and  all  the  fruits  of  your 
labour  and  industry  may  be  taken  from  you  whenever  an 
avaricious  Governour  and  a  rapacious  Council  may  incline 
to  demand  them.  You  are  liable  by  their  edicts  to  be 
transported  into  foreign  Countries  to  fight  battles  in  which 
you  have  no  interest,  and  to  spill  your  blood  in  conflicts 
from  which  neither  honour  nor  emolument  can  be  derived  : 
nay,  the  enjoyment  of  your  very  religion,  on  the  present 
system,  depends  on  a  Legislature  in  which  you  have  no 
share,  and  over  which  you  have  no  control,  and  your 
priests  are  exposed  to  expulsion,  banishment,  and  ruin, 
whenever  their  wealth  and  possessions  furnish  sufficient 
temptation.  They  cannot  be  sure  that  a  virtuous  Prince 
will  always  fill  the  throne ;  and  should  a  wicked  or  careless 
King  concur  with  a  wicked  Ministry  in  extracting  the  trea- 
sure and  strength  of  your  Country,  it  is  impossible  to  con- 
ceive to  what  variety  and  to  what  extremes  of  wretchedness 
you  may,  under  the  present  establishment,  be  reduced. 


1839 


CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS,  MAY  31,  1775. 


1840 


"  We  are  informed  you  have  already  been  called  upon 
to  waste  your  lives  in  a  contest  with  us.  Should  you,  by 
complying  in  this  instance,  assent  to  your  new  establish- 
ment, and  a  war  break  out  with  France,  your  wealth  and 
your  sons  may  be  sent  to  perish  in  expeditions  against  their 
Islands  in  the  West-Indies. 

"  It  cannot  be  presumed  that  these  considerations  will  have 
no  weight  with  you,  or  that  you  are  so  lost  to  all  sense  of 
honour.  We  can  never  believe  that  the  present  race  of 
Canadians  are  so  degenerated  as  to  possess  neither  the 
spirit,  the  gallantry,  nor  the  courage  of  their  ancestors. 
You  certainly  will  not  permit  the  infamy  and  disgrace  of 
such  pusillanimity  to  rest  on  your  own  heads,  and  the  con- 
sequences of  it  on  your  children  forever. 

V  We,  for  our  parts,  are  determined  to  live  free,  or  not  at 
all;  and  are  resolved,  that  posterity  shall  never  reproach 
us  with  having  brought  slaves  into  the  world. 

"  Permit  us  again  to  repeat  that  we  are  your  friends,  not 
your  enemies,  and  be  not  imposed  upon  by  those  who  may 
endeavour  to  create  animosities.  The  taking  of  the  fort 
and  military  stores  at  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point,  and 
the  armed  vessels  on  the  lake,  was  dictated  by  the  great 
law  of  self-preservation.  They  were  intended  to  annoy 
us,  and  to  cut  off  that  friendly  intercourse  and  commu- 
nication, which  has  hitherto  subsisted  between  you  and 
us.  We  hope  it  has  given  you  no  uneasiness,  and  you  may 
rely  on  our  assurances,  that  these  Colonies  will  pursue  no 
measures  whatever,  but  such  as  friendship  and  a  regard  for 
our  mutual  safety  and  interest  may  suggest. 

"  As  our  concern  for  your  welfare  entitles  us  to  your 
friendship,  we  presume  you  will  not,  by  doing  us  injury, 
reduce  us  to  the  disagreeable  necessity  of  treating  you  as 
enemies. 

"  We  yet  entertain  hopes  of  your  uniting  with  us  in 
the  defence  of  our  common  liberty,  and  there  is  yet  reason 
to  believe,  that  should  we  join  in  imploring  the  attention  of 
our  Sovereign,  to  the  unmerited  and  unparalleled  oppres- 
sions of  his  American  subjects,  he  will  at  length  be  unde- 
ceived, and  forbid  a  licentious  Ministry  any  longer  to  riot 
in  the  ruins  of  the  rights  of  mankind." 

Ordered,  That  the  above  Letter  be  signed  by  the  Pre- 
sident. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Dickinson  and  Mr.  Mifflin  be  a 
Committee  to  get  the  Letter  translated  into  the  French 
language,  and  to  have  one  thousand  copies  of  it,  so  trans- 
lated, printed,  in  order  to  be  sent  to  Canada,  and  dispersed 
among  the  inhabitants  there. 

Upon  motion,  Resolved,  That  no  Provisions  or  neces- 
saries of  any  kind  be  exported  to  the  Island  of  Nantucket, 
except  from  the  Colony  of  Massachusetts-Bay,  the  Con- 
vention of  which  Colony  is  desired  to  take  measures  for 
effectually  providing  the  said  Island,  upon  their  application 
to  purchase  the  same,  with  as  much  Provision,  as  shall  be 
necessary  for  its  internal  use,  and  no  more. 

The  Congress  deeming  it  of  great  importance  to  North- 
America  that  the  British  Fishery  should  not  be  furnished 
with  Provisions  from  the  Continent  through  Nantucket, 
earnestly  recommend  a  vigilant  execution  of  this  Resolve 
to  all  Committees. 

Ordered,  That  the  above  Resolve  be  immediately  pub- 
lished. 

As  the  present  critical  situation  of  the  Colonies  renders 
it  highly  necessary  that  ways  and  means  should  be  devised 
for  the  speedy  and  secure  conveyance  of  intelligence  from 
one  end  of  the  Continent  to  the  other, 

Resolved,  That  Mr.  Franklin,  Mr.  Lynch,  Mr.  Lee, 
Mr.  Willing,  Mr.  Adams,  and  Mr.  P.  Livingston,  be 
a  Committee  to  consider  the  best  means  of  establishing 
Post  for  conveying  Letters  and  Intelligence  through  this 
Continent. 

Resolved,  That  the  Order  of  the  Day  be  postponed  till 
to-morrow. 

Adjourned  till  to-morrow,  at  nine  o'clock. 

Tuesday,  May  30,  1775. 

The  Congress  met  according  to  adjournment. 

A  member,  Mr.  Willing,  one  of  the  Delegates  for  Penn- 
sylvania, informed  the  Congress,  that  a  gentleman,  just  arri- 
ved from  London,  had  brought  with  him  a  paper,  which  he 


says  he  received  from  Lord  North,  and  which  was  written, 
at  the  desire  of  his  Lordship,  by  Mr.  Grey  Cooper,  Under 
Secretary  of  the  Treasury ;  and  as  the  gentleman  understood 
it  to  be  his  Lordship's  desire  that  it  should  be  communicated 
to  the  Congress,  he  had  for  that  purpose  put  it  into  his 
hands.  The  member  farther  observed,  that  he  had  shewn 
the  paper  to  a  member,  Doctor  Franklin,  who  was  well 
acquainted  with  the  hand-writing  of  Mr.  Cooper,  and  that 
he  verily  believes  the  paper  brought  by  the  gentleman 
was  written  by  Mr.  Cooper. 

The  Paper  being  read,  is  as  follows : 

"  That  it  is  earnestly  hoped  by  all  the  real  friends  of  the 
Americans,  that  the  terms  expressed  in  the  Resolution  of 
the  20th  of  February  last,  will  be  accepted  by  all  the  Colo- 
nies, who  have  the  least  affection  for  their  King  and  Coun- 
try, or  a  just  sense  of  their  own  interest. 

"  That  these  terms  are  honourable  for  Great  Britain, 
and  safe  for  the  Colonies. 

"That  if  the  Colonies  are  not  blinded  by  faction,  these 
terms  will  remove  every  grievance  relative  to  taxation,  and 
be  the  basis  of  a  compact  between  the  Colonies  and  the 
Mother  Country. 

"That  the  people  in  America  ought,  on  every  consi- 
deration, to  be  satisfied  with  them. 

"  That  no  further  relaxation  can  be  admitted. 

"  The  temper  and  spirit  of  the  Nation  are  so  much 
against  concessions,  that  if  it  were  the  intention  of  Admin 
istration,  they  could  not  carry  the  question. 

"  But  Administration  have  no  such  intention,  as  they  are 
fully  and  firmly  persuaded  that  further  concessions  would 
be  injurious  to  the  Colonies  as  well  as  to  Great  Britain. 

"  That  there  is  not  the  least  probability  of  a  change  of 
Administration. 

"  That  they  are  perfectly  united  in  opinion,  and  deter- 
mined to  pursue  the  most  effectual  measures,  and  to  use  the 
whole  force  of  the  Kingdom,  if  it  be  found  necessary,  to  re- 
duce the  rebellious  and  refractory  Provinces  and  Colonies. 

"  There  is  so  great  a  spirit  in  the  Nation  against  the 
Congress,  that  the  people  will  bear  the  temporary  distresses 
of  a  stoppage  of  the  American  trade. 

"  They  may  depend  on  this  to  be  true." 

Agreeable  to  the  Order  of  the  Day,  the  Congress  then 
resolved  itself  into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole,  to  take 
under  their  farther  consideration  the  state  of  America;  and 
after  some  time  spent  therein,  the  President  resumed  the 
chair,  and  Mr.  Ward  reported  from  the  Committee,  that 
they  had  proceeded  farther  in  the  consideration  of  the  busi- 
ness referred  to  them,  but  not  having  yet  come  to  a  con- 
clusion, desired  him  to  move  for  leave  to  sit  again. 

Resolved,  That  the  Congress  will,  to-morrow,  again 
resolve  itself  into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole,  to  take  into 
their  farther  consideration  the  state  of  America. 

Adjourned  till  to-morrow,  nine  o'clock. 

Wednesday,  May  31,  1775. 

The  Congress  met  according  to  adjournment,  and,  agree- 
able to  the  Order  of  the  Day,  resolved  itself  into  a  Com 
inittee  of  the  Whole,  to  take  into  their  farther  consideration 
the  state  of  America.  After  some  time  the  President  re- 
sumed the  chair,  and  the  papers  received  being  read,  and 
referred  to  the  consideration  of  the  Committee  of  the 
Whole,  the  Committee  sat  again,  and  after  some  time  the 
President  resumed  the  chair,  and  Mr.  Ward  reported  from 
the  Committee,  that  they  have  proceeded  farther  in  the 
business  recommended  to  them,  but  not  yet  having  finish- 
ed, they  have  desired  him  to  move  for  leave  to  sit  again. 

Resolved,  That  this  Congress  will,  to-morrow,  again  re- 
solve itself  into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole,  to  take  into 
their  farther  consideration  the  state  of  America. 

A  Letter  from  Colonel  Arnold,  dated  Crown  Point, 
May  23,  1775,  was  laid  before  the  Congress,  informing 
that  he  had  certain  intelligence,  that  "  on  the  19th  there 
were  then  four  hundred  Regulars  at  St.  John's,  making  all 
possible  preparations  to  cross  the  lake,  and  expected  to  be 
joined  by  a  number  of  Indians,  with  a  design  of  retaking 
Crown  Point  and  Ticonderoga,"  and  earnestly  calling  for 
a  re-enforcement  and  supplies. 

This  Letter  being  taken  into  consideration, 

Resolved,  That  the  Governour  of  Connecticut  be  re- 
quested immediately  to  send  a  strong  re-enforcement  to  the 


1841 


CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE  2,  1775. 


1842 


garrisons  of  Crown  Point  and  Ticonderoga ;  and  that  so 
many  of  the  Cannon  and  other  Stores  be  retained  as  may 
be  necessary  for  the  immediate  defence  of  those  posts, 
until  further  order  from  this  Congress;  and  that  the  Pro- 
vincial Convention  of  New-  York  be  informed  of  this  Re- 
solve, and  desired  to  furnish  those  Troops  with  Provisions 
and  other  necessary  stores,  and  to  take  effectual  care  that 
a  sufficient  number  of  Batteaus  be  immediately  provided 
for  the  lakes. 

Ordered,  That  the  above  Resolve  be  immediately  trans- 
mitted in  a  Letter  by  the  President,  to  Governour  Trumbull 
and  the  Convention  at  New-Yurk. 

Ordered,  That  the  President  in  his  Letter  acquaint  Gov- 
ernour Trumbull,  that  it  is  the  desire  of  Congress  that  he 
should  appoint  a  person  in  whom  he  can  confide  to  com- 
mand the  Forces  at  Crown  Point  and  Ticonderoga. 

Adjourned  till  to  morrow,  at  nine  o'clock. 

Thursday,  June  1,  1775. 

The  Congress  met  according  to  adjournment. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  Ways  and  Means 
to  supply  these  Colonies  with  Ammunition  and  Military 
Stores,  brought  in  their  Report ;  which  was  read,  and  re- 
ferred to  the  Committee  of  the  Whole. 

Upon  motion,  Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the 
Government  of  Connecticut,  or  the  General  of  the  Forces 
of  that  Colony,  to  appoint  Commissaries  to  receive  at 
Albany  and  forward  the  supplies  of  Provisions  for  the 
Forces  on  Lake  Champlain  from  the  Provincial  Conven- 
tion of  Neic-  York ;  and  that  the  said  Convention  use  their 
utmost  endeavours  in  facilitating  and  aiding  the  transporta- 
tion thereof  from  thence  to  where  the  said  Commissaries 
may  direct. 

As  this  Congress  has  nothing  more  in  view  than  the  de- 
fence of  these  Colonies, 

Resolved,  That  no  expedition  or  incursion  ought  to  be 
undertaken  or  made  by  any  Colony,  or  body  of  Colonists, 
against  or  into  Canada;  and  that  this  Resolve  be  imme- 
diately transmitted  to  the  Commander  of  the  Forces  at 
Ticonderoga. 

Ordered,  That  the  above  Resolve  be  translated  into  the 
French  language,  and  transmitted,  with  the  Letter,  to  the 
inhabitants  of  Canada ;  also, 

Ordered,  That  the  President  transmit  a  copy  of  the 
above  to  New-York,  and  the  other  Colonies  bordering  on 
Canada. 

A  Petition  from  the  Committee  representing  the  people 
in  that  part  of  Augusta  County,  in  the  Colony  of  Virginia, 
on  the  west  side  of  the  Alleghany  Mountain,  was  laid  be- 
fore the  Congress,  and  read,  intimating  "  fears  of  a  rupture 
with  the  Indians,  on  account  of  Lord  Dunmore's  conduct," 
and  desiring  "  Commissioners  from  the  Colony  of  Virginia 
and  Province  of  Pennsylvania,  to  attend  a  meeting  of  the 
Indians  at  Pittsburgh,  on  behalf  of  these  Colonies;"  also, 
a  Resolve  of  the  said  Committee,  in  these  words,  namely: 
"  That  the  unsettled  Boundary  between  this  Colony  and 
the  Province  of  Pennsylvania,  is  the  occasion  of  many 
disputes." 

Ordered,  That  the  above  be  referred  to  the  Delegates 
of  the  Colonies  of  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania. 

The  Congress  then,  agreeable  to  the  Order  of  the  Day, 
resolved  itself  into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole,  to  take  into 
consideration  the  state  of  America;  and  after  some  time 
spent  therein,  the  President  resumed  the  chair,  and  Mr. 
Ward  reported  from  the  Committee,  that  they  had  taken 
the  matters  referred  to  them  into  consideration,  but  not 
having  yet  come  to  a  conclusion,  desired  him  to  move  for 
leave  to  sit  again. 

Resolved,  That  this  Congress  will,  to-morrow,  again  re- 
solve itself  into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole,  to  take  into 
their  farther  consideration  the  state  of  America. 

Adjourned  till  to-morrow,  at  nine  o'clock. 

Friday,  June  2,  1775. 

The  Congress  met  according  to  adjournment. 

The  President  laid  before  the  Congress  a  Letter  from 
the  Provincial  Convention  of  Massachusetts ;  which  was 
read,  and  is  as  follows: 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  h. 


"In  Provincial  Congress,  Watcrtown,  May  16,  1775. 
"  Resolved,  That  Doctor  Benjamin  Church  be  ordered  to 
go  immediately  to  Philadelphia,  and  deliver  to  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  honourable  American  Congress  there  now  sit- 
ting, the  following  application,  to  be  by  him  communicated 
to  the  Members  thereof;  and  the  said  Church  is  also  di- 
rected to  confer  with  the  said  Congress  respecting  such 
other  matters  as  may  be  necessary  to  the  defence  of  this 
Colony,  and  particularly  the  state  of  the  Army  therein." 

"  May  it  please  your  Honours  :  That  system  of  Colo- 
ny administration,  which,  in  the  most  firm,  dutiful,  and  loyal 
manner,  has  been  in  vain  remonstrated  against  by  the  Rep- 
resentative body  of  the  United  Colonies,  seems  still,  unless 
speedily  and  vigorously  opposed  by  the  collected  wisdom 
and  force  of  all  America,  to  threaten  ruin  and  destruction 
to  this  Continent. 

"  For  a  long  time  past  this  Colony  has,  by  a  corrupt 
Administration  in  Great  Britain  and  here,  been  deprived 
of  the  exercise  of  those  powers  of  Government,  without 
which  a  people  can  be  neither  rich,  happy,  or  secure. 
The  whole  Continent  saw  the  blow  pending,  which,  if  not 
warded  off,  must  inevitably  have  subverted  the  freedom 
and  happiness  of  each  Colony.  The  principles  of  self- 
defence,  roused  in  the  breasts  of  freemen  by  the  dread  of 
impending  slavery,  caused  to  be  collected  the  wisdom  of 
America  in  a  Congress,  composed  of  men  who,  through 
time,  must,  in  every  land  of  freedom,  be  revered  among 
the  most  faithful  asserters  of  the  essential  rights  of  human 
nature. 

"  This  Colony  was  then  reduced  to  great  difficulties, 
being  denied  the  exercise  of  civil  Government,  according 
to  our  Charter,  or  the  fundamental  principles  of  the  English 
Constitution,  and  a  formidable  Navy  and  Army  (not  only 
inimical  to  our  safety,  but  flattered  with  the  prospect  of 
enjoying  the  fruit  of  our  industry)  were  stationed  for  that 
purpose  in  our  metropolis.  The  prospect  of  deciding  the 
question  between  our  Mother  Country  and  us,  by  the  sword, 
gave  us  the  greatest  pain  and  anxiety;  but  we  have  made 
all  the  preparation  for  our  necessary  defence,  that  our  con- 
fused state  would  admit  of;  and  as  the  question  equally 
affected  our  sister  Colonies  and  us,  we  have  declined, 
though  urged  thereto  by  the  most  pressing  necessity,  to 
assume  the  reins  of  civil  Government,  without  their  advice 
and  consent,  but  have  hitherto  borne  the  many  difficulties 
and  distressing  embarrassments  necessarily  resulting  from 
a  want  thereof. 

"  We  are  now  compelled  to  raise  an  army,  which,  with 
the  assistance  of  the  other  Colonies,  we  hope,  under  the 
smiles  of  Heaven,  will  be  able  to  defend  us  and  all  Ame- 
rica from  the  further  butcheries  and  devastations  of  our 
implacable  enemies.  But  as  the  sword  should,  in  all  free 
states,  be  subservient  to  the  civil  powers ;  and  as  it  is  the 
duty  of  the  Magistrates  to  support  it  for  the  people's  ne- 
cessary defence,  we  tremble  at  having  an  army  (although 
consisting  of  our  countrymen)  established  here,  without  a 
civil  power  to  provide  for  and  control  them. 

"  We  are  happy  in  having  an  opportunity  of  laying  our 
distressed  state  before  the  representative  body  of  the  Con- 
tinent ;  and  humbly  hope  you  will  favour  us  with  your  most 
explicit  advice  respecting  the  taking  up  and  exercising  the 
powers  of  civil  Government,  which  we  think  absolutely 
necessary  for  the  salvation  of  our  Country;  and  we  shall 
readily  submit  to  such  a  general  plan  as  you  may  direct  for 
the  Colonies,  or  make  it  our  great  study  to  establish  such 
a  form  of  Government  here,  as  shall  not  only  most  promote 
our  advantage,  but  the  union  and  interest  of  all  America. 

"  As  the  Army  now  collecting  from  different  Colonies 
is  for  the  general  defence  of  the  rights  of  America,  we 
would  beg  leave  to  suggest  to  your  consideration  the  pro- 
priety of  your  taking  the  regulation  and  general  direction 
of  it,  that  the  operations  may  more  effectually  answer  the 
purposes  designed.       Jos.  Warren,  President  p. 

The  above  Letter  referring  to  Doctor  Church,  on  mo- 
tion, Ordered,  To  lie  on  the  table. 
Agreed,  That  he  be  introduced. 

After  he  withdrew,  an  express  arriving  from  Massachu- 
setts-Bay, the  President  laid  before  the  Congress  Letters 
from  the  Conventions  of  that  Colony  and  New-Hampshire  ; 
also,  from  Governour  Trumbull;  all  which  were  read. 

16 


1843 


CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE  9,  1775. 


1844 


Upon  motion,  Resolved,  That  no  Bill  of  Exchange, 
Draft,  or  Order  of  any  Officer  in  the  Army  or  Navy,  their 
Agents  or  Contractors,  be  received  or  negotiated,  or  any 
Money  supplied  to  them  by  any  person  in  America. 

That  no  Provisions  or  necessaries  of  any  kind  be  fur- 
nished or  supplied  to,  or  for  the  use  of,  the  British  Army 
or  Navy,  in  the  Colony  of  Massachusetts-Bay;  and 

That  no  Vessel  employed  in  transporting  British  Troops 
to  America,  or  from  one  part  of  North  America  to  another, 
or  warlike  Stores  or  Provisions  for  said  Troops,  be  freight- 
ed or  furnished  with  Provisions  or  any  necessaries,  until 
further  orders  from  this  Congress. 

Ordered,  That  the  above  Resolves  be  immediately  pub- 
lished. 

Resolved,  That  this  Congress  will,  to-morrow,  resolve 
itself  into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole,  to  take  into  their  far- 
ther consideration  the  state  of  America. 

Adjourned  till  to-morrow,  at  nine  o'clock. 

Saturday,  June  3,  1775. 

The  Congress  met  according  to  adjournment. 

A  Letter  from  the  Provincial  Convention  of  New-York, 
together  with  sundry  Letters  and  papers  enclosed,  from 
Albany,  were  laid  before  the  Congress  and  read. 

Ordered,  To  lie  on  the  table. 

Upon  motion, 

Resolved,  That  a  Committee  of  five  persons  be  chosen 
to  take  into  consideration  the  Letter  from  the  Convention 
of  Massachusetts- Bay ,  dated  16th  of  May,  and  report  to 
this  Congress  what  in  their  opinion  is  the  proper  advice  to 
be  given  to  that  Convention. 

The  following  persons  were  chosen  by  ballot,  to  compose 
that  Committee,  viz:  Mr.  John  Rutledge,  Mr.  Johnson, 
Mr.  Jay,  Mr.  Wilson,  and  Mr.  Lee. 

Upon  motion, 

Resolved,  That  a  Committee  be  appointed  for  the  pur- 
pose of  borrowing  the  sum  of  Six  Thousand  Pounds,  for  the 
use  of  America ;  for  the  repayment  of  which,  with  interest, 
the  Congress  will  make  full  and  ample  provision  :  And  that 
the  said  Committee  apply  the  said  sum  of  Money  to  the  pur- 
chase of  Gunpowder  for  the  use  of  the  Continental  Army. 

That  the  Delegates  for  Pennsylvania  compose  said  Com- 
mittee, with  power  as  well  to  borrow  the  Money  as  to  apply 
it  to  the  purpose  intended. 

Resolved,  That  a  Committee  of  five  be  appointed  to 
draught  a  Petition  to  the  King. 

That  a  Committee  be  appointed  to  report  an  Address  to 
the  Inhabitants  of  Great  Britain. 

Also,  a  Committee  to  report  an  Address  to  the  People 
of  Ireland. 

Also,  a  Committee  to  draught  a  Letter  to  the  Inhabitants 
of  Jamaica. 

That  the  three  last  Committees  consist  each  of  three. 

That  a  Committee  be  appointed  to  bring  in  an  estimate 
of  the  Money  necessary  to  be  raised.  That  this  Commit- 
tee consist  ol  five  persons. 

That  the  Committee  to  report  a  Petition  to  the  King, 
be  Mr.  Dickinson,  Mr.  Johnson,  Mr.  J.  Rutledge,  Mr. 
Jay,  and  Mr.  Franklin. 

That  the  Committee  to  report  an  Address  to  the  Inhabi- 
tants of  Great  Britain,  be  Mr.  Lee,  Mr.  R.  R.  Living- 
ston, and  Mr.  Pendleton. 

That  Mr.  Duane,  Mr.  Wm.  Livingston,  Mr.  S.  Adams, 
and  Mr.  J.  Adams,  be  the  Committee  to  report  an  Address 
to  the  People  of  Ireland. 

That  Mr.  Hooper,  Mr.  Wilson,  and  Mr.  Lynch,  be  a  Com- 
mittee to  draught  a  Letter  to  the  Inhabitants  of  Jamaica. 

That  Mr.  Washington,  Mr.  Schuyler,  Mr.  Deane,  Mr. 
Cashing,  and  Mr.  Hewes,  be  a  Committee  to  bring  in  an 
estimate  of  the  Money  necessary  to  be  raised. 

Resolved,  That  this  Congress  will,  on  Monday,  resolve 
itself  into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole,  to  take  into  their 
farther  consideration  the  state  of  America. 

Adjourned  till  Monday  at  nine  o'clock. 

Monday,  June  5,  1775. 

A  number  of  the  Members  met  according  to  adjourn- 
ment; but  several  of  the  Colonies  not  being  represented, 
the  President  adjourned  the  Congress  till  to-morrow  at  nine 

o'clock. 


Tuesday,  June  6,  1775. 

The  Congress  met  according  to  adjournment ;  but  the 
several  Committees  not  being  ready  to  report,  adjourned 
till  to-morrow,  at  nine  o'clock. 

Wednesday,  June  7,  1775. 
The  Congress  met  according  to  adjournment. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  make  an  estimate  of  the 
Money  necessary  to  be  raised,  brought  in  a  Report,  which 
was  read,  and  referred  to  the  Committee  of  the  Whole. 

On  motion,  Resolved,  That  Thursday,  the  20th  of  July 
next,  be  observed  throughout  the  twelve  United  Colonies, 
as  a  day  of  Humiliation,  Fasting  and  Prayer;  and  that  Mr. 
Hooper,  Mr.  J.  Adams,  and  Mr.  Paine,  be  a  Committee 
to  bring  in  a  Resolve  for  that  purpose. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  prepare  advice  in  answer 
to  the  Letter  from  the  Convention  of  Massachusetts-Bay, 
dated  16th  of  May,  &ic,  brought  in  their  Report,  which  was 
read,  and  ordered  to  lie  on  the  table. 

The  Congress,  agreeable  to  the  Order  of  the  Day,  resolved 
themselves  into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole,  to  take  into 
their  farther  consideration  the  state  of  America.  After  some 
time  spent  therein,  the  President  resumed  the  chair,  and 
Mr.  Ward  reported  from  the  Committee,  that  they  had 
proceeded  in  the  business  referred  to  them,  but  not  having 
come  to  a  conclusion,  desired  him  to  move  for  leave  to  sit 
again. 

Resolved,  That  this  Congress  will,  to-morrow,  again 
resolve  themselves  into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole,  to  take 
into  their  farther  consideration  the  state  of  America ;  and 
that  this  be  a  standing  order  till  the  business  is  completed. 

Adjourned  till  to-morrow,  at  nine  o'clock. 

Thursday,  June  8,  1775. 

The  Congress  met  according  to  adjournment. 

The  Congress  being  informed  that  a  Major  Skene,  with 
some  other  officers,  were  arrived  last  evening  in  a  vessel 
from  London,  and  were,  with  their  papers,  now  in  custody 
of  the  Troops  of  this  City  ;  that  the  said  Major  Skene 
has  lately  been  appointed  Governour  of  the  Forts  of  Ticon- 
deroga  and  Crown  Point;  that  one  of  the  officers,  a  Lieu- 
tenant, has  commission  in  the  Regular  Troops  in  the  Pro- 
vince of  Quebeck ;  and  moreover,  that  the  said  Skene  had 
declared  he  has  authority  to  raise  a  regiment  in  America; 
from  all  this,  apprehending  that  the  said  Skene  is  a  dan- 
gerous partisan  of  Administration,  and  that  his  papers  may 
contain  intelligence  of  Ministerial  designs  against  America, 
very  important  to  be  known, 

Resolved,  That  a  Committee  be  appointed  to  examine, 
in  the  presence  of  said  Skene  and  the  Lieutenant,  all  the 
papers  in  their  possession. 

That  the  Committee  consist  of  Mr.  /.  Adams,  Mr.  Deane, 
and  Mr.  Mijjlin. 

That  the  said  Committee  be  upon  honour  to  conceal 
whatever  of  a  private  nature  may  come  to  their  knowledge 
by  such  examination  ;  and  that  they  communicate  to  this 
Congress  whatever  may  relate  to  the  present  dispute  be- 
tween Great  Britain  and  America. 

The  Congress  then  resolved  itself  into  a  Committee  of 
the  Whole,  to  take  into  their  farther  consideration  the  state 
of  America.  After  some  time  spent  therein,  the  President 
resumed  the  chair,  and  Mr.  Ward  reported  from  the  Com- 
mittee, that  not  having  yet  completed  the  business  referred 
to  them,  desired  him  to  move  for  leave  to  sit  again. 

Resolved,  That  this  Congress  will,  to-morrow,  again  re- 
solve itself  into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole,  to  take  into 
their  farther  consideration  the  state  of  America. 

Resolved,  That  the  consideration  of  the  Report  of  the 
Committee,  which  yesterday  was  ordered  to  lie  on  the  table, 
be  taken  up  as  the  first  business  to-morrow  morning. 

Adjourned  till  to-morrow,  at  nine  o'clock. 

Friday,  June  9,  1775. 

The  Congress  met  according  to  adjournment. 

The  Report  of  the  Committee  on  the  Letter  from  the 
Convention  of  Massachusetts-Bay,  being  again  read,  the 
Congress  came  to  the  following  Resolution  : 


1845 


CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE  12,  1775. 


1846 


Resolved,  That  no  obedience  being  due  to  the  Act  of 
Parliament  for  altering  the  Charter  of  the  Colony  of  Mas- 
sachusetts-Bay, nor  to  a  Governour,  or  a  Lieulenant-Go- 
vernour,  who  will  not  observe  the  directions  of,  but  endea- 
vour to  subvert  that  Charter,  the  Governour  and  Lieuten- 
ant-Governour  of  that  Colony  are  to  be  considered  asabsent, 
and  these  offices  vacant;  and  as  there  is  no  Council  there, 
and  the  inconveniences  arising  from  the  suspension  of  the 
powers  of  Government  are  intolerable,  especially  at  a  time 
when  General  Gage  hath  actually  levied  war,  and  is  car- 
rying on  hostilities  against  His  Majesty's  peaceable  and 
loyal  subjects  of  that  Colony;  that,  in  order  to  conform,  as 
near  as  may  be,  to  the  spirit  and  substance  of  the  Charter, 
it  be  recommended  to  the  Provincial  Convention,  to  write 
letters  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  several  places  which  are 
entitled  to  representation  in  Assembly,  requesting  them  to 
choose  such  representatives,  and  that  the  Assembly,  when 
chosen,  do  elect  Counsellors ;  which  Assembly  and  Council 
should  exercise  the  powers  of  Government,  until  a  Gover- 
nour, of  His  Majesty's  appointment,  will  consent  to  govern 
the  Colony  according  to  its  Charter. 

Ordered,  That  the  President  transmit  a  copy  of  the 
above  to  the  Convention  of  Massachusetts-Bat/. 

Upon  motion, 

Resolved,  That  this  Congress  will,  to-morrow,  take  into 
consideration  the  ways  and  means  of  raising  Money. 

Resolved,  That  the  Provincial  Convention  of  New-  York 
be  requested  to  convey,  as  soon  as  possible,  to  Providence, 
in  Rhode-Island,  or  to  any  Port  in  the  Government  of 
Massachusetts-Bay,  five  thousand  barrels  of  Flour  for  the 
use  of  the  Continental  Army. 

Resolved,  That  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  at 
Providence,  and  in  the  Government  of  Massachusetts-Bay, 
where  the  said  Flour  may  be  carried,  be  desired  to  receive 
and  forward  it  to  the  Camp  before  Boston  as  soon  as  may 
be  ;  and  to  lodge  such  part  thereof  as  cannot  be  immediate- 
ly sent  thither,  in  places  of  security. 

Resolved,  That  this  Congress  will  make  provision  for 
defraying  any  expense  incurred  for  this  service. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  of  the  above  Resolves  be  imme- 
diately transmitted  by  the  President  to  the  Convention  of 
Nc  ic-  York. 

Adjourned  till  to-morrow,  at  nine  o'clock. 

Saturday,  June  10,  1775. 

The  Congress  met  according  to  adjournment. 

Several  Letters,  from  Massachusetts-Bay,  Ticonderoga, 
Crown  Point,  &lc,  were  laid  before  the  Congress  and  read. 

Upon  motion,  the  Congress  came  to  the  following  Re- 
solutions : 

Resolved,  That  it  be,  and  it  is  hereby  earnestly  recom- 
mended to  the  several  Colonies  of Neiv-Hampshire,  Rhode- 
Island,  Connecticut,  and  the  interiour  Towns  of  Massachu- 
setts-Bay, that  they  immediately  furnish  the  American 
Army  before  Boston  with  as  much  Powder  out  of  their 
Town,  and  other  publick  stocks,  as  they  can  possibly 
spare  ;  keeping  an  exact  account  of  the  quantities  supplied, 
that  it  may  be  again  replaced,  or  paid  for  by  the  Continent. 
This  to  be  effected  with  the  utmost  secrecy  and  despatch. 

That  it  be  recommended  to  the  several  Towns  and  Dis- 
tricts in  the  Colonies  of  Massachusetts-Bay,  New-Hamp- 
shire, Rhode-Island  and  Providence  Plantations,  Connec- 
ticut, 2sew-York,  and  the  Eastern  Division  of  New- Jersey, 
to  collect  all  the  Saltpetre  and  Brimstone  in  their  several 
Towns  and  Districts,  and  transmit  the  same,  with  all  pos- 
sible despatch,  to  the  Provincial  Convention  of  New-York. 

That  it  be  recommended  to  the  Provincial  Congress  of 
the  Colony  of  New- York,  to  have  the  Powder-Mills  in 
that  Colony  put  into  such  a  condition  as  immediately  to 
manufacture  into  Gunpowder,  for  the  use  of  the  Continent, 
whatever  materials  may  be  procured  in  the  manner  above 
directed. 

That  it  be  recommended  to  the  Committees  of  the  West- 
ern Division  of  New- Jersey,  the  Colonies  of  Pennsylvania, 
Lower  Counties  on  Delaware,  and  Maryland,  that  they, 
without  delay,  collect  the  Saltpetre  and  Sulphur  in  their 
respective  Colonies,  and  transmit  the  same  to  the  Com- 
mittee for  the  City  and  Liberties  of  Philadelphia ;  to  the 
end,  that  those  articles  may  be  immediately  manufactured 
into  Gunpowder,  for  the  use  of  the  Continent. 


That  it  be  recommended  to  the  Conventions  and  Com- 
mittees of  the  Colonies  of  Virginia,  North- Carolina,  and 
South-  Carolina,  that  they,  without  delay,  collect  the  Salt- 
petre and  Sulphur  in  their  respective  Colonies,  and  procure 
these  articles  to  be  manufactured,  as  soon  as  possible,  into 
Gunpowder,  for  the  use  of  the  Continent. 

That  it  be  recommended  to  the  several  inhabitants  of 
the  United  Colonies,  who  are  possessed  of  Saltpetre  and 
Sulphur,  for  their  own  use,  to  dispose  of  them  for  the  pur- 
pose of  manufacturing  Gunpowder. 

That  the  Saltpetre  and  Sulphur,  to  be  collected  in  con- 
sequence of  the  above  Resolves  of  Congress,  be  paid  for 
out  of  the  Continental  Fund. 

Resolved,  That  Mr.  Paine,  Mr.  Lee,  Mr.  Franklin, 
Mr.  Schuyler,  and  Mr.  Johnson,  be  a  Committee  to  devise 
ways  and  means  to  introduce  the  manufacture  of  Saltpetre 
in  these  Colonies. 

The  Committee  for  examining  Governour  Skene's  Let- 
ters, &ic,  having  communicated  to  Congress  what  they 
found  relative  to  the  dispute  between  Great  Britain  and 
these  Colonies, 

Resolved,  That  Governour  Skene,  Lieutenant  Moncrief, 
and  Mr.  Lundy,  be  released  from  their  present  confine- 
ment, and  suffered  to  go  at  large  any  where  within  eight 
miles  of  the  City,  between  Delaware  and  Schuylkill,  on 
their  parole  of  honour  not  to  pass  those  limits,  and  that 
they  will  hold  no  correspondence  with  any  person  whatso- 
ever on  any  political  subject. 

That  Mr.  Gadsden  be  added  to  the  Committee  for  ex- 
amining Governour  Skene's  Papers,  and  that  they  enlarge 
them  upon  their  parole,  agreeable  to  the  above  Resolve. 

Resolved,  That  the  Order  of  the  Day  be  postponed  till 
Monday  next. 

Adjourned  till  Monday,  at  nine  o'clock. 

Monday,  June  12,  1775. 

The  Congress  met  according  to  adjournment. 

The  Committee  appointed  for  preparing  a  Resolve  for 
a  Fast,  brought  in  a  Report;  which,  being  read,  was  agreed 
to,  as  follows,  viz : 

As  the  great  Governour  of  the  world,  by  his  supreme 
and  universal  providence,  not  only  conducts  the  course  of 
nature  with  unerring  wisdom  and  rectitude,  but  frequently 
influences  the  minds  of  men  to  serve  the  wise  and  gracious 
purposes  of  his  providential  government ;  and  it  being,  at 
all  times,  our  indispensable  duty  devoutly  to  acknowledge 
his  superintending  providence,  especially  in  times  of  im- 
pending danger  and  publick  calamity,  to  reverence  and 
adore  his  immutable  justice  as  well  as  to  implore  his  mer- 
ciful interposition  for  our  deliverance : 

This  Congress,  therefore,  considering  the  present  criti- 
cal, alarming,  and  calamitous  state  of  these  Colonies,  do 
earnestly  recommend  that  Thursday,  the  twentieth  day  of 
July  next,  be  observed,  by  the  inhabitants  of  all  the  Eng- 
lish Colonies  on  this  Continent,  as  a  day  of  publick  humi- 
liation, fasting,  and  prayer;  that  we  may,  with  united 
hearts  and  voices,  unfeignedly  confess  and  deplore  our 
many  sins,  and  offer  up  our  joint  supplications  to  the  all- 
wise,  omnipotent,  and  merciful  Disposer  of  all  events;  hum- 
bly beseeching  him  to  forgive  our  iniquities,  to  remove  our 
present  calamities,  to  avert  those  desolating  judgments 
with  which  we  are  threatened,  and  to  bless  our  rightful 
Sovereign,  King  George  the  Third,  and  inspire  him  with 
wisdom  to  discern  and  pursue  the  true  interest  of  all  his 
subjects,  that  a  speedy  end  may  be  put  to  the  civil  discord 
between  Great  Britain  and  the  American  Colonies,  with- 
out farther  effusion  of  blood  ;  and  that  the  British  Nation 
may  be  influenced  to  regard  the  things  that  belong  to  her 
peace,  before  they  are  hid  from  her  eyes;  that  these  Colo- 
nies may  be  ever  under  the  care  and  protection  of  a  kind 
Providence,  and  be  prospered  in  all  their  interests ;  that 
the  divine  blessing  may  descend  and  rest  upon  all  our  civil 
rulers,  and  upon  the  Representatives  of  the  people,  in  their 
several  Assemblies  and  Conventions,  that  they  may  be 
directed  to  wise  and  effectual  measures  for  preserving  the 
union,  and  securing  the  just  rights  and  privileges  of  the 
Colonies ;  that  virtue  and  true  religion  may  revive  and 
flourish  throughout  our  land  ;  and  that  America  may  soon 
behold  a  gracious  interposition  of  Heaven,  for  the  redress 
of  her  many  grievances,  the  restoration  of  her  invaded 


1847 


CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE  16,  1775. 


1848 


rights,  a  reconciliation  with  the  Parent  State  on  terms 
constitutional  and  honourable  to  both;  and  that  her  civil 
and  religious  privileges  may  be  secured  to  the  latest  pos- 
terity. 

And  it  is  recommended  to  Christians  of  all  denomina- 
tions, to  assemble  for  publick  worship,  and  to  abstain  from 
servile  labour  and  recreation  on  said  day. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  of  the  above  be  signed  by  the 
President,  and  attested  by  the  Secretary,  and  published  in 
the  newspapers  and  in  handbills. 

On  motion,  Ordered,  That  the  Letter  to  the  Inhabitants 
of  Canada  be  published  in  English. 

The  Order  of  the  Day  being  read,  after  some  debate, 
the  Congress  resolved  itself  into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole, 
to  take  into  consideration  the  ways  and  means  of  raising 
Money.  After  some  time,  the  President  resumed  the  chair, 
Mr.  Ward  reported  from  the  Committee,  that  they  had 
proceeded  in  the  business  referred  to  them,  but  not  having 
come  to  a  conclusion,  desired  him  to  move  for  leave  to  sit 
iiLrain. 

Resolved,  That  the  Congress  will  to-morrow  resolve 
itself  into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole,  to  take  into  consi- 
deration the  ways  and  means  of  raising  Money,  and  also 
the  state  of  America. 

Adjourned  till  to-morrow,  at  nine  o'clock. 

Tuesday,  June  13,  1775. 

The  Congress  met,  and,  agreeable  to  the  Order  of  the 
Day,  resolved  itself  into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole,  to 
t  ike  into  consideration  the  ways  and  means  of  raising 
Money,  and  aho  the  state  of  America.  After  some  time 
spent  therein,  the  President  resumed  the  chair,  and  Mr. 
Ward  reported,  that  the  Committee  not  having  come  to  a 
conclusion,  desired  him  to  move  for  leave  to  sit  again. 

Resolved,  That  this  Congress  will  to-morrow  resolve 
itself  into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole,  to  take  into  consi- 
deration the  ways  and  means  of  raising  Money,  and  also 
the  state  of  America. 

Adjourned  till  to-morrow,  at  nine  o'clock. 

Wednesday,  June  14,  1775. 

The  Congress  met,  and,  agreeable  to  the  Order  of  the 
Day,  resolved  itself  into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole,  to 
take  into  consideration  the  state  of  America ;  and  after 
some  time  spent  therein,  the  President  resumed  the  chair, 
and  Mr.  Ward  reported,  that  the  Committee  not  having 
yet  come  to  a  conclusion,  they  desired  him  to  move  for 
leave  to  sit  again. 

At  the  same  time  they  desired  him  to  report  some  Reso- 
lutions which  they  had  come  into.  The  Resolutions  being 
read,  were  adopted,  as  follow,  viz: 

Resolved,  That  six  Companies  of  expert  Riflemen  be 
immediately  raised  in  Pennsylvania,  two  in  Maryland,  and 
two  in  Virginia;  that  each  Company  consist  of  a  Captain, 
three  Lieutenants,  four  Sergeants,  four  Corporals,  a  Drum- 
mer or  Trumpeter,  and  sixty-eight  Privates. 

That  each  Company,  as  soon  as  completed,  march  and 
join  the  Army  near  Boston,  to  be  there  employed  as  Light- 
Infantry,  under  the  command  of  the  chief  officer  in  that 
Army. 

That  the  Pay  of  the  Officers  and  Privates  be  as  follows, 
viz:  a  Captain  twenty  dollars  per  month;  a  Lieutenant 
thirteen  dollars  and  one-third  of  a  dollar  per  month;  a  Ser- 
geant eight  dollars  per  month  ;  a  Corporal  seven  dollars 
and  one-third  of  a  dollar  per  month;  a  Dru  miner  the  same; 
Privates  six  dollars  and  two-thirds  of  a  dollar  per  month  ; 
to  find  their  own  Arms  and  Clothes. 

That  the  form  of  the  Enlistment  be  in  the  following 
words,  viz : 

I,  ,  have  this  day  voluntarily  en- 
listed myself,  as  a  Soldier,  in  the  American  Continental 
Army,  for  one  year,  unless  sooner  discharged.  And  1  do 
hind  myself  to  conform,  in  all  instances,  to  such  Rules  and 
Regulations  as  are,  or  shall  be  established  for  the  govern- 
ment of  the  said  Army. 

Upon  motion,  Resolved,  That  Mr.  Washington,  Mr. 
Schuyler,  Mr.  Dcane,  Mr.  Gushing,  and  Mr.  Ilewcs,  he  a 
Committee  to  bring  in  a  draught  of  Rules  and  Regulations 
for  the  government  of  the  Army. 


A  Letter  from  the  Convention  of  New-  York,  dated  10th 
June,  1775,  respecting  a  Vessel  which  is  stopped  there,  on 
suspicion  of  having  Provisions  on  board  for  the  Army  and 
Navy  at  Boston,  was  read,  and  referred  to  the  Delegates 
of  Massachusetts-Bay,  Connecticut,  and  New-  York. 

Resolved,  That  the  Congress  will,  to-morrow,  resolve 
itself  into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole,  to  take  into  consi- 
deration the  ways  and  means  of  raising  Money,  and  the 
state  of  America.  This  to  be  a  Standing  Order  until  the 
business  is  completed. 

Adjourned  till  to-morrow,  at  nine  o'clock. 

Thursday,  June  15,  1775. 

The  Congress  met  according  to  adjournment. 

The  Committee  to  whom  the  Letter  from  the  Conven- 
tion of  New-York  was  referred,  brought  in  their  Report; 
which  being  read, 

Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  this  Congress  be  given  to 
the  Convention  of  New-York,  for  their  vigilance  in  the 
case  of  Captain  Coffin's  Vessel,  and  that  it  be  recommend- 
ed to  them  that  the  Vessel  be  unloaded,  and  the  Cargo 
safely  stored,  until  all  just  suspicions  concerning  the  desti- 
nation of  it  shall  be  removed. 

Ordered,  That  this  be  transmitted,  by  the  President,  in 
a  Letter  to  the  Chairman  of  the  Convention  of  New- York. 

Agreeable  to  the  Order  of  the  Day,  the  Congress  re- 
solved itself  into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole,  to  take  into 
consideration  the  ways  and  means  of  raising  Money,  and 
the  state  of  America ;  after  some  time  spent  therein,  the 
President  resumed  the  chair,  and  Mr.  Ward  reported,  that 
the  Committee  had  come  to  certain  Resolutions,  which 
they  desired  him  to  report ;  but  not  having  yet  come  to  a 
conclusion,  ordered  him  to  move  for  leave  to  sit  again. 

The  Report  of  the  Committee  being  read,  and  debated, 

Resolved,  That  a  General  be  appointed  to  command  all 
the  Continental  Forces  raised,  or  to  be  raised,  for  the  de- 
fence of  American  liberty. 

That  five  hundred  Dollars  per  month  be  allowed  for  his 
pay  and  expenses. 

The  Congress  then  proceeded  to  the  choice  of  a  Gene- 
ral, when  O'eorge  Washington,  Esquire,  was  unanimously 
elected. 

Resolved,  That  the  Congress  will,  to-morrow,  again 
resolve  itself  into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole,  to  lake  into 
consideration  the  state  of  America. 

Adjourned  till  to-morrow,  at  eight  o'clock. 

Friday,  June  16,  1775. 

The  Congress  met  according  to  adjournment. 

The  President,  from  the  chair,  informed  George  Wash- 
ington, Esquire,  that  he  had  the  orders  of  the  Congress  to 
acquaint  him  that  the  Congress  had,  by  a  unanimous  vote, 
made  choice  of  him  to  be  General  and  Commander-in- 
Chief,  to  take  the  supreme  command  of  the  Forces  raised, 
and  to  be  raised,  in  defence  of  American  liberty,  and  de- 
sired his  acceptance  of  it.  To  which  Colonel  Washing- 
ton, standing  in  his  place,  answered  : 

"Mr.  President:  Though  I  am  truly  sensible  of  the 
high  honour  done  me,  in  this  appointment,  yet  1  feel  great 
distress,  from  a  consciousness  that  my  abilities  and  military 
expeiience  may  not  be  equal  to  the  extensive  and  impor- 
tant trust.  However,  as  the  Congress  desire  it,  I  will  enter 
upon  the  momentous  duty,  and  exert  every  power  I  possess  * 
in  their  service,  and  for  support  of  the  glorious  cause.  1 
beg  they  will  accept  my  most  cordial  thanks  for  this  distin- 
guished testimony  of  their  approbation. 

"But,  lest  some  unlucky  event  should  happen,  unfa- 
vourable to  my  reputation,  1  beg  it  may  be  remembered, 
by  every  gentleman  in  the  room,  thai  I  this  day  declare, 
with  the  utmost  sincerity,  1  do  not  think  myself  equal  to 
the  command  1  am  honoured  with. 

"  As  to  pay,  Sir,  1  beg  leave  to  assure  the  Congress, 
that  as  no  pecuniary  consideration  coidd  have  tempted  me 
to  accept  this  arduous  employment,  at  the  expense  of  my 
domestick  ease  and  happiness,  I  do  not  wish  to  make  any 
profit  from  it.  1  will  keep  an  exact  account  of  my  expenses. 
Those,  1  doubt  not,  they  will  discharge,  and  that  is  all  I 
desire." 

Upon  motion,  Resolved,  That  a  Committee  of  three  be 


<849 


CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE  19,  1775. 


1S50 


appointed  to  draught  a  Commission  and  Instructions  for 
the  General. 

The  Committee  to  consist  of  the  following  persons,  viz: 
Mr.  Lee,  Mr.  E.  Rulledge,  and  Mr.  J.  Adams. 

Upon  motion,  Resolved,  unanimously,  That  a  Commit- 
tee of  five  be  appointed  to  take  into  consideration  the  Pa- 
pers transmitted  from  the  Convention  of  New-York,  rela- 
tive to  Indian  Affairs,  and  report  what  steps,  in  their 
opinion,  are  necessary  to  be  taken  for  securing  and  preser- 
ving the  friendship  of  the  Indian  Nations. 

That  the  Committee  consist  of  the  following  persons, 
viz:  Mr.  Schuyler,  Mr.  Henry,  Mr.  Duane,  Mr.  Wilson, 
and  Mr.  P.  Livingston. 

Agreeable  to  the  Order  of  the  Day,  the  Congress  re- 
solved itself  into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole,  to  take  into 
consideration  the  state  of  America ;  and,  after  some  time 
spent  therein,  the  President  resumed  the  chair,  and  Mr. 
Ward  reported,  that  the  Committee  had  come  to  certain 
Resolutions,  which  they  had  ordered  him  to  report,  but 
not  having  come  to  a  conclusion,  they  desired  him  to  move 
for  leave  to  sit  again. 

The  Resolve  of  the  Committee  being  read,  the  Con- 
gress came  to  the  following  Resolutions,  viz  : 

Resolved,  That  two  Major-Generals  be  appointed  for 
the  American  Army. 

That  the  pay  of  each  of  the  Major-Generals  be  one 
hundred  and  sixty-six  Dollars  per  month. 

That  when  any  of  these  act  in  a  separate  department, 
he  be  allowed,  for  his  pay  and  expenses,  three  hundred 
and  thirty-two  Dollars  per  month. 

That  there  be  eight  Brigadiers-General. 

That  the  pay  of  each  be  one  hundred  and  twenty-five 
Dollars  per  month. 

That  there  be  one  Adjutant-General,  and  his  pay  one 
hundred  and  twenty-five  Dollars  per  month. 

That  there  be  one  Commissary-General  of  Stores  and 
Provisions;  and  that  his  pay  be  eighty  Dollars  per  month. 

Thai  there  be  one  Quartermaster-General  for  the  Grand 
Army,  and  a  Deputy  under  him,  for  the  separate  Army. 

That  the  pay  of  the  Quartermaster-General  be  eighty 
Dollars  per  month ;  that  of  the  Deputy  forty  Dollars  per 
month. 

That  there  be  a  Paymaster-General,  and  a  Deputy  under 
him,  for  the  Army,  in  a  separate  department;  that  the  pay, 
for  himself,  be  one  hundred  Dollars  per  month,  and  for  the 
Deputy-Paymaster  under  him,  fifty  Dollars  per  month. 

That  there  be  one  Chief  Engineer  at  the  Grand  Army; 
and  that  his  pay  be  sixty  Dollars  per  month. 

That  two  Assistants  be  employed  under  him ;  and  that 
the  pay  of  each  of  them  be  twenty  Dollars  per  month. 

That  there  be  one  Chief  Engineer  for  the  Army,  in  a 
separate  department,  and  two  Assistants  under  him  ;  that 
the  pay  of  the  Chief  Engineer  be  sixty  Dollars  per  month, 
and  the  pay  of  the  Assistants  each  twenty  Dollars  per 
month. 

That  there  be  three  Aids-de-Camp ;  and  that  their  pay 
be  thirty-three  Dollars  per  month  each. 

That  there  be  a  Secretary  to  the  General  ;  and  that  his 
pay  be  sixty-six  Dollars  per  month. 

That  there  be  a  Secretary  to  the  Major-General,  acting 
in  a  separate  department :  and  that  his  pay  be  thirty-three 
Dollars  per  month. 

That  there  be  a  Commissary  of  the  Musters;  and  that 
his  pay  be  forty  Dollars  per  month. 

A  Letter  from  the  Convention  of  New-  York,  received 
by  express,  was  laid  before  the  Congress,  and  read;  which 
being  taken  into  consideration, 

Resolved,  That  the  Provincial  Convention  of  New-York 
be  desired  immediately  to  apply  to  Governonr  Trumbull 
to  order  the  Connecticut  Troops  now  stationed  at  Green- 
wich, Stamford,  and  parts  adjacent,  to  march  towards  New- 
York ;  and  that  part  of  them  occupy  such  posts  on  that 
Island  as  the  said  Provincial  Convention  shall  judge  best 
adapted  to  prevent  the  communication  between  the  town 
and  country  from  being  cut  off'.  The  remainder  of  the 
Troops  to  be  employed  in  securing  the  navigation  of  Hud- 
son's River,  by  erecting  Batteries  at  such  places  as  the  said 
Convention  shall  judge  most  proper  to  answer  that  pur- 
pose. 

Resolved,  That  the  Congress  will,  to-morrow,  again 


resolve  itself  into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole,  to  take  into 
their  farther  consideration  the  state  of  America. 
Adjourned  till  to-morrow,  at  nine  o'clock. 

Saturday,  June  17,  1775. 
The  Congress  met  according  to  adjournment. 
The  Committee  appointed  to  draught  a  Commission  for 
the  General,  reported  the  same  ;  which  being  read  by  para- 
graphs, and  debated,  was  agreed  to,  and  is  as  follows : 
In  Congress. 

The  Delegates  of  the  United  Colonies  of  New-Hampshire, 
Massachusetts-Bay,  Rhode-Island,  Connecticut,  New- 
York,  New-Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  the  Counties  of  New- 
castle, Kent,  and  Sussex,  on  Delaware,  Maryland,  Vir- 
ginia, North- Carolina,  and  South- Carolina,  in  Congress 
assembled, 

To  George  Washington,  Esq. 

We,  reposing  special  trust  and  confidence  in  your  patriot- 
ism, valour,  conduct,  and  fidelity,  do,  by  these  presents, 
constitute  and  appoint  you  to  be  General  and  Commander- 
in-Chief  of  the  Army  of  the  United  Colonies,  and  of  all 
the  Forces  now  raised,  or  to  be  rai«ed  by  them,  and  of  all 
others  who  shall  voluntarily  offer  their  service  and  join  the 
said  Army  for  the  defence  of  American  liberty,  and  for 
repelling  every  hostile  invasion  thereof.  And  you  are 
hereby  vested  with  full  power  and  authority  to  act  as  you 
shall  think  for  the  good  and  welfare  of  the  service. 

And  we  do  hereby  strictly  charge  and  require  all  Officers 
and  Soldiers  under  your  command  to  be  obedient  to  your 
orders,  and  diligent  in  the  exercise  of  their  several  duties. 

And  we  do  also  enjoin  and  require  you  to  be  careful  in 
executing  the  great  trust  reposed  in  you,  by  causing  strict 
discipline  and  order  to  be  observed  in  the  Army;  and  that 
the  Soldiers  be  duly  exercised,  and  provided  with  all  con- 
venient necessaries. 

And  you  are  to  regulate  your  conduct  in  every  respect 
by  the  rules  and  discipline  of  war,  (as  herewith  given  you,) 
and  punctually  to  observe  and  follow  such  orders  and  direc- 
tions, from  time  to  time,  as  you  shall  receive  from  this  or 
a  future  Congress  of  these  United  Colonies,  or  Committee 
of  Congress. 

This  Commission  to  continue  in  force  until  revoked  by 
this  or  a  future  Congress.    By  order  of  the  Congress. 
Philadelphia,  June  17,  1775. 

Ordered,  That  the  same  be  fairly  transcribed,  signed  by 
the  President,  attested  by  the  Secretary,  and  delivered  to 
the  General. 

Resolved  unanimously,  upon  the  question,  Whereas,  the 
Delegates  of  all  the  Colonies,  from  Nova-Scotia  to  Georgia. 
in  Congress  assembled,  have  unanimously  chosen  George 
Washington,  Esq.,  to  be  General  and  Commander-in-Chie! 
of  such  Forces  as  are  or  shall  be  raised  for  the  maintenance 
and  preservation  of  American  liberty;  this  Congress  doth 
now  declare  that  they  will  maintain  and  assist  him,  and  ad- 
here to  him,  the  said  George  Washington,  Esq.,  with  their 
lives  and  fortunes  in  the  same  cause. 

The  Congress  then  proceeded  to  the  choice  of  the  Offi- 
cers in  the  Army,  by  ballot ;  when 

Artemas  Ward,  Esq.,  was  chosen  first  Major-General. 

Horatio  Gates,  Esq.,  Adjutant-General. 

Resolved,  That  Horatio  Gates,  now  cho=en  Adjutant- 
General,  shall  have  the  rank  of  a  Brigadier-General. 

Charles  Lee,  Esq.,  was  chosen  second  Major-General. 

Resolved,  That  this  Congress  will,  on  Monday,  resolve 
itself  into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole,  to  take  into  con- 
sideration the  state  of  America. 

Adjourned  till  Monday  next,  at  nine  o'clock. 

Monday,  June  19,  1775. 

The  Congress  met  according  to  adjournment. 

The  President  laid  before  the  Congress  sundry  Letters 
from  the  Conventions  of  Massachusetts-  Day  and  Neto- 
York ;  which  were  read. 

Upon  motion,  Ordered,  That  Mr.  Henry,  Mr.  Lynch, 
and  Mr.  J.  Adams,  be  a  Committee  to  wait  upon  General 
Lee,  and  to  inform  him  of  his  appointment,  and  request 
his  answer  whether  he  will  accept  the  command. 

The  Committee  returned,  and  reported,  that  they  had 
waited  on  General  Lee,  and  informed  him  of  his  appoint- 


1851 


CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE  21,  1775. 


1853 


merit,  and  that  lie  gave  for  answer :  "  That  he  had  the 
highest  sense  of  the  honour  conferred  upon  him  by  the 
Congress ;  that  no  effort  in  his  power  shall  be  wanting  to 
serve  the  American  cause ;  but  before  he  entered  upon  the 
service,  he  desired  a  conference  with  a  Committee,  to  con- 
sist of  one  Delegate  from  each  of  the  associated  Colonies, 
to  whom  he  desired  to  explain  some  particulars  respecting 
his  private  fortune." 

Whereupon,  Mr.  Sullivan,  Mr.  £.  Adams,  Mr.  Hop- 
kins, Mr.  Dyer,  Mr.  P.  Livingston,  Mr.  W.  Livingston, 
Mr.  Ross,  Mr.  Rodney,  Mr.  Johnson,  Mr.  Henry,  Mr. 
Caswell,  and  Mr.  Lynch,  were  appointed  as  a  Committee 
to  confer  with  General  Lee. 

The  Committee  returned,  and  reported,  that  they  had 
conferred  with  General  Lee,  who  had  communicated  to 
them  an  estimate  of  the  estate  he  risked  by  this  service. 

Whereupon,  Resolved,  That  these  Colonies  will  indem- 
nify General  Lee  for  any  loss  of  property  which  he  may 
sustain  by  entering  into  their  service ;  and  that  the  same 
be  done  by  this  or  any  future  Congress,  as  soon  as  such 
loss  is  ascertained. 

The  Letters  from  Massachusetts-Ray  being  taken  into 
consideration, 

Upon  motion,  Resolved  unanimously,  That  the  Govern- 
our  of  Connecticut  be  requested  to  direct  all  the  Forces 
raised  in  that  Colony,  not  employed  at  Ticonderoga  and 
Crown  Point,  or  recommended  by  this  Congress  to  be 
marched  towards  New-York,  to  be  immediately  sent  to 
join  the  combined  Army  before  Roston.  And  it  is  earnestly 
recommended  to  the  Colony  of  Rhode-Island,  and  to  the 
Provincial  Convention  of  New-Hampshire,  to  send  imme- 
diately to  the  Army  before  Roston  such  of  the  Forces  as 
are  already  embodied,  towards  their  quotas  of  the  Troops 
agreed  to  be  raised  by  the  New-England  Colonies. 

Resolved,  That  Mr.  Lee,  Mr.  E.  Rutledge,  and  Mr.  J. 
Adams,  be  a  Committee  to  prepare  the  form  of  a  Commis- 
sion for  the  Major-Generals ;  and  also  for  the  Brigadier- 
Generals  and  other  Officers  in  the  Army. 

Resolved,  That  there  be  four  Major-Generals. 

The  Congress  then  proceeded  to  choose  the  two  remain- 
ing Major-Generals  ;  when  Philip  Schuyler,  Esquire,  was 
chosen  third  Major-General,  and  Israel  Putnam,  Esq.,  was 
unanimously  chosen  fourth  Major-General. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  prepare  the  form  of  a 
Commission  for  the  Major  and  Brigadier-Generals,  report- 
ed the  same,  which  being  agreed  to, 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  thereof  be  made  out,  signed  by 
the  President,  and  attested  by  the  Secretary,  for  each  of 
the  Major-Generals  and  Brigadier-Generals. 

Ordered,  That  the  Secretary  get  a  number  of  Commis- 
sions printed,  with  proper  blanks,  for  the  other  Officers. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  prepare  a  Petition  to  the 
King,  reported  the  same. 

Resolved,  That  this  Congress  will,  to-morrow,  resolve 
itself  into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole,  to  take  into  con- 
sideration the  state  of  America. 

Adjourned  till  to-morrow,  nine  o'clock. 

Tuesday,  July  20,  1775. 

The  Congress  met  according  to  adjournment. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  draught  Instructions  to  the 
General,  reported  the  same ;  which  being  read,  were  agreed 
to,  and  are  as  follow  : 
To  Geokge  Washington,  Esq. 

This  Congress  having  appointed  you  to  be  General  and 
Commander-in-Chief  of  the  Army  of  the  United  Colonies, 
of  all  the  Forces  raised  or  to  be  raised  by  them,  and  of  all 
others  who  shall  voluntarily  offer  their  service  and  join  the 
said  Army  for  the  defence  of  American  liberty,  and  for 
repelling  every  hostile  invasion  thereof,  you  are  to  repair 
with  all  expedition  to  the  Colony  of  Massachusetts-Ray , 
and  take  charge  of  the  Army  of  the  United  Colonies. 

For  your  better  direction  : 

1.  You  are  to  make  a  return  to  us  as  soon  as  possible  of 
all  Forces  which  you  shall  have  under  your  command,  to- 
gether with  their  Military  Stores  and  Provisions ;  and  also, 
as  exact  an  account  as  you  can  obtain  of  the  Forces  which 
compose  the  Rritish  Army  in  America. 

2.  You  are  not  to  disband  any  of  the  men  you  6nd 


raised,  until  further  direction  from  this  Congress;  and  if 
you  shall  think  their  numbers  not  adequate  to  the  purpose 
of  security,  you  may  recruit  them  to  a  number  you  shall 
think  sufficient,  not  exceeding  double  that  of  the  enemy. 

3.  In  all  cases  of  vacancy  occasioned  by  the  death  or 
removal  of  a  Colonel,  or  other  inferiour  officer,  you  are  by 
brevet,  or  warrant  under  your  seal,  to  appoint  another  per- 
son to  fill  up  such  vacancy,  until  it  shall  otherwise  be  or- 
dered by  the  Provincial  Convention,  or  the  Assembly  ol 
the  Colony  from  whence  the  Troops  in  which  such  vacancy 
happen,  shall  direct  otherwise. 

4.  You  are  to  victual,  at  the  Continental  expense,  all 
such  Volunteers  as  have  joined  or  shall  join  the  united 
Army. 

5.  You  shall  take  every  method  in  your  power,  consist- 
ent with  prudence,  to  destroy  or  make  prisoners  of  all  per- 
sons who  now  are,  or  who  hereafter  shall  appear  in  arms 
against  the  good  people  of  the  United  Colonies. 

6.  And  whereas,  all  particulars  cannot  be  foreseen,  nor 
positive  instructions  for  such  emergencies  so  beforehand 
given,  but  that  many  things  must  be  left  to  your  prudent 
and  discreet  management,  as  occurrences  may  arise  upon 
the  place,  or  from  time  to  time  fall  out,  you  are,  therefore, 
upon  all  such  accidents,  or  any  occasions  that  may  happen, 
to  use  your  best  circumspection  ;  and  (advising  with  your 
Council  of  War)  to  order  and  dispose  of  the  said  Army 
under  your  command  as  may  be  most  advantageous  for  the 
obtaining  the  end  for  which  these  forces  have  been  raised, 
making  it  your  special  care,  in  discharge  of  the  great  trust 
committed  unto  you,  that  the  liberties  of  America  receive 
no  detriment. 

Resolved,  That  this  Congress  will,  to-morrow,  resolve 
itself  into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole,  to  take  into  con- 
sideration the  state  of  America. 

Adjourned  till  to-morrow,  at  nine  o'clock. 

Wednesday,  June  21,  1775. 

The  Congress  met  according  to  adjournment. 

Mr.  Thomas  Jefferson  appeared  as  a  Delegate  for  the 
Colony  of  Virginia,  and  produced  his  Credentials ;  which 
were  read  and  approved,  and  are  as  follow: 

"  At  a  Convention  of  the  Delegates  for  the  Counties 
and  Corporations  in  the  Colony  of  Virginia,  at  the  Town 
of  Richmond,  in  the  County  of  Henrico,  on  Monday, 
March  27,  1775 : 

"  On  a  motion  made,  Resolved,  That  Thomas  Jefferson, 
Esq.,  be  appointed  a  Deputy  to  represent  this  Colony  in 
General  Congress,  in  the  room  of  the  Honourable  Peyton 
Randolph,  Esq.,  in  case  of  the  non-attendance  of  the  said 
Peyton  Randolph,  Esq.    A  copy,  test : 

"  John  Tazewell,  Clerk  of  the  Convention." 

"  At  a  General  Assembly  begun  and  held  at  the  Capitol, 
in  the  City  of  Williamsburgh,  on  Thursday,  the  first  day 
of  June,  in  the  fifteenth  year  of  the  reign  of  our  Lord 
George  the  Third,  by  the  grace  of  God,  of  Great-Rritain, 
France,  and  Ireland,  King,  Defender  of  the  Faith,  &c, 

"  Monday,  June  5,  15th  Geo.  Ill,  A.  D.  1775. 

"  Resolved,  N.  C.  ID.,  That  this  House  doth  entirely 
approve  of  the  proceedings  and  Resolutions  of  the  Con- 
vention of  Delegates  for  the  Counties  and  Corporations  in 
the  Colony  of  Virginia,  held  at  Richmond  Town,  in  the 
County  of  Henrico,  on  the  20th  of  March,  1775  ;  and  that 
it  be  recommended  to  all  the  good  people  of  this  Colony 
strictly  to  conform  to  and  observe  the  same. 

"  By  the  House  of  Burgesses  : 

"  Peyton  Randolph,  Speaker.'' 

Mr.  Henry  informed  the  Congress  that  the  General  had 
put  into  his  hand  sundry  Queries,  to  which  he  desired  the 
Congress  would  give  an  answer. 

The  Queries  being  read  and  debated, 

Resolved,  That  a  Committee  of  five  be  appointed  to 
take  into  their  consideration  the  said  Queries,  and  report 
their  opinion  with  regard  to  the  answers  proper  to  be  given  ; 
that  the  Committee  consist  of  the  following  persons,  name- 
ly: Mr.  Deane,  Mr.  Henry,  Mr.  J.  Rutledge,  Mr.  S. 
Adams,  and  Mr.  Lee. 

On  a  motion  made,  Resolved,  That  the  General  be  al- 
lowed three  Aids-de-Camp. 


1853 


CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE  26,  1775. 


1854 


That  each  of  the  Major-Generals  have  two  Aids-de- 
Camp. 

That  the  pay  of  the  Aids-de-Camp  of  the  Majors-Gen- 
eral be  thirty -three  Dollars  per  month. 

Resolved,  That  this  Congress  will,  to-morrow,  resolve 
itself  into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole,  to  take  into  con- 
sideration the  state  of  America. 

Adjourned  till  to-morrow,  at  nine  o'clock. 

Thursday,  Juno  22,  1775. 

The  Congress  met  according  to  adjournment. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  take  into  consideration  the 
Queries  of  the  General,  and  report  thereon,  brought  in 
their  Report ;  which  was  read,  and  considered. 

Resolved,  That  the  number  of  Brigadier-Generals  be 
augmented  to  eight. 

The  Congress  then  proceeded  to  the  choice  of  the 
Brigadiers,  viz : 

Seth  Pomeroy,  Esq.,  first ;  Richard  Montgomery,  Esq., 
second ;  David  Wooster,  Esquire,  third  ;  William  Heath, 
Esq.,  fourth ;  Joseph  Spencer,  Esq.,  fifth  ;  John  Thomas, 
Esq.,  sixth ;  John  Sullivan,  Esq.,  seventh ;  Nathaniel 
Greene,  Esq.,  eighth. 

Resolved,  That  the  Troops,  including  the  Volunteers, 
be  furnished  with  Camp-equipage  and  Blankets,  where 
necessary,  at  the  Continental  expense. 

Resolved,  That  the  Officers  now  in  the  Army  receive 
their  new  Commissions  through  the  hands  of  the  General. 

Resolved,  That  a  sum  not  exceeding  Two  Millions  of 
Spanish  milled  Dollars  be  emitted  by  the  Congress,  in  Bills 
of  Credit,  for  the  defence  of  America. 

Resolved,  That  the  twelve  confederated  Colonies  be 
pledged  for  the  redemption  of  the  Bills  of  Credit  now  di- 
rected to  be  emitted. 

Resolved,  That  the  Colony  of  Pennsylvania  raise  two 
more  Companies  of  Riflemen,  and  that  these,  with  the  six 
before  ordered  to  be  raised  by  them,  making  eight  Compa- 
nies, be  formed  into  a  Battalion,  to  be  commanded  by  such 
Field-Officers,  Captains,  and  Lieutenants,  as  shall  be  re- 
commended by  the  Assembly  or  Convention  of  the  above 
Colony. 

Resolved,  That  this  Congress  will,  to-morrow,  resolve 
itself  into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole,  to  take  into  con- 
sideration the  state  of  America. 

Adjourned  till  to-morrow,  nine  o'clock. 

Friday,  June  23,  1775. 
The  Congress  met  according  to  adjournment. 

A  Letter  from  the  Officer  at  Crown  Point,  dated  June 
10th,  1775,  was  laid  before  the  Congress.  Information 
being  given,  that  Colonel  Allen  and  Captain  Seth  Warner, 
who  brought  the  Letter,  were  at  the  door,  and  had  some 
things  of  importance  to  communicate, 

Ordered,  That  they  be  called  in.  After  they  withdrew, 
the  Congress  took  the  Letter  and  information  into  consider- 
ation. 

Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  Officer  com- 
manding in  the  New-  York  Department,  to  procure,  as  soon 
as  possible,  a  list  of  the  men  employed  in  taking  and  gar- 
risoning Crown  Point  and  Ticonderoga,  and  keeping  pos- 
session of  the  Lakes  ;  and  also,  of  their  disbursements,  in 
order  that  they  may  be  paid. 

Resolved,  That  their  pay  be  the  same  as  that  of  the 
officers  and  privates  in  the  American  Army;  the  highest  of 
the  officers  not  to  exceed  that  of  a  Captain,  and  that  the 
pay  commence  the  third  day  of  last  May,  and  continue 
until  they  are  discharged. 

Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  Convention 
of  New-York,  that  they,  consulting  with  General  Schuyler, 
employ  in  the  Army  to  be  raised  for  the  defence  of  Ame- 
rica, those  called  Green  Mountain  Boys,  under  such 
officers  as  the  said  Green  Mountain  Boys  shall  choose. 

Upon  motion,  Resolved,  That  a  Committee  of  five  be 
appointed  to  draw  up  a  Declaration,  to  be  published  by 
General  Washington,  upon  his  arrival  at  the  Camp  before 
Boston. 

That  the  Committee  consist  of  the  following  members, 


viz :  Mr.  J.  Rutledge,  Mr.  W.  Livingston,  Mr.  Franklin, 
Mr.  Jay,  and  Mr.  Johnson. 

Agreeable  to  the  Order  of  the  Day,  the  Congress  resolved 
itself  into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole,  to  take  into  considera- 
tion the  state  of  America;  and  after  some  time  spent  therein, 
the  President  resumed  the  chair,  and  Mr.  Ward  reported 
that  the  Committee  had  come  into  certain  Resolutions,  which 
they  desired  him  to  report,  but  not  having  yet  finished,  they 
bad  ordered  him  to  move  for  leave  to  sit  again. 
The  Report  of  the  Committee  being  read, 
Resolved,  That  the  number  and  denomination  of  the 
Bills  to  be  emitted,  be  as  follow,  viz: 

49,000  Bills  of  8  Dollars  each— 392,000 

49,000  do.  of  7  Dollars  each— 343,000 

49,000  do.  of  6  Dollars  each— 294,000 

49,000  do.  of  5  Dollars  each— 245,000 

49,000  do.  of  4  Dollars  each— 196,000 

49,000  do.  of  3  Dollars  each— 147,000 

49,000  do.  of  2  Dollars  each—  98,000 

49,000  do.  of  1  Dollar  each—  49,000 

1.1,800  do.  of  20  Dollars  each— 236,000 

403,800  ,|'2,000,0000 
Resolved,  That  the  form  of  the  Bills  be  as  follows,  viz: 

CONTINENTAL  CURRENCY". 

No.  Dollars. 

This  Bill  entitles  the  bearer  to  receive  

Spanish  milled  Dollars,  or  the  value  thereof  in  gold  or 
silver,  according  to  the  Resolutions  of  the  Congress,  held  at 
Philadelphia,  on  the  10th  day  of  May,  A.  D.  1775. 

Resolved,  That  Mr.  J.  Adams,  Mr.  J.  Rutledge,  Mr. 
Duane,  Doctor  Franklin,  and  Mr.  Wilson,  be  a  Commit- 
tee to  get  proper  Plates  engraved,  to  provide  Paper,  and 
to  agree  with  Printers  to  print  the  above  Bills. 

Resolved,  That  this  Congress  will,  to-morrow,  again  re- 
solve itself  into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole,  to  take  into 
their  farther  consideration  the  state  of  America. 

Adjourned  till  to-morrow,  at  nine  o'clock. 

Saturday,  June  24,  1775. 

The  Congress  met  according  to  adjournment. 

Upon  motion,  Ordered,  That  the  first  and  second  Re- 
solves, passed  the  26th  of  May,  be  published. 

Upon  motion,  Resolved,  That  a  Committee  of  seven  be 
appointed  to  devise  ways  and  means  to  put  the  Militia  of 
America  in  a  proper  state  for  the  defence  of  America. 

The  members  chosen,  Mr.  Paine,  Mr.  Harrison,  Mr. 
Sherman,  Mr.  Hopkins,  Mr.  Floyd,  Mr.  Gadsden,  and 
Mr.  Dickinson. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  prepare  a  Declaration  to 
be  published  by  General  Washington,  upon  his  arrival  at 
the  Camp  before  Boston,  reported  the  same,  which  was  read 
and  debated,  and  referred  for  farther  consideration  till  Mon- 
day next. 

Resolved,  That  this  Congress  will,  on  Monday,  resolve 
itself  into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole,  to  take  into  consider- 
ation the  state  of  America. 

Adjourned  till  Monday,  at  nine  o'clock. 

Monday,  June  26,  1775. 

The  Congress  met  according  to  adjournment. 

A  Letter  from  Governour  Trumbull  was  read,  and  re- 
ferred to  the  Committee  appointed  to  devise  ways  and 
means  for  introducing  the  manufacture  of  Saltpetre  into 
these  Colonies. 

The  state  of  North- Carolina  being  taken  into  considera- 
tion, the  Congress  came  to  the  following  Resolutions: 

Whereas,  it  is  represented  to  this  Congress,  that  the 
enemies  of  the  liberties  of  America  are  pursuing  measures 
to  divide  the  good  people  of  the  Colony  of  North-  Carolina, 
and  to  defeat  the  American  Association  ; 

Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  all  in  that  Colony, 
who  wish  well  to  the  liberties  of  America,  to  associate  for 
the  defence  of  American  liberty,  and  to  embody  themselves 
as  Militia,  under  proper  officers. 

Resolved,  That  in  case  the  Assembly  or  Convention  of 
that  Colony  shall  think  it  absolutely  necessary,  for  the  sup- 


1855 


CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE  30,  1775. 


1856 


port  of  the  American  Association  and  safety  of  the  Colony, 
to  raise  a  body  of  Forces  not  exceeding  one  thousand  men, 
this  Congress  will  consider  them  as  an  American  Army, 
and  provide  for  their  pay. 

The  Congress  then  resumed  the  consideration  of  the 
Declaration,  and  after  some  debate,  the  same  was  recom- 
mitted, and  Mr.  Dickinson  and  Mr.  Jefferson  were  added 
to  the  Committee. 

A  Letter  from  the  Committee  of  Albany,  received  by 
express,  was  laid  before  the  Congress  and  read. 

The  Committee  for  Indian  Affairs  brought  in  their  Re- 
port, which  was  read. 

Upon  motion, 

Resolved,  That  the  Delegates  of  Pennsylvania  be  ap- 
pointed from  this  Congress,  to  wait  on  the  Committee  of 
this  City,  and  to  request  of  them  that  a  supply  of  Powder 
be  immediately  furnished  for  the  use  of  the  Fortifications 
of  Ticonderoga  and  Croivn  Point,  and  sent  forward  im- 
mediately. 

Ordered,  That  the  President  write  to  Governour  Trum- 
bull, and  inform  him,  that  the  Congress  had  appointed 
George  Washington,  Esq.,  Commander-in-Chief  of  all 
the  Forces  raised,  or  to  be  raised,  for  the  defence  of  Ame- 
rica. 

Ordered,  That  the  President  also  write  to  the  Pro- 
vincial Conventions  of  Massachusetts  and  New-Hampshire, 
and  to  the  Government  of  Rhode-Island,  and  inform  them 
of  the  same  appointment. 

Resolved,  That  this  Congress  will,  to-morrow,  resolve 
itself  into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole,  to  take  into  consider- 
ation the  state  of  America. 

Adjourned  till  to-morrow,  at  nine  o'clock. 

Tuesday,  June  27,  1775. 

The  Congress  met  according  to  adjournment. 

Upon  motion,  Resolved,  That  Governour  Skene  be 
sent  under  a  guard  to  Weather sjield,  or  Middletown,  in 
the  County  of  Hartford,  in  Connecticut,  there  to  be  con- 
fined on  his  parole,  not  to  go  out  of  the  bounds  prescribed 
lo  him  by  Governour  Trumbull. 

Ordered,  That  the  Delegates  for  Pennsylvania  take 
measures  to  have  the  above  Resolve  carried  into  execution. 

A  Letter  from  the  Convention  of  Massachusetts-Bay , 
dated  20th  of  June,  received  by  express,  together  with 
several  other  Letters,  were  laid  before  the  Congress  and 
read. 

The  Congress  resumed  the  consideration  of  the  Letter 
from  Albany,  and  after  some  debate,  the  Congress  came  to 
the  following  Resolutions : 

Resolved,  That  Major-General  P.  Schuyler  be  directed 
to  repair,  as  soon  as  conveniently  he  can,  to  the  posts  of 
Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point,  to  examine  into  the  state 
thereof,  and  of  the  Troops  now  stationed  there,  and  how 
they  are  supplied  with  provision  and  necessary  stores  ;  into 
the  state  also  of  the  Sloop  and  other  navigation  on  the 
Lakes ;  also,  to  obtain  the  best  intelligence  he  can  of  the 
disposition  of  the  Canadians  and  Indians  of  Canada;  that 
he  confer  with  Colonel  Hinman  and  Colonel  Arnold  on 
the  subject  of  Colonel  Arnold's  Letter  to  this  Congress, 
and  report  as  soon  as  possible  the  state  of  the  whole,  as 
near  as  it  can  be  ascertained,  to  this  Congress;  and  that 
he  give  orders  for  the  necessary  preparation  of  Boats  and 
Stores,  for  securing  to  the  United  Colonies  the  command 
of  those  waters  adjacent  to  Crown  Point  and  Ticonde- 
roga. 

Resolved,  That  as  Governour  Carleton  is  making  pre- 
parations to  invade  these  Colonies,  and  is  instigating  the 
Indian  Nations  to  take  up  the  hatchet  against  them,  Major- 
General  Schuyler  do  exert  his  utmost  power  to  destroy  or 
take  all  Vessels,  Boats,  or  Floating  Batteries  preparing  by 
said  Governour,  or  by  his  order,  on  or  near  tho  waters  of 
the  Lakes. 

Resolved,  That  if  General  Schuyler  finds  it  practicable, 
and  that  it  will  not  be  disagreeable  to  the  Canadians,  he 
do  immediately  take  possession  of  St.  John's,  Montreal, 
and  any  other  parts  of  the  country,  and  pursue  any  other 
measures  in  Canada  which  may  have  a  tendency  to  pro- 
mote the  peace  and  security  of  these  Colonies. 


Resolved,  That  if  General  Schuyler  shall  have  occasion 
for  a  larger  quantity  of  ready  Money  and  Ammunition,  for 
carrying  on  such  expedition,  than  he  can  in  convenient 
time  procure  from  the  Provincial  Convention  of  the  Colony 
of  New-  York,  that  he  do  in  such  case  apply  to  the  Go- 
vernour of  Connecticut  for  such  supplies  as  may  be  neces- 
sary, and  can  be  furnished  by  that  Colony  ;  and  that 
Governour  Trumbull  be  desired  to  furnish  such  supplies, 
and  this  Congress  will  make  provision  for  reimbursing  the 
same. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  draw  up  an  Address  to  the 
Inhabitants  of  Great  Britain,  reported  the  same,  which 
was  read. 

Resolved,  That  this  Congress  will,  to-morrow,  resolve 
itself  into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole,  to  take  into  consider- 
ation the  state  of  America. 

Adjourned  till  to-morrow,  at  nine  o'clock. 

Wednesday,  June  28,  1775. 

The  Congress  met  according  to  adjournment,  and  re- 
sumed the  consideration  of  the  Articles  of  War.  After 
some  debate,  the  further  consideration  of  them  was  put  off 
till  to-morrow. 

The  Order  of  the  Day  put  off  till  to-morrow. 

Adjourned  till  to-morrow,  at  nine  o'clock. 

Thursday,  June  29,  1775. 
The  Congress  met  according  to  adjournment. 

A  number  of  Letters  and  Speeches  from  the  Chiefs  of 
Stockbridge  Indians  to  the  Congress,  also  copy  of  a  Mes- 
sage from  said  Indians  to  the  Canada  Indians,  and  their 
Answer,  were  laid  before  the  Congress  and  read. 

The  Congress  then  resumed  the  consideration  of  the 
Rules  or  Articles  of  War.  After  some  debate,  the  same 
was  deferred  till  to-morrow. 

The  Order  of  the  Day  put  off,  and  adjourned  till  to- 
morrow, nine  o'clock. 

Friday,  June  30,  1775. 

The  Congress  met  according  to  adjournment. 

The  consideration  of  the  Articles  of  War  being  resumed, 
the  Congress  agreed  to  the  same. 

Whereas,  His  Majesty's  most  faithful  subjects  in  these 
Colonies  are  reduced  to  a  dangerous  and  critical  situation, 
by  the  attempts  of  the  British  Ministry  to  carry  into  exe- 
cution, by  force  of  arms,  several  unconstitutional  and  oppres- 
sive acts  of  the  British  Parliament  for  laying  Taxes  in 
America,  to  enforce  the  collection  of  those  Taxes,  and  for 
altering  and  changing  the  Constitution  and  internal  Police 
of  some  of  these  Colonies,  in  violation  of  the  natural  and 
civil  rights  of  the  Colonies : 

And  whereas,  hostilities  have  been  actually  commenced 
in  Massachusetts-Bay,  by  the  British  Troops  under  the 
command  of  General  Gage,  and  the  lives  of  a  number  of 
the  inhabitants  of  that  Colony  destroyed  ;  the  Town  of 
Boston  not  only  having  been  long  occupied  as  a  garrisoned 
Town  in  an  enemy's  Country,  but  the  inhabitants  thereof 
treated  with  a  severity  and  cruelty  not  to  be  justified  even 
towards  declared  enemies : 

And  whereas,  large  re-enforcements  have  been  ordered, 
and  are  soon  expected,  for  the  declared  purpose  of  com- 
pelling these  Colonies  to  submit  to  the  operation  of  the 
said  acts,  which  hath  rendered  it  necessary,  and  an  indis- 
pensable duty,  for  the  express  purpose  of  securing  and  de- 
fending these  Colonies,  and  preserving  them  in  safety  against 
all  attempts  to  carry  the  said  acts  into  execution,  that  an 
armed  force  be  raised  sufficient  to  defeat  such  hostile  de- 
signs, and  preserve  and  defend  the  lives,  liberties,  and 
immunities  of  the  Colonists ;  for  the  due  regulating  and 
well  ordering  of  which, 

Resolved,  That  the  following  Rules  and  Orders  be  at- 
tended to,  and  observed  by  such  Forces  as  are  or  may  here- 
after be  raised  for  the  purposes  aforesaid. 

Article  t.  That  every  Officer  who  shall  be  retained, 
and  every  Soldier  who  shall  serve  in  the  Continental  Army, 
shall,  at  the  time  of  his  acceptance  of  his  commission  or 
enlistment,  subscribe  these  Rules  and  Regulations;  and 
that  the  Officers  and  Soldiers,  already  of  that  Arm}',  shall 
also,  as  soon  as  may  be,  subscribe  the  same,  from  the  time 


1S57 


CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE  30,  1775. 


1858 


of  which  subscription,  every  Officer  and  Soldier  shall  be 
bound  by  those  Regulations.  But  if  any  of  the  Officers 
or  Soldiers,  now  of  the  said  Army,  do  not  subscribe  these 
Rules  and  Regulations,  then  they  may  be  retained  in  the 
said  Army,  subject  to  the  rules  and  regulations  under  which 
they  entered  into  the  service,  or  be  discharged  from  the 
service,  at  the  option  of  the  Commander-in-Chief. 

Art.  u.  It  is  earnestly  recommended  to  all  Officers  and 
Soldiers,  diligently  to  attend  divine  service  ;  and  all  Officers 
and  Soldiers  who  shall  behave  indecently  or  irreverently  at 
any  place  of  divine  worship,  shall,  if  Commissioned  Officers, 
be  brought  before  a  Court-Martial,  there  to  be  publickly 
and  severely  reprimanded  by  the  President;  if  Non-Com- 
missioned Officers  or  Soldiers,  every  person  so  offending 
shall,  for  his  6rst  offence,  forfeit  one-sixth  of  a  Dollar,  to 
be  deducted  out  of  his  next  pay ;  for  the  second  offence 
he  shall  not  only  forfeit  a  like  sum,  but  be  confined  for 
twenty-four  hours ;  and  for  every  like  offence,  shall  suffer 
and  pay  in  like  manner ;  which  money  so  forfeited  shall  be 
applied  to  the  use  of  the  sick  Soldiers  of  the  Troop  or  Com- 
pany to  which  the  offender  belongs. 

Art.  hi.  Whatsoever  Non-Commissioned  Officer  or  Sol- 
dier shall  use  any  profane  oath  or  execration,  shall  incur 
the  penalties  expressed  in  the  foregoing  Article;  and  if  a 
Commissioned  Officer  be  thus  guilty  of  profane  cursing  or 
swearing,  he  shall  forfeit  and  pay  for  each  and  every  such 
offence  the  sum  of  four  Shillings  lawful  money. 

Art.  iv.  Any  Officer  or  Soldier  who  shall  behave  him- 
self with  contempt  ordisrespect  towards  the  General  or  Gene- 
rals, or  Commanders-in-Chief  of  the  Continental  Forces,  or 
shall  speak  false  words,  tending  to  his  or  their  hurt  or  dis- 
honour, shall  be  punished  according  to  the  nature  of  his 
offence,  by  the  judgment  of  a  General  Court-Martial. 

Art.  v.  Any  Officer  or  Soldier  who  shall  begin,  excite, 
cause,  or  join  in  any  mutiny  or  sedition  in  the  Regiment, 
Troop,  or  Company,  to  which  he  belongs,  or  in  any  other 
Regiment,  Troop,  or  Company  of  the  Continental  Forces, 
either  by  land  or  sea,  or  in  any  part,  post,  detachment,  or 
guard,  on  any  pretence  whatsoever,  shall  suffer  such  punish- 
ment as  by  a  General  Court-Martial  shall  be  ordered. 

Art.  vi.  Any  Officer,  Non-Commissioned  Officer,  or 
Soldier,  who  being  present  at  any  mutiny  or  sedition,  does 
not  use  his  utmost  endeavours  to  suppress  the  same,  or 
coming  to  the  knowledge  of  any  mutiny  or  intended  mutiny, 
does  not,  without  delay,  give  information  thereof  to  the 
Commanding  Officer,  shall  be  punished  by  order  of  a  Gene- 
ral Court-Martial,  according  to  the  nature  of  his  offence. 

Art.  vii.  Any  Officer  or  Soldier  who  shall  strike  his 
superiour  Officer,  or  draw,  or  offer  to  draw,  or  shall  lift  up 
any  weapon,  or  offer  any  violence  against  him,  being  in  the 
execution  of  his  office,  on  any  pretence  whatsoever,  or  shall 
disobey  any  lawful  commands  of  his  superiour  Officer,  shall 
suffer  such  punishment  as  shall,  according  to  the  nature  of 
his  offence,  be  ordered  by  the  sentence  of  a  General  Court- 
Martial. 

Art.  viii.  Any  Non-Commissioned  Officer  or  Soldier 
who  shall  desert,  or  without  leave  of  his  Commanding  Offi- 
cer, absent  himself  from  the  Troop  or  Company  to  which 
he  belongs,  or  from  any  detachment  of  the  same,  shall, 
upon  being  convicted  thereof,  be  punished  according  to  the 
nature  of  his  offence,  at  the  discretion  of  a  General  Court- 
Martial. 

Art.  ix.  Whatsoever  Officer  or  Soldier  shall  be  con- 
victed of  having  advised  or  persuaded  any  other  Officer  or 
Soldier  to  desert,  shall  suffer  such  punishment  as  shall  be 
ordered  by  the  sentence  of  a  General  Court-Martial. 

Art.  x.  All  Officers,  of  what  condition  soever,  shall  have 
power  to  part  and  quell  all  quarrels,  frays,  and  disorders, 
though  the  persons  concerned  should  belong  to  another 
Regiment,  Troop,  or  Company,  and  either  order  Officers  to 
be  arrested,  or  Non-Commissioned  Officers  or  Soldiers  to 
be  confined  and  imprisoned,  till  their  proper  superiour  Offi- 
cers shall  be  acquainted  therewith  ;  and  whoever  shall  re- 
fuse to  obey  such  Officer,  (though  of  an  inferiour  rank,)  or 
shall  draw  his  sword  upon  him,  shall  be  punished  at  the 
discretion  of  a  General  Court-Martial. 

Art.  xi.  No  Officer  or  Soldier  shall  use  any  reproachful 
or  provoking  speeches,  or  gestures  to  another,  nor  shall  pre- 
sume to  send  a  challenge  to  any  person  to  fight  a  duel ;  and 
whoever  shall  knowingly  and  willingly  suffer  any  person 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii.  11 


whatsoever  to  go  forth  to  fight  a  duel,  or  shall  second,  pro- 
mote, or  carry  any  challenge,  shall  be  deemed  as  a  princi- 
pal ;  and  whatsoever  Officer  or  Soldier  shall  upbraid  another 
for  refusing  a  challenge,  shall  also  be  considered  as  a 
challenger;  and  all  such  offenders,  in  any  of  these  or  such 
like  cases,  shall  be  punished  at  the  discretion  of  a  General 
Court-Martial. 

Art.  xii.  Every  Officer  commanding  in  quarters,  or  on 
a  march,  shall  keep  good  order,  and,  to  the  utmost  of  his 
power,  redress  all  such  abuses  or  disorders  which  may  be 
committed  by  any  Officer  or  Soldier  under  his  command  ; 
if  upon  any  complaint  being  made  to  him,  of  Officers  or 
Soldiers  beating,  or  otherwise  ill-treating  any  person,  or  of 
committing  any  kind  of  riot,  to  the  disquieting  of  the  inhabi- 
tants of  this  Continent,  he,  the  said  Commander,  who  shall 
refuse  or  omit  to  see  justice  done  on  the  offender  or  offen- 
ders, and  reparation  made  to  the  party  or  parties  injured, 
as  far  as  the  offender's  wages  shall  enable  him  or  them,  shall, 
upon  due  proof  thereof,  be  punished  as  ordered  by  a  Gene- 
ral Court-Martial,  in  such  manner  as  if  he  himself  had  com- 
mitted the  crimes  or  disorders  complained  of. 

Art.  xiii.  If  any  Officer  should  think  himself  to  be 
wronged  by  his  Colonel,  or  the  commanding  Officer  of  the 
Regiment,  and  shall,  upon  due  application  made  to  him, 
be  refused  to  be  redressed,  he  may  complain  to  the  General 
or  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  Continental  Forces,  in  order 
to  obtain  justice,  who  is  hereby  required  to  examine  into 
said  complaint,  and  see  that  justice  be  done. 

Art.  xiv.  If  any  inferiour  Officer  or  Soldier  shall  think 
himself  wronged  by  his  Captain,  or  other  Officer  command- 
ing the  Troop  or  Company  to  which  he  belongs,  he  is  to 
complain  thereof  to  the  commanding  Officer  of  the  Regi- 
ment, who  is  hereby  required  to  summon  a  Regimental 
Court-Martial  for  the  doing  justice  to  the  complainant,  from 
which  Regimental  Court-Martial  either  party  may,  if  he 
thinks  himself  still  aggrieved,  appeal  to  a  General  Court- 
Mariial;  but  if,  upon  a  second  hearing,  the  appeal  shall 
appear  to  be  vexatious  and  groundless,  the  person  so  appeal- 
ing shall  be  punished  at  the  discretion  of  the  General  Court- 
Martial. 

Art.  xv.  Whatsoever  Non-Commissioned  Officer  or  Sol- 
dier shall  be  convicted,  at  a  Regimental  Court-Martial,  of 
having  sold,  or  designedly,  or  through  neglect,  wasted  the 
Ammunition,  Arms,  or  Provisions,  or  other  military  stores, 
delivered  out  to  him,  to  be  employed  in  the  service  of  this 
Continent,  shall,  if  an  Officer,  be  reduced  to  a  private  Sen- 
tinel, and  if  a  private  Soldier,  shall  suffer  such  punishment 
as  shall  be  ordered  by  a  Regimental  Court-Martial. 

Art.  xvi.  All  Non-Commissioned  Officers  and  Soldiers 
who  shall  be  found  one  mile  from  the  camp,  without  leave 
in  writing  from  their  commanding  Officer,  shall  suffer  such 
punishment  as  shall  be  inflicted  on  him  or  them  by  the  sen- 
tence of  a  Regimental  Court-Martial. 

Art.  xvii.  No  Officer  or  Soldier  shall  lie  out  of  his  quar- 
ters or  camp  without  leave  from  the  commanding  Officer  of 
the  Regiment,  upon  penalty  of  being  punished,  according 
to  the  nature  of  his  offence,  by  order  of  a  Regimental  Court- 
Martial. 

Art.  xviii.  Every  Non-Commissioned  Officer  and  Sol- 
dier shall  retire  to  his  quarters  or  tent  at  the  beating  of  the 
retreat ;  in  default  of  which,  he  shall  be  punished  according 
to  the  nature  of  his  offence,  by  order  of  the  commanding 
Officer. 

Art.  xix.  No  Officer,  Non-Commissioned  Officer  or  Sol- 
dier, shall  fail  of  repairing,  at  the  time  fixed,  to  the  place 
of  parade  or  exercise,  or  other  rendezvous  appointed  by  the 
commanding  Officer,  if  not  prevented  by  sickness  or  some 
other  evident  necessity,  or  shall  go  from  the  said  place  of 
rendezvous,  or  from  his  guard,  without  leave  from  his  com- 
manding Officer,  before  he  shall  be  regularly  dismissed  or 
relieved,  on  penalty  of  being  punished,  according  to  the 
nature  of  his  offence,  by  the  sentence  of  a  Regimental 
Court-Martial. 

Art.  xx.  Whatsoever  commissioned  Officer  shall  be 
found  drunk  on  his  guard,  party,  or  duty,  under  arms,  shall 
be  cashiered  for  it;  any  Non-Commissioned  Officer  or  Sol- 
dier so  offending,  shall  suffer  such  punishment  as  shall  be 
ordered  by  the  sentence  of  a  Regimental  Court-Martial. 

Art.  xxi.  Whatsoever  Sentinel  shall  be  found  sleeping 
upon  his  post,  or  shall  leave  it  before  he  shall  be  regularly 

7 


1859 


CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE  30,  1775. 


1860 


relieved,  shall  suffer  such  punishment  as  shall  be  ordered 
by  the  sentence  of  a  General  Court-Martial. 

Art.  xxii.  Any  person  belonging  to  the  Continental 
Army,  who,  by  discharging  of  Fire-Arms,  beating  of  Drums, 
or  by  any  other  means  whatsoever,  shall  occasion  lalse  alarms 
in  camp  or  quarters,  shall  suffer  such  punishment  as  shall 
be  ordered  by  the  sentence  of  a  General  Court-Martial. 

Art.  xxiii.  Any  Officer  or  Soldier  who  shall,  without 
urgent  necessity,  or  without  leave  of  his  superiour  Officer, 
quit  his  platoon  or  division,  shall  be  punished,  according  to 
the  nature  of  his  offence,  by  the  sentence  of  a  Regimental 
Court-Martial. 

Art.  xxiv.  No  Officer  or  Soldier  shall  do  violence,  or 
offer  any  insult  or  abuse  to  any  person  who  shall  bring  Pro- 
visions or  other  necessaries  to  the  Camp  or  Quarters  of  the 
Continental  Army,  anyOfficeror  Soldierso offending, shall, 
upon  complaint  being  made  to  the  commanding  Officer, 
s  iffer  such  punishment  as  shall  be  ordered  by  a  Regimental 
Court-Martial. 

Art.  xxv.  Whatsoever  Officer  or  Soldier  shall  shame- 
fully abandon  any  Post  committed  to  his  charge,  or  shall 
speak  words  inducing  others  to  do  the  like  in  time  of  an 
engagement,  shall  suffer  death  immediately. 

Art.  xxvi.  Any  person  belonging  to  the  Continental 
Army,  who  shall  make  known  the  watchword  to  any 
person  who  is  not  entitled  to  receive  it  according  to  the 
rules  and  discipline  of  war,  or  shall  presume  to  give  a 
parole  or  watchword  different  from  what  he  received,  shall 
suffer  death,  or  such  other  punishment  as  shall  be  ordered 
by  the  sentence  of  a  General  Court-Martial. 

Art.  xxvii.  Whosoever,  belonging  to  the  Continental 
Army,  shall  relieve  the  enemy  with  Money,  Victuals,  or 
Ammunition,  or  shall  knowingly  harbour  or  protect  an  ene- 
my, shall  suffer  such  punishment  as  by  a  General  Court- 
Martial  shall  be  ordered. 

Art.  xxviii.  Whosoever,  belonging  to  the  Continental 
Army,  shall  be  convicted  of  holding  correspondence  with, 
or  of  giving  intelligence  to  the  enemy,  either  directly  or 
indirectly,  shall  suffer  such  punishment  as  by  a  General 
Court-Martial  shall  be  ordered. 

Art.  xxix.  All  Publick  Stores  taken  in  the  enemy's 
camp  or  magazines,  whether  of  Artillery,  Ammunition, 
Clothing,  or  Provisions,  shall  be  secured  for  the  use  of  the 
United  Colonies. 

Art.  xxx.  If  any  Officer  or  Soldier  shall  leave  his  post 
or  colours  in  lime  of  an  engagement,  to  go  in  search  of 
plunder,  he  shall,  upon  being  convicted  thereof  before  a 
General  Court-Martial,  suffer  such  punishment  as  by  the 
said  Court-Martial  shall  be  ordered. 

Art.  xxxi.  If  any  Commander  of  any  Post,  Intrench- 
ment,  or  Fortress,  shall  be  compelled,  by  the  Officers  or 
Soldiers  under  his  command,  to  give  it  up  to  the  enemy,  or 
to  abandon  it,  the  Commissioned  Officer,  Non-Commis- 
sioned  Officers,  or  Soldiers,  who  shall  be  convicted  of 
having  so  offended,  shall  suffer  death,  or  such  other  punish- 
ment as  may  be  inflicted  upon  them  by  the  sentence  of  a 
General  Court-Martial. 

Art.  xxxii.  All  Sutlers  and  Retailers  to  a  Camp,  and 
all  persons  whatsoever  serving  with  the  Continental  Army 
in  the  field,  though  not  enlisted  Soldiers,  are  to  be  subject 
to  the  Articles,  Rules,  and  Regulations  of  the  Continental 
Army. 

Art.  xxxiii.  No  General  Court-Martial  shall  consist  of 
a  less  number  than  thirteen,  none  of  which  shall  be  under 
the  degree  of  a  Commissioned  Officer,  and  the  President 
shall  be  a  Field  Officer;  and  the  President  of  each  and 
every  Court-Martial,  whether  General  or  Regimental,  shall 
have  power  to  administer  an  oath  to  every  witnesss,  in  order 
to  the  trial  of  offenders ;  and  the  Members  of  all  Courts- 
Martial  shall  be  duly  sworn  by  the  President,  and  the  next 
in  rank  on  the  Court-. Martial  shall  administer  the  oath  to 
the  President. 

Art.  xxxiv.  The  Members,  both  of  General  and  Regi- 
mental Courts-Martial,  shall,  when  belonging  to  different 
Corps,  take  the  same  rank  which  they  hold  in  the  Army; 
but  when  Courts-Martial  shall  be  composed  of  Officers  of 
one  Corps,  they  shall  take  their  ranks  according  to  their 
commissions  by  which  they  are  mustered  in  the  said  Corps. 

Art.  xxxv.  All  the  Members  of  a  Court-Martial  are  to 
behave  with  calmness,  decency,  and  impartiality,  and  in 


giving  of  their  votes,  are  to  begin  with  the  youngest  or 
lowest  in  commission. 

Art.  xxxvi.  No  Field  Officer  shall  be  tried  by  any 
person  under  the  degree  of  a  Captain  ;  nor  shall  any  pro- 
ceedings or  trials  be  carried  on  excepting  between  the  hours 
of  eight  in  the  morning  and  three  in  the  afternoon,  except 
in  cases  which  require  an  immediate  example. 

Art.  xxx vii.  The  Commissioned  Officers  of  every  Re- 
giment may,  by  the  appointment  of  their  Colonel  or  com- 
manding Officer,  hold  Regimental  Courts-Martial  for  the 
inquiring  into  such  disputes  or  criminal  matters  as  may 
come  before  them,  and  for  the  inflicting  corporeal  punish- 
ment for  small  offences,  and  shall  give  judgment  by  the 
majority  of  voices;  but  no  sentence  shall  be  executed  till 
the  commanding  Officer  (not  being  a  member  of  the  Court- 
Martial)  shall  have  confirmed  the  same. 

Art.  xxxviii.  No  Regimental  Court-Martial  shall  con- 
sist of  less  than  five  Officers,  excepting  in  cases  where  that 
number  cannot  be  conveniently  assembled,  when  three  may 
be  sufficient,  who  are  likewise  to  determine  upon  the  sen- 
tence by  the  majority  of  voices,  which  sentence  is  to  be 
confirmed  by  the  commanding  Officer,  not  being  a  member 
of  the  Court-Martial. 

Art.  xxxix.  Every  Officer  commanding  in  any  Fort, 
Castle,  or  Barrack,  or  elsewhere,  where  the  Corps  under 
his  command  consists  of  detachments  from  different  Regi- 
ments, or  of  independent  Companies,  may  assemble  Courts- 
Martial,  for  the  trial  of  offenders,  in  the  same  manner  as  if 
they  were  Regimental,  whose  sentence  is  not  to  be  exe- 
cuted till  it  shall  be  confirmed  by  the  said  commanding 
Officer. 

Art.  xl.  No  person  whatsoever  shall  use  menacing 
words,  signs,  or  gestures,  in  the  presence  of  a  Court-Martial 
then  sitting,  or  shall  cause  any  disorder  or  riot,  so  as  to  dis- 
turb their  proceeding,  on  the  penalty  of  being  punished  at 
the  discretion  of  the  said  Court-Martial. 

Art.  xli.  To  the  end  that  offenders  may  be  brought  to 
justice,  whenever  any  Officer  or  Soldier  shall  commit  a 
crime  deserving  punishment,  he  shall,  by  his  commanding 
Officer,  if  an  Officer,  be  put  in  arrest ;  if  a  Non-Commis- 
sioned Officer  or  Soldier,  be  imprisoned  till  he  shall  he 
either  tried  by  a  Court-Martial,  or  shall  be  lawfully  dis- 
charged by  proper  authority. 

Art.  xlii.  No  Officer  or  Soldier  who  shall  be  put  in 
arrest  or  imprisonment,  shall  continue  in  his  confinement 
more  than  eight  days,  or  till  such  time  as  a  Court-Martial 
can  be  conveniently  assembled. 

Art.  xliii.  No  Officer  commanding  a  Guard  or  Provost- 
Marshal,  shall  refuse  to  receive  or  keep  any  prisoner  com- 
mitted to  his  charge  by  an  Officer  belonging  to  the  Con- 
tinental Forces;  which  Officer  shall,  at  the  same  time, 
deliver  an  account  in  writing,  signed  by  himself,  of  the 
crime  with  which  the  said  prisoner  is  charged. 

Art.  xliv.  No  Officer  commanding  a  Guard  or  Provost- 
Marshal,  shall  presume  to  release  any  prisoner  committed 
to  his  charge  without  proper  authority  for  so  doing,  nor 
shall  he  suffer  any  prisoner  to  escape,  on  the  penalty  of 
being  punished  for  it  by  the  sentence  of  a  General  Court- 
Marlial. 

Art.  xlv.  Every  Officer  or  Provost-Marshal,  to  whose 
charge  prisoners  shall  be  committed,  is  hereby  required, 
within  twenty-four  hours  after  such  commitment,  or  as  soon 
as  he  shall  be  relieved  from  his  guard,  to  give  in  writing  to 
the  Colonel  of  the  Regiment  to  whom  the  prisoner  belongs*, 
(where  the  prisoner  is  confined  upon  the  guard  belonging 
to  the  said  Regiment,  and  that  his  offence  only  relates  to 
the  neglect  of  duty  in  his  own  Corps,)  or  to  the  Com- 
mander-in-Chief, their  names,  their  crimes,  and  the  names 
of  the  Officers  who  committed  them,  on  the  penalty  of 
being  punished  for  his  disobedience  or  neglect,  at  the  dis- 
cretion of  a  General  Court-lMartial. 

Art.  xi.vi.  And  if  any  Officer  under  arrest  shall  leave 
his  confinement  before  he  is  set  at  liberty  by  the  Officer 
who  confined  him,  or  by  a  superiour  power,  he  shall  be 
cashiered  for  it. 

Art.  xlvii.  Whatsoever  Commissioned  Officer  shall  be 
convicted  before  a  General  Court-Martial  of  behaving  in  a 
scandalous,  infamous  manner,  such  as  is  unbecoming  the 
character  of  an  Officer  and  a  Gentleman,  shall  be  dis- 
charged from  the  service. 


1S61 


CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS,  JUNE  30,  1775. 


1862 


Art.  xlviii.  All  Officers,  Conductors,  Gunners,  Ma- 
trosses,  Drivers,  or  any  other  persons  whatsoever,  receiving 
pay  or  hire  in  the  service  of  the  Continental  Artillery,  shall 
be  governed  by  the  aforesaid  Rules  and  Articles,  and  shall 
be  subject  to  be  tried  by  Courts-Martial,  in  like  manner 
with  the  Officers  and  Soldiers  of  the  Continental  Troops. 

Art.  xlix.  For  differences  arising  amongst  themselves, 
or  in  matters  relating  solely  to  their  own  Corps,  the  Courts- 
Martial  may  be  composed  of  their  own  Officers;  but  where 
a  number  sufficient  of  such  Officers  cannot  be  assembled, 
or  in  matters  wherein  other  Corps  are  interested,  the  Offi- 
cers of  Artillery  shall  sit  in  Courts-Martial  with  the  Officers 
of  the  other  Corps. 

Art.  l.  All  crimes,  not  capital,  and  all  disorders  and 
neglects,  which  Officers  and  Soldiers  may  be  guilty  of,  to 
the  prejudice  of  good  order  and  military  discipline,  though 
not  mentioned  in  the  Articles  of  War,  are  to  be  taken  cog- 
n  zance  of  by  a  General  or  Regimental  Court-Martial, 
according  to  the  nature  and  degree  of  the  offence,  and  be 
punished  at  their  discretion. 

Art.  u.  That  no  persons  shall  be  sentenced  by  a  Court- 
Martial  to  suffer  death,  except  in  the  cases  expressly  men- 
tioned in  the  foregoing  Articles ;  nor  shall  any  punishment 
be  inflicted  at  the  discretion  of  a  Court-Martial,  other  than 
degrading,  cashiering,  drumming  out  of  the  Army,  whip- 
ping not  exceeding  thirty-nine  lashes,  fine  not  exceeding 
two  months  pay  of  the  offender,  imprisonment  not  exceed- 
ing one  month. 

Art.  lu.  The  Field-Officers  of  each  and  every  Regi- 
ment are  to  appoint  some  suitable  person  belonging  to  such 
Regiment,  to  receive  all  such  Fines  as  may  arise  within 
ihe  same,  for  any  breach  of  any  of  the  foregoing  Articles, 
and  shall  direct  the  same  to  be  carefully  and  properly 
applied  to  the  relief  of  such  sick,  wounded,  or  necessitous 
Soldiers  as  belong  to  such  Regiment ;  and  such  person 
shall  account  with  such  Officer  for  all  Fines  received,  and 
the  application  thereof. 

Art.  liii.  All  Members  sitting  in  Courts-Martial  shall 
be  sworn  by  the  President  of  said  Courts,  which  President 
shall  himself  be  sworn  by  the  Officer  in  said  Court  next 
in  rank  ;  the  Oath  to  be  administered  previous  to  their 
proceeding  to  the  trial  of  any  offender,  in  form  following, 
viz : 

"  You,  A.  B.,  swear  that  you  will  well  and  truly  try, 
and  impartially  determine  the  cause  of  the  prisoner  now  to 
be  tried,  according  to  the  Rules  for  regulating  the  Conti- 
nental Army;  so  help  you  God." 

Art.  liv.  All  persons  called  to  give  evidence,  in  any 
case,  before  a  Court-Martial,  who  shall  refuse  to  give  evi- 
dence, shall  be  punished  for  such  refusal  at  the  discretion 
of  such  Court-Martial ;  the  Oath  to  be  administered  in  the 
following  form,  viz : 

"You  swear  the  evidence  you  shall  give  in  the  case 
now  in  hearing,  shall  be  the  truth,  the  whole  truth,  and 
nothing  but  the  truth  ;  so  help  you  God." 

Art.  lv.  Every  Officer  commanding  a  Regiment, 
Troop,  or  Company,  shall,  upon  notice  given  to  him  by 
the  Commissary  of  the  Musters,  or  from  one  of  his  Depu- 
ties, assemble  the  Regiment,  Troop,  or  Company  under 
his  command,  in  the  next  convenient  place  for  their  being 
mustered. 

Art.  lvi.  Every  Colonel,  or  other  Field-Officer,  or 
Officer  commanding  any  Corps,  to  which  there  is  no  Field- 
Officer,  and  actually  residing  with  it,  may  give  Furloughs 
to  Non-Commissioned  Officers  and  Soldiers,  in  such  num- 
bers, and  for  so  long  a  time,  as  he  shall  judge  to  be  most 
consistent  with  the  good  of  the  service ;  but  no  Non-Com- 
missioned  Officer  or  Soldier  shall,  by  leave  of  his  Captain, 
or  inferiour  Officer,  commanding  the  Troop  or  Company, 
(his  Field-Officer  not  being  present,)  be  absent  above 
twenty  days  in  six  months,  nor  shall  more  than  two  pri- 
vate men  be  absent  at  the  same  time  from  their  Troop  or 
Company,  excepting  some  extraordinary  occasion  should 
require  it,  of  which  occasion  the  Field-Officer  present  with, 
and  commanding  the  Regiment  or  independent  Corps,  is 
to  be  judge. 

Art.  lvii.  At  every  Muster  the  Commanding  Officer 
of  each  Regiment,  Troop,  or  Company,  then  present,  shall 
give  to  the  Commissary  of  Musters  Certificates  signed  by 
himself,  signifying  how  long  such  Officers,  Non-Commis- 


sioned  Officers,  and  Soldiers,  who  shall  not  appear  at  the 
said  Muster,  have  been  absent,  and  the  reason  of  their 
absence ;  which  reasons,  and  the  time  of  absence,  shall  be 
inserted  in  the  Muster-Roils,  opposite  to  the  respective 
names  of  such  absentees ;  the  said  Certificates  shall,  to- 
gether with  the  Muster-Rolls,  be  by  the  said  Commissary 
transmitted  to  the  General,  and  to  this  or  any  future  Con- 
gress of  the  United  Colonies,  or  Committee  appointed 
thereby,  within  twenty  days  next  after  such  Muster  being 
taken  ;  on  failure  whereof,  the  Commissary  so  offending 
shall  be  discharged  from  the  service. 

Art.  lviii.  Every  Officer  who  shall  be  convicted  before 
a  General  Court-Martial  of  having  signed  a  false  Certifi- 
cate, relating  to  the  absence  of  either  Officers,  Non-Com- 
missioned  Officer,  or  private  Soldier,  shall  be  cashiered. 

Art.  lix.  Every  Officer,  who  shall  knowingly  make 
a  false  Muster  of  man  or  horse,  and  every  Officer  or  Com- 
missary who  shall  willingly  sign,  direct,  or  allow  the  signing 
of  the  Muster-Roils,  wherein  such  false  Muster  is  contain- 
ed, shall,  upon  proof  made  thereof,  by  two  witnesses,  before 
a  General  Court-Martial,  be  cashiered,  and  moreover,  for- 
feit all  such  pay  as  may  be  due  to  him  at  the  time  of  con- 
viction for  such  offence. 

Art.  lx.  Any  Commissary  who  shall  be  convicted  of 
having  taken  any  gift  or  gratuity  on  the  mustering  any 
Regiment,  Troop,  or  Company,  or  on  the  signing  the 
Muster-Rolls,  shall  be  displaced  from  his  office,  and  forfeit 
his  pay,  as  in  the  preceding  Article. 

Art.  lxi.  Any  Officer  who  shall  presume  to  muster 
any  person  as  a  Soldier  who  is  at  other  times  accustomed 
to  wear  a  Livery,  or  who  does  not  actually  do  his  duty  as 
a  Soldier,  shall  be  deemed  guilty  of  having  made  a  false 
Muster,  and  shall  suffer  accordingly. 

Art.  lxii.  Every  Officer  who  shall  knowingly  make 
a  false  Return  to  the  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  Ameri- 
can Forces,  or  to  any  his  superiour  Officer,  authorized  to 
call  for  such  Returns,  of  the  state  of  the  Regiment,  Troop, 
independent  Company,  or  Ganison  under  his  command, 
or  of  Arms,  Ammunition,  Clothing,  or  other  Stores  there- 
unto belonging,  shall,  by  a  Court-Martial,  be  cashiered. 

Art.  lxiii.  The  Commanding  Officer  of  every  Regi- 
ment, Troop,  independent  Company,  or  Garrison,  in  the 
service  aforesaid,  shall,  in  the  beginning  of  every  month, 
remit  to  the  Commander-in-Chief  of  said  Forces,  an  exact 
Return  of  the  state  of  the  Regiment,  Troop,  independent 
Company,  or  Garrison  under  his  command,  specifying  the 
names  of  the  Officers  not  then  residing  at  their  posts,  and 
the  reason  for,  and  the  time  of  their  absence;  whoever 
shall  be  convicted  of  having,  through  neglect  or  design, 
omitted  the  sending  such  Returns,  shall  be  punished  ac- 
cording to  the  nature  of  his  crime,  by  the  judgment  of  a 
General  Court-Martial. 

Art.  lxiv.  No  Sutlers  shall  be  permitted  to  sell  any 
kind  of  Liquors  or  Victuals,  or  to  keep  their  houses  or 
shops  open  for  the  entertainment  of  Soldiers,  after  nine  at 
night,  or  before  the  beating  of  the  reveille,  or  upon  Sun- 
days, during  divine  service  or  sermon,  on  the  penalty  of 
being  dismissed  from  all  future  sutling. 

Art.  lxv.  All  Officers  commanding  in  the  Camp,  or  in 
any  Forts,  Barracks,  or  Garrisons,  are  hereby  required  to 
see  that  the  persons  permitted  to  suttle  shall  supply  the 
Soldiers  with  good  and  wholesome  Provisions  at  a  reason- 
able price,  as  they  shall  be  answerable  for  their  neglect. 

Art.  lxvi.  No  Officers  commanding  in  any  Camp,  Gar- 
risons, Forts,  or  Barracks,  shall  either  themselves  exact 
exorbitant  prices  for  Houses  or  Stalls  let  out  to  Sutlers,  or 
shall  connive  at  the  like  exactions  in  others,  nor  lay  any 
duty  or  impositions  upon,  or  be  interested  in  the  sale  of 
such  Victuals,  Liquors,  or  other  necessaries  of  life,  which 
are  brought  into  the  Camp,  Garrison,  Fort,  or  Barracks, 
for  the  use  of  the  Soldiers,  on  the  penalty  of  being  dis- 
charged from  the  service. 

Art.  lxvii.  That  the  General,  or  Commander-in-Chief 
for  the  time  being,  shall  have  full  power  of  pardoning  or 
mitigating  any  of  the  punishments  ordered  to  be  inflicted 
for  any  of  the  offences  mentioned  in  the  foregoing  Articles; 
and  every  offender,  convicted  as  aforesaid,  by  any  Regi- 
mental Court-Martial,  may  be  pardoned,  or  have  his  pun- 
ishment mitigated  by  the  Colonel  or  Officer  commanding 
the  Regiment. 


1S63 


CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS,  JULY  6,  1775. 


1S64 


Art.  lxviii.  When  any  Commissioned  Officer  shall  hap- 
pen to  die,  or  be  killed  in  the  service  of  the  United  Colo- 
nies, the  Major  of  the  Regiment,  or  the  Officer  doing  the 
Major's  duty  in  his  absence,  shall  immediately  secure  all 
his  effects  or  equipage,  then  in  Camp  or  Quarters ;  and 
shall,  before  the  next  Regimental  Court-Martial,  make  an 
inventory  thereof,  and  forthwith  transmit  to  the  Office  of 
the  Secretary  of  the  Congress,  or  Assembly  of  the  Pro- 
vince in  which  the  Corps  is  stationed  or  shall  happen  to  be 
at  the  time  of  the  death  of  such  Officer ;  to  the  end  that 
his  Executors  may,  after  payment  of  his  debts  in  quarters, 
and  interment,  receive  the  overplus,  if  any  be,  to  his  or 
their  use. 

Art.  lxix.  When  any  Non-Commissioned  Officer  or 
private  Soldier  shall  happen  to  die,  or  be  killed  in  the  ser- 
vice of  the  United  Colonies,  the  then  Commanding  Officer 
of  the  Troop  or  Company,  shall,  in  the  presence  of  two 
oilier  Commissioned  Officers,  take  an  account  of  whatever 
effects  he  dies  possessed  of,  and  transmit  the  same,  as  in 
ilie  case  above  provided  for,  in  order  that  the  same  may  be 
secured  for,  and  paid  to  their  respective  representatives. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Deane,  Mr.  Cushing,  and  Mr. 
Heices,  be  a  Committee  to  examine  the  Rules  and  Articles 
of  War  agreed  to  by  the  Congress,  and  get  them  printed 
as  soon  as  possible. 

Upon  motion,  Resolved,  That  this  Congress  will,  on  Mon- 
day next,  take  into  consideration  the  Trade  of  America. 

Upon  motion,  Resolved,  That  the  Committee  for  Indian 
Affairs  do  prepare  proper  Talks  for  the  several  Tribes  of 
Iidians  for  engaging  the  continuance  of  their  friendship  to 
us,  and  neutrality  in  our  present  unhappy  dispute  with 
Great  Britain. 

The  Order  of  the  Day  put  off,  and  adjournment  made 
till  to-morrow. 

Saturday,  July  1,  1775. 

The  Congress  met  according  to  adjournment. 

On  motion,  Resolved,  That  in  case  any  Agent  of  the 
Ministry  shall  induce  the  Indian  Tribes,  or  any  of  them, 
to  commit  actual  hostilities  against  these  Colonies,  or  to 
enter  into  an  offensive  alliance  with  the  British  Troops, 
thereupon  the  Colonies  ought  to  avail  themselves  of  an  alli- 
ance with  such  Indian  Nations  as  will  enter  into  the  same, 
to  oppose  such  British  Troops  and  their  Indian  allies. 

The  Congress  then  took  into  consideration  the  Report 
of  the  Committee  on  Indian  Affairs. 

During  the  debate  Letters  were  received  by  express 
from  General  Schuyler,  which  requiring  an  immediate 
answer,  the  same  were  taken  into  consideration : 

Resolved,  That  General  Schuyler  be  directed  not  to 
remove  General  Wooster,  or  the  Troops  under  his  com- 
mand, from  New-York ;  but  that  he  raise  as  many  of  the 
Green  Mountain  Boys,  under  such  Officers  as  they  shall 
choose,  with  such  other  men  in  I  he  vicinity  of  Ticonderoga 
as  will  be  necessary  to  carry  into  execution  the  Resolu- 
tions of  the  Congress,  of  the  27th  of  June  last,  transmitted 
to  him. 

Ordered,  That  this  be  transmitted  to  General  Schuyler 
by  the  President. 

On  motion  made,  Resolved,  That  Lieutenant  Patrick 
Moncrief  have  liberty  to  return  to  England,  on  giving  his 
parole  of  honour,  that  he  will  not  act  against  the  Ameri- 
cans in  the  present  controversy  between  Great  Britain  and 
these  Colonies. 

The  Order  of  the  Day  being  put  off,  the  Congress 
adjourned  till  Monday  next  at  nine  o'clock. 

Monday,  July  3,  1775. 

The  Congress  met  according  to  adjournment. 

Sundry  Letters  from  the  Convention  of  New-York, 
General  Schuyler,  and  a  certified  copy  of  a  Letter  from 
Thomas  Gage  to  Governour  Martin,  were  laid  before  the 
Congress,  and  read. 

Agreeable  to  the  Order  of  the  Day,  the  Congress 
resolved  itself  into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole,  to  take 
into  consideration  the  trade  of  America.  After  some 
time  spent  therein  the  President  resumed  the  chair,  and 


Mr.  Jf'ard  reported  that  the  Committee  had  come  to  a 
Resolution,  which  they  ordered  him  to  report ;  but  not 
having  finished,  they  had  desired  him  to  move  for  leave  to 
sit  again. 

The  Report  from  the  Committee  being  read,  the  final 
determination  of  it  was,  at  the  request  of  the  Colony  of 
South- Carolina,  deferred  till  to-morrow. 

Resolved,  That  the  Congress  will,  to-morrow,  again 
resolve  itself  into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole,  to  take  into 
consideration  the  slate  of  America. 

Adjourned  till  to-morrow,  at  nine  o'clock. 

Tuesday,  July  4,  1775. 

The  Congress  met  according  to  adjournment. 

And  having  taken  up  the  consideration  of  the  Report 
from  the  Committee,  came  to  the  following  Resolution  : 

Resolved,  That  the  two  Acts  passed  in  the  first  session  of 
the  present  Parliament,  the  one  intituled  "  An  Act  to  re- 
strain the  Trade  and  Commerce  of  the  Province  of  Massa- 
chusetts-Bay and  New-Hampshire,  and  the  Colonies  of 
Connecticut  and  Rhode-Island  and  Providence  Planta- 
tions, in  North-America,  to  Great  Britain,  Ireland,  and 
the  British  Islands  in  the  West-Indies ;  and  to  prohibit  such 
Provinces  and  Colonies  from  carrying  on  any  Fishery  on 
the  banks  o{ Newfoundland  or  other  places  therein  mention* 
ed,  under  certain  conditions  and  limitations:"  the  oilier, 
intituled  "  An  Act  to  restrain  the  Trade  and  Commerce 
of  the  Colonies  of  New-Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  Maryland, 
Virginia,  and  South- Carolina,  to  Great  Britain,  Ireland, 
and  the  British  Islands  in  the  West-Indies,  under  certain 
conditions  and  limitations,"  are  unconstitutional,  oppres- 
sive, and  cruel ;  and  that  the  commercial  opposition  of  these 
Colonies,  to  certain  Acts  enumerated  in  the  Association  of 
the  last  Congress,  ought  to  be  made  against  these,  until 
they  are  repealed. 

Ordered,  That  the  above  be  immediately  published. 

The  Congress  then  took  into  consideration  the  Letter  of 
General  Schuyler  of  28th  ultimo,  and, 

Ordered,  That  the  Delegates  of  the  Colony  of  Penn- 
sylvania procure  Letters  from  the  German  Clergy,  and 
other  respectable  persons  of  that  nation  in  this  City,  to 
their  friends  and  countrymen  in  the  Colony  of  New-  York, 
and  also  to  their  countrymen  in  North-Carolina. 

Resolved,  That  the  Committee  for  Indian  Affairs  be  so 
far  released  from  the  obligation  of  secrecy  as  to  have  liberty 
to  inquire  of  proper  intelligent  persons,  the  situation  and 
condition  of  the  Indian  Nations. 

The  Congress  resumed  the  consideration  of  the  Petition 
to  the  King.  After  some  debate,  the  further  consideration 
of  it  was  postponed  till  to-morrow. 

Resolved,  That  the  Congress  will,  to-morrow,  resolve 
itself  into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole,  to  take  into  their 
farther  consideration  the  state  of  America. 

Adjourned  till  to-morrow,  at  nine  o'clock. 

Wednesday,  July  5,  1775. 

The  Congress  met  according  to  adjournment. 

Several  Letters,  from  General  Schuyler,  of  the  2d  and  3d 
of  July,  were  received  and  read. 

It  appearing  that  Governour  Philip  Skene  and  Mr. 
Lundy  have  designs  inimical  to  American  liberty  : 

Therefore,  on  motion,  It  is  recommended  to  the  Dele- 
gates of  the  Colony  of  Pennsylvania,  to  have  the  order  of 
Congress  of  the  27th  of  June  last,  respecting  the  sending 
Governour  Skene  to  Hartford,  in  Connecticut,  immediately 
carried  into  execution. 

On  motion,  Resolved,  That  Mr.  Lundy  be  sent  under 
guard  along  with  Governour  Skene  to  Hartford,  in  Connec- 
ticut, there  to  be  confined  in  the  same  manner  as  is  ordered 
with  respect  to  Governour  Skene,  until  farther  orders  from 
this  Congress. 

Resolved,  That  such  provision  be  made  for  the  support 
of  Gov  ernour  Skene  and  Mr.  Lundy  as  Governour  Trum- 
hull  shall  think  proper,  which  the  Continent  will  take  care 
to  pay. 

Ordered,  That  the  President  write  to  Governour  Trum- 
bull on  this  subject,  and  enclose  him  the  above  Order  and 

Resolves. 


1SG5 


CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS,  JULY  6,  1  775. 


1866 


The  Congress  resumed  the  consideration  of  the  Petition 
to  the  King,  which  being  debated  by  paragraphs,  was  agreed 
to,  and  ordered  to  be  engrossed. 

The  Order  of  the  Day  was  postponed,  and  the  Congress 
adjourned  till  to-morrow,  at  nine  o'clock. 

Thursday,  July  C,  1775. 

The  Congress  met  according  to  adjournment. 

And  resumed  the  consideration  of  the  Address  to  the 
Inhabitants  of  Great  Britain  which,  after  some  debate, 
was  recommitted. 

The  Committee,  to  whom  the  Declaration  was  recom- 
mitted, brought  in  the  same,  which  being  read,  was  taken 
into  consideration,  and  being  debated*  by  paragraphs,  was 
approved,  and  is  as  follows: 

A  Declaration  by  the  Representatives  of  the  United 
Colonies  of  North-America,  now  met  in  Congress  at 
Philadelphia,  setting  forth  the  causes  and  necessity 
of  their  taking  up  Arms. 

If  it  was  possible  for  men  who  exercise  their  reason,  to 
believe  that  the  divine  Author  of  our  existence  intended  a 
part  of  the  human  race  to  hold  an  absolute  property  in, 
and  an  unbounded  power  over  others,  marked  out  by  his 
infinite  goodness  and  wisdom,  as  the  objects  of  a  legal 
domination  never  rightfully  resistible,  however  severe  and 
oppressive,  the  inhabitants  of  these  Colonies  might  at  least 
require  from  the  Parliament  of  Great  Britain  some  evi- 
dence, that  this  dreadful  authority  over  them  has  been 
granted  to  that  body.  But  a  reverence  for  our  great  Crea- 
tor, principles  of  humanity,  and  the  dictates  of  common 
sense,  must  convince  all  those  who  reflect  upon  the  sub- 
ject, that  Government  was  instituted  to  promote  the  wel- 
fare of  mankind,  and  ought  to  be  administered  for  the 
attainment  of  that  end.  The  Legislature  of  Great  Bri- 
tain, however,  stimulated  by  an  inordinate  passion  for  a 
power,  not  only  unjustifiable,  but  which  they  know  to  be 
peculiarly  reprobated  by  the  very  Constitution  of  that 
Kingdom,  and  desperate  of  success  in  any  mode  of  contest 
where  regard  should  be  had  to  truth,  law,  or  right,  have  at 
length,  deserting  those,  attempted  to  effect  their  cruel  and 
impolitick  purpose  of  enslaving  these  Colonies  by  violence, 

*  PRAGMENT  OF  A  SPEECn  MADE  IN  THE  GENERAL  CONGRESS  OP  AMERICA, 
BY  ONE  OF  THE  DELEGATES  IN  1775. 

The  great  God,  Sir,  who  is  the  searcher  of  all  things,  will  witness 
for  me,  that  I  have  spoken  to  you  from  the  bottom  and  purity  of  my 
heart.  We  have  heard  that  this  is  an  arduous  consideration.  And 
eurely,  Sir,  we  have  considered  it  earnestly.  I  may  think  of  every 
gentlemen  here,  as  I  know  of  myself,  that,  for  seven  years  past,  this 
question  has  filled  the  day  with  anxious  thought,  and  the  night  with 
care.  The  God  to  whom  we  appeal  must  judge  us.  If  the  grievances  of 
which  we  complain  did  not  come  upon  us  unprovoked  and  unexpected, 
when  our  hearts  were  filled  with  respectful  affection  for  our  Parent 
State,  and  with  loyalty  to  our  King — let  slavery,  the  worst  of  human 
ills,  be  our  portion.  Nothing  less  than  seven  years  of  insulted  com- 
plaints and  reiterated  wrongs,  could  have  shaken  such  rooted  senti- 
ments. Unhappily  for  us,  submission  and  slavery  are  the  same ;  and 
we  have  only  the  melancholy  alternative  left  of  ruin  or  resistance. 

The  last  petitiont  of  this  Congress  to  the  King,  contained  all  that 
our  unhappy  condition  could  suggest.  It  represented  our  grievances ; 
implored  redress,  and  professed  our  readiness  to  contribute  for  the  gen- 
eral want,  to  the  utmost  of  our  abilities,  when  constitutionally  re- 
quired. 

The  apparently  gracious  reception  it  m;t  with,  promised  us  a  due 
consideration  of  it ;  and  that  consideration,  relief.  But,  alas !  Sir,  it 
seems  at  that  moment  the  very  reverse  was  intended.  For  it  now  ap- 
pears, that  in  a  very  few  days  after  this  specious  answer  to  our  Agents, 
a  circular  letter  was  privately  written  by  the  same  Secretary  of  State, 
to  the  Governours  of  the  Colonies,  before  Parliament  had  been  con- 
sulted, pronouncing  the  Congress  illegal,  our  grievances  pretended, 
and  vainly  commanding  them  to  prevent  our  meeting  again.  Perhaps, 
Sir,  the  Ministers  of  a  great  Nation  never  before  committed  an  act  of 
such  narrow  policy  and  treacherous  duplicity.  They  found  Parliament, 
however,  prepared  to  support  every  one  of  their  measures. 

I  forbear,  Sir,  entering  into  a  detail  of  those  acts,  which,  from  their 
atrociousness,  must  be  felt  and  remembered  forever.  They  are  c  ilcu- 
lated  to  carry  fire  and  sword,  famino  and  desolation,  through  these  flour. 
Lshing  Colonies.  They  cry,  "  havock,  and  let  slip  the  dogs  of  war."  The 
extremes  of  rage  and  revenge,  against  the  worst  of  enemies,  could  not 
dictate  measures  more  desperate  and  destructive. 

There  are  some  people  who  tremble  at  the  approach  of  war.  They 
fear  that  it  must  put  an  inevitable  stop  to  the  further  progress  of  these 
Colonies ;  and  ruin  irretrievably  those  benefits,  which  the  industry  of 
centuries  has  called  forth,  from  this  once  savage  land.  I  may  com- 
mend the  anxiety  of  these  men,  without  praising  their  judgment. 

War,  like  other  evils,  is  often  wholesome.  The  waters  that  stagnate 
corrupt.  The  storm  that  works  the  ocean  into  rage  renders  it  salutary. 
Heaven  has  given  us  nothing  unmixed.  The  rose  is  not  without  the 
thorn.  War  calls  forth  the  great  virtues  and  efforts  which  would  sleep 
in  the  gentle  bosom  of  peace,  Paula  sepultee  distat  inertia  celaia  virtus. 

t  In  1774,  presented  last  Christmas. 


and  have  thereby  rendered  it  necessary  for  us  to  close  with 
their  last  appeal  from  reason  to  arms.  Yet,  however  blinded 
that  Assembly  may  be,  by  their  intemperate  rage  for  un- 
limited domination,  so  to  slight  justice  and  the  opinion  of 
mankind,  we  esteem  ourselves  bound,  by  obligations  of 
respect  to  the  rest  of  the  world,  to  make  known  the  justice 
of  our  cause. 

Our  forefathers,  inhabitants  of  the  Island  of  Great  Bri- 
tain, left  their  native  land,  to  seek  on  these  shores  a  resi- 
dence for  civil  and  religious  freedom.  At  the  expense  of 
their  blood,  at  the  hazard  of  their  fortunes,  without  the 
least  charge  to  the  Country  from  which  they  removed,  by 
unceasing  labour,  and  an  unconquerable  spirit,  they  effected 
settlements  in  the  distant  and  inhospitable  wilds  of  Ameri- 
ca, then  filled  with  numerous  and  warlike  nations  of  barba- 
rians. Societies  or  Governments,  vested  with  perfect  Le- 
gislatures, were  formed  under  Charters  from  the  Crown, 
and  a  harmonious  intercourse  was  established  between  the 
Colonies  and  the  Kingdom  from  which  they  derived  their 
origin.  The  mutual  benefits  of  this  union  became  in  a 
short  time  so  extraordinary,  as  to  excite  astonishment.  It 
is  universally  confessed,  that  the  amazing  increase  of  the 
wealth,  strength,  and  navigation  of  the  Realm,  arose  from 
this  source;  and  the  Minister  who  so  wisely  and  success- 
fully directed  the  measures  of  Great  Britain  in  the  late 
war,  publickly  declared,  that  these  Colonies  enabled  her  to 
triumph  over  her  enemies.  Towards  the  conclusion  of 
that  war,  it  pleased  our  Sovereign  to  make  a  change  in  his 
Councils.  From  that  fatal  moment,  the  affairs  of  the  Bri- 
tish Empire  began  to  fall  into  confusion,  and  gradually  sli- 
ding from  the  summit  of  glorious  prosperity,  to  which  they 
had  been  advanced  by  the  virtues  and  abilities  of  one  man, 
are  at  length  distracted  by  the  convulsions  that  now  shake 
it  to  its  deepest  foundations.  The  new  Ministry  finding 
the  brave  foes  of  Britain,  though  frequently  defeated,  yet 
still  contending,  took  up  the  unfortunate  idea  of  granting 
them  a  hasty  peace,  and  of  then  subduing  her  faithful 
friends. 

These  devoted  Colonies  were  judged  to  be  in  such  a 
state  as  to  present  victories  without  bloodshed,  and  all  the 
easy  emoluments  of  statutable  plunder.  The  uninter- 
rupted tenour  of  their  peaceable  and  respectful  behaviour, 

It  opens  resources  which  would  be  concealed  under  the  inactivity  of 
tranquil  times.  It  rouses  and  enlightens.  It  produces  a  people  of 
animation,  energy,  adventure,  and  greatness.  Let  us  consult  history. 
Did  not  the  Grecian  Republicks  prosper  amid  continual  warfare  ?  Their 
prosperity,  their  power,  their  splendour,  grew  from  the  all-animating 
spirit  of  war.  Did  not  the  cottages  of  shepherds  rise  into  imperial 
Rome,  the  mistress  of  the  world,  the  nurse  of  heroes,  the  delight  of 
gods .'  through  the  invigorating  operation  of  unceasing  wars  !  Per 
damna,  per  cades,  ab  ipso  duxit  opes  animumque  ferro.  How  often  has 
Flanders  been  the  theatre  of  contending  powers,  conflicting  hosts,  and 
blood !  yet  what  country  is  more  flourishing  and  fertile  ?  Trace  back 
the  history  of  our  Parent  State.  Whether  you  view  her  arraying  An- 
gles against  Danes ;  Danes  against  Saxons;  Saxons  against  Normans ; 
the  Barons  against  the  usurping  Princes,  or  the  civil  wars  of  the  Red 
and  White  Roses,  or  that  between  the  people  and  the  tyrant  Stuart,  you 
see  her  in  a  state  of  almost  continual  warfare.  In  almost  every  reign, 
to  the  commencement  of  that  of  Henry  the  VII,  her  peaceful  bosom 
(in  her  poet's  phrase)  was  gored  with  iron  war.  It  was  in  the  peaceful 
reigns  of  Henry  VII,  Henry  VIII,  and  Charles  II,  that  she  suffered  the 
severest  extremities  of  tyranny  and  oppression.  But  amid  her  civil 
contentions,  she  flourished  and  grew  strong.  Trained  in  them,  she 
sent  her  hardy  legions  forth,  which  planted  the  standard  of  England 
upon  the  battlements  of  Paris ;  extending  her  commerce  and  her  do, 
minion. 

,(  Those  noble  English,  who  could  entertain 
With  half  their  forces,  the  full  pow  er  of  France, 
And  let  another  half  stand  laughing  by, 
All  out  of  work,  and  cold  fur  action." 

The  beautiful  fabrick  of  her  constitutional  liberty  was  reared  and 
cem jnted  in  blood.  From  this  fulness  of  her  strength  those  scions 
issued  which,  taking  deep  root  in  this  delightful  land,  have  reared  their 
heads,  and  spread  abroad  their  branches  like  the  cedars  of  Lebanon. 

Why  fear  we,  then,  to  pursue  through  apparent  evil,  real  good  ?  The 
war  upon  which  we  are  to  enter  is  just  and  necessary.  Just  urn  est  hel- 
ium, ubi  necessarium ;  et  pia  arma,  quibus  nulla,  nisi  in  armis,  relin* 
quitur  spes.  It  is  to  protect  these  regions,  brought  to  such  beauty 
through  the  infinite  toil  and  hazard  of  our  fathers  and  ourselves,  from 
becoming  the  prey  of  that  more  desolating  cruel  6poiler,  than  war, 
pestilence,  or  famine— absolute  rule  and  endless  extortion. 

Our  sufferings  have  been  great — our  endurance  long.  Every  effort 
of  patience,  complaint,  and  supplication  has  been  exhausted.  They 
seem  only  to  have  hardened  the  hearts  of  the  Ministers  who  oppress  us 
and  double  our  distresses.  Let  us,  therefore,  consult  how  we  shall  defend 
our  liberties  with  dignity  and  success.  Our  Parent  State  will  then 
think  us  worthy  of  her,  when  she  sees  that  with  her  liberty  we  inherit 
her  rigid  resolution  of  maintaining  it  against  all  invaders.  Let  us  give 
her  reason  to  pride  herself  in  the  relationship. 

And  thou,  great  Liberty !  inspire  our  souls. 
Make  our  lives  happy  in  thy  pureembn.ee, 
Or  our  d«-ath«  glorious  in  thy  just  defence ! 


1S67 


CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS,  JULY  6,  1775. 


1S68 


from  the  beginning  of  colonization ;  their  dutiful,  zealous, 
and  useful  services  during  the  war,  though  so  recently  and 
amply  acknowledged  in  the  most  honourable  manner  by 
His  Majesty,  by  the  late  King,  and  by  Parliament,  could 
not  save  them  from  the  meditated  innovations.  Parliament 
was  influenced  to  adopt  the  pernicious  project ;  and  assu- 
ming a  new  power  over  them,  have,  in  the  course  of  eleven 
years,  given  such  decisive  specimens  of  the  spirit  and  con- 
sequences attending  this  power,  as  to  leave  no  doubt  con- 
cerning the  effects  of  acquiescence  under  it.  They  have 
undertaken  to  give  and  grant  our  money  without  our  con- 
sent, though  we  have  ever  exercised  an  exclusive  right  to 
dispose  of  our  own  property;  statutes  have  been  passed  for 
extending  the  jurisdiction  of  Courts  of  Admiralty  and  Vice- 
Admiralty  beyond  their  ancient  limits ;  for  depriving  us  of 
the  accustomed  and  inestimable  privilege  of  Trial  by  Jury, 
in  cases  affecting  both  life  and  property;  for  suspending  the 
Legislature  of  one  of  the  Colonies ;  for  interdicting  all 
commerce  to  the  capital  of  another ;  and  for  altering  fun- 
damentally the  form  of  Government  established  by  Charter, 
and  secured  by  acts  of  its  own  Legislature,  solemnly  con- 
firmed by  the  Crown ;  for  exempting  the  "  murderers"  of 
Colonists  from  legal  trial,  and,  in  effect,  from  punishment ; 
for  erecting  in  a  neighbouring  Province,  acquired  by  the 
joint  arms  of  Great  Britain  and  America,  a  despotism  dan- 
gerous to  our  very  existence;  and  for  quartering  soldiers 
upon  the  Colonists  in  time  of  profound  peace.  It  has  also 
been  resolved  in  Parliament,  that  Colonists  charged  with 
committing  certain  offences,  shall  be  transported  to  England 
to  be  tried. 

But  why  should  we  enumerate  our  injuries  in  detail  ?  By 
one  statute  it  is  declared  that  Parliament  can  "  of  right 
make  laws  to  bind  us  in  all  cases  whatsoever."  What  is  to 
defend  us  against  so  enormous,  so  unlimited  a  power?  Not 
a  single  man  of  those  who  assume  it  is  chosen  by  us,  or  is 
subject  to  our  control  or  influence ;  but,  on  the  contrary, 
they  are  all  of  them  exempt  from  the  operation  of  such 
laws,  and  an  American  revenue,  if  not  diverted  from  the 
ostensible  purposes  for  which  it  is  raised,  would  actually 
lighten  their  own  burdens,  in  proportion  as  they  increase 
ours.  We  saw  the  misery  to  which  such  despotism  would 
reduce  us.  We,  for  ten  years,  incessantly  and  ineffectually 
besieged  the  Throne  as  supplicants ;  we  reasoned,  we  re- 
monstrated with  Parliament,  in  the  most  mild  and  decent 
language. 

Administration,  sensible  that  we  should  regard  these 
oppressive  measures  as  freemen  ought  to  do,  sent  over  fleets 
and  armies  to  enforce  them.  The  indignation  of  the  Ame- 
ricans was  roused,  it  is  true ;  but  it  was  the  indignation  of 
a  virtuous,  loyal,  and  affectionate  people.  A  Congress  of 
Delegates  from  the  United  Colonies  was  assembled  at 
Philadelphia,  on  the  fifth  day  of  last  September.  We 
resolved  again  to  offer  an  humble  and  dutiful  petition  to 
the  King,  and  also  addressed  our  fellow-subjects  of  Great 
Britain.  We  have  pursued  every  temperate,  every  re- 
spectful measure;  we  have  even  proceeded  to  break  off 
our  commercial  intercourse  with  our  fellow-subjects,  as  the 
last  peaceable  admonition,  that  our  attachment  to  no  Nation 
upon  earth  should  supplant  our  attachment  to  liberty.  This, 
we  flattered  ourselves,  was  the  ultimate  step  of  the  contro- 
versy; but  subsequent  events  have  shown  how  vain  was 
this  hope  of  finding  moderation  in  our  enemies. 

Several  threatening  expressions  against  the  Colonies 
were  inserted  in  His  Majesty's  Speech ;  our  Petition, 
though  we  were  told  it  was  a  decent  one,  and  that  His 
Majesty  had  been  pleased  to  receive  it  graciously,  and  to 
promise  laying  it  before  his  Parliament,  was  huddled  into 
both  Houses  among  a  bundle  of  American  papers,  and 
there  neglected. 

The  Lords  and  Commons,  in  their  Address,  in  the  month 
of  February,  said,  that  "  a  rebellion  at  that  time  actually 
existed  within  the  Province  of  Massachusetts-Bay ;  and 
that  those  concerned  in  it  had  been  countenanced  and  en- 
couraged by  unlawful  combinations  and  engagements  enter- 
ed into  by  His  Majesty's  subjects  in  several  of  the  other 
Colonies ;  and,  therefore,  they  besought  His  Majesty,  that 
he  would  take  the  most  effectual  measures  to  enforce  due 
obedience  to  the  laws  and  authority  of  the  supreme  Legis- 
lature. Soon  after,  the  commercial  intercourse  of  whole 
Colonies  with  foreign  countries,  and  with  each  other,  was 


cut  off  by  an  act  of  Parliament ;  by  another,  several  of 
them  were  entirely  prohibited  from  the  Fisheries  in  the 
seas  near  their  coasts,  on  which  they  always  depended  for 
their  sustenance ;  and  large  re-enforcements  of  ships  and 
troops  were  immediately  sent  over  to  General  Gage. 

Fruitless  were  all  the  entreaties,  arguments,  and  elo- 
quence of  an  illustrious  band  of  the  most  distinguished 
Peers  and  Commoners,  who  nobly  and  strenuously  asserted 
the  justice  of  our  cause,  to  stay,  or  even  to  mitigate  the 
heedless  fury  with  which  these  accumulated  and  unexam- 
pled outrages  were  hurried  on.  Equally  fruitless  was  the 
interference  of  the  City  of  London,  of  Bristol,  and  many 
other  respectable  Towns,  in  our  favour.  Parliament  adopt- 
ed an  insidious  manoeuvre,  calculated  to  divide  us,  to  estab- 
lish a  perpetual  auction  of  taxations,  where  Colony  should 
bid  against  Colony,  all  of  them  uninformed  what  ransom 
would  redeem  their  lives ;  and  thus  to  extort  from  us,  at 
the  point  of  the  bayonet,  the  unknown  sums  that  should  be 
sufficient  to  gratify,  if  possible  to  gratify,  Ministerial  rapa- 
city, with  the  miserable  indulgence  left  to  us  of  raising,  in 
our  own  mode,  the  prescribed  tribute.  What  terms  more 
rigid  and  humiliating  could  have  been  dictated  by  remorse- 
less victors  to  conquered  enemies  ?  In  our  circumstances, 
to  accept  them,  would  be  to  deserve  them. 

Soon  after  intelligence  of  these  proceedings  arrived  on 
this  Continent,  General  Gage,  who,  in  the  course  of  the 
last  year  had  taken  possession  of  the  Town  of  Boston,  in 
the  Province  of  Massachusetts- Bay ,  and  still  occupied  it 
as  a  garrison,  on  the  19th  day  of  April  sent  out  from  that 
place  a  large  detachment  of  his  army,  who  made  an  unpro- 
voked assault  on  the  inhabitants  of  the  said  Province,  at 
the  Town  of  Lexington,  as  appears  by  the  affidavits  of  a 
great  number  of  persons,  some  of  whom  were  officers  and 
soldiers  of  that  detachment,  murdered  eight  of  the  inhabi- 
tants, and  wounded  many  others.  From  thence  the  troops 
proceeded  in  warlike  array  to  the  Town  of  Concord,  where 
they  set  upon  another  party  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  same 
Province,  killing  several  and  wounding  more,  until  com- 
pelled to  retreat  by  the  country  people  suddenly  assembled 
to  repel  this  cruel  aggression.  Hostilities,  thus  commenced 
by  the  British  Troops,  have  been  since  prosecuted  by  them 
without  regard  to  faith  or  reputation.  The  inhabitants  of 
Boston,  being  confined  within  that  Town  by  the  General, 
their  Governour,  and  having,  in  order  to  procure  their  dis- 
mission, entered  into  a  treaty  with  him,  it  was  stipulated 
that  the  said  inhabitants,  having  deposited  their  arms  with 
their  own  Magistrates,  should  have  liberty  to  depart,  taking 
with  them  their  other  effects.  They  accordingly  delivered 
up  their  arms  :  but  in  open  violation  of  honour,  in  defiance 
of  the  obligation  of  treaties,  which  even  savage  nations 
esteemed  sacred,  the  Governour  ordered  the  arms  deposited 
as  aforesaid,  that  they  might  be  preserved  for  their  owners, 
to  be  seized  by  a  body  of  soldiers ;  detained  the  greatest 
part  of  the  inhabitants  in  the  Town,  and  compelled  the  few 
who  were  permitted  to  retire,  to  leave  their  most  valuable 
effects  behind. 

By  this  perfidy,  wives  are  separated  from  their  husbands, 
children  from  their  parents,  the  aged  and  the  sick  from 
their  relations  and  friends,  who  wish  to  attend  and  comfort 
them  ;  and  those  who  have  been  used  to  live  in  plenty,  and 
even  elegance,  are  reduced  to  deplorable  distress. 

The  General,  further  emulating  his  Ministerial  masters, 
by  a  Proclamation,  bearing  date  on  the  12th  day  of  June, 
after  venting  the  grossest  falsehoods  and  calumnies  against 
the  good  people  of  these  Colonies,  proceeds  to  "  declare 
them  all,  either  by  name  or  description,  to  be  rebels  and 
traitors ;  to  supersede  the  course  of  the  common  law,  and 
instead  thereof  to  publish  and  order  the  use  and  exercise 
of  the  law  martial."  His  troops  have  butchered  our  coun- 
trymen ;  have  wantonly  burnt  Charlestown,  besides  a  con- 
siderable number  of  houses  in  other  places ;  our  ships  and 
vessels  are  seized  ;  the  necessary  supplies  of  provisions  are 
intercepted,  and  he  is  exerting  his  utmost  power  to  spread 
destruction  and  devastation  around  him. 

We  have  received  certain  intelligence,  that  General 
Carlcton,  the  Governour  of  Canada,  is  instigating  the  peo- 
ple of  that  Province,  and  the  Indians,  to  fall  upon  us;  and 
we  have  but  too  much  reason  to  apprehend,  that  schemes 
have  been  formed  to  excite  domestick  enemies  against  us. 
In  brief,  a  part  of  these  Colonies  now  feel,  and  all  of  them 


1S69 


CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS,  JULY  8,  1773. 


1870 


are  sure  of  feeling,  as  far  as  the  vengeance  of  Administra- 
tion can  inflict  them,  the  complicated  calamities  of  fire, 
sword,  and  famine.  We  are  reduced  to  the  alternative  of 
choosing  an  unconditional  submission  to  the  tyranny  of  irri- 
tated Ministers;  or  resistance  by  force.  The  latter  is  our 
choice.  We  have  counted  the  cost  of  this  contest,  and 
find  nothing  so  dreadful  as  voluntary  slavery.  Honour, 
justice,  and  humanity,  forbid  us  tamely  to  surrender  that 
freedom  which  we  received  from  our  gallant  ancestors,  and 
which  our  innocent  posterity  have  a  right  to  receive  from  us. 
We  cannot  endure  the  infamy  and  guilt  of  resigning  suc- 
ceeding generations  to  that  wretchedness  which  inevitably 
awaits  them,  if  we  basely  entail  hereditary  bondage  upon 
them. 

Our  cause  is  just.  Our  union  is  perfect.  Our  internal 
resources  are  great,  and,  if  necessary,  foreign  assistance  is 
undoubtedly  attainable.  We  gratefully  acknowledge,  as 
signal  instances  of  the  Divine  favour  towards  us,  that  His 
providence  would  not  permit  us  to  be  called  into  this  severe 
controversy  until  we  were  grown  up  to  our  present  strength, 
had  been  previonsly  exercised  in  warlike  operations,  and 
possessed  of  the  means  of  defending  ourselves.  With 
hearts  fortified  with  these  animating  reflections,  we  most 
solemnly,  before  God  and  the  world,  declare,  that,  exerting 
the  utmost  energy  of  those  powers  which  our  beneficent 
Creator  hath  graciously  bestowed  upon  us,  the  arms  we 
have  been  compelled  by  our  enemies  to  assume,  we  will, 
in  defiance  of  every  hazard,  with  unabating  firmness  and 
perseverance,  employ  lor  the  preservation  of  our  liberties  ; 
being,  with  one  mind,  resolved  to  die  freemen  rather  than 
live  slaves. 

Lest  this  declaration  should  disquiet  the  minds  of  our 
friends  and  fellow-subjects  in  any  part  of  the  Empire,  we 
assure  them  that  we  mean  not  to  dissolve  that  union  which 
has  so  long  and  so  happily  subsisted  between  us,  and  which 
we  sincerely  wish  to  see  restored.  Necessity  has  not  yet 
driven  us  into  that  desperate  measure,  or  induced  us  to 
excite  any  other  nation  to  war  against  them.  We  have  not 
raised  armies  with  ambitious  designs  of  separating  from 
Great  Britain,  and  establishing  independent  states.  We 
fight  not  for  glory  or  for  conquest.  We  exhibit  to  man- 
kind the  remarkable  spectacle  of  a  people  attacked  by 
unprovoked  enemies,  without  any  imputation  or  even  sus- 
picion of  offence.  They  boast  of  their  privileges  and  civili- 
zation, and  yet  proffer  no  milder  conditions  than  servitude 
or  death. 

In  our  own  native  land,  in  defence  of  the  freedom  that  is 
our  birth-right,  and  which  we  ever  enjoyed  till  the  late  vio- 
lation of  it ;  for  the  protection  of  our  property,  acquired 
solely  by  the  honest  industry  of  our  forefathers  and  our- 
selves, against  violence  actually  offered,  we  have  taken  up 
arms.  We  shall  lay  them  down  when  hostilities  shall  cease 
on  the  part  of  the  aggressors,  and  all  danger  of  their  being 
renewed  shall  be  removed,  and  not  before. 

With  an  humble  confidence  in  the  mercies  of  the  su- 
preme and  impartial  Judge  and  Ruler  of  the  Universe,  we 
most  devoutly  implore  his  divine  goodness  to  protect  us 
happily  through  this  great  conflict,  to  dispose  our  adversa- 
ries to  reconciliation  on  reasonable  terms,  and  thereby  to 
relieve  the  Empire  from  the  calamities  of  civil  war. 

On  motion,  Resolved,  That  a  Letter  be  prepared  to  the 
Lord  Mayor,  Aldermen,  and  Livery,  of  the  City  of  Lon- 
don, expressing  the  thanks  of  this  Congress  for  their  vir- 
tuous and  spirited  opposition  to  the  oppressive  and  ruinous 
system  of  Colony  administration  adopted  by  the  British 
Ministry. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  draught  a  Letter  to  the 
People  of  Great  Britain,  to  prepare  this. 

The  Order  of  the  Day  was  postponed,  and  the  Congress 
adjourned  till  to-morrow,  at  nine  o'clock. 

Friday,  July  7,  1775. 

The  Congress  met  according  to  adjournment. 

The  Committee  to  whom  the  Address  to  the  People  of 
Great  Britain  was  recommitted,  brought  in  the  same ; 
which  was  again  read,  and  after  some  debate,  the  farther 
consideration  of  it  was  deferred  till  to-morrow. 

Order  of  the  Day  put  off,  and  the  Congress  adjourned 
till  to-morrow. 


Saturday,  July  8,  1775. 

The  Congress  met  according  to  adjournment. 
The  Petition  to  the  King  being  engrossed,  was  compa- 
red at  the  table,  and  signed  by  the  several  Members. 

To  the  King's  Most  Excellent  Majesty. 

Most  Gracious  Sovekeign  :  We,  your  Majesty's  faith- 
ful subjects  of  the  Colonies  of  New-Hampshire,  Massa- 
chusetts- B a y,  Rhode-Island  and  Frovidence  Plantations, 
Connecticut,  New-  York,  New-Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  the 
Counties  of  Newcastle,  Kent,  and  Sussex,  on  Delaware, 
Maryland,  Virginia,  North  Carolina,  and  South  Caro- 
lina, in  behalf  of  ourselves  and  the  inhabitants  of  these 
Colonies,  who  have  deputed  us  to  represent  them  in  Gen- 
eral Congress,  entreat  your  Majesty's  gracious  attention  to 
this  our  humble  petition. 

The  union  between  our  Mother  Country  and  these  Co- 
lonies, and  the  energy  of  mild  and  just  Government,  pro- 
duced benefits  so  remarkably  important,  and  afforded  such 
an  assurance  of  their  permanency  and  increase,  that  the 
wonder  and  envy  of  other  nations  were  excited,  while  they 
beheld  Great  Britain  rising  to  a  power  the  most  extraordi- 
nary the  world  had  ever  known. 

Her  rivals,  observing  that  there  was  no  probability  of  this 
happy  connexion  being  broken  by  civil  dissensions,  and  ap- 
prehending its  future  effects  if  left  any  longer  undisturbed, 
resolved  to  prevent  her  receiving  such  continual  and  formi- 
dable accessions  of  wealth  and  strength,  by  checking  the 
growth  of  those  settlements  from  which  they  were  to  be 
derived. 

In  the  prosecution  of  this  attempt,  events  so  unfavour- 
able to  the  design  took  place,  that  every  friend  to  the  inter- 
est of  Great  Britain  and  these  Colonies,  entertained  pleas- 
ing and  reasonable  expectations  of  seeing  an  additional 
force  and  exertion  immediately  gi".  en  to  the  operations  of 
the  union  hitherto  experienced,  by  an  enlargement  of  the 
dominions  of  the  Crown,  and  the  removal  of  ancient  and 
warlike  enemies  to  a  greater  distance. 

At  the  conclusion,  therefore,  of  the  late  war,  the  most 
glorious  and  advantageous  that  ever  had  been  carried  on  by 
British  arms,  your  loyal  Colonists  having  contributed  to  its 
success  by  such  repeated  and  strenuous  exertions  as  fre- 
quently procured  them  the  distinguished  approbation  of 
your  Majesty,  of  the  late  King,  and  of  Parliament,  doubted 
not  but  that  they  should  be  permitted,  with  the  rest  of  the 
Empire,  to  share  in  the  blessings  of  peace,  and  the  emolu- 
ments of  victory  and  conquest. 

While  these  recent  and  honourable  acknowledgments  of 
their  merits  remained  on  record  in  the  Journals  and  acts  of 
that  august  Legislature,  the  Parliament,  undefaced  by  the 
imputation  or  even  the  suspicion  of  any  offence,  they  were 
alarmed  by  a  new  system  of  statutes  and  regulations  adopt- 
ed for  the  administration  of  the  Colonies,  that  filled  their 
minds  with  the  most  painful  fears  and  jealousies ;  and,  to 
their  inexpressible  astonishment,  perceived  the  danger  of  a 
foreign  quarrel  quickly  succeeded  by  domestick  danger,  in 
their  judgment  of  a  more  dreadful  kind. 

Nor  were  these  anxieties  alleviated  by  any  tendency  in 
this  system  to  promote  the  welfare  of  their  Mother  Coun- 
try. For  though  its  effects  were  more  immediately  felt  by 
them,  yet  its  influence  appeared  to  be  injurious  to  the  com- 
merce and  prosperity  of  Great  Britain. 

We  shall  decline  the  ungrateful  task  of  describing  the 
irksome  variety  of  artifices  practised  by  many  of  your  Ma- 
jesty's Ministers,  the  delusive  pretences,  fruitless  terrours, 
and  unavailing  severities,  that  have,  from  time  to  time,  been 
dealt  out  by  them,  in  their  attempts  to  execute  this  impolitick 
plan,  or  of  tracing  through  a  series  of  years  past  the  progress 
of  the  unhappy  differences  between  Great  Britain  and  these 
Colonies,  that  have  flowed  from  this  fatal  source. 

Your  Majesty's  Ministers,  persevering  in  their  measures, 
and  proceeding  to  open  hostilities  for  enforcing  them,  have 
compelled  us  to  arm  in  our  own  defence,  and  have  engaged 
us  in  a  controversy  so  peculiarly  abhorrent  to  the  affections 
of  your  still  faithful  Colonists,  that  when  we  consider  whom 
we  must  oppose  in  this  contest,  and  if  it  continues,  what 
may  be  the  consequences,  our  own  particular  misfortunes 
are  accounted  by  us  only  as  parts  of  our  distress. 

Knowing  to  what  violent  resentments  and  incurable  ani- 
mosities civil  discords  are  apt  to  exasperate  and  inflame  the 


1871 


CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS,  JULY  8,  1775. 


1872 


contending  parties,  we  think  ourselves  required  by  indis- 
pensable obligations  to  Almighty  God,  to  your  Majesty,  to 
our  fellow-subjects,  and  to  ourselves,  immediately  to  use  all 
the  means  in  our  power,  not  incompatible  with  our  safety, 
for  stopping  the  further  effusion  of  blood,  and  for  averting 
the  impending  calamities  that  threaten  the  British  Empire. 

Thus  called  upon  to  address  your  Majesty  on  affairs  of 
such  moment  to  America,  and  probably  to  all  your  Domin- 
ions, we  are  earnestly  desirous  of  performing  this  office 
with  the  utmost  deference  for  your  Majesty;  and  we  there- 
fore pray,  that  your  Majesty's  royal  magnanimity  and 
benevolence  may  make  the  most  favourable  constructions 
of  our  expressions  on  so  uncommon  an  occasion.  Could 
we  represent  in  their  full  force  the  sentiments  that  agitate 
the  minds  of  us  your  dutiful  subjects,  we  are  persuaded 
your  Majesty  would  ascribe  any  seeming  deviation  from 
reverence  in  our  language,  and  even  in  our  conduct,  not  to 
any  reprehensible  intention,  but  to  the  impossibility  of 
reconciling  the  usual  appearances  of  respect  with  a  just 
attention  to  our  own  preservation  against  those  artful  and 
cruel  enemies  who  abuse  your  royal  confidence  and  autho- 
rity, for  the  purpose  of  effecting  our  destruction. 

Attached  to  your  Majesty's  person,  family,  and  Govern- 
ment, with  all  devotion  that  principle  and  affection  can  in- 
spire ;  connected  with  Great  Britain  by  the  strongest  ties 
that  can  unite  societies,  and  deploring  every  event  that 
tends  in  any  degree  to  weaken  them,  we  solemnly  assure 
your  Majesty,  that  we  not  only  most  ardently  desire  the 
former  harmony  between  her  and  these  Colonies  may  be 
restored,  but  that  a  concord  may  be  established  between 
them  upon  so  firm  a  basis  as  to  perpetuate  its  blessings, 
uninterrupted  by  any  future  dissensions,  to  succeeding  gene- 
rations in  both  countries,  and  to  transmit  your  Majesty's 
name  to  posterity,  adorned  with  that  signal  and  lasting  glory 
that  has  attended  the  memory  of  those  illustrious  person- 
ages, whose  virtues  and  abilities  have  extricated  states  from 
dangerous  convulsions,  and,  by  securing  happiness  to  others, 
have  erected  the  most  noble  and  durable  monuments  to  their 
own  fame. 

We  beg  leave  further  to  assure  your  Majesty,  that  not- 
withstanding the  sufferings  of  your  loyal  Colonists  during 
the  course  of  this  present  controversy,  our  breasts  retain 
too  tender  a  regard  for  the  kingdom  from  which  we  derive 
our  origin,  to  request  such  a  reconciliation  as  might,  in  any 
manner,  be  inconsistent  with  her  dignity  or  her  welfare. 
These,  related  as  we  are  to  her,  honour  and  duty,  as  well 
as  inclination,  induce  us  to  support  and  advance;  and  the 
apprehensions  that  now  oppress  our  hearts  with  unspeak- 
able grief,  being  once  removed,  your  Majesty  will  find  your 
faithful  subjects  on  this  Continent  ready  and  willing  at  all 
times,  as  they  have  ever  been,  with  their  lives  and  fortunes, 
to  assert  and  maintain  the  rights  and  interests  of  your  Ma- 
jesty, and  of  our  Mother  Country. 

We  therefore  beseech  your  Majesty,  that  your  royal 
authority  and  influence  may  be  graciously  interposed  to 
procure  us  relief  from  our  afflicting  fears  and  jealousies, 
occasioned  by  the  system  before-mentioned,  and  to  settle 
peace  through  every  part  of  our  Dominions,  with  all  humil- 
ity submitting  to  your  Majesty's  wise  consideration,  whether 
it  may  not  be  expedient,  for  facilitating  those  important 
purposes,  that  your  Majesty  be  pleased  to  direct  some 
mode,  by  which  the  united  applications  of  your  faithful 
Colonists  to  the  Throne,  in  pursuance  of  their  common 
counsels,  may  be  improved  into  a  happy  and  permanent 
reconciliation  ;  and  that,  in  the  mean  time,  measures  may 
be  taken  for  preventing  the  further  destruction  of  the  lives 
of  your  Majesty's  subjects;  and  that  such  statutes  as  more 
immediately  distress  any  of  your  Majesty's  Colonies,  may 
be  repealed. 

For  such  arrangements  as  your  Majesty's  wisdom  can 
form  for  collecting  the  united  sense  of  your  American  peo- 
ple, we  are  convinced  your  Majesty  would  receive  such 
satisfactory  proofs  of  the  disposition  of  the  Colonists  to- 
wards their  Sovereign  and  Parent  State,  that  the  wished  for 
opportunity  would  soon  be  restored  to  them,  of  evincing 
the  sincerity  of  their  professions,  by  every  testimony  of 
devotion  becoming  the  most  dutiful  subjects,  and  the  most 
affectionate  Colonists. 

That  your  Majesty  may  enjoy  a  long  and  prosperous 
reign,  and  that  your  descendants  may  govern  your  Domin- 


New-Hampshire, 
Massachusetts, 

Rhode-Island, 

Connecticut, 

New- York, 

New-Jersey, 
Pennsylvania, 


ions  with  honour  to  themselves  and  happiness  to  their  sub- 
jects, is  our  sincere  prayer. 

John  Hancock. 
John  Langdon, 
Thomas  Cushing. 
C  Samuel  Adams, 

<  John  Adams, 
^Robert  Treat  Paine. 
C  Stephen  Hopkins, 

<  Samuel  Ward, 
{Eliphalet  Dyer. 
5  Roger  Sherman, 
(  Silas  Deane. 
'Philip  Livingston, 

James  Duane, 
John  Alsop, 
Francis  Lewis, 
John  Jay, 

Robert  Livingston,  Jr., 
Lewis  Morris, 
William  Floyd, 
Henry  Wisner. 
f  William  Livingston, 

<  John  De  Hart, 
{Richard  Smith. 

John  Dickinson, 
Benjamin  Franklin, 
George  Ross, 
James  Wilson, 
Charles  Humphreys, 
Edward  Biddle. 

{Ccesar  Rodney, 
Thomas  McKean, 
George  Read. 
'Matthew  Tilghman, 


< 


Maryland, 


Virginia, 


North-Carolina, 


1 


Thomas  Johnson,  Jr., 
William  Paca, 
Samuel  Chase, 
Thomas  Stone. 
Patrick  Henry,  Jr., 
Richard  Henry  Lee, 
■I  Edmund  Pendleton, 
Benjamin  Harrison, 
{  Thomas  Jefferson. 
5  William  Hooper, 
\  Joseph  Hewes. 
(  Henry  Middleton, 
Thomas  Lynch, 
South-Carolina,       <  Christopher  Gadsden, 
John  Rutledge, 
^Edward  Rutledge. 
The  Committee  appointed  to  prepare  a  Letter  to  thd 
Lord  Mayor,  he,  reported  the  same ;  which  was  read. 

On  motion,  Resolved,  That  the  above  Committee  pre- 
pare a  Letter  to  Mr.  Richard  Penn,  and  the  Colony 
Agents  by  name  in  England. 

The  Congress  resumed  the  consideration  of  the  Address 
to  the  Inhabitants  of  Great  Britain;  which  being  read,  and 
debated  by  paragraphs,  was  approved,  and  is  as  follows : 

The  Twelve  United  Colonies,  by  their  Delegates  in  Con- 
gress, to  the  Inhabitants  of  Great  Britain: 

Friends,  Countrymen,  and  Brethren  !  By  these,  and 
by  every  other  appellation  that  may  designate  the  ties  which 
bind  us  to  each  other,  we  entreat  your  serious  attention  to 
this  our  second  attempt  to  prevent  their  dissolution.  Re- 
membrance of  former  friendships,  pride  in  the  glorious 
achievements  of  our  common  ancestors,  and  affection  for 
the  heirs  of  their  virtues,  have  hitherto  preserved  our  mu- 
tual connexion  ;  but  when  that  friendship  is  violated  by  the 
grossest  injuries;  when  the  pride  of  ancestry  becomes  our 
reproach,  and  we  are  no  otherwise  allied  than  as  tyrants 
and  slaves ;  when  reduced  to  the  melancholy  alternative  of 
renouncing  your  favour  or  our  freedom,  can  we  hesitate 
about  the  choice  ?  Let  the  spirit  of  Britons  determine. 

In  a  former  address  we  asserted  our  rights,  and  stated  the 
injuries  we  had  then  received.  We  hoped  that  the  men- 
tion of  our  wrongs  would  have  roused  that  honest  indigna- 
tion which  has  slept  too  long  for  your  honour,  or  the  welfare 
of  the  Empire.   But  we  have  not  been  permitted  to  enter- 


1873 


CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS,  JULY  8,  1775. 


1874 


tain  this  pleasing  expectation.  Every  day  brought  an  ac- 
cumulation of  injuries,  and  the  invention  of  the  Ministry 
has  been  constantly  exercised,  in  adding  to  the  calamities 
of  your  American  brethren. 

After  the  most  valuable  right  of  legislation  was  infringed  ; 
when  the  powers  assumed  by  your  Parliament,  in  which 
we  are  not  represented,  and  from  our  local  and  other  cir- 
cumstances cannot  properly  be  represented,  rendered  our 
property  precarious ;  after  being  denied  that  mode  of  trial 
to  which  we  have  long  been  indebted  for  the  safety  of  our 
persons,  and  the  preservation  of  our  liberties  ;  after  being, 
in  many  instances,  divested  of  those  laws  which  were  trans- 
mitted to  us  by  our  common  ancestors,  and  subjected  to  an 
arbitrary  code,  compiled  under  the  auspices  of  Roman 
tyrants  ;  after  those  charters,  which  encouraged  our  prede- 
cessors to  brave  death  and  danger  in  every  shape,  on  un- 
known seas,  in  deserts  unexplored,  amidst  barbarous  and 
inhospitable  nations,  were  annulled  ;  when,  without  the 
form  of  trial,  without  a  publick  accusation,  whole  Colonies 
were  condemned,  their  trade  destroyed,  their  inhabitants 
impoverished  ;  when  soldiers  were  encouraged  to  imbrue 
their  hands  in  the  blood  of  Americans,  by  offers  of  impu- 
nity; when  new  modes  of  trial  were  instituted  for  the  ruin 
of  the  accused,  where  the  charge  carried  with  it  the  hor- 
rours  of  conviction  ;  when  a  despotick  Government  was 
established  in  a  neighbouring  Province,  and  its  limits  ex- 
tended to  every  of  our  frontiers ;  we  little  imagined  that 
any  thing  could  be  added  to  this  black  catalogue  of  unpro- 
voked injuries:  but  we  have  unhappily  been  deceived,  and 
the  late  measures  of  the  British  Ministry  fully  convince 
us  that  their  object  is  the  reduction  of  these  Colonies  to 
slavery  and  ruin. 

To  confirm  this  assertion,  let  us  recall  your  attention  to 
the  affairs  of  America,  since  our  last  address.  Let  us  com- 
bat the  calumnies  of  our  enemies;  and  let  us  warn  you  of 
tbe  dangers  that  threaten  you  in  our  destruction.  Many 
of  your  fellow-subjects,  whose  situation  deprived  them  of 
other  support,  drew  their  maintenance  from  the  sea ;  but 
the  deprivation  of  our  liberty  being  insufficient  to  satisfy 
the  resentment  of  our  enemies,  the  horrours  of  famine  were 
superadded,  and  a  British  Parliament,  who,  in  better  times, 
were  the  protectors  of  innocence  and  the  patrons  of  human- 
ity, have,  without  distinction  of  age  or  sex,  robbed  thou- 
sands of  the  food  which  they  were  accustomed  to  draw  from 
that  inexhaustible  source,  placed  in  their  neighbourhood  by 
the  benevolent  Creator. 

Another  act  of  your  Legislature  shuts  our  ports,  and 
prohibits  our  trade  with  any  but  those  states  from  whom 
the  great  law  of  self-preservation  renders  it  absolutely  ne- 
cessary we  should  at  present  withhold  our  commerce.  But 
this  act  (whatever  may  have  been  its  design)  we  consider 
rather  as  injurious  to  your  opulence  than  our  interest.  All 
our  commerce  terminates  with  you ;  and  the  wealth  we 
procure  from  other  Nations,  is  soon  exchanged  for  your 
superfluities.  Our  remittances  must  then  cease  with  our 
trade ;  and  our  refinements  with  our  aflhience.  We  trust, 
however,  that  laws  which  deprive  us  of  every  blessing  but 
a  soil  that  teems  with  the  necessaries  of  life,  and  that  liber- 
ty which  renders  the  enjoyment  of  them  secure,  will  not 
relax  our  vigour  in  their  defence. 

We  might  here  observe  on  the  cruelty  and  inconsistency 
of  those,  who,  while  they  publickly  brand  us  with  reproach- 
ful and  unworthy  epithets,  endeavour  to  deprive  us  of  the 
means  of  defence,  by  their  interposition  with  foreign  Pow- 
ers, and  to  deliver  us  to  the  lawless  ravages  of  a  merciless 
soldiery.  But  happily  we  are  not  without  resources;  and 
though  the  timid  and  humiliating  applications  of  a  British 
Ministry  should  prevail  with  foreign  Nations,  yet  industry, 
prompted  by  necessity,  will  not  leave  us  without  the  neces- 
sary supplies. 

We  could  wish  to  go  no  further,  and,  not  to  wound  the 
ear  of  humanity,  leave  untold  those  rigorous  acts  of  oppres- 
sion, which  are  daily  exercised  in  the  Town  of  Boston,  did 
we  not  hope,  that  by  disclaiming  their  deeds  and  punishing 
the  perpetrators,  you  would  shortly  vindicate  the  honour 
of  the  British  name,  and  re-establish  the  violated  laws  of 
justice. 

That  once  populous,  flourishing  and  commercial  Town 
is  now  garrisoned  by  an  Army  sent  not  to  protect,  but  to 
enslave  its  inhabitants.    The  Civil  Government  is  over- 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii.  ] 


turned,  and  a  Military  Despotism  erected  upon  its  ruins. 
Without  law,  without  right,  powers  are  assumed  unknown 
to  the  Constitution.  Private  property  is  unjustly  invaded. 
The  inhabitants,  daily  subjected  to  the  licentiousness  of  the 
soldiery,  are  forbid  to  remove  in  defiance  of  their  natural 
rights,  in  violation  of  the  most  solemn  compacts.  Or  if, 
after  long  and  wearisome  solicitation,  a  pass  is  procured, 
their  effects  are  detained,  and  even  those  who  are  most 
favoured,  have  no  alternative  but  poverty  or  slavery.  The 
distress  of  many  thousand  people,  wantonly  deprived  of 
the  necessaries  of  life,  is  a  subject  on  which  we  would  not 
wish  to  enlarge. 

Yet  we  cannot  but  observe,  that  a  British  fleet  (unjus- 
tified even  by  acts  of  your  Legislature)  are  daily  employed 
in  ruining  our  commerce,  seizing  our  ships,  and  depriving 
whole  communities  of  their  daily  bread.  Nor  will  a  regard 
for  your  honour  permit  us  to  be  silent,  while  British  Troops 
sully  your  glory,  by  actions  which  the  most  inveterate 
enmity  will  not  palliate  among  civilized  Nations,  the  wanton 
and  unnecessary  destruction  of  Charlestown,  a  large,  ancient, 
and  once  populous  Town,  just  before  deserted  by  its  inha- 
bitants, who  had  fled  to  avoid  the  fury  of  your  soldiery. 

If  you  still  retain  those  sentiments  of  compassion  by 
which  Britons  have  ever  been  distinguished,  if  the  humani- 
ty which  tempered  the  valour  of  our  common  ancestors 
has  not  degenerated  into  cruelty,  you  will  lament  the  mise- 
ries of  their  descendants. 

To  what  are  we  to  attribute  this  treatment  ?  If  to  any 
secret  principle  of  the  Constitution,  let  it  be  mentioned  ; 
let  us  learn  that  the  Government  we  have  long  revered, 
is  not  without  its  defects,  and  that  while  it  gives  freedom 
to  a  part,  it  necessarily  enslaves  the  remainder  of  the  Em- 
pire. If  such  a  principle  exists,  why  for  ages  has  it  ceased 
to  operate  ?  Why  at  this  time  is  it  called  into  action  ?  Can 
no  reason  be  assigned  for  this  conduct  ?  Or  must  it  be 
resolved  into  the  wanton  exercise  of  arbitrary  power?  And 
shall  the  descendants  of  Britons  tamely  submit  to  this? 
No,  Sirs !  we  never  will.  While  we  revere  the  memory  of 
our  gallant  and  virtuous  ancestors,  we  never  can  surrender 
those  glorious  privileges,  for  which  they  fought,  bled,  and 
conquered.  Admit  that  your  fleets  could  destroy  our 
towns,  and  ravage  our  sea-coasts ;  these  are  inconsider- 
able objects,  things  of  no  moment  to  men  whose  bosoms 
glow  with  the  ardour  of  liberty.  We  can  retire  beyond 
the  reach  of  your  navy,  and,  without  any  sensible  diminu- 
tion of  the  necessaries  of  life,  enjoy  a  luxury,  which  from 
that  period  you  will  want — the  luxury  of  being  free. 

We  know  the  force  of  your  arms,  and  was  it  called  forth 
in  the  cause  of  justice  and  your  Country,  we  might  dread 
the  exertion  ;  but  will  Britons  fight  under  the  banners  of 
tyranny  ?  Will  they  counteract  the  labours,  and  disgrace 
the  victories  of  their  ancestors  ?  Will  they  forge  chains 
for  their  posterity  ?  If  they  descend  to  this  unworthy  task, 
will  their  swords  retain  their  edge,  their  arms  their  accus- 
tomed vigour?  Britons  can  never  become  the  instruments 
of  oppression,  till  they  lose  the  spirit  of  freedom,  by  which 
alone  they  are  invincible. 

Our  enemies  charge  us  with  sedition.  In  what  does  it 
consist?  In  our  refusal  to  submit  to  unwarrantable  acts  of 
injustice  and  cruelty  ?  If  so,  shew  us  a  period  in  your 
history,  in  which  you  have  not  been  equally  seditious. 

We  are  accused  of  aiming  at  independence;  but  how  is 
this  accusation  supported?  By  the  allegations  of  your 
Ministers,  not  by  our  actions.  Abused,  insulted,  and  con- 
demned, what  steps  have  we  pursued  to  obtain  redress  ? 
We  have  carried  our  dutiful  petitions  to  the  Throne.  We 
have  applied  to  your  justice  for  relief.  We  have  retrenched 
our  luxury,  and  withheld  our  trade. 

The  advantages  of  our  commerce  were  designed  as  a 
compensation  for  your  protection  ;  when  you  ceased  to  pro- 
tect, for  what  were  we  to  compensate  ? 

What  has  been  the  success  of  our  endeavours  ?  The 
clemency  of  our  Sovereign  is  unhappily  diverted  ;  our  peti- 
tions are  treated  with  indignity;  our  prayers  answered  by 
insults.  Our  application  to  you  remains  unnoticed,  and 
leaves  us  the  melancholy  apprehension  of  your  wanting 
either  the  will  or  the  power  to  assist  us. 

Even  under  these  circumstances,  what  measures  have 
we  taken  that  betray  a  desire  of  independence  ?  Have  we 
called  in  the  aid  of  those  foreign  powers,  who  are  the  rivals 


1S75 


CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS,  JULY  8,  1775. 


1876 


of  your  grandeur?  When  your  Troops  were  few  and  de- 
fenceless, did  we  take  advantage  of  their  distress  and  expel 
them  our  towns  ?  Or  have  we  permitted  them  to  fortify, 
to  receive  new  aid,  and  to  acquire  additional  strength? 

Let  not  your  enemies  and  ours  persuade  you,  that  in  this 
we  were  influenced  by  fear,  or  any  other  unworthy  motive. 
The  lives  of  Britons  are  still  dear  to  us.  They  are  the 
children  of  our  parents,  and  an  uninterrupted  intercourse 
of  mutual  benefits  had  knit  the  bonds  of  friendship.  When 
hostilities  were  commenced,  when  on  a  late  occasion  we 
were  wantonly  attacked  by  your  Troops,  though  we  repel- 
led their  assaults  and  returned  their  blows,  yet  we  lamented 
the  wounds  they  obliged  us  to  give  ;  nor  have  we  yet 
learned  to  rejoice  at  a  victory  over  Englishmen. 

As  we  wish  not  to  colour  our  actions,  or  disguise  our 
thoughts,  we  shall,  in  the  simple  language  of  truth,  avow 
the  measures  we  have  pursued,  the  motives  upon  which 
we  have  acted,  and  our  future  designs. 

When  our  late  petition  to  the  Throne  produced  no  other 
effect  than  fresh  injuries,  and  votes  of  your  Legislature,  cal- 
culated to  justify  every  severity  ;  when  your  fleets  and  your 
armies  were  prepared  to  wrest  from  us  our  property,  to  rob 
us  of  our  liberties  or  our  lives ;  when  the  hostile  attempts 
of  General  Gage  evinced  his  designs,  we  levied  armies  for 
our  security  and  defence.  When  the  powers  vested  in  the 
Governour  of  Canada  gave  us  reason  to  apprehend  dan- 
ger from  that  quarter;  and  we  had  frequent  intimations, 
that  a  cruel  and  savage  enemy  was  to  be  let  loose  upon 
the  defenceless  inhabitants  of  our  frontiers;  we  took  such 
measures  as  prudence  dictated,  as  necessity  will  justify. 
We  possessed  ourselves  of  Crown  Point  and  Ticonderoga. 
Yet  give  us  leave  most  solemnly  to  assure  you,  that  we 
have  not  yet  lost  sight  of  the  object  we  have  ever  had  in 
view — a  reconciliation  with  you  on  constitutional  principles, 
and  a  restoration  of  that  friendly  intercourse,  which,  to  the 
advantage  of  both,  we  till  lately  maintained. 

The  inhabitants  of  this  Country  apply  themselves  chiefly 
to  agriculture  and  commerce.  As  their  fashions  and  man- 
ners are  similar  to  yours,  your  markets  must  afford  them 
the  conveniences  and  luxuries  for  which  they  exchange 
the  produce  of  their  labours.  The  wealth  of  this  extended 
Continent  centres  with  you  ;  and  our  trade  is  so  regulated 
as  to  be  subservient  only  to  your  interest.  You  are  too 
reasonable  to  expect,  that  by  taxes  (in  addition  to  this)  we 
should  contribute  to  your  expense  ;  to  believe,  after  divert- 
ing the  fountain,  that  the  streams  can  flow  with  unabated 
force. 

It  has  been  said,  that  we  refuse  to  submit  to  the  restric- 
tions on  our  commerce.  From  whence  is  this  inference 
drawn?  Not  from  our  words,  we  have  repeatedly  declared 
the  contrary ;  and  we  again  profess  our  Submission  to  the 
several  acts  of  trade  and  navigation,  passed  before  the  year 
1763,  trusting,  nevertheless,  in  the  equity  and  justice  of 
Parliament,  that  such  of  them  as,  upon  cool  and  impartial 
consideration,  shall  appear  to  have  imposed  unnecessary  or 
grievous  restrictions,  will,  at  some  happier  period,  be  re- 
pealed or  altered.  And  we  cheerfully  consent  to  the  opera- 
tion of  such  acts  of  the  British  Parliament  as  shall  be 
restrained  to  the  regulation  of  our  external  commerce,  for 
the  purpose  of  securing  the  commercial  advantages  of  the 
whole  Empire  to  the  Mother  Country,  and  the  commercial 
benefits  of  its  respective  members ;  excluding  every  idea 
of  taxation,  internal  or  external,  for  raising  a  revenue  on 
the  subjects  in  America  without  their  consent. 

It  is  alleged  that  we  contribute  nothing  to  the  common 
defence.  To  this  we  answer,  that  the  advantages  which 
Great  Britain  receives  from  the  monopoly  of  our  trade 
far  exceed  our  proportion  of  the  expense  necessary  for  that 
purpose.  But  should  these  advantages  be  inadequate  there- 
to, let  the  restrictions  on  our  trade  be  removed,  and  we  will 
cheerfully  contribute  such  proportion  when  constitutionally 
required. 

It  is  a  fundamental  principle  of  the  British  Constitution, 
that  every  man  should  have  at  least  a  representative  share 
in  the  formation  of  those  laws  by  which  he  is  bound.  Were 
it  otherwise,  the  regulation  of  our  internal  police  by  a  Bri- 
tish Parliament,  who  are  and  ever  will  be  unacquainted  with 
our  local  circumstances,  must  be  always  inconvenient,  and 
frequently  oppressive,  working  our  wrong,  without  yielding 
any  possible  advantage  to  you. 


A  plan  of  accommodation  (as  it  has  been  absurdly  call- 
ed) has  been  proposed  by  your  Ministers  to  our  respective 
Assemblies.  Were  this  proposal  free  from  every  other 
objection  but  that  which  arises  from  the  time  of  the  offer, 
it  would  not  be  unexceptionable.  Can  men  deliberate  with 
the  bayonet  at  their  breast  ?  Can  they  treat  with  freedom, 
while  their  Towns  are  sacked;  when  daily  instances  of 
injustice  and  oppression  disturb  the  slower  operations  of 
reason  ? 

If  this  proposal  is  really  such  as  you  would  offer  and  we 
accept,  why  was  it  delayed  till  the  Nation  was  put  to  use- 
less expense,  and  we  were  reduced  to  our  present  melan- 
choly situation  ?  If  it  holds  forth  nothing,  why  was  it 
proposed  ?  Unless  indeed  to  deceive  you  into  a  belief, 
that  we  were  unwilling  lo  listen  to  any  terms  of  accommo- 
dation. But  what  is  submitted  to  our  consideration  ?  We 
contend  for  the  disposal  of  our  property.  We  are  told 
that  our  demand  is  unreasonable,  that  our  Assemblies  may 
indeed  collect  our  money,  but  that  they  must  at  the  same 
time  offer,  not  what  your  exigencies  or  ours  may  require, 
but  so  much  as  shall  be  deemed  sufficient  to  satisfy  the 
desires  of  a  Minister  and  enable  him  to  provide  for  favour- 
ites and  dependants.  A  recurrence  to  your  own  Treasury 
will  convince  you  how  little  of  the  money  already  extorted 
from  us  has  been  applied  to  the  relief  of  your  burdens. 
To  suppose  that  we  would  thus  grasp  the  shadow  and  give 
up  the  substance,  is  adding  insult  to  injuries. 

We  have  nevertheless  again  presented  an  humble  and 
dutiful  Petition  to  our  Sovereign,  and  to  remove  every  im- 
putation of  obstinacy,  have  requested  His  Majesty  to  direct 
some  mode  by  which  the  united  applications  of  his  faith- 
ful Colonists  may  be  improved  into  happy  and  permanent 
reconciliation.  We  are  willing  to  treat  on  such  terms  as 
can  alone  render  an  accommodation  lasting,  and  we  flatter 
ourselves  that  our  pacifick  endeavours  will  be  attended  with 
a  removal  of  Ministerial  Troops,  and  a  repeal  of  those  laws, 
of  the  operation  of  which  we  complain,  on  the  one  part, 
and  a  disbanding  of  our  Army,  and  a  dissolution  of  our 
commercial  associations,  on  the  other. 

Yet  conclude  not  from  this  that  we  propose  to  surrender 
our  property  into  the  hands  of  your  Ministry,  or  vest  your 
Parliament  with  a  power  which  may  terminate  in  our  de- 
struction. The  great  bulwarks  of  our  Constitution  we 
have  desired  to  maintain  by  every  temperate,  by  every 
peaceable  means  ;  but  your  Ministers  (equal  foes  to  Bri- 
tish and  American  freedom)  have  added  to  their  former 
oppressions  an  attempt  to  reduce  us  by  the  sword  to  a 
base  and  abject  submission.  On  the  sword,  therefore,  we 
are  compelled  to  rely  for  protection.  Should  victory  declare 
in  your  favour,  yet  men  trained  to  arms  from  their  infancy, 
and  animated  by  the  love  of  liberty,  will  afford  neither  a 
cheap  nor  easy  conquest.  Of  this  at  least  we  are  assured, 
that  our  struggle  will  be  glorious,  our  success  certain  ;  since 
even  in  death  we  shall  find  that  freedom  which  in  life  you 
forbid  us  to  enjoy. 

Let  us  now  ask,  what  advantages  are  to  attend  our  re- 
duction ?  The  trade  of  a  ruined  and  desolate  Country  is 
always  inconsiderable,  its  revenue  trifling ;  the  expense  of 
subjecting  and  retaining  it  in  subjection  certain  and  inevi- 
table. What,  then,  remains  but  the  gratification  of  an  ill- 
judged  pride,  or  the  hope  of  rendering  us  subservient  to 
designs  on  your  liberty. 

Soldiers  who  have  sheathed  their  swords  in  the  bowels 
of  their  American  brethren,  will  not  draw  them  with  more 
reluctance  against  you.  When  too  late  you  may  lament 
the  loss  of  that  freedom  which  we  exhort  you,  while  still  in 
your  power,  to  preserve. 

On  the  other  hand,  should  you  prove  unsuccessful ; 
should  that  connexion,  which  we  most  ardently  wish  to 
maintain,  be  dissolved  ;  should  your  Ministers  exhaust  your 
treasures  and  waste  the  blood  of  your  countrymen  in  vain 
attempts  on  our  liberty  ;  do  they  not  deliver  you,  weak  and 
defenceless,  to  your  natural  enemies? 

Since,  then,  your  liberty  must  be  the  price  of  your  vic- 
tories;  your  ruin,  of  your  defeat;  what  blind  fatality  can 
urge  you  to  a  pursuit  destructive  of  all  that  Britons  hold 
dear? 

If  you  have  no  regard  to  the  connexion  that  has  for  ages 
subsisted  between  us ;  if  you  have  forgot  the  wounds  we 
have  received  fighting  by  your  side  for  the  extension  of  the 


1S77 


CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS,  JULY  12,  1775. 


1S7S 


empire  ;  if  our  commerce  is  not  an  object  below  your  con- 
sideration; if  justice  and  humanity  have  lost  their  influence 
on  your  hearts  ;  still  motives  are  not  wanting  to  excite  your 
indignation  at  the  measures  now  pursued  :  your  wealth, 
your  honour,  your  liberty  are  at  slake. 

Notwithstanding  the  distress  to  which  we  are  reduced, 
we  sometimes  forget  our  own  afflictions  to  anticipate  and 
sympathize  in  yours.  We  grieve  that  rash  and  inconside- 
rate counsels  should  precipitate  the  destruction  of  an  em- 
pire which  has  been  the  envy  and  admiration  of  ages,  and 
call  God  to  witness,  that  we  would  part  with  our  property, 
endanger  our  lives,  and  sacrifice  every  thing  but  liberty,  to 
redeem  you  from  ruin. 

A  cloud  hangs  over  your  head  and  ours  ;  ere  this  reaches 
you,  it  may  probably  burst  upon  us ;  let  us,  then,  (before 
the  remembrance  of  former  kindness  is  obliterated,)  once 
more  repeat  those  appellations  which  are  ever  grateful  in 
our  ears ;  let  us  entreat  Heaven  to  avert  our  ruin,  and  the 
destruction  that  threatens  our  friends,  brethren,  and  coun- 
trymen, on  the  other  side  of  the  Atlantic!;. 

Ordered,  That  the  Address  be  published,  and  a  num- 
ber of  them  sent  by  Mr.  Penn  to  England. 

The  Letter  to  the  Lord-Mayor,  Aldermen,  and  Livery 
of  London,  being  read  again,  and  debated,  was  approved, 
and  is  as  follows  : 

My  Lord  :  Permit  the  Delegates  of  the  people  of 
twelve  ancient  Colonies,  to  pay  your  Lordship,  and  the 
very  respectable  body  of  which  you  are  head,  the  just 
tribute  of  gratitude  and  thanks,  for  the  virtuous  and  unso- 
licited resentment  you  have  shewn  to  the  violated  rights  of 
a  free  people.  The  City  of  London,  my  Lord,  having  in 
all  ages  approved  itself  the  patron  of  liberty,  and  the  sup- 
port of  just  government,  against  lawless  tyranny  and  op- 
pression, cannot  fail  to  make  us  deeply  sensible  of  the 
powerful  aid  our  cause  must  receive  from  such  advocates  ; 
a  cause,  my  Lord,  worthy  the  support  of  the  first  City  in 
the  world,  as  it  involves  the  fate  of  a  great  Continent,  and 
threatens  to  shake  the  foundations  of  a  flourishing,  and, 
until  lately,  a  happy  Empire. 

North  America,  my  Lord,  wishes  most  ardently  for  a 
lasting  connexion  with  Great  Britain  on  terms  of  just  and 
equal  liberty;  less  than  which  generous  minds  will  not 
offer,  nor  brave  and  free  ones  be  willing  to  receive. 

A  cruel  war  has  at  length  been  opened  against  us,  and 
whilst  we  prepare  to  defend  ourselves  like  the  descendants 
of  Britons,  w  e  still  hope  that  the  mediation  of  wise  and 
good  citizens,  will  at  length  prevail  over  despotism,  and 
restore  harmony  and  peace,  on  permanent  principles,  to  an 
oppressed  and  divided  Empire. 

We  have  the  honour  to  be,  my  Lord,  with  great  esteem, 
your  Lordship's  faithful  friends  and  fellow-subjects. 

Signed  by  order  of  the  Congress  : 

John  Hancock,  President. 

Ordered,  That  the  above  Letter  be  fairly  transcribed, 
and  signed  by  the  President,  and  sent  by  Mr.  Penn. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  prepare  a  Letter  to  Mr. 
Penn  and  the  Colony  Agents,  brought  in  the  same,  which 
being  read,  was  approved,  and  is  as  follows: 

Gentlemen  :  The  perseverance  of  the  British  Ministry 
in  their  unjust  and  cruel  system  of  Colony  administration, 
has  occasioned  the  meeting  of  another  Congress. 

We  have  again  appealed  to  the  justice  of  our  Sovereign 
for  protection  against  the  destruction  which  his  Ministers 
meditate  for  his  American  subjects.  This  Petition  to  His 
Majesty  you  will  please,  gentlemen,  to  present  to  the  King 
with  all  convenient  expedition,  after  which  we  desire  it 
may  be  given  to  the  publick.  We  likewise  send  you  our 
second  application  to  the  equity  and  interest  of  our  fellow- 
subjects  in  Great  Britain,  and  also  a  declaration  setting 
forth  the  causes  of  our  taking  up  arms:  both  which  we 
wish  may  be  immediately  put  to  press,  and  communicated 
as  universally  as  possible. 

The  Congress  entertain  the  highest  sense  of  the  wise 
and  worthy  interposition  of  the  Lord  Mayor  and  Livery 
of  London,  in  favour  of  injured  America.  They  have  ex- 
pressed this,  their  sense,  in  a  letter  to  his  Lordship  and  the 
Livery,  which  we  desire  may  be  presented  in  the  manner 
most  agreeable  to  that  respectable  body. 


You  will  oblige  us,  gentlemen,  by  giving  the  most  early 
information  to  the  Congress,  and  to  the  Speakers  of  our 
respective  Assemblies,  of  your  proceeding  in  this  business, 
and  such  further  intelligence  as  you  may  judge  to  be  of 
importance  to  America  in  this  great  contest. 

We  are,  with  great  regard,  Gentlemen,  your  most  obe- 
dient and  very  humble  servants. 
By  order  of  the  Congress. 

Ordered,  That  the  above  be  fairly  transcribed,  to  be 
signed  by  the  President,  and  then  by  him  sent  under  cover, 
with  the  Petition  to  the  King,  and  Address  to  the  Inhabi- 
tants of  Great  Britain,  and  Letter  to  the  Lord  Mayor  of 
London,  to  Richard  Penn,  Esq.,  and  that  the  President 
request  Mr.  Penn,  in  behalf  of  the  Congress,  to  join  with 
the  Colony  Agents  in  presenting  the  Petition  to  the  King. 

Order  of  the  Day  put  off ;  and 

Adjourned  till  Monday,  at  nine  o'clock. 

Monday,  July  10,  1775. 

The  Congress  met  according  to  adjournment. 

It  being  suggested  that  there  was  a  gentleman  in  Town 
well  acquainted  with  the  situation  and  disposition  of  the 
Indians, 

On  motion,  That  he  be  introduced,  he  was  introduced 
accordingly.  After  he  withdrew,  the  Committee  appointed 
to  prepare  proper  talks  to  the  Indians,  reported  the  same, 
which  were  read. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  devise  ways  and  means  of 
putting  the  Militia  into  a  proper  state  of  defence,  brought 
in  their  Report,  which  was  read. 

Mr.  Alsop  informed  the  Congress  that  he  had  an  invoice 
of  Indian  goods,  which  a  gentleman  in  this  Town  had  de- 
livered to  him,  and  which  the  said  gentleman  was  willing 
to  dispose  of  to  the  Congress. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  P.  Livingston,  Mr.  Henry,  and  Mr. 
Alsop,  be  a  Committee  to  examine  said  invoice,  and  report 
to  the  Congress. 

The  Congress  resumed  the  consideration  of  the  Report 
of  the  Committee  respecting  the  Militia,  and  after  some 
debate,  the  same  was  deferred  till  to-morrow. 

The  Order  of  the  Day  put  off,  and  the  Congress  adjourn- 
ed till  to-morrow,  at  nine  o'clock. 

Tuesday,  July  11,  1775. 

The  Congress  met  according  to  adjournment. 

The  Report  of  the  Committee  on  Indian  Affairs  was 
taken  up  and  read,  and,  after  some  debate,  the  same  was 
deferred  till  to-morrow. 

On  information  that  there  were  two  Companies  of  Rifle- 
men raised  in  Lancaster  instead  of  one, 

Resolved,  That  both  the  Companies  be  taken  into  the 
Continental  service. 

On  motion,  Resolved,  That  the  Delegates  from  Penn- 
sylvania have  liberty  to  treat  with,  and  employ,  fifty  Hus- 
sars, who  have  been  in  actual  service,  and  send  them  for- 
ward to  join  the  Troops  before  Boston,  under  General 
Washington. 

"  An  Address  of  the  Deputies  from  the  different  Parishes 
of  the  Island  of  Bermuda,"  to  the  Congress,  was  presented 
and  read. 

The  Order  of  the  Day  was  postponed,  and  the  Congress 
adjourned  till  to-morrow,  at  nine  o'clock. 

Wednesday,  July  12,  1775. 
The  Congress  met  according  to  adjournment. 

Information  being  given  that  there  was  a  gentleman  from 
the  Province  of  Quebcck  in  Town,  who  could  give  some 
intelligence  of  the  disposition  of  the  Canadians, 

On  motion,  Resolved,  That  he  be  called  in ;  and  he  was 
accordingly  introduced  and  examined. 

Two  Letters,  from  N.  Cooke,  Deputy-Governour  of 
Rhode-Island,  the  other  from  General  Ward,  were  read. 

The  Report  of  the  Committee  of  Indian  Affairs  was 
then  taken  into  consideration,  which  being  debated  by 
paragraphs,  the  Congress  came  to  the  following  Reso- 
lutions : 


* 


1879 


CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS,  JULY  13,  1775. 


1880 


That  the  securing  and  preserving  the  friendship  of  the 
Indian  Nations,  appears  to  he  a  subject  of  the  utmost  mo- 
ment to  these  Colonies. 

That  there  is  too  much  reason  to  apprehend  that  Admi- 
nistration will  spare  no  pains  to  excite  the  several  Nations 
of  Indians  to  take  up  arms  against  these  Colonies;  and 
that  it  becomes  us  to  he  very  active  and  vigilant  in  exert- 
ing every  prudent  means  to  strengthen  and  confirm  the 
friendly  disposition  towards  these  Colonies,  which  has  long 
prevailed  among  the  Northern  Tribes,  and  which  has  been 
lately  manifested  by  some  of  those  to  the  Southward. 

As  the  Indians  depend  on  the  Colonists  for  arms,  am- 
munition, and  clothing,  which  are  become  necessary  to 
their  subsistence,  that  Commissioners  be  appointed  by  this 
Congress,  to  superintend  Indian  Affairs  in  behalf  of  these 
Colonies. 

That  there  be  three  Departments  of  Indians,  the  North- 
ern, the  Middle,  and  Southern.  The  Northern  to  extend 
so  far  south  as  to  include  the  whole  of  the  Indians  known 
by  the  name  of  the  Six  Nations,  and  all  the  Indians  north- 
ward of  those  nations.  The  Southern  Department  to  ex- 
tend so  far  north  as  to  include  the  Cherokees,  and  all  the 
Indians  that  may  be  to  the  southward  of  them.  The  Mid- 
dle to  contain  the  Indian  nations  that  lie  between  the  other 
two  departments. 

That  five  Commissioners  be  appointed  for  the  Southern 
1  >epartment. 

That  for  each  of  the  other  two  Departments,  there  be 
appointed  three  Commissioners. 

That  the  Commissioners  have  power  to  treat  with  the 
Indians  in  their  respective  Departments,  in  the  name,  and 
on  behalf  of  the  United  Colonies,  in  order  to  preserve 
peace  and  friendship  with  the  said  Indians,  and  to  prevent 
their  taking  any  part  in  the  present  commotions. 

That  the  Commissioners  for  the  Southern  Department 
receive  from  the  Continental  Treasury  the  sum  of  ten 
thousand  Dollars;  the  Commissioners  for  the  Middle  and 
Northern  Department,  the  sum  of  six  thousand  six  hundred 
and  sixty-six  Dollars  and  two-thirds  of  a  Dollar,  for  each 
of  their  respective  Departments,  for  defraying  the  expense 
of  treaties  and  presents  to  the  Indians. 

That  the  Commissioners  respectively  have  power  to  take 
to  their  assistance  gentlemen  of  influence  among  the  In- 
dians, in  whom  they  can  confide,  and  to  appoint  Agents, 
residing  near  or  among  the  Indians,  to  watch  the  conduct 
of  the  Superintendents  and  their  emissaries. 

That  in  case  the  Commissioners  for  the  respective  Dis- 
tricts, or  any  one  of  them  in  either  District,  shall  have 
satisfactory  proof,  that  the  King's  Superintendents,  their 
Deputies  or  Agents,  or  any  other  person  whatsoever,  are 
uctive  in  stirring  up  or  inciting  the  Indians,  or  any  of  them, 
to  become  inimical  to  the  American  Colonies,  such  Com- 
missioner or  Commissioners  ought  to  cause  such  Superin- 
tendents or  other  offender,  to  be  seized  and  kept  in  safe 
custody  until  order  shall  be  taken  therein  by  a  majority  of 
the  Commissioners  of  the  District  where  such  seizure  is 
made,  or  by  the  Continental  Congress,  or  a  Committee  of 
said  Congress,  to  whom  such  seizure,  with  the  causes  of  it, 
shall,  as  soon  as  possible  after,  be  made  known. 

That  the  Commissioners  shall  exhibit  fair  accounts  of 
the  expenditure  of  all  moneys  by  them  respectively  to  be 
received  for  the  purposes  aforesaid,  to  every  succeeding 
Continental  Congress,  or  Committee  of  Congress,  together 
with  a  general  state  of  Indian  affairs  in  their  several  de- 
partments ;  in  order  that  the  Colonies  may  be  informed 
from  time  to  time,  of  every  such  matter  as  may  concern 
them  to  know  and  avail  themselves  of,  for  the  benefit  of 
the  common  cause. 

That  as  there  is  a  seminary  for  the  instruction  of  Indian 
youth,  which  has  been  established  under  the  care  of  Doctor 
Wheelock,  on  Connecticut  River;  and  as  there  are  nine  or 
ten  Indian  youths  at  that  school,  chiefly  from  the  Tribes 
residing  in  tyuebeck;  and  as  for  want  of  a  proper  fund  there 
is  danger  that  these  youths  will  be  sent  back  to  their 
friends,  which  will  probably  excite  jealousy  and  distrust, 
and  be  attended  with  bad  consequences,  that  the  Commis- 
sioners for  Indian  Affairs  in  the  Northern  Department  be 
authorized  to  receive  out  of  the  Continental  Treasury  a 
sum  not  exceeding  five  hundred  Dollars,  to  be  applied  by 
them  for  the  support  of  the  said  Indian  youths. 


Resolved,  That  the  election  of  the  Commissioners  be 
deferred  till  to-morrow. 

On  motion,  Resolved,  That  a  Committee  of  five  be  ap- 
pointed to  devise  ways  and  means  to  protect  the  trade  of 
these  Colonies. 

The  Congress  then  proceeded  to  the  election  of  the 
Committee,  and  the  following  persons  were  chosen,  viz : 
Mr.  Jay,  Mr.  Franklin,  Mr.  Gadsden,  Mr.  Deane,  and 
Mr.  Lee. 

Resolved,  That  the  consideration  of  the  Report  of  the 
Committee  respecting  the  Militia,  be  entered  upon  to-mor- 
row. 

The  Order  of  the  Day  was  postponed,  and  the  Congress 
adjourned  till  to-morrow,  at  eight  o'clock. 

Thursday,  July  13,  1775. 
The  Congress  met  according  to  adjournment. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  prepare  a  Speech  to  tlie 
Indians,  reported  the  same. 

The  Speech  to  the  Six  Nations  being  read,  and  debated 
by  paragraphs,  was  agreed  to,  and  is  as  follows : 

A  Speech  to  the  Six  Confederate  Nations,  Mohawks, 
Oneidas,  Tijscaroras,  Onondagas,  Cayugas,  Sene- 
cas,  from  the  Twelve  United  Colonies,  convened  in 
Council  at  Philadelphia. 

Brothers,  Sachems,  and  Warriors!  We,  the  Delegates 
from  the  twelve  United  Provinces,  viz:  New-Hampshire, 
Massachusetts- Bay, Rhode-Island,  Connecticut,  New-  York, 
New-Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  the  three  lower  Counties  of 
New-Castle,  Kent,  and  Sussex,  on  Delaware,  Maryland, 
Virginia,  North- Carolina,  and  South- Carolina,  now  sit- 
ting in  General  Congress  at  Philadelphia,  send  this  talk  to 
you  our  Brothers.  We  are  sixty-five  in  number,  chosen 
and  appointed  by  the  people  throughout  all  these  Provinces 
and  Colonies,  to  meet  and  sit  together  in  one  great  Coun- 
cil, to  consult  together  for  the  common  good  of  the  land, 
and  speak  and  act  for  them. 

Brothers!  In  our  consultation  we  have  judged  it  proper 
and  necessary  to  send  you  this  talk,  as  we  are  upon  the 
same  island,  that  you  may  be  informed  of  the  reasons  of 
this  great  Council,  the  situation  of  our  civil  Constitution, 
and  our  disposition  towards  you  our  Indian  brothers  of  the 
Six  Nations  and  their  allies.  (Three  Strings, or  a  Small 
Belt.) 

Brothers  and  Friends,  now  attend !  When  our  fathers 
crossed  the  great  water  and  came  over  to  this  land,  the 
King  of  England  gave  them  a  talk,  assuring  them  that 
they  and  their  children  should  be  his  children,  and  that  if 
they  would  leave  their  native  country  and  make  settle- 
ments, and  live  here,  and  buy  and  sell,  and  trade  with  their 
brethren  beyond  the  water,  they  should  still  keep  hold  of 
the  same  covenant  chain  and  enjoy  peace ;  and  it  was 
covenanted,  that  the  fields,  houses,  goods  and  possessions 
which  our  fathers  should  acquire,  should  remain  to  them 
as  their  own,  and  be  their  children's  forever,  and  at  their 
sole  disposal. 

Trusting  that  this  covenant  should  never  be  broken,  our 
fathers  came  a  great  distance  beyond  the  great  water,  laid 
out  their  money  here,  built  houses,  cleared  fields,  raised 
crops,  and  through  their  own  labour  and  industry  grew  tall 
and  strong. 

They  have  bought,  sold,  and  traded  with  England  ac- 
cording to  agreement,  sending  to  them  such  things  as  they 
wanted,  and  taking  in  exchange  such  things  as  were  wanted 
here. 

The  King  of  England  and  his  people  kept  the  way  open 
for  more  than  one  hundred  years,  and  by  our  trade  became 
richer,  and  by  a  union  with  us,  greater  and  stronger  than 
the  other  kings  and  people  who  live  beyond  the  water. 

All  this  time  they  lived  in  great  friendship  with  us,  and 
we  with  them  ;  for  we  are  brothers — one  blood. 

Whenever  they  were  struck,  we  instantly  felt  as  though 
the  blow  had  been  given  to  us — their  enemies  were  our 
enemies. 

Whenever  they  went  to  war,  we  sent  our  men  to  stand 
by  their  side  and  fight  for  them,  and  our  money  to  help 
them  and  make  them  strong. 


1881 


CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS,  JULY  13,  1775. 


1882 


They  thanked  us  for  our  love,  and  sent  us  good  talks, 
and  renewed  their  promise  to  be  one  people  forever. 

Brothers  and  Friends,  open  a  kind  ear!  We  will  now 
tell  you  of  the  quarrel  betwixt  the  Counsellors  of  King 
George  and  the  inhabitants  and  Colonies  of  America. 

Many  of  his  Counsellors  are  proud  and  wicked  men. 
They  persuade  the  King  to  break  the  covenant  chain,  and 
not  to  send  us  any  more  good  Talks.  A  considerable  num- 
ber have  prevailed  upon  him  to  enter  into  a  new  covenant 
against  us,  and  have  torn  asunder  and  cast  behind  their 
backs  the  good  old  covenant  which  their  ancestors  and  ours 
entered  into,  and  took  strong  hold  of. 

They  now  tell  us  they  will  slip  their  hand  into  our 
pocket  without  asking,  as  though  it  were  their  own ;  and  at 
their  pleasure  they  will  take  from  us  our  Charters,  or  writ- 
ten Civil  Constitution,  which  we  love  as  our  lives;  also 
our  plantations,  our  houses  and  goods,  whenever  they 
please,  without  asking  our  leave  ;  that  our  vessels  may  go 
to  this  island  in  the  sea,  but  to  this  or  that  particular  island 
we  shall  not  trade  any  more;  and  in  case  of  our  non-com- 
pliance with  these  new  orders,  they  shut  up  our  harbours. 

Brothers,  this  is  our  present  situation  ;  thus  have  many 
of  the  King's  Counsellors  and  servants  dealt  with  us.  If 
we  submit,  or  comply  with  their  demands,  you  can  easily 
perceive  to  what  state  we  will  be  reduced.  If  our  people 
labour  on  the  field,  they  will  not  know  who  shall  enjoy  the 
crop.  If  they  hunt  in  the  woods,  it  will  be  uncertain  who 
shall  taste  of  the  meat,  or  have  the  skins.  If  they  build 
houses,  they  will  not  know  whether  they  may  sit  round  the 
fire,  with  their  wives  and  children.  They  cannot  be  sure 
whether  they  shall  be  permitted  to  eat,  drink,  and  wear 
the  fruits  of  their  own  labour  and  industry. 

Brothers  and  Friends  of  the  Six  Nations,  attend!  We 
upon  this  island  have  often  spoke  and  entreated  the  King 
and  his  servants  the  Counsellors,  that  peace  and  harmony 
might  still  continue  between  us ;  that  we  cannot  part  with 
or  lose  our  hold  of  the  old  covenant  chain  which  united 
our  fathers  and  theirs;  that  we  want  to  brighten  this  chain, 
and  keep  the  way  open  as  our  fathers  did ;  that  we  want 
to  live  with  them  as  brothers,  labour,  trade,  travel  abroad, 
eat  and  drink  in  peace.  We  have  often  asked  them  to 
love  us,  and  live  in  such  friendship  with  us  as  their  fathers 
did  with  ours. 

We  told  them  again  that  we  judged  we  were  exceed- 
ingly injured,  that  they  might  as  well  kill  us,  as  take 
away  our  property  and  the  necessaries  of  life.  We  have 
asked  why  they  treat  us  thus?  What  has  become  of  our 
repeated  addresses  and  supplications  to  them?  Who  hath 
shut  the  ears  of  the  King  to  the  cries  of  his  children  in 
America!  No  soft  answer,  no  pleasant  voice  from  beyond 
the  water  has  yet  sounded  in  our  ears. 

Brothers,  thus  stands  the  matter  betwixt  old  England 
and  America.  You  Indians  know  how  things  are  propor- 
tioned in  a  family — between  the  father  and  the  son — the 
child  carries  a  little  pack.  England  we  regard  as  the 
father ;  this  island  may  be  compared  to  the  son. 

The  father  has  a  numerous  family — both  at  home  and 
upon  this  island.  He  appoints  a  great  number  of  servants 
to  assist  him  in  the  government  of  his  family.  In  process 
of  time,  some  of  his  servants  grow  proud  and  ill-natured  ; 
they  were  displeased  to  see  the  boy  so  alert  and  walk  so 
nimbly  with  his  pack.  They  tell  the  father,  and  advise 
him  to  enlarge  the  child's  pack;  they  prevail;  the  pack  is 
increased ;  the  child  takes  it  up  again — as  he  thought  it 
might  be  the  father's  pleasure — speaks  but  few  words — 
those  very  small — for  he  was  loth  to  offend  the  father. 
Those  proud  and  wicked  servants,  finding  they  had  pre- 
vailed, laughed  to  see  the  boy  sweat  and  stagger  under  his 
increased  load.  By  and  by,  they  apply  to  the  father  to 
double  the  boy's  pack,  because  they  heard  him  complain ; 
and  without  any  reason,  said  they,  he  is  a  cross  child;  cor- 
rect him  if  he  complains  any  more.  The  boy  entreats  the 
father ;  addresses  the  great  servants  in  a  decent  manner, 
that  the  pack  might  be  lightened ;  he  could  not  go  any 
farther;  humbly  asks,  if  the  old  fathers,  in  any  of  their 
records,  had  described  such  a  pack  for  the  child  ;  after  all 
the  tears  and  entreaties  of  the  child,  the  pack  is  redoubled ; 
the  child  stands  a  little  while  staggering  under  the  weight, 
ready  to  fall  every  moment.  However,  he  entreats  the 
lather  once  more,  though  so  faint  he  could  only  lisp  out 


his  last  humble  supplication ;  waits  a  while ;  no  voice 
returns.  The  child  concludes  the  father  could  not  hear ; 
those  proud  servants  had  intercepted  his  supplications,  or 
stopped  the  ears  of  the  father.  He  therefore  gives  one 
struggle  and  throws  off  the  pack,  and  says  he  cannot  take 
it  up  again ;  such  a  weight  would  crush  him  down  and  kill 
him,  and  he  can  but  die  if  he  refuses. 

Upon  this,  those  servants  are  very  wroth ;  and  tell  the 
father  many  false  stories  respecting  the  child  ;  they  bring 
a  great  cudgel  to  the  father,  asking  him  to  take  it  in  his 
hand  and  strike  the  child. 

This  may  serve  to  illustrate  the  present  condition  of  the 
King's  American  subjects  or  children. 

Amidst  these  oppressions  we  now  and  then  hear  a  mol- 
lifying and  reviving  voice  from  some  of  the  King's  wise 
Counsellors,  who  are  our  friends,  and  feel  for  our  distresses; 
when  they  heard  our  complaints  and  our  cries,  they  applied 
to  the  King;  also  told  those  wicked  servants,  that  this  child 
in  America  was  not  a  cross  boy;  it  had  sufficient  reason  for 
crying,  and  if  the  cause  of  its  complaint  was  neglected,  it 
would  soon  assume  the  voice  of  a  man,  plead  for  justice 
like  a  man,  and  defend  its  rights  and  support  the  old  cove- 
nant chain  of  the  fathers. 

Brothers,  listen!  Notwithstanding  all  our  entreaties, 
we  have  but  little  hope  the  King  will  send  us  any  more 
good  Talks,  by  reason  of  his  evil  Counsellors ;  they  have 
persuaded  him  to  send  an  army  of  soldiers  and  many  ships- 
of-war,  to  rob  and  destroy  us.  They  have  shut  up  many 
of  our  harbours,  seized  and  taken  into  possession  many  of 
our  vessels;  the  soldiers  have  struck  the  blow;  killed  some 
of  our  people ;  the  blood  now  runs  of  the  American  chil- 
dren. They  have  also  burned  our  houses  and  Towns,  and 
taken  much  of  our  goods. 

Brothers!  We  are  now  necessitated  to  rise,  and  forced 
to  fight,  or  give  up  our  Civil  Constitution,  run  away,  and 
leave  our  farms  and  houses  behind  us.  This  must  not  be. 
Since  the  King's  wicked  Counsellors  will  not  open  their 
ears,  and  consider  our  just  complaints,  and  the  cause  of 
our  weeping,  and  hath  given  the  blow,  we  are  determined 
to  drive  away  the  King's  Soldiers,  and  to  kill  and  destroy 
all  those  wicked  men  we  find  in  arms  against  the  peace  of 
the  twelve  United  Colonies  upon  this  island.  We  think 
our  cause  is  just ;  therefore  hope  G'od  will  be  on  our  side. 
We  do  not  take  up  the  hatchet  and  struggle  for  honour 
and  conquest;  but  to  maintain  our  Civil  Constitution  and 
religious  privileges,  the  very  same  for  which  our  forefathers 
left  their  native  land  and  came  to  this  Country. 

Brothers  and  Friends!  We  desire  you  will  hear  and 
receive  what  we  have  now  told  you,  and  that  you  will  open 
a  good  ear  and  listen  to  what  we  are  now  going  to  say. 
This  is  a  family  quarrel  between  us  and  Old  England. 
You  Indians  are  not  concerned  in  it.  We  don't  wish  you 
to  take  up  the  hatchet  against  the  King's  Troops.  We 
desire  you  to  remain  at  home,  and  not  join  on  either  side, 
but  keep  the  hatchet  buried  deep.  In  the  name  and  be- 
half of  all  our  people,  we  ask  and  desire  you  to  love  peace 
and  maintain  it,  and  to  love  and  sympathize  with  us  in  our 
troubles ;  that  the  path  may  be  kept  open  with  all  our 
people  and  yours,  to  pass  and  repass,  without  molestation. 

Brothers!  We  live  upon  the  same  ground  with  you. 
The  same  island  is  our  common  birthplace.  We  desire 
to  sit  down  under  the  same  tree  of  peace  with  you;  let  us 
water  its  roots  and  cherish  its  growth,  till  the  large  leaves 
and  flourishing  branches  shall  extend  to  the  setting  sun, 
and  reach  the  skies. 

Brothers,  observe  well!  What  is  it  we  have  asked  of 
you  ?  Nothing  but  peace,  notwithstanding  our  present 
disturbed  situation ;  and  if  application  should  be  made  to 
you  by  any  of  the  King's  unwise  and  wicked  Ministers  to 
join  on  their  side,  we  only  advise  you  to  deliberate  with 
great  caution,  and  in  your  wisdom  look  forward  to  the  con- 
sequences of  a  compliance.  For,  if  the  King's  Troops 
take  away  our  property,  and  destroy  us,  who  are  of  the 
same  blood  with  themselves,  what  can  you,  who  are  In- 
dians, expect  from  them  afterwards  ? 

Therefore,  we  say,  Brothers,  take  care ;  hold  fast  to 
your  covenant  chain.  You  now  know  our  disposition  to- 
wards you,  the  Six  Nations  of  Indians,  and  your  allies. 
Let  this  our  good  Talk  remain  at  Onondaga,  your  central 
Council-House.    We  depend  upon  you  to  send  and  ac- 


18S3 


CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS,  JULY  18,  1775. 


1S84 


quaint  your  allies  to  the  northward,  the  seven  Tribes  on 
the  River  St.  Lawrence,  that  you  have  this  Talk  of  ours 
at  the  Great  Council  Fire  of  the  Six  Nations.  And  when 
they  return,  we  invite  your  great  men  to  come  and  con- 
verse farther  with  us  at  Albany,  where  we  intend  to  re- 
kindle the  Council  Fire,  which  your  and  our  ancestors  sat 
round  in  great  friendship. 

Brothers  and  Friends!    We  greet  you  all  farewell. 
(  The  large  Belt  of  Intelligence  and  Declaration.) 

Brothers !  We  have  said  we  wish  you  Indians  may 
continue  in  peace  with  one  another,  and  with  us  the  white 
people.  Let  us  both  be  cautious  in  our  behaviour  towards 
each  other  at  this  critical  state  of  affairs.  This  island  now 
trembles;  the  wind  whistles  from  almost  every  quarter; 
let  us  fortify  our  minds  and  shut  our  ears  against  false  ru- 
mours; let  us  be  cautious  what  we  receive  for  truth,  unless 
spoken  by  wise  and  good  men.  If  any  thing  disagreeable 
should  ever  fall  out  between  us,  the  twelve  United  Colo- 
nies, and  you,  the  Six  Nations,  to  wound  our  peace,  let 
us  immediately  seek  measures  for  healing  the  breach. 
From  the  present  situation  of  our  affairs,  we  judge  it  wise 
and  expedient  to  kindle  up  a  small  Council  Fire  at  Albany, 
where  we  may  hear  each  other's  voice,  and  disclose  our 
minds  more  fully  to  each  other. — (A  small  Belt.) 

Ordered,  That  a  similar  Talk  be  prepared  for  the  other 
Indian  Nations,  preserving  the  tenour  of  the  above,  and 
altering  it  so  as  to  suit  the  Indians  in  the  several  Depart- 
ments. 

The  Congress  then  proceeded  to  the  choice  of  Com- 
missioners for  the  several  Departments,  and  after  some 
debate,  agreed  that  the  nomination  of  the  Commissioners 
for  the  Southern  Department  be  postponed  till  Tuesday 
next. 

Mr.  Franklin,  Mr.  Henry,  and  Mr.  Wilson,  were  unani- 
mously elected  for  the  Middle  Department. 

On  motion,  Besolved,  That  there  be  one  more  added 
to  the  number  of  the  Commissioners  for  the  Northern  De- 
partment. 

Then  the  following  gentlemen  were  chosen,  viz:  Gene- 
ral Philip  Schuyler,  Major  Joseph  Hawley,  Mr.  Turbot 
Francis,  Mr.  Oliver  Wolcott,  and  Mr.  Volkert  P.  Douw. 

Besolved,  That  the  Congress  will,  to-morrow,  take  into 
their  consideration  the  Report  of  the  Committee  on  the 
Militia. 

The  Order  of  the  Day  was  postponed,  and  the  Con- 
gress adjourned  till  to-morrow,  at  eight  o'clock. 

Friday,  July  14,  1775. 

The  Congress  met  according  to  adjournment. 

Agreeable  to  the  Order  of  yesterday,  the  Congress  re- 
sumed the  consideration  of  the  Report  of  the  Committee 
on  the  Militia,  and  after  some  debate,  the  same  was  referred 
till  to-morrow. 

A  motion  being  made  by  Dr.  Franklin,  and  seconded, 

Resolved,  That  the  same  be  taken  into  consideration  to- 
morrow morning. 

The  Order  of  the  Day  was  postponed,  and  the  Con- 
gress adjourned  till  to-morrow,  at  eight  o'clock. 

Saturday,  July  15,  1775. 

The  Congress  met  according  to  adjournment. 

Agreeable  to  the  Order  of  yesterday,  the  motion  made 
by  Mr.  Franklin  was  taken  into  consideration,  and  after 
some  debate,  they  came  to  the  following  Resolution,  viz: 

Whereas,  the  Government  of  Great  Britain  hath  pro- 
hibited the  exportation  of  Arms  and  Ammunition  to  any 
of  the  Plantations,  and  endeavoured  to  prevent  other  Na- 
tions from  supplying  us: 

Resolved,  That  for  the  better  furnishing  these  Colonies 
with  the  necessary  means  of  defending  their  rights,  every 
Vessel  importing  Gunpowder,  S3ltpetre,  Sulphur,  provided 
they  bring  with  the  Sulphur  four  times  as  much  Saltpetre, 
Brass  Field-Pieces,  or  good  Muskets  fitted  with  Bayonets, 
within  nine  months  from  the  date  of  this  Resolution,  shall 
be  permitted  to  load  and  export  the  produce  of  these  Colo- 
nies, to  the  value  of  such  Powder  and  Stores  aforesaid, 
the  Non-Exportation  Agreement  notwithstanding ;  and  it 


is  recommended  to  the  Committees  of  the  several  Pro- 
vinces to  inspect  the  Military  Stores  so  imported,  and  to 
estimate  a  generous  price  lor  the  same,  according  to  their 
goodness,  and  permit  the  importer  of  such  Powder  and 
other  Military  Stores  aforesaid,  to  export  the  value  thereof 
and  no  more,  in  produce  of  any  kind. 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  of  the  above  be  delivered  lo  the 
Delegates  of  the  Colony  of  Pennsylvania,  who  are  desired 
to  request  the  Committee  of  this  City  to  forward  the  same 
in  handbills  to  the  West-Indies,  and  such  places  as  they 
think  proper,  taking  care  that  it  be  not  published  in  the 
newspapers. 

Extracts  from  sundry  intercepted  Letters  from  Lord 
Dartmouth  to  Governour  Wright  and  Governour  Martin, 
were  laid  before  the  Congress,  and  read. 

The  Talk  to  the  Stockbridge  Indians  was  then  taken 
uj),  and  the  same  being  debated,  was  agreed  to. 

On  motion,  Resolved,  That  this  Congress  will,  on 
Thursday  next,  attend  Divine  Service  together,  both 
morning  and  afternoon. 

Resolved,  That  Mr.  Lynch  and  Mr.  Dickinson  be  a 
Committee  to  wait  on  Mr.  Duche,  and  request  him  to 
preach  for  the  Congress  on  next  Thursday  morning ;  and 
to  wait  upon  Doctor  Allison,  and  request  him  to  preach  at 
his  Church,  for  the  Congress,  on  the  afternoon  of  the  said 
day. 

Adjourned  till  Monday  next,  at  eight  o'clock. 

Monday,  July  17,  1775. 

Met  according  to  adjournment. 

A  Letter  from  General  Schuyler,  with  sundry  Papers, 
were  laid  before  the  Congress,  and  read,  and  the  same 
being  taken  into  consideration, 

Resolved,  That  the  President  write  to  General  Wooster, 
directing  him  to  send,  in  the  most  expeditious  manner,  one 
thousand  of  the  Connecticut  Forces  under  his  command  to 
Albany,  there  to  remain  encamped  until  they  shall  receive 
orders  from  General  Schuyler  as  to  their  future  proceed- 
ings. 

Resolved,  That  a  Commissary  of  Stores  and  Provisions 
be  appointed  for  the  Neiv-York  Department,  during  the 
present  campaign. 

By  unanimous  vote  Walter  Livingston  was  chosen. 

That  a  Deputy  Quartermaster-General  be  appointed  for 
the  said  Department. 

Mr.  Donald  Campbell  unanimously  elected. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  D.  Campbell  have  the  rank  of  Colo- 
nel in  the  Army. 

That  a  Deputy  Muster-Master  be  appointed  for  said 
Department. 

Mr.  Gunning  Bedford,  elected. 

Resolved,  That  the  Convention  of  New-  York  be  de- 
sired to  recommend  to  General  Schuyler  a  proper  person 
for  a  Deputy  Adjutant-General  or  Brigade-Major  for  the 
Army  in  the  New-  York  Department. 

Upon  motion,  Resolved,  That  Mr.  Cushing,  Mr.  Henry, 
and  Mr.  Deane,  be  a  Committee  to  confer  with  Mr.  Kirk- 
land,  and  report  what  in  their  opinion  is  an  adequate  Com- 
pensation for  his  services  among  the  Indians. 

The  Address  from  the  Deputies  of  the  several  Parishes 
of  the  Island  of  Bermuda  being  again  read, 

Ordered,  That  the  President  return  them  an  Answer, 
acknowledging  the  receipt  of  the  Address,  and  informing 
them  that  it  will  be  considered ;  and  desiring  them  to  send 
an  account  of  the  Provisions  imported  for  some  years  past 
for  the  use  of  the  inhabitants  of  that  Island ;  and  also  en- 
close them  a  copy  of  a  Resolve  entered  into  on  Saturday 
last,  respecting  the  importation  of  Gunpowder,  he. 

Adjourned  till  to-morrow,  at  eight  o'clock. 

Tuesday,  July  18,  1775. 

Met  according  to  adjournment. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  confer  with  Mr.  Kirkland 
brought  in  their  Report ;  which  being  taken  into  consider- 
ation, 

Resolved,  That  there  be,  and  there  is  hereby  allowed  to 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Samuel  Kirkland,  three  hundred  Dollars,  to 
discharge  the  expenses  he  has  been  at  among  the  Indians 


1885 


CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS,  JULY  19,  1775. 


1886 


of  the  Six  Nations,  to  defray  the  expenses  of  his  journey 
from  and  to  the  Oneida  Country,  and  that  he  receive  the 
same  out  of  the  Continental  Treasury. 

And  it  is  hereby  recommended  to  the  Commissioners  of 
the  Northern  Department,  to  employ  the  said  Mr.  Kirk- 
land  among  the  Indians  of  the  Six  Nations,  in  order  to 
secure  their  friendship,  and  to  continue  them  in  a  state  of 
neutrality  with  respect  to  the  present  controversy  between 
Great  Britain  and  these  Colonies. 

The  Congress  resumed  the  Report  of  the  Committee 
for  putting  the  Militia  into  a  proper  state  of  defence,  and 
after  debating  the  same  by  paragraphs,  came  to  the  follow- 
ing Resolutions,  viz: 

Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  inhabitants  of 
all  the  United  English  Colonies  in  North  America,  that 
all  able-bodied  effective  Men,  between  sixteen  and  fifty 
years  of  age,  in  each  Colony,  immediately  form  themselves 
into  Regular  Companies  of  Militia,  to  consist  of  one  Cap- 
tain, two  Lieutenants,  one  Ensign,  four  Sergeants,  four 
Corporals,  one  Clerk,  one  Drummer,  one  Fifer,  and  about 
sixty-eight  Privates. 

That  the  Officers  of  each  Company  be  chosen  by  the 
respective  Companies. 

That  each  Soldier  be  furnished  with  a  good  Musket  that 
will  carry  an  ounce  Ball,  with  a  Bayonet,  Steel  Ramrod, 
Worm,  Priming- Wire  and  Brush  fitted  thereto,  a  cutting 
Sword  or  Tomahawk,  a  Cartridge-Box  that  will  contain 
twenty-three  rounds  of  Cartridges,  twelve  Flints,  and  a 
Knapsack. 

That  the  Companies  be  formed  into  Regiments  or  Batta- 
lions, officered  with  a  Colonel,  Lieutenant-Colonel,  two 
Majors,  an  Adjutant,  or  Quartermaster. 

That  all  Officers  above  the  rank  of  a  Captain  be  ap- 
pointed by  the  respective  Provincial  Assemblies  or  Con- 
ventions, or  in  their  recess,  by  the  Committees  of  Safety 
appointed  by  said  Assemblies  or  Conventions. 

That  all  Officers  be  commissioned  by  the  Provincial 
Assemblies  or  Conventions,  or  in  their  recess,  by  the  Com- 
mittees of  Safety  appointed  by  said  Assemblies  or  Con- 
ventions. 

That  all  the  Militia  take  proper  care  to  acquire  military 
skill,  and  be  well  prepared  for  defence,  by  being  each  man 
provided  with  one  pound  of  good  Gunpowder,  and  four 
pounds  of  Ball  fitted  to  his  Gun. 

That  one-fourth  part  of  the  Militia  in  every  Colony  be 
selected  for  Minute-Men,  of  such  persons  as  are  willing  to 
enter  into  this  necessary  service,  formed  into  Companies 
and  Battalions,  and  their  Officers,  chosen  and  commissioned 
as  aforesaid,  to  be  ready  on  the  shortest  notice  to  march  to 
any  place  where  their  assistance  may  be  required,  for  the 
defence  of  their  own  or  a  neighbouring  Colony ;  and  as 
these  Minute-Men  may  eventually  be  called  to  action  be- 
fore the  whole  body  of  the  Militia  are  sufficiently  trained, 
it  is  recommended  that  a  more  particular  and  diligent  atten- 
tion be  paid  to  their  instruction  in  military  discipline. 

That  such  of  the  Minute-Men  as  desire  it,  be  relieved 
by  new  draughts  as  aforesaid,  from  the  whole  body  of  the 
Militia,  once  in  four  months. 

As  there  are  some  people  who,  from  religious  principles, 
cannot  bear  arms  in  any  case,  this  Congress  intend  no 
violence  to  their  consciences,  but  earnestly  recommend  it 
to  them  to  contribute  liberally,  in  this  time  of  universal 
calamity,  to  the  relief  of  their  distressed  brethren  in  the 
several  Colonies,  and  to  do  all  other  services  to  their  op- 
pressed Country,  which  they  can  consistently  with  their 
religious  principles.  , 

That  it  be  recommended  to  the  Assemblies  or  Conven- 
tions in  the  respective  Colonies,  to  provide,  as  soon  as  pos- 
sible, sufficient  stores  of  Ammunition  for  their  Colonies ; 
also  that  they  devise  proper  means  for  furnishing  with  Arms, 
such  effective  men  as  are  poor  and  unable  to  furnish  them- 
selves. 

That  it  be  recommended  to  each  Colony  to  appoint  a 
Committee  of  Safety  to  superintend  and  direct  all  matters 
necessary  for  the  security  and  defence  of  their  respective 
Colonies,  in  the  recess  of  their  Assemblies  and  Conven- 
tions. 

That  each  Colony,  at  their  own  expense,  make  such 
provision  by  armed  Vessels  or  otherwise,  as  their  respective 
Assemblies,  Conventions,  or  Committees  of  Safety  shall 


judge  expedient  and  suitable  to  their  circumstances  and 
situations,  for  the  protection  of  their  Harbours  and  Naviga- 
tion on  their  sea-coasts,  against  all  unlawful  invasions, 
attacks,  and  depredations  from  Cutters  and  Ships-of-War. 

That  it  be  recommended  to  the  makers  of  Arms  for  the 
use  of  the  Militia,  that  they  make  good  substantial  Muskets, 
with  Barrels  three  feet  and  a  half  in  length,  that  will  carry 
an  ounce  Ball,  and  fitted  with  a  good  Bayonet  and  Steel 
Ramrod,  and  that  the  making  such  Arms  be  encouraged 
in  these  United  Colonies. 

Where,  in  any  Colony,  a  Militia  is  already  formed  under 
regulations  approved  of  by  the  Convention  of  such  Colony, 
or  by  such  Assemblies  as  are  annually  elective,  we  refer  to 
the  discretion  of  such  Convention  or  Assembly,  either  to 
adopt  the  foregoing  Regulations  in  the  whole  or  in  part,  or 
to  continue  their  former,  as  they,  on  consideration  of  all 
circumstances,  shall  think  best. 

Adjourned  till  to-morrow,  at  eight  o'clock. 

Wednesday,  July  19,  1775. 

Met  according  to  adjournment. 

The  President  laid  before  the  Congress  a  Letter  from 
the  General,  with  sundry  papers  enclosed,  which  were  read  ; 
and  being  taken  into  consideration, 

Ordered.  That  Mr.  Wilson  apply  to  the  Committee  of 
the  City  and  Liberties  of  Philadelphia,  and  request  them 
to  make  diligent  inquiry  what  quantity  of  Duck,  Russia 
Sheeting,  Tow-Cloth,  Oznaburghs,  and  Ticklenburghs,  can 
be  procured  in  this  City,  and  make  return  as  soon  as  pos- 
sible to  this  Congress. 

Resolved,  That  Joseph  Trumbull  be  Commissary-Gene- 
ral of  Stores  and  Provisions  for  the  Army  of  the  United 
Colonies. 

Resolved,  That  the  appointment  of  a  Quartermaster- 
General,  a  Commissary  of  Musters,  and  a  Commissary  of 
Artillery,  be  left  to  General  Washington. 

That  a  Company  of  Matrosses  be  raised  in  the  City  of 
Philadelphia,  and  sent  to  Boston. 

That  a  Committee  of  three  be  appointed  to  devise  ways 
and  means  of  raising  the  above  Company. 

The  Committee  chosen  are  Mr.  Lynch,  Mr.  Lee,  and 
Mr.  Gadsden. 

That  the  President  be  desired  to  write  to  the  Powder 
Committees,  or  Committees  of  Safety  in  this  City  and  Netv- 
Yorlc,  (where  it  is  said  a  supply  of  Powder  is  lately  arrived) 
to  forward  to  the  camp  as  much  good  Gunpowder  as  they 
can  spare. 

That  General  Thomas  be  appointed  first  Brigadier-Gene- 
ral in  the  Army  of  the  United  Colonies,  in  the  room  of 
General  Pomeroy,  who  never  acted  under  the  commission 
sent  to  him,  and  that  General  Thomas's  commission  bear 
the  same  date  that  General  Pomeroy's  did. 

That  it  be  left  to  General  Washington,  if  he  thinks  fit, 
to  appoint  three  Brigade  Majors,  and  commission  them 
accordingly. 

That  a  Committee  of  three  be  appointed  to  report  the 
method  of  establishing  an  Hospital. 

The  Committee  chosen  are  Mr.  Lewis,  Mr.  Paine,  and 
Mr.  Middleton. 

That  it  be  recommended  to  the  Colonies  of  New-Hamp- 
shire, Massachusetts-Bay ,  Rhode-Island,  and  Connecticut, 
to  complete  the  deficiencies  in  the  Regiments  belonging  to 
their  respective  Colonies,  retained  by  the  General  in  the 
Continental  Army  before  Boston. 

That  it  be  recommended  to  the  Colony  of  Rhode-Island 
to  complete  and  send  forward  to  the  camp  before  Boston, 
as  soon  as  possible,  the  three  hundred  and  sixty  men  lately 
voted  by  their  General  Assembly. 

That  ft  be  recommended  also  to  the  Colony  of  Con- 
necticut, to  complete  and  send  forward  to  the  camp  before 
Boston,  as  soon  as  possible,  the  fourteen  hundred  men  lately 
voted  by  their  General  Assembly. 

That  the  paragraph  of  the  General's  Letter  respecting 
an  easier  communication  between  him  and  this  Congress, 
be  referred  for  consideration  till  Saturday  next. 

That  a  Committee  be  appointed  to  bring  in  an  estimate 
of  the  expenses  incurred  by  the  votes  and  resolves  of  this 
Congress. 

Mr.  Deane,  Mr.  Johnson,  and  Mr.  Cushing  chosen. 


1887 


CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS,  JULY  21,  1775. 


1888 


Agreed,  That  the  Congress  meet  here  to-morrow  morn- 
ing at  half  past  nine  o'clock,  in  order  to  attend  Divine  Ser- 
vice at  Mr.  Duche's  Church,  and  that  in  the  afternoon  they 
meet  here,  to  go  from  this  place  and  attend  Divine  Service 
at  Doctor  Allison's  Church. 

Resolved,  That  the  nomination  of  three  of  the  Commis- 
sioners for  Indian  Affairs,  in  the  Southern  Department,  be 
left  to  the  Council  of  Safety,  appointed  by  the  Colony  of 
South- Carolina. 

That  Mr.  John  Walker,  of  Virginia,  be  appointed  one 
of  the  Commissioners  for  Indian  Affairs,  for  the  Southern 
Department. 

Adjourned  till  to-morrow,  at  half  past  nine  o'clock. 

Thursday,  July  20,  1775. 

Met  according  to  adjournment. 

An  Express  arriving  with  despatches  from  Gen.  Schuy- 
ler, the  same  were  read. 

A  Letter  was  likewise  received  from  the  Convention  of 
Georgia,  and  read,  setting  forth  that  that  Colony  had  ac- 
ceded to  the  General  Association,  and  appointed  Delegates 
to  attend  this  Congress. 

Adjourned  till  one  o'clock,  P.  M. 

P.  M.  Met  according  to  adjournment. 

The  Despatches  from  General  Schuyler  being  taken  into 
consideration, 

Resolved,  That  General  P.  Schuyler  be  empowed  to  dis- 
pose of  and  employ  all  the  Troops  in  the  New-York  De- 
partment, in  such  manner  as  he  may  think  best  for  the 
protection  and  defence  of  these  Colonies,  the  Tribes  of 
Indians  in  friendship  and  amity  with  us,  and  most  effect- 
ually to  promote  the  general  interest,  still  pursuing,  if  in 
his  power,  the  former  orders  from  this  Congress,  and  sub- 
ject to  the  future  orders  of  the  Commander-in-Chief. 

Adjourned  till  to-morrow,  at  nine  o'clock. 

Friday,  July  21,  1775. 

The  Congress  met  according  to  adjournment. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  prepare  an  Address  to  the 
Inhabitants  of  Jamaica,  having  brought  in  their  Report,  the 
same  was  read. 

Ordered,  To  lie  on  the  table  for  further  consideration. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  prepare  an  Address  to  the 
Inhabitants  of  Ireland,  brought  in  a  draught. 

Ordered,  To  lie  on  the  table. 

Resolved,  That  Mr.  R.  Bache,  Mr.  Stephen  Paschall, 
and  Mr.  M.  Hillegas,  be  appointed  to  superintend  the 
Press,  and  to  have  the  oversight  and  care  of  printing  the 
Bills  of  Credit  ordered  to  be  struck  by  this  Congress. 

Resolved,  That  Mr.  Willie  Jones,  of  North- Carolina, 
be  the  fifth  Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs,  in  the  South- 
ern Department. 

Mr.  Wilson  having  made  a  Return  of  the  Duck,  &c, 
that  can  be  procured  in  this  City, 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Wilson  inquire  whether  Russia 
Sheeting  will  answer  for  making  Tents. 

Ordered,  That  the  Resolves  respecting  the  Militia  be 
immediately  published. 

Agreeable  to  the  Standing  Order,  the  Congress  resolved 
itself  into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole,  to  take  into  consi- 
deration the  state  of  America,  when  Doctor  B.  Franklin 
submitted  to  their  consideration  the  following  sketch  of 
Articles  of  Confederation. 

Articles  of  Confederation  and  Perpetual  Union,  proposed 
by  the  Delegates  of  the  several  Colonies  of  ^  New-Hamp- 
shire, fy-c,  in  General  Congress  met  at  Philadelphia, 
May  10,  1775. 

Article  i.  The  name  of  this  Confederacy  shall  hence- 
forth be,  The  United  Colonies  of  North  America. 

Article  ii.  The  said  United  Colonies  hereby  severally 
enter  into  a  firm  league  of  friendship  with  each  other,  bind- 
ing on  themselves  and  their  posterity,  for  their  common 
defence  against  their  enemies,  for  the  securities  of  their 
liberties  and  properties,  the  safety  of  their  persons  and 
families,  and  their  mutual  and  general  welfare. 

Article  hi.  That  each  Colony  shall  enjoy  and  retain 
as  much  as  it  may  think  fit  of  its  own  present  laws,  cus- 


toms, rights,  privileges  and  peculiar  jurisdictions  within  its 
own  limits ;  and  may  amend  its  own  Constitution  as  shall 
seem  best  to  its  own  Assembly  or  Convention. 

Article  iv.  That  for  the  more  convenient  manage- 
ment of  general  interests,  Delegates  shall  be  annually  elect- 
ed in  each  Colony,  to  meet  in  General  Congress  at  such 
time  and  place  as  shall  be  agreed  on  in  the  next  preceding 
Congress.  Only  where  particular  circumstances  do  not 
make  a  duration  necessary,  it  is  understood  to  be  a  rule, 
that  each  succeeding  Congress  be  held  in  a  different  Colo- 
ny, till  the  whole  number  be  gone  through ;  and  so  in  per- 
petual rotation ;  and  that  accordingly  the  next  Congress 
after  the  present  shall  be  held  at  Annapolis,  in  Maryland. 

Article  v.  That  the  power  and  duty  of  the  Congress 
shall  extend  to  the  determining  on  war  and  peace ;  the 
sending  and  receiving  Ambassadors,  and  entering  into  alli- 
ances (the  reconciliation  with  Great  Britain;)  the  settling 
all  disputes  and  differences  between  Colony  and  Colony, 
about  limits  or  any  other  cause,  if  such  should  arise  ;  and 
the  planting  of  new  Colonies  when  proper.  The  Congress 
shall  also  make  such  general  ordinances  as,  though  neces- 
sary to  the  general  welfare,  particular  Assemblies  cannot  be 
competent  to,  viz:  those  that  may  relate  to  our  general 
commerce,  or  general  currency  ;  the  establishment  of  posts ; 
and  the  regulation  of  our  common  forces.  The  Congress 
shall  also  have  the  appointment  of  all  General  Officers, 
civil  and  military,  appertaining  to  the  General  Confederacy, 
such  as  General  Treasurer,  Secretary,  &c. 

Article  vi.  All  charges  of  wars,  and  all  other  general 
expenses  to  be  incurred  for  the  common  welfare,  shall  ba 
defrayed  out  of  a  common  treasury,  which  is  to  be  sup- 
plied by  each  Colony  in  proportion  to  its  number  of  male 
poles  between  sixteen  and  sixty  years  of  age.  The  taxes 
for  paying  that  proportion  are  to  be  laid  and  levied  by  the 
Laws  of  each  Colony. 

Article  vii.  The  number  of  Delegates  to  be  elected 
and  sent  to  Congress  by  each  Colony  shall  be  regulated, 
from  time  to  time,  by  the  number  of  such  polls  returned  ; 
so  as  that  one  Delegate  be  allowed  for  every  five  thousand 
polls.  And  the  Delegates  are  to  bring  with  them  to  every 
Congress  an  authenticated  return  of  the  number  of  polls  in 
the  respective  Provinces,  which  is  to  be  taken  triennially, 
for  the  purposes  abovementioned. 

Article  viii.  At  every  meeting  of  the  Congress,  one 
half  of  the  Members  returned,  exclusive  of  proxies,  shall 
be  necessary  to  make  a  quorum  :  and  each  Delegate  at  the 
Congress  shall  have  a  vote  in  all  cases,  and  if  necessarily 
absent,  shall  be  allowed  to  appoint  any  other  Delegate  from 
the  same  Colony  to  be  his  proxy,  who  may  vote  for  him. 

Article  ix.  An  Executive  Council  shall  be  appointed 
by  the  Congress  out  of  their  own  body,  consisting  of  twelve 
persons;  of  whom,  in  the  first  appointment,  one  third,  viz: 
four  shall  be  for  one  year,  four  for  two  years,  and  four  for 
three  years ;  and  as  the  said  terms  expire,  the  vacancies 
shall  be  filled  by  appointments  for  three  years ;  whereby 
one  third  of  the  Members  will  be  changed  annually.  This 
Council,  of  whom  two-thirds  shall  be  a  quorum  in  the 
recess  of  Congress,  is  to  execute  what  shall  have  been  en- 
joined thereby  ;  to  manage  the  general  Continental  busi- 
ness and  interests ;  to  receive  applications  from  foreign 
Countries ;  to  prepare  matters  for  the  consideration  of  the 
Congress  ;  to  fill  up,  pro  tempore,  Continental  Offices  that 
fall  vacant ;  and  to  draw  on  the  General  Treasurer  for  such 
moneys  as  may  be  necessary  for  general  services,  and  appro- 
priated by  the  Congress  to  such  services. 

Article  x.  No  Colony  shall  engage  in  an  offensive  war 
with  any  Nation  of  Indians  without  the  consent  of  the  Con- 
gress, or  Grand  Council  abovementioned,  who  are  first  to 
consider  the  justice  and  necessity  of  such  war. 

Article  xi.  A  perpetual  alliance,  offensive  and  defen- 
sive, is  to  be  entered  into  as  soon  as  may  be  with  the  Six 
Natioris ;  their  limits  to  be  ascertained  and  secured  to  them  ; 
their  land  not  to  be  encroached  on,  nor  any  private  or  Co- 
lony purchases  made  of  them  hereafter  to  be  held  good ; 
nor  any  contract  for  lands  to  be  made,  but  between  the 
Great  Council  of  the  Indians  at  Onondaga  and  the  Gen- 
eral Congress.  The  boundaries  and  lands  of  all  the  other 
Indians  shall  also  be  ascertained  and  secured  to  them  in  the 
same  manner,  and  persons  appointed  to  reside  among  them 
in  proper  Districts  ;  and  shall  take  care  to  prevent  injustice 


1889 


CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS,  JULY  25,  1775. 


1890 


in  the  trade  with  them ;  and  be  enabled  at  our  general 
expense,  by  occasional  small  supplies,  to  relieve  their  per- 
sonal wants  and  distresses.  And  all  purchases  from  them 
shall  be  by  the  Congress,  for  the  general  advantage  and 
benefit  of  the  United  Colonies. 

Article  xii.  As  all  new  institutions  may  have  imper- 
fections, which  only  time  and  experience  can  discover,  it  is 
agreed  that  the  General  Congress,  from  time  to  time,  shall 
propose  such  Amendments  of  this  Constitution  as  may  be 
found  necessary  ;  which  being  approved  by  a  majority  of 
the  Colony  Assemblies,  shall  be  equally  binding  with  the 
rest  of  the  Articles  of  this  Confederation. 

Article  xiii.  Any  and  every  Colony  from  Great  Bri- 
tain upon  the  Continent  of  North  America,  not  at  present 
engaged  in  our  Association,  may,  upon  application  and 
joining  the  said  Association,  be  received  into  the  Confed- 
eration, viz:  Ireland,  the  West-India  Islands,  Quebeck, 
St.  John's,  Nova-Scotia,  Bermudas,  and  East  and  West 
Floridas ;  and  shall  thereupon  be  entitled  to  all  the  advan- 
tages of  our  union,  mutual  assistance,  and  commerce. 

These  Articles  shall  be  proposed  to  the  several  Provin- 
cial Conventions  or  Assemblies,  to  be  by  them  considered; 
and  if  approved,  they  are  advised  to  empower  their  Dele- 
gates to  agree  to  and  ratify  the  same  in  the  ensuing  Con- 
gress. After  which  the  union  thereby  established  is  to 
continue  firm,  till  the  terms  of  reconciliation  proposed  in 
the  Petition  of  the  last  Congress  to  the  King  are  agreed 
to ;  till  the  Acts  since  made,  restraining  the  American 
Commerce  and  Fisheries,  are  repealed;  till  reparation  is 
made  for  the  injury  done  to  Boston,  by  shutting  up  its 
Port ;  for  the  burning  of  Charlestown ;  and  for  the  expense 
of  this  unjust  war ;  and  till  all  the  British  Troops  are  with- 
drawn from  America.  On  the  arrival  of  these  events,  the 
Colonies  will  return  to  their  former  connexion  and  friend- 
ship with  Britain  :  but  on  failure  thereof,  this  Confedera- 
tion is  to  be  perpetual. 

After  some  time  spent  in  Committee  of  the  Whole,  the 
President  resumed  the  chair,  and  Mr.  Hard  reported,  that 
they  had  come  to  certain  Resolutions,  which  he  read,  and 
desired  leave  to  sit  again. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  devise  ways  and  means  to 
protect  the  Trade  of  these  Colonies,  brought  in  their  Re- 
port, which  was  read. 

Ordered,  That  the  same  be  taken  into  consideration 
to-morrow  morning. 

The  Congress  then  entered  upon  the  consideration  of  the 
Report  from  the  Committee  of  the  Whole,  and  after  some 
debate, 

Resolved,  That  such  a  body  of  Troops  be  kept  up  in 
the  Massachusetts-Bay  as  General  Washington  shall  think 
necessary,  provided  they  do  not  exceed  twenty-two  thou- 
sand men. 

Adjourned  till  to-morrow,  at  eight  o'clock. 

Saturday,  July  22,  1775. 

The  Congress  met  according  to  adjournment. 

Agreeable  to  the  Order  of  yesterday,  the  Congress  took 
into  consideration  the  Report  of  the  Committee  appointed 
to  devise  ways  and  means  to  protect  the  Trade  of  these 
Colonies,  and  after  some  debate,  the  same  was  postponed, 
to  be  taken  up  at  some  future  day. 

The  Congress  then  resolved  itself  into  a  Committee  of 
the  Whole,  to  take  into  consideration  the  state  of  Ame- 
rica. And  after  some  time  spent  therein,  the  President 
resumed  the  chair,  and  Mr.  Ward  reported  that  the  Com- 
mittee had  taken  into  consideration  the  matter  referred  to 
them,  but  not  having  come  to  a  conclusion,  desired  leave 
to  sit  again. 

Resolved,  That  this  Congress  will  on  Monday  again 
resolve  itself  into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole,  to  take  into 
farther  consideration  the  state  of  America. 

On  motion,  Resolved,  That  Doctor  Franklin,  Mr.  Jef- 
ferson, Mr.  J.  Adams,  and  Mr.  Lee,  be  a  Committee  to 
take  into  consideration,  and  report  on  the  Resolution  of 
the  House  of  Commons,  February  20,  1775,  commonly 
called  Lord  North's  Motion. 

Adjourned  till  Monday,  at  eight  o'clock. 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii.  1 


Monday,  July  24,  1775. 

The  Congress  met  according  to  adjournment. 

A  Letter  from  the  General,  dated  July  14,  with  an  en- 
closed List  of  the  Officers  of  the  Ministerial  Troops  killed 
and  wounded  in  the  late  battle  at  Charlestown,  was  laid 
before  Congress,  and  read. 

The  Congress  then  resolved  themselves  into  a  Commit- 
tee of  the  Whole,  to  take  into  consideration  the  state  of 
America.  After  some  time  spent  therein,  the  President 
resumed  the  chair,  and  Mr.  Ward  reported,  that  the  Com- 
mittee had  taken  the  matter  referred  to  them  into  consi- 
deration, but  not  having  come  to  a  conclusion,  desired 
leave  to  sit  again. 

The  Committee  for  that  purpose  appointed,  brought  in 
a  Report  for  establishing  a  Hospital. 
Ordered,  To  lie  on  the  table. 

Adjourned  till  to-morrow. 

Tuesday,  July  25,  1775. 

The  Congress  met  according  to  adjournment. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  ways  and 
means  of  establishing  Posts,  brought  in  their  Report;  which 
was  read,  and  ordered  to  be  taken  into  consideration  to- 
morrow. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  bring  in  an  answer  to  the 
Resolution  of  the  House  of  Commons,  brought  in  their 
Report ;  which  was  read,  and  ordered  to  lie  on  the  table 
for  consideration. 

The  Congress  being  informed  that  a  quantity  of  the  Con- 
tinental Gunpowder,  amounting  to  about  six  tons  and  a  half, 
was  arrived  in  this  City  : 

Ordered,  That  the  Delegates  of  this  Colony  take  mea- 
sures to  have  it  sent  under  a  safe  convoy  with  all  possible 
despatch  to  Gen.  Washington,  at  the  Camp  before  Boston. 

That  the  Delegates  be  empowered  to  order  a  detach- 
ment of  Riflemen  raised  for  the  Continental  Army,  con- 
sisting of  at  least  two  Officers  and  thirty  Men,  to  meet  the 
Powder  Wagons  at  Trenton,  and  from  thence  to  escort  the 
same  to  the  Camp. 

The  Congress  then  resumed  the  consideration  of  the  Ad- 
dress to  the  Assembly  of  Jamaica,  which  being  debated 
by  paragraphs,  was  agreed  to,  and  is  as  follows : 

Mr.  Speaker., 

And  Gentlemen  of  the  Assembly  of  Jamaica: 

We  would  think  ourselves  deficient  in  our  duty,  if  we 
suffered  this  Congress  to  pass  over,  without  expressing  our 
esteem  for  the  Assembly  of  Jamaica. 

Whoever  attends  to  the  conduct  of  those  who  have  been 
entrusted  with  the  administration  of  British  affairs  during 
these  last  twelve  years,  will  discover  in  it  a  deliberate  plan 
to  destroy,  in  every  part  of  the  Empire,  the  free  constitu- 
tion, for  which  Britain  has  been  so  long  and  so  justly 
famed.  With  a  dexterity,  artful  and  wicked,  they  have 
varied  the  modes  of  attack,  according  to  the  different  char- 
acters and  circumstances  of  those  whom  they  meant  to 
reduce.  In  the  East-Indies,  where  the  effeminacy  of  the 
inhabitants  promised  an  easy  conquest,  they  thought  it  un- 
necessary to  veil  their  tyrannick  principles  under  the  thinest 
disguise.  Without  deigning  even  to  pretend  a  justification 
of  their  conduct,  they  sacrificed  the  lives  of  millions  to  the 
gratification  of  their  insatiable  avarice  and  lust  of  power. 
In  Britain,  where  the  maxims  of  freedom  were  still  known, 
but  where  luxury  and  dissipation  had  diminished  the  wonted 
reverence  for  them,  the  attack  has  been  carried  on  in  a 
more  secret  and  indirect  manner:  corruption  has  been  em- 
ployed to  undermine  them.  The  Americans  are  not  en- 
ervated by  effeminacy,  like  the  inhabitants  of  India ;  nor 
debauched  by  luxury,  like  those  of  Great  Britain:  it  was, 
therefore,  judged  improper  to  assail  them  by  bribery,  or  by 
undisguised  force.  Plausible  systems  were  formed;  specious 
pretences  were  made :  all  the  arts  of  sophistry  were  tried 
to  shew  that  the  British  Ministry  had  by  law  a  right  to 
enslave  us.  The  first  and  best  maxims  of  the  Constitution, 
venerable  to  Britons  and  to  Americans,  were  perverted 
and  profaned.  The  power  of  Parliament,  derived  from 
the  people,  to  bind  the  people,  was  extended  over  those 
from  whom  it  was  never  derived.    It  is  asserted,  that  a 


1891 


CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS,  JULY  26,  1775. 


1892 


Standing  Army  may  be  constitutionally  kept  among  us, 
without  our  consent.  Those  principles,  dishonourable  to 
those  who  adopted  them,  and  destructive  to  those  to  whom 
they  were  applied,  were  nevertheless  carried  into  execution 
by  the  foes  of  liberty  and  of  mankind.  Acts  of  Parliament, 
ruinous  to  America,  and  unserviceable  to  Britain,  were 
made  to  bind  us ;  Armies,  maintained  by  the  Parliament, 
were  sent  over  to  secure  their  operation.  The  power, 
however,  and  the  cunning  of  our  adversaries,  were  alike 
unsuccessful.  We  refused  to  their  Parliaments  an  obedi- 
ence, which  our  judgments  disapproved  of;  we  refused  to 
their  Armies  a  submission,  which  spirits  unaccustomed  to 
slavery  could  not  brook. 

But  while  we  spurned  a  disgraceful  subjection,  we  were 
fir  from  running  into  rash  or  seditious  measures  of  opposi- 
tion. Filled  with  sentiments  of  loyalty  to  our  Sovereign, 
and  of  affection  and  respect  for  our  fellow-subjects  in  Bri- 
tain, we  petitioned,  we  supplicated,  we  expostulated:  Our 
prayers  were  rejected ;  our  remonstrances  were  disregard- 
ed ;  our  grievances  were  accumulated.  All  this  did  not 
provoke  us  to  violence. 

An  appeal  to  the  justice  and  humanity  of  those  who  bad 
injured  us,  and  who  were  bound  to  redress  our  injuries,  was 
ineffectual :  we  next  resolved  to  make  an  appeal  to  their 
interest,  though  by  doing  so,  we  knew  we  must  sacrifice  our 
own,  and  (which  gave  us  equal  uneasiness)  that  of  our 
friends,  who  had  never  offended  us,  and  who  were  connect- 
ed with  us  by  a  sympathy  of  feelings,  under  oppressions 
similar  to  our  own.  We  resolved  to  give  up  our  commerce 
that  we  might  preserve  our  liberty.  We  flattered  ourselves, 
that  when,  by  withdrawing  our  commercial  intercourse 
with  Britain,  which  we  had  an  undoubted  right  either  to 
withdraw  or  continue,  her  trade  should  be  diminished,  her 
revenues  impaired,  and  her  manufactures  unemployed,  our 
Ministerial  foes  would  be  induced  by  interest,  or  compelled 
by  necessity,  to  depart  from  the  plan  of  tyranny  which  they 
had  so  long  pursued,  and  to  substitute  in  its  place  a  system 
more  compatible  with  the  freedom  of  America,  and  justice 
of  Britain.  That  this  scheme  of  non-importation  and  non- 
exportation  might  be  productive  of  the  desired  effects,  we 
were  obliged  to  include  the  Islands  in  it.  From  this  neces- 
sity, and  from  this  necessity  alone,  has  our  conduct  towards 
them  proceeded.  By  converting  your  sugar  plantations 
into  fields  of  grain,  you  can  supply  yourselves  with  the  ne- 
cessaries of  life:  while  the  present  unhappy  struggle  shall 
continue,  we  cannot  do  more. 

But  why  should  we  make  any  apology  to  the  patriotick 
Assembly  of  Jamaica,  who  know  so  well  the  value  of  liberty; 
who  are  so  sensible  of  the  extreme  danger  to  which  ours  is 
exposed  ;  and  who  foresee  how  certainly  the  destruction  of 
ours  must  be  followed  by  the  destruction  of  their  own  ? 

We  receive  uncommon  pleasure  from  observing  the  prin- 
ciples of  our  righteous  opposition  distinguished  by  your 
approbation  ;  we  feel  the  warmest  gratitude  for  your  pa- 
thetic mediation  in  our  behalf  with  the  Crown.  It  was 
indeed  unavailing — but  are  you  to  blame  ?  Mournful  ex- 
perience tells  us  that  petitions  are  often  rejected,  while  the 
sentiments  and  conduct  of  the  petitioners  entitle  what  they 
offer  to  a  happier  fate. 

That  our  petitions  have  been  treated  with  disdain,  is  now 
become  the  smallest  part  of  our  complaint:  Ministerial 
insolence  is  lost  in  ministerial  barbarity.  It  has,  by  an  ex- 
ertion peculiarly  ingenious,  procured  those  very  measures, 
which  it  laid  us  under  the  hard  necessity  of  pursuing,  to  be 
stigmatized  in  Parliament  as  rebellious:  It  has  employed 
additional  Fleets  and  Armies  for  the  infamous  purpose  of 
compelling  us  to  abandon  them:  It  has  plunged  us  into  all 
the  horrours  and  calamities  of  civil  war:  It  has  caused  the 
treasure  and  blood  of  Britons  (formerly  shed  and  expend- 
ed for  far  other  ends)  to  be  spilt  and  wasted  in  the  execra- 
ble design  of  spreading  slavery  over  British  America. 
It  will  not,  however,  accomplish  its  aim:  In  the  worst  of 
contingencies,  a  choice  will  still  be  left,  which  it  never 
can  prevent  us  from  making. 

The  peculiar  situation  of  your  Island  forbids  your  assist- 
ance. But  we  have  your  good  wishes.  From  the  good 
wishes  of  the  friends  of  liberty  and  mankind,  we  shall 
always  derive  consolation. 

Ordered,  That  a  fair  copy  be  made  out,  to  be  signed  by 
the  President,  and  transmitted  by  the  first  opportunity. 


The  Congress  then,  resuming  the  consideration  of  the 
Report  of  the  Committee  of  the  Whole,  came  to  the  fol- 
lowing Resolutions : 

Resolved,  That  a  body  of  Forces,  not  exceeding  five 
thousand,  be  kept  up  in  the  New-  York  Department,  lor  the 
purpose  of  defending  that  part  of  America,  and  for  secur- 
ing the  Lakes,  and  defending  the  Frontiers  fiom  invasions 
or  incursions. 

That  a  farther  sum,  amounting  to  One  Million  of  Dol- 
lars, be  struck  in  bills  of  thirty  Dollars  each. 

As  the  signing  so  great  a  number  of  Bills  as  has  been  di- 
rected to  be  issued  by  this  Congress  will  require  more  time 
than  the  Members  can  possibly  devote  to  that  business,  con- 
sistent with  the  attention  due  to  the  publick  service: 

Resolved,  That  the  following  gentlemen  be  appointed 
and  fully  authorized  to  sign  the  same,  viz:  Luke  Morris, 
Samuel  Meredith,  Judah  Foulke,  Samuel  Morris,  Fred- 
erick Kuhl,  Robert  Stretlle  Jones,  Thomas  Coombe,  Ellis 
Lewis,  John  Mease,  Thomas  Lawrence,  Daniel  Clymer, 
John  Maxwell  Nesbit,  Thomas  Barclay,  John  Bayard, 
William  Craig,  Thomas  Bartow,  Jun.,  John  Shce,  Isaac 
Hazlehurst,  Robert  Roberts,  Anthony  Morris,  Mordecai 
Leivis,  George  Mijflin,  Robert  Tuckniss,  Andrew  Ban- 
ner, William  Jackson,  Joseph  Sims,  James  Milligan,  and 
James  Reed. 

That  each  of  the  Continental  Bills  be  numbered  and 
signed  by  two  of  the  above  gentlemen. 

That  each  gentleman  who  signs  the  Continental  Money 
be  allowed  and  paid  out  of  the  Continental  Treasury,  one 
dollar  and  one- third  of  a  dollar  for  each  and  every  thou- 
sand Bills  signed  and  numbered  by  him. 

That  the  gentlemen  appointed  to  number  and  sign  the 
Bills,  do  give  their  receipts  for  the  same,  expressing  the 
number  and  denomination  of  them;  and  after  numbering 
and  signing  them,  shall  deliver  the  same  to  the  Con- 
tinental Treasurers,  taking  their  receipts  for  the  Bills  so 
delivered. 

On  motion,  Resolved,  That  Mr.  Samuel  Adams,  Mr. 
Lee,  and  Mr.  J.  Rut/edge,  with  the  Secretary,  be  a  Com- 
mittee to  revise  the  Journal  of  the  Congress,  and  prepare 
it  for  the  press. 

Adjourned  till  to-morrow,  at  eight  o'clock. 

Wednesday,  July  26,  1775. 

Met  according  to  adjournment. 

Agreeable  to  the  Order  of  yesterday,  the  Congress  re- 
sumed the  consideration  of  the  Report  of  the  Committee  on 
the  Post-Office;  which  being  debated  by  paragraphs,  was 
agreed  to,  as  follows: 

That  a  Postmaster  General  be  appointed  for  the  United 
Colonies,  who  shall  hold  his  office  at  Philadelphia,  and 
shall  be  allowed  a  salary  of  one  thousand  Dollars  per  annum 
for  himself,  and  three  hundred  and  forty  Dollars  per  annum 
for  a  Secretary  and  Comptroller;  with  power  to  appoint 
such  and  so  many  Deputies  as  to  him  may  seem  proper 
and  necessary. 

That  a  line  of  Posts  be  appointed  under  the  direction 
of  the  Postmaster  General,  from  Falmouth  in  New-Eng- 
land to  Savannah  in  Georgia,  with  as  many  cross-posts  as 
he  shall  think  fit. 

That  the  allowance  to  the  Deputies  in  lieu  of  salary  and 
all  contingent  expenses,  shall  be  twenty  per  centum  on  the 
sums  they  collect  and  pay  into  the  General  Post-Office 
annually,  when  the  whole  is  under  or  not  exceeding  one 
thousand  Dollars;  and  ten  per  centum  for  all  sums  above  one 
thousand  Dollars  a  year. 

That  the  rates  of  Postage  shall  be  twenty  per  cent,  less 
than  those  appointed  by  act  of  Parliament. 

That  the  several  Deputies  account  quarterly  with  the 
General  Post-Office,  and  the  Postmaster  General  annually 
with  the  Continental  Treasurers,  when  he  shall  pay  into  the 
receipt  of  the  said  Treasurers  the  profits  of  the  Post-Office; 
and  if  the  necessary  expense  of  this  establishment  should 
exceed  the  produce  of  it,  the  deficiency  shall  be  made  good 
by  the  United  Colonies,  and  paid  to  the  Postmaster  Gen- 
eral by  the  Continental  Treasurers. 

On  motion  made,  Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to 
the  Postmaster  General  to  establish  a  weekly  post  to  South' 
Carolina. 


1893  CONTINENTAL  CON 

That  it  be  left  to  the  Postmaster  General  to  appoint  a 
Secretary  and  Comptroller. 

The  Congress  then  proceeded  to  the  election  of  a  Post- 
master General  for  one  year,  and  until  another  is  appointed 
by  a  future  Congress:  when  Benjamin  Franklin,  Esq.,  was 
unanimously  chosen. 

Adjourned  till  to  morrow,  at  eight  o'clock. 

Thursday,  July  27,  1775. 

Met  according  to  adjournment. 

The  Congress  took  into  consideration  the  Report  of  the 
Committee  on  establishing  a  Hospital  for  the  Army ;  and 
the  same  being  debated,  was  agreed  to,  as  follows : 

That  for  the  establishment  of  a  Hospital  for  an  Army, 
consisting  of  twenty  thousand  men,  the  following  Officers 
and  other  attendants  be  appointed,  with  the  following  allow- 
ance or  pay,  viz : 

One  Director-General  and  Chief  Physician,  his  pay  per 
day,  four  Dollars. 

Four  Surgeons,  per  diem,  each,  one  and  one-third  of  a 
Dollar. 

One  Apothecary,  one  and  one-third  of  a  Dollar. 
Twenty  Surgeon's  Mates,  each  two-thirds  of  a  Dollar. 
One  Clerk,  two-thirds  of  a  Dollar. 
Two  Storekeepers,  each  four  Dollars  per  month. 
One  Nurse  to  every  ten  sick,  one-fifteenth  of  a  Dollar 
per  day,  or  two  Dollars  per  month. 
Labourers  occasionally. 

The  Duty  of  the  above  Officers,  viz: 

The  Director  to  furnish  Medicines,  Bedding,  and  all 
other  necessaries,  to  pay  for  the  same,  superintend  the 
whole,  and  make  his  report  to,  and  receive  orders  from, 
the  Commander-in-Chief. 

Surgeons,  Apothecaries,  and  Mates  :  To  visit  and  attend 
the  sick,  and  the  Mates  to  obey  the  orders  of  the  Physi- 
cians, Surgeons,  and  Apothecary. 

Matron:  To  superintend  the  Nurses,  Bedding,  &ic. 

Nurses :  To  attend  the  sick,  and  obey  the  Matron's  orders. 

Clerk  :  To  keep  Accounts  for  the  Director  and  Store- 
keepers. 

Storekeepers:  To  receive  and  deliver  the  Bedding  and 
other  necessaries,  by  order  of  the  Director. 

On  motion,  Resolved,  That  the  sum  of  Twenty-Five 
Thousand  Dollars  be  paid  by  the  Continental  Treasurers 
to  Reese  Meredith,  George  Clymer,  Samuel  Meredith,  and 
Samuel  Miffiin,  Merchants  of  the  City  of  Philadelphia ; 
and  that  the  like  sum  of  Twenty-Five  Thousand  Dollars 
be  paid  by  the  said  Treasurers  to  Philip  Livingston,  John 
Alsop,  and  Francis  Lewis,  Merchants  of  New- York,  to 
be  by  them  applied  to  the  purpose  of  importing  Gunpow- 
der for  the  Continental  Armies;  and  that  they  be  allowed 
out  of  the  same  five  per  cent,  for  their  trouble  and  ex- 
penses therein ;  that  they  keep  all  their  proceedings,  as 
much  as  possible,  a  secret  from  every  other  person  but  the 
Congress  and  the  General  of  the  Continental  Forces  for 
the  time  being;  that  they  keep  up  a  correspondence  with 
the  said  General,  and  make  such  dispositions  of  the  Powder 
they  may  import,  as  he  shall  order.* 

The  Congress  then  proceeded  to  the  choice  of  Officers 
for  the  Hospital ;  when 

Benjamin  Church  was  unanimously  elected  as  Director 
of,  and  Chief  Physician  in  the  Hospital. 

Resolved,  That  the  appointment  of  the  four  Surgeons 
and  the  Apothecary  be  left  to  Doctor  Church. 

That  the  Mates  be  appointed  by  the  Surgeons. 

That  the  number  of  Mates  do  not  exceed  twenty;  and, 

That  the  number  be  not  kept  in  constant  pay,  unless  the 
sick  and  wounded  should  be  so  numerous  as  to  require  the 
attendance  of  twenty,  and  to  be  diminished  as  circumstances 
will  admit ;  for  which  purpose  the  pay  is  fixed  by  the  day, 
that  they  may  only  receive  pay  for  actual  service. 

That  one  Clerk,  two  Storekeepers,  and  one  Nurse  to 
every  ten  sick,  be  appointed  by  the  Director. 

On  motion  made,  Resolved,  That  the  Paymaster  give 
bond,  with  two  sureties,  in  the  sum  of  Fifty  Thousand  Dol- 
lars, for  the  faithful  performance  of  his  office. 

*  This  most  secret,  not  to  be  published. — MS.  Jour. 


iRESS,  JULY  28,  1775.  1894 

That,  the  Bond  be  made  payable  to  the  same  persons  as 
the  Bonds  of  the  Continental  Treasurers  are  payable  to. 

James  Warren  was  unanimously  elected  Paymaster- 
General. 

Resolved,  That  the  Paymaster  in  the  New-York  De- 
partment give  Bond  to  the  same  persons  as  above  directed, 
with  two  sureties,  in  the  sum  of  Twenty-Five  Thousand 
Dollars,  for  the  faithful  performance  of  his  office. 

Adjourned  till  to-morrow,  at  eight  o'clock. 

Friday,  July  28,  1775. 

Met  according  to  adjournment. 

The  Congress  being  informed  that  a  quantity  of  Gun- 
powder belonging  to  the  Continent  is  arrived  in  some  part 
of  New-Jersey, 

Ordered,  That  the  Delegates  of  New-Jersey  do  take 
care  that  the  said  Powder  be  safely  conveyed  to  Dobbs's 
Ferry,  on  the  North  River. 

On  motion  made,  Ordered,  That  the  Colony  of  Vir- 
ginia be  supplied  with  one  ton  of  Gunpowder  from  the 
next  quantity  arriving  here ;  and  that  from  the  same  sup- 
ply Pennsylvania  be  repaid  the  Powder  heretofore  bor- 
rowed by  the  Congress,  if  the  same  shall  not  be  wanted  by 
General  Washington. 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  McKean  and  Mr.  Wilson  do  prepare 
the  Bonds  for  the  Continental  Treasurers  to  execute. 

Jonathan  Trumbull,  Jun.,  Esq.,  was  unanimously  elected 
Paymaster  of  the  Forces  for  the  New-York  Department. 

The  Congress  then  took  into  consideration  the  Address 
to  the  People  of  Ireland ;  which  being  read  and  debated, 
was  agreed  to,  as  follows : 

To  the  People  of  Ireland  : 
From  the  Delegates  appointed  by  the  United  Colonies  of 
New-Hampshire,  Massachusetts-Bay,  Rhode-Island  and 
Providence  Plantations,  Connecticut,  New-  York,  New- 
Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  the  Lower  Counties  on  Delaware, 
Maryland,  Virginia,  North- Carolina,  and  South- Caro- 
lina, in  General  Congress  at  Philadelphia,  the  10th  of 
May,  1775. 

Friends  and  Fellow-Subjects  :  As  the  important 
contest  into  which  we  have  been  driven,  is  now  become 
interesting  to  every  European  State,  and  particularly  affects 
the  members  of  the  British  Empire,  we  think  it  our  duty 
to  address  you  on  the  subject.  We  are  desirous,  as  is  natu- 
ral to  injured  innocence,  of  possessing  the  good  opinion  of 
the  virtuous  and  humane.  We  are  peculiarly  desirous  of 
furnishing  you  with  a  true  state  of  our  motives  and  objects, 
the  better  to  enable  you  to  judge  of  our  conduct  with  accu- 
racy, and  determine  the  merits  of  the  controversy  with  im- 
partiality and  precision. 

However  incredible  it  may  appear,  that,  at  this  enlight- 
ened period,  the  leaders  of  a  nation,  which  in  every  age 
has  sacrificed  hecatombs  of  her  bravest  patriots  on  the  altar 
of  liberty,  should  presume  gravely  to  assert,  and,  by  force 
of  arms,  attempt  to  establish  an  arbitrary  sway  over  the 
lives,  liberties,  and  property  of  their  fellow-subjects  in 
America,  it  is,  nevertheless,  a  most  deplorable  and  indis- 
putable truth. 

These  Colonies  have,  from  the  time  of  their  first  settle- 
ment, for  near  two  centuries,  peaceably  enjoyed  those  very 
rights  of  which  the  Ministry  have,  for  ten  years  past,  en- 
deavoured by  fraud  and  by  violence  to  deprive  them. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  last  war,  the  genius  of  England 
and  the  spirit  of  wisdom,  as  if  offended  at  the  ungrateful 
treatment  of  their  sons,  withdrew  from  the  British  coun- 
cils, and  left  that  nation  a  prey  to  a  race  of  Ministers,  with 
whom  ancient  English  honesty  and  benevolence  disdained 
to  dwell.  From  that  period,  jealousy,  discontent,  oppres- 
sion, and  discord,  have  raged  among  all  His  Majesty's  sub- 
jects, and  filled  every  part  of  his  Dominions  with  distress 
and  complaint. 

Not  content  with  our  purchasing  of  Britain,  at  her  own 
price,  clothing  and  a  thousand  other  articles  used  by  near 
three  millions  of  people  on  this  vast  Continent ;  not  satis- 
fied with  the  amazing  profits  arising  from  the  monopoly  of 
our  trade,  without  giving  us  either  time  to  breathe,  after  a 
long  though  glorious  war,  or  the  least  credit  for  the  blood 


1895 


CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS,  JULY  28,  1775. 


1896 


and  treasure  we  have  expended  in  it;  notwithstanding  the 
zeal  we  had  manifested  for  the  service  of  our  Sovereign, 
and  the  warmest  attachment  to  the  Constitution  of  Britain 
and  the  people  of  England,  a  black  and  horrid  design  was 
formed  to  convert  us  from  freemen  into  slaves,  from  sub- 
jects into  vassals,  and  from  friends  into  enemies. 

Taxes,  for  the  first  time  since  we  landed  on  the  Ameri- 
can shores,  were,  without  our  consent,  imposed  upon  us ; 
an  unconstitutional  edict,  to  compel  us  to  furnish  necessa- 
ries for  a  standing  army,  that  we  wished  to  see  disbanded, 
was  issued,  and  the  Legislature  of  New-York  suspended 
for  refusing  to  comply  with  it.  Our  ancient  and  inestima- 
ble right  of  Trial  by  Jury,  was,  in  many  instances,  abolish- 
ed, and  the  common  law  of  the  land  made  to  give  place  to 
admiralty  jurisdictions.  Judges  were  rendered,  by  the  ten- 
ure of  their  commissions,  entirely  dependant  on  the  will  of 
a  Minister.  New  crimes  were  arbitrarily  created,  and  new 
Courts,  unknown  to  the  Constitution,  instituted.  Wicked 
and  insidious  Governours  have  been  set  over  us  ;  and  duti- 
ful petitions,  for  the  removal  of  even  the  notoriously  infa- 
mous Governour  Hutchinson,  were  branded  with  the 
opprobrious  appellation  of  scandalous  and  defamatory. 
Hardy  attempts  have  been  made,  under  colour  of  Parlia- 
mentary authority,  to  seize  Americans,  and  carry  them  to 
Great  Britain,  to  be  tried  for  offences  committed  in  the 
Colonies.  Ancient  Charters  have  no  longer  remained 
sacred  ;  that  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay  was  violated,  and 
their  form  of  Government  essentially  mutilated  and  trans- 
formed. On  pretence  of  punishing  a  violation  of  some 
private  property,  committed  by  a  few  disguised  individuals, 
the  populous  and  flourishing  Town  of  Boston  was  sur- 
rounded by  fleets  and  armies  ;  its  trade  destroyed  ;  its  port 
blocked  up,  and  thirty  thousand  citizens  subjected  to  all 
the  miseries  attending  so  sudden  a  convulsion  in  their  com- 
mercial metropolis ;  and,  to  remove  every  obstacle  to  the 
rigorous  execution  of  this  system  of  oppression,  an  act  of 
Parliament  was  passed,  evidently  calculated  to  indemnify 
those  who  might,  in  the  prosecution  of  it,  even  imbrue  their 
hands  in  the  blood  of  the  inhabitants. 

Though  pressed  by  such  an  accumulation  of  undeserved 
injuries,  America  still  remembered  her  duty  to  her  Sover- 
eign. A  Congress,  consisting  of  Deputies  from  twelve 
United  Colonies,  assembled.  They,  in  the  most  respectful 
terms,  laid  their  grievances  at  the  foot  of  the  Throne,  and 
implored  His  Majesty's  interposition  in  their  behalf.  They 
also  agreed  to  suspend  all  trade  with  Great  Britain,  Ire- 
land, and  the  West- Indies,  hoping,  by  this  peaceable  mode 
of  opposition,  to  obtain  that  justice  from  the  British  Min- 
istry which  had  been  so  long  solicited  in  vain.  And  here 
permit  us  to  assure  you,  that  it  was  with  the  utmost  reluct- 
ance we  could  prevail  upon  ourselves  to  cease  our  commer- 
cial connexion  with  your  island.  Your  Parliament  had 
done  us  no  wrong.  You  had  ever  been  friendly  to  the 
rights  of  mankind  ;  and  we  acknowledge,  with  pleasure 
and  gratitude,  that  your  nation  has  produced  patriots  who 
have  nobly  distinguished  themselves  in  the  cause  of  hu- 
manity and  America.  On  the  other  hand,  we  were  not 
ignorant  that  the  labour  and  manufactures  of  Ireland,  like 
those  of  the  silk-worm,  were  of  little  moment  to  herself, 
but  served  only  to  give  luxury  to  those  who  neither  toil  nor 
spin.  We  perceived  that  if  we  continued  our  commerce 
with  you,  our  agreement  not  to  import  from  Britain  would 
be  fruitless,  and  were,  therefore,  compelled  to  adopt  a  mea- 
sure to  which  nothing  but  absolute  necessity  would  have 
reconciled  us.  It  gave  us,  however,  some  consolation  to 
reflect,  that  should  it  occasion  much  distress,  the  fertile 
regions  of  America  would  afford  you  a  safe  asylum  from 
poverty,  and,  in  time,  from  oppression  also;  an  asylum  in 
which  many  thousands  of  your  countrymen  have  found 
hospitality,  peace,  and  affluence,  and  become  united  to  us 
by  all  the  ties  of  consanguinity,  mutual  interest,  and  affec- 
tion. Nor  did  Congress  stop  here.  Flattered  by  a  pleas- 
ing expectation  that  the  justice  and  humanity  which  had  so 
long  characterized  the  English  Nation  would,  on  proper 
application,  afford  us  relief,  they  represented  their  griev- 
ances in  an  affectionate  address  to  their  brethren  in  Britain, 
and  entreated  their  aid  and  interposition  in  behalf  of  these 
Colonies. 

The  more  fully  to  evince  their  respect  for  their  Sover- 
eign, the  unhappy  people  of  Boston  were  requested  by  the 


Congress  to  submit  with  patience  to  their  fate ;  and  all 
America  united  in  a  resolution  to  abstain  from  every  spe- 
cies of  violence.  During  this  period,  that  devoted  Town 
suffered  unspeakably.  Its  inhabitants  were  insulted,  and 
their  property  violated.  Still  relying  on  the  clemency  and 
justice  of  His  Majesty  and  the  Nation,  they  permitted  a 
few  Regiments  to  take  possession  of  their  Town,  to  sur- 
round it  with  fortifications,  and  to  cut  off  all  intercourse 
between  them  and  their  friends  in  the  country. 

With  anxious  expectation  did  all  America  wait  the  event 
of  their  Petition.  All  America  laments  its  fate.  Their 
Prince  was  deaf  to  their  complaints;  and  vain  were  all 
attempts  to  impress  him  with  a  sense  of  the  sufferings  of 
his  American  subjects,  of  the  cruelty  of  their  task-masters, 
and  of  the  many  plagues  which  impended  over  his  Domin- 
ions. Instead  of  directions  for  a  candid  inquiry  into  our 
grievances,  insult  was  added  to  oppression,  and  our  long 
forbearance  rewarded  with  the  imputation  of  cowardice- 
Our  trade  with  foreign  states  was  prohibited  ;  and  an  act 
of  Parliament  passed  to  prevent  our  even  fishing  on  our 
own  coasts.  Our  peaceable  assemblies,  for  the  purpose  of 
consulting  the  common  safety,  were  declared  seditious  ;  and 
our  asserting  the  very  rights  which  placed  the  crown  of 
Great  Britain  on  the  heads  of  the  three  successive  Princes 
of  the  House  of  Hanover,  styled  rebellion.  Orders  were 
given  to  re-enforce  the  Troops  in  America.  The  wild  and 
barbarous  savages  of  the  wilderness  have  been  solicited,  by 
gifts,  to  take  up  the  hatchet  against  us,  and  instigated  to 
deluge  our  settlements  with  the  blood  of  innocent  and  de- 
fenceless women  and  children.  The  whole  country  was, 
moreover,  alarmed  with  the  horrours  of  domestick  insur- 
rections. Refinements  in  parental  cruelty,  at  which  the 
genius  of  Britain  must  blush  !  Refinements  which  admit 
not  of  being  even  recited  without  horrour,  or  practised  with- 
out infamy!  We  should  be  happy  were  these  dark  machi- 
nations the  mere  suggestions  of  suspicion.  We  are  sorry 
to  declare,  that  we  are  possessed  of  the  most  authentick 
and  indubitable  evidence  of  their  reality. 

The  Ministry,  bent  on  pulling  down  the  pillars  of  the 
Constitution,  endeavoured  to  erect  the  standard  of  despot- 
ism in  America;  and,  if  successful,  Britain  and  Ireland 
may  shudder  at  the  consequences  ! 

Three  of  their  most  experienced  Generals  are  sent  to 
wage  war  with  their  fellow-subjects ;  and  America  is  amazed 
to  find  the  name  of  Howe  in  the  catalogue  of  her  enemies. 
She  loved  his  brother. 

Despairing  of  driving  the  Colonists  to  resistance,  by  any 
other  means  than  actual  hostility,  a  detachment  of  the  Army 
at  Boston  marched  into  the  country  in  all  the  array  of  war, 
and,  unprovoked,  fired  upon  and  killed  several  of  the  in- 
habitants. The  neighbouring  farmers  suddenly  assembled, 
and  repelled  the  attack.  From  this,  all  communication 
between  the  Town  and  country  was  intercepted.  The 
citizens  petitioned  the  General  for  permission  to  leave  the 
Town,  and  he  promised,  on  surrendering  their  arms,  to 
permit  them  to  depart,  with  their  other  effects.  They  ac- 
cordingly surrendered  their  arms,  and  the  General  violated 
his  faith.  Under  various  pretences,  passports  were  delayed 
and  denied ;  and  many  thousands  of  the  inhabitants  are,  at 
this  day,  confined  in  the  Town,  in  the  utmost  wretchedness 
and  want.  The  lame,  the  blind,  and  the  sick,  have,  in- 
deed, been  turned  out  into  the  neighbouring  fields;  and 
some,  eluding  the  vigilance  of  the  sentries,  have  escaped 
from  the  Town,  by  swimming  to  the  adjacent  shores. 

The  war  having  thus  begun  on  the  part  of  General 
Gage's  Troops,  the  country  armed  and  embodied.  The 
re-enforcements  from  Ireland  soon  after  arrived  ;  a  vigorous 
attack  was  then  made  upon  the  Provincials.  In  their  march, 
the  Troops  surrounded  the  Town  of  Charlcstown,  consisting 
of  about  four  hundred  houses,  then  recently  abandoned  to 
escape  the  fury  of  a  relentless  soldiery.  Having  plundered 
the  houses,  they  set  fire  to  the  Town,  and  reduced  it  to 
ashes.  To  this  wanton  waste  of  property,  unknown  to 
civilized  nations,  they  were  prompted,  the  better  to  conceal 
their  approach  under  cover  of  the  smoke — a  shocking  mix- 
ture of  cowardice  and  cruelty,  which  then  first  tarnished 
the  lustre  of  the  British  arms,  when  aimed  at  a  brother's 
breast !  But,  blessed  be  God,  they  were  restrained  from 
committing  further  ravages,  by  the  loss  of  a  very  consider- 
able part  of  their  Army,  including  many  of  their  most  ex- 


1897 


CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS,  JULY  29,  1775. 


1898 


perienced  officers.  The  loss  of  the  inhabitants  was  incon- 
siderable. 

Compelled,  therefore,  to  behold  thousands  of  our  coun- 
trymen imprisoned,  and  men,  women,  and  children  involved 
in  promiscuous  and  unmerited  misery;  when  we  find  all 
faith  at  an  end,  and  sacred  treaties  turned  into  tricks  of 
state ;  when  we  perceive  our  friends  and  kinsmen  massa- 
cred, our  habitations  plundered,  our  houses  in  flames,  and 
their  once  happy  inhabitants  fed  only  by  the  hand  of  cha- 
rity, who  can  blame  us  for  endeavouring  to  restrain  the 
progress  of  desolation?  Who  can  censure  our  repelling  the 
attacks  of  such  a  barbarous  band?  Who,  in  such  circum- 
stances, would  not  obey  the  great,  the  universal,  the  divine 
law  of  self-preservation? 

Though  vilified  as  wanting  spirit,  we  are  determined  to 
behave  like  men  ;  though  insulted  and  abused,  we  wish  for 
reconciliation  ;  though  defamed  as  seditious,  we  are  ready 
to  obey  the  laws ;  and  though  charged  with  rebellion,  will 
cheerfully  bleed  in  defence  of  our  Sovereign  in  a  righteous 
cause.  What  more  can  we  say?  What  more  can  we  offer? 

But  we  forbear  to  trouble  you  with  a  tedious  detail  of 
the  various  and  fruitless  offers  and  applications  we  have  re- 
peatedly made,  not  for  pensions,  for  wealth,  or  for  honours, 
but  for  the  humble  boon  of  being  permitted  to  possess  the 
fruits  of  honest  industry,  and  to  enjoy  that  degree  of  liberty 
to  which  God  and  the  Constitution  have  given  us  an  un- 
doubted right. 

Blessed  with  an  indissoluble  union,  with  a  variety  of  in- 
ternal resources,  and  with  a  firm  reliance  on  the  justice  of 
the  Supreme  Disposer  of  all  human  events,  we  have  no 
doubt  of  rising  superiour  to  all  the  machinations  of  evil  and 
abandoned  Ministers.  We  already  anticipate  the  golden 
period,  when  liberty,  with  all  the  gentle  arts  of  peace  and 
humanity,  shall  establish  her  mild  dominion  in  this  Western 
world,  and  erect  eternal  monuments  to  the  memory  of  those 
virtuous  patriots  and  martyrs,  who  shall  have  fought  and 
bled,  and  suffered  in  her  cause. 

Accept  our  most  grateful  acknowledgments  for  the 
friendly  disposition  you  have  always  shown  towards  us. 
We  know  that  you  are  not  without  your  grievances.  We 
sympathize  with  you  in  your  distress,  and  are  pleased  to 
find  that  the  design  of  subjugating  us  has  persuaded  Ad- 
ministration to  dispense  to  Ireland  some  vagrant  rays  of 
Ministerial  sunshine.  Even  the  tender  mercies  of  Gov- 
ernment have  long  been  cruel  towards  you.  In  the  rich 
pastures  of  Ireland,  many  hungry  parricides  have  fed  and 
grown  strong  to  labour  in  its  destruction.  We  hope  the 
patient  abiding  of  the  meek  may  not  always  be  forgotten ; 
and  God  grant  that  the  iniquitous  schemes  of  extirpating 
liberty  from  the  British  Empire,  may  be  soon  defeated. 
But  we  should  be  wanting  to  ourselves  ;  we  should  be  per- 
fidious to  posterity;  we  should  be  unworthy  that  ancestry 
from  which  we  derive  our  descent,  should  we  submit,  with 
folded  arms,  to  military  butchery  and  depredation,  to  gratify 
the  lordly  ambition,  or  sate  the  avarice  of  a  British  Min- 
istry. In  defence  of  our  persons  and  properties,  under 
actual  violation,  we  have  taken  up  arms ;  when  that  vio- 
lence shall  be  removed,  and  hostilities  cease  on  the  part  of 
the  aggressors,  they  shall  cease  on  our  part  also.  For  the 
achievement  of  this  happy  event,  we  confide  in  the  good 
offices  of  our  fellow-subjects  beyond  the  Atlantick.  Of 
their  friendly  disposition,  we  do  not  yet  despond ;  aware, 
as  they  must  be,  that  they  have  nothing  more  to  expect 
from  the  same  common  enemy,  than  the  humble  favour  of 
being  last  devoured. 

Adjourned  till  to-morrow,  at  eight  o'clock. 

Saturday,  July  29,  1775. 

Met  according  to  adjournment. 

The  Congress  resumed  the  consideration  of  the  Report 
from  the  Committee  of  the  Whole,  and  came  to  the  follow- 
ing Resolution : 

Resolved,  That  the  pay  of  the  Commissary-General  of 
Musters  be  forty  Dollars  per  month. 

That  the  pay  of  the  Deputy  Commissary-General  of 
Stores  and  Provisions  be  sixty  Dollars  per  do. 

Deputy  Adjutant-General,  fifty  Dollars  per  do. 

Deputy  Mustermaster-General,  forty  Dollars  per  do. 

Brigade-Major,  thirty-three  Dollars  per  do. 


Commissary  of  Artillery,  thirty  Dollars  per  month. 
Judge  Advocate,  twenty  Dollars  per  do. 
Colonel,  fifty  Dollars  per  do. 
Lieutenant-Colonel,  forty  Dollars  per  do. 
Major,  thirty-three  Dollars  and  one-third  per  do. 
Captain,  twenty  Dollars  per  do. 
Lieutenant,  thirteen  Dollars  and  one-third  per  do. 
Ensign,  ten  Dollars  per  do. 
Sergeant,  eight  Dollars  per  do. 

Corporal,  Drummer,  and  Fifer,  each  seven  Dollars  and 
one-third  per  do. 

Private,  six  Dollars  and  two-thirds  per  do. 
Adjutant,  eighteen  Dollars  and  one-third  per  do. 
Quartermaster,  eighteen  Dollars  and  one-third  per  do. 
Chaplain,  twenty  Dollars  per  do. 

That  the  pay  of  the  Light-Infantry  be  the  same  as  that 
in  the  Regiment,  from  a  Captain  to  a  Private,  both  in- 
cluded. 

That  in  the  Artillery,  the  pay  of  a  Captain  be  twenty- 
six  Dollars  and  two-thirds  per  month. 

Captain-Lieutenant,  twenty  Dollars  per  do. 

First  and  Second  Lieutenants,  eighteen  Dollars  and  one- 
third  per  do. 

Lieutenant-Fireworker,  thirteen  Dollars  and  one-third 
per  do. 

Sergeant,  eight  Dollars  and  one-third  per  do. 

Corporal,  seven  Dollars  and  a  half  per  do. 

Bombardier,  seven  Dollars  per  do. 

Matrosses,  six  Dollars  and  five-sixths  of  a  Dollar  per  do. 

That  the  appointment  of  Provost-Marshal,  Wagon-Mas- 
ter, and  Master  Carpenter,  be  left  to  the  Commander-in- 
Chief  of  the  Army,  who  is  to  fix  their  pay,  having  regard 
to  the  pay  such  receive  in  the  Ministerial  Army,  and  the 
proportion  that  the  pay  of  the  Officers  in  said  Army  bears 
to  the  pay  of  our  Officers. 

William  Tudor,  Esquire,  was  elected  Judge  Advocate 
of  the  Army. 

Resolved,  That  Michael  Hillegas  and  George  Clymer, 
Esquires,  be,  and  they  are  hereby  appointed  joint  Treasu- 
rers of  the  United  Colonies  ;  that  the  Treasurers  reside  in 
Philadelphia,  and  that  they  shall  give  bond,  with  surety, 
for  the  faithful  performance  of  their  office,  in  the  sum  of 
One  Hundred  Thousand  Dollars,  to  John  Hancock,  Henry 
Middleton,  John  Dickinson,  John  Alsop,  Thomas  Lynch, 
Richard  Henry  Lee,  and  James  Wilson,  Esquires,  and  the 
survivor  of  them,  in  trust  for  the  United  Colonies. 

That  the  Provincial  Assemblies  or  Conventions  do  each 
choose  a  Treasurer  for  their  respective  Colonies,  and  take 
sufficient  security  for  the  faithful  performance  of  the  trust. 

That  each  Colony  provide  ways  and  means  to  sink  its 
proportion  of  the  Bills  ordered  to  be  emitted  by  this  Con- 
gress, in  such  manner  as  may  be  most  effectual  and  best 
adapted  to  the  condition,  circumstances,  and  usual  mode  of 
levying  taxes  in  such  Colony. 

That  the  proportion  or  quota  of  each  Colony  be  deter- 
mined according  to  the  number  of  inhabitants,  of  all  ages, 
including  negroes  and  mulattoes  in  each  Colony;  but,  as 
this  cannot  at  present  be  ascertained,  that  the  quotas  of  the 
several  Colonies  be  settled,  for  the  present,  as  follows,  to 
undergo  a  revision  and  correction  when  the  list  of  each 
Colony  is  obtained : 


New-Hampshire, 

Massachusetts-Bay, 

Rhode-Island, 

Connecticut, 

New- York, 

New.Jersey, 

Pennsylvania, 


124,0694 
434,244 
71.959J 
248,139 
248,139 
161,2904 
372,2084 


Delaware, 

Maryland, 

Virginia, 

North.Carolina, 

South-Carolina, 


37,2194 
310,1744 
496,278 
248,139 
248,139 

3,000,000 


That  each  Colony  pay  its  respective  quota  in  four  equal 
annual  payments ;  the  first  payment  to  be  made  on  or  be- 
fore the  last  day  of  November,  which  will  be  in  the  year  of 
our  Lord,  1779 ;  the  second  on  or  before  the  last  day  of 
November,  1780;  the  third  on  or  before  the  last  day  of 
November,  1781  ;  and  the  fourth  and  last,  on  or  before  the 
last  day  of  November,  1782.  And  that  for  this  end  the 
several  Provincial  Assemblies  or  Conventions  provide  for 
laying  and  levying  Taxes  in  their  respective  Provinces  or 
Colonies,  towards  sinking  the  Continental  Bills ;  that  the 
said  Bills  be  received  by  the  Collectors  in  payment  of  such 
taxes,  and  be  by  the  said  Collectors  paid  into  the  hands  of 


1S99 


CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS,  JULY  31,  1775. 


1900 


the  Provincial  Treasurers,  with  all  such  other  moneys  as 
they  may  receive  in  lieu  of  the  Continental  Bills,  which 
other  moneys  the  said  Provincial  Treasurer  shall  endeavour 
to  get  exchanged  for  Continental  Bills ;  and  where  that 
cannot  be  done,  shall  send  to  the  Continental  Treasurers 
the  deficiency  in  silver  or  gold,  with  the  Bills  making  up 
the  quota  to  be  sunk  in  that  year,  taking  care  to  cut,  by  a 
circular  punch  of  an  inch  diameter,  a  hole  in  each  Bill,  and 
to  cross  the  same,  thereby  to  render  them  unpassable,  though 
the  sum  or  value  is  to  remain  fairly  legible.  And  the  Con- 
tinental Treasurers,  as  fast  as  they  receive  the  said  quotas, 
shall,  with  the  assistance  of  a  Committee  of  five  persons, 
to  be  appointed  by  the  Congress,  if  sitting,  or  by  the  As- 
sembly or  Convention  of  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania, 
examine  and  count  the  Continental  Bills,  and  in  the  pre- 
sence of  the  said  Committee,  burn  and  destroy  them.  And 
the  silver  and  gold  sent  them  to  make  up  the  deficiencies 
of  quotas,  they  shall  retain  in  their  hands  until  demanded 
in  redemption  of  Continental  Bills  that  may  be  brought  to 
them  for  that  purpose,  which  Bills  so  redeemed,  they  shall 
also  burn  and  destroy  in  presence  of  the  said  Committee. 
And  the  Treasurers,  whenever  they  have  silver  or  gold  in 
their  hands  for  the  redemption  of  Continental  Bills,  shall 
advertise  the  same,  signifying  that  they  are  ready  to  give 
silver  or  gold  for  such  Bills,  to  all  persons  requiring  it  in 
exchange. 

The  Provincial  Treasurers  and  Collectors  are  to  have 
such  allowances  for  their  respective  services,  as  shall  be 
directed  by  the  several  Assemblies  or  Conventions,  to  be 
paid  by  their  respective  Province  or  Colony. 

That  the  Continental  Treasurers  be  allowed  for  their 
service  this  year,  five  hundred  Dollars  each. 

Resolved,  That  the  Paymaster-General,  Commissary- 
General,  Quartermaster-General,  and  every  of  their  Depu- 
ties, shall  take  an  oath,  truly  and  faithfully  to  discharge  the 
duties  of  their  respective  stations. 

Ordered,  That  the  damaged  Powder  now  in  the  State- 
House,  be  delivered  to  the  Committee  of  the  City  and 
Liberties  of  Philadelphia,  to  be  made  fit  for  use. 

Ordered,  That  the  Continental  Treasurers  do  pay  to 
Colonel  William  Thompson,  or  his  order,  Five  Thousand 
Dollars  on  account,  being  by  advance  for  the  service  of  a 
Battalion  of  Riflemen  under  his  command. 

Resolved,  That  the  Congress  will,  as  soon  as  the  pub- 
lick  business  permits,  adjourn  to  the  5th  of  September 
next. 

Resolved,  That  this  Congress  will,  on  Monday  next, 
consider  of  the  state  of  Trade,  after  the  10th  of  next  Sep- 
tember. 

Mr.  McKean,  from  the  Committee,  reported  the  form 
of  a  Bond  to  be  given  by  the  Continental  Treasurers. 

Ordered,  That  the  said  Committee  do  inspect  into  the 
sufficiency  of  the  Sureties. 

Adjourned  till  Monday,  at  eight  o'clock. 

Monday,  July  31,  1775. 

The  Congress  met  according  to  adjournment. 

The  Congress  took  into  consideration  the  Report  of  the 
Committee  on  the  Resolve  of  the  House  of  Commons,  and 
the  same  being  debated  by  paragraphs,  was  agreed  to,  as 
follows: 

The  several  Assemblies  of  New- Jersey,  Pennsylvania, 
and  Virginia,  having  referred  to  the  Congress  a  Resolu- 
tion of  the  House  of  Commons  of  Great  Britain,  which 
Resolution  is  in  these  words : 

"Lunte,  20°  Die  Fob.  1775. 

"  The  House  in  a  Committee  on  the  American  Papers. 
Motion  made,  and  question  proposed : 

"  That  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  Committee,  that  when 
the  General  Council  and  Assembly,  or  General  Court  of 
any  of  his  Majesty's  Provinces  or  Colonies  in  America, 
shall  propose  to  make  provision,  according  to  the  condi- 
tion, circumstance,  or  situation  of  such  Province  or  Colony, 
lor  contributing  their  proportion  to  the  common  defence, 
(such  proportion  to  be  raised  under  the  authority  of  the 
General  Court,  or  General  Assembly  of  such  Province  or 
Colony,  and  disposable  by  Parliament,)  and  shall  engage 


to  make  provision  also,  for  the  support  of  the  civil  Govern- 
ment, and  the  administration  of  justice  in  such  Province  or 
Colony,  it  will  be  proper,  if  such  proposal  shall  be  approved 
by  His  Majesty  and  the  two  Houses  of  Parliament,  and  for 
so  long  as  such  provision  shall  be  made  accordingly,  to 
forbear  in  respect  to  such  Province  or  Colony,  to  lay  any 
duty,  tax,  or  assessment,  or  to  impose  any  fanher  duty, 
tax,  or  assessment,  except  only  such  duties  as  it  may  be 
expedient  to  continue  to  levy  or  impose,  for  the  regulation 
of  Commerce ;  the  nett  produce  or  the  duties  last  men- 
tioned, to  be  carried  to  the  account  of  such  Province  or 
Colony  respectively." 

The  Congress  took  the  said  Resolution  into  considera- 
tion, and  are  thereupon  of  opinion: 

That  the  Colonies  of  America  are  entitled  to  the  sole 
and  exclusive  privilege  of  giving  and  granting  their  own 
money;  that  this  involves  a  right  of  deliberating  whether 
they  will  make  any  gift,  for  what  purposes  it  shall  be  made, 
and  what  shall  be  its  amount;  and  that  it  is  a  high  breach 
of  this  privilege  for  any  body  of  men,  extraneous  to  their 
constitutions,  to  prescribe  the  purposes  for  which  money 
shall  be  levied  on  them,  to  take  to  themselves  the  authority 
of  judging  of  their  conditions,  circumstances,  and  situations, 
and  of  determining  the  amount  of  the  contribution  to  be 
levied. 

That  as  the  Colonies  possess  a  right  of  appropriating 
their  gifts,  so  are  they  entitled  at  all  times  to  inquire  into 
their  application,  to  see  that  they  be  not  wasted  among  the 
venal  and  corrupt  for  the  purpose  of  undermining  the  civil 
rights  of  the  givers,  nor  yet  be  diverted  to  the  support  of 
standing  armies,  inconsistent  with  their  freedom  and  sub- 
versive of  their  quiet.  To  propose,  therefore,  as  this  Re- 
solution does,  that  the  moneys  given  by  the  Colonies  shall 
be  subject  to  the  disposal  of  Parliament  alone,  is  to  pro- 
pose that  they  shall  relinquish  this  right  of  inquiry,  and  put 
it  in  the  power  of  others  to  render  their  gifts  ruinous,  in 
proportion  as  they  are  liberal. 

That  this  privilege  of  giving  or  of  withholding  our 
moneys,  is  an  important  barrier  against  the  undue  exertion 
of  prerogative,  which,  if  left  altogether  without  control, 
may  be  exercised  to  our  great  oppression  ;  and  all  history 
shows  how  efficacious  is  its  intercessions  for  redress  of 
grievances  and  re-establishment  of  rights,  and  how  impro- 
vident it  would  be  to  part  with  so  powerful  a  mediator. 

We  are  of  opinion  that  the  proposition  contained  in  this 
Resolution  is  unreasonable  and  insidious:  unreasonable, 
because,  if  we  declare  we  accede  to  it,  we  declare  without 
reservation  we  will  purchase  the  favour  of  Parliament,  not 
knowing  at  the  same  time  at  what  price  they  will  please  to 
estimate  their  favour.  It  is  insidious,  because,  individual 
Colonies  having  bid  and  bidden  again,  till  they  find  the 
avidity  of  the  seller  too  great  for  all  their  powers  to  satisfy, 
are  then  to  return  into  opposition,  divided  from  their  sister 
Colonies  whom  the  Minister  will  have  previously  detached 
by  a  grant  of  easier  terms,  or  by  an  artful  procrastination 
of  a  definitive  answer. 

That  the  suspension  of  the  exercise  of  their  pretended 
power  of  taxation,  being  expressly  made  commensurate 
with  the  continuance  of  our  gifts,  these"  must  be  perpetual 
to  make  that  so.  Whereas,  no  experience  has  shown  that 
a  gift  of  perpetual  revenue  secures  a  perpetual  return  of 
duty  or  of  kind  disposition.  On  the  contrary,  the  Parlia- 
ment itself,  wisely  attentive  to  this  observation,  are  in  the 
established  practice  of  granting  their  Supplies  from  year  to 
year  only. 

Desirous  and  determined  as  we  are,  to  consider  in  the 
most  dispassionate  view  every  seeming  advance  towards  a 
reconciliation  made  by  the  British  Parliament,  let  our 
brethren  of  Britain  reflect  what  would  have  been  the 
sacrifice  to  men  of  free  spirits,  had  even  fair  terms  been 
proffered,  as  these  insidious  proposals  were,  with  circum- 
stances of  insult  and  defiance.  A  proposition  to  give  our 
money,  accompanied  with  large  fleets  and  armies,  seems 
addressed  to  our  fears  rather  than  to  our  freedom.  With 
what  patience  would  Britons  have  received  articles  of  treaty 
from  any  power  on  earth  when  borne  on  the  point  of  the 
bayonet  by  military  plenipotentiaries? 

We  think  the  attempt  unnecessary  to  raise  upon  us  by 
force  or  by  threats  our  proportional  contributions  to  the 
common  defence,  when  all  know,  and  themselves  acknow- 


1901 


CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS,  AUGUST  1,  1775. 


1902 


ledge,  we  have  fully  contributed  whenever  called  upon  to 
do  so  in  the  character  of  freemen. 

We  are  of  opinion  it  is  not  just  that  the  Colonies  should 
be  required  to  oblige  themselves  to  other  contributions, 
while  Great  Britain  possesses  a  monopoly  of  their  trade. 
This  of  itself  lays  them  under  heavy  contribution.  To 
demand,  therefore,  additional  aids  in  the  form  of  a  tax,  is 
to  demand  the  double  of  their  equal  proportion  ;  if  we  are 
to  contribute  equally  with  the  other  parts  of  the  Empire, 
let  us  equally  with  them  enjoy  free  commerce  with  the 
whole  world.  But  while  the  restrictions  on  our  trade  shut 
to  us  the  resources  of  wealth,  is  it  just  we  should  bear  all 
other  burdens  equally  with  those  to  whom  every  resource 
is  open  ? 

We  conceive  that  the  British  Parliament  has  no  right 
to  intermeddle  with  our  provisions  lor  the  support  of  civil 
Government  or  administration  of  justice.  The  provisions 
we  have  made  are  such  as  please  ourselves,  and  are  agree- 
able to  our  own  circumstances;  they  answer  the  substan- 
tial purposts  of  Government  and  of  justice,  and  other  pur- 
poses than  these  should  not  be  answered.  We  do  not 
mean  that  our  people  shall  be  burdened  with  oppres- 
sive taxes,  to  provide  sinecures  for  the  idle  or  the  wicked 
under  colour  of  providing  lor  a  civil  list.  While  Parlia- 
ment pursue  their  plan  of  civil  Government  within  their 
own  jurisdiction,  we  also  hope  to  pursue  ours  without 
molestation. 

We  are  of  opinion  the  proposition  is  altogether  unsatis- 
factory, because  it  imports  only  a  suspension  of  the  mode, 
not  a  renunciation  of  the  pretended  right  to  tax  us.  Be- 
cause, too,  it  does  not  propose  to  repeal  the  several  acts  of 
Parliament  passed  for  the  purposes  of  restraining  the  Trade, 
and  altering  the  form  of  Government  of  one  of  our  Colo- 
nies ;  extending  the  boundaries  and  changing  the  Govern- 
ment of  Quebeck ;  enlarging  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Courts 
of  Admiralty  and  Vice-Admiralty  ;  taking  from  us  the  right 
of  trial  by  a  jury  of  the  vicinage,  in  cases  affecting  both 
life  and  property;  transporting  us  into  other  countries  to 
be  tried  tor  criminal  offences;  exempting,  by  mock  trial, 
the  murderers  of  Colonists  from  punishment ;  and  quarter- 
ing soldiers  on  us  in  times  of  profound  peace.  Nor  do 
tliey  renounce  the  power  of  suspending  our  own  Legisla- 
tures, and  for  legislating  for  us  themselves  in  all  cases 
whatsoever.  On  the  contrary,  to  show  they  mean  no  dis- 
continuance of  injury,  they  pass  acts  at  the  very  time  of 
holding  out  this  proposition,  for  restraining  the  Commerce 
and  Fisheries  of  the  Provinces  of  New- England ,  and  for 
interdicting  the  trade  of  other  Colonies  with  all  foreign 
Nations  and  with  each  other.  This  proves,  unequivocally, 
they  mean  not  to  relinquish  the  exercise  of  indiscriminate 
legislation  over  us. 

Upon  the  whole,  this  proposition  seems  to  have  been 
held  up  to  the  world  to  deceive  it  into  a  belief,  that  there 
was  nothing  in  dispute  between  us  but  the  mode  of  levying 
taxes;  and  that  the  Parliament  having  now  been  so  good 
as  to  give  up  this,  the  Colonies  are  unreasonable  if  not 
perfectly  satisfied:  Whereas,  in  truth,  our  adversaries  still 
claim  a  right  of  demanding  ad  libitum,  and  of  taxing  us 
themselves  to  the  full  amount  of  their  demand  if  we  do 
comply  with  it.  This  leaves  us  without  any  thing  we  can 
call  property.  But  what  is  of  more  importance,  and  what 
in  this  proposal  they  keep  out  of  sight  as  if  no  such  point 
was  now  in  contest  between  us,  they  claim  a  right  to  alter 
our  Charters  and  establish  laws,  and  leave  us  without  any 
security  for  our  lives  or  liberties.  The  proposition  seems 
also  to  have  been  calculated  more  particularly  to  lull  into 
fatal  security  our  well-affected  fellow-subjects  on  the  other 
side  the  water,  till  time  should  be  given  for  the  operation 
of  those  arms  which  a  British  Minister  pronounced  would 
instantaneously  reduce  the  "cowardly"  sons  of  America  to 
unreserved  submission.  But  when  the  world  reflects  how 
inadequate  to  justice  are  these  vaunted  terms ;  when  it 
attends  to  the  rapid  and  bold  succession  of  injuries,  which, 
during  the  course  of  eleven  years,  have  been  aimed  at  these 
Colonies;  when  it  reviews  the  pacifick  and  respectful  ex- 
postulations, which,  during  that  whole  time,  were  the  sole 
arms  we  opposed  to  them;  when  it  observes  that  our  com- 
plaints were  either  not  heard  at  all,  or  were  answered  with 
new  and  accumulated  injuries ;  when  it  recollects  that  the 
Minister  himself,  on  an  early  occasion,  declared  "that  he 


would  never  treat  with  America  till  he  had  brought  her  to 
his  feet;"  and  that  an  avowed  partisan  of  Ministry  has 
more  lately  denounced  against  us  the  dreadful  sentence, 
"  delenda  est  Carthago ,"  that  this  was  done  in  the  pre- 
sence of  a  British  Senate,  and  being  unreproved  by  them, 
must  be  taken  to  be  their  own  sentiment,  (especially  as  the 
purpose  has  already  in  part  been  carried  into  execution,) 
by  their  treatment  of  Boston  and  burning  of  Charlestown; 
when  it  considers  the  great  armaments  with  which  they 
have  invaded  us,  and  the  circumstances  of  cruelty  with 
which  they  have  commenced  and  prosecuted  hostilities ; 
when  these  things,  we  say,  are  laid  together  and  attentively 
considered,  can  the  world  be  deceived  into  an  opinion  that 
we  are  unreasonable,  or  can  it  hestitate  to  believe  with  us 
that  nothing  but  our  own  exertions  may  defeat  the  Minis- 
terial sentence  of  death  or  abject  submission. 

On  motion  made,  Resolved,  That  Mr.  Langdon,  Mr. 
.7.  Adams,  Mr.  Hopkins,  Mr.  Deane,  Mr.  Clinton,  Mr. 
Crane,  Doctor  Franklin,  Mr.  Rodney,  Mr.  Johnson,  Mr. 
Henry,  Mr.  Hewes,  Mr.  Gadsden,  and  Mr.  Hall,  be  a 
Committee  in  the  recess  of  Congress  to  make  inquiry  in 
all  the  Colonies  after  virgin  Lead  and  Leaden  Ore,  and 
the  best  methods  of  collecting,  smelting,  and  refining  it. 

Resolved,  That  the  above  named  gentlemen  be  a  Com- 
mittee in  the  recess  of  Congress,  to  inquire  into  the 
cheapest  and  easiest  methods  of  making  Salt  in  these 
Colonies. 

Agreeable  to  the  Order  of  the  Day,  the  Congress  took 
under  consideration  the  state  of  Trade  after  the  10th  of 
September,  and  after  some  debate  the  same  was  postponed 
to  a  future  day. 

On  motion  made,  Resolved,  That  when  the  Congress 
adjourns  for  recess,  it  be  adjourned  to  meet  at  Phila- 
delphia. 

Two  Petitions  were  laid  before  the  Congress  respecting 
disputes  between  the  people  of  Connecticut  and  Penn- 
sylvania, on  Lands  lying  on  the  waters  of  Susquehanna ; 
and  the  same  being  read, 

Ordered,  To  lie  on  the  table  for  the  perusal  of  the 
Members. 

Two  Petitions,  one  from  sundry  Merchants  in  New-  York, 
and  the  other  from  sundry  Merchants  in  Philadelphia,  re- 
specting the  sale  of  Teas  imported  before  the  Association, 
were  laid  before  the  Congress. 
Ordered,  To  lie  on  the  table. 

Adjourned  till  to-morrow,  at  eight  o'clock. 

Tuesday,  August  1,  1775. 

Met  according  to  adjournment. 

Resolved,  That  the  sum  of  Five  Hundred  Thousand  Dol- 
lars be  immediately  forwarded  from  the  Continental  Trea- 
sury to  the  Paymaster-General,  to  be  applied  to  the  use  of 
the  Army  in  Massachusetts-Bay,  in  such  manner  as  Gen- 
eral Washington,  or  the  Commander-in-Chief  for  the  time 
being,  by  his  warrants  shall  limit  and  appoint ;  and  if  the 
above  sum  shall  be  expended  before  the  next  meeting 
of  the  Congress,  then,  that  General  Washington,  or  the 
Commander-in-Chief  for  the  time  being,  be  empowered  to 
draw  upon  the  Continental  Treasury,  for  the  sum  of  Two 
Hundred  Thousand  Dollars  in  favour  of  the  Paymaster- 
General,  to  be  applied  for  the  use  and  in  the  manner 
above  mentioned. 

Ordered,  That  the  Delegates  for  Pe7insylvania  be  a 
Committee  to  receive  and  count  the  above  sum  of  Five 
Hundred  Thousand  Dollars,  and  forward  the  same,  under 
the  care  of  the  Delegates  of  Massachusetts- Bay,  provided 
so  much  is  now  ready  in  the  Treasury.  If  that  is  not  the 
case,  then  to  receive,  count,  and  forward  by  the  said  Dele- 
gates what  is  ready,  and  the  remainder  by  the  first  oppor- 
tunity, in  the  safest  and  best  manner. 

Resolved,  That  a  sum  not  exceeding  One  Hundred  and 
Seventy-five  Thousand  Dollars  be  paid  to  the  Provincial 
Convention  of  JVew-  York,  to  be  applied  towards  the  dis- 
charge of  the  moneys  advanced  and  the  debts  contracted 
for  the  publick  service,  by  the  said  Provincial  Convention 
and  the  Committee  of  Albany,  in  pursuance  of  the  direc- 
tions of  this  Congress ;  and  that  the  said  Provincial  Con- 


1903 


CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS,  AUGUST  1,  1775. 


1904 


vention  account  to  this  Congress  at  their  next  meeting  for 
the  application  of  the  said  money. 

Resolved,  That  the  Treasurers  he,  and  they  are  herehy 
ordered  to  pay  to  the  Delegates  of  the  Colony  of  Connecti- 
cut, viz.  Eliphalet  Dyer,  Roger  Sherman,  and  Silas  Deanc, 
Esquires,  the  sum  of  Fifty  Thousand  Dollars,  to  be  by  them 
paid  unto  the  Governour  and  Company  of  the  said  Colony, 
in  part  of  the  sums  by  them  disbursed  in  the  Continental 
service ;  the  said  Governour  and  Company  to  account 
therefor. 

Resolved,  That  the  sum  of  One  Hundred  Thousand  Dol- 
lars be  immediately  forwarded  from  the  Continental  Trea- 
sury to  the  Paymaster-General,  to  be  applied  to  the  use  of 
the  Army  in  the  New-York  Department,  in  such  manner  as 
General  Schuyler,  by  his  warrant,  shall  limit  and  appoint; 
and  that  if  the  above  sum  shall  be  expended  before  the 
next  meeting  of  Congress,  then  that  General  Schuyler,  or 
the  Commander-in-Chief  for  the  time  being,  in  that  depart- 
ment, be  empowered  to  draw  upon  the  Continental  Trea- 
sury for  a  further  sum,  not  exceeding  Two  Hundred  Thou- 
sand Dollars,  to  be  applied  for  the  use  and  in  the  manner 
above  mentioned. 

Resolved,  That  the  sum  of  Sixteen  Thousand  Dollars  be 
paid  to  the  Delegates  of  the  Colony  of  Pennsylvania,  in 
full  for  the  like  sum  by  them  borrowed  by  order  of  the 
Congress,  on  the  third  of  June  last,  for  the  use  of  the 
Continent. 

Resolved,  That  the  sum  of  Two  Hundred  and  Ninety- 
Three  Dollars  be  paid  to  the  Delegates  of  South- Carolina, 
for  the  expense  and  freight  of  transporting  a  quantity  of 
Powder  from  South- Carolina  to  this  place,  by  order  of  the 
Congress. 

Resolved,  That  the  sum  of  Ten  Thousand  Dollars  be 
placed  in  the  hands  of  the  Delegates  of  Pennsylvania,  or 
any  three  of  them,  for  contingent  services,  and  that  out  of 
the  same  be  paid  the  expenses  incurred  for  raising  and 
arming  the  Rifle  Companies,  and  for  Expresses  and  other 
small  charges,  of  which  the  Congress  have  not  been  able 
to  procure  exact  accounts ;  and  that  the  said  Committee 
do  lay  before  the  Congress,  at  their  next  meeting,  an  ac- 
count of  their  proceeding  in  that  matter. 

Resolved,  That  out  of  the  Powder  belonging  to  the 
Continent  now  in  this  City,  five  tons  be  sent  to  General 
Washington,  in  the  speediest  and  safest  manner,  by  the 
Delegates  of  the  Colony  of  Pennsylvania. 

That  out  of  the  next  that  arrives,  the  Delegates  of 
New-Jersey  be  allowed  to  purchase  one  thousand  pounds 
for  the  use  of  the  western  parts  of  their  Colony ;  and  that 


the  Delegates  of  the  lower  Counties  on  Delaware,  be 
allowed  to  purchase  one  thousand  pounds  for  the  use  of 
said  Counties. 

That  out  of  the  same  parcel  the  quantity  of  one  ton  be 
reserved  for  North-Carolina,  to  be  lodged  in  the  Magazine 
of  New-  York,  and  delivered  to  the  order  of  the  Speaker 
of  the  Assembly,  or  President  of  the  Convention  of  North- 
Carolina,  provided  the  necessity  of  General  Washington 
and  General  Schuyler  will  admit. 

The  Congress  resumed  the  consideration  of  the  Petitions 
respecting  the  disputes  between  the  people  of  Connecticut 
and  Pennsylvania,  and  after  some  debate, 

Resolved,  That  the  farther  consideration  of  this  matter 
be  referred  to  the  next  meeting  of  this  Congress. 

The  Congress  having  reconsidered  a  Resolve  passed  the 
11th  July,  respecting  the  employing  of  fifty  Hussars, 

Resolved,  That  the  Delegates  of  this  Province  be  de- 
sired not  to  proceed  in  executing  said  Resolve  ;  and  if  any 
Hussars  are  engaged  or  enlisted,  to  discharge  the  same  ; 
and  that  the  said  Delegates  settle  and  pay  any  expenses 
already  incurred  in  consequence  of  the  former  Resolve, 
and  report  their  proceeding  to  the  Congress  at  their  next 
meeting. 

Whereas,  at  a  former  Congress  it  was  resolved,  that  if 
certain  Acts  of  Parliament,  in  the  Continental  Association 
enumerated  and  complained  of,  should  not  be  repealed  on 
or  before  the  tenth  day  of  September,  1775,  the  inhabitants 
of  these  United  Colonies  would  not,  directly  or  indirectly, 
export  any  Merchandise  or  commodity  whatsoever  to  Great 
Britain,  Ireland,  or  the  West- Indies ;  and  as  some  doubts 
have  arisen  with  respect  to  the  true  spirit  and  construction 
of  said  Resolve,  to  the  end  that  such  doubts  may  be  re- 
moved : 

Resolved,  That  under  the  prohibition,  in  the  said  Asso- 
ciation contained,  to  export  to,  or  import  from  the  Islands 
of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  this  Congress  intends  to 
comprise  all  exportation  to,  or  importation  from  the  Islands 
of  Jersey,  Guernsey,  Sark,  Alderney,  and  Man,  and  every 
European  Island  and  Settlement  within  the  British  Domi- 
nions ;  and  that  under  the  denomination  of  the  West-Indies, 
this  Congress  means  to  comprehend  all  the  West-India 
Islands,  British  and  foreign,  to  whatever  State,  Power, 
or  Prince  belonging,  or  by  whomsoever  governed,  and 
also  the  Summer  Islands,  Bahama  Islands,  Berbicia  and 
Surinam  on  the  Main,  and  every  Island  and  Settlement 
within  the  latitude  of  the  southern  line  of  Georgia  and  the 
equator. 

Adjourned  to  Tuesday,  the  fifth  day  of  September  next. 


END  OF  THE  SECOND  VOLUME  OF  THE  FOURTH  SERIES. 

Washington,  October  16,  1839. 


INDEX. 


Adams,  John,  to  Elbridge  Gerry,  on  appointment  of 
General  Washington,  -  - 
Intercepted  Letters,  attributed  to  him, 
To  Josiah  Quincy,  .  - 

Adams,  Samuel,  Letter  to  a  Gentleman  in  Virginia, 
Letter  to  Richard  Henry  Lee, 
Su  pposed  object  of  In  vasion  of  Lexington  and 
Concord  to  seize  him,  (see  Letter  from 
London,  folio  386,)  - 
Excepted  from  pardon  in  General  Gage's 
Proclamation,     -       -       -       -  - 

Letter  to  Elbridge  Gerry,  introducing  Gen 
eral  Washington,  - 
Agents,  American,  in  London — 

William  Bollan,  Benj.  Franklin,  and  Arthur 
Lee — Their  Letter  to  Assembly  of  Dela- 
ware, ------ 

Circular  read  in  Continental  Congress, 
Letter  to  them  from  same,  - 
Apiew,  Reverend  John,  Proceedings  of  Nansemond 
County,  Virginia,       -       -       -  - 

Allen,  Ethan,  tries  and  punishes  Benjamin  Hough, 
Requested  to  assist  in  Attack  on  Ticonde- 

roga  and  Crown  Point,  - 
Captures  Ticonderoga,  -       -  - 

Letter  to  Merchants  of  Montreal, 
Letter  to  Northern  Indians,  enclosed  in  a 

Letter  to  Assembly  of  Connecticut, 
Letter  to  Continental  Congress, 
Letter  to  New- York  Congress,  proposing  Ex- 
pedition to  Canada,     -       -       -  - 

Letter  to  Governour  Trumbull,  1593, 
Letter  to  New- York  Provincial  Congress, 
Anny,  British,  Address  from  London, 

Commander-in-Chief,  his  Orders  supreme, 
Ten  thousand  Men  said  to  be  ordered  to 

America,  - 
Troops  arrive  at  Marblehead, 
Information  received  of  the  sailing  of  twelve 
thousand  Hessians,  and  that  General  Bur- 
goyne  was  to  sail  for  Quebeck, 
Publication  at  New- York  against  Standing 
Army,  -       -       -       -  - 

Exchange  of  Prisoners,  - 
Address  of  "  Sidney  "  to  the  Soldiers, 
Captain  Thompson's  information  respecting 

sailing  of  Transports  for  America,  - 
Captain  Jeffrey  on  the  same,    -       -  - 
Gen.  Gage's  Instructions  to  Captain  Camp- 
bell,   

Letter  from  Doctor  Benj.  Church  to  Major 
Kane,  ------ 

Army,  Continental,  Massachusetts  proposes  to  sur- 
render the  regulation  thereof  to  Conti- 
nental Congress,         -       -       -  - 

Officers  recommended  not  to  be  chosen  as 

Delegates  to  Massachusetts  Congress, 
Exchange  of  Prisoners,  ... 
Fifteen  thousand  Men  to  be  raised  by  Con- 
tinental Congress,  and  George  Washington 
to  command,      -       -       -  1016, 
Appointments  of  Officers,        -       -  - 
Five  thousand  Barrels  of  Flour  ordered  by 
Congress,  ------ 

General  Washington  to  Congress,  on  their 
position  at  Boston,      -       -       -  - 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii. 


1019 
1717 
1751 
16 
176 


-  428 


968 


-  1058 


127 
1824 
1877 

226 
215 

507 
606 
639 

713 

732 

904 
1649 
1695 
4 

337 

429 
462 


-  474 

881 
920 
1004 

1297 
1304 

-  1687 
1713 


620 

809 
920 


1848 
1114 

1293 


-  1667 


1687 
1850 
1851 
1853 
1856 
1893 
1897 


450 
485 

584 


1624 


Army,  Continental — 

Council  of  War  at  Cambridge,  Mass.,  9  July, 
1775 — General  Return  of  the  Army — In- 
structions to  the  Officers  of  Massachusetts 
— Orders  to  General  Washington,  -  1628-35 

Return  of  the  Army  under  General  Schuy 
ler,  1  July,  1775, 

Declaration  of  Continental  Congress,  setting 
forth  the  causes  and  necessity  of  taking 
up  Arms — Read  at  Cambridge, 

General  Officers  chosen,  - 

Instructions  to  General  Washington,  * 

Brigadier  Generals  appointed, 

Articles  of  War  enacted,         -       -  - 

Hospital  established,  - 

Pay  of  the  Army,  - 
Arms  and  Ammunition — Export  prohibited  by  the 

States  General,         ...  276-7 

Same  prohibited  by  British  Order  in  Council,  277 
Arnold,  Benedict,  to  Massachusetts  Committee  of 
Safety,  on  the  condition  of  Ticonderoga, 

&£C,  ------ 

Commission  as  Colonel  from  Massachusetts, 

Letter  to  Massachusetts  Committee  of  Safety, 
on  seizure  of  Crown  Point,  -       -  - 

Letter  to  same — List  of  Cannon,  &c,  at  Ti- 
conderoga and  Crown  Point,        -  645-6 

Letter  to  Massachusetts  Committee  of  Safety,  693, 

714,735 

Letter  from  Colonel  Henshavv,         -       -  724 

Letter  from  Massachusetts  Provincial  Con- 
gress,      -       -       -  676, 723,  1382 

Letter  from  Massachusetts  Committee  of 
Safety,  726 

Letter  to  Continental  Congress,        -       -  734, 

976,  1066,  1646 

Letter  to  Albany  Committee — to  Assembly 
of  Connecticut,  and  to  Captain  Noah  Lee, 
on  Ticonderoga,  &c,  -       839,  '40 

Letter  to  Provincial  Congress  of  New-York, 
with  a  requisition  for  Men,  &c, 

Letter  to  Governour  Trumbull  on  Canada, 

Instructions  of  Massachusetts  Congress  to 
their  Commissioners  at  Ticonderoga, 

Letter  from  Governour  Trumbull, 

Controversy  on  Capture  of  Ticonderoga,  1085-8 

Dispute  with  Colonel  Hinman,  and  resigna- 
tion of  his  Commission,  ... 

Disrespect  to  the  Committee  of  Massachu- 
setts, and  his  mutinous  conduct, 

Crown  Point  Committee  to  Massachusetts 
Committee  on  the  above  conduct,  with 
the  papers,         -  1596-1600 

Letter  to  Continental  Congress  on  Forces 
at  St.  John's,  - 
Atkinson,  Theodore,  Secretary  of  New-Hampshire, 
from  Governour  Wentworth, 

Letter  to  New-Hampshire  Congress  on  de- 
livery of  Provincial  Records, 

Letter  to  Gov.  Wentworth  on  the  same, 
Auchmuty,  Rev.  Samuel,  Letter  to  Capt.  Montressor, 

Notice  of  the  above  at  Salem, 
Babcock,  Adam,  to  Governour  Trumbull, 
Baldwin,  Loammi,  to  General  Washington,  -    1748,  '54 
Bank  Notes,  or  Bills  of  Credit  of  Maryland  and 

Pennsylvania  counterfeited  in  Germany,     -  178 


.  '41 

847 
977 

986 
1026 


1540 


1592 


1840 

-  1541 

1600 
1601 
349 
350 
371 


120 


1907 


LNDEX. 


190S 


Barclay,  David,  meets  Doctor  Franklin  on  Ame- 
rican Affairs,         -       -       -       -       -  181 

Bayard,  Samuel,  for  self  and  others,  praying  the 
Commissioners  for  Trade  and  Plantations  to 
put  them  in  possession  of  a  Tract  of  Land 
called  Westenhook  Patent,  in  the  Province 
of  New-York,       .....  135 

Bills  of  Credit — 

Issued  by  New-Hampshire,  -  -  659,  1182 
Ordered  by  Massachusetts,  and  to  be  received 

without  discount,  -  815 
Issued  by  Rhode-Island,  -  1147,1161 
Issued  by  Pennsylvania,  -  116S,  1770 

Issued  by  Mass.  Committee  of  Safety,  -  1365 
Proceedings  on  in  Massachusetts  Congress,  1390, 

1391,  1458,  '91 

Certificates  issued  by  Georgia,         -       -  1551 
Issued  by  Connecticut  Assembly,      -       -  1584 
Issued  by  Continental  Congress,       -       -  1854 
Bollan,  William,  Agent  in  London,  Letter  to  the 

Assembly  of  Delaware,  -       -       -  127 

Boston,  Address  at,  signed  "  Phileirene,"  100,  286,324 
Answer  to  the  above,  ...  -  229 
"  A  Converted  Whig  "  to  the  Printers  of  the 

Massachusetts  Gazette,        ...  103 
Farther  Supplies  recommended  from  Con- 
necticut, .....  107 
Letter  from  to  New- York,  on  Doctor  War- 
ren's Oration,  -       -       -       -  120 
Town-Meeting  —  Committee  of  Correspon- 
dence to  make  statement  of  behaviour  of 
the  British  Army  and  Navy,         -       -  130 
Committee  of  Inspection  excuse  Simon  Tufts 

for  selling  Tea  to  Thomas  Lilly,  -  234 

Letter  from  John  Brown  to  Committee  on 

Canada,  &c,  -----  243 
Anonymous  Communication  for  Rivington's 

Paper,  284 

Donations  from  Yorktown,  Pennsylvania,  -  320 
Anonymous  Publications  at  -  16,  37,  340 
Attack  on  Lexington  and  Concord,  -  359-64 
Committee  of  Safety  to  the  Inhabitants  on 

the  Amnesty  of  General  Gage,     -       -  374 
Same  to  Doctor  Joseph  Warren  on  same  sub- 
ject,  374 

Agreement  between  Inhabitants  and  General 
Gage,       ------  375 

John  Hancock  to  Committee,  -  384 
Oliver  Prescott  to  the  same,     ...  385 
Committee  to  Committee  of  Safety  of  Mas- 
sachusetts,       ....  391,424 

Selectmen  from  Committee  of  Safety,       -  424 
Town-Meeting — Gen.  Robertson  from  Gen. 

Gage — Inhabitants  permitted  to  remove,  425 
Committee  to  Doctor  Joseph  Warren,     446,  461 
Brunswick  Committee  to  Committee  of  Cor- 
respondence,     -  502 
Committee  of  Donations  from  W.  Jones  of 
Georgia,    -       -       -       -       -  -871 

Bunker's  Hill — Engagement  of  17  June,  1775,    -  1018 
Farther  account  thereof,  ...  1036 

Massachusetts  Congress  to  Continental  Con- 
gress on  same,  ....  1039 

Publication  at  Cambridge  on  same,    -       -  1062 
General  Folsom  to  New-Hampshire  Com- 
mittee of  Safety,  same,        ...  1063 
Letter  of  Isaac  Lothrop,         ...  1089 
Letters  to  London,         ...  1092-3 
General  Burgoyne  to  Lord  Stanley,  -       -  1094 
Observations  on  the  above,      -  1095 
General  Gage  to  Lord  Dartmouth,  with  a 
List  of  Killed  and  Wounded,  and  Obser- 
vations thereon,  -       -  1097,1102 
General  Gage  to  Lord  Dunmore,      -       -  1107 
Officers  in  Army — Letters  to  Philadelphia,  1118 
Massachusetts  Committee  of  Safety — their 

Account,   1373 

Massachusetts  Congress  to  Continental  Con- 
gress,  1429 

Albany  Committee  to  Massachusetts  Con- 
gress,      ......  1454 


Bunker's  Hill — 

Virginia  Delegate  to  a  Gentleman  in  Wil- 

liamsburgh,        .....  1573 
Account  by  General  Washington — Position 
of  the  Army,  and  List  of  Killed  and 
Wounded,         ....  1624-28 
Burr,  Aaron,  and  Matthew  Ogden,  introduced  to 

General  Washington,  -       -       -       -  1689 
Burgoyne,  Gen. — Address  at  Philadelphia,  signed 

"  A  Pennsylvanian."  -       -  910,1008 

Letter  from  General  Charles  Lee,  -  -  925 
Letter  to  Lord  Stanley  on  Battle  of  Bunker's 

Hill,  1094 

Remarks  on  the  above,  -  -  -  -  1095 
Letter  to  General  Charles  Lee,  -  1503, 1610 
Massachusetts  Congress  on  Letter  from  to 

General  Lee,  -  -  -  -  -  1638 
Letter  from  General  C.  Lee,  -       -  1638 

Remarks  of  "  An  Old  Man  "  on  above,     -  1639 
"  A  Countryman  "  to  General  Burgoyne,  -  1641 
Bradford,  W.     T.,  to  Printers  of  a  Publick  Paper 

in  London,        -       -       -       -       -  160S 
Breioer,  Jonathan,  petitions  Massachusetts  Congress 
for  permission  to  enter  Canada  with  five 
hundred  Volunteers,  ...  462 

Brockenbrough,  Austin,  proceedings  against  by  Com- 
mittee of  King  George  County,  Virginia,  -  337 
Brown,  John,  to  Committee  of  Correspondence,  Bos- 
ton, on  Affairs  in  Canada,  &&c,     -       -  243 
Taken  Prisoner,         -       -       -    421, 430 
Canada — 

Letter  on  Address  of  Continental  Congress,  231 
John  Brown's  Letter  to  Committee  of  Bos- 
ton,  243 

Committee  of  Montreal  to  the  Massachusetts 

Committee  of  Safety,  ...  305 

Intercepted  Letter,  signed  A.  Mabane,  to 

Colonel  Philip  Skene,  -  -  -  402 
New  Commission  to  Guy  Carleton,  Govern- 

our  of  Quebeck,  ...  -  403 
Remarks  on  Govemour's  Commission,  -  425 
Ethan  Allen  to  Merchants  of  Montreal,  on 

Ticonderoga  and  Indians,  ...  639 
Account  of  the  taking  of  St.  John's,  -  686 
Proceedings  of  Continental  Congress  thereon,  706 
Massachusetts  Congress  respecting  Embas- 
sy to,  804 
Expedition  against  proposed  by  Ethan  Allen,  891 
New- York  Provincial  Congress  to  Inhabi- 
tants of  Quebeck,  ...  -  893 
New-Hampshire  Congress  to  Massachusetts 

Congress,  .....  902 

Ethan  Allen  to  Inhabitants,  ...  904 
James  Easton  to  Massachusetts  Congress,  -  919 
Ethan  Allen  to  Massachusetts  Congress,  -  939 
Proclamation  by  Governour  Carleton,  -  940 
Stockbridge  Indians  to  Caughnawagas,  -  1002 
Governour  Trumbull  to  Massachusetts  Con- 
gress on  Indians  and  Canadian  Noblesse,  1026 
Bucknam  and  Wales  to  Colonels  Bailey  and 

Hurd,  1041 

Albany  Committee  to  Continental  Congress,  1048 
Andrew  Gilman  appointed  honorary  Lieuten- 
ant by  Massachusetts  Congress,    -  1090,  1444 
English  Merchants  to  General  Carleton,     -  1125 
Provincial  Congress  of  New- York  to  the 

Merchants,  1294 

Proceedings  of  Massachusetts  Provincial  Con- 
gress, 1395 
Reverend  Doctor  Wheelock  to  New-Hamp- 
shire Congress,   -       -       -       -  -1541 
Brook  Watson  to  New- York  Congress,     -  157  ( 
Correspondence  of  Governour  Trumbull  and 

General  Schuyler,  -  -  -  -  1594 
Letter  from  Montreal  to  a  Gentleman  in  Eng. 

land,  1623 

Examination  of  Garret  Roseboom  before  Al- 
bany Committee,        ....  1670 
Continental  Congress  to  Inhabitants,  -       -  1838 
Letter  from  Colonel  Arnold  on  preparations 
against  Ticonderoga,   -       -       -       -  1840 


1909 


INDEX. 


1910 


Commons,  House  of,  (See  Parliament.) 

Concord,  attempted  march  upon  from  Boston,       -  253 

Attack  by  the  British,     ...  359-64 

Expresses  to  the  South — their  course  to 
Charlestown,  South-Carolina,       -  365-9 

Detailed  Statement  of  Attack  by  British  on 
19  April,  1775,  with  List  of  Killed  and 
Wounded,         ....  391-3 

Accounts  from  Worcester  and  Williamsburgh, 
and  Intercepted  British  Letters  on  Attack 
of  Lexington  and  Concord,         -  436—41 

Provincial  Congress  of  Massachusetts  trans- 
mil  Depositions  to  Continental  Congress 
concerning  the  Attack,        -       -     486,  501 

Reverend  William  Gordon's  Account  of  At- 
tack,       ......  625 

Committee  appointed  to  take  Depositions 
thereon,  -       -       -       -       -  765 

Narrative  and  Depositions  ordered  to  be  pub- 
lished by  Massachusetts  Congress,         -  813 

London  Constitutional  Society  Subscription 
for  Sufferers,      -       -       -       -       .  921 

British  Account  of  Attack,      ...  945 

Strictures  on  Gazette  account  at  London,   -  948 

Massachusetts  Congress  and  Committee  of 
Safety  Proceedings,  -       -       -  1028 

Congress,  Continental — 

Address  against  choosing  Delegates,  at  New- 
York,       -       -       -  44,51 

Lord  Dunmore's  Proclamation  against  elec- 
tion of  Delegates,       ....  236 

Georgia  Delegates — Reasons  for  not  attend- 
ing,  279 

Westchester  Borough,  New- York,  declines 
to  choose  Delegates,  ...  282 

White  Plains,  New- York — Invitation  to  meet 
and  vote  against,        ....  282 

Letter  from  Provincial  Congress  of  Massa- 
chusetts, enclosing  Copies  of  Depositions 
sent  to  London — Address  to  Inhabitants  of 
Great  Britain,  and  Letter  to  B.  Franklin, 
Colony  Agent,  concerning  affair  at  Lex- 
ington and  Concord,  -       -  486-501 

Petition  from  Ridgebury  to  Governour  of 
Connecticut,       -----  536 

Hartford, Connecticut, on  Post-Offices — Per- 
sons appointed  to  receive  and  forward 
Letters — Post-Riders,  Sec,  -       -  536 

New- York  Committee — Account  of  Capture 
of  Ticonderoga,  -  605 

Recommendation  to  New- York  Committee 
concerning  British  Troops,  -       -  618 

Massachusetts  Congress  on  the  state  of  the 
Army,       ------  620 

Provincial  Congress  of  New-Hampshire  to 
their  Delegates,         ...  695, 894-5 

Proceedings  respecting  Canada,        -       -  706 

Massachusetts  Congress  with  Letter  from 
Colonel  Arnold,         -  721 

Condition  of  New-Hampshire  stated  by  their 
Delegates,         -----  725 

William  Gilliland  on  state  of  Ticonderoga 
and  Crown  Point,       -       -       -       -  731 

Letter  from  Ethan  Allen,         ...  732 

Letter  from  Benedict  Arnold,  734, 976, 1066, 1646 

Massachusetts  Congress  appoint  Committee 
to  confer  on  subject  of  Civil  Government,  801 

Letter  from  James  Rivington,  -       -  836 

Letter  to  New- York  Committee,  enclosing 
Resolutions,       -----  844 

New- York  Congress  to  their  Delegates,     -  873 
956,  975,  984,  1802  '4  '5 

New- York  Committee  on  James  Rivington,  899 

Elbridge  Gerry  to  Massachusetts  Delegates,  905 
Letter  from  General  Ward  and  others,       -  906 
Letter  from  Provincial  Congress  of  New- 
York,       -         931,  983,  1017,  1255,  1734 
Governour  Trumbull  to  President,  -  940, 

1035,  1067,  1106,  1606 
President  to  New- York  Congress,    -       -  954, 

1076,  1132, 1673 


Congress,  Continental — ■ 

New- York  Delegates  to  Provincial  Congress,  954, 
1016,  1137,  1591,  1674,  1752 
President  to  Massachusetts  Congress,    955,  1000 
Same  to  New-Hampshire  Congress,  -  956,  1034 
Letter  from  Council  of  Officers  on  Ticonde- 
roga and  Crown  Point,        ...  957 
Letter  from  Massachusetts  Congress,        -  959, 
970,  1039,  1503,  1616 
Delegates  from  New-Hampshire  to  their  Pro- 
vincial Congress,        -       -       -       -  1 035 
Letter  from  Albany  Committee,       -       -  1048 
Proposed  Vindication  and  offer  to  Parliament 
drawn  up  in  a  Committee,  25th  of  June, 
1775,        ...  -  1081-4 

Letter  from  General  Washington,      -       -  1084, 
1085,  1624,  1705  '10'  36 
Army  Officers  appointed,        -       -       -  1114 
Committee  of  Massachusetts  Congress,      -  1120 
Letter  from  General  Schuyler.         -       -  1123, 
1133,  '37,  1530,  '35,  '36,  1645,  '65,  '69, 
1702,  '29,  '34,  '45,  '60 
Letter  from  General  Ward,      ...  1140 
Yorktown  Committee  to  Pennsylvania  Dele- 
gates, 1524 
Letter  from  Walter  Spooner  on  Ticonderoga 

and  Canada,      ....  1539-41 
South-Carolina  Delegates  from  Charlestown 

Committee,  enclosing  intercepted  Letters,  1567 
Letter  from  Governour  of  Rhode-Island,    -  1572 
New-Hampshire  Delegates  from  N.  Hamp- 
shire Committee  of  Safety,          -       -  1612 
Letter  from  New-Hampshire  Congress,      -  1613 
Letter  from  General  Washington,  with  a  true 
Account  of  the  British  Troops  killed  and 
wounded  at  Charlestown,  he,       -       -  1659 
Letter  from  Elisha  Phelps,  Commissary,    -  1700 
Letter  to  New-Hampshire  Provincial  Con- 
gress,  1711 

Letter  from  General  Wooster,  -  -  -  1711 
Letter  from  New-York  Committee  of  Safety,  1719 
To  the  People  of  Virginia  and  Pennsylva- 
nia, from  their  Delegates,  -  1723 
New- York  Committee  of  Safety  to  the  De- 
legates, -  -  -  1780,  '84, '93,  '97 
Congress  convenes  at  Philadelphia,  10  May, 

1775,   1819 

Doors  to  be  kept  shut — Proceedings  secret — 
Circular  Letter  from  Agents  in  London, 
1824 — Letter  from  Massachusetts  Con- 
gress—  Lyman  Hall  Delegate  from  St. 
John's  Parish,  Georgia — Timothy  Matlack 
appointed  Clerk — Henry  Ward,  Delegate 
from  Rhode-Island — Resolution  respect- 
ing Troops  expected  at  New- York — Ex- 
portation to  British  Provinces  prohibited 
— Resolutions  concerning  Ticonderoga, 
he. — Members  present  at  Philadelphia, 
19  May,  1775,  (vide  Note,  page  1834)— 
Peyton  Randolph,  President,  vacates  the 
Chair,  and  John  Hancock  appointed — 
Resolutions  on  state  of  America — Resolu- 
tions of  House  of  Commons,  20  February, 
1775 — Resolutions  for  defence  of  New- 
York — Letter  to  Inhabitants  of  Canada — 
Committee  on  Post-Office  —  Paper  pro- 
duced, said  to  be  from  Lord  North — Let- 
ter from  Colonel  Arnold  on  Ticonderoga, 
&c. — Resolution  on  Canada — Letter  from 
the  Massachusetts  Provincial  Congress — 
Twelve  United  Colonies,  1844 — Resolu- 
tion on  Government  of  Massachusetts- 
Bay — George  Washington  appointed  Ge- 
neral and  Commander-in-Chief,  1848 — 
Army  Officers  increased — Brigadier-Ge- 
nerals appointed — North-Carolina  autho- 
rized to  raise  Troops — General  Schuyler 
ordered  to  Ticonderoga — Articles  of  War 
— Declaration  of  the  causes  and  necessity 
of  taking  up  Arms,  1865 — Letter  to  the 
Lord  Mayor,  he,  of  London — Petition  to 


1911 


INDEX. 


1912 


the  King,  signed  by  the  Members — Ad- 
dress to  Inhabitants  of  Great  Britain — 
Indian  Departments  and  Commissioners 
appointed — Address  to  the  Six  Nations  of 
Indians — Recommend  Organization  of  Mi- 
litia— Joseph  Trumbull  appointed  Com- 
missary-General—  Letter  from  Georgia, 
appointing  Delegates — Articles  of  Con- 
federation and  Perpetual  Union,  proposed 
in  Committee  of  the  Whole — Address  to 
Assembly  of  Jamaica — Journal  to  be  re- 
vised and  printed  —  Report  on  General 
Post-Office  agreed  to — B.  Franklin  chosen 
Postmaster-General — Army  Hospital  es- 
tablished— Address  to  the  People  of  Ire- 
land— Army  Pay — Report  of  Resolution 
of  House  of  Commons  of  20  February, 
1775 — Moneys  appropriated  for  the  use 
of  several  Colonies — Resolution  on  Expor- 
tation and  Importation  extended — Ad- 
journed, -       -       -       -  1819-1904 

Connecticut — 

Proceedings  in  the  case  of  certain  disaffected 
Officers  of  Militia,  and  recommending  Con- 
tributions to  Boston,  ... 
Vote  of  Thanks  to  Assembly  of  Jamaica,  - 
General  Assembly's  Letter  to  Earl  of  Dart- 
mouth, ------ 

Letter  to  Mr.  Rivington,         -       -  - 
Fairfield  Committee  Proceedings, 
Guilford  Committee  Proceedings, 
Letter  from  Thomas  Life,  Agent,  to  Govern- 
our,  on  Rev.  Samuel  Peters — Forfeiture 
of  Charter  and  Susquehannah  Proprietors, 
Fairfield  Committee  to  Committee  of  New- 
York,  on  Attack  of  Lexington  and  Con- 
cord, ------ 

Committee  of  Correspondence  to  John  Han- 
cock, ------ 

Agreement  of  Volunteers  under  Capt.  Arnold, 
Letter  to  House  of  Commons  from  Assem- 
bly of  Rhode-Island,  voting  to  raise  an 
Army  of  fifteen  hundred  Men,&.c, 
Massachusetts  Committee  of  Safety,  asking 

assistance,  - 
Assembly  meets — Embargo  on  Exportation 
of  Provisions — Conference  with  Govern- 
our  Gage  —  News-Carriers  employed  — 
Provision  for  their  Troops  at  Boston — An 
Act  for  equipping  Inhabitants  for  special 
defence — Arms  ordered  to  be  procured— 
Volunteers  to  be  raised — Officers  appoint- 
ed —  Six  Regiments  organized  —  Funds 
raised  —  Taxes  imposed  —  Collection  of 
Debts  suspended — Debtors  exempted  from 
Imprisonment,    -       -       -       -  409-422 

Colonel  Isaac  Lee  to  Governour  Trumbull,  423 
Jedediah  Huntington  to  Jonathan  Trumbull, 
Governour  Trumbull  to  Governour  Gage,  - 
Answer  to  above,  enclosing  his  account  of  the 

affair  at  Lexington  and  Concord,  -  434-5 
Theophilus  Morgan  to  Governour  Trumbull,  449 
General  Gage  to  Governour  Trumbull, 
Joel  Clark  to  Governour  Trumbull,  - 
Assembly  meets — Acts  for  forming  and  regu- 
lating Militia — Manufacturing  Fire-Arms 
— Rules  and  Regulations  of  Army — Lead 
Mines  in  Middletown  to  be  worked — 
News-Carriers  appointed  —  Pay  of  the 
Army — Several  Officers  cashiered — Ma- 
nufactures encouraged — All  private  busi- 
ness before  General  Assembly  postponed — 
Papers  and  Documents   transmitted  to 
Continental  Congress,         -       -  559-576 
Erastus  Wolcott  and  others  to  Massachusetts 
Congress,  on  Capture  of  Ticonderoga  and 
Crown  Point,     -       -       -       -  - 

Nathaniel  Wales  and  others  to  Speaker  of 
Assembly,  on  Canada  and  the  Indians,  - 
Petition  of  William  Delaplace  to  General 
Assembly,  ..... 


107 
108 

108 
110 
176 

222 


278 


363 

372 

383 


-  389 


402 


423 
433 


482 
544 


706 
713 

719 

722 

724 
728 
730 
730 

-  731 


920 

967 
1001 
1010 
1037 
1383 


618 


685 


698 


Connecticut — 

Colonel  Joseph  Spencer  to  General  Assem- 
bly,  

Ethan  Allen  on  Indian  Affairs, 

General  Assembly  to  Massachusetts  Con- 
gress,   

General  Assembly  from  Massachusetts  Con- 
gress, ------ 

Colonel  Henshaw  attends  General  Assem- 
bly with  Message  from  Massachusetts,  - 

J.  Trumbull,  Jr.,  to  his  brother, 

New-Milford  Committee  Proceedings, 

New-Haven  Selectmen  to  the  Governour,  - 

Assembly  to  Albany  Committee  on  Ticon 
deroga,  ----- 

Massachusetts  Congress  concerning  Ticonde- 
roga and  the  jurisdiction  thereof,    -  808-9,  877 

Committee  to  Provincial  Congress  of  New- 
York,    838  '43 

Benedict  Arnold  to  General  Assembly,      -  840 

James  Curgenven  to  Governour  Trumbull,  -  912 

Stamford  Committee  Proceedings  on  Sylva- 
nus  Whitney  and  his  Tea, 

Alexander  McDougall  to  Greenwich  Com- 
mittee, ------ 

Gen.  Wooster  to  New- York  Congress, 

Same  to  Governour  Trumbull, 

Committee  of  War,  Proceedings, 

Letter  from  Massachusetts  Congress, 

Assembly  meets,  1  July,  1775 — Wm.  Wil- 
liams, Speaker,  Richard  Law,  Clerk — Act 
for  equipping  Inhabitants — Officers  ap- 
pointed— Troops  to  be  supplied  with  Fire- 
Arms — Lead  Mine  to  be  worked  —  two 
Vessels  of  War  ordered  —  Communica- 
tion to  Oneida  Indians — Fifty  thousand 
Pounds,  in  Bills  of  Credit,  issued — Taxes 
imposed — Petition  from  Roxbury  in  favour 
of  General  Spencer — Report  thereon — 
Letter  from  Benjamin  Henshaw  on  Ma- 
nufacture of  Lead — Report  of  Committee 
on  Lead — Report  of  Committee  on  In- 
dians,   1579-90 

Association  of  Merchants  and  others  of  New- 
York,  to  give  currency  to  Bills  of  Credit,  1622 

Committee  of  Safety  Proceedings,    -  1658,  1720 
Constitutional  Society  at  London,  Letters  and  Do- 
nations to,         ...       -  54-55 

Subscription  for  Sufferers  at  Lexington  and 
Concord,  -       -       -       -  - 

Council,  Orders  in,  prohibiting  export  of  Arms  and 
Ammunition,  -       -       -  - 

Chelsea,  Massachusetts,  Battle  of  ... 
Church,  Doctor  Benjamin,  from  Nath'l  Freeman,  - 

Bearer  of  Despatches  to  Continental  Con- 
gress, - 

Letter  to  Mr.  Kane,  Major  of  Brigade,  Bos 
ton,  - 

"  The  Crisis,"  a  Publication  at  London  in  favour  of 
American  Liberty,  unanimously  ordered 
by  Parliament  to  be  burned  by  the  com- 
mon hangman,  ...        55, 76 
Letter  from  London  on  the  same,      -       -  118 
No  13  of  the  same,        -  677 
Croivn  Point,  See  Ticonderoga. 
Dartmouth,  Earl  of,  Letter  to  Governour  of  Vir- 
ginia,       ------  25 

Same  (private)  to  the  Govemours  of  the 

Colonies,  26-27 

Remarks  thereon  by  "  Ignotus,"  -  -  236 
Letter  to  Governour  of  Pennsylvania,  -  26 
Letter  to  Governour  of  New-York,  -  29 

Letter  from  Governour  of  Connecticut,     -  108 
Letter  to  Governour  of  Pennsylvania  on  Ge- 
neral Congress  and  Maryland  Boundary,  130 
Letter  to  General  Gage,  -       -  336,  1517 

Circular  to  Governours  of  the  Colonies,  -  337 
Letter  to  Governour  of  Georgia,  (Sir  William 

Wright,  Bart.,)          -       -       -       -  475 
Letter  to  Governour  Martin,  of  North-Caro- 
lina,  476 


921 

277 
719 
473 

-  806 
s- 

-  1713 


1913 


INDEX. 


1914 


Dartmouth,  Earl  of- — 

Letter  to  Governour  John  Penn,  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, -       -       -       -       -  478 

Letter  from  Governour  Gage,  -       -  609 

963, 1097,  1718,  1723 
Letter  to  Governour  Tryon,  of  New-York,  677 
Delaware — 

Assembly  meets  13  March,  1775 — Approve 
Proceedings  of  Delegates  in  Continental 
Congress — Pass  Bill  to  prohibit  Importa- 
tion of  Slaves — Governour  refuses  his  as- 
sent to  said  Bill — Delegates  appointed  to 
next  American  Congress,  their  Instruc- 
tions— Letter  from  American  Agents  in 
London — Petition  from  Newcastle  and 
Kent, to  establish  a  Militia — Message  from 
Governour  John  Penn,        -       -  126-129 
Newcastle  County  Field  Officers  chosen,    -  172 
Kent  County  Committee  of  Inspection — 
Proceedings  on  a  Publication  by  Robert 
Holliday,  and  his  retraction,         -       -  466 
Newcastle  Committee  and  Grand  Jury  Pro- 
ceedings, -       -       -       ...  633 
Commanders  of  Forces  chosen,        -       -  660 
Kent  County  Association  and  Proceedings,  704 
Assembly  Proceedings,  ...  9-25 
Broad  Creek  Committee  Proceedings,       -  1032 
Sussex  County  Proceedings  on  Thomas  Ro- 
binson,     ------  1632 

Delancey,  Oliver,  denies  that  a  certain  Letter  was 

written  by  him,  ....  445 

Derby,  Richard,  Jun.,  to  General  Ward,  informing 
of  the  sailing  of  British  Transports  with 
Hessian  and  other  Troops,  -       -  474 

Letter  to  Captain  James  Kirkwood,  of  Mas- 
sachusetts,        .....  1041 

Dickinson,  John,  Letter  from  "Senex"  on  Penn- 
sylvania Farmer's  Letters,  -       -  211 
Letter  to  Arthur  Lee,            -       -  443,  1604 
Ditson,  Thomas,  Tarred  and  Feathered,      -       -  93 
Selectmen  of  Billerica  to  Governour  Gage  on 
same,        -       -       -       -       -       -  153 

Doolittlc,  Colonel  E.,  to  John  Hancock,  President, 

he.,  177 
Dunmore,  Earl  of,  Governour  of  Virginia — Thanks 
of  Convention  for  his  conduct  in  the  In- 
dian War,  170 

Proclamation  on  Western  Boundary,         -  174 
Same  against  election  of  Delegates  to  Con- 
tinental Congress,       ....  -236 

Address  of  Freeholders  of  Fincastle  County, 
and  his  Answer,         ....  301 

Address  to,  from  Williamsburgh,  on  his  re- 
moval of  Gunpowder,  ...  371 
Proclamation  of  3  May,  1775,  -  465 
Same  against  Patrick  Henry  and  others,     -  516 
Same  convening  Assembly,       ...  578 
Proceedings  of  Caroline  County  on  his  con- 
duct and  that  of  Captain  Montague,      -  640 
Retires  with  his  Family  on  board  Man-of- 
War,         ------  975 

Letter  from  General  Gage  on  Battle  of  Bun- 
ker's Hill,  1107 

Messages  to  and  from  House  of  Burgesses,  1185 
Reasons  for  his  retiring  on  board  the  Fowey 
Man-of-War,  as  published  in  London,  (see 

Note,)  1202 

Detailed  Report  of  Committee  of  House  of 
Burgesses,  on  his  conduct  at  Williams- 
burgh,  1209 

Extended  Address  of  House  of  Burgesses  on 

the  condition  of  the  Colony,         -       -  1222 
Elmsley,  Alexander,  Agent  in  London,  to  Samuel 

Johnston,  of  North-Carolina,         -       -  296 
England — 

Address  to  the  People  by  "Brecknock,"  51,  341 
Plan  of  Accommodation  with,  suggested  by 

New- York  Congress,  -       -       -  1315 

Farther  Discussions  on,  ...  13-26 

Finch,  ffilliam,  Letter  and  Contribution  to  Consti- 
tutional Society,  London,  -       -  55 


Fisheries,  Bill  prohibiting,  passed  House  of  Com- 
mons,       -       -       -       -       -       -  123 

Act  of  Parliament  communicated,     -       -  276 
Newfoundland  not  allowed  to  be  supplied 
with  Provisions,  -       -       -       -  1341 

Folsom,  Nathaniel,  from  Colonel  Bartlett,  -  1022 

Letter  to   New-Hampshire  Committee  of 

Safety,       -     1063,  '69,  '81,  '92,  1121,  1529 
Letter  from  New-Hampshire  Committee  of 
Safety,       -       -       -  1109, '28, 1529 

Foster,  Jedediah,  informs  Massachusetts  Congress 

of  the  call  for  the  Congress  of  Connecticut,    37  ^ 
Fothergill,  Doctor,  meets  Doctor  Franklin  in  con- 
ference on  American  Affairs,         -       -  181 
Floyd,  Benjamin,  signs  Address  against  Continental 

Congress,  •      r  36 

Declaration  of  Inhabitants  of  Brookhaven  on 
above  Address,  -       -       -       -  117 

Florida,  Tobacco  exported  from,  in  1775,  -  394 

Governour  Montford  Browne's  Settlement  on 

the  Mississippi  and  Mobile  Rivers,  992-1000 
Letter  from  John  Durade  to  Gov.  Browne, 
on  his  Settlement  of  West-Florida,  (see 

Note,)  994 

Letter  of  John  Stuart,  Superintendent  of  In- 
dian Affairs  at  St.  Augustine,  to  Commit- 
tee of  Intelligence  of  Charlestown,  South- 
Carolina,  -----  1681 

Franklin,  Benjamin,  Agent  in  London,  Letter  to  De- 
laware Assembly,         -       -       -       -  127 

Letter  to  Arthur  Lee,  -       -  162 

Account  of  Private  Negotiations  in  London — 
His  interview  with  Mrs.  Howe  —  with 
Messrs.  Barclay  &:  Fothergill — with  Lord 
Howe — with  Gov.  Pownall — with  Lord 
Chatham — with  Lord  Stanhope  —  Lord 
Chatham's  Motion  and  Speech  in  Parlia- 
ment—  Lord  Dartmouth's  Speech,  and 
others —  Several  Projects  of  Reconcilia-  « 
tion — Proposed  Memorial  to  the  Earl  of 
Dartmouth,         -  178-210 
Anonymous  Remarks  on  his  Plan  of  Union 
of  the  Colonies,  ....  396 

Returns  from  London,  5th  May  1775,  and 
appointed  a  Delegate  to  Continental  Con- 
gress. 455 
Letter  to  Doctor  Priestly,  in  London,    615,  1603 
Letter  to  Pennsylvania  Assembly,    -        -  1167 
Chosen  Postmaster-General,  -       -  1893 

Fraser,  Simon,  Major-General,  and  others,  Claims 

for  Lands  in  New- York,  ...  135 

Freeman,  Enoch,  to  Samuel  Freeman,         -       -  550 
Freeman,  Nathaniel,  to  Dr.  Benjamin  Church,      -  473 
Gage,  General  Thomas,  To  be  re-enforced,         -  123 
Letter  to  Governour  Martin,  North-Caro- 
lina, ......  317 

Letter  from  Earl  of  Dartmouth,  -  336,  1517 
Letter  from  Doctor  Joseph  Warren,  -  370 

Agreement  with  Town  of  Boston,  -  -  375 
His  Despatches  from  England  attempted  to 

be  intercepted,  ...  -  383,  450 
Letter  from  Governour  Trumbull,  -  -  433 
Answer  thereto,  enclosing  his  account  of  the 

affair  at  Lexington  and  Concord,  434-'5 
Letter  to  Governour  Trumbull,         -       -  482 
Letter  from  Members  of  New- York  Assem- 
bly,  513 

Letters  to  Earl  of  Dartmouth,  -       -  609, 

968,  1718,  1723 
Letter  from  "  Junius  A  mericanus,"    -       -  741 
Provincial  Congress  of  Massachusetts  de- 
nounce him,  and  order  no  obedience  to 
be  paid  to  his  acts  or  doings,         -       -  766 
Remonstrance  of  Massachusetts  Provincial 
Congress  on  violation  of  his  Treaty  con- 
cerning Inhabitants  of  Boston,       -       -  798 
Resolution  of  Continental  Congress  on  his 

levying  War,  .....  955 
Proclamation,  12th  June,  1775,  -  -  966 
Proclamation,  19th  June,  1775.  -  -  1027 
Address  from  "  Verus,"   -  1074 


1915 


INDEX. 


1916 


Gage,  General  Thomas — 

Account  of  Battle,  and  list  of  Killed  and 

Wounded  at  Bunker's  Hill,  -  -  1097-1102 
Letter  to  Lord  Dunmore  on  Bunker's  Hill 

Battle,  1107 

Letter  from  Sir  James  Wright,  Governour 

of  Georgia,  _____  1109 
The  above  Letter  intercepted,  (See  Note,)  1110 
Letter  to  Governour  Martin,  (intercepted.)  1323 
Letter  from  Francis  Stephens,  on  seizure  of 

British  Stores,  1758 

Galloway,  Joseph,  excused  from  serving  in  Conti- 
nental Congress,     -  457 
Gates,  General  Horatio,  to   General  Washing- 
ton,   1058,  1531 

Letter  to  General  Charles  Lee,        -       -  1651 
Letter  from  Massachusetts  Council  on  dis- 
position of  Prisoners,   -  1749 
Chosen  Adjutant-General,       -  1850 
Georgia — 

Delegates  to  Continental  Congress,  reasons 
for  not  attending,        -       -       -       -  279 

James   Habersham  to  Clark  &  Milligan, 
London,     ______  337 

Earl  of  Dartmouth  to  Sir  James  Wright, 

Governour,  -  475 
Donations  to  Boston  from  Savannah,  -  871 
Joseph  Habersham  to  Philotheos  Chiffele,  1007 
Proceedings  at  Savannah,  -  1103 
Governour  Wright  to  Governour  Gage,  -  1109 
The  above  letter  intercepted,  (See  Note,)  1110 
Letter  from  Governour  Wright  to  Admiral 

Graves,  (intercepted,)  -       -       -  1111 

Provincial  Congress,  fourth  July,  1775 — 
Archibald  Bullock,  President — George 
Walton,  Secretary — Sermon  from  Doc- 
tor Zubley — Message  to  Governour,  re- 
questing appointment  of  Day  of  Fasting 
and  Prayer — Resolutions  from  Inhabi- 
tants of  Savannah — Unanimous  Resolu- 
tions on  Measures  and  Recommendations 
of  late  Continental  Congress — Approve 
and  adopt  American  Bill  of  Rights,  Non- 
Importation — Importation  of  Slaves  from 
Africa  prohibited — Other  Resolutions — 
Extravagance  and  Dissipation  discounte- 
nanced— Plain  Mourning  Dress  recom- 
mended—  Governour  Wright's  Answer 
on  Day  of  Fasting — Delegates  to  Conti- 
nental Congress  chosen  —  Secret  Com- 
mittee appointed — £10,000  to  be  raised — 
Resolutions  declaring  Rights  of  Province, 
die. — Dr.  Zubley's  Congregation  permit 
him  to  go  to  Philadelphia  as  a  Delegate 
to  Continental  Congress — Address  to 
Governour — Certificates  to  be  issued  for 
the  £10,000 — Approve  of  and  adopt 
Association  of  Savannah — Committee  on 
Elections  appointed — Instructions  to  Ma- 
gistrates in  collecting  Debts — Distribu- 
tion of  Representation  in  Congress — 
Form  of  Commission  to  Delegates — 
Election  for  new  Provincial  Congress — 
Delegates  elected — Congress  to  act  as  a 
General  Committee  for  the  Province — 
Rev.  Haddon  Smith  censured — Delegates 
to  apply  to  Continental  Congress  to  incor- 
porate this  Province  with  the  other  United 
Provinces  of  North  America  —  Address 
from  J.  J.  Zubley,  Noble  Wimberly  Jones 
and  George  Walton,  as  a  Committee  to  In- 
habitants of  Province  on  state  of  Ameri- 
can Affairs — Petition  to  the  King — Copy 
of  Sermon  of  J.  J.  Zubley,  -  -  1543-1568 
Savannah  Committee  from  Committee  of 
Charlestown,  South-Carolina,  enclosing 
intercepted  Letters,  -  1569 
Letter  received  by  Continental  Congress 
announcing  appointment  of  Delegates,  -  1887 
Gerry,  Elbridge,  to  Massachusetts  Provincial  Con- 
gress, notifying  arrival  of  British  Troops,  462 


Gerry,  Elbridge — 

Letter  to  Massachusetts  Delegates  in  Con- 
tinental Congress,       -  905 
Letter  from  Thomas  Cushing,  -  955 
Letter  from  Robert  Treat  Paine,       -       -  956 
Letter  from  John  Hancock,  President,  an- 
nouncing appointment  of  General  Wash- 
ington, and   marching  of  Troops  from 
Pennsylvania,  Maryland,  and  Virginia,  1019 
Letter  from  John  Adams  on  same  subject,  1019 
Letter  from  Samuel  Adams,  introducing 

General  Washington,  -  1058 
Gilbert,  Thomas,  to  Commander  of  Ship  Rose, 

Newport,   -    >  222 

Letter  to  his  Sons,  -  508 

Goddard,  William,  Post-Office  Establishment,  506,  536 
Gordon,  Reverend  William,  Account  of  attack  on 

Lexington  and  Concord,      -  625 
Letter  to  Doctor  Warren,  on  Hutchinson's 

Papers,      _-----  664 
Permission   from   Provincial   Congress  of 
Massachusetts  to  visit  British  Prisoners, 
and  take   Depositions  concerning  attack 
on  Lexington  and  Concord,  12th  May, 

1775,   800 

Glover,  Richard,  to  Matthew  Tilghman,  justifying 

the  conduct  of  William  Mollison,  -       -  475 
Graves,  Admiral,  Letter  from  Governour  of  Geor- 
gia intercepted  by  Secret  Committee  of 
Charlestown,  South-Carolina,  and  another 
forwarded  instead,       -       -       -  -1111 
Graves,  Captain,  of  King's  Schooner  Diana,  Out- 
rage on  Captain  Taylor,       -       -  78-80 
Grenada,  William  Young,  Commander-in-Chief  to 
the  House  of  Assembly,  and  Proclama- 
tion on  American  Affairs,     -  1102 
Habersham,  James,  Letter  to  London,         -       -  337 
Hall,  Lyman,  Delegate  from  St.  John's  Parish, 

Georgia,  1829 

Hancock,  John,  President,  Sfc,  Letter  from  Col. 

E.  Doolittle,  177 

His  House  attacked  at  Boston,         -       -  211 
Letter  from  Connecticut  Committee  of  Cor- 
respondence,      -----  372 
Letters   to  Massachusetts   Committee  of 

Safety,      -  384,390,401 
Supposed  object  of  invasion  of  Lexington 
and  Concord  to  seize  him,  (See  Letter 
from  London,  386,)     -       -       -       -  428 
Excepted  in  General  Gage's  Proclamation  of 

Pardon,  968 

Letter  to  Elbridge  Gerry,  informing  him  of 
the  appointment  of  General  Washington, 
and  marching  of  Troops  from  Pennsylva- 
nia, Maryland,  and  Virginia,         -       -  1019 
Letter  to  General  Washington,         -       -  1689 
Letter  from  General  Washington,      -       -  1710 
Appointed  President  of  Congress,  (24th  May, 

1775,)   1835 

Harvey,  John,  Moderator  of  Convention  in  North- 
Carolina — His  Commission  as  Justice  ta- 
ken from  him  by  Governour  and  Council,  273 
Hazard,  Ebenezer,  undertakes  to  receive  and  for- 
ward Letters  at  New- York,  -       -  482 
Henry,  Patrick,  proscribed  by  Lord  Dunmore's 

Proclamation,  -       -       -       -  516 

His  conduct  approved  of  by  several  Coun- 
ties— Letter  from  him  to  Robert  Carter 
Nicholas — Takes  his  departure  for  Conti- 
nental Congress,        -  539-'41 
His  conduct  approved  by  Prince  William 

County  Committee,     _       -       -       -  667 
His  conduct  approved  by  Prince  Edward 
and  Frederick  Counties,      -       -  1023-;4 
Hinman,  Colonel  Benjamin,  to  New- York  Con- 
gress,       _-----  1538 
Holliday,  Robert,  Proceedings  against,  for  a  publica- 
tion in  Kent  County,  Delaware,    -       -  466 
Holland,  Rev.  William  Gordon  on  the  policy  of 
Great  Britain,  Prussia,  Holland,  France, 
and  Spain,         -  462 


1917 


INDEX. 


1918 


Holt,  John,  Post-Office  Establishment  in  New- York,  537 
Hough,  Benjamin,  tried  and  whipped  by  Ethan  Al- 
len and  others  for  alleged  interference  in 
New-Hampshire  Grants,       ...  215 
Husbands,  Herman,  excepted  in  Proclamation  of 

Pardon  to  Insurgents  of  1770,      -       -  476 
Hutchinson,  late  Governourof  Massachusetts,  Stric- 
tures on  his  conduct  by  "  Nestor,"         -  231 
Gen.  John  Thomas  to  Committee  of  Safety 

of  .Massachusetts  on  his  Papers,    -       -  473 
Correspondence  on  the  same,    -            515,  664 
Part  of  his  Letters  seized,        ...  632 
Said  to  have  changed  his  opinion  on  Ameri- 
can Affairs,  903 

Indians.  Caughnawaga,  friendly  to  Provinces,        -  244 
Six  Nations,  same,         ....  245 

Speech  of  a  Chief  of  the  IMoheakounuck 
Tribe,  -       -       -       -  315 

Eastern,  Letter  from  Provincial  Congress  of 
Massachusetts,    -----  610 

Cayuga,  Claim  for  Lands  from  Pennsylvania,  616 
Androscoggin,  Brownfield  (Massachusetts) 
Committee,        -----  621 

Canadian,  Information  respecting,      -       -  624 
Colonel  Guy  Johnson  on  Six  Nations,        -  661 
Mohawks  to  Oneidas,  on  Guy  Johnson,      -  664 
Resolutions  of  Tryon  County  on  Guy  John- 
son and  Indians,         -  665 
Ethan  Allen  to  the  Northern  Indians,        -  713 
Communications  to  and  from  the  Mohawks,  841—3 
Tryon  County,  New- York,  to  Colonel  Guy 

Johnson,    ------  878 

Guy  Johnson  to  Tryon  County  Committee,  911 
James  Easton  to  Massachusetts  Congress,  919 
Moheakounucks,  Letter  from  Massachusetts 

Congress,   937,  1367 

Ethan  Allen  to  Massachusetts  Congress,  -  939 
John  Lane  to  same,  ...  -  942 
Stockbridge  to  the  Caughnawagas,  -  -  1002 
Deputation  of  Penobscots  to  Massachusetts 

Congress,  -  1005 

Bucknam  and  Wales  to  Colonels  Bayley  and 

Hurd,  1041 

Joseph  Johnson,  a  Mohegan,  to  New- York 

Congress,  -  1047,  1577 

Letter  on  same  subject,    -       -       -       -  1047 
Stockbridge  to  Massachusetts  Congress,  ask- 
ing to  be  limited  in  the  supply  of  Spiritu- 
ous Liquors,       -  1049,  1483 
Letter  from  a  gentleman  at  Stockbridge  to  a 

gentleman  in  Continental  Congress,  -  1060 
Northern,  Address  from  Colonel  Bayley,  -  1070 
Letter  from  Charlestown,  South-Carolina,  -  1111 
Oneida  Tribe  to  Governour  Trumbull,  -  1116 
Inhabitants  of  German  Flats  to  the  Oneidas 

and  Tuscaroras,  -       -       -       -  1125 

Affairs  in  Virginia,  ...  -  1208 
Treaty  with  Ohios  to  be  ratified  by  Virginia,  1240 
Passport  for  Joseph  Johnson  from  New- York 

Congress,   1309,  '11 

Letter  from  Rev.  Samuel  Kirkland,  -       -  1309 
French   Caughnawagas   reported  to  have 
taken  up  Arms,         -       -       -  -1319 

Proceedings  of  Massachusetts  Provincial  Con- 
gress.       ------  1395 

Chief  of  Penobscots  to  Massachusetts  Con- 
gress,       ------  1432 

Chiefs  to  Andrew  Gilman,       ...  1501 
Rev.  E.  Wheelock  to  New-Hampshire  Con- 
gress,       ------  1542 

Connecticut  Assembly  to  Oneidas  and  Caugh- 
nawagas, -----  1588 

Correspondence  of  Governour  Trumbull  and 
General  Schuyler,       -       -       -       -  1594 

Tryon  County  Committee  to  Albany  and 

Schenectady  Committees,     -  1666 
Examination  of  Garret  Roseboom  before  Al- 
bany Committee,        -  1670 
Letter  from  John  Stuart,  Superintendent  of 
Indian  Affairs,  to  Committee  of  Intelli- 
gence, Charlestown,  South-Carolina,      -  1681 


Indians — 

Captain  Remember  Baker's  account  of,  -  1735 
Colonel  Hurd  to  New-Hampshire  Congress,  1740 
Speech  of  Oneida  Chiefs,  ...  1746 
Oneida  Chiefs  to  Cherry  Valley  Committee,  1766 
Correspondence  with  New-York  Congress,  1808 
Three  Departments  created,  ...  1879 
Commissioners  appointed,  ...  1879 
Indian  Youths  in  Connecticut  continued  to 

be  educated,      -----  1879 
Address  to  the  Six  Nations,      -       -       -  1880 
Rev.  Samuel  Kirkland's  expenses  paid  by 
Continental  Congress,  ...  1884 

Ireland,  Meeting  and  Proceedings  of  the  Guild  of 

Merchants  in  Dublin,  -       -       -       -  1672 
Address  to  the  People  by  Continental  Con- 
gress,  1894 

Jamaica,  Vote  of  Thanks  to  Assembly,  from  Con- 
necticut,   -       -       -       -       -  -108 

Address  from  Continental  Congress,  -  1890 

Jefferson,  Thomas,  to  Doctor  William  Small,        -  523 
Appointed  Delegate  to  Continental  Con- 
gress in  place  of  Peyton  Randolph,       -  1852 
Johnson,  Sir  John,  to  Alex.  White  on  Indians,  &c,  172<i 
Johnson,  Guy,  Letter  from  Albany  Committee,     -  672 
Said  to  have  withdrawn  with  his  family,     -  1542 
King  George  the  Third — 

"  Regulus"  addresses  him,       -  316 
Petition  from  People  of  Georgia,      -    1555-  57 
Petition  from  the  Lord-Mayor  and  Livery  of 
London,  and  his  Answer,      -       -  1601-:2 
Knowlcs,  Amos,  Jun.,  Proceedings  of  Massachu- 
setts Congress,    -----  1005 

Langdon,  Reverend  Doctor,  appointed  by  Massa- 
chusetts Congress  to  preach  on  31st  May, 

1775,   802 

Letter  to  Massachusetts  Congress  respecting 

Chaplains,         .....  875 
Letter  from  New-Hampshire  Committee  of 

Safety,  1612 

Langdon,  Captain  John,  to  New-Hampshire  Con- 
gress,       -  1532 
Lands,  Virginia  disapproves  sale  of,  as  directed  by 

the  King,  172 

Lee,  General  Charles,  to  General  Burgoyne,        -  925 
Letter  to  Lord  Barrington,  renouncing  his 
half-pay,  and  his  determination  to  oppose 
the  British  Government,       ...  1058 
Letter  from  Massachusetts  Congress,  and  his 
Answer,     ------  1473 

Letter  to  Massachusetts  Congress,  with  Let- 
ter from  General  Burgoyne,  -       -  1503 
Letter  from  General  Burgoyne,         -       -  1610 
Letter  to  Massachusetts  Congress,     -       -  1638 
Letter  from  same,  -----  1638 

Letter  from  General  Gates,      -       -       -  1651 
Letter  to  General  Sullivan,      ...  l'-2l 
Chosen  Second  Major-General ,         -       -  1850 
Lee,  Arthur,  Agent  in  London,  to  Delaware  Assem- 
bly,  127 

Letter  to  Doctor  Franklin,  -  -  -  162 
Letters  from  Dr.  Joseph  Warren,  255,  425,  619 
Letter  to  James  Kinsey,  Speaker  of  House 

of  Assembly,  New-Jersey,  -  -  -  339 
Letters  from  John  Dickinson,  -  -  443,  1604 
Letter  to  the  People  of  London,  -  -  848 
Letter  from  Lord  Shelburne,  -  1756 
Lee,  Richard  Henry,  Letter  from  Samuel  Adams,  176 
Letters  from  and  to  Gouverneur  Morris,  on 

Rivington's  case,         -  726 
Letter  from  "  Philopatria,"       ...  872 
Letter  from  General  Washington,      -       -  1635 
Letters,  Copies  of  and  extracts  from,  the  names  of 
the  writers  being  omitted  originally,  but 
which   appeared  in  the  publick  prints 
under  their  present  form — 
From  London,   13,  24,  25,  29,  55, 114, 118,  121, 
122, 252,  306,  387,  1741 
From   Charlestown,  South-Carolina,  to  a 

Gentleman  in  London,  76 
From  Boston  to  Mr.  Rivington,        -       -  106 


1919 


INDEX. 


1920 


Letters — 

From  Member  of  Lower  House  of  Assem- 
bly to  Mr  Holt,  of  New-York,     -       -  111 

From  a  Gentleman  in  Harford  County,  Ma- 
ryland, to  bis  Friend  in  Pbiladelpbia,     -  124 

From  Pbiladelpbia  to  James  Rivington,  133-134 

From  Boston  to  Newport,  on  cruel  treat- 
ment of  Soldiers,        -  173 

From  a  Gentleman  in  Paris  to  his  Friend  in 
Newport,   ------  173 

From  Boston  to  New-York,     -       -       -  211 

From  a  Gentleman  in  London  to  his  Friend 
in  North-Carolina,       ...       -  242 

From  New-Haven  to  Mr.  Rivington,         -  252 

From  Boston  to  Philadelphia,  -     253,  666 

From  New- York  to  Boston,     -  255 

From  a  Gentleman  in  England  to  his  Friend 
in  Virginia,        -----  318 

From  New- York  to  Philadelphia,     -       -  343, 

344,  364,  547 

From  London  to  a  Gentleman  in  Massachu- 
setts, mentioning  the  King's  orders  to  Gen- 
eral Gage  to  apprehend  Messrs.  Cusbing, 
Adams,  Hancock,  and  others,  and  send 
them  to  England  for  trial — Second  orders 
to  hang  them,     -----  386 

From  a  Merchant  in  London  to  his  Friend 
in  Virginia,        -----  394 

Intercepted,  from  Canada  to  Colonel  Philip 
Skene — New  Commission  to  Guy  Carle- 
ton,  Governour  of  Quebeck,        -       -  402 

From  Holland  to  Rev.  William  Gordon,  on 
the  Policy  of  Great  Britain,  Prussia,  Hol- 
land, France,  and  Spain,      ...  462 

From  an  American  Gentleman  at  Paris  to 
his  Friend  at  Philadelphia — Opinions  of 
the  French,        -       -       -       -       -  463 

From  a  Gentleman  in  Philadelphia  to  his 
Friend  in  London,      -       -       -  467,  1033 

From  a  Gentleman  in  Connecticut  to  his 
Friend  in  New- York,         -      472,  508,  912 

From  a  Gentleman  in  New- York  to  his 
Friend  in  London,     -       -       -       -  506 

From  Montreal,  (intercepted,)  -       -  518 

From  Berkshire  County  to  Cambridge,  Mas- 
sachusetts,        -----  546 

From  London  to  a  Gentleman  in  Philadel- 
phia,       -     547,  577,  854,  903,  1518,  1607 

From  a  Gentleman  in  Philadelphia  to  his 
Friend  in  Williamsburgh,  Virginia,         -  668 

From  London  to  New-York,    -       -  870,  1617 

From  North-Carolina  to  New-York,  -  924 

From  a  Gentleman  in  England  to  one  in 
Philadelphia,  953 

From  Charlestown,  South-Carolina,   -       -  953 

From  London  to  a  Gentleman  in  Virginia,  -  960, 

1517 

Extract  of,  from  Newfoundland,        -       -  973 

Same,  from  London,       -       -       -       -  974 

From  an  Officer  in  Boston  to  his  Friend  in 
England,  1010 

From  Boston  to  London,  on  Battle  of 
Charlestown,      -----  1021 

From  Providence  to  New- York,  on  Bunker's 
Hill,  1036 

From  Captain  Chapman,  of  the  Royal  Irish 
Regiment,  to  his  Friend  in  Ireland,        -  1049 

From  Weathersfield,  Connecticut,  to  a  Gen- 
tleman in  Philadelphia,        -  1060 

From  a  Gentleman  at  Stockbridge  to  a  Gen- 
tleman of  Continental  Congress,  on  In- 
dians,  1060 

From  British  Naval  Officer  to  his  Friend  in 
London,    ------  1067 

Intercepted,  communicated  to  John  Hart, 
Junior,  by  Doctor  Carrington,       -       -  1078 

From  a  Merchant  in  Boston  to  his  Brother 
in  Scotland,        -----  1079 

From  an  Officer  of  the  British  Army  to  his 
Friend  in  England,      -  1092 

From  Boston  to  a  Gentleman  in  Scotland,  1093 


Letters — 

From  a  British  Officer  in  Boston,      -  1107,  1727 

From  Charlestown,  South-Carolina,  on  In- 
dian Affairs,     -       -       -       -  -1111 

Philadelphia,  from  Officers  of  American 
Army  on  Bunker's  Hill,       -       -       -  1118 

From  the  Hague,  June  29,  1775,     -       -  1128 

From  Charlestown,  S.  C,  to  a  Gentleman 

in  Philadelphia,  on  Indians,  Georgia,  Sic,  1129 

From  Fort  George  to  Hartford,  Connecticut,  1135 

From  Governour  Gage  to  Governour  Martin, 
of  North-Carolina,  (intercepted,)  -  1123 

Intercepted  in  Charlestown,  South-Carolina,  1569 

A  Virginia  Delegate  to  a  Gentleman  in  Wil- 
liamsburgh,       -----  1573 

Captain  Angus  McDonald  to  Colonel  Alex- 
ander McDougall,       -       -       -       -  1593 

Messrs.  Bradfords,  of  Philadelphia,  to  Printer 
of  a  publick  Paper  in  London,  on  Bun- 
ker's Hill,  &ic,  -       -       -       -  1608 

From  London,       -       -       -       -       -  1614 

From  Camp  at  Cambridge  to  a  Gentleman 
in  Philadelphia,  -  1616 

From  a  Gentleman  in  London  to  a  Gentle- 
man in  Maryland,       ...       -  1617 

From  a  Gentleman  in  Philadelphia  to  his 
Friend  in  England,      -       -       -       -  1621 

From  Montreal  to  a  Gentleman  in  England,  1623 

From  Camp  at  Cambridge,     -  1637,  1721,  1722 

From  Braintree,  Massachusetts,        -       -  1671 

Doctor  J.  Mallett  to  William  Allmon,        -  1-684 

From  a  Gentleman  in  Fredericktown,  Mary- 
land, to  his  Friend  in  Baltimore,    -       -  1687 

From  Watertown  to  a  Gentleman  in  Phila- 
delphia,    ------  1696 

From  Salem,  Massachusetts,  to  a  Gentleman 
in  London,        -----  1696 

From  a  British  Naval  Officer  to  his  Friend 
in  London,  enclosing  two  intercepted  Ame- 
rican Letters,      -       -       -       -       -  1717 

From  a  Gentleman  in  London  to  his  Friend 
in  New- York,  1727 

Colonel  Joseph  Reed  to  Colonel  Baldwin, 
enclosing  Letter  from  Doctor  Church,    -  1748 

Extracts  from  Letters  laid  before  Continental 
Congress,  dated  London,  July  31, 1775,  -  1775 

From  a  Gentleman  in  North-Carolina,  one 
of  the  Delegates  in  Congress,  to  a  princi- 
pal house  in  Edinburgh,       ...  1757 

From  Cambridge,  Massachusetts,  to  Phila- 
delphia, 1764 
Lexington,  Attack  on,  by  the  British,  -  359-'64 

General  Expresses  despatched  to  the  South 
— Their  course  to  Charlestown,  South- 
Carolina,    365-'69 

Detailed  statement  of  attack  on,  by  British, 
with  a  list  of  Killed  and  Wounded,  391-'3 

Accounts  of  Worcester  and  Williamsburgh, 
and  intercepted  British  Letters  concerning 
the  attack  on  Lexington  and  Concord,  436-'41 

Provincial  Congress  of  Massachusetts  trans- 
mit to  Continental  Congress  Depositions 
concerning  the  attack,         -       -  486-501 

Account  of  attack,  by  Rev.  Wm.  Gordon,  625 

Farther  account  of  attack,       -       -  673-'5 

A  Committee  appointed  to  take  Depositions 
concerning  attack,       -  765 

Third  Committee  appointed  to  take  Deposi- 
tions on  Battle,  -  802 

Narrative  and  Depositions  concerning  attack 
on,  ordered  to  be  printed  and  published  in 
pamphlet  by  Massachusetts  Congress,     -  813 

Subscription  of  Constitutional  Society  at  Lon- 
don for  sufferers  at,  921 

British  account  of  attack,        -  945 

Strictures  on  the  Gazette's  account  of  attack, 
(London,)  948 

Proceedings  in  Massachusetts  Congress  and 
Committee  of  Safety,  ...  1028 

Life,  Thomas,  Agent  of  Connecticut,  to  Governour 

Trumbull,  278 


1921 


INDEX. 


1922 


Liberty-Pole,  cut  down  at  Poughkcepsie,  N.  York,  176 
London,   Defence  of  American   proceedings  by 

"Brecknock,"  -  51,341 
Constitutional  Society,  Letters  and  Donations 

to,  54-55 

"Nestor"  to  the  People  of  England — Stric- 
tures on  the  Governour  of  Boston,        -  231 
Remarks  of  "  Ignotus"  on  Lord  Dunmore's 

Circular  Letter  of  January  4th,  1775,     -  236 
Meeting  of  the  Livery — Remonstrance  and 
Petition  to  the  Throne  in  favour  of  Ame- 
rica— Speeches  of  Lord-Mayor  and  others,  278 
"  Regulus  "  to  the  King,         ...  316 
Address  to  Lord-Mayor  and  Corporation 

from  New-York  Committee,        -       -  510 
From  Thomas  Fraser,  of  London,  to  George 
Erving,     ------  583 

Publication  at  Secretary  of  State's  Office, 

(Sec  JSotc  on  Concord,  fyc.,)     -       -  848 
Letter  from  Arthur  Lee  to  the  People  of 
London,  concerning  the  Massacre  at  Con- 
cord,  848 

Letter  from,  to  Watertown,      -  870 
"  Political  Observations "  at,     -       -       -  909 
Anonymous  Letter  to  "  The  Minister,"      -  915 
Amount  of  Importations  of  Flour  and  Wheat 
from  North  America,   -       -       -       -  921 

British  account  of  Battle  of  Lexington  and 
Concord,   ------  945 

Address  to  the  Publick,  -       -       -       -  947 

Strictures  on  the  Gazette's  account  of  the 

attack  on  Lexington  and  Concord,         -  948 
Address  to  the  People  of  England,   -  952,  1013 
Publication  at,  "  On  the  Disturbances  in 
America,"         -       -       -       -       -  961 

Anonymous  publication  at,  968 
'•  Memento"  to  Lord  North,    -       -       -  992 
Meeting  of  the  Livery  in  Common-Hall 
— Their   Proceedings — Address  to  the 
King — Instructions  to  Representatives  in 
Parliament,        -  1070-'74 
Court  of  Common  Council's  Address  to  the 

King,  1601 

Answer  of  the  King,       ...       -  1602 
Common  Council  Proceedings  on  Address  of 

New-York  Committee,  ...  1603 
"  Brutus "  to  the  People  of,  -  -  -  1643 
Publication  at,  concerning  Ship  "  Molly,"  -  1680 
"  An  Englishman "  to  the  Printer  of  the 

Morning  Chronicle,      ...       -  1742 
Thanks  of  Congress  to  Lord-Mayor,  &.c,  -  1860 
Same  to  same,        .....  1877 
Louisiana,  Governour  Brown's  Settlement  on  a  por- 
tion thereof,  called  West-Florida,  -  992-1000 
Manufactures,  Premium  on  Domestick,  by  Virginia,  13 
Philadelphia  Association  to  encourage,  140-'44 
And  Arts  encouraged  by  Virginia  Assembly,  170 
Encouraged  in  Chesterfield  County,  Virginia,  298 
Maryland — 

Baltimore  Committee  Proceedings  against 

landing  Salt,  34 

Same  concerning  Cargo  of  Brig  Henry  and 

Joseph,  123 
Justices  removed,    -----  124 

Boundary  Line,  Proceedings  in  Pennsylva- 
nia on  subject,    -  130,  302 
Letter  from  Governour  of  Pennsylvania  on 
the  above,          -----  130 

Talbot  County  Committee  on  importation  of 

Goods  by  Charles  Crookshanks,     -       -  175 
Baltimore  Committee  contradict  certain  false 
reports,      ------  276 

Calvert   County  Committee — Proceedings 
against  Alexander  Ogg,  for  violating  the 
Association,  and  his  Apology,        -       -  281 
Prince  George's  County  Committee — Pro- 
ceedings against  import  of  Salt  and  killing 

Sheep,  308 

Anne  Arundel  County  Committee  contradict 

"  Facts  relative  to  the  Riot  at  Annapolis,"  309 
Baltimore  Committee  discourage  a  "  Fair,"  337 
Foukth  Series. — Vol.  ii.  121 


718 
727 

924 

-'1 
1024 

1044 


Maryland — 

Convention  24th  April,  1775.  Proceedings 
on  state  of  the  Colony  of  New-York — 
Suspend  Exportation  to  the  North — Mili- 
tia to  be  exercised — Delegates  to  Conti- 
nental Congress — Recommend  Fast  Day 
— Letter  from  Philadelphia  on  affair  at 
Lexington  and  Concord,      -       -  379-382 
Cecil  County  Committee  Proceedings,       -  623 
Anne  Arundel  County  Proceedings,  659,903 
Charles  County  Deputies  to  Convention,    -  668 
Talbot  County  Committee  Proceedings,     -  682 
Prince  George  County  Committee  Proceed- 
ings, -       -  - 
Charles  County  Committee  Proceedings,  - 
Worcester  County  Committee  Proceedings, 
Charles  Gordon,  of  Cecil  County,  to  the  Pub- 
lick,  and  Answer,        ...  990 
Queen  Anne  County  Committee  Proceed- 
ings, ...... 

Frederick  County  Committee  of  Correspon- 
dence created — Forces  to  be  raised  for 
Continental  Service — Officers  appointed — 
Encourage  Manufactures, 
Talbot  County  Proceedings  on  the  Ship 

Johnson,  ....  1103-'5 

Anne  Arundel  County  Proceedings,  -  1122 

Baltimore  Committee  Proceedings — Inter- 
cepted Letter  from  Henry  Lloyd  to  John 
Stevenson,  -----  153] 

Dorchester  County  Committee  Proceedings,  1532 
Somerset  County  Committee  Proceedings,  1569 
Baltimore  Committee  Proceedings  on  Letter 
from  James  Christie,  -       -  jj* 

Charles  County  Committee  Proceedings,  - 
Bladensburgh  and  Piscataway  Committees' 

Proceedings,  - 
Prince  George  County  Committee  Proceed- 
ings, -       -       -       -       -*  '- 

Baltimore  Publick — from  James  Christie,  - 
Martin,  John,  Governour  of  North-Carolina,  Procla- 
mation against  Election  of  Deputies  to 
Congress,  - 
Maine,  Samuel  Thompson  to  Committee  of  Safety 
of  Massachusetts,  - 
Brunswick  Committee  to  Boston  Committee 

of  Correspondence,  - 
Letter  from  James  Gowan  and  others  to 

General  Ward,  - 
Alexander  Shephard  to  Massachusetts  Con- 
gress on  Survey,  - 
Mason,  George,  Letter  to  George  Washington  on 

Potomack  River  and  Western  Lands, 
Massachusetts-Bay — 

Hampshire  County  Address  to  Inhabitants  of, 
Danvers,  election  of  Officers  in  Alarm  List, 
Cumberland  County  Convention,  and  Pro- 
ceedings against  Captain  Thomas  Coulson 
on  certain  Importations,       -       -       -  91 
Hampshire  County,  Letters  from,  to  the  In- 
habitants of,       -       -   94,  222,  '46,  '89,  329 
Address  signed  "  Lucius,"  concerning  the 

Mobs  represented  in  Vol  1 ,  Folio  1 260,       1 56 
Worcester  County,  Proceedings  of  Commit- 
tee,   228,  '42 

T.  Wheeler  assigns  reasons  for  resigning  as 

Lieutenant-Colonel,  - 
Worcester  County — "  A  Freeholder"  to  the 
Printer  of  Massachusetts  Gazette,  remarks 
on  Publication  of  "  Phileirene," 
Marblehead  Committee  accept  apology  of 

Thomas  Lilly  for  buying  Tea, 
Plymouth  Committee  to  Committee  of  Safety, 
Attempted  march  on  Concord, 
Committee  of  Montreal  to  Committee  of 
Safety,  ------ 

Falmouth  Committee  on  Goods  imported  for 

Captain  Thomas  Coulson,  -     311, '18 

Speech  of  an  Indian  Chief  of  the  Moheak- 
ounuck  Tribe,  sent  to  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress, ...       -  315 


1652 
1673 

1688 

1716 

1732 


254 

447 

502 

515 

1476 

92 

18 
37 


'2 


228 


229 

234 
235 
253 

305 


1923 


INDEX. 


1924 


Massachusetts-Ba  y — 

General  Gage  to  Governour  Martin,  of  North- 
Carolina,  .....  317 

Provincial  Congress  on  Removals  from  Bos- 
ton, ......  336 

"  Johannes  in  Eremo  "  to  the  Inhabitants  of 
New-England,  -  -     340, '69 

Provincial  Congress,  Letters  from  Commit- 
mittee  of  New- York  City,  -  344-7 

Committee  of  Safety  of  Worcester  to  New- 
York,  on  Attack  of  Lexington  and  Con- 
cord,  -  363 

Letter  from  New- York  to  Philadelphia,  on 
Attack  on  Lexington  and  Concord,        -  364 

Provincial  Congress  called  by  Richard  De- 
vens,         ......  369 

Committee  of  Safety  to  the  Governour  of 
Connecticut,  on  Attack  of  Lexington  and 
Concord,   370 

Newbury  port  Committee  to  the  Committee 
of  Safety,  sending  Men  and  Arms,        -  373 

Committee  of  Safety  to  New-Hampshire  Con- 
gress, on  Attack  of  Lexington  and  Con- 
cord, 373 

Newburyport  Committee  to  Committee  in 
Hampton,  374 

Provincial  Congress — Letter  sent  to  New- 
Hampshire  on  Attack  on  Lexington  and 
Concord,  and  on  condition  of  Boston — 
Unanimous  Resolution  to  establish  an  Ar- 
my— Letter  from  Jedediah  Foster,  inform- 
ing them  of  the  call  for  convening  Con- 
necticut Congress,        ...  377-'8 

Letter  to  Provincial  Congress,  from  General 
A.  Ward,  on  enlisting  Men,  -       -  384 

Committee  of  Safety  to  Congress  of  New- 
Hampshire,  on  enlisting  their  Troops,     -  385 

Letter  from  Rhode-Island  Assembly,  voting 
to  raise  an  Army  of  1500  Men,     -       -  389 

Detailed  Statement  of  Attack  on  Lexington 
and  Concord,  with  a  List  of  Killed  and 
Wounded,         -       -       -  .     -  391-'3 

Provincial  Congress,  Letter  from  James  Sul- 
livan,  393 

Instructions  of  Williamstown  to  their  Dele- 
gates in  Provincial  Congress,        -       -  393 

Provincial  Congress  from  Provincial  Conven- 
tion of  New-Hampshire,       ...  401 

Committee  of  Safety  from  John  Hancock,  -  401 

Committee  of  Safety  to  Rhode-Island  and 
Connecticut,  asking  assistance,       -       -  402 

Falmouth  Committee  to  Committee  of  Safety,  402 

Provincial  Congress  from  Stephen  Hopkins, 
of  Rhode-Island,         -       -       -       -  421 

Committee  of  Safety  to  Selectmen  of  Bos- 
ton, tendering  services  of  removal,  and  con- 
tradicting the  account  of  General  Gage, 
concerning  the  Troops  at  Lexington  and 
Concord,   424 

Committee  of  Safety  from  Boston  Commit- 
tee on  the  above,         -  -       -  424 

Thomas  Brown  to  Col.  George  Pitkin — Em- 
barkation of  Troops  in  England  said  to  be 
resisted  by  the  People — Ministry  order  ten 
thousand  Troops  to  be  sent  to  America,  429 

Provincial  Congress  to  Congress  of  New- 
Hampshire,   429 

Letter  from  Roxbury  to  a  Gentleman  in  New- 
port, on  defeat  of  British  at  Lexington  and 
Concord,   430 

Provincial  Congress  to  Stephen  Hopkins — 
Proceedings  in  case  of  John  Brown,  431-'2 

Committee  of  Safety  to  the  respective  Towns 
on  enlisting  Men,        ....  433 

Newburyport  Committee  to  Massachusetts 
Committee  of  War,  recommending  Chris- 
tian Febiger, .  -       -  433 

Accounts  from  Williamsburgh  and  Worcester, 
and  intercepted  British  Letters,  concern- 
ing the  Attack  on  Lexington  and  Con- 
cord,        -  -  436-41 


Massachusetts-Bay — 

"  Civis  "  to  the  Inhabitants  of  Williamsburgh,  441 
Committee  of  Safety  to  respective  Towns,  446-'7 
Committee  of  Safety  from  Samuel  Thomp- 
son,  447 

Committee  of  Safety  to  Selectmen  of  Boston,  449 
Letter  from  Benedict  Arnold  on  condition  of 

Ticonderoga,  &tc.,       ....  450 
Committee  of  Safety  to  New- York  Commit- 
tee on  the  same,         ....  450 
Timothy  Pickering,  Jr.,  to  the  Committee  of 

Safety,  recommending  Enlistments,        -  461 
Congress — Letter  from  Elbridge  Gerry,  noti- 
fying arrival  of  British  Troops,     -       -  462 
Congress — Petition  of  Jonathan  Brewer  to 
march  into  Canada  with  five  hundred  Vo- 
lunteers,           -       -       -       -       -  462 
Committee  of  Safety  from  Rhode-Island  Com- 
mittee,  472 

Committee  of  Safety  from  General  John 

Thomas,  on  Gov.  Hutchinson's  Papers,  -  473 
Committee  of  Safety  to  Governour  of  Con- 
necticut, ....    473?  506 
Committee  of  Safety  to  Mr.  Vose,     -       -  474 
Anonymous  Letter  to  the  Printer  of  the 

Massachusetts  Spy,  ...  433 

Certificate  in  favour  of  Eb.  Bradish,  &ic,  484 
Committee  of  Safety  Orders  to  Benedict 

Arnold,  485 

Petition  from  Braintree  Selectmen,  &ic,     -  485 
Provincial  Congress  —  Petition  from  New- 
Castle,  New-Hampshire,  for  Ammunition,  486 
Provincial  Congress,  from  Committee  of  Cor- 
respondence in  Eastham,      -  486 
Provincial  Congress  to  the  Continental  Con- 
gress, enclosing  Depositions  sent  to  Lon- 
don, Address  to  Inhabitants  of  Great  Bri- 
tain, and  a  Letter  to  Benjamin  Franklin, 
Colony  Agent,  concerning  the  affair  at 
Lexington  and  Concord,       -       -  486-501 
Committee  of  Safety  to  New- York  Com- 
mittee,     ...               -  507 
Letter  from  Pittsfield  to  Cambridge,  on  At- 
tack on  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point,  507 
Selectmen  of  Topsham  to  Provincial  Con- 
gress,  508 

Selectmen  of  Worcester  to  Provincial  Con- 
gress,  513 

Petition  of  Charles  Glidden  and  others  to 

Provincial  Congress,  ...  514 

Letter  from  Enoch  Freeman  to  same,  on  Pe- 
nobscot Indians  and  Canada,         -       -  514 
Petition  of  Timothy  Langdon  to  same,      -  514 
Committee  of  Safety  from  Thomas  Chase,  515 
Copy  of  a  Paper  found  among  the  Papers  of 

Josiah  Quincy,  -  518 

Provincial  Congress,  from  Wm.  Whipple,  520 
Committee  of  Safety  from  General  Assembly 

of  Rhode-Island,        ....  520 
Committee  of  Safety  to  the  Committee  of 
Safety,  Correspondence  and  Protection,  in 

Albany,  523 

Letter  to  Colonel  James  Scammons,  -  524 
Maiden  and  Chelsea  Proceedings,  -  -  536 
Samuel  Mather  to  Provincial  Congress,  -  538 
Worcester  Selectmen  to  same,  -  -  538 
Sheffield  Committee  Proceedings,  -  -  545 
Lynn  Committee  to  Committee  of  Safety  on 

conduct  of  Josiah  Martin,  ...  546 
Petition  from  Cohasset,  ...  547 
Committee  of  Safety  from  General  John  Tho- 
mas, -  549, 581 
Bristol  Town-Meeting  Proceedings,  -  -  549 
Committee  of  Safety  from  Timothy  Picker- 
ing,  550 

Enoch  Freeman  to  Samuel  Freeman,  -  550 
Committee  of  Safety  to  General  Thomas,  -  552 
Letter  from  Falmouth  to  a  Gentleman  in 

Watertovvn,  on  Proceedings  at  Falmouth,  552 
Deer  Island  Committee  to  Massachusetts  Con- 
gress,       ------  555 


1925 


INDEX. 


1926 


Massachusetts- Bay — 

Committee  to  Committee  of  Inspection  of 
New- York,        .....  556 

Provincial  Congress  from  the  Committee  at 
Ticonderoga — from  Ethan  Allen — from 
Benedict  Arnold  —  from  Edward  Mott, 
on  the  capture  of  Ticonderoga,      -  556-'60 

Committee  of  Safety  from  Major  Osgood,  579 

John  Sawyer  and  others  to  Provincial  Con- 
gress,        ......  580 

Selectmen  of  Amesbury  to  Committee  of 
Safety,  580 

Committee  of  Supplies  to  the  Committee  of 
Safety,   581 

Timothy  Ladd  to  Provincial  Congress,      -  584 

Benedict  Arnold  to  Committee  of  Safety,  on 
Crown  Point,     -----  584 

Jedediah  Preble  to  President  of  Provincial 
Congress,  .....  585 

Falmouth  Committee  toCommittee  of  Safety,  586 

Provincial  Congress  to  Colonel  Thompson,  587 

Two  Sloops  taken  by  the  British  Sloop  Fal- 
con recaptured,  ....  608 

Groton  Committee  Proceedings,       -       -  608 

Petition  of  William  Bent  and  others  to  Com- 
mittee of  Safety,        ....  609 

Petition  of  John  Boice  and  Hugh  McLean, 
for  release  of  their  Apprentices,    -       -  609 

Joseph  Prime,  Jedediah  Preble,  and  others, 
to  Committee  of  Safety,      ...  610 

Provincial  Congress  to  Eastern  Indians,     -  610 

Same,  Letter  from  Erastus  Wolcott  and 
others,  on  capture  of  Ticonderoga  and 
Crown  Point,     -----  618 

Same,  Letter  to  Continental  Congress,  on 
the  state  of  the  Army,         ...  620 

Brownfield  Committee  to  Provincial  Con- 
gress, on  Androscoggin  Indians,     -       -  621 

Colonel  Eaton's  Account  of  the  capture  of 
Ticonderoga,      -----  624 

Account  of  commencement  of  hostilities  at 
Lexington  and  Concord,  by  the  Rev. 
William  Gordon,  ...  625-'31 

Norlhborough  Committee  to  General  Ward,  632 

Letter  from  Cambridge,  respecting  Halifax 
and  the  Tories,  -----  630 

Committee  of  Safety  to  Committee  of  Sup- 
plies, on  supplies  for  Col.  Arnold's  men — 
Col.  Arnold's  Letter  stating  the  number  of 
Cannon  at  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point, 
and  number  of  Forces  in  Canada — Ord- 
nance Stores  found  at  the  above  places,  645-'6 

Provincial  Congress,  Letters  from  General 
Artemas  Ward,  -       -    647,  666,  1028 

James  Russell  to  Joseph  Warren,  President 
of  Provincial  Congress,        ...  647 

Abijah  Brown  to  Committee  of  Safety,      -  647 

Benjamin  Thompson  to  Committee  of  Safe- 
ty, on  his  imprisonment,       ...  647 

Committee  of  Safety  to  General  Preble,    -  663 

Provincial  Congress,  New-Hampshire  Reso- 
lutions,     -  664 

Committee  of  Safety,  Letter  from  James  Sul- 
livan, 667 

Same,  Letters  to  Massachusetts  Congress,  667, 

676,  694 

Provincial  Congress,  farther  Narrative  of 
attack  on  Lexington  and  Concord,  673-'5 

Committee  of  Safety,  Letter  from  Samuel 
Bullard,    -       -       -       -       -       -  675 

Committee  of  Supplies  to  Provincial  Con- 
gress,      ......  676 

Provincial  Congress  to  Benedict  Arnold,    -  676 

Committee  of  Safety  at  Cambridge,  Letter 
from  Benedict  Arnold,         ...  693 

Petition  of  John  Merrill  to  Provincial  Con- 
gress, 695 

Waltham  Selectmen  to  Committee  of  Safety, 
on  Millicent,      ....       -  695 

Tewksbury  Committee  of  Inspection  Pro- 
ceedings, .....  6G5 


Massachusetts-Ba  y — 

Provincial  Congress  to  Inhabitants  of  Tewks- 
bury,  699 

Letter  from  Hon.  Enoch  Freeman  to  Com- 
mittee of  Safety,        ....  700 

Worcester  County  Committee  Proceedings,  700-'l 
Woburn  Committee  Proceedings,      -       -  701 
Provincial  Congress,  Letter  from  Governour 

Trumbull,  of  Connecticut,    -       -       -  706 
Same,  Letter  from  John  Thomas,  accepting 

appointment  of  Lieutenant-General,       -  707 
Same,  Letter  from  Dr.  Joseph  Warren,      -  707 
Maiden  Committee  to  Committee  of  Safety,  708 
Machias  Committee  to  Provincial  Congress,  708 
Cumberland  County  to  Provincial  Congress,  709 
Committee  of  Safety  of  Salem,  Letter  from 
Rev.  Thomas  Barnard,  Jun. — their  Pro- 
ceedings,  -       -       -       -       -       -  710 

Committee  of  Safety,  Letter  from  Benedict 

Arnold,  at  Crown  Point,      -       -     714,  735 
Provincial  Congress  to  New- York  Congress,  715 
Committee  of  Safety,  Letter  from  Joseph 
Hawley,    -       -       -       -       -       -  716 

Provincial  Congress,  Letter  from  Benjamin 
Greenleaf,         .....  716 

Same,  Letter  from  Committee  of  Safety,    -  716 
Same,  Letter  to  Congress  of  New-Hamp- 
shire,       -  717 
Committee  of  Safety,  Letter  from  Benjamin 
Bullard  and  others,      ....  717 

Letter  from  Connecticut  Assembly,  -       -  719 
Battle  at  Chelsea,  ....  719 

Waltham  Selectmen  to  Committee  of  Safety, 
on  conduct  of  Colonel  Brown,  and  Pro- 
ceedings thereon  in  Provincial  Congress,  720-'2l 
Provincial  Congress  to  Continental  Congress, 
enclosing  Communications  from  Colonel 

Arnold,  721 

Provincial  Congress  to  Assembly  of  Connect- 
icut,  722 

Same  to  Benedict  Arnold,       ...  723 
Instructions  to  Colonel  Henshaw,      -       -  723 
Colonel  Henshaw's  account  of  his  Journey 
to  Connecticut,  -----  724 

Selectmen  of  Partridgefield  to  Provincial 
Congress,   ------  724 

Committee  of  Safety  to  Colonel  Benedict 

Arnold,  -  726 

Provincial  Congress,  Letters  from  Governour 
Trumbull,  ....    730,  877 

Provincial  Congress  to  Governour  Trumbull,  735 
Same  to  New-Hampshire  Congress,  on  Ti- 
conderoga, &c,    -       -       -       -    737,  876 

Provincial  Congress,  Letter  from  Committee 

of  Sandwich,  738 

Provincial  Congress  Proceedings  on  Remon- 
strance of  Town  of  Dartmouth,  -  -  738 
Salem  Committee  to  Committee  of  Safety,  739 
Newburyport  Committee,  Letter  from  Com- 
mittee of  Portsmouth,  New-Hampshire,  740 
"Junius  Americanus"  to  General  Gage,  -  741 
Committee  of  Safety  Proceedings  —  Dis- 
position of  Cannon  and  Powder  at  Con- 
cord— Several  Depots  for  Ammunition 
and  Provisions  appointed — Cannon  dis- 
tributed, (18th  April,  1775)— 21st  April, 
eight  thousand  Men  to  be  enlisted  out  of 
Massachusetts  Forces — Express  to  Rhode- 
Island  and  Connecticut — Captain  Derby 
despatched  to  England — Committee  on 
state  of  Boston — Letters  to  all  the  Pro- 
vince Towns — Permits  into  Boston — Con- 
necticut and  Rhode-Island  Money  made 
current — Colonel  Arnold  supplied  with 
Ammunition — Hutchinson's  Papers  stop- 
ped— Orders  to  Colonel  Arnold  on  his 
Expedition  to  Ticonderoga — Council  of 
War  appointed — William  Cooper  appoint- 
ed Secretary  to  Doctor  Warren,  President 
of  Congress — Sub-Committee  of  Safety  re- 
commend Breastworks  at  Cambridge  and 


1927 


INDEX. 


192S 


Massachusetts-Bay — 

Bunker's  Hill — Lady  Frankland  permitted 
to  go  into  Boston — No  Slaves  to  be  ad- 
mitted into  the  Army — Governour  Hutch- 
inson's Papers  in  the  hands  of  Captain 
McLane  to  be  delivered  up,  -  -  741-'64 
Provincial  Congress,  22d  of  April,  1775. — 
A  Committee  to  take  Depositions  concern- 
ing the  attack  on  Lexington  and  Concord 
— 30,000  Men  necessary  for  defence — 
13,600  to  be  raised  by  this  Province — 
Mr.  Sullivan  sent  to  New-Hampshire  Con- 
gress— Pay  of  the  Army — State  of  the 
Funds — Secrecy  in  part  enjoined — Rich- 
ard Gridley  appointed  Chief  Engineer — 
Connecticut  and  Rhode-Island  applied  to 
for  Powder  —  Advise  removal  of  effects 
from  Seaport  Towns — Committee  appoint- 
ed to  ascertain  number  of  killed,  wound- 
ed, and  murdered,  on  the  19th  April — 
Draught  of  a  Letter  to  New-Hampshire — 
No  notice  to  be  taken  of  the  Precepts 
lately  issued  by  General  Gage  for  calling 
a  General  Assembly — Papers  received 
from  Committee  of  Safety — 'Rules  and 
Regulations  of  Congress — Powers  con- 
ferred on  Committee  of  Supplies — Condi- 
tion of  Ordnance  and  Ordnance  Stores — 
Form  of  Commission  for  Officers — Pass 
to  be  used  by  Members  of  Congress — 
Poor  to  be  removed  from  Boston — Order 
of  distribution  and  support — Inhabitants  of 
Lexington  and  others  supplied  with  Pro- 
visions— Letter  to  Delegates  now  in  Con- 
necticut— Authenticated  copies  of  divers 
Papers  sent  to  Continental  Congress — Re- 
port of  Committee  of  Ways  and  Means — 
£100.000  to  be  raised  on  Colony  secu- 
rities— their  form — Application  to  General 
Gage  for  release  of  Prisoners — Rev.  Mr. 
Gordon  chosen  Chaplain — His  Excellency 
General  Gage  denounced,  and  no  obedi- 
ence to  be  paid  to  any  of  his  acts  or  do- 
ings— Delegates  to  new  Congress  to  be 
chosen — Letter  to  Assembly  of  Connecti- 
cut— Letter  to  General  Ward  and  Select- 
men of  Boston — Stores  to  be  imported  by 
Committee  of  Supplies— Pay  of  Artille- 
ry— Narrative  of  attack  on  Lexington  and 
Concord  to  be  published — Oath  to  be  ad- 
ministered to  Officers  and  Soldiers — Sus- 
pected persons  on  examination  to  be  dis- 
armed—  Post-Offices  and  Riders  to  be 
established — Records  of  the  several  Coun- 
ties to  be  secured — Remonstrance  to  Gen- 
eral Gage — Rev.  Mr.  Gordon's  leave  to 
visit  British  Prisoners — Proceedings  on 
the  proposition  of  taking  up  and  exercising 
the  powers  of  Civil  Government  in  all  its 
parts — Committee  recommend  application 
to  Continental  Congress  on  this  subject — 
Rev.  Dr.  Langdon  appointed  to  preach 
a  Sermon  on  31st  May — Third  Commit- 
tee appointed  to  take  Depositions  concern- 
ing Battle  of  Lexington  —  Post-Offices, 
Post  Roads.  Postmasters,  and  Rates  of 
Postage  established — Resolution  concern- 
ing the  removal  of  effects  out  of  the  Colo- 
ny— Embassy  to  Canada  proposed — Court 
of  Inquiry  proposed — Doctor  Church  sent 
to  American  Congress  with  despatches — 
Communication  to  Connecticut  on  subject 
of  assuming  Government — Letter  from 
Edward  Mott  and  Ethan  Allen,  on  cap- 
ture of  Ticonderoga — Oath  of  General 
Officers  in  the  Army — Jonas  Dix  ap- 
pointed to  take  Depositions  on  conduct 
of  British  Army — Letter  to  Assembly  of 
Connecticut  on  capture  of  Ticonderoga — 
Army  Officers  recommended  not  to  be 
chosen  Members  of  Congress — Commit- 


Massachusetts-J3ay — 

tee  of  Safety  chosen — Lady  Frankland 
permitted  to  go  to  Boston — Powers  of 
Committee  of  Safety — General  Ward's 
Commission — Depositions  and  Narrative 
of  Excursion  of  the  King's  Troops  to 
Concord  to  be  published  in  pamphlet 
form — Removal  into  Boston  in  part  pro- 
hibited— Notes  of  Credit  issued — Chap- 
lains to  the  Army — Officers  commission- 
ed— Tories'  Estates  not  permitted  to  be 
alienated  by  them — Farther  Organization 
of  the  A  i  my — Proceedings  against  Ebe- 
nezer  Cutler — Farther  Proceedings  re- 
specting the  Poor  of  Boston — Returns  of 
the  Officers  of  the  respective  Regiments, 

763-830 

General  Assembly  of — Proceedings  of  the 
Provincial  Congress  on  Precepts  lately 
issued  by  General  Gage  to  convene,       -  772 

Provincial  Congress  recommend  not  to  obey 
such  Precepts,    -  785-'6 

Committee  of  Safety  remodelled,      -       -  81$ 

James  Easton  to  Provincial  Congress,  on 

Ticonderoga,      -  849 

Explanation  of  divers  Inhabitants  of  Salem, 
concerning  an  Address  to  Gov.  Hutchinson,  852 

Brookfield  Committee,  Letter  from  Joshua 
Upham — denies  being  an  enemy  to  his 


Country,    ------  852 

Committee  of  Safety  to  Sudbury  Commit- 
tee, releasing  Ezra  Taylor,   -       -       -  853 
Hopkinton  Selectmen  to  Provincial  Congress,  853 
Chebacco  Committee,  Letter  from  Manches- 
ter Committee,  on  Movements  of  the  Bri- 
tish,   854 

Worcester  Convention  Proceedings,    -       -  865 

Committee  of  Safety,  Letter  from  R.  Temple,  866 

Stephen  Nye  to  Nathaniel  Freeman,  -  866 

Provincial  Congress,  Letter  from  Selectmen 

of  Scarborough,  ....  gg7 

Same,  Letter  from  Selectmen  of  Edgartown,  867 

Same,  Letter  from  Inhabitants  of  Berwick,  867 

Same,  Letter  from  Selectmen  of  Bedford,  -  868 
General  Ward,  Letter  from  New-Hampshire 

Congress,   868 

Letter  received  at  Watertown  from  London,  870 
Letter  from  a  Gentleman  in  Provincial  Camp 

to  New- York,   874 

Alexander  Walker's  Recantation,       -       -  875 


Salem,  "  An  American  "  to  the  Americans,  875 

Provincial  Congress,  Letter  from  Reverend 
Samuel  Langdon,  communicating  Resolu- 
tions of  a  Convention  of  Ministers  con- 
cerning Chaplain,        ....  875 

Lunenburgh  Selectmen  to  Dr.  John  Tavior, 
in  Provincial  Congress,        -       -       -  876 

Provincial  Congress,  Petition  of  William 

Tallman  and  others,    -  876 

Provincial  Congress,  Letter  from  William 
Lithgow,  894 

Committee  of  Safety,  Letter  from  Colonel 
Richard  Gridley,         -       -       -       -  894 

Provincial  Congress,  Letter  to  Henry  Gardi- 
ner, Receiver-General,  on  signing  Bills,  900 

Arundel  Committee  to  Provincial  Congress, 
on  seizure  of  a  coasting  Sloop  by  the  Bri- 
tish,   -  900-'2 

Provincial  Congress,  Letter  from  Loammi 
Baldwin  on  Surveys  and  Instruments,     -  902 

Same,  Letter  from  New-Hampshire  Con- 
gress, on  Canada,       ....  902 

Committee  of  Safety,  Letter  from  Mrs.  Bow- 
doin,   906-9 

Captain  Drury's  Company  to  General  Ward,  914 

Provincial  Congress,  Letter  from  Colonel 
Scammons's  Officers,  -       -       -  914 

Same,  Letter  from  James  Easton,  on  Indians 
and  Canada,       -  919 

Committee  of  Safety,  Letter  from  New- York 
Congress,  928 


1929 


INDEX. 


1930 


Massachusetts-Bay — 

Provincial  Congress,  Letter  from  Selectmen 

of  Lancaster,  -  930 
Same,  Letter  from  Belfast  Committee,  -  930 
Same,  Petition  from  Davis  and  Coverly,  -  931 
Same,  Letter  from  Governour  Trumbull,    -  936, 

10-26,  1090,  1116 
Same  to  the  Mobeakounuck  Indians,  -  937 
Same,  Letter  from  Ethan  Allen,  on  Canada 

and  Indians,  .....  939 
Same,  Letter  from  Abiathar  Angel,  -  -  941 
Same,  Letter  from  John  Lane,  on  Indians,  942 
Same,  Letter  from  Elisha  Hewes,  -  943,  958 
Same,  Letter  from  John  Hancock,  President 

of  Continental  Congress,  -  -  955,  1000 
Same  to  Continental  Congress,         -       -  959, 

970,  1039,  1616 

Same,  Letter  from  Alexander  McDougall,  966 
Same,  Letter  from  Henry  Howell  Williams,  971 
Springfield  Committee  Proceedings,  -  971 

Chelmsford,  Sic,  Committee  Proceedings,  972 
Kittery  Committee  of  Safety  Proceedings,  972 
Committee  of  Safety,  Letter  from  Elisha 
Phelps,      ------  973 

Same,  Letter  from  Joseph  Palmer,  -  -  978 
Provincial  Congress,  Letter  from  Lemuel 

Trescott,  -  978 

Same,  Letter  from  New-Hampshire  Com- 
mittee of  Safety,         -  979 
Committee  of  Safety,  Letter  from  Falmouth 

Committee,        .....  955 
Provincial  Congress'  Instructions  to  Commis- 
sioners to  Ticonderoga,        ...  qqq 
Provincial   Congress,  Letter   from  Josiab 

Jones  and  Jonathan  Hicks,  -  -  988 
Same,  Letter  from  Machias  Committee,  988,  1017 
Worcester  Committee,  Letter  from  General 

Ward,  1003 

Provincial  Congress  to  New-Hampshire  Con- 
gress,  1003 

William  Stoddard  to  Capt.  James  Littlefield,  1003 
"Sidney,"  Address  at  Salem  to  Soldiers  and 

Seamen  of  British  Fleet  and  Army,  -  1004 
Provincial  Congress,  Letter  from  Samuel 

Langdon,  President  Harvard  College,  -  1004 
Same,  Letter  from  "  S.  L.,"  -  -  -1005 
Falmouth  Committee  to  Provincial  Congress, 

on  Penobscot  Indians,  .  -  -  -  1005 
Proclamation  by  Provincial  Congress,  16th 

June,  1775,  .....  101 1 
Provincial  Congress,  Letter  from  Selectmen 

of  Edgartown,     -----  1013 
Committee  of  Safety,  Letter  from  Commit- 
tee of  Supplies,  -       -         1017,  1022 
Captain  Elijah  Hide's  Account  of  Engage- 
ment at  Charlestown,  -       -       -       -  1018 
Provincial  Congress,  Letters  from  General 

Thomas,    -  1021,  1119 

Committee  of  Supplies  to  the  several  Towns,  1022 
Gov.  Gage's  Proclamation,  19  June,  1775,  1027 
Provincial  Congress,  Letter  from  Jos.  Ward,  1023 
Same,  Letter  from  Committee  of  Safety,  on 

Lexington,  Sic,  ....  1028 

Same,  Letter  from  General  Ward,  -  -  1041 
Same,  Letter  from  Townsend  Selectmen,  1041 
Same,  Letter  from  Stockbridge  Indians,  -  1049 
Same,  Letter  from  Thomas  Twining,  and 

Proceedings  of  the  Town  of  Eastham,  1050— '55 
Proceedings  of  the  same  on  Twining  and 

Amos  Knowles,  Jun.,  ...  1055 

Provincial  Congress,  Letters  from  General 

Ward,       -       -       -  1061,1080,1119 
Same,  Letter  from  B.  Greenleaf,      -       -  1062 
Same,  Letter  from  Stephen  Hooper,          -  1062 
Publication  at  Cambridge  on  Battle  of  Bun- 
ker's Hill,  1062 

Provincial  Congress,  Letter  from  Albany 

Committee,        -----  1064 
Same,  Letter  from  Manchester  Selectmen,  1068 
Publick  Fast  ordered  by  Provincial  Con- 
gress,  1080 


Massach  usctts-Ba  y — 

General  Wooster,  Letter  from  Thaddeus 
Burr,  enclosing  Letter  of  Isaac  Lothrop 
on  Battle  at  Charlestown,     ...  1089 

Provincial  Congress  to  Andrew  Gilman,  of 
Canada,  appointing  him  honorary  Lieu- 
tenant,  1090 

Same,  Letter  from  John  Lane  on  Indian 
Affairs,  -  1090 

Committee  of  Safety  to  Selectmen  of  Brad- 
ford,        -       -       -       -       -       -  1091 

Provincial  Congress,  Letter  from  General 
Ward,  enclosing  Resolution  of  Continental 
Congress,  -       -       -       -       -  J 107 

Committee  of  Safety,  Letter  from  Northfield 
Committee,        -       -       -       -       -  11  OS 

Provincial  Congress,  Letter  from  Plymouth 
Committee,        .....  1108 

Committee  of  Safety,  Letter  from  Elisha 
Phelps,  11  Hi 

Provincial  Congress,  Letter  from  Governour 
Cooke,  of  Rhode-Island,      -  1118 

Same,  Letter  from  Colonel  D.  Brewer,      -  1 J 19 

Same,  Letter  from  Col.  Prescott  and  others,  1119 

Committee  of  Provincial  Congress  to  Conti- 
nental Congress,         ....  1120 

Provincial  Congress,  Letter  from  Portsmouth 

Committee  concerning  James  Henderson,  1122 

Provincial  Congress,  Letter  from  Biddeford 

Committee,        -       -       -       -       -  1127 

Same,  Letters  from  Committee  of  Safety,  -  1127, 

1141 

Same,  Letter  from  John  O'Brien,  on  behalf 

of  Inhabitants  of  Machias,    -  1128 
Worcester  County  Proceedings,        -       -  1140 
Committee  of  Safety,  Letter  from  General 
Thomas,    -       -       -       -       -       -  1141 

Same,  Letter  from  General  Heath,  -  -  1141 
Committee  of  Supplies  to  New-Hampshire 

Committee  of  Safety,  -       -       -  1142 

Eulogium  on  General  Warren,  -       -  1142 

Committee  of  Safety  meets  31st  of  May, 
1775 — Sermon  by  President  Langdon — 
Letter  to  Provincial  Congress — Return 
to  Provincial  Congress  of  Officers  who 
have  been  commissioned,  or  received  en- 
couragement for  commission — Resolution 
requesting  Returns  of  the  Army — Debates 
and  determinations  to  be  kept  secret — Al- 
lowance of  Provisions  for  each  Soldier — 
Resolution  for  increasing  the  Army — Re- 
commendation to  go  armed  on  the  Lord's 
Day — Resolution  to  keep  sufficient  force 
at  Bunker's  Hill — John  Badger  required 
to  surrender  his  House  for  a  Hospital  for 
Small-Pox  Patients — Commanders  of  Mi- 
litia ordered  to  hold  their  men  in  readiness 
to  march  to  Cambridge — Hospital  for 
Colony  Army — Doctors  Eustis  and  Fos- 
ter, Surgeons — Farther  Proceedings  on 
Battle  at  Lexington — Aids-de-Camp  re- 
commended— Works  begun  on  Winter 
Hill  to  be  finished  —  Encampment  on 
Prospect  Hill  to  be  inspected — Supervisor 
of  the  Camp  recommended — Doctor  John 
Warren  appointed  Hospital  Surgeon  — 
Farther  issue  of  Bills  of  Credit — Fair 
and  honest  Representation  of  the  Battle 
at  Charlestown  to  be  drawn  up — Recom- 
mendation to  the  Grand  American  Con- 
gress to  seize  every  Crown  Officer — Re- 
tailing of  Spirituous  Liquors  near  the 
Camps  recommended  to  be  suppressed — 
Instructions  to  Recruiting  Officers  recom- 
mended— John  Vassal's  House  to  be  re- 
paired for  the  residence  of  General  Wash- 
ington— Monsieur  Viart  delivered  up  by 
General  Washington — Rev.  Dr.  Cooper, 
Rev.  Mr.  Gardiner,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Peter 
Thatcher,  desired  to  draw  up  a  true  state- 
ment of  Battle  of  Charlestown,  and  lay 


1 931 


INDEX. 


1932 


Massachusetts- Bay — 

it  before  this  Committee — Certain  Prison- 
ers sent  to  Congress — Account  of  Battle 
of  Charlestown  accepted  and  ordered  to 
be  transmitted  to  England — Letter  to  Ar- 
thur Lee  concerning  the  above  account, 

1347-'76 

Provincial  Congress,  31st  of  May,  1775 — 
Sermon  by  President  Langdon — Copy  re- 
quested for  publication — Papers  relative 
to  Fortress  at  Ticonderoga,  &ic. — Moni- 
tors appointed,  Rules  and  Orders  estab- 
lished— Conduct  of  Stephen  Higginson 
before  Committee  of  Parliament  approved 
— Letter  to  Colonel  Arnold — Letter  to 
House  of  Assembly  of  Connecticut — Let- 
ter to  Provincial  Congress  of  New-Hamp- 
shire— Nine  Chaplains  to  be  chosen  for 
the  Army — Rev.  Mr.  Gordon  appointed 
Chaplain  of  Congress — Inhabitants  re- 
commended to  abandon  Sea-Coasts  and 
Islands — All  intercepted  Letters  to  be  laid 
before  the  Congress — Committee  appoint- 
ed to  give  currency  to  Bills  of  Credit  of 
all  the  Governments  on  the  Continent — 
Committee  Report  on  Bills  of  Credit  of 
the  other  Colonies — Loarnmi  Baldwin  to 
have  use  of  Instruments  from  the  Col- 
lege— Proceedings  on  Canada  and  In- 
dians— Address  to  Moheakounuck  Indians 
— Exportations  to  Quebeck,  he,  prohib- 
ited— Proceedings  on  Prisoners  at  Arun- 
del— Addresses  to  Continental  Congress 
on  Ticonderoga,   &tc.  —  Exportation  of 
Fish,  &c,  recommended  to  be  prohibit- 
ed— Letters  from  Governour  Trumbull, 
Colonel  Arnold,  and  Continental  Con- 
gress— John  Whitcomb  chosen  First  Ma- 
jor-General— Instructions  to  Committee 
appointed  to  go  to  Ticonderoga — Library 
and  Apparatus  of  Harvard  College  to  be 
secured — Letters  to  Continental  Congress 
and  New-England  Governments — Depo- 
site  of  Fire-Arms  in  Magazine — Commit- 
tee to  take  care  of  Estates  of  Refugees — 
Report  of  Committee  on  claims  of  ap- 
pointments of  Colonels  in  the  Army — 
Supply  of  Spirituous  Liquors  on  extraor- 
dinary occasions — Report  of  Committee 
on  violation  of  the  Sabbath — Proclamation 
in  answer  to  Proclamation  of  Governour 
Gage — Report  of  Committee  on  Increase 
of  Army,  &c. —  Farther  Resolution  on 
supply  of  Arms — Committee  appointed 
to  prepare  Letter  to  Continental  Congress 
on  attack  of  Bunker's  Hill — Hon.  James 
Warren  chosen  President;  Vice,  Joseph 
Warren — Resolution  of  Continental  Con- 
gress on  erecting  Government  in  Massa- 
chusetts— Letter  to  Continental  Congress, 
containing  account  of  Battle  of  Bunker's 
Hill,  &lc. — Wm.  Heath  appointed  Major- 
General — Farther  Proceedings  on  Refu- 
gees— ' Address  from  Penobscot  Chief — 
Report  on  Penobscot  Indians — Report  on 
Colonel  Phinney's  Regiment — Report  of 
Committee  appointed  to  inquire  into  mis- 
conduct in  the  late  engagement  at  Bun- 
ker's Hill — Harvard  College  Library  to 
be  removed — Lieutenant  Cox  arrested — 
Letter  to  Governour  Trumbull — Recep- 
tion of  General  Washington — Petition  of 
Committee  of  Correspondence  of  Ply- 
mouth— Letter  to  Albany  Committee  on 
Bunker's  Hill  Battle — Report  of  Com- 
mittee on  Bills  of  Credit — Committee  to 
prepare  Address  to  General  Washington — 
Address  to  the  Counties  of  Worcester  and 
New-Hampshire  —  Distribution  of  Pow- 
der— Deputy  Commissaries  appointed — 
Trial  of  Criminals  on  the  Sea-Coast — 


Massachusetts-Bay — 

Letter  to  Governour  of  Connecticut — Sick 
and  Wounded  provided  for — Address  to 
General  Washington,  and  his  Answer — 
Address  to  General  Charles  Lee,  and  his 
Answer — Light-houses  supplied — Petition 
of  Joseph  Barrell — Letter  from  Alexander 
Shepard  on  his  Survey  of  Province  of 
Maine — Letter  from  Colonel  Gridley — 
Answer  to  a  Letter  from  New-Hampshire 
— Letter  to  Governour  Trumbull — Sur- 
geons and  Surgeons'  Mates  appointed — 
Report  of  Committee  on  Drawbridge  at 
Cambridge  —  Report  of  Committee  on 
supply  of  Spirituous  Liquors  to  Stock- 
bridge  Indians — Letter  to  General  Wash- 
ington— Clothing  for  the  Army — Com- 
mittee returns  from  Ticonderoga — Report 
on  their  mission  —  Farther  Proceedings 
on  Bills  of  Credit — Letter  from  General 
Ward — Supply  of  General  Washington's 
table — Pay  of  Samuel  Freeman,  Secre- 
tary of  Congress — Report  of  Committee 
on  state  of  Nantucket — Letters  to  or  from 
Continental  Army  to  be  free  of  Postage — 
Answer  to  Letters  from  New-Hampshire 
Congress — Report  of  Committee  on  sale 
of  Ardent  Spirits  to  Troops — Report  on 
seizure  of  Crown  Officers — Letter  from 
John  Scollay,  on  Poor  of  Boston — Letter 
from  Indian  Chiefs  to  Andrew  Gilman — 
Letter  to  Continental  Congress — Letter 
from  General  Lee,  communicating  a  Let- 
ter from  General  Burgoyne — Answer  to 
General  Lee — Committee  appointed  to 
confer  with  General  Washington — Memo- 
rial of  William  Hunt  and  Lady  Frank- 
land — Letter  to  Governour  Trumbull — 
Roll  of  Captain  Noble's  Company — Com- 
mittee Report  on  temporary  re-enforce- 
ment of  the  Army,  ( See  Note) — Letter 
from  General  Washington's  Secretary — 
Captain  Stone  appointed  President  of  this 
Congress — Excused,  and  Colonel  Benja- 
min Lincoln  appointed — Recommendation 
not  to  kill  Sheep  or  Lambs — Resolutions 
on  Prisoners  of  War — Report  on  Commis- 
sion of  Committee  of  Safety — Congress 

dissolved,   1375-1518 

Provincial  Congress,  Letter  from  Commit- 
tee of  Secrecy  of  New- York,       -       -  1537 
Same,  Letter  from  New-Hampshire  Con- 
gress, enclosing  a  Letter  from  Doctor 
Wheelock  on  Canada  and  Indians,         -  1541 
Dukes  County  Committee  Proceedings,     -  1589 
Committee  from  Crown  Point  Committee 

on  mutinous  conduct  of  Colonel  Arnold,  1596 
Provincial  Congress,  Letter  from  Committee 

and  Selectmen  of  Harpswell,        -       -  1612 
President  of  Provincial   Congress,  Letter 
from  General  Washington,  on  condition 

of  Army,  1623 

Notification  by  Town  Clerk  of  Boston,      -  1637 
Extract  of  a  Letter  from  the  Camp  at  Cam- 
bridge,  1637 

Provincial  Congress,  Letter  from  General 

Charles  Lee,  1638 

Answer  to  the  above,      ....  1(533 
Publication  signed  "An  Old  Man,"  on  Let- 
ter from  Gen.  Burgoyne  to  Gen.  Lee,    -  1639 
"  A  Countryman  "  to  General  Burgoyne,   -  1641 
Committee  of  Safety,  Letter  from  Bradford 

Committee,       -       -       -       -       -  1648 
Provincial  Congress,  Letter  from  Edmund 

Bridge,  1648 

Letter  from  Cambridge,  on  Noddle  Island,  1650 
Committee  of  Supplies  to  New-Hampshire 

Congress,         -       -       -       -  -1651 
Lancaster  Committee  Proceedings,    -       -  1678 
Declaration  of  Continental  Congress,  setting 
forth  the  causes  and  necessity  of  taking 


1933 


INDEX. 


1934 


Massachusetts-Bay — 

up  Arms,  read  before  the  People  and  the 
Army  at  Cambridge,   -  1687 

Council  to  General  Gates,  on  disposition  of 
Prisoners,  ------  1749 

General  Assembly,  Letter  from  General 
Washington,       -----  1764 

Resolution  of  Continental  Congress  on  the 
Government  of,  ....  1845 

McDougall,  Alexander,  to  Josiah  Quincy,  Jun.,  -  283 
McClary,  Andrew,  to  New-Hampshire  Provincial 
Congress,  on  conduct  of  some  of  their 
Troops,     ------  378 

McCulloch,  Adam,  publishes  his  determination  to 

adhere  to  the  cause  of  the  Country,      -  1642 
Mecklenburgh  Resolutions,  (See  North-Carolina.) 
Mississippi,  Governour  Browne  encourages  Emi- 
gration and  Settlement  in  West-Florida, 
on  the  Mississippi  River,     -       -  992-1000 
Mobs,  "Lucius"  on  the  representations  concerning 

them  in  Vol.  I.  Folio  1260,  -       -  156 

Mollison,  William,  His  conduct  justified  by  Richard 

Glover,      ------  464 

Money,  Continental,  Two  Million  Dollars  struck,  1031 
Morris,  Gouverneur,  Correspondence  with  Richard 

H.  Lee,  on  Rivington's  case,        -       -  726 
Morris,  Lewis,  Answers  Protest  of  Westchester 
County  against  choosing  Deputies  to  elect 
Delegates  to  Continental  Congress,        -  323 
JSavy,  British,  Proclamation  of  Admiral  Graves,   -  525 

Address  of  "  Sidney"  to  Seamen,     -       -  1004 

Captain  Montague  to  Captain  Squire,        -  1692 

Proclamation  on  destruction  of  Light-houses 
by  the  Americans,      ...       -  1696 
New-  Hampshire — 

Articles  of  Enlistment  at  Durham,    -  31-32 

Proceedings  of  Board  of  Trade  and  Plan- 
tations, respecting  Lands  disputed  with 
New- York,  136 

"  The  Spectator  "  to  Governour  Wentworth,  159 

Portsmouth  Association,  ...  251 

Portsmouth  Volunteers,  ...  299 

Proceedings  of  Committee  for  New-Hamp- 
shire Grants,      -       -       -       -       -  315 

"Green  Mountain  Boys"  resident  in  New- 
Hampshire  Grants,      -  1535 

"  Candidates  "  at  Portsmouth  to  the  People,  334 

Letter  from  Newburyport,  on  attack  of  Lex- 
ington and  Concord,    -  359 

Provincial  Congress,  Letter  from  Committee 
of  Safety  of  Massachusetts  on  same,      -  373 

Andrew  McClary,  at  Cambridge,  on  conduct 
of  some  of  the  New-Hampshire  Troops,  378 

Letter  from  Massachusetts  Committee  of 
Safety,  on  enlisting  Men,  -       -  385 

1    H.  Jackson  to  Colonel  Jeremiah  Lee,  on 

re-enforcement,  -----  385 

Provincial  Congress,  Letter  from  Colonel 
John  Wentworth,        -  394 

Provincial  Convention  to  Provincial  Con- 
gress of  Massachusetts,        -       -       -  401 

Answer  to  the  above,      -  429 

Sandbornton  Selectmen  to  Provincial  Con- 
gress,       ------  433 

Meeting  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Londonder- 
ry— Stephen  Holland  avows  his  attach- 
ment to  his  Country,         ...  447 

Petition  from  New-Castle,  N.  H.,  to  Provin- 
cial Congress  of  Massachusetts  for  Am- 
munition, ------  486 

Assembly  meets,  4th  May,  1775.  Commu- 
nications from  New-York  Assembly — Ad- 
dress to  and  from  the  Governour,  J.  Went- 
worth— Adjourned  by  the  Governour,  519-'24 

P.  Bailey,  James  McMaster,  Thomas  Ach- 


incloss,  their  Recantation,     -       -       -  552 

Portsmouth  Town-Meeting  Proceedings,    -  611 

Marlow  Committee  to  Provincial  Committee,  612 

Town  of  Alstead  to  Provincial  Congress,  -  612 
Portsmouth  Committee  to  Provincial  Con- 


gress,   632, 896 


New-Hampsh  ire — 

John  Stark  to  Provincial  Congress,  -  639,  739 
Provincial  Congress  to  Governour  of,  -  640 
Committee  of  Safety  Proceedings — Armed 

Forces  ordered  to  be  raised,  -  -  648 
Provincial  Congress,  May  17,  1775.  Post- 
Office  established  at  Portsmouth — Arms  to 
be  procured — Manufactures  encouraged — 
Two  thousand  Men  to  be  raised — approve 
removal  of  Gunpowder  from  William  and 
Mary  Castle  —  Officers  appointed  —  In- 
structions to  Committee  of  Safety — Dis- 
approve conduct  of  Governour  in  creating 
new  Members  of  Assembly — Several  AdT 
dresses  prepared — Brigadier-General  Fol- 
som  commissioned  as  First  Commander — 
Secrecy  enjoined — Bills  of  Credit  issu- 
ed,   647-'60 

Proceedings  communicated  to  Massachusetts 
Congress,  ------  664 

Delegates  at  Philadelphia  to  Provincial  Com- 
mittee on  Indians  and  Guy  Johnson,  -  669 
Provincial  Congress  to  Deputies  in  Conti- 
nental Congress,  -  -  696,  894-'5 
Same  to  Continental  Congress,  -  -  696 
Same  to  Massachusetts  Congress,  -  -  697 
Letter  from  Colonel  John  Fenton,  on  Indian 

Affairs,  698 

Committees  of  Safety — Portsmouth,  Green- 
land, and  Rye  Proceedings,  -       -  701 
Provincial  Congress,  Letter  from  Massachu- 
setts Congress,    -       -       -       -       -  717 
Present  condition  given  by  their  Delegates 

in  Continental  Congress,  ...  725 
Ebenezer  Lovering's  Recantation,  -  -  725 
Letters  from  Massachusetts  Congress,  on  Ti- 

conderoga,         -  737,  876 

Portsmouth    Committee   to  Newburyport 

Committee,  -----  740 
Account  of  Damage  done  by  British  to  Fort 

Will  iam  and  Mary,      -       -       -       -  740 
Provincial  Congress  to  Colonel  Stark,        -  868 
Same,  Letters  from  Portsmouth  Commit- 
tee,   868,  937 

Meshech  Weare  to  Provincial  Congress,  -  869 
Committee  of  Safety,  Letter  from  Winborn 

Adams,  869 

Provincial  Congress,  Letter  from  Charles 
Johnson,    ------  869 

Same,  Letter  from  Joseph  Kelly,      -       -  878 
Same,  Letter  from  Nathaniel  Shaw,  -  894 

Same  to  New- York  Provincial  Congress,  on 

Ticonderoga,      -----  895 

Same  to  Massachusetts  Congress,  on  Canada,  902 
New-Hampshire  Grants — William  Duer  to 

New- York  Congress,  -  910 
Conway  Town-Meeting  Proceedings,  -  914 
John  Prentice  renounces  his  Signature  in 

favour  of  Governour  Hutchinson,  -  921 
Provincial  Congress  Proceedings,  -  -  937 
Same,  Letters  from  John  Hancock,  President 

Continental  Congress,  -  -  956,  1034 
Same,  Letter  from  Conway  Committee,  -  958 
Committee  of  Safety  to  Massachusetts  Con- 
gress, 979 
Exeter  Committee  to  Conway  Committee,  979 
Provincial  Congress,  Letters  from  Massa- 
chusetts Congress,  -  -  -  1003,  1383 
Committee  of  Safety,  Letter  from  Colonel 

Read,   1005-'7 

Same,  Letter  from  Colonel  Israel  Gilman,  1013 
Governour  Wentworth  to  Theodore  Atkinson,  1019 
General  Folsom,  Letter  from  Col.  Bartlett,  1022 
Provincial  Congress,  Letter  from  Col.  John 

Stark,  on  Charlestown  Battle,  -  -  1029 
Committee  of  Safety,  Letter  from  James 

McGregore,  1029 

Provincial  Congress,  Letter  from  Delegates 

in  Continental  Congress,      ...  1035 
Messrs.  Bucknam  and  Wales  to  Colonels 
Bailey  and  Hurd,  on  Indians  and  Canada,  1041 


1935 


INDEX. 


1936 


Ne  tv-Hampsh  in — 

Coininittee  of  Safely,  Letter   from  Rev. 

Samuel  Webster,        ....  1035 

Same,  Letter  from  General  Folsom,  on  Bun- 
ker Hill  Battle,  ....  1063 

Same,  Letters  from  same,  on  Colonel  Stark, 
&c,   1069,  1092 

Committee  of  Safetv,  Letters  from  General 

Folsom,     -       -  1081,1121,1529 

Provincial  Congress,  Letter  from  James 
McGregore,  1081 

Committee  of  Safety  to  General  Folsom,   -  1109, 

1128,  1529 

Mason  Committee  Proceedings,        -       -  1109 

Committee  of  Safety,  Letter  from  Massachu- 
setts Committee  of  Supplies,        -       -  1142 

House  of  Representatives  meets  12th  June, 
1775 — Answer  to  Govemour's  Speech — 
Message  from  Governour,     -    .   -      1175— '6 

Committee  of  Safety — Orders  to  Captain 
Elkins —  Provisions  and  Axes  for  the 
Troops — Col.  Poor's  Regiment  ordered 
to  march  to  Cambridge,  he,      -  1176-'79 

Provincial  Congress  meets  June  27,  1775 — 
Provincial  and  County  Records  removed 
to  Exeter  —  Staff  Officers  appointed  — 
Massachusetts  Rules  and  Regulations  of 
the  Army  adopted — Farther  Orders  re- 
specting removal  of  Records  —  General 
Folsom  to  rank  as  Major-General — Courts 
recommended  to  adjourn — Colonel  Fen- 
ton  imprisoned — Committee  on  Ticonde- 
roga,  Crown  Point,  and  Canada — Nicho- 
las Gilman,  Receiver-General  —  Doctor 
Wheelock  on  Canadian  Affairs  —  One 
Month's  Pay  to  Widows  and  legal  repre- 
sentatives of  Officers  and  Soldiers  killed — 
Fire-Arms  procured — 'Government  of  the 
Town  of  Monadnock — Farther  Bills  of 
Credit  issued — Committee's  Report  on 
removal  of  Records  — Letter  to  Conti- 
nental Congress — Adjourned  to  the  22d 
day  of  August,    -  1179-86 

Committee  of  Safety  to  Colonel  Reed,      -  1530 

Provincial  Congress,  Letter  from  Captain 
John  Langdon,  ....  1532 

Governour  Wentworth  to  Theodore  Atkin- 
son, Secretary  of  the  Colony,       -  1541,  1710 

Provincial  Congress  to  Massachusetts  Con- 
gress on  Canada,  enclosing  Letter  from 
Doctor  Wheelock,       ....  1541 

Same,  Letter  from  Hanover  and  Lebanon 
Committees,  on  Mr.  Dean's  return  from 
Canada,    ------  1542 

Same,  Letter  from  Theodore  Atkinson,  on 
delivery  of  Provincial  Records,     -       -  1600 

Governour  Wentworth,  Letter  from  same  on 
same  subject,      -       -       -       -  -1601 

Committee  of  Safety  to  Doctor  Langdon,   -  1612 

Same  to  Delegates  in  Continental  Congress,  1612 

Provincial  Congress  to  Continental  Con- 
gress,       -       -       -       -       -       -  1613 

Provincial  Congress,  Letter  from  Massachu- 
setts Committee  of  Supplies,        -       -  1651 

Francestown  Committee  Proceedings,        -  1651 

Hillsborough  Committee  Proceedings,       -  1652 

Exeter  Committee  of  Safety  Proceedings 
on  John  Quigly,         ....  1652 

Assembly,  14th  July,  1775 — Message  from 
Governour  Wentworth,  and  Answer  — 
Farther  Message  from  the  Governour,  1678-'80 

Hillsborough  Committee  of  Safety  to  Gen. 
Sullivan,  and  his  Answer,     ...  1689 

Committee  of  Safety,  Letters  from  General 
Sullivan,    -  ...  1690,  1755 

Same,  Letter  from  Colonel  Reed,     -       -  1690 

Provincial  Congress,  Letter  from  Continen- 
tal Congress,      .....  mi 

New-Ipswich  Committee  Proceedings  against 
David  Hills,  1711 

Provincial  Congress,  Letter  from  Col.  Hurd,  1740 


New -Hampshire — 

Committee  of  Safetv,  Letter  from  Captain 
Bedel,  1749 

Committee  of  Safety,  June  30,  1775 — Cer- 
tain Payments  ordered — Officers  appoint- 
ed and  instructed — Enlistments  ordered — 
Apprehension  of  Deserters  recommend- 
ed, -  -  -  -  1765-'8 
New-Jersey — 

Cumberland  County  Proceedings  against 
Silas  Newcomb,  for  using  Tea,  and  his 
Recantation,      -       -       -       -       -  34 

Monmouth  County  Committee  —  Proceed- 
ings on  Seditious  Writings  of  A.  W.  Far- 
mer and  J.  Rivington,         -       -       -  35 

Hackinsack  Resolutions  of  Loyalty,  he,   -  130 

Freehold  Resolutions  against  Inhabitants  of 
Shrewsbury,       -----  131 

"Essex"  to  "D.  C,"  in  favour  of  Ame- 
rica,   160,  232 

Freehold  Resolutions  against  Thomas  Leon- 
ard,  254 

Arthur  Lee  to  Speaker  of  House  of  Assem- 
bly,  339 

Newark  Committee  Resolutions  on  news  by 

express  from  Boston,  -       -       -  382 

Governour  Franklin's  Proclamation  conven- 
ing Assembly,    -----  426 

Perth  Amboy  Resolutions — Deputies  to  Pro- 
vincial Congress,        ....  426 

Morris  County  Meeting — Delegates  to  Pro- 
vincial Congress — Forces  to  be  raised — 
Officers  appointed,      ....  457 

Woodbridge  Committee  to  Massachusetts, 
on  the  Battle  of  Lexington  and  Concord, 
and  intelligence  from  Pennsylvania,  New- 
York,  he,        -  -       -       -  459 

Provincial  Committee  recommend  a  Pro- 
vincial Congress,         ...       -  467 

Essex  County — Aquackanonk  Proceedings,  478 

Upper  Freehold  Resolutions,    ...  504 

Newark — Proceedings — Association,  he,  505 

Somerset  County  Proceedings,         -  551 

Bergen  County  Committee  Proceedings,    -  579 

Assembly  meets  15th  May,  1775 — Commu- 
nication from  House  of  Representatives 
of  New-York — Gov.  Franklin's  Message 
— Message  to  Governour — King  approves 
certain  Acts  and  disapproves  others — New 
Treasurer  appointed — Address  to  Govern- 
our Franklin — His  Answer  thereto — Mes- 
sage from  Governour — Governour  pro- 
rogues the  Assembly,  -       -  589-604 

Newark  Committee  Proceedings  and  In- 
structions to  their  Deputies  in  Provincial 
Congress,  -  634-'6 

Instructions  to  Delegates  in  Continental  Con- 
gress,  661 

Provincial  Congress  meets  23d  May,  1775. 
Approve  appointment  of  Delegates  to 
Continental  Congress — Message  to  Con- 
tinental  Congress — Approve  their  Pro- 
ceedings— Letter  to  Provincial  Congress 
of  New- York  —  Associations  formed  — 
Propositions  from  Assembly  of  Connect- 
icut, and  Answer  thereto — Plan  for  Re- 
gulating Militia — Funds  raised,  and  Com- 
mittee of  Correspondence  appointed,  685-694 


Somerset  County  Military  Proceedings,  -  732 
Provincial  Congress  to  New-York  Congress,  845 
"  A  Jersey  Farmer  "  to  the  Inhabitants,  -  980 
Burlington  County  Committee  Proceedings,  1077 
Proceedings  of  Quakers,  ...  1590 
Windham  Committee  Proceedings,  -  -  1610 
Elizabcthtown  Committee  to  New- York  City 

Committee,  .....  1674 
Elizabethtown  Committee  Proceedings,  -  1674 
Same  to  New- York  Congress,  -       -  1726 

New-Brunswick  Committee  to  New- York 

Committee  of  Safety,  -  -  -  -  1733 
Somerset  County  Meeting  of  Freeholders,  1745 


1937 


INDEX. 


1938 


New-  York  State — 

Proceedings  at  Brookhaven,  disapproving  of 
Continental  Congress,  he,  -       -      36,  117 

Emissaries  sent  to  corrupt  Assembly,         -  123 

Ulster  County  choose  Committee  of  Obser- 
vation— Resolutions  approving  Proceed- 
ings of  Continental  Congress  for  improv- 
ing the  breed  of  Sheep — Against  James 
Rivington — Pamphlet  signed  by  A.  W. 
Farmer  publickly  burned — Approving  of 
succeeding  Congress,  -  131— '3 

Ulster  County  Committee  against  J.  Low, 
for  selling  Tea,  -       -       -       -  298 

Letter  to  Lieutenant-Governour  Colden  from 
Commissioners  for  Trade  and  Plantations, 
respecting  Lands  claimed  by  John  Van 
Rensselaer,  Simon  Fraser,  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Stewart,  James  Savage,  Samuel 
Bayard,  and  associates,  in  Westenhook  Pa- 
tent, and  disputed  Lands  between  New- 
York  and  New-Hampshire,  together  with 
the  Proceedings  thereon,      -       -        134— '7 

Tryon  County  Grand  Jury  and  Magistrates' 
Tory  Declaration,  - 

Selectmen  of  Billerica  to  General  Gage,  on 
the  treatment  of  Thomas  Ditson,  - 

Albany  Committee  appoint  Deputies  to 
choose  Delegates  to  Continental  Con- 


151 


153 


gress, 


176 


275 


282 


282 


304 
313 
314 
321 
323 


Rensselaerwyck  Manor  —  Thanks  to  their 

Members  of  the  General  Assembly,       -  176 
Dutchess  County — Poughkeepsie  Liberty- 
Pole  cut  down,   -----  176 
Cumberland  County,  Riotous  Proceedings  in,  214 
Cumberland  County  Committee  Proceedings 
on  Tories,  and  the  Murder  of  William 
French,     -       -       -       -       -  218-222 
Jamaica  Freeholders  decline  electing  Depu- 
ties to  choose  Delegates  to  Congress,     -  251 
Hempstead  Resolutions  in  favour  of  the 
King — Refusing  to  elect  Deputies,  &c, 
and  Address  to  the  Publick,         -  273-4 
Orange  County — Elect  Deputies  to  choose 

Delegates  to  General  Congress, 
Westchester   Borough  declines  to  choose 
Deputies,  &£C,  -       -       -       -  - 
White  Plains — Invitation  to  meet  and  vote 

against  choosing  Deputies,  - 
Dutchess  County  choose  Deputies  to  elect 
Delegates  to  Congress — Protest  of  seven 
.Precincts,  and  Answer  thereto, 
Staten  Island  refuses  to  appoint  Deputies,  - 
Westchester  County  appoints  Deputies, 
Westchester  County  Protest  against  same, 
Lewis  Morris  answers  above  Protest, 
Provincial  Convention,  20th  April,  1775 — 
Delegates  to  Continental  Congress — In- 
structions, -  35l-'8 
Jonathan    Fowler   and   George  Cornwall 
denounce  certain  Resolutions  previously 
signed  at  W'estchester,        -  446 
Council  meet — Statement  of  the  excitement 
in  the  City  and  State — Governour  Colden 
prorogues  the  General  Assembly,  459-'61 
Members  of  Assembly  to  General  Gage,    -  513 
Committee  of  Safety,  Correspondence  and 
Protection  at  Albany  from  Committee  of 
Safety  of  Massachusetts,      ...  523 
Westchester  County  Association  formed,    -  529 
Ulster  County,  Extract  of  a  Letter,  -       -  543 
Johannes  Sleght,  Ulster  County,  to  the  Pub- 
lick,  on  the  conduct  of  Jacobus  Low,     -  548 
Capture  of  Ticonderoga,         ...  556 
Albany  Committee  to  New- York  Commit- 
tee, on  above,     -----  605 
Newbury  Committee  Proceedings,    -       -  606 
Tryon  County — Palatine  District  to  Albany 

Committee,  on  conduct  of  Col.  Johnson,  637 
His  Letters,  ...       -     638,  661 

Inhabitants  of  Cortlandt  Manor  to  Inhabi- 
tants, 644 
Fourth  Series. — Vol.  ii.  122 


Nevo- 


661 

665 

671 
672 
677 

705 
711 


712 


715 


York  State — 

Colonel  Guy  Johnson  to  Magistrates  of  Sche- 
nectady and  Albany,  on  Indians,  - 

Resolutions  of  Tryon  County,  on  Guy  John- 
son and  Indians,  .... 

Albany  Committee  to  Tryon  County  Com- 
mittee, 

Same  to  Colonel  Guy  Johnson, 

Governour  Tryon  for  Earl  of  Dartmouth,  - 

Provincial  Congress  to  Governour  of  Con- 
necticut, ------ 

Same  to  Massachusetts  Committee  of  Safety, 

Sub-Committee  of  the  City  and  County  of 
Albany  to  Provincial  Congress,  concerning 
Indians  and  Colonel  Johnson, 

Provincial  Congress,  Letter  from  Massachu- 
setts Congress,    -       -       -       -  - 

Provincial  Congress  to  Governour  of  Con- 
necticut, on  Ticonderoga  and  Crown 
Point,   728,  916 

Albany  Committee,  Letter  from  Assembly  of 
Connecticut,  on  Ticonderoga  and  Crown 
Point,  

Richmond  County  Freeholders  appoint  Dele- 
gates to  Provincial  Congress — Committee 
to  Committee  of  New- York, 

Orangetown  Inhabitants  appoint  Delegates  to 
Provincial  Congress,    -       -       -  - 

Suffolk  County  Committee  the  same, 

Same  to  Committee  of  Brookhaven, 

Westchester  County  Committee  appoints 
Deputies  to  Provincial  Congress, 

Goshen  Freeholders  appoint  same, 

Ulster  County  same,       -       -       -  - 

Charlotte  County  same,  - 

Haverstraw  Freeholders  same, 

Mamicoting  Committee  sign  Association,  &,c, 

Cornwall  Inhabitants  appoint  Delegates  to 
Provincial  Congress,  - 

Dutchess  County  same,  - 

Brookhaven  Residents  same, 

Brooklyn  Town-Meeting  same, 


731 


831 

831 
831 

832 

832 
832 
832 
833 
834 
834 

834 

-  834 
835-'6 

-  837 

Provincial  Congress,  Letters  from  Commit- 
tee of  Connecticut,     -       -       -     838,  843 
King's  County  Committee  choose  Delegates 

to  Provincial  Congress,        -  838 
Jamaica  Freeholders  same,       -  838 
Albany  Committee,  Letter  from  Benedict 
Arnold,  enclosing  his  Letters  to  Connect- 
icut Assembly  and  to  Capt.  Noah  Lee,  839-'41 
Albany  Committee  to  Committee  of  Palatine 

District,  on  Indians,  Sic,      -       -  841-'43 
Provincial  Congress,  Letter  from  Continen- 
tal Congress,  enclosing  Resolutions, 
Same,  Letter  from  Provincial  Congress  of 

New-Jersey,  - 
Same,  Letter  from  Samuel  Tudor,  tendering 

services  of  Artillery  Company, 
Same  to  their  Delegates  in  Continental  Con- 
gress,       -       -       -       -  - 

Letter  from  Albany  Committee,  enclosing 
intercepted  Letters,     -       -       -  - 

Provincial  Congress,  Letter  from  A.  Lott, 
Same,  Letter  from  Governour  Trumbull,  on 

Ticonderoga,  Sic,       ...  846-'7 
Delegates  in  Continental  Congress  to  Pro- 
vincial Congress,         -       -    850,  898,  1016 
Albany  Committee,  Letter  from  Governour 

Trumbull,  on  Ticonderoga,  &c,    -       -  850 
Provincial  Congress  to  Delegates  in  Conti- 
nental Congress,       873,  956,  975,  984,  1017 
Provincial  Congress,  Memorial  of  John  Spar- 
ding  to,     -----       -  873 

Tryon  County  Committee  to  Colonel  Guy 

Johnson,  on  Indians,  Sic,     -  878 
Provincial  Congress,  Letter  from  Robert  and 
John  Murray,  enclosing  Proceedings  of 
Continental  Congress,  &.c,   -       -  887-'9l 
Provincial  Congress,  Letter  from  John  Lamb,  891 
Same,  Letter  from  Ethan  Allen,  proposing 
Expedition  to  Canada..         ...  891 


844 


-  845 

-  845 

845 

846 
846 


1939 


INDEX. 


1940 


New-York  State — 

Provincial  Congress  to  Inhabitants  of  Que- 
beck,  893 

Same,  Letter  from  the  New-Hampshire  Pro- 
vincial Congress,  on  Ticonderoga,         -  895 

Proclamation  of  Governour  Colden  farther 
proroguing  General  Assembly,      -       -  899 

Provincial  Congress,  Letter  from  James  Riv- 
ington,  -       -       -       -       -  899 

Same,  Letters  from  General  Schuyler,  904,  1018 

Same,  Letter  from  William  Duer,  on  New- 
Hampshire  Grants,      ....  910 

Tryon  County  Committee,  Letter  from  Col. 

Guy  Johnson,  on  Indians,     -       -       -  911 

Provincial  Congress,  Letter  from  Frederick 
Weisenfels,  Marinus  Willett,  and  others, 
tendering  their  services,        ...  917 

Same,  Letter  from  Pierpont  Edwards,       -  917 

Kingston,  Ulster  County,  Proceedings,       -  917 

Provincial  Congress,  Letter  from  Captain 

Henry  B.  Livingston,  -  918 

Cumberland  County  Committee  Proceed- 
ings,  918,  934 

Provincial  Congress  to  Massachusetts  Com- 
mittee of  Safety,        -  928 

Same,  Letter  from  Abraham  Clark,  -       -  931 

Same  to  the  Continental  Congress,    -       -  931, 

983,  1734 

Same,  Letter  from  Gen.  Ward  and  others,  932 
Brookhaven  Committee  Proceedings,         -  933 
Provincial  Congress,  Letter  from  William 
Williams  and  others,  tendering  their  ser- 
vices,       ------  938 

Provincial  Congress,  Letters  from  John  Han- 
cock, President  Continental  Congress,    -  954, 

1076,  1132,  1673 
Same,  Letters  from  Delegates  in  Continen- 
tal Congress,      -         954,  1016,  1137,  1674 
Same  to  Governour  Trumbull,  -  957,  1114 

Same,  Letter  from  Robert  Boyd,  Jun.,  on 

Manufacture  of  Guns,         ...  957 
Tryon  County  Committee  appoint  Deputies 

to  Provincial  Congress,         ...  959 
Provincial   Congress,   Letter  from  Ulster 

County  Committee,    -  966 
Same,  Letter  from  William  Duer,     -       -  981 
Same,  Letter  from  William  Goddard,  on 

General  Post-Office,   -       -       -  98l-'3 
East-Hampton  Committee,  Letter  from  New- 
port, (R.  1.)  Committee,      ...  986 
Provincial  Congress  to  General  Wooster,    -  1000 
His  Answer,  -       -       -       -       -  1001 

Albany  Committee,  Letter  from  Adonijah 

Strong,  1000 

Account  of  Province  Stores  at  Albany,  -  1009 
Provincial   Congress,  Letter   from  Brook 

Watson,  1025 

Same,  Letters  from  Governour  Trumbull,  -  1025, 

1726 

Provincial  Congress,  Letters  from  Joseph 

Johnson,  a  Mohegan  Indian,  -  1047,  1577 
Albany  Committee  to  Continental  Congress,  1048 
Provincial  Congress,  Letter  from  William 

Elphinston,  -       -       -       -  1059 

Same,  Letter  from  Elisha  Phelps,  -  -  1059 
Cumberland  County  Committee  Proceedings,  1064 
Provincial  Congress,  Letter  from  J.  Lamb 

and  G.  Roorback,  -  -  -  -  1 106 
Joseph  French  to  Robert  Benson,  -  -  1 1 06 
Provincial  Congress,  Letter  from  R.  R. 

Livingston,  on  making  Powder,    -        -  1106 
Same,  Letter  from  President  of  Continental 
Congress,  enclosing  Appointments  of  Con- 
tinental Officers,         -       -       -       -  1114 
Same,  Letter  from  Thomas  Hicks,    -       -  1114 
Same,  Letter  from  Herman  Zedtwitz,  offer- 
ing to  raise  a  Regiment  in  Pennsylvania,  -  1115 
Same,  Letters  from  P.  T.  Curtenius,   1124,  1537 
Charlotte  County  Committee  Proceedings,  1124, 

1  134 

Address  to  Oneida  and  Tuscarora  Indians,     1 125 


New- York  State — 

Provincial  Congress,  Letters  from  General 

Schuyler,  -       -       -         1134,  1139 

Same,  Letter  from  Jacob  Bay  ley,     -       -  1134 
Same,  Letter  from  John  Lamb,        -       -  1140 
Provincial   Congress,  City  of  New-York, 
May  22,  1775.     Secrecy  enjoined  on 
certain  Proceedings  —  Proceedings  on  a 
Resolution  concerning  the  powers  of  the 
Continental  Congress  and  Provincial  Con- 
gress—  Recommendation  of  Continental 
Congress  on  protection  of  Ticonderoga, 
&.C. — Committee  of  House  of  Represent- 
atives of  Connecticut  appears — Letter  to 
the  Governour  of  Connecticut — Stores  at 
Ticonderoga  to  be  removed  —  Recom- 
mendation not  to  make  incursions  into 
the  Province  of  Quebeck — Arrangement 
of  Clergymen  to  act  as  Chaplains — In- 
structions to  the  Commissioners  for  re- 
moving Stores,  &c,  from  Ticonderoga — 
Resolution  approving  Proceedings  of  Con- 
tinental Congress  debated — Letter  to  Dele- 
gates in  Continental  Congress — Proceed- 
ings to  be  publick  during  discussion  on 
Paper  Currency  —  Militia  recommended 
to  Arm — Letter  to  Delegates  in  Continen- 
tal Congress,  with  divers  Despatches — 
Letter  addressed  to  the  People  of  Cana- 
da— Committee  appointed  to  prepare  a 
Plan  of  Reconciliation  between  Great  Bri- 
tain and  these  Colonies — Letter  from  Con- 
tinental Congress  on  Ticonderoga,  &c. — 
Provisions  ordered  to  be  purchased  for  Ti- 
conderoga, &ic. — Letter  from  James  Riv- 
ington  —  Embarkation  of  British  Troops 
not  to  be  obstructed — Letter  to  Inhabi- 
tants of  Tryon  County,  on  Delegates  to 
Continental  Congress  —  Letter  to  Guy 
Johnson  —  Letter  from  Albany  Commit- 
tee— Letter  to  and  from  the  Governour 
and  Company  of  Connecticut — Letter  and 
Report  on  King's  Bridge  sent  to  Delegates 
in  Continental  Congress — Philip  Schuyler 
recommended  to  Continental  Congress  as 
a  Major-General,  and  Richard  Montgom- 
ery as  a  Brigadier-General — Letter  to  Al- 
bany Committee — Two  Letters  to  Dele- 
gates at  the  Grand  Continental  Congress 

—  Mobs  discountenanced  —  Letter  to  the 
Committee  of  Safety  of  Massachusetts — 
James  Rivington  permitted  to  go  to  his 
family — Letter  to  General  Ward — Motion 
and  Debates  on  dismantling  the  Fort  in 
City  of  New- York — Powder-Mills  erected 
at  Rhynbeck — Bounty  on  Powder  manu- 
factured— Arms  taken  from  British  Troops 
to  be  restored  to  them — Robert  and  John 
Murray  restored  to  their  commercial  privi- 
leges— Map  of  Hudson  River  and  Plan  of 
Fortifications  presented  by  Colonel  Clin- 
ton and  Mr.  Tappan — Letter  from  Dele- 
gates in  Continental  Congress — Letter  to 
the  Merchants  of  Canada — Letter  to  Dele- 
gates in  Continental  Congress — Boyd  and 
Watkeys  employed  in  making  Muskets 

—  Artillery  Company  formed  —  Captain 
Thompson's  information  forwarded  to 
Connecticut — Angus  McDonald  arrested, 
Proceedings  thereon — Report  on  the  case 
of  William  Duer — Letter  from  William 
Goddard,  on  Post-Office — Information  of 
Capt.  Jeffrey  on  the  subject  of  the  Trans- 
ports, and  Letter  thereon  to  Major-Gene- 
ral Wooster — Deputies  from  Tryon  Coun- 
ty attend  —  Resolution  of  Continental 
Congress  on  Protection  of  New- York, 
&.C. — Letter  to  Governour  Trumbull — 
Passport  to  Canada  granted  Brook  Wat- 
son— Inoculation  for  Sinall-Pox  forbidden 
— Passport  to  Joseph  Johnson,  a  Molie- 


1941 


INDEX. 


1942 


New-  York  State— 

gan  Indian — Plan  of  Accommodation  with 
Great  Britain  discussed  and  agreed  to — 
Resolution  against  establishment  of  Ro- 
man Catholick  Religion  —  Letter  from 
Massachusetts  Congress — Letter  from  Al- 
bany Committee  on   French  Indians  — 
Address  to  His  Excellency  George  Wash- 
ington, Generalissimo,  and  preparations 
for  his  reception — His  Answer — Letter 
from  Committee  of  Intelligence  of  Charles- 
town,  S.  C,  enclosing  intercepted  Letter 
from  Governour  Gage  to  Governour  Mar- 
tin, of  North-Carolina — Form  of  Warrant 
of  Appointment,  and  Instructions  to  Mili- 
tary Officers — All  Muskets  and  Bayonets 
to  be  sent  to  New- York  City — Farther 
Discussions  on  Plan  of  Accommodation — 
Letter  to  Delegates  in  Continental  Con- 
gress, accompanying  Plan  of  Accommo- 
dation— Proceedings  on  King's  Stores  at 
Turtle  Bay — Killing  of  Lambs  prohibit- 
ed— Letter  to  Elisha  Phelps — Letter  to 
John  N.  Bleeker — Report  of  Committee 
on  directions  of  Continental  Congress  to 
General   Schuyler  —  Farther  agreement 
with  Boyd  and  Watkeys  for  Muskets — 
Letter  from  General  Schuyler — Uniform 
Coats  to  be  made  for  the  Troops — Ethan 
Alien  and  Seth  Warner  admitted  to  audi- 
ence— Green  Mountain  Boys  mustered 
into  service — Disapprove  of  intended  Ad- 
dress of  Corporation  of  New-York  to  Go- 
vernour Try  on — Supply  of  Provisions  to 
Fisheries  forbidden — -Letter  from  Govern- 
our Martin,  of  North-Carolina,  to  Henry 
White,  intercepted — Apprentices  enlisted 
to  be  returned  to  their  Masters — Commit- 
tee report  interview  with  Mr.  White  on 
the  intercepted  Letter  from  Governour 
Martin — William  McLeod,  a  British  Offi- 
cer, not  permitted  to  embark  for  Boston — 
Letter  from  Henry  White,  and  Proceed- 
ings thereon — A  Day  of  Fasting  and  Pray- 
er recommended — A  Committee  of  Safety 
appointed  to  act  during  recess  of  Congress 
— Instructions  to  the  same — Adjourned  to 
Tuesday  fortnight,       -       -       -  1241-1348 
President  of  Provincial  Congress,  Letter  from 

Edward  Fleming,  -       -       -  1526 

James  Ball's  Recantation,       ...  1528 
Provincial  Congress,  Letter  from  John  Alsop,  1532 
Proclamation  of  Governour  Try  on,    -       -  1533 
Governour  Tryon,  Letter  from  New- York 

Corporation,  and  his  Answer,        -       -  1534 
Provincial  Congress,  Letters  from  General 
Schuyler,  ------  1536, 

1647,  1649,  1671,  1704,  1711,  1731 
Same,  Letter  from  S.  Patrick,  -       -  1538 

Same,  Letter  from  Colonel  Hinman,         -  1538 
Same,  Letter  from  Walter  Spooner,  on  Ti- 

conderoga,  &ic,  ....  1539 

Same,  Letters  from  John  N.  Bleeker,  on 

Powder,  &c,     -  1570,  1701 

William  Schuyler  and  others  to  John  Mar- 

lett,  on  Guy  Johnson  and  others,  -  -  1571 
Provincial  Congress,  Letter  from  B.  Watson,  1571 
Same,  Letter  from  Burnet  Miller,  -  -  1577 
Same,  Letter  from  Delegates  in  Continental 

Congress,  on  Plan  of  Accommodation,  -  1591 
Same,  Letter  from  General  Wooster,  on  en- 
listed Apprentices  and  Servants,  -  -  1604 
Same,  Letter  from  Westchester  Committee,  1604 
Same,  Letter  from  Kingston  Committee,  -  1605 
Same,  Letters  from  Elisha  Phelps,    -       -  1605, 

1647,  1657 
Same,  Letter  from  North-Carolina  Delegates 

in  Continental  Congress,      ...  1609 
Same  to  Charles  Thomson,      ...  1609 
Falkenhan  and  Wolhaupter  offer  to  supply 
Drums  and  Fifes,        ....  1621 


New-York  State — 

Provincial  Congress,  Letter  from  J.  Grennell,  1644 
Same,  Letter  from  General  Wooster,         -  1645 
Same,  Letter  from  Egbert  Benson,    -       -  1657 
Albany  Committee  Proceedings,       -       -  1658 
Ulster  County,  Association  signed  by  per- 
sons who  had  refused  heretofore,    -       -  1659 
Committee  of  Safety,  Letter  from  General 

Wooster,    ------  1665 

Albany  Committee  to  General  Schuyler,    -  1666, 

1669,  1746 
Tryon  County  Committee  to  Albany  and 

Schenectady  Committees,  on  Indians,     -  1666 
Return  of  the  Armv  under  General  Schuy- 
ler, 1st  July,  1775,     ---       -  1667 

Provincial   Congress,  Letter  from  Tryon 

County  Committee,     ...       -  1668 
Same,  Letter  from  Newbury  (Gloucester 
County)  Committee,  -       -       -       -  1668 

Same,  Letter  from  Colonel  Guy  Johnson,  -  1696 
Examination  of  Garret  Roseboom  before 
Committee  of  Albany  on  Canada  and  In- 
dians,       ------  1670 

Committee  of  Safety,  Circular  to  Colonels 
of  Regiments,     -----  1674 

Same,  Letter  from  John  Lamb,        -       -  1675 
Provincial  Congress,  Letters  from  Albany 

Committee,        -  1675,  1753 

Committee  of  Safety,  Letter  from  Delegates 

in  Continental  Congress,      ...  1684 
Provincial  Congress,  Letter  from  Ethan  Al- 
len, -------  1695 

Huntington  Committee  Proceedings,  -  1699 

Committee  of  Safety,  Letter  from  Colonel 

James  Clinton,   -----  1700 

Same  to  Continental  Congress,         -       -  1719 
Same,  Letter  from  Colonel  Van  Schaick, 

with  Return  of  his  Regiment,     -       -  1719 
Provincial  Congress,  Letter  from  Elizabeth- 
town  Committee,        -  1726 
Same,  Letter  from  Christopher  Yates,       -  1726 
Marinus  Willett  and  others  to  Provincial 
Congress,  ------  1729 

Committee  of  Safety  to  General  Schuyler,  1730 
Schenectady  Committee  to  Gen.  Schuyler,  1730 
Committee  of  Safety,  Letter  from  New- 
Brunswick  Committee,        -  1733 
Provincial  Congress,  Letter  from  General 

Schuyler,  ------  1735 

Same,  Letter  from  Delegates  in  Continental 

Congress,  ------  1752 

Same,  Letter  from  Walter  Livingston,       -  1753 
Same,  Letter  from  Dirck  G.  Brinckerhoff,  1753 
Proclamation  of  Governour  Tryon  prorogu- 
ing Assembly,     -----  1758 

Provincial  Congress,  Letter  from  General 

Schuyler,  ------  1760 

Cherry  Valley  Committee,  Letter  from  the 

Oneida  Chiefs,  on  Murders  committed,  -  1766 
Committee  of  Safely,  11th  of  July,  1775. — 
Proceedings  on  Peter  Herring,  Prisoner — 
Correspondence  with  General  Wooster 
and  William  Duer — with  William  Marsh 
and  Samuel  Rose — with  William  Hooper 
and  Joseph  Hewes — Letter  to  Delegates 
in  Continental  Congress — Letter  from  Go- 
vernour Trumbull  —  Arms  and  Clothing 
provided  —  Letter  to  Delegates  in  Con- 
tinental Congress  —  Letter  to  General 
Schuyler,  enclosing  one  to  Colonel  Hin- 
man— Letter  to  Gen.  Wooster — Proceed- 
ings on  Boat  and  Boat's  Crew  belonging 
to  Ship  Asia — Letter  to  Gen.  Schuyler — 
Mr.  James  Smith  appointed  to  the  com- 
mand of  an  armed  Vessel — Gunmakers  to 
be  imported  from  England — Circular  to 
Colonels  of  Regiments — Letter  to  Provin- 
cial Congress — Report  of  Committee  on 
Indian  Affairs  —  Letter  to  Delegates  in 
Continental  Congress  —  Proceedings  on 
Equipments  and  Ordnance  Stores,  1777-1799 


1943 


INDEX, 


1944 


Netc-York  State — 

Provincial  Congress,  26th  of  July,  1775. — 
Report  of  Committee  of  Safety  —  Ebe- 
nezer  Hazard  appointed  Post-Master  — 
William  Duer  appointed  Deputy  Adju- 
tant-General— Letter  to  John  Hancock — 
Letter  to  Delegates  in  Continental  Con- 
gress, on  Tea,  &lc. — Letter  to  Governour 
Trumbull  — Tents  ordered  —  Correspon- 
dence with  the  Indians  —  Committee  of 
Officers — Letter  to  Gen.  Washington — 
Letter  from  Philip  Livingston  and  George 
Clinton  —  Dispute  between  Messrs.  De 
Lancey  and  Scott  settled  by  the  House — 
Pay  of  Colony  Troops — Proceedings  of 
Congress  on  destruction  of  the  Barge  of 
Ship  Asia,         ....  1800-1820 

Resolutions  of  Continental  Congress  for  De- 
fence of  divers  points  in  the  State,         -  1835 
New-York  City — 

Committee  on  appointment  of  Delegates  for 

next  Congress,    -----  4 

Remarks  on  Virginia  and  Maryland,  -  14 

Address  to  Inhabitants,  on  Secret  Service 
Money  from  England,         -       -       -  15 

Addresses  to  the  People,  on  Proceedings  of 
the  Committee  choosing  Delegates  to  Con- 
tinental Congress,       ...  44—51 

Proceedings  of  General  Committee  respect- 
ing Deputies  to  appoint  Delegates  for 
next  Congress — Letter  from  same  to  the 
several  Counties,        ...  137-'8 

Proceedings  on  election  of  Deputies,         -  138 

General  Committee — Divers  Proceedings — 
Letter  from  Elizabethtown,  concerning 
Ship  Beulah,  Messrs.  J.  &,  R.  Murray, 
owners  of  Cargo,       -  144-'8 

"  Philalethes"  to  Mr.  Holt,  on  Rivington's 

Gazetteer,         -       -       -       -       -  149 

"  Senex  "  to  John  Dickinson,  -       -       -  211 

"Anti-Tyrannicus"  to  Committee  of  Inspec- 
tion of  City  and  County,     ...  213 

Benj.  Hough's  case,  complaining  of  assault 
in  Charlotte  County,   -       -       -       -    21 5 

"An  Englishman  "  to  Committee  of  Corres- 
pondence of  Philadelphia,    -  238 

Committee,  to  Inhabitants  of  City  and  Coun- 
ty, on  exportation  of  Nails,  and  supplv 
of  Troops  at  Boston,  -       -       -     242,  282 

Captain  Sears  and  Paschal  N.  Smith  deny 
sending  Supplies  for  the  King's  Troops  at 
Boston,  338 

Anonymous  Addresses  to  the  People,        -  139, 

148,  347 

Letter  from  Virginia,  on  Addresses  of  Coun- 
cil and  Assembly,        -  153 

Committee  report  amount  of  Sales  under 
tenth  Article  of  Association,  -       -  342 

Committee  to  Provincial  Congress  of  Mas- 
sachusetts,        ...       .  344-'7 

"  Anti-Licentiousness"  to  Mr.  Rivington,  -  348 

Committee  of  Safety  of  Worcester  to,  on  the 

news  of  attack  on  Lexington  and  Concord,  363 

Committee  to  Governour  Trumbull,  urging 
him  to  intercept  the  Despatches  from 
England  to  Governour  Gage,      -       -  383 

Address  to  Messrs.  De  Lancey,  White,  Col- 
den,  Watts  and  Cooper,  from  "Three 
Millions,"  389 

Committee  recommend  new  Committee  of 
One  Hundred — Provincial  Congress  to  be 
called  on  Monday,  May  22,  1775,         -  400 

Committee's  Address  to  Freeholders  and 

Freemen,  ------  427 

Same  to  the  several  Counties  of  Province,  428 

"  An  American  "  to  the  Inhabitants  of  New- 
York,  on  the  conduct  of  British  Troops 
at  Lexington  and  Concord  —  Supposed 
object  to  seize  Hancock  and  Adams,    -  428 

Oliver  De  Lancey  denies  that  a  certain  Let- 
ter was  written  by  him,        ...  445 


Xcw-YorJc  City — 

Jacobus  Low  denies  that  he  had  sold  Tea,  448 

Letter  from  a  Gentleman  at,  to  Committee 
of  Correspondence  of  Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  448 

Committee,  Letters  from  the  Massachusetts 
Committee  of  Safety,         -       -     450,  507 

General  Committee  for  City  and  County 
chosen,  and  Deputies  to  Provincial  Con- 
gress,       ------  459 

Committee — Samuel  Broom  and  his  Com- 
pany tender  their  military  services — Sub- 
Committee  appointed  to  perfect  Associa- 
tion— Rules  for  the  government  of  the 
Committee  —  Exportation  to  Quebeck, 
&ic,  suspended  —  No  Provisions  to  be 
sent  to  British  Troops  at  Boston — Can- 
non moved  out  of  Town — Amount  of  Mili- 
tary Stores  and  Arms  to  be  ascertained — 
Address  to  Lieutenant-Governour,  explain- 
ing their  motives,  and  a  Committee  of  Cor- 
respondence appointed,        -       -      468— '71 

Association  of  New-York  signed  and  trans- 
mitted to  the  several  Counties,      -       -  471 

Address  of  Isaac  Wilkins,       ...  479 

Committee — Letter  from  John  Cruger  and 
Jacob  Walton  declining  to  sign  Associa- 
tion— Committee  inquire  concerning  dis- 
missal of  Post-Rider — Thanks  to  Officers 
and  Men  from  Connecticut — Committee 
from  Philadelphia  received — Letter  from 
New-Windsor  received  —  Report  from 
Committee  on  removal  of  Post-Rider — 
Eb.  Hazard  employed  as  Post-Master,  479-'82 

Publication  concerning  Post-Office,    -       -  506 

Post-Office  established  at  Holt's,  ( See  Note,)  537 

Proceedings  of  Committee — Circular  to  the 
several  Colonies,  and  Address  to  the  Lord 
Mayor  and  Corporation  of  London,  509-'12 

Letter  from  "  A  Deserter "  to  his  Fellow- 
Soldiers,    ------  516 

Delegates  from  Massachusetts  and  Connect- 
icut to  Continental  Congress  received,    -  517 

Committee  Resolutions  on  Arms  and  Am- 
munition—  Address  to  General  Gage  — 
Address  to  Lieutenant-Governour  Colden 
— His  Answer,   -       -       -       -  529-'35 

Committee  receive  tenders  of  services  from 
several  Captains  of  Companies  —  Copies 
of  Association  lodged  at  different  places  in 
the  City,   604-'5 

Committee  to  the  Continental  Congress,  with 

account  of  the  capture  of  Ticonderoga,  605-  6 

Committee  Proceedings,  -     617,  670,  727 

Recommendation  of  Continental  Congress 
concerning  British  Troops,    -       -       -  618 

Committee  Proceedings  —  Military  Night 
Watch  established — Letter  to  Governour 
of  Connecticut,  -       -        636— '7,  671 

Gouverneur  Morris  to  Richard  Henry  Lee, 

on  Rivington's  case,     -       -       -       -  726 

Committee,  Letter  from  Jonathan  Parsons, 
Jun.,  on  the  condition  of  Newfoundland,  851 

Publication  signed  "  A  Club  of  Congression- 
ists"  to  Mr.  John  Holt,  on  his  printing  a 
Paper  headed  "  No  Standing  Army,"     -  SS0 

Copy  of  the  above  Paper,       ...  881 

Committee  Proceedings,  ...  898, 

933,  965,  1046,  1574,  1645 

Committee   to   Continental   Congress,  on 

James  Rivington,       ...        -  899 

Same,  Letter  from  Donald  McLeod,  offering 
to  raise  a  Company  of  Highlanders,     929,  932 

Same,  Letter  from  Benjamin  Lindsay,       -  929 

Publication   of  Association   of  Newtown, 

Connecticut,       -----  1135 

The  Right  Honourable  Lord   ,  Letter 

from  S.  Sp.  Skinner,   -       -       -       -  1526 

The  Corporation  to  Governour  Tryon,  and 
his  Answer,       -----  1534 

Committee  of  Secrecy  to  Massachusetts 
Congress,  -----  1537 


1945 


INDEX. 


1946 


New- York  City — 

Secret  Committee  Proceedings,        -       -  1574 
Committee,  Letter  from  Elizabethtown  Com- 
mittee, on  Win.  McLeod,  a  British  Officer,  1591 
Proceedings  of  Volunteers,      ...  1592 
Committee  Proceedings  on  Connecticut  Bills 

of  Credit,  1622 

"  A  Calm  Address  to  the  People  of,"        -  1655 
Committee,  Letter  from  the  Elizabethtown 
Committee,        -  1674 
Son-Importation  Agreement,  Committee  at  Phila- 
delphia cautions  against  breaking  the  same,  254 
North,  Lord,  '•  Memento"  at  London,         -       -  992 
Conversation  with  a  Gentleman  on  America,  1519 
Paper  authorized  by  him  read  in  Continental 

Congress,  ------  1840 

North-  Carolina — 

Council  at  Newbern,  Proclamation  recom- 
mended,   -       -       -       -       -  *  1>  7 

Chowan  County,  Address  to  Governour,    -  115 
Rowan  and  Surry  Counties  to  same,  -  116 

Guilford  County  to  same,         -  117 
Council  at  Newbern — Proclamation  of  Gov- 
ernour Martin  against  election  of  Depu- 
ties to  Congress,         ...     253,  273 
Assembly  meets  4th  April,  1775 — Govern- 
our   Martin's    Speech  —  Instructions  to 
Committee  to  answer  said  Speech — Ap- 
prove Convention  at  iNewbern  —  Disap- 
prove of  Addresses  in  North-Carolina  Ga- 
zette— Address  prepared — Proceedings  of 
Continental  Congress  approved  of — As- 
sembly dissolved,        ...  255-'66 
Provincial  Convention  at  Newbern,  3d  April, 
1775  —  Approve  General  Association  of 
Congress,  and  the  conduct  of  their  Dele- 
gates to  Congress — Delegates  re-elected 
— Powers  conferred  on  them — New  Con- 
vention authorized — Arts,  Manufactures, 
and  Agriculture  to  be  encouraged — Gov- 
ernour's  Proclamation  condemned — Tho- 
mas Macknight  refuses  to  sign  Association 
— censured — his  Vindication,        -      266— '72 
Alexander  Elmsly,  Agent  in  London,  to 

Samuel  Johnston,        -  296 
Earl  of  Dartmouth  to  Governour  Martin,   -  476 
William  Hooper  to  Samuel  John  Johnson, 

from  Philadelphia,       -  679 
The  Mecklenburgh  Resolutions  on  Indepen- 
dence, (Sec  Note,)     -  855 
Governour  Martin  to  Henry  White,  N.  York,  974 
Wilmington  District  Association,       -       -  1030 
Letter  to  Governour  Martin  from  Governour 
Gage,  intercepted,       -       -       -       -  1123 

Letter  from  Governour  Martin  to  Henry 

White,  intercepted,     ....  1344 

INewbern  Committee,  Letter  from  Charles- 
town,  (S.  C.,)  Committee,  enclosing  in- 
tercepted Letters,       -  1568 
Wilmington  Committee  Proceedings,         -  1691 
Newbern  Committee  Proceedings,     -       -  1697 
Authorized  to  raise  Troops,      ...  1854 
Nova-Scotia,  People  at  Halifax  oppose  shipping  of 

Forage  to  British,  and  landing  of  Tories,  639 
Parliament,  "  5lonitor  "  to  House  of  Commons,    -  5 
Resolution  of  Commons  on  Contribution  of 

Colonies,   ------  28 

Publication  called  "  The  Crisis  "  ordered  to 

be  publickly  burned  by  common  hangman,  55 
Bill  prohibiting  Fisheries  ^passed  House  of 
Commons,         -       -       -       -       -  123 

Secretary  Pownall  communicates  to  respec- 
tive Colonies  Act  restraining  Trade  and 
Commerce,  &tc,  and  prohibiting  Fisheries,  276 
Passive  Obedience,  Strictures  on  the  doctrine  of,    -  149 
Pennsylvania,  Chester  County  Committee  on  Manu- 
mission of  Slaves,  and  Subscription  for 
Boston,     -  172 
Lancaster  County  Committee  approve  con- 
duct of  George  Ross  and  others  on  Gov- 
ernour's  Message,       ....  245 


Pennsylvania — 

Committee  of  Yorktown  to  John  Hancock 
and  Thomas  Cushing,  sending  Donation 

to  Boston,  320 

Volunteers  at  Reading,  ...  400 

Assembly,  1st  of  May,  1775.    Letter  from 
Agents  in  London  —  Gov.  John  Penn's 
Message — Communication  from  House  of 
Assembly  of  New- York — Answer  to  Go- 
vernour's  Message — Petition  from  Inhabi- 
tants of  Philadelphia  on  Defence  of  the 
Colony — Benjamin  Franklin  returns  from 
London,  and  is  appointed  Delegate  to 
Congress  —  Instructions  to  the  same  — 
Joseph  Galloway  excused  from  serving 
in  Continental  Congress,      -       -      451-  58 
Letter  from  Earl  of  Dartmouth  to  the  Gov- 
ernour,     ......  478 

Meeting  at  Carlisle — Military  Force  raised, 

and  Funds  to  pay  same,       ...  516 
Letter  from  a  Gentleman  in  Bucks  County 

to  his  Friend  in  Philadelphia,        -       -  541 
Bucks  County  Committee  Proceedings,      -  542 
Bedford  County  Committee  to  Philadelphia 

Committee,        -  542 
Joseph  Galloway  to  the  Publick,       -       -  579 
James  Cavet  to  Arthur  St.  Clair  and  others, 

on  Pennsylvania  and  Virginia  Boundary,  581 
Chester  County  Committee  Proceedings,   -  588, 

859,  916,  1132 
Westmoreland  County,  Meeting  of  Inhabi- 
tants,       ......  615 

Robert  Hanna  and  others  to  Gov.  Penn,  683-"4 
Governour  Penn,  Letter  from  Arthur  St. 

Clair,  704 

Boundary  between  Pennsylvania  and  Vir- 
ginia,  704 

Assembly  meets,  June  19,  1775.  Message 
to  Governour  —  Letter  from  Benjamin 
Franklin,  Agent — Bills  of  Credit  issued 
—  Memorial  from  City  and  Liberties  of 
Philadelphia  —  Additional  Forces  to  be 
raised — Message  from  Governour — Far- 
ther Message,  and  Proceedings  thereon — 
General  Association  approved  of — Arms 
and  Ammunition  to  be  provided — Minute- 
Men  to  be  raised — Manufacture  of  Salt- 
petre encouraged — Committee  of  Safety 
appointed  —  Signers  of  Bills  of  Credit 
appointed  —  Michael  Hillegas  appointed 
Treasurer — Provincial  Tax  authorized — 
Proceedings  on  Non-Combatants,  -  1167-'74 
Committee  of  Yorktown   to  Delegates  in 

Continental  Congress,  ...  1524 
Proceedings  of  Quakers,  ...  1590 
Bucks  County  Committee  Proceedings,  -  J699 
Address  to  People  of,  from  their  Delegates 

in  Continental  Congress,  ...  17-^3 
York  County  Committee  Proceedings,  -  1743 
Council — Petition  of  Dominique  Du  Casse,  1751 
Bucks  County,  Election  of  Officers,  -  1757 

Committee  of  Safety,  June  30,  1775.  As- 
sociation approved  of — Volunteers  to  be 
equipped — Manufacture  of  Saltpetre  en- 
couraged— Bills  of  Credit  issued — Taxes 
imposed — Defensive  Proceedings— Ord- 
nance Stores  to  be  procured— Boats  to  be 
built  —  Resolutions  of  Continental  Con- 
gress adopted — Form  of  Commissions  for 
Officers  of  the  Military  Association,  1765-'8 
Pennsylvania  Council — 

Governour  John  Penn  communicates  a  Let- 
ter from  the  Earl  of  Dartmouth,  com- 
menting on  the  Proceedings  of  General 
Congress,  and  on  Boundary  Line  between 
Pennsylvania  and  Maryland — Governour's 
Letter  to  Governour  of  Marvland  on  same 

subject,  129-30 

Proclamation  of  Governour  on  Boundary 
Line  of  Maryland — Letter  from  Govern- 
our of  Maryland,  and  Answer  thereto,    -  302 


1947 


INDEX. 


1948 


Pennsylvania  Council — 

Cayuga  Indians  attend,  Proceeding?  on  their 
claim  for  Lands  in  Pennsylvania,  -  616-17 
Penn,  Richard,  Letter  from  Continental  Congress,  1877 
Pickering,  Timothy,  Jun.,  to  Committee  of  Mas- 
sachusetts, recommending  Enlistments  and 
Officers,  461 

To  Committee  of  Massachusetts,      -       -  550 
Post-Office  Establishment — 

Ebenezer  Hazard  proposes  to  undertake,    -  482 

William  Goddard  same,  -  506,  536 

Established  at  Portsmouth,  N.  H.,    -       -  651 

Post-Roads  and  Post-Offices  established  in 
Massachusetts,  and  Postmasters  appoint- 
ed,  802 

Postmaster  appointed  at  Providence,         -  900 

William  Goddard  to  New- York  Congress,  981-'3 

Post-Offices  and  Post-Rates  established  in 
Rhode-Island,  1160 

Letters  to  and  from  Continental  Army  to  be 
free  of  Postage  in  Massachusetts,  -  1497 

Ebenezer  Hazard  appointed  Postmaster  of 
New-York,  1802 

Committee  in  Continental  Congress  appoint- 
ed,  1839 

Report  of  Committee  considered  and  agreed 

to,  1892 

Phil  ad  elph  ia — 

"  Camillus "  to  the  Printers,     -       -  -8-10 

Account  of  outrage  on  Captain  Taylor  by 
Captain  Graves,  of  the  King's  Schooner 
Diana,  78-80 

Paper  signed  "  A  Lover  of  English  Liberty."  81 

Answer  to  Pamphlet  entitled  "  A  Candid 
Examination  of  the  Mutual  Claims  of 
Great  Britain  and  her  Colonies,"  85-91 

American  Association  for  Manufacturing 
Woollens,  Linens,  and  Cottons — Daniel 
Roberdeau,  President — His  Speech,  140-'44 

Address  of  "An  Englishman  "  to  Commit 
tee  of  Correspondence, 

Committee  cautions  against  breaking  Non- 
Importation  Agreement,  - 

Committee,  Proceedings  respecting  Colonies 
opposed  to  the  Association,  - 

Address  signed  "Three  Millions  "  to  Messrs. 
De  Lancey,  White,  Colden,  Watts  and 
Cooper,  of  New- York,  denouncing  them, 

Armed  Association  at,  - 

Committee  suspend  Exportations,  &c, 

Citizens  training  in  Companies, 

Anonymous  publications  at, 

878,  962 

Account  published  at,  of  the  capture  of  Ti- 

conderoga,  - 
Committee  Proceedings,  ... 

909,  928,  1076,  1105,  1132,  1533 
"  An  Expectant "  to  Lord  Sandwich,        -  861 
Letter  from  Colonel  George  Washington  to 

George  William  Fairfax,  in  England,     -  865 
Publication  at,  signed  "  A  Pennsylvanian," 

addressed  to  General  Burgoyne,    -       -  910 
Officers  of  three  Battalions  appointed,     -  1076 
Military  Association,       ...  1648,  1733 
Prescott,  Oliver,  to  Boston  Committee  of  Safety,  385 
Priestley,  Doctor,  Letters  from  Dr.  Franklin,  615,  1603 
Prussia,  Officers  and  Arms  said  to  have  sailed  from, 

to  America,  - 
Quakers,  Publication  in  their  behalf  on  Continen- 
tal Congress,  &.C.,  - 
Of  Pennsylvania  and  New-Jersey,  Address 
from  their  Meeting  at  Philadelphia, 
Quincy,  Josiah,  Jun.,  Letter  from  Alexander  Mc- 
Dougall,  ------ 

Arrives  from  London,      -       -       -  - 

Died  26th  April,  1775. 
Religion,  Resolution  of  New- York  Congress  against 
establishing  the  Roman  Catholick, 
Day  of  Fast  and  Prayer  appointed,  - 
Report  of  Committee  of  Massachusetts  Con- 
gress on  violation  of  the  Sabbath,  -       -  1415 


-  238 


254 


338 


389 
399 

-  421 
467,  931 

-  478, 
1016 

623 
625, 


313 

80 

1590 

283 
424 


1317 
1347 


Religion,  Pastoral  Letters  of  Synods  of  New-York 

and  Philadelphia  to  their  Congregations,  1692 
Resolve  of  Continental  Congress  for  a  Gen- 
eral Fast  Day,  1846 

Rivington,  James,  Proceedings  at  Newport,         -  12 
Same  at  Freehold,  ...  35 

Same  at  New- York,  -  ...  50 
Letter  to,  from  Boston,  -  -  -  106 
Same  from  Connecticut,  -  HO-'ll 
Resolutions  of  Ulster  County,  N.  Y.,  against,  132 
Letters  from  Philadelphia  to,  -  -  133,  134 
Letter  to  him  from  New-Haven,  -  -  252 
Communication  from  Boston,  -  -  -  284 
"  Anti-Licentiousness,"  of  New- York,  to,  -  348 
Said  to  have  made  a  Recantation,  -  -  448 
Gouverneur  Morris  and  Richard  Henry  Lee's 

Correspondence,  -  -  -  726 
To  Continental  Congress,  ...  836 
To  New- York  Congress,  -  -  -  899 
Proceedings  of  New- York  Committee  on  his 

case,  899 

New- York  Congress  permits  him  to  return 
to  his  house  and  family,       _       -       -  1284 
Rhode-Island — 

Newport  Committee  on  James  Rivington,  -  12 
Tea  burned  at  Providence,  March  4,  1775,  15 
House  of  Assembly  to  Massachusetts  Con- 
gress,       ------  389 

Same  to  Connecticut,      ...       -  389 
Act  of  Rhode-Island  for  raising  an  Army  of 
Observation  —  Proceedings  thereon,  and 
dissent  of  certain  Members,         -  389-'90 
Chairman  of  Committee  of  Inspection  to  the 
Commanding  Officer  of  Provincial  Army 
at  Cambridge,     -----  400 

Letter  from  Committee  of  Safety  of  Massa- 
chusetts asking  assistance,     -  -  402 
Stephen  Hopkins  to  the  President  of  Massa- 
chusetts Congress,       -                    421,  430 
James  Angel  to  Massachusetts  Congress,  on 
raising  Troops,    -----  431 

Zephaniah  Andrews  and  Thomas  Freeman 

on  same  subject,         -  431 
Governour  Joseph  Wanton  to  General  As- 
sembly of,  recommending  certain  Proceed- 
ings,  471-'2 

Committee  to  Committee  of  Safety  of  Mas- 
sachusetts,        -----  472 
General  Assembly  to  Committee  of  Safety 

of  Massachusetts,  on  raising  Troops,  -  520 
Town-Meeting  at  Providence — Proceedings,  549, 

607 

General  Assembly  suspend  authority  of  the 
Governour,  &c,         ...     662,  967 

General  Greene  to  Jacob  Greene,  on  the 
condition  of  the  Troops,      -  893 

Providence,  Proceedings  at,  and  Postmaster 
appointed,  ....       -  900 

Senior  Class  Rhode-Island  College  to  their 
President,  -----  935 

Answer  to  the  above,      -       -       -       -  936 

Deputy-Governour  Cooke  to  Captain  James 
AVallace,  and  his  Answer,     -       -       -  985 

Newport  Committee  to  Easthampton  (N. 

Y.)  Committee,         ...       -  986 

Providence  Town-Meeting  and  Proceedings 
at  Newport,  1027 

Providence  Committee,  Letter  from  Ply- 
mouth Committee,      -       -       -       -  1061 

Tiverton  and  Little  Compton  Committee 
Proceedings,      -       -       -       -  -1117 

Governour  Cooke  to  Massachusetts  Congress,  1118 

General  Greene  to  Jacob  Greene,  Battle  of 
Bunker's  Hill,  &c,    -  -1126 

Assembly  meets  May  3,  1775.  An  Act  for 
embodying,  supplying  and  paying  Army 
of  Observation — Bills  of  Credit  emitted — 
Committee  of  Safety — Officers  of  the 
Army  of  Observation  —  Deputy-Govern- 
our and  Assistants  forbidden  to  administer 
Oath  of  Office  to  Governour  Wanton — 


1949 


INDEX. 


1950 


Rhode-Island — 

Powers  conferred  on  Henry  Ward,  Secre- 
tary of  the  Colony — James  Clark  to  keep 
the  Naval  Office — Lieutenant-General  and 
others  to  order  and  direct  the  Army — Pay 
of  the  Army — Adjourned  to  second  Mon- 
day of  June  next.    Convened  12th  June, 
1775  —  Allowance  to  Soldiers — Regula- 
tions of  the  Army — Two  armed  Vessels 
for  use  of  Colony — Officers  of  the  same 
appointed — Memorial  of  Win.  Potter — 
Proceedings  thereon — General  Officers  of 
Provincial  Forces  appointed  —  Post-Of- 
fices and  Post-Rates  established — Farther 
Bills  of  Credit  issued — Military  Officers 
appointed — Act  to  prevent  Desertion  — 
Day  of  Publick  Fasting  and  Prayer — Ad- 
journed to  3d  Monday  in  August.  Wed- 
nesday, 28th  June,  1775,  Assembly  meets 
in  consequence  of  Warrants  issued  by 
Deputy-Governour — Military  Officers  ap- 
pointed— Farther  Military  Force  raised — 
Act  to  repeal  an  Act  entitled  "  An  Act  for 
regulating  Appeals  to  His  Majesty  and 
Couucil  id  Great  Britain — Power  of  Go- 
vernour  Wanton  still  suspended  —  Army 
placed  under  direction  of  Commander-in- 
Chief  of  American    Army  —  Grenadier 
Company  raised — Officers  of  six  addition- 
al Companies  appointed — Officers  of  Mi- 
litia appointed — Act  for  enlisting  Minute- 
Men  and  appointment  of  Officers — John 
Grimes,  Captain  in  the  Navy,       -     1143— '63 
Governour  Cooke  to  Continental  Congress,  1572 
Same  to  General  Washington,  ...  1649 
Proclamation  of  the  same,       ...  1650 
Publication  at  Newport,  on  conduct  of  Cap- 
tain Ayscough  and  others,    ...  1677 
Governour  Cooke  to  General  Washington,  -  1754 
Providence  Town-Meeting  Proceedings,     -  1763 
Salt,  prohibited  to  be  landed  at  Baltimore,    -       -  34 
Virginia  encourages  manufacture  of,  -       -  171 
Savage,  James,  For  self  and  others  praying  con- 
firmation of  title  to  Lands  in  New-York,  135 
South- Carolina — 

Committee  of  Charlestown  to  New- York 

Committee,        -----  1 
Proceedings  of  Committee  of  Observation  of 
Charlestown  on  cargo  of  the  Snow  Pro- 
teus,  162 

In  Note  see  farther  Proceedings  on  General 

Articles  of  Association,  -  163 
Charlestown,  Proceedings  at,  -  -  -  710 
Proceedings   of  Provincial  Congress  and 

General  Association,    ...       -  896 
Provincial  Congress  Proceedings,      -     915,  962 
Association  of  Provincial  Congress,  Proceed- 
ings,  922 

Petition  of  Michael  Hubert  to  Committee  of 

Correspondence  of  Charlestown,  -  -  922 
(See  Proceedings  on  the  above,)  -  -  923 
Publication  at  Charlestown  on  Association, 

&ic,  938 

Letter  from  Charlestown,  stating  three  Re- 
giments to  be  raised  by  Congress,  and 
their  Officers  named,    -  953 
Provincial  Congress  adjourn,  new  Election 

ordered,     ------  1016 

Charlestown,  arrival  of  his  Excellency  Right 
Honourable  Lord  Wm.  Campbell,  Gov- 
ernour-in-Chief,  ...       -  1030 

Secret  Committee  Proceedings,        -       -  1042 
Provincial  Congress,  21st  of  June,  1775 — 
Address  to  Governour — His  Answer — 
Farther  Proceedings,   -       -       -       -  1043 

Provincial  Congress,  Resolutions  on  Absen- 
tees from  the  Colony,  and  their  Estates,  1056 
Charlestown  Secret  Committee  intercept  and 
substitute  a  Letter  from  Governour  of 
Georgia  to  Governour  Gage,  and  also  a 
Letter  to  Admiral  Graves,    -       -    11 10-' 11 


South- Carolina — 

Delegates  in  the  Continental  Congress  to 

Charlestown  Secret  Committee,     -       -  1519 
Charlestown  Committee  to  Continental  Con- 
gress, enclosing  intercepted  Letters,       -  1567 
Same  to  Committee  of  Newbern,  North- 
Carolina,   1568 

Same  to  Savannah  Committee,  (See  Note,)  1569 
Speech  of  Governour  to  Council  and  Assem- 
bly— Answer  thereto — Address  of  Upper 
House  of  Assembly — Answer  thereto,  16l7-;20 
John  Stuart,  Superintendent  Indian  Affairs, 

to  Committee  of  Intelligence,        -       -  1681 
Council  of  Safety  Proceedings,       1715,  1723-  6 
Sullican,  John,  communicates  Articles  of  Enlist- 
ment, Durham,  New-Hampshire,  -       -  31 
Answer  to  above,  and  his  Reply',       -       -  32 
Letter  from  Alexander  Scammell,     -       -  501 
Address  from  Hillsborough  Committee  of 

Safety,  and  his  Answer,       ...  1689 
To  New-Hampshire  Committee  of  Safety,  -  1690 
From  General  Lee,         -       -       -       -  1721 

Sullivan,  Jas.,  to  Massachusetts  Committeeof  Safety,  667 
Scammell,  Alexander,  to  John  Sullivan,        -       -  501 
Scammons,  Col.  James,  his  Court-Martial,     -  l66l-"5 
Schuyler,  General,  to  Continental  Congress, 

1123,  1133,  1138,  1530,  1535,  1536,  1645, 
1665,  1669,  1702,  1729,  1734,   1745,  1760 
To  Colonel  Hinman,       ...       -  1133 
To  New- York  Congress,  1134,  1139,  1536,  1647, 
1649,  1671,  1704,  1711,  1731,  1735,  1760 
To  Governour  Trumbull,  1139,  1621,  1704,  1762 
Recommended  as  a  Major-General  to  Conti- 
nental Congress  by  New- York  Congress,  1279 
To  General  Washington,  1525,  1685,  1762 

From  Governour  Trumbull,  enclosing  paper 

concerning  Canada  and  the  Indians,        -  1594 
From  Colonel  Hinman,    -  1605 
His  reception  at  Albany — Address  to,  and 

Answer,     -       -       -       -       -  -1615 

From  Gen.  Washington,  1084,  1623,  1736,  1747 
From  Albany  Committee,  1666,  1669,  1746 
Return  of  the  Army  under  his  command,  1st 

July,  1775,       ■  1667 

From  Governour  Trumbull,  1676,1721,  1747 
To  Governour  Trumbull,  ...  1685 
From  New  -York  Committee  of  Safety,  -  1730 
From  Schenectady  Committee,  -  -  1730 
From  Nathan  Clarke,  enclosing  Proceedings 

of  Dorset  Committee,  ...       -  1761 
To  Nathan  Clarke,  .....  1761 
Ordered  to  Ticonderoga,  &c,  -  1855 
Shepard,  Alexander,  Jun.,  to  Committee  of  Safety 
of  Massachusetts,  on  his  Survey  of  Maine, 

1476,  1480,  1484 

Shippen,  Joseph,  from  Arthur  St.  Clair,       -       -  633 
Slaves,  Proceedings  of  Norfolk  Committee  on  im- 
portation,  ------  33 

Delaware  Assembly  pass  Bill  prohibiting 

importation — Governour  does  not  concur,  127 
Chester  County  Committee,  Pennsylvania, 

recommends  gradual  abolition,       -       -  172 
Rumour  of  their  forfeiture,       ...  042 
Not  admitted  into  Provincial  Army  of  Mas- 
sachusetts, ------  762 

Resolution  of  Georgia  Provincial  Congress 
against  importation  or  purchase  from  Africa 
or  elsewhere,  6th  July,  1775,       -       -  1545 
Small,  Dr.  William,  from  Thomas  Jefferson,        -  523 
Spooner,  Walter,  to  Continental  Congress — New- 
York  Congress — and  Gov.  Trumbull — on 
Ticonderoga,  Colonel  Hinman,  and  resig- 
nation of  commission  by  Col.  Arnold,  1539—  41 
Stark,  John,  to  Provincial  Congress  of  New-Hamp- 
shire,  639 

From  Provincial  Congress  of  New-Hamp- 
shire, 868 
Stewart,  Lieutenant- Colonel,  and  others,  asking 
grant  of  Lands  for  expenses  incurred  in 
prosecuting  His  Majesty's  right  to  certain 
Lands  claimed  by  John  Van  Rensselaer,  135 


1951 


INDEX. 


195:2 


St.  Clair,  Arthur,  from  James  Cavet,  confined  in 

Pittsburgh,         -  •   -     '  -  581 

To  Joseph  Shippen,        ....  633 
To  Governour  Penn,       ...       -  704 
Taylor,  George,  mal-treatment  by  Captain  Graves, 

King's  Schooner,  -       -  78—80 

Tar  and  Feathers,  Thomas  Ditson's  case,    -  93 
Laughlin  Martin  and  Jas.  Dealy  at  Charles- 
town,  South-Carolina,  (Sec  Note,)         -  923 
Tea,  Baltimore  Committee  recommend  discontinu- 
ance of  use,        .....  123 
Committees  of  Marblehead  and  Boston  ex- 
cuse Thomas  Lilly  and  Simon  Tuffts  for 
buying  and  selling,       ....  234 
Ulster  County,  New- York,  against  J.  Low, 

for  selling,  .....  298 

Jacobus  Low,  of  New- York,  denies  sale  of,  448 
Stamford  Committee,  Connecticut,  against 
Sylvanus  Whitney,      ....  920 
Ticonderoga,  Expedition  against,        -     450,  507,  546 
Capture  of,  -       -       -      556-'60,  605 

Erastus  Wolcott  and  others  to  Massachusetts 

Congress,  on  capture  of,       -       -       -  618 
Account  of  capture  published  in  Philadel- 
phia,  623 

Colonel  Eaton's  account  of  the  capture,  -  624 
The  same  proved  to  be  false  by  "  Veritas," 

1085-'8 

Further  account  of  capture,      -       -  638-'9 

Letter  from  Colonel  Arnold  to  Committee  of 
Safety  of  Massachusetts,  with  list  of  Can- 
non, Sic,  at  Ticonderoga  and  Crown 
Point,   645-'6 

Letter  from  New- York  Congress  to  Gov- 
ernour of  Connecticut,  concerning,         -  728 

Proceedings  in  Connecticut  and  New- York,  730-'l 

Letter  from  William  Gilleland  to  Continen- 
tal Congress,       -       -       -       -       -  731 

Letters  from  Ethan  Allen  and  Benedict  Ar- 
nold— Proceedings  in  Massachusetts  Con- 
gress,   732-'8 

Jurisdiction  over,  surrendered  by  Massachu- 
setts to  Connecticut,    ...       -  808 

Letters  from  Governour  Trumbull  and  Colo- 
nel Arnold  to  New- York  Congress,        -  847 

Letter  from  James  Easton  to  Massachusetts 
Congress,  on  question  between  Connecti- 
cut and  New- York,  Sic,       -       -       -  849 

Governour  Trumbull  to  Albany  Committee,  850 

Massachusetts  and  Connecticut,  concerning, 

S76-'8 

Proceedings  of  Continental,  New- York,  and 
New-Hampshire  Congresses,  on  demol- 
ishing the  Fortress,      ....  895 

Council  of  Officers  to  Continental  Congress,  957 

Instructions  of  Massachusetts  Congress  to 
their  Commissioners  at,        ...  986 

Proceedings  of  New- York  Provincial  Con- 
gress on  removal  of  Stores,  Sic,    -       -  1251 

Instructions  to  Committee  of  Massachusetts 

Congress  appointed  to  visit,  -       -       -  1407 

General  Schuyler  ordered  to,  Sic,     -       -  1855 
Tilghman,  Matthew,  from  Richard  Glover,  justify- 
ing the  conduct  of  William  Molleson,     -  474 
Thomas,  Gen.  John,  to  Committee  of  Safety  of 
Massachusetts  on  Governour  Hutchinson's 
Papers,      -  473 

To  the  Massachusetts  Committee  of  Safety,  549, 

581,  1141 

From  Massachusetts  Committee  of  Safety,  552 
To  Provincial  Congress  of  Massachusetts, 

accepting  appointment  of  Lieut.  General,  707 
To  Provincial  Congress  of  Massachusetts, 

1021,  1119 

To  General  Washington,  -  1637,  1727 
Trade  and  Plantations,  J.  Pownall,  Secretary,  to 
Lieutenant-Governour  ('olden,  enclosing 
Proceedings  concerning  "  King's  District," 
heretofore  claimed  by  Mr.  John  Van 
Rensselaer — also  claims  of  Simon  Fraser 
and  others  for  Lands,   -       -       -       -  134 


Trade  and  Plantations,  J.  Pownall,  Secretary,  to 

the  Governours  of  the  Colonies,     -       -  276 
Same  communicates  Proclamation  of  the 
States-General,  prohibiting  export  of  Arms 
and  Ammunition,        -  -  276-'7 

Trade  and  Commerce,  Act  to  restrain,  sent  to  respec- 
tive Colonies,     -----  276 
Trumbull,  Joseph,  Jun.,  Letter  to  his  brother,       -  728 
Letter  from  M.  S.  Mumford,  on  seizure  of 
British  Arms  at  Philadelphia,        -       -  985 
Trumbull,  Joseph,  appointed  Assistant  Commissary- 
General,  1886 
Trumbull,  Jonathan,  Governour  of  Connecticut,  to 

Earl  of  Dartmouth,      -       -       -       -  108 
Letter  from  Rev.  Eleazer  Wheelock  on 

Northern  Indians,        -      152,  210,  339,  582 
Committee  of  Safety  of  Massachusetts  on  at- 
tack of  Lexington  and  Concord,    -       -  370 
Letter  from  Adam  Babcock,     -       -       -  371 
From  New- York  City  Committee,  urging 
him  to  intercept  the  despatches  from  Eng- 
land to  General  Gage,  -  383 
Letter  of  Col.  Isaac  Lee  concerning  Troops 

of  the  State,  423 

To  General  Gage,  -----  433 
Answer  to  the  above,  enclosing  his  account 

of  the  affair  at  Lexington  and  Concord.  434-'5 
From  Committee  of  Safety  of  Massachu- 
setts, -----  473,  506 
From  General  Gage,  -  482 
To  Dr.  Joseph  Warren,  ...  -  506 
Petition  from  Ridgebury,  -  -  -  536 
Letter  from  Joel  Clark,  ...  -  544 
Letter  from  Thomas  Howell,  ...  544 
Letter  from  New-York  Committee,  -  636,  671 
Letter  from  Provincial  Congress  of  New- 
York,   705 

To  Provincial  Congress  of  Massachusetts,  -  706 
From  New- York  Congress,  on  Ticondero- 
ga,   728,  916 

From  New-Haven  Selectmen,  -  -  -  730 
To  Provincial  Congress  of  New- York,  on 

Ticonderoga,  Sic,  ...  846-'7 
To  Provincial  Congress  of  Massachusetts,  730,  877 
From  Massachusetts  Congress,  -  -  735, 
1445,  1470,  1479,  1507 
To  Albany  Committee,  on  Ticonderoga,  Sic,  850 
From  James  Curgenven,  ...  912 
To  Massachusetts  Congress,     -       -       -  936, 

1026,  1090,  1116 
To  the  President  of  Continental  Congress,  940, 
1035,  1067,  1106,  1606 
From  New- York  Congress,  957,  1114,  1806 
From  Col.  Benedict  Arnold,  on  Canada,  -  977 
From  General  Wooster,  -  -  -  -1010 
From  General  Wooster,  enclosing  Letter 

from  New- York  Congress,    ...  1020 
To  New-York  Congress,  -         1025,  1726 

To  Colonel  Arnold,  on  Canada,  Sic,  -  1026 
From  Oneida  Indians,  -  -  -  -  1116 
From  General  Schuyler,  -  -  -  1139, 
1621,  1685,  1701,  1762 
From  Samuel  Mott,  -  -  -  -  1140 
From  Walter  Spooner,  on  Ticonderoga — 

Colonel  Arnold,  Sic,   -       -       -       -  1540 
From  Edward  Mott,  on  Colonel  Arnold's 

mutinous  conduct,        -       -       -  1592 
From  Ethan  Allen,         -  1593,  1619 

To  General  Schuyler,  enclosing  Letter  on 

Canada  and  Indians,    -       -       -       -  1594 
To  General  Washington,  1658,  1676,  1763 

To  General  Schuyler,     -  1676,1721,1747 
From  General  Washington,      -         1686,  1710 
Union  of  the  Colonies — 

Anonymous  Publication  concerning,  and  Ob- 
servations on  Dr.  Franklin's  Plan,          -  396 
Van  Rensselaer,  John,  Proceedings  on  his  Land 

Titles,  134-'7 

Vermont,  John  Hancock,  President,  on  employment 
of  Green  Mountain  Boys  in  the  American 
Army,      -  1076,  1339 


1953 


INDEX. 


1954 


Vermont — General  Schuyler  to  Continental  Con- 
gress, on  the  same,      ...       -  1535 

Appointment  of  the  Officers  of  Regiment  of 
Green  Mountain  Boys,         -        1570,  1853 
Virginia — 

Cumberland  County — Instructions  to  their 
Delegates  in  Provincial  Congress,  3 

Essex  County  Committee,  Proceedings  of, 
on  Importation  of  Merchandise  by  Capt. 
Richardson,  and  Premiums  on  Domestick 
Manufactures,     -----  13 

Norfolk  Committee  on  Importation  of  Slaves 

by  John  Brown,  33 

Committee  of  Princess  Anne  County  Pro- 
ceedings against  divers  persons  for  not 
signing  Provincial  Association,  -  76 

Orange  County  Committee,  on  Francis 
Moore,  Jun.,  for  gaming,      ...  120 

Instructions  to  the  Convention  from  a  certain 
County,     ------  163 

Anonymous  Publications — From  Williams- 
burgh  to  the  Gentlemen  of  the  Provincial 
Congress,  153,  319 

Answer  to  the  same,  by  Americanus,        -  300 

Convention  meets  20th  March,  1775 — Pey- 
ton Randolph,  President,  communicates 
Proceedings  of  Continental  Congress — 
Letter  from  Messrs.  Franklin,  Bollan,  and 
Lee,  Agents — Approves  Proceedings  of 
Continental  Congress,  and  of  their  Dele- 
gates thereto — Thanks  to  the  Assembly 
of  Jamaica — Recommends  organizing  Mi- 
litia— Committee  appointed  for  that  pur- 
pose— Authorizes  Correspondence  with 
New- York  Committee  of  Correspondence 
— Further  Contributions  to  Boston  recom- 
mended— Suspension  of  the  Administra- 
tion of  Justice  in  the  Collection  of  Debts, 
£cc,  recommended — Volunteer  Compa- 
nies encouraged — Funds  to  be  raised  for 
Ammunition — Thanks  to  Lord  Dunmore, 
his  Officers  and  Soldiers,  for  their  conduct 
in  the  Indian  War — Arts  and  Manufac- 
tures encouraged — Delegates  to  General 
Congress — Report  of  Committee  on  Arts 
and  Manufactures — Sale  of  Lands  disap- 
proved of,  -  ...  165—172 

Earl  of  Dunmore's  Proclamation  on  Western 
Boundary,         -  174 

Norfolk  Committee,  on  conduct  of  Captain 
Sampson,  in  violating  the  Association,    -  174 

Nansemond  Committee,  on  the  conduct  of 
Rev.  John  Agnew,      -       -       -  226 

Orange  County  Proceedings  against  Rev. 
John  Wingate,  for  having  in  possession 
certain  Pamphlets,  which  were  secretly 
circulated  by  him,       ....  234 

Governour  Dunmore's  Proclamation  against 
election  of  Delegates  to  Congress,  -       -  236 

Gloucester  County  Committee  vote  of  thanks 
to  Thomas  Whiting  and  Lewis  Burnell, 
their  Delegates,  -----  254 

Sussex  County  Committee  approve  Resolves 

of  Continental  Congress,       -  281 

Chesterfield  County  Committee  Proceed- 
ings,  298 

Southampton  Committee  approve  Proceed- 
ings of  Convention — Salt  Manufacture  en- 
couraged— Delegates  to  Provincial  Con- 
gress— Ammunition  to  be  raised — Gaming 
discouraged,       -       -  -       -  299 

Fineastie  County  Freeholders  to  Lord  Dun- 
more,  and  his  Answer,         -  301 

Kim,'  George  County  Committee  Proceed- 
ings against  Austin  Brockenbrough,       -  337 

Proceedings  at  Williamsburgh,  on  removal 
of  Gunpowder — Address  to  the  Earl  of 
Dunmore,  and  his  Answer,    -  371 

Cumberland  County  Committee  approve 
Proceedings  of  Provincial  and  Continental 
Congresses,  ...  372 

Fourth  Series. — Vol.  u.  123 


Virginia — 

Hugh  Mercer  and  others  to  Colonel  George 
Washington,  offering  to  march  to  Wil- 
liamsburgh,        -       -       -       -       -  387 

Letter  from  Virginia  Delegate  in  Congress  to 
Friend  in  Williamsburgh,     ...  387 

Gloucester  County  Committee  encourage 
Manufactures — Resolutions  on  removal  of 
Gunpowder  at  Williamsburgh — Denounce 
the  Governour's  Answer,      ...  387 

Bedford  County  Committee  appoint  Dele- 
gates and  Committee  of  Safety — Encou- 
rage manufacture  of  Sulphur,        -       -  388 

Captains  Grayson  and  Lee,  of  Dumfries,  ten- 
der their  services  to  Colonel  Washington, 
and  enclose  a  Letter  from  Hugh  Mercer 
and  others,         -----  395 

Henrico  County  Resolutions,  disapproving 
of  removal  of  Gunpowder  from  Williams- 
burgh, &c,  395 

Williamsburgh  Proceedings  respecting  seiz- 
ing of  Powder,    -  -  426 

Albemarle  Volunteers  to  Colonel  George 

Washington,       -----  442 

Fredericksburgh  Committee,  on  removal  of 
Powder  at  Williamsburgh,    -       -       -  443 

Alexander  Spottswood  to  Colonel  George 
Washington,       -----  447 

King  William  County  Freeholders  vote  Sup- 
plies to  Massachusetts,         ...  450 

Gloucester  County  Committee  determine  not 
to  ship  Tobacco  to  England,         -       -  464 

Council  of,  held  at  the  Palace — Address  of 
the  Governour,  Lord  Dunmore,     -       -  464 

Amelia  County  Committee  in  favour  of  rais- 
ing Volunteers  and  procuring  supply  of 
Arms  and  Ammunition,  -       -  477 

New-Kent  County  Committee  Proceedings,  477, 

551 

Cumberland  County  Committee  Proceed- 
ings,   478, 622 


Norfolk  Committee  Proceedings, 


502 


Williamsburgh  Proceedings  on  threat  of  Capt. 

Montague  to  fire  on  the  Town  of  York,    -  504 
Williamsburgh  Council  Proceedings,  -       -  525 
Sussex  County  Proceedings,     -       -       -  525 
Mecklenburgh  County  Proceedings,  -       -  526 
Prince  George  Committee  Proceedings,      -  527 
Louisa  County  Proceedings,     -  529 
Spottsylvania  County  Committee  approve 

conduct  of  Patrick  Henry,    -       -       -  539 
Orange  County  Committee — same  Address 

to  Patrick  Henry,       -       -       -  539 
Hanover  County  Committee — Letter  from 
Patrick  Henry,  Jun.,  to  Robert  Carter 
Nicholas — Further  Proceedings  of  Com- 
mittee,      ------  540 

Williamsburgh  Volunteer  Company,  -       -  547 
Richmond  County  Committee  Proceedings,  578 
Lord  Dunmore's  Proclamation,  convening 
Assembly,  ------  578 

Proceedings  of  Council  at  Williamsburgh,  -  587 
Augusta  County  Committee  Proceedings,  612-615 
Caroline  County  Proceedings,  on  Governour 
Dunmore's  conduct,     -       -       -       -  640 

Williamsburgh — "Brutus"  to  Inhabitants  of 
Virginia,    -----  641-'4 

Prince  William  County  Committee  approve 

conduct  of  Patrick  Henry,    -  667 
Buckingham  County  Committee  invite  breth- 
ren of  the  lower  Counties  to  settle  among 
them,        ------  667 

Middlesex  County  Proceedings  in  case  of 

Thomas  Haddin,         ...       -  66S 
Peyton  Randolph  returns  from  General  Con- 
gress— Address  to  him  at  Williamsburgh,  680 
Westmoreland  County  Committee  Proceed- 
ings,        -       -       -       -       -  -681 

Richmond  County  Committee  Proceedings,  701 
Lancaster  County  Committee  Proceedings,  702 
Norfolk — Proceedings  against  Capt.  Collins,  703 


1955 


INDEX. 


1956 


I  trginia — 

Williamsburgh — "  Voluntarius"  to  the  Peo- 
ple,  -  703 

Boundary  between  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania,  704 
Loudoun  County  Committee  Proceedings  on 
conduct  of  the  Governour  and  Patrick 

Henry,  -  710 

Frederick  County  Committee  Proceedings,  718 
Albemarle  Independent  Company  to  Wil- 
liamsburgh Volunteers,  ...  872 
Norfolk  Committee  on  Importation  of  Goods,  897 
Resolves  of  Hanover  Volunteers,  -  -  931 
Resolves  of  Lancaster  County  Volunteers,  -  938 
A  Delegate  in  Continental  Congress  to  a 

Friend  in  Williamsburgh,  -  -  974,  979 
Caroline  County  Committee  Proceedings,  -  974 
Letter  from  D.  Cross,  Glasgow,  to  James 

Dunlop,  975 

Lord  Dunmore  and  Family  go  on  board  a 

Man-of-War,  975 

Prince  Edward  County  Committee  Proceed- 
ings on  removal  of  Powder  from  Williams- 
burgh, by  Lord  Dunmore,    ...  1023 
Frederick  County  Committee  Proceedings — 

Commendation  of  Patrick  Henry,  -       -  1023 
Accomack  County  Proceedings,       -1031,  1112 
Fairfax  Independent  Companies,  from  Gene- 
ral Washington,  1031 

"A  Friend  to  Liberty"  to  the  People  of 

Henrico  County,         -  1056 
"A  Virginian"  to  his  Friends  and  Country- 
men, 1057 
Charles  City  County  Committee  Proceed- 
ings,        -  1064 
Bedford  County  Committee  Proceedings,   -  1113 
"  Virginias"  to  the  People  of,  -       -       -  1129 
Publication  and  Proceedings  at  Williamsburgh,  1 135 
Cumberland  County  Committee  Proceed- 
ings, -       -       -       -       -  -1136 

A  Virginia  Delegate  in  Continental  Congress 

to  his  Friend  in  Williamsburgh,  -  -  1137 
House  of  Burgesses,  begun  and  held  at  Wil- 
liamsburgh, 1st  June,  1775 — Peyton  Ran- 
dolph, Speaker — House  waits  upon  the 
Governour — His  Speech — Committee  to 
address  the  Governour — Message  of  the 
Governour  concerning  the  Militia — Mes- 
sage to  the  Governour,  from  the  Commit- 
tee— Committee  on  Publick  Magazine — - 
Petition  from  Presbyterians  and  Protestant 
Dissenters — Resolution  approving  Pro- 
ceedings of  Continental  Congress,  and 
their  Delegates  therein — Proceedings  of 
Convention  approved  of — Address  of  the 
Council  to  the  Governour,  and  his  An- 
swer— Message  from  the  Governour,  on 
the  Publick  Magazine — Answer  to  the 
same — Message  from  Governour,  on  re- 
moval of  Gunpowder — Proceedings  of 
Council  on  Marines  and  Soldiers  at  Wil- 
liamsburgh— Guard  for  the  Publick  Ma- 
gazine— Message  from  the  Governour — 
Petition  of  William  Fleming  ;  of  Abraham 
Field — Message  from  Governour — Ad- 
dress to  the  Governour  on  his  removal  from 
the  Palace,  delivered  to  him  on  board  His 
Majesty's  Ship  the  Fowey — Report  of 
Committee  on  Governour's  Speech — Go- 
vernour's  Answer  to  Joint  Address,  (Sec 
Note,  1202) — Address  to  Governour — 
Magazine  inspected — Indian  Affairs — De- 
tailed Report  of  the  Committee  on  the 
late  Disturbances  at  Williamsburgh — Fur- 
ther Proceedings  on  the  same  subject — 
Answer  from  the  Governour — Address  to 
the  Governour — Resolutions  from  Conti- 
nental Congress — Extended  Address  to 
the  Governour,  on  the  general  condition 
of  the  Colony — Governour  refijses'to  place 
the  Arms  at  the  Palace  in  the  Magazine — 
Message  from  the  Council — Joint  Address 


Virginia — 

of  Council  and  House  of  Burgesses — An- 
swer from  the  Governour — Council  reject 
Bill  appointing  Commissioners  to  ratify 
and  confirm  the  late  Treaty  of  Peace  with 
the  Ohio  Indians — Governour  rejects  the 
Bill  for  settling  the  Accounts  of  the  Mili- 
tia—  Answer  of  the  House  thereto — On 
Conference  of  the  House  with  the  Coun- 
cil, a  Resolution  passed  in  favor  of  ap- 
pointing a  Committee  to  ratify  Treaty 
with  Ohio  Indians — Resolution  to  settle 
Accounts  of  Militia  engaged  in  Indian 
Wars — Adjourned  to  1 2th  October  next — 
On  the  12th  of  October,  adjourned  to  7th 
March  next — On  7th  March,  1776,  House 
met  according  to  adjournment,  thirty-two 
Members  appearing — Not  sufficient  num- 
ber— Adjourned  to  May  6th — May  6th, 
several  Members  met,  but  did  neither  pro- 
ceed to  business  nor  adjourn  as  a  House  of 

Burgesses,   1185-1242 

Anonymous  Address  to  Inhabitants  of  a 

County  of,  1520 

A  Delegate  to  a  Gentleman  iu  Williams- 
burgh, on  Bunker's  Hill,      ...  1573 
Fincastle  County  Committee  Proceedings,  -  1620 
Norfolk  Committee,  from  Virginia  Volun- 
teers, and  Answer  thereto,    -  1691 
Publication  by  "A  Virginian,"  at  Williams- 
burgh,  1718 

Address  to  People  of,  from  their  Delegates 

in  Continental  Congress,      -  -  1723 

Members  of  Convention,  from  Robert  Wash- 
ington, on  Military  Discipline,       -       -  1750 
Ward,  General  Artemas,  Letter  to  Massachusetts 

Congress,  on  enlisting  Men,  -       -       -  384 
Letter  from  James  Gowan  and  others,       -  515 
Letter  from  Northborough  Committee,       -  632 
Letter  to  Massachusetts  Congress,     -       -  647, 
666,  1028,  1061,  1119,  1493 
Letter  from  New-Hampshire  Congress,      -  868 
And  others,  to  Continental  Congress,  -       -  906 
From  Captain  Dairy's  Company,      -       -  914 
And  others,  to  New-York  Congress,  -       -  932 
From  Joseph  Hawley,  on  Ticonderoga  and 
Canada,     ------  944 

From  Massachusetts  Congress,  -  1041 
To  Massachusetts  Congress,  enclosing  Reso- 
lution of  Continental  Congress,      -       -  1107 
To  Continental  Congress,         ...  1140 
To  John  Pigeon,  Commissary,  -       -       -  1141 
Chosen  First  Major-General,    -  1850 
Warren,  Dr.  Joseph,  Oration,  6th  March,  1775,  on 

the  Bloody  Tragedy  of  5th  March,  1770,  38 
Letter  from  a  Gentleman  in  Boston,  on  same,  120 
To  Arthur  Lee,     -       -       -  255,425,619 
To  General  Gajje,  -----  370 

From  Boston  Committee  of  Safety,  on  Am- 
nesty of  Governour  Gage,     -  374 
From  same,   -----     446,  461 

From  Governour  Trumbull,     -  506 
From  Rev.  William  Gordon,    -       -       -  664 
To  Provincial  Congress  of  Massachusetts,  -  707 
From  Colonel  Henshaw,  -       -       -       -  723 

From  Alexander  McDougall,  -       -       -  967 
His  Eulogium,       -----  1142 

Warner,  Seth,  Tries  and  punishes  Benjamin  Hough,  215 
Washington,  George,  Letter  from  George  Mason,  -  92 
From  Albemarle  Volunteers,    -  442 
From  Alexander  Spottswood,   -       -       -  447 
Letter  to  George  William  Fairfax,  in  Eng- 
land,  865 

Offered  the  command  of  the  American  Troops,  979 
Appointed  Commander-in-Chief  of  Conti- 
nental Army,      -       -       -    1019-'20,  1848 
To  the  Independent  Companies  of  Fairfax, 

&c,  1031 

To  John  Augustine  Washington,  -  1031,  1735 
From  Horatio  Gates,  ....  1058 
To  Continental  Congress,        -  1084,  1085,  1621 


1957 


INDEX. 


195S 


Washington,  George,  To  General  Schuyler,  instruc- 
tions,       -       -       1084,  1623,  1736,  1747 
Address  to  bis  Excellency,  and  his  reception 

in  New- York,  1321 

His  Answer  to  the  above,        ...  1322 
From  Massachusetts  Congress,  and  his  An- 
swer,  1472,  14S5 

From  General  Schuyler,  -  -  1525, 1685, 1762 
From  General  Gage,  -  -  -  -  1531 
From  James  Warren  and  Joseph  Hawley,  -  1573 
From  Joseph  Hawley,  on  movements  of 

General  Gage,  -----  1589 
From  Independent  Company  of  Alexandria,  1608 
To  Massachusetts  Congress,  on  state  of  the 

Army,  1623 

Proceedings  of  Council  of  War,  held  at  Cam- 
bridge, 9th  July,  1775 — General  Return 
of  the  Army — Instructions  to  the  Officers 
of  Massachusetts — Orders  by  Gen.  Wash- 
ington,   1628-1635 

To  Richard  Henry  Lee,  -  1635 
From  General  Thomas,  -  -  -  1637,  1727 
From  Governour  Cooke,  of  Rhode-Island,  -  1649, 

1754 

From  Governour  Trumbull,     -  1658, 1676, 1763 
To  Continental  Congress,  with  true  account 
of  Officers  of  Ministerial  Troops  killed  and 
wounded  at  the  Battle  of  Charlestown, 
with  other  Papers,      -  1659 
To  Governour  Trumbull,-       -       -  1686,  1710 
From  John  Hancock,      ...       -  1689 
From  Benjamin  Harrison,        ...  1697 


Washington,  George — 

To  Continental  Congress,        -   1705-'10,  1736 
To  John  Hancock,  -----  1710 

From  General  Heath,     -  1737 
Divers  Orders  of,  at  Cambridge,       -       -  1737 
From  Loam  mi  Baldwin,  -  1748,  1754 

To  James  Warren,  -----  1754 

To  Massachusetts  General  Assembly,       -  1764 
Instructions  from  Continental  Congress,      -  1851 
Watson,  Brook,  To  New- York  Congress,  on  Cana- 
da Indians,  &c,  -       -       -       -       -  1571 

Wentivorth,  Governour,  Of  New-Hampshire,  Ad- 
dress to,  signed  "The  Spectator,"  -       -  159 
From  Provincial  Congress  of  N.  Hampshire,  640 
Westenhook  Patent,  Proprietors  praying  for  Patent 

of  Lands,  ------  135 

Wilkes,  John,  Lord  Mayor  of  London,  Letter  to 
him,  from  "  Britannopolis,"  of  Frankfort, 
Germany,  ------  178 

Williams,  Lemuel,  To  Benjamin  Aiken,  Esq.,  in 

Provincial  Congress  of  Massachusetts,    -  462 
Wooster,  General,  To  New- York  Committee  of 

Safety,      ------  1665 

To  Continental  Congress,        ...  1711 
From  Colonel  Joseph  Reed,     -       -       -  1731 
Wheeler,  Thomas,  Explains  his  resignation  as  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel, -----  228 

TVheelock,  Rev.  Ebenezer,  To  Governour  Trumbull, 

on  Northern  Indians,   -      152,  210,  339,  582 
To  New-Hampshire  Congress,  on  Canada 
and  Indians,       -----  1541 

Yankee  Doodle,  438 


